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Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Michigan, Notre Dame Renew Rivalry for All Eternity
Instead, say hello to more Ball States, Appalachian States and any school with a North, South, East or West in its name.
Michigan and Notre Dame have signed a 20 year contract extension which will keep the rivalry chugging along until 2031. And while obviously a classic clash of the two winningest programs in the land, as the Detroit News article linked above even states, that probably means there won't be room on the Wolverine schedule for another major powerhouse team.
Which, in my not-so-humble opinion, sucks ass.
Look, let me start by saying this isn't anti-Notre Dame. Now, let me say it again, because last time I broached this subject, some Domers got all in a tizzy: This isn't anti-Notre Dame. It's simply a desire to change things up a bit.
I was really hoping we'd do maybe two years on, two years off with the M/ND rivalry. That way, we could have a home-and-home with some other elite teams. Again, just to change things up. Get some fresh blood in the Big House as well as plan a couple awesome road trips to see the team. Lincoln, anybody? Gainesville, folks? I hear Knoxville is beautiful in September.
Plus, I believe taking a break every few years would have actually strengthened the Michigan-Notre Dame rivalry. Absence makes the heart - and college football fans - grow stronger. But playing it every year, I think both fan bases take it for granted and the game loses a bit of its "specialness."
And for those who naively think we can still add a Texas or Georgia or Florida State as one of our other two non-conference games each year, not gonna happen. It doesn't work that way. Not in the BCS-era in which one loss practically eliminates a team from National Title consideration.
And that's not just Michigan, that's every team with BCS title dreams nowadays. It's what I call the Three Little Bears non-con schedule: One really good team, one (or two) average teams and one (or two) squads that has warm bodies on scholarship.
Thus, we'll play Notre Dame, one/two lower-to-maybe-mid-level major conference team (Vandy, Rice, etc.) and the usual cheese puff(s) like Eastern/Western/Southern/Northern INSERT SCHOOL NAME HERE.
And we'll be doing that for a looooong time.
18 comments:
- Seth said...
Since there are now four little bears at the table it will be ND, Big Conference Bottom Dweller, Directional Michigan, and ???. There is only room to make ??? a good team if the B10 season is extended by a week to allow a mid-season bye. Otherwise we will continue to throw a cream puff MAC or D-1AA school in the mix. Playing 12 straight weeks is difficult, and if you throw a Tennessee or Nebraska in the mix it becomes even more difficult.
- July 31, 2007 8:22 AM
- Robb said...
I have to agree with you, as an avid ND fan and Michigan lover come final game of the year....I too was hoping to change it up some. I like the games that have been against UM even if some have been ugly (last year, yuck), but lets face it....change is good. Oh well.
- July 31, 2007 10:52 AM
- El Pendejo Grande said...
Yawn. Way to further dilute the product, Bill. Anybody know if we got the offset year like we wanted, or did Billy Baroo screw the pooch that way as well.
On the flipside, if ND sacks up and joined the conference, that would then free up a non-con slot for a different top tier (hopefully) opponent
- July 31, 2007 11:47 AM
- Matt said...
I'm conflicted. I like the UM/ND rivalry. I mean, I hate ND, so I guess that's a good thing. But I was interested in seeing things changed up a little. I think that we can still add another interesting school to the schedule though. This year, as in 2003, we play Oregon in addition to ND. For a while in the 90s we had a series with Boston College, a respectable program. I know it's not UF, FSU, Tennessee, Nebraska, or any other elite program that we hate and are dying to settle a score with. (Nothing really happened with FSU, I know.)
We can still add an interesting program like Wake Forest or Oklahoma State (the other OSU). Sure we would ruin their season, but they can't expect to go too far.
- July 31, 2007 11:47 AM
- Kelly said...
"And for those who naively think we can still add a Texas or Georgia or Florida State as one of our other two non-conference games each year, not gonna happen. It doesn't work that way. Not in the BCS-era in which one loss practically eliminates a team from National Title consideration."
you mean like USC-tOSU? USC-Auburn? USC-Arkansas? USC-Nebraska? All while USC-ND goes down every year. No need to make excuses.
- July 31, 2007 1:22 PM
- Sundawg said...
You mentioned Florida State twice, and then Gainesville. While I understand your were simply rambling, FSU is in Tallahassee, a party city if there ever was one.
Kelly may have a point; you can schedule more than one or two big name teams in a season - SEC teams do it every year.
- July 31, 2007 1:40 PM
- Yost said...
What SEC team plays two tough non-conference games this year? And by tough, I mean traditional Top 25 programs. Curious.
- July 31, 2007 2:18 PM
- Temp430 said...
t's good that Michigan and ND have renewed their rivalry. College football would not be the same without it. And I don't buy into the concept that Michigan can not schedule another top shelf non-conference team. Michigan has done so in the past and should again. Dump the Appalachian and Eastern Michigan States and sign Colorado, Miami, or Florida State as they have in the past. Show some real balls and sign Nebraska, Texas, or Oklahoma. Stop trying to make Michigan into a MAC team for crying out load. Piss on the BCS and it's formula.
- July 31, 2007 3:12 PM
- John said...
I'm glad USC doesn't think like you guys do in terms of nonconference games. Last year USC played Arkansas, Notre Dame, and Nebraska. Then USC played you guys in our bowl game. Just for historic value, I doubt anyone else's nonconference schedule compares to the one USC played last year in terms of tradition.
This year USC has Nebraska and Notre Dame.
Next year USC has Ohio State, Notre Dame.
Please don't tell me that nobody plays more than one tough non-conference game anymore.
- July 31, 2007 5:09 PM
- Yost said...
Yes, last year was impressive for USC in non-conf games. But are you really including Michigan like it was a "planned" non-conf game? C'mon. USC doesn't get credit for that. They get credit for Neb, Ark and ND, which was probably the toughest non-con in the country.
But your example of this year isn't any better than Michigan's. SC has ND and Nebraska, U-M has ND and Oregon. So that's a wash.
As for next season, we have ND and Ohio State, too. :) And two open dates that haven't been filled, so the jury's out.
And Michigan isn't alone. Find other top tier schools that play two top tier (say, using ESPN's ranking of Top 25 programs in last 10 years) non-con games. They're hard, if not impossible, to come by.
- July 31, 2007 5:45 PM
- ohio_guy said...
I don't like it because it means I have to root for Notre Dame once a year for the next 24 years
- July 31, 2007 8:39 PM
- John said...
Nah, I wasn't including Michigan as a planned non-con, just mentioning the fact that the 4 non-conference teams USC ended up playing were some of the most storied in football. However, it was able to control for 3, and none of those were gimmes.
You are right that this year Michigan is playing ND and Oregon for '07, but let's look at 2008. Neither Miami of Ohio and Toledo are BCS conference opponents. USC has Ohio State, Notre Dame and Colorado State for '08, all BCS conference teams. In its recent past, it not only has played Nebraska and Arkansas, but it has also played at VA Tech, had a home and home with K-State, and another one with Auburn recently. And that's only in the last 4 years. Michigan's recent non-conference schedule doesn't even come close.
I mean, its one thing to play crappy I-A teams, but I-AA teams?
Don't think that I'm a Michigan hater tho. I really like Michigan. They are my second favorite team after USC (which is why I read this blog). I'm just saying that its stupid for fans to accept the statements by athletic directors that you are only allowed one big non-conference game a season.
- August 01, 2007 1:14 AM
- Sundawg said...
Yost, my bad; must have just left the EDSBS Friday Cheesecake site with a scrambled brain.
I was thinking of conferences that have one dominating team choosing weak non-conference competition as opposed to the SEC east and west which is a friggin' mine field in a good year.
Another distraction was the mention of the Domers, an average college team with an above-average publicity department.
- August 01, 2007 12:26 PM
- Play Tusk! said...
You dont think you can schedule Notre Dame and some other good team? Why not? USC does it. Not that I need to remind you, but I will.
2002: Auburn, Colorado, Kansas St, Notre Dame
2003: Auburn, Notre Dame
2004: Virginia Tech, Notre Dame
2005: Notre Dame, Arkanasas
2006: Nebraska, Arkansas, Notre Dame
2007: Nebraska, Notre Dame
2008: Virginia, Notre Dame, Ohio State
2009: Notre Dame, Ohio State
2010: Notre Dame, Virginia
It's not that you cant...it's that you dont want to. USC has played at least two big BCS schools (including Notre Dame) since 2002, and has the same scheduled for the future. Also of notre is USCs 2 National Championships, and 2 trips to the BCS Championship in that same time span.
So, it is possible to have a hard schedule and win, Michigan just needs to man up.
- August 02, 2007 11:34 AM
- MGoBlue93 said...
The recent Texas/tOSU home and home shows you can play and lose to a big time BCS team in the non conference portion of the schedule and still be in the hunt come November.
Martin must go!
Why does U of M kiss ND's ass so much? ND isn't the program they think they are (it's almost 'Bama-esque... sorry BiB). ND needs Michigan more than Michigan needs ND.
- August 03, 2007 9:45 PM
- IamCris said...
It troubles me to find USC fans posting raving about their "brutal" non-conf schedule when they get to play Stanford and Washington every year (while if our memories serve us correctly UW got robbed out of an extra play last year at the end of the game)that could've given SC three losses in the BRUTAL Pac 10. Gosh. Wait till Oregon eats shit in the BigHouse, i've been waiting since '03 for this.
- August 05, 2007 1:05 AM
- IamCris said...
I'm a tard for even replying to that shithouse flame inducing vulgarity provoking post. Go Blue and bring on the defending National Champs so we can beat someone, Indiana was so long ago.
- August 05, 2007 1:10 AM
- MGoBlue93 said...
Is it really USC's fault that the Huskies have fallen on hard times and Stanford stinks? Look at every BCS conference. For example, the Big 12 has Baylor and Colorado. The SEC has Kentucky, Vandy, Ole Miss, Miss State. ACC, Duke and NC State, etc.
Every powerhouse has some games against the lower end of the conference and because those are conference games, there's not much which can be done about it.
I'll give props to any AD who goes out and looks for tougher competition. By way of comparison, Martin shuns Auburn and Georgia and gives us ASU and EMU.
- August 05, 2007 2:46 AM


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Oxford have been rocked by the news that Jake Wright will miss the hectic festive period with a foot injury.
Wright has been ruled out for six to eight weeks after fracturing his fifth metatarsal in the win at Chesterfield last week and manager Chris Wilder is disappointed with the timing of the injury.
"The results of the scan are obviously disappointing for Jake and for us," he told the club's official website.
"He had worked very hard to get back to fitness and get back into the team and it is bad timing for this to happen.
"However as we showed in the rest of the game at Chesterfield this is a squad game and it means others will get a chance to show what they can do."
Copyright (c) PA Sport 2009, All Rights Reserved.
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subset: commoncrawl


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Episode 6
Wtf @ beginning; those spectral visuals.
But wow, this episode was epic, especially the second half! So many battles against those rat like creatures. Dem fires, rocks, and psychic control. It's all about the control. Also, that ending..oh shit.
Animanga hunter extraordinaire
Back to the original animation and color pallet, thats always a plus. Episode 6 is an interesting one, I have my own theories about how mantras work and what not. Eps 6 Spoilers ahead.
Spoiler Alert! Click to show or hide
For what I understand about Mantras, the mantras are needed to activate their abiliities. If i remember correrctly, their mantras are assigned during that whole hypnotic ritual with fire, so it could be possible that since they learn them during hypnosis, with a certain trigger like the paper dolls being burned, each person could be triggered to forget their own mantra. The monk managed to make each person forget their own mantras by triggering the earlier hypnotic suggestion. However, their abilities havent disappeared, they just cant use them. The mantra might allow them to focus enough to use their PK abilities. That is why they are so short and easy to remember, that way before using their abilities, they can recite their mantras quickly. There is a rule about not sharing mantras, and this is a culture where people dont break the rules. Since Saki learned Satoru's mantra outside of the hypnotic suggestion during that ritual, the monk would not have been able to make her forget his mantra, and could then teach Satoru his mantra again.
The one thing that seemed kind of interesting this episode is that I just dont trust the "ally" queerats. I might be too paranoid, but organizing so many ambushes for them without knowing where they are going to be would be difficult. It seems more believable that the allied queerats are directing the two kids through a path previously determined by the invasive queerats in order to kill/weaken them to a point where they are easy to kill. Idk, maybe the allied queerat queen was kidnapped or something like that, idk.
All of that is a ton of speculation though, its quite likely im wrong. I do really wonder what about what will happen next.
Enjoyed this episode though it requires a fair bit of faith on the part of the viewer about the powers and mantras.
After a promising start, I'm starting to flag a bit. Whilst I enjoyed the village and the crazed emperor, the rat people leave me cold.
Spoiler Alert! Click to show or hide
I wouldn't be surprised if we discovered that they gaining/losing their powers was just a form of hypnosis
I totally agree about how their mantras are being controlled.
But other than that, I really am not sure what the point of these part in this story about the giant rats and all.At first they introduced quickly a regular world where it was attack,, then the secluded world of the special children and then bits of history and then a camping trip and now these?
I wonder the point of this part is that they are trying to show the kids learn to undo the sealing of what not and what the reality is?
They are definitely trying to build up the main storyline .
Either way, THe story feels very fragmented.
My Avatar is seiyuu Morita san and Me cosplaying at AnimeExpo
icecreamsnow wrote:
After a promising start, I'm starting to flag a bit. Whilst I enjoyed the village and the crazed emperor, the rat people leave me cold.
Spoiler Alert! Click to show or hide
I wouldn't be surprised if we discovered that they gaining/losing their powers was just a form of hypnosis
That's exactly what I've been thinking, and it explains why she could...
Spoiler Alert! Click to show or hide
fix his power but not hers. Until she breaks through the hypnosis, her power will remain sealed. I also wonder if she didn't get the "ceremony" completely right. It would help to explain his change of character, though the stress of the situation also helps with that.
During that scene, I liked the Kaiba-like animation. I'm glad that they are willing to experiment with the animation to reflect the story, situation, and mood, but I'm also glad that for most of this episode the animation was back to the way it was. It can be a bit too jarring to have it change back-and-forth like that.
Kyonoumaru or however it was spelled in the end...what is that?
What even
I think it's going to be one of those shows where the clues are there, just without an American TV detective style neon sign to point them out.
Spoiler Alert! Click to show or hide
I think there's some importance of the library getting killed before she could tell them the truth about the karmic demons. My guess is that it's some kind of descent into dark bloodlust. There were hints that the priest was going that way, and maybe the balloon dog was a creation of his own devising. There was definitely some kind of dark angel in the priests hurricane.
So unless Saki can snap him out of it, he may be headed along the same route.
Saki was right, they should of got out of there, the rats aren't her friends. The adults kept the children well away from the rats for a reason.
Intrigue and awesome art style are pretty much all this show has going for it at the moment. The world is incredibly interesting and all, but hopefully we get some depth to the characters pretty soon. ANN has the show set at 25 episodes, so if that's true then we've got some time left for the characters. Even without strong characters though, the show and the world it occurs in is enough to keep me thoroughly interested. Now that I'm thinking about it though, 25 episodes may not be enough given the current rate of information flow. We get a ton of new information every episode, and it seems like we're only slightly closer to uncovering anything at all. These episodes are flying by.
Spoiler Alert! Click to show or hide
Looking forward to seeing Satoru lose control of himself. At least, that would be interesting to see.
Episode 7
This was another great episode as the dimensional war theme seems to play part regarding the usage of psychic powers. It's nice to see The Giant Hornets as well including their leader, Kiroumaru.
Overall, I liked this episode especially with the group now reunited and back on track ~
Animanga hunter extraordinaire
Still enjoying this one though it is still very mysterious, lots of unanswered questions but twenty episodes to go so should be fun to watch this one unfold and fill in the gaps by reading the novels.
Spoiler Alert! Click to show or hide
From the preview we will get to here the fourteen year olds next episode with a two year time skip.
Episode 7 the conclusion
I still find this story about these humanoid rats pointless , they dwell on it too long in the story so I skipped a lot thru the episode ,
Spoiler Alert! Click to show or hide
the only part was interesting is about Kiruomaru , the one wearing the samurai uniform. Because he has something to do with the committee who are responsible in the disappearance of the other children.
And then the children were able to figure out how to undo the seal.Indeed they are starting to put 2 and 2 together.
Looks like the next episode , we have the time skip when they are 14 years old . I hear Kaji kun's voice in the preview.
My Avatar is seiyuu Morita san and Me cosplaying at AnimeExpo
Secrets have a way of being corrosive...
Whilst I enjoy watching stories unravel, after seven episodes I still have no idea where this is all heading, and I would have thought by now things would be clearer.
Episode 8
Wow, just wow. The yaoi and yuri themes in this episode. But anyways, this was a relaxing episode imo. Wonder when they will get back to the dimensional war theme again.
Animanga hunter extraordinaire


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Behind two home runs by Raul Ibanez and Ryan Howard, the Phils easily defeat the Braves, 6-1.
Thanks to two round trippers by Raul Ibanez and Ryan Howard, the Phils defeat the Braves with ease, 6-1.
In the top of the second inning, with the bases loaded, via singles by Shane Victorino and Ben Francisco, with Victorino stopping at second base, and a walk to Wilson Valdez, moving both Victorino and Francisco up a base, and with two men out, Roy Halladay give the Phils a 2-0 lead with a two-run single, scoring both Victorino and Francisco, while sending Valdez over to third base. The Phils made it a 3-0 lead in the third as, with one man out, Raul Ibanez hits a solo home run, his fourth home run of the spring. The Braves cut the Phils' lead in the fourth as, with the bases loaded, via a single by Chipper Jones, a walk to Dan Uggla, sending Jones to second base, and with Jason Heyward being hit by the pitch, moving up a base both Jones and Uggla, and with nobody out, Eric Hinske hits a sacrifice fly, knocking in Jones, making it a 3-1 Phils' lead, while sending Uggla up to third base. The Phils took a 5-1 lead in the fifth as, with one man on, and with two men out, Ryan Howard hits a two-run home run, his fifth home run of the spring, scoring Luis Castillo, who had earlier reached base on a force out, 4-6, wiping out Placido Polanco, who had earlier walked, then went to second on Ibanez's ground out, three-unassisted. Two batters later, with a man on first, via a Victorino single, and with still two men out, Francisco hits an RBI double, knocking in Victorino, giving the Phils a 6-1 lead. This would end up being the final score, as the Phils turned back a threat in the ninth inning, as the Braves loaded up the bases, via walks to Hinske, who then moved up to second on a Jordan Ellis wild pitch, a walk to Ed Lucas and a single to J.C. Boscan, with Hinske stopping at third base and Lucas at second, with one man out, before Ellis dug in and struck out first Brandon Hicks, and then pinch hitter Joe Mather, both swinging.
Roy Halladay (4-0, 0.42) got the win as he pitched three strong innings, giving up just a hit, while striking out three. Michael Schwimer recorded his second hold of the spring as he pitched two innings, giving up a run on a hit and two walks,while striking out two. B.J. Rosenberg, Jose Contreras and Jordan Ellis followed with four scoreless inning, as they combine for two hits (Rosenberg (1), Ellis (1)) and two walks (Ellis), while striking out two batters (Ellis). Kenshin Kawakami took the lost (0-1, 3.75) as he pitched four innings, giving up three runs on five hits and a walk, while striking out two. Cristhian Martinez pitched an inning, giving up three runs on three hits and a walk, while striking out a batter. Jaye Chapman, Eric O'Flaherty and Craig Kimbrel followed with four scoreless innings, giving up a hit (Kimbrel) and a walk (Chapman), while striking out four Phils between them (Chapman (2), O'Flaherty (1), Kimbrel (1)).
The Phils had nine hits in the game, with Ryan Howard (Single, Home Run, 2 RBIs), Shane Victorino (Singles) and Ben Francisco (Single, Double, RBI) leading the team with two hits each. John Mayberry, Jr. (Single), Raul Ibanez (Home Run, RBI) and Roy Halladay (Single, 2 RBIs) had the other three Phils' hits.
The Phils Grapefruit League record is now 19-13, leading NL teams, while Roy Halladay showed himself to be ready for his opening day assignment against the Astros this coming Friday.


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VATICAN CITY (AP) - The Vatican is trying to put an end to speculation that divisions among cardinals could drag out the conclave to elect the new pope.
Preparations for the vote are plowing ahead today, with firefighters installing the Sistine Chapel chimney that will tell the world when a decision has been reached. Elsewhere, officials took steps to definitively end Benedict XVI's pontificate, destroying his fisherman's ring and the personal seals and stamps he used for official papers.
There is no clear front-runner to succeed Benedict and a number of cardinals have been angling for more discussion of the church's problems before a vote.
But, the Vatican spokesman is stressing that the decision to set Tuesday as the start of the conclave was nearly unanimous. And he notes that no conclave over the past century has dragged on for more than five days.


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Accepted Student Overnight
February 25-26, 2014
Check-in at 7:00 p.m. in Saints Center
Click here for Overnight info sheet
The Accepted Student Overnight Visit is your opportunity to stay overnight with a current TMC resident and experience, for yourself, academics and student life at Thomas More College. The Overnight kicks off on Tuesday, February 25th with an evening of fun activities (and winning prizes) with current students in the Saints Center. Day Two starts bright and early with breakfast in Seiler Commons before professors welcome you to their 9:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. classes.
All students must submit a Guest Waiver (click here for PDF of guest waiver) before arriving at the Accepted Student Overnight event. Questions? Call the Office of Admissions at (859)344-3332 or email firstname.lastname@example.com.
Online registration has been closed for the Overnight. Please call the Office of Enrollment at 859-344-3444 if you have any questions.


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TOWSON, Md. – Freshman runner Misty Parshall captured first-place honors Saturday to lead the York College women's cross country team to a strong second-place finish Saturday at the 2011 Goucher College Cross Country Classic. The event serves as York's final tune-up prior to the Capital Athletic Conference Championships slated for Saturday, October 29, in York.
Fresh off of her CAC Women's Cross Country of the Week accolade, Parshall made a bid for a second week in a row, taking first overall at the Goucher meet. Parshall bested the field of 70 total runners as she put up a 25:22, six seconds ahead of the second-place finisher.
"Misty had a heck of a race," Spartan head coach Erick Camodeca said. "She went out faster than expected but held on to take first."
Freshman Jess Miller put together a strong race of her own, as the rookie finished ninth overall. Miller's top-10 mark came courtesy of a 26:33.
Tuesday Wilson snagged an 11th-place time for the Green and White as she traversed the course in 26:44. Nicole Danielewicz finished just behind Wilson as she took 12th with a 26:50.
"Tuesday, Nicole, and Jess ran really well together," Camodeca said. "They pushed the pace and finished strong."
Victoria Hall and Katie Meehan each placed in the top-25 for York as Hall notched 23rd and Meehan 24th. Hall came across the line in 28:16 while Meehan completed the race in 28:21.
The Spartans will now turn their attention to the CAC Championships. The annual conference meet, slated for Saturday, October 29, is scheduled for John Rudy Park in York as race time is set for 11:00 am.
PHOTO: Jess Miller competes at the 2011 Coach Achtzehn Classic held in York earlier this season. Courtesy of Theresa Dark - York College (Pa.) athletic communications student-photographer.


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I need to know how to simplify:
x^(3/4) + 5/x^(1/4) (you may assume x>0)
And how do I find the absolute inequality corresponding to: x<=-22/3 OR x>=11/3 (And what exactly is the absolute inequality?)
Multiply the first term by x^(1/4)/x^(1/4) :
x^(3/4) * x^(1/4)/x^(1/4) + 5/x^(1/4)
= x^((3/4)+(1/4))/x^(1/4) + 5/x^(1/4)
= x^1/x^(1/4) + 5/x^(1/4)
= x / x^(1/4) + 5/x^(1/4)
= (x+5) / x^(1/4)
Absolute Inequality I think refers to something like |x|<3, therefore -3<x<3, so we need an absolute value (in other words it is the distance from 0, ignoring plus or minus)
x<=-22/3 OR x>=11/3 could possibly be solved by taking the difference of the two absolute values:
|-22/3| - |11/3| = 11/3
Then halve that and put it in a formula: |x+11/6|<11/3+11/6 ==> |x+11/6|<11/2
Why did I do this? Because I wanted to know how to find the "middle" of those two numbers. (Try putting dots on the number line to see what I mean).
"The physicists defer only to mathematicians, and the mathematicians defer only to God ..." - Leon M. Lederman
At first I was confused, but when I tried your number line suggestion I got your meaning. Thank you so much for you help! But now I'm having trouble with this problem:
Solve for X:
x^3+2x^2-x=-2 Is this right? If it is then, I can't seem to go any further
x³ + 2x² - 9x = 18
x³ + 2x² - 9x - 18 = 0
Putting x=3, we find that it is one of the solutions.
(x-3)(x² + 5x + 6) = 0
x² + 5x + 6 = (x+3)(x+2)
(x-3)(x+3)(x+2) = 0
which gives the following values of x :- 3, -3, -2
PS:_ A cubic equation, that is an equation of degree three, can be solved only by trial and error, as far as I know.
It is no good to try to stop knowledge from going forward. Ignorance is never better than knowledge - Enrico Fermi.
Nothing is better than reading and gaining more and more knowledge - Stephen William Hawking.
Oh, I came out with a different answer...so is this wrong?:
x^3 + 2x^2 - 9x = 18
x^3 + 2x^2 - 9x-18 = 0
x=-2, 3
Check: -2
Check: 3
3^3 + 2(3)^2 - 9(3) = 18
What you've done is correct, just incomplete.
For the x²-9=0 bit, that means that x²=9, so x=√9.
Square roots always have two answers, positive and negative, so x=±3.
That means that your solutions are -2, -3 and 3, which agrees with ganesh's workings.
Why did the vector cross the road?
It wanted to be normal.
Solve this:
2sinx.cosx + cos^2x = 1
2sinxcosx + cos^2x = 1
2sinxcosx - sin^2x = 0 (bc of the pythagorean identity)
(2cosx - sinx)sinx = 0
2cosx=sinx or sinx = 0
tan x = 2 or sin x = 0
so x = arctan 2 or x = n(pi), where n is any integer.


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From BBC News
Now I am all for combating Child Pornography, it is sick. But as always seems to be the case (IMHO) this proposed bill carries stuff that IMHO is unrelated to the matter in question.
Now it would appear that part of the law requires all website operators to label their site. Now that can only really affect sites hosted in the US, (Though Australia seem to be looking at this as well) thats fine. What I find a bit rediculous is the fact that failure to do so could lead to a 5 year prison term. As if the worlds jails are not full enough. Baring in mind this law does not just apply to child pornography, but to every site the government deems to be sexually explicit.
Again not so much of a problem, I don't run a sexually explicit site, until you look at the proposed criteria. Scenes of Sexual activity (obviously).
Laviscous exhibition of the pubic area - which seems obvious until you see that US courts have already found that this includes the wearing of leotards and bathing suits.
So working on that basis (and call me extreme if you must) lets say I have a daughter who wins the national Gymnastics competition. As you would expect I am very proud of her, and put pictures onto my website of her accepting her medal/trophy (what do they win?) and maybe one of her doing that pose thing they do at the end. Now could this be rated - under the rules they have set forward - as child pornography? Its not, just a proud parent showing off the fact that his daughter won a national competition. But could it be construed as that?
I don't live in the US so this law doesn't really affect me, but US laws have something of a habit of being picked up on by other countries, the UK included.
What do people think?
Incidentally I am far too young to be a father yet and even if I was, given the world we live in today, I would have very serious qualms about putting pictures of my daughter in a leotard on the net for all to see.
And just to clarify, I am not suggesting that nothing should be done to stop child pornography. It is vile and sick, but if a law like that is to be brought in the rules need to be properly clarified. And a 5 year sentence for not having rated a site is a bit extreme. I am guessing the reason for this rating system is to a) make sure it doesn't turn up in search engines b) make it easier to filter c) bring another charge against the purveyors and d) remove the "but I didnt know what it was until I clicked on it" defence
edit: Fixing links.... hopefully


text:
Honorable Mention: Mixed Martial Arts-Bellator MMA (Friday 9pm from Temecula, CA live on SpikeTV); WNBA: Connecticut Sun @ Washington Mystics (Friday 7pm from Verizon Center live on Monumental Network), New York Liberty @ Washington Mystics (Sunday 4pm from Verizon Center live on Monumental Network); High School Football: Towson @ Perry Hall (Thursday 7pm), Good Counsel @ Calvert Hall (Friday 7pm), Anacostia (DC) @ Gilman (Friday 2:10pm)
10. Shindig Festival feat. The Gaslight Anthem/Joan Jett & The Blackhearts/Mighty Mighty Bosstones/Dropkick Murphys/Jimmie's Chicken Shack (Saturday Carroll Park); Rebelution/Matisyahu (Wednesday 6pm Pier Six Pavilion); Muse/Cage The Elephant (Wednesday 7pm Verizon Center); Fall Out Boy/Panic! At The Disco (Tuesday 7pm Patriot Center); Depeche Mode (Tuesday 7:30pm Jiffy Lube Live), Jason Aldean (Saturday 7:30pm Jiffy Lube Live); ZZ Top (Wednesday 8pm Wolf Trap); Cage The Elephant/Diamond Youth (Thursday 7pm Power Plant Live); Eve 6 (Friday 8pm Power Plant Live); The Airborne Toxic Event (Thursday 8pm Rams Head Live); Cris Jacobs Band (Friday 8pm 8×10 Club); Rusted Root (Wednesday 8pm Rams Head on Stage); Blue October (Friday 7:30pm Fillmore Silver Spring); Eve (Friday 8pm Howard Theatre); Shovels and Rope (Wednesday 7pm 9:30 Club), Jake Bugg (Saturday 7pm 9:30 Club); Graham Nash (Sunday 7:30pm Birchmere); Dirty Dozen Brass Band (Thursday 7:30pm The Hamilton); North Mississippi All-Stars (Friday 9pm State Theatre); Keith Urban "Fuse", Arctic Monkeys "AM", Janelle Monae "The Electric Lady", J. Roddy Walston & The Business "Essential Tremors" and Trombone Shorty "Say That to Say This" available in stores/on iTunes (Tuesday)
I'll be in Pigtown Saturday. I've never seen Gaslight Anthem. They might be the best band (right now) I haven't seen.
I don't think I've seen The Mighty Mighty Bosstones since I was 14. It doesn't mean I won't sing along to every word of "Royal Oil."
I'll be "Grabbing A Bud" at Hooters Towson Friday 7pm-8pm. Then I'll IMMEDIATELY be trying to talk my fiancee into hitting PPL so I can ALSO sing along to every word to far too many Eve 6 songs.
I will probably post about J. Roddy Walston a time or two on Facebook Tuesday. You can thank me later.
9. Dane Cook (Thursday 8pm D.A.R. Constitution Hall); Russell Brand (Thursday 8pm Warner Theatre); Charlie Murphy (Thursday-Sunday Baltimore Comedy Factory); Shaquille O'Neal's All-Star Comedy Jam (Friday 8pm); "The Gathering" Food Truck Rally (Friday 5pm Keswick Castle); Maryland Renaissance Festival (Saturday & Sunday RennFest Fairgrounds); Hampdenfest (Saturday 36th Street); "Star Trek Into Darkness" available on Blu-Ray/DVD (Tuesday); "The Family" and "Insidious Chapter 2" out in theaters (Friday)
If you couldn't remember which Star Trek movie this one was, it was this one.
If you've forgotten which superstar's brother Charlie Murphy was, this one. (Language NSFW.)
(Continued on Page 2…)


text:
Give JD Alexander credit for doing something positive.
The bully of the Florida Senate has gotten everyone's attention with his attempt to starve the University of South Florida financially if its Lakeland campus does not immediately become independent. There is nothing subtle about extortion, and the Senate Budget Committee chairman's clarity of purpose has done some good.
First, Alexander has united the Tampa Bay community. It rushed to USF's defense with a swiftness and common voice rarely seen around here. From the Tampa Bay Partnership to the St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce, from elected officials and former mayors to civic leaders on both sides of the bay, the outrage and determination to stop these unfair budget cuts has been remarkable.
For too long, Tampa Bay's voice has been muted and its message garbled in the state capital. Orlando wouldn't put up with this mugging for a minute. It saved its commuter rail project, SunRail, because it shouted loud enough and long enough. And there's no problem hearing the message from Miami whenever the governor or the Legislature starts gouging Jackson Memorial Hospital.
Second, Alexander's punch to the gut has provided another opportunity to talk about USF's importance to this region in educating young people and driving our economy. Those not directly involved with the university can take a local institution for granted — until somebody threatens to choke the life out of it.
Don't underestimate the significance of Alexander's threat. USF says the Senate's proposed spending cuts would force layoffs and cut programs. But the ripple effect would be just as serious. USF Health CEO Stephen Klasko was returning from a meeting last week with officials from a company interested in moving to Tampa Bay because of the new College of Pharmacy when he called to discuss the proposed cuts. He is also talking to another company because of USF's new Center for Advanced Medical Learning and Simulation.
"This is the kind of thing that makes it difficult for people who want to invest in Florida,'' Klasko said.
Alexander abandoned his bid to hold $25 million hostage as a contingency on USF Polytechnic's independence going smoothly in Lakeland. But the Senate's proposed budget still would leave USF in the red and strip all $6 million in operating money from the pharmacy college. That can't look good as the college goes through accreditation and prepares for a site visit next month.
The attack on USF could lead to something even bigger.
It's broadening the conversation in the business community about the failure of this state to invest in higher education and the lack of a coherent leadership structure. Alexander tried twice to build the pharmacy college in Lakeland, an idea that made so little sense that two different governors vetoed it. He demanded that USF Poly become independent, and the best the Board of Governors could do was slow him down and establish a road map with some benchmarks. Not satisfied, Alexander has triggered this showdown by pushing legislation to require immediate independence.
That's not a vision for higher education. That's brute force.
Legislators talk a good game about the importance of higher education in creating a healthier, more diverse economy. They just won't pay for it. The portion of universities' base budgets covered by public tax money has been declining, and the portion covered by student tuition has been rising. State support per student has dropped from 70 percent four years ago (with tuition covering the rest) to 54 percent. Other states spend much more. Yet now the House would cut the base budget by $138 million and the Senate wants to cut it by $400 million.
While the USF issue is about fairness in spreading the pain, it is really a symptom of Florida's failure to invest in higher education. The more voters and business leaders understand that and demand changes, the better.
So thanks, JD. Your obsession with your legacy already has achieved something more. You have united Tampa Bay, put the spotlight on USF's importance to the region and triggered broader interest in investing in higher education and demanding better from Tallahassee.


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A Lake Orion mother of four was hit and killed by a motorist Saturday night while crossing a busy thoroughfare near the Pontiac-Waterford border.
Jenee West, 32, was struck around 10 p.m. in the middle of Telegraph Road, near Voorheis Street. She died from blunt force neck, chest and abdominal trauma sustained in the incident, Oakland County Medical Examiner�s Office investigators report.
Her death has been ruled an accident. Toxicology results will take at least two weeks to return, investigators added.
However, Waterford police do not suspect alcohol to be a factor in this incident. Police Chief Dan McCaw said that no charges have been filed against the driver, a 41-year-old Royal Oak resident, who stopped at the scene and cooperated with officials.
The fatality is still under investigation, said McCaw.
�This was a tragic incident,� he said. �The victim was wearing dark clothing. ... She was heading over to the corner store to buy a pack of cigarettes, and was struck.
�At that time of night, it�s just too dark out there � the light is also not very good in that area.�
West�s mother Rose Taylor-Stevenson said her daughter gave the �best hugs� and had �the most beautiful smile.�
Her cousin, Melissa Milosch, described West as an amazing person who was �always willing to put others before herself.�
�She was like my sister growing up, and I will miss her sweet, kind heart and her great sense of humor the most,� said Milosch.
Milosch said West was nicknamed �Red� by her friends and family because of her �long, gorgeous red hair.�
West was a mother of two young girls and two boys � Justice, Zoey, Destiny and Chase. One friend posted on Facebook, �Your babies will know you loved them and you missed them dearly. ... You�re in a better place now.��
Witnesses at the scene following the tragic traffic incident reported that as many as a dozen patrol cars and several fire engines were in the area, redirecting traffic for more than four hours as the investigation was underway.
Pontiac resdient Curtis Jack, who lives a few blocks from the area, said crime tape blocked the area in a four-block radius. He added that Telegraph is one of the most dangerous major roads in the county with several traffic problems.
�It doesn�t surprise me that someone got hit and killed there. ... People drive in the turn lane way too early on that road,� said Jack, 35. �It�s almost caused me several accidents in the past.�
McCaw, who said Telegraph is just as dangerous as M-59, or Dixie Highway, said any time someone is crossing the road against traffic at night, the individual�s depth perception becomes distorted.
�A lot of times, people think it�s not that far,� McCaw explained. �But you�ve got to remember, cars are traveling 40-50 mph on that road. ... It�s also night, and it was raining a bit � there were several other variables.
A call to McGuire�s Motor Inn, which is located in the direct area of the accident, revealed that West had been staying at the motel since at least last week.
Anyone who has information about the accident is encouraged to call Waterford police investigator Stan Matthewson at 248-618-6057.
Tips from Waterford police to avoid accidents while crossing busy roads at night:
--Search for marked crosswalks
--Cross where there are lights
--Wear light-colored clothing if possible
--Travel with a light-emitting device to be seen more clearly


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A NEW lot of George Peabody tenement houses has been finished and opened in London. There are 12 blocks, and in each block there are 22 tenements on five floors, consisting of one, two and three rooms, capable of accommodating 200 persons. The rents are 75 cents a week for a single room, $1.12 for two rooms, and $1.42 for three rooms.
LAST WEEK mention was made of a brick yard. The parties having the matter in hand have gone to digging the clay and preparing a yard, and hope by the first of April to be making brick in full blast. This enterprise should be patronized, as it is one of the industries that will aid largely in building up our town. Other industries will follow.
THE citizens of Mendocino are under obligations to the North Coast Stage Company for a daily mail. This company delivers the mail here daily, free gratis, which is certainly a great convenience to the business community. The proprietors are bound to satisfy the traveling public in making time and otherwise. A new coach is soon to be put on the route, which will certainly add to the comfort of passengers over this line.
AS the year 1877 is drawing to a close and will soon wink out, people are seriously thinking of turning over a new leaf to begin with the new year. This is right enough and we would suggest, in order that they may have a clear conscience, to call at THE BEACON office and subscribe. Now is the time. Begin with the new year.
RAIN again gladdened the hearts of the denizens of Mendocino. It began raining early Tuesday morning and continued for several hours.
WHAT has become of our salmon man? Come around and satisfy the people who are fond of those delicious fish.
IT is said that the young folks at Little River intend giving a party Christmas Eve. Supper at the Stafford House.
REED SHAW has purchased the stage line from Cloverdale to Lakeport. Passengers patronizing this route can rely upon a safe and pleasant trip between these points.
SING FUKE is doing a rushing bakery business, and now some one says we want a baker. Those who want a baker are certainly opposed to Chinese monopoly.
THERE is some talk of a millinery store being started in Little River. It won't do for Mendocino to let her neighbor get ahead of her in this matter.
OUR cabinetmaker, Mr. Fairfield, is kept rather busy now days. He has just finished a new desk for the law office of Canning Smith, which is a neat piece of workmanship.
OUR Cuffey's Cove correspondent says that rumors detrimental to the character of one of their business firms have been circulated during the past week, without foundation.
KIBESILLAH claims the honor of having the handsomest young ladies on the coast, not excepting Mendocino. As we are a poor judge of the article we refrain from expressing an opinion.
DR. KIRUP, of Point Arena, was in Cuffey's Cove Thursday, making preliminary arrangements with Mr. Kenny in regard to building a drug store. The Doctor says he will open a drug store and a physician's office in Cuffey's Cove by spring.
MR. A. R. TREAT, our photographer, has gone from among us. He is a good artist, and his specimens will testify to this. We understand that Mr. Norton has purchased the gallery, and should an artist come this way, he might get it at a reasonable figure.
A NEW sidewalk has been built on Kasten Street from the Post-office toward Ukiah street.
IT WAS reported over the wires yesterday that the steamer Continental was wrecked at Eel river. No lives lost.


text:
When I started adding names to my genealogy database, I didn't have a plan. Right now I add photos and keywords to a person's file. Was I consistent with doing this? Nope.
So, today, as I was clipping obituary notices from the paper for a local historical society, I noticed that the deceased who served in the military had a flag added to their obituary. A light bulb went off. Now, I wonder, why not add a flag image, for instance, to the photo records for those who served in the military and a cross for those who joined a religious order. Great idea, right? I want to start gathering these images to place them into a file. Then as I go back through my database, I can add the appropriate image to the ancestoral files.
I am not a history buff when it comes to military history I am illiterate. I Googled this but got more and more confuse. Sure doesn't take much to confuse me! So, I have questions for my genealogy friends.
- Is there a specific marker for people who served in the various wars and battles? I found ancestors who fought in the Civil War, Revolutionary War, the Battle of North Point in Maryland, WWI and WWII, Vietnam, etc.
- For WWI and WWII I had planned on using the American flag. Is there another image for each war that I should use?
- Are these markers of standard design no matter what state the person lived in? I live in Pennsylvania and live close to the Maryland border where some of the ancestors may have lived at the time.
Has anyone already done this to their database? I would love hearing from you, if you did. Thanks and have a great research day.


text:
Granting residency to undocumented immigrants in California could increase competition for low-end jobs as agricultural laborers shift to cities, while boosting tax revenues as other undocumented workers seek higher-paying positions previously denied to them, experts say.
Other potential economic and political effects were being considered across the state after a bipartisan group of eight U.S. senators unveiled plans Monday that would provide a path to citizenship for the country's 11 million undocumented immigrants.
A vote providing legal status could occur in the Senate by late spring or summer, according to one of the proposal's sponsors, Sen. Charles E. Schumer, D-New York.
Though the agreement is dependent on first securing the nation's borders, some said that the most likely outcome - the movement in the job market - has been seen before, in the 1980 s, the last time immigration laws were significantly revised.
Then, agricultural workers moved to areas cities such as Los Angeles, putting downward pressure on wages for low-end jobs, according to Julie Weise, an assistant professor of international studies at Cal State Long Beach.
"We could see something like that again," said Weise.
As those positions dry up, some immigrants may head out of state to look for work elsewhere, but those who remain would stimulate local economies by spending more.
"Think about having your life here now, having your kids here and being deportable," Weise said. "Picture that person getting legal status. Maybe they're going to want to buy a house here. Maybe they're going to want to buy a car here."
Studies have shown that about half or more of California's approximately 2.6 million undocumented immigrants pay taxes.
The Social Security Administration assumes that about half of undocumented workers pay Social Security taxes, a 2005 report said, while a 2006 survey of undocumented immigrants by the Center for Comparative Immigration Studies at the University of California, atSan Diego, found that 75 percent had taxes withheld from their paychecks, filed tax returns, or both.
Weiss expects those numbers to increase under a new amnesty, and higher tax collections could be realized since many illegally living in California work in positions below their skill level because their legal status isn't highly scrutinized.
The potential for immigration reform comes two years after another proposal failed in 2010 following an acrimonious debate.
It also comes months after President Barack Obama won 71 percent of the Latino vote on the way to re-election. Republican challenger Mitt Romney won 27 percent - 4 percent less than the GOP ticket won in 2008.
The continuing disparity - at a time when the Latino population is growing - has led many in the party to search for ways to make entreaties to Latino voters, perhaps through helping millions here illegally obtain citizenship.
However, Ron Schmidt, a retired Cal State Long Beach political science professor, said that public opinion polls have revealed that there is not much politically separating undocumented Latino immigrants and those who are here legally.
"Latinos are not that conservative," Schmidt said. "They want more spending on education, they want more spending on health care, they want more protections in old age, and they're not averse to government programs."
It may be enough, though, for Republicans to chip around the edges of the electorate by appealing to as many Latinos as possible, said Schmidt.
"For them, success is going to be something along the lines of getting 30 to 35 percent rather than 20 to 25 percent voting Republican," he said.
In California, Schmidt estimated that any effects of an influx of new Latino voters as a result of a federal immigration overhaul would not be seen for about 10 years since immigrants must obtain green cards - and wait five years - before becoming citizens.
firstname.lastname@example.com, 562-499-1254, twitter.com/EricBradleyPT


text: Celebrating 125 Years of PrintOn October 4, 1888, a collection of Hamline students gathered to collaborate and contribute to the first ever issue of The Oracle, and published it with the intentions of providing a reliable and worthy news medium to the Hamline community.125 years later, The Oracle staff, while consisting of all new talent, strives to achieve the goals envisioned by their predecessors. "Even after 125 years we're still churning out really good content," The Oracle staff member Andrew Maas said. "Our ultimate goal is just to keep publishing great stories and photos, and constantly improve upon the week before."Just last year, The Oracle won two coveted awards at the Associated Collegiate Press Best of the Midwest Convention. It won first place in the category of a four-year college weekly tabloid, managing to beating out the University of Minnesota Daily, and second prize for newspaper special edition for The Oracle's January magazine. These are only the most recent of The Oracle's recognized achievements. In the past ten years, The Oracle has amassed a large collection of awards, all of which are displayed outside their office. "We're just a hodge-podge of various Hamline students of all majors and all disciplines. The University of Minnesota staff is full of journalism majors and their full-time staff. So for a small, independent newspaper, such as ourselves, to take on such a large entity and beat them was really gratifying. We're going to try again this year," Maas said. The awards won by The Oracle can attest to its success over the years, but the true testament to its growth comes from the collection of diverse and unique staff members who make each weekly installment of The Oracle a reality."The Oracle definitely offers a place for people to voice an opinion, about issues going on around campus, and it also works as a vehicle to inform students. We work hard to get a variety of voices into our stories," staff reporter Sarah Sheven said. The original staff members of The Oracle may be gone, but as each new reporter, photographer, and editor steps up to fill the shoes of the student before them, one thing about The Oracle remains the same."The measure of a real journalist is if you care more about the product than yourself," Maas said.


text:
PGWARE Throttle v184.108.40.2061 + serial || File Size : 1.57 MB || Language: English ||
Crack inf: Serial || Platform : Win 7, Vista, XP, 2008 & 2003 (32/64 Bit).
Increase the speed of your internet connection with Throttle 6. The best internet acceleration software available on the market,
Throttle boosts download and upload speeds and squeezes out every last bit of performance your Cable, DSL, Dial-Up, Satellite,
and Mobile Phone modem is capable of. Very easy to use and fully compatible with the latest versions of Microsoft ® Windows
and compatible with all internet connection types. Download music, movies, files and play multiplayer internet games faster with Throttle.
Throttle can increase your internet connection dramatically and allows you to surf websites and download files much faster. If you are on a Dial-Up connection you may suffer from constant dropped connections, with Throttle this problem can quickly be fixed. Not only does Throttle work with Dial-Up connections but it also works with Cable and DSL connections and can reduce the time it takes to download large music, movies and games from your favorite websites. Increase the speed of your internet connection and improve the stability of your connection by avoiding disconnects and bandwidth congestion.
Throttle works by making permanent modifications to the Windows system registry and system files, these changes affect how your modem interacts with your internet service provider, download faster, play faster and surf the web faster by using Throttle. All settings made by Throttle can be fully reversed, allowing you to fully test the software and make sure it works properly with your computer and modem. The settings made by Throttle work even after you reboot your computer, so you do not have to worry about running Throttle each time you reboot Windows.
[Features and Benefits of Throttle]
Makes direct changes to the Windows system registry and system files to increase internet download and upload speeds.
Automatically adjusts internet settings and changes made based on the computer and modem specified by the end-user.
Works with all modem types - Dial-Up, DSL, ADSL, Cable, ISDN, Satellite, and Mobile Phone internet connections.
Compatible with the latest versions of Microsoft Windows, including Windows Vista 64-BIT and 32-BIT computers.
Increases both internet transfer speeds as well as local area network speeds, increase the speed of local area network PC-PC file transfers by using Throttle.
New and improved modern user interface, easy and intuitive to use and compliant with Windows user interface guidelines.
1. Run the Installer
2. Run the app and insert Name/serial
- For Name/Serial see serial.txt
*** Block the appin your firewall ***


text:
Everything about his game, from the silent, balletic footwork to his deceptive strength is functioning with clockwork precision.
1660s, from French ballette from Italian balletto, diminutive of ballo "a dance" (see ball (n.2)). Balletomane attested by 1930.
Theatrical entertainment in which dancers, usually accompanied by music, tell a story or express a mood through their movements. The technique of ballet is elaborate and requires many years of training. Two classical ballets are Swan Lake and The Nutcracker, composed by Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky. Two great modern ballets are The Rite of Spring, composed by Igor Stravinsky, and Fancy Free, by Leonard Bernstein.


text:
LANSING, MI (AP)-- Active-duty military members living in Michigan
can now get annual hunting and fishing licenses for free.
The Department of Natural Resources announced the new policy Monday. Military members must be on active duty, have a Michigan residence and have maintained their residence status in order to vote or get a driver's license.
Qualified military members can get a free resident military all-species fishing license or any hunting license that doesn't require a lottery.
Before, military members had to pay $1 for such licenses. Governor Rick Snyder signed the new law earlier this month.
The department says that applicants have to show proof of military status when applying for the license. Acceptable proof of military status includes a military ID, leave papers or duty papers.


text:
By Brendan Conway
Firsthand Technology Value Fund (SVVC) spent nearly $15 million on Twitter Inc.'s common and preferred stock in the fourth quarter, raising its weighting in the investment firm's holdings to 8.5%.
You might remember Firsthand as the unusual investment fund — it's technically a business development company, though it calls itself a closed-end fund — that staged a series of surges ahead of the Facebook (FB) initial public offering. It then made a dramatic plunge during and after the social-media company's glitchy IPO. The firm announced its fiscal year-end results last night.
Firsthand's stock is a high-risk, high-potential reward proposition. It remains one of the few ways that the average investor can get a piece of closely watched technology companies before the IPO. Facebook-hungry buyers who entered a position right before the IPO turned out to get all risk and no immediate reward.
But SVVC became a value shortly afterward. It went on to spend months after the Facebook bust trading beneath its cash holdings. Investor sentiment was depressed enough that the firm's holdings — which included Facebook as well as Twitter and SolarCity Corp. (SCTY) — could be had essentially for free. Shares are up by 11% during 2013, but at $19.48 they fetch less than half their Facebook-mania peak in the mid-$40s.
SVVC's cash holdings were substantial last year, and they stayed that way through the latest disclosure (which happened last evening). SVVC's cash hoard was $15.99 per share at last disclosure, or about 70% of net assets. Closing at $19.48 on Monday, the stock trades about three dollars below the Dec. 31 net asset value of $22.90 per share. Shares are edging up 0.3% on Tuesday.
In the latest disclosure, the fund also marked its Skyline Solar, Inc. investment down to zero, from about a quarter of a million dollars at the end of the previous quarter. Skyline's Wikipedia page has this cryptic description: "The company was founded in 2007 by Bob MacDonald, Bill Keating and Eric Johnson. It appears to have quit operations in late 2012 and has deactivated its website (http://www.skyline-solar.com)."
In late December, Barrons.com interviewed Phil Goldstein and Andy Dakos of Bulldog Investors, an activist fund that last year became the biggest Firsthand shareholder. The duo saw a value in the fund's steep discount to net assets, but, presumably like other investors, they were dissatisfied with SVVC's heavy cash position.
"We want them to do something — buybacks , tender offers, or something else to address the discount," Dakos said at the time. "In 2013, we're going to expect the fund to do something to address the discount. If they don't and there's not a meeting of the minds, clearly we would at some point think about seeking board representation or other steps like running a proxy fight to try to accomplish our goal," he told Barrons.com. "We hope it doesn't get to that."
"If it doesn't happen in probably the first half 2013, that's going to be disappointing. We're going to have to get get a little more proactive," he said.
Here's how Dakos and Goldstein's Brooklyn Capital Management described the situation in its annual report last month:
If Twitter announces an IPO, SVVC's stock may well pop. However, we are not counting on that to unlock itsintrinsic value. As a result of our 13D filings, other shareholders of SVVC have contacted us and urged us to lead a campaign for share buybacks or other measures to enhance shareholder value. We anticipate doing precisely that in the very near future. Stay tuned.