text:
38.5 is the number of hours I labored for to bring Tennyson into this world. Often times when I would hear of other women who would say "my labor took 'x' hours" I would cringe and silently pray for a miraculous 4-6 hour labor where everything went just the way it was suppose to be.
As most people know, I planned on laboring 100% naturally: No artificial hormones, pain killers, nothing. I also took hypnobirthing classes and practiced my hypnobirthing techniques in order to help myself get through each contraction throughout labor. So when people hear that my labor was 38.5 hours long their initial reaction/s were "well what went wrong" and "why didn't you go to a hospital" or "why didn't you do [insert suggestion here]". Well I'm happy to report that everything went perfectly (inspite of the 38.5 hour labor) and I wouldn't have changes one little bit of my entire experience. Actually, I would have changed just one part of the experience. But I'll get to that later.
I know people are just dying to know what happened and how on earth I was still able to deliver naturally. To everyone who sent me loving vibes and messages of strength I promise you they helped. I felt your love cheering me on and am so grateful for all the prayers that helped sustain me. Your out pour of love touched me so deeply.
Since labor I have learned that when someone has enough will power and determination to do what they know in their heart of hearts is best for their children, they WILL do it at what ever cost. Here is our story:
After our Valentines Day dinner in SLC, Tristin and I got home at 11pm and fell asleep at around 1am Saturday morning. Throughout that morning however I felt mild cramping that would come and go and got so excited that I was most likely in pre-labor. The cramping cycles kept me up most of the night but I eventually was able to get about 4 hours of sleep starting at 6am. By the time I woke, my pre-labor pains had gone away and I was really disappointed that my laboring day was not turning out to be that day.
However, that evening my pre-labor pains intensified by 11pm and by 12am Sunday the 16th I started to track my contractions hoping I was finally in the labor stage. From Saturday 11pm-Sunday 7am Tristin and I tracked my contractions but they were strangely sporadic and followed no pattern whatsoever. The intensity was severe but the intervals went from 5 minutes to 12 to 8 to 25, etc. When it came to the traditional signs of pre labor (aka false labor) and labor, I matched neither description. Perplexed, we called the midwives at 7:15am Sunday and asked them what they thought I should do. They said I could go in and they could check me or I could hold out and see if anything changes. Of course I chose the latter. *Side note: this is the one thing I would have changed about my labor story. I should have gone* How mortifying would it be if I made them go all the way into the office to check me and I was still in the pre labor stage and just being paranoid? My pride wouldn't go for that so we stayed at home and said we'd call when my contractions become consistent. In hind sight I realize that I had been in labor for 8 hours and had no idea. The whole of Sunday went by with the same patterns; some contractions extremely intense and others slightly more bearable, all of them having no consistency whatsoever. by 11pm Sunday (24 hours into labor) I called the midwives again and they suggested I go in to get checked.
One hour later (12am Monday morning) the midwives told me great news. Not only was Baby PERFECTLY health and happy with the strongest little heartbeat ever but I was NOT in pre labor/false labor like I thought I had been but that I had actually been in full blown labor for the past 25 hours and was 5cm dialated and 90% effaced. However, the reason my laboring was so sporadic and followed the nontraditional patterns of labor was because my baby was facing anteriorly (So he was still head down in my pelvis but instead of him facing my spine he was facing my stomach). They informed me that my body was ready to push him out but was waiting for him to be positioned properly, hence the inconsistencies with my labor pattern. They gave me 2 options: 1) break my water now and get this labor show on the road or 2) take some tylenol PM get some sleep but sleep in a very specific position that will help move the baby to face posteriorly. They said after getting 4 hours of sleep with the aid of the tylenol, I should wake up in full blown labor and ready to have this baby. I had already made up my mind to picked option number 2 but asked them what they suggested. They suggested option number 2 for two very good reason, the first being that in 2 days I had gotten a total of 4-5 hours of sleep and the second being that I would need rest to push this baby out. Being in full blown labor for 24 hours definitely has it's toll on your body. So we took the tylenol and headed back home.
3:30am (2 hours later) I woke up with intense and consistent contractions. Tristin ran a hot bath for me and for the next 1.5 hours we tracked my contractions. Finally they were consistent: about 1-2mins in duration and 3 minutes apart. I was in serious labor. We called the midwives and met them at the office at 5am. At this point in the game I had been in full blown labor (inconsistent and consistent) for 29 hours. I figured that another few hours I would be birthing my son in the water (I had planned on having a water birth) and couldn't wait! The moment I had been waiting for for 9 months was just around the corner. I was thrilled and excited and kept telling Tristin and our moms and my sister-in-law Brittany (all the people I had invited to witness the birth of our son) that I can totally do this and I am SO ready to do this! I was smiling and joking and really breathing through all my contractions really well. I was so used to the pain at this stage in the game that I felt like I could face ANYTHING! Bring on the pushing! Lets get this little guy here!
after about 4 hours of more laboring and intense contractions (the time being around 9 or 10am Monday morning) I was 8cm dilated. All we had to do now was wait for my water to break! They told me to walk around and squat to help with the intensity of the contractions which sounds reasonable and very doable. But I was faced with a very very big problem: In 3 days I had slept 6 hours and due to the intensity of labor, I had eaten very very little. No matter how much food people brought me and encouraged me to eat, I could not eat. my appetite had completely disappeared. So here I am, exhausted, starving, laboring for 34 hours and I had absolutely nothing left. Nothing. Instead of breathing into my contractions, I resisted them. Instead of relaxing, I tensed. Instead of humming and meditating, I started crying. Mentally, I had slipped and lost my "happy place". I was now in full blown distress. Everyone encouraged me to eat and squat and walk but I fought it all."I can't! I'm SO tired! I can't get out of this birthing tub!" I would tell them. Tristin begged me to drink fluids which I reluctantly did: drinking meant I had to use energy to swallow. I had no energy. I was defeated.
By 11am I had the midwives check me again. I was still 8 cm dilated. We were just waiting for my water to break so I could get to 10cm and start pushing but I needed that one last strong contraction to break my water sack. I tried and tried but eventually I told the midwives to come in and break my water. I couldn't do it. I knew the risk factors when it came to breaking ones water. However, I was comforted by the fact that I was so far in the game that the risks were very minimal now. They came, broke my water and then assisted me on the birthing stool and helped me push. The only problem was that I had no energy to push and the pushing I was doing was just not cutting it. They used all the tricks in their books: from pushing on my perineum (to increase my pushing reflex) to manually moving my cervix over to make pushing easier, they did it all. The bottom line was that I just wasn't pushing hard enough because I was exhausted, undernourished and dehydrated. I was running on empty.
They offered an IV but I refused (I'm deathly afraid of needles) so then they offered me oxygen to which I happily accepted. I knew extra oxygen intake didn't take any energy so I was happy with that suggestion.
45 minutes of pushing and my little boy had moved very little down my pelvis. I couldn't push hard enough due to the circumstances so now it was time to use another trick. The midwives relocated me to the bed, had me lay on my side with my legs apart and then had me hold a towel on one end while one of them held the towel on the other, then they would have me pull myself up to a sitting position and push as hard as I could while doing so. The trick to this was to use my abs and diaphragm to push baby out while my pelvic floor was perfectly relaxed during the pushing. Miraculously this worked. I finally felt progress and movement. 30 minutes later I heard signs of relief and crying as my family witness my little boys head being birthed. There was a light at the end of the tunnel finally. My boy would soon be in my arms. "Reach down and touch his head, Juanique! He's right there! Can you feel him?" I could! I could feel his little head! He was finally coming! He was finally going to be in my arms!
If you were to ask me what labor and birthing felt like I would describe it like this:
Pretend you are standing in the middle of the road and there is a car that is coming at you at about 25-30 miles per hour. You can see it's coming but there's nothing you can do but just accept the fact that it's going to hit you, so you let it and you hurt and you get up and you wait for the next car to come and hit you. Now add hypnobirthing to the natural labor experience: you see a car coming at you and you tell yourself, "Wow, this weather is so beautiful. and what a beautiful country road I am standing on with the snow capped mountains in the background. I can hear the wind blowing the leaves around me and feel the sun shining on my face and I know that when this car hits me all I need to do is remember the warm sun shining, the pretty mountains in the background the wind blowing and remember that when this car comes, the sun will still be shining and the mountains will still be standing there and the wind will still be blowing. All will be alright". After the last 3-4 hours of giving up, tears (from myself and my family that were there witnessing the birth), exhaustion, complete surrender and loss of all hope, I reached down and felt my little boys head and finally remembered again that the sun was still shining, the snow capped mountains still had snow, the wind was still blowing and all was right in the world. Everything was perfect again. I had found my happy place.
Tennyson Errick Roney was born February 17th at 1:25pm weighing 7lbs 14oz and 22 inches long. He was above and beyond perfection and is still the most beautiful thing I have ever laid my eyes on. He came out completely pink with very little vernix on him and the most beautiful little cry I had ever heard. After overcoming the shock of having my son finally in my arms after 38.5 hours of labor, I cried, announced his name and then asked, "now what do I do?" and "I seriously need to eat something".
There are many reasons why I chose to do a natural labor and delivery. Maybe someday I will post those reasons but I know without doubt that I brought my son into this world peacefully and without any chemical/medical intervention. Everything happened for him and in his timeline, not mine. To rush HIS birthing process would be selfish because as hard as I was working to get him here, I knew he was working hard too. Through my last stages of labor the midwives would monitor Tennyson's stress levels and every time they'd report back that he was perfect. Strong heart beat, no fetal distress, nothing. I would have endured another 10 hours of labor if it meant that he would be unharmed and stress free. I understand that there is need for medical intervention but I know that if I had a doctor throughout this birthing process, he would have wanted to speed up my labor or he'd have done a c-section because of the complications of Tennyson's positioning in the beginning and the stressful state that my body was in in the last 5 hours of labor. In fact, I have never come across any labor story where a doctor waited 38 hours for anyone to deliver a baby. 8 hours is considered a long time in the hospital setting.
My team of midwives were AMAZING! I have never felt more safe and confident with a team of medical experts in my life! They were with me every step of the way and made me feel like I was the most important and special laboring woman in the world. To thank them for what they did for me wouldn't be enough. They were my angels. I look at the picture my mother took of them and I get emotional. I have so much love for these 4 ladies! I wouldn't have wanted any one else to have been there at my birth than them! I was SO blessed! My experience at Better Birth was everything I thought it should have been. They informed me of all my options and in the end *I* decided what we were all to do. No one ever bossed me around or made me feel like I wasn't the one in charge of my body. They respected me and they respected the birthing process. Their honesty and openness in all the decisions I made was absolutely phenomenal. And throughout the entire labor process they reassured me that my son was perfectly healthy and under no stress and that everything was going exactly the way it was suppose to and that I had nothing to fear (even when I started asking, "Do we need to cut him out now?").
However, the man of the hour/weekend was my husband! Tristin was with me every step of the way. He held me up when I couldn't stand, helped me push when I couldn't push (He literally helped me push! I was sitting on the birthing stool with my back laying against his chest. When it came time to push he'd push my torso forward so I wouldn't have to use that energy to lift myself up), and told me how strong I was when I felt I had given up. He was *IT* for me: he was everything I thought I had given up on during those last few hours. What beautiful memories I have of he and I together laboring and sharing one last amazing memory as husband and wife before we transitioned to mom and dad. Of all the life altering moments and intensely amazing experiences I've had in my life, this one is my favorite! Yes, it's even more amazing and more special than the day we got married. I am so happy that Tristin and I shared these last beautiful and vulnerable moments together as just he and I.
Lastly, I want to say that natural labor is NOT easy. It's definitely painful! If you're not all in, you'll find a way out of it. But I learned something about myself during those 38.5 hours of laboring. I've shared this before (via Facebook and Instagram) but I feel the need to share it again. I learned that there is absolutely NOTHING I wouldn't do for the two men of my life. I've also learned that love is completely limitless. If you love someone or something enough, there's nothing you wouldn't endure to make sure it is safe. And lastly I've learned that I have a son who is so perfect and beautiful that it literally makes me cry from happiness.
Would I do it again? Abso-freaking-lutely!
What a lucky girl I am!


text:
In 1825, in the shadow of Somerset's famous Glastonbury Tor, brothers Cyrus and James Clark founded a footwear company that would become like no other. At its heart was a belief in craft, innovation and comfort. With more firsts than any other name in footwear these principles live on 190 years later.Find out more
Staying true to our responsibilities - striving to be better and do better.Explore
The worlds best known shoe brand and global success story. Here you will find out about the wide range of opportunities that a career with Clarks could offer you.Join Us

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Barrier Reef Discovery
30 Aug - 6 Sep 2019
Departing Brisbane, Returning Brisbane
Future You Sale on now!
Sale ends 27 August*
Up to $900 Onboard Spending Money per room*
to use on spa treatments, shore excursions and more
No place like home
We dedicate this itinerary to our incredible Great Barrier Reef – one of the seven wonders of the natural world.
With three ports from which you can explore the pristine reef, coral cays and tropical islands, take the opportunity to fall in love with Australia all over again.
Things to do on board
Family Fun
Keep the young and young at heart entertained
Rooms to suit every type of traveller
Each day is a brand new adventure! The hardest part is choosing what to try first.
Restaurants & Dining
We've got a unique dining experience to suit all tastebuds
Where you'll go
– Day 1 –
Brisbane30 Aug, Departing 2PM
Learn More
– Day 2 –
Sea Day31 Aug
Learn More
– Day 3 –
Airlie Beach1 Sep, 7AM - 4PM
Learn More
– Days 4 & 5 –
Cairns2 Sep 9:30AM - 3 Sep 5PM
Learn More
– Day 6 –
Willis Island (Drop Anchor)4 Sep, 8:30AM - 9:30AM
Learn More
– Day 7 –
Sea Day5 Sep
Learn More
– Day 8 –
Brisbane6 Sep, Arriving 6AM
Learn More
"It's so easy to do so many things of an evening as they are all available and all in close vicinity. I can have dinner, drinks, see a show and go dancing all in one night!"
By Gillian
Pacific Aria
Book your cruise
Booking more than 7 rooms, need connected rooms or have an accessibility requirement?Give us a call
Oh no. Your selected rooms are no longer available. Please select new rooms below.
Booking Summary


text:
Monogram Motif Diamond Quilted Jacket
All orders will be fulfilled by Burberry Limited and shipped from the UK. When you place your order, you accept Burberry's Terms and Conditions and confirm that you have read our Privacy Policy.
Size Guide
Use the Size Guide to choose the best fit for your measurements.
In this window, you can find out the shipping and returns options for the selected item.
In this window, you can contact customer service for further assistance.
- A high-shine quilted jacket appliquéd with a Monogram motif – turn back the cuffs to reveal rib-knit detailing in our Icon stripe.
- Jacket length: 61.5cm/24.2in. This is based on a size UK S as proportions change slightly according to size.
- Model's height: 179cm/5ft 10.5in
- Outer: 100% polyamide
- Trim: 49% acrylic, 40% cotton, 10% polyamide, 1% elastane
- Lining: 100% polyamide
- Filling: 100% polyester
- Press-stud closure
- Concealed side press-stud slip pockets
- Side press-stud vents
- Specialist dry clean
- Imported
Item 80101251


text:
With the issue of same-sex marriage argued before the Supreme Court and raging elsewhere in America, a question: Is it possible to be a traditional Christian or Muslim or Orthodox Jew - and hold to one's faith on what constitutes marriage - and not be considered a bigot?
With the issue of same-sex marriage argued before the Supreme Court and raging elsewhere in America, a question:
Is it possible to be a traditional Christian or Muslim or Orthodox Jew � and hold to one�s faith on what constitutes marriage � and not be considered a bigot?
And is faith now a problem to be overcome, first marginalized by the state and then contained, so as not to get in the way of great changes to come?
The issue of same-sex unions is by nature contentious and divisive. It is not merely about equal protection under the law, but redefining the foundation of our culture, which is the family itself.
It�s not my intention to add to the anger and the noise. If you�ve followed the news of the crowds outside the Supreme Court this week, and watched those vicious little boxes within boxes on cable TV, with angry people barking at each other, you�ll get plenty of noise.
I�m not angry. Yet I am struggling. And I�ve been silent on the subject for some time, trying to figure it out.
I�m not opposed to same-sex unions. Americans have the right to equal protection under the law, and same-sex couples should be able to expect the same tax benefits and other considerations allowed to the rest of us.
As far as I�m concerned, Americans have the right to do as they please as long as they don�t infringe upon the rights of others. America is all about liberty and freedom.
But this all comes now during the season of Lent, a time of fasting and prayer, when Christians are compelled to confront the obligations of their faith.
And while I hear the new moral arguments, about equal rights and equal protection, I�ve read little about the religious freedom aspects and what the Supreme Court�s ruling might mean for houses of traditional worship.
All I�m asking is that in the rush to establish new rights, that tolerance for religious freedom be considered, as well.
For centuries now, churches have allowed the state to license marriage ceremonies. It follows then that what is happening in America at present was inevitable long ago.
To speak of faith in this context is to invite the charge of bigotry � if not outright, at least by comparison to angry fire-and-brimstone preachers who seem to use the Bible as a lash. Some wield the Old Testament like a cudgel, and avoid the New Testament, in which Christ asked us to refrain from judging and to love our neighbor.
No one with half a brain wants to be thought of as a bigot. But that�s what I and others risk as members of a distinct and irritating minority � as traditional Christians in journalism.
It is a world of language and political symbolism, a world where ideas are often framed so that they may lead to inexorable conclusions favored by the dominant culture. In this media world, I sometimes wonder whether the word sin has been outlawed by the high priests of journalism for fear of offending one group or another. And I�d rather not ask.
Now that the debate has been framed, if I hold to my faith and resist applauding the changes, I�m easily cast as some drooling white cartoon bigot of the Jim Crow era, denying black Americans the right to sit at a lunch counter and have a meal with the white folks.
What is also clear is that, given demographic shifts and attitudes, particularly by young people regarding sexuality and family, traditional Christianity is no longer the dominant culture.
It is the counterculture, fast becoming a minority view.
Again, I don�t oppose same-sex unions. My wife and I have had friends and family members who were gay, and died of AIDS. We loved them, and still do.
But I am Greek Orthodox, a never-changing faith, and this is Lent.
And while I struggle with the fast-moving issue of the redefinition of marriage and its effect on our culture and how to reconcile the rights of others and my own religious beliefs, I ask only one thing:
Remember that word? Tolerance?
Tolerance for those whose faith and traditional beliefs put them in what is fast becoming the minority.
John Kass writes for the Chicago Tribune.


text:
for a more personalised experience and to access all available games and pricing.
Contact the Ticket Office.
Enter your
E-Mail Address
to get the reset instructions emailed to you.
You will shortly receive an email with instructions on how to reset your password.
Not registered?
Create an account now
Have an existing account?
Activate it now
6 Apr 2019
Twickenham Parking
This event is no longer on sale through the e-Tickets site.
Return to Ticket Home


text:
Lana Del Rey's 10 Hottest Photo Shoots (PHOTOS)
Lana Del Rey's SNL performance caused a critical uproar, and her seemingly calculated image has raised eyebrows. So, to call the "Video Games" singer "divisive" would be an understatement. But as we've witnessed with her rise in EP sales and her addition to the SXSW lineup, Lana's buzz isn't dying down anytime soon. Love her or hate her (we're looking at you Brian Williams), the girl takes a great photo — many of them, in fact. So we've gathered 10 of the newest NEXT model's best shots so far. Tell us on Facebook, Twitter or below if you agree with our pick for #1.


text:
Discover Weekly
Discover Weekly is a playlist of songs we think you'll love. Based on what you and those with similar music tastes listen to, it gets even better the more you use Spotify.
Discover Weekly automatically refreshes every Monday, so make sure you save the tracks you like from it before it updates.
Note: Anything you play in a private session won't influence your Discover Weekly recommendations.
Desktop and web player
Find Discover Weekly in Your Library under Made for You.
Mobile and tablet
Find Discover Weekly in Home under Made For You.
Got Premium? Made for You can also be found in Your Library.
Can't find it?
You can also Search for your Discover Weekly playlist.
New to Spotify?
We need to get to know you and the music you like, so expect to receive your Discover Weekly playlist after a few weeks of listening.
Discover Weekly is 100% brand new every Monday. If you like any of the tracks in your Discover Weekly playlist, be sure to save them or add them to another playlist before it updates the following Monday.
By default, your Discover Weekly playlist is secret, meaning only you can see and listen to it. If you want, you can make it Public, share it and even follow other people's Discover Weekly playlists (if they're Public).


text:
I stumbled on this site a couple of weeks ago, and was immediately impressed.
Iconic Photos bills itself as Famous, Infamous and Iconic Photos. Usually black-and-white, these fascinating images document historic events, locations and people.
Categories include Art and Archeology, Politics, Science and Tech, Society, Sports and War.
How can this site enhance your genealogical research?
Have an ancestor who died in the Triangle Shirtwaist Company fire of 1911? Here's a tragic image:
Need to illustrate a great-granduncle's service in WWI? A few of the leading characters in this, "the war to end all wars":
Did your ancestor survive the Warsaw Ghetto? Not many did…
As you can see, Iconic Photos is an amazing gallery of historic images. Is your ancestor to be found here?


text:
Most wanted to get tougher, but few wanted to do it by adding a useless plug that was only here to fight.ukcanuck wrote: I dont have the time or patience to figure out how to pull a Strangelove word eating search, but I'm fairly sure you were all against this sort of thing last season when many were arguing for a "deterrent" on the roster. but yeah, it would be nice to have a guy who can answer the bell and stand up when the cute shit starts.
My bad, I'm the 4th guy to say this.
On a side note I thin its kind of funny that some media types are criticizing Kassian for fighting last night when he was playing well. These are the same types who cry any time someone takes a cheap shot at one of our top players.
The reality is Kassian needs to make a name for himself as a guy who can fight the tougher guys in the league. Once that happens he can start taking a pass when the Eagers of the world come calling.


text:
Second Chance Games has been around for 35+ years. We sell many games yet the one prevailing categories are the historical board wargame.
Link Directory
Order by: Top Links
Second Chance Gameshttps://www.secondchancegames.com:7081/index.php/component/virtuemart/manufacturer/lock-n-load-publishing-1
- Submit date:
- Nov 1, 2017
- Category:
- LnLP Distributors
- Site-Language:
- English (UK)
- Clicks:
- 59
There are currently no links to display.


text:
Wendy L here and I've chosen a theme of
as my Birthday is coming up soon.
Wow what a great selection of butterfly cards Ladies. Love them all Team B . xx
Hi all, I haven't commented on no: 12 as there is only one tiny butterfly on this card....almost as if it's been added on as an afterthought. Janice S XX
I agree Janice, I did comment but it wont be included in prize draw. xxx
Gorgeous creations by the DT! Love all the butterflies, love the colors!
Beautiful creations from the design team!
Fabby creations by the DT. Thanks for the inspiration, Hazel xx
Please Do not Backlink to cards you have made earlier than our start date for that weeks challenge. Its not fair!
To be in with a chance of being in the Top Three you MUST use the Sketch or Theme!
Most of all though we hope you enjoy your time here.


text:
Our customer support is open on a 24 hours basis. Please feel free to contact us.
Irish Story is a 5 reel 9 line slot machine featuring:
From live roulette to bacarrat, you are bound to find your casino favourites, right here!
Pelisali is a modern gaming site that offers you a unique gaming experience complete with 24 hour LIVE games, brought to you by an actual casino, thus ensuring that results are completely authentic, within real time.
The team behind Pelisali are highly experienced in their field, both on a domestic level and on an international level too, therefore ensuring that a fun-filled, yet truly genuine casino experience is brought, directly to you, online and from the comfort of your own home!
One of the things Pelisali thrives in is their offers and bonuses, guaranteeing the best winning odds and bonuses! We treat each of our players as a VIP, offering a high-quality service, including tailor-made bonuses. We can guarantee a secure gaming experience, whereby any of your winnings, will be processed within 48 hours – this is the VIP treatment we give to all our clients!
Happy Gaming!
Our customer support is open on a 24 hours basis. Please feel free to contact us.
We offer safe and fast money transfers.
Play responsibly! Anybody under 18, is not allowed here!
Real time deposits: With credit cards, internet banking and mobile phone.


text:
Two security guards were stabbed in a scuffle with patrons at the Baltimore Comedy Factory at Power Plant Live on Sunday night.
Comedian Aries Spears, known for his work on MADtv, was winding down his stand-up set at around 8:45 p.m. when a scuffle broke out with a group of patrons who disputed their bill, according to witnesses, police and Michael Lovegrove, the head of security for the Comedy Factory.
Police said Monday that Kenneth Bernard Corporal, 21, of Baltimore, had been charged with two counts each of first- and second-degree assault in connection with the stabbing. Court records were not immediately available and it could not be determined if he had an attorney.
Both guards were stabbed in a back service hallway inside the building, Lovegrove said. Police said they were expected to survive, with one stabbed in the shoulder and the other in the back.
"In all my 23ys of stand up I've never worked a club were the bouncers get stabbed n da club!" Spears later wrote on Twitter about the incident, adding a profanity to describe the city's residents as uncaring.
No one else was injured in the incident.


text:
Sony sells $835m PS3 CPU plant to Toshiba
Consolation prize?
Sony today re-iterated its plan to sell its Cell processor chip factory to Toshiba, which will pay ¥90bn ($835m) for the facility.
Toshiba's buying the plant in Western Japan, but it'll be run by a joint-venture co-owned by the two giants. The JV was announced in October 2007, part of Sony's plan to exit the costly chip business.
The JV is due to be incorporated on 1 April, on which date it will use the plant acquired by Toshiba to punch out Cell CPUs and the RSX graphics chips - the GPU developed by Nvidia and, like Cell, used in the PlayStation 3.
Sony's partnership with Toshiba over the Cell chip is in stark contrast to the two firms' opposition over next-gen optical disc formats. Yesterday, Toshiba said it was ending production of HD DVD hardware, allowing the Sony-back Blu-ray Disc to claim victory in the format war.
Toshiba yesterday said it would focus on products like Cell and solid-state storage in the post-HD DVD world.
Toshiba plans to use Cell in future HD TVs. This past January, at the Consumer Electronics Show, it demo'd an LCD TV equipped with Cell for image processing, including decoding multiple HD video streams for picture-in-picture displays.


text:
Belmont life: filmmakers shoot for the hip
Who would think that the characters passing by a Belmont porch on any random summer evening could rival the characters in the street scene of a town as famously wacky as San Francisco?
Mark Edwards and Mary Michaud not only think that's true, they know it, and they made a movie to prove it.
Edwards and Michaud are the creators of Still Life with Donuts, a highly praised documentary about all things Belmont– trains, gardens, Elvis, and, of course, Spudnuts donut shop that aired to appreciative crowds at the Vinegar Hill Theater last spring.
Why Belmont?
"We would sit on our porch drinking wine and watching people go by," Michaud says, "and we said to ourselves, 'We should document this.'"
The project that began as a desire to capture the individuality of folks in the neighborhood quickly ballooned.
"When we started to do research," Michaud says, "we found that people have such pride in living in Belmont, but feel like underdogs. We wanted to do something to promote the neighborhood."
The result is Still Life, filled with loving shots of rumbling trains, the coaling tower, flapjack-cooking, and children's impromptu dancing accompanied by a soundtrack of Belmont natives: the Hogwaller Ramblers, Darling Dot Collier, and Jeff Melkerson and Woody Luckett "playing" shopping cart and cans.
The film was such a hit at its premiere at the Vinegar Hill Film Festival last spring (at 5:30 on a Tuesday afternoon!) that the theater decided to show it again, at a Sunday matinee, which was just as popular.
"They were handing out Spudnuts to everyone who bought a ticket," remembers Vinegar Hill manager Reid Oechslin. "The line of patrons stretched up Market Street. I heard lots of laughing from the theater and nothing but positive comments as people were leaving."
The next project on the couple's agenda is "just as exciting," according to Edwards: a documentary about the life of John Armstrong Chaloner, an heir of the Aster fortune who lived on a farm in Keswick in the '20s and '30s.
Among Chaloner's many eccentricities– and undoubtedly the trait that most endears him to this filmmaking duo– was a program of "Movies for Farmers," which he screened for local residents, both black and white, in his barn. The three-part shows in the early days of silents– consisted of educational films and newsreels followed by a feature presentation, usually a Hollywood cowboy flick. According to Michaud, Chaloner even had an elegant player piano in the barn to accompany the shows.
Perhaps inspired by Chaloner, Michaud and Edwards will screen Still Life on September 13 in the theater in the V. Earl Dickinson building at PVCC to benefit the Albemarle Charlottesville Historical Society.
It won't be in a barn, but it may be just as much fun.Read more on: belmont


text:
I have a question regarding using PAPI counter events to get details of the cache coherence overheads associated with different kernels in a parallel application (In SGI Altix 4700 machine).
> PAPI_CA_SNP 0x80000009 Yes No Requests for a snoop
> PAPI_CA_INV 0x8000000c Yes Yes Requests for cache line invalidation
Is it correct to assume that these could be used to derive invalidation to snooping ratio for a particular parallel kernel?
Thanks for your support!


text:
Energy Harvesting Solutions
Energy Harvesting devices can derive energy from a variety of sources including solar, vibration, and temperature variation. By utilizing these natural energy sources, designers can create applications that are maintenance-free and allow for new forms of implementation. With the broadest selection of energy harvesting devices and components in the industry, Digi-Key offers solutions and the most flexible options for your Energy Harvesting design.


text:
Accessibility tools
Service tools
Language selector
Navigation path
Left navigation
Additional tools
Other available languages: none
European Commission
Brussels, 15 January 2014
State aid: Commission adopts new rules on risk finance – frequently asked questions
(see also IP/14/21)
What is the purpose of the Risk Finance Guidelines?
The guidelines are aimed at ensuring that certain SMEs and midcaps have access to the necessary amount and form of finance, while maintaining a level playing field in the Single Market. This is one of the pre-conditions for their development and ability to create jobs. Where the private finance markets fail to deliver the necessary funding, Member States may provide financial or fiscal incentives for private investors to put money into higher-risk companies that they would not have targeted without such support.
The Commission is in charge of controlling state aid in the Single Market to avoid that Member States grant selective advantages to companies to the detriment of others. This allows companies from all Member States to compete evenly and without undue barriers. The Risk Finance Guidelines set out the criteria under which the Commission will assess aid schemes put in place by Member States to support the access to finance by SMEs and midcaps with high-growth potential. This allows businesses and Member States to rely on stable and transparent rules when designing their support schemes. The guidelines will enter into force on 1 July 2014. They will replace the Risk Capital Guidelines adopted in 2006.
Why was it necessary to review the 2006 Risk Capital Guidelines?
The current rules were conceived in 2006. Since then, the markets have changed and today SMEs face a wider and deeper lack of funding than previously assumed, in particular due to the financial crisis. The existing rules allowed aid for the equity financing of SMEs during their early development stages. This has proved to be too restrictive. The new Risk Finance Guidelines take account of this evolution and of the extent of the market failure affecting SMEs' ability to access finance. This will improve the capacity of European SMEs and midcaps to develop, thereby helping to boost economic growth and job-creation.
What is the relation between the General Block Exemption Regulation and the Guidelines?
The new Risk Finance Guidelines should be seen together with the relevant rules contained in the draft General Block Exemption Regulation (GBER). The GBER exempts certain categories of non-problematic aid from prior Commission scrutiny. Aid schemes that do not fulfil all the conditions of the GBER need to be notified to the Commission, who will assess them on a case-by-case basis in the light of the criteria set out in the Guidelines.
The Commission proposes to include new rules on risk finance aid in the next version of the GBER, which is currently being reviewed (see IP/13/1281). The schemes that comply with the rules set out in the GBER will not have to be notified to the Commission. This will facilitate the granting of aid and reduce red tape for public administrations and industry alike.
Which companies will be able to benefit from the Risk Finance Guidelines?
The current General Block Exemption covers risk capital aid schemes for SMEs (up to 250 employees) in their seed and start-up phases, small companies in the expansion phase and medium-sized companies in the expansion phase that are established in assisted areas (defined by the guidelines on state aid for regional development). Beyond these limits, Member States need to notify their schemes under the Risk Capital Guidelines. Moreover, the current rules did not allow risk capital aid for SMEs in their growth stage.
The new risk finance rules have a radically enlarged scope, covering a wider range of companies, irrespective from their location in assisted or non-assisted areas, including not only SMEs from seed/start up and expansion stages, but also SMEs at later growth stages, small midcaps (up to 499 employees) and innovative midcaps (up to 1500 employees and with R&D and innovation costs representing 10% of total operating costs).
For instance, under the current block exemption, a medium size company in a non-assisted area (i.e. in a large part of the "old" Member States) would only be eligible to receive aided risk capital investment up to its start-up phase, i.e. before its first commercial sale. In the future, such a company could receive aided investment under the block exemption.
What will be the notification threshold?
Under the revised GBER proposed by the Commission, risk finance measures of up to EUR 15 million per SME will be exempted from prior Commission scrutiny. This overall amount has to be seen as a one-off aid covering the full development cycle of the target SME (compared to the current maximum annual tranches of EUR 1.5 million in the current GBER).
In addition, the Risk Finance Guidelines set up compatibility conditions for amounts above EUR 15 million, without imposing any specific cap, as long as the aid measure is justified, as demonstrated in a prior assessment of the market failure. This will enable, for instance, R&D-intensive companies or companies in industries with high upfront investment costs to access the necessary amount of finance right from their creation, through a sequence of investment rounds which will no longer be constrained by the current restrictions on maximum annual tranches (of maximum EUR 2.5 million in the current guidelines).
For instance, an R&D-intensive biotech company that would need EUR 10 million upfront investment to develop its product, would have to wait 7 years under the current block exemption (EUR 1.5 million * 7 years = 10.5 million) or 4 years under the Guidelines (EUR 2.5 million * 4 years = 10 million). Under the future block exemption, this company could receive EUR 10 million upfront, which could further be complemented later by EUR 5 million aided follow-on investments sequenced according to the needs of the company, to help it grow to a sustainable stage where it can attract private financing on its own.
Will capital replacement transactions and buy-outs continue to be prohibited?
Contrary to the current rules, the new regime will better reflect market practices by allowing capital replacement operations, i.e. the purchase of shares from existing shareholders, as long as they are combined with new fresh capital injection into the company. This should facilitate the exit of investors, which in turn will incentivise them to invest at an earlier stage. Buy-outs, i.e. taking over the ownership of a company, will continue to be excluded as under the current rules, because these transactions are not affected by a market failure.
Which financial instruments can be used to channel the aid?
The new rules cater for a wide range of instruments. The current rules require that 70% of the budget is provided in the form of equity. However, companies need different forms of financing, depending on their development stage, sector and the specific interests of the owners. The new risk finance rules therefore abolish the 70% minimum equity requirement, and they allow for a wider range of financial instruments (equity, quasi-equity, loans, guarantees or hybrid instruments). This is better in line with market practices.
What will be the minimum mandatory participation rate by private investors?
The current rules require a minimum flat 50% private capital participation rate in non-assisted areas and 30% in assisted areas. The new risk finance regime abolishes the distinction between assisted and non-assisted areas and introduces a new system whereby the private capital participation ratio is tailored in function of the inherent riskiness of the investee.
For investments into SMEs before their first commercial sale, the private capital participation requirement will be as low as 10%, to take account of the reluctance of private investors to provide funding at this stage. As the target companies become more established, the required rate of private investment increases.
The Risk Finance Guidelines will also allow for lower levels of private participation where Member States have demonstrated that private investors are particularly reluctant to invest in certain territories, irrespective of their assisted/non-assisted status, or sectors. This flexibility will ensure that Member States can support company-creation in a more efficient manner where the private business finance markets fail to provide the necessary financing.
For example, if under the current rules a Member State wanted to set up a block-exempted scheme providing risk capital investments to small, young and innovative SMEs established in a non-assisted area, it would need to attract at least 50% private investment. However, such companies are considered among the riskiest, and therefore it is very difficult, if not impossible in certain Member States, to attract the necessary private contribution. Now Member States will be able to provide as much as 90% of the investment to such companies if they are before their first commercial sale, or up to 60% if they are within 7 years from their first commercial sale, making sure that public support is effectively able to correct the market failures, and help viable companies achieve a development stage where they are more attractive for private investors.
How will the new rules address supply-side market failures?
Recognising the specific constraints on the supply side of the SME-financing market, the Risk Finance Guidelines will set up a new framework to support alternative trading platforms that trade in SME shares.1 In this way, Member States will be able to support the creation of funding channels alternative to traditional bank lending.
How can these rules apply to schemes such as private investor tax incentives?
Tax incentives are more and more used to support private investors, be it natural persons or corporations, in order to channel more private funding into public policy goals.
The current GBER does not cover fiscal incentives to private investors. Although tax incentives can be approved under the current Guidelines, there are no specific compatibility conditions and each measure requires an individual assessment.
The new regime, on the one hand, introduces flexibility by bringing tax incentives to natural persons (including certain business angels) under the scope of the proposed block exemption and, on the other hand, sets out clearer rules (contained in the guidelines) for fiscal incentives to corporate investors that invest directly or indirectly into the equity of eligible SMEs and midcaps, thereby steering the available private investment towards the achievement of the public objectives.
What happens next?
As from 1 July 2014, the Commission will assess notified risk finance state aid measures according to the criteria set out in the new Risk Finance Guidelines. Within six months from that date, Member States should also bring their existing risk capital schemes in line with these new risk finance rules.
The new General Block Exemption Regulation (GBER), which is subject to a public consultation (see IP/13/1281), will include specific provisions exempting Risk Finance aid measures fulfilling certain conditions from the obligation of prior notification to the Commission. This Commission Regulation will be adopted before Summer.
See also the Competition Policy Brief:
and the text of the new guidelines:
Alternative trading platforms are defined as multilateral trading facilities regulated by Directive 2004/39/EC on markets in financial instruments (MIFID). A new MIFID is currently being discussed with the Council and the European Parliament, including the proposal to introduce a new category of platforms, SME Growth Markets.
Side Bar


text:
The new, $3.3-billion Port Mann Bridge was shut down for four hours Wednesday after ice bombs fell from its cables, damaging the windshields on dozens of cars and causing one person to be knocked unconscious.
The issue has surfaced before on cable-stayed bridges around the world.
Click here to see Photos: The Port Mann and other bridges around the world with ice issues.
(Bridge details from Wikipedia)


text:
Latest topics
What is da meaning of M.U?
Wed Jan 18, 2012 9:23 am by whitedovewithlove
Comments: 0
- hadlang ba ang time para maghiwalay kayo ?
Sun Oct 16, 2011 5:05 am by Allstar
Comments: 0
When do you CONGRATULATE
Mon Aug 08, 2011 6:18 am by whitedovewithlove
Comments: 0
No Any Guys..
Thu Aug 04, 2011 3:52 am by whitedovewithlove
Comments: 0
Sinu ang Unang Sasagipin Mo, CellPhone O GF?
Fri Jul 15, 2011 7:55 am by whitedovewithlove
Nasa bundok ka, mahuhulog cell phone mo at girlfriend mo, anong gagawin mo? Magpakatotoo ka brother! Sagipin mo ang cell phone mo at sigaw mo sa girlfriend mo, text na lang kita!!!
Comments: 0
Bawal Mainlove nakamamatay.......
Wed Jul 06, 2011 2:03 am by whitedovewithlove
Comments: 0
sad quotes ;(
Sat May 08, 2010 10:40 pm by GerLine01
Kung dapat akong umiyak sa isang tulad mo gagawin ko, d ako manghihinayang sa mga luhang mawawala dahil higit pa sa pag iyak gagawin ko pag nawala ka.
Comments: 7
xori guyz..
Thu May 13, 2010 1:44 pm by Normen
Comments: 0
GERON LAGAZO, MY EVERYTHING;) By:GERLINE
Wed May 12, 2010 8:44 am by GerLine01
I'm here loving you so deeply and no other guys that made me happy like you. I never asked anything from God, but to have a guy that can accept me for who I am, and there you go, that's you. Sometimes I always look at myself in the mirror, asking myself why do I love you so much? I answered my question by my own words, I love you because your the one who made me the realest me, and change me for …
[ Full reading ]
[ Full reading ]
Comments: 0
When you fall inlove
When you fall inlove
When you love
you get hurt.
When you get hurt
you hate.
When you hate
you try to forget.
When you try to forget
you start missing.
When you start missing
you fall in love again..!
you get hurt.
When you get hurt
you hate.
When you hate
you try to forget.
When you try to forget
you start missing.
When you start missing
you fall in love again..!
- Posts : 56
Points : 3127
Reputation : 0
Join date : 2011-07-05
Location : Kuala Lumpur
When you fall inlove :: Comments
No Comment.
Permissions in this forum:You cannot reply to topics in this forum


text:
What separates HoodiaP57™ from other products is that it is 20X Strength, 100% South African Hoodia...and nothing else! There are no fillers, no stimulants, and no other ingredients what-so-ever. If you are after pure appetite suppression – this is it. Please Note that any person seeking to lose weight should always incorporate a healthy diet and some exercise in their regular routine.
Name: Mindy
Before: 168 Pounds
After: 137 Pounds
Lost: 31 Pounds!
Results Not Typical.
ONLY Real South African Hoodia for Maximum Effectiveness.
Hoodia is much talked about and probably the most exciting natural appetite suppressant available. It contains a compound called, "P57," which is a molecule that is said makes you feel full. The P57 molecule is estimated to be more potent than glucose in sending the signal to the brain that tells your body it is NOT hungry. It is absolutely necessary to have certified South African Hoodia in ensuring that you get the appetite suppressing results.
The availability of real South African Hoodia is actually quite limited in America and most of the companies selling "Hoodia" are actually using other cactus-like herbs that are grown in China, the U.S., or in Mexico because of the prohibitive cost to obtain the effective, "real deal."
A New York CBS 60 Minutes Special about South African Hoodia reported, "Imagine not being hungry all day without feeling the negative side effects typical of diet pills, like a racing heart or queasy stomach. The amazing Hoodia makes its appearance in the USA."
It is important to note that the Hoodia in HoodiaP57™ is concentrated 20 times and has a standardized guaranteed 20:1 ratio rating. This rating refers to the drying ratio when the Hoodia plant is dried and milled. For every 20 lbs. of whole plant, you get 1 lb. of dried, milled plant material suitable for encapsulation. If any hoodia product is going to kill your appetite – this is it because we are supplying you with nothing but the REAL DEAL. If you are after a cheaper product that uses a non-certified form of hoodia combined with some cheap fillers and stimulants like caffeine – then HoodiaP57™ is not the right choice for you.
HoodiaP57™ delivers only the 20X strength Real South African Hoodia.
The San Bushmen of the Kalahari Desert in South Africa, one of the world's oldest and most primitive tribes, have been eating Hoodia for thousands of years to suppress their appetites and thirst when on long hunting expeditions. Hoodia takes the edge off appetite and thirst, and has enabled the hunters to respect their tradition of bringing home their entire catch, without eating of it on the way. Now Hoodia has been discovered in America as a way to assist with weight loss...in conjunction with a healthy diet and some exercise of course!
Please note that our formula contains ONLY pure Hoodia. It contains NO stimulants like caffeine, ephedrine or ephedra, green tea, guaranna, bitter orange etc...and thus avoids any of the negative side effects often associated with these stimulants. HoodiaP57™ has no known negative side effects and you can expect to have:
All orders come with our famous guarantee so you have nothing to lose by trying our awesome formula. Any order can be returned for a 100% refund within 60 days from the date you place your order. No questions asked.
The Hoodia brought to you by HoodiaP57 is one of the only forms of Hoodia that has been clinically tested in America. A clinical study showed that within 28 days:
* An average decrease in body fat of 3.3%.
* An average 10 pounds of weight loss.
The Hoodia in HoodiaP57™ comes with a very potent concentration: "20X Strength." If any hoodia product is going to help suppress your appetite – we feel this is it. Hoodia is the much talked about and very exciting natural appetite suppressant available. It contains a compound called "P57," which is a molecule that makes you feel full. The P57 molecule is estimated to be more potent than glucose in sending the signal to the brain that tells your body it is NOT hungry.
All HoodiaP57™ orders come with our famous guarantee so you have nothing to lose by trying our awesome formula. Any order can be returned for a 100% refund within 60 days from the date you place your order. No questions asked.
60 Minutes Correspondent
Lesley Stahl reports:
"Hoodia doesn't stimulate at all. Scientists say it fools the brain by making you think you're full, even if you've eaten just a morsel."
So how did it work? Stahl says
she had no after effects – no
funny taste in her mouth, no
queasy stomach, and no racing
heart. She also wasn't hungry all
day, even around mealtime. And,
she also had no desire to eat or
drink the entire day. "I'd have to
say it did work!" says Stahl."


text:
|Body Style
|4 Door
|3.6 L;6 Cylinder
|Drive Type
|Off White
|Light Neutral
|Stock Number
|Audio - SiriusXM Satellite Radio
|Rear View Camera
|Rear View Monitor In Dash
|Steering Wheel Mounted Controls Voice Recognition Controls
|Memorized Settings Includes Driver Seat
|Memorized Settings Number Of Drivers: 2
|Phone Hands Free
|Stability Control
|Electronic Messaging Assistance With Read Function
|Parking Sensors Rear
|Driver Information System
|Security Remote Anti-Theft Alarm System
|Multi-Function Display
|Phone Wireless Data Link Bluetooth
|Crumple Zones Front
|Electronic Messaging Assistance With Voice Recognition
|Crumple Zones Rear
|Memorized Settings Includes Exterior Mirrors
|Satellite Communications OnStar
|Turn-by-Turn Navigation - Satellite Communications
|Audio - Internet Radio: Pandora
|Wifi - Hotspot Compatible
|Infotainment With Apple Carplay
|Infotainment With Android Auto
|Airbags - Front - Dual
|Airbags - Passenger - Occupant Sensing Deactivation
|Airbags - Front - Side
|Airbags - Front - Knee
|Airbags - Rear - Side
|Airbags - Front - Side Curtain
|Air Conditioning - Front - Dual Zones
|Air Conditioning - Front - Automatic Climate Control
|Air Conditioning - Air Filtration
|Airbags - Side-curtain Rollover Sensor
|Audio Streaming: Bluetooth
|Emergency Interior Trunk Release
|Audio - Antenna: Mast
|Audio - Antenna: Diversity
|Power Brakes
|Airbags - Rear - Side Curtain
|Audio Voice Recognition
|Audio Auxiliary Input: USB
|Audio Auxiliary Input: Jack
|Audio Auxiliary Input: IPod/IPhone Integration
|Audio - Radio Data System
|Audio - Radio: AM/FM
|Audio - Radio: Touch Screen Display
|Reading Lights Rear
|Floor Mats Front
|Assist Handle Front
|Braking Assist
|Audio - Speed Sensitive Volume Control
|Child Seat Anchors LATCH System
|Rear Floor Mats
|Reading Lights Front
|Child Safety Locks
|Braking assist hill start assist
|Electronic Parking Brake
|ABS Brakes (4-Wheel)
|Electronic Brakeforce Distribution
|Cruise Control
|Power Outlet(s) 12V Front And 12V Rear
|Power Steering Speed-Proportional
|Driver Seat Heated
|Body Side Moldings Chrome
|Center Console Front Console With Armrest And Storage
|Multi-function Remote Keyless Entry With Panic Alarm
|Engine Auto Stop/Start
|Multi-function Remote Trunk Release
|Steering Wheel Mounted Controls Cruise Controls
|Universal Garage Door Opener
|Driver Seat Adjustable Lumbar Support: Power
|Multi-function Remote Keyless Entry
|Engine Push-Button Start
|Remote Engine Start
|Driver Seat Power Adjustments: 8
|Driver Seat Power Adjustments: Recline
|Easy Entry Power Driver Seat
|Headlights HID
|Trip Odometer
|Rear Seats Center Armrest: With Cupholders
|Windows Solar-Tinted Glass
|External Temperature Display
|Exterior Mirrors Reverse Gear Tilt
|Fuel Economy Display Range
|Headlights Cornering
|Fuel Economy Display MPG
|Headlights Auto Delay Off
|Exterior Entry Lights Puddle Lamps
|Passenger Seat Power Adjustments: Recline
|Rear Seats Split Folding
|Warnings And Reminders Lamp Failure Low Fuel Engine Oil Coolant
|Mirror Color Body-Color
|Seatbelts Seatbelt Force Limiters: Front
|Exterior Mirrors Power
|Headlights Auto On/Off
|Trip Computer
|Door Courtesy Lights
|Security Engine Immobilizer
|Seatbelts Seatbelt Warning Sensor: Driver And Passenger
|Seats Perforated Upholstery
|Front Seatbelts: 3-Point
|Daytime Running Lights LED
|Front Suspension Classification: Independent
|Seats Leather-Trimmed Upholstery
|Vanity Mirrors Dual Illuminating
|Traction Control
|Seatbelts Second Row 3-Point
|Passenger Seat Heated
|Passenger Seat Power Adjustments: 8
|Rear Bumper Color Body-Color
|Power Door Locks Anti-Lockout Feature
|Body Side Reinforcements Side Impact Door Beams
|Inside Rearview Mirror Auto-Dimming
|Rear Seats 60-40 Split Bench
|Exterior Mirrors Integrated Turn Signals
|Digital Odometer
|Exterior Mirrors Driver Side Auto-Dimming
|Seatbelts Emergency Locking Retractors: Front
|Seatbelts Emergency Locking Retractors: Front And Rear
|Exterior Mirrors Manual Folding
|Electroluminescent Instrumentation
|Passenger Seat Adjustable Lumbar Support: Power
|Seatbelts Seatbelt Pretensioners: Front
|Front Fog Lights
|Footwell Lights
|One-Touch Windows: 4
|Tail And Brake Lights LED Rear Center Brakelight
|Programmable Safety Key MyKey
|Front Suspension Type: Macpherson Struts
|Seats Front Seat Type: Bucket
|Rear Seats Rear Heat: Vents
|Tail And Brake Lights LED
|Security Theft-Deterrent System
|Front Headrests Adjustable
|Exterior Mirrors Heated
|Suspension Rear Gas Shock Absorbers
|Suspension Rear Coil Springs
|Suspension Front Spring Type: Coil Springs
|Suspension Front Arm Type: Lower Control Arms
|Power Windows: With Safety Reverse
|Windows Laminated Glass: Acoustic
|Windows Front Wipers: Variable Intermittent
|Suspension Stabilizer Bar(s): Front
|Windows Humidity/Dewpoint Sensors
|Windows Lockout Button
|Suspension Front Shock Type: Gas Shock Absorbers
|Windows Rear Defogger
|Seats - Driver Seat Power Adjustments: Height
|Seats - Passenger Seat Power Adjustments: Height
Notice: Ron Norris makes every effort to ensure that our information on this website is accurate and true. However, Ron Norris cannot be held responsible for inaccurate information provided by outside sources. Vehicle availability subject to prior sale. Prices do not include taxes and/or fees and includes all applicable incentives. Incentives are subject to change at the beginning of each month. Please contact us with any questions.


text:
Unit 3/ 62 Garden Drive, Tullamarine VIC 3043
The Team at Roylance's will ensure you get the right product for your requirements. Saving you money and time, by having access to a huge variety of products which are specific to your industry.
Our experienced staff in Automotive can assist you with all of your automotive requirements. Products ranging from Internal engine components to seat covers and floor mats. We can also help you with your industrial and workshop needs ranging from jacks to car hoists.
Our Earthmoving, Quarrying and Mining specialists can assist you with all of your cutting edge, bucket teeth and wear plate requirements. We can custom make almost anything to suit your specific application.
At Roylance's we pride ourselves in safety. We have access to a huge range of safety products to suit all safety requirements.


text:
One of my fond memories of Christmas were the tins that were filled with my Mom's homemade candies. She would start weeks ahead to fill them with divinity, chocolate and peanut butter fudge and of coarse those melt in your mouth creamy pralines.
Nowadays, most pralines are sold in small boutiques and gift shops in the French Quarter. I 'm not a fan of those shops as I find them to be too sugary and they crystallize very quickly. I much prefer my Mom's recipe that is rich and creamy. Give it a try, you and your family will be fighting over them at the Christmas table!
4 tablespoons butter(unsalted)
1/2 cup + 4 tablespoons heavy cream
1 cup sugar
1-1/4 cups packed light brown sugar
2 cups fresh pecan pieces
Line baking sheets using wax paper.
Melt butter at medium-low heat. Add 1/2 cup heavy creme with sugars, stirring until dissolved. Increase heat to medium, simmering until mixture reaches temperature of 240 to 250 F. Use rubber heatproof spatula to carefully move the mixture to and fro in the center and occasionally around the edges. If mixture starts to crystallize, add a tablespoons of cream and continue cooking until it softens.
Add pecans and stir, turn off heat, gently give a final stir, getting all corners of the pan. Use wooden spoon to portion 2 tablespoons of mixture onto prepared baking sheets, leaving a 1 inch gap between pralines. Often by the time half of the mixture is spread the remainder starts to stiffen, so add the remaining 2 tablespoons and place saucepan back on a medium heat til it becomes creamy again. Continue to portion the remaining mixture. Cool 30 minutes then transfer to any airtight container. makes about 3 dozens.
Pralines usually last up to 3 days, if stored correctly, before they being crystallizing. If they are not all eaten and that does happen… crumble them over ice cream.


text:
If your soil became worth 10 times what it is today, would you modify your management systems to better preserve it? When a parcel of Iowa land recently blew up the market at $20,000/acre, was that a reflection of the productivity of its soil? Or simply two aggressive buyers?
Today's land prices are inefficient, claims Clay Mitchell, Buckingham, IA, grower and Harvard biomedical engineer and Saltonstall Fellow at Cornell University. "They're determined by historical productivity and old soil surveys, but not by how much topsoil remains for future income potential," he says.
The trouble with our vanishing soils is the lag between soil loss from erosion and productivity declines, says Howard G. Buffett, Decatur, IL, farmer and philanthropist. As part of his self-described Brown Revolution to raise awareness about this issue, he and 28-year-old son Howard W. Buffett hope to promote a new soil-valuation system that reflects the true costs of erosion.
They're not alone in believing that if growers and investors had a more accurate index of soil quality, measured in real time, they'd have a heightened stake in preserving soil quality and quantity.
Conservationists, economists and curious minds are trying to devise an economic valuation system for the magic yet diminishing resource that makes American agriculture the best in the world.
"Because the rate of yield decline is higher as topsoil thins, the cost of erosion is always much higher for the next generation than it was for us,"Mitchell says. Because there has been no lemon-detection in the marketplace, farmland owners haven't had an incentive to require soil-saving practices, and operators therefore haven't been fully motivated, financially, to reduce soil loss.
"American farmland has lost half of its topsoil and organic matter, and tremendous productive potential, as farmland buyers haven't taken the current soil inventory of prospective purchases, which depends hugely on management history," Mitchell says.
"New soil-assessment technologies more accurately track soil texture, cation-exchange capacity, organic matter, nutrient levels and many other inventories of our soil resource," Mitchell says.
"Corn Suitability Ratings (CSR) and Productivity Indexes in many Corn-Belt states are old, static assessments of your soil's value," Mitchell says. "Furthermore, the maps are interpolations of an inadequate number of data points.
"For example some of the best soil in Iowa lies in the loess hills," he says. "I've seen land with a CSR of 43 that produces 200-bu. corn. When that rating system was devised years ago, it over-penalized slopes, reflecting the difficulty of plowing uphill. These rating systems don't reflect how soils change all the time as a direct reflection of how they are managed.
"A more current dynamic of the CSR that realizes the value of this farm can change by the minute, creates greater economic incentives for farmers to steward their topsoil," Mitchell says.
"As things are now, our soil resource is like a mine: as long as the bucket comes up full from the mine, we don't worry about depleting it. But one day that bucket will come up empty, and we need a gauge to reflect what we're consuming."
Howard G. Buffett likens soil loss to noticing one day that your tires are bald, after overlooking their gradual decline. "But you can buy new tires, you can't create more topsoil."
If it took us 500 years to produce one new tire, "we would treat them differently," says Howard W. Buffett, the youngest generation of Buffetts to devote energy to agriculture policy. With a solid track record in public policy and experience on his Nebraska farm, he hopes to build public awareness on the fragility of topsoil.
"These folks are saying if topsoil has a separate value, people will be more careful with it," says Steve Taff, University of Minnesota ag economist and manager of the university's land economics website, www.landeconomics.edu.
"For several resources – like oil, water, minerals, gravel and even wind – society created separate legal documents for surface and subsurface rights, and they are transacted separately. Will topsoil join this category as it grows more valuable?"
Mitchell and the Buffetts aren't talking about regulation, but about enlightened self-interest.
"I want growers to have a deeper gut feel that farmland is a fragile asset," Mitchell says. "The right soil-value index would create incentives to make soil like an oil well that never runs dry. And real-time technologic soil measurements can reflect the inherent differences from one field to the next."
Investors will benefit from better soil metrics, too, Mitchell says. If institutional investors can accurately assess one parcel's soil resource to another, they can arbitrage the market by correlating land's value more directly to its productivity.
"It all begins with buyers who actually measure soil quality," Mitchell says.
It's become clear to him that conservation and stewardship must align with economics and "enlightened self interest," to financially reward both farmers and investors commensurately.
"This mechanism may also prove useful for soil-wise growers who need a capital partner to access the best topsoil. The right incentives align many parties' interests," Mitchell says.
Howard G. Buffett worries that, "If the marketplace cannot remedy erosion, we will be regulated. If we allow ourselves to be regulated on this issue it will be a huge mistake, for farmers and for food security. Regulations don't allow famers to do what works best for them.
"As science and better technology determine what's happening on farms, I see a day where each farm has a nutrient-management plan, as we have now in the Chesapeake Bay watershed," the senior Buffett says.
"With soil fully valued, producers will be better able to increase food productivity in the next 40 years as much as they have over the past 500. We have an opportunity in this country not just to preserve what we have, but also to increase our productivity if we farm a little differently. I don't have to sell a single tractor to do that. Cover crops, better nutrient management, no-till or strip-till; these are all tools available right now," he adds.
The Midwest "is cursed with really good soil," says Taff. "It does not reveal lost production
from daily soil loss for decades. That's not very much of a motivator to reduce soil loss. Yet those losses stack up."
All you need to build awareness "is to get the ball rolling," Mitchell says, "up and over the hill. It will roll the rest of the way as the whole industry realigns itself. You just need better information that differentiates between land that has and hasn't been destroyed. Farmers would market their ability to conserve land to landlords. You would see third-party measurements to standardize this."
Topsoil is like water in some ways, Buffett says, "and it will be the first farming resource to test our conservation IQ. "We operate three center pivots on our farm near Tekamah, NE, at no cost beyond the electricity for the pump. When it runs dry, we'll look back and wonder why we didn't incorporate its true cost because we can't replace it."
Could Land Mimic Timber Asset Model?
By Clay Mitchell
Institutional investors view farmland today as timber was 20 years ago when it was developing as an asset class. Investor ownership in timber grew from less than $1 billion to over $50 billion due to third-party certification of Best Management Practices (BMP) by forest managers.
The timber market, only about one-tenth the size of the farmland market, was made investable by squeezing inefficiencies out of the system. Today, institutional land investors seek the same level of soil-quality measurements to help in their valuations that timberland buyers developed decades ago.
To grasp the long-term viability of an asset, timber investors needed evidence of foresters using BMPs that were appropriate for the local climate, soil, topography and timber type. Third-party certifications from four organizations (American Tree Farm System, Forest Stewardship Council, Program for the Endorsement of Forest Certification and Sustainable Forestry Initiative) became critical for forest managers.
Among forest operators, poor stewardship became viewed as a violation of professional ethics. Throughout the value chain, certifications became an opportunity to show skill and professionalism, not a set of burdensome rules.
Despite the much longer production horizons in timber compared to farmland, the timber industry brought transparency to sustainability issues that might not have cash impacts for generations.
Even though investor ownership in timber is still far below 50%, the improvements and new technologies produced better appraisals and productivity measurements that re-priced an entire asset class.
I expect similar benchmarking in the land market, as institutional investors seek better data on their potential asset. Technologies today can give us critical soil-quality benchmarks far beyond what we have now. Investor demand for transparency and improved productivity measurement, along with technologies that allow accurate inventorying of soil and high land prices will have profound effects on the economics of farming and eliminate both inefficiencies.
Losing ground
"We have the data to put an economic value on topsoil, but what kind of bonus do you assign to an irreplaceable resource? " asksRichard Cruse, Iowa State University (ISU) agronomist and director of the Iowa Water Center. He leads a research team using the latest technologies to more realistically track the state's soil erosion.
Data from the resulting Iowa Daily Erosion project found that roughly 25% of Iowa's row-crop ground erodes at more than twice NRCS' "tolerable" rate of 5 tons/acre/year, Cruse says.
"It seems that we can lose 5 tons/acre/year and still maintain productivity," Cruse says.
"The best science I can find now is that soil renews itself at just 0.5 ton/year worldwide."
Our current farm system "is destined to fail because we depend on soil, fossil fuel and phosphorus, which we don't recycle.
"Topsoil is the basis of our economy, the basis for international trade and the basis for food production worldwide," Cruse says.
"And we expect taxpayers to pay us to do the right thing (conserve soil). If you buy a used car, it's with the expectation that you will pay for future repairs. But if you buy farmland, it's often with the expectation that the government will pay you to preserve your soil," he says.
Food for thought
- The United States is losing soil 10 times faster -- and China and India are losing soil 30 to 40 times faster -- than the natural replenishment rate.
- As a result of erosion over the past 40 years, 30% of the world's arable land has become unproductive.
- Farmland is shrinking by almost 37,000 square miles/year due to soil erosion.
--Cornell University


text:
About Murray
Then maybe the other DC, the District of Columbia, might have a case against DC Comics.
Look, I get that Trump and his fans don't like the fact that tech company employees overwhelmingly didn't vote for him.
That's because tech company employees have a brain.
If you go 18 wins without a loss, you should consider throwing the 19th game, cause if you win the 19th, you might be have to pay up to the Patriots.
and for something that they never achieved themselves.
Why only the 4th Amendment?
Ain't irony grand?
Or down his chin.
Why doesn't he just Google it?
Then he can sue about their indexing it.
From a tax standpoint, there might be a significant effect on the "employee's" Federal taxes. Any unreimbursed employeee expenses (such as gas, tolls, depreciation of the car, repairs, etc.) would be miscellaneous itemized deductions, only deductible to the extent that they exceed 2% of adjusted gross income. And there might be a significant effect on Alternative Minimum Tax since miscellaneous itemized taxes are not deductible for AMT. The Uber "employee" might pay much higher tax than the Uber independent contractor.
The newspaper The Hartford Courant sues Bitcoin, Dogecoin, Coinye, and several other digital couranties for trademark infringement.
"...apparently, TheStreet reporter Jonathan Marino thinks that Twitter has staffers who sort through the profiles of all ~700 million active Twitter account holders and can tell which ones are prostitutes and which are not."
Should be a piece of cake for the NSA.
"If you wanted to see those records you would have to file a lawsuit."
The lawsuit would be heard by a secret court, in which you would not be allowed to attend, with a ruling that would not be communicated to you for security reasons. After all, allowing you to participate in such a lawsuit to know the results would reasonably be expected to cause exceptionally grave damage to the national security.
"Just as it's unlawful for minors to purchase alcohol and cigarettes, because it's detrimental to their well being..."
Is his next bill going to allow the sale of alcohol and cigarettes to minors if they are accompanied by a parent to give their approval?
The Global Wildlife Center is part of the Global Wildlife Foundation which is a public charity. Their IRS Form 990 (a charity's version of a tax return) is a public document. Checking the 2011 Form 990 (the 2012 isn't online yet) reveals the directors, officers and key employees. And Ken Matherne isn't listed. He may have formed this entity, but he isn't listed as having any power there.
I understand that the inventor of the wind-up alarm clock is upset with the invention of electricity.
Some number of times greater than zero but less than infinity.
Do the birds have to pay a performance royalty when they sing?
Next audit will show the payment of royalties as a deduction against the royalties.
So my friend wants to buy a snowblower and asks me which one I suggest. I go online and look at the various models at the various stores. I find good ones at Home Depot and at Lowe's. Guess which link I'm going to send to my friend?
Maybe Lowe's Marketing should have a talk with Lowe's Legal Department.


text:
Vote in the 2014 ALA elections on your smartphone!
For Immediate Release
Fri, 04/04/2014
JoAnne Kempf
Director, Office of ALA Governance
American Library Association
CHICAGO — Did you know that you can vote in the 2014 ALA elections on your smartphone and other mobile devices? You are don't have to be tied to your desktop to cast your vote; you can vote virtually anywhere – in line at the grocery store, on the bus, at the hairdresser! (But we do ask that you refrain from voting while driving!) Just log in using the URL and credentials that were sent to you between March 19 and March 21; it's just that easy. So vote now and then continue on with your business! And when you've finished voting, you can download an "I Voted in the ALA Election" badge that you can attach to your Facebook page, tweets or wherever you want! The polls will close at 11:59 p.m. Central time on Friday, April 25.
For the sixth year in a row, the American Library Association is holding its election exclusively online. To be eligible to vote, individuals must be members in good standing as of Jan. 31, 2014. Although the election is being conducted online, there remains one exception. Members with disabilities and without Internet access may obtain a paper ballot by contacting ALA customer service at 1 (800) 545-2433, ext. 5. Those without Internet access at home or work can easily access the election site by visiting their local public (or in many instances academic or school) library.
Voters will receive email reminders throughout the election period. Voting may be completed in one sitting, or an individual may "park" their ballot and return at a later date; however, a ballot is not "cast" until the "submit" button is clicked. Anyone with a "parked" ballot will receive an email reminder to complete the voting process prior to April 25.
Information about the ALA election and the candidates can be found in "Your Guide to the 2014 Elections." The guide is available as a flip book or in PDF format. This, as well as other information about ALA elections can be found on the Election Page on the ALA website. A special "pod" and feature slide on the ALA homepage will also take you directly to election information.
Where will you be when you cast your vote in the 2014 ALA elections?


text:
- Home
- News
- Sports
- Opinion
- Obituaries
- Features
- Special Sections
- Classifieds
- Public Notices
Editor's Note: Readers are cautioned that some names may be the same as, or similar to, other members of the community.
June 21 — Jonathan Deidre Hamilton, 40, 324 Westwood Drive, Harriman: manufacture/deliver/sell controlled substance. Bond $5,000; court date June 25.
• Tracy Beth McDonald, 40, 1432 Oakdale Hwy., Harriman: theft $500 but less $1,000. Bond $1,000; court date June 25.
• Wallace Raymond Pritchett, 57, 430 High Point Road, Evansville: serving time.
If you currently subscribe or have subscribed in the past to the Roane County News, then simply find your account number on your mailing label and enter it below.
Click the question mark below to see where your account ID appears on your mailing label.
|ZIP Code:


text:
Moderators: Three Stars, dagny, pfim, netwolf
shafnutz05 wrote:I don't value entertaining hockey over winning hockey.
tscottw56 wrote:I look in on these posts everyday because I love this team and I love to read everyones opinions. All of you, like myself, are the greatest Penguin fans in the world.
Pavel Bure wrote:Salary cap
SolidSnake wrote:I never would want a coach fire just for change for changes sake. I just think Byslma deserves to be fired.
The Snapshot wrote:My biggest concern organizationally is the lack of any young forwards who can push for top 6 duty. If a core forward were to get to the end of their contract, we would be left with no internal challengers and no return assets for that player. I think that is why you are reading people (myself included) discussing whether a move of Letang, Staal, Geno or Crosby makes organizational sense.
Idoit40fans wrote:The portion of the fire Bylsma group that is "change for change's sake" is very small.
KennyTheKangaroo wrote:The past 3 years of playoff performance, taken as a whole, indicates that the current formula for the pens isnt working. If it is not working, it needs to change.
interstorm wrote:i'd be surprised if in 3 years all of despres, morrow and harrington are with the team.
interstorm wrote:
...but i think the james neal trade shows us that we don't require a forward prospect in the system in order to get a top 6 scorer -- we just need good prospects any any position. in fact, i think the loading up on 1 position (defense) is pretty shrewd. the draft is always a bit of a gamble. by taking much of the same position, it really has provided us great depth in one area and (so it looks) ensures that some of the picks will be very good. we can either bring them up to solidify one part of the team (read: spend elsewhere) or they can be moved -- whatever is needed.
RisslingsMissingTeeth wrote:interstorm wrote:i'd be surprised if in 3 years all of despres, morrow and harrington are with the team.
Surprised? I'd be downright shocked. I give the odds of this at 1% if they can't move Martin, Michalek or Orpik this off season. If Shero truly is "stuck" with these poor experienced defensemen, I think he has no choice then to deal the younger guys away for some quality line depth. You can't expect these young guys to stick around forever, you are just wasting their talent otherwise. For their sake, I want them playing, either with the Pens or someone else. It is only fair for them as human beings.
shafnutz05 wrote:IMO, the "tired players" excuse is 2010 is sad sack. I'm willing to give them a pass in 2011, although they had a 3-1 series lead. No excuses in 2012. So no excuses 2 out of 3 years, and a horribly blown series lead in another.
owtahear wrote:Pavel Bure wrote:Salary cap
Ummm........Salary Cap.
Just to reiterate.
Let's start with Dave Molinari and the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
Molinari notes that Philly GM Paul Holmgren believes the NHL salary cap could rise from $64.5 million to $69 million. If that happens, then the Pens could keep all three of their centers – Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin & Joe Vitale – plus Jordan Staal.
There's also talk of an "amnesty clause" as part of the next CBA in which each team would be allowed to shed itself of one bad contract, without having it count against the salary cap. Hmmm, any ideas on which deal the Pens might take a look at?
The Snapshot wrote:the only folks who will be able to walk and are sure to be beyond our means are Staal and Letang. These guys will not be affordable in the Cap era
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 40 guests


text:
Every election has its consequences. In the 2008 presidential election, the country got the Obamacare health plan that is still not supported by a clear majority of Americans. In the presidential election of 2012, with an unemployment rate at 7.9 percent, the country rejected a proven private job creator and re-elected President Obama, who never created a private job in his life. Now The Sun's opinion pages that were in virtual lock step supporting President Obama's reelection bid are all of a sudden having an epiphany, a revelation if you will, about the lack of jobs in our country for STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) graduates ("Where are the jobs?" May 25).
And even more astonishing is the writer's questioning (albeit very gingerly) the Gang of Eight's immigration bill that is allowing more foreign STEM workers in the country even though Americans with STEM degrees cannot find work. Just maybe the pro amnesty media is beginning to listen to the Gang of Eight immigration bill opponents that have been shouting for months about focusing on Americans finding jobs before any consideration is given to foreign (illegal or legal) workers.
Ron Wirsing, Havre de Grace


text:
Check out Advanced Heating Solutions for more information on the industry and section.
Product Scope
Electric resistance heating products and/or systems, produced in North America, for residential, commercial and industrial markets, designed for comfort conditioning, snow melting and storage. Includes infrared, resistance heating and cable heating for fixed installations.
Click here for detailed product scope information.
Technical Activities
Standards play a vital part in the design, production, and distribution of products destined for both national and international commerce. Sound technical standards benefit the user, as well as the manufacturer, by improving safety, bringing about economies in product, eliminating misunderstandings between manufacturer and purchaser, and assisting the purchaser in selecting and obtaining the proper product for his particular need.
NEMA devotes much of its time, effort, and resources to voluntary standardization activities. NEMA standards are offered and recommended to become American National Standards under the procedures of the American National Standards Institute, usually under the canvass method. This decision rests with the particular subdivision or subdivisions concerned. NEMA standards are also often submitted for consideration as IEC standards components or references. It is the intent of the association to continue its support of these, and many more, activities as the best method to continue providing sound and safe electrical products for the use of all.
Government Affairs
Through NEMA, the section develops industry positions on legislative and regulatory initiatives that may affect member products, markets, and customers. NEMA's work has resulted in contributions to public policy development and in promoting competitiveness, technological progress, and public safety. On the Government Affairs homepage, members can search for and e-mail federal representatives to convey opinions regarding energy policy or other issues related to the electroindustry.
NEMA Government Affairs provides specific services to its members and information in the areas of Environment, Health & Safety; Energy; and International Trade & Commerce.
Market Economics
Through NEMA, member companies are able to develop and implement tailored, industry-specific market and statistical programs that benefit participating companies. Reports may include:
The association also conducts economic analyses on the impact of legislation and regulations on member products, and monitors and reports on key industry market indicators. All programs comply with NEMA statistical confidentiality policies. For more information, please see NEMA/BIS.
Membership in NEMA is open to any firm actively engaged in the manufacture in North America of a product within the NEMA scope and for sale in the open market. Membership of foreign firms is subject to product section policies and NEMA Board of Governors approval.
NEMA operates on a fee-for-service basis. Each product section establishes its projects and activities and approves an annual operating budget. Visit Joining NEMA for more information on membership.


text:
The notion of speech act, introduced half a century ago, has proved immensely fruitful for language-related disciplines. Yet, the very nature of speech acts, and their place in a theory of grammar and discourse, is still a matter of debate, and comparative research reveals new types of speech acts and ways how speech acts can be expressed.
The conference will bring together philosophers of language interested in the foundations of speech act theory with linguists concerned with the inventory of speech acts in particular language communities and the expression of speech acts in their languages, the function of speech acts in specific discourses, as well as the acquisition and processing of speech acts. One focus is on speech acts as a phenomenon that straddles semantics and pragmatics, and particularly on the issue of speech-act embeddings.
Please register, if you would like to attend the conference.
Organizers: Hans-Martin Gärtner, Manfred Krifka & Manfred Bierwisch


text:
Ryse:Son of Rome (or as my girlfriend and I call it, the stabby stabby game) isn't what you would call a great game. However, it is a tremendously fun game game that's great to fire up after a bad day at work to blow off some steam. To put it another way, Ryse doesn't advance video games as art but is a cathartic stress reliever.
As Marius Titus, you are a loyal Roman who joins the legion after watching barbarians murder his family. As a member of the legion he is charged with protecting the empire from internal and external threats. As you play through you'll help suppress a barbarian revolt in Britannia and struggle to keep Rome from collapsing in upon itself. The game has some loose historical ties but the plot is about as historically accurate as the movie Titanic. You know there's a boat, an iceberg and a lot of people die, but everything else is fabricated to tell a tale. This gets in the way a bit as the game journeys into mythology.
Marius' tale is stretched out along six to eight hours of gameplay and while the action gets repetitive at times it never felt like you were wading through a lot of filler. I played the game in several 60 to 90-minute gameplay intervals which helped break up the monotony. Longer playing sessions revealed the super repetitive nature of the combat. While that sounds like a knock on the game I still found there to be a lot of fun to be had within the game's confines.
The combat is largely Marius wading into a battlefield where he is surrounded by two or three enemies. Once you defeat one, another one will take his place until you advance to the next area of the level. The strategy emerges in the order and method for dispatching each enemy type and this does make a fairly dull scenario a bit more engaging.
Crytek weaves in a few other gameplay types where you have to make decisions on how to have your troops and archers line up. This does make a bit of difference in how battles play out but they are too far between to feel like a meaningful part of the game.
In addition to these sequences there are a few where Marius must form his troops into a phalanx and march on enemies shooting arrows at them. Here you alternate between turtling under the interlocked shields and having the troops throw spears at the enemies. While these sequences are fun initially they wore out their welcome by the third or fourth time the game introduced them.
The fun for me though came in the actual combat and the various maneuvers that Marius pulls off while he's working his way through hordes of enemies. The combat feels a bit like the system that Rocksteady built for their Batman games with a touch of God of War thrown in for flavor.
After you complete the game there's a co-op mode where you and a friend wander through grand arenas, fighting it out with hordes of bad guys. It's a decent experience but you're still locked in the game's fight-a-group-of-bad-guys-and-advance-to-the-new-area mentality.
The face buttons are fairly simple you can attack with your sword or shield, defend against incoming attacks, and dodge. There are combos to be had and the combat flows well once you get the hang over everything.
Once you get enemies near death you can trigger an execution quick time event. These events involve only your shield and sword attacks and are impossible to fail. You can earn higher rewards for the executions (either in health, experience, focus, or damage) by completing them completely but this still feels a bit off.
There are light role-playing elements buried in the game as you can convert experience from executions, skills, and new executions into upgraded rewards. There are some weird user experience decisions in how these reward menus are laid out which can make it difficult to find out where you can put the new executions. Of course if you're so inclined you can buy experience with real-world money and upgrade everything without playing it. I was able to get almost everything upgraded in one playthrough but it is an option for those without a lot of patience.
As a launch title the system has to incorporate at least a few features which show off the bells and whistles of the new Xbox One hardware. In Ryse's case this is the ability to issue voice commands at a few moments in the game. I will admit that yelling for the archers to fire a volley of arrows is a bit immersive but I only did so when home alone with my dog (who still gave me a weird look when I did it). There is a button command that you can use instead but it requires a long press of the left bumper which is an interesting decision.
Graphically Ryse is one of the best-looking games on the market and one of those games you pull out to show your friends what all the Xbox One fuss is about. The level of detail on the Roman soldiers' armor is impressive and even the barbarians' animal pelts have amazing-looking fur. All of the combat and bloodshed is set in some of the most visually stunning levels I've seen in a decade. This level of detail and fidelity does act as a good reward for the time you spend waiting for the levels to load.
Also raising the bar is the voice acting and music. There are certain places where Ryse nearly crosses the uncanny valley with some of the digital acting in the game. The level of detail and performances in some of the digital actors is stunning, especially the work on Nero's son Basillius.
There's part of me that thinks Crytek has a potential franchise with Ryse – that a second iteration with some new moves, new gameplay elements, and some tweaks could turn into this generation's Gears of War (or Resistance). Time and sales numbers will tell if Crytek gets that chance but Ryse, while flawed, is still a lot of fun in chunks.
Ryse is fun at points but is ultimately held back by its repetitious nature. Still the game is a great way to show off the graphical capability of the Xbox One.
* The product in this article was sent to us by the developer/company.
Hi, my name is Charles Husemann and I've been gaming for longer than I care to admit. For me it's always been about competing and a burning off stress. It started off simply enough with Choplifter and Lode Runner on the Apple //e, then it was the curse of Tank and Yars Revenge on the 2600. The addiction subsided somewhat until I went to college where dramatic decreases in my GPA could be traced to the release of X:Com and Doom. I was a Microsoft Xbox MVP from 2009 to 2014. I currently own stock in Microsoft, AMD, and nVidia.