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I've just been slinking over at some of the other boards and one point brought up at Chatter seemed to make a whole lot of sense. The obstacle course must be for RC and Scout is probably in tears because she has a bad knee and MUST compete anyway. This is either before or after she has had to painfully make her way through the course, and she feels she let her team down, or she just has knee pain. I think Lopevi will win the RC and they might get coffee with their hometown newspapers. Mention was made that perhaps Julie will be the one to pull off the win for Lopevi in the RC and maybe that will protect her in the upcoming TC, rather than the other speculation of Rory pulling off a win for Yasur in the IC and gaining protection for himself. If Yasur wins IC and doesn't go to TC, then Rory hardly needs to "buy time" for himself since he is safe for three more days anyway. I'm also going to guess that the more physical challenge is the RC, giving a chance to Yasur on the IC, which they've not had with the past few IC's. Sort of a chance to even out the playing field. I thought the way the teams were divided didn't work out very well. If it was intended to make it even numbers men and women on a team, that was ruined by allowing Sarge to choose which team he wanted to go with. It left one team male heavy and one team female heavy and didn't really accomplish much. I think it was a good idea that backfired in its execution.
personally I would love to see buggy eye Eliza toddle on home
CBS Bonus Word Maria
what River said..add your points..you should have the 40 PT bonus..but we got nothing for the Lea/Twila lifting..I guess to CBS they only count the lifting when they "Lift " each other in joy after a challenge :-\
Hey, new gossip. Over at Sucks, Orangeena is saying that Ami and Leann had a "thing" going on while the show was filming. I don't have the link, but go over there and read it. I guess it "comes out" in the "Gender Bender" episode. Those girls! Oy!
Quote:--------------------------------------------------------------------------------OrangeenaRegistered User(10/27/04 11:44 pm)Reply The Big Coming Out Party for Leann--------------------------------------------------------------------------------Well, this is the episode, then, where Ami's and Scout's sexuality finally comes into play - with the remaining men who just find out about they're being Out Lesbians.I was going to start a new thread about this. I just discovered in Lisa's VERY chatty chat with Richard H. that Richard asked Lisa about Leann.And she answered that she thought "Leann is playing a good game. She's a coattail rider. She's riding Ami's coattails. SHE AND AMI ARE VERY CLOSE."OK, now we have Leann's story arc. Finally. She and Ami may be the new Romber. Survivor's first gay love story. Leann has just been through a painful divorce, and she comes to Vanuatu and --- finds AMI!?!? No wonder Leann is being hidden until now...Lisa's take on the Yasur team and her "not fitting in" was because she was a Mom and the others were "all single."Ami's manioc excuse for booting Lisa was just the tip of the iceberg so to speak...I think we can deduce from the title that Ami, the gender warrior, is still here at this episode, but maybe this is when she starts getting all Lex-like and goes....SO Leann goes on Survivor, falls in love with Ami and realizes she is gay, and then they boot her lover! That's some story line?!?!? After all, they don't want a lesbian Romber take over.IF it's true....I guess Yassur is, as they would say, over at Edgic, "the more complex tribe."
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Are ExerSaucers/walkers/jumpers bad for children or is that simply a misconception?
I have been deliberating whether I should buy a walker for my 11 month old baby. I was hoping that it'll enable him to learn to walk early, but after some googling I have come across several articles that warn against the dangers of using a walker.
The one that strikes me as most scary is: http://consults.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/02/22/the-dangers-of-baby-walkers/
Is there any truth to these warnings?

subset: commoncrawl


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Product Description
The TEK Series Handheld Device provides tracking and training capabilities in one compact component. Up to 12 dogs can be programmed into the device for tracking and training up to 7 miles. The backlit Liquid Crystal Display screen shows movement and location of your dog. This Handheld Device is waterproof and submersible up to 5 feet.
Compatible with TEK 1.0 GPS tracking and e-collars.


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Ms. Truth [Truth DVD Model] Gives WSHH An Exclusive Bottom Shake + Photoshoot! [Haitian Edition]
Truth DVD sent over one of their model going by the name of Ms. Truth givin a little bottom shake for WSHH.
Please click the "Report" button below if the video on this page is not working properly.
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Fall 2011 Paris Fashion Week: Christian Dior 2011-03-04 10:28:00
A Christian Dior Show Without John Galliano — Sans Drama, "Funereal" Instead
A Christian Dior Show Without John Galliano — Sans Drama, "Funereal" Instead
>> Typically, Cathy Horyn writes, "a Dior show would be an occasion for a mob scene at the front gates, celebrities filling front-row seats, and the arrival of Bernard Arnault." But today, not so: there were no big name celebrities (just Anna Wintour, Emmanuelle Alt, Mario Testino, and Natalia Vodianova instead); there was no Arnault — "owing to the tug of other business obligations," WWD reports — and the mob scene outside was bigger than usual: "I would say more than 300 people were there, along with extra French police officers," Horyn noted. Security was up in all regards — guest invitations were checked multiple times on the way in, and photographers weren't allowed backstage or front row access.
There was no lack in attendance, however: Dior's PR described the demand for invitations as "overwhelming." But the mood at the show "was sombre and muted, with more than one guest suggesting the atmosphere was 'funereal,'" Hilary Alexander reports, "something heightened by the black ribbons which tied the name tags to each attendees' black chair; the black carpet; and the plaintive strains of Chopin and Debussy which echoed through the tent, pre-show."
Dior CEO Sidney Toledano, who is Jewish, took the runway at the start of the show to make his first public statements (full text here) since the scandal:
"What has happened over the last week has been a terrible and wrenching ordeal for us all. It has been deeply painful to see the Dior name associated with the disgraceful statements attributed to its designer, however brilliant he may be.
"Such statements are intolerable because of our collective duty to never forget the Holocaust and its victims, and because of the respect for human dignity that is owed to each person and to all peoples.
"These statements have deeply shocked and saddened all at Dior who give body and soul to their work, and it is particularly painful that they came from someone so admired for his remarkable creative talent. So now, more than ever, we must publicly re-commit ourselves to the values of the House of Dior.
" . . . The heart of the House of Dior, which beats unseen, is made up of its teams and studios, of its seamstresses and craftsmen, who work hard day after day, never counting the hours, and carrying on the value and the vision of Monsieur Dior. What you are going to see now is the result of the extraordinary, creative, and marvelous efforts of these loyal, hardworking people."
Dior face Karlie Kloss opened the show as usual, but with John Galliano gone, Suzy Menkes writes, "The creative partners who supported Mr. Galliano over the years hardly had a look in: the milliner Stephen Jones had only a sprinkling of sensible felt hats and the makeup artist Pat McGrath created none of her dramatis personae. No stage set created a dramatic backdrop. Gone too were the outré accessories. Just a cameo at the throat was the main embellishment, although there was the usual complement of frills, bows and feminine prettiness."
Arnault's daughter, Delphine, who is deputy managing director at Dior, apparently wiped away tears at the end of the show, when the entire 30-person Dior atelier team took the runway in white coats to a standing applause. And Joe Zee tweeted, "The end of the show was an immensely touching fashion moment for me."


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Weak Sony PS Vita sales prompt price-cuts
3DS sets an example
Sony's PlayStation Vita experienced a rapid decline in sales during its second week on Japanese shelves, prompting suggestions the company may have to reduce the console's price.
Several retailers are unofficially doing so already.
According to sales rankings provided by local market watcher Media Create, during the week leading up to Christmas Day, Sony sold just 72,479 Vitas, a historical low for any console's second week on shelves.
The company shifted more than 320,000 units following launch the previous week.
Wipeout... your bank account
Compare that to sales for Nintendo's 3DS and the results could be seen as worrying for Sony. The 3DS shifted 370,000 units in its first week on sale and a further 210,000 in the second week. Even that was sufficiently worrying for Ninty to cut retail prices in a bid to boost sales. At the time, the 3DS was priced roughly the same as the Wi-Fi model of PS Vita - the equivalent of £219.
Since the price-reduction, the 3DS has outsold all other consoles. In the US, Nintendo shifted almost half a million devices in the week leading up to Christmas, bringing the total number of units sold past the 4m mark.
This was boosted by a strong lineup of recent game releases such as Super Mario Land 3D, Mario Kart 7 and Monster Hunter 3D, but while the Vita promises a healthier-looking lineup of titles for launch, will the price of the hardware be too much for the regular punter?
Retailers certainly think so, and several have already brought down the the Vita's price by as much as 20 per cent, GamesRadar reports.
Feel the pinch
With more people turning to mobile phone games, and hardware such as Amazon's Kindle Fire hitting shelves at inexpensive prices, Sony could well find itself on the backfoot when the Vita is launched over here on 22 February.
You can read Reg Hardware's preview of the PS Vita, based on a play with some of the launch titles, here. ®


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Hey all,
Do your castle figs live in a world like this?
Would you rather their surroundings were more like this?
Check out DNL's new how-to article on landscaping with LEGO, full of tips and examples to put your Castle MOC into a more natural setting.
(Btw, no offense meant to the first examples given above. I simply wanted things with some figs on an unadorned baseplate.)
Edit - I've added an appendix by SlyOwl, derived from his long post on the second page of this thread.


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There is a new course announced by the National Genealogical Society on documentation and source citation. It is reasonably priced at $30 for three modules. Here are the details from the NGS press release:
ARLINGTON, VA, 5 FEBRUARY 2014: The National Genealogical Society proudly announces the release of its newest American Genealogical Studies course, Guide to Documentation and Source Citation.
This course joins The Basics in the series of online courses developed by NGS to help those interested in finding their family. In this three-module self-paced course, Michael Grant Hait Jr., CG, helps genealogists with one of the most confusing areas of genealogy research, "how do I cite my family information?" Knowing where we located our family information and keeping accurate notes, or citations, is the backbone of reliable genealogy. The course modules consist of lessons, examples, citations, and graded quizzes and cover topics on "Introduction to Documentation," "Basic Citation Principles," and "Applying Citation Principles."
This NGS American Genealogical Studies course, Guide to Documentation and Source Citation, is available for $30.00 for members and $45.00 for non-members. For further information, to view the syllabus, or to purchase the course, visit the NGS website at http://www.ngsgenealogy.org/
Guide to Documentation and Source Citation joins The Basics in the NGS's online cloud-based learning management system. To take advantage of this system, you will need either a computer or tablet with an Internet connection.
NGS also offers several courses available in downloadable PDF files compatible for a PC or MAC. The courses are designed for both the beginner and the established genealogist to help busy individuals learn about a specific topic and to put the ensuing knowledge to work quickly. These courses include:
- Using Federal Population Census Schedules in Genealogical Research
- Introduction to Civil War Research
- Genetic Genealogy, The Basics
- Introduction to Religious Records
- Working with Deeds


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Selecting your vehicle's make, model, and year allows us to display only parts and items specific to your car's model and year.
Part# C210360
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OPGI Price: $95.99
Part Type: (A) Aftermarket product, usually an enhancement product
Years: 1959-1977
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Each gauge trio includes oil pressure, voltmeter and water temperature. All gauges are white with black numbers and needle. All gauge holders come in black or chrome and include the red and green bulb covers.


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It's a new year full of new possibilities. Everywhere you look people are making resolutions to better themselves and finding exciting ways to be more engaged and more on top of things than they were last year.
It's a new year full of new possibilities. Everywhere you look people are making resolutions to better themselves and finding exciting ways to be more engaged and more on top of things than they were last year.
But no one has to be too drastic in their want to mix things up a bit. Just one change a month can mean the difference between the same-old, same-old and a year filled with newness.
We suggest you take those 12 opportunities and do something you have never done before. We looked over the calendar and found activities and events throughout 2013 that are sure to add some spice to an otherwise mundane year. See what you like, give it a try and enjoy the year of YOU.
This month is national Learn to Ski and Snowboard Month, and Beech Mountain in North Carolina is offering the chance. Its "Skiing 101 at Beech" program offers one night's lodging, equipment rental, helmet rental, full-day lift ticket and a beginner skiing or snowboarding lesson at Beech Mountain Resort.
This program is available Monday through Friday for $101 per person and double occupancy is required.
For more information, call 800-468-5506 or go online to www.beechmtn.com/skiing101. Beech Mountain Resort is at 1007 Beech Mountain Parkway in Beech Mountain.
Attend a great beer festival. One of the best beer festivals in South Carolina happens each February in a small open field next to a small, local brewery.
Coast Brewing and the Charleston Beer Exchange are teaming up on Feb. 23 for a six-hour beer event featuring some of the best craft brewers in the United States as well as many from South Carolina. The event will be from noon to 6 p.m. and tickets are still available for $65.
Tickets are through the Charleston Beer Exchange and Greenville Beer Exchange, at COAST Brewing in North Charleston or online at www.brewvival.com. For more information, call 843-343-4727. The event will be at 1250 N. 2nd St. in North Charleston.
The Kentucky Derby, Breeders Cup and Preakness are not the only ways you can get your horse racing fix in the early part of 2013. South Carolina has its own tradition of horse racing each year in Camden, and tickets are on sale right now.
The 81st Carolina Cup is set for March 30 at the Carolina Cup grounds, 200 Knights Hill Road in Camden. Tickets are $30 before 5 p.m. March 17 and $45 afterward. There are several other opportunities to get tickets and be a part of the action by getting parking passes and infield admittance.
The gates for the Carolina Cup open at 9 a.m. and the race goes to post at 1:30 p.m. For more information or to purchase tickets, call 800-780-8117 or go to www.carolina-cup.org.
Every April, the flowers of Biltmore Estates in Asheville, N.C., begin to bloom. More than 100,000 tulips and other spring bulbs make the front entrance, Walled Garden and winery's fountain bed into carpets of color. In fact, the blooms are budding all over the grounds, and it makes for one of the most beautiful scenes in the region.
This Festival of Flowers will take place during April and coincides with tours, dining at Biltmore's restaurants and visits through the Winery in Antler Hill.
Biltmore is at 1 Approach Road in Asheville. For more information, call 828-225-1600.
Hey race fans. The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series comes to South Carolina every year for Mother's Day weekend, and Darlington will be buzzing with the roar of race cars from the most popular drivers in the world.
The 2013 Bojangles' Southern 500 will be May 11 and is part of the new Mother's Day tradition building in the raceway town.
Tickets for the race are available online at www.darlingtonraceway.com, and the Darlington Raceway is at 1301 Harry Byrd Highway in Darlington.
For more information, visit the website or call 843-395-8900.
If anyone has missed out on visiting the Dillard House in Dillard, Ga., June is a great time to visit. The weather is not too hot, and there is plenty to do for all ages and stages of life.
One of the most popular features, aside from the restaurant, is the Dillard House Stables. Visitors can enjoy an afternoon with some of the most mellow horses around, with several options for riding. The Dillard House Stables are at 1158 Franklin St. in Dillard. For more information, call 706-746-2038.
Have you ever wanted to soar with the eagles and fly with the birds? Well, the only way to do this is to learn to fly a plane for yourself and Anderson offers the opportunity to start down the road to flying in the clouds.
Airwolf Aviation runs out of three Upstate airports, including the Anderson Regional Airport at 5805 Airport Road in Anderson. The company offers a Discovery Flight for $149 that includes 45 minutes of ground instruction and a 45-minute flight. This starts a customized plan to let you reach your flying goals.
So, when you want something to do in the heat of summer and would like to see the sights that Anderson has to offer, a flight school with Airwolf might be the perfect way to spend a day or a month.
For more information, call 864-224-7440 or go online to www.flyairwolf.com.
It might be the heat of the summer, but the Chattooga River is filled with plenty to do. White water rafting, zip lining, fishing and just lounging by the water are a few things you can do in the heat of summer. And if you really get a wild hair going, you can always go camping at Lake Jocassee or Table Rock State Park for a weekend.
Foodies everywhere can rejoice in September for the annual Euhporia in downtown Greenville.
This food, wine and beer event showcases some of the best food the Upstate has to offer as well as special culinary guests from all walks of the foodie world.
There are also wine and beer experts providing samples throughout the weekend event.
This year, Euphoria will be Sept. 26-29 and tickets are $100 per day, $245 for a weekend pass or $695 for a VIP weekend pass. For more information, visit www.euphoriagreenville.com.
With all the training you have been doing since you started your New Year's resolution, October would be a great time to get out and test your endurance in one of the most fun races the area has to offer.
Each October, Color Me Rad comes to Columbia for their 5K race. The race is non-competitive, and to prove it, they have color bomb locations along the route where volunteers pelt the runners with dozens of packets of color. By the end of the race, participants are covered from head to toe in different colors.
The race is open to people of all ages and registration will likely begin in the coming months. For more information, keep checking www.colormerad.com.
If you ever wanted to visit Hilton Head, November is a great time to do it. The rentals are out of season so the price is better and, contrary to popular belief, there is still a lot going on.
Like from Nov. 8-10 when the Hilton Head Oyster Festival takes place. From 5 to 8 p.m. on Nov. 8 and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Nov. 9-10, you can enjoy buckets of fresh oysters for $12 after paying the $5 admission fee. And there will be plenty of food available other than oysters for you to buy.
The Hilton Head Oyster Festival is held at Shelter Cove Park, 39 Shelter Cove Lane in Hilton Head. For more information, call 843-681-7273.
December is all about the holidays, but it can also provide a time to do something for others. Rather than leaving town and doing something outside your community, consider taking time to volunteer or mentor or just take part in a community-driven activity that benefits a good cause. Taking time for your local folks makes you feel better and does great things for the community.


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Brian Westlund, Olympic Park Institute educator, elicits observations from Stevens Middle School seventh-grade students who, as part of the experimental group, will develop video projects depicting the story of the Elwha River and the upcoming removal of its two dams.
A seventh grader spots the perfect specimen. It's woody debris and it's large—so large that it takes nearly 20 middle school–size hands to haul the log from the bank of the lake to the edge of the Elwha Dam. They gleefully heft it over the fence and watch it plunge 108 feet into the whitewater.
The feeling of victory is palpable as the log, prevented from creating salmon habitat for possibly a century, floats away. One student records the incident on a pocket camcorder, then plays the footage for others.
Is this acceptable behavior?
Absolutely. And it's the kind of scene that makes Kieran O'Mahony suspect he's on the right track. O'Mahony, of the UW College of Education's Learning in Informal and Formal Environments (LIFE) Center, provided the camcorder as part of his research into focusing teaching more on understanding than on just information alone.
"They're doing the work that the river would have done had the dam not been in the way," O'Mahony says, adding that the kids' enthusiasm to share the video demonstrates a high level of engagement—a key ingredient to learning deeply.
The National Science Foundation awarded O'Mahony and UW Professor John Bransford a one-year RAPID (Rapid Response Research) grant. The pair is using the $200,000 to study teaching methods regarding the Elwha River and the upcoming removal of its two dams.
Half of the more than 300 participating middle-school students from nearby Port Angeles are doing traditional science projects with PowerPoint presentations. The other half will create five-minute videos that tell the story of the watershed's past, present and future, including the swamping of local tribal land, the blocking of more than 70 miles of superb habitat from five salmon species, and the biggest dam-removal project in U.S. history.
O'Mahony expects that the students who develop a video story with a beginning, middle and end will emerge with a deeper understanding of the science and the history of the area. However, both groups benefit from hands-on data collection, exposure to new career possibilities and mentorship from UW Honors students.
Upriver, at a spot between the two dams, girls turn over slick river rocks and use a paintbrush to gently nudge the "creepy-crawlies" into an ice-cube tray. With the help of Brian Westlund—of the Olympic Park Institute, whose assistance O'Mahony has enlisted—they identify and record their findings, connecting micro-invertebrates to the health of the ecosystem.
This lush, moss-covered valley is an excellent place to learn about local species and about why data collected now will help to understand the impacts of dam removal later. But the outdoor experience alone is not enough to convey the big picture, says O'Mahony; it needs to be mediated, or interpreted, by educators. O'Mahony hopes to discover how best to facilitate conceptual changes, those flashes of understanding when a misinformed or incomplete idea suddenly becomes clear and complete. One of the project's goals is to get students to make observations, ask questions and not to worry about being right or wrong, O'Mahony says. "They learn how they like to learn, which is preparation for future learning."
Later in the day, at the mouth of the river, a girl runs over to O'Mahony and shows him a photo she's just taken of sparkling water droplets bouncing off a smooth rock. He smiles as she runs off.
"A child is not an empty brain to be filled," he says, "but a fire to be kindled."


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|2012-07-14, 07:04
|Link #41
Truth Martyr
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Doing Anzu's paperwork.
Age: 33
I'd note that my religious text notes that a fool will always hold he is cleverer than the wise, and the best way to deal with fools is to answer them in such a way that their ignorance and foolishness becomes apparent.
I'd also add that there is a difference between quoting an opinion in support of your argument, and simply blindly regurgitating the word of your peers.
The benefits of studying law in a nation that practices the adversarial system.
Whereas I have read the books several times, and I am a lot better at arguing my case than he is, being that I've actually thought this through, and came to this conclusion by my self.
|2012-07-14, 09:12
|Link #43
Join Date: Oct 2011
You guys are basing your idea that because Kirito is not perfect, he's not a Gary Stu.
The Mary sue concept is not just simple as you guys make it out to be, and you seems to be also basing them on popular misconception.
Often harcore 'edgy' character or 'gangster' characters can just as easily be qualified.
As I said before people conveniently ignored that a Gary Stu's role and abilities have such cancerous focus/grip on the story that it harms it to a huge degree. Pretty much All of his 'mistakes' and 'drama' in his 'backstory' are more due to other people's fault and are typical mary sueish melodramatic 'tragedy'.
|2012-07-14, 09:34
|Link #44
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: MY
Let's make this clear: We absolutely do not see how his role or his abilities 'have such cancerous focus/grip on the story that it harms it to a huge degree'. Not in a Light Novel. It's called LIGHT for a reason. We totally understand that a REAL novel would have the protagonists as a normal man/woman doing normal things and does not particularly affect the world and proves that a man's power can only go so far, but this is for god's sake a LIGHT novel. From Japan. Exactly what the heck are you expecting, Game of Thrones kind of story?
This sentence is especially wrong even if I try to look at it objectively. 'All of his 'mistakes' and 'drama' in his 'backstory' are more due to other people's fault'? When you spill your milk as a kid it's both your fault for being young and your mother's fault for not taking better care of you. When you fight with your friends it's both your faults for duking it out despite better options.
More due to 'other people's fault'? Every time something happens, EVERYTHING is a reason. That's an absolutely stupid statement to use to base your arguments.
|2012-07-14, 10:31
|Link #46
Join Date: Dec 2011
Age: 24
If you understand the term so well, I don't see why you simply couldn't explain, in detail, what the term means, and show how Kirito is one instead of throwing the definitions and a baseless statement or two at us.
Cancerous grip? Harms it to a huge degree? Your words mean nothing without examples/evidence. And before you say "neither do yours!" I'd like to point out that I don't know what this "cancerous grip" that has harmed the story "to a huge degree" is. The only time you presented examples, they weren't even yours, not to mention the fact that were proven invalid.
As you've evidently not read the novels, your argument is completely and utterly laughable.
A "real" novel? SAO is fantasy mixed with some sci-fi; the whole idea is that it's not supposed to be real. There's no such thing a "real" novel; it all depends on the genre (i.e. realism if you want to read about normal people doing normal things).
|2012-07-14, 10:43
|Link #47
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2011
Spoiler for Novel:
So yeah. I don't see SAO as a conventional Light Novel - it's head and shoulders over the vast majority of it's compatriots. Not to mention that Light Novel cliches are really a very recent phenomena, and thankfully, SAO begun before that trend rotted stories published in that format.
Seriously. SAO could easily be published as a near-future Sci-Fi novel - especially the best of it's later volumes, and it won't look out of place.
|2012-07-14, 12:00
|Link #48
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2007
Age: 33
You know I really don't care if Kirito is considered a Gary Stu or whatever.
I love it when my characters using overwhelming force, hot-blood, guts, and power of will to curb stomp the enemy.
Not like monster of the week star driver like curb stomp thats a whole different animal altogether.
I'm talking actually making the enemy feel the pain of having someone just better then them stomping a mud hole in their rear.
In other words Personally I really don't care much either way as long as the story is kept entertaining and yes I most people like to see the main character actually work for his or her victory winning impossible odds not with just overwhelming force alone. After all if you see them stomp every single enemy everytime it starts to get old for some however once in awhile it feels good to immerse yourself in fiction for noting more then a good time.
|2012-07-14, 12:35
|Link #49
Truth Martyr
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Doing Anzu's paperwork.
Age: 33
I hate to rain on your parade, guys, but generally Light Novels are termed that way because they use simplified characters in their printing, instead of the more complicated shit.
That said, the usual Light Novel demographic roughly corresponds to what in America would be the Young Adult market. When was the last time you saw something like SAO in the YA section? As far as I can recall, never.
Oh wait, this wasn't even his idea to begin with - he's just regurgitating (i.e. eating his own vomit before vomiting out again) the ideas of someone else! So yeah, I think I win.
But then, it was an unfair debate to begin with - after all, I did study law, taking the hardest external degree programme in the Commonwealth.
Frankly, I don't see this happening in Sword Art Online. But then again, I wouldn't expect you to be aware of this, given that you've chosen to launch your trolling based on the opinion of someone else, which you are just regurgitating*, and you have not even read the books in question.
Which I assume is frustrating you to no end, as I keep asking you to provide examples to argue your case, at which point you resort to sweeping statements. That's truly the mark of someone who didn't study his source material.
*Regurgitating: technical term for what cows do, which is eating grass, vomiting it up, and eating the said vomit. Process repeats three times for another three stomachs, until the 4x regurgitated grass vomit hits the intestines.
You have zero credibility in this case. Go and read. Then redo your points with your examples. And then, maybe then, will you be taken seriously.
Wait, you can't. You've shown zero ability to think and debate point by point. All you can do is make sweeping, generalized statements, because you don't know what the hell you're talking about.
I'll sum up his main point, which is something you keep willfully ignoring: Kirito, nor other characters in Sword Art Online, can NOT correctly be termed as Mary Sues, because they are organic to that verse. They are the main characters of that verse. Therefore, the term Mary Sue cannot apply, as it is used to refer to fanfiction author created characters with undesirable traits.
And Kirito's mistakes being due to other people? Really. Well then, where's your evidence? Show your examples to back up your arguments. Where is the cancerous grip on the story? He's telling his own story. Of course it will follow him!
And again, you're not giving your examples, but just making sweeping, broad statements. Contrast the following analogies:
Scenario: Plaintiff ship owner suing defendant dock owner as dock is too shallow to moor ship, and ship is damaged.
Randomzx: "Docks should be deep enough!" (Sweeping statement)
Wild Goose: "Based on the Officious Bystander Rule, as laid down in the case of The Moorcock, it is submitted that there was an implied term in the contract that the defendants' dock would be deep enough to allow the plaintiff's vessel to be moored without damage." (Point and quoted example to support.)
But at the end of the day, what this really serves to accomplish is nothing of import. Without a strong argument, you cannot convince us, yet you cannot argue that which you do not know. You who know not what you speak of, but in your conceit attempt to lord your ignorance over others, brushing aside debate and reasoned arguments for childish bluster.
You are as a storm in a teacup, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.
That said, often times the Braves did have to work hard for their wins. But when they pulled it off, awesomeness ensued.
Bottomline: If you're entertained and having fun, then it's forgivable. That said, IMO Kirito isn't a Sue, based on above posts.
|2012-07-14, 13:38
|Link #50
Join Date: Oct 2011
A Mary Sue is not required to be flawless, see for example
Seriously, in most of the forums and discussion I heard, its a general consensus that Kirito is a Gary Stu. Its your fanboy vision and tendency to hold onto minor justifying details that doesn't allow you to see Kirito that way.
|2012-07-14, 14:09
|Link #51
Quietly Lurking
Graphic Designer
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Beneath the prodigious sky...
Kirito is overpowered though, in my opinion, having read through Mother Rosario. He is the most powerful player in virtual reality. There was no one better than him in SAO except for the person who created SAO, Kayaba. And in Mother Rosario, Kirito wasn't dual wielding, so he wasn't going full out. Randomzx also gives a couple of good examples in GGO that made me pause.
|2012-07-14, 14:28
|Link #52
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: MY
I'm pretty sure that Kirito decided not to stop his teammates from opening the chest despite knowing the risk, because he was afraid that his Beater identity will be revealed and hated by everyone.
And Rennir, you did not read Mother Rosario thoroughly enough.
Spoiler for Mother Rosario spoiler:
|2012-07-14, 14:36
|Link #53
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Double standards:
If we get the cookie cutter harem protags, they're insulted and belittled.
On the other hand, make someone competent/strong and you get complaints that he's way too good for the story.
Here's an example: Ezio Auditore da Firenze of the Assassins Creed II fame. Not only does he routinely do the impossible, what with assassinating high value targets and liberating cities practically on his own when he shows up, but he also happens to be best buds with people like Leonardo da Vinci or Machiavelli. In other words, he seems perfect.
Rare will you find a person bitching or moaning about him simply cause he fills the purpose of making the medium interesting. If Kirito fails that job, then he's definitely on his way to being a sue. If he doesn't, then it's a good sign he's a good character.
|2012-07-14, 14:46
|Link #54
Quietly Lurking
Graphic Designer
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Beneath the prodigious sky...
|2012-07-14, 17:22
|Link #57
Join Date: Oct 2011
he even admits the story suffers because of imbalanced focus in his notes.
Last edited by Randomzx; 2012-07-14 at 17:46.
|2012-07-14, 17:44
|Link #58
Oshite mairu!!!
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Ware wa Kuu. Ware wa Kou. Ware wa Jin!
Well Randomzx you've already made it pretty clear you're not into the novel that much. What else is there to prove? Thing is fans will be fans and haters will be haters. Let's just chalk this up to differences of point of view and tastes and get on w/ it. If you're not happy w/ the series in general then drop it. No need to have lengthy arguments w/ fans who having been immersed in the series found it enjoyable and would not likely change their minds.
|2012-07-14, 21:22
|Link #59
Truth Martyr
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Doing Anzu's paperwork.
Age: 33
Here I go again. That said, I have practically zero expectation that I'm going to get a reply.
*Edit: Spoilering the bulk of the replies. *shrug* Not that it will do much good, since the mods tell me spoilers are spoilers, but this is the only way to address Randomzx.
You forget that being a Mary Sue is an instant I Win button, which does not happen for Kirito, who goes through a lot of shit and has to work to get his happy ending.
Spoiler for Significant Novel Details:
The last statements Randomzx has made do not contain spoilers, and I feel there's a certain benefit to addressing them publicly.
There's a fine line between quoting an agreeing opinion, and simply blindly following the crowd.
The fact that you must resort to this should be evident enough that your position cannot hold.
One last thought before I go: The yardstick that you use? Apply it to any one of the Avengers in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and you'd get a whole team of Sues. Yet The Avengers was regarded as one of the most entertaining films of this year. Think about that.
Last edited by Wild Goose; 2012-07-14 at 21:45. Reason: Tidying up the replies
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Raphaelkeene needed a new logo design and created a contest on 99designs.
A winner was selected from 87 designs submitted by 20 freelance designers.
We are a South African based software and consulting company. We resell the SuccessFactors suite of business execution and talent managment software solutions. We market and sell a web based (SaaS based) suite of talent management software (SuccessFactors website: http://www.successfactors.com) and we provide consulting and support services around the product
Our current website: http://www.ascendia.co.za (new logo needs to work with our current website design)
Brand Name
Target Audience
Our target audience is senior corporate business people and HR managers in large organisations
We are looking for a logo which portrays us as a credible, corporate organisation. We want something that is clean, modern and
professional. We want to convey the impression that partnering with us will make our customers more successful and smarter. We
are a technology company but we are also an organisation focused on people (improving the productivity, collaboration and
success of people and organisations)
Because we are a SuccessFactors parter our logo will appear near the SuccessFactors logo (attached) such as on business cards.
Therefore it should complement their logo.
Our logo should look good in black and white as well as colour. It should work at both small and large scale and it should
include a portion that we can use as a favicon icon.
Colours: no more than one or two additional colours apart from (black, white, and shades grey)
You will be a creative, savvy designer with an understanding of corporate design. We are looking for high quality ideas and
I'm very much looking forward to seeing what you come up with.
Find out how a design contest works or learn more about our logo design services.


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Cleveland-class consisting of the Cleveland (CL-55), Columbia (CL-56), Montpelier (CL-57), Denver (CL-58), Amsterdam (CL-59), Santa Fe (CL-60), Tallahassee (CL-61), Birmingham (CL-62), Vincennes (CL-64), Pasadena (CL-65), Springfield (CL-66), Topeka (CL-67), New Haven (CL-76), Huntington (CL-77), Dayton (CL-78), Wilmington (CL-79), Biloxi (CL80), Houston (CL-81), Providence (CL-82), Providence (CL-82), Manchester (CL-83), Buffalo (CL-84), Fargo (CL-85), Vicksburg (CL-86), Duluth (CL-87), Anonymous (CL-88), Miami (CL-89), Astoria (CL-90), Oklahoma City (CL-91), Little Rock (CL-92), Galveston (CL-93), Youngstown (CL-94). Buffalo (CL-99), Newark (CL-100), Amsterdam (CL-101), Portsmouth (CL-102), Wilkes-Barre (CL-103), Atlanta (CL-104), Dayton (CL-105), Fargo (CL-106) and Huntington (CL-107). The Newark (CL-108), New Haven (CL-109), Buffalo (CL11), Wilmington (CL111), Vallejo (CL112), Helena (CL113), Anonymous (CL-115), Roanoke (CL-114), Tallahassee (CL 116), Cheyenne (CL117) and Chattanooga (CL118), are usually described as part of the Fargo-class, preceded by the St. Louis and Atlanta-classes and succeeded by the Fargo-class (a modified Cleveland-design. Of the originally 52 planned ships were 9 converted and completed as the Independence-class light aircraft carriers and 2 with an altered design were part of the Fargo-class. There were totally 29 commissioned of which the Galveston was completed as a guided missile cruiser and 5 others later converted into the Galveston and Providence-class guided missile cruisers.
Technical class specifications of the Cleveland-class. With a displacement of 11.932 (standard)-14.358 (maximum) tons and as dimensions 180 (waterline)-185,42 (over all) x 20,22 x 7,6 (maximum) x 34 (height) metres or 600-608.4 x 66.4 x 25 x 113 feet. The machinery consisted of 4 General Electric geared steam turbines and 4 boilers supplying 1000.000 shop allowing with the 4 screws a speed of 32,5 knots. With a speed of 15 knots was the range 8.640 nautical miles. Crew numbered 1.255 (Light cruiser)-1.426 (guided missile cruiser) men (including 70 officers). The armour consisted of a 8,3cm/3.25"012,7cm/5" thick belt, a 5,1cm/2" thick deck, 12,7cm/5" bulkheads with the gun turrets, barbettes and conning tower protected by respectively 3,8cm/1.5" (rear)-7,6cm/3" (roof and sides)-17cm/6.5 (face), 15cm/6" and 5,7cm/2.25"-12,7cm/5". For the 4 floatplanes they could take with them were 2 catapults situated on the stern available. Main armament consisted of 4x3-15cm/6" guns /47cal Mark 16 guns, of 6x2-13cm/5" /38 cal anti aircraft guns, 4x4-4cm/1.6" Bofors anti aircraft guns, 6x2-4cm/1.6" Bofors anti aircraft guns and 21x1-2cm/0.79" Oerlikon anti aircraft cannons. As a guided missile cruiser 1x3-15cm/6" 47 cal Mark 16 guns, 1x2-12,7cm/5" 38 cal anti aircraft guns and 1x2-rail Mark 7 Talos SAM launcher for which she carried 46 missiles.


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This is a Guest Post by Ricky Padilla of Brown Water Coffee
Brown Water Coffee has allowed me to give to one of the greatest causes in the world (bringing safe drinking water to thirsty communities) while making a living and building an excellent coffee brand. Every time we sell a bag of coffee, we give $2.00 to fund clean water projects. Here is not only how we do it, but how your business can actually do better because of giving (Side note: this can apply to life in general, not just business).
Product Differentiation
There is little that separates most products these days, so value-driven customers are always looking for that extra factor that makes your product more valuable than someone else's. Given the opportunity, people want to give and if your product is of good quality, reasonably priced, and has a giving aspect on top, guess which one most will choose…
Lower Costs
This might be a big surprise to you, but if you do things well, giving a large chunk of your revenue away can dramatically lower costs. How? When we approach vendors, printers, etc., we take the time to tell our story give them the opportunity (it must be presented this way) to be a part of our mission. After our introduction, they understand that when we have lower costs, we can give more away, and they often offer us a great deal before we even ask!
Laser Focus and Determination
Those whose greatest life/business question is "What can I take from the world?" are never quite as joyful or determined as those whose question is "What can I give to the world?" When I encounter obstacles and my primary focus is on making money, I get discouraged and the temptation of giving up is more prominent. But when I am laser-focused on giving and our mission, I can get over about any obstacle because I realize I am working for something much greater than myself.
In short, if you choose to give now and always, you will not regret it and will likely be surprised at the affects it has on you, your business, and your team. In the spirit of Thanksgiving holidays, let us remember, "Giving is better than receiving."
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3 comments
November 24 2011, 11:52AM
Perfect post for thanksgiving. Thanks for sharing Shopify.
December 01 2011, 07:30PM
@Sara: Agreed! I love what Ricky at Brown Water Coffee is doing!
December 22 2011, 04:52AM
A great idea. No time like the present to get started. I had always thought about "giving back" once I "made it". I can start to make a difference right now and over the festive period, I shall be thinking about a suitable product which people will like and which will help others. My business is children orientated, and there are many childrens charities needing support in the UK, so I shall focus my efforts here. Thanks for the idea.


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In a report submitted by the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' Secretariat for Clergy, Consecrated Life and Vocations at the beginning of this year, findings stated that 81 percent of men and women religious reported that someone along their path had encouraged them to consider a religious vocation.
More detailed numbers show that 46 percent of the time it was a religious sister or brother who was doing the encouraging. Next most likely? A parish priest. Then a friend. Only at that point on the list do we reach "mother," "parishioner" and "father." To break those numbers down even further, 29 percent of men and women religious reported that they were encouraged to consider religious life by their mother, 24 percent by a fellow parishioner and 23 percent by their father.
In addition, about two-thirds of the respondents, or 62 percent, reported some kind of discouragement from joining religious life — usually from other relatives or friends, but often enough from their parents (26 percent mother, 21 percent father).
Statistics in another CARA report show that ordinands (those studying to be priests) were more likely to receive encouragement to investigate the priesthood from friends (46 percent) than they were their mother (34 percent) or father (28 percent).
In a 2010 interview, Austin Bishop Joe S. Vásquez emphasized the importance of personal invitation in increasing numbers of vocations. "A parish priest can have an effect on young men in the parish when he personally invites a young man to think about a vocation to the priesthood," he said.
But it's not just priests who carry weight. When it comes to building up the Church, we all have a part to play.
Our Protestant brothers and sisters, worshipping in small and more independent communities, understand this well. Their autonomy leads them to adopt a sense of ownership over their spiritual community that Catholics lack. Catholics, rather, tend to view their local parish not so much as "our church," but rather as a member of the "institutional Church."
To overcome this temptation, Catholics must strive to build a communio — where each part of the Church's body works together to serve the Lord. This includes vocational awareness and encouragement. Each of us, be it fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters or fellow Catholics in the pew, have a personal responsibility when it comes to encouraging vocational discernment. It starts in the family, the basic cell of our society. We must witness through strong, permanent marriages. We must welcome religious sisters and priests into our home. We are called to pray for them and for those in the discernment process. As disciples working to spread the good news of Jesus Christ and to build up his kingdom, this is our call. And it's not one that can be left to the few, but one that must be embraced by the many.
In anticipation of the 51st World Day of Prayer for Vocations next month, Pope Francis said: "No vocation is born of itself or lives for itself. A vocation flows from the heart of God and blossoms in the good soil of faithful people, in the experience of fraternal love."
"The true joy of those who are called consists in believing and experiencing that he, the Lord, is faithful, and that with him we can walk, be disciples and witnesses of God's love, open our hearts to great ideals, to great things," he added. "I ask you bishops, priests, religious, Christian communities and families to orient vocational pastoral planning in this direction, by accompanying young people on pathways of holiness."
Editorial Board: Greg Erlandson, publisher; Msgr. Owen F. Campion, associate publisher; Beth McNamara, editorial director; Gretchen R. Crowe, editor
Copyright © 1996-2019 Our Sunday Visitor, Inc.


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Dan Brown's Religious Views
An interesting response to some good questioning.
Don't get me wrong, I am not a fan of Dan Brown, but his responses are fairly coherent and come across as an honest attempt to see the world as it is, regardless of its implications,
http://www.bbc.com/news/av/entertainmen ... -dan-brown
I am pretty sympathetic to such expressions of religious credence, and see this has having happened already in much of the European formerly Christian nations. There's a humility there I can appreciate.
But of course, the skeptic's voice is always there wondering at the thing which Dan Brown feels when he stares at a starry expanse...
The numinous?
The ineffable?
Or just the ceiling of a primate's intellectual comprehension?
"a reprehensible human being"
Beliefs are, by definition, things we don't know to be true.
|Tue Oct 31, 2017 10:08 am


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Special Events
Related Programming
100 Masters: Only in Canada
Drawing from the Masters
Thursday, May 9, 2013 to Thursday, June 27, 2013
During this eight-week course students will visit 100-Masters: Only in Canada and draw from the works on view, honing their skills by transcribing what they see using drawing media and paper. Each session will wrap up with a group discussion/critique of the class work.
Gallery Hours
- Tuesday 11am-5pm
- Wednesday 11am-5pm
- Thursday 11am-5pm
- Friday 11am-9pm
- Saturday 11am-5pm
- Sunday 11am-5pm
- Closed Monday


text: OK ladies, I'm fairly new to the quilting world and I am really stumped when trying to figure out what size blocks to cut to frame the center of my quilt top when not using a purchased pattern. Say my center is 36x36 and I want to use 2, 3 or 4inch half square triangles. How do you figure that out. Is there a chart I can download? Cause figuring all the seam allowance makes my head spin. :cry:


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Total Members Voted: 23
0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.
This post gave me autism.
I sent out a mass e-mail out on Saturday. Today is Tuesday and I have not heard back from a single person.Is noone interested in a summer getogether!?!?!?
Hopefully noone will take advantage of my error and use it to spam or solicit or otherwise annoy you.
I'm touched that most people want to do this on the weekend of 2 August, since my birthday is only a couple of days later. Bring gifts.
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TAMPA, Fla., Nov. 20, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Quality Distribution, Inc. (Nasdaq:QLTY) ("Quality" or the "Company"), a North American logistics and transportation provider with market leading businesses, today announced that the Company's Board of Directors has authorized the repurchase of up to $15 million of Quality's common stock.
Under the program, repurchases may be made in the open market, or through privately negotiated transactions, block transactions, or other mechanisms, as determined by the Company's management and in accordance with prevailing market conditions and the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Quality expects to fund share repurchases from future cash flows from operations or borrowings under its asset-based revolving credit facility. The share repurchase program does not have an expiration date, the Company is not obligated to acquire a particular number of shares, and the program may be discontinued at any time at the Company's discretion.
"Today's announcement underscores the confidence that the Board and management team have in our business and our ability to generate free cash flow," said Gary Enzor, Chief Executive Officer. "We remain focused on carefully managing capital and paying down our high interest debt and still intend to utilize the opportunities we have to pay down a portion of our 9.875% Second-Priority Senior Secured Notes due 2018 between now and November 2014. However, our current depressed share price presents a compelling opportunity to deliver value to our shareholders through this share repurchase program."
About Quality
Headquartered in Tampa, Florida, Quality operates the largest chemical bulk logistics network in North America through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Quality Carriers, Inc., and is the largest North American provider of intermodal tank container and depot services through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Boasso America Corporation. Quality also provides logistics and transportation services to the unconventional oil and gas industry including crude oil, proppant sand, fresh water, and production fluids, through its wholly-owned subsidiaries QC Energy Resources, Inc. and QC Environmental Services, Inc. Quality's network of independent affiliates and independent owner-operators provides nationwide bulk transportation and related services. Quality is an American Chemistry Council Responsible Care® Partner and is a core carrier for many of the Fortune 500 companies that are engaged in chemical production and processing.
The Quality Distribution, Inc. logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=5285
This press release contains certain forward-looking information that is subject to the safe harbor provisions created by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking information is any statement other than a statement of historical fact. Forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expected or projected in the forward-looking statements. Without limitation, risks and uncertainties regarding these forward-looking statements include: (a) the price volatility of the Company's common stock; (b) the availability of shares for repurchase; (c) alternative uses for the Company's funds; and (d) the Company's future financial performance, financial condition and liquidity. Additional risks and uncertainties that could affect the Company's future financial performance, financial condition and liquidity include: (1) the effect of local, national and international economic, credit and capital market conditions on the economy in general, on our ability to obtain desired debt financing and on the particular industries in which we operate, including excess capacity in the industry, the availability of qualified drivers, changes in fuel and insurance prices, interest rate fluctuations, and downturns in customers' business cycles and shipping requirements; (2) our substantial leverage and our ability to make required payments and comply with restrictions contained in our debt arrangements or to otherwise generate sufficient cash flow from operations or borrowing under our asset-based revolving credit facility to fund our liquidity needs; (3) competition and rate fluctuations, including fluctuations in prices and demand for commodities such as natural gas and oil; (4) our reliance on independent affiliates and independent owner-operators; (5) a shift away from or slowdown in production in the shale regions in which we have energy logistics operations; (6) our liability as a self-insurer to the extent of our deductibles as well as changing conditions and pricing in the insurance marketplace; (7) increased unionization, which could increase our operating costs or constrain operating flexibility; (8) changes in the future to, or our inability to comply with, governmental regulations and legislative changes affecting the transportation industry generally or in the particular segments in which we operate; (9) federal and state legislative and regulatory initiatives, which could result in increased costs and additional operating restrictions upon us or our oil and gas frac shale energy customers; (10) the use of disposal wells and other disposal sites in our energy logistics business; (11) our ability to comply with current and future environmental regulations and the increasing costs relating to environmental compliance; (12) potential disruptions at U.S. ports of entry; (13) diesel fuel prices and our ability to recover costs through fuel surcharges; (14) our ability to attract and retain qualified drivers; (15) terrorist attacks and the cost of complying with existing and future anti-terrorism security measures; (16) our dependence on senior management; (17) the potential loss of our ability to use net operating losses to offset future income; (18) potential future impairment charges; (19) the interests of our largest shareholder, which may conflict with your or our interests; (20) our ability to successfully identify acquisition opportunities, consummate such acquisitions and successfully integrate acquired businesses and converted affiliates and achieve the anticipated benefits and synergies of acquisitions and conversions, the effects of the acquisitions and conversions on the acquired businesses' existing relationships with customers, governmental entities, affiliates, owner-operators and employees, and the impact that acquisitions and conversions could have on our future financial results and business performance and other future conditions in the market and industry from the acquired businesses; (21) our ability to execute plans to profitably operate in the transportation business and disposal well business within the energy logistics market; (22) our success in entering new markets; (23) adverse weather conditions; (24) our liability for our proportionate share of unfunded vested benefit liabilities, particularly in the event of our withdrawal from any of our multi-employer pension plans; and (25) changes in planned or actual capital expenditures due to operating needs, changes in regulation, covenants in our debt arrangements and other expenses, including interest expenses. Readers are urged to carefully review and consider the various disclosures regarding these and other risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to risk factors contained in Quality Distribution, Inc.'s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011 and its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, as well as other reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Quality disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of developments occurring after the date of this release or for any other reasons.
CONTACT: Joseph J. Troy Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer 800-282-2031 ext. 7195
Source:Quality Distribution, Inc.


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Metal Gear Solid Touch Review
We'll admit that Metal Gear Solid Touch had us fooled at first. We liked the game's authentic look and feel, and we were excited to peer over Old Snake's shoulder and gun down his adversaries from Metal Gear Solid 4. But the more we played MGS Touch, the more let down we felt. Despite Konami's best efforts, this short, unsatisfying game has none of the magic of the Metal Gear series, and would best be left out of the canon.
Metal Gear Solid Touch runs through some of the big set-piece battles from the first half or so of Metal Gear Solid 4. The console game's fantastically intricate story and stellar cutscenes–two of the MGS4's main selling points for aficionados of the series–are glossed over with quick text summaries before each of the game's 12 missions.
Given the iPhone's multimedia prowess, we didn't think it unreasonable to expect some short video cutscenes from MGS Touch, but it didn't happen. Nor does the game offer any new revelations to fill in gaps in the canon, or augment Metal Gear's story arc. It's a rehash, and the plot makes even less sense in this Cliff's Notes abridged version than it did with full cutscenes and voice acting.
You'll probably want to skip right through this stuff to get to the shooting, which isn't bad. Snake has two main guns: an assault rifle for short- to mid-range shooting, and a sniper rifle for long-range targets. You switch between the two by pinching the screen, and it works well. However, unlike many other shooting gallery games, you must physically move your crosshairs around with your finger, instead of just tapping on your target. This adds a little more skill to the enterprise in general.
On the other hand, there's no need to reload, and taking cover from enemy fire is easy–just take your finger off the screen, and Snake will lie low to avoid getting hit and gradually replenish health. Certain baddies can knock down your cover and leave you exposed, so you have to kill them fast. Occasionally, a little yellow rubber ducky appears to grant you a health refill when shot; there's also a green froggy that gives you a one-shot rocket launcher, or a stealth suit for temporary invincibility.
MGS Touch has about a half-dozen types of enemies, not including the two big boss fights, as well as friendly militia that you're supposed to avoid shooting. There are basic soldiers that are easy to dispatch with a headshot, as well as armored mercs, gigantic GEKKO units, attack choppers, and more. Every enemy has a circular "action meter" that fills up as they get ready to shoot at you; the best defense is a good offense, so it's best to cap them early.
Timing and cover become much more important later in the game, as more enemies appear on-screen at once and they get tougher to kill. However, the fact remains that this is a short game, and it's not hard to play right through it in a sitting. We were done in an hour, more or less for good. Yes, the game unlocks a "survival" mode where you don't heal between missions, and yes, you can keep playing to earn "Drebin Points" to spend on wallpapers or better your score, but we didn't care to.
At least Metal Gear Solid Touch looks good. The war-torn backgrounds are taken right out of the console game, and the graphics are very detailed, if a bit stiff-looking–there's not much animation, so the game has a whiff of Whack-a-Mole to it. The sound effects and music are good too, although we really missed that voice acting.
Metal Gear Solid Touch isn't exactly a cheap cash-in. It's a high-quality game, and we enjoyed playing it for a short while. But were we happy paying $8 for it? Absolutely not, wallpapers or no. We also wonder who, exactly, this game was built for. It has little to do with Metal Gear gameplay-wise (where's the sneaking?) and offers no new plot material, so Metal Gear fans are unlikely to appreciate it; but at the same time, it's got enough of the series' story and setting to confuse the hell out of casual players who know nothing about Metal Gear. Our recommendation is simply to hold off until the game gets more content.


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By Greg Jefferson - Express-News
Two of the most pivotal events of Mayor Phil Hardberger's time in office occurred on the very same day.
On Sept. 1, 2005, the mayor appeared on national television to declare San Antonio would take in Hurricane Katrina evacuees no matter what, drawing a vivid contrast to the federal government's fumbling response to the storm.
That also was the day the City Council, at Hardberger's urging, hired Sheryl Sculley as city manager.
The events were unrelated, but together they set up — in addition to a humming economy — a charmed two terms into which Hardberger crammed a lot.
Today is the 75-year-old's last as mayor. Julián Castro takes office Monday.
In four years' time, Hardberger brought a sense of urgency to the slow-moving San Antonio River Improvements Project, and led the drive for the Haven for Hope campus for the homeless on the near West Side.
He made the case for spending $48 million for the future Voelcker Park, a 311-acre dairy farm locked in by development in North San Antonio.
He championed a record $550 million bond issue in 2007 and followed up last fall with a much less likely victory — the easing of San Antonio's draconian term limits. From there, he introduced the 11-prong Mission Verde plan to turn San Antonio into a sustainable energy center.
"He did more in four years, as far as quality of life, than any other mayor," said Ramiro Cavazos, president of the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and Hardberger's appointee to the chairmanship of the San Antonio Housing Authority.
The revamped Main Plaza may be another matter. It's a part of Hardberger's legacy that he says he's proud of — "I'm as strong on Main Plaza as I was when I proposed it" — but the project has been plagued by construction problems, cost overruns and complaints about both its aesthetics and the fast-track process that brought it about.
An adventurer — a sailor, mountain climber and pilot — Hardberger came to City Hall after stints in the Kennedy and Johnson administrations, a lucrative career as a trial attorney and seven years as chief justice of the 4th Court of Appeals. He campaigned as an outsider and promised to restore leadership to municipal government.
In office, he left no doubt who was in charge, which sometimes led to complaints about public process being short-circuited.
Hardberger talks about his approach to the office with bravado, saying that process sometimes is "a synonym for stop."
"There was a feeling in San Antonio that talking was the same as doing," he said. "If you have to overcome every objection, you would never accomplish anything."
Beyond the strong-mayor talk, he tied his success to a big extent to Sculley. Hardberger steadily fortified her position after the council hired her three months into his first term, routinely referring to her as the country's best city manager.
His support remains unstinting: "I have no criticisms of Sheryl at all, not even in the dark of night when I'm in bed."
That stance has led some City Hall observers to question — in whispers — whether Hardberger, despite his outsized personality, may have tipped the balance of San Antonio's council-manager form of government too much to the manager side. More than one critic has suggested it could cause problems for Castro.
Some of those comments are based on the fact that he pushed and won council approval for an extension of Sculley's contract late last year, which would make it more expensive and difficult to fire her after he leaves office.
But others look at Hardberger's and Sculley's relationship and conclude it benefited San Antonio enormously.
"Everything started with that decision," said Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff, who has worked closely with both Hardberger and Sculley. "If there was a linchpin to his four years, that was it."
Contractor Michael Beldon, one of the mayor's earliest supporters and Castro's campaign treasurer, said Hardberger "understands the council-manager form of government very, very well. Phil knew it wasn't his job to get immersed in the details."
And he didn't, according to Sculley.
"It works best when the council, the mayor and the city manager works together as a team — and the mayor is the only one who represents the entire city," she said. "If someone thinks there needs to be tension between the council and the city manager, they're not looking at it correctly."
Cavazos, a one-time economic development director under Sculley, hadn't seen anything quite like the partnership that blossomed after her hiring.
"I think it's the closest relationship between a mayor and a city manager that I've seen in municipal government," Cavazos said. It allowed Hardberger "to do wonderful things in a very short period of time."
He added: "The job of a good city manager is to make the mayor look good."
But for Pat Major, the city auditor when Hardberger arrived at City Hall, that relationship may have been too close when it came to her role as the city's independent watchdog.
She quit less than a year into his first term, concluding he didn't understand the auditor's function and gave her too little support. The last straw came when Hardberger told a San Antonio Express-News columnist that the auditor should be constructive, not aiming to hit the city manager with "Aha! Gotcha!" reports.
"He was trying to create an environment where there weren't impediments to her successful transition," Major said. "I think he was willing to listen to only one side."
Taking office in a period of economic plenty, when city government wasn't constrained by a recession and falling revenue, also helped Hardberger sprint through his agenda. With revenue pouring into city coffers, Hardberger didn't have to make the tough budgetary choices Castro will face.Wolff, who informally supported Hardberger in 2005, believes mayors should pursue major public improvements when times are good.
"It was really an extraordinary period, and he will go down as one of the city's extraordinary mayors," said Wolff, himself a former San Antonio mayor.
Doug McMurry, a former chairman of the city's parks advisory board, said the river improvements, the 2007 bond election and Voelcker Park, which has the potential to one day rival Brackenridge Park, will be major parts of Hardberger's legacy. But just as important was the change he tried to instill in the way green space is thought about in San Antonio.
"Obviously, for those of us who were frustrated parks enthusiasts, Phil Hardberger has been a blessing," McMurry said.
Annalisa Peace, executive director of the Greater Edwards Aquifer Alliance, also was happy with his approach to green space. But in her view, Hardberger didn't do enough as mayor to ensure the aquifer's long-term protection. She said the council never acted on recommended safeguards proposed by SAWS or water-protection activists.
"Phil Hardberger did a lot of good things," Peace said. "But if he had spent all the time and political capital on this that he did on Main Plaza, we'd all be just so much better off."
Some of his initiatives, while admirable, bore the imprint of his personality instead of "the imprint of various interest groups," Peace said.
For all of his successes, Hardberger had a bruising start. He didn't run against then-Mayor Ed Garza in 2005, but it often sounded that way. On the stump, he repeatedly portrayed the City Council as leaderless and adrift, and himself as the one who could bring direction and order.
Using Castro's youth against him, Hardberger beat him by less than three percentage points in a hard-fought runoff. Raw feelings persisted, though the two candidates publicly sought to put the campaign behind them, and the anger spilled over at an Alamodome celebration of the San Antonio Spurs' third NBA championship soon after he took office.
"I was just about booed off the stage," Hardberger said. "It was obvious I had some repair work to do after the campaign."
Then came Hurricane Katrina and the devastation of New Orleans in late August.
With then-City Manager Rolando Bono overseeing the city's far-flung relief effort, Hardberger was San Antonio's humanitarian face, saying on CNN: "We're not going to wait for federal dollars to come in, we're going to write whatever checks that need to be written right now."
In the midst of the crisis, Hardberger established himself as a take-charge mayor.
"I didn't hear any more booing after that," he said.
In the meantime, he worked behind the scenes to win the council's backing and to bolster the city's management team.
He started by pushing Michael Bernard, District Attorney Susan Reed's main lieutenant, as the next city attorney — even though that was Bono's decision to make and the council's merely to ratify. Bono ultimately picked Bernard and the council OK'd his appointment. But regardless of Bernard's bona fides, many believed Bono had been pressured.
Hardberger said he backed Bernard because he considered him the best person to fill a critical position.
"It was a little heavy-handed," said Art Hall, District 8's councilman in 2005. "But it also may have been regarded as leadership."
In the meantime, Hardberger worked the council. As the first mayor in generations to come from outside City Hall, he had little choice.
He sought to stamp out squabbles betweens council members, which sometimes played out on the dais during Garza's time in office. But some saw not squabbles but healthy public debate, and they worried Hardberger's council was less transparent than his predecessor's.
Hall believes Garza has gotten a bad rap in general, that he carefully tried to build consensus on council. It took time, Hall said, and led outsiders to conclude the council was rudderless.
Yet Hardberger's efforts went further. He enlisted attorney Jed Maebius to serve as his liaison with the council, and he frequently dropped in on members in their offices. That's where compromises got struck and alliances forged.
"That was huge," Hall said. "He had a pretty good idea of where people were, or could be, on an issue. We had a great working relationship. A lot of issues were resolved before they came to council."
That's a marked contrast to Hardberger's second council, which was packed with eight first-term members. Disputes on the dais have become more common, and the meetings have gotten longer.
Indeed, most of Hardberger's major pushes came in his first term. One of the biggest and most complex was the Haven for Hope transformational campus for the homeless.
Bill Greehey, philanthropist and chairman of NuStar Energy LP, said he approached Hardberger with the idea, and the mayor ran with it, making it a high priority for the council and city staff.
To Greehey, the episode showed just how dynamic Hardberger could be.
"He's one of the most outstanding mayors I've seen," Greehey said. "He brought a lot of maturity and experience to the job."
The build-up
Taking charge
'A synonym for stop'
A dynamic mayor left his mark
Good riddance. bringing in some outsider from Phoenix to run The City of San Antonio, that was one of the most ridiculos things he did and then knowing whoever was coming in as mayor would have gotten rid of her he goes and extends her contract.
And him closing the streets downtown permanantly, inconviencing all the citizens who use the streets/bus routes to go to work, shopping ect just so he can make some kind of park or whatever it is dedicated to himself was just foolish.
WRONG!!! Hardberger has been the best mayor in decades. No political agenda! He commaded respect and got it! I take the bus downtown everyday and walk right across the plaza and never once have I been inconvienced! All Sheryl Sculley has done is get the city back on track. It was a good choice.
I agree with Dasher. He had his little agenda and he did inconvenience a lot of citizens with his blocking off city streets.
But I also agree he did a pretty good job as mayor and ambassador for the city.
But again as Dasher said, that Sculley woman -
Originally Posted by blaze24k
with a 7 year gap between championships they're called team of the Decade, thats pretty funny, but whatever.
I Love our 3 titles this decade and making the Lakers cry on national TV in 2003!
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Hi! I'm Allie!
As a natural born "creative" I was always the one with a camera in my hand. I grabbed my first DSLR 10 years ago and never turned back. I took photos of everything I could, but mostly my cute sons and family events. I'm so grateful my passion has become my career!


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(c) Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association, Deerfield MA. All rights reserved.
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There is currently no available "Beginner" label. The following is the default level label: Russia fought Germany for three years (1914-17) before a revolutionary (Bolshevik, later Soviet) government negotiated a peace. In the ensuing Civil War (1917-22), German prisoners in Russia were not returned home. They remained in their camps in Siberia, where Greenfield doctor Charles Canedy saw them. It is probably the summer of 1919, as two of them are wearing shorts. These prisoners are probably walking to a meal, or perhaps they are going to work. They walk roughly three abreast, implying that they have just been counted. The motley assortment of clothing they wear hints at their long captivity.
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Republican and Democrat lawmakers prepared amendments to the National Defense Authorization bill pending in the Senate to punish Palestinian leaders if they use their new status in the United Nations (UN) to harm Israel.Posted on November 30, 2012
This month, for the second time in two years, Christian media professionals from across Eastern Europe gathered for training, spiritual growth, encouragement, and fellowship.Posted on November 28, 2012
Over 30 nonprofit organizations representing a broad cross-section of the nation's charitable sector have joined together in urging President Obama and congressional leadership to protect America's strong tradition of generosity by preserving historic incentives for charitable giving in the tax code.Posted on November 28, 2012
Popular Christian talk radio host Frank Pastore was injured in a motorcycle accident last week and remains in a coma. Though he has shown signs of improvement, Pastore is in serious condition and in great need of prayer.Posted on November 28, 2012
If there's one thing that film critics largely agree on when it comes to the box office surprise Life of Pi, it's the film's stunning and state-of-the-art visual effects, which make it a cut above the rest.Posted on November 28, 2012
A United Nations (UN) independent expert recently highlighted threats to a key religious human right: conversion. Heiner Bielefeldt, the UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief, declared to...Posted on November 16, 2012
Only one item is on the docket for the FCC's November 30 Open Meeting, but it is a significant one: new opportunities for low power radio and how that will intersect with existing translator...Posted on November 16, 2012
Members of Congress met this week to consider their leaders in the next session of Congress. The top players will remain the same: Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-OH), House Majority Leader...Posted on November 16, 2012
Just hours after being voted in as a Member of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), the United Arab Emirates (UAE) announced new rules to...Posted on November 16, 2012
It could be said that the first celebrants of Thanksgiving, in reality, had little to be thankful for. Yet they gave thanks.Posted on November 14, 2012
Marvin Sanders, the former General Manager of American Family Radio and Co-Host of Today's Issues on AFR, went home to be with the Lord the morning of November 5.Posted on November 14, 2012
NRB membership cards will soon be available to NRB members!Posted on November 14, 2012
In the wake of Hurricane Sandy's devastating blow to many on the East Coast, particularly in New Jersey and New York, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has issued a call to facilitate relief. The FCC Media Bureau released...Posted on November 9, 2012
Following Election Day, while key individual officials will be changing in the coming months, the 30,000-foot overview of Washington's political world looks similar to what it has been since the 2010 elections. President Barack Obama was...Posted on November 9, 2012
The 2006 elections brought the first Muslim, Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN), to Congress, and now the 2012 elections will bring new firsts for both the House and the Senate.Posted on November 9, 2012
Two Christian bodies have selected new key leaders. Last week, Egyptian Coptic Christians chose their new pope, Bishop Tawadros Theodorus II. Pope Tawadros II now leads a flock in...Posted on November 9, 2012


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Yay or nay? Post feedback here or vote. Thanks
edit: for further clarification, the effect will be solely for eye candy since it was historical. The effect will be nearly all visual except for a slightly tighter formation. It will show on all executables, barbarian invasion, rome or alexander.
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The most earthly looking eco-burial container that we've found is the Capsula Mundi, created by a pair of Italian designers who wanted to remove the taboo from the burial process and give it a new conception.
The Capsula Mundi is an egg-shaped container made of bioplastic. The body of the deceased rests in a fetal position within this capsule, which gets planted in the earth like a bulb. A shallow circular depression is dug above the capsule to symbolize the presence of the body, in the center of which a tree is planted. Over time, the groups of burial sites become a sacred memorial grove.
The Capsula Mundi has made appearances as a design piece in exhibitions around Europe, including one with Droog Design last year. As a show piece, the design is a quintessential representation of a sprouting seed, perfectly encapsulating the designers' goal of regarding death as an opportunity to nourish the earth for the future.


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BRASILIA — A small group of Brazilian youths got naked outside Congress Wednesday to demand an end to secret voting in the legislature.
"Democracy is not conducted with secret votes, so we need an open vote," said Michael Mohallem, one of the organizers of the protest by several dozen.
"We have nothing to hide" or "I am here and I exposed myself" read some of the placards held by the protesters.
In Brazil, it is not made public whether lawmakers have voted yes or no to a given bill.
The nudity stunt came as the Senate's Constitution and Justice commission was to consider a bill on scrapping secret voting, particularly to remove lawmakers from office.
The bill has already been approved by the House of Deputies.
In a secret vote last month, the House of Deputies failed to secure the necessary votes to expel Natan Donadon, who began serving a 13-year jail term for corruption in June.
This means that in effect Donadon, the first sitting congressman to be jailed in Brazil since the end of the military dictatorship in the mid-1980's, can continue legislating from his prison cell.
"I think the public has the right to know how we, senators, the representatives of the people, vote," said Senator Eduardo Suplicy, who joined the protesters.
"I am in favor of the open vote," he told the G1 news portal.
Last June, Congress was one of the targets of the more than one million Brazilians who took to the streets nationwide to demand an end to endemic corruption.


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I travel around regularly from my base in Canberra in the ACT to the country areas of New South Wales such as; Goulburn, Cooma, Wagga Wagga & Yass discussing everything from effective debt recovery services to what clauses you require in correctly written Terms and Conditions of Trade.
All of the business owners I speak to throughout Canberra and the NSW country regions seem to have the same common areas where they are not protecting themselves. Generally businesses are good at providing quotes for their goods and services, delivering the product or job and then invoicing for these. However they then become time constrained or the avoidance factor kicks in when it comes to following up their outstanding invoices.
There are a lot of people in Canberra and Goulburn in particular who mention to me how slow a number of their clients are in paying and are looking for a solution to improve the cash flow of their business.
If you are located in Canberra, or the surrounding country regions of NSW such as Goulburn, Cooma, Wagga Wagga or Yass, and want to improve the cash flow of your business, I'll be happy to sit down and discuss with you your specific situation. The solutions you need may vary from assistance with; debt recovery, updating your Terms and Conditions of Trade, credit checking services through Veda or PPSA compliance. Making the time to sit down and discuss with me you how you can improve your cash-flow and what Credit Management strategies are legally required to protect your business (such as Terms Of Trade) will help you improve your cash flow in the future.
Being the start of 2016, now is an ideal time to review your current credit management strategies and Terms of trade documentation to ensure you start the year off on the right footing.


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idd needed a new logo design and created a contest on 99designs.
A winner was selected from 100 designs submitted by 37 freelance designers.
Need a simple but impactful logo for a business offering transformation services for business process redesign, workshop facilitation and technology management initiatives.
Devi Consulting "Transforming Organizations from Within,"
The meaning of "Devi" is godess of all godesses in the hindu religion and represents the feminine force behind the holy trinity of creativity, preservation and transformation or destruction.
This is also the underlying principle for all business processes.
- Tagline is "Transforming organizations from within"
- I like orange or red also like blue (not bright)
- No more than 2 colours
- Simple but impactful
- All letters must be readable
- too flashy
- too many colours
- images that are too abstract or too literal
Find out how a design contest works or learn more about our logo design services.


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Some of the people I most instantly click with, months or years later, I learn they wish they'd gone to Space Camp. So… I'm seriously thinking of organizing just that. (Seriously.)Thankfully, people took me seriously! About ten people expressed interest. Because Space Camp for adults is only available a few times each year, schedules often conflicted. But last weekend, four of us took one giant leap (on airplanes) down to Huntsville, Alabama.
Here we are the night before camp, walking around the fenced perimeter, gawking at the rockets, wearing our "You're never too old for Space Camp" t-shirts.
Jason Roer, Tracy Clark, Sandi Greene, and me
To the left of the entrance is Habitat 1, the camp dorms. Boys are on one level, girls on another, and families on a third.
Jason and I grabbed our linen bags and ran to our room before any roommates could grab "our" top bunks.
The first thing we did as campers was listen to astronaut Robert "Hoot" Gibson give an inspiring presentation about his five missions aboard the space shuttle. He flew all but one of the shuttles, but the other was flown by his wife!
Each camper was assigned a missions team, and all four of us were put on Team Endeavour.
Then it was time to begin training as astronauts on their many high-end simulators.
Yes, things were a lot more high-tech than the above gift shop rocket.
Here we are sitting in Atlantis.
That photo was taken from a monitor in another part of the ship.
All four of us had seen the movie Space Camp, so were tossing around lines of dialogue several times per hour. When the counselors realized our geeky fandom for that movie, they informed us that this was the actual training shuttle used in that movie (modified for non-Hollywood use).
Throughout our three-day experience, we flew three shuttle missions. Some of us were astronauts, and some worked in Mission Control. For my first mission, I was Commander! Here I am, during training for the mission, gliding the shuttle in for a smooth(ish) landing.
After training, we got into flight suits to fly our first mission.
That mission didn't go too well because of miscommunication with Mission Control. Tracy sat to my right as Pilot, and when things got too crazy, we calmed ourselves down by singing Little Bunny Foo-Foo.
The next day, we performed other simulations, which included rides on the multi-axis trainer...
...and a walk on the moon, courtesy of a 1/6-gravity chair.
We wanted a group photo of us walking on the moon, but the teammate we handed the camera to accidentally flipped it to video.
Shortly after our simulated moonwalks, we learned of the passing of Neil Armstrong, the first man to actually walk on the moon. The tributes to Mr. Armstrong that played on monitors throughout camp made the rest of that day's training extra special, though bittersweet.
We finished building rockets we began to build the previous day. (Somehow, mine ended up on Launchpad 13.) The pinecone I placed in my rocket helped stabilize it as it shot through the air.
Tracy's rocket didn't fly quite as high, but it became a memorable launch when she informed Jason that his missing namebadge and lanyard were about to become astronauts.
For our next mission, I was at CAPCOM (Capsule Communicator), where I was the only person from Mission Control in communication with the shuttle crew (on the monitor above my station).
After our second mission, we sat in a capsule that spun until we reached 3.2 Gs.
For our third mission (lasting two hours), I was at the position of CATO (Communication and Tracking Officer), where I communicated with the public. I also took on the role of Flight Surgeon, solving medical emergencies in both Mission Control and on the shuttle.
Sunday was graduation day. While Team Endeavour didn't win first place for the design of our team patch, and we didn't win first place in the trivia contest, we did win first place for having the most successful mission!
That evening, we met fellow YA authors R.A Nelson (who actually works for NASA!) and Beck McDowell for dinner.
So, was Space Camp worth it? As a total geek for NASA and the Space Camp movie, it was absolutely worth it for the camp experience alone. But before Space Camp, Jason, Tracy, and Sandi were just friendly acquaintances. I critiqued Sandi's manuscript at a writing conference several years ago. I sent Tracy a congratulatory email when she won a Work-In-Progress grant that I'd previously won. And I had lunch with Jason, along with several other people, at a writing conference last year. Since those meetings, I've exchanged a few emails with each of them as their writing careers continued their countdowns to lift-off. But all four of us left Space Camp as full-fledged friends (with more inside-jokes in those three days than it's legal to acquire in most states).
In fact, we left Space Camp with a promise. In a few years, we're coming back. And we're coming back enrolled in the family tract. We may be the space-geekiest members of our families, but they're going up with us!


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Market Panic: Wild Gyrations, Risks and Opportunities in Stock Markets
Wiley, May 26, 2009 - Business & Economics - 300 pages
Many investors were lulled into complacency by the stock market bull run stretching from 2003 to 2007. Now that the markets have moved into extreme bear territory investors are wondering what to do and whether it is still the case that equities have delivered the best returns among all investment classes. In this incisive study Stephen Vines shows how stock markets operate in good times and bad and provides timely advice on how to benefit from the regular cycle of market panic and market boom. He provides some unusual answers to questions regularly asked by investors and shows why panics offer unique opportunities. Long held assumptions about the benefits of investment diversification are challenged and new ways of understanding the panic cycle are offered. Interviews with market professionals directly involved in handling some major stock crises provide a compelling insider?s account of what actually happens when panics break out. This book also looks at ways in which stock markets are becoming more detached from the companies and economies they are supposed to represent and shows how this is building a new and more dangerous form of instability into the market system. This is a truly comprehensive study examining all aspects of the stock market panic phenomenon. Presented in readable, jargon-free form this book will be of interest to anyone who invests in stock markets and is interested in preserving their wealth.
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Market Panic: Wild Gyrations, Risk and Opportunity in Stock Markets
Stephen Vines
No preview available - 2003
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American analysts argued Asian asset class average bear market behaviour believe bigger biggest billion bonds boom bubble bull market capital Carey cash cause cent Chapter collapse companies corporate crises crisis cycle decade decline diversification dividends dotcom dotcom boom earnings economic efficient markets theory emerging markets equity markets Figure financial markets fund managers futures market gains George Soros global gold growth happens hedge funds herd Hong Kong impact interest rates investment banks investors Japan Japanese Jeremy Siegel kets less loans look ment mergers move movements NASDAQ one-day performance period players portfolio insurance predict price falls price rises price-earnings ratios Primhak produced profits rational recession returns risk risk averse Robert Shiller seen sell share prices shareholders sharp speculation Stock Exchange stock market panics stock prices strategy suggests tulip mania valuations volatility Wall Street York


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Replacement Chrysler Hubcaps
Selling your car? Then a new set of hubcaps adds value to the look and selling price of your car. If you really want to save some money on your next set of Chrysler Hubcaps consider our budget sets or replicas. These universal aftermarket hubcaps fit any car. There's some information on how to measure hubcap size to the right.
Chrysler Hubcaps
Missing a hubcap can ruin the overall look of your car and reduce your resale value. But replacing that hubcap through a dealer can be very costly and time consuming.
Ordering Chrysler Hubcaps from INeedAHubcap.com can save you as much as 70% off dealer list price, as well as your time!
For an extremely affordable rate, you can replace that hubcap quickly and easily. If you are searching for Chrysler Hubcaps, select your model by choosing from the options at left!
How To Measure Your Hubcap Size
Not sure what hubcap size you need for your vehicle? Getting the right hubcap size is important and easy, if you know how.
To determine your hubcap size, simply look at the side of your tire. There, you'll see some numbers and letters. An example of what you are looking for is shown at right.
The specific digits you're most interested in are the last two numbers after the letter "R". In the example shown at right, the last two digits are "15". This indicates that this wheel requires a 15 inch hubcap. It's as simple as that.
What you do not want to do is physically measure the wheel or the hubcap.
If you have any questions or need assistance, call us toll free at 1-866-482-2278.


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Software & control
The performance of a modern machine tool depends not only on a well-designed machine but also to a large degree on the CNC control. TRAUB has realized this early on, which is why we have been developing our own control concept TX8i-series, thus setting new standards. For comfortable generation, optimizing and simulation of CNC programs, TRAUB offers WinFlexIPS, that can be run on both the machine and the PC.
Please choose your favorite software or control.