text:
Hello TEFL forum.
I teach all ages at a small language school. There's a range of students, one of the hardest demographics I'm finding are private lesson kindergarteners. I've done some research and have high and low points, hitting more high points than low points recently, but still seeking some advice on:
1) What is a good way to transition from activity to activity for extremely young learners: 4-6 y.o.
2) What is the best way to face student reluctance to do an activity?
In groups, most students will engage in an activity but have a few students who are always opposed to participating, they will go to the corner and bury their face, or do the same laying on the floor, generally choosing to gain my attention in a negative way rather than a proactive one. Should this behavior be ignored? What is an appropriate way to address this with young learners?
3) What is an appropriate approach to discipline, specifically, in a class that meets only once a week? I have had some high moments with a student who is in private lessons with me, 5 y.o., has been at the school for a year or so and can't recognize/won't participate in alphabet or flashcard activities, or rather, any activity except her favorite hide-and-find activities. I'm also wondering if a lot of her opposition is coming from a late class time (6:50 in the evening), who seems equally difficult in her interactions with her parents. Due a busy schedule, she often comes irregularly and I sense that she doesn't know what to expect from me as I don't know what to expect from her.
I can speak the first language of my students. What are age appropriate/effective ways to draw their attention in/get them engaged in activities?
I have tried active warm-ups, warm up songs and total body response type activities... which works for most students I'm just a new teacher and not sure what to do with the really oppositional students.


text:
Vegetarian Pizza RecipeRead Reviews Be the first to add a review
2 1 1
Perfect for two and gluten-free dieters, too, this from-scratch pizza created by our Test Kitchen has a tasty crust that holds up well when you add sauce, cheese and various veggies. Plus, it's easy to prepare.
Recommended: Our All-Time Best Pizzas
- 1-1/2 teaspoons active dry yeast
- 1/4 cup warm 2% milk (110° to 115°)
- 1/3 cup white rice flour
- 1/4 cup tapioca flour
- 1 teaspoon xanthan gum
- 1/2 teaspoon olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon cider vinegar
- 1/4 teaspoon sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon dried basil
- 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
- Cornmeal
- 3 tablespoons pizza sauce
- 2 tablespoons each chopped onion, green pepper and fresh mushrooms
- 1/4 cup shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
- In a small bowl, dissolve yeast in milk. Let stand for 5 minutes. Add the flours, xanthan gum, oil, vinegar, sugar and seasonings. Mix until a ball forms (dough will be soft).
- Sprinkle cornmeal over a 7-1/2-in. pizza pan coated with cooking spray. Press dough onto prepared pan, building up edges slightly. Do not let rise. Bake at 425° for 8-10 minutes or until lightly browned.
- Spread pizza sauce over crust. Top with onion, green pepper, mushrooms and cheese. Bake for 8-12 minutes or until crust is golden and cheese is melted. Yield: 2 servings.
Editor's Note: Read all ingredient labels for possible gluten content prior to use. Ingredient formulas can change, and production facilities vary among brands. If you're concerned that your brand may contain gluten, contact the company.
Originally published as Vegetarian Pizza in Cooking for 2 Fall 2007, p35
Sweet Red Wine
Enjoy this recipe with a sweet red wine.
Reviews for Vegetarian Pizza
Please Log In or Join to add a rating and review.
Click stars to rate
Any changes to your rating or review will appear where you originally posted your review
Reviewed Sep. 26, 2012
"For gluten-free I guess it is OK. But give me a real pizza crust recipe that serves 2."

subset: commoncrawl


text:
So, 3 more years at least of a do nothing government, meanwhile I noticed the numbers of DOW, NASDAQ and S&P go up in 2009 from about 17% to 25% which sounds like a recovery starting to me. But how many more things will we bail out or offer rebates for to temporarily spring-board the economy? We have a long time before we even break even in our savings, if indeed we do. As it is the only reason China doesn't call their chit is because the leading buyer of their exports is the USA, if they bankrupted the United States, they would split their own throats.Just some things to ponder.
there are two forms. one is the short form issued for ID. that's what obama put out. the other is the long form which looks pretty much like anyones BC. you are correct, it is called a certificate of life birth also, but it is much, much different.there has been word that hawaii has informed all that they will no longer issue the long form on request. they will only issue the short form. i would love to know when that decision was made, but have not found info on it.i do understand not being able to find a birth certificate. it's hard to keep track of stuff when you don't need it every day. however, when the question was first raised, and there was enough to make people wonder, it should have been laid to rest. it is a requirement for the job. "i can't find it" wouldn't work for any other job.
that in lieu of a document of birth the written testimony of 3 relatives older than the person applying for benefits is required. This is then accepted as proof of birth and citizenship.So a Birth Certificate or Record of Live Birth isn't even necessary to confer citizenship.


text:
by Angela Tague
Leather handbags are always in fashion. Whether you carry a large tote or a smaller hobo-style leather purse, your handbag is sure to be a durable, timeless addition to your outfit. Go casual or dressy, and there will be a leather bag that coordinates. Available in smooth dyed cowhide or a variety of animal prints and textures, the top leather handbag styles include the hobo, satchel, tote, shoulder bag and clutch.
Hobo. One of the most common bags, the hobo handbag is a great day-to-day option. The top layer of many leather hobo handbags> is made from top-grain leather, since it can be dyed in any color imaginable. The hobo handbag comes in many different sizes, but it is never considered bulky or oversized. A leather hobo handbag can easily accommodate a wallet, cell phone and other personal items with room to spare.
Satchel. Top-grain and full-grain leather are commonly used to make satchel handbags. Made for women on the go, the durable leather satchel handbag offers a chest-crossing strap. Satchel handbags leave your hands free to open doors, maneuver strollers or carry shopping bags. Look for a leather satchel handbag with compartments and pockets for convenience.
Tote. This oversized handbag option is popular with women who need to carry heavier loads to work or around town. The leather tote has a large capacity that allows you to carry paperwork, a laptop or lunch. Also used by modern mothers, a large leather tote can easily double as a purse-diaper bag combo. A tote's long straps make it easy to throw the bag over your shoulder and go.
Shoulder bag. The most versatile handbag is the leather shoulder bag. This handbag commonly has two straps for carrying ease. A short option allows the bag to rest on the shoulder and fit snugly under the armpit. The longer strap allows the bag to rest against the hip when you drape it over your shoulder. Leather shoulder bags can be found in soft suede or top-grain leather.
Clutch. The small, hand-held leather clutch may also be referred to as a coin purse. Just large enough to hold your daily essentials -- a little cash, identification, a credit card or two, cell phone and a tube of lipstick -- the clutch is perfect for short trips to the store or a special evening out. Often made of soft suede, a leather clutch is fashionable with strapless gowns and other evening wear.


text:
The clock of finality is ticking as Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton get closer to primaries in Texas and Ohio so it is not surprising the worse side of people had begun to emerge. After the Drudge Report posted a picture of Senator Barack Obama wearing the traditional clothing of a Somali elder, the picture is now being circulated widely on the Internet and elsewhere. Officially, Clinton spokespeerson, Maggie Williams, denied any knowledge of the picture which apparently is intended to portray Obama as a Muslim, and boasted that "Senator Clinton has worn traditional clothing of countries she as visited and had those photos distributed widely." On the other hand, unofficially, one Clinton aide emphasized, "wouldn't we be seeing this on the cover of every magazine if it were (Clinton)?" The answer, of course, is no.
Actually, President Bush has been seen in traditional clothing of countries like Indonesia but the difference is eveyone knows Bush is an American Christian and nothing is being circulated around the Internet that he is a secret Muslim. The incident, in itself, is silly, but it reflects the "let everything go without drawing back" approach of Clinton who is nearing the end of her odyssey for the presidency. Barack Obama will have to endure such nasty vicious actions if he wants to continue his presidential run. The dogs of war hesitate at nothing in the quest for victory.


text:
How much will Obama's unlikeability be a factor in 2012
posted at 1:23 pm on May 13, 2012 by Howard Portnoy
My apologies to readers for reacting for a second day to a column by The Daily Beast's Michael Tomasky, but sometimes that's just how the winds of political opinionating blow.
In his Sunday musing, Tomasky returns to the scene of the crime he focused on in Saturday, the crime being the 1965 hazing of a fellow prep school student by current presumptive GOP Mitt Romney. In today's column, Tomasky concedes that "very few votes are going to be cast on the basis of what Mitt Romney did or didn't do to John Lauber … so that, per se, isn't Romney's problem. But this is: The story lands as another brick on pile of evidence amassing that he's just a disagreeable human being."
Tomasky engages in some seat-of-the-pants scholarship to plumb the question of when a "clearly less likeable candidate beat the clearly more likeable one for the White House." He tells us that he "put the question to Gallup, which didn't have historical numbers at hand." Suffice it to say, he concludes, it's been "a long time."
Gallup may not have had an answer to Tomasky's rather arcane question, but the organization has plenty of data on the comparative likeability of the two candidates. Its May 8 survey finds Barack Obama ahead of Romney 60% to 31%, a very comfortable 29% margin. Other polls similarly show the president with a commanding lead in the area of likeability, especially among women. All other factors being equal (which of course all factors are not), if the election were held today, Obama would easily win a second term.
I would like to add another piece of speculative "research" to the mix, and that is Obama's overall unlikeability rating. I appreciate that 3 out of 5 respondents reported that they like Obama as a person, but to what extent do the remaining 40% dislike the man and how will this factor into the fall election?
This, too, is a datum that Gallup won't have readily available, so, like Tomasky, my observations herein are based on "noodling around on my own." I began by creating a baseline for comparison. I did a Google search for the key word strings "George W. Bush stupid" and "George W. Bush dishonest (as in Bush lied, thousands died)," those being the most salients traits of the previous president as identified by his detractors . The first search returned 24 million web pages, the second 2 million.
I then did the same with Barack Obama and the character traits most often ascribed to him by those for whom his ineluctable charms are highly eluctable. The string "Barack Obama petty" returned 10.5 million hits. The variants with "sarcastic" and "ego" each returned 10 million hits, "arrogant" 5.7 million, "polarizing" 3 million, "thin-skinned" 1 million. When you add the totals, you find that Barack Obama turns the stomachs of voters nearly 1 and two thirds times as frequently as did George W. Bush, who few would argue is one of the most hated presidents in history.
As to how any of this will impact the fall election, I don't have any more of a clue than Tomasky has in his own columnistic flight of fancy, which is based purely on wishful thinking. As he himself notes in a moment of sad reflection:
Barack Obama's biggest problem … is that despite all the many areas in which Americans rate him higher than Romney, the one on which they give Romney the edge happens to be pretty important: handling the economy.
It is going to be that, and not some ascientific exercise in personal popularity, that will determine which contender for the presidency is left standing on Nov. 7.
Related Articles
- Other bullies, other victims
- Romney bully story shows MSM will shill for Obama again in 2012 election
- Obama was for same-sex marriage before he was against it
- Obama's view on same-sex marriage can't evolve fast enough
- Is Obama to blame for the polarization in country?
- Poll: Obama approval ratings most polarized ever for presidency at two-year mark
- Obama to Latinos: Help me "punish our enemies" at the ballot box
Follow me on Twitter or join me at Facebook. You can reach me at [email protected] or by posting a comment below.


text:
New Guidelines for Treating Acne
I recently ran into a friend I hadn't seen in about 5 years. We were catching up on each other's lives when her teenage son joined us. The last time I saw John he was about 11 years old and full of pre-teen energy and curiosity. This time however, he was quiet and kept his head down when he said hello. When he finally looked up, I saw why he had been avoiding full-face eye contact. John had a pretty severe case of acne. Not a few pimples, but entire areas on his face that were red and dotted with large pustules and cysts. It looked painful.
Typically, acne isn't a serious medical condition. It comes and goes throughout life and is more of an annoyance than anything else. For some though, acne can cause emotional distress and lead to scarring of the skin and psyche.
Fortunately, there are many over-the-counter (OTC) medications that when combined with a consistent face cleaning routine, keep breakouts to a minimum.
But for some people, teens in particular, acne can progress to the point where OTC medications don't control the problem. Pediatricians are often called upon to help teens come up with a plan of treatment.
There is a range of medications that can clear up even severe cases of acne, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). Writing in the May issue of its journal Pediatrics, the group throws its support behind new guidelines from the American Acne and Rosacea Society that detail how to treat acne in children and teens of all ages.
That "all ages" part is important because acne is becoming more and more common in pre-teens, too, said Dr. Lawrence Eichenfield, the lead author of the AAP report. One study of 9- and 10-year-old girls found that more than three-quarters had pimples.
A possible reason for why kids are experiencing breakouts at a younger age is that, on an average, boys and girls are starting puberty earlier than in past generations says Eichenfield.
According to the AAP, milder cases of acne can be managed with OTC soaps, washes, lotions or gels containing benzoyl peroxide. Another common ingredient used to battle acne is salicylic acid. Department stores now have sections of aisles filled with these types of products making them easy to find.
But what if the OTC medications do not help clear up your teens acne? The AAP recommends going to the next step of trying a topical retinoid. Retin-A, Avita and Differin are the most commonly prescribed treatments. They are vitamin A derivatives and work by speeding up skin cell turnover, which helps unclog pores.
The main side effects of all the topical treatments are skin irritation and dryness, the AAP said.
If the acne is considered moderate to severe and other treatments have failed to work, the next step may be oral antibiotics. When pores become clogged with oil and skin cells, bacteria can grow in the pore and cause inflammation. Antibiotics help by killing bacteria and soothing inflammation.
But, Eichenfield said, "it's important to use antibiotics appropriately."
Antibiotics can have their own set of problems and should be used with caution. The overuse of antibiotics has made some acne causing bacteria more resistant. Other side effects can be stomach upset, dizziness and, in girls - yeast infections.
When all else fails and acne is severe, the prescription drug isotretinoin may be an option. Brand names include Roaccutane (formerly known as Accutane) and Claravis.
The drug is very effective, but it can cause birth defects, so girls and women have to use birth control and get regular pregnancy tests if they go on the medication. Isotretinoin also has been linked to inflammatory bowel disease, depression and suicidal thoughts in some users, although it's not clear the drug is to blame, the AAP said. (Severe acne itself can cause depression and suicidal thoughts, for example.) Other side effects can include sun-sensitivity, dry eyes, mouth, lips nose and skin as well as itching, nosebleeds and muscle aches.
Why do we get acne?
Acne occurs when hair follicles become plugged with oil secretions, dead skin cells and sometimes bacteria. The most common areas on the body where acne erupts are the face, neck, chest, back and shoulders. It takes time for acne lesions to heal and quite often another breakout will appear as one is finally clearing up.
Hormones and certain medications can play a role in triggering acne. Whether diet is a factor is still up for debate. "The idea that food plays a role became relegated to myth," Eichenfield said. But recently, he added, some researchers have been revisiting the issue. There is some evidence that a sugary diet may promote acne, for example. But for now, it's not clear whether any diet changes will actually help keep kids' skin clear, Eichenfield said.
Stress may not cause acne but it can aggravate it.
Keeping skin pores open and unclogged is the key ingredient to preventing acne. While it may seems that scrubbing your face, using astringents and drying masks would help do that, they arent generally recommended. Too much washing and scrubbing can irritate the skin.
It's best to wash your face gently twice a day, with a soap-free pH-balanced cleanser, the AAP said. Facial toners -- which commonly come in pre-packaged acne regimens -- can help clear away oil. But the group suggested going easy on toners, since they can irritate the skin.
One myth that seems to never go away is that tanning and more time in the sun is good for acne. A sunburned face may look better to you because your whole face is red instead of just certain areas. Too much sun can actually make acne worse for some people. It also ages your skin and can cause skin cancer. Certain medications (including some for acne treatment) can make your skin very sensitive to the suns rays. Always use a face-friendly sunscreen that doesn't clog the pores.
I really felt bad for my friend's son when I saw how miserable he was. To me he's still handsome and has a bright and interesting future ahead of him. I'm not so sure that he thinks that, at least not until his acne is under control.
The bottom line, Eichenfield says, is that many treatment options are available. "There's no reason that children have to live with acne that is severe and troubling to them.
Sources: Amy Norton, http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/acne/news/20130506/pediatricians-endorse-new-acne-treatment-guidelines


text: I just love them. Few realize that Ludmila was the original Swan, not Oksana, not Weir. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cPJfdTYIhcs They were so creative that we take their unison, spirals, and artistry for granted. Before them Russia was nothing in pairs, but they were harrassed for being too old to be skaters even when still winning world medals.


text:
- Home
- About
- Issues
- Act
- Publications
- Donate
"[Coburn's] been one of the foremost proponents of small government and cutting spending, so for him to advocate for a tax increase as part of a compromise is very significant," said Robert Bixby, head of the Concord Coalition, a nonpartisan group focused on reducing the deficit. "It really does provide a great deal of cover for other Republicans. Coburn was tea party before there was a tea party."


text:
|BIPAC has powered business political success during challenging times since1963 as the nation's first business political action committee. Anchored by insightful political analysis not the ebb and flow of power we ensure members can identify and support candidates who are strong on their issues. Our extensive research and leading edge innovation keeps tactics meaningful.
We have proven that natural constituencies provide credibility, relevance and accountability to any grassroots effort. The Prosperity Project® helps members build on existing relationships to inform employees, stakeholders and voters on issues that matter to them and their industries. Our network of regionally-based affiliates allows members the flexibility to affect the discourse at the local, state and federal levels.
From our best-in-class voter assistance program, to our strategic planning options, BIPAC's diversity of membership, scalability of programs and unparalleled scope means businesses at all levels can successfully engage in policy discussions. READ MORE


text:
Regulations on Administrative Separation and/or Retreat to a Faculty Position
The UNC Policy Manual
Adopted 03/21/03
Regulations on Administrative Separation and/or Retreat to a Faculty
1. Retreat to a faculty position. An administrator who holds a concurrent tenured faculty appointment may return to that appointment with all the rights and responsibilities of faculty in the home department, unless a proceeding is initiated to discharge or demote the administrator from the faculty position. If there has been an administrative stipend during the appointment, that stipend should be removed. The salary will be adjusted from a 12-month administrative salary to a 9-month or 12-month faculty salary that is commensurate with the salaries of comparable faculty members. At the chancellor's discretion, the chancellor may provide for a reasonable period of time with full administrative salary to provide an opportunity for the employee to prepare for teaching and research responsibilities. The reasonable period of time should be related to the time spent in administrative duties. If the chancellor proposes to pay the administrator full or partial administrative pay after the termination of the administrator's administrative duties for longer than one year, the agreement must be approved by the Board of Trustees of the constituent institution.
2. Reappointment of an administrator without faculty retreat rights. An administrator leaving a position that is categorized as "at will" has no claim to a position at the university; however, there may be circumstances in which assignment to another administrative or teaching position would be beneficial for both the institution and the employee. In these cases, the new salary should be appropriate to the assignment. If a chancellor or the president proposes to pay the administrator his or her full administrative salary after moving the administrator to a position that would normally be lower paying, or if paid leave is to be granted, the agreement with the administrator must be approved by the Board of Trustees of the constituent institution or by the Board of Governors for employees of the Office of the President or the General Administration. This Guideline does not supersede any notice or severance pay required by Board of Governors' policy.
3. Separation from the University. In some cases, it may be in the best interests of the institution to negotiate a severance agreement with an administrator. UNC policy addresses timely notice for termination of Senior Administrative Academic Officers hired pursuant to Policy 300.1.1, I.B. In accordance with The University of North Carolina Policy 300.1.1, III.B, in certain circumstances these employees are entitled to notice of the discontinuation of their employment with full pay for up to 90 days or severance pay, depending on their length of service. A chancellor or the president may, at his or her discretion, determine that the circumstances justify continuing full pay for employees subject to Policy 3001.1.I.A for up to 90 days. Any agreement that results in a longer period of compensation must be approved by the appropriate Board of Trustees or the Board of Governors for employees of the Office of the President or General Administration.
4. Retirement. Nothing in these guidelines shall prevent an administrator from retiring or an administrator who holds a faculty appointment from participating in phased retirement consistent with existing University of North Carolina policies.


text:
Trust me - you want the P99.
There are some Sigma fans - but honestly - the Sigma isn't even in the same class as the other 2. The Sigma will be reliable, but people always get sucked into Sigmas because of the price. The trigger is VERY heavy. It may not seem too bad trying it in the store - but once U hit the range and try to hit the bullseye, you will soon find out how heavy it is.
Over the years, I have seen dozens of newbies go buy a Sigma, and then their next question is - "How do I lighten the trigger pull." Now, a Sigma might make an ok truck gun - that's just an occasional shooter. But if you plan to hit the range a lot and you want to hit the center of the targets, you will be shooting a long time before you can do it with the trigger...
As for the M&P and P99 - everyone here knows I am a P99 fanatic - IF you get the A/S trigger. I do not like the QA trigger. The P99 A/S is my all time fav handgun, and I even shoot it better than I do 1911s. Plus, I've yet to find a more ergonomic gun. And, what is also cool - you need not go to a smith to adjust your sights. You can adjust them and/or replace them yourself (with night sights) No need to go to a gun smith for that.
I have rented the M&P in both 45 and 9mm. I just don't care for it that much. The trigger doesn't seem to have a place that's easy to tell when its going to break. Once you shoot the P99 about 200 times, the trigger smooths out and is not as gritty as it feels in the shop. The SA pull of the P99 A/S is so sweet.
I've had to take the CHL class (here in TX) 4 times (1 to get it, and 3 renewal classes). There is a shooting test each time. My 2nd and 3rd time, I used a 1911, and I got somewhere between 242 and 245 of 250. With my P99 A/S last summer, I got 250/250, and I hadn't shot the gun ina several months at that time, as I had been practicing with a new USPc.
Get the P99!


text:
Binghamton Fall Invitational
Date: Oct. 6-7, 2013
Course: The Links at Hiawatha Landing
Place: Apalachin, N.Y.
Course Info: Par 72 – 7,104 Yards
The Field: Binghamton, Canisius, Delaware, Fairleigh Dickinson, Hofstra, Laval, Monmouth, Niagara, Ottawa, Rider, St. Bonaventure and UMass Lowell.
Defending Team Champion: Laval (586; +10)
Format: 36 holes (18 played each day)
- The Canisius College golf team closes out the fall schedule Oct. 6-7, when the team travels to take part in the second annual Binghamton Fall Invitational.
- This year's event will be held at The Links at Hiawatha Landing in Apalachin, N.Y.
- Laval won the Binghamton Fall Invitational in 2012 with its team score of 586.
- This will mark the first time the Golden Griffins have played in Binghamton's fall event.
- The host St. Bonaventure Bonnies won the 2013 Little Three Gold Championship, which was held at Pine Acres Country Club in Bradford, Pa., Sept. 28.
- The Bonnies posted a team score of 583 for the tournament. Canisius took second with its score of 592, while Niagara placed third with a team tally of 635.
- Canisius entered this year's event as the three-time defending Little Three Champions.
- St. Bonaventure's title last weekend marks the 38th time the Bonnies have won the Little Three Championship.
- St. Bonaventure sophomore Darren Simons won the individual title and earned a berth into the 2014 Porter Cup at Niagara Falls Country Club.
- Canisius sophomore Brendan Polsin earned his first career top-five finish by placing third at the Little Three and freshman Cory Cullen shot a career-low 70 in the second round to earn a tie for sixth along with teammate Hunter Sagar.


text:
New PSNH rates took effect Jan. 1
In an order issued on Dec. 28, the regulatory agency approved an increase in the energy service charge of 9.54 cents per kilowatt hour, up from the 2012 energy charge of 7.11 cents per kwh.
The increase in the energy service charge will be offset to a degree by a reduction in the charge for stranded cost recovery, designed to compensate PSNH for costs brought about by deregulation of the energy industry in New Hampshire.
The stranded cost recovery charge was approved at .737 cents per kwh, compared to 1.88 cents per kwh in 2012.
A customer using 500 kilowatt hours per month will see their monthly bill go up from $86.35 to $92.43, an increase of about 7 percent.


text:
The Darkest Shadows Lie Longest
On crowned Carrion Hill,
The mound civilizations fill.
The darkest shadows lie longest,
In children's vows, in fools jests.
In proud Carrion Hill,
Endowed to forgotten Evil,
The darkest shadows lie longest,
When crows and Crows, tend their nest.
O sore Carrion Hill,
The soar spills until
The darkest shadows lie longest,
And terror sows on your heart its crest.
Folk Song of The Tangle
Oathday - Dawn
A light drizzle and a faded morning gloom wiped the sleep from your eyes as you made your way through the still silent streets lacing up the Wart up to Crown Manor.
The summon had came before dawn. A cryptic missive from Mayor Heggry, no less, telling of great catastrophe, imminent danger and requiring your presence at once. The Crow stationed at the door would not leave without you, and wouldn't say anything more about the matter, though his eyes were filled with pure fear...
The steep walk from the Tangle to the Crown warms up your muscles and a slight blush crawls up your cheeks. Reaching the Crown, the mist has cleared, but the rain doubled. Streets are empty, but for the running crows.
Your meandering brings you to Crown Manor, a fortified castle-like estate. Called Rag Manor by many, except perhaps when the mayor's around, for the colorful and plentiful flags and tapestries that hang from its walls and fly from so many of its tower roofs. Crown Manor has served countless rulers of the hill as a last bastion against invasion, and rumours have it that its dungeons consist of the ruins of two dozen previous castles.
You are sped in through the Crows barracks, passing in front of groups of young men assembling and preparing for a day of patrolling. People say you can tell a real Crow from his shorter right leg, as they patrol round and round the Soar. They look at you with curiosity as you pass through them. Their sergeant comes in and start shaping them into a force of law, with the simple power os his voice. He, you can tell, is afraid...
Moving through dusty halls adorned with paintings of the Hill past, nailed between great double doors of dark woods, you reach a lavish crimson room filled with smoke. On a long oak table of rusty hue lies a great map of the city, held in place with an ashtray and a bottle of spirit. Around the table stand Mayor Heggry, a gray man with short salt and pepper hair and a short beard. His yellow eyes are just a bit too close to each other. He is dressed in purple silk pajama of questioning taste. In his hand you find a glass with a remnant of spirit. A slim cigar holds on to his lip by a shred of moisture: "Oh good, you're all here. Let me explain then."
"Our enemy is already here, dwelling in the tunnels and catacombs below and surfacing to strike without warning."
"You may have heard, an attack occurred early this very morning. Something came up from below in Slipper Market." He points to the map to a place some of you know very well in the Tangle. "It partially destroyed a building and killed a half dozen locals before retreating into the ruined structure. The Crows were swift to reply, led by Commander Garus, but they never came back up from the tunnels..."
He paces back and forth: "I just got a report that other buildings have suffered the same fate. From what we know, it could be same... thing, moving through the underground. Let's hope there's but one! It's crushed buildings from below, slaying anyone inside..."
He looks up from the map, takes the last swig from his glass, his cigar never leaving his lips, then turns his yellow eyes to you.
"I need your help."
|Windle Thetra
|Grigor Vachkov
"You know you got me Mayor Heggry - my squad is off keeping order on the streets but I'm gonna get Commander Garus back or die tryin'".
Senior Watchman Vachkov pulled at his jaw, his bloodshot eyes angry.
"You got a lot of interesting friends Mayor", he says looking over the others. "Some familiar faces, though not familiar with the names".
|Valiard Tessar
Valiard stands before the mayor in his rumpled work smock and apron, his eyes round and his mouth open in shock. His satchel drops from nerveless fingers, spilling small wooden boxes and bags of fragrant herbs clattering across the flagstones.
"I-I though that I was coming to help heal someone. I am a herbalist not a guardsman!" Valiard sputters, clearly agitated.
What do they know? Something? Nothing? I would have been arrested a long time ago if anyone was aware...perhaps they just need a healer...
"I don't mean to say that I won't help. I just wanted to make plain that I will not be waving a sword around as I chase this thing around. I don't have the skill for it. I will most certainly help keep our valiant warriors clean of brain rot, flesh drop, black creepies and all the other diseases and parasites that come from the catacombs and tunnels beneath the crown. I can do that much at least." Visibly calmer, Valiard smooths back his hair and stoops to gather his lost ingredients back into his satchel.
|Grigor Vachkov
"I know you now Valiard... you're the guy who over charges on the 'Alchemists Kindness' that we hard working watchmen sometimes buy...", he grunts, "but my wife says you do good work - we'll need you when we find the Commander."
"You others?, I think I know the Fortune Teller as well - again, also known to my wife... Also known to me as a 'Cause of the odd bit of trouble' when some fool starts up the popular game 'burn the witch' and one of 'us' ends up getting dinged up putting end to such stupidity and restorin' the peace".
You can't help thinking 'Us' has a very specific meaning the way it is said.
"I don't recall being burned," Mireza answers the Crow in a light and lilting voice. "You'd think such a thing would be memorable. But if it has, in fact, slipped my mind and you were the cause of my rescue, I'm sure I should owe you a debt of gratitude. If, on the other hand, my mere existence is so troubling to you," she shrugs, "perhaps you expect an apology."
Although her face remained placid and her gaze distant during the Mayor's briefing, beneath the surface she is annoyed. She has put a great deal of time and effort into cultivating a relationship with Commander Garus. To have to begin again with his replacement, particularly if he were to be a rough man like the Crow who just spoke, would be vexing. If Garus is still alive, she will do well to find and restore him to his position. He will be even less likely to trouble her in the future if he owes her his life....
|Iozef Kolnikov
As Iozef eyes the map, "Very well, Mayor," he responds, being purposely oblivious of the others. "The entrance the commander used to enter the tunnels ... how does it fair? This 'thing' hasn't collapsed it as well, has it?" He looks to the mayor as he asks, his face expressionless.
Heggry looks at you through the smoke of his cigar. He takes a deep breath from it, as if his life depended on it, then lets the smoke come out, slowly, closing his eyes: "Look- I mean thanks for accepting. You'll be rewarded, handsomely, if you can defeat that- thing. And it's true I don't know most of you, but it's my job to know people, and people know people... You get what I'm saying!" He seems to loose patience, like he wants to tell you a great story, but first he has to explain tedious sundries. "To be honest, looking at you, I have to trust my advisors! Merchant Myre, a great developer of the city, has spoken to me at length about the talents of some of you. We had sent for the scholar Hyve to help us, but he declined! Still, that old idiots managed to name you, Iozef, so that my Crows would leave him alone. That reminds me!" He laughs and pours another shot of spirit and as soon as it sinks in, downs it and coughs loudly. "Windle Thetra, you're no friend of Pharasmins I gather. You're the first one they pointed us to when we said we needed a hero. I guess that's a sort of compliment..."
He looks around, trying to remember the questions you had: "I'm asking you to go to Slipper Market to find out what happened there and to my men. You are to find that thing and destroy it! I'll have one of my runners lead you there."
He turns away from you, indicating it's time to leave, when the door opens on a lady of small size, her head framed by a hairs of red, split on the side by pointy ears. Her eyes of green are like emeralds on the ivory platter of her skin. She wears extensive makeup, in accordance with the latest tenets of Ustalavic fashion, he eyes colored black and red and her lips painted a plush blue. Her dress is a simple green tunic of exquisite fabric and she wears a shortsword at her side.
Heggry goes sour at the sight of concilwoman Dimyian: "Pah! The smell of my blood has drawn the sharks! What do you want!"
Councilwoman Dimyian smiles at the mayor: "My! Do you always welcome so the very people elected to support you in the daunting task of managing this city. I am merely here to offer my good service. I can see you've listened to some of my advice." She says this as she looks at you, probably implying she had dropped one of your names to him.
She steps out of the room and is a few feet away as you make your way out. She turns to Valiard: "My good Valiard: a word?"
She then as quickly disappears back in the room: [b]"So tell me Heggry: What have you been up to..."
Feel free to ask more questions to Heggry if needed.
A young lad in a black tunic waits for you. He guides you through the maze of streets to Slipper Market. The rain is but a drizzle, but the fog is thick and envelops everything in an eerie halo.
Normally a bustling market, Slipper Market is currently abandoned save for two dozen milling Crows. As you scan the area, you notice faces in the upper floor windows of nearby houses. Their faces seem frozen in shock as they watch the hole that was a house standing in front of you...
|Iozef Kolnikov
|1 person marked this as a favorite.
Before leaving
Iozef rolls his eyes at the mention of the annoying Windle. I should say. He thinks to himself, per the mention of Windle being, 'no friend of Pharasmins'. "Mayor, I am at a loss as to why scholar Hyve would name be. I barely know the gentleman. But I assure you, I have the utmost confidence in my ability to take up the mantle in which he abandon." He says point blank. "Very good then. We shall see what may have become of Commander Garus and his men. Good day to you, Mayor."
At Slipper Market
Ignoring the weather, Iozef takes a moment to peer at all the gawkers staring out their windows. "You there," Iozef points to a random Crow, "Crow person. Now that we are here, are you the one to lead us to the tunnels? Wait, before you answer, have any of you seen the physical nature of this creature? Or is the large gaping holes that it manages to leave, the only evidence we have? And just to be clear, there hasn't been one to return from the tunnels out of the commander and his men?"
|Grigor Vachkov
how was that said Iozef? If nicely but seemly unaware of the etiquette of addressing a crow or brusquely but with respect?
Gringor grunts sourly, If you please that's not how you address a Crow. He gives him a bit of a glare then looks to the Crow. Report, he barks to the Watchman.
If done high handedly, as if addressing a servant...
"You there," Iozef points to a random Crow, "Crow person. Now that we are here, are you the one to lead us to the tunnels?
At that Grigors eyes start to bug out of his head and his face turns red... If steam were to pour from his ears it would not be surprising.
Wait, before you answer, have any of you seen the physical nature of this creature? Or is the large gaping holes that it manages to leave, the only evidence we have? And just to be clear, there hasn't been one to return from the tunnels out of the commander and his men?"[/b]
And then Grigor the Watchman explodes!
Just who the feck do you think you are?! You aren't a Watchmans A+#%@!*& you ain't! Just 'cause the Mayor is callin' in a marker doesn't give you the right to talk to one of us Crows like we're some sort of bumboy! , he all but screams at Iozef.
He grinds his teeth, glaring at Iozef and then barks, Report! to the Crow who Iozef spoke to, all the while not breaking eye contact with Iozef.
|Valiard Tessar
The mayors office
Valiard intentionally widens his eyes at the Councilwoman's words, then barely nods his head before she turns to leave.
Pah. How utterly unsurprising. A major disruption to the city, to the point where citizens are dying, and all they think about is positioning for advantage.
At the Market
Valiard eyes the pale faces in the windows and the utterly forbidding hole that once was a residence. The street seems odd without the presence of the house, as if someone ripped the structure away, like a rotted tooth in a crone's mouth.
"I, uh, hate to ask the question, but I certainly didn't go trapsing up to the mayor's office with all my equipment. I need to make a stop at my shop for my things before I go crawling around in the dark. Watchman Vachkov, do you mind if I nip off for a bit? It shouldn't take me long once I walk home."
|Grigor Vachkov
good idea... But run, not walk. We'll wait 15 minutes., he said after checking his hour glass.
Grigor gives him a nod and a jerk of the head that seems to indicate he can be on his way.
|Grigor Vachkov
It's just a reminder to roll when you feel it might bring more information on things. For example, one might wish to roll knowledge (local or nobility) to recall what he might know of Heggry and Dimyian. Or perhaps something about this market. Just examples, but all I'm saying is you're allowed to go fishing.
|Iozef Kolnikov
Iozef turns to Grigor, "Very well. Then, if you would, please address him however one is suppose to address him within his line of work, and let us be on with it." Turning to the Crow, "What is your name, sir? If I offended you in any way, I apologize," he says in a tone that is difficult to tell of its sincerity. "I only meant to skip the formalites and attempt to get to the issue at hand, deeming it of greater importance. I assure you, it's nothing personal."
|Grigor Vachkov
@ DM: Best way to get all that information in the militaty or para military is simply have the person on watch report - should give more or less most of what Iozef asked.
Knowledge Local 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12 Recent similar attacks
Knowledge Local 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9 Commander Garus
Perception 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (19) + 11 = 30 Any Sight based, scent based or audible clues available on the site without going into the hole until the Crow actually reports and says what is going on etc
Knowledge Dungeoneering 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18Monsters etc that dig up and attack from the ground
Knowledge Religion 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (14) + 3 = 17Big undead etc that dig up and attack from the ground
Grigor grunts and then glares at the watchman on site waiting for him to report as he looks around and sniffs
|Grigor Vachkov
And it seems that the dice must be reflecting my hang over because I don't seem to know jack**** about my own commander and barely anything if there have been similar attacks
|Iozef Kolnikov
Will attempt to see if Iozef can discern what type of creature could have made such a hole.
Knowledge (Arcana): 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (14) + 13 = 27 To determine if creature could possibly fall into this category
Knowledge (Dungeoneering): 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (1) + 15 = 16 Same as Grigor
Knowledge (Engineering): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (14) + 10 = 24 Whatever I may be able to determine about the hole, if anything important. (Besides it being being a hole) :)
Knowledge (History): 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (11) + 12 = 23 To determine if anything like this has ever occured previously
Knowledge (Local): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (5) + 10 = 15 Will follow up with Grigor on the commander
Knowledge (Planes): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (19) + 10 = 29 To determine if creature could possibly fall into this category
Knowledge (Religion): 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (6) + 15 = 21 To determine if creature could possibly fall into this category
|Valiard Tessar
|Windle Thetra
Windle's expression does not visibly change at the Mayor's words regarding his selection, though his body language suggests amusement. I suppose that means I've been here too long. At least the archivist here is knowledgeable enough.
"If I may, where were these other buildings that have collapsed? Can we get a map with the positions marked? And--how do I put this?--if its a single creature doing this, it may not have started its destructive career with buildings; have there been any unusual disappearances recently?"
As the group is led to the site of the Commander's disappearance, Windle scans the streets and the passers-by, his posture ramrod-straight as he walks. At the site, he'll look around for any noticeable trails. (He's particularly interested in getting down to the tunnels, to find any of the creature's tracks and/or the tracks of the guards.)
Perception check: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (1) + 10 = 11
Survival check to find & identify tracks: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (11) + 12 = 23
|Valiard Tessar
Word must have spread quickly through the whole of the Crown, Valiard thinks as he walks brisky down the Street of Sighs. The usual crowd of whores and roustabouts was gone, the second story balconies shuttered tight against an impending storm.
I was going to name more streets (Soap Street and the Way of a Thousand Prayers) but I guess that there is an actual folio out there, and I didn't want to mess with any of your plans.
Two quick turns later and Valiard was before his shop. He unlocked the door, released the hidden deadbolt and disabled the mechanical alarm before opening the door, stepped inside and threw the bolt.
What to bring, what to bring? I need to be ready for eventualities, but I don't want the Raven to be suspicious. I do need my armor and blades however...I guess I should wear the armor and my best daggers, but keep most of the rest packed away...
He fingered his silver piece as he thought, not even noticing that he was rubbing his thumb over its surface.
Thieves tools, potions, silk rope, grappling hook, the mask and brace of daggers were rolled into some shirts and stuffed at the bottom of his pack. On top he placed a well stocked packet of healing herbs, things that could be turned into a poultice quickly, his surgeon's kit and healers kit.
He pulled on his armor, put his best daggers in forearm sheaths, and pulled a heavy cloak over all of it. He threw the now bulky pack over his shoulder and left the shop, carefully locking up and resetting all of his usual precautions as he departed and made his way back to the Slipper Market.
That will teach me to hint at knowledge rolls!
You have never heard or read about such events happening in Carrion Hill in the past.
Commander Garus has a very good reputation. He is known and loved in the city, and well respected by his men.
As you scan the place, you notice that though the place has collapsed, the parts attached to the other buildings are still holding up. They seem to be part of the collapsed building and may hold clues. The structure looks like it would still hold regular strain.
Commander Garus, as best you know, has a very good reputation. He is known and loved in the city, and well respected by his men.
Meanwhile, you notice that the sergeant in charge has noticed your barking and has frowned deeply. He walks fast and steady, but then obviously tries to calm himself as he approaches, turning his frown into a more neutral visage.
Behind him, you notice a tent set up by the Crows. You manage a glimpse at two bodies as a crow enters the tent.
Some of the comments you make, in particular the one that starts with @DM and telling me what's going to happen, I find difficult to deal with. They set expectations I don't feel I have to follow, but puts us automatically at odds. I would ask that you'd be more careful with those.
There is no map with street names. Run with it. I think it's great.
As you all take a look at the scene, and Iozef and Grigor have some words with a crow, a sergeant almost appears beside you: "What's going on here? Oh, Vachkov! Can we talk for a sec.?" He walks off with Grigor.
He quickly understands your mandate and tones down two notches: "I see... Ok then, I'll support you. Just thread lightly. The men are stunned and worried about the Commander..."
They come back to the rest of the group. "Okay, I'm Sergeant Feldk. I understand your the detail charged with clearing and cleaning this mess. What do you want to know?"
|Windle Thetra
|Grigor Vachkov
Am cool with that
Grigor salutes Feldk as he comes on scene... and gets torn a new one. He weathers it well enough, albeit with the sort of mute resentment that would be expected for the public ass chewing.
As he helps with the others in bringing the Sergeant up to speed he seems to relax some... perhaps the presence of Feldk is giving him a degree of confidence too?
Any of the men get out... alive?, he asked.
The others have their own questions and I'll let them ask em' but we got any of our boys out? I can tell that the Commander is still missin just from the way things are here... unless he's in that tent?
|Iozef Kolnikov
As Iozef waits for the others to finish, "And did any of you get a visual of this creature, sir? Any kind at all? Oh, and further more," he walks toward the collapsed building, "how did this part of the building remain intact, while the rest of it was destroyed? Shouldn't it all have been brought down? Looking closely, what's left of this building appears to remain quite sturdy and would hold under it's normal tension. Doesn't that seem a little odd?" He asks as he moves over to inspect the part of the building of which he spoke, in hopes to find some form of residue, or something left over by the unknown creature.
Perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (1) + 11 = 12
That stinks. Take 10 if possible. For a total of 21
Am cool with that
Grigor salutes Feldk as he comes on scene... and gets torn a new one. He weathers it well enough, albeit with the sort of mute resentment that would be expected for the public ass chewing.
As he helps with the others in bringing the Sergeant up to speed he seems to relax some... perhaps the presence of Feldk is giving him a degree of confidence too?
Any of the men get out... alive?, he asked.
The others have their own questions and I'll let them ask em' but we got any of our boys out? I can tell that the Commander is still missin just from the way things are here... unless he's in that tent?
Feldk's mouth twists at the mention of survivor: "No sign of survivor yet, though we have not gotten further that the surface. Two crows were found in the streets. Their bodies are in the tent over there. It's not easy to..."
|Windle Thetra
As Iozef waits for the others to finish, "And did any of you get a visual of this creature, sir? Any kind at all?
"No one saw anything... They heard the crash and went to the windows, but the building was crumbling all around and they couldn't see what caused it."
Oh, and further more,"[/b] he walks toward the collapsed building, "how did this part of the building remain intact, while the rest of it was destroyed? Shouldn't it all have been brought down? Looking closely, what's left of this building appears to remain quite sturdy and would hold under it's normal tension. Doesn't that seem a little odd?"
"Indeed, it seems the- thing must have erupted from the basement and perhaps followed the crows, crashing the house as it did.
He asks as he moves over to inspect the part of the building of which he spoke, in hopes to find some form of residue, or something left over by the unknown creature.Perception: 1d20 + 11
That stinks. Take 10 if possible. For a total of 21
Iozef moves closer and notices blood and gore, slowly washed away by the rain. This has been a massacre. Sorry, no take 10, but others will have a look as well.
"Valiard said he was a healer; when he returns, perhaps he can examine the bodies."
Windle says those words as he follows the other Pharasmin. He studies the area as well and notices some kind of slimy fluid, acrid and foul, also washed away by the rain and very hard to notice. He takes a few steps back. It seems the thing went after the guards, but then retreated back. An alleyway, or what's left of it, extends in front of the inquisitor.
"Where are the dead, Sergeant?" Mireza asks Feldk demurely.
Feldk looks with wonder at the Changeling. He obviously knows her, or of her, and wonders what she could be doing here, but keeps it to himself: "Follow me, but brace yourselves. It ain't pretty..."
He walks slowly, his head slowly bending forward and his shoulders slumping. He opens up the tent and orders the men out.
An oil lamp is hung between two humanoid forms under green woollen covers. Feldk lifts the first one. The man's shape is still dicernible, but the body has been crunched out of shape, and twisted until the flesh tore. What's left is a mass of remains with armour and badge. "The other's the same... This is madness, not evil."
|Windle Thetra
The inquisitor murmurs a brief orison, and the head of his walking stick begins to glow. Casting light. "Smell that? If that's the thing's blood, the Crows were able to damage it. I think it may have retreated, though I don't know why." He raises his voice a bit, while still maintaining a deferential tone. "Sergeant? Have you looked down this alley?"
|Grigor Vachkov
He gagged slightly while his memory shouted obscenities as scenes from that last case in Caliphas played through his minds eye.
Grigor had seen worse before... but not by much.
Gods..., he breathed.
Brushing past the those who followed him into the tent he moved to the saner, cleaner world that lay outside its boundries and spat, before reaching for a bottle that he kept for... well... emergencies.
And if this isn't an emergency, he reasoned bloody well not sure is, but instead of downing the whole bottle like he wanted to... NEEDED to, he took a single long pull before corking it and sliding it away.
I gotta stay straight for the Commander, he resolved.
He looked around and wiped at his eyes before walking closer to the wreckage, eyes locked on it.
Mireza examines the body without the squeamishness one might expect would come naturally, as if she were examining the carapace of a beetle that has been crushed than the remains of a fellow being. Her gaze seems almost academic, as her eyes trace the twists and breaks imposed on the underlying skeleton. Heal to determine cause of death 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (20) + 8 = 28: obviously crushed somehow, but were they picked up and squeezed or flattened against the pavement? deliberately mutilated by some sort of fleshly being or accidentally crushed by falling debris as an afterthought? Or were they already dead before the massive injuries? "Hud," she speaks in a harsh-sounding language, passing her hands in front of her eyes. detect magic on the remains
Her examination over, she stands up and addresses the sergeant again in her normal sweet voice, "Only Crows found dead? No civilians? What building was this? Who owns it?"
Sergeant Feldk points to the building: "No, we didn't go in. Our orders were to wait for a special detail for the investigation. This hallway looks like the way in. Be careful down there. That thing can crush a man in a split second. I'm glad I'm not the one hunting that beast..."
"We've asked about the building. Used to be a shop, but was run down. A man named Marshan bought it a few weeks ago. He was renovating it... Quiet man according to the neighbours."
Valiard can now join, having returned.
Sense Motive 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (14) + 3 = 17
Sergeant Feldk points to the building: "No, we didn't go in. Our orders were to wait for a special detail for the investigation. This hallway looks like the way in. Be careful down there. That thing can crush a man in a split second. I'm glad I'm not the one hunting that beast..."
"A wise decision, no doubt," Mireza concedes serenely. "The way the creature went after the uniformed men, killed them with such ... thoroughness. It must bear some particular grudge against the Crows. To wear the uniform is to be a marked man, in its eyes." Bluff just to make him jumpy and paranoid 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (11) + 14 = 25
Marshan. If he is dead, she must let it be known that she had foreseen the death and warned him; if he is still alive... well, no doubt it is due to the good fortune he purchased during their session, she reasons, already adjusting her reputation to gain, whatever the outcome. She tries to remember if he mentioned what sort of shop his newly-purhased home used to be.
Sorry for all the spoilers. I am trying to build a mood, and would prefer that characters let the others know what they figure out, or leave some information, perhaps for the moment. Let me know if you think at one point it's overboard.
|Windle Thetra
|Iozef Kolnikov
Auto-succeed on Sense Motive.
Iozef looks curiously at the sergeant, then disregards his implications.
Observing Mireza while she inspects the bodies, I think she is the one I've heard about. I find her... odd. Yet intriguing. As she concludes her inspection, "Well? What were you able to ascertain, if anything?"
Mireza stares at the young priest quizzically for a moment. "That they are dead," she explains the obvious. "That whatever killed them, crushed them purposefully and left them in the street, no longer interested once it had wrung the life from their corpses. It is not a hunter; it is ... an artist of death." She turns away to gaze back at the building, humming a lilting Varisian tune under her breath.
|Valiard Tessar
Valiard walks up to where Mireza, Iozef and the sergeant stand, observing the bodies.
"One of the Ravens outside told me that you all had come in here and...BY ALL THE GODS! THAT IS HORRIBLE!" Gagging and decidedly green around the gills, Valiard dashes back out of the tent.
A quiet retching is heard by those inside the tent.
It just had to be said...
|Iozef Kolnikov
I have a +14 on Sense Motive. Rolling a 1 on skill checks is not an automatic failure. Only for saves and to hit. Unless you have a natural one as a fail. If so, then my bad. I didn't realize. Will roll here if that's the case... Sense Motive: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (2) + 14 = 16
Iozef looks at the witch quizzically; moreso in an attempt to try an understand her. "Thank you." He responds, his mind already pondering her observation, An artist of death? That is most disturbing. Most disturbing.
As Valiard walks in, and then promptly walks out, Iozef just shakes his head at the poor man.
|Grigor Vachkov
Grigor hears the retching, and his strides - designed to take him from the tent to the ruin, halt.
He turns and watches Valiard a moment, as the same revulsion that filled his gorge overcomes the offers the young herbalist.
He regarded Valiard silently for long moment... then wordlessly extends his bottle to the young man.
Sergeant Feldk looks at you with the cover in his hand, ready to pull it back on the body if you seem to be done with it. "So are you guys going to... go after it? I mean, seems like madness to me..."
|Iozef Kolnikov
Me too! When I saw Windle's +12, I'm like-- "Dang! That's pretty good for 1st level." And then when I checked my own, I'm like-- "Really? Did I cheat!" And then I see that were level 5. That's like the 3rd time it's happened. :P
Iozef looks to the Sergeant with a cool demeanor, "Of course, Sergeant. I cannot allow something of this nature to continue to exist. Eventually, there wouldn't be a building left standing if that were the case. Never fear, Sergeant, we will remove this 'thing.'" He then looks to the others, "Assuming the rest of you are going as well? I don't want to volunteer any of you who would rather not."
|Windle Thetra


text:
'"We've got to find ways for other guys to score," right wing Brad Boyes said Thursday in SkateQuest, 20 miles from the capital. "We've got the same guys scoring every game. You're not going to win relying on two guys. You look at the lineup, a lot of guys have history, but that doesn't do anything right now."'
Following Vanek's example may cure Sabres' scoring woes
December 30, 2011 Submitted by
Via: Buffalo News


text:
Following a one-week layoff, the Canisius College swimming and diving team will return to the pool on Saturday, to square off with Big Four rival St. Bonaventure.
"In the time that we've had off, we've really had an opportunity to get in a train and to get our volume up," said head coach Scott Vanderzell. "Instead of trying to be race ready all the time we were able to get our conditioning going."
Both the Canisius men and women come into the meet 4-1 in dual meets this season (the University of Rochester Invite was scored as duals between the competing programs). The Griffs fell in both the men and women's meets when the met the Bonnies in Oct. of last season.
"They're a good squad and they give us an opportunity to race against high-level kids," Vanderzell said. "That's somethin we need throughout our season to continue to improve."
On the men's side, the Griffs have gotten solid performances from junior diver Eddie Quarantillo, who has set school-records in both the 1- and 3-meter dives so far this year. Quarantillo has also already qualified for NCAA Zone A Regionals on both boards, becoming the first diver in program history to do so. Quarantillo earned diver of the week honors after his performance at Geneseo.
The Griffs will also rely on sophomore Spencer Bray has been one of the top-swimmers for Canisius thus far. Bray earned MAAC Swimmer of the week honors following his performance at the University of Rochester Invite.
On the women's side, the Griffs have two reigning MAAC Performers of the Week following their performances at Geneseo. Sophomore Clare Battaglia and junior Taylor Epstein earned MAAC Swimmer and Diver of the week respectively after strong performances in their last meet.
The Griffs will look to continue their run of four-consecutive dual meet victories on Saturday at 11 a.m. in Olean, N.Y.


text:
Downloadable Schedule
iCalendar Format
Fans using iCal with a Mac computer, Google Calendar, Microsoft Outlook 2007 or Outlook 2010 can download an ICS file by right clicking here and choose the "Save Target As ... " or "Save Link As ... " option.
Outlook Format
Fans using Microsoft Outlook can download a CSV file by right clicking here and choose the "Save Target As ... " or "Save Link As ... " option.
Outlook Import Instructions
After downloading the file, open Outlook and follow these directions for importing it into your calendar:
1. Select the "File / Import and Export" Menu option.
2. Select "Import from another program or file" and click "Next".
3. Select "Comma Separated Values (Windows)" and click "Next".
4. Find the desired CSV file (schedule.csv) and select "Do not import duplicate items" and click "Next".
5. Select "Calendar" and click "Next".
6. The next window will have a title that says 'The following actions will be performed:' above an option to 'Import "schedule.csv" into folder: "Calendar"'.
7. Check that box and and click on 'Import "schedule.csv into folder: "Calendar"'
8. From this point, you should be given the option to click "Finish."
However, if you do not have a "Finish" button visible, click and drag needed fields from the left window into the right window. Its fairly self-explanatory, but the basic corresponding fields are below:
SUBJECT to Subject
START_DATE to Start Date
START_TIME to Start Time
END_TIME to End Time
DESCRIPTION to Description
LOCATION to Location
9. And if you'd like Outlook to place a reminder: Set "REMINDER_ON_OFF" to "Reminder On".
10. Click "OK", then click "Finish" and you're ready for the 2011-12 season!
PLEASE NOTE: Your computer settings may need to be set as Month/Day/Year in order for the download to work properly. To check go to -- CONTROL PANEL -- REGIONAL OPTIONS -- DATE -- CHOOSE mm/dd/yyyy FROM THE PULL DOWN
File last updated 12/13/2011.


text:
Policies and Procedures
The policy also outlines the responsibilities of the Principal
Investigator in assuring both programmatic and fiscal compliance of
subrecipients to the terms and conditions established by the
sponsoring agency.
This policy seeks to:
As required by OMB Circular A-133, all subawards issued by the
University shall provide the best information available to describe
the award, including:
The University is obligated to advise subrecipients of
requirements that are imposed on them by federal laws, regulations,
and the provisions of the sponsored project award document.
Subrecipients are required to permit the University and its auditors
to have access to records and financial statements pertaining to
the subaward.
Except in unusual cases, subrecipients must be identified in the
proposal submitted to the sponsoring agency. Following the
execution of subawards, the University is required to monitor the
subrecipient's activities to ensure that activities are conducted
in compliance with regulations and that performance goals are
achieved. In general, when a significant percentage of an award is
passed through the University to a subrecipient, more intense
monitoring is necessary. Regular communication with the
subrecipient is required.
The University shall monitor subrecipients to ensure compliance
with audit requirements. If audit findings are revealed, the
University shall issue a management decision within sixty days
following the receipt of the subrecipient's audit report and
confirm that the subrecipient has taken appropriate corrective
actions in a timely manner. If the subrecipient's corrective action
plan is not submitted to the University within thirty days, the
subrecipient will receive a follow-up phone call or email from the
school's budget officer, or the OGSP grants officer. If the
corrective action plan is not received by the end of sixty days, a
letter will be sent from the Associate Provost. After ninety days,
a letter will be sent from University Counsel to inform the
subrecipient that failure to respond may result in the termination
of the subaward.
If the subrecipient's audit findings necessitate adjustments in
the University's financial records, such adjustments shall be made
in a timely manner.
The Office of University Counsel shall review all subawards with
variations from the approved subaward template. University Counsel
shall work with the Principal Investigator and OGSP and/or the
school's budget officer to negotiate changes to proposed subawards
prior to their execution.
The Principal Investigator shall maintain sufficient contact
with the subrecipient to assess accurately whether the subrecipient
is adequately performing the statement of work and reasonably
progressing towards the achievement of the performing goals.
The Principal Investigator shall obtain periodic written
performance reports from the subrecipient. Such reports should
generally contain a comparison of actual accomplishments with the
goals and objectives established for the period.
Depending on the scope of the work and level of involvement from
the subrecipient, site visits are often necessary to ensure an
effective collaboration. The Principal Investigator shall arrange
and maintain documentation for such visits.
Grants and Sponsored Projects Main Page
Policies and Procedures
Office of the Provost29 Everett StreetCambridge, MA 02138(617) email@example.com


text:
Product Reference: 44202
Stylus allows for easy and accurate typing
Navigate your device's apps and imitate many of its supported gestures with a stylus, allowing you to enjoy more control and accurate typing via the on-screen keyboard.
Lightweight and extremely portable, the Magnetic Stylus Pen can easily be carried with you wherever you go and is comfortable to use for extended periods of time.
Reduce fingerprints
With the use of a stylus, on-screen fingerprints and smudges will be significantly reduced - improving screen clarity. This enables you to use your tablet or smartphone for a far longer period of time without becoming frustrated, due to you having to stop and clean the display.
Non-scratch, durable rubber tip
With its non-scratch and durable rubber tip, you can be assured the Magnetic Stylus Pen will not harm your beautiful tablet or phone display.
Attach to your fridge and other magnetic surfaces
Not using your stylus currently or just wish to keep it in an easy to find location? Thanks to its built-in magnet, you can place your stylus on a fridge, metal section of your desk or other surfaces where a magnet can attach to. With a soft pad covering the magnet, it will not scratch the surface you are attaching it to.
Easy to use - no battery or software required
There is no need for batteries or any additional software, simply pick up the pen and begin using it on your capacitive touchscreen.
Suitable for all capacitive touchscreen devices
Suitable for use with any capacitive touchscreen, used by the vast majority of recent smartphone and tablet manufacturers.


text:
No login? Request one now or learn more about the advantages. Customer Login
Providing Comprehensive Environmental Services for North America
Whether you have a small or large boiler, Clean Harbors has a cleaning process to keep your boiler up and running. Our high volume vacuum systems thoroughly and efficiently remove large amounts of ash for disposal. High-pressure water blasting services are used in conjunction with state-of-the-art equipment, which is inserted into the boiler either on-line or off-line and effectively descales the walls. Smaller boilers such as package boilers are carefully hand brushed and vacuumed without the use of water for quick turnaround.
Our cleaning methods thoroughly remove the buildup that can slow your process down. You will benefit from a more effective boiler and improved heat transfer.
Routine maintenance and scheduled Clean Harbors boiler cleaning services are effective in reducing down time for your boilers.
With locations throughout North America, we can be at your site within 24 hours and get you back on-line, when forced outages and other emergencies arise.
Because we are a full service environmental services company, we can also dispose of any waste generated during the process.
For 24-Hour Emergency Response, call 800.OIL.TANK (800.645.8265)
©1995-2013 Clean Harbors. Use of automated data collection programs forbidden.


text:
Have Your Book Professionally Edited
Editing and proofreading your special manuscript is a job for a professional editor. We've found the best of the best and hired them to be your second set of eyes.
We Understand Your Fiction and Nonfiction Projects
Whether you've written beat poetry or the next blockbuster screenplay, a lavish period romance or a hard science fiction adventure, we know your form and genre. We know about important things like leaving the dialects alone, preserving your voice and vision, and making sure you retain complete creative control. If you've written nonfiction, be assured we'll be focused on helping you communicate your ideas clearly and concisely, giving you a better, stronger, and perfectly crafted manuscript.
We can work on all forms of poetry and prose, in any genre.
Your Copyright and Confidentiality Are Assured
You've worked hard, and you've got a fantastic plot and some great ideas. Scribendi.com will never make a claim on your copyright, and we don't require credit or acknowledgment of our work. We have some of the strictest confidentiality and privacy policies around. Your manuscript file is safe with us too; file transfers to and from our site are encrypted.
You Need It When?
We can turn a short (up to 10,000 words) manuscript around in 24 hours. We can do a 250,000-word epic in a matter of weeks.
How Much?
We're glad you asked. We like to keep things simple, so we charge by the word. Every service page here has an instant quote widget that allows you to pick a turnaround time to suit your schedule and budget. To get started right now, simply choose from among our affordable services below.
Available Services
At Scribendi.com, we want to help you achieve your dreams, no matter what you've written or which publishing route you take. So, we offer services targeted at helping you attract big-name publishing houses and self-publish an ebook. Take a look and decide which service is best for you!


text:
Do Twins Run in Your Family?
People often ask me if twins run in my family. Apparently they do. Presenting my long lost twin brother. Who could have guessed we've been going to the same hair dresser all these years?
Continuing Ed Writing Class
I signed up for a fiction writing class at NYU this semester. Last week our assignment was to write a 250 word character sketch of someone by using appearance, action, speech, and thought to show what the character is like. We had the choice of a nerd, priss, flirt, snob, or bully. Luckily I chose nerd because I got 90% of what I needed by observing Ella at the library. Without too much effort, I brought out her nerdy side.
Deb hunches over her spelling assignment at a table in the public library. Her shoulders are pressed into her ears, and she has a firm grasp of her pencil as she writes the words 3 times each.
"Look!" she tells her mom, "One of the words is 'thousand!' I love this word. Thousand." Deb sighs and looks out the window. She thinks about making up a thousand jokes someday. Having a thousand friends. Getting a thousand words wrong on a spelling test. The thought forces her to bite her middle finger nail until it bleeds. The taste of blood jolts her attention back to her assignment. She finishes while she singing softly, "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger. Stronger."
Deb's little brother brings over a stack of Roald Dahl books for her. She picks through them saying, "Already read it. Read it. Read. Read them all." She pushes them back to him and looks around. "Where's Mia Cooper?" she says, "I saw her earlier. Mia Cooooper!"
Mia turns slowly a few tables in front of Deb. Deb blurts out, "Mia Cooper! Did you ride the subway here? I did. The B train. It was so crowded. I actually said 3 swear words out loud and no one heard me!" Mia looks down at the ground straight faced. Deb starts laughing hysterically until the chair she's sitting in tips back completely. And on the way to the floor with her arms flailing, Deb shouts, "Fuuudge."
Most of these events happened. I made up Ella's thoughts on the word thousand (she did say she loved that word), biting her nail until it started bleeding, and her friend not being nice. She's actually one of Ella's dear friends. I also made the part of Ella laughing hysterically. She told me she said bad words on the subway. She also fell off her chair but the two events were unrelated in real life.
I love being surrounded by people who give me so much material for class. This week we have to write character sketches about a domineering wife or a timid husband. Rob's turn to get turned into a character! It won't be easy to find his timid side, but I'm sure I'll find a way and love every minute of it.


text:
Moderator: Quack Wacker NC
Slack Tide wrote:I love my Mossy 935 (stand by for Chit Storm)
t_baker wrote:Slack Tide wrote:I love my Mossy 935 (stand by for Chit Storm)
Explains why you waited 49 months to get a permit to buy a handgun.
Batsto wrote:I shoot a mossberg 930. Nice gun for $481. Purchased through garbagegun.com
olt d2 wrote:A late model 11-87 is hard to beat and most can be had for under 400.00 used. Most are traded in because the owner couldn't understand simple semi auto shotgun maintenance. In most cases they need the bolt return spring and housing cleaned out as well as the ports. a little foaming bore cleaner on the mag tube and a new o ring and your in business. That simple maintenance will cost you 12.00, 4.00 for the o ring, 8.00 for the bore cleaner and fifteen minutes of your time. Oh if you ever go the used route always make sure the choke tube comes out.
Jon Bergren wrote:I'm shooting an Excell ... $300. ...the gun I have been shooting most going on 5 yrs and has not had one problem. Last year I shot it ... two days in a row. Ned S
The Drake wrote:Many many people including myself that love their Versamax. Proving it will cycle anything in any conditions. And by far the lightest recoiling auto made today.
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 10 guests


text:
I have long ass list of games that I've played, so I'm not setting any specific criteria. However, I am suddenly getting this urge to go on a nostalgia binged and play some super oldschool Playerworld, or RPGmaker type of games. Unfortunately google search is bringing up outdated information of dead games.
Any suggestions for any of these old rpgs still alive?
The games I'm looking for have these graphics, the one I played as a kid had even less pixels.


text:
Excellent reminders and photographs, THANKS.........
Veterans.... and all.... I hope that today is a peaceful one for you.... both in your activities today, and in your hearts for as long as you live. Many are not here so that we can be.
Veterans are Veterans year round, not just today.
Never forget. :usa2:
Some thought-provoking phtographs.... and a link to the story behind them. The pic of the flag at half staff is mine.
International Picture of the Year: A Tribute to Our Fallen Soldiers | Voting American
Excellent reminders and photographs, THANKS.........


text:
Browsing Engineering -- Computer by Subject "Computational complexity."
Now showing items 1-1 of 1
[2010-02-09] Information similarity metrics in information security and forensics We study two information similarity measures, relative entropy and the similarity metric, and methods for estimating them. Relative entropy can be readily estimated with existing algorithms based on compression. The ...


text:
Veterans Tuition and Fees
Excelsior College offers a reduced fee structure for veterans to help make education more affordable. We also have veteran-friendly policies and advising services that make it easy to apply GI Bill® benefits and other educational benefits toward your Excelsior degree.
The information on this page applies to military veterans and DoD civilians.
If you are an active-duty servicemember or a military family member, see the Military Tuition and Fees page to learn about Excelsior's special pricing and financial aid programs.
We offer two enrollment options:
- The Excelsior Course Option—cost-optimized for students who will take at least 12 Excelsior course credits before they graduate.
- The Multi-Source Option—designed for students who need to take fewer than 12 Excelsior course credits.
|Undergraduate Fees
|Excelsior Course Option
|Multi-Source Option
|1. Application for admission and Preliminary review of transcripts
|2. Commitment
|3. Tuition
| $510
per credit
| $510
per credit
| 4. Annual Student Fee (SSAF)
|$0 annually2
| 5. Graduation
|$4953, 4
|$4953, 4
Fees subject to change without notice.
Contact the financial aid office to learn about fee waivers and discounts that may apply to the above rates.
Explore our Veteran Partnerships for more reduced rate options.
1Students who do not complete the required number of Excelsior course credits before graduation will be switched to the Multi-Source option and charged the prevailing commitment fee for that option.
2Students who do not complete the required number of Excelsior course credits per year will be charged the prevailing SSAF for this option.
3$15 will be deducted for each Excelsior course credit earned.
4All students are required to pay the graduation fee. Our annual Commencement ceremony is held In Albany in July. Registration is required if you wish to attend and there is a small fee for your cap and gown assessed at registration. For more Information visit our Commencement page.
Excelsior Helps You Control Costs
In addition to offering reduced fees for military veterans, Excelsior College provides a range of financial aid programs and services to ensure that veterans have access to an affordable education.
Excelsior serves thousands of military veterans every year. Our policies and programs are optimized for convenient use of GI Bill benefits and other educational programs for veterans.
Financial Aid for Veterans
Learn how to apply GI Bill® benefits and other educational benefits toward an Excelsior degree program at the LTC Bryant A. Murray Veterans Center.
Speak with an Excelsior College financial aid advisor


text:
Posted by Anthony Mullen on December 20, 2011
I'm delighted to be starting with Forrester as a Senior Analyst serving Interactive Marketers. I am based in our London office and will cover Global and EMEA specific topics.
A little bit about me . . .
I studied computer science in Edinburgh, Scotland over 20+ years ago when it was mostly a mathematical topic — heavy on algebra, programming, and other dry subject matter. While some of these topics remained in academia for many years I have seen how they have come to be nurtured under a more commercial light with recommendation systems and rich analytics solutions proliferating in the marketing technology landscape. These tools live alongside bleeding-edge techniques including neuroscience tools to measure pre-cognitive responses to media, messages, and experiences. It's clear that the mad scientists and M(ad) Men are working side by side. Of course, marketing will always have a strong and essential dollop of artistic flair in the elixir but without doubt it is moving inexorably toward a science helped, in part, from the massive data sets now available through the web and social paradigm.
My experience in the industry has seen me work with many telecommunications companies, media publishers, startups, and hardware manufacturers on a wide gamut of products, marketing strategies and solutions to problems. Most recently I supported the BBC with short- and long-term CRM/sCRM strategies (across all channels) as well as implementing prototypes in the marketing resource management (MRM) and media planning space. In the mobile domain I recently completed some work with Vodafone Global on a system that wove its own mobile content together with third-party content using recommendation engine technologies and HTML5.


text:
Top Ten is a hugely popular series on the club's UK television channel which showcases famous Arsenal players and their best goals.
Now you can enjoy these clips on Arsenal TV Online too.
We'll bring you a new Top Ten each week - and our latest clip features the finest goals of Alan Smith.
The legendary striker led the line tirelessly from 1987-1995 for Arsenal racking up 115 goals in 347 appearances.
Great in the air and clinical in front of goal, the Midlands-born frontman scooped two Division One Golden Boots and will stay in Arsenal folklore forever after hitting the winning goal in the 1994 Cup-Winners Cup Final against Parma.
Our selection includes a fierce left-foot strike at Upton Park, a volley on the plastic pitch at Kenilworth Road, and the historic header at Anfield in 1989.
A monthly subscription to Arsenal TV Online costs just £3.99 and, with live coverage of EVERY Arsenal game, it's the cheapest way of following the team - home and away!
For more information or to sign up to Arsenal TV Online please click here.Copyright 2017 The Arsenal Football Club plc. Permission to use quotations from this article is granted subject to appropriate credit being given to www.arsenal.com as the source


text:
Welcome to a new feature on Arsenal.com - Talking Heads.
Before and after every first-team fixture our MatchDay Show team - and an Arsenal blogger - will have their say on the match.
Arsenal took on Chelsea in the Premier League on Saturday and our Talking Heads for this game were Dan Roebuck, Martin Hayes and Andrew Mangan from Arseblog.
Read on for their post-match thoughts and recap what they said before the game.
Wow! What a game that was. I feared the worse in the first five minutes when Chelsea found acres of space in behind Djourou and Santos but it soon became clear that Arsenal could do just as much damage at the other end. Walcott, Gervinho and of course Van Persie were all dangerous while Ramsey is growing in stature with every game. For the third straight league game Arsenal barely conceded a chance in the second half so Arsène Wenger must be getting his message across at half-time. Santos and Djourou improved after the break and Koscielny was outstanding throughout. This was the 'marquee' win Arsenal needed to boost their self-belief and I'm just so glad I had that tenner on a 5-3 away win just before kick-off. If only!
A month ago a trip to Stamford Bridge would have seemed pretty daunting but Arsenal will head to west London with plenty of confidence after seven wins in eight games. This is a big test of their credentials because, although they've put together some good results, their away form in the Premier League has been below-par. Last season Arsenal had plenty of the ball at Stamford Bridge but didn't really penetrate, and Chelsea hurt them on the counter-attack. The absence of the suspended Drogba is a plus for the visitors but they have to defend as a team to avoid being overrun. I'd play Gervinho ahead of Walcott as he's the man in form and I'd fancy the Ivorian to give Ivanovic or Cole a difficult match. I don't think Arsenal will win, but I think they can get a draw.
What a fabulous result. I don't think anybody expected Arsenal to go to Stamford Bridge and win 5-3. In the second half the boys really got their act together, Chelsea seemed to lose their way and Robin van Persie has taken advantage of some good opportunities. I think this result puts the demons of that 8-2 defeat at Manchester United to bed. Arsenal can now start getting back in contention and hopefully this result sends a message out to the other teams in the Premier League. It's a great result; now let's build on it.
Saturday is a big game, irrespective of the league standings. From an Arsenal point of view they have got to go and attack Chelsea and put them under pressure because they have not been so fluent of late and there have been some discipline issues. If you sit back and let Chelsea dictate then it becomes a long, tough afternoon so Arsenal need to ask some questions of the opposition back four. In previous games at Stamford Bridge we have had the ball for long periods but Chelsea have had more cutting edge, but Arsenal have players with pace like Gervinho and Theo Walcott and I think they can get in behind the likes of Ashley Cole, who I think has maybe lost a yard of pace. If Arsenal use their pace in the final third they can create chances and then of course they have to take them. Will Vermaelen play? That's the big issue for Arsène Wenger to consider and I think that he should provided he is fit after Tuesday. Vermaelen has got that experience and you need your big players in the big matches. Put it this way: if Vidic was suddenly fit for Man United then he would be in the team, and Vermaelen falls into the same category.
As a fan those are the kind of games that will live long in the memory. Scoring five away from home, against a team like Chelsea, is something else. And the way the fourth goal came about was the stuff of dreams. You've got to enjoy those moments. I think the team will take a huge amount from this game, it was obvious how much the win meant to them. It was clearly more than three points. Having lost at Old Trafford and White Hart Lane, getting something from Sunday's game was crucial. That we went away with everything will certainly instil more confidence and belief in this team and they showed real character to come from behind twice, as well as dealing with the late Chelsea equaliser. It was an extraordinary game and thankfully one we'll be able to look back on with great pleasure. Onwards and upwards!
After a run of pretty decent form - winning seven out of eight is good by any standards - Chelsea will provide a real test on Saturday. They seem to have been overlooked slightly with all the focus on the Manchester sides but their experience, talent and resources are still formidable. However they do seem to be still finding their feet with a new man at the helm and hopefully we can take advantage of that. Obviously all eyes will be on Robin van Persie, and he's got some recent history at Stamford Bridge, but it will take a concerted team effort to get a result. Certainly with Gervinho and Walcott we've got plenty of pace and the midfield triumvirate of Song, Arteta and Ramsey is growing as they get used to each other. I think it will be tough but I think we've got enough momentum going to get a result.
* The views expressed in Talking Heads do not necessarily reflect those of Arsenal Football Club or Arsenal Broadband Ltd.Copyright 2017 The Arsenal Football Club plc. Permission to use quotations from this article is granted subject to appropriate credit being given to www.arsenal.com as the source


text:
On Climate Change, Fox Reports Public Opinion -- Not Scientific Opinion
In a news article [1] about Al Gore's upcoming 24 Hours of Reality [2] event, FoxNews.com decided to report what the public thinks scientists think about climate change, without mentioning what scientists actually think:
The battle Gore faces is not against a nameless group of well-heeled competitors, however, but against the public itself.
Public perception of climate change has steadily fallen since the "Climategate" scandal in late 2009. A Rasmussen Reports [3] public opinion poll from August noted that 57 percent of adults believe there is significant disagreement within the scientific community on global warming, up five points from late 2009.
It's a great trick. Repeatedly tell people [4] that scientists disagree on whether manmade global warming is happening and then when that misconception shows up in public opinion polls, you get to report on that too! Incidentally, a December 2010 survey [5] found that those who watched Fox News almost daily were 30 points more likely than those who never watched Fox to disagree with the statement, "Most scientists believe that climate change is occurring."
But multiple surveys have established that the vast majority [6] of scientists agree manmade climate change is a reality. Two studies have [7] concluded [8] that among scientists most actively researching climate science, agreement is nearly unanimous on the basic tenets of manmade global warming. And as NPR reported [9], the National Academy of Sciences, "known for its cautious and even-handed reviews of the state of science, is firmly on board with climate change," as are a long list of other scientific organizations [10].
The question of whether humans are changing the climate is "about as settled as any major scientific issue can be," in the words of the Associated Press [11].
The FoxNews.com article goes on to note that Rasmussen also found 69 percent "believe it's at least somewhat likely that some scientists have falsified research data in order to support their own theories and beliefs" about climate change. This comes after conservative media, including Fox News, relentlessly [12] pushed the claim that the so-called "Climategate" controversy showed climate scientists deceitfully manipulating data, an allegation rejected by multiple inquiries.
FoxNews.com, Fox's purportedly objective online news outfit, regularly pushes climate misinformation:
- Climate Science Once Again Twisted Beyond Recognition By Conservative Media [13]
- Fox News Maligns Scientists With Baseless Accusation Of "Doctoring" Sea Level Data [14]
- Fox Tries To Debunk Global Warming, Fails Miserably [15]
UPDATE (9/15): FoxNews.com strikes again. In an article [16] about a physicist who resigned from the American Physical Society over its position statement that the evidence for global warming is "incontrovertible," FoxNews.com rehashed the poll results and referred to the "alleged 'consensus' regarding man-made climate fears":
Giaever earned his Nobel for his experimental discoveries regarding tunneling phenomena in superconductors. He has since become a vocal dissenter from the alleged "consensus" regarding man-made climate fears, Climate Depot reported, noting that he was one of more than 100 co-signer of a 2009 letter to President Obama [17] critical of his position on climate change.
Public perception of climate change has steadily fallen since late 2009. A Rasmussen Reports [18] public opinion poll from August noted that 57 percent of adults believe there is significant disagreement within the scientific community on global warming, up five points from late 2009.
The same study showed that 69 percent of those polled believe it's at least somewhat likely that some scientists have falsified research data in order to support their own theories and beliefs. Just just 6 percent felt confident enough to report that such falsification was "not at all likely."
- Posted In
- Environment & Science [19], Climate Change [20]
- Network/Outlet
- FoxNews.com [21]


text: Wendall from Wisconsin writes: I will be buying a new computer in the next few months. Interested in the all-in-one desktops (computer and monitor) other than price is there any down side to them? I have dialup and basically just read email & bank online. Thank you for any insight! Answer: The All-In-One computers, where there is no seperate tower the parts are integrated into the monitor… Continue reading


text:
Global Grilling
Asian Grilling
0 of 16
Caribbean Jerk Chicken
The spirit of Jamaica's popular jerk sauce comes through in this superspicy, fragrant grilled chicken. To punch up the flavor even more, let the marinade sit for an additional 24 hours before adding the meat. To lower the heat, swap out Scotch bonnet chiles (among the world's hottest) for jalapeños.


text: With Windows Phone, connect and play with friends wherever you are, using your Xbox Live avatar and gamer profile to keep track of scores and wins. You're always in the game with the only phone with Xbox Live built in. With titles like Halo: Spartan Assault and FIFA 14, mobile games have never been better.


text:
Arts, Literature, Education, Higher Education, Language CoursesFollow
|Language Courses
|Top 200
Grammar Girl provides short, friendly tips to improve your writing. Whether English is your first language or your second language, these grammar, punctuation, style, and business tips will make you a better and more successful writer. Grammar Girl is a Quick and Dirty Tips podcast. To download podcast episodes not shown here, visit QuickandDirtyTips.com
December 24th, 2015
Episode 127 of 208 episodes
You'll need to sign in to write a comment.
In a time where we're all threatened by a rhetoric of hate from the people in power; A Gay And A NonGay challenges many of our differences head on and promises that no matter who you are, or what you're into (Bruce Springsteen or Britney), love is love and gay and nongays can be friends.

An independent podcast from James Barr (@imjamesbarr) and Dan Hudson (@DanHudson). Contact us on Twitter, IG or Facebook @gaynongay