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I have never posted on the boards before, but after the end of the Conquer Cup semifinal in which I was a participant, I think it's needed. I've never been an antagnostic or greedy player since I signed up for this site. I guess I don't participate in the forums and such, but I play my games straight and do somewhat ok. I was really proud of myself for advancing as far as I did in the cup, and took it very seriously.
In my final cup game, however, I messed up pretty badly. It was a tight, well-played contest, and I missed a turn! Round 14 or 15 or so. I was really pissed at myself for that, but kept going. My last turn, Round 20, came up on New Years Eve. To my discredit, I had some things to do during the day and decided to leave it until the end of the night. It's being NYE, this meant my taking the turn a little more than half in the bag, at 4 am. My "strategy" was panned by everyone in the game, and rightly so, as I can't even tell you what it was.
I would just like to publicly present an apology to Ciglione, nvanputten, and lokisgal. You all deserved better. How ashamed I should be was made clear in gamechat. I think I'm going to stop playing for a while. Sorry again.


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I'm so very pleased to tell you all that PINK has been Highly Commended for the Barbara Jefferis Award.
Barbara Jefferis was the founding President of the Australian Society of Authors, and the Award is for "the best novel written by an Australian author that depicts women and girls in a positive way or otherwise empowers the status of women and girls in society".
Last year Helen Garner won, so it's pretty nice company to be in.
You can view the shortlist and the other Highly Commended title here.
And here's what the judges said about PINK:
As a novel written for young adults, Pink deals in some refreshing and witty ways with the stock themes of confusion over sexuality, peer group pressure, and what not to wear. While Ava's parents have no problems with her lesbianism or goth attire, she is not so sure. She dons a pink cashmere jumper and switches schools. But rather than just inverting a conventional coming-out plot to produce something more conservative, Pink complicates the simple trajectory of this kind of narrative. It depicts young women, gay and/or straight, positively, and offers a far from neat conclusion. Ava, having learnt several Emma-esque lessons about tolerance and judgment, still remains undecided.

subset: commoncrawl


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It's getting close to Tax Day for all Americans – and that includes the inhabitants of the White House.
Last year, President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama paid an effective tax rate of 18.4 percent, the White House reported Friday, with an adjusted gross income of $608,611 and a total of $112,214 in taxes.
The family gave almost a quarter of its income to charity, including a $103,871 donation to the Fischer House Foundation.
The Obamas reported an adjusted gross income of $608,611 and paid about $112,000 in taxes. NBC's Brian Williams reports.
According to their website, the foundation "donates 'comfort homes' built on the grounds of major military and VA medical centers." The homes allow family members of those who are hospitalized to stay closed to loved ones for free. The president donates the proceeds of the children's book he released in 2010, "Of Thee I Sing" to the foundation.
Among the other entities that received charitable donations from the Obamas were the American Red Cross, the Boys and Girls Club and Sidwell Friends school, where their daughters are enrolled.
The Obamas also gave $5000 to the Palm Beach County Law Enforcement Fund. In September of 2012, a Palm Beach County motorcycle police officer was struck and killed as he was helping set up a rolling roadblock for the president's motorcade.
Check out the full tax return here (.pdf)
The Obama's income has dropped over his presidency, as royalties from his books have tapered off. In 2009, the couple reported a gross income of about $5.5 million. By last year, the Obamas reported an income of $789,674 on which they paid $162,074 in taxes and gave $172,130 to charity. Their effective federal tax rate that year was 20.5 percent.
The president has campaigned on the idea that higher-income Americans – including himself - should pay "their fair share," while those with incomes under $250,000 should not be subject to tax increases.
Vice President Joe Biden and his wife Jill reported a gross income of $385,072 and paid $87,851 in federal taxes in 2012. They gave just $7,190 to charity – including donations valued at $2000 in furniture, household goods and exercise equipment. That totals about 2 percent of their 2012 income.
And if you ever wondered who exactly pays the salaries of two of the most important people in the world, here's your answer: The president is paid by an agency of the Department of Defense (the Defense Finance and Accounting Service), while the vice president is paid by the U.S. Senate.
This story was originally published on Fri Apr 12, 2013 3:07 PM EDT


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Sgsegal needed a new t-shirt design and created a contest on 99designs.
A winner was selected from 54 designs submitted by 11 freelance designers.
Team Elisha
We're a dedicated team of 25 men and women who have been cycling together for 20 yrs in part to train for the Pan Massachusetts Challenge (PMC) bike ride, the single largest annual cycling event raising money for cancer research. Team Elisha is named for the biblical prophet Elisha who is known for his healing powers (though many people assume Elisha relates to someone we're riding for who's suffering from or died from cancer--which in a sense we are); we're based in greater Boston MA, USA; have been riding as a team since 1990; riding for the Pan Mass Challenge; and we have raised over $3,000,000 so far.
Color combos I like: royal blue, light blue, navy blue, silver, white and black;
Lime green, yellow, white and black;
I'm looking for something that will stand out and look sharp--a strong image.
Our cycling team, and other cyclists we ride with who will be insanely jealous of our awesome jerseys.
We need a new team cycling jersey. We developed one 5 years ago and are looking for the next generation. Colors should be vibrant. The name Team Elisha, emphasis on Elisha, should be prominent. The Pan Mass logo (which you can see at: http://www.pmc.org ) should be on a rear pocket or sleeve. The phrase "On Your Left" should be evident somewhere, perhaps in a yellow ring on the sleeve (similar to Livestrong) or side panel. There should be a reference to Boston, perhaps on the back or on another sleeve, and either Est. 1990 or Since 1990, the year we started our team.
Potential color combinations are royal blue, navy blue, light blue, silver, white and black; or lime green, yellow, white and black.
Design should evoke a prophet or angel, but not look too religious since this relates to healing people not prayer. Think of Moses, Uncle Sam, the Magic Flute angel by Marc Chagall, a Greek god, or the Starbucks Coffee logo (as a man instead of a woman). We would like the use of wings or a medical symbol, as well as bicycle wheels, such as the Bicycle Playing Cards.
Sample files with various images are provided for inspiration only or as examples of bike jerseys, but do not necessarily match our goal. Feel free to go in any direction that conveys our message as outlined above.
Avoid expensive stock images.
Hope to GUARANTEE this contest as soon as we get 10 entries!!


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Our Faces: Their beautifully sculptured faces and expressions speak directly to every doll parent. The personality and charm of the Gotz dolls capture the heart of every child. Superior quality and design provide a lifetime of love. Let yourself be captured by the world of Gotz dolls.
Our Hair: Only the highest quality, natural-looking hair is used in Gotz dolls. This hair has been developed especially for Gotz and, in fact, is still made in Germany! It is rooted into the scalp and is thus easy to care for. Children can easily wash, style, and brush it. In order to provide the real life-like appearance of a newborn baby's hair, some of the baby dolls have detailed, painted hair.
Our Eyes: We are only using high-quality eyes that are either inserted by hand or painted. Our lashes are specially produced to enhance the natural look of our dolls. Our product lines have either fixed eyes, sleeping eyes, or painted eyes. Our clothing: The latest trends in color and fashion are used in creating fresh clothing styles for our dolls. Lovingly created clothes contain as many details as real children's clothing and the Gotz outfits are washable and ironable.
Our Bodies: In our collection, you will find both complete vinyl bodies and soft fabric bodies, which are filled with wool and fine granulates. Our standing dolls are built with movable arms and legs.


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Politicians and Election, Vote in Freedom, Actively Participate in Democracy, Vote for Change, Online referendum
Pita Sharples
> New Zealand > Politicians > Māori Party > Pita Sharples
Pita Sharples is ready for your opinion, support and vote. Vote online NOW!
Pita Sharples - for
A Māori academic and politician. The current Minister of Māori Affairs and Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Tāmaki Makaurau.
Pita Sharples - against
Click, if you do not support Pita Sharples. Say why.
pita sharples vote, iwi of pita sharples, pita sharples biography and more...
Related polls > John Key, Phil Goff, Helen Clark, Tariana Turia, Jim Anderton, Gerry Brownlee, Russel Norman, Peter Dunne, Rodney Hide, Annette King, Metiria Turei, Murray McCully, Simon Power, Anand Satyanand, Jeanette Fitzsimons, Lockwood Smith, Bill English, Gareth Hughes, John Boscawen, Kennedy Graham, (Pita Sharples) and more...


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Holyfield Photo needed a new logo design and created a contest on 99designs.
A winner was selected from 154 designs submitted by 33 freelance designers.
This logo will be used for a division of Holyfield Photography called "Art U Create".
Art U Create
This is a new up and coming site that will allow the user to upload any kind of file (photo, scanned artwork, computer generated artwork etc.) and be able to print on wide format unique media. We will be printing up to 60'' wide and 100' long. The media's range from all the fine art medias, canvases, phototex, banner materials, etc. Are main target audience will be the mom that wants to showcase their childs work. The mom will be able to upload and choose what media they want.
The logo needs to be fun, slightly modern, clean and professional looking. Preferably 2-3 colors that appeal to a mom of a child between Kindergarten and High School.
If you have any questions PLEASE let me know, Thanks! We are looking for a clean, nice looking logo that is very professional. The logo will be used on a website as well as promotional materials
- Professional- AI Layered Vector File- Font names that are used
- Cartoon- Something thrown together that looks sloppy
Find out how a design contest works or learn more about our logo design services.


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Find the perfect size! Click here!
Visit our store in rocklin,california! Click here!
Need a little Help ? Click here!
The Ruff Ruff Couture® Butterfly Kisses tank is made of soft & stretchy white french terry and accented with a Whimsical multi-colored butterfly applique . Proudly made in the U.S.A.


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Should The Kings Keep Their Name or Change it to the Sonics [POLL]
Now that it's almost a done dealthat the Kings are moving to Seattle, what about their name? The lead investor plans on making them the SuperSonics once more, but what do you think? Should they be the Sonics since they're in Seattle or should they keep their name?


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Real Cars is a totalconversion mod for Grand Theft Auto IV that replases all cars and other vehicles in game to real ones.
The file you are trying to view (Real Cars For GTA 4 v0.3 Early BETA - Real_Cars_For_GTA_4_v0.3_Early_Beta.exe) uploaded by M@DoX has been deleted and is no longer available. This may have occurred at the uploaders request, or it may have occurred because it violated the sites Terms of Use. If this is a mistake and you are the uploader of this file and would like it re-activated, please contact us with the details.
We recommend you return to the download list and browse the links from there.


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Message Board
Amelia Jestings Message Board
Talk about the novels, new and used books that Jestings has written!
Author Jestings's Book Reviews
Commonwealth Trust
Dean Michaels, a brilliant law student, working for Leo Barry, the premier criminal attorney in Boston, uncovers the truth about murder charges filed against the son of the head of the New England Mafia, Nicholas Buontempo. Trust relationships are broken and developed between Michaels and Barry, Barry and the elder Buontempo, the Mafia leader and his son, the local Attorney General, Clifford McDougall and the Feds. ...


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San Diego, CA – November 7, 2012 – MedVantx, Inc., the company that pioneered a unique direct to consumer pharmaceutical distribution channel in US physician offices announced today the Company's specialty home delivery pharmacy achieved the milestone of dispensing prescriptions valued at over $600M on an annualized basis. The Company provides leading pharmaceutical manufacturers, physicians, health systems and payors novel distribution services, as well as fully transparent home delivery services to consumers nationwide via its state of the art pharmaceutical distribution facility located in Sioux Falls, SD.
"MedVantx is extremely excited to have achieved this significant company milestone," stated Ron Bertsch, RPh, General Manager of MedVantx Pharmacy Services. "MedVantx has developed over 15 unique and customized prescription assistance and consumer access programs with 10 Fortune 100 companies. These programs are designed to enable pharmaceutical manufacturers the ability to provide access to free medications to the indigent, uninsured and underinsured consumers. Many of the products dispensed in the Company's programs are Specialty Pharmacy products consisting of high cost injectable, cold chain, or biotech medications and tend to serve patient populations that require significant care coordination. This milestone reflects our ability to provide our customers and patients with a broad range of unique services in the market place," added Mr. Bertsch.
"The pharmaceutical industry is undergoing a structural shift from traditional brand name drugs to generic pharmaceuticals, but also to more specialty drugs—we address both these markets," stated Robert Feeney, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of MedVantx. "The Prescription Assistance, Specialty Pharmacy and Cold Chain industry is growing rapidly with industry revenues which are expected to exceed $160 billion globally in 2013. This rapid growth is coming at a time of significant supply chain consolidation and customers are seeking new channels. MedVantx has carved-out a very specialized niche in the marketplace based on full financial transparency, mass customization techniques and the ability to provide novel solutions, for industry partners as well as consumers," added Mr. Feeney.
About MedVantx, Inc.
MedVantx is an innovative consumer medication management and delivery company committed to streamlining access, reducing costs and providing helpful information to benefit patients, physicians, health plans, employers and manufacturers. The MedStart™ Connect program provides for a fully-automated, integrated, point-of-care to consumer home delivery channel focused on increasing the quality and cost effectiveness of the last non-managed pharmaceutical channel – the physician office sample closet. MedStart Connect includes free initial therapy samples of prescription and over-the-counter medication at the point of care, a consumer helpline providing drug information, adherence management services, and convenient consumer home delivery through its mail order pharmacy. MedVantx Pharmacy Services, a wholly owned subsidiary of MedVantx, Inc., operates a state of the art pharmaceutical distribution facility located in Sioux Falls, SD.
Source: MedVantx, Inc.


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Galveston cruise industry on a successful course
Galveston's cruise industry is on a course for success.
A recent study for the Cruise Lines International Association determined that the Port of Galveston ranks as the fourth busiest cruise port in the U.S., based upon embarkation numbers.
Last year, the island cruise port welcomed 863,000 passengers and crew, representing 4 percent of all passenger and crew visits at U.S. ports, according to the Port of Galveston.
Those numbers make Galveston the second fastest growing cruise port of last year.
"The Port of Galveston is committed to remaining in the top 20 cruise home-ports worldwide," Port Director Mike Mierzwa stated in a press release. "We are dedicated to strengthening our existing relationship with the cruise industry and increasing the economic impact to the local and regional communities."
The study found that Texas accounted for 6.3 percent of the cruise industry's overall nationwide spending last year, raising the state's ranking from fourth to third.
Last year, the state had over $1.2 billion in direct spending and almost 20,000 jobs, paying out nearly $1.1 billion in total income, according to the study by Business Research and Economic Advisors.
Next year also looks positive, with the addition of Royal Caribbean International's Navigator of the Seas' year-round operation, offering vacationers seven-night Western Caribbean itineraries throughout the year.
The Carnival Cruise Line's Magic and Triumph also offer year-round operations.
The Port of Galveston, known as Texas' Star Cruise Port, is the primary point of embarkation for cruises to the western Caribbean and the Bahamas, and the port handles over 1.2 million cruise passengers annually, officials said.
Three cruise lines - Carnival Cruise Lines, Disney Cruise Line, and Royal Caribbean International - sail out of the Port of Galveston, according to the press release.


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I was in the mood to make chocolate chip cookies, like I always am. I find such comfort in making them. I can make them with my eyes closed and have tried at least 100 different recipes. I absolutely adore chocolate chip cookies. They are my biggest comfort food and favorite thing to bake. Today I thought I should try something a bit different. These are basically double chocolate cookies. Same ingredients as classic chocolate chip cookies but with the addition of cocoa powder that takes the place of some of the flour. I slightly underbaked them so the middle would remain fudgy. They seemed actually still doughy when I removed them from the oven. Only the very edges of the cookies were slightly set. The middle looked still very moist & doughy. They set up nicely after they cooled for awhile. I added semi sweet chocolate chips, milk chocolate chips and a large dark chocolate Hershey bar cut into small chunks. These cookies are delicious and VERY chocolately. Not quite dark chocolate, only because they are fairly sweet but they definitely pack a total chocolate punch. I would make these again for sure. They would be a good cookie base to add other add in such as peanut butter chips, vanilla chips, toffee chips or cut up candy bars. The baking time in the recipe says 10 minutes but I guess that depends on how big your cookies are. Mine were fairly large so I left mine in for longer. Like I said above, I only removed them from the oven when the edges were very slightly set. Oh, one more thing, I did not add the walnuts because I do not like nuts but I'm sure for those of you who do, it would be an awesome addition.
Chocolate Chocolate Chip Cookies
Food Network
- 2 1/4 cups flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 2 sticks butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup packed brown sugar
- 2 large eggs, beaten
- 1 tablespoon vanilla
- 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa
- 2 cups chocolate chips, 2 Hershey's chocolate bars, chopped or M&M'S
- 1 cup chopped walnuts (optional)
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a bowl stir together flour, salt, and baking soda. In another large bowl stir together butter, both sugars, eggs, vanilla and cocoa. Gradually stir flour mixture into butter mixture and mix until combined. Stir chocolate chips and walnuts, if using, and stir to distribute evenly.For cookies: Drop dough by tablespoonfuls onto greased baking sheets and bake about 10 minutes. Cool on a baking rack.


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Producers making 2011 seed purchases should find prices at or slightly above last year's levels, and even some instances of prices lower than those of last year. It's the newest hybrids and varieties that will be priced modestly higher. This is a welcome respite to the dramatic price increases seen over the past few growing seasons.
Seed costs jumped dramatically this past season from two years earlier, according to data from the University of Illinois. In 2008, seed costs were $67/acre for corn compared to $93/acre this year on highly productive farmland in central Illinois. Soybean seed prices were $43/acre in 2008 and $60/acre for soybean seed this past season. Early projections peg 2011 seed prices at $98/acre for corn and $62/acre for soybeans.
Flat to lower prices
"Our seed prices for 2011 are flat to lower versus last year," says Brian Humphries, national sales manager for Wyffels Hybrids. "That holds true for our entire product lineup, regardless of geography."
Humphries attributes a "leveling off" of technology prices as the key reason why prices won't be moving significantly higher. "Over the past few years, we have worked to gain as much efficiency as possible in our production and marketing," he says. "But the price of the newer technologies has been the major price driver."
Terry Gardner, North America product marketing director for Pioneer, says year-over-year pricing for Pioneer products will remain generally flat, although some newer products will see a slight price increase. "We base our product prices on the value they give to the grower," he says. "And not every producer needs the same set of genetics or traits."
Earlier this year, Monsanto announced a reset of its pricing platform for the company's trait packages. Prices are expected to be flat to lower for some of the company's current traited lineup, including Genuity SmartStax corn and Genuity Roundup Ready 2 Yield soybeans. "All our soybean seed will be sold by count, and seed treatments will be an optional offering," says Jennifer Ralston, soybean product management lead for Monsanto.
Stacked traits in corn seed remain a hot seller, and companies expect those products to stay in high demand in 2011. "There's a continuing trend to accept stacked products and the value they deliver," says Chuck Lee, head of corn and soybean marketing at Syngenta. The company's new Agrisure Viptera corn trait that was included in the company's new traited corn offerings accounted for nearly 20% of the company's corn portfolio.
Price pushback on traits
While the industry remains committed to newer traits, this year producers often rejected higher-priced traits after several years of significant price hikes. "With the level of seed price increases seen over the past few years, producers started to push the pencil more," says Gary Schnitkey, professor of agricultural economics at the University of Illinois. "And as they got more on-farm experiences with the various products, they started to see that they might not need the latest and greatest seed technology to make a profit. The value has to be there for a seed to be worth the price."
So far, this fall's early harvest pace has accelerated seed buying as producers evaluate products and secure product for 2011. It's unclear if last-minute discounts will be seen, although companies will be under pressure to hold prices at current levels. "There will be pressure to hold on to, or gain, market share," says Tray Thomas, Founding Partner of the Context Network. "Price cuts might help their market share numbers, but these companies have a tremendous investment in research. Reducing prices much will make it hard to meet Wall Street expectations, and negatively impact share prices."
That could have a long-term impact not only on the seed companies but producers as well. "Reduced seed and technology prices mean less money for research and development," Thomas says. "Current R and D costs simply can't be supported if there are deep price discounts."
Supplies are adequate, companies note, with no major hiccups in seed production this year. However, the hot products will run out first, so growers should make their decisions early.


text: One of the most gruesome chapters in the story of America's struggle for independence from Britain occurred in the waters near New York Harbor, near the current location of the Brooklyn Navy Yard. From 1776 to 1783, the British forces occupying New York City used abandoned or decommissioned warships anchored just offshore to hold those soldiers, sailors and private citizens they had captured in battle or arrested on land or at sea (many for refusing to swear an oath of allegiance to the British Crown). Some 11,000 prisoners died aboard the prison ships over the course of the war, many from disease or malnutrition. Many of these were inmates of the notorious HMS Jersey, which earned the nickname "Hell" for its inhumane conditions and the obscenely high death rate of its prisoners.


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The Co. Tyrone man who murdered his NYPD criminologist girlfriend in her Queens apartment last year was sentenced to 37 years in prison on Wednesday, June 16 after pleading guilty to her murder.
Gary McGurk, 24, confessed to killing his on-again off-again girlfriend, Michelle Lee, on April 26, 2009 in cold blood.
McGurk moved to America at a young age with his parents. His father, Aiden McGurk, was involved with the IRA in Northern Ireland.
In court McGurk told the victim's family he was sorry.
"I myself am still coming to terms with what I have done and I make no excuses. I have taken away the life of a very special young woman. I don't ask forgiveness. I don't think I deserve it," he said.
The judge, who could only dish out 37 years according to the plea deal, told McGurk, "You deserve a life sentence for what you did."
McGurk, who could be eligible for parole in his 50s, will be deported back to Ireland if he becomes eligible.
Lee, who worked for the NYPD's crime lab, was found dead in her bedroom in the Irish neighborhood of Sunnyside.
McGurk admitted beating Lee in the head with a hammer, stabbing her in the neck with a knife, burning her body with an iron and making the scene look like a sex crime.
McGurk, who initially pleaded not guilty after his arrest and only changed his plea in May, posed Lee's naked body on the bed in an effort to throw investigators off his trail. He tied her hands to the bedpost with her cell phone charger cord.
He wrapped her head in plastic wrap and then beat her four times in the head with a hammer.
After the murder was committed McGurk left the apartment with the hammer, plastic wrap and her Blackberry. He sent a message from her phone to his trying to make it look like he was innocent.
McGurk, a skilled soccer player with the college, had a sexual relationship with Lee since he met her at the gym of the CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice in 2004.
Queens District Attorney Richard Brown said the plea deal spared Lee's family from hearing about the gruesome crime during a trial.
"I think that Michelle would have been especially proud of her colleagues at the NYPD's Queens crime lab who worked tirelessly to make certain that her killer was apprehended and that justice would be served," said Brown.
Police also say McGurk swindled Lee out of a great sum of money, perhaps in the thousands of dollars, telling her he had cancer and needed money for treatment or he would die. Police say he may have become enraged when she put a stop to the "loans."
Police sources told the Irish Voice last year that Lee kept a diary that detailed her apparently secret romance with McGurk.
She reportedly gave him money for cancer treatment, the diary revealed. Lee's salary was not large, and the financial strain may have caused her to cut back on the funding of his "treatment."


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Last night's Raw gave wrestling fans one of the scarier moments in the sport's history when Jerry "The King" Lawler suffered a heart attack at the announcers' table while providing color commentary for a match. It goes without saying that the primary concern of WWE officials, performers, and fans alike should be Lawler's speedy recovery. Not only is "The King" a wrestling legend and a pop culture icon, but more importantly, he's a father and a dear friend to countless people both in and out of the wrestling business. Whether he ever steps into the ring or behind the announce table is almost a trivial matter when compared to what's really important—that Lawler get well and be able to enjoy the rest of his life with health and happiness. That said, last night's frightening incident does raise several important questions, even if right now is not the time to answer them.
Is it a good idea to have a 62-year-old man wrestle semi-regularly, or at all?
The answer to that question is probably not as obvious as it may seem. That's because not all 62-year-old men are alike. Not only does Lawler appear to keep himself in good shape, but he also wrestles a fairly conservative style that should not take as much a toll on his body than if other wrestlers tried to compete at his age. That said, a more important number than Lawler's age may be how long he's been wrestling (an astonishing 42 years) and how many hours of travel his body endures each week—especially since he's been wrestling at WWE live events as of late. The collective wear and tear of such a long career could cause serious health issues in a person even half Lawler's age. And when you're pushing senior-citizenship, it could be potentially life-threatening.
Have we seen the last of Jerry Lawler in the ring or behind the announce table?
We can all be certain that, at the very least, it will be months before Lawler calls another WWE match. And it's a good bet that Vince McMahon won't allow him to wrestle in one of his rings ever again. But that doesn't necessarily mean Lawler's wrestling career is over. The fact is, in recent years Lawler has been doing most of his wrestling on the independent circuit. If, God willing, he gets better, it may be next to impossible to keep Lawler out of a wrestling ring permanently. When wrestling is in your blood like it is in Lawler's, it's hard to accept that you've wrestled your final match. It's a little more likely that Lawler will eventually return to the announce table, but certainly not a given. Regardless of whether he's competing in the ring, working for WWE even once a week comes with a hectic travel schedule and can make it tough to live a healthy lifestyle.
We can all be certain that, at the very least, it will be months before Lawler calls another WWE match. And it's a good bet that Vince McMahon won't allow him to wrestle in one of his rings ever again. But that doesn't necessarily mean Lawler's wrestling career is over. The fact is, in recent years Lawler has been doing most of his wrestling on the independent circuit. If, God willing, he gets better, it may be next to impossible to keep Lawler out of a wrestling ring permanently. When wrestling is in your blood like it is in Lawler's, it's hard to accept that you've wrestled your final match. It's a little more likely that Lawler will eventually return to the announce table, but certainly not a given. Regardless of whether he's competing in the ring, working for WWE even once a week comes with a hectic travel schedule and can make it tough to live a healthy lifestyle.
Should the show have gone on?
It's a tough question, and one that has haunted WWE for 13 years since the night Vince McMahon chose to go ahead with the Over the Edge pay-per-view even after Owen Hart fell to his death in the ring. Hindsight is always 20/20, and WWE could not know how serious Lawler's situation was until he was admitted into a hospital and thoroughly examined. The company knew this much: Lawler was alive and breathing on his own when he left the building. What's more, they knew they had a commitment to fill another hour of television time on the USA Network, and to put on a show for the fans inside the Bell Centre in Montreal. In the end, I think WWE officials handled the situation as best they could under the circumstances by having the planned in-ring segments take place without commentary, and using Michael Cole to regularly update fans. I'm sure nobody at WWE was much in the mood to work after seeing Lawler taken away in an ambulance, but they did all have a job to do.
Was it a lot to ask WWE's Raw announce team to increase its workload by half when the show was extended to three hours?
It may only amount to an extra hour of work a week, but WWE's decision to extend Raw from two hours to three hours in July assured that Lawler would spend 50 percent more time each Monday in the stressful position of calling live television. Little has been said about it, but the fact is that the WWE performers most affected by Raw's expansion have been its announce team. Regardless of whether or not the extra work factored into Lawler's health issues, it had to add a little more stress to his life.
Are part-time WWE performers, like Lawler, subject to the company's Wellness Program, and should they be?
This question could probably be answered with a simple yes or no by WWE, but it's not clear at this time. On one hand, as an announcer working on WWE's production side, Lawler probably would not be subject to the wellness policy, which tests performers annually for cardiac issues. On the other hand, Lawler has been working a semi-regular ring schedule as of late alongside other WWE wrestlers who are subject to the policy. Certainly, any 62-year-old man would stand to benefit from getting his ticker regularly checked out, especially before exerting himself in a wrestling match.
Did last night's situation serve as an example of why WWE should avoid simulating such grave health scares in the future?
I was only half-paying attention to Raw last night when the Lawler incident occurred. And so when Michael Cole explained on camera later in the night that Lawler had passed out at the announce table, I thought the same thing that I imagine scores of other wrestling fans thought: that this was all part of the show. And even through the end of Raw, I was still a little skeptical that the Lawler situation was legitimate. It wasn't until I visited various credible wrestling websites that confirmed that Lawler had collapsed that I was convinced that the situation was all too real. You can accuse me of being too cynical, but the sad truth is that WWE has cried wolf too many times with staged injuries and other medical emergencies that they've tried their hardest to pass off as legitimate. It seems like at least once a year a WWE announce team grimly addresses the fans at home about a storyline development with the same tone that Jim Ross used on the night Owen Hart died. In as much as WWE is in the drama business, I understand the need to present everything that happens on its television shows with a sense of realism. But the goal should be to keep fans' suspension of disbelief while they are watching a product that they know is entertainment. It should not be to fool them. Imagine if the director of 1993's The Crow put out a sequel to the film and made up a story about another actor being accidentally shot dead on the set, just like Brandon Lee was in the original film. It would be deceitful and tasteless. That's not too far removed from what WWE has done time and again since Hart's death. Think I'm exaggerating? Maybe you should be reminded of this 2007 press release on WWE's corporate website <http://corporate.wwe.com/news/2007/2007_06_12.jsp> . And so when an actual tragedy occurs on one of their shows, inevitably some fans are going to be dubious about whether it's legit.
Should last night mark the end of the heel Michael Cole character?
Unquestionably, the wrestling universe's thoughts and sympathies should have been with Jerry Lawler and his family in the moments after he collapsed on television. But, I, for one, couldn't help but feel for Michael Cole, who was put in the unenviable position of having to continue doing his job even as he watched his longtime friend and broadcast partner in a potentially life-threatening medical emergency beside him. Cole stepped up and did an admirable job, not only of calling the action until his WWE bosses made the call to go silent on commentary, but also of updating fans with the latest information on Lawler's condition. Cole was sincere, composed, informed, authoritative, and even brave. It was a reminder of what, at its best, the job of a play-by-play man in any sport should be. It was also a reminder of how good Cole could be if he weren't forced into the money-losing role of the villainous announcer who hates all things good, including Lawler, and whose primary task is to steal attention away from the real stars of the show. Cole is so much better than that, and he showed it last night. Let's hope he doesn't revert back to his old ways.
What becomes of WWE's announce team?
In the grand scheme of things, this should be the least of WWE's concerns. But nevertheless, the reality is that, come next Monday, there will be an empty seat to fill at the announcer's table. Mostly likely, it will be occupied by Josh Mathews, who does a serviceable job with Cole on Smackdown every Friday night. With the brand split all but finished, it's less of an issue now than ever to have the same announce team call both shows. But, in the long term, WWE needs to get new and talented announcers in the pipeline for the future. The existing announcing roster is rounded out by the likes of the obnoxious Matt Striker and the overzealous Scott Stanford. William Regal has shown some promise doing commentary on some of WWE's web shows, but his style may be too mellow and subdued for prime time viewers. Of course, WWE does have a fairly experienced employee on its payroll by the name of Jim Ross, who just happens to be the greatest wrestling announcer in history. But it's become obvious over recent years that Vince McMahon just does not want Ross as the face of his flagship show. WWE will most likely scout for young, camera-friendly broadcaster-types, but it should also scout for older, more-seasoned wrestling veterans, like Lawler. They should even consider former WWE broadcasters from long ago. In most pro sports, age isn't a negative for a broadcaster. It's a positive, as fans want a wise and experienced voice calling the action. My wish list would include John Layfield, Sean Mooney, and Kevin Kelly. WWE might even try out veteran wrestlers with no past broadcasting experience, like Dustin Runnels, Ron Simmons, and even Edge, assuming any of them would be interested in the job.
PWI Senior Writer


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RPG Scented Oils
Smell like a fantasy!
- Unisex scented oils for fans of RPGs
- Attract a new party member with ease
- 5 mL of scented oil in an apothecary vial
When you think of the scents associated with roleplaying games, your mind most likely turns to the smell of books, beer, and body odor. Those of us who attend conventions regularly are happy to report that the latter item is not quite as big an issue as it was in years past. Nerd whiff will never completely die, though, as there will always be that guy who rates his need for gaming above his need for a shower.
Fill your nostrils with a more pleasing aroma: that of your favorite class! Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab has blended these intoxicating scents inspired by your favorite fantasy RPG: cleric, fighter, mage, paladin, ranger, rogue, neutral, lawful, chaotic, good, and evil.
We're frankly in awe that BPAL was able to distill classes down to their essential scent. Enter the cleric's temple, where he leaves offerings for his god. Touch the blood-stained cloak of the fighter. Inhale the purple smoke created by the mage's spell, if you dare! Smell the smug superiority of the paladin in her shining white armor. Perch in a tree with the ranger, ready to loose an arrow at a passing orc. Skulk in the shadows with the rogue, sharpening your dagger as you await your next victim.
Each scent comes packaged in an amber apothecary vial with an artistic rendition of your favored class. Just a dab of this powerful oil is enough to smell adventurous all day; a little goes a long way so one bottle will last you a good while. BPAL has aimed for these to be unisex scents and we have to agree. Nobody is going to tell us that a lady can't smell like blood and steel or a guy like frankincense and myrrh!
Product Specifications
- Put a dab of this oil on your wrist or neck and smell like a fantasy!
- Unisex scents are appropriate for any gender of gamer
- Use the scent notes below to choose the best scent for you
- Combine scents to create a signature fragrance all your own (like Ranger, Mage, and Good, for that nature loving caster type)
- A little goes a long way: a tiny drop is enough to smell adventurous all day
- The scents:
- CLERIC: Rose amber, frankincense, myrrh, champaca flower, Peru balsam, cistus, palisander, cananga, hyssop, and narcissus absolute
- FIGHTER: Leather, musk, blood, and steel
- MAGE: All mystique and thrumming power: gurjum balsam, Sumatran dragon's blood resin, olibanum, galangal, oleo gum resin, and frankincense
- PALADIN: Immaculate white musk, sweet frankincense, bourbon vanilla, white leather, and shining armor
- RANGER: Untamed wilderness: buckskin accord with Terebinth pine, Russian birch, black ironwood, elder bark, hay, armoise, juniper, patchouli, galangal root, Spanish moss, and cabreuva
- ROGUE: Soft, well-worn black leather, hemp, and rosin
- Neutral: A flawless skin musk.
- Lawful: Rigid oak, blue chamomile, rhubarb, and fig leaf.
- Chaotic: A whirling mélange of multicolored musks with wasabi, rooibos, heliotrope, and mastic.
- Good: Shimmering celestial musk with vanilla, white honey, acacia, and sugar cane.
- Evil: Smouldering opium tar, tobacco absolute, green tea, black plum, kush, ambergris accord, ambrette seed, and costus root.
- 5 mL of scented oil in an amber apothecary vial


text:
Speculative Link-ups
This page is intended to describe potential spells and items created by Casters joined by a Thinkamancer Link-up. As the abiltiies of more Disciplines are revealed, the possible combinations will grow significantly.
- 1 Thinkamancer/Thinkamancer/Thinkamancer/Others
- 2 Thinkamancer/Dirtamancer/Findamancer
- 3 Thinkamancer/Dirtamancer/Croakamancer
- 4 Thinkamancer/Shockmancer/Croakamancer
- 5 Thinkamancer/Shockmancer/Dirtamancer
- 6 Thinkamancer/Turnamancer/Dittomancer
- 7 Thinkamancer/Turnamancer/Moneymancer
- 8 Thinkamancer/Dirtamancer/Moneymancer
This concept of this combination is that one Thinkamancer can link two more, which allows those two to link together two more Casters each, allowing a combination of five Disciplines instead of three. Although conceptually possible, Linking is described as an ability, not a spell, and as such might not be enhanced by the Link. If Linking devolves the mind to a function, and abilities are learned outside that function or if the suppression of others' individuality requires individuality of your own, then the two Linked Thinkamancers would not have access to this ability. Given the complexity of the Summon Perfect Warlord Spell, it may have required more than three Disciplines to create, and so may have been the result of a Link of this type. Given the danger of unravelling a link of only three Casters, unravelling more than three could not be anything less than suicidally dangerous.
- Another thought is to use a thinkamancer to chain together two other links, treating each chain as a single entity, as is the nature of the linkup. this would, of course, result in a total of seven participants and like mentioned, would be suicidal to separate without entire groups of thinkmancers working together, slowly, to unravel the linkup.
This combination could find enemy Units and then sink them into the very ground they stand on from far beyond the range of any weapon.
It could also find various objects or areas underground, eg. gems or tunnels.
This combination could create Bone and Flesh Golems from corpses unable to be uncroaked.
uncroak a Volcano
A Magic Item could direct shock directly to the heart of a unit that died from a failed heart (gas, death of fright, death from sudden cold), restoring it to normal life instead of uncroaking it.
This combination could create a Lodestone -- a natural magnet -- which could be used to point to magnetic north for navigation, or if made much more powerful, affix metal-clad Units in place or rip the metal weapons from the hands of troops.
Replicate enemy units when these pop they are friendly's, this could be used to disrupt an enemy in attack and defensive actions allowing for friendly troops to appear in the middle of a engagement. Give a side multiple turns in a row.
Steal schmuckers from enemy treasury.
Upgrade cities at a greatly reduced cost without the casters being physically present in the cities. This link-up could be very cost-effective to a side that has many low-level cities.


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Sit DOWN Ryan Phillippe
It's a Sit DOWN kind of day.
Once in a while I'll get an email from an angry reader all like – why do you have to be such a BITCH to Ryan Phillippe? Get over it! He and Reese broke up. She moved on, why can't you? He's hot and he's not the asshole you say he is.
If this is you, I'm sorry but you're dumb.
Also, click here. Remember when Ryan Phillippe drove himself around in ROLLS ROYCE? There is NO other explanation, no excuse, none whatsoever for a dude who rolls around in a Rolls. It's an automatic Dick stamp. And for added evidence, go back to what Abbie Cornish was like when she left him. Abruptly. And her public statement about their split. She was an idiot. Because pricks never change.
And, as reported last week, he was being a big dick to Amanda Seyfried at a party last week – that article is here. They had a fight at a party, they left separately, she seemed sad. Honey, in the long run, it's better for you. But as I noted then, she may not be smart enough to know this.
Not surprisingly, he's moving on. And overreaching.
According to Us Weekly, apparently at a pre-Grammy party last weekend, he dropped a move on Rihanna.
Yes. RIHANNA.
Ryan Phillippe thought he had a chance with Rihanna. Needless to say, she was polite, and then signaled to her friends for the rescue.
So he moved on to another target, a pretty brunette. F-ckin' loser. Both.
Here's what he looked like that night. Like he thinks he can hang with Justin Bieber.
Photos from Wenn.com


text:
Luke MacFarlane & Brendan Fehr Playing Closeted Gay Lovers In New NBC Series
Well this is some casting news that we can get behind! Brendan Fehr, who we admittedly crushed on during his Roswell days when he sported all that 90's boy band hair, has signed on to new NBC series The Night Shift!
Fehr will be playing a closeted gay, former Army soldier who served in Afghanistan. He's now a doctor at San Antonio Memorial.
Even more interesting? His character's boyfriend is still fighting in Afghanistan and is on his way home--and he's played by openly gay Brothers & Sisters star Luke MacFarlane!
Now that's the kind of homecoming we want to be a part of!!
Oh and if you haven't guessed, The Night Shift centers around the doctors working the night shift at San Antonio Memorial.
You've got our attention, NBC!
Look for the The Night Shift on Tuesday, May 27 at 10 p.m.
(H/T: Greg In Hollywood)
Might be the way of the fag, but apparently it is also, if not more so, the way of the straight & narrow. I see plenty of straight people in my clinic with giant genital warts that look like a head of cauliflower attacked their private parts. Some of these "gifts" can stay dormant for years, Kevdobbins35205. Before you start pointing your finger, get out your magnifying glass and take a look at your own junk. Anything sprouting?
So this guy gets on here, trolls everyone and got the responses he craved. After all, this guy is on a gay website, reading this article because he's super excited about it and wants to see hot gay sex... it's ok, call me, I'll satisfy your gay fantasies with some fisting and some torture. I'm sure that's what you are into, probably getting shit on your chest too. I can find someone to do that for you too. Come to daddy :)
We'll not only are you ignorant but confusing ... Shouldn't a show bout closeted gays be right up your street? Gay bashing only happens from extreme ignorance or extreme closeted homosexuals . Choose yours poison.... Ps don't hate on gays who actually get sex... Don't worry I'm sure you'll find someone desperate enough to satisfy your needs. Peace out dickhead.
Wow. Homophobic much? For someone who is clearly offended by what you perceive to be the gay lifestyle, you seem to think you know a lot about it. Something you'd like to share, maybe?
Here's a radical idea: Tolerance. Maybe you should try it. If this show offends you so much, don't watch it. It's really that simple.
It's enthralling to see how worked up some become about TV shows and movies and.....
They're actors. And now they can be PAID actors, which is kinda something that most, if not all adults would like to have going on - being paid for something we enjoy.
It's a TV show. It's not a pelvic exam or a heart transplant. We need to put away our HUFFY bikes and just look forward to the possibility of an interesting storyline.


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Video - Longboards can still be exciting.
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Joined: 24 Aug 2007
Posts: 882
Posted: Thu Mar 21, 2013 6:12 pm
Post subject:
Longboards are great! Even old lonboards. Why? because in the real world we do not get 20mph. average wind. The average person sailing lakes, bays etc. gets 2- 20 mph winds. Try sailing your shortboard in 4-18 mph. Not Fun. A longboard , mine is an"88 F2 Strato handles the widest range of winds, except for +35 mph. I have been out on days where the forecast was fo 20-30 only to get there to discover 10-15. What to do? Sail a longboard and wait for the wind to pick up. When it does your longboard can handle the 30+mph winds and get you back to the beach to grab a short board and small sail. If the wind dies to less than 5, you can also easily get home. Pack a paddle just in case. Nothing compares.
Durable? Plenty of old,+ 20 year longboards out there in great condition available for a song. I just got mine for $150.00. The origional owner never put the footstraps on it or harness lines. It is nearly new condition
Live somewhere where it is consistantly windy? get a short board. For the rest uf us who have to deal with inconsistant, fickle ,shifting and dying wind, longboards rule! Oh I also have 4 shortboards ranging from 145 L. to 75L.
I love longboards! Even very old ones.
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Joined: 23 Jul 2008
Posts: 766
Location: Seattle, Wa
Posted: Thu Mar 21, 2013 10:37 pm
Post subject:
Slinky... very well said. You covered key points... I agree.
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Joined: 23 Jul 2008
Posts: 766
Location: Seattle, Wa
Posted: Thu Mar 21, 2013 11:13 pm
Post subject:
Isobars mentioned
Greg, you should get to the Gorge more often. Its season is comparable to, maybe longer than, the Bay's; it probably gets more uv (at least east of HR); and it probably gets stronger winds more often.
Yes, Mike I should get down there more often
And yes, I agree with your points.
But I was trying to give zirtaeb some support about his posts that so many boards break and wear out so fast in the Bay area.
And, what I meant about a longer season in San Fran than Hood River is just that for the recreational sailor who might only like sailing in decently warm weather SF has more months of warm weather than HR does. Certainly a hard-core windsurfer with lots of good neoprene, will sail year round at both places (but the HR guy will need more neo. than the SF guy).
So thats all I meant by SF having a longer sailing season.
And on the UV subject Yes, Im sure that Roosevelt, gets more UV than the Bay area. Then again, theres still the sailing season length issue for the SF sailor. If the SF guy sails more months, cause the avg temp is warmer then he might get more UV?
Wind strength Yes, I would think the summer wind avg for HR is higher than SF.
But those guys do get many WINDY days. Certainly way more than most major metropolitan cites in the country.
And again, sailing in saltwater from sandy beaches (like Crissy) is way harder on gear (especially raceboards with all their components) than, the freshwater Gorge that has almost no sand beaches.
Anyway.... thanks Mike for the good points.
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Joined: 06 Nov 2008
Posts: 400
Location: Cedar Falls, IA
Posted: Thu Mar 21, 2013 11:20 pm
Post subject:
SPQR, in answer to your questions: I switched from racing a 91 Mistral Equipe XR in the Open class to the Kona One Design class to: 1. get a board that was more stable for me, 2. get into the only class where the allowable sail size is dependent on the weight range the sailor fits in, 3. get away from equipment wars & equipment decisions, and 4. get the more level playing field of a one design class.
The step tail and width of the Kona One Design does work so it readily gets up on a plane sooner than my Equipe did, is much more controllable for me at speed, and I'm much less likely to fall while trying to jibe whatever the speed.
I've had some personal issues with not understanding well enough exactly how much batten tension is required and what a properly adjusted Kona sail looks like on shore. So my sail rigging hurt my racing performance. But I like knowing my competitors can't hide behind more expensive or even just different equipment. And I really like not needing to take 3 boards & 6 or more full rigs to an event to be sure I'll be competitive. (My racing is generally in the midwest where the May & September events might have 20-30 mph slalom racing on one day & 6 to 15 mph course racing the other day.)
The EVA deck covering can get scraped or gouged by my rough handling and had some of that when I bought it used. I haven't notice any other durability issues. My 2006 or 2007 Kona was used as a racing charter in FL for several years before I bought it in Feb. 2011. I expect the Kona which is about 34 lbs at 350 cm will be more durable than the 91 Equipe XR at 28 lbs & 372 cm. I'm very happy with my switch to the Kona One Design.
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Joined: 21 Mar 2008
Posts: 11
Posted: Thu Mar 21, 2013 11:53 pm
Post subject:
It's nice to see interest in raceboards.
WINDSURFER Fleet 18 will be racing
every Tuesday, starting April 2. First of 3-4 races starts
6pm at Ryan Park, Foster City, Ca.
Any raceboard sail combo is welcome,
Most of us are on Mistral Superlight 2's,
and a few Superlight 1's...pizza & beer
at Waterfront Pizza Foster City afterwards.
.....y'all invited.....
Fun time, loose with the rules, we are here
for a good time around the bouys.
Mike H
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Joined: 18 May 2004
Posts: 244
Posted: Fri Mar 22, 2013 12:06 am
Post subject:
Thanks Del for your response, I love my shortboards, but have been thinking about longboards for the last couple of years for lighter days here in the SF Bay Area. Maybe because I surf longboards so often. Nonetheless, great information here, and for those like myself who started on the standard Windsurfers back in the late 70's this is like "back to the future." Great stoke!
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Joined: 23 Jul 2008
Posts: 766
Location: Seattle, Wa
Posted: Fri Mar 22, 2013 12:29 am
Post subject:
Gurgle thanks for the great comments.
In your earlier reply to this thread, you noted that
In my video, I say that (at 200#) I dont have much time in the back footstraps of my raceboard. And you mention that you (at 180#) get to spend a decent amount of time in the straps of your KonaOne (a very good board that I like, by the way). There are several reasons for this (you touched on a couple).
The KonaOne is not (by definition) a raceboard. I mean, yes of course you can race them you can race anything. And the One Design KonaOne race series is one of the best things going in world-wide windsurfing now, for several years.
But the board design is more of a fun-board shape and, it doesnt have 2 sets of footstraps or an adjustable mast-track. Leaving those things off makes it a slightly lower performance board to sail and saves: weight, complexity and COST.
The KonaOnes design (except for its step-tail) is very similar to my 91 Bic Lambada in length, width, volume and over-all shape (no, not the same just similar). F2, Fanatic and Mistral all made boards of this similar design as well.
Anyway, my Lambada ALSO HAS only one set of straps, like the Kona. And theyre mounted in approx. the middle (between) where the two sets of straps would go on a raceboard. The Konas one set of straps, is located in the same way.
So, the reasons that I dont have as much time in the back straps of my raceboard, as you do on your Kona (in no particular order).
When its moderate to high winds I usually sail one of my shortboards. I usually only sail my longboards/raceboards when its light to marginal winds. Since about the early 90s, all raceboards have had 2 sets of straps: the forward upwind (or beating) straps and the back reaching straps.
At my weight, if Im using a BIG sail, I can get in the forward straps in marginal winds, quite a bit. But the reaching straps are so far back... that at my weight I can never get in them, unless Im going shortboard speeds (fast). But I almost never do this, because if its that windy then, I sail one of my shortboards.
You can get in the one set of straps that come on a Kona, because: theyre located much farther forward, and the board is wider there, and youre lighter. In light to marginal winds, every 20 lbs between sailors is very important. Anyway, I can also get in the one set of straps in my Lambada, earlier than the back straps of my raceboard. Because theyre more forward (just like your Kona).. and the board is wider there (so it supports my weight at a lower speed).
So yes, because of the different design goals for those two hull designs the straps on the Kona would be easier to get into, than the back straps on a raceboard.
BUT you or I, can get into the front upwind straps on a raceboard, before we could get into the Kona straps again, because of where theyre located.
Greg -
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Joined: 23 Jul 2008
Posts: 766
Location: Seattle, Wa
Posted: Fri Mar 22, 2013 12:47 am
Post subject:
Del... thanks.. and great info in both your posts here !!
And thanks for asking. And yes I should try to sail out in front of the Seattle skyline and make a video this summer.
The problem will be to get a blue sky day, WITH whitecaps... cause that doesn't happen much here. Because... if, most people don't want to see a raceboard planing in one direction for a few minutes (even if you put cool music to it)... they're SURE not wanting to see a raceboard sub-planing on a pretty day, just to see a nice city skyline
Greg -
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Joined: 23 Jul 2008
Posts: 766
Location: Seattle, Wa
Posted: Fri Mar 22, 2013 1:25 am
Post subject:
And Gurgle on your other good question
Yes like you, I wish Bic wouldve upgraded the centerboard to carbon in 92 just like Mistral, F2 and Fanatic did. They would NOT have had to change the shape (which was good) or the CB well/cassette but just change the CB itself. But, they didnt.
(Those carbon CBs were very expensive.)
Very cool... Ha-ha If you have the 1st Mikey Eskimo graphic. I think you have a 1990 board. Is yours the yellow to pink fade with the secret agent and go-go dancer graphic?
Or it might be 91 or 92 if you have the graphic with fighter jets and compass looking graphics.
Anyway, if your mast-track corroded out and failed do you sail in saltwater?
Yes, it should be rinsed, if you sail in salt. Then it should last for a LONG time
And finboxes yeah you have the one they used for 89 91.
For 92 94 they changed to the through-the-deck trim-box which was better than the basic box. And these boards came with very expensive and hi-quality G-10 fins.
Anyway, you have the initial box with the basic fin (its an OK shape but its made out of black plastic).
Regarding your finbox maintenance question If I were you, Id do nothing. Unless youre sailing in saltwater then Id take the fin out, once in a while. And then clean the fin base and the box. In saltwater, after all these years youll get corrosion. If youre sailing in freshwater, theres no reason to remove it (I dont).
Greg -
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Joined: 30 Dec 2009
Posts: 2228
Posted: Fri Mar 22, 2013 5:05 am
Post subject:
Thanks Greg. ... All my long boarding is in the sea, in a full range of wind conditions. For example, I have a favourite Scottish West Coast island (on nodding terms with the local seals and seagulls
) which I regularly circle, taking anything from 3 to 7 hours.
It is 10 miles long and about a mile wide, with mountains along its length, and tide races and reefs around the pointy bits. It stretches out from the mainland at 45 degrees, with a half mile reefy, strong tidal race gap seperating it from the mainland. The problem is knowing what size sail to rig in any given wind strength and direction, since, owing to the mountains, sailing conditions will vary from practically nothing, to full on wind funnel gale! Also, whatever direction the wind, beating legs will be inevitable.
I tackled it once (Bamba) on a strong wind day, with a 5.0 sail, and suffered some real pain!
At the far end of the island I had to beat up against a white capping viscious tide race swelly chop and funelling near gale, while avoiding lurking bits of reef, while armstretchingly overpowered. Almost in tears. I'll tell ya! (Boring indeed, NOT!)
Yes, my board is the first of the second batch of Eskimo graphics, with the black plastic race fin, and non through the board alloy fin box. Considering the stresses it has taken over many years and very many miles, I'm impressed with Mr. Bic. (Well done sir ...even if you are a Froggie!)
And thanks to all who keep up the long board stoke. We KNOW it makes sense!!
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This is a lesson about the Discovery Program's exploration of the solar system. Learners will identify and communicate to others the varied space science explorations carried out by the Discovery Program and dig into one mission in depth. They can... (View More) then respond to a NASA Discovery Program Announcement of Opportunity (AO) to submit a mock proposal. Includes the 29-minute Discovery Program overview video, "Unlocking Mysteries of Our Solar System." (View Less)
Audience: Middle school, High school, Informal education
Materials Cost: 1 cent - $1 per group of students
Materials Cost: 1 cent - $1 per group of students
In this activity, learners will construct a model of a lunar roving vehicle. This activity is in Unit 2 of the Exploring the Moon teachers guide, which is designed for use especially, but not exclusively, with the Lunar Sample Disk program.
Audience: Elementary school, Middle school, High school
Materials Cost: $1 - $5 per group of students
Materials Cost: $1 - $5 per group of students


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But I won't detail the problems I'm facing other than to say that I have to make a decision about whether to continue working or retire, and that decision has to be made soon. It's a weight on my shoulders.
So what happens when the pressure gets intense? How do I deal with it? Well, one way is to write about politics on a local forum. This is a response about Mitt Romney's "guilty pleasures":
|RE: Romney loves Snooki
...Romney offered a side he rarely shows to the public—a jokey, sometimes hokey candidate who called peanut butter sandwiches and chocolate milk "a guilty pleasure" and said he'd like Gene Hackman to play him in a movie—in part because his loved his work in "The Birdcage," a film about a man who introduces his fiancee's parents to his gay father and his partner.
The bit about chocolate milk as a guilty pleasure jumped out at me, Michael. You have to wonder if Snooki gives rise to guilty pleasures, too.
But the chocolate is far more disturbing. As you know, Mormons avoid caffeine because it's a mild stimulant. Yet chocolate contains many of the same alkaloids as cocaine. Is Mitt telegraphing that he's secretly a drug addict?
Should we trust the levers of government to someone who...let's be frank...won't be at his best when aides wake him at 3AM. When I'm up that early, I'm completely incapable of civilized behavior until after having a cuppa. But then again, I'm not the leader of the Free World, either. If Mitt wakes at that hour, we might find ourselves invading Finland.
Ben Krull has a piece in today's Post Gazette on this very issue. He mentions the enormous difficulty of staying awake through "snore-a-thon budget meetings" and similarly dull speeches, but he offers this telling piece of wisdom from Chairman Bill:
Mr. Clinton told CNN's Wolf Blitzer. "I can't tell you how many times I found myself nodding off while meeting with Al Gore, even with the help of a double-espresso."
Granted, Al Gore is an extreme case, and there's still not much in print about the military's attempt to weaponize the Gore Effect for battlefield use, but I think it emphasizes the importance of caffeine in our federal government.
We really have to wonder what keeps Mitt Romney awake some nights, and if it involves Snooki and Gene Hackman, do we really want to know?
(Seriously, go read that piece in the PPG. It's funny!)


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Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
In a medium saucepan over medium heat, toast white peppercorns and coriander seeds until they begin to pop. Remove from heat and grind to fine powder in a spice mill or coffee grinder. Mix the ground pepper and coriander with remaining spices, cocoa and salt.
Trim the pork tenderloins of fat and silver skin. Rub with a generous amount of the cocoa spice rub. Heat the olive oil in a large saute pan over medium high heat until hot but not smoking. Sear each tenderloin on all sides until a rich brown color, about 2 minutes on each side. Remove tenderloins from heat and finish in the oven for about 10 minutes or until cooked through.
Let the tenderloins rest out of the oven for at least 10 minutes before carving.
Extra cocoa spice rub will keep in an airtight container for up to 3 months.


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Davis sheds light on how ink quality and mesh tensioning play a role in eliminating ghosting.
By Rick Davis
Ghost images can be problematic for all screen printers. You can print textiles, plastics, glass, or metal and end up with ghost images. You can run the job on manual or automatic presses and see ghosting. We know ghost images can appear independently of substrate and press selection, but why are some print runs more susceptible to producing distinct ghost images than others? How can you have ghosting after you print a sample run of two dozen but experience none after a 2000-piece job?
We can come up with a good answer by taking into consideration the primary causes of ghosting and what steps we can take to minimize their effects. This month, we'll take a look at how inks and screens influence the occurrence of ghost images on our jobs and discuss some of the simple ways we can keep them at bay.
The effects of inks
We can trace the generation of ghost images to pigment particles from the ink becoming trapped between the knuckles of the mesh—the spot where two threads intersect. A number of ink-related factors determine the degree to which ghost images may appear.
The first aspect to consider is the quality of the inks you use. This may sound crazy at first, but the higher the quality of the ink, the greater the potential for ghosting to occur. Ink manufacture involves grinding pigments and mixing. These pigments pass through a mill that breaks the materials down to a predetermined particle size. The particle size of the pigments in the ink plays the greatest role in the appearance of ghost images. Fine particle sizes allow for a higher pigment load, which can yield rich, dense, and vibrant color in an ink. And even though the actual opacity of an ink is determined by a number of different factors, high-opacity inks are typically designed to have a high concentration of pigments. That attribute almost always contributes to the appearance of ghost images in our screens. So the more pigment you have, the greater the potential for ghosting to occur.
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text: City strollsTo understand a city, walk it Giant stepsCauseway Coast adventures Comeragh Mountains, County Waterford A lush glen, a cliff path, a bog road, a mountain range, a canal bank, or even a city quarter: there are literally HUNDREDS of walks and hikes for the taking in Ireland. Coast to coast Being an island, Ireland naturally offers unique opportunities for coastal walks. The Wild Atlantic Way and Causeway Coast are stand-out locations, but don't overlook the likes of the stunning Beara, Dingle and Inishowen Peninsulas (each nicely varied with mountainous as well as gentler terrain) and Wexford's Copper Coast, named after the mining industry that once prospered there. Special mention, too, for the hilly routes around Achill Island, County Mayo. Speaking of islands, you can find some of the quirkiest, quietest walks on the likes of Galway's Aran Islands, Tory in Donegal and Rathlin in Antrim. In Fermanagh's lakelands, island walks come with a serving of Early Christian history. Achill Island, County Mayo Heavenly hikes Mountains in www.rm0s.cne in many shapes and sizes, but they all come beautiful. The Mourne Mountains boast a host of heavenly hikes and according to CS Lewis, we may not have Narnia without them. The Wicklow and Kerry Ways both traverse stunning mountainscapes with plenty of calmer stretches inbetween and a hike up Carrauntoohil in County Kerry is a hike up Ireland's highest mountain. The Slieve Blooms in County Laois provide stellar views, and less strenuous strolls while Coumshingaun, in County Waterford's Comeragh Mountains, has been described by the Irish Times as "the best demanding short hike in Ireland". The Antrim Glens Glens, bogs and canal banks Are Antrim's Glens the greenest place in Ireland? They're definitely close. Walks and hikes in these verdant surrounds are dealt a dash of colour thanks to the area's mythical heritage. For every step you take, a fairy, warrior, banshee or ghost has taken it before you. Did you know? Ireland is on the International Appalachian Trail. The route stretches from Donegal in the north west, to Antrim, in the north east. A hillhiker known as 'Cotton Joe' from North Carolina, USA, was the first person to walk the entire island of Ireland stretch in August 2013. Grand Canal, County Kilkenny Keep it quirky with bog walks in the likes of Tipperary, Laois, Offaly and Connemara. Bog walks are generally prettily planned with wooden walkways to keep you away from the stickiest terrain. For something a little less muddy, pick a canal, any canal, and walk its banks under cover of leafy canopies. Still not sure where to begin? Don't worry. As the old Irish saying goes, "Your feet will bring you to where your heart is". Walk on with these additional ideas Saintly footstepsFollow in the footsteps of Ireland's patron saint, Patrick, up mountains, through fields and in some of Ireland's prettiest locations. Family walksWalks along myth-drenched coasts, through quirky forest parks and along broad, sandy beaches will keep everyone happy. Very happy. Dublin's DoorstepUnder an hour from Dublin city lie the Wicklow Mountains National Park, quaint villages, looped coastal walks and sublime estates.


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Via Joe My God:
Ugandan Parliament Speaker Rebecca Kadaga, who last month promised the passage of the Anti-Homosexuality Act as a "Christmas gift to Christians," yesterday appeared in Vatican City to receive the motherfucking blessing of the Pope. From the website of the Uganda Parliament:
Kadaga who led a delegation of Ugandan legislators to the Vatican expressed delight at meeting the Pope and visiting St Peter's Basilicca. "I think this is a moment that cannot be repeated. We have been reading about him, hearing stories about St.Peter's Basilica but now we are here physically. I think it is something that I will remember all my life. Its a very great moment and I thank God for this opportunity," she said minutes after meeting the Pope. The Speaker dedicated to all Ugandans readings from the book of St. Mark which the Pope quoted in several languages during the Vatican mass.
And there you have it. A blessing from the Pope upon the woman who wants you executed. It can't get any plainer than that, can it?
The pope has "blessed" a woman who actively wants me dead. A woman who is seeking to make her murder of me, and others like me, justifiable by law, and a legally sanctioned action. Fuck you, Pope Benedict. You're a real stand-up guy.
Strongly worded, yes, but why the hell shouldn't it be? If someone is asking for YOUR death and one of the most powerful institutions in the world endorsed them, wouldn't YOU be just a little bit pissed?
Of course, there will be Catholics and Christians who read the headline to this blog post and will find ways to absolve the Catholic Church, the Vatican and the Pope of any complicity in the oppression and murder of hundreds of thousands of people. Well I have three words for you. And guess what? They don't even come from the Bible. They don't need to.
That you could find a way in your mind to justify this act of endorsing murder and oppression says more about the stranglehold the Catholic Church has on your mind, and its primary function as a death cult used for social control, than it ever could about notions of "love" and "acceptance," of so-called "Christian" values.
Look at this picture, where a smiling Pope Benedict is happily holding the hand of a woman who actively wants me, and people like me, dead, as he blesses her. Go ahead, tell me that he did the right thing, that his blessing of this bigot is somehow NOT the endorsement of a head of state who seeks to make the murder of other people legal. GO ON.
I'm waiting.
Oh, and while you're there, here's something that DOES come from the Bible, four words that come (supposedly) from the mouth OF GOD HIMSELF and trump anything that's written in Levictus:
Funny how Pope Benedict managed to ignore that little commandment while blessing Rebecca Kadaga. I guess we know where his priorities lie now, and it's not with following scripture.
And isn't it funny how two references to homosexuality in the Bible (if even that many, as is widely and strongly debated) somehow trumps untold references to love and forgiveness, to not casting stones, to not judging people lest ye be judged, to live and let live, to love they neighbor, yada, yada, yada, blah, blah, blah?
If it's not acceptable for Christians to "pick and choose" which bits of the Bible they adhere to, how come it is OK for the anti-gay bigots to ignore what is basically THE WHOLE DAMN POINT of that book in favor of a couple of contested quotes? I mean, seriously?!
Because, as I stated above, the Catholic Church is NOT about love. If it truly were, why isn't there an uprising within the church of Catholics actively rejecting oppression in ALL its forms, just as Christ himself told us to do?
For my sins, I was raised a Catholic in Ireland, so I know how these things work. Following orders that are handed down to you IS more important than acting with genuine Christ-based values. The Catholic Church is NOT about rejecting hate, it is about corralling people's hatred and aiming it at subjects that the church endorses. That simple fact is how a person can claim that passing an act legalizing murder and oppression is "a Christmas gift to Christians."
Thankfully, I have left the Catholic Church behind, because, frankly, I don't need them to have a personal relationship with any deity. That is strictly between me and my God. If ze wants to judge me, ze can, and I'm sure ze'll do it to my face, and not through an intermediary in an ecclesiastic frock riding around in a clown car.
Besides, being stuck in an abusive relationship with someone who wants you dead is worse for your mental, and physical, health than sucking a thousand dicks or licking a thousand clits ever could be.


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While the media, pundits, insiders and know-it-alls continue to blab endlessly about the pros and cons of new McCain running mate Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, there is a fair amount of blabbering going on up in Palin's home state as well.
Surprised, shocked and stunned seem to be words thrown about most often in describing first reactions to hearing the news. In fact, Alaska's Attorney General compared it to landing on the moon. Not Palin landing on the moon. Although if it polled well - and chances are the McCain team has already polled it - she'd be giving her speech next week from orbit.
Regardless, the headline of the day came from an article written by a disaffected writer named Alan Suderman in Juneau admonishing the national media for mispronouncing Governor's last name. His headline, "Note to nation: Palin rhymes with Van Halen" sets the record straight.
"The most notable gaffe was the mispronunciation of her last name on television and radio," Suderman writes. "Several pundits called her PAL-IN, instead of PAY-LYN (rhymes with Van Halen) as Alaskans call her. Even McCain's spokesman, Tucker Bounds, got her name wrong."
Other media commentary from the 49th state include:
McCain's choice of Palin was somewhat surprising because she most definitely is not a standard-issue Republican. She worked with liberal Democrats in the Legislature to pass a multi-billion-dollar tax increase on Alaska's oil industry. She went back to Democrats again to win approval of her natural gas pipeline deal, which bypasses Alaska's major oil companies in favor of a Canadian company.
In fact, Palin is almost totally alienated from the Republican Party establishment here. She tried and failed to get rid of ethically compromised party Chair Randy Ruedrich; they're not on speaking terms. In the August primary, Palin urged fellow Republicans to desert long-time Congressman Don Young in favor of her inexperienced and uninspiring lieutenant governor, Sean Parnell.
Most people would acknowledge that, regardless of her charm and good intentions, Palin is not ready for the top job. McCain seems to have put his political interests ahead of the nation's when he created the possibility that she might fill it.
It's clear that McCain picked Palin for reasons of image, not substance. She's a woman. She has fought corruption. She has fought the oil companies. She's married to a union member. These are portrayals for campaign speeches; they are not policy positions.
In a few short years, Sarah Palin moved from small-town mayor with a taste for mooseburgers to the governor's office and now - making history - to John McCain's side as the first female running mate on a Republican presidential ticket.
She has more experience catching fish than dealing with foreign policy or national affairs. Talk about a rocketing ascent.
Selecting Palin is a maverick move for McCain who isn't known for lockstep marching with his own party. But Palin herself doesn't march to the drum of anyone but Palin. She is a servant to what she believes in.
She believes in God and family and heralds her simple roots in Alaska. Raised in small towns by a teacher and a school secretary, she married young and had five children, the latest of whom was born in the spring with Down syndrome. Religious conservatives will welcome her anti-abortion stand.
Like so many Alaskans, I heard the news about Palin first thing in the morning, and wondered what crazy world I had woken up to. I also finally realized Lehrer wasn't joking.
McCain pulled a stunt today, the kind I thought American politics had gotten past.
To me it looks like McCain, a politician I have long admired, chose Palin just to have a woman on the ticket.
Mat-Su Valley Frontierman (Wasilla)
Sally and Chuck Heath had no idea what they were about to learn today. That was before they got a call early this morning telling them to turn on the news. On the screen their daughter, Gov. Sarah Palin, was standing before a raucous crowd in Dayton, Ohio, accepting Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain's offer to become his vice presidential running mate.
"I didn't know," Chuck Heath said in an interview at his home later Friday morning. "Sarah didn't say a word to us." The news has created national buzz over just who Palin is and has brought Alaska to the forefront of media reports across the country. It has also brought the media to the Heath home in Wasilla, where Palin's parents were still adjusting to the news.
"On a one to 100 scale, it's about 101," Sally Heath said of her excitement level.


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Customer Reviews
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The circuit is TOTALLY DISCRETE CLASS A
. meaning the audio signal remains as one and unsplit throughout its trajectory
.from audio input transformer to valve to solid state output buffer.
Variable negative voltage feedback around the first gain stage , controlled by the pad switch , is one of the keys to the VMPs flexibility . This switch when carefully used can drive the unit into a whole spectrum of colours.The single 12AT7 vacuum tube per channel is run on approximately +300 VDC on the Anodes
. and derived from a power supply rail as high as +450 VDC.
A passive Equalization network allows the user to control frequencies usually outside conventional E.Q points ,, which thus allow many different mics and sources to be matched up in sonics and performance ,, without the problems of noise and phase error.
The Phase switch also affects the D.I input signal ,, and silent phantom allocation circuitry makes it safe to switch condenser mics in and out of the signal chain with ease.
The solid state TOTALLY DISCRETE CLASS A output buffer reacts to transient detail and bandwidth far better than any output transformer
. one of the keys to the secret of the VMP flexibility.The active impedance converting components are run on another voltage rail derived from the power supply.
The XLR inputs are all fully balanced , .. and the unbalanced output on the back can be used as a TRS balanced output as well.
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text: Thing is, making a big deal about a kite being a prototype and not set in stone is almost pointless. It's not like in a couple months of refining the newest model it's going to turn from a Ferari into a 1975 Pinto. Would it be fair to say, Dimitri, that any changes in the V3 are going to be geared into making it better at being a low wind kite than it is now? If yes, than comparing it to a current production model is perfectly fair.Dimitri M wrote:So In few words once we are done testing the V3 prototype, the INFINITY V3 production should be even better then the V3 INFINITY prototype that people have been testing. Don't you agree Mr. toyletbowl


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Gloria Pall dies at 85; Voluptuas character deemed too sexy for TV
Pall was chosen to host a love-themed movie program on KABC-TV in 1954. But her steamy poses and on-air flirtatiousness drew complaints that led the station to cancel the show.
By Marisa Gerber, Los Angeles Times
January 5, 2013, 7:18 p.m.
On a December night in 1954, Los Angeles met the woman it would soon deem too hot for television.
After the success of Vampira, the glamorous ghoul of 1950s late-night TV, executives at KABC-TV (Channel 7) cast Gloria Pall, a showgirl and model, as Voluptua, the sultry hostess of a new, love-themed movie program.
Fans dubbed the statuesque Pall "Eyeful Tower" and "Miss Cleavage" for her shapely figure and plunging necklines. Her steamy on-camera poses and flirtatious comments soon earned her another moniker: "Corruptua."
Just seven weeks after it first aired, amid mounting pressure from religious and PTA groups and lackluster commercial sponsorship, the station abruptly canceled the show.
Pall, who went on to become a Los Angeles real estate agent, died Dec. 30 of heart failure at a Burbank hospital, her son, Jefferson Kane, said. She was 85.
R.H. Greene, a Los Angeles author and documentary filmmaker who put together a 2011 radio feature on Voluptua for KPCC-FM (89.3), called Pall a television pioneer.
"She was quite openly in touch with her sexuality, and that was an incredibly dangerous thing to do," Greene said in an interview Friday. "We don't have too many stories for that time that illustrate that, and Gloria's does."
Each Wednesday night, as the show's romantic theme song played, Pall slinked across Southland TV screens wearing an evening gown and dragging a fur coat.
Before she introduced the week's romantic flick, she greeted viewers with a breathy coo: "Welcome to my boudoir, I want you to feel that it's your special hideaway. Relax, take off your shoes, loosen your tie."
She caressed a bearskin rug, made silhouetted on-camera costume changes behind a translucent screen and answered a phone that didn't ring. Instead, it sighed her name: "Voluptua…Voluptua."
As she signed off, by now clad only in a men's pajama top, she kissed the camera goodbye.
"You put that on television and people went crazy," Greene said. "They were simultaneously titillated and appalled. Gloria was way too hot to handle."
In a posting on her website, Pall described the over-the-top character she created as "just suggestive — corny not porny."
The show's risque theme and the protests it drew attracted national media attention. In 1955, Pall was featured in photo spreads in Playboy and Life.
Born Gloria Pallatz on July 15, 1927, in Brooklyn, New York, Pall grew up in poverty, her son said. As a teenager, she worked as an aircraft mechanic and as a filing clerk for the United Service Organization. She said later that she was working at the organization's office on the 56th floor of the Empire State Building on July 28, 1945, when an Army B-25 bomber crashed into the building.
"It threw me across the room, and I landed against the wall," Pall told National Public Radio in 2008. "We didn't know if it was a bomb or what happened. It was terrifying."
In 1947, she won the Miss Flatbush beauty contest in her hometown and then worked as a model.
After stints as a showgirl in Reno and Las Vegas, she moved to Hollywood, where she landed small but memorable roles.
In an iconic image from the 1957 film "Jailhouse Rock," Pall's legs frame Elvis Presley's face at a burlesque show; she clutches Kirk Douglas' arm in a scene from 1954's "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea"; and in "Crimson Kimono," a classic 1959 film noir, Pall played a stripper named Sugar Torch, who gets shot in the opening scene.
In her 30s, her film roles growing scarce, Pall started studying for a real estate license.
"I decided that I ought to do something with my life besides going to parties and doing occasional modeling work," she told The Times in 1962, adding, "I've finally got my name in lights on the Strip."
Indeed, the sign outside her lavender-hued real estate office on Sunset read simply: "Call Pall."
In 1965, Pall married Allen Kane, who owned a Ford dealership in North Hollywood. The couple, who later divorced, moved with their young son to Florida and Atlanta before returning to California in the late 1970s.
Pall, who drove a lavender 1957 Ford Thunderbird and dressed mainly in shades of purple, later wrote and self-published several books about her life.
"She just knew so much about the '50s," her son said. "Those were her glory days."
A memorial is planned for 3 p.m. Jan. 20 at Calvary Baptist Church in Burbank, 724 S. Glenoaks Blvd.
Asked toward the end of her life what she would say to those who campaigned to get Voluptua off the air, Pall laughed and offered three words: "Get a life."
PALL, Gloria (Gloria Palitz)
Born: 7/15/1927, Brooklyn, New York, U.S.A.
Died: 12/30/2012, Burbank, California, U.S.A.
Gloria Pall's western – actress:
Have Gun – Will Travel (TV) – 1958 (Della)


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30 Classic Album Covers With 100% More Pizza
There's nothing better than sharing a pie with friends while listening to some good tunes on National Pizza Day. That's why we're in love with Portland artist DROID's Pizza Albums series. The 'za aficionado describes his work as "a re-imagining of album covers with 100% more pizza" where he inserts cheesy-goodness into a wide variety of rock covers.
Grab a slice and dig in below:
Pink Floyd - The Great Pie In The Sky
Bruce Springsteen - Born In P.I.Z.Z.A
Billy Idol - Pizza Yell
Megadeth - Rust In Pizza
Black Sabbath - Slice Of Pizza (Vol 4.)
Huey Lewis and The News -Slices
Pantera - Pizza From Hell
Judas Priest - Hell Bent For Pizza
Grand Funk - All The Pizzas In The World Beware!!!
Metallica - ...And Pizza For All
Megadeth - Pizza Sells... But Who's Buying?
Faith No More - Pizza Dust
Queen - Slice Of The World
MC5 - Pizza In Arms
Foghat - Fool For The Pizza
Rage Against The Pizza - Rage Against The Pizza
WHAM! - Make It Pie
Neil Diamond - Hot Pepperoni Night
The Go Go's - Vacation
Stone Temple Pizzas - Interstate Pizza Song
Rainbow - Pizza
Grateful Dead - Pizzas From The Closet
Dire Straits - Pizzas In Arms
Mastozon - One More Slice Of Pizza
T. Rex - Electric Pizza
Molly Hatchet - Pizza Dealer
Judas Priest - Screaming For Pizza
Dio - Holy Pizza
Queens Of The Stone Age - ...Like Pizza
Black Flag - My Pizza
Photo Credit: IG @thedroid


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Liberty News
Funeral held for Hannah Williams
|Photo courtesy of the Williams family
Family and friends celebrated the life of Liberty University student Hannah Williams on Tuesday in her hometown of Sanford, N.C.
Williams, 18, was killed Thursday, Nov. 17, in an accident on a train trestle in Amherst County.
Liberty University Chancellor and President Jerry Falwell, Jr. spoke at the service. He shared how Williams, a freshman, touched many lives at Liberty in her short time there. She had already been on a mission trip with the school this semester, volunteering to help flood victims in the northeast.
Falwell read some messages he had received from her friends, who spoke of her as "strong and outgoing," "a beautiful woman of God," "a born leader," and someone who "loved people with a heart that was purely of God."
Also attending the service were Falwell's wife, Becki; Liberty's Senior Vice President for Student Affairs, Mark Hine; campus pastor Dane Emerick; and several Liberty students.
Williams had planned to study government and journalism at Liberty.
Liberty students mourned the loss of their classmate the morning after the accident at a university-wide convocation where they prayed for those affected by the tragedy. Members of Liberty's Student Government Association held a candlelight vigil Friday night on the steps of Arthur S. DeMoss Learning Center.
Four other students were involved in the accident. One remains hospitalized, and three sustained minor injuries.


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Educated Kids
We believe every child deserves a fair chance at success in school and life. Focusing on a child's education and development from birth to age 8 is the most effective way to help children reach their full potential now and in the future.
Why This Work Matters
Research shows that children need to be prepared for educational success by third grade in order to succeed in school, work and life. That preparation relates to every aspect of a child's development from birth to age 8 and everywhere a child learns – at home, in child care settings, in preschool and in kindergarten through third grade.
The active engagement and empowerment of families also play critical roles in a child's education and a family's ability to engage fully depends to a great degree on whether its basic needs – for food, employment, a path to economic security – have been met. To address the needs of children, we must address the needs of parents and children together.
In education, as in all other areas related to our mission, barriers to opportunities based on race or income often inhibit the success of children and their families. Efforts to eliminate these barriers are critical to ultimately help break the cycle of poverty.
What We Support
We believe education practices and policies should be community-based and connected to family engagement efforts that mobilize voices, resources and solutions.
We want to partner with families, schools and communities in making a difference in young children's learning and development. To do so, we support community-based family engagement efforts that empower parents, caregivers and families as leaders in children's development, recognizing that this is a shared responsibility with schools and communities.
We seek to improve the quality of both teaching and learning through leadership and professional development in which educators receive the support and training they need to deliver high-quality learning opportunities for all students. This includes working with child care providers, schools and teacher preparation programs to create safe, positive environments that are content rich, results-driven and culturally meaningful and relevant.
We support aligning systems to increase collaboration and improve the effectiveness of everyone who works in early child development – including centers, home-based and informal child care, K-12 schools, government systems and business. We believe this is essential if all families and young children are to have access to high-quality education.
Meet Our Team
"Education offers the best
opportunity for really improving
one generation over another."
- W.K. Kellogg
Mission Driven Investing
Learn how WKKF's mission-driven investments in organizations like Acelero Learning and the Canyon-Agassi Charter School Facilities Fund are making a difference in children's lives in the U.S. and contributing to the foundation's mission.