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Unique Restoration is a full service restoration company serving Los Angeles and Ventura counties of Southern California. For over 20 years, we have worked diligently to earn the satisfaction of each of our customers. As an insured, bonded and fully-licensed provider of restoration services, we can guarantee the 100% satisfaction of each and every customer. In California, we are known to the insurance industry and community for our high standards and variety of solutions we offer. We believe that it is our standard of excellence that has allowed us to enjoy longevity of service to you, our valued clients.
Unique Restoration has served Southern California for over two decades. During that time we have grown to become one of the premiere companies serving commercial and insurance clients, in addition to residents, in the state of California. We bring a specialization and reliability which only comes from decades of experience.
We are staffed by a small army of professionals who possess industry and project knowledge. Cleanup, restoration and recovery far exceeds merely showing up. Each of the services listed on our Services page corresponds to specialized knowledge of processes derived from years of service, education and analysis.
To stay abreast of the latest technologies and industry requirements, Unique Restoration is an active participant in industry associations and certifications. We constantly strive for improvement to better serve our customers and an essential element to continually improving is networking with professionals, companies and associations.
Unique Restoration
21018 Osborne Street, Unit 3
Canoga Park, CA 91304 USA
(800) 845-1262 (voice)
(818) 948-6920 (fax)
firstname.lastname@example.com (e-mail)
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Published by Peter Golian
I am dealing with Quantum mechanics, wave - particle duality especially dispersion of light for fusion reactor. Some of my graphs have scientific use and some are beautiful art. CGI scripts used for paintings are Dispersia for FENG SHUI flowers and RTDG n-dimensional enlargement fractal that I am using for build of Calabi Yau (String theory). I hope, that you will enjoy it and Light up YOUR life View all posts by Peter Golian


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Yesterday, Atlanta, Georgia rapper Gucci Mane was released from custody after being incarcerated since March 26. The Warner Bros. Records star and his lawyer were believed to have posted the $75,000 bond to allow the rapper freedom. Previous statements indicated that Gucci would be taken to DeKalb County, where his was on probation from a previous misdemeanor violation.
It appears that Gucci Mane never reported to the court. TMZ reports that within one day of his release, Gucci was apprehended today for a probation violation.
Details are still emerging, but the Brick Squad 1017 leader is believed to be back in custody at this time. Gucci was presently pending trial on an aggravated assault charge, for battering a U.S. soldier with a bottle, which he was indicted for earlier in the week.
(April 13)
UPDATE: TMZ.com has reported that Gucci Mane was released from incarceration earlier today (May 2). The Atlanta, Georgia resident is due back in court later this month in the pending case. Reports that he was sharing a cell with Brick Squad 1017 affiliate Young Scooter remain unsubstantiated by Gucci's spokespeople or his label, Warner Bros./Atlantic Records.
(May 2)
UPDATE: Gucci Mane pleaded not guilty to an aggravated assault charge in a Georgia courtroom today, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The Atlanta rapper is accused of hitting a soldier over the head with a champagne bottle at a night club in March. He is out on $75,000 bond and "just going about his life," according to his attorney, Drew Findling.
RELATED: Police Issue Arrest Warrant For Gucci Mane For Assaulting Soldier


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Give us a call!
WHEN; Saturday March 9 , 2013
WHERE: Self Defense America
109 1/2 Shelbyville St.
Center, TX 75935
LIABILITY WAIVER: I the undersigned, in consideration for the acceptance of my entry and admittance into the undersigned Camp, do hereby release and forever discharge Self Defense America (SDA), its staff, instructors and assistants, the promoters, directors, volunteers and everybody associated with the Camp and aforementioned groups from, all injuries and damages I/My Child might suffer or incur during the Camp. I assume all responsibility and risks for my entry to the Camp and so hereby state that I am physically able to participate in the Martial Art Boot Camp, and have not heretofore been advised by a physician and/or medical authority against activity of this type. I voluntarily agree to comply with all terms, conditions, and rules for participation, and certify the above information is true, to the best of my knowledge. If the above named is a minor and I have signed below as a Guardian or Parent of said minor, and have acknowledged that the waivers, release and affirmations stated above apply to said minor.
ACKNOWLEDMENT OF CONSENT: I acknowledge that SDA may use and compile photographs and video of the individual named above. I consent to such uses and waive all right to compensation. (If is a foster child there will be no photos or videos published of said minor.)
Pre-regristration is $25.00 after the 8th it is $40.00


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Health care reform is a general rubric used for discussing major health policy creation or changes—for the most part, governmental policy that affects health care delivery in a given place. Health care reform typically attempts to:
The Netherlands has introduced a new system of health care insurance based on risk equalization through a risk equalization pool. In this way, a compulsory insurance package is available to all citizens at affordable cost without the need for the insured to be assessed for risk by the insurance company. Furthermore, health insurers are now willing to take on high risk individuals because they receive compensation for the higher risks .
A 2008 article in the journal Health Affairs suggested that the Dutch health system, which combines mandatory universal coverage with competing private health plans, could serve as a model for reform in the US.


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Merino Baby Sleep Bag - Pink/Ivory Stripe
A best seller.
Our merino sleep bags are widely credited for helping babies sleep through the night.
Superfine merino lining creates a microclimate around baby to keep her warm and comfortable, without the risk of overheating
Kind to delicate skin and suitable for most babies with skin conditions such as eczema
Full length YKK zip and shoulder domes allow the sleeping bag to be opened completely flat for night time nappy changes
Soft zip cover keeps zip ends away from baby's skin
Generously sized to allow freedom of movement as baby grows
Minimum TOG 0.8 Best for room temperatures from 17 - 27 degrees c, or where you would use a sleeping bag in the 0.5 - 2 TOG range.
Fits from 2 months to 2 years of age.
Approximate length 98 cm from neck to hem
To provide a comfortable and safe fit, the domes at each armhole must be closed when worn by smaller babies. For older babies, simply leave the domes undone.
We recommend using our baby sleeping bag once baby weighs at least 10lb/4.5kg
Available for worldwide shipping - excluding New Zealand addresses.
Our full range is made using all natural fibres
Sleep Bags
Outer: 200g cotton
Lining (Winter Weight); 370gsm superfine merino for extra warmth
Lining (Standard Weight): 280gsm superfine merino
No synthetic filling or lining
Clothing Sizing
Merino wool is naturally stretchy. It has an inbuilt 'memory' which enables it to expand and return to its original size so you may find our garments fit your baby for longer than the age range stated on the label. Most of our garments are cut on the generous side to accommodate cloth nappy wearers and for a comfortable fit.
As a guide:
0-3 months size fits babies up to approximately 6kg/13lb or 62cm in length
3-6 months size fits babies from approximately 6kg/13lb to 8kg/18lb or 68cm in length
6-12 months size fits babies from approximately 8kg/18lb to 10kg/22lb or 80cm in length
12-18 months size fits babies up to approximately 86cm in length
1-2 years size fits babies up to 92cm tall
Cool machine wash on gentle or wool setting using liquid wool-approved detergent only. See Garment Care page for full care instructions.


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NeoOffice 2017 Upgrade Issues
From NeoWiki
NeoOffice 2017 is based on the LibreOffice 4.4 code. Because earlier versions of NeoOffice were based on the much older OpenOffice 3.3 code, users may find NeoOffice behaves differently after upgrading to NeoOffice 2017. Below are the most common issues that we have seen after upgrading to NeoOffice 2017:
Spreadsheet formulas display #VALUE! instead of a number
If a mathmatical formula references any cells that contain spaces or other non-numeric characters, the LibreOffice 4.4 code used by NeoOffice 2017 (as well as all recent versions of OpenOffice and LibreOffice) will display #VALUE!. In contrast, the OpenOffice 3.3 code used by earlier versions of NeoOffice would behave as if such cells were empty cells.
To stop the display of #VALUE!, you will need to delete cells with spaces or other non-numeric characters that are referenced by any mathematical formulas in your spreadsheet. You can delete most of the cells with spaces or other non-numeric characters using the following steps:
- Select the cell range which contains text strings.
- Choose the Edit menu then the Find & Replace… sub-menu.
- In the Find & Replace window, enter "^.*[^0-9\-.,].*$" (without quotes) in the Search For field.
- Set the Replace With field to empty.
- Click Other options or More options button.
- Check the Regular expressions checkbox.
- Set the Search in listbox to Values
- Click Replace All.


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Erick Swenson's Untitled, 2000 depicts a dramatic scene in which a seamlessly crafted, meticulously hand-painted figure resembling a dog or fawn is being swept upward from the ground by a billowing red and black cape hooked to its tail. The small, pale animal bares its teeth, adding tension to the moment, yet the story behind this strange event is undisclosed. Swenson's scenes are the result of a hybrid of influences, including animation, movie stage sets, and natural history dioramas. The connection to dioramas is an intriguing one, because as is frequently the case with them, Swenson's work is made to look remarkably realistic and is viewed in the round in a museum setting. Swenson mimics the naturalistic execution of dioramas, but he does so in order to create fantastic scenes.
Swenson's main formal device—how he distributes the weight of his forms, which are created with rubber and polyurethane—is an important aspect of the surreal quality of his image. He has connected the cape and the animal to create a fluid and rudimentary S curve, a traditional compositional device used by artists to move the viewer's eye though a work of art. The heaviness of the cape, as it moves up toward the ceiling, is visually much stronger than that of the frail figure beneath it, which looks like an oversized porcelain figurine. Yet the entire piece comes to rest on the animal's small hoof, making its overall feeling and appearance precarious.
In Untitled the illusion of movement and physicality is seen in the cape, but the source of its power—whether it be the wind, a person, an apparition—is absent from the scene. Unlike a natural history diorama, there is no set storyline to explain the action taking place in the work. Instead, a number of dichotomies exist: the scene is in an art museum, rather than a natural history museum; the figure is fantastical and animal-like, but exhibits human qualities; the piece is frozen, but it conveys dramatic movement; it is made of plastic, but its textures and details look naturalistic.
Untitled leaves us to piece together a narrative based on a few visual clues that conjure up various associations. The three thin leather straps, for example, that are attached to the animal's neck and hind legs accentuate its delicacy, but they could also be read as a designer accessory, dog collar, or symbol of bondage. The animal could be perceived as wild, but the straps might suggest domestication. The cape is another part of the piece that carries wide-ranging connotations. It is commonly associated with magic, but its implications extend to such opposite poles as Dracula and Little Red Riding Hood. In Swenson's stripped down but impeccable illusionism, the story is unresolved, but strangely familiar.
Andrea Karnes


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Basement Finishing in Marble Cliff
Basement finishing for your Marble Cliff home is a great renovation project to help add more livable and usable space to your home. If you have a growing family and you don't want to put your house on the market and find a new home, then basement remodeling is the perfect solution for you. There are so many different basement finishing and remodeling plans available for you these days, so you don't have to worry about your basement looking "dungeon-like." You, your family, and your guests won't be able to tell the difference between the main floors of your home and the style of your basement. We can ensure that everything blends well together and looks stunning.
We know that a lot of homeowners think they can take care of basement remodeling work on their own. However, this is definitely not advised! Basement remodeling is a complex home project that is going to require the assistance of basement professionals who really know what they're doing. Our basement specialists have many years of experience working in the field, and we can make sure that your basement is completely waterproofed before we begin any remodeling work. This means that you'll never have to worry about any leaky walls or floors after your basement is finished! Find out more about our basement finishing services in Marble Cliff.
Basement Remodeling in Marble Cliff, OH
Basement remodeing in Marble Cliff is a great choice for homeowners who want to add more space onto their home. This extra space can be used as a family room, recreational area, or it could be turned into additional bedrooms, a home office, a home gym, or anything else you can imagine! Studies have proven that basement finishing is much more affordable than adding on another room. In fact, it could cost you 50% less to renovate your basement! We have a team of professionals on our staff who will be able to help you turn your dark and damp basement into a functional, usable, warm, and inviting area!
Basement Remodeler in Marble Cliff
If you and your family are looking for a basement remodeler in Marble Cliff, look no further than our basement remodeling company. We can provide you with one-on-one consultations and personalized services so that all of your needs are being met. We can cover your walls with our Magic Wall system so that you don't have to see those dull, grey concrete walls ever again! The Magic Wall system is tough and you will be able to hang pictures, shelves, and flat screen TVs from it.
Please feel free to call us or contact us online for more details about our basement finishing services. We look forward to talking with you soon!


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- Helen Fisher: Why we love, why we cheat
- It's My Body... and I Finally Love Everything About It!
- Sex Education: Science, not BS, please.
- I'm Never Going to be White Girl Skinny, and I'm okay with That
- Basic Tips for Giving Great Hand Jobs
- Define This: Cuckolding
- Returning To Intimacy When Cancer Has Changed Your Body Image
- Define This - That Marvelous Moment Right before He Cums
Keep up on new articles, projects, columns and more
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UnNews:Heath Ledger Wins Golden Globe, Thousands of 'Dying To Win' Puns Made
This article is part of UnNews, your source for up-to-the-microsecond misinformation.
12 January 2009
Hollywood, CA. Heath Ledger, the actor made famous for his medieval shenanigans, being a gay cowboy, and most recently making Batman wet his pants on a semi regular basis, has won a Golden Globe for his work in making Batman laugh. The win for Ledger has prompted thousands of terrible puns from the film and news community, most of which involve the phrase "Dying to win it."
"I'm very proud" Heathcliff said after learning of his posthumous win "This is a Golden Globe for all of the people out there who ever said they were dying to go to senior prom with Jason From Geometry. This win represents just what you can achieve when you OD in a sleazy hotel."
When questioned for comment, Heath's father Mr. Ledger said "He always knew he was going to win it this way. Even when he was a young boy, he would tell me 'Dad, I'm dying to win a Golden Globe.' We laughed at the time, but little did we know how right he would turn out to be."
The Australian Film Association is also ecstatic at the news that a local has won the award. "Obviously, this win shows you that anything is possible when you're Australian" said the Australian Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd. "Clearly this makes us better than anybody else, after all, how many dead American actors do you see winning Golden Globe awards?"
After Ledger's win, many other dead actors have decided to work on new projects in the hope of securing the prestigious award, including the famous Judy Garland, who has been named as the newest Bond girl in the soon to be released adventure Film Noir Is Better Than Action Anyway.
"Well obviously I think I'm up to the job" Garland said yesterday, "I wouldn't be taking on the role otherwise. I think I'm in the best shape I've been in since The Wizard of Oz, and hopefully I can earn an award for Best Supporting Actress."
Uncyclopedia will continue to bring you more on dead actors and actresses as they take on more roles.,


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Home of Peace
Memorial Park
Your Subtitle text
About Us
Our Services
Mortuary Services
Cemetery Property
Price List
Advanced Planning
Burial Prayers
Mourner's Kaddish
Burial Kaddish
El Moley Rachamim
Eishet Chayil
Psalm 23
Psalm 121
Russian Kaddish
Psalm 91
Prayer of Consolation
Mourning Customs
Contact Us
Serving the Jewish Community for over 150 Years
Welcome to Home of Peace Memorial Park and Mortuary. We hope you will find the information on our website useful and invite you to contact us with any questions.
4334 Whittier Blvd.
Los Angeles. CA 90023
323-261-6135 Fax 323-261-2725
Content copyright


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Info and discussion about Leagues.
PokéGym's guide to starting and operating a league, by Ultimatdra.
Use this control to limit the display of threads to those newer than the specified time frame.
Allows you to choose the data by which the thread list will be sorted.
Order threads in...
Note: when sorting by date, 'descending order' will show the newest results first.
Forum Rules
This site is owned and operated by Team Compendium, Inc.All content is © 2000-2011 Team Compendium, Inc. The PokeGym is not affiliated with The Pokémon Company, International or any anime or video game companies.


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Empowered Enterprise
Empowered to Create
In the evolving world of work, business as usual has become anything but the norm. With today's workforce becoming increasingly interconnected, getting the most out of top talent means anticipating – and managing – complex, and constant, change.
Meeting these challenges means more than robotic execution. It means rethinking - and rebuilding - the way that top talent is recruited, retained and developed. Building better business outcomes and sustainable competitive advantage means building an Empowered Enterprise. The Empowered Enterprise positions employees at the center of your strategy. It means turning your organization into a destination for constant collaboration and innovation – a place where people have the power to learn and share.
Empowering your enterprise means engaging workers, and their individual talents, to drive better performance and productivity that create bottom line results. Building an Empowered Enterprise benefits every part of your business, from lower employee turnover - to increased revenue - to higher customer satisfaction.
Key steps every organization must take to achieve the empowered enterprise:
1. Employee Centered Strategy
- Create a common profile & identity
- Know where your organizational knowledge resides - and who knows what
- Increase communication and collaboration through social tools and technologies
2. Create a Collaboration Destination
- Build a workplace where meaningful work gets done
- Increase the decision making abilities of individual employees
- Manage resources to guarantee your workers have the tools they need to succeed
3. Mobilize Talent to Deliver Results
- Engage employees in their work
- Align skills, desires, and results
- Give daily tasks meaning and context through efficient, effective goal setting
- Enable internal mobility to ensure the right people are in the right roles (and have clearly defined opportunities to develop and advance within the organization)
- Make performance management meaningful - stop evaluating and start developing
and employee performance
is now the second most common business challenge
goals (quarterly or more often)
dramatically outperform those which create annual cascading-goal programs
4. Talent Management in the Cloud
- Identify & implement technologies & tools to manage every component of the employee lifecycle - from selection to succession
- Create a single integrated environment for managing the processes behind your people
- Support recruitment, retention & development through advanced analytics & reporting capabilities
The Benefits Behind Building an Empowered Enterprise
- Empowering Key Performance Indicators.
- Empowerment is a key performance indicator for the health and wellness of an organization's talent strategy.
- Empowering Agility.
- An empowered workforce is better aligned with an organization's business objectives, allowing companies to be smarter and more agile in an ever-shifting business landscape.
- Empowering Employee Performance & Productivity.
- An Empowered Enterprise means higher motivation and employee engagement.
- Consequently, the Empowered Enterprise has better performance and higher productivity.
- Empowering Employee Retention. According to recent research from Mercer, one out of three workers report planning on "leaving their current positions as soon as possible."
Turn the tide in the war for talent by increasing employee motivation and aligning workers' goals and development not only over the short term, but also for the long haul.
- Empowering Recruiting. Recruiting to fill headcount won't help organizations meet the talent gaps of tomorrow. Building a workforce for the future also means growing your own talent in house by providing the proper training, development and internal advancement opportunities.


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Be in the know of how your TV Ad is performing.
Measure, optimize, and plan your TV against business outcomes
TV marketing doesn't need to be in a silo. Plug in TV to the rest of your data and marketing stack.
The latest thought leadership, blog posts, announcements and press mentions
Connect with iSpot.tv at these industry events
A sample of top brands we work with
We're hiring! Great pay, benefits, and culture. See the positions.
To reserve a 2018 Gold Buffalo Tribute Proof, National Collector's Mint invites you to call the number provided.
National Collector's Mint 2018 Gold Buffalo Tribute Proof TV Spot, 'Purity'
Add Actor/Actress Details
Your Email (used for confirmation)
Add Song Details
Your Email (used for confirmation)


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Did you guys hear they remade The Evil Dead?
Good news UK fans, on Halloween night you can finally get the chance to see "Paranormal Activity". It will only be Midnight screenings that night, with a wide release planned for November. Then the film will roll out in other parts of Europe and Latin America following that.
Al Snow stars in slasher film. If you don't know who that is, you probably won't care. Move along.
Eminem to make horror anthology called "Shady Talez". You might as well fill out your Razzie cards now.
"Hellraiser" remake to be shot in 3D. All hope I had for this project pretty much just went out the window.
Ti West says "Cabin Fever 2" isn't really worth seeing. And he's the director, so that's probably not a good thing.
"Paranormal Activity", a film shot entirely from the POV of security cameras in a couple's haunted home, has been given an R rating by the MPAA. No word on release date yet, but this one has been gaining buzz on the festival circuit for a while now, so hopefully we'll hear more soon.
Check out the creature from "Pandorum" in this clip from the film, which gets released September 25th. I haven't heard a lot on this in terms of quality, but it looks highly solid to me.
Jamie Chung and Jena Malone sign on to Zack Snyder's ("300", "Watchmen") next film "Sucker Punch". The film is set in the 50's, and follows a young woman unfairly thrown into a mental institution by her "wicked step-father", who imagines an alternate reality to hide from the pain. She then plans to escape the imaginary world, but has to steal five objects first, all while avoiding being caught by "a vile man". Whoa, I have no idea what that means but it sounds awesome.
Dimension films picks up "Kristy". The film is being compared to "The Strangers" and "Last House on the Left", and deals with a deserted college campus being besieged by a group of violent intruders.
Finally, after months of hearing about mundane, meaningless scoops from the set of Rob Zombie's "H2", comes word that we'll be seeing a trailer on Youtube this Friday. Rest assured we'll be on it when it lands.
Jonathan Skaech is highly positive about his "From a Buick 8" script, and says that Stephen King (the original author of the book) loves it. Unfortunately because of the economy, financing any film is difficult right now, but he hopes that it will go in front of cameras this fall. As for stars? He claims they "are going after big names right now". Hopefully we'll hear some more news about this adaptation soon.
We take a much needed vacation to Tromaville and review Lloyd Kaufman's latest ode to scatological humor.


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Lovely Beautiful Beach Wallpaper
Lovely Beautiful Beach Wallpaper Is one of the image about The resolution: 480x720 px ID: #3174. This image is: png Format and the file size: 39.35 KB you can download modify and share it for free. We also have similar images for you, that is Lovely Nature Wallpaper A4 Size .Text link to this page:
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Categories: Flower


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|Eiji-kun (talk)
|Date Created:
|Please feel free to edit constructively!
Spell Chains[edit | edit source]
In the book Tome of Battle, initiator classes gain maneuvers which are in a sense, comparable to a spellcaster's spells. But while an initiator must qualify with many lesser examples of a certain discipline before obtaining a high level example of the school, a spellcaster has no such limitation. This variant represents a minor nerf to a spellcaster's power in the form of requiring certain chains of spells from the same school, in order to obtain the higher level versions. This is both thematic, showing that one must have a mastery over, say, lesser transmutation, before one may polymorph into dragons at a thought, and provides a coherent theme to the caster as a whole.
Cantrips and 1st level spells require no pre-requisites and may be taken as one pleases. However from level 2 and onward, spells gain a prerequisite of other spells known in that spell school equal to half the spell level (rounded down). For example, to learn scorching ray (a level 2 evocation) you need to know at least 1 evocation from any other level. Magic Missile would do just fine, allowing you to learn scorching ray. To learn an 8th or 9th level spell, you need to have 4 spells in that spell school known. And so forth. Universal spells may be the exception allowing any spells to qualify, or have different pre-requisites for the few spells which exist.
As a variant on the variant, a DM may add additional restrictions if needed, such as requiring knowledge of both 1 evocation and 1 fire spell (in which case, Burning Hands fulfills both requirements), or additional restrictions, especially on problematic spells.
This works well against wizards, but may hurt sorcerers and their limited spells known the worst. Consider either applying this only to prepared casters, or granting spontaneous casters either extra spells known, or an easier means of obtaining new spells if it is too hard on spontaneous casters. This variant can also work for casters who have all their spells known (such as clerics), by requiring that the prepared spells for the day must qualify, instead of spells known.
Back to Main Page → 3.5e Homebrew → Variant Rules


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What's THE BEST condom?
Sarah replies:Hey, I really need to know what is the best condom to use if it's your first time using one? I've had sex before, but I just never used a condom.
There is no one, very-best-in-the-entire-universe condom that is going to be best for everybody the first time or the 10th time or the 100th time. So, I'm afraid we can't give you one solid answer for that.
However, I think I can offer a few suggestions that might make choosing one a bit easier:
- Keep it simple. There are tons of specialty condoms out there with ridges, studs, etc. While some people may really enjoy those, not everybody does. Flavored condoms are great for oral sex, but you don't want those if you are looking for condoms for penetrative activities. So when you're first starting out with condoms, it's probably best to stick to the basics until you get the hang of using them.
- Extra lube is a must... While many condoms are "lubricated," there's really not enough lube on them to do you a heap of good. So, when your picking up condoms, get some extra water-based, condom-safe lube (something like Astroglide, KY Liquid, Wet, etc.). Add a drop on the inside of your condom and lots to the outside, and you will not only be making everything feel better, you'll also further decrease your risks of condom breakage!
- ...but avoid the "fancy" lubes. Condoms that are spermicidally lubricated or lube that has spermicide in it should be avoided. That stuff is basically like dish soap, which is not a hot idea for use inside anyone's body. It can lead to infections, and the major health organizations actually advise against it now because it can increase the risk of passing STIs. Warming, tingling, or numbing lubes are also not such a great idea. Many folks find that they cause uncomfortable irritation or burning, which can certainly put the breaks on whatever is going on! Flavored lubes are great for oral sex, but not so great for penetrative activities. Especially with partners with vulas, as those lubes often contain sugars, which can upset the balance in the vagina and lead to infections. So stick to the plain, water-based (or possibly silicone-based, although those can sometimes also lead to vaginal infections for some partners with vulvas) lubes for vaginal or anal penetrative activities. Oil-based lubes and anything that is not actually sold as a lube (so no hand lotion, Vasaline, etc.) should be completely avoided as they can actually damage your condoms and/or lead to infections if they are not actually formulated for genital use!
- Start with a regular sized condom. Unless you know that you have had problems with regular sized condoms in the past, it's best to start with those. They work for the majority of individuals. You will know you need a larger condom if you find they are feeling uncomfortably tight around the base or if you have problems with them splitting in that area. You'll know you need a smaller condom if it seems loose around the base or you have problems with slippage in that area. (FYI, the "sizing" on condoms pretty much refers to the ring size. They are all big enough in length to accommodate any penis. In fact, you can fit practically your whole arm into a condom if you really stretch it (of course you shouldn't go back and use that condom if you try this!), so length should never be a problem.)
- Thicker doesn't necessarily mean safer. Recent testing has shown that extra thick condoms really don't provide any extra protection. So using regular or ultra thin is just fine. If you're curious, you can find the safety testing ratings for condoms online.
- Check the expiration date and store them properly. The best condom is one that's not over it's expiration date and that has been stored in good locations. Luckily, condom manufacturers print the expiration date right on the box and then also on the individual condom packets, so that's really easy to check. Also make sure that you're storing and carrying your condoms in places that are safe and that have moderate temperatures (in other words, don't keep them around sharp objects, don't keep them in your wallet where they might get too warm, etc.).
- Practice makes perfect. Get some extra condoms and practice putting them on when you're by yourself. Lots of the problems that people have with condoms could easily be solved if they'd just try them out before they were in a partnered sexual situation and started feeling stressed and pressured about hurrying or breaking the mood or whatever. If you're familiar with the condoms beforehand, it'll be much easier with a partner.
- Any condom is better when it's put on correctly. I'll link you to some articles, including our Simple Condom Primer, that will help explain how to do this. Shoes are more comfortable when they're laced correctly and tied comfortably (not too tight, not too loose)...the same is true for condoms (well, except without the laces). Condoms feel better and are less likely to fail when you put them on correctly.
So, while I know that's not an easy, "buy brand ABC and you'll love it" style answer, if you follow those steps, you should be able to get a good starter condom for you. Now you may find that the first condom brand/style you try is not perfect for you, and that's ok. You may find that you want to branch out and try other things, which is cool. I firmly believe that people would have fewer problems with their condoms if they were snobbier about what they were using. We'll spend ages trying on shoes to find the pair that fit just perfectly, but most folks will think nothing of buying the brand of condoms they saw on a TV commercial without trying others, or picking up the first box they see and sticking with that, or buying the same condoms over and over again even though they aren't really all that comfortable! That makes absolutely no good sense! Give your condom choices at least the same amount of thought that you give to buying a good pair of shoes. So once you've got the hang of condoms, try out some different brands and styles until you find the ones that feel BEST for you and your partner. Many online condom retailers will allow you to buy condoms "grab-bag" style where you get lots of different types to try out (another nice aspect of shopping online (even just browsing) is that they usually list the dimensions of the condoms, which can be helpful if you are having fit problems). Or, try buying a new type everytime you go to the store (if you get some you don't like, just toss them out and get something else...they're not that expensive). You could also ask your partner if he or she has a favorite condom and give those a try! The search for the perfect condom doesn't have to be lame or boring. It's pretty darn cool to try out different condoms with a partner and find out what you like. It might be fun to make up a list of the different condoms you've tried and "rate" or "grade" all of them! Make it an experiment and an adventure.
You also mention that you've been sexually active in the past without using condoms. If you haven't been tested since, then now is a perfect time to head to your health care provider and get checked out. Everyone who is sexually active should be getting screened at least once each year. If you're with a new partner, it is also wise to get checked out once before becoming sexually active with them, again six-months later, and then start the once annually schedule. You should also get checked after any instance of unprotected contact. Not all STI's show up right away, and many can be asymptomatic in men (meaning that you may be carrying something but not have any obvious symptoms). Even if you haven't displayed any symptoms, that doesn't mean you're guaranteed STI-free. Also, herpes and HPV can be passed around condoms because they don't cover the entire region of contact, so it's important to get tested for those even if you are planning on using condoms with a new partner. So head out and get yourself (and your partner, start good habits early!) checked.
You may find these pages helpful:
Scarleteen's One-Stop Safer Sex Shop
Condom Basics: A User's Manual
Your Map to the Condom Aisle
STI Risk Assessment: The Cliff's Notes
Hey, Boyfriend! Male Reproductive Choices


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In the previous page, we covered the basic differences between standard-definition (SD) and high-definition (HD) TVs, namely the latter's ability to do progressive formats and higher resolutions. In between these two, there's actually another format known as Enhanced Definition TV (EDTV) that does progressive but retains the resolution of the SDTV format.
The single most common question we've heard from people buying an HDTV is whether they should get an HD-Ready set or a Full-HD one. In other words, 720p or 1080p. To recap, a 720p HDTV has a resolution of 1280 pixels (horizontally) by 720 lines (vertically), while a 1080p one has 1920 pixels by 1080 lines. There's also a 1080i HDTV format that's essentially the same as 1080p (in terms of resolution), except that it only does interlaced scan.
Before 1080p HDTVs were readily available (and that was just a few years ago), the priciest and highest-end HDTV sets were those that supported 1080i. Today, we can hardly find 1080i-only HDTVs. The current crop of HDTVs has a native resolution of either 720p or 1080p. A 720p HDTV is capable of accepting 1080i signals and displaying them by down-converting the image, while a 1080p HDTV is also capable of taking that same 1080i signals and display them in progressive form without loss of resolution, through a technique known as de-interlacing.
So back to the question: "Which is better – 720p or 1080p?"
Without question, a 1080p HDTV has a higher resolution than a 720p one. To be exact, it has 2.25 times the number of pixels (2,073,600 vs. 921,600). Just like a digital camera with a higher megapixel sensor that captures and shows more details, a 1080p HDTV is able to show much more details than a 720p version. Of course, that's assuming you have the content to match. Unfortunately, 1080p content is hard to come by apart from Blu-ray discs. Connecting a PC to the TV is another possibility, but it's certainly not the use case for most people. And let's not even talk about DVDs – they belong to an era known as standard-definition. However, it's likely that SD content might appear ugly on a 1080p set - it's akin to over-enlarging a low-resolution photo, with tons of imperfections.
The above being said, if you envision watching a lot of Blu-ray titles, then of course, a 1080p set makes sense. On the other hand, most HDTV broadcasts are done in either 720p or 1080i. The main reason is the high bandwidth requirements for 1080p content. For 720p signals, the TV would up-convert them to the screen's native resolution (if you've a 1080p TV). As stated above, while no up-conversion is necessary for 1080i signals, another process known as de-interlacing (converting interlaced signals to non-interlaced form) needs to be done. Let's just say that not all HDTVs can do de-interlacing well.
Let's revisit the digital camera analogy. Say you're deliberating between a 12MP camera and a 6MP model. You know the former gives you more and sharper details, but you also know that you print all your photos in tiny name card sizes. Do you then really need the 12MP camera?
The above analogy can also be applied to HDTVs as well. On smaller screen sizes, we'd say that the resolution advantage a 1080p HDTV has over a 720p set is negligible. And when we say "small", we mean anything below 40 inches. To really take advantage of 1080p, we recommend at least a 47-incher. But as with all maturing technologies, even native 1080p, 32-inch LCD HDTVs are going at very attractive prices. In fact, we predict that in a couple of years, there'd no longer be any debate between 720p and 1080p HDTVs, since all HDTVs would be at least 1080p by then.
To throw another spanner in the works, you should also factor in viewing distance. Generally, the closer you sit to the TV, the more details you see. Also, the sense of presence is amplified. Conversely, to see the same amount of details at a further distance, you'll need a larger TV. Many TV buyers made the mistake of not considering the relationship between screen size and viewing distance. Some bought a huge TV to put in small living room (imagine sitting a mere meter away from a 60-inch TV), while some placed their 32-inch TV five meters from their couch. That's similar to attempting to discern the details on a 4R-sized photo positioned ten meters away from you.
So what should the optimum viewing distance? There are many different methods of calculating optimum viewing distance out there and each has its own merits. For example, THX recommends dividing your screen size (measured diagonally) by 0.84 to achieve the best seat-to-screen distance. For a 52-inch TV, that translates to a viewing distance of about 62 inches (roughly 1.6 meters). Here at HardwareZone.com, we usually start from a distance that's twice the screen size. For example, if you've a 52-inch TV, try sitting 104 inches (about 2.6 meters) away from it. You can try moving closer by 0.5 meter, or further by 0.5 meter from that mark. Experiment within this range (in this case, 2.1 to 3.1 meters) until you're happy with what you see on the screen. More importantly, make sure your eyes aren't strained and fatigued after each viewing session.
For a vertical placement, avoid placing or mounting the TV too high on the console or wall. A straight line of sight is the best, and THX recommends that viewers should not have to look up more than 15°. From a ergonomics point of view, tilting the head upwards is worse than tilting down. Remember, you'll only realize the full benefit of a 1080p HDTV when you fulfill these three criteria:- True 1080p content, an appropriate screen size to take advantage of the higher resolution, and a viewing distance that allows you to see the added details distinctly and comfortably.
|Size of TV
|Distance (in feet)
|Distance (in meters)
|35-inch class
|3.5 - 5
|1.1 - 1.5
|40-inch class
|4 - 6
|1.2 - 1.8
|50-inch class
|5 - 7.5
|1.5 - 2.3
|60-inch class
|6 - 9
|1.8 - 2.7
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Tuesday, April 17, 2018
What's 10 Years Old and Losing Value Every Day? - The Gygax Trust (CRPG Games to be Licensed by the Gygax Trust via Crowdfunding)
How do you ensure the IP you are entrusted with withers on the vine? Refuse to license it for 10 years.
How do you attempt to revive its value? Talk about the death of its original market and aim for a new one.
What am I talking about? Why, the Gygax Trust and the ludicrous attempt to get value from Gary's work, not from tabletop RPG but from computer games.
There are two articles floating around today about the Gygax Trust making a deal with Fig (some crowdsourcing program) to license CRPG rights to Gary's works to developers. Let us look at those articles, shall we? Be warned, there's a shitload of snark from your bartender, and I'm not referring to Alex Gygax...
First, from Polygon:
Dungeons & Dragons creator's unpublished work to be turned into video games
Gygax Games and Fig announce open call for interested developers
By Charlie Hall@Charlie_L_Hall Apr 17, 2018, 12:00pm EDT
It's been 10 years since the death of Gary Gygax, the man who co-created Dungeons & Dragons. Now, Gygax's family, through the auspices of the Gygax Trust, wants to bring his unpublished works to life as video games. (Here's the deal - Gail's hope to have movies / streaming services / multimedia from the deal with theTransformers producer in July of 2016 hasn't come up with shit and Gail / Alex need money - the rest of the family is NOT involved)
The Trust announced today that it has partnered with crowdfunding and investment website Fig (who the fuck is "Fig"?). Together, they will begin a global search for the right developers to carry the legacy of Gary Gygax forward. (this should have happened 10 years ago. The Gary Gygax legacy has withered on the vine)
To accomplish their goal, the Gygax Trust has rejuvenated Gygax Games (you would think they would have revived the website BEFORE the announcement) and installed Gary's youngest son (and Gail's only child), Alex Gygax, as the CEO.
"I was gaming since I could walk and talk," said Alex, who was raised in the family home in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. "My first D&D adventure I'd say was when I was four or five years old, running a solo campaign with my father on his work breaks. So I was playing D&D before I knew what any of that was."
Alex told Polygon that at an early age he played an instrumental role in playtesting another creation of Gary's, a tabletop role-playing game called Lejendary Adventure, which was licensed for a time to Troll Lord Games. The game is now out of print. (and why is it put of print? Gail. Yep, she's a real wizard at making money)
"I was playing in our Thursday group through the entire creation of the Lejendary product line," Alex said, who is also one of the lead bartenders at a local pub called Sprecher's. "Since then I've been working here in town, doing a lot of gaming, hanging out with the locals, going to my local game store. I've played everything from Xbox games to computer games, board games, over at my brother's house or Magic: The Gathering events at the local game store."
Alex said that his job will be to ensure that future projects based off his father's work continue to retain the spirit of the original Dungeon Master. Right now the Gygax Trust is working to archive handwritten materials and Gary Gygax's personal effects, some of which formed the basis for the creation of Dungeons & Dragons. Alex called the collection a "treasure trove." (problem with this - anything Gary wrote before he left TSR is probably owned by WotC these days, whether or not Gary revealed it at the time. What does the trust have rights to? Lejendary Adventures, the game they refuse to put back in print)
Alex Gygax was one of the first playtesters of Lejendary Adventure, a role-playing system by Gary Gygax and published for a time by Troll Lord Games. You can still find the quick-start rules at their website. (Grab it before the Witch of the Mid-West demands it be taken down)
"One of the major ones that everyone knows about is his personal dungeon," Alex said. "It was his personal D&D campaign that he had never released to the public. He didn't want his game nights being destroyed by publishing his work and then having his group go out and buy it and find out all of his secrets. So that's one of the main things that we have to use, and all the little side derivatives of that." (not so sure where the rights for that actually lie, but whatever)
More than anything, Alex said that he's excited to find his father's original work a new home in the future of digital role-playing games.
"I grew up playing this and I'm also a huge video gamer, so I've always wanted to see my dad's work because I thought that they were some of the greatest stories and tough adventures," Alex said. "I've always wanted to see them put out in the next level. Pen and paper is a dying art. (There you go tabletop gamers. Get your Fucking Shine Box! Tabletop RPGs are hitting new highs but they're dead. Sigh. Alex, I had high hopes for you. Ever get your name actually on the GMF website as a member of the board or is that still "in the works"?) Computer games, video games, they're the next generation, the next wave of games and I've always wanted to see them on that new medium (that's all fine and dandy, but why not tabletop too?) and I've always wanted to be working with someone who's excited as I am about it."
Alex said that many of the games that his father created were always meant to be digital properties, and the time is right to fulfill his wishes.
"He always had the intention of taking certain product lines and transferring them to the digital realm (I'm guessing this was in addition to print versions), it just never came to fruition," Alex said. "There are a few lines that he created specifically with that in mind. So published or unpublished, there's definitely the digital realm in mind with these lines. It's something that has been talked about for a very long time, and I'm really excited to get this underway." (sure it has been. So why is Gail finally giving it the OK? is the Trust broke?)
Fig CEO Justin Bailey told Polygon that his company entered into a licensing agreement with the Gygax Trust with the intention of finding developers to pair with it. Ultimately, the Fig platform will be used to run the crowdfunding campaigns that will in turn produce the games.
"We're running a full green-light process with our advisory board," Bailey said, referring to the team of experienced game developers who help curate games on that platform. They include Randy Pitchford (Gearbox Software), Feargus Urquhart (Obsidian Entertainment), Tim Schafer (Double Fine Productions), Aaron Isaksen (Indie Fund), Alex Rigopulos (Harmonix Studios) and Brian Fargo (InXile Entertainment).
"Any developer who wants to propose something, get it in through email@example.com and we'll review it with our green light committee and with Alex to make sure that it's a good fit. Once Alex is able to get the Gygax Games website up, that will be another avenue for submissions." (Holy Shit! See this? The website isn't up for Gygax Games - that's some shade throwing right there. CEO of a shit show don't mean shit)
So why did it take 10 years to bring these foundational pieces of Gary Gygax's work to the digital space? Alex said that it was all simply a matter of timing. (LOL! Timing? The timing was lost long ago. This is a matter of desperation to finally get some cash from the rotting IP)
"It's just a combination of things," he said. "Technology. Having the right group of people there. (Mom being broke) Wanting to have the fans involved and being able to keep some creative control. Maybe not full control, because we want a developer to be able to do what they're good at, but making sure that it's done with Gary's spirit in mind. So being able to keep his spirit with everything is I think one of the really big parts of why we waited so long." (No, the reason you waited so long is Gail wanted a million bucks to even open the vaults. Now, she's willing to take coppers on the gold piece in the hopes of making some kind, and kind of money.)
Yep, fun times.
Now, from VentureBeat:
D&D co-creator Gary Gygax's trust and Fig partner on video games
Video games owe a great deal to Gary Gygax, the co-creator of Dungeons & Dragons. In many ways, his game set foundations for the medium, and its mechanics and spirit branch out to all genres these days. But Gygax never created a video game that made it to market.
Alex Gygax wants to add video game development to his father's legacy. Today, The Gygax Trust is announcing a partnership with the crowdfunding platform Fig to publish video games based on the unpublished works of Gary Gygax. Timing for the first campaign was not disclosed. (Because there IS no timing for the campaign. Judging from the lack of details, this probably just developed)
In an interview with GamesBeat, Paul Stormberg (I'm clueless) of Gygax Games said that the projects would deal with, among other things, the original home role-playing game campaign that Gygax ran. (Good luck on that - isnt that owned by WotC thse days?) "We'll just say it's something people have been waiting for a long time," said Stormberg, who's worked for years in the pen-and-paper RPG industry.
Alex Gygax said that the trust picked Fig as a partner because of the important role fans play in crowdfunding. (Huh? Correct me but wouldnt, I don't know, Kickstarter be a better choice?) Since they don't have a development studio signed or a game prototype yet, they chose Fig to work with. This platform differs from Kickstarter and Indiegogo in that people backing products can get a piece of the action and a return on their pledges. (interesting)
"It's a good opportunity to get some games produced and work with gamers and still be able to have some direction of where some things go," Alex said, "making sure the spirit, the essence, of Dungeons & Dragons (bad Alex! Bad bad bad) and the RPG Realm is kept in mind."
I asked if it was at all based on Castle Greyhawk, the megadungeon that served as the base for one of Gary Gygax's home campaigns. They were a bit coy about it, but they did confirm that the projects wouldn't involve Gord the Rogue, his character that appeared in novels after the D&D co-creators breakup with his own company, TSR, or the Castle Zagyg, a Castles & Crusades megadungeon that could be called "The Son of Castle Greyhawk." (right, so is LA stuff that's been rotting for 10 years)
"We'll just saw it's something people have been waiting for a long time," Stromberg said.
The Gygax Trust has had years to adapt Gary Gygax's works into a game. So, why did they decide now is the time? It's a combination of platforms like Fig and the advancement of in-game design and computer tech. (sure, and like I said above - Gail is finally desperate to make money off the IP - 10 years to late and a million dollars short)
"Video games have caught up" with the ideas and concepts my father played with, Alex Gygax said. "I think [the industry] has caught up with what we're trying to create."
Stromberg explained how over the years, the family has tried to work with studios to make games on Gary Gygax's works before.
"Gail [Gygax, Gary's wife] herself is quite familiar with the development of her husband's IP for computer games, having worked with a number of companies over the years to do so. While the projects all had promise, some of them quite fantastic, the developers could never quite achieve the vision Gary had laid out," Stromberg said. "However, now, with Fig, an amazing pool of talented developers, and some truly amazing advances in computer gaming, we know we can begin to bring the real jewels of Gary's unpublished IP to his legions of fans and the larger gaming community." (as a betting man? this goes nowhere)
As we chatted, Alex Gygax and Stromberg kept talking about the fans. It's certainly the people who play, who create adventures and worlds of their own, that have been the key to D&D's longevity over the past 40 years. Poking around internet communities such as Reddit and forums devoted to RPGs, you find people still playing the old editions that Gary Gygax published decades ago. (so, there's a market for Gary's work, but they aren't going to market to the market...)
"[My father's work] is something people love, and they stick with it. It had a very family like feeling to it, to everyone that has played or enjoyed it over the years," Alex Gygax said.
On Reddit and those forums, you'll also find people recounting their fond memories of encounters with Gary Gygax, who always made it a point to interact with fans at conventions and answer thousands of letters and emails. Alex Gygax even noted how his father would answer letters from prisoners.
And it's that passion and goodwill that Fig and the Gygax Trust are hoping to tap for their crowdfunding campaign.
So, there you have it. Another deal from The Trust that will go nowhere. Beleive me, with 10 years of practice doing nothing with the Gygax IP, Gail is a master at the art now.
If I appear to be overly harsh in my assessment, feel free to make counter-arguments below. Note that Gail is a shrewd business woman, able to balance a Trust and a Fund and accomplish nothing with both of them.
48 comments:
"Paul Stormberg (I'm clueless)", So true.ReplyDelete
They want to keep the 'spirit of D&D' but in a video game? Good luck. I agree with all of your comments. If Alex was really interested in his Father's legacy, he should have been doing more in the past decade in the actual field of RPGs instead of being a beer slinger and going to Magic games and just playing games, he should have been working with or for a developer and got the knowledge that they now so desperately need.ReplyDelete
He runs the Collector's Trove. From the website's description:
We (The Collector's Trove) are the online auction house for game industry designers, artists, and insiders, including former TSR employees, the company that brought us Dungeons & Dragons. Our mission is to help these individuals realize the maximum value for their collections at auction.
Those quickstart rules are already gone, or the link is broken.ReplyDelete
I still wish we had Gygax magazine [sigh]. I'm guessing consultants/lawyers are pushing for video games as that market now surpasses Hollywood (let's face it, tabletop rpgs are nearly a rounding error as far as % of entertainment market share).ReplyDeleteReplies
Don't we all! It was great while it lasted.Delete
I'm just sad. It's a tragedy how Gary's legacy has been left to wither away. I don't feel the anger that Tenkar does, but I'm not going to make a counter-argument as to why he shouldn't feel angry.ReplyDelete
We're gonna need a bigger boat for a snark this size.ReplyDelete
The best thing that has been done to honor Gary is being done by his other son Luke with GaryCon. The next best thing was actually done by WoTC with OneBookShelf when Gary's TSR work was allowed for sale in PDF and POD.ReplyDelete
All of the rest is somewhere between s**tstorm and clusterf**k.
I want to call Paul Stormberg "Stromberg" from now on.ReplyDelete
I don't see Gary's post TSR materials like Lejendary Adventures and Castle Zagyg as being widely known outside of OSR circles. I hope Garys IPs can be made available again for tabletop rpg use, namely as reprints, pdfs and new materials based on these IPs.ReplyDelete
Do some internet searches on Fig .... its a train wreck. Cannot believe they agreed to work with them.ReplyDelete
Look up comments about Fig, PSYCHONAUTS 2 and Tim Schafer ... that will show you where this is going to head ... no where good.ReplyDeleteReplies
And it also funded Pillars of Eternity 2, Wasteland 3, and Phoenix Point (creator of original XCOM's spiritual sequel). Tim Schafer can be a polarizing figure, but this thing isn't as bad as you're making it.Delete
In your other comment you said that the fou needs of Fig created those games, not Fig itself. Which is it?Delete
I'm surprised Tenkar never heard of Fig. Fig is actually a pretty big deal. Fig was founded in part by some of the big Video Game players who actually were the people who put Kickstarter on the success map, the guys who did Broken Age, Wasteland 2, and Pillars of Eternity. The goal is to only do very curated projects and work with investors so you don't have the funded but mismanaged aspect risk of Kickstarter. The WP page has a good analysis of it.ReplyDelete
As far as Paul Stromberg, he's been a big old-schooler, though not a big author. Most people in the old-school stuff know him, he attends GaryCon and does a lot of things, so again, I'm surprised there's no knowledge of him.
Now--as for the rest of this, I'll counter briefly. I've not responded to posts for quite a while, but this should be commented on.
Basically, all this comes across as just another angry rant by a die-hard fan who can't stand the fact that Gail and Alex are not doing what said fan wants to be done--a small release aimed at the die-hard old-school print market that just makes a small profit. For the most part, typical people would be happy that there is progress made and a big deal, or that Gary's stuff would reach a wider audience. But among some Grognards, this is akin to Heresy--Gygax is treated as a Jesus-like figure people want to build religions around, and actually caring about maybe elevating him to a level higher than the rest is bad. The potential is akin to what CD Projeckt did for The Witcher, a novel mostly known in Poland, now known a lot more for the video game adaptations.
Tenkar, why does this bother you so much? You've past the rubicon of being a "concerned investigator" when it was proven that the Memorial Fund wasn't fraudulent, just slow going, and the lack of responses to the latest posts you write about that tell me that most people understand this and realize this is a snarky vendetta. Stuff like this just proves it. I can understand the hatred towards Ken Whitman since he's a legitimate Con Man, but this is just a whole other level. At least with this post, you're more honest about your feelings toward the matter. This anger really isn't good. There's still fans out there angry 10 years after his death that the original plans were not followed through, but there's also fans still angry about his forced departure in 1986. It's really time for folks to move past this. Some of Gary's fans are totally selfish--it's all about what they want to see. But it's time to get over it.
Gary made his choice--he put Gail in charge of all his IP decades ago. His other kids from his first marriage did not contribute much to his writings post-TSR, so it is obvious to me who he wanted to make decisions. Gail has made her choices, and I think people need to respect that--at least out of respect for Gary. What do you think was more important to him? Respecting his work? Or respecting his loved ones? Do you think Gary would react well to these screen shots of what you said about Gail in one of your pre-discord chats?
Something honestly tells me if there is an afterlife I think a lot of these hard core "fans" honestly will never get to sit at his gaming table in the sky. Gary wasn't as worried about his "legacy" in the manner the fans are.
If people don't like what Gail and Alex are doing, fine. But its time to move on--OSR materials are in abundance and there's tons of writers out there who may have more passion for this than Gary did. (He was really more into LA in his later years and CZ was more of an appeal to the masses). But engaging in schadenfreude is just sad--wish them the best and then move on. Letting this bitterness fester won't change anything.Replies
JTR, you're completely missing the point.Delete
Gary's dying wish was to support his loved ones and, yes, this is all within Gail's legal rights, but her every action has been contrary to Gary's life's work. Gary chose an heir, but he also chose a publisher, a cowriter, a game, and a format. He dabbled in cartoons and movies and advertised a vaporware video game in the back of Necropolis in 1992, but his life was tabletop RPG's and he never stopped sharing his gifts with the world. His beneficiary shitcanned all of that and hung everyone that supported Gary out to dry.
Those who loved his work aren't bitching about ancient history or old grudges, it's ongoing. Every year we read more news about how Gail is making sure we never read another drop of our favorite D&D author. Alex says our game is a "dying format." Last year the would-be seller of the last Gord manuscript was threatened. The year before that Gail shut down the magazine honoring Gary's name. The Memorial we generously contributed to goes nowhere. Less than 700 copies of Gary's final work were printed. Fully-written Yggsburgh expansions languish under lock and key. For the last ten years, his property has been sequestered, withheld, and ransomed while the new owner waits for a dumptruck of money. These aren't someone's eccentric business decisions were bitching about, this is greed and injustice.
Now, while fans grow old and grey lamenting Gary's out-of-print, under-published, and unpublished works, his bartender son with the least writing, publishing, design, or entrepreneurial experience in the family is going to try his hand at video games.
Do you get it?
Maybe Alex will make Gygax Games bigger than Square/Enix, Blizzard, Hasbro, and Skyrim and it will be great and Gary will reach a wider audience... but Gary believed in imagination and social interaction. He never had much luck with glowing rectangles.
And don't portray Gygax fans as sycophant grognards, you toadying, yesman, copyright worshiper. I just like Gary's modules and the way he wrote.
Cody: Maybe is being super gracious, so I'll just be the realistic SOB here -- No, he won't.Delete
Otherwise, right on.
Cody, I did not call the grognards sycophants--that's what you called me. Though I especially like "copyright worshiper", seeing how Gary valued copyright so much that he once had people go around to tear up the people making illegal photocopies of Chainmail and OD&D.Delete
My criticism is towards the people who sort of paint a skewed, idealistic picture of Gary as the starving artist, fighting against corporate corruption and eschewing popularity, when the reality was much different. This stuff about "dabbled in cartoons and movies and video games" is basically not the truth--he was seriously trying to succeed in that.
The manuscript wasn't a Gord book, but a copy a reviewer tried to sell illegally for his own profit.
"Greed and Injustice"--please have some perspective. You act like an unpublished manuscript is some kind of injustice, or that trying to sell to the widest audience is greedy. It's not. Languishing is a human emotion. If it's about the cancelled contracts, all the business parties have pretty much moved on to other things.
I get disappointment, that's a natural emotion. But taking it to the extremes I see some folks doing is wrong and more insulting to Gary's legacy than any transgression they think the family is doing. It's a selfish desire based on the fans own greed to read the material in the format they desire most. I mean, all the drama over Alex basically admitting that the big market is in computer games--that's a fact--but people take that like its some kind of personal insult.
It's also not like any works you bought in the past have disappeared. Some are out of print--but if you were a big fan you already had them, and the TSR era stuff is still in print, plus there's still DJ and LA stuff at Flea Markets.
To be fair, Tenkar and crew are coming across as a bunch of small minded hateful trolls here, especially in the PNGs you posted, but the whole tone of the article is quite frankly shameful. I for one would love to play an CRPG based on some of Gary's unreleased stuff and I'm sure there are many others that would enjoy that too. Probably more than I enjoy Tenkars Tavern, especially if its going to degenerate into childish and hateful mud slinging.Delete
Fig is a great platform to make games with focused groups of developers and help move a game from prototype to production. The guy who did Xcom is releasing a game on the platform, and I believe the new Battletech game from it. Fig is not just a company but a team of people who help small time developers get their shit done. They wont' take just anyone, you have to have all your ducks in a row and THEN you pitch to them.Delete
Tenkar sounds extra snarky in this posting.
In one interview, Gary (not quoting as gospel, but for reference): "The LA system will fail only if its audience diminishes." I guess Gary never considered that the game might fail if they unplug it as soon as he left this world.Delete
It doesn't make me angry. It's just sad. After 10 years, no one would pick that game in a store.
No better whining drivel than JRT's whining drivel! Keep 'em coming.Delete
Eh, if anybody is whining here, it's Tenkar. But when people don't have any good way to counter an argument, they resort to those types of insults.Delete
JRT - right from the start of this post, I warned it was full of snark. Glad I didn't disappoint.Delete
I'm surprised you aren't also commenting at ENWorld. The relevant news article is nearly universal with negative commentary from the community.
Windmills await good sir!
You use the term "snark" thinking it excuses you from people calling you out on mean-spirited behavior, like it's all in good fun. It doesn't.Delete
And I no longer go to message boards or do any of that "tilting at windmills" crap anymore. Why bother arguing with selfish people who's minds are made up, etc.
Gail earned her special place in my heart when she threatened me with legal action for something I NEVER posted (and the retraction that she demanded indicated such nonsense)Delete
She's one of three to have done so in this hobby, none of them seem to understand the law as each of the threats were baseless.
So yes, Gail and her mismanaged (in my opinion - possibly shared by others, but simply stating my opinion) Trust and Fund are not instilling confidence in my regarding this latest venture.
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Delete
Certain language is not acceptable on the blogside, Randy.Delete
I've stated my opinion on the blogside. You don't get to state it for me.
I'd like to comment on this quote: "Gail [Gygax, Gary's wife] herself is quite familiar with the development of her husband's IP for computer games, having worked with a number of companies over the years to do so. While the projects all had promise, some of them quite fantastic, the developers could never quite achieve the vision Gary had laid out"ReplyDelete
I was at TSR from 1984-1989. I left to make my way into digital games and spent 10 years as a freelancer, working on some TSR stuff, some HeroQuest stuff, and a bunch of video & computer games. In the early-to-mid 1990s, a producer from Cyberdreams called me up and said, "You've worked with Gary Gygax before, right?" I said "Yeeesssss..." hesitantly, as I wondered what was coming. Turns out they'd contracted with Gary to design a fantasy RPG computer game (tentatively titled "Hunters of Ralk") and they had gotten his design for it and it was unworkable (according to the producer). He asked if I'd be willing to re-work it. I promptly asked if Gary had agreed to it being re-designed, as I knew of old that this was an issue. I was told yes and we agreed on a price and I signed a contract.
A couple of days later a very heavy FedEx box arrived for me. In it was Gary's "design" for HoR -- roughly 1,500 pages of unworkableness (to be polite). I read through it and it was very obvious that Gary had never played a computer RPG and had no idea how to design for one. There were speeches from NPCs that went on for five full pages of text, for example.
So I sighed and got to work. Took me 5-6 weeks and I eventually turned over a ~300-page design doc that was still too weighty but retained as many of Gary's original elements as I felt should be there. A week or two later the producer called me up and sheepishly told me that, while I was still going to get paid, they discovered that Gary's contract did indeed give him the right to refuse any changes to his work and he was exercising that right. Because, you know, his work was always perfect, even for media he was completely unfamiliar with. Since the game was not remotely publishable the way Gary wrote it and he wouldn't allow any changes, Cyberdreams killed the project.
I was told by the producer that there was some contract-related involvement from Gail at the very end, when the company said they were going to kill the project. But since I have no direct knowledge of her involvement, I'm not going to repeat what I was told. That's the only time I ever heard Gail's name mentioned in reference to this project (though of course I knew her from my time at TSR, when she was Gary's secretary).
I agree with you that there's a degree of desperation here. I only quibble a little bit about the reasons for the past mismanagement. I think it's no coincidence that this is happening right when Gail Gygax's only biological child gets interested in the industry. My bet is that she wanted to keep her late husband's legacy exclusively for herself and *her* child (and not for Gary Gygax's children from his first marriage). Hence the push to shut down Gygax magazine, founded by Luke and Ernie Gygax. Unfortunately, some people would rather have all of a severely diminished pie than a generous slice of a much larger one.ReplyDelete
As for the original Greyhawk, my understanding was that Gary Gygax had never used his home version of the dungeon for any TSR product, even those with "Castle Greyhawk" somewhere in the title. I'd also heard that the Castle Zagyg published by Troll Lord Games was that original dungeon under a different name to avoid infringing on WotC-owned IP. If that's the case, Troll Lord may still hold those rights or an exclusive license.
I came to the conclusion some time back, that She has gone out of her way to bury as much of his legacy as she can. She's getting Gary's royalties from D&D still, I'm sure, so she probably isn't hurting for money.ReplyDelete
No, I think she wants anything, or anyone, with the name Gygax under her thumb. Why? I don't know.
This is a gesture. It isn't meant to succeed. Just as the memorial fund will never build a memorial. By doing some paperwork on some vaporware,it will satisfy trademark requirements to actually do something with those precious trademarks. It's use'um or loose'um. And, a computer game that might take years of development, with other people's money, before it's abandoned is perfect for this.
Look at all the trouble the pros at Paizo have had getting video games to work. If they can't do it, I give no chance to Gygax "Trust".ReplyDeleteReplies
Paizo went their own way, did their own thing, worked with a small time publisher, and tried to release a WoW-Clone. Fig is a delivery platform and development pipeline, it doesn't make the games it works with people to make sure the games get done. The best thing the Gygax Trust can do is stay the fuck away from anything else besides putting their name on the logo.Delete
Agreed, if Paizo had made a single player game (a la Baldur's gate or Neverwinter Nights) and/or contracted with a bigger and more capable studio they would likely have been fine. Hopefully the Trust does the same.Delete
This story just gets weirder and weirder...ReplyDelete
I don't think WotC will stop her, just because of the negative publicity, or at least I think they will kind of let this melt down on its own. What really gets me is all the talk about Gary wanting to bring things to digital and communicating with the fans. He had some pretty anti-video game post online a few years before his death (that have msotly been lost to dead servers and/ or taken down)ReplyDelete
Like he just never seemed big on video games, or their value as a role playing medium, and that is the kind of thing people will dig up if this goes anywhere.Replies
...Doesn't mean that some of his unreleased material wouldn't work in computer form and be fun to play. I think this is the aspect some of the grognards are missing here. Pool of Radiance, for instance, was based on 1E AD&D and was fantastic for its day. Who's to say there's not another RPG waiting to be made, based on Gary's unreleased stuff, that will be awesome? But haters are going to hate; it's what they do.Delete
Hasbro will stop her dead to rights if they infringe on any of their IP. They have to. IF they don't then any writer can point to the works and say "Well you didn't sue her, why are you suing me?". Hasbro has to cover their IP regardless of who the author is/was.Delete
What Ja Dd said.Delete
Yeah Ja Dd is right. i was tired, and never really think of ip laws. and im not saying it would make a good game, just that the idea that Gary was really into that rings false to me. The guy who wrote the wither books hates the games, and the third one is loved.Delete
As their partner FIG said: "Once Alex is able to get the Gygax Games website up, that will be another avenue for submissions."ReplyDelete
Who announces a project to license video games without having a website up? Gygax Games, that's who.
The announcement is great for Fig - its getting them more eyes, and close to worthless for Gygax Games. There is no website for folks to bookmark and return to.
The Trust is good at making splashy announcements (Transformers Producer anyone) but coming through? Yeah, not so much.
There's a reason for that. Gail, even when she makes these deals, won't give up any control.
Now, is my post above shit full of snark? I specifically warned it would be. I generally reserve the extra love and attention to those that have threatened me with legal action. Groundlessly, I might add.
This will be, as all things related to the Trust or the Fund, a whole lotta wind and nothing more.
It is the desperate actions of someone who was waiting on a multimillion dollar payday that never happened. Never was going to happen.
The hatred that you have towards Gary Gygax and his family is despicable.ReplyDeleteReplies
You do realize it was Gail and the Gygax Trust that sued Gygax Magazine out of business, right? The magazine that Luke and Ernie were integral parts of and the mag that was beloved by the community. I guess you forgot that.Delete
It was Gail that threatened to sue me for a comment made by a reader here at The Tavern. Not something I said, something said by a reader.
If you ask me If I have any love for Gail, I'll tell you no. The Gygax Memorial Fund is, at best, poorly managed. I don't hate her any more than I hate Kenny or Gareth. I just don't like them all that much for well documented reasons.
As for the Trust, its 10 years now that Gary's works have sat and rotted, hoping for the huge payday that never happened. That payday, if it does happen, will benefit Gail. Possibly Alex. The rest of Gary's kids? Not a dime.
I have nothing but good experiences with Gary when he was alive (we communicated via ENWorld back in the day). Same goes for his kids. Even Alex was gracious when we met as Gary Con IX (he did have choice words regarding me and the "annoyance" I was to his mother, but that was said to another, not me, and I understand why he feels as he does)
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text: I a currently building up a web page template with a program called JetStrap/BootStrap. I have been able to download my project folder which contains my HTML mark up page, and the assets folder containing CSS, images, and JavaScript. My problem, however, is identifying which CSS stylesheet pertains to my HTML. I looked at each CSS stylesheet, and everything seems jumbled up. Currently, my HTML code shows all the HTML, however, it does not show the CSS external stylesheet that belongs to my page. Is there a way to make the stylesheet show in my HTML, so that I can open it and look at it?


text:
Susanne Posel: In June of 2012, Eric Bloom, former chief executive, and Charles Mosely, head trader of Sentinel Management Group (SMG) were indicted for stealing $500 million in customer secured funds. Both Mosely and Bloom were accused of "exposing" customer segregated funds "to a portfolio of highly risky derivatives."
These customer funds were used to "back up personal investments" which were part of "collateral for a loan from Bank of New York Mellon" (BNYM). This loan derived from stolen customer monies was "used to purchase millions of dollars worth of high-risk, illiquid securities, including collateralized debt obligations, or CDOs, for a trading portfolio that benefited Sentinel's officers, including Mosley, Bloom and certain Bloom family members."
Fast forward to August 9th of 2012, and the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals (CCA) rules that BNYM can be moved to first in line of creditors over the customers that had their funds stolen by SMG.
When a banking customer deposits their money into their bank account, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SPIC) are in place to protect the customer from fraud or theft. The ruling from the CCA means that these regulatory systems will not insure customer funds, investments, depositors and retirees who hold accounts in banks. In fact, the banking institution is now legally allowed to use those customer funds deposited as collateral, payment on debts for loans made, or free use on the stock market to purchase investments as the bank sees fit.
Fred Grede, SMG trustee, explained that brokers are no longer required to keep customer money separate from their own. "It does not bode well for the protection of customer funds."