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It seems to me that semicolons are rarely used today in ordinary English writing - even in newspapers and books. They appear to have been replaced, in many cases, by em-dashes and hyphens (the hyphen being used on the Internet and/or in informal communications). In some cases, semicolons have been replaced by periods (i.e. something which might have previously been one sentence would now be written as more than one sentence). Over what period of time did this change take place, and why?
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The short answer, I think, is that the em-dash makes it easier to read the sentence and thus more likely that the reader will understand your point and want to continue reading.
Readers today are inundated with far more to read than ever before, and any structure that forces the reader to do more work will be detrimental to their likelihood of reading further.
Grammatically, semicolons are used to connect two independent clauses without the use of a linking preposition. However, the type of connection is not stated outright; the reader is supposed to assume a reason for not separating the clauses into sentences. (In the last sentence, the implied connection between clauses could be expressed by the word therefore.)
When a writer uses an em-dash rather than a semicolon, there is white space around the connection. White space, particularly for visual learners, signals that there is some work to be done by the reader to understand the connection between two things. It also allows metaphorical space for that to happen, since it forces the reader to pause and make the connection.
A semicolon doesn't offer that same amount of white space. It is a subtle cue, and can slow the reader down if they don't see the period above the comma. (Anything that makes a reader pause and say "huh" will increase the likelihood that they will not continue to read.)
It fits in with a longer-term trend toward shorter sentences and plainer writing. Semicolons are only useful in long sentences.
I am not sure why this happened. On the one hand, as Martha F.'s answer indicates, good writers these days are keenly aware that
and perhaps it is as a consequence that sentences like this one, from A Tale of Two Cities:
are now rarely found in nature.
But I think that view is not quite adequate. There's really nothing particularly taxing about this thirty-clause pile-up, no reason you couldn't stop halfway through, set it down, and read the rest tomorrow. It's just that it would be so much more manly and Hemingway-ian with full stops. A matter of changing tastes.
I'm going to go out on a limb and suggest, on no more evidence than my own inattentive impression, that @Billare is right: your premise is wrong.
Pages 143 ff. of this show that dashes, ellipses and the like were more common in the past than you might think. But they showed up most often in relatively ephemeral works—those which are least likely to come to modern attention. The same is true today: dashes and short sentences are characteristic of informal writing.
It is true that "formal" writing is somewhat more casual now than it used to be; this has always been true, in every age. But seems to me that most of the difference you observe reflects the facts that a) more informal and downright casual literature is available to your inspection than ever before, and b)it is not clearly distinguished by medium from formal writing. Works of philosophy, scholarship, science, and 'high' literature come to you now from the same source and in the same format as news, chat, personal correspondence, and light or sensational reading.
So you're now averaging "formal" and "ephemeral" together, which artificially diminishes the relative frequency of characteristically "formal" punctuation.
The semi-colon has not been entirely supplanted. For example, a semi-colon is frequently the correct separator for a list, while a dash never would be.


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10 Mar 2011 5:49 PM #11
Worked for me too! Thanks for chiming in.
1 Jun 2011 1:37 AM #12
I avoid this bug with PhoeGap and using Android Native API
if using Android 2.1 + Sencha Touch.
behavior of Input field become strange.
When I focus into field and scroll the panel, field is duplicate and show strange position.
It is a Android WebView's bug.
When inputing a HTML input field on Android, Android create other Native input field on it.
And the Native input field cause these strange behavior.
The Native input field is Android "WebTextView".
I trid to resolve this bug only javascript code, but it is impossible.
The Native input field could not remove by JS.
So, I use phonegap and Android Native API.
Use phonegap.js to call native Method.
=== JavaScipt Code === //Calling Native method usgin PhoneGap mywebview.removeAllViewsInLayout();
Using DroidGap to call Native API from JS.
=== Java Code === === MAIN CLASS === public class App extends DroidGap { @Override public void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) { super.onCreate(savedInstanceState); super.init(); final MyWebView myWebView = new MyWebView(appView, this); appView.addJavascriptInterface(myWebView, "mywebview"); super.loadUrl("file:///android_asset/www/index.html"); } } === MAIN CLASS === Add a method call removeAllViewsInLayout() inside your WebView class. === MyWebView CLASS === public class MyWebView extends Activity { public WebView webView; public DroidGap droidGap; public MyWebView(WebView webView, DroidGap droidGap) { this.webView = webView; this.droidGap = droidGap; } /** * Remove All ChildView on WebView * */ public synchronized void removeAllViewsInLayout() { try { Runnable runnable = new Runnable() { public void run() { webView.removeAllViewsInLayout(); }; }; droidGap.runOnUiThread(runnable); } catch (Exception e) { e.printStackTrace(); } } } === MyWebView CLASS ===
Here is my Blog post about this but in Japanese.
7 Jun 2011 11:26 PM #13
Hi All,
I am new to Sencha development
I am also facing the same issue with the password field. I tried using form.disable(), But the other fields in the form gets disabled when i clicked Login button except "Password Field". This Sticky password field is carried over to other pages. I also tried blurring the password field and switching over the focus to username field when button is clicked, but nothing works perfectly. Can anyone,throw more light on this issue. Is there any other work around I can proceed with..?
Thanks in advance.
26 Jul 2011 6:39 AM #14Code:
=== JavaScipt Code === //Calling Native method usgin PhoneGap mywebview.removeAllViewsInLayout();
18 Jan 2012 6:02 PM #15
I had this exact problem, here's how to fix it:
You need to blur the password field as stated earlier, do that by focusing on a "normal" text field. Then remove focus from the text field.
It seems you can't simply do:
So here's the code that removes the focus from a password field every time:
setTimeout(function() { Ext.getCmp('login_username').focus(); setTimeout(function() { Ext.getCmp('login_username').blur(); },0); },0);
12 Feb 2012 9:20 PM #16
Calling Native code from PhoneGap.js
Could you manage to implement this?
I still could not figure out how to call this from Phonegap.js
Would you be able to help. Thanks in advance
6 Mar 2012 8:29 AM #17
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subset: commoncrawl


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Five Holiday Don'ts at the Office
To maintain peace in the office this holiday season, experts say there are a few all-too-common behaviors employees should avoid.
Here's a look at five:
1. Complaining
Sure, chewing limp baby carrots and making small talk at the office holiday party may feel lame, but complaining about it isn't cool, either.
"The person who is vocally sour grapes about a drink policy or the timing just drives everybody crazy," says Art Papas, chief executive and co-founder of Bullhorn, a Boston recruiting-software firm.
Several years ago Mr. Papas overheard one of his then-employees talking trash about the venue of the holiday party—it was at a restaurant rather than a swanky bar. "That makes management's blood boil," he says. "It's like a child complaining about their gift at Christmas."
2. Giving inappropriate gifts
Exchanging cards is welcome in many offices. Co-workers who are also friends may want to give each other gifts, and experts say this exchange should occur away from the office. But inappropriate gift giving and "fun" swap games forced on co-workers can breed resentment and annoyance.
"Don't do these games unless you are sure everyone has a sense of humor about it," says Charles Purdy, author of "Urban Etiquette: Marvelous Manners for the Modern Metropolis." "You are basically giving people junk, and I don't know a lot of people who look forward to that. The whole feeling is awkward."
If you are friends with your boss, wait to exchange gifts outside of the office, experts recommend. If you must offer something, stick to a small token gift or a holiday card.
"Otherwise, it makes your co-workers feel jealous or put out that then they have to buy a gift, too," Mr. Purdy says. "It can be seen as you trying to curry favor, and when you get a promotion it's perceived that it's because you bought [your boss] a gift. And, in general, it's just not expected."
3. Getting drunk
The siren song of an open bar at the office holiday party will be too alluring for some workers who should know better.
One rule of thumb: Don't do anything you wouldn't want your mother or kids to see.
"The bump and grind might seem like a good idea when everybody is intoxicated, but the next morning not so much," Mr. Papas says. "What seemed like a good idea is probably the worst thing you've done to your career in a long time."
Several years ago Mr. Papas had an employee who got drunk at an office holiday gathering, and events took a particularly unpleasant turn.
"He went on a spree, groping every female member of the team before we had security remove him," Mr. Papas says. "He was terminated the next morning."
4. Forcing a celebration
There is a wide variety of reasons why co-workers may not participate in holiday-season rituals and don't want merriment forced upon them.
Feel free to wish co-workers a happy season, but don't push it if your efforts aren't welcome. Also, a particular office's culture should play a large role in the extent of your holiday efforts.
"Look around, are you the only one wearing a Santa sweater? Some offices have a more jovial atmosphere, but some don't," Mr. Purdy says. "Be aware that when you are planning holiday festivities, there are people who may not celebrate and that might make them uncomfortable. Your Christmas decorations might start to feel oppressive."
5. Power shopping online
Skimming your favorite shopping websites during lunch may be a safe move. But avoid getting sucked in.
Most companies allow access to online shopping sites, but many monitor for excessive use, according to recently released survey data from staffing firm Robert Half Technology.
"Don't spend three or four hours combing all the sites looking for the best deal," says Lisa Orndorff, manager of employee relations and engagement at the Society for Human Resource Management in Alexandria, Va.
—Ruth Mantell is a reporter for MarketWatch. Read more at marketwatch.com


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I am curious to know what you might consider for addition to an end of the day routine at work.
closed as too broad by THelper, Grant Palin, AsheeshR, 0x6d64, Jeanne Boyarsky♦ Feb 3 '14 at 2:45
There are either too many possible answers, or good answers would be too long for this format. Please add details to narrow the answer set or to isolate an issue that can be answered in a few paragraphs.If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.
As I'm working during the day, I tend to move distractions (i.e. things not immediately related to the task at hand) to a scratch file. Something I call a day book, but the name doesn't matter. At the end of the day, I like to set aside some time to go through that file. Things that can be sorted out right away get sorted, and anything that can't gets moved to one of several queues I maintain. I have queues for things to read or watch, projects to start, things to research, and so on.
Here is how I follow end of the day routine:
Have a list of things you are trying to make a habit of. At the end of the day, check off the things you did. Some things on my list are:
I use an app called Routinely on Android for this purpose, but you should be able to implement the concept with nothing more than a notepad or small whiteboard.
Line yourself up to hit the ground running tomorrow. Look at tomorrow's calendar and task list to determine if you need to prepare anything (cash for a taxi, print read-ahead materials, make a lunch reservation). Get your email to Inbox Zero.
At the end of the day I review my tasks for tomorrow, identifying the key tasks to give them priority over regular ones. Also I review my Feedly feeds and some other non intensive tasks.
One thing I did for a while was have an all day event entry called "Done" in my calendar (Outlook). During the day as a I completed things I would record them in the Done appointment and review it at the end of the day. Some days you can feel like you got nothing accomplished, but you actually did more than you thought.
I've stopped doing that now only because I which to a Kanban based workflow and I track everything (including meetings, etc..) on my Kanban board, but I think the above is still valid for
I tend to update my lists by removing old crud so I don't get confronted with that the next day. Do a mind sweep (but don't act upon it). Tidy up a bit.


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The U.S.-Saudi Arabian Business Council held a luncheon in Washington yesterday in honor of a visiting Saudi delegation headed by Undersecretary of Commerce and Industry for Foreign Trade Abdullah Al-Hamoudi.
The party was attended by a large number of Saudi and U.S. businessmen interested in trade relations between the Kingdom and the U.S., as well as members of the Arab and foreign diplomatic corps in Washington.
During the meeting, the Saudi delegation discussed with American representatives, led by Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for European Affairs and the Middle East Christopher Wilson, a number of topics of common interest between the two countries regarding trade, joint investment, intellectual property rights and patents.


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How can I connect the Nikon el-nikkor 50mm f2.8 enlarging lens to my Canon 5D Mark II? What adapter / reversing ring do I need?
The lens in question is designed for a photographic enlarger which is used during film printing to enlarge the negative onto the photo paper. However, there are places that will, in fact, make adapters one of which is Zörk Film and Phototechnic in Germany. They don't really list the product detail, but if you contact them, they can probably let you know if it is possible. I believe the Multi-Focus System uses enlarger lenses.
For interest, Nikon talks about this lens here: http://www.nikon.com/about/feelnikon/recollections/r15_e/index.htm
I have both the Nikon el-nikkor 50mm f2.8 enlarging lens and a Canon 5D Mark II. I have two ways. 1) Mount the lens on a Canon body cap and use Canon extension tubes to mount the lens. The lens aperture ring is hard to turn, so the mounting to the body cap must be good to avoid the lens twisting off when the aperture is changed. 2) The way I do it is mount a Canon to Pentax screw adapter to the camera, put on Pentax extension tubes (much cheaper than Canon), then, to the extension tubes, I mount the reversed Nikkor with an adapter that I modified. This adapter is part of an old Pentax slide copier that I removed and put in set screws to hold enlarging lenses. But, you could reverse mount the lens to a Pentax body cap, using tape, glue, screws, or the like. ~Bob~


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The 2014 Barna Group Study of most/least Bible-minded cities across the U.S. has been published. Of the 100 metropolitan areas represented, Providence and New Bedford are tied for last place. Up until 1998, that finding of "least Bible-minded" would certainly have included me. However, something happened to change that. I'd love to share and challenge whoever reads this to consider my experience and appeal.
On the surface, I came through the ranks of a religious family; even attending a religiously named elementary school and church regularly. In my best recollection, we didn't have a Bible in the house and never spent a single moment together reading one as a family. We relied on what others told us about the Bible and the many details concerning God. Built on that naive trust, during my high school years, I literally followed the foolish and flip advice of someone who told me not to read the Bible because the main character died in the middle.
After 52 years of operating in an essentially Biblically valueless, practical life, I began to read one for myself. Over the next 15 years, not only did I discover that the main character didn't end in death, I found out what a unique book it is and what Jesus actually thought, said, and did. As a result of my reading what God has to say, I've exchanged the trinity of "me, myself, and I" for believing in a creator, forgiving redeemer, and living deity.
The Bible has been described as supernatural in origin, eternal in duration, inexpressible in valor, infinite in scope, regenerative in power, infallible in authority, universal in interest, personal in application, and inspired in totality. The Word of God is also touted as a first-rate treasure that contains guidelines for us to grow in wisdom and stature.
For some upside down reason, the statistic of our area being last in Bible-mindedness brings me great hope. There is only one way for us in this current situation — and that's up! Please let your sense of fairness and curiosity lead you to pick up and read/reread a Bible.
Friends, let's do our Providence/New Bedford area an immeasurably positive favor. If we begin to connect the good Biblical truths many of our churches preach with the personal spiritual power, courage, and integrity necessary to act them out, we'll be on our way.
Once again, my appeal to you to improve our area's Bible-minded ranking is to honestly read and study the Bible for yourself.
Steven J. Bouley
Location, ST | website.com


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What is the whirring sound in my refrigerator? Cause The intermittent whirring sound is caused by the damper. Explanation A damper controls the amount of cold air from the freezer is shared into the fresh food department The "damper" is opened and closed by the motor inside and it mak...
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Dr. Martha J. Kanter, Under Secretary of the US Department of Education, spoke at Success by Dual Degrees: Meeting the President's College Completion Goal, a higher education rally hosted by GSU President Elaine P. Maimon.
Kanter and Anne Pramaggiore, president and chief operating officer of ComEd praised GSU's groundbreaking Dual Degree Program, designed to increase graduation rates on both the community college and university level.The event was Dr. Kanter's final stop on a three-day Education and the Economy back-to-school bus tour, which included events in several Midwestern states. Dr. Kanter and other Department of Education senior staff members, including Secretary Arne Duncan, visited schools they consider "islands of excellence" that are preparing students to compete in the global economy.Rafiah Muhammed, a Prairie State College student who is enrolled in the Dual Degree Program, also spoke at the rally.


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I have seen claims that the steel pan (commonly called steel drum) was the only acoustic instrument developed in the 20th century. Is this true? There are related instruments (the Hang or hand pan) but I'm interested in the history of unique musical instruments that are more than experimental musical instruments. I'm trying to find sources to support or refute these claims, but I cannot seem to find anything definitive.
Is the steel pan the only acoustic musical instrument to be invented in the 20th century and used widely around the world?
Vuvuzela and the Melodica spring to mind.
Plastic aerophones like the Vuvuzela have been around since the 1960's, obviously similar looking brass instruments have been around for a long time, but specifically Vuvuzelas meet your criteria. They're a bit of a gimmic, but were very popular at the 2010 World Cup and have seen widespread use. More
Melodica's were invented in the 1950s. You see them all over the place. They're not Zanzithophones, they are acoustic. Here is one at work, okay fine here's one at work
The modern Double French Horn either just misses it with the first prototype being made in 1897, or just sneaks in with Fritz Kruspe patenting it in 1900. But it is not a radically new instrument compared to older horns, it just combined the Bb horn and F horn together into one instrument with some clever plumbing.
Four String Acoustic Bass Guitar (I used to play one, so I know it's new). See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acoustic_bass_guitar
"The first modern acoustic bass guitar was developed in the mid-1950s by Kay of Chicago[citation needed] but the design did not show up again in a production instrument until the early 1960s when Ernie Ball of San Luis Obispo, California began producing a model. Ball's aim was to provide bass guitarists with a more acoustic-sounding instrument that would match better with the sound of acoustic guitars. Ball stated that "...if there were electric bass guitars to go with electric guitars then you ought to have acoustic basses to go with acoustic guitars." Ball notes that "...the closest thing to an acoustic bass was the Mexican guitarron...in mariachi bands, so I bought one down in Tijuana and tinkered with it."[1]"
I guess the Sousaphone just barely doesn't make it. It was first created in either 1893 or 1898, depending on who you believe.
The Mellophone, a common marching band instrument, was first sold in 1957.
The vibraphone - although it may not qualify as a true acoustic instrument, being a hybrid of sorts:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vibraphone The vibraphone is similar in appearance to the xylophone, marimba and glockenspiel. Each bar is paired with a resonator tube having a motor-driven butterfly valve at its upper end, mounted on a common shaft, which produces a tremolo or vibrato effect while spinning. The vibraphone also has a sustain pedal similar to that used on a piano; when the pedal is up, the bars are all damped and the sound of each bar is shortened; with the pedal down, they will sound for several seconds.....The first musical instrument called "vibraphone" was marketed by the Leedy Manufacturing Company in the United States in 1921....."


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Catalina Dresser
- Overview
Clean lines and classic beadboard make the Catalina Collection as versatile as it is beautiful. From the bedroom to the study furniture, they're expertly crafted pieces that will never go out of style. Favorite details include lathe-turned legs, solid wood bun feet and oversized wooden knobs made for little hands.
- 38.5" wide x 18" deep x 31" high
- Built from solid mahogany wood, mahogany veneers on select finishes, and MDF (medium density fibreboard), an engineered wood that lends exceptional strength and ensures that the dresser will endure over time.
- Adjustable levelers ensure stability on uneven surfaces.
- Dresser is equipped with two small and two larger drawers.
- Drawers feature English dovetail joinery, and waxed wooden glides, which ensure smooth motion. Sturdy half-moon safety stops keep drawers securely in place.
- Detailed with solid wood bun feet, and oversized wooden knobs that are easy for kids to grasp.
- Our exclusive finishes are applied by hand for exceptional richness, durability and depth of color.
- Anti-tip kit included: comes with safety-tested mounting hardware, instructions and a nylon strap. To prevent injuries from furniture tip-over, this item should be permanently fixed to the wall. More details on how to install anti-tip kits.
- Wood swatches, below, are available for $20 each. We will provide a merchandise refund for swatches if they're returned within 30 days.
- View and compare all available finishes at Furniture Finish Guide.
- Dimensions & Care
- Overall: 38.5" wide x 18" deep x 31" high
- Small Drawer Interior (2): 14" wide x 13" deep x 3.5" high
- Large Drawer Interior (2): 31.5" wide x 13" deep x 5.5" high
- Feet: 3.5" diameter, 3" high
- Weight: 82 pounds
- Rigorously tested to meet or exceed the highest industry safety standards.
- Masterfully crafted with mortise-and-tenon construction, and tongue-and-groove joinery for structural integrity.
- Our finishes were developed exclusively for Pottery Barn Kids and are sealed with a final coat of lacquer for extra durability.
- Get tips on how to measure for furniture.
- Dust often using a soft, dry cloth.
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text:
Diagnostic Tests During Pregnancy
In This Article:
How you might feel
You may be concerned about the idea of a needle going through your abdomen, or a catheter into your cervix; however, the majority of women find that these procedures are not particularly painful. If you are having a transabdominal procedure, the needle usually doesn't hurt any more than it does when you are having a blood test. Some doctors use a small amount of local anesthetic before the transabdominal procedure to numb the area, although the anesthetic itself can occasionally sting. Although afterward it's common to experience uterine cramps, similar to the cramps you feel during menstruation, rest assured that these cramps alone do not mean that you have an increased risk of miscarriage.
If your blood type is Rh negative you should receive an injection of anti-Rh after the procedure to prevent complications from occurring during this and future pregnancies.
After the procedure
It's generally thought that being active after CVS or amniocentesis does not increase your risk of miscarriage. However, you may feel better if you don't exercise heavily right away; it's not necessary to remain in bed. In most cases, you should be physically able to return to work within a day or so after a diagnostic procedure, although some women may feel emotionally fragile and may not feel up to returning to work right away.
Getting the results
Usually, chromosomal results from diagnostic tests take around 1-2 weeks to return, and sometimes may take as long as three weeks. If you have had your AFP level tested with amniocentesis (see Amniocentesis), the results for this are usually available fairly quickly, after around 1-3 days. If you are considering terminating your pregnancy based on the results of a diagnostic test, opt for testing earlier in the time frame during which it is offered, rather than later, to reduce risks of complications.
excerpted from:
Excerpted from Pregnancy Day by Day.
Copyright © 2008 Dorling Kindersley Limited.
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Proxxon Micro Woodturning Lathe, Model DB 250 and Accessories, is ideal for turning pens or dollhouse items such as cups, plates, pots, vases and columns. Try it on model railroad items including power and signal posts, tanks or doll and marionette limbs as well as thousands of classical model building items. Turn a variety of items with ease!
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Includes 6 collets (5/64", 7/64", 1/8", 15/64", 5/16" and 13/32") and faceplates for both headstock and tailstock.
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Men's R-Gear Your Total Training PantItem #RRM2098
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Men's ROAD RUNNER SPORTS YOUR TOTAL TRAINING PANT :: Train stronger than ever when you're sporting the new, unbelievably durable Men's Road Runner Sports Your Total Training Pant. You'll be stoked on these awesome new pants that include all the comfort details you love, like tear- proof, 2-way stretch fabric, moisture wicking technology and reinforced zipper hems for easy on and off. You're also going to get plenty of stow space from Your Total Training Pant, compliments of its two sturdy side pockets and back waistband pocket.
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Last November, veteran Hollywood publicist Ronni Chasen was shot and killed for no apparent reason while driving her car (pictured) in Hollywood. After a couple of weeks of conspiracy theorizing, police pinned the crime on a random guy named Harold Smith, who shot himself dead as the police closed in on him. Now, police are officially closing the case. But uh... hmm.
We're no professional "Beverly Hills Cops," and we have no law enforcement expertise of any sort. Nor can we tie our own shoes. But based purely on common sense, a few aspects of this case still strike us as odd.
- Police say the motive was "attempted robbery or road rage." Because, for one thing, her window was "open a few inches." Oh, well then, sure.
- "[Police] determined that one of the bullets exited Chasen's body and then hit her again, possibly when she turned her body." We assume there was a grassy knoll involved.
- The newest piece of information: the gun used to kill Chasen was stolen from a police officer. This information emerged... as police were closing the case.
[Reuters. Photo: AP]


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WOODWAY (December 17, 2012)- This Christmas, many try to find a way to help those enduring tough times. But for 7-year-old Woodway Elementary student Clayton Castle, the spirit of giving is stronger than normal.
Clayton is nearing the finish line during his fight with cancer. Clayton was marching toward kindergarten graduation at the beginning of 2012, when his mother realized that his hearing had become slightly impaired.
"They did more and more scans that were just gut wrenching," Clayton's mother Kesleigh Castle said.
A tumor was found in Clayton's ear. In February 2012, he was diagnosed with Rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare cancer found in children.
"You go through all of these emotions," Clayton's father Chad Castle said.
"You know, what's the extent of the disease? Are were talking life? Death? All of those things in-between."
Clayton began chemotherapy immediately. Sometimes he would have to travel to Cook's Children's Hospital in Fort Worth for treatment.
"They poke you with the needle and it hurts," Clayton said.
"I just always felt sick in the hospital."
But as months passed, Clayton's cancer began to fade. He was allowed to go back to school at Woodway Elementary.
Just in time to let his Christmas spirit shine.
"Every year, Woodway Elementary has a tradition where each grade level adopts a charity before Christmas," Woodway Elementary Principal Aaron Pena said.
"This year, Clayton had an idea of his own."
Clayton told teachers he wanted to collect hats and books for kids unable go home for the holidays, because they're battling cancer at Cook's Children's Hospital in Fort Worth.
"I chose books because the hospital can be really boring," Clayton said.
"When it gets cold, they can use the hats to keep their head warm."
Dozens of hats and books now surround a Christmas tree in the first grade hallway of Woodway Elementary.
Clayton's last chemo treatment is this Friday at Cook's Children's Hospital.
On that day, he'll give away the Christmas hats and books collected to the children whom he believes need Christmas most.


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Ban me too.
-Well this weekend was certainly-MATT IS BACK! WHAT? **** EVERY-PW IS BANNED? WHAT? I DEMAND TO BE BANNED TO. FORSAKE ME! BAN ME FOR USING RACIAL SLURS.
-It feels really nice not to have my stomach churning on Sunday at the thought of the Ravens going 3-4. But the good news is that Lardarius Webb is finally going to get some reps at cornerback. The bad news is that the entire fan base is calling for Lardarius Webb like he's some kind of saviour.
-Congrats to the Houston Texans for saving my ass and delivering on what I called the lock of the century. (I wrote this when they were up 21-0, let me revise by saying, **** the Houston Texans)
-Texans are a really interesting team though. They've quietly put themselves in place to make a run for the playoffs.
-Why is everyone acting like Alex Smith is a stand-up citizen QB who deserves to succeed in this league? He created a schism in the 49ers locker room with Mike Nolan that pretty much led to his demise. Would Drew Brees, Tom Brady or Peyton Manning do that. Peyton for surely wouldn't because he's pretty much the head coach already.
-If I'm a coach with a swine flu infested team I dress one up and command that he go rub himself on the opposing team! SPIT IN THEIR MOUTHS IF YOU HAVE TO! Who cares if it's dirty? I'm already being punished with swine flu-infested players.
-Jairus Byrd for ROY? All I'm trying to say is that defensive backs always get looked over for the MLB who makes the most tackles. I think the learning curve should always be taken into account.
-When Cedric Benson says, "the bears blackballed me," does he mean, "the bears basically told the truth about what a terrible player I was." C'mon, I highly doubt they needed to fabricate any material when it came to Cedric Benson.
-How come I haven't seen a single analyst call out Matt Cassel? No one has anything to say about how he looks absolutely abysmal at times and it's not entirely the offensive line's fault?
- Anyone who thought that the New England Patriots were going to get booed over an event that took place over 235 years ago underestimated the bandwagon effect. Living in Canada, I can tell you that a large majority of NFL fans I see are wearing Patriot hats. 9/10 times when I press them, they'll admit they don't even know who the QB was before Brady
-An expansion team in London is a horrible idea. They would get the greatest home field advantage in the history of sports and they would have the greatest road disadvantage in the history of sports.
-Dallas continues to win despite the fact that Wade Phillips spends the entire game looking confused and constipated on the sidelines. How many times can you wince at a play per game?
-It sure was nice enough of Roger Goodell to let the refs from Ark-Florida officiate the Vikings-Steelers game since they had nothing better to do.
-Ladies and gentlemen, Jeff Dugan's Wikipedia page: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeff_Dugan. I'd put the odds at 5:2 that it was written by either Jeff Dugan or an immediate family member of Jeff Dugan.
-Who's terrible idea was it to take away a team's timeout if the replay booth is malfunctioning? In case you didn't know, this is what happened to the Saints today. It's like, "Well we ****ed up on this one, butttt... you made us look bad so we're taking away a timeout."
-Am I the only one who thought it was awesome that Al Michaels basically used the Cardinals win over the Giants to remind the Cardinals' fanbase that their franchise's history is terrible? "Probably one of the best wins ever, which tells you how terrible this team has been. I MEAN JUST PURE AWFUL FOR THE LAST 50 YEARS. YOU CAN TAKE THIS WIN ARIZONA, THE REST OF US WILL JUST MAINTAIN OUR DIGNITY."
-I also loved Chris Collinsworth's rant about how punches don't hurt the other player. I wouldn't be surprised if Chris caught up with Bradshaw after the game to show him his shiv that he had crafted in case Tiki Barber ever crosses him.
Terrible Fantasy Lineup That Beat Yours
QB: Alex Smith
RB: Shonne Greene
RB: Justin Fargas
WR: Sam Aiken
WR: Chris Henry
TE: Gary Barnridge
FLEX: Spencer Havner
DEF: San Diego Chargers
Two things ruined my viewing experience this week:
A) Every commercial break had one of the aliens from the show "V" told me all this repetitive stuff about how she was going to cure all of our diseases, show us the formula to turn urine into red bull, and give us the Colonel's secret recipe. Why would I want to watch a show about the entire world's problems being solved... unless, these visitors are not who they seem? So instead of watching a show about Utopia, I have to wait 20 episodes for the main character to discover that the visitors are here to do generic bad guy stuff.
B) The other was the voice of a deeply aroused man telling me that the Buffalo Bills are coming to Toronto. It's going to be, "T.O. in TO." No one calls Toronto, "TO." It's "Tor." TO could be anywhere in the world.
Last edited by PuppyPuncher; 10-26-2009 at 01:42 AM.
Ban me too.
First of all, you now have by far the best avatar on the site.
Second, I love this write up. Keep up the good work.
I agree with hunterm.
"I think people should be allowed to do anything they want. We haven't tried that for a while. Maybe this time it'll work. " - George Carlin
Thanks for the write up man, I really enjoyed it.
TO in T dot sounds better, no?
Yeah....the Benson thing just shows he really hasn't matured.
Chicago Bears
Nebraska Cornhuskers
Wants: O-line, Tall WR, and a 3 tech.
WFB Comments on Vikings @ Steelers Game Rigging
PuppyPuncher:"It sure was nice enough of Roger Goodell to let the refs from Ark-Florida officiate the Vikings-Steelers game"
NoNonsenseCoach:"As a Steelers fan living in Pittsburgh I can still admit that tripping penalty was a complete ghost call."
Simonds:"The tripping call was awful, yes, but there were a number of other absurd calls that went against the Vikings, including a DEFENSIVE delay of game penalty against the Vikings only called after a failed attempt to convert a third and 2 by the Steelers. Even the commentators were utterly floored that the refs made that call."
Wraith36444:"A shady tripping call on Minnesota essentially gave the game to the Steelers. The Vikings were the better team, but it is too hard to beat a decent team and the refs. Oh and Harvin is the man."
MaineMan:"I have to agree that it was an awful call and that it changed the outcome. Overall a great game by the Vikes and tragic that the well-deserved victory was stolen away like that."
PaddyPatriot:"I've seen this play and I have to agree, I can't believe they called it tripping"
Johndoe:"You know the officiating is bad when a Steeler's fan, like myself, thinks it was pretty bad."
Steelers_Pens_Fan:"I will admit that the whole "tripping" thing probably shouldn't have been a flag."
ZN0rseman:"It's great to know that good old fashioned pro football game rigging is still alive and well in America."
Klunker18:"I'm with Z on this one. Definitely one of those games that makes you wonder if the NFL wants certain teams to win."
TRICKaz"I agree that was a BS call"
InjuredReserve:"Have yet to hear anyone say it was the right call. Seems as if the Vikings were cheated a bit."
Eagles4Life:"Coaches just need to be able to challenge penalties"
EL_Guapo:"The tripping call was bad, the delay of game was stupid Either way, the Vikings showed they are a top team."
EllijayFalconsFan:"The tripping penalty was rediculous."
Archon095:"Even as a Steeler fan I agree that the call was bull."
BroncosCon:"I'm sorry that was a total bull**** call and it changed the outcome of the game. Pittsburgh still won, but it was almost like Denver winning at Cincy."
Tony Dungy:"The Vikings are just one bad tripping penalty away from being undefeated.
Jon Gruden:"That was just a bad, bad call. It cost the Vikings an important win at Pittsburgh, and it could really hurt them in the post season."
I would never write that NFL great Marc Bulger went to my school. I'd probably leave that info out and hope no one ever figured it out.


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According to online research of the meaning of "jake", I find this....
in good standing.
in good standing, or at the least without conflict.
Now that you've paid up, we're jake.
alright, fine.
If you want to, that's jake with me.
I'm jake with that.
generally displeasing.
That game is totally jake.
good, well, satisfactory.
By his broad smile I knew all was jake.
a police officer.
There sure are a lot of jakes out tonight.
general derogatory term for another person.
That foo ain't nothin' but a Jake.
verb - intransitive
to fake an injury, to hang back in play, to malinger, to loaf
"Everyone on the team is trying except Joe. He's jaking it."
That's the problem with slang, it takes on whatever meaning the user wants it to take. Of the submitted definitions, 4 of the descriptions as an adjective are positive and 1 is negative. Adroit Rider used the slang term jake as an adjective in the following sentence:
I also think Spesh wheels on a non Spesh bike are jake.
This, of course, would be the "generally displeasing" definition from the Online Slang Dictionary.
If we choose another description of the adjective jake from the Online Slang Dictionary, the same sentence could mean in good standing, alright, fine, good, well, satisfactory.
Changes the meaning entirely, but evidently is also acceptable. So the same exact sentence said by me with regard to my JET 9....
I also think Spesh wheels on a non Spesh bike are jake. would be good, fine.
Results 2,976 to 3,000 of 8041
Thread: (Cheap) Chinese Carbon Rims?


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Carrera Precision 6" Titanium Digital LCD Vernier Micrometer Caliper for $21.99 + free shipping
Save $53
•Extra Large easy to read digital LCD screen
•Accurate to 1/1000th of an inch
•Four methods of measurement: Inside, outside, depth and step from 0'' to 6''
•Metric conversion & zero buttons
•Titanium Alloy head
•Standard Strong stainless steel frame
•Stepped end depth rod for measuring small holes up to 6'' deep
•Thumb wheel allows for easy, one-handed adjustment
•Screw lock can lock the caliper at a set dimension for multiple measurements
•Zero button lets you zero the measurement at any position. Great for measuring tolerances in the positive and negative
•Resolution 1/64" - 0.0005"/ 0.01mm.
•LCD Display
•Max Measuring Speed: 1.5 m/sec., 60 in/sec
•Measuring System: Linear Capacitive Measuring System
•Measuring Range: 0-152 mm/0-6 in
•Resolution: 0.01mm/0.0005in.
What's In The Box?
•Carrera Precision Titanium 6-Inch Digital Caliper
•Extra Battery
•Mini Screw Driver
•Custom Fitted Storage Case
16 Comments add a comment
Only $1 cheaper than Amazon. Since you will most likely have tax from Sears and not Amazon it will be cheaper to go with Amazon.
@lineman78: thanks for the link!
Or http://www.harborfreight.com/6-inch-digital-caliper-47257.html?ccdenc=eyJjb2RlIjoiNjc1MzQ4MDEiLCJza3UiOiI0NzI1NyIsImlzIjoiOS45OSIsInByb2R1Y3RfaWQi%0D%0AOiIxNDY5In0%3D%0D%0A
With coupon they are $9.99
@Mrsmoofy - the one you linked is stainless steel, the one advertised is titanium, so not exactly the same thing
I went with amazon, no tax and with a prime account free expedited shipping
@rickmoorect: Yes I know that but I don't see the point in getting a titanium one.
I have one of the cheap-o ones and have had it for a few years now. I've had no problems with it. I use it everyday for reloading ammo.
Moofy, the difference between a nice caliper such as this one and a cheap harbor freight one is the usability, doesn't bind up, lighter, it actually IS more accurate, etc etc. From being a formula car mechanic, I learned very quickly that you get what you pay for with tools.
@lineman78: Caveat: Ships in 1 to 2 months from Amazon.
@mikdugal1: http://www.amazon.com/Carrera-Precision-CP8806-T-Stainless-Micrometer/dp/B000QW6OGQ
@bowlingb: Also available from Amazon under more buying options for 50 cents more. If you have prime you will have free 2 day shipping as @rickmoorect mentioned. However, I don't see anywhere that mentions the delay in shipping.
Hmmm, it doesn't in fact use a vernier, nor is it a micrometer. I'd like to think anyone making a precision instrument would choose the name of it with more.... precision. All of which would lead me to suspect it may not in fact be all that precision of an instrument, LOL. (Although I've seen some tests on forums that seem to indicate there's very little difference in accuracy between brands no matter the cost, although feel/durability does vary.)
Yeah the description for this is hilarious. A "Micrometer" and a "Caliper" in the industrial world are two completely different tools. And if you're using this to measure tolerance on something you're going to be PAID for...might want to read up on what makes a precision caliper "precision". For general purpose, knock yourself out but this won't hold up to anything that requires tight tolerances. On that note though...I don't know what general purpose application you'd need a caliper for...a ruler usually does the job haha. But trust me don't use this for work purposes...if you can afford to lose a bunch of $$ because you're off by a few hundreths, you can afford to spend $200 on one that's truly "precise".
@lineman78: I have tax with amazon
LOL I love engineers.... but seriously... its on Sears.com this is for a mechanic or plumber that needs something with jaws or teeth that (s)he can use for quickly use to ascertain an inner or outer diameter of something. Verniers and calipers are great...but a digital readout gives speed. The added bonus of it being durable and lightweight from titanium construction is a great bonus. I thank you @mtm2 for finding this deal, but I was a bit too late. It is now up to 58 dollars, which is still cheaper than the original 75 bucks...
What makes anyone think that it's made out of titanium when the description clearly states stainless steel frame and only the head is titanium? Does anyone expect to be able to buy calipers made fully from titanium for $20? Not that being made from titanium would make them better in any way at this price point. These are merely better than plastic and very handy to have around the house, imho.
gonna have to agree, it's a Vernier Gauge. not a micrometer, not a caliper. anyone who knows precise measurement will know that right off the bat. second, a good one is around 80+. this is good for science experiments at home or other non-money critical applications
Under what circumstances would someone in need of calipers (yes, they are calipers.... vernier calipers) to be perusing Woot in search of a set that they're going to use in a critical money-related situation?
@rowjelio: vernier is the type of scale used to read the measurment. Calipers are available in Dial, Digital and Vernier read-outs


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According to some, Jewish people get buried in a Kittel. Is there a difference in the Halacha if the Kittel is pure linen or not?
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Shulchan Aruch (Yoreh De'ah 301:7 and 351:1) states that tachrichim (burial shrouds) may be made from shaatnez. Which would mean that, from the point of view of halachah, they don't have to be pure linen.
That said, Pischei Teshuvah (351:2) cites Yalkut Reuveni that for kabbalistic reasons only linen should be used, and not a single stitch should be of any other material.


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In the perfect scenario everyone in my class would use the same cloud apps that I use - Google Docs - and we would all save time writing the basics, not to mention we'd all benefit from key details that is harder to be missed by everyone in the group
I'm talking about a group of around 6 people - me included - to which I want to suggest a collaborative deal of taking notes during lectures but I'm not sure how. It's very likely that most of them will continue using pen&paper so it's not a matter of setting a standard app or software.
What is the best approach to implement this?
- I always take the laptop to classes, unlike all the others in the group.
- Most of them will probably continue using paper&pen.
Solutions so far
- The rest of them only take note of what they think is important. I'd be in charge of organizing and copying whatever is dictated. Afterwards, I'd organize everything in a single document properly adressing who wrote what. Similar informations would be up for discussions and each one of us would customize our own way. The problem about this solution are the classes that I happen to miss.


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Is UNIX an acronym? What does it stand for?
First, there was UNICS for Uniplexed Information Computing System. Then the name changed for UNIX. Same pronunciation.
Despite often being written in all caps, UNIX is not an acronym, therefore it doesn't have a full expansion. The name is a play on Multics which was an acronym (Multiplexed Information and Computing Service). That was an other early operating system around at the time of Unix creation.
Edit: As Marc stated it was originaly called Unics but once it could support multiple users it was renamed Unix which is not an acronym.


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WASHINGTON - It was a game of disputed deflections and odd bounces, with the puck behaving more like that oblong ball with the laces more commonly associated with Super Bowl Sunday. The strangest carom of all came on a simple dump-in that hit a stanchion along the glass and went into a net deserted by a befuddled goaltender.
The Pittsburgh Penguins weren't fazed by that bit of misfortune that tied the game in the second period, just as Washington Capitals couldn't take advantage of the stroke of luck. The third annual Super Bowl warm-up between the Eastern Conference rivals soon turned into a rout, with Chris Kunitz getting a hat trick in the visitors' 6-3 victory.
"I really like our team responding to that bad bounce that happened on the wall," Pittsburgh coach Dan Bylsma said. "Now it's 2-2 - and our team responded well with the penalty kill and getting some goals."
Article Photos
ANOTHER SAVE — Pittsburgh goalie Tomas Vokoun looks at the puck as Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin looks on during the third period of Sunday's 6-3 Penguins win in Washington.
-- Associated Press
Kris Letang, Paul Martin and Matt Cooke also scored, Sidney Crosby had three assists, and Tomas Vokoun made 21 saves against his former team for the Penguins, who have won three straight and four of five to lead the Atlantic Division.
In a game that reflected both teams' fortunes so far in the lockout-shortened season, the Penguins had the luxury of spending the postgame talking about who actually should have received credit for their half-dozen goals.
Kunitz thought he scored four instead of three, saying he got his stick on the puck to redirect Martin's shot from the point in the first period. And Cooke was given a redirect goal on a shot from Deryk Engelland that seemed instead to hit Capitals defenseman Jeff Schultz.
"I didn't know they took the other one away from me," Kunitz said. "That's how it bounces. No one really cares around here. ... We're worried about the two points."
Then came the bizarre 80-footer from Capitals defenseman John Carlson, an obvious dump-in that Vokoun retreated behind the net to intercept. Vokoun then tripped trying to get back to the crease when he saw the puck take the unexpected change of direction along the glass.
Vokoun said he's allowed a similar goal only once before - about a dozen years ago in Chicago.
"I remember that game in Chicago. We lost," Vokoun said. "This one doesn't feel as bad."
The Penguins then had to kill off a penalty, but they took the lead for good when Letang and Kunitz beat Braden Holtby glove side 37 seconds apart. Washington coach Adam Oates thought about pulling Holtby at that point but decided against it.
Either way, the Capitals were on their heels.
"I think the biggest thing is just our mental game right now isn't strong enough," Holtby said. "We're playing a good team game. It's just those little breakdowns, and like myself on that third goal."
Oates disputed that, saying he didn't see a problem with his team's mental approach.
"We made a couple mistakes, but other than that, I thought we played a good, solid hockey game," Oates said. "Yeah, there's things we can do better, of course, and we'll address that, but I don't look at that game as that it got away from us, because we were playing well."
Mike Green and Mike Ribeiro also scored for the Capitals, who have lost seven of nine to start the season under their new coach.
Two-time league MVP Alex Ovechkin, who said before the game that he was somewhat embarrassed to have only three points on the season, contributed a secondary assist on a third-period power-play goal with Washington trailing by three.
Certainly, the Capitals no longer look like the formidable team that beat Pittsburgh 5-4 in overtime with a hat trick from Ovechkin in 2010 and shut out the Penguins 3-0 a year ago - both feisty games that included punches thrown by Ovechkin.
Ovechkin was overly physical in this game as well, getting a roughing call in the final two minutes.
"It's always tough when you have a new coach," said Vokoun, who played last year for the Capitals under offensive-minded Bruce Boudreau and defensive-minded Dale Hunter. "You have three times in less than a year they changed the psychology of the team, how they play."


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Showing 97-192 of 319 items
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Edgar Lee Masters Memorial Museum
This museum honors American poet Edgar Lee Masters, author of "The Spoon River Anthology." Memorabilia of his life and works are displayed in the house where he lived as a young boy.
Live music on Saturdays.
Sangamon Auditorium - University of Illinois Springfield
The auditorium presents a broad range of music, theater and dance performances.
Country antiques, Yankee candles, crafts, garden accents, jewelry, TY, and Tolen garden flags.
A green oasis located in the center of town, the sanctuary is open for hiking or strolling the one-mile nature trail from sunrise to sunset.
Hampton Inn & Suites Springfield-Southwest
Featuring deluxe comp. hot breakfast bar, indoor pool and whirlpool, fitness center, suite shop, business center. Refrigerator/microwaves, cable TV/HBO, coffeemakers, hairdryers, irons, Free local phone calls. No pets. Internet connection available.
Shopping for a new car? This is the newest in Automall shopping. and while you're there, check out the new Meijers superstore.
Abe's Tradin' Post Antique Mall and More
Across from gate four of the State Fairgrounds. Antiques, primitives, oak furniture, depression glass, collectibles, sports cards, fishing items, coins, Nascar racing items.
This 1871 Victorian retreat is set on half an acre of beautifully landscaped grounds. Located in a quiet Springfield neighborhood, the house is within walking distance of Lincoln's Tomb and 10 minutes away from downtown historic sites.
Woodlawn Farm - Underground Railroad Site
This farm was established in 1824 by Michael Huffaker, who built four cabins for free black families and later hid fleeing slaves there. Tours by appointment.
The Korean War State Memorial, honoring 1,748 Illinoisans killed during the 1950-1953 Korean War, was dedicated on June 16, 1996.
This 18-hole, par 71 course has water on 11 holes, many mature trees and several elevation changes.
An antiquarian bookstore specializing in rare books, used books, prints, postcards, autographs, records, CD's and a few good antiques and all paper collectibles.
Located just off I-55, approximately 10 min. downtown, adjacent to a shopping plaza and many resturaunts; complimentary breakfast bar; indoor pool, whirlpool and work-out facility; all rooms include in-room coffee-makers, hair dryers and iron with board.
Knights Inn & Suites formally Blackhawk Village Inn is a locally owned and operated landmark and features renovated sleeping rooms and meeting facilities. It offers continental breakfast and a laundry facility for it's guest. This Inn is an affordable well-kept alternative.
Annabel Lee's Tea Room and Boutique
Take a timeout for tea and lunch in this elegant tea room, in a historic building with shopping located within the building.
Established in 1884, Maldaner's Restaurant and Catering is one of Springfield's finest restaurants. If you have visited The Old State Capitol, Frank Lloyd Wright's Dana-Thomas House or the State Capitol, you can imagine the wonderful celebrations Maldaner's likely was a part of at the turn of the last century and to the present day.
This festive dining spot in downtown Springfield features Mexican and Caribbean-influenced food, plus great margaritas (try the pomegranate) and brunch on Saturday and Sunday.
Antique shops in a new 27,000 square foot facility. Complete framing service is also available.
With Shopko as its anchor store, Capital City offers several shopping and dining opportunities as well as an eight-screen Cineplex.
This 18-hole, par 72 course includes a driving range.
Dry floral, homewares.
Long term hotel with 110 suites, conference facilities, internet access, laundry facilities, cable TV, pets accepted, discounts available, voucher capabilities.
Antiques, crafts, gifts and a bargain basement.
Fifty-six rooms all non-smoking, including 3 handicap rooms, 2 rooms with microwave and refrigerator and kitchenette. Guest laundry, free continental breakfast.
Full-service marina with slip rental by day, week, month and season with certified mechanics on duty. Cruise or fish on beautiful Lake Springfield on your rental pontoon boat, personal watercraft, conoe, kayak or paddleboat. Have a family or company outing on the 35 foot Party Barge.
Enjoy sprints, micros, street stock, pony stock, limited late models and more during in-season Friday night races.
Various wines from around the world.
Springfield's only Nationallly Landmarked Inn... The Inn offers 13 guest rooms plus six extended stay suites, all with attached private bathes, internet, Wi-Fi, voicemail, wake-up calls and individual thermostatic room controls. Enjoy the Inn's amenities during your stay; a full Midwestern breakfast, local and national newspapers, and free off street parking. During your visit you will be within walking distance to most historic sites, all of the downtown and public transportation.
This easy to traverse asphalt trail, starting in Sprigfield, winds you through wooded landscapes, over bridges and alongside a well-groomed community park.
This nine-hole course is a par 35.
Strawn Art Gallery features monthly changing art exhibits, Early Mississippian and Native American pottery, and the Miriam Cowgur Allen Doll Collection.
Located across from the historic Old State Capitol, this Springfield staple offers homemade soups, sandwiches and pie. Live jazz and blues performers play during dinner on Friday nights.
Great bar with a wide variety of beers and music.
Family-operated cafe features all-American favorite foods with daily specials.
A 9.960-acre bottomland environment of sloughs and backwater lakes, Sanganois is managed primarily to provide a refuge for migratory waterfowl and a public duck hunting area.
The Informant! - Illinois Department of Public Health
The vice president of an agri-business giant is recruited by the FBI to uncover evidence of his company's suspected illegal price-fixing. But in his zealous attempt to become the ultimate informant his lies begin to pile up and erode the secret agent world he has created for himself. Look for Alexander Calder's giant red outdoor Flamingo sculpture as two of the movie's main characters walk through downtown Chicago's Federal Plaza.
Quality Inn & Suites - Springfield
Sixty-six rooms, indoor pool and whirlpool, free deluxe continental breakfast, free cable and Showtime, business classrooms with 2 phone lines, suites with microfridge, iron w/ boards, hairdryers and coffee pots.
Bordered by Best Buy on one end and Barnes and Noble on the other, Southwest Plaza offers a variety of discount shopping opportunities.
Continental American Cuisine offers Sunday Brunch. Located in the President Abraham Lincoln Hotel and Conference center. The bar is called the Globe Tavern and serves drinks 7 days a week.
Mediterranean cuisine restaurant located in the downtown area. Please see our website for menu options. Wine, beer and spirits.
An 1875 Italionate home - 7 rooms with private baths, 2 rooms are suites. The house sits on 5½ acres on a hilltop that overlooks Petersburg.
Pasfield features a nine-hole, par 34 course.
Blessings on State is a beautiful two-story home located in the prestigious West State Street/Duncan Park district. This beautiful 100-year-old home has been magnificently restored. Architectural details include a wrap around porch, an impressive staircase, five distinctly different tiled fireplaces, pocket doors, and stunning chandeliers in each room. Each suite features a fireplace, a full private bath en suite, and an attached sitting room. Furnished with a mix of the past and present, "high tech" meets "high style" as you find your satellite television and DVD player behind closed doors. High-speed Internet is available throughout the home. Come experience warm southern hospitality in the heart of the Midwest as you are pampered with exceptional upscale amenities, memorable gourmet breakfasts and gracious personal service. Deaf-friendly. Create memories of a lifetime at Blessings on State!
O'Connor's Gifts, Antiques and Art
Antiques, collectibles, primitives, old tools, glassware, pottery, toys, lamps, jewelry and Lincoln souvenirs. Located in Salisbury.
Within this breathtaking monument lie the remains of Abraham Lincoln, his wife Mary, and three of their four sons – located in the country's second most visited cemetery behind only Arlington National Cemetery.
The Mary Ann MacLean Play Museum at the Illinois State Museum
The Mary Ann MacLean Play Museum for kids, ages 3-10, promotes hands on learning through play. Kids dig for fossils, load a jeep, explore collections and much more. Play Museum hours 9:30-4 M-S, 1-5 on Sunday.
Great family fun at this completely remodeled bowling alley.
Surrounded by gardens and a reflection pool, this magnificent bell tower in Washington Park is the third largest in the world, and one of the few that is actually open to the public.
Antique Mall.
Enjoy the environment of this local Inn. Conveniently located near New Salem State Historic Site. Just a short drive from Springfield, IL.
Nestled in the historic Robins building, on the square in Petersburg Illinois, Estep & Associates have spent 20 years bringing the past to life. Filling the former dry-goods store is everything from "Antiques to Yuletide". Among the aisles of this quaint step back in time you'll find big items, small items, personal mementos and commercial oddities. With more than a dozen additional dealers showcased, Bill & Betty guarantee an encounter not to be missed as you stroll through rustic heirlooms, collectibles, antiquities, craft projects and unlimited possibilities for discovery. Overlooking the Menard county courthouse, there's a real sense of yesteryear awaiting your adventure. Come explore our treasures and enjoy the rich texture of the town Abraham Lincoln, while living in nearby New Salem, surveyed as a young man.
This 18-hole course is a par 72.
Free continental breakfast, HBO with 50 cable channels, dataport phones, jacuzzi rooms, restaurants within walking distance.
Find scotch and white pine, douglas and fraser fir trees, along with wreaths and farm-raised whole sausage.
This golf club features an 18-hole, par 72 course and driving range.
Menard County Historical Museum
Housed in an 1890 Victorian building, the Menard County Museum contains documents, records, clothing and artifacts related to Menard County.
65 rooms. Friendly service, clean rooms, comfortable surroundings, everytime. Complimentary On the House hot breakfast, complimentary high-speed Internet, indoor pool, complimentary stay for kids, complimentary in-room movie channels.
The Informant! - Illini Country Club
The vice president of an agri-business giant is recruited by the FBI to uncover evidence of his company's suspected illegal price-fixing. But in his zealous attempt to become the ultimate informant his lies begin to pile up and erode the secret agent world he has created for himself. Look for Alexander Calder's giant red outdoor Flamingo sculpture as two of the movie's main characters walk through downtown Chicago's Federal Plaza.
Cards and lots of miscellaneous.
Emma Mae Leonard Wildlife Sanctuary
Watch Birds, waterfowl and other life in their natural habitat. Recently refurbished wooden docks and trails are a nice addition.
Pease's Fine Candies & Salted Nuts
Pease's Candy is a locally owned, fifth generation candy shop. For over 75 years, Pease's has been making old fashioned, homemade candies and treats. The store offers boxed candies, salted nuts, popcorn, gourmet foods, special event candies, and seasonal sweets.
Rammelkamp Chapel - Illinois College
Rammelkamp Chapel is the home of religious life on campus as well as the site for various events ranging from weekly chapel services, mass, convocations, concerts and ceremonies.
Illinois School for the Deaf Alumni Association Museum
This museum follows the rich history of the oldest school for the deaf in Illinois, featuring displays in over nine rooms on two floors.
Stop by and pick your own sweet corn.
Prairie Art Alliance in Springfield, Illinois represents emerging and established Central Illinois artists of all ages.
Conveniently located 7 miles from the downtown area at Exit 93. Kitchenettes in all rooms as well as high-speed internet access. A sports court, business center and evening reception highlight the property.
Everything you might need, wherever you're headed. The Super 8 Jacksonville is a Pride of Super 8 award-winning property conveniently located on Morton Avenue, easily accessible to I-72 and Route 67. Our friendly professional staff is available to serve you 24 hours a day.
Located near the Illinois State Fairgrounds on the city's north side. Sangamon Center has several small shops and restaurants.
Breathtaking scenery forms the backdrop for Local in season farm to fork cuisine, pleasurable pastimes and world-class entertainment at Walker's Bluff. What was planted as a family homestead long ago has grown into a picturesque vineyard that guests have been drawn to for its tranquility, style, unmistakable romance and fun family activities. We always extend an open-armed welcome to friends and visitors. We offer four venues to experience.
200 sites and 135 hook-ups. Nestled in native forests and brimming with a record-setting bass population, this park is a comfortable outdoor retreat.
Rural country campground. Pool, playground, game room, store, laundry, restroom with showers. Full hook-up, RV sites available, cabins and tenting.
This shopping area offers a variety of specialty shops, restaurants and movie theatres.
A favorite breakfast and lunch spot featuring specialty coffees, a bakery and soups,salads, wraps and sandwiches.
65 rooms, indoor pool and spa, complimentary deluxe continental breakfast, 24 hr. coffee and tea, elevator, in-room iron/board, copy/fax services.
Elijah Iles House: Springfield's History Museum
Experience the historic Greek Revial-style house once owned by a founder of Springfield: Elijah Iles. It houses a permanent exhibit, Springfield as Urban Frontier 1818-1836.
The Crowne Plaza Springfield hotel is the perfect place to stay to enjoy the area's history, culture and quirks. Whether you're traveling for business or leisure, their goal is to make your experience a memorable one.
Books, candles, home accessories, various miscellaneous gifts.
Center for performing arts in Springfield.
Greek, Lebanese and Middle Eastern Buffet featuring falafel, gyros, hummus and a variety of other specialties. Vegetarian-friendly.
The Historic Marbold Farmstead is a treasured jewel in Menard County, Illinois. This was the central hub of the Marbold family farmland holdings, which consisted of over 4,000 acres. It was virtually self-sufficient, with several barns, dairy, chicken house, smoke house, ice house, boiler house and pump house. The original house, called Elmwood, was build in 1850 by John Marbold, a German immigrant and prominent Greenview farmer and businessman. Restoration efforts are underway. Located at 21722 State Hwy. 29 near Greenview.
Super 8 Lodge South - Springfield
Newly renovated property with ample parking space. Right next to Interstates 55 & 72. Lots of restaurants nearby.
This scenic, wooded 18-hole public golf course features a fully stocked pro shop.
Inviting 64-room inn located at Stevenson Drive exit off I-55, with indoor pool, continental breakfast, guest laundry, smoke free environment.
Jacksonville History and Hauntings Tours
This haunted Jacksonville tour takes you to spirited sites in the downtown area, with each tour lasting approximately 2-1/2 to 3 hours. The tour includes the ghost stories and history behind each of the reputedly haunted sites.
Home of the LPGA State Farm Classic and designed by Robert Trent Jones, Sr., this course received a 4-star rating from Golf Digest.
Lawrence Memorial Library/Mata Simpson Resource Center
In 1905 Frank Lloyd Wright designed the interior of this school library which has been restore to its original luster.
Hibachi Grill & Supreme Buffet
Chinese, Thai, Japanese and American food with over a dozen hot and cold food stations, including a sushi bar.
Local area Pub with great food and a fun, familiar atmosphere.
An ecclectic boutique featuring hard-to-find posh gifts for everyone in the family. Clothing and accessories. Located in the Transfer Company Shops.
Skateland of Jacksonville is the sister rink of Skateland South in Springfield, IL. Whether you are looking for a good way to celebrate a special birthday or if you are just looking to have some fun with the family, come on out to Skateland! Please contact us with any questions you may have, (217) 243-4121.
66 sites and 66 hook-ups.
Crafts, toys, books and Lincoln souvenirs.
Crazy Horse is a 55-acre campground blanketed with rolling hills, hiking trails through wooded land, and two large ponds for fishing, boating, and a swimming beach. A lodge for rest and relaxation and a playground for the little ones makes this campground a great place to get away for the season or the weekend! Check out our wide, level sites with full hook-ups as well as our primitive camping area. Call 217-886-2089 or stop by and see us. We're located 8 miles north of Jacksonville and 25 miles west of Springfield, and we're happy to show you around!!
Illinois State Military Museum
Preserving the heritage of the Illinois National Guard, the museum is committed to collecting, preserving, interpreting and exhibiting the military artifacts associated with the citizen-soldiers of Illinois.
Upscale women's apparel.


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Don't forget your wild neighbors this tax season!
The Georgia Wildlife Conservation Fund checkoff on state income tax forms is one of the easiest and most effective ways to help conserve rare and endangered animals and plants.
Contributions have supported wildlife comebacks such as the recovery of bald eagles and the protection of prime natural habitat, including at Zahnd Natural Area in northwest Georgia and Townsend Wildlife Management Area along the Altamaha River in southeast Georgia.
Checkoff donations are also used to attract and match federal and private grants. The Georgia Department of Natural Resources' Nongame Conservation Section gains about $1 in grants for every 25 cents spent from the Georgia Wildlife Conservation Fund.
The fund was created by state law for nongame wildlife conservation and wildlife habitat acquisition. The Nongame Conservation Section, which is charged with conserving nongame animals, native plants and natural habitats, receives no state appropriations but depends on grants, private donations and fundraisers such as the checkoff.
The Give Wildlife a Chance tax checkoff accounts for about a 10th of the agency's funding.
More than 1,000 plant and animal species in Georgia are species of conservation concern. You can help them this tax season by filling in any amount more than $1 on line 26 of the state's long tax form (Form 500) or line 10 of the short form (Form 500EZ).
All contributions, small or large, are used to support conservation of Georgia's native wildlife.
Wildlife Checkoff at a Glance
- Listed as Georgia Wildlife Conservation Fund* on tax forms (also called Give Wildlife a Chance checkoff)
- Line 26 of the state's long tax form (Form 500) or line 10 of the short form (Form 500EZ)
- Giving in fiscal 2010 marked the least amount since the 1990s
- Details: www.georgiawildlife.com/node/338 or Nongame Conservation Section offices in Social Circle (770-761-3035), Forsyth (478-994-1438) or Brunswick (912-264-7218)
- State income tax forms: http://dor.georgia.gov/taxes
*The fund's official name is Nongame Wildlife Conservation and Wildlife Habitat Acquisition Fund.


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State and Local Transportation Resources
Calculators & Modeling Tools
The links below provide access to several easy-to-use calculators and more sophisticated modeling tools to assess the effectiveness of mobile source-based control strategies. State and local agencies can use these calculators and tools to estimate emission reductions or to conduct an analyses of the outcome that a specific emission-reduction strategy may produce.
Modeling Tools
- Modeling and Inventories
Access EPA's MOVES Model, NONROAD Model, and various Fuel Models and Inventories. These models are methods used by EPA to estimate emissions from on-road vehicles, nonroad sources, and fuels. Inventories are calculations of total emissions of a pollutant for a given area at a defined time and set of conditions.
Run these calculators for estimates of emission reductions and fuel impacts associated with a particular transportation-related strategy:
- Airport Ground Support Equipment (GSE) Model
A spreadsheet tool that provides users with a quick analysis of the emission benefits and cost-effectiveness of controling GSE emissions.
- Business Benefits Calculator
Use this tool to estimate the financial, environmental, traffic, parking, and related values of offering employees high quality commuter benefits.
- SmartWay FLEET Performance Model
Conduct a thorough assessment of the environmental performance of fleet (truck) operations, and calculate additional fuel savings and emission reductions (CO2, NOx, and PM) that can be achieved through a range of options and strategies.
- Diesel Emissions Quantifier
Characterize a truck or bus fleet and calculate the tons of emission reductions (CO, CO2, NOx, hydrocarbons, and PM) that a retrofit project will generate.


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My code is too slow, but I'm not sure how to improve it. Reading from disk into DOM for a 1k-file takes about 20 ms, that might be okay depending on the disk, but then I've got another 20 ms for working on a xpath statement, which is far too much. Here is some sample code with time comments. How can I improve the code?
This happens at construction time:
DocumentBuilderFactory dbFactory = DocumentBuilderFactory.newInstance();
DocumentBuilder dBuilder = this.dbFactory.newDocumentBuilder();
XPathExpression[] ex = new XPathExpression[]{about 30 different expressions}
XPathExpression mainEx =xPath.compile("/rootElement/firstLevel/secondLevel");
Then the code:
Document doc = this.dBuilder.parse("somefile.xml");
//took 20 ms until here
NodeList nodes = (NodeList) mainEx .evaluate,doc, XPathConstants.NODESET);
//took another 20 ms until here !!!
for (int i = 0; i < nodes.getLength(); i++) {
Node n = nodes.item(i);
for (XPathExpression e:ex) {
String v = (String) e.evaluate(n, XPathConstants.STRING);
if (v != null) {
//this only takes 5 ms


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To avoid confusion between NW 30th Street and NE 30th Street, which the new elementary school is on, the city is looking at renaming the street in front of the new EMS.
City staff contacted the school district and asked them if they had any ideas for renaming the street.
The board members came up with such ideas as Wildcat Way, Cat Claw Road and Middle Drive.
They were going to send their ideas on to the city, which will decide on the name.
Share your name ideas with us on this story on our Facebook page.
Location, ST | website.com


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5 UFO Sightings That Even Non-Crazy People Find Creepy
#2. The Washington D.C. UFO Incident
Between July 13 and 29, 1952, a series of UFO sightings were reported over Washington D.C. Witnesses would include an Air Force pilot, people on the ground and, in case you're the type to never trusts the testimony of fallible human beings, we have readings from two separate radar stations.
The Unsettling Evidence:
The first substantiated report came on July 19, when air traffic controller Edward Nugent, of Washington National Airport...
or "Ted" to his friends.
... noticed seven unidentifiable objects on his radar. The objects were not following established flight paths and, in typical UFO sighting fashion, were being too radical in their movements to be ordinary aircraft. Meanwhile, at Andrew's Air Force Base, air traffic controllers were also tracking several unidentifiable objects. According to the military's report on the incident, both towers were tracking an object that was hovering over a radio beacon, before it vanished from both radars at the exact same time.
Even more interesting is that almost the exact same thing happened on July 26, only a week later. The same airports, the same radar readings, the same unidentified objects all on the same fucking day of the week. Two fighter jets were sent this time, one of which saw nothing. The other, however, reported four orbs of light zipping around. The pilot even called in to ask if he should, you know, shoot them down or something, before they streaked out of sight.
"Should I kill this?"
That was enough to attract the attention of President Harry Truman. By now the Air Force had launched Project Blue Book, a massive investigation into pretty much every UFO sighting ever, with the goal of finding out once and for all what was going on. If that sounds like X-Files stuff, remember it's not that the government believed an Independence Day scenario was coming. It was more worried about some kind of radical new Russian spy aircraft.
The Official Explanation:
Project Blue Book was headed by Air Force Captain Edward Ruppelt, and the best guess he could come up with for the D.C. sightings was that the radar was giving false readings due to a temperature inversion (where a layer of warm, moist air covers a layer of cool, dry air, close to the ground, which can reflect radar signals). This didn't account for the eyewitness sightings, of course, or for the fact that temperature inversions are common but radars never pick them up.
"Problem solved." - Project Blue Book
So the government's official position wound up being that there was a meteor storm or some other phenomena at the exact same time, by pure coincidence, there was an unrelated radar error causing the false signals. Mystery solved! Though we should point out that among the people who didn't buy the explanation included Ruppelt and the personnel who were manning the freaking radar stations.
We find that it's a lot easier to cover things up when you ignore the eyewitnesses.
It didn't matter. By 1952, the government was sick of the UFO thing. The nation had UFO fever and every time something lit up in the sky, hundreds and hundreds of people would call and claim Mars was attacking. The entire point of Project Blue Book was to debunk as many of these as possible and get all those cranks to stop bothering them.
It worked like a charm! There were no more UFO sightings after 1952, right?
#1. The Valentich Disappearance
OK, so there were a few thousand after that. And one of them has to be the weirdest of all: the Valentich Disappearance.
History has seen its fair share of aircraft, and even boats, disappearing into the great abyss that is our mighty oceans. So it wouldn't be surprising to hear that on October 21, 1978, a Cessna 182 light aircraft piloted by Australian Frederick Valentich pulled a Houdini and disappeared right the fuck out of thin air.
Ta Da!
That is, until you take into account his final radio transmissions, which are about the creepiest thing you'll ever read.
The Unsettling Evidence:
In his final words with Melbourne Air Traffic Control, which can be read in its creepy-ass entirety here, Valentich described being followed by a UFO:
Valentich: Melbourne, this is Delta Sierra Juliet. Is there any known traffic below five thousand?
Melbourne: No known traffic.
Valentich: I am... seems to be a large aircraft below five thousand.
Melbourne: What type of aircraft is it?
Valentich: I cannot affirm. It is four bright... it seems to me like landing lights.
Like Gorman, Valentich claimed the aircraft was intentionally buzzing him, zipping past, getting too close and going incredibly fast. At one point Valentich said the aircraft stopped in mid-air, and he orbited around it to get a good look:
Valentich: It's got a green light and sort of metallic like... it's all shiny on the outside... ... it just vanished...
Valentich: Ah... Melbourne that strange aircraft is hovering on top of me again... (two seconds open microphone)... it is hovering and it's not an aircraft...
Those were Valentich's last words to Air Traffic Control, and maybe his last words to anyone. What followed were 17 seconds of a metallic scraping sound. Neither Valentich nor his plane were ever seen again. The investigation has been one, long, frustrating dead end. No wreckage of the plane has been found, but he was close enough to the ocean that he could have wound up crashing there. Of course, he was close enough to land for lots and lots of eyewitnesses to come forward to say they saw the EXACT same UFO Valentich reported ... which would be great if they weren't all coming forward after the story had hit the newspapers. They even had two experts examine the 17 seconds of metallic scraping at the end of the radio transmission. The conclusion was a shrug and, "Yep, that's pretty fuckin' weird, isn't it?"
"Weird as shit."
The Official Explanation:
One of the cruel realities of life is that it's pretty easy to blame whoever isn't around to defend themselves. So "Valentich was crazy/stupid/disoriented" immediately becomes the default explanation. For instance, some have suggested Valentich became disoriented and was actually flying upside down the entire time. The lights he saw being his own in the reflection of the ocean.
"Wow, an upside down world with forests and trees and everything! It's like Narnia!"
This would, of course, make him an even worse pilot than George "I tried to shoot down Jupiter" Gorman.
Some have suggested it was an elaborate suicide, the UFO thing a final hoax to keep people talking. Or maybe he just imagined the whole thing from the start. Who knows? He's not around for us to ask.
Our favorite theory is that the guy just got fed up with his life and flew off to go start a new one somewhere where nobody knew him. Who hasn't felt like doing that?
I'm never wearing pants again! Fuck you, society!
Or, maybe it was aliens.
Do you have an idea in mind that would make a great article? Then sign up for our writers workshop! Know way too much about a random topic? Create a topic page and you could be on the front page of Cracked.com tomorrow!
For more of the unexplainable, check out The 5 Creepiest Unsolved Crimes Nobody Can Explain and 6 Insane Discoveries That Science Can't Explain.
Make sure to stop by Linkstorm (Updated 08.06.10) to figure out what really happened to Ross.
And find out which famous prime minister may have hidden a UFO report over at AOL Weird News.
Don't forget to follow us on Facebook and Twitter to get sexy, sexy jokes sent straight to your news feed.


text: Loyola University Maryland is a private non-profit Catholic institution, employing more than 1,200 faculty, staff, and administrators. We have come together as a community with a purpose—to fulfill the Ignatian vision of education and each individual's potential. Though many of our faculty and staff members are Catholic, Loyola is enriched by the expertise and perspective of men and women from many different religious, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds. We value our employees for the great contributions they make in preparing the next generation of scholars, professionals, and entrepreneurs. We believe it is our calling and privilege to serve others with care for the whole person—the heart of a Jesuit education. We are always looking for those who share our passion to become part of the Loyola community.


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5 Awesome Vehicles for the Extremely Wealthy (And Insane)
In movies, video games and comic books, the rich supervillain always has a giant floating, flying or rolling lair armed with lasers, equipped with an insane amount of protection and cluttered with gadgets and escape pods. Ridiculous, right? After all, who would actually build expensive vehicles just to sell to the supervillain demographic?
Well, ask whoever built ...
#5. The 550-Foot Laser Yacht
Russians are well-known for producing huge things, mainly drinks, bombs and Ivan Drago. But one Russian in particular is known for his huge-ass boats. His name is Roman Abramovich, and he owns "Eclipse," the largest private yacht in the world, which, oh by the way, is something a James Bond villain would consider "too over-the-top."
It's the building in the middle.
It's almost as long as two football fields (557 feet) and has a German-built missile defense system. It also has radar and armored windows and -- this our favorite part -- camera-destroying lasers.
The lasers are a new innovation in the field of high-end craziness. According to The Times, the system works by automatically detecting the electronic light sensor inside any nearby camera and firing a high-intensity beam of light at it, destroying its ability to take pictures.
This image exists only because he hasn't built any lasers into his own body ... yet.
OK, but what if somehow (possibly through decades of ninja training), camera-toting, missile-holding paparazzi pirates managed to get inside the yacht?
Well, in that case, Abramoavich can simply walk into the goddamned built-in mini-submarine he keeps just for these occasions. It'll drop 160 feet into the water, protecting him and his 29-year-old wife from any harm.
Whatever you're thinking, he's like "I know!"
Exactly what kind of disaster could you not survive in this thing? Alien invasion? Meteor? Nuclear war? This guy would be sitting on the deck of his floating palace, watching it and munching caviar. Forget about a zombie apocalypse -- he wouldn't even notice it until somebody told him.
True, it's probably not much use in a world where none of that really happens, but you can't have it all. Plus, the whole thing only cost him $1.2 billion (with a B).
Whoever said "money can't buy happiness" is a fucking liar.
#4. Luxury Tanks
Lots of companies pimp out SUVs and turn them into armored cars ... but if your needs are less "stay protected" and more "destroy the Autobots" (and you're willing to spend over $150,000 on a vehicle), there are other options available for you.
For example, the custom-built Armor Horse Vault XXL is literally an armored limousine. While the inside does look like a limo (complete with leather seats, LCD screens and a bar) ...
This is only the lobby.
... its exterior is closer to a tank:
The Armor Horse is capable of comfortably seating 25 people ... and if they ever get bored, they can simply pull out the emergency gun ports and start shooting pedestrians. This is a real thing, by the way. The Armor Horse isn't just defensive (it's covered in bulletproof panels); it's also an offensive weapon that can be used to wreak havoc and destruction across its path. It comes with two escape hatches that double as skylights, in case you want to mount a death ray on top of it or something.
So it can stop bullets, but we know what you're thinking: What if my enemies are equipped with rocket launchers? A sensible question, and one we ask ourselves every morning. Fortunately, there are other vehicles on the market to cater to our needs:
Even the name of that beast inspires fear: The Dartz Kombat T98 SUV has steel-plated doors and three-inch-thick windows, making it essentially indestructible. At $200,000, it's very practical for all those millionaires who like spending time in war zones.
This is what happens when a tank and a Hummer make love under the moonlight.
#3. The Speedboat Batman Wishes He Had
Sure, if you want to host parties while you're conquering the world, the floating luxury yacht back at #5 is probably your best bet. But maybe you want the yacht equivalent of a sports car instead -- something that can go speeding off into the horizon when a secret agent comes after you on his Jet Ski.
That's where the MY Ady Gil comes in. This is, in scientific terms, the awesomest fucking speedboat ever made. Seriously, look at it:
That is not a model. It exists.
Wikipedia tells us that it is fully submersible; it can travel up to 57 mph using two 540-horsepower engines, plus it has a large enough fuel tank to cover three-and-a-half thousand miles in a single go. And it can do all that with eight guys sleeping on the bunk beds inside.
Fortunately, the craft hasn't fallen into the hands of the Lex Luthors of the world. Its last owners were part of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, also known as the Whale Wars people -- the guys who go around fighting Japanese whalers. Yes, this was used by actual, real-life vigilantes.
And yes, they built speakers into the boat, which they used to blast music at the whalers. We're talking in past tense because, unfortunately, the boat sank in January 2010 after being rammed by a Japanese whaling boat. You can take solace in the fact that it died a hero's death. Or at least it died while annoying whalers while filming a reality show.
Never forget.
It will be back: A donor has already offered $1 million for the construction of the Ady Gil 2, so they need only $1.5 million more to afford a new one.


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I know the basic strength of double pawns is that it may open up a rank for a rook, and that the weakness is that the pawns can no longer defend one another. Other than an obvious material advantage, what are the long-term strategic factors to consider when you're faced with the decision of doubling your pawns? I know that specific openings accept doubled pawns, but beyond memorizing openings, what should influence my decision? For example, are doubled pawns more acceptable in the center than near the edge of the board?
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Jeremy Silman, author of many books on chess strategy (as well as my favorite endgame book) always pushes not thinking in terms of static strengths - having a bishop over a knight - vs. weaknesses - having doubled pawns - but rather in terms of imbalances. After all, in a closed position, a knight will do better than a bishop, and you mentioned yourself one way doubled pawns can actually be an advantage.
So, the questions you should really be asking yourself are, What are the imbalances in the position? What new imbalances will this capture create?
For doubled-pawns, the common imbalances are:
Lastly, and most importantly, it's rarely a matter of a single move, meaning other imbalances will come into play as well.
If I move here, there's a possibility he'll move here, leading to a series of moves in which my pawns will be doubled and he'll gain the double-bishops, but I'll have the initiative.
In every line of play, existing and potential, you will always need to compare the imbalances that favor you to the imbalances that favor your opponent, and ask yourself: "Do the imbalances in the position favor me over my opponent? How do I make the existing imbalances favor me even more? Can I create even more favorable imbalances for myself in this position?" Learning how to answer these questions is one of the most important skills in getting better at chess.