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Greater Rochester Area
K&S Heating, Air Conditioning, Plumbing and Electrical has served south central and south eastern Minnesota and Twin Cities suburbs since 1988. As the largest volume Lennox dealer in the state and one of Carrier's longest operating dealers, K&S has the quality products and expertise to design and install a system for every residential and commercial project. We would be happy to provide you with a free, no obligation, on-site estimate for your home comfort or business needs. K&S looks forward to serving you!
In the south central and south eastern Minnesota areas our sales, service techs, and installers work every week in Rochester, Byron, Stewartville, Chatfield, St. Charles, Plainview, Zumbrota, Kenyon, Zumbro Falls, Oronoco, Pine Island, Faribault, Blooming Prairie, Hayfield, Kasson, Dodge Center, Cannon Falls, Austin, Owatonna, Spring Valley, and Preston.
In the Twin Cites suburbs we serve: Farmington, Lakeville, Apple Valley, Bloomington, Burnsville, Edina, Hopkins, Eagan, Northfield, Rosemount, St. Louis Park, Inver Grove Heights, Shakopee, Prior Lake, Savage, Spring Lake Park, Eden Prairie, Chanhassen, Chaska, Minnetonka, Richfield, Wayzata, and Victoria.
We service almost any area. If you don't see your community listed, CALL US. We will be glad to serve you as well.
4205 Highway 14 West
Rochester, MN 55901
(507) 282-4328
6513 Cecilia Cir.
Edina, MN 55435
(952) 697-4328
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United Way of Lancaster County is closing in on its fund raising goal for 2007-08.
The local office has collected more than $367,000 in contributions from individuals, businesses and other groups as of Thursday.
That amount is about 92 percent of the $400,000 goal.
"We're very confident we'll make our goal this year," United Way executive director Denise Keating said. "I feel very positive about where we are right now, especially due to the economic challenges we've had."
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These exuberant, fruity scents are cool and uplifting as the brand name suggests. Founders Silvio and Guiliana Gerani launched their Iceberg perfume collection shortly after the 1962 brand was born.
Since then their down to earth scents such as Iceberg Twice for him have captivated the senses of all with the woody, spicy aromas intertwined with the gloriously cool top notes of lemon and mint. A spritz of fresh air.


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No brainer college student healthy chicken stew
Submitted by Olivia T.
- Whole cooked and seasoned roast chicken from grocery store.
- Chopped celery of desired amount
- Chopped mushrooms
- Chopped onions
- Chopped carrots
- Any other veggies of your choice ( squash, cucumber, tomatoe etc)
- Pull the chicken meat into shreds, dump them along with the bones in the pot.
- Dump in all the veggies
- Add 2-3 cups of water. May vary depending in the serving size
- Push "Stew"
- Remove the bones, add salt to taste and serve over pasta or rice


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Monday, April 16, 2012
Wheat Belly? Wheat BERRY!
Diet books come and go - the shelves are filled with titles that generally go unnoticed. Every once in a while there comes a book that, as a dietitian who works with the public, you just know you have to read. Wheat Belly, by William Davis MD, is one of them. Actually, it is probably THE book to read in 2012 if you are interested in this sort of thing.
The premise of the book (spoiler alert!) is that wheat (and gluten - for which he uses the term "wheat" incorrectly and interchangeably) is the reason we are sick, fat and inflamed. To his credit, Dr Davis (and/or his editor at Rodale) knows how to spin a yarn. He has a very convincing and direct style - the only acceptable conclusion to the information he presents is that wheat makes us ill. In fact, Dr Davis' writing would be very much at home on the gossip sites - such is his sensational story-telling style. His arguments might be very convincing, until you look a little closer.
Core to his argument is that modern wheat has been cross-bred to the point that it barely resembles the wheat we ate even 50 years ago. I won't argue that our 42 chromosome modern wheat is anything like the 14 chromosome einkorn wheat and that, according to a baker friend of mine, it is "much stronger" than wheat commonly used in Europe. It is also true that Celiac Disease is increasing in numbers; it is estimated that 1 in 133 of us have Celiac Disease and we might not even know it. And non-Celiac gluten sensitivity is also on the rise. Dr Alessio Fasano, one of the heavyweights of Celiac research, estimates that 6% of us have gluten sensitivity. So for those of us who fall into those categories, wheat and gluten do make us sick. But those numbers do not equal 100%. Dr Davis is a cardiologist, not a Celiac specialist.
My biggest concern with the book are the Swiss cheese-like holes in his logic and the way he cherry picks his evidence to support his arguments. Dr Davis makes the case that the molecular structure of wheat causes it to raise your blood sugar more than any other food. Then he tells you that you must also avoid most gluten free alternatives because they also raise your blood sugar. If it truly was the wheat/gluten (which one is it?) raising your blood sugar, then shouldn't gluten free options not have the same effect? In reality, it is all of our processed wheat products that wreak havoc with our blood sugar - any processed grain food, be it rice, oat or quinoa will do the same. Dr Davis knows that - his diet plan is pretty low on grains of any sort. Here are just a couple more of his transgressions:
1. Dr Davis claims that gluten acts like an opium-like drug in our system, making it addictive. To back up his argument, he cites a study from 1979 which used a concentrated gluten sample that had 10,000 times more opiate-like activity than the original 100g sample of gluten it was derived from. If you drank a glass of wine that had 10,000 times the alcohol...you wouldn't be so alive. The poison is in the dose.
2. Dr Davis also claims that newly diagnosed Celiacs lose weight when they eliminate gluten. The study he incorrectly cites to back his claim actually found that 82% of already overweight patients gained even more weight on a gluten free diet. People with Celiac Disease generally have malabsorption issues; as their gut heals and they are better able to absorb nutrients, weight gain isn't uncommon. In addition, many gluten free foods have lower fibre than their gluten-containing counterparts - making them easy to overeat and contributing to weight gain.
Yes, but....
I agree with Dr Davis on this: wheat has a large part to play in our current diabesity epidemic. But it isn't the wheat itself - our biggest sin is what we have done to the incredibly nutritious wheat berry. And the fact that we eat it 4-6 times a day in place of healthier foods like fruits, vegetables and beans. I have never met anyone who had blood sugar issues or uncontrolled appetite or weight gain from eating a wheat berry salad. I will bet $20 that many of you have never actually seen a wheat berry! Take a peek here. Cup for cup, they are higher in fibre than quinoa and have almost as much protein. And we call quinoa a superfood. Using more sound logic, by that rationale, wheat berries should be superfood too.
I have met a few people who have lost significant amounts of weight on Dr Davis' plan. And the internet is packed with glowing testimonials. That his plan works is not part of the debate. If you, like most North Americans, gave up all the processed wheat products you currently eat there wouldn't be much left but a bit of meat and a few veg. You would be, in fact, on a low carb plan much like Atkins or South Beach. Those plans help you lose weight because they replace high calorie, unsatisfying food with very satisfying options that result in a lower calorie intake.
Dr Davis knows this. He also would know, after years of counselling, that people will have less trouble following a diet plan if the rules are clear and concrete. If wheat and gluten are poison, it is easier to rationalize avoidance of a whole food group. It takes willpower out of the equation somewhat because the overarching diet philosophy is so black and white. If you simply hear that you should "try and avoid processed grain foods" which is the kind of sane nutrition advice a dietitian would give - it requires you to make constant judgements about the definition of processed, how much is too much, etc. Much easier to rationalize falling off the wagon.
Do the ends justify the means?
What bothers me most about this book is that it further confuses an already confused public, nutritionally speaking. Yes, you can lose weight by avoiding processed grain foods like cereals, granola bars and cookies. No, wheat is NOT the same as gluten. Wheat contains gluten but so do other grains such as rye, barley, spelt and commercial oats. Eating a wheat berry will not cause the health effects outlined in Wheat Belly (unless you are gluten sensitive or intolerant, in which any crumb of gluten will trigger a reaction). If you think gluten-containing foods are causing illness, you should go and get the tTg blood test to screen for Celiac Disease so you can get the medical care you need and nutrition support to help you fully adopt a gluten free diet for life. Because a lot of foods that have nothing to do with bread - BBQ sauce, ice creams and trail mixes - contain gluten.
Yes, wheat contributes to weight gain but only because we abuse it, not because it is some franken-plant. Sure, having a diet rich in processed (usually wheat) foods can contribute to acne but only because unstable blood sugars lead to acne-promoting inflammation and usually leave a person without much in the way of nutrition to support healthy skin. Switch all your processed wheat to wheat berries and let's see what happens.
The bottom line
If you take one thing away from Wheat Belly (and this review!), I hope it is this - we are not meant to eat wheat 6 times a day and we should not eat such poor quality, processed wheat foods all the time. Just please don't allow his mis-information to cloud your mind. You are savvy, intuitive eaters - real food brings health, processed food diminishes it. Now go enjoy an apple. You know, to keep Dr Davis away.
A HUGE thank you to Melissa Baker, Marianne Bloudoff, Kim Lucas - three very savvy future dietitians - who took the time to dig deep into the science behind Wheat Belly. Marianne has her own blog, French Fries to Flaxseeds. Follow her on Twitter here. Melissa, who has been one of my amazing volunteers this year, also has a Twitter page here.
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Desiree on Daily Perricone
|Photo courtesy of my amazing partner-in-crime, Heather McColl RD.
Today, my dear readers, is a first! The Fresh Sheet, my local food recipe blog with Heather McColl RD, is a guest blogger for the Daily Perricone blog. If you haven't heard of Daily Perricone, Dr Nicholas Perricone is an NYC dermatologist, author and formulator of the PerriconeMD skincare line. How do a couple of foodie dietitians fit in? Dr Perricone is a pioneer in connecting our health, and the health of our skin, to chronic inflammation and recognizing the role that a healthful diet plays in helping to squelch inflammation.
Starting today and for the next 3 Wednesdays, we will feature the health and beauty benefits of four super foods and each following Thursday will feature a delicious vegetarian anti-inflammatory recipe inspired by the season from us Fresh Sheet gals. I hope you will join us on the Daily Perricone! Now, if only we could actually go to NYC...foodie road trip!
Monday, April 2, 2012
The 21 Day Vegan Kickstart Begins Today!
Spring is always a great time to re-evaluate where you are at health-wise, especially when it comes to healthy eating. It's time to shake off the rich food that we hibernate with all winter long. If you have been curious about vegan diets, why not join the 21 Day Vegan Kickstart?
It is a free online program supported by the Physician's Committee for Responsible Medicine and features a free 21 day meal plan, daily celebrity coaches providing tips and support and plenty of surprises.
I was on BT Vancouver this morning talking about the program. If you are interested in learning more, visit www.21daykickstart.org
It is a free online program supported by the Physician's Committee for Responsible Medicine and features a free 21 day meal plan, daily celebrity coaches providing tips and support and plenty of surprises.
I was on BT Vancouver this morning talking about the program. If you are interested in learning more, visit www.21daykickstart.org
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There's high youth unemployment around the world, despite a multitude of job vacancies.
Blame the skills shortage, which 39 percent of employers say is preventing them from filling entry level jobs, according to a McKinsey report. Meanwhile in most of the world, less than half of students think their educations prepare them for employment.
Employers know what we're doing isn't working. Students know it as well. But educational institutions apparently don't, which may be preventing them from making needed changes, as this chart from a McKinsey survey indicates:
While students prefer hands-on and on the job learning and feel it's more effective, even vocational schools don't always make it a priority:
Finally, despite leaders and pundits praising vocational training, few parents want to send their own kids to those schools. McKinsey found that every surveyed country except Germany values academic paths over vocational ones:
Solutions may require (1) educators changing their perspective, (2) employers investing more in training raise wages when skills are in short supply, (3) and societies changing some deeply held preferences.
Demand and demographic trends mean that unless we start those changes soon, the shortage of highly skilled workers will only increase.
NOW READ: Don't Complain About The Skills Gap If You Won't Pay Or Train Anybody


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ARLINGTON, Texas, March 17, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- First Cash Financial Services, Inc. (Nasdaq:FCFS) ("First Cash") today announced the private offering of $200 million aggregate principal amount of its senior notes due 2021 (the "Notes"). The Notes will be offered only to qualified institutional buyers in accordance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), and outside the United States in accordance with Regulation S under the Securities Act. First Cash intends to use the net proceeds from the sale of the Notes in connection with the repayment of all amounts outstanding under its revolving credit facility, to pay certain other indebtedness in full and for general corporate purposes. The Notes will not be registered under the Securities Act or under any state securities laws. Therefore, First Cash may not offer or sell the Notes within the United States to, or for the account or benefit of, any United States person unless the offer or sale would qualify for a registration exemption from the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any of the Notes nor does it constitute an offer, solicitation or sale in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale is unlawful. Forward-looking Statements This release contains forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 relating to future events of First Cash. Such statements are only predictions and involve risks and uncertainties, resulting in the possibility that the actual events or performances will differ materially from such predictions. About First Cash Founded in 1988, First Cash is a leading international operator of pawn stores. First Cash focuses on serving cash and credit constrained consumers through its retail pawn locations, which buy and sell a wide variety of jewelry, electronics, tools and other merchandise, and make small consumer pawn loans secured by pledged personal property. Today, First Cash owns and operates over 910 stores in 12 U.S. states and 26 states in Mexico.
First Cash is a component company in both the Standard & Poor's SmallCap 600 Index® and the Russell 2000 Index®. First Cash's common stock (ticker symbol "FCFS") is traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market, which has the highest initial listing standards of any stock exchange in the world based on financial and liquidity requirements.
CONTACT: For further information, please contact: Gar Jackson Global IR Group Phone: (949) 873-2789 Email: firstname.lastname@example.com Doug Orr, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Phone: (817) 505-3199 Email: firstname.lastname@example.com Website: www.firstcash.com


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AppGrooves offers Best 10 Apps & Games for over 600 categories so you don't have to. Learn more.
Best 195 Apps for "Transit Information"
The Best 195 Apps for "Transit Information", reviewed and ranked for you from over 6 million apps, in 600 categories.
Tap a button, get a ride.
Uber Technologies, Inc.500M+ Maps & NavigationFree
- #2 in Best Taxi & Ride Sharing Apps
- Free
- Feature Rich
- 1M+ Reviews
- Editor's Choice
Waze - GPS, Maps, Traffic Alerts & Live Navigation
Save time on every drive. Waze tells you about traffic, police, crashes & more
Waze100M+ Maps & NavigationFree
- #1 in Best Traffic Alerts Apps
- Free
- Feature Rich
- 1M+ Reviews
- Editor's Choice
Grab - Transport, Food Delivery, Payments
Enjoy safe and reliable rides, food delivery and cashless payments in one app
Grab Holdings100M+ Maps & NavigationFree
- #16 in Best Taxi & Ride Sharing Apps
- Free
- Feature Rich
- 1M+ Reviews
- Editor's Choice
Gojek - Ojek Taxi Booking, Delivery and Payment
Find transport, get food and fulfill payment needs faster. Grab our app now.
PT. Aplikasi Karya Anak BangsaFree
- 6,776 users said "helpful"
- Free
- Feature Rich
- 1M+ Reviews
Where is my Train : Indian Railway Train Status
Highest rated train app - Timetable & running status without internet - No Ads
Sigmoid Labs and its AffiliatesFree Install
- 4,109 users said "accurate information"
- Free
- Feature Rich
- Fresh
- 1M+ Reviews
Uber Driver
Be your own boss with Uber.
Uber Technologies, Inc.50M+ BusinessFree
- #1 in Best Taxi & Ride Sharing Apps
- Free
- Feature Rich
- 1M+ Reviews
- Editor's Choice
Sygic GPS Navigation & Maps
Sygic - GPS Navigation offers reliable offline maps and real-time traffic info.
- #3 in Best GPS & Navigation Apps
- Free
- Feature Rich
- In App Purchases
- 1M+ Reviews
Sygic GPS Navigation & Maps
Sygic - GPS Navigation offers reliable offline maps and real-time traffic info.
- #3 in Best GPS & Navigation Apps
- Free
- Feature Rich
- In App Purchases
- 1M+ Reviews
- Editor's Choice
IRCTC Train PNR Status, NTES Rail Running Status
India's Highest Rated 🏆 Rail App For IRCTC Train Bookings & PNR Status 🚂
ixigo - India's most trusted travel appFree
- 1,407 users said "excellent experience"
- Free
- Feature Rich
- 1M+ Reviews
Ola. Get rides on-demand
Book Cab, Auto, Taxi, Share cabs, Car rentals. Plan Outstation Trips & Tours
- #4 in Best Transportation Apps
- Free
- Feature Rich
- 1M+ Reviews
- Editor's Choice
Broad Search:First, we ran a broad search across our database of 7 million apps to identify apps with "Transit Information" feature. We obtained 195 apps as candidates.
Filter only high-quality apps:We then selected the highest quality apps from the 195 apps listed. We compared the number of stars, downloads, and reviews along with the velocity of these apps to create a list of the Best 195 Apps for "Transit Information" for both Android & iOS.
- If you are interested in learning more about our process, find out here.
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Movie Showtimes
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Courting controversy, Danish designer Magnhild Disington has created a range of USB sticks covered in real fur, because without fur they're "neutral in appearance and lack emotional appeal." Err...okaay.
Trying to make a point, but failing somewhere in the execution of it, Disington uses leftover pieces of fur which would normally have been thrown away, to cover the USB sticks. This, she says:
"provide unique character and sensory experiences which create emotional value within the physical product."
Still no kitten ear USB sticks, though. [Magnhild Disington via Core77]


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- Home
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- Spring 2017 Getting Started
- General, Non-Lecture-Specific Questions
- Domains of Life; Prokaryotic vs. Eukaryotic Cells
- Carbohydrates
- Proteins and Enzymes
- Nucleic Acid Structure and General Features
- Lipids and Biomembranes
- Energy and Metabolism
- DNA Structure and Replication
- Transcription and RNA Processing
- Translation
- The Nucleus and its Functional Domains
- Mutations
- Nucleo-Cytoplasmic Exchange
- Mitochondria
- Endoplasmic Reticulum
- Golgi Apparatus
- Lysosomes
- Actin and Myosin
- Microtubules
- The Cell Cycle and Events of M-Phase
- Genetic Regulation and the Lactose Operon
- Mobil Genetic Elements -- Viruses and Plasmids
- Genetic Engineering and Recombinant DNA Technology
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Nucleo-Cytoplasmic Exchange
Keeping in mind the fact that cells like to be as efficient as possible, why is it that some mRNA is translated in one place and then again transported to another place? Why would they have such signals that tell it to go to one place to be translated then go to another?
Actually, with regard to translation, it's an either/or situation. Either you're translated in the cytoplasm, or you're translated at the surface of the ER. The one thing that all proteins have in common that are translated at the ER is that there are parts (or all) of them that are never supposed to see the cytoplasm. So it makes sense to synthesize them in the ER, where they can maintain their separation from the cytoplasm at all times on their journey. You may be wondering why not translate at the Golgi if you're supposed to end up in the Golgi, but as we'll see, the Golgi is busy enough already with its own jobs. So it really does "obey" the efficiency theory that you suggested. But just because it's as efficient as possible doesn't make it easy!
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Sounders FC
Marshall, Alonso added to MLS All-Star team roster
Sounders midfielder Osvaldo Alonso and defender Chad Marshall were named to the MLS All-Star roster Saturday, joining teammates midfielder Clint Dempsey, forward Obafemi Martins and defender DeAndre Yedlin, who were voted in earlier by fans.
Five All-Stars are the most in Sounders FC history, and also the most from one team in Major League Soccer this season.
The All-Stars will play German power Bayern Munich at 6:30 p.m. Aug. 6 at Providence Park in Portland. The match will be broadcast on ESPN2.
"It always feels great when they call you and tell you're an All-Star," said Alonso, who was named to his fourth consecutive All-Star roster. "… It's always great to be there with your teammates: Clint, Oba, DeAndre and Chad. It's exciting for me. I'm very happy for all of us."
All-Star coach Caleb Porter of Portland and MLS commissioner Don Garber filled out the game-day roster Saturday, adding a dozen players to the 11 previously selected by fan voting.
"(Bayern Munich is) one of the top teams in the world," Alonso said. "They have a few players that won the World Cup. It's going to be a tough game, a good game, and we just have to go down there and play our game."
Among the highlights on the Sounders' match with Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday was the participation of Xander Bailey, an 18-year-old who spent the second half of the week with his favorite team through the Make-a-Wish Foundation. (MLS and ESPN reported that Bailey is suffering from cystic fibrosis, although Sounders FC has not publicized the nature of his illness.)
Bailey took the opening pass from Dempsey and put a shot on goal before watching the rest of the match from the bench. After the 3-3 result, he walked off the pitch arm-in-arm with Yedlin, who gave Bailey his jersey.
"I saw the look in his eyes, and I could tell he was overwhelmed and so appreciative," coach Sigi Schmid said. "It makes for a day that I know he will never forget. Our guys will never forget it either."
After drawing a season-high 64,207 against Portland last weekend, the Sounders drew 55,349 Saturday for Tottenham, combining for a two-game attendance of 119,556. "This matches some of the best crowds we had (at the World Cup) in Brazil," Yedlin said. "So it's an amazing atmosphere, and it's the best in MLS; so I feel lucky to play here." … Midfielder Aaron Long was in a Sounders uniform for the first time Saturday. Long, 21, is a midfielder from the University of California-Riverside, who had been a second-round pick by the Portland Timbers in the 2014 MLS SuperDraft. Seattle announced his signing on Friday. … Sounders veteran David Estrada contributed a goal and an assist in 90 minutes Saturday as USL-Pro Charlotte defeated Dayton, 2-1. That concludes his loan, and he is expected to return to Seattle this week.


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Palladium Books® Weekly Update – Sept. 29, 2011
By Kevin Siembieda
It is time to put up or shut our doors.
And I have no intention of seeing Palladium shut its doors. I am motivated like never before, and that has things rockin' at Palladium Books – House of Ideas.
We have our new staff super-writer, Matthew Clements, on board to crank out books. He has been helping out on all fronts and is a team player who is quick to do whatever is needed. And he writes pretty darn well, too. ;)
Ideas for current and new titles are flying through my head like crazy.
We have creators – old and new – breaking down our door to do new work with Palladium Books, which is awesome. On the creative end, we are rockin' like never before. And gamers are going to benefit from one awesome new book after another.
So where are we right now? Driven to create and release one great new product after another throughout the rest of 2011 and into 2012. We'll make them so you can buy them and have a blast.
UPDATE: The Rifter #56. As I write this, Wayne is half-finished with the issue and it should go to the printer tomorrow or Monday. It's another fun combination of source material that should provoke and delight your imaginations for several different world settings. It will see release in October.
UPDATE: Rifts® World Book 32: Lemuria. This book is coming along nicely. I think people are going to go crazy for it. Lemuria is just the first of three titles Greg Diazyck has been working on. Rifts® New Navy is next (it's mostly written) with more to follow.
UPDATE: Robotech® New Generation™ Sourcebook. The text and the initial batches of artwork are in Harmony Gold's hands. Art should be finished next week. It will see release in October.
UPDATE: Rifts® Vampires Sourcebook™ is two-thirds finished. It will see release in November.
UPDATE: Dead Reign™ Sourcebook Three: Endless Dead is half done. It will see release in November. It is written by me, Kevin Siembieda, and Matthew Clements.
UPDATE: Rifts®/Minion War™: Megaverse® in Flames™. This is Carl Gleba's latest chapter in the Minion War™ series. It is waiting to be scheduled for final edit and rewrites. I've talked to a few artists about it and will begin to assign the art for it in a week or two. It should see release this December!
UPDATE: Robotech®: Genesis Pits™ is in the process of being written by Irvin Jackson. It should see release in December or January (we're shooting for December). Two more Robotech® books to follow.
2012 Releases in the Pipeline
Rifts® Black Market™, written by Matthew Clements, is in the can and waiting to be scheduled for final edit and rewrites.
Rifts® Antarctica, written by Matthew Clements, is in the can and waiting to be scheduled for final edit and rewrites.
Rifts® Northern Gun™ One and Two are in the process of being written by Matthew Clements, plus he and I have plans for several other titles.
Two Chaos Earth™ Sourcebooks are done and waiting to be scheduled for final edit and rewrites. One is guaranteed to blow your mind.
Plus we have several other sourcebooks in the process of being written by a number of freelancer writers for 2012 release, including at least one Heroes Unlimited™ sourcebook, one Nightbane® sourcebook, and two more Robotech® sourcebooks, among others.
My personal goal for 2012 is to see the following long-awaited books released in 2012: Land of the Damned Three for Palladium Fantasy®, Mysteries of Magic™ Two for Palladium Fantasy, and Tome Grotesque™ and Beyond Arcanum™ for Beyond the Supernatural™. There has also been some discussion about Mechanoid Space™ and Warpath™, but no promises.
We are pumped up about the future of Palladium Books. I'm bringing new people on board to insure we continue to pump out high-quality product that will thrill and excite.
What's your role in this?
Be part of the excitement. Spread the word and buy these dang books. Palladium continues to struggle in the aftermath of the Crisis of Treachery (yes, still). A number of setbacks in recent years hurt our maintaining a sustained recovery, including the illness of key people and the loss of friends and family very close to us, like Erick Wujcik, Henry Siembieda, and others. The uncertain global economy has not helped one bit.
"Never give up! Never surrender!"
Yes, I'm quoting Galaxy Quest. I want you to know we haven't given up. We press forward with high hopes and renewed energy. We have a million ideas for new books and are itching to produce them. We are creating and about to release a string of RPG sourcebooks that we think will rock your role-playing world. Please buy them. Hype them. Have a blast playing them. And be a very vocal and positive part of the Palladium community. Spread the excitement by telling other gamers and talk about them online. Don't worry, we'll be giving you plenty to crow about.
This is our big push, and we need your help to make it a success and put Palladium back on solid ground once and for all. To guarantee our success, we're asking you to be part of the push and to enjoy the fruits of our unchecked imaginations. That includes taking advantage of our annual Christmas Surprise Package – also known as the "Palladium Grab Bag."
2011 Palladium Christmas Surprise Package
You save a ton of money, enjoy the anticipation of the Surprise Package's arrival, and you have the "surprise" of not knowing what is inside. That's why we ask for a list of 8-12 items and often add an item or two not on your list. That way, you don't know what's inside. It makes your order just like a Christmas present! When a Christmas present is handed to you, you don't know what it contains and that's part of the fun. The Christmas Surprise Packages offer that same thrill.
To make the Christmas Surprise Packages even more special, the Palladium staff and I, as well as any freelance artists or writers who happen to step into the Palladium offices, are happy to autograph each and every book. For many gamers, especially in other countries, this is the only way they can get autographs from Palladium creators.
And speaking of Christmas presents, use the Palladium Christmas Surprise Package to wow a friend with $80-$100 worth of role-playing goodies, for only $38 plus shipping! Or use the Palladium Christmas Surprise Package to get a present for two or more of your friends. Or even as a treat for yourself. Make sure you let your wives, husbands, parents, and friends know if you'd like a Christmas Surprise Package – and make sure they have a good idea of what you want. Please let the members of your gaming group, game store buddies and other friends and gamers know about the Surprise Packages, so they can enjoy them too. We only advertise the Christmas Grab Bags on the Palladium website and in The Rifter®. We count on word of mouth to do the rest.
Is it worth getting the Christmas Surprise Package? Those of you who have been buying them for years know it most certainly is. For those of you who have not tried one yet, read the many testimonials and reports from happy recipients of the Surprise Packages on the Palladium website. Or maybe it's time to take the plunge and see what all the excitement is about. Take my word for it, this is fun and well worth the money. Buy one or ten, you won't be disappointed.
The Christmas Surprise Packages are a lot of work for us. I hand pick EVERY item that goes into EVERY Grab Bag to make sure each Surprise Package is special and will put a smile on the person's face. Next, we all sign every single book (unless you don't want signatures). Then, Julius and Alex package them all up and ship them out. Ah, but it is a labor of love. Each Christmas Surprise Package is our way of saying thank you to all of you. Our way of showing you that you matter to us, that you are special and very appreciated. We take pride in our work and joy in knowing the Grab Bags put smiles on the faces of gamers around the world. Making you happy, makes us happy.
Get all the details about the Palladium Christmas Surprise Package in this Weekly Update and in Palladium's Online Store.
I didn't intend to make this Weekly Update all about the Christmas Surprise Packages, but it seems to have turned into that. I just don't want people to miss out. Every year, as loved ones get ill or die, it seems more important to reach out to other people while we still can. This is our way of reaching out to you. Please take our hands and enjoy the Grab Bags. You can start placing orders now, but we won't start shipping them until October 11. That works well for us, because we have time to make the first week or two orders special.
Other news briefs:
I had a blast at Detroit FanFare. It was great to see Kevin Eastman as well as a many other pals I hadn't seen in years, including Tim Bradstreet, Dave Dorman (who wants to do more covers for us), William Messner-Loebs, Tom Orzechowski, Mike Kucharski, Arvell Jones, Gary Reed, and others. Unfortunately, the event was not a financial success and I hope the organizers can survive the poor showing, because the event was fun, fun, fun.
Alex's health is much improved. His blood condition is well under control and should be manageable from this point forward.
Kevin's Online Toys & Collectibles Store. I continue to put Palladium collectibles and toys out of my personal collection up for sale at my Ebay store. Palladium collectibles such as proofreader copies of books, original artwork, out of print books, posters, and other rare items have been selling lightning fast, so if these are things you may be interested in, you might want to check the store a couple times a week. Alex has been putting up new Palladium items every 2-3 days. Thank you for your interest and purchases. I'm always flattered when my artwork or old Palladium stuff sells. FYI: We're trying to keep prices low, but as I begin to run out of many old books and prints (and art!), prices have to go up. The store address is: http://stores.ebay.com/kevinstoys-artandcollectibles
Kathy Simmons is creating one Halloween masterpiece after another. Go to QueenofGhouls.com to see for yourself.
Today is the last day for the 30th Anniversary Sales on the Robotech® RPG and two sourcebooks, the 3 Palladium RPG books, and the super-sale on 3 Rifts® art books. These three sales end at midnight tonight, so TODAY is your last chance to get them.
Your well wishes may help
This Weekly Update is so fun and positive I hate to bring up some sad news, but I must. Erick Wujcik's love of his life, Kathryn Kozora, has cancer and is doing very poorly. I'm hoping a few hundred of you will be kind enough to send her "get well" cards or "thank you" cards, or "thinking of you" cards, or warm and positive letters to cheer her up and buoy her spirits. I'm told her daughter reads her every card and letter she receives. I think getting a bunch from us gamers who she secretly adored from behind the shadow of Erick Wujcik would make her happy.
Though you may never have heard her name, Kay Kozora is important to role-playing games. In addition to being the love of Erick Wujick's life, and sticking with him through thick and thin for 30+ years, she encouraged his creativity. Without Kay, there might not have been an Amber Role-Playing Game or Amber Con.
To Erick, she was his "Beautiful Kate." No matter who or how many people might be in the room, when Kay would call him, Erick would pick up his cell phone and say with a smile, "Hello, My Beautiful Kate." She encouraged all his creative ventures, helped Erick through his bouts of depression (Erick suffered from manic-depression), and they traveled all over the world together.
To me, Kay Kozora has been one of Palladium's investors and one of our staunchest supporters. She has never bailed on Palladium no matter how bad things got, has never pressured me about money, forgave debts, and is always more concerned about me and my physical health and state of mind than anything else. She is my dear friend and I love her. We all do.
Now she needs our love and support through a difficult period. So I ask of you, please find the time to send this very special lady a card or a note. Anything just to say, "You are special and appreciated." I'm sure well wishes will improve her spirits. You can also tell her about how special Erick Wujcik was to you. She loves hearing stories about Erick and how he touched people's lives. It is my understanding she's too weak to read emails or respond on the computer, which is why I recommend a card or short letter. Send them to:
Kathryn Kozora
310 First Street #10 Apt.
San Rafael, CA 94901-3711
Can my beautiful friend win her battle with cancer? We don't know. I sure hope so. The planet is a better place with caring and kind people like her and Erick in the world. Our prayers are with you, Kay. Hang tough.
– Kevin Siembieda, September 2011
2011 Christmas Surprise Package
– Available now thru December 23, 2011
Every year for the last 13 or 14 years now, Palladium offers a Christmas Surprise Package – our way of saying thank you to our fans and helping to make your Christmas a little more fun and special.
We left fans thrilled with what they received last year and we plan to make this year's Surprise Packages as thrilling and fun as ever.
What is a Palladium Christmas Surprise Package?
$80-$90 (or more!) worth of Palladium Books product for only $38 plus shipping and handling. A minimum of eighty dollars ($80) retail. Sometimes much more! Santa Kevin wants to make gamers squeal with delight and often packs in $90-$100 worth of goodies.
It's a surprise package because you never know exactly what you're going to get or who will sign your books. We try to include many of the items on your "wish list," but we'll surprise you with stuff you are not expecting. Things like a special print(s), or issues of The Rifter®, or a Palladium RPG or sourcebook(s) or other items that we think you might enjoy. Plus you can ask for unusual items like a signed photograph of Kevin Siembieda, or Kevin and the staff (it's a new photo this year), or out of print books (as suggested here), or special gold editions (as suggested here), art prints, and maybe even some original art. All items are "handpicked" by Kevin Siembieda from YOUR "wish list." ALL with autographs if you want them. For many of you, this is the only way to get autographs!
Yep, it's our way of saying thank you to our loyal fans, delivering a little Christmas cheer, and putting a smile on the faces of some big kids.
When can you order? Right now!
Now till December 23, 2011. HOWEVER, we are NOT likely to ship the first batch before October 11, 2010. But ordering now will give us ample time to put the first rush of orders together and make them truly special.
Note: Orders received by Palladium after December 14th can NOT be guaranteed to arrive before Christmas. Likewise, Palladium makes no promise that orders sent to countries outside the USA or to military bases will be received before December 25th regardless of when they are placed. The first orders WILL NOT be filled before October 11, 2011.
Spread the word
The Christmas Surprise Package is only publicized by word of mouth, to readers of The Rifter® and on Palladium's website – www.palladiumbooks.com – so tell everyone you know. Buy one for every gamer you know and have a very Merry Christmas.
The Cost
$38.00 plus shipping and handling (usually another $10-$15), approximately $48-$53 total for most purchasers in the USA, about $15-$20 more to Canada. Shipping overseas is about twice the cost to Canada. Our apologies to our friends outside the USA. We are only passing along the postal rates of Priority International Mail (typically 4-8 days delivery; anything weighing more than 4 pounds must ship Priority Mail). But for most of you, this is the only way you'll ever be able to get autographed books, limited edition prints, artwork or unique items. Plus, we always try to make the orders going to countries outside of North America extra special.
Credit card orders are welcomed. Visa and MasterCard are preferred, but we accept most cards. Place orders online, by mail, or by telephone at 734-721-2903; this is an order line only.
Send Mail Orders to: Palladium Books – Dept. X – 39074
Webb Court – Westland, MI 48185-7606.
Multiple orders WILL result in some duplication.
What you get
● $80-$90 or MORE worth of Palladium goodies. A minimum of eighty dollars ($80) retail in Palladium product, probably more! Sometimes much more! Santa Kevin wants to make this year's Christmas Surprise Packages as spectacular as the last couple of years in which we've blown people's minds. With the lingering uncertain economy and gloominess of the times, we want to lift your spirits and help you have fun gaming.
● Autographs from Kevin Siembieda, available staff and freelance artists and writers. If you "request" autographs we'll sign every book in your box! For many, especially those across the country and overseas, this is the only way they are likely to get autographs from Kevin Siembieda and crew. Take advantage of it. Many people find autographs make the item that much more special and valuable, and we are happy to oblige. Get 'em while you can.
If you do NOT want autographs, please state – "No autographs."
If you do NOT want T-shirts, please write – "No T-shirts."
● Each order is "handpicked" by Kevin Siembieda from a "wish list" you provide! Please list at least 8-12 items that you know are in stock. PLEASE do not list books you know are out of print; you will not get them.
● Sketches by Palladium artists. Kevin Siembieda, Mark Dudley, Kent Burles and possibly other artists have created some quick sketches or original art from printed books to drop into some of the Surprise Packages, but you MUST ASK FOR ONE to even be considered.
● Special items may include out of print books (only use titles suggested here), gold editions, art prints, posters, greeting cards, art books, T-shirts, coffee mugs, and other items.
● The Grab Bag makes a wonderful gift for Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanza, birthdays, or anniversaries for the gamers in your life. Since there will be so much in every Surprise Package, ordering just one might enable you to give books to two or more pals. Of course, you never know what we might select from your list, so that might be a little risky.
● Impress your friends with a gift worth $80 or more for a cost of only $38 (plus shipping and handling).
● Fill holes in your own collection or get books and product you've been meaning to get or have been eyeballing longingly.
● Fun and surprise. As a "grab bag/surprise package" you never know exactly what you will receive, but that's the fun "surprise" part of this offer, and we always try to send as many of your "special wants" as we can (at least three, almost always more). Extra items may include other RPG books, The Rifter®, posters, prints, art books, T-shirts, greeting cards, back stock items, uncut covers, original finished art or sketches, and other items or a surprise or two.
Multiple orders WILL result in some duplication.
If you ask for signatures, every book will be signed by Kevin Siembieda and available staff members and freelancers. Note: If you do NOT want autographs, please state – "No autographs." If you do not want to be considered for a T-shirt, write – "No T-shirts." If you get duplicate items, give them away to your friends.
Your "Wish List"
Important! To insure your X-Mas Surprise Package is everything you want it to be, send us a wish list of your "wants." The more items listed, the more likely you are to get items you want. List them in order of preference – at least 8 items, but 10 or more is better. That way, you don't know what you're getting and we have a large selection to choose from, making it fun for you and easier on us. Thanks.
PLEASE do not ask for books you know are not yet available or out of print like Palladium Fantasy® Crimson Hardcover, Tome Grotesque™, UEEF Marines™, or Mechanoid Space®.
Note: Santa Kev and his elves are NOT mind readers. If you do not give us a clear idea of your wants, you may be disappointed by what comes in your Surprise Package.
You do NOT make our job easier when you say something like "I own everything, surprise me," or "I don't care, anything special." It makes our job much, much more difficult. We want to make each Grab Bag special, but because we don't know you or what books you own, like or want, we do not have a clue as to what to send you unless you give us a variety of items on your list.
Please say something like this: "I own it all, but would love any duplicate Fantasy books signed by the Palladium crew." Or "I have most of it, surprise me with T-shirts or unique items like signed prints, T-Shirts or a coffee mug, if available," and so on. BETTER YET, list 8-12 books or specific items on your wish list.
Ideas for "Special Wants" in your X-Mas Surprise Package
Here are some ideas for your "wish list." Make sure your "wish list" is filled in on the X-Mas Surprise Package order form. Thank you.
● Rifts® Ultimate Edition hardcover rule book.
● Rifts® core books like Rifts® G.M. Guide, Rifts® Book of Magic, and Rifts® Adventure Guide.
● For Rifts®: Rifts® Vampire Kindgoms™ Expanded (new), Rifts® Vampires Sourcebook (a November release), Rifts® Lemuria (new), Triax 2™, D-Bees of North America (86 D-Bees), Shemarrian Nation™, Dimensional Outbreak™, Thundercloud Galaxy™, Fleets of the Three Galaxies™, Heroes of the Megaverse®, Three Galaxies™, Tales of the Chi-Town 'Burbs™ (short stories), Rifts® Machinations of Doom™ (graphic novel and sourcebook), Rifts® & the Megaverse® – the Art of John Zeleznik (soft cover art book or the $50 hardcover), the Zeleznik Coloring Book, Rifts® Sourcebook One Revised, Juicer Uprising™, Rifts® South America, Rifts® Australia, Rifts® Mercenaries, Rifts® MercTown™, Rifts® Merc Ops™, Rifts® Merc Adventures, Rifts® WB 28: Arzno™, Rifts® WB 29: Madhaven™, Siege on Tolkeen/Coalition Wars® series, Chaos Earth™ RPG, sourcebooks and more!
● Looking for Rifts® high-tech source material? Consider Rifts® Game Master Guide, Naruni Wave 2™, Rifts® Sourcebook One, Coalition War Campaign™, Coalition Navy™, Free Quebec, Triax & the NGR™, Triax™ 2, Rifts® Mercenaries, Rifts® New West™, Rifts® Atlantis, among others.
● Looking for Rifts® magic and monsters? Consider Rifts® Book of Magic, Federation of Magic™, Rifts® Atlantis, Rifts® South America Two, Rifts® Spirit West™, Rifts® China 1 & 2. Emphasis on monsters and D-Bees: Rifts® Conversion Books 1, 2 & 3, D-Bees of North America™, Psyscape™, New West™, Rifts® Dinosaur Swamp™, Adventures in Dinosaur Swamp™, Rifts® Atlantis, Splynn Dimensional Market™, Phase World®, Hades, and Dyval™, among others.
● Want Rifts® space adventure? See Phase World® and most of the other Dimension Books™ like Skraypers™, Three Galaxies™, Megaverse® Builder, and Thundercloud Galaxy™ as well as Mutants in Orbit™.
● Minion War™ titles. With Megaverse® in Flames coming out in December, you may want to get all the books in the series:
Hades, Dyval™, Dimensional Outbreak™, Heroes of the Megaverse® and Armageddon Unlimited™. Thundercloud Galaxy™ is set in the Three Galaxies™ and has references to the Minion War™.
● Rifts® Dimension Books™ are always fun: Thundercloud Galaxy™, Naruni Wave 2™, Wormwood™, Skraypers™, Phase World®, Phase World® Sourcebook, Three Galaxies™, The Anvil Galaxy™, Megaverse® Builder™, Heroes of the Megaverse® and others.
● Rifts® Conversion Books include Rifts® Conversion Book One, Conversion Book 2: Pantheons of the Megaverse® and Rifts® Dark Conversions™.
● Rifts® Miniatures. Many are already completely sold out, others are running low and we don't have plans to recast them anytime soon, if ever. Get 'em while you can. They have a value of 4-6 dollars per pack.
● Robotech® Gold Edition. A couple dozen are available for Grab Bags. It has a value of $70 so you are likely to get only one other item in your X-Mas Surprise Package. Note: The Rifts® Ultimate Gold and Beyond the Supernatural Gold are almost sold out and will not be available for the Christmas Surprise Package. Sorry.
● Robotech® RPG – Manga Edition (and a few of the 8½ x 11 inch Hardcover edition) is available. So are the Robotech® Sourcebooks: Macross Saga™, The Masters Saga™ and New Generation™, though the latter will probably not be made available for Grab Bags until after Thanksgiving.
● Heroes Unlimited™. Any of the following make for great superhero gaming! Armageddon Unlimited™, Heroes Unlimited™ G.M.'s Guide, Powers Unlimited™ 1, 2 & 3, Villains Unlimited™ Revised, Century Station™, Gramercy Island™, Aliens Unlimited Galaxy Guide™, Compendium of Contemporary Weapons, Ninjas & Superspies™ RPG, and Mystic China™, among others. Heroes of the Megaverse® and Skraypers™, with alien superheroes and villains, though designed as Rifts® Dimension Books, are easy to adapt to HU2.
● Mutants for Heroes Unlimited™ and suitable for Nightbane®, Beyond the Supernatural™, Ninjas & Superspies™ and even Rifts®, Palladium Fantasy® and Dead Reign™, are found in the After the Bomb® RPG and each of the many After the Bomb® sourcebooks: Road Hogs™, Mutants Down Under™, Mutants of the Yucatan™, Mutants in Avalon™ and Mutants in Orbit™. All of which are directly compatible with Heroes Unlimited™ and easy to drop in or adapt to any Palladium game setting. Plus some of these sourcebooks include cool weapons, vehicles, equipment and monstrous mutants, like giant insects, animal psionics, and more.
● Palladium Fantasy RPG® and sourcebooks. A unique fantasy world with human and non-human races that go well beyond the Elf, Dwarf, and Gnome of other games. Mysteries of Magic™ Book One, the Palladium Fantasy RPG® itself, plus epic sourcebooks like Western Empire™, Eastern Territory™, Mount Nimro™, Northern Hinterlands™, Land of the Damned™ One and Two, Monsters & Animals™ (epic), Dragons & Gods™, and others.
● Dead Reign™ RPG is Palladium's zombie apocalypse game. This game is about more than killing zombies. Check it out! Civilization Gone, Dark Places and Endless Dead (not available till November) are the current sourcebooks.
● Beyond the Supernatural™ RPG: Modern day horror and weirdness reminiscent of the TV show, Fringe and Supernatural. Can be used with Dead Reign™ and Nightbane®.
● Nightbane® RPG and sourcebooks including the popular Nightbane® Survival Guide. All Nightbane® titles are in stock except the discontinued Shadows of Light. Suitable for use with Nightbane®, Heroes Unlimited™, Ninjas & Superspies™, & Beyond the Supernatural™.
● Back stock: This is the time to get RPGs, sourcebooks, world books, and supplements you've been wanting. Fill those holes in your collection, get hard to find back stock items or try a new game like Robotech®, Dead Reign®, Rifts®, Palladium Fantasy®, Nightbane®, Heroes Unlimited™, Ninjas & Superspies™, Beyond the Supernatural™, Chaos Earth™, After the Bomb®, RECON® or Splicers®.
● Rifter® back issues are available (issues 1-13 only in the X-Mas Surprise Package and Open House). Many issues are sold out including issues #4, #8, #22-26, #28-35, #40, #47 & others.
● Rifts® and the Megaverse® – The Art of John Zeleznik, softcover has a $22.95 value. The hardcover art book is gorgeous, has a $50 value and is limited to 500 copies. Sorry, the Masterwork Edition is NOT available as a Grab Bag item.
● The Magic of Palladium Books® Collection, a reprint of the original tabloids, only available upon request. Almost out of stock.
● Art: Original artwork from books is available again, on a very limited basis. We have original art that has appeared in published books by Michael Wilson and some by Kent Burles. Other artists may be available too. VERY LIMITED.
Only people who request art will be considered.
● Art: Sketch (or preliminary drawing). We also have some "simple sketches" by select artists including Kevin Siembieda, Nick Bradshaw, and possibly other artists. Simple sketches may be done in pencil, ink or marker as "convention style" drawings. Nothing elaborate and NO special requests, but always fun and worth having. Each is an original, signed, one-of-a-kind sketch with an estimated $20-$30 value (sometimes more). Other artists may be added later. Note: ALL artwork has been donated by the various artists special for the X-Mas Surprise Packages to make your Christmas special. VERY LIMITED.
Only people who request a sketch will be considered.
● Art print: Rifts® "Dog Boys Playing Poker" – Unsigned, Edition Print – by Mark Evans. This print is NOT signed and NOT numbered. About 150 copies are available by special request in the X-Mas Grab Bag! Available only while supplies last. 13x10 inch image, heavy paper stock, full color – suitable for framing. $10 value (signed and numbered editions are available for $15 only from the Palladium Online Store).
Only people who request art prints will be considered.
● Art print: Rifts® 20th Anniversary – Signed Limited Edition Print – by Mike Mumah. This print IS signed by the artist, Mike Mumah and Kevin Siembieda. About 50 copies are available by special request in the X-Mas Grab Bag! Available only while supplies last. 13x10 inch image, heavy paper stock, full color – suitable for framing. $15 value (signed and numbered). We may have John Zeleznik prints available too.
Only people who request art prints will be considered.
● Art Print: 2009 Special X-Mas Print Package – We have about 30 copies of the special set of prints by Kevin Siembieda, Mike Mumah, Mark Dudley, and Nick Bradshaw. Each signed by the artist. Numbered and limited. Value for this package is $40.
Only people who request the Print Package will be considered.
● 8x10 autographed, color photo of Publisher, Kevin Siembieda at his desk or Kevin and the key Palladium staff. Hey, we offer this item because we get a surprising number of people asking for them every year (like 100 last year!). Estimated Value: Priceless. Okay, how about six bucks?
Only people who request such a photo will be considered.
● Non-Book Palladium Products and Novelty items. Don't forget about the various coffee mugs, Rifts® black dice bag (gold imprint), art prints (many), A+Plus comic books (out of print for decades, $12+ value each), Rifts® Christmas cards, a "Secret" Limited Edition Print and other items. Most of these are limited collector items.
● Palladium T-Shirts available while supplies last; some sizes are already gone; first come, first served. All have a $20+ value.
- Coalition Christmas – back by popular demand – Medium to 4XL.
- Dyval: "Hell was full so I came back" (color!) – Small to XL.
- Minion War: "Going through Hell" – Small to 3XL.
- Game Master Power Incarnate – Small to 2XL only.
- Rifts® Vampire Kingdoms "Death is for the Weak" - Small to 2XL, as well as a few 5XL, are available.
- 25th Anniversary (2006; gold on black) – XL only.
- I Survived the 2006 Open House – Large & XL only.
- Open House Checklist (2010; humorous) – Small to XL.
- Lazlo Society – XL only.
- Rifts® Dog Pack – XL only.
- Rifts® SAMAS "20 Years" – Small to XL.
- Rifts® F'in Brilliant - XL to 4XL (only a few of the big sizes).
- Gamer – Small to XL only.
- Gamer "Zombie" – Small to 3XL.
Note: If you do NOT want a T-shirt – write "No T-shirt." If you do want to be considered for a T-shirt make sure you give us your size.
REMEMBER, this is a "Surprise Package." While Kevin Siembieda and the Palladium staff personally TRY to make each and every Surprise Package something special, we cannot guarantee satisfaction. It is a "Grab Bag." Buyers may not always be satisfied (although we seem to succeed with most) and duplication will occur with multiple orders.
Note: Some book titles may be slightly damaged (bent corner, scuffed, nicked, etc.) so we can send you MORE. Of course, we cannot control damage that may occur in the mail/shipping (Media Mail being the worst in that regard), but we do ship everything in a cardboard box or tube.
Method of Shipping. Ordering online allows you to select the desired method of shipping, and we recommend UPS because it is fast, reliable and has tracking capabilities. It also has the lowest loss and damage statistics.
Media Mail is the least expensive, but it is also the least dependable. Media Mail can take anywhere from 5-21 days, sometimes 1-2 weeks longer, and it and most other U.S. Post Office methods of mail can NOT be tracked. If you want your 2011 Surprise Package quickly, DO NOT ship via Media Mail, use UPS or Priority Mail. Note: Rare books and one-of-a-kind items, like art prints or gold editions, can NOT be replaced if lost or damaged in the mail.
Make sure you give us your entire, correct street address and APARTMENT NUMBER!
UPS cannot ship to a P.O. Box; provide a street address.
Warning: Palladium is NOT responsible for loss if you give us an incorrect or incomplete address, or if you move before the grab bag arrives.
Place your orders now – we start shipping October 11, 2011
This Weekly Update is long enough so here's a short reminder of what's coming.
October 2011 Releases
- The Rifter® #56 – New – Ships October 17
- Rifts® World Book: Lemuria – New – in final production
- Robotech® New Generation™ Sourcebook – New – in final production
- Rifts® Chaos Earth™: Rise of Magic – coming back in print
- Heroes Unlimited™: Mutant Underground™ – coming back in print
- Rifts® World Book 25: Rifts® China 2 – coming back in print
- Coalition Christmas T-shirt – coming back in print
November 2011 Releases
- Rifts® Vampires Sourcebook™ – New – in production
- Dead Reign™ Sourcebook Three – New - in production
December 2011 Releases
- Rifts® Megaverse® in Flames (Minion War™ crossover) – New
- Robotech® Genesis Pits™ Sourcebook – New – in production
The Rifter® #56
– Ships October 17, 2011
The Rifter® is your doorway to unlimited imagination and numerous Palladium role-playing worlds. It offers new heroes, powers, weapons, magic and adventure for your games. It presents new villains, monsters and dangers to battle, and new ideas to consider.
The Rifter® #56: The articles are expansive and fun.
- Rifts® in space. The orbital community and a new threat, by O.J. Pinckert.
- Beyond the Supernatural: Tainted Martyr P.C.C. by Steven Dawes.
- Nightbane®: Dark Days Chronicles Four – short story by Jeremy M. Hutchins.
- For all game settings – Time Travel rules by Greg Spivey and Jason Smith.
- News and coming attractions.
- Fiction and more.
- Cover by Irvin Jackson.
- $11.95 retail – 96 pages – Cat. No. 156. October release.
NEW! Robotech® New Generation™ Sourcebook
– Ships October, 2011
The battle for the liberation of Earth starts here. For the first time in its history, the Earth has been invaded and occupied by alien invaders – the Invid. The Invid think they have won, but Freedom Fighters, UEEF soldiers and other heroes continue to fight. This is the first sourcebook to combine ALL generations of Robotech® into one epic setting.
- A setting in which Battloids, Veritechs, power armor and technology from all eras of Robotech come together.
- Kit-bashed mecha and rules for jury-rigging and combining parts from different generations of Robotech® mecha.
- O.C.C.s include the Freedom Fighter, Patcher, Urchin, Pathfinder and Invid Protoculture Experiments; seven in all.
- The resistance and how it operates in the New Generation setting.
- New weapons, vehicles and mecha.
- Guidelines for survival and rules for exposure.
- Stats for notable New Generation characters such as Corg, Sera, Lunk, Annie, Rook and others.
- World overview and adventure ideas galore.
- Written by Irvin Jackson. Additional text by Kevin Siembieda.
- Cover by Apollo Okamura.
- A standard 8½ x 11 inch sourcebook.
- 96 pages – $16.95 retail – Cat. No. 554. October 2011 release.
NEW! Rifts® World Book: Lemuria™
– Ships October, 2011
The power, secrets and magic of the underwater realm of Lemuria revealed. Player characters can use symbiotes, magic and technology to breathe underwater and spend time below the waves.
Lemuria is more than an underwater civilization of aquatic beings. They can trace their lineage as far back as the Atlanteans and can survive on dry land as well as underwater. In fact, their greatest secret is that there is no one resting place for the Lemurians, their great cities are always moving. Learn about the people of Lemuria, new Biomancy magic and weapons, Biomancy engineered riding animals, sea herbs, new powers of healing, sea monsters, and more. Epic adventure awaits.
- The Lemurians, their race, history and society.
- New O.C.C.s including the Serpent Hunter, Shriekers, Oceanic Guardsman, Aquatic Biomancer and others.
- The Stone Guardians of Easter Island and other mysteries.
- Biomancer Gardens and Aquatic Biomancy.
- Biomancy armor, weapons and equipment.
- Symbiotic creatures and constructs; some that enable air-breathers to survive underwater indefinitely.
- New psionic abilities.
- Sea Serpents, Sea Dragons, monsters, and riding animals.
- New dangers, new challenges, adventure ideas and more.
- Written by Greg Diaczyk.
- Cover by John Zeleznik.
- 160 pages – $20.95 retail – Cat. No. 885. Final page count and price may be subject to expansion and increase. October release.
The Queen of Ghouls: Life-Sized Halloween Props
The Queen of Ghouls – Palladium's very own Kathy Simmons – is locked in her dungeon, devising new ghouls for the coming Halloween season. Go to queenofghouls.com to see her current selection of life-sized Halloween props. See her zombie doctor and other new zombies, Jack Skellington and Sally, and more. New creations are on the drawing board. Each Halloween prop is truly life-sized (most are 6 feet or taller – Jack is almost 8 feet) and seems almost alive.
Each is an all-weather, life-sized Halloween prop that can handle rain and snow, and is a one-of-a-kind work of art (no two are exactly the same). Each looks frighteningly "real." All come apart and fold down to slightly larger than a king-size pillow for easy storage. Comes with easy instructions, a plastic storage bag, and the lawn stake to stand it up in your front yard. Indoor stand sold separately.
Types of "Ghouls" include: Zombies (all kinds!), killer clowns, wizards, witches, devils, grave ghouls, scarecrows, executioners, mad doctors, deadly nurses, vampires, werewolves, and more. Kathy's also now offering an array of hand-painted Halloween signs, signs with heads and bodies hanging from them, witch's brewing pots, Halloween centerpieces and more. Best of all, her high quality creations are much more affordable and imaginative than most competitors or mass produced items in a store, making them affordable Halloween fun.
If you think the photos online look good, you should see them in person. A typical "ghoul," as she calls her creations, costs $129-$259. You can see some of her work at her Queen of Ghouls™ Ebay store – queenofghouls.com.
2012 Palladium Open House – May 4-6, 2012
The Palladium Open House is three days (four with VIP night) of non-stop role-playing gaming, a chance to meet and hang with the Palladium staff, artists and writers, participate in panel talks, get autographs, and have a blast. Game with the people who make the games at the very place they are designed. YOU are part of Palladium's extended family, and we invite YOU into our home to join us for gaming, fun and more. The Palladium Open House has a fun, family feel and is three days (four with VIP night) of games, fun and opportunity for making wonderful memories that will last a lifetime.
● 90+ Gaming Events:
- Rifts®
- Robotech®
- Chaos Earth™
- Nightbane®
- Heroes Unlimited™
- Ninjas & Superspies™
- Phase World®/Three Galaxies™
- Dead Reign™
- After the Bomb®
- Palladium Fantasy RPG®
- Beyond the Supernatural™
- and more . . .
● 40+ Palladium creators under one roof.
● Game with the people who make the games you love, like Kevin Siembieda, Julius Rosenstein, Carl Gleba, and other Palladium creators.
● Enter the Costume Contest and you might win a cool award and prize.
● Enjoy panel talks that are fun and insightful.
● Get autographs and chat with creators.
● Have the time of your life.
● What other game company invites you to game with them at their place?
● We are hosting this event because YOU demanded it. So come on over and join the fun.
Place your order today.
We recommend you RESERVE your hotel now. Your credit card is not charged until the event, but reserving your room early gives you peace of mind and helps Palladium so we can block more rooms if we need them. If necessary, you can cancel your room up to a few weeks before the event.
This may be our last Open House. Having sufficient parking is becoming an issue. While we should be okay for the 2012 POH, the parking situation is likely to prevent future events. So don't miss out.
V.I.P. Thursday (May 3, 2012). Available now. YOU are the VIP. You get in an afternoon early (doors open at 3:00 PM – catered dinner at 5:30 PM) and are the first to play in special game events, participate in special panel talks, purchase items, and enjoy a dinner catered by Kathy Simmons (and those who have been to past VIP nights know how awesome that is). Reserve your place today.
Weekend Admission is Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Reserve your place today. Placing your order early helps us on many levels, and tells us how many people to expect and how many hotel rooms to reserve.
Individual Day Admission might work better for you. If you can only make it one day, that's okay with us. Come on down.
Hotel is the location you love at the same 2009 rates ($69.95 a night). The hotel does not charge your card until a day before the event, so reserve NOW. We are concerned they might run out of rooms at our special price, so reserve your room as soon as possible. Based on the economy, the hotel has not reserved the entire hotel for us as they have in the past. Book your room fast so you know you have a place to stay. The hotel now offers free hot breakfasts and we will have two conference rooms for late night gaming and additional open gaming.
Plan to enter the Costume Contest. Winners get a nice plaque and real prizes. Rifts/sci-fi, fantasy, modern (includes horror) and best of show are the categories.
Click here for more details and to reserve your tickets.
Game Masters wanted for 2012 Palladium Open House (POH). The sooner you notify us that you are running "official" POH games and how many games/time slots, the better. We want to get our gaming schedule up and posted online early this time. We typically need 90+ gaming events. That means we need you. FYI: You can run the same game more than once, I do.
Palladium is in need of Game Masters to run events at the 2012 Palladium Open House. G.M.s who run three or more events get a special discount on product and a gift (typically a T-shirt, but maybe something different this year). Palladium NEEDS your commitment to run and a description of the games no later than January 29, 2012 – SOONER IS BETTER. Our thanks to those of you who have already committed to run. Please let us know what you want to run. Julius Rosenstein already has 7 events scheduled. Be like Julius and let us know as soon as possible. Thank you.
© Copyright 2011 Palladium Books Inc. All rights reserved.
Rifts®, The Rifter®, RECON®, Splicers®, Palladium Books®, The Palladium Fantasy Role-Playing Game®, Phase World®, Nightbane®, Megaverse®, The Mechanoids®, The Mechanoid Invasion®, Coalition Wars® and After the Bomb® are Registered Trademarks of Palladium Books Inc. Beyond the Supernatural™, Chaos Earth, Coalition States, Dead Reign, Heroes Unlimited, Ninjas & Superspies, Minion War, Mysteries of Magic, SAMAS, Thundercloud Galaxy, Three Galaxies, Vampire Kingdoms, Warpath, and other published book titles, names, slogans and likenesses are trademarks of Palladium Books Inc., and Kevin Siembieda.
Robotech® and Robotech® The Shadow Chronicles® are Registered Trademarks of Harmony Gold USA, Inc.
This press release may be reprinted, reposted, linked and shared for the sole purpose of advertising, promotion and sales solicitation.


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New York City has always been a proving ground for entrepreneurs. The Alfred Eisenstadt photograph above, for example, depicts a dog walker in Central Park in 1967 — and documents a phenomenon born just a few years before the photo was made, and that remains as in-demand in today's New York as clean-scented cabs and Citi Bike stations that actually work.
One morning a half-century ago, in 1964, a man of Upper East Side gentility awoke at dawn to walk an acquaintance's dog. By the end of the year he was making more than $500 a week walking other people's pooches.
Over time, Jim Buck — for that was his name — gained many more clients, and in a few years employed a stable of two dozen assistants walking hundreds of dogs a day.
As the '60s pressed on, Mr. Buck founded Jim Buck's School for Dogs — the first of its kind, being one part canine-training, one part exercise and other walking needs — and ran the business for more than 40 years.
Buck closed his school shortly after the new millennium, and retired. He died in July 2013 at the age of 81. (His obit appeared in the Times.) But his was a classic American success story: He was an innovator who saw a need, and filled it, and a man who, legend has it, wore through the soles of his shoes every other week.
Other jobs come and go in the Big Apple — but the sight of a man or woman walking a pack of energized dogs through the streets, or through a park, never gets old. And, we hope, it never will.
Olivia Marsh is a filmmaker, writer and history student at New York University.


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The Packers are moving on from one of their surprise players of 2012.
According to Ty Dunne of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, the Packers are waiving second-year outside linebacker Dezman Moses, who started six games for them last season.
Mozes, 24, made the Packers as a undrafted free agent from Tulane and appeared in all 16 regular-season games, notching 27 tackles and four sacks.
The 6-2, 249-pound Mozes could appeal to clubs employing 3-4 fronts, given his youth and his production a season ago.


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Should the city find the money to supplement stipends for its poorest retirees?
Yes 63% (319)
No 37% (187)
506 total votes.
Outsized pensions for retired San Diego city employees get a lot of attention, into the six figures and on up to $300,000. Protected by law, those are not getting trimmed in any way.
But Iris Morrison's pension is another matter.
The 93-year-old receives $33,000 a year, barely enough to afford her National City retirement community. Next year it will get cut by $9,600 because a discretionary city program that was boosting her stipend has run out of money.
When she received notification of the cut, she realized she would have to move again — and her last move took a lot out of her.
"It was a terrific shock," said Morrison, whose stipend comes from her own work at a city information center and a spousal benefit from her late husband, a former police administrator. "I had planned my life with the money I had saved and with the retirement checks I was getting. I believed I would be able to live the rest of my life in a retirement community."
More than 700 of the city's oldest and lowest-earning pensioners will lose an average of a quarter of their monthly pension checks with the program ending.
The City Council started the program in 1999 for employees who retired before July 1, 1982, and whose pension checks had not kept up with inflation.
The city put $35 million into its investment pool to start the program, but has not put in any more. Investment returns on that money were only credited to the program in years when the pension system's earnings were sufficient to meet other pension obligations.
Had the pension fund performed as expected every year, $9.5 million more would have been credited – enough to cover more than three more years of the supplemental benefits.
As it is, the account is set to run dry in October 2013.
Jim Baross, President of the San Diego Retired Employees Association, said his group has reached out to the city to discuss continuing the benefit.
"I've heard of some pensions called 'Cadillac pensions,'" Baross said. "These guys have bicycles. They are not getting very much money, and that is going to be reduced."
The 2011 recipients received an average pension of $14,244, with $3,792 of that coming from the supplemental benefit that will cease.
Unlike the city's more recent retirees, the general employees who receive the supplemental benefit also paid into and may be receiving Social Security. The retirees' checks are also subject to the city's standard cost of living adjustment, which has been boosted by the program.
The benefit was granted to employees who served at least 10 years by the time they retired or who were receiving a disability pension. About a quarter of the benefit's recipients are former police, fire, lifeguard or other public safety employees who are receiving a disability pension after becoming injured on the job.
Like all the recipients The Watchdog spoke with, former San Diego Police Det. Dennis Webb said he was unaware his check could be cut until he received a letter in February.
After a prostitute rammed her car into him while he was arresting two men, Webb said he tried to stay on the force, but his crushed leg led to his retirement with a disability pension in February 1980. He said the letter told him his pension check of almost $2,000 a month would drop by $342.21.
Webb said he was appalled to think of what will happen to other pensioners when the benefits cease, and blamed the city for not intervening.
"That's the coldest move I've seen in my life," Webb said. "It's shameful for a city of this caliber to do this to their retired people who are defenseless. They have no money, and they know it."
Morrison worries the cut could drive her to government aid, and it reminds her of living in the Great Depression.
"We all worked at whatever we could to earn a few pennies. There were no unemployment benefits,
Pension boost
Facts about the supplemental inflation adjustment:
735: Recipients in 2011
0: Recipients earning pensions greater than $60,000 per year
20: Recipients earning more than $36,000 per year
79: Percent of recipients 70 or older
61: Percent of recipients 80 or older
$30 million: Projected benefit cost over next 18 years
A May legal opinion from the city attorney's office suggests the City Council could fund the program each year as part of the budget or make it an ongoing entitlement that is wrapped into the city's annual lump-sum pension payment.
Darren Pudgil, spokesman for the office of Mayor
"No one is sure what prompted the City Council to do this," Pudgil said of the way the benefit was established. "If it is to be continued after next year, we understand that the council must act to do so. Whether there is support to do that, we don't know."
Requests for comment from Council President Tony Young's office starting last week were not returned. A spokesman for Councilman Kevin Faulconer's office said the councilman is unaware of any communications from retirees about the issue.


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University of Iowa (Ph.D.)
Charles Ernest "Chuck" Grassley (born September 17, 1933) is the senior United States Senator from Iowa (1981–present). A member of Republican Party, he previously served in the served in the United States House of Representatives (1975–1981) and the Iowa state legislature (1959–1974). He was chairman of the Senate Finance Committee from January to June 2001 and from January 2003 to December 2006. He is currently the ranking Republican on the Judiciary Committee.
Grassley was born in New Hartford, Iowa, the son of Ruth (née Corwin) and Louis Arthur Grassley, and graduated from the town high school. At Iowa State Teachers College (now the University of Northern Iowa), he earned a B.A. in 1955 and an M.A. in 1956. He also completed some doctoral studies in political science at the University of Iowa. Also during the 1950s, Grassley farmed and worked in factories, first as a sheet metal shearer and then as an assembly line worker.


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USU teams win at national IT competition
By Kevin Opsahl
Two teams at Utah State University's Jon M. Huntsman School of Business took top places in an information technology competition that pitted them against colleges and universities from around the world.
They placed first and second in the 2013 Walmart IT Summit and AIS Student Chapter Leadership Conference in Bentonville, Ark., which brought together 82 teams from top universities, testing their IT skills and ability, according to USU.
A team of three Huntsman MIS students, which included Vishal Patel, Dannaea Ward and Eric Schnell, entered the "IT risk identification category" and took first place. They were asked to do a case study for a fictional health care company that was trying to decide if it should store private patient data in an online secure cloud storage system or on a more traditional protected system.
"We came to know about the risk in real life," said Patel, a graduate student in management information systems. "We used our classroom experience as the foundation to solve real-life challenges for a company like Walmart, and that was a great experience."


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White House counters Pelosi over claim DC does not have spending problem
White House Press Secretary Jay Carney countered House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi after she claimed it's a "false argument" to say the federal government has a spending problem.
"Of course, the president believes that we have a spending problem," Carney said Monday, adding that the problem is "specifically driven" by health care spending. "And that's just a fact."
The gentle reminder of the nation's bloated entitlement spending came after Pelosi, in an interview with "Fox News Sunday," challenged those calling for more cuts.
"We have to recognize that, which cuts really help us and which cuts hurt our future? And cuts in education, scientific research and the rest are harmful, and they are what are affected by the sequestration," she said on "Fox News Sunday." "So, it is almost a false argument to say we have a spending problem. We have a budget deficit problem that we have to address."
Though the White House countered the remark Monday, Pelosi was nevertheless aligning herself with Obama in calling for Washington to avert a looming round of budget cuts -- by replacing them with a blend of cuts and tax hikes.
The cuts are set to kick in March 1 and will impact the Pentagon more than any other single department. Republicans want the package replaced with a less arbitrary slate of cuts. But Pelosi argued that more cuts would hurt the economy, and in turn do little to close the deficit.
Few would argue with Pelosi's claim that the government has a deficit problem. The annual deficit exceeded $1 trillion for each of the past four years, adding $6 trillion total to the national debt during President Obama's first term.
But Republicans argue that the gaping shortfall cannot be closed with tax increases alone -- and that, indeed, Washington has a rather severe spending problem.
Even many in the Democratic Party concede that the growth in entitlement spending -- on Medicare and other budget gobblers -- needs to be checked.
Some kind of agreement, even a short-term one, needs to be reached in the next few weeks to avoid $85 billion in arbitrary spending cuts next month. Pelosi stressed that Democrats want to increase revenue by closing loopholes, including those for oil companies, as opposed to raising tax rates.
Her argument is similar to the one President Obama is expected to restate Tuesday during his State of the Union address.
However, Oklahoma Rep. Tom Cole said fellow House Republicans will "absolutely not" accept tax increases as part of a deal, which would trigger the cuts to federal defense and discretionary spending.
Cole told ABC News' "This Week" that the president refused to agree to spending cuts during the recent, so-called "fiscal cliff" negotiations so Democrats are not getting revenue increases now.
"I think (sequester) is inevitable, quite frankly," he said.
Arizona Republican Sen. John McCain also said Sunday that Republicans don't want tax increases, considering they just agreed to end more than $1 trillion in income tax breaks, but suggested he might be open to closing some tax loopholes.
He also urged both parties to work together to avoid sequester, which will result in big cuts to the defense budget and roughly $1.2 trillion in total cuts over the next decade.
"I'll take responsibility as a Republican, but we've got to avoid it," said McCain, the top Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee. "The world is a very dangerous place."