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September 2008
Forging Community Partnerships
Mobilizing community support has been a key strategy in how these schools develop rich programs for students. A spirit of entrepreneurship inspires their lead administrators to devote time and energy to build partnerships with students' families, universities, and civically minded businesses and nonprofit organizations. These proactive principals reach out to the community to garner resources. For many of these magnet schools, innovative curriculum is enhanced through internship programs sponsored by community businesses and local universities. As NEM's founding principal Jim McNiece recalls, "I was on a first-name basis with anyone who I thought could help the school. We felt that we have to give kids a reason to get on the bus and travel 15 miles to come to our school. There has to be a really good program at the end of the bus ride." He developed a 10-year active partnership with the Boeing Company, which donated money, equipment, trained staff, and mentored students. When Boeing changed its funding priorities, McNiece started anew with Raytheon Company, local museums, and other organizations. "There is an ebb and flow to partnerships because they are based on individuals, connections, and relationships."
NEM is adjacent to Wichita State University (WSU). NEM high school students attend special science programs at WSU's engineering facility on a regular basis and have access to equipment and software there. Juniors and seniors can attend WSU art classes and exhibit their work in shows at the Wichita Art Museum, Wichita Center for the Arts, and other public and private galleries.
Other partnerships magnet high schools develop are those that are dual-enrollment programs with local universities. Dual-credit courses enable students to accrue college credits while still in high school.12 At MLC, students can enroll in courses at Capital Community College and St. Joseph College with tuition and fees waived for one course each semester, provided they pass mathematics and English placement exams and have at least an 80 percent grade point average. Two schools have active advisory boards that leverage additional resources, similar to how a board of directors serves a nonprofit organization. The BTWHSPVA advisory board embarked on a capital campaign of $55 million to create a new facility on the original school site. As a result of this public-private partnership, the district, through local city bonds, has given $23 million, and the school has raised almost all of the remaining $32 million through private funds. The board includes 45 elected members who represent 34 local arts organizations. It also has helped the school develop community partnerships (see fig. 5 on p. 17), providing students with professional-level opportunities, such as performing with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra and taking master classes with renowned dance artists who serve as role models, providing inspiration.
Partnerships with industry to support career-focused magnet programs have kept some of these schools on the cutting edge of innovative education. At Bravo, student research projects with university faculty and researchers connect students to the medical world, and they have the opportunity to pursue a medical certification course, gaining hands-on experience from neighboring medical and research facilities. There are mutual benefits for the school and its partners: Students learn from real-world applications and are exposed to high-level research and professional learning opportunities; hospitals and organizations gain volunteers while investing in the education of future nurses, doctors, researchers, and technicians.
At DASH, all students complete a career design portfolio (see /admins/comm/choice/magnet-hs/edlite-figure6.htmlfig. 6 on p. 18) that includes creating a resume as a step towards getting an internship in the community. Linking school course work to real-world experience is a critical component of a DASH student's education. The school's robust internship program provides students with the opportunity to go and work in top-notch design firms and art galleries; there they can learn what one staff member describes as "things we could never teach them."
These schools also garner support from various kinds of parent involvement. For example, at BTWHSPVA, each arts cluster has a parent guild. The school's Theatre Guild, for example, has 100 members and, according to its president, "assists students and teachers in the cluster with whatever needs they have," including raising money for costumes and for students to attend performances outside of school. CSAS parents commit to a minimum of 18 volunteer hours and, in 2006, they dedicated more than 28,000 hours within the school.


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They also warn there's no quick fix to the phosphorus issue.
Jack Fisher, executive vice president of the Ohio Farm Bureau, knows that farmers must be involved in any plan to address the Lake Erie water crisis that shut down Toledo's taps for two days in August.
"We are fully admitting we are part of the situation here," Fisher said on AgriTalk this week during a panel discussion with Laura Moody of the Fertilizer Institute and Dean Lemke of the Agribusiness Association of Iowa. "We are causing some of the nutrient runoff here, and we are committed to do everything to fix it."
Runoff from agriculture, laws, yards, and more has resulted in high levels of dissolved phosphorus in Lake Erie, allowing toxic blue-green algae to thrive and threatening nearby cities' drinking water.
But Fisher also warned that reducing the amount of phosphorus won't happen overnight. Properly addressing the issue will require a mix of research, best practices, and education for farmers and the general public. "This is not a short-term fix," he said.
His fellow panelist Moody agreed. "This is something that takes decades," she said.
Listen to the full discussion here:
Part of the challenge is the size and scope of the agricultural community, whose farms vary in size, operations, and resources. That also made the panelists skeptical that greater regulation of farmers and runoff would result in better water quality in nearby lakes and rivers. "We have 88,000 farmers in Iowa alone," Lemke noted. "Do we really think the directives of command and control [that would come from regulation] will work at that scale?"
For Moody, the answer was no. "I think we really need to be careful not to mandate something that we may not know to be a clear-cut answer," she said.
Beef from 2 Whole Foods Stores Recalled
EPA, Rancher Settle Case over Destruction of California Wetlands

subset: commoncrawl


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On This Page
ToxFAQs™ for Manganese
October 2012
This fact sheet answers the most frequently asked health questions (FAQs) about manganese. For more information, call the ATSDR Information Center at 1-800-232-4636. This fact sheet is one in a series of summaries about hazardous substances and their health effects. It is important you understand this information because this substance may harm you. The effects of exposure to any hazardous substance depend on the dose, the duration, how you are exposed, personal traits and habits, and whether other chemicals are present.
Manganese is a trace element and eating a small amount from food or water is needed to stay healthy. Exposure to excess levels of manganese may occur from breathing air, particularly where manganese is used in manufacturing, and from drinking water and eating food. At high levels, it can cause damage to the brain. Manganese has been found in at least 869 of the 1,669 National Priorities List sites identified by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
What is manganese?
Manganese is a naturally occurring metal that is found in many types of rocks. Pure manganese is silver-colored, but does not occur naturally. It combines with other substances such as oxygen, sulfur, or chlorine. Manganese occurs naturally in most foods and may be added to some foods.
Manganese is used principally in steel production to improve hardness, stiffness, and strength. It may also be used as an additive in gasoline to improve the octane rating of the gas.
What happens to manganese when it enters the environment?
- Manganese can be released to the air, soil, and water from the manufacture, use, and disposal of manganese-based products.
- Manganese cannot break down in the environment. It can only change its form or become attached to or separated from particles.
- In water, manganese tends to attach to particles in the water or settle into the sediment.
- The chemical state of manganese and the type of soil determine how fast it moves through the soil and how much is retained in the soil.
- The manganese-containing gasoline additive may degrade in the environment quickly when exposed to sunlight, releasing manganese.
How might I be exposed to manganese?
- The primary way you can be exposed to manganese is by eating food or manganese-containing nutritional supplements. Vegetarians, who consume foods rich in manganese such as grains, beans and nuts, as well as heavy tea drinkers, may have a higher intake of manganese than the average person.
- Certain occupations like welding or working in a factory where steel is made may increase your chances of being exposed to high levels of manganese.
- Manganese is routinely contained in groundwater, drinking water, and soil at low levels. Drinking water containing manganese or swimming or bathing in water containing manganese may expose you to low levels of this chemical.
How can manganese affect my health?
Manganese is an essential nutrient, and eating a small amount of it each day is important to stay healthy.
The most common health problems in workers exposed to high levels of manganese involve the nervous system. These health effects include behavioral changes and other nervous system effects, which include movements that may become slow and clumsy. This combination of symptoms when sufficiently severe is referred to as "manganismâ€. Other less severe nervous system effects such as slowed hand movements have been observed in some workers exposed to lower concentrations in the work place.
Exposure to high levels of manganese in air can cause lung irritation and reproductive effects.
Nervous system and reproductive effects have been observed in animals after high oral doses of manganese.
How likely is manganese to cause cancer?
The EPA concluded that existing scientific information cannot determine whether or not excess manganese can cause cancer.
How can manganese affect children?
Studies in children have suggested that extremely high levels of manganese exposure may produce undesirable effects on brain development, including changes in behavior and decreases in the ability to learn and remember. We do not know for certain that these changes were caused by manganese alone. We do not know if these changes are temporary or permanent. We do not know whether children are more sensitive than adults to the effects of manganese, but there is some indication from experiments in laboratory animals that they may be.
Studies of manganese workers have not found increases in birth defects or low birth weight in their offspring. No birth defects were observed in animals exposed to manganese.
How can families reduce the risk of exposure to manganese?
- Children are not likely to be exposed to harmful amounts of manganese in the diet. However, higher-than-usual amounts of manganese may be absorbed if their diet is low in iron. It is important to provide your child with a well-balanced diet.
- Workers exposed to high levels of airborne manganese in certain occupational settings may accumulate manganese dust on their work clothes. Manganese-contaminated work clothing should be removed before getting into your car or entering your home to help reduce the exposure hazard for yourself and your family.
Is there a medical test to determine whether I've been exposed to manganese?
Several tests are available to measure manganese in blood, urine, hair, or feces. Because manganese is normally present in our body, some is always found in tissues or fluids.
Because excess manganese is usually removed from the body within a few days, past exposures are difficult to measure with common laboratory tests.
Has the federal government made recommendations to protect human health?
The EPA has determined that exposure to manganese in drinking water at concentrations of 1 mg/L for up to 10 days is not expected to cause any adverse effects in a child.
The EPA has established that lifetime exposure to 0.3 mg/L manganese is not expected to cause any adverse effects.
The FDA has determined that the manganese concentration in bottled drinking water should not exceed 0.05 mg/L.
The Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) has established a ceiling limit (concentration that should not be exceeded at any time during exposure) of 5 mg/m3 for manganese in workplace air.
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). 2012. Toxicological Profile for Manganese. Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service.
Where can I get more information?
If you have questions or concerns, please contact your community or state health or environmental quality department or:
For more information, contact:
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
Division of Toxicology and Human Health Sciences
1600 Clifton Road NE, Mailstop S102-1
Atlanta, GA 30333
Phone: 1-800-CDC-INFO · 888-232-6348 (TTY)
Email: Contact CDC-INFO
ATSDR can also tell you the location of occupational and environmental health clinics. These clinics specialize in recognizing, evaluating, and treating illnesses resulting from exposure to hazardous substances.
- Page last reviewed: March 3, 2011
- Page last updated: March 20, 2014
- Content source: Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry


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VENICE, Fla., June 20, 2006 -- PGT Industries has added a double hung window, French door and fixed casement window to its line of WinGuard® Impact-Resistant Windows and Doors with vinyl frames. This makes WinGuard with vinyl frames one of the most complete lines of impact-resistant windows and doors that meet code and energy requirements for eastern coastal states.
PGT is the nation's leading manufacturer and supplier of residential impact-resistant windows and doors.
"As the pioneers of impact-resistant windows and doors, all of our WinGuard products were originally and still are designed specifically for impact protection," said Cara Klein, PGT director of advertising and public relations. "We did not take standard windows and doors and simply modify them for impact protection.
" Standard features for the WinGuard Vinyl Series DH 560 include 7/8" laminated insulating glass, removable full screen, double weatherstripped interlocking tilt sashes and deluxe swivel locking hardware.
Design details for the Vinyl WinGuard Series FD 550 include 1" laminated insulating glass, fully weatherstripped frame and integral nail fin frame with 1" setback. Choose either single or double door configurations. Both are shipped fully assembled and include a corrosion resistant multi-point mortise lock system complete with hardware.
A complimentary addition to the WinGuard Casement Series CA 550 is the fixed configuration. It features 7/8" laminated insulating glass, with the same beveled exterior design as its operating companion. The entire line is custom-made and comes in a wide variety of sizes and options which include white or beige finish, high performance low-E glass and tints, 13/16" colonial insulating muntins and simulated divided lites.
Visit winguard.com or call 877-WinGuard for more information.
PGT® pioneered the U.S. impact-resistant window and door industry and today is the nation's leading manufacturer and supplier of residential impact-resistant windows and doors. PGT is also one of the largest window and door manufacturers in the United States. In its 26th year, the company employs approximately 2,600 at its manufacturing, glass laminating and tempering plants, and delivery fleet facilities in Venice, Fla., and Salisbury, N.C. Sold through a network of over 1,300 independent distributors, the company's total line of custom windows and doors is now available throughout the eastern United States, the Gulf Coast and in a growing international market, which includes the Caribbean, South America and Australia. PGT's product line includes PGT® Aluminum and Vinyl Windows and Doors; WinGuard® Impact-Resistant Windows and Doors; PGT® Architectural Systems; and Eze-Breeze® Sliding Panels. PGT Industries is a wholly owned subsidiary of PGT, Inc. (NASDAQ: PGTI).


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Mystery Writers of America is dedicated to promoting higher regard for crime writing and recognition, respect for those who write within the genre, and general literacy. As part of our mission, we've created this educator's page with links to mystery-based reading and writing learning exercises.
Where links are provided, the material has not been created by MWA and is not affiliated with MWA, though the sites were vetted by college-level educators at the time this page was created. All original material below has been created by educators who are also MWA members and is available for use and/or sharing with no restrictions.
Mystery Writing with Joan Lowery Nixon (Scholastic)
Area: Creative Writing
Age range: Appropriate for grades 4-8
Description: Joan Lowery Nixon was a famous children and young adult mystery author and four-time winner of the prestigious Edgar Award. This computer-based lesson begins with an excerpt from a Nixon short story, then describes the elements of a mystery, goes on to offer writing exercises and revision tips, and ends by giving students the opportunity to publish their self-written mystery on the Scholastic website.
Solving Mysteries! (Scholastic)
Area: Journalism
Age range: Appropriate for grades 3-5
Description (from website): Using the skills involved in solving mysteries, "students will learn about deductive reporting skills and how to reach logical conclusions while strengthening reading skills."
Exploring the Mystery Genre (Scholastic)
Area: Reading
Age range: Appropriate for grades 3-5
Description (from the website): "Mysteries are a wonderful vehicle for teaching critical thinking and deductive reasoning skills in an exciting and enjoyable way. This unit is a study of the mystery genre in which students will act as reading detectives. They will discover the elements of a mystery including the typical characters, the common plot structure, and the vocabulary that they will likely encounter in mystery writing. They will work in small detective groups to solve cases and will even write their own mysteries."
Murder Mystery Game
Area: Literature
Grade range: 9-12
Description (from the website): "The Murder Mystery Game is the culminating activity after reading Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None. Students will explain the process of elimination, demonstrate prediction skills, and show evidence of comprehension." Essentially, the instructor turns the high school into a living "Clue" board. Students go from classroom to classroom and earn clues by correctly answering questions about And Then There Were None. The first group to solve the mystery wins. Although the formatting isn't great on this website, this activity is a great example of active learning.
It's a Mystery to Me
Area: English (literature, expository, and creative writing)
Grade range: 9-12
Description (from the website): Detective fiction is a genre of writing that provides a wealth of opportunities to incorporate critical thinking strategies and to improve reading skills. The goals of the unit are to introduce more sophisticated adult literature, understand the elements of the genre of detective fiction, apply the scientific method and powers of observation, and practice in writing opinion, expository, and persuasive essays.
The most difficult selection is the first, "The Murders in the Rue Morgue" by Edgar Allan Poe. Since this is the pioneering detective story, it seems the appropriate place to begin. The strategy suggested with this selection is meant to acquaint students with the unique elements of this genre. Here the background information can be integrated with specific instruction to provide a good overview of classic detective fiction. The second selection, "The Red-Headed League" by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, is much easier to read and understand. Students are required to focus on Sherlock Holmes's powers of observation, which directly relate to his ability to make predictions about people and events. The final suggested reading is "And Then There Were None" by Agatha Christie. The task for this reading involves higher level thinking skills. Students are asked to develop a persuasive essay based on their interpretation of the appropriateness of the actions of Judge Wargrave.
Unsolved Mysteries: a WebQuest
Area: English (literature, expository, and creative writing)
Grade range: 9-12
Description (from the website): Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson often drew different conclusions from the same clues, the same pieces of information. They then looked for additional evidence to prove that something was true.
The process of solving a mystery and the process of writing a research paper have several things in common. Both require gathering and studying clues, evidence, and information; weeding out "red herrings" or irrelevant information; organizing thoughts; and presenting accurate conclusions.
You are a self-employed research writer. You have been hired by the Unsolved Mysteries Society to conduct background research for an upcoming documentary. It is very important for you to provide accurate information, because the people at the Unsolved Mysteries Society pride themselves on presenting nothing but facts. Your professional reputation (and your future paychecks!) will be affected by the quality of the report you produce for them.
Click here for the High School Curriculum
Click here for the Mystery Syllabi
If you have other mystery-related lesson plans you would like to share on this site, please contact Mystery Writers of America for consideration by our Education Committee.


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Sheet music downloads have become the preferred method of acquiring classical music repertoire. Created by professional musicians, EveryNote.com presents classical sheet music download of over 20.000 popular and hard-to-find music scores over 1000 composers. A major Internet provider of classical sheet music files download online, EveryNote.com offers the largest and most complete digital sheet music download library on the Web in the world. Instantly download, view and print your favorite classical music score. Everynote.com currently offers thousands of classical music compositions for Piano, Violin, Cello, Flute, Clarinet, Classical Guitar, Voice, Chamber and Choral music.Many more instruments, composers, genres added every day! EveryNote.com has been featured in The New York Times, Globe and Mail, Musical America and many other publications.
Francois Dagincourt
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Dagincourt short biography
An outstanding French composer and organist, Dagincourt was a student of Lebègue. Soon after completion of his musical studies Dagincourt accepted the position of organist of the Royal Chapel. Dagincourt's works remind compositions of François Couperin, whom Dagincourt admired. Dagincourt's best works introduce many innovative elements, a skillful use of ornamentation, as well as vivid exploration of rhythm.
More Piano sheet music download on EveryNote.com
Piano sheet music download on EveryNote.com
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Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly statement regarding cancellation of 2012-13 schedule through Nov. 30NHL.com @NHLdotcom
NEW YORK – NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly today issued the following statement regarding cancellation of the 2012-13 NHL regular-season schedule through Nov. 30:
"The National Hockey League deeply regrets having to take this action. By presenting a proposal to the NHLPA that contemplated a fair division of revenues and was responsive to Player concerns regarding the value of their contracts, we had hoped to be able to forge a long-term Collective Bargaining Agreement that would have preserved an 82-game Regular Season for our fans. Unfortunately, that did not occur.
"We acknowledge and accept that there is joint responsibility in collective bargaining and, though we are profoundly disappointed that a new agreement has not been attained to this point, we remain committed to achieving an agreement that is fair for the Players and the Clubs -- one that will be good for the game and our fans."


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Muziker provides a
warranty on new musical instruments and sound equipment. The warranty period on new musical instrument accessories and other products will be
24 months
in accordance with the legal regulations. In the case of certain consumables (e.g. plectrums, drum heads and sticks, strings and tubes etc.), whose expected lifespan is
90 days,
only manufacturing and material defects are being considered during the warranty period as a valid reason for a refund or an exchange.
Extended warranty period
During the extended warranty period (beyond the statutory 24 months) Muziker's authorized service center reserves the right to modify certain aspects of the warranty. For example, the 30-day free product repair period changes to 'indefinite' (the free repair period is subject to individual agreements between the service center and the customer, taking into account the time needed to ensure a genuine spare part needed for the repair).
Despite this adjustment, Muziker service center is committed to carry out the repair without undue delay.
You can file a claim for damages caused by prolonged claim process only in a case where it can be proven that the delay was caused deliberately, or due to gross negligence on the part of the service center.
If a product exchange takes place during the 12-month warranty extension (following the 24-month statutory warranty period), the customer is not automatically entitled to another 36-month warranty. The original product's warranty period transfers to the new product.
Cymbals fall into a special category of products due to the nature of material and the method of use that are subject to a natural wear and tear. Therefore, there is only a 24-month warranty on these products. When processing a claim, Muziker service center will carry out an expert assessment of the product taking into consideration the signs of wear and tear from normal use, as well as exclusion of liability for defects due to mechanical damage caused by a blow with intensity exceeding the level of mechanical resistance of the material.
Special product category with 24-month warranty that is susceptible to wear and tear due to their material nature and typical usage (for example cymbals, buttons, flaps, levers, rubber bands etc.). Muziker service center will carry out an expert assessment of the product, taking into consideration the signs of wear and tear from normal use, as well as exclusion of liability for defects due to mechanical damage caused by a blow with intensity exceeding the level of mechanical resistance of the material. In that case, Muziker can provide customer a repair of the damaged goods at customer`s own expenses, possibly at discounted rates, if agreed upon.
Warranty Card
Each product purchased online comes with an electronic invoice (sales receipt when buying in a store) which also serves as a warranty card. The warranty period begins on the date of receipt of the goods and is extended by the period during which the product was undergoing a warranty repair.
Termination of the guarantee
Defects or any other damage caused by improper handling, unprofessional installation, the use of unsuitable accessories or changes made to the original parts by the customer or a third party are not covered by the warranty.
The warranty does not cover any mechanical damage due to using the goods in inadequate/unsuitable conditions (dusty, humid, chemically aggressive, strong magnetic fields, etc.) or if the goods have been interfered with by the buyer or a third party not commissioned by an authorized person (by Muziker).
This warranty does not cover the damages or defects caused by natural disasters and improper voltage supply. Signs of wear and tear from normal use are also excluded from the warranty.
Warranty for unpacked product
The seller also offers conclusion of purchase contract for unpacked goods. Unpacked goods stand for goods that have been previously opened, have damaged packaging, have been used and returned or damaged goods.
Unpacked goods are not eligible for a replacement with a new piece after withdrawal from the contract or when claiming using a warranty.
Warranty claims for unpacked goods fall accordingly under the warranty rules, unless stated otherwise in this section.
It is not possible to file for a warranty claim for a "defect" or other reason, for which the goods were sold for a discounted price.


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Tripp Lite, manufacturer of power protection equipment, recently unveiled a 5,000 square-foot product demonstration and training facility at the company's headquarters in Chicago. The new Integrated Solution Center hosts a wide range of hands-on product application demonstrations and training courses for Tripp Lite distributors, resellers, end-users, and employees.
In addition, Tripp Lite has designed a comprehensive training curriculum that adds to partner and employee expertise while increasing productivity and competitive advantage. Courses can be presented live or through a standard Web browser. They cover a variety of topics, including basic product knowledge, deeper technical proficiency, practical sales training, application training for creating integrated solutions, and in-depth service training for Tripp Lite technical field service and maintenance.


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Planes, Trains, and Automobiles: Comparing the CO2 Impacts
Planes, Trains, and Automobiles: Comparing the CO2 Impacts
More and more people are asking what they can do to reduce their personal impacts on climate change. These include greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions (mainly carbon dioxide, or CO2) from our household fuel and electricity consumption and from our vehicle fuel consumption. They also include a host of other indirect emissions to which we contribute through our commercial travel choices, eating habits, and consumption of other products and services. This article discusses and compares emissions from personal transportation, including air travel, buses, trains, and the cars we drive. If we understand these emissions better, perhaps it will help us to make smarter and greener choices.
Comparing Transportation Emissions
Many online calculators are available to help individuals calculate their household or individual CO2 emissions. These calculators tend to focus on four types of emissions: household fuel use, household electricity use, vehicle fuel use, and air transport emissions. When I calculated my own family's CO2 emissions, I was surprised to find that our emissions from air travel (not including those for business purposes) were greater than the fuel- and electricity-related emissions from our house, and greater than the emissions from our two cars. This is probably true for families that take more than 10 plane trips per year (combined). But the calculators do not reveal how emissions from cars (per kilometer) compare to those of commercial jets, or how these two modes compare to trains and buses.


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If man A punches man B in the chops silently, it's assault and battery. If he says "You fucking Icelander," during the assault it's a hate crime with potentially far higher penalties.
Does that make any sense to you?
Hate crime legislation is subject to a lot of abuse by prosecutors wanting to put a big feather in their cap.
Case in point: the recent conviction of the leader and some members of a minor sub-sect of The Amish for cutting off the beards of men and the hair of women who had left his group. To my mind, this was a case of simple assault and didn't deserve the money and time devoted to assuring that the leader and some of his followers might spend their lives in a Federal prison.
The law applied, intended to stop such things as lynchings and church burnings is applied to punish some men for cutting hair.
Isn't it ridiculous? I always support the religious folk against the government because "there but for fortune go you or I" someday.
Views: 541
This discussion of the Dharun Ravi trial is interesting.
How is a minority protected any more by hate crime laws?
Why should a minority enjoy additional protection? It seems to me that if hate crime laws actually protect minorities, I'd like to have that protection as well? Why should it be withheld from me?
Because minorities are specifically targeted over others. Well since you are an atheist you are regarded as a discriminated minority. Trouble is not every country recognises the rights of atheists to be the same as everyone else
My question wasn't WHY it was HOW? You don't seriously believe that before some bigot smacks you upside the head for being something they dislike that they are going to go through some sort of deliberation involving asking themselves if they want to do enhanced time for a hate crime, do you? In fact, most criminals either attack impulsively or they believe to the bottom of their soul that they are doing the perfect crime and will get away with it.
One of the reasons for hate crime laws is to punish, not only the attacker, but also the culture of hate from which he or she derives motivation. If there were ever some number of violent zealots who took it upon themselves to target superannuated white men.
I keep hearing this argument expressed several different ways. My response is how would the culture of hate you refer to not be punished if the attacker of the non-minority person attacked similarly received exactly the same punishment? Punishment is punishment. Clearly it doesn't deter because these attacks are either done in a fit of rage or in an "I can get away with it" state of mind. How does enhancing the punishment accomplish anything? If we can punish the simple assault in a bar of a gay person by a bigot with two years in prison, what is lost by issuing the same punishment to the person who attacks someone who's not a member of a minority?
Perhaps the anti-hate laws make minorities feel all warm and cuddly in a "See, we care about you" way, but I don't think that's what the justice system is for.
There's a reason why Lady Justice is blind.
On the whole. no.
I could see one exception that's not really an exception: If it can be shown that the crime was done with the intent of terrorizing a larger group (minority or not), then I'd add a terrorism charge. (For example, if Job Lowe drags a gay to death behind his truck for the purpose of systematically intimidating other gays, that would qualify (merely because he hates "faggots" doesn't); likewise if some gays did the same to a straight man for the same reason.) Some of what now passes as "hate crime" would probably fall into that bucket.
To my mind, hate crime laws are like terrorism laws. Both involve violent crime but the intent goes far beyond the assault/murder to undermine the security of a particular group of people. They are two edged swords in that they seek to provide security to the targeted group but also often serve to elevate the crime to a status that undermines security even more. I think they are necessary categories but need to be applied very cautiously.
So, even though (for the sake of argument) I don't belong to a discriminated against minority, I'm not entitled to the maximum protection the government can afford me?
BTW, almost everyone belongs to some sort of minority, except for non-handicapped adult males short of being elderly.
As an elderly person, I should be afforded the same protection as, for example, ethnic or sexual minorities. No?
If someone gets up tomorrow morning and decides they are going to go out and beat the hell out of the next old person they see, then they should be prosecuted the same way as if they woke up and decided the beat up the next gay person they see.
The point here is that in most cases a murder against 'the next X person I see' would be considered second degree - can't premeditate a murder against someone that I have not yet come to know. In the case of a hate crime, however, there is a premeditation - and it's sort of worse than just deciding to kill that asshole down the block. The asshole down the block might at least have some idea you are coming. The next gay person you see, however, will have no idea that you are coming.
So, yes, if someone decides to go out and assault/kill old people, that is just as much a hate crime as it is when someone decides to go out and assualt/kill the next gay person, or mullet person, or whatever.
But in many ways a young person (whether minority or not) is "worth" more than an older person with relatively few years left to contribute, so in terms of value to society, wouldn't killing an elderly person, even if it's done out of hate against the elderly, be less a crime than killing someone with years left to contribute to society?
In my view, personal security should be an inalienable right equally provided to all. In that regard, I think anyone who could understand that they were members of a group seen as being less worth seeking justice for would be denied, to some extent, the same sense of personal security afforded to others.


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Falcons receivers present big challenge
Elite receivers present big challenge for Niners defense
Atlanta --
For all the talk about the 49ers' Colin Kaepernick last week, the Falcons have some things going for them as well Sunday in the NFC Championship Game.
Consider: Roddy White had 92 catches for 1,351 yards and seven touchdowns, and Atlanta's other receiver made the Pro Bowl, not him. Julio Jones, in his second year, caught 79 passes for 1,198 yards and 10 touchdowns.
The San Francisco cornerbacks and safeties better be ready to punch in for a long day at the office.
"Julio is all business," Fox NFL analyst Howie Long told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "Julio might as well be in a suit with a briefcase because he is all business. Roddy is a great complement to him because he's so tough, so physical and so animated."
Throw in Pro Bowl tight end Tony Gonzalez, and just "by the sheer numbers of the guys we put out there," quarterback Matt Ryan said he knows he will find someone in one-on-one coverage.
And that's where the ball is going.
"We have extremely talented wide receivers and tight ends, guys who can go up and win one-on-one matchups," Ryan said. "Regardless of who we're going against, we feel like we have to take those chances. ...
"Our guys have done a great job all year. When I've given them a shot, they've gone up and made a lot of plays for us."
Ryan and the receivers talked about the importance of getting off to a fast start Sunday.
"They've never been in a position where they have to play catch-up," White said of the 49ers. "That's one thing we want to do, get off to a good start and see how they play football catching up."
White and Jones are aware that 49ers safeties Donte Whitner and Dashon Goldson like to deliver big hits, and White says they better be careful. Whitner and Goldson, not the Falcons receivers.
"Those guys do come downhill and they try to knock you out, and anytime you do that, if you miss, there's going to be consequences," White told USA Today. "It's going to lead to explosive gains on offense. We're looking forward to that.
"We've got big, strong guys who are used to contact after catching and used to getting after people. As long as we can catch the ball and get our pads turned downfield, we'll break tackles."
Even though the 49ers allowed only 38 pass plays of 20 or more yards, third fewest in the league, White said he has seen some holes on film.
"We're watching film. We've seen a lot of things - people have made plays," White said. "With their front seven, they're getting after the quarterbacks and not giving them a lot of time, (but) we just figure if we can go out there and hit those plays, that puts a lot of pressure on them."
Having White around has taken some pressure off Jones, and vice versa. They have become extremely close on and off field, despite Jones, 23, being eight years younger.
"He's a stud," White told reporters last week. "He's big-time. He's big, fast, strong. If they want to wrestle around, things like that, he'll do that."
White and the Falcons have the Browns to thank for Jones. Remember that trade at the 2011 draft, where Atlanta gave up five draft picks to Cleveland to move up 21 spots and take Jones with the sixth pick?
Five for one? Turns out it was a steal for the Falcons.
The Browns took defensive tackle Phillip Taylor with the 27th pick, receiver Greg Little with the 59th pick, fullback Owen Marecic with the 124th pick and wound up getting quarterback Brandon Weeden with the first-round pick in 2012. The other pick was traded away.
That's Taylor, Little, Marecic and Weeden for Jones.
"That's one of the reasons we are where we are," Gonzalez said.
Vic Tafur is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. E-mail: email@example.com Twitter: @VicTafur


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Click the eye icon on upper right for table of contents ---------------------------------------------------------->
This location is intended as an alternative lair for nature-oriented entities rather then a castle of stone.
The actual details of the Defending Force and what lies in the center compound I am opening up for submissions! In the Main Complex section I outline a couple of ideas, but I would like to see what others could see placed here!
The Fortress is a region encompassing a large, dangerous forest, a wide lake and a subtly fortified island.
Most of the defenses are designed to passively slow or stop the progress of an invading army. A party of PC's, resourceful and lightly encumbered, are much more likely to penetrate the defences then large masses of soldiers.
All of the defences are selected with an eye towards avoiding use of either undead or demonic powers, neither of which are suitable for a nature-oriented location. Similarly, few powerful magics are actively employed. Though some features may have required significant effort and magic to put in place, most features are 'natural' and nearly maintenance free.
The defence of the Unseen Fortress is organized into three major bands - Outer (The aforementioned forest), Middle (the lake waters and shores) and Inner band (the defences on the island itself). The Inner band is further divided into 3 rings (White,Yellow and Red), and 8 sectors (North,North-East,East,South-East,South,Southwest,West and North-West).
Finally, in the center of the island is the Main Complex, which varies depending upon whome this fortress belongs to.
Physically, the island has groves of trees, meadows, garden areas, farmers fields and rocky debris fields. The Northwestern end of the island is much higher then the rest of the island and sheer cliffs extend up from the waterline with no beaches.
Weak Spots
As may be obvious, there are a few avenues of attack that the fortress is quite vulnerable to : Teleporting or Flying attackers. Fortifying against such opponents generally requires greater magical 'special effect' then I wanted to place in the fortress. If the world in question includes squadrons of magical flying troops, teleport squads, then the GM will also need to add appropriate countermeasures to this fortress. However, this is beyond the scope of this particular sub.
An enemy (with appropriate resources - magic or otherwise) could also attempt to assail the fortress from 'below' as well, but the lake does provide a serious obstacle - requiring that any tunnel be dug very deep to avoid the water.
Additional Ideas (10)
Outer Band
The outer band is ring of forest 15-25 miles in thickness. The forest is very dense with closely packed trees and heavy underbrush. No paths wider then a deer-trail exist through the forest. The roads used to bring construction supplies were replanted long ago and the trees growth accellerated via magic. The forest is naturally dark and dank, and carefully ensorcelled against fire. Attempts to clear the forest by burning will be limited unless high power magic is used. Even then, the fire will not spread far beyond the immediate area of the magical flame.
The trees are largely a passive defence to stop or slow down major troop movements by making horses, wagons and siege engines difficult to move. Some of the trees present have special 'adjustments' to make clearing roads difficult. Assume that one needs to cut at least 500 trees to clear 1 mile of pathway (1 per 10' of progress) along with extensive underbrush. The chance of a 'special' tree being encountered is as high as the GM would like it to be. The author would suggest a 5% chance per tree - it is intended to be a signficant obstacle for an invading army. See Appendix A for special trees. In addition to the special trees heavily seeded through the region, the forests are inhabited by many creatures, great and small.
One can use typical forest random encounters for the world in question, or you could use the list found in Appendix B, Random Forest Encounters.
Middle Band - The Lake
The middle band is essentially a huge moat - a lake. It is quite large and surrounds a large island which contains the inner band as well as the main compound. It's thinnest point is about 1 mile wide and it's thickest is nearly 4 miles wide. (The thinnest span coincides with the thickest portion of the outer band.) The lake can be categorized into three regions - Outer shallows, deep water and inner shallows.
Outer Shallows
The outer shallows are characterized by a great mass of cattails around most of it's circumference, though there are sizable gaps easily found. In these shallows lurk many leeches of the mundane sort, mosquitos and an unusual frog species. These frogs have unusual calls. It has a distinct mournful sound which at night leads to a demoralizing cacophony. The shallows have some unseen hazards as well - in addition to the occasional inhabitant (see Appendix C, The Shallows) there are deep pits filled with quicksand-like silt. These generally are placed where the water is already about 3' deep and it is fairly easy for any who step into the holes to sink below the water. Also, a little further out (10-20') is a ring of large rocks which only allow about 6" of space between top and water surface. There are a few channels however, but these are not immediately obvious.
Deep Waters
The deep waters of the lake range from 30-100' in depth and is home to a wide assortment of creatures, some of which could make passage over the waters interesting. See Appendix D - Deep Water Encounters for possible encounters.
Inner shore
The inner shore is more heavily fortified then the outer shore. Around much of the island (north,northeast and northwest), the water stops at shear cliffside, where no landing is possible.
West,Southwest and South are all heavily obstructed by large rocks - vessels with more then 6" draft cannot get closer then 30'. The water is still quite deep at that point, and any who disembark will find the bottom about 7' down. In addition, the shore is just as marshy as the other shore, and shares the same hazards and possible encounters. (Again, see Appendix C).
The Southeast and East shores are much more open with less obstacles. There are two major channels wide enough to allow for small numbers of fairly sizeable boats to reach shore. These beaches are very rocky and slippery, and numerous large boulders litter the beaches, creating subtle channels and choke points, but not large enough to provide a great amount of cover. These will not greatly affect small parties, but large forces will be slowed by these rocks, and will be compressed into tight formations
Landing on the Southeast and East shores will force the invading party to deal with some of the most dangerous of the Inner Band defences. If there are any major forces on the island to repel invaders, it is here where they will stage their main defensive action here, trying to kill any invaders before they reach shore.
Inner Band - Cliffs, Trees and Gardens
Unseen_Fortres.jpg|middle|Continent of Neyathis
The above map shows different terrain types, 1. Cliffside 2. Forest 3. Garden 4. Green Fields 5. Barren Clearing The content of these are as follows:
1. Cliffside:
The north end of the island is much higher then the south end which slopes down to the waterline. At the northmost end, there is a sheer cliff nearly 200' at the top. The cliff face is nearly vertical and Mountain Grace grows in fissures and cracks. If the island is being actively defended, there will be defenders at the top of these cliffs to rain rocks, arrows and other missile weapons against climbers. This chaos makes it even easier for a climber to accidently disturb the flowers.
Mountain Grace Mountain Grace is a relative of Morning Glory, and is a long, rambling vine that bears very large mauve flowers. These flowers emit a fragrance which has highly narcotic affects and will expel a significant dose when disturbed. Naturally, falling asleep while climbing is hazardous in the extreme. This flower is useful in creating Sleep related poisonsOnce the crest of the cliff is achived, the landscape is of similar character to that of the Green Fields, but without any of the dangerous plants. If the defenders have need of living spaces outside those contained in the central complex, it is this area where they will be located. It is possible that mundane gardens, farms and other supporting facilites will be located in these sectors. Any encounters will be with defender patrols, should any exist.
2. Forest:
The forest on the island is a more dangerous and intense version of the outer forest. These regions are a maze created by hundreds of Qanquen Trees. Within the maze can be found many other dangerous trees - see APPENDIX A - SPECIAL TREES, Unusual/Aggressive Trees sub-table for possible encounters. No large animals nor defender patrols will be found in these very dangerous areas.
3. Garden
After coming ashore on the easiest approach, the would-be invaders are presented with the vast Garden of the Fortress. It appears as a massive cottage-style garden with seemingly random patches of plants of all description. A warren of pathways wend through the varied foliage and these lead to scores of little nooks and clearings. The plants of the garden are quite dangerous to any not properly equipped or informed of the correct path through the garden (The garden is large and complex enough that virtually no chance exists for the unknowing to bypass all of the dangerous encounters). Case in point is the Giant Foxglove, a huge patch of the flower forms the first real obstacle to the garden and those in the know will be wearing fine dust masks to screen out the toxic pollen, or will have otherwise protected themselves against poisonous vapors. All other encounters are randomly determined (or selected by the GM) using Appendix E: Garden Encounters, but party should encounter at least two dangerous encounters per 'band', more if they explore the bands rather then make their way through them. In addition to the encounters, the PCs will see all varieties of garden flowers, both common and rare, as well as occasional topiaries, statues, and other mundane items. The walkways are commonly Miremoss with stepping stones, but in other places dirt, cobblestones, gravel and even wood are present. If desired, the occasional clearing could contain a dangerous tree.
4. Green Fields
These fields appear to be overgrown meadows. The tall grass is actally vissewort and also conceals the presence of Scorpion Grass and Death Nettle, which grow here in exuberant quantities. If the Fortress is actively defended, the vissewort will act as an alert system in this region.
5. Barren Clearing
This large area is picked clean of plant life and is pockmarked by holes in the ground and large heaps of earth. It is a giant colony of mundane fire ants. There are scores of 'nests' which all interlock and it is not possible to cross this area without being attacked by massive numbers of the creatures. Generally several score to several hundred will crawl unto intruders and then will attack en masse, stinging simultaneously.
Main Complex
5.1 The Forest Mage
5.2 The Druids
5.3 The Apple Tree of Selilion
5.4 The Monks of Mahrua
5.5 Allifendae Trees
1 = Tree is 'Ironwood' and is much more difficult to cut with an axe or other tool.Assume a 25% chance of at least one 'cutter' being injured or having their axe broken.
2 = Tree has poisonous sap - 10% chance of cutter being subjected to poison of varying intensity. 3 = Widowmaker - Numerous heavy branches are 'dead' and liable to drop if the tree is subjected to hard shocks (i.e. Chopping). Damage varies from minor to lethal. Alternately, the tree might have structurally flawed wood, which causes it to 'kick' randomly when cut and not fall in the direction the lumberjack intends.
4 = Tree is an unusual and/or aggressive Tree -Unusual/Aggressive Trees
1 .. Devil's Thorns. A large oak tree with dangerous projectiles. It may be easier to bypass it rather then cut it down.
2 .. Medusa Tree. A very odd plant indeed, and should only be encountered once. 3 .. Broad Oak. A large, menacing oak tree. Add to this encounter one of the Dangerous Residents from below.
4 .. Qanquen Trees. These trees form massive copses which create 'natural' walls. When encountered, it will increase the number of trees to be cleared signficantly.
5 ..Rose Tree. This tree drops plenty of sharp debris making passage underneath painful to walk upon unless very heavy boots are worn. Beasts of burden will not move through such an area for this reason.
6 .. Walking tree - Ent Analog. Currently resting and will not take well with would-be lumberjacks.
7 .. Trailbane Pine. This tree will serve to either hold-up or misdirect the party, or possibly descend into conflict.
8 .. Brawlingwood - Animated tree which strikes with it's branches.
9 .. Grappelwood - Animated tree which attempts to grab and hold victims. Will not let go until they rot away.
10 .. Gorgewood - Like grapplewood, but will attempt to deposit victims into various large maws equipped with jagged wooden 'teeth'.
11 .. Skullcracker Oak- Animated tree which drops coconut-like nuts.
12 .. Skullcracker Oak- Animated tree which throws coconut-like nuts.
5 = Tree has been seeded with many iron spikes and other debris to make cutting it dangerous and difficult.Assume a 25% chance of at least one 'cutter' being injured or having their axe broken.
6 = Tree is home to dangerous residentsDangerous Tree Residents
1 - Mundane Hornet's Nest - if the tree is not examined before attempts to cut are made, will swarm and attack any would-be lumberjack.
2 - Explodestools - Large odd-colored mushrooms cover the base of the tree. If they are disturbed, they will burst violently, knocking nearby people back and creating clouds of choking spores.
3 - Selvaks have been introduced intentionally into the forests. They are not a real threat for an army - the movement of troops will scare them off, but against an adventuring party, they are quite dangerous.
4 - Huge Spiders (Any reasonable sized available will do.) Will not attack unless the tree is significantly disturbed.
5 - A swarm of Aboral Swarmsnakes will drop onto those disturbing the tree.
6 - Consult Appendix B: Random Forest Encounters for something disturbed by the chopping.
7 = Sentry Totem. Scattered through the forest are trees that have outlandish human and animal faces carved into them. Any intelligent being who comes within 30' of one of these faces, and is in the visual arc, will trigger an alarm which will alert the defenders of the Fortress, who will begin active defence. At the GM's option, these totems could also be an active defence - attacking with spells, etc.
8-10 = Tree rapidly regrows at the rate of 1' per day until 30' height reached unless stump is burned out or completely removed.
APPENDIX B: RANDOM FOREST ENCOUNTERSSome of the following are drawn from the great Walking Through the Forest When... Scroll
1 -Angry Bear Additional Bears can be found under Concerning Bears.
2 -Whispering Pines - Spooky, but nothing comes of it.
3 -mp (Nighttime)
4 -Charyn Slug(Nighttime at camp)
5 -Cor-Spiders Giant webs will be encountered.
6 -Mirruva Fox- Forest life encounter - not dangerous, just an event. On reoccurrence, substitute any desired temperate-forest wildlife.
7 -Trapper Ants
8 -Dire Vine or Black Leaf Bug swarm
9 -Swarmsnake Pit
10 -Selvaks On the prowl.
11 - Dire Swine - Dangerous wild boars.
12 - Grove of Dwarven Treeherds- Patrolling for forest despoilers, may or may not be hostile to PCs. Will be hostile if a road is being cleared in the area.
13 - Giant Feral Boar - This massive pig-monstrosity is one of the more active defenders of the Forest. It is the size of a small elephant with massive tusks and vicious hooves. It is highly aggressive and will attack regardless of numbers. There is only one such Boar in the forest. If rerolled, substitute a similarly dangerous forest encounter. This is similar to the Dire Boars, but is a singular creature of great power.
14 -17 Trap! (but only if there are active defenders to maintain them)
1 .. Massive deadfall - Treetrunk will fall if trapline triggered. Tripline is about 1/4 inch and colored to match the local ground.
2 .. Covered pit - 10' deep, optionally spiked or occupied by Swarmsnakes.
3 .. Snare - Strong rope loop will snare a foot - mostly a nuisance, but will activate a noisemaker if the victim struggles.
4 .. Whip trap - A springy sapling will lash across the path at face level. The sapling is studded with poisoned thorns (poison is weak due to effects of the elements, not likely to kill..)18 - 20 Defender Patrol (Again if active defenders present)
APPENDIX C: ENCOUNTERS IN THE SHALLOWSRandom Encounters
(Many drawn from the worthy Denizens of the Swamps, Bogs, and Fens submission!)D20
1. Leeches! Either regular leeches or Pacranite Leeches. In any case, there will be a lot of them.
2. A PC steps into the territory of one of many Sabre Crabs which lair along the shore's edge.
3. Swamp Rays skulking in the muddy waters.
4. Greenflies-Aquatic parasitic wasps making nuisences of themselves.
5. Northern Sandkoi - one of these beasts lives in the lake and can be encountered on either shore. If rerolled, another large, dangerous fresh-water encounter could be substituted.
6. Blackfly/Mosquito Swarm - An unusally dense swarm of the little besties will lay siege to the party. (Unlike mosquitoes, Blackflies take a small bite of flesh).
7. Wrapper waiting to wrap someone.
8. Jewel-of-the-Mire Lightshow at nighttime.
9. Periccus vine- Boon for Alchemists.
10. Silverblooms- Not dangerous, nice plant.
11. Fresh water Giant Mussel- Watch your step.
12. Karnan - A turtle to eat, or be eaten by.
13. Giant Dragonfly - 10-12' long, wingspan double that.
14. Giant Waterbeetle - 6' long with short-sword sized mandibles.
15. Freshwater Kraken - Not as big as sea-going kraken, but large enough to be a serious issue.
16. Moose - Large, grumpy swamp-dwelling deer relative.
17. Giant Eel, Electric, Freshwater.
18-20. Water-borne defender patrol (if actively defended)
1. Generic Giant carnivorous fresh-water fish. 2. Topal (Lake Squid) 3. Dead heads (waterlogged logs floating below the water) will cause damage to boats. 4. Random violent weather - Severe wind gusts, squalls and other phenomena making water passage difficult. 5. Wild Dunkleoustous - Not so generic carnivourous fish. 6. Jewel-of-the-Mire - Intersting display 7. Freshwater Kraken - As per shallows encounter 8. Giant Algae - No real effect other then slowing down vessels, and harbouring leeches. 9. Karnan- Dangerous turtles - Lunch or be lunch. 10. Defender patrol (If fortress actively defended)
APPENDIX E: GARDEN AREA ENCOUNTERS1. Giant Foxglove - Found in small patches throughout the garden. One should not remove any dustmasks in the garden.
2. Death Nettle - Plant has razor-sharp spines all highly venomous and unpleasant. A passive plant, but wil overhang paths and be easily brushed against unless PCs are cautious.
3. Pixie Flowers - Found on mundane or not-so-mundane garden statuary.
4. The Wizard's Rube - A showpiece flower that moves on it's own.
5. Samhain's Kiss- Evil spirits could be nearby.
6. Arcanis - A small patch, easily overlooked, but can qualify as 'treasure' in this strange locale.
7. Rapacious Snapdragon - Will launch many vicious biting attacks.
8. Crystal Hornets - Flying about - will investigate magically equipped intruders.
9. Singeweed - If distirbed will trigger a chemical reaction creating great amounts of heat
10. Spitting Euphorbia - Will direct spurts of poisonous, caustic liquid at intruders.
11. Miremoss - Miremoss is used on most pathways through the garden. Normally there are stepping stones available to allow passage without becoming... mired. Paranoid PC's might avoid the stepping stones, suspecting traps.
14. Garden statuary (mundane or animated and dangerous)
15. Vissewort Patch
16. Scorpian Grass lining a Miremoss covered pathway.
17. Compost Pile full of Myrie Bugs
19. Regular tall grass infested with Grassbiters.
21. Tatterdemalions-of-the-Flailing-Leper making a spectacle of themselves.
22-30. Defender Patrol (If fortress actively defended, otherwise reroll.)
APPENDIX F: FOREST SPECIAL ENCOUNTER TABLE1. Tracks of soldiers passed by
There is evidence of tens or hundreds of soldiers passing by, no doubt part of an invading or defending force. A tracker will notice that they have been in quite a hurry and several are limping and/or bleeding. Whatever they encountered it was more than they could handle. At the GMs discretion this might lead to a second roll a short time thereafter, to determine whether the party encounters the enemies of this fleeing group.
2. The buried shrine
A small pavillion shrine has sunk into the soft soil and is now partially buried. Only the granite pillars and the green tiled roof remain above ground. Intricate symbols on the pillars reveal that this was once a shrine to the forest gods and spirits. There is power still in the shrine, and this power can be unlocked by anyone intelligent enough to decipher the patterns of the pillar symbols. Anyone capable of understanding the symbols can try an intelligence check if the player explicitly states that he is investigating the symbols. The first letter of every symbol forms a message when read around the pillar in a circle and so it is with every symbol, from those just below the roof, to those barely visible above the forest soil. All in all four rituals of power can be unveiled by studying the text and those four are: Summon Forest Guardian (Bear or other animal), Awaken Tree Guardian (Ent), Halo of Crows (A swarm of crows to defend and blur those chanting) and Encroaching Mist (Mist covering the forest). The words must be chanted while touching the shrine and will weaken the chanters somewhat. Several people chanting would not be as weakened as a lone chanter attempting to invoke the powers of the shrine.
3. The talking serpent
"What willsssst thou noble lordssss? What errand dosssst thou have in the keep of Almanderssss?" The voice is that of a thin, green tree snake, its yellow eyes flicking back and forth, studying the adventurers. Its voice will be unsettling, evoking nervousness and caution in the adventurers. In reality this serpent is a benevolent guardian of the forest, its questions mirroring the countless fears and questions of the forest spirits. The forest will witness the PCs as they interact with Alamanders and their actions will weigh heavily in how they are treated further on.
4. Odd butterfly patterns
Strange green butterflies, their legs disturbingly long, cling to the bark of an oddly pale tree. They crawl in strings up and down the bark, seemingly at random, and only take flight to avoid being squashed (by some noble player for instance). They do this for about ten minutes, then they take flight and land on the next tree, beginning to crawl on the new tree. The reasons for this behaviour could be anything from mating ritual to harvesting essential nutrients in the bark, as ruled by the GM. The butterflies are highly toxic and should a player try hard enough, he might actually squash some butterflies. Unfortunately they contain a potent contact poison and the PC must now make his save or die. On another note they are sought by alchemists and herbalists alike and will fetch a nice sum if an adventurer manages to harvest enough of them.
5. The Earthen Chambers
As the adventurers traverse the forest (or when they rest/sleep) they are suddenly engulfed by branches and are pulled down into the earth. Heroic strength might free individuals, but this should be hard. Those caught beneath soon discover that the roots withdraw and they are able to breathe stale cold air. However there is little in the way of light. As soon as they find some light they will discover that they are inside some old earth chamber with a corridor leading out into a maze of subterranean tunnels, all earthen walled with only an amazingly dense network of roots holding the earth back. Some of the roots, especially the serpent thin black variant, seem to move seemingly at random, the iridescent gleam of the aforementioned black roots somewhat disturbing. Inside the maze are several dead soldiers and adventurers, and random encounters can be had even down here. At the center of the maze is the Forest Shayde, a Tree Spirit of some power and the controlling force of this subterranean forest prison. On his person the adventurers might find the root Opal, a necklace made of twisting black roots bearing an opal like a branch bears an apple. This necklace can be donned by the adventurers and is in fact magical. It is called "Vhisterthyde" by the forest spirits and gives the user control of roots in the immediate vicinity. However roots favour the owner to such a degree that they entwine and caress him as he sleeps and often he might find himself buried beneath roots and soil as he awakens.
CodexAllifendae Trees ( Lifeforms ) Flora - Forest/ Jungle
The magical glow of the rare Allifendae Tree enthralls some and terrifies others…
The Unseen Fortress ( Locations ) Fortification - Forest/ Jungle
In the realms, not all fortifications are walls of wood, stone and iron.
vissewort ( Lifeforms ) Flora - Other
At that moment the drizzle eased, and Ledoik could see as plain as day a blight upon the fields near the edge of the forest. Like a rock dropped into a pond, a wave of lighter shades of green emanated from the blights centre. Growing from the forest, where it was darkest, the field got lighter and lighter the further away it was from the blight. It was clear enough. The commander barked words, organising the archers, the few catapults they had and the giant rockslings to this side of the battlements. He motioned them to aim towards the blight, the dark patch near the fields edge
Voracious Slug ( Lifeforms ) Fauna - Forest/ Jungle
Nothing like a slug to clean up a mess…


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lorenbake needed a new logo design and created a contest on 99designs.
A winner was selected from 40 designs submitted by 22 freelance designers.
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Find out how a design contest works or learn more about our logo design services.


text:
Please discuss this episode here.
"GOSSIP GIRL" - (9:00-10:00 p.m. ET)
"Goodbye, Columbia" (TV-14, D) (HDTV)
A GOSSIP GIRL BLAST STRIKES OUT AGAINST SERENA - An anonymous Gossip Girl blast starts a very damaging rumor about one of Columbia's new students, Serena (Blake Lively). On her path to greatness, Blair (Leighton Meester) decides to take a class with a powerful businesswoman, Martha (guest star Marilyne Barrett), who is guest-lecturing at Columbia, but a mysterious fellow student thwarts her plans to secure the prized position as Martha's assistant. Penn Badgley, Chace Crawford, Ed Westwick, Jessica Szohr, Kelly Rutherford and Matthew Settle also star. Jeremiah Chechik directed the episode written by Robby Hull (#405).


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I'm glad he asked me so I can share the following information with you because a lot of people are asking and wondering: "Is Mike Huckabee a conservative? Is Mike Huckabee a progressive? Or could Mike Huckabee even be a libertarian??"
After following up with him very briefly to say that Huckabee is no friend to liberty, I sent him the following list of criticisms of Mike Huckabee based on his record as governor in Arkansas:
Here's a little more about Huckabee's record that worries me:
One of his first moves as governor of Arkansas in the 90s was to campaign hard for ballot Amendment 2 to increase the state sales tax to improve its park system, in essence, the destruction of private, productive capital to fund state projects.
He then moved to expand state spending by millions of dollars for medical entitlement programs and public schools, meanwhile signing a "faith-based initiatives"-style act that allowed religious organizations to contract to do social work for the state on the taxpayer's bill. While it may not be unconstitutional in a strict sense, I think such a policy is contrary to the principles of religious freedom.
Huckabee then made a highly politicized commutation of a convicted rapist's sentence, who then moved to Missouri and raped/killed a woman who lived near his home.
After being re-elected, he endorsed Lamar Alexander's exploratory bid for President in 1999 (a Republican Senator from my state who is extremely anti-Fed audit and who campaigned for Rand Paul's establishment opponent Trey Grayson at a DC fundraiser). Huckabee then changed his mind and endorsed George W. Bush- which I can forgive him for because at the time Bush was talking a lot like Ron Paul before going back on his word entirely as President.
Then Huckabee signed another tax increase on gasoline and diesel in 1999. He concurrently issued state bonds, which is just an IOU from the taxpayer to be paid in future taxes. At this time he also worked to establish a system of standardized state testing for students in Arkansas, and would remark years later during the Bush Administration that he strongly supported Bush's unprecedented and unconstitutional Federal takeover of education, No Child Left Behind.
In 2001, Hucakabee signed the Covenant Marriage Act, continuing the state's intrusion into the private institution of marriage, rather than working to reverse it.
In 2003, Huckabee mandated annual body mass index measurements for all public school children and tax increases on cigarettes and tobacco.
Then in 2005 Huckabee made illegal immigration a central issue, campaigning to make illegal immigrants eligible for state benefits like financial scholarships, calling opposition to his policy "un-Christian." He also apparently considers public drinking in entertainment districts un-Christian, because he vetoed a bill that would allow private citizens and businesses to make that decision for themselves.
The Club for Growth has called Mike Huckabee a "liberal" for fixing labor prices in Arkansas, opposing a repeal of the state sales tax on basic necessities like groceries, and being a tax hiker. And the libertarian Cato Institute gave Huckabee an F in its 2006 Fiscal Report Card. Perhaps the most telling endorsement Huckabee's received is being named one of the 5 best governors in 2005 by Time Magazine.
Huckabee is no friend to liberty!


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Pro V1 Limited Edition #70 - Personalised - 12 ball pack
Buy 350.496001 https://www.best4balls.com/new-pro-v1-limited-edition-70-personalised £50.50 per boxIncluded
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An online visual will appear on the golf ball before you add to cart. We do not offer visual proofs before printing.
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We hope you will be pleased with our personalised service on Titleist Pro V1 #69 golf balls.
Personalised Golf Balls:
Our Personalised golf ball service is ideal for smaller orders of 1-12 dozen golf balls. Print costs are included for printing on side one of the balls and you can have side two printed for just an extra £4 per box. You can add text, photo or logo and the price includes an unlimited amount of colours. The print area is approximately 20mm. The printing is fairly durable but it is not permanent. To order please select the golf balls that you require and click on the add 'text or photo/logo' button which will allow you to add the text or upload your photo/logo online. Personalised golf balls are printed in only 2-3 working days but we may be able to get them out sooner if your order is very urgent.
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Once an order is placed online it is processed, printed and dispatched. The time an order takes to be dispatched depends upon the 'printing lead time' that you have selected within our online customiser. Personalised orders are printed & dispatched within 2-3 working days. If you need your Personalised order in a hurry, please select Express or Same Day printing lead times. Urgent orders - Don't forget to select Express or Next Day Delivery service from our Delivery Options. Next Working Day delivery is available for Personalised orders – however due to the personalisation/ printing process involved, these typically take an additional 2-3 working days for dispatch (unless you have selected express lead times).
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Chris Matthews's unhinged, fuming performance on Monday's Morning Joe is a good reason why members of the GOP avoid MSNBC. Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus aggressively battled the liberal cable anchor after the host unloaded on Mitt Romney for playing the "race card." [Must see video below the jump. MP3 audio here.]
Asserting that just mentioning welfare is racist, Matthews spewed, "When you start talking about work requirements, you know what game you're playing and everybody knows what game you're playing. It's a race card. " Priebus fired back at the Hardball host, dismissing, "We've gotten to a place in politics that any moment of levity is totally frowned upon by guys like you just so that you can push your brand."
Asked point blank by anchor Joe Scarborough if Romney was playing the "race card" by joking about being born in Michigan, Matthews retorted, "Yeah. And I think This work requirement plays right into it."
The presumptive Republican nominee recently ran an ad attacking Obama's changes to welfare work requirements. This, too, is apparently racist.
As though he had found definitive proof, Matthews scoffed, "Of course it is! Welfare. Food stamps. Absolutely."
Former Nightly News anchor Tom Brokaw chimed in to make clear, "Listen, I disagree with Chris." He added, "I think it was a demonstration of [Romney's] awkward sense of humor."
Even liberal Mika Brzezinski found this too much. She attributed Romney's attempt at humor as simply "because he's an awkward joker."
A transcript of the August 27 segment, which aired at 8:22am EDT, follows:
CHRIS MATTHEWS: That cheap shot about "I don't have a problem with my birth certificate" was awful and it is an embarrassment to your party to play that card. This stuff about getting rid of the work requirement for welfare is dishonest. Everyone has pointed out it's dishonest and you are playing that little ethnic card there. And you can you play your games and giggle about it but the fact is your side is playing that card. When you start talking about work requirements, you know what game you're playing and everybody knows what game you're playing. It's a race card. And this thing about- If your name's Romney, yeah, you were well born. You went to prep school! Yeah, brag about it. This guy has an African name and he has got has to live with it. Look who has gone further in their life! Just a moment. Just a minute- Who was born on third base?
JOE SCARBOROUGH: Wait, wait, wait.
MATTHEWS: This absurdity! Making fun of the guy's birth certificate issue when it was never a real issue except from the right-wing.
SCARBOROUGH: You think- you think that Romney's playing the race card? No, I'm asking you.
MATTHEWS: When he said- yeah. There's no doubt he did with his birth certificate.
SCARBOROUGH: No doubt. Wow.
MATTHEWS: No doubt. Why would he bring it up? Why would he say I have no problem with my birth certificate. What's that supposed to mean?
MIKA BRZEZINSKI: Because he's an awkward joker.
SCARBOROUGH: Because he misfired badly on a joke.
MATTHEWS: Why would he do it?
SCARBOROUGH: I'm just asking you. Do you think that Mitt Romney is playing the race card?
MATTHEWS: On that one, yeah.
SCARBOROUGH: Do you really?
MATTHEWS: Yeah. And I think this work requirement plays right into it.
SCARBOROUGH: That's the race card, too, huh?
MATTHEWS: Of course it is! Welfare. Food stamps. Absolutely. And you can chuckle, Mr. Chairman, because you have to flak this issue.
BRZEZINSKI: No, no, no. You have to let him respond.
REINCE PRIEBUS: Well, you got your monologue in, so congratulations.
MATTHEWS: It's a point of view.
PRIEBUS: You're loaded up- You got your -- you're loaded up, you got it out. The fact of the matter is that he's from Michigan. He was born in Michigan. He's making the point that I was born in Michigan. And you know what? We've gotten to a place in politics that any moment of levity is totally frowned upon by guys like you just so that you can push your brand. You know what? Good for you. It is a moment of levity. Everybody gets it.
MATTHEWS: What was the joke?
PRIEBUS: Barack Obama came out of the correspondence dinner with his own joke, as you remember, playing the Hulk Hogan song, "I'm a real American."
MATTHEWS: What's the joke in the fact he has a birth certificate? I don't get it.
PRIEBUS: Every person, myself, starting in February of last year, as soon as I became chairman of the RNC, Mitt Romney continuously has said this president was born in this country. It's a non-starter. It's a dumb issue. It's a distraction. Forget about it.
MATTHEWS: It just seems funny the first joke he's ever told in his life is about Obama's birth certificate.
TOM BROKAW: Listen, I disagree with Chris on this.
PRIEBUS: Everyone here disagrees with Chris!
BROKAW: Are you speaking for everyone here?
BROKAW: I think it was a demonstration of his awkward sense of humor. But I do think, in fairness, that all during the Republican debates and the primaries that there was a lot of stuff aimed at the President that was not refuted by leaders of the party.
PRIEBUS: I refuted it every single time. I betcha 20 times on tv.
BROKAW: I'm not talking about the birther thing, but as far as he's a Muslim, he's a socialist, he's not American. John Sununu had to apologize for saying he doesn't know what it's like to be an American. That was a pretty tough attack. Now, I think it comes the other way, by the way, from the Democrats to the Republicans as well.


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'This is the story of right and wrong, and how sometimes they look the same.'
1926. Tom Sherbourne is a young lighthouse keeper on a remote island off Western Australia. The only inhabitants of Janus Rock, he and his wife Isabel live a quiet life, cocooned from the rest of the world.
Then one April morning a boat washes ashore carrying a dead man and a crying infant – and the path of the couple's lives hits an unthinkable crossroads.
Only years later do they discover the devastating consequences of the decision they make that day – as the baby's real story unfolds…
The Light Between Oceans is the stunning debut novel from M.L Stedman. From the very first chapter, we are taken into the heart of the story: who are the man and the baby washed ashore in the boat and what will Tom and Isabel do? It is this very dilemma which propels the story throughout, and makes for very compelling reading.
With wonderful descriptions and intricate details, M.L.Stedman takes us right into the fascinating and unusual world of lighthouse keeper Tom Sherbourne and his new wife Isabel. The simple, remote life they lead on Janus Rock seems idyllic, but we soon learn of the private battles they are facing. Tom is struggling to come to terms with the aftermath of fighting on the Western Front in the First World War and Isabel is desperate for a child.
After suffering traumatic miscarriages and a stillborn baby, Isabel retreats into a dark despair; her life empty without the children she so longs to share it with. Tom deals with their losses by throwing himself into his work; the methodical rhythms of the lighthouse giving him a sense of purpose and perspective. Only the regular visit of the supply boat from the mainland brings any sense of the rest of the world to the young couple.
When the boat is washed ashore, containing the body of a dead man and a crying infant, Tom and Isabel make a life-changing decision. From that moment on, the peaceful solitude of life on Janus Rock is left behind, and Tom and Isabel's life begins to fall apart as they struggle to find a way to contain their secret within their relationship. While Tom is wracked with guilt about what they have done, Isabel remains steadfastly resolute; certain that it was God's will and that they have done nothing wrong. Until, that is, they return to the mainland and discover the truth about the baby.
With a wonderful cast of characters, who each add their own story to that of Tom and Isabel's, this is a novel which has a believable plot, beautiful writing and is ultimately a book you simply can't put down. The story is about many things: the relationship between a husband and wife, the relationship between a mother and her child and the ties that bind a family. With a haunting sense of loss ever present, there is real emotional depth to the narrative.
Although the novel is set in 1926, it never feels as though it is dwelling in the history of the post War period unnecessarily – and actually reads like a very contemporary novel with real human issues and emotions at the forefront throughout. Through her beautiful writing, M.L Stedman handles the difficult, traumatic issues which lie at the heart of the novel, sensitively and assuredly. There is also a lovely lightness of touch in places, which brings in some tender moments between mother and daughter and a beautifully depicted innocence in the way the child's dialogue is written.
By creating an unimaginable dilemma for her main characters, M.L.Stedman has crafted a compelling story and as the fate of the central characters moves towards its surprising conclusion, I couldn't put it down.
In our hectic, modern lives, it often feels like a luxury to curl up with a good book, never mind treating ourselves to buy it in the first place. Our time, and money, is precious and we want the investment we make in reading a book, to be worthwhile. Reading The Light Between Oceans was not just time well spent; it was time thoroughly enjoyed. And I, for one, feel all the richer for having read it.
I was lucky enough to meet the author recently. Here, in her own words, are her thoughts on the process of writing this wonderful book.
Where did you first get the inspiration for 'The Light Between Oceans'?
When I write, I just let a picture or a voice or a sentence come to me, and follow where it leads. For The Light Between Oceans, I closed my eyes, and I could see a lighthouse, and then a woman at the lighthouse. At first I thought maybe the story was about her. I could tell that it was set a long time ago, on an island off Australia. Then quite quickly a man came along, and I knew he was the lightkeeper and it was really his story. Then a boat washed up, with a dead man, and I discovered there was a baby in it too, so I had to keep writing to see what happened!
Was this always the title, or did the book have a different working title?
The very earliest drafts were just stored as 'Lighthouse Story' in my computer, but The Light Between Oceans came up within a couple of months. I toyed with other titles, but nothing quite stuck. Publishers often change the title of books, too, so I was happy when they said they were going to keep it.
Were there any memorable high or low points during the writing process?
I started writing it in Spring 2008, and finished the first draft of the novel in June the following year. I did a few more drafts after that, but I wasn't working on it full time, so all together it probably took a little over 2 years. High point: any day on which I got to sit down and just write for as long as I wanted. That's my idea of heaven. Low point: having 3 irrecoverable hard drive failures on my Mac, and having to piece together my files. Fortunately, after the first one I became obsessive about backing things up.
Why did you choose this particular period of history as the setting?
It just emerged as the time in which the story was set, rather than being a conscious choice. And it's such a rich period of Australian history that it offered a great deal of scope in exploring themes like right and wrong, loyalty and forgiveness.
What would be a 'typical' writing day for you?
There really isn't such a thing as a 'typical' writing day for me, except insofar as I only write in the daytime – never at night. I'm rather allergic to rules about writing, and chafe against edicts such as 'you must write at least an hour a day' or 'you must plot everything in advance'. My philosophy is 'find out what works for you, and do that: everyone is different'. So I wrote this book on my sofa, in the British Library, in a cottage by the beach in Western Australia, on Hampstead Heath, and anywhere else that felt right.
Can you tell us about the research you carried out for the book?
As to location, I grew up in Western Australia, so the ocean and light and wild
weather and vastness are in my blood. When I was writing, I did spend some time down in the area near where the story is set, just getting the feel of the particular place, and sitting gazing out over the ocean or exploring the dense forests in the area. As to the more technical aspects, I adored researching them. The British Library has some excellent histories of Western Australia's involvement in the Great War, as does the Australian War Memorial, where there's a wealth of original records accessible on line. The stories they tell are plainly told and intensely moving. For lighthouses, I read some fabulous books on the history of their development, and visited West Australian lighthouses. I also went to the Australian National Archives, and trawled the lightkeepers' old logbooks and correspondence files. It was a very peculiar feeling to open the pages of these fragile leather registers, knowing that the person who wrote in them could never have imagined that in the next century, a writer would be looking through them. I felt enormously privileged to read about their daily lives in their own words.
The Light Between Oceans is published today, 26th April 2012 by Doubleday. Thank you to Alison Barrow for the review copy and to the author for her fascinating insights above.


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The Isreal Defense Sources have uploaded a video of their "pinpoint strike" on Ahmed Jabri, the top military leader of Hamas. At the time of writing the video has only been up 20 minutes or so on YouTube and comments are going nuts.
The IDF had previously called the operation "surgical" with use of air-tight intelligence from the Israeli Security Agency and use of "advanced technologies."
The strike comes alongside reports that Israel is considering sending troops into Gaza.


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The Gasworks Apartments
South Lotts Road, Dublin, 00004, Ireland
Situated in a brand new development, these chic one and two bedroom apartments are well appointed with bright, open plan living, consisting of a fully fitted kitchen and comfortable bedrooms. With the additional benefit of housekeeping and wireless internet all help to ensure a relaxing and enjoyable stay for every guest.
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