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"Community" is back on the air and you can count me glad. It's the only show on TV I care to follow, and when I miss it (which is always) I catch it the next day on Hulu over lunch. When it went on hiatus in December, I wasn't the only fan who worried NBC was trying to diffuse fan outrage over a pending cancellation, hoping we would become mollified by some other show and forget to launch our blistering letter-writing campaign.
The show has big cult following, but not a big marketable following, and the fans know it. "Community" isn't for everybody. It's the funniest thing on TV for my money, but let's face it, my money's not always good in this town. The show has two big strikes against it that make it hard for a wider audience to warm up: "Community" is weird and it's cynical.
Weird shouldn't be a problem.
"The Office" and "Parks & Recreation" and "30 Rock" are weird too. Tracy Jordan having a drug reaction, clinging to the ceiling of his dressing room, "bugging out" about little blue dudes and shouting out for "Doctor Spaceman" – that's pretty out there. Then again, having two characters who convert a bedroom in their apartment to a Holodeck-like "Dreamatorium" where they can indulge their deep fantasy role-playing sorts of trumps it all. (Wider audiences failing to embrace this extreme penchant for oddity may be why, at the beginning of Season 3," the "Community" cast pledged to "have more fun and be less weird than the first two years combined." Of course, they pledged this as part of a Broadway song-and-dance dream sequence, so maybe they were being a little disingenuous.) Still, shows like "30 Rock" and the others mitigate their insane B plots with sweet, likable characters who can ground the audience in relatively-less-insane A plots.
Which is where cynical comes in.
Here, "cynical" is just a big umbrella word I'm using to wrap up all the deliberately thorny elements that distance viewers from this show and keep them from buying in to the long-term storyline of the characters.
Those likable characters from Dunder Mifflin and Rockefeller Plaza? They're in short supply at Greendale Community College. (Individual characters are likeable, but "Community" makes sure we never feel sentimental about them for long. Everybody is flawed and occasionally ugly. "Community" writers make sure we remember that.)
Sweetness? It's more an undercurrent of meanness that pervades this show. (Characters are dicks to each other – so much so, in fact, they occasionally call each other "dick.")
Often the whole ensemble is at odds with one another and will end the entire show a fair distance short of a group-hugging make-up that gets us back to the cheery status quo. The status quo at Greendale is, indeed, that usually these characters are annoyed with one another.
I know precious little about improv comedy…
…but I know that one of the precepts is that you never improvise a disagreement or an argument that tears your fellow players down. You build them up. You never say, "No, you're wrong," you say, "Yes, and…" You build on one another. But "Community" is often an exercise in tearing others down.
To many, that's the show's strength. Some fans prefer that the show abandons treacle and contrived sitcom conventions to do something truly daring. It dares to make characters unlikable, racist, dumb, possessive, manipulative, intolerant and egomaniacal. Usually, audiences like shows where lead characters who skewer these traits in others; in "Community," the characters are skewering these traits in each other.
When the show debuted in 2009, I wrote about my enthusiasm with glee, but I cautioned the main character, Jeff Winger, "seems to be an irredeemable cad. Cads can be a hoot, but he'll need to be sympathetic before long if he's going to be a cad in the spotlight." At times, it seems Winger did grow. One of my favorite sequences in the first season is when he finally relents to become Spanish class partners with Pierce, the boorish old blowhard played by Chevy Chase. Winger doesn't want to get sucked into Pierce's weird event horizon, but to heal hurt feelings, Jeff finally lets Pierce dictate their elaborate presentation for tyrannical Spanish professor Senor Chang. Shown in a wordless montage, the presentation involves silly dances, tiny sombreros, dramatic gesturing and fistfuls of sparklers.
When it's over, the two stand stock still, panting, under the scrutinizing gaze of Chang. Finally the professor nods as if he has at last given begrudging admiration for such a ballsy and ambitious delivery. Similar situations in movies and TV have taught us what to expect next. We expect him to say, "OK. That took guts. An A for the both of you." But:
CHANG: "F … and F minus."
PIERCE: "Did you say S?"
That's comedy. That's fresh and unexpected and it piles ridiculousness on top of ridiculousness. "Did you say S?" That kills me.
So there's evidence of Winger growing. But most of the time the show shelves this, and he and others go back to being snarky and mean to each other again. Which I guess is just like life, you know?
Depth is rare – but there
The thing is, "Community" is chock full of tender moments that mean something. Two Christmases ago, the Rainman-like Abed had a seasonal meltdown that resulted in him seeing everything in a Rankin/Bass stop-motion winter wonderland. The group played along with his delusion to get him to the bottom of his depression (albeit in their own snarky and sarcastic ways). The episode explored how small traditions can resonate more powerfully than the big, gaudy, bedecked traditions that Christmas seems to be about. In a way, it's the most trenchant commentary on the holiday season since Charlie Brown and his crappy little tree.
The episode before that, Troy the naïve jock-nerd turned 21 and the gang took him to celebrate "growing up" with his first trip to a bar. But alcohol turned everyone ugly, and Troy realized that growing up meant un-fun stuff like being responsible and driving your incoherent friends home. Amazingly incisive character exploration, all of it.
Hair in your soup
But then there was the much-ballyhooed Dungeons & Dragons episode of last season. As you may be aware, I'm a bit of an enthusiast for D&D, both as a game and as a cultural roadhouse where so many generations and demographics have stopped in for a drink, even a metaphorically tortured one. I had heard that "Community" was embracing a D&D themed episode, and the early buzz was that it was a love letter to the nostalgia of role playing and dice rolling. It started quite promisingly, as the study group tries to buck up the spirits of a seemingly suicidal fellow student by feigning interest in his favorite hobby: D&D. They put on brave faces and try out their first game with their friend, Fat Neil.
So far so good. But Pierce, who creator Dan Harmon once called "the Daffy Duck of the group," just had to become the antagonist. Often Pierce is the source of derision in the show, and he regularly says and does dumb and detestable things. But in this episode, he takes it to a new level as a D&D villain, both in-game and in-show. He takes umbrage that the group did not invite him to play the game with Neil, and he goes on an episode-long tear replete with such dialog as:
"First of all, gay. Second of all, stupid. And thirdly, why was this a secret? Are you cutting me out of the group?"
"You remembered to let fatty sit in my chair. Get out! You're stretching it."
"I'm 66, dick."
(upon taking Neil's prize possession in-game) "Maybe I'll wipe my ass with it. That's what you get for taking my chair, fatty."
A lot of people loved this episode. I was so disappointed. I had wanted to share it with others, possibly others who are married to me, and say, "Hey, look at D&D through this very funny lens and see why people like me aren't totally stupid for getting a kick out of it." Instead, it was as mean-spirited and nasty as a dracolich with an ochre jelly in his phylactery. (That joke would kill at D&D session.) It wasn't that the writers did any kind of disservice to role-playing games. In fact, they gave D&D a fair shake, getting legitimate laughs with the tropes, not at them. Instead "Community" did a disservice to its characters and now I don't recommend that episode to anyone.
But whenever I get down about these characters, they say or do something surprising that reminds me why I tune in. Like "Remedial Chaos Theory," which re-imagines a story six ways based on which character must go to the door to fetch the pizza delivery. Or "Basic Rocket Science," in which the gang is trapped in a KFC-sponsored space flight simulator. Or "Modern Warfare," one the greatest-ever sitcom episodes ever about paintball … and possibly one of the greatest-ever episodes of TV comedy anywhere, anywhen.
Or even just a snippet of awesome banter, like this from last week's back-from-hiatus episode:
BRITTA: Weddings are like a little girl's tea parties, except the women are the stuffed animals, the men are making them talk, and they aren't drinking tea. They're drinking antiquated gender roles.
JEFF: Somebody tell Britta what an analogy is.
BRITTA: I know what it is. It's like a thought with another thought's hat on.
See what I mean?
So hooray for being back, "Community." I await more laughs of this caliber and beyond. May I just request that your writers familiarize themselves with Wheaton's Law?
You know: Don't Be a Dick.


text: RonJonSurfer 15 Report post Posted August 7, 2007 I thought everyone would be interested in this little show that was held at Shea Stadium 37 years ago yeaterday....note that line up and determine how much you would pay for that ticket: Shea Stadium Festival for Peace concert Yesterday was the 37th anniversary of the Shea Stadium Festival for Peace concert. The concert was held on August 6, 1970, 25 years after the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, Japan. To recognize the anniversary, organizers staged a 12–hour anti-war concert at Shea Stadium. Oddly, very little exists online or in literature about this show. There was no concert film and I have never seen any concert footage from the Shea Peace Festival. Some of the hottest acts of 1970 appeared at the gig, including: Creedence Clearwater Revival Janis Joplin (surprise guest) Jimi Jendrix (possibly) Johnny Winter Paul Simon The James Gang and many more. The show began at 10:00 AM and ended by 11:00 PM that night. YouTube was not there to archive the proceedings (what did people do with all their cell phone video back in 1970?) but I did find this eyewitness account from a discussion board: i was 17 and stood on line from the night before with my then boyfriend (now husband) as there wasn't assigned seating and we wanted good seats… we sat just over the mets' dugout, they were some of the best seats on the house ….. the show was magical …. the variety of acts and music ….. bands just showing up and playing (like janis)….. all for the price of about $16.00 for 12 hours of music … peter yarrow opened the show and ccr closed the show …..i remember most of the performers (not in any particular order).. peter yarrow, pacific gas & electric, tom paxton,dionne warwick, johnny winter, the original cast of hair, ccr (i also remember the music stopping because the tiers were rocking up & down), paul simon, james gang, poco, 10 wheel drive, al kooper, richie havens, sha-na-na, miles davis, the young rascals, stepphenwolf,janis joplin (she was NOT a scheduled performer — she was a surprise guest — i remember her performance like i saw her yesterday ……she did "ball & chainâ€, "summertimeâ€, "turtle blues†and "piece of my heartâ€, all while consuming a bottle of southern comfort) AND I DO NOT REMEMBER SEEING OR HEARING JIMI HENDRIX or otherwise (i would really like to know where it comes from that he was there)it is only recently that i have even heard any references to this show ….. for a long time only archivists and members of the audience had a vague memory of it…. Here is Poco's set list from that night. By their own accounts, Poco rocked: Pickin' Up the Pieces Just in Case it Happens Grand Junction Consequently So Long Don't Let it Pass By Nobody's Fool El Tonto de Nadie, Regresssa As the eyewitness account above mentions, Jimi Hendrix may or may not have been there. Such was the state of collective consciousness in 1970 that no one can confirm the presence of rock's greatest guitarist at a major concert event. Janis Joplin did make a surprise appearance. She was in New York and had just filmed a Dick Cavett TV appearance with her band Full-Tilt Boogie. Sadly, this was one of Joplin's last appearances. Less than two months after rocking Shea, Janis Joplin was dead. So was Jimi Hendrix. You would think their sets would be memorialized in film or record, at least for the fact that it was among the last earthly gigs for these performers. But the show is largely forgotten. Leading Loge13 to believe that the music might not have been very good that day. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites

subset: commoncrawl


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Conservatives seized upon faulty report of Moore's supposed dual voter registrations
On June 28, beneath an article and the headline "One Man, Two Registrations: Michael Moore simultaneously on voter rolls in New York, Michigan," Court TV website TheSmokingGun.com released author/documentarian Michael Moore's New York and Michigan voter registration records. According to the article, Moore's claim that he is "an independent ... not a member of the Democratic Party" is "not exactly correct, because Moore is registered in Michigan as an unaffiliated voter but also has an " active" registration in New York as a Democrat. In fact, New York and Michigan state laws both show that only Moore's most recent -- unaffiliated -- registration is valid. Nonetheless, conservative journalists seized upon The Smoking Gun's report.
Internet gossip Matt Drudge linked to The Smoking Gun's article from his website, The Drudge Report -- on the same day it was posted to TheSmokingGun.com -- using the same headline, "One Man, Two Registrations: Michael Moore simultaneously on voter rolls in New York, Michigan."
Brit Hume, FOX News Channel's managing editor and chief Washington correspondent, reported on The Smoking Gun's article during the June 29 "Political Grapevine" segment of FOX News Channel's Special Report With Brit Hume:
HUME: Liberal activist and filmmaker Michael Moore, upon the release of his new film, Fahrenheit 9/11, made a point of saying the film is not an endorsement of John Kerry, insisting -- "I'm an independent ... [and] not a member of the Democratic Party."
But New York City elections records -- recently uncovered by TheSmokingGun.com -- show that, on a 1992 voter registration form that's still active, Moore marked his party affiliation as -- "Democratic." And, by the way, Moore has also registered to vote in Michigan.
Also June 29, the subject was raised on NRANews.com, the National Rifle Association's new radio program, which, as Media Matters for America previously noted, began broadcasting June 17 on SIRIUS Satellite Radio in an attempt to circumvent campaign finance law. Cam Edwards, host of the NRANews.com show Cam & Company, discussed Moore's registration status with NRANews.com senior producer John Popp:
EDWARDS [as Moore]: "I'm not a member of the Democratic Party -- except in the state of New York."
POPP: Yeah, Cam I'm gonna have to do a little digging around now because I remember in Arkansas it is illegal to have an active voter registration somewhere else, and be registered in Arkansas at the same time, so I'll have to see if that is the case elsewhere. Yeah.
EDWARDS: And that's so nice his votes count twice, what can you say?
It is correct that under New York and Michigan laws, Moore cannot be registered in both places simultaneously, but the laws in those states preclude that from happening. The "active" status of Moore's New York registration, which TheSmokingGun.com has posted, is inaccurate, according to the laws of both states. Under Michigan law, the registration officer who registered Moore without a party affiliation, when he moved there in 2001, was in charge of notifying the New York secretary of state that Moore was to be removed from the New York voter rolls. Likewise, under New York law, Moore's registration should have been canceled upon notice from Moore's Michigan voter registration officer.
Michigan election law provides that:
At the time an elector is applying for registration, the registration officer shall ascertain if the elector is already registered as a voter. If the elector is previously registered, the elector shall at the time of applying for registration sign an authorization to cancel any previous registration. ... The clerk of the city or township in which the elector is newly registered shall notify the registration officer of the place of previous registration of the authorization to cancel. An authorization to cancel which indicates a previous address in a state other than this state shall be forwarded to the secretary of state of that state.
New York law requires that:
A voter's registration ... shall be cancelled if, since the time of his last registration he:
(a) Moved his residence outside the city or county in which he is registered[;]
(h) For any other reason is no longer qualified to vote as provided in this chapter[;]
or upon: [2](d) A notice from a board of elections or other voter registration officer or agency that such person has registered to vote from an address outside such city or county.


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The committee vote for Chuck Hagel to be defense secretary is set for tomorrow.
Top Republicans on the committee are threatening a walk out, but John McCain (R-AZ) isn't one of them.
"I will not participate in any walkout of tomorrow's Committee vote – an action that would be disrespectful to Chairman [Carl] Levin and at odds with the best traditions of the Senate Armed Services Committee," said McCain, who previously served as ranking member of the committee.
McCain and Hagel, who both served in Vietnam, were Senate allies until Hagel split with McCain over his criticism of the surge in Iraq, which McCain proposed.
McCain gave Hagel a hard time for that stance during his confirmation hearing, demanding a yes or no answer to whether he was right or wrong about the surge. Hagel refused, and instead said Iraq may have been the worst foreign policy decision since Vietnam.
But, despite that tension, in the days since that uneven testimony, McCain, who says he's leaning against Hagel's nomination, has come to Hagel's defense, arguing against the outright blockage of Hagel's nomination.
Days after Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) left open the possibility of filibustering Hagel's nomination, McCain came out against that.
Then, after Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and James Inhofe (R-OK), the current ranking member of Armed Services, said they would try to block Hagel, McCain is saying those efforts go too far.
For Hagel's part, NBC's Michael Isikoff talked to Chuck Hagel's brother Tom, who says Chuck Hagel will not withdraw. In fact, he's going to "fight harder." Tom Hagel says the only way he'd withdraw is if the White House wanted him to, and the White House is sticking by him.
Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) said he would hold a full Senate vote on Hagel either Wednesday or Thursday, reports NBC's Mike Viqueira.
EDITOR'S NOTE: A previous version of this post reported that McCain was going to vote against Hagel, but McCain has not made a final decision. He is, instead "leaning against" Hagel.


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So let me state very clearly my personal agenda.
I'm not an idealist, I like to think I'm a realist. Much of what we do in IT is driven by commercial imperatives. I have a very tough financial target to reach each year. Most of what you see of me here and on other social media has to fit into the margins of managing an eight figure P+L account.
I was criticized recently for overvaluing the "real world" of practitioners over that of conferences and think tanks. Well I'm sorry, but that is reality. ITSM takes places at the coal face. Time spent in committees and conferences helps the community and I've spent my fair share of time doing it over the last 25 years, but it isn't where ITSM happens.
I also come from a very ethical, rational and let us by very honest a very British background. That actually means not that I'm hell bent on political and economic domination of world economies, after all we lost our empire long before I was born, but rather that I believe in democracy, community and valuing others.
In recent months I've been accused of xenophobia. That is incredibly hard to stomach when I've worked across different geographies most of my life and currently work for an Indian company managing a multinational team.
I also believe deeply in the sharing of IP, and have long been a supporter of the Creative Commons Licence. I also realise though that commerce depends on the protection of IP, especially when that IP was created as part of a commercial arrangement.
To put this in practical terms I think there is lots of IP in our industry that is twenty years old and deserves to be set free because retaining it doesn't benefit anyone. But don't for one moment forget the investment UK government made in developing ITIL and that ITIL is theirs's (and now AXELOS's) to do with whatever they want.
There are behaviours that I'm afraid are prevalent in any industry that are also found in IT and ITSM that I find abhorrent. Let me be very clear what they are, and that I will not tolerate them:
- Censorship of opinions that differ from your own because they don't fit with your contingent agenda
- Bullying of those perceived to be weaker than yourself.
- Claiming to speak for the community, the great unwashed and the disenfranchised when you don't
- Setting rules you can't and don't live by yourself
- Spreading FUD in support of a personal agenda
- The rewriting of history to suit yourself
This has always been, and always will be, an independent blog. Long may it remain so.


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|Slalom Cone Skating Forum Discussions about slalom cone skating, high-jump, and other freestyle trick skating. (Note that vert, street, and park skating discussions should be posted in our aggressive skating forum.)
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|December 28th, 2016, 08:46 PM
Junior Member
Join Date: Dec 2016
Posts: 17
Mixing brands of wheels
I have a new set of Rollerblade Twister 80. They are such a step up from my second-hand K2 Exo's. They have 85a/80mm. I have read many posts, and rockering them for slalom is the way to go. How bad is it to mix wheel brands?
I figured I would replace the 1st and 4th with LABEDA/ASPHALT brand 85a/76mm wheels. I can get four of them at HockeyGiant for less than $30.
|January 1st, 2017, 07:05 AM
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Highland NY
Posts: 442
Sounds great. They both have the same hardness, so there should really be no problems. Several months ago I found some $1.00 wheels at a local ice rink and bought those. They were soft, so I used them as the middle two wheels but kept my 85a's on the outside. I felt that the softer wheels effected my speed, but I'm not so militant anymore about wheels. As long as the wheels are rockered, (or your frame) you'll have great control and ease with maneuverability.
I think most skaters are used to the constant transition of wheels. I must say that getting new wheels feels awesome. Have fun.
|January 6th, 2017, 06:54 PM
Junior Member
Join Date: Dec 2016
Posts: 17
I just did this last night. I can't wait to try them out tomorrow.
Now I have another problem.
I had an issue getting the bearings out of the OEM RB twister wheels. The spacers are different than I'm used to. My 3-way tool didn't seem to work. I used a small Slotted screwdriver to push one out. I nicked the side shield on them. Is that something that just flatten out as they are used?
|January 7th, 2017, 07:07 AM
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Highland NY
Posts: 442
Ohhhh, bummer. Don't worry, as long as you can hold the bearing and it still turns the way a wheel would, then I wouldn't be too concerned with some nicks. As long as your wheels are rolling...
Yeah, generally speaking I just use my Allen Key and wedge it into the middle of the wheel somewhere and then start banging it on the floor until something happens. I've been doing this for quite a few years and have had no major issues, just a few nicks on the shield occasionally (which never seems to be a problem).
|January 9th, 2017, 07:48 PM
Junior Member
Join Date: Dec 2016
Posts: 17
It was some operator error. I put my OE wheels back in and they free spun just fine. I think the issue might be that the new wheel hubs are tighter on the bearing than the OEM wheels. The bearings press in to the OEM hub a lot easier than the new one. Also when I swapped the new wheels back in, they spun much better.
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I've been building OWI robot kits since the mid-1980s. Some have been good, a few not worth the box they came in. Every once in a while, OWI does a kit that's great — their 3-in-1 All Terrain Robot (ATR) is one of these.
This entertaining kit, suitable for kids 12 and up, lets you build three different tracked robots. You start by assembling separate modules, then snap the modules together to create a rover, forklift bot, or gripper crawler. You can always unsnap the modules and reconfigure them for another style. I built the forklift version, spending about three hours while watching reruns of Star Trek. The assembly manual is clear and concise, with great 3D pictures to show how things go together.
The robots are motorized using a wired control box. Two motors operate the left- and right-side tracks, while a third motor operates an extended mechanism — the forklift goes up and down, for example, and the gripper opens and closes.
The ATR is immensely hackable, thanks to its modular design. Unplug the 4-pin connector from the control box, and substitute your own microcontroller. Looks like there's just enough room on top for an Arduino, a motor shield, and some LiPoly batteries. Seems like I'll be watching more Trek episodes!


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Bob Ahrens
During his college years at Syracuse University, Bob Ahrens wanted to become "the next Vin Scully." Now he helps to ignite that dream in a new generation of undergrads.
As Executive Sports Producer at WFUV, Bob Ahrens has the responsibility of training an award-winning student sports staff. Under his supervision, 24 students host, produce, engineer, write, and air One On One, New York's longest-running sports call-in show, as well as the play-by-play of Fordham football and basketball. The student staff also includes beat reporters for every team in New York City. To provide training to these aspiring producers, engineers, writers, and broadcasters, Bob sets up workshops that play host to guest speakers from all over the sports industry. He explains, "I enjoy working with students and teaching and watching them grow over the course of 3 or 4 years."
Spoken like a true teacher. After arriving at WFUV, Bob Ahrens became an adjunct professor at Fordham, where he taught classes in Audio Production, Advanced Sports Broadcasting, and Ethics of Sports Broadcasting.
Prior to his work at Fordham he was the Executive Producer of Bob Ahrens Productions, Director of Marketing and Production at Video Software and Production Center, and Advertising Production Coordinator for Block Drug.
Bob Ahrens came to WFUV in 1997 when One on One moved to Saturday afternoons. Broadcast coach Marty Glickman recommended him to work with the students, and "the rest is history." When asked what he enjoys most about his job, Bob is quick to reply, "I take great pride in where the students go and what they do after they graduate. Just seeing someone's whole development, that's a great experience."
He has reason to be proud of his staff. A number of programs the students have worked on have won major broadcast awards and have been archived in the Baseball Hall of Fame, the Museum of Television and Radio, and NFL films.


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Book – On one fateful day, four planes fall out of the sky. Among the four crashes there are only three survivors, all of them children. It's this fact – along with a rambling recording made by one of the passengers in the last moments of her life – that spawn conspiracy theories, widespread paranoia, and eventually a massive doomsday cult with connections in the highest levels of politics. What really happened on Black Friday? And could the doomsayers be right?
The Three is a book inside a book: most of the story is the fictional non-fiction account written by Elspeth, an investigative journalist, of the aftermath of Black Friday and the cults that rose up in its wake. In the end, we switch back to Elspeth's point of view as she decides to follow up on what happened after the end of her book. I thought that some of the characters' voices tended to blend together, but the overall pace of the narrative kept pulling me through the book anyway. I stayed up late to finish it, which turned out to be a mistake – this book has one seriously creepy ending.


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If I told you that Hermès is offering an $11,500 one-of-a-kind piece that even hardcore Birkin addicts are having trouble justifying, would you believe me? $11,500 is barely more expensive than a baseline leather Birkin, after all–it's a number that frequent Hermès shoppers wouldn't be shocked by. Difficult to believe, right? Especially from a brand whose customers are known for their appreciation of exclusivity. What if I told you that the prospective buyer wouldn't be told what they're purchasing before it landed in their hot little hands? Suddenly, it all makes sense.
Hermès has been running a program called Petit h Surprise since mid-2015, in which customers order monthly mystery boxes from its website with no clue what's inside them. In the past, the boxes have included things like leather charms and small scarves from the brand's Petite h line, which uses material scraps from the manufacture of the brand's other accessories to make whimsical, relatively inexpensive trinkets. Usually, the boxes sell out relatively quickly, and thankfully for the curious among us, they're fully refundable if you don't like what you got.
The mid-March boxes include two one-of-a-kind releases, though, along with a less expensive box that Hermès made available like normal. The least expensive box sold out, but the two one-of-a-kind options, at $4,525 and $11,500, respectively, are still available. On our PurseForum, Hermès fans have jokingly put out a call for a kind soul with a high credit limit to order one of them and let the group know what it is. As of now, that request has not been fulfilled–both boxes are still available on the brand's website.
It's difficult to speculate what either option might be–Hermès has a vast product line, and much of its wares are extremely expensive. Both product descriptions indicate the contents of the boxes are appropriate for both women and men, so it's somewhat unlikely that either is a bag, even though both prices would be appropriate for one of the brand's purses.
If you have a nagging curiosity and the aforementioned high credit limit, you can pick up either or both of the one-of-a-kind boxes via Hermès.


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Terry at the double for Chelsea
- Details
- Category: Premier League
Captain John Terry scored twice as Chelsea leapfrogged London rivals Arsenal to go third in the Premier League with a 3-0 derby victory over Fulham at Craven Cottage.
David Luiz powered a 35-yard shot into the top corner after 30 minutes and returning skipper Terry headed in a second before half-time to put Chelsea on course for a first Premier League away win in five attempts.
Fulham felt aggrieved when Bryan Ruiz was adjudged to have dived over Terry's leg in the penalty area before the break and the visitors' skipper headed in his second of the game midway through the second half as Chelsea climbed a point above Arsenal and three clear of Tottenham.
There was an intensity about the Cottagers, who lost for just the second time in eight Premier League matches, but the decisive moments went Chelsea's way.
Rafael Benitez spoke of the need for mental toughness in the closing weeks of the season and Terry has it in abundance, despite a trying season punctuated by injury which has seen him slip from first name on the team sheet to become a more peripheral figure.
Benitez's side are now in pole position for the third automatic Champions League qualifying place with six games remaining - including matches with Manchester United, Spurs and Everton and Sunday's trip to the Spaniard's former club Liverpool.
Frank Lampard made his 600th Chelsea appearance in a side showing four changes following Sunday's FA Cup semi-final loss to Manchester City.
Terry - like Lampard an unused substitute at Wembley - Victor Moses and Fernando Torres were also brought in for Chelsea's 60th game of the season as last season's Champions League winners stepped up their bid for a place in next season's tournament.
The Cottagers made two changes from the draw at Aston Villa, with John Arne Riise and Mladen Petric included as the hosts went in search of a second Premier League win over Chelsea at the 24th attempt.
Sascha Riether's cross in behind Terry and Luiz gave the hosts an opportunity for a fast start, but Ruiz could only divert the ball over from close range.
Lampard's first chance to score for the first time in a month - since his 200th Blues goal came against his former club West Ham - came in the ninth minute after Brede Hangeland sliced an attempted clearance.
Torres had the presence of mind to head the ball behind him and Lampard hooked the ball towards goal, but Mark Schwarzer saved comfortably.
It was part of a sustained period of possession for Chelsea, but then it was Fulham's turn to apply pressure.
After Branislav Ivanovic was booked for a two-footed foul on Petric, Dimitar Berbatov had a shot deflected wide, Giorgios Karagounis fired narrowly over and Riise fluffed a chance.
The visitors then took the lead against the run of play when Luiz found himself in space and unleashed an unstoppable long-range strike which soared into the top corner.
It was the Brazil defender's fifth goal of the season as he celebrated his 100th appearance at the ground where he made his full debut for the Blues.
Fulham had further opportunities, with Berbatov and Urby Emanuelson at the heart of much of their good work.
The Bulgarian could not quite get on the end of Emanuelson's pass before the Dutchman danced round the Chelsea defence and his deflected shot was turned around the post by Petr Cech.
Berbatov shot wide before another long-range Chelsea shot had Fulham in trouble.
This time Schwarzer could only parry Lampard's swerving free-kick from 40 yards and from the resulting corner the Fulham goalkeeper was beaten for a second time.
Chelsea played the set-piece short and Juan Mata crossed to the back post where Terry headed in.
Terry was relieved to see referee Mike Dean rule in his favour as Ruiz was booked for diving when going by the Blues defender in the box.
Fulham boss Martin Jol spoke to Dean as the sides left the field at the interval, with his side unfortunate to be trailing.
Fulham resumed with purpose, but their luck deserted them when Giorgos Karagounis whipped in a corner and Philippe Senderos saw his header blocked at the back post by team-mate Petric.
Moments later, after Schwarzer had turned a Victor Moses shot around the post, Chelsea had their third.
Mata's corner was met by Torres, whose powerful header was helped in by Terry ahead of the covering defender.
Terry pointed to Torres in celebration, but it was his goal and his night as Chelsea triumphed.


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Somerset by Alice Temperley for John Lewis launches on 4th September. Designed exclusively for John Lewis and named after Alice Temperley's home county, this designer/high-street collaboration is an iconic British pairing, bringing Temperley's high-end designs to the high street.
'I wanted Somerset to be very much a collection of essentials and to design a collection that would provide a feminine and functional wardrobe for women in their everyday life,' says Alice Temperley, MBE. 'This collection is all-encompassing, effortless and draws on our classics, with some stand-out pieces.'
One stand-out piece is this double-layer lace dress above. At £249, it's one of the more expensive items in the collection, but as part of the 60-strong collection, it provides a wide choice of classic Temperley favourites at affordable prices.
Working Temperley's signature influences of Victoriana, bohemian and military, the Somerset collection taps into autumn/winter's love affair with lace and rides the wave of this season's return to black.
This dress is a great trans-seasonal piece. Lace trim silk dress, £160. Laurel leather bag, £255. Pony foxglove boots, £195. All by Somerset by Alice Temperley for John Lewis.
And you know I love a good cape! Cashmere cape coat, £299 (also available in tan). Skinny trousers, £79. Glastonbury suede boots, £175. All by Somerset by Alice Temperley for John Lewis.
'The beauty of the Somerset collection is that it can be worn in so many ways,' says stylist Naomi Miller, who styled model Lily Donaldson for the Somerset campaign. 'The Alice Temperley style is eclectic, romantic and feminine. I think there's something in this collection for everyone.'
I agree with Miller, which is why I've created a capsule wardrobe of Somerset pieces below. The two tops, skirt and coat are the cornerstones of your autumn/winter look. The cape coat (as also pictured above) is a go-with-everything winter essential, while interchanging the tops with the skirt creates a day-to-night look instantly. Add a white T-shirt and a pair of jeans to mix and match with the tops and skirt and you get a further three looks for your money.
'It's the first time I've created a full accessories range, which I am very excited about,' says Temperley. And so she should be. There are bags, belts, shoes, scarves and even a hat. Look out for the Larch black patent brogues for £130 and the Wisteria suede shoes with their chunky gold heel for £140. The Clevedon bag in red, black or tan leather at £175, meanwhile, is a classic in the making.
The Somerset collection launches in 29 John Lewis stores and online on the 4th September, while a second drop dedicated to partywear follows in early October.


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Robby Powell – Product Marketing Manager, SAS
Big Data Analytics and the Story It Tells: A Case Study on Ebola
The recent Ebola outbreak in West Africa has been the most widespread epidemic of the disease in history. Media, government, health and humanitarian organizations have generated a tremendous amount and variety of data in the effort to chronicle and fight the disease.
So how can all this disparate data covering many aspects of the outbreak be compiled in a way that creates a clear and complete picture?
This webinar will illustrate how you can use SAS® Visual Analytics with your data to inform and clarify your actions. Learn how to:
- Identify relationships and patterns in your data.
- Design and share reports from a single application.
- Present data and results in a clear, insightful way.
Have a SAS profile? To complete this form automatically Sign In
Welcome, . Edit Profile Log Out


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Arch Coal Announces Agreement With Canada's Ridley Terminal for Pacific Coast Exports
ST. LOUIS, Jan. 18, 2011 -- Arch Coal, Inc. (NYSE: ACI) today announced an agreement with Canadian Crown Corporation Ridley Terminals Inc. ("RTI") - a coal and other bulk commodity marine terminal located near Prince Rupert, British Columbia - to facilitate coal exports to Pacific Rim markets. The five-year agreement will give Arch throughput capacity at the terminal of up to 2 million metric tons of coal for 2011 and up to 2.5 million metric tons of coal for 2012 through 2015.
"This transaction is another important step in accomplishing our strategic objective of expanding Powder River Basin coal sales into the Asia-Pacific region," said Steven F. Leer, Arch's chairman and chief executive officer. "This throughput agreement gives us direct, immediate access to the growing seaborne thermal market. It also complements our recently announced investment in the Millennium Bulk Terminal in Longview, Wash., and other continuing terminal negotiations."
RTI can load up to 12 million metric tons of coal annually, with expansion plans that could increase the facility's capacity to 24 million metric tons by 2015. Coal accounts for more than 80 percent of RTI's total volume, and Asia is the primary destination for the products shipped through the terminal. The terminal shipped 8.3 million metric tons of coal during 2010.
"RTI's vision is to provide value to its parent company and expand its role as a leading trade gateway between North American and world markets," said George Dorsey, president of Ridley Terminals. "This agreement is a very important contract for the terminal. Arch Coal's guaranteed U.S. coal volumes will support our goal of doubling our capacity by 2015."
Located on Ridley Island, RTI affords reduced sailing time to Asia - by more than one day compared to Vancouver, and nearly three days compared to Long Beach, Calif. RTI can handle panamax as well as capesize vessel loadings of up to 280,000 metric tons.
St. Louis-based Arch Coal, Inc. is the second largest U.S. coal producer. Through its national network of mines, Arch supplies cleaner-burning, low-sulfur coal to fuel roughly 8 percent of the nation's electricity. The company also ships coal to domestic and international steel manufacturers as well as international power producers.
Forward-Looking Statements: This press release contains "forward-looking statements" - that is, statements related to future, not past, events. In this context, forward-looking statements often address our expected future business and financial performance, and often contain words such as "expects," "anticipates," "intends," "plans," "believes," "seeks," or "will." Forward-looking statements by their nature address matters that are, to different degrees, uncertain. For us, particular uncertainties arise from changes in the demand for our coal by the domestic electric generation industry; from legislation and regulations relating to the Clean Air Act and other environmental initiatives; from operational, geological, permit, labor and weather-related factors; from fluctuations in the amount of cash we generate from operations; from future integration of acquired businesses; and from numerous other matters of national, regional and global scale, including those of a political, economic, business, competitive or regulatory nature. These uncertainties may cause our actual future results to be materially different than those expressed in our forward-looking statements. We do not undertake to update our forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by law. For a description of some of the risks and uncertainties that may affect our future results, you should see the risk factors described from time to time in the reports we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission.


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Postseason Memories
Jim Eisenreich was an outfielder who played for the Phillies from 1993 through 1996. He also played for the Twins, Royals, Marlins and Dodgers during a 15-year career. He played for the Phillies in the 1993 NLCS and World Series and was a member of the 1997 World Champion Marlins.
What is your favorite memory of October baseball as a child?
"My memory of October baseball as a kid was pretty limited. I was a Twins fan, and except for 1965, they were never in the playoffs. Cincinnati's 'Big Red Machine' and Reggie Jackson with the Yankees hitting home runs are the things that stick out for me."
As a player, what was the biggest change between the regular season and postseason?
"The biggest change when I played in the post season was the number of media people there. Also, the time that was allowed for them before and after each game."
What is your fondest personal postseason memory?
"My most treasured memory of the postseason was in Game 7 of the 1997 World Series, bottom of the 11th, bases loaded and I'm on second base in a 2-2 tie with the Cleveland Indians and Edgar Renteria got a single to drive in the winning run. We were World Series Champs."
Where were you when the Phillies won the World Series last October?
"I was at home last October watching the Phillies win the World Series as well as texting some of my Philly friends who were at the game."
Postseason History
A year ago on this date, Cole Hamels beat the Dodgers, 5-1, sending the Phillies to the World Series.
Alumni Reunion
Former Phillies on the Dodgers include Randy Wolf, Vicente Padilla, Jim Thome, Larry Bowa, Mariano Duncan and Ken Howell.
Last Day Game
Tomorrow's game begins at 1:07 (PDT) and will be the final day game of the postseason schedule. It is also a travel day:
**7:30 a.m., early team bus leaves for Dodger Stadium
**9 p.m., 2nd team bus
**11 a.m., club officials, player wives/family bus
**Post-game, 4 buses depart for airport and Delta charter flight
**Approx. 3 a.m. Saturday, back home
**Sleep, sleep, sleep
Phillies Insider is on twitter as barons63


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"I think my closet is a reflection of the Whitney Eve girl: very colourful, print-heavy, eclectic, and most of all, comfortable," Whitney Port told The Coveteur . We popped by Port's beach-side pad just in time for breakfast, where she had a serious spread waiting for us. We've been big supporters of Port since her T.V. days of The Hills and The City, and throughout the continued success of her ever-expanding line, Whitney Eve. "My dream is to dress a girl from head to toe, so accessories are my next step," she revealed. And, yes, we got an exclusive preview of her upcoming jewellery collection, Bits & Bobs, as well. Port's walk-in was bursting with colour, prints and whimsical charm—and she's got the organization thing down to a science. While we were busy browsing her wardrobe and admiring the Boho-like décor, Port had her glam squad add the finishing touches to her hair and make-up. After she was dolled up, we dressed her up in a slew of sartorial outfits: Giuseppe Zanotti sparkly heels, a drapy Thakoon dress—and we even got her into her sweats and fuzzy slippers. Port spilled a ton of stuff: her favourite flea markets, her knack for making a killer cheese plate, her go-to destinations for interiors, and her love for high/low mixing. We adore a girl with a sea of expensive stilettos, but we really love a girl who adds a pair from Zara, Topshop and Urban Outfitters into the mix. Our greatest find in Port's closet was a certain yellow jumper…ring any bells? (It was the one Port wore on her first day at DVF!) Port's words of wisdom for aspiring interns? "I absolutely loved all the experience I gained working in the different facets of the fashion industry, from being an intern at Teen Vogue to a P.R. girl at People's Revolution, to working at a major fashion house. The best advice I can give to anyone trying to work in the fashion industry is to gain work experience as soon as possible and try to secure internships, even as early as summer in high school."
(L)When I design I am constantly thinking about what I am missing in my closet. When I get ready in the morning, I take mental notes of items I feel I need to complete my look. I think my closet is a reflection of the Whitney Eve girl: very colourful, print-heavy, eclectic, and most of all, comfortable. (R)I got this lampshade at the Rose Bowl Flea Market. When I go to these flea markets I usually find interior accents such as these—as well as costume jewellery. L to R. Skirts, Rodarte, Opening Ceremony; Pumps, Jerome C. Rousseau; Sandals, Valentino; Boots, Chanel.
(L) I love kitchens that open to a sitting room, so even if you aren't the one doing the cooking—that's usually me—you can still feel like you are a part of the meal! I don't cook a lot, per se, but I am a great sous chef to my boyfriend and sister. They are usually the creatives behind the meals that get cooked in here, and I just follow orders and do the chopping. I am great at cheese plates, and usually keep my pantry stocked with every cracker imaginable! Shorts, Unknown Designer; Shoes, Loeffler Randall x Suno(R)I divvy up my clothes into categories: pants, skirts, casual dresses, fancy dresses, tanks, short sleeves, long sleeves, jackets. Within those, I organize them by colour. It's the easiest way for me to find something. I love the Huggable Hangers from The Container Store; they are so sleek and velvety so nothing ever falls off.
Head over to The Coveteur to see more of Whit's amazing closet.
credit - The Coveteur , thanks Doll!! :)
~Kelli at Hills Freak
credit - The Coveteur , thanks Doll!! :)
~Kelli at Hills Freak


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Arcana Heart
- 1 Introduction
- 2 Notation
- 3 Game Mechanics
- 4 Characters
- 5 General Strategy
- 6 Links
(Taken From Wikipedia): [Arcana Heart Wikipedia entry]
Arcana Heart (アルカナハート, Arukana Hāto?) is a 2D arcade fighting game developed by Examu Inc. (formerly Yuki Enterprise). The first edition was released to arcades (mostly in Japan, but a few in other countries) in late 2006. The game features an original all-female cast (each a variation of the moe Anime-Girl archetype), and after choosing a character the player chooses an "elemental alignment" which determines the character's special moves.
In mid-April 2007, a patch was released for Arcana Heart called "Arcana Heart FULL". The patch fixed a variety of issues, toning-down overly-powerful characters and "buffing up" weaker characters. A controversy arose, however, due to the fact that the patch (which is physically housed on a single custom chip) costs ¥78,000 each, whereas similar patches for similar games have been released for free (such as the patch for Melty Blood: Act Cadenza).
Console version
On July 4, 2007 it was announced that a console version of the game is slated for release on PlayStation 2 in Japan on October 11, 2007.
The home version allows the option of playing individual characters in "Original" or "Full," reflecting the original and patched versions of characters from the arcade. Voice acting was also added to all story segments.
On April 11, 2008, the game was released in North America. A notable difference between Arcana Heart and most other US PlayStation 2 titles is that the game has only Japanese voice-overs and no English voice-overs. Atlus removed the voices present in the Japanese console version's story mode as well as pre-battle and victory screens, but kept the voices used in battle.
Joystick Notation
- 6 - Forward - Tilt stick forward/toward the opponent. (X-axis)
- 4 - Backward/Back - Tilt stick backward/away from the opponent. (X-axis)
- 8 - Up - Tilt stick upward. (Y-axis)
- 2 - Down - Tilt stick downward. (Y-axis)
- 236 - Quarter circle forward/Hadouken/Fireball - Tilt stick downward, then to downward and forward, then forward.
- 214 - Quarter circle backward - Tilt stick downward, then to downward and backward, then backward.
- 41236 - Half circle forward - Tilt stick backward, then to downward and backward, then to downward, then to downward and forward, then forward.
- 63214 - Half circle backward - Tilt stick forward, then to downward and forward, then to downward, then to downward and backward, then backward.
- 623 - Dragon punch - Tilt stick forward, then to downward, then to downward and forward.
- 421 - Reverse Dragon punch - Tilt stick backward, then to downward, then to downward and backward.
- 360/FC - Full circle - Complete a full rotation of the stick.
- 720 - N/A - Complete a 720 degree rotation of the stick.
- Charge - Hold a tilt - Hold the stick in either 4 or 2 or 8 (Depending) then move to 6 or 8 or 2 respectively.
X-axis functions can be used interchangeably with Y-axis functions and vice versa. X-axis functions cannot be used in conjunction with another X-axis function and vice versa.
Four Button Notation
Expressed in the form: Notation - Move - (PS2 Default Map)
- L - Light - (Square)
- M - Mid - (Triangle)
- S - Strong - (O)
- D - Homing Button - (X)
Occasionally people may use "Notation" and "Move" interchangeably.
- +: Used between two other pieces of notation to signify that they should be performed at the same time. i.e. "X" + "Y", "X" should be performed at the same time as "Y".
e.g. 6 + MP
- -> (Sometimes > or ,): Indicates the next part of a sequence. i.e. "X" -> "Y" -> "Z", After "X" is performed, "Y" should follow, then "Z".
e.g. Dash -> Fierce Jet Uppercut
- xx (Sometimes x): Used between two other pieces of notation to signify that the first should be cancelled (Interrupted earlier than it would finish otherwise) into the second. i.e. "X" xx "Y", "X" should be cancelled into "Y". Moves can be cancelled from in ascending manner in this way: Normals > Specials > Supers.
e.g. 5B, 5C xx 236+A+B
- ~: Indicates that the preceding action should link (immediately follow with) into the next action. i.e. "X" ~ "Y", "X" should be followed immediately by "Y"
e.g. 5C ~ 6D ~ 5A
- /: Used to show when two or more options are available at that point in a sequence, invariably to show that they both produce similar if not identical results.
State Modifiers
- s. - The following move should be performed in the standing position (neutral in the Y-axis). i.e. s."X", perform "X" whilst standing.
- c. - The following move should be performed in the crouched position (held down in the Y-axis). i.e. c."X", perform "X" whilst crouching.
- j. - The following move should be performed in the "in the air" position (After having held up in the Y-axis). i.e. j."X", perform "X" whilst in the air.
Game Mechanics
Basic Movement
- Walk
6 or 4 while standing on the ground
- Dash
66 or 44 while standing on the ground: this covers more ground faster than walking but at the risk of being unable to block during the dash
- Jump
8 or 9 or 7 while standing
- Double Jump
8 or 9 or 7 during your initial jump
- Airdash
66 or 44 during jump or double jump: this changes your jump trajectory greatly and can also be used to increase your jump range
- Instant Airdash/IAD
9~6 or 7~4 while on the ground: this helps to extend combos, extend pressure, avoid pokes and counter poke.
Homing Gauge
The Homing Gauge is one of Arcana Heart's more interesting features. The Homing Gauge takes the form of three(3) stocks sitting above your super meter. The Homing Gauge is used to perform several key actions in Arcana Heart- Homing, Homing Cancel, Guard Cancel, Wall Tech, and Ground Tech. Each of these actions require one Homing Stock (Homing Cancel and Guard Cancel cross out the Homing Stock they used). Each Homing Stock refills on its own after a short time. Crossed out Homing Stocks won't refill until they clear, which they do on their own after a short time. Homing Stocks will NOT naturally refill during the combo in which the stocks are used in the first place (ie. if you do a homing cancel, you that stock won't start clearing up till your combo is done). Activating your Arcana (A+B+C) will refill your Homing Gauge instantly.
The most basic use of the D button. Simply pressing any direction + D when you aren't attacking or blocking an attack causes your character to dash/fly for a short burst in that direction - 5D causes your character to do a little hop in place. This uses one Homing Stock. Holding D will cause your character to continue flying/dashing after the initial burst - this does not require any extra Homing Stock! True to the name, your character will home in on your opponent, though you can still control your flight path to a certain degree by moving the stick around. You can stop Homing at any time by releasing D.
Special Cases:
- Anutpada (Time) Arcana- ground 6D is a teleport of sorts, it takes you forward a long distance and can pass through your opponent.
- Ohtsuchi (Stone) Arcana- ground 6D has slower startup, and has hyper armor through the entire duration of the Homing (ie. eats all hits and keeps going)
Homing Cancel
As the name implies, you can cancel moves that connect with your opponent (hit or blocked) with Homing. As with regular Homing, you can Homing Cancel in any direction by adding a joystick press, and you can extend your Homing Cancel movement by holding D. Homing Cancels cross out a Homing Stock. Homing Cancels offer a powerful tool in combos and pressure, as well as the ability to make moves safe on block. Uses for Homing Cancels are covered more extensively in the character specific pages. Homing Cancels operate like regular Homing, including the special cases.
Guard Cancel
Taken From the Arcana Heart Wiki [guardcrush.net arcana wiki]
GC = Guard Cancel, while guarding, you can use the D button to cancel through and cancel the blockstun. Similar to Homing Cancels, GC6 is guard cancel forward, GC4 is guard cancel backwards. If you guard cancel forward (depending on your arcana choice, but we'll not get into that now), a red shield that clashes the opponents attacks pops up in front of you as you charge forward. If you guard cancel backwards, your character takes a jump back (meaning it'll go over lows) and then if you don't cancel the jump back in the air (only certain moves can be canceled in this way), your character will automatically run forward after she's done with the jump back.
Wall Tech/Ground Tech
Hold D before getting slammed against the wall to tech, thus avoiding a followup combo. This uses one Homing Stock. Holding D after hitting the ground lets you Ground Tech. Ground Techs can be cancelled into special moves and the tech itself is invincible to strikes (but not to throws!).
Each Arcana has its own set of moves and special properties, regardless of which character uses them. Once per round, you can activate your Arcana by pressing A+B+C. The initial activation can get you out of combos, though there is a slight recovery window during which you can be hit. It also completely refills your Homing Gauge, and starts draining your super meter- once your meter is empty, the activation ends. While your Arcana is activated, you will gain certain benefits (based on the Arcana) and will be able to summon the Arcana (Arcana Force - 236A+B+C) as long as you have any bar remaining. The Arcana Force takes away whatever bar you had left, regardless of whether it hits or even comes out.
I'll start off by copy and pasting the [guardcrush.net wiki] than I'll start editing the articles. -- Finkledoodoo
- Anutpada - Time
- Bhanri - Lightning
- Dieu Mort - Magic
- Gier - Dark
- Lang-Gong - Fire
- Moriomoto - Plant
- Niptra - Water
- Ohtsuchi - Stone
- Orichalkos - Metal
- Partinias - Love
- Tempestas - Wind
Listed in order of appearance on the character select screen (from left to right)
I'll start off by copy and pasting the [guardcrush.net wiki] than I'll start editing the articles. -- Finkledoodoo
- Fiona Mayfield
- Daidohji Kira
- Mei-Feng
- Lilica Felchenerow
- Yasuzumi Yoriko
- Aino Heart
- Tsuzura Saki
- Kasuga Maori
- Tokinomiya Kamui
- Konoha
- Lieselotte Achenbach
General Strategy
coming soon!
- Arcana Heart Official Website - in Japanese
- SRK Arcana Heart thread - info and gameplay discussion
- GC.net forums - has some Arcadia translations and general gameplay discussion, more to come


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AMC Announces Robert Kirkman's Thief of Thieves as Project in Development
AMC announced today Thief of Thieves, a new project in development from The Walking Dead executive producer/writer Robert Kirkman and Chic Eglee (The Shield, Dexter) based upon the new comic Kirkman created under the same name. The Walking Dead executive producer David Alpert and Kirkman reunite with Eglee who will serve as showrunner. All three also serve as executive producers on the new skein. The comic book Thief of Thieves, a new crime caper published by Kirkman's Skybound imprint at Image Comics, debuted on Feb. 8 and sold out the same day.
"Much like The Walking Dead brought horror to television in a unique and groundbreaking way, I feel Thief of Thieves can do the same thing for heist stories, showing the humanity of all the characters, including the criminals," explains Kirkman, who created The Walking Dead comic in 2003 and still writes each issue, among many other titles.
"AMC recognizes the limitless ideas generated by the comic industry," says Kirkman. "Their dedication to bringing The Walking Dead to life as a TV show has been key to its success and I'm excited about the potential of Thief of Thieves to reach similar levels of success." According to Kirkman, "Working with AMC has been a tremendously positive experience and I'm looking forward to continuing and strengthening our relationships there and I can't neglect to mention I've been dying to work with Chic again since we wrapped on The Walking Dead Season 1."
Circle of Confusion partner Alpert adds, "It's incredibly exciting to put the band back together with Robert, Chic and AMC; it just feels great."
Kirkman developed Thief of Thieves based upon his experience in the writer's room of The Walking Dead after observing how the ideas got more creative and thrilling when a group of talented writers were working together to make the show as interesting as possible. The first arc of the comic is being written by Nick Spencer and Shawn Martinbrough is the artist. Kirkman created the story and has a "head writer" in charge of each arc of Thief of Thieves. The story focuses on master thief Conrad Paulson who, while attempting to reconcile with his estranged wife and son, vows to walk the straight and narrow, only to discover he's completely addicted to the thrill of stealing. Now he must feed his addiction by stealing only what has been stolen, as the Thief of Thieves.
The deal was brokered by CAA, Katz Golden Rosenman for Kirkman, Behr Abramson for Alpert/Circle of Confusion, Michael Gendler for Eglee and Marci Wiseman, head of business affairs for AMC with Roger Arar at Loeb and Loeb.Read More


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Village People
Posted by Lewis on August 25, 2004
In Reply to: Seinfeld and a blond? posted by Brian from Shawnee on August 25, 2004
: : : : : : : To anyone,
: : : : : : : Does that mean she's getting wrinkles as she ages?
: : : : : : : Thanks
: : : : : :
: : : : : : as a male, I interpret that as meaning that the woman takes advantage of her personal attractiveness so far as is possible. apparently good-looking people have lots of advantages, but I haven't read Nancy Friday's "The Power of Beauty" yet.
: : : : : She uses her looks to great advantage. There was a great Seinfeld show, when Jerry was going out with a 'drop dead georgous' blond. When he was stopped for driving too fast, the policeman just melted when she got out of the car, and she got a ticket for a sold out movie when all others were standing in line. In my experience this is true......really beautiful women can have most anything they want. (OK --- here comes the politically correct barrage on my head!)
: : : : As a fellow male, I am shocked...shocked, I say...to learn that there are politically incorrect thinkers on this board! Your reply makes me wonder whether you have ever, in fact, known any truly beautiful women! If you have, would you mind passing along some telephone numbers? You may find a picture of me posted under the "Lardass" thread, below.
: : : All this conjecture is just silly. We all know it's not looks that count, but how big is the convertible!!!
: : I didn't watch Seinfeld much, but don't recall that he was gay: a 'blond' would be a man surely?
: : Sounded real Village People stuff that episode.
: Not that there's anything wrong with that...
As a mystified "Will & Grace" watcher - I have no problem except understanding why she went off and married the pillock she ended up with. What she did to Will on Christmas Eve (on and off stand-by) was very unfair and that may be the final straw with me.
- Where are we now??? Lotg (OZ) 25/August/04
- Where are we now??? Acme 26/August/04
- More than an handful or Silicon Valley revisited Lewis 27/August/04
- Where are we now??? Acme 26/August/04


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Beautiful countryside on Berlin's doorstep. All roads to Berlin lead through the holiday paradise of Brandenburg. This region encircling Germany's capital offers natural beauty, culture and scenic lakelands. Get active, breathe the fresh air and enjoy the great outdoors on your Brandenburg holiday.
Nowhere in Germany do the contrasts arrive quicker than in the region on its capital's doorstep. Brandenburg is like an extended belt of unspoilt countryside around buzzing Berlin. Just under an hour's drive from the city centre and you're there. Views stretching to the horizon, World Cultural Heritage and a multitude of lakes and rivers. So close. So far. So varied. Sparsely populated Uckermark is like a Tuscany of the north. The Spree Forest could be a little Venice with its network of rivers and canals. And you'll find the Arcadia of Brandenburg in Potsdam– a city boasting magnificent palaces, huge landscaped parks and more than 1,000 years of history.
Wherever your Brandenburg holiday takes you, you'll never be far from nature! The Lower Oder Valley Riverside National Park, three UNESCO biosphere reserves and eleven nature parks – around a third of the region is protected natural scenery. So it's great for getting out and about in unspoilt nature. Explore the narrow waterways of the Spree Forest in traditional wooden boats or more energetically by canoe. The heaths and woodland of the Schorfheide offer endless opportunities for walking. There are also more than 7,000km of cycle routes that criss-cross the region. Roll along the Havel, Oder and Spree rivers. Travel as far as Copenhagen or the Polish border. And then relax. Linseed oil, crystal stones, apricot kernels and aromatic soaks in wooden tubs are just some of the wellness wonders used in thermal spas such as Bad Belzig, Templin and Bad Saarow.
Culture on the doorstep of Berlin. This means more than 500 palaces and stately homes. Prussian gardens and architecture. Open-air festivals against historical backdrops. The music festival at Potsdam's Sanssouci Palace and the Brandenburg Summer Concerts. The history of the two Germanys and Brandenburg's industrial heritage. Cycle along the Berlin Wall Trail, stroll across Glienicke bridge and visit historic Cecilienhof House.
More than 3,000 crystal-clear lakes and 30,000 kilometres of rivers make Brandenburg the German federal state with the most inland waterways. Take it easy on a boat trip or get active on the water with a wakeboard, canoe or hydrobike. See Rheinsberg Palace from a houseboat, or go sailing on Scharmützel Lake. The region around Berlin is a paradise in blue, the largest water sports region in Europe. So close. So secluded.
© TMB Tourismus-Marketing Brandenburg GmbH
Further Information:
TMB Tourismus-Marketing Brandenburg GmbH
Am Neuen Markt 1
14467 Potsdam
Tel.: 0331/200 47 47
Fax: 0331/298 73 28
E-Mail: firstname.lastname@example.com


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Today's idea is fun and useful: create a Bulletin Board for your in-family communication or for your to-do list using wine corks!
You will need is glue, canvas to keep the whole thing today and about 40 wine corks! Super easy DIY!
Here are more fun DIY ideas with wine corks: bath mat out of wine corks, wine cork serving tray, wine bottle corks armchair as well as one of these 3 eco-friendly DIY Christmas wreaths. Also, read about being an eco-friendly parent here. Get greener and more creative!


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Seibon HD0405SBIMP-CWII Carbon Fiber CWII-Style Hood 04-05 Subaru Impreza WRX/STI
SEIBON Carbon, a division of SEIBON International, Inc., specializes in the design and manufacture of high-quality carbon fiber automotive body components such as hoods, trunks, fenders, and aerodynamic body additions such as rear spoilers and side skirts.
Your looking for a carbon hood...don't fool around with other competitors products. With Seibon you will enjoy the tight and constant weave of their carbon fiber products. You will appreciate the workmanship that goes into their manufacturing process, and you certainly will like the way their products actually FIT!
Seibon CWII-Style Carbon Hood replaces your factory hood to add style and save some weight.


text: Mecosta County, easily accessed via US 131, M-66, and M-20, is home to over 100 lakes, rivers and streams; with the Muskegon and Little Muskegon rivers winding their way through. The County Seat, Big Rapids, is home to Ferris State University and a thriving business community. Please explore our new website to see much of what is available in our community and to access a variety of County services and offices..


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Find support information for all Case IH precision farming products to make sure you get the information you're looking for, quickly and efficiently.
Learn about the AFS Support Center, open support tickets and transfer files.
In one place, find troubleshooting information for all of precision farming products.
Registering the precision farming products you own will keep all of those products nicely organized in the My AFS Products section. This will allow you to quickly find the information you need, for your products, when you have more important things to do.
The My Support Ticket area displays the current and closed tickets you have with the AFS Support Center. You can also open a new online ticket from this page.
Transfer files to the AFS Support Center.
11 Feb 2015
Download Word Document
For editorial or interview requests, please contact:
Marisa email@example.com
For all other requests, please use our Contact Us form.
Stay up to date and learn the latest information from product experts on the Case IH Blog.
Learn more about Case IH Products by visiting your local dealer.


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Two prop types are sufficient to provide shoring heights from 1,85 m to even more than 21,00 m
Few basic components: prop, extension and Frame
Well-proven adjustment: inner tube with holes punched for coarse adjustment by using a G-hook, sturdy adjusting nut on outer tube for fine adjustment
MEVA invention: The SAS quick-lowering system releases the stress in the prop with one strike of a hammer
Extension adjustable for each individual prop
Reinforcing frames are connected to MEP props with hammerhead screws, can be operated with a hammer
Adjustable cross braces for prop spacing between 90 cm and 300 cm
MEP tube coupler can be attached anywhere on the Profile
Installation of self-securing scaffold platforms
Lift truck to move shoring Towers
MEVA fulfils stringent requirements with flexible formwork solutions. The Budapest Zoo & Botanical Garden is one of the Hungary's most popular cultural attractions.
When construction companies think about the restoration of historic districts, their enthusiasm tends to be subdued. The foremen and their teams often face tricky tasks due to narrow access roads, lack of storage space and complicated logistics.
Ground broke on the new One City Center, also known as the "Durham City Center" in Durham, North Carolina in February 2016.
Ramps, architectural-concrete walls and ceilings, numerous concrete beams, rectangular and oval columns, rounded outside corners and bevelled inside corners.
Large building site in the Bavarian town of Regensburg, where work on the new Bavarian Museum of History is in full swing.
MEVA Formwork Systems: With the new Hall 10, the Stuttgart trade fair centre is expanding its exhibition space by 14,600 m² to 120,000 m².
Conventional slab formwork with H20 beam, prop and fork prop head, separate forming face. Easy adaptation to varying slab layouts.
3 methods in one Slab formwork system: 1) drop-head beam panel method with early stripping. 2) Panel method with panels only. 3) Primary and secondary beam method for separate facing for compensation areas.


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This is the third in a four-part series examining the strategy's impact on Black communities. This article is cross-posted from the Sept. 21 edition of Black AIDS Weekly_, the newsletter of the Black AIDS Institute._
When the Obama administration unveiled its new National HIV/AIDS Strategy in July, New York City-based Housing Works challenged the strategy's second goal of increasing access to care as overly ambitious. Now the same group describes the third component of the strategy -- reducing HIV-related disparities -- as "quite limited."
By 2015 the administration hopes to increase by 20 percent the proportion of people from the following groups who have been diagnosed as having HIV yet have an undetectable viral load:
- Men who have sex with men (MSM);
- Blacks;
- Latinos.
Read more to learn how it plans to achieve these objectives.
Reduce HIV-Related Deaths Among Communities at High Risk
To cut the mortality rate among high-risk groups, the strategy first focuses on trimming HIV/AIDS health disparities. Black Americans are eight times more likely to be diagnosed with HIV than Whites, and AIDS-related deaths and AIDS death rates are highest (pdf) among Blacks. One important reason: African Americans are estimated to make up 56 percent of all "late testers" -- people diagnosed with AIDS within one year of an HIV diagnosis.
Late testers have less chance to benefit from lifesaving anti-AIDS drugs. They're also more likely to spread the virus to others -- both because people who know their HIV-positive status take precautions not to infect others and because those on antiretroviral meds typically lower their viral load. The strategy states a need to reduce the community viral load, the total amount of virus that is circulating in the community.
Gay and bisexual men have experienced tremendous health disparities, with young Black MSM particularly at risk. The plan explicitly states that new infections must be curtailed among MSM. What's the plan for other groups? "Women are touched upon, but there is not a specific section that speaks to Black women," says Dázon Dixon Diallo, the founder of Atlanta-based SisterLove, the first women's HIV/AIDS service organization in the Southeast.
According to data from the Kaiser Family Foundation, new infections among Black women are 16 times that of white women. "Symptoms are often much different among women," Diallo adds. "Black women respond differently to some medications, and there are concerns around sexual and reproductive health. It's a very notable oversight."
Transgender women were also not mentioned. "That is a key at-risk group, especially Black and Latino transgender women," says David J. Malebranche, M.D., M.P.H., assistant professor of medicine at Emory University. A recent analysis by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated that about 28 percent of male-to-female trans women were HIV positive.
Implement Community-Based Approaches
The second step in reducing HIV-related health disparities is adopting community-based approaches. "Neighborhood and community solutions are key, but that section lacks specificity," says Bambi W. Gaddist, Dr.P.H., founder and executive director of the South Carolina HIV/AIDS Council. "Compare this with the specific prevention or treatment goals in the strategy."
Vanessa Johnson, executive vice president of the National Association of People with AIDS, is "encouraged" by the community input into making the strategy but admits "there are significant structural and economic barriers" facing people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) in the inner cities and rural areas.
"We're talking about cycles of poverty and decades of neglect. One six-week intervention is just not going to change a person's life significantly. We have to improve neighborhoods block by block, build new schools and clinics, increase employment ... we need to view wellness as national priority," Johnson adds. "I'm excited there is finally a national strategy. But much of the talk and these same phrases have been used over the 20 years that I've been diagnosed with HIV."
Reduce Stigma and Discrimination
Reducing the shame and prejudice experienced by PLWHA is the third step. "Much of the stigma started around homophobia," says Dr. Malebranche. "Many people want to single out the 'Black church' ... but it's a lot of churches. Plus television, media, government, schools ... many people have helped spread fear and misinformation. And criminalization laws only exacerbate the problem."
The United States and Canada lead the world when it comes to prosecuting people who infect or expose others to HIV, a surprising new study reveals. At least 21 states have HIV-criminalization statutes. Black men have been disproportionately targeted, which both reflects and increases HIV/AIDS stigma.
HIV advocates have commended the National HIV/AIDS Strategy for explicitly stating that "state legislatures should consider reviewing HIV-specific criminal statutes." It also challenges communities to support and promote PLWHA into leadership.
"We have to look at this strategy as a guideline and not a solution," says Dr. Malebranche. "There is only a certain amount of power the White House and president have. They can't force states to change their HIV-criminalization laws. But they can direct policy and spark change at the local and grassroots level. Hopefully that will happen."
Rod McCullom has written and produced for ABC News and NBC, and his reporting and analysis have appeared in Ebony, The Advocate, ColorLines and other media.


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In this book you will find many options for managing conflict, including:
- planning
- goal setting
- compromise
- mediation
Expert communicator Baden Eunson also takes an in–depth look at negotiation skills. He offers a visual and fresh approach to the work of strategies and tactics, negotiation styles, the importance of listening and questioning skills, the reasons why the location of negotiation can affect its outcome, and why the phrase ′win–win′ is not a cliché but a technique for success.
Preface vii
Introduction xi
1 Conflict — the basics 1
2 Conflict development 11
3 Approaches to managing conflict 23
4 Negotiation — the basics 43
5 Positions, concessions and interests 55
6 Getting ready to negotiate 67
7 Negotiation styles 85
8 Negotiation tools and planning 91
Conclusion 107
Notes 109
Glossary 115
Index 119


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Alice Maunders (AM) was interviewed by W.R. Mitchell (WRM) many times. In her interview in 1988, Alice discusses a number of photos of the Proctor family taken in the early 20th century. She then describes starting work as an Inbetween Maid at the McEvoys' house in Stackhouse and explains working conditions in large houses between the Wars. Alice also describes her husband John Maunders's role as an apprentice hairdresser and her own role as a hairdresser.
Copyright © 2012, 2013 Settle Stories Ltd. Registered Charity No. 1141649. All Rights Reserved.


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penny lane wrote:I'd rather watch Olympic hockey than outdoor hockey. The NHL needs to make that decision ASAP.
Letang Is The Truth wrote:i dont understand why people are upset at this for being a money grab? heaven forbid people try to maximize their profits.
Pitt87 wrote:columbia wrote:It's pretty cold in Chicago in March.....trust me, I've experienced it.
I was just there March 28th... it was 22 degrees.
It just went from being a cool event (because of the once a year rarity, special day on New Years where the whole fam can get together and watch etc) to just another ho hum thing for the sponsors, not the fans. This isn't about doing something good for the people who watch the sport, to welcome hockey back from the Olympics (as if any real fan will miss olympic hockey for 2 weeks), its aout plastering advertisments everywhere and putting 24/7 coverage of the 'charade' on NHLN for 2 weeks straight. Factor in the almost guaranteed **** hockey that is a byproduct, especially that game in SoCal, and I'm just not into it. It went from being special, to meh.
JS© wrote:
JS© wrote:
knighsb wrote:Go to Internet and type in
Ticket breakdown & prices
I can get access on Tues 9/17 at noon. Anybody else on Tuesday?
llipgh2 wrote:Meh, after my rotten experience at the Winter Classic, I'll pass. I'm not one to sit outside and brave the elements for anything. Even hockey.
drnort wrote:I went 300 level sidelines at $179 a ticket. I think the view will be fantastic.
The Colonel wrote:llipgh2 wrote:Meh, after my rotten experience at the Winter Classic, I'll pass. I'm not one to sit outside and brave the elements for anything. Even hockey.
Before the Winter Classic here in Pittsburgh, I had a co worker say to me, how cold it willl be (before we knew what the weather was going to do) to watch a game outdoors in January. Dummy happened to be a STH for the Steelers. He didnt use his head when he said that to me. Haha
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Implementing Assistive Technology to Improve Post-Secondary Outcomes
- Start Date:
- 2/27/18
- End Date:
- None
- Duration:
- 3:30 PM CDT 4:30 PM CDT (Time Zone Sensitive)
- Type:
- Webinars
Presented by Sayard Bass, SLP, AT Coordinator, Hinsdale Township High School & Taryn Chrapkowski, Transition Services Coordinator, Hinsdale Township High School ***Join us as we discuss differences between high school and college, how assistive technology can build independence and three powerful tools to help prepare students for postsecondary success. Participants will learn the tools we used to effect systemic change and increase services offered toward postsecondary success. Use of current information regarding differences between ADA and IDEA and understanding service delivery at the collegiate level has helped to drive change in our provision of transition services and planning. Combining our knowledge, teacher education and student education, we are preparing students for that moment when they graduate, not only from our school, but also from their case manager.
Permanently Archived
Registration: Please click here to register.


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MISSION: CHRISTIAN is more than a daily prayer journal for young Catholics. Each entry contains a mission based on the day's Scripture readings or saint. Kids read and reflect on the day's Scripture, connect with a holy mentor, write their morning prayer, choose a mission, and file a "mission report" in the evening reflecting on their day.
With its bold, colorful design and engaging text, MISSION: CHRISTIAN is a journal that kids will want to make their own. The daily mission process, grounded in the Ignatian Examen, challenges kids to live their faith every day in a real, concrete way that is connected to the Scriptures and the lived tradition of the Church. MISSION: CHRISTIAN gives kids a sense of purpose while teaching them basic skills for following Christ: Color-coded date tabs mark liturgical seasons, solemnities and feast days, giving kids a sense for the rhythm of the liturgical year. Fun "trailers" for one of the day's readings encourage kids to look up the full reading in their own Bible or online to foster Bible literacy. A thumbnail sketch of the day's saint provide kids with a spiritual mentor for the day. Kids are encouraged to write down their morning prayer as well as an evening "report" . . . practices designed to lay the foundation for a vibrant spiritual life. Kids are given a daily mission taken from the day's Scripture reading or the life of the day's saint. Or kids can opt to choose one of the many "special missions" in the back of their journal. A handy reference section in the back of the journal shows kids how to look up passages in the Bible and introduces them to new spiritual practices. Each month features the pope's prayer intentions for the month, a section to record spiritual goals and prayer intentions, and a page-length introduction to an important saint in the life of the Church.B
And when they've completed their journal, kids will have a lasting reminder of their spiritual journey . . . as well as a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ and his Church.
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Blessed Nicholas Kochanov the Fool-For-Christ at Novgorod
Blessed Nicholas Kochanov, Novgorod Fool-for-Christ (+ 1392), was born at Novgorod into a rich and illustrious family. From his youthful years he loved piety, he went to church faithfully, and he loved fasting and prayer. Seeing his virtuous life, people began to praise him. Blessed Nicholas, disdaining glory from men, began the difficult exploit of folly for the Lord's sake. He ran about the city in the bitter cold dressed in rags, enduring beatings, insults and mockery. Blessed Nicholas and another Novgorod fool, Blessed Theodore (January 19), pretended to be irreconcilable foes, and graphically demonstrated to the people of Novgorod the pernicious character of their internecine strife.
Once, having overcome his sham opponent, Blessed Nicholas went along the Volkhov as if on dry land, and threw a head of cabbage at Blessed Theodore, therefore he was called "Kochanov" (i.e. "cabbage-head"). The Lord glorified Blessed Nicholas with the gift of miracles and clairvoyance.
Once, after being turned away by servants from a feast to which he had been invited, he left. Immediately, the wine disappeared from the barrel. Only upon the return of the fool, and through his prayer, did it reappear again. When he died, Blessed Nicholas was buried at the end of the cemetery by the Yakovlev cathedral.
The relics of Blessed Nicholas rest under a crypt in the church of the Great Martyr Panteleimon which was built over his grave.


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"My Hero" Autism Awareness Personalized Pendant Necklace
Sculpted heart plated in sterling silver and 18K gold features puzzle design, awareness charm, engraved sentiment. Portion of the proceeds donated!
Pendant measures 1.9 cm H; chain measures 45.7 cm L
There is nothing like a caring heart to offer love and support where it's needed most. Now, wear a tribute to those affected by autism with the My Hero Autism Support Personalized Pendant Necklace, a fine jewelry exclusive from The Bradford Exchange. A portion of the proceeds from each pendant necklace sold will be donated to support the Autism Society and this stunning pendant will be personalized with the name of your choice to keep your hope close to your heart.
Handcrafted in a heart shape with a design of 4 interlocking puzzle pieces, this meaningful pendant is plated in gleaming sterling silver with 18K gold-plated accents and is engraved on the reverse side with the message, "I wear this ribbon for my hero," along with the name you provide. It suspends from a matching sterling silver-plated 18" chain alongside a colorful autism awareness ribbon charm. The different colors and puzzle shapes represent the diversity of those living with autism, and the brightness of the ribbon signals hope that through increased awareness, early intervention and appropriate treatments, people with autism will lead fuller, more complete lives. Strong demand is anticipated, so don't delay. Order now!
- Wear an inspiring expression of autism awareness with the My Hero Autism Support Personalized Pendant Necklace, a fine jewelry design available only from The Bradford Exchange
- A portion of the proceeds from each pendant necklace sold will be donated to support the Autism Society
- Personalize it! Provide a name to be elegantly engraved on the reverse side of the pendant below the sentiment, "I wear this ribbon for my hero"; see your personalized pendant necklace now, before you buy, with the convenient preview function above
- Handcrafted heart charm features a design of 4 interlocking puzzle pieces to signify the diversity of those living with autism and is plated in gleaming sterling silver and 18K gold
- Colorful autism awareness ribbon charm gracefully hangs alongside the heart pendant for added inspiration
- Arrives in a velvet jewelry pouch and gift box, perfect for safekeeping or gift giving
- Certificate of Authenticity
- Pendant measures 3/4" H; 1.9 cm H; matching sterling silver-plated chain measures 18" L; 45.7 cm L


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Professional TAG Heuer Monaco replica watches.the best imitation TAG Heuer Monaco watches online with cheap price. The difference between our TAG Heuer replica watch and original watch is in the precision of the manufacturing. Some exterior details may be closer to the original and the exterior features of the watch may be more exact on the Swiss models. All our replica watches are water resistant but not waterproof.you cannot submerge your watch in water and you should remove it before taking a shower or swimming.
Replica Tag Heuer Monaco Automatic Chronograph Blue and White CAW211D.FC6300
Brand TAG Heuer
Series Monaco
Model CAW211D.FC6300
Gender Men
Movement Automatic
Dial Color Blue and White
Case Size 39 mm
Case Material Stainless Steel
Band Type Strap
Band Material Leather
Clasp Deployment
Check out related TAG Heuer Monaco replica watches.


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"Seven thousand baby boomers are turning 65 every day, and will be doing so every day for the next 17 years," Putnam Investments President and CEO Bob Reynolds told advisors in his keynote presentation at the 4th annual Retirement Income Symposium Oct. 17 in Boston, which was sponsored by AdvisorOne and its sister publications at Summit Business Media's Investment Advisor Group. The challenge will be closing the "assured income gap" they are beginning to face.
Two-thirds of retirement income now comes from sources that future retirees won't be able to count on, Reynolds (left) pointed out. Defined benefit (DB) plans are disappearing in the private sector and are under pressure in the government sector, while Social Security benefits are likely to shrink, especially for higher-income beneficiaries. Defined contribution (DC) plans will be the primary source of retirement income, but hardly any of them offer assured-income features. "Not yet," he added.
With retirement security increasingly dependent on personal savings, Reynolds said, an initial policy goal should be making workplace savings plans accessible to more Americans. Today, such plans are available to only half of U.S. workers.
In a Brightwork Partners survey of nearly 3,300 working Americans, Putnam found that workers who were best prepared for retirement (on track to replace 100% or more of their current income) differed from those who were least prepared (likely to replace 45% or less) not in how much they earned, but in having access to an employer savings plan and saving 10% or more of their income.
Reynolds, who led Fidelity Investments into the 401(k) market in 1989, would improve savings plan access by making Universal IRAs mandatory for companies with 10 or more employees. Workers would be enrolled unless they opt out. Requiring this "negative option" in all DC plans would boost participation, the second goal he identified.
He defined the third policy goal as encouraging deferrals of 10% or more. Putnam believes this savings rate, in tandem with Social Security, will provide workers with what they need in retirement. The default deferral of 3% of income, Reynolds said, is "much, much too low" to fund a secure future.
Putnam addresses this issue by promoting "impulse saving" whenever a Putnam-provided retirement plan participant logs onto its website. (Putnam has also created a free iPhone app to encourage investors to save more for retirement.) The first screen they see gives an estimate of the income they'll need in retirement and urges them to review their current contribution level, asset allocation, and retirement age to be more confident of making that number.
By recognizing these three essentials, Reynolds said, "we've nearly cracked the code" in the accumulation phase of retirement plans. The challenge now is creating lifetime retirement income from those accumulated assets. A number of unknowns, including market volatility, longevity, and sequence-of-returns risk (the influence of a down market's timing on how long a retiree's savings last), can lead to nest eggs being eroded way too early.
Making a DC Plan More Like a DB Plan
There's no single solution to this challenge, Reynolds said, although annuities and annuity-like products are an obvious tool. Longevity insurance, for example, eases the pressure on finances later in life, allowing a policyholder to leave a larger estate. However, annuities' perceived cost and complexity limit their appeal, while insurers' financial woes have made consumers wary of handing over large sums to a single company. "Today," he noted, "households own as many annuities as they do goldfish."
In the subsequent Q&A with attendees, Reynolds said that equities also play a role in helping retirees cope with inflation and political unpredictability, but Putnam recommends an allocation of no more than 20%. [This summer, the Putnam Institute released a study recommending that to minimize sequence-of-returns risk, retirees' equity allocation should be on the low side of 5% to 25%.]
Reynolds advocated two reforms to better regulate the "multitrillion-dollar" assured-income market:
- A national insurance charter. The 50 state charters that now apply are a big hurdle for any employer considering annuities as part of a retirement savings plan.
- A new regulatory body to vet assured income products. This national insurance pool–the "Lifetime Income Security Agency" (LISA)–would be funded with risk-based fees paid by insurance companies. Offered inside retirement plans, a LISA-approved product could provide confidence to participants that the insurer would keep its promises.
Also, noting that deficit hawks are circling hungrily over the tax break for retirement plans, Reynolds urged financial advisors to "tell Congress to keep their hands off retirement savings," most of which are taxed at full rates when withdrawn.
The need to create assured retirement income is "a tremendous challenge for our society, but an opportunity for our industry," he said. "We Americans, when we think our country is off track, we don't just worry. We fix things."
For more onsite reporting from the 2011 Retirement Income Symposium, please visit the RIS home page.


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Filed under: Democrat Corruption, Domestic Policy, Economy, Election 2012, Politics, Socialism, Statism | Tags: 80 Overlapping Programs, Federal Welfare Payments, One Third Of US
"The federal government administers nearly 80 different overlapping federal means-tested welfare programs," according to the Senate Budget Committee. The figures shown in this chart do not include those who benefit only from Social Security and/or Medicare.
Food stamps and Medicaid make up a major chunk of the more than 100 million recipients. "Among he major means tested welfare programs, since 2000 Medicaid has increased from 34 million people to 54 million in 2011, and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP or food stamps) from 17 million to 45 million in 2011." says the Senate Budget Committee. "Spending on food stamps alone is projected to reach $800 billion over the next decade."
The US Census' Survey of Income and Program Participation shows that nearly 110,000 million individuals received a welfare benefit in 2011. (These figures do not include other means-tested benefits such as the Earned Income Tax Credit or the health insurance premium subsidies included in the President's health care law. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates that the premium subsidies, scheduled to begin in 2014, will cover at least 25 million individuals by the end of the decade).
This is not just Americans. "These figures include not only citizens, ut non-citizens as well.
110 million people is one-third of our population. What is the tipping point where the productive people can no longer afford to support the rest. The federal government is vigorously trying to increase the numbers of people on food stamps and on welfare. Why do we have to support illegal aliens? Why are we buying food stamps for people who shop at Whole Foods? How much of these programs is simply fraud?
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