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Small classes and cultural program
All the staff of the school were friendly, informal, helpful and knowledgeable.
The small classes give the opportunity for personalized teaching and grammar and conversation classes complemented one another.
The cultural program took us to places we wouldn't have discovered on our own and we learnt about the local culture from locals.
Eating and cooking with the other students rendered out the language studies.
The short walk from the apartment through the ancient streets to the school was a daily pleasure.
Cathy McNab - Australia
Relaxed working atmosphere
I experienced an extraordinary warm welcome and a very focused yet relaxed working atmosphere.
All of my teachers adjusted their teaching and talking speed ideally to the student's level.
Florian Hauswirth - Germany
A lovely staff
I appreciated all the personal attention to my individual level of Italian and lovely staff.
Elizabeth Jones - USA
Small classes
Old friends; a small class sizes; helpful; sempre parliamo l'Italiano; interesting; excellent excursions.
Lakshmi Sumithran - Australia
"Approfondimenti Culturali" and "A Tavola con gli Insegnanti" programme
I thoroughly enjoyed my time at the C.C.I.C. Piero della Francesca school of language and literature and, thanks to the "Approfondimenti Culturali" and "A Tavola con gli Insegnanti" programme, come away feeling thoroughly steeped in the history, culture and literarature of the region.
The relaxed, friendly atmosphere of Poppi and the companionship of the other students made this a rich learning experience that went far beyond the classroom.
Jane Simcock - New Zealand
A small school
The small school is very pleasant, teachers are very nice and helpful.
The daytrips and meals are lovely!
Steven Van Der Hoeff - Holland
Teachers and staff
Teachers and staff of C.C.I.C. were very warm and patient.
Curriculum very relevant to needs of traveller and real life situations.
Maureen Tonelli - USA
Teaching method
The dedication of the teachers.
A well constructed course which made me feel hilar at the end of the 2 weeks I had achieved a lot.
I was able to understand and make myself understood in the local shops and cafes.
Small courses
Small courses with very good communication between teachers and student. No pressure from teachers.
A lot of material is present and covered nicely.
Fred Tonelli - USA
Our teachers
I was very happy with the teachers. I've learnt a lot.
Thank you for that!
Linda De Jong - Holland
Beautiful Poppi
We are sad to be leaving beautiful Poppi – a place that seems to us like a second home.
The staff at the school and the people at Poppi have made our stay here a happy and memorable one.
Thank you all.
Anna Chawla - Scotland
Excellent, a truly wonderful place to stay.
I especially enjoyed the enthusiasm of our teachers about the Casentino region;
it was great to get such a good idea of what makes it special.
Anne Troester - Germany
Cultural program
The town of Poppi is very beautiful and intimate and the fact that the school and accommodation are within its walls add to its appeal to those wishing to take Italian lessons.
It's small size and the cultural program should be highlighted on the website and other promotional material!
Students levels
Our teachers are enthusiastic and competent and care the backbone of the school. Over two weeks they become friends and we looked forward to our lessons.
Given that students are at the levels, the staff always managed to make the classes coherent – difficult considering the small numbers involved.
Hector Chawla - Scotland
Italienisch lernen
Italienisch lernen kann man zur Not auch zu Hause mit Hilfe einer CD oder des Internets. Ich fürchte aber, so lernt man nur ein bisschen Grammatik und ein paar Brocken, um sich notdürftig verständigen zu können. Wer "italienisch" mit allen Sinnen in sich aufnehmen will, der sollte nach Italien gehen! Ich tue das seit zehn Jahren und jedes Jahr zieht es mich wieder nach Poppi und dort in das CCIC. Da finde ich alles, was ich von einem Italienaufenthalt erwarte: kompetente Lehrerinnen, einen soliden Unterricht (freilich muss man selber auch das Seine dazutun), nette Sprachschüler(innen) aus vielen Ländern, eine freundliche, ja familiäre Umgebung, viel Nachmittagsprogramm, was der Athmosphäre aber auch der Sprache dient. Und wer wie ich italienische Kultur und Lebensart zu schätzen weiß, kommt in Poppi und im Casentino voll auf seine Kosten. Das Casentino ist voll von verborgenen Kunstschätzen, die man z.T. mit der Schule kennenlernt. Am Wochenende kann man aber auch Florenz besuchen oder etwa bis nach Urbino in Umbrien fahren (eigenes Auto ist zu empfehlen). Wer es eher mit der Natur hält: Der Apennin zu beiden Seiten des Casentino-Tals ist mit herrlichen Wäldern gesegnet. Das Casentino ist berühmt für seine Küche und für den Wein hält man sich an das Chianti, wenn man nicht gerade im August die Gelegenheit hat, auf dem jährlichen Weinfest eine ganze Reihe von Weinen zu probieren. Mehr kann man eigentlich nicht erwarten. So ist es für mich jedes Mal, wenn ich von Ponte a Poppi den Hügel hoch und durch die Porta Porrena nach Poppi hinein fahre, so, als käme ich nach Hause.
Johannes Lintermann - Germany
Total Immersion - Italian Style
There is really only one way to learn a language and that's to be dropped right in at the deep end. Although we have beginners' Italian after a year's evening classes with Barbara Graeme in Wanganui, it is still a shock to have to put it to use.
The language school in Poppi, Eastern Tuscany, takes Italian seriously. From the moment Guy and I arrive (after clambering out of the train at Poppi station and climbing the hill to this 12th century fortified village) we are expected to leave English behind. Our first lesson is a full scale Italian dinner with our fellow students and teachers, where we introduce ourselves and explain why we want to learn Italian in Poppi. For us it is simple. Two years ago we visited Italy and were not able to speak a word. A family reunion this year in western Tuscany provides the motivation to do something about it. Poppi's "off the beaten track" location is appealing.
The C.C.I.C (Centro di Cultura Italiana Casentino) places us with Signora Pia, a delightful elderly lady who lives in a splendid 4-storey house with 10th century foundations. Our bedroom, replete with four-poster bed and a huge portrait of St. Frances of Assisi kneeling in prayer, has French windows opening onto a Tuscan valley. The kitchen, hardly renovated since medieval times, has a fireplace where a whole ox could be turned on a spit. A notice on the door to the cavernous basement (which used to be a grappa distillery, and now houses a private museum of priceless artifacts) mischievously warns of a ghost. Signora Pia, an accomplished artist, makes us most welcome and leaves books and pamphlets on local history for us to peruse.
In the warm, hazy mornings, before the nine o'clock bells, we stroll up the flag-stoned street, books under our arms to the language school. We study grammar first, with Gianna. At 10.30 there's a coffee break and we gather with our fellow students in one of the many nearby cafes, taking turns to practice ordering the coffee and dangerously delicious pastries. We are an international group, with classmates from Belgium, Switzerland and Germany. For the rest of the morning Luciana leads us in reading and conversation. Three afternoons per week we meet our teachers at a restaurant for lunch and more conversation practice.
Then we visit some of the sites of historic interest- the grotto where St. Frances of Assisi is said to have received 'the stigmata' of the crucifixion, a privately owned castle, the cathedral in nearby Arezzo (the town of the movie Life is Beautiful) where Piero della Francesca painted some stunning frescoes, to name a few. The Poppi castle, dating back to the 1100s has been authentically restored and contains a wealth of local history including a library of rare medical texts. There's even a copy of the Canon Medicinae, a 14th century translation of the work of 10th century Arab physician Abu Ali al-Hussein. Another intriguing 15th century text describes remarkably modern-looking techniques for repairing common facial injuries sustained in battle.
The month of August in Italy is holiday season. It gets unbearably hot in cities like Florence. Most people close up shop and head for the beach. This is another good reason to avoid the crowds and stay in Poppi to enjoy the serenity of this tiny but vibrant community with its shaded walk-ways, cool interiors and doleful bells. In 2003 Poppi, (derived from a word meaning 'people') won the European award for the most beautiful town. It's not hard to see why. Its hill-top situation, distinctive castle and carefully tended gardens make it a most attractive place. It's no surprise that some of the greatest Italian film-makers have been inspired by this region. The language school is an established part of the Poppi economy and there are little perks for being a student, such as discounts at some of the restaurants, and a willingness amongst the shop-keepers to tolerate our clumsy attempts at conversation.
But more than this, Poppi lives up to its name, for its people are its main treasure. They are solemn and dignified but warm-hearted and friendly, people who truly appreciate the best things in life- good food and wine, companionship and the sharing of ideas. These are equally a part of the language school programme, and we lap it all up. We spend an evening at the chef family home attending Cucinare Insieme - a lesson in local cuisine. Then we sit down together and share a wonderful meal, while discussing everything from the state of the world to local herbal remedies.
By the end of two weeks we have covered the present, past, future and conditional tenses, and mastered some of the many rules governing prepositions. We have gained some confidence in conversation, and our vocabulary has increased by more than 700 words.
But we have learned a great deal more in Poppi. We have been graciously welcomed and introduced to a fine culture and language. Each day has provided a precious opportunity to discuss history, politics, philosophy and issues affecting all of us and our world. More than this, we have become friends and it is hard to leave.
At the end of our Tuscan holiday we take the train to Rome. Flushed with confidence in speaking Italian, I strike up conversation with a pleasant gentleman from Sardinia. He asks me what we will do in Rome and I try to tell him that we are going to rest up this evening before our long journey back to New Zealand. It turns out that I have told him that we are going to get re-married. With a restrained smile he gently points out the difference between the verb riposarsi (to rest) and risposarsi (to remarry) and explains that we had better get divorced first. "Not tonight, perhaps" I counter, and we all crack up laughing.
I can see that we'll need to come back to Poppi!
Taylor Marion and Guy – New Zealand
CCIC - Italienisch Sprachkurse in Poppi
Meine Kenntnisse der italienischen Sprache wollte ich verbessern.
Durch einen lieben Menschen fand ich den Weg zum CCIC 'Piero della Francesca' in Poppi, und seit sieben Jahren nehme ich dort jährlich an einem Kursus teil. Der vormittägliche Unterricht mit Schülern aus verschiedenen Ländern wird von kompetenten Lehrkräften den Vorkenntnissen entsprechend gestaltet (man muß aber wissen, daß es ganz ohne "Hausaufgaben" nicht geht).
Ausflüge zu Klöstern im Casentino sowie andere kulturelle Aktivitäten, die an einigen Nachmittagen stattfinden, werden jeweils von Lehrerinnen begleitet.
Die Region hat eine hervorragende Küche und bei vielen gemeinsamen Essen werden Gespräche und Geselligkeit gepflegt. Am Wochenende bleibt Zeit für einen Besuch in Florenz, in Siena oder einen Ausflug in das wunderschöne Tal des Casentino, welches der Arno ruhig durchfließt.
Beim Gang durch Poppi fühlt man sich schnell zu Hause, sei es beim 'caffè' in der Bar, im 'negozio', man ist willkommen und trifft überall auf Verständnis. Poppi - dieses mittelalterliche Städtchen mit seinen Menschen und seiner ganz besonderen Atmosphäre - berührt mich jedes Jahr wieder aufs neue.
Karin Joeris – Germany
An incredible experience
I started with very, very basic knowledge of Italian and in 5 days I enjoyed a mix of teaching, talking, culture and food that was both intense, highly enjoyable and very fruitful.
Staying in a flat in medieval Poppi, having breakfast with a cappuccino and a cornetto at the local bar, learning from the top floor of a building with incredible views of the Tuscan landscape, cooking with the local chef and her family, visiting the sights with the teachers and the other Italian learners - my only regret?
Not having stayed long enough. One week is definitely too short!
Véronique Pevtschin - Belgium
The school of Italian language and culture
I first came to beautiful Poppi in 2002 to attend the C.C.I.C "Piero della Francesca", the school of Italian language and culture. That year and every year thereafter, that I have returned, it never failed to be a magical time and place.
The classes are great with both grammar and conversation classes each day and different instuctors for each one. I cannot say enough about the instructors. They are the best. They keep us moving and learning but are so patient.
We have a lot of fun and laughs along the way. They work with you to put you in the best level for your ability to speak the language.
The class sizes vary but are usually on the small size which is great!
The cultural programs are really very special and give you an opportunity to learn about the Casentino Valley, its history, its art and its culture. You also get the opportunity to spend time with the instructors outside of class in less structured way. The staff at the school is super! Cornelia is so helpful in assisting you with everything you might need from housing, to restaurants, to directions, to money exchange and much more.
I met my husband at the school when I attended in 2002. He had been coming there for quite a few years prior to that trip.
We love going back to Poppi together, taking the classes, the cultural programs and spending time with our friends at the school. When it is time to leave, we always have tears in our eyes and can't wait to make our return to the wonderful town of Poppi and its people.
Louise Brucia - USA
Worth - the inquisitive traveller
Poppi: Say "Bella!". Poppi, perched over the placid Arno, (...) has one arcaded medieval square, one crenellated pip of a castle and one very small-scale Italian studies programme for stranieri (foreigners). What better place to polish one's Italian than in a one-piazza town?
Sandy Mac Donald
San Francisco Chronicle
Follow the Reader
Each spring for the past three years, we have attended a small, exciting Italian language school in Poppi, a small hill town in the valley of the Casentino, source of the river Arno. The Casentino, in northeastern Tuscany between Florence and Arezzo, is a wide, lush valley surrounded by a ring of mountains (...). Two or three afternoons each week, there are field trips to neighboring towns, markets, monasteries, churches and historic spots. Each trip includes lunch at local restaurants. One evening per session, the students cook dinner with a local cooking celebrity in her 500-year-old home. The classes are relaxed and designed for serious students at any level. The community is prosperous and friendly. There are few tourists, and English is rarely spoken. Much of the learning comes from just doing your daily shopping. (...)
Peter and Debbie Rugh, Berkley - USA
The London Times Educational Supplement
Follow the Reader
Each spring for the past three years, we have attended a small, exciting Italian language school in Poppi, a small hill town in the valley of the Casentino, source of the river Arno. The Casentino, in northeastern Tuscany between Florence and Arezzo, is a wide, lush valley surrounded by a ring of mountains (...). Two or three afternoons each week, there are field trips to neighboring towns, markets, monasteries, churches and historic spots. Each trip includes lunch at local restaurants. One evening per session, the students cook dinner with a local cooking celebrity in her 500-year-old home.
The classes are relaxed and designed for serious students at any level. The community is prosperous and friendly. There are few tourists, and English is rarely spoken. Much of the learning comes from just doing your daily shopping. (...)
Linda Proud - UK
ARD - "Ratgeber Reise"
(...) ein verträumter Ort, der vom Tourismus noch weitgehend verschont ist: Poppi, unser 4. Tip für Sprachferien. Das Zentrum, etwas grösser als eine Wohnstube; im Sommer ist hier sonntags Antiquitätenmarkt (...) Im kleinen Poppi sind alle aufs Redebrechen eingestellt; Sprachhilfe leisten der Metzger, der Modeverkäufer und auch das Fräulein vom Alimentari-Laden.
Hessischer Rundfunk Fernsehen 3. Programm
"Nix wie raus: Sprachschulen"
Die Sprachschule "Piero della Francesca"; eine ideale Verbindung von Urlaub, Lernen und Verstehen der Sprache und Kultur einer wunderschönen Region; der Toskana in und um Poppi
Frankfurter Rundschau
Wer tatsächlich lernen und dabei etwas über Land und Leute erfahren möchte, ist bei der Sprachschule "Piero della Francesca" gut aufgehoben (...) Die Lehrer gesellen sich nachmittags zu denen, die Lust auf einen Ausflug haben, zu etruskischen Gräbern, zu den pievi romaniche...; oder ein Besuch gilt dem in Tannenwäldern versteckten, hochgelegenen Kloster Camaldoli einst unter Lorenzo "il Magnifico" ein hochgerühmter Ort humanistischer Gelehrsamkeit, der heute für seine Bibiliothek und die heilkundlichen Mittel berühmt ist.
Michaela Wunderle


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The Raleigh Sports and its deluxe sibling the Superbe were the flagships of Raleigh's line of utility bikes.
For many years, in many parts of the world, the Raleigh "Sports" three-speed bicycle was considered the ultimate in human-powered transportation. These bicycles were not toys, and, despite the model name, they were not sporting equipment...they were serious vehicles. The men and women who built them, by and large, also rode them, as their primary means of transportation.
Most modern bicycles are designed with the primary intent to catch your eye on the sales floor, and persuade you to buy. That is not what a Raleigh Sports was about...these were designed to provide solid, dependable transportation for the British public, at a time when only the upper classes had motorcars. These bikes were built to last 100 years, with reasonable care.
"The All Steel Bicycle"
Contemporary bicycles have many parts made of aluminum (or "aluminium," if you prefer) for lightness, strength and corrosion resistance. Contemporary bicycles that have steel rims, or cranks, or handlebars, or brakes do so as a way of cutting corners and saving a little bit of money, for a low-end bicycle. Modern steel rims, cranks, etc are of low quality, because they are aimed at the cheapest possible price point.From the mid 19th century, well into the 20th, the word "steel" was magic in Britain. Britain's rise to an industrial superpower on the crest of the Industrial Revolution was based, as much as anything else, on the steel industry and the new technologies it made possible: steel ships, steel bridges, steel buildings...and steel bicycles. Raleigh originally introduced the slogan "The All Steel Bicycle" to differentiate Raleighs from competitors who used cast iron for some critical parts, a heavier and cruder technology.
The mystique of steel caused the British cycle industry to be slow to adopt newfangled materials such as aluminum, and many British cyclists believed, even well into the 1960's, that steel rims, for instance, were superior to aluminum ones. These days, this seems laughable...but if you look at an older Dunlop steel rim, you'll find a very respectable, well-made product.
The fact that Raleigh 3-speeds are made of steel shouldn't fool you into thinking that these bikes were cheap or inferior in any way...they were not...they were the finest utility bicycles money could buy.
Raleigh 3-speed bicycles were introduced around the turn of the century, and kept improving in technology over the years, reaching a peak in quality probably in the mid-to-late 1950s. They continued to be built in Nottingham until the mid-1970's, when the glamour of the 10-speed fad pushed them out of favor with the rising baby boom generation.
From the 1962 catalogue:
The "Superbe" was a deluxe version, of the Sports. The Superbe usually came with a DynoHub lighting system, key locking fork, luggage carrier and upgraded saddle (Brooks B66 instead of the B72 used on the Sports.
From the 1962 catalogue:
It's an interesting sign of the times that the 1962 catalogue copy suggests that the Dynohub would be "ideal for emergency lighting in your fallout shelter."
For reasons of marketing, Raleigh made equivalent bicycles under the "Rudge" and "Humber" name.
From the 1967 catalogue:
The top-line Raleigh/Rudge/Humber models had a number of features that set them apart from lesser models, even lesser Raleigh products.
From the 1970 catalogue:
From the 1976 catalog:
From the 1977 catalog:

subset: commoncrawl


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Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza
The Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum offers visitors an overview of art from the 13th century to the late 20th century. In the nearly one thousand works on display, visitors can contemplate the major periods and pictorial schools of western art such as the Renaissance, Mannerism, the Baroque, Rococo, Romanticism and the art of the 19th and 20th centuries up to Pop Art. The museum also features works from some movements not represented in state-owned collections, such as Impressionism, Fauvism, German Expressionism and the experimental avant-garde movements of the early 20th century. In addition, it boasts an important collection of 19th-century American painting not found in any other European museum institutions.
Aside from its panoramic perspective, the collection housed in the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum also offers us a glimpse of the tastes and preferences of the two persons principally responsible for its existence, Baron Heinrich Thyssen-Bornemisza (1875-1947) and Baron Hans Heinrich Thyssen-Bornemisza (1921-2002). Well versed in the Central European artistic tradition, both men showed a particular predilection for portraits and landscapes. This is evident in the works of the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum, in contrast with the predominance of religious and historical paintings found in other Spanish museums. In 2004, the Carmen Thyssen-Bornemisza Collection was brought to the Museum, adding over two hundred works that round out the representation of styles and genres already present in the Permanent Collection.
We don't have anything to show you here.
We don't have anything to show you here.


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Actionable Roleplaying Tips: Narrating Combat
, April 14th, 2017 at 18:24 (12376 Views)
So there it was: I had just been accepted to a campaign on Fantasy Grounds.
At that time, I had DMed many games here on Fantasy Grounds. However, it had been some time since I had played. And if you have done both, then you know there is a difference. As a DM, you try to plan the nominal path the players will follow and plan for contingencies. Well, at least, that is how I do it. As a player, however, things are a little different. The group I was joining wanted to roleplay. They wanted to take on the personalities of the character. They want to be immersed in the world of fantasy, suspending their belief for just a little while.
Now, you may be a bit different, but I wasnt sure where to start. I am no voice actor. I am no stage actor. I felt I knew how to create some interesting characters to play, but manifesting that in a game felt really nebulous to me. So I sat down and started to think
How do I take some actionable steps to prepare to roleplay?
Sharing the my answers to that question is the purpose of this four-part post series. Im not suggesting this is the best course of action for everyone. All I know is that it worked for me. It gave me something actionable. It got me started. Im having a blast playing these characters. So if that helps you or another reader, the purpose of these posts is fulfilled. With all that out of the way, heres the four part series.
- Actionable Roleplaying: Narrating Combat (this post)
- Actionable Roleplaying Tips: Preparing to Homebase
- Actionable Roleplaying Tips: Engaging Your Companions
- Actionable Roleplaying: Character Backstory (will link when posted)
Makes sense? Awesome. Lets get started.
What do I mean by Narrating Combat?
I think almost every single RPG involves some kind of combat. That means your character will be making attacks, some kind of move or casting a spell at some point in combat. Thats an opportunity to roleplay.
Narrating that action just means you describe it. Of course, you can describe it in game mechanics. I attack with my longsword. I cast magic missile. I use my disarm maneuver. However, theres a chance to exhibit some of your characters personality along the way.
Will narrating your combat action materially affect your chance of success or failure? Well, no. I dont expect it would, unless your DM is explicitly trying to foster this kind of behavior. But thats not the point. The purpose here is to add some flavor that exposes your characters identity along the way. It is a pretty easy first actionable step to roleplaying.
Confusing? Yep. I totally understand. Let me offer a couple examples that might clarify things.
The Spell Trigger Words for Dimble
Dimble Badger Nyx is a Forest Gnome Wizard from the High Forest. Hes upbeat. Hes insatiably curious. Hes a prankster. He lacks social awareness, saying the first thing he thinks of. Yet, he is a dedicated friend to his companions.
Dimble is a character I'm playing in a Princes of the Apocalypse game. I like the concept here. But how do I narrate his combat actions?
Well, Wizards often have verbal components to their spells. As I developed Dimble, I wanted him to still seem silly, even in the middle of combat. So I wanted to have a few casting narrations combined with funny sounding words.
For work, I often reference thesaurus.com for synonyms and antonyms. However, were you aware that there is a blog there as well? They often share really inane and unusual words. Theres a post on 12 Insults We Should Bring Back. Frankly, I just stumbled across it one day. And there it was. I had a solid source of funky terms.
How did I use it? I wrote out the following in preparation and used them as appropriate in the game.
- I flourish my stick-wand, scream Zooterkins! and cast Magic Missile.
- I gyrate my hands, murmur Fopdoodle and cast Levitate.
- I flick my stick-wand, blurt Snollygoster and cast Mage Hand.
Alternatively, I could just use the spell attack button under actions instead of saying 'cast Magic Missile' out loud.
Preparing just three combat narrations have carried me through many sessions.
The Wise Words of Glaivemaster Ash
Glaivemaster Ash is a longstanding veteran of a mercenary company. Hes an follower of the Red Knight, an exarch of military strategy that preaches wisdom in battle over brute force. Hes serious but acts as a fatherly figure to his companions.
So what do we do here?
With this character, I wanted him to have a lot of hard earned wisdom from successes and failures from the battlefield. Hell be a controller type in combat. While he fights, I wanted him to state insightful tenets of his battle-based faith, as much to himself as to anyone around him.
Where could I get war oriented wise words of wisdom? There are many famous generals in history. One of this is Sun Tzu, who wrote the Art of War many centuries ago. A quick internet search shows his quotes. Another is Carl von Clausewitz. Here's some of his quotes. Interestingly enough, there's no shortage of war generals saying interesting things.
Regardless, I wrote out a few attack narrations with a few of these sayings.
- I twirl my glaive and slash in front of me, saying in the midst of chaos, there is also opportunity.
- I leap up and bring my glaive down in an overhand chop, stating pursue one great decisive goal with force and determination.
- I swing my glaive in a great circle, declaring there is no greater weapon than a prepared mind.
This is enough to get started with this character.
The Acrobatics of Elanelis
Elanelis is an elven wizard bladesinger. He can be chaotic at times, making decisions that are impulsive. He seems to be mostly concerned with his own well-being.
I have to be honest. This isnt my character. Elanelis is played by one of the players in a campaign I run. And what he does in combat is pretty cool.
You see, on his turn, Elanelis often will incorporate acrobatics into his combat moves. Hell wall-walk on his move. Hell run up a stalagmite and do a flip onto an opponents back. Hell leap onto the back of a chair, and as it tips over jump again into an attack.
Do any of these narrations offer an advantage in combat? Nope. In fact, I ask for an acrobatics check each time. Yet, theres no denying one thing.
Hes. Got. Style.
And you know what? That's great. Everyone in the game has the feeling that this character isn't just a set of stats, but has a personality that comes out during combat. It lends credence to the fantastical nature of the campaign.
Actionable Takeaways
OK. So whats the actionable advice? Hmmm. Well, here is what I do.
- Identify what personality traits you want your character to exhibit during combat? Silly? Serious? Pious? Brooding? Hyperactive? I figure that out first.
- Next, ask yourself how that personality trait would manifest in combat? Saying a funny word? Spouting ideology? Doing crazy acrobatics? I figure that out second.
- Search for references? Look up other examples of this kind of personality trait. It might be a word mashup tool. It might be quotes from famous generals. It might narrations of your famous comic book hero.
- Prepare 3-5 narrations. It should take maybe 10 minutes. Write it out. Now you can insert them as appropriate into your next game.
Those are the takeaways from this first post. Look for more posts in the future!
Got Advice?
I know you do.
Obviously, there is a broad range of roleplayers here at Fantasy Grounds. There are folks that have been playing campaigns together for years. So I know there is a wealth of knowledge about getting started with roleplaying, probably much more than I could contribute. So...
What advice do you have?
Do you have examples of how you narrate your characters combat to illustrate some personality?
How do you make it unique? Or alternatively, what do you borrow from other sources?
Sound off. Let us know. Every little bit helps! Thanks!


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It increases muscular strength. It reduces tension and stress. It has a low potential for injury, and it doesn't even look like exercise.
Why, then, don't more people practice yoga.
People think of yoga as being passive and mystical – an otherworldly activity that doesn't relate to their lives. People are experiencing a vacuum because of all the outward directed activity, and they are going to have to go back to the experience of self.
Although the Indian discipline of yoga has been practiced for more than 5,000 years, in this country there are few followers. Almost half the American adult population swims and close to a quarter runs or jogs, yet only 2 percent practices yoga.
The word yoga derives from the Sanskrit root yuj, meaning to yoke or connect. Through yoga's various techniques, one is said to arrive at mental and physical equilibrium, better health and inner peace. It has been described as providing, in effect, a "work-in" rather than a workout.
There are at least eight main branches of yoga and several offshoots of each, but essentially there are only two concerned with exercise: hatha yoga and kundalini yoga.
Hatha is the most popular type of yoga in the Western world. It is a slow-paced discipline that emphasizes controlled breathing and assuming various physical poses. It is said to aid the nervous system, the glands and the vital organs.
Kundalini, which was introduced to this country in 1969 by Yogi Bhajan, is more active, combining various modes of breathing, movement and meditation. It is based on the idea that body energy that is coiled below the base of the spine can be tapped so that it travels upward through different energy centers or chakras until it reaches the head. At this point one arrives at one's highest potential.
Classically, there are 84 basic yoga positions, or asanas, which are coordinated with special breathing techniques. The asanas range from simple bends and twists to pretzel-like contortions reserved for the most advanced practitioners. The various poses elongate the muscles and build flexibility. Along with the proper breathing, they help rid the body of tension. Static holds isolate and strengthen particular muscles.
Asanas have been evolved over the centuries so as to exercise every muscle, nerve and gland in the body. They secure a fine physique, which is strong and elastic without being muscle-bound, and they keep the body free from disease. They reduce fatigue and soothe the nerves. But their real importance lies in the way they train and discipline the mind.


text: #ProudPSUforRAINN Continues to Raise Money for Victims In the wake of the recent events at Penn State University, a grassroots network of PSU alumni decided to stand up for victims of sexual abuse by supporting RAINN's efforts to prevent and treat victims of sexual abuse. In an astonishing display of Penn State pride the #ProudPSUforRAINN campaign reached its goal of raising $500,000 for RAINN. In less than one month, thousands of Penn Staters and supporters from all over the country joined together to help victims of sexual assault and to ensure something like this never happens again — anywhere. "After having so closely identified with all things Penn State over the past 15 years, the recent events have shaken our beliefs – and those of other alumni – to the core. Simply put, Penn State is way bigger than the alleged actions of a few people. To honor the victims, our goal is to raise over $500,000 – one dollar for each of Penn State's 557,000 alumni. Please join us in showing the world what being a proud supporter of Penn State really means by making a donation in support of preventing and treating victims of sexual abuse and by adding your name to mine below." — Jerry & Jaime Needel, Bob Troia and Larena Lettow – Penn State '98 It's not too late to make your voice heard. Below are ways that you can continue to support the campaign and help victims of sexual abuse. Join #ProudPSUforRAINN: DONATE Click here to make a donation. Thank you for adding your name to become a Proud Supporter of #ProudPSUforRAINN! By taking action, you are standing up for victims of abuse and helping to make sure that something like this never happens again – anywhere. Please take the next step in showing your support by making a donation to RAINN. There was a problem adding you to the Proud Supporters campaign. Please make sure you fill in all the fields. Add your name to become a Proud Supporter First Name Last Name Email Wear your pride Order a #ProudPSUforRAINN T-Shirt Click here to order. Wear it to show the world what Penn State really stands for. Wear it because you want to help ensure that something like this never happens again — anywhere. Proceeds from this purchase will help ensure that every survivor who reaches out to RAINN receives the support that he or she needs and deserves. Educate yourself Prevent child sexual abuse by educating yourself and becoming aware of the warning signs and effects: How Can I Protect My Child From Sexual Assault? Talking to your child if you suspect that they are being sexually abused Child Sexual Abuse Adult Survivors of Childhood Sexual Assault Male Sexual Assault Raise Money for #ProudPSUforRAINN Mobilize your friends, family and colleagues and raise money to support survivors of sexual violence. Below, find a comprehensive kit for planning and executing a fundraiser and a flyer to distribute online or at a live event. Fundraising How-To Kit #ProudPSUforRAINN Event Flyer Click here to view more opportunities to support the #ProudPSUforRAINN campaign. Donations from the #ProudPSUforRAINN campaign directly benefit RAINN's prevention and education initiatives and provide support for those affected by this crime through the National Sexual Assault Online Hotline (online.rainn.org), which has experienced a 54% increase since the Penn State story broke. The National Sexual Assault Online Hotline helps victims and survivors nation-wide receive the support they need and deserve. The #ProudPSUforRAINN campaign has received nation-wide support and continues to grow. As a result of the campaign, RAINN hotline staff have helped survivors from around the country (men and women, boys and girls), who were encouraged to get help for the very first time. Since 1994, RAINN's hotlines have provided free, confidential support to help more than 1.5 million survivors take the first steps towards recovery. To learn more about how your donation helps, visit:http://www.rainn.org/donate/where-your-money-goes See media coverage of #ProudPSUforRAINN: ABC News: Lessons for Penn State: Cover-Ups Cost Money, Student Lives ABC News: Penn State Alums Raise Funds for Victims, Bring Back Pride ABC News: Sex Crimes Against Boys Often Go Unreported Because of Queasiness Among Males The Ad Council - AdLibbing: The Impassioned Few AndersonCooper.com: #ProudPSUforRAINN Campaign Black Shoe Diaries: Support RAINN and the #ProudPSUforRAINN Campaign CBS Pittsburgh: Penn State Alumni Launch Website To Help Victims Centre Daily Times: PSU alumni work to raise $500,000 for sex abuse victims by Saturday The Chronicle of Philanthropy: Penn State Alumni Seek to Raise More Than $500,000 to Fight Sexual Abuse CNN: Survivors of sexual abuse appalled by Penn State unrest CNN American Morning: Penn State alumni group raises money for sexual abuse victims The Daily Collegian: Male survivor shares his story The Daily Collegian: Penn State group raises money for RAINN The Denver Post: Post-Penn State scandal donors pour $396,000 into fund to help victims of sex abuse Detroit Free Press: Michael Rosenberg: How Penn State can try to help repair damage, its image Examiner: Penn State scandal brings increased awareness of childhood sexual assault Huffington Post: Penn State Scandal: Alumni Raise Money For Sex-Abuse Victims -- What You Can Do (VIDEO) HuskerMax.com: Positives from the Penn State Situation HuskerMax.com: Please support the Penn State victims by donating to RAINN LA Times: Penn State community takes it personally MSNBC: Penn State alumnus seeks to help abuse victims Nittany Lines: What Penn State is All About Nittany Lions Den: Letter from a Penn State Alum The Penn Stater: RAINN Campaign Edges Closer to $500,000 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: PSU update: Gov. Corbett calls rioters 'knuckleheads' Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Alumni show their pride for Penn State by raising donations for victims of abuse The Seasons Blog: RAINN: Comment for a cause TIME: Penn State's Pre-Game Vigil: Focusing on the Victims — And Worrying About the Fallout Today's THV: RAINN hotlines sees surge in usage after Penn State victims speak out USA Today: Loss adds to tough time for Penn State USA Today: Penn State case brings other victims forward Washington Post: Penn State fallout: The emergence of the victims Washington Post: Penn State students plan candlelight vigil, raise money for victims


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D-13 ON 300944zAUG07 ABP11 REPORTS SAF TO TF 3FURY
2007-08-30 07:44:00
Afghanistan: Direct Fire, RC EAST, 3 casualtiesABP reported small arms fire at BSP 11 to TF 3FURY. This report can not be confirmed or denied. S: unk A: saf attack on bsp 11 L: ivo bsp 11 T: 0944z R: ANA reports SAF Attack on a ABP unit at BSP 11...
191445z TF 2 Fury reports SAF to NORTH of FB 4Corners
2007-12-19 13:45:00
Afghanistan: Direct Fire, RC EAST, 0 casualtiesAt 1445z A Co at FB 4 Corners observed SAF from UNK personnel and UNK size 6 to 7km to their north IVO SINI OP VB 5383 9440. At 1455z SAF ceased and A Co called the ANP to confirm or deny ANP involvem...
301512z TF 2 Fury reports Green on Green incident IVO Giro 1x ANA GSW to Chest
2007-12-30 14:12:00
Afghanistan: Direct Fire, RC EAST, 1 casualtiesD26 reports ANP at Giro Out Post shot his ANP Squad Leader in apparent dispute. D26 currently investigating at this time. ANP has conducted ground evac to Fob Ghazni, medics currently assessing ATT an...
2008-03-19 09:25:00
Afghanistan: Direct Fire, RC EAST, 0 casualties19 1025Z MAR 08: Tower 6 reports seeing 2-3 SAF rounds, 20m to his 1 oclock, IVO Grid 42S WD 259 654. HQs/ECP 3 reports hearing a steady rate of SAF, same location, IVO 2xISAF vehicles and Jingle truc...


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It looks like the case in India against two young female Facebook users has been dropped. But the debate over free speech in India is still heating up.
As we've reported, two young women were arrested last week for a Facebook comment that criticized the shutdown of the city of Mumbai for the cremation of a controversial political leader.
One woman wrote the post; the other merely "liked" it. Authorities now say the case against the women, Shaheen Dhada and Renu Srinivasan, will be closed. Earlier this week, two senior police officers were suspended for "unlawful" arrests. The two women reportedly will also receive compensation.
The public backlash against the case has forced a new scrutiny of the country's Internet laws.
On Friday, India's Supreme Court took up a petition to review the measure that has angered Internet activists. They say the law criminalizes electronic speech that causes "annoyance or inconvenience" or that is "grossly offensive."
Shreya Singhal, a 21-year-old university student from Delhi, petitioned the Supreme Court saying she was "enraged," by the misuse of the law. In her plea, she contends that the measure, known as Section 66 (A), "was so wide ... and vague and incapable of being judged on objective standards, that it is susceptible to wanton abuse."
Referring to the case against Dhada and Srinivasan, the chief justice of India, Altmas Kabir, said that "the way the children were arrested and treated like criminals outraged the conscience of a major section of society."
When the attorney general told the court that the law was "well-intended," the chief justice begged to differ. "No, the wording is not well-intended. It can be abused," he said.
The government, meanwhile, has offered to tweak the controversial act, saying criminal complaints would only be registered with the permission of senior police officers.
But the government has not amended the terms in the section that are said to be vague and subject to interpretation.
Supreme Court advocate Nikhil Mehra wrote this in the Hindustan Times: Suppose "you post a status update on Facebook or upload a tweet suggesting that your local shop owner has caused you grave inconvenience by refusing home delivery?" He can claim that he finds it an annoyance that "you spoke brashly," says Mehra, "and potentially have you arrested under 66 (A)."
Amid the growing campaign against India's law governing cyber speech, hackers are reported to have attacked and defaced the website of the country's information technology minister, Kapil Sibal.
India's Computer World magazine reported that the "about" section of the website described Sibal this way: "Born with a below-60 IQ, he thought he could mess with the Internet and let the elite of his party suppress freedom of speech."
Copyright 2021 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.


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The Rules of Link Building – Whiteboard Friday
Posted by BritneyMuller
Are you building links the right way? Or are you still subscribing to outdated practices? Britney Muller clarifies which link building tactics still matter and which are a waste of time (or downright harmful) in today's episode of Whiteboard Friday.
Video Transcription
Happy Friday, Moz fans! Welcome to another edition of Whiteboard Friday. Today we are going over the rules of link building. It's no secret that links are one of the top three ranking factors in Goggle and can greatly benefit your website. But there is a little confusion around what's okay to do as far as links and what's not. So hopefully, this helps clear some of that up.
The Dos
All right. So what are the dos? What do you want to be doing? First and most importantly is just to…
I. Determine the value of that link. So aside from ranking potential, what kind of value will that link bring to your site? Is it potential traffic? Is it relevancy? Is it authority? Just start to weigh out your options and determine what's really of value for your site.
II. Local listings still do very well. These local business citations are on a bunch of different platforms, and services like Moz Local or Yext can get you up and running a little bit quicker. They tend to show Google that this business is indeed located where it says it is. It has consistent business information — the name, address, phone number, you name it. But something that isn't really talked about all that often is that some of these local listings never get indexed by Google. If you think about it, Yellowpages.com is probably populating thousands of new listings a day. Why would Google want to index all of those?
So if you're doing business listings, an age-old thing that local SEOs have been doing for a while is create a page on your site that says where you can find us online. Link to those local listings to help Google get that indexed, and it sort of has this boomerang-like effect on your site. So hope that helps. If that's confusing, I can clarify down below. Just wanted to include it because I think it's important.
III. Unlinked brand mentions. One of the easiest ways you can get a link is by figuring out who is mentioning your brand or your company and not linking to it. Let's say this article publishes about how awesome SEO companies are and they mention Moz, and they don't link to us. That's an easy way to reach out and say, "Hey, would you mind adding a link? It would be really helpful."
IV. Reclaiming broken links is also a really great way to kind of get back some of your links in a short amount of time and little to no effort. What does this mean? This means that you had a link from a site that now your page currently 404s. So they were sending people to your site for a specific page that you've since deleted or updated somewhere else. Whatever that might be, you want to make sure that you 301 this broken link on your site so that it pushes the authority elsewhere. Definitely a great thing to do anyway.
V. HARO (Help a Reporter Out). Reporters will notify you of any questions or information they're seeking for an article via this email service. So not only is it just good general PR, but it's a great opportunity for you to get a link. I like to think of link building as really good PR anyway. It's like digital PR. So this just takes it to the next level.
VI. Just be awesome. Be cool. Sponsor awesome things. I guarantee any one of you watching likely has incredible local charities or amazing nonprofits in your space that could use the sponsorship, however big or small that might be. But that also gives you an opportunity to get a link. So something to definitely consider.
VII. Ask/Outreach. There's nothing wrong with asking. There's nothing wrong with outreach, especially when done well. I know that link building outreach in general kind of gets a bad rap because the response rate is so painfully low. I think, on average, it's around 4% to 7%, which is painful. But you can get that higher if you're a little bit more strategic about it or if you outreach to people you already currently know. There's a ton of resources available to help you do this better, so definitely check those out. We can link to some of those below.
VIII. COBC (create original badass content). We hear lots of people talk about this. When it comes to link building, it's like, "Link building is dead. Just create great content and people will naturally link to you. It's brilliant." It is brilliant, but I also think that there is something to be said about having a healthy mix. There's this idea of link building and then link earning. But there's a really perfect sweet spot in the middle where you really do get the most bang for your buck.
The Don'ts
All right. So what not to do. The don'ts of today's link building world are…
I. Don't ask for specific anchor text. All of these things appear so spammy. The late Eric Ward talked about this and was a big advocate for never asking for anchor text. He said websites should be linked to however they see fit. That's going to look more natural. Google is going to consider it to be more organic, and it will help your site in the long run. So that's more of a suggestion. These other ones are definitely big no-no's.
II. Don't buy or sell links that pass PageRank. You can buy or sell links that have a no-follow attached, which attributes that this is paid-for, whether it be an advertisement or you don't trust it. So definitely looking into those and understanding how that works.
III. Hidden links. We used to do this back in the day, the ridiculous white link on a white background. They were totally hidden, but crawlers would pick them up. Don't do that. That's so old and will not work anymore. Google is getting so much smarter at understanding these things.
IV. Low-quality directory links. Same with low-quality directory links. We remember those where it was just loads and loads of links and text and a random auto insurance link in there. You want to steer clear of those.
V. Site-wide links also look very spammy. Site wide being whether it's a footer link or a top-level navigation link, you definitely don't want to go after those. They can appear really, really spammy. Avoid those.
VI. Comment links with over-optimized anchor link text, specifically, you want to avoid. Again, it's just like any of these others. It looks spammy. It's not going to help you long term. Again, what's the value of that overall? So avoid that.
VII. Abusing guest posts. You definitely don't want to do this. You don't want to guest post purely just for a link. However, I am still a huge advocate, as I know many others out there are, of guest posting and providing value. Whether there be a link or not, I think there is still a ton of value in guest posting. So don't get rid of that altogether, but definitely don't target it for potential link building opportunities.
VIII. Automated tools used to create links on all sorts of websites. ScrapeBox is an infamous one that would create the comment links on all sorts of blogs. You don't want to do that.
IX. Link schemes, private link networks, and private blog networks. This is where you really get into trouble as well. Google will penalize or de-index you altogether. It looks so, so spammy, and you want to avoid this.
X. Link exchange. This is in the same vein as the link exchanges, where back in the day you used to submit a website to a link exchange and they wouldn't grant you that link until you also linked to them. Super silly. This stuff does not work anymore, but there are tons of opportunities and quick wins for you to gain links naturally and more authoritatively.
So hopefully, this helps clear up some of the confusion. One question I would love to ask all of you is: To disavow or to not disavow? I have heard back-and-forth conversations on either side on this. Does the disavow file still work? Does it not? What are your thoughts? Please let me know down below in the comments.
Thank you so much for tuning in to this edition of Whiteboard Friday. I will see you all soon. Thanks.
Video transcription by Speechpad.com
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Baby Steps 2nd Season Sub
Watch Baby Steps 2nd Season Sub full episodes online free kisscartoon.
Synopsis: After having decided to play tennis at the professional level, Eiichirou Maruo now needs to convince his parents to support his decision. To do so, he makes a wager: if he cannot win the All-Japan Junior Tennis Tournament, he will give up on his dream. However, he will need to improve his skills quickly if he wants to qualify for the tournament and have any chance of defeating the best players in the country. For this reason, his new coach Ryuuhei Aoi suggests that Eiichirou travel abroad to train at the Florida Tennis Academy.
Baby Steps 2nd Season takes the action to America as Eiichirou begins his two-week training program, getting a taste of what tennis is like outside of Japan. With this exciting experience awaiting him, Eiichirou hopes that his training will get him closer to his goal of becoming a professional player.


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Shree Swaminarayan Temple - Mandvi
Mandvi, Kutch, India
+91 2834 220131
About Mandvi Temple
It brings great pleasure to us on seeing the temple of Shree Swaminarayan in Mandvi. This is the place which is sanctified by the holy feet of Shree Sahajanad Swami. This temple is under the administrative control of Shree Swaminarayan Temple Bhuj. The idols of Shree Vrindavanvihariji Maharaj and Shree Harikrishna Maharaj were installed on 7/3/1859, Monday the 2nd day of Falgun in Samvat 1916. Under the progress of time the Satsang in near by area was spreading extremely due to effort of bhuj santos. The temple was now felt smaller and everyone agreed to build a new temple in a wider area. This dream came true with the aid of Kutchi followers and by grace of Bhagwan Swaminarayan and bhuj santos.
The foundation stone for new temple was therefore laid on 19/5/1991, Sunday on Samvat 2047 sixth day of Vaishakh by His Holiness Acharya Maharaj Shri Tejendraprasadji and Mahant Swami of Bhuj and under sincere effort of the followers of this area. The new temple was completed within 8 year period, with white marble under Indian art, having attractive dome and high crowns of temple. Shree Vrindavanvihari Maharaj being in the centre, where as on south side Shree Ghanshyam Maharaj and Sukhsaya of Shree Sahajanand Swami on North side. On the entrance of initial temple, Shree Ganapati Dev are installed on north side, having crown whereas 'Shree Hanumanji' on the south side. One large sized 'Ghumat' (Dome) is constructed in the centre of the temple where on its each column, the pictures of Saints and well known Bhaktas are carved on the marble. Similarily each and every pillars in the temple are decorated with art. There is one large sized Sabha mandap (auditorium) which is on north side of the temple where more than thousand persons can be addressed during the Katha programmes. In the center of the Sabha mandap, one thrown (Sinhasan) is made out of white marble where the outlooking idols of Shree Radhakrishna Dev, Shree NarNarayan Dev and Shree Hari are installed. On west side of this, main office of the temple as well as residential accomodation for Saints are made. Santos stay here permanenty who come from bhuj mandir and change as per yearly shift. On the same area a ladies temple is also built for ladies to have religious discourses.
Ladies Temple
On the east side of the main entrance of the above temple complex, one colourful temple exclusively for ladies, with beautiful pictures on the walls is constructed under the vast area. As per the system of the religion, Ladies should hold religious rituals separately from male devotees. The temple was opened on 20/4/2000, simultaneously with the Gents temple. There is one large Sabha mandap in the centre of the temple also where white marbled thrown is made, installed idols are of Shree Radhakrishnadev, Shree NarNarayan dev and Shree Hari, which are indeed very attractive. Before this thrown twice in a day, the ladies followers gather and perform the readings of the religious books of Shree Hari and sing the praising songs for the Lord Shree Swaminarayan. All the walls of the temple are highly decorated with the number of coloured pictures narrating the life and actions of Shreeji Maharaj and Lord Krishna. Sankhya yogi Baiyo stay in this complex permanently to head the Ladies devotees.


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Established in 1990, British Mouldings specialise in the design manufacture and installation of fine plaster mouldings. We offer a comprehensive service covering all your ornate plaster requirements in Buckinghamshire, surrounding areas and to the rest of the UK.
Our standard range of quality fibrous plaster products includes cornices, ceiling roses, corbels, dado and panel moulds. All products are manufactured to the highest quality by skilled craftsmen at our Norwich site.
All our products are available as both supply only and supply and installation. Contact us on 01603 980444 to find out more.


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Back in the day, we would have called this hardcore. It doesn't use metal riffs, and unlike metal songs, it doesn't build an atmosphere of heaviness. It throws out a sense of distraction and then hammers you with it. Not surprisingly, it's verse-chorus all the way in riff pairs, and the vocalist does that shouted vocal that sounds like a frustrated drunk person trying to explain something.
Much of it is expansive hardcore in the style of later Disfear with some overlap with newer Napalm Death, meaning that the ranting eventually picks up intensity and you get a trudgy-churny part over which there's meaningful chanting. It isn't bad at all. However, more than about four minutes of it results in scrambled brains, because it's essentially about hammering out one message and then looping it.
This might appeal to fans of bands like Tragedy who want poignant moments of voices raised in protest with their riffs. It makes the mistake all modern music does, which is that by turning all the intensity up to eleven, it ends up with an intensity of a constant one as it drones on in the background. All instruments are competent.


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Ganesha is the formless Divinity – encapsulated in a magnificent form, for the benefit of the devotee.
Gan means group. The universe is a group of atoms and different energies. This universe would be in chaos if there was no supreme law governing these diverse groups of entities.
The Lord of all these groups of atoms and energies is Ganesha.
He is the supreme consciousness that pervades all and brings order in this universe.
The essence of Ganesha is brought out beautifully by Adi Shankara.
Though Ganesha is worshiped as the elephant-headed God, the form (swaroop) is just to bring out the formless (parabrahma roopa) .
He is, 'Ajam Nirvikalpam Niraakaaramekam.' This means Ganesha is Ajam (unborn), he is Nirvikalpa(attributeless), he is Niraakaar (formless) and he symbolizes the consciousness which is omnipresent.
Ganesha is the same energy which is the reason for this universe. It is the energy from which everything manifests and into which everything will dissolve.
We are all familiar with the story of how Ganesha became the elephant-headed God.
Parvati became dirty when she was celebrating with Shiva. When she realized this, she removed the dirt from her body and created a boy out of it. She then asked him to keep guard while she bathed.
When Shiva returned, the boy did not recognize him and obstructed his passage. So Shiva chopped off the boy's head and entered.
Parvati was shocked when she saw this. She explained to Shiva that the boy was their son and pleaded with Shiva to save him at all costs.
Shiva then instructed his helpers to go and get the head of someone who was sleeping with their head pointing to the north. The helpers then got the head of an elephant, which Shiva affixed to the boy's torso and Ganesha was born!
Does this story sound strange?
Why should Parvati have dirt on her body?
Didn't the all-knowing Shiva recognize His own son?
Was Shiva, the epitome of peace, so short-tempered that he cut off the head of his own son? And why an elephant head on Ganesha?
There is a deeper meaning to all this.
Parvati is symbolic of festive energy. Her becoming dirty signifies that celebration can easily become Rajasik, or feverish and can take you away from your center. Dirt is symbolic of ignorance, and Shiva is symbolic of the Supreme Innocence, Peace and Knowledge.
So when Ganesha obstructs the path of Shiva, this means that ignorance, which is an attribute of the head, does not recognize knowledge. Then knowledge has to overcome ignorance. This is the symbolism behind Shiva chopping off the boy's head.
And why the elephant head?
Elephant represents both GYAN SHAKTI and KARMA SHAKTI.
The principle qualities of the elephant are wisdom and effortlessness. The enormous head of the elephant signifies Wisdom and Knowledge.
Elephants don't walk around obstacles, neither are they stopped by them. They just remove them and walk ahead – signifying effortlessness.
So, when we worship Lord Ganesha these elephant qualities within us are kindled and we take on these qualities.
Ganesha's big belly represents generosity and total acceptance. Ganesha's upraised hand, depicting protection, means, 'Fear not, I am with you', and his lowered hand, palm facing outwards means endless giving as well as an invitation to bow down, this is symbolic of the fact that we will all dissolve into earth one day.
Ganesha also has a single tusk which signifies one-pointedness. Even the implements Ganesha wields are symbolic.
He carries in his hands, the 'Ankusa' (signifying awakening) and the 'Paasa' (signifying control). With awakening, a lot of energy is released, which without proper control, can go haywire.
And why does Ganesha, the elephant-headed God travel on something as small as a mouse? Isn't that so incongruous? Again there is symbolism that runs deep.
The mouse snips and nibbles away at ropes that bind. The mouse is like the mantra which can cut through sheaths and sheaths of ignorance, leading to the ultimate knowledge represented by Ganesha!
Our ancient Rishis were so deeply intelligent that they chose to express Divinity in terms of symbols rather than words, since words change over time, but symbols remain unchanged.
Let us keep the deep symbolism in mind as we experience the omnipresent in the form of the elephant God, yet be fully aware that Ganesha is very much within us. This is the wisdom we should carry as we celebrate Ganesh Chaturti.


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Customer Log In | Contact Us
Click the link in your text message or go to m.astrasync.com using the BlackBerry® Browser to load the application download page. Click 'Download' to start the instalation
Click yes to download the AstraSync program.
Wait while AstraSync downloads and installs.
When complete run AstraSync to start the setup wizard.
It is highly recommended that you backup your existing data using the BlackBerry® Desktop Manager at this point. If you have enabled desktop synchronization of your calendar, contacts or emails in BlackBerry® Desktop Manager you must turn this OFF now to avoid having your data duplicated. Click OK when you are ready to continue.
To prevent data corruption Content Protection must be disabled on your device. This setting is normally off. You can check the setting on your device in Options | Security Options | General Settings. If it is on please close AstraSync now, turn it off and restart the application from the Downloads folder (Home screen on older devices).
Read the AstraSync license agreement, and then if you agree, click the application key to bring up the menu and select "Accept".
Wait while AstraSync tests your device to work out the best way to connect to your email server. This can take several minutes and you may be prompted to allow AstraSync to connect to the network.
Once AstraSync has completed its tests choose next to continue. (You can change the connection method later if it is not optimal for your data plan.)
Enter your account credentials.
If you are unsure of any of these items ask your server administrator or hosting provider.
This is normally the text after the @ sign in your email address.
If your email address is: firstname.lastname@example.com, your Domain is: work.com.
Sometimes the Domain is different to your email address as follows:
This is normally the text before the @ sign in your email address.
If your email address is: email@example.com, your Email User Name is: my.name
AstraSync will now try to determine your server details using AutoDiscover
If AutoDiscover has not been implemented by your server administrator, or you cancel the AutoDiscover process AstraSync will prompt you for your server details
Click next to verify your account credentials with your server.
Once the credentials have been verified click Next to continue. If verification fails choose 'back' to change your details.
AstraSync will detect what collections your server supports.
Choose which items you want AstraSync to synchronize and click 'Next'
If you have chosen to synchronize calendar and contact data, and items already exist on your device the following warning will appear.
Choose an action appropriate to your device.
If you have been synchronizing with your Exchange Account through the BlackBerry® Desktop Manager you should choose to "Delete Device Items".
If you wish to upload all your Device Items to Exchange choose "Continue Anyway"
If you choose to delete the items on your device, you must disconnect from your computer, type 'delete' in the conformation box, and wait while the items are deleted
AstraSync should now process your configuration settings and perfrom an initial sync of your data. Once the sync has completed your email inbox will be displayed.
We recommend that you also install our FREE sister product Monitor For BlackBerry from m.monitor4bb.com.
Monitor allows AstraSync to work at its most efficient, reducing battery and network usage. It also allows you to auto start the app when you power on your Blackberry. Find out more at www.Monitor4BB.com.
If AstraSync fails to synchronize correctly and displays an error message, please follow the resolution steps for your error message at the AstraSync Forum


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Welcome to OPAL a division of NRT Technology Corp..
Opal has been providing automated distribution solutions for almost a full CENTURY. While our products have changed dramatically over time, our commitment to providing stellar customer service remains the same as does our ongoing effort to provide the equipment that our customers need using the latest of continuously evolving technology. From delivering Postage stamp booklet dispensers in the 1940's to electronic kiosks that sell mobile telecom time, on-line and in real time, we have always delivered robust and reliable solutions. Opal equipment can be found in over 50 countries world wide accepting a multitude of currencies as well as credit and debit payment applications.
The functionality of almost all of the equipment that we produce is transaction based. This makes it possible for our clients to create an easy to understand ROI (return on investment) for each application.
Opal's primary focus has been in producing equipment for vending prepaid telecom products, namely cards for long distance calling, cards for mobile top up, PIN printing at the time of sale and real time on-line account top up. We also specialize in vending equipment for transit tickets and passes and produce equipment to vend debit cards, government revenue stamps, postage stamps and map booklets. Opal is now in it's 20th year under the current ownership. Our clients include the market leaders in their industries. Please explore our site and review our capabilities. Our business is built on solid products and solid relationships. Please don't hesitate to contact us so we can begin to develop a relationship with you and your company.


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Investors continue to shift attention from Europe to the US, as the fiscal cliff concerns are now center-stage (see discussion). The equity implied volatility risk premium of the Euro Stoxx 50 (SX5E) to that of the S&P500 (SPX) has come off sharply recently.
This is somewhat surprising because Europe is likely to be impacted by the US fiscal cliff economic shock as much as the US, possibly more. The EU member nations' companies are far more vulnerable to a further global slowdown (even if it originates in the US) than the US corporate sector.
CS: - We think that a fiscal cliff-induced growth shock, while negative for the US economy, could prove even worse for Europe. The current macroeconomic picture is one of cyclical stabilization appearing to be under way in the US, compared with a still fragile euro area, where recent data releases have revealed further weakness for the core [see discussion], making substantial deterioration highly likely in the event that extra stress is added to the mix by an external shock.Indeed, CS expects this ratio to move back up, as the Europe risk premium returns.


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About Genii
Genii Weblog
Civility in critiquing the ideas of others is no vice. Rudeness in defending your own ideas is no virtue.
Failure is always an option
Sun 31 Aug 2003, 10:31 PM
In a
recent article
in the New York Times, Henry Petroski, writing about NASA, makes the point that "failure is always an option", and that engineers understand this point, while managers often do not. Additionally, he describes engineers as pessimists who basically understand all that can go wrong, while managers are optimists, who just don't see the possibilities. I am not sure where software developers fall on this spectrum, in general. I think, to the extent that we can be seen as a single group, that we fall somewhere in between. We are much less bound by physical laws than engineers, but we are usually aware of the difficulty of making complex code do what we want. I say usually, because there seem to be some developers who will promise anything and confidently assume they can deliver, then act surprised when delivery doesn't happen, or doesn't happen on time and within budget.
Now, I have always been proud of my ability to overcome the impossible. I had a colleague at a former job who told me that whenever he wanted to be sure a difficult technical problem would be solved, he would make sure to tell me publicly that it was impossible. I would then work all night to prove he was wrong. No wonder he became a manager and I became an entrepreneur. Yet, I sometimes wonder if we, as a theoretical group, don't borrow trouble for ourselves with this attitude. Engineers come off as a somewhat more level headed group than software developers, partly because their failures are usually acknowledged early and in the factory. Sure, there are exceptions, like the tires which came apart on the SUVs, but most engineering failures are caught earlier. With software, our failures tend to be very public, since they are often caught by the public.
Microsoft is in the midst of its new Trustworthy initiative, which is supposed to herald a new era of safe, secure software. Unfortunately, so far they are mostly exposing just how untrustworthy they are at building secure software. Part of their problem is that they have adopted the mantra "Failure is not an option". Nonsense. Failure is always an option, and the sooner we admit it, the sooner we build software that assumes it will be hacked, and guards against it, the sooner we work together with customers to manage the patch update system more sanely, the sooner we adopt a vigilance not seen yet in Redmond.
Do other software vendors do better? Some do. IBM has always understand architectural integrity better than Microsoft, which lends a degree (sometimes a high degree, sometimes not) better security. Other vendors do better or worse. Open source software, which seems like it would be highly prone to hacking since the source code is available, is often surprisingly resilient, because everyone knows the source code is available, so the developers assume failure is an option. At Genii, we understand the concept, but I don't know whether we walk the walk as well as we talk the talk. It is certainly something we try to do, but, after all, failure is always an option.
Copyright © 2003 Genii Software Ltd.
Comments (1)
Good thing I'm not paranoid
Thu 28 Aug 2003, 06:23 PM
It is a good thing I'm not paranoid, or I might think that my government, which would never lie to me, and Britain's government, which would never lie to them, were hiding something about the highly coincidental power outage during rush hour in London today. If I were paranoid, I might believe that this and the US blackout seemed a lot like warning shots across the prow by somebody who wanted to communicate something to us about our vulnerability. Phew, I'm glad I'm not paranoid.
Copyright © 2003 Genii Software Ltd.
Comments (2)
Always leaning, but not falling over
Wed 27 Aug 2003, 05:22 PM
Appearances aren't everything, in software or in "real life". Lotus Notes reminds me of the Leaning Tower of Pisa, which has spent hundreds of years looking precarious, but never actually falls over. Year after year, ever since about 1995, I have read reports and listened to the
talking heads
talk about how Notes and Domino are doomed. The reasons vary, although it is often some combination of "standards" and web browsers. Yet, here we are, it is 2003, the Notes client and Domino server markets both appear strong, there are companion products doing well as well, and the web browser with all its standards is still a weak imitation of the rich client experience.
In contrast to Lotus Notes is Microsoft Exchange. With the wealth of Bill Gates and the unstoppable marketing prowess of Microsoft and the sheeplike devotion of the media, you would have thought Microsoft Exchange was a sure winner. Again and again I have seen it declared the "inevitable victor" in any matchup with Lotus Notes (although the latest round of articles has shifted to .NET as the "inevitable victor" in any matchup), yet Microsoft announced today that support would be extended for an additional year for Exchange 5.5, clearly because nobody has bothered to upgrade to later versions. Some say only 15% have upgraded. On top of this, reports are that people don't really like Exchange 5.5, but tolerate it because of Microsoft pressure. How long can that last in the face of ever more intrusive viruses and security patches that often break as much as they fix?
All I can say is, appearances can be deceiving. The Old Man of the Mountain (shown here from 1885) looked like it would last forever, but a facade is just that. What counts in the long run is not the appearance of stability, but the track record to prove it. In that race, Lotus Notes is and continues to be the real winner, and that is why Genii Software continues to focus on that platform.
Copyright © 2003 Genii Software Ltd.
Comments (0)
Vulnerability of interconnectedness?
Mon 25 Aug 2003, 10:17 AM
It is hardly original of me to talk about the vulnerability of interconnectedness, given the recent massive black out in the north eastern US, and the various worms and viruses which have been taking down, or at least slowing down, internet connections all over the world. As Daniel Gross writes in his article
Degenerating Situation
, "Recent experience suggests that this drive for economic efficiency has limits". I wonder about how this plays into the recent worries/thoughts/blogs about outsourcing/offshoring (see
Tom Duff's comments
Robert Basic's comments
for example, or articles such as
this article
I must say, I am not inherently against multinational companies competing with local companies for consulting, programming and project management. This tends to make both sides more efficient through competition. I just wonder if the companies who are setting up offshore support centers are watching any of these events, along with
terrorist attacks in India today
, with some trepidation that the sheer separation between home office and support staff could lead to vulnerability.
Mind you, my web server is hosted in a different country two thousand miles from my office. My customers are in 42 different countries all over the world. My business depends on an internet that has shown some serious strain recently. I am as vulnerable as interconnectedness can make me. Yet that same interconnectedness meant that my website stayed up when my power was out. My business has thrived although the local economy has suffered. Through all the attacks, the sheer scope of the internet has proven it stronger than the electrical grids which have fewer alternate paths in case of failure. So does the interconnectedness make us more, or less, vulnerable? Similarly, does the use of offshore firms in countries such as India, Russia, Singapore, make us more vulnerable, or less? On both counts, the jury is still out.
Copyright © 2003 Genii Software Ltd.
Comments (1)
Getting started with doclinks
Sun 24 Aug 2003, 10:32 PM
This "Getting started..." series of articles shows simple code snippets to demonstrate how to use common features of the
Midas Rich Text LSX
. These are not meant to be full fledged samples, for which you could go to the
Midas Samples
page, but rather small bits of code to show how to get started. These articles will also appear in the Reference section of the
Midas Help db
in somewhat altered form.
The Midas Rich Text LSX lets you find, create, manipulate and extract doclinks. The most common tasks are accessing doclinks and retrieving their values, changing one or more component of all doclinks in a rich text field, and adding a new doclink. Below are some quick code snippets to show these tasks. Additional information can be found in the
Midas Help db
along with information about the individual properties and methods which relate to doclinks.
Accessing all doclinks and getting their values
Set rtchunk = rtitem.DefineChunk("Doclink 1")
If rtchunk.Exists Then
Messagebox _
"Replica ID: " & rtchunk.LinkReplicaID & Chr(10) & _
"View UNID: " & rtchunk.LinkViewUniversalID & Chr(10) & _
"Note UNID: " & rtchunk.LinkNoteUniversalID & Chr(10) & _
"Popup text: " & rtchunk.LinkPopupText & Chr(10) & _
"Hint server: " & rtchunk.LinkHintServer & Chr(10) & _
"Anchor text: " & rtchunk.LinkAnchorText, _
0, "Doclink Information for " & rtchunk.Definition
Loop Until Not rtchunk.GetNextTarget
End If
Accessing all hyperlinks (link hotspots on text) and getting their values
Set rtchunk = rtitem.DefineChunk("Hyperlink 1")
If rtchunk.Exists Then
Messagebox _
"Link hotspot: " & rtchunk.Text & Chr(10) & _
"Replica ID: " & rtchunk.LinkReplicaID & Chr(10) & _
"View UNID: " & rtchunk.LinkViewUniversalID & Chr(10) & _
"Note UNID: " & rtchunk.LinkNoteUniversalID & Chr(10) & _
"Popup text: " & rtchunk.LinkPopupText & Chr(10) & _
"Hint server: " & rtchunk.LinkHintServer & Chr(10) & _
"Anchor text: " & rtchunk.LinkAnchorText, _
0, "Hyperlink Information for " & rtchunk.Definition
Loop Until Not rtchunk.GetNextTarget
End If
Changing one component of all doclinks (e.g., changing view unid to use All Documents view)
Set view = db.GetView("($All)")
Set rtchunk = rtitem.DefineChunk("Everything")
Call rtchunk.ChangeDoclinks("", view.UniversalID)
Changing one component of all doclinks that match a specific component (e.g., changing view unid to use All Documents view if the replica id is the current database)
Set view = db.GetView("($All)")
Set rtchunk = rtitem.DefineChunk("Everything")
Call rtchunk.ChangeDoclinks("", view.UniversalID, "", "", "", Ucase(db.ReplicaID))
Creating a new doclink using AppendLink
Set view = db.GetView("($All)")
Set rtchunk = rtitem.DefineChunk("Everything")
Call rtchunk.AppendLink("", db.ReplicaID, view.UniversalID, doc.UniversalID, "Follow link by clicking here...")
Creating a new hyperlink (link text hotspot) using AppendLink
Set view = db.GetView("($All)")
Set rtchunk = rtitem.DefineChunk("Everything")
Call rtchunk.AppendLink("My link", db.ReplicaID, view.UniversalID, doc.UniversalID, "Follow link by my link...")
Copyright © 2003 Genii Software Ltd.
Comments (0)
What's happening to the neighborhood?
Fri 22 Aug 2003, 03:32 PM
Will you look what's happening to the neighborhood. Just when you've got the porch fixed...
and the rhododendrons looking spiffy...
what happens but somebody moves in and disturbs the whole ambiance of the place...
Ah well, I guess nothing ever stays the same. At least the bum is a fireman (and a good friend and
), so we better all be friendly and take over an apple pie or something.
Click on his picture and you can even visit his front porch and see what he has to say... Oh yeah, his name is Andrew, but you can call him Fireman Bob if you like... Tell him I said Hi (he'll believe anything)...
Copyright © 2003 Genii Software Ltd.
Comments (1)


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Apple's late co-founder and revered CEO Steve Jobs had very strong feelings about Google's Android mobile operating system. Specifically, as he told his biographer Walter Isaacson, Jobs felt that Google "f*cking ripped off the iPhone." Jobs pledged to devote his "last dying breath" and spend all of the company's cash to "destroy Android, because it's a stolen product." He vowed "thermonuclear war."
Apple's $1 billion victory over key Android partner Samsung last Friday was the most decisive victory yet in Apple's worldwide proxy war against Google. But could peace be on the horizon? That's the prospect raised by a new Reuters report — since backed up by other news organizations — that reveals ongoing patent discussions between current Apple CEO Tim Cook and Google CEO Larry Page.
It's worth noting that neither Cook nor Page was CEO when the original iPhone-Android patent war kicked-off. That spat led to then-Google CEO Eric Schmidt's polite exit from Apple's board of directors. Jobs, a demanding perfectionist prone to towering rages, felt Schmidt stabbed him in the back, as the vivid quotes above illustrate. There may have been too much bad blood between Jobs and Schmidt to even contemplate any sort of patent peace.
Now that Cook and Page — both of whom are known to posses cooler heads than Jobs — are in charge, is a rapprochement possible? It's certainly an appealing prospect, given how much time, energy and money has been spent litigating this intellectual property dispute in jurisdictions worldwide.
(READ MORE: Apple's $1 Billion Patent Win Over Samsung Rattles Google's Cage)
Page and Cook have been holding what appear to have been secret (until Thursday), back-channel discussions "about a range of intellectual property matters, including the ongoing mobile patent disputes between the companies," Reuters reported, citing people familiar with the matter. The two tech honchos held a parley on the subject last week and are expected to hold talks again in the coming weeks, according to the report.
Their lieutenants are also conducting ongoing discussions. For those who view the present U.S. intellectual property regime as deeply flawed — count me among them — news of the talks raises the prospect, however faint, that the mobile industry may soon move beyond the multi-front patent wars that have thus far accomplished few tangible results, other than to line the pockets of intellectual property lawyers.
Last week, a federal jury in San Jose, California found that several of Samsung's products infringed Apple's smartphone patents. In short, Korean mobile giant Samsung ripped off Apple's iPhone designs. (TIME's Jared Newman broke down the specific hardware implications of the decision here.) Apple is now asking the court to bar Samsung, the world's largest mobile phone manufacturer, from selling eight of its models in the United States. Samsung has pledged to appeal the verdict.
(READ MORE: Why Apple's Win over Samsung Is Ultimately Good News for Consumers)
Meanwhile, the two companies are battling over similar issues in several other jurisdictions around the world. (On Friday, a judge in Japan ruled in Samsung's favor against Apple in another ongoing patent case.) Competition in the mobile phone market remains fierce: in just a few short years, Android has become the top smartphone operating system in the world, even as Apple's iPhone is considered the gold-standard for smartphone design.
"One possible scenario under consideration could be a truce involving disputes over basic features and functions in Google's Android mobile software," Reuters reported, citing a source familiar with the matter. "But it's unclear whether Page and Cook are discussing a broad settlement of the various disputes between the two companies – most of which involve the burgeoning mobile computing area – or are focused on a more limited set of issues."
Bottom line: Inventors must be protected and intellectual property respected. But frankly, the patent battles raging in courtrooms around the globe are beneath Apple and Google, two of the most respected tech companies in the world. Consumers want to see these firms compete in the marketplace, not bicker in courtrooms over highly-technical patents. They want to see the companies innovate, not litigate. It's encouraging to hear that Apple and Google are keeping lines of communication open at the "highest level," as Reuters reported.
Nobody likes lawsuits other than lawyers, and Cook is no exception: Last spring, Cook declared that he's "always hated litigation, and I continue to hate it." He said he would prefer to settle the dispute, but maintained correctly that it's his job to protect Apple's inventions. For Page's part, dealing with the ongoing patent litigation is no doubt one of the more annoying aspects of his job. So it's encouraging to see these two tech titans talking. C'mon guys, if you need to hammer out a licensing deal, so be it, but let's take this fight out of the courtroom and back into the marketplace, where it belongs.


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download article as .pdf: Dreros e Priniàs: nuovi dati e prospettive di ricerca sulla polis a Creta
The present paper focuses on Priniàs and Dreros. These two Cretan sites show both analogies and differences concerning the construction and development of the civic and religious spaces during the Iron Age and the Archaic period. Furthermore, they allow to investigate the birth of the polis temple in connection with both the rise of an urban entity around an open space (agora) and the socio-political changes carrying from the Geometric society to archaic polis community. Furthermore, the paper underlines the importance of the new archaeological investigations of areas and buildings already excavated over the past century, which often allow a new reading of the archaeological evidence.


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Cleared, and Pondering the Value of 27 Years
HOUSTON — Since a judge let him out of prison for a rape that prosecutors now say he did not commit, Michael A. Green has had trouble sleeping.
Late at night, he walks the neat, quiet sidewalks in the neighborhood where he is staying with an aunt, chain-smoking cigarettes, his mind spinning furiously with questions about why he was convicted 27 years ago and how to spend what is left of his life.He also ponders, he says, whether to take a $2.2 million compensation payment from the State of Texas or file a civil lawsuit in the hope of exposing the truth about the investigation that led to his incarceration. To receive the compensation, he must waive the right to sue.
"What I really need to do is to make them pay for what they done to me," he says. "Two-point-two million dollars is nothing when it comes to 27 years of my life, which I spent with mental torture and physical abuse."
Mr. Green, 45, was set free by a state judge two weeks ago after DNA tests on the rape victim's clothing proved that he could not have been responsible for the crime. His exoneration was the work of a new unit in the Harris County district attorney's office dedicated to reviewing claims of innocence.
The story of Mr. Green's nightmarish imprisonment — and how a prosecutor, Alicia O'Neill, eventually unearthed biological evidence that led to the real culprits — throws a harsh spotlight on an uncomfortable reality in American justice: the identification of a suspect in a lineup or in an array of photos is not always reliable.
More than three-quarters of the 258 people exonerated by DNA tests in the last decade were convicted on the strength of eyewitness identifications, according to the Innocence Project, the Manhattan-based organization dedicated to freeing innocent prisoners.
In Texas, the problem is even more acute: identifications by eyewitnesses played a pivotal role in 80 percent of the 40 people who have been exonerated with DNA evidence.
Some states, among them North Carolina and Ohio, have passed legislation changing the way lineups are conducted to reduce the possibility of an error, but similar bills in dozens of other states, including Texas, have failed in the face of stiff opposition from prosecutors and law enforcement agencies, defense lawyers say.
In 1983, Mr. Green was a high school dropout who slept late every day, played video games at an arcade in the afternoons and stole cars at night to make money. "Life was one big party," he recalled.
He was walking home on April 18, 1983, the night a white woman was abducted and raped in his neighborhood by four black men in a stolen Camaro. He was one of several young men stopped by the police, but the victim could not identify him.
A week later, however, he was arrested after stealing a car and smashing it up. Detectives showed the victim Mr. Green's mug shot, along with several other photos, and she said he might be one of her attackers. Later the same day, she picked him out of a lineup of five men.
He heard her scream from behind the mirrored glass when it was his turn to step forward in the lineup. He began cursing and yelling at the police.
"I got so mad, because I recognized it was a setup," he said. "Then one of the police said: 'I don't know what you are mad about. I didn't rape her. You did.' "
Mr. Green spit in the officer's face, the first of many defiant acts.
A few days later, he turned down an offer from a prosecutor to plead guilty and serve five years for the rape, Mr. Green said. He recalls the trial as a surreal experience. It was the victim's word against his. On the stand, she pointed him out again. He told the jury that he was innocent, but they did not believe him.
At 18 years old, he was sentenced to 75 years.
In prison, he fought nearly every day with other inmates at the Ferguson Unit, in Midway, where he earned the nickname "Two-Gun" for his boxing skills. He was filled with rage, he said, and fought often with the guards, too, earning vicious reprisals. In 1985, he was placed in a segregated unit for unruly and dangerous prisoners, mostly gang members. "I was considered one of the bad boys," he said.
In 1986, a white inmate tried to stab him, but wounded a guard instead. Mr. Green said the attacker, who belonged to a white supremacist gang, had wanted to kill him because he had allegedly raped a white woman.
Confined alone in a cell for all but two hours a day, he would ruminate endlessly about his trial, he said. "I lay back and thought over and over and over again, why did they find me guilty?" he said. In the late 1980s, he began to request books from the law library, looking for a way to overturn the conviction.
But he lost every appeal, and a public defender told him in 1988 that his case was hopeless, given the vehemence of the victim's testimony. He saw no glimmer of hope until 2001, when Texas passed a statute granting inmates the right to request DNA tests on old evidence under certain conditions.
He wrote the motion himself on a typewriter in his cell and sent it to the trial judge in July 2005. The judge assigned a public defender to handle the request, but the motion languished for three years in a backlog of requests before the Harris County district attorney's office.
Then in 2008, Patricia Lykos, a former judge and police officer, was elected district attorney, and one of her first acts was to reverse the office's longstanding reluctance to admit mistakes. She assigned two assistant district attorneys and an investigator to do nothing but comb through about 185 cases involving requests for DNA tests as well as about 75 other innocence claims. So far, the unit's work has led to the release of three men, including Mr. Green.
Ms. Lykos has been pushing for a new regional crime lab to help expedite the cases. Not only were innocent men imprisoned, she said, but the victims were denied justice and the actual culprits remained free to commit other crimes. "Whenever you have an innocent person convicted, you have a triple tragedy," she said.
Ms. O'Neill immediately zeroed in on Mr. Green's tale as one of the few in the stack of cases in which DNA testing could make a difference. "It was just a perfect case to see what the science had to say," Ms. O'Neill said.
The trouble was that the county clerk said the records showed the evidence in the case had been destroyed, a standard practice for old investigations in which there are no pending appeals. But Ms. O'Neill kept searching, and it turned out one box of evidence had been preserved by mistake, and inside were the victim's jeans. There were 32 semen stains on the denim.
It took a year and a half for a state crime laboratory to untangle the DNA markers on the jeans, but when it was done, Ms. O'Neill and her colleague, Baldwin Chin, had hit pay dirt. Two of the profiles found on the pants matched those of men who had been arrested for other crimes — Michael A. Smith, who was in prison, and David Elder, who was on parole. What is more, none of the three profiles matched Mr. Green's genetic code.
Under questioning, Mr. Elder named two other people involved in the rape, writing the names on the back of a business card. One of the men, Lawrence Mosley, was serving time in Amarillo for another crime, and he confirmed that the fourth person was Timothy Washington. None of the four will be charged in the rape because the statute of limitations has expired, prosecutors said.
But the new evidence was enough to persuade a judge to release Mr. Green on $500 bond while the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals considers a final ruling on his innocence.
"It's what you go to law school for," Ms. O'Neill said of the moment Mr. Green walked out of jail.
Mr. Green, in the meantime, said the experience of freedom had "been a trip." Just stepping in a grocery store or shopping for clothing at a mall overwhelms his senses, he said.
But the best years of his life are lost forever, he says. He wonders what happened to his girlfriend, whom he lost contact with after being sent to prison. He breaks down when talking about his mother's death in 2006 and how he missed the funeral.
Then he pulls himself together. He has been offered a job as a paralegal with the Innocence Project of Texas, he says, and will dedicate his time to "getting more innocent dudes out."


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