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"Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain't all sunshine and rainbows. It's a very mean and nasty place, and I don't care how tough you are… But it ain't about how hard you hit. It's about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward; how much you can take and keep moving forward. That's how winning is done!" – Rocky, from Rocky Balboa (2006)
This morning, the United States Supreme Court released its ruling on the constitutionality of ObamaCare. In a 5-4 decision, the Court found that the individual mandate is constitutional, but only as a tax. Chief Justice John Roberts joined Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Stephen Breyer, Elena Kagan, and Sonia Sotomayor in this majority opinion. Justices Antonin Scalia, Anthony Kennedy, Samuel Alito, and Clarence Thomas dissented, arguing that the entirety of the law was unconstitutional. To put it bluntly, this is a very complicated ruling that few expected in its given form.
Let me give a bit of background on the case. In late March, the Court heard oral arguments regarding two cases challenging President Obama's health care reform law: Florida v. United States Department of Health and Human Services, and National Federation of Independent Business v. Sebelius. There were four major parts to the overall case:
1.) Does the Anti-Injunction Act preclude the plaintiff's challenge to the individual mandate?
2.) Is the individual mandate constitutional under the commerce clause?
3.) Is the individual mandate severable from the rest of the law, or must the whole law be struck down if the mandate is unconstitutional?
4.) Does the law violate the basic tenets of federalism by coercing the states into accepting burdensome new Medicaid regulations and requirements, since the law threatens to end all federal funding for Medicaid if they refuse to comply?
The Court ruled that the Anti-Injunction Act does not apply. They ruled that the individual mandate is unconstitutional under the commerce clause, but NOT under the taxing and spending clause. Since the mandate was upheld under the taxing and spending clause, the issue of severability did not come into play. On the issue of Medicaid, they ruled that the law can offer increased funds to the states in exchange for the new rules and regulations, but it cannot coerce the states into taking the deal by threatening to withhold funds. This is a minor victory for conservatives, although it will likely be overlooked in light of the mandate being upheld.
Here's my read: Few expected the Court to uphold the mandate as a tax. The fact that a majority ruled that the mandate is unconstitutional under the commerce clause is important, because it finally places a limit on that clause. In terms of precedent, the Court set a very good one with regards to that. Since the Obama administration actively argued before the Court that the mandate was not a tax, this decision comes out of left field. Here's the relevant portion of the Constitution:
The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States; but all Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniform throughout the United States… - Article 1, Section 8
If the mandate had been labeled a tax or argued to be a tax by the Obama administration, this ruling would have been significantly less surprising. As things stand, I disagree with the Court's majority opinion regarding the general welfare clause, which is the only significant limitation on Congress's power of taxation beyond common sense, but I'm thankful that they upheld the mandate under that clause instead of the commerce clause. Is it a small victory? Obviously. But it's an important one, and I have little doubt that the precedent set by it will have important ramifications in future decisions.
Conservatives haven't been able to trust the Court since the mid-1930s. This is a sad, depressing day that affirms the basic truth that we can only rely on ourselves, and our duly elected representatives. A Supreme Court decision striking down the mandate would have been a convenient shortcut, but we still have options. We must stay on offense. We must push for full repeal of ObamaCare.
This isn't a "long-shot" by any means. Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-OH) has consistently pushed for full repeal, and the House of Representatives has voted for full repeal several times. They'll do so again this July. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) has pledged that if November brings a Republican majority in the Senate, the first vote held will be for full repeal. Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney has sworn that he will issue ObamaCare waivers to all fifty states in the event that he's elected President, and that he will sign a full repeal law.
So, we have a good shot. No matter what, it's very likely that the House of Representatives will stay in conservative hands after November. If Romney wins the election, he'll at least provide the waivers. If conservatives take back the Senate as well, we'll get full repeal through both chambers of Congress. However, if President Obama wins a second term as President, he'll veto full repeal. This means that a Romney victory in November is critical for full repeal.
We have to stay on offense. We have to move forward. We have to elect enough conservatives to get full repeal. And once ObamaCare is finally repealed, we have to push for conservative health care reform.
This isn't the end. The Supreme Court does not have the final say on the Constitution. The people do. So let's get this done.
Totally agree. This compounds the meaning of this election. Anyone but Obama 2012
The November election will be one of the most important event in a lot of our lives, Please, take action and help to control your destiny. Visit www.oustobamacoalition.com to find out how you can help make sure we are not stuck with Obama for another 4 years. He will end America as we know it.
Your country needs you now.


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csmcneil on Family Tree Circles
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Hall's from New York, North Carolina, Missouri
William Hall was b.1800 in Stokes Co., NC. His supposed parents are Stephen Hall and Ann Gannon from NY. However, I have not found any proof of a connection. Wm. Hall and wife Rhoda Redford moved to MO about 1834. According to a manuscript written about 1950 by Hall descendants, Wm. had a brother Caleb, Sr. who had a son Caleb, Jr. and another one named George. They lived in TN at some point. Other siblings for Wm. were Elizabeth, Mary, Emily, Alfred, Milly, Edward and Isaac. There may be a will for Stephen Hall in NC, but I have not found it. He died about 1840, which is about the same time Wm. died. He went to NC from MO to settle estate of father and was attacked in the Cumberland Mts. on his way back home, and killed. Would appreciate any information you have on this family.
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Every good hero needs a battlecry. What's your favorite?
I think I'd have to go with this, even though it is a bit long:
"The path of the righteous man is beset on all sides of the inequities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil men. Blessed is he who in the name of charity and goodwill shepherds the weak through the valley of darkness, for he is truly his brother's keeper and a finder of lost children. And I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger for those who attempt to poison and destroy my brothers. And you will know my name is Lord when I lay my vengeance upon thee." (From pulp fiction)
But it's a little hard to say that all right in the middle of a fight, so my second favorite is:
"My life for Aiur" (the protoss battlecry in starcraft)
Off-topic posts about whatever, including off-the-wall posts about being on walls.
Moderator: Moderators
28 posts • Page 1 of 1
Ross wrote:I think I'm a bit confused. Is that assuming you've already shouted your battlecry, and the opponent has heard it and is trying to pretend to be on your side? Or steal it?
It could be a fun account option, just as flavor, I do agree.
Yeah, I was thinking of that in terms of a boss, say, who already knew about you, and was making fun of you.
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I saw the following article and thought of this thread:
http://www.wired.com/culture/culturerev ... 08/st_best
http://www.wired.com/culture/culturerev ... 08/st_best
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All Girl
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For those that love big tits we offer you our Busty category. These bra busters will make your eyes pop with desire as all of these women have more than a handful. Big tit lovers unite because these DVDs with the biggest boobs on the planet are what your searching for. Open wide and wrap your lips and get your hands around these big tit movies. If big boobs are what you like you've come to the right place.
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Hospitality service
A hospitality service, also known as "accommodation sharing", "hospitality exchange" (short "hospex"), "home stay network", or "home hospitality network" ("hoho"), is a centrally organized social networking service of travelers who offer or seek homestays (lodging in a home) either gratis or for money. Hospitality services generally connect users via the internet and are examples of collaborative consumption and sharing. In cases where lodging is offered gratis, they are examples of a barter economy or gift economy. A hospitality service may collect commissions on each homestay, charge a membership fee, or be completely free.
In 1949, Bob Luitweiler founded Servas International, the first hospitality service, as a volunteer-run international nonprofit organization advocating interracial and international peace.
In 1953, several European teachers who wanted to travel internationally during their summer breaks founded Intervac International, a home exchange network.
In 1965, John Wilcock set up the Traveler's Directory as a listing of his friends willing to host each other when traveling.[1] In 1988, Joy Lily rescued the organization from imminent shutdown, forming Hospitality Exchange.
In 1966, psychologist Rubén Feldman González created Programo Pasporto, a hospitality service for Esperanto speakers in Argentina. In 1974, with the help of Jeanne-Marie Cash, it became Pasporta Servo and published its first membership directory, which listed 40 hosts.
In 1971, Sue Coppard founded WWOOF ("Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms"), a network in which food, lodging, and education is provided to guests in exchange for housekeeping and farmworker services.
In 1977, Presbyterian minister Wayne Smith and U.S. President Jimmy Carter established Friendship Force International, with the mission of improving intercultural relations, cultural diplomacy, friendship, and intercultural competence via organized trips involving homestays.
In 1992, Hospex.org became the first internet-only hospitality service; it later was folded into Hospitality Club, created in 2000 by Veit Kühne.
In 2004, Casey Fenton founded CouchSurfing, the largest hospitality service in which accommodation is offered gratis.
In 2008, Brian Chesky and Joe Gebbia founded Airbnb after a popular conference made it hard to find accommodation. Hosts receive monetary payment from guests, paid online in advance, and Airbnb receives commissions from each transaction.
Notable hospitality networks
- 9flats – A network offering homestays primarily in Europe. Guests must pay in advance via credit card.
- Airbnb – The largest hospitality service, it has over 100 million users and over 3 million lodging listings. Guests must pay in advance via credit card and Airbnb receives commissions from each transaction.
- BeWelcome – A hospitality service with an open source community with approximately 100,000 members in 200 countries. The network is organized as a nonprofit organisation with democratic structures.
- CouchSurfing – With 15 million members in more than 200 countries, it is the largest hospitality service where lodging is offered gratis.
- Friendship Force International – A hospitality service with 16,000 members. Members join a 2-week organized "journey", costing approximately US$1000.
- Gloveler - A hospitality service operating in Germany in which members pay for lodging.
- GuestToGuest - A service that connects people who want to participate in home exchanges.
- Hospitality Club – One of the first internet-based hospitality services; lodging is provided gratis.
- Intervac International - The first home exchange network.
- Mennonite Your Way – A hospitality service with over 1,600 hosts, mostly Mennonites and Schwarzenau Brethren, in more than 69 countries. Guests pay a nominal flat fee to the host.
- Pasporta Servo – A hospitality service for Esperanto speakers, where lodging is provided gratis.
- Servas International – With a history dating back to 1949, it is focused on human rights and world peace.
- ThirdHome – A worldwide luxury second home exchange service of holiday cottages.
- Tripping.com – An online review aggregator that pulls listings from several hospitality services.
- Warmshowers - A hospitality service with 100,000 members that travel by bicycle.
- Wimdu – A hospitality service focused on renting homes for vacation purposes.
- Workaway – A hospitality service with 25,000 hosts in which food, lodging, and education is provided to guests in exchange for housekeeping and farmworker services.
- WWOOF ("Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms") – a network in which food, lodging, and education is provided to guests in exchange for housekeeping and farmworker services.
- ↑ Kirk, Robert William. You Can Travel Free. Pelican Publishing Company.
|Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Hospitality exchange.


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Richard Thomas has decided to change the name of his project from the generic "Pjq" to something a bit more distinctive - jQPie.
I have expanded on this further, found a tastier name and now have a project page up http://projects.cyberlot.net/trac/jqpie/wiki. Added an cheesy jQuery/Interface autocomplete example although I would of preferred a json approach to the xml but it works never the less.
The jQPie project provides a way to link Javascript and PHP easily through the jQuery library with simple requests to use things JSON statements and direct output in your Javascript application.


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U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
Litigation Release No. 21818 / January 19, 2011
Securities and Exchange Commission v. Provident Capital Indemnity, Ltd.,Minor Vargas Calvo, Jorge L. Castillo, and Relief Defendant Desarrollos Comerciales Ronim, S.A., Civil Action No. 3:11-cv-045 (E.D. Va. Jan. 19, 2011)
U.S. Attorney and DOJ File Simultaneous Criminal Action
The Commission today filed an enforcement action against Provident Capital Indemnity, Ltd. ("PCI"), its president Minor Vargas Calvo ("Vargas"), and its purported outside auditor, Jorge L. Castillo ("Castillo") seeking to halt a massive, ongoing fraud by PCI, an offshore company located in Costa Rica that provides financial guarantee bonds on life settlements and claims to protect investors' interests in life insurance policies by promising to pay the death benefit if the insured lives beyond his or her estimated life expectancy. According to the complaint, from at least 2004 through March 2010, PCI issued approximately 197 bonds backstopping numerous bonded offerings of investments in life insurance policies with a face value of more than $670 million.
According to the complaint, the PCI bonds were a material component of numerous third-party life settlement offerings in the United States and abroad. Without a bond, a life settlement investment is illiquid and open-ended because the investment's pay-out date and return are dependent upon the date of the insured's death. PCI's bonds offered a fixed maturity date for the investments because PCI's bond obligated PCI to pay investors (directly or indirectly through the life settlement issuer) the face value of the underlying insurance policy by a date certain if the insured lived past his life expectancy date.
The complaint alleges that the defendants misrepresented PCI's ability to satisfy its obligations under its bonds by making material misrepresentations about:
Specifically, since at least 2003, PCI, Vargas and Castillo represented to life settlement issuers, and in turn, the investing public, that Castillo had audited PCI's financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting standards. Contrary to their representations, however, the complaint alleges that Castillo never conducted an audit of PCI and instead issued clean audit reports at Vargas's bidding, thereby supporting the illusion that PCI had materially larger assets and greater financial wherewithal to support its obligations under the life settlement bonds. According to the complaint, PCI's "audited" financial statements reflect what appears to be a fictitious "Long Term Asset" that has comprised some 70% to 80% of PCI's total reported assets from at least 2003 to the present.
The complaint alleges that PCI's "audited" financial statements were provided to Dun & Bradstreet ("D&B"), which issued PCI a favorable rating of "5 A/S," based exclusively on PCI's reported net worth. PCI then misleadingly represented in its marketing materials that D&B's rating is a reflection of "successful customer satisfaction" and "the ability to maintain one of the insurance industry's lowest loss ratios." According to the complaint, PCI and Vargas also have represented that PCI was backed by a "bouquet" of reputable reinsurers that would backstop PCI's obligations under its life settlement bonds when, in fact, PCI had no reinsurance coverage.
The Commission charged the defendants with violations of Section 17(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 ("Securities Act") [15 U.S.C. § 77q(a)], Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ("Exchange Act") [15 U.S.C. § 78j(b)], and Exchange Act Rule 10b-5 [17 C.F.R. § 240.10b-5] and alternatively charged Castillo with aiding and abetting PCI's and Vargas's violations of Securities Act Section 17(a) and Exchange Act Section 10(b) and Exchange Act Rule 10b-5. The Commission also named Desarrollos Comerciales Ronim S.A., PCI's managing general agent, as a relief defendant.
The Office of Investor Education and Advocacy issued an update to its Investor Alert on life settlement investments. The Commission's Alert was published following the release of the Commission's Life Settlements Task Force on July 22, 2010. The Investor Alert is accessible through this link: http://www.sec.gov/investor/alerts/lifesettlements-bulletin.htm.
The United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Virginia and the Fraud Section of the Department of Justice's Criminal Division also announced simultaneously a parallel criminal action against the defendants.
The Commission thanks the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, the Fraud Section of the Department of Justice's Criminal Division, Virginia Financial and Securities Fraud Task Force, the United States Postal Inspection Service, The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Division, the Costa Rican Unidad de Analisis Financiero, the Ontario Securities Commission, the Gibraltar Financial Services Commission, the Texas State Securities Board, The Texas Department of Insurance, and the New Jersey Bureau of Securities.
The Commission's investigation in this matter is ongoing.


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7 homes evacuated after deadly lightning storm
Published on by William Dyett (author)
A Fire Fighter for East Sussex Fire & Rescue has advised Hastings resident's to take extra precautions this winter, after a devastating lightning strike forced 7 people to evacuate their homes in Eastbourne.
Break ups, hook ups and bust ups
Published on by Eden Olivia Lord (author), Chloe Garnham (author)
Liam is in Payne, Zayn's getting cozy, Lady C's causing a stir and a HUGE pop star is back!
Golden Globes
Published on by Grainne Connolly (author), Catherine Delves (author)
Last night in Beverley Hills, the annual Golden Globe awards took place.
Paralympic Sponsorship Struggle
Published on by Meg Reeves (author), Aimee Carney (author)
British Paralympic athlete, Paul Blake, has claimed that he is struggling to find sponsorship for Rio 2016.
Hastings Country Parks in Need of Wildlife Conservation
Published on by Aimee Carney (author)


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|Fallbrook Doors, Closets, Cabinets, Mouldings
Esau Supply was started by George Esau in 1956 with a vision to provide San Diego County homeowners and contractors with quality entry doors, interior doors, mouldings and windows. We offer custom and standard entry doors in hardwoods and fiberglass. Our full service trim shop allows us to provide you with pre-hung doors with quick lead times.
Being a family owned and operated business we understand how important relationships are. We are an honest company that treats our customers with respect. We offer no gimmicks, no "sales pitchâ€, and no pressure. We work closely with contractors, re-modelers, designers and homeowners to insure the buyers get the look the look they want.
If the time has come to replace your entryway doors, Esau Supply wants to speak with you and explain the value of using Esau Supply.
Esau Supply makes available to you all major brands of wood and fiberglass doors and frames. Gone are the scratched, unimaginative, and weather weary entries that were original to the home.
Custom Doors Add Class to Your Home
Your doors can say a lot about you. A custom door, particularly in your front entry, gives the visitor a strong impression of you and your home. What do you want your front door to say? Do you want it to be welcoming, friendly, elegant, or perhaps to impart a touch of humor? Remember, it should also fit the design and style of your home. Custom doors can be made from a variety of materials, shaped and finished in a myriad of designs--mahogany, glass, wrought iron; sculpted, etched; rectangular, arched; the possibilities are limited only by your imagination and budget.
Products and Services Include:
Services and Products Include:
Fill out our Request a Quote form on the homepage by clicking HERE and a qualified Esau representative will call you today!
Esau Supply: 619-442-0247


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有什么马六甲美食好介绍吗?欢迎你将稿件电邮至 [email protected]
Write in to us at [email protected] to showcase any nice cuisine and restaurant in Malacca.
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On 02/05/2013, a female victim had her credit card/debit card stolen while she was at the 7-11 store located at 291 and Gudgell in Independence. The suspect took the card to Walmart, 4000 Bolger, and used the card several times.
A surveillance photo of the suspect and the suspect's vehicle are attached for review. The suspect appears to be a black male in his early 20s with a medium build. The vehicle he drove appears to be a light colored, 90s model Chevrolet or GMC, suburban style vehicle.
If anyone has any idea who the suspect may be, or knows anything about the crimes the suspect has committed, please call the Tips Hotline at 816-474-8477, or the Independence Police Department at 816-325-7330 or 816-836-3600.


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Whether you tap your toes or sway gently to the sounds, the Stardust Orchestra is just what the doctor ordered to get that spring fever started.
Friday's 7 p.m. concert in Magnolia Hall will be a mutual love affair, since the theme is "We Love Being Here with You."
The orchestra was founded in 2004 by Ray Cummings, a band director with 30-plus years experience teaching and playing in Pennsylvania.
"I moved here in 1986 and moved to Sun City at the turn of the century. A good friend of mine who was another band director moved here at the same time," Cummings said. "He had about 35 charts — or arrangements, by his brother, and that meant we would start a band together because we had the start of a library."
The other director was the late Dudley Lowden who acquired the charts after the death of his brother Bob, a well-known arranger.
"We started with a rehearsal band, just playing for fun. Then we talked about why don't we do things for the kids, play concerts for free for them," Cummings said. "And then we proceeded to get together with groups like the Lions and play for them."
The orchestra became a fundraising band and raised almost $140,000 for different organizations, such as the Sun City Lions Club. The Stardust Orchestra concert is the club's biggest fundraiser of the year, said president Irene Jackiewicz.
"From the funds we receive, we do eye-testing for the elementary school children and if they need glasses we assist. That's one we're really passionate about," she said. "We donate to the Leader Dog — guide dogs for the sight impaired; if someone needs cataract surgery and cannot afford it, we assist; we give to Heroes on Horseback; Camp Leo — a one-week camp on Hilton Head for blind and sight-impaired children up to 16; donate to the Red Cross. There are about 20 charities to which we donate.
The Lions Club also sponsors scholarships to the nursing students at Technical College of the Lowcountry. A collection box outside of the Lifestyle Services offices in Pinckney Hall is a drop-off location for used glasses, telephones and hearing aids.
"Ray Cummings is so gracious, God bless him," Jackiewicz said. "He is really talented and everybody has a good time. You want to get up out of your seat and do some dancing."
Most of the orchestra's musicians are retired and live inside and outside of Sun City. Their musical experience comes from a variety of origins and blends into one swinging sound.
"We've had a good time, had a lot of fun and we look forward the concert coming up in Sun City," he said. "Sun City has been supportive of this and we enjoy it." Singing with the band is Penny Dawson.
"I've known Penny for about 20 years," Cummings said. "She sang and played in the Swingtime Orchestra with Freddy Nimmer."
Baritone saxophonist Bob Cloutier plays one of the larger woodwind instruments but began at the other end of the spectrum.
"I was in an Army band and played clarinet," he said. "They wanted to start a jazz band and said to me 'You're going to play baritone sax."
Dick Hoff said playing in the band gives him something to do — something he has apparently been doing for 67 years, which is as long as he has been playing trumpet.
"I'm in two other bands but this is the big band," Hoff said during a rehearsal break. "I enjoy it."
Retired high school band teacher Bruce Thompson plays one of the more unusual instruments in the group — a pBone. It's a heavy plastic trombone that produces the same sound as the instrument Thompson began playing in the fourth grade but weighs only about 1 1/2 pounds versus up to 56 ounces.
Drummer-percussionist Mike Riegel has been playing drums since he was 16, despite wanting to play the trumpet.
"We couldn't afford lessons when I was growing up, but then I really was a singer," Riegel said. "I became a singing drummer so I got a lot of work. I love the big band sound — it's very challenging to read the music."
Guy Battarelli, the group's administrative manager, began playing 53 years ago and plays clarinet, alto and tenor sax.
"I've been playing since I was 8 and I have a love of swing music," he said.


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Teacher resources and professional development across the curriculum
Teacher professional development and classroom resources across the curriculum
Lesson Plan: Preparing for Group Discussions
Barry Hoonan's lesson plan is also available as a PDF
file. See Materials Needed, below, for links to student
activity sheets related to the lesson.
Teacher: Barry Hoonan, The Odyssey School,
Bainbridge Island, Washington
Grade Level: Fifth
Topic: Using Post-It™ Notes To Prepare
for Literature Discussion
Materials Needed:
© Annenberg Foundation 2017. All rights reserved. Legal Policy


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Our Publications
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On Point
THE PARTY Lyndie Benson celebrated the release of The Point, her new photography book filled with shots of the surfers and locals who haunt Point Dume, at a reception rife with boldface names and neighbors at Maxfield Malibu. The evening benefited the Malibu Foundation for Youth and Families. THE PLAYERS Rande Gerber, Cindy Crawford, Maria Shriver, Chad Lowe, Jillian Dempsey, Joel Silver THE HIGHLIGHTS Wave chasers and celebrities filed into Maxfield's beachside location to catch a first look at the minimalist black-and-white images Benson had taken of Malibu locals over the past 10 years. The photographer, who was on hand to sign her sold-out stock, later acknowledged she was moved to pick up a camera by the genre's luminaries. "When I got to meet the great Herb Ritts, we became friends," she said. "He was a true inspiration for me and gave me photo assignments and encouraged my eye. That gave me confidence to show my work." Photos courtesy of Alex J. Berliner/Abimages


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Monique Lhuillier Spring 2013 | Runway
Monique Lhuillier Spring 2013
Monique Lhuillier Spring 2013
Monique Lhuillier's Spring 2013 collection took its direction from the beauty found underneath the ocean's surface. Her customarily gorgeous gowns and dresses were, this season, covered in prints that resembled glittering aqua fish scales or stylized images of koi. Other dresses were covered in small shells painted a deep blue that caught the light as the models moved down the runway. Peplums, an enduring trend this season, were used to create fishtail silhouettes with a number of the collection's tops.
But even the dresses that didn't look like they were pulled straight out of the water carried reminders of the sea. Gauzy tulle numbers were embellished with lace or sequin embroidery that looked like the patterns of the ocean current, and one strapless gown was covered in a multicolored print that resembled the ocean depths fading from light blue to dark.


text: Building Dreams with Pride For over 25 years, Darling Homes has been focused on making the homebuilding process enjoyable and easy. We continually strive to provide great value to our homebuyers by designing a home with architectural authenticity, a premier location in a distinctive community, a high level of quality and a personalized building experience. Our homes are timeless in design and a place you will love to call home. Announcements:One Level Living in Allen Advanced Search by price, bedrooms and more. see search options Loading... Select Area: Starting Price: City: Bed: Bath: Garage: Stories: Additional Rooms: Square Feet: School District: Community Status: Availability: clear selections Loading... Now Selling Coming Soon Closeout Design Studio Make an Appointment Request Information Melissa Internet Home Consultant469-252-2255Inspired by you ® Sort by: Community name Price low to high Price high to low Location COMMUNITY LOCATION DETAILS PROMOTIONS


text:
Upgrading domain controller and moving TS
Unfortunately, the licensing model for 2000 and 2003 changed (see here for more details). Just as you did when moving from TSE to Windows 2000 terminal services, you'll need to match the version of your license server.
Dig Deeper on Windows client management
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Expert Christa Anderson advises how to map images on a network share for user on a terminal server. Continue Reading
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Expert Christa Anderson offers some ideas for monitoring who is connecting to a terminal server, and when they are connecting. Continue Reading
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Expert Christa Anderson suggests some third-party software producst that can help in using a scanner with Terminal Services. Continue Reading
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General manager Peter Chiarelli '87 and the Boston Bruins captured the team's first National Hockey League championship in 39 years with Wednesday night's 4-0 road win against the Vancouver Canucks in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final.
Chiarelli put together the roster of players that brought the Stanley Cup back to Boston for the first time since 1972. He is one of three Harvard men's hockey players working in the Bruins front office, along with assistant general manager Don Sweeney '88 and director of collegiate scouting John Weisbrod '91.
Chiarelli captained the Crimson to ECAC regular-season and tournament titles and a Frozen Four appearance as a senior. A former assistant general manager with the Ottawa Senators, he has been at the helm of the Bruins organization for five years and directs all aspects of the team's hockey operations. He hired Claude Julien as Boston's head coach in summer 2007 and has continually improved the Bruins' roster with key trades and signings over half a decade.
Sweeney played on Harvard's 1986-87 league-championship team alongside Chiarelli and was a second-team All-America selection the following season before going on to a 16-year NHL career. He is also in his fifth year with the Bruins and is in his second year as assistant general manager.
Both Chiarelli and Sweeney played in the 1986 NCAA final, a 6-5 Crimson loss to Michigan State. Weisbrod helped Harvard reach the title game again three years later, and he was on the ice when the winning goal sealed the national championship in overtime. A former general manager of the National Basketball Association's Orlando Magic, Weisbrod is in his third season at his current position and his fifth overall with the Bruins.
In the News
Boston.com: Bruins victory will spawn generation of rink rats
Boston Herald: Bruins Cup filled with gold
Boston Herald: College coaches enjoy Bruins' Cup run
Buffalo News: Chiarelli fearlessly built Bruins
SLAM! Sports: Chiarelli a winner


text: HKSS.com | Community > Discussion Forum > View topic - What's new? Are Nic and Faye together again? Home Community Superstars Music | What's New | Help HKSS | Search* Discussions | HKE Chat | Reflections of Life | Virtual Cards | Member Galleries Please excuse our mess. HKSS is currently under re-construction and some links/sections don't work yet. What's New: Latest updates | Member Galleries | Music | HKE Chat | About HKSS.com Community Discussions HKE Chat Reflections of Life Member Galleries Virtual Cards* Play Music Superstars Profiles* Galleries* Reviews Gossip & News Other Privacy Policy Terms of Use Link to HKSS* HKSS.com What's New About Contact* Advertise* Help HKSS Links YesAsia yuenStudios Do you like HKSS? My Watched Topics | My Favorites | My Profile Private IMs Register Log in Help | Stats | Members | Groups Search Forum What's new? Are Nic and Faye together again? HKSS.com Forum Index -> Gossip and News View previous topic :: View next topic Author Message Mikey_Life is good. Be inspired.Joined: 04 Oct 2003Posts: 1322Location: Fountain Valley, California (USA) Posted: Mon Oct 06, 2003 9:43 pm Post subject: What's new? Are Nic and Faye together again? Anything juicy happening in the entertainment industry right now? Michael_________________Founder, Webmaster http://www.hkss.com Free Entertainment since 1996.Last edited by Mikey_ on Thu Oct 23, 2003 9:01 pm; edited 1 time in total Back to top NniickyFanJoined: 06 Oct 2003Posts: 97Location: France Posted: Tue Oct 07, 2003 10:33 am Post subject: How far juicy ? lolol Is that true that Faye is with this stupid Nic Tse again ???_________________^_____________^. Back to top Mikey_Life is good. Be inspired.Joined: 04 Oct 2003Posts: 1322Location: Fountain Valley, California (USA) Posted: Tue Oct 07, 2003 6:56 pm Post subject: Nic Tse isn't stupid... I actually liked the movies he's been in thus far. He has this "attitude" and "coolness" about him when he acts. His songs... they are ok. Michael_________________Founder, Webmaster http://www.hkss.com Free Entertainment since 1996. Back to top EddyInsane MemberJoined: 04 Oct 2003Posts: 327 Posted: Tue Oct 07, 2003 9:56 pm Post subject: Nic and Faye are at it again? I mean, i don't think it's a big deal anymore, look at the US.....demi/Austin......Justin/Cam.......... I don't like Nic tho, I thought he got off the charge way tooo easy. and yeah, he is pretty in his movies, but i always wonder how cool can he be without that long hair........... his songs SUCK now..they were good Back to top Mikey_Life is good. Be inspired.Joined: 04 Oct 2003Posts: 1322Location: Fountain Valley, California (USA) Posted: Wed Oct 08, 2003 12:56 am Post subject: Justin and Cameron... Demi Moore... Yup, strange indeed. But hey, younger men are sexier, I guess. Darn. I feel old now. Michael_________________Founder, Webmaster http://www.hkss.com Free Entertainment since 1996. Back to top Guest Posted: Thu Oct 23, 2003 8:35 am Post subject: Nowsaday ladies go after younger males. Haha. Nic's handsome, he's young. His songs are good, I like them. Back to top NniickyFanJoined: 06 Oct 2003Posts: 97Location: France Posted: Thu Oct 23, 2003 11:30 am Post subject: It is said that they're going to marry each other in january 2004 (Nic and Faye) !!! In Canada (Vancouver), the favourite restaurant (Tin Wong Sea Food Restaurant) of Nic's family has been booked for a wedding by Tse family (there are many Tse in the world, ok...). Nic's grand mother, who lives in Vancouver, wishes to have his grand son married as soon as possible (she's 91). Moreover, ppl say that Nic's mother went to a printing company to place order for invitation cards (rumors say that she told the employee that it was for her son's wedding and asked her to keep it secret...). Last but not least, papparazi say that Nic and Fay went to a jewelry shop (ChromeHearts) to choose an engagement ring. After one hour, Nic bought a 40,000$hkd ring ! Thanks to Hunnie for the news_________________^_____________^. Back to top Guest Posted: Fri Oct 24, 2003 7:08 am Post subject: That's a rumour. Nic and Faye are not geting marry. Nic was interviewed and he said that there was a wedding, but it's the wedding of his mother's step daughter. Back to top Display posts from previous: All Posts1 Day7 Days2 Weeks1 Month3 Months6 Months1 Year Oldest FirstNewest First HKSS.com Forum Index -> Gossip and News All times are GMT - 8 Hours Page 1 of 1 Jump to: Select a forum Entertainment----------------All EntertainmentReviewsGossip and NewsIdol DiscussionsMusicMoviesTV Shows Non-Entertainment----------------General DiscussionsNew MembersFun and GamesReflections of LifeHobbies, TravelFood and CookingHelp!Websites HKSS.com----------------Announcements/ What's New?Help HKSS.comFeedback/ Contact HKSS.comWishlist You cannot post new topics in this forumYou cannot reply to topics in this forumYou cannot edit your posts in this forumYou cannot delete your posts in this forumYou cannot vote in polls in this forum Back to top Copyright © 1996-2014 HKSS.com™. All Rights Reserved. About | Link to HKSS.com | Advertise | Contact | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use Information and images accessed from this site are protected by international copyright and/or other intellectual property rights. You may infringe these rights if you download, copy, publish, distribute, transmit, or exploit such content without the explicit consent of HKSS.com. > Site design by yuenStudios.com (2006)


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Hank Shocklee "Turns Off His Brain" With Reason; Says "Public Enemy #1" Came From Pause Tape
Beatmaking Pioneer Says Propellerhead Reason's Possibilities and "Simplicity" Is Crucial; Tells How He and Public Enemy Created Their Own Sound After Shunning Radio Early On
|By AMIR SAID (SA'ID)
Earlier this year I was invited to Syracuse University's Replay Symposium on copyright law and Sampling. The event, which sought to explore the complex relationship between copyright law and policy and the art of sampling, was impressive, as it featured much more nuance and depth than I've typically found at these sort panel discussions. Equally rewarding was the fact that the event featured several knowledgeable (and "spirited") panelists. Among them, Hank Shocklee—veteran beatmaker/producer and leader of the infamous Bomb Squad production team of Public Enemy fame—often stood out.
After the symposium, I was able to speak with Hank Shocklee one on one. In our conversation, I found him to be someone who shares the same concern for the scholarship of beatmaking (especially the art of sampling) as I do. Moreover, I also recognized that his efforts in support of this concern were similar to mine own; we both in our own ways work to advance the importance of the study of beatmaking as a musical process. Thus, I wanted to share two recently released Propellerhead video interviews of Hank Shocklee, as I think each video does a great job in demonstrating the scholarship of beatmaking.
In the first video that I've included here, Hank Shocklee sits down with Propellhead and speaks about how their Reason software program has revolutionized his production methods and overall workflow. Specifically, he recounts how Dr:Rex, Redrum, and Kong gives him infinite manipulation possibilities. Shocklee's so impressed with Reason that he goes so far as to say that it allows him to "turn off his brain for a minute." (Some endorsement, huh.)
In the second video, Shocklee goes more into detail about his early start as beatmaker, revealing that he "stumbled across filtering." He also discusses how and why he intentionally broke from the common BPMs of the time. He also points out that the song "Public Enemy #1," Public Enemy's first hit, was actually spawned from a "pause tape," and that he "stumbled across" filtering.
For the purpose of scholarship...
Artist Interview: Hank Shocklee (Bomb Squad)
Artist Interview: Hank Shocklee (Bomb Squad) Bonus Footage
The BeatTips Manual by Sa'id.
"The most trusted source for information on beatmaking and hip hop/rap music education."


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ThemeForest Ultimo Fluid Responsive Magento Theme 3231798
Category: Site Template
ThemeForest Ultimo Fluid Responsive Magento Theme 3231798
Site Template \ eCommerce Theme \ Magento \ Shopping
Product \ Category \ Custom \ Products \ Version \ Display \ Magento \ Slideshow
eCommerce Theme - Ultimo Fluid Responsive Magento Theme 3231798 by infortis @ ThemeForest
Site Template \ eCommerce Theme \ Magento \ Shopping
Ultimo is a premium Magento theme with advanced admin module . It's extremely customizable, easy to use and fully responsive. Suitable for every type of store. Great as a starting point for your custom projects.
Compatible with Magento.
18.104.22.168, 18.104.22.168, 184.108.40.206, 22.214.171.124, 18.104.22.168, 126.96.36.199, 126.96.36.199, 22.214.171.124, 22.214.171.124, 126.96.36.199, 22.214.171.124, 220.127.116.11
You can change visual appearance of almost every element of this Magento theme.
No coding needed , all can be edited directly in admin panel. Select colors of dozens of elements using color pickers, set hundreds of options, apply textures for header, footer and for the entire page, upload background image and configure its properties (position, repeating, attachment), change font and font-size, and many many more…
Ultimo supports wide screens. In the admin panel you can select the maximum width of the page (from 1024 to 1680 pixels) or even specify your custom non-standard width .
Fluid width
Ultimo is optimized for all screen resolutions . If you resize web browser window, theme elements will be transformed smoothly on each breakpoint (from 240 to 1680 pixels) in order to adapt to the current screen size. Width of the page is fluid – theme uses 100% of available space (below specified maximum width) to display content [ demo3 ]. But you can also disable fluid width – in that case page width will change on breakpoints and will not take entire available space.
Fluid grid system
Ultimo can be displayed on any screen.
It is based on fluid grid system (12-column)
so it always uses entire available space
of the screen to display content.
You can use the grid system to
build custom content .
Home page sections
Areas for custom content.
- Customizable slideshow
- Additional banners for slideshow
(left or right side)
- "Preface", block for custom content
above the columns
- Left column, contains 3 custom blocks
- Main content area for any custom content,
such as product sliders, banners etc.
- Right column, contains 3 custom CMS blocks
- "Postscript", another block for custom content
below the columns
You can choose the layout of the home page: one, two or three columns. Display custom content in multiple sidebar blocks. Enable/disable Magento's default sidebar blocks.
Clean and readable product page – your customers can easily find all important information.
Configurable width of the main columns, prominent brand logo (with link to other products), product image (customizable size) with Cloud Zoom and lightbox, tabs smoothly turning into accordion on narrow screens, additional custom tabs and CMS blocks, sliders for related and up-sell products, social bookmarks, customizable product options… In short – adjust product page to suit your needs.
Customize the display of products grid in category view. Set one of these options
1) hide , 2) show 3) show only on mouse hover – for the following elements: "Add to cart" button, ratings (stars), "Add to wishlist" and "Add to compare" links.
Show/Hide/Show on mouse hover
Each of the following elements can be displayed
on mouse hover or completely removed.
- "Add to wishlist" and "Add to compare" links
- Product name
- Ratings (stars) and number of reviews
- Price
- "Add to cart" button
Additional grid options
Set custom number of columns (products in a row): 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 or 7 for default screen resolution.
On wider (or narrower) screens the number of columns will automatically adapt to the current resolution (it will also adapt itself whenever the size of the web browser window is changed). For example, on wide screens the number of columns will be automatically increased to show more products in a row.
Switch between 2 styles of the drop-down menu: wide [ demo ] or classic [ demo ]. In wide menu you can display links in 4-8 columns. You can also display your custom content in a drop-down block. Colors are fully customizable.
1. Create custom sub-themes
Unlike many other themes, Ultimo lets you create your custom sub-themes (theme variants). You can create season-specific designs to change the look of your store for holidays, Christmas etc.
That's very useful and very easy because Ultimo is independent from Magento's "default" theme – it's a separate design package (not a variant of Magento's "default" theme). The most important advantages.
- custom sub-themes are upgrade-proof
- less code to maintain
- selected functionality can be shared between many themes
2. Starting point for custom project
Ultimo can serve as a great foundation to implement individual designs for your clients.
3. No Magento core files were modified
All layout modifications are stored in local.xml so all of the original layout files are kept intact.
- Customizable design - change the visual appearance of almost every element
- Unlimited colors – change colors of dozens of elements, apply textures, upload custom background images
- Google Fonts – integration with Google Fonts
- Custom font stack – ability to select standard web-safe fonts (e.g. Arial, Verdana) or define custom font stack (e.g.: Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif )
- Responsive [on/off] – responsive layout can be disabled if you prefer non-responsive websites
- Customizable responsive layout – select maximum width of the page (from 1024 to 1680 pixels) or specify your custom width
- 12-column fluid grid system – easy to use grid system will help you build content of your custom pages
- Fluid page width – if fluid width is enabled, theme will always use entire available space of the screen to display content. It can adapt to any screen resolution. If disabled, page width will only be changed on predefined breakpoints (from 240 to 1680 pixels).
- 2 menu styles - enable mega drop-downs with rich content or simple classic drop-downs – individually for each category
- Multi-level – multi-level mega drop-downs
- Multiple custom content blocks – add any content (images, text, HTML) inside drop-down menus for any category
- Custom blocks in mobile menu – custom content can be displayed in the mobile menu
- Customizable size – edit height of the menu bar, adjust width and number of columns inside drop-down menus
- Accordion (mobile menu) – on mobile devices the menu turns into a collapsible accordion. Set the value of the web browser wievport width below which the menu turns into accordion
- Category labels – eye-catching labels for categories (customizable colors ant text)
- Custom links – display custom links in the main menu bar and use it as a menu for CMS pages (categories can be completely removed from the menu, if needed)
- Fully customizable colors
- Sidebar menu – display sidebar menu (collapsible accordion) on selected pages. Enable it individually for: category pages, home page, CMS pages, product pages. Choose between left or right sidebar. Sidebar menu can also be displayed via shortcode in any CMS block and on any page.
- Depth of the sidebar menu – control how many levels in the hierarchy of categories are to be included in the menu
- Starting category – sidebar menu will only contain children (subcategories) of the selected parent category
- Hide on mobile devices – sidebar menu can be hidden on mobile devices (if browser viewport is narrower than 768 pixels)
- Fluid product grid – select the number of products displayed in a single row on category pages. Display from 2 to 8 products per row. On wide screens the number of columns will be automatically increased to show more products in a row
- Product grid on mobile devices – additionally control the number of products displayed if browser viewport width is below: 640 px, 768 px and 480 px.
- Customizable product grid – configure the display of the following elements of the grid: product name, price, "Add to cart" button, ratings (stars), "Add to wishlist" and "Add to compare" links.
Elements can be: 1) always visible, 2) visible only on mouse hover, 3) or completely removed
- Centered or left-aligned – align grid elements to the center or to the left
- Size of elements – control the size of the elements: product name, button, product labels
- Alternative images – show alternative product images on mouse hover (in category view and in product sliders)
- Equal height – items in the product grid can be aligned vertically to improve the layout
- Image aspect ratio – keep the aspect ratio of product images (upload images of any dimensions, not necessarily square)
- Sidebar category menu – configure additional menu (see section above)
- Brand logo on product page. Logo can be a link to any page (to category with products from that brand, to search results or to any custom CMS page). Alternatively brand names can be displayed instead of logo images
- Customizable image size on product page. Specify any size you like, images don't have to be square – you can keep the aspect ratio
- Cloud Zoom + Lightbox – product image zoom. Use one of those methods or both at a time. Cloud Zoom can be displayed inside or outside the main image.
- Product image gallery – enable/disable gallery mode in the Lightbox (previous/next buttons)
- Image thumbnail slider – enable automatic scrolling, control speed
- Tabs/accordion – tabs smoothly turns into accordion on narrow screens
- "Additional Information" tab for individual product attributes - create and display custom product attributes
- 2 tabs for custom content – ready to display any static content: info about shipping, returns, sales, promotions or any other general information
- Tabbed reviews - show product reviews on product page to improve SEO
- Replace Related Products and Up-sell Products blocks with custom content. Replace completely or replace only if the product does not have any related/up-sell products. Or disable those blocks completely with just one click
- Automatic scrolling of product sliders – enable automatic scrolling for Up-sell Products and Related Products
- Lazy loading – if enabled for product sliders, images outside of viewport will not be loaded (to improve performance) before user scrolls to them
- Home page slideshow - image slideshow can be displayed on any CMS page and in any static block with simple shortcode. Show any content in your slides (clickable or non-clickable images, complex HTML, anything), add captions above images.
- Slideshow + banners – additional small banners can be disabled at the right or left side of the slideshow
- Full width slideshow - home page slideshow can be configured to span the full width of the page
- Hide slideshow on mobile devices – ability to hide slideshow or slideshow banners on mobile devices
- 1, 2, 3 columns layout – you can choose the layout of the home page: 1, 2 or 3 columns. Display custom content in multiple sidebar blocks. Enable/disable Magento's default sidebar blocks on home page.
- List of categories on home page – display category menu (see section: Sidebar Menu)
- Brand slider - show all product brands on the home page (or on any other CMS page)
- Responsive custom columns - compose page content with ease using built-in grid system
- Customizable product sliders on any page – display fully customized product sliders on any CMS page and inside any CMS block. Configure the number of products, size of product images, scrolling speed, automatic or manual scrolling, display pagination, hide "Add to cart" buttons
- Two types of sliders - "Featured Products" and "New Products"
- Responsive sliders - full control over the number of products in a row visible with a particular browser viewport width
- Multiple sliders – show multiple product sliders on a single page
- Random products - display random products in the "Featured Products" slider
- Lazy loading – if enabled, images outside of viewport will not be loaded (to improve performance) before user scrolls to them
- One-click import - import CMS blocks and pages with sample content from the demo
- 50+ CMS blocks - content placeholders (in Magento called static blocks ) ready to display custom content in almost every part of the store. Using these placeholders you are able to insert your content into product page, shopping cart, checkout, header, footer, CMS pages etc. Everything edited from the admin panel
- Multi-level footer – compose your page footer using predefined CMS blocks (placeholders) or with built-in grid system. Put there your links, latest news, company info or any other custom content
- Social services bookmarks – social widgets can be easily added to any section (product page, footer, header etc.) using any of the CMS blocks
- "New" and "Sale" labels - mark your products with eye-catching labels. Text on the labels can be easily translated to other languages
- Override default Magento header and footer links - those links are hard-coded in Magento but with this theme you can easily replace them with your custom links
General Info
- 200-pages user guide PDF - the best Magento theme documentation
on ThemeForest
- Multi-language ready – this theme can work with any language installed in your Magento
- Multi-store ready – applicable for multi-store Magento installations.
Please note that in multi-domain installations multiple licenses are required (one license per domain): themeforest.net/licenses
- Optimized, well-structured and commented CSS
- PSD files included (with basic layout structure + all interface icons for easy customization)
- Sample images in the live preview are for demo purposes only and are not included with the theme. Product images courtesy of: nelly.com
After purchase, all updates are free of charge.
We guarantee that we will continue to update and improve this theme to keep it the best theme for Magento. Please take a look at the list of updates to see how fast Ultimo evolves.
Next update .
Around January 03-04, 2015
- full compatibility with new Magento 188.8.131.52
- improvements and new settings in category view
- improvements in product view
It will take us at least a few days to review all the changes in new Magento. Then we will need to test everything and implement all the changes in our theme.
Please note that we don't recommend to upgrade Magento yet.
Soon after major release there is usually another minor update so probably you will soon have to upgrade again to Magento 184.108.40.206. Running the latest release is fairly unpredictable. It usually takes a few weeks for bugs in Magento to be identified and resolved in new releases. Do not upgrade your Magento yet.
Another updates .
Around February 15, 2015
- improvements and new layout settings in product view
- new layout settings in header
- improvements in mobile view
- additional color settings
(re-download Ultimo theme to see the full log in Changelog.txt)
Version 1.10.4 (November 15, 2014)
- additional features for rich snippets on product page:.
- support for bundle products
- support for different price types: price range, "As low as", fixed price
- display prices including/excluding tax
- incorrect position of quantity box on product page when user clicks a link to update product details
Version 1.10.3 (September 30, 2014)
- in new version of Safari on iOS8, product grid in category view was sometimes displayed incorrectly (each row should have the same number of products, but sometimes products dropped to another row). It was caused by this bug in Safari.
Version 1.10.2 (September 20, 2014)
- rich snippets
- incorrect clearing of floats on product page (downloadable products)
Version 1.10.1 (September 11, 2014)
- updated Quick Start Package
- decreased the value of System > Configuration > Theme Design > Page > Inner Container > Side Padding
- if top links are disabled, the main tab "Account" in mobile header is not displayed
- in mobile header labels of the main tabs ("Menu", "Search" etc.) are not translatable
- "back to top" button on HiDPI screens has incorrect icon
Version 1.10.0 (September 09, 2014)
- mobile header: improved layout of the header for mobile devices
- sticky menu
- font icons
- additional color and design settings
- "Add to cart" button on product page incorrectly aligned in IE and old versions of Safari
- price and ratings don't disappear when disabled in grid mode in the category view
Version 1.9.4 (August 08, 2014)
- slideshow transition effects (from OwlCarousel plugin) don't work in Chrome 36.x because of changes which were made in that version of Chrome (support for both CSS properties: "-webkit-transform" and "transform").
Version 1.9.0 (June 26, 2014)
In this version there were big improvements in the main menu. Structure of the menu was significantly simplified and the CSS styles are now much more consistent and cleaner.
- menu bar.
- editable height of the menu bar
- ability to add multiple custom links to the menu
- ability to add multiple custom drop-down boxes to the menu
- ability to make a category link not clickable (so that it only serves to show/hide a drop-down box)
- drop-down boxes.
- ability to enable mega drop-downs and classic drop-downs in the same menu
- multi-level mega drop-downs
- editable width of the drop-downs
- editable number of columns with subcategories in mega drop-down
- much better control over proportions between sections in mega drop-down (between category blocks and subcategories)
- ability to enable/disable shadow of the drop-downs
- mobile menu and category blocks.
- category blocks with custom content can be displayed in the mobile menu
- additional category block displayed at the left side of the subcategories in the mega drop-down
- mobile menu menu can be collapsed/opened on page load
- size of the product image in cart view ignores "Keep Image Aspect Ratio" option
- disappearing mini-cart in Safari if products with options are visible in the mini-cart
- newsletter sign up form validation message (pop-up) is not responsive on mobile devices
Version 1.8.1 (June 05, 2014)
- scope switcher is now displayed in configuration import section in admin panel, even when there's only one store view in Magento
Version 1.8.0 (May 29, 2014)
- ability to import/export color presets with one click
Version 1.7.1 (May 20, 2014)
- compatibility with Magento 220.127.116.11. If you are not using Magneto 22.214.171.124, you can ignore this update.
- Quick Start Package based on Magento 22.214.171.124
Version 1.7.0 (April 03, 2014)
- static block on product page below image gallery
- display number of products in category in sidebar menu
- brands.
- support for language specific symbols and characters (e.g. letters with diacritical marks) in brand names. These symbols will be properly replaced with letters from latin alphabet to create correct path to a brand image file.
- select a character (e.g., hyphen) which will be used as a word separator in the names of brand image files and in links to custom brand pages
- module will check if brand image exists. If file doesn't exist, there will be no info about brand.
- optionally, if brand image doesn't exist, it can be replaced with brand name (simple text). This option is useful for stores which can't display logos of all brands, e.g., because of copyright restrictions.
- brand logo can be a link to advanced search results, to quick search results or to custom page.
- brand sliders.
- display all brands or only selected subset
- display multiple brand sliders with different subset of brands in each slider
- select subset of brands directly in the admin panel or via parameter in the slider shortcode
- optionally, display in the slider only those brands, that are currently assigned to any products (or to products which are not out of stock)
- main menu: no support for touchscreens if "classic" style of the menu is enabled
- incorrect display of product labels if product slider is inside main menu drop-down
Version 1.6.1 (January 23, 2014)
- Quick Start Package based on Magento 188.8.131.52
- slideshow: set automatic scrolling speed
- slideshow: set bottom and top margin
- main menu: increased value of z-index property of the hovered item to cover the shadow of the drop-down box
- shadow for the main menu bar can be enabled/disabled individually (in System > Configuration > Theme Design > Effects, if "Content Area Shadow" is enabled)
- decreased font size in large custom icons which display characters as icons (class i-char )
- support for IE10/IE11 slideshow transition effects
- incorrect position of slideshow captions in IE9 (or earlier)
- sidebar menu: category ID entered in the "parent" parameter is ignored
- in Firefox main menu drop-down (wide menu mode) is 1-2 pixels narrower than the menu bar (depends on width of the browser window)
Version 1.6.0 (January 09, 2014)
- slideshow
- display multiple custom slideshows on any page with simple block code (shortcode)
- full width slideshow on home page
- new effects for transition between slides
- configure color and position of slideshow navigation elements (pagination and arrows)
- product sliders
- configure size of product images in sliders
- control speed of scrolling animation (different speed applied for automatic scrolling and for scrolling with arrows)
- display pagination
- brand slider
- control speed of scrolling animation (different speed applied for automatic scrolling and for scrolling with arrows)
- properties of the brand slider can be controlled with parameters in block code
- display pagination
- lazy loading in sliders (product sliders, brand slider, thumbnail slider) – if enabled, images outside of viewport will not be loaded before user scrolls to them
- set automatic scrolling for Related Products and Up-Sell Products sliders
- additional settings for thumbnail slider on product page (product images gallery)
- jQuery plugin Flexslider was replaced with Owl Carousel plugin
- better support for touch-screen devices: sliders behave more like in native apps
- small changes in block code of Featured Products Slider, New Products Slider and Brand Slider
- slideshow: better support for "smooth height" (if slides do not have the same height, the height of the slideshow will be animated smoothly)
- images in home page slideshow and elements of product sliders (e.g. product name) may disappear in Chrome after scrolling outside the viewport and getting back inside the viewport (it was caused by a bug in Flexslider plugin, plugin was removed)
- arrows in sliders do not work instantly on touch-screen devices (but on second "click") because of CSS hover styles
- product images gallery on product page doesn't work correctly if no product image was selected as "main" image
Version 1.5.10 (December 23, 2013)
- compatibility with Magento 188.8.131.52. If you are not using Magneto 22.214.171.124, you can ignore this update.
Version 1.5.9 (December 02, 2013)
- no flickering/highlighting in Safari browser when user taps a product grid item in category view or a top-level category in main menu
- form fields too big on old webkit browsers (e.g. Android Browser)
- search form not aligned in the center on some webkit browsers (e.g. Android Browser) if browser viewport is below 768px.
Version 1.5.8 (November 13, 2013)
- Updated and improved User Guide PDF – download the latest version!
- parameter "breakpoints" for product sliders: number of items in a row can be assigned to specific width of the screen. Add any number of breakpoints.
- enable/disable animation (during web browser window resizing) of the main structural elements of the page layout. Disabled animation improves page layout while resizing web browser viewport.
- additional CSS classes to control grid units layout
- control size of the elements of the product grid items in category view: product labels, product name, button. By default size of the elements is automatically decreased when browser viewport is narrow.
- improved main menu display: no flickering while loading mobile menu on mobile devices
- improved hover effect of product grid/list items in category view: buttons don't overlap other elements if Equal Height is enabled; alternative image immediately disappears on mouse out;
- alternative image doesn't work in list mode in category view
- button "Submit" in reviews tab on product page not aligned to the left side
- related products title on product page not aligned with tabs (if displayed in the same line)
- incorrect date range calculation for product labels
Version 1.5.7 (November 02, 2013)
- improved display of main menu drop-down boxes on touch screens
- additional font options for the main menu for 1st-level and 2nd-level items (font size, uppercase/lowercase)
- add vertical space between main sections of the page (header, main menu, footer etc.)
- select additional character sets for integrated Google Fonts via admin panel
- hide "Add to…" links in category view if browser viewport width is below selected value
- change background color of the product grid/list items in category view
- new individual color options for page sections: top of the header, secondary footer
- additional design options for main menu: specify outer background color; configure line (width and color) at the bottom of the menu bar and at the top of the drop-down boxes;
- "home" link in main menu can be displayed as a single icon or as a standard menu item
- parameter "move" for product sliders: number of items that should move on animation
- increased and unified width of the form buttons (Log In, Create Account etc.)
- increased margin of main sidebars
- improved page layout on mobile devices: increased page side margins, outer background color hidden (if exists)
- improved layout of newsletter form on mobile devices
- incorrect layout of "Orders and Returns" page
- "Recurring Profile" tab not displayed for products with recurring profile
- double "Add to…" links on product page when updating wishlist item
- possible "jumping" of product grid items if product have alternative image enabled
- search bar too wide on narrow screens (below 480px)
- IE8: collapsible blocks in the footer are collapsed by default
- IE9, IE10: form fields not visible if browser viewport is below 768px
Version 1.5.6 (October 15, 2013)
- Compatibility with Magento 22.214.171.124. If you are not using
Magneto 22.214.171.124, you can ignore this update.
Version 1.5.5 (September 23, 2013)
- Sidebar Menu: enable sidebar menu (through admin panel) individually for: category view, home page, CMS pages, product pages (choose between left or right sidebar).
- Sidebar Menu: ability to fallback to root category if current category doesn't exist. This option is useful if sidebar menu should be displayed on pages with no current category (on pages other than category view) such as home page.
- Sidebar Menu: alternative block title will be used if current category doesn't exist.
- If sidebar menu not enabled in System > Configuration > Menu > Sidebar Menu > Enable, then all sidebar menus are disabled, even if added with block code {{block…}}
Version 1.5.4 (September 20, 2013)
- Sidebar Menu: new option "Parent of current category (no siblings)" – show the current category. Other categories from the same level as the current category will be ignored.
- Sidebar Menu: use variable (which will be replaced with the name of the current category) inside the block title to create dynamic titles of the block.
- double bullets in Customer Account menu.
- Sidebar Menu: "Parent Category" options ignored if flat categories enabled in Magento.
- duplicated content on product review pages.
- elements of the toolbar (pager, sorter etc.) in category view not aligned properly.
Version 1.5.3-c (September 10, 2013)
- price in bundle products is not automatically updated: missing semicolon in the CloudZoom plugin is causing JavaScript errors on product page.
Version 1.5.3-b (September 05, 2013)
- some icons not displayed on high-resolution (retina) screen devices.
Version 1.5.3 (September 04, 2013)
- select position of the search bar in the header and set additional line break to improve the layout of cart drop-down and other elements
- limit sidebar menu to subcategories of current category
- define depth of the subcategories in sidebar menu (independent from the main menu)
- product grid.
- improved layout of the product grid in category view
- more options for displaying elements of the product grid on mouse hover
- hide long product names in category view
- align products to the center
- product labels and buttons are shrinked automatically if many products in a row (also in product sliders)
- control the number of columns displayed if browser viewport width is below: 640 px, 768 px, 480 px.
- product sliders.
- align products to the center
- product labels and buttons are shrinked automatically if many products in a row (can be forced with parameter)
- display SKU on product page
- upload separate background image for the header
- set double patterns (in two layers) for background of the header and the footer
- color settings: header icons (cart, compare), search box
- a few additional social icons and interface icons added to image sprites
- select weight of the Google Fonts
- color of the drop-down arrows in the header and main menu is now the same as text color so they are always visible on any background
- image slideshow on home page: height animation is now optional. It can be enabled when slides have different height.
- layout of the cookie restrictions info block
- too long address field in checkout (on mobile devices) if user logged in
- category filter displayed even if disabled in categories which are not set to "Is Anchor"
- product in the slider aligned to the center if only one product in the slider
- parameters added to URLs (e.g. by AddThis widget: www.example.com/#.87×2W) break the JavaScript on the page
- CloudZoom plugin: unnecessary requests to load non-exsisting resources (plugin was replaced with correct version: js/infortis/jquery/plugins)
- improved layout of the image slideshow on home page (the default size of slides has changed a little bit, see the table in the user guide for details)
- improved CSS transitions of the main menu drop-downs and slideshow
Version 1.5.2-d (August 27, 2013)
- in webkit browsers drop-down boxes in the main menu (in all styles: wide and classic) are sometimes displayed behind the slideshow on home page.
Version 1.5.2-c (August 26, 2013)
- in Chrome drop-down boxes in the main menu (classic style) are displayed behind the slideshow on home page
Version 1.5.2-b (July 26, 2013)
- images inside category blocks in menu were not retrieved via https on secure pages
- removed default rounded borders in form fields on iOS
- updated template file of the mini cart in patch for Magento 1.5.x
Version 1.5.1 (June 07, 2013)
- when responsive layout is disabled, zoom may not work correctly on mobile devices
- when viewing the website on an iPad it doesn't scroll smoothly
Version 1.5.0 (June 05, 2013)
- enable/disable responsive layout
- empty cart can be hidden on mobile devices (if browser viewport is narrower than 480 pixels)
- integration with all available Google Fonts
- select font stacks (of standard fonts, such as Verdana, Arial etc.)
- define custom font stack
- select number of columns in products sliders and brand slider
- display custom links in the main menu
- set the value of the web browser wievport width below which the main menu turns into a mobile menu
- additional color options, e.g. tabs and "Add to…" links on product page, interface icons
- retina-ready icons (more will be added soon)
- improved/simplified theme admin panel: no need to manually refresh CSS anymore
- reorganized and improved CSS files
- small layout and design improvements on product page
- new additional layout of related products
- alternative product image is displayed on mouse hover over the item, not over the image itself
- brand logo: space in the link to search results (if there is a space in the brand name) was replaced by "+"
- modified HTML markup of custom icons (including social icons)
- minor changes in the header static blocks
- color of the header drop-down boxes can't be changed (and is the same as color of the menu drop-downs)
- product image is cut off in product sliders if width of the slider is not full-page
Version 1.4.0 (April 08, 2013)
- Mega Menu with custom content blocks – add any content (images, text, HTML) inside category drop-down menu, for every 1st-level and 2nd-level category
- eye-catching labels for categories in the menu
- ability to disable main menu completely
- main menu font size settings
- "compare" block at the top of the page
- search box color settings
- additional footer color setings
- simplified footer – it is possible to disable all blocks to show minimalistic footer
- footer columns displayed as accordions on mobile devices
- reorganized and improved drop-down menus: language and currency switchers, mini cart, "compare" block
- reorganized and improved user guide
- minor CSS improvements
- width of the page calculation (IE8)
- category view: incorrect display of grid with hover effect (IE8)
- category view: incorrect display of "out of stock" with hover effect
- can't display two product labels at a time
- related products slider: product cut off when screen is narrow
Version 1.3.2 (February 04, 2013)
- alternative image on product hover in the grid view and in the home page product sliders
- scroll to top button
- enable/disable gallery mode in the lightbox on product page
- fade-out on hover: brand logo in the brand slider and image in the home page slideshow (if the image is an anchor)
Version 1.3.1 (January 18, 2013)
- ability to add top margin for the home page slideshow
Version 1.3.0 (January 17, 2013)
- brand slider
- brand logo image on product page can be replaced with brand name (simple text)
- more layout options for the home page: 2 columns (with left or right sidebar) and 3 columns
- new CMS blocks for custom content on the home page
- additional banners at the side of the image slideshow (on the home page) – you can make the slideshow narrower
- ability to hide slideshow or slideshow banners on mobile devices
- multiple Featured Products slider on single page
- "Sign Up" link is added automatically (in Magento's Top Links) if customer is not logged in
- documentation improvements
Version 1.2.0 (December 02, 2012)
- reorganized and improved documentation
- improved main menu for mobile devices: menu displayed as an accordion
- block with the list of categories at the top of the left sidebar
- list of categories can be hidden on mobile devices
- list of categories can be displayed on custom blocks and pages
Version 1.1.0 (November 16, 2012)
- compatibility with Magento 1.5.x
- customize the display of category grid elements, e.g. hide/show/show-on-hover: "Add to cart" button, ratings (stars), "Add to wishlist" button etc.
- enable/disable equal height of items in categoty grid
- "New" and "Featured" products sliders: set number of items that should move on animation
- "New" and "Featured" products sliders: ability to hide "Add to cart" buttons
- customizable colors for social icons and product labels ("new", "sale")
- caption for slides in home page slideshow (import static blocks to see examples)
Version 1.0.1 (October 22, 2012)
- responsive layout settings are individual for each store view
- import home page with banners examples
Last Update: 17 November 14; High Resolution: Yes; Compatible Browsers: IE8, IE9, IE10, IE11, Firefox, Safari, Opera, Chrome; Software Version: Magento 220.127.116.11, Magento 188.8.131.52, Magento 184.108.40.206, Magento 188.8.131.52, Magento 184.108.40.206, Magento 22.214.171.124, Magento 184.108.40.206, Magento 184.108.40.206, Magento 184.108.40.206, Magento 220.127.116.11, Magento 22.214.171.124, Magento 22.214.171.124; ThemeForest Files Included: Layered PSD, PHP Files, CSS Files, JS Files; Columns: 4+; Documentation: Well Documented; Layout: Responsive.
Fortis - Responsive OpenCart Theme; Fortis - Responsive Magento Theme.
Keywords: Premium Magento Theme, clean, clothes, customizable, fashion, flat, fluid, magento, magento template, magento theme, mobile, modern, multipurpose, responsive magento theme, unlimited colors.


text:
DETROIT, March 11 (UPI) -- A federal jury found former Detroit Mayor Kwuame Kilpatrick and his friend guilty of federal racketeering and extortion charges Monday.
The jury, however, could not reach a decision on the racketeering charges against Kilpartrick's father, Bernard Kilpatrick, WXYZ-TV, Detroit, said.
Kilpatrick and his friend, Bobby Ferguson, could face up to 20 years in prison.
Attorneys for Kilpatrick and the co-defendants oversaw nearly 70 days of testimony from witnesses who claimed the former mayor and his allies used the mayor's office as a for-profit enterprise to benefit themselves, WWJ-TV, Detroit, reported.
After 14 full days of deliberation in the former mayor's federal corruption trial, the jury announced verdicts Monday morning. The jury reached a unanimous decision on 40 of 45 counts, WDIV-TV-TV, Detroit, said.
Several media outlets reported the verdict was reached Friday but the jury decided to go home for the weekend to see if any jurors changed their minds by Monday morning.
Judge Nancy Edmunds read the verdict, rather than the jury foreperson reading the verdict.


text:
SHEBOYGAN, Wis. -- Republicans and Gov. Scott Walker spent months and millions of dollars on ads in the divisive recall election telling Wisconsin voters that the state is on the economic upswing _ a strong dose of good news that even Mitt Romney backers acknowledge helps the incumbent, President Barack Obama.
Nearly $59 million of pro-Walker advertising leading up to June's recall vote hardened the right-track perception in this Midwest state, where the unemployment rate ticked down last month to 7.3 percent, well below the national average of 7.8.
Two weeks before Election Day, Romney faces the task of convincing voters that things aren't really looking up in Wisconsin as Walker has argued _ or even though they are, four years of Obama's policies had nothing to do with it.
It's a challenge in Wisconsin, Ohio and elsewhere in the nation's midsection, where resurgent state economies and the federal government's 2009 bailout of Chrysler and General Motors are lifting Obama and some of his Democratic allies running for Senate after the Republican romp of 2010 claimed governorships, state legislatures and congressional seats.
In Indiana, Democratic Rep. Joe Donnelly has turned a taken-for-granted Republican Senate seat competitive in part because of the auto rescue package that is critical in Kokomo. His rival, Republican state treasurer Richard Mourdock, sued to block the bailout.
The outcome of these tight races will determine majority control of the Senate, currently a 53-47 Democratic advantage. Republicans need a net of four seats to take over if Obama is re-elected, three if Romney wins the presidency.
Polls show Obama with a slight lead in Wisconsin and Democratic Rep. Tammy Baldwin, whose fate is largely tied to Obama, locked in a close race with former four-term Republican Gov. Tommy Thompson.
"People think Wisconsin is headed in the right direction," said Kurt Bauer, the president and CEO of Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce, the state's chamber of commerce. "Unemployment is below the national average. We compare us with Illinois an awful lot and people feel generally good."
Unemployment in Illinois is at 8.8 percent and the state is struggling with a budget deficit and a downgrading from investors.
The Wisconsin organization spent heavily on behalf of Walker in the recall. The Republican governor, who won by seven percentage points, focused in his ads on the 30,000 jobs gained and elimination of the state deficit. "Let's keep moving Wisconsin forward," Walker told voters.
Bauer said it's ironic that it would help Obama, but general optimism tends to favor the incumbent. Crucial for Romney is for voters to make a distinction between Washington and Wisconsin, he said.
In Ohio, where unemployment dropped to 7 percent last month, Republican Gov. John Kasich has boasted about a resurgent state and job growth from the auto industry. That undercuts Romney's jobs-and-economy appeal and runs counter to Romney's opposition to the taxpayer-funded rescue package for the auto industry.
Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown has embraced the bailout in a state where the auto industry is responsible for one in eight jobs. In a campaign ad, Brown sat behind the wheel of a Chevy Cruze, ticking off all the parts built in Ohio. Republican challenger Josh Mandel spent months unwilling to take a stand on the bailout, until last week when he announced his opposition.
In neighboring Indiana, the federal bailout of Chrysler and General Motors meant more than sparing thousands of jobs that might have disappeared if the auto mainstays had gone bankrupt. Chrysler is now investing more than $1 billion to build fuel-efficient, eight-speed automatic transmissions in Kokomo, one of the largest infusions of cash since the auto company's rebirth.
"We think about where we were two years ago," said Rex Gingerich, who owns Chrysler and GM dealerships. "It was not a very bright future. It really has been a miracle."
Gingerich, a registered Republican, says he hasn't decided who he'll vote for in the Senate race _ three-term Rep. Donnelly, the local congressman and a strong proponent of the bailout, or Mourdock. As state treasurer, Mourdock more than opposed the Chrysler bailout, he sued to block it, arguing that it would undermine pensions for teachers and state police officers.
"He single-handedly tried to destroy the auto industry," Donnelly said in an interview. Donnelly cited his own work with the man Mourdock upended in the bitter Republican primary, six-term Sen. Richard Lugar, to save the auto sector.
Mourdock defends his actions in an ad in which he calls the bailout "unconstitutional and illegal" and boasts about taking on the federal government. Helping Chrysler, he says, "looted" the pensions of retired police officers and teachers.
For all the political potential of these Democrats, the reality is that four years after Obama's decisive win, opposition to the president and his party is fierce and relentless in large sections of the Midwest _ in coal country in southeast Ohio, in rural parts of northeast Wisconsin.
Just off Interstate 43, close to Sheboygan, an anti-Obama billboard delivers a simple message: "We the people built this country, don't let Obama destroy it."
The Senate race in the state pits Tommy vs. Tammy _ the former governor who left office in 2001 to serve as secretary of Health and Human Services in President George W. Bush's administration and the seven-term liberal congresswoman who is popular in the state capital of Madison and surrounding counties of her southern district.
In 2010, a watershed year for Republicans with Walker's triumph and Ron Johnson's ousting of Democratic Sen. Russ Feingold, Baldwin collected 191,164 votes, the second most of any House Democratic candidate nationwide. Washington state Rep. Jim McDermott was first.
Thompson is considered an institution in Wisconsin, but a rough, costly four-way Republican primary forced him to spend weeks regrouping and raising money late this summer while Baldwin and outside Democratic groups pummeled him in television ads that made him look older than his 70 years.
"Tommy Thompson should be the decided favorite," said Bob Ziegelbauer, a Democrat-turned-independent and Manitowoc County executive. "He's been slow to awaken the old Tommy. There's been a little rust on the campaign machine. When he does wake up, he should be fine."
In the final weeks to the election, Thompson has been appealing to voters by insisting he is the one politician in the state who needs no introduction.
"You all know me as Tommy," Thompson recently told some two dozen workers at Grover Corp., a Milwaukee company that manufactures piston rings for compressors and other non-automatic equipment. "Ninety percent of the people in Wisconsin know me just as Tommy. They know what I did as governor."
He focuses on the pragmatic accomplishments of his roughly 14 years in office but makes a point of bemoaning government spending, a critical concern of tea partyers and an issue that contemporary Republicans can't afford to ignore.
Thompson jokes that the numerous highways built when he was governor have reduced Wisconsin seasons to two _ winter and highway construction. At a candidate debate, he argues for his 15 percent flat tax plan, explaining that it's so simple the average Wisconsin taxpayer could calculate it during halftime of a Green Bay Packers-Chicago Bears game.
Yet the soft-spoken Baldwin is running even, casting herself as more attuned to the needs of the middle class than Thompson, who ran for president in 2008 and has been a partner with the Washington, D.C., law firm of Akin Gump.
"It all gets down to whose side are you on, the people or the powerful," the 50-year-old Baldwin said at a debate in Wausau. If elected to the seat now held by retiring Sen. Herb Kohl, Baldwin would be the first openly gay member of the Senate.
In Sheboygan, a county Obama narrowly lost in 2008 and Walker handily won in 2010, a number of voters are still uncertain.
"I always liked Tommy and what he did," said Kevin Swanson, one of the owners of Esell, an online auction service.
Swanson remain undecided however, determined to follow-up on the claims he saw in one campaign ad about Baldwin and her record on Israel. Fresh in his mind is his wife's experience as a county employee and Walker's push to end collective bargaining rights for most public workers, an issue now for the courts.
Maddison McKinch, an 18-year-old student at Lakeland College, said both candidates have strengths and weaknesses but she hasn't decided. She is certain that she's voting for Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney.
"I'm Republican but not straight party line," she said.