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Military News App by Military.com
Download the new Military.com News App for Android on Google Play or for Apple devices on iTunes!
Every Permanent Change of Station (PCS) move, military families need to decide whether to live on base or rent or buy in the civilian community....
Now that you've determined that you are eligible (if you aren't sure, please check your VA loan eligibility), you can begin the loan application process. This process involves six important steps: finding a VA-approved lender, pre-qualifying for a loan, selecting your home, drawing up the purchase contract, getting the property appraised by the VA, and finalizing the loan.
To obtain a VA loan, it is important to note that the law requires that:
An experienced mortgage lender will be able to discuss specific income and other qualifying requirements.
Finding a VA Approved Lender
Before you begin the application process, it is a good idea to get a copy of your credit report. This can be obtained from one of the three major credit bureaus: Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion. Once you've gotten your credit report, the next step is to find a VA approved lender. A lender can point out any credit problems you might have and provide you with a loan estimate. Shop around. Compare different lenders' closing costs (over and above the price of the property) incurred by buyers and sellers in transferring ownership of a property (also called settlement costs) and other fees. Military.com makes it easy to find VA approved lenders - just use our Quick Form, and be matched with up to three lenders.
Pre-Qualifying for Your Loan
Pre-qualifying for a loan is the best way to determine how much borrowing power you have. Pre-qualifying involves letting your lender know what your income and assets are. Based on that information, you can find out if you qualify for a given loan. Note that pre-qualifying only gives an estimate of the amount of mortgage payment you can afford, based on the information you provide. While pre-qualifying is not a requirement, it is highly recommended. Without pre-qualifying first, you may find yourself looking at houses that you wouldn't necessarily be able to afford.
Once you pre-qualify, you'll have a strong idea of how much income you'll need to qualify. You'll also know what price range of houses you can manage, which is important for the next step.
Selecting Your Home
If you've pre-qualified for your VA Home Loan, you will have a good idea of which houses you'll be able to afford. You can now begin the process of selecting your new home. Finding a home can be accomplished through several avenues:
Drawing up the Purchase Contract
Also referred to as a "sales agreement" or "purchase agreement" contract, this document represents the finalized terms and conditions upon which the transfer of real estate will take place. A purchase contract is essentially an agreement between the buyer and seller to purchase an agreed upon property on agreed upon terms, whatever they may be. The Purchase Contract will among other things address: restrictions and easements, liens on the property, inspections, prior leases, disclosures, preparing of documents for closing, and maintenance of the property up to closing.
VA Appraisal
Because the loan amount may not exceed VA?s estimate of the value of the property, in order to finalize the loan, you must request an appraisal by the Veterans Administration. Although anyone (buyer, seller, real estate personnel or lender) can request a VA appraisal, it normally comes from the lender via the Internet using TAS (The Appraisal System).
It is important to recognize that while the VA appraisal estimates the value of the property, it is not an inspection and does not guarantee that the house is free of defects. Homebuyers should carefully inspect the property themselves, or hire a reputable inspection firm to help. VA guarantees the loan, not the condition of the property.
Finalizing the Loan
If the established value is acceptable to all parties and the lender determines that you qualify on the basis of credit and income, the loan may be approved. Most lenders are authorized to make this decision.
You (and your spouse) attend the loan closing and sign the note, mortgage and other related papers. The lender or closing attorney will explain the loan terms and requirements as well as where and how to make the monthly payments. When the loan is reported to the VA, the Certificate of Eligibility is annotated to reflect the use of entitlement and returned to the applicant. The loan closing procedure may vary in some states. Closing costs can be substantial, even with a VA loan, so get the details from your realtor before closing and avoid unpleasant surprises.
Related Topics
|VA Loan
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Further to my understanding What makes a proof, I'm doing exercises.
The purpose of this question is to compare the proof a certain textbook provides with the one that is logical to me, that I made up. If my proof is weak, why is it weak? Why is the proof from the book acceptable (other than it finds a way to involve $\lim_{h \to 0}$ :)...
Without further ado the question: Prove
$D_x(\int_a^x f(t)dt) = f(x)$
My proof is this:
Let $\int f(t)dt = F(t)$
Then $D_x( \int_a^x{f(t)dt} ) = D_x( \left[ F(t) \right]_a^x )$
$= D_x( F(x) - F(a) )$
But since F(a) is constant with respect to x, it goes to 0 when derived:
$= F'(x) $
$= f(x) $
Is that good? If not, specifically what is wrong with it? I know proofs have to do with "your audience", but a lot of proofs are written in assembly language -- they're so low level!
- The proof in the book I'm using says
Let $h(x) = \int_a^x{f(t)dt}$
$h(x + \Delta x) - h(x) = \int_a^{x+\Delta x}{f(t)dt} - \int_a^x{f(t)dt}$
$= \int_a^x{f(t)dt} + \int_x^{x+\Delta x}{f(t)dt} - \int_a^x{f(t)dt}$
$= \int_x^{x+\Delta x}{f(t)dt}$
$= \Delta x (f(x*))$ for some x* between x and x + $\Delta$ x by the mean value theorem for integrals
Thus, dividing both sides by $\Delta x$:
$\frac{h(x + \Delta x) - h(x)}{\Delta x} = f(x*)$
Therefore $D_x(\int_a^x f(t)dt) = D_x(h(x))$
$= \lim_{\Delta x \to 0} \frac{h(x + \Delta x) - h(x)}{\Delta x} $
$= \lim_{\Delta x \to 0} f(x*) $
But as $\Delta x \to 0$, $x + \Delta x \to x$ so $x* \to x$ (since $x*$ is between $x$ and $x + \Delta x$). Since f is continuous, $\lim_{x \to 0} f(x*) = f(x)$

subset: commoncrawl


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I'm doing a site in WP with dynamic and static content. I'd create the menu from the admin panel. I have 5 sections (Home, about, Boats, News(blog), contact). I'd create a custom post type with new taxonomies for the boats. What I want to do now is, display every new boat model as a sub menu of boats automatically. How can I do that?
You could achieve this with a custom walker function, on your menu. a very simple example:
Then where you call the nav menu, create an instance of your custom walker with the


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CHARLOTTE, N.C.- The 49ers men's and women's cross country team won the second annual Charlotte Duals, earlier Saturday morning at Frank Liske Park.
Despite the humid conditions, Charlotte commanded the race on both sides to lead their team to victories.
The women defeated Wofford 20-39, Gardner-Webb 20-83, and Limestone 20-114.
Senior Hana Sutchar made her second appearance of the 2012 season a memorable one, finishing first overall in the 5K run with a time of 19:10. Freshman Morgan Richards who led Charlotte last weekend at the WCU Invitational, finished second (19:12). Sophomore Chelsea Matson was fourth overall with a time of 19:32 while freshman Lauren Pollard seized sixth (19:35). Taylor Carcella followed in seventh with a time of 19:37.
Sophomore Jen Molke (20:00) and senior Ashley Edwards (20:03) finished the race in 11th and 12th respectively. Overall the women averaged a time of 19:26 and had a spread of 27 seconds.
"I was really impressed with the girls," Head coach Ed Schlichter said. "Hana came out and had a great run for us and her first place finish was amazing. Morgan also did a great job and is continuing to succeed in her young career."
The men defeated Gardner-Webb 20-54 and Limestone 20-64.
Sophomore Zach Greth led the 49ers for the second consecutive meet of the season. He finished the 5K run second overall with a time of 16:00. Charlotte controlled much of the race as it placed all its runners in the top eight.
Freshman Getisso Dentamo was third in his first race of the year with a mark of 16:08. Junior Eleazar Garcia was fourth (16:09), freshman Chris Anderson was fifth (16:11), sophomore Ben Sterett finished sixth (16:14), as Nicholas Rotz (16:16) and Mike Tamayo (16:25) were seventh and eight respectively.
Charlotte turned in a spread of just 14 seconds and averaged a mark of 16:09.
"The men did a good job of staying together," Schlichter said. "I was really pleased with their spread and they used a total group effort."
The 49ers have some time off before they head to the Toledo Regional Bubble Buster meet in Toledo, Ohio on Friday, Sept. 21.


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Payback for a Downgrade?
The feds sue S&P but not Moody's for pre-crisis credit ratings.
Now, this is awkward. One agency of the federal government is suing a company for fraud while another agency continues to endorse it.
On Monday in Los Angeles, the Department of Justice sued Standard & Poor's and its parent McGraw-Hill for $5 billion. The claim is that S&P committed civil fraud when it issued high credit ratings on mortgage-related securities prior to the financial crisis of 2008. Sixteen states and the District of Columbia have piled on the suit.
No doubt investors who relied on the opinions of S&P and the other big credit-rating agencies, Moody's and Fitch, suffered terrible losses during the crisis. That was in part because the federal government forced investors to rely on them. Longstanding rules at the Securities and Exchange Commission and other agencies required institutions to hold assets graded highly by these government-approved rating agencies.
And to this day, more than two years after the Dodd-Frank law ordered their repeal, SEC rules still force institutions to follow the advice of these government-anointed credit raters. Therefore the more appropriate defendant for Monday's lawsuit would be the SEC. But as a modest first step before suing a company for $5 billion, shouldn't the government at least stop mandating its products?
Related Video
We've long argued that the government should not endorse any company's opinions about credit risk, which at the end of the day is all a credit rating is—an opinion. And for that reason the government will not have an easy time making a fraud case.
Justice quotes internal emails from S&P personnel suggesting that, in its desire to win rating assignments from the investment banks that created securities, S&P was too generous in handing out high grades. For its part, S&P said in a Tuesday statement, "Claims that we deliberately kept ratings high when we knew they should be lower are simply not true."
If a publisher deliberately misleads, it loses its First Amendment protection. S&P concedes "there was robust internal debate" inside the firm but says it "applied the collective judgment of our committee-based system in good faith."
Some of the emails in the government suit do look bad, at least as presented in the lawsuit and just like a lot of the rating-agency internal emails that the SEC released in a 2008 report. In fact, some of the same internal S&P messages from that five-year-old report are now reprinted in the new lawsuit.
So why wasn't a federal case made in 2008 or 2009 or 2010 or 2011 or 2012? In the United States it has always been difficult to prosecute publishers of financial opinions for securities fraud. Yes, the SEC has sometimes successfully prosecuted the proprietors of sham newsletters that touted stocks with bogus claims while secretly accepting payments from the companies being hyped.
But everyone already knows the big credit raters get paid to issue their opinions. And courts have often looked askance at broadly using the laws on securities fraud to go after people outside of the business of issuing, underwriting and dealing in securities.
This may be why the SEC, which had been investigating the credit raters, is not part of this week's lawsuit. Justice is instead trying to break new ground by using a 1989 statute intended to prevent bank fraud. Since federally insured financial institutions were among those who relied on credit ratings, argues Justice, S&P can be charged with fraud.
The suit names a specific credit union in California as an alleged victim. In other words, the government that keeps blaming the bankers for the crisis is now painting banks as the victims of rating agencies whose opinions the banks were ordered by the government to follow.
There are other disturbing questions related to the timing and the target of this federal civil prosecution. S&P's attorney Floyd Abrams tells us that "things seemed to rev up in terms of the intensity" of the federal investigation after S&P's historic downgrade of United States credit following Washington's debt-limit fight in 2011.
Meanwhile, a McClatchy Newspapers MNI 1.47 % report says that it was around that time that Moody's, which did not downgrade the government, was dropped from the federal investigation. Ask any investor and he'll likely tell you that Moody's was equally awful in forecasting the mortgage debacle.
Speaking of the debt-limit fight, that's also coincidentally when White House Chief of Staff Jack Lew was aggressively promoting the President's campaign to prevent entitlement reform. Mr. Lew had worked in the heart of Citigroup's C -0.61 % subprime investment factory, and the President has not only been willing to forgive and forget. He's even nominated Mr. Lew to become Secretary of the Treasury. But the company that put a shot across the Beltway bow over deficit spending is now the only target of a credit-ratings prosecution.
Why not just take away its government-enforced advantage instead? Both regulators and regulated institutions still yearn for the ability to outsource the tough decisions on credit risk to some certified experts. But it's folly to think that some anointed class can ever be counted on to warn of all potential default dangers.
If prosecutors continue to focus on how the rating process works, they may allow Washingtonians to celebrate downgrade payback, but they won't serve investors or taxpayers. Americans will benefit most when few people care how the rating agencies operate, because their judgments won't be that important.


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Given a row-stochastic matrix $M$ with singular values $\sigma_{1}\geq\ldots\geq\sigma_{n}$, I am looking for an upper bound on the expression: $\min_{\alpha}\parallel M- \frac{\alpha}{n}J_{n}\parallel_{2} $ where $J_{n}$ is the matrix with all ones.
It is not hard to see that if $M$ is doubly stochastic, the above expression is exactly $\sigma_{2}$ (as the singular vector of the largest singular values is the vector of all ones), for $\alpha =1$. Can you find a similar bound when $M$ is only row stochastic?
Thank you.
Edit: Suppose we take $a,b$ to be the left and right singular vectors corresponding to the largest singular value $\sigma_{1}$. Then, $\parallel M- \frac{\alpha}{n}J_{n}-\sigma_{1}ab^T+\sigma_{1}ab^T\parallel_{2}$ is smaller than $\sigma_{2}+\sigma_{1}\left(\sqrt{1-\frac{\left< a,e\right> ^{2}\left< b,e\right> ^{2}}{N^{2}}}\right)$ for $\alpha = \frac{\sigma_{1}\left< a,e\right> ^{2}\left< b,e\right>^{2}}{N^{2}}$. For a doubly stochastic matrix, this bound is tight (as the first singular vectors are $\frac{1}{\sqrt{N}}e$). What can we say, for example, of $\left< a,e\right> \left< b,e\right>$, when $\sigma_{1}$ is not 1, but very close to it?


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5 'Luxury' Toys for the Children of Wealthy Douchebags
Everybody knew a rich kid growing up: the one who got all the toys the rest of us couldn't afford, and then used them instead of personality to win friends. He sure looked like he was having fun, though, with his video game consoles and in-pool water slides. Maybe money really can buy happiness? Well, that all depends: Some well-off parents buy their kids a full-size, functional Transformer for their 10th birthday, sure, but some of them just buy their kids the kind of boring, expensive toys that only serve as status symbols -- status symbols that children are way too young to understand or care about. Because hey, it's never too early to get a head start on being a detached, rich little dickhead.
#5. Sports Pedal Cars
As we've already covered, there is apparently no shortage of wealthy parents willing to front $100,000 for kid-sized Ferraris. Man, your kid is going to be knee-deep in cooties when he rolls by the playground in that sucker. Kindergarten bitches love Italian; everybody knows that.
"And unlike most adult Ferrari owners, I have a reason for being hung like a child."
And to be fair, that actually does look awesome. If your rich parents buy you that car for your Sweet 8, they either love you very much or secretly want you to die in a fiery accident as soon as possible. But what if you want the other second graders to know that your kid is better than them, but you don't particularly care if he has something as pedestrian as "fun" while doing it? That's where luxury models like Playsam's Roadster Saab come in. For only $500, you can purchase this mini-replica of an Ursaab 92001:
Finally, your child can fret about Indochina with style and authenticity.
Look how refined! Look how tasteful! What child doesn't dream of tooling around in a vehicle with such subtle lines and an artfully minimalist black-and-beige color scheme? Why, doesn't every red-blooded young lad have a poster of a vintage Saab sedan on his wall?
Children do not appreciate refinement and taste: Children appreciate the color red and the fact that it turns into a robot. Forcing this thing on your children teaches them one lesson and one lesson only: It's only important that your car is expensive, not enjoyable.
And if a $500 wallet enhancement isn't rich enough for your blood, you could spring for the $16,000 Type C pedal car offered by Audi. It's a little cooler looking, true -- but still in a sleek, old-fashioned kind of way that you won't learn to appreciate until your early 40s, when you start longing for the days when racing was still a gentleman's sport.
This costs more than most people's actual cars.
Helpful hint: If your 4-year-old starts waxing nostalgic about the race scene of the 1930s, throw him in a bag and bring him to the police station. That is an elderly midget who has kidnapped and attempted to replace your child. And he is doing a very bad job at it.
#4. Designer Clothing
Take a good look at your child. Does he look like he would enjoy a good beating? People are born different, you know: Some of them get off on pain. If your toddler is waddling around with a dog-eared copy of the Marquis de Sade's biography in the kangaroo pocket of his OshKosh B'gosh, then perhaps Kate Rees personalized clothing is for him. Guaranteed to elicit only the most brutal and ceaseless of beatings from their friends and peers, these tasteful, monogrammed beige onesies will prove to your children that nothing is as exciting as understatement:
Look at the boy's eyes. He knows the wedgies are coming. He knows.
They'll only set you back $90 apiece, though, so if you insist on dropping a fortune on your child's wardrobe, why not try this $1,090 leopard-print vest?
It's one sandbox away from being a $1,090 trash can liner.
It was designed by "an iconic Parisian fashion house," and is billed as "the latest in safari chic." So it will be a perfect complement to your child's current favorite outfit: her underwear and a piece of garden hose she's pretending is a whip.
Or how about this $1,500 cardigan?
"This ... this was the moment I chose to send you to the bad nursing home."
No matter how rich you are, we promise you: This is not what your children want to wear. They want to wear their Halloween costume to school every day. Children are utterly incapable of appreciating abstract concepts like "safari chic" and "designer brands," because they're too busy eating things they find in the sandbox. If you insist on blowing a fortune to dress your spawn, even though their clothes will be absolutely destroyed the very second they step out your front door, at least do so in a way that makes them happy. If it's a boy, buy him a completely authentic little Batman costume. If it's a girl, buy her a completely authentic little Batman costume.
The desire to be Batman is non-gender-specific.
#3. Customized Birthday Parties
It's no surprise that people go all out for their kids' birthdays: Children are too young to have learned the humility and shame that yet another year of their own senseless, continued existence should bring, so why not hire Spider-Man to shoot Silly String in your backyard? Your trust-fund babies deserve to have a little fun before they fully learn to appreciate the parasitic nature of old money and spend the rest of their lives trying to drown themselves in highballs.
So what does a child's special day look like when his rich parents have unfathomable resources to blow on it?
"I'm so glad I'm too young to form lasting memories of how stupid this is."
It looks like a Mormon wedding. Those kids sure will love the muted color palette, featureless bags of unadorned crackers and sparse, avant-garde balloon arrangements, won't they?
These tasteful designer birthdays are called bespoke parties, and they're turning out to be a hit: Dozens of companies all over the world offer custom-tailored child birthday services like these, and they can set you back tens of thousands of dollars a pop. Here, check out this refined disco-themed party offered by Les Enfants:
Eight. The kid is turning 8. You know what an 8-year-old child would like better than this?
Anything. An hour at the arcade. Your drunken uncle in a Teletubby costume. The cardboard box those disco balls came in.
No child wants to spend his birthday appreciating the subtle irony of a tasteful disco-themed party. If you tell your kid he's getting a special treat this year, and then fling open the doors on something a jaded yuppie socialite might find a few fleeting seconds to smirk at between double martinis, he's going to be crushed. Your little girl wants to ride a horse through Hogwarts. Your little boy wants to hit a clown with a foam bat. Only your Pinterest friends are going to dig the playful intermingling of neo-aristocracy and retro-bourgeoisie on display here.


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High school football fans will get a little taste of what's coming in just a few short weeks today, when the 67th-annual Rudy Mumley Ohio Valley Athletic Conference All-Star Charity Football Classic is held.
The event, which is scheduled to begin at 7:15 p.m. at Wheeling Island Stadium, will pit the top graduated seniors from Ohio against their counterparts from West Virginia.
Ohio holds a 26-13-1 edge in the series since the OVAC took over sponsorship in 1972, and holds a 41-24-1 lead in overall series, which began in 1940.
As always, there will be bragging rights on the line for everyone involved. For some of the players, the game will be a tune-up as they prepare to head for college and to play the game at the next level, while for others, it will be the last time they participate in the sport.
Most of those who have been a part of the game and the week's worth of activities that lead up to it will tell you that it is about more than football. Friendships are made that will last for many years down the road.
Some of those experiences will no doubt be remembered this evening, when players from the 1959 and 1960 games are recognized.
Family tradition will be on display as well. For example, Steubenville Big Red's Michael Camilletti will follow in the footsteps of his grandfather, who played in the 1951 game, and his father, Rick, who was a coach for the Ohio squad in 1988. And, the father of Indian Creek's Michael Furda, Mike, played in the 1982 game.
In addition to the 66 football players, 151 young men and women will participate with the McDonald's OVAC All-Star Band, 26 young women will participate in the Queen of Queens pageant and 18 young women will serve as cheerleaders.
As always, a full week of activities leads up to the game. Training camps for both squads were held at Bethany College. Activities held last week included the annual Osiris Shrine film and pizza night, the Evening with the Stars, the Queen of Queens Pageant and a pep rally.
Even more than football, the game is about raising money for charity. In fact, the OVAC reports that during the last 40 years, more than $861,600 has been donated to charitable organizations and scholarship funds.
Tonight's game starts the clock toward the start of the area high school football season, which will open on Aug. 23 with a doubleheader at Harding Stadium. Steubenville Big Red will meet Youngstown Woodrow Wilson and Oak Glen will take on Edison that night.
High school football returns tonight - sit back and enjoy.


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I currently have a HTC Desire, which i am hopefully going to upgrade to a Galaxy S2, in the very near future.
I also have a 16gb 2nd Gen ipod
A 32gb HP Touchpad
A Kindle with no keyboard or touch screen
And A HP Touchsmart Tm2 1010ea
Im considering grabbing a 64gb blackberry playbook for £129. Which i think seems like a very good price. I know that andoid apps can be played on it which is a hug bonus plus ive found a guy who has run ios apps on it, which is pretty cool.
My Question is should i get the playbook and do you have any uses for it or any of my tech. I did think of getting a sports armband for my HTC then use it like orion's computer out of Chuck.
Also if i had the money i would buy a Fully rugged getac laptop with an intel i7 2.66ghz (dont know wat gen) 8gb, 15.6" screen nvidia 330m 1gb graphics, 1tb HDD and its also touchscreen.
I am grateful for any help in my dilema


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Iranian actor Golshifteh Farahani has posed nude for a Madame Le Figaro magazine photoshoot in a move that is seen to defend freedom of speech and oppose the strictures against women.
I unequivocally support Golshifteh Farahani.
We need nudity now more than ever to break the hold of Islam and Islamism in our lives particularly since Islam hates a woman's body like nothing else…
By the way, don't forget that I am still collecting submissions for the Nude Revolutionaries Calendar in homage to Egyptian blogger Aliaa Magda Elmahdy. This is an important initiative that must be supported.


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Don't Know Much About Geography: Everything You Need to Know About the World but Never Learned (Paperback)
Who Killed The Dead Sea? Where was the Garden of Eden? What's So Bad About the Badlands?
Get on board as Kenneth C. Davis, author of the acclaimed national bestseller Don't Know Much About(R) History, takes us on a fascinating, breathtaking, and hilarious grand tour of the planet Earth -- opening our eyes and imaginations to a wide, wild, and wonderful world we never knew.
About the Author
Kenneth C. Davis is the New York Times bestselling author of A Nation Rising; America's Hidden History; and Don't Know Much About® History, which spent thirty-five consecutive weeks on the New York Times bestseller list, sold more than 1.6 million copies, and gave rise to his phenomenal Don't Know Much About® series for adults and children. A resident of New York City and Dorset, Vermont, Davis frequently appears on national television and radio and has been a commentator on NPR's All Things Considered. He blogs regularly at www.dontknowmuch.com.


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Showing 1-24 of 31 items found in Sports & Gaming
- Sort by:
Argosy Casino-Alton
Enjoy three levels of action on the first riverboat casino in Illinois, with more than 1,000 of the most popular machines, from penny to $25 slots. Try your luck at the tables with blackjack, roulette, Caribbean stud poker, pai gow poker and craps.
Arlington Golf Club
This 18-hole golf course was designed by Robert B. Harris.
CITY:Granite City
Casino Queen
The bright lights of Vegas have nothing on the Casino Queen, home of the loosest slots! The Queen has had the loosest slots in the entire country for six years running, plus the hottest table games in town. Hungry? The Queen has you covered from fine dining to casual. The best view in town is from the Casino Queen Hotel.
CITY:East St. Louis
Fairmount Park Racetrack
Fairmount Park is home to live thoroughbred horse racing action. From March through September, the horses run on the one-mile oval dirt track Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
Family Fun Tyme
Located in Maryville, this facility has an indoor arcade, batting cages and lots more fun for kids. Alfonzo's Restaurant is right next door for pizza lovers.
Far Oaks Golf Club
This par 72, Goalby-designed golf course has 18 challenging holes.
Fletcher Field
Located in Wodland Park, this ball field was named in honor of baseball player Athur Fletcher.
Fox Creek Golf Club
Fox Creek features an 18-hole golf course.
Gateway Fun Park
Gateway features mini-golf, go-karts, an arcade, bumper boats, a kiddie track and Rudy's Restaurant.
Gateway Grizzlies at GCS Ballpark
The Gateway Grizzlies are a professional baseball team based in Sauget, IL. The Grizzlies are a member of the West Division of the Frontier League – which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball. The Grizzlies played their home games during their inaugural 2001 season at Sauget Field. In 2002, GCS Ballpark, (formerly GMC Stadium) opened and has remained the club's home since. This 5,000-seat stadium, home to the Gateway Grizzlies minor league baseball team, has reserved box seats, lawn seats and a hot tub.
Gateway Motorsports Park
Racing enthusiasts of all kinds will find special events around every hair pin from the drag strip, oval, road racing track, National sanctioned carting track as well as concerts and corporate functions. Former race car driver Curtis Francois brought back the track and the NHRA Midwest Nationals. Don't miss many of the other events that are held through the year.
Gateway National Golf Links
Gateway National offers an 18-hole, par 71 course made up of rolling links, separated by gentle mounds that meander through lush, green pasturelands.
GCS Ballpark
GCS Ballpark is home to the Gateway Grizzlies, a professional baseball team in the Frontier League. This 6,000-seat venue plays host to nearly 50 home dates from late May through early September.
Grizzlies Baseball Academy
The Grizzlies Baseball Academy is located at the U.S. Cellular Kid's Zone at GCS Ballpark, and features a three-cage setup for hitting and pitching instruction. On site is the Pro-Batter PX2 Professional Baseball System, a top-notch pitching machine.
Indian Mound Golf Course
Indian Mound offers an 18-hole golf course.
CITY:Fairmont City
Jackie Joyner-Kersee Center
The center is a multi-purpose meeting and sports venue with satellite conferencing, computer work stations and a 1,200-seat gymnasium.
CITY:East St. Louis
Jaycee Sports Complex
This complex features 12 ball fields (six are lighted), six soccer fields (one is lighted), one football field and concessions.
Laser Force Lazer Tag Zone
A 5,000 sq. ft. laser tag arena and a 2,500 sq. ft. game arcade is conveniently located by hotels and restaurants off I-64.
Mac's Time-Out Lounge/Off Track Betting
Order off the extensive menu. Why not try the real Southern-style chicken and dumplings or meat-lover's pizza? You'll find fair prices, large portions & excellent dishes. Try eating outside at the comfortable terrace-style beer garden. Your whole family will have a pleasant dining experience. Place your bets at the off-track betting parlor. Stay late for a cold one.
Oak Brook Golf Course
Oak Brook features a 27-hole golf course.
Riverbend Billiards & Grill
Riverbend Billiards provides 10,000 sq. ft. of entertainment. There is great food and beverages for everyone, plus a full bar for our over 21 crowd. You'll find 15 7-ft. bar tables and two 9-ft. Gold Crowns. Dart machines and video games are available for the kids. Riverbend Billiards sells a wide variety of pool cues, cases and miscellaneous pool supplies as well as a large selection of soft tip darts and dart supplies. Open Monday - Thursday, 11 a.m. - 1 a.m., Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. - 2 a.m., and Sunday, Noon - 1 a.m.
Rivers Edge Golf Course
This nine-hole golf course has two on-site restaurants.
CITY:Granite City
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Cougar Field and SimmonsCooper Baseball Complex
These newly constructed additions to the sports facilities at SIUE serve as the home of the softball and baseball teams, respectively.
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Ralph Korte Stadium & Sports Complex
This 3,000-seat venue is home of the SIUE track & field and soccer programs. The complex, which has hosted the NCAA Division II Championships on three occasions, is completely lighted and has a seperate throwing area for field events.


text: I have an nodal ninja 3 on its way and I will be using a canon rebel xti to take a high volume of virtual tours. Currently I have a canon 10-22mm lense that we have been using, but would like to reduce the number of shots to create our tours with great quality. Which is the lense of choice the sigma or tokina. Quality is very important.


text:
I would be interested to learn if the following generalization of the classical Looman-Menchoff theorem is true.
Assume that the function $f=u+iv$, defined on a domain $D\subset\mathbb{C}$, is such that
- $u_x$, $u_y$, $v_x$, $v_y$ exist almost everywhere in $D$.
- $u$, $v$ satisfy the Cauchy–Riemann equations almost everywhere in $D$.
- $f=f(x,y)$ is separately continuous (in $x$ and $y$) in $D$.
- $f$ is locally integrable.
Question: Does it follow that $f$ is analytic everywhere in $D$?
Remark 1. Condition 3 is essential (take $f=1/z$).
Remark 2. G. Sindalovskiĭ proved analyticity of $f$ under conditions 2-4 when the partial derivatives exist everywhere in $D$, except on a countable union of closed sets of finite linear Hausdorff measure (link).


text:
TO: The Bennington College Community FROM: Alan Kornberg '74, Chair of the Board of Trustees
This is an exciting time for Bennington College as we begin the search for our first new president in twenty-five years. It is an opportunity for us all to reflect on the state of Bennington and our goals for its future as we embark on the process of selecting the person who will lead the College during the next chapter of its history. I am pleased to provide you with an update on the search that is now underway.
The Board of Trustees has appointed a search committee composed of alumni, faculty, and trustees. Susan Paris Borden '69, Suzanne Brundage '08, Barbara Ushkow Deane '51, Michael Hecht, Lea Hershkowitz '11, Robert Ransick, Susan Sgorbati '72, MFA '86, James Simon '97, Deborah Wadsworth, and I serve on the committee. Our committee is being assisted by Phillips Oppenheim, a highly regarded search firm that specializes in working with not-for-profit and cultural institutions. Jane Phillips Donaldson and Sarah James are our principal contacts at Phillips Oppenheim, and Jane knows the College particularly well, having served as a trustee from 2006 to 2010.
One of the first priorities of the committee is to seek guidance and input from the many constituencies who have a stake in Bennington's future. Members of the search committee and Phillips Oppenheim were on campus earlier this week, on October 23 and 24, for one-on-one and group discussions with faculty, staff, and students. In November and early December we will host a series of focused conversations with alumni, parents, and friends in cities across the country. While we cannot hear from every constituent in person, we invite you to share your thoughts about the College and its unique position within the landscape of higher education, what Bennington's priorities should be for the future, and the qualities a new president should possess. You can find feedback and nomination forms online. All nominations will be kept confidential and given serious consideration.
The feedback collected this fall will help shape the position description for the new president and inform our thinking as we move into the recruitment and preliminary assessment phase of the search process. The search committee hopes to be in a position to consider a short list of vetted candidates during the first quarter of 2013, with a final decision to be made in the spring.
We recognize that many in the Bennington community have a keen interest in the presidential search and in the College's future. We will provide regular updates via email and on the Bennington College website, doing our best to balance the goal of transparency with the need for confidentiality.
We will not be mailing any further updates until we announce the selection of the new president. If you'd like to receive updates on the search, please share your email at firstname.lastname@example.com. Or you may check the website for the latest information about the search.


text:
Implementation of New HMS Policy
January 20, 2011
Dear Members of the Harvard Medical School Faculty,
I am writing to share with you details about the implementation of the new requirements on conflicts of interest and commitment. As you are aware, in July, Harvard Medical School announced my acceptance of the recommendations of the Faculty of Medicine Committee on Conflicts of Interest and Commitment. Since then, significant implementation efforts have been underway, and policies and handbooks are being revised.
Some of the recommendations will be implemented effective January 1, 2011. Others will continue to be implemented throughout the coming months. Let me share with you the anticipated schedule so that, to the extent any of the changes may affect your own outside activities, you can plan accordingly:
Clinical Research
Lowering the Clinical Research Income Limit. As of April 1, 2011, HMS will be lowering the clinical research income limit from $20,000 to $10,000. This means that a faculty member who is participating in clinical research on a technology owned by or contractually obligated to a business will not be able to accept more than $10,000 per year in honoraria, consulting or other income from that business.
- Existing faculty obligations as of April 1, 2011, that have the potential for payments exceeding the $10,000 per-year limit for 2011 will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis by the Standing Committee.
- Narrowing the Definition of Clinical Research. As of January 1, 2011, the definition of clinical research for purpose of applying the clinical research income restriction shall be revised to exclude certain clinical research defined as nominal risk, if so reviewed and approved by HMS or the affiliated institution's IRB and/or conflict of interest committee.
- Dual Career Families. As of April 1, 2011, the Standing Committee will begin to entertain petitions for exceptions from the clinical research income restrictions if the faculty member's financial interest violates policy solely by reason of his or her spouse or domestic partner's earnings from independent professional activities. The relevant professional activities cannot have any nexus with the faculty member's proposed research. Please check the HMS Integrity in Academic Medicine website in the coming months for details regarding this petition process.
- Lowering the Clinical Research Income Limit. As of April 1, 2011, HMS will be lowering the clinical research income limit from $20,000 to $10,000. This means that a faculty member who is participating in clinical research on a technology owned by or contractually obligated to a business will not be able to accept more than $10,000 per year in honoraria, consulting or other income from that business.
Basic Research
- As of January 1, 2011, sponsorship pursuant to a grant or subgrant under the Small Business Innovation Research Program or the Small Business Technology Transfer Program will no longer be subject to the rule prohibiting a faculty member from holding equity in a business that sponsors his/her basic research. This is a limited exception to the prohibition and it will be reviewed by the Standing Committee following an initial trial period.
Continuing Medical Education
- Effective January 1, 2011, funding from industry to support a specific continuing education course may only be accepted if there are two or more industry sponsors. No one industry sponsor may fund more than 50 percent of a particular course budget, with sponsorship among all industry sponsors being relatively equitable.
- HMS will implement the restriction upon industry involvement in advertising and exhibits over the next six months. Specific restrictions on industry-sponsored exhibits and advertising will be imposed for all Harvard CME programs. Industry exhibits will have to be located in a separate room from Harvard CME content and have a separate entrance/exit from that used by participants of the Harvard course. In addition, industry programs and exhibits will have to be marketed separately from Harvard programs and cannot be held in competing locations and at competing times with Harvard content.
- Curricula for Medical Students. Curricula has been and will continue to be developed to offer students multiple and continuous opportunities to develop critical decision making skills, including evaluating factors of potential bias, beginning at the orientation to medical school and continuing throughout their careers, into continuing medical education.
- Access to HMS. The existing restriction that no medical or dental drug, device or supply company sales and marketing representative shall have access to medical students on campus has already been reinforced. Effective July 1, 2011, biomedical company representatives, such as those who provide training and education on the proper use of laboratory materials and/or devices are welcome provided that they have been invited by a member of the HMS/HSDM faculty or designated staff and wear an identifying badge setting forth the individual's company affiliation.
- No Gifts/Travel/Meals. Consistent with guidance issued by PhRMA and AdvaMed, all HMS faculty will be prohibited from receiving personal gifts, travel or meals from industry—other than travel and meals in the course of allowed activities. This prohibition currently applies to all clinical faculty. Effective July 1, 2011, the prohibitions will be extended to non-clinical faculty to the same extent that they currently apply to clinical faculty under state law.
- Speakers Bureaus Prohibition. Effective July 1, 2011, faculty participation in industry speakers bureaus will be prohibited. Further, faculty may not accept compensation for a speaking engagement that unduly limits the faculty member's intellectual independence with regard to presentation content.
- Board of Directors Review. Effective January 1, 2011, HMS may review a faculty member's participation on the fiduciary board of a for-profit business engaged in commercial or research activities of a biomedical nature when such relationship is disclosed to HMS in the course of its annual faculty financial disclosure process. The Standing Committee will evaluate whether the arrangement gives rise to actual or potential conflicts of interest and may make recommendations to the Dean as it deems appropriate in any case, including managing, reducing or eliminating the conflict.
The HMS Office for Professional Standards and Integrity will be issuing additional guidance in the coming weeks and months. Please check in to the HMS Integrity in Academic Medicine website for more information as it becomes available. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at email@example.com.
Jeffrey S. Flier
Dean, Faculty of Medicine
Harvard Medical School
Gretchen A. Brodnicki
Dean, Faculty and Research Integrity
Harvard Medical School


text: The multi-faceted Signs of Sustainability program began with a section on our first website that featured news of individual or organizational actions and programs that supported the shift to sustainable lifestyles. At our December 2006 holiday dinner, we presented a slideshow and gave out SoS certificates to 31 new businesses and organizational programs related to sustainability. The annual awards program has rapidly grown and by 2010 celebrated 221 new sustainability initiatives. In early 2007, we approached the publishers of Tompkins Weekly to suggest a weekly column on local sustainability written by representatives from various organizations and managed by ST. The articles also are featured on the ST website. The SoS program also includes "On the Homefront" where members can post their suggestions for more sustainable patterns of living, and "Local Signs" which summarizes overall trends related to sustainability in Tompkins County.


text:
Some call the eleventh of Tishre "b'shem Hashem" ("בשם ה׳"). (I assume this is a hasidic term, since, according to what I've heard, the name comes from the Baal Shem Tov.) Why is it called that?
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The Lubavitcher Rebbe zt"l, in his notes to the Chabad machzor, quotes the following explanation (printed in Ginzei Nistaros in the name of the Baal Shem Tov):
The various names of Hashem are means by which created beings relate to Him; His own Essence is beyond any names. Our sins cause a blemish in the name Havayah, and during the time of forgiveness of sins [Aseres Yemei Teshuvah, or maybe more broadly also including Elul] we rise up to the level of "before [i.e., above] Havayah." Thus, the day after Yom Kippur can't be associated with any specific divine name - it's just "Hashem's Name."
In a footnote there, the Rebbe points out that Eshel Avraham (Buczacz, Orach Chaim 624:5) gives a different reason, also in the name of the Baal Shem Tov: because on this day we once again begin mentioning Hashem's name where we had omitted it before, saying הא-ל הקדוש instead of המלך הקדוש.
He concludes that "these two explanations may be reconciled," but doesn't suggest how.


text:
Your skin is likely to change during pregnancy. Some women find that they develop pimples or acne, due to the high levels of progesterone. Conversely, you may get dry skin, also due to pregnancy hormones. The dryness may become worse over your abdomen as your belly grows and the skin is stretched.
Freckles and moles may get darker. You may also notice tiny red lines on your chest or legs: these are called spider nevi and are due to the increased blood supply to the skin which makes the vessels dilate and become more visible.
Other women find that the high levels of estrogen mean that their skin is in a better condition than before they were pregnant. The "glow" of pregnancy is due to the increased blood supply that occurs in pregnancy, which gives you a rosy healthy looking complexion.
Your partner is now realizing his responsibilities and affection for the baby, and is showing these feelings by taking care of you. If you're finding that his pampering of you is a little too much, you might want to discuss other ways he can feel involved in the pregnancy and prepare for the baby. Try to embrace his involvement and enthusiasm-it's a great way for you to strengthen your relationship and prepare for parenthood together.
As soon as your employer knows you're pregnant, you should be protected by the Pregnancy Discrimination Act, which says that pregnant employees must be treated the same as other employees with disabilities or limitations. Most parents-to-be wait until 12 weeks when the risk of miscarriage is lower. Some wait longer.
Excerpted from Pregnancy Day by Day.
Copyright © 2008 Dorling Kindersley Limited.
Buy this book now!
© 2000-2016 Sandbox Networks, Inc. All Rights Reserved.


text:
Service Learning
Opportunities for teens with the Seattle Parks department
Seattle Parks and Recreation has a wide range of service-learning and community service opportunities in your neighborhoods.
Please consult your counselor or teacher at your school to find what the requirements are for your respective school and have the project approved. Youth are responsible for supplying the appropriate paperwork to document service-learning and community service hours.
Please note, each of these opportunities requires youth who are responsible, dedicated, dependable, hardworking, trustworthy, self-motivated, detail oriented, and comfortable with working in small groups. Many of these opportunities are service based and require an understanding of customer service. The Parks Department would like the individual not only to have a fulfilling experience, but to be proud of the work that they have produced.
Each individual involved in the service-learning project will be required to record their thoughts and reflect on their experience in either a journal or by other means. This could include group discussions, photographs with captions, poetry, illustrations, or by other methods approved by the teacher or counselor in charge of servicelearning at the students' school and also by the project supervisor.
If you are interested in any of the following service-learning projects, or if you have any questions, please contact:
|Teen Leaders at your
local Community Center or Teen Life Center
|Gwen Wessels
Service Learning outside of Seattle Parks
Many teen programs throughout the city have service aspects to their running programs. These programs often count towards service learning credits for high school graduation. If you are looking to get involved with an outside organization check with our partner United Way of King County or check out these other opportunities:


text:
The city of Bowling Green is suing former Convention Center Board member Steve Catron to recover more than $700,000 in alleged misspent public funds, and alleges that Catron and his wife conspired to hide the money by purchasing property.
The 60-page lawsuit was filed Friday afternoon in Warren Circuit Court by City Attorney Gene Harmon, and Gregg Hovious, a Louisville lawyer hired to investigate the allegations and pursue legal action.
Steve and Deborah Catron own a house in RiverGreen subdivision valued at $650,000. Deborah Catron is listed as the sole owner of 4 pieces of property in rural Warren County with a combined value of $439,000. The city's lawsuit alleges that the Catron's purchased or maintained some or all of their property with Convention Center funds, and conspired to deed the land solely to Mrs. Catron in an effort to defraud the city of its' money. The city goes on to ask the court to declare the couple's ownership of all the property void, and to place the property in a trust for the city's benefit.
The lawsuit contains eight main allegations including breach of duty as a corporate officer, wrongful spending of public funds, professional negligence, fraudulent concealment, and breach of contract.
The city's attorneys are asking for reimbursement as well as punitive damages, and reimbursement of attorney's fees.
The Bowling Green City Commission voted unanimously Tuesday at a special meeting to sue Catron, but wait until Friday to file the suit, in hopes of reaching a settlement to keep the case out of court. Contacted on Thursday, Hovious told WBKO there had been negotiations between Catron's attorney and the city within the last 24 hours, but it appears, at least for now, those negotiations failed.
Neither Steve nor Deborah Catron nor their attorney could be reached for comment.


text:
MARLIN (December 10, 2012)—The City of Marlin eased its water use restrictions Monday from level 6, the most severe, to level two, for the first time since a mistake disabled its water plant in early November.
A boil order issued on Nov. 8 for Marlin water customers after the mistake involving misdirected chemicals caused the city's water plant to shut down was lifted at 4:30 p.m. Friday.
While repairs were made, the city used a portable system, but the city's plant was up and running Friday and the portable plant is no longer needed, officials said.
Marlin Mayor Elizabeth Nelson said the final water treatment unit in the plant should be turned back on Tuesday for inspection, which will bring the city up to full treatment capacity.


text:
I just set up a new AirPort Extreme and CentOS 6.2 server - the server is meant to be a general-purpose storage machine, and so I've set up Samba and Avahi on it. I can easily access the server by IP address from my MacBook Pro running OS X Lion, but attempting to resolve it by name - from the terminal with
ping, in a connect prompt (
smb://my-server/) - doesn't work.
Are there any particular configuration steps I need to take? How can I get access by name to the server from OS X?


text:
Two major marijuana busts last week in Washington County.
Investigators discovered two pot growing operations, one valued at $50 million.
This marks the third pot farm bust since July.
So what makes that area between Brenham and Navasota such a hot spot for growing marijuana?
News 3 spoke with Washington County's Sheriff about that and the latest in the investigation.
It was a record find Friday morning in Washington County after some 48,700 marijuana plants were seized at a vacant ranch between Brenham and Navasota.
Investigators say the month-old plants were being tended to by someone who'd been staying at the site near the Brazos River.
Some longtime residents aren't surprised.
"There's lots of drugs going on right here in Old Washington," said a Washington County resident who asked we only use his first name, Milton.
"Probably, because time's got so hard lots of people dealing with drugs, especially all the young people and that's what it is most of the young people in this area," said Milton.
Sheriff Otto Hanak has been in office since January and says they are working to make arrests on all the seizures.
Since July three separate marijuana growing operations have been busted with the first along Highway105.
Then February 24th $2.5 million worth of weed was seized at a vacant ranch on F-M 1155.
Lastly was the $50 million dollar pot bust Friday morning on Egypt Lane.
"First of all it's a remote part of the county and secondly it's a very fertile part of the county. Sandy soil that will grow just about anything," explained Sheriff Otto Hanak.
"It's just been going on for recent years, maybe 20, 25 years, but when I was a kid no drugs around here, none," said Milton.
Investigators say they will continue to search the property to see if there are any other drugs being grown and believe there could be a connection to last Sunday's seizure.
Investigators right now don't think the owner of the land in Friday's raid was involved. He doesn't live in the county.
The Drug Enforcement Administration took the 48,700 pot plants to Houston as evidence.
Washington County Sheriff Otto Hanak reports that as a result of an ongoing criminal investigation, in addition to a tip received from a concerned citizen, probable cause was developed to obtain a search warrant for property on Egypt Lane off FM 2726.
At 10:20 am Friday March 1, the Washington County Sheriff's Office, along with agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Texas Department of Public Safety Aircraft Service, entered the property and executed the search warrant.
Four marijuana fields were located and approximately 48,700 plants were discovered, seized and secured as evidence. The criminal investigation will be continued by the Washington County Criminal Investigation Division, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the 21st Judicial District Attorney's Office.


text: In this next drawing tutorial I will be giving you a full, easy to follow lesson that will teach you "how to draw Rabbit" from Skunk Fu, step by step. Now for those of you that watch this animated series on Cartoon Network, you already know that Rabbit is a confident animal that works his way to being the best by acting like the best. He is arrogant, cocky, tough, brave and even sometimes naive. Rabbit sometimes competes with Skunk to show him who is better at kung fu. Rabbit also has a humongous crush on Fox as well and he will often get very bashful whenever she comes around. Fox is older than the rest of the gang and she will sometimes tell Rabbit and Skunk to focus and use the skills that they know to accomplish goals that are sometimes set by Panda. If you were to ask who was a better martial artist I would have to say Skunk because he listens a lot more than Rabbit and he is less cocky and arrogant. In this tutorial I will show you how to draw Rabbit from Skunk Fu step by step. I made the lesson steps easy to follow and the instructions simple to read. Once you learn this tutorial, you will see how easy it is to draw other Skunk Fu characters step by step. I will be back with more drawing fun, but in the mean time look around and see what else you can tackle.


text:
Adrian Morejon
You are hereHome/ Adrian Morejon
Praised for his "teeming energy" and "precise control" by The New York Times and having "every note varnished to a high gloss" by the Boston Globe, New York-based bassoonist Adrian Morejon has established himself as a soloist, chamber musician and orchestral musician.
Morejon has been an active chamber musician in the New York area. Aside from being a founding member of Sospiro Winds, he has performed with the Jupiter Symphony Chamber Players, the International Contemporary Ensemble (ICE), the Talea Ensemble, the Metropolis Ensemble, the St. Luke's Chamber Ensemble, the Manhattan Sinfonietta, the Second Instrumental Unit, the Eupraxia Arts & Music Collective, the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, Chamber Music Northwest and as a part of the Great Performers Series at Lincoln Center. An experienced orchestral musician, Morejon is co-principal of the IRIS Orchestra and has performed with the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Orchestra of St. Luke's, the Boston Modern Orchestra Project (BMOP), Philharmonic Orchestra of the Americas, the Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia, the Charleston and Taipei symphony orchestras and the Brooklyn and Hudson Valley philharmonic orchestras.
Morejon was a recipient of Theodore Presser Foundation Grant, 2nd prize of the Fox-Gillet International Competition and a shared top prize at the Moscow Conservatory International Competition. During the past summers, he has participated in many festivals, including the Monadnock Music Festival, the NJO Academy in the Netherlands, the Chamber Music Institute, Spoleto USA, the American Institute of Musical Studies in Graz, Austria, the Norfolk Chamber Music Festival, Banff Centre, National Orchestral Institute, Music Academy of the West, the Verbier Festival and FOSJA in Puerto Rico.
Morejon completed graduate studies at the Yale School while studying with Frank Morelli. Prior to this, Morejon studied bassoon with Bernard Garfield and the harpsichord with Lionel Party at the Curtis Institute of Music.
Morejon is currently on the faculty at The Boston Conservatory, the Praxis Youth Leadership Orchestra and the Composer's Conference at Wellesley College.
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text:
Jason Brickhill, Attorney with the LRC's Constitutional Litigation Unit, and Cameron Mcconnachi, an attorney with the LRC's Grahamstown office, will discuss the right to education, focusing on specific cases and the challenges they face in crafting legal interventions that will bring about much needed structural changes to education for poor children in South Africa. The LRC is a leading host organization for Columbia's Human Rights Internship Program and still seeks applicants for 2013 internships. Pizza will be served. Sponsored by Social Justice Initiatives and the Human Rights Institute.
© Copyright 2016, The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York.
For questions or comments, please contact the web administrators.
435 West 116 Street, New York, NY 10027 — 212-854-2640


text:
: [Fic]
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Join Date
: Sep 2010
: Greece
: 234
Current Game
: battlefront 2
( I've decided to create a second edition of this story. Note: There is an admiral named Piet in this story. It has nothing to do with the one in my other stories. Just pure lack (remember that this story was writen long before i created the Star Wars AU). So enjoy the story.)
It is a dark time for the galaxy. Almost all jedi knights are dead, Coruscant, the capital of the galactic republic, is in ruins, the senate destroyed, the jedi temple burned to the ground, and lord Xenian rules the galaxy, establishing a dark sith empire.
Before six months a small team, Xin, Harr and Helena, tried to assassinate the sith lord. Although they managed to destroy the plans for the nuke, Helena was killed and the sith lord escaped.
Wanting revenge, he ordered a group of sith assassins to find and kill Xin and Harr. But in the galaxy's darkest time, a revolution shall bring again light in the galaxy...........
Besbin, in a small cantina. Xin and Harr are drinking to forget their failure to defeat the dark lord. Xin is tall and lean. He thinks he is very handsome and always does the smart guy. Harr is a very strong, he is wookie after all. He is many years friend with Xin. Once xin was a pilot of the Trade Federation, but when he saw some droids torturing a wookie slave named Harr, he destroyed the droids and escaped with Harr. Then Harr and Xin became friends and smugglers. At the same time Jack entered the cantina. Jack was a nineteen year old boy, who was slim, had black hair and blue eyes.
Jack: Hello.
Barman: Hello.
As Jack entered he saw two men playing Pazzak, some Rakata talking, and one smuggler, and his wookie friend, drinking.
Jack: That's the one i am searching. I have to talk to him.
Jack comes close to the smuggler.
Jack: Hello. I know that you are a jedi. I knew it since you came here before six months.
Xin: I am no jedi.
Jack: Please train me in the ways of the force.
Xin: Shut up, Kid. If the imperial troopers hear you, they will kill us both.
Jack: Okay.
Xin: Why do you want to become a jedi?
Jack: Because the sith killed my sister.
Xin: The jedi don't believe in revenge. And anyway, i am not a jedi.
Jack: Then why you have a lightsaber?
Xin: It doesn't belong to me. It belonged to a jedi knight.
Xin closed his eyes, and for one second he remembered her. He remembered the moment, that she was slain by Xenian, Dark lord of the sith. He loved her, but their loyalties made them enemies. And once they were together, the sith lord took her away from him
Jack: What is it?
Xin: Nothing. Just some memories of my old life.
Jack: I don't understand.
Xin: In time, you will.
Xin then closed his eyes for a second and remembered their kiss. << Lord Xenian will pay>> he thought.
Jack: So, how did you get this lightsaber?
Xin: Kid, I've been drinking six months now, every day, to forget about this.
Jack: Why don- wait, who is this guy?
A man with a cybernetic hand and two cybernetic legs came in the cantina and came near Xin.
Man: Do you remember me?
Xin: Why i should remember you?
Man: You almost killed me five years ago, in the cantina at Tatooine, searching for Bola, during the great purge. Now, i want revenge!!
Xin throws the table on the man, while he and Harr hide behind an another table and fire at the man.
Jack: He has a shield. We cant kill him!!
Xin: Shut up, kid. Take this lightsaber, and kill him.
Jack: But ho-
Xin: You talk too much. You want to become a jedi, right? Here is your chance.
Jack: How am i supposed to use it?
Xin: I don't know. Do i look like a jedi master?
Jack: I will try to use the force. Whats your name?
Xin: My name is Xin. And he is Harr.
Harr: hahahahah
Jack: Nice to meet you. My name is Jack.
Xin: Now attack.
Jack runs to attack, but the man fires on him. However, Jack, using the lightsaber, manages to block the blaster and comes near to the man.
Xin: This guy is going to use flamethrower on the boy. He will burn him. Even jedi masters cant defend against a flamethrower.
Harr: hahaha
Xin: I must do something.
Xin tries to use the force. At first he fails, but then he manages to feel the force. He remembered the words of Helena. << Use the Force, Xin>>. He remembered Kashyyyk. << Only force users use so good the lightsaber >> Helena said to him, before six months, in that forest world. He could feel the force coming in his body.
Xin: Force help me. Force Storm!!!!!!!!
As he shouts, he throws a ball of lightning storm to the man, while Jack cuts off the man's head.
Barman: Jack, it seems that the imperial troopers are coming.
Jack: What?!!
Imperial trooper: A jedi, men!! Kill him!!
Xin: Run, kid, run.
As the soldiers fire on Jack, Jack uses his lightsaber to block their attack, and then he runs. Meanwhile Harr fires and kills three troopers.
Xin: Come on Harr. We cant win this fight!!
Jack: How we will escape?
Xn: I have an idea. I will do the << cantina on Tatooine >> plan.
Harr: Hhahaha
Xin: Yes i know what happened last time. And i am not crazy. It is the only chance we have. Run now, run.
So Xin is alone against the imperial squad.
Xin: Hello there!
Xin throws a plasma grenade on the imperial troopers and quickly hides behind a table, as the entire cantina is blown up. Then Xin runs out of the cantina, and goes to the ebon hawk.
Xin: So, Jack what do you want?
Jack: To become a jedi knight.
Xin: As i told you i am a smuggler.
A man comes in the ebon hawk.
Man: Interesting.
Xin: Who are you.
Xin pulls out his blaster.
Man: Lower your weapon. My name is Lando, but i am most known as the exile. I left the know galaxy eight years before.
Xin: So you are a jedi knight?
Lando: Yes. I show your skills, your force powers, and how you escaped this troopers. But please tell me, who are they? They look like republican troopers. What happened since i left?
Xin: Well, here is the story. 100 years after the death of Darth Traya, the Brotherhood of the Sith was formed by two fallen jedi knights, Raptor and Ryox. Countless Knights fell in battle, and many more sworn allegiance to the new Sith Master. The republic was divided in two, with the separatists and the trade federation wanting an alliance with the new Sith empire. Only one jedi, named Christos, managed to do countless victories against the sith lords. But after one year he fell to the dark side and took the title of Darth Rex, the conqueror. He managed to take over almost half the republic, had hundreds of victories, won many battles, fought in many campaigns and killed many jedi knights. He almost took over Coruscant. But then his old master and friend, the jedi knight Ben, killed him. Ben also killed Ryox. He then attacked Korriban, along with his apprentice, Nick, a farm boy from Dantooine. Ben was slain by Raptor, but Nick won and arrested Raptor. Then, with the sith defeated, the jedi council started a war against the sith. The great purge started. All jedi knights, and republican troopers searched the entire galaxy, and exterminated the remaining sith lords. An- wait some imperial troopers are coming. I will tell you the rest history later.
Xin: Lando and Jack, go to the turrets. Hold them off, as me and Harr will try to get this thing to fly.
Lando: Very well. May the force be with you.
Jack: I will kick some sith ass!!
Xin went to the cockpit and started to download some files, in order to make this thing able to fly. Meanwhile Lando and Jack fire to the troopers.
Lando: A squad of 100 troopers is coming.
Jack: What am i going to do?
Lando: Use the force.
Jack: I knew that you would say that.
At the same time a red assassin droid named HK-47 enters the cockpit.
HK-47: Ready to serve, master.
Xin: HK, i am glad that you remembered to come here and help us, after 5 minutes while 100 troopers are attacking us!!
HK-47: Forgive me master. How can i help?
Xin: The engine of the ship has a problem. Repair it.
HK-47: I am an assassin droid and i do-
Xin: Shut up. Just repair the damn thing.
Xin closes his eyes for a second. And he remembers the words of Xenian to Helena, in that final duel. << You can still join me and rule together the galaxy. Become my empress. >> he said, and Helena replied << Never. Return to the light side or die!! >>. So the duel begun. He was firing on some droids when Xenian stabbed her in the back. Then he suddenly woke up.
Lnado: We cant hold much longer!!
Xin: Harr, open the computer.
Harr: Hhaha
Xin: And now, we fly.
The Ebon Hawk left Besbin. But in the space, 1000 imperial starfighters are attacking the Ebon Hawk.
Jack: We will all die!!! Damn it. Why we dont have lightspeed?
Xin: Calm down kid. HK is fixing it.
Jack: Until he repairs the engine, we will be all dead!
Xin: Come on HK, don't fail me.
Xin: Jack and Lando, fire at those starfighters.
Lando: Very well.
Lando and Jack manage to take down 5 starfighters, but things are getting worse.
HK-47: Master, we are ready for lightspeed.
So the Ebon Hawk manages to go to lightspeed and escape.
Xin goes to Jack.
Xin: Do you trust this guy, Lando?
Jack: Yes. i trust him.
Lando is a tall man, with grey hair, a beard and a brown jedi robe. He must be around the age of sixty.
Lando: Now tell me the rest of the story.
Xin: Almost 6 years after the death of Raptor,a jedi named Nick, fell to the dark side of the force. The stupid senators decided to create a law, that would dismiss the republican army, and instead each world would have its own army.
Lando: Stupid move.
Xin: Very stupid. Nick did a coup, with the help of the republican army,and nuked Coruscant. Instead of occupying it, he let it become a desert, because he believed that it was a symbol of the old republic. The remaining citizens of Coruscant, thanks to a virus, became rakghouls. Now there are thousand rakghouls down there.
Jack: Why are you telling us all of this?
Xin: Because we don't have any fuel, so we need to land in Coruscant and take some fuel.
Jack: Are you kidding me?
Xin: No. At least we wont have to pay for the fuel.
Jack: Stop joking. Those monsters will kill us. They eat everything that moves.
Xin: Well, we don't have much of a choice. We will land in the surface, because the upper city was destroyed by the sith.
So the Ebon Hawk lands on the planet. Xin, Harr, HK-47, Jack and Lando are walking in the streets of Coruscant. As they walk they see a rakghoul with white skin, and blood in his face.
Xin: Damn it!!
Then they see two-hundred rakghouls breaking the windows of nearby buildings and jumping in the street.
Xin: Fire, fire!!
So Xin, Harr, HK-47, Jack and Lando are surrounded by rakghouls. Jack and Lando use their lightsabers to kill the rakghouls, while HK-47 and Harr use their blasters.
Xin: I need to stop them. Force help me. I can feel the force coming. Force Storm!!!!!!!!!! Aaaahhhh!!!!!!!!
Xin releases balls of storm that burn alive and kill anyone that they hit.
Xin: The Fuel Station has bunch of those monsters. Jack, do you see that building?
Jack: Yes.
Xin: Go on top of that building, and use that cannon to fire on the enemy outside that building so we can load up on fuel
Jack: Okay Xin.
Xin: May the force be with you.
So Jack runs into 4567. There he finds five rakghouls, that he kills using his lightsaber. He then enters the elevator. Once he is on the top of the building, 70 rakghouls appear, and attack him.
Jack: Lando, help me.
Then Jack hears a voice in his head.
Lando: Use the force, Jack.
Jack: I will use the force. Force Push!!!!!!!!
Jack, using the force, pushes all rakghouls away from him, and throws them to the surface, killing them.
Xin: Use the plasma cannon.
Jack uses the plasma cannon to kill the rakghouls. Soon, the rakghouls turn their attention to Jack, letting Xin free to sneak and steal the fuel. Xin, Harr, HK-47 and Lando are running to the Ebon Hawk
Xin: Kid, run.
As Jack leaves the cannon, 60 rakghouls attack him and throw him to the street. Jack, with a broken leg, and rakghouls attacking him, tries to use the force to force push back the rakghouls.
Xin: We cant leave him.
HK-47: I will go to save him, master.
HK-47 runs, and just in time, as the rakghouls are ready to eat alive Jack, uses the flamethrower to kill the rakghouls and carries Jack to the ship.
Xin: Come on, run.
As HK and Jack enter the ship, the Ebon Hawk leaves Coruscant.
Jack: That was an escape!!
Alderaan, palace of Lord Xenian, Dark Lord of the Sith, and emperor of the galaxy. Xenian wears a dark jedi robe, a black hood, and has the mask of Darth Revan. Admiral John knocks the door of the emperor's office. John is a short man, with grey hair and a sith uniform.
Xenian: Come in.
John: Sir, we found the Ebon Hawk. I've sent 4 sith assassins, with their starfighters, to get them.
Xenian: Good. Xin will soon be dead!! He will pay for turning Helena against me!!
Meanwhile on the Ebon Hawk.
Xin: So what you and Lando will do?
Jack: I want to learn the ways of the force, to take revenge from the sith.
Lando: I will try to re-establish the jedi order and destroy the sith.
Xin: So, why dont we stay united and attack together the empire?
Lando: Thats a good idea.
Suddenly two black jedi starfighters appear.
Lando: Who are those guys?
Xin: Sith assassins. Lando and Jack, go to the turrets.
Jack and Lando fire at the starfighters, but they have a shield. At the same time Xenian can feel Xin throughout the force.
Xenian: Xin, i shall give you a gift. You shall be given a second chance to save Helena. Force vision!!
Xin: Ahh!!
Xin falls down. When he wakes up he is on the flagship of Xenian, with Helena and Harr.
Xin: That happened 6 months ago.
Helena: We should go to the bridge.
Xin: No, Helena, we will lose.
Helena: We have to try, or the galaxy is doomed. We must at least give some time to Harr to destroy the plans for the nukes.
Xin: I love you.
Helena: Me too.
Helena kisses Xin, and then she enters the bridge. There she finds Xenian.
Helena: Nick. I know that there is still some good in you. Come back. Leave all of this behind.
Xenian: I cant!! I have to rule my new empire. Come with me and we will make things they way we want them to be.
Helena: Only a sith can say things like that. I am sorry.
Helena attacks with her lightsaber Xenian, but Xenian blocks her attacks. Then Xenian uses force storm against Helena, but Helena blocks the force storm and turns it back to Xenian. But Xenian is still strong. He attacks with some lightsaber combos and wounds Helena in her hand.
Xenian: You can still join me and rule together the galaxy. Become my empress. I love you.
Helena: Never. Return to the light side, if you love me, or die!!
Xenian: You are the one that will die.
Helena attacks Xenian and cuts off his one hand.
Xenian: I still have one hand.
Xin: Helena, i will help you.
But suddenly 5 droids attack Xin.
Xin: Fire, fire.
As Xin fires to the droids, he loses his second chance to save Helena. Xenian manages to stab Helena and kill her.
Xin: No!!!!!!!!!!!
Xenian: Do you feel good, that you lost your love for a second time? hahahaha!!
At the same time in the Ebon Hawk.
Harr: Hhaha
Lando: What?? Xin fell down and shouts? Wake him up. We need him.
HK-47: Sir, we have lost our shield.
Jack: Damn it. One more hit and we are dead.
Lando tries to communicate with Xin throughout the force.
Lando: Calm down. Feel the force. Close your eyes.
As Xenian is ready to kill Xin, Xin closes his eyes and wakes up.
Xin: What happened?
Jack: We lost our shield. One more hit, and our journey will end here.
Xin: Go close to one of those starfighters.
Xin wears a space suit and goes at the top of the Ebon Hawk.
Sith assassin: Men, fire at this man on the top of the ship.
Xin jumps on one of the starfighters, opens the door, throws out the assassin and takes control of it.
Harr: Hhaha
Lando: That is just crazy, even for Xin.
Xin: Yea!!! Take this!!
Xin, using the sith starfighter fires at the other three starfighters and destroys them just in time. Then he throws a grenade on his starfighter, jumbs on the top of the Ebon Hawk, and activates the grenade blowing up the starfighter.
Xin: That was a victory.
On the imperial palace.
John: My Lord, the assassins have failed.
Xenian: What? You have failed for the last time admiral.
Xenian force chokes John.
Xenian: Piet, you are admiral now. Do not fail me.
Piet: Of.. of course... sir.
Piet is a humanoid admiral with green skin, red hair and yellow eyes. He wears a blue sith uniform.
On the Ebon Hawk.
Xin: So, what do we do now?
Lando: I would say that if we want to start a revolt, we should start it from Telos. The people in this planet hate the sith, while the army in Telos is forced to obey Xenian by its superiors. If it wasnt for the sith base there, then the army would have revolted.
Jack: Okay then. Xin lets go to Telos.
Lando: First you should go to Dantooine.
Xin: But it was destroyed.
Lando: You must go to the jedi enclave. Alone. No one shall accompany you.
So the Ebon Hawk lands on Dantooine. Xin goes alone to the enclave to face his destiny. The jedi academy is destroyed, but with the help of the force, he manages to open a path. There he finds a jedi holocron.
Jedi holocron: Astuablestagahkizsijoigjf
Xin: What is this? I dont understand anything. Yet i feel like something has changed inside me.
As Xin is ready to leave, he finds a medallion.
Xin: What is this? I think, that i should wear it.
Xin arrives at the Ebon Hawk.
Lando: What did you found there?
Xin: This medallion, and a jedi holocron.
Lando: If this medallion is the one i think, then the empire wont last long. It is a treasure of the ancient jedi, that was created 6,000 years ago. We should test it at the sith base.
So the Ebon Hawk leaves for Telos. At Telos, the team meets with an officer. The officer has brown hair, green eyes and wears a black sith uniform.
Baoal: I am an officer of the empire. What do you want?
Lando: I've heard that you dont like the emperor. We also dont like him. So can you gather a rebel army for us and for Telos?
Baoal: If you destroy the sith base, then yes. But i wont do it for you. Only for the freedom of Telos.
Lando: That can be arranged. Xin and Jack go at the base.
Xin and Jack use a stealth generator, to pass the guards and enter the base, until they find a locked door.
Jack: I will use the lightsaber. Cover me.
As Jack cuts in two the door, Xin kills, with his blaster, 5 troopers that came to see what this noise was. Xin and Jack enter the room to find that it is full of troopers.
Xin: I will go to destroy the generator. Cover me.
Jack kills one after the other the troopers, with his lightsaber. Xin opens the door, only to find a bridge leading to the generator. But in the bridge there are two hundred sith soldiers.
Xin: Oh. I have to do something, or i will end up dead. Force Storm!!!!!
As Xin says that, the medallion lightens, and in the sky, above the bridge, clouds are being formed. Soon two lightning bolts hit and kill the two hundred sith troopers, while a third one hits the generator and starts an explosion.
Xin: I have to get out here, before i become a barbecue.
Xin uses force speed to run, and as the base's door is ready to fall, he manages to escape and get out of the base, before a huge explosion blows up the entire base.
Jack: WOW!!
Lando: Oh my!! The medallion of Storm!! The one used to create huge storms, and destroyed three star systems before 5,600 years. I though that it was a legend.
Xin: Do i have such power?
Lando: Maybe, but if you use it, it might prove to be lethal. It takes part of your energy.
Xin: You.. you.. ma.. may.. be.. right..
Xin falls on the ground.
Jack: No, you cant die!!
Lando: Calm down kid! He is alive. He just needs some rest. Take him to the ship.
At the same time Baoal arrives with an army.
Baoal: I kept my promise. The army of Telos is at open revolt. We will defeat the sith and restore peace, order and justice to the galaxy. For Telos!! For Democracy!!
In the Ebon Hawk, Xin wakes up.
Xin: Lando, what happened?
Lando: The medallion took too much of your energy, and it almost killed you. You must use it wisely.
Xin: I will.
Lando: Now we should go to Xanjiang, an ancient planet. It is said, that this medallion came from there. But, no one survived this planet, even the armies of Revan, before one hundred years, were slain. Are you ready to face your destiny?
Xin: Yes!
At the imperial palace. Admiral Piet enters the emperors office, and informs Xenian about the medallion.
Xenian: If this is true, then the Medallions of the Force have been found!!
Piet: What are those medallions?
Xenian: Those medallions gave the ancient Jedi and Sith powers, that today we would call them unnatural.
Piet: So the one who has at least one of those medallions, will have the power to rule the galaxy.
Xenian: Yes! Admiral, sent your entire fleet to find Xin. I think that i know where Xin has gone.
Piet: We will also need your apprentice.
Xenian: No. She isnt ready yet to face Xin. Go admiral, and dont fail me.
Piet: Yes my Lord.
So the Ebon Hawk lands at the jungle world of Xanjiang. From the sky, they could see that it was a jungle world, with some ancient pyramids. They didn't knew anything about this world, because it was remote, and every time an army tired to occupy it, it was slain. No one returned alive from this planet.
Xin: So, Jack and Lando, what we will do?
Jack: I say that we should go and explore the jungle.
Xin: I agree. But there are two paths, the left and the right. What path we will follow?
Lando: Jack stay on the ship and guard it, and make sure that we can make a quick escape if something happens. Me and Xin will go on the left path, while Harr and HK-47 will go on the right path.
HK-47: As you wish, master!!
Harr: Hhaahha
Xin: Okay then. Lets go!!
As Xin and Lando walk in the left path, they find a diary. Xin reads the diary.
Day 41:
Revan told us before 30 day to go in this damned planet!! He is in his flagship taking over worlds of the republic, and celebrates victory, while we are slain by the -( dust and time have destroyed this part of the book.)
Day 68:
Today all of my division was killed by the----- Only 200 soldiers remain from the 50,000 that were sent here. All were killed by the n------- Revan damn you!! If i ca- ( This part has blood on it).
Xin: So, this is how the armies of Revan were destroyed. Lando, do you hear me?
Suddenly, when he turns back to talk to Lando, he doesnt find him.
Xin: I have a bad feeling about this!!
Xin doesn't finds Lando, so he walks back to the Ebon Hawk, only to see that the path is blocked by some trees.
Xin: This trees weren't here when i passed before twenty minutes! Someone has trapped me.
Then a dark hooded man with a sith mask, a black sith robe and two red lightsabers comes near to Xin.
Xin: That is impossible!! Revan died before 100 years.
Revan: Its time to face your destiny Xin.
Xin force pushes Revan, and steals one of Revan's lightsabers.
Xin: Now, that is a fair fight.
Meanwhile the imperial fleet is gathered at Xanjiang. A short soldier comes near admiral Piet.
Soldier: Sir, what do you order?
Piet: Order a full scale invasion on the planet. However my flagship and some starfighters will remain here. Cut all communications on the planet.
Soldier: But, sir, all armies that tried to occupy this planet, were slain.
Piet: Then hope that you will have a better luck!
So the invasion begins. Jack, manages to see the sith fleet. As he is ready to go board the Ebon Hawk, a squad of twenty sith troopers attack him. Outnumbered, he has to rely on his lightsaber skills. At the same time Xin fights with Revan. Xin does some complex lightsaber combos against Revan, but Revan manages to defend against all of them. But Xin, using force storm, injures Revan and attacks him with his lightsaber. Revan tries to defend, but Xin cuts off both of his hands.
Revan: Kill me. Give in to your hate. Let your hatred to consume you.
Xin: I...i will... n-
Suddenly an explosion starts and three trees are ready to fall on Xin, while Revan disappeared. Revan was just a vision, a force trick. With Lando lost, Jack outnumbered and Xin ready to die, the galaxy's last hope is ready to be lost. At the last second, Xin uses the forceto push back the trees.
Xin: What is happening.
Suddenly four imperial troopers attack him. Xin uses force storm to kill all of them.
Xin: An imperial invasion?!
At the same time on the right path.
HK-47: Stupid Wookie, do you hear this?
Wookie: Haaaaa!!!
Suddenly some men with blue skin attack HK-47. HK manages to kill two of the natives.
HK-47: Those natives outnumber us. We surrender.
Harr: Haaaaaa!!!
HK-47: Shut up stupid Wookie.
A native with a small white beard comes near HK.
Native: You are coming with me, droid.
HK and Harr are led to a city of natives. In the center of the city there is a huge pyramid made of gold.
Harr: Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!
The natives lead the two captives to the top of the pyramid, where other two familiar persons are kept.
HK-47: Master Xin!! Master Lando!! What are you doing hear?
Xin: Those native took us prisoners, and now they will execute us to honor their god.
HK-47: Oh my!!!
Harr: Haaaa!!!!
Lando: I have a plan. They let our lightsabers just behind us. So we could use the force to take our lightsabers.
Xin: They are too many. How we will kill them?
Lando: You are right!
Xin: I have an idea. I will use the medallion. Didn't you said that it could destroy entire planets?
Lando: But it can kill you!!
Xin; If we just sit here and do nothing, then we will die for sure!!!
Lando: Okay, okay.
The native with the beard comes at the top of the pyramid and makes a speech to his people.
Native: Today we will offer our great god Textapalakalaka the blood of those foreigners!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Before the Native can speak, Lando and Xin use the force to take back their lightsabers, kill the guards and then stab the native with the beard.
HK-47: What we will do now?
Xin: We will fight!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The two jedi kill tens of native soldiers, but in the end they find themselves outnumbered.
Xin: I will use the medallion. Force Storm!!
Suddenly clouds appear in the sky. Without warning, lightning bolts hit the entire planet and burn everything. Fire starts all over the planet, and every lightning bolt kills hundreds of natives and imperial troopers. Xin, without energy, falls at the hands of Harr.
Lando: Harr, take Xin out of here. We must go at the ship.
So the party runs for the ship. Meanwhile Jack killed all imperial troopers and flies the ship. He sees the team and lands near their position. Then he runs to warn them about the invasion.
Jack: Lando hurry. The imperials just invaded the entire planet.
Lando: I know.
So the team goes inside the ship, and the Ebon Hawk takes off.
As the Ebon Hawk leaves the planet, that is now destroyed by the powers of the medallion, five starfighters attack the ship. Xin who has waken up goes at the cockpit.
Xin: I will go at the turrets.
Lando: Me too.
So an epic space fight begins.
Xin: I will target the one in the position A546-B6547!
Lando: I will take on the one in C675-H4596!
Xin: Okay. Com, come. Now! Fire!!!
Xin fires and destroys one of the fighters.
Lando: May the force be with me...Fire!!!!!
Lando destroys other one fighter. Soon the team wipes out all of the fighters, and runs back to the cockpit.
Xin: Kid, move the ship around. This imperial capital ship may activate a tractor beam
Jack: Yeah...I think you are right. Full reverse! Harr, lock in the auxiliary power.
The Ebon Hawk starts to shake violently.
Jack: Why are we still moving towards it?!
Xin: We're caught in a tractor beam and it's pulling us in! But they're not going to get me without a fight.
Lando: You can't win. But there are alternatives to fighting.
As the Ebon Hawk enters the docking bay of the Capital ship, a squad of troopers comes outside the Ebon Hawk.
Piet: Soldiers search the entire ship.
A few minutes later.
Soldier: There's no one on board, sir. According to the log, the crew abandoned the ship right after take off.
Piet: Okay. Have five troopers to guard the ship.
On board the Hawk, once the troopers leave, the floor panels covering the ship's smuggling compartments, slide back.
Xin: Dammit!! The only way to disable the tractor beam is to go on the bridge!
Lando: This may be our final fight!
Jack: I am ready to die for you!
Harr: Haaaaa!!!!
HK-47: Statement: Sir, its time to kick some sith us!!
Xin: Ha ha ha!! Okay guys. Lets do it. If we are going to fail, then we shall make our fail as epic as we can. For the republic!!
Lando: For the republic!!
Suddenly two troopers enter the Hawk.
Xin: Hello sir!
Trooper: Hello sir!
Xin: We are to be taken on the bridge!
Trooper: You are going to be taken on the bridge.
So the company goes to the bridge. Meanwhile at the bridge.
Trooper: Sir, you have a message.
Piet: Very well.
A hologram of Xenian appears.
Xenian: Admiral Piet, my apprentice has just arrived on your ship.
Piet: Very well my Lord.
As the troopers open the door to the bridge, Xin and Jack stab the troopers. Then they open the door.
Piet: You?! Troopers, attack them!!!
Xin: It's time to kick some sith ass.
Jack: The one who kills the most troopers will win.
lando: I'm in.
HK-47: Me too.
Harr: Haaaaa!!!!
So the group attacks the troopers. The jedi cut in two the troopers, while Harr and HK fire at the troopers, until only Piet remains.
Piet: Please don't kill me..please.
Xin: You coward imperial pig.
Xin force pushes Piet away. Then he de-activates the tractor beam.
Xin: You go, i will destroy the main computer.
Jack: Okay.
As the team goes to the Ebon Hawk, a team of troopers attack them. Meanwhil the apprentice of Xenian enters the bridge. Xin is shocked by what he saw.
Xin: Helena...........
Helena: Yes, Xin. I am alive.
Xin: I...I..I don't belive it. I though i have lost you for ever.
Helena: I am sorry, but i have to kill you.
Xin: What?
Helena: Xenian is my master and the one i love.
Xin: What?! We were in love. Don't you remember our kiss? Don't you remember when you let me escape Xiltran?
Helena: That is my past. Before Xenian showed to me the power of the dark side of the force.
Xin: I can't believe it.
Helena: Sorry, but it's time to end all of this.
Xin: One last question. How did you survive?
Helena: Xenian used the force to heal me. But now all of this must end. It is time to die, Xin!!
So a furious duel begins. Helena attack Xin with her lightsaber, but Xin blocks her attack. Xin and Helena exchange a few more blows.
Jack: We have to leave.
Xin: I won't leave Helena behind.
Jack: We will all die.
Xin: I don't care!
Jack: Come to your senses.
Jack force pushes Helena. Then the two jedi use force speed to run to the Ebon Hawk.
In the cockpit.
Xin: Lando, activate the power generator.
Lando: Okay.
A few seconds later.
Xin: Okay, is everyone ready?
Harr: Haa!!!
Xin: Let's go to lightspeed!!
So the Ebon Hawk lurches forward and is gone.
A few hours later.
Jack: What we will do now?
Lando: Boy, now that the flames of the revolution begun, nothing can stop it.
Last edited by christos200; 05-15-2012 at
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Howard Dierking Shows You How to Optimize Your ASP.NET Sites
- Posted: May 28, 2012 at 10:22PM
- 43,307 views
- 3 comments
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Visual Studio 2012 will introduce optimization features for all ASP.NET project types. Howard Dierking introduces this awesome new feature in this episode, and shows you how to drastically shrink your response size as well as increase page download speed and site performance. Using the network analysis tools in Internet Explorer 9, Howard demonstrates how the bundling and minification features can drop your page size by half. If you're trying to make your sites load faster, this episode is a must-see.
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^ Wow what a useless spammer! lol
I believe there is a bug with the CSS/ JS bundling. It appears that the hash is recalculated on EVERY request, so if you have a number of files there (for instance jQuery-UI)it adds a noticeable 6-10ms delay. On a production website this is significant. I think this work better if there was even a short e.g. 30 second cache, or better still making it regenerate when the contents of the folder changes.
great show guys. thanks!
The CDN scenario that Howard talked is the one I am waiting for a long time. Here is what I do now:
I am getting the JavaScript libraries through Nuget. So, they go to Scripts folder under the root of my project. And some css files through nuget as well (like TwBootstrap). They usually go to Content folder. By not changing the file locations, I am able to update them smoothly via nuget. So, they stay as they are.
But I want to get the bundled and minified files under ~/assets/js/ and ~/assets/css/ which is better for me to sync this assets folder with my CDN storage.
Here is initial code that does this: https://gist.github.com/2852551 The powershell code is really bad right now and needs to be refactored.
I am not sure if the solution you guys are considering supports a scenario to output the files under another folder (if these are css files, there will probably be image files to go into that output dir as well.)
really good video content.
Thanks for sharing.
Comments have been closed since this content was published more than 30 days ago, but if you'd like to continue the conversation, please create a new thread in our Forums, or Contact Us and let us know.


text:
Let $\mathcal{H}$ be a Hilbert space and $\kappa(\mathcal{H})$ the $C^*$-algebra of compact operators on $\mathcal{H}$. By smallness/ rigidity of $\kappa(\mathcal{H})$ I am referring to the following collection facts about $\kappa(\mathcal{H})$.
Let $\mathcal{A}$ be a $C^*$-subalgebra of $\kappa(\mathcal{H})$. If $\mathcal{A}$ is irreducible then $\mathcal{A}=\kappa(\mathcal{H})$.
The only closed ideals in $\kappa(\mathcal{H})$ are $\{0\}$ and $\kappa(\mathcal{H})$.
Let $\mathcal{B}$ be a $C^*$-algebra in $\mathcal{L}(\mathcal{H})$. If $\mathcal{B}\cap\kappa(\mathcal{H})$ is non-trivial, then $\mathcal{B}\supset\kappa(\mathcal{H})$.
$\kappa(\mathcal{H})$ is so small that it cannot contain proper irreducible $C^*$-algebras, or proper ideals; and it only touches those $C^*$-algebras that fully contain itself.
Also we have the following facts about representations of $\kappa(\mathcal{H})$:
Let $\mathcal{A}$ be a $C^*$-algebra in $\kappa(\mathcal{H})$. Each nondegenerate representation of $\mathcal{A}$ is the sum of orthogonal irreducible representations that are equivalent to the identity representation.
And in particular,
The only irreducible representation of $\kappa(\mathcal{H})$ is the identity.
These are describing the very rigid structure of $\kappa(\mathcal{H})$.
In all the books I read, the proof of these series of facts is based on the notion of minimal projections, in particular the following
Let $\mathcal{A}$ be a $C^*$-subalgebra of $\kappa(\mathcal{H})$. A projection $E$ in $\mathcal{A}$ is minimal if and only if $E\mathcal{A}E=\mathbb{C}E$.
This line of argument seems standard now and indeed it is very clever and clear. But it is also a little tricky at least to me. So I wonder whether we can prove these facts independent of minimal projections (or at least try to hide them to the backstage). If this can be done, then I really hope to see the proof (a sketch or some references would be enough). If this cannot be done, then I'd like to know the reason.
Thanks very much!


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TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) - State officials want more than three dozen additional counties added to the state's drought disaster declaration.
State Emergency Board chairman Adrian Polansky says he's recommending Gov. Sam Brownback request 37 more counties be put on the federal list. Assessments show those counties will all see at least a 30-percent loss of production in one or more crops due to extreme heat and dry conditions.
The designation would qualify producers for emergency federal loans. The USDA already declared a federal disaster in 82 Kansas counties.
The added counties would be Atchison, Brown, Chase, Cherokee, Clay, Cloud, Dickinson, Doniphan, Douglas, Ellis, Ellsworth, Franklin, Geary, Jackson, Jefferson, Jewell, Johnson, Leavenworth, Lincoln, Marion, Miami, Mitchell, Morris, Nemaha, Osage, Osborne, Ottawa, Pottawatomie, Republic, Riley, Rush, Russell, Saline, Shawnee, Smith, Wabaunsee and Wyandotte.
In addition, Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kansas, launched efforts to ensure Kansas farmers and ranchers have access to all available assistance due to severe drought across the nation and much of the state.
"Lack of rainfall and high temperatures has had a devastating impact on the corn and soybean crops in Kansas," Roberts said. "Ranchers in Kansas are also facing severe hardship due to a lack of available feed caused by the drought. Nearly every county is affected by these severe conditions."
The USDA has allowed emergency haying and grazing of CRP lands to 91 out of 105 Kansas counties.
Roberts has created a page on his website dedicated entirely to drought resources. A link to it is below.