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Metal Gear (video game)
Metal Gear | |
Japanese MSX2 cover art
Developer(s) | Konami |
Publisher(s) |
Director(s) | Hideo Kojima |
Designer(s) | Hideo Kojima |
Programmer(s) | Hiroyuki Fukui Tomonori Otsuka Koji Toyohara |
Artist(s) | Masami Tabata Azusa Fujimoto |
Composer(s) | MSX2 version Iku Mizutani Shigehiro Takenouchi Motoaki Furukawa FC/NES version Kazuki Muraoka |
Series | Metal Gear |
Platform(s) | |
Release | |
Genre(s) | Action-adventure, stealth |
Mode(s) | Single-player |
Metal Gear[a] is an overhead military action-adventure stealth video game originally released in 1987 by Konami for the MSX2 computer in Japan and parts of Europe. Considered to be the progenitor of the stealth game genre, it is the first video game designed by Hideo Kojima, who directed many of the later Metal Gear sequels.[3] A reworked version was released for the Famicom a few months later, which saw a release in North America for the NES the following year, although this version featured drastically altered level designs among other changes, and was developed without Kojima's involvement.[4] The MSX2 version has since been given a wider release through its inclusion in Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence for the PlayStation 2, as well as in its later HD Edition for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and PlayStation Vita, with these later releases featuring a revised translation and additional gameplay features. The MSX2 version was also re-released in Japan as a digital download for mobile phones and the Wii Virtual Console.
The game revolves around a special forces operative codenamed Solid Snake who goes into a solo infiltration mission into the fortified state of Outer Heaven to destroy Metal Gear, a bipedal walking tank capable of launching nuclear missiles from anywhere in the world.
The player must navigate the main character, a military operative codenamed Solid Snake, through various locations, while avoiding visual contact and direct confrontation with patrolling guards. If the player is seen, the game enters the "Alert Mode." In this situation, Snake must escape from enemy's sight in order to resume infiltration. The method of escaping varies depending on the circumstances behind discovery:
- If Snake is seen and only a single exclamation mark appears over an enemy's head, only the enemies in the player's present screen will attack and Snake can escape by simply moving to an adjacent screen.
- However, if two exclamation marks appear over the enemy (or the player triggers an alarm by being spotted by a camera, infrared sensor or by using an unsuppressed weapon), reinforcements from off-screen will appear as well. Snake can only escape by eliminating all incoming enemies, going outdoors, or by entering an elevator.
The player starts the game unarmed, but eventually acquires numerous firearms (namely a Beretta 92F, an Ingram Mac-11, an M79 grenade launcher and an RPG-7V rocket launcher), as well as explosives such as remote control missiles, landmines, and plastic explosives. Each weapon has limited ammunition or supplies, which can only be replenished by obtaining ammunition caches or additional supplies. A suppressor can also be obtained that allows the player to fire the handgun and submachine gun without making a noise. Weapons can not only be used to kill enemies but also to clear obstacles such as hollow walls and electrified floors. Snake can also use his fists to punch and defeat patrolling enemies. Occasionally, if the player defeats a guard with punches without alerting anyone, the defeated guard will yield a single unit of rations or an ammo box that can be picked up. In addition to enemy guards, the player will also be confronted by mercenaries who will challenge the player to combat, serving as the boss characters.
The enemy base consists of three different buildings, with multiple floors (including basement levels) within them. The player uses key cards and other items to unlock doors and explore new areas. Each door will only open to its corresponding key cards. Information can be obtained by rescuing hostages being held within the buildings. After rescuing five hostages, the player's rank will increase by one star (with the maximum rank being four stars), allowing for increased carrying capacity and maximum health. However, if a hostage is killed, the player is demoted to the previous rank.
A transceiver is available for Snake to keep in touch with his commanding officer, Big Boss, or one of the resistance members operating covertly near Outer Heaven (Schneider, Diane, and Jennifer). Each of Snake's allies specializes in a specific subject and will usually provide information or advice based on the player's current area, although a reply is not always guaranteed. The player must keep track of each character's frequency number in order to remain in contact with them throughout the game.
The MSX2 version requires the use of a tape recorder (such as the Sony Bitcorder) to save game progress, or a Game Master II cartridge in order to enable quick saves via a floppy disk. Versions on later platforms eliminated these complicated requirements thanks to standardized storage devices such as memory cards and hard disk drives.
The player's character is Solid Snake, a rookie member of the special forces group FOXHOUND sent on his first mission. He is assisted via radio by his commanding officer Big Boss, who offers information about mission objectives and items; as well as a local Resistance movement composed of Schneider, who provides the locations of important items; Diane, who provides information on how to defeat enemy bosses; and Jennifer, who assists Snake as an inside agent. Among the prisoners Snake rescues includes Grey Fox (Gray Fox in the later versions), a FOXHOUND agent who was captured during a previous mission; Dr. Pettrovich (Dr. Drago Pettrovich Madnar in later releases), the scientist who designed the Metal Gear weapon; and the doctor's daughter, Elen, who was kidnapped by the enemy to force her father into it.
The bosses include Shoot Gunner (renamed Shotmaker in later versions), a former Spetsnaz agent specializing in the riot gun; Machinegun Kid, a former SAS operative armed with a machine gun; Fire Trooper, a former GSG 9 operative who uses a flamethrower; Coward Duck (Dirty Duck in later releases), a boomerang throwing terrorist who shields himself with hostages; Arnold (Bloody Brad in later releases), two TX-11 class androids designed by Dr. Pettrovich; and the legendary mercenary who founded Outer Heaven, whose true identity is unknown until the end.
Metal Gear chronology |
Near the end of the 20th century,[b] the West discovers that a weapon of mass destruction is being constructed inside Outer Heaven, a fortified state founded by a "legendary mercenary" 200 km north of Galzburg, South Africa. The special forces unit FOXHOUND sends top agent Gray Fox to infiltrate the fortress, assess the situation and neutralize the threat. FOXHOUND loses contact with Gray Fox a few days later, with his last transmission being "METAL GEAR..." To discover what happened to Gray Fox, FOXHOUND commander Big Boss sends his newest recruit, Solid Snake, into the area in an operation codenamed Intrude N313.
Upon insertion into Outer Heaven, Snake makes contact with local resistance members Schneider, Diane, and Jennifer. Using all of his skills and the equipment he procures on site, he manages to rescue Fox. Fox explains that Metal Gear is the codename of a nuclear-equipped bipedal walking tank, which can engage in all forms of combat and launch nuclear weapons from any location. Outer Heaven plans to use Metal Gear to impose itself as the new world superpower.
To destroy Metal Gear and topple the Outer Heaven mercenaries, Snake rescues lead Metal Gear engineer Dr. Pettrovich and his daughter Elen. The scientist explains how Metal Gear can be destroyed, and Snake takes on Outer Heaven's troops. However, he begins to notice that the traps put in his way are too precise and wonders how information on his activities are being tracked. Big Boss begins to act strangely, gives misleading advice that leads Snake into several traps, and eventually tells Snake to abort the mission (breaking the fourth wall by telling the player to turn off the system). Moreover, Schneider is ambushed by hostiles and is presumed dead after losing contact with Snake.
Snake penetrates Outer Heaven's main base and takes out Metal Gear before it reaches completion. As he safely escapes the compound's basement, he is confronted by the mercenary leader of Outer Heaven, who turns out to be Big Boss. The corrupt leader reveals that he had been using his connections to steal military intelligence, establish his own mercenary force, and fund his activities. It was his aim to have Outer Heaven become the world's greatest superpower, able to bring even the West to its knees. He had the rookie Snake sent in, hoping to have him captured and feed misinformation to authorities but had quite obviously underestimated Snake's capabilities.
Having lost Metal Gear and much of his force, Big Boss seemingly starts the self-destruct sequence for the compound, and promises he will not die alone; Snake will join him. Snake defeats Big Boss in the last battle and escapes the Outer Heaven compound as it crumbles in flames behind him.[c] After the end credits, a message from Big Boss is displayed saying that he will meet Solid Snake again.
Kojima was asked to take over a project from a senior associate. Metal Gear was intended to be an action game that featured modern military combat. However, the MSX2's hardware limited the number of on-screen bullets and enemies, which Kojima felt impeded the combat aspect. Inspired by The Great Escape, he reversed the focus of the gameplay from shooting down the enemy to avoiding the capture.[6] The game was titled Intruder during the early planning stages.[7]
The packaging illustration used for the retail releases of the game, which depicts the protagonist Solid Snake holding a gun, appears to have been traced over a publicity still of Michael Biehn posing as his character Kyle Reese from the 1984 film The Terminator.[8] Kojima, who was still newly employed at Konami at the time, had no involvement with the production of this illustration.[9]
Metal Gear was originally released on the MSX2 home computer in Japan on July 13, 1987, with an English version released in Europe during the same year. Due to memory constraints, the Japanese version was written entirely in katakana (with character names presented in roman letters), while the English version is written entirely in uppercase, has numerous instances of erroneous grammar and misspellings, and features fewer radio calls than the Japanese version (with only 56% of the calls kept) and shortened messages.[7][10]
Prior to the release of Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, Konami released a port of the MSX2 version of Metal Gear for mobile phones through their Konami Net DX service in Japan on August 18, 2004. This updated port was later included as a bonus feature in Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence (an expanded edition of MGS3) for the PlayStation 2 released in 2005, and later in the HD Edition released for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 in 2011 and for PlayStation Vita in 2012.[11][12]
The inclusion of the original Metal Gear in Subsistence marked the first time the MSX2 game was released in North America, with several changes from the original European release:
- an updated and revised translation
- two difficulty settings ("Original" and "Easy", the latter allows the player to carry twice the amount of ammo and rations)
- name changes for some of the characters, item descriptions for the weapon and equipment menu
- a "Boss Survival" mode that is available after clearing the main game once
- a hidden bandana item that gives the player infinite ammo when equipped
- enemy bosses that now flash red and white when they sustain damage
- Snake's cigarettes will now drain his life gauge when equipped.
Metal Gear was also released for the Wii Virtual Console in Japan on December 8, 2009.[13] This version is a straight emulation of the original MSX2 game but has the same name changes made in the other re-releases applied to it as well.[14]
Famicom / NES[edit]
A port of Metal Gear for the Family Computer (or Famicom) was released in Japan on December 22, 1987. This was followed by an English localization for the Nintendo Entertainment System (or NES) released in North America in June 1988 (published by Konami's Ultra Games division) and in Europe and Australia sometime in 1989. This was notably the first version of Metal Gear that was released in North America since the MSX2 platform was not commercialized in that market. The Famicom version was given a limited re-release for the GameCube as a bonus disc included in a limited edition console bundle of Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes released exclusively in Japan,[15] making it the only re-release of the Famicom version on a newer platform.
According to Kojima's account, the port was developed by another Konami division at Tokyo which was given the source code from the MSX2 version without the consent of the original team. Many changes were made during the porting process that later led to this version being publicly disowned by Kojima himself.[4][16][17][18] Masahiro Ueno, who worked as a programmer for the NES version, has stated that the staff who worked on the port were given a three-month deadline and were ordered make the port as different as possible from the MSX2 version by Konami executives. Due to hardware limitations with the mapper used, the Metal Gear boss ended up being replaced by a Supercomputer guarded by four enemy soldiers.[19]
Another big change made to the game was in the level designs. Instead of the underwater infiltration from the original version, the game starts with Solid Snake parachuting into the middle of a jungle alongside three other soldiers (who are never seen nor mentioned outside of the intro). After landing in the jungle, the player must reach a transport truck at the end that will take Snake to the entrance of the first building. The player can also use other transport trucks to reach the entrances of the other buildings quicker since they travel in a cyclical pattern. The basement floors of Building 1 and 2 in the MSX2 version were made into separate buildings, Building 4 and 5 respectively, which are only reachable by going through one of two jungle mazes located in the outdoor areas between the other three buildings. The correct path to take in the jungle maze is never revealed in the game.[20] In addition to the removal of the Metal Gear tank, the Hind D boss on the rooftop of Building 1 was also replaced by a pair of armed turret gunners called "Twin Shot".[4][17] The NES version also lacks the higher alert phase from the MSX2 version and the jet pack-wearing soldiers on the rooftops of Building 1 and 2 lost their ability to fly (making them act more like regular guards). On the other hand, enemies no longer drop ammo nor rations when punched to death. Much like the MSX2 version, the English localization of the NES versions contains numerous instances of erroneous grammar, such as "Contact missing our Grey Fox",[21] "Uh-Oh! The truck have started to move!",[22] and "I feel asleep!!"[23]
Passcodes are used in this version to save progress. When Snake is killed by the enemy, the player is given a choice to continue the game from the last checkpoint or quit and resume later with the given passcode. The passcode keeps track of Snake's rank (which also determines his checkpoint in this version), inventory, hostages rescued, bosses defeated and certain event flags.[24] One particular passcode featured in the Japanese and North American version, in which the player types the expletive "fuck me" and fills the remaining spaces with "1", will transport the player to the final battle with no equipment. This resulted in the passcode system being altered for the PAL versions of the game.
MS-DOS and Commodore 64[edit]
In 1990, Ultra Games released ports of the original Metal Gear for home computer platforms in North America, with these ports being based on the NES version, rather than the MSX2 original. The MS-DOS conversion (developed by Banana Development) contains many changes, such as a faster-depleting health bar, while the Commodore 64 conversion (handled by Unlimited Software) only has small audio and visual changes. An Amiga version was also announced, with mock-up screenshots shown on the packaging of the other versions, but was never actually produced.[25]
The MSX2 version of Metal Gear was ranked on MSX Magazine's top 20 best selling MSX games in Japan for five months, debuting at no. 4 on the October 1987 issue and peaking at no. 3 the following month. The Games Machine gave a positive review of this version, giving the game a 79% global note. They praised the graphics and the size of the game area, underlining the fact that it ensured "that the action and suspense never wanes". They also wrote that the game was rapidly addictive, and that "the urge to get further into the game is quite strong". They concluded positively on the quality of the game, saying that "If this standard of Konami software is maintained then maybe more people will think hard about joining the other 200,000 MSX owners".[26]
Computer Gaming World called the NES version's graphics "acceptable", but criticized the control system and the player's great vulnerability when unarmed at the start of the game. It nonetheless stated that Metal Gear "shows great promise for future Ultra Games entries. It attempts to move beyond the standard run/jump/shoot format" of most NES games, and concluded that the game was "a potential super-hit that, unfortunately, is sabotaged by its own weaknesses".[27]
The NES version of Metal Gear was rated the 104th best game made on a Nintendo System in Nintendo Power's Top 200 Games list.[28] GamesRadar ranked it the sixth-best NES game ever made, and the staff felt that it popularized its genre.[29]
Its success led to the creation of two separately produced sequels; the first one, Snake's Revenge, was produced specifically for the NES in North America and Europe in 1990 and the other, Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake, was the sequel developed by Hideo Kojima and released in Japan for the MSX2 during the same year as a response to the former's creation. The latter was followed by Metal Gear Solid for the PlayStation in 1998, which was in turn followed by numerous sequels and spinoffs (see Metal Gear series).
The intro theme ("Operation Intrude N313"), main theme ("Theme of Tara") and game over theme ("Just Another Dead Soldier") from the MSX2 version were reused for the VR Training theme in Metal Gear Solid, which in turn was reused in Metal Gear: Ghost Babel and Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance. "Theme of Tara" is one of the tunes that can be heard in the "Shadow Moses Island" stage in Super Smash Bros. Brawl for the Wii, the music for the beginning section of the Battleship Halberd Interior stage of the Adventure mode, where Snake officially enters the storyline, and can also be selected as music with an iPod item in Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots.
Remake attempts[edit]
During a public Q&A event conducted at London with Geoff Keighley on March 13, 2014, series' creator Hideo Kojima expressed interest in developing remakes of the MSX2 Metal Gear games in order to reconcile plot discrepancies that have since been introduced into the series, but had no plans at the time due to the ongoing development of Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain (itself a prequel set before the events of the original Metal Gear).[30] However, Kojima has since departed from Konami following the release of The Phantom Pain, leaving the possibility of such remakes in question.
A Metal Gear remake mod for Alien Swarm was in development that was granted permission by Konami to use copyrighted material with the agreement that they don't make a profit from the recreation or accept donations for the production.[31] It was canceled on June 3, 2014.[32] David Hayter was set to voice Solid Snake.[33] A new fan remake is currently in development using Unreal Engine 4 titled Outer Heaven.[34]
- ^ Known in Japan as Metaru Gia (メタルギア?, "Metal Gear")
- ^ The date is given as 19XX in the manual for the Japanese MSX2 version.[5] Later established to be 1995 in Metal Gear Solid.
- ^ The 2015 prequel Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain reveals that the commander Solid Snake defeats in Metal Gear is not the original Big Boss but a body double.
- ^ "METAL GEAR 25th ANNIVERSARY 「メタルギアソリッドの真実」" (in Japanese). Konami Digital Entertainment.
- ^ "メタルギア". Konami. Retrieved 2015-06-13.
- ^ Jeremy Parish, "Metal Gear," Electronic Gaming Monthly 225 (January 2008): 93.
- ^ a b c Steven Kent. "Hideo Kojima: Game Guru, Movie Maniac".
HK: I really don't like saying this, but it really wasn't up to my standards. The care that I put in the original wasn't there. It [the Famicom version] was a more difficult game. In the very beginning, when you go from the entrance into the fortress, for example, there are dogs there. In the Famicom version, the dogs just come after you and you get killed. It was too difficult to get into the fortress. The fun stealth element was not there, and the actual Metal Gear, the robot, doesn't appear in the game.
- ^ Metal Gear User's Manual (in Japanese). Konami. p. 4.
- ^ Szczepaniak, John. "Before They Were Famous". Retro Gamer. Imagine Publishing (35): 74.
- ^ a b "Before There Was Metal Gear, There Was "Intruder" -- Andriasang.com".
- ^ "Metal Gear Trivia". Retrieved 3 October 2015.
- ^ "小島秀夫 on Twitter: "MG1の時は新人でパッケージには全く関与出来ず不本意なものになったが、「スナッチャー」では開田裕次さんにMG2では高荷義之さんにMGSでは生頼範義さんにメインビジュアルやポスターをお願いできた。当時はゲーム自体のビジュアルが陳腐だったのでイラストでのメインビジュアルは重要だった。"" (in Japanese).
- ^ "Nekura_Hoka's Metal Gear Code Site". Archived from the original on 2009-10-27.
- ^ "The Metal Gear Solid HD Collection Explained". Retrieved 4 July 2012.
- ^ "Wii バーチャルコンソール タイトル一覧" (in Japanese). Nintendo.
- ^ "Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes Premium Package details" (in Japanese).
- ^ Konami Computer Entertainment Japan website staff. "Editorial about the Famicom version of Metal Gear" (in Japanese).
- ^ a b Buchanan, Levi (2008-06-13). "Have You Really Played Metal Gear?". IGN. Retrieved March 31, 2009.
- ^ Metal Gear Saga Vol. 1. Konami. 2005.
- ^ "Interview with Masahiro Ueno, by John Szczepaniak". Videogames Website — Hardcore Gaming 101.
- ^ Browning, Robert. "NES Metal Gear script FAQ". GameFAQs.
- ^ Konami. Metal Gear. NES. Level/area: The first radio transmission with Big Boss at the start of the mission.
- ^ Konami. Metal Gear. NES. Level/area: Whenever Snake enters a moving truck.
- ^ Konami. Metal Gear. NES. Level/area: Whenever an enemy soldier wakes up from his sleep.
- ^ Babcock, Doug. "Metal Gear Password Generator".
- ^ John Szczepaniak (May 4, 2012). "Charles "Chuck" Ernst Interview". Hardcore Gaming 101.
- ^ The Games Machine, December 1987 issue, page 61
- ^ Worley, Joyce; Kunkel, Bill; Katz, Arnie (October 1988). "Video Gaming World". Computer Gaming World. No. 52. pp. 49–50. Retrieved 21 May 2016.
- ^ "NP Top 200", Nintendo Power, 200, pp. 58–66, February 2006.
- ^ "Best NES Games of all time". GamesRadar. 2012-04-16. Retrieved 2013-12-05.
- ^ "HIDEO KOJIMA interview with host Geoff Keighley - 13 March 2014". Retrieved January 29, 2016.
- ^ Pitcher, Jenna (3 June 2014). "Metal Gear fan-made remake given the go ahead by Konami (update)". Polygon. Vox Media. Retrieved 12 June 2014.
- ^ "Outer Heaven". Twitter. Twitter, Inc. 3 June 2014. Retrieved 12 June 2014.
- ^ Phillips, Tom (18 August 2014). "Canned Metal Gear fan remake reveals David Hayter involvement". Eurogamer. Gamer Network. Retrieved 18 August 2014.
- ^ Matulef, Jeffrey (7 October 2015). "MGS fan is remaking the first Metal Gear in Unreal Engine 4". Eurogamer. Gamer Network. Retrieved 7 October 2015.
External links[edit]
Wikiquote has quotations related to: Metal Gear (video game) |
- Official website (Japanese)
- 1987 video games
- Action-adventure games
- Alternate history video games
- Commodore 64 games
- DOS games
- Metal Gear video games
- Mobile games
- MSX2 games
- Nintendo Entertainment System games
- Single-player-only video games
- Stealth video games
- Top-down video games
- Ultra Games video games
- Video games designed by Hideo Kojima
- Video games developed in Japan
- Video games directed by Hideo Kojima
- Video games set in 1995
- Video games set in South Africa
- Virtual Console games


text:
The Horse Forum
- Horse Health
- - Potty Question
Potty Question How many times does the average horse pee and poo a day? |
I don't think there is an average...if there is I'm unsure. A horse poops when they are nervous...ever notice that if something is scaring a horse, they poop more? And a horse only pees when he's comfortable, so again it depends on their envornment. Today, from 10 am - 3 pm, Sonny went poop probably 7ish times (really windy and the dogs were running around with a horse eating plastic bag....plus the pigs turned horse-eaters for the day :lol:.)....and he peed once in his stall when the wind died down So I think it depends. I knew one horse that went 8 times in 1 hour.......lol yeah |
I have no idea, I would guess that it would depend alot on diet and excersices as well. |
Ditto the previous posters. That is one of the reasons I bring everyone in at night. I clean stalls every morning so that gives me a chance to see the quality of manure every day. The moistness and consistency of the manure is what's important.:-) They each generally leave me 3-5 piles thru the night - unless there's going to be a big change in barometric pressure, then they only each leave one or two piles, but will make up for it after the weather change hits. That is no joke - lol lol As far as pee, that's an individual thing too, unless you notice one of your horses urinating just about every time you look out the window, then it might be time to call the vet. Also if the urine is brown in color (not to be confused with dark yellow), that indicates blood in the urine and the vet should be called. Hope this helps some:-) |
I looked this up once after a particularly gruelling mucking session: "A 1000-pound horse will defecate from 4 to 13 times each day and produce 35 to 50 pounds of wet manure (feces plus urine) daily, or approximately 9.1 tons per year." I thought it was just my horses! :shock: |
interesting... You know I had never really thought about frequency...so much as consistency. But my husband has taken over poop mucking duties...and he always yells at me "how much does this horse poop!!" So I got to thinking I don't know? He went 13 times in the last 24 hours...and peed 3 times from what I saw. Interesting about the barometric pressure thing:? |
Well, if you think about it horses consume at a minimum 1.5% of their weight in forage per day---that's alot of fiber! |
Thanks for an answer servinator! :D |
Doesn't it give you a back-ache just thinking about it - 9.1 tons!!!!!! |
i think it's like every 20 to 30 minutes for poop if they are free range feeding.... I'm not sure about pee.... |
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subset: commoncrawl


text: The scene in which gamers blow Fidel's brains offJesus Diaz11/12/10 7:20pmFiled to: GamesCastroCall Of DutycodBlackopsTopSplashhead4251EditPromoteShare to KinjaToggle Conversation toolsGo to permalink The Cuban government is very angry. The reason: This scene from a Call of Duty: Black-Ops mission that requires to kill Fidel Castro. They are claiming some bullshit about it being "perverse." I wonder if the victims of Castro's dictatorship agree. SPOILER ALERT: DON'T KEEP READING IF YOU DON'T WANT TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS IN THE GAMEHere's what an article in Cubadebate—a website ran by the Cuban government who claims to fight "media terrorism"—says. It's double-perverse! This new video game is doubly perverse. On one hand, it glorifies the illegal assassination attempts the United States government planned against the Cuban leader...and on the other, it stimulates sociopathic attitudes in North American children and adolescents. What the United States couldn't accomplish in more than 50 years, they are now trying to do virtually.Like we say in Spain: ¡Manda cojones! (roughly, what a load of crap). I don't know if this is going to stimulate "sociapathic attitudes" in North America as much as Cubadebate's articles stimulate sycophantic attitudes among Castro's acolytes—but I'm sure than all my cuban friends would love to play this mission... and then be sad to discover that it was not the real Castro, but a double. Advertisement Advertisement Unlike those now in jail for political reasons. Or the people who have disappeared and have been killed indiscriminately during Castro's regime, since the first minute of the revolution. I imagine those wouldn't like to play this game. The ones who are alive after decades in jail for expressing their opinions would probably like to actually pull the trigger. I can't blame them.In any case, the fact that Castro's dictatorial regime—in which individuals have no right to freely express themselves and could be arrested without warrant in the middle of the night—is criticizing a game scene that simulates a fantasy black-op is so hypocritical that it's nauseating. [NBC Miami and Kotaku]Reply425 repliesLeave a reply


text:
Drama News
Out of the Frying Pan
I'd like to invite everyone to attend our spring comedy, "Out of the
Frying Pan" by Frances Swann. This charming play was written in the
1940s and celebrates a group of young actors in NY trying to make it
big by attracting the attention of their neighbor, a producer with a
penchant for cooking gumbo. The play performs May 7, 8, 9, 15, 16 at 7 pm, and May 17 at 2 pm. Julianna Gibbons |
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text: Teens' top summer movie picks May 31, 2013 CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Since we're talking about summer movies this week, we asked fans of our Facebook page what summer movies they're excited for. Here's what some of them said:"Star Trek Into Darkness!!" -- Courtney Hall "'This is the End' looks like it could be fun. (I get a 'Shaun of the Dead' vibe from it, sans the wit). Relying on the schtick of celebrities playing themselves might not payoff, though."'You're Next,' which comes out this August, looks like an absolutely fresh take on the stale horror film genre. When it had its premiere at film festivals in 2011, it got very good reviews. My definitive summer movie pick!" - Nick Ransbottom "'Monsters University' is #1. Others are "Despicable Me 2,' 'Grown Ups 2,' the Sandra Bullock and Melissa McCarthy movie ['The Heat'] and 'The Internship.' -- Nicholas Rader Head to our page at www.facebook.com/wvflipside, and tell us what you're looking forward to seeing!


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University of Illinois football coach Ron Zook shared his faith, his coaching philosophy and his passion for helping his players reach their potential as he addressed a crowd of nearly 400 at last Thursday's Fellowship of Christian Athletes banquet in Greenville.
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It does not matter what Nordic Track product you buy. Before you give them money understand 1. They use UPS Freight to ship and the only status anyone will know is... "It's in transit" 2. All delivery dates can and most likely will change 3. Customer Service will promise you anything to get you off the phone and they will not call you back. They simply try to buy time for the situation to work itself out in time. 4. If you need to return the item, they will charge you a restocking fee. Even… Read Full Review
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Why do we vote strategically?
This is related to another question, namely, why anyone votes at all. The chance that your vote will alter the outcome of an election is extremely small, which makes the marginal benefit of that trip to the polls effectively zero. This piece suggests that if you care about social good in general, your payoff is very high in the unlikely event that your vote is pivotal. I think this argument is complicated by the relative similarity of front-running candidates, among other things. As far as I can tell, I vote for some sort of emotional and social return.
Strategic votes express a preference for some second- or third-best candidate. They are, on some level, an attempt to increase the marginal impact of a vote. But their effect is still very close to zero, and in my experience, voting strategically doesn't bring anyone much joy. And yet we continue to do it. In fact, in the aggregate, strategic voters can be pivotal. In Toronto's despair-inducing mayoral campaign, every other candidate is scrambling to collect votes from the otherwise disenchanted anyone-but-Rob-Ford contingent.
A few years ago, I vowed that I would never cast another strategic vote. This has made voting more fun, but in some ways it's similar to Gordon Tullock's decision not to vote at all. (That's a reference to the first link.)


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Cleansing / Immune boosting supplementation
Cleansing / Immune boosting supplementation
In about a month I will be heading out for a training school, 6-weeks in duration, and I'm attempting to draw together a immune boosting stack to run in the final weeks before departure. I trained at the same location last summer, and the combination of PT and individuals from all over America left just about everyone with a nasty cold right in the midst of training.
Although getting sick is likely unevitable, I'm planning on running a cleansing/immune boosting stack which will hopefully lessen the chance. I've already picked out a few things... any recommendations?
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Deals & Events
DC Weekend Planner: September 20-22
Cooler fall weather brings a bevy of festivals and eating adventures for the weekend. Hot neighborhoods are hosting showcases for their restaurants and other destinations, and there is a book fair on the Mall providing a chance to talk with popular food celebs. So get out your walking shoes - you'll want to work up an appetite to cover it all.
Bethesda Row restaurants and wine bars are hosting a Perfect Pairings event. Participants will sample over 30 different wines paired with tapas on a progressive tour of nearly a dozen spots like Mon Ami Gabi, Redwood and Vino Volo (Saturday, September 20, 1-5 PM; for tickets and more information, go here).
The H Street Festival gets bigger and more happening every year. Along H Street NE, from Fourth through 14 Street, visitors will find beer gardens, outdoor restaurant tables, bands, DJ, a fashion show, art cars and much more. It's a great time to check out new venues, pop-ups for coming concepts and to scope out the scene from several roof decks (Saturday, September 21, noon-7 PM).
National Book Festival on the Mall will host more than 100 authors in several pavilions, giving presentations and signing books. Food mavens will find faves like Food Network star Giada De Laurentiis and Pati Jinich, host of Pati's Mexican Table on PBS (Saturday, September 21; 10 AM-5:30 PM and Sunday, September 22, noon-5:30 PM; between Ninth and 14 Sts. NW; free).
Reston Town Center's Beer, Bourbon & BBQ Festival will rock with unlimited beer and bourbon tastings and all manner of 'cue (Saturday, September 21, noon-6 PM; go here for tickets and information - note: this event is selling out).
Taste of Tysons will hold a showcase of its restaurants like Clyde's, Legal Sea Foods and Maggiano's, and community organizations, along with children's events, beer and wine, and local bands (8229 Boone Blvd. Tysons Corner, VA.; Saturday, September 21, 11 AM- 8 PM, go here for details).
If all the food and drink at the festivals still leaves room for brunch, you could check out Kapnos, Mike Isabella's 14 St. NW Greek hotspot that begins bunch service this weekend. Hellenic takes on morning classics like baklava French toast and spit-roasted chicken and waffles could spark an appetite. Plus, you can scope out the street scene from the just opened patio if you're lucky enough to nab a spot (Saturday and Sunday, 11 AM-3 PM)


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Tiffin University (7-1, 7-1 GLIAC) completed a 2-1 week in conference play with a solid 6-3 victory over Hillsdale on the road.
TU won two of the three doubles matches. Caroline Nelhage/Chelsea Beck posted a strong 8-1 win while Abigail Schuster/Rachelmary Brozovich also won 8-2. Malaika Messi/Valentina Mazzola fell 8-0.
All the Dragons singles victories were in straight sets. Messi posted a 6-4, 6-3 win while Nelhage remained unbeaten in singles play with a 6-3, 6-0 victory. Brozovich (6-1, 6-0) and Schuster (6-1, 6-1) also won in strong fashion.
Mazzola fell 6-1, 6-2 while Beck dropped the day's longest match 1-6, 6-3, 6-1.


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Ormonde Jayne Ormonde Woman (Parfum, 50ml)
£184.00 Product Code 2068850
- Overview
Beginning and ending with the unique scent of Black Hemlock absolute - rarely used in such luscious quality and quantity - this utterly hypnotic, unconventional and mysterious woody essence is blended with jasmine and violet absolute to create a dusky, seductive perfume.
- Details
- Parfum is the most concentrated form of this Ormonde Jayne scent at 30%
- Top notes: cardamom, coriander, grass oil
- Middle notes: black hemlock, violet, jasmine absolute
- Base notes: vetiver, cedar wood, amber, sandalwood
Regrettably, this product is non-returnable and non-exportable.
- Delivery & Returns
International Delivery Charges
If paying in another currency your delivery charge will be calculated at checkout.Delivery Option Duration Price Standard Delivery 3-5 days, Monday-Friday only. £5.95 Next Day Delivery Next working day on all orders placed before 3pm, Mon-Sat only. £12 Saturday Delivery Saturday only on orders placed before Friday 3pm £15.95 International Deliveries
Find out more information on our International Deliveries.Returns:
If it's not right, return shipping is free. Find out more.


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Shalom Cares – For Your Health
Shalom Cares provides professional healthcare services designed specifically, though not exclusively, for seniors.
As a not-for-profit continuum of care organization, we recognize that every person is unique. That's why our innovative al-a-carte services allow us to design a customized solution for each person's needs. No pre-packaged plans. No paying for services that
are not needed. Only personalized, skilled care to add comfort and quality to each day.
Shalom Cares serves individuals throughout the metro Denver area, as well as seniors living on the Shalom Park campus. We welcome individuals of any faith, race, ethnicity, gender identity, or sexual orientation.
Here are the services we offer :
// Patio & Apartment Homes
independent living with optional services
// The Retreat for extra care
apartments with nursing & personalized care
// Shalom Park Nursing Home
skilled, compassionate nursing care
// Rehabilitation
Inpatient & Outpatient Therapies
// Recreation
Pool & Fitness Memberships
// Relaxation
Bistro & Spalon


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Terry likes the hearty. I like the less hearty, I guess.
I made this super-easy recipe for the first time for a Junior League tasting event. 60 of them, actually. Finding 60 tiny sweet peppers was a bit of a challenge, but the best place for them? Kroger on Vine. Exact same brand as Whole Foods, about 1/4 of the price.
(Look, I'm even talking savings. When does that happen?)
This time, instead of having to buy enough for a small, pepper-eating army, I made enough just for Terry and me for dinner last night, though I'm providing the recipe for a nice middle ground: 30. You can use any fresh herb you like; I went with chives this time because Kroger was out of basil.
Here's a simple hack for those little peppers:
Fill them with about a teaspoon of white miso paste each, and grill them to a nice charred/caramelized finish. They are amazingly delicious as a side dish. About 3 or 4 is enough, or the saltiness of the miso overwhelms your palate. Good cold the next day as part of your bento lunch.
Love it!
[…] recipe at: http://winemedinemecincinnati.com […]
I'm so impressed you managed to find 60 tiny, gorgeous peppers in the middle of an Ohio winter! Also impressive? This mouthwatering recipe! I adore goat cheese, and this is so simple yet strikingly pretty! Perfect for the Super Bowl … but they'd be just as lovely mid-summer (when we actually can EASILY find peppers in Ohio, right!?!?!). Loving this! 😀 ~Shelley
I actually found them at my local Kroger– which is an urban store and very small. Crazy, huh? The random things you find.
I can't wait until I can make them with local peppers!


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Stocks Slip Despite Mild Jobs Data
Major stock indexes finished modestly lower Friday, as a lackluster employment report fanned concerns about a slowing economy while easing fears that the Federal Reserve will raise interest rates at its Aug. 8 meeting. Slower job growth may have already been priced into the market, says Standard & Poor's Equity Research.
The Dow Jones industrial average edged down 2.24 points, or 0.02%, to 11,240.35, a rise of 0.2% on the week. The broader Standard & Poor's 500 index slipped 0.91 points, or 0.07%, to 1,279.36, finishing the week up 0.1%. The tech-heavy Nasdaq composite dropped 7.28 points, or 0.35%, to 2,085.05, for a 0.4% weekly loss.
Meanwhile, NYSE breadth was slightly positive, with 19 issues advancing for every 15 declining. Nasdaq breadth was 17-13 negative.
A tame employment report cheered investors at the outset Friday. Nonfarm payrolls rose 113,000 in July, after an upwardly revised 124,000 in June, the Labor Department said. The increase was below expectations and will likely keep the Fed on the sidelines next week, though policymakers may leave the door open to futher interest-rate hikes, says Action Economics.
Other analysts generally shared the view that the Fed would refrain from raising rates at its Aug. 8 meeting. "The inflation numbers are still running a little hot, but inflation is a lagging indicator and there is plenty of precedent for the Fed stopping before inflation peaks," says Ed Keon, senior vice president and director of quantititative research at Prudential.
Still, some say the Fed faces a tough call, particularly as the report showed a 0.4% rise in average hourly earnings. "While the decision is clearly close and could go either way, we think the balance still tilts in the direction of one more rate hike for the road," says Goldman Sachs.
The Fed meeting is the main event next week. Data releases are slated to include second-quarter productivity, July retail sales and June international trade.
On the company side, investors weighed another case of stock-options accounting problems. Apple (AAPL) was lower after the computer maker said it would probably restate past earnings following an internal investigation into options backdating that found suspicious grants.
Downbeat news continued for homebuilders. Hovnanian Enterprises (HOV) was lower after guiding its fiscal third-quarter earnings lower to a range of $1.10 to $1.20 a share, from $1.40 to $1.50 a share.
Shares of Toyota (TM) rose after the automaker posted a 39% jump in profit for its fiscal first quarter.
Tire maker Goodyear Tire & Rubber (GT) was higher after reporting a decline in second-quarter profit on lower-than-expected revenue.
Banana producer Chiquita Brands (CQB) was up sharply after posting lower second-quarter earnings despite a 21% sales rise. Wachovia reportedly raised its recommendation on the stock from market perform to outperform.
Earnings season continues next week. Cisco (CSCO), General Electric (GE), Disney (DIS), and Target (TGT) are among companies set to announce quarterly results.
Elsewhere, Chicago Mercantile Exchange Holdings (CME) was higher on news it will join the S&P 500 index on Aug. 10, replacing Kerr-McGee (KMG).
In the energy markets Friday, September West Texas Intermediate crude oil futures fell 73 cents to $74.73 a barrel as hurricane fears continued to subside.
European markets finished higher. In London, the Financial Times-Stock Exchange 100 index bounced 51 points, or 0.87%, to 5,889.4. Germany's DAX index gained 83 points, or 1.47%, to 5,723.03. In Paris, the CAC 40 index was up 57.27 points, or 1.15%, to 5,040.95.
Asian markets finished mixed. Japan's Nikkei 225 index nudged up 28.81 points, or 0.19%, to 15,499.18. In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng index declined 160.62 points, or 0.94%, to 16,887.8. Korea's Kospi index climbed 12.46 points, or 0.96%, to 1,304.51.
Treasury Market
Treasury yields sank after the mild employment report. The 10-year note rose in price to 101-23/32 for a yield of 4.9%, while the 30-year bond surged to 92-14/32 for a yield of 4.99%.


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Eric A. Hilleman
On behalf of the 2.4 million members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. (VFW) and our Auxiliaries, I would like to thank you for your invitation to testify at today's important hearing on the "Board of Veterans' Appeals (BVA) Adjudication process and the Appeals Management Center (AMC)." Let me begin by stating that the VFW is committed to an effective and efficient claims process, with a just and accessible appeals process. We hope to be a partner in seeking actionable solutions to the challenges that the VA faces.
The VFW's genesis is with the group of veterans who returned from the U.S. campaigns on Cuba and the Philippines in 1898 and 1899. These veterans organized to care for veterans who endured the hardships of the battlefield, so that our nation may never forget their sacrifice. All Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs) have a similar goal, to ensure the American people, through their government continue to recognize and acknowledge their sacred obligation to those citizens who sacrificed and risked life and limb for their defense. The VFW believes this agreement does not cease when the uniform lies folded in a drawer.
We must view the Department of Veteran Affairs' claims process through the lens of this social contract. We, and other VSOs, have long served at no cost to our fellow veterans to provide benefits counseling, claims development, outreach, and claims review in VA regional offices, the BVA and the AMC. We, like other VSOs, maintain full time appeals consultants at the BVA and AMC.
The VFW adds value to the claims adjudication process. We serve as a quality assurance tool in reviewing cases. We formulate arguments to further veterans' rights to fair compensation. In addition, we foster a working relationship with the VA with the goal of keeping the best interests of the veteran at the forefront of the decision making process.
The backlog of veterans' claims within Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) is on the rise. The nearly 640,000 rating and authorization cases are pending and this is 7.4 percent higher than last year and 22.5 percent higher than two years ago. The challenges VBA faces in addressing the mounting workload are well established. These include the growth of the total claims workload, an ever-increasing complexity of the workload, and the expectations for accurate and timely decisions. The contributing factors of the backlog are also well known.
The rise in the number of claims is a tragic success for the VA. Due to VA's increased outreach efforts and greater access through Vet Centers, more veterans are learning and taking advantage of their earned benefits. Greater numbers of young veterans are returning from combat operations and seeking assistance to reestablish a civilian life. So too, an aging generation of Vietnam, Korean, and WWII veterans are living longer lives than previous generations and seeking care at VA facilities.
With the residual effects of combat and military service on veterans, the complexity of claims is on the rise. The United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims has also ruled to improve the fairness and access for veterans seeking compensation injuries and illness incurred or aggravated while in service. On more than one occasion, rulings of the court have caused VBA to readjudicate thousands of claims in an already overwhelmed claims processing system. Couple this administrative woe with the medical challenge of multiple body-system blast injuries of OIF/OEF veterans and the increasing strain of the effects of illnesses like diabetes and cancer that are synonymous with herbicide exposure in Vietnam and the VA is overwhelmed.
As the backlog of VBA claims swells at every step of the process, the VA weighs the values of quality vs. quantity. The VFW demands both quality and timeliness. The VA has repeatedly testified before Congress to the ills that plague its claims system. Congress has aptly responded with a much-needed increase in funding, yet additional personnel, following decades of inadequate staffing, will not be productive in the near term. The Congress, the VA, and the Veterans' community must examine the system and move forward together.
VBA has sought to address these problems by creating an Appeals Management Center (AMC) here in Washington. The AMC is comprised of a dedicated and committed staff. The AMC addresses the problem of appeal remand development, collecting and requesting additional medical records, exams, and necessary military records. The driving idea behind the AMC was specialization, thus making the AMC a catch basin at the end of the process to improve quality. It has yet to realize its original vision – again the absence of training and difficulties in fully staffing ensures that it will never live up to its potential.
The VFW supported the establishment of the AMC and we continue to work side-by-side with the VBA to improve the appeal process. There are a number of looming concerns beyond the present need for adequate funding, such as personal issues in the areas of training and turnover. VBA employees face a long and complex training regimen and are not easily replaced. VBA's ability to deliver timely and accurate claims is eroding because of operating in crisis management mode, an aging workforce, and a program that seems to be growing relentlessly more complex. Perhaps the answers lie in some combination of technology, more effective and enlightened training, and new employees committed to serve the new generation of veterans. Most troubling to us is the possibility of significant policy change, not necessarily favorable to veterans, which would further complicate the process and change it into a more adversarial environment.
Despite their best efforts, VBA's production is fraught with a high error rate and growing caseload. It seems clear that VBA lacks a methodology to eliminate or accurately identify the serious errors that plague one out of every seven or eight claims decisions. It also seems obvious that faulty decision-making will go unaddressed unless solutions involving a combination of improved information technology, program reform, and strong leadership are implemented with special care not to increased complexity and duplication.
Reform of the system is required. Change is not without precedent in government agencies, but it is only possible when all concerned are truly interested in improvement, and not just in putting a positive spin on the latest bad news. We think that with the support of a strong VBA leadership the necessary reform is possible. We urge the Congress to further examine this issue, exercise leadership, and build consensus for reform.
Thank you for this opportunity to present our views before this subcommittee. We welcome questions and look forward to working with interested parties toward viable solutions with the best interests of veterans at the heart.


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Album Summary
Notes & Reviews:
An "Aida" for the XXIst century To celebrate the bicentennial of Giuseppe Verdi's birth, La Fura dels Baus opens the "Centanario Festival 2013" of the Arena di Verona. Carlus Padrissa and Alex Ollé sign a brilliant new version of "Aida". "Aida" is the most popular opera of Verona Festival, the only one performed every year, 17000 spectators enjoy the show every evening. This new production is designed by La Fura dels Baus. They transform the arena into a huge desert, creating mechanical animals and manufacture a solar power plant. They use their experience in leading large-scale shows and opera to create the Aida of the XXIst century splendidly conducted by a young talented conductor: Omer Meir Wellber. The Egyptians have captured and enslaved Aida, an Ethiopian princess. An Egyptian military commander, Radamès, struggles to choose between his love for her and his loyalty to the Pharaoh. To complicate the story further, the Pharaoh's daughter Amneris is in love with Radamès, although he does not return her feelings.
Notes & Reviews:Run Time: 139 min.
Region: 0
Picture Format: NTSC, 16:9, Color
Sound Format(s): PCM Stereo,
There are currently no reviews, be the first one!Works Details
Verdi, Giuseppe : Aida, opera- Performers: Giovanna Casolla; Hui He; Ambrogio Maestri; Fabio Sartori
- Conductor: Omer Wellber
- Ensemble: Coro dell'Arena Di Verona
- Period Time: Romantic
- Written: 1884
- Studio/Live: Live


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"Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world."
American Biltrite manufactures and distributes commercial flooring and performance sheet rubber throughout America. We offer a select range of flooring solutions for the educational, healthcare and institutional sectors. American Biltrite manufactures one of the widest selections of performance sheet rubber products in the industry.
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Dinoflex - Recycled Rubber Innovators
Dinoflex has been a leading innovator in the manufacture of recycled rubber products for over two decades. We specialize in producing premium quality rubber flooring, surfaces, tiles and custom products. Our merchandise provides solutions for architects, designers and builders that are cost effective and environmentally friendly.
Globus Cork pioneered the development of colored cork flooring, matching beauty and function in a sustainable flooring choice. Globus Cork is the only company to have developed a rich, transparent, broad color palette ranging from the subtle to the bold. Globus Cork offers a vast range of patterns and sizes not found in any other cork manufacturer. Globus Cork is the premier US manufacturer of colored cork tiles using only renewable wind energy for manufacturing energy needs since 2007.


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Jesus H. Christ, I was just cruising on the highway. Note that it's a highway and not even an Interstate. The traffic was moderate and we all cruised around 70-MPH. There were two guys (presumably young) on some sort of Jap rice rockets; sounded like liter-bikes, that blew by us so fast that it wasn't even funny. Just from eyeball calibration alone, they were probably doing in excess of 120-MPH and still accelerating judging from the growl of their engines. I'm not one of those types that prefer sissy scooters. I don't personally care for the crotch rocket types, be they Japanese or Italians, but I do appreciate them as engineering marvels and appreciate the skills of the riders that can do wheelies and scratch their knees while cornering. BUT hauling ass like that in traffic is utterly moronic and it gives motorcyclists a bad name. Even in my youth, I wasn't that stupid on my Ducati 750 PASO.
They do that because any idiot can go fast in a straight line, so they blip around in traffic showing how "cool" they are. Just try and get one of those clowns out on a track, it's almost impossable! And when they do they pee their paints if they compress a shock more than half way in a corner let alone hang off and drag a knee. I could care less if they wanna drive like that and kill themselves but it pisses me off that they put others at risk with there "superior" riding abilities.
Because they can't get older smarter people to do it. ;f Watch this video for an example of what you are talking about:http://www.ebaumsworld.com/bikespeed.html
Because you can spend 10 times as much money on a car and still not equal the performance. The other part of the problem is they think motorcycles are just fast cars. They're not. Totally different physics. I rode a GSXR 750 for a number of years. The only time I ever layed it over was in my dad gagage when I pulled up to a stop and set my foot down in an oil spot his porche left on the floor. They way I survived was more than a decade of droping dirt bikes.
Eh, idiocy knows no bounds. I've see the same sort of behavior from guys with Harleys and Hondas and Mustangs and Camaros and SUVs, you name it (I'm sure we all have). At least on the bike the idiots have a greater chance of taking themselves out while having a lesser chance of causing collateral damage. I just feel sorry for all the others paying insurance on the same type of bike.
I know plenty of young idiots who don't ride crotch rockets. I also know a lot of old idiots... Laura
Yep, there are some idiots out there that do this in the wrong place and wrong time. I wouldn't single out crotch rocket riders though. I like the Harley riders that say they have their exhaust loud because it is safer when cars can hear them. Then they ride off w/o a helmet. ;Q I will give the crotch rocket crowd higher marks for safety gear.
Right before mt 20th birthday, i finally got my drivers' license. I immediately bought a Honda VTR250, that really looked like a crotch rocket. Well, it wasn't. It hardly reached 100 mph but I had really good fun with it. 2 years later, I bought a '99 Suzuki GSX600F (hence my nickname), which was a bit faster, (it did about 127 mph) but it was just about as reliable as a dog in heat. A year ago, I was fed up with the unreliability of this piece of crap, so I traded it in for an older, more reliable bike; a '97 Honda CBR1100XX Super Blackbird (quite a mouthful, and quite a handful). So, now I'm 26 and I still haven't owned a real crotch rocket. I tried a friend's Ducati 750 sport, but it's just not comfortable enough for commuting. And this bike tops at 182 mph, that must be enough...
I kept waiting for some farmer's dog to waltz out onto the road in front of the guy in the ebaum video. NEVER do 150+ by the white line. Ever. Unsafe riders are unsafe at all speeds. Safe riders may drive more quickly than most, but that is because they know what they're doing and do not exceed their skillsets. My bike is fast. And sometimes I will let it out for a run. But you won't see me splitting lanes and weaving around passing cages on the right (or on the shoulder) just because I can double their top speed. GSX-MAN, that's a lovely bike. I always liked the look of the 1100XX...but I like VFR's better.... Best regards, FastVFR PS. That isn't my bike, but mine is a red 2001. Mine has been modded quite a bit, and has a far better header/pipe set - and no #%&@ luggage!! I just haven't taken any digital pics of my ride yet.
I was in doubt between the CFR and the CBR when I bought the CBR. Both are great. (but mine's faster )
I see bad drivers of all types: Young and old, men and women. It's funny that 16 yr olds usually ake fun of elderly drivers while they (16 yo) have the highest accident rate. I've heard some reccoment the driving age be raised to 18. I think it's a good idea myself. What do you all think?
I think that elderly drivers have the second highest accident rate... I would be all for increasing the driver's age and/or graduated licenses if we have a decent public transportation infrastructure. It's pretty hard to get around without a car, and parents don't want to ferry their kids everywhere they want to go. Laura
God invented natural selection to improve the varied species. Idiots on crotch rockets merely expidite the process. Young idiots die before the breed and perpetuate idiocy. See, the system works just fine. I started riding as a motor officer in 1969. The only accident I have ever had was when a woman driving a stolen Mustang struck me at 65 mph when I was at 35mph. It broke my back and put me down for eight years. Now after 32+ years as a LEO , I am down for the count in another accident. A severely fractured neck and total disability. Surgery should help with improved mobility soon. What happened you ask? A slip & fall on duty! "There ain't no justice 'cept in Heaven; and you ain't in Heaven!"
Len, sorry to hear about the disability. Do you anticipate being able to ride again in the future, even if it's on a trike? What happened to the woman that struck you years ago... jail time?
Bad news: no I won't even be allowed to drive a car let alone a motorcycle. A 1995 BMW K-75 with ABS brakes in exc. condition is for sale to someone very lucky. The woman is was released from custody for two years ago after serving 16 years of a 20 to life sentence. Never again will she be permitted a D.L. in the U.S. and she has a felony record for attempted motor vehicle homicide. It sucks to be her! All good things to all good men.


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Hi everyone,
I was looking into how to build a web crawler with java and came across this old tutorial: Writing a Web Crawler in the Java Programming Language
After a few changes I got it to compile and run... but it doesn't work. Can anyone help?
Basically my intention is to use this as a foundation for a little project I have going. Eventually I want to modify it so that it will just crawl one website defined in the code and look for a set of qualties which i can define rather than for URLs. Any suggestions for going about this?
Many thanks.


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404 File Not Found
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Invaluable cannot guarantee the accuracy of translations through Google Translate and disclaims any responsibility for inaccurate translations.
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Lot 475: Six Chinese Zitan Screen Panels
Important New Year Asian Works of Art
by Altair Auctions
January 25, 2014
Norwood, MA, USA
Live AuctionPast Lot
Looking for the realized and estimated price?
Description: China, 18th C., Qianlong Period, six very rare and important Zitan wood screen panels with both sides carved in relief, with "Hundred Treasure" motifs. Width of each, 14 1/4 in., Height 70 1/2 in.


text: Hi, I went to a skin center and let my underarm treated. It was treated by a nurse. The first 2 treatment, the peeling was ok. The nurse applied 3 coatings for each treatment. On the 3rd treatment the nurse decided to make it 5 coatings. I felt a tingling sensation and thought it was the chemical doing its thing. But little did I know it was burning my skin. The underarm was ok but the skin surrounding my underarm got burnt! It's a brown burnt scar. What can i do? Please help me.


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UC: On-Premise or in the Cloud?
There are many definitions of the cloud and many definitions of unified communications (UC). The best advice for companies thinking of moving UC off premise is to make sure that everyone is on the same page – and that a prospective provider is capable of doing what they promise.
Frank's post raised the issue of cloud versus premise-based. His take is that, at least for now, Avistar is doing the right thing in eschewing the cloud for the more traditional on-premise approach. He writes:
After exploring the intricacies of the product, the bandwidth requirements and the benefits of a 'behind the firewall installation,' it became obvious that certain services have no business being placed out in the ether, especially high-performance videoconferencing.
At the end, however, Frank left the door open for Avistar – and, presumably, other firms – to leverage various tools to make them capable of operating in a cloud environment. Indeed, Polycom and BroadSoft clearly think this is possible, since the firms announced last week that they are offering BroadCloud, a cloud-based telepresence and high-definition voice service.
The topic of UC and the cloud is inherently complex. Both terms are used in a vague sense. There are many types of clouds and UC is a blanket term covering any number of services and applications.
Wednesday, Mike Vizard wrote on IT Business Edge that the cloud UC business is not taking off. Mike wrote:
There's a lot of discussion about unified messaging and communications in the cloud these days, but there seems to be more talk than action. Beyond basic messaging services from Google and Microsoft, there are very few robust unified messaging and unified communications offerings for the enterprise that are delivered as a true multi-tenant service in the cloud.
This is an area rife with fuzzy terminology. The bottom line is that companies thinking of using cloud-based services must insist upon very specific definitions of what is being promised. Cloud-based e-mail is a far cry from videoconferencing, and end users must make sure that a potential service provider can handle it all.