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At least some content in this article is derived from information featured in Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald and Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery.
- "There are gaps, of course, and long ones, where it vanishes from view, temporarily lost or hidden; but it always resurfaces. It has certain identifying characteristics that those who are learned in wandlore recognise... Whether it needs to pass by murder, I do not know. Its history is bloody, but that may be simply due to the fact that it is such a desirable object, and arouses such passions in wizards. Immensely powerful, dangerous in the wrong hands, and an object of incredible fascination to all of us who study the power of wands."
- —Garrick Ollivander discussing the Elder Wand[src]
The Elder Wand is one of the fabled Deathly Hallows. In "The Tale of the Three Brothers", it was the first Hallow created, bestowed on Antioch Peverell, supposedly by Death himself after the wizard requested, as his bounty, a wand worthy of someone who had conquered Death. According to legend, whoever reunited it with the other two Hallows (the Resurrection Stone and the Cloak of Invisibility) would become the Master of Death.
It is said to be the most powerful wand that has ever existed, able to perform tremendous feats of magic that would normally be considered impossible even by the most skilled wizards, such as mending another wand damaged beyond normal magical repair. It is known that the Elder Wand's core is the tail hair of a Thestral, a potent yet tricky substance to master that can only be handled by a witch or wizard who is capable of accepting death, since only by such can it be seen.[4]
The Elder Wand was ancient and made of elder wood[3], fifteen inches long, and had a Thestral tail-hair core[3][5], which is "a tricky substance that only wizards that mastered death can control.".[6] The Elder Wand, as well as being more powerful than other wands, is noticeably unique from other wands in its appearance, particularly because it bears carvings that resemble clusters of elderberries running down its length.
- "The bloody trail of the Elder Wand is splattered across the pages of Wizarding history."
- —Xenophilius Lovegood[src]
Mythic origins of the Elder Wand
- "So the oldest brother, who was a combative man, asked for a wand more powerful than any in existence: a wand that must always win duels for its owner, a wand worthy of a wizard who had conquered Death!"
- —The Tale of the Three Brothers[src]
According to the "Tale of the Three Brothers" in The Tales of Beedle the Bard , the three brothers — suspected to be Antioch, Cadmus, and Ignotus Peverell — were out travelling the world one day when they came to a treacherous river, that had been known to claim many of the lives of those attempting to cross it.[3] Taking no chances the with the dangerous currents, the three brothers pulled out their wands and conjured a bridge out of thin air. However, as they began to cross it they found a hooded figure blocking their path midway across the bridge. It was Death himself, dressed in a simple long black cloak. Death felt cheated that the three brothers had outsmarted him and had not drown in the river, as many others had.[3]
While pretending to congratulate them for their triumph, Death schemed against them. He offered each brother a gift for outsmarting him. The eldest went first, and being a belligerent man he asked for a wand that would defeat all others. Death went to the nearest tree and created a wand of elder wood, which he handed to the eldest brother. The second brother, who wanted to humiliate Death even further, asked for an object that would recall the dead and was given the Resurrection Stone. The youngest was wiser than his brothers and was sceptical of Death's intentions. He asked for an object that would allow him to live his life without the fear of Death following him. Defeated, Death handed over his own Cloak of Invisibility.[3]
Antioch's possession
Albus Dumbledore thought it was unlikely that the Elder Wand was made by Death. He assumed it may have been created by the eldest of the three Peverell brothers, Antioch. After killing a rival wizard in a duel shortly after creating the wand, Antioch drunkenly boasted of the wand's powers. He was murdered in his sleep that night and another wizard took possession of the wand.[3]
Over time, the powerful wand passed through various owners, usually by violent means, and acquired names such as "the Deathstick" and "the Wand of Destiny".[1] Several of the wand's owners are known, as its "bloody trail" was "splattered across the pages of Wizarding history."[2][7] Many owners were killed by their successors in lust for power. In time, the legend included an assumption that murder is necessary in order to attain mastery of the Elder Wand.
Emeric the Evil
- Emeric the Evil was a short-lived but exceptionally aggressive wizard. He was the first historically known master of the Elder Wand after Antioch Peverell's killer, though it is possible that others possessed the wand before him. Emeric terrorised the south of England in the early Middle Ages. He was "slaughtered" in a ferocious duel against Egbert the Egregious.
Egbert the Egregious
- Egbert the Egregious was once Master of the Elder Wand after killing Emeric the Evil in a duel (Emeric was "slaughtered"). What became of Egbert after mastering the Elder Wand is unknown, but it is expected that he did not last long. A century later, Godelot is recorded to have obtained mastership of the wand.
- "My moste wicked and subtle friend, with bodie of Ellhorn, who knowes ways of magick moste evile."
- —An entry on Godelot's notebook regarding the Elder Wand[src]
Godelot was recorded to have obtained mastership of the wand around a century after Egbert the Egregious. Godelot, having considered the Elder Wand an instructor, had used his knowledge of the Wand's powers to write Magick Moste Evile, a book that contained information on Dark magic. Godelot perished in his own cellar after he was locked in by his son, Hereward, who did this to gain ownership of the Wand.
- Hereward was a wizard who mastered the Elder Wand after killing his father, Godelot. He succeeded in this by locking him in his own cellar to die after stealing the wand.
Barnabas Deverill
- Barnabas Deverill was a wizard who mastered the Elder Wand in the early eighteenth century and used it to carve himself out a reputation as a fearsome warlock until his reign of terror was ended by Loxias, who murdered Barnabas and gained mastery of the wand.
- Loxias was a wizard who became Master of the Elder Wand after Barnabas Deverill. Loxias gave it the name "the Deathstick", and used it against anyone who displeased him. It is unknown who killed him, as — according to Dumbledore — many claimed to have finished him off, including Loxias's own mother. From Xenophilius Lovegood's understanding of history, either Arcus or Livius seemed to have killed him, as he believed one of them to be the next master of the Elder Wand.
Arcus or Livius
Arcus and Livius were wizards. It is debated which of them became the Master of the Elder Wand after Loxias's death, with students of the Deathly Hallows thus finding it difficult to track the Elder Wand's history any further than Loxias's ownership of it.
Recent History
Mykew Gregorovitch
At some point many years ago before 1899, the wand eventually ended up in the possession of the wandmaker Mykew Gregorovitch. Upon realising that it was the most powerful wand in existence, Gregorovitch began experimenting to try and duplicate its powers. Gregorovitch, somewhat foolish by nature and hoping it would improve business, started a rumour about him possessing the wand and his efforts to replicate its properties. The result came one night between 1899 and 1926[8] when Gregorovitch heard someone breaking into his workshop. He promptly ran inside and saw an intruder had taken the wand: a blonde haired young man who then promptly shot a Stunning Spell at Gregorovitch to acquire mastery of the wand[1] before leaping out the window. Gregorovitch never found out who stole the wand.
Gellert Grindelwald
Gellert Grindelwald was considered to be one of the most powerful Dark Wizards of all time, second only to Lord Voldemort. He was schooled at Durmstrang Institute and later struck up a friendship with Albus Dumbledore, when he lived in Godric's Hollow for a summer with his great-aunt Bathilda Bagshot following his expulsion from Durmstrang. The two made plans to find the Deathly Hallows and create a world in which Muggles would, of necessity, be subservient to wizards and witches for the greater good. This partnership fell apart after the two were involved in a vicious three-way duel with Aberforth Dumbledore, which resulted in Ariana Dumbledore's accidental death.
Grindelwald delved into his research of the Deathly Hallows and uncovered the location of the Elder Wand. Rumours had been circulating that the renowned wandsmith Gregorovitch had the wand and was trying to duplicate its properties. Grindelwald broke into the wandmaker's workshop, and succeeded in claiming ownership of the fabled wand by waiting until Gregorovitch came and then casting a stunning spell on him, making himself the rightful owner.
Over the years, Grindelwald raised an army and began a reign of terror that spread through several European countries and murdered many wizards and Muggles, though he never attempted to seize power in Britain due to his fear of his former friend Dumbledore, who was "a shade more skilful" than he was. During his reign, he built the Nurmengard prison to hold any objectors, and murdered countless European wizards, all while claiming that everything he did was "for the greater good", which was the phrase he put on the entrance of Nurmengard.
In 1945, at the height of his power, his former friend Dumbledore finally felt compelled to confront him due to the public outcry and, despite Grindelwald's mastery of the Elder Wand as well as putting up an immense fight, Dumbledore defeated him in what became known as a legendary duel. Grindelwald was subsequently incarcerated in his own prison, Nurmengard, for decades. He was slain there in 1998 by Lord Voldemort who was in search of the Elder Wand, of which Grindelwald refused to divulge any information about so as to, perhaps, defy Voldemort (as Dumbledore believed) as a final act of atonement for his own crimes.
Albus Dumbledore's possession
- "I was fit only to possess the meanest of them, the least extraordinary. I was fit to own the Elder Wand, and not to boast of it, and not to kill with it. I was permitted to tame and to use it, because I took it, not for gain, but to save others from it."
- —Albus Dumbledore on the Deathly Hallows and the Elder Wand[src]
During Harry's fifth year, Dumbledore used the wand to Stun Dolores Umbridge, Cornelius Fudge, John Dawlish, and Kingsley Shacklebolt as he made his escape when the Ministry tried to take him to Azkaban. In addition, Dumbledore arrived at the Department of Mysteries to aid the Order of the Phoenix in the battle against the Death Eaters. He engaged in a ferocious duel with the Dark Lord, in which he used his wand to enchant the statues from the Fountain of Magical Brethren to protect Harry. With the Wand, Dumbledore overpowered Voldemort's overwhelming magical capabillities and almost defeated him when he held Voldemort in an orb of water, forcing Voldemort to escape.
During Harry's sixth year, Dumbledore and Harry set out to the Cave where Dumbledore believed a Horcrux resided. When Harry dipped a goblet into the lake to provide water for Dumbledore (who was incredibly weak and thirsty after drinking the Drink of Despair to reach the Horcrux), all the Inferi that resided in the lake grabbed at Harry and attempted to drag him down and drown him in the lake. Dumbledore recovered enough to conjure a firestorm around them to ward off the Inferi, but remained very weak. When they returned to Hogsmeade, Madam Rosmerta informed them that the Dark Mark had been conjured over the Astronomy Tower. In the tower, Dumbledore told Harry not to interfere in the events that were about to take place there, and, to ensure this, placed him in a Body-Bind Curse under his invisibility cloak. Hidden, Harry was unable to intervene as Dumbledore (now extremely weakened by the potion) was Disarmed by Draco Malfoy. The wand flew from Dumbledore's hands over the battlements, but was clearly found later, as it was placed in Dumbledore's grave alongside his corpse.
Dumbledore was conversing with Draco about the plot to assassinate him when several other Death Eaters entered the tower and tried to persuade Draco to finish his task as well as Dumbledore. Some of the Death Eaters included: Bellatrix Lestrange, Greyback, Yaxley, and the Carrow siblings. Dumbledore briefly exchanged words with Bellatrix and Grayback. When Draco hesitated, Severus Snape appeared and performed the Killing Curse on Dumbledore himself. Harry learned that, in order to save himself from a more agonising death, and to prevent Draco from tarnishing his soul, Dumbledore had instructed Snape to kill him, of which Snape himself had reluctantly agreed to.
Unbeknownst to Snape, Dumbledore had also done this to ensure that when Snape killed him, Dumbledore would not be "defeated" (as they had agreed to it beforehand and Dumbledore was ready to accept death) and thus the powers of the Elder Wand would be nullified. However, not all went according to Dumbledore's plan, since Dumbledore was disarmed and thus was defeated by Draco Malfoy.[10] Without his knowledge, Malfoy thus became the next master of the Elder Wand.
Lord Voldemort's search
- "The Dark Lord no longer seeks the Elder Wand only for your destruction, Mr Potter. He is determined to possess it because he believes it will make him truly invulnerable."
- —Ollivander[src]
He devoted the latter half of 1997 (and into the spring of 1998) into a relentless and murderous search for the Elder Wand.[1] He killed many people who stood in his way, including an innocent Muggle woman and her two small children. He eventually traced the wand's recent history, murdering both Gregorovitch and Grindelwald in the course of his search. It was after breaking into Grindelwald's cell in Nurmengard that Voldemort tracked the wand's ownership to Dumbledore, despite Grindelwald's efforts.[1]
Voldemort broke into Dumbledore's grave and robbed it of the wand, which had been buried with its former master. However, unbeknownst to Voldemort, the former owner of the Elder Wand, Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, had been disarmed by young Draco Malfoy. He believed that Severus Snape was the true owner of the wand after he realised the wand was not living up to its full potential, as Voldemort thought that Snape had been the one to kill Dumbledore, not taking into account the fact that Draco had disarmed Dumbledore before Snape killed him. As a result, Voldemort got his snake, Nagini, to murder Snape. He believed he was now the Elder Wand's true master, but in the Battle of Hogwarts, Harry Potter, his young adversary, revealed to Voldemort that the wand had not belonged to Snape, but to Draco, and, after defeating Draco himself, Harry Potter.
Harry Potter's possession
- "You are the true master of death, because the true master does not seek to run away from Death. He accepts that he must die, and understands that there are far, far worse things in the living world than dying."
- —Albus Dumbledore to Harry Potter[src]
Nearly a year after Draco had unintentionally become the wand's master, Harry Potter had taken Draco's wand by force during the Skirmish at Malfoy Manor, making him the new master of the Elder Wand.[1] Late in the Battle of Hogwarts, Harry, who had learned that he had been accidentally made into Voldemort's Horcrux when he was a year old, walked into the Forbidden Forest to sacrifice himself to Lord Voldemort.[1] Voldemort cast a Killing Curse on Harry using the Elder Wand. The wand seemingly worked because Harry intended to die at Voldemort's hand, much as Dumbledore had planned his death with Snape. Harry had entered a limbo state, portrayed as King's Cross Station, from which he could choose to return.[1] When he did return, Voldemort cast the Cruciatus Curse on Harry's "dead" body but caused no pain. At this point, Harry realised that he was, in fact, the master of the Elder Wand.[1]
Only in his final encounter with Harry at the Battle of Hogwarts was Voldemort told that he had failed to win the true allegiance of the wand, as he did not gain ownership by defeating its previous owner. Despite this, Voldemort used the Elder Wand to cast his final Killing Curse against Harry's Disarming Charm. However, because the wand's allegiance was to Harry, Voldemort's spell backfired and killed him, once and for all.[1]
Harry's decision
- "I'm putting the Elder Wand back where it came from. It can stay there. If I die a natural death like Ignotus, its power will be broken, won't it? The previous master will never have been defeated. That'll be the end of it."
- —Harry's decision to give up the Elder Wand[src]
With Voldemort defeated, and Harry now the true master and possessor of the Elder Wand, he used it to repair his damaged original wand of holly and phoenix feather, which he said he was "happier with".[1] After the repair, Harry told Dumbledore's portrait that he would place the Elder Wand back in Dumbledore's tomb, and when Harry died a natural death, the wand's power would be broken as Dumbledore had intended. The portrait of Professor Dumbledore approved.
After using a Time-Turner to go back to 31 October, 1981, the night of Lily and James Potter's murder by her father Tom Riddle, Delphini engaged in a duel with Harry Potter. During the duel she disarmed Harry, and later on, Hermione binded Delphini.[11] It is unknown if these actions had any effect on the allegiance or ownership of the Elder Wand.
Known masters of the Elder Wand
- Antioch Peverell
- Antioch Peverell's killer
- Emeric the Evil
- Egbert the Egregious
- Godelot
- Hereward
- Barnabas Deverill
- Loxias
- Arcus or Livius (possibly)
- Mykew Gregorovitch
- Gellert Grindelwald
- Newt Scamander (possibly)[12]
- Porpentina Goldstein (possibly)[13]
- Albus Dumbledore
- Draco Malfoy
- Tom Riddle
- Harry Potter
- Delphini (possibly)[14]
- Hermione Granger (possibly)[15]
- "An unbeatable wand, Hermione!"
- —Ron Weasley[src]
The Elder Wand was the most powerful wand in existence. Its owner could have used it to cast spells more powerful than any believed to be magically possible.[1] For example, Harry Potter was able to repair his regular Phoenix feather wand using the Elder Wand in 1998, even though broken wands were held, by experts such as Garrick Ollivander, to be damaged beyond magical repair, and despite not having any training in wandlore. Both Ollivander and Voldemort believed that the wand's legendary powers is the only one capable of overpowering the bond between the latter and Harry, which created such an effect that Harry managed to overcome Voldemort's attempt to kill him.[1]
However, there appears to be limitations, since Dumbledore was not able to cure petrified victims of Salazar Slytherin's Basilisk, nullify the curse on Marvolo Gaunt's ring, and neither was he able to overcome the enchantments upon Voldemort's Drink of Despair with the wand amplifying his own magic, suggesting that the wand can merely improve pre-existing spells rather than allow the user to perform the impossible.
Although the Elder Wand was rumoured to be unbeatable, in Dumbledore's commentary on The Tale of The Three Brothers, in The Tales of Beedle the Bard, he pointed out that, while immensely powerful, it had been beaten hundreds of times, as evidenced by the simple and obvious fact that each of its many owners had captured it from the previous one.[2] For it to pass to a new master, the wand must have been beaten. However, since the first story of the Elder Wand passing featured the Wand's master being killed while he was asleep rather than being defeated in a duel, duels may not be required to claim the wand.
While it is stated that a wand will not give up its master so easily if it is attempted to be won, The Elder Wand seems to do this time and time again. However this might not be referring to its willingness to give up its master, but rather to the amount of effort it took to defeat the wielder of the Wand. As the wand, like the eldest brother in the Tale, embodied the conceit that "Might is Right", greater power would, from its perspective, indicate superiority. Ron has noted that he would choose the wand of the three Hallows, but argued that he would do so while not proclaiming his ownership of it, reasoning that the wand was only dangerous to the first brother because he bragged about owning it rather than the wand being dangerous on its own.
When Lord Voldemort used the Elder Wand without mastering it he claimed that the wand only unleashed his regular (albeit extremely powerful) level of magic and not the unbeatable effects it was rumoured to possess. It's unknown if the wand would work this way for another who hasn't mastered it though, as Voldemort has used the wands of others in the past with no handicap, it's likely that this is his own power rather than that of the Elder Wand.
It did have one redeeming quality like all other wands, however: it refused to harm or kill its master nor those under sacrificial protection.
In the Deathly Hallows symbol, the Elder Wand is shown as the vertical line that goes right through the middle of the circle and the triangle; it represents the aspects of power and invincibility of the Hallows as a whole, the tent pole, as it were, of the entire edifice.
Other elder wands
While "The Elder Wand" (capitalised) refers to one of the Deathly Hallows, other wands have been made from elder wood.[2] In general wizards seem to eschew elder wands, due at least in part to the sordid history of the Elder Wand itself, favouring wands made from various other woods, such as holly, willow, vine, and oak.[2] Ron repeats an old wizarding saying, "Wand of elder, never prosper" after Hermione reads The Tale of the Three Brothers, to illustrate how wizarding lore may be passed from generation to generation.[1]
Behind the scenes
- The filmmakers first designed Albus Dumbledore's wand for its first appearance in the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire in 2005, years before it was revealed to be the Elder Wand, or indeed what the Elder Wand even was, when Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows was published in 2007. Fortunately, the wand they created happened to be unique and immediately recognisable among all the wands in the film series: the prop was made of English oak, with a small bone inlay inscribed with runes, and outcroppings of nodules running down its length[16] — which even resemble clusters of elderberries.
- Dumbledore's commentary on the Tale of the Three Brothers notes that all known Masters of the Elder Wand had been men, with no woman even claiming to have possessed the artefact.[2]
- The wand has been available to purchase on the Noble Collection website while contained in an Ollivanders Wand Shop box. This implies, incorrectly, that the wand was made and sold at the shop by Garrick Ollivander. (Though this could be due to the fact that the Noble wand was released before Dumbledore's wand was revealed to be the Elder Wand)
- Those to whom the Elder Wand isn't loyal can perform feats of magic equivalent to owning a regular wand. In the Battle of Hogwarts, Voldemort remarked about this to Severus Snape and reasoned that, since he believed Snape to be the master of the Elder Wand, Voldemort would have to kill him to claim true mastery of it. The only thing that it has been shown that the Elder Wand can't do (or, rather, won't do) is harm its own master if it finds itself in the physical possession of another. Unfortunately for Voldemort, Draco Malfoy was the master of the wand, as he was the one who disarmed Dumbledore.[1]
- At the end of the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, the Elder Wand is seen lying on the headmaster's desk, instead of being buried in the White Tomb. This scene must take place before Dumbledore's burial (which isn't seen on film), given that in the next film adaptation, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1, the wand is buried with its former master.
- In the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Albus Dumbledore claimed he would make it easy for Draco Malfoy and allowed Malfoy to disarm him, though he could have defended himself. Therefore it seems as though he wanted Malfoy to have the Wand; however it should be noted that the Elder Wand was said to only switch allegiance if it was removed from its master against his will. However it's possible that Dumbledore truly hadn't expected Draco to attack him, even if only to disarm him, and was therefore genuinely caught off guard. Also, because he was in a very weak and slow state from drinking the Potion, it's likely that he was just too slow and weak to defend himself.
- If Dumbledore had managed to keep his wand and not be disarmed by Draco Malfoy, then he would have presumably been disarmed by one of the Death Eaters before Snape came, if they saw him. However they didn't attack him directly, as they knew that Draco needed to kill him, so it's possible that Dumbledore could have kept his wand. It's unknown how Severus Snape would have reacted if he had seen Dumbledore with the wand, but most likely, given the ravaging effects of the curse which Dumbledore was already suffering, he would have killed him anyway.
- It's unknown what would have happened to the Elder Wand if Dumbledore had been killed by the Inferi in the Horcrux Cave. It might be that its loyalty would have passed to their master, as Voldemort seemed to believe would be the case when he instructed Nagini to kill Snape.
- Albus Dumbledore and Egbert the Egregious are the only known wizards to have defeated a Master of the Elder Wand (Gellert Grindelwald and Emeric the Evil, respectively) in a wizarding duel.[9] Other Masters of the Elder Wand obtained mastery through deceit, stealth (as when Grindelwald stole it from Gregorovitch),[1] foul play (the murder of Antioch Peverell in his sleep),[3] happenstance (as when Draco Malfoy disarmed Albus Dumbledore, who was concurrently casting a Full Body-Bind Curse on Harry Potter)[10] or beating the current master while he doesn't physically possess the wand (as in Harry Potter's disarming of Draco Malfoy).[1] This is another testament to Dumbledore's innate magical skills, which he references to Harry when the latter is in limbo by admitting that although both he and Grindelwald were evenly matched in magic, he was a shade more skilful. The Elder Wand, therefore, bears a certain resemblance to the One Ring in J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Lord of the Rings", as an instigator of murder and mayhem.
- In the film adaptation for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Parts 1 and 2, it seems that the Elder Wand has a much darker colour; this may be a change the film makers employed to make the wand fit better with Voldemort's "dark and evil" personality.
- The curse that killed Lord Voldemort came from the Elder Wand. As Voldemort thought that Snape was the Master, Voldemort killed him. Draco, however, was the true Master, as he had disarmed Dumbledore, and then Harry disarmed Draco. So, when Voldemort tried to kill Harry, the Wand wouldn't harm its master, and so turned the spell back on Voldemort. Although this does make one wonder why it didn't backfire on Voldemort in the Forbidden Forest, as Harry was already the Master of the Elder Wand by then. Perhaps it was because Nagini, a Horcrux, was still alive, or it may have been because Harry intended to die, much as Dumbledore did when facing Snape in the Astronomy Tower. Alternatively, it may have been that, since Harry didn't fight back, he couldn't be defeated. Alternatively, it's possible that the curse did indeed backfire because it destroyed the piece of Voldemort's soul that was in Harry's forehead.
- Though Harry hoped to break the power of the wand by dying a natural death, he would need to do so without ever being defeated, even by simply being disarmed. Unless the aggressor knew that Harry was the Elder Wand's master, and was attempting to defeat him in order to become master of the wand (in which case, Harry would simply need to allow himself to be defeated intentionally to retain mastery) then it's unlikely the victor would ever know to take control of the Wand, so its mastery would become increasingly difficult to trace if they were defeated in turn, and the probability of their dying a natural death while undefeated would become more and more likely. Further, so long as Harry succeeded in subsequently defeating anyone who defeated him, the allegiance of the wand would return to Harry. This was emphasised when Delphini disarmed Harry without figuring out she attained mastery of the wand.
- The Noble Collection wand is also not painted correctly. On the movie prop, the shaft is goldish bronze and the knobs are black, but the Noble wand is all black.
- In Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2, when Voldemort tries to unleash the Elder Wand's capabilities upon the shield surrounding Hogwarts, he seems to feel a slight pain in his arm carrying the wand, similar to the effects of the Horcrux being destroyed. The wand as well cracks under the strain.
- In Part 2 of the film adaptation, Harry simply destroys the Elder Wand by snapping it in half and throws it away as opposed to the seventh book where he repairs his original one. This is justified as the Elder wand was too dangerous to fall into the wrong hands again.
- When asked which of the Deathly Hallows they preferred, Hermione Granger chose the Cloak of Invisibility, while Ron chose the Elder Wand, and Harry chose the Resurrection Stone.[17]
- It's mentioned in Dumbledore's (not entirely honest) commentary that rumours of an unbeatable wand are preposterous. For example, Grindelwald had mastered the "unbeatable" Deathstick, and yet was still defeated by Dumbledore in 1945.[9] However, it's more probable that only one who has mastered the wand by becoming a Master of Death (which is required to truly unlock the Wand's full power) will be unbeatable with it. This is supported by the fact that, although (fifty-one years later) Dumbledore didn't defeat Lord Voldemort in their duel at the Ministry of Magic due to the latter's use of Horcruxes, but ended up fighting him to a stalemate, this is only because he fled.
- The Elder Wand is now also available to buy at the 'Making of Harry Potter Studio Tour' in London, where it's known as Professor Dumbledore's Wand.
- It has never been clearly defined what it means when it is said that the Elder Wand's power will break if its current master dies a natural death. It could mean that its powers would be diminished to the point of it becoming a regular wand, or it could mean its powers being utterly obliterated, as it is known to happen to some wands.
- In an alternate reality in which Neville Longbottom never killed Nagini, Voldemort managed to kill Harry, suggesting that the Dark Lord had used his immortality to help him overcome the rebounding curse and mastered the wand.
- There is a distinct possibility that Porpentina Goldstein may have temporarily become Master of the Elder Wand, as in the film Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, she disarms Gellert Grindelwald. As it is currently uncertain whether or not Grindelwald already had the Elder Wand by that point in time, it is therefore currently unknown if this is indeed the case. If she did in fact become the Elder Wand's Master, then at some point following the events of the film and before his final duel with Albus Dumbledore, Grindelwald would have had to have disarmed her, in order to once again become the Wand's Master, although Porpentina summoned the wand after Grindelwald had already dropped it. Furthermore, Grindelwald was using Percival Graves' wand at the time and presumably intentionally didn't use the Elder Wand and allowed the risk of being defeated to retain mastery over it. Also, the Summoning Charm is a non-combative spell and not used to directly defeat another witch or wizard, in contrast to the Disarming Charm, so this would have no effect on the mastery of the Elder Wand.
- It is also possible that, should the Elder Wand have already been in Grindelwald's possession, that Newt Scamander, not Porpentina Goldstein, became the Elder Wand's Master, as it is defeat, not specifically disarmament, that transfers mastery of the Elder Wand. While Tina disarmed Grindelwald, Newt had technically already 'defeated' Grindelwald beforehand, although this may not be the case, as Grindelwald was attacked by a Swooping Evil.
- In this case, Hermione becomes the Master of the Elder Wand after the duel in Godric's Hollow in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child as she binds Delphini, the last master, very similarly to how Newt Scamander binds Graves/Grindelwald.
- The wand is part of the Wizarding World franchise logo.[18]
- It was suggested that even if Voldemort was aware of the Deathly Hallows, he would not be interested in any except the Elder Wand.
Author's comments
J. K. Rowling has discussed how the Elder Wand behaves slightly different from other wands in its loyalty:
- "The Elder Wand is simply the most ruthless of wands in that it will only take into consideration strength. One would expect a certain amount of loyalty from one's wand. So even if you were disarmed while carrying it, even if you lost a fight while carrying it, it has developed an affinity with you that it won't give up easily. If, however, a wand is won, properly won in an adult duel, then a wand may switch allegiance ... However, the Elder Wand knows no loyalty except to strength. It's completely unsentimental. It will only go where the power is. So if you win, then you've won the wand. You don't need to kill with it. But ... almost inevitably, it attracts wizards who are prepared to kill and who will kill. And also it attracts wizards like Voldemort who confuse being prepared to murder with strength."[19]
- "The secret of the elder wand is that it's more sentient than any other. It can identify the caster of any spell that touches it and keeps tally of which wizard has beaten which, giving its allegiance to the one it judges the victor. Physical possession is irrelevant."[20]
See also
- Peverell family
- Deathly Hallows
- Cloak of Invisibility
- Resurrection Stone
- The Tale of the Three Brothers
- Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (First appearance)
- Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (video game)
- Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
- Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
- Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
- Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (film)
- Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
- Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (film)
- Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (video game)
- Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
- Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (film)
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (First identified as Elder Wand)
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (Appears in flashback(s)) (Appears in vision(s))
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (video game) (Appears in flashback(s))
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (video game)
- Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald[21]
- Harry Potter Trading Card Game
- The Tales of Beedle the Bard
- Harry Potter: A Pop-Up Book
- LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4
- LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7
- Harry Potter for Kinect
- Harry Potter: The Character Vault
- Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery (Appears on loading screen)
Notes and references
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 1.16 1.17 1.18 1.19 1.20 1.21 1.22 1.23 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
- ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 The Tales of Beedle the Bard
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.8 3.9 The Tale of the Three Brothers
- ↑ JK on Thestral tail hair
- ↑ Pottermore - Explore the Story - Albus Dumlboredore
- ↑ "The Elder Wand" at J. K. Rowling's Official Site
- ↑ Some of its early owners were Emeric the Evil, Egbert the Egregious, Godelot, Hereward, Barnabas Deverill, and Loxias. Either Arcus or Livius may have taken it from Loxias, but Dumbledore claims no one really knows and quipped that it could have been Loxias's own mother.
- ↑ In 1899 grindelwald did not have the elder wand yet, and in 1926, he already had white hair (see this image), witch he did not have when he stole it. He had white hair a year later also, when he is already in possesion of the wand, meaning he stole it between 1899 and 1926.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
- ↑ Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Act Four, Scene Eleven
- ↑ If Grindewald possesses the Elder Wand by this time, Newt restrains Grindelwald, in the form of Graves, which may have transferred the Elder Wand's allegiance
- ↑ If Grindewald possesses the Elder Wand by this time, Tina uses Accio to take Graves' wand from Grindelwald, in the form of Graves, which may have transferred the Elder Wand's allegiance
- ↑ During their duel in the Church, Delphini disarms Harry of his wand, which may have transferred the Elder Wand's allegiance
- ↑ During the duel in the Church, Hermione uses Brachiabindo to restrain Delphini, which may have transferred the Elder Wand's allegiance, although Ron, Ginny, Draco, and Hermione all helped subdue her previously.
- ↑ Pottermore - Features: "Behind the scenes: the look of the Deathly Hallows"
- ↑ Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Chapter 21 (The Tale of the Three Brothers)
- ↑ https://www.pottermore.com/news/a-guide-to-the-wands-in-the-new-wizarding-world-logo
- ↑ 24 December 2007 PotterCast Interviews with J.K. Rowling
- ↑ https://twitter.com/jk_rowling/status/965566203694649344
- ↑ https://twitter.com/FantasticBeasts/status/930797574163873792


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Almost 30 years ago, Tsui Hark — a young Hong Kong producer/director/writer, who had returned to Asia after graduating from the University of Texas — was the leading force in bringing Hollywood special effects technology to Hong Kong movies. So it's not surprising that now he is the one bringing IMAX 3D into the mix.
"Flying Swords of Dragon Gate" is, as the title telegraphs, a period martial arts film — with some flying, lots of swords, no dragons (sorry), and one gate. More significantly to Chinese audiences, the title references King Hu's 1967 classic "Dragon Inn" and Tsui's 1992 like-titled remake (sometimes known as "New Dragon Gate Inn"), which is as much a classic, though its virtues are very different. The current film is, like many hit follow-ups both here and in Asia, maybe a remake, maybe a sequel, or maybe just an exploitation of the title.
The plot was complicated but comprehensible in 1967 and 1992; here it's just complicated. The basic setup is the same: Various sides in a power struggle during the Ming Dynasty converge at the inn near Dragon Gate — a hostel that constitutes the only outpost of civilization in the middle of a cruel border desert. Secret alliances among the factions are made and dissolved; characters are revealed to not be what they seem; and everybody's lying to everybody. As per convention, scheming eunuchs are among the string pullers.
The film opens with an imperious bad guy — a small role inhabited by the venerable Gordon Liu ("Kill Bill," "The Man with the Iron Fists") — about to execute some alleged traitors when Zhou Huai'an (Jet Li) comes to the rescue. Those who survive flee to the inn along with several others, most notably a maid (Mavis Fan), who has committed the capital crime of being pregnant with the emperor's child. Fights ensue.
"Flying Swords of Dragon Gate" is not only the first Asian movie in IMAX 3D; it appears to be that format's first fully subtitled film. ("Avatar" had a modest number of subtitles.) And therein lies a problem: for two hours, your eyes are constantly flitting up to the image and down to the subtitles — normally not a problem. But the size and closeness of the IMAX screen, the way the 3D depth requires frequent changes of your eyes' focus, and the rapid-fire on-screen action combine to make the experience uncomfortable, particularly for older viewers. (I was worn out and a little head-ache-y, and other attendees coming out of screenings talked about drowsiness.)
I'd like to think that this is sheerly a technical issue and that the film will be more fun on home video in a regular, old 2D format. But there is some reason to suspect that, even then, "Flying Swords" will seem like one of Tsui's less successful efforts. Some of the action is cleverly conceived and choreographed, and — just like the last decade or two of Hollywood action films — you get a lot of literal bang for your 15 or so bucks.
But one of Tsui's best qualities has always been his ability to infuse even his most serious movies with humor. I've seen roughly 40 titles that Tsui either directed or, as producer, left his stylistic mark on. And this is the first one with almost no traces of comedy.
"Flying Swords of Dragon Gate" is playing at AMC Burbank 16 and other theaters.
ANDY KLEIN is the film critic for Marquee. He can also be heard on "FilmWeek" on KPCC-FM (89.3).
Film review: Hong Kong filmmaker takes a shot at IMAX 3D with 'Flying Swords of Dragon Gate'
Almost 30 years ago, Tsui Hark — a young Hong Kong producer/director/writer, who had returned to Asia after graduating from the University of Texas — was the leading force in bringing Hollywood special effects technology to Hong Kong movies. So it's not surprising that now he is the one bringing IMAX 3D into the mix.

subset: commoncrawl


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Je bent hier Thuispagina
PlayOnLinux is a piece of software which allows you to easily install and use numerous games and apps designed to run with Microsoft® Windows®.
Few games are compatible with GNU/Linux at the moment and it certainly is a factor preventing the migration to this system. PlayOnLinux brings a cost-free, accessible and efficient solution to this problem.
Here is a non-exhaustive list of the interesting points to know:
Nevertheless, PlayOnLinux has some bugs, as every piece of software:
The latest version of PlayOnLinux is: 4.3.3
To get this version, go to the download page.
You can read the documentation or ask for help on the forums.
There are many ways to help the team. You can:
To contact the team, you can:


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A rubric is a scoring guide that enables the teacher and others to make reliable judgments about a student product or performance while also allowing students to self assess their work. Based on a continuum of performance quality, the rubric identifies the key traits or dimensions from the content, learning skills or technology tools standards and objectives to be examined and assessed.
When a rubric is well-defined, learners know exactly what is expected of them and how they can achieve the top grade. When the expectations remain consistent across a school or within a classroom, the students understand how to develop a plan for continuous growth and the rubric becomes an ongoing part of the whole teaching and learning experience.
When assessing major group or individual products or performances, it is important that the assessment be based upon an analytic trait rubric. Other rubrics, such as criterion-based performance checklists, or holistic rubrics, may be used for other less important tasks. The analytic trait rubric helps students better understand the quality of work expected.
On this page we have provided links to WV Writing Rubrics and other rubrics you may wish to use with Project Based Learning (PBL) or other instructional designs in your classroom.


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When Chief Justice John Roberts is being excoriated by conservatives for upholding the Obamacare individual mandate -- just as when he is pilloried by liberals for concluding corporations have a right to engage in campaign spending -- the underlying assumption is that he has acted cravenly or politically. His motives are seen as sinister, and his reasoning attacked as a mere pretext. It's assumed that the meaning of the Constitution is inescapably clear and that no honest, intelligent person could avoid it.
That belief is common but wrong. Interpreting the Constitution is not like working out a math equation. It's more like analyzing a novel or a painting. There are plenty of ways to make sense of many crucial passages, and none is obviously the correct one.
In the Obamacare case, all the other conservative justices voted to strike down the mandate because it exceeds Congress' power under the commerce clause. But not all conservatives, or even conservative judges, see it that way.
A federal appeals court upheld the mandate, in an opinion written by the staunchly conservative Laurence Silberman, who was appointed by Ronald Reagan. He said the "view that an individual cannot be subject to Commerce Clause regulation absent voluntary, affirmative acts that enter him or her into, or affect, the interstate market ... has no foundation in the Commerce Clause." Harvard Law professor Charles Fried, who served as solicitor general under Reagan, has argued for the same reading of that passage.
You can make a reasonable case that they're wrong and the four conservative justices are right. But you can't make a reasonable case that there is no reasonable case for the other view. The Constitution is not that clear, and it's foolish to insist it is.


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Friday Favorites 15
Aug 02 2013
BY Nathan Codd
Hey adventurous eater! Step right up and taste the newest fad in festival food, the low-cal, high-groove Friday Favorites, brought to you by the LT3 team and their greasy, ruined iDevices. In retrospect, this might not've been the best idea. Enjoy! Josh Bennett Electro House | Moby & The Loops Of Fury – Para (Original Mix) The Loops Of [...]
Moby & The Loops Of Fury - Para (Original Mix) [Lotus]
Dirty Rush & Gregor Es - Turn Up The Bass (D.O.D Remix) [Vicious]
Hot Since 82 - Let It Ride [Noir]
Lone - Airglow Fires (Original Mix) [Boomkat]
Marvin Gaye - Grapevine (HOLTOUG Edit)
New York Transit Authority - Off The Traxx (Original Mix)
AC Slater & Anna Lunoe - All Night
Le Youth - C O O L [Ultra]
deadmau5 - Strobe (Alvino Remix)


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Quote:www.sherdog.com - Probably the best MMA related site. Has a forum, has a record of all of the MMA fighters, including their info like amount of wins, losses, draws, style, nickname, age, height, weight, who they won and lost against, how they won of lost, etc etc.Unfortunately, i only know that one
Artifacts from the Ryukyu Kingdom missing since WWII.
Visit www.ShisaLion.Org
to view pictures
Stun Guns
Self Defense Products-stun guns, pepper spray, tasers
and more
Complete surveillance systems for covert operations
or secure installation security
Asylum Images
Book presents photo tour of the Trans-Allegany Lunatic Asylum. A must if you're going to take a ghost tour!


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Rose McIver & Shantel VanSanten Present 'iZombie' & 'The Messengers' at CW Upfronts 2014!
Rose McIver lights up the room as she arrives The CW Network's 2014 Upfront Presentation held at The London Hotel on Thursday morning (May 15) in New York City.
The 25-year-old actress was joined on the carpet by her iZombie co-stars Malcolm Goodwin and Rahul Kohli.
Also in attendance were Shantel VanSanten and Diogo Morgado of the upcoming series The Messengers, as well as Jane the Virgin stars Gina Rodriguez, Andrea Navedo, Jaime Camil, and Ivonne Coll.
Fun tidbit: Shantel told JJ she's still BFF with her One Tree Hill hubby Robert Buckley! Though they aren't dating, they hang out multiple times a week!
FYI: Rose is wearing an Angelys Balek dress and Little Mistress shoes.
35+ pictures inside of Rose McIver, Shantel VanSanten, and more….


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The Food and Drug Administration has approved Adempas, a lung drug that treats two forms of pulmonary hypertension, marking a breakthrough for Bayer HealthCare, a German-based pharmaceutical with large operations in northern New Jersey.
The FDA reviewed Adempas under its priority review program, which provides an expedited six-month review for drugs that promise major advances in treatment.
Pulmonary hypertension is caused by abnormally high blood pressure in the arteries of the lungs, making the right side of the heart work harder than normal, according to the FDA. The condition can lead to death or require lung transplantation.
Adempas belongs to a class of drugs that help arteries relax to increase blood flow and decrease blood pressure.
The drug is intended for patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension, or CTEPH, after surgery or patients who cannot undergo surgery to improve their ability to exercise, the FDA said.
Adempas is also aimed at patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension to improve their ability to exercise and to delay clinical worsening of their condition.
Adempas is the first in its drug class approved to treat pulmonary hypertension and the first drug of any class to be shown to be effective for patients with CTEPH, said Dr. Norman Stockbridge, the director of the FDA's Division of Cardiovascular and Renal Drug Products.
"This approval of Adempas equips physicians with a new approach to treating pulmonary hypertension patients," Nick Kim, a clinical professor of medicine at the University of California San Diego, said in a statement.
Kim said surgery should always be considered as the first treatment option for CTEPH, but up to 40 percent of such patients are not eligible for surgery, and 10 to 35 percent of those patients have disease that persists after surgery.
Bayer HealthCare said the tablet drug will be shipped to distribution channels starting today. It has not disclosed sales projections for the Adempas.
Bayer HealthCare is in the process of centralizing area operations from four sites — in Wayne, Montville and Morristown, in New Jersey, plus a building Tarrytown, N.Y. — to one location in the Whippany section of Hanover.


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Upcoming Events
frch/wlit 308 or 408:
The Paris Experience
With Cheryl Toman
3 Credits
Three-week immersion learning experience living and studying in Paris , France . The focus of the course is the literature and culture of the African, Arab, and Asian communities of Paris. Students visit cultural centers and museums, but also study communities and speak with their leaders, attend an African dance session, and meet with French students to debate issues on immigration. The authors of the novels read in class participate in discussions. Students enrolled in FRCH 308/408 do coursework in French, WLIT students have the option of completing coursework in English. Prerequisite: FRCH 202 for those enrolled in FRCH 308/408.
For more information, contact:
email@example.com or call 216-368-2233
Designed to develop cross-cultural awareness and to foster international understanding in a global world, the French and Francophone Studies (FFS) Program adds an exciting new dimension to the traditional liberal arts curriculum. The French and Francophone Studies major differs from the traditional French major in two respects: by its interdisciplinary nature and by its greater flexibility to accommodate students' own areas of interest. The FFS major answers the needs of students with a strong interest in cultural issues in general and in French Francophone history and society in particular. By allowing students to take coursework in English, the FFS major allows them to profit from the many courses on campus in various departments that focus on France and the Francophone world.
The FFS Program is an interdisciplinary, integrated program that understands the term "French" in its broadest sense, in an effort to represent the diversity characteristic of the field of French studies today as reflected in a variety of cultures of Francophone expression: Canada, the Caribbean, North and West Africa, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia. Reaching beyond disciplinary and national boundaries, the program encourages students to study in several disciplines, choosing from a large selection of courses in the humanities, the arts, and the social sciences. The program takes advantage of the varied resources the university has to offer in order to provide a meaningful course of study and an outstanding preparation for various graduate and professional schools or for careers in international business and finance, law, journalism, diplomatic service, non-profit and other international organizations, health, teaching, or the arts.
© 2004 Case Western Reserve University | Cleveland, Ohio 44106 | 216.368.2000 | legal notice


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Poultry research shows that naked oats provide more critical amino acids than corn and reduces the overall cost of rations.
Michael Lilburn, from The Ohio State University Department of Animal Sciences, described his work under an ongoing four-year USDA grant. Collaborators include educators in soil and plant health, economics, organics and environmental studies. Also taking part are a poultry processor and three organic producers.
Lilburn explained in a webinar that some amino acids necessary for poultry meat and egg proteins are available only through diet.
Methionine is the single most important amino acid, and organic managers include soybean meal or synthetic methionine to provide it. This frustrates many within the organics community because of the National Organic Standards Board's limits on synthetics, he said.
The Ohio State research is testing the use of naked oats, which thresh clean from the husk, as a primary cereal. Compared with corn, naked oats have more methionine per unit of protein and an increased concentration of total protein. It also has more fat, fiber and lysine.
Farmers involved in the research reported that including the naked oats reduced their overall cost of rations by $130 to $160 a ton, Lilburn said.
Two birds were used: commercial broilers, which are bred for appetite, and RedBro broilers, which are popular in pastured poultry in the Midwest and East.
Because organic poultry is purchased for the "eating experience," he said, producers should focus on the quality of the product.
"We shouldn't have a mind set to grow birds as fast as possible," Lilburn said. "We use alternative ingredients to have them grow in a uniform, healthy fashion and minimize the cost of production, even if it takes another week or more."
In a preliminary experiment, researchers compared a standard corn/soy diet with naked oat blends. All birds were fed a similar diet till three weeks of age:
• Birds raised on a blend of 65 percent corn/28 percent soy yielded higher carcass crude protein, less carcass dry matter and less drip loss that ones raised on naked oat blends. Drip loss is the percentage of weight lost in fluid as frozen meat is thawed.
• A diet of 65 percent naked oats/31 percent full-fat soy, which is heat-treated with extrusion process and is usually available commercially, Lilburn said. This group had the highest amount of dietary crude protein.
• Birds fed 85 percent naked oats/10 percent full-fat soy showed similar results to the 65/31 group, but drip loss was somewhat higher.
Later studies to explore what different levels of naked oats would accomplish showed optimum results at 75 percent naked oats/20.6 percent full-fat soy.
Some differences were seen between the commercial birds and the RedBros:
• The RedBros took up to two weeks longer to reach 4 pounds dressed weight;
• The RedBros had less fat and less weight loss in processing; and
• The RedBros were more subject to hot weather.


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Thursday, November 11, 2010
2010-2011 Free agent predictions
While Brandon Webb won't make the following list, Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post tweeted that the Dodgers could be interested in Webb. While Webb is nowhere near the pitcher he once was, it'd be a nice risk. The Dodgers wouldn't have to offer a lot in base salary and could attract Webb with incentives. Plus, he'd stay in the pitcher-friendly National League West. Low risk, high reward.
I'm using Keith Law's top 10 free agents.
1. Cliff Lee, SEA-TEX
Prediction: Texas - 6 years, $120 million
- While I will now forever hate Lee for choking against the Giants, the Rangers cannot afford to lose him. He is the main reason they made it to the World Series.
2. Carl Crawford, TB
Prediction: Anaheim - 6 years, $108 million
- The Angels need offense and Crawford is one of the best all-around outfielders in baseball. He had a career-high in nearly every offensive category (runs, HR, RBI, SLG, OPS, OPS+) and is primed to continue it as he's in the middle of his prime.
3. Jayson Werth, PHI
Prediction: Boston - 4 years, $68 million
- While it'd be nice to see Werth in Dodger Blue, they won't be able to afford him. The Red Sox are in desperate need of a right-handed-hitting outfielder, and Werth fits the bill.
4. Adrian Beltre, BOS
Prediction: Boston - 4 years, $50 million
- Another guy who'd look good in Blue, Beltre looked rejuvenated in 2010. He has the pop and great defense to be worth the contract he's going to receive. The Red Sox would be foolish to let him get away.
5. Victor Martinez, BOS
Prediction: Seattle - 4 years, $42 million
- Martinez is one of the best hitting catchers in baseball. But the question is, how long will he remain behind the dish? It's unknown, but the ability to play first base helps Martinez's cause a bit. The Red Sox will go with a cheaper option behind the plate, which benefits the Mariners.
6. Adam Dunn, WAS
Prediction: Chicago White Sox - 3 years, $30 million
- Dunn is one of the most powerful hitters in baseball. There are many teams that could use his power -- including the Dodgers. However, a team that was after Dunn at the deadline -- the White Sox -- will finally land their man.
7. Carl Pavano, MIN
Prediction: Minnesota - 3 years, $27 million
- Pavano had a bounce-back season in 2010 and is primed to cash in on it. If he's smart, he'd take a little less to stay in Minnesota, where he had great success.
8. Jorge De La Rosa, COL
Prediction: Colorado - 1 year, $8 million
- De La Rosa had a slightly better 2009 than 2010, but he's still a talented lefty who throws hard and strikes hitters out. Guys who fit that profile aren't exactly growing on trees. His Type-A free agent status could play a roll in his landing spot -- teams might not be willing to give up a first-round pick for a guy with durability issues. He'll end up back in Colorado.
9. Andy Pettitte, NYY
Prediction: New York Yankees - 1 year, $8 million
- I'm not really sure why Pettitte is on this list, as he's either going back to New York or retiring, which has been the case the last two years.
10. Jake Westbrook, CLE-STL
Prediction: St. Louis - 3 years, $24 million
- Westbrook seems like the perfect fit in St. Louis and I'd be shocked if he isn't in Cardinal Red for the next couple of seasons.
I'm adding two more players who were inexplicably excluded from the list.
11. Paul Konerko, CWS
Prediction: Anaheim - 3 years, $39 million
- It's easy to say Konerko would return to Chicago, but if a team offers him enough money, I'm sure he'd consider leaving -- especially if that team played in Southern California (not the Dodgers, unfortunately). The Angels are going balls-out to improve their offense.
12. Rafael Soriano, TB
Prediction: Arizona - 3 years, $33 million
- Soriano is one of the best relief pitchers in baseball. It's unfortunate the Rays will not be able to afford him, but he is going to cash in on his fantastic 2010 season. Many have mocked him to Anaheim, but in my predictions, the Angels are already spending $31 million on two players, so they might not be able to give Soriano what he's looking for. The D-Backs had one of the worst bullpens in recent memory and are willing to throw lots of money at the situation.
2 comments:
Couple of things.ReplyDelete
1. The Rangers can't afford to lose Cliff Lee, but they also can't afford him period. He is going to be a Yankee and they are going to over pay for him.
2. Agree with Crawford. The Angels are going to do anything they can to get him this year.
3. Doubt the Angels try for Konerko. We have Kendry Morales coming back and we don't have room for another 1st baseman, or DH if we keep Napoli. I would say that Beltre is the more likely candidate. 3rd base has been a hole since Figgins left and I think the Angels would love to weaken the Red Sox.
So much for my shameless promotion on Facebook. :PReplyDelete
Rangers have new ownership. They could very well bring him back. Everyone and their mother is projecting Lee to the Yanks.
Would you rather have a 3-4 of Morales/Konerko or Morales/Hunter or Napoli? Again, I didn't just want to "follow the leader" on my predictions. But they aren't out of the realm of possibility. I really think Boston will do whatever it takes to keep Beltre.


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I love the smell of a good conspiracy in the evening. It's pretty well accepted at this point that the next version of Android to be released is 4.3. But we still haven't seen any concrete evidence of this. Or have we?
Google Plus user Derek Ross has noted that in the recently released promotional video for the new Gmail, the clock on the Nexus 4 being used to show off the revamped Android app shows a time of 4:30. 4.3, 4:30? Purely coincidence, right? Not so fast.
According to Ross, this follows a similar pattern of previous Android releases. By looking at promotional materials for other Nexus devices, you'll find that the Nexus S, Galaxy Nexus, Nexus 7, Nexus 4 and Nexus 10 were all featured in promo shots where the time on their clocks corresponded to the version of Android they were launched with, or running at the time.
GottaBeMobile did some digging on these claims, and found a video of the Nexus S showing a time of 2:30, a Nexus 7 at 4:10 and a picture of the Galaxy Nexus at 4:00. If you head over to Google Play right now, all of the renders of the Nexus 4 and 10 show a time of 4:20. It looks to be that way for the Nexus 7 as well.
So what does it all mean? Not a whole lot. We just thought it was neat. This could, of course, all be coincidence. But with Google's love of Easter eggs and hidden messages, we'd be very surprised if this wasn't another one of Google's hidden treats.


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Hanuman was born to Anjani, a female Apsara and Vayu the Wind God. He was blessed with supreme intelligence, strength and divine powers. As a baby, Hanuman was quite naughty and used his powers to pester the saints living in the nearby forest. Once when he was hungry he leapt to catch the sun thinking it was a fruit.On the insistence of Vayu, Indra and the other God's came together to bless baby Hanuman of immortal life. Blessed with divine powers Hanuman grew up to be powerful and mighty. No harm could befall on him from any weapons, fire and water. He could overcome death and above all he could transform his body to take the smallest form or attain the biggest form of life.He helped Lord Ram and Laxman in their search for Sita. He also used his super powers to help Lord Ram and Laxman defeat Ravan and secure the release of Sita. Seeing his devotion and love towards him, Lord Ram blessed Hanuman with the boon of immortality.
Official Site: www.hanuman-thefilm.com
Director: V G Samant
Cast: Mukesh Khanna
Sorry there are no upcoming showtimes for Hanuman


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New law alerts women to risk posed by dense breasts
Lisa Zybert has dense breasts.
It is a condition that is not uncommon and is completely benign.
But having dense breast tissue can mask cancers on mammograms, and when women know their breasts are dense, physicians say, that awareness is a valuable tool in the fight against breast cancer.
When Zybert, a neonatal intensive care nurse who lives in Angola, went for a routine mammogram in January, she was handed a pamphlet explaining a new state law that requires health care facilities to notify patients when they have dense breasts.
When she got the pamphlet, it rang a bell.
"I do remember something was said about my breast tissue years ago," she said, "but it did not require further testing. It was never brought up again until now."
As a health care professional, Zybert said, she knew enough to ask questions.
"I do think it warrants a talk with your doctor as to whether you might be at increased risk … It will make me more aware of keeping a regular mammogram schedule and making sure I keep the appointments and not push them off," she said.
New York this year became the fourth state in the country to require health care facilities to notify women who are categorized as having such tissue in their breasts.
The notification requirement is intended to improve breast cancer detection and prevention by educating patients about dense breast tissue and how such tissue could conceal abnormalities during mammography procedures.
"It's another piece of information, just like your family history, your reproductive history, your prior history of any breast biopsies, that you put together and discuss with your physician about what the appropriate next steps are," said Dr. Ermelinda Bonaccio of Roswell Park Cancer Institute.
Breasts are made up of a mixture of fibrous and glandular tissue, as well as fatty tissue, according to the American College of Radiology. They are considered dense if a woman has more fibrous or glandular tissue, and density may increase with age.
Doctors want to be clear: Dense doesn't mean firm.
Also, having dense breast tissue is normal, said Dr. Claudia Fosket, women's imaging specialist and diagnostic radiologist at Southtowns Radiology. About 10 percent of women have highly dense breast tissue. Another 10 percent have fatty tissue. The rest, she said, fall somewhere in between.
Dense breast tissue can hide cancer on a mammogram because that density shows up as white on a mammogram.
The problem: So does cancer.
"Someone once said it's like looking for snowmen in the North Pole," Fosket said. "You're looking for something white on a white background. It's very difficult to do."
Fatty tissue shows up gray and is less likely to camouflage tumors.
With the state law that took effect in January, radiology professionals are required to inform women if their breasts are dense. Patients are then provided materials to explain breast density, and additional screening may be recommended.
Prior to the law, breast density information was routinely included in mammography reports sent to the patient's OB-GYN, but it was rarely seen by the patient.
Connecticut was the first state to enact the Breast Density Law in 2009 after a vigorous campaign waged by an education administrator from Woodbury who was diagnosed in 2005 with breast cancer at age 51. Her doctors, she said, never told her she had dense breasts, nor did they warn her the dense tissue could make her mammograms less reliable.
"Are You Dense?" became the rallying cry that increased women's awareness and helped pass the country's first Breast Density Law.
What is the reaction of women when told they have dense breast tissue?
"Most times they know," said Sue Hohl, radiology technician at Southtowns Radiology in West Seneca. "I always start out by telling them there is a new law in New York State. Then I tell them their doctor has always been notified on the mammography report that they have dense breast tissue."
The bottom line, said Hohl, is that women of all breast tissue types must be diligent with mammography exams.
Studies have shown that having high-density breast tissue increases a woman's risk of developing breast cancer by four to six times. But dense breast tissue does not increase cancer's mortality rate, according to a study published in August 2012 by the Journal of the American Cancer Institute. The study included more than 9,000 women ages 30 and older with a confirmed breast cancer diagnosis made between January 1996 and December 2005.
While mammograms have been credited with reducing cancer deaths by 30 percent since 1990, they are still not perfect, said Bonaccio of Roswell Park.
"There are cancers we do not find on mammography, and some that we do find but not early enough to save the woman," she said.
Opponents of the legislation – insurers and medical groups – are concerned the additional information and testing will raise costs while unduly alarming women. Connecticut requires that insurance companies pay for these additional studies if performed. New York does not.
"We can't do breast MRI on everybody," said Fosket of Southtowns Radiology. "The time we do breast MRIs is when someone was diagnosed with breast cancer, and we want to make sure it is only in one spot and not multi-focal cancer or in the other breast. We also use MRIs for women with a very high risk from a strong family history.
"When somebody has really dense breasts and a strong family history, ultrasound is a very, very good second test, because there are things that show up on ultrasound that don't show up on a mammogram."
So what should you do if you have dense breasts?
Fosket offers this advice: "If you come in feeling a lump, and you have dense breasts, you'll have an ultrasound," she said. "If you come in with dense breasts, and you've never felt anything, and you don't have a family history, you'll get a mammogram. But if you have a strong family history, at the very minimum, do an ultrasound."
email: email@example.com


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We host numerous special events across the country to raise funds to help kidney patients and to increase awareness of kidney disease. Learn more and join us!
The Hope Affair, our annual national gala, is a celebration of the people who inspire us in the fight against kidney disease. The event brings together the renal community, policymakers, patients and advocates for an inspirational evening that raises funds to support our programs and services. We invite you and your colleagues to join us for this wonderful evening. Learn more.
This beer and food pairing event takes place on an October evening in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Our business-trendy evening welcomes our New England supporters and industry professionals to celebrate and raise funds to support our mission. Learn more about this event and plan to join us!
Join us for an evening of music with Classical Guitarist and Composer Carlos Barbosa-Lima, accompanied by the Gemini Youth Orchestra, with the evocative music of Spain and South America. Learn more.
On August 6, The Nassau Country Club in Glen Cove, New York, will host the 13th Annual New York Golf Classic and Dinner. In the past decade, this golf event has raised over $1 million in support of our programs and services, and has honored some of Long Island's most philanthropic business leaders. Lean more about the New York Golf Classic and Dinner.
Our signature outreach event, Kidney Action Day is held in cities where rates of kidney disease are higher than the national average. Kidney Action Day is a free, family-friendly event with a serious purpose: helping people understand their risk for kidney disease and how to prevent it. The day includes free health screenings, cooking demonstrations and samplings, fitness demonstrations, and fun-filled activities. Check out our Kidney Action Day cities..
To empower people to prevent kidney disease, we offer free screenings and follow-up services (including medical referrals and public education materials). These services are provided at a variety of venues in cities around the country including churches, expositions and festivals, hospitals, community centers, colleges and corporate offices. Click here to find a screening near you.


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July 03, 2014
By Dwight Brown
NNPA Film Critic
In 18 years, the American Black Film Festival has migrated from Acapulco, Mexico, to Los Angeles to Miami and now New York City. The locations have varied; the mission to bring African heritage films to audiences has not.
The 2014 festival started with the Big Apple's premier of "Think Like a Man Too," and ended with the first screening of the new Spike Lee horror movie "Da Sweet Blood of Jesus." In between, the festival hosted a bevy of panels, acting boot camps, master classes and workshops at the Metropolitan Pavilion on West 18th Street. The screenings took place at the School of Visual Arts (SVA) Theater on West 23rd Street.
"Blackbird" — This well-intentioned coming-of-age gay Black movie is set in rural Mississippi and burdened by an over-dramatic treatment. The sappy all-over-the-place script (Rikki Beadle Blair, Patrick-Ian Polk), with stilted dialogue and preposterous dramatic moments, is an impediment. Its unsettling mixture of religion and gay pride, certainly a new brew, never rings true. Oscar-winner Mo'Nique plays an angst-ridden mother and Isaiah Washington is an understanding pro-gay dad; neither is believable. The savvy young cast (Julian Walker, Kevin Allesee, Gary LeRoi Gray, Torrey Laamar, Nikki Jane) will go on to bigger and better projects; they are the film's saving grace.
"Da Sweet Blood of Jesus" —Spike Lee, the old guard of Black indie filmmaking, gets his mojo back with this classy, urbane vampire art film that is a beauty to behold (cinematography, art direction, set design, costumes) and a joy to listen to (gospel, jazz, soul, pop). Dr. Hess Greene (Stephen Tyrone Williams) is a blood-addicted rich man who alternates his time between a swank New York apartment and a tony house in Martha's Vineyard. He's smitten with the tough-talking British wife (Zaraah Abrahams) of a victim, and the two are obsessed with hemoglobin. Kudos to the very heady, tense and sensual script: edgy dialogue, unique characters, rampant sexuality, romance and an unfathomable storyline. If the film gets cut by 5-15 minutes it would be Lee's most gripping and evocative – ever.
"Hard Time Bus" — The cast in this soap-operaish British melodrama must be moonlighting from a Shakespearean theater company. They have perfect diction, laser-focus and great acting chops, which are wasted in a meandering relationship film. Mark (Neil Reidman) is having troubles with his lady-friend Denise (Naomi Ryan), whom he would like to marry. He gets caught up in his friends' lovers quarrels, misunderstandings and other far-fetched machinations – veering off his own course. The script (Owen Mowatt) is very talky with long, drawn-out scenes that are far more suited for a theater piece than a movie. Dean Charles, in his directing debut, displays a promising talent.
"Una Vida" — In New Orleans, a neuroscientist (Joaquim de Almeida), haunted by images of his mother, a victim of Alzheimer's, transfers his love for her to an old street singer (Aunjanue Ellis, "Men of Honor") who suffers from the same disease. Viewing the neighborhoods in the Big Easy is far more engaging than the storyline of this heavy-handed, snail-paced message movie. The beautiful cinematography keeps you engaged when the script lets you down. Bill Cobbs, Ruth Negga ("World War Z") and Andre Royo ("The Wire") also star, but Ellis steals all the scenes.
"Think Like A Man Too" — This sequel takes an assorted gaggle of friends to Las Vegas to help a couple (Terrence Jenkins, Regina Hall) with a meddling mother (Jennifer Lewis) get married. The best man, played by the increasingly manic and thoroughly likable Kevin Hart, leads the young men on a myriad of wild bachelor party escapades. The females' bachelorette festivities are equally roguish. The director (Tim Story) uses a very staccato/MTVish editing style to give the film a rapid-fire pace that is daunting at times. However, there is a method to his rushed, jumpy directing style, which comes to fruition during a strip club melee that is totally chaotic and hysterical. The overall feel is hilarious, romantic and sweet.


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Enviga's Own Study Undermines Calorie Burning Claims
The study on which the Coke's "negative calorie" drink Enviga are based was finally published this month in the journal Obesity. The publication's editors were quick to question the strength of Coke's deductions.
"Increasing metabolism is not the same as causing weight loss or prevention of weight gain," said Eric Ravussin, professor at the Pennington Biomedical Research Center and president of the Obesity Society. "Increases in metabolic rate may be easily offset by increased energy consumption or decreases in energy expenditure. Far more extensive studies are needed before any claim for efficacy in human weight management can or should be made on the basis of this study."
The study was based on 31 subjects, and lasted only 72 hours. The weakness of the data hasn't stopped Coke from a nationwide roll out and marketing campaign.
"I can choose to walk up the stairs or I can choose to have a can of Enviga," Helen Falco, Coke's director of nutrition and health policy, told USA Today. — BEN POPKEN
Enviga Study Casts Doubt on Calorie Burning & Weight-Loss Claims [CSPI]
Coke & Nestle Sued Over Enviga's Bogus Calorie Burning Claims
Shocker: Enviga Doesn't Actually Burn Calories
Want more consumer news? Visit our parent organization, Consumer Reports, for the latest on scams, recalls, and other consumer issues.


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NT International PLC
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Ph: 0121 331 8899
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Personal tools
Trading arcade
From Traderpedia
(Redirected from Trading Arcade)
[edit] How do they operate?
The most common model for a trading arcade is a trading room where a trader can lease a seat, trade for his own account at reduced commissions, and often split the profits with the house in return for additional funding.
A "seat charge", which can range from $1,000 to $6,000 per month, includes some combination of market data, analytic package, connectivity and order routing technology. The most common offering is a high performance order entry system with sophisticated trading tools, market data and news services.
Arcades often will offer an individual trader some degree of leverage based on how much he deposits of his own money and how much profit he is willing to give up. Typical new traders deposit $10,000 and get an additional $50,000 in margin in exchange for a 50/50 profit split for a two-year lock-in deal. More experienced traders may be able to negotiate up to 70% of profits with no funds on deposit.
[edit] History
Electronic trading firms have been springing up since talk of the demise of the trading floors began more than a decade ago. When the then-Deutsche Terminborse launched its trading platform in the early 1990s tech savvy traders took notice. As more contracts became available electronically, e-trading firms began to crop up, mostly in London and Chicago, but it wasnââ¬â¢t until LIFFE shut down its trading floor in 2000 and launched Connect that they became more of a force in the marketplace. Not only was a new platform available to traders, it was the first "open" architecture system that allowed independent service providers and brokerage firms to develop their own front-end order routing technology. In addition, a whole community of sophisticated traders was on the street looking for a way to salvage their livelihood and duplicate some aspects of the floor trading environment.
History is repeating itself in Chicago where, although the floors have not closed, the number of e-trading firms has grown in volume and influence over the last five years as the liquidity in the major contracts has moved online. While there is no reliable data available to the public on the share of the futures trading that these firms represent, anecdotal evidence suggests that it is significant. In fact, some of these firms say their daily volume across markets exceeds the total daily volume of any one of the four big futures exchanges. Euronext estimates that independent traders, its term for individuals and firms trading for their own accounts, make up about one-third of the entire universe of people trading on its Connect platform, and account for as much as 50% of the volume in its short-term interest rate contracts.
[edit] Advantages
[edit] Disadvantages
[edit] See also
[edit] T2W links
[edit] External links


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Time Study Tool
The "Time Study Tool" presented has been produced within the framework of COST Action FP0902. The tool is specifically designed for time studies within biomass harvesting operations, but they are fit for general use and can be applied to many other fields where time studies are needed.
The time study tool is part of the COST Action FP0902 Working Group 1 outcome and displays a result of the COST Action FP0902.
"Download the application Here (ZIP Package)"
For more information please contact the author or the Chair of the Action:
Radomir Klvac
WG 1, Cost Action FP0902
email firstname.lastname@example.com
Robert Prinz
Chair, Cost Action FP0902
email email@example.com


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We created Stage6™ to empower content creators and viewers like you to discover a new kind of video experience. However, the continued operation of Stage6.com was prohibitively expensive, and ultimately we had to shut it down.
We appreciate the millions of global users who supported us and made Stage6 such a successful online video destination. Thanks for a wild ride.
— The DivX Team
You can still watch and share high-quality DivX® video in your browser using DivX Web Player. Anyone with a website or blog can easily embed DivX video. And remember, you can enjoy your DivX video almost anywhere — on your computer, your phone and on your TV.
Watch the video below and get more information on how to use DivX Web Player on your site.
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Dayton explains his position on gas tax hike
MANKATO Gas tax hikes, Highway 14 and Local Government Aid reform were topics at Gov. Mark Dayton's town hall meeting on Tuesday evening in North Mankato.
In presenting his 'Budget for a Better Minnesota' to a crowd of approximately 200, Dayton reiterated his resolve to pass main points of the budget. Those proposals include raising income tax on Minnesota's top 2 percent of wage earners and increasing education funding.
Gas Tax
A gas tax hike to fund Minnesota's transportation system and unaddressed projects like Highway 14's four-lane expansion received much attention.
On Monday, Dayton repeated his stance that he did not favor a gas tax hike because public support is lacking.
After that statement by Dayton, the House and Senate Transportation Finance chairs pulled their planned unveiling of transportation omnibus bills, which included a 5-cent gas tax hike to fund "corridor of commerce" projects like Highway 14. However, the chairs indicated they plan to present an omnibus bill on Thursday.
At Tuesday's meeting, Dayton said the Minneapolis-based chairs did comprehensive work on the metro side of the bills, but failed to "crunch the numbers on the outstate" portions. He said the bills lacked the research needed to make sure those parts passed.
Dayton is planning a six-month state tour starting in late summer with the MnDOT commissioner and legislators. He wants to hear what alternative funding sources for transportation could gain statewide support. He envisions a process similar to the approval of the Legacy Act sales tax, which easily passed because of strong support despite dislike for sale taxes.
Dayton expressed concern that using short-sighted solutions like the gas tax and mistakes by MnDOT that "defy common sense" would turn public support against better solutions presented later. He does not want the public believing increased transportation plans only lead to things getting worse. As an example, he pointed to the barriers MnDOT placed between Highway 14's two lanes of traffic from North Mankato to Nicollet, because they can prohibit emergency vehicles from being able to pass.
Dayton asked for a show of hands of how many people supported the gas tax hike. A large majority of the 200 people in attendance raised their hands. In response, he said the problem is that the rest of the state lacks the same level of support for the proposal. He wants a new, comprehensive funding package that will solve transportation funding for the long term.
"Then, we'll have enough funds to just pick projects like Highway 14 and finish them," said Dayton, "We'll be able to finish Highway 14 in three years instead of piecemeal over 30 years."
The proposed tour would start at the end of this summer, after this year's legislative session.
LGA reform
Dayton supports the proposed bill to simplify and reform the formula for Local Government Aid funding. The new formula was developed by a coalition of organizations representing Greater Minnesota cities and metro cities. Dayton joked their cooperation was treated like "a miracle in the Capitol."
Dayton's original proposal raised the total LGA funding by $80 million, but the current bill only raises it by $60 million. Rural cities have expressed concern because they had agreed to a formula that gave them a boost in LGA funding in the immediate term to compensate for less over the long term. Dayton said he will support the reduced amount over nothing, but he would prefer a $80 million funding level.
The proposed bill pleased many Minnesota cities, with several cities passing resolutions in support of the reform. The bill is currently pending a hearing in the Minnesota House Tax committee.
(Josh Moniz can be e-mailed at firstname.lastname@example.com)


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Style # 216681
Mesh Insert Bodycon Dress is rated out of 5 by 1.
Rated 5 out of 5 by AleFu from Sexy! Fits like a Glove ! I love this dress.. makes my figure look great!! im so glad I bought it ! I got a xsmall and fits like a glove ! Super Sexyy
Date published: 2013-06-28


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Curry scores 39 points and Warriors stay in playoff mix with 125-98 win over Blazers
OAKLAND, Calif. – Stephen Curry scored 39 points and the Golden State Warriors moved one step closer toward ending their five-year playoff drought with a 125-98 win over the Portland Trail Blazers on Saturday night.
Carl Landry had a season-high 25 points and 10 rebounds coming off the bench, while David Lee had 13 points for the Warriors, who maintained their 1½-game lead over Houston for sixth place in the Western Conference. Golden State lowered its magic number for clinching a playoff berth to five games.
Meyers Leonard led the Trail Blazers with 22 points and 10 rebounds. Damian Lillard scored 16 points for Portland and tied the NBA's single season rookie record for 3-pointers, but was nowhere as effective as he was in his first trip back home. The Oakland native shot just 4 of 11 from the floor and committed three turnovers.


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CHICAGO (AP) After getting roughed up last month in a start at Houston, John Danks decided to break down his delivery and make a number of mechanical changes.
The result has been a remarkable turnaround, which Danks continued with seven solid innings Wednesday night as the Chicago White Sox beat the Detroit Tigers 8-2.
''I've probably thrown more bullpens probably in the last month than I have in the last couple years,'' Danks said. ''It's been good.''
Jose Abreu hit an early homer off Detroit starter Justin Verlander, then singled to start a seven-run burst in the sixth inning that gave Danks all the support he needed as the White Sox won for the second straight time against the AL Central-leaders.
Abreu went 3 for 4 with a walk and scored twice. The Cuban rookie has 19 home runs and 50 RBIs this season.
Abreu has been the catalyst behind the surprising White Sox (33-33) staying within striking distance, but the star in this game was the crafty left-hander and his 80 mph (or slower) changeup.
Danks (5-5) allowed two runs and six hits in seven innings. He has permitted just five runs in 29 1-3 innings over his past four starts since allowing eight runs (seven earned) in 4 2-3 innings at Houston last month.
''I think Johnny has really picked it up,'' manager Robin Ventura said. ''He went through a period where he wasn't commanding his fastball and changeup. He made some adjustments and he's really been different since then, not only with control but it seems like his velocity has some zip to it and his changeup looks better.''
Verlander (6-6) gave up seven runs and eight hits in 5 2-3 innings as the Tigers lost their third in a row.
''His stuff again was good. He just couldn't muscle through a couple innings there,'' Detroit manager Brad Ausmus said. ''I don't really know how to explain it. His stuff was good again.''
The seven runs in an inning matched a season high for Chicago. The White Sox also scored seven on May 9 against Arizona.
Abreu connected on Verlander's first pitch of the second inning for a solo homer over the left-center field wall.
Detroit tied it in the fourth when Miguel Cabrera doubled and scored on a groundout by Torii Hunter.
Singles by Abreu, Adam Dunn and Alexei Ramirez loaded the bases with no outs in the sixth. Dayan Viciedo grounded into a double play and Abreu scored for a 2-1 lead.
It appeared as if Verlander might escape with just one run scoring, but Alejandro De Aza followed with a bloop single for a run, and Adrian Nieto and Adam Eaton drew walks to load the bases.
That brought up Gordon Beckham, and Detroit manager Brad Ausmus kept Verlander in the game despite the right-hander having thrown 121 pitches to that point. The next pitch was a 96 mph fastball that Beckham lined for a two-run single.
''We led off with three singles, guys getting on base against Verlander,'' Beckham said. ''You've got to have guys out there because not a lot of guys hit homers, unless your name's Jose.''
Reliever Ian Krol faced three batters and retired no one. He gave up a two-run double to Conor Gillaspie and - following an intentional walk to Abreu - an RBI single to Dunn.
''I need to limit the walks. That one huge inning, I walked a few guys and gave up a couple weak hits and turned it in to a big inning myself when it shouldn't have been,'' Verlander said.
With the way Danks was pitching, the cushion was more than enough.
''I'm just trying to take it out to the field with me, and so far, so good,'' he said. ''But I'm not going to rest on my laurels and I'm going to get ready for my next start. I've been humbled in this game before, so I'm going to try and keep from doing that before.''
NOTES: Cabrera (left hamstring) said he was feeling better Wednesday, but Ausmus decided to keep the slugger at DH. ''Give him another day,'' Ausmus said. ''We don't want this lingering.'' ... The White Sox have signed nine of their first 10 draft picks so far, with the lone holdout being LHP Carlos Rodon, the No. 3 pick overall. ... The Tigers decided to skip LHP Drew Smyly and keep the matchup between Max Scherzer (7-2) and Chris Sale (5-0) for the series finale Thursday. Smyly, originally scheduled to pitch Wednesday, will pitch Friday against Minnesota.


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Maria Accardi
My name is Maria Accardi, and I am the coordinator of library instruction at Indiana University Southeast. IU Southeast, a regional campus in the IU system, is located in New Albany, IN, right across the river from Louisville, KY. I have a BA in English from Northern Kentucky University, and MA in English from the University of Louisville, and I earned my MLIS from the University of Pittsburgh in 2006. I live in downtown Louisville, where I can see the Ohio River from my window. I love to read, play Scrabble, watch terrible television, cook, and take pictures of my cats, Septimus and Gertrude.
I've been at IUS since August of 2007; prior to that I worked at Sarah Lawrence College, which was my first job out of library school.
In various previous incarnations, I have been: a paper shuffler at a college textbook company, a college composition instructor, and a newspaper indexing robot.
My professional interests include information literacy, library instruction, critical pedagogy, assessment, and diversity issues in libraries.


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Three Days Left To Enter! IKEA & Fix This Kitchen Are Back This Fall!
Send us your big kitchen design questions, along with some photos of your design-challenged kitchen, and we'll be back in a few weeks to share a handful of our favorite submissions – complete with exclusive, customized design feedback from the "Fix This Kitchen" cast and the IKEA kitchen design team! And that's not all - the first 10 completed entries will receive $50 IKEA gift cards.
All submissions are due by next Friday, Sept. 16th, so start snapping pics of your kitchen and gather your most pressing design questions - the more thoughtful and detailed the better! While you wait for our big reveal, make sure to tune-in for the next installment of kitchen design fun, airing Saturdays this fall at 9:30am (8:30am CT) on A&E.
More On "Fix This Kitchen"
"Fix This Kitchen" to the rescue - again! This season we'll meet celebrity chef Eric Greenspan, who will team up each week with show host/accomplished designer Nicole Facciuto and a conspiring family member to surprise a frustrated household cook with a complete IKEA kitchen makeover. The homeowner arrives home while the demolition is in progress and learns that they are getting a new kitchen. By the end of the episode, they're cooking a celebratory meal in their new kitchen with Eric and Nicole. It's fun, quirky, and each kitchen is fully designed by IKEA. For even more info on the show and air times, check out the show's site here.
About The Design Team
The dynamic co-hosts of "Fix This Kitchen" are ready for their next kitchen design challenges!
Host Nicole Facciuto has been helping viewers and homeowners create family-friendly and eco-safe homes as the Host of HGTV's "Red Hot and Green." While growing up on a walnut farm, Nicole gained an early appreciation of nature, which continues to guide her design sensibility today. Nicole owns her own design firm and has been featured across many major television networks and publications ranging from HGTV, Food Newtork, A&E, WE, Oxygen, Bravo, CBS, Domino, Traditional Home and The New York Times.
Co-host Eric Greenspan is no stranger to the kitchen. Greenspan made his way into our homes and shared his love for food on Food Network's "The Next Iron Chef Season 2" and "Iron Chef America Challenge." As Executive Chef and owner of The Foundry on Melrose, Greenspan has skyrocketed to success and has been named runner-up for Los Angeles Magazine's "Best New Restaurant."
IKEA is continuing its role as sponsor in the second season of the A&E Network kitchen makeover series, "Fix This Kitchen." As the Life Improvement Store, IKEA helps improve people's lives at home through smart, well-designed solutions. Any home cook can enjoy a better cooking and living experience in their own kitchen without breaking the bank! Featured IKEA products and solutions in the series include durable countertops, high-quality cabinetry and energy-efficient appliances that come together to create kitchens that fit the personal style of the homeowner.
How To Enter
Fill out the form below and submit it to us. The form will ask you for your kitchen redesign questions and to submit three photos. Photos should include: 1) a room shot, 2) a close-up detail shot and 3) a wild card shot! (don't be shy – we want to hear your most difficult design questions and concerns!).
We're gathering submissions from 9/9/11 through 9/16/11. The submission form will close and no entries will be accepted after 23:59:59 EST on 9/16/11. No late submissions will be accepted.
Selection Of Three Entries
Three kitchens will be chosen by the Apartment Therapy team to be exclusively reviewed by members of the "Fix This Kitchen" cast, co-host and celebrity Chef Eric Greenspan, and the IKEA kitchen design team. They will weigh in with helpful kitchen-fix advice, design inspiration ideas, and answer your BIG kitchen-fix challenges.
A Chance To Shop At IKEA
The first 10 readers who submit completed entries will receive a $50 IKEA gift card!
Click Here For A Few Things To Keep In Mind When Entering