text: Sijun Forums :: View topic - Commander Naz Art Log in to check your private messages Goto page Previous 1, 2 Sijun Forums Forum Index >> Gallery/Finished Work View previous topic :: View next topic Author Topic : "Commander Naz Art" lordsyafiqmemberMember #Joined: 18 Oct 2008Posts: 51Location: Batu Gajah, Perak Posted: Fri Nov 05, 2010 7:52 pm I deeply apologize, DOUBLE POST... Well, the completed inking work, so sorry for not scanning it...too lazy and unmotivated..TTwTT I think you all focused at the PSP XDD Yup, my PSP with Project Diva 2nd (Patched and Translated English Version) with Hatsune Miku Magician Costume.. I have 97% completed (I play fair and square with no cheats as I prefer the hard way)...just a little bit more..X33 P/S: I think someone will histeria..OwO Back to top lordsyafiqmemberMember #Joined: 18 Oct 2008Posts: 51Location: Batu Gajah, Perak Posted: Mon Nov 08, 2010 10:52 pm Collaboration with my student, Lacie (http://lazy-x-crazy.deviantart.com) several months back...Did I post this before? Forgotten already...TTwTT... Enjoys:- As you know, Lacie is one of my student that receive my tutorials in my Freelance class (It's still going now). And he asked me to modified his drawings into my own detailed version using his linearts...Then, all loves break loose..XDD He still keepsake the original, although many tried to steal it....I just giggled and says, "That drawings is a giant magnet." Featuring : Butterfree, Charizard, Raichu and Persian (I forgot many Pokemon names..so sorry) Please, enjoy the work and obtain the knowledges it offers XDD Back to top lordsyafiqmemberMember #Joined: 18 Oct 2008Posts: 51Location: Batu Gajah, Perak Posted: Mon Nov 29, 2010 11:02 pm Greetings and Peace Be Upon You All, I pray to the Almighty to Bless you all and have eternal Prosperity and Bleesing in your life and drawings... Well, it's been a while eh? Many will ask "Do you return with new works?" My answer is "Yes". This time, a Birthday Gift to Renee Casey Jones from MangaAcademy.com forum who requested me to draw Hatsune Miku and Megurine Luka for his birthday (I might have missed it)...Please do scroll below to see his Gift:- Firstly I deeply apologize to Renee for not responding for a very long time since I'm very occupied to find the right spices for his work... Well, I have found it and here it is...I always stunned and afraid everytime since "Why do my skills seems to "manifest" itself?" Today more than 21 times I looked at it right now since the first draw about a month ago...Many anatomical errors as usual, I do hope I can corrected it but since I have gone to this level, maybe make a better one in future drawings...So sorry about the scan quality, I did touch it up a bit only...nevermind..TT.TT ARRRGGHH~~ Mistakes mistakes mistakes.....I'M AN EPIC FAILURE, TO BE HONEST~!! *Speechless screams* I wish:- HAPPY (BELATED) BIRTHDAY TO RENEE CASEY JONES. I PRAY TO THE ALMIGHTY TO BLESS YOU AN ETERNAL PROSPERITY, LONGEVITY, TONS OF BLESSING IN YOUR LIFE, FAMILY, FRIENDS, AND DRAWINGS. YOU HAVE ALL OF OUR PRAYERS AND BLESSING DEAR FRIEND. I still feeling heavily guilty for not meet his deadlines...That's makes me a very worst person and artist. *Look at lists* More works to be done, I do hope I can return again soon.. Dozo, hopefully the knowledge it offers can be obtained and helps everyone further. If anything, you'll know how to catch me... Back to top lordsyafiqmemberMember #Joined: 18 Oct 2008Posts: 51Location: Batu Gajah, Perak Posted: Sun Dec 05, 2010 8:03 pm Greetings and Peace Be Upon You All, I have once again return and now, a new work have been completed with inking....If you do know Emperor Tiberius Vearnheim. Please do scroll below to see it:- He's back with another impact......how should I say "Epic"? X.x But yet this artwork have been completed nearly a month ago, just keep it in my folder waiting to be put in forums and now is the time...I don't know since I'm right now completed many works but remain in lowest confidence and the Malaysian Comic Fiesta 2010 in Kuala Lumpur is near (on 18th and 19th December, Saturday and Sunday) and being nervous and a bit paranoid to see people although I've been invited there.....Maybe my Schizophernic sickness period have arrived? X.x Forgive me of my senseless ramblings, let's let it be.....Now, the penciling of Tiberius is below to see the differences:- Penciling version of Tiberius Vearnheim. Please, enjoy and obtain the knowledge I have presented in this latest work. I do hope I can return again with new ones as I'm still developing another one...Try out for Mecha and another Bishoujo right now to test my skills... I gratefully thank you and appreciate it dearly to you all. *Bows* Back to top lordsyafiqmemberMember #Joined: 18 Oct 2008Posts: 51Location: Batu Gajah, Perak Posted: Thu Dec 09, 2010 7:44 am Greetings and Peace Be Upon You All, I pray to the Almighty to Bless Everyone with Eternal Prosperity, Longevity and Tons of Blessing. As you have known, I have return with another work, this time an Art Request by Engraver78 (http://engraver78.deviantart.com) for his White Glint of Armored Core. Please do scroll below to see it:- White Glint Engraver Mode This penciling artwork was drawn on A4 with 2h pencil, 2B pencil and 2h lead mechanical pencil while listening to Touhou - Bad Apple, replay it till finish the work after more than a week. Engraver78 requested me to draw his White Glint and I looked at the design and with big eyes I say, Oh my gosh, another challenge to push my limits. Really, I never thought of making this design in a very big scale as I never done with... I tell myself, "Have fun, test yourself and obtain the knowledge" and perform it nonetheless. After done it with more than a week after the day Engraver78 requested, here it is. I say to myself with both palm on my face, "What have I DONE??!! This....I'm really gonna pay for my failures *Speechless screams*" How should I say....This is a work that shows I really need to undergo another training to improve my Mecha design, anatomy and shape. As always, many errors and mistakes and lead to.... I can't express it, only two words, EPIC FAILURE. I can't say much, words cannot express it since I'm also speechless for now, maybe because of extreme fatigue. But, in good way I have obtain the knowledge to perform on Mecha design and how it should be. I have done my best until it's done, that's a very important accomplishment. Rather than done nothing and give up halfway long ago when I started drawing. Oh, The White Glint Mode I named it Engraver Mode in honoring his request. *Look back at it* Ohoho~~ deary.... I'm really have to be prepared for my executions.... It's time or never BANZAI~~~!!!! Everyone, please do enjoy the artwork and obtain the knowledge.. I gratefully thank you and dearly appreciate it~~X33 *See my lists* Aww dangs~~... I should've asked my Nurse to heal me... Haha, life never bored with drawings as an artist, I'll see you all later and ENJOYS~~~!!! Back to top Disco_Sciencejunior memberMember #Joined: 28 May 2005Posts: 46 Posted: Fri Dec 17, 2010 8:44 am Cool stuff man! Looks like your really busy=). One little crit is that on a few pic I notice your face proportions are a little off but most of the time the proportions are dead on. Maybe you just get wrapped up in the details=)._________________(|_|) (0.o) (_._ )* Back to top lordsyafiqmemberMember #Joined: 18 Oct 2008Posts: 51Location: Batu Gajah, Perak Posted: Fri Jan 07, 2011 10:56 am Greetings To Everyone, MAY THE ALMIGHTY BLESS YOU ALL~~ Oh here' some of my recent arts that I couldn't upload before, enjoys~~X33:- This pic is specially drawn as gift for KahoOkashii, my close best friend IRL and all of you, my dearest friends and family ^^ Merry Christmas and Happy New Year To HTDM ^^ !! Done everything I can within a few weeks before X'mas, and I found the best recipe for Sasara and KahoOkashii so here it is..X33 Thank you very much to everyone for faves, comment, see, and love Sasara with KahoOkashii~~~~X33 Featuring Reah (Center), Sephiria (Right) and Commander (Left) The Trinity Lovelies in my Artworks in 2005 - 2010. My newest WIP of Tiberius... Hmm..still many things to be corrected but how it will turn out after completion I'd say? Chaptermaster Hardigen...X33 Fritzy, or another FritzGerald Odin, the Champion. Did you all remember the Force Commander (The Gas Masked Man, behind several pages), this is his true look before assassinated, entombed inside the sarcophagus of the armor and become the Commander. HAVE FUN~~X33 Back to top lordsyafiqmemberMember #Joined: 18 Oct 2008Posts: 51Location: Batu Gajah, Perak Posted: Tue Jan 18, 2011 5:09 am Peace Be Upon You, Everyone, May The Almighty Bless You All, I have return again with a recent work, a sketching page of the ChapterMaster : Vearn's Throneworld (It's completed with inkng and wording but remain hidden in my files and haven't launched it yet, so sorry for the long delay). Please do scroll below to see it:- The Intro of Chaptermaster Vearn's Throneworld featuring the Main Character, Emperor Tiberius Vearheim in bloody scenes. I think many can feel his powerful effect with blood splatter and fiery eyes...he scanner quality that time is worse, forgive me..it's already been re-modified. Thank you and hope the knowledge can be obtained to everyone. Kurohime29 (http://kurohime29.deviantart.com) OC named Dieter have been remade into my own version. With Dieter is his fanatical lover Kyonechan (http://kyone92.deviantart.com) Enjoys~~X33 Back to top lordsyafiqmemberMember #Joined: 18 Oct 2008Posts: 51Location: Batu Gajah, Perak Posted: Sun Feb 06, 2011 7:10 am Greetings and Peace Be Upon You All, Well, I'm here as usual to post my "hidden drawing" that have been kept for a long time. Now, it's time revealed it, please do scroll below:- Yes, the "hidden" drawing that show an epic duel (almost concluded) between Tiberius and Hardigen as they fight each other to end their long, dragging yet sorrowful hatred. They both are the Emperor of Human in the Realm of Havenroth (name of the world in my Manga named ChapterMaster). Hardigen is delivering the final with both almost cried and teared their souls apart. Back to top lordsyafiqmemberMember #Joined: 18 Oct 2008Posts: 51Location: Batu Gajah, Perak Posted: Thu Feb 10, 2011 12:54 am ANNOUNCEMENT:- Greetings and May Almighty Bless Everyone with Eternal Prosperity, Longevity and Tons of Blessing in Life *Prayers* Well, I see 4 more days to go until the final vote shall be concluded in one of the forums for making My 1st Online Manga, that's why I'm here to revealed the sketching cover of both vote. It's already completed way ahead in a special ways and I'll show the sketches I have scanned earlier to reinforce your votes. Please do scroll below:- Above: Emperor Tiberius and His Avatar in his Manga Cover, ChapterMaster : Vearn's Throneworld. Below: Force Commander Romanov Von Castillien in his Wings of Liberty Mode in Commander : Supremacy Manga Cover. I eternally appreciate who see it, comment, critiques, loves it and especially vote in the process since it makes me eternally grateful to everyone and cherish it. Alright, I have done my part, now your part have arrived X33. I'll await your reply, dearest friends. Back to top lordsyafiqmemberMember #Joined: 18 Oct 2008Posts: 51Location: Batu Gajah, Perak Posted: Mon Feb 21, 2011 8:03 am Greetings everyone~~X33 New one in store:- *Bows to the floor* I have returned with the scanned remodified version of the cover and finished penciling it long ago. The inked version shall be posted soon as the Manga Online of ChapterMaster : Vearn's Throneworld shall be commenced. I shall post the link for everyone. X33 DOZO~~ The Commander is here in 50% inking...Need to find many design materials to bring the Wings of Liberty Mode to full effect. Perhaps I should play some Mecha games to inspire myself X33 Back to top lordsyafiqmemberMember #Joined: 18 Oct 2008Posts: 51Location: Batu Gajah, Perak Posted: Wed Feb 23, 2011 7:55 am Greetings, a new update for everyone:- Here I have revealed another "hidden" artworks which I intended not to show. It's because this artwork badly damaged at the hair where I put some liquid then destroyed the overall process...I hope it can still be saved..Mostly hair shall be the attraction here..But still, I need to train back my basics... Please, enjoy another "hidden" Tiberius work X33 Back to top lordsyafiqmemberMember #Joined: 18 Oct 2008Posts: 51Location: Batu Gajah, Perak Posted: Sat Feb 26, 2011 2:33 am Greetings everyone, I have return once again to reveal the ChapterMaster: Vearn's Throneworld Cover, this time in inking version everyone wanted to see...Please, do scroll below and enjoy the knowledge it offers:- Currently I have many secret drawing projects to be developed X33. Did I saw your jaw drop? Nah, my works are just normal-lazy-have fun as usual..nothing special. Please do enjoy the latest one X33 I used H, 2H pencil for the pencilling, while Ballpoint pen with Pilot 0.5mm Ballpoint pen in performing the overall inking with Artline 500 Whiteboard Marker for the black areas. Currently putting colors and tones to make better and create more depth slowly...The Manga also being slowly proceed as of now X33 Back to top lordsyafiqmemberMember #Joined: 18 Oct 2008Posts: 51Location: Batu Gajah, Perak Posted: Sun Mar 06, 2011 4:48 am Greeting and May The Almighty Bless Everyone, I have returned after a period of silence because I'm playing my PS3 to inspire myself and here I post to minna-san up-to-date of my progress, Please do scroll below:- This is the most recent WIP of Toki-chan @ xXTokyoGirlXx (DA) Original Character, Left Up is Mizuki and below is Kasumi. I redesign it for her birthday Artgift although still early. I didn't participate in her contest since I'm not very good in it...TT.TT Well, anything can happen to the design as I'm planning to color it with SAI once my inspiration returns. I shall keep everyone informed. This is xXTokyoGirlXx OC copyright, I have her permission to draw it X33 Domo Arigatou Gozaimasu~~ *Bows* *Back to sleep* Back to top lordsyafiqmemberMember #Joined: 18 Oct 2008Posts: 51Location: Batu Gajah, Perak Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2011 12:39 am Greetings to Everyone, Many have been wondering why I'm being so silent again, err, I'm very sorry as I'm pretty occupied with my drawings and "secret projects" to help me improve further...Here I revealed the hidden initial 1st page penciling of Chaptermaster: Vearn's Throneworld, please scroll below X33:- This is my first sketch of the page and it's my routine to do it like this in finished version, no unfinished unless I have achieve something in it, IF not, do it till I found "something" or making the finished one X33....It's featuring Emperor Tiberius covered in blood....(Although I did see more like burned than bloody..X33) All in all, it's still early and I will revealed many things I did soon... In the meantime, gonna go silence for a while. I'll see you all again soon. Domo Arigatou Gozaimasu~~X33 *bows* Back to top lordsyafiqmemberMember #Joined: 18 Oct 2008Posts: 51Location: Batu Gajah, Perak Posted: Fri Apr 08, 2011 10:20 am Greetings to everyone, I have return again....This time most of my lifespan nearly stolen away....Please do Scroll below to see the artwork:- As you all can see, YUP, a Touhou Fanart (for the first time) and a specialized Birthday Art-gift to -------> Marionette-ex on DA (http://marionette-ex.deviantart.com/) HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY!! and I deeply apologize for doing it late..Got some minor adjustments to make... One-Of-A-Kind work and I'M STILL SEE MYSELF AN EPIC FAILURE because my skills still wasn't in top-notch as before.....Well, let's move on to description of the work:- OK, this work have been looong played in my mind after befriended with Marionette-ex and see her work that amazed so I thought of making a specialized art just for Mari-chan...I just played Touhou especially Sakuya Izayoi to developed her characteristic THEN all love breaks loose when Mari-chan celebrated her Birthday not long ago...and my inspiration WAS triggered instantly. I used HB, 2H, and H pencil and mechanical pencil, with abit red pen to bring the effect of blushing and red eye out to add the mood...Here's the list of the songs that I played to get the drawing mood in ongoing momentum:- 1. Touhou - Iro Wa Nioedo Chirinuru The Memories of Phantasm OP 2. Touhou OST - Suimosou 3. Touhou OST - Flowering Night 5. Touhou OST - Septette for the Dead Princess ~Touhou Dreamers~ 4. TM Revolution - Sword Summit (Sengoku Basara 2 OP) While doing it, I looked into PIXIV Touhou artbook which to enhanced more of it (mostly sketching styles) and I add the trademark of Sakuya Izayoi the Watch and the Knife...Here's the turning point where I put my own version style of maid design also put some extras to Sakuya Izayoi since she is The Perfect Elegant Maid, a lot of references were taken into consideration, of course, hearing and replaying the song countless time to deeply feel the soul of it and making the right animation in my mind......I put male and female in order to bring the opposite sex true essence, of course, in my own way of expression... The man challenging her is My OC, Emperor Tiberius who used the Spell of Conjuration to open a Portal and intruding Gensoukyo...Bad luck I'd say since Sakuya Izayoi is his first opponent and ONLY Mari-chan and me knows the outcome of the battle XDD It's a tough yet epic battle outside the ordinary version of Touhou with some twisting.... In the end, I'm grateful although many errors...It came out what I always wanted with many I never expected to be occurred in the drawing....I apologize for the scanning quality..My scanner totally old..TT.TT It wasn't EASY I' say, and my lifespan nearly depleted when I'm making this kind of work...Now, I still have some time to complete my "Secret Drawings" which waiting to be developed. I gratefully thank you and appreciate every responses from everyone...Have fun~~~X33 What's Next? It's A Surprise..Tune in to the same web, same gallery....Laters and take care X33 NOTE:- Sakuya Izayoi Belongs to Touhou and my OC Tiberius Belongs to me. This is A Specialized Birthday Art-Gift to ------> Marionette-ex on DA. Love her always with everyone X33 Back to top johnbrinerjunior memberMember #Joined: 04 Apr 2011Posts: 20 Posted: Mon Apr 11, 2011 6:44 pm You have a lot of excellent stuff in here. Good thing you shared your artworks with us because they are worth viewing. You have a keen eye for details and I really like the characters you made for your manga. I'm looking forward to see more from you. Keep on drawing! _________________John Briner Art Back to top lordsyafiqmemberMember #Joined: 18 Oct 2008Posts: 51Location: Batu Gajah, Perak Posted: Tue Apr 12, 2011 10:33 pm Greetings and welcome, John Briner. It's an honor to meet you *Bows* Haha, nah too much credits you've give me sir... I just love to do in what I doing and share with everyone.. Art is MEANT to be shared, that's for sure. Well, Sir and everyone can always see me here for new ones:- http://lordsyafiqnaz.deviantart.com I'll be sure to post more soon and I have viewed your link Sir, a very wonderful arts review and that's where most the drawings (when I was a Child) ignited a silent spark in my interest of drawings X33 I heard you want to published a novel, I pray for your success and IF I do make my Manga, I'll be sure to note Sir in case of grammatical errors X33 I gratefully thank you very much X33 Back to top lordsyafiqmemberMember #Joined: 18 Oct 2008Posts: 51Location: Batu Gajah, Perak Posted: Thu Apr 21, 2011 11:42 pm Greetings to Everyone, I pray to the Almighty to Bless each one of you X33 Greetings to everyone~ X33 This specialized Artgift is for GreenTeaNeko @ Nonowa, who just celebrate a lovely birthday not long ago... To Nonowa (@ GTC):- I wish you HAPPY BIRTHDAY (Belated) and I pray for the Almighty to bless you and Eternal prosperity, longevity and tons of blessings in your life, family, friends, drawings and career... This is a special gift for you, Kagamine Rin-chan in lovely ecchi mode just for you, dearest friend. I don't ask for anything in return only Nonowa just keep drawing and stay healthy. I just do as what I love to do X33 Too many mistakes I did detected...I guess epic failures still grip me tightly these days....TT.TT Well, I have performed my best. The viewers shall be my judges... Newly improved design of Force Commander Romanov and one of the Main Secret Drawing Project which I silently draws to complete the overall process. So, I'll exposed the penciling version of it and hopefully it can gives everyone an insight on what I do these days... OK, let's move on... I use 2H, H and HB pencil to perform on the A4 size paper. Took 3 days without decent sleep and manage to complete it... The theme when I draw that time "The Shogun has arrived". I used ONLY one song that is Command & Conquer Red Alert The First one - Hell March which suitable for the drawing theme. References that I used are listed here:- 1. Optimus Prime 2. Killzone 1, 2 and 3 3. Gundam Seed and Destiny. 4. Megaman X Command Mission 5. Dawn of War 2 Retribution. 6. Starcraft 2 - Wings of Liberty 7. Mecha Musume Designs. 8. Shogun 2 Total War The character full name is Romanov Von Castillien, a Force Commander of the Liberty Faction, a small ragtag army who opposed the Imperial rule which have betrayed them and hunt them down across the Galaxy.. I suppose many shall be stalking this one down especially in Malaysian Comic Fiesta 2011 IF I go there. Well I'll see you all later, with more upcoming drawings X33 Thank you very much~~X33 *Bows* Back to top lordsyafiqmemberMember #Joined: 18 Oct 2008Posts: 51Location: Batu Gajah, Perak Posted: Thu Jun 09, 2011 11:26 am UPDATE:- Greetings everyone, Hope everyone alright back there and i pray to the Almighty to bless each one of you all Aminn...*prays* I have return yet again after a period of silence and as you've predicted, not new but 2 month old recently artwork and scan it for everyone to see what I do in my secret drawings these days X33 Finalized penciling design of Force Commander Romanov and one of the Main Secret Drawing Project which I silently draws to complete the overall process. So, I'll exposed the penciling version of it and hopefully it can gives everyone an insight on what I do these days... OK, let's move on... I use 2H, H and HB pencil to perform on the B5 size paper. Took 2 days without decent sleep and manage to complete it... This is the full version of his armored sarcophagus where he was assassinated, confined in and become the Commander. (like a Dreadnought in Warhammer 40K - Dawn of War) I used 2 songs that is Command & Conquer Red Alert The First one - Hell March and Kagamine Rin - Kokoro (Vocaloid) which suitable for the drawing. I noticed he's like a Golem or a Dwarf style by the looks of it and way heavies (heavy)....Well, already too late as I already colored and inked it secretly in 3 version... I'd say (to myself) a tough one to be taken down....O.o My apologies for my scanning quality....TTwTT References that I used are listed here:- 1. Optimus Prime 2. Killzone 1, 2 and 3 3. Gundam Seed and Destiny. 4. Megaman X Command Mission 5. Dawn of War 2 Retribution. 6. Starcraft 2 - Wings of Liberty 7. Mecha Musume Designs. 8. Shogun 2 Total War 9. Gundam Astray Red Frame & Blue Frame. 10. Command & Conquer - Generals & Zero Hour He appeared in my Secret Online Manga named Commander as the Main Character. The Main Character full name is Romanov Von Castillien, a Force Commander of the Liberty Faction, a small ragtag army who opposed the Imperial rule which have betrayed them and hunt them down across the Galaxy.. His previous version, a very long way to get here... since 2009 can be found here and some new ones:- http://lordsyafiqnaz.deviantart.com/ Well I'll see you all laters, I'll upload the cast of characters that involved in the Manga sometime later. I gratefully thank you very much from everyone responses~~X33 Back to top johnbrinerjunior memberMember #Joined: 04 Apr 2011Posts: 20 Posted: Tue Jun 28, 2011 12:34 pm Having those Commander Naz Art, I'm must be proud! The details are accurate that I totally appreciated and enjoyed it! But how come you didn't apply colors on it? I think it looks more better if you put some of it. Just suggesting. lol By the way, you really have great thread and keep on posting!_________________John Briner Art Back to top lordsyafiqmemberMember #Joined: 18 Oct 2008Posts: 51Location: Batu Gajah, Perak Posted: Wed Jul 06, 2011 4:03 am JohnBriner:- Greetings and I gratefully thank you for your generous comments, dearest friend *Gentlemen Bows* Haha, I still need to polish my rusted skills back, and I imagine John would need one of these works to make you truly proud XDD Colors? I'm now experimenting with my new Genius 3"x 5" Slim tablet with Gpen F350 in coloring and toning... I hope I can return soon with new artworks with colors that many have demand... Please, Sir John and everyone , enjoy my new updates below:- GREETINGS, UPDATES~:- This new artwork is a new character from Commander and Romanov second-in-command, Colonel Bismarck of the Tactical Heavies Squad... He more like Ironhide only he less talking and follow Romanov and his little sister Romina as their Bodyguard (Also since before Romanov was assassinated)... To be honest he's like a combination of SWAT Team (Futuristic) Tarkus from Dawn of War 2, Killzone Helghast and Geara Dorga (Gundam)....I took the name Bismarck since I love History (Mostly WW2 Jerman) and saw the Battleship Bismarck, Jewel of The Kriegsmarin.. That's where it keep dormant inside me since I was 10 years old... And Colonel Bismarck just the same as the battleship style of strength and prowess in human armored suit form... Actually he also been assassinated when protecting Romanov but barely alive.. and confined inside the armor sarcophagus... But this is only my first attempt sketch... Almost in half completion in new drawings... There are many things can be improved and already been considered which I haven't yet expose it.. All in all, please be patient and please, enjoy what I upload for now...Usually I upload complete works... maybe my skills take sometime to turn into high gear... This artwork was developed during 2010 when the illustration of Romanov and the cover was made. Then, comes the manga page which I always said in my deviation upload... Yes, everyone can now on how the Manga goes and since I have a tablet.. It will be fully tone and colored. Maybe in Malaysian Comic Fiesta 2011 this December I will sell the Manga at our group booth....Still in discussion but I'll see what I can do... As you have known, I take several references such as Megaman X Command Mission, Megaman Battle Network, Megaman Zero, Killzone ISA faction, Tiberium Wars (Kane's Nod Faction) and lots of others in my collections to make it...and combine in single drawings... many believe it's hard to draw the details BUT I can only says, we'll see in Malaysian Comic Fiesta 2011... of course I'll upload it here as usual XDD The one in the big panel is Colonel Bismarck younger brother, Sargeant Kritzmarck, Infantry Divison and hold the line when this battle took place before Romanov awakening from deep slumber (Like Gungrave Overdose). Haha, I'll leave to everyone judgement and opinions... After all, too much mistakes and errors which I can see from this initial page sketch and secretly I have made several modifications to make it better. Haha, yesh... This WIP is solely for MadmenLover45 on DA which I already finish and making final detailing as of now. She and everyone can now see the first sketch of it which everyone wondering, what will be the final outcome..... I do know for those who love Bishonen and Bishoujo, this maybe will be their target or not.... nah, my artwork doesn't seem anything comparing to the others here... I wish Happy (Belated) Birthday to my dearest friend, MadmenLover45 and she can now see her favourite drawing which she requested X33 Lucky her XDD I gratefully thank you for all your faves, comments, supports and everything. I appreciate it dearly. I shall return soon with the completed ones after so long... Greetings everyone, Well, it's been a long time eh, I present here another Chiitan (DA) fatherly birthday artgift solely for her... And yes, I'm trying a new techniques which still in development and trying to find the best recipe and ingredients for it... But, almost completed it as usual. I want everyone to see it's first impressions and views of it.... I don't know Chiitan-chan what will say about it though especially she is beside her lovely father..... For me, too may mistakes and errors as usual but already modified secretly.... Happy (Belated) birthday my dearest daughter and I shall post the completed version soon X33 I gratefully thank you for all your faves, comments, supports and everything. I appreciate it dearly. I shall return soon with the completed ones after so long... Back to top lordsyafiqmemberMember #Joined: 18 Oct 2008Posts: 51Location: Batu Gajah, Perak Posted: Tue Aug 23, 2011 2:25 pm Peace Be Upon Everyone and Greetings~~ UPDATE!! It's been a while.. I apologize for my absence these days and a bit busy with some issues and some drawing request also preparation for Malaysian Comic Fiesta 2011 this December where I'm making some products and my first comic debut at the convention...... Now, the artworks are piling up and I shall slowly upload it for everyone... Here I presented one of my friend drawing request and yes, my skills way off now and rusted badly...Epic Failure I am of course...*Bows* Gomenasai if the works really worst... Maybe I'm not at my best performance these days.. Actually... This is Reah Rozenburgh, Sephiria (My OC Artgift xXTokyoGirlXx) little Imouto in ChapterMaster..Finally making her first appeared in my current skills... Gonna need some hard training back on track.... This is the Logo of my booth named Dark Frontier in Malaysian Comic Fiesta this December. Yes, it's Romanov emblem and it's first comic will be making a debut there. I shall update to everyone later on. I do apologize for long absence TTwTT... Well, Please enjoys~~~ Domo Arigatou Gozaimasu~ Back to top lordsyafiqmemberMember #Joined: 18 Oct 2008Posts: 51Location: Batu Gajah, Perak Posted: Sun Oct 23, 2011 6:43 pm Greetings and Peace Be Upon Everyone, Here's some long new updates, please, enjoys~~:- Some Sketches:- Here, yes another Romanov cover Illustration that I was preparing for Malaysian Comic Fiesta 2011 this 17th and 18th December in KLCC and busy with many products that I shall be doing there... Truthfully, there are many things I still need to be fixing while the comic haven progressed BUT I haven't found the right recipe for the cover of the comic...Probably the angle which have many mistakes and proportions... I'll try my best to give it souls and feeling... Here's the second one featuring Romanov (The Gas masked Man) Imouto (Japanese) means Little Sister which I haven't put her name yet... Mostly I have done the lineart and yes, it's completed with coloring and will make the debut in Malaysian Comic Fiesta this December in KLCC.... Hmm, not much I can say about it BUT mostly Valkyria Chronicles, Gungrave, Starcraft, Red Alert and Dawn of War 2 have emerged from the drawings.... I shall keep everyone updated about the Manga and there are many things I have researched and will be tested in here....I hope it will entertain many. First of all I would like offer my deepest apologies to DivineDesires on DA for making her fanart of Anfang real late... And also Congratulations, your wish have come true.. I didn't ask anything in return BUT I'm gratefully thank you by her permission to draw and learn her characters also polishing my techniques to improves my drawings X33 The Characters are Emil and Delaila which appears in DivineDesires (DA) @ MemaiShirosaki comic in SmackJeeves, everyone should check it out.. It's-One-Of-A-Kind, I tell ya... Well, many mistakes and yeah, I do feel bad to keep it this long...and on top of that I'm a bit busy, so better upload it before I totally forgotten it... So, here's a bit detail of the drawing... Remember xXTokyoGirlXx Sephiria (OC artgift which I give her, in the DA gallery) this is her Imouto (Little Sister), the Nurse Priest which still unclaimed by anyone X33... and she's clinging to Hardigen, Tiberius Twin....(also in the DA gallery)... Was done during my worktime, and a Nurse in the Hospital where I worked asked me for it.... 2 hours to be exact while playing my PSP game - Yu-Gi-Oh 5D's..... Actually my skills are way rusted....Some major anatomy errors and I do look forward to improve myself better with the drawings in new environments... Thank you very much for everyone supports... Please enjoy Sephiria little Imouto-chan, Reah and her lover Hardigen X33 Another artwork which I have done it a loong time ago BUT didn't upload it due to touching up many of the forgotten artworks...And all of it are belongs to my dearest friend *Looking at my long lists* CONGRATULATIONS~~!! MadMenlover45, your wish have come true BUT I blamed myself for not submitting it earlier due to many "Obstacles" in my life...I'm very glad I can finish it and delivered my promises.. Whew~ Although have many major mistakes and yeah, I'll leave it to everyone comments and judgements... Another "sealed arts" and It's the long awaited Sky Commander, Captain Kanami Tenzai of the Air Raider Squadron. It's all started because I bought Transformers : Generation One comic for researching Mechanical Designs especially Jetfire and Air Raid (From Transformers : War For Cybertron PC game) and also Soviet Conscript from Red Alert 3. So, I combined with Hatsune Miku and Black Rock Shooter to form Kanami The Air Raider.. If you do know Force Commander Romanov in my DA, Kanami is his Sky Commander (More like Thaddeus from Dawn of War 2) under his command....Actually, it was completed long ago, but remained hidden till now... I gratefully thank you for everyone responses and supports. *Bows* For the first time....My second colorings which I kept hidden for a long time of Tiberius Vearnheim.... Also, it is special for someone, that's right... KuwiRules145 on DA, CONGRATULATIONS and also my deepest apologies for making you wait for along time since I can't decide which color matches his personality.... So, in the end, German Emperor and Nazis Gestapo were mixed....Well, I'll leave to her to decide along with everyone... The colorings I only used Staedler coloring pencil, with Ballpoint pen Inking also 2H pencil to perform it.... Well, many mistakes as usual BUT I finally realized my skills of coloring were dormant.... Now, it was went berserk and WALLA!...Anyway, more uglier than I thought....huhu I'm back again with one WIP, which I have been long forgotten to made it BUT eventually triggered after this event... YUP, Dawn of War: Space Marines (PC and PS3 game) TOTALLY knocked myself out of pure inspirations and haven't finished it yet.... So, I made the fanart today at work and still unfinished, many things shall be changed... We'll see what I can do and hope the knowledge can be obtain by everyone X333 This character is DIFFERENT from my OC Tiberius and I shall revealed the details after we see the finished one X33 I gratefully thank you for everyone comments and supports X33 Take care ne? Laters... Back to top lordsyafiqmemberMember #Joined: 18 Oct 2008Posts: 51Location: Batu Gajah, Perak Posted: Wed Oct 26, 2011 11:13 pm UPDATE:- Greetings Everyone, *Wheeze* Huu~~ I'm back with a new work and took me 3 days to finish it... and my hand are all blue due to frozen blood when drawing....not to mention I'm having a series of small fever after finishing it... Haha, yup, as you all already known, it's Kagamine Len in Karakuri Burst Version (I never heard the song, only search references to make the illustration).... AND it was requested by KinTsuchi93 (DA) @ Leftenant L. Wanderer (FB) 3 days ago and went on working on it straight.... Finally FINISHED without decent sleep...Lucky her~ Just hope she doesn't hunt me down for this... I'll keep it to myself hehe~ How should I say.. Too many mistakes and I always facepalm since I say it to myself "Aww Dangs~~ A missing piece, Kagamine Rin to complete the set!!" then again, Kintsuchi93 doesn't inform of Rin involved....nevermind, I have backup plans for these lovelies (Rin & Len).... Yeah, my hands almost fall off this morning and turn blue after all the lining drawing... The arduous task so far, nevertheless I have learned many things.... Please enjoy Len in Karakuri Burst version ARGIFT for KinTsuchi93 and all copyrights of Vocaloid belongs to their respective owner, IT IS NOT MINE.. I gratefully thank you for your comments and supports. I look forward to the next drawing with everyone X33 Back to top lordsyafiqmemberMember #Joined: 18 Oct 2008Posts: 51Location: Batu Gajah, Perak Posted: Sun Oct 30, 2011 3:52 am Greetings Everyone, an UPDATE:- Haha, looks like I'm back again, this time, after a while too much penciling... Now time for a change, INKING... I presenting here Emperor Tiberius (My Copyright OC) in his Chibi Mode for the ChapterMaster series Card.... I hope to make something for December, like a product. So, here I come up with the Bookmark series and Character Cards style... So far I ONLY REVEALED one out of 6 that I made, let's see.. Miku, Rin, Romanov, Reah & Sephiria (My OC's in the gallery), Space Marines and this numbers just adding up... DO not know what I might come out next... Yup, fully inking today (Takes one whole day with many breaks)... and also my hands turning blue again....Of course, with many mistakes in the process...So far, ONLY I haven't revealed the colored yet, since B/W would be enough for now...This one will be out in December along with the rest that I'm making... Go on ahead and please, enjoy Tiberius in Chibi Mode... He's eager to have fun with you all... I gratefully thank you for everyone responses, faves and supports, I look forward for the next future drawings X33 Back to top lordsyafiqmemberMember #Joined: 18 Oct 2008Posts: 51Location: Batu Gajah, Perak Posted: Sat Nov 19, 2011 7:24 pm UPDATES after a long silence:- Peace Be Upon everyone and Greetings, May the Almighty Bless everyone and the World aminn~ *prays* Looks like since my absence with artworks make it look lonely here.. Well, nevertheless, some good news for everyone and here I am returned again... Of course, with an artwork.. It's almost time for the Malaysian Comic Fiesta this December... And I was frequently busying myself with some hand-made products including what everyone saw here, Yup, my first debut of the Manga named Commander (Actually an experimental comic and see how the market going)... It's a cover and A4 size poster.. and also this is the lineart version and I haven't finished everything including the coloring of it.. Going to take some time... The cover featuring Force Commancer Rom (Full name - Romanov Von Castillien @ Rom, nickname- Romy) and his little Loli sister, Iris Von Castillien @ Iris, the Hero and Heroine of the story. I used 2H, H and 2B Mechanical and wooden pencil to bring out the overall lines... Kinda reminds me greatly of Code Geass, Gungrave, Killzone series (PS2 and PS3), Space Marines (Warhammer 40K Dawn of War), Gundam, Valkyria Chronicles and Busou Shinki : Battle Masters by the expressions... Actually the story concentrated in those I mentioned... To make this expressions, the songs I mainly used are:- 1. Dawn of War: Space Marines (PC) - Titus Theme 2. Journey To The Line by Hans Zimmer 3. TRANSFORMERS EVO by Jam Project 4. Fuel Of War - Transformers: War Cybertron (PC) 5. World Chaos - Dawn of War Chaos Rising 6. Kannaduki no Miko (Anime OP) - Re-Sublimity 7. Code Geass - Mosaic Kakera Nonetheless, I DO detected major perspectives and anatomical errors which leads to awkward view (Waist level)... since it view from ground (Like you're lying on the ground looking up or sitting)... I'll leave to everyone to judge it as usual... Epic failure this artwork as I know it..TT.TT Well, this year I only do a little only and very limited edition to see how far the market goes... That includes Touhou and Vocaloid and one or two of my originals (Character card or Bookmark, haven't decided maybe next week)... If all goes well or not, the comic shall be made online with my friend, Shinigami-X (DA) I almost forgot, Shinigami -X @ Scott another Illustration also underway, which one? That will be answered soon XDD I gratefully thank you for your generous faves, comments, critiques and supports... I hope to see you all later with something new since my health conditions complicates me to do drawings these days... Forgive me and May the Almighty Bless you all aminn~ X33 Back to top lordsyafiqmemberMember #Joined: 18 Oct 2008Posts: 51Location: Batu Gajah, Perak Posted: Tue Nov 29, 2011 11:50 am Greetings and Peace be upon everyone, LordSyafiq here *Bows* I pray to the Almighty to Bless Each of you and the World for eternal prosperity, longevity and tons of blessing Aminn~ *prays* Haha, it's been a while since I'm absence in here, everyone can guess now why I'm here and yes, a new, commission art by Hecterian 2 days ago when he requested it and now it's completed....As usual with lots of mistakes and epic failure, my skills way rusted....TT.TT The art features Hecterian (DA) Crosser (which the art done by Third-Eye-Crow in DA) against my OC, FritzGerald Odin (That is also Chiitan (DA) Bishonen Father in my gallery) to bring out Crosser aura into it... Haha, more like pure brawl and strength to determine who is the best... And Fritzy (nickname) already took a hit and bleed with a smile..... The request came 2 days ago, when Hecterian requested he wanted Crosser in my version and I researched on the art and make some twisted imaginations on my own during the process..... I was told Crosser will be look angry and I have found his partner, that is my OC FritzGerald Odin to maximize the output...When I looked back, an old version of Bionic Commando with Marvel style of combinations, also Manga speed lines....Interesting BUT my lack of skills and efforts may damaged the overall composition since I wasn't in my fullest ability to perform my usual routine....I'm having fever this week BUT then again I have stressed myself without I realized it.... Then again, my mistakes on perspectives, the body measurements and the angle composition may bring some awkwardness, nevertheless I have done my best to deliver what I can in this art.. I'll leave the judgements to everyone... Well, time for me to have rest and may the knowledge and the artwork provide some insights and amusements since my absence. I deeply apologize and gratefully thank you very much from everyone responses X33 Have fun~~~!!! *Kitty Sleep Mode* Back to top lordsyafiqmemberMember #Joined: 18 Oct 2008Posts: 51Location: Batu Gajah, Perak Posted: Thu Dec 08, 2011 12:08 pm UPDATES:- Greetings and Peace Be Upon Everyone, I pray May the Almighty Bless Each of You and the World and hope everyone here doing fine and well in your routine activity Aminn~~ *Prays* It's been a long way journey and near the Malaysian Comic Fiesta event also Christmas then 2012... Truthfully, I still have long-harsh yet adventuring road of learning to improves myself and skills of drawings... So many things to do with so little time given... Haha, I believe I almost rambling senseless again, well, everyone knows as usual I'm here BUT this time it's different... Let's just say that I have been researching, experimenting and have fun in hiding all this time to maximize and improve myself.... And come out with this artwork which still depicting my failures and laziness... Yes, as everyone who already saw much of my Tiberius and his Chibi Lineart previously.... I have tried to place the colors which suits him best along with the mood and expressions of the work.... To be honest, this is just the base coloring, and already the other phase have been underway while I'm reviewing some of the Illustrations Books I have to enhanced it further... As I have mentioned it's still in early stages and will be changed unnoticed... I was dilly-dallying with PhotoShop and my Mouse (You all heard it right, mouse NOT Tablet) to understand on the basic of free hand mouse lining along with solidify my skills on it... Everyone surely ask, why I didn't use tablet even though I HAVE one? Nope, I want to feel the hardship of Pro's who went using mouse to understand first what they gone through then once I have build up my confidence, Tablet is next to applying more advanced one.... Let's see, 7 layers (Base, and Colors) with a little editing here and there... All in all, everyone is the judge here, for me... This is far from over and this drawing shall be in Comic Fiesta event, while I'm moving around... Those who are lucky, there's only ONE of it I printed out in 100 gsm Inkjet paper with HQ (High Quality) printing to be given on who find me firstly XDD Next year I hope I can finally colored my works after so long of traditional methods and NOW, with my Manga, Commander shall be launching in Christmas approaching... Let's see what will happen next when the cover in Full color which I haven't exposed yet... I gratefully thank you to everyone for every responses, faves, comments, critiques and for those who attended Malaysian Comic Fiesta, I hope we can have a BLAST and lots of fun X33 Best regards and prays also wishes to everyone and my beloved watcher *Bows* Laters~~ Back to top lordsyafiqmemberMember #Joined: 18 Oct 2008Posts: 51Location: Batu Gajah, Perak Posted: Wed Dec 21, 2011 6:27 am UPDATES!!:- Greetings everyone and Peace Be Upon Each of you Aminn~ Haha, I think many shall focused on seeing the picture that I uploaded and yes, your eyes didn't deceive you, it's the Commander Manga that I've been telling everyone. It will be debuted this Christmas somewhere around 25th to 27th December, not long now XDD Some of it you see here, is REJECTED (only some) and the rest will be uploaded online during the launch, just mixing it up to masked the real one that hidden X33 Although I didn't expect my Manga shall meet everyone expectations BUT I'll try my best for you all X33 I already finish most of it, and I gratefully thank you for your responses, critiques, comments, supports and faves etc etc.. This is a Christmas Gift to everyone, please be patient for my next announcements X33 See ya laters and thanks X33 Back to top Display posts from previous: All Posts1 Day7 Days2 Weeks1 Month3 Months6 Months1 Year Oldest FirstNewest First Sijun Forums Forum Index -> Gallery/Finished Work All times are GMT - 8 HoursGoto page Previous 1, 2 Page 2 of 2 Jump to: Select a forum Digital Art----------------Digital Art DiscussionWork in ProgressGallery/Finished Work Miscellaneous----------------Random MusingsArchive : Sep99 - Dec00 You cannot post new topics in this forumYou cannot reply to topics in this forumYou cannot edit your posts in this forumYou cannot delete your posts in this forumYou cannot vote in polls in this forum Powered by phpBB © 2005 phpBB Group


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We all know the oft-relayed dating axiom of "Once you stop looking for the right guy, you will totally find love." (At least I used to hear this nugget from my smug engaged pals all the time...until I became one myself and can now attest that it's totally true.)
But celebrities seem to be giving this old saying their own spin: "Once you put it out there that you're okay with being alone, you will totally find love."
In a recent interview with Wonderland magazine, our gal Taylor Swift revealed that if she never ever (ever) got together with another dude—and just, you know, decided to "paint in a cottage by the ocean" by herself—she'd actually be totally cool with that.
"I've kind of realized that I have no idea where I'm going to be next year, or in six months, or in two months. I mean, I know where I'll be on tour in two months, but no idea where I'm going to be mentally, emotionally, dreams, goals, wishes, hopes," she said. "I just have no idea and I'm kind of into that. You can make a board for all the goals you want in your life with the pictures on it, and that's great, daydreaming is wonderful, but you can never plan your future."
Let it stand for the record that Tay is far to young to be even contemplating whether or not she's going to ever find true love (though, full disclosure, when I was 23, I was pretty sure I would die alone).
But Taylor isn't the first single celeb to say she's OWBA (our new shorthand for Okay with Being Alone). Before she was pregnant with mini Kimye, Kim Kardashian made a comment on her E! juggernaut about how she may never get married or have kids—and could just be happy with being an aunt forever.
So, we can't help but wonder, is this OWBA thing the hot new thing to say when you're single?
Certainly, this is a great response to naggy family members who want to know when you're going to settle down already. And, when you're OWBA, you don't get those pitiful looks from your friends (or, better yet, your frenemies) coupled with comments about how they "worry about you" having to fly solo for this summer's wedding circuit.
But, maybe there's also some kind of unintentional reverse psychology going on with this OWBA declaration: Like, does accepting you're awesome without a plus one make you more confident—and thus, more attractive—to dudes? If we know anything about guys, it's that not needing them makes us look pretty damn irresistible in their eyes.
We wanna know what the single ladies out there think: Are you OWBA?
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Photo: Getty Images

subset: commoncrawl


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WHEN: 1 to 4 p.m. today
WHEN: 1 to 4 p.m. today
WHERE: Pocono Environmental Education Center, Emery Road, Dingmans Ferry
DETAILS: Explore the hands-on discovery room. Crawl through a bat cave, sit in an eagles' nest and more.
COST: Free
INFO: 570-828-2319; peec.org
WHEN: 1 to 3 p.m. today
WHERE: Pocono Environmental Education Center, Emery Road, Dingmans Ferry
DETAILS: A hike that's all about meeting new people and exploring nature.
COST: Free
INFO: 570-828-2319; peec.org
WHEN: 5:30 to 7 p.m. Tuesday
WHERE: Jacobsburg Environmental Education Center, 835 Jacobsburg Road, Wind Gap
DETAILS: Join environmental education specialist Lauren Forster after work for a brisk hike at Jacobsburg. These free weekly hikes are 2 to 2.5 miles over uneven terrain, with a 15-minute break along the trail for a snack. Bring water and sturdy boots or shoes. Routes and meeting locations will vary each week. Register to receive information on each week's hike.
COST: Free
INFO: Lauren Forster at firstname.lastname@example.com or 610-746-2809
Hear that?
WHAT: Sounds of a Spring Night
WHEN: 7 p.m. Saturday
WHERE: Nescopeck State Park office, Drums
DETAILS: Experience the sounds of a spring night at the park. A brief indoor session will be followed by an outdoor walk suitable for all ages. Bring a flashlight.
COST: Free


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5-20-11 PNC Park
Batting practice today was rough for me. The Tigers were in town for an interleague matchup, which would lead to larger crowds. During the Pirates batting practice, I ended up doing this for much of the time:
Standing around.
I would not catch a single batted ball or get any balls thrown to me from the Pirates pitchers.
The few chances I did have were on scrum balls, where I just came up short.
On that last one, I bashed my knee off of the bleacher, and it all ended up being for naught.
I slowed down a bit after that, trying to be more careful, especially because Amy was at the game with me. She hates to see me get hurt, and I didn't want to upset her.
I didn't get a single ball during the Pirates batting practice, so I changed into my Tigers gear, hoping maybe to at least have a ball tossed to me.
However, luck continued to elude me. Here's a home run ball that would be caught by a child in the front row.
When a ball finally rolled to the wall, I noticed that the Tigers pitchers could care less about it.
So I set up my glove trick and snagged it.
It was my first ball of the day, and it was about 5:25PM. A few minutes later, the rest of the stadium would open, and I had been keeping tabs on a ball that was sliced into the seats down the left field line. The only problem was, there was a bunch of other folks waiting to get the green light to run up the stairs to the ball. The people I was up against had the advantage of running up escalators, while I chose to go with the steps in the middle, which meant I'd have to run twice as fast as them. I ended up being the first person to the top of the stairs to reach the main level, and raced down to the lower level, where I found ball #2 waiting for me.
Here's a shot that Amy took a few seconds after I had snagged ball #2
It just wasn't my day today, and I knew it.
I wouldn't snag another ball for the rest of batting practice.
I headed over to center field for the last group, while Amy stayed in left and took this really cool panorama:
After batting practice ended, the Tigers left a ball on the warning track. They had run off the field, so I set up my glove trick:
Lowered it over the ball,
And pulled it in (after a couple readjustments with the rubber band)
Here are today's baseballs:
And the sweet spots:
Game: 3 balls (2 device, 1 found)
Season: 143 balls (56 hit, 35 thrown, 30 device, 21 found)
Games: 23 games
Average: 6.22 balls per game
Career: 1,265 balls
Attendance: 24,396


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They're not weak.
They're not unmotivated.
They aren't suffering from a lack of willpower.
They're suffering from addiction.
Kenny House, substance abuse counselor at Coastal Horizons, said common misconceptions about people suffering from substance abuse are that they're weak, unmotivated and lack willpower.
But these ideas are untrue.
"The flip side of that misconception is that addiction really is best described as a brain disease expressed in compulsive behavior," House explained.
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(Recommended for students ages 5–18)
This tour is now full. Email firstname.lastname@example.com to be placed on the waiting list.
Students will love seeing how artists incorporate nature into their artworks during this exciting homeschool tour. Using photographs and sculptures from the exhibitions Nature/Culture and Trace, gallery teachers will demonstrate how artists investigated the relationship between aspects of their own environment and cultural surroundings and then translated that experience to their preferred medium.
This tour is limited to thirty students; preregistration is required. For more information or to register, call 817.989.5013 or email firstname.lastname@example.com.
Students will be divided into groups by age. Parents may drop off or stay with their students for this tour.
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Meet at the Information Desk for a tour of the highlights of the permanent collection of paintings and sculpture led by one of our friendly, knowledgeable docents. No reservations are required.


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Mobile phone and broadband provider TalkTalk has become a victim of a "significant and sustained cyber attack" which could have led to breaches of customers' personal and financial details.
The company said it was "too early to say" how many of its four million UK customers had been affected by the attack and the Metropolitan Police are investigating.
:: What data might have been exposed?
TalkTalk said there was "a chance" data including credit card and bank account details may have been accessed. Other personal data could include names, addresses, dates of birth, email addresses and telephone numbers. The company has admitted "not all of the data was encrypted" but that "we believed our systems were as secure as they could be".
:: What should customers do?
The firm has advised customers to "keep an eye on your accounts over the next few months" and report anything suspicious to their bank or Action Fraud, the UK's fraud reporting centre. People should also be vigilant to unsolicited calls asking for personal data or passwords, the firm said, adding it would never call to ask for bank details.
:: What kind of attack was it, and when did it happen?
The attack took place on Wednesday and the company said it took its website down when it noticed "unusual activity" on its website. The internet provider said it did so in an "effort to protect data". Digital security expert Benjamin Harris, from MWR InfoSecurity, suggested a denial of service attack, which sees hackers block access to a site, would not have led to personal data being compromised. But he said it was possible an attack on a website could gain access to data through links allowing customers to update their details.
:: Who's behind the breach?
It is unclear at the moment. Scotland Yard's cyber crime unit has launched an investigation to establish what happened, how much data has been breached and the source of the attack.
:: Why was TalkTalk targeted?
As a broadband and mobile phone provider to four million customers, TalkTalk would be required to store large amounts of personal data. It is the third time this year they have fallen prey to a data breach. In August the company revealed its mobile sales site was hit by a "sophisticated and co-ordinated cyber attack" in which personal data was breached by criminals, while in February customers were warned about scammers who managed to steal thousands of account numbers and names from the company's computers. But the company points out it is not the only victim, saying the latest attack "is by no means an isolated incident".
In an FAQ it added: "Barely a week goes by now without cyber-criminals using increasingly hostile and sophisticated methods to target companies that do business online. It's not just companies like TalkTalk that are being targeted, banks, retailers like Apple and even the US government have been victims."


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Please Note: There are several recipes listed on this page. Please scroll down the page, to find the recipe you are seeking. Thank you!
Sweet and Sour Stuffed Cabbage
Makes 4 servings
1 cup diced onion
1 cup vegetable broth
1 teaspoon all-purpose seasoning
1/2 teaspoon reduced-sodium tamari
1 can (28 ounces) peeled whole tomatoes (with liquid), lightly mashed
1/3 cup brown sugar
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
2 cloves minced garlic
Large head of green cabbage
2 cups cooked brown rice (long-grain or basmati)
3/4 cup walnuts
1 slice whole-grain bread (for gluten-freeoption, see note)
1 teaspoon all-purpose seasoning
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
2 cups chopped mushrooms
1 cup diced onions
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
To make the sauce, put diced onion, 1/3 cup vegetable broth, all-purpose seasoning, and tamari in a medium sauce pan. Cover and simmer over medium-low heat for 5 minutes. Add the remaining 2/3 cup broth, tomatoes, sugar, lemon juice, and garlic. Cover and simmer for 15 minutes, while preparing the cabbage rolls .
Fill a large soup pot two-thirds full with water. Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat.
Meanwhile, remove the core from the cabbage. Gently separate 12 whole leaves from the cabbage (it's fine if they tear a bit). Reserve remaining cabbage for another use.
Remove the pot of simmering water from the heat. Carefully place each cabbage leaf in the pot of water until they are all submerged. Cover and let stand for 4 to 5 minutes to allow the cabbage leaves to soften. Remove the leaves and place them in a large colander to drain and cool.
To make the filling, put the brown rice in a large bowl and lightly mash it using a large fork or potato masher. Put the walnuts in a blender and pulse to process into coarse crumbs. Add the walnuts to the brown rice. Put the bread, all-purpose seasoning, and salt in a blender and process until coarsely ground. Add the bread mixture to the brown rice.
Put the mushrooms and 1 cup diced onions in a blender and process into a chunky purée. Add the mushroom mixture to the brown rice. Stir gently to combine all of the filling ingredients.
Spread 3/4 cup of the tomato sauce evenly in the bottom of a 9 x 12 casserole dish. Lay a cabbage leaf flat on a large dinner plate. If the leaf still has some of the thick stem attached, carefully cut around it with a small paring knife to remove. This will make the leaves easier to roll up around the filling.
Mound 1/4 cup of the filling in the center of the leaf. Fold the sides inward and roll the cabbage leaf firmly around the filling. Place the cabbage roll seam-side down in the prepared casserole. Repeat with the remaining leaves. Pour the remaining sauce over the rolls and cover tightly. Bake for 70 to 90 minutes, or until the cabbage is soft. Cool for 10 to 15 minutes before serving.
NOTE: For Gluten Free option, substitute the slice of whole grain bread for a vegan, gluten free bread or 1 cup gluten free crackers.
Mashed Potatoes with Roasted Garlic
Makes 4 to 5 servings
3 cloves garlic, chopped
1/2 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil
5 large white potatoes
2 tablespoons unsweetened nondairy milk, plus more as needed
1 tablespoon vegan mayonnaise or plain vegan yogurt (optional)
1⁄2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1⁄4 teaspoon sea salt
Freshly ground pepper
Chopped fresh parsley, for garnish (optional)
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Put the garlic in the center of a 12-inch square of aluminum foil. Drizzle with the olive oil. Wrap the garlic in the foil, crimping the edges to make a tight seal. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, until golden and soft.
While the garlic bakes, fit a large sauce pan with a steamer insert, and bring two inches of water to a boil. Steam the potatoes for 16 to 18 minutes, until they are soft but not mushy.
Meanwhile, heat the nondairy milk in a small sauce pan over medium-low heat until it's steaming hot but not boiling. Transfer the steamed potatoes to a medium bowl and add the baked garlic, nondairy milk, mayonnaise or yogurt (if using), Italian seasoning, and salt. Mash with a potato masher until smooth and lump-free, adding more nondairy milk as needed to achieve the desired consistency. Season with pepper to taste. Serve immediately, garnished with parsley, if desired.
Apple, Walnut, and Cinnamon Salad (Anita's Charoset)
Makes 3 to 4 servings
1 large or 2 small apples, peeled and chopped
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 tablespoon brown sugar, sucanat, or maple sugar
1/4 cup organic red grape juice
Put all of the ingredients in a medium bowl and stir to combine. Cover and refrigerate before serving. Serve well-chilled.
Coconut Vegaroons
Makes 24 cookies
2 tablespoons golden flaxseeds
1/4 cup, plus 1 tablespoon filtered or spring water
1 1/3 cups raw unsweetened shredded dried coconut
1/2 cup, plus 2 tablespoons brown sugar, sucanat, or maple sugar
2 tablespoons garbanzo (chickpea) flour
1/8 teaspoon sea salt
1 1/4 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 tablespoons nondairy milk
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Line a large baking sheet with unbleached parchment paper.
Put the flaxseeds in a high-performance blender or grain mill, and process into a very fine flour. Transfer to a small bowl. Stir in the water and whisk vigorously to combine. Let the flaxseed mixture stand for 10 minutes while prepping the rest of the ingredients.
Put the coconut, maple sugar, garbanzo flour, and salt in a large bowl and stir with a dry whisk to combine. Add the flaxseed mixture, vanilla extract, and nondairy milk, and stir until well blended. For each cookie, drop one heaping tablespoonful of the dough onto the lined baking sheet, with a cookie scoop or rounded spoon, spacing them about 1 inch apart. Flatten each macaroon slightly using a flat spatula. Bake for 15 minutes. Decrease the temperature to 300 degrees F and bake for 12 to 15 minutes, or until slightly golden brown. Put the baking sheet on a wire rack. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a serving platter to cool completely. Stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator, the cookies will keep for four days.


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Daily Distraction
Watch These Monkeys Riding Around on Other Animals — Daily Distraction
Monkeys can be troublemakers. They steal. They're sloppy kissers. And if you're another animal, one might just jump on your back and use you as a taxi.
Watch These Kids Break-Dancing Like Pros — Daily Distraction
When we were like 8 or 9 years old, we liked playing with action figures and occasionally eating dirt. Some kids are a bit more talented.
Watch These People Falling Off Mechanical Bulls — Daily Distraction
It seems like such a good idea at the time, right? You're at the bar, or the state fair, or some amusement park and hey, what's that? A mechanical bull? "Sure, I could totally ride that," you think.
Watch These People Falling Off Horses — Daily Distraction
Ever been horseback riding? It can be a lot of fun, but there's one obvious peril: you will fall off the horse.
A Collection of Dogs Reuniting With Veterans Returning From War — Daily Distraction
By now you've probably seen at least one video of a soldier or Marine returning home and seeing his dog for the first time. It's one of the things the Internet does that really, genuinely tugs at your heartstrings.
Watch These Older Folks Rocking Out on the Dance Floor — Daily Distraction
Well, it might not be a nightclub dance floor so much as the living room, but the point is the same: these folks just wanna dance!
Watch These Animals Playing on Trampolines — Daily Distraction
Having a trampoline in your backyard is more popular than ever, and our four-legged friends are getting in on the action.
Watch These Wedding Bouquet Tosses Go Awry — Daily Distraction
It might seem like a simple procedure, but the traditional bouquet toss at a wedding can create quite a bit of mayhem: fire, wrestling matches, multiple-bridesmaid pile-ups, you name it.
Video Proof That the Moonwalk Is a Really Tough (and Painful) Dance — Daily Distraction
Doing the Moonwalk is harder than it looks. Just ask any of these people.
Watch These People Using the Treadmill Wrong — Daily Distraction
A treadmill is great for exercise. That seems simple, right? But people keep finding new—and hilariously entertaining—ways to mis-use this seemingly straightforward piece of equipment.


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Afghanistan: Loss of female minister in row over Sharia law
Source:The Independent
Sima Samar, former women's affairs minister, fears for her safety.
UK newspaper, The Independent reports that Sima Samar's opponents, some of them allied with the President, Hamid Karzai, have branded her the Afghan Salman Rushdie – raising chilling memories of the fatwa that haunted the Indian-born writer for more than a decade. "I don't want to leave," Ms Samar. "But I think I need protection."
Submitted on Втр, 06/25/2002 - 00:00


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Books, audiobooks and videos not owned by the Williamson County Public Library system may be borrowed from other libraries by patrons in good standing. No item may be requested within its first year of publication. The limit is 25 requests per calendar year and process up to 3 requests at one time. Check with Library staff for details.
Check out an eReader from any branch library. Place a hold in the catalog or ask staff. The loan period is 3 weeks and may be renewed 1 time. eReader content list by author and title.
A copier is available at the library. The cost is 10 cents per page for letter and legal size copies.
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A send only fax service is available at the Circulation Desk of the Main Library and branch libraries for 20 pages or less. Local call fee is $1.00 for the first page and $0.25 per additional page thereafter. Long distance fax fee is $2.00 for the first page and $0.25 per additional page thereafter. No charge for the cover sheet.
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The Williamson Room is located on the second floor of the library in the Special Collections Department at the Main Branch in Franklin and is open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m.–5:30 p.m., and extended until 7:30 p.m. on Thursday evenings. Food and beverages are not allowed in the Williamson Room. To reserve, please contact the Special Collections librarian at 615-595-1246. All group policies apply.
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STATE COLLEGE — Flu cases are mounting in Pennsylvania, and 22 deaths have been attributed to the illness, state health officials said.
The number of cases could continue to spike because the flu season typically doesn't peak for at least another couple weeks.
The Pennsylvania Department of Health designated flu as now "widespread" throughout the commonwealth. There have been more than 11,000 laboratory-confirmed flu cases in the state since the flu season began in mid-December, with nearly 4,300 of those reported last week alone.
The Health Department's flu-tracking website (www.flufreepa.com) said "widespread" is the highest category for tracking the virus. That means there have been outbreaks or increases in flu-like or "laboratory-confirmed influenza in at least half the regions of the state with recent laboratory evidence of influenza in the state."
Eighteen of the 22 flu-related deaths statewide were reported in the past week, the health department said in statistics updated Tuesday. The majority were reported among Pennsylvanians older than 65, but two involved "otherwise healthy young individuals" under 50, the state said.
An infant died last weekend from flu-related symptoms, said Matthew Burns, a spokesman for the Lehigh Valley Health Network. The state update said no pediatric flu-related death had been reported.
The state also reported 971 flu-related hospitalizations.
The Lehigh Valley medical system's Cedar Crest location recently set up a secondary emergency department in a "mobile surge tent" outside the hospital in an effort to prevent the spread of the virus. The hospital directed patients experiencing flu-like symptoms to report to the main emergency room entrance for assessment before being escorted to a treatment area.
Penn State Hershey Medical Center also has a mobile tractor-trailer unit ready to set up outside its emergency room if needed as additional treatment space, said Dr. Glenn Geeting, an emergency department physician. He said the hospital was seeing a high volume of flu patients, as others are across the state, though this season's strain isn't as lethal as the H1N1 flu outbreak in 2009.
Geeting advised that people with severe symptoms including dehydration, vomiting and shortness of breath should go to the emergency room.
"In general, if you find you have the flu, it's no fun. But if it's only a mild illness, there's really no need to go to the ER," Geeting said in a phone interview. "There's only a limited amount of (treatment) an ER can offer, and can potentially divert resources" from more serious cases.
For mild symptoms, "often the best treatment is time," Geeting said.
A flu shot is the best way to prevent influenza, the Lehigh Valley health system said in guidelines posted on its website.
Experts advise people to stay home if they are experiencing flu-like symptoms including fever, cough, fatigue, sore throat, muscle aches and headaches. Other recommendations from the Lehigh Valley Health Network include disinfecting common areas in the home or work area daily, and using hand sanitizer frequently.


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It was our first marathon experience, and one we chose to take on together.
My sister Christina and I are not marathon runners, but fitness enthusiasts who believe you can do whatever you put your mind to do! This was our motto that led us to the finish line.
A couple months before the New York City Marathon, our parents Paul and Gail Caruso, members of the Rotary Club of New York, asked us if we would be interested in running the marathon for team NY Rotary. Our parents have been avid members of Rotary for more than 25 years. We needed to raise $5,000 between us, which would be donated to Rotary's polio eradication efforts and other charities including Gift of Life, the Ronald McDonald House, Prosthetic Hands, and the New York Rotary Club Foundation.
We only had a couple months to prepare, so we did as much as we could, taking tips from experienced runners. We learned how to put vaseline between our toes so we wouldn't get blisters; buy the right running gear to stay dry, cool, and comfortable; and eat what we call "magic jelly beans" that fuel the body while running. We did some long runs together to prepare.
The night before the big day, our family had dinner with other team NY Rotary members at the Ronald McDonald house in Manhattan. They loaded us up with carbs and inspired us with speeches.
Our parents dropped us off at the starting line as if it was our first day of school again. We did not know what to expect and were filled with excitement and nervousness. But we had each other. Our plan was to run together so we could cross the finish line together and not compete with each other. We wanted this triumphant accomplishment to be something we experienced together, as a team.
We paced ourselves and hydrated as much as possible during the run. We were cheered on by thousands of onlookers. At the final stretch, our family was there shouting words of inspiration and encouragement, giving us the final boost we needed. We ran side by side and held hands as we crossed the finish line. We did it! And we did it together!
What a tremendous accomplishment this was for us and one of the most amazing experiences we have shared together.
Learn more about Rotary's efforts to eradicate polio. Contribute to end polio now.


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Carroll strong but bullpen falters in finale
MINNEAPOLIS -- A blister and a rosin bag might have been the only things standing in the way of a four-game sweep for the White Sox this weekend.
Sam Fuld hit a two-run single with two outs in the seventh as the Twins rallied against Chicago's bullpen for a 4-3 victory Sunday at Target Field.View Full Game Coverage
MINNEAPOLIS -- A blister and a rosin bag might have been the only things standing in the way of a four-game sweep for the White Sox this weekend.
Sam Fuld hit a two-run single with two outs in the seventh as the Twins rallied against Chicago's bullpen for a 4-3 victory Sunday at Target Field.View Full Game Coverage
The Twins rallied after starting pitcher Scott Carroll was forced out of the game with a blister on the middle finger of his throwing hand. Carroll had only thrown 78 pitches and given up just one run on four hits, but the blister cropped up after the bottom of the sixth and manager Robin Ventura didn't want to push it.
"I wasn't going to send him back out there the way his hand was, so we started going to the bullpen," Ventura said. "We have an off-day tomorrow so we could start a little bit earlier."
That didn't turn out as well as he had hoped. Ronald Belisario entered the game, but before he could even throw a pitch, plate umpire Jeff Kellogg made a trip to the mound and said Belisario had too much rosin on the left sleeve of his undershirt. Belisario returned to the foul line where his sleeve was cut off at the elbow. He also had to remove a bracelet he had tucked under that sleeve.
Ventura wouldn't blame Belisario's performance on the snafu, but the pitcher clearly wasn't happy about having to change his routine, especially when he felt he wasn't using any more rosin than normal.
"Yeah, I got mad," Belisario said. "I mean, I always wear it like that."
Leading, 2-1, Belisario walked Josh Willingham on four pitches to lead off the inning, and Chris Parmelee followed with a single. A wild pitch moved both runners up, and Belisario walked light-hitting backup catcher Eric Fryer to load the bases with no outs.
Javy Guerra inherited that mess and got Eduardo Escobar to foul out to Alexei Ramirez behind third base for the first out. Danny Santana lifted a fly to shallow right-center that Adam Eaton tracked down for the second out. Willingham decided to test his arm, and when Nieto couldn't make a sweep tag off Eaton's short-hop throw, the Twins had tied the game. Both runners moved up on the throw home, and Fuld brought them home with a single up the middle to put Minnesota on top for good.
"I was just trying to stay within my approach and not let the moment get to me," Fuld said. "I was just trying to shoot it up the middle and stay short."
But the White Sox weren't done. Adrian Nieto's first Major League home run -- an opposite-field shot just over the flower beds in left field -- pulled the White Sox back within a run in the eighth, and they made things interesting in the ninth against All-Star closer Glen Perkins.
Jose Abreu led off with a single, and pinch-runner Leury Garcia moved to third on Paul Konerko's pinch-hit single. Perkins fanned Dayan Viciedo on three pitches, then walked Conor Gillaspie to load the bases with one out. But Alejandro De Aza went down swinging at a slider in the dirt for the second out, and after a couple of close calls on foul balls, Gordon Beckham was retired on a routine fly to left to end the game.
"We had a chance there -- we just didn't get that big hit," Ventura said. "Gordon had a great at-bat to finish the game. He didn't get a hit, but he had a couple shots that were pretty close to dropping something in."
After being thoroughly dominated the first three games of the series, the Twins took their first lead of the series in the third inning when Santana's one-out triple scored Escobar from second for the first run of the game.
But that was all the Twins would get off Carroll, who has given up zero or one run in three of his last four starts.
"I think the biggest thing I can take away from this is just staying within myself," Carroll said. "I didn't have my best stuff, but when I execute and not try to be too fine I think that's when my stuff plays really well."
In the end, after being swept in a four-game set in their last trip to Minnesota, the White Sox can be satisfied with taking three of four this weekend, setting up a three-game set with the first-place Tigers in Detroit starting Tuesday.
"Last time we were here they knocked us around pretty good, so it's nice to get some under our belt here," Ventura said. "We know we've got a tough series coming up."
Patrick Donnelly is a contributor to MLB.com.


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Rubio, Earth and the Elections Industrial Complex
Don't let the calendar fool you. It's already 2016.
Like it or not, the Elections Industrial Complex has unofficially declared it so.
We are in a state of constant campaigns brought to you by the political-consultant class, polarizing bloggers, cable TV personalities, political reporters and the ubiquitous partisan trolls who patrol Twitter in search of the latest outrage.
And they're eying and arguing nonstop over people like Marco Rubio, Florida's junior senator.
In the week leading up to and including Election Day, Rubio garnered about 304 media mentions, according to a news-clip search in the Nexis database. In the week after: 780 mentions – a 160 percent increase.
It won't let up. Rubio will be a key surrogate in the mid-term elections in 2014 and he'll play a major role in the next presidential election.
The first wave of post-election Rubio-related stories was fairly predictable, premised on the whither-the-GOP storyline after President Barack Obama won a second term. As the most high-profile Hispanic Republican, Rubio was indispensible to a narrative about attracting minority support. His name was repeatedly mentioned as a 2016 presidential hopeful.
It didn't hurt that Rubio, 11 days after the election, attended a birthday fundraiser for the governor of Iowa, site of the first GOP presidential caucuses four years hence.
Rubio actually accepted the invitation months before, during the Republican National Convention in Tampa. He expected Mitt Romney would actually have won the presidential contest Nov. 6, so Rubio's attendance in Iowa wouldn't have looked like a premature bid for national office.
This context got nary a mention in the Elections Industrial Complex. It didn't fit the narrative. So it was discarded or never pondered by some. The Elections Industrial Complex thrives off conflict, contradictions and gaffes. It minimizes similarity and nuance in the cracked looking glass of our politics.
And Rubio has happily obliged.
On Nov. 19, GQ Magazine published an interview with Rubio in which he gave a rambling answer to an out-of-the-blue question about the age of the Earth:
"I'm not a scientist, man. I can tell you what recorded history says, I can tell you what the Bible says, but I think that's a dispute amongst theologians and I think it has nothing to do with the gross domestic product or economic growth of the United States. I think the age of the universe has zero to do with how our economy is going to grow. I'm not a scientist. I don't think I'm qualified to answer a question like that. At the end of the day, I think there are multiple theories out there on how the universe was created and I think this is a country where people should have the opportunity to teach them all. I think parents should be able to teach their kids what their faith says, what science says. Whether the Earth was created in 7 days, or 7 actual eras, I'm not sure we'll ever be able to answer that. It's one of the great mysteries."
The comment exploded like a Rorschach ink-blot. Partisans saw what they wanted.
To the left, it was evidence that Rubio's a knuckle-dragging fundamentalist or a panderer to them. To the right, the ensuing controversy was evidence of the Godlessness of the left.
The gop obama
The breadth and passion of the reactions are more evidence that, in the maw of the Elections Industrial Complex, Rubio is the Republican answer to Obama. They're both great speakers. They came to prominence as fresh-faced minority senators. They inspire irrational zeal among their supporters and derangement among their opponents. (Rubio was even targeted by the birther movement that says neither he nor Obama is a natural-born citizen.)
Obama and Rubio also seem to share similar views on the creation of the Earth, which Slate.com pointed out recently. Here's Barack Obama at a CNN-hosted "Compassion Forum" on the campaign trail in Pennsylvania in April 2008:
"I believe that God created the universe. And that the six days in the Bible may not be six days as we understand it. It may not be 24-hour days. And that's what I believe. I know there's always a debate between those who read the Bible literally and those who don't, and that I think it's a legitimate debate within the Christian community of which I'm a part. My belief is that the story that the Bible tells about God creating this magnificent Earth on which we live — that is essentially true, that is fundamentally true. Now, whether it happened exactly as we might understand it reading the text of the Bible: That, I don't presume to know."
This received virtually no press at the time, according to a Nexis search. Instead, Obama was reeling from his own gaffe in which he described "bitter" voters who "cling to guns or religion or antipathy toward people who are not like them."
The "guns or religion" comments received more attention back then because some wanted to frame Obama as an out-of-touch elitist. Obama also did a better job than Rubio of explaining how he views science and religion.
In contrast, Rubio seemed to gleefully stoke the coals of speculation by taking to Twitter and playing up other comments in GQ where he sort of dissed the rapper Pitbull.
Rubio just had to explain how he felt about Mr. 305. The Earth's creation about 4.5 billion years ago could wait. This was Rubio feeding the Elections Industrial Complex. And why not? It has been good to him, furnishing him incessant attention and therefore political power.
For the record, in the decade we've covered the West Miami resident, Rubio has never sounded or really acted like a religious fundamentalist. But he is deeply conservative in many of his religious beliefs and he has voiced support for a modified type of Creationism, known as Intelligent Design.
As Florida House Speaker in 2008, Rubio passively supported an Intelligent Design-related bill, but allowed it to die in his chamber. He spent no political capital on it. And he didn't suggest then that the Earth was only a few thousand years old or that this was subject to scientific dispute.
None of that was mentioned by the liberals intent on making Rubio into a right-wing nutcase this month.
Missing out
But in defending Marco the Martyr, conservatives also missed out. None mentioned that, when Rubio wondered about the Earth being created in "7 days," he got the number wrong by a full day (God rested on the seventh day, so the Earth was created in six).
And who got that biblical fact right? None other than that fundamentalist Bible-thumper: Barack Obama.


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Consumer spending makes up roughly 70 percent of the U.S. economy. And this is the time of the year when consumer spending accelerates. We should welcome the ringing of cash registers as well as Salvation Army bells.
Black Friday is here, and with luck, no shopper will dehydrate standing in line for the latest "Call of Duty" game, and no consumer will be bowled over by stampeding bargain hunters.
With that same luck, perhaps consumer spending will increase from last year, helping to stimulate the U.S. and Volusia-Flagler economies, especially hiring.
Consumer spending makes up roughly 70 percent of the U.S. economy. And this is the time of the year when consumer spending accelerates. We should welcome the ringing of cash registers as well as Salvation Army bells.
A strong surge in consumer spending is also just what the doctor ordered. Look at the symptoms.
Volusia and Flagler counties are seeing improved unemployment rates, but the patients are still weak. In October, Volusia County had 8.4 percent unemployment; Flagler County had one of the highest jobless rates in the state, at 11.3 percent. Florida's rate was 8.5 percent.
Lately, the markets in New York and elsewhere have been a bit down. Traders, economists and financial analysts fear the "fiscal cliff," a combination of very expensive federal tax increases and deep spending cuts that take place on Jan. 1 — unless the White House and Congress agree to a compromise in the next few weeks.
The economy is still weak, despite improving consumer confidence. A trip off the fiscal cliff would be political irresponsibility beyond measure. It would likely cause a new recession. Congress and President Barack Obama must slow down federal spending, but going off the cliff is not the answer.
We approach the fiscal cliff because Obama and Congress put off the tough choices in 2011, until after Election Day 2012. It's possible they won't reach a long-term agreement again, kicking the can down the road for another two years.
The economy seems to have our leaders afraid to make long-term budgetary decisions, which come easier when economic growth is above 3 percent a year, and employment reports show creation of at least 300,000 new jobs a month. That hasn't happened for years, since the advent of the Great Recession, which lasted from late 2007 to mid-2009.
But something in the hearts of consumers is stirring. Consumer confidence earlier this month hit a five-year high, according to the respected University of Michigan survey. Americans are seeing unemployment rates slowly fall. They may also feel they have a bit more cash to spend. And guess what? Black Friday is here, to be followed by "Cyber Monday," an Internet shopping day full of online sales. And then Christmas shopping will be in full swing.
Important to remember, too, is "Small Business Saturday," a relatively new creation that focuses on locally owned shops. Several Volusia-Flagler businesses, locally owned, will be promoting sales on Saturday.
Americans have a kind of love-hate relationship with this time of the year.
We grumble that holiday shopping season has begun too soon. As soon as Halloween ended, retailers went right to work putting up Christmas trees and other holiday displays.
We also grumble that many of our religious holidays — across more than just one faith — have been overly commercialized and used aggressively by retailers.
Yet hearty celebrations of these holidays, from Thanksgiving to Hanukkah to Christmas, are part of the American culture. Americans revel in these holidays. Whole industries thrive because of the sales and dollars that increase at this time of the year. That's a good thing.
So this Black Friday and holiday season, let's shop, let's donate to charities and let's urge our lawmakers not to go over the fiscal cliff. A true economic recovery may be just around the corner in 2013.


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NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Two Lipscomb student-athletes have been named to the Capital One Academic All-District First Team as announced by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) on Thursday.
The all-academic teams are to recognize the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances athletically and in the classroom.
Junior Tessa Hoefle, the Atlantic Sun Conference Scholar Athlete of the Year for both cross country and outdoor track and field, was named to the team after sporting a 4.0 GPA in English.
Hoefle garnered five all-conference awards throughout the school year. She was the conference champion in the 5,000-meter run at the outdoor track and field meet. She earned first-team all-conference at the 2012 cross country championships and added a pair of all-league honors at the indoor track and field championships in the 3,000 and 5,000 meter runs.
Sophomore Maggie Lawrence earned her spot on the team with a 3.87 GPA in Biology. She is a two-time member of the A-Sun All-Academic Team. She was named to the cross country all-academic team while garnering all-conference honors in helping the Lady Bisons to the A-Sun Championship. She was also named to the squad for the indoor track and field season.
Hoefle and Lawrence are the third and fourth Lady Bisons named to the squad. Ashley Lehman earned the honor in 2012 along with Carolyn Latham, who garnered the award twice, in 2007 and 2008.
Both athletes will appear on the ballot for Academic All-America honors to be announced in June.


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The Indiana Genealogical Society has now published an index to the 1890 soldiers enrollment list for Vermillion County. It has been added to the other indexes that are available for purchase in the Shop section of the IGS website.
The soldiers enrollment lists enumerated the veterans of all past wars (including the Civil War) who were living in that county in 1890. If the veteran was deceased, the list included information on their widows and children. The Indiana Genealogical Society's indexes contain detailed information from these lists and are published on CD-ROM. IGS has compiled indexes for 65 counties thus far.


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The Humane Society of the United States
1255 23rd Street NW, Suite 450
Washington, DC 20037
202-452-1100 or 866-720-2676
Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 11 p.m.
In case of emergency
If you have found a stray or injured animal, please call your local animal care and control agency immediately. You can search for your local agency online at Adopt-a-Pet.com or Petfinder.com.
To report a case of animal cruelty, neglect or abuse, please contact your local law enforcement agency. Search for the proper authorities in your area.
If you have a veterinary emergency, please call your local veterinarian or veterinary emergency hospital.
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text: MICHAEL ENNIS taught art history at the University of Texas, developed museum programs as a Rockefeller Foundation Fellow, and worked as an independent curator and consultant. He has won several awards for art criticism, and written for such magazines as Esquire and Architectural Digest and is a regular contributor to Texas Monthly. He is the author of two previous historical novels, Byzantium and The Duchess of Milan. Michael lives in Dallas with his wife, Ellen, a television producer, and their daughter Arielle. The author lives in Dallas, Texas.