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Media law criticized
Russian media companies are dealing with a new law aimed at protecting children from harmful content.
The legislation came into effect on Sept. 1, and requires media organizations to give age-appropriate ratings for products.
The 18+ category, for example, is defined as including content that incites people to violence, justifies delinquent behavior, promotes smoking, using drugs or alcohol, gambling, or engaging in prostitution, questions family values and respect for parents, and features obscene language or pornography. The law stipulates that media outlets found to be in violation of the law can be fined up to 50,000 rubles ($1,535) – a small amount. But repeat offenders are threatened with the termination of their license for up to 90 days.
"Some topics can't be covered at all if you follow the law to the letter," Marina Davydova, executive director of the Russian Guild of Press Publishers, told The Moscow News. "So far, no one can explain how the law will be applied. There are no guidelines on how to tag content, we don't understand what penalties will follow and for what."
"Special requirements have been set forth for printed editions circulated in places easily accessible for children," Olesya Demidova, a member of the Media Lawyers Collegium, told The Moscow News. "If a publication contains information inappropriate for children under 18, this information may not be published on the cover, the first and last pages, and the publication should be in sealed packaging."
TV and radio companies have had to revise their listings to comply with the law. Rossiya channel shifted a classic Soviet cartoon series about a wolf chasing a hare "Nu, Pogodi!" ("Just you wait!") to the 11 p.m. slot, since many scenes feature the wolf character smoking cigarettes.
The Russian National Association of TV and Radio Broadcasters had earlier sent an open letter to the State Duma pointing out that the law "will prohibit children from watching [films and programs about] Tom Sawyer and Sherlock Holmes as they can be deemed as promoting a transient lifestyle and smoking [respectively]."
Natalia Piskunova, the Association's Director General, said that authorities met the broadcasters halfway, taking into account a large part of their suggestions. "[The Federal Service for Supervision in the Sphere of Telecoms, Information Technologies and Mass Communications] agreed that if a TV product contains scenes that children shouldn't see, such as scenes of smoking, [these scenes] should be justified by the context," Piskunova told The Moscow News. "The law does not apply to films and programs that have a high cultural value. The problem is there is no list of such films and programs."
NTV, a federal channel with the third biggest audience in the country, notorious for its prime-time shows featuring scenes of violence and criminal dramas, has tagged many of its shows as 16+ so far.
No more 'Adults'
While live shows do not fall under the new regulations, Ekho Moskvy radio announced last week that it is closing its weekly "To Adults about Adults" hosted by psychologist Mikhail Labkovsky, aired live for eight years. "Mikhail and I discussed the problems that the new law is causing to us and concluded that his is the only show that could get us into hot water," Ekho's editor-inchief, Alexei Venediktov, was quoted by Lenta.ru as saying.
The law makes only online media outlets tag their content – as opposed to all websites. "Apparently, this law cannot influence websites that really cause harm to children's health and development," lawyer Olesya Demidova said.
So far, only newswires have been exempted from the law.
Internet confusion
Based on the legislation, it is unclear how media organizations should treat comments and banners on their websites. The Russian Association for Electronic Communications, members of which include RIA Novosti, Vkontakte, Mail.ru, and so on, has pointed out that Internet providers technically cannot moderate all the content uploaded to their platforms.
"Premoderation of content posted by users violates their constitutional rights as this virtually is censorship," the association said in its press release stating its position on the new law.
The Federal Service for Supervision in the Sphere of Telecoms, Information Technologies and Mass Communications promised to hold a series of meetings with media organizations to review the law based on their suggestions.
"This is the first time that broadcasters are having a normal dialogue with the watchdog," said Natalia Piskunova of the Broadcasters' Association. "It'll take a few more months to understand what needs to be changed and how."
The authorities are setting up an expert council that will determine whether media organizations comply with the regulations. Anyone will be able to order an evaluation of potentially adverse content for a fee. The ruling of the council can be used in a lawsuit against a company.
"The main thing is to ensure that expert evaluation is done properly to avoid persecution of the media," said children's rights advocate and Public Chamber member Boris Altshuler, who is one of the authors of the law. "The names of experts should not be made public so that they can't be bribed – we all understand that they'll have to work in a very corrupt environment."
Source: themoscownews.com
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•Fast rate of endeavors – Every single change on the stage is fantastically vivacious. You need to sit tight for just 5 minutes and you'll be set up to go.
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subset: commoncrawl


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Paul Vaaler
Chair in Law & Business, University of Minessota
Paul M. Vaaler is the John and Bruce Mooty Chair in Law & Business, a joint faculty appointment of the University of Minnesota's Law School and Carlson School of Management, where he has taught since 2007. He is also an Affiliated Fellow of Oxford University's Said Business School. He holds a law degree from Harvard Law School and a doctorate from the University of Minnesota. He has published in several management and economics journals, including Academy of Management Journal, Journal of International Business Studies, Journal of International Money and Finance, Organization Science, Review of Development Economics, and Strategic Management Journal. His main professional and academic interests focus on investment risk management issues in developing countries.
Blogging on: Let's Talk Development
- Envois de fonds des migrants : une aide aux familles mais aussi un grand coup de pouce aux petites entreprises
- Las remesas ayudan a las familias de los migrantes y además se usan para financiar a las pequeñas empresas
- Remittances go beyond helping families to funding small businesses
- تحويلات المغتربين تتجاوز مساعدة الأسر إلى تأسيس منشآت أعمال صغيرة
- Should the World Bank issue credit ratings?
Blogging on: Let's Talk Development


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2017 Nissan GTR Release Date, Sporty
New York Auto Show was host of so many great premiers and debuts and among them Nissan had opportunity to show what they`ve had prepared for upcoming 2017 year market. Well, we can say that they`ve used that opportunity more than well. They`ve introduced new 2017 Nissan GTR and that`s what`s going to make a lot of customers all-around the world more than happy. GTR is definitely model that is well know so with him, Nissan can`t make a mistake at all.
2017 Nissan GTR Exterior and Interior
This new 2017 Nissan GTR will be made on the recognizable platform so the dimensions will be same but there won`t be some drastic changes made on the design area. For example, headlights will be bigger than before and they`re going to suit this new GTR more than before. On the front fascia we can see that the grille is thinner with more chrome to be used to make it classier than before. Entire chassis will be made from lightweight materials, aluminum and carbon fiber mostly but good thing about the carbon fiber is that he`s capable to make entire car stronger than before as well. New and larger wheels will be added as well, 20.0-inch alloy ones probably, and with them, new 2017 Nissan GTR can be driver off-road as well. Which is also great is that he`s going to be offered with more exterior color options than before which will make the passengers happier than before.
We must say that the interior of new 2017 Nissan GTR won`t be some extra spacious or comfortable because he`s extra sporty with the effort to make you feel the speed. With new 2017 Nissan GTR one is sure, seats are placed lower to the ground and they`re going to be made in bucket style with more than enough direction of adjustments. Also, those seats can be heated and cooled and they`re going to be made with finest Nappa leather in great color shape. Instrument board is made with so many well-organized buttons which will make the driver easier to control of them easier than before while keeping the eyes on the road. We know that the functionality of new 2017 Nissan GTR will be more than great because Nissan confirmed that they`re going to add some new and more advanced functions.
2017 Nissan GTR Engine
So far, only one engine unit is know that it`s going to be used under the hood of new 2017 Nissan GTR and when you know what engine will that be, you`re going to be more than thrilled with it. That`s going to be 3.8-liter V6 unit. This engine will be capable enough to produce 565 horsepower and to create maximum torque amount of 467 lb/ft. Acceleration time for this power amount will be 2.8 seconds from 0-60 mph while maximum speed is estimated to 197 mph. 6-speed dual clutch transmission system will be paired with this engine unit and it`s proved to be better than all the others before.
2017 Nissan GTR Price and Release Date
Official information`s about the release date and starting price for new 2017 Nissan GTR aren`t available yet but we think he can`t be released before the March of 2017 and we think he won`t be priced under $120.000 for his basic trim level.


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Saturday, December 13, 2014
History of The Pump House Art Gallery
I have mentioned it plenty of times before, and even did an interview with the founder, and world renowned artist, Ted W. Fickisen.
But today, I wanted to share with you the history of The Pump House Art Gallery in Chillicothe, Ohio.
Even in 1882 the people of Chillicothe enjoyed this part of the city. Citizens came to Yoctangee Park in their horse-drawn carriages and had picnics. The park was becoming an integral part of the city's cultural life. When it was deemed necessary to build a pumping station for the city of Chillicothe, it was decided to be built in Yoctangee Park, and it was also decided that the building be both, functional and an architectural addition to the park.
The Pump House and Water Works, built in 1882 by the Chillicothe Gas, Light and Water Works once housed large, powerful, brass pumps used to fight fires that periodically destroyed parts of the city during Chillicothe's early history.
Engaged through a deep well (25 feet in diameter and 12 feet deep), located next to the pump house, the water was pumped from the Teays Aquifer beneath Yoctangee Park and propelled through 16 feet cast iron pipes to a reservoir located on Carlisle Hill. When needed, the water was released through the pipes back down the hill to 100 fire hydrants placed throughout the city. The spring from the ancient Teays that fed the aquifer was so powerful that the engines could pump over six thousand gallons of water per minute. Today, these same cast iron water pipes still carry water through the city.
Preservationists and the Jaycees of Chillicothe pleaded with the city to keep the building and not destroy it, citing its historical value to the community as a primary reason to leave it standing, and to restore it. The Jaycees even used the building as a haunted house during this time in an attempt to raise money for restoration costs.
In 1984, the building was condemned.
Then, a group of artists, led by Mr. Ted William Fickisen, preservationists, and local attorney, Jim Barrington, formed a coalition to restore and preserve the building. The old pump house was leased to a board of trustees in 1986 as a historic center for the arts. Then came the daunting task of turning an old pump house into an art gallery. The roof was so rotted that major portions had to be rebuilt. The limestone foundation had crumbled. All the windows and doors were bricked in and nailed shut. There was no permanent floor and no electricity or water.
THE PUMP HOUSE is a fine example of Victorian Gothic architecture. The building features a large central tower colorfully patterned with glazed ceramic tiles, eight Palladian windows, common-bond brick work on the interior that has piano key dentil design around the windows. The two cathedral galleries are ornately paneled in vaulted, dark, tongue and groove oak construction, similar to the treatment on a ship's interior.
In November 1979, the Pump House was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Posted by Carroll Bryant at 12:30 AM
Labels: Ted W. Fickisen
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It happens every year. It's almost impossible to think of the right present for some of the people on your holiday gift list. A tie seems too cliché. Money too impersonal. A puppy too messy.
The solution is to pick up one of the many DVD sets available for holiday giving. You can match the set to the person's interest. Shopping around will get you a good value. And, a DVD has never left a mess on the living room rug.
All you need to know is what the person likes. The rest is a breeze because there are so many different kinds of DVD sets for TV and movie fans. There are too many sets to mention, but here are several to get you started.
The suggested retail price is listed, but odds are you will be able to find a lower price. Most of the DVD sets are available now, with datea listed for any not in stores or online at this time.
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"Back to the Future: 30th Anniversary Trilogy" ($49.98): The time-traveling adventures of Marty McFly are available on Blu-ray and Digital HD. Also included is a new original short with Doc Brown (Christopher Lloyd).
"Better Call Saul: Season One" ($69.99): The first season includes 10 episodes of the spinoff of 'Breaking Bad" starring Bob Odenkirk. It picked up seven Emmy nominations, including one for outstanding drama series. Extras include a postcard vinyl of "Better Call Saul" performed by Junior Brown. The DVD will be released Nov. 10.
"Dexter: The Complete Series" ($99.98): Michael C. Hall plays a blood expert working for the Miami police department who spends his free time killing those who have evaded the law. This boxed set includes all eight seasons of the series.
"Downton Abbey: Seasons 1-5" ($109.99): Hugh Bonneville, Elizabeth McGovern, Michelle Dockery, and Maggie Smith star in the British series that has been a massive hit for PBS. The limited-edition box set follows the Crawley family and their servants from pre-war England through the storms of World War I, and into the social, political and technological upheaval of England in the 1920s.
"Foyle's War: The Comple Saga" ($199.99): The complete collection of the Michael Kitchen detective series features all 28 mysteries and more than six hours of bonus features. Guest stars include Rosamund Pike, James McAvoy and John Mahoney. Will be released Nov. 10.
"Games of Thrones" ($79.98): The first two seasons of the wildly popular HBO series are now available in a special steelbook collector set. Each steelbook showcases a specific location that is significant to that season. Winterfell is featured in the first season version, while Lannister is featured as the design for season two.
"Home Alone Ultimate Collector's Edition" ($69.99): There are five movies in the package designed to look like a paint can. Three of the movies were released theatrically and two – "Taking Back the House" and "The Holiday Heist" – went straight to video. Look for a collectible ornament and fake spider inside.
"Justified: The Complete Series" ($215.99): All six seasons of the crime drama starring Timothy Olyphant are on 18 discs. One of the bonus features is "Leaving Harlan Alive: Making the Final Season." Walton Goggins also stars in the Emmy-winning series.
"Lost In Space: The Complete Series" $199.99): The TV drama (that got a little silly in the final season) ran from 1965 to 1968. The 83 episodes tell the story of the Robinson family, who have their trek through space interrupted by a intruder. Bonus material includes two versions of the first episode that never aired.
"McHale's Navy: The Complete Series" ($169.99): All 138 episodes of the TV comedy featuring the crew of PT-73 are included. Ernest Borgnine and Tim Conway star. Not only does the set feature all of the TV shows, two full-length films are in the set. Available Nov. 17.
"Mission: Impossible - The Original TV Series" ($129.00): Your mission, should you decide to accept it, is to pick up this boxed set that includes all seven seasons of the spy TV series. Cast includes Peter Graves, Leonard Nimoy and Peter Lupus.
"Mr. Warmth! Don Rickles: The Ultimate TV Collection" ($59.98): The eight-disc set includes all 37 episodes of "COP Sharkey," the TV sitcom starring Rickles. The set also includes four comedy specials from the 1970s headlines by Rickles. Guest stars include John Wayne, Frank Sinatra and Don Adams.
"Nakatomi Plaza: Die Hard Collection!" ($129.99): Fans of the exploits of John McClane will be going "yippee-ki-yay" over being able to get all five "Die Hard" movies. The bonus is that it comes in a replica of the building from the original film where McClane and Hans Gruber battled.
"Outlander: Season One: The Ultimate Collection" ($55.99): This love story that crosses centuries from Chowchilla native Ronald Moore is beautifully acted and produced. The series, based on the books by Diana Gabaldon, follows Claire Randall, a World War II nurse who inexplicably travels back in time to 18th-century Scotland, where she meets a Scottish warrior. Along with the first season comes a book, keepsake box, engraved flask and collection of photographs in addition to the season one soundtrack.
"Star Trek: The Original Series" ($79.99): All three seasons are on 25 discs. Along with the episodes of the TV series starring William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy are a dozen special features including "The Birth of a Timeless Legacy" and "Reflections on Spock."
"The Ultimate James Bond Collection" ($209.99): The box set includes 23 films featuring the British spy from "Dr. No" to "Skyfall." There's also a place for "Spectre" when it is finally released on DVD.
"The Walking Dead: The Complete Fifth Season" ($149.99): It is always surprising when a DVD set for a TV show this good comes with a bonus. Along with all of the additional material on the five-disc set comes special packaging by McFarlane Toys. It's a limited-edition package that features an "asphalt" walker. The set would have been worth the price for the package alone. Release date is Dec. 1.
Rick Bentley: 559-441-6355, @RickBentley1


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For Kakao Friends fans out there, Kakao Friends Shop located in Gangnam is THE place to visit!
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It's the time of year when I start to get emails from nervous incoming AP students. Please trust me when I say that EVERYONE is a little nervous before school begins and even for the first few weeks of class. If that's you, read on…
I know AP seems daunting and like you'll never be able to do it or maybe you feel like you're not "talented" enough (I don't believe in talent, btw). But, if you don't try you'll never know the joy of climbing the mountain that is AP Studio Art.
If you've got a lot of other demanding classes or have other obligations please consider staying in AP and just trying it out for the first few weeks, just to see what it's really like. If, after that time, you still feel like you're in over your head, I'll help you drop the class and find a new one or you could just become my AOP so you wouldn't even have to change classes.
The art work my students create in AP is amazing and is often very intimidating to new students. But remember that you'll have me, as well as all your classmates, to help you along the way. We really do become like a family because we work so closely and you'll make some great friends. Also, I should point out that I've been doing this for a while and I really will TEACH you a lot. I think art students forget that sometimes and think they have to be able to do it all already. Try not to compare your Chapter 1 to someone else' Chapter 20. I've made a little slide show that shows some of my student's progress through time and with help & my instruction. Here's the link: http://www.slideshare.net/CarrieKingWeinstein/pretest-and-final-portraitsI hope it shows you how much better your work will become over time and with help & instruction from me.
It's a lot, I know, but it IS achievable and I believe that YOU can do it if you put your mind do it and don't give up. If I didn't think you had it in you, I would have asked you to drop out last spring.


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Hello darlings! How are you doing? It's been a long day, I must tell you. Nothing major to complain about though. Sunny too! Hope you had a nice start of the week. Tomorrow is a national holiday here in Slovenia, in honour of our greatest poet, France Prešeren and we get a day off. He is a wonderful poet and I'm sure you can find translations of his poems, so if you like poetry, I really recommend his works.
But this is not a manicure for France (and I would do it to honour his birthday that is on December 3rd and not to celebrate his death, that is February 8th. Our government excuse for making such a ridiculous decision? Too many holidays on December already. Ha ha ha. Ha ha. Ha. Not.)
This is a manicure for one of my favourite stand-up comedians in the whole wide world. If you like stand-up you must have heard of him. Eddie Izzard, today celebrating his 49th birthday. Like I said, he's one of the funniest people I ever heard and I admire him greatly also for his life path in general and the choices he made. He seems like a very unique person, I'd love to have a cup of coffee with him one day. And this is the mani I did, in thought of him.
If you enlarge this one, you won't be sorry, I promise.
I used the wonderful Back To Black from Catrice as the main colour, for his sexier (to me!) side that I adore, he has the wonderful sence of humour, edginess and is a very complex person, so a plain black wouldn't work. The fantastic shimmer Back To Black has seemed perfect though, making the simple black stand out more. The index finger is for the rock star diva in him. The transvestite side of him, the awesome taste in clothes, make up and style he has, for all the entries in his shows, but particularly the one in Definite Article. I think Dorothy Who? from China Glaze is just to die for colour, one of the best I ever had the privilege to try on and the glitter and the colour seemed just perfect. I did a bit of scotch tape nail art, with inspiration, as ever, from Chloe's Nails and amazing Erika, wanting to make three thicker lines and two thinner, but sadly I ended the lines too soon on the finger, making the upper side completely uncovered. But then again, more Dorothy Who? is showing this way and I'm not complaining about that! I also love the spikes, if something, Eddie definitively is edgy and sharp. ;) :) This one goes also in my "Long Time No See" section, as I haven't have full mani with Back To Black in months.
Here's the best picture of him ever:
source: telegraph.co.uk
source: aceshowbiz.com
And the Definite Article style that is still one of my favourite on him. Looove the nails, eyeliner and lipstick. And say what you will, he rocks the suit!
And one of my favourite clips of his show Dress To Kill.
So yeah, I love the man. He's fantastic! Happy birthday, Eddie! *mwah*
What do you think of him, do you know any of his works? And about my mani I did for him?
Thank you for reading!


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Wednesday, September 11, 2013
A First Place Suprise.
I had a real surprise when I received my miniature paintings back from the Casper Wyoming Artist' Guild's 19th Annual International Miniature Art Show. I had won First Place for my painting "Sunset in the Trees.
Posted by Elaine Hahn at 5:53 PM
1 comment:
- Karen Boe said...
Amazing work Elaine - congratulations. You are really racking up the awards, deservedly so. Happy for you! ♥
- September 11, 2013 at 10:02 PM
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Holiday shopping helped Decatur end the year on a strong note.
Sales tax receipts for December were 2.9 percent ahead of the 2016 totals for the same month, according to the February report from the state comptroller released this week.
Decatur brought in $410,117.84 – $11,591 more than Dec. 2016.
The increase helped close out a strong quarter for the city. Receipts were higher than the previous year in October, November and December.
"With what we've been doing the last five or six months, we're hopeful that 2018 will be a good year," said Decatur City Manager Brett Shannon. "There's a lot of construction. We're cautiously optimistic. It appears the Decatur economy is on a good path."
Decatur had a big jump in November with a $218,000 increase in sales tax receipts from the same month of the previous year. Of that increase, $200,000 was in the audit collections category. Shannon said the city is still waiting to see if it will get to keep that extra income.
"We've made a call to the comptroller office about it," Shannon said. "We're going to take a wait-and-see approach with it for a few more months."
The city brought in another $3,489 in the category this month.
Six other Wise County cities saw increases in sales taxes in December – Boyd, Lake Bridgeport, New Fairview, Paradise, Rhome and Runaway Bay.
After getting a boost in November, Bridgeport experienced a 8.96 percent decrease in December sales compared to the year before. Bridgeport brought in $167,538.14 in the last month of 2017 and $184,034.14 in Dec. 2016.
Wise County brought in $337,933.22 on its half-cent sales tax in December, a 6.98 percent increase from the $315,884.20 in Dec. 2016.


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Carpenter Bees
- Appearance:
1/2"- 1" bumble bee look, top is shiny. 2 wings, with front and rear legs. Black and yellow in color.
- Behavior:
Male carpenter bees are mildly aggressive, often hovering in front of people who are around the nests. The males are quite harmless since they lack stingers. Female carpenter bees can inflict a painful sting but rarely do unless they are handled or molested.
- Habitat:
Carpenter Bees are often seen hovering or darting back & forth around the eaves, window trim, facia boards, siding, wooden shakes, decks and outdoor furniture. Carpenter bees tunnel into wood to lay their eggs. Bare, unpainted or weathered softwoods are preferred, especially redwood, cedar, cypress and pine. In the late-spring and early summer, homeowners often notice large, black bees hovering around the outside of their homes. These are probably carpenter bees searching for mates and favorable sites to construct their nests.
- Tips For Control:
As always the technician will determine the best method of treatment. How ever, it is likely that the nesting site will be treated with dust, and it is not recommended to knock down free flying bees. It is important that they return to the nest to get a dose of the material


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How to Use All In One WP Security & Firewall's Blacklist Manager
In this section of the guide to the All In One WP Security & Firewall plugin, we will take a look at the Blacklist Manager, helping you blacklist troublesome IPs and User Agents.
Step 1) Login to the WordPress Dashboard.
Step 2) On the left-hand sidebar of the Dashboard navigate to WP Security -> Blacklist Manager.
The All In One WP Security Blacklist feature gives you the option of banning certain host IP addresses or ranges and also user agents.
This feature will deny total site access for users which have IP addresses or user agents matching those which you have configured in the settings below. This is achieved by making appropriate modifications to your .htaccess file.
By blocking people via the .htaccess file your are using the most secure first line of defence which denies all access to blacklisted visitors as soon as they hit your hosting server.
The options for this feature are shown below.
|Security Points Buttons
|The Intermediate button displays the Feature Difficulty.
The 15/15 button displays the Security Points assigned to this. Since there are no issues, the security points are set to 15/15.
|Enable IP or User Agent Blacklisting:
|Place a check mark in this check box if you want to enable the banning (or blacklisting) of selected IP addresses and/or user agents specified in the settings below. Checked by default.
|Enter IP Addresses:
|In this area enter one or more IP addresses or IP ranges to block (1 per line).
|Enter User Agents:
|In this area enter one or more enter one or more user agent strings to block (1 per line).
Click the Save Settings button.
The next step in the guide will focus on the Firewall feature.


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0items |$0.00
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We offer standard, 3 day express, 2 day express, and overnight express shipping options for your convenience. If you place your order Monday - Friday by 2:00 PM EST using one of our express shipping options, your order will be processed and shipped the same day it is placed!
Rubberized, checkered ABS handles with lanyard holesIncludes durable nylon sheaths with snap button closures16 1/2" and 12 1/2" blades, 22" and 18" overall
Rubberized, checkered ABS handles with lanyard holesIncludes durable nylon sheaths with snap button closures16 1/2" and 12 1/2" blades, 22" and 18" overall
Product Description
This emergency whistle is set upon a sturdy nylon cord and features six different tools to aid in your survival in an outdoor emergency situation. It includes: a whistle, compass, thermometer, flashlight, signal mirror, and magnifying glass. You never know when you may need this handy tool, perfect for your car, your backpack, or wearing around your neck on an outdoor adventure! Includes one CR2016 lithium battery.
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This little tool is always good to take along with you. Has a great deal of features. Small & compact. It is well worth the price. Without question,you cannot go wrong with this item. Thanks BudK Richard
Great item for the price. Love the mirror and magnifying glass. Light is bright for its size and power. Love the compass. Whistle is OK, but could be little louder. Overall great item for the price. Perfect tool for an emergency kit.
This little tool is awesome. The thermometer is in Celsius, but I know how to understand Celsius so it doesn't bother me. The compass is accurate. The mirror, magnifying glass and whistle are really nice. The light is surprisingly bright. The storage space, although tiny, is very handy. I stuffed mine with lint for fire starting. The nylon cord is very sturdy. I gave it a quick tug and it's still there. I'm very happy with this product.
This whistle is a great multipurpose item. We were anxious to receive it and start using it. One of the main functions we wanted was the thermometer. We were GREATLY disappointed upon receiving it to find that the thermometer is in degrees Celsius not degrees Fahrenheit.
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2016 MISSION COMPLETE: Wake Up Warrior & Navy SEALs Fund - Brotherhood Beyond Battlefield®
The Navy SEALs Fund – Brotherhood Beyond Battlefield® is blessed to have built an outstanding partnership with Wake Up Warrior this year. We were Honored to be guests for the final event, closing out 2016 to reflect on the great work that has been done, and for the announcement by Garrett White (founder WUW), of what is yet to come. Thank you to Garrett and Sam Falsafi (WUW-CEO) for their continued passion to drive this partnership to new levels.
Please invite friends and family to learn more about what Wake Up Warrior is doing as a Brotherhood® to change lives. Stop by their page and thank them for the amazing support provided to the Navy SEALs Fund – Brotherhood Beyond Battlefield in 2016, thank them for commitment to another outstanding year in 2017 to not only the Navy SEAL Community but to so many more Military Veterans who are in need of support.
Please invite friends and family to learn more about what Wake Up Warrior is doing as a Brotherhood to change lives. Stop by their page and thank them for the amazing support provided to the Navy SEALs Fund – Brotherhood Beyond Battlefield® in 2016, thank them for commitment to another outstanding year in 2017 to not only the Navy SEAL Community but to so many more Military Veterans who are in need of support.
Looking to take your own personal and family life to a new level of success in 2017?? …. Pick up a copy of the Warrior Book…benefit yourself while enabling life changing support for Military Veterans. http://WarriorBook.com
Wishing everyone a Happy and Blessed New Year!
Garrett's reflection on 2016 and vision for 2017:
In 2016 I committed from June - Present we would contribute $100k to the Navy Seals Fund. (We did it)
Empowered by the statement that we are operating by here in the Brotherhood... They BLED RED so we could BLEED BLACK. 10% of every Warrior Week Ticket was invested into the Non-Profit Navy Seals Fund.
In 2017 I am going to up the game again. Not only are we going to continue our Support with a Minimum commitment of $500k and a target of $1million in 2017 but we as a Brotherhood are going to take things even further.
Every week in 2017 we are going to Invest in an active or retired serviceman of any branch of the Military. They will need to be nominated and we as a Brotherhood will vote internally on the FORGOTTEN WARRIOR of the week.
This MAN will be sent the Warrior BOOK and all supporting tools and will be given specific Warrior Training for the remaining time of 2017 inside the new Warrior Book Social Network.
He will also be buddied up with one of our Active brothers in the brotherhood and be mentored, coached and guided through the warriors way one on one as well as be assigned to a POD of 100. (Value $5,000+)
Forgotten Warrior is an arm of the SHEEP DOG Project managed by my partner and lead Trainer of Warrior X & Warrior Week Sam Falsafi.
Along with this weekly Investment (56 for 2017), we will select of the 4-5 men selected every week and will scholarship him into the WARRIOR X experience. This includes covering all of his Air, Travel, Hotel, gear and accommodations as well as his $3k ticket.
Of all the men nominated we will also choose 2 for Warrior Convention (2 in 2017) and will give them an all-expense paid package to attend as VIP of the brotherhood ($15k value)
56 Warrior Book Packages in 2017
12 Warrior X packages
4 Warrior Convention Tickets.
$500 - $1million directly to the fund.
There are a lot of people who say they are going to make a difference. Here at warrior we say this: Don't trust what we say. Trust what you see us DO.
I told you In June I would do this in 2016 and we did.
Warrior is committed to giving back even more in 2017.
The End
Garrett J White
Founder, Wake Up Warrior
Creator Warrior BOOK
P.S. If you have not checked out the new Warrior Book Movie head over and watch it today. http://WarriorBook.com
About Wake Up Warrior:
Headquartered in Laguna Beach, CA Wake Up Warrior has become The #1 training system in the world for Modern-Married-Businessman who are committed to Having It All across the Core Four domains of life: Body, Being, Balance and Business. What started as a small simple strategy in 2012 has grown into a Global Movement known simply as "The Brotherhood".
For More Information about Wake Up Warrior and Warrior Week go to www.WakeUpWarrior.com


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Pro Moto Billet Linkage Guard YAMAHA YZF/YZFX/WRF
Four Suspension Adjustments Stock, .6mm, 1.3mm and 2mm. Capable of lowering the seat height 1/2". Improves front end steering and cornering. Helps keep your bike flat through the rollers. Can stiffen the initial 110mm of rear shock stroke. Model Fitment:
- Yamaha YZ450F / FX ( 2010-2017)
- Yamaha YZ250F (2014-2017)
- Yamaha YZ250FX (2015)
- Yamaha WR250F (2015-2016)
- Yamaha WR450F (2016)


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47 Meters Down (2017) BRRip 480P 275MB English ESubs
Posted on September 15th, 2017 by WorldFree4u.lol
Ratings: 5.8/10
Directed by: Johannes Roberts
Released On: 16 June 2017
Genre(s): Adventure, Drama, Horror
Star Cast: Mandy Moore, Claire Holt, Matthew Modine
Synopsis: Two sisters are exploring the deep blue sea until something goes wrong. As they submerge 47m they encounter a creature that only wants flesh and blood. As they fight their way back to the top, they shortly run out of oxygen. With only an hour left they're not only racing against time they are racing against life and death. 47 Meters Down 2017 Full Movie Download Free Watch Online 300MB


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Take flight from winter. Head to Sparrow Café and ease your spring fever pains. A good cup of coffee or tea works wonders for the soul. Melt away your worries in Minnesota's only bird friendly certified coffee shop.
Dark, dreary barely get out of bed winter days, become brighter with a trip to Sparrow Café. Coffee or tea with a little sweet or savory on the side awakens the senses. The surroundings almost chirp to life with birds. Big, bold, bright, beautiful murals beam with birds. Discover an oasis like a prairie meadow on a warm summer's day right at the busy intersection of West 50th Street and Penn Avenue South in Minneapolis.
Big Beverage Selection
Expert baristas serve sustainably sourced coffee in delectable ways all made to order. They buzz behind the counter with military precision fussing over the little details that make a cup of coffee big on taste. Try the bird friendly certified house blend, a Sparrow Café special feature.
While coffee drinks rule the roust, many other tempting beverages fill the menu. How about hot chocolate? Indulge in rich dairy white chocolate instead of the traditional dark. Want something lighter? Cold shrub drinks have a healthy splash of vinegar and make a surprisingly refreshing almost cleansing drink. Teas come hot or cold with inviting names similar to exotic travel destination-based novels.
Sweet & Savory Foods
Birds of a feather also like to eat together. A dainty little tea party-sized macaron can transform an ordinary day into a near Parisian escape at least for a bite or two. The pastry selection changes daily and showcases some of the Twin Cities best sweets like Glam Doll donuts and Chez Arnaud desserts. The elegant Ispahan layered raspberry macaron bursts with mouthwatering French meets Eurasian fruit flavor mix. On the savory side, fresh sandwiches and soups share the same high quality and also come from local sources.
Busy by Broder's
Located in the heart of Broder's trio of eating emporiums. Sparrow Café has a steady crowd and stays busy. True to the house motto, we "come together…over coffee." Indeed, the flock has landed in this friendly neighborhood coffee shop tucked away in the southern Lake Harriet Linden Hills neighborhood of southwest Minneapolis. To accommodate, Sparrow Café recently lengthened its hours.
Atmosphere That Takes Flight
Come for the coffee (or tea or sweets or savories) and stay for the atmosphere. Independently owned, this is a whole different breed of coffee shop, bursting with personality right up to the rafters. An indoor panorama of bird murals by Broken Crow provides a lush floral backdrop. Cheery larger than life birdscapes can only delight. The décor stays in full bloom year round.
Sparrow Café makes a Twin City staycation good escape any time of year but especially during winter. A little bird told me so.
Location and Hours
The Sparrow Café is located at 5001 Penn Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55419, (612) 353-5177. Hours are Monday – Friday; 6 a.m. – 5 p.m.; Saturday; 7 a.m. – 5 p.m.; Sunday 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.


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In Reply to: smelt search posted by Mitch and son on March 27, 2003 at 03:59:19:
Check out michigan-sportsman.com, warm-water fishing link, then inside this message board. lots of answers there.
: Looking for a place to take my young son smelt dipping.We are out of Toledo.Thank you,Sincerly Mitch.
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Demonstration of repairing damaged dry hair on a 2 year client of Blades Salon in Tillamook, Oregon. Shop owner Polly Roberds demonstrates and talks about the quality of Panagenics Conditioner, Shampoo and hydrating spray on her client of two years. Polly has over 20 years of experience in the beauty industry. So if you have tried everything to fix your damaged, dry, flyaway hair you will see the answer right before your eyes on this video. You can throw away all that junk you wasted money on including that flat iron that is doing more harm than good. Blades Salon is a full service salon located at:104 Stillwell Ave. Tillamook, OR. 97141, 503-842-4151 Call today for your appointment as they are the only authorized location for Panagenics in the area. Video Production by www.EricSalasProductions.com Music by Reaper Crew Song: Just Because Booking Agent Billy Long 817-875-0071 email@example.com
Panagenic Shampoo Demo Blades Salon
By Salon Plano on August 19, 2012 in Hair Beauty Salon Plano
About Salon Plano
Awards, Beauty, Blades, color, Conditioner Shampoo, curly, Eric Salas Productions, extensions, Fixing damaged hair, Flat, Flyaway Hair, Full Service Salon, hair styles, haircut, makeup, mtv, natural, Natural Hair, New Hair, Panagenics Shampoo, products, Reaper Crew, Roberds, Salon, Split ends, Stillwell Ave, straight, styling, The best shampoo, Tillamook Oregon, tutorial, Twist, weave
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Who has the best armoured fighting vehicle?
One of the best features in the latest issue of Land Warfare International looks at the new generation of armoured fighting vehicles that are entering the inventories of Europe's armies.
With a raft of new types and models entering service or under construction, we thought it would be interesting to put up a comparison the base models.
Although a vehicle's capability will be defined by the types of systems that are fitted, it is still interesting to view the main hull and machinery characteristics of these new products.
So to help with this, we got our design team to throw together this handy reference chart (click to enlarge), outlining the basic statistics for each of the latest tracked and wheeled designs that are available.
The German Army is currently converting from the 45-year old Marder IFV to the new Puma IFV, which the manufacturer describes as the 'most powerful IFV worldwide'.
In German service, the Puma will work alongside the 8×8 Boxer multi-role armoured vehicle, which is claimed to have the highest protection level of any vehicle in its class.
The company-funded VBCI-2 was only just unveiled by Nexter in September 2015 and that vehicle features a new all-welded aluminium hull design with a higher roof line to provide greater internal volume.
The UK's renewal of its armoured vehicle fleet centres on the GDLS-UK Ajax tracked reconnaissance vehicle, the only new armoured vehicle in development or production for the British Army.
France, meanwhile, is developing the 6×6 Griffon Véhicule Blindé Multi-Rôles (VBMR) multirole armoured vehicle and the 6×6 Jaguar EBRC armoured reconnaissance and combat vehicle.
The General Dynamics LAV design also continues to prove popular and the latest iteration, the Piranha 5, has been chosen to replace the Danish Army's tracked M113.
What do you think of the latest industrial offerings from Europe? Have European armies made the right choices for armour? Are there any others that should be included here? Be sure to leave your comments below.
Meanwhile, all the latest news about these vehicles and their subsystems will emerge next week at Eurosatory in Paris so be sure to keep tabs on our show news.
And to view the complete entries, as well as all other AFVs currently in service, sign up to a free trial of Shephard Plus at www.shephardplus.com


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User Ratings for android device HTC HTC Butterfly codenames:[dlxub1, HTC Butterfly]Do you have problems with your HTC HTC Butterfly battery temperature?
Is your device getting very hot?
Did you know that you can use this free android app to monitor your device temperature?
To monitor your android temperature download your free copy of Battery Temperature Guard
Read the following reviews of users with the same device for this free app.
1 users with a HTC HTC Butterfly have rated Battery Temperature Guard Free with an average score of 5,00


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Iron Man
Character Name: Iron Man (Tony Stark)
Character Creator(s): Stan Lee
Character Publisher: Marvel Entertainment
Character Comic: The Invisible Iron Man
Character Genre: Superhero, Action
Character Status: Alive
Character Specie: Human
Character Class: Superhero
Character Abilities: Super strength, flight, durability, energy blasts
Character Weakness(es): pride,chest and emotions
Character Pitch: Tony Stark is a billionaire and genius who invented the suit known as Iron man to prolong his life and grant himself unbelievable power.
Character Criticisms: He sometimes gets very prideful and self pleasing.
Official Website URL: http://marvel.com
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page revision: 7, last edited: 21 Feb 2008 08:13


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For the first time in what seems like forever, the Royals were not shaking hands after a game at Kauffman Stadium. Remember when it felt like the opposite? Remember when we all expected the worst, were surprised by the best?
So much has changed this season. The Royals have been awful and then passable and more recently terrific. Fans have thrown things at their TVs and more recently come to games to stand and cheer. Up turned to down, stink to roses.
The Royals lost Tuesday night, 1-0 to the Marlins in 10 innings. It was a wild night. A 21-year-old Cuban named Jose Fernandez dominated the Royals for seven innings, but a 36-year-old Panamanian named Bruce Chen did the same to the Marlins.
In the end, the Marlins won when a fastball by Royals reliever Kelvin Herrera caught too much of the plate, and Christian Yelich slipped it into right field. That scored Jake Marisnick, who reached base when an 0-2 pitch hit him — sort of.
"Just nipped him in the shirt," Royals manager Ned Yost says.
And that's about it. More than 20,000 fans came out in the middle of the week, including more than 6,000 who bought their tickets Tuesday. Kansas City has gone from cussing this team to cheering it, from forgetting about this team to believing in it.
And through every pitch and every inning and every game and every incredible streak, Yost has been the same guy. Encouraging. Prickly. Consistent.
These Royals, in addition to capturing Kansas City's attention in a way unseen in a decade, are so far defined by two enormous and overwhelming streaks. You remember May, when the Royals could not have beaten an egg. And you know about them now, the best team in the American League since the All-Star break.
Baseball people love to talk about their seasons being defined by streaks, but the sport hasn't seen a team this streaky in years.
The Royals lost all but four of 23 games in May. They won all but four of their last 21.
No team has beenthat bad and this
good in the same season since Oakland in 2005. Back when Barry Zito was still good.
The Royals fired two hitting coaches, replaced them with two others, and now have just one. Sal Perez took breaks to move his mother from Venezuela after a death in the family and another for a concussion. Mike Moustakas was inept for months and now has a higher slugging percentage than David Ortiz's since the All-Star break. Eric Hosmer was an underperforming singles hitter and now more hits than all but two players in the league since the break.
Fans have screamed for Yost's job, and his boss's job. They have mocked him for batting Chris Getz and Alcides Escobar too high, crushed him for pulling James Shields after eight innings in May — and now cheer his team for rising into a legitimate, honest-to-goodness playoff hunt.
Through it all, Yost has been, basically, the same guy. Unfailing encouragement for his players. Occasional prickly answers for reporters. Consistent calm in the dugout.
"Nothing's changed," catcher George Kottaras says.
"Same guy," pitcher Ervin Santana says.
"I see the same thing," designated hitter Billy Butler says.
Yost has had a few moments, of course. The third-baseman-tree rant is particularly memorable, when he said he's "never been wrong on one of these kids I've had conviction with."
Otherwise, he sat through news conference after news conference, answering question after question about, basically, why his team stunk so bad and why he wasn't throwing chairs.
We just need to keep encouraging them, he said a thousand times.
Now, he sits through news conference after news conference, answering question after question about, basically, why his team is so suddenly awesome and when this little streak is going to end.
The guys are having fun, he's saying just about every day now.
It is an unnatural evenness, especially for a big league manager, and is essentiallya product of what happened in Milwaukee
, when he was fired with 12 games left in 2008 with the Brewers on a skid but still tied for the wild card.
He's thought about that moment a million times, many of them on his tractor back home in Georgia. There were times he got too emotional during the losing. That was his competitiveness, but to some it was perhaps interpreted as cracking. Never again.
Yost vowed that he would be different if he got another chance. He had one slipup, if you can even call it that. In New York, the Royals gave up a two-run lead in the eighth inning. The night before, they had lost in 11 innings. The Royals were in a stretch of 44 games in as many days. The bullpen was taxed. So Yost got a little ticked, right there in the dugout, breaking that promise to himself — however slightly.
Perhaps that moment sticks out because of the context, because Yost has otherwise been so relentlessly even.
All around him, chaos. Franchise cornerstones who were like kids now hit like All-Stars. Calls for his job have turned to cheers. A devastating slide into last place now balanced by an inspired rise into a playoff race. Through it all the manager has been the same encouraging, prickly, consistent self.
Nobody knows for sure how much that's meant, only that it's been one of the few points of steadiness in one of the wildest seasons in recent baseball history.


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All About Grandma's Old Fashioned Mac And Cheese
A lot of individuals learn to get meatloaf when they first start cooking. You will observe people make meatloaf's out of a mixture of meats. Grandma's Lil Smokies Casserole is among my family's beloved dishes. This baked macaroni and cheese could be the dish ever. Sadly, lots of individuals make their famous macaroni and cheese similar to this.
Cheese just appears to earn everything taste better! Instead of performing macaroni and cheese she'd bake it. You may leave it out you've used especially cheese that is sharp, but nonetheless, it helps nearly all the moment; point. Add milk in the event the cheese sauce appears too thick. This recipe is quick, easy and flexible. Like I actually delight in going back to the basics 17, I really enjoy old recipes. You can locate recipes that are excellent .
Grandma's Old Fashioned Mac And Cheese Help!
Make the recipe a few occasions and you'll know! It's excellent and really simple to make. Things are likely to begin moving pretty fast. Among the things which I notice is these cookbooks generally have the specific primary recipes with minor variances based on the region in. What a novel concept girls and boys. The problem's fact is that unless you just happen to be a botanist, locating for ingestion, a youthful pokeweed suitable is tricky to do alone for the moment. But however much I attempt to recreate it, it is not the exact same.


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In the very first games, hardware wasn't very advanced. We didn't have the capability to show 3D models, but we certainly had the capability to show 2D though. Since we couldn't do high tech, 3D model rendering then we used hand-drawn sprites in many games until we had the capability. The sprite look is a classic, retro look, not commonly used in games but recently there has been a significant increase in the number of pixel games, many of them being indie games but others from large companies as well. For a while sprite based games looked like they would mostly become a thing of the past but their popularity has increased in these last years. We'll be taking a look at how sprites have been used in games and compare their advantages and disadvantages vs. 3D models.
Evolution of technology
Pong had a limited color palette of white and black
Like I've said, sprites have been used for a long time, since the very beginning. Due to computation limits, it was easier just to render a 2D sprite then calculate a model's vertices and triangles and it still is. But sprites also had limitations themselves. Computers and entertainment systems could only show so many colors at the time, the first ones using only shades of grey. Eventually we evolved to 8-bit, 16-bit, and so on, so forth. Not only that but the resolution of screens also had to increase from a much smaller amount. This meant the sprites we designed were limited in color, and also in size. If we wanted to give the right proportions of a character sprite compare to a large building sprite, we had to make really small looking sprites and try to squeeze as much detail into them as we could.
Super Mario World had multi-layered backgrounds
Technology evolved, limitations of sprites began to cease and we were able to create vibrant worlds and even create immersive effects such as "layering sprites". An effect like this would be to layer multiple sprites in the background, the closer backgrounds moving faster as we move, while the farthest move slower or not at all. This would really make the world look a lot more immersive. A lot of other neat techniques came with the use of sprites but sprites began to take a back seat once technology had reached peak where it could display 3D models.
Mario 64 still had sprites despite being a 3D game
Models got popular and many franchises went to these types of games. There was just something very appealing about the increased depth of a game now, that sprites simply couldn't do at the time. That's not to say sprites still didn't play a role in these games though. If you take a look at Super Mario 64, there are actually sprites around in the levels still. More specifically, they used it in particle systems, such as the snow.
Doom was a 3D game with 2D sprites
Also to note is some games used a 3D engine but everything was sprites still. The most notably example of this is Doom. It was a completely 3D environment yet everything in the game consisted of 3D sprites. But models were still becoming popular.
Mario Kart 64 used sprites for some of the items like the green shell while having 3D models elesehwere
In any case technology continued to increase, it became easier to calculate 3D models and advanced physics that would appropriately render the 3D models. Sprites were not advancing nearly as fast, sure enough we had more computation and calculations, and maybe even the process of creating sprites increased in efficiency, but it wasn't moving as fast as 3D models. Sure sprites had physics, such as gravity and other forces, but non that could affect their limbs and such like 3D models could. Sprites were and are still used in 3D games however due to their easy calculations but more and more advanced games use less and less sprites or even none. It seemed like for a while sprite based games were becoming obsolete. Keep in mind, I am talking about in mainstream games, I am not focusing on the many online, free games on various sites. I am talking about ones made by indie developers or large companies, the big sellers.
Scott Pilgrim vs. the World and other sprite based games began to pop up in the recent years
Then suddenly this huge surge of games came out, and many of them actually followed a marketing strategy of "Retro throwback". Take Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, the game was a complete throwback to the days of retro gaming. It came complete with retro sound effects and an overall vivid color palette by passing any old limitations of old NES games though. But retro it was and it appealed to a lot of old gamers who missed the old sprite based games. After this it seemed like a massive number of sprites games came out and nowadays you can hardly tell sprite based games really disappeared for a while (in terms of being sold, not counting flash based games). There are a ton of games from both large companies and smaller companies releasing sprite based all the time now. Sprites are definitely back in, but for how long? Will they keep up with 3D games? Well let's see the advantages and disadvantages of them.
Advantages of Sprites
Street Fighter 2 HD Remix: The dimensions of this sprite of Ken are approximately 430 x 395
Well like I said earlier, Sprites are easier to calculate, let's get into the specifics of why that is. Sprites contain only a certain number of coordinates, and come with a size of X and Y. It has no "vertices" that make it up, it can essentially just be a square of pixels. That in itself immediately makes it easier to calculate then a model. Models are composed of vertices, representing points on the model, which are connected to each other to form triangles. You need to calculate these and connect the triangles to form a model, this is just the basics, we haven't even counted surface normals (to form a solid figure, right now we would just have a wireframe), texture coordinates, faces, etc. It's easy to see that there are way more calculations involved with models then there are with sprites. That is the very reason why sprites are used in backgrounds to save memory.
There are many more complex calculations associated with models
This applies also for lighting, because 3D models require good lighting in order to look good. Sprites on the other hand do not have any lighting (At least they aren't actually required to) since the "lighting" is drawn right into the sprites. That makes it so you don't have to make any calculations for sprites, however this goes into one of the disadvantages as well. Before I go into this disadvantage I want to point out that textures have the same application as lighting. Models need them but the texture is drawn right into sprites on the other hand.
3D models need good lighting and textures which are more calculations. Sprites do not need these, it's "drawn" into the sprite itself.
Disadvantages of Sprites
Blazblue : Ragna's sprites don't need texture or lighting, it's drawn right in
Now then, that disadvantage is the fact that sprites need to be hand drawn. Sprites need to have the lighting already drawn into the sprite as well as any texture. There aren't really any systems that layer a texture on top, at least none that I know of. Also another disadvantage is that models, once created can be placed and shifted to form animations, while sprites need to be hand drawn on every frame of it's animation to look right. This can be very difficult, though there are tools to help but there aren't many.
Blazblue: Noel requires hundreds of hand drawn frames for her animations
The best results for sprites are usually when every sprite is hand drawn by professionals, and this can take an immense amount of time depending on the quality of the sprite. A simple sprite can be really easy and quick to finish but a detailed sprite such as those in Blazblue can take a massive amount of time. The difference between making a model and making a sprite also depends on the person, because the process of creating both is entirely different. Being a good modeller does not make you a good sprite artist and vice versa.
So we can see that, calculations wise, sprites are much less costly than models, that much was obvious. And even in games with models, sprites can be used rather effectively if masked well enough. They are still used for particle effects even to this day. The quality of sprites may very though depending on the artist, and if you're creating a character with a wide range of animations, it can actually be easier to model a character than sprite him. This is due to it being potentially easier to animate since you're not "redrawing" the model every time like a sprite requires. You need to have a good sense of perspective, animation, scale and proportions when making a sprite being animated in complex ways (like in Street Fighter or Blazblue). This can create a higher skill cap when trying to make sprites like these and can look less smooth than their model counterparts even after all the effort put in. Not to say models don't require effort either, but it's using formulas and interpolation to animate rather than an artist's skill in making sprites. If an artist wants to make a character look smoother, than they have to draw more frames for the sprite, where as a modeler need only position then correctly.
Marvel vs Capcom 3: It's easier to make alternate costumes for 3D models. It can be just a texture swap or add on. Animations can remain the same. 2D sprites can't do this nearly as easily.
So, besides the fact that calculations were easier with sprites, it can debatably require more effort to get into a game depending on the kind of sprite. There is a reason why most games go for models now. For one because most games that want to go for a 3D environment would want to look realistic anyways and sprites wouldn't fit the game. Another reason is due to the advancements in technology and modellers, that models can look better much more easily. There are many tools out there like Maya that can allow anyone to make a model. A sprite has a larger artistic skill cap in order to make the truly great sprite animations. But there is also a feeling of nostalgia associated with sprites for many, which is the reason why they are selling once again.
Mortal Kombat uses people, takes pictures of them, and turns them into sprites
One way developers have gotten past the issues of making so many sprites for animations is to use an effect like Mortal Kombat or Donkey Kong Country. Basically they made 3D models (OR took real people) but then took pictures of the models/people, frame by frame and made the animations that way. This way, they could use the easier calculations of sprites vs models. They also would be able to easily make the animations for each frame of a sprite as well since all they do is move a pose. This is one of the ways in the past they have used to try and combine the best of both, and the effect is alright but not quite up to today's standards in terms of quality. But it has a retro look of sorts.
Shadow Complex (3D) on a 2D plane
Castlevania (2D) on a... 2D plane
In this day and age, due to advancements in technology, it's not hard for a person to make a model and 3D game, but with enough dedication you can make sprites to make a 2D or even 3D game. A lot of the choice between sprites or models depends on the type of game you want to give to the player and the type of feeling you want the game to resonate. If you compare a game like Shadow Complex, a 3D game, on a 2D plane, it invokes a similar different feeling compared to playing a sprite game such as Castlevania just by the aesthetics of the sprites. It's all about the feeling.


text: Rick Ross hooks up with Lil Wayne in the video for "Thug Cry", the J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League produced single from his new album Mastermind. In the clip, a convict (played by The Wire's Wood Harris) recalling his past while sitting in his cell worries that his girl and friends have forgotten about him while he's locked up. When he's released he finds that everyone's waiting on him, including Ross who presents him with a Rolls-Royce.


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Picture day is always an exciting milestone to kick-off the season. We'll have rosters and photos up this week.
Tweets by LadyRangerBball
This website is maintained by the Vista Ridge High School Athletic Booster Club and is not a part of Vista Ridge High School or the Leander Independent School District. Neither Vista Ridge High School nor Leander ISD is responsible for the content of this web site or the content of links external to this website.


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Approaches to Forming a Water-soluble Extracellular Domain From α3 Subunits of Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors
MetadataShow full item record
Obtaining structural information on the extracellular domain (ECD) of α3 subunits of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) by x-ray crystallography is desirable for the design of drugs intended to therapeutically target specific nAChRs and treat the various diseases and disorders caused by nAChR complications such as epilepsy, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and other disorders of the nervous system. Separating the ECD from the rest of the structure is advantageous because the transmembrane domains make nAChRs difficult to crystallize. In order to explore the possibility of creating a water soluble ECD from the α3 subunits of nAChRs through the proteolysis of the ECD away from the transmembrane domains, the nAChR expression yield of mutant α3 nAChR subunits containing a flexible linker at the ECD/M1 interface was measured. The flexible linker used was an 18 amino acid sequence consisting of the residues alanine-glycine-serine repeated six times (6xAGS) and was designed as a possible flexible environment in which to contain a protease site. The nAChR yield, as measured by yield of [3H]epibatidine binding sites, was much lower for the α3 nAChR subunits containing the flexible linker at the ECD/M1 interface than for the control subunits without the linker. Therefore, the 6xAGS flexible linker is not the optimum environment in which to contain a protease site in α3 nAChR subunits.
Frankovich, Victoria Lea (2014). Approaches to Forming a Water-soluble Extracellular Domain From α3 Subunits of Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors. Honors and Undergraduate Research. Available electronically from http : / /hdl .handle .net /1969 .1 /152064.


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because we missed it…
别来无恙 (bie lai wuyang) is a Chinese idiom often used at reunions. It literally translates to I hope you're still as healthy as the last time we met. And I certainly hope that everyone is healthier than ever!
My life has changed quite drastically after Sew Weekly 2011. Due to family commitment, I had to temporarily 'abandon' my blog The Sew Convert for more than half a year in 2012. A lovely and humorous reader thought I had become the Sew Re-Convert, back to not liking sewing after doing it non-stop in 2011. It was only at the beginning of this year that I started blogging again.
With my boy attending Primary 1 (Grade 1 in elementary school) and enrichment classes, I am still adapting to changes all too often. So, I have set a new and more realistic target of sewing 12 things for myself this year. A far cry from the 52 outfits in 2011. Looking back, contributing to the Sew Weekly in 2011 was a one in a lifetime opportunity for me. An opportunity I wouldn't want to have lived without. The timing was right. Any other year and I wouldn't be able to make such a huge commitment. I learnt so much and connected with so many wonderful and talented people like yourselves. None of my friends in Singapore sew and most people still look at me in disbelief when I tell them I sew my outfits.
Though my favorite fashion era is the 1940s, I sew from both modern and vintage sewing patterns and here are some garments I've sewn for myself this year. I'm slightly more than half way to meeting my target.
I think I'm at a stage where I am intrigue by different types of fabric. Their unique characteristics and 'temperament'. Recently, I started experimenting with lace and mesh in some of my projects and that has gotten quite addictive.
In terms of new plans. I'm starting to be a pattern tester. I think this experience is absolutely thrilling! To witness and be part of the pattern development process. Can't wait to receive the pattern!
I also realized I spent a lot of time waiting. Waiting for my son outside his school, at his enrichment classes or my daughter at her ballet lessons. To spend my waiting time more productively, I've decided to start hand sewing dresses for my little girl and the Cambodian girl we are sponsoring to attend school. I don't knit so I think this might be a good alternative.
I'm SO excited about this reunion and can't wait to start sewing soon! Have you decided what colors to sew for your project? After days of going back and forth through my pattern and fabric stashes, I've narrowed it down to three vintage patterns and a couple of fabrics. In terms of colors, I am currently leaning towards a mix of Samba, Turbulence with a hint of Vivacious.
To me, what's important is to relax, go with your gut feel and enjoy the whole process.
Happy sewing everyone!
This is so exciting! I have been experimenting more with modern patterns lately. I still do vintage every once in awhile, but I'm trying to expand my talents and have a more day to day wearable closet. I am going with a shift dress with a fabric from my stash that has Turbulence, Deep Lichen Green, and Linden Green in it.


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The Asian man in Hollywood [Part 1]
This is from way back…the 2nd issue of the Gupter zine, 3 and a half years ago…
That's probably why Hiro from Heroes is in it.
Where is he now? What's he up to?
The Asian man in Hollywood
With Daniel Wu, Jackie Chan and Hiro from 'Heroes'
"The first time I went there it was close to my eighteenth birthday, and school was almost done, so I thought I'd go down with a couple of friends and give it a try, y'know? I didn't expect much. I knew no Asian guy had had much luck out there…even Jackie[Chan] was struggling…I remember he'd just done that Bronx film when I went, and that didn't make much of a dent…but I figured, yeah, I'm not totally Asian, I'm American. I can speak to them, and they'll see it. I wasn't sure what they would see exactly, but I thought there'd be some kind of reaction at least…at the very least, a double-take.
So, there were two auditions. The first one, the guy cut me short after one line saying, y'know, I wasn't what they were looking for. Fair enough. The second one, the guy said…well, it was something kinda personal actually."
Daniel shakes his head and then stops, frozen. "Maybe I'll tell you later."
Jackie Chan never understood Hollywood.
After Bronx, he did one in Australia. He was some kind of secret agent, and they made him fight a shark.
"It seemed a little cartoonish, but what could I do? It was my second movie, and my agent was telling me to go along, just do it. He said by the fourth movie I'd have more control."
After the shark there were more filmed in Australia. There was one where he played a chef.
"The chef movie…yeah, I remember that one. They wouldn't let me kiss the Australian reporter. Something about age difference, they said. Ridiculous…"
I went to the producers behind that film and asked them whether or not they'd ever considered letting Jackie kiss the Australian.
"Oh yeah, we did a scene, definitely. It was near the end of the shoot and we were looking at the footage we had and it was obvious the love interest Jackie had, y'know, the Chinese girl, it wasn't right. It played out as a kind of father-daughter relationship, not two people who would go to bed with each other. So, we did try with the other girl. We shot it…"
I asked them what kind of results they got.
"Oh, man, it was awful. Honestly, and I know this is a tightrope we're walking here, what with the Asian-Western thing, but they just weren't right together. Not right at all."
I asked them what exactly went wrong.
"Okay, one: she was tall, he wasn't. Y'know, Jackie's a pretty short guy, so that was a problem. We tried to get around it by getting him on a box, but he was too proud to do it. He wasn't a diva exactly, but we could see he wouldn't be pushed on it."
"And two?"
"Two: the guy couldn't kiss. She tried, really tried to make it work, but he couldn't really get his lips to hit hers properly. I don't know if it was just Jackie or Asian men in general, but when they kissed, man…it was like watching your granddad."
Daniel Wu is sitting in a taxi, deep in the heart of Hollywood. He's on his way to one of the studios for a private audition, something involving a "director with integrity, real integrity," but he won't tell me any more. Instead he's focusing on his history with the industry again.
"The second time I came, I'd just finished college. I was, what, four, five years older, and I thought my face had grown up a little so I'd be able to get something. And Jackie was doing well…he'd just done Rush Hour, and I remember seeing it and daring to have a little bit of hope, y'know, perhaps things we're a little different. Don't get me wrong, Rush Hour wasn't anything different in itself, but the level Jackie was playing at was new. No Asian guy had ever got second billing before, not in a film that big."
He stretches his surprisingly long legs out across the taxi floor and looks through the window as if he can still see that second visit imprinted on the landscape.
"But y'know, I wasn't completely convinced, even in my most optimistic moments. I knew it was still an action film. I knew Chris Tucker still got top billing ahead of him, and who was he? He was a nobody back then, and black too (still is…) which was like…it was like, even the black actors, who were having their own problems in Hollywood, were getting put above us. But it's fucked really…you look at the numbers and you see there's more of us than there are of them.[Note: this is unconfirmed] But, that's the industry here…everyone crawls at the back of the line, hoping enough white guys get sick or greedy so we can step in. And even then you've got the others, the real minorities, Mexicans, Poles, Arabs. We were all in with them. I mean, krist, even the Arabs…"
The taxi stops outside the studio gate and the driver tells us tourists can't go inside.
"No, it's okay. We have an appointment."
The driver looks at Wu and shakes his head. "Seriously?" he asks. "Because I'm the one who looks like an asshole when they don't let you in."
"Just tell the guard Daniel Wu is here."
The driver studies him through the mirror.
"Never heard of you. What you been in?"
"Blood brothers, Protégé, Police Story…"
"They Hollywood?"
Wu looks at me and mutters something in what I assume is Cantonese.
"'Cos they don't sound Hollywood, and no offense pal, but you don't look Hollywood. You really want me to ask them?"
Wu opens the door and gets out, telling the driver he'll ask himself.
As he walks to the gate he stops abruptly and then comes back to the taxi, but he doesn't stop, he keeps walking, across the road and over to a wall on the other side, where he sits and stares back at the studio gates. I pay the taxi driver and hurry across to join him.
"That second time…I walked into the audition room and there were twelve white guys staring back at me. All the other guys outside, the actors, they were white too, except one guy, who for some reason was Native American. I don't know what the fuck he was doing there, but anyway…I start my lines, and I'm reading with this other white actor, who I think might've already got one of the other parts, and every time I read one of the lines, he looks away. No one else notices so I keep going, but he keeps doing it. After something like the fifteenth time I stop and ask him what he's doing…I tell him I'm reading the script and far as I can see there's no reason for him to be looking away. And the guy, he still doesn't look at me…he just shakes his head, gets up and goes over to one of the other white guys, I think it was the director, and he tells him, loud and clear in front of everyone, he doesn't think I'm right for the part."
"Just like that, in front of the whole room?"
"In front of everyone, yeah."
He watches the taxi crawling slowly away from the Studio gates, the driver dividing his attention between the traffic on the road and Wu.
"What did you do?"
"I stood up, that was the first thing. I was gonna walk straight out, but I had to hear it, y'know? I had to know what the guy was gonna say. So I asked him, why aren't I right for the part? And the director stands up, I dunno, as if he's read the guy's mind and knows what he knows, and he says I look strange. What do you mean strange? I say back, and to be honest, I was dying for him to say "Chinese," I was fucking desperate to hear him be that obvious, y'know? But he didn't. Well, not really. He just looked straight at me and said I looked ghoulish."
"Yeah, like a ghost or something. Like I'm not human, and those were his words. Like a ghoul."
"Did he explain which part of you was ghoulish?"
"Yeah, he did. I guess he felt like he had to, just to show it wasn't a race thing, y'know? He said, and this has never left me, I'll always remember these words, he said my eyebrows were bushy, but not bushy. Faintly bushy…like they were trapped between two worlds."
I try to stifle my laugh but a snigger still comes out. Wu ignores it.
"He said they were almost supernatural, like they were in purgatory or something. And I laughed too at the time, but y'know, ever since I've been a little bit paranoid about them. I even started using clippers." He slaps his hand down on the wall. "Fucking Hollywood."
The director isn't happy with his star.
The tall, balding man [famous, but not to be named here] moves away from the monitor and towards the edge of the roof where the latest scene is being shot.
"Hiro…" he calls to the air floating twelve storeys above the street below us. I stand near the cameras wondering if Hiro is still there. I check my watch and see that this scene has taken up almost an hour so far. Can a man hang on for that long?
The director reaches the edge and peers over. He speaks again, which means Hiro must still be there. I walk over to eavesdrop.
"There's no fear. Your face is doing nothing, can't you see?"
"I'm tired…really tired. I don't think I can …can do this…much…longer."
The director puts his head in his hands.
"Krist man, what do you think this is, a fucking holiday? You're working, you're at work. Stop whining."
"I'm sorry, but…this is…it's so hard…I can't…"
I look over the edge and examine the details of the scene. Hiro's legs are dangling freely, his shirt is covered in sweat as is his chubby little face, and his fingers look like they are about to snap.
"Look, do you want us to fail?"
"Of course…no, I don't…this is…it's…"
"This is what?"
"It's…this is really…"
"What? Speak, man."
"It's hard to…to speak when…hanging like this…the words…they're too long…too long to…to speak fast."
"Listen. It's almost eleven. Most of the crew's tired, we've got a six am start tomorrow, they just wanna go home and get some rest. But they can't, Hiro…because of you. You're keeping us here. Your face, it's not doing anything. It's blank. You see?"
"No, I don't see…I don't know…I'm scared…really…"
"No, you're not. It's on the monitor, the evidence is…it's right there. You look like a guy in a kiddie park, no fucking fear."
"I'm hanging…twelve storeys…I'm scared…please…I'm really scared…"
"No, no, no…"
"Yes, yes…I think…I'm gonna…I'm gonna fall…"
"The hell you are. You drop and you're done, boy. Get it?"
One of Hiro's hands slips and he almost falls. The director grabs it before he can drop and puts it back on the ledge.
"Krist, you're sweating like an animal. What's wrong with you?"
Hiro doesn't answer.
"Okay, one more then call it a night. You better get it this time, Hiro or it's…it's fucking wushu in middle China again."
"I'm Ameri…I'm American."
The director ignores him, stands up and walks back over to the monitor. I stay a little longer and offer some words of comfort to the hanger.
"Just try not to look down."
Hiro disobeys and looks down. On the street below five bored-looking firemen are standing next to their fire engine playing cards and waiting to scoop Hiro off the concrete should he fall.
"Out of the shot, hack," the director shouts at me.
I stand up and give Hiro a thumbs up then walk back to the shadows behind the crew.
[To be continued]


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The life and loves of a South Wales blogger
Many of you are now halfway through the week, and halfway through half term. G has not reached school age yet, so we are still free from the term time scheduling, but if you are one of the many parents out there who have to find plenty to do and entertain your little lovelies then I know just the treat for the end of your half term week!
After a long and possibly fraught week of half term "fun", an end of the week treat could be just the incentive your little angels might need. And the thought of a little time sat down is surely and incentive for us tired out parents!
An incredibly talented young cast from The Talent Shack, Shelley Norton Stage School, are bringing this classic story to life and taking us on a journey under the sea with a fantastic performance of The Little Mermaid. With all the well loved Disney classics, you'll all be humming along and are guaranteed to leave with that happy Disneyfied fairy dust feeling.
The cast are aged only from 7-18 which is lovely for your children to watch, and relate even more with the cast and their characters. Their age does not, however, put a limit on their talents though! You'll be in awe of what these young performers can; adults and children alike will be entranced by their energetic and enthusiastic production.
There's one performance Friday evening, one Saturday afternoon and one Saturday evening. With only a few performances I'd recommend booking your tickets soon!
Do you have plans to visit the theatre this half term? What shows would your littles most like to see?
Mrs H xxx
We went for a free taster lesson with Water Babies and G had a brilliant time! I wasn't sure what to expect, what we'd be doing or whether G would enjoy a structured lesson rather than just splashing about.
I thought maybe we'd splash about on the sidelines and watch what a lesson was all about but we were encouraged to join in straight away. The instructor was really friendly and welcoming, and assured us to just join in as much as we could or as G wanted to. No pressure to 'fit in' straight away at all. There's lots of songs and movements to join in with and swimming 'actions' to learn, kicking legs etc and G started to pick things up much sooner than I was expecting. Because the lessons are so relaxed and fun it's more like joining in with a toddler play group but in the water.
Not too far into the lesson we had to stand at the side of the pool and let our littles go whilst they swam to the instructor. It was only a distance of about 2-3 feet and I thought we'd be told to miss it out because we hadn't been before, but our turn came and I struggled not to have a complete mummy break down, letting my precious baby boy go in the water. Of course he was fine and had a big beaming smile on his face when he swam back to me.
I was so surprised at how much he joined in, solo swimming, 'diving' off the side, running over a large float and jumping into the pool. The only thing I couldn't get him to join in with was using a hoop weight as a car steering wheel! Why steer when you can launch it across the pool and make a big splash! At 45-50 minutes long it's the longest time he's ever spent in the swimming pool, and I think he'd have stayed even longer. He enjoyed it so much. He cried a little when we had to go get changed, "more splash Mum?" It was so good to know we were right about swimming lessons for G!
The most important thing to remember for post swim (apart from a warm fluffy towel of course) is a big snack! G was ravenous waiting for me to get changed. He inhaled a pouch of raspberry yogurt and a pot of raisins. Thankfully our favourite NomNom Pouches have released a new design and bigger size, they're perfect to fill up with lots of delicious smoothies and yogurts for a post swim snack. They're also fairly mess free and G can hold it and control it, meaning I'm left alone for 2 minutes to get myself dressed. Handy when you have to actually leave the building. No one wants to see a half dressed parent wrapped in a towel trying to hold it up one handed and juggle a toddler to the car!
We're going to have lots of fun practising all of the new songs and skills when we start lessons soon!
Have you taken your toddlers swimming? What's their favourite post swim snack?
Mrs H xxx
It's nothing that hasn't been said before, many have written, tweeted, blogged about it. First trimester is frigging hard!! Even doing nothing is hard. Your body is growing a person and its bloody tiring! Even a walk up the stairs can leave you out of breath and needing a quick sit down. It can be so frustrating being that tired out all the time. But first time round, apart from when I was in work, I could have a little nap, a lie down or just chill out for half hour.
This time it's a bit different. Toddlers don't understand resting and unplanned naps. And they still expect to be fed and bathed at the right times. Selfish little sods!
Talking of being fed, trying to plan G's meals has been a lot harder the last few weeks. Its hard making and planning lunch when you're not sure if you can stomach chopping up chicken or smelling peanut butter. Cue lots of retching and a confused and worried toddler! Poor little dude looks so worried and all I can do is try and swat him away until it stops and then give him lots of cuddles when it's over.
When you're just two it must be a weird thing to watch and not understand.
Talking of retching (pregnancy is soooo glam isn't it!?) I can't brush my teeth without having a major retch attack. It's frustrating because it's not exactly something you can stop for a few weeks. Seriously, I can just about manage my front two teeth but any more than those and I can't stop!
Pregnant with your first you can endure these little annoyances in peace. This time? I know have an almost two year old stood next to me brushing his teeth and making very loud fake retching noises.
I'm looking forward to the second trimester promise of more energy!


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A Response to PDRM
It is apparent that the police force is becoming increasingly defensive and the public more frustrated and fearful regarding security in our country.
We need to try to find a solution to the current environment of criminality that persists in Malaysia. To this end we must return to the issue that you raise, namely that the police must "redouble their efforts to fight crime".
But we must also ask, is "redoubling our efforts" going to be sufficient, or should we instead broaden our scope and look at the macro picture. I propose that there should be an overall review and assessment of what the crime problems actually are, and a more determined effort should be taken to answer such pressing questions as, how to fight crime more effectively.
To this end, the following issues must be targeted, as they all contribute to creating a fertile ground for criminality:
1. A review of the immigration policy for foreign workers
2. Upgrading the quality of the PDRM
3. Rebalancing the ethnic composition of the PDRM
4. Employing more multilingual police officers to deal with complaints
5. The establishment of an effective monitoring system for the performance of Police Officers
6. Initiatives to combat the incidence of corruption in the PDRM itself
7. Incentivize public action by rewarding informants
8. Establish an Independent Committee of Professionals and Scholars to review the process for reporting complaints on crime.
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