text:
How Would PlayStation Fans React To An "Always-On" Console?
This question is interesting because in truth, PlayStation and Xbox fans differ in a number of ways. I'm not saying they're two different species of gamers, but those who are loyal to either side tend to have different views of the industry.
So I'm wondering what the PlayStation followers would think if the PS4 had been an "always-on" system; i.e., it has to be connected to the Internet if you want to play games, even if they're offline adventures. The reason I ask is because according to leaked information concerning the new Xbox (code-named "Durango"), it will indeed be an "always-on" machine and it'll even be equipped with a new high-fidelity Kinect Sensor that will also "be required for the system to operate."
Microsoft is saying this is a way to ensure that "software games are always current," but others are viewing this as a way for the corporation to invade our privacy. It's this part of the leak that hit me right between the eyes:
"Durango would require a permanent internet connection. Yes, if you want to play a single adventure, you would have to be online. Whatever you will play, you must be online. Take the time machine and come back 3 years ago to erase the responsible person."
Honestly, if a video game machine had to be hooked up online just to function, I'd be pissed. If all consoles were like that, I'd probably stop gaming; that's how much I despise the idea. But maybe I'm in the minority on this, so that's why I'm asking...
Tags: xbox 720, new xbox, durango, always on xbox 720
3/23/2013 10:47:25 AM Ben Dutka
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Saturday, March 23, 2013 @ 11:28:52 AM
Anyway, this isn't the sort of thing I'd be excited about. Even PC's with all of their massive levels of pirating don't require always online connections from services like Steam.
Sunday, March 24, 2013 @ 4:46:49 PM
Last edited by Strythe on 3/24/2013 4:47:10 PM
Saturday, March 23, 2013 @ 11:46:19 AM
Saturday, March 23, 2013 @ 12:11:49 PM
I have broadband cable internet, so technically, internet is always accessible by anyone in the house with a device that has the password for my router. So I guess whenever I'm home, I'm constantly connected via my phone. In that sense, it's not such a big deal.
What is a big deal, however, is the thought that you couldn't play a game when the internet goes down. Mine is pretty freakin' reliable, but there are the occasional time something happens. Suppose it's a hardware malfunction on my end, like if the router burns out... if it's so late I can't run out, what with a kid in bed and all... I shouldn't be disallowed from playing a game if that's what I'm in the mood for.
I mean, I like reading and all... but I hate reading because I have to. lol
Last edited by Underdog15 on 3/23/2013 12:12:10 PM
Saturday, March 23, 2013 @ 4:17:39 PM
Think of the times you turn on your PS3, and PSN is "down for maintenance." Think of the month-long PSN outage. Think of what happens when the servers eventually get turned off for good. THAT is what Always Online means: Not being able to play when it becomes inconvenient for the publishers.
Saturday, March 23, 2013 @ 4:48:17 PM
Sunday, March 24, 2013 @ 12:03:31 PM
Sunday, March 24, 2013 @ 2:39:10 PM
Saturday, March 23, 2013 @ 12:17:22 PM
What the hell does MS mean "come back 3 years ago to erase the responsible person"? They say and do stupid sh*t so often, it's like they want me to hate them.
Saturday, March 23, 2013 @ 12:29:14 PM
If the majority of gamers are fine with this along with devs, I guess thats what would happen, democratically. Is it s good business model... ugh one way to find out.
I realize being connected in this day and age may not be a big issue for most, maybe its not, but whats next? Each game disc has a distinct encrypted id burned on it and we need to go online to register it to play it on the id'd console. Wait.... I might prefer that maybe.
Whats the solution for the pirated or used copy whoas? It can't be this. There has to be something better.
Keep Playing!
Saturday, March 23, 2013 @ 12:40:53 PM
However, I got a holiday resort where my fatty resides, and that place has no internet connection. So this would then in practise mean no PS4 ever at that place. And that would be... Unfortunate. But no crisis. After all we're supposed to do other stuff those few weeks a year we are over there, than to sit in front of the TV.
So yeah, that's where you find me. I'd call it inconvenient, impractical, but not much more than that.
Last edited by Beamboom on 3/23/2013 1:45:05 PM
Saturday, March 23, 2013 @ 12:54:01 PM
I'm sure I've now forgotten a lot of the specifics of that format but it failed, spectacularly! That singlehandedly ruined Circuit City. Now I realize people are more accepting of being always connected today compared to 1997, but the idea of being monitored, and the idea of being unable to use your device when the internet is down, will still be major turnoffs for people who pay attention to this crap.
Even though my PS3 is always connected to my router, it doesn't mean it's always connected to the PSN (or whatever the it' called now). I won't buy the few single player games that came out with always online DRM. I would go full retro gamer if the PS4 and future consoles required a constant connection to PSN/LIVE/NintendoOnline.
Last edited by touchyourtoes on 3/23/2013 12:58:45 PM
Saturday, March 23, 2013 @ 12:58:55 PM
John Shoemaker
Saturday, March 23, 2013 @ 1:08:31 PM
Saturday, March 23, 2013 @ 2:10:35 PM
Saturday, March 23, 2013 @ 2:22:52 PM
Saturday, March 23, 2013 @ 8:03:14 PM
Saturday, March 23, 2013 @ 1:32:13 PM
Sunday, March 24, 2013 @ 12:12:43 PM
Don't sit back and accept just because "I'm already always connect", that only leads to companies moving onto the next agenda on their list on how to make more profit out of consumers... Most people refer to this as a "slippery slope".
Saturday, March 23, 2013 @ 2:09:04 PM
Saturday, March 23, 2013 @ 2:38:49 PM
If devs/publishers/hardware makers are paying attention at all, then they have to realize that their customers are just about at their breaking point.
Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Saturday, March 23, 2013 @ 3:16:22 PM
This information says that if you don't have an Internet connection, you can't even use the machine to play video games. So if your cable or DSL or whatever got knocked out, you can't do anything. It's the most retarded thing I've ever heard. It's not merely inconvenient, it's stupid.
Last edited by Ben Dutka PSXE on 3/23/2013 3:16:42 PM
Saturday, March 23, 2013 @ 3:27:03 PM
Last edited by Kryten1029a on 3/23/2013 3:28:14 PM
Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Saturday, March 23, 2013 @ 3:44:08 PM
Saturday, March 23, 2013 @ 4:36:03 PM
It's not that I'm *for* it, it's just that it really does not matter much for me personally.
What matters though, is the solution. Especially Sim City is an example of a very bad solution. It's like shipping a game that is broken on the disc.
But this is a software discussion. There are tons of examples of games with an online requirement that *do* work well, and has always done so. So this is not the "always on" requirement in itself, but the software design.
Last edited by Beamboom on 3/23/2013 4:39:41 PM
Saturday, March 23, 2013 @ 4:50:01 PM
I agree.
Last edited by Beamboom on 3/23/2013 4:50:40 PM
Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Saturday, March 23, 2013 @ 9:18:31 PM
Sunday, March 24, 2013 @ 1:44:22 AM
But isn't that spying already here with the trophies and PSN? As long as you ever connect to PSN every once in a while they will receive a dump of data about the trophies you achieved while being offline, they got your shopping history in the store and whenever you are connected to PSN they receive a message the second you start a game, enter Home, or whatever. And that's only the data we are aware of. What else is tracked?
So as far as I am concerned I don't really see an "always on" requirement as that huge a step from what we already have got, "spy-wise". And if the PS today are set to automatically connect to PSN when they start up - and let's be frank here, most of us do - then I don't see much practical difference at all, other than the requirement in itself.
Last edited by Beamboom on 3/24/2013 2:05:02 AM
Sunday, March 24, 2013 @ 12:33:40 PM
Beamboom, stop and think about this for a second; so your console has to ALWAYS be connect to PSN/XBL/Nintendo, not that big of a deal right slightly inconvenient but what-ever right? Now throw in HAVING to be connected to EA's servers because you're playing an EA game. Now imagine if EITHER of those servers are down for what ever reason (mainenance, hackers, what-ever) and you can't play your game. Oh, throw in the need already for having to be connected to the internet, THAT service NEVER has anything happen to it right? Right... You're "we all ready connect anyways" attitude is just the attitude most companies look for when they want to come up w/ ways to milk more money out of the consumers.
For me the inconveniences build up quickly. I just lived through the debacle w/ the SimCity servers, I wouldn't want to have to go through THAT again for every(bit hyperbole I know) game I buy.
Unfortunately far far too many out there are what I call Sheepole, they just go along w/ what ever because it's "just easier" to go along w/ it instead of standing up and saying they aren't going to do it, just look at how much micro&soft makes off of Xbox gold or what ever it's called... The next step is see from "always on-line/connected" is "HAVING TO pay for that connection", I already pay for internet I'm not going to pay MORE to play the video game I just payed $60 for.
Sunday, March 24, 2013 @ 7:37:04 PM
You rightly raise the issue of spying with this tech. If we are required to have the new ps eye on to use the console, I am not happy. I heard this is going to be the case with the 720. Correct me if I'm wrong on that account. We are openining, rather we have opened Pandora's Box. We can still close it but I think the masses are not conscious enough/informed to not accept this with open arms. Look at what Verizon recently patented. Its should raise our concerns.
Let's all keep in mind that hackers already do use webcams and microphones to watch people on computers.
Last edited by JoebooSauce on 3/24/2013 7:38:13 PM
Monday, March 25, 2013 @ 4:47:28 AM
I already said I agree with that, I even mention Sim City myself in one of the earlier comments here. I consider the dependence on uptime on several networks is the *real* downside here.
But when it comes to "milking" - if you were against milking I'd much rather focus my aggression on everything from the DLC and micro-transactions to the very Plus club itself - now *that* is milking.
I don't believe for one second that either Sony or Microsoft will have a requirement to keep a webcam running on the console to use it. That just SO stinks like an urban legend, a complete hoax.
Last edited by Beamboom on 3/25/2013 4:47:42 AM
Monday, March 25, 2013 @ 3:45:08 PM
Saturday, March 23, 2013 @ 4:10:52 PM
Nothing about PS4/720 is appealing to me at this point, and this Always Online component is the dog turd right in the middle of it all. This is what will kill the industry. It's nothing but unbridled publisher greed, the same as it was in the 80s. When your industry stops looking after the interests of the customer, that is a dying industry, waiting to be buried.
Saturday, March 23, 2013 @ 5:27:53 PM
Saturday, March 23, 2013 @ 5:44:27 PM
Freedom Or Fire
Saturday, March 23, 2013 @ 7:26:13 PM
Saturday, March 23, 2013 @ 9:44:38 PM
Personally I dont see the point in having a system thatdis always online, at all. It would benefit MS who has a payed subscription but otherwise Im not sure I get the logic. Maybe someone could explain?
Anyways its just a dumb idea. Their isnt enough broadband availability to do this to consumers.
Last edited by bigrailer19 on 3/23/2013 9:46:13 PM
Saturday, March 23, 2013 @ 11:31:00 PM
Sunday, March 24, 2013 @ 12:22:18 AM
Sunday, March 24, 2013 @ 12:47:20 PM
Sunday, March 24, 2013 @ 5:35:52 PM
The point is *why force people?* Online could have been optionnal. When you are on the go and don't have internet access. You can play Solo in another region. Multiplayer in this game is totally unnecessary. It is fun to watch your friend's city but all in all it does not add any gameplay factor except for the fact that you and your buddies now have to plan ahead a little.
Some dev spoke out about how easy it would have been to have offline.
EA actually had to say sorry and give 50$ games to everyone who bought the game in the first few days lol
It was such a fail launch they fired the president XD
Anyway I find this whole *always online on so we can please the investors* crap really annoying. They remove features but keep charging the same price...
Sunday, March 24, 2013 @ 1:04:58 AM
Sunday, March 24, 2013 @ 4:50:04 AM
sometime folks need ask if its freedom or freedumb folks stand for.
Sunday, March 24, 2013 @ 5:43:49 AM
this is bubcus though, i mean hows M$ going to do maintenance on the servers if millions of people are going to be connected to them?
oh sorry you cant use the system you paid 500+ bucks for tonight because were doing maintenance?
yea, thats going to go down well......
im sure this has been misinterpreted.
maybe every game requires a online connection at first just so it can be activated and tied to your account.
but not always online, ie no connection no play.
Sunday, March 24, 2013 @ 12:06:56 PM
And about the "always on" thing? If a company has to use this thing it only proves they're failing at security, and even more failing as software company (which we alredy knew as Windows is pathetic).
But the point is the "always on" isn't there only for security, but to spy on you to send you ads and ads and ads until you die.
Sunday, March 24, 2013 @ 12:33:54 PM
IF they actually did go through w/ it I would predict that it would be the death of the console/company, from my experiences playing the new SimCity and reading several different forums (it's a wonderful game BTW, gives that old SimCity experience even through the bug I personally have experienced), many people wouldn't stand for an on-line always console.
Sunday, March 24, 2013 @ 2:58:25 PM
Sunday, March 24, 2013 @ 2:58:27 PM
Sunday, March 24, 2013 @ 3:18:17 PM
Sunday, March 24, 2013 @ 4:34:16 PM
Sunday, March 24, 2013 @ 8:59:52 PM
Sunday, March 24, 2013 @ 5:01:38 PM
Next thing they'll want is your social security number and blood type to go with a retinal scanner that unlocks your game for only as long as you can go without blinking.
Sunday, March 24, 2013 @ 7:31:59 PM
My BIG worry is that with it being always on, your behavior is always monitored. Its datamining galore. And with a ps eye (and I heard kinect MUST be connected to 720 to work) you have the all seeing eye (pun intended) watching you. Its like that Verizon patent that wants to have cameras on their customers to watch their responses all under the guise of tailoring their marketing. Marketing is the trojan horse for surveillance. If you doubt this I suggest you Google "finspy" and the CIA's recent purchase of $600,000,000 of cloud storage from Amazon. Also, look up the gov'ts new collection of ALL your financial data. (The Young Turks has coverage on these.) Hackers already access many computers webcams and microphones without people realizing it. Think about it. If your webcam or mike are connected (mic always is btw), anyone can eavesdrop and record what is within view or earshot. Especially with mobile devices! So, don't make out with your significant other in front of these things. :) Hello 1984!
"There goes democracy... with thunderous applause."
Sunday, March 24, 2013 @ 8:56:11 PM
I'd love to drag the CEOs of these "always on connection" supporting companies out to the sticks and force them to live there for a month...
We'd never hear of this garbage again!
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text:
Community Service Helps to Keep Our Roadsides Clean
- May 14, 2007
There will be a freewill donation soup supper at the Knox County Nutrition Site in Edina on Saturday, October 11, 2014. Serving will be from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Soup, sandwiches and dessert will be served. Donations collected at the soup supper will be used to help support the site. The Knox County NutritionREAD MORE
By Echo Menges The Knox County Nutrition Site hosted their annual Soup Supper fundraiser on Saturday, October 20, 2012. Freewill donations were given by attendees of the event to help support the site. Local merchants and churches donated cakes, pies, cookie bars, and brownies and several different kinds of soup and sandwiches wereREAD MORE

subset: commoncrawl


text: Hi Johannes,On Mon, 2009-02-16 at 14:56 +0100, Johannes Weiner wrote:> On Tue, Feb 10, 2009 at 04:06:53PM +0200, Pekka J Enberg wrote:> > On Tue, Feb 10, 2009 at 03:35:03PM +0200, Pekka Enberg wrote:> > > > We unexported ksize() because it's a problematic interface and you> > > > almost certainly want to use the alternatives (e.g. krealloc). I think> > > > I need bit more convincing to apply this patch...> > > > On Tue, 10 Feb 2009, Kirill A. Shutemov wrote:> > > It just a quick fix. If anybody knows better solution, I have no> > > objections.> > > > Herbert, what do you think of this (untested) patch? Alternatively, we > > could do something like kfree_secure() but it seems overkill for this one > > call-site.> > There are more callsites which do memset() + kfree():> > arch/s390/crypto/prng.c> drivers/s390/crypto/zcrypt_pcixcc.c> drivers/md/dm-crypt.c> drivers/usb/host/hwa-hc.c> drivers/usb/wusbcore/cbaf.c> (drivers/w1/w1{,_int}.c)> fs/cifs/misc.c> fs/cifs/connect.c> fs/ecryptfs/keystore.c> fs/ecryptfs/messaging.c> net/atm/mpoa_caches.c> > How about the attached patch? One problem is that zeroing ksize()> bytes can have an overhead of nearly twice the actual allocation size.> > So we would need an interface that lets the caller pass in either a> number of bytes it wants to have zeroed out or say idontknow.> > Perhaps add a size parameter that is cut to ksize() if it's too big?> Or (ssize_t)-1 for figureitoutyourself?I'd prefer the kzfree() interface as-is. I don't think you want to dothe memset/kfree in a fast-path anyway.If you can convince Andrew to pick this patch up and maybe convert somecall-sites to actually use it, then:Acked-by: Pekka Enberg <firstname.lastname@example.com> Pekka


text:
Sonesta breaks ground March 6th
The Hill Country Galleria has announced a ground breaking ceremony and celebration for the new Sonesta Bee Cave hotel on the grounds of the Galleria on Thursday, March 6th.
The public is invited to join in on the ground breaking ceremony at 6:00 p.m. at the Sonesta Bee Cave site located on the east side of the Galleria property, behind Dick's Sporting Goods. Immediately following the ground breaking ceremony will be a celebration held in the Hill Country Galleria's outdoor amphitheater. The Hot Texas Swing Band will perform live music from 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m., complimentary BBQ bites from Schmidt Family Barbecue will be provided while they last, and a spectacular firework show will end the evening.
Guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and blankets to enjoy the concert and fireworks. Each guest will receive a Sonesta Hotel swag bag while supplies last.
Sonesta Bee Cave will consist of a 6 story hotel, 200 guest rooms, 10,000 square feet of meeting space, and public areas such as a swimming pool, lounge, and rooftop bar. The 15 month build is scheduled to be completed in the spring of 2015.


text:
Everyone Can Do High-Intensity Exercises
High-intensity exercising is not as intimidating as it first might sound. With interval cardio or the more advance Peak 8 exercises, you can perform high-intensity exercise with any type of exercise -- jogging, biking, walking, elliptical machine -- in just 20 minutes.
Guidelines for a Successful High-Intensity Exercising Routine
You have many options for a high-intensity exercise routine. Below are two. The first is interval cardio which is done on a treadmill then followed by Dr. Mercola's Peak 8 exercise which can be done with or without exercise equipment.
High-Intensity Interval Cardio
Each high-intensity exercise, after the initial warm up, is a 60 second power walk followed by a 30 second jog, and then a 15 second sprint. At the end of the 15 second sprint hop onto each side rail with your feet as you hold on to the handle bars. Reduce the treadmill's speed to baseline. Let the tread slow down a few seconds before you start walking on the tread to recover. Make sure to bring your incline down to 0 for the recovery phase.
Perform 4-8 high-intensity exercises. In between each high-intensity challenge, keep walking at a nice slow pace to aid in recovery.
Each high-intensity exercise repetition gets incrementally more challenging than the one before.
- For your first challenge take the speed up 0.5 mph higher than your baseline, and the incline to 1.5 for beginners, 2.5 for intermediate, or 3.5 for advanced. On each progressive challenge, increase the 60 second power walk by 0.5 degrees higher and 0.1 mph faster.
- At the 60 second mark, break into a traditional jog technique, then increase your speed to 2.0 mph faster than baseline. Increase each 30 second jog by 0.2 mph faster than the one before.
- The speed for the sprint stays the same as for the jog. Simply intensify the jog technique with high knees.
The rest periods get longer as each progressive high-intensity exercise gets more intense. The length of each high-intensity challenge stays constant but the length of each rest increases.
Before you start your next high-intensity exercise challenge, make sure that you totally have your breath back. Also make sure that your energy level comes back to 9 out of 10.
It's better to rest longer than shorter. One of the main keys to a successful high-intensity exercise session is intensity during each challenge. That's why it is important to be as recovered as possible before each high-intensity exercise challenge.
You know that you are ready for your next high-intensity exercise challenge when all three of the following occur:
- You've recovered your breath
- Your energy level is a 9 out of 10
- You feel strong and you are ready for the next repetition, which will be slightly more challenging
Peak 8:
You can perform Peak Fitness high-intensity exercise with any type of exercise you choose. While having access to a gym or exercise equipment will provide you with a larger variety of options, you don't require either. You can just as easily perform a Peak Fitness high-intensity exercise by walking or running on flat ground.
You'll want to start slow and work your way up, but ultimately you want to exercise vigorously enough so you reach your anaerobic threshold, because this is where the human growth hormone release is triggered.
Since Peak 8 exercises are an even more intense version of high-intensity interval cardio, it requires even less time. The actual sprinting totals only 4 minutes!
Here's what a typical peak fitness high-intensity exercise routine might look like using a recumbent bike:
- Warm up for three minutes.
- Push yourself as hard and fast as you can for 30 seconds. You should feel like you couldn't possibly go on another few seconds.
- Recover for 90 seconds.
- Repeat the high intensity exercise and recovery 7 more times.
Peak 8 goes right into a 30 second high-intensity exercise at maximum capacity. With Peak 8, by the end of your 30 second high-intensity exercise period you'll want to reach these markers:
- It will be relatively hard to breathe and talk because you are in oxygen debt.
- You will start to sweat profusely. Typically this is occurs in the second or third repetition.
- Your body temperature will rise.
- Lactic acid increases and you will feel a muscle "burn."
Since this high-intensity exercise is a bit more extreme, be mindful of your current fitness level and don't overdo it when you first start out.
You should only do Peak 8 high-intensity exercises no more than three times a week. If you do Peak 8 more frequently than that you may actually do more harm than good.
Never Reduce High-Intensity Exercise Intensity
As your fitness level improves you can reduce the high-intensity exercise frequency but NOT the intensity. Never reduce the intensity or you will lose the effects, which include:
- Decrease in body fat.
- Improved muscle tone.
- Firmer skin and reduces wrinkles.
- Increase in energy and sexual desire.
- Improved athletic speed and performance.
- Slowing down the aging process and telomere shortening.
Bottom Line on Exercising and High-Intensity Exercising
If you want to be truly healthy, exercise is simply too important to miss. If you're NOT exercising on a regular basis, you're missing out on one of the most effective tools known to produce major health improvements. Even late in life, exercise can help slow down the aging process, so you'll be less likely to suffer from chronic disease or disability, and more likely to be fit and trim, agile, mobile and happy. High-intensity exercising is another great way to maximize these benefits and to reach your own personal fitness goals.


text:
Maplehurst B&B
4427 Ridge Road
Lockport, NY 14094
Innkeepers: Mark & Peggy Herbst
Region: Greater Niagara
About the Area: Minutes from world famous scenic/historic sites (Niagara Falls, Erie Canal, Canada).
Inn Description: Originally deeded by the Holland Land Company to Hiram McNeil in 1820, Maplehurst was one of the first parcels of property to be settled in the town of Cambria, which at the time was the only town in Niagara County. At the time of settlement, "the county was a wilderness and (McNeil) was prominent among those who made districts on the continent".
The original domicile was built between 1830 and 1840. Typical of construction practices for rural residences at the time, the original structure is incorportaed into the present seventeen room, Victoria-style home with exterior soffits graced with modest gingerbread.
At the time of (McNeil's) death, the home was described as "one of the finest country residences in Western New York". (quotes are from "Obituary of Hiram McNeil", The Lockport Union Sun & Journal, May 11, 1861.)
The properties subsequent to the death of Hiram McNeil, and in accordance with his will, was sold and all proceeds equally divided among his seven children. His descendants operated the family farm until October 21, 1921, when Henry J. & Ida Herbst assumed ownership and enriched Maplehurst's fine farming tradition with the assistance of son Elmore until the 1990's.
Number of Rooms: 3
Rooms Description: Comforatble rooms tasetefully decorated, three rooms on second floor.
Amenities: Full Breakfast / Air Conditioned / Accommodates Children / Accommodates Meetings and or Conferences / Accommodates Weddings / Common Phone / Satellite or Cable TV
Specials: Please call or e-mail me for room availability and information on special packages for weddings, anniversaries, holiday parties and afternoon teas.
Locations / Directions: 4427 Ridge Road (Route 104)
Five miles west of Wright's Corners.
Ten miles east of Lewiston
Rate Information: $65


text:
The Highway 34 Coalition
The Highway 34 Coalition was founded in 1990 by Charlie McChesney as a bi-state coalition, which actively supports the completion of US 34 as a four-lane expressway that will provide a safe and reliable transportation corridor connecting the region to the global economy.
The coalition's priority is upgrading the 23.6 miles of two-lane between Monmouth, IL and Burlington, IA to a four-lane highway. In a ten-year span from 1995 – 2005, 775 accidents occurred on this two-lane segment, resulting in 353 injuries and 12 fatalities. IDOT has also identified three high-accident locations within this 23.6 mile stretch of road. According to the Traffic Safety Bureau, a 40% reduction in serious injury and fatal crashes can be expected on a highway improved from two-lanes to four-lanes.


text:
Seventy years ago, the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, igniting a force that changed history.
Though it's a movie about the European theater of World War II, I think of that lovely quote near the end of Saving Private Ryan, when the mortally wounded Captain Miller leans in to Private Ryan as he whispers his last words... "Earn this."
Those are words that should inspire all of us.


text:
Patrice Dumas wrote:
On Tue, Dec 18, 2007 at 12:00:45PM +0100, Lennart Poettering wrote:On Tue, 18.12.07 09:24, Patrice Dumas (pertusus free fr) wrote:It's not that PA doesn't work at all on those special no-X-involved setups. The only limitation is that you need to run PA manually in such setups. -- No big deal!Is there something like a session pam module planned to start PA to achieve independence from the the login entry point?I am not convinced that PAM is the right place to start any daemons.But gdm is?
why not start PA from an init script ?


text:
125 Rampart Way Denver, Denver, CO 80230Request info Add to list
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125 Rampart Way Denver is an office property for lease in Denver, CO. The property currently has 1 office space for lease and is marketed by Frederick Ross Company.
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text:
Bea Boomer's Vital Aging Project – Day 42 – 4/8/15
- Enjoying a bowl of tomato soup? Add black beans for added fiber.
- For a tasty salad, skip the iceberg lettuce and use a colorful blend of greens – add chickpeas and a variety of veggies. You can also use the chickpeas to make hummus. Enjoy it with baby carrots, cucumber slices, celery, zucchini sticks, red or orange peppers . . .
- Love crusty bread? Instead of buttering it, blend olive oil with dried Italian seasoning and minced garlic (or garlic powder) and dip your bread in this mixture.
- For a heart-healthy breakfast, try regular or steel-cut oatmeal instead of the instant options. Add blueberries (or other types of berries), walnuts or almonds, apples with a tablespoonful of honey. Top with soymilk.
- When eating out, choose broiled salmon, lake trout, or whitefish instead of a steak. The omega-3 fatty acids in fatty fish can help us reduce heart attacks and other heart conditions.
- For a quick snack, choose a handful of almonds to help lower your cholesterol levels.
- To healthify your tacos, skip the ground beef. Try a soft taco made with whole grain tortillas, ground turkey, brown rice, and seasoned black beans. Top with avocado slices.
Bea would love to hear about your own heart-healthy food swap ideas. Drop me a line!
For further reading:
Quick heart-healthy meal recipes
©Bea Boomers Wellness 2009-2015Tweet


text:
[5] 3 bdroom at Ladies Market, Mongkok (Family warm space), (24 hr meetup)
Size700 m²
Floor No.
- Internet/WiFi
- Kitchen
- Towels
Accommodation summary
|Tung Choi, 00000 Hong Kong, Hong Kong
|Property type
|Property ID
|Acceptance rate
|< 50%
|Response time
|A few hours
|Calendar updated
|More than half a year ago
-This is a three bedroom apartment. There are double beds at each bedroom. (Totally 4 beds, can fit for 5-7 ppl.)
-Kitchen is fully equipped. You can use it to cook.
There is also a sofa bed in the living room. It can totally fit about 5-8 people!
*Please notice. Due to high demand season. Arrangement for alternative apartments would be applicable for late customers. We would appreciate for your cooperation.
About Mong Kok
It is located in Mong Kok, right beside the world famous "Ladies market", bus station and the subway is within 1 minute walking distance. There are many local restaurants located around this area, from Chinese 'Dim Sum' or Taiwanese cuisine, to California Pizza Kitchen, you have a range of choices when you are hungry. For tasting in Mongkok feels like you are in the "United Nations of Food"
With only 15 minutes on the subway to Central, you can get to Soho for a nice wine and dine or enjoy the busy night life in Lan Kwai Fong.
There are various convenient stores and supermarkets around. They operate for 24hrs and 7 days. It would be no worry for getting commodities for you stay.
As a travel hub, there are two lines of MTR, and numerous bus routes passing through.
So that means, you can go anywhere in Hong Kong within 1 hour.
10 mins to Tsim Sha Tsui
15 mins to Central, Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai, or Causeway Bay
40 mins to Disneyland
40 mins to Ocean Park
Direct Airport Bus A21 for only about 40 mins from Airport (our unit is next to the Bus stop, our 24 hrs pick up service at the bustop is avaliable ^_^ )
House rules
Please keep the apartment clean.
Please don't disturb the neighborhood.
Smoking is prohibited inside the apartment, elevators and the lobby
For you pleasantful stay. Only us would notify you for accessing the apartment.
WE all hope you to have a greatful holiday in Hong Kong. Thank you (Xiè xiè)
|Weekly rate for up to 6 guests
|Monthly rate for up to 6 guests
|Price for > 6 guests
|22 NZ$ per guest/night extra
|Check-in after
|Check-in before
|On arrangement
|Check-out before
|Cancellation Policy
Reviews for this host's other properties
Friendly host, gave a lot of advices. Clean appartment, highly recommended!
The main reason we visited Hongkong is to shop...sightseeing was just secondary, as we've been there before. We needed a place where we can do our 3 Rs - rest, refresh and recharge...plus wifi. The place where we stayed in was decently clean, well-maintained and safe...accessible to MTR and most landmarks. Thanks to Kitty and William's hospitality, our stay in Hongkong was hassle-free.
Kitty's apt was clean and convenience, easy to access to bus stop and mtr station, surrounding with delicious foods and also very very near to the center of mongkok. Kitty is a helpful and easy going person, she provided us many information of the places we wish to go and things we needs. She and her son are really friendly. Only thing that we found the bathroom was a bit small, but i think this is the style of all hong kong apartment. Overall, we had a happy and nice stay in her apartment.
The apartment was everything we needed - clean and spacious. Our host was very acommodating and always helpful. The apartment was very close to all transport networks so it was easy to access the main points of interest in Hong Kong. We would love to stay again.
The apartment was very clean and comfortable. Kitty and her son were very helpfull and flexible regarding to my requiremnts. I highly recommend that appartment and Kitty's hospitality.
Very convenient location and Kitty and William were friendly and helpful thorughout. Pictures were reflective of the flat.
We had a wonderful experience with host Kitty and her son, William. Once we reached HKG International Airport, we gave a call to Kitty and tried to arrange for a meeting point. However, due to some miscommunication, we waited at the wrong place for her. I gave Kitty a call and she was very nice and got us to explain our actual location at Mongkok MTR. Her son, William came about 10 minutes later and greeted us with a warm, friendly smile. He helped us with our heavy luggages and bring us to his apartment. Throughout the journey to his apartment, he played a very good guide showing us roads, shops and good foods.
Once we arrived, he briefly asked for our itinerary and tried to fill us in with more information about Hkg. Kitty came shortly after and our family had a short chit chat session with both of them. They really put us at ease and we felt they were like our relatives.
He brought us to a local teahouse and we had a wonderful and cheap dinner there. He was always eager to help and provided lots of infomation. While my family were ordering food, he even make a point to personally show me the way to the MTR nearest to his apartment. After dinner, he even brought my father-in-law to the nearby chinese medical shop to have some herbal drink as my father-in-law was having a bad cough.
During our last day of stay, we invited them to bring us for nice dim sum. They really played very good hosts and were always ready to help. When I asked him where to buy local pastries like the lou po beng (Wife Cake), William personally brought us to them!
We really have no complains with their high standard of service.
The only con was the apartment. It was smaller than what the photos looked and the heater was not really working very well. It might get very noisy at night as it is located just above the ladies market. However, this is indeed the kind of experience we wanted to have during our trip to Hong Kong!
On a rainy day, we arrived a little late was kindly welcomed.
The size of the room was enough.
Bed is comfortable. It was easy enough hot water when the shower with me.
We had a good rest.
Mongkok Night Market, like a good place to stay for travelers.
Booked the room for my parents and aunt and Kitty was able to accommodate them. The place was comfortably large for 3 persons and was kept in a good, clean condition. They were helpful with the luggage and also looked out for my parents by going above and beyond by calling a car service to drive them to the airport because they had so much luggage.
It was a fun filled week during my stay in Hong Kong. The hosts, Kitty and William, was very helpful and friendly. Everything was great to make this trip an unforgettable one. Thank you!
- Quality assured accommodation
- Every host is verified by telephone
- Secure payment via SSL encryption


text:
OECD grades Canada's health care, finds long wait times
CTVNews.ca Staff
Published Wednesday, November 23, 2011 10:12PM EST
Canada's survival rates for breast and colorectal cancer are among the highest in the OECD, a new report from the agency suggests, but long wait times and in-hospital adverse events "are a concern."
In the latest edition of its health-care report "Health at a Glance," the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development says that overall, medical care is improving across all 34 member states.
However, it identifies numerous problems, including in Canada high-wait times for care, a higher rate of trauma in the delivery room and more incidents of "foreign objects" being left in patients after surgery.
The report noted that surgery error figures, such as the number of incidents of items being left behind, as well as accidental punctures or lacerations, may be the result of Canada's strong data-collection efforts.
According to the report:
- The five-year breast cancer survival rate for the period between 2004 and 2009 was 87 per cent, third-highest among OECD countries.
- Avoidable hospital admissions for complications from asthma and diabetes are both well below the OECD average.
- However, obstetric trauma (defined as vaginal delivery with instruments) occurred in 13.7 per cent of deliveries compared to an OECD average of 5.5 per cent.
- And, in an 11-country survey, wait times for care were the highest in Canada.
The report also points out that in 2009, Canada spent 11.4 per cent of GDP on health care, more than the average among OECD countries of 9.6 per cent.
In its own report compiled from the OECD data, the Canadian Institute for Health Information said that while comparing information between countries can be risky because some data may be incomplete, the exercise "can highlight potential areas of improvement for our own health system."
The OECD data notes, for example, that Canada has lower smoking rates than can be found in most other member nations, while rates of obesity are among the highest.
The CIHI points out that Canada is one of only five OECD countries to decrease its smoking rate by more than 30 per cent since 1999. However, Canada's self-reported rate of obesity is 16.5 per cent, second-highest among G7 countries.
And while survival rates for breast and colorectal cancers are among the highest in the OECD, Canada has a relatively high rate of cancer compared to other countries, the CIHI says.
As well, cancer mortality rates for women in Canada are among the highest in the OECD, and highest of G7 countries.
"Canada has strong performance in cancer diagnosis and treatment. Reducing cancer deaths further may require more focus on prevention programs to reduce the number of new cases," Kathleen Morris, director of health system analysis and emerging issues at the CIHI, said in a statement.
"For example, lower smoking rates in Canada today may mean fewer lung cancer cases in the future -- but some of this progress could be offset by higher obesity rates, which are also a risk factor for cancer."


text:
"My daughter has the same issue. Since its so close to Xmas doctors can't see her right away. Please let me know what it might be because I am going crazy thinking the worse case scenario thank u"
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TheSerifExtraBold Italic Fonts
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@import url(//db.onlinewebfonts.com/c/2ddc4030b239448095e7508ef05a9ed1?family=TheSerifExtraBold);#3 Use font-face declaration Fonts.(http | https)
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Luc as de Groot 1994
PAG Brigade W00 Regular
Ryoichi TsunekawaAuthor
Ryoichi TsunekawaTrademark
PAG Brigade is a trademark of Ryoichi Tsunekawa.Copyright
Copyright (c) 2009 by Ryoichi Tsunekawa. All rights reserved.License
PROP-A-GANDA. Standard License agreementLICENSING AGREEMENT 1. GeneralThis document is a legal agreement between you, the end user, and Prop-a-ganda. By using or installing this software, you agree to be bound by the terms of this Agreement.In this document the term gfont softwareh refers to any program or piece of code and/or computer information containing data that can be used to output letterforms or designs to any output or display device currently known or unknown. 2. License GrantNumber of Users: In consideration for the license fee paid, Prop-a-ganda grants to you only, the Licensee, the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to use and display the FProp-a-ganda Product purchased through this service on up to five (5) CPUs at your site connected to any number of printers at your own site. If you have paid for a multi-user license for more than five (5) CPUs, the maximum number of CPUs is equal to the number of users specified in the applicable receipt. If you are using this product for your work, this agreement applies to your employer.Backups: You may make one (1) copy of theProp-a-ganda font software solely for backup purposes provided the copyright and trademark notices are reproduced in their entirety on the backup copy.Third Parties: You may send a copy of any Prop-a-ganda font software along with your documents to a commercial printer or other service bureau to enable the editing or printing of your document, provided that such party agrees to delete the font or fonts from his/her/their system upon completion of your project.Portable Documents: You may gembedh Prop-a-ganda font(s) within PostScript-Language files, .PDF files, and .EVY files for distribution, viewing, and imaging to other parties.Distributions: You may not rent, lease, sublicense, give, lend, or further distribute the font software.Modifications: You may not modify, adapt, translate, reverse engineer, decompile, disassemble, or create derivative works based on the Prop-a-ganda Product without prior written consent from Prop-a-ganda.3. CopyrightThe Prop-a-ganda font software data is copyrighted; unauthorized copying of Prop-a-ganda is expressly forbidden. You may be held legally responsible for any infringement ofProp-a-gandafs intellectual property rights that is caused or encouraged by your failure to abide by the terms of this Agreement.4. Termination This Agreement will immediately and automatically terminate without notice if you fail to comply with any term or condition of this Agreement. If this Agreement is terminated, you agreed to destroy all copies of the font data in your possession. To contact Prop-a-ganda with any questions, comments, etc. Parace-Kurumada #103 2-33-2 Kurumada-cho Showa-ku Nagoya-shi Aichi-ken466-0001 JAPANhttp://email@example.com
Blood and Blade outline demo
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text:
PUCL Bulletin, December 2001
Some questions
on POTO
By now various provisions
of the Prevention of Terrorism Ordinance have been discussed threadbare
at various fora. Its genealogy, TADA onwards, is well known. Positions
have been taken by various political parties according to their present
postures in the politics of the country. The only new feature in the debate
is President Bush and his terminology, which the present group in power
is vociferously adopting, "if you are not with us (on POTO), you
are with the terrorists". This vocabulary though is not entirely
new in our country. We have been told again and again that if you don't
say, "Vandemataram, you are a traitor". Unless you have got
certified, in a proper format, your love for the country, you are a traitor.
Lastly, we would like to point out that any law could be misused. Why raise a hue and cry over the possibility of misuse of POTO? This is the most naïve attempt to hoodwink the common people. A law curbing human freedoms and liberties cannot be lumped with "any law". The misuse of a law pertaining to a sales tax or a law pertaining to traffic regulation is something totally different from a law restricting the freedom of free speech or a law guaranteeing right to life


text:
I just finished uploading this Apartment for sale, 601 2201 Pine Street, Vancouver, BC
Beautifully UPDATED 2 bedroom and den at the prestigious Meridian Cove with gorgeous mountains, water and garden VIEW. At nearly 1200sf, this home can easily accommodate house-sized furniture. It features cozy cinnamon maple hardwood floor, designer Benjamin Moore paint, shinny new gourmet kitchen with Maytag stainless steel fridge (bottom-mount freezer), stove (Ceran top) and dishwasher plus Panasonic microwave oven, recessed swivel halogen lights, sleek granite counter with under-mount sink. Kohler fixtures in kitchen and baths. New lighting fixtures, baseboards, and blinds. 2 car parking and 1 locker. This fine building has spa-like amenities including indoor pool, fully equipped exercise gym, sauna, steam room, hot tub, private English garden, bike rooms and more. Very well run building with proactive strata council. Check and compare value. This is one of the BEST buildings in the Westside. Call Henry for a private tour 604-880-8727.


text:
How to sell gold ?
1) Choose your game and server
2) Fill informaion required for a smooth transaction and submit your order
3) Contact our live customer support to process your order
4) Login game and wait for instruction
5) Deliver your gold in game
6) Payment will be sent right after gold received
7) Transaction complete.
Why our price is a scale but not a exact one?
We raise and decrease our price in accordance to market supply and demand. When supply is short and demand is high, prices will increase. When supply is plentiful but there is little demand, prices will decrease. This is the reason for changing prices and also why currency prices may vary from serverto server on one game.
How do I deliver the gold?
1) Face to face trade
2) Guild bank deposit or withdraw
3) Auction House
We trade face to face generally but please do check with our live support for details.
How do I get paid?
Currently ,you can choose to be paid through Paypal ,Moneybookers,Libertyreserve,Westernunion ,Moneygram,Perfect Money,Webmoney,Payza,Egopay and more.
How long will it take?
Transactions can be finished within minutes normally.But it can occasionally take up to 30 minutes or longer depending on order volumes and server traffic.
How do I get my keys?
All keys and game cards will be sent to you via e-mail or messengers immediately upon gold arrival .
What happens if I get a bad code?
Every code we receive, sell, and distribute is valid. Unfortunately, errors in transmission do crop up from time to time, and we will work with you to resolve any issues as quickly as possible.In almost all cases of a "bad code" report, it's due to invalid data entry-either from us to you or from you to the website. Since we retain all titles in-ouse for 30 days after sending you the code, we'll be happy to verify the code for you if you should encounter any difficulties.
How can I trust you?
This is a reputable site that's in business since 2008.We have come so far not because we exist but because we live up with our reputation.We have been and always will be providing legit and better service.You can check Testimonials on our site or reputation on other trading forums for more details.
What happened if I got banned ?
Please be aware that RMT is against rules of the game and may cause account suspension.The chance of getting banned is really low when selling to us but it's not guaranteed.All the transactions are based on free will and mutual benefit,we are not responsible for anything after payment made.
How do I get member points ?
In order to gain member point,first you need to register as a member of our site, then you need to place selling order everytime you sell or trade gold to us.Member point is no longer available for adding if you didn't place an order when trading or haven't remind us within 6 hours.


text: Ben Morgan wrote: > This has been talked about, but I just added it to the issue tracker > (http://code.google.com/p/bpbible/issues/detail?id=24). It should be > in 0.4 > > Note that you won't get proper display of Hebrew as the wxHTML control > doesn't support RToL languages properly. > > God Bless, > Ben > ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, > but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, > but that all should reach repentance. > 2 Peter 3:9 (ESV) > > > On Fri, Oct 3, 2008 at 3:06 AM, David Troidl <DavidTroidl at aol.com > <mailto:DavidTroidl at aol.com>> wrote: > > One item I would put on the wish list, after a > cursory tryout, is separate font selection for Hebrew, at least, maybe > also for Greek, if that's possible. > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > _______________________________________________ > sword-devel mailing list: sword-devel at crosswire.org > http://www.crosswire.org/mailman/listinfo/sword-devel > Instructions to unsubscribe/change your settings at above page > I got to try it out this morning at school. I really like it. The only issue that came up was: "Don't know how to open this morphology type: packard:PREP" in LXX Gen.1.1 with Packard Morphological Codes installed. Peace, David


text:
On April 5, 2012, WordPress did some programming code change that inadvertently damaged the use of single quotation marks in blogs with Swedish as the specified language.
This is a reminder about this problem, which I reported here in mid-April and after some back-and-forth got word from a WordPress staff member who acknowledged it as a program bug which was going to be corrected. Now, after more than two months, all your Swedish bloggers are still getting their single quotations improperly marked.
This is how the bug manifests itself: WordPress erroneously changes all single quotation marks around a word or words to double quotation marks. And even worse than that: when a non-space character immediately follows the closing quotation mark, the opening quotation mark appears as a double and the closing quotation mark appears as a single.
Both the infrequent usage of single quotation marks and the low fraction of your bloggers who are writing i Swedish will probably give correction of this bug a low priority. True, but let me remind you that bad punctuation often is a hallmark of sloppy writing and also that, in addition to insignificant little me, you are also hosting Swedish bloggers like Carl Bildt, the Swedish Foreign Secretary, who writes a daily blog about his adventures in world foreign politics. If he should attempt to use an expression within single quotation marks, then he would also wind up with faulty punctuation.
The blog I need help with is gymbrat.wordpress.com.


text:
Was it legal to kill al-Awlaki without due process, courtesy of drone?
Some will say "who cares? Good riddance." But they are ignoring the importance of the issue and the possible danger of the precedent, while those who question the mission's legality are asking a question that is necessary to confront: under what circumstances can a president order the liquidation of an American citizen (or possible former American citizen) without any courtroom procedure, even a military tribunal?
I have some respect for those on the left who were vocally against Bush's extra-judicial treatment of terrorists and who also are criticizing Obama for his actions. At least they display an admirable intellectual consistency, although I think they're wrong.
Here's why, from Kenneth Anderson at the law blog Volokh. Anderson writes:
The government has maintained throughout all this that Al-Aulaqi was deemed a lawful target not on account of his expression of opinions, including calls to violence against the United States and its citizens, but instead on account of his operational involvement in AQAP, in ways going to leadership of an associated force terrorist organization and operational and planning involvement. My view of this targeted killing is straightforwardly, congratulations, Mr. President. What has been visible publicly leaves little or no doubt in my mind that Al-Aulaqi was deeply involved in AQAP in operations, and indeed at the highest levels…
Who? As an international law matter, is Al-Aulaqi a lawful target? The US government sees him as taking part in hostilities, part of the operational leadership of an associated force with Al Qaeda, the AQAP. So, yes, he can be targeted with lethal force — and targeted without warning, without an attempt to arrest or apprehend as a law enforcement matter.
Where? Does it matter that he was in Yemen, and not an "active battlefield" in a conventional hostilities sense? The US government does not accept the idea that the armed conflict with Al Qaeda — or armed conflict generally — is confined as a legal matter to some notion of "theatres of conflict" or "active battlefields" or related terms that have been used in recent years by academics and activist groups. As I understand the US government position, it sticks by the traditional concept of "hostilities," and that where the hostiles go, the possibility of armed conflict goes too… So the fact that he was present in Yemen does not make him beyond targeting, because he is not present in some "active" battlezone such as Afghanistan.
There's more in the essay, much more—and I highly recommend reading the entire thing—as well as this draft of an article by Robert Chesney, written before the killing. It all dovetails considerably with my own thought process on the subject (which I wrote before reading any of the legal discussions), here:
Al Qaeda is a foreign-based international terrorist group that has declared war on the US and put its money where its mouth is. So for al-Awlaki, he's got a combination of factors that distinguish him: member of foreign terrorist organization that declared war on US, foreign residence for years, and participant in killings.
I will add that it is disturbing and troubling that a US citizen (whether or not he effectively although informally renounced his citizenship some time before that) was summarily killed by a drone. But the arguments are strong that in this sort of case it is legally acceptable to have done so, and the practical arguments also make it clear that there was no other way to prevent further attacks on this country by this person. In his draft, Chesney writes on the latter subject (again, his piece was written before the killing):
(i) there is substantial evidence that [al-Alwaki] is planning terrorist attacks, (ii) there is no plausible opportunity to incapacitate him with non-lethal means, and (iii) there is not good reason to believe that a plausible non-lethal opportunity to incapacitate him will arise before harm to others occurs. A second question then arises, however. Must al-Awlaki be linked to a specific plot to carry out a particular attack, or is it enough that the evidence establishes that he can and will attempt or otherwise be involved in attacks in the future without specificity as to what the particulars of those attacks might be? The former approach has the virtue of clarity, yet could rarely be satisfied given the clandestine nature of terrorism. The latter approach necessarily runs a greater risk of abuse and thus perhaps justifies an especially high evidentiary threshold, but in any event it is a more realistic and more appropriate approach (particularly from the point of view of the potential victims of future terrorist attacks).
Fighting international terrorism presents us with a different kind of war. That does not mean we can do whatever we want. But it does mean that the rules need developing and clarifying. I'll finish with Anderson again:
As to the due process claims, as Robert Chesney notes at Lawfare, the US government does not appear to be taking a blanket position that a US citizen deemed to be a targetable participant in a terrorist group has no due process rights outside of the US in any sense, on the one hand, but neither does it appear to take the position that the vindication of whatever those due process rights are entitles the citizen to merely being subject to an attempt to arrest, including in a remote location in Yemen, and to warning before using lethal force. I don't think the US government has a worked out position suitable for every case — as seems to me quite appropriate. It is in the process of working out something that is only partly like straight-up armed conflict law and something that is gradually, inchoately emerging as a sort of "state practice" of covert intelligence operations. The working out of those positions is proceeding case by case.


text:
Tragedy, grief, love and joy
A tale of tragedy, grief, love and joy told in snippets.
Facebook post, February 26, 2011
On this day in 1944, my young parents were married. After Dad came home from the war, they were rarely apart. My parents held hands and danced in the kitchen. They approached life with a healthy dose of humor and common sense. After 55 years of living together, they died together.
Happy anniversary in Heaven to Ma and Pa. Always in my heart and in my dreams.
I'll see you again…
March 1999
"Do you remember Becky Vant?" my mom asked as we chatted on the phone.
"Of course! She was one of my best friends in junior high until she went to that other high school in the district," I teased. "I haven't seen her in years. Why do you bring her up?"
"This is just awful," Mom began, "Becky's parents and her sister Wendy were all killed in a train accident in Illinois a few days ago."
"Oh my god . . . what happened?"
"A semi-truck drove onto the tracks and the train crashed into it. No one knows all the details yet."
"I can't believe it! I wish I knew where Becky was so I could talk with her."
March 2010
Becky finds me on Facebook. Now Rebecca Phillips, married and with kids of her own, we catch up on the past twenty-five years and then our messages turn to our shared experience of grief.
Becky, I write, my grief after losing Ruth was so much more difficult than I ever thought it would be. How did you ever make it through after the train accident?
Oh, Bobbi, it was so hard, Becky responded. There were days when I couldn't get out of bed, couldn't work, couldn't take care of my kids . . . Somehow, between my faith and the love of those around me, I've made it this far. But I still think about my parents and Wendy every day.
Facebook post, February 27, 2011
Becky responds after receiving 25 comments on her post
Thank you all. Every day of my life, I become more and more convinced that I am one of the luckiest people around, because I have an amazing family and a phenomenal group of friends. I love your stories and I appreciate all of your generosity and love.
Life is good.
In loving memory of Vergil, Leona, and Wendy Vant. Your "lucky" daughter and sister continues to teach us that, even after tragedy, life is good.
Tags: grief > joy > love > perspective > resilience > tragedy


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Retail store services and retail store services via a global computer network in the field of dolls and accessories therefor
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text:
Oh dear, Coro star Bill Roache aka Ken Barlow is in a spot of bother.
Coronation Street actor Bill Roache has been arrested for rape.
The actor, who has played Ken Barlow in the TV soap for decades, was held at his home in Wilmslow, Cheshire, this morning.
Roache, 81, faces an allegation of raping an under-age girl in Lancashire between April and July 1967.
A spokesman for Lancashire Police said: "An 81-year-old man from Wilmslow in Cheshire has this morning, Wednesday May 1 2013, been arrested by Lancashire Constabulary on suspicion of rape.
"The man will be interviewed at a police station in Lancashire during the course of the day.
"We take all allegations of sexual abuse extremely seriously and would encourage people with any information about sexual abuse, or anyone who has been a victim of sexual abuse, to come forward and report their concerns confident in the knowledge they will be investigated appropriately and with sensitivity."
What makes this worse for Bill Roache is that he has been sticking up for Jimmy Savile and celebrities by saying sex abuse victims had brought it on themselves:
Roache: "If you accept that you are pure love, and if you know that you are pure love and therefore live that pure love, these things won't happen to you."
Interviewer: "To some people that sounds perhaps like you're saying victims bring things on themselves – is that what you're saying?"
Roache: "No, not quite, but and yet I am, because everything that happens to us has been a result of what we have been in previous lives or whatever."
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Today is National Coming Out Day, a day where we can all either come out as gay, lesbian or bisexual, or at the very least discuss LGBT (or GLBT? GBLT?) issues out in the open.
Much like Jen over at Blag Hag, gay issues affect me personally, not only because I have a few gay friends and because one of my childrens' uncles is gay, but also because I want to teach my kids tolerance and acceptance of all orientations and creeds.
Oh, and I'm a Kinsey 2.
Hey, this is National Coming Out Day, ain't it? So here I am, saying that I'm not 100% heterosexual. But then again, who is, besides those who were taught to fear and hate homosexuals and to force whatever latent homosexual tendencies they had so far underneath the surface that it's practically non-existent? I'm a proponent of the Kinsey scale, but in finer gradations. A scale of 1–6 is too coarse and simplistic to be of any use. If I had to use percentages, I'd have to say I'm about 85% heterosexual and 15% homosexual.
Growing up in a Catholic household, even the word "homosexual" carries with it negative connotation, even after I've long since rejected the Catholic ideology that homosexual is evil. I know it's not a choice, I know it's determined by nature, even if only partially. But the stigma of my upbringing will always be with me. And that's why I'll probably never share this with family members (unless, of course, they happen to read this blog). Not that I have a pressing urge to share it with anybody. I'm more comfortable sharing this with perfect strangers than I am sharing it with family or even friends.
It's not even that big of a deal, I don't think. So I'm bisexual, bi-curious, "heteroflexible", or whatever you want to call it. I don't subscribe to any labels when it comes to sexual orientation. Well before I had ever heard of the Kinsey scale, I had always believed that sexual orientation was more fluid than some binary system — that it was a false dichotomy, being straight or gay. I had always believed that even introducing bisexuality to the mix still introduced a false trichotomy. I had always believed that there was some sort of scale, where everybody fell somewhere, where sexual orientation was a fluid state of being, something that could even change over time.
Like many other young teens, I was curious about other guys at a young age. I even experimented once or twice. Then, it just stopped. At some point I was no longer interested. Perhaps it was because I discovered that I like girls a whole lot more than guys. Thereafter, hearing all the negative comments about homosexuality, witnessing the homophobic tendencies of most of my friends and family, and feeling the peer pressure of liking girls and only girls, all worked against whatever latent homosexual tendencies I may have had. As I grew up, they were pushed down beneath the surface and I liked only girls.
Deep down inside, though, I still was curious about the same sex. I'd often fantasize about same-sex relations, but I always kept it hidden beneath the surface.
Today, I'm making a stand and saying, "No more." Gays, lesbians, trans-gendered, bisexuals, and any other groups I missed: It gets better. I'm here to help, in whatever way I can.
Perhaps coming out myself will be of some help to somebody, somewhere out there.


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Possibly the oldest team sport, polo's genesis is lost to the eye of history. An Asiatic game, polo was probably first played on a barren campground by nomadic warriors over two thousand years ago.
Valuable for training Calvary, the game was played from Constantinople to Japan by the Middle Ages. Known in the East as the Game of Kings, Tamer Lane's polo grounds can still be seen in Samarkand.
British tea planters in India witnessed the game in the early 1800's but it was not until the 1850's that the British Calvary drew up the earliest rules and by the 1869's the game was well established in England.
James Gordon Bennett, a noted American publisher; balloonist, and adventurer, was captivated by the sport and brought it to New York in 1876 where it caught on immediately. Within ten years, there were major clubs all over the east, including Newport and Long Island.
Over the next 50 years, polo achieved extraordinary popularity. By the 1930's polo was in the midst of a Golden Age – it was an Olympic sport and crowds in excess of 30,000 regularly attended international matches at Meadow Brook Polo Club on Long Island. The galloping game produced athletes who would doubtless have achieved greatness in any sport: Cecil Smith, the Texas cowboy, who held a perfect 10 goal rating for a still-record 25 years; Devereux Melbourne, instrumental in formulating modern styles of play; and Tommy Hitchcock, war hero, and the best of the best in international competition for two decades.
Polo is definitely an international sport. The game is played during the summer season in countries all over the world, the fall season at Palermo in Buenos Aires and the winter season at Palm Beach or Palm Desert. For over 30 years the Argentines have been preeminent in the sport, but explosive growth in players and the availability of good horses is honing the competitive abilities of challengers from many countries.


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I learnt a lot from the event I did at the Guardian Open Weekend on Saturday – a lot of it from my co-speaker Amit Sood. I knew he was head of the Google Art Project, the online resource of museum masterpieces that I was to use as my visual aid. The idea was that he would introduce the technology and I would then use it to illustrate a talk about the "pictures we think we know". But chatting in the Green Room, I was impressed to find out he is the visionary who came up with the idea for this ambitious attempt to make the collections of museums like the Uffizi and the National Gallery available in high definition online.
I therefore introduced him as a "genius" and he lived up to the billing. I suppose that for me, like many other people, however immersed I may become in online media, there's always an ambivalence, a suspicion, a worry that perhaps this stuff is eroding some cultural values. Amit was fascinating because his concept of Google Art seems genuinely idealistic. He told me how he came up with the idea while working for Google in California because, when he was growing up in India, he remembered not having access to western museum collections. Google Art Project is intended to make such treasure houses genuinely accessible wherever you are in the world.
He also argued that young people who are used to fast online communication need things to be new, and Google Art Project makes museums new.
I found my own values reflected with great articulacy by this digital whiz-kid. One of the last questions from the audience was about what the original can offer that an ultra-high definition Google image can't. I was trying to point out the ways in which no reproduction can ever match the original, when Amit chipped in that what he gets from an original painting in a museum is the unique and irreplaceable "emotional" presence of it. We were in total agreement that any reproduction, including Google's, exists to lead us back to the original, not to somehow replace it.
What else did I find out? That Guardian readers are nice people, and very varied, and of all ages. The age range at our talk was a pleasant mix, from young teenagers in family groups upwards. The entire event, spreading out on to the canal side by King's Place, felt genuinely inclusive.
But what were the questions like? As I prepared on Saturday I got an abusive email from a reader. That was unsettling. Was I about to face the rowdier end of online discourse, face to face? Would some of the tougher commenters on this blog and my other work be there to pick an argument?
Well if so, the atmosphere of civility must have worked its magic, because the questions and comments were reasonable, thoughtful – and not in the least bit angry.
So, this experiment in open journalism raised a question for me. Why was the live encounter between a newspaper and its readers so much more affable than it can sometimes feel online? How can the liveliness of digital debate be preserved and enhanced while embracing more of that friendliness? It is surely possible for virtual encounters to be as constructive as live ones, for as Google Art Project shows, the internet can be a genuinely cultured place.


text:
O2 Cat Commercial: Be More Dogby Hilton Hater at . Comments
This cat yearns to be a dog. It's a commercial from O2 and it's pushing 4G customers to "be more dog."
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Perfect for social media campaigns and blogs. Web photos (up to .5 MP). 1 Seat.
Learn More
Build a high res library or promote your brand. Up to Large (2.5-4.5 MP). 5 Seats.
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Get more high res photos and more. Up to Large (2.5-4.5 MP). 25 Seats.
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bread, table, toasted, salad, food, baked goods, dish, starches
salad with toasted bread on table


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Talk:Linux Porting and Developing Educational Software
From OLPC
Split into several project proposals?
This looks like a good start - you should try to develop more concrete project proposals (perhaps several) that can be tackled by an intern in a single summer session. Each project should have a clear goal and some sort of end deliverable or event; basically, you are describing, in as much detail as possible, what an intern would be doing for one project. Look at some of the examples on the Summer of Content projects page.
Also, you may want to write project proposals in Tagalog, if you are more comfortable with it than in English - we are trying to get projects and interns that don't necessarily speak English - I'm usually on IRC in #olpc-content as mchua if you'd like to talk about this and get on the same page. Mchua 05:39, 6 August 2007 (EDT)


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New app enables SMEs to issue loyalty points
Wednesday March 23 2016
Small and medium enterprises earlier locked out of the loyalty card systems can now use mobile based loyalties to reward customers.
This follows the launch of mobile based loyalty platform 'M-Zawadi.' The platform enables customers of barber shops, salons, movie shops among others to receive and redeem loyalty points from any M-Zawadi registered merchant with only a mobile number as a 'card.'
A product of a Kenyan firm M-Zawadi Holdings, the platform also allows merchants to form cross industry partnerships offering customers variety of options to redeem points at different outlets.
"Only big brands are currently able to offer loyalty points to their customers due to the prohibitive cost of entry for smaller businesses. M-Zawadi aims to change that with an SME focused approach that lowers the cost of rewarding and retaining your customers," says Mr Naftal Obwoni, the chief executive officer of M-Zawadi.
It costs over Sh1,000 to roll out one card, this is considered expensive for SMEs. M-Zawadi solves the challenge and opens up access to the SME demystifying the notion that loyalty cards are meant for big businesses.
Majority of stores that have loyalty cards are Uchumi Supermarket, Tuskys and Nakumatt. M-Zawadi' innovation is the first in the market, it also allows sharing of loyalty points across users.
The platform is available on mobile devices as an application, it can also be accessed through USSD short code messaging on feature phones. It also allows instant chatting between companies and customers.
The platform poses major competition to card manufacturing companies such as MasterCard and Visa Card who occupy the high end market. It however targets even the lowest end of the retail business; groceries, barbers and beauty shops.


text: Five new tracks from the the snottiest DIY punk band in Minneapolis, whose message screams to be proud to be different, proud to Queer and be proud of non-conformist. Musically they play raw punk rock that would have fit in well with early 90's East Bay bands such as BLATZ and FILTH, playing rousing scream-along anthems. Four of the songs are originals, while the final song is an appropriate cover of FAGGATRON's classic Ass-Kick-a-Tron. ASS have been active in the Minneapolis punk scene for the past several years and active in the local homocore movement. Aside from venturing out to suburban venues where other Minneapolis band rarely go, thy have also self-released their first 12"/ CD, and host one of the largest DIY punk message boards in the Twin Cities on their web site.


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Morning. I have some stuff to tell you — like how again, I'm a hypocrite. In short, I said I would never have an iPhone. I lied. And I love it (the phone, not the fact that I lied to you).
But, aside from that, I have a couple things I wanna chat about. We'll get to that later. Right now, it's time to meet another bachelor:
Age: 41
Occupation: Mechanical Engineer
Hobbies/Interests: Oil Painting, Modeling
Fun Fact: Scott was born and raised in the Buffalo area where he obtained a Bachelors Degree in Mechanical Engineering. Scott moved to the Capital Region 7 years ago and currently works as a Mechanical & Nuclear Engineer. In his spare time, Scott works out at the gym, oil paints, and also does acting and modeling in commercials, prints and movies.
Tickets to the Bachelor Auction can be purchased HERE. Remember, the VIP meet and greet tickets are only available pre-sale and cannot be purchased at the door!
You can also check out the bachelors and their bios here. Or, just keep coming back here like ya normally do.
Smiley face.


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What does bringing chicken soup to your sick neighbor and wearing your best clothes to church have in common?
They're both ways people try to get to heaven.
See, sometimes people think you get to heaven by doing nice things for others. (Doing nice things for others is good, but it's not what gets you to heaven.) Sometimes people think you get to heaven by "looking good," attending church and giving money to poor people. No, that doesn't do it either.
Here is the truth.
God is perfect, holy, righteous - anyway you say it, it means the same. He is totally good. Your righteousness is everlasting and your law is true (Psalm 119:142).
People are imperfect, unholy and unrighteous - anyway you say it, it means the same. We are totally bad. Everyone has sinned. No one measures up to God's glory (Romans 3:23). That means that we (imperfect people) are separated (apart) from a perfect God. No good thing that we do can help us get across that separation. The Bible tells us that, "When you sin, the pay you get is death. But God gives you the gift of eternal life because of what Christ Jesus our Lord has done (Romans 6:23)."
Sometimes we think sins are BIG things like murder or bank robbery. We don't understand that lying, or cheating or being mean to your brother or sister are also sins. We don't understand that disobeying your parents or whining and complaining are sins. That is why God sent His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ to earth. That is why Christ died on the cross - so He could pay the price for our sin and we no longer have to be separated from God. Christ has paid the price for you (1 Corinthians 6:20). But the Lord Jesus Christ did not stay dead. Three days later He came alive. … Here is what it is. Christ died for our sins, just as the Bible said He would. He was buried. He was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Bible said He would be (1 Corinthians 15:3-4).
He is now in heaven preparing a place for those who know Him as Savior. "There are many rooms in my Father's house. If this were not true, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you (John 14:2).
Do you understand that you are a sinner and separated from God? Do you understand that you need someone to take care of your sin problem? If you understand that you are a sinner and that you need a Savior, then you need to tell God that you are ready to receive His wonderful gift and to become a follower of Jesus.
Salvation from sin and eternal life are God's gifts to you. God's grace has saved you because of your faith in Christ. Your salvation doesn't come from anything you do. It is God's gift. It is not based on anything you have done. No one can brag about earning it (Ephesians 2:8-9).
What is that gift?
- Forgiveness of your sins.
- Becoming God's child.
- A home in heaven that will last forever and ever.
Would you like to receive God's free gift and become a follower of Jesus? You can do it right now. Just pray this prayer and thank Jesus for dying on the cross and forgiving your sins. You can put this into your own words, or you can pray the words of the prayer below.
Dear Jesus,
Thank you for loving me and for dying on the cross so that I can become a child of God. I want to be a follower of Jesus Christ. Thank you for your gift of forgiveness and eternal life. Amen.
If you have prayed this prayer, please contact us and let us know. And be sure to tell your mom and dad, your pastor and your friends about what you have done. I'm sure they will be happy to know you are a forgiven follower of Jesus.
If you have not, and you need to talk with someone who can answer your questions, you can contact us. We would be excited to hear from you, to explain what you don't understand.


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Hello to all!
Matthew sends warmest wishes to all for a New Year filled with good health, peace, happiness and love.
So much has happened to Matthew this past year. He has been inspired knowing that so many beautiful people came to his aid when he was in very critical condition.
Following is where he is at today.
Thanks to all of you, Matthew's daily quality of life has greatly improved since going to Germany.
The RSD battle continues along with other health issues caused by the RSD. There remain multiple challenges and frustrations. Some days he makes progress in one area only to endure a setback in another area. Matthew's faith and personal determination continue to strengthen him in his efforts.
Matthew's current medical treatment options are limited. Each one comes with its own high level of serious risks to him. He remembers only too well how his life was prior to receiving the ketamine coma. To have surgery that could exacerbate his RSD is not an option. (His doctors certainly understand his position.) We remain hopeful that a new, viable treatment option will come soon.
With your continued prayers and support, Matthew believes in his heart that he will eventually be able to do so much more in and with his life. – Thank you for devoting so much of your valuable time, efforts and resources to help him battle this monster of RSD.
We wanted you to know that our hearts are full of appreciation and that we will never forget the incredibly instrumental part that you played in helping to save our son, Matthew. The love and support that you gave us during this most difficult journey in our lives will remain in our hearts forever. Throughout this most incredible past year we have rekindled beautiful friendships, strengthened the bonds of current ones and made so many new ones for which we will always cherrish. We pray that these bonds of friendship will continue throughout our lifetime.
May God bless you all, always.
On these cold winter nights we pray that it brings warmth to your hearts to know that you have truly made an incredible and unforgettable difference in Matthew's life.
Love to all,
The Irving Family


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Light Rain
(Copyright Getty Images)
Monday, Feb. 4, 2013
I'm serving up Monday Morning Musings today - Super Bowl Style. That would be doused in buffalo sauce, Ray Lewis eye black and tears from the losing team.
- After watching days of Super Bowl coverage, I have come to the conclusion that half of all adult men are employed as NFL analysts. And also four women.
-A good Super Bowl commercial is a thing of beauty. We didn't see very many last night, but the ones we did were pretty great. The Budweiser Clydesdale reunion is the consensus No. 1. My favorite, the Tide/Joe Montana salsa stain is No. 2. But I think Deion Sanders' "Leon Sandcastle" NFL spot was great. Sure, he's an over-the-top showman, but Deion is funny.
It dawned on me during the Super Bowl party I attended, that the real mark of a good Super Bowl commercial is one that can be understood without sound. I don't know about your parties, but I've never been to one where people stop talking during the commercials. That's why ads that hold up without sound, like the Clydesdale one and the retirement home Taco Bell ones, work.
-Destiny's Child. The best worst-kept secret in America. I wish these three would get back together and put out an album. So do Kelly and Michelle, by the way. Beyonce's performance is getting hit-and-miss reviews, but I thought she was incredible.
-Much is being said about Beyonce's Ruben Singer dress. Listen, it's a stage costume. It's not something she's wearing to Kroger to pick up Cheez-Its and toothpaste. But to call it a dress? That's stretching it. It was basically a derriere doily, legwarmers and a skimpy swimsuit. She sold it, though.
-My only criticism of Bey's halftime show was closing with "Halo." There are no songs she does better than "Irreplaceable" or "Best Thing You Never Had." Showstoppers, both. But apparently Shaq liked her set.
-The blackout was crazy. Unthinkable. Several thoughts:
1. When the press box went out and Phil Sims and Jim Nantz's mics were silenced, the director told the audience what was happening without words, taking cameras on air that showed the lights out. It would have been really easy to just cut to break, and come back and explain things, so that was some quick and creative thinking.
2. Solomon Wilcots is an absolutely fantastic sideline reporter. Too often, that position feels like it's canned – that the reporter is just reciting stuff he or she found out before the game. Solomon gives great insight as a former player, plus real-time information that can only be accessed on the sideline (which is the point of a sideline reporter).
3. Jim Harbaugh is kind of a hothead. In the good, football coach-y sort of way. Big brother John? Not so much. But, man he was giving four shades of heck to some dude in a suit who was explaining why the lights wouldn't be back on for 15 minutes.
-Next year's Super Bowl is in The Meadowlands. In New Jersey. It's outdoors. With no dome. Game time temperature yesterday was 31 degrees. There is rumor that there may be no halftime performance next year, because it's so cold.
From Today's Show:
-No More iPad Before Bed: Apparently using an iPad at maximum brightness for two hours before bedtime messes with your melatonin levels and prevents you from going to sleep. Seems like there's only one solution: turn the brightness level down. Oh, or not use it.
-New Menus: Your kids can now order Fish McBites in their Happy Meals at McDonald's. Pun alert: that'll reel 'em in. And Pizza Hut, the land of pizza gimmicks, is offering Pizza Sliders, smaller pizzas sold in groups of three or nine, with toppings you can customize for uber-picky families.
Today's Distracting Link:
Play Jellyman. Just 'cuz.


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Legislators better TiVo "60 Minutes," because they'll be in session at 7 tonight — or at least those who answer the Gov. David Paterson's call will be missing it. Read Jimmy Vielkind's account of Saturday's developments here.
According to the proclamation issued last night, items Paterson has placed on the agenda tonight are:
- Enacting a contingency plan in case FMAP money fails to arrive from the federal government; Paterson thinks the state should do so, while legislators are taking a more wait-and-see attitude.
- Establishing a "rational tuition" policy for SUNY and CUNY, and setting up additional "streamlining" funding processes for the system. Another bone of contention for the governor and the Legislature.
- "Enacting changes to the budget process and budgetmaking standards to strengthen state finances."
Of course, Paterson's proclamation can request the Legislature to consider any executive proposal — from budget bills to a measure denouncing World Cup refereeing (not a bad idea). As we learned almost daily during the coup crisis, the Legislature can gavel in, do nothing and gavel out in preparation for tomorrow's planned votes on their own revenue-plan-less budget bills.
There is, of course, a good chance that the session could be over before "60 Minutes" is done previewing its stories and introducing its two dozen correspondents. Yesterday marked the one-year anniversary of the memorable two-minute special session in which the only business taken up by Senate Democrats, who at the time commanded only 31 members (OK, "commanded" might be overselling it), was a moment of silence for Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson.
Here's the governor's proclamation, on its side for some reason. Rotate clockwise, gang: