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Front Tractor
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The latest in a series of interviews with artists who have a significant body of work that makes use of or responds to network culture and digital technologies.
Miao Ying, flowers all fallen, Birds far gone (2015)
Your graduation show was the first time you involved the internet in your work. You made a new dictionary composed entirely of censored terms which you spent 3 months compiling, looking up every single word in the Chinese dictionary on google.cn, and recording all those that met with a blocked result. It was a hugely laborious piece which resulted in an actual book (Blind Spot, 2007). More recently, Is it me you are looking for? (2014) also included censored content, combining Lionel Richie's 1984 Hello music video with three images from the "LAN Love Poem.gif" series (2014), in which "website unavailable" pages from censored websites are overlaid with kitschy slogans from Chinese internet poetry.
How would you describe your attitude to censored pages as source material? The way you use it now, a blocked page is always the start of something else; the "website unavailable" notice has become a familiar backdrop used again and again. It comes across more lightheartedly, almost like the devil you know.
Miao Ying, Blind Spot, artist book (2007)
I guess that when I was younger, I saw censorship more like an enemy, with more limitations than possibilities. In 2007, when I made the first piece Blind Spot, blogs were trending in China. Although blogger.com was blocked, there were some great local blog servers, and for the first time as someone from the post '80s generation, I got to know a lot of public intellectuals from their blogs—that was enlightening for me. I was a senior in college, and very idealistic. I wanted to be more responsible for society. On the other hand, I was starting to love the internet because blogs, Google, and Wikipedia really changed the way I gathered information. When I was a kid, I never truly trusted the school books and the newspapers in the same way that I didn't trust my English teacher's accent. It was totally mean and cynical because I felt everything could be censored or manipulated here. Even when the internet came out in China, it was censored to begin with, but at least if knew a way to get past it, I could get past the "second hand information."

subset: commoncrawl


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THIEF RIVER FALLS, Minn. (AP) — A line of powerful thunderstorms caused significant damage as it moved through the northwestern Minnesota city of Thief River Falls on Friday evening.
The National Weather Service in Grand Forks, N.D., says numerous roofs were damaged, a motor home was flipped, and billboards were bent and broken.
The weather service says it appears most of the wind damage happened along a quarter-mile path.
Meteorologist Dave Kellendenz says forecasters are "fairly confident" the storm packed only straight-line winds when it struck around 6 p.m. He says it lasted about 10 minutes.
Some flooding was reported in Thief River Falls as well due to the heavy rains.
A Pennington County dispatcher confirms trees and power lines are down all through the city.
There were no immediate reports of any injuries.
(© Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
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Just like the question asks, what do you think/how do you feel about the new comic series so far?
Love it
It's good
It's okay
Just like the question asks, what do you think/how do you feel about the new comic series so far?
For me it's between bad and ok. The on-going series bores me and the Skeletor origin was ok but nothing special. The comics are so short, they don't have time to get going before they are over. None of it feels like MOTU. It's just names and designs. Seems to be the same story over and over. Adam takes on one of Skeletors men, beats them, end of. If Adam can defeat Skeletors top warriors why does he even need to turn into He-man? Just so he can beat the boss on the final level like a video game I guess. Haven't liked the art much either. It's not terrible but it's no more than ok to me.
It's ok. I find myself forgetting about it completely until i see a thread about it. I'm glad overall they are doing this but (imo) they need to bring in some different characters. Using (mostly) the same ones over gets tedious. Enough of the He-Man/Skeletor origins... How about Horak? Or Sorceress?
Most Wanted MOTU Classics:
*200X ~ WMD Roboto/Sorceress *Filmation ~ Teela' Na/Hawke *Play-Sets ~ Eternia/Crystal Castle *Vehicles ~ Land Shark/Roton *Beasts ~ Stridor/Dragoon
It's terrible. The 200x comics 10 years (!) ago had better art, better stories and a better MOTU feeling.
Even the Ehapa comics 25 years ago had better art. It's a shame seeing this brand treated by DC with no respect of the 80's... Epic fail...
I voted it's good. I love that there is a new comic, but the story moves too slow for a monthly release of such small issues page wise. The art is cool except for the Skeletor issue which is just bad in my opinion.
I am new to reading comic books (so I don't have a lot to compare them with), but I personally love them so far!
MOST WANTED: Filmation Whiplash, Filmation Ram Man, Filmation Two-Bad, Filmation Buzz-Off, Filmation Sy-Klone, Ice Armor He-Man
I have been buying them all, but I am not a fan. It's all rather boring 200X was SO much better.
A Want List
Mini Comic Tri-Klops, Toy costume Catra, Enchantress, Kayo, Joya, Lt. Andra, Storm, Twiggets, Melaktha, Spirit, Kothos, Master Sebrian, Scrollos, 200X Sorceress, King Miro. Filmation: Adora, Marzo, Leech, Entrapta, Glimmer, Bow, Catra w/ Cat Form, Mermista, Moss Man, Kobra Khan, Whiplash, Multi-Bot
Support Green Mini-Comic Trap Jaw in MOTUC!
Land Shark in MOTUC!!!!!! Do it Mattel!!! Do it NOW!!!!
Support The Power & Honor Foundation
Most of those comics ain't bad per say, but they fail hard as MotU comics.
"Why's Dragstor riding on Night Stalker?" "Cause he can."
it's okay. world building, origins, ect. Ready for more meat, but gotta build to that right?
It's bad. The stories and art don't give me a MotU feeling anymore, and that's a shame.
Secret Guardian & Spirit Guide
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It's definately not your classic MOTU. That being said, it is still an enjoyable read. There is some good humor in the dialogue between Adam and Teela. Character dialogue in general in this series is very good. Mer-Man was extremely well-written. Evil-Lyn is very... unique... compared to all other forms of Evil-Lyn we have seen.
As for the look of the characters, I wasn't sold at first, but it's grown on me and for the most part I think it's well done.
Although no incarnation of these characters will ever look as good as the way Emiliano Santalucia drew them. In every media I've seen from 1981 until present day, MOTU characters have never looked better than the way they did when he drew them.
All in all, I would say this DC series falls well outside what is I'd consider true MOTU canon. But I am enjoying the story and will continue buying future issues. (Though I will buy pretty much anything with a MOTU label on it anyway.)
I'm enjoying them as a new canon, but they pale in comparison to lots of other MOTU. That said, I think they're "good."
MOTUC Most Wanted: Skeleteen, Prince Keldor, Captain Randor, The Great Black Wizard, Lady Slither, Spirit, Tuvar, Baddra, Cursed Marzo, Tug-O-War, Scrollos, Songster, Mini-Comics Spirit of Castle Grayskull, and for the love of the Sorceress and Julie Winston, ODIPHUS!!!
Instagram: Just_Thommy
It's decent for me. I like Teela and Adam's snarky relationship the most. I previously only collected X-Men comics, but I cannot stand the new stories or the reboot, so now He-Man comics are all I collect. What I really want is a new cartoon...
The one bad guy an issue thing is painfully formulaic. Every week it's the same thing, but with a new bad guy. I would be surprised if he started getting one new ally an issue as well. It's just lazy.
The other thing I hate is how each bad guy chooses to give Adam little hints about who he really is. WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT? If you're a bad guy, wouldn't you just kill Adam on sight? Why would you give him clues about who he really is? How could that possibly be to your advantage? So that's pretty frustrating.
all digital comics are great so far , regular series until issue 3 not so good ,i really like the 4th and great expectations about the next issues especially after she-ra's comic and one shot on skeletor is really great.
I like it, overall. I agree that it doesn't feel like MOTU we are used to, but honestly, that has something to do with our nostalgia and some personal impressions that we have of MOTU that authors can not really hope to reproduce. I also agree that 200x was better. That comic was so good! And there are other things I would do differently (chain mail costumes, Sorceress's cleavage...)
Still, overall I think the series is fun and I love how they have different series and styles and stories tie together, and create one unity. I think the series as a whole is fun, quirky and surprising. At least for me. I don't read that many comics, so I don't know, maybe all of this is not very innovative, but to me it is.
Terrible,not digging the darker route they went with the story. Liked the silly more light-hearted versions by STAR. The fact that I have no interest in the story doesn't help either. Was so excited for these but will still buy them just for collection purposes only.
Overall, I like them. They aren't amazing and theres the odd bit in the stories that makes me wince but I'm pleased they are expanding it slightly and the digital one-shots are sort of linked up with the main series.
It is different to what we're used to but I think it's different enough to be interesting. I'm not sure I necessarily want a re-hash of the previous stuff, then I'd just pick it apart as it won't compare to the versions I'm used to.
The darker, grittier thing is clearly what they thought would be popular amongst today's comic readers. When my baby son is old enough to enjoy MOTU, will I read these with him? No. But the slightly sillier, fun stuff is still out there to read (on the ord for example) so I can still share that with him.
And who's to say if a film comes out or if MOTU suddenly gains popularity they won't try different routes?
Plus you've got to remember, we're a picky bunch!
i just picked up issue 1and 2 today and 1 of motu skeletor origin. i'm not to hip on the he-man and the motu, the art and everything is to new for me, i'm a classic guy. although i did like the art to the origin issue. i'm not into comics at all and havent bought one since 89/90.
i havent read them yet, but plan to tonight. i really don't know what to compare them too, besides the classic looks that i feel they should be. idk, i mght enjoy both after reading. i heard the same stuff about the he-man one that he is barely in it, and it takes forever, and there is no way this will be a 6 issue comic with how slow they are taking it.
so who knows, i don't want to be in it for the long haul, i just figured it would be cool to read about he-man and stuff. i geuss we will see what happens with how far they go and how deep i get. i basically just wanted em for wall art to compliment my figures.
this site is pretty cool.
I said good as once I've started reading I found it hard to put the comics down.
They are not however without their problems.
The first is they're short and are over before you've fully into the story. You have the feeling (like when you're really hunger) that you want more.
The second is that I don't mind if Adam overcomes the odds and wins each time as he faces one of Skeletor's minions but I would think he needs a bit more help than dreams, the presence of Zoar & Teela and faintly remembered combat instincts. He should have some of the spirit of King Grayskull within him that drives him forward and provides him with wisdom at critical moments thereby helping him to overcome the apparently insurmountable obstacles he faces. Maybe they need to emphasise this in future comics.
The third is that Skeletor appears weak and dumb to such an extent that even I as a mere mortal would fancy my chances of talking him down (not that it would be a wise thing to try). It should only be He-Man and She-Ra as they both have the Powers of Grayskull who can take him down regularly and perhaps the Sorceress, Hordak, King Hiss and others when circumstances favour them. Otherwise how do you maintain power and keep control over your minions (e.g. Evil-Lyn, Merman, Beastman), evade capture & complete defeat by the Masters, Eternian Guard or others, keep the inhabitants of a planet living in fear of you and keep the respect of the Horde empire, e.g. Hordak? Another thing is he does not presently exude evil he just appears to be bad and incompetent so where has the Evil Lord of Destruction of previous incarnations gone? I even get the feeling reading the comics he wants Adam to escape and become He-Man again – it's almost like he's one of the good guys or has been overcome with goodwill to his young nephew!
Overall, just glad to see new MOTUC comics in print and the banter between Adam and Teela is generally good. Here's hoping there will be more including some crossovers with She-Ra and DC heroes/villains as well as an Xmas special (I had fond memories at Christmas of watching and reading MOTU when growing-up).
You never change things by fighting the existing reality. To change something build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete
Buckminster Fuller
Love it. Nuff said.
Please see my arts gallery here: www.pcpfh.wordpress.com Have fun browsing!
Ahh, yes, from the makers of the 'New 52!'
Read 'em. Hate 'em. The crossovers are the only good ones, starting from the ThunderCats crossover.


text:
Kidneys and Metals Problem Set
Problem 5: Types of metal toxicity
One of the ways that lead makes people sick is by interfering with the protein that helps make hemoglobin. The result is an anemic like condition where your blood can't carry enough oxygen to keep you healthy. This is an example of what mechanism of metal toxicity?
The Biology Project
The University of Arizona
Monday, February 22, 1999
Contact the Development Team


text:
The Manti Te'o fake girlfriend saga just got a little too real.
Earlier today, we learned that Ronaiah Tuiasosopo, the apparent mastermind behind the hoax, allegedly posed as a woman named Lennay Kekua on the phone, using a high falsetto voice to fool the Notre Dame linebacker.
Now Te'o has handed three eerie voicemails from his "girlfriend" to Katie Couric—and we can finally hear the feminine voice on the other line.
In the first message, Lennay reassures Te'o that she loves him, on the first day of her chemo treatment. "Hi honey, just letting you know I got here and I'm getting ready for my first session," she says, sounding upbeat. "I just wanted to call you and keep you posted." (Kekua, the story went, died of leukemia; she was diagnosed with the disease after a nasty car accident.)
The second message reveals that it wasn't always smooth sailing in their fake relationship, as Lennay accuses Te'o of being with another girl. "I don't know who answers your phone!" she sobs. "And I don't care. This is my last time trying … Take care."
But she perks up again in the third message, updating Te'o on the status of her cancer treatment as she leaves the hospital. "Baby, I'm just calling to say good night. I know you're probably doing homework or you're with the boys … but I do want to say I love you and good night. And I'll be OK tonight, I'll do my best. So get your rest and I'll talk to you tomorrow. I love you so much, hon. Sweet dreams."
Te'o's phone records reveal dozens of calls, some hours long, to a number Te'o says he thought was Lennay's. Te'o has said he had no idea he was speaking to Tuiasosopo the whole time. That high falsetto is frighteningly convincing, which raises the question: could a man really have pulled it off? And why did Te'o perpetuate the tale of the fake girlfriend in an interview with the Associated Press four days after both he and the university discovered it was all a hoax? Was it just so he could avoid any scandal before the big game?
And if it was all a hoax, can we really chalk up Tuiasosopo's motive—in the words of his lawyer—as an attempt to establish "a communication with someone"? The questions just keep coming.


text:
June 24, 2013
The folks at NIOSH recently published "Straight talk about nail gun safety," a short comic book intended for workers that describes why nail guns are dangerous and how to use them safely. Real-life examples from residential building construction explain hazards associated with nail gun triggering systems and many nailing tasks.
The content is based on a previous NIOSH publication: Nail Gun Safety: A Guide for Construction Contractors (NIOSH Publication No. 2011–202/OSHA Publication No. 3459–8–11) and input from residential building contractors, safety specialists, and workers.
"Straight talk" isn't intended to take the place of training – new nail gun users must still be trained – but it is a useful training supplement. Safety training requirements are covered in Nail Gun Safety: A Guide for Construction Contractors.
A limited number of copies of "Straight talk" will be available to home building industry stakeholders by mid-July 2013. Call 800-CDC-INFO (toll-free) or go to the NIOSH website to order.
Reprinting, excerpting, or plagiarizing any part of this publication is fine with us!
But remember: the information in this newsletter is intended to highlight safe work practices, but it does not replace Oregon OSHA workplace safety and health rules.
For information about Oregon OSHA services and answers to technical questions, call (503) 378-3272 or toll-free within Oregon, (800) 922-2689.


text:
In the Blog
New issue out now!
When the Shameless editorial staff first proposed a sports issue I started having flashbacks to gym class: the thanks-for-trying Canada Fitness certificates, never being able to catch anything ever, the pain in my chest every time I tried to run. Coming in last, getting picked last, hiding my body in the change room. Letting everybody down. I dealt with the trauma back then by learning to fake cramps through pretty much any physical activity. Eventually I decided that I'm just not a "sporty person."
The best part about being an adult is that you can drop extra curricular activities that you really, really don't want to do. And I was quick to drop sports. For well over a decade, I didn't set foot inside a gym, I didn't run (unless it was away from something, or toward an ice-cream truck) and I insisted on only riding my bike in the most leisurely way possible just to make it clear that I wasn't treating it as a "sport."
So, when confronted with sports (the concept) again in a Shameless editorial meeting, my first instinct was to see if I could fake a cramp out of this whole thing.
While I've grown accustomed to letting my team down in gym glass, the stakes felt different now that there was a team that I love and care so much about. If there were ever a reason to unpack and confront my discomfort, this was it.
Engaging with sports though a Shameless lens was a game-changer. I started to see that my apparent lack of skill with sports had less to do less with living in a body that doesn't always work the way I wish it would, and more with engaging with sports in a way that didn't always work for me. I started to understand that a part of being on a supportive and amazing team is that you have collective strength behind you as you try new and scary things. As I read articles about all the great things that sports can offer, when they're done right, I felt inspired and decided to up the ante: I started boxing.
I'll spare you the details of my uphill battle with the early days learning a new sport (short version: it wasn't pretty, but was pretty hilarious), and just say this: it's been amazing. I feel as though I found something that works for me in a space where I feel safe and supported. It feels great to replace the lack-of-control that comes from chronic pain with the feeling of empowerment that comes from my mind and body working together as a team. (And, I'm not going to lie: punching is super (super) fun.)
Working on this issue gave me the strength and perspective I needed to confront my bad feelings about sports, to step out of my comfort zone and into a boxing gym. And working with an amazing team here at Shameless gave me the strength and perspective I needed to approach this issue with an open mind. I learned from team Shameless, that sports are just like anything else: when they're done right, you can become a part of something larger and more meaningful. And when you have folks who meet you where you're at, challenge you and support you, you are simultaneously uplifted and humbled by a sense of freedom, accomplishment and community. I'm still a long way from doing more than three push-ups at a time, and a long way from wanting to become our regular sports columnist, but I've passed the initial hurdle of giving-it-a-go and I have everybody on our team to thank for that.
So, thanks to every member of team Shameless, here's our sports issue. In it, we confront racist mascots (p. 14), get up a vogue (p. 17), build our own teams (p. 18), draw connections between skateboarding and social justice (p. 24) and find ways of finding the best sport for you (p. 33). We breakdown how the media marginalizes female athletes of size (p. 15), the economy of sports (p. 28) and the ins and outs of fantasy sports leagues (p. 41).
I am proud of what this issue represents: the product of our team working together to make something, and I am grateful for the impact this process has had on my own life. We hope you enjoy reading it as much as we enjoyed making it.
Yours shamelessly, Sheila


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Engines Off
In a city where millions rely on them, three out of every four buses in Caracas are out of order. Here we ponder Venezuela's bus-less dystopia – coming soon to a city near you.
I'm standing by one of the doors, four stations from my destination. It's 4:16 p.m. on a Wednesday, and the subway is filling with people heading home for the evening. Everyone ignores the guy touting his Bs.100 candies in the middle of the car, even as he squeezes through the packed bodies.
"Mira, caramelos de fruta, de menta, de coco, a 100 bolívares," he marches, reciting this phrase with monochrome precision. Sometimes he adds a "mi gente" in an attempt to connect with potential customers.
And he's not alone. Both hawkers and beggars have become much more common sights.
In fact, this weekend I saw three people selling various goods along with four beggars, in the same wagon, at the same time. Nothing stops them from cruising the trains selling trinkets or just straight-up begging. Not even rush hour.
Nevertheless, the subway is still relatively functional and clean. Escalators are broken in nearly every station, but trains arrive regularly, albeit with technical issues along the rails. I make the four-station trip from La California to Altamira in about fifteen minutes.
Besides, hawkers are not unique El Metro; they've been getting into buses for decades, and they've always been the least of anyone's concerns when travelling in Caracas. Public transportation in the capital has been a serious issue for years, but now the state of affairs is nearing outright breakdown.
A complete shutdown of public transport would push the crisis down the sinkhole for millions of citizens.
Some places in the capital have always been difficult to get to, because there aren't many buses covering the route, or because of the route itself (especially in the slums). Now, the deteriorating situation is spreading to surrounding cities. It doesn't matter where you are or your destination, it's always hard to get a bus.
That's because fewer and fewer are roadworthy. Government-imposed controls have put a chokehold on every industry and service, crippling imports and causing shortages of everything that keeps a bus on the road: spare parts, tires, engine oil, everything. Inflation has done the rest, guaranteeing prohibitive prices for everything in stock.
In an interview with César Miguel Rondón last week, Hugo Ocando, head of the Association of Drivers of Western Caracas, said that 75% of their vehicles are out of order. The State-imposed bus fare is Bs. 280 (about $0.07 at Dicom rate), but even though people are finding it harder to pay for the ride and many drivers are charging whatever they want, the amount is actually way below what drivers need to cover the maintenance, which they must purchase at black market rates.
Ocando said that no change in bus fare will solve the issue, since people won't be able to pay and inflation devours any adjustment. He also said that, according to their estimates, if this goes on, they'll have to stop working entirely in three months.
"We work tirelessly to get people to their homes in the slums, to their jobs, to the subway, to their schools… The subway can't take everyone, and it won't go into the slums."
This is a dire prospect. With all the issues Venezuelans face everyday, a complete shutdown of public transport would push the crisis down the sinkhole for millions of citizens.
No change in bus fare will solve the issue, since people won't be able to pay and inflation devours any adjustment.
I live in Guarenas, a suburb to the east of Caracas. Most of the people here work or study in the capital. They have to make the trip back and forth every day of the week; some of us on weekends too. Years ago, the government started building what was supposed to be an expansion of the subway to reach Guarenas, but they never delivered. Therefore, folks still use anarchic buses to move between cities.
The buses I use charge Bs.1,600 per ride during weekdays, and Bs. 1,800 on weekends. If I had to go to Caracas every day, I'd have to pay Bs. 78,400 each month, all in cash, which is really hard to obtain these days. That's a 57% chunk off the current minimum wage (Bs. 136,544), and that's disregarding any extra buses a person might need to get to their jobs or homes, or the time wasted while waiting a ride. Back in 2014, I spent an average of five hours a day just standing in line.
All things considered, Guarenas is fine compared to other places. People who live in Valles del Tuy or Guatire must get up at 3 a.m. to arrive in Caracas before 7 a.m., and leave their jobs at 5 p.m. with little hope of getting home before 8 p.m. I'd rather not know what they have to pay monthly.
Soon it won't matter. Not where we live, nor hawkers, nor failing roads. None of us will get anywhere when there are no buses in the Caracas metro area. While there are other means of transportation, like cabs, shared por puesto cars, or the Metrobús system, they will never be sufficient to satisfy demand.
The economic and social implications of such a scenario are too catastrophic for me to fathom.
Caracas Chronicles is 100% reader-supported.
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text: Our operation is in the process of deploying Zoom to all of our users. I know that the VS4000 is billed as a Skype appliance, however, as many of our users are now starting to use Zoom on a regular basis, I was wondering if it might be possible to set up a "Premium Access" subscription for that device as well. Newtek would (for a subscription cost) allow the VS4000 to work with web video conference systems (like Zoom) and provide similar integration.


text:
A mixed martial arts fighter known as War Machine was hit Wednesday with attempted murder, sexual assault and other new charges in Las Vegas in a case that prosecutors said stemmed from attacks on his ex-girlfriend.
The defendant, whose birth name is Jonathan Paul Koppenhaver, stood shackled and flanked by two police officers during a brief initial court appearance.
MORE: Disgraced athletes: Where these 36 went wrong | Jones vs. Cormier off UFC 178 card
Koppenhaver was arrested Aug. 15 after his ex-girlfriend, adult film actress Christy Mack, posted Twitter photos of herself showing injuries she said she received when Koppenhaverattacked her a week earlier in Las Vegas.
Koppenhaver, 32, was extradited to Nevada from the Los Angeles suburb of Simi Valley, California, where he was initially sought on a warrant involving seven charges, including battery, assault, coercion and lewdness.
Koppenhaver, who legally changed his name to War Machine in 2008, told the judge on Wednesday that he understood the charges and would use the name Koppenhaver in court. He wasn't asked to enter a plea.
"I think the public will understand that War Machine's a character," Koppenhaver's lawyer Brandon Sua said outside court. "He is controversial and people need to understand where to draw that line from his character as War Machine and a person as Jon Koppenhaver, because that's who he is."
Las Vegas Justice of the Peace Melanie Andress-Tobiasson ordered Koppenhaver held without bail pending a preliminary hearing Oct. 17.
Sua said he and attorneys Matthew Terry and Brian Watkins intend to fight the charges that also include burglary, battery constituting domestic violence, sexually motivated coercion and witness tampering.
Koppenhaver is accused of using a knife during some of the incidents that date back to May 2013.
Sua previously said Koppenhaver was defending himself on Aug. 8 during an incident involving Mack and her friend, Corey Thomas, at Mack's home.
Police said Thomas suffered broken bones in his face. Mack, 23, who is referred to in court documents as Christine Mackinday, was hospitalized for several days with a lacerated liver, facial bruises and fractures, and missing teeth.
She is undergoing surgical procedures to repair facial and oral injuries, prosecutor Jacqueline Bluth said.
The Associated Press usually does not identify alleged victims of sex assault. Mack agreed to allow the AP to use her name in the case against Koppenhaver.
Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson said he met with Mack before the additional charges were filed.
"When this case was investigated further we learned there were additional incidents of criminal conduct," Wolfson said. "She's ready to testify. She's ready to come into court and tell the truth and tell what happened."
Koppenhaver, who also has acted in porn productions, was dropped by his fight promoter, Bellator MMA, after Mack's accusations were made public.
He made his Ultimate Fighting Championship debut in 2007 and lost his only pay-per-view bout in 2008.
He had a 14-5 record as a welterweight and last fought in October 2013.


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Tuesday, March 28, 2006
"Mr. Owens performed his last show at his Dinner Theatre 'The Crystal Palace' with us Friday March 24, 2006. Although it was a quieter show than normal, Buck gave all he could as he has done several times in the last few weeks. Normally he played Don Rich's fiddle as a part of the show, Friday he did not. I knew he wouldn't be back for our show on Saturday, I told him I loved him and to go home a get well. Those were my last words to the man who has watched over me, worked beside me, laughed and joked with me and shared the one love that makes us all spark, our music. I will miss my friend dearly, but will never forget him."
--Kim McAbee-Only female member of the Buckaroos
"He wrote it with Harlan Howard," Evans told CMT Radio during an interview Monday (March 27). "Because I recorded that song, I was able to meet him and sing with him in his dressing room. But before that, I always loved Buck Owens. I grew up listening to him, of course, and had seen him on Hee Haw. He's just a legend, and it's really, really a sad loss to the world."
--Sara Evans
My friend Buck Owens was one of a kind. A larger than life music legend who reinvented country music, epitomized musicianship, and was the inspiration for countless artists including the Beatles. He loved to become friends with other musicians and loved to pass advice on to young guys like me. He was very giving of his talents and wisdom. If any good can come from his passing, I hope that it's a renewed interest in his achievements, and more importantly, his incredible "Bakersfield" sound. He deserves to be remembered as one of the most important artists in all of music history. Thank you Buck for everything. I will miss you terribly.
--Brad Paisley


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The steep cliffs rising out of the Judean Desert look like an unlikely place for a fortress, but there, 400m up, overlooking the Dead Sea, sits the legendary stronghold of Masada. Masada was first fortified by Herod the Great in the late first century BC, who was apparently so scared his people would revolt that he built this virtually impenetrable fortress. There's a cable car for those who don't fancy taking one of the various different paths that lead up the hill, but to get the feeling that you really conquered Masada, opt for the ancient snake path, which winds its unsheltered way up the eastern side – an exhausting forty-minute walk. Your reward is an archeological site that appears to dangle over the edge of the precipice, and tremendous views across the desert and the Dead Sea.
Buses run to Masada from Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Beersheba and Eliat. Check out Tourist Israel for tours and transport info.
Top image: Masada. The ancient fortification in the Southern District of Israel © photosounds/Shutterstock
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4 star hotels in Charolles
Maison Doucet
2 Avenue De La Liberation, 71120 Charolles, France
Maison Doucet
Charolles, 67 m from the city centre. 2 Avenue De La Liberation See on map
This hotel invites you to relax and offers the ideal backdrop to your break. Maison Doucet features comfortable and elegant guest rooms...
Visit CharollesOur database has hundreds of establishments, among which you can find the four-star hotels in Charolles that most interest you at the best price in the market. Our specialized search engine will help you find the best four-start hotel offers.
Four-star hotels offer a high standard of quality with respect to their services, as they are governed by strict standards. The establishments included in this category are usually located in the centre of the city, or in sites with excellent communications to allow clients to make the tourist trips they have planned. The four-star hotels in Charolles stand out for their excellence and design, which is considerable, even though it may sometimes appear austere.
A four-star hotel in Charolles usually has Internet access and sports facilities and a restaurant and different leisure areas. Thanks to our cheap hotel search engine you can find four-star hotels in Charolles on offer, at the best prices in the market.
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Before you start be sure to backup your Data folder, System folder and Data.ini before you copy and replace any files in your RO client folder.The test servers are running on the latest rAthena, up to mid-October 2015 and shall get updated from time to time. Regarding the pre-re server: It is pre-re as far as rAthena allows me (https://rathena.org/wiki/Category:Configuration#.2Fsrc.2Fconfig.2Frenewal.h). All the renewal features are disabled on the pre-re server. However, I leave in the 3rd job classes since I know some servers out there are running 3rd jobs with pre-re mechanics. We don't have to handle any balance issue on a test server, so why not. For those of you who are interested in using the test server, here is the client download link:http://depositfiles.com/files/hg7xvx94uMirror: https://www.sendspace.com/file/bd24rlAbout the package content:1. The client exe included to connect to the test server is 2014-10-22b. It comes with only basic diff features, you may use the nemo-client-patcher to change/diff the client to the way you want it. As adding more feature could generate alerts on certain anti-virus program (false positive to my knowledge), do it at your own risk.I am not sure if other clients are allowed to connect, feel free to try if you wish. 2. There is a newprontera.grf because the chosen client exe does not support the default new Prontera in the latest kRO client. Players going into Prontera will crash without the included .grf. If you are confident that you will not step in Prontera ever (or use @go 0) you can remove that file from your RO folder and remove the line in your data.ini. I will not make a lighter client without the grf to avoid people crashing and wonder why later.3. Because the Renewal and Pre-Re test servers have to share the client files, the included data folder and System folder contain information for Renewal items and skills. If you wish to see Pre-Renewal client side items and skills description, you may replace your the files provided here to those in the download package.Known Problem:So far I wish the buttons (open / close / logout etc) on the test servers to be in English but I haven't looked into replacing them. I imagine taking something from iRO will fix that. I will look into that later, or someone can share the solution here.


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Check this out. Funny – cute.
Reminds me of the other day when I was golfing with son Ben at a local par-3 course. For some reason I allowed myself to get a bit too into the moment as I stood over a short, 6 foot birdie putt. The putt was headed right for the hole until it hit a random patch of dirt, leading to a lip-out. I said "Man" with more volume behind it than the situation deserved. Son Ben looked up at me and said "but that was a nice try daddy". I quickly snapped out of my ridiculous focus on score, joining Ben and his excitement over a giant puddle on the next hole.


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Earlier today, we noted that Oregon State had added San Jose State to its future schedule. A short time later, the Spartans confirmed that series as well as two additional ones.
In the continuation of a series of home-and-home meetings, SJSU has extended its agreement with BYU. The two teams will play November 7, 2015, in San Jose and on October 28, 2017 in Provo.
The Spartans hold the series lead on the Cougars, winning 10 of the previous 16 matchups.
Additionally, SJSU announced two future games against Auburn on The Plains. Those two games are scheduled for September 6, 2014, and October 3, 2015, at Jordan-Hare Stadium.
That AU series will mark the first time in the program's history it has faced SEC schools on the road in back-to-back seasons. The 2014 game will also be the first between the two football programs.


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Halacha (Mishna B'rura 57) indicates that a shatz (leader) should not say "amen" to the congragation's "baruch Hashem ham'vorach l'olam vaed" before repeating that line, as the "amen" would be redundant to his repeating the line. AFAICT common practice follows suit.
Yet I think common practice is that the congregation does say "amen" to the shatz's b'racha before Halel, before repeating that b'racha. Why? Is this b'racha different somehow from "baruch Hashem ham'vorach l'olam vaed"? Or is this simply an error?


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15 Creative Notebooks and Unusual Notebook Designs.
3D Notebooks: The Black Notebook series consists of 3 cool notebooks featuring 3D design on the cover and unique pages in between.
Triangle Notebooks: Notebooks doesn't have to be square or rectangular; this triangle notebook opens up into a square for writing.
Simbook Notebook: Backup your data the old fashioned way with this cool notebook.
Napkin Notebooks: Global advertising agency Euro RSCG Worldwide developed the Napkin Notebook, a spiral-bound collection of napkins; you can sketch or write on the notebook.
Sliced Bread Notebook: Taking notes can be super delicious, by using the sliced bread notebook. It is a 12 slices/notebook set which has been packaged for convenience.
Paperbacknote Notebooks: These blank notebooks are with covers from second hand paperback books.
Pocket Notebooks: Pocket notebooks by French brand Calepino, comes in set of 3 notebooks for taking notes or for creative writing.
Video Notebook: Retro notebooks to record your thoughts, travel notes, recipes etc and can also be used as a sketchbook.
Arwey Notebooks: Simple and elegant notebooks for your daily sketches, thoughts, and notes!
Moleskine Notebooks: These are limited edition notebooks from Moleskine.
The Endless Notebooks: It is a notebook that can be grouped with notebooks using a specially designed pocket on the front cover. Combine the notebook with different paper types, or to simply attach on to an existing diary or notebook.
Notebooks: Comes in three different styles: artist, author, and architect and in a variety of bright colors.
iNotePad: This notepad was inspired by the release of Apple iPad.
Walls Notebook: It's a notebook / sketchbook with 80 "clean" New York City walls as your blank slate.
Play More Notebooks: Dutch graphic design firm created it with a goal to encourage clients to have fun at work. And it's not a surprise to know that it's the finalist at the European Design Awards too.
More Interesting Posts:
10 Creative Wireframe Models.
Creative and Cool Polaroid Inspired Products.
Creative and Alternative Uses of Plastic Cups.
4 Creative and Cool Handy Gadgets and Designs.
12 Clever and Creative Hair Inspired Advertisements.
12 Clever and Creative Advertisements on Buildings - Part 2.


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Will scaly reptiloid Anna have a pixie cut like her human suit does? Let's table such pressing questions for a hot second and focus on this week's TV. Brace yourself for new episodes of V, Fringe, Smallville, and Stargate Universe!
Chuck's on with "Chuck Versus the American Hero" at 8 PM on NBC. Chuck needs to get Sarah back - luckily, he's got a trifecta of help in the guises of Morgan, Casey, and Awesome.
Monday also scored The What To Watch Futurama Episode Of The Week! The episode? "The Series Has Landed." Four words: "whalers on the moon." With Futurama coming back this summer, promenade down memory lane with this here 30 minutes. (1 AM, Comedy Central)
Speaking of nostalgia, there's a rerun marathon of the original V from 8 AM to 11 PM on Syfy. Syfy also boasts two new episodes of Monster at 11 & 11:30 PM. Also, Anderson Cooper 360 is beginning week-long coverage of Battlefield Earth author L. Ron Hubbard's extracurriculars with Scientology: A History of Violence (10:00 PM, CNN, Monday-Friday).
Late Night: Elizabeth Mitchell on Jimmy Kimmel Live (12:00 AM, ABC).
Lost soldiers on with "The Package (9 PM, ABC). Sun and Jin search for each other, and Sayid's feeling uncomfortably numb. And my goodness is Flocke quippy, even if he is just a morally ambiguous death-cloud.
V is back with Welcome to the War (10 PM, ABC). Erica is NOT amused. I think she's releasing all that pent-up anger from getting blown up by a hydrogen bomb a couple weeks back. Anna also has some questions for Chad about his aneurysm, and Ryan has some questions for Val about her pregnancy.
There's also a new Survivors ("Greater Love." 9 PM, BBCA) and another V marathon (including V: The Final Battle) from 8:30 AM to 10 PM.
Human Target airs at 8 PM on Fox with Tanarak - Chance goes to Alaska to investigate a missing doctor and confront a suspicious industrial conglomerate.
In the latest Ugly Americans, "Demon Baby," Mark becomes the foster dad to a hellspawn infant, kicking Callie's devil-mama instinct into overdrive. Also, Twayne grows a semi-phallic spike out of his torso (Comedy Central, 10:30 PM).
|Ugly Americans
|Weds 10:30pm / 9:30c
Late Night: Anna Torv on The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson (12:37 AM, CBS)
New FlashForward with "Better Angels" (8 PM, ABC) - Demetri and the gang muck around Somalia, and Olivia tries to get Charlie to fess up what she knows about the enigmatic D. Gibbons. Scowl, Mark Benford, scowl!
Fringe boomerangs back this spring with "Peter" (9 PM, Fox). Walter reveals Peter's dimensionally screwball past to Olivia, and we get to meet Peter's mother.
New Vampire Diaries ("There Goes the Neighborhood," 8 PM, CW) Elena and Stefan double date with Caroline and Matt. Needless to say, shit gets awk.
Supernatural regales us with "Dark Side of the Moon" (9 PM, CW). Sam and Dean die this episode. No really, they get shot and sashay up to Heaven. Bummer.
As for left-field movie picks we have Spaceballs at 8 PM on AMC and Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li at 6:45 PM on HBO. C'mon, you know you want to see how much of a train wreck it is.
National Geographic Channel is also airing three new oddball programs this evening Naked Science: Hunt for Aliens (8 PM), Nazi Secret Weapons (9 PM, it's about Hitler's Fritz X bomb), and Known Universe: Cosmic Collisions at 10 PM. The latter is about cosmic apocalypses on a scale beyond our puny mortal kens.
Late Night: Sam Worthington on The Late Show With David Letterman (11:35, CBS)
Smallville is back from hiatus with "Escape" (8 PM, CW). Tess vs. Zod! Clark and Lois at a bed and breakfast! Kryptonite! Drama!
Stargate Universe resumes this spring with "Space" (9 PM, Syfy). Those darn communication stones pull a fast one on Col. Young's consciousness.
On Cartoon Network, there's Batman: The Brave and the Bold ("The Power of Shazam," 7:30 PM) and Star Wars: The Clone Wars (Bounty Hunters," 9 PM).
There's also a new episode of Merlin ("The Curse of Cornelius Sigan," 10 PM, Syfy) and Beyond Re-Animator (Midnight, IFC).
Slim pickings for the weekend. Spend your free time fantasizing about the new Doctor Who episodes slated to air Saturday 4/17/10. Sunday does bring a new Breaking Bad ("I.F.T.," 10 PM, AMC).


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Loose lips: Rolling Stones bring their love to town
Days before the official announcement, the closely guarded secret– that the Rolling Stones will play Scott Stadium– was the talk of the town.
Until then, concert promoters and university officials steadfastly refused to confirm that Scott Stadium, which has hosted exactly one concert in its post-expansion history– was going to get the rock band of all rock bands.
In a lavish May 10 press conference at Bryant Hall, organizers announced the October 6 show and provided a live feed from New York at which the Stones were performing "Start Me Up," "Brown Sugar," and a song from their new album.
So why Charlottesville? And what convinced UVA to allow the Stones, the original bad boys of rock 'n roll, to perform on the hallowed David A. Harrison Field smack in the middle of football season?
"Teamwork" is the party line from both SMG, the company that's going to book the new John Paul Jones Arena, and The Next Adventure (TNA), the boutique subsidiary of Clear Channel that handles international tours for mega stars like the Stones, Madonna, and U-2.
When it became apparent the Stones would have a 2005 tour, SMG immediately tried to snag them for an arena show– but construction on the John Paul Jones Arena will not be complete by the time the tour kicks off August 21, says Larry Wilson, general manager of the Richmond Coliseum, one of the 170 facilities worldwide that SMG runs.
That's when TNA countered with, "Why not Scott Stadium?" says Wilson.
It helped that TNA's director of touring, Tres Thomas, has been on tour with the Stones three times– and that he happens to live in Charlottesville.
Thomas credits the band with the decision to add Charlottesville to their tour. "This time they decided they wanted to tour places they haven't done or haven't been to in a long time," explains Thomas. "In the [1997/98] 'Bridges to Babylon' tour, they did a lot of colleges and felt a lot of energy. They had a great experience doing that.
"In routing the tour, there was a spot for Virginia and the Carolinas. I was asked for my opinion, and rather than seeing it go to Carolina or Clemson, I suggested UVA," continues Thomas.
SMG's Larry Wilson made the proposal to Rich Kovatch, UVA's associate VP for business operations whose boss is Leonard Sandridge.
"His reaction was 'whoa!'" says Wilson. "And when I said 'October,' he said 'whoa!' again.
The only open slot in UVA's home football schedule was the first two weekends in October before the Florida State game on the 15th.
"It's not every day you get this type of opportunity and precursor of what could happen at the arena," says Kovatch. "It just seemed like a real opportunity for the university and Charlottesville area to bring in an act of this magnitude."
The biggest obstacle? Convincing the university its fescue would survive.
"What clinched it," says Thomas, "was the opening of the 2002 'Licks' tour in Gillette Stadium, home of the New England Patriots, on a Friday night.
"They had a nationally televised Monday night football game," says Thomas, "with a three-day turnaround."
The field will be covered for 24 hours with Terraplast, a hard plastic perforated to let the grass breathe. "The field will be turned over to UVA by noon the day after the concert," says Thomas. "And the stage will be out of there by 8pm that night.
"We've done worldwide shows for the Rolling Stones, U-2, Pink Floyd," says Thomas. "There's a level of confidence when we say we can do this."
Actually, there was a moment when the gig seemed doubtful because of the stage, which will go up in the end zone.
"They're renowned for the best stage show," says Thomas. "There was a question whether the stage would fit through the tunnel at Scott Stadium– thirteen by eleven feet. Everything's got to go through that tunnel that's 13 by 11 feet."
Once it became apparent the university was receptive to the idea, the Rolling Stones flew in their production manager, Jake Berry. "He looked at the stadium, looked at the logistics and venue– and fell in love with it," says Wilson.
It was only in the last month that it looked like the concert might really happen. "We wanted to keep it tight between the university and SMG until we got the go-ahead from the band," says Thomas.
At that point, DMB manager and music impresario Coran Capshaw was tapped to market the event. Capshaw's résumé includes the Dave Matthews Band's "Homecoming" benefit concert in April 2001. That event had 50,000 attendance and just three arrests.
"Very successful," says UVA's Kovatch. "It convinced everyone this could be done."
The concert was still so secret, according to Thomas, that Capshaw sent private emails and faxes to keep his own staff from knowing.
Organizers say that the university's infrastructure for putting on a Stones concert parallels football games as far as traffic and demographics are concerned.
"This is not a Green Day show," Thomas points out.
And if rowdy 50somethings start rocking out of control, "We'll have sufficient medical staff on hand," Kovatch says.
The tour coincides with the release of a new Rolling Stones album late this summer. "This album is the first Keith and Mick have written together since the '80s," says Thomas. "There's a lot of excitement in the industry that there'll be some great new music."
Approximately 50,000 tickets will go on sale at 10am May 20 for the Scott Stadium show, and UVA students and faculty get first dibs, according to Thomas. There are four price levels, and the average price for 95 percent of the tickets is $99. The Gold Circle tickets will be higher priced, and full ticket details will be released May 16.
"I've yet to hear anyone complain about not getting value for a Rolling Stones concert," says Thomas.
So far, 40 shows in the United States are confirmed, and then the band travels to Mexico, South America, the Far East, and Europe. Moscow, Hong Kong, Tel Aviv, Budapest... and Charlottesville.
"You'd expect New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago," says Thomas. "When you look at the places the greatest band in the world plays, that they would select Charlottesville is pretty cool."
A live Stones feed, featuring a buff 61-year-old Mick Jagger, kicks off the Scott Stadium announcement.
UVA and Clear Channel brass announce that the Rolling Stones are headed our way. From left, Coran Capshaw, Tres Thomas, Leonard Sandridge, and Larry Wilson


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The holidays are here, which means parties, family gatherings, and gifting galore. Unfortunately, all of the merrymaking can sometimes feel more "No, No, No" than "Ho, Ho, Ho!" – as in, "No, No, No, I'm not ready!"
Not to worry. David Stark, premiere event producer and the creative force behind Target's Best.Party.Ever, has simple tips for hosting a fabulous holiday party and taking the stress out of the celebrating.
Stark shared his tips at the recent Target Holiday House Party, a festive event held in a beautiful New York City brownstone trimmed tip to toe in Target products. Stark's decorating, entertaining, and gifting ethos is decidedly DIY, and therein practical and affordable for all.
In his view, personalization is essential to creating enchanting holiday memories. "In a time where we are all more and more digitally minded, feeling the heartbeat of the hand in holiday décor is an amazing live antidote to the virtual worlds that we live in regularly," said Stark.
We asked Stark for a few holiday hosting tips. Here, his favorite and most useful. ¡Feliz Navidad!


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Sharing the Love
Last month, the residents of Stonecrest at Clayton View received a very special delivery—three tiny cattle dog pups and three tabby kittens. "I had dogs as a child," says resident Darlene Murray, shutting her eyes, stroking a 5-week-old foster puppy brought by the Animal Protective Association of Missouri (APA).
The APA's FosterCare program was launched earlier this year and places animals still too young for permanent families into temporary foster homes. These animals, explains Ashton Keenan, FosterCare coordinator, include kittens and puppies anywhere from a few days to 8 weeks old. After that, they can be spayed or neutered and given to their 'forever homes.' Placing very young animals in foster homes also reduces exposure to illness during the early weeks of life and provides critical socialization. "This arrangement is a win-win situation for all involved," Keenan says.
Stonecrest, an assisted living and memory care facility, has hardly been without an animal since the program began. "Our residents love, love, love these pets," says Erika Holmes, Stonecrest's Vibrant Life director. "Not only do they make them happy, but if they are walking the puppies, they are getting exercise as well. The program is therapeutic for both body and soul."
Laclede Groves, a Lutheran Senior Services community, also is an avid participant in the foster program. "It is so wonderful to see the pure joy on the residents' faces," says Kristina Wille, director of resident services. "Pets provide instant comfort and security, and for seniors who may have had pets all their lives, it makes a huge difference in their well-being." Wille adds that Laclede Groves already had a partnership with APA through the organization's PetReach initiative. That program—in existence for more than 30 years—has sent APA staff, volunteers and their pets (mostly dogs) into senior care facilities, psychiatric units, convalescent centers and children's hospitals. Each dog is evaluated to make sure it is friendly and adaptable to new people and surroundings. "The heart of our mission is to bring people and pets together," says Kim Brown, APA director of operations. "Life is so much richer for having an animal in it."
Creve Coeur Assisted Living & Memory Care has participated in PetReach since it opened two years ago, and hosts a volunteer and their dog once a month. "Sometimes, it can be hard to engage [memory care residents]," says Tracy Hickman of the senior community's activities department. "But they make a connection with the animals instantly. It's amazing to see."
Brown adds, "Not only is it comforting for seniors to pet the animals, but it also gives them an outlet to talk about the past and the pets they've owned. Everyone gathers around and it becomes the highlight of their day." Brown says the APA is hoping to expand the PetReach program to include domestic violence shelters. The nonprofit already partners with area agencies to provide temporary care for pets of domestic violence victims.
Pictured at top: Resident Phil Likes with his new friend
Photo: Bill Barrett
Feeding the FutureSeptember 21st, 2020
Seniors Serving OthersSeptember 21st, 2020
Stay Engaged & ConnectedSeptember 21st, 2020
Online Learning ResourcesSeptember 21st, 2020
The Insider: 9.23.20September 21st, 2020


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The Pack Still Ridin' On New Boyz: Lil'B Of The Pack Sends Out A Diss Track TO New Boyz! "New Boyz. You B*tch Niccas. I Been Rocky" [Audio]
The Pack def got a problem with The New Boyz
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The UK and Irish governments have agreed to develop a "formal" memorandum of understanding (MoU) that will set the stage for the two countries to trade in renewably-generated electricity. The plan is a central plank of Ireland's strategy to develop its offshore wind resource.
The announcement follows a meeting yesterday between UK secretary of state for energy, Charles Hendry, and Irish energy minister, Pat Rabitte.
As previously reported by Windpower Offshore, the Republic of Ireland's energy ministry announced earlier this year that it would not introduce an offshore wind feed-in tariff, as previously planned. Instead, it is seeking to strike a deal with the UK government that would allow new offshore wind projects built in Irish waters to supply the UK national grid and to contribute to the UK's compliance with its 2020 renewable energy targets.
Officials from the two countries' energy ministries will seek to finalise an MoU on renewable energy trading by the end of the year.


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I have several finishes that I still can't show. However, this little zipper bag isn't a Christmas secret. It was just a fun break from the other bigger projects going on. The pattern is from Keyka Lou.
For the most part I am on top of things for my Christmas sewing this year. Wow, such a great feeling!
Outside everything is snow covered and pretty. Inside we spend our evenings by the fireplace where I relax and stitch away on these cute little blocks. I just LOVE them!
In a few days we will be putting up the tree and decorating the house. Such an awesome time of year!


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Some easy on the eyes casting additions today. Here they are at a glance:
- Malin Akerman (Watchmen) will star as "Blondie" front-woman, Debbie Harry in director Randall Miller's indie, CBGB.
- Emily Browning (Sucker Punch) is in talks to join Plush, a psychic story from director Catherine Hardwicke (Twilight).
- Ahna O'Reilly (The Help) will star opposite Ashton Kutcher in the Steve Jobs indie picture, Jobs, from director Joshua Michael Stern (Swing Vote).
Hit the jump for more on each film.
Variety reports that Rock of Ages star Akerman will join Harry Potter alumni Alan Rickman and Rupert Grint in the indie picture, CBGB. Telling the story of the iconic New York music venue, CBGB features Rickman as club-owner, Hilly Kristal and Grint as Cheetah Chrome, guitarist for the "Dead Boys," a punk band who played a crucial role in CBGB's success. Also starring in the picture are recent additions Stana Katic (Castle) as Genya Ravan, lead singer of "Goldie & the Gingerbreads," and Joel David Moore (Avatar) as Joey Ramone, as THR reports. Other casting per THR is as follows:
- Julian Acosta (Thin Red Line) as Johnny Ramone
- Richard De Klerk (Repeaters) is CBGB soundman Taxi
- Josh Zuckerman (Sex Drive) is Punk magazine creator John Holmstrom
- Ryan Hurst (Sons of Anarchy) is Mad Mountain
- Estelle Harris (Seinfeld) is Hilly's mother, Bertha Kristal
Miller, who co-wrote CBGB with Jody Savin (Bottle Shock), is looking to film at Meddin Studios in Savannah, GA on June 25th, before moving to New York City.
Variety also reports that Browning is in negotiations to star as a teenage patient of a psychic psychologist. The doctor uses his gift to peer into the minds of his patients and view their memories in order to help them deal with their issues. However, he finds a challenge in Browning's character, who shares the same ability. Plush, co-written by Hardwicke with Artie Nelson, is currently searching for a male lead.
Finally, per Variety, O'Reilly is set to star as Jobs' love interest, Chris-Ann Brennan, a Bay Area painter who is the mother of Jobs' daughter, Lisa. One of two Steve Jobs-related pictures at the moment, Jobs was written by Matt Whiteley and stars Kutcher in the title role with Josh Gad (Love and Other Drugs) playing the Apple co-founder, Steve Wozniak.


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On June 24, 2009, The Monitor newspaper, Kampala Uganda published and article entitled " UN halts Joachim Chissano's role in LRA talks,†relating to the United Nations Secretary General, Mr. Ban Ki-Moon's move to abandon the peaceful means and instead engage the LRA rebels militarily.
Although Chissano's role in the mediation has been questionable by those who suspected he was somewhat biased still the move to remove him caught many people unaware. The order for an immediate end of Chissano's role in peace mediation and an immediate and premature closure of his office in Kampala was in one word, shocking.
The Ugandan government has always wanted and used military means trying to end the war but to no avail. In fact, the current prevailing peace in the region was brought about as a result of a peace agreement and a ceasefire that was declared by the LRA in 2006. Since then, the LRA has not bothered people inside northern Uganda. It was until they were attacked from their bases in the Congo that they were reportedly attacked and abducted civilians in Congo and Sudan. These reports have not been independently verified and other sources say the attackers were not LRA.
Uganda is currently a non-permanent member of the UN Security, a move that gave the tiny nation an opportunity to bring to the table, the case against the LRA. The Ugandan government has heavily lobbied the American and British governments for more arms and military funding to help them fight what they now term "terrorism†threats by the LRA. This new "terrorism†term came along as a catchword to attrack the attention of former US president George Bush Jr.'s administration that funded many countries militarily in the name of fighting "terror.â€
In the case of northern Uganda however, locals know that both the LRA and the Ugandan army have terrorized them and pointing one finger at the LRA and ignoring the havocs and terror caused by the Ugandan army leaves a lot to be desired. At best, this is not only a disservice but also an insult to the people of northern Uganda. The military support and funding given to the Ugandan government is either squandered through corruption in the army or is used to abuse the rights of local people in the war-ravaged north. It means nothing to the welfare, security or safety of the locals.
The move by the UN to reignite the northern war by launching military offensives against the LRA is in itself, illegal and is against UN's own chatter of peaceful resolution to national and international conflicts. It puts the world body into a compromising position in which it is endorsing a sitting government's ideals against the principles that made the UN what it has always been known for.
The Ugandan government has lobbied and continues to call for a military solution even if they know for sure that they have failed to end the war militarily since it started. Some members and leadership of the Ugandan government and military have suggested it is because of military force that the LRA declared a ceasefire and called for a dialogue. But this is not true.
The Uganda army and government have used the over two decades war in northern Uganda as piggy bank to sustain its military which is used to abuse the rights of Ugandan citizens and those of neighboring countries like Congo and Sudan. Every time the government runs broke to pay for its armies, it creates a chaotic military situation that can be used to appeal to American and European governments to give them money. This trickery to get free money from Western governments must stop.
It is cheaper and safer to bring peace to northern Uganda than use military force. This is already being seen in the prevailing peace Ugandans are enjoying in northern Uganda currently. Anyone agitating for war and military means to end this decades long war should be condemned, criticized and exposed as the enemy of peace and of the people of northern Uganda.
Some nonprofit and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have also engaged themselves lobbying and calling for military offensives again the LRA. I am not sure since when an NGO has been allowed to lobby for war. The ones that are doing so should also be exposed and have their operating licenses around the world withdrawn. Those organizations based in the US and are lobbying for a military offensive against the LRA should look carefully at the nonprofit status because it is very clear that non of them has been approved by the US government to advocate for war around the world.
Some of these nonprofit organizations have developed an amoebic indistinguishable relationship with the current Ugandan government in which their position on the war is also indistinguishable from those of the Ugandan government. It is this kind of position that brings a bias view to the US lawmakers and policy makers who end up making their policy decisions based on propagandas.
The recent case of invasion of rebel camps in Garamba in which the US government and the UN were hoodwinked and fooled by the Ugandan government to fund and support the invasion of the Congo is a good example. That invasion was an abysmal failure by the Ugandan, the US and the UN that designed and supported it. The amount of money wasted on it could have helped build roads; schools and other much needed infrastructures in northern Uganda.
Sectary Mr. Ban Ki-Moon himself should be ashamed to put his respected standing in world affairs stooping so low advocating for war that all his predecessors avoided. It is ironical that the Secretary General who himself comes from South Korea, a country that has avoided military confrontation with its Northern cousins would come around and advocate for war in another country. This is a disgrace to the respected international body, the UN.
The door to a peaceful end of the war in northern Uganda should not be blocked especially at this time when people have tasted the sweetness of peace in the last two years. It should be used to encourage the remaining LRA rebels to peacefully end the war and join fellow Ugandans in the country to help rebuild the war ravaged region.
We should not be deceived by the short-lived peace and make us into the thinking that the war is over. Every now and then, the LRA have come and disappeared just to come back with avenge. The 1995 Atiak massacres of about 300 people still remains a fresh reminder when people thought the LRA were all gone, they were wrong. We have not seen a collection of dead bodies of the LRA rebels anywhere and this in itself should tell us all that they are still there incubating.
The closure of the door to peaceful resolution to the war is therefore uncalled for and those propagating it should be condemned. The peace talks and peace process should continue until a mutual understanding is reached between the warring parties. Even the signing of the peace documents should not be a one-sided expectation. The Ugandan president Yoweri Museveni has not signed the documents either and why should the LRA?
Let us not kill the truth and deny the victims of the war peace. If we do so, we shall live be to be blamed. Let us try to do the right thing at least for once. The UN, American and British governments should stop taking sides in this conflict and instead work with both sides of the warring parties to find a peaceful resolution of the war.
The writer is a freelance writer and maybe reached via email at email@example.com
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Sonnet Technologies, a leader in providing storage systems for professional users of Macintosh, Windows, and UNIX systems in the film, video, and broadcast industries, today announced the Fusion F2QR portable two-drive hardware RAID storage system. Mounted side by side in a tough aluminum enclosure about the size of two stacked CD cases, the diminutive system contains two, 2.5-inch, 1TB hard drives.
Based on the multiple-award-winning Fusion F2, a portable two-drive RAID SATA storage system recognized for its performance, reliability, whisper-quiet operation, and shock-resistant characteristics, this compact device adds a built-in hardware RAID controller for configuring the drives; a quad interface with eSATA, FireWire(R) 800, and USB 2.0 ports for flexible compatibility; and a greater storage capacity. The Fusion F2QR delivers great performance with up to 160 MB/sec read and 100 MB/sec write data transfer rates, and is bus-powered by a FireWire port on the computer regardless the interface used.
"The original Fusion F2 storage system experienced great success due to its ultra shock protection and uncompromising performance and reliability. By improving upon its design with added connectivity options and larger drives in the Fusion F2's compact, low-power package, Fusion F2QR offers increased utility for field use in audio, photo, and video editing applications," said Robert Farnsworth, CEO of Sonnet Technologies. "Fusion F2QR will find a home in the equipment cases of many mobile professionals."
Mounted inside its rugged aluminum shell, the Fusion F2QR's drives are shock- and vibration- isolated to help protect against rough handling. Fusion F2QR is cool, nearly silent, and energy-efficient. The engineered aluminum case efficiently transfers away heat, eliminating the need for a fan.
The Sonnet Fusion F2QR features a built-in hardware RAID controller that manages its drives, and enables the system to connect to a computer with a single cable. It supports fast (RAID 0), safe (RAID 1), big (Span), and JBOD configurations without relying on OS RAID or a specialized controller card. The included configuration utility software is simple to use and supports Mac and Windows operating systems.
Fusion F2QR's quad interface offers users three ways to connect the storage system to their computer, enabling maximum flexibility in sharing data between a variety of computers. They can select an eSATA, FireWire 800, or USB 2.0 interface for maximum performance, medium speed, or ubiquity, respectively. (The fourth port is a FireWire 800 pass-through port.) Sonnet includes the cables for each interface, so the F2QR can be connected immediately. Connected via the Sonnet Tempo SATA Pro ExpressCard eSATA controller, the Sonnet Fusion F2QR in RAID 0 configuration can sustain read transfer rates of up to 160 MB/sec, fast enough to support multiple streams of compressed video editing. Fusion F2QR is powered by connecting the included power cable or FireWire interface cable to a FireWire port on the computer or hub. Users can alternatively power the F2QR with Sonnet's optional World Travel Power Adapter.
Fusion F2QR 2TB (part number FUS-F2QR-2TB) is available immediately, with a suggested retail price of $569. For more information on Fusion F2QR, visit the Sonnet website at http://www.sonnettech.com/product/fusionf2qr.html.


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watch 02:38
The Loop (Games)
Do you like this video?
The Ice Elemental Banner is a banner dropped after every 50th kill of an Ice Elemental. It is displayed in the background, similar to paintings, only hung from the ceiling instead. Each banner gives a small bonus to defense from and damage towards the creature it is designed after.
Update Info
- No longer drops randomly, but instead drops every 50 kills. Minor buff against monster depicted added as well.
- Added to the game.
Community content is available under CC-BY-SA unless otherwise noted.


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It seems impossible now, but student-athletes were once students before they were athletes. And one of the coaching staff's main problems was to make sure their players stayed active over the summer. Training camp was only two weeks long, not nearly long enough to whip them into shape if they weren't already fit.
USC dug up a letter sent from Hall of Fame coach John McKay to every Trojan in the summer of 1964, outlining a workout routine for them to follow. The end goal: being able to do 50 situps and 50 pushups on the first day of camp.
It is our hope that you are watching your weight and not getting too far out of condition. I and the rest of the staff feel that we had a very fine Spring Practice; but as you know, we do not attempt to get you in top physical condition for spring ball. The time has now come for you to start getting into physical condition that we need to have for a winning football team. Your workout schedule is enclosed. Follow it religiously!
The routine consists of stretching, calisthenics, and plenty of trotting; no weight training at all. The whole thing took about 30 minutes a day. A far cry from today, when team members work out with USC's strength and conditioning staff almost every day during the summer for 90 minutes at a time. Incoming freshmen, who aren't allowed to work with the staff, receive a daily calendar telling them exactly what exercises to do and when, and a DVD that demonstrates each drill.
McKay's plan seems quaint now, the type of routine a high school JV team would have. But it won him four national championships, because it was just as much as—or more than—any other team was doing at the time. Today's 365 days of football is the natural progression of an arms race between programs that took off around the time football became recognized as a revenue sport.
Click to embiggen:
The Evolution of Strength and Conditioning [USCTrojans.com]


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A man accused of stuffing two ATMs in Manhattan with counterfeit cash was arrested Monday afternoon, authorities said.
Gene Carlo Pena, 26, was taken into custody at Kennedy Airport around 4 p.m. after voluntarily returning to New York from the Dominican Republic, the FBI said. He worked for a company that serviced the ATMs.
He faces several charges, including embezzlement and other charges related to counterfeit currency. It's not clear if he has an attorney.
The amateurish fake bills were put in ATMs at two Chase bank branches to replace cash that had been stolen. The bank was short a total of $11,000.
The counterfeit bills were blank on one side and authorities believe they were meant to trick the ATM into believing it was carrying a full complement of cash.
However, the machines were able to distinguish most of the fake bills from real ones, a bank official said. The NYPD and Secret Service assisted in the investigation.
More content from NBCNews.com:
- No yearbook memorial for student who committed suicide
- World matches record for hottest September
- Report: Ariz. military recruiters shot paintballs at homeless
- Prank gone wrong? Alabama teen shot in head
- Undocumented hit GED barrier in quest for legal status
- Video: Skydiver's edge-of-space dive breaks sound barrier


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HOWEVER it only takes a few bad ones to give them all a horrible name. I've had my share of bad ones. My current nightmare is Rikki Phoneysmile, who works for Giant Pharma, Inc. This company is known for teaching it's reps to be aggressive and obnoxious, and quickly eliminates reps who actually try to be friendly and well-mannered.
Rikki is a serious pain in the ass. My staff knows to not even ask me if I need anything from her. They just tell her I need none of her samples, and to go away. I keep hoping that if she goes long enough without my signature Giant Pharma, Inc. will demote her to their farm team at the used car lot.
Anyway, today Mrs. Grumpy e-mailed me to get some tomatoes on the way home (off the subject, I have no idea where all these tomatoes are going. She has me pick up tomatoes all the damn time, and I've never seen one on the dinner table in any form). So I stopped at the grocery store.
I'm standing in produce, fondling the tomatoes, when I'm suddenly assaulted by Rikki Phoneysmile! Out of the blue, she's suddenly in my face, between me and my tomato, extolling the virtues, mechanism of action, and low incidence of adverse effects seen with Flatulata, the latest unneeded product from Giant Pharma, Inc.
Rikki has actually, I shit you not, left a shopping cart with 2 small children (oh crap, she's breeding) and her purse in it, about 25 feet away, so she could come capitalize on her chance encounter with your's truly. She even whips out a signature pad, asks me to sign, and says she'll be happy to get me some Flatulata samples out of her trunk.
I frantically looked around for a cop, or someone having a stroke I could run to help, or a judge who could issue me a restraining order on the spot. No such luck. Just a lot of people staring at me and Rikki.
So I said "can you hold this for me?" and handed her the tomato. She automatically reached for it. And I ran out of the store.
Mrs. Grumpy isn't happy about the lack of tomatoes for her arcane purposes. But I consider that the lesser of the two evils.


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Put out several flavors of ice cream and let guests help you by making their own desserts!
- Yield
- Makes 1 serving
- 1 brownie, 3x3 inches, cut in half lengthwise
- 2 scoops mint chocolate chip ice cream (or other)
- 2 tablespoon chocolate sauce
- Prepared whipped cream
- 1 maraschino cherry, with stem
- 1. Place half of the brownie in the bottom of a small dessert plate.
- 2. Let guests choose one small scoop of ice cream to place on top of it. Drizzle with a tablespoon of the chocolate sauce; top with some of whipped cream.
- 3. Cover the ice cream with the remaining brownie half, pressing down slightly. Top with a second scoop of ice cream, chocolate sauce, and whipped cream. Finish with a cherry.
Nutritional analysis per serving: 650 calories, 74 g carbs, 9 g protein, 36 g fat, 105 mg cholesterol


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Weather Blog: Back to reality, cooler days ahead
Rain for southeast Wisconsin, snow not far away
Thank you for stopping by the Weather Watch 12 Blog! Summer, we hardly knew ya! The brief taste of summer weather is about to exit southeastern Wisconsin. A strong cold front will slip through the area dropping temperatures and providing a chance of rain and snow to Wisconsin. In today's blog we discuss the changes ahead and look at forecast rain and snow totals.
The cold front will gradually drop south through the area on Wednesday. High temperatures will still reach the 70s, and even some 80s before the front arrives. Lake shore locations will feel the cooler air first as the front backs in from Lake Michigan. Expect falling temperatures starting near the lakeshore, then pushing west to inland areas Wednesday afternoon and evening.
A fleece or jacket will be needed again the rest of the week. Highs return to the 50s, maybe even some 40s near the lake for Thursday and Friday. Below is the NAM temperature forecast map valid at 1pm Thursday.
Along with the cooler weather, rain and snow are likely across the Midwest. The snow stays well west of our viewing area, but we are in early May and still talking snow! Most of the snow will occur Wednesday and Thursday as the moisture lines up behind the cold front. Below is the RPM snowfall forecast. Since we are in early May I think this forecast is overdone due to warm ground temperatures and the model being a little too cold. Still, several inches or more of wet snow is possible in western Wisconsin!
If the snow does reach into Missouri and Oklahoma it would be one of the latest spring snows on record!
The upper level low pressure area helping to produce the very cold temperatures aloft will reside over the Midwest for several days. This will be a 'cut-off' low, meaning it will be displaced from the main upper level winds allowing it to hang around for several days. Not the kind of weather we want lingering too long.
Below is the 500mb forecast map valid at 7am Friday. The center of the upper level low on the map below is labeled with an 'X' and is located over Oklahoma.
With low pressure near, unsettled weather with chances for on and off showers will linger in southeast Wisconsin from Wednesday night into the start of the weekend. The heaviest rain should miss our area and stay west, but it looks to be a close call.
We use many different computer models as guidance when making our forecasts. I often show model forecasts in the blog, and again each is just one piece of information we use when making a forecast. With that said below is the rainfall forecast from the GFS computer model through 7am Saturday. This forecast has Milwaukee in the 0.25"-0.50" range, with 1"+ just to our west.
By Sunday or Monday the upper low will exit the Midwest ending rain chances for southern Wisconsin.
For the latest weather information watch WISN 12 News, and for updates throughout the day follow me on Twitter @jnelsonweather
Have a great day!
Jeremy Nelson


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Duda, Mejia get September calls
The New York Mets today announced that they recalled RHP JENRRY MEJIA from the Bisons. In addition, the Mets also selected the contract of Bisons' OF LUCAS DUDA. Both players will be available for New York's game in Atlanta on Wednesday night.
Mejia, 20, made one start for the Bisons. The Mets' #1 prospect by Baseball America struck out nine in eight innings of a no-decision on Monday night against Syracuse. Mejia made New York's team out of spring training and made 30 appearances with the Mets, going 0-2 with a 3.25ERA (27.2, 10ER).
Duda has played 70 games with the Bisons since his promotion from Double-A Binghamton on June 14. With the Herd, the outfielder hit .314 (83-264) with 23 doubles, two triples, 17 home runs and 53RBI. He finished 2nd on the Bisons team in home runs and RBI as well as in extra-base hits (41).
From June 28 – July 2, Duda tied a Bisons all time record by homering in five consecutive games.


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First American Solar
Pennsauken, NJ 08110 856-356-2884
Consumer Ratings for First American Solar — 1 Ratings
You won't find anything else like Checkbook
- Nonprofit and independent
- Takes no advertising or referral fees
- Ratings and reviews by surveyed Consumers' Checkbook and Consumer Reports local subscribers
- Thousands of undercover price comparisons
- Complaint counts from local consumer agencies and attorney general offices
Solar Contractors Articles
Thinking About Going Solar?
Whether or not you're ready to switch to solar, take the following steps to help you learn about your options on what to buy, whom to buy it from, and how to calculate potential benefits.
How to Pick a Solar Energy Company
Whether you decide to buy or lease a system, there are many decisions to make, the most important of which is choice of company.
Advice on Leasing Solar Energy Systems
If you want to go solar but don't want to pay $20,000 or more up front for it, then leasing a solar energy system may be a better option for you than a purchase.
How Do Solar Energy Systems Work?
Since whatever you buy or lease will be up there for years, do at least a bit of research about the options. Here are the main points.
What Rebates, Tax Credits, and Incentives Are Available for Solar Energy Systems?
Below are the tax credits and other incentives we could identify at the time of publication. Check www.dsireusa.org for an up-to-date list. Note that if you lease rather than buy a system, incentives usually go to the leasing company, not you.


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From all accounts, Frank Beamer, Mike London and Tom O'Brien are men of integrity, with 47 years of head-coaching experience and nary an NCAA scandal among them. Their players graduate and win.
Alas, many of their college football coaching brethren are not as principled and balanced, and this offseason's wave of wanton cheating cases has shaken the sport.
Suffice to say, the three cringe at the damage.
"It's not good for college football right now," said O'Brien, entering his fifth season at North Carolina State after 10 at Boston College. "Any time you have that many people involved in that many alleged violations, whether they are proven or not, it's not good for the sport of football.
"Certainly it's incumbent upon us as coaches to take care of our programs one way or another. When you look at the high profiles of the schools involved, that's the thing as unsettling as anything else."
Within the past year, improper benefits to athletes have cost Southern California the 2004 Bowl Championship Series title and Ohio State last season's Sugar Bowl victory, not to mention Jim Tressel his job as Buckeyes' coach. The NCAA is investigating last season's top two teams, Auburn and Oregon, for possible recruiting violations.
Closer to home: The NCAA stripped Georgia Tech of the 2009 ACC title for alleged stonewalling of a probe that otherwise seemed routine — All-ACC receiver DeMaryius Thomas accepted $312 in clothes; North Carolina is scheduled to appear before the Committee on Infractions in October to answer charges of academic fraud, improper benefits and former assistant coach John Blake doubling as an agent's recruiter.
Commissioners John Swofford of the ACC and Mike Slive of the Southeastern Conference have derided the state of affairs, and rightfully so. But it's coaches who see their profession tarnished, and coaches who must stem the corruption.
Beamer is entering his 25th year at Virginia Tech after six at Murray State. The Hokies were staggering from NCAA violations when he arrived, but under his steady leadership they've enjoyed 18 consecutive winning seasons.
Monday at the ACC Football Kickoff, I asked Beamer about the state of college football, and he immediately took aim at the NCAA and, although not by name, Ohio State.
"I think what needs to be looked at is how quickly schools that are in question are investigated, and if punishment is due, then get the punishment out there," Beamer said. "When things happen and it takes a year, a year-and-a-half, it takes two years, I just don't think that's good for anyone.
"If it means hiring more people at the NCAA level, that's what I think they need to do because I certainly want a level playing field. … We need quicker action, we need quicker results, to get to the bottom of things.
"I think people would question some of the punishments that have come around. When … kids can play in a bowl game but can't play the first few games (the next season) I'm not sure that's the right message to be sending. … If you break the rules, there needs to be a response."
The NCAA, you'll recall, issued five-game suspensions to five Ohio State players last year because they traded memorabilia for tattoos and other merchandise. But rather than withhold them from the Buckeyes' high-profile, big-money Sugar Bowl against Arkansas, the NCAA weaseled out and set the punishment for this season.
So I asked Beamer: "When those Ohio State players were cleared for the Sugar Bowl, were you, like, 'Are you kiddin' me?' "
"That's my point," Beamer said. "Seems like if you did wrong, you should be punished, and the quicker you can get that, the more chances you have of not getting something wrong again."
Compared to Beamer and O'Brien, London is a pup, entering his second season at Virginia after winning the 2008 national championship as a rookie head coach at Richmond. He's a dynamic recruiter, especially in-state, but worries about a national scene that's rapidly adopting basketball's sordid model of unregulated summer competitions replete with leeches of every variety.
"You have (agents') runners, the runners of the runners, big (apparel) corporations paying to fly recruits, and their parents and their siblings and their friends (to camps)," London said. "I don't know how you legislate it. It's where we are in society right now, and now the NCAA has to deal with it."
So do head coaches and their assistants. They have a choice: Tip-toe into the muck and risk falling in, or run in the other direction.
"There isn't anything I can do about the national," O'Brien said. "The only thing I can do is make sure that I do the best job that I can at N.C. State to make sure we never get into that conversation one way or another."
I asked O'Brien if, given the impossibility of monitoring players 24/7, he ever looks at schools under NCAA investigation and thinks, "There but for the grace of God go I."
"No, you can't (monitor constantly)," he said. "But I feel confident in my abilities to manage a program because of the people I'm able to hire. If there's one thing I've done well in my career, it's hire good assistant coaches."
That was an accurate, none-too-veiled dig at North Carolina's Butch Davis for hiring Blake, whose reputation preceded him.
A Naval Academy graduate and former Marine, O'Brien vets potential assistants himself. He doesn't micromanage staff or players, but rest assured, everyone knows who's in charge.
And that's what major college sports needs more than anything: ethical head coaches who understand that resolute leadership, or lack thereof, emanates from the top.
"I think if you have the right guys and you have the right system in place," O'Brien said, "then you're going to have some control over what happens in your program, even with everything else going on in the periphery — I hope."
If not, the entire major college sports enterprise will crumble.
David Teel can be reached at 247-4636 or by e-mail at firstname.lastname@example.com. For more from Teel, read his blog at dailypress.com/sports/teeltime and follow him at twitter.com/DavidTeelatDP
Beamer, London, O'Brien cringe at college football's scandalous offseason
From all accounts, Frank Beamer, Mike London and Tom O'Brien are men of integrity, with 47 years of head-coaching experience and nary an NCAA scandal among them. Their players graduate and win.


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Innovation, flexibility and a keen attention to quality is at the core of Foscarini, Italian lighting company based in Venice. With a strong emphasis on research and creative production methods, the company is able to produce products in a range of interesting materials in unique and innovative ways. Originality is an essential element in this company's identity - collaborating with contemporary design talent such as Marc Sadler and Patricia Urquiola in addition to accomplished grand masters.read more...
Self described as a "special personality in the world of lighting," Foscarini is an unconventional, free and passionate company thriving at the centre of the design industry. Foscarini's products can be found internationally as contemporary art installations and as home lighting solutions for residential purposes. Each product is a work of art with a unique character of its very own. Truly a global leader, Foscarini strives and succeeds in bridging experimental form and steadfast function in modern lighting design.
1 Item(s)
Foscarini Lightweight Suspension Lamp$7,034.00 USD
1 Item(s)


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Wayne Newton -- 65-ft. Luxury Yacht Mysteriously Sinks
Wayne Newton 65-ft. Luxury Yacht Mysteriously Sinks
Wayne Newton's fancy boat is almost entirely underwater on Lake Mead, AZ ... and TMZ has the first pic of the sunken vessel.
Newton wasn't on board the 65-foot yacht when it went down while moored in a marina. The bow of the "Rendezvous" is all that's left above water right now.
It's a total mystery how the yacht suddenly sunk -- but a rep for the National Park Service tells TMZ the initial assessment is some sort of equipment failure.
This is the latest financial catastrophe for Newton ... who was sued last year by an ex-business partner over failed plans to turn his former home into a museum.
The Park Service told us it will begin salvage operations on the yacht this week, and then park service rangers -- and insurance investigators -- will begin their probe.
Danke schoen.
Waiting for your permission to load the comments.


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This letter came in today from a reader who says he's working at the NIH.
"I shadowed a pediatric neurologist this week. It was certainly interesting, but up until today I'd have guessed your blog was a little exaggerated in terms of humor.
That was before clinic this afternoon.
I saw the patient, an adorable four year old girl, grab the neurologist's reflex hammer from out of her coat, run over to the PA, and, uh, test his reflexes.
I'm not a physician, so I'm not sure if grabbing your crotch after it's been walloped with a reflex hammer is actually a reflex, but it sure was funny. Well, maybe not for the PA.
The kid really, really liked that hammer. The attending actually GAVE IT BACK to her later to buy her cooperation in the exam. I shielded my groin, so the patient had to settle for beating my leg with it.
Seems like a great field. I'll just remember to wear a cup."
Thank you! Just remember, folks- anyone who thinks this stuff doesn't happen, hasn't had the misfortune to work in the medical field.


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Vancouverites know their city's culinary scene.
They know where to find the best tower of fresh seafood, the finest house-made charcuterie, the most delicious taco truck, and the best list of B.C. wines. Vancouverites are entirely capable of having a stand-up argument about which sushi restaurant is the best, even if both restaurants are exquisite.
And the city's restaurants, wine bars, tasting rooms, cocktail dens, food trucks, farmer's markets and bakeries are absolutely deserving of this passion. So go ahead and explore what Vancouver's restaurants have to offer, searching by the type of cuisine they offer, by where they're located or keyword.


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Imperial Cat M.A.X. Club Chair and Scratching Ottoman is Super Stylish!
Last month I shared with you the brand new cat club chair and scratching ottoman from Imperial Cat that I thought you would love as much as I do. The new Club Chair and Scratching Ottoman for cats is super stylish and I was so excited that I placed in on my wish list. The nice people at Imperial Cat saw my wish and sent me my very own chair and ottoman with a sleek cheetah print. And now just in time for Thanksgiving, they are offering a chair and ottoman to one of the members of our The Tiniest Tiger community.
Cats will give thanks for their own club chair
Thanksgiving is coming soon and we cats know what this means. In addition to family, friends and feasting, it means that
our habitats will be invaded and our space will be taken over by loved ones. And some might even stay well into our nap time and perhaps even force us to change our schedules. I know, I understand how upsetting a change in routine can be for felines, but just in time to prevent the invasion of the chair snatchers, Imperial Cat is providing us with our very own cat sized chair and ottoman.
Mine arrived a few weeks ago and I have to tell you that I just love it. The chair is super comfortable and when I get the urge to scratch I just cut loose and give the ottoman the works. Another benefit is that you will not have to fight with any friends or family members for your seat. This chair will always be reserved with your name on it. When your chair arrives, simply direct your parents to place your chair in a strategic location where you can see but not be in the center of the commotion.
If you can't wait to see if you win, you can purchase your very own Imperial Cat Chair from their Cat Claws Catalog.
How to Enter the Giveaway
There are many ways to enter in the Rafflecopter below. Choose as many or as few entry methods that suit you. This giveaway is open to US mailing addresses only. The giveaway ends at 12:01am ET on November 17, 2012. Best of luck to you.