text:
Your browser does not support iframes.
What is this country coming to?
If Meals on Wheels and the lunch program at school are cut, the elderly and children are going to suffer. This is wrong.
The big wheels in Washington will still get plenty to eat. But our elderly and kids, this may be the only good meal they get.
Medicaid and Social Security will be next, and food stamps too. Our food pantries will be denied funding. That will be the end for a lot of people.
I am concerned as a mother and as a South Carolina citizen about the proposed bill in the S.C. Legislature to legalize smokeable marijuana.
As written, the bill reflects that to date there isn't any science to support the medical benefits of the smokeable version of marijuana, and Lancaster County Sheriff Barry Faile has great concerns about policing the smokeable forms. Without science to support the benefits, why would the Legislature want to endanger the citizens of South Carolina by approving smokeable marijuana?
Last fall, President Trump spoke frequently on the campaign trail about the importance of security at home and abroad. As a former 31-year police officer, I know that if we do not have safety and law and order, none of the other things matter. The candidates for the 5th Congressional District must be asked to address security issues on the campaign trail, and the voters must choose the most qualified candidate.
Civic involvement is the key to good government, and the Republican Party encourages everyone to get involved.
The Lancaster County Republican Party would like your involvement, including at our upcoming meeting at 7 p.m. March 23 at Mike Williams Builders, 1351 Charlotte Highway, Lancaster.
I am a parent of an Indian Land wrestler and proud supporter of the program. The Indian Land High School wrestling season ended with a fantastic bang with two first-place champions and two third-placers.
I am writing in response to Republican Sen. Tim Scott's Jan. 27 guest column "Building a better health-care system."
The Affordable Care Act, known as Obamacare by Republicans, is the best thing America has ever done. President Obama carried out what Edward Kennedy was trying to do for years and years.
Look around, Mr. Tim Scott. Lots of people were able to get insured through the Affordable Care Act. It is the drug companies who went up on medicines and caused insurance companies to pull out.
I want to address two subjects: the MLK Jr. winning essay by Samantha Howie and a letter from Jane Tanner.
I was impressed to read the MLK Jr. winning essay for Lancaster County, written by Samantha Howie. It is a beautiful sentiment, and it is attainable. It requires the difficult "inner work" of emotional and mental introspection – work which is worthwhile.
Regarding the Indian Land Action Council, I appreciate the efforts of Jane Tanner and other council members. They always seem to be on top of the latest issues facing Indian Land.
This is not the right time to be thinking of doing this (incorporating Indian Land). Perhaps, four or five years from now, it will be.
Right now, why don't we concentrate on getting all of the zoning issues settled?
As to why none of our representatives were chosen for leadership positions – one is brand new.
I totally disagree that residents are ready to "steer their own ship."
This is a copy of an e-mail I just sent to Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C.:
I am a California native, a Democrat, a retired teacher, and have lived in South Carolina for 9.5 years.
Usually you and I are not anywhere on the same page. However, in the last week I have changed my mind. I appreciate that you are saying that the Gen. Flynn debacle calls for investigation and that if the shoe were on the other foot, Republicans would be calling for the same thing the Democrats are.
Editor's note: The S.C. Press Association sent this thank you to Rep. Mandy Powers Norrell of Lancaster.
On behalf of the newspapers of your district and the entire state, I want to thank you for voting in Tuesday's Judiciary Committee meeting to send H. 3352, the freedom of information reform bill, on to the House floor for a vote.
We especially appreciate that you added your name as a sponsor of the FOI bill and spoke up in response to concerns about H. 3352.
Copyright © 2018
The Lancaster News is your source for local news, sports, events, and information in Lancaster County and Lancaster, South Carolina, and the surrounding area..


text:
Social & Emotional Activity Finder
PBS KIDS' beloved characters model behavior and provide strategies that help kids manage their emotions, build friendships and develop good character. Use this activity finder to further foster your child's growth.
Results 1 – 15 of 72
A Twiddlebug Tool Adventure
It's windy in the Twiddlebug's garden so Timmy can't fly home. Using tools that go up, down and across, your child can engineer a solution to help Timmy get home.
Abby's Adventure
Abby is waving her magic wand in different habitats! Your child can help her find all of the things in a specific habitat that begin with the letter she says.
Abby's Sandbox Search
Abby is digging in her magical sandbox. Using a magic shovel, your child can help Abby uncover items that start with the letter shown on the sand bucket.
Animal Home Builder
George and his friends are building homes for animals. Following a set of blueprints, your child can design and decorate houses for several neighborhood animals.
Barnyard Match
In this one or two player game, you and your child can play along with Daniel Tiger as he finds matching pairs of pictures featuring barnyard animals. Be sure to look for special cards that offer an extra challenge of identifying animals based on their outline or the noise they make.
Being a Friend
In this series of interactive comics, your child can help Arthur and his friends make choices in situations that explore empathy, forgiveness, learning from others, honesty, and generosity..
Bert in: Pigeon Trouble
Bert needs to clean his apartment. Your child can help by picking up items and following Bert's directions to put the items in their proper places.
In this fun app featuring Peg + Cat and their friends, children ages 3 to 6 can practice math skills by learning and creating songs.
Bring It!
George is having a party. Your child can practice early math skills such as patterning, addition, and subtraction by answering questions as she moves along the game board to reach the party.
George is building robots to do different jobs. Your child can help George pick the right parts to complete his robot and finish the job.
Using icons showing hobbies, pets, sports and other interests, your child can create and print his very own flag.
Classroom Helpers
Hi neighbor! In this game, your child can be a helper in Daniel's classroom by caring for the class pet, watering the class plant, and cleaning up and organizing the classroom toys, art center, and cubbies.
Code Breaker
Oscar built some traps and then forgot where he put them! Your child can help identify number patterns to show the Odd Squad where they can walk safely.
Cookie Monster's Alphabet Soup
Cookie Monster loves alphabet soup! Your child can make simple words from noodle letters and sound them out with Cookie Monster in this click-along game.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Editor's Note: Eric Fromm and Al Cambronne are the authors of Gut It. Cut It. Cook It.: The Deer Hunter's Guide to Processing and Preparing Venison. In their chapter on "Gearing Up and Getting Ready," they write about choosing the right knife for deer hunting. They don't write about choosing a knife that makes just the right statement when it's seen on your belt. Instead, they write about choosing a practical tool that gets the job done. In the same chapter, they describe the knives you'll need back home when it's time to finish the job.
For this guest article, we asked Al to sum up the practical knife-shopping advice he and Eric offer in Gut It. Cut It. Cook It. See if you agree with their conclusions.
Why Bigger Isn't Better
For deer hunting, bigger isn't better. You don't need a giant, 10-inch bowie knife to quarter an elk or moose, and you definitely don't need one to field-dress a 100-pound whitetail. The truth is, even Jim Bowie wouldn't have used a bowie knife to field-dress a deer. Back then, frontiersmen carried a small sheath knife for everyday use. That smaller knife would have been the right tool for the job.
And by the way… The only reason those guys didn't just carry folding knives is that sturdy, reliable ones didn't yet exist. If they had, one would have been in every pocket.
If hunters carried a larger knife (and most of them didn't), it was as a weapon—sort of an emergency back-up they could use after they'd fired their one shot from a muzzleloader. For more utilitarian purposes, they may have also carried a hatchet or a small axe.
Your situation, fortunately, is a little different. Even if you're hunting with a muzzleloader, and even if you're bowhunting and almost out of arrows, you'll probably have time to climb a tree if you're simultaneously charged by an entire herd of enraged deer.
You don't need a 10-inch blade; even a five-inch blade is far larger than you'll need for field-dressing a deer. In fact, you'll do much better with a blade that's between 2½" and 3¾" in length. Maybe you're a little dubious about a 2½" blade like the one on, say, a Buck Mini Alpha. If so, we hope we can at least convince you to stay under 4".
A smaller blade gives you much more control and precision; that's one reason why surgeons generally use scalpels rather than bowie knives. Using a larger blade only increases the chance that you'll cut something you don't want to cut. Potentially, that includes your own fingers.
A larger blade is also much more difficult to maneuver inside the deer's body cavity when you're reaching in to trim the diaphragm free. After that step, you'll then be reaching even farther up inside the deer to sever its trachea and esophagus. When you do, you won't be able to see what you're doing; you'll be working entirely by feel.
You'll be working blind, and you'll probably be completing these steps under less-than-ideal conditions. You could be cold and exhausted, with hands that are numb and slippery. Or, if you're out hunting when it's warmer, you could be field-dressing your deer when you're hot, tired, and thirsty. You may even have a few mosquitoes or deer flies buzzing around your head. (Please… Remember to put down your knife before you swat them away.) Either way, you'll want all the control and precision you can get.
The advantages to a smaller, lighter knife don't stop there. When you're not using your knife, you'll be carrying it. A small folding knife can fit in your pocket, and a larger one can ride in a belt sheath. Even if you prefer fixed-blade knives, a shorter knife on your belt is less likely to catch on the brush or get in the way when you sit down.
Beauty is as Beauty Does
Knives made from quality steel just seem to take and hold an edge better. They're easier to sharpen, and easier to keep sharp. They're worth every penny.
Currently, the best knife steels include S30V, D2, 154CM, ATS-34, and a few others that are even more exotic and expensive. Steels in the next tier down include AUS-8A, 440C, and CR17. If a knife doesn't say anywhere on the blade what it's made from, then it's probably made from a lesser steel that its maker didn't want to brag about.
And those Rockwell hardness numbers? They only tell part of the story; different steels can be heat-treated to the same hardness number.
Paradoxically, a lesser knife can seem difficult to sharpen but easy to dull. You're especially likely to encounter this situation with cheap stainless knives of recent vintage. Older knives with low-carbon steel may rust more easily, and they're generally made from softer steel that won't retain an edge quite as well. The good news? They'll take a great edge that's easy to restore when it does get dull.
A fine custom knife can be a thing of beauty and a joy forever. Even if you're not wealthy, you can rationalize it as a lifetime purchase. But beware of expensive, elegantly crafted knives with cheap blades made from the most ordinary steel possible. When it's time to actually use them, you'd be better off with a less expensive knife that's made of better steel.
We suggest you invest in a quality knife—not necessarily the same thing as an expensive knife—and learn how to keep it sharp. When you consider the money you've spent on all your other hunting gear, it doesn't make sense to rely on a cheap knife—or far worse, an expensive dull knife.


text:
Pin code of PUB JIRA is 783126. This locality is associated with Zira Branch Office based in Goalpara district of Assam.
Location Name : PUB JIRA
Post Office (PO) : Zira
Post Office Type : Branch Office
Pin Code : 783126
Sub-District : Matia
District : Goalpara
State : Assam
Found any error in the detail mentioned above? Please report it to email@example.com


text:
Sometime during the next few months, the Supreme Court of the United
States will rule on a legal challenge to an anti-terrorism law that
critics say limits free speech. The law in question bars material
support to terrorist groups. But many U.S. based international aid
groups argue that the statute is too broad and should be narrowed.
case was recently argued before the Supreme Court and stems from a
humanitarian law group in California that wanted to support lawful
activity by the Kurdistan Workers Party in Turkey and the Sri Lankan
group, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.
Both groups are
among dozens of organizations on the U.S. State Department's list of
foreign terrorist organizations, and therefore subject to the material
support law that bans aid, training, services and expert advice to
those groups.
But critics of the material support statute argue
that it amounts to placing limits on free speech by preventing aid
groups from advising designated terrorist groups on issues such as
peace and conflict resolution.
Georgetown University law professor David Cole presented the oral argument challenging the law before the high court.
government cannot, consistent with the Constitution, make it a crime to
engage in lawful discussion of peaceable activities," said David Cole.
was part of a panel discussion at Georgetown University Law School and
said many aid groups also find the material support law overly broad
and confusing.
"So you are permitted to join one of these
organizations," he said. "You are permitted, the government says, to go
meet and discuss matters with the organization. But if you engage in
any coordinated advocacy, you are a criminal and can face 15 years in
U.S. groups committed to peace and conflict resolution say the material support law inhibits their efforts around the globe.
Seul is with the Peace Appeal Foundation, a peace activist group
launched in the late-1990s by several Nobel Peace Prize winners.
believe that democracy is about talk, and the idea that talk can work,"
said Jeff Seul. "We really don't approve of the violence that is used
by parties on either side of the conflict. And this case matters to us
because we have feared prosecution from our activities."
The Obama administration is urging the Supreme Court to keep the material support law intact.
General Elena Kagan told the nine justices on the high court this week
that the law remains a vital weapon in the continuing struggle against
international terrorism.
The Supreme Court heard oral arguments
in the case the same week that Afghan national Najibullah Zazi pleaded
guilty to plotting a bomb attack on the New York City subway system.
Attorney General Eric Holder said the Zazi case proves the need for prosecutors to use all of the tools at their disposal.
are at war against a very dangerous, intelligent and adaptable enemy
and we must use every weapon available to us in order to win that war,"
said Eric Holder.
Anthony Barkow is a former federal prosecutor who is now with the New York University School of Law.
told the Georgetown panel that there are enough legal safeguards in
place to prevent aid groups from being wrongly prosecuted. He said the
material support law should be preserved as an important legal weapon
in the war on terror.
"Those cases could be policed through
other mechanisms and therefore avoid the court issuing an opinion that
could strike down or significantly limit this really essential tool in
the arsenal of national security prosecutions," said Anthony Barkow.
oral arguments, several of the Supreme Court justices aggressively
questioned lawyers for both sides in the case. Justice Anthony
Kennedy, who often casts the deciding vote on the sharply divided
court, said it was a difficult case for him. Kennedy is a frequent
defender of the free speech rights guaranteed under the First Amendment
of the U.S. Constitution.
The high court is expected to issue a ruling in the case sometime before the end of June.


text:
Welcome to Kruse Village.
Located in the serene and beautiful landscape and rolling hills of Brenham, Texas, the Kruse Village retirement community calls to those looking for a special place to call home.
Surrounded by lush and carefully maintained lawns and gardens, and the most amazing carpet of spring bluebonnets anywhere in Texas, the Kruse Village retirement community in Brenham will exceed your expectations.
The maintenance-free lifestyle is only one reason to live here. The beauty of the town of Brenham is another. Visitors say they feel as though they've "stepped into a postcard," embraced by natural serenity and a vibrant historic district at the same time. Kruse Village residents have the best of both worlds: the privacy and security of a small community and as many social activities as each heart desires.
We are part of Lutheran Social Services of the South (LSS), which traces its roots to 1881. The mission of LSS, which annually serves about 45,000 people, is to provide help, healing, and hope to those who need it, in the name of Jesus Christ. One of the best ways to help is by providing secure, fulfilling retirement options with exceptional value. Kruse Village stands apart and above other retirement communities because of the compassionate and dedicated staff, who treat you like family. Kruse Village opened in 1991 and has become one of the most acclaimed communities of its kind in Texas.
|Arts & Culture Community Persons with Disabilities Older Adults


text:
Teedubya getting after it
View Single Post
Remember 2014-2015!
Join Date: Oct 2003
Casino cash: $27997
16 Weeks Later...
Dear Mr. Hunt,
It's been a long season, sir, since I was told to "Get a Clue" on Twitter. lol. It's been a long 4 years... Quite frankly, it's been a long 40 years. I know I've been a pain in your ass this year. But we KC fans have some passion. Just look at the All Star Game crowds and Sporting KC this year. SKC season tickets are already sold out. Rabid, rabid fanbase here in KC.
Lots of things are broken, Mr. Hunt. I know you respect Mr. Pioli and we commend you for going out and getting "the best GM on paper", 4 years ago. Unfortunately, he's a controlling asshole and his results have been less than stellar. Running a business like a mafia don may fly when you are winning, but not when you are historically bad, like 1929 Buffalo Bisons bad.
Is the atmosphere around the Chiefs a more pleasant, more productive one for players or employees, under Scott Pioli?
I've talked with many former players and they aren't welcomed out at Arrowhead. How does that make CURRENT players feel? There is no family. The old players are shunned. Where are the current player foundations? Where are the TV and Radio shows? That stuff connects the fans to the team. According to this analysis, the Chiefs are nearly last in fan communications, as well.
The fans respectfully toned down the messaging after the Belcher episode, as that was a tough scenario, as we truly love and care about the team. You guys handled that tough situation well and with class. That was horrible.
But, Pioli still has to go. Besides, all of the 2012 team's stars are from the Carl/Herm era. And all of them will get the **** out of town as soon as their contracts are up, if Pioli stays. Believe that. Especially for a traumatized team. If Pioli stays, we could become historically bad, as inept as the Raiders during the last decade of Al Davis' life. And as a result, you'll most likely be more reviled than the Royals, David Glass.
Please get someone like Marc Ross of the Giants as GM and Chip Kelly of Oregon as HC. Show KC that you care, Clark. If Pioli is retained, Rome will burn. I've had 7 people tell they'd start rooting for the Broncos, because at least Pat Bowlen cares enough about the team and the fans to create winning atmosphere. Clark, they'd start rooting for the ****ing Broncos!
This whole thing sucks, Mr. Hunt. But, as the Chairman of "The Hunt Family Football Corporation in Kansas City", it's your responsibility to fire it's "CEO". Please. For. the. love. of. God. This is a crucial crossroads, my friend. Let's change the vibe of Chiefs football in 2013!!
The Chiefs have a strong community of supporters and we demand championship caliber football. And the "Patriot Way" is no longer wanted in KC. Please respect our wishes. :-D We just want to win.
Travis Wright
cc Get a Clue
Posts: 36,235
View Public Profile
Find More Posts by teedubya


text:
The campaign of a hit-and-run victim's son to notify by postcard 10,000 neighbors in Millbury and Sutton about the guilty driver's probation has run into red tape. But the last-minute bureaucratic hurdle is just "a bump in the road," said David Quist, 50, of Worcester.
Mr. Quist said this morning he learned late Wednesday that the word came from Washington, D.C., to the Millbury and Sutton post offices to hold the postcards that were ready for delivery that day.
The double-sided postcard, in the style of a "wanted" bulletin, reads in bold next to a photograph of Arthur T. Scanlon, who pleaded guilty to the hit-and-run charges: "Call 911 if you see this man driving."
Mr. Quist's father, Robert H. Quist, 72, was killed in 2010 when Mr. Scanlon, 54, formerly of 271 Riverlin St., Millbury, ran a red light and collided with the elder Mr. Quist's Lincoln Town Car.
Mr. Quist said he has called the U.S. Postal Service's legal office in Bristol, Conn., to ask them to clarify why the postcards weren't deemed deliverable and what he can do to get them to every doorstep in the towns where Mr. Scanlon is staying with relatives.
He said Postal Service officials initially told him Wednesday that "Due to personal content, it was not conforming to postal regulations."
He may have to insert the postcards into individual envelopes, which would triple the cost of the mailing. Mr. Quist estimated he has spent $4,000 already on the postcards.
He also questioned why political postcards with personal information about candidates can be mailed without envelopes.
Mr. Quist had checked with state safety officials and lawyers before sending the postcards to make sure he wasn't violating Mr. Scanlon's rights by asking people to report violations of his probation.
"Clark (Mailing Service) had sent samples to Shrewsbury (postal distribution center) and it was blessed," Mr. Quist said. He had understood, "Once it passes Shrewsbury, nothing can stop it."


text:
Cheese and Champagne
Comments on this entry are closed.
We're Colleen & Jill, and we're becoming @curdwise to real American cheese. Join us!
Got a cheese question or tip?
Email Colleen at email@example.com or Jill at email@example.com.
All photos (c)CheeseandChampagne.com. While we appreciate the sharing of our photos and posts on social media, please note that they may not be shared without proper attribution and a link back to the original post.
Get smart with the Thesis WordPress Theme from DIYthemes.
Copyright © 2008–2018
WordPress Admin


text:
The social brain hypothesis, an explanation for the unusually large brains of primates, posits that the size of social group typical of a species is directly related to the volume of its neocortex. To test whether this hypothesis also applies at the within-species level, we applied the Cavalieri method of stereology in conjunction with point counting on magnetic resonance images to determine the volume of prefrontal cortex (PFC) subfields, including dorsal and orbital regions. Path analysis in a sample of 40 healthy adult humans revealed a significant linear relationship between orbital (but not dorsal) PFC volume and the size of subjects' social networks that was mediated by individual intentionality (mentalizing) competences. The results support the social brain hypothesis by indicating a relationship between PFC volume and social network size that applies within species, and, more importantly, indicates that the relationship is mediated by social cognitive skills.
1. Introduction
Primates have larger brains relative to body size than all other vertebrates [1] and it is now widely accepted that the best functional predictor of relative brain size in non-human primates is social group size [2]. This relationship, according to the 'social brain hypothesis' [3,4], is founded on the premise that maintaining cohesion and stability through time in the kinds of bonded social groups characteristic of primates is cognitively very demanding [5–8]. However, among primates, differences in brain size do not reflect proportional increases in all brain regions; instead, the size of the neocortex accounts for most of the deviation from overall trend lines [9]. Neocortex size rather than total brain size—or the volume of any other brain region—yields the best correlation with social group size across a wide range of primate species [7]. More importantly, there is evidence to suggest that an increasingly better fit is obtained if the more posterior regions of the neocortex (e.g. the visual areas) are excluded from the analysis (neocortex minus primary visual cortex [10]; prefrontal cortex only [11]). The underlying assumption is that the neocortex provides the computational power to manage the complex web of social relationships needed to give a social group its cohesion and stability through time.
While the social brain hypothesis has been tested in some considerable detail with comparative data across a wide range of primate species [8,11–14], the possibility that it might also apply within species has never been seriously considered. However, at least within humans, there is considerable individual variation in social network size [15,16] and there is evidence to suggest that this variance correlates with competence in the kinds of social cognitive abilities (usually known as 'theory of mind' or 'mentalizing' [17–20]) that are thought to underpin human sociality [21]. (The terms 'mentalizing' and 'intentionality' are used interchangeably and refer to the ability to assess the intentions and mental states of others.) In addition, recent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies have shown that various indices of social engagement (including number of Facebook friends) correlate with grey matter volume in the amygdala [22] and the classic theory of mind areas in the temporal and frontal lobes [23,24]. In a previous MRI-based study, we were able to show that individual differences in intentionality competence correlate with differences in the volume of the orbital prefrontal cortex (PFC) [25]. Collectively, these studies suggest that there should be a three-way correlation between social network size, intentionality competence and PFC volume. We test this hypothesis here by applying the Cavalieri method of stereology in combination with point counting on structural T1-weighted MR images from a sample of 40 human subjects.
In this analysis, we focus on the PFC for two reasons. First, the PFC is associated with many cognitive functions that are crucial for social interaction, including social information processing [26,27], planning [28], working memory [29], aspects of language and symbolic behaviour [30–32], and attention [33]. Second, neuroimaging studies have identified areas within the PFC as being central to social cognitive processing, including mentalizing (notably the ventromedial PFC [25,34–38]). This does not exclude the possibility that other regions (especially in the temporal lobe) may also be involved, but we emphasize the PFC simply because it provides a simple yet particularly relevant test case for an analysis that is very time-consuming to do. We used the Cavalieri method in combination with point counting to estimate the volume of four subfields of the PFC (i.e. dorsal and orbital prefrontal regions in each of the two hemispheres). The procedure used to estimate PFC subfields has been repeatedly used [25,39,40] and has been shown to have high test–retest reliability. The logic of the social brain hypothesis is that neural volume determines social cognitive competences, and that it is these in turn that determine social network size. As we have already shown that the first step in this sequence holds [25], we use path analysis on the same sample of subjects to determine whether this relationship extends to social network size as well in a three-step causal model, and then whether the relationship between brain region volume and network size is direct (brain volume and intentionality competences independently influence network size) or indirect (brain volume determines intentionality competence, and these in turn determine network size). The social brain hypothesis implicitly assumes the second.
2. Material and methods
(a) Participants
The original cohort comprised 42 subjects with no history of neurological illness. However, two subjects were subsequently removed due to excessive head movement during MR data acquisition, making an examined cohort of 40 subjects aged between 18 and 47 years (17 males: mean age = 25.47, s.d. = 2.87; 23 females: mean age = 25.78, s.d. = 7.83). All participants gave written informed consent. This is the same cohort of subjects as that used by Lewis et al. [24].
(b) Social network size
Prior to scanning, participants were asked to complete a version of the social network questionnaire designed by Stiller & Dunbar [21] to capture the size of the inner layers of an individual's social network (following [15,41]). This involved listing the initials of everyone the participant had personal contact with or communicated with over the previous 7 days, excluding professional contacts (doctor, shopkeepers and teachers) unless the contact could explicitly be considered a genuine social interaction. This has previously been shown to be a reliable way of estimating the size of the inner layers (referred to as clique and sympathy group size) of social networks and has been used in several published studies [15,16,41]. The layers of the social network have been found to scale with each other on a consistent ratio [15,16], such that an index of any one layer in the network is a reasonable estimator for the network as a whole. Intentionality competence scores for the subjects are taken from Powell et al. [25]; details outlining the approach used to assess intentionality competence and calculate intentionality score are given therein.
(c) Magnetic resonance image acquisition and analysis
MRI data were acquired using a Siemens Trio 3.0 T whole-body MRI system, with an eight-channel head coil. High-resolution anatomical whole-brain images were obtained using a T1-weighted three-dimensional gradient-echo (i.e. 3D modified driven equilibrium Fourier transform) pulse sequence, with the following parameters acquired in the sagittal plane: T1 = 190, TR = 7.92, TE = 2.48, FOV = 224 × 256, matrix 256 × 256 × 256 mm3 pixels, flip angle 16°. These structural MR images were used for deriving volume estimates of prefrontal subfields. After MR acquisition, datasets were imported into BrainVoyager software for re-alignment (www.Brainvoyager.com, Brain Innovation, Maastricht, The Netherlands), which required reformatting the image and orienting it to a standardized sagittal plane orthogonal to the bicommissural plane. Details of the reformatting procedure are described elsewhere [39,42].
(d) Parcellation of prefrontal cortex anatomical subfields
The protocol used to demarcate the PFC into anatomically defined subfields is based on the previously established methodology developed by Howard et al. [39]; this involves dividing the right and left PFC into dorsolateral (DL), dorsomedial (DM), orbitolateral (OL) and orbitomedial (OM) regions, yielding a total of eight PFC subfields. The bicommisural plane was used to delineate orbital and dorsal subfields. Demarcation of medial from lateral regions used the first axial slice superior to the olfactory sulcus. The genu of the corpus callosum, viewed at sagittal midline, formed the posterior boundary of the DL and DM regions. These provided fixed boundaries, which were marked with editing tools in BrainVoyager software. The posterior boundary of the orbital subfield was visualized by the rater during point counting. For complete details of the demarcation procedure, refer to earlier studies [25,39]. Based on the reviewed evidence on the role of the PFC in social information processing, this study examined both the neocortex volume (grey matter) and white matter volume as a combined volume within the PFC. Whole hemisphere volume was calculated to correct for the effect of relative volume in the model.
(e) Cavalieri method
Following parcellation of PFC anatomical subfields, MR images were imported into EasyMeasure software [43,44] for point counting and volume estimation. The technique provides mathematically unbiased volume estimators for which their precision can be computed by applying an error-prediction formula [45–49]. Therefore, volume estimates with comparable levels of precision may be derived for different anatomical structures (see Baddeley & Jensen [50] and references therein). A description of the principles and application of this method to PFC have been reported previously [39]. The technique involves exhaustively 'sectioning' (non-invasively) the structure of interest with a series of parallel planes a fixed distance apart, with the first section at a uniform random position within the sectioning interval. A grid of test points for point counting is overlaid with uniform random position and isotropic orientation on every alternate section, beginning randomly on either the first or second section on successive subjects. A grid size of 6 × 6 pixels unit area (36 mm2 area per point) was used for DL and DM subfields, and a grid size of 4 × 4 pixels unit area (16 mm2) was used for OL and OM regions. Shape coefficients were applied to estimate the corresponding coefficients of error; the estimated shape coefficients for DL, DM, OL and OM were 5.65, 5.99, 5.48 and 5.19, respectively. For whole hemisphere volume, a larger grid of test points (i.e. 8 × 8 pixels = 64 mm2 area per point) on every fifth slice was chosen to accommodate the larger volume of interest and reduce labour intensity during point counting.
The reproducibility and repeatability of the method was assessed by Howard et al. [39] and Cowell et al. [40] across healthy and clinical samples, yielding acceptable limits for total and regional prefrontal volume. For instance, predicted coefficients of error of the volume estimator, based on our data from individual volume estimates, were less than 5 per cent, and regional subfield volume estimates for PFC derived from point-counting methods showed satisfactory 95 per cent limits of agreement between raters (reproducibility between raters) and within rater (repeatability by the same rater). Intraclass correlation coefficients ranged from 0.92 to 0.95 between raters and from 0.93 to 0.99 within rater.
Volume estimates for orbital and dorsal PFC were obtained as the sum of the volumes of the lateral and medial subfields for each hemisphere.
(f) Statistical analysis
Path analysis was performed to test the association between network size, intentional competence, orbital PFC volume and dorsal PFC volume. To do this, two linear regression models were performed. In the first model, network size was the outcome variable, and predictor variables were intentionality score, orbital PFC volume and dorsal PFC volume. In the second model, intentionality score was the outcome variable, and the predictor variables were orbital PFC volume and dorsal PFC volume. Total hemisphere volume was included in the linear regression models, both when group size was the outcome variable and when intentionality was the outcome variable. Hemisphere volume was not significantly associated with either intentionality (coefficient = −0.24, p = 0.2) or clique size (coefficient = −0.068, p = 0.7). These results are therefore not included in the path analysis.
3. Results
Descriptive statistics for the main variables used in the analysis (separated by gender) are summarized in table 1. The mean number of contacts (22.65 ± 11.7 s.d.) is within the range of variation reported in previous studies for the sympathy group layer [21,51]. It is likely that the relatively large number of contacts in the present dataset reflects both the way the social contacts questionnaire was phrased and the fact that the sample consists largely of students (who are likely to have an unusually active social life). As in previous studies [21,51], women have larger networks (mean=25.5 ± 13.5 s.d.) than men (mean = 18.8 ± 7.7 s.d.), though the difference is not statistically significant in the present case, albeit close to the boundary (since equality of variance did not hold, the Welch approximation to degrees of freedom was used: t36 = 1.98, p = 0.06, 95%CI: −0.2, 13.5).
We used path analysis to explore the most likely causal relationship between the network size, intentionality and PFC volume (figure 1). The results confirm that orbital PFC volume is the best predictor of network size, with this relationship being mediated via intentionality competence. Dorsal PFC was not significantly related to network size (or intentionality competence). The partial correlation between orbital PFC volume and network size is not significant (p = 0.09), and the slope is negative, indicating that PFC volume does not itself influence network size directly but rather is explicitly mediated via intentionality competence, as predicted by the social brain hypothesis. To check for a possible effect of gender on the results, we fitted a multiple linear regression model with network size as the outcome variable, and gender, intentionality, orbital PFC volume, dorsal PFC volume and interaction terms involving gender, brain region and intentionality as predictor variables: there was no significant effect for gender or either interaction term (p > 0.05), indicating that the main relationship between orbital volume, intentional competence and network size is independent of gender.
4. Discussion
Orbital PFC volume was significantly correlated with the number of weekly social contacts that an individual had, with this relationship being mediated by mentalizing (i.e. intentionality) competence. The results of this study add important support to the social brain hypothesis by demonstrating that the relationship between brain size and social group size applies not just between species, but even at the level of the individual within species: those individuals with larger orbital PFC have a greater number of weekly (i.e. regular) social contacts (an index of the size of their entire social network). Enlarged frontal lobes, such as are found in humans, are of relatively recent evolutionary origin [8]. More importantly, however, our results confirm an explicit assumption of the social brain hypothesis: that this relationship is mediated by social cognitive abilities. This thus adds an important rider to how we formulate the social brain hypothesis by reminding us that it is not simply a direct causal relationship between brain volume and social group size.
Previous studies have shown an effect of gender on measures of network (or social group) size [14,21,41]. However, the present study did not, although the gender difference in network size is close to the boundary of significance (p = 0.06) when no other factors were taken into account. While our result should not, perhaps, preclude the possibility of a gender effect with a larger sample, the existence of such an effect does not obviate the fact that there is a generic relationship between social network size and PFC volume that applies across both genders (as was also the case in all the cited studies).
The neuropsychological literature suggests a functional distinction between dorsal PFC, which mediates higher-order cognitive functions, and orbital PFC, which is implicated in mood, affective behaviour and social aspects of cognition [52]. This functional division is supported by findings from individuals with dorsolateral PFC lesions, who have been reported to have poorer performance on various subtasks of standardized intelligence tests, as well as deficits in memory, including the Wisconsin Card Sorting Task, and the formation and modification of abstract concepts [53–55]. In contrast, damage to orbital PFC typically leads to impulsive aggressive behaviour [56], as well as impairments of social cognition [57] and risk judgement [58,59]. In healthy adults, the orbitomedial PFC is involved in a range of functions, including affect [60] and olfaction [61]. Our previous study using the same sample of subjects [25] demonstrated a relationship between intentionality capacity (a social cognitive competence) and orbital PFC volume, but no association between short-term memory capacity and orbital PFC volume, suggesting that orbital PFC may be particularly important for high-order social cognition (i.e. orders of intentionality greater than conventional theory of mind).
A previous neuroimaging study reported a relationship between an index of sociality and the volume of the corticobasolateral complex of the amygdala [22], a subcortical unit known to be correlated with sociality in primates [62], but not between sociality and hippocampus volume. This study did not explicitly test for a relationship with neocortex volume, though weak correlations (uncorrected at p = 0.05) were reported from an exploratory analysis of cortical thickness (as opposed to cortical unit volume) in three selected cortical regions of interest (subgenual anterior cingulate cortex, caudal superior frontal gyrus, caudal inferior temporal gyrus), none of which overlap with PFC. Unlike the other two units of the amygdala, the corticobasolateral complex has a direct neural connection to the orbitofrontal cortex, although this may have more to do with inhibition of amygdala emotional responses by the orbitofrontal cortex [63,64]. Similarly, using voxel-based morphometry (VBM), Kanai et al. [23] reported correlations between several indirect indices of online and offline social network size and the volumes of the amygdala and two temporal lobe regions known to be associated with theory of mind competence (temporo-parietal junction and superior temporal sulcus), but did not explicitly test for PFC associations. However, just such a relationship has in fact been demonstrated using VBM [24]. Similar findings relating individual differences in both social group size and social rank to the volumes of subregions of the frontal and temporal lobes have recently been reported for macaques [65], suggesting that these relationships may apply widely across the primates. Our analyses extend these findings by demonstrating that these relationships are in fact explicitly mediated by social cognitive competences (in the case of humans at least, intentionality competence). We argue, and our path analysis convincingly demonstrates, that the causal logic involved is that network size is ultimately determined by social cognitive competences, and that these in turn are underpinned by the amount of neural matter that can be brought to bear on the computational demands involved (reflected here in the volume of key PFC brain regions). Our results thus establish the important point (so far missing in all discussions of the social brain hypothesis) that cognition mediates the relationship between brain volume and social group/network size. As with other imaging studies [22–24], our study is neutral as to the formal causal direction of the relationship between PFC volume and social network size. Since it is known that the speed with which children acquire theory of mind is determined by the size of their sibship [66,67], it is possible that the (developmental) causal arrow runs from network size via intentional competences to PFC volume. Whether (and to what extent) PFC places direct constraints on network size will ultimately require longitudinal studies to determine.
Overall, these studies support both the claim that sociality is cognitively demanding and the claim that the evolution of brain size has been influenced by these demands (see also [6]). Our study specifically adds to this body of literature by demonstrating that social network size (a direct measure of sociality) is related to an increase in relative orbital PFC volume. Understanding the association between increased brain volume and domains of sociality, such as social network size, brings us some way towards understanding the mechanisms that have contributed to the enhanced brain volume of our species.
The study was approved by the local ethics committee of the University of Liverpool.
R.I.M.D.'s research was funded by the British Academy Centenary Research Project and by a British Academy Research Professorship. The neuroimaging was made possible by a VIP grant to P.A.L. from the University of Liverpool.
- Received December 9, 2011.
- Accepted January 10, 2012.
- This journal is © 2012 The Royal Society


text:
Landowners mobilize against 'megasite'
Richard M. Barron
News & Record, Greensboro, N.C.
LIBERTY � Steve Brown remembers when a real estate agent called in mid-2012 about buying his property.
It was the second time the agent had called and he wanted to talk price � if Brown would sign a confidentiality agreement.
�I said, �Ain�t gonna happen,�?� Brown recalled.
But the agent told Brown someone wanted to create a �megasite� and he would be standing in the way of progress.
�It�s going to happen whether you want it to or not,� the agent said.
Brown got the message.
�It was more or less a threat.�
The promised land
Brown, 60, lives on 8 of the 2,030 acres the state and Triad economic development leaders want to turn into a fully developed industrial site that could catch the eye of a major auto manufacturer.
They say such a plant would bring roughly 2,000 high-paying jobs and thousands more from suppliers, sorely needed in a region whose unemployment rate hovers around 10 percent.
Many landowners who live on this piece of unspoiled farmland don�t want to hold back economic progress for their neighbors who have been unemployed for years.
But they feel their property rights are being violated.
About 67 groups and individuals own land on the site.
The economic developers have tentative deals to control roughly 740 acres owned by two family groups in the core of the site.
Representatives of those families did not return calls seeking comment.
But two weeks ago, many of the remaining property owners vowed to fight back.
They�re printing signs, distributing leaflets and putting pressure on elected officials.
�I have been going to my neighbors, and I have been passing out information and been putting up signs,� said Faye Holt, 64, who owns 49 acres. �I�m active not just for me but for my son and grandchildren.�
The plot thickens
Holt, Brown and other landowners say Randolph County officials deceived them about the site, especially by giving vague information in meetings with owners.
�Randolph County has not been truthful. ... It�s like they want to get land by hook or crook,� Holt said.
More than 40 members of the group mobilized at a meeting two weeks ago.
For more than three hours, they reviewed dozens of public and private documents prepared by Randolph and Guilford county economic developers.
The roughly 50 documents, obtained earlier by the News & Record, show that economic developers have been studying their land since mid-2011, preparing 28 maps covering topography, wetlands, utilities and other aspects.
The documents also show that officials have met with consultants and received letters from utilities expressing support.
Greensboro Mayor Robbie Perkins wrote one of those letters. He said the city would be �willing to offer� an estimated $19.5 million for water and sewer service to serve the site.
In January, the N.C. Department of Commerce gave $1.7 million to Randolph County to begin acquiring land � the first public evidence of the project.
�My golly, is this a matter of national security? I don�t think so,� said Lt. Col. Roger �Charlie� Brown of the U.S. Air Force and the Air National Guard.
Lt. Col. Brown � Steve Brown�s brother � wants to come home to live near the family land when he retires.
�I love what our nation stands for,� he said.
But this project bothers him.
�Where�s democracy if you�ve got just a few running the masses,� he said. �Our elected officials need to pay a little bit more attention.�
Tell �em: �no�
Wayne Wicker just wants to be left alone.
A farmer by trade, he has lived on the same land for 49 of his 69 years.
He worked in a tile plant for 12 years, but he has mostly been a farmer.
Wicker loves being outside on his 15 acres near the site�s edge on U.S. 421.
Wicker keeps bees and cultivates soil in a garden that he says is the best and blackest he�s ever seen.
�I wouldn�t want to start over at 70 years old � that�s basically what you�re going to do,� he said. �You�ve got fruit trees you�ve planted and this and that � that takes time.�
No amount of money can replace his land � the last piece his family has owned for 100 years, where he was born, grew up and hopes to die.
But he said he believes he can�t fight the big forces bearing down on him.
�The only thing I know to do is to tell �em: �No,�?� Wicker said.
�How do you fight anything like that?�


text:
Home >
The Springolator collection features a "Magic Cling" elastic band in the middle of the leather insole that creates tension between the shoe and the bottom of the foot. The extraordinary "sticking power" afforded by this feature allows the wearer to keep the shoes comfortably and securely on the foot. This feature reduces the chances of shoes slipping off or making disruptive clacking sounds while walking on the floor or dancing on a stage.
SOL-601-D(1 products)
SOL-701-D(2 products)
SOL-701-O(1 products)
SOL-751-D(1 products)
SOL-801-O(2 products)
SOL-802-D ClearUS $58.00
SOL-901-O ClearUS $68.00


text:
Record Reason Duo artist update & FREE Laptop Sleeve
Propellerhead's Reason Record Duo has gone from strength to strength since its release, winning amongst other accolades, a prestigious gear of the year award from the respected Music Rader team. Reason Record Duo combines Reason 5 and Record 1.5 in a single integrated application making for an all in one audio workstation boasting a super quick and unique workflow, the highly praised Kong Drum Designer, Dr OctoRex, SSL® modelled mixer and Neptune Pitch Adjuster and numerous available sample sets and 'drum takes' to help you get the most out of your music.
Record Reason Duo is the DAW of choice for many of today's freshest talents. One such artist is James Jacob aka. Jakwob a British DJ/producer who is currently spearheading dubstep's global domination with his original take on the genre and string of high profile remixes and international tours. Propellerhead caught up with James in San Francisco to find out why he is a Record Reason Duo fan and user.
As an added bonus, buy either Record Reason Duo or Record Reason Duo Teacher/Student between April 1st and May 31st and bag yourself a free Propellerhead laptop sleeve (13" or 15"). The Propellerhead Laptop Sleeve features a Reason, Record and Propellerhead screenprint on the front, neoprene back and padded inside. Perfect for keeping your laptop safe when not in use, when you're on the move, or out gigging.
This offer applies to UK and R.O.I. customers only purchasing a new copy of Propellerhead Reason Record DUO or Reason Record DUO Student/Teacher Edition between 1 April 2011 and 31 May 2011.


text:
Diagnostic Ultrasound
(Preparing for) Ultrasound/Radiation & Imaging Sciences
Program Description
The 90 credit Associate in Arts transfer degree is designed to meet the general education requirements at Washington State four-year institutions and prepares students for a Bachelor of Science degree in Diagnostic Ultrasound or Radiation and Imaging Science. For more detailed information click here.
Diagnostic Ultrasound/Radiation and Imaging Sciences — What is it?
Diagnostic Ultrasound is a non-invasive medical procedure that uses special equipment with high frequency sound waves to form an image of body tissue. Radiation and Imaging Sciences encompasses x-ray exams, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Computed Tomography (CT Scans) to perform and develop diagnostic imagery. Diagnostic Ultrasound, Radiation and Imaging Sciences are essential exams for physicians to assess and diagnose medical conditions. Sonographers, X-ray and Radiation Technicians work closely with Radiologists, Cardiologists, Obstetricians, Orthopedic Surgeons and other physicians to help treat illnesses and injuries.
Areas of Study in Diagnostic Ultrasound:
Cell Biology, Anatomy and Physiology, Physics, Pathophysiology, Echocardiography, Cardiac and Vascular Evaluation, Prenatal Evaluation, Imaging Instrumentation, Patient Positioning, Exam Techniques, Radiation Safety, Radiation Therapy, Professional and Medical Ethnics.
Career Opportunities — What can I do with a Bachelor's Degree in Diagnostic Ultrasound or Radiation and Imaging Sciences?
Students who major in Diagnostic Ultrasound or Radiation Sciences develop the knowledge
and skills to perform highly technical imaging procedures. In addition, technicians
must have strong critical thinking, problem solving and communications skills to work
as part of a health care team. Some technicians specialized in radiation therapy to
treat cancer and other diseases.
Potential employers include:
Medical Imaging Clinics, Hospitals, Private Physician's Office, Medical Centers and other Health Care Facilities. For more, please visit Career Counseling.
Transfer Possibilities — Where can I transfer?
An Associate Degree from Shoreline makes it possible for students to transfer to public and private colleges and universities throughout the U.S. with junior standing. Shoreline also has agreements with several universities to make transferring even easier. For transfer within Washington State, we offer a special degree called the AA-DTA. For international students, Shoreline also has conditional admission agreements that allow a student to be simultaneously accepted by Shoreline and a university of the student's choosing.


text:
A dangerous political phenomenon is the recent announcement of City Council Speaker Christine Quinn's candidacy for mayor. A few simple facts will suffice to show why she is unsuitable for any citywide elected office.
First, in 2008 Quinn, at the behest of Bloomberg's "complex reworking of post-fiscal crisis neoliberalization" (Julian Brash, Bloomberg's New York: Class and Governance in the Luxury City, University of Georgia Press, 2011), subverted the constitutional process of two public referenda in 1993 and 1996 that imposed a two-term limit for elected officials in the City of New York.
As a result of her back room brokering, the City Council voted to change term limits and allow for the mayor, City Council members, and borough presidents to run for third terms.
Second, in April 2008 the New York Post reported that Quinn's office had appropriated millions of dollars to bogus organizations, and that the money was then secretly siphoned to organizations favored by individual council members.
Records showed that nearly one-quarter of the secret slush funds went to organizations in Quinn's council district, and that two of the biggest recipients of the funds contributed to Quinn's expected 2009 mayoral run before she derailed it at Bloomberg's behest.
Quinn's recent propaganda of her support for the "middle class" is a logic textbook case of equivocation ostensibly purporting to champion the socio-economic aspirations of the working and lower middle classes to garner their votes.
Quinn belongs in jail, not in any public office in New York City.
Joseph N. Manago


text:
The Arthur Smith Institute for Urology, under the leadership of Dr. Louis R. Kavoussi, provides the very best in comprehensive urologic care on Long Island and the New York area, including minimally-invasive treatment of the prostate, bladder, and kidneys.
The information provided throughout this website is not intended to provide personal medical advice. All rights reserved. © 2010 The Arthur Smith Institute for Urology of the North Shore-LIJ Health System, Long Island, NY
Site Map | HTML Version


text:
A new TJF endowment opportunity encourages individuals or families to contribute specifically to a program that will ensure that it thrives today and continues for tomorrow.
From classes to encourage the arts to projects that provide critical help to Jews overseas, your Program Endowment will make a visible difference in a very specific way and give the next generation a valuable reminder of your family's interest and commitment to the future. You may choose to endow the entire program yourself or join with a group of contributing families to fund a program.
For more information, please call us at (757) 965-6111 or email Scott Kaplan, President & CEO, at firstname.lastname@example.com.


text:
Car Review
2013 Dodge Avenger: New Car Review
Pros: Rock bottom price; stellar value even when loaded; respectable interior quality; impressive range of performance options; optional V6 is excellent
Cons: Tight rear seat space; smaller trunk than rivals; outdated base level 4-speed automatic; unimpressive fuel economy
New for 2013: Reshuffled model lineup and option packages
First, the good news: the 2013 Dodge Avenger is a very affordable a midsize sedan that has come a long way from the horrible car it was from 2008-2010, thanks to a heroic rejuvenation for 2011. Interior quality is quite respectable, ride and handling are refined and the available 3.6-liter V6 delivers satisfying power at a very reasonable price. The bad news? Its fundamental design and shape have remained more or less unchanged while most of its competition has been redesigned. Thus, for 2013, it remains nowhere near the head of the class in any measure except for value and the power of its available V6 engine.
One of the Avenger's shortcomings is its somewhat awkward in-between size, which is slotted above compact sedans but below familiar family sedans like the Toyota Camry. Consequently, the Avenger comes up short on both passenger and cargo space. The 4-cylinder base model is also low on refinement, with its ancient 4-speed automatic transmission -- most competitors added more gears to their transmissions years ago. At least all the other Avenger models feature better powertrains.
The Avenger is also priced very aggressively, so you might get a great deal on what has become a pretty solid car.
Comfort & Utility
The 2012 Dodge Avenger comes in four trim levels: SE, SE V6, SXT and R/T. The just-the-basics Avenger SE ($18,995) features a 4-cylinder engine, 17-inch steel wheels with plastic covers, power accessories, cruise control and a 4-speaker audio system with an auxiliary input jack (but not a USB input). The Avenger SE V6 ($21,695) adds a 283-hp V6, 6-speed automatic transmission, rear spoiler, 17-in aluminum wheels and dual exhaust tips.
For the same price as the SE V6, the Avenger SXT ($21,695) reverts to the base model's 4-cylinder engine, but adds the superior 6-speed automatic transmission. The SXT model also has 17-in alloy wheels, a power driver's seat, a 6-speaker stereo, satellite radio, automatic climate control, fog lamps and a leather-wrapped shift knob and steering wheel. A Rallye Appearance package ($495) tacks on 18-in alloys, body color grille and rear spoiler, darkened headlamp bezels and unique seat fabric. A Blacktop package ($595) also adds darkened headlamps, but adds black-painted 18-in wheels and a black grille. You can add the V6 to the SXT for $1,795. Incidentally, adding leather to the SXT for $595 makes it America's cheapest midsize sedan with leather upholstery.
The Avenger R/T ($25,495) gets its own 18-in polished alloy wheels, sport-tuned suspension, various sport-themed styling cues, jazzed-up seats with leather bolsters, red LED ambient lighting, remote start, Bluetooth connectivity, Boston Acoustics speakers and an exclusive gauge cluster with a center-mounted tachometer.
The Avenger's front seats are squishy and lack adequate lateral bolstering, even in the R/T's special leather bolsters that have little in the way of improved support. The R/T chairs do look kind of cool, though. From the driver's vantage point, the most notable feature of the R/T is its unique gauge cluster, which includes a center-mounted tachometer (never mind that a manual transmission isn't offered). Its usefulness is debatable, but the fact that Dodge went out of its way to add this feature speaks to the company's commitment to its R/T line. Most folks, though, will end up with something other than the R/T, and for their sake we're happy to report that every Avenger's dashboard is swathed in the same supple, soft-touch material.
The backseat is where the Avenger starts to lose some of its luster. The Avenger does have a surprisingly high rear bench, which helps alleviate the legroom shortage, but there's still a sense of snugness back there that's not present in any midsize rival.
The snugness continues in the trunk, which maxes out at 13.5 cu ft of storage. To be fair, there's a decent amount of space in the Avenger's boot; it's just that most rivals offer considerably more.
The Avenger SE may seem like a good value, but note that it doesn't come standard with iPod/USB or Bluetooth connectivity, so you'll have to pay extra for these increasingly expected features -- even on the SXT. Still, we give Dodge credit for making sure that the Avenger offers a full range of technological goodies, including a 6.5-in touchscreen infotainment system, to which navigation can be added for a little extra on most models. This isn't exactly a cutting-edge system, as it dates back a few years and obviously lacks the crisp graphics and intuitive interface of the 8.4-in touchscreen that appears in newer Chrysler products. But the Avenger's touchscreen is functional enough, and we definitely appreciate its 28 gigabytes of hard drive storage, which is a boon for digital music aficionados.
Performance & Fuel Economy
The base Avenger SE model comes with a 4-speed automatic transmission and a 2.4-liter inline-4 rated at 173 horsepower and 166 lb-ft of torque. The engine is okay, but we think this transmission is the worst in the family sedan class. We recommend stepping up to the SXT, SE V6 or the R/T, all of which use a relatively smooth 6-speed automatic instead. Acceleration is acceptable with the 4-cylinder, but fuel economy is unfortunately below average with either transmission: the 4-speed yields 21 miles per gallon city/30 mpg highway, while the 6-speed surprisingly does about the same at 20 mpg city/31 mpg hwy.
As for the optional 3.6-liter V6 (standard on the R/T), it's a beast; it cranks out 283 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque through a 6-speed automatic. The V6-powered Avenger is one of the best values out there for folks who want a little extra oomph, and it gets nearly the same fuel economy as the 4-cylinder models, checking in at 19 mpg city/29 mpg hwy.
The 2013 Dodge Avenger comes with standard stability control, 4-wheel anti-lock disc brakes and six airbags (front, front side, full-length side curtain). In government crash testing, the Avenger received an overall rating of four stars out of five, while the independent Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) gave the Avenger its top rating of Good in every category.
Driving Impressions
The Avenger is a relatively pleasant car to drive. Quiet and soft (except for the firmer R/T with its 18-in wheels) yet surprisingly coordinated in corners, the Avenger strikes a good dynamic balance for American roads and reflects the Dodge brand's accent on performance. Easily the most memorable aspect of the driving experience is the thrust from that powerful optional V6, which transforms the Avenger into a little muscle car that's totally worthy of its Charger-inspired styling.
Other Cars to Consider
Kia Optima - The daringly styled Kia Optima ($21,200) has superior fuel economy and a bigger backseat, yet it's still aggressively priced even with the optional turbocharged inline-4.
Chevrolet Malibu - The Chevrolet Malibu ($22,390) offers fresh interior and exterior design and high feature content (and OnStar telematics) along with excellent fuel economy, for about the same price as the Avenger SXT. Like the Kia Optima, Chevrolet is offering a turbocharged inline-4 instead of an optional V6 for performance-minded customers.
Toyota Camry - The sterile Toyota Camry ($22,235) has great fuel economy, plenty of space all around and few notable flaws. The V6-powered Camry SE is even fun to drive this time around, easily giving the Avenger R/T a run for its money, while matching the 4-cylinder Avenger's fuel economy.
AutoTrader Recommends
Considering how inexpensive the Avenger line is, we think upgrading to a V6-powered model is clearly the way to go, even if it costs you a little more up front. The R/T is an acquired taste, however, with its boy-racer styling cues, so we'd stick with the SXT Plus and enjoy the money we saved over rival V6-powered sedans.


text:
Enter Our Photo Contest »
It's time to show off your garden filled with American Meadows products!
Show meShowing plants & seeds that grow in my area:
Plant the "Alaska" Canna in spring and it will bloom in mid summer through fall. Gardeners in areas that receive frost will want to dig the bulbs up at the end of the season and store them for the winter.
The Pfitzer Dwarfs Many gardeners prefer the smaller cannas of the "Pfitzer" group. With smaller, but equally as brilliant bi-colored flowers, these cannas grow to only about 16". They're great for the front of borders or patio pots, making a thick clump of handsome foliage with a bouquet that goes on all season.
Growing Cannas, large and small. Canna lilies are wonderful in the garden. Growing fast, the full size selections quickly form a handsome large-leafed screen or an island of tropical-looking foliage from about 3 to 4 feet tall. And then the show begins, and goes on for weeks and weeks. Huge, iris-like flowers begin to open, and before you know it, your canna lily plants have become the undisputed center of attention in your entire yard.
Cannas are really wetland plants, and can grow in moist ground. Constant wetness isn't necessary, but yous should water them often if you;re not receiving regular rainfall. A snap to grow, cannas are used as municipal plantings in many places like Miami. They are so good at taking care of themselves, adding great stripes of color to median strips, parks, and other places. So pick out a sunny spot in your garden or yard, and add cannas for the big show this summer.
Our good friend, Jack Scheper, the plant expert who runs Floridata.com, tells us that cannas are native to Central and South America, and many of the current hybrids also have a North American species as a parent. Jack grows cannas, and is a big enthusiast. As he says, the foliage "looks like a small banana tree without the trunk."
|Common Name
|Large Flowering Canna Lily
|Botanical Name
|Canna Lily
|2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
|Ships As
|Bulb, Rhizome, Tuber
|Light Requirements
|Full Sun
|Flower Color
|Mature Height
|36-48" tall
|Bulb Size
|1/3 eyes
|Bulb Spacing
|1 bulb/rhizome per sq. ft.
|Planting Depth
|Bulbs/Rhizomes should be planted 1" to 2" below the soil line.
|Bloom Time
|Mid summer until frost
|Plant Type / Life Cycle
|Planting Time
|Spring / Summer
|Soil Type
|Loamy Soil
|Soil Moisture
|Average, Moist/Wet, Well Draining
|Deer Resistant, Easy to Grow, Containers
|Additional Information
|Hardy in zones 7-10
|Ships to Hawaii, Alaska & Canada
Shipping begins in late March based on ground temperatures, warmest zones first.
As soon as your order is placed you will receive an order confirmation email that will include your shipping information. We ship perennials and spring-planted bulbs at the proper planting time for your hardiness zone. Perennials and spring-planted bulb orders will arrive separately from seeds. If your order requires more than one shipment, there is no additional shipping charge. See our shipping information page for approximate ship dates and more detailed information. If you need express shipping or have any questions, please call Customer Service toll-free at (877) 309-7333 or contact us by email.
You will receive a second email the day your order ships telling you how it has been sent. Your order is scheduled to arrive at your door, fresh and ready to plant, usually within 3-5 days of leaving our warehouse, depending on your shipping address. We pack our plants to withstand up to 10 days in transit, in the event transit is delayed. We cannot guarantee arrival on a specific day. Please make sure to open your package upon receipt and follow the instructions included.
To determine if a plant is sufficiently cold hardy, the USDA created numbered zones indicating winter low temperatures; the lower the zone number the colder the winter.
Enter your Zip Code to find your USDA Planting Zone
You will still be able to shop AmericanMeadows.com, but some functionality may not work unless you update to a modern browser. Update My Browser
Please wait...


text:
- More
Brazil: Pedro II gold 10000 Reis 1876,...Click the image to load the highest resolution version.
DescriptionPedro II gold 10000 Reis 1876, KM467, AU50 NGC, lightly toned with original luster. AGW 0.2643 oz.
Note for clients in the European Union: This lot is considered by the European Union to be "investment gold". We believe that it meets the criteria established in Article 344(1), point (2) of Council Directive 2006/112/EC and thus should be exempt from import VAT regardless of the selling price. Any questions or concerns about VAT should be addressed to your accountant or local tax authority.
Shipping, Taxes, Terms and Bidding
Calculate Standard Domestic Shipping
Sales Tax information | NGC Coin Grading Guarantee | Terms and Conditions
Bidding Guidelines and Bid Increments
Glossary of Terms
World and Ancient Coin Bibliography
Auction Info
Buyer's Premium per Lot:
15% of the successful bid (minimum $14) per lot.
Floor auctionsOpen for bidding: (View All)
Fine Art
Ends on 11/28/2018
Fine Art
Ends on 11/29/2018
Luxury Accessories
Ends on 12/02/2018
Jewelry & Timepieces
Ends on 12/03/2018
Fine Art
Ends on 12/04/2018
Ends on 12/05/2018
World & Ancient Coins
Ends on 12/06/2018
Fine Art
Ends on 12/07/2018
Fine & Rare Wine
Ends on 12/07/2018
Decorative Art
Ends on 12/07/2018
Comics & Comic Art
Ends on 12/08/2018
Arms & Armor
Ends on 12/09/2018
Jewelry & Timepieces
Ends on 12/10/2018
Luxury Accessories
Ends on 12/10/2018
Jewelry & Timepieces
Ends on 12/10/2018
US Coins
Ends on 12/13/2018
Nature & Science
Ends on 12/15/2018
Fine Art
Opens about 11/21/2018
Fine Art
Opens about 11/28/2018
Fine Art
Opens about 12/05/2018
Fine Art
Opens about 12/11/2018
Fine Art
Opens about 12/26/2018
World & Ancient Coins
Opens about 12/12/2018
US Coins
Opens about 12/14/2018
Opens about 12/14/2018
Opens about 12/14/2018
Fine Art
Opens about 01/02/2019
Opens about 12/27/2018
World & Ancient Coins
Opens about 12/12/2018
Fine Art
Opens about 01/09/2019
Heritage membership
- Past Auction Values (prices, photos, full descriptions, etc.)
- Bid online
- Free Collector newsletter
- Want List with instant e-mail notifications
- Reduced auction commissions when you resell your
- Cash Advances
- More Bidders
- Trusted Experts
- Over 200,000 Satisfied Consignors Since 1976
Learn about consigning with us
I cannot say enough how much I appreciate Heritage and everything they do for the hobby I love.View More Testimonials
HA.com receives more traffic than any other auction house website. (Source: Similarweb.com)


text:
The Canadian Soccer Association announced on Friday the travel roster for the upcoming 2013 Yongchuan Cup Four-Nation Women's Tournament in China PR. Canadian women's national team head coach John Herdman has selected 21 players for the camp, with players departing North America this coming Sunday, January 6. The team will play international matches on January 12, 14 and 16.
Among the 21 players on the roster are nine Vancouver Whitecaps FC women's alumni, including: goalkeeper Erin McLeod; defenders Robyn Gayle and Emily Zurrer; midfielders Kaylyn Kyle, Sophie Schmidt, Desiree Scott and Chelsea Stewart; and strikers Jodi-Ann Robinson and Christine Sinclair.
Canada's matches are January against hosts China PR (2 p.m. local / 12 a.m. PT), January 14 against Korea Republic (7 p.m. local / 5 a.m. PT), and January 16 against Norway (5 p.m. local / 3 a.m. PT). All three matches will be played at the Yongchuan Olympic Center.
For Herdman, the camp in China PR represents the start of a new campaign ultimately leading towards the FIFA Women's World Cup Canada2015™.
"It is the start of a new journey and it is time for new players who want to be part of that journey," said the Canadian coach.
"We are trying to achieve a style of play and performance that the country can really enjoy and be proud of. We have identified some gaps in our performances and we need to begin exploring the changes that will allow us to close those gaps."
This marks Canada's first project of the 2013 international season. The roster features a mix of established players and young prospects. 12 of the 21 players won bronze medals with Canada at last year's London 2012 Women's Olympic Football Tournament. Captain Christine Sinclair is included in the group, although she will not be eligible to play because of an international suspension.
Amongst the younger players, seven of them have yet to make their international "A" debut. Those seven youngsters are defenders Kadeisha Buchanan and Shelina Zadorsky and midfielders/forwards Tiffany Cameron, Ashley Lawrence, Adriana Leon, Christabel Oduro and Nichelle Prince.
GK- Karina LeBlanc |
GK- Erin McLeod | SWE / Dalsjöfors G.o.I.F.
CB- Kadeisha Buchanan | CAN / Erin Mills Mighty Eagles U-16
CB- Shelina Zadorsky | CAN / Toronto Lady Lynx
CB- Emily Zurrer | SWE / Dalsjöfors G.o.I.F.
FB- Robyn Gayle |
FB- Bryanna McCarthy | USA / University of West Virginia
FB- Lauren Sesselmann |
FB- Rhian Wilkinson | NOR / Lillestrøm SK Kvinner
M- Kaylyn Kyle |
M- Ashley Lawrence | CAN / Erin Mills Mighty Eagles
M- Diana Matheson | NOR / Lillestrøm SK Kvinner
M- Christabel Oduro | CAN / Hamilton FC
M- Sophie Schmidt | SWE / Kristianstads DFF
M- Desiree Scott | CAN / WSA North Stars
M- Chelsea Stewart | USA / UCLA
F- Tiffany Cameron | USA / Ohio State University
F- Adriana Leon | USA / University of Florida
F- Nichelle Prince | CAN / Pickering SC
F- Jodi-Ann Robinson |
F- Christine Sinclair |


text:
- MFLS Forums
Forums : MFLS Rules and Strategy Forum Thread : Possible rule change - DP limit vs Foreign player limit
[thread started by Hounds FC on Mon 4/6 23:36 ET]
[moderated by 1860 Oakland, SDFC Macross]
Pages : First, Last
from Hounds FC
on Mon 4/6 23:36 ET
Reply to This Message
I thought I would move this down to the MFLS rules forum so we could see how everyone feels about this. I believe it would definitely be easier for Mark as well.
I would go along with the idea of not having a limit on foreign players in the future. With the ability for players to basically decide what country they want to represent, it is becoming a gray area to state whether a player is foreign or not.
However, I think a tweak on the rule would be best. Instead of a limit on foreign players, how about a limit on DPs?
For example, each MFLS team can carry four DPs. That would make it more realistic and would add real diversity to the rosters as well. There would be some major decisions to make then. That is for sure.
from Merrimack County SC
on Tue 4/7 5:07 ET
Reply to This Message
Here's a different point of view for you all. I think the only limit should be the salary cap. No limits on foreign players. No limits on the number of players from any real MLS team. As for DPs, I honestly don't think most of the average fans even know what they are, let alone who they are. So just have the salary cap and let everybody be free to have some fun with it. Easier for Mark, easier for us casual fans. Keep it simple. from Arrows SC
on Tue 4/7 10:04 ET
Reply to This Message
We essentially limit DPs by virtue of the salary cap.
My vote is to keep the foreign player limit. I like that dimension in selecting my roster.
But this is a good topic for discussion.
from Mohawks
on Tue 4/7 10:12 ET
Reply to This Message
I personally vote for no foreign restrictions or DP limits. I'm fine
with keeping the team limits though.
from FC Byrd Turgler
on Tue 4/7 12:01 ET
Reply to This Message
Actually, to keep the simulation in line with MLS, I'm all for keeping the foreign player limits and adding a limitation on DPs to 3.
That said, with foreign players, the determination of foreign status shouldn't be tied to national teams. Beitashour, Meram, Mo Hernandez are all born in the USA, so they're not foreign players in MLS. They shouldn't be foreign players here. Furthermore, guys like Blas Perez and Seba LeToux who now have permanent residency b/c they have a green card- they shouldn't be considered foreign players now either. That's what I'd like to see.
from FC Byrd Turgler
on Tue 4/7 18:50 ET
Reply to This Message
Also, Kekuta Manneh- he should be a domestic, too. At a minimum GC or citizenship or cap-tying game to US, Canada, or other FA shouldn't alter player status in season. from Pepe Kaka FC
on Tue 4/7 23:22 ET
Reply to This Message
I don't think Green Cards should have any indication into a
player's foreign status. First of all, a GC doesn't mean
you're a US citizen. Perhaps after the 5 years of holding a
Green Card, when one can become a legal citizen, then you
can eliminate the foreign status. Secondly, there are tons
of MLS players who hold GCs... and honestly how would
you track those who have one. Foreign players should be
identified as those who are not US or Canadian citizens, or
who are not currently eligible to play for either national
team. If one plays for a foreign national team, but is still a
US citizen (aka dual citizen) then one may also have foreign
status removed. It doesn't need to be any more
complicated than that.
from Mohawks
on Wed 4/8 7:39 ET
Reply to This Message
All of this discussion shows that we don't need a foreign player
from Hounds FC
on Wed 4/8 8:18 ET
Reply to This Message
Actually, I believe that by getting rid of the foreign player limit we will increase roster diversity. Usually, the high salary foreign players are picked as they are supposed to be the stars and the low salary foreign players pretty much get left out in the cold. By doing away with the foreign player limit I believe you will see a big change in the picks of defenders. There are a lot of foreign defenders that are out there and no one picks them because they don't want to use the foreign player spot, but if it goes away I think it will increase roster diversity. from Pepe Kaka FC
on Wed 4/8 10:37 ET
Reply to This Message
I agree with both Hounds and Mohawk. I definitely
agree that the removal of the foreign player limit
would increase roster diversity. I can say for
myself that I would have a lot more low value
international players if there were no limit on
from FC Byrd Turgler
on Wed 4/8 12:02 ET
Reply to This Message
If the goal is roster diversity, then that's reasonable. My idea was more along the lines of mirroring actual roster concerns for MLS squads.
As to the issue of the green card, once a player receives a green card, they no longer take up a 'foreign' roster spot on an MLS squad...ergo my suggestion. As for tracking it, since you wouldn't mess with it in season, you'd merely review the players roster designation at the start of the season. This would help with roster diversity as well by reducing the actual number of foreign players on MFLS. I'm good either way, but I like my way better.
from Mohawks
on Wed 4/8 13:14 ET
Reply to This Message
If we're going to have the foreign player rule, then it should
definitely be the same as the MLS roster designations. If they
use an international spot then they should be foreign here and
vice versa.
from Stormin Union
on Wed 4/8 13:34 ET
Reply to This Message
I'm a fan of the idea of removing foreign player status for
players that have a green card, and the DP limit would make
things more interesting. I'd also like to see more transfers
available, maybe 45-50 per season, but I know it will be a hard
sell (except for Canicas).
from Seattle SC
on Wed 4/8 14:26 ET
Reply to This Message
I like Byrd Turgler's idea from C�nicas AC
on Thu 4/9 12:16 ET
Reply to This Message
I think we should implement the higher number of transfers already
this season...
Pages : First, Last


text:
So I think it's validation more than anything. He is locked in to winning this weekend and nothing will change that. He knows he's headed for greatness and I think he wants to win the championship more than anything.
Can you read minds? Apparently not because Trey is currently deciding between Orange or Blue Gatorade in South Quad; not thinking about the tournament.
Oh, it appears he wants the Blue Gatorade. And now a bag of cheddar popcorn!
Also: he just felt the hole in his pocket of his Adidas track pants and felt the cool air from the air conditioner blow through his jacket. He just thought, "Man, Nike is so much better than Adidas. I hope Dave Brandon understands this fact."
Herm, it's 30 degrees outside right now. No one is running their air conditioner.
I live in Florida. It is 73 now and going to be 84 tomorrow. I wore short and a golf shirt today. I read the WSJ by the pool. Jealous?
PS - The damn public sector would run their air conditioner. How else are they going to justify raising tuition 5% a year?
I lived in Arizona for 5 years and then not too long ago, moved back to Ann Arbor partly because I found the heat obnoxious. So I'm one of the few people that actually is not jealous. And wouldn't the public sector say the reason they can't run the a/c when needed is because they need more money to do so and then still not run it once they get said money?
how is the wintergreen grizz down in Miami, Herm?
Expensive. Kayak it is. And now you can't buy it online...
Thanks Obama.
but I do know what it means to become successful and what it takes to maintain a high level of success. Anything else you want to know? No? Well then, I'd like to know why you troll this board pretending to be an octogenarian named Herm?
"I do know what it means to become successful and what it takes to maintain a high level of success."
Did you take that directly from your cover letter? If so, I'm surprised you're still unemployed.
Time for bed young man.
-Curtis Woodhouse
It appears to me as though you were the first internet tough guy as you misinterpreted my obviously jovial jab at your comment as a real threat and responded in kind. While I was attempting to give a sassy, possibly funny response to your comment, you were brooding and shaking with frustration at the thought of someone joshing you. Additionally, I was going to make fun of that Curtis Woodhouse guy... but he appears to be one of those guys who you just can't make fun of. Some sort of English soccer player, mobster, boxer combination. Quite the read: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curtis_Woodhouse
Ahhhh I can't let the Brits win the manliest-man award for the night: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chesty_Puller
Happy reading.
My stomach turned.. Stay another year Burke?
... but pretty sure they tell the player and record the tv segment in the morning.
I find it interesting that the Wooden Award draws much less attention than the Heisman. Granted, college football is an absolute media monster (even compared to college basketball), so that factor must be taken into account. But, in a sport where one key player can make a massive difference (granted, football has QBs and the occasional RB who can really drive a team) it is bizarre that there isn't more hype. Perhaps the longer history of the Heisman has something to do with it or maybe it just appears skewed because of the dominance of football. Any thoughts?
Congrats to Trey as well and Go Blue.
Maybe it has to do with the fact that there are two awards for basically the same thing: the Naismith award and the Wooden award. Maybe they compete with each other?
Just a guess.
Or maybe it's the fact that college football really has THREE major player of the year awards instead of two (Walter Camp, Heisman, and Maxwell).
MOAR is better?
Football has the Maxwell award as well, though...although it is much less prestigious. Is one of the Wooden or Naismith awards considered less/more prestigious. It seems as though I've heard of the Wooden more but I'm not certain.
The NY athletic club that wards the Heisman has done a much much better job at promoting the events, schmoozing the media, having rich members, etc?
has no business being on that list. He regressed this year.
Wooden must have a thing for tall white guys.
I would have to think that, given the numerous honors that Try Burke has gotten over the last three weeks alone, that it would be far more shocking if he did not win the Wooden Award after being named to the Wooden All-American Team. Looking back, he has been named to the All-American 1st team for The Sporting News and the Associated Press, as well as 1st team by the US Basketball Writers' Association and the National Association Of Basketball Coaches. He's also the Big Ten Player Of The Year, and I believe he was the USBWA District 5 Player Of The Year and on the NABC 1st team as well. It's hard for me to imagine a scenario where his name is not announced on Saturday.


text:
Arsenette wrote:
I'm happy the recent one have not been Facebook ones (I hate those). Sometimes just a random lottery of people who sign up here (pick a name out of the hat) is good sometimes. I am not saying to have that replace the contests but sometimes we are just not interested in trying to outdo someone drawing or singing or whatnot. Just a simple "enter by this date and random lottery". Easier not to screw up and to me seems more fair. Just a thought to add to the mix.
Also and this may sound strange.. but I want to know where to get some of the prizes.. like I've been looking for where to buy the karuta cards from Chihayafuru and I still can't find where you can purchase it. :(
agreed, like those moyashimon plushies too!
actually if you could sell the prizes in the CR Store after the contests ended, that would be awesome, so then those that didn't win but wanted the prize could still get it
I am a cabbit. Cabbits like carrots.
My drawing capability is ok, but i have not entered into any serious contest because im not super confident, and i know other that use the computer to draw will out do my black and white drawing. Sword Art Online Fan Group held a fun contest to draw a SAO character in holloween out fit and also they did a create a character contest, where members were asked to think of a name and baxck story, then choose weapon and skill set, this lead to some fun and drawing was optional. :D
Plus singing...... i'd ive it a try..... writing not so much.......
back for the night
For me in particular whenever I see a contest pop up I always check it out, however due to me be not very artistic I always feel like I'm missing out, especially as anime is a huge part of my life, I litterly watch about 4 eps a day on any anime that spikes my interest, always finding new ones to watch.
However for my type of talents such as computer programming, electronics and mathematics I doubt there would ever be such a contest for me to take part in. I suppose if you asked us to make something that shows how much you like a certain anime I would give it ago with some circuits and flashing lights if i had the time too.
I just appreciate how much hard work you lot do and If there ever is a contest I stand a chance in, especially if its in one of my favorites like SAO then I would def take part.
on and off
Ok so I know this is a weird one but how about a character/ anime show inspired fashion contest .... I mean everyone has clothes and just by lying in my bed I can automatically make a SAO inspired outfit anyway it's kinda like a cosplay contest but you don't need to have that ONE single perfect scarf that if you don't get you will fail and it could be judged on how related to the show/ char. The outfit is , the overall look of the fashion, originality, street wear use, and many more things
Personally I think if you are trying to win a prize, a little more effort than just looking at the screen is required :)
My suggestion would be something like... take a photo of yourself (or something/someone) in a pose/scene from your favourite animé (or from one the judges suggest!).
No need to dress up or anything, just need to demonstrate a bit of enthusiasm and a tiny bit of ingenuity.
... and seriously, everyone has a USB camera these days.. if not... Christmas is coming up and they are really cheap...
Oh! and of course, you must take the photo yourself, no copy/pasting from google or wherever!
That's all I could come up with right now, so yeah ^^
sethinoutche wrote:
I really enjoyed Gintama contest in searching for the episodes and their time codes.
A photo contest could be fun too.
I second this!
Get a clip from the anime your doing the contest for and get rid of the subs and ask people to write new ones to change the scene plot. Could be hilarious
Since this isn't really a drawing community site, I don't think having a large portion of contests focused on drawing is a good thing. Singing contests are a good idea, you could always try some new ones and see what works best ^ ^ A variety is nice haha ~
Maybe you could have a parody contest of sorts. Similar to the caption contest you did for Tonari no Kaibutsu kun (can't think of the English title right now...) except this one would need people to do a little bit of voice acting for it (:
[EDIT: Oh, the guy above me said it already. I think it's a good idea! -Supportive-]
moe sells better
How about taking a screenshot of your favorite scene and adding your own dialog. Funny, romantic, sadistic, etc., it's all good!
Fanarts are enjoyable and all though I wish they could be more challenging besides the typical "design your own character"...i don't think it allows the artist to really bring out their amazing skills and unique styles.
crafting will be nice too...
singing contest sounds pretty awesome too...though I have the itching feeling it'll be mostly girls competing in that one lol.
What about a short manga? Put the creativity from drawing and writing all into one
Also...it would be nice to have more than one judge to pick the winner.s There were times where I felt that the winners should've went to someone else [Don't get me wrong here, everyone's works are amazing and everyone put their all into it and I give my applaud to the winners] but I guess more than one opinion would be nice.
I agree that the contests should have more variety even though I really like drawing. So spicing it up is not a bad idea at all.
It be nice if there weren't centered solely around drawing. I understand that greater artistic skill may not necessarily mean better chance of winning in these contests, but that is the perception, and it makes them discouraging to enter. It'd be nice if you opened it up more, to different formats. Invite people to draw, sing, write - whatever. Do SOMETHING creative, whatever it may be, and submit that.
Personally, I don't find my artistic ability to be of a high enough quality to submit to a contest. However, if I could, say, write a short story or something, I'd be more willing to enter.
Sigh. I've been wanting to give feedback on these things for a while now.
I think many times they are nice opportunities to let the fans do something extra in a contest format.
However, I often find the "style" of these contests (especially the introduction posts), to be incredibly annoying. The whole format just turns me completely off to anything related to the contests.
I guess, to me, the presentation comes off as irritating and annoying.
But that's just me. Figured I'd just voice that now that I have the chance. Don't mean any offense to anyone.
Glaciesflamma wrote:
Personally, I don't find my artistic ability to be of a high enough quality to submit to a contest. However, if I could, say, write a short story or something, I'd be more willing to enter.
There were short stories and caption contests in the past.
gibbo88 wrote:
Get a clip from the anime your doing the contest for and get rid of the subs and ask people to write new ones to change the scene plot. Could be hilarious
There was just recently a contest like that, for one of the shoujo series.
I personally think the whole idea of a writing contest is a good idea but I do understand there are some who write better than others. So I would say why not better the prize, give the people a reason to write something detailed and awesome. Such as who ever wins gets their idea animated, I mean many people have thought of ways they would want a certain anime ended or things they wish were done different so why not make the prize something they wish to see, as long as it doesn't violate any copyright laws or whatever. An if you need helpers in animating it or however the process is done now adays, then have a contest for best drawings and not only do you mention their names in the credit, they also get something thats like a one of a kind for their help.
So yea thats the basics of my idea


text:
ROCCAT Isku FX Multicolor Gaming Keyboard Review
ROCCAT Isku FX Multicolor Gaming Keyboard Introduction:
It's not often that I get the opportunity to review a gaming keyboard (or any keyboard for that matter), since my lovely wife (BluePanda) usually gets the honor of taking each one for a spin. To my surprise, a few weeks ago I got a box with my name on it from ROCCAT. Most people recognize the ROCCAT name for its line of high-end gaming peripherals, including mice, headsets, and mouse pads. I haven't had the pleasure of testing a ROCCAT gaming keyboard before, but I have high hopes given the pedigree that the ROCCAT brand possesses. I guess at this point I should mention that the keyboard I get to test is the ROCCAT Isku FX – a non-mechanical gaming keyboard with five macro keys, a full set of multimedia keys, full RGB backlighting, and the quiet solace that comes with non-clicky membrane keys.
I'm sure most of you know that there's been an invasion of mechanical keyboards into the gaming scene, all sporting fancy Cherry MX switches of various types. While I have to admit that I do really love mechanical keyboards (especially the Cherry MX Brown switches), there's still a market for membrane-style keyboards that lack the sometimes annoying noise associated with mechanical switches. Can the ROCCAT Isku FX step up and prove its worthiness in real gaming? Keep reading to find out!
Closer Look:
The ROCCAT Isku FX comes packaged quite nicely in mostly-black garb with fairly easy-to-read features and specifications laid out around the box. The front of the box proudly boasts about the full RGB lighting behind the keys, along with the EASY-SHIFT[+] functionality and live macro recording. Apparently the ROCCAT Isku FX is also "MMO Approved", although I'm not quite sure what that really means. Did someone round up the MMOs and ask them what they liked? Anyway, moving on to the back of the box you are assailed with a huge amount of text in various languages. One of the key features pointed out on the rear of the box is that the EASY-SHIFT[+] functionality integrates with other ROCCAT products (like mice) via the ROCCAT TALK functionality to let your mouse buttons double-up as keyboard macro keys and vice versa.
Slipping the Isku FX out of the box is quite painless and while there isn't a whole lot of padding here, your local delivery man or woman would still have to try quite adamantly to damage anything before you get to pop open the seal. Sliding the keyboard out of the static-free bag it's housed in reveals the Isku FX and the included instruction manual. No driver CD/DVD is included, but we live in an age where apparently everyone has 24/7 Internet with no interruptions. I disagree with that sentiment (my Internet is amazingly unreliable at times), but I can't really dock ROCCAT for not wasting the money on an almost assuredly out-of-date driver disc in the box.


text:
Fill this Coffee Chemistry Mug mug with your favorite French roast or Mocha Java and savor the familiar intricacies of the coffee molecules.
Each mug contains:
This mug is printed with eco-friendly ceramic ink for a raised rough texture and fired at 1,200°F, so it becomes part of the finish and will not peel, flake, or scratch.
It is also dishwasher and microwave safe.Ages 13+
|Our Price:
|Stock Info:
|Out Of Stock
|Email a Friend About This Item
Login to Submit a Review