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Smokey Joes CafeSun, October 13, 2013 - 7:00 PMPasadena Playhouse in Pasadena, CA
We are sorry, the date for this event has already passed. This event took place on 10/13/2013. Click here to view upcoming events for Smokey Joes Cafe.
Still unsure? Check out our user reviews for:
Have a question? Need help? Call us at 800.477.5285


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5 Dec 2012 9:17 AM #1
Best way of Grid with Infinite Scroll ?
Which is the best way to layout a grid with infinite scroll that should load items dynamically when it scrolls down ? i leave a rough image of what i'm trying to do.. black boxes are the items on a grid.
7 Dec 2012 6:59 AM #2
- Join Date
- Mar 2007
- Location
- Gainesville, FL
- Posts
- 39,172
- Vote Rating
- 1256
Have the layout and detect scrolling to add/remove items.Mitchell Simoens @LikelyMitch
Sencha Inc, Senior Software Engineer
Check out my GitHub, lots of nice things for Ext JS 4 and Sencha Touch 2
Think my support is good? Get more personalized support via a support subscription. https://www.sencha.com/store/
Need more help with your app? Hire Sencha Services email@example.com
Want to learn Sencha Touch 2? Check out Sencha Touch in Action that is in print!
When posting code, please use BBCode's CODE tags.
7 Dec 2012 12:48 PM #3
Grid Layout not found, DataView list?
But how would be the best way to achieve a grid with the Sencha Touch layouts? I need some accomodation of the boxes and there is no "Table" nor "Grid" layout in Touch.

subset: commoncrawl


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Makes 2 ounces
Kelp is a large leafy, brown algae that grows along cold-climate coastlines. It can bring a healthy glow to your complexion when used as a facial mask and makes a mineral-rich body scrub when mixed with equal parts sea salt.
Janice Cox is the author of Natural Beauty at Home and Natural Beauty from the Garden (Henry Holt & Company, New York). For more recipes and ideas, visit her website at www.JaniceCox.com.
Click here for the original article,
Body & Soul: Natural Sea Beauty
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Special Interest Websites : Community Chickens • Good Things to Eat • Keeping Backyard Bees


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WACO (June 25, 2012)—Michael Terron Daniel, 22, of Waco, was in custody Monday charged with cruelty to a non-livestock animal in a bizarre incident on June 14 when a man who claimed to be on the synthetic drug K-2 chased a neighbor while barking and growling like a dog and then attacked a family dog, which he beat, strangled and then started to eat.
Daniel was arrested Monday at his workplace without incident, police said.
The arrest stems from an incident on June 14 at 4601 Athens in Waco where officers were sent after a caller reported that a man was "going crazy."
The man, who evidently assaulted several people at the home and told them he "was on a bad trip from ingesting K-2, "got down "on his hands and knees and chased a neighbor while barking and growling like a dog," according to witnesses, Waco police Sgt. W. Patrick Swanton said Monday.
The man then took a medium-sized black dog onto the front porch of the home where he beat and strangled the animal and then "began to bite into the dog, ripping pieces of flesh away," Swanton said.
The dog died at the scene.
Officers found Daniel sitting on the porch with blood on his hands, clothing and face, Swanton said.
He was "initially incoherent and unresponsive," Swanton said, and was taken to Providence Health Center by ambulance.
While waiting for paramedics to arrive, Swanton said, Daniel asked officers to fight him or use a stun gun "to help him get off his bad trip," Swanton said.
Officers did neither, Swanton said.
Daniel was awaiting booking at the McLennan County Jail Friday afternoon.
K-2 is a form of synthetic marijuana.
None of the chemicals the herbal product contains is a copy of anything found in cannabis, although the effects can be similar.
Studies suggest synthetic cannabis use is associated with psychosis and the exacerbation of existing psychotic disorders.
Extreme paranoia, hallucinations and violent behavior have also been reported.


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I'm looking for a single word meaning "tired or fatigued in a good or enjoyable manner", as one would feel after a good day's work, or after some proper exercise. For example:
After a strenuous gym session my body felt enjoyably tired.
I've considered tired, fatigued, and worn out but they all seem to have negative connotations.


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MARKWELL, Richard Kent, 82, of Steubenville, OH, died Sunday, August 11, 2013, at Valley Hospice North.
He was born in Brackenridge, PA on Jan. 29, 1931, a son of the late Bernard Floyd and Mildred Finley Markwell.
Richard served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War and entered Adjunct Generals School of Stenography.
Article Photos
Graduated from Har- Brach High School in Brackenridge, PA, received his B.A. degree from West Liberty State College, where he was a piano student of Ida Hertz. Richard received his Masters Degree in music from Duquesne University.
His work and career experience included Allegheny Ludlum Steel Corporation, Martins Ferry Board of Education Instrumental Music, Buckeye Local School District Instrumental and Vocal Music, Indian Creek School District High Choir Director and he retired from Buchanan Jr. High School as Instrumental Music Instructor.
Richard also had worked at Covenant Presbyterian Church as choir director and occasional soloist and Wintersville United Methodist Church as choir director and pianist. He was a gifted pianist with local bands and performed at weddings, dances, parties and solo engagements. He had performed at the first yearly Dean Martin celebration in Steubenville.
Richard's memberships included lifetime member of National Education Association, Ohio Retired Teachers Association, Alumni Association West Liberty University, American Federation of Musicians and a 38 year member of the former Civic Choral Society.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by beloved daughter, Amy Kathleen and beloved son, Ryan Kent; brothers Eugene, Bernard, Jack and Robert Markwell; sisters, Margaret English and Betty Waltenbaugh.
Richard is survived by his loving and adoring wife of 58 years, Ruth Glover Markwell; special friend, Chris McDonald; nieces, Deborah McGee, Jackie Lemley, Marida Howell, Darlene Cave, Maria Wilkens, Kerryn McMeans, Jann Green and Kathleen Wellman; nephews, Kevin, Greg, Robert and Christopher Markwell, Richard English, Joel and Mark Waltenbaugh.
Memorial services will be held Sunday, August 25, 2013, at Wintersville United Methodist Church at 1:30 p.m. with Rev. Dr. Clint Quillen officiating.
Richard will be remembered for his love of music, family and friends, his kindness and especially for his sense of humor.
Memorial contributions may be made to the church.
Offer condolences at www.shorac.com.


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WINTERSVILLE - Stephanie Manuel and Matthew Patterson were united in marriage at 4:30 p.m. on June 16 at Bell Chapel United Methodist Church with the Rev. Jeffery Proya officiating.
The bride is the daughter of Stephen and Elizabeth Manuel of Wintersville.
The groom is the son of Douglas Patterson Jr. and Kelley Allison of Steubenville.
Article Photos
Mr. and Mrs. Matthew Patterson
Escorted down the aisle and given in marriage by her father, the bride wore a strapless lace ivory gown adorned with crystals and pearls with a cathedral-length train. She carried a bouquet of crystal-covered ivory roses tied with a satin ribbon.
The matron of honor was Amanda Richardson. Elizabeth Curti served as the maid of honor. The bridesmaids were Lindsay Haught, cousin of the groom; Erica Hosterman; Lindsay Manuel, sister of the bride; and Whitney Garrison, cousin of the bride.
The best man was Christopher Haught, cousin of the groom. The groomsmen were Justin McClure and Jesse Hickman.
The flower girl was Emileigh Schlotter, cousin of the bride. Connor Richardson was the ring bearer.
A reception was held at William's Country Club. The couple honeymooned in St. James Barbados.
The bride is a 2005 graduate of Indian Creek High School, a 2009 graduate of Franciscan University of Steubenville and a 2012 graduate at Walden University. She is teaching at Steubenville City Schools.
The groom is a 2003 graduate of Edison High School and a 2011 graduate of the Community College Beaver County. He accepted a position with the Federal Aviation Administration for air traffic control.
They reside in Wintersville.


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The Brazilian has undergone surgery after damaging the anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus in his right knee during Saturday's goalless draw with QPR at Loftus RoadTottenham midfielder Sandro will miss the rest of the season with a knee injury, the club have confirmed.
The Brazilian hobbled out of Saturday's goalless draw with QPR at Loftus Road, and scans have since revealed he has sustained damage to his anterior cruciate ligament and lateral meniscus in his right knee.
After consulting a specialist, Sandro has undergone surgery to repair the problem and will therefore miss the rest of the current campaign.
|Tottenham are 9/1 with bet365 to beat Manchester United 2-1 at White Hart Lane this Sunday


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WACO (January 7, 2013)--Waco resident and Texas A&M Forest Service Firefighter Doug Spence has spent the last two weeks in New York aiding Hurricane Sandy victims.
Spence serves on the Killeen-based Heart of Texas Task Force and is one of 39 Lone Star State Incident Management Team members coordinating the Army National Guard's effort to provide relief to victims of the hurricane that hit the northeastern states in October.
To date, the Army National Guard has visited more than 102,000 households and provided more than 6,200 blankets to those affected.
More than 40,000 meals, 3,000 cases of water and 600 electric heaters have helped to ensure residents in the Big Apple have a warm and comfortable place to stay.
Spence is scheduled to return to the area January 17.


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Now, Penguin brings you the works of the great thinkers, pioneers, radicals and visionaries whose ideas shook civilization, and helped make us who we are. Penguin's Great Ideas series features twelve groundbreaking works by some of history's most prodigious thinkers, and each volume is beautifully packaged with a unique type-drive design that highlights the bookmaker's art. Offering great literature in great packages at great prices, this series is ideal for those readers who want to explore and savor the Great Ideas that have shaped the world.
One of the most iconoclastic thinkers of all time, Friedrich Nietzsche continues to challenge the boundaries of conventional religion and morality with his subversive theories of the 'superman', the individual will, the death of God and the triumph of an all-powerful human life force.
Table of Contents
How One Becomes What One Is
Why I am so Wise
Why I am So Clever
Why I Write Such Good Books
Why I am a Destiny
2. Twilight of the Idols
or How to Philosophize with a Hammer
Maxims and Arrows
The Four Great Errors
The Hammer Speaks


text: Oi, this is the first time I start a thread on this forum . . . *excited* Sharon Shinn's name turned up recently in another tread and I started to wonder again: has there ever been a discussion about her works? As far as I was able to find out searching the forum: no. So now, did you read her books? Do you like them? If so, why? Or why not? (Hey Rachel, go on, ramble about 'Wrapt in Crystel' ) And yes, I read all of her books and enjoyed them all - even so that does not mean that I consider every one of it to be really good . . . but let's first see what others have to say.


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Are Your Beauty Products Expired?
You wouldn't drink sour milk, so why would you use beauty products past their prime? Find out what should be tossed -- and when
That handy stamp telling you when it's time to toss an item isn't mandatory on your lipstick or face cream and because of that fact, we often use beauty products that have either lost their effectiveness or contain more bacteria, mold and yeast than we'd like to know about.
Skip to see if your beauty products are expired now.
And why shouldn't we hold on to that liquid foundation until it's within a centimeter of its life? Or squeeze out that very last drop of moisturizer? We're spending hard earned money on this stuff, right? Right. But the likelihood is that if you have a beauty product that is expired, you probably haven't been using it.
So let's all take a moment to admit that we might all have a tendency to hoard and/or buy things we don't actually need because they're either on-trend or we've convinced ourselves that we do, in (illusory) fact, need them.
Well ladies, that perfume you bought ages ago and haven't spritzed on since the first week you purchased it isn't going to smell quite as lovely as it did at the department store. Sad, but true and don't worry, we're all guilty of holding on to things for a bit too long -- even if we haven't touched it in months.
So to help you figure out when all your beauty products should be chucked, and to share some tips that'll help you keep them in tip-top condition for as long as possible, we went to the beauty authorities. With their expert advice, you can save money and much-needed bathroom cabinet space by knowing what to trash and when.
Now, find out how long you should keep your beauty products.
SEE NEXT PAGE: Rules to follow
Older comments
This is tremendous information! Keeping nail polish in the fridge also helps it apply more easily.
by GigiSD Monday, April 29, 2013 at 11:41AM Report as inappropriate
Great information
by EricaF123 Wednesday, December 26, 2012 at 08:33AM Report as inappropriate
What if I use makeup cleanser like beautysoclean weekly, will they last longer?
by miyuki_takahashi Wednesday, October 24, 2012 at 05:56PM Report as inappropriate
This is really nice, very helpful, I googled similar information not too long ago, but right now I have all the answers I need right in front of me in the same place. Thank you, very helpful, time to dispose of some things =)
by Natalia379 Thursday, September 13, 2012 at 01:39PM Report as inappropriate
This is a nice guide! I'll be cleaning out my makeup stash now!
by StanziMozart Friday, April 13, 2012 at 05:07PM Report as inappropriate
I love these tips...I will definitely take this all in and apply them too. Meaning that I will be making some changes and so better at keeping my products safer to use.
by jbynum Tuesday, April 10, 2012 at 10:01PM Report as inappropriate
good to know you can extend the life of some products! i definitely need to follow the other tips to minimize contamination...
by jenstar313 Tuesday, April 10, 2012 at 02:58PM Report as inappropriate
I like these tips! They're a nice, general guide as to what to toss when, however I am a little baffled that TB wouldn't include tips on how long to keep products that aren't opened- such as, if I never open a single eye shadow how long can I hold onto it before it will lose it's life? Same with lipstick, body lotion, perfume, etc...bearing in mind the products are stored properly to ensure the longest possible product life, how long can you keep unopened/unexposed products? :) Other than that, I like this guide!
by KathrynMarie Tuesday, April 10, 2012 at 02:42PM Report as inappropriate
I knew about and utilize a lot of these tips but I had no idea nail polish should be thrown out so soon!
by powerwoman033 Sunday, March 11, 2012 at 11:12PM Report as inappropriate
Makes me grateful that my foundation comes with a pump head. I'm still keeping things longer than advised. This stuff is too expensive for these time frames.
by krycekov Thursday, January 12, 2012 at 06:13AM Report as inappropriate
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This is my favorite category to film. Filming in the nature is our big passion. Hiking up to a mountain to witness an amazing view or waiting in a field or riverbed for wildlife to greet us just being able to catch all that beauty on camera… that's our breathing space we inhale as much as we can.
Being fairly new to this category I can only say it is addictive capturing movements you can not see with your own eyes makes it special. The movement of clouds, shadows and stars growing plants and waterfalls are only a few I did. I still have a lot to explore and learn so it makes me even more exiting to make more time lapse shorts.
In this category you will find short films most of them are taken at abandoned places. I love the vibes hanging around at ghost town for example, I could almost see the people that used to live there walking around. the history and story about those old buildings,trains etc...always remains a mystery.
In this category you will find the highest quality videos they can be nature, time lapse, aerials
Hello videos or short films. If you have a slower internet connection then you probably will not be able to play them smoothly. If this is the case please choose one of the other categories where you find same videos in HD.


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The music and camping festival called Country Stampede will stay in Manhattan at least through 2017.
Wayne Rouse, president of Country Stampede, said Tuesday that the festival has signed a new five-year lease with the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism.
The Manhattan Mercury reports the lease was signed months ago but Rouse publicized it Tuesday to dispel rumors that the festival was moving. He says festival organizers never considered holding the festival at another location.
Country Stampede occurs the last full weekend of June at Tuttle Creek State Park. This year's Stampede is scheduled for June 27-30.
Location, ST | website.com


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I'm a graduate student studying algebraic geometry. Recently, When I studying Hodge theory, I saw sl2-representation is used in Hodge theory. So I think that studying representation theory may be helpful for me. Can you recommand me some good text for studying representation theory, focused on materials helpful for algebraic geometry, and not so difficult to read.
I would recommend Introduction to Lie Algebras and Representation Theory by Humphreys. It covers all the basics of Lie algebras and their representations, though mostly in characteristic 0 and over an algebraically closed field. But then, going into any depth with the theory without these assumptions requires a lot of additional work anyway, and knowing the theory for this nice case is a good start.
Recently, Pavel Etingof published a book about his course on representation theory with his students. This is a description of the book:
"The goal of this book is to give a "holistic" introduction to representation theory, presenting it as a unified subject which studies representations of associative algebras and treating the representation theories of groups, Lie algebras, and quivers as special cases. Using this approach, the book covers a number of standard topics in the representation theories of these structures. Theoretical material in the book is supplemented by many problems and exercises which touch upon a lot of additional topics; the more difficult exercises are provided with hints.
The book is designed as a textbook for advanced undergraduate and beginning graduate students. It should be accessible to students with a strong background in linear algebra and a basic knowledge of abstract algebra."
This is a very enjoyable book to read. A version can be found here: link text. You get a bonus buying the book, where some nice historical remarks are added.
A nice good book has been written by Fulton and Harris, of course there are many others
I'd also recommend
Erdmann, Karin; Wildon, Mark J. Introduction to Lie algebras.
If you are particularly interested in sl2-representation theory, there is the book by Mazorchuk: Lectures on $\mathfrak{sl}_2(\mathbb{C})$ - modules.


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- Binding: Paperback & Ebook
- Era: World War II
- Number of Pages: 392
- Subject: Merchant Marine
- Date Available: March 2006
Your tax-deductible gift to the Naval Institute Press underwrites worthy books that might not otherwise be published.
A World War II merchant seaman, John Bunker takes a thorough look at the American merchant marines' significant contributions to the war effort. There are plenty of fascinating facts about their extensive supply operations, but the focus of the book is on the men and their often-heroic actions. Bunker draws from his own experiences to describe the action at sea and also includes the personal stories of many other civilian participants. It is an engaging portrayal of the courage, bravery, and ingenuity demonstrated by these merchant seamen. All theaters of operation using U.S. merchant ships are covered; in addition, Bunker provides information on events before the country entered the war when efforts were being made to build more ships and to recruit the men necessary to crew the huge fleet.
John Bunker, a merchant seaman from 1942 to 1945, served in the Atlantic, Caribbean, Pacific, Middle East, and Mediterranean theaters and later enjoyed a distinguished career in maritime affairs before becoming a reporter for the Christian Science Monitor and San Diego Tribune. He died in 2003.


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5 Video Games With Disturbing Implications You Didn't Notice
For the most part, video games are fairly straightforward: Something bad's happening, you go beat the piss out of whatever's causing the problem, everybody's happy at the end, and things return to normal.
But video game life, just like real life, isn't actually that simple. There are often some mighty disturbing implications, not to mention collateral damage, behind even the simplest of actions. Even though the game would prefer not to talk about it, it's still true that ...
#5. A Tournament in The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Kills Millions
Bethesda Game Studios
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion takes the concept of "not in my backyard" to a psychopathic extreme: When you wander through the wilderness, you can kill whomever you want. Animals, demons, thieves -- it's pretty much open season in the open world. Within walled cities, however, life suddenly becomes very sacred. If you get caught killing anyone, then it's off to jail with you.
Luckily, for those of you who consider a game ruined if you can't commit murder absolutely everywhere, the Imperial City offers an arena where you compete against other warriors for fabulous cash and prizes, along with the honor of not being skewered on somebody's sword.
Bethesda Game Studios
"Now shake hands like a good sport -- oh, right."
You win the Arena Grand Championship after 22 matches, which isn't a huge body count, although it should be enough to satisfy any gamer's inherent bloodlust. Hell, gladiator pits were a real thing, weren't they? It's no worse than that. Right?
The Disturbing Implication
Actually, when you stop to do the math, you realize that a few more than 22 people die. And by that, we mean a metric fuckton more.
Bethesda Game Studios
Like, you know all the skeletons ever? More than that.
In the arena, the more you win (i.e., kill), the higher you rise in rank. The game sets it up so that opponents of equal rank compete, so when you start out as a "pit dog," you can only fight other pit dogs. After you've killed three dogs, you're promoted to brawler and must kill three fellow brawlers to rise another rank. Sounds simple, right? Well, each of your opponents has three kills of his own; if he didn't, he wouldn't be a brawler. Between you four, there have been 15 deaths in all. Perhaps you see where this is going.
The next rank is bloodletter, and each of your three opponents traveled his own 15-death path to reach that rank. We're now up to 63 total deaths. This goes on and on, with the death toll rising higher and higher, until you reach the championship rank, when all of your opponents are there due to a river of blood left in their wake -- by this point, you and your opponents have contributed to an astounding 16,383 deaths. The grand champion, whom you challenge and kill next, is responsible for at least that many deaths himself, since he fought to become grand champion the same way you did.
Bethesda Game Studios
And we're not even counting his early murder years as a bastard Imperial orc vampire lord.
These numbers, however, assume that each of your opponents has only the minimum number of kills necessary for the title. In practice, many will have more; a first-time pit dog could fight a pit dog who already has two kills, for instance. So, if we assume your opponents always have the same kill count as you, using the humble formula of 2^n - 1 to determine the total number of deaths after each match, we find that your 22-match rise to grand champion results in ...
... 4,194,303 deaths. For a sport. That's just you, by the way -- what of the many people who challenged the grand champion and failed? Their paths resulted in almost as much death, and they didn't even get a cool title to show for it. It's no wonder there's less than a thousand people in the world. Genocide is their international pastime.
#4. Date Rape Drugs Are Legal in the World of BioShock: Infinite
Even without the sudden revelation that you are your own bad guy, BioShock: Infinite is still one of the most complex and obtuse games in history, and unraveling its plot requires a lot of attention paid to dialogue and contemplation about what it all means. Luckily, giant guns and violent magic help to counteract all that tedious "thinking" shit.
Irrational Games
"But what is the thematic significance of bodily enhancements that-"
*BANG*, that's what.
Your character's magical powers, known as Vigors, can fuck up your enemy's life in a bunch of different ways. For instance, the first one you find, Possession, allows you to place people and machines under your control, turning them into puppets that do anything you want. And we do mean anything.
All of this is typical video game hero stuff -- you use the spells to gain an advantage in the game's endless gun battles -- but with one catch: The Vigors you use are available to everyone who lives in the city. They're sold openly, without so much as a prescription. Hmmm ... we wonder what depraved bad guys would do with a magical elixir that asserts instant mind control over any victim?
The Disturbing Implication
Yes, while you mainly use the spell to turn enemies into mindless zombies who kill other enemies for you, it's marketed in the game world as having, well, an alternative use. Here's how the manufacturers advertise the stuff:
Irrational Games
Using the universal symbol of romance and sex: the cornucopia.
Yep, it's a love potion, but not the innocent kind that corny novelty acts from the '60s like to sing about. See, Possession's effects last for a short amount of time, so using it to kick-start eternal romance is out of the question. Using it as a roofie, on the other hand, is the name of the game.
Irrational Games
No wonder that horse looks so scared.
But wait, it gets worse! Everyone you've used Possession on kills themselves after the spell wears off. The cost? 50 bucks. The BioShock universe openly, and knowingly, markets a dirt-cheap rape potion, one that will cause the victims to commit suicide rather than press charges. We would say the president of Possession Inc. has a ton of explaining to do, but we have a feeling he's not just the president; he's also a client.
#3. Portal's Companion Cube Is Filled With Failed Test Subjects
For a game known mainly for humor and cake, Portal is surprisingly creepy and dark. Even the inanimate objects are disturbing. Take the Companion Cube, which is a waist-high crate painted with a pink heart. Despite only showing up in one stage, the Cube has become one of the most beloved and memorable characters in gaming history.
via ThinkGeek
Looks like Valve's plush headcrab has some competition in the cuteness department.
What's disturbing about that? That thing's adorable!
The Disturbing Implication
As it turns out, the Companion Cube is stuffed with the body of a human, either dead or incapacitated -- namely, a former test subject that didn't escape GlaDOS' pre-game takeover of the facility. You didn't waste money on a plush Companion Cube; you wasted money on a plush Companion Coffin.
And if Chell takes the burned Cube home, well, that's a funeral urn.
As pointed out in videos like this one, there is a popular fan theory that notes all of the little hints the game drops as to the Cube's true nature. First, there's a sequence that's played for laughs where GlaDOS heavily implies that the Cube is both sentient and capable of emotion, then forces you to chuck it into an incinerator before you're allowed to move on.
Once you do so, you unlock an achievement called "Fratricide." While it sounds like something a comically evil dean would want to do to a group of wild, alcoholic college kids, it's actually a term for the murder of one's brother or sister. Eh, just a throwaway joke, right?
Does it scream as it burns? Or is that just your wailing conscience?
But then over the course of the game you come across several Rat Man dens. Rat Man, as we've mentioned in the past, was one of the few scientists to survive GLaDOS' attack. In his dens, you notice several strange things on the walls. Such as this:
For a good time, call Ce-Ce.
And this:
The Rat Man is actually the sanest character in either Portal game.
In the first pic, we see what's basically a shrine to the Companion Cube, anthropomorphizing it into something other than a stepping stool. But the second pic is somehow stranger still, because now the Cube is taped over random faces. Those faces were almost certainly those of Rat Man's non-surviving scientist friends (the calendar next to it says it features Aperture Science employees). Friends that Rat Man believed had been turned into Companion Cubes.
Then you have lines of dialogue from GLaDOS (that, again, you probably dismissed as jokes) warning the player to ignore the Cube if it should ever start talking. Like if, say, the emaciated bound-and-gagged prisoner inside were to ask for help.
"The Cube cannot speak. And baked good are forthcoming. Just trust me."
Also, remember how you incinerate the Companion Cube? That's the only time you do that; all other cubes (the ones without hearts on them) simply get disintegrated unceremoniously. It appears that GLaDOS (who, at this point, was pretending to be on your side) set this up on purpose. If the Cube had disintegrated like the others, it would have left behind the body/remains of a former test subject, completely exposing GLaDOS' intentions and convincing everybody that purchasing a plush Pokemon might be a better idea.
Or perhaps not, considering ...


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Recent Toy Recalls
24 of 28
Sky Rangers Park Flyer Radio Control Airplanes
Although only about 21,000 units of the Model 4116 Sky Rangers Park Flyer radio control airplanes have been sold, an alarming 45 users have reported having the product explode during use. Injuries include burns, eye injuries, and hearing damage.
Next: Easy-Bake Oven
More on: Childhood Safety


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Enjoy this article? You may also be interested in these related items from our partners
Rio: Music From
the Motion Picture
Disney Fantasia: Music
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Cinderella: Original
Motion Picture Soundtrack
Originally considered as a nominee for an Oscar in the category of Best Original Score, The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has determined that The Princess and the Frog fails to meet eligibility requirements.
Citing Rule 16, Section II, Paragraph E, the Academy's Music Branch Executive Committee decided that the film's soundtrack satisfies the following element, making it ineligible:


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Lenco Marine Electric Hatch Lifts - 53" - 77"
Made entirely of non-corrosive materials and are completely submersible. Stainless steel ram locks in any position. Stainless steel pull pin is standard with optional stainless steel non-locking slide bracket available. Ball screw spins freely when hatch is fully opened or closed eliminating limit switches and burned out motors.
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Neo Classic Collection by Feiss
Modern twists on vintage-like designs define the Neo Classic Collection. Watch your standard flush and semi-flush mounts pop with electrifying brushed steel finishes. Classic chandeliers and pendants get a makeover with bell-shaped white alabaster glass shades. Get the entire set to add a hint of flash-backward fashion-forward to every room in your home.
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The primary mission of the Counseling Center is to assist students by providing them with information and opportunities for self examination so they can make enlightened decisions and thereby define and accomplish their personal and academic goals. Simultaneously, this office promotes and supports the development of a comprehensive educational process that offers each student the opportunity to realize his or her optimum potential.
The Counseling Center exists in partnership with other service areas of Bentley University to provide students with a comprehensive educational experience. Consequently, we believe that it is essential to engage interdependently with other professionals in delivering curricular and co-curricular services. Our office strives to complement a highly structured academic program. As partners we collectively produce a synergetic learning environment for students.
It is our intent to deal with life issues relevant to the students we serve, and to encourage an integrated understanding of their cognitive, affective, behavioral, social, and spiritual experiences. In so doing, our interactions with students are fundamentally aligned with our belief that stimulation and challenge balanced with support is critical to human development. Our primary methods for dealing with students incorporate counseling, psychotherapy, proactive outreach programming, consulting, and advising a consonant with the developmental needs of college students. All services are provided within the framework of legal statutes and relevant ethical standards.
In order that professional staff may work in an effective and efficient manner we must be continually abreast of and contribute to new finding in the area of human development. It is particularly important that we maintain an accurate awareness of current issues which are germane to college students and their environment. Moreover, we believe we have a responsibility to exercise our knowledge in deliberate and considered ways with faculty, staff, and students such that we are known within the Bentley community to be a competent and available resource. Likewise, outside of the Bentley community, we have a responsibility to connect with other service professionals, be active in professional organizations, and appropriately represent ourselves and the institution.
As practitioners of student development services it is incumbent upon us to present students with healthy role models. By virtue of our work we are often in a position to influence students and act as mentors. Consequently, we have an obligation to be cognizant of how we interact with members of the campus community, particularly students, and how our manner impacts upon them.


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$(X_t, Y_t)$ is a two-dimensional Markov stochastic process that runs on time interval $[0, t_f]$. Given its transition function $a(x, y | x', y')$, I would like to condition the process on $\inf_{s \in [0, t_f]} X_s \ge k$ and find the new transition function.
Can the problem be solved at this level of generality? Or must we dig into the specifics of $a$ to find a solution on a case-by-case basis?


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Dover Es Collection by Maxim
Frosted seedy glass covers the light fixtures in the Dover ES Collection by Maxim. These lights come in a bronze finish and are available in wall mount, hanging lantern, and post mount models. Opt for an Energy Saver model with a photocell. These modern outdoor lights use fluorescent bulbs to brighten any home's exterior.
There are no products matching the selection.


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How do I go about cleaning up Riften or is it actually not possible? It seems all hope is lost for the citizens of Riften, but they still have me!
There are a number of things behind the state of Riften: some are solvable, others are Riften-by-design. Riften is full of grays, and you might have to modify your definition of "success" while trying to improve the state of things there.
Dealing with the Skooma trade
Riften's full of junkies. You can help them get above the influence by disrupting the Skooma trade in the Rift (adapted from my answer about getting a house there):
Improving the quality of life of the citizenry
With all the worrying and fretting about their conditions in Riften, a lot of citizens just need a helping hand. Ask around and see if you can help people out: by completing miscellaneous objectives, people tend to act a little more up-beat.
The Honorhall Orphanage
The head of the orphanage, Grelod the Kind, does not live up to her name. She keeps the orphans in a state of fear and is all around not a good person. You can think of the little children and confront Grelod:
The Thieves' Guild
There's a certain group Riftenites who are also down on their luck: the Thieves' Guild. Once an establishment to be feared across Skyrim and Tamriel, it's now been reduced to a gang of petty thugs and criminals.
You can get them back to their former glory by helping them take care of business and eradicate their competition in the Rift. You might run into Brynjolf during your time in Riften, who will begin the quest chain for them.
You can also help their main benefactor take over the Rift during the Civil War:
Certain parts of Riften are clean-able, but the Thieves Guild and Black Briars are here to stay.
See @MarkTrapp's answer for more clarification of what you can do to help the Riftenites.


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I have been doing some electrical work in my house and I noticed it has old knob and tube wiring that is still hot, should this be replaced as found or is it fine to just leave it? It seems really old and brittle, so I'm a little concerned.
The advice my family once got from an electrician on this question was that if you have low amperage service and NEVER touch it, you're probably okay. If you have regular electrical service or touch the circuits at all, remove ALL of it. His basic theory was that if you keep the wires cool, and they haven't caused you trouble yet, it's unlikely to cause a problem. Granted that advice was about 15 years ago and none of that wiring is improving with age.
Once you touch the lines at all, rip it all out. It's very likely that you will introduce a problem between the coating and the wire. The house we were dealing with went another 10 years before we needed to rewire one of the old circuits. Once that happened we rewired the entire house all at once.
If you're concerned at all, turn off the affected circuits, and get rid of it. Better safe than sorry on this one.
Generally, it is a good idea to replace it, especially if you can easily access it. One thing you don't want to do, is replace part of a circuit. Then the next guy might see the new romex and make some assumptions about the rest of the wiring. The other time you really really should replace it is if it runs through insulation, especially blown-in cellulose. That is a serious fire hazard. Knob and tube was designed to use open space as an insulator.
Myths abound about K&T, and lots of it is ripped out unnecessarily.
The K&T wire is exactly as thick as modern wire, and was installed by skilled craftsmen using bulletproof soldered joints rather than plastic wire nuts. The ceramic tubes will outlast civilizations. With certain important exceptions your K&T will outlast the house itself, unlike modern wire.
K&T is more heat resistant than the equivalent modern wire, because the conductors are separated by an air gap. The ceramic tubes mean that even if the insulation deteriorates it creates no fire hazard. And in fact, if you check fire statistics you'll find K&T wiring is as, or more, safe than modern wiring. Hammered nails or screws can create subtle shorts and sparks in modern wire, but have little to no effect even if they pierce K&T wires. Poor installation is more common on modern wire, compared to K&T which was installed only by guild trained electricians.
From Home Energy Magazine 'Knob and Tube Not a Fire Hazard':
Leaving light fixtures on K&T is especially practical, as grounding matters much less, and these are typically the hardest runs to replace.
That said, much K&T wiring is either overloaded by modern uses, or has been hacked to death by bad renovation. Our jurisdiction (Berkeley, CA) requires an inspection by a licensed electrician prior to insulating over Knob & Tube (see here).
It is important to check:
This bears repeating:
For more on insurance issues see: http://www.nachi.org/bbsystem/usrfiles/E/ESA_article_knob_and_tube.pdf
The True Knob & Tube Danger: Modern Rework
The danger with K&T is that somebody messed with it. Here's a picture of a pretty typical example. Someone jacked a new circuit in. They cut the old knob & tube short, destroyed the original insulation, did a hack tape job, then installed a modern metallic cable almost touching that mess. This particular instance created a big spark some years later as the grounded metal cable hit the now bare wire. Original K&T installers never let the wires touch except protected by ceramic tubes.
A house in San Carlos CA, Having 50% knob-and-tube, 50% 1980 romex:
Insurance was no problem: No company cared (I ended up getting it from Travelers, via GEICO). So, I wouldn't let the insurance stories scare you until you pick up the phone and ask. What they do care about is the type of Circuit breakers you have. The modern ones that look like switches, or the old wire ones (that burn). That may be an issue if you have the old plugs.
knob-and-tube has 2 disadvantages:
Recommendation: It might be a problem with putting things "on paper" vs. verbally, but I interviewed many electricians and 3 permit employees (since I was remodeling the kitchen and "touched' some of the old K&T). My experience is that most of them, when not motivated to just make money out of you, say that K&T is just fine, there are plenty of old houses with it and you don't really see houses go up in flames around you do you? and when fire happens on the news, when did you hear that it was blamed on old K&T system (most likely you hear it was a heater or candles)
my personal comclusion, if it is not broken, don't fix it. do it only if you are doing some other thing which justifies the work.
Expect anything from $3000 to $10,000.
There may be issues with your insurance company. I recently bought a house and asked two insurance companies about the knob-and-tube wiring.
Yes definitely. In some spots, knob and tube is a deal breaker for a house sale and must be replaced before the house is sold. It's fairly dangerous to have around, even more so if it's brittle. I'd hire an electrician if you're not comfortable replacing it all yourself.
As foreman for a licensed bonded electrician, in San Francisco CA, ca 1980's... K&T wiring was NEC code approved.... and approved by the more stringent local city code... that said I code rewired a lot of Victorian houses, w/ K&T as the original wiring... it could be Western Union, solder-spliced, to repair or extend it... very tedious... and needed to add supporting knobs for those 'code splices'...
biggest issue was inside ceiling fixtures.... where the old TW wire's 'asphalt' insulation became brittle due to fixture heat... and the slightest bending often cracked the insulation... usually requiring replacing that lead back to a supported splice... very tedious... if inexperienced persons had changed the fixture insulation was usually cracked...
you could still buy knobs, and loom sheathing ATT.... but not tubes, nor the metal wedges, to lock the TW wire and loom sheath, as it enters the old metal box....which could necessitate replacing the old junction box, w/ a new one that had built in wire clamps or would accept standard connectors.... and carefully setting those connectors..... I learned to salvage the wedges, and tubes, for reuse when had to...
In all, after a couple tedious years dealing with old K&T circuits, I decided it best just tear it out in a rewire... and replaced it w/ new boxes and wire runs..romex or EMT runs... It was usually more efficient, and the customer had a better product in the end.... Only in rare cases would I work w/ it to preserve the original finish, of the ceiling escutcheons, in the old Victorian homes.... and code still required cutting and capping off the old supporting gaslight pipes, if still connected and live....
I'll take romex, or THHN in pipe, if I have a choice... lot easier to work with... I became adept at 'fishing' romex, and the tricks of cutting lathe and plaster...
K&T wire was the only wiring method used in the 1st part of the 20th century. Houses had lights and radios. Maybe a house had a toaster. After many years of heat build up and over use, any wire will degrade and its ampacity will diminish. Today, we ask an 80 year old wire to run things that require more then the century old wire can deliver. Would you ask an 80 year old car to take you to Florida from Ohio while pulling a trailer? Of course you wouldn't That is exactly what we are asking an old electrical system to do. Nothing lasts forever. It is a safety issue and so in my opinion, after 30 years in the electrical business this is what I would suggest. Replace that old overused outdated wire before you spend money on the pretty kitchen.
Yes K&T is ancient wiring and in some locations it is pretty safe. I have even seen some of it on MASH 4077 where wires are run in pairs and held by cleats.
As mentioned elsewhere, there are NO grounds and it could be possible since there is no color code like "black for HOT or UNGROUNDED CONDUCTORS" "WHITE FOR GROUNDED" to put in a new circuit and share a neutral and this could be "VERY BAD" as the neutral could be overloaded and start a fire. If the Neutral is 12ga wire (which is good for a 20 amp circuit) that is fine, BUT if you share said neutral with another circuit because the neutral for the new circuit got broke or is not accessible than the 1st neutral could be carrying a lot more current. The fuse for the new circuit will not "blow" if its ampacity is not reached but it will if the return is through a 'loaded neutral from another circuit.
The best way to tell is to get a rubber lightbulb socket with 20 or 30 foot ends with crocodile ends. Put one end on water pipe or known ground and touch the other end to the wires; if the lamp lights, the wire is a "HOT" wire, then the wire running along side by a few inches would most likely be a ground but you could take lamp test wire and put to a "known "hot wire and using other lamp wire touch to ground then spray paint the wire with the ground connection white.


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I jailbroke and unlocked my 3GS (4.1, baseband 06.15.00) a few months ago to use it in another country. However, my 2-year German contract is up and I could ask my former carrier to ask Apple for the official unlock. Would this work on a jailbroken/unlocked phone? I want to upgrade to IOS 5 without needed to jailbreak to unlock the phone again (I don't use jailbroken apps, really, just used it for the unlock).
Return your phone to its standard state, so ios4.1 and then yes, you can ask the carrier to request unlock from Apple.
The unlock works by changing a database entry for your UDID on Apple servers and therefore whether or not it's jailbroken should make little difference. With that said, to be sure it's all worked ( and because you are planning to) taking it back to a standard OS install would make sense.
Hope this helps.
You'll need to restore the firmware using one of the jailbreak applications. Pwnagetool, redSn0w, etc.
The reason is the 6.15 firmware is from the iPad and it's version is higher than what is in the normal 3GS firmware. iTunes will see this phone is different than what it expects and throw an error (1015, I believe).
As the unlock developers have stressed, repeatedly, the custom 6.15 firmware is a one way deal. Once you do this you can't go back to the normal firmware anymore. To update in the future you'll have to continue creating custom firmwares, the factory firmware simply won't work anymore.


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A crucial element for phrasing is vibrato, but while you can notate a great number of things, you can't really notate vibrato. I know it's important. I know B.B. King's butterfly vibrato is a big reason why he's so loved and appreciated. So what are some techniques and exercises to expand and perfect my vibrato?
When I first started working on lead guitar, I spent a lot of time just listening to famous players phrasing and vibrato. I knew that an important part of playing lead was developing a "voice" for my guitar, that stood out, was pleasing, and sounded natural.
One of the attributes of vocalists who's style I like is a more relaxed vibrato. Some singers have a fast vibrato that sounds unnatural. Listen to Buffy Ste. Marie or Stevie Nicks for an example - yeah, they're good vocalists and have influenced music, but they're not my favorite singers because their vibrato is too fast and sounds unnatural to me.
So, I wanted to develop a slower, more natural sounding guitar voice, and part of that was a slower vibrato. "Languid" is a good word to describe it I guess: "slow and relaxed" and "pleasantly lazy and peaceful" are two definitions from the dictionary for it.
I took the time to learn to think sssslllloooowwww when it came time to use vibrato, and then practiced controlling it so I deliberately could speed it up if necessary and the music called for it.
There's a few different techniques for vibrato too: Most players anchor their thumb behind the neck, then rotate their hand across the axis created by their thumb and finger pressing the fret. B.B. King is a great example. Watch a video of him playing and you'll see an almost exaggerated hand movement, but that makes his style. Eric Clapton, who was across the Atlantic and trying to figure out how the blues players here got the sound of the slide guitar, started imitating the slide players by removing his thumb and using his whole hand to push and pull the string sideways along the fret. It's a very different motion than B.B. Kings, and sounds different, but it's equally effective.
Some players, instead of creating vibrato by moving across the neck, use a more classic violin approach, and alternately push and pull along the length of the string. This stretches and pulls the string, raising and lowering its pitch. A normal vibrato, moving across the neck, can only raise the pitch or leave it at its original note, so the more classical move has a small advantage. It's difficult to push and pull a string that way, so most people don't get as wide a pitch change, but it can be very effective.
Finally, I've also seen people use their tremolo bar for vibrato. Jeff Beck, Dave Gilmour and Scott Henderson do some things with their tremolos that most of us would use a regular vibrato move for, only the tremolo gives them a wider range of raising and lowering the pitch, similar to the violinist's move. It's easy to go too far with the tremolo but a gentle touch can be very nice.
So, mostly it's being aware of the different styles and ways of generating vibrato, then taking the time to master it so it fits into what your sound is. Then learn to do it the other ways so you can pick and choose on the fly, depending on whatever you want to express at that moment.
To me, Vibrato is divided into 2 parts:
Beginners usually get shown techniques where the string is moved laterally across the strings or in the same direction as the strings. What I end up seeing is a student who is confused as to what their hand and finger(s) are actually meant to do to the string to produce the desired vibrato effect.
I suggest this:
From a practical point of view, the student who can't perform vibrato usually does not have full command of their fingers or the strength in their fingers to control string bends.
By learning to bend the strings via both PUSH or a PULL action, the muscles and fingers learn to co-ordinate with the wrist and finger pressure.
Swapping fingers used for bending (ie. don't just use the 3rd/ring finger, use them ALL) can aid in increasing finger sensitivity and strength.
And of course, strength developed from full step bends (2 frets or more) needs to be balanced with the nuance of half-step bends (1 fret). And again, try and perform these on all fingers.
Now here's the key, once the execution of string bends starts to become second nature - if the player is bending the strings properly, they will be using the joint of the index finger as the Fulcrum point for the wrist pivot.
By oscillating the Bend movement into smaller and smaller bends - you will end up with a vibrato effect.
Of course, I don't want to neglect the vibrato in the parallel direction of string - this is usually done with the finger pressed down and the thumb NOT behind the neck. This technique generates the same effect but the movement is more natural for beginners (in fact all my beginners usually do this movement first instinctively). It's the "bend" vibrato that's harder to master and therefore warrants attention paid towards string bends.
This is the more difficult part of the topic because it implies taste, nuance, an informed mind and a keen ear. Listen to your favourite guitarists and study their phrasing. There is wide and slow vibrato - which I think is alot more sexy and emotional. Then there is the jagged edge rock vibrato that the mother of a neighbour once told me sounded like a cat on heat.
Practice. I know it's a dumb answer but this is one of several guitar techniques where you can seemingly try the same thing again and again with no result and then, presto! vibrato!
The reason why is that you build hand strength and once you reach a certain point, you are able to blend your dexterity and strength to put a vibrato where you want it.
Pick a song that has vibrato on one note that really stands out to you. Say, "Crossroads" (Cream version) in the first turnaround, there is a short blues lick that pauses on a C (G string at the 5th fret). A really nice place to learn index finger vibrato. Learn the phrasing without the vibrato. Then try to sneak the vibrato in bit by bit.
Now, index finger vibrato is very different (for me) from pretty much every other finger, because the pivot axis is so different. I most often pick my thumb up off the neck for it. However, by sliding one finger back, I can use my middle finger, which is pretty much on axis with my arm and get a more rotating, bending vibrato. You can try them both and see what works best in each situation.
The other place you'll find vibrato changes is on the top and bottom E strings. You simply don't want to do a vibrato that bends off the fretboard, limiting the amount of bend you can apply to one direction. Again, practice and you'll know what to expect.
If you're not getting it right now, I hope it will make you feel better that nobody is born knowing how to get reliable vibrato. It's a learned technique. And for tomorrow... you learn pinch harmonics :)
Don't do vibrato by pushing and pulling with the fingers. You should keep your fingers still and turn your wrist instead. You'll get far stronger vibrato and more control using the wrist.
This will be the simplest answer, a method I learned from Steve Vai 10 years ago. Assuming you know how to vibrato but want to improve it. Though It can be applied to all techniques;
And when the time comes during a song and you fire the technique..it will be a bliss
This can be applied to any solo/lick as well.


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Welfare Reform - Benefits Are Changing
Welcome to Birmingham City Council's guide to the government's benefit changes (also known as Welfare Reform).
The government has introduced some major changes through the Welfare Reform Act, which will affect many Birmingham citizens.
This guide explains what the changes are and how they could affect you, so that you can prepare for them. It also gives guidance on the options available to you and where you can go for help.
You will remain responsible for paying any shortfall in the rent on time, and keeping your account up to date.
Who will be affected?
People of working age will be affected if they claim Tax Credits, welfare or Housing Benefit.
If you are of pensionable age on 1 April 2013, these changes will not affect you. You can find out your pensionable age at www.gov.uk/calculate-state-pension.
What are the changes?
Use the links below to find out about the different benefit changes.
Change 1 - Under-occupation rules
From April 2013, any household that the government says has more bedrooms than they need, will receive less Housing Benefit.
Change 2 - Benefit Cap
The government has placed a 'cap' on the total amount of benefit that working age people can receive. This was introduced in Birmingham during August and September 2013.
Change 3 - Universal Credit
From April 2015, a number of benefits that are currently paid separately will be brought together into one payment called Universal Credit.
Change 4 - Council Tax Support
From April 2013, Council Tax Benefit is to be abolished and replaced by a new local financial support scheme, called Council Tax Support.
Change 5 - Local Welfare Provision
From April 2013, a new local fund is being set up to replace the government's national crisis loans and community care grants, formerly paid through the Social Fund.
Change 6 - Personal Independence Payments (PIP)
From April 2013, Personal Independence Payment will start to replace Disability Living Allowance. Find out more at GOV.UK.
Change 7 - Child Benefit
Child benefit is being reduced for higher earners. Find out more at GOV.UK.
Change 8 - Uprating
Future benefit increases will be capped at 1% annually. Most working age benefits are to rise by 1% for each of the next three years. This is lower than expected price rises, leaving people with less money to spend.
Welfare Reform - Checklist
You can use the checklist below to prepare for some of the Welfare Reform changes.
- Check whether I will be affected by the Benefit Cap
- Set up a Basic Bank Account in preparation for Universal Credit
- Download or use an online budget planner to help me budget
- Set up Direct Debit to pay my rent now or in the future
Further advice and guidance
If you are a Birmingham City Council tenant, you can get advice on how you are affected by contacting the Rent Service on 0121 675 2006. They can discuss the options available to you, or refer you to a free independent debt advice service.
If you are not a Birmingham City Council tenant, you should contact your landlord directly.
Further information
If you're worried that the benefit changes will reduce the money you have coming in, it's a good idea to start thinking ahead. Use the links below to help you plan and get further online advice.
Loan Sharks - Find out how to get help if you have been affected by illegal money lenders (also known as loan sharks).
Benefit Calculator - Get an estimate of what benefits you could get (including Housing Benefit).
Make a Housing Benefit claim online - If you are having problems paying your rent or Council Tax, then you might be able to get help towards paying these bills.
Report a change in circumstances to Benefits - If your circumstances have changed report this online to Benefit Services.
The Money Advice Service - Carry out a free online money health check or use some of the other helpful online tools, such as the money stretcher calculator.
Citizens Advice Bureau - Get free online advice on your rights including benefits, housing, employment, debt and legal matters.
Birmingham City Council Debt Advice Service - The Debt Advice Team takes a realistic and practical approach to helping people who are experiencing severe debt problems.
Department of Work and Pensions - Get information on benefits, pensions and jobs.
Citysave Credit Union - This is a community based financial organisation. It offers accounts such as savings, bill payment and budgeting and loans.


text: Is the economy really improving?? That is the million dollar question?!Even though the newscasters and pundits tell us that we are better off now, it is still hard to believe. Every day we see people struggling-trying hard to find a job, put food on the table, daycare......the list goes on and on. Unfortunately when people struggle, pets struggle, too.When we have to cut back it usually is the extras that get cut from the family budget. So it's not surprising that the family pet "feels the pinch."Maybe the dog/cat food isn't as good or as much. Things like doggie dog care or toys or grooming are on the back burner. People can't afford to go to the doctor themselves, never mind the family cat or dog.We love our pets but caring for them costs money. Pets are a real responsibility and you need to be committed. However, even the best laid plans can take a nose dive. Jobs are lost, divorces happen, people lose their homes, and finances become extremely difficult. If this happens to you, what can you do ??I just read about an amazing website dedicated to Pet Assistance. I am pleased to say it has many resources for pet owners. Here is the website: http://www.massresources.org/pet-care-assistance.html.This page will give you information on many topics such as spay/neuter clinics, vaccines, many medical assistance programs, some that are free and other programs that you must qualify. There is even information about taking care of feral cats, pet food pantries, and even a pet food stamp program that Massachusetts has running. And much more!! This is great news!! There is nothing worse than seeing someone give up their pet over money. This happens every day in Massachusetts.So in these trying times if you need help check out this web-site. There is alot of help offered. Also check with your local shelters or rescue groups in your community for they can offer some assistance although their resources are limited, too. They will do what they can to help you keep your pet.Please remember, if you have to give up your pet(s) contact your local animal shelter. Don't leave it behind! Surrendering an animal happens. Trust that the shelter will place your pet in a loving home. Your pet will have a new chance at living a good life.If things are going well for you financially, try to put money aside for pet insurance or keep a credit card for emergencies only. Also buying pet food in bulk in big chains or on line can cut costs.Pets bring us joy, love, and companionship. They inspire us each and everyday with their loyalty and friendship. Pets positively impact our health and can change how we see the world. We owe it to them and ourselves for Life would not be the same without Them.


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Funeral services for Pfc. Brandon L. Buttry, 19, are scheduled Nov. 15 at the First Baptist Church in Shenandoah. Burial is at Rose Hill Cemetery in Shenandoah.
Homeschooled, Buttry completed his GED before enlisting in the U.S. Army in 2011. He deployed to Afghanistan in July of 2012.
He was active in Memorial Baptist Church and enjoyed fishing, playing video games and history, as well as playing board games with his family. His childhood dream was to be a U.S. soldier.
His awards and decorations include the National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with service star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and NATO medal.
He is survived by parents, Don and Pam Buttry of Shenandoah, brothers Luke Buttry of Riverton, Zach, Austin, Noah and Moses, sisters Mandy Poulter of Pella, Iowa, Missy Rock of Prior Lake, Minn., Macey, Shantelle, Shamilia, Micah, Savannah and Shanya.
Grandparents are Sandra Kuntzweiler of Fayetteville, Ark.,and Harriet Buttry of Kansas City.
The family of Pfc. Buttry issued the following statement.
"Brandon was a born-again Christian and loved the Lord. He was all about family and we had many Facebook chats and Skype conversations while Brandon was serving in Afghanistan.
"He had an infectious smile and didn't know a stranger. He had a big heart for others and always loved helping out. He was not afraid to stand up for what he believed in.
"He was loved deeply, will be missed greatly and will never be forgotten. He was a very brave solider. Thank you for the sacrifices you made for all of us. You made us and the USA proud."
Location, ST | website.com


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Ralph Ellison spent four decades writing but never finishing a novel to follow "Invisible Man," which was a meteoric success in 1952 and remains an American classic. Ellison's unfinished second novel was published this year, and a CU-Boulder associate professor is one of two editors who brought the legendary author's work to fruition.
When Ellison died in 1994, he left behind 27 archival boxes of manuscript pages for his unfinished and untitled second novel. The material included handwritten notes, typewritten pages, and more than 460 computer files on 84 disks. Ellison's sprawling maze of drafts—with no accompanying instruction on what to do with them—presented a particular challenge.
"Three Days Before the Shooting: The Unfinished Second Novel" is the product of 15 years of work by Adam Bradley, associate professor of English at CU-Boulder, and John Callahan, a humanities professor at Lewis and Clark College. Bradley and Callahan edited the new book for a general audience, not simply for scholars.
"We decided we wanted to keep with the democratic spirit of Ellison's writing … so that everyday people could pick it up and enjoy it as fiction," Bradley said.


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Arrested: Joseph Strupe, 22, 1085 Battle Run road, Mingo Junction, warrant for a concealed weapon violation, Friday.
Arrested: Albert McLeod, 71, 810 N. Sixth St., driving under suspension and an active bench warrant, Saturday.
Arrested: Charmaine L. Lester, 32, 743 Kendall Ave., felonious assault, obstructing official business, resisting arrest, public intoxication and a bench warrant for failure to appear, Saturday following reports of an altercation involving a knife in the 700 block of Kendall.
Arrested: Daniel L. Bocek Jr., 20, 22 Barbara Ave., driving undr suspension, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of drugs, including 17 pills alleged to be Xanax, Saturday.
Arrested: Dudley Delakowitz, 19 121 Belleview, possession of drug paraphernalia, Saturday.
Cited: Lyndon K. Harton, 2021 Girard Ave., parking on a sidewalk; Kwame Jones, 803 Buckeye St., unsecured load and fictitious plates; Franklin J. Gooch, 1005 N. Fourth St., Toronto, expired plates; James Turner, 1419 Hukill ST., Brilliant, driving under suspension.
Robbed: A Richmond resident walking in LaBelle told police he was robbed of $116, a ring and his cell phone early Saturday morning. He said his assailant was armed with a semi-automatic handgun.
Theft: Two downspouts taken from a home in the 2300 block of Sunset, Friday.
Hit-skip: Unknown vehicle struck a car parked outside a downtown business, damaging the side and a mirror before the driver left the scene, Friday.
Theft: Personnel at Ollie's told police an adult male, an adult female and a child left with numerous rugs without paying, Friday.
Jefferson County sheriff
Identity theft: A resident living on Township Road 378, Steubenville, reported discovering a credit card had been fraudulently taken out in his name and $5,500 in charges run up over an 11-day period beginning Jan. 17.
Assaulted: A woman was knocked to the ground, hitting her head after being punched by a male subject known to her, Saturday.
Theft: A camper parked on Township Road 378, Adena, was broken into and a 19 inch television stolen, Saturday.
Richmond police
Arrested: Albert Prosser III, 36, and Shannon Neidengard, 36, both of 44 W. Main St., Richmond, domestic violence, Saturday.


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Doug Robinson: NCAA wrong again in case of BYU cross-country runner stripped of eligibility for costume race
AJ Mast, ASSOCIATED PRESS
For the second time in 2½ months, the NCAA came to its senses and reversed field after picking on some helpless athlete, but only after getting slapped around by the media.
There is still unfinished business. There is at least one more wrong that needs to be righted, and this involves an athlete at BYU.
Earlier this week, we learned the case of Nathan Harries, the returned Mormon missionary and Colgate basketball player who lost a year of eligibility because he played in three church basketball games — an "old man's league," some called it, whose competitors included one man who had never played basketball. Some 24 hours after the Atlanta Journal Constitution broke the story, generating a public backlash against the NCAA, the NCAA backed down and declared him eligible without waiting for the usual months-long appeals process.
About 10 weeks ago, there was the case of Steven Rhodes, the former Marine who was ruled ineligible for two years and forced to take a mandatory redshirt year because he had played in a recreational football league on a military base. Twenty-four hours after CBS reported this story, generating more outrage from the public, the NCAA restored his eligibility, again skipping the normal appeals process.
So now, with two precedent-setting cases on public record, the Deseret News is reporting another case today that deserves to be reversed. It mirrors the Nathan Harries case. Long story short: Jared Ward, a returned missionary at BYU and a four-time cross country and track All-American, was denied a year of eligibility by the NCAA because he once ran in a recreational cross-country race against fat, old guys and people wearing bird costumes.
Like Harries, Ward served an LDS Church mission right out of high school. He returned in September 2009, a couple of weeks too late to enroll in school. He decided to spend the next three months training to regain his fitness after two years of inactivity before he enrolled for winter semester. That fall, he traveled to California to watch his younger brother compete in a regional cross-country race. Just for the fun, as a prelude to the real race, there was a recreational race for coaches, parents and other supporters of the athletes. It is a just-for-fun event whose entrants range from teens to 70-year-olds. The race is so lighthearted that some of the entrants wear costumes.
"I had to get in a workout that day anyway, so I thought I'd just jump in the race," Ward says. "A lot of the entrants try to get a laugh out of the kids, so they wear costumes. I recall someone wearing a tuxedo and another guy in a bird suit and a monkey or gorilla costume. It's not uncommon."
When Ward enrolled at BYU, he filled out the usual NCAA compliance forms, which include questions about participation in outside competition. According to NCAA rules, athletes who are a year removed from high school are not allowed to compete in organized competitions that will give them a competitive advantage. It is designed to prevent athletes from participating in competitive leagues that would give them an advantage before beginning college.
"Jared noted that he had run in the coaches race," says BYU coach Ed Eyestone. "He felt it was innocuous enough that it would be ignored. Yes, the race was timed and it was organized, but there certainly was no advantage gained by it. He was just there to support his brother and decided to run in the race."
As Ward puts it, "If I were trying to gain an advantage by running in a competitive race, I wouldn't have chosen that race. It's not a competitive effort."
The NCAA not only ruled that Ward would lose an entire season of cross country for one 16-minute effort, it intimated that he was lucky the penalty wasn't more severe. BYU appealed twice and was denied twice.
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What office items do you use most often? What would you recommend as the "must haves"?
My friend is starting his own business and he wanted recommendations on office products that he should stock up on. Any recommendations? What do you use most?
17 Answers answer
A Red Swingline stapler.
A telephone.
A comfortable office chair is a "must have!" If your friend will be sitting for long hours, a chair with good ergonomics can make the difference between having a stressful day or an efficient day.
Well, now that our most pressing worry seems to be calming down a bit, I can't resist.
Decent ISP (everyone's online, so this is a requirement)
Actually, I may come back in a bit with more (and better) suggestions.
[Edit] Brother P-Touch Labelmaker. This is a REQUIREMENT. P-Touch refills. Don't get the silver color; it sucks. White's the best, but if you need color coding, blue is pretty good as an alternative.
Pens (Jetstream, Signo, G2, etc)
Post-it Notes
Batteries (mouse, label maker, etc)
Coffee Pot (Keurig has those cool little one shot coffee,tea and chocolate)
@theoneill555: Keurig, FTW!
I can't live without my stackable paper organizer:
Thank you all for the recommendations! There are some great suggestions here. Any others?
@xarous: "but then, they switched from the Swingline to the Boston stapler, but I kept my Swingline stapler because it didn't bind up as much, and I kept the staples for the Swingline stapler and it's not okay because if they take my stapler then I'll set the building on fire..."
I just got one of those phone-riser desk organizers, and it's been rocking my socks. it's only about 3" off the esk, but it frees up a little more surface spate to keep everything closely in reach.
In college I frequently used one of those egg-shaped page holders when typing. It was amazing. Now that I think about it, I should find mine; I could use it at work. It's similar to this: http://amzn.com/B000M1N1YO and nice because of the small footprint compared to the ones that support the entire sheet.
Whitebords are an obsession in my office. I like lots of marker colors so I can categorize my to do list better when it's just me OR so I can diagram more effectively when explaining to others.
Lastly, no office is complete without flying screaming Woot monkeys and at least one set of Woot Off lights.
@perkalicious11: i agree, a white board is a must.
i also like cork boards (bulletin board) & push pins.
Working for the military as an office junkie my most frequently used office supplies would be first and foremost my trusty dell computer, followed by pocket folders, boxes of reams of paper, followed closely by my hp printer and copier. Then it would be my stapler followed by paper clips (the really hard ones) Essential tools would be pens and pencils. My personal favorite item to have in any office would be a medium sized white board with erasable markers to track everything. I hope I have been of good help.
Let's see if I can add anything:
staple remover
file folders
hanging files if using file cabinet
scotch tape
more post it notes (can never have too many)
envelopes of varying sizes
postage stamps
music source (working from home can get too quiet)
letter opener
That is all for now.
Because it's a business, the first question must be "Is this an office that clients or customers will visit to conduct business or a private workplace?" If it's open to the public, it should be as visually presentable and enticing, as comfortable as your family room, and as upscale as economically possible. That means good looking furniture from desks to chairs to tables to cabinets, colorful and happy art on the walls, a kitchenette and well stocked fridge, and an always clean bathroom.
If it's a home office that customers or clients will never see, the only criteria is what providing whatever makes the business as efficient and profitable as possible.
Remember - don't sweat the small stuff. The staplers' color and paperclips' size are small. A business without any business is big. Worry about that before any office supplies.
A small, or large refrigerator for beer.
Well, maybe he/she can get two other people to stop by, they can be the HR nazi that will tell your friend what is and is not acceptable in the office, they will also say how large a thing may be, how many of a thing they may have, will tell your friend that their cologne/perfume cannot be worn, and will warn them about hurting other people's feelings by wishing them a merry christmas.
The other person can be the snitch that runs to the HR nazi for every perceived wrong that they have endured while working that day.
After these things happen your friend will feel as though they are working in a regular office. If she/he can swing it, get two more people to show up, one can be the office jerk, and the other can be the cool/hot person everyone wants to be around.
I have found that these items must be "must haves", because they have been in every office I have worked in.
Thanks for all of the suggestions!


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Beaver Valley Area alumni chapter to hold fifth annual Wine Taste
1/24/2011 —The public is invited to attend the Fifth Annual Wine Taste sponsored by the Beaver Valley Area Chapter of the Penn State Alumni Association from 7 to 9:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 26, at Felicity Farms Bed and Breakfast. Proceeds from the event support the alumni chapter's outreach projects on behalf of Penn State Beaver and the community. The evening includes a wide selection of wines to sample as well as hot and cold hors d'oeuvres and an auction. Space is limited, so guests should respond as quickly as possible. The event costs $35 per person or $60 per couple. To make reservations, contact Mike Hamilton at firstname.lastname@example.com, or contact the Penn State Beaver Office of Campus and Community Relations at 724-773-3815 or firstname.lastname@example.com.


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Notwithstanding the potential hurdles, a recent poll of Pharmaceutical Technology readers confirmed that the majority of companies (56%) are already using single-use technologies. Of the remaining respondents, 18% admitted that they planned to use single-use technology in the future (1). So it is clear that, not only is single-use here to stay, but it could fully replace certain stainless-steel technologies in the future.
The development of quality agreements between biopharmaceutical companies and contract manufacturers has long been recognized as a critical activity to ensure that a product's quality meets regulatory requirements. Quality agreements are used to clearly establish each party's responsibilities and assure that manufacturing processes are controlled according to mutual understanding. For outsourced biological products, this is supported by the 2008 FDA Guidance, Cooperative Manufacturing Arrangements for Licensed Biologics. More recently, biopharmaceutical companies have looked to establish quality agreements with raw material and API suppliers as a means to guard the supply chain from counterfeit or adulterated materials. This drive has led to the recent publication of a Quality Agreement Template for API manufacturers by the Bulk Pharmaceutical Task Force (BPTF), an affiliate of the Society for Chemical Manufacturers and Affiliates (SOCMA).Considering the increased reliance that singleuse manufacturing technology places on suppliers to ensure biopharmaceutical quality, quality agreements have also begun to be established between singleuse process equipment suppliers and users—particularly for critical singleuse equipment, such as filters, biocontainers, tubing manifolds, and other integrated singleuse systems. While some companies have negotiated agreements on a casebycase basis, there is a recognized need within the industry for a common quality agreement template (QAT) specific to single-use manufacturing that highlights key performance criteria. With this in mind, the BioProcess Systems Alliance (BPSA), also an affiliate of SOCMA, has formed a Quality Agreement Template Task Force (QATTF) to develop a suitable template for singleuse technologies for the benefit of users and suppliers.
BPSA is an industry trade organization for suppliers and users of singleuse technologies for production of biopharmaceuticals and vaccines. Its primary objective is to facilitate the implementation of singleuse manufacturing through networking, recognition, and publication of best-practice guides, to provide clarification of current regulatory requirements, and to interact with governmental agencies on emerging issues that may impact BPSA members. The BPSA QATTF is composed of quality department personnel from member companies that are system suppliers and end users. This is a global initiative because many BPSA member participants on the committee represent global companies.


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or W.R.O., is group ran by Reeve Tuesti in Final fantasy VII, who are trying to fix the destruction caused by the Shinra Electric Power Co.They receive a large sum of money from a benefactor thought to be President Rufus A. Shinra.
I work for the World Regenesis Organization, to try and fix what Shinra has done.
viết bởi TyCrescent 12 Tháng bảy, 2008
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Are there specific characteristics that one should strive for when trying to develop a strong female character? Is it truly dependent on the genre of the book, or are there certain elements that carry over across all genres?
Obviously, "strong female character" can cover a lot of territory! But here's what I see as the general considerations.
The idea of "strong female characters" is reactionary in nature. It's reacting to the sense that these characters are something unusual to encounter in fiction; a rarity; something noteworthy. Nobody said "hey, there aren't enough blind seers in my fiction!", but they did say, "hey, how come my fiction doesn't have as many awesome, capable women as it has awesome, capable men?"
So to understand what's being asked of a strong female character, we need to understand the trope being subverted. (I'm moving to gross generalizations here, and far less common today than they used to be.) Commonly, female characters serve primarily as romantic interests, as damsels in distress, and/or as the Token Chick. These characters are not strong, in the following sense: they seem to be defined entirely in relation to central male characters. They exist to enable his story; they don't have a story of their own. They are not the star. Commonly, they simply aren't as capable and talented as the male lead - or are Faux Action Girls, ostensibly as talented as the male, but in practice never doing anything heroic.
So the farther we manage to move from the supporting, subservient, and diminishing role that female characters are commonly assigned, the closer we are to a "strong female character." Here are a few varieties:
Here's the fundamental element: to be a strong female character, your character must be capable, must have some degree of agency (i.e. goals of her own and the ability to pursue them some of the time), and basically must earn the reader's respect in her own right. She's "strong" in the sense that she can do stuff, and no less than that - in the sense that the stuff she wants to do is important.
Beyond that, she can be a sharp-tongued private sleuth or an adorable vampire hunter or the resident control freak. Character can vary infinitely; that's practically the point - that females aren't reduced to a few supporting, nurturing, handily-refrigerated roles. If she's impressive, if she's meant to gain the reader's respect and not just his tension or romantic interest or sense of accomplishment - that's a strong female character.
Note: I'm not saying, of course, that there's any expectation that all female characters in a story be "strong," or even any of them - no more than all the male characters need to be. The issue is more one of total volume - one story makes no difference; when you start noticing trends across hundreds of novels, it's a bigger deal.
A character is a character is a character is a character regardless of genre. A character is a set of behaviors (words and actions) and reactions to those behaviors by the other characters. Even the physical description of the character can give us clues to her personality. How she carries herself.
Assuming I'm interpreting what you mean by "strong" in the way I would interpret it, a woman who is confident and assured, but at the same time not in-your-face aggressive, make sure her actions are well-considered. If she has to make a decision, don't make her vacillate. Make her confidence such that other sensible, balanced people don't mind deferring to her judgment.


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Hemi Valvetrain And Head Upgrades - Superior Solutions - Tech:Written by on October 1, 2008 Gen III Hemi Valvetrain And Head Upgrades
Chrysler invested millions of dollars and spent thousands of dyno hours designing and validating the Gen III Hemi valvetrain. And in stock form, it's an excellent design that'll go thousands of miles with total reliability. But things change when you start messing with the factory formula. While the stock 5.7's 340 and 6.1's 425hp ratings are nothing to be ashamed of, they only scratch the surface of the new Hemi's potential.
At Superior Automotive, Joe Jill and his crew have a steady customer base of Gen III Hemi owners looking for extra punch. Some just want their Ram pickups, Chargers, 300s, Magnums, and Challengers to scoot a little quicker with a simple cam swap, while others are paying big money for supercharger installations, nitrous systems, 440-inch stroker kits, and are really pushing the boundaries. What both camps have in common is the discovery that the Gen III Hemi needs a little help in the valvetrain and cylinder head department to meet expectations.
Let's have a look as Superior's Fred Simpson shows off some new developments that clear the way for even more Hemi horsepower.
More Photos From This Article View Slideshow
The stock 5.7/6.1 parts are high quality, but the beehive valvesprings can fail when teamed with hotter-than-stock aftermarket cam profiles. The 5.7's factory installed springs are rated at a healthy 260 pounds (SRT8 is slightly more). But both coil bind at about 0.550-inch lift and cannot be teamed with higher lift cams.The pen points to the stock 5.7 and 6.1 triple bead valve lock configuration. Stiffer aftermarket valvesprings set up a pinch load on the bottom receiver groove in the valve stem. This can cause separation and a dropped valve. Another flaw is encountered during valve float where uncontrolled movement between the stock valve stem, keepers, and retainer rolls the grooves in the stem. Fred says the problem can range from the creation of nuisance burrs to all out removal of the grooves in the valve stem and is a disaster in the making.This premium quality aftermarket valvespring broke after 13,000 miles in a customer's SRT8. Fred says, "Stock Chrysler beehive springs can break within a few days or months after a hotter cam is installed. Good aftermarket springs go longer, but also eventually fail."Some valvespring failures hang the valve open until a piston strike bends the stem or breaks off the head, which rattles around inside the cylinder and destroys the engine. Another common failure causes the spring to collapse into itself and become solid. This bends the pushrod and can even snap the rocker shaft (as shown here).Working with Manley Performance, Joe came up with a proprietary valve design that solves the problem. The trick valves feature the same overall length as stock Gen III Hemi valves (4.950-inch intake and 4.925-inch exhaust), but are machined with slightly lower valve lock grooves. This moves the retainer position down, away from the bottom of the rocker arm and opens the door for larger diameter straight-type valvesprings. The pen points to the end of the custom Superior/Manley valve. Also note the use of single groove locks, which give greater clamping force and eliminates the stem galling problem encountered with stock triple bead configuration seen on left.Here is a picture of what not to do to get the needed rocker-to-retainer clearance. Because Chrysler used net-shape-casting technology, there's no extra beef and the integrity of every surface is essential to overall rocker arm strength. Grinding a groove to provide clearance (pen points)-then adding a stiffer spring-will lead to a fracture. A stock Chrysler rocker is shown for comparison on the left. Also note the size difference between the 0.900-inch Chrysler retainer and the 1.155-inch titanium replacement (right) that's required to match the up-sized spring diameter.After even the best aftermarket Gen III Hemi valvesprings failed, Joe Jill realized the root cause was the Hemi's beehive valvespring configuration. Despite the slight advantage of having lower mass than conventional straight springs, there's no arguing with the epidemic of failures. The solution is a conventional straight spring. But as we see in this photo, the underside of the Hemi's cast-steel rocker arm is designed to work only with 0.900-inch-diameter beehive-style retainers and interferes with larger retainers (pen points). This is as far as the rocker will drop before hitting the retainer. Clearly something must be done.Here's a shot of the new Manley titanium retainer and Chevy Gen III (LS1-type) valvespring in place on the Hemi. Notice how the rocker arm-to-retainer contact problem is totally solved. Though the lower retainer placement does alter valvespring installed height and increases open and closed spring pressure, the difference is under 20 pounds. Because the custom valves retain the OE valve length, the Hemi's excellent rocker arm geometry is not affected. Because any 1.290-inch-diameter Chevy Gen III valvespring now fits the Hemi (right out of the box), you have a nearly unlimited selection to choose from, plus unquestioned spring durability.And speaking of custom valves, Superior Automotive offers custom valves (right) for 5.7 Hemi owners looking for extra flow and power. Fred says, "There are probably 1,000 5.7 owners for every 6.1 out there, and while the 5.7 does have smaller ports, we can make 'em run." The first step is replacing the stock 2.00/1.55-inch valves with the 2.08/1.600-inch combination used in the 6.1. This change alone will deliver a 7-percent flow improvement and can be performed without the expense of changing the valve seats. With maximum porting, the 5.7 head can flow within striking distance of the stock 6.1. Since 6.1 heads are currently on restriction from Chrysler (i.e., only available for warranty claims), lots of 5.7 owners bring their heads to Superior for porting and valve changes. Superior is also developing a 383 stroker kit for the 5.7 that'll be ready as you read this.
While the top end of the Superior/Manley valve is custom, the bottom end features the same excellent swirl polish treatment, beefy margins, localized stem diameter reduction, and one-piece stainless steel construction as regular Manley performance valves. A stock 5.7-sourced Chrysler valve is shown on the left for comparison. Superior can supply these special valves with stock 5.7 (2.00/1.550 inch) or 6.1 (2.08/1.600 inch) head diameters, as well as custom 2.100/1.650 sizes.In a move likely intended to cut costs, Chrysler 6.1 Hemis use these goofy wire retainers to help keep the rocker arms in alignment with the valve tips and pushrods. Fred says, "These parts are pure Mickey Mouse. The rocker shafts have no receiver grooves so the retainers usually migrate out of position during operation. When they do, the pushrods are the only thing keeping the rocker aligned." Ironically, the bread and butter 5.7 Hemi uses a slightly more positive stamped steel sleeve to do the same job. It's better, but not ideal.Superior offers this rocker arm spacer collar kit (PN HVT-1) to ensure accurate pad-to-stem alignment and prevent side loading on the pushrod tip. It's machined from 0.125-inch-thick seamless 6061 aluminum tubing and comes with an assortment of hardened steel side shims to allow perfect alignment. It fits all 5.7 and 6.1 heads and increases valvetrain stability. It's a good upgrade for stock and modified engines alike.Before he devised the Chevy valvespring solution, Joe says, "The constant parade of failed beehive valvesprings called for a unique tool for fast in-car spring replacement." If Joe looks familiar, it's because throughout the '60s, he was a regular fixture in many east coast car magazine tech articles. At the time, his shop was Speedwin Engineering, home to numerous Race Hemis, including factory-issue '64, '65 and '68 Super Stockers. Pick up a vintage copy of Hi-Performance CARS, Super Stock & FX, or Speed and Supercar, and you'll see Joe's smiling face.Hand fabricated from steel, the trick valvespring removal fixture allows in-car valvespring removal and installation. Just roll the crankshaft so the piston is at TDC and pressurize the cylinder, then go to work. Be sure to leave one spark plug in place so the cylinders hold air pressure. Remember, these new Hemis have twin plug ignition.After the rocker assembly is removed from the engine, the fixture bolts to the head, and the threaded screw-jack is used to compress the valvespring so the locks can be plucked free. Then you unscrew the jack, and the retainer and spring are removed. Before he devised this solution, Joe says it took two hours to change a single valvespring, more on the cluttered passenger side of the engine. With the tool, all 16 springs can be changed in one hour. If you want one, contact Superior Automotive and talk to Joe.The intake port face of the 5.7 head casting (bottom) differs from the 6.1 in its smaller, nearly square port openings. Notice the larger rectangular ports of the 6.1 head (top). The 6.1 port volumes are about 20-percent larger than those of the 5.7. Obviously, intake manifold gaskets don't interchange.Identifying a 5.7 Hemi head is a simple matter of looking for this raised hump at the top of each intake port. Unlike previous Hemi engine families, Gen III Hemi heads are not interchangeable from one side of the block to the other.The exhaust port openings (and gaskets) are also different. The 5.7's square ports (bottom) are generous and conjure images of the mighty 426 Hemi, while the ovoid shape of the 6.1 (top) is similar to the '71 D-4 Pro Stock head. Like the intake ports, we're looking at an approximate 20-percent difference in port volume between the heads. The 5.7 head carries casting number 53021616 BA; the 6.1 bears casting number 05037369AA.
The 6.1 (top) has slightly larger combustion chamber volumes and is fitted with larger 2.08/1.600-inch I/E valves. The 5.7 (bottom) has 2.00 / 1.550-inch I/E valves. As mentioned, swapping 6.1 valves into the 5.7 head delivers a 7-percent flow improvement.Topside, there is little difference between the 5.7 (bottom) and 6.1 head castings. Both share the same bolt spacing, valve angle geometry, integrally cast spark plug wells, and external threaded accessory attachment positions. Overall weight is also nearly equal. Both are excellent pieces.


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We need to implement different user groups on our new WP-site so every group has it's own price for every product. For example: "retail customers" and "wholesale customers".
Is there an appropriate solution that works out of the box?
If not, what approach should you recommend to achieve this? Maybe some combination of plugins will do?
We really don't want to create separate domains or to have duplicate items in our shop.