text:
All fingers, they say, are not equal. Economic levels amongst people vary. While some people are rich, others too are poor. A person's economic situation greatly influences the type of lifestyle and behaviour he/she lives.
The perception is that people who are rich are better organized than those who are poor. Using food, shelter, clothing, healthcare and education as benchmarks, one can say a wealthy person is usually better off than the poor. For instance, mansions are built and occupied by rich individuals while the poor live in simple, traditional structures.
Within the education sector, there is also an economic inequality. A student from a wealthy background can be in a school which pays over GH¢500 as its fees per term as another from a humble background also battles with less than GH¢50 per term in another institution. Brilliant but needy students may find it tough to attend the so-called first-class schools unless being sponsored.
It is also a fact that facilities in 'low cost' schools can hardly be compared to those in 'expensive' institutions. Many lack teachers, good classroom blocks, laboratories, ICT equipment and libraries for churning out quality education to students. Even though some of these disadvantaged institutions are doing their best, there is no way they can perform like the well-resourced, expensive ones unless steps are taken to better their sordid state of affairs.
The Ghana Education Service (GES) and the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) may have reason(s) for categorising the various public senior high schools in the country. We have Grade A, B, C and D schools. Junior high students make their choice of schools following this parameter.
But whatever reason it is, once a person is able to go through prescribed school duration, he/she is expected to crown it all with an examination usually conducted and supervised by the West African Examinations Council. The test administration is an annual event meaning anyone who misses a year's assessment would have to wait for the next year to be able to write.
Financial difficulties sometimes prevent students from being registered for examinations. The other day, I felt sorry for the 15 students of Kumasi High Technical School who were booted out of the Physics Theory examination hall for non-payment of school fees. The action was led by an Assistant Headmaster of the school, Mr. John Kumah.
Mr. Kumah said his action had the approval of the Ghana Education Service (GES) and that students in debts were not qualified to write the final examinations.
But that has been rubbished by the Ashanti Regional Public Relations Officer of GES, Mr. Owusu Agyemang saying "It is not Ghana Education Service's policy that students who have not paid their fees should be sacked from the examination hall."
The Public Relations Officer at the Ministry of Education, Mr. Paul Krampa has also condemned the action informing that over the years, the issue has come up and that heads have been told to collect fees from students before they write their external examinations using the Payment- by-Installment System.
He emphasises, "If you deny a final-year student from writing his/her final examination, it means you are jeopardising the person's future. Heads should not wait till the last minute before demanding the payment of fees."
However, listening to the plea of the Conference of Heads of Assisted Senior High Schools (CHASS), it appears this issue of non-payment of fees by final year students is a hydra-headed one. To them, complaints by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament over the indebtedness of students to schools demand that they collect all fees owed by students before they leave school.
CHASS President Samuel Ofori-Adjei has observed that once students know they have been registered for the WASSCE, some of them would stop attending classes and appear at the last minute to write their final examinations making fees collection very difficult. He adds that the ability of students to access results on the Internet also compounds the problem.
As it stands now, it is clear that no concrete, workable method is yet available for use in retrieving fees from students. No wonder www.graphic.com.gh reports that some heads have also adopted the strategy of asking students who owe fees to come out of examination halls for 25 minutes before the maximum period of 30 minutes allowed for students to report to examination halls after the commencement of any examination, adding, "Once 25 minutes of your (student's) time is wasted, next time when you are coming to write the examination you will bring your fees."
I think the earlier parents, school heads, GES and other stakeholders come together to agree on a pragmatic policy in tackling this problem of fees collection, the better it will be for us all.


text:
Robert Harris', Twenty Pieces of Music That Changed the World
One of the most popular features on The Sunday Edition this past year and a half has been , 20 Pieces of Music that Changed the World.
The Sunday Edition's very own musical guru, Robert Harris took us on a cultural journey — discussing the importance of music from Beethoven to Disco, and from Depression-era classics to rap.
The entire series is soon to be released as a boxed set of CDs. In the meantime, click here and have and listen!
5 responses
This is pretty cool! Thanks for posting!
February 8, 2010 at 5:09 pm
Oh, excuse me if I have something more important to do Sundays mornings… like… maybe sleeping…
February 9, 2010 at 11:30 am
I am curious to find out what blog system you are working
with? I'm having some minor security problems with my latest website and I would like to find something more safe. Do you have any suggestions?
May 22, 2013 at 5:29 pm

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Retired and Senior Volunteer Program
Program Provide Volunteer Opportunities for People 55 or Older
The Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) allows people who are 55 and older to contribute their time and talent to nearly 40 community agencies and organizations. Many volunteers say their RSVP placements help keep them active and feeling young.
More than 1,000 RSVP volunteers in Raleigh and Wake County contribute more than 90,000 hours annually. Volunteers serve in museums, health care centers, schools, libraries, nutrition centers, law enforcement offices and other settings.
RSVP is part of Senior Corps, a program of the Corporation for National and Community Service.
Benefits of Joining RSVP
Benefits to volunteers include mileage reimbursement, supplemental accident and liability insurance while volunteering, an annual recognition banquet, a quarterly newsletter, birthday and holiday greetings, and -- perhaps most important -- a sense of belonging.
Volunteers set the time that best fits their own schedules. They decide how many hours to volunteer. New volunteers are encouraged to visit several potential sites before deciding on a placement.
Find A Place to Serve
Many agencies are eager for the service of RSVP volunteers. The Community Engagement Division can help you find a meaningful volunteer opportunity based on your interests, hobbies and background. Call the Community Engagement Division at 919-996-6295 to learn more.Download Enrollment Card


text:
The Zombie Apocalypse: Fact or Fiction?
By Jim Donahue
Recent events in North America have brought the words zombie, apocalypse, cannibalism, and dismemberment to the forefront of our vernacular.
First, let's review the facts:
Sometime in the days leading up to May 26, 2012, it is alleged that Luka Rocco Magnotta murdered and dismembered Jun Lin, a 33-year-old college student from China. Montreal police discovered a headless torso near Magnotta's residence on May 26, 2012. A foot was sent to Prime Minister Stephen Harper's Conservative Party headquarters on May 29, 2012, and a hand was found later that day in a package addressed to the Liberal Party headquarters in Ottawa, Canada.
On May 26, 2011, in Miami, FL, Miami police shot and killed a homeless man who was allegedly feasting on the face of another homeless man in a daylight attack on a busy highway. Before he could be stopped, Randy Eugene had chewed the face of victim Ronald Poppo down to his goatee. "The forehead was just bone," police said, "No nose, no mouth."
On May 31, 2012, in Baltimore, MD, police discovered several metal canisters containing the partial remains of 37-year-old Kujoe Agyei-Kodie, a graduate student at Morgan State University. The canisters were discovered at a Baltimore area townhome shared by two Morgan State University students. The alleged suspect, Alexander Kinyua, 21, of Joppatowne, MD, has admitted to eating a portion of the dead man's brain, as well as his heart.
It would seem that Zombies are indeed walking the planet, dismembering and eating their victims. And the forecast of impending doom and apocalyptic, cataclysmic events advanced by doomsday theorists is extremely disheartening. It is definitely the stuff of science fiction.
And now for the fiction.
AMC's The Walking Dead, a series with its story line straight out of a science fiction novel has aired for 2 seasons, and are they ramping up for their 3rd. The show is based on a series of comic books of the same name written by Robert Kirkman, Tony Moore and Charlie Adlard. The executive producers are Robert Kirkman and Glen Mazzara and was developed for television by Frank Darabont.
If you watched the show, you know that the apocalypse has happened, and most everyone on the planet is infected with the virus that makes them into zombies and turns them into the Walking Dead. Death, dismemberment and cannibalism all follow. The featured characters are a group of survivors trying to understand the events, while fighting off the Zombies and looking for safe haven.
AMC is having a marathon viewing of all 19 episodes from the first two seasons of the zombie drama, culminating with a live episode of The Talking Dead, where the first scene of the third season will debut. The marathon begins at 11:30 am on Saturday July 7th and runs thru 11:00 pm Sunday July 8th.
The show is watched by millions each week and the survival techniques featured on the show are just one of many things to be learned from viewing.
So much so that Michigan State University is offering a Zombie survival course this semester, appropriately titled, "Surviving the Coming Zombie Apocalypse – Catastrophes and Human Behavior." It's a seven-week online course and teaches how human behavior and human nature change after catastrophic events, among other things. "We are using the idea of a zombie apocalypse to attract attention to the important research and science on the topic of 'Catastrophes and Human Behavior,'" creator of the course Glenn Stutzky said. "Students will learn about the nature, scope and impact of catastrophic events on individuals, families, societies, civilizations and the Earth itself."
Who knows? Maybe the end of the world is coming to a location near you in the not too distant future. Fact or Fiction?
I'd like to hear from you; what are your thoughts?
4 Responses to The Zombie Apocalypse: Fact or Fiction?
Dr Austin, a self-described Theoretical Zombiologist (LMVFAO!), replied to your article, and I quote: "The recent rise in 'zombie' stories has far more to do with selling papers and gaining page views than actual 'Zombieism.'"
So, take him up on his implied challenge and interview him! What a novel journalism concept!
Are your chicken? Or don't you get paid enough?
I'll make his stories really flow, first taking him out to some clubs, plying him with vats of alcohol, and get some of Oscar's gals to further excite his lusting entrails. You'll be a STAR!
And, please, have your idle editor-in-chief check all future articles before posting. This is looking more like a blog, more times than not. Many errors, including in yours with the television show name, which is "The Walking Dead," not, as you wrote, "The Talking Dead."
Any budding zombioligist knows that zombies really don't talk, they just grunt a lot– that's when they're not feasting on Grade A human prime riblets!
Happy Hunting!
Dear Jim,
My name is Doctor Austin, I am a Theoretical Zombiologist at the University of Glasgow, Scotland and Head of the Zombie Institute for Theoretical Studies. It is fantastic you have chosen to write about zombies, but I would like to make a few points on your piece.
Firstly this statement, 'it would seem that Zombies are indeed walking the planet, dismembering and eating their victims' is completely unfounded. There is at present no biological agent than can cause the symptoms referred to as 'Zombieism'. Nor would the symptoms portrayed by movies be the actual symptoms a real 'zombie' would have. For example, there is nothing that can affect a person causing them to only eat human flesh or brains. An exclusive cannibal diet is not an existing medical nor mental condition. Neither would a 'zombie' be a dead person who acts as though living. When a dead human is revived, they are not called 'undead', but simply alive.
It is also highly unlikely that an apocalyptic scenario would occur through Zombieism. There has not yet been a disease that has wiped out the human race, or left only infected humans. For example the bubonic plague claimed the lives of some 200 million victims. Now whilst this is a tremendous loss of life it is worth bearing in mind that the human population is currently over seven billion. So to have a situation where the majority of the world's population have succumbed to a disease, and the rest are all infected, is at present, highly improbable.
Finally, the incidents you quote have very little similarities to 'zombies'. Many of them involved premeditated actions, which a zombie could not have thought of, or, actions which a zombie would not have the dexterity to carry out. The idea that certain drugs cause people to become zombies is not scientifically sound, or backed up with empirical data. For every story where drugs are the cause of supposed 'Zombieism' I can find ten times as many that involved people on the same drugs not behaving zombie like.
The recent rise in 'zombie' stories has far more to do with selling papers and gaining page views than actual 'Zombieism'.
We here at the Zombie Institute are always available to help should anyone need us. These stories only emphasize the need for Zombie Education.
Kindest Regards,
Doctor Austin
hello from haiti there is a certen virus beein spreded from old acient times in haiti


text:
Bigen #58 Black Brown Permanent Powder Hair Color.21 oz. | Color
Product UPC: 741655730675
see all Bigen products
(Rated 0/5 based on 0 reviews) Login to add your review
Bigen Permanent Hair Color is ideal for those looking for long lasting 100% gray coverage or to enhance their natural hair color. Bigen permanent hair color is ammonia free and requires no hydrogen pe Read More...
Be the first to add a review for this product.
Sodium Perborate, P-Phenylenediamine Sulfate, Cellulose Gum, M-Aminophenol, Sodium Carbonate, Disodium Lauryl Sulfosuccinate, Algin, Sapindus Mukurossi Peel Extract (Sapindus Mukurossi), Magnesium Stearate, P-Aminophenol, Fragrance (Parfum)
Ingredient Attributes:
Ingredient Attributes:
There are not currently any videos found for this product.


text:
This, that and the other teams:
The hammer finally dropped Monday, leaving a handful of teams to lean on contingency plans in the wake of news that baseball was suspending 13 players tied to the Biogenesis investigation.
Alex Rodriguez, of course, isn't going down without a fight. However, three All-Stars connected to the probe — including the Padres' Everth Cabrera — have accepted 50-game suspensions that figure to weigh heavily on playoff races.
Here's a look at the teams most affected:
With news early Monday that right fielder Nelson Cruz was preparing to accept a 50-game suspension this year — rather than risking an appeal that could push his ban into the 2014 season and cost him free agent dollars — Texas became the biggest loser in the Biogenesis investigation.
The Rangers whiffed on acquiring a bat at last week's non-waiver trade deadline to soften the blow of Cruz's possible ban and this Rangers' lineup — unlike those of the past — isn't nearly deep enough to mask losing a player who leads the team in homers and RBIs.
There's no Josh Hamilton or Mike Napoli pacing the offense this year. No, even with Cruz in the lineup, the Rangers were averaging a run less than they did two years ago en route to the World Series.
Barring a waiver trade, Texas will have to rely heavily on Yu Darvish and Matt Garza at the top of its rotation and hope that youngsters Leonys Martin and Jurickson Profar start to come into their own in time to make up the two games they trail Oakland by in the AL West. (Oakland, by the way, will not lose Cy Young candidate Bartolo Colon to a new suspension because he's already served a 50-game ban).
Playoff odds: Not good. Even with the Rangers right there for the last wild-card spot, Cruz's void figures to torpedo Texas' season.
Unlike the Rangers, Detroit GM Dave Dombrowski successfully anticipated losing All-Star shortstop Jhonny Peralta to a season-ending suspension. In fact, the Tigers might be better off with the light-hitting, slick-fielding Jose Iglesias up the middle after netting him in a three-way deal with the Red Sox and White Sox. Although a force in the lineup with a .305/.361/.461 triple-slash, Peralta isn't nearly the fit that Iglesias is for a team that leads the AL in ground-ball-to-fly-ball ratios. Also, with Miguel Cabrera, Prince Fielder and Torii Hunter, the Tigers can stomach losing some production at the plate.
Playoff odds: Sitting pretty atop the AL Central.
The early word is that a verdict on Rodriguez's appeal might not happen until the offseason. That would allow A-Rod to play the year out, giving the Yankees the kind of power at third base that they've sorely missed all year long. Even if Rodriguez isn't nearly the player he was in his heyday, he's an improvement over the mishmash that manager Joe Girardi has had to run out to third base. That group collectively has four homers all year. Rodriguez hit three homers in 15 rehab games.


text:
Clash of Clans Gem Boost Special now underway
As promised, the Clash of Clans Gem Boost Special has begun. From now until March 6th you can boost your heroes and spells for just one gem each.
For heroes, you can boost the Barbarian King's and Archer Queen's healing rate by 4x for two hours for one gem. You can also boost the spell factory one gem which will increase the spell creation speed by 4x for two hours.
It's not as exciting as, say, boost to your gold mines and elixir collectors, but Supercell has hinted that they could be featured in the next special. Here's to hoping...


text:
Boston Latino International Film Festival
Estimados Amigos,
BLIFF is celebrating our 12th anniversary, thanks to the continued support of our sponsors, filmmakers, volunteers and audience!
We have secured a phenomenal line-up of films this years so please review our schedule for all of the programs and mark you calendars now! All of the films will premiere in Boston, and all Spanish-language films will be subtitled in English.
BLIFF's mission is to "bring communities together through film". When the festival was first established in 2002, the coordinators sought to accomplish a number of goals. First, they wanted to screen the best Latin American films in the three following categories: feature films, short films, and documentary films. Second, the festival sought to show films that portrayed more accurate depictions of the Latino and Latin American communities and create intercultural awareness. Third, the Festival sought to strengthen intercultural relations between the Latino community and other ethnic and cultural groups. Finally, the Festival wanted to provide an outlet for Latino producers, directors, and writers to screen and discuss their work in the Greater Boson area. Now, eleven years later, we are extremely proud of our accomplishments, yet realize that our work is never done. We look forward to another great year!
See you at the movies!
Jose Augusto Barriga
Festival Director
Boston Latino International Film Festival
When: November 14-15, 16-17, 23-24.
Location: Harvard University Tsai Auditorium (14-15 & 23-24); Northeastern University #20 West Village F (16-17)
For more information please visit the event's website at www.bliff.org.
Italian Language Caffé
Are you looking for an informal and sociable way of improving your Italian? Then you need a conversation group where you can oratice speaking, meet new friends, learn about italian culture, playing games, while drinking a real Italian espresso!
When: Thursdays 3:00pm – 4:00pm
Location: 273 Ryder Hall
For more information please contact contact professor Gina Maiellaro at firstname.lastname@example.com .
Japanese House
Families can explore every corner of this fully-equipped Japanese house reconstructed in Boston by Japanese carpenters. Japanese family life, customs, ceremonies, art, architecture and seasonal events are all highlighted in the fully functional 100-year-old house inside the Museum.
This House was a gift to the City of Boston from the City of Kyoto on the 20th Anniversary of their sister city relationship in 1979. It was brought to the United States piece by piece and rebuilt at Boston Children's Museum, where it still stands today. Very few of these houses still exist even in Japan, so come explore this rare and very special landmark.
When: Ongoing
Location: Boston Children's Museum, 308 Congress St Boston, MA 02210
For more information click here.
Sacred Pages: Conversations about the Qur'an
"Sacred Pages" offers visitors a way to broaden their understanding of the Qur'an, Islam, and Islamic art. Drawing upon the MFA's rich collection of loose pages from Qur'ans dating from medieval to modern times, this exhibition showcases 25 examples, illustrating their significance as masterful and sacred works of art and exploring how these objects are understood by individual followers of Islam living in the Boston area today. Twenty-four people, from all walks of life, have written labels for this exhibition. These individuals, all Muslims from the Boston area, visited the Museum in the early months of 2013 to meet one another and select a page to write about. These beautiful works of Arabic calligraphy, made as early as the 8th and as recently as the 20th century, were created in Egypt, Morocco, Iran, and Turkey. The diversity of time and place of production is mirrored by the manner in which they are displayed, as the exhibition pairs curatorial interpretation about developments in Islamic art with personal statements by members of Boston's Islamic communities invited to share their comments and reactions to the pages.
When: Until February 23, 2014
Location: Museum of Fine Arts, 465 Huntington Avenue Boston, MA 02115
For more information click here.


text:
If you're in need of the perfect place in Lake Tahoe to use that perfect swing, then look no further. Travelocity knows all the best deals on golf hotels in Lake Tahoe, so you can play and relax in style. Lake Tahoe has such wonderful golf courses, and Travelocity can find the perfect hotel to tee off. So grab your gear, shoulder your golf bag, and drive your cart to the golf hotel of your choosing in Lake Tahoe.
No Travelocity Cancellation Fee
Book, change, or cancel almost any hotel without paying a Travelocity fee.


text:
Cleaning Appliances
If there's a smarter way to enjoy a clean, healthy environment, you'll find it in our cleaning appliances and sanitization products. Brookstone products purify air...sterilize personal items...tidy up messes wet or dry...and keep your possessions gleaming. All without scrubbing, scraping or elbow grease! So the only work left is picking up our products.
SAVE Telescopic Cleaning Pole
Was $59.99 Now $9.99
SAVE 6-Gallon 2.75HP Quiet Plus Vacuum Cleaner
Was $116.99 Now $75.99
SAVE 8-Gallon 5.5HP Stainless Steel Vacuum Cleaner
Was $149.99 Now $97.99
Clean Spin 360 Spin Mop
SAVE Clean Air Odor Knockout Combo Kit
Was $30.99 Now $25.99
Sweeper and Dustpan
SAVE BISSELL BG25 Commercial Manual Compact Floor Sweeper
Was $49.99 Now $42.99
SAVE Bissell BigGreen Commercial Battery Vac with Detachable Handheld Vac
Was $119.99 Now $100.99
SAVE Bissell PowerForce Upright Vacuum
Was $199.99 Now $164.99
SAVE Max Burton Vacuum to Go
Was $59.99 Now $47.99
SAVE iTouchless EZ Faucet Automatic Touch-Free Sensor Faucet Adaptor
Was $64.95 Now $58.99
SAVE SteamFast 3-in-1 Multi-Purpose Steamer
(4 reviews)
Was $109.99 Now $97.99


text:
Saraf Jidad — A group of herders reportedly kidnapped three members of the community police after raiding their station at a displaced camp in Saraf Jidad area, in Sirba locality, West Darfur, on Sunday morning, 18 November, a resident told Radio Dabanga.
The source added that the same group has tortured more than 60 camp residents, severely injuring 11, in two consecutive days of attacks. He explained the first wave of attacks began on Sunday morning and lasted until the same evening and the second wave began on Monday at 6am.
Onlookers recounted that besides the kidnapping, the perpetrators stole all weapons belonging to the police station and beat other policemen before locking them up in the station's prison center.
The reason for the attack, according to the perpetrators, is because they believe members of the community police killed a herder. They claimed to have found his body at Mruro area, five kilometers north of Saraf Jidad on Saturday.
According to witnesses, some of the perpetrators were driving Land Cruisers, while others were riding horses and camels.
11 injured
A source noted that despite the arrival of the Sirba locality commissioner, Abdul Khaliq Ibrahim Mattar, and the military to the area on Sunday night, abuses continued.
Onlookers said that herders looted homes, shops and cattle and beat and tortured more than 60 people, severely injuring 11, between assaults that took place on Sunday and Monday.
According to sources, before attacking the camp on Monday morning, perpetrators fired heavily in the air and then began beating the residents.
Witnesses who managed to escape the area told Radio Dabanga that the perpetrators also carried out assaults in the areas of Banjedid and Moro on Monday.
The incidents over the past two days caused 'a major wave of displacement towards camps Arminkol, Abu Suruj and Tendelti', sources explained.
Agreement suspended
In order to solve the situation, a meeting was held on Sunday night between Sirba's commissioner, herders and the displaced, Radio Dabanga has learned.
During this meeting, the commissioner decided that the displaced must give 50 camels and pay 15 million Sudanese pounds to compensate the herders for their comrade's death.
However, the Omda of Saraf Jidad, Yahia Ulma, suspended the agreement 'until further notice' once he received confirmation that new attacks took place in the area on Monday, he told Radio Dabanga.
'Cannot go back'
The omda recounted to Radio Dabanga that he was in El-Geneina, West Darfur's capital, to inform the state's governor about the agreement that had been reached on Sunday night when he learned about Monday's fresh attacks.
Ulma then said he informed the authorities about the suspension of the agreement instead, and affirmed that him and his delegation cannot go back to Saraf Jidad. He explained the situation there is dangerous at the moment and that they fear for their lives.
On his turn, the executive director of Sirba locality, Abdou Abdel Karim described the situation as 'critical and serious' and said that what happened in Saraf Jidad is 'unacceptable'.
He acknowledged that an armed group opened fire near the police station station of Saraf Jidad but denied that policeman were kidnapped or locked up and that displaced were beaten and that their properties were looted.
Karim and other local authorities claimed to disapprove that parties 'take matters in their own hands', he told Radio Dabanga.
He stressed that there were no casualties in Saraf Jidad and asserted that authorities from El-Geneina sent the military to the area to contain the situation.


text:
press release
The Department of Police, Roads and Transport has embarked on a turnaround strategy to improve service delivery to the public at its testing stations and registration authorities in the province. As part of this process the department will be upgrading certain service points at Lengau testing Centre in Bloemfontein on Friday, 1 February 2012 at 13h00.
The improvements will be made to the system to allow members of the public to do card transactions for payments for services rendered at the station. The station will close at 13h00 to enable technicians to work on the systems without inconveniencing members of the public. The Department of Police, Roads and Transport would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused as a results of this closure.


text:
Skip to Navigation
Skip to job search form
Skip to page content
TOM ADAMS"...Tom continues to excel as a database developer...he equipped our marketing, sales and billing groups with business intelligence tools that improved operations, efficiency and profitability..." 2011 Performance Review
"…As a result of Tom's efforts in customizing our CRM database, we are now able to provide an unprecedented level of service and support to our domestic and international customers…"2009 Performance Review
"...of particular value to me has been Tom's ability to identify and resolve glitches…His efforts prevented a potentially disastrous data loss...he is a key member of our IT team…"2007 Performance Review
Database Development | BI Solutions | Data Warehousing & IntegrationObject & Dimensional Modeling | OLAP & OLTP Data ModelingScripting, Coding & Documentation | Complex Troubleshooting
Professional Experience
ABC Company -- Sometown, MIMidsize electronics reseller and distributor with a global clientele.
Database Developer, 6/07 to PresentJunior Database Developer, 1/07 to 6/07
Define system/user requirements to design, develop, document, test and implement data models, database architecture and DBMS/BI solutions supporting sales, marketing, ecommerce, finance, customer service, billing and other crucial business functions. Key Accomplishments:
Education & Technology
XYZ University -- Sometown, MI BS in Information Technology (Database Emphasis), Minor in Math, 2006
Visual Studio, .Net, C#, VBA for Access, ASP, ASP.Net, SQL Server, Transact-SQL, Oracle, SSIS, SSAS, SSRS, Sybase, Ingres, MDX, C++, C, Perl, MS Access
BeKnown Profile | LinkedIn URL | Twitter Handle
Want more personalized results?
Update Your Profile
View All Latest Jobs
Featured Advice Resources:


text:
SOMETHING weird is happening in the wilderness. The animals are becoming restless. Polar bears and penguins, dolphins and dingoes, even birds in the rainforest are becoming stressed. They are losing weight, with some dying as a result. The cause is a pursuit intended to have the opposite effect: ecotourism.
The massive growth of the ecotourist industry has biologists worried. Evidence is growing that many animals do not react well to tourists in their backyard. The immediate effects can be subtle - changes to an animals' heart rate, physiology, stress hormone levels and social behaviour, for example - but in the long term the impact tourists are having could endanger the survival of the very wildlife they want to see.
Ecotourism has clear benefits. Poor countries that are rich in biodiversity benefit from the money tourists bring in, supposedly without damaging the environment. "Ecotourism is an alternative activity to overuse of ...
To continue reading this article, subscribe to receive access to all of newscientist.com, including 20 years of archive content.


text:
Hey, I'm glad you got the chance to vent. As much as I love using Android right now, I can't go along with people thinking your current situation is something where you "just deal with it".
I'm glad somebody gets this and how frustrating it has been . Yes! This! Exactly!
Kudos to you for switching from iOS and still being so cool-headed and open-minded about your non-optimal Google/Android experience so far.


text:
Skatell's Jewelers
- 743 Congaree Road
- Greenville, SC 29607
- 864-288-7248
- Fax: 864-675-9733
Visit Their Website
Uncompromising Quality and Value. Family owned since 1964.Over the years, the Skatell collection has become one of the southeast most celebrated. Our staff of experts has grown in number and in knowledge. Skatell's provides the unmatchable service, you expect in a jeweler of excellence. We happily provide this service, with each purchase...from the most modest, to the once in a lifetime investment in beauty


text:
Enjoy this article? You may also be interested in these related items from our partners
Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment has released a new clip from its upcoming film from DisneyToon Studios, The Pirate Fairy, available to own on April 1, 2014 (pre-order). The new clip, which you can find embedded below, features the film's theme song, 'Who I Am' as performed by pop singer Natasha Bedingfield. The film also features Bedingfield's 'Weightless (Less Is More Version),' which had been used in the scratch recording of the film and was enjoyed so much by the filmmakers, director Peggy Holmes opted to make it permanent.


text:
An 82-year-old driver told police he fell asleep before crashing into a parked garbage truck before noon Tuesday, according to a Noble County Sheriff's Department news release.
The older driver was taken to Parkview Regional Medical Center with complaint of pain after the 11:23 a.m. Tuesday crash, according to the release.
The man's 1996 Chevy Astro van rear-ended a 2007 Freightliner that was stopped to pick up garbage on Wolf Lake Road at County Road 100 South, according to the release. The 27-year-old truck driver was not injured.


text:
Billy Ray Cyrus releases rap/rock/EDM version of 'Achy Breaky Heart': Top 5 funniest moments from the music video
More than two decades after the original, Billy Ray Cyrus released a follow-up version to his one-hit-wonder song "Achy Breaky Heart" on Tuesday (Feb. 11).
Titled "Achy Breaky 2," the song is actually by some rapper named Buck 22 and features the father of Miley Cyrus on backup vocals and guitar ... and it's a hot, hot mess. It's some sort of weird, rap/rock/EDM hybrid, and the music video is filled with thong bikini-wearing, twerking, hookah-smoking aliens. No joke.
This thing is so insane, we decided to highlight the five funniest, weirdest and saddest moments of the music video. You're welcome.
5. Larry King was in on it, and introduces the song with a fake news bulletin that a UFO was spotted. Hey, instead of apologizing for the fake news blast, how about you apologize for collaborating on this?
4. Cyrus gets abducted by the aliens. If only this were real, and he never came back ...
3. The scantily clad aliens start twerking. Because of course.
2. Which of course prompts a shout out to his daughter, the queen of twerking: "Miley keeps twerkin', daddy's song is workin'." Um, no, it's not.
1. An alien blows hookah smoke into his face. Nice.
Bonus hilarious moment: As Cyrus is walking away at the end, some random dude shouts, "My grandma loves you, man!"
Check out the whole train wreck below:


text:
Click here to be notified of new posts!
search the site
The word "free" explains everything.
Click here to listen to the broadcast of You Tell Me on KTBB AM 600, Friday, February 17, 2012.
When the story broke about the Department of Health & Human Services mandating under Obamacare that virtually every employer health plan must provide contraceptives, sterilization and abortifacients, I have been talking about the fact that such a mandate constitutes an assault on liberty. That was the thrust of last week's piece in this space.
Of course, about the mandate being an assault on liberty, I'm right. But with a week of listening to the back and forth on this issue, I finally understand what the argument is really about.
Not that yet another incremental surrender of liberty isn't worth an argument. It is. And I have either listened to or in one case participated in such arguments over the past week.
But it finally has become clear to me that I have insufficiently appreciated what it is that is actually motivating those that argue in favor of the administration's position.
It's not complicated. The word "free" explains it all.
What's really going on here is that a huge number of people who ought to know better actually believe that contraceptives should be free. It's not really about the right of the Catholic church or any other institution or individual to oppose these mandates on ethical or religious grounds. It all boils down to 'How dare you stand in the way of me doing what I want.' This fight is all about the belief held by an astonishing number of people that they should be able to live a consequence-free life courtesy of the taxpayers.
The problems attendant to this mindset are obvious to those with a brain. We have insufficient space to cover them all. So let's just concentrate on the idea of free. If birth control is free, why isn't a mammogram? Or a colonoscopy? If you're entitled to a free "morning after" pill, why are you not entitled to free diabetes care?
(The answer to these questions is, of course, that people believe that they are entitled to free mammograms, colonoscopies and diabetes care.)
So let's expand beyond health care. If you want free birth control, it's because you want to enjoy the pleasures of having sex without the consequence of producing a baby. You want sex for recreation and you want someone else to pay for it.
Well if the government is going to underwrite your recreational sex, where is the money for my recreational pursuit of photography? Or your neighbor's recreational fishing?
A quick check reveals that Trojan Ultra-thin Lubricated Condoms can be purchased online in packages of 36 for just $18.00. That means you can "git 'r done" every single night for the next year for only $184. That's a mere 1.2 percent of your annual income if all you make is minimum wage. Forget about the food, housing, health, education and transportation subsidies to which you already feel entitled, you're not even willing to work a half a week in order to have fun in the old sackeroo every single night for an entire year? For what exactly will you put forth some effort?
For the debate over government-mandated free birth control to have arisen in the first place is evidence that we as a nation have raised a huge cohort of permanent adolescents, partying and hooking up and having fun on mommy and daddy's dime.
For you permanent sophomores I have this question: if you believe that someone else should pay so that you can enjoy consequence-free sex, at what point do you assume responsibility for anything in your own life? Does that point even exist?
For an astonishing percentage of Americans, apparently it doesn't.
Your math is flawed….. You evidently assume that most men are like you. Git-r-Done once a night and then go to sleep. You forgot to factor in that the majority of men will never admit to only one time a night. Most men will brag on three or four times a night. The trojans just got a lot more expensive! LOL………………..
Mr. Obama has seized upon your conclusion that we have a very large number of Americans that will take FREE handouts and VOTE for more without ANY SHAME of what it is costing their neighbors or future generations. The bailout of every American's list of "needs, wants, and desires" is about to begin as the entitlement generation is fed the Socialist Big Lie. After all, if it is good enough for the Banks, Wall Street, General Motors (pension plans), Union Leadership, and his favorite GREEN industries, it is good enough for these people.
The mean old Conservative Republicans are party poopers. Who in their right mind would vote for them? Mr. Obama is the big new Sugar Daddy, Santa Claus, and Tooth Fairy, all rolled into one.
It reminds me of Castro, Hitler, Mao Tse-tung, Mussolini and Stalin who early-on were the pied pipers of their day as they promised a collective Utopia as wealth was ripped from the evil rich and given to the masses of the righteous poor. It is a seductive message to the selfish, covetous, and envious malcontents that believe their Glorious Leader can bring them happiness and at the same time get revenge against the long-term target of their jealousy.
Paul you are so right! Mr. Obama did his research. The false contraceptive issue is his opening salvo. The worse the economy, the more desperate become its victims and the greater the ignorant will follow the next despot that comes to their rescue. All Hail Obama-the-Great! The Progressive agenda continues unabated. Mr. Obama IS the INSURANCE for the goodies to continue. The cost of the premium is a simple vote for him.
Ladies and Gents…the arguement is NOT birth control…it is not FREE healthcare…the issue is POWER & CONTROL; plain and simple. Obama and his band of socialist thugs want the power to control our daily lives. It just doesn't get any simpler than that. A little piece here, a little piece there and BINGO, We the People are tossed into the herd with the rest of the sheep.
Until we decide to stand up, replace the BS RINO's and phoney Conservatives at the local, state and federal level…we are all going to be herded to slaughter.
Rick Armstrong
Tyler, Texas
Paul you have identified a class of people that shamelessly expect to be "taken care of", even as able bodied adults – the "permanent sophomores". Years ago we would call such people spoiled brats, bums, panhandlers, or beggars, not because they were impoverished necessarily, but because they were LAZY.
We have a President who has an arrogant disregard for personal responsibility and wants to cater to this group of misfits, only for his own ascension to power and to camouflage his sanctimony with a "health care issue". When was procreation a "health care" issue instead of a "personal choice" issue? When was recreational sex (fornication, whoredom, etc.) a "health care" issue instead of a "personal choice" issue? These Marxists are in love with "choice" aren't they? Does this mean "choice" is now a Constitutional Right and a Righteous President is going to ORDER that it be paid for by your neighbor or company down the street? If "choice" is now a Constitutional Right, where do I go to get the steak dinner I haven't had for a month?
obama knows no shame when it comes to securing votes. This is just one in a long list of bargaining chips he is pushing to the center of the table. obama is willing to gamble, for the deck is stacked in his favor. Since half of his voters pay no taxes anyway and are on the government dole, this bargaining chip can be the tipping point.
For generations now, the liberals have pushed their agenda by stealth. Like a drug dealer who hands out "samples" of his wares, "it's free, no harm" he says…until his prey gets hooked. The unsuspecting pigeon becomes enslaved to the drug dealer to be able to keep the "happy" going. The dealer makes it increasingly hard to break free by throwing in little extras every once in a while. The dealer has a subject for the rest of their lives…however long or short that may be. It doesn't matter to the drug dealer…others will come along, the enticement is too strong! obama IS the drug dealer and the "FREE" samples are his enticement! His pigeons never see it coming. His pigeons never learn that NOTHING is "free", there are ALWAYS costs. But it doesn't matter for they only live for the moment.
I've never received anything for "free". I was taught that if it was "free", it probably wasn't worth having, or there was a long term price tag attached to it.
It is so sad to me that there are far too many people in this country who have no clue where the government gets the money it so generously slings toward them with no accountability.
Much like the lady I referred to in another post who was applying for "free" housing. When interviewed she said, "I'm here to get my house President Obama is going to give me." She was then asked how he was able to do that, and she said "It's coming from Obama's stash." She was then asked where he got his stash and she said, "I don't know, but he has a stash and is going to give me my house."
The dumbing down of America is just one step in the great socialist plan, and obviously is working very well.
At the close of the Constitutional Convention of 1787, when queried as he left Independence Hall on the final day of deliberation a lady asked Dr. Benjamin Franklin: "Well Doctor, what have we got, a republic or a monarchy?" With no hesitation whatsoever, Franklin responded, "A republic, if you can keep it."
John Adams said: "Avarice, ambition, revenge and licentiousness would break the strongest cords of our Constitution, as a whale goes through a net. Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other."
Mr. Obama and his Marxist advisers have decided to shred the Constitution and destroy Liberty with a "death by a thousand cuts" (an old Chinese torture punishment). The Republican leadership wimps in Congress are more concerned about their careers than stopping the continued desecration of our founding document by Obama's every move. Why isn't there a least a dozen investigations being conducted into all the violations of his oath (failure to enforce the law) and the FREE money being routed to his crony organizations while the national debt is increasing at astronomical rates.
When is someone going to suggest a way out of this hamster wheel of endless Socialism? The overwhelming conservative victory in 2010 didn't seem to help. A number of religious leaders volunteered to go to jail to protest the current violation of conscience, the "(false) woman's health care" dictates of this administration. What's next?
It should be obvious to everyone that Mr. Obama and his czars are seeking a serious Constitutional confrontation because he believes he can win by default. If Obama and his teeming masses of "takers" keep him in office and Obamacare (serfdom by a thousand cuts) is not repealed, what do we do then – simply join the western European Socialist community?
i see your point on the comparison of the pill for free and other drug treatments.
now, please dont put every person that uses birth control in a sterotype of horny free loaders that are dumb and selfish. first of all , you are an older man and more than likley are married and need no birth control. this doesnt ivolve you as much as younger generations.
i have made sure and even bought my partners birth control bc of the opposite reason of your aligations. I DONT WANT CHILDREN YET, AND YES I WILL STILL HAVE SEX. Bc i am a human and i know how to enjoy sex responibly ei. birth control and condoms. I am going to wait to have children when i am finacially stable so taxpayers dont have to pay for me and my child to live. On the contrary to what you think, birth control is usually used by more intelligent people bc they know the consequences of having a child.


text:
Teen Mom
Catelynn Lowell and Tyler Baltierra Were Arrested For Smoking Pot!
Teen Mom's Catelynn Lowell and Tyler Baltierra might seem like innocent little lambs with narray a bad bone in their bodies, but turns out these two have quite the dramatic past. Word on the street is that Tyler and Catelynn were arrested back in 2009 for "Controlled Substance Use of Marijuana," and we're officially shocked! In the immortal words of Barbara Evans, "HIGH HIGH, YA BOTH HIGH."
According to Starcasm, Catelynn and Tyler were arrested on May 25, 2009 — just one short week after the birth of their adorable daughter, Carly (who was placed for adoption). Cate and Ty admitted to smoking pot, and were both fined $253 after pleading guilty to their charges on July 7, 2009.
Our jaws = dropped.
Tyler's father, Butch Baltierra, confirms Cate and Ty's secret arrest in Teen Mom Confidential, adding "as far as I know, they don't do any other drugs." Phew!
Though this happy couple haven't publicly addressed their drug use, let's not forget that these events took place four years ago. Cate and Tyler have been through so much since then, and there's no denying that they've grown leaps and bounds! Plus, who knows, maybe they'll come clean during a bonding session with Flavor Flav on the upcoming season of VH1's Couples Therapy.
Source: Starcasm


text:
Learn why companies need to utilize Product Listing Ads and the importance of product specific PLAs.
The ROI attributed from Product Listing Ad campaigns can become the highest performing strategy for ecommerce businesses. Find out why!
Find out why Google Shopping data feeds are so important to optimizing PLAs!
Use this box below to see how popular a keyword or phrase is on Google.


text:
|306 posts found
Originally posted by Bossalinie
anything you could do in a tab target game you could implement in a action based game.. especially if you keep the holy trinity mechanics.. main difference is action based games generally revolve around some sort of aiming and dodge mechanic which makes the fights require you to be much more aware of everything going on but i can't see anything in any tab target game you couldn't implement into a game with tera style combat
I angered the clerk in a clothing shop today. She asked me what size I was and I said actual, because I am not to scale. I like vending machines 'cause snacks are better when they fall. If I buy a candy bar at a store, oftentimes, I will drop it... so that it achieves its maximum flavor potential. --Mitch Hedberg
Login or Register to never see this panel
Advanced Member
Joined: 10/11/04
I don't mind a hybrid system like AoC or Tabula Rasa (TR had my favourite "Action" system). I just don't want a system that's similar to an FPS where having to move my mouse really quickly to a point of pintpoint accuracy on the screen is the main skill involved.
Ultimatley the RPG gaming system is all about making the right choice of ability to use and the right target and time for that ability. It's not about having good aim. So some upgrades to make the system a bit more dynamic and fun, i'm all in favour of. But i don't want to be playing a FPS.
"I'd rather work on something with great potential than on fulfilling a promise of mediocrity."
- Raph Koster
Tried: AO,EQ,EQ2,DAoC,SWG,AA,SB,HZ,CoX,PS,GA,TR,IV,GnH,EVE, PP,DnL,WAR,MxO,SWG,FE,VG,AoC,DDO,LoTRO,Rift,TOR,Aion,Tera,TSW,GW2,DCUO,CO,STO
Advanced Member
Joined: 5/06/11
I've looked at some Tera raids, and they're action raids like Vindictus. I see tail swipes, action mashing and general zerging. I hoped to see something different but it's the same zerg raiding that other games have.
I think the genre has many fans and people who love that kind of stuff, I just want raids to be slow and strategic.
This is a typicla EQ raid, from DoD, that shows slow and strategic gameplay http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cGZ6XvbzCLA
No one is jumping around or moving like crazy, most casters and even melee are standing and coordinating the event. all mobs are divided and controlled, very slow, very strategic and with coordination.
Apprentice Member
Joined: 11/22/05
Originally posted by CalmOceans
You're either not trying to get what ppl are telling you or you're trying way too hard to be right when you have no idea what you'er talking about.
First hard cc like sheeping isn't the greatest thing ever. It's a pretty lame mechaninc imo. So if that's a must have feature in order to have stratagy we disagree on what stratagy is.
Tera doesn't target anything for you. You have a target reticul on your screen when you move it over mobs they light up and show target info. That's how you aim an attack. Some spells will lock on durring the casting ( most are single target heals ) but that's pretty much it.
You can pull out single mobs from a pack by aiming at them and attacking just them or some classes have skills like leash that will actually pull them to you.
As for button mashing...warrior heroic strike tanking in wow was 100 times the button mash any action combat ever will be. In tera if you just mash buttons the boss will crush you because you wont be able to get out of the way. They don't just face the tank and smash away at them. They move around, they push the tank around and they force even the ranged to pay attention. Just like in any good tab target boss fight you have to learn the fight and know when and where you have to move to or from. It's not just a zerg mash buttons till it's dead thing.
Novice Member
Joined: 8/07/11
GW2 socialist.
Originally posted by CalmOceans
Agreed with you and the poster just above you. I like games like TERA and Neverwinter for their combat, but I think if you want anything deeper, there's going to have to be a hybrid system that allows for quick single targeting. We're MMO gamers, what's with all the reflex based crap?
Gonna get carpal tunnel syndrome this way...... *grumble*
Originally posted by CalmOceans
it's just how the encounters are designed they are designed for fast paced action.. But there is nothing really that would prevent tera from putting in encounters like any raid in wow or EQ1.. its just the target audience for tera is fast paced action not slow paced stuff like eq1..
I angered the clerk in a clothing shop today. She asked me what size I was and I said actual, because I am not to scale. I like vending machines 'cause snacks are better when they fall. If I buy a candy bar at a store, oftentimes, I will drop it... so that it achieves its maximum flavor potential. --Mitch Hedberg
Novice Member
Joined: 11/27/10
In your house Eatin' your Cookies!
This. Its gonna be really hard for me to jump into a tab target game after playing such amazing combat like TERA's.
The reason for TERA's "raid" to be the way it is. It is substantially more difficult to coordinate a large group of players on that level of than it is in a tab target game. If they were to put in a raid that had more strategy in mind and didn't cater to just zerg it til its dead I would love them forever. But they would alienate a huuuuge chunk of players, just because of how extremely difficult it would be.
"In the immediate future, we have this one, and then we've got another one that is actually going to be – so we're going to have, what we want to do, is in January, what we're targeting to do, this may or may not happen, so you can't hold me to it. But what we're targeting to do, is have a fun anniversary to the Ilum shenanigans that happened. An alien race might invade, and they might crash into Ilum and there might be some new activities that happen on the planet." ~Gabe Amatangelo
Advanced Member
Joined: 8/29/07
Originally posted by CalmOceans
It's a little unfair to say that a game that requires more that press tab and 1-8 is console gameplay. Everything you mentioned can be done in an action mmo, coordination, strategy discussion, being aware of others...all of it. Like I said, it just requires more effort than it would take to play a slow game...but that's with anything, right?
Advanced Member
Joined: 5/06/11
Originally posted by Bossalinie
Maybe there are games I'm not aware of but the popular action games I played were extremely different from the game I'm used to, EQ.
In Vindictus I mashed buttons a lot, I needed to dodge a lot, I need a lot of skill, skill as in learning combos and being fast on the trigger.
In Everquest I need dedication, in a raid of 54 I need to know which cleric is going to heal me, I need to talk to that person, I need to tell her during the fight if any of my abilities drop, I need to communicate with the raid what I'm doing, where I'm at, which mob is mine and which is not. It's a slow process, it's one that often takes 30 minutes of discussions so we're all on the same page before we start. Raids take around 1 hour per event.
If you ask me which one I like best, well I enjoyed action games, I thought it was very fun, but I quickly realised I loved slow tab target games with strategy much more. I am not into rushing things or fast gameplay, I am not into learning how to do "combos" or learning how to avoid a tail swipe by making my character do a jumping jack or a barrel roll. It's just a different experience.
Spotlight Poster
Joined: 9/21/12
Originally posted by Bossalinie
Hypocritical much?
Because tab target games are about more than just pressing 1-8 on a keyboard.
The fact of the matter is until someone makes a deep action combat game people will remain skeptical of it. TERA is pretty bad poster child for action combat, because its combat is shallow beyond belief. GW2 is a step in the right direction and I liked the interplay between class abilities even if it isnt quite as cool as it sounded on paper.
But ultimately i don't think action combat is a great fit for the genre. maybe you can have depth and strategy with it, but its not a natural fit for depth and strategy.
Advanced Member
Joined: 8/29/07
Originally posted by strangiato2112
Don't get ahead of yourself. I was countering the idea that action mmos were compared to street fighter game play.
Depth and strategy is all about perceptions and opinions. It's fit in the MMORPG genre is drawing more and more attention as developers work with it.
Novice Member
Joined: 3/20/12
Whatever fits the rest of the game better.
For now I would be lying if I said I prefer Action combat over Tab targetting combat. However, I do think there is a lot more potential for action combat games, problem is the execution of a lot of the action combat mmos have been terrible.
First and quite possibly one of the most important things, raids can work with games with action combat BUT they have to be designed differently. A raid encounter in an action mmo should not be designed in the same way as they are in a tab targeted raid encounter. If I were to design a raid for an action mmo, it would rely a lot more on set pieces, clever level design and large enemy groups over bosses with inflated life bars, I seriously doubt an action game can do those anywhere near as well as a tab target game. Bosses in action games can be fun, but I havent seen a single action game handle a 10v1 boss fight well.
Another thing is that an action game imo needs a high lethality, if I am beating on your average mob for over 30 seconds and he has still not dropped dead, then the combat is not very good. Of course, some enemies can take over 30 seconds to kill, but the majority should be faster to defeat than that. That said, they can not be killed too fast either, there needs to be a balance, and from my experience, a lot of action mmos had this balance way off.
Also, what does easy mode cc and mostly effortless control over enemies have to do with tactics and strategy? From my experience they make combat no more tactical, if anything, I find that they have the opposite effect on tactics, no need to predict enemy moves, no need for formations, no risk vs reward, just spam ccs and outlast the foes.
My sentiments exactly.
I will also add that I want my "character" to have better dexterity than *I* do :)
Originally posted by Maroxad
if you are using the holy trinity in an action based game what mechanics could you not do in a action game you could do in a tab target game.
I angered the clerk in a clothing shop today. She asked me what size I was and I said actual, because I am not to scale. I like vending machines 'cause snacks are better when they fall. If I buy a candy bar at a store, oftentimes, I will drop it... so that it achieves its maximum flavor potential. --Mitch Hedberg
Twisting songs with a bard had nothing to do with "action combat", though. It sure felt more "actiony", but not what I consider action combat. It was playing 3-4 songs (5 if you had a flawless connection) that buffed your party, debuffed the MOB, did damage over time, healed over time, replenished mana over time, what have you. There was no aiming at an enemy and swinging your instrument :)
Action combat I see more as having a gazillion (ok, a few different) abilities or attacks and aiming with your mouse, dancing around during battles. I could be wrong, but that is how I see it.
It was tricky when soloing, but auto-attack was a Godsend while twisting your songs. Then, maybe you tried switching between weapons and instruments if you felt "in the zone" :D
It was more "busy" than standing there with auto-attack engaged and throwing in a kick when it cooled down or bash if you had a shield. Personally, I am a fan of auto-attack. I am old school that way :)
Apprentice Member
Joined: 2/18/09
action Combat ofc.
And as far as i know the only way companies did chose tab targeting over action was because of the tech and the lag back then..it was near impossible to have real action combat in mmo back then...well we are in better condition technically the fast internet is here to near everyone so that old system has to go away.
And skill wise its harder to actually actively dodge than a RNG roll of your gear do it for you. Roots and all kinds of CC can be very nicely on action combat if not even better.
If Blizzard could she would have done it in WoW...but its too old too different core wise and they wont invest so much money to change it at this point..same as the graphic engine... BUT their new gen game Titan gonna have Action combat..
What about ground targeted AoE attacks?
Novice Member
Joined: 3/08/13
On hiatus for a while guys, MMOs still aren't interesting me.
Originally posted by AlBQuirky
As soon as you start targetting the ground your adding action gameplay, that's exactly what I was talking about, attacking an ideal location instead of a specific target within reach of other foes.
If you look at the old GW original they had a lot of AoEs, but they all had to be cast on a foe, it made many of them really ineffective because if it was DoT or if the foe wasn't centeralized to a group it would be serve it's purpose. You may even want to cast it on a location with no foes as a deturant.
Beside that, I think one of the fundamental flaws with Action MMOs coming out is that they assume that because they are catering to an action oreinted crowd, they have to have constant imput. It would actually help a lot of Action games, and moreso, games which are looking for a more hybrid audience if the amount of button mashing was seperated into intervals, and effective approach, positioning, and battle pulse were used to allow for a more tactically involved experience instead of a dynasty warrior, thrash and bash experience. That kind of gameplay is amusing in solo play, but when your not thrashing NPCs, it looks silly, with 40 ppl doing the equivalent of bankai and super saiyan and just flooding the screen with nonstop offense.
There's almost nothing tab targetting can do better than free targetting outside of simply make the game easier, the fact that most action games go overboard with the offensive and eliminate a lot of other elements has little to do with the versatility of manual targetting. By using several targetting assistance methods like lock on (which basically includes everything a tab system offers in an action game), window targetting, and auto targetting, as well as changing the pace of combat for more tactical attention, You can serve anyone who has any interest in tabbing and most everything inbetween.
I hate to see division over something that's had a solution for over 15 years...
Before you criticize someone, walk a mile in their shoes.
Novice Member
Joined: 3/20/12
Originally posted by Aerowyn
While you could implement more or less anything to an action mmo, I am not sure everything can be very well implemented. Action mmos can implement the holy trinity, but I find that the trinity doesnt work very well with the action nature of the game.
Point is, an action mmorpg would have to be done carefully. Just tacking on free aim, manual attacks and dodging to current encounter design philosophies and mechanics doesnt get you anywhere.
I agree here. Once that mouse gets engaged for targeting, it becomes more "actiony."
I don't know. It seems like games with tab-targeting have more group wipes than action games. Maybe I am wrong here. It could also be attributed to "information sources" outside of the game that helps keep action games groups alive better?
From my personal experience, action game fights are quick. They are over and done with maybe 80% of the time. Tab targeting fights seem to take longer and make use of a wider range of abilities.
I never have gotten over seeing a Wizard or Cleric in EQ sitting down in the middle of a fight. LOL They were switching out spells or meditating to regain used mana, but I always shook my head at first :)
I think that the "strategy" in action games are pretty much in the minds of the players. It really does not matter what you do when, with a very few exceptions. Does it make a huge difference if I fire my arrows through that wall of flame? Not really.
On the other hand, when the 7 orcs are mezzed and I use an AoE, it makes a HUGE difference on the outcome of the fight.
It would be cool to not have divisions. Action combat and tab-targeting combat are 2 very different playstyles. I don't believe there is a way to "bring them together" for those of us on the far ends of the feature.
Simply stated, I want my character to be more coordinated than me. Can action combat do this?


text:
On Monday night, Caitlyn Jenner stepped out in the streets of New York City in a killer long-sleeve Herve Leger bandage dress.
Kirk Frost -- who is married to "Love and Hip Hop: Atlanta" star Rasheeda -- was arrested during a dirt bike and ATV rally in Atlanta on Sund
It's safe to say the LGBT community is nothing but accepting of Caitlyn Jenner, who was welcomed by screams of "we love you" during a rooftop party celebrating gay...
It looks like rapstress Iggy Azalea is secretly burning that mid-night lamp with Fred Durst (who directed Britney Spears' 'Pretty Girls' video), according a news tip we received today.
5,245 Likes
8,396 Followers
254 Subscribers
568 Followers
The GWL Magazine team was on scene at Friday night's All-Star Weekend bast held at 42 West night club in downtown Manhattan, which was hosted by Floyd Mayweather and...
EXCLUSIVE FIRST LOOK: Nipsey Hussle Reveals His 'Cannibal' Background to Bleu Magazine
EXCLUSIVE: What We Didn't Know About Teairra Mari & Ray J's Relationship
EXCLUSIVE FIRST LOOK: Revenge Hottie Nick Wechsler Disses Kanye West In Bleu Magazine
EXCLUSIVE: Chris Brown Tries To Get Rihanna's Attention Backstage: Karrueche Tran Worries
Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.
Email Address
Copyright ©2014 GWL Entertainment Magazine, LLC. All rights reserved.


text:
|calendar>>March 18. 2009 Juche 98
Minju Joson Snubs Traitors' Anti-Reunification Ruckus
|Pyongyang, March 18 (KCNA) -- The "Advisory Council for Democracy and Peaceful Unification" of south Korea is making a "lecture tour" of different parts of south Korea allegedly for the purpose of "settling the conflict among south Koreans over the policy towards the north" and achieving a "popular consensus."
Minju Joson Wednesday observes in a signed commentary in this regard: This "lecture tour" reportedly to last till April is nothing but a poor anti-reunification farce aimed at whitewashing the Lee Myung Bak's "policy towards the north" and inciting confrontation with fellow countrymen.
This is proved by what Ri Ki Thaek, chief vice-chairman of the said council, uttered in a lecture given in Inchon. He talked nonsense that the reunification is "possible only when there is understanding" among the neighboring countries.
The commentary goes on:
It was outside forces that split the Korean nation. Ri's assertion that the country can be reunified only when there is "understanding" among foreign forces is, in fact, a reckless anti-reunification remark as it is intended to perpetuate the national division indefinitely.
The above-said rubbish of Ri is aimed at justifying the Lee group's treacherous and anti-reunification act of inviting outside forces to meddle in the issue of reunification, challenging the desire of the nation. Now it has become clear that the above-mentioned council grouping such traitors as Ri Ki Thaek who stake their fate on foreign forces is nothing but a puppet anti-reunification organization harmful to the country's reunification.
If such philistines as Ri persist in bedeviling the inter-Korean relations and blocking the independent reunification, selling off the dignity and interests of the nation to outsiders as mean stooges of traitor Lee Myung Bak, they will not be able to escape a stern judgment of history. This is a warning to them.
The gentries of the said council had better stop their anti-reunification farce, bearing in mind that the above-mentioned "lecture tour" will only precipitate their own self-destruction.
Copyright (C) KOREA NEWS SERVICE(KNS) All Rights Reserved.


text:
Author of the Month
To sign up to the Graham Hancock newsletter mailing list, please click here.
Multiple sclerosis is an inflammatory disease in which the immune system attacks the nervous system. The result can be a wide range of debilitating motor, physical, and mental problems. No one knows why people get the disease or how to treat it.
Back to Previous...
Go to News Desk...
Enjoy the newsdesk? Please tell others about it:Tweet
G+. Site design by Amazing Internet Ltd, maintenance by Synchronicity. Site privacy policy. Contact us.
Dedicated Servers and Cloud Servers by Gigenet. Invert Colour Scheme / Default


text:
The Age of Contentment: Why 35 is the Time of our Lives
Presented by Confused.com
When we're young we want to be older, and when we're old we want to be younger. But what's the best age to be? According to surveyed Brits, it's 35 years old. Here's a glimpse of why and how life at 35 is so sweet.
Source: http://www.confused.com/news-views/infographics/life-insurance-35-the-ag...


text:
FAQ about Tampa Bay traffic during the Republican National Convention
Info on closures, detours, parking, transit
- Selmon Expressway has reopened between Willow and 50th St. Reversible Express Lanes will operate in the westbound position, 6AM-1:30PM, and then will be open eastbound toward I-75/US-301 until 6AM Tuesday. (Extended eastbound hours due to Labor Day Holiday.)
- Downtown Tampa road closures are expected to be cleared between Noon-6PM.
- RNC Call Center for information on road closures will be available until Noon. (866) RNC-8687 toll-free.
RNC TRAFFIC FAQ: If you have a question that isn't answered here, contact Traffic Reporter Meredyth Censullo on Facebook or Twitter.
Q: What's the event zone in Tampa?
A: The event zone broadly covers the space east of North Boulevard, south of I-275 and west of 22nd St. The channels of Hillsborough Bay are the southern border of the event zone.
Q: When will roads in downtown Tampa be closed?
A: August 25-31 at 6PM. Selmon Expressway closed between Willow & 50th Street, Aug. 27-30.
Q: Which streets in Tampa are closed?
A: In general all streets are closed south of Whiting Street along with a partial closure of the Selmon Expressway. Closures scheduled through 6PM Friday.
- Ashley Dr.: SB from Jackson St. to E Whiting St. Ashley IS open north of Kennedy.
- Tampa St.: (One-way, SB), closed from E. Whiting St to E Brorein St
- Franklin St: NB & SB from south of E Whiting St to Old Waters St (includes Selmon overpass)
- Franklin/Harbour Island Bridge: NB & SB between Old Waters & Westin Hotel on Harbour Island
- Florida Ave: (One-way, NB), Old Waters St to E Whiting St (includes Selmon overpass)
- Morgan St: NB & SB between Whiting & Old Waters (including Selmon overpass)
- Jefferson St: NB & SB from Whiting & Channelside (including Selmon overpass)
- Nebraska Ave: NB & SB from south of Finley St to Channelside Dr. (Nebraska open north of Selmon Expressway)
- Caesar St: NB & SB, Finley St. to Channelside Dr.
- E Bell St: EB & WB between Florida Ave & Jefferson St.
- Finley St., Walton St., Cumberland Ave: EB & WB between Nebraska & Ceasar
- Eunice Street: (One-way, EB) between Morgan St & Nebraska Ave
- Brorein St: (One-way, WB) from Meridian/Channelside to Bayshore Blvd
- Channelside Dr: (One-way, EB), Bayshore Blvd to Meridian (includes Platt St. Bridge)
- Old Water St (south side of Tampa Bay Times Forum): EB & WB between Franklin & Channelside
- Bayshore Blvd: NB between Swann & Platt St. The Davis Island northbound ramp from Bayshore will be open.
- Tampa Bay Blvd. (south side of Raymond James Stadium): Closed between Dale Mabry & Himes, 8 AM Saturday – 8 AM Friday
Q: Which roads are one-way for the RNC?
- Whiting Street, EB only from Tampa Street to Florida Avenue
- Ashley Drive, NB only from Whiting to Jackson
- Channelside Drive, WB only from Cumberland Ave (near the aquarium) to Meridian/Beneficial
- 12th Street, SB only from Cumberland Ave to Channelside
Q: Where is on-street parking prohibited?
A: Street parking prohibited until 5 AM, Friday in the following areas, as well as on the streets that are closed.
- South of East Whiting Street between South Ashley Drive to South Jefferson Avenue to Old Waters Street and between South Meridian Avenue to Bayshore Boulevard.
- Tampa Street from East Scott Street to East Whiting Street
- North Jefferson Street from East Cass Street to East Whiting Street
- Florida Avenue from East Scott Street to East Whiting Street
- East Tyler Street from North Orange Avenue to MacInness Place
- Cass Street from North Boulevard to Nebraska Avenue
Q: Which bridges are closed?
- Platt St. (EB) and Brorein St. (WB) closed to cars & pedestrians. Kennedy or Cass are alternates.
- Franklin St/Harbour Island Bridge closed. All vehicles and pedestrians will have to use the Beneficial Drive bridge, accessible from Meridian Avenue. The bridge will have its two southbound lanes blocked off, and northbound lanes will turn into a two-way road. All vehicles will go through the checkpoints, and could be subject to security sweeps when leaving and entering the island. Vehicles selected for a security sweep will be directed to a tented area. Sweeps shouldn't take longer than 60 seconds unless a more thorough search is needed.
Q: How do I get to Harbour Island?
- From I-275 or points north, take Ashley Drive or Tampa Street southbound to Twiggs Street, the Twiggs eastbound to Meridian, then travel southbound on Meridian to the Beneficial Bridge.
- Another option is to take Tampa Street southbound to Jackson, the eastbound Jackson to southbound Meridian.
- From the east, take Adamo Drive/SR-60 to Channelside Drive, then southbound Channelside to Meridian.
Q: Can I access Davis Islands?
A: Yes. The Davis Islands northbound ramp from Bayshore
will be open.
Q: I live on Davis Islands. How do I get to I-275? (Submitted by a viewer)
A: Suggested routes include Davis Blvd. off the bridge to NB Plant St, the WB on Cleveland to Howard, NB on Howard to I-275. Another option is to take SB/WB Bayshore to Howard, then Howard north to I-275. You can also take Bayshore to Swann, then Swann to Howard.
Q: Is the Selmon Expressway be closed?
A: Yes. The Selmon Expressway's lower level is closed between 50th St & Willow until 5AM Friday.
Q: Do I still have to pay tolls on portions of the Selmon that are open?
A: Yes.
Q: What are the alternates to avoid the Selmon Expressway?
A: The City of Tampa recommends the following detour:
- EB Selmon Expressway: Exit at Platt Street/Exit 4, take a left on Willow, then a left on Cleveland, then a right on Howard and travel northbound to I-275. Take northbound I-275 to eastbound I-4. Use Exit 3/50th St. and travel southbound to access Selmon Expressway.
- WB Selmon Expressway: Take Exit 11/50th Street and travel north to I-4. Take I-4 westbound to I-275, then travel southbound on I-275 to Exit 42/Howard-Armenia. Travel southbound on Armenia Avenue, then take a left on Platt Street, a left on Willow Avenue and then use the Willow Avenue ramp to the Selmon Expressway.
- Kennedy Boulevard will be open, but expect very slow traffic there.
Q: Will the Selmon Expressway Elevated lanes remain open?
A: Yes. The Reversible Express Lanes (REL) will be open westbound, from I-75/Brandon to the Meridian exit, from 6-10am. Between 10am-1pm, traffic can enter the REL at US-301 and go westbound into downtown Tampa, or eastbound to Brandon. From 1pm to 6am, traffic can enter the REL at Meridian and travel eastbound to Brandon/I-75. Tolls will apply.
Q: Can I drive on the Selmon Expressway without a Sunpass?
A: Yes. Cameras will record your license plate, and you'll receive a bill in the mail.
Q: How do I get to Tampa General Hospital?
- From I-275: Take Howard/Armenia Exit, go southbound on Armenia to Platt Street, east on Platt Street to North Boulevard, south on North Boulevard to DeLeon Street, east on DeLeon to southbound Hyde Park Avenue, Take the Davis Island Bridge and follow signs to TGH.
- From downtown Tampa: take Tyler Avenue westbound to southbound North Boulevard to DeLeon Street, east on DeLeon to southbound Hyde Park Avenue, Take the Davis Island Bridge and follow signs to TGH
- From South Tampa: Utilize Azeele Street and turn east at Platt Street. Turn south onto North Boulevard. Follow North Boulevard, turning east onto DeLeon Street.Turn south onto Hyde Park Avenue, then take the Davis Island Bridge, and follow the signs to Tampa General Hospital.
- From Harbour Island: Use Beneficial Bridge north on Meridian Avenue to Twiggs Street and follow hospital detour signage.
- HART will provide shuttle service to TGH/Davis Island, Aug. 27-31, 6am-8pm. No fare. Shuttle service map is here.
Q: Is parking available in downtown Tampa?
A: The South Regional Parking Garage and the Convention Center Parking Garage are closed to the public. Fort Brooke Garage, 107 N. Franklin, and Port Garage (Channelside Parking Garage) are open. Free on-street parking available, however some parking is limited to a two-hour maximum. A map of downtown parking areas available during the RNC can be found at http://wfts.tv/N1zqmU .
Q: How do I get to the Fort Brooke garage?
A: Southbound Tampa Street to eastbound Whiting Street then north into the garage.
Q: Will I be able to park in my parking lot/garage south of Whiting Street?
A. Yes, if the parking area is north of Brorein Street. All vehicles will be subject to screening.
Q: How do I access the Whiting Street garage or lots south?
A: Take southbound Tampa Street to eastbound Whiting Street, then southbound Franklin Street where you will be guided to the entrance on Florida Avenue.
Q: How do I get to Channelside Complex, the Florida Aquarium and the Port?
A: Allow for extra travel time.
Option #1: I-4 to Exit 1/21st Street, southbound on 21st to Adamo Drive, west on Adamo to Channelside Drive, then south on Channelside. The Port of Tampa parking garage (Channelside Parking Garage) will be open.
Option #2: Selmon Expressway Reversible Express Lanes (REL). The upper level is open westbound from I-75/Brandon to the Meridian exit (near Port of Tampa), from 6-10am. Between 10am-1pm, traffic can enter REL a US-301 and go westbound into downtown Tampa.
Q: Will we be able to access the Port of Tampa to load fuel on our transport trucks, and if so what route should be take? (Submitted by a viewer)
A: The Port of Tampa's security force guards all the land facilities and controls all the gates. Anyone driving into those facilities must have an ID badge issued by the port or a visitor's pass secured in advance by a port tenant. Specific areas require specific badges. Access the Port from 21st/22nd streets (through Ybor City) or 50th
St. to Causeway Bridge/22nd.
Q: Are there carpooling options available to downtown Tampa?
A: Yes. TBARTA Commuter Services offers a free, online ride-matching program that gives users a personalized computer match list of people with similar commutes. The programs is available online at www.tampabayrideshare.org or call TBARTA Commuter Services at (800) 998-RIDE.
Q: What areas are off limits to pedestrians?
A: Tampa's pedestrian restrictions are in place through 6AM Friday in these locations:
- South of the north sidewalk of East Brorein Street from Bayshore Boulevard to Meridian;
- West of Beneficial Drive from Channelside Drive across the bridge onto Harbour Island;
- Harbour Island Boulevard north of the Channelside Walkway;
- Little Bayshore Boulevard from East Brorein Street to Platt Street/Channelside Drive including both the Brorein Street Bridge and the Platt Street Bridge.
Q: Is the Riverwalk open?
A: Yes, between Brorein & Washington.
Q: Where do I park to access the Embassy Suites or Marriott Waterside?
A: Guests will be offered limited parking after vehicle screening. Employees can park in the closest available parking or at the Fort Brooke or Port/Channelside garages.
A: Will I be able to get dropped off in front of the Embassy Suites?
A: Only if your vehicle has been pre-approved by the U.S. Secret Service; otherwise you need to head south on Tampa, take a right on Whiting Street, right on Ashley Drive and drop off on Ashley Drive just north of Whiting Street.
Q: How do I access the Hillsborough County Courthouse?
A: The Clerks' Departments in downtown Tampa will be closed August 27-31. The George Edgecomb Courthouse, 800 E Twiggs St., will be open, however there will be no hearings, trials, or other court scheduled events requiring citizens to appear at the downtown courthouse complex (Edgecomb Building and Courthouse Annex) during the RNC. No on will be required to report for jury duty or appear for family law or civil hearings. For those who still must access the courthouse, the Twiggs Street Garage (901 E. Twiggs) will be available for parking.
Q: What about the Sam Gibbons Federal Courthouse?
A: Court will not be in session at the federal courthouse, 801 N. Florida Ave., from August 27 - September 4. A deposit lock-box will be available on the first floor of the courthouse, beyond the metal detectors, for paperwork delivery, however the court encourages the public to either mail paperwork or use the court's electronic filing system. District and magistrate judges working in the Orlando division of the U.S. District Court will be responsible for any Tampa matters requiring court proceedings, including matters resulting from the RNC.
Q: What businesses will be open downtown?
A: City of Tampa offices and the Tampa Police Department will be open. Many downtown businesses will remain open however, some have voluntarily decided to close during the convention. Check with the individual business for specific days and hours of operation .
Q: What is the parade route, and when are parades scheduled?
A: The parade route is available until Aug. 30. Parades and demonstrations are expected to take place each day, and must be limited to 90 minutes. The route designated by the City of Tampa starts at the intersection of Brush & Washington, travels west on Washington, south on Morgan, east on Whiting, south on Nebraska to Walton.
Q: Where are the parade route viewing areas?
- Near the Selmon Expressway on Brorein at Jefferson
- South of Whiting between Jefferson and Nebraska
- East side of Nebraska, between Walton and Eunice.
Q: Where do I park to access the parade route?
A: Vehicles and/or buses will be authorized to temporarily load and unload on Jackson Street between Morgan Street and Nebraska Avenue. After drop off, the vehicle must immediately leave and locate an available parking space before returning for pick-up.
Q: Will the RNC affect my flight in/out of Tampa International Airport?
A: At this time, there are NO scheduled closures of roads in or out of Tampa International Airport for the RNC. According to the Secret Service, temporary flight restrictions are in place over the Tampa Bay Times Forum 8/27-8/30, but according to the TSA, the restrictions will not impact commercial flights.
Q: Can I get to Channelside or Ybor City on a HART bus?
A: Yes. HART Route 8 (Downtown to Progress Village/Brandon) will detour to serve Channelside & Ybor City. There will be no route/schedule changes for the portion of the route between Brandon and Ybor City.
4:30AM-Noon: Detoured to operate along Channelside
7:30 AM-Noon: 15/20-minute service between Ybor City/Channelside
Noon-Last trip: Detoured to operate along Nuccio Pkwy & Cass St.
Q: Will other HART bus routes be impacted?
A: HART will operate all routes & service during the RNC, however transit detours and schedule changes will
be in effect through Aug. 31 to adjust bus and streetcar service to meet road closures and security demands. Downtown transit service during the convention will be detoured to keep most bus operations north of Kennedy Boulevard. A map is here .
Q: How do I find out if my HART bus route has been changed?
A: Sign up for RNC Rider Alerts, an email alert system that will be distributed Aug. 24-Sept. 1. Sign up at this link.
Q: Can I use the In-Town Trolley/Downtown Shuttle service?
A: The trolley/shuttle will operate Aug. 27-30, 6am-6pm, however service will be suspended on Aug. 27 between Noon-1:30pm. No fare. Here's a map of the shuttle service.
Q: Can I use the TECO Line Streetcar System between Ybor City and Channelside?
- Extra streetcar service has been added for the RNC, Aug. 27-30, and will operate between Noon-1am.
- Route 8 morning detour in effect Aug. 27-30, 4:30am-Noon with 15-20 minute service to begin at 7:30am. Route 8 will travel along Channelside, and extra signage will be placed on permanent and temporary bus stops along 7th Ave. in Ybor City to identify special RNC bus service. A map of the Route 8 detour is here.
- Stations 9, 10, 11 will be CLOSED with service to resume September 1.
Q: Where are the TECO Streetcar stations located?
- Station 1: Centennial Park (8th Ave & 20th St)
- Station 2: Tampa Bay Federal Credit Union Station (8th Ave in front of Centro Ybor)
- Station 3: Streetcar Society Station (8th Ave east of 15th St)
- Station 4: Cadrecha Plaza Station (7th Ave, Ybor)
- Station 5: Port Authority
- Station 6: York Street (Channelside, between Washington & Whiting)
- Station 7: Cumberland Avenue (Channelside, near Florida Aquarium)
- Station 8: The Tampa Tribune Station (Channelside, near Tampa Bay Times Forum)
- CLOSED: Station 9: HSBC Station (Old Waters St on south side of Tampa Bay Times Forum)
- CLOSED: Station 10: Dick Greco Plaza (Old Waters St near Convention Center)
- CLOSED: Station 11: Whiting St. Station
Q: Where is the Liberty Events Plaza, that's hosting the concerts and parties, and can I get in?
A: The Liberty Events Plaza is bordered by Whiting Street, Jefferson Street, the Selmon Expressway and Morgan Street. It will be surrounded by a fence, and open only to invited guests.
Q: Will I be able to get to the Straz Center or the Museums?
A: Yes, by exiting I-275 onto Ashley Drive and park in either the Poe Parking Garage or the surface lots normally utilized in the vicinity.
Q: How do I get to MacDill Air Force Base from the Brandon Area?
A: Recommend route: From I-275, take the southbound Dale Mabry exit to the MacDill AFB Dale Mabry gate.
Q: How do I get to the Publix at Platt Street and Bayshore Boulevard?
A: Via Platt Street and exit south onto Bayshore Boulevard.
Q: How do I get to Carlton Academy?
A: Access to Carlton Academy will be east on Jackson Street, right on Nebraska Avenue, right on Washington Street, right on Brush Street to the front of the building. A map is being provided to the owners of Carlton Academy for parents to assist with directions.
Q: What are the boundaries for the City of St. Petersburg's Event Zone?
A: The zone spans from 5th Avenue N (to the north), 7th Avenue S (to the south), 22nd Street N (to the west) and Tampa Bay (to the east).
Q: Will there be road closures in St. Petersburg?
A: Yes, there will be parking restrictions, road closures and pedestrian restrictions downtown and near Tropicana Field.
Q: Which roads will be closed in St. Pete?
A: An interactive map of road closures and parking restrictions is at http://mapguide.stpete.org/stpetegoogle/rnc/ .
Road closures, 5 AM Saturday August 25-6 AM Monday, August 27:
- 1st Ave N, between 11th & 16th streets
- 2nd Ave N, between 13th & 16th streets
- 4th Ave S, between 8th St & MLK/9th
- Baum Ave, from 13th St east to the property at 1210 1st Ave N
- Arlington Ave, between 13th & 14th streets
- The alley north of Arlington Ave, between 13th & 16th streets
- 13th St N, between 1st Ave S & Arlington Ave N, and SB between Arlington Ave N & 2nd Ave N
- 14th St N, between Arlington Ave & 2nd Ave N
- Delmar Terrace South, between 8th St & MLK
Road closures, 4:30 AM, Sunday August 26-6 AM, Monday, August 27:
- All sides of Mirror Lake Drive North
- 5th St N, between 2nd & 3rd avenues
- 2nd Ave N, between Mirror Lake Dr & MLK St/ 9th
- MLK between Burlington Ave & 5th Ave S
- 1st Ave N, between 8th St & MLK
- 1st Ave S, between 8th & 18th streets
- 2nd Ave S, between 8th & 10th streets
- Alley north of 2nd Ave S, between MLK & 10th Street
- 3rd Ave S, between 8th & 10th Streets and between 16th & 19th Streets
- 4th Ave S, between MLK & 19th Streets
- 5th Ave S, between 8th & 20th Streets
- Stadium Dr, between MLK & 16th St
- 7th Ave S (westbound), between MLK & 16th St
- 10th St S, between 1st & 4th avenues
- 16th St S, between Central & 5th Ave S
- 16th St S, northbound curb lane, between 5th & 7th Ave S
- 19th St S, between 5th
- & 1st avenues
Q: Will I-175 be closed?
A: I-175 was closed on Sunday, but is open and will remain open.
Q: Can I visit The Pier, Baywalk, Dali Museum, USF-St. Pete and other downtown locations in St. Petersburg?
A: Access to most downtown and waterfront locations, east of 4th Street N., during the RNC will not be impacted. Parking restrictions will be in place surrounding Al Lang Field, on the northern end of N.Straub Park, and near the intersection of Beach Drive & 7th Avenue N.
Q: Where are the parking restrictions in St. Pete?
A: Parking restrictions will be implemented beginning at 6 PM Thursday, August 23 until 2 AM Friday, August 31 in these areas:
- 5th Ave N, between Beach Dr & Vinoy Hotel garage
- Bayshore Dr, between 5th Ave N and the first pedestrian crosswalk south of 5th.
- Beach Dr., between 6th Ave N and 7th Ave N
- 7th Ave N, between Beach Dr and Northshore Dr
- 4th Ave S, between 1st & 2nd streets (north side)
- 1st St S, between Al Lang Field entrance & 4th Ave S
- 2nd St S, between 2nd & 4th avenues S. (east side)
- 4th St N, between 3rd & 4th avenues
- 3rd Ave N, between 4th St N and the Courtyard St. Petersburg Hotel (south side)
- Delmar Terrace, between 8th St & MLK.
Parking restrictions will be in place from 6 PM Friday, August 24 – 6 AM Monday, August 27 in these areas:
- All sides of Mirror Lake Drive North
- 5th St N, between 2nd & 3rd avenues
- 2nd Ave N, between Mirror Lake Dr & MLK St/9th
- MLK, between Burlington Ave & 5th Ave S
- 3rd Ave S, between 8th & 10th Streets
- 4th Ave S, between 8th & 20th Streets
- 5th Ave S, between 8th & 20th Streets
- Stadium Dr, between MLK & 16th St
- 7th Ave S, between MLK & 16th St
- 1st Ave N, between 8th St & MLK
- 1st Ave N, between 11th & 16th streets
- 2nd Ave N, between 13th & 16th streets
- Baum Ave, from 13th St to property located at 1210 1st Avenue North
- Arlington Ave, between 13th & 16th streets
- The alley north of Arlington Ave N, between 13th & 14th streets
- 1st Ave South, between 8th & 20th streets
- 2nd Ave S, between 8th & 10th streets
- Alley north of 2nd Ave S, between MLK & 10th Street
- 10th St S, between 1st & 4th avenues
- 13th St N, between 1st & 2nd avenues
- 14th St N, between Arlington & 2nd Ave
- Central Ave, between 13th St and the RR tracks to the west (north side)
- 20th St S, between 5th Ave S & 5th Ave N
- 19th St S, between 5th & 1st avenues
- 3rd Ave S, between 16th & 20th streets
- 17th St S, between 1st & 3rd avenues
- 10th St S, between 7th & 5th avenues
- 12th St S, between 7th & 5th avenues
- 14th St S, between 7th & 5th avenues
- 6th Ave S, between MLK & 10th St
- Blackburn Court, between MLK & 10th St
Q: Are parking lots open in downtown St. Petersburg?
A: The City lot at 800 1st Ave. S. will be closed from Saturday, Aug. 25, starting 90 minutes after the Rays game ends, through 7am Monday. All other parking lots will remain open.
Q: Will PSTA be affected by the RNC?
A: Yes, the routes that serve downtown Tampa from Pinellas County will be impacted. According to PSTA, the following routes will be detoured from 6 PM August 24 until 6 PM August 31:
- Route 100X eastbound will travel its regular route to Britton Plaza, right on Dale Mabry, right on I-275 N, Exit 44/Ashley St, left on Cass St, left on Marion St to the Marion Street center. Westbound will travel on Morgan St., right on Tyler St., right on Florida Ave., left on Kay St. to I-275 S., Exit 41A, left on Dale Mabry Hwy. to Britton Plaza to regular route. Passengers may catch the route at Britton Plaza or Marion Street Center.
- Route 300X Eastbound will travel on its regular route to a left on Cass St., left on Marion St. to Marion Street Center. Passengers may catch the route at Marion Street Center.
Q: Where are the delegates being housed, and how will I be affected?
A: I'd expect to see caravans of buses and perhaps law enforcement when the delegates are transported to/from events. The delegates will be housed in multiple locations, including:
- CLEARWATER BEACH: Hilton Clearwater Beach (American Samoa, New York, Puerto Rico); Wyndham Garden Clearwater Beach (Kentucky); Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites Clearwater Beach (Montana, Washington); Clearwater Beach Marriott Suites on Sand Key (Virginia); Shephard's Beach Resort (South Dakota)
- INDIAN ROCKS BEACH: Holiday Inn Harbourside (Indiana)
- PALM HARBOR: Innisbrook Resort (Florida, South Carolina)
- SAFETY HARBOR: Safety Harbor Resort & Spa (Tennessee)
- SAND KEY: Sheraton Sand Key Resort (Illinois, Oregon); Clearwater Beach Marriott Suites on Sand Key (Rhode Island)
- ST. PETERSBURG/CLEARWATER AIRPORT: Holiday Inn Clearwater-St. Petersburg Airport (Colorado, New Mexico); St. Petersburg Marriott Clearwater – Airport (Idaho)
- ST. PETERSBURG/DOWNTOWN: Hilton St. Petersburg Bayfront (North Carolina); Postcard Inn on the Beach (Alaska)
- ST.PETE BEACH: TradeWinds Island Resorts (California, Northern Mariana Islands); Alden Beach Resort & Suites (Guam, Nebraska); Sirata Beach Resort & Conference Center (Minnesota, New Jersey)
- TAMPA – TIA/ROCKY POINT/WESTSHORE AREA: CrownePlaza Tampa (Alabama); Embassy Suites Tampa, Airport/Westshore (Arizona); Wyndham Tampa Westshore (Delaware, DC, New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine); Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay – Rocky Point (Georgia); Sheraton Suites Tampa Airport Westshore (Hawaii, West Virginia, Wyoming); HiltonGarden Inn Tampa Airport Westshore (Kansas); Hilton Tampa Airport Westshore (Utah); DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Hotel Tampa Bay – Rocky Point (Maryland, Nevada, Pennsylvania); Tampa Airport Marriott (Missouri); Mainsail Suites Hotel & Conference Center (Ohio); Best Western Bay Harbor Hotel (Oklahoma)
- TAMPA/DOWNTOWN: Tampa Marriott Waterside Hotel & Marina (Massachusetts); Embassy Suites Tampa, Downtown Convention Center (Michigan); Hyatt Regency Tampa (Wisconsin, Mississippi)
- TAMPA/YBOR CITY: Hilton Garden Inn Tampa Ybor Historic District (Arkansas)
- TREASURE ISLAND: Bilmar Beach Resort (Connecticut, North Dakota); Sunset Vistas Beachfront Suites (Iowa); Crystal Palms Beach Resort (US Virgin Islands)
- WESLEY CHAPEL: Saddlebrook Resort (Louisiana, Texas)
Q: How are the delegates getting around?
A: Approximately 400 charter buses will shuttle delegates, alternate delegates, media and other guests from their respective hotels to the Tampa Bay Times Forum and Tampa Convention Center.
Q: Will the RNC affect boat traffic?
A: Yes. The U.S. Coast Guard has established a Federal Security Zone on the water near the Tampa Convention Center and Tampa Bay Times Forum, from August 25-31. The security zone's southern boundary is south of Harbour Island between Davis Islands and Hooker's Point. On the east side, the security zone will run as far north as Ybor Channel (near the dry docks). On the west side, the security zone will run through Seddon Channel north to Kennedy Blvd.
Q: Are the waterways within the Federal Security Zones closed to recreational boaters?
A: Yes, during the following hours:
- Monday, August 27: 7 AM – 3 PM; 5 PM-Midnight
- Tuesday, August 28: 5 PM-Midnight
- Wednesday, August 29: 5 PM-Midnight
- Thursday, August 30: 5 PM-Mightnight
Q: How does the security zone affect Seddon Channel/Hillsborough River?
A: When the waterways are open to recreational traffic, the following restrictions will be in place:
- Recreational boaters/vessels will be screened at established stations before access is allowed through the Federal Security Zone, which may include a search by trained canines. Plan for delays.
- No weapons
- Your vessel will be escorted along a course edged by barriers
- No stopping, anchoring, mooring or loitering will be permitted
Q: What is the Coast Guard's Exclusion Zone?
A: The security zone includes an exclusion zone, which runs along the northern edge of Harbour Island from Jackson's Bistro on the northwest corner east to the Beneficial Bridge, including Garrison Channel. No vessel movement will be permitted in this area. Recreational boating is not permitted within Sparkman Channel, Ybor Channel, Ybor Turning Basin.
Q: What if my boat is moored in the exclusion zone?
A: Vessels moored within this exclusion zone, and those who wish to access them will be subject to inspection. If you plan to use your vessel while the security zone is in effect, you must relocate your vessel prior to noon on August 25. Additionally, tying up at the Tampa Convention Center is forbidden August 25-31.
Q: How with the RNC affect boat traffic in Pinellas County?
A: The US Coast Guard authorized several bridges to remain in the closed position, August 26-30, to allow for transportation of officials and participants to the RNC. Affected bridges are:
- Walsingham Road/Indian Rocks Beach (CR 688) Bridge
- Park Boulevard (CR 694) Bridge
- Welch/Tom Stuart Causeway/150th Avenue Bridge
- Treasure Island Causeway Bridge
- Corey Causeway/Pasadena Avenue Bridge
- Pinellas Bayway Structure "C" (SR 679) Bridge
- Johns Pass Bridge
Q: When will those bridges be closed to navigational traffic?
- August 26, 3:30PM-7:30PM
- August 27, 11AM-2PM; 3:30-6:30PM
- August 28, 3:30-6:30PM
- August 29, 3:30-6:30PM
- August 30, 3:30-6:30PM
Q: Will vehicular traffic be allowed on those bridges?
A: Yes.
Follow @TampaBayTraffic throughout the RNC for real-time traffic updates.


text:
28,061pages on
this wiki
this wiki
Aristaeus is a faun (brother of Pan) in the The StoryTeller: Greek Myths episode "Orpheus and Eurydice." In his playful and pleasure driven actions, he chases Eurydice, who trips, is bitten by a serpent and dies. Aristaeus feels remorse and begs Orpheus to use his music to charm Hades and bring her back.