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Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, this week called for the release of Pebble Partnership's detailed plans and a timeline for developing the Pebble Mine site near the headwaters of Bristol Bay in Southwest Alaska.
In a letter to the leaders of Pebble Partnership released Tuesday, Murkowski said the group's inaction in the permitting process continues to cause anxiety and confusion in the Alaskan communities near the site, located nearly 200 miles southwest of Anchorage on one of the largest salmon runs in the world.
"Alaskans need some certainty and clarity over how the Pebble Partnership intends to proceed," Murkowski said in a news release. "I understand the complexity of a project like this, and I appreciate the investments that have been made in Alaska already. But a reliable timeline has been missing and I hope that the companies will provide one soon."
John Shively, chief executive officer of Pebble Partnership, said he understands the senator's concern but that rushing the proceedings isn't in the best interest of the company's stakeholders.
"Development of Pebble is a complex undertaking and getting it right takes time," Shively said in a statement. "We will share a plan with Alaskans when it is ready and meets the high standards we have set for development at Pebble."
Shively said he plans to contact Murkowski to discuss the proposed copper and gold mine project that has been mired in the permitting process for nearly a decade.
Northern Dynasty Minerals started the permitting process in November 2004 expecting to complete it in 2005. Pebble Partnership began the process of permitting again in 2008, promising a completed plan and permit applications in 2010, but it opted to delay the process.
The current partnership of Northern Dynasty Minerals and Anglo American published its own independent environmental baseline study, but the objectivity of the independent scientific reviews met strong skepticism from environmental groups.
With controversy surrounding the project, Pebble Partnership planning faced an Environmental Protection Agency watershed assessment in advance of the permitting process. In most cases, the watershed assessment occurs after the process.
The EPA's move sparked angst from the partnership, which said the preemptive shutdown for the assessment didn't follow normal procedure and has clouded the path forward, creating confusion for everyone involved.
The group hopes to have a new project in the permitting process this year, but the exact plans aren't finished. In the latest draft of the EPA watershed assessment, three different hypothetical mine plans were examined in anticipation of the company's decision.
"This remains an exciting opportunity for Alaska's future, and we look forward to moving on to this next phase," Shively said.
Environmental concerns are at the forefront of the discussion surrounding the embattled mine site. A major mining development could adversely affect Iliamna Lake and the Bristol Bay watershed that supports one of the largest salmon runs in the world and some 80 million sockeye salmon. An EPA study released in April said the mine could wipe out nearly 100 miles of streams and 4,800 acres of wetland.
Murkowski says Pebble Partnership's failure to permit the project led to a "vacuum" that the EPA filled with hypothetical mine scenarios in its watershed assessment. The failure to take the next step has led to environmental anxiety and nearly a decade of waiting for Alaskan residents.
"Today, after years of waiting, it is anxiety, frustration and confusion that have become the norm in many communities – rather than optimism about the new economic opportunities that responsible development of the Pebble deposit might be able to deliver," Murkowski said.


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Actress and Playboy model Bridget Marquardt has become a first-time home buyer with the purchase of a contemporary Mediterranean in Sherman Oaks for $1,725,000.
She had been traveling for her "Bridget's Sexiest Beaches" Travel Channel show while intermittently house hunting for about a year.
"I had a big list of all the things I wanted," she said, and "I wasn't ready to settle."
Her patience paid off. The new 5,922-square-foot home "literally had everything plus," she said.
Among her priorities was enough room to store all the clothes for her work on the show "The Girls Next Door" and the parties she attended during her seven years in residence at the Playboy Mansion. She is making one of the bedrooms in the five-bedroom, 4 1/2 -bathroom house into a wardrobe.
Other items on her must-have list: a fireplace in the master bedroom and a swimming pool to which she plans to add a water slide.
But no doubt the most personalized touch she'll be making to the two-story home is the installation of a swing trapeze and a lyra, or aerial hoop, in the soaring main entry hall.
"Trapeze is a great workout," said Marquardt, who trains at Hollywood Aerial Arts in Inglewood. "It got me in the best shape in my life."
The equipment, she said, will be "old school circus -- vintage-style -- with velvet on the ropes and shiny silver balls on the ends." The apparatus can be tied off along the ceiling should she care to move it out of center stage.
Marquardt will be sharing the home with her boyfriend, Nicholas Carpenter, who directed "The Telling" (2009), a horror film anthology, and has been a music video director. He has worked as a set production assistant on TV as well as "Thank You for Smoking" (2005). His father, Scott Carpenter, was one of the original Mercury astronauts.
Despite having a dad who once defied gravity, Carpenter is "worried I will fall off the trapeze," Marquardt said.
Marquardt, 35, co-stars in the E! cable network series "The Girls Next Door" (2005-present) as one of publisher Hugh Hefner's girlfriends. The show will start its sixth season in October. She appeared in the February issue of Playboy.
Lisa Sockolov of Coldwell Banker, Beverly Hills, represented Marquardt.
'Cracktown' actor changes address
Actor Vondie Curtis-Hall and his wife, Kasi Lemmons, have sold their Hollywood Hills home for $2,175,000.
The single-story Spanish-style house, built in 1965, is gated and sits on about 1.25 acres. The hilltop site has 360-degree city, valley, mountain and ocean views.
The 3,188-square-foot house features three bedrooms and four bathrooms, three fireplaces, a deck and a kitchen that opens to the swimming pool. There is a flat lawn and a guesthouse.
Curtis-Hall, 52, appears in this summer's "Life Is Hot in Cracktown" and in the upcoming 2009 film "Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans," starring Nicolas Cage. He directed episodes of "The Starter Wife," "Gossip Girl" and "Boston Legal" last year, and directed and wrote the screenplay for "Waist Deep" (2006). His television acting credits include "Soul Food" (2004), "ER" (1994-2001) and "Chicago Hope" (1995-99).
Lemmons, 48, has acted on television for 30 years and directed "Talk to Me" (2007), "The Caveman's Valentine" (2001) and "Eve's Bayou" (1997).
Their house, on and off the Multiple Listing Service since 2005, came back on the market in March 2008 at $2,899,000. They purchased the property in 1998 for $675,000, public records show.
Ron Holliman of Coldwell Banker, Beverly Hills, was the listing agent, according to the MLS. Rann Lee of Sotheby's International Realty's Sunset Strip Brokerage represented the buyer.
Gold Coast retains its glitter
The former beach house of silent film star Douglas Fairbanks Sr. is for sale in Santa Monica at $7.9 million.
The area became known as the Gold Coast after Hollywood stars and industry giants built homes there in the 1920s. Neighbors included MGM head Irving Thalberg and his actress-wife, Norma Shearer, oilman J. Paul Getty and comic actor Harold Lloyd. Fairbanks' street earned the nickname Rolls-Royce Row.
The two-story Mediterranean, built in 1922, has three bedrooms, 3 1/2 bathrooms and formal living and dining rooms in 1,641 square feet. There are views of the grounds, the pool and the ocean. A wide brick terrace extends the living area off the back of the house and steps down to the swimming pool and spa, which are flanked by lawns lined with mature trees.
The property previously sold in 1994 for $1,815,000, according to public records.
"The Mark of Zorro" (1920) cemented Fairbanks' stardom. The swashbuckling leading man was known for his athletic prowess, demonstrated in films such as "Robin Hood" (1922) and "The Thief of Bagdad" (1924).
Jeffrey Hyland of Hilton & Hyland, Beverly Hills, has the listing.
Composer is changing keys
Update: Emmy-winning composer Lee Holdridge, whose four decades of credits include such early work as collaborating on the score of the 1973 movie "Jonathan Livingston Seagull," has sold his Beverly Hills home for $2,175,000.
The English Tudor-style house, built in 1926, retains much of its original ambience with a turret-like brick entry, a circular stairway off the foyer, hardwood floors on the ground floor and two fireplaces. The two-story home, with five bedrooms and four bathrooms in 4,774 square feet, has a pool. The living room, where Holdridge played his grand piano, overlooks the backyard.
The composer, 65, is downsizing to a contemporary rental in Brentwood with studio space. His Emmys include honors for his work on "One Life to Live" in 2005 and 2000 and "Beauty and the Beast" (1987).
The property, which Holdridge had owned for two decades, came on the market in late September at $3.2 million.
The listing agents were Gracee Arthur of Ewing & Associates, Sotheby's International Realty, and David Findley, then with Sotheby's International Realty, Brentwood, but now associated with Partners Trust Real Estate Brokerage & Acquisitions, Brentwood. Oleg Dymovsky of Westside Realty, Los Angeles, represented the buyer.
Can't wait all week for more?
Throughout the week, find updates online as they break, as well as additional photos of homes from this and previous Hot Property columns.

subset: commoncrawl


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IlmPath needed a new other design and created a contest on 99designs.
A winner was selected from 175 designs submitted by 28 freelance designers.
Purity Path Academy
We are an organization offering islamic education to females of all ages.
Females of all age groups.
Your logo should go in the on the top left empty space of this website image http://memvis.com/ilmpath/puritypath1.jpg
Some hints:
0- The website name is puritypath.org (not active yet)
1- The two main colors you could use are purple and blue.
2- Notice that both words "Purity" and "Path" start with a P? Take advantage of that in your design!
3- Try to combine elements of purity with elements of path. I will leave it up to your imagination.
4- Take a look at the website and think of how your logo would fit. Get inspired by it!
Be creative!


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Choosing something simple doesn't mean sacrificing beauty and elegance. The Sweet 16 Fashionista Floor Decal is classy and endearing with the ability to customize it with text and colors to match the grand day. There's timeless appeal in each one, complete with a magazine cover theme, making it an unforgettable part of the special occasion. They're a wonderful addition for both casual and formal affairs for celebrating the 16th birthday.
Features and Facts:


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The Saab 9000 comes in two distinct body styles, depending on the model year. This car can be purchased with a liftback design or a traditional sedan style. Both enjoy popularity with the professional car buyers, as well as with families.
While many of the famous automakers in the U.S. started from existing buggy and industrial plants, many in Europe had their start in the war effort. With World War II causing so many problems, both the Allied forces and the Nazi-controlled countries needed engines and equipment to fight. The Saab Motor Company was founded in 1938 in Trollhattan, Sweden. The plant manufactured airplane bombers and fighters. In the first few years of production, Saab produced airplanes based on the American and German aircraft designs. Before long, the Saab 17, a Swedish-designed plane, joined the fight.
After the war ended, Saab executives knew the company needed to go in a different direction. Eventually, it decided to focus on making small, affordable cars for this unappreciated market in Europe. The manufacturing of the Saab 92 started in December 1949 and with the production of 700 units. This car has the passenger cage Saab designed. It provides an excellent example of one of the first safety features added to a car.
Saab has continued with this tradition of excellence and has since offered the world a variety of vehicles to choose from including the 9000.
Saab, the Swedish automaker, has long been known as a manufacturer accustomed to offering the various markets plenty to sink their teeth into, and the 9000 series proves no different. First offered in 1984, this car marks the company's first attempt at a large sedan style car. Many people at the time called it an executive car. With its spacious interior and classic exterior, the 9000 suits busy professionals who need to keep a certain image up when traveling.
Like most large cars, the 9000 series also fares relatively well among the older generations of car buyers. With the Saab name, an attractive exterior, and a comfortable cabin, the car appeals to these groups of consumers. Until the car ceased production in 1997, it continued to gain a great deal of attention.
The 1997 model year marks the last for the 9000 car. It received no significant changes for its final year of production, though many industry leaders thought Saab would update the model and continue the line. By the time the 1997 edition released, the 9000 had a staunch fan base. Opponents of the series suggest the line lacks vision and inspiration. The outdated design costs the 9000 a truly remarkable sales record.
For the 1997 model year, the Saab 9000 came with either a four-cylinder turbo engine or a V-6 motor. Both offer incredible power and certainly do their job of moving the large sedan around with exceptional acceleration. The instrument panel functions, though it sits in an odd place and has an odd design for some people's preferences.
Like the past versions of the Saab 9000, the 1997 version offers a lot of space. This makes the car do well as an executive option, family car, and sedan for the elderly. In addition to plenty of head and leg room, the 9000 provides sufficient cargo space as well.
The original Saab 9000 appeared in the U.S. in the 1984 model year. This car gives the Swedish company's answer to the large sedan craze. Its design keeps comfort and elegance in mind. As noted, this particular model quickly won favor with companies with fleet cars, as well as with individual professionals. Families and older people favor the well-appointed sedan as well. From the first version, the 9000 comes equipped with just about any luxury or feature the consumer could need. For this reason, the 9000 offers three trim levels, with options for additional features as the buyer sees fit.
In addition to the large amounts of space in the cabin, as well as in the cargo area, the 9000 also offers a great deal in the way of power under the hood. Saab equips these cars with plenty of power. Still, many auto industry leaders feel the car responds a bit sluggishly under certain circumstances. Overall, the powertrain meets expectations for a large sedan. It provides power, good acceleration, and decent steering. These cars can be challenging to find used. Many people prefer to keep their 9000s as long as possible.
1998 Saab 9000
Hatchback, Luxury
By 1998 the Saab 9000 was already an old car, and got replaced with the Saab 9-5 later that year.
1997 Saab 9000
The Saab 9000 has been in production since 1986.
1996 Saab 9000
The 1996 Saab 9000 is an executive car manufactured by the Swedish automaker.
1995 Saab 9000
Hatchback, Luxury, Sedan
The 1995 Saab 9000 is a midsize executive car manufactured by the Swedish carmaker since 1986.


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The U.S. Department of Justice has proposed a solution to address Apple's ebook price fixing. The remedy places restrictions on how Apple makes deals with publishers, including the immediate termination of their current deals with five publishers, and forces Apple to change policy with regards to ebook apps linking to external stores for at least two years. Additionally, the order would have the court appoint an external antitrust monitor at Apple, says the DOJ release:
The monitor, whose salary and expenses will be paid by Apple, will work with an internal antitrust compliance officer who will be hired by and report exclusively to the outside directors comprising Apple's audit committee. The antitrust compliance officer will be responsible for training Apple's senior executives and other employees about the antitrust laws and ensuring that Apple abides by the relief ordered by the court.
Apple was found to have consipired to fix ebook prices on July 10. Apple has said that they plan to appeal the ruling, though their chances of success are very slim. The five publishers that had also been sued by the DOJ had previously settled last year.
One element of the DOJ's proposed remedy which is of particular interest is the ebook apps policy change. Currently, apps are not allowed to link to external stores, including ebook apps like Amazon's Kindle or Barnes & Noble's Nook app. The Kindle app recently found a workaround for this issue, but if the solution is accepted by the court, Apple will be forced to allow the Kindle, Nook, and other ebook apps to link to their companies' stores to allow customers to compare prices easily.
This proposal by the DOJ, along with others will be presented to the court in a hearing held later this month.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice


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Model Search: January 2014
The TransWorld SURF Model Search rips into 2014 with the help of our sponsors B. Swim and VonZipper! Miss January 2014 will be awarded a $250 credit toward the VZ online store and a free bikini from B. Swim. Who's your pick to win? Cast your vote in the comment section!
To enter the TransWorld SURF Model Search email your photos to [email protected] Please include name, age, hometown, and interests.


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The Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) offers graduate programs leading to the degrees of Doctor of Philosophy and Master of Science. Graduate instruction and research programs are available in all areas of importance in electrical engineering. The graduate program is tailored to meet the specific needs of the individual student. Students choose their area of specialization from the following:
The research and education activities in ECEGP are interdisciplinary and have strong synergy with other departments and programs on campus, including:
Candidates in the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in ECE are expected to make an original and significant contribution to knowledge in a specialized area. The ECE PhD program consists of passing a preliminary PhD evaluation, an individualized program of study, performing satisfactorily on a qualifying examination and completing a research dissertation. Please refer to the Ph.D. Degree Requirements for more details.
The ECE PhD program is affiliated with the Designated Emphasis in Biotechnology (DEB) inter-graduate group program, which allows Ph.D. students to receive and be credited for training in the area of biotechnology.
ECEGP offers two types of Masters of Science (MS) degrees. Plan I requires the completion of a thesis; Plan II requires additional coursework and an examination. Plan I gives the student an opportunity to perform in-depth research and thesis writing, whereas Plan II provides more information from coursework. Please refer to the M.S. Degree Requirements for more details.
|Sacksith Ekkaphanh
Graduate Program Coordinator
(530) 752-1726
|Khaled Abdel-Ghaffar
Professor and Vice Chair for Graduate Studies
|Erkin Şeker
Associate Professor and
Graduate Faculty Advisor


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I actually developed an interest in computers that pre-dates the internet, as we know it (with the graphical user interface, html web pages, etc…). I can remember way back when, being in attendance at a local school where a representative from a large telecommunications company was speaking about computers and that something innovative was on the horizon that would change our lives, as we know it. What he was talking about at the time was the building of the internet. No one in attendance, including myself, could really grasp at what he was talking about and just how important it would become.
It was some years later, as a result of computers and the internet, my life changed for me personally. Suddenly being labeled as a computer geek, I was thrust into a new career field (as an IT Manager) where I became part of that innovation of what we call internet. Our entire lives has been changed by the internet and the connectivity it has brought; AND, without it we would be at a great loss.
I started thinking about all of this; and, knowing the digital world being as it is, was there was a way to go back in time to revisit the internet in days past? You know, sort of reminisce… It was after this thought that I remembered hearing about the Wayback Machine.
The Wayback Machine is "a service that allows people to visit archived versions of Web sites. Visitors to the Wayback Machine can type in a URL, select a date range, and then begin surfing on an archived version of the Web. Imagine surfing circa 1999 and looking at all the Y2K hype, or revisiting an older version of your favorite Web site. The Internet Archive Wayback Machine can make all of this possible".
You are not going to find every site ever created out there, but the Wayback Machine is a great learning and research tool and is just plain interesting to see what the internet landscape looked like in years gone by. For example here is part of a page I pulled from Microsoft's web site in December 1997:
You can also upload your own digital artifacts to the Wayback Machine, as well…
Visit Bookmarks4Techs.com
And I Thought Black Widows Had It Bad!
Turning Your Regular TV into a Smart TV
Remove hotstartsearch.com, removal instructions
SanDisk Ultra 64 GB MicroSDXC Class 10 UHS-1 Memory Card with Adapter


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After building up the Glendale Community College men's and women's teams and leading each to appearances in the California Community College Athletic Assn. Golf Championship, Greg Osbourne resigned his post as coach to become Cal State Bakersfield's director of golf.
Osbourne recently accepted the position with Bakersfield and will replace the retiring Dave Barber, effective June 6. He will coach both programs at Bakersfield, which will be joining the Western Athletic Conference next season.
Osbourne built the Glendale college men's program from the ground up when the program was reinstated in 2008 after being suspended in 1985, culminating with an appearance in the state tournament in 2011. He took over the women's golf program from Kirt Kohlmeier in 2010 and the Vaqueros found plenty of success statewide. Tammy Panich won the state's individual championship in 2010 and the Vaqueros finished second in the state tournament in 2011 and 2012.
However, the opportunity to move to the Division I level left Osbourne, a former men's golfer at Glendale college and a 1976 Hoover High graduate, intrigued.
"It's something that I've wanted to do for a long time, but, if it weren't for GCC and the support I have received here, I wouldn't be going to Bakersfield with this opportunity," said Osbourne, who piloted the women's team to Western State Conference championships in 2011 and 2012 and is a member of the Professional Golfers' Assn. "We were able to have a lot of great players come through GCC the last few years and we shared a lot of success.
"I owe a lot to the people across the board at GCC. Now, I have an opportunity to go out there and recruit players from around the country and world and sell them on Bakersfield. I want to eventually win a national championship."
The women's team nearly won a state championship in 2011, but came up one stroke short.
Glendale's men's team finished tied for third in conference this season, but missed out on qualifying for the Southern California Regionals. The Vaqueros did send sophomore Jin Park to the Southern California Regionals in the individual competition.
Park, a Burbank High graduate, said he thrived learning from Osbourne and indicated he might follow Osbourne to Bakersfield.
"I really just respect him as a coach and am thankful for showing me the ropes and improving," Park said. "He's enthusiastic and supportive about the teams he's coaching.
"He's helped me with strategy and how to plan playing different holes. I'd like to go there and play for him."
Glendale men's Athletic Director John Cicuto said Osbourne, who captured the National Assn. of Intercollegiate Athletics District III individual championship in 1984 while at California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks and picked up All-American honors, raised the bar for both programs.
"How awesome is that to get both of our teams to state in such a short period of time?," said Cicuto, who added that a search for a new coach will likely begin shortly. "He was a great fit for us and did a fabulous job at fundraising.
"We are really going to miss him here, but it's a great opportunity for him to be able to go to the next level. We love to see our coaches move up, and it's especially hard to do at the Division I level. I'm excited about him going there."
Bakersfield's men's team competed in the America Sky Conference in recent seasons and the women's squad was a member of the West Coast Conference last season.
The WAC will include New Mexico State, Seattle University, Idaho, Chicago State, Utah Valley, University of Texas Pan American and the University of Missouri at Kansas City.
Osbourne said the Roadrunners will have the ability to recruit nationwide.
"Bakersfield has great facilities and great courses," Osbourne said. "We will be playing in a big-time conference. The town is getting bigger."
Ziggy Siegfried, the university's senior associate athletic director overseeing both golf programs, said Osbourne met the requirements to fill the position.
"Greg is coming in at a great time and will be a very good fit for each program," Siegfried said. "We think he can come in here and start competing for conference titles and keep growing the programs.
"He's passionate, very enthusiastic and has that drive to take our golf program to the next level in Division I."


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Essays in health and environmental economics: Challenges in the empirical analysis of micro-level economic survey data
Cai, Beilei, 1979-
MetadataShow full item record
Cai, Beilei, 1979-
Micro-level survey data are widely used in applied economic research. This dissertation, which consists of three empirical papers, demonstrates challenges in empirical research using micro-level survey data, as well as some methods to accommodate these problems. Chapter II examines the effect of China's recent public health insurance reform on health utilization and health status. Chinese policy makers have been eager to identify how this reform, characterized by a substantial increase in out-of-pocket costs, has affected health care demand and health status. However, due to self-selection of individuals into the publicly insured group, the impact of the reform remains an unresolved issue. I employ a Heckman selection model in the context of difference-in-difference regression to accommodate the selection problem, and provide the first solid empirical evidence that the recent public health insurance reforms in China adversely affected both health care access and health status for publicly insured individuals. Chapter III examines the construct validity of a stated preference (SP) survey concerning climate change policy. Due to the fact that the SP survey method remains a controversial tool for benefit-cost analysis, every part of the survey deserves thorough examination to ensure the quality of the data. Using a random utility approach, I establish that there is a great deal of logical consistency between people's professed attitudes toward different payment vehicles and their subsequent choices among policies which vary in the incidence of their costs. Chapter IV employs the same survey data used in Chapter III, but demonstrates the potential for order effects stemming from prior attitude-elicitation questions. In addition, it considers the potential impact of these order effects on Willingness to Pay (WTP) estimates for climate change mitigation. I find the orderings of prior elicitation questions may change people's opinions toward various attributes of the different policies, and thereby increase or decrease their WTP by a substantial amount. Thus, this chapter emphasizes the significance of order effects in prior elicitation questions, and supports a call for diligence in using randomly ordered prior elicitation questions in stated preference surveys, to minimize inadvertent effects from any single arbitrary ordering.
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Health economics: Policy outcomes, individual choice, and adolescent behavior Stiffler, Peter B., 1976- (University of Oregon, 2010-03)To complement a varied and growing literature in health economics, this dissertation is conducted in three substantive parts. First, I investigate the effect of public policy on health use and health outcomes, exploiting ...
The Oregon Health Insurance Experiment: Analyzing Government-Provided Health Insurance Take-up Across Demographic Variables Hoffart, Jelena June (University of Oregon, 2018-06)In 2008, Oregon policymakers offered low-income and uninsured residents access to health insurance called the Oregon Health Plan Standard through a lottery rationing device. Studies done in conjunction with the Oregon ...
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Throughout the year, the Office of Admissions receives
notices of scholarships that are offered through external
organizations. Information about the scholarship awards
that are currently available is listed below. Award
notices are listed in the order in which they were received.
You may also find information on other outside scholarship
awards on the Internet. The following sites are useful
for finding scholarship and financial aid information:
The HotelsCheap Scholarship Program
Application Deadline: April 15, 2014
HotelsCheap is offering $1500 scholarships for students aspiring to achieve a college education. Having attended college ourselves, we appreciate the difficulty students face in financing their education, and we recognize the benefits a college degree can provide. That's why our need-based scholarship rewards students who are looking to better themselves, who have goals and dreams, and who are committed to achieving a college degree. US students who are 16 years of age or older are encouraged to apply for our scholarships. High school students, undergraduate students, master degree students, and adult learners are all encouraged to apply at http://www.hotelscheap.org/scholarship.
The Buckfire & Buckfire Diversity Scholarship
Application Deadline: May 31, 2014
The Michigan personal injury lawyers of Buckfire & Buckfire, P.C. are pleased to announce its first annual 2014 Diversity Scholarship for law students. The scholarship was created as part of Buckfire & Buckfire's commitment to build on the promise of diversity within the workplace, community and society.
The Diversity Scholarship is $2,000.00 and will be awarded to a student who is currently attending an accredited law school, who is either a member of an ethical or racial minority or demonstrates commitment to issues of diversity within their academic career. The second annual award will be awarded in 2014. All information can be found by visiting our website at www.BuckfireLaw.com and following the "Student Scholarships" link on the right hand column. Interested students are encouraged to apply.
Illinois Judicial Council Foundation Scholarships
Application Deadline: April 25, 2014
The Illinois Judicial Council (IJC) Foundation announces its 2014 Law School Scholarships. The IJC, founded in 1983, is an organization comprised primarily, but not exclusively, of African-American State and Federal judges, administrative judges and hearing officers. It has dedicated itself to bridging the gap between the judiciary and the community through educational dialogues regarding the legal system. Since 1999, the IJC Foundation has funded numerous scholarships, totaling in excess of $100,000 to minority and other deserving law school students throughout Illinois and beyond. To be eligible for consideration, an applicant must meet all of the following criteria: be enrolled full-time in an accredited Illinois law school, submit an official transcript, submit a financial statement, submit a completed scholarship application, submit two letters of recommendation, submit a personal statement and resume, and submit to a personal interview by the scholarship committee. Click here for the 2014 application form. Applications and supporting documentation must be submitted electronically to email@example.com by Friday, April 25, 2014.
The Finnegan Diversity Scholarship
Application Deadline: February 14, 2014
The Finnegan Diversity Scholarship Program is accepting applications. The scholarship provides financial support to law students who have demonstrated a commitment to pursuing a career in IP law and enhancing diversity in the legal profession. The scholarship award of $15,000 may be applied to costs associated with normal tuition and fees (such as, but not limited to, student activity fees: law school or university fees, and administrative fees). The scholarship recipient will also accept an offer to join the firm as a 2015 Summer Associate in one of the firm's domestic offices (Atlanta, Boston, Palo Alto, Reston or Washington). Students currently completing their first year full-time (or second year part-time) are invited to apply.
The award will be applied to education costs the following academic year, and may be renewed for one additional year if the scholar accepts an associate offer upon successful completion of the Finnegan summer associate program, maintains a GPA of 3.0 or better in law school, and is otherwise in good standing. Additional information about the scholarship and application form are posted online at www.finnegan.com/careers. The deadline for applications is February 14, 2014.
The Buick Achievers Scholarship Program
Application Deadline: February 28, 2014
The Buick Achievers Scholarship Program is still accepting applications for its 2014 scholarship. This year, Buick will award 100 renewable scholarships of $25,000 each to scholarship recipients. For more details, go to: http://www.buickachievers.com/.
Free Law Student Scholarship Passes to Sterling Education Seminar
Application Deadline: February 19, 2014
Sterling Education Services is offering 5 law students free scholarship-passes to an upcoming seminar as an introduction to our company. Sterling is a non-profit continuing education company that conducts seminars across the nation. Please visit us online for information on our company.
We are holding a/an Employment Law: Beyond the Basics seminar in Naperville, Illinois on February 19, 2014 and we would like to offer 5 law students free scholarship-passes to this seminar. The students get a day-long overview of a particular aspect of the law, a seminar manual, and an opportunity to network with practicing attorneys.
Students who wish to register can call 715-855-0495 or register through www.sterlingeducation.com/free-law-student-passes. Only current law students may take advantage of these passes and MUST provide their student id number or other proof of enrollment in order to register. All students must be pre-registered; no walk-ins.
The William McClain Scholarship funded by the Black Lawyers Association of Cincinnati and the Cincinnati Bar Association
The William McClain Scholarship is funded jointly by the Black Lawyers Association of Cincinnati (BLAC) and the Cincinnati Bar Association and awarded to a Black student and Hamilton County, Ohio resident attending any accredited law school who demonstrates leadership potential, dedication to community, and a financial need. For additional scholarship information, please visit the BLAC website at www.cincyBLAC.org.
ABA Legal Opportunity Scholarship
Application Deadline: March 3, 2014
The ABA Legal Opportunity Scholarship Fund will award $5,000 of financial assistance annually to each scholarship recipient attending an ABA-accredited law school. An award made to an entering first-year student may be renewable for two additional years, resulting in financial assistance totaling $15,000 during his or her time in law school. Recipients will be selected based on their qualifications for the scholarship and not on the law school they plan to attend. Therefore law students applying to any and all-ABA accredited law schools may benefit from these scholarships. The application is available online at www.ambar.org/DiversityScholarship. Completed scholarship applications must be postmarked no later than March 3, 2014.
The Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago Scholarship
Application Deadline: February 15, 2014
Educational scholarship funds from the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago are available for the 2014-2015 academic year. Approximately $500,000 is available for Jewish students who are identified as having promise for significant contributions in their chosen careers, and are in need of financial assistance for full-time academic programs primarily in the helping professions. To be eligible a student must: be enrolling or enrolled full-time; be domiciled in the Chicago metropolitan community; establish financial need; and demonstrate career promise. The Jewish Vocational Service administers the scholarship program and personally interviews all applicants at one of its many offices throughout the Chicago metropolitan area. To apply, go to http://jvschicago.org/training-education/scholarship-services/.
Illinois Judges Foundation Scholarship
Application Deadline: January 31, 2014
The Illinois Judges Foundation announces its 2014 scholarship in honor of the late Harold Sullivan. The Foundation annually awards scholarship money to one or more Illinois law students. First and second year law students at all of the Illinois law schools are eligible to apply. The 2014 application sets forth the eligibility criteria as well as what is required of the applicant. The application is due on January 31, 2014.
The Fair Rate Funding Scholarship
Application Deadline: December 15, 2013
Fair Rate Funding has annoucned their 2014 scholarship. The Scholarship is open to any student enrolled in an accredited American law school or undergraduate paralegal program for the Spring Semester, 2014. A $1,000 scholarship will be awarded to the winner. Applicants must submit an essay of 1,000 words minimum on the topic, "Why is litigation finance an important piece of the legal landscape?". A $1,000 scholarship will be awarded to the winner on January 15, 2014; and can be used toward tuition or books. To apply, submit your essay to firstname.lastname@example.com. Additional details can be found at: http://fairratefunding.com/blog/2013/10/10/lawsuit-funding-nj-3/.
The Mark T. Banner Scholarship for Law Students
Application Deadline: December 6, 2013
The Linn Inn Mark T. Banner Scholarship was created in the name of the late Mark T. Banner, a former Linn Inn founder and Master, a leader in the field of patent law in his own right, and the son of Donald W. Banner. This scholarship is part of the Linn Inn's commitment to fostering the development of intellectual property lawyers with commitment to ethics, professionalism and civility. The scholarship is open to all students currently enrolled in an ABA accredited law school interested in pursuing a career in intellectual property law. Applicants must have exemplary writing and oral communication skills. Recipients of the scholarship will receive $5,000 payable for the fall 2014 semester. Applications are online at http://www.linninn.org/marktbanner.htm.
Donald W. Banner Diversity Scholarship
Application Deadline: January 6, 2014
Banner & Witcoff, Ltd. is pleased to offer the Donald W. Banner Diversity Scholarship for law students. This scholarship is part of Banner & Witcoff's continuing commitment to fostering the development of intellectual property lawyers from diverse backgrounds.
The Donald W. Banner Diversity Scholarship is open to all students currently enrolled in an American Bar Association accredited law school and pursuing a career in intellectual property law. The applicant must be a member of a historically under represented group (including race, sex, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and disability) and must have exemplary Writing and oral communication skills. For more information about this scholarship and to apply, visit www.bannerwitcoff.com/diversity.
Farzad Family Law Scholarship
Application deadline: December 15, 2013
The Farzad Family Law Group recently announced a new scholarship opportunity. Farzad Family Law believes in innovation in legal education and commitment to public service. This scholarship is their way of giving back to their community.
All of the scholarship details and application information is posted on their website at http://farzadlaw.com/farzad-family-law-scholarship/.
QuickShip.com Scholarship Essay Contest
QuickShip.com is announcing a $1,000 essay contest. This contest is open to all undergraduate and graduate students. For more information, please visit their website at http://www.quickship.com/scholarship_program.php.
Hellenic Bar Association Scholarship
Application deadline: October 11, 2013
The Hellenic Bar Association is currently accepting applications from 2nd and 3rd year law students of Greek descent. Several scholarships are awarded each year. The deadline for submitting applications is Friday, October 11, 2013 at 5:00 p.m. For additional information regarding the application, eligibility requirements, and submission process, please click here: http://www.hellenicbar.org/Default.aspx?pageId=1664526
"If the Shoe Fits" Birkenstock Scholarship
Footwear University announces its annual "If the Shoe Fits" Birkenstock Scholarship for 2013. This $1,000 scholarship recognizes a motivated student who writes well. For details regarding the scholarship, visit the Birkenstock scholarship webiste at: http://birkenstocks.sandals4less.com/blog/scholarship/.
The Boone County Bar Association Scholarship
The Boone County Bar Association awards a $1,000 scholarship each year to a student that is acceptaed or currently attending an American Bar Association accredited law school. The applicant must either be a current Boone County resident or a resident of Boone County at the time of his or her high school graduation. This scholarship is for the 2013-14 school year and the deadline for consideration is December 15, 2013. Copies of the application are available in the Office of Admissions, Suite 230.
The South Suburban Bar Association Henry A. Gentile Memorial Scholarship
Application Deadline: November 22, 2013
The South Suburban Bar Association has a $1,500 scholarship available to students who meet the criteria set by the South Suburban Bar Association. To apply, students must meet the following criteria: attending an accredited local law school; be a resident of the South Suburbs of Cook County and must have a present interest to practice law in the South Suburbs; and demonstrated financial need. Students interested in applying must submit a brief resume and a cover letter (200 word maximum) indicating why they want to practice on the Southside. Cover letters and resumes must be forwarded directly to South Suburban Bar Association Scholarship Committee, attn: Daniel D. Hinich, 17926 S. Halsted St., Suite 3S. Homewood, IL 60430.
Interviews will be conducted on Saturday, November 23, 2013. In order to receive the scholarship award, the student must attend the South Suburban Association Installation Dinner to be held Friday, December 6, 2013.
The Morton and Shirley Kessler Kessler Award
Application Deadline: November 25, 2013
Richard N. Kessler, `82, and his wife Lesley, established this award in honor of Rick's parents, Morton and Shirley Kessler, who have instilled in them the importance of helping others. Morton and Shirley are role models by living their lives giving unconditional love for family, having deep faith and exhibiting a strong work ethic. The Morton and Shirley Kessler Award will be made to a continuing law student of good academic standing who has demonstrated significant need for financial assistance for law school expenses. This scholarship will be awarded in spring 2014. To apply for this $2500 scholarship, applicants should forward a letter of interest, financial statement, and current resume to the Office of Admissions, ATTN: Karla Davis, firstname.lastname@example.com.
The Roddy Scholarship
Joseph V. Roddy, a 1962 Chicago-Kent graduate, established this fund to provide financial assistance to evening division students currently working in law enforcement. Preference for this scholarhip is given to first year students and the award amounts range from $1,500 to $3,000. This scholarship will be awarded in spring 2014. To apply, applicants should forward a letter of interest and current resume to the Office of Admissions, ATTN: Karla Davis, firstname.lastname@example.com.
The Geri and Ron Yonover Fellowship
The Geri and Ron Yonover Fellowship was established to provide financial assistance to a full-time student who has completed his or her first year of law school and has primary custody of a child or children under the age of fifteen. The $5,000 fellowship will help defray the cost of the recipient's tuition in spring 2014. To apply, applicants should forward a letter of interest, copy of law school transcript, and current resume to the Office of Admissions, ATTN: Karla Davis, email@example.com.
The Reed Smith 2013 Diverse Scholars Program
Application Deadline: August 5, 2013
Reed Smith has a strong commitment to diversity which has resulted in a firm in which diversity and inclusion permeate the culture. Rewarding young future leaders for their efforts in the area of diversity and introducing them to the Reed Smith culture are two important goals of this program.
The Diverse Scholars Program provides two $15,000 awards toward tuition for the second year of law school, as well as a paid summer associate position after completion of the second year of law school. The program is open to first-year law students who have demonstrated excellent academic scholarship and a commitment to diversity, inclusion and community.
Scholarship applicants must submit a resume, a completed application, a personal statement, law school transcript, undergraduate transcript and a legal writing sample as part of the application process.
Summer associate positions in 2014 are available in: Chicago;Richmond, VA; Los Angeles; San Francisco; New York City; Philadelphia; Pittsburgh;Houston; and Washington, D.C. Applications must be postmarked by August 5, 2013.
Students may also visit the Diverse Scholars page located within the law students section at http://careers.reedsmith.com for more information about our program and to download an application.
To learn more about our commitment to diversity and inclusion, please visit http://diversity.reedsmith.com/
Commerce Bank Scholarship Sweepstakes
Application Deadline: August 31, 2013
Need money for law school? Commerce Bank is offering a $1,000 scholarship giveaway. To register to win, visit www.CommerceBank.com/ScholarshipGiveaway. All entries must be received by August 31, 2013 to be included in the onetime drawing.
Footwear University announces its annual "If the Shoe Fits" Birkenstock Scholarship for 2013. This $1,000 scholarship recognizes a motivated student who writes well. For details regarding the scholarship, visit the Birkenstock scholarship webiste at: http://birkenstocks.sandals4less.com/blog/scholarship/.
CustomMade.com Scholarship Opportunities
Application deadline: varies
CustomMade.com announces two new scholarships available to students. CustomMade is a marketplace that allows you to commission custom projects from over 3,000 talented, independent makers. Following are the links to the scholarships:
Custom Furniture Scholarship
Custom Jewelry Scholarship
NerdWallet Law Scholarships
NerdWallet is a free search engine which allows students to search through over 10,000 scholarship and financial aid resources. Interested students should check out their law school scholarships at http://www.nerdwallet.com/education/scholarships/scholarship-for-Law%20School#/scholarship-for-Law%20School.
For a complete list of the awards that have been posted
in the 2013-14 Record, click
here. Although the application deadlines for these awards
have already passed, this information can aid you in planning
for next year by assisting you in determining the time of
year that certain awards are typically offered. You
may also access a complete list of the 2012-13 scholarship
notices by clicking here.
If you have been awarded a Chicago-Kent scholarship for
the 2012-13 academic year, please refer to the Scholarship
Policies from the current Student Handbook for important
information concerning your award. Please direct any
questions about your scholarship to the Office
of Admissions, Suite 230.
Main Chicago-Kent event
Academic calendar
CLE calendar
Alumnae/i event calendar
Admissions calendar


text:
As an independent Ford service repair centre and our aim is to provide our customers with an alternative to the high servicing and repair costs associated with large Ford dealerships.
Since Australian Laws have changed, Independent Garages can carry out new car servicing without making your warranty invalid. Getting your vehicle serviced with Robert St Automotive means that your new cars warranty is always protected. This is because we use genuine and approved spare parts which are of "Original Equipment" (OE) quality standard. Your Log book is stamped on every Log Book service we do.
Robert St Automotive Car Service can carry out normal maintenance, servicing and repairs during a vehicle's warranty period without invalidating the vehicles factory warranty.
The service is carried out in accordance with the vehicle manufactures servicing schedules. To maintain and keep your warranty in tact your service book is validated by us after every routine service.
At Robert St Automotive we carry offer a dealership type services, without the high dealership prices. Even the simplest of jobs like resetting a service light in today's modern cars requires expensive diagnostic equipment.
At Robert St Automotive we have invested in the latest Ford dealership equipment which allows us to carry out all routine servicing and diagnostic and coding functions at labor rates that are up to 30% less than the new car dealerships.
A full service history can enhance the potential resale value of your vehicle. Regular servicing is the way to ensure that your Ford maintains an optimum level of performance during its ownership cycle.
There is a choice between variable servicing and time and distance servicing. For a vehicle being serviced according to time and distance, services will be required at fixed intervals. Where variable servicing is chosen, sensors located within your engine and other working components of the vehicle will inform you when servicing is required.
If you are looking for value, quality, and convenience. Then look no further. We offer a first class service and repair facility and provide you with a dealer type service at independent garage prices. At Robert St Automotive we undertake all types of work, from servicing, replacing timing belts and full engine diagnostics to electronic management and service warning light reset. All work on your vehicle, will be carried out to the very highest standard using only approved spare parts


text:
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Vanity Fair and You: The Untold Story.
So... TheoryCrafting, amirite? I'm not very familiar with the subject, considering I never actually read one, but they still grind my gears. The people who follow them like some kind of holy scripture do, anyway. In my... travels, or as I like to call it, my sitting in my room playing this game for a year, I experienced many jerkfaces who decided that they are better than everyone else because they learned how to play from reading Vanity Fair, or whatever they read that tells them how to play.
Well I'm not so sure it's something to be proud of.
The most rewarding part of this game for me was being good at what I do and the learning process that led me there. To me, it seems like people who open up Seventeen Magazine and read the "HOW2WoW PLZ" guide are just cheating. The most upsetting part about this cheating is that it usually produces characters that really only care about their own damage. "Oh, I don't use Curse of Elements or Shadows because they're a waste." "Oh, I only spec Arcane/Fire because being useful doesn't exactly have the DPS output that I desire." "Oh, I like hitting things with maces because -insert good rogue skill here- is not a good skill." (actually i've never quite understood the mace rogue theory, since it seems like they don't do damage and they're not stealthy. but i felt i should mention them because... because they are lolz, i guess)
Don't do that :[!
Now I'm not saying that every Cosmopolitan entry on WoW is rife with misinformation, but in my experience, everyone who ever said, "Hey I read about this spec..." ended up being absolutely horrible at their job in every way. Therefore I made up these horrible stories in my head that all guides everywhere tell people to spam shadowbolts and arcane blast and completely ignore everything except the numbers on the damage meters. If I happen to ever start playing again, I can modify my opinion, but for now I'm sticking to it!
Anyways. It's just very frustrating to see people be completely selfish in a teamwork-based game after 30 days of playtime. Are teen girl magazines to blame? Possibly. It really depends on whether I want to think that the WoW population is easily brainwashed, or just stupid and selfish.
Circumstances have called for an edit:
I'd like to be quite clear that I am not being mean to all research everywhere, nor am I picking on everyone who has ever done research for their class. I am only criticizing those who like to take all of their knowledge of their class from the internet without putting any thought into it. And yes, I fully understand that mages who don't sheep and warlocks who... are idiots exist regardless of their reading habits.
You'd understand if you had met Rick. ;-;
13 comments:
- Doyce said...
The answer, I'm afraid, is "both".
Just wait until Wrath comes out and all the things they learned were the one true way... aren't.
- July 29, 2008 at 10:55 AM
- Phaelia said...
@Doyce: People who enjoy reading and learning about their classes will continue to perform well in the expansion because they will continue to learn rather than basing their playstyle on previous "personal" experience as the original poster seems to prefer.
Out of respect for Bell, I won't give my full opinion of the contents of this post, but I'm going to instead assume that it's an odd attempt at satire. ^_^ In which case, LOL!!!
- July 29, 2008 at 11:22 AM
- Surzlala said...
Doyce- Oh goodness. That'll certainly be a fun time.
Phaelia- It's not satire. I don't care for people who base their playstyles on what other people do.
- July 29, 2008 at 11:47 AM
- Valenna said...
I was going to say how brillant this post was for being the most sardonic posts I've read yet on the ignorance of players that refuse to research their class or the game. And the sheer genius of comparing all the sources of theorycrafting and tips to teen girls magazines as the ulimate in sarcasm.
But apparently, I can't.
To compare research of your class as paramount to cheating is however hilarious.
This reminds me of the debate between science and religion. Do you decide to research a topic, consult experts, come to an educated conclusion or do you just have blind faith that you're playing the right way and decide that just because you've been rewarded in a postive way (next level, quest gear) that your style of play is right?
You decide to rant and make snap decisions about an entire group of people after admitting you've never even read a theorycrafting article.
If you want to play a single player game then researching how to play the game may be considered cheating to some people. Those same people might not want to know how to get to the secret portion of a video game without finding it themselves. Others enjoy maximizing their performance in the game.
However, this is a multiplayer game. That's the second M in MMO. Not learning how to optimize your role for multiplayer is a disservice to everyone you play with. This is true no matter what sport or game you play. Would a professional athlete train by themselves in a vacuum, or would they research and find out the best methods of training, exercise and play to perform better at their sport? Team sports players study hundreds of strategies from many sources looking to improve their play. No one on a team wants to be that person that is ill-prepared for that next game simply because they didn't do their research on the team they are about to play.
@Doyce: Those that learn to play their class and play it well, are going to take the method they used to learn their class with them to Lich King. Those that don't know how to play their class are going to carry forth the same bad play to Lich King because they simply never learned how to analyze or research a playstyle.
- July 29, 2008 at 12:08 PM
- Surzlala said...
Valenna- Now that's my kind of comment. You made me feel like a jerk, instead of making me think you're a jerk.
I fully understand where you're coming from, so. I'm not really referring to those who 'research their class'. Sure, that's fine. People who completely base their playstyles off of what they read are cheating, because they never really learned to play themselves.
It seems as though I had a skewed idea of theorycrafting in the first place, and I apologize for that. It's true, I have read articles that people wrote after tirelessly crunching numbers so they can prove that Drain Life doesn't do damage. Goodness, I'm a hypocrite :(!
Also, it seems like we have had opposite experiences as well. I've had to deal with mages that don't sheep because it squanders their mana that could be used for using firebolts because they read it in Vanity Fair, whereas you have had to deal with paladins who spec Retribution because they thought it seemed neat and they didn't want a paladin blog to tell them otherwise.
Yes, I made up your story, but I imagine it's happened to you, anyway.
So thanks for making me feel like a jerk so I could revisit my opinion and try to undo the damage I have done to my honour.
- July 29, 2008 at 12:20 PM
- Valenna said...
I came away from the post feeling like people were being criticized for trying to find out how to play better.
However, maybe it was addressing instead the practice of taking someone else's wisdom without analyzing it for yourself.
Also, it's just not one tip that's going to make you a better player. It's reading more and more, asking more and more players and then experiencing the strategies yourself that is going to improve your play.
If you blindly take someone else's advice without attempting to understand it yourself, you have done yourself and everyone you play with a huge disservice.
I have played with players who insist on using some "tip" they read on the internet that has wiped the party, but I've also played with competent Retribution paladins who have made positive contributions to a group and are great players.
- July 29, 2008 at 12:41 PM
- Phaelia said...
@Surzala: Very cool. I think that learning from lots of different sources and letting others' experiences encourage you to try new things helps a player to find the playstyle that best suits them. There's nothing wrong with "breaking the mold" of what's accepted, but you should do so by first being well-informed about why you're making adjustments. That is, after all, how new molds are formed. :-)
- July 29, 2008 at 12:49 PM
Bad players will be bad players regardless of whether they do research or not. A Mage not Sheeping is worse than a Hunter not Trapping. Sheeping is easy and if a Mage refuses to do it, it's a sign of a bad player.
I just can't see doing research as cheating. I can't. So many things in the game are difficult to know or understand without looking it up.
Go find X-dude in Y zone isn't exactly helpful as a quest tip, but sometimes that's all you get. I don't know about you, but it would frustrate the hell out of me if I had to search an entire zone to find somebody.
"But Stupid, you'll miss out on all the exploring and whatever!" No, sorry. I'd rather drop quest. I don't have hours and hours to spend "exploring".
THANK YOU all you bloggers and explorers and number crunchers. THANK YOU for doing all that stuff and sharing. My game is so much more fun thanks to you.
- July 29, 2008 at 2:57 PM
- Awlbiste said...
I am Jack's endless confusion. No theorycrafter worth their salt is going to tell mages not to sheep. Also, in a raid situation a large percentage of the time a dps class's "utility" is, well, dps.
- July 29, 2008 at 3:29 PM
- Surzlala said...
Awlbiste- Please re-read the last sentence of the first paragraph.
- July 29, 2008 at 4:33 PM
- Matticus said...
I don't cheat! I bend the rules to my will!
...And stuff.
- July 30, 2008 at 12:30 PM
- Armond said...
The rogue mace thing is a PvP thing only. The mace spec talent lets you get random stuns in every now and then, and it triggers a lot faster when you're dual-wielding.
That is, of course, much less useful in PvE, where 50% of everything is immune to stun...
- July 31, 2008 at 7:30 AM
Not to mention that Tanks get pissed when you stun stuff.
- July 31, 2008 at 3:35 PM


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The Russians are Coming!
The FBI in Our Open Society
Despite its broad title, this is a very narrow book. It has two themes: (1) All criticism of the FBI to date has been largely based on a distortion of the record. (2) In the opinion of the Overstreets, no criticism of the FBI is warranted. The development of these themes reveals that the Overstreets, themselves are capable of considerable distortion, and that they know very little about the FBI.
Almost half of the book is devoted to demolishing the FBI's critics. The style of the attack is sufficiently shown by the treatment given, on a single subject, to two of them—Max Lowenthal and Fred J. Cook—each of whom is the subject of a separate chapter and of running fire throughout. Lowenthal's The Federal Bureau of Investigation, first published in 1950, was the first comprehensive criticism of the FBI. Cook's the The FBI Nobody Knows, published in 1964, was the second. Neither could be described as an objective study. Both contain distortions beyond the "reasonable margin for error" which the Overstreets would "grant to any author who copes with a host of details."
All three books begin their accounts of the FBI by exploring its origin. The originator, all agree, was Theodore Roosevelt's Attorney General Charles Bonaparte (grandson of Emperor Napoleon's brother). In his 1907 report to Congress he complained that the Department of Justice had "no permanent detective force," being obliged to borrow special agents from the Secret Service Division of the Treasury Department. Although the 1870 statute creating the Department of Justice gave him ample authority to create such a force without additional legislation, he repeated his complaint in his testimony before a subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee of the Sixtieth Congress in 1908, and again in 1909.
The subcommittee was more interested in his existing arrangements than in his proposals. The Secret Service Division had much earlier been subjected to criticism for its role in investigating the amorous adventures of a Navy officer on leave and, more to the point, for airing unsustained charges that a Congressman had tampered with an appropriation bill. As a consequence, its appropriations had for some time been granted expressly for the detection and punishment of counterfeiting and violating pay and bounty laws—with protection of the President added in 1907—"and for no other purpose whatever."
It seemed to the subcommittee that the use of Secret Service agents by other Departments for other purposes violated this attempt by Congress to control their use. Accordingly, it recommended and Congress adopted a new limitation in the 1908 and 1909 appropriation acts forbidding other Departments to use appropriated funds to pay Secret Service agents from the Treasury Department. In the course of House debates on this matter only Appropriations Committee Chairman Tawney opposed a permanent detective force for the Department of Justice. But other Congressmen, including most of the members of the subcommittee, expressed their opposition to a "Federal secret police," to a "general system of spying upon and espionage of the people such…
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This time, instead of the usual (and heart-stoppingly terrifying) waterbugs, we have mice. Cute, teensy-tiny mice. Adorable, filthy, plague-laden mice. So wee! Really, they wouldn't wig me out overly, if I didn't think of the hanta virus every time I spotted one making a run for the dog food. And when they're sitting still, it's one thing, but usually they're rushing past. Scurrying, scuttling—any of these motions cause my limbs to flail about as I squeal girlishly. Why is this, that the tiny running things cause one to scream and scream and scream? Also! The noises. The skritchy scrabbly noises. In the walls. Like they're playing soccer with the skulls of their ancestors. And sometimes—sometimes we hear them gnawing. Gnawing at the plaster, so they can get out. And eat our brains.
We put out a trap. They ignored it. If I leave the dog food unattended for more than a minute, one of them is making a play for it, but leave a hunk of American cheese out all night and the mice decide to exert some self-control. Or else they're onto us. Actually the day after we left the trap out, the mice disappeared for a while. Then they came back, because they're stupid and also, mmm, delicious Iams Mini-Chunks. No rodent can resist it.
Then I had to kill one. The dog was sniffing at something in the corner, and there was a quarter-sized baby mouse tangled up in some wires. It was shaking violently. How could my heart not melt? Poor little disease carrier, I wept. I wept softly, because Henry was a foot away, playing with his Star Wars guys. I tried to free it from its prison. I just wanted it to go back to its hidey-hole, back where it could grow up and live to freak me out. But it wouldn't budge, and it looked sick, and also, technically, we're enemies. I had a job to do. So as Henry engaged thrusters and activated the launch sequence and kissed Darth Vader full on the lips (he really likes Darth Vader), I nudged the mouselet into a container, tipped the container into a bag, held the bag as far away from me as I could, and told Henry we had to go outside right then! To throw something out! Something gross!
This got his attention. "What is it? It's gross? What is it?" And for some reason I said, "Charlie pooped. Charlie pooped in the house, and I have to throw it out right now," and Henry said, "That's gross," and actually followed me out the door and down the stairs, all the while talking to himself about how gross that was, pooping in the house, wow, that is really really gross. And then before I could think about what I was doing, I said to Henry, "Okay, don't mind what I'm going to do right now," and lifted the bag high and slammed it against the side of the building (rest in peace, poor little mousie) and if you live in Brooklyn and you were walking past right then and you heard a boy asking his mother, "Why did you hit the house with the poop?" now you know what that meant. You're welcome.


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Final Fantasy XIV: Stormblood Benchmark Trailer
Having a trailer for a benchmark program is weird, right? It seems weird.
That said, it's a "trailer" only insofar as it's the video you'd see running the benchmark, but without all the benchmarky stuff. Perfect for those who want to see it but are on console, or don't think their computer can handle all the eye-candy that playing the game would allow.
It also showcases some of the sweet moves that the upcoming Red Mage and Samurai classes will have, in addition to new locations/enemies, outfits, and activities.
I lurves me some eye candy!
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Cite that Source: a mini rant?
Aren't we supposed to be able to write a citation with a reference to the source that others can find? I am feeling grumpy. Here's why:
Recently, Ancestry.com has made available the actual photographed pages of the 21 volumes of Arnold's Vital Records of Rhode Island. I have been examining and comparing them to the ones that I can find at the online database at New England Historical and Genealogical Society that are "supposed" to be the same. I know this means that I am spending my valuable retirement time reviewing the same records instead of finding additional sources but in many cases, Rhode Island records were simply not kept. "Why", you ask? Well, because to record a vital record, folks in RI had to PAY a fee to have them recorded. Trust me, Rhode Islanders are
As I am a member of both NEHGS and Ancestry.com, I selected my great grandparents, Nellie Scholfield and James Frederick (known as J. Fred)Barber's marriage date of 20 January, 1890 to investigate.
This record used to puzzle me as I thought James had always lived in Westerly but I found out that he was living in New Haven because he was working there as a "hair stylist" (read "barber") and confirmed that with a city directory of New Haven listing last year. A Barber being a barber is one of the reason why I no longer drink adult beverages.
Nellie and J. Fred's daughter, Hannah Josephine Barber was my maternal grandmother and a very special person in my life. She answered all my questions about family.
The photographed pages at Ancestry.com are giving the same information but in a better format. I can actually write a citation now instead of wondering what the cryptic information at NEHGS gives me. Cryptic? Keep reading....
The record at NEHGS says "Marriage (Vol. Unknown) Original Volume & page: pg. 101943) Westerly, RI." when click on this resource gives me no real page number or page heading. It gives a link to "Westerly" which brings up Christ Church, but it doesn't tell me if that is exactly where they were married or any real assurance that I am looking at the records of that exact church.
It DOES give both bride and groom's parents first names with last surnames as initials and ages of the bride and groom at marriage. (I wish all my records could include the parents names, don't you?)
The Ancestry.com page is page #39 of Section #1 Marriages whose chapter heading is on page 1 (image 47) in Vol. 11: Church Records, Member Lists, Baptisms. Confirmations, Births, Marriage and Deaths. The volume pages are confusing because the index is at the beginning of the book instead of the end. This is a crop of the Christ Church contents and pages. I am keeping this on my desk because as a person whose family was from Westerly, I have a LOT of other mysterious dates to look up.
|Contents (pages Vii-Viii)
End of rant.


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LOVE LOVE LOVE these shoes, from the look of them to how comfortable they make you feel. first you can wear them with no socks and your feet wont stink nor sweat because of the material makes easy breathing for your feet <3
Overall I loved these shoes. The only thing I have to say is that since the top part of the shoe is completely mesh so it feels loose. If I knew this was the case I would have ordered a half size smaller. Still though I do really like these shoes


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Minn. Restarts Process For Legislative Building
ST. PAUL, (AP) - A proposed Minnesota legislative office building that is being constructed on a tight timeline is headed back to the drawing board.
The Department of Administration said Monday it was canceling a previous selection process for picking a team to build it. The company was supposed to be chosen by now. Instead, the goal is to issue new guidelines and pick a builder by late September.
The $90 million building is supposed to go up behind the state Capitol and be done by 2015. Officials are under time pressure because the ongoing Capitol renovations will make much of that building a construction zone. Once completed, the new 154,000-square foot facility will have offices for state senators and their staff.
Department spokesman Curt Yoakum says the cost and timeframe shouldn't be affected.


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TUF 18: Episode 10 Gallery
novembre 08, 2013
17 Photos
Photos from the 10th episode of The Ultimate Fighter season 19, including Chris Holdsworth's fight with Michael Wootten.
Getty Images reserves the right to pursue unauthorized users of this image or clip. If you violate our intellectual property you may be liable for: actual damages, loss of income, and profits you derive from the use of this image or clip, and, where appropriate, the costs of collection and/or statutory damages up to $150,000 (USD).


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|2012-07-13, 03:45
|Link #241
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: California
Kaga Ryosuke has shown us a way to stop two women from fighting ! Yes all you need to do is grab and grope their boob's.
IMO the second episode was good .
I am a little surprise the dog's alive considering all of the destruction.
Last edited by sky black swordman; 2012-07-13 at 18:41.
|2012-07-13, 14:08
|Link #245
Psycho Falling Deep
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: The Anime World
Age: 24
Aww, there was nothing in episode 2 that could possibly replace the precious Rias avatar I have or work as a signature either *Snaps fingers* Rats!.
Nevermind, there's still many upcoming episodes to observe.
However, I must admit, I don't think episode 2 was as entertaining to watch as episode 1 was.
|2012-07-13, 15:47
|Link #246
Enjoying Snack Time!
I just finished episode 2, and I still can't make a connection with the main guy, girl, the childhood friend, whatever. I've spent the entire episode just, ugh...where is aspirin when you need one...seriously!
Must admit though episode 1 was good, but this was... For now, I just hope episode 3 will be better than this one.
|2012-07-13, 18:45
|Link #248
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: California
Then again this may be bias I am a oppai man after all.
And yeah Saw it again. You maybe right . But I did love how he stop the fight for a bit in ep 2.
|2012-07-14, 04:00
|Link #250
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
House rebuilding itself was pretty cool.
So she's been draining Ryou's ero energy to recharge herself ^^
Lisara being the new transfer student was a cliche, but interesting to watch.
Kyuu's little trap worked like a charm.
Lisara vs Kyuu fight was nice to watch.
|2012-07-14, 04:30
|Link #252
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: California
But why would they censored the sound and not the Boobs and the Butts?
|2012-07-14, 06:59
|Link #255
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Folsom, CA, USA
Age: 32
|2012-07-14, 08:24
|Link #257
Join Date: May 2007
Location: gs series
Age: 29
so let see ryosuke need find special person to save his ero life?
ok then & oh lisara move in go to school search from strange stuff still no found.
then here her cousin yea seem found but IT A TRAP cause cousin want get special person cue fight & ryosuke to the ero-rescue with cousin fall back.
all well but now cat out of the bag with childhood friend now in the loop too wonder what next?
|2012-07-14, 09:20
|Link #258
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2012
whats next is there gonna add a bunch of girls to make lisara finally realize that Ryousuke is the special person and when he's about to die she does something to make sure that he stays alive that and she falls in love with him...
Last edited by CrowKenobi; 2012-07-14 at 12:03. Reason: Light novel spoilers AREN'T allowed in anime-only threads...
|2012-07-14, 15:04
|Link #259
ANEGO Worshiper
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: By the vending machine, drinking tea.
As usual I give each anime 3 episodes to decide if I'm sticking to it or not but honestly unless something major happens next episodes that someone makes me do a total U turn...I might drop it.
I really like the main character (he reminds me of Issei only...a bit more ridiculous), the art is good and of course the girls are hot. The plot is weak and standard but I can live with it provided it does it well and gives us some nice comedy and battle scenes.
Problem is (well, for me at least) Lisara. I was never a fan of her archetype to be honest and some of her actions I find quite annoying.
Another problem is the useless MC. When I say useless I mean in that he is nothing more than a battery, meaning if something happens the one to do the fighting is just Lisara and he just pops in, gets a boner, transfer the energy to her and moves back tot he side-lines. I like a character that does more than just be a battery, I'd be cool with it even if he got trashed most of the time for being weaker, but at least there was some action on his part (I know comparing him to Issei has been done a lot but still, at least Issei fought along side the others). This may change later on bu I don't know if I'll be around to see it.
Over all, I was expecting something different out of this anime. While good enough to pass the time, the episodes didn't really captivate me so far and I'm not really into the part of the main cast. It has great ecchi but then again that can be found in plenty of series quite easily.
Like I said, I'll give it one more episode for the final decision (this saddens me actually because it was one of the series I was looking forward the most this season).
|comedy, harem, romance, science fiction, shounen
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Tuesday, January 02, 2007
The Jackson Marriage
So what actually happened?
Ann Toplovich with the Tennessee Historical Society has written a very interesting article on this topic, "Marriage, Mayhem, & Presidential Politcs: The Robards-Jackson Backcountry Scandal."
First, we have to start with Rachel Jackson's first marriage to Lewis Robards:
The[ir] courtship accelerated when John Donelson decided to move his family back to the Cumberland Settlements in 1785. Rachel was 18; her career as a frontier belle took place in Kentucky, and she may have been reluctant to leave her friends. 27 year old Captain Robards had the wealth and large, influential kin network in Kentucky and Virginia to match that of the Donelsons. The arrangement was advantageous to both families, and in February 1785 John Donelson registered his permission for Rachel to marry Robards. On March 1, the couple married at Harrodsburg.
This was an unhappy marriage by all accounts.
In late summer 1788, Rachel's brother Samuel came for her and they traveled to Nashville. Robards family accounts say Rachel had simply gone on a visit to her family. Jackson accounts claim that Robards had thrown her out -- John Overton states that he affected a reconciliation between Lewis and Rachel after Overton moved to Nashville in February 1789 and boarded with the Donelsons. However, in July 1788, Robards had bought almost 1,700 acres in the Cumberland, including a 640 acre plantation near Widow Donelson. This supports the position that Robards intended to settle permanently in the area with Rachel and that they had not separated when she came south later that summer. The couple was already together at the Widow Donelson's before Overton came to Nashville. One thing is certain: when Overton arrived, Andrew Jackson was also boarding there.
Rachel and Andrew became friends (and who know what else…). This led to confrontations between Rachel and Lewis and Lewis and Andrew. As early as this time, Andrew was probably planning a way to get the already married Rachel.
The confusion is now what happened between the disappearance of Robards and the Jackson marriage:
The events that followed the summer of 1789 have been covered with the accretions of the Jackson spin machine of the 1820s. The accepted tale is still that Robards left for Kentucky, vowing never to see Rachel again. The innocent and wronged Rachel went to Natchez in a large party that happened to include Andrew Jackson. Jackson, back in Nashville, heard in 1791 that Robards had obtained a divorce, and hurried immediately to Natchez to marry Rachel. The Jacksons then returned to Nashville as an accepted couple. However, in the 1970s, Robert Remini did a masterful job of piecing the actual story together, showing that the Nashville Committee's dates were all moved a year later in time to cover the Jacksons' tracks in regard to Robards's divorce action. Moreover, no credible evidence of a marriage ceremony in Natchez has ever been found.
But according to Toplovich, the Jackson elopement was even earlier – 1790. This questions Rachel's position as an innocent bystander. The question in Jackson's presidential campaign was just that: whether Lewis Robards deserted Rachel or Rachel deserted him:
Remini, and Andrew Burstein following Remini, concludes that Jackson carried off Rachel in December 1789 in order to provoke a divorce. However, this presumes that the provocative grounds and the way to get a divorce were understood in 1789. Given Rachel's compromised reputation from her friendships with male boarders and the young age of the lovers (only 22), the elopement was most likely a matter of passion, although they also may have been seeking an extralegal solution. If capable of calculation (and Jackson certainly was), they also realized that the vivacious Rachel shed herself of a problem husband and the orphaned Jackson gained an heiress and an influential kin network.
Now before you further, get some background on divorce in this period (this is also in the article if you read all of it). Marriage and divorce in this period was riddled with confusion as laws were changing as "civilization" came to the back country areas. But as Toplovich states, Jackson would have known better: "The Robardses may be condoned for the actions they took due to the confusion of the day, but Jackson, as an attorney surrounded by lawyer friends, likely had a better understanding of the illegal nature of his actions."
What happens next is a matter of conjecture. The Jacksons said that they believed Robards had filed for divorce before he left and so they were legally able to get married. But there are confusing points here – Andrew and Rachel were living together in 1790, but in 1791, Lewis Robards still saw himself as in control of Rachel's property. There also isn't a record of the Jacksons' first marriage (bigamous). Robards didn't actually file for divorce until 1792 and the Jackson marriage wasn't legal until 1794. The actions of both Robards and the Jacksons raise questions. In the 1790s, the story of Robards and Jacksons was well known:
Although the Donelson family and members of their sphere of influence embraced the extralegal union of Rachel and Andrew Jackson – a marriage that became legal in January 1794 – there is clear evidence that members of the wider Tennessee community saw Rachel as a fallen woman and Jackson as a rake for many years afterward. As Jackson rose in prominence, the history of the marriage impacted their public reputations. John Sevier's contempt of Jackson as a seducer was central to the duel correspondence of 1803, and Rachel's virtue, or lack thereof, was a subtext of the Charles Dickinson duel of 1806 and perhaps the Benton shootout of 1813. It could not have surprised the Jacksons that Rachel's divorce and remarriage would become a flashpoint when Jackson sought the presidency.
Although the story of the Jackson marriage, whatever the true facts, has come down as one of the most romantic love stories of American history:
Although Rachel Donelson and Andrew Jackson did in truth flaunt the moral and legal codes of their times, today they are legendary lovers. If Andrew Jackson is admired for anything, even by his most determined critics, it is for his devoted marriage to Rachel and his vigorous defense of her reputation. She is now a stick figure in the story, a passive belle tossed away by one man and swept up by another. Lewis Robards is hardly more than a name, although in 1790 he was the frontier nabob and Jackson little more than a knave. By an effective campaign strategy, the "American Jezebel" and the "Great Western Bluebeard" have come down to us as the most romantic pair in presidential history.
6 comments:
- elektratig said...
Old Andy was a piece of work, wasn't he? A lover and a real hater too. Thanks.
- Mysticmayr said...
I think Rachel and Andrew Jackson's story is a beautiful story of two people in love. Andrew Jackson was a War hero. They both were brave individuals who lived on the frontier of our nation, part of the 'good stock' that braved the unknown and lived their lives to the fullest measure. As for her reputation, Jackson loved her and treated as she should have been. It is of no consequence that she had been married to a man who saw her as property and nothing more. Whatever the real situation was, they belonged together. She would have made a wonderful First Lady.
- terryga54 said...
Rachel was a woman before her time. She would have fared well today. I love her and Andrew's story. He is one of my favorite Presidents. My son has his name,a strong name it is too. May they both rest in peace together. God Bless
Interestingly, Lewis Robards married his second wife, Hannah Withers Winn, twice: December 29, 1792 in Jefferson Co. KY and 2nd November 9, 1793 in Mercer Co., KY. Both of these dates are before the purported date that the Robards-Donnelson divorce was finalized, 1794.
RAchel and Jacksons story was wonderful and sad. Rachel would have been a great first lady
- Angela Schmidt said...
I am going crazy trying to find out if this is true and perhaps you can help. I grew up in Hermitage, TN and it would come as no surprise that I have visited The Hermitage more than once.
I seem to remember when I was a child that the guide told us there was a scratched window in the house where Sarah Jackson tested her engagement ring to see if it was real. However, they no longer tell this story (there are no longer the costumed guides either) and I can't find any information on this. Do you know anything about this?


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Globe trotters
Meet a few entrepreneurs who skip the weekend jog and instead compete in ultramarathons across deserts in China, Argentina, Chile, and Antarctica.
NEW YORK (FORTUNE Small Business Magazine) - David Kuhnau was 75 miles into a 100-mile leg of a race in Antarctica when the blizzard struck. His lungs were already burning, his feet were covered with open blisters inside his trail shoes, and within seconds he couldn't see anything through his expedition goggles except slanting lines of snow.
Through semidarkness, he shouted to his two teammates that he didn't think he could make it. One yelled back, "The hell you're not finishing!" Four hours later, with snow still coming down, Kuhnau and his team finally stumbled across the finish line. It was about 5 A.M., and the 100-mile course had taken them 25 hours and 29 minutes.
Photo gallery: See the Antarctica race.
Kuhnau, 36, who owns a software consulting business in Chicago, competed in January in a five-day, four-stage race spanning some 150 miles in Antarctica and known as the Last Desert competition. The race was organized by a for-profit venture called RacingThePlanet, which coordinated similar ultramarathons throughout 2004 and 2005 as part of its signature 4 Deserts series, featuring races in Chile's Atacama Desert, the Gobi in China, and the Sahara in Egypt.
Only the 18 runners who completed those three qualified for the Antarctica race, and 15 of them, including Kuhnau and his two teammates, took on the challenge. (The series begins again this month, with the Gobi race on May 28.)
Kamikaze competitors
Part spiritual quest, part kamikaze mission, 4 Deserts has become the next big endeavor for people who have raced every marathon, Ironman triathlon, and Eco-Challenge out there. Before the desert events, Kuhnau had completed 17 marathons, three Ironman competitions, and, as he says, "too many triathlons to count."
While most racers prefer to go solo, he competed as part of a team of three (all entrepreneurs), because they wanted the company. In 2004, Joel Burrows, now 30, and Nancy Fudacz-Burrows, 38, a married couple who own a gym in Chicago called First Step Fitness, traveled with Kuhnau to RacingThePlanet's trek in Atacama, Chile.
The course there offered almost no shade and traversed salt flats with daytime temperatures near 120 degrees, even in midwinter. In that race, Kuhnau lost a big toenail, shed 17 pounds, and contracted bronchitis and strep throat. "I wanted to die," he says.
The next spring the team flew to China to run in the Gobi desert, which competitors refer to as the "oven" because of its relentless sun and seemingly endless expanses of bare rock. Kuhnau suffered chronic nausea and hallucinated from lack of sleep.
In September in the Sahara he lost another toenail and started vomiting so violently from the 130-degree heat that he had to crawl under a Volkswagen-sized rock to cool down. But the intensity of the experiences started to become addictive. "You learn to overcome fear," Kuhnau says. "You have to if you want to get through."
Finding time
Training for the races took up about 18 hours a week and was tough to schedule, given Kuhnau's responsibilities at his burgeoning company. GDI Solutions, which he launched in 2003 after working for Andersen Consulting (Research) and PeopleSoft, helps companies adopt new technology. During busy stretches of the year he manages as many as nine employees and a client list that includes HSBC (Research), Pfizer (Research), 3M (Research), and Waste Management (Research). Revenues for 2005 were about $500,000.
Before work Kuhnau would wake at 5 A.M. to get in a 30-minute bike ride or a five-mile run. Other mornings he took his work to the Lake Michigan shore, ran an eight-mile loop along the waterfront, returned to his car for an hour or so of conference calls with clients, and then put in another eight-mile loop. At night he went to the gym for weight training, swimming, and treadmill work.
"For a few months I didn't have much of a social life," he says. (One less rigorous part of his training: Kuhnau watched March of the Penguins before the Antarctica race.)
During the Atacama, Gobi, and Sahara competitions he also brought work with him. After stages he went straight to a laptop and answered e-mails, and in the middle of Atacama he was able to troubleshoot technical issues for clients on his PDA. (Surprisingly, he found decent cell service.) "I was in the middle of nowhere, e-mailing people," he says. The long-distance charges hurt, though: "When I got the bill, it was something like $1,000."
Life altering is the first expression most use when describing the desert races. According to Mary Gadams, 41, the U.S.-born founder and CEO of RacingThePlanet, the desert-based ultramarathons are so transforming that after completing one, about a third of the competitors quit their jobs to do something more fulfilling.
A few have launched companies. Kuhnau and his teammates are keeping their current businesses but also are opening an adventure-clothing firm, FunkyMonkeyWear, and a motivational-speaking business, Bluefire Media, to talk to corporate groups about their experiences and teamwork in the desert races.
A veteran marathoner and ultramarathoner, Gadams organized the first 4 Deserts race in 2003, after holding executive-level jobs with Samsung and Wachovia ("I knew I didn't have the passion for the corporate world," she says), and her company turned profitable in 2005. About 100 competitors enter the races, 80% of them finish, and half of those return for a second race.
The majority are in their mid-30s and early 40s, about 20% are women, and they come from all over the world. Many are executives or own a successful business, which allows them to afford RacingThePlanet's fees ($2,600 for each of the Atacama, Gobi, and Sahara races and $9,500 for Antarctica; Gadams planned small increases for 2006). In addition, Kuhnau and his team spent about $10,000 on equipment, including $145 polar expedition goggles and $280 snowshoes.
True endurance
When Kuhnau left Chicago for Antarctica in late January, he carried with him the ashes of his sister, who had died of cancer in December. "She was someone who pushed the envelope in life and wasn't afraid to try something once," he said. "I brought part of her ashes with me as a way for me to show her a part of the world that she would have loved to have seen."
Throughout the five-day, 150-mile race, wind-chill temperatures dropped as low as 30 degrees below zero, capable of turning spit to ice in midair. Because it was high summer, daylight stretched for 20 hours, but snow and whiteout conditions were expected.
Kuhnau had told his clients that they wouldn't hear from him--he was too far off the grid. "I knew it was going to be the most dangerous of the races, especially because of the cold," he says. "If you did something stupid out there, the consequences would be big."
The first day, all 15 competitors ventured on a 6.2-mile test run. Kuhnau wore three layers of clothing, and his ten-pound backpack was stuffed with a medical kit, 2� liters of water, Swedish fish candy, and extra shirts, hats, gloves, and SmartWool socks. He had plenty of pills too, including salt tablets to prevent dehydration, antibiotics to relieve bronchitis, and Advil to ease his aching muscles.
The second and longest stage started on the Antarctic Peninsula in an area known as Hope Bay. Halfway through that 100-mile run, Kuhnau paused on a jagged peak overlooking an ice-covered bay where icebergs loomed, and scattered his sister's ashes.
The blizzard hit shortly after, obliterating the course. Kuhnau and his team managed to avoid getting lost. (He says they did lose their way during all three of the earlier desert races; in Antarctica, Gadams says, Arctic birds stole some of the marking flags.) More than a day later the team finally finished. That made 106 miles completed, but the racers weren't done.
The next day they ran a marathon on the gloom-inspiring Deception Island, another of the Shetlands and a 12-hour boat ride away. A collapsed volcano that once hosted a Norwegian whaling station, the island presented competitors with 26.2 miles of mountainous terrain, thermal baths, and a graveyard of rusting buildings and decrepit machines formerly used to boil whale blubber.
Chinstrap penguins abounded. Much of the footing was loose volcanic cinder-ash, which Kuhnau says made the running at times feel like trudging through fresh snow. But it was Kuhnau's and his team's best day; they finished the course in five hours, 44 minutes, putting them in sixth overall.
The final 18-mile leg was back on King George Island. In the sun the glacier was melting and the course slippery with slush ankle-deep in places. Everyone was exhausted, all bodies on tilt. For most of the race, Kuhnau's feet were soaked, and he was so tired that he was hearing voices.
"My wheels just came off," he says. After two hours and 53 minutes, the Last Desert was finally over, with Kuhnau and his team in sixth place. Scott Smith, 49, an ROTC instructor from Bloomfield, N.M., took first, followed by Chuck Walker, 39, a deputy sheriff from Stockton, Calif.
When the competitors departed the next day, Kuhnau was proud of the accomplishment but also somewhat dispirited. He was headed for some sun and downtime in Buenos Aires, but the biggest race of his life was over. "It was sad," he said. "It's the end of a journey. The last chapter of a four-chapter book, and now it's over and you're asking, What now?"
Gallery: See the Antarctica race.
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