text:
Sorry about this. I've just seen a few of them, and wanted to try my hand at them.
This is one of those AU fan fics. As such, some ages and history have been changed. But not much for Bruce. And Pamela Isley (Poison Ivy) is definitely gonna be in this, so don't fear Ivy-lovers! But it's Harley/Joker if you were wondering. If you have anyone you want me to add- whether as a cameo or big character- just tell me. That is, if anyone reads this...
Summary: AU. Badass Bruce. Happy Harley. Joking Jack. In….High School. Also Accepting Alfred.
Disclaimer: I do not own Batman:TAS. Harley Quinn, The Joker, Bruce Wayne, Alfred Pennyworth and Gotham are all registered Trademarks of the DC company which I do not, as of now, own.
Chapter One
The First Week
"Harley!" Harley turned, then smiled.
"Hey!" She grinned, and hugged her friend, Stacy. Stacey was the head cheer-leader, and had been Harley's friend since first grade.
"God, what a Summer, huh?"
"How'd yours go?" Harley asked, knowing that Stacey loved to talk, and, thusly, would detest her telling of her plans first.
"It was absolutely fantastic!" Stacy squealed. And then she leaped into a fascinating story involving Chihuahuas, fifty different types of lip-gloss, and a pair of high heels. Harley smiled at all the right times, and nodded absentmindedly, though she would look enraptured had Stacey looked at her. But Stacey didn't. She was instead looking excitedly around the new campus, waving at random seniors. "This year is going to be so fun!" She practically shouted, grinning wildly, as Harley blushed.
"Yea," She agreed, smiling forcefully. She did love Stacey- in a total friends-only kinda way- but they had grown apart steadily over the last three years. The only thing that - in her opinion- kept them together, was cheer leading. She followed her through the doors, then let out a poof of air as she bumped rockily into a larger student. She looked up, bewildered. The boy in front of her had scars on his face, locking him into a permanent smile. But he didn't seem like he would be smiling if he didn't have them. Harley forced herself to look away from the scars, and found his eyes, a vibrant green, much easier to look at. Stacey grabbed her arm, and pulled her away from the guy, as Harley strayed, staring wide-eyed as the green-haired, green-eyed enigma stared right back at her. He didn't look as angry as he first had, when she had bumped into him, then stared at his scars. He seemed…curious. Amused. Cute. Harley allowed herself a smile, then bumped into Stacey as her friend stopped.
"What's your problem?" Stacey demanded. Harley frowned.
"You were dragging me, it's not my fault I bump-"
"That's not what I meant." Stacey answered sharply, scrutinizing Harley. "I mean with that guy."
"What about him? I accidentally bumped into him." Harley answered.
"You were staring at him." Harley blushed. "And I don't mean in the way that everyone else does."
"What do you mean? Who?"
"Everyone." Stacey answered. She frowned. "You know who that was, don't you?" Harley shrugged, feeling put off that apparently everyone else did. "That was the Joker, Harley- Jack Napier." Harley paused. The name brought up memories…some troubled kid that had been suspected of burning up that housing development a few years back. He graffitied a lot- big smiles- on walls, and it was thought that he had decided arson was the next step up. But he had an alibi- however sketchy- and there wasn't enough evidence to lock him up in juvie. She blanched.
"That was Jack Napier? Oh, God, Stacey, my house is gonna be on fire tonight!" Stacey smirked.
"At least you remember." Harley tossed a tentative glance over her shoulder. She had always imagined Jack Napier as a tough, big kid, with the sort of f*ck-you demeanor that she hated. But…the boy she had bumped into was tall, but slender, with dyed green hair, and kind eyes, rather than the cold abrasive eyes she'd expected of him. Could he have been framed? Could she prove it? "Coming?" Harley looked back, smiled weakly, and trotted after her friend.
"Sure," She answered, mind already running. "Sure."
The green outside melded, until it was just one great blur, only sometimes interrupted by a patch of red, or black, or some other color. Bruce turned from the car window, resisting the urge to groan and demand Alfred turn around and drive home. He knew the butler would never do it. He figured he would just skip class, maybe head to the movies if he could scrounge up some girls to come with. It was boring alone.
"Almost there, Master Bruce." Bruce didn't respond. He was just happy that he had convinced Alfred that he didn't want to go to private school. The idea of a tutor had been favored, but Alfred had coaxed him into the idea of school because of the ever-important 'social experience'. Bruce scowled. As if a private school would do that- even a public school would do nothing. When people looked at him, then would either see a dollar sign, or a waste of time. He preferred the waste of time. At least they'd be seeing him. "And you will try and behave?" Bruce glanced up.
"I asked if you were going to put aside any ideas of shenanigans, Master Bruce, so that this year will pass more pleasantly than it's predecessors." Bruce smirked. There had been a few schools in the last year. And the year before that…."Master Bruce?"
"Alfred…I just don't understand why I have to go to school. I mean…I learned all this stuff already. It was easy."
"Perhaps for you. Besides, you'll be in a challenging environment, with much work to be done."
"That's not the point- why do a million worksheets if you already get it?" They had had this argument before, but Bruce was stubborn.
"Because you are supposed to." So was Alfred. Bruce sighed under his breath, then slumped back. He'd just dump school today, and head out to see some movie. The theatre was only a five minute taxi-drive away. And not that far for a run either. "We're here."
"Thanks Alfred," Bruce muttered, leaping from the dark black car. He watched as it drove away. He turned towards the school as the bell rang, then meandered into the hall as a teacher caught his eye.
"Get to class, kid." The man muttered, and Bruce glared, before walking to his first period. Guess he had to go to one class. Wasn't too bad.
Stacey touched up her makeup as the teacher tried to get the class to pay attention. "So- what class is this again?" She asked.
"English." Harley answered, painting her nails a dark red. She blew on them slightly. "Fun?"
"Fun." Stacey put away her compact mirror, then smiled at Harley. "So. Any new agenda?"
"Cheerleader try-outs are on Thursday," Harley answered.
"Class!" The teacher bellowed.
"Hm. It might be tougher in High School, but I think we'll make it," Stacey said confidently. "I mean, you and I have been taking gymnastics since we were three." That was true. They had only joined each other gymnastics' team when they were six, and Harley had moved to Gotham.
"You never know…some of these girls could have been taking it since they were two!" Harley said with a smile. Stacey giggled.
"Oh, no!"
"I have to take attendance!" The Teacher whined.
"God, this class is boring," Stacey complained, sticking out her lower lip.
"It hasn't started yet," Harley reminded her. The door opened, and the teacher, a stumpy balding man, turned in annoyance. The boy who entered was pretty cute, and Stacey's face lit up. She was a sucker for cute boys. Luckily for her, the only seat that was empty was right behind her. The boy took it with a face that clearly stated: I don't care. Stacey leaned over to him.
"Hi, I'm Stacey." The boy turned, then gave her a dazzling smile. Harley smirked as Stacey practically melted.
"Bruce," He answered. "Did I miss anything?" Stacey smiled.
"Nope. Well, unless you count the Teacher getting very close to a breakdown." Bruce smirked.
"So- you didn't go to Grapevine Middle?"
"Huh? No. Well- maybe-" He paused for a moment, then shook his head.
"Where'd you go?" Harley asked. He seemed unsure, and was saved as the Teacher shrieked.
"CLASS!" Every head turned to face him. He seemed uneasy, then forced himself to speak. "I understand this is the first day back from summer, and we're all very anxious to see our friends, but please. Wait until passing time." He sighed. "Now. Stacey Apson." Stacey's hand darted into the air. "Jason Beteman." After a few minutes, he said, "Harleen Quinnzell." Harley raised her hand.
"Um- yea- can you call me Harley?" She hated her name. The Teacher- Mr. Stack- nodded.
"And…finally…" He adjusted his reading glasses, and frowned. He murmured the name first to himself, then spoke aloud, "Bruce Wayne?" A hush fell over the already louder classroom. Stacey, who had been texting, looked up from her phone. Harley had already figured it out, and she looked at Bruce- who hadn't raised his hand yet. He looked back at her, then smiled thinly. He didn't raise his hand, or say anything. "Bruce Wayne?" Mr. Stack repeated. He shrugged. "I suppose he's absent…" He marked it down, still looking puzzled. "Er- shall we begin class now?" And then the cacophony of noise returned.
"Harley Quinnzell, huh?" Bruce asked, smiling at the two blonds. Although he could already tell that Stacey Apson was smitten with him, Harley seemed more interesting. For one thing, she had said nothing about his identity. She was eying him confusedly, but now she nodded. "Nice name." She smirked.
"Yours, too." He smiled lightly at her. Stacey turned to him.
"So- um…Bruce…what school did you say you were from?"
"Last was…um…Catbed Middle School."
"And how do you like Penash High?"
"Now that you're here?" She giggled nervously, smiled at her friend, then giggled again.
"So- do you like movies, Stacey?" She smiled dreamily, then nodded.
"Do you wanna see one next period?"
"What about school?" She asked. She paused. "Oh."
"I'll pay for it," He offered, and Harley snorted. Stacey frowned, then nodded,
"Um…yea, okay."
"Stacey!" Harley chastised. "You're the only person I'll know! It's that stupid gym class- seniors will be there!" Stacey shrugged.
"You can manage."
"She can come." Stacey's look was both priceless and heart-wrenching. Harley scowled at Bruce, then shook her head.
"Naw, it's fine, Stacey. I'll go to class." Stacey smiled at her gratefully.
"Thanks, Harley."
Harley walked down to the gym building, her backpack slung over her shoulders listlessly. Without Stacey, there was hardly a reason to go to class. She grunted. Who skips the first day of school, anyway? She shrugged, and went to class.
Stacey gasped, and Bruce smirked. This was easy, even when they had no idea who you were. He brought Stacey closer to him as the monster on the screen tore through the protagonist's girlfriend, growling, as he ransacked the town. Stacey squeaked in fear, and dug her face into Bruce's shoulder. Although this was easy, and he would probably get to first base easily before the climax of the movie, Bruce wondered what it would be like if Harley had come, too. She seemed different from her friend. Much different.
One hour and two bases later, the movie was over, and Stacey was talking about how scary it had been, as Bruce nodded half-heartedly. He was already bored again.
"So- um…do you think maybe you and I can go out tomorrow or something? You know…see a movie?"
"We just saw one." Bruce answered coolly. She blushed.
"I mean- like- a different one?" He shrugged.
"Probably not."
"Oh." She murmured dejectedly. Then her face lit up again. "That's okay. I mean, cause I have plans."
"That sucks. I was just kiddin'. I wanted to take you out to dinner."
"I can cancel them!" Bruce smiled thinly. So easy.
"Okay, then. Pizza?" She nodded eagerly. "I'll pick you up af-" He frowned. He heard small grunts from behind her… "-um- Stace? Can you do me a favor? I think my wallet fell under the seat- can you get it?" She nodded, only too eager to please. He dashed into the alley, and found two men fighting- no, two teenagers fighting. Over a gun.
Memories pounded in his mind, and he was frozen for just an instant. Then he ground his teeth. He should just go…this was their business…it wasn't as if he was perfect in the eyes of the law, either. But…the gun…metallic and shining… was being wrestled for. Whoever got it would take a life. Right here in this alley outside a theater. A movie theater, this time, but still…the parallel coincidences…he shook his head.
They hadn't noticed him yet, still enthralled in their match. He could help. He didn't know who had done what, but all that mattered was that that gun was out of their hands. He grabbed the top of a garbage can, then threw it between them. He had taken karate- he had needed a 'healthy release for his anger', Alfred said- and was prepared for their attacks.
But when they were separated by the can top, though one fell back against the wall, the other fighter fled. Bruce figured he wasn't important- he left the gun anyway; he didn't care what happened to him. He was going to leave when the other guy grabbed the gun, and waved it at the wall, instructing Bruce to get against it. Bruce did as he was told numbly- he had assumed that the guilty one would run, while the victim would stay, but…guess you should never assume anything. He wondered whether this guy would kill him…wouldn't that be weird? Get shot in an alley outside a theater? As if he was supposed to all those years ago, and the universe was just correcting things. Would Alfred get all the money? He hoped so.
"Bruce?" Stacey. He had forgotten about her. She stumbled past the alley, then looked panic-stricken as she saw Bruce against the wall, and the other man standing menacingly a few feet away. She hadn't noticed the gun, Bruce saw with trepidation. "Jack!" She gasped, before her eyes narrowed, and she flung herself at him. "Stay away from Bruce, you creep!" Then she saw the flash of metal, and stopped dead in her tracks, face pale.
"Why don't you stand next to your pal, kid." The man- Jack- told her. His voice was dark, but it held an amusement that made Bruce sick. "And if you don't mind, I prefer Joker."
"Who is this clown?" Bruce muttered. Stacey's words were stuttered and fearful. She sounded close to tears.
"He-he's Jack Napier-" At Jack's sharp look, she corrected herself. "The Joker. He's completely crazy!" She screeched, and Bruce had to pull her back from attacking. Bruce studied the teen in front of him. He had scars on his face- a Glasgow smile- that looked old, but it hadn't faded much. It seemed as though it had happened in the past three years or so. He had dyed green hair that was long and he was wearing a bright purple shirt and some jeans. He looked pretty terrifying, especially with the gun, and Bruce reminded himself that it wasn't just his life on the line anymore. It wouldn't have mattered if it was just him.
"And what does he want?" Bruce asked, pointedly looking at Jack, who smiled broadly. It looked strange to see a smile with the scars.
"I was in the middle of something, and you interrupted."
"Whoops. Won't happen again," Bruce answered sardonically. Joker laughed.
"Comedian, huh? I like a good laugh- go ahead- try'n talk your way out of this."
"Hey, man. Just- you know. Let me go, huh? Keep the girl if you want, but let me just leave." Stacey went white with horror.
"Bruce-!" She choked out.
"Don't worry, honey," Joker told her, smiling. "He's just tryin' to make me let you go." Stacey's face showed confusion, her lips slightly parted, as she looked from Joker to Bruce. "He's the noble kinda guy. But the thing is, I'll let him be noble, cause he's kinda fun." He waved the gun at the street. "Get lost, doll face." Stacey turned to Bruce, questions burning in her eyes.
"Go." He muttered under his breath. That was all she needed. She dashed out.
"Now that she's gone," Bruce muttered, leaping from his position resting on the wall. Jack's eyes went wide as Bruce punched him solidly between the eyes. He stumbled back, grinning, the blood leaking over his smile. His nose was broken.
"You're more fun when your girlfriend isn't around!" He cackled, but it was distant, as Bruce was already running as fast as his legs would take him away from the man.
Harley doodled, bored, in her notebook. The last three periods- which she had faced alone- were utter horror. She sighed under her breath. Stacey and Bruce were probably making out in a second movie or something, while she sat alone at this obscure lunch table in the corner.
"Harley!" She stiffened at the sound of her name, then turned. Stacey was running up to her, eyes glistening, face pale.
"Oh my God, Stacey, what happened?!" She asked immediately. It was probably just something to do with Bruce- he'd broken up with her- but she looked really shaken up, and now was the time to play Friend.
"Harley-" She managed, forcing out the word. "Oh, God, Harley, it was awful!"
"The movie?" Harley joked forcefully. Stacey didn't even seem to register she'd spoken.
"We'd just left, and Bruce thought he'd left his wallet- I couldn't find it- there was the alley- and Joker!" She finally screeched, tears pouring down her face, as she threw her arms around Harley. Heads turned- not just at the sight of the blubbering blond, but at the name she had screamed. Harley's blood froze. The Joker? Jack Napier? What had he done? The anger simmered below the surface, but for some reason it wouldn't bubble until she knew what he had done.
"What did he do, Stacey?" She managed.
"A gun- he- and the wall- and Bruce told him to keep me!" That son of a- "But it was to save me or something- and-and- Bruce is still there!" Harley's jaw dropped, eyes wide.
"Stacey!" All the heads in the cafeteria turned. Bruce stood there, and Harley smiled, relieved. Stacey leaped into his arms, and closed her eyes.
"I was so worried…" She cooed. Bruce smiled.
"No reason to be. I can handle myself."
"You have blood on you-" Stacey choked out, as she opened her eyes.
"Not mine." Though Stacey smiled happily (and proudly as the growing crowd gave her the attention she lived for), Harley resisted frowning. The Jack Napier she had seen this morning hadn't seemed very dangerous- what had Bruce and Stacey done to aggravate him?
Bruce slid into the car, then slumped back. It had been a long day. Stacey still had no idea that he was the billionaire Bruce Wayne, and the friend of hers who knew- and who seemed clever and sweet (not to mention pretty hot) seemed distracted and ill at ease. He frowned, and Alfred finally forced out some conversation.
"How did you like the school?"
"Dull and worthless- like all school." Alfred smirked in the rear-view mirror, then ventured with another question,
"And did you attend all of your classes?" Bruce didn't like lying to Alfred.
"No." And Alfred didn't respond.
"Another day, another dollar." Harley sang under her breath. Her friend eyed her strangely.
"We don't get paid to go to school." Stacey reminded her tiredly, as though she was sick of explaining things to her, even though Harley was usually the one explaining everything. Harley nodded.
"True. Hey, I'm gonna sign up to be one of those peer counselors. Do you want to, too?" Harley was always interested in minds, and psychiatry. She figured that when she grew up, she'd be a psychiatrist, or a brain-something or other. One of her electives was even psychiatry. Stacey crinkled her nose.
"Um…are you serious? I mean, you'd have to sit around listening to kids complaining about their lives. What's fun about that?"
"Well, it's extra credit for my psychiatry class…" Harley answered half-heartedly.
"So? You have an A in that."
"It's the second day of the school year," Harley responded with a smirk. Stacey shrugged.
"You'll still get an A in that. You're into all that kind of stuff."
"My point. That's why I want to do the peer counseling,"
"Okay, but no way I'm doing it." Stacey replied. "Boring. I think I'd prefer hanging out with Bruce. He spends his lunch money taking me to the movies."
"God, Stacey, you're so dense!" Laughed Harley. "Do you really think one guy's lunch money could afford two people entrance into a movie?" Stacey's eyebrows screwed together.
"What do you mean?" Harley held in a sigh, then smiled brightly.
"Nothing." She grabbed her back-pack from the table. "See you first period- you're going, right?"
"I dunno. Where are you going?"
"To sign up for the-" Stacey 'ahhhh'ed, then waved her away.
"See ya, then. I'm gonna go- I'll be with Britney and Shauna if you need me."
"Yea." Harley left the picnic table, and headed to the library. Sometimes she wondered how life would be different if she had never met Stacey. She would probably be more out-going. With Stacey, she just had to listen, nod, and agree. It was like she was a zombie. Gymnastics was the only thing she enjoyed, and even that was sabotaged by the other cheer-leader. She had been wrangled into cheer leading…she did enjoy it, but she had never wanted to join.
"Hey." Harley looked up from the floor, then smiled.
"Hi, Bruce. Have you told Stacey yet?" He smiled.
"Nope." Harley rolled her eyes.
"Even Stacey'll figure it out sooner or later. Anyway, gotta go. And would you mind not stealing Stacey from first? I like having friends in my classes." Bruce chuckled, and Harley blushed slightly. He was cute.
"Yea, sure. I can't afford to keep paying for movies anyway." Harley smiled, then continued on to the library after a quick wave.
"Friends with him, I see." Harley twirled at the unfamiliar voice. Her heart froze in her chest. Jack Napier- the Joker- was talking to her.
"Yea." She choked out.
"Did he tell you that I saw him yesterday?" Harley nodded, eyes wide, heart going wild. She blushed, then, determined to say a full sentence, said,
"He said you pulled a gun on him."
"Did he?" His voice was charismatic, even though it was low. It made Harley's blood rush to even hear him speak. He smiled, and she nearly melted. Though the scars were intimidating, they hardly mattered when his soft lips lifted. "Funny way of telling the story."
"Point of view?" She offered, smiling nervously. He smirked after a short breezy laughter that sounded like a melody in Harley's ears.
"I like you."
"W-what?" She sputtered out. He chuckled lightly at her expense. "Um- I mean-" She blushed, and cast her eyes down.
"What's your name?" She looked up, and managed,
"Harley Quinnzell…"
"Cool name." He grinned down at her. "Very cool name." The bell rang, and, like some horrible hunter, killed the moment that had Harley grinning inwardly. She stumbled over her words.
"I have to go-"
"That's just the beginning bell- you know. Five minutes to class." He seemed to not want to let her leave. She wondered whether she should be frightened, or honored.
"I know," She answered nervously. "But I'm signing up for something- at the library, I mean. Peer counseling." He smiled.
"Okay, then. You do that." She scurried off, but she could feel the eyes of Joker tight on her back.
"You spoke to him?" Stacey demanded angrily. Harley shrugged uncomfortably.
"He seemed really nice." She turned a tough eye onto the empty seat Bruce should have been sitting in. "I think Bruce did something to him- I mean, he's not the type to pull a gun out, Stacey."
"Are you kidding me?" Stacey spat venomously. "He burned that development down! Do you know how many assaults he's been charged with? How many fights he's been in?"
"No." Harley snapped back. "But I do know that not all of it could be true. I bet people knew his reputation, and just started a fight with him- he's not the horrible kid everyone thinks he is!"
"Class." Mr. Stacks began a lecture, and Stacey turned around, an angry pout on her face. Harley glared at her back. She had no right to accuse Jack of anything- or defend Bruce. She had no idea who either of them were.
Wednesday and Thursday passed quickly, and Harley didn't talk much to Stacey or Bruce. At the cheer leading tryouts, she kept to herself. She didn't see Jack again, which disappointed her. But on Friday, when she received the page of students she'd be counseling, a grin slid onto her face, before she began to laugh. She had no idea how he'd done it, but she was glad he had.
Jack would be her first patient, Monday at eight.


text:
I've got nothing else.
MPR News Reflections and observations on the news
Archives for December 14, 2012
Digital master Anil Dash remembers the Web We Lost.
China and Illinois have been recruiting targets for the U for a few years now. The five-year trend maps, though, show just how important that growth has become.
A Penny's thoughts, Duluth's 'horrible' film project, Marilyn goes to Hollywood, and the Indiana Jones mystery.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
I think you need all three: vigilance, education, and engineering controls (a safe).
My point of view is to leave absolutely no opportunity for an accident. My pistol is either on my side or in the nightstand Vline safe, period. Is this absolutely foolproof? No. Kids could figure out the combination to the safe. But I'd bet my house that the odds are orders of magnitude higher of a child opening an unlocked drawer vs. figuring out a safe combination.
In a way I agree with you. Situation is exactly the same in my house. My kids have been trained. In fact, I could probably leave a loaded gun sitting on a living room table and it would never get touched. But for me that simply isn't enough.
It doesn't seem that anyone is going to convince you to change your ways. And I acknowledge that you will probably not ever have a problem. But why take a chance when there are very simple ways to improve safety?
Good Luck,


text:
Viewer Comments: Jose Reyes & Angel Pagan TradeDecember 9, 2011
It has been one crazy week for us Mets fans. In the video below I respond to a few viewer comments.
This entry was posted in New York Mets, On The Black TV and tagged Angel Pagan, Jose Reyes, New York Mets Fan Comments. Bookmark the permalink.


text:
Hawks 93, Raptors 92: Al Horford collected 22 points, 10 rebounds and six assists and Josh Smith added 20 points and 11 boards to help host Atlanta rally from a 13-point deficit for its eighth win in its last nine meetings with Toronto.
Kyle Korver went 5-for-9 from 3-point range en route to 17 points for the Hawks, who have won three straight home games after trailing by double digits in each.
DeMar DeRozan scored 23 points and John Lucas added 19 off the bench for the Raptors, who have dropped three straight and eight of 10. Toronto fell to 5-19 on the road.
The lead changed hands six times in the final five minutes, with the last lead change coming when Smith threaded a bullet pass to Horford for a dunk. The Raptors had two shots to win it during a wild final possession, but Alan Anderson missed a jumper and DeRozan was stripped by Horford on his way up for a follow attempt.
It was tight for most of the first half until Lowry scored the last five points of an 11-0 run to give the Raptors a 13-point advantage and they took a 55-45 lead into halftime. The Hawks charged back in the third, outscoring the Raptors 30-14 during the period and using a 14-2 spurt to regain the lead.
GAME NOTEBOOK: The Raptors acquired SF Rudy Gay and C Hamed Haddadi from Memphis in a three-team deal that sent PF Ed Davis and a second-round draft pick to the Grizzlies and PG Jose Calderon to Detroit. … Korver has made a 3-pointer in 39 consecutive games, three shy of Mookie Blaylock's franchise record. … Atlanta improved to 21-1 when taking a lead into the fourth quarter and 19-3 when it has at least 24 assists.


text: Watch Video Video: Star-packed costume gala for designer McQueen Add to ... AP Video Published Tuesday, May 03, 2011 6:45AM EDT Last updated Tuesday, May 03, 2011 9:24AM EDT Madonna, Rihanna, Beyonce, Penelope Cruz, Taylor Swift and Jennifer Lopez were just a few of the stars who turned out for the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute Gala Benefit in New York, which honored late designer Alexander McQueen. Watch More Video: Go behind the scenes of the fall Style Advisor's cover shoot How to take shorts from day to night Heidi Klum turns runway fame into global brand Versace's special H&M collection Budapest's Roma fashion show Joe Fresh awash in colour Yasmin Warsame takes a tumble on the runway Topshop & Topman in Canada Video: A classical comeback at London fashion week Lagerfeld launches at Macy's Calgary opens pet morgue Kardashian launch their 'Kollection' Adriana Lima unveils The Showstopper How to get Pippa's girl-next door style Magazine criticized for 'creepy' photos of young child Video: Gaga designer on display on Paris runway Video: New York's wedding industry prepares for boom The holy roots of hair extensions Experts rate Royal Wedding style What will Kate's dress look like? Comments Share via email Share on facebook Share on twitter Share on LinkedIn Print


text:
a place for zinesters - writers and readers
164 members
34 members
284 members
Posted on August 8, 2010 at 3:38pm 0 Comments 0 Likes
It's been a while in the making (anywhere between 6 months and 10 years, 'pending on how you want to look at it…) but the stuffed, stacked and seriously bloomin' large 10th…Continue
Posted on October 17, 2009 at 5:30am 0 Comments 0 Likes
Posted on July 7, 2009 at 8:31am 0 Comments 0 Likes
Posted on April 16, 2009 at 6:17pm 0 Comments 0 Likes
We invite you to take part in the First International Exhibition "ZINESHOW" in Ukraine. Participation is free. Any technique. Any theme and format. No return. Deadline: 15/04/2013. Exhibition on the blog http://zineshow.blogspot.com All works will be exhibited also in the gallery "tymutopiyapres" http://tymutopiyapres.blogspot.com is not a commercial gallery. Welcomed but not "necessarily" summary of your zine or about you or your creative work (this is necessary for further elucidation of the project and possible documentation). Zines for the exhibition please send air mail: "Zineshow" A/C 9875, Sadivnycha 19/1, 79038, Lviv, Ukraine.


text: Stay BELOW 4000K!!!!! AHHHHHHH Engine Break in procedure!!!! ENGINE BREAK IN PROCEDURE AHHH!!!! lol congrats looks good . SPT Exhaust? I think I saw a WRB today but was on the other side of the higway the blue was a little bit darker then my year. If it was the 2015 they dont look that bad still want to see it in person.


text:
Blog Post
IPhone 6 or iPhone 5?
With the uncertainty in the confirmed release date of iPhone 5 and iPhone 6 the customers are now loosing focus on which version of iPhone to consider. Apple is still to confirm the exact dates and the delay reasons of the iPhone 6 and 5 and without any features and specs outlined the speculations in the market continue to confuse them further in their buying decision.
Apple might have stepped into a labyrinth of release date confusion with the launch of iPhone 6 almost closing in on iPhone 5. The timing of iPhone 5 is still unclear since last year's announcement of release. Now the potential buyers want to know more about the iPhone 6 and what lies ahead. Many are predicting that the iPhone 5 will be an initial prototype of the iPhone 6 in which the real features will lie.
Loosing Focus
Customers cannot put focus on one version when the other one is just behind. With the announcement of release of iOS 5 operating system, potential buyers are expecting both the versions to be equipped with it. Some technology experts have also brought about the notion of iPhone 6 being loaded with the iOS 6. However it is for sure that the delay in the release of both versions of iPhone is because of the delay in the release of iOS 5.
Wanting the iPhone 5 for a Test Drive
With the release of both the phones in close gaps people are expecting fewer features in the iPhone 5, the more predictable ones like the larger screen and probably an extra port. They are expecting more from the iPhone 6. However, they are still willing to put off the current version of iPhone to test drive the newer ones.
Surely the iPhone 5 era has something revolutionary to offer its customers. If the interested buyers buy the iPhone 4 now they will be shutting themselves out of the new generation iPhone era in terms of upgrades, pricing and technology. People are surely looking out for features and specs that are officially outlined by the manufacturer but can only get their hands on the speculative features of the newer versions that are getting their hopes high.
Speculated or Confirmed
With so much speculation about the iPhone 6 the recent reports that have been unveiled by AT&T and Apple shows that the main awaited features like the 4G technology, wireless charging and the speedy processor are definite to be found in the iPhone 6. However the iPhone 5 is still unconfirmed.
With so much uncertainty in the release dates of the iPhone 6 and iPhone 5 the potential buyers are no longer clear about the future plans of the iPhone releases. Customers are putting off the purchase of the current iPhones because of the so called soon release of the newer versions. The iPhone 6 is currently the version that is stirring up much excitement. Apple needs to shake things up a bit to get in order with the confirmed release dates of iPhone 5 and iPhone 6.
Author: Joshua Bradley
Leave a Reply Cancel reply
Related Posts
If you phone is "in contract" with your carrier and you travel, you may
When you purchase any phone which is "in contract" with your carrier. This means
When you purchase any phone which is "in contract" with your carrier, there can
Telus is a popular GSM Network in Canada. iPhone was introduced on the Telus
There are 3 major cell phone carriers in the United States that use the
Benefits of unlocking a phone: If you have a cell phone that is locked to
Buying a used smartphone can be a very good choice for those on a
In years prior, iPhone users had few options to unlock your iPhone. Jailbreaking was
IMEI is a unique 15 digit number for each smart phone that is manufactured
Unlocking a mobile phone provides you with a lot of benefits including ability to
Claro is a popular GSM network in many South American countries eg: Brazil, Chile
Orange is a popular GSM network in many european countries eg: Austria, France, Poland,
iPhone was originally available only wit AT&T in the united states when it was


text:
Handel is my favorite composer. But even if he's not your favorite there are still many reasons to purchase this set of 3 CDs. If you enjoy baroque vocal music. If you enjoy wonderful singing and graceful music. Long, tuneful arias punctuated by brief recitatives. Also the production label for this CD is MDG and the acoustics for their recordings are always top-notch without any sort of soundmodifying manipulation. And how they can produce such a superior recording of 3 CDs for $20 and some change is beyond me. Anyway I'm not a knowledgeable music critic. I just know what I like though I do happen to think I have good taste in music. In my humble opinion music like Handel's is a privileged foretaste of what we will experience in Heaven. That may sound like hyperbole to some but not to those of us who are passionate about baroque music. If you're a seasoned Handel fan you must have this recording. If you're new to the baroque vocal music scene you also must have it. Hurry up and purchase before the good people at MDG come to their senses and double the price! (amazon.com)
In his satirical introduction to The Beggars' Opera of 1728, John Gay claims that he "introduced the similes that are in your celebrated operas: the Swallow, the Moth, the Bee, the Ship, the Flower…and I have observed such nice impartiality to our two ladies that it is impossible for either of them to take offence." He might equally well have been referring to Marcello's charming Arianna (1726), which does indeed employ the usual Metastasian similes in the arias, and has two plum female roles for Arianna and her sister, Fedra (Phaedra)… –Warwick Thompson


text:
justmhe01Member Since 22 Jan 2013
Offline Last Active Jan 23 2013 06:36 AM
About Me
Where are you? Are you in Pressurized wall NYC or in Temporary walls NYC?
Community Stats
- Group Members
- Active Posts 0
- Profile Views 210
- Member Title Newbie
- Age Age Unknown
- Birthday Birthday Unknown
Not Telling
Contact Information
- Website URL http://allweekwalls.com/
0 Neutral
User Tools
justmhe01 hasn't added any friends yet.
Latest Visitors
No latest visitors to show


text:
Your Dog, Your Life
The Scoop
Dog News, Politics
Bark-Out-Loud Humor
Doggie Style
Gear and Glam
Wildebeest creates the perfect present for new dog parents.
Dog Breeds
Foods & Treats
Health & Care
Behavior & Training
Dogs & Cleaning
Dog of the Day
Photo Comments
Photo Comments (1)
Photo Comments (2)
Well I had a great christmas I played with 2 other BMs and a Rhodisian I got lots of toys just like my brothers. I went to the vet on 12/29 and was 25lbs and got shots (yuck). Mom has been really busy and hasen't written in my diary for a while but she has been preoccupied with my human brother he had his second and hopefully last surgery and is doing good. I have been going for 3 walks a day and mom says I have some bad habits (I like to chase cars but I am afraid of any dog that barks) so we are working on that one with the trainer. Mom will try to keep up on my diary more.
Mom and I just wanted to say a big Thanks for having my diary be the "Diary of the day". We have made so many new friends and we just wanted to say Thanks to everyone and hello to all our new friends.
I just got back from the vets and Dr. Sodhi said I'm very healthy and 18 lbs. He gave me my first shots and a cookie I also got my bordatella (up my nose that was quite a surprise). So next week we are flying to Phoenix for Christmas and I get to meet my cousin CoCo I also get to meet Pazzo(Bullmastiff) and R.J.(Rhodisian). So hasta for now!!!!
Copyright © I-5 Publishing, LLC. All rights reserved.
Visit Catster


text:
exhaust/light fixture
can i use the existing wires from old light to run new fan/light?
anyone have advice for me?
Depends on what the wiring is, and what the fixture is rated at.
If the wires are in good shape and you want the light and fan to always run at the same time then there's no reason to not use them.
Yeah you can but it depending on how it set up so like if you have only single NM cable then it will be no issue but if you have two cables it can affect the set up.
Make sure that you understand the switch loop is differnt so before you start take apart look at your switch to see how it conferated first that useally can save yourself alot of headache.
Second thing be aware the junction box in the fan / light combo unit there is not a really much room at all so you may have to make a junction box next to it ( if you have attic that is not a issue but have no attic in this area let me know I know there is other way you can do.)
|All times are GMT -5. The time now is 08:59 PM.
vBulletin Security provided by vBSecurity v2.2.2 (Pro) - vBulletin Mods & Addons Copyright © 2017 DragonByte Technologies Ltd.
User Alert System provided by Advanced User Tagging (Pro) - vBulletin Mods & Addons Copyright © 2017 DragonByte Technologies Ltd.


text:
After finishing the traveler it seems I couldnt get away from the black ducks....which is typical around here.
I donated this one to raise money for the harbor assoc. in my town.
This one was delivered Sunday night to the Island House Resturaunt. They are holding their annual Wounded Warriors Oyster Roast and Auctions this Saturday. The bar tender there had been after me for 4 months to get a bird done for them. I figured given my record a week early was pretty dang good. Hope some of you can make it to the benefit and support a great cause.


text:
Micromega stage op amps
Hi, does anyone know what op amps were fitted to the 6 different stages of this cd player. ?
Stage 2 had Philips NE5534 which I think were also in the 1 and 3. Don't know what the 4,5 and 6 used.
same NE5534 and 32 are in stage 4
|All times are GMT. The time now is 10:30 AM.
vBulletin Optimisation provided by vB Optimise (Pro) - vBulletin Mods & Addons Copyright © 2017 DragonByte Technologies Ltd.
Copyright ©1999-2017 diyAudio


text:
Hi all, I don't have much knowledge of Jango but going through the Visual dictionnary of Episode 2, I have seen something I had never noticed before and though that it might have been unnoticed. In the summary page (BTW, I have the french canadian version of the dictionnary so there might be some differences), there is a picture of the right gauntlet with the three hoses connected together and there seems to be some connector with all 3 hoses attached to it... might have been how they attached the hoses to the original costume.
Maybe that was common knowledge in the Jango department but couldn't find a thread on that particular part.
I don't have a scanner but could take a picture of the page if necessary... let me know!


text:
Self Priming Pumps Information
Self priming pumps create and maintain a sufficient vacuum level to draw fluid without external assistance. They are used in a variety of industries and are available in many different sizes. Pump manufacturers and pump suppliers that offer products such as a small self priming pump or a large self priming pump are located across the United States and around the world. Pump manufacturers often indicate how different types of self priming pumps can be used in pumping applications. For example, products designated as water pumps are designed for marine or hydrology applications. By contrast, wastewater pumps are designed to move slurries or sludge. Sampling pumps are used in agricultural and horticultural applications; in breweries, distilleries, and food processing plants; and in oil and gas exploration and production. Other types of self priming pumps are also commonly available. Because of its versatility, a self priming pump can often be used in a number of different ways.
Selecting Self Priming Pumps
Selecting a self priming pump requires a basic understanding of pump technologies. Common types of self priming pumps include the self priming centrifugal pump, self priming chemical pump, and self priming water pump. Seal-less self-priming pumps are also available. A self priming centrifugal pump can pump a gas, liquid, or combination of a liquid and gas. Typically, a self priming centrifugal pump creates a vacuum that can be operated with suction if water is located in the body of the pump. The self priming water pump is used to pump clean water for both agricultural and commercial applications. Self priming water pumps are usually centrifugal pumps that can pump approximately 40 liters (l) per minute. The seal-less self-priming pump is designed for heavy-duty applications. Commonly transported media include liquids, slurries, solvents, salts, and acids. Self priming pumps that can transfer fluids or gases in the forward or backward direction may provide a mild pumping action. A seal-less self-priming pump operates by being divided into two sections: a blend-able outer wall and a rigid thermoplastic interior. The media being transported moves between these two walls. The self priming chemical pump is similar in function to the self priming centrifugal pump in that both types of self priming pumps permit the flow of water, slurry, dyes, and oil.


text:
Best Of :: Arts & Entertainment
BEST LOCAL LATIN ROCK BAND Suenalo Sound System www.suenalomusic.com Every year the Florida frontier becomes more polyglot. About the only South Americans who haven't made a move on these parts are the Bolivians, the Guyanans, and the Surinamese. They're also about the only ones not representin' for Suenalo, the source of Miami's best new spin on rock, Latin or otherwise, since Nil Lara first whipped out his son-ified electric cuatro. Colombia, Mexico, Puerto Rico: presente. Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Cuba: presente. Chicago, New York, and the Republic of Texas: presente. Outgoing lead singer Itagui Corea is Colombian; incoming Amin DeJesus is Miami-Dominican. Drummer and singer Fabio Patiño is Mexican; conga player Alan Ramos is Puerto Rican; keyboardist Tony Laurencio and sax player Juan Turros are Miami Cubans; guitarists Phil Maranges and Gerard Glecer are New York Cuban and Massachusetts French, respectively. Chicago's man in Suenalo is trombonist Chad Bernstein. Other cities, states, and nations may not have a guy in this band, but they are there in spirit: The ensemble employs rhythms from Brazil to Jamaica, including samba, cumbia, rumba, son, hip-hop, and reggae. "We're mainly focusing on fusing Afro-beat and Latin rhythms with funk and rhythm and blues," Maranges says. "Afro-Latin funk?" Whatever you dub it, the Suenalo sound is buzzing from the fashionable warehouse parties of Wynwood to the trippy lounge scene of South Beach.
BEST ACTING ENSEMBLE The Constant Wife Coconut Grove Playhouse The Playhouse's hit revival had so many fine performances, it is only fair to fully credit them all. Alicia Roper was regally serene in the title role, beautifully matched by Greg Wood as her duplicitous husband, Nancy Dussault as her wisecracking mother, and Dan Olmstead as her once and future swain. Take those delicious ingredients, stir in Ian D. Clark, Susan Wilder, Ursula Freundlich, Pilar Uribe, and Dan Schiff, and out pops one tasty soufflé of an ensemble show.
BEST ACTIVITY TO DO WHILE INTOXICATED Beer Pong Hooligan´s Pub & Oyster Bar
9555 S. Dixie Highway
www.hooliganspub.com Every Thursday night at 9:00 Hooligan's offers a chance for everyone (yes, the distaff included) to get their balls wet. On one of the Ping-Pong tables brought into the pub for this event, each contestant is required to arrange ten cups of beer (sort of like bowling pins). Opponents then get on either side and attempt to bounce a table-tennis ball into the other team's hops. Each time a player scores, the other team must drink. Because a person has to be pretty much drunk before indulging in such a game, a few misses are to be expected. This makes it even more fun, seeing as the ball will no doubt end up landing on the grimy floor a few times before plopping into its intended target. The object is to make the opposing side drink all ten cups of beer -- including any carpet lint, dust, and other fluff. Yummy.
BEST ACTOR David Kwiat Kwiat's performance as the dying oddball physicist Richard Feynman in QED (at GableStage) was in production a full year ago. Award competitions such as the Oscars often have short memories in such cases, but all these months later Kwiat's funny, touching portrait of one man's search for peace and meaning still resonates, an exceptional example of an exceptional actor's style: understated, deeply felt, and fully alive.
BEST ACTRESS Angelica Torn No doubt about it. This year's nod goes to Angelica Torn, who tore up the stage in her fierce, memorable portrait of poet Sylvia Plath in EDGE at the Coconut Grove Playhouse. Torn used a deliberately off-putting, disconnected persona to portray the troubled writer. But her flat, atonal vocal delivery and disheveled demeanor masked a volcanic emotional life that erupted in brief spasms of sudden anguish. The result was indelible: frightening, sarcastic, pitiable, courageous.
BEST AM RADIO PERSONALITY Bishop Victor T. Curry WMBM-AM (1490) Imagine your average radio talk show. A couple of hosts prattle on about the news, sports, and entertainment while occasionally taking calls from agitated listeners. Now imagine that wrapped in scripture and gospel music, and you'll have the wonderful Morning Glory show, which airs weekdays from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. with an extra two hours added on Tuesdays. Especially when it comes to controversial subjects, it's easy to get riled (a number of callers certainly do) and say to yourself, I wish I knew more about scripture so I could actually argue with the good reverend. That's the point.
Readers´ Choice: Neil Rogers, WQAM-AM (560)


text:
Usher syndrome and driving
You must tell DVLA if you have Usher syndrome.
You can be fined up to £1,000 if you don't tell DVLA about a medical condition that affects your driving. You may be prosecuted if you're involved in an accident as a result.
Car or motorcycle licence
You can either report your condition online or fill in form V1 and send it to DVLA. The address is on the form.
Bus, coach or lorry licence
Fill in form V1V and form AUD1 and send them to DVLA. The address is on each form.


text:
0 items ·
Check out
is back-ordered. We will ship it separately in 10 to 15 days.
A new idea in wedge pack construction combines molded side panels with flexible 600 denier fabric to form semi rigid, weather resistant saddle bag. A large, side-opening panel provides easy access to all your under saddle gear. Internal mesh pockets keep keys and small tools in place while riding. QuickClickTM compatible for fast, easy transfer between bikes.
Copyright © 2017 Capital Books and Wellness. Ecommerce Software by Shopify.


text:
The world's love of video games has much to do with our intrinsic desires and motives.
Video games, we have been led to believe, are about wasting time. It is a misunderstanding that players and game makers have railed against for 40 years. While movies and television are endlessly analysed and debated in the mainstream media, games are characterised as troubling, irresponsible or banal, the fatuous byproducts of the digital revolution.
But a growing number of theorists and designers disagree. This is, after all, an entertainment medium that worldwide makes bn a year, a medium in which an estimated one third of UK adults indulge. An emerging school of thought, drawing on cognitive science, psychology and sociology, suggests that our growing love of video games may actually have important things to tell us about our intrinsic desires and motivations.
Central to it all is a simple theory – that games are fun because they teach us interesting things and they do it in a way that our brains prefer – through systems and puzzles. Five years ago, Raph Koster, the designer of seminal multiplayer fantasy games such as Ultima Online and Star Wars Galaxies wrote a fascinating book called A Theory of Fun for Game Design, in which he put forward the irresistibly catchy tenet that "with games, learning is the drug".
"An effective learning environment, and for that matter an effective creative environment, is one in which failure is OK – it's even welcomed," Koster says via phone from his hometown of San Diego. "In game theory, this is often spoken of as the 'magic circle': you enter into a realm where the rules of the real world don't apply – and typically being judged on success and failure is part of the real world. People need to feel free to try things and to learn without being judged or penalised."
Consistently, he says, the most successful games are the ones that provide us with interesting tools such as weapons or magic (or even angry birds) and allow us time to experiment with them. He provides as a defining example the 1985 platforming game Super Mario Bros, created by Nintendo's renowned game designer Shigeru Miyamoto. On the first screen, players are given the ability to jump and can play with this for as long as they like, but to get to the next stage, they need to have mastered the skill so they can leap over an enemy and on to a platform. Afterwards, they learn about hidden bonuses and items, but only when each new addition has been perfected.
This "acquire, test, master" model is still intrinsic to game design. The recently released Portal 2, a brilliant, physics-based puzzler set in an abandoned science research facility, works in exactly the same way. Here, players wield a portal gun, a device that creates dimensional wormholes in walls, floors and ceilings – but they're only introduced to one facet of the gun at a time, and when it has been mastered, new items such as super-bouncy gels are introduced. There is constant progress and a continually evolving challenge, but there is always room to experiment and to figure things out through intuition.
"Games allow us to create these little systems where learning is controlled and taken advantage of really brilliantly," says Margaret Robertson, development director at innovative London-based games studio Hide&Seek. "We do love learning and we're good at it, but it is often frustrating in the real world because you don't always get to go at the pace you want to go and often don't immediately see the application of what you're doing. Also, learning is rarely done in an atmosphere that's a little bit illicit. Something we don't talk about is that, actually, one of the strengths of games is the stigma that still surrounds them – they feel like bunking off!"
But the brain's love of systems and puzzles is only part of the deeper appeal. Another important element is autonomy. Games tap into our need to have control; this is very obvious in "god games" such as The Sims, where we shape the lives of virtual humans, but it's becoming a vital element of action adventures and shooters, too.
"Games are increasingly complex systems that offer a variety of different experiences," says Dan Pinchbeck, an experimental game designer and lecturer in creative technologies. "Titles such as Red Dead Redemption and Assassin's Creed have a central design ethos that players should be able to define their own play to an extent. There's an emphasis on the pleasure of choosing and planning. We've moved quite dramatically away from the action games of the 80s and 90s, where the primary mode of engagement was reaction to events. Shooters still have this core of fast, reactive action, but a game such as Crysis 2 is also about approaching a situation, making a solid plan and then defining the template for this reactive mode, depending on your preferred play style."
This has proved to be a hugely successful recipe. The Grand Theft Auto series of urban shoot-'em-ups has sold more than 100 million copies, not just because of the rampant crime and violence, which is admittedly fun, but because they offer the player agency and authority in a realistic, complicated world. "There's a crescendo of ecstasy that comes through the acknowledged application of autonomy," says Robertson. "Games give you a space where you have power and most of us, most of the time, don't feel like that. And then, whatever you do, games notice. Again, in life, that doesn't always happen. If you do the things you're supposed to do efficiently and quietly, no one notices and that's rubbish."
Now, the industry has really started to consider the appeal of player autonomy. "There's a trend at the moment to look at what psychologists, behavioural economists and sociologists can give us pointers to," says Robertson. She has been reading essays by George Loewenstein, a behavioural economist who's written at length about curiosity: "Curiosity is the act of wanting a thing without knowing what it is. Lowenstein calls it 'closing the curiosity gap' – we find something narcotic in the sense of tension and the resolution. Well, there's a lot of that in video games and we need to understand it."
At this year's Game Developers Conference, for example, Kent Hudson, a game designer at LucasArts, gave a fascinating talk on self-determination theory, which concerns the study of human motivation. He talked about how gamers need to own their worlds in order to be happy. This sort of analysis used to be almost taboo within games, but now studios are taking it on board.
"The industry attitude towards education has changed radically for the better," says prominent game researcher Jesper Juul. "I recall hearing industry professionals claim that game design was something like an unteachable dark art, but now, with bigger budgets and with game design graduates placed in most studios, this attitude has mostly faded."
The best studios are also designing their titles around established reward systems. "A good game will have the expected progression at the end of each level, but it will also provide surprise rewards halfway through," says Ben Weedon, a consultant at PlayableGames, a company that carries out usability testing on new titles before they're released. "It's a principle that's based on workplace psychology. One of the best ways to reward employees is to enhance predictable annual bonuses with little treats added in every now and again – buying all your staff an iPod, for example. It keeps people much more motivated. In a game, you're essentially pressing the same buttons and doing the same things over and over again, so you need those elements of the unexpected to stay compelled."
But developers also know that there's more to games than systems and mechanics – story is becoming ever more important. Science-fiction adventure series Mass Effect has a sprawling story of intergalactic intrigue, while thrillers such as Heavy Rain and forthcoming Raymond Chandler-style detective adventure LA Noire, are loaded with the sort of compelling plot twists and shock revelations we're used to from movies. Indeed, narrative games have their own version of Hollywood's three-act structure, designed to keep us utterly hooked. "A shorter final act is often used to give a sense of acceleration towards climax," says Pinchbeck. "It's all about communicating the player's position on the arc, so they have a strong motivation to keep playing." Opening levels also tend to be brief, because this flatters us into thinking we're making quick progress.
Again, this comes back to the central appeal of games – authority. Game stories are often pretty hokey, but they're compelling because we're in control. Veteran British game designer Charles Cecil is currently working on the BBC's well-received Doctor Who Adventure games (downloadable from bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/dw/theadventuregames) and has seen how giving fans control over the Doctor brings them closer to the plotlines. "The huge positive is that the player is experiencing the story advance as a reward for something that has been challenging," he says. "One of the joys of gaming is that the story means so much more because you have achieved something to get it, rather than just watching it. That is the great strength of the medium."
Another important game design facet is "disproportionate feedback", in which players are hugely rewarded for achieving very simple tasks. In highly successful shooters such as Call of Duty and Bulletstorm, when an enemy is shot, they don't just collapse to the floor, they explode into chunks. In casual puzzles, titles such as Zuma and Peggle, a completed level is accompanied by pixelated firework displays, sparkling rainbows and messages declaring: "Ultra Extreme Fever". These contrasting forms of graphical over-elaboration aren't just there for window-dressing, they're a charm offensive on the brain's pleasure centres: you're good, you're a success – you're powerful. Disproportionate feedback is an endorphin come-on.
Conversely, designers have discovered that failure can be an important factor in keeping us entertained. Four years ago, researchers at the Helsinki School of Economics' Mind lab studied the oscillatory brain responses of game players and found they often get pleasure from losing a life; if the resulting animation is entertaining, and if the failure is their own fault, it's just another indicator of the player's agency in the world. When urban driving game Burnout was released, the design team immediately realised that players loved crashing the cars because of the breathtakingly realistic destruction animations, so for the sequel, they added a mode that encouraged and rewarded dramatic collisions – it was a massive success.
Almost dying could be even more important. "I heard a talk at GDC that pointed out something interesting," says Brian Fleming, the producer of apocalyptic superhero adventure game inFamous. "When people tell stories about their greatest moments, they often revolve around nearly dying. In games, what's really special for people is not, 'I killed the bad guy and I was perfect', it's, 'I nearly died, but I just managed to kill the bad guy.' How do we set out specifically to give them those experiences? That's a great challenge for us as game makers."
Games tap into our motivations, our neural pathways, even our friendships. The rise of online multiplayer gaming as well as Facebook titles such as Farmville show that interactive worlds are becoming acceptable venues for social interaction. And brand owners are taking notice. Facebook and browser games are now a key element of many film and TV marketing campaigns – they're "sticky", they're compelling and they give potential viewers ownership over stories and characters. Then there's the burgeoning concept of gamification, in which websites, smartphone apps and location-based services such as Four Square and Gowalla are being designed to resemble games, with high scores and achievement points, to keep customers entertained. Everybody from Playboy to Starbucks to London Transport is providing game-like services to users, the latter via downloadable game Chromaroma, which rewards Oyster card users for exploring new areas. M2 Research estimates that companies spent more than 0m worldwide on gamification projects last year, a figure predicted to rise to .6bn by 2015.
So games aren't just about wasting time. They fulfil intrinsic human needs, whether we are conscious of it or not. "That loop of agency, learning and disproportionate feedback is at the heart of something very important," says Margaret Robertson. She thinks for a second before pointedly adding: "And very, very seductive."
Four big games – and why they're successful
Angry Birds
Brightly coloured smartphone physics puzzler (100 million downloads and counting) where you launch birds at the evil pigs who have stolen your eggs.
ANALYSIS: The basic skill it rewards – being able to aim objects accurately – is one we're designed to want to practise. "It's evolutionarily useful that the brain fastens on challenging problems that have to do with trajectories," says game designer Raph Koster. "Physics calculations like this were extremely valuable if you made your living with a spear."
VERDICT: You love Angry Birds because your ancient ancestors needed to be really good at throwing stuff.
Facebook game with more than 62 million users that allows players to tend a virtual farm, raising livestock and harvesting crops.
ANALYSIS: "There's a cognitive theory called signalling," says game designer Raph Koster. "The premise is that a lot of what we do that we can't quite explain is actually about sending signals to those around us. One of the things we tend to signal is conscientiousness – and so having, for example, a really lovely, well-tended garden is a public signal of how res


text:
Taxman after property punters
Page Tools
The nation's tax tsar yesterday said the landmark High Court ruling last week on tax avoidance could have widespread implications for business and individuals and reaffirmed the Australian Taxation Office's hardline policy.
Tax commissioner Michael Carmody also said Tax Office audits of investment properties, where tax minimisation via negative gearing has fuelled the property boom, would be widened to identify abuses.
Mr Carmody was commenting on last week's High Court's unanimous ruling that "split loan" mortgages where home buyers direct all their interest bill to deductible investment properties were illegal.
While differing reasons for the decision in the five justices' three separate judgements have provided tax lawyers ample scope to argue the decision, there is agreement the decision has confirmed the legality of the broad anti-avoidance strategy.
"It will only give me greater confidence in relation to the cases that we have already taken on," Mr Carmody told ABC's Inside Business.
Last week the High Court found that Canberra residents Richard and Trudy Hart's attempt to use a split loan to finance an investment property while paying off their main home was illegal.
The High Court rejected a narrow interpretation of what the scheme was designed to do - buy a house - and considered the purpose was to avoid tax.
"Because it is a very significant issue in the community, more and more people are entering investment properties and we will continue our audits there, they will be expanded, and this will be one aspect that we are looking at," Mr Carmody said.


text:
Track My Order
Frequently Asked Questions
International Shipping Info
Send Email
Mon-Fri, 9am to 12pm and
1pm to 5pm U.S. Mountain Time:
(303) 284-0979
Chat With Us
Member Since:
November 18, 2006
United States
Product WRL-11373
about 5 years ago
Is the DOUT line coming out a 5V? I'm afraid it could blow out my Arduino Due, whereas the old ones won't.
Member #11117
29 items
Forgot your password?
No account? Register one!


text:
- Office Line
- 603-352-5433
- Direct Line
- 603-283-1934x611934
- Mobile Line
- 603-355-0432
- Office
- 69A Island Street
Suite 3
Keene, NH 03431
- Contact Me
Michael BlairView My Listings >
About Me
Open House SearchNew Hampshire
|New Price
|Open House
|Just Listed
|All Market
|New Hampshire
Distinctive Collection
Our luxury offering, Distinctive Collection, offers the service and market experience you'd expect from a brand whose legacy was built upon a passion for the home.
Click here to learn more about our Distinctive Collection Program.
Click Here to see our current Distinctive Collection Properties.
Luxury Real Estate
The Most Viewed Luxury Real Estate Website in the World
Click Here to see properties.


text:
Online hearing aid sales are a hidden cost haven.
When patients buy hearing aids online, they often are hit with unknown and unexpected costs long after the purchase.Learn More
Just like a doctor, working with a trustworthy hearing provider makes all the difference.
A hearing aid isn't a one-time purchase. It's a life-changing investment that should be made with all the facts and a reputable trustworthy clinician. Our goal is to help you find a professional in your area who will test your hearing and recommend a custom hearing aid solution that meets the 3 primary needs of a hearing aid user - budget, lifestyle and loss.Learn More
Protect your investment – and your wallet.
From return policies to maintenance, find out what happens after you purchase hearing aids and learn what to ask a provider before you buy that can save you money. Learn More
Hearing Loss 101Learn More
Signs of Hearing Loss
People often find it hard to admit they have hearing loss. Learn about common signs and symptoms that indicate you may have hearing problems.Learn more >>
Hearing Loss Types
Knowing the nature of your hearing loss will make it easier to understand your provider's recommended hearing aid solution. Discover the different types and causes of hearing loss.Learn more >>
Don't Wait to Get Help
It's important to contact a hearing professional as soon as possible if you think you have hearing loss. Early detection increases the chances of improving your hearing.Learn more >>


text:
In this issue:
UN-SPIDER at a glance
Free tagging:
Please click here to unsubscribe to the UN-SPIDER mailing list.
Please click here to subscribe to the UN-SPIDER mailing list.
The UN-SPIDER April 2012 Updates contain the following topics:
UN-SPIDER at a glance:
UN-SPIDER News
UN-SPIDER News
UN-SPIDER in 2010
© 2017 UNOOSA - All Rights Reserved


text:
From Casa Vieja comes the Vestige™ ceiling fan with a subtly decorative cage design. This smart fan design comes in an antique bronze finish, and features an integrated LED downlight that offers ambient, diffused lighting through a frosted white glass diffuser. UL listed for damp locations.
Casa Vieja ceiling fans represent a seamless convergence of form and function. Fine craftsmanship and superb materials combine with full feature sets to create excellent airflow solutions for the home. Casa Vieja designs are striking additions to your décor. They offer great quality with a smart, sleek, contemporary feel. With a large selection to choose from, the Casa Vieja collection of ceiling fans is sure to include the look you desire.
For safety reasons, fan blades must be a minimum of 7' above the floor. Hang the fan blades 8' or 9' above the floor for the most efficient air flow. All Casa Optima ceiling fans come with a standard pole for use with 8-foot ceilings.
Our team has over 100 years combined experience with contemporary lighting.
Every EuroStyleLighting.com order is backed by our 100% Satisfaction Pledge.
Shipping and Delivery Information - For item EU5D998 if ordered by 1 pm Pacific Time


text:
At Facebook, as Twitter, you can get your own domain. Now you can use facebook.com/username as your url, instead of the long and difficult to remember url. In order to get the short and sweet one, you need to do a few changes.
Two Reasons Why
First, it's a lot easier to remember and to share the url. Just remember a person's name, or the name of the company, and you'll find them on Facebook. And it looks a lot nicer when you send this new url to people.
Second, your Facebook profile will get ranked higher on the search engines. If I use Twitter as an example, searching for my last name berget (which is also my username on Twitter) on Google shows up at the fourth place out of close to 1,2 million pages.
How To Create Your Facebook Domain
It's fast, easy, and just a few clicks away. My Facebook settings are in Norwegian, but I try to explain everything in english.
The first thing you need to do is click on settings, in the top right corner. Then, click on change your username.
Now, you'll get several options.
You can either pick one of the usernames added by Facebook by default (based on your current name/username) or you can create a new one.
That's it. Click on save, and you'll have your new Facebook domain ready in just a few seconds.


text: Date Tiruvannamalai guys, singles men online free! Meet genuine men in Tiruvannamalai from thousands of guy's looking for love, friendship and serious relationship in Tiruvannamalai. If you are a man from Tiruvannamalai, Join now at 100% free Tiruvannamalai site QuackQuack and post all personal details online right away to meet singles in Tiruvannamalai!


text:
Israel authorizes more reservists after rockets target cities
By Nidal al-Mughrabi and Jeffrey Heller
GAZA/JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israel's cabinet authorized the mobilization of up to 75,000 reservists late on Friday, preparing the ground for a possible Gaza invasion after Palestinians fired a rocket toward Jerusalem for the first time in decades.
Tel Aviv, Israel's commercial centre, also came under rocket attack for the second straight day, in defiance of an Israeli air offensive that began on Wednesday with the declared aim of deterring Hamas from launching cross-border attacks that have plagued southern Israel for years.
Hamas, the Islamist group that runs the Gaza Strip, claimed responsibility for firing at Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. Israel said the rocket launched toward Jerusalem landed in the occupied West Bank, and the one fired at Tel Aviv did not hit the city. There were no reports of casualties.
The siren that sounded in Jerusalem stunned many Israelis. The city, holy to Jews, Muslims and Christians, was last struck by a Palestinian rocket in 1970, and it was not a target when Saddam Hussein's Iraq fired missiles at Israel in the 1991 Gulf War.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a four-hour strategy session with a clutch of senior ministers in Tel Aviv on widening the military campaign, while other cabinet members were polled by telephone on raising the mobilization level.
Political sources said they decided to more than double the current reserve troop quota set for the Gaza offensive to 75,000. The move did not necessarily mean all would be called into service.
Hours earlier, Egypt's prime minister, denouncing what he described as Israeli aggression, visited Gaza and said Cairo was prepared to mediate a truce.
Officials in Gaza said 29 Palestinians - 13 militants and 16 civilians, among them eight children and a pregnant woman - had been killed in the enclave since Israel began its air strikes. Three Israeli civilians were killed by a rocket on Thursday. Continued...


text:
McDonald's Holdings Co. – has said its same-store sales in June grew 1 percent from a year ago, up for the second straight month.
Sales were buoyant thanks partly to the introduction of a new hamburger priced at more than ¥500 in late June, McDonald's said Monday. The improvement was also due in part to a fall in sales in the same month last year because of a discount campaign.
Sales in June were also up month on month.
Average spending per customer grew 3.8 percent from a year ago, while the number of customers was down 2.7 percent.
The popular fast food chain also said its special ¥1,000 Quarter Pounder Gold Ring hamburger, offered for one day last Saturday, sold out. Variations of the burger will appear this Saturday and on July 20.


text:
"The wind was howling and I was worried about trees falling down. Suddenly, I heard a loud, thud-like boom. When I opened the front door, I saw that a big oak tree had been uprooted and had fallen into the road."
Related quotes
"A dusty thudding in his head made the scene before him beat like a pulse. His mouth had been used as a latrine by some small creature of the night and then as its mausoleum."
"I felt a thud from my left rear. It was a quick thud and the next thing I knew, we were in the wall."


text:
Many utility customers across the state have received bills that are higher than normal this winter. But if your bill was 10 times the normal amount, wouldn't you ask some questions?
It turns out that was not the reaction at the state of Tennessee. The bills in question involve the Governor's Executive Residence in Nashville, and officials simply paid them, costing taxpayers a lot of money.
The water and sewer bills at the governor's mansion had been running about $500 a month when, all of a sudden, they were $3,000 a month, $4,000 a month and even more.
But it wasn't the state's finance people who caught the problem.
"My wife kept saying, 'I'd like to see the utility bills here,'" Gov. Bill Haslam said.
It all started with the curiosity of First Lady Crissy Haslam.
The bills showed the water flow wasn't normal. Something was wrong.
"Nobody had been paying attention to that," Gov. Haslam said.
The Channel 4 I-Team found five bills at the residence that topped $5,000 a piece, with one month's bill charging the state's taxpayers $6,358.
The water from a $6,300 bill could have filled an Olympic-size swimming pool one-and-a-half times.
But the water bills at the Executive Residence were paid month after month, with no one following up to see why they were so high.
And they weren't just high last year. This has been ongoing for more than three years.
"Turns out a water line had been cut way back during construction, and no one ever paid attention to it," Gov. Haslam said.
That construction work was done back during the Phil Bredesen administration when an underground addition was made, and renovations were completed throughout the home.
The water had been leaking into the soil from a cracked pipe in the front yard all those years, with the state just paying the bill month after month.
"I'm confident that we're saving the taxpayers money on things that hadn't been addressed before," Gov. Haslam said.
The Channel 4 I-Team asked the Tennessee Department of General Services why this went on for so long. While no one would go on camera for this story, they told us they expected the water bills to be high during the construction period, but it appears no one noticed that when the construction was over the bills never went back down.
The bottom line: three years worth of water and sewer bills cost the taxpayers $178,843.
In the very first month after the damaged water line was fixed, the water and sewer bill at the governor's mansion returned to less than $500.
Copyright 2014 WSMV (Meredith Corporation). All rights reserved.
(910) 791-8070EEO Report Closed Captioning
Fox Wilmington
910-343-8826EEO Report Closed Captioning
322 Shipyard Blvd.
Wilmington, NC 28412
(910) 791-8070
All content © Copyright 2000 - 2017 Raycom Media. All Rights Reserved. For more information on this site, please read our Privacy Policy, and Terms of Service, and Ad Choices.


text:
Take a stroll along our secluded stretch of beach, nestled among the beautiful hills of Los Ajaches and featuring a seaside walkway.
A hidden Eden awaits you at our Lanzarote resort's serene spa, featuring relaxation-inducing massages, facials, treatments and even wine therapy.
Kids at our Lanzarote Sandos Papagayo Beach Resort can have a blast with games, activities, crafts, sports and more during an unforgettable family holiday.
Our entertainment team keeps the fun going at the Sandos Papagayo Beach Hotel with all kinds of games activities and sports throughout the day A top location means that Sandos Papagayo Beach Resort is also the perfect place to stay for hiking, walking and mountain biking. We're adjacent to a network of roads and footpaths leading to Papagayo beaches and impressive Los Ajaches lookout points. The resort also lies just minutes away from Marina Rubicón, one of the most beautiful marinas in the Canary Islands for a wide variety of water sports. From the hotel you can enjoy the excellent views of the islands of Fuerteventura and Lobos and some of the most spectacular sunsets of the area can be viewed from each room-terrace.


text:
By social scientists, you always means zherself. If we had a nickel for every time you mentioned these fictitious social scientists.....<quoted text>
Social scientists have noted that the first sexual experience a child experiences has profound impact on what they find as erotic. The layman's term is 'brain burn' for the path the hormones engrave. So if the first experience a child has is molestation, that has a profound impact in a number of ways.
I find it surprising the ignorance that is displayed by those with such absolute opinions about sexual issues.
Otherwise, your post said absolutely nothing.


text:
What's the best printer for you?
Latest Dell Printer reviews.
21 June 2011
A large, well-appointed all-in-one, which offers good quality, duplex print and an Eco Mode, but with high running costs.
06 February 2011
A modern, mono, workgroup laser multifunction with good speed, fair print quality and impressive running costs. It's a big'un, though.
18 January 2011
In something of a brutalist design, this big beast of a colour laser is a key contender in workgroup printing.
28 November 2010
A neat, well-designed multi-function colour LED printer that's quiet and sleek, but hampered by horrendously expensive toner.
29 September 2010
The first of Dell's new range of LED-based machines sets a new form factor for the colour page printer.
10 August 2010
A good, large-workgroup laser printer with enough expandability to grow when the workgroup becomes a department.
13 July 2010
A well-specified little multifunction mono laser, with good speed and average print quality.
08 June 2010
Rebadged it might be, but is this all-in-one mono laser printer up to scratch?
04 April 2010
A compact and affordable mono laser printer for home office and personal use.
01 November 2009
The Dell 3330dn is a very fast laser printer, but is it worth the asking price?
26 June 2009
This colour laser multifunction from Dell is a day-to-day office workhorse.
19 June 2009
This Dell mono laser is fast, cheap and comes with duplex as standard.
10 June 2009
Dell gives its latest colour laser printer the Borg Cube treatment.
22 May 2009
This colour laser multifunction from Dell is compact and easy to service.
21 November 2008
Dell takes printer design to new levels of ugliness with this giant multifunction printer, scanner, copier and fax machine.
Get TrustedReviews' award-winning reviews, opinions and advice delivered to your inbox for free!
By submitting your details, you'll also receive emails from Time Inc. UK, publisher of Trusted Reviews and
other iconic brands about its goods and services, and those of its carefully selected third parties.
Please tick here if you'd prefer not to hear about:
More information -
Trusted Reviews is part of the Time Inc. (UK) Ltd Technology Network
Get TrustedReviews' award-winning reviews and advice delivered to your inbox for free!


text:
09 BMW Z4 3.0i - Transmission Shifting
I bought my Z as a CPO with remaining Factory Warranty. When i have the Z in Sport mode man does it shift hard. I have the automatic transmission. Is that a normal characteristic of the car or is there likely something wrong. Honestly it feels like the double clutched version of the M3 but dont have a double clutch in mine obviously. There is little to no time between gears and it jsut rockets away. (Sometimes it feels like it is leaving me sitting on the pavement and the car is going on without me) I upgraded E85 to the E89 and there is a huge dfference. What do you guys think? Does your shift as hard a mine?
One more thing, it doesnt happen so much when i am under full throttle. It happens more when I am under half throttle or less.
thanks for the insight.
Also do we have any how to documents on various procedures like the E85 board has listed in their sticky section? If not we should really think about starting one. This car is coming up on the point where we are likely to start tinkering with it a bit more for tuning purposes or cosmetic upgrades such as wind deflector installations etc.
Hi! in sports mode it does shift a lot harder subject to the throttle which has a quicker response window, sometimes it can catch you out in queueing traffic,
As for working on the car, well you cannot do the rear brakes or discs as you need to be able to code the release of the electronic parking brake....only time will tell if people get smarter at doing things.....
Yes ! even with the car off ? you have to release the parking brake with a special code, then recode when you have replaced the pads/disc, this tells the controller that new pads have been fitted hence how far to move the piston.......
|All times are GMT -7. The time now is 07:46 PM.
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2017, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
© 2001-2015 performanceIX, Inc. All Rights Reserved .: guidelines .:. privacy .:. terms


text:
CSFB Positive on Cisco Fourth Quarter.
Credit Suisse analyst Lissa Bogaty said recent channel checks at Cisco Systems (CSCO ) were positive and that the network giant's bottom line looks solid for the fourth quarter.
Cisco shares rose 1-9/16, to 42 7/8, after Bogaty's report.
She expects the company to earn $0.78 per share for the 2001 fiscal year ending in July and $0.98 in 2002. Bogaty believes the stock can hit the low $50's in the near-term as investors get comfortable with the macro picture for Cisco.
Bogaty projects Cisco's current multiple onto fiscal year 2002 earnings and sees the stock moving above that range as the company proves it is less cyclically sensitive than previously thought. She expects the stock could move into a 60 times multiple over the next nine months and may hit her target of $87 by the end of 2001. She rates the stock a strong buy.


text:
I have said it before, and I'll say it again, my neighborhood and my neighbors are the best around.
As longtime readers will remember, I am a member of a neighborhood crafting group.
We have sewn together, made soap together, soldered together, knit together, at Christmas one of the Mama's asked her carpenter husband to help us do some woodworking, and last night we welded.
Now, when I say "we" welded, it was actually a fantastically talented neighbor, Shelly, who did the actual welding. She has an amazing house that she and her partner have redesigned and filled with art that the both of them have made. In her workshop she has bins all over filled with scrap that she has collected and we were able to search through them and design a piece of sculpture.
Once we had all the pieces assembled Shelly welded them together.
My friends both made amazing pieces, I think I'll sneak over to their houses later to take some pictures.
I wish I would have thought to bring my camera last night, the welding was so fascinating to watch.
Honestly, when faced with the task of designing a piece of sculpture, I was stymied on what exactly to do.
It took me at least 30 minutes playing with the different pieces of metal to get inspired.
Finally, I found a piece of squared-off tubing that had a slight bend in it, and I asked Shelly to help attach it to a base piece. The upright is hollow and Shelly had a post that we attached to the square base so the whole piece can rotate.
Then I had an idea of hanging a small tight spiral from one side and a large open angular spiral from the other side, but it looked like an 8th-grader made it in shop and got a C.
Then Shelly pulled out a big pile of rings that she had left-over from building her own fence and I made this.
Shelly was such a wonderful guide in making our pieces.
She asked me if I would add anything to the top of the balance beam and I could see immediately that there needed to be some rings on the top to balance out the dangling ones.
I think I have to pull out the bush that is behind the sculpture in this picture, this place by the front stairs is out of the way of running children and I think I like it there.
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Last Night
Labels: Mamas of the Craft
4 comments:
- lisa ridgeon said...
What a creative bunch you are. I love your sculpture, well done you.
- September 5, 2009 at 11:22 AM
- painted fish studio said...
ok, you guys have really kick-ass pARTies! sculpture is something we've never tackled, and our felting gathering was a dud. i am super jealous of what you guys have done!
- September 9, 2009 at 9:42 PM
- Anna - Three Sneaky Bugs said...
What fun! I love how it turned out.
- September 10, 2009 at 11:33 AM
- jenn said...
so cool... it's beautiful, like jewelry on a much, much, larger scale. you've inspired.
- September 14, 2009 at 3:05 PM
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


text:
BELLEVUE, Wash., Dec 21, 2007 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Dogpile.com (NASDAQ:INSP), the search engine that combines the top results from the leading search engines, today unveiled the top dog-related stories demonstrating that 2007 truly was the "year of the dog," contradictory to the Chinese calendar. Among the top searches were Michael Vick and his dog fighting scandal, Leona Helmsley's dog Trouble and her million dollar inheritance, and the massive pet food recall.
According to the Chinese Zodiac, 2007 is the year of the pig, but this year was filled with so many high profile dog-related stories, begging the question, could the Chinese lunar calendar be wrong? While the Chinese use a Gregorian calendar for day-to-day activities, it is the traditional Chinese lunar calendar which guides the Chinese Zodiac and the twelve animals represented. However, if one calendar year is the equivalent of seven dog years, perhaps one year out of every twelve years is not enough. Additionally, with the plethora of dog breeds available these days, is it fair that all dogs must share just one year? Dogpile suggests that 2007 be referred to as the year of the Maltese, based on the publicity that Trouble Helmsley received this year. As for a 2008 prediction, Dogpile has not yet put a stake in the ground, but the most likely contenders are the new designer crossbreeds such as the Labradoodle or the Puggle.
In addition to Vick and Helmsley, many of the year's top stories were tied to celebrities, such as Ellen Degeneres and her battle with a dog rescue group or Dog The Bounty Hunter and his racial tirade. Even Dogpile's own mascot Arfie grabbed headlines by asking Trouble Helmsley to join in a campaign to raise money for other dogs in need. Other dog-related stories also dominated Web searches proving that animals really do tug at the heart strings of searchers.
Dogpile Top Dog Searches in 2007 include:
-- Pet food recall
-- Michael Vick dogfight scandal
-- Trouble Helmsley $12 million dollar inheritance
-- Ellen Degeneres' dog rescue battle
-- Dog the Bounty Hunter
-- The Westminster Dog Show
-- Tyson, the infamous skateboarding Bulldog
Dogpile is a leading Internet metasearch engine combining the top results from the most popular search engines to deliver the most relevant results and information on the Web. Based on its ease-of-use and functionality, Dogpile was recently ranked highest in customer satisfaction among search engines for the second consecutive year, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2007 Residential Online Service Customer Satisfaction Study.
Report Methodology
Results are based on searches completed during January 1-November 31, 2007. Any adult content terms have been filtered out of results and category lists above have been compiled from Dogpile.com by InfoSpace personnel.
About Dogpile.com(R)
Web metasearch engine Dogpile (www.dogpile.com) makes it easy for users to search more of the Web by drawing together the top results from the most popular search engines. Dogpile.com is part of the InfoSpace family of Web search properties. (NASDAQ:INSP).
About InfoSpace(R)
InfoSpace, Inc. is a leading developer of metasearch products to help people easily search and discover the web. InfoSpace uses its proprietary metasearch technology that combines the top results from the leading search engines to power a portfolio of branded Web sites, including Dogpile ( www.dogpile.com) and WebFetch (www.webfetch.com). For the second consecutive year, Dogpile ranked highest in customer satisfaction among search engines, according to J.D. Power and Associates. More information can be found at www.infospaceinc.com.
SOURCE: InfoSpace, Inc.
InfoSpace Tiffanie West, 425-201-8741 firstname.lastname@example.com
Copyright Business Wire 2007
News Provided by COMTEX


text:
Team Hot Wheels Performs Corkscrew Jump
Posted on September 14, 2012
Team Hot Wheels, the Hot Wheels stunt racing team performed a corkscrew jump. The stunt driver managed to twist the car in the air as it jumped from one orange track to another. The jump brought to life the action seen with toy Hot Wheels cars. The stunt team performed a Double Loop Dare earlier this year.
Simon Waldron, vice president marketing, wheels, Mattel, said in a statement, "What started as a dream to make Hot Wheels for real has transpired into a world record trifecta that has well exceeded our expectations in bringing the brand to life. Team Hot Wheels has continued to transform fantasy into reality on a grand and global scale - engaging consumers and fans of all ages."
Take a look:
Photo: Hot Wheels/Business Wire
More from Shoppers Shop


text:
Cadillac Escalade, EXT and ESV Forum - 2007-2014 Discussion, XM Traffic in Cadillac Escalade Forums; Does anyone know if we are able to put XM NavTraffic in our 07's. It displays current traffic conditions, accidents, ...
- 09-25-07 02:32 AM #1Cadillac Owners Fanatic
- Automobile(s): 07' White Diamond EXT
- Join Date
- Oct 2006
- Location
- QuEeNz Ny
- Age
- 30
- Posts
- 475
XM Traffic
Does anyone know if we are able to put XM NavTraffic in our 07's. It displays current traffic conditions, accidents, delays, road work, etc... on the nav screen.
Re: XM Traffic
I am pretty sure nav traffic is not available on Escalade.
I don't see any mention of it in the manual or the nav system supplement.
- 09-25-07 11:37 AM #3Cadillac Owners Fanatic
- Automobile(s): 2007 Escalade EXT (Sold)
- Join Date
- Jan 2005
- Location
- Northern Virginia
- Posts
- 260
Re: XM Traffic
It's too bad, I wish the 08's had the XM traffic and hard drive/ipod setup the new CTS has. The new CTS is so tempting, but I can't picture myself not driving a big shiny cadillac truck...debating whether to get an 08 EXT in white diamond or an 08 CTS in the coming months. This strike might halt my new car plans for the time being, though...
Ewill3rd I just noticed you're in Alexandria, VA. I work in Reston, VA. I usually go to Coleman in Bethesda, what type of 2008 EXT inventory do you have?
Re: XM Traffic
I think our website offers a clickable inventory listing.
Check out www.elindsay.com and head to our Cadillac site.
If you don't see what you want, PM me and I'll hook you up with someone from Sales.
- 09-27-07 08:06 PM #5Cadillac Owners Member
- Automobile(s): Cadillac
- Join Date
- Aug 2007
- Posts
- 6


text:
Maria Miller
Maria Miller was elected Conservative MP for Basingstoke in 2005. She was Minister for Disabled People from 2010 to 2012 before being promoted to the Cabinet as Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport. She also became Minister for Women and Equalities. She resigned from Cabinet on 9 April 2014 after an expenses row.


text:
Glasgow Celtic hosts Manchester United on Tuesday (TV: ESPN2, 2:30 pm ET). In their first Group F encounter, Man U beat the Scottish champions, 3-2. Man U leads the group after four games, but comes off an embarrassing loss to last-place FC Copenhagen.
In Group E, Lyon (12 pts.) and Real Madrid (9 pts.), both already assured passage to the knockout
round, meet on Tuesday (TV: ESPN Deportes, 2:30 pm ET). Lyon beat Real Madrid, 2-0, in the group opener.
CSKA Moscow hopes to qualify for the next round by
beating Porto on Tuesday (TV: ESPN Deportes, 12:25 pm ET), but the Russians will have to fight jet lag and shake off the hangover of celebrating its clinching of the Russian league title on
Saturday. CSKA players flew through seven time zones in their 10,000-mile roundtrip last weekend for their 4-0 win over Luch. Local media reported that the club brought several cases of champagne
on board for its return trip.
Click here for complete Champions League TV schedule.


text:
Gaps where wall-towall carpet met doorjambs
I have a 40 year old townhouse. We removed wall-to-wall carpetting to uncover the hardwood, and that went well, except...
Upstairs at every doorway, the door jambs had been cut about a half an inch from the floor to allow the carpetting underneath.
We had workmen refinish the floors and they put quarter-round around the walls, but just left these half inch gaps at each doorjamb...which we have 10...Is there an easy way to fill in those gaps?
1.) If it is painted, you can 'try' and precisely cut 1/2" filler pieces to carefully insert into the bottom area....Using just a little bit of adhesive.
Problem is that if you push it in too much....you're essentially S.O.L...
To avoid that you could measure the gap behind the area, and slide in some material to make sure that the filler piece does not go in 'too far'...
So, if the Trim is painted and you do this, you could then putty the 'seam' left there on the jamb, then sand and repaint...(Very tedious work)
2.) Another option - (sorry to say this to you): remove the door panel, casing, & jambs.... and add the filler piece to the bottom of the jamb, as above. Brad nail straight up into the jamb - to attach the filler portion (use adhesives also). Then re-install the doors, jams, casing....etc
3.) Stained wood: If you want this to really look right, sadly you would really have to dismantle each door (Door panel, hinges, casing, jambs, door stop trims, etc... Rebuild the door frame - install new, longer, door jambs for each side, (including, re-mortising the hinges).....this would really be the best way to make it look right, if it is stained wood. - Alot of work for 10 doors.
4.) Rip out all the doors and upgrade to a new style....?
That is the best I can offer at the moment...anyone else?
All of the suggestions from AtlanticWB are a possibility, but for 10 doors, I think I would replace the units. Unless they are special custom doors, I suspect that after 40 years, they are most likely ready for an upgrade. Another possibility is to remove all the trim, lower the jambs/door assembly to the floor, and recase with wider trim to cover the exposed paint or wall paper line at the top of the door.
Stretch the carpet to cover the gap.?
Try not to look 'down' ?
|All times are GMT -5. The time now is 08:07 PM.
vBulletin Security provided by vBSecurity v2.2.2 (Pro) - vBulletin Mods & Addons Copyright © 2017 DragonByte Technologies Ltd.
User Alert System provided by Advanced User Tagging (Pro) - vBulletin Mods & Addons Copyright © 2017 DragonByte Technologies Ltd.