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The EUMC study on anti-Semitism in Europe states that anti-Semitism is widespread among young Muslims. In this interview, Irmgard Pinn, sociologist, Muslim convert and member of the board of the Forum of Independent Muslims, critically reviews some of the findings
The EUMC study on anti-Semitism in Europe states that anti-Semitism is widespread among young Muslims. In this interview with Qantara.de, Irmgard Pinn, sociologist, Muslim convert and member of the board of the Forum of Independent Muslims, critically reviews some of the findings
According to the most recent study published by the EUMC (European Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia), there has been an increase in the number of anti-Semitic incidents in Germany, France, the Netherlands, Great Britain, and Belgium. The study specifically focuses on a strain of anti-Semitism that is widespread among Muslims and, more particularly, young Arabs.
Irmgard Pinn: With all due respect to the EUMC experts that worked on this study, I feel that the study leaves many questions unanswered and does not allow for the sweeping conclusions to which many people have jumped on the basis of what they have read in it.
Most importantly, the experts could not reach unanimous agreement on a definition of "anti-Semitism", let alone an interpretation of the information they gathered for the study.
For example, what constitutes justified criticism of Israel or the Israeli occupation policy? At what point does someone overstep the line to anti-Semitism? Is there any point in identifying a direct link between "classic" European anti-Semitism and Arab/Muslim expressions of outrage and anger, which are interspersed with defamatory remarks about "the Jews" and draw parallels with National Socialism? Is there any point in reacting to this link?
Here in Germany, opinions on this point vary hugely. Competent experts like Stefan Wild, Sonia Hegasy, Mohsen Massarrat, and others caution us not to jump to sweeping, stigmatising conclusions and warn of political exploitation.
But is the EUMC not right when it draws attention to anti-Semitism among young Muslims in its study?
Pinn: As far as these young Muslims are concerned – and they are repeatedly highlighted as a potential threat – it is obvious that this is primarily about the situation in France, where there was, for a time, a concentration of verbal and physical attacks against Jews perpetrated by young Arab emigrants in the suburbs in particular. According to recent statistics, there has thankfully been a considerable decline in this violence.
The situation in Germany is completely different insofar as the majority of Muslims living here are not of Arab, but of Turkish descent. As worrying and condemnable as each of them was, the incidents that have been reported here over the past few years do not, in my opinion, justify the claim that we are currently facing a "new" kind of Islamic-tinged anti-Semitism.
However, this is no reason not to focus more on investigating the motivation behind certain oft-repeated negative comments about "the Jews" and the philosophy that is associated with such comments. But before we lay the blame for these comments at the door of the mosques and "Islam" – which is what often happens – we must first clarify whether the young people in question have any sort of religious orientation, and whether they regularly go to the mosque or attend a youth group.
As I see it, in those cases where young people (and adults) believe that the Koran justifies the voicing of defamatory anti-Semitic remarks and the perpetration of violence against Jews, we are usually dealing with a lack of religious education and commitment which – in France, Germany, and Muslim countries alike – undoubtedly has something to do with the state of these people's lives, the political situation in the world, general educational deficiencies, and other factors.
At least in those parts of the Muslim community that are guided by Islam, mosque communities and Islamic associations could and should play the important role of educating, instructing, and opening up opportunities for participation.
Let us take a closer look at the things that motivate young people to make anti-Semitic denunciations and commit violent anti-Semitic acts.
Pinn: In my opinion, Alain Gresh, editor-in-chief of Le Monde Diplomatique, provided a convincing explanation of the situation in France; he says that it is all about the social and cultural integration of two minority groups into a majority society. Young Arab Muslims, who are largely excluded from the labour market, enjoy few educational opportunities, and have little prospect of promotion, feel that Jews in French society enjoy an excess of recognition and privileges: it is a case of "they have everything and we have nothing."
Moreover, in view of their personal situations, these young people really identify with the Palestinians; not only from the point of view of Arabs or Muslims observing the conflict with Israel, but also in the broader sense of a Third World liberation struggle. Anti-Semitic prejudices are adopted with a view to justifying and reinforcing their stance on this struggle. This attitude is also common among young Muslims in Germany; thankfully, however, it has rarely led to violence here.
What role do parents and the mosques play in all of this?
Pinn: In my opinion, parents only have a role to play insofar as families pass on the thought and behaviour patterns of a certain group. When it comes to typical "guest worker" parents, the majority of them have neither the knowledge, nor the awareness of problems that is needed to deal critically with anti-Semitism.
As far as the influence of the mosques is concerned, I would first like to point out that not everyone who is by definition a Muslim, is committed to Islam, let alone to a mosque community. This is why I do not consider it valid to create a direct link between anti-Semitism and Islam, and to make mosques and Islamic organisations responsible for anti-Semitic vulgarity and the violent acts perpetrated by young Muslims (or those who look like young Muslims) simply on the basis of an observance of such acts. After all, no-one speaks of "Christian" anti-Semitism when young Protestants or Catholics commit similar aggressive acts.
In saying that, I do not mean that there is no anti-Semitism among religious Muslims, in mosques, and in Islamic associations. On the contrary; some of the accusations that are being repeated over and over in the current debate are indeed justified; and Muslims and their organisations are quite rightly criticised for not having reacted to these accusations sooner and more energetically.
I am thinking here about the thoughtless adoption of anti-Semitic hate propaganda like the infamous Protocols of the Learned Elders of Zion and the anti-Semitic – and therefore unislamic – interpretation of certain parts of the Koran in sermons and popular writings.
Muslims have also failed to develop binding maxims on the basis of Islam's criteria for the way in which a Muslim should deal with Jews and Christians. Such maxims would prevent people from employing the same old anti-Semitic clichés in difficult situations that are characterised by conflict, discrimination, and violence. Finally, I consider it a fatal mistake that the majority of Muslims that consider themselves to be anti-racist and anti-anti-Semitic have not yet succeeded in distancing themselves clearly from the scholars and Muslim minorities that interpret certain verses of the Koran in a way that is in line with "classic" anti-Semitic philosophy.
This is partly the result of ignorance and a certain "blindness" towards anti-Semitic stereotypes and patterns of interpretation, and partly because they only attach a marginal importance to doing so, and think that in behaving in this way, they are avoiding internal disputes and are not attracting the attention of the non-Muslim world.
What can be done to combat anti-Semitism?
Pinn: An effective and, in my opinion, promising way of combating anti-Semitism and, indeed, any type of racism would be one that involves Muslims living in Germany and gives them an important role to play, e.g. as cultural interpreters.
The de facto situation is such that on the one hand, religious Muslims and their organisations are not integrated in any meaningful way into the countless activities against racism and right-wing extremism either at political or social level (whereby the current accusations of anti-Semitism will constitute yet another barrier to their involvement) and that on the other, the majority only have a fragmentary – and often ideologically distorted – knowledge of the history of anti-Semitism in Europe, the persecution of the Jews before and during the Third Reich, the foundation of Israel, and the history of the region etc., let alone a knowledge of the different interpretations of certain parts of the Koran or the current attempts of right-wing extremists and revisionist groups from Europe and the USA to obtain both allies and material support in Muslim countries.
What is the reason for this?
Pinn: Most Muslims living in Germany either moved here several decades ago in search of work, or grew up in districts mainly populated by "guest workers". The majority of first-generation immigrants did not receive a comprehensive education (not to mention the poor quality of the history lessons they received in their native countries) and were not in a position to change all this as a result of their jobs and situations. The generations that followed, on the other hand, passed through the German educational system; the majority of them never making it much farther than secondary school.
Moreover, very little of what was taught in their history classes, which should have provided them with information about anti-Semitism and explained the background to them, has actually stuck in their heads. Quite apart from the question as to whether they differ greatly in this regard from German, non-Muslim schoolchildren from the same districts and with the same educational opportunities, the aforementioned identification with Palestine and the Palestinians and the feeling of being forced to sympathise with the history of Jewish persecution and extermination, while no-one is interested in their personal experiences of discrimination, emigration, expulsion, and violence, must surely have a considerable role to play.
Moreover, of the young Muslims that do have better qualifications, very few are historians, social scientists, or arts scholars with research themes or work that focus on these issues and who could carry their findings, questions, and ideas into the Muslim community. This is why the calls for mosques and Islamic organisations to educate and inform their young people and to counteract anti-Semitic patterns of thought and behaviour in their youth work, which have repeatedly been made during the current anti-Semitism debates, have fallen on deaf ears.
This is not necessarily the result of a conscious attitude of denial (which naturally also exists), but rather the result of the fact that the qualified people, structures, and locations that are needed for internal debates and discussions, and the preparation of suitable instructional material etc., simply don't exist.
You have said that Muslims in Germany are willing to discuss anti-Semitism. How are they going about it?
Pinn: I think that the vast majority of Muslims are completely unaware of the current debate. This is quite simply the result of the social structure of the Muslim community, the media they access etc. But of those Muslims that read the more sophisticated German-language newspapers and magazines, very few consider anti-Semitism to be an independent problem that must be treated as a priority issue.
It is more the case that most religious Muslims – at whom these criticisms are primarily directed – feel that the relevance of this issue is being inflated in the current, anti-Islamic climate in order to humiliate Muslims and drive them into a corner, and in order to distract the public from the crimes that are being committed as a result of Israel's occupation policy.
Despite these doubts and reservations, many activities have been undertaken as part of interreligious dialogues and trialogues. And these activities are not just a recent occurrence. Naturally, a critical approach to anti-Semitism is part and parcel of such discussions. In this context, I would like to mention the many congresses and other events in which representatives of the Central Council of Muslims and the Council of Islam have taken part, and the years of involvement of the German Muslim League.
In the current debate, however, the questions that are being asked and the accusations that are being made can only be tackled properly on the basis of historic and social facts, e.g. the relationship between the Muftis of Jerusalem and the National Socialists, the structure and effects of anti-Semitic patterns of arguments, the relevance of anti-Semitic writing of European origin to the conflict in the Middle East, and religious pluralism in the Federal Republic of Germany.
There is indeed a willingness and an interest in acquiring this knowledge and dealing with the questions and reproaches that are coming from outside Islam, not only among independent intellectuals, but also among the representatives of clubs and associations.
© Qantara.de 2004
Translation from German: Aingeal Flanagan


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One of the great benefits of USBC Youth membership is the
chance to earn college scholarships so our youth can pursue
their academic dreams beyond High School.
Below are some of the opportunities available through USBC.
Download application
Deadline: March 21
Five male and five female USBC High School members are selected annually for the Dexter/USBC High School All-American Team and a $1,000 scholarship.
Coaches or team administrators must nominate eligible contenders; student-athletes and/or family members may not handle nominations. Once nominations are accepted, the student-athlete receives an application packet.
As a high school bowler, your selection to the Dexter/USBC High School All-American Team is based on your bowling accomplishments, academic achievement, letters of recommendation, extra-curricular and community involvement, submitted essays and resumes. Minimum requirements for selection include a 3.0 grade point average on a 4.0 scale (or equivalent) and at least one letter of recommendation.
All-American Team awards are presented at the Junior Gold Championships.
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Deadline: Dec. 1
If you are a senior in high school or a college student with a record of strong community involvement and academic achievements as well as financial need, you are eligible for this scholarship. Bowling success is not considered in awarding this scholarship. USBC presents this prestigious scholarship in honor of legendary pro bowler Earl Anthony.
USBC will award five USBC Youth members with a $5,000 scholarship. Candidates must be enrolled in their senior year of high school or presently attending college and must be current USBC Youth members in good standing. In addition, candidates must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 based on a 4.0 scale (or equivalent). Individuals may win this award only once.
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Deadline: Dec. 1
This award annually recognizes one male and one female USBC Youth bowler for his/her exemplary contributions in the sport of bowling outside of league or tournament play, academic accomplishments and community involvement.
Each award winner will receive a $1,500 scholarship and an expenses-paid trip to the awards ceremony held in conjunction with the USBC Convention in the spring. One of the winners may serve on the IBC Youth Committee and be eligible for additional scholarship funds. Youth Ambassadors selected to serve on Youth Committee must be at least 18 years old as of Aug. 1 in year of selection.
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Deadline: Dec. 1
The award recognizes a USBC Youth member who achieves academic success and gives back to their community through service. Applicants must be in their junior or senior year of high school, and must be USBC Youth members in good standing. This scholarship is based mainly on community service and very strong academic success.
Bowling success does not factor into the selection process. The winner receives a $2,500 scholarship and an expenses-paid trip for the winner and a parent or guardian to attend the awards ceremony, held in conjunction with the USBC Convention.
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Deadline: Dec. 1
The Gift For Life Scholarships are available to any USBC Youth member currently in high school currently holding a GPA of 2.0 or higher and who can demonstrate financial need. USBC awards up to 12 scholarships each year.
Two of the six awards are reserved annually for children of fire department, emergency rescue or police personnel. Selected finalists may be asked to provide evidence of their financial need. Award winners receive a $1,000 college scholarship.
Oklahoma USBC
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subset: commoncrawl


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Several CSA members have asked me for my opinion on Proposition 37, the ballot initiative that would require labeling of all foods that contain GMOs, or genetically modified organisms. Genetically Modified Organisms show up on our dinner plates mainly via commodity crops like sugar beets and soy beans which are refined and added to a myriad of products. Many people are unaware of how much of the food that they buy contains GMOs and the companies that create and patent these organisms would like to keep it that way. Not surprisingly, some of the corporations that oppose Prop 37 include Monsanto, Dow, DuPont, Bayer, Coca Cola and Pepsi. Their lobbyists say that passing Prop 37 will result in higher costs to consumers while opening up food producers and farmers to a blizzard of lawsuits. I usually steer away from using our CSA newsletter as a soap box to bellow out my political opinions but I've seen advertisements that say this initiative, if enacted, will do damage to small-scale farming operations. I'm a farmer. So what do I think about the threat Prop 37 poses to my livelihood.
I don't grow GMO crops. It's not much of a choice, really. The research and costs that go into creating and patenting a GMO means that the labs choose to focus on large-scale crops that will guarantee the quickest, largest return to their investors. There's not much of a potential for an immediate return on the oddball crops I grow, like Portuguese cabbage, Erbette chard, Momotaro tomatoes, or Padron peppers. But, if given a choice, I wouldn't grow GMO crops anyway. Yes, I'm aware that gene splicing offers tremendous opportunities for food and medicine. And no, I'm not a scientist, so my technical expertise is limited. But I do know that science answers the questions that it's paid to answer. If the question is, "Can we genetically modify a cotton gene to make a plant that is resistant to Round-Up brand herbicide so that our huge-scale cotton grower customers can control weeds chemically, thus giving our company an entry into the genetics market while building and adding value to our core business of herbicide manufacture and sales?" then the "scientific" answer is going to be, "Yes, Monsanto! Let's get started on that research right now." But if the question is, "How can we improve a cotton plant through traditional methods that don't demand species transfer but that can give low-income farmers a disease resistant, drought resistant, insect tolerant, open pollinated crop that they can use both as a crop plant and to reproduce their own seed so as to help create a more sustainable agricultural system world-wide?" then there's no potential goldmine for investors and the "scientific" answer will be, "Uh, that sounds idealistic. Who's paying me to research this?" Of course Proposition 37 does not address whether or not scientists or the companies that sponsor them can or should conduct research into genetically modified organisms, it only asks that food products made with GMOs be labeled so that consumers can know what they're buying.
I went to UC Davis, but I got my degree in Philosophy, not agriculture. I learned that one of the easiest logical fallacies to fall victim to is the so-called "genetic fallacy." Simply put, a proposition isn't wrong just because it comes from someone you don't like. For example, if Hitler says that 2 + 2 = 4, it's still true, even though Hitler is a psychopathic, genocidal monster. So just because Coke and Pepsi both say that Proposition 37 is bad policy doesn't mean we have to agree with them even though they are Patriotic, sweet, and powerful. (Although it is funny to think that the company that made an advertising slogan out of the phrase "It's the real thing!" should be defending the honor of genetically modified sugar beets. I guess they are "real" genetically modified sugar beets.) But there are a lot of unanswered questions about the consequences of introducing GMOs into the biosphere. Like "gene creep." I grow some of my own seed crops. If a grower sets up next door and plants GMO sugar beets for Coke some of those beets could go to flower, spreading pollen on the wind and contaminating my heirloom beet seed crop. Crops modified to resist herbicide could cross with closely related plants in nature, spreading modified genes out across the gene pool and compromising the integrity of natural species. Can I, should I, could I sue Coke? The consequences of these "gene spills" are not clear but I don't see Coke or Pepsi or Monsanto stepping up to take responsibility. But Prop 37 is only about the public's right to know if the food they buy contains GMO ingredients- it doesn't address the tangled issues that surround ownership and responsibility of the gene pool.
Besides being a farmer I am a consumer. As a consumer I like to know what's going into the food I eat or feed my family. So I'm voting for Proposition 37. Who knows; it may pass and then everybody will have a chance to see how dominant GMOs already are in the food chain. If I was a CEO at one of the big corporations that seems so afraid of transparency I'd re-think that fear. One of these days there's going to be a quantifiable problem with a GMO, like me losing my ability to grow open pollinated, heirloom beet crops, and someone is going to get sued. (Probably me for "stealing their genes.") If the public doesn't know what they're eating, and the companies responsible for creating and promoting the GMO in question appear to have been hiding that information then they're going to seem culpable. But if GMO foods are labeled, and the public buys them anyway, then the public has only itself to blame when there's a catastrophe. We only vote once a year, and we've never been given a chance to vote on whether or not GMOs should be introduced into the biosphere, and we never will. It's already too late. But we eat every day. The choice we make at the supermarket is a close to a vote as we'll ever get on the issue of corporate responsibility for genetic modification and the inevitable consequences to the environment.
© 2012 Article and photos of non-GMO vegetables by Andy Griffin.


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It rained a little bit this morning, so today was cooler than usual. I always welcome the drop in temperature here. It gives me the perfect excuse to wear layers and to pull out my thick blazers =)
I have a huge crush on AllSaints. While we were in Chicago, I popped into their store on Michigan Avenue and bought a beautiful shearling jacket. The store was like Candyland filled with irresistible treats. Their beaded dresses were gorgeous, leather jackets incredibly lush, and blazers impeccably made. After we got home that day, I went online and immediately bought this blazer. This piece is not light. It's actually pretty heavy and the only word to describe it is – heritage. The cut is inspired by menswear and the material reminds me of a piece that has been passed down from generation to generation. My favorite part of this blazer is the dual color collar design.
I hope you're having a wonderful weekend and thank you so much for reading!
:: Outfit ::
Top :: AllSaints jacket, Mike & Chris hoodie (old)
Bottom :: Citizens of Humanity
Shoes :: B Brian Atwood
Bag :: Stella McCartney
Accessories :: Casio watch, elementary school ID bracelet
Dolce & Gabbana sunglasses, Dior 'Red Royalty' polish


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Two weeks ago we took these pictures because we couldn't believe how warm it was outside. Now with the official first day of spring just a few days ago, the grass if green, the trees are budding, and the flowers are pushing through the soil. As much as we want to get started on the lawn, we are holding back as it isn't quite ready for the hard work.
Grilling has become the normal meal for the last couple of weeks. Tonight was steak and asparagus and believe it or not, we got Sylvia to eat a bunch of asparagus! She also had chicken, potatoes, bread, and a handful of sweet potato fries... Some fruit smoothie and milk to drink and after bath a small piece of cake she made in the Easy Bake Oven yesterday. I think she may have ate more than mom and dad combined.
Looking at the extended forecast, it doesn't appear that this nice weather is going to leave us... Yeah for Spring!


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Hello everyone
As some of you may know, I'm looking for a PS90!
I was hoping to ask you all for your input on where I may find one.
Either a really good deal new, or a better deal used.
I heard that there is a period of 4th gens that were modified by FN somehow and are less desirable not really sure,
but I would like a standard model that will hold its value to collectors and such, not some oddball run.
I've thoroughly enjoyed my pistol and have had lots of fun reloading. Might even SBR it someday. Anyhow
PS90 Shopping
Talk about your favorite longguns here.
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Wikitravel:Bad jokes and other deleted nonsense/Dixieland
Dixieland, also known as the Confederate States of America, The Bible Belt, Jesusland or Neoconservative Hellhole, is a large country south of the Mason-Dixon Line in North America. It boasts the world's largest Republican population, with the seceded nation The Democratic People's Republic of Alaska following closely behind. The country is comprised of 11 states, all of which are not very impressive at all. The vast majority of Dixieland consists of farmlands, dirt roads, megachurches and good, small town values.
Texas: Home of Eternal President for Life, George W. Bush.
Arkansas: Land of the Ozark mountains and home to the turncoat traitor, Bill Clinton.
Lousiana: Consists of swamps, crocodiles, and a very messy coastline.
Mississippi: The place where gamblers go if they're too lazy to visit Las Vegas.
Alabama: The suckiest state in the confederacy. There is absolutely nothing worthwhile here. If you're passing by hoping to see something interesting, then you're just shit out luck. Move on.
Georgia: This state is a lot like Alabama, but marginally better because of their overabundance of peaches and their university's football team, the Georgia Bulldogs.
Tennessee: Home of the two separatist nations of Graceland and Dollywood. Both areas should be considered a war zone and extremely dangerous for travel.
North Carolina: Pork barbecue is the only endearing quality of this state.
South Carolina: Home of the dumbest sport on earth, NASCAR.
Virginia: Home and resting place of the great war hero, Robert E. Lee.
Florida: Where college frat boys go to party and get laid in the spring, Panama City in particular.
The country also lays shaky claim to the disputed territories of Oklahoma, Missouri, Kentucky and West Virginia. But truthfully, these states suck, so the yankees can keep them.
Due to the devastating effects of the Civil War, no major cities have been reconstructed, because the construction workers would rather sit on their fat, lazy asses and watch Larry the Cable Guy instead.
Other destinations[edit]
Dixieland was created in 1861 by a bunch of whiny, old white guys who wanted to keep their slaves. When told by the US government that they couldn't do so, they threw a gigantic hissy fit and declared themselves an independent nation. With the help of their guns, cannons and nuclear warheads, the south was able to attain victory against the northern oppressors. They would not get to keep their slaves however, as Harriet Tubman led every single one of them to freedom on the underground railroad.
Get in[edit]
You will need a United States visa to get past the demilitarized zone at the mason-dixon line. If you attempt to sneak in or out without permission, you will be shot on sight with no questions asked. So be prepared!
Get around[edit]
Getting around in a Dodge pick-up truck is the most preferred method of travel in Dixieland, even if they do waste a ton of gas.
Do[edit][add listing]
Go to church and praise the lord. If you're the more adventurous traveller, you can go huntin', fishin' and honky-tonkin'. If you're going out to a bar (honky-tonkin'), just remember not to wear a condom or take birth control, as use of contraceptives down here are against the law and God's will. Remember, be fruitful and multiply!
Eat[edit][add listing]
Biscuits, grits, fried chicken, collard greens, okra, and chitlins.
Drink[edit][add listing]
Coca-cola. Water is not even an option down here. If you drink pepsi, you will be branded a traitor and sent to a concentration camp.
Stay safe[edit]


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Judging by Banner Saga's genre, you guys are probably great fans of turn-based tactics. So am I! Let this then be a thread for the discussion and recommendation thereof.
Two such games I've been playing recently are King's Bounty and its sequel, Armored Princess. They're not especially complicated - you run around the world digging up treasure, wandering monsters want to kill you, and then you fight them using up to 5 troops on a hex grid, plus you can cast spells too. Armored Princess adds another element - you have a pet dragon, which can occasionally use powerful attacks to kill stuff for you. The only problem with Armored Princess is its dumb difficulty curve - soon after finishing the game's second island, you're going to see a ton of "lethal" or "invincible" enemies mixed in with merely "strong" and "very strong", which leads you to have to play hide and seek with these overpowered mobs while looking for something you can actually tackle. Later on they mix things up with boss monsters who play by different rules than your average mob.
Any other tactics games out there that people play?


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SAN FRANCISCO — Hewlett-Packard Co. said Tuesday it plans to cut 6,400 more workers — or 2 percent of the company's total work force. The cuts are on top of the 24,600 layoffs HP is doing as part of its huge acquisition of technology services provider Electronic Data Systems, and will come from its product businesses.
Palo Alto-based HP, whose products include PCs, printers, computer servers and toner cartridges, announced the additional cuts Tuesday in a conference call with analysts to discuss the company's fiscal second-quarter results.
HP's chief financial officer, Cathie Lesjak, told analysts the new cuts will be "targeted actions to structurally change and improve the effectiveness of our product businesses," but didn't provide more details. The new cuts will happen over the next year.
U.S. & World
The day's top national and international news.
HP reported Tuesday that its profit dropped 17 percent to $1.72 billion, while sales fell 3 percent to $27.4 billion, in the latest period.
HP had 321,000 employees as of Oct. 31 of last year, the latest period for which headcount data is publicly available.


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Obesity linked to poor colon cancer prognosis
Obese patients with colon cancer are at greater risk for death or recurrent disease compared to those who are within a normal weight range, according to a report in Clinical Cancer Research, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research.
"Obesity has long been established as a risk factor for cancer, but our study in colon cancer patients shows that obesity predicts a poorer prognosis after the cancer is surgically removed," said Frank A. Sinicrope, M.D., professor of medicine and oncology at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester.
There are approximately 150,000 new cases of colon cancer diagnosed each year in the United States, and colon cancer tends to affect men and women equally, said James Abbruzzese, M.D., chairman of the Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center and an editorial board member of Clinical Cancer Research.
"More studies are now demonstrating that obesity plays a role as an independent risk factor for poorer patient prognosis that is unrelated to stroke or heart disease," said Abbruzzese.
Remarkably though, many patients remain unaware of the risk associated between obesity and cancer. Results of a recent survey from the American Institute for Cancer Research showed that only 51 percent of the participants knew about the link between obesity and cancer, compared with 94 percent who were aware of the increased cancer risk associated with tobacco use, and 87 percent who knew of the increased cancer risk associated with sun exposure.
For the current study, Sinicrope and colleagues evaluated 4,381 patients with stage II or stage III colon cancer who had received adjuvant chemotherapy in clinical trials. Of these patients, 20 percent were obese.
Obesity was significantly linked with poorer overall survival and was independent of other variables analyzed. The prognostic impact was stronger in men than in women, and men in the highest body mass index category for obesity had a 35 percent increased risk of death compared to normal weight patients. The weaker effect in women is consistent with studies that have shown a lower risk of developing colon cancer in obese women compared to obese men.
"We do not know if this is due to biology or the way we measure obesity," said Sinicrope. "Body mass index is a limited measure and there is evidence that abdominal fat may be a better predictor of colon cancer risk and perhaps prognosis in men than in women. There is also the potential influence of menopausal status and hormone replacement therapy in women."


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Handler Information
Name: Ross
Email Address: email@example.com
Best Way to Contact You: In order from most used to least used; Facebook Messenger App, Email, Forum PM
eWrestling Experience: I have many years of experience, partaking in a total of 10 places, sporadically, from 1998 to present. Some of these places were self-written offline ventures purely for creativity purposes but some of the actual organizational highlights I have been a part of include PIW (1999-2002), Action! (2002-2004), and GCW (2007-2012).
How did you find DEFIANCE? Referral
Are you willing to write matches?Yes
Writing Sample
I figure to supply you with the first role play I wrote for this brand new character. Otherwise, feel free to peruse the link below for any previous stuff I have done with my most accomplished character, Clyde Fox. I tried to navigate through the website on the wayback machine myself and was unsuccessful with some links so just be weary that they might not work. I have nearly all of my old content saved and can provide more upon request.
Are You Reading Me?
Ch. 1 My Name is Kay Fable
The stage was set. The mahogany wood finish was in pristine condition – it glistened under the spotlights. The concert hall was empty and quiet – nothing but white noise filled the air. That was, until, a clacking of shoe soles, presumably made of genuine leather cow hide – tanned, burgundy in shade, and hand sewn in a third world country for the finest of detail, echoed throughout the hall. The windows were vertically rectangular and the ceiling seemingly rose higher than the sky itself. The many spotlights dimmed to accompany such classy ambiance until there was just one which shone on the middle of the stage.
The middle of the stage wasn't baron, though. A stout black matte finished conductor stand stood tall at the ready. A few crisp sheets of white paper lay back in the trough – its scripture beckoned to be read aloud. The man in those very high-class, non-fake, completely business-like shoes waltzed out on stage along with his appropriately similar dress clothes. The brown elbow patches on his otherwise grey sports jacket might as well been a calling card to the eighties. Both his dress shirt and pants were an off crimson and more of his shirt buttons wished they had been tied together. A microphone, complete with its own stand was positioned just in front of the conductors'. The man created his own breeze as he strutted swiftly towards center stage.
"Hrrmmm-ermmmm," He cleared his throat as he stopped in front of the materials.
Slight feedback echoed through the microphone and its adjacent loudspeakers but it wasn't enough to cause a headache. The man pursed his lips as his icy blue eyes scanned over the documents presented in front of him. A few stray strands of luscious blonde hair refused to cooperate and interfered with his sight. The problem was fixed only temporarily with a quick hand flick of his hair. His lips were rather plump for a light skinned man – they wouldn't protrude as much if he didn't insist on biting them so often. His face was all rather pointed – his nose was sharp and its bridge looked like it had been broken the odd few times before. He held a fist to his mouth and coughed before trying to speak again.
"Well... this is different." His eyes shot up from the pages on the stand in front of him to the empty concert hall. Columns of natural sunlight shot in through the cathedral-like windows. He smirked – then he looked back down at the sheets of paper.
"Sooooooooooooo... I'm guessing... do I just read this or something?" He questioned, palms out, "...giving a speech to an empty room – how... metaphorical."
He scratched the top of his scalp in awkwardness. He wasn't exactly sure what to do.
"Well then, I'mma go off script – yeah. I don't need this at all. Probably never will!" He said as he decidedly shuffled the papers from the conductor's stand and scattered them on the ground.
"I know this script was written for me and all but I mean – I'm just not feeling it. Do you hear me, creative? I refuse to give in to your shit! I'm going to do something a little more my pace, okay creative writers?" He seemingly tried to implicate two groups of people, none of which were there, as he spoke.
"My name is Kay – Kay Fable, for those of you out in the audience wondering. Okay – so there's that. I've introduced myself... my ring name... my persona, if you will. Neato. Ummm, yeah that's Kay. K. A. Y. And then Fable is my last name. So weird... no one is here," He mumbled.
"And basically… I am a pro wrestler. I am a very aware pro wrestler. So aware, in fact, that I know I am what I am," Fable announced.
With any sense of obviousness, any person would have been happy to hear that announcement to indicate sanity but for Kay, it meant so much more than that. For Kay, it meant that he knew he was a wrestler and that he was not bound by the same code of honor other wrestlers abided by.
He attempted to readjust his tie but then he remembered he wasn't even wearing one and instead, he ended up caressing the few whiskers of dark chest hair that protruded from the gap between his shirt buttons.
"So I am totally just cutting this introductory promo, more or less, just to, ummmm – introduce myself! So yeah, now you know more about me. I'm a wrestler – a good one. I don't typically telegraph my moves when I'm in the ring but uhhhhh, I might've gotten let go from the last fed I was in because I called for the finish of the match and the entire gymnasium heard me...? I mean – allegedly."
Kay took a breath. It was surprisingly hot up there on center stage. Beads of sweat began to formulate and trickle down from his forehead to his brow. He rarely got stage fright but when he did it was when all the attention was on him – even if he was in an empty concert hall.
"I come to DEFIANCE!" He shouted, regaining his confidence and waving his fists in the air, "With an awesome move set, like, a bunch of charisma, charm and that stuff that makes wrestlers good... skill. Yeah, that's it – skill! Annnnnnnnd uhhhhh, other than that, I mean, I have an action stance that I could show you all. It's kind of my signature. Here it is – get ready for it."
Kay turned his back to the entire empty room of emptiness and hunched over momentarily before swiveling around into his action stance! He looked silly – arms projected, knees bent, face crinkled, and his fierce front molars were exposed.
"ACTION STANCE! May it strike the fear of Mark, Marq and Marc in my wrestling opponent on a given night provided I am booked in a match and furthermore – booked in a match to which I am not predetermined to be the loser! I ain't no heat bag but I honor the finish!" Fable professed, as a scorned individual who had probably been a good bet to have been booked to lose matches many times over.
He didn't hold the pose long. It was just a teaser to the fans – a taste of the real thing before they would get to see the action stance in action. Fable collected himself and stood stoically in front of the microphone.
"So this is the end of the promo where I thank you all for watching, listening, or however this medium is consumed. I mean, it's all very fourth wall dimensional – me being in a theoretical empty room, talking to a nonexistent crowd. Heck, I don't even really exist, do I? I bet you I am just the idea of some thirty-one-year-old beatnik conjured up as a joke to write about or something. Anyways, like I said – I ain't no heat bag and that's certainly enough paradoxical conversation for now. Peace. Find me at gorilla, bro."
That was Kay's version of saying that he would see you later. He was a kind of out-there guy after all – if you couldn't tell. Coming from a rather rough upbringing, where bluntness ran in his family, Kay would always state the obvious – and get swatted for it. Born to initially fun-loving Swiss parents, Kay's passion for wrestling came naturally. Kay's father would always bring him to the local shows and it wasn't until he wanted to get more involved did his parents make a proverbial heel turn. One day after school, Kay came home to find his dad plastered – sitting alone at the kitchen table with a half drank bottle of Wobbly Knees Whisky next to him. It was there that his life took a turn for the obvious. His father told him that his aspirations to be a pro wrestler were not only silly, but they created a rift in their family and was the main reason his mother and father were getting a divorce.
"You're nothing. You're a failure of a son. You'll never amount to anything. Your choreography skills are the worst I've ever seen! I know dead fetuses that have better choreography skills than you!" The voice of his father echoed in Kay's mind.
That only fuelled Kay's passion more as he eventually moved out and began to live life on his own. He was a naturally talented athlete due to his father's passion to be a landscaper and his mother's skill as an Olympic skier with good hair. Kay thought it'd be best to live life on the road and it didn't matter much anyways as after the divorce, his mother ended up dead from an overdose and his father moved to California to pursue a career in the smut film industry. So Kay joined the first indie fed he came across – WWEWCWECW2K Fed, which promised to revolutionize wrestling during its 2 week run.
* * *
Kay dragged his feet towards the stage right exit – memories of family, failure and past wrestling endeavors shot through his mind like a PTSD sufferer having total recall. He stopped suddenly and noticed a frail old man in a denim colored jumpsuit completing his janitorial duties of sweeping and mopping the glossy hardwood concert hall floor. The shiny wooden floor didn't even appear to be in need of such elbow grease but you wouldn't have wanted to tell this particular janitor that – he was having none of it – putting his best effort forth and going full swing with each sweep, hips and all.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa, old man. That's a good way to pull a muscle or break a hip," Fable said as he forwent the stairs, jumped off the stage and headed straight to the man slaving away.
"Hello? I said hello – did you hear me, old man?" Fable asked as he waved his right hand in front of the janitor's down-sloped face.
Fable thought he must've at least seen him by now if not, heard him.
"HELLO!" Fable screamed.
Again, there was no response. So Kay Fable did what he knew best – run from his problems, so he headed for the exit before an eerie voice emanated from behind him.
"Ye who sell crickets cannot make music," The voice beckoned.
Fable stopped dead in his tracks. If a voice could tickle, then this was it.
"Did you say something, old man?" Fable questioned from over his shoulder and across the room.
"Ye who shine nickels can never appreciate dollars," The janitor spoke again.
Perplexed, all Fable could do was scratch his head.
"Um, okay," Fable accepted, "But what does all that mean?"
Fable hadn't noticed that he had moved closer to the janitor. The old man's face was grizzled, weathered with wrinkles and peppered with spotty dark facial hair and liver spots. The man was clearly balding as his dirty grey hair was aflutter.
"It means..." The janitor drooled, "It's all about perspective. Life. Work. Everything. And ye, my friend, are in dire need of some direction. Ye call yerself a wrasstler… ye don't even know the first thing about it. Ye overtly break it's golden rules. Weren't ye the one who got kicked out of that last place by blatantly screaming out match directions to yer opponent?" The man drilled.
Profoundly hurt as if the schoolyard bully had just walked up and slapped an ice cream cone out of his hand, Kay Fable stood there stunned, jaw to the floor.
"Excuse me?" Fable said controversially. "Do I know you, bro? Do you know who you are talking to? Did you just say I need perspective? I ain't no heat bag, ya'know? I know where I'm going! I'm going to DEFIANCE and I'm going straight to the top!" He prognosticated.
The janitor nodded all the while smiling sarcastically.
"I am aware of your ambivalence, but this is not some happenstance meeting, no. I am going to become your master and you, my student. This is certainly not up for debate."
Flustered, off put, upset, and feeling a tantrum coming on, Fable's face became feverishly red – he wasn't about to have any of it.
"Yeah, um, no." Fable shot back, "Kay Fable steers a solo ship. I ain't not heat bag. If you haven't noticed, I don't take direction for anyone – not creative, not fans, not even you. No one."
Fable began to walk away, much to the dismay of the janitor. However, he didn't get far before the janitor pursed his lips and whistled. Before he knew it, Fable was standing right next to the old man again who was busy mopping. Perplexed, Fable made an effort to leave again, only to have that foiled by a simple snap of the janitor's fingers. Fable tried once more and this time he made it to the exit, however, a yellow-eyed black cat prowled by the doorway. If there was one thing in this world Kay Fable was absolutely terrified was, it was definitely black cats – especially ones that walked past doorways unexpectedly. So naturally, Kay took the lesser of two evils and turned back towards the janitor who continued to mop the floor with vigor.
"Okay." Fable spurted, "You have my completely divided attention."
The janitor stopped mopping.
"Ye see. Ye see, it's THAT right there that's wrong with ye. Ye think yer crass with yer tongue-in-cheek jokes but I see right through ye."
The janitor sneered at Kay Fable and in all fairness, Kay had never been so crudely rude to by a person he had just met – it usually took two, if not three chance meetings before he let his true dick-self out.
"I'll fix yer wagon. Come with me. I ain't asking." The janitor spewed.
Kay watched in amazement as the grizzled janitor schlepped towards the concert hall walls without slowing his pace. The janitor merged into the wall and vanished from sight. Kay pulled his hands up in front of his face and rubbed his eyes – thinking they just played a magical trick on him. He refocused his attention on the wall and there was not a trace of the janitor to be seen – not even his slop bucket, broom or mop was present anymore. Furthermore, the floor he stood on didn't look like it was mopped at all either. Confused but intrigued, Fable decided to take a leap of faith and walk towards the spot on the wall the janitor fused with. As he inched closer to the wall, Fable could feel his heartbeat palpitate up through his guts and into his neck. He had never willingly walked into a wall before – his face was usually introduced via the wrestler he was working with at the moment after swapping match instructions through whispers. He stopped a mere millimetre away from the cold wood trim.
He took a deep breath.
"Okay. This is weird, man. I mean, first I did a speech in front of an empty room but as it turned out, it totally wasn't empty and there was a creepy old janitor dude here sweeping and mopping and then he disappears into a wall without a trace and then he tells me to follow him and then that's where we are in the story – I am about to follow this guy who I don't even know into a wall. I don't even particularly know why I just summarized the entire plot of what just happened for any fact outside the reason to provide the lazy readers out there who scroll down to the bottom of the page to read a summary of everything that just happened… because that won't typically happen in my adventures... so... yeah... good on ya you lazy readers. You won this round. Anyways, I'm going to walk into this wall now." Kay Fable summarized.
With that, Kay plunged forward and the wall engulfed him.
Wrestler(s) Information
Ring Name: Kay Fable
Height: 6'1"
Weight: 225 lbs.
Hailing From: Schaffhausen, Switzerland
Alignment: Heel
Theme Song: "Freeze Me" by Death From Above
Here is a link to the nifty official music video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sdQqgVzex_w
Gimmick: Kay Fable is a pro wrestler. No really, that's his gimmick. His name is derived with a tongue-in-cheek approach from the word Kayfabe, which, by definition is the presentation of a staged performance as genuine or authentic. The only thing is, Kay Fable is unable to differentiate between kayfabe and "OOC" workings. He constantly, chronically, almost annoyingly breaks the golden and unwritten rules of professional wrestling and sees no harm or foul in doing so. His obliviousness to the fact that he breaks the fourth wall, is conscious to the fact that he is essentially a fantasy writing entity, or will flat out communicate match spots during a match, with the use of a microphone so everyone can hear, are only tip-of-the-iceberg antics. Kay Fable's unfiltered filter clearly doesn't win any favor with the fans nor so his co-workers. However, his main goal of becoming the best and winning it all remains at the forefront. I mean, to him, it should be just as easy as writing it into the show's script, right?
Wrestling Style: Kay Fable dabbles in a variety of styles and can adapt to whatever situation is needed but he is best suited and most comfortable with employing a high impact suplex attack. When he wins, he wins most of his matches by keeping his opponent grounded and in the middle of the ring. He tends to fall bend those with more agility or those who are able to dictate the pace. Kay Fable will resort to typical heel tactics if he feels he's falling behind. He puts a twist on these tactics, however, by breaking long standing wrestling rules. For instance, if he argues with the referee, he will often throw in comments like "That wasn't in the script," or "Was it time for that spot already!?" Regardless, Kay always looks to justify what happens and assign blame elsewhere because according to his mind, he always executes his job perfectly.
Three Weaknesses:
-Easily distracted
-Relatively low threshold of pain
-Complains too much / Temper
Three Strengths:
-Ability to antagonize
-Natural power and imposing physique
-Rarely trusts others
Ten regular moveset moves:
1) Standing vertical suplex
2) Sidewalk slam
3) Belly-to-belly suplex
4) Full Nelson slam
5) Swinging neckbreaker
6) Tiger bomb
7) Abdominal stretch
8) Jumping Spiked DDT
9) Pumphandle slam
10) Shoulder block
2-5 trademark moves:
1) Running Powerslam
2) "Switzerland Suplex" (German Suplex)
3) "Dreaded Hand Submission" (Version of the Kimura Lock)
4) "What-A-Maneuver" (Random evasion of attacks followed by a different incredible move each time)
5) "Janitorial Jackhammer" (Jackhammer)
1 Finishing Move:
"Breaking Kay Fable" (Straitjacket Pedigree)


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text: Choose Options Quick view Switchback Burrito Stuffer MSRP: Now: $54.17 Was: Update in Progress for 2020 to add more calories. This cheesy bean and salsa meal makes an excellent burrito/taco stuffer, or add more water to make a delicious tex-mex style soup. Makes 1.5 cup per serving and fills 2 large tortillas. 110... MSRP: Now: $54.17 Was: Choose Options Quick view Qty in Cart: 0 Price: MSRP: Now: $54.17 Was: Subtotal: Choose Options


text: I have a feeling that by the time you read this the list of potential adopters of the sweet, abused dog who was found running scared on the I-35E HOV lane will be quite long. But don't let that stop you from throwing your name in the ring. There are many, many dogs just like Dart who need loving homes, and what better time of year to share the love and warmth of your home with a homeless pet?


text:
Las Vegas is all about change. Favorites come and go. Some remain solid and by the time they bid farewell we are left saddened. Then, there are others that were once good, but those days have come and gone. I'm sad to say this happened with Stack at Mirage. Eight years ago it opened with Brian Massie at the helm. The space was beautiful, service was exceptional and the food was everything good ole American comfort food should be, and the playful twists made it fun. Over the years, we've dined at Stack more than any other fine dining restaurant. We loved the relaxed vibe, the stacked waitresses and the classic tunes. The hot rocks, pork chop and lamb shank were outstanding. The bacon cheddar bread? Oh my goodness, we couldn't get enough. We'd return for that alone.
Over time, they no longer offered the bread. The classic rock was replaced by club beats and the prices climbed while quality sank. We noticed a decline about a year ago, and it was confirmed a few months back when we took Frank's cousin out for her birthday. My brother joined us, too, he was eager to try the lamb shank he's heard so much about. I even called beforehand to confirm it was still be served. You can imagine our disappointment when we couldn't locate it on the menu. We waived down our waiter and sure enough, it's been eliminated. This was likely the sign to leave, but we ignored it. We've always been pleased with the steak selection and everyone but me opted to go that route. I chose the halibut ($42).
We started with hot rocks ($21) they were still excellent. The Spicy Crab ($21) was a new item and it didn't pack any punch. It left us pretty underwhelmed.
We've enjoyed the porterhouse for two at Brand. We expected the same quality here at Stack but it fell a bit flat ($96). It was plenty for two to share, but it wasn't as flavorful or tender as we know it could be. We also shared tater tots ($11) and roasted mushrooms ($9). The tots used to have pieces of rich smoky bacon and cheese would ooze when you'd bite into eat tot. That's not the case anymore.
This was my brother's first fine dining experience. he went all out and ordered the porterhouse ($62). I wish I could say he was able to reap the perks and find the value of a quality piece of meat. It was very average at best. He was disappointed and I was bummed for him.
My halibut was the best dish of the evening, the exception being the hot rocks. The halibut was nicely prepared with a hard sear and it was very fresh.
After finishing that meal, the warm comforting mahogany walls suddenly felt somber. A longtime favorite had faded. We knew we wouldn't be back. We suspect it would soon shutter. I didn't see it surviving long after the opening of Tom Colicchio's Heritage Steak. I haven't heard any news of it closing, but I certainly wouldn't be surprised if it did.


text:
Chevrolet's quest to offer solid smaller cars, which are affordable, fuel-efficient and stylish, is paying off for consumers. Following up its hot-selling compact Cruze is the 2012 Sonic — a feature-filled subcompact available as a four-door sedan and five-door hatchback.
Entry price into the Sonic lineup is $13,865 for the 1LS sedan, which provides its buyer with a considerable upgrade over the Aveo it replaces. The 1LS trim highlights the power of a standard Ecotec 1.8-liter four-cylinder partnered with a five-speed manual transmission.
Delivering 138 horsepower at 6,300 rpm and 125 lb.-ft. of torque at 3,800, the 1.8-liter gets an estimated 26 miles per gallon city, 35 mpg highway and 29 mpg combined on regular-unleaded gasoline. The test-car, a 2LS model base priced at $14,935, pairs the engine with a six-speed automatic transmission. Estimated fuel economy with the auto tranny is 25 mpg city, 35 mpg highway and 28 mpg combined. The test vehicle, driven on the highway and in the city, had the EPA-estimated 28-mpg combined average fuel economy.
Weighing in at 2,727 pounds, the 1.8-liter powers the front-wheel-drive Sonic at a respectable clip. Indicative of the focus on improving the small-car image, the base model rides on 15-inch aluminum wheels with a stylish five-split-spoke design. Wrapping the wheels are P195/65R-15 tires.
Equipped with a standard "touring" suspension, the Sonic provides good ride quality for a subcompact.
It excels in tight parking maneuvers with a 34.5 turning circle and light electric power steering. While EPS is speed sensitive, steering remains a bit light at highway speeds, which may work for Sonic's target consumers, but is shy of a sporty feel.
In terms of appearance, sportiness defines the Sonic's exterior with cool character lines on the body sides, a short rear decklid incorporating a duck-tail spoiler and a notably bold front-end design. The drooping hood is accentuated with ridges flowing from the A-pillars and rounding off above the grille — a prominent Chevy-signature dual-port design, divided by a body-colored bar with a sizable bow-tie logo. The grille's trim upper and deep lower openings are framed in chrome and filled with large black mesh.
The headlamps, which have a menacing stare, are jewel-like designs protruding from a black background. Chevy says the styling of these round lamps — as well as the large taillamps — is motorcycle-inspired.
Designers get creative on the inside, too, but provide a practical, user-friendly environment. The dash design is a sweeping two-tone style favoring that of other Chevy family members, and features a distinctive compact gauge cluster. It highlights a large tachometer with numbers located in the teeth of a gear-like graphic. Overlapping the tach is a horizontal-shaped Driver Information Center window featuring a large digital speed readout, fuel gauge, average fuel-economy information, compass, odometer, tire-pressure monitoring and oil-life-remaining indicator.
The air vents are round ball-and-socket types that open and close with a twist of a knob, and A/C controls are easy to reach and manipulate. The tilt/telescoping three-spoke steering wheel grip has carved-out thumb rests and the shift handle is a tall pistol grip with a thumb-operated manual-shifting control on the side. The interior also is rich with small storage cubbies, as well as notably large pockets on the front door panels.
Headroom and legroom are surprisingly good for a subcompact, for passengers sitting in the front buckets and rear seat with 60/40-split-folding seatbacks.
The Sonic's standard audio system is a four-speaker AM/FM stereo with equalizer and auxiliary input jack. The test car is upgraded with a $350 six-speaker premium sound system, including a CD player and SiriusXM Satellite Radio with a three-month trial package.
Passengers are protected by standard safety features expected of a more-expensive sedan: 10 airbags, traction control, Stabilitrak stability control and electronic brake-force distribution. These safety pluses contributed to Chevy's new subcompact earning recognition as an Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Top Safety Pick.


text:
One of the world's most threatened reptiles has been given a ray of hope in the form of a community programme to reintroduce captive-bred individuals back into the wild.
With only about 100 individuals left in the wild, the Philippine crocodile (Crocodylus mindorensis) is listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. The species is found only in the Philippines, now restricted to southwestern Mindanao and northern Luzon. It is a freshwater species, living in lakes, ponds, marshes and smaller rivers and creeks – habitats that are threatened by conversion into rice paddies. The crocodile's populations have also been ravaged by hunting and destructive fishing methods such as the use of dynamite.
In 1999, a small population of Philippine crocodiles was found in the municipality of San Mariano in northern Luzon. Here, the Mabuwaya Foundation has been mobilizing local support for crocodile conservation. Members of IUCN's Crocodile Specialist Group have been advising on how to breed and raise crocodiles in captivity to be released when they are big enough to survive on their own.
"Many indigenous fishermen know that the crocodiles are not dangerous because they see them even underwater while spearfishing, but other people are scared of crocodiles and kill them," says Marites Balbas, community organizer of the Mabuwaya Foundation. "Crocodiles have an image problem. We changed this by conducting village workshops and by making crocodiles something fun through theatre shows. Communities are now protecting crocodiles in village sanctuaries and are proud that they are taking care of the last of these rare animals."
The experiences of San Mariano were used to win community support for the reintroduction of Philippine crocodiles in Dicatian Lake, Divilacan, in the Northern Sierra Madre Natural Park. Crocodiles went extinct here a few years ago as a result of fishing. The village of Dicatian has declared Dicatian Lake a crocodile sanctuary where fishing is banned. "In return we are assisting farmers in establishing fish ponds and we promote small-scale ecotourism. But these do not deliver much income," Marites explains. "The most important reason to protect crocodiles for this community is still pride." In July this year, 50 captive-bred Philippine crocodiles were reintroduced in the lake doubling the wild population in northern Luzon.
For more informartion contact:
Merlijn van Weerd, Mabuwaya Foundation/Leiden University and member of IUCN Crocodile Specialist Group


text:
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|Height Adjustment
|Physical Characteristics
|Black & Gray
|Product Height
|0.4 in [1.1 cm]
|Product Length
|8.3 in [21 cm]
|Product Width
|11.3 in [28.7 cm]
|Weight of Product
|13.1 oz [372 g]
|Packaging Information
|Package Height
|8.7 in [22.1 cm]
|Package Length
|11.7 in [29.8 cm]
|Package Width
|0.8 in [21 mm]
|Shipping (Package) Weight
|16.6 oz [470 g]
|What's in the Box
|Included in Package
|1 - laptop riser
|1 - quick-start guide
USB C Multiport Adapter - Portable USB-C Dock to 4K HDMI, 2-pt USB 3.0 Hub, SD/SDHC, GbE, 60W PD Pass-Through - USB-C Travel Mini Docking Station - USB Type-C/Thunderbolt 3
Add more connectivity to your MacBook or other USB-C laptop, with 4K video, Gigabit Ethernet, two USB 3.0 ports and an SD card reader, plus power and charge as you work
Product Support
Data Sheets
Compliance and Safety
Compliance Letters
Safety Measures
- If product has an exposed circuit board, do not touch the product under power.
- If Class 1 Laser Product. Laser radiation is present when the system is open.
- Wiring terminations should not be made with the product and/or electric lines under power.
- Product installation and/or mounting should be completed by a certified professional as per the local safety and building code guidelines.
- Cables (including power and charging cables) should be placed and routed to avoid creating electric, tripping or safety hazards.
* Product appearance and specifications are subject to change without notice.


text:
50 Cent (Curtis James Jackson III) has several tattoos, in fact, probably enough to fill an entire tattoo art gallery.
50 has "Love & Hate" tattooid="IL_AD3">belly button, to go along with Jesus and the devil on opposite sides.
On his right bicep is an axe with the name of his son "Marquise" and the word "Warrior". Plus on the same arm he has the name of his mother "Sabrina" and the words "Ghetto Angel".
He has an Angel on his left shoulder and just below that is a drawing, which includes a crown and "50" in the center. Plus on the lower portion of his left arm is a cross and the phrase "God Understands Me".
50 has a huge collage of tattoos on his back, including a giant number "50" in the middle, along with "South Side" on the upper portion, plus the words "Gangsta" and "Cold World" and "G-unit" included within.
50 Cent has had several tattoos removed, and has been quoted as saying "When I first got a tattoo, I was like 19 years old. Now I regret getting it every time I look at it. It is a constant reminder of the mind frame I had at that age and I definitely had no class.