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TEMPERAMENTALLY JUDGMENTAL: We have to admit we're judgmental. We also have to admit that we're discerning, politic, sagacious and solomonic.
Integrity? Check. Fair & balanced? Check & check. Bitter? Yeah, a little.
We hacked a couple of hours off our luxurious seaside resort vacation on Sunday so we could scamper back up the coast, judicial robes fluttering behind us like bat wings, to judge Bravo's "Top Chef" battle in Belmont Shore.
It didn't go well.
The Bravo people didn't know why we were there and they kept making us go stand in various corners until the show started.
We don't like standing in corners. It makes us feel sad, lonely and chastened. It was our mom's favorite variety of punishment, though she preferred kneeling in the corner over standing. And we usually had to say the Rosary as long as we were kneeling around doing nothing.
We thank Bravo now for letting us stand. In fact, they even let us sit for a moment, but that was just too sad and lonely, perched alone on a highchair in a circus tent. We expected a lone spotlight to shine on us as we sang "Send In the Clowns."
Eventually, the program began, and your master of ceremonies talked about how the traveling cooking show had been all over the country.
"We've had a lot of celebrities as judges," he said, as we began our mock-humble, aw-we-ain't-nothing-special, posture from our little corner in the back. "But today we're going to select members of the audience to do the judging."
So, suddenly defrocked, we wandered away, first telling a Bravo guy that we were taking off. "OK," he said. Then, a little light went off: "Were you supposed to be a judge or something?" he asked.
Yeah, but it's cool. We had done a bit of tweeting about our sorry, lonely situation while doing our corner-standing and other forms of abasement, prompting a fellow Twitterarian to re-tweet our twitterings with a remark about how idiotic is this columnist to be complaining while dining on expertly prepared dishes 'neath the pleasant Shore sun. He seemed to be either offended or perplexed by our tweet about us relating to SCOTUS bench-warmer Clarence Thomas as idiotic, which is how we felt and what Thomas frequently appears to us to be.
Anyhow, add undaunted to our list of attributes, because we are getting all judged up again to serve as a panelist of kingmakers at the Summer And Music fourth-season kick-off event, Rock `n' Roll War IV, the Battle of the Tribute Bands, from 1-6 p.m. Saturday at the Rainbow Harbor Amphitheater.
The event is put together by the all-star group that's been doing the SAM thing since the very beginning, especially the tribute expert Ashley Hectus, along with her brother and our haole nephew Justin Hectus and Fingerprints jefe Rand Foster. That's enough talent to form a side skirmish Battle of the Tribute Act Bookers.
We will be judging the bands with our co-panelists Lisa Ramelow, owner of La Strada in Belmont Shore, and Mark Dunton, owner of District Wine in the East Village.
The warriors will be doing musical impressions of the Beatles (Hard Day's Night), U2 (Joshua Tree), Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers (the Petty Breakers), Iron Maiden (the all-female Iron Maidens) and the Pixies (Debaser).
Despite its bellicose name, the Battle of the Tribute Bands has been one of the great events of the past three summers. It's free, it's in a perfect setting, and the bands are close to - sometimes even better than - the real thing.
You don't need to hang around all day (although what else you got going?). The competition starts with performances by all the bands.
After the ruthless but even-handed paring of the bands down to the top three by the judges, the third-place group will be awarded $500 and the top two will perform another set, with the winner being decided by a decibel reading of the crowd's applause.
God knows how many of us judges have lost our jobs to applause-o-meters - not to mention, as was the case over the weekend, amateurs without pedigree. Not for nothing did we go to judge school for four years.
email@example.com, 562-714-2116, http://twitter.com/grobaty


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Bookmark this site
"We are extremely excited and proud to be part of the solution that provides the DoD with the capability of having secure voice and data communications on commercially available devices" said Chris Spinella, chief executive officer of Apriva. "While expensive government-purpose-built communication devices that require years to develop and deploy are becoming a thing of the past, the government's need for secure communications has never been greater. We clearly support the concept of combining commercial technology with strong security as a viable, cost-effective solution for serving the budgetary and operational needs of the government."
DISA, a Combat Support Agency, provides, operates and assures joint command and control, information sharing capabilities and a globally accessible enterprise information infrastructure in direct support of joint war fighters, National-level leaders, and other mission and coalition partners across the full spectrum of operations. To foster cost savings and faster deployment of commercial technology for voice communications, DISA has adopted the National Security Agency's (NSA) initiative for Mobility Commercial Solutions for Classified (CSfC). This program focuses on using commercial off-the-shelf technology, such as Android devices, coupled with best-of-breed encryption and mobile security software, to enable a secure voice solution that can keep up with technology and still be affordable.
The CSfC Mobility Gateway will provide DISA full command and control and the required mechanisms to ensure that secure gateway communications are available for war fighters and national leadership. Additionally, as part of its agreement with DISA, Apriva will provide professional services support for the DoD CSfC Mobility Gateway for approved CSfC devices.
As Spinella explains, Apriva has a long and successful history in developing and implementing secure state-of-the-art gateway technology.
"Apriva has many years of experience in providing secure mobile solutions to business and government customers", he said. "Our Point-of-Sale division developed and launched a secure gateway dedicated to mobile payment processing in 1999, and our ISS division broke ground with DISA in 2007 by establishing the DISA MCEP Gateway for the first generation of secret mobile devices for data services, including email, known as SME PED. This is technology in which we are extremely well-versed."

subset: commoncrawl


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Wait a few more mins im coloring mine in ill be done in like 5 minss!!!!11
I'll be submitting mines today as well. Please don't start the votes until then. I was a bit busy these past few days but will have my entry up in a few hours. Thanks.
SmoothOne . MP . BL
kk,, waiting.
imma do the throwie battle meanwhile
Sorry for the wait. Here's my entry.
SmoothOne . MP . BL
My vote goes to p-b-b. That shit is nuts. Inspiring, homie. Props to smooth, for sure.
pbb GMV, but I totally dig cocacola's buddha with the ironlak.
SmoothOne . MP . BL
yeah pbb just announce the next character babe
hmmmm.... damn i gotta go back and see what hasnt been done...
i went back to look at the past battles and winners. here's a list:
B-Boy: Lord_Plankton
Homeless: CrustOner
Post-Apocalyptic Survivalist: ---
Wild Wild West: nObOdy
Fast Food Characters: lord_Plankton
Animals: ----
Graff Writer: OPIEtheADDICT
Dog: ---
Bomb: Opie
Zombie: PBB
Buddha: PBB


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Liam Hemsworth: I'm 'much happier' minus Miley
Listen to Miley Cyrus on iHeartRadio
(Yahoo!) - So it's agreed then: Liam Hemsworth and Miley Cyrus are both happier now that their engagement is off.
Two months after the Hunger Games: Catching Fire actor called it quits with the "We Can't Stop" singer, he is doing just fine, thank you very much.
"I'm more comfortable in my own skin than I've ever been in my whole life," the Aussie hunk, 23, told Associated Press. "Over the last five years I've learned so much. The first few years in L.A. were really tough and scary, but I had to figure things out for myself."
Part of that was reminding himself that the stories circulating about him in tabloids are just that - stories.
"What I always keep in mind is that I know what the truth is and that's all that matters," said Hemsworth, who iscurrently single despite a fling with Mexican actress/singer Eiza González. ''I know I'm a good person and these days I feel like I'm more centered and grounded than I've ever been."
Now traveling with his "Catching Fire" co-star Jennifer Lawrence to promote the latest installment of their movie, which is out today, he looks to her for inspiration.
"For a few years I went down a path where I forgot to be in the moment and enjoy the moment," he said. "But being around someone like Jen, who is so honest and laughs all day long, I am forced to be in the right now. I'm much happier."
Hemsworth's happy declaration mirrors what Cyrus, who turns 21 on Saturday, said last month while appearing on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" three weeks after their September split.
"I keep saying I'm the happiest I've ever been and that's not even a dig," she said. "That's just me because I really am genuinely happy finally with myself, which I think sometimes it takes you separating yourself from someone else to really be happy with who you are."
This breakup seems to really agree with both of them ... or they are just experts at spinning stories at this point. Well, maybe it's a little of both.
Photo Credit Getty Images


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Good grief for the life of me I have never experienced such a bunch of whiny old men as I have since President Obama was duly re-elected. I mean seriously, the pathetic excuses, the refusal to admit defeat graciously, playing the blame game and attaching fault to anyone and everyone but themselves. Whiny old men completely divorced from reality who really need to sit down and shut up. At least for a while. Sore losers. It is not black people's fault that Romney lost. Single women are not the driving force behind socialism. People in urban areas are allowed to vote. People did not vote to just get free stuff. Obama was not a big mean scary monster who scared the right away from the polls. The Sky is not falling and threatening to secede from the USA is as mature as a baby throwing its dummy out of the pram in the middle of a screaming fit. WAH WAH WAH!
Grow a pair. Identify where the hell you went wrong and do something about it. Blaming the other side is not going to help you one jot for the future. And in the meantime stop being so whiny.
Rant Over


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Blender 2.58
Che cos'è la garanzia di sicurezza FileHippo?
Sappiamo quanto sia importante mantenere la sicurezza online, quindi FileHippo utilizza la tecnologia di scansione antivirus fornita da Avira per garantire che tutti i download su FileHippo siano sicuri. Il programma che stai per scaricare può essere installato sul dispositivo in sicurezza.
Blender is an integrated application that enables the creation of a broad range of 2D and 3D content. Blender provides a broad spectrum of modeling, texturing, lighting, animation and video post-processing functionality in one package. Through it's open architecture, Blender provides cross-platform interoperability, extensibility, an incredibly small footprint, and a tightly integrated workflow. Blender is one of the most popular Open Source 3D graphics application in the world.
Key Features:
- Fully integrated creation suite, offering a broad range of essential tools for the creation of 3D content, including modeling, uv-mapping, texturing, rigging, skinning, animation, particle and other simulation, scripting, rendering, compositing, post-production, and game creation;
- Cross platform, with OpenGL uniform GUI on all platforms, ready to use for all versions of Windows (98, NT, 2000, XP), Linux, OS X, FreeBSD, Irix, Sun and numerous other operating systems;
- High quality 3D architecture enabling fast and efficient creation work-flow;
- More than 200,000 downloads of each release (users) worldwide;
- User community support by forums for questions, answers, and critique at http://BlenderArtists.org and news services at http://BlenderNation.com;
- Small executable size, easy distribution.


text:
Thanks for sharing your pincode.
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Firstcry Happiness now delivered the "SAME DAY & NEXT DAY".
Just enter your Pincode and see delivery timelines on product pages.
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Chocopie presents sleeveless frock for your little diva. Trendy check pattern and ribbon bow gives it a trendy look. Zip closure for easy dressing. Kids will be comfortable all day long.
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text:
Sat January 28, 2017 - 7:00 PM
Cedar Park, TX, 2017
H-E-B Center at Cedar Park
2100 Avenue of the Stars
Cedar Park, TX
Parking fee is included in all ticket prices. There is no additional parking fee on the day of the event. Doors will open one (1) hour prior to game time. Coke Zero Family 4 Packs are only sold for Saturday and Sunday games....See More


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A Fontana man has been charged with multiple counts of identity theft after he allegedly used the personal information of an adult and a child to get employment at a local business.
Francisco Barajas, 31, was arrested in January at his place of employment in Fontana following a workers' compensation fraud investigation, according to a news release from the San Bernardino County District Attorney's office.
Barajas is charged with five felony counts of unlawful use of identifying information, according to court records. If convicted He faces three years and eight months in County Prison if he is convicted of the charges.
The defendant is being held on a No-Bail, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, INS hold, according to the news release.
He is scheduled to be back in court on Feb. 27.
"These cases are important because anything an identity thief does with the victims' personal information can impact the victims for the rest of their lives," said Deputy District Attorney Michael Chiriatti, who is assigned to the case. "For example, should an audit ever be conducted by the Internal Revenue Service, the time and expense incurred by this victim or the victim's family to straighten out what the defendant has done could be exorbitant."


text: Leah by Durea is a sleek slip on boot packed with the great features that have made Durea a famous name in comfort footwear. With hand-picked leather from Italy the Leah by Durea offers one of the most beautiful comfort boots in the industry. Removable insoles and a flexible polyurethane outsole add to the value and quality.


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heart wrote:So do you think that the Buddha actually taught the root of Mahayana in the Pali Canon? Do you feel the same about Vajrayana?
I think what Mr.G pulled together in the second post of this topic was apt, but I am not learned enough in Vajrayana to comment from my own perspective, as I have always found satisfaction in the Sutta Pitaka of the Pali Canon, and have focused my attentions there.


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Therma-Tru entry door systems are the brand that most building professionals prefer
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AC Milan 2010 home long sleeve shirt in red/black stripes with white collar.Features embroidered AC Milan team badge and championship star on top , embroidered adidas logo at the center chest and screened sponsor logo at front. ClimaCool mesh ventilation and moisture control throughout. `Forza Milan`is screened on inside the neck and `AC Milan` is embroidered in gold on the back of the neck.100% polyester.Add official player N&N from the list below.
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Soccerplus first opened in 1994. We were one of the first soccer websites to hit the webView more
Address: 1640 E. Washington Blvd.
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Phone: 1-800-945-7291
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Police chase puts elementary school on lock-down
(Westlake) – Bassett Elementary School was briefly put in lock-down Tuesday morning as police chased a criminal suspect on foot.
Captain Guy Turner says 40-year-old Christopher Hampton was involved in two hit-skips in Westlake, and then bailed from his car and took off on foot.
At 9:10AM, a female caller reported the father of her child was following her on I-90 westbound from Cleveland and was deliberately striking her vehicle with his.
The victim pulled over once she entered Westlake; the suspect continued westbound, exited at Crocker Rd., struck two more vehicles, and then fled on foot near the Promenade.
A Westlake Service Dept. worker who was monitoring the police radio activity was able to give the suspect's direction of travel to WPD dispatch.
Turner says they had Bassett Elementary lock the doors as a precaution. A call to parents reassured them that the kids were in no danger.
The lock-down was lifted just before 10:00 a.m.
Rocky River, Bay Village, and Avon PDs assisted in the incident, which ended when an Avon officer located Hampton at the Wendy's restaurant on the NE corner of Crocker-Detroit Rds.
Hampton is currently in the Westlake City Jail; charges have not yet been determined.
No one was injured in the incident.
Get breaking news sent to your mobile phone. Text "news" to 21095.
(Copyright © 2013 by Clear Channel, all rights reserved.)


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Save the Date: Galarama & Silent Auction
Undoubtedly, one of the best parts of running Vida Vegan is getting to support fantastic animal sanctuaries. We do that by donating a portion of our Vida Vegan Con registration and by hosting a silent auction/party/excuse to get a little fancy: the Galarama.
We've got sooo much to put together yet for this event (nibblies, music, cocktail/mocktail menu, exactly what kind of photo booth), but we wanted to give you a heads-up so you can start making plans. This event will be open to the public, so we'll have admissions info up soon—of course, all full-access registrants get in free!
What do we know so far?
The location: Staver Locomotive, in NW Portland. This insanely cool building has model train tracks running through it, little rooms tucked here and there, and a super pretty outside area (with more train tracks). We instantly fell in love and can't wait to fill it up with all of you. Bonus points for being walking distance from the NW 23rd/Nob Hill neighborhood and the same Portland Streetcar line as the Art Museum.
The date: Saturday, May 25, 2013, 7:00 – 9:30 pm. Conference-goers will have time to get to their hotels, grab a snack, get gussied up (or not!), meet up with their date (again, or not!), and get over to Staver.
The beneficiary: Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest. This is a sanctuary in Cle Elum, Washington, founded to provide a safe forever home to chimpanzees exploited and discarded by the biomedical and entertainment industries. Read about them and the chimps here. (They have a fantastic blog.)
The sponsor: Our 2013 VVC Gold Sponsor, So Delicious, is helping us foot the bill for this event—and putting together something that can only be considered an Ice Cream Spectacular. (More to come on that.) We can't thank them enough; the less money we spend on this shindig, the more we can give to the chimps!
Want to help? If you or someone you know has an item or service to donate to the auction, find more information here. And thank you!


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Results 1 to 1 of 1
Thread: The Lone Ranger
The Lone Ranger
The Lone Ranger and Tonto called it a day after a
long trek across the plains searching for a couple of
bank robbers. After they got their tent set up,
exhausted, both men fell sound asleep. Some hours
later, Tonto wakes the Lone Ranger and says, "Kemo
Sabe, look towards sky, what you see?"
The Lone Ranger replies, "I see millions of stars.
"What that tell you?" asked Tonto.
The Lone Ranger ponders for a minute then says,
"Astronomically speaking, it tells me there are
millions of galaxies and potentially billions of planets.
Astrologically, it tells me that Saturn is in Leo.
Time wise, it appears to be approximately a quarter
past three in the morning. Theologically, the Lord is
all-powerful and we are small and insignificant.
Meteorologically, it seems we will have a beautiful day
tomorrow. What's it tell you Tonto?"
"You dumber than buffalo .
It means someone stole the tent
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To many men, there is nothing sexier than a woman with a cigar.
And, while women certainly can attest to their powers of seduction — stogie or not — a growing number are puffing now and then for a completely different reason: taste!
"Much like a fine wine, cigars are something to be enjoyed and savored," says Brad Berko of the Scottsdale Cigar Club, which is among the most beloved and most uniquely stocked retail cigar stores in Arizona, focusing on popular hand-rolled tobacco brands. The Club offers anyone who comes in a free membership that includes the use of the best and largest cigar lounge in town with eight large-screen televisions and more.
Berko has certainly noticed an uptick in female members in recent years — as well as a rise in female clients in general. Given this rise in popularity among women, Berko often finds himself teaching newbies the intricacies of the world of cigars.
As such, he sat down with us to provide some helpful cigar tips to both men and women.
How to cut
"There are two parts of a cigar: the head (closed part) and the foot (open part)," Berko says. "When cutting the cigar, you always want to make sure you cut the head a 16th of an inch."
The more you cut the bigger draw or bowl of smoke into your mouth.
Types of cuts
"The standard cut is called a 'Double guillotine,' which slices the sides," Berko says. "Then there is a 'Bullet' or 'Punch Cut,' where you press in and pull out the tobacco."
The final cut is a "V Slice," which cuts a slice into the cigar.
Lighting a cigar
"First you need to know how to light a cigar," Berko says. "Start by lighting the foot of the cigar and turning it dark. This process is called toasting."
Next, put it in your mouth, light the cigar and draw on it until you have an orange ember. This indicates that it's lit. The proper way to smoke a cigar is to draw in a small amount of smoke and hold it in your mouth until you get the flavor. Then blow it out.
"Never inhale the smoke," warns Berko.
Cigars are not cigarettes
Unlike a cigarette, cigars have no chemical ingredients.
"As such, if you leave the cigar in the ashtray, within three to five minutes it will put out itself," Berko says. "Stamping out the cigar will create more of a mess."
Savor now and later
Also unlike cigarettes, cigars can last weeks even after the initial lighting.
"The best way to store cigars is in a humidor, which keeps the cigar fresh," Berko says. "You do not want to store your cigars in a refrigerator or cigar box. Unless you have a humidor, you will want to smoke the cigar within a week or so after purchasing the cigar."
Plan a "tasting"
Just like with wine, it is important to keep in mind everyone has a different preferences and palettes when it comes to cigars.
Therefore, Berko always recommends cigar sampling — just as one would with a wine tasting.
A best bet for supreme sampling?
"Why not join celebrities and Valley leaders at the Bogies & Stogies Cigar Dinner at the Scottsdale Plaza Resort on February 7, where we will be sampling dozens of cigar 'varietals' while enjoying a lux dinner and auction to benefit the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Scottsdale," Berko suggests.
And the fun doesn't stop there.
Rodney Strong Wines, Belvedere Vodka and Glenmorangie Whiskey have all signed onto the event as perfect pairings with the food and cigar menu.
"Lighter cigars mix perfectly with wines, while full-bodied cigars are known for their ability to pair perfectly with vodka and whiskey — brandyn too," Berko says. "Especially the high-end, quality brands this event has been lucky enough to secure."
Among the biggest fans of the pairing, local celebrities who've helped to make Bogies & Stogies into one of the best cigar events of the year with their support.
Tickets to the charity cigar event cost $150 and are available now at celebrityinvitational.org. For more information about the Scottsdale Cigar Club, please visit scottsdalecigarclub.com.
Bogies & Stogies Dinner
When: Thursday, February 7, 2013 from 6-10 p.m.
Where: Scottsdale Plaza Resort
7200 N. Scottsdale Rd., Scottsdale
Contact: (480) 344-5682
Tickets: Individual tickets for the dinner, $150; purchase tickets here
Online: celebrityinvitational.org


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Check here for more info.
Ok I Created a new Administrator user a while back and has been working well. but a problem has appeared recently. when i try to edit files in my home directory like moving files to the trash bin i get this error - "Access Denied to /home/iain/.local/share/Trash/files/My Files". There is a similar error while copying and pasting.
I can edit the files in root but i would rather be able to do in in the actual users profile.
Any Information or solution to this problem would be much appreciated.
all the best,
Check here for more info.
thanks i noticed i missed a command in that thread. thank you
try to append sudo to commands that would usually run as root. Sudo basically allows you to run commands as another user, in this case the su or super user ie root. You have to make sure the user account that you made exists in "/etc/sudoers". It will ask you for the root password every time you use sudo but usually if you do not close out the terminal u only have to type the password once per terminal. You can find info here SUDO or just type "man sudo" in a terminal.
Wielder of the spoon of doom
Summercon, Toorcon, Defcon, Bsides, Derbycon, Shmoocon oh my
Come hang out with hackers on twitter @gunrunr556
i am familiar with sudo :P
but thanks my friend <3


text:
Trunks 2, Scene #03
- : 01/01/2007 |
- : 23:53 min |
- : 2467
Scene Info
The hot bodies keep on coming in Scene 3 as Tony Mecelli pulls up to a lounge chair and begins to oil up his massive muscles. Nick Piston watches the show from a raft in the pool and swims closer when Tony whips out his 10 inch rod from beneath his Speedo. Piston dives onto the prick with his mouth and begins to tease it, licking and sucking with his mouth. We're not sure what drives us wild the most about Piston: his low guttural voice, the sexy set of tattoos on his body, the unbelievably talented big round ass, or his really huge fat cock that swings between his legs as he fucks himself on Tony's shaft. The sex in this scene is one long, langorous suck and fuckathon luxuriously shot with the majestic Palm Spring mountains in the background. Porn just doesn't get any hotter!
Related Movies
Trunks 2
Categories : Anal Sex, Big Cock, Group Sex, Hairy, Kissing, Oral Sex, Outdoor Sex, Poolside Sex, Rimming, Tattoos
Starring : Alex Fuerte, Brad Patton, Enzo Grimaldi, Jason Kingsley, Jason Ridge, Justin Gemini, Matt Cole, Nick Piston, Omer, Robert Van Damme
The men of Hot House have packed their trunks and headed back to sunny Palm Springs for more scorching hot poolside action in Trunks 2! AVN Hall of Fame Director Steven Scarborough packs this sequel with even more glistening sweaty muscles, big bulging speedos, and hard-hitting Hot House action! Hot House Superstar Brad Patton whips out his legendary fat whopper from his yellow speedo to split newcomer Matt Cole from both ends; Hot House Exclusives Tony Mecelli and Nick Piston fuck and grunt poolside in the blazing afternoon heat; Hot House Exclusives Robert Van Damme and Jason Ridge throw down with Jason Kinglsey in our hottest 3-way beef buffet; and Lifetime Exclusive Alex Collack?s body has never looked better - watch him get hot and sticky with Trey Casteel, Omer, and all 11-inches of Justin Gemini!


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Welcome to Tesco Wine by the case.
We hope you enjoy your visit.
Reference number 061062294
Based on 93 Reviews | Login to write a review
Special Offer - 20% off
Was £49.50 per case
Now £39.60 per case
Equivalent to £6.60 per bottle
You save £9.90 per case
39 Clubcard Points
A silver medal winning, fabulously fresh, delicate Prosecco made by one of the regions' best producers, Bisol.
This has all the hallmark lightness and fruit that you'd expect from a top Prosecco; elegant too with just-ripe pear flavours.
This makes for a perfect crowd-pleasing thirst quencher, as well as a budget-friendly alternative to Champagne for wedding toasts.
Cheers to that!
To enjoy this wine at its best, drink within 1 year of purchase.
Extended product information
If you require further product information, including information about allergens in this wine,
Enjoy Responsibly
Jamie Goode - S Magazine, Sunday Express 03/04/2016
"Attractively packaged, this is a bright, floral, fruity fizz with aromas of pear and citrus, leading to a direct, fruit-driven palate with nice weight and purity. It's delightful stuff."
Will Lyons - The Dish, The Sunday Times 03/07/2016
"Perfect for those summer parties and occasions where you need a fresh, ripe crowd-pleaser that will not rip a hole in your wallet."
Victoria Moore - The Daily Telegraph 13/08/2016
"Feather-light and gently effervescent with the mildest suggestion of ripe pears, finest* is one of the best supermarket prosseco's around."
Gemma Aldridge - Sunday Mirror 27/11/2016
"In recent years we have adopted prosecco as our bubbly of choice and this soft sparkling wine with flavours of peach and citrus shows why we are so keen on the Italians' more affordable take on champagne. "
Bisol is one of the very few houses that integrate the entire production process, ensuring quality in every phase, from the selection of the terrain, to growing and hand picking the grapes in vineyards on steep slopes, to the bottling of the wine.
Desiderio Bisol
The beautiful Valdobbiadene region in the hills above Treviso is home is home to one of the world's most popular sparkling wines and the Bisol family are masters of the genre.
£42.00 per case
Equivalent to £7.00 per bottle
42 Clubcard Points
£51.00 per case
Equivalent to £8.50 per bottle
51 Clubcard Points


text:
I. Operational Benefits to U.S. Forces
The President's National Security Strategy and U.S. Defense Strategy set directions for security and defense policy. The U.S. defense strategy goals are to: (1) assure allies and friendly nations of U.S. commitment to their security; (2) dissuade future military competition; (3) deter aggression and coercion; and (4) decisively defeat any adversary if deterrence fails.
DoD Security Cooperation is an important instrument for executing this strategy. Security Cooperation advances U.S. security interests building defense partnerships for the future. DoD Security Cooperation also prepares the United States, allies, and friendly nations for unforeseen circumstances, enabling us to respond effectively when such events occur.
DoD Security Cooperation involves all the following objectives:
Build defense relationships that promote specific U.S. security interests;
Develop allied and friendly military capabilities for self-defense and coalition operations, including allied transformation;
Improve information exchange and intelligence sharing to harmonize views on security challenges; and
Provide U.S. forces with peacetime and contingency access and en route infrastructure.
Seven defense policy themes guide U.S. security cooperation activities:
combating terrorism,
transforming alliances and building coalitions for the future,
influencing the direction of key powers,
cooperating with parties to regional disputes,
deterring and isolating problem states,
combating weapons of mass destruction (WMD), and
realigning the global defense posture.
The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) ensures that its international military training and education program activities align with the above objectives and support Regional Combatant Commanders' Theater Security Cooperation (TSC) strategies. The focus is on activities of greatest mutual benefit and DSCA uses the guidance to allocate time and resources.
Security cooperation training programs, appropriately focused and scoped, can build capabilities of allies and friendly nations to defend themselves and to conduct coalition operations. The programs also afford U.S. forces greater access, and bolster deterrence by influencing the behaviors of potential adversaries. Drawdowns of defense articles and services, directed by the President in response to urgent requirements, are also managed as part of the foreign military assistance program. The foreign military assistance program enables allies and friendly nations to acquire U.S. defense articles, services, and training for legitimate self-defense and for participation in multinational security efforts. The programs described in this report serve as the foundation of U.S. efforts to assist U.S. allies and friendly nations in their efforts to develop professional, civilian-controlled militaries. To be effective, future military leaders in foreign countries, like their U.S. counterparts, benefit from education and experience in military operations and basic military competencies. U.S. professional military education (PME) courses and exchanges as well as Service Academies provide current and future foreign military leaders with the professional development required to lead and maintain effective military forces under democratic civilian control. The skills they learn, both at the tactical level, such as in the ALP program, and the strategic level, such as in our senior service schools, offer interoperability benefits to both foreign and U.S. forces.
International military training and education programs, whether financed internally by the beneficiary nation through FMS, or by the United States through FMF, IMET, INL, ACOTA, EIPC, REGIONAL CENTERS FOR SECURITY STUDIES, CDTS, MA, HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE, CTFP, SERVICE ACADEMIES, ALP, PME EXCHANGES, COAST GUARD ACTIVITIES, or JCET ACTIVITIES enable the United States to positively influence the development of foreign military institutions and individuals and their role in democratic societies. These programs help the United States build regional security arrangements and fight terrorism. The military-to-military contacts allow the United States and its partners to shape the strategic landscape, protect shared interests, and promote stability.
Expanded-IMET (E-IMET), mandated by the U.S. Congress as part of the overall IMET program, opens the IMET program to participants who would not typically be part of a defense-related IMET training program. By including representatives from non-governmental organizations and national parliamentarians to address topics such as defense resource management, military justice, civil-military relations and human rights, E-IMET courses reinforce civil-military values and promote democratization. The Defense Institute of International Legal Studies (DIILS) provides international education and training in topics related to military justice, human rights, rule of law, and building a legal response to terrorism. DIILS programs serve to promote regional security and encourage stable military armed forces that abide by rule of law principles.
Promoting democracy does more than foster U.S. ideals. It advances U.S. interests because the larger the pool of democracies, the better off the entire community of nations will be. The absence of capable or responsible governments in many countries creates a fertile ground for drug trafficking and terrorism. Democratic values of transparency and accountability will continue to prove critical in both the political and the economic realms to ensure sustainable development and stable societies. These values will also affect the way nations interact, enhance openness and ultimately promote mutual confidence and regional stability. Two important programs that promote democracy are Humanitarian Assistance and Mine Action. By meeting these immediate and critical needs of the civilian population, this bolsters the credibility of the civilian government. In addition, the fact that US aid was used to do so increases the good opinion of the United States in the eyes of the civilian population being aided.
All of the military training and security assistance authorities clearly benefit U.S. allies and friendly nations, but we must also consider the benefits gained by our own military. Several programs are specifically designed to benefit our military personnel. The fact that our allies and friendly nations, as well as U.S. military personnel, have the opportunity to exchange experience and expertise, enhances their overall knowledge and understanding of each other's political systems, ways of life, military organizations, languages, and cultures. Participating in these training programs also improves U.S. forces' understanding of the worldwide surroundings in which they may be called upon to serve. The training programs clearly play a key role in improving the professional competence of U.S. personnel through both traditional classroom activities and in the field environment.
The operational justification for the JCET program centers on the vital contribution that U.S. Special Operations Forces (SOF) make to our national security. SOF units may be sent into unstable areas in a variety of contexts short of major theater war, and are often the lead elements deployed in actual combat. SOF are among the most flexible U.S. units to respond to the vast array of new missions. It is essential that the United States maintain SOF readiness at the highest possible level. The JCET program promotes both generic SOF skills and the region-specific expertise required to maintain a highly ready SOF unit. JCET events are conducted with friendly foreign countries with full cooperation between the Departments of Defense and State and are reported annually to the Congress under 10 U.S.C. 2011(e).
Peacekeeping training programs provide our allies and friendly nations with the opportunity not only to train their forces but also to eventually develop their own peacekeeping training. The Department of State funds two programs which focus on increasing the peacekeeping capabilities of our allies and friendly nations. The African Contingency Operations Training and Assistance (ACOTA) program is designed to provide trained and equipped contingents with the ability to respond quickly and efficiently to peace operations support and humanitarian relief events where needed. The focus of effort is on training African trainers, who in turn train units under U.S. mentorship, thus building African capability, potentially reducing the humanitarian burden on the U.S. The increased regional stability created by and enhanced African peace support capacity also serves U.S. interests in promoting African democracy and economic growth. The other program, the Enhanced International Peacekeeping Capabilities Initiative (EIPC), focuses on institutional development of national peacekeeping training centers. EIPC works closely with the national peacekeeping centers, training their instructors and staff to develop their own peacekeeping training. Both programs share the same goal - to enhance the region's team of proficient peacekeepers, which will need only limited support from the United States.
Two programs that focus on enhancing the region's counternarcotics elimination are INL and CDTS. Both programs share the same goal to strengthen foreign government ability to identify, confront, and disrupt the operation of international drug and crime groups before they reach American soil. Doing so lessens, if not eliminates, the requirement for direct US action in those nations.
The Regional Centers for Security Studies are valuable strategic communications tools for creating a dialogue on U.S. security policy with key allies and partners in a regional context. The Regional Centers' mission is to foster regional cooperation on security issues through education of foreign military, civilian, and nongovernmental officials. Their principal objectives include countering ideological support for terrorism, harmonizing views on common security challenges, and educating on the role of defense forces in civil societies. Regional Centers accomplish their mission primarily through multilateral three/four-month leadership development courses, conferences, and seminars, as well as through bilateral workshops, alumni outreach events, and research publications.
The Regional Defense Counterterrorism Fellowship Program (CTFP) is a critical tool for providing flexible, targeted education and training to support our partners and allies in the fight against terrorism. By providing education and training focused on combating terrorism, the CTFP plays a significant role in U.s. efforts to defeat global terrorism. The CTFP has taken the lead in transforming the way we provide military assistance to respond to the threat of terror by creating new educational programs directly focused on defeating terrorism, building a world-wide community of counterterrorism experts and practitioners, developing a consortium of DoD's academic experts in combating terror, and using educational initiatives to build regional solutions to terrorist threats. The flexibility and responsiveness of the CTFP allows us to quickly adapt our training and education efforts to meet the changing regional or global security environment. In short, the CTFP is changing the way we approach military assistance.
The U.S. Coast Guard activities benefit the US by training foreign country forces to conduct activities that increase their port security and marine safety, which protects US commercial and military ships.
Finally, as we contend with the difficult challenges of the Global War on Terrorism, we must provide our military forces with the operational benefits international education, training, and security cooperation activities afford them.


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Evanescence singer Amy Lee sues label
Listen to Evanescence on iHeartRadio
Evanescence singer Amy Lee is in the midst of a legal battle with the band's label.
According to TMZ, the frontwoman is suing Wind Up Records for allegedly trying to sabotage the group by bringing in under-qualified promoters.
Lee also claims the label withheld $1.5 million in royalties.
Evanescence released all three of their studio albums with Wind Up Records, including their most recent, 2011's self-titled effort.
Photo Credit Getty Images


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Talk of spray-painting may conjure images of graffiti or street utility work, but scientists at the University of Sheffield in the United Kingdom recently revealed that the technique can be used to harness the sun's power.
Many renewable-energy laboratories are developing paints and coatings that can convert solar rays into energy, but the Sheffield researchers are the first to develop a method to fabricate a perovskite-based solar coating using a spray-applied process. Perovskite is a mineral made of calcium titanium oxide and is widely distributed throughout the Americas, Europe, and Asia. Unlike the earlier organic semiconductor coatings, the perovskite version is more efficient and less carbon-intensive to produce.
"There is a lot of excitement around perovskite-based photovoltaics," said Sheffield physics professor and the project's lead researcher, David Lidzey, in a press release. "Remarkably, this class of material offers the potential to combine the high performance of mature solar-cell technologies with the low embedded-energy costs of production of organic photovoltaics."
The perovskite-based cells can achieve a 19-percent efficiency rating compared to the pervasive silicon-based cells' 25-percent rating. However, the new spray-painted material requires much less energy to make than silicon, and the technology is developing quickly, with promising applications in a variety of solar technologies. "I believe that new, thin-film photovoltaic technologies are going to have an important role to play in driving the uptake of solar energy, and that perovskite-based cells are emerging as likely thin-film candidates," Lidzey said.
The development suggests new opportunities to cover a variety of building materials with solar-harvesting coatings, although further research is needed to determine its durability and longevity. Perhaps a mobile version will one day be available, providing graffiti artists with the ability to paint and generate renewable power simultaneously.
Blaine Brownell, AIA, is a regularly featured columnist whose stories appear on this website each week. His views and conclusions are not necessarily those of ARCHITECT magazine nor of the American Institute of Architects.


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The Shakespeare Conference: SHK 23.0391 Monday, 24 September 2012
Date: September 21, 2012 7:50:51 PM EDT
Subject: CFP: Shakespeare, Performance, Place
British Shakespeare Association
Shakespeare, Performance, Place
2-3 November 2012
Queen's University, Belfast
This two-day conference investigates Shakespearean performance and its relationship to place, location and geography. The themes are chosen to coincide with the first Shakespearean production to be staged at Belfast's new Lyric Theatre and performance is defined broadly to encompass theatrical event, film, television and mass media. Plenary speakers include Dr Patrick Lonergan (Galway), Dr Lucy Munro (Keele), Prof. Stuart Hampton-Reeves (University of Central Lancashire) and Prof. Mark Thornton Burnett (QUB).
The conference is a collaboration between the School of English, Queen's University, the British Shakespeare Association and the Irish Renaissance Seminar.
The conference fee is £30, which includes a tour of the new Lyric Theatre, a ticket to see Macbeth (directed by Lynne Parker), a new Shakespeare film showing, coffee, lunches and reception.
If you are interested in offering a paper or just attending the conference please contact Dr Ramona Wray before 28 September 2012. A number of postgraduate bursaries have been generously provided by the BSA – again please contact Dr Ramona Wray for details.


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Amber Chitty won this season's Press-Telegram Football Forecast. She helps run the new family- owned and operated Bliss 525 restaurant at 525 E. Broadway in the building formerly occupied by Gazzella Restaurant.
Question: Your last name. Ever give you any trouble?
Answer: Oh, yeah. I used to teach elementary school.
Q: Omigod. They must have eaten you alive. I taught for a while at a junior high school, and I had enough trouble with students making fun of my last name.
A: I only taught for one year.
Q: Yeah, that's about all you can do. So you went into something easier, like opening a restaurant in the darkest days of the depression.
A: We weren't in any hurry to open a restaurant, but we'd talked about it. It was just kind of on the back burner and we just figured we'd do it when something good came along.
Q: Like when you decide you're ready to have a dog?
A: Yes. Then the 525 Broadway location became available, and that really accelerated the timeline. The location is just breathtaking.
Q: What do you do at Bliss?
A: I got a degree in business administration at Cal Berkeley, so I do the marketing, special events, weddings. My stepmother Nancy Downs is the owner and her son Bryan Palliccia is the general manager.
Q: How did you manage to win the Football Forecast?
A: Well, you need to pick some upsets. I got a couple on gut feeling, a couple with a little luck.
Q: Some teams you just can't win with. For me it was Houston. I think I lost every game they played, whether I picked them to win or lose.
A: I was that way with Tampa Bay.
Q: Who's your favorite team?
A: The Raiders.
Q: Oh, so you're a tough guy.
A: Well, I grew up in Los Angeles when they were down here, then when I went to Cal they moved up with me, so they've always been my team.
Q: You're in charge of special events now at Bliss. What's special?
A: Right now we're expanding our live music. We have it five nights a week. No cover. Johnny Mastro & Mama's Boys, who played at the Blue Cafe for years, are here every Sunday now from 2:30 to 7. We have blues and jazz, R&B on Wednesday through Sunday, karaoke on Tuesday.
Q: How's the bar?
A: It's pretty casual.
Q: You make a good martini?
A: We have great martinis. We have a delicious chocolate-raspberry martini.
Q: That's not a martini. Martinis are gin and hardly anything else.
A: We make that kind too.
Q: I need you to tell me who'll win the Super Bowl.
A: It's hard to go against Green Bay in the NFC. And with their quarterback Aaron Rodgers coming from Cal, I like them. In the AFC, I don't know. They say defenses win championships, so Baltimore could be in it.
Q: What about Denver, with Jesus helping Tebow?
A: I'm going to leave that alone.
Q: So, Green Bay, then. Unless Tebow and Jesus have a big game.
A: I think probably Green Bay.
Q: I'm just wrapping up a readers' poll on where to find the best pastrami in Long Beach. Where would you go for the best pastrami.
A: I'm going to abstain from that, too.
Q: Come on! OK, where would Jesus go for the best pastrami?
A: He'd probably go to Louis Burger over on Atlantic.
Q: Do you live in Long Beach?
A: Yes. In fact, I can see Bliss from my window.
Q: Do you like living downtown?
A: It's great living downtown. There are so many things within walking distance. Although these days I pretty much just walk from home to Bliss and back. We're all putting in a lot of 15-hour days.
Q: Do you think you'll work in restaurants the rest of your life?
A: I don't know, but right now I absolutely love it. It's actually fun to go to work every day.
Q: Are you doing the Football Forecast again next season?
A: I'm not sure.
Q: Oh, you have to. You can't just take all your money and go home.
A: OK, if Green Bay repeats as Super Bowl winner this year, then I'll come back to defend my title.
firstname.lastname@example.com, 562-714-2116 or twitter.com/grobaty


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Now that it's NaNoWriMo I'm guessing that there are many a new work in progress, so let's see:
What's Your Genre?
You'll need to click through to see the poll if you're reading via e-mail or a feed reader.
Nathan Bransford is the author of How to Write a Novel (October 2013), Jacob Wonderbar and the Cosmic Space Kapow (Dial, May 2011), Jacob Wonderbar for President of the Universe (Dial, April 2012) and Jacob Wonderbar and the Interstellar Time Warp (Dial, February 2013). He was formerly a literary agent with Curtis Brown Ltd. and the social media manager at CNET. He lives in New York City.
I usually write literary fiction, but I'm working on a science fiction story for NaNo, with a vital "humor" element.
The statistics here are really interesting. I have started on a women's fiction book this time, although my NaNo effort for 2009 was a young adult paranormal one.
Still working on a steampunk adventure novel, with a third revision of a fantasy novel waiting in the wings. Too bogged down at the moment to consider anything past that yet. :)
Hi Nathan,
My NaNovel, a cyber-thriller, kinda fits between Thriller and SF, along the lines of the movie Live Free or Die Hard.
I wonder though, are the categories you present "standard" for the publishing industry, i.e. if a novel doesn't fit clearly into a category, does it become a problem child?
Wow, that looks like a good mix across the board. I was expecting a run-away winner. Maybe one will sprint ahead, but hopefully that means readers are ready to try anything! (Or at least writers are hoping that's the case.)
Science fiction. I've been wondering if it could be called dystopian or post-apocalyptic, but I've concluded not really. Just straight-up science fiction.
Thanks for the stats, Nathan. Fun to see. My first historical series, The Sinclair Sisters of Cripple Creek, was set in Colorado in the late 1890's. I've just started the next series, starts out in Missouri in 1865.
Happy writing!
My nano story is a paranormal YA. My other WIP is a MG fantasy.
Hmm, I was surprised to see my category of choice, "Mystery/Suspense/Thriller" is tied for the lead with Fantasy, at 9% of 135 entries that's roughly 12 stories. This is doubly interesting, since your blog leans toward the YA writer audience (no bias there, eh?), even though Young Adult Fantasy is a step behind at 8%.
Do you find in the publishing industry there are some categories that attract more writers than others, and do those categories tend to sell the best, or have the best-selling authors? Is there some sort of correlation?
One case I'm thinking of is Margaret Atwood, well-known icon of the Canadian literary world, whose most recent novels I would plant squarely in the science fiction category. She has stated repeatedly that she doesn't consider the stories to be science fiction, perhaps "speculative", because they don't feature ray guns and space ships. The novels are marketed as mainstream literary fiction, which I suppose makes for better sales if they are more "legit" than they would be as SF.
I'd love to hear your opinion.
WIP Science fiction, epic.
One ready for submission (sci-fi), one in planning stages (sci-fi), one new in development(crime novel).
Not a NANO project in the bunch. Interesting stats on the voting.
Good luck to those in Nano mode, may the muse be with you.
There's no Steampunk option, so I put it under YA fantasy.
The other WIP are MG paranormal. 1 humorous / 1 spooky
I put YA Mystery, though it's technically a thriller.
Nathan, I'm interested as well in the reply to Philip's question regarding M. Atwood and her sci-fi writing which she insists are literary.
I've heard hard science fiction is hard to sell these days, and a lot of fantasy is calling itself science fiction, which muddies the waters even more. . .
Actually writing a sci fi and its prequel...
Dark science ethno-fantasy
Wooo non-fiction! Looks like in both the 2009 poll and this one I'm a loner. :)
YA Romance
I'm doing Fantasy, specifically Urban Fantasy. I guess it could also be called Paranormal by your definition? Still, I'd know where to shelve it if I manage to finish it satisfactorily. :)
Nathan, you left out "magical realism," which is the true genre of the novel I'm currently planning. (Not doing NaNo.)
Mine's a tie between YA fantasy and regular adult fantasy. (I went YA for the poll.)
I picked Western, but strictly speaking it's a combination of two genres - it's a classic-style murder mystery set in the Old West.
You don't have romantic suspense listed ...
I guess literary fiction is the closest in terms of genres. A novel about a man who just qualifies as a midget and his wife who just misses out on qualifying as a midget - in which she plans a murder and he meets an angel - is always going to be difficult to categorise...
Thanks for the poll. Very interesting.
Happy to see my genre, MG historical fiction (although, admittedly, it also has a little sci-fi), is represented at a solid 0%. Maybe this manuscript will actually stand out from the pack a bit... :)
I'm guessing "New Adult" is part of "Other."
I'm also guessing that New Adult is getting a lot of resistence in the mainstream. I don't know why. It's a valid genre and a lot of people who are just beginning their "real" lives can identify with it.
I chose YA fantasy, though my novel would more accurately be called historical fantasy. The fantasy and historical elements are equally important!
(It's not steampunk, either. Historical fantasy!)
Is it okay if my work in progress is a young adult mystery? Even though it doesn't have some sort of detective or crime or anything?
This year's is a post apocalyptic piece, which would probably fall under science fiction.
Is there such a thing as Urban YA? That's the direction I'm taking for my NaNoWriMo project.
Surprised to see low % on Women's Lit.
Fun. I love seeing the different poll results.
I had a thought reading the comments - I wondered if genre definition will loosen up in the new e-book era.
An internet site, like Amazon, can list books in a different way from a brick and mortar store.
For one thing, you can list a book under multiple genres on an internet site. There's only so much room in a brick and mortar shop, but that's not true on-line.
It's interesting. I think there may be more room for genre crossing, blurring and creativity in the future.
No steampunk option, so I'm calling mine YA historical fiction.
I picked "Other" - but mine's YA Horror.
I think you need to broaden your YA choices to match the adult ones.
Hi Nathan,
Thanks for starting the poll, and a special thanks to your readers for participating. Interesting stats.
I am working on a historical fiction inspired by my father's journal. The main part of the story takes place in Vietnam from 1944 - 1975. I aim to finish with the revisions in 2012. -Mia
My WIP is actually YA paranormal murder-mystery. I marked YA mystery because the "paranormal" is psychic abilities, not werewolves, vampires, or zombies.
I notice you divided the list into several sections, including Young Adult and Middle Grade, as well as, I assume, Adult. But you ask us to check the genre we are working in. Does Young Adult or Middle Grade constitute another genre? Or even a subdivision of a genre? In my opinion, no. Science fiction is science fiction regardless of who reads it. I, as an adult, could pick up and read a Middle Grade novel just as well as a ten-year old.
The stats are interesting, but from the comments it seems like a lot of people have WIPS that are a merging of more than one genre. I enjoy books that bend genre/broaden it but it can be hard to categorize which translates, sometimes, into hard to sell. Wondering if any writers who merge genres can comment on what they do to sell it to agents/publishers and readers?
My muse is really interested in the Lord Of The Ring so I am writing a Gothic/fantasy YA novel I love the process of creating a new world the creatures that will live in the various parts, so fun but not that easy kudos to Tolkien.
Since this is my first book, and I'm only 1/10th of the way into it, I *think* it's romance with an international adventure setting. But maybe it will turn out to be women's fiction??
This question always makes me stutter. My wip romantic element, as sulspense element, and deals with women dealing with family issues. Sooo it could go several ways. Usually, for lack of a better fit, I call it romantic suspense.
So hard to put your book into one genre but I know it is necessary to do so.
i'm actually really surprised by the figures! i assumed that a backlash would result from the twilight phenom (and all the multifarious other, perhaps better?, paranormal series) and authors would steer away from the paranormal genre for a bit. of course, my book is paranormal so i shouldn't be surprised to be in good company. my only twist is my telepathic heroine is a junkie...i wonder if a sub genre of paranormal drug lit will ever develop?
Interesting poll. I suppose the end results will be as interesting.
Mine is a murder/mystery, which is totally different from my genre. It's a lot of fun to write outside your genre. I'm at 14,000 words. I've nervous about running out of story before I reach 50,000 words.
Usually I write what I call neo-noir, but I've been dabbling in magical realism, and really enjoying it. My first novel, Transubstantiate, was a neo-noir, speculative thriller. My second, which I'm shopping right now, is a neo-noir, transgressive thriller. My third, about five chapters in, Incarnate, is this new magical realism vibe. I'm digging it so far.
I'm really not sure where mine fits; considering it as mystery, but also as scince fiction, or YA. Guess I'll decide when I get done.
I think of my novel as "metaphysical fantasy." It's NOT magic in the traditional sense, and it's set in the real world, but it's not realistic and doesn't quite match any of the other categories, either. My NaNo (a side project) edges more into horror, and my current short story is flat-out fantasy. So fantasy overall, but it's a little more complicated than that.
Science fiction comedy/satire as usual. After that I'm moving back to middle-grade science fiction for the second Hal Junior novel.
I'd have to go with Atwood-esque Speculative Fiction for mine.
As I've found frequently the case, there doesn't really appear to be a genre for my WIP.
The closest I can say is "literary fiction," though more precise would be "multicultural fictional memoir." Ha! I swear, it's interesting...
Another WIP I'd set aside for actually a number of years I'm having a renewed interest in. It fits the simple category of "mystery."
And Happy NaNoWriMo,
You didn't put YA Rural Fantasy up there, so I went with the closest one.
This is my first NaNoWriMo and I'm very excited and nervous and waaaaay behind on my wordcount. But I'm loving what I've written on my historical fiction so far, so it's definitely something I'll stick with regardless of whether or not I "win" NaNoWriMo
Another interesting inquiry. My new book a political thriller, "Operation Downfall", has been released. The one I am working on now is called "The Traitors", another political thriller. There is such a cornucopia of corruption in politics the plots available are endless.
Good post, Nathan.
I had a dystopian partly outlined, but I've backburnered it in favor of a YA historical about WWII. It's my NaNo project - I want to get a very rough full-of-holes draft out, then do the necessary research to fill in the blanks.
Crazy, but I'm loving this story.
Wow! That's a much longer list than the last time I took this survey!
My trilogy is spaced between sci-fi and paranormal romance, and because of the human trafficking subject matter, not for children or teens.
Help! There isn't a category for my WIP. It's a comedy with alien undertones. Having said that, I'm also half way through a specialist cook book, so I've voted 'Non fiction - Other'!
Thanks for the stats. Very interesting. Like others have said, I too expected to see a big winner rather than the mix. I have several works in progress, from picture books to young adult novels, but my focus for my middle grade and young adult writing is paranormal fantasy.
I was just thinking what Meghan Ward said--the list gets longer. Probably because YA is broken down into more categories now.
Mystery/crime/thriller is a very big umbrella, which may explain the bigger numbers.
Nice to see so much diversity in your readership.
Nathan, an interesting follow-up post could be to have the results of your poll compared to book sale stats for genres.
I noticed fantasy and YA fantasy combine to make up 20% of the projects being written... but are fantasy books 20% of total book sales?
I have a problem. I have no idea what genre my book is...
I'm writing a Fantasy for my WIP but for my NaNo Novel, I'm writing an Urban Fantasy.
I am writing a humorous crime novel, which I notice didn't get a mention. Maybe I have invented a new genre! Seriously, it's a market that's not overcrowded, which is good from the point of view of trying to get published.
What about straight up comedy? I have a work in progress that is a Mystery satire, and another co-writing with a friend that is just a raunchy, random, ridiculous comedy novella. Super fun to write.
I have two works in progress. a novel and a play. The novel is for young adults. I am not really sure what the correct category would be? It's a good mix of fantasy, mystery, and adventure. My stage play is a play within a play. Or should I say a dream, within a dream, within a play. Overall it is a thoughtful comedy about a dramatic romance with a node to Shakespeare.


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As a Dodge dealership, Cabral Motors at 1145 W. Yosemite Ave. is currently offering rebates and incentives on the new Challenger, Journey and Dart.
By CARY ORDWAY
The Mercedes-Benz C-Class coupe is a lithe young thing with the looks, the pecs and the legs to go far in this segment of luxury two-doors.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) - It's the age old and seemingly answerless question: What in the world is my dog thinking? And one that has spawned a growing market not only of scientific research but of everything from decks of pet tarot cards to television and radio shows and books by pet psychics and animal trainers.
HOLLYWOOD (AP) - America's biggest theme parks will pack in around 120 million people this year.
DETROIT (AP) - Porsche is the top performer in an annual survey of new vehicle quality.
OAKDALE – Jay Bentley once dreaded coming to the work.
The Toyota RAV4 is a founding member of the small-ute group and for 2013 moved into its fourth generation - in 18 years.
Nissan reported record sales in the U.S. for May.
By CARY ORDWAY of CaliforniaWeekend.com
Acura has redoubled its ante to the entry-luxury sedan segment with a blue-chip redesign to its flagship RLX.
DETROIT (AP) - General Motors is hoping that a hurry-up makeover of the Chevrolet Malibu will move it from also-ran to a top performer in the key midsize car segment.
I feel it necessary to apologize to my fellow motorists for some "loud pedal" driving.
OAKDALE – Nick and Alan Berg are part of the dedicated staff at Steves Chevrolet Buick.
Page 5 of 26
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Carissa Moore And Alejo Muniz Wins Vans US Open Of Surfing Titles
Congrats to 2013 Vans US Open of Surfing champions Carissa Moore and Alejo Muniz! The final day was held in a front of a maximum capacity crowd at Huntington Beach Pier in 2-3 foot surf. With her win, Carissa moves ahead of Tyler Wright in the race for the 2013 Women's World Title. "It's such an honor to win this event in front of this big crowd. I feel amazing!" said Carissa.
Muniz, the regularfoot from Brazil, overcame Orange County's own Kolohe Andino despite the latter sticking a huge air that had a few fans grumbling, "Underscored!" Muniz, who has been struggling on the World Championship Tour, took home a whopping $100,000 paycheck and had this to say to the media, "I was putting everything in to this event and the work paid off. I focused more on myself rather than who I was surfing against and what scores they were getting." Whatever he did worked—the Argentine/Brazilian is going home a rich man.
Carissa Moore Wins Vans US Open of Surfing, Takes ASP WCT Rankings Lead
HUNTINGTON BEACH, California/USA (Sunday, July 28, 2013) – Carissa Moore (HAW), 20, has won the Vans US Open of Surfing over local favorite Courtney Conlogue (USA), 20, in peaky one-to-three foot (1 metre) waves at Huntington Beach Pier, taking the No. 1 position on the ASP Women's World Title Race.
Stop No. 6 of 8 on the 2013 ASP Women's World Championship Tour (WCT), the Vans US Open of Surfing plays both a crucial role in deciding the 2013 Women's World Champion and qualification for next season's ASP Top 17.
Moore got off to a dominant start in her final clash, earning an 8.17 and 7.83 to launch out to an early lead. The talented Hawaiian would hold on to the win despite a late-heat rampage from Conlogue, solidifying her third ASP Women's WCT event win this year.
"To be honest I'm a little shocked right now because I thought Courtney (Conlogue) won when the crowd erupted on that last wave," Moore said. "I let her go and I had priority and it was a bad decision, but I'm stoked that it worked out in my favor. I was happy to be in the final and Courtney's in the title race and I had fun, but I was definitely nervous at the end of that heat. It's such an honor to win this event in front of this big crowd. I feel amazing!"
Conlogue put in an amazing showing in front of her hometown crowd, besting then ratings' leader Tyler Wright (AUS), 19, in the Semifinals. The regular-footer would fight hard to surpass Moore in the back half of the heat with her best two rides coming in the last five minutes. Unfortunately for the Californian, she was unable to surpass Moore's opening heat efforts, finishing runner-up overall. "It was definitely an amazing heat and Carissa (Moore), she's been surfing really well," Conlogue said. "With everyone screaming and the crowd on the pier I was definitely wanting to win. I was trying to be progressive and surfing the best that I could."
Conlogue, who now sits at No 3 on the ASP Women's WCT, is hoping to carry her momentum in to the final two events of the season in an attempt to rally for the 2013 ASP Women's World Title. "It feels really good to get second and I'm looking forward to going back to Europe," Conlogue said. "Going to Hossegor is going to be exciting so it's nice to get a result here and I'm looking forward to it."
Tyler Wright (AUS), 19, was dominant throughout the Vans US Open of Surfing, earning her career-best result in Huntington Beach. The talented Australian's run would end in the Semifinals, as she was stopped short by in-form local Courtney Conlogue, finishing equal 3rd overall. "I did the best I could with what I had out there and Courtney (Conlogue) caught the best waves," Wright said. "A 3rd is the best result I've ever had here at the US Open and I'm happy with that."
Pauline Ado (FRA), 22, matched her career-best result and crucial points towards her requalification campaign with an equal 3rd place finish. Ado put in a stellar performance throughout the Vans US Open of Surfing, but was unable to surpass Moore in their Semifinals heat. Ado now sits No. 10 among the ASP Top 17 due to her efforts. "I'm a bit disappointed with my heat today," Ado said. "I couldn't find any good waves and feel like I didn't surf my best, but I'm stoked on the result overall. I've had a great week at this event and a 3rd is putting me in a better position before the last two events in Europe."
1 – Carissa Moore (HAW) 16.00
2 – Courtney Conlogue (USA) 15.27
SF 1: Courtney Conlogue (USA) 16.07 def. Tyler Wright (AUS) 11.33
SF 2: Carissa Moore (HAW) 14.70 def. Pauline Ado (FRA) 10.23
ASP Women's WCT Top 5 Following the Vans US Open:
1 – Carissa Moore (HAW) 48,200 points
2 – Tyler Wright (AUS) 46,500 points
3 – Courtney Conlogue (USA) 40,100 points
4 – Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 39,400 points
5 – Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 30,450 points
HUNTINGTON BEACH, California/USA (Sunday, July 28, 2013) – Alejo Muniz (BRA), 23, has won the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) Prime Vans US Open of Surfing over Kolohe Andino (USA), 19, in peaky one-to-three foot (1 metre) waves at Huntington Beach Pier.
The Vans US Open of Surfing is the fourth of eight ASP Prime events on the 2013 calendar, offering crucial points towards surfers' ASP World Ranking and a coveted US$100,000 first place prize purse. Muniz would get the best of an opening exchange with Andino, belting a 8.43 for a series of seamless frontside turns. The Brazilian would quickly backup the ride on his backhand, scalping a 7.80 on a left breaking in to the pier to solidify the victory.
"I'm so happy, I can't believe it," Muniz said. "Today marks the four-year anniversary of my grandfather's passing and I'd like to dedicate this win to him. This is the biggest win of my career and it's the biggest crowd I've ever surfed in front of. I knew I had to get scores and the waves were dying a little bit with the high tide and the ocean really cooperated with me today." Muniz, who entered the Vans US Open ranked No. 24, had struggled to find a big result throughout the first half of his ASP season, but vaults to No. 15 on the rankings compliments of his win in Huntington Beach today.
"I've been really focused because I hadn't really had big results coming in to this event," Muniz said. "I was putting everything in to this event and the work paid off. I focused more on myself rather than who I was surfing against and what scores they were getting. I've been getting good scores, but losing heats for some reason. I knew inside that I just needed to get the good waves and surf how I could. I'm stoked that I was able to do it this week. I think I surfed smart all week and it's been amazing."
Kolohe Andino was the last Southern Californian remaining in men's competition and was in dangerous form entering the final. The progressive regular-footer would open his final exchange with a 7.77 but was unable to find the second score needed to surpass Muniz, finishing runner-up overall. "Congratulations to Alejo," Andino said. "He surfed amazing all week. It would have been nice to win, but I just couldn't find a second wave and I'm happy that I made the final."
Bede Durbidge (AUS), 31, unloaded signature power-surfing throughout Vans US Open, besting fellow ASP WCT standout Michel Bourez (PYF), 27, while advancing to the Semifinals. The Australian was unable to surpass Andino in the Semifinals, but hopes to take his success in Huntington Beach to the back half of the year. "Not many people would have picked me to make the Semifinals in this event so it was a good result for me," Durbidge said. "I came over here to just get back to winning heats and I got four or five wins under my belt and I'll just take that momentum in to the back half of the year."
Matt Banting (AUS), 18, proved to be darkhorse of the 2013 Vans US Open of Surfing, besting a flock of the world's best surfers on his way to an incredible equal 3rd place finish. Banting went on to eliminate Jordy Smith (ZAF), 25, in the Quarterfinals, but was unable to surpass Muniz in their Semifinals clash. Banting's result launches him from from 92 to 41 on the men's ASP World Ranking. "I've dreamt of that heat against Jordy (Smith) my whole life and to surf against him and to beat him, I'm so happy," Banting said following his Quarterfinals win. "I was just wishing that no waves would come and to just better that 3.77 on my final wave. I'm just frothing. I'm not trying to qualify just yet. I'm taking it heat-by-heat and to beat Jordy, anything after that would have been a bonus."
1 – Alejo Muniz (BRA) 16.23
2 – Kolohe Andino (USA) 14.54
SF 1: Kolohe Andino (USA) 14.00 def. Bede Durbidge (AUS) 11.76
SF 2: Alejo Muniz (BRA) 14.00 def. Matt Banting (AUS) 11.50
QF 1: Kolohe Andino (USA) 14.66 def. Adriano de Souza (BRA) 13.27
QF 2: Bede Durbidge (AUS) 10.50 def. Michel Bourez (PYF) 10.43
QF 3: Matt Banting (AUS) 10.70 def. Jordy Smith (ZAF) 9.30
QF 4: Alejo Muniz (BRA) 13.64 def. Nat Young (USA) 5.83


text: As an intrinsically cross-cultural form of inquiry, Anthropology offers its own, inherent benefits that students can acquire as they encounter ways of thinking and behaving that may be unfamiliar to them. Opportunities for cross-cultural ministry, for careers in business and as consultants, and for Christian citizenship in the world of the 21st century can be enhanced greatly for students completing an Anthropology major. Career Options Anthropological study provides training particularly well suited to the 21st century. The economy will be increasingly globalized; workforces and markets, increasingly diverse; participatory management and decision making, increasingly important; and communication skills, increasingly in demand. Anthropology is the only contemporary discipline that approaches human questions from historical, biological, linguistic, and cultural perspectives. Anthropology provides a theoretical and methodological "toolkit" for understanding human interactions in every setting. A B.A. in anthropology provides an excellent liberal arts preparation for positions throughout the business, social service, and government worlds and offers valuable preparation for careers in journalism, politics, public relations, business, or public administration. Businesses have become increasingly aware of the benefits of employees with the ability to interpret and react to human behavior in systematic and constructive ways. Anthropology majors who enter the business world work in sales, marketing, customer relations, consulting, investment banking or human resources. Those who enter human services work with youths at risk, the elderly, or people experiencing problems related to poverty, immigrants dealing with cultural adjustment, and structural inequality related to cultural patterns. A B.A. in anthropology is also excellent preparation for future graduate work in anthropology (or any number of related fields) in order to become a college professor, researcher, or applied anthropologist. Those going into ministry often recognize the value of cross-cultural understandings and the ability to work with culturally divergent populations as they find themselves dealing with multicultural populations. Although those pursuing foreign missions often see the immediate benefits of anthropology, even those who have no intention of living abroad find that they can apply the toolkit of anthropology to life in an increasingly globalized world. (see the American Anthropology Association Guide for a list of anthropology departments and institutions recruiting anthropologists. [AAA Guide, 2008-2009])


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"You can't call me a dumb blonde," she said, "I dye my hair!"
The online presence of dark fiction writer C.M. Saunders
"We write to taste life twice, in the moment and in retrospect"
Flash fiction tales of humor, horror and whimsy
The random thoughts of a very troublesome haemorrhoid on travel, art, sport, bad dogs, good cats and other fake news...
that time forgot to teach
The Best of British Bullshit
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words and scribble.
hedy bach photography mixed stories and music
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.... don't expect anything...not even the unexpected...
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I'm interested in THE GLUE BETWEEN THINGS. "Back on planet URTH" i search for and study desert wombats and inukThingies (they're like inukshuks) while rambling in the high desert of western Colorawdough.
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Get an overview of this hotelHotel in Milford with free breakfast and indoor pool
Popular property highlights
Situated in Milford, this hotel is 2.1 mi (3.3 km) from Emerald Hills Golf Course and 2.9 mi (4.6 km) from Arnolds Park. Higgins Museum and Brooks Golf Club are also within 6 mi (10 km).
Hotel Features
An indoor pool, a fitness center, and a sauna are available at this hotel. Free WiFi in public areas and free self parking are also provided. Additionally, coffee/tea in a common area, a business center, and conference rooms are onsite.
Room Amenities
All 26 rooms provide conveniences like refrigerators and microwaves, plus free WiFi and cable TV. DVD players, coffee makers, and free local calls are among the other amenities available to guests.
Guest Highlights
- Helpful staff
- Clean guestrooms
Rodeway Inn Milford
Hotel Amenities
Hotel Amenities
In addition to an indoor pool, Rodeway Inn Milford provides a sauna and a fitness center. Wireless Internet access is complimentary. This hotel offers access to a business center and meeting rooms. Guests can enjoy a complimentary breakfast. This business-friendly hotel also offers barbecue grills, multilingual staff, and a picnic area. Onsite self parking is complimentary.
- Indoor pool
- Sauna
- Free newspapers in lobby
- Conference space
- Meeting rooms
- 24-hour front desk
- Express check-in
- Express check-out
- Multilingual staff
- Picnic area
- Barbecue grill(s)
- Coffee/tea in common areas
- Television in common areas
- Total number of rooms - 26
- Number of floors - 2
- Business center
- Wedding services
- Free breakfast
- Fitness facilities
- Free WiFi
- Laundry facilities
- RV, bus, truck parking
- Free self parking
Family Friendly Amenities
- Family Hotel
- Indoor pool
- Free Wi-Fi
- Rollaway/extra beds available
- Laundry facilities
- Refrigerator
- Microwave
- DVD player
Available in all rooms: Free WiFi
Available in some public areas: Free WiFi
Free self parking, RV, bus, truck parking
Room Amenities
- Premium TV channels
- DVD player
- Air conditioning
- In-room climate control (air conditioning)
- Free local calls
- Refrigerator
- Coffee/tea maker
- Microwave
- Hair dryer
- Iron/ironing board
- Cable TV service
- Rollaway/extra beds available
- Cribs/infant beds available
- Daily housekeeping
- Free WiFi
Where to Eat
A complimentary breakfast is offered.
Nearby Things to Do
Recreational amenities at the hotel include an indoor pool, a sauna, and a fitness center.
If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please note them at check-out when you book your room.
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Check-in time starts at 2 PM
Check-out time is 11 AM
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- Children are welcome.
- Kids stay free! Children 18 years old and younger stay free when using existing bedding.
- Rollaway/extra beds are available.
- Cribs (infant beds) are available.
- Pets not allowed
You need to know
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy.
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card or cash deposit are required at check-in for incidental charges.
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges. Special requests cannot be guaranteed.
Hotel Name
- Rodeway Inn Hotel Milford
- Rodeway Inn Milford
- Okoboji Avenue Hotel
- Rodeway Inn & Suites Near Okoboji Lake Hotel Milford
- Rodeway Inn & Suites Near Okoboji Lake Milford, Iowa
- Rodeway Inn And Suites Near Okoboji Lake
We should mention
Children 18 years old and younger stay free when occupying the parent or guardian's room, using existing bedding.


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By Jerry Cornfield Herald Writer
OLYMPIA — It's a good bet voters will decide if Washington gun laws are toughened by requiring background checks on private firearm sales.
But it's not a guarantee.
Gun control supporters might push an initiative directly to the ballot this fall or next after the disappointing defeat of a universal background check bill in the state House this week.
Or they could take a different path in which they ask lawmakers again in 2014 seek to expand the background check law. If they don't, then they go to voters.
"Everything is on the table," said Christian Sinderman, consultant for the newly formed Washington Alliance for Gun Responsibility which spent tens of thousands of dollars lobbying for passage of the failed legislation, House Bill 1588.
"We have to decide whether now is the time to move forward or to wait a while," he said Thursday. "We want to be in the best position to win. No one is interested in a symbolic effort."
House Democrats wrangled over House Bill 1588 for days in their caucus but Rep. Jamie Pedersen, D-Seattle, could not cement together 50 votes for passage before a Wednesday deadline. The bill had the support of one Republican, Rep. Mike Hope of Lake Stevens.
Gun buyers undergo a background check when they purchase a weapon from a federally licensed firearms dealer. House Bill 1588 sought to extend such checks to cover private gun transactions.
Pedersen said he isn't involved in the strategy-setting by the alliance. If the group goes for an initiative this year, he said he would want them "to put something on the ballot that is both good policy and is also winnable."
Opponents of the bill are in a "wait-and-see" mode on the likelihood of an initiative this year. Resurrecting the legislation, they said, is technically possible no matter how politically improbable it seems.
"We're not certain the bill is entirely dead," said Dave Workman, communications director for the Bellevue-based Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms. "While we've heard hints of a possible initiative, we're not sure anyone actually is deciding to do it."
A ballot battle is anticipated, sooner or later.
"They certainly have the money for it. They certainly have the political will for it," said Joseph Waldron, chairman of the Gun Owners Action League headquartered in Bellevue. "I'm not saying 'Bring it on'. If it happens, we'll be ready to respond."
There are three main options for those pushing for universal background checks, each freighted with certain advantages and disadvantages.
Whatever step is taken the alliance, a creation of a group of Seattle activists, would likely morph into the chief campaign organization. It launched in February with a $50,000 contribution from venture capitalist Nick Hanauer and he'll need to write a lot larger checks if the effort is to succeed.
Pushing an initiative this November could capitalize on a well of public support that, according to various polls, is hovering above 70 percent.
There is a risk. It is an off-year election, which means fewer voters and a more fiscally and socially conservative electorate. Higher profile elections in Democrat-laden cities of Seattle, Tacoma and Everett would offset that trend, Sinderman noted.
Those great poll numbers can deceive as they did with Initiative 676 in 1997.
Before that election the measure, which sought to ban sales of handguns without trigger-locking devices and require handgun buyers obtain a license, enjoyed wide support.
But it lost by a whopping 71 percent to 29 percent. Voters rejected it by a 3-to-1 margin in Snohomish and Island counties and it failed narrowly in King County as well.
"If there is a lesson from that experience it is you really need to understand all of its impacts and you have to assume the NRA and their allies will say or do anything to protect their market for gun sales," Sinderman said.
Hope, who didn't live in the state then, said it was his understanding the measure tried to do too much and voters felt it went too far.
The bill crafted this year in the House will not suffer the same fate if it is put before voters because "it does not overreach," he said.
A second option is to wait and do a citizen initiative in November 2014. This would give backers more time to prepare a campaign and raise the money to conduct it. Plus, they could count on a larger and potentially more philosophically liberal electorate.
A third possibility is to follow the path of the marijuana legalization measure with an initiative to the Legislature. Lawmakers, many of whom must run for re-election next year, would be given an opportunity to approve it rather then let it go to a vote.
"The 2014 Legislature may not want it on the ballot," Pedersen said.
Timing is not a concern to Hope.
"I think they'll win now. I think they'll win then. I think they'll win either year," he said.
He and Pedersen said they thought the NRA made a mistake in opposing the House bill. Gun rights supporters had a voice in the process of revising the bill. They won't get a say with an initiative.
"They should have signed on to the bill because what goes to voters will be stronger than (House Bill) 1588," Hope said.
Given the political popularity of requiring background checks on private gun sales, it will be difficult ground to defend, Pedersen said.
"Unless the polls are really wrong, universal background checks will be the law in Washington state," he said.
Jerry Cornfield: 360-352-8623; firstname.lastname@example.com.


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Thanks! this sounds really good (not to mention cheap!)
I just thought I'd let you all know about this great high gain wifi adapter, cheap as chips, can be turned into a cantenna or other long range and works out of the box (injection and everything). I bought one this morning, highly recommended
search ebay for "802.11g Wireless LAN WLAN High Gain USB Adapter Antenna" sold by adapterbest
EDIT: It uses the RTL8187 chipset
Thanks! this sounds really good (not to mention cheap!)
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Is this Ebay Adaptor plug n Play in Bt3? Did you simply plug it into your PC, boot up BT3 and thats it???? Please advise as i have bought a "Rokman" USB Adaptor that is supposedly BT3 Plug n play and it doesnt work at all!!
Have you tried this card and confirm it works out of the box? Sorry if the question is redundant, but you said in your post you just bought it that morning. Just wanted to check before looking into the card. Thanks
On BT4 everything works flawlessly out of the box. Just plug it in, mac changing, monitor mode, injection, wicd, the lot. I'm so chuffed I've just bought a 18dbi yagi
That yagi sounds like it'll have amazing range...have fun with that.
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its got up to a 10km range but that'll be rural with clear line of site, should give me two or three mies urban which is more than enough for me. War-camping! Bring it on
That usb adapter/antenna combo listed on ebay is unremarkable at best. All I am seeing is a sub 500mW dongle and a 5db antenna either of those are far from ideal if you are looking for range. What concerns me is the conspicuous lack of real specs.
If you are trying to min/max your setup I highly recommend the Alfa AWUS036H, its a 500mw card with excellent sensitivity specs. There are cards with more power but sub-par sensitivity. The Alfa card is available with a 9db antenna, or you can pick up a 15db antenna for under $20, or if you are a DIY type and portability isnt an issue, I highly recommend busting out a cantenna (Dintimoor or Stagg can) for superior results.
That said, even under ideal circumstances you will not get anywhere near 10km connection distance, unless you got some juice on both side. Ive been using the Alfa with 15db antenna on the go with excellent results hooking up to the central wifi node at the campgrounds and in the marina (before anyone asks both free for paying visitors).
Errr ok, read the thread again.
At this recommendation I also purchased one of these from adapterbest. Using BT4 I just plugged it in and it worked (did not test with BT3). Monitor mode, macchanger, injection all worked. I show the RTL8187 chipset as well.
I received it in 5 days. The quality has that sub-par / made in Taiwan look and feel to it. I doubt it will take any abuse at all. The antenna is very low quality.
The radio signal is disappointing. I expected that I would see greater radio coverage with the included external antenna. For a comparison using my built-in wifi adapter (Dell e6400) airodump can see 16 access points from my current location. An external netgear PCMCIA card can view about 16 as well. Using this Taiwan USB adapter I can only view 8 access points.
For < $20 this is an OK adapter, but if you are looking something "good" or that you want to keep for awhile I would recommend you apply the $20 towards something better.


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The McKinsey report "Clearing the air on cloud computing" is getting some attention. It has some good stuff in it, including the warning that cloud computing is approaching the top of the Gartner hype cycle. However, its claim that cloud computing (in the guise of EC2) ends up being more expensive per server month for large enterprises than doing it in-house seems fatally flawed. In particular, it doesn't seem to be accounting for the costs correctly and it completely overlooks the benefits of cloud automation, which ultimately led to a revolution in the way compute resources are consumed.
The cost equation in the report starts on slide 22 and it's really sketchy. They mix EC2 compute units and cores together (compare 22 and 23). They talk about "$14K/Server (2 CPU, 4 core)" which on my calculator comes out to $97/core/month over three years, but they have a cost of $45/mo/CPU on the same slide (and $97 doesn't even account for the facility or power or cooling).
On slide 24 they suddenly compare an in-house datacenter server with "75% of EC2 Large Standard Windows configuration on Amazon EC2" and nowhere do they mention that the latter cost includes the Windows license. Ouch!
Unless they actually document more details of their cost accounting I can only say that it's flawed. Many business line owners in large corporations come to us and tell us they can't believe how cheap EC2 is because their internal chargebacks by IT are $400+ per server.
The other big mystery is how McKinsey arrives at just a 10% labor reduction when moving to a "third-party cloud provider," and they quote $96/mo of labor for the cloud servers. For what? For the guy who clicks the "launch" and "terminate" buttons on the management dashboard?
Again, the report is so thin on details that it's impossible to figure out what they're really thinking. Clearly a lot of staff is required to run a whole data center, as well as a lot of service providers, from the architects and engineers to build the facility, to the HVAC guys cleaning filters, the folks maintaining the UPS batteries, the genset, and the security crew. 10%, yeah, right.
What the report seems to completely overlook is the possible reduction in sysadmin costs. One of the huge benefits of the cloud is that the entire computing infrastructure can be automated, top to bottom. That saves a lot of sysadmin labor and in the end it means that requisitioning more compute capacity can be done by the end user somewhere in a business unit instead of being an IT chore.
The report also doesn't take into account the cost of the red tape that surrounds corporate IT - things the business can't do because IT can't support them, wasted time spent doing workarounds instead of just launching a few more servers, having to guess six months ahead of time how many servers will be needed at launch. Opportunity cost because projects don't happen for lack of IT resources.
It would have been great to read a report that lays out all the costs and assumptions clearly so one can retrace what is included and what is not. I would have loved to have learned more about corporate IT costs. Alas, the report fails to do that. and it also fails to recognize that cloud computing revolutionizes the way compute resources are consumed, which ultimately is where the bigger benefits will come from.


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This one is a bit of a head-scratcher. There is a Christian themed Japanese 'manga' (comic book) now frequently offered up to soldiers. Yeah. Luckily the David Silverman 'WTF Guy' meme was ready to go. I have 'no idea' where all the extra copies might have come from… How did this thing not sell out!?!?! [Read More…]
Strange Jesus 'manga comics' distributed to the troops
November 7, 2011 by 15 Comments