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Intel Fourth Generation Core i7 4790K Review
Intel Fourth Generation Core i7 4790K Introduction:
Just over a year ago, Intel delivered its 22nm Haswell, LGA socket 1150, Core i7 4770K to the world to replace the successful Ivy Bridge Core i7 3770K. By doing so, we found that out-of-the-box performance and efficiency were better than previous generations. However, the trade-off was that, due to the new architecture and how the power circuitry was integrated into the die with less die surface area, the chips ran markedly hotter than previous generations. Coupled with the lower overclocking thresholds and wildly varying clock speeds across samples, it was not the out-of-the-park hit that Intel had hoped for in the enthusiast market. Many felt the thermal interface material was to blame for the poor thermals when overclocking and took to delidding the cores in the hope of dropping temperatures that could easily reach 95 °C under load with moderate voltages. This meant that air cooling for the enthusiast was pretty much out of the question.
To right these perceived wrongs, Intel took a step back and reworked the core power delivery system for improved overclocking via a more stable current delivery package, and replaced the TIM with a new NGPTIM (Next Generation Polymer Thermal Interface Material) to work on the thermals. Next up was to deliver a true 4GHz processor out the door, which features not only a boosted base clock, but a Turbo Boost frequency of 4.4GHz, making it Intel's fastest processor. However, to make it all work, Intel had to up the TDP to 88W from an 84W rating on the 4770K. Will these changes be enough to bring the faithful back into the fold per se and spark some new overclocking competitions? Time will tell, but so far it looks like a resounding yes. Sitting at a price point of roughly $314, the Core i7 4790K might just be this year's hot ticket. Let's find out.
Intel Fourth Generation Core i7 4790K Closer Look:
Intel's 4th Generation Core i7 4790K Devil's Canyon processor is built on a 22nm process housing 1.4 billion Tri Gate 3D transistors that share space on the 177mm2 die. While Intel is making non-overclocking friendly chips, the Core i7 4790K is a K-spec processor, which means that it comes with unlocked core clock speed multiplers for the CPU, memory, and HD 4600 graphics core, to allow the end user even more flexibility. Overclocking via muliplier, gear ratio, and bclk are supported. This CPU features a clock speed of 4.0GHz right out of the box with Turbo Boost 2.0 technology bumping the clock speed up to 4.4GHz in lightly loaded and single-threaded applications.
Internally, there are four physical cores that support Hyper-Threading technology and pull from an 8MB shared L3 cache. Memory support is officially dual-channel at speeds up to 1600MHz, but most motherboards offer support as high as 3300MHz. The HD 4600 integrated graphics core is a carryover from Haswell and the Core i7 4770K. Featuring up to 20 Execution units depending on the processor, you get DX 11.1 support and playback of HD content including Blu-Ray, switchable graphics using Virtu, and Intel Quick Sync technology for improved video decoding and conversion. The clock speeds of the HD 4600 GPU are dynamically controlled at up to 1250MHz and is overclocking-enabled.
What sets the Core i7 4790K apart from the i7 4770K is the work that Intel did to revisit the problems associated with Haswell. To do this, the company went back to the drawing board and decided on the aforementioned NGPTIM to address some of the heat issues, and added capacitors to the bottom of the die substrate to improve power delivery. Unfortunately, Intel had to increase the TDP to 88W from 84W.
Since Intel has pretty much gotten out of the motherboard business, it has left all the innovation and build-outs to its board partners. The Z97 chipset launch is the first since this occurred. Intel's Z97 PCH brings support for upcoming and current socket 1150 processors. The chipset includes PCI Express M.2 storage options, which allows transfer speeds of up to 1 GB/s (as fast as SATA Express), are supported with Intel® Smart Response Technology, and can be used as a primary boot device. Intel Device Protection with Boot Guard is a new technology that "prevents repurposing of the platform to run unauthorized software, protects against execution of boot block level malware, and is rooted in a protected hardware infrastructure." Three specific types of Boot Guard are available: Measured Boot, which measures the boot block into the system storage device or TPM module; Verified Boot, which "cryptographically verifies the platform Initial Boot Block (IBB) using the boot policy key"; and Combined Boot, which uses both options.
Also new for the Z97 chipset is support for Intel's Rapid Storage Technology 13, which allows "support for a single 16GB SSD to enable dynamic cache sharing". Basically, this allows the system memory image to be dynamically written to a caching SSD during deep sleep conditions. With a "resume" command, the image is written back into the memory and the caching SSD resumes full functionality as the cache SSD.
The key to success with the Fourth Generation Core i7 4790K will be if it can indeed overclock better while delivering cooler temperatures. If it can do that, then my money is going to be well spent replacing my current crop of Core i7 4770K CPUs.


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Schedule 3 SAYE option schemes: Exchange of options: Becoming bound or entitled
Paragraph 38(2)(c) permits rollover to be triggered when a company becomes bound or entitled to acquire shares in the scheme company (the company whose shares are used in the scheme) under sections 979-982 or 983-985 of the Companies Act 2006.
These sections apply after a company (the acquiring company) has had its offer to the shareholders of a target company accepted, by the holders of 90% of the shares whose transfer is involved (i.e. shares other than those already held at the date of the offer by the acquiring company).
Section 979–982 Companies Act 2006 may entitle the acquiring company to acquire the shares of the dissenting minority of shareholders who did not accept the offer, or who failed or refused to transfer their shares to the acquiring company. Sections 983–985 Companies Act 2006 may require the acquiring company to acquire the shares of the minority shareholders. These procedures determine when the acquiring company became bound or entitled to do so, for the purposes of paragraph 38(2)(c).

subset: commoncrawl


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Allow to improve the paid amount to get the extra goodies (extras, etc)
Basicaly is that. If you paid X and the BTA (Beat the averge) for the extras are higher, allow you to pay that difference.
This is actually a lot more complicated with our system than in other bundle sites. It has been put on the back burner while we work on some other more exciting features.
16 comments
Chris commented
I am in agreement too, sometimes we choose a lower payment to begin with then wish we paid more later....but do not want to buy it again from scratch.
Anonymous commented
What is a $10 bundle?
Stephan Sokolow commented
I've actually had one game where I clicked the Beat The Average star but the price was so volatile that I still missed the extras and would have had to pay a second time.
I wasn't feeling vindictive enough to open up a PayPal dispute, but I did decide to direct all my non-DailyDeal business elsewhere despite you guys often having the best combination of "DRM-free local downloads" and "Desura/GOG key" for people who want as many "off-site backup" options as possible.
(Luckily, the dev eventually added the "beat the average" versions to the copy I already owned via an IndieRoyale bundle.)
You really need to fix this.
Jov commented
A long time ago I paid 25 cents for Gnomoria, and I'd now like to pay the extra 75 cents or whatever is necessary to be eligible for a Steam key. Is that possible?
Chronon commented
I'm so damn dissatisfied that someone just sniped my item during the last seconds. (I refreshed when there was under 1 min left.) Let me give you extra fiver and bump him off... Damn unethical BS...
If you implement this I'd like it to stay open maybe an hour after each raise in the top 3. If you want to make it snappy it could be only 5 minutes just to prevent that BS sniping!
RobbinxDeHood commented
I think it is disgraceful that a bunch of cheapskates are angry that they didn't get to squeak by with the minimum amount of money possible. Not only does this cheat the developer but the charity too. You want all the stuff, pay the $10, otherwise I think you should have to just take your chances that you miss out on the extras. Just disgraceful, I think you should be ashamed.
Joe commented
I agree too. This is my first time using this site and while I should have read better, I'm slightly annoyed that I payed 1 penny less than what I needed to beat the average and I have no way of upping my amount unless I want to repay it all (not happening).
GnomeSlice commented
I feel like if possible, this would be a great addition. Although one drawback is that it might become more difficult to get the top contributor prizes if everyone could just edit their amount right before the end.
Still, +1
DorthLous commented
The fact this is not an option is cheating the dev out of money and doesn't help your bundle site.
Jimmy Myers commented
I came to the support area looking for exactly this... I guess it's not an option though, too bad.
Carey commented
Would absolutely love this
allinlabs commented
It would be a really great and useful feature !
parkjose commented
I think it would be nice to be able to increase your purchase price later on if you really enjoy the game and want to give the developers some extra love.
cptobvious commented
I hope this feature will be retroactive. Meaning if I buy the game now I'll be able to increase my donation in the future and get the bonus content.
Wes commented
Gonna agree with this one, I wish I'd paid more after seeing the GOG key. Would happily up my payment.
Shad0WeN commented
I agree. It would be great to be able to increase your amount after making a purchase.


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Li Po
Li Po (701-762 / Chu / Kazakhstan)
» Click to list general statistics » OR, select a date :
His Dream Of The Skyland
The seafarers tell of the Eastern Isle of Bliss,
It is lost in a wilderness of misty sea waves.
But the Sky-land of the south, the Yueh-landers say,
May be seen through cracks of the glimmering cloud.
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If you are interested in learning more about the possibilities of having Dettrich Homes build your custom home on Whidbey Island, please email, call us, or fill out our feedback form. Share some of your ideas or questions with us; pass along a comment, or tell us about your future building plans.
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Once again I have been outwitted. Less than 24 hours after taking possession of my condominium's mandarin bushes, not a single fruit remains on either shrub. Both "EAT ME" signs have also been removed. Now I am talking well in excess of 300 fruits. I arrived home yesterday to discover this. The once glorious and heavily laden Mandarin Orange trees now look very sad without their golden fruits.
I am a little sad myself.
I marched down to the security control room to see if the dopey guard knew anything of their disappearance. Unsurprisingly he was dozing. I took some small joy in rapping on the window and seeing him jerk awake. He nearly fell out of his chair. Rubbing sleep out of his eyes he quickly recognized who I was and instead of the normal stare of anxiety that I was now accustomed to - his narrow little lips curled up in a self contented smirk.
"Who has taken all my fruits?" I enquired
"They have been eaten" he responded. I could hear some smugness in his voice
"Who has eaten them?" I demanded
The fucker shrugged his shoulders in reply. He was still smirking. I could see that his little belly was swollen with what I suspected were copious amounts of mandarin oranges.
"Ok" I smiled and then I walked away.
I could tell that my smile had disarmed him a little as his smirk had disappeared and a furrow of worry appeared on his brow.
This was my own fault. I should have anticipated such an act.
With the coming of the Chinese New Year it is customary for people to give Red Packets - known locally as Ang Pow - to one's Helpers. These are envelopes containing cash and are an expression of appreciation for people less well off than oneself. I have always given Ang Pows to my cleaner, the gardeners and the security guards at my complex.
The amount of money given in each Ang Pow depends on the relationship between the giving and receiving parties - and their social standing. The amount of money given must always be an even number though. Amounts ending with 8 are very popular. The number 8 is important in Chinese culture as it symbolizes both prosperity and luck. In Singapore the most popular amounts given in an Ang Pow are $18, $68, $168, and $888.
I normally give $68.
An amount that ends or includes the number 4 is usually avoided in Ang Pows. The word for the number 4 in Mandarin - and in fact most of the Chinese dialects - is very similar to the word for death, so the worse amount to give in a red packet is $44. It is very bad luck.
Guess what dopey is getting this year?


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Due to last year's success with the Day of Pink Dialogues, we have decided to further expand this initiative. This year, the Day of Pink Dialogues will continue to offer the opportunity for mayors to sit down with the youth in their communities. However, we are proud to announce this year we will also be working with the Canadian Olympic Committee and their #OneTeam ambassadors for LGBTQ Inclusion in Sport! Our work with the Committee allows us to send Olympians and high-performance athletes to local communities across the nation to have discussions about bullying, discrimination, and how to stop it.
Through these conversations, we aim to empower youth to talk about these important issues and to help encourage a progressive path forward. The Day of Pink is not just simply about being a visible ally (by wearing pink shirts) it's also about listening and standing up for those who are affected by bullying and discrimination. By understanding more about those who are affected, we can make more of a concerted effort to make things better.
The target time frame for these dialogues will be between March and the Day of Pink (April 12, 2017). That being said, the date isn't set in stone – these valuable and important conversations can (and should!) happen year round.
We hope to highlight and share the dialogues here on the site and on our social media pages, so make sure to check back and see if this will be happening in a city near you!
Our hope is to expand this initiative to have an official Day of Pink dialogues in every city with a variety of important figureheads and role models!
Start your own conversation!
Want to talk about your community? Contact your principal, vice-principal, school trustee, councilor, mayor, provincial representative, or Member of Parliament and ask them to sit down and talk with you and other interested youth!
The guides below can help you and them plan a successful and productive conversation!
And don't forget to send us an email telling us all about it! Include pictures too!
For more information, please connect with our Coordinator : email@example.com
DoP-Dialogues Guide
DoP-Dialogues Guide Ind


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'American CEOs' packages jump 28% in 2010'
After two consecutive years of decline, the pay package for top American executives saw a growth of 28 per cent in 2010, with the bonus payout component witnessing the maximum growth, says executive compensation research firm Equilar.
The average compensation for S&P 500 chief executive officers was about $9
million, up from about $7 million in 2009, while, the median bonus payouts for these CEOs rose by 43.3 per cent to $2.15 million in 2010, the Equilar study said.
Meanwhile, around 85.1 per cent CEOs received an annual bonus payout in 2010, compared to 73.6 per cent in 2009.
Click NEXT to read further. . .
Image: People hold American flags.
Photographs: Reuters
'American CEOs' packages jump 28% in 2010'
An industry-wise analysis shows that basic materials CEOs received the most compensation, with an average pay of $9.9 million in 2010.
However, median total chief executive compensation at technology and financial firms saw the largest growth from 2009 to 2010, increasing 60.5 per cent and 31.3 per cent, respectively.
Meanwhile, the total pay at healthcare firms grew the least, increasing from $9.2 million in 2009 to $9.7 million in 2010.
Click NEXT to read further. . .
Image: A homeless in US.
'American CEOs' packages jump 28% in 2010'
Chief executives in this industry had the second-highest overall pay in 2010.
In this analysis, the total compensation includes base salary, annual and long-term cash bonus payouts, the date value of stock and option awards made during the year, and all other compensation, Equilar said.
For fiscal 2010, salary grew by at least 5 per cent, bonus by 43.3 per cent, followed by stock 39.4 per cent, options 16.4 per cent and others 13.1 per cent.
Click NEXT to read further. . .
Image: US dollars.
Photographs: Reuters
'American CEOs' packages jump 28% in 2010'
Equilar's analysis of S&P 500 CEO compensation was based on the recently filed proxy data for 303 chief executives at 302 companies that had CEOs in place for at least two full years.
Comparing the CEO to the other four Named executive officers, Equilar said the median CEO is making 2.4 times the $3,645,020 median pay of the second-highest-paid executive.
"The pay given to a chief executive usually sets the pace for other executives at his or her firm," Equilar said.
Image: A Wall Street signage.


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Three States Sue EPA Over Global Warming Ruling
The bitterly contested fight in Washington over global warming and pollution is also taking hold at the state level.
The Environmental Protection Agency, which is threatening to regulate carbon emissions if Congress won't, is facing legal heat from states that say new regulations will kill jobs at the worst possible time.
Texas, Alabama and Virginia, all led by Republican governors, have filed petitions since December, when the EPA ruled that greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide endanger human health, clearing the path for the agency to issue mandatory regulations to reduce them.
As the EPA grapples with the lawsuits, Congress is trying to block the agency from acting without congressional approval. Sen. John Rockefeller, D-W.Va., introduced legislation Thursday calling for a two-year suspension of potential EPA regulations.
Rockefeller and other lawmakers from coal mining states oppose the EPA's plan to target power plants and other industrial facilities.
The EPA already agreed, after Rockefeller complained last month, to delay phasing in its regulations until the end of the year. But that hasn't satisfied global warming skeptics.
Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli said last month the finding could "create a staggering burden" on the state.
"Put into effect, the finding would a place a crushing burden on jobs and the economy of Virginia," he said. "And while some parts of Virginia would be hit harder than others, every Virginian would take an economic beating if this goes forward."
He added: "While we're open to seeing where honest, unbiased science leads us in the climate policy arena, we're not prepared to stand by while EPA proceeds to implement jobs-destroying regulations based on unverifiable and unrepeatable so-called science."
Texas Gov. Rick Perry said the finding would usher in a new era that would destroy his state's ability to provide energy to the rest of the world. Stacked with oil refining and other industries, Texas is the top carbon dioxide emitter in the country and would be heavily affected if mandatory emissions reductions go into effect.
"They're using sweeping mandates, Draconian punishments to force a square peg of their vision into the round hole of reality," he said. "In the process, they're preparing to undo decades of progress while painting hardworking entrepreneurs as selfish and destroying hundreds of thousands of jobs in the process."
The EPA has responded to the lawsuits with a statement saying the "evidence of and threats posed by a changing climate are right before our eyes."
"EPA is proceeding with common sense measures that are helping to protect Americans from this threat while moving America into a leadership position in the 21st century green economy," the statement read. "Unfortunately, special interest and other defenders of the status quo are now turning to the courts in an attempt to stall progress. ...
"EPA is confident the finding will withstand legal challenge, allowing the agency to protect the American people from the significant dangers posed by greenhouse gases and carbon pollution."
Fighting back on behalf of the EPA is a coalition of 16 states and New York City, arguing that without regulations, climate change will adversely affect them.
Those states are: Arizona, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington.
Most of these states sued the EPA during the Bush administration over its decision not to regulate carbon dioxide pollution as a contributor to global warming.
The White House would prefer for Congress to legislate climate change. The House narrowly passed a cap-and-trade bill in June that would allow industry to buy and trade pollution permits, but it has stalled in the Senate.
That has led to the EPA taking matters into its own hands, and lawmakers like Rockefeller fighting back.
"Today, we took important action to safeguard jobs, the coal industry and the entire economy as we move toward clean coal technology," Rockefeller said in a written statement after unveiling his legislation.
Rockefeller acknowledged the EPA's willingness to delay phasing in regulations, but he still wants more.
"This is a positive change and good progress, but I am concerned it may not be enough time," he said. "We must set this delay in stone and give Congress enough time to consider a comprehensive energy bill to develop the clean coal technologies we need."
"At a time when so many people are hurting, we need to put decisions about clean coal and our energy future into the hands of the people and their elected representatives, not a federal environmental agency."
House Republicans introduced a resolution Tuesday that would allow Congressional intervention – one that has attracted about 90 Republicans so far.
"The last thing the American people need is a back-door energy tax," Rep. Mike Pence, R-Ind., chairman of the House Republican Conference, said.
Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, introduced a similar resolution in the Senate last month. Reps. Collin Petereson, D-Minn., and Ike Skelton, D-Mo., crafted their own resolutions as well in late February.
Rep. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., argued that Congress should move to quash the EPA.
"I don't understand how EPA can go down this path without Congress speaking," she said.
Many Democrats say privately that they agree with Republicans that Congress should be involved in the decision-making process and prefer congressional intervention.
Fox News' Chad Pergram contributed to this report.


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New York Knicks vs. Houston Rockets Pick-Odds-Prediction 11/14/13
Houston Rockets (5-3) at New York Knicks (2-4)
NBA Basketball: Thursday, November 14, 2013 at 8:00 pm (Madison Square Garden)
The Line: New York Knicks TBA See the Latest Odds
The Houston Rockets head to New York on Thursday to face off against the Knicks.
The New York Knicks are currently sitting at 3-4 the season, following a solid win on the road last night against the Atlanta Hawks. The Knicks defeated the Hawks 95-91 thanks in large part to Bargnani, who finished the night with 20 points and 11 boards. Shumpert finished with a +15 on the night for the Knicks, giving him the highest +/- ratio for New York. The Knicks have been getting it done with their defense this season, currently ranking ninth in the league, allowing 96.9 points per game on average.
USA TODAY Sports
The Houston Rockets are in the black currently, as the Rockets are sitting at 5-4 on the season. The Rockets fell to the Sixers last night in Philly, losing to Philadelphia 123-117 in overtime. Houston has an outstanding offense, scoring an average of 107.3 per game this season, but defensively the Rockets are really struggling. With the addition of Howard, you would expect Houston to be good on the boards, and they of course are, ranking first in the league, grabbing 48.1 rebounds per game.
The Houston Rockets are 3-4 against the spread this season, and on the road, the Rockets are 2-1 against the number. When playing in non-conference games this season, the Rockets are 0-1 against the spread currently. Also, when playing against a team with a losing record, the Rockets are 1-2 ATS, and the total is 1-2 to the under.
The New York Knicks are 2-4 against the spread this season. When playing at home, the Knicks have really been a tough play, going 0-4 against the spread on the year. When The Knicks are playing against a team with a winning record, New York is just 1-2 against the spread this season.
I'm going to have to play the Knicks in this spot. We still aren't quite certain whether or not Harden will be in tonight for the Rockets, but Stoudamire will be for the Knicks, and that's huge. Even if Harden does play tonight I look for him to be somewhat limited on minutes, and with him being the leading scorer on the team, that is a tough blow.
Close game and should be a fun one to watch on Thursday.


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Wondering where the Mermaid Cottages are located in relationship to each other, the beach, or other Tybee Island, GA locations? Our handy Google map has you covered. You can also view a larger map on Google with a list of all the cottage addresses.
View Mermaid Cottages (updated map) in a larger map


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You know we're all about the romantic details, so the minute we landed on these gorgeous captures from Madison James' Spring 2018 Collection, we were absolutely mesmerized. The delicate fabrics, unique designs and flattering silhouettes are enough to make any bride fall in love - and that intricate detailing? We can't even. Scroll for some of the prettiest gowns ever to grace the runways, you guys.
When it comes to romantic bridal gowns, Madison James simply knows how it's done. And their newest collection of princess-worthy dresses? It's everything you've come to expect from this team of design geniuses - right down to the body-skimming silhouettes. With soft, silky fabrics like lace and tulle, shimmering details and totally unique patterns, these are designs that are perfect for the bride who wants a little something classic, a little something modern and a little something totally on trend. (Read: all of you.) We love the unique necklines - from spaghetti strap to halter to strapless - and are literally obsessed with the illusion details. Oh, and those sleeves? Say hello to your Princess Kate moment.
If you're in search of a romantic wedding gown that will leave ALL of your guests talking, Madison James Spring 2018 Collection is where it's at. Visit their website today to peruse all of the pretties, then find a locale near you to get shopping.


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power g4 won't turn completely on.
I boot my computer on, it shows apple icon but the circle keeps turning.
Is this a good question?
What computer do you have? Is it a Powermac G4 or a Powerbook G4? Please give us the last three numbers of the serial number.


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Spiced Apple Bread Pudding
with Bourbon Whiskey Sauce
So I've been playing with my new toy recently(Bread machine-yes they are making a comeback,) and trying to perfect my gluten free bread recipe. I made four loves yesterday, three of them pretty good which allowed me to have the best damn burger since going sans gluten(lettuce wraps just don't cut it.) I obviously needed to do something with all of this extra bread, so I decided to throw together a bread pudding. I used some of each of the three good loaves which turned out nice, because they each had slightly different tastes and textures. now I am not going to go through all of the GF bread recipes here, but I am more than happy to share them with anyone who makes a personal request.
I don't know why, but I have always been fond of bread pudding, and I would get bummed every time I'd see it on the desert menus while dining out. Although I have come across a few decent commercially available GF breads, I've yet to make that sweet succulent treat that has eluded me for years. So with no further ado and a glut of gluten free bread I will embark on this worthy pursuit now.
Bourbon Whiskey Sauce
1/2 cup Butter
1 cup Sugar
1/8 tsp. Cardamom
1 Egg
3/4 cup Bourbon Whiskey(from Kentucky for the purists)
Melt butter in heavy sauce pan over low heat. Add the sugar and cardamom, and whisk until well blended. Whisk in the egg and continue stirring until thickened. Pour in the whiskey and stir well until the sauce is smooth and translucent. Remove from heat but cover to keep warm.
Spiced Apples
3-4 Apples, peeled cored and sliced
1/4 cup Sugar
2 tsp Starch(I use tapioca, but corn is okay too)
1 tsp Cinnamon
1/4 tsp Allspice
dash of Cayenne Pepper
dash of Sea Salt
1 Tbsp Butter, cut into four squares
1 Tbsp Fresh Lemon Juice
Put all ingredients in a heavy sauce pan, stir well to evenly distribute the ingredients. Heat covered over medium high heat until mixture begins to boil. Stir well and reduce heat to low and simmer while you are assembling the bread pudding.
Bread Pudding
6-7 cups Gluten Free Bread, cubed(don't use dense breads like those made of rice but absorbent types)
3 cups Milk
3-4 Eggs(3 for loose pudding and 4 for firm)
1.5 cup Sugar
2 Tbsp Vanilla
1 tsp Cinnamon
1/2 cup Golden Raisins
3 Tbsp Butter, melted
1/2 cup Pecans, toasted and chopped
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Soak the bread cubes in milk in a large bowl. In separate bowl, beat eggs, sugar, vanilla, and cinnamon until well mixed. Pour egg mixture into the large bowl with the bread and milk, and mix gently. Carefully fold in the raisins. Coat a 13x9 baking dish with the butter and pour in the bread mixture. Spoon the spiced apples evenly over the top of the bread mixture, gently pressing some of the slices into the pudding mixture while leaving some floating on top. sprinkle the pecans over the top and place in preheated oven for 40 - 50 minutes or until the center springs back when pressed down with spoon.
Like all good desserts, this is very rich and small pieces are advisable. You could omit the raisins and nuts if you like but why go half way, desserts are for splurging occasionally(to distract us from our mundane lives? LOL) Anyway, only make this for rare special occasions(like Wednesday's,) and you should be fine.
As always, Enjoy, God Bless, and keep it SAUCY!!!


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by Frances Potts
Have you ever had an urge to do something for which you are totally unfitted? I have, many times.
Recently the silly side of me wanted to answer a Daily Sun News classified ad asking for someone to trim a llama. I wanted to pull my Jeep into that guy's driveway, pull out my new garden clippers and make the acquaintance of that llama.
No idea why.
It was just an impulse. I know nothing about llamas. But on that day, reading that ad, I wanted to be a llama-trimmer. I even envisioned the red print, western-style handkerchief I'd pull out of the back pocket of my Levis to swipe away the llama juice after it spit at me. (I've heard llamas do spit when irritated.) I figured that red hanky would give me an air of authenticity, of someone who'd come prepared, who knew the habits of llamas and was ready, willing and able to deal with one. That red hanky would give the llama owner confidence in my ability to shape up his furry, feisty critter.
My dream of llama trimming never proceeded past pulling out the red hanky, so it certainly never led to a real phone call offering my services.
Being a llama-trimmer hasn't been my only off-beat impulse. I once was tempted to plow my Chevy Corsica right through and over a long row of Harleys lined up side by side outside The Brick Tavern in Roslyn. (I didn't have my Jeep yet, so was driving a Corsica my son had labeled "a grandma's car.") It was just an impulse. I've nothing against motorcycles at all. They just looked so utterly perfect, spaced so evenly apart. I knew they'd go down like dominoes, and I could imagine their burly, tattooed riders spilling out of The Brick, waving their fists at the little, white, grandma car fading into the distance.
Of course, I didn't do it. I am a law-abiding...um..er, grandma.
The motorcycles were a rarity. Usually it is classified ads that ignite my totally inappropriate impulses to be something I'm not. Ads that begged for people to work in Alaska on fishing boats or in slimey canneries had me mentally shopping for long rubber boots and counting the loot I'd earn. The same for the cruise boat ad in search of a recreation director. Only for that one I was planning a slightly different wardrobe.
It's to my credit that I don't take these urges seriously. I do know my limitations. I will not be trimming any llamas.
However, I think my penchant for these flights of fancy helped me deal years ago with a teenaged daughter when she took it into her head to answer an ad from a traveling circus looking for an assistant lion-tamer. "Will train willing applicant."
I stood by while she made the call to apply and drove her to Yakima, where we sat through a show in which the big cats snarled, snapped and clawed the air. When my girl seemed a bit hesitant to go on to the after-show interview, I urged her to carry on. I watched the interview from a distance. It didn't take long before we were headed home, all thoughts of traveling circuses behind us.
That day, so long ago, instead of blocking my girl's urge for adventure, I let her find out for herself that the trick to handling an outrageous impulse is to never dream past that red hanky.
. Frances Potts is a retired journalist who spent her career working at several newspapers in Washington state.
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SD man, 37, convicted of raping 16-year-old after getting her drunk
LOWER BRULE, S.D. -- A 37-year-old Lower Brule man, who was a previous sex offender, will spend 15 years in prison for raping a 16-year-old girl by the Missouri River in central South Dakota in his vehicle while she was passed out.
James St. Cloud, who was convicted of sexual abuse, was given an extra two years in prison last week in his federal court appearance because he was on supervised probation for aggravated sexual abuse from a 1999 incident.
The conviction stems from an incident on Sept. 16, 2016, when the victim and her friend were walking along a road in Lower Brule. They were approached by a Jeep being driven by St. Cloud, who is related to the victim. St. Cloud, along with his girlfriend, offered the girls a ride and they accepted.
Once inside the Jeep, the girls were offered alcohol to drink. They began to drink and drive around Lower Brule. While in Lower Brule, they stopped at a house and picked up St. Cloud's 19-month-old son. They drove to another house so that St. Cloud's girlfriend could use the bathroom, and while she was inside, St. Cloud left with the victim, her friend, and his son in the Jeep.
St. Cloud drove down near the Missouri River. The victim's friend was passed out in the back seat. The victim passed out in the driver's seat and when she awoke, St. Cloud was having sex with her. She tried to kick and honk the horn, but she was too drunk to move. St. Cloud admitted to having sexual intercourse with the victim while she was incapable of consenting to the sexual intercourse.
This case was investigated by the FBI.


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Best thing you can do, is call it camping.
And just plan the camping trip, in a very prepared fashion.


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I have really slacked off on blogging lately. I am happy to say it is because I have been busy!
Another day another dollar
Work of course is always that. There is always a feast or famine going on there, but I enjoy helping moms and babies breastfeed. I am excited to say that I will be starting my WIC lactation rotations in on of our local hospitals starting in March. (as long as they don't find another reason to delay it!) My new BFPC's are well incorporated in our clinic and we all work well together. So glad to be working with these group of ladies!
Growing in leaps and bounds
The kids are of course busy with school. The girl keeps me hopping with all her speech and debate tournaments and LATE night pick ups and early morning drop offs. But she is doing well. Going to districts with her Prose. Has placed numerous times at contests with her DI and her policy debates. So very proud of her. She is also maintaining straight A's!! And this is with her honors classes as well. She has started driving me around town and taking drivers ed. I enjoy the chaffering, but I do look forward to getting my car back with my seat in the correct position. She is shorter than me and I always forget when I get in after she drives. *knees in chest* lol
The oldest is gearing up for graduation and I am so not ready for that in the least. He has decided that the military is not for him, I am undecided about that, but I do know he has to do this on his own. I look at each holiday as my last one with him, but I have to remind myself, it isn't the last one, he's just moving on. Growing his wings and taking flight, but I am not ready for him to do that yet!
He and G are such good buds he made this his profile picture on Facebook. Brotherly love! 🙂
J & J are running everywhere. After we moved they got their own bedrooms and the fighting has reduced drastically, but of course they are so close in age and Big J is the youngest in his class he feels he needs to boss Little J around.
G is growing so fast and he's discovering his voice it's hard to believe he was just crawling this time last year.
Boy's first hair cut.
He is toddling around everywhere and telling us all about it and taking names! I am just waiting for him to start saying complete sentences. He has his friends at day care he loves going to and spending time with. Loves his Mrs Lori and Mr Bobby.
Cover Your Bum
The diaper bank is doing well. We had another purchase of diapers for the bank and we are currently helping 6 families with 2 graduates!!! We are waiting on the shipment of the Econobums to help the families on our waiting list.
We will be participating in the Great Cloth Diaper Change April 20 and have hosted 2 Cloth 101 classes at a local health food store. They are so glad to have us there and are happy to help us. We hope to have a good fundraiser at the GCDC and raise a little more to help more families. The word is out and moms are getting the help they need. Love doing this.
We will have our official website in the coming month! My amazing friend Brit has offered to develop, design and host our very own dot org!! This is so cool. Lisa and I are going to have nice photos taken of us and the boys to have on our site.
We also were interviewed by a reporter for a new local magazine, From the Nest. They focus on momenterpreneurs. We are excited for that and are working on photos for that as well!
So that is how my life if going in 700 words or less!
Stay warm!


text: hi all i've been trying to get rss to blog to work for my blogger blogs but the damn thing keeps giving me an error that the user and password for the blog are incorrect... what do u think is the problem? or does rss to blog not work for blogger? if so could u pls suggest a program that works.. thanx


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Do you know your local rabies laws?
It is generally accepted in most states that young puppies and kittens need to be vaccinated by four months of age against the rabies virus. One year later, these animals can receive a booster good for three years. In the eyes of the law, animals who have been vaccinated are protected from rabies infection as long as their vaccine is current.
Because rabies is a deadly virus with no known treatment, and humans can be infected from bites of infected animals, our national policy is to vaccinate domesticated pets.
But what happens when a pet owner lives where the rabies vaccination laws are archaic? For example, in Pennsylvania, the state law is as discussed above – an initial vaccine as a puppy or kitten, followed a year later with a rabies vaccine licensed for three years.
Recently, I was discussing local county laws with a pet owner. Believe it or not, in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania the law states every time a vaccinated animal is taken to the veterinarian for a puncture wound, bite or scratch of unknown origin that animal must receive yet another booster against rabies!
In this poor woman's case, her blind 18-year-old cat, with high blood pressure and thyroid disease, received a routine three-year rabies vaccine, and was given yet another three-year vaccine three months later, and reported to the county health department, due to a scratch of unknown origin.
Unless this woman lives where rabies is more virulent than anywhere else in the world, her county's laws were passed due to lawmakers' lack of education and to fill the pockets of members of the local veterinary establishment. Not only does the veterinarian receive additional income with every vaccination, but the vaccine company sells more product, and animals are over vaccinated. Consequently, some pets develop vaccinosis (illness due to over-vaccination), then these animals go to their veterinarian yet again! The ones who lose due to laws promoting over-vaccination are pets and their owners.
This particular cat is a marvelous man – at 18 years old, he's loved as much as any cat should be. He is in good spirits, he still enjoys life, he is eating a home prepared diet, and his mother is concerned because she's being forced by the local laws to over-vaccinate her fragile cat.
Apparently, the lawmakers in Montgomery county Pennsylvania are not aware of modern research, although the most recent version of their law was passed in 2012.
Dr. Jean Dodds has conducted a long-term study into the effectiveness of rabies vaccines. Dr Dodds' study shows half dose rabies boosters are as effective as full dose boosters – we are talking boosters here, not initial vaccines. Furthermore, there are numerous peer reviewed articles in the literature that demonstrate that giving 1/10 of the dose of rabies vaccine provides protection against the deadly virus. This means one rabies vaccine which costs most pet owners between $20 and $40, can actually be used to vaccinate 10 animals! Whose pockets are being lined now?
Rabies is a deadly virus. No one wants to be bitten by a rabid animal. Therefore, vaccination of domesticated pets against rabies make sense. However, well conducted research, and commonsense, says our fear of the rabies virus is blown out of proportion.
The goal of a society is to protect members of that society. Our society involves sharing our lives with domesticated dogs and cats. Over-vaccination of any species only profits Big Business. Their profits are made not only in selling the original vaccine, but also in manufacturing and selling the medication needed to treat the clinical signs of vaccinosis.
The only way archaic laws like those in Montgomery County Pennsylvania will change is if the citizens of Montgomery County insist lawmakers learn more about modern research. Lawmakers are people just like ourselves, they can learn too. Sometimes they just need a push from their constituents.
Dr. Cathy Alinovi DVM
As a practicing veterinarian, Dr. Cathy treated 80% of what walked in the door — not with expensive prescriptions — but with adequate nutrition. Now retired from private practice, her commitment to pets hasn't waned and she looks forward to impacting many more pet parents through her books, research, speaking and consulting work. Learn more at drcathyvet.com
What about states (like Ct) that insist on yearly rabies shots saying these are a different formula than the 3 year and are better because they are safer?
Safer than what? Arsenic? Don't buy into it. There are always ways around stupid laws – see comment below.
Alabama is one those states every year whether it a 1 year or 3 year!
Thank you, Dr. Cathy! I do not license my pets (cats – dogs are harder since they're out and about) so authorities cannot force me to over-vaccinate. They are micro-chipped in the event they ever get out of their yard, which is impossible – just a safety measure. In fact, I've done the kitten shots but no rabies due to lack of rabid animals in my area at the time. According to Don Hamilton, DVM, we should never vaccinate our animals unless there is an outbreak in our area. And I did permit one rabies vaccine per cat before I moved to a higher risk area, along with the other cat vaccines – one time – for life. Thank you for the eye-opening information that only 1/10th of the vaccine is needed. I'm also aware of titer tests to avoid law enforcement of vaccines. It's time companion animals fall under the category of "society."
In any case, one solution to this woman's problem is either to learn to treat wounds herself, find a holistic vet who can heal them with laser treatments, change vets and the next time the rabies renewal comes in the mail, mark "deceased" on the box. I can share that my holistic vet healed a cat picked up by an owl and dropped. One might imagine surgery, antibiotics, and much drama lining the pockets of allopathic medicine. But my vet healed the wound within 10 days by daily laser treatments – no antibiotics needed, and the wound healed beautifully. Until authorities learn (or care), there are ways around this archaic law.
I have a PS: When I spoke with Dr. Hamilton, the famed homeopathic vet and whose chapter on vaccinosis you can find online, I shared with him the many auto-immune diseases my cats got in their later years due to following veterinary advise and giving (at the time) yearly vaccines (except rabies – 3 years). He said to me that he was so sorry I had to learn the hard way. And the real mess of it is that allopathic vets have NO CLUE how to heal diseases they've caused! I did not have a holistic vet at the time and am unsure what or if there's a holistic cure.
I've heard there's a fine if one lies on the rabies renewal card saying a beloved animal is deceased, but I'd gladly pay that fine for the health of my pets. And of course, the trick is, don't let them catch you. It's really not that hard. Unless your vet rats you out, animal control does not have time to follow up. So find a vet you can trust, even if they aren't on the same page, so you can rest assured they'll keep their mouths shut. Again, it's more difficult with dogs who are interacting with other dogs and with risk of interacting with authorities, but Dr. Hamilton stood firm on his no vaccine stance for dogs too. He could only address rabies as toxic but that it was "the law." It's a fear-based law and one only to be used in event of an outbreak that could affect our pets, whom we keep confined while the vaccine efficacy takes full effect, and that's true of any outbreak – Dr. Hamilton's words.
While I agree with you on the dangers of vaccines 100% Marie, the downside is that if your dog/cat should bite or scratch someone or someone's animal, or even if a person just claims they did so, in many states your only choice is between having the animal put down or paying to have them quarantined for 6 months. I would also not put a good, trustworthy vet in the position of "keeping their mouth shut". Why not spend time educating legislators and having laws changed instead.
How do you not legally have to keep your pets vaccinated? My state of NC mandates it every 3 years. I would love to stop giving it to them, but if I ever need their teeth cleaned or if they ever get hurt, they will be forced to get one or worse, be quarantined for 6 weeks until it can be determined they don't have the virus. I don't want to risk that possibility. I wish I could get around this law
Get titers done to prove they are immunized. If they are in a situation where they require a booster, then so be it – hopefully the vet is aware of the less dosage is just as effective studies. Usually, and you have to actually know your laws, pets that are "out of date" do not require quarantine outside of their own home.
Yeah,NC doesn't accept titers. I think the only way to get around it in this state is if the cat is sick or has a lowered immunit because of illness. It's annoying .
Please reread what I wrote. I know they don't accept titers and I am not aware of any municipalities that do, however, it's the safest way to prove to an official that the dog has been previously vaccinated if you make the decision to no longer vaccinate – like many are doing. In time, and still pretty far down the road, titers will be accepted.
More people are following safe protocols they have found on holistic and homeopathic sites, and in areas where there are no house to house checks, aren't even registering their animals with the town. Their safety and well-being are much more important than the outdated laws the town and animal control are made to follow.
If you must vaccinate, at least look into rabies taut todes and herbs used to fend off adverse reactions from this vaccine.
That woman should actually sue that vet for administering a rabies vaccine to an unhealthy animal with diabetes and thyroid issues. It clearly states on the vaccine label and insert to never vaccinate an unhealthy animal.
The first paragraph indicates that vets (and the law) assume pets are immunized with two rabies vaccinations. How do you know this unless you titer the animals three weeks post vaccination? What if they are the percentage of animals that will never be immunized no matter how many times you vaccinate? This should actually be done with ALL viral vaccinations (parvo/distemper especially).
According to the latest studies of the usefulness of titers, and the great response to boosters dogs had that were "out of date" with their rabies vaccines as opposed to dogs that were "up to date," we are slowly inching toward science-based evidence of why we need not be so scared of being infected by our pets with rabies since the duration of immunity is very long (thanks to the Rabies Challenge Fund) and leaning toward the acceptance of titers over unnecessary boosters.
KSU has created a website called RabiesAware.org and is currently offering titers for $88. Have one done and keep the results (hopefully they come back with a positive ratio of immunity) with your pets' vaccination and medical records, and your county's/state's laws – this way you should be aware of your rights should your pet bite anyone, or be accused of doing so. Your pet cannot be confiscated and there is usually a big difference between out of date and unvaccinated pets, and the consequences for both. Moving ahead with titers will eventually allow all pets to remain on house quarantine versus cement cell six-month quarantine or being put down.
If your laws are ancient and/or absurd, fight to have them updated. Support the RabiesChallengeFund.org, and you can also learn about what states have medical waivers and the laws on that site. If your vet doesn't think any condition your pet has waives his or her right to be exempt from this vaccine, find yourself a good holistic/homeopathic vet who truly knows the dangers of over vaccination (vaccinosis). One of my favorites is Dr. Will Falconer of VitalAnimal.com and I love Dogs Naturally Magazine and the many contributors to natural health.
Correction: KSU did not create the website; it was actually created by Merial. The titer done by KSU for $88 is correct.
It is my understanding that PA does have an exemption law if your pet is ill. The Vet must certify the exemption yearly for it to be valid. This may not be followed in all counties in the state but I know my vet would write a letter for my dog if needed where I live (Allegheny/Beaver counties in PA)


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Hosts Sri Lanka open cricket's World Twenty20 against Zimbabwe Tuesday, kicking off the country's biggest ever sports event just three years after the end of a bloody civil war.
Mahela Jayawardene's men will take the field in Hambantota, the southeastern home town of President Mahinda Rajapakse, with hopes high they can end a 16-year wait for their second global title in front of their cricket-obsessed fans.
The match, at 7:30 pm (1400 GMT), starts a three-week cricket fiesta involving 12 teams in coastal Hambantota, hill town Pallekele and the capital Colombo, where the fourth World Twenty20 champions will be crowned on October 7.
The tournament offers the "Teardrop Island" the chance to showcase its lush landscapes, beaches and temples, and turn the page on the 37-year ethnic conflict that claimed up to 100,000 lives.
In 2009, Rajapakse's government declared victory over the Tamil Tiger rebels, a group notorious for suicide bombings. The brutal final offensive prompted a UN Human Rights Council resolution against Sri Lanka earlier this year.
Elite commandos and bodyguards have been deployed to guard players as part of a security operation would be usually reserved for visiting heads of state.
Camillus Abeygunawardena, the top security officer for the tournament said it was the biggest security operation ever in Sri Lanka for a sporting event in the country emerging from nearly four decades of ethnic bloodshed.
"We had this level of security at last year's (cricket) World Cup, but this time we have more teams and the scale of the operation is a lot bigger," Abeygunawardena told AFP, referring to the 50-over tournament co-hosted with India and Bangladesh.
Sri Lanka also co-hosted the 1996 Cricket World Cup, but Australia and West Indies kept away after Tamil rebels bombed the Central Bank in Colombo, killing 91 people and wounding 1,200 just two weeks before the tournament.
The authorities have also launched an undercover operation to ensure there is no corruption by players themselves after international cricket was rocked by a fixing scandal in 2010.
"Both local and international detectives have checked into hotels where the players are staying," a top security source who declined to be named said. "We are keeping a close watch on the players and their visitors."
Sri Lanka start the tournament as one of the favourites, although predictions are notoriously difficult in cricket's shortest format, which has revolutionised the sport and divided opinion since its introduction in 2003.
Home advantage will help the hosts, who have a well-balanced side including the newly crowned cricketer of the year, wicketkeeper-batsman Kumar Sangakkara.
Sri Lanka won the 50-over World Cup in 1996 and have reached the tournament's two most recent finals, along with the 2009 World Twenty20 title match which they lost to Pakistan.
"Lots of people have asked us why we have choked in the finals," skipper Jayawardene said. "I'd rather be in that situation than being knocked out in earlier rounds."
Defending champions England arrive with a youthful squad shorn of star batsman Kevin Pietersen, who is in international exile after a sequence of bust-ups with team management.
South Africa, the number one Test team, are seeking their first ever limited-overs world title, while the West Indies, powerful in this format, would be a popular winner.
The World Twenty20 is the one major trophy to elude Australia.
India, schooled in Twenty20 cricket in the lucrative Indian Premier League, won the inaugural event in 2007, while mercurial Pakistan will hope to reprise their 2009 title run.
The teams have been divided into four pools of three for the preliminary league, with the top two from each advancing to the Super Eights round.
If the seedings go to plan, fans can expect exciting cricket in the Super Eights -- a week-long race to the semis and final.
England, the West Indies, Sri Lanka and New Zealand are seeded to meet in group one of the Super Eights, with the top two teams making it to the semi-finals.
Group two is already being billed as the "Group of Death", with arch-rivals India and Pakistan seeded to face Australia and South Africa.


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Washington: A Muslim Brotherhood spokesperson has expressed grave dissent over the ousting of President Mohamed Morsi by the Egyptian Army and said that the group would rather `die` than give in to the leadership of the interim president.
According to the Washington Times, Gehan El-Haddad said that the group has its own belief in the democratic system and they are willing to die for it.
El-Haddad said that Muslim Brotherhood might end up on the streets facing military bullets but the Egyptian people will face a 60-year-cycle of a new military dictatorship that will rob their freedom with short-term promises.
He further said that their children will suffer the consequences and added that the military must be pushed back into the barracks or the only alternative is killing.
The report said that the Islamists in their protests on Friday against Morsi`s ouster called for every free Egyptian to come out against the bloody military coup and said the protests weren`t simply about Morsi, but rather about a democratic process that was mocked by military coup.


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Paris, France -- Lech Walesa and Desmond Tutu speak of solidarity. Vaclav Havel hopes for another "Velvet Revolution." Wei Jingsheng warns of a bloody sequel to Tiananmen Square.
Some of the globe's most prominent former dissidents — acutely aware of what can go right and wrong when a repressed society attempts to shake off tyranny — see shades of their own past struggles in the escalating drama now playing out in Myanmar.
In interviews this week with The Associated Press and other media outlets, they offered insight and advice to the Buddhist monks and pro-democracy protesters defying Myanmar's military government — and to the world leaders and ordinary people watching it all unfold.
"If there's not enough international pressure, and China offers support in the background, then there will very likely be in Myanmar something like Tiananmen Square: a big massacre," Wei, China's best-known ex-dissident, told the AP in a telephone interview from the U.S., where he lives in exile.
Hundreds, possibly thousands, were killed in 1989 when the Chinese army cleared the Beijing square of pro-democracy protests.
Walesa, who founded Poland's pro-democracy Solidarity movement and became the nation's first post-communist president, said the only hope for Myanmar's monks and activists was to stick together — and for the world to rally around their cause.
"My advice for them is to build their own internal solidarity and to make efforts to win international solidarity," he said in an AP interview.
But Myanmar in 2007 is markedly different from eastern Europe two decades ago.
Isolated and insulated by a trigger-happy regime that has crushed dissent for the past 45 years, Myanmar missed out completely on the irrepressible wave of reform and revolution that swept much of the world in the late 1980s.
In 1989, when Havel's peaceniks packed Prague's Wenceslas Square to denounce a regime he famously mocked as "Absurdistan," their sheer numbers and determination prevailed over police truncheons and tear gas.
When demonstrators tried the same thing in Myanmar in 1988, thousands were gunned down in the streets.
"If they have no solidarity today, they will lose and will have to approach the issue many times again," Walesa said.
Yet "even if they fail, the price (they pay) will speed up the process," he added.
The Nobel Peace Prize winner, who marshaled tens of thousands of workers in electrifying 1980s strikes at Gdansk's gritty shipyard, concedes the showdown in Myanmar has rekindled a little of his own old fire.
"Maybe I will join in, too," Walesa said. "I will certainly do something because I cannot remain indifferent ... I like to win."
Fellow laureate Tutu, who won his Nobel for his role in South Africa's anti-apartheid movement, was preparing to join a march in Sweden protesting events in Burma when he spoke by telephone to the AP Friday.
"In South Africa we had rolling mass action that covered the action taken by the people. We also had an alliance of faith-based organizations. To that extent that the monks are now in the forefront does reflect our own situation," Tutu said. "While in Burma they don't have different religions as most Burmese are Buddhists. The important thing is that religious leaders have now put their lives on the lines and I admire them for that."
Tutu said he would call on China to use its "very powerful leverage" on Myanmar's leaders. If China did not respond, he said he would join calls for a boycott of the Beijing Olympics.
Havel, the playwright-turned-president whose nonviolent movement toppled totalitarian rule in Czechoslovakia in 1989, said he's also ready to go to Myanmar — also known as Burma — if opposition leader and Nobel Peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi emerges from longtime house arrest and takes power.
"You can't imagine how happy I would be to travel there as soon as possible," Havel, now 70, told the Czech newspaper Mlada Fronta Dnes, hailing Suu Kyi as "a brave and well-educated woman."
Two years ago, Havel teamed up with the Dalai Lama and other dignitaries to pen a poignant letter decrying her house arrest. "Neither walls nor weapons can silence even the most isolated voice of courage and truth," it read.
But today, asked about the specter of major bloodshed, he responded with a terse: "I am afraid."
Tutu said of Suu Kyi: "I hope she knows how much the world supports her. She is a remarkable woman."
In another letter this week, Nobel literature laureate Nadine Gordimer — known for her works about the inhumanity of apartheid in her native South Africa — appealed to U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to do something "in the name of shared humanity."
"No one anywhere in our world who respects the sanctity of life, justice and the freedom of people to demand reconciliation of conflict through peaceful means can turn aside from the spectacle of Burma," she said.
Harry Wu, a renowned human rights activist deported from China in 1995 after being convicted of what he insists were trumped-up charges of espionage and stealing state secrets, said he's confident that democracy will take root in Myanmar soon.
"I think it will happen. I'm very excited," Wu, who spent nearly two decades in Chinese labor camps, told the AP by telephone from his office in Virginia.
"I think Burma is at a turning point," he said. "The monks and nuns usually don't protest. It's significant that they've come out. The military just wants to control the people. But the monks and nuns have had enough, and the people will follow. They've had enough, too."
Walesa, whose defiance still took a decade to whittle away at communist rule in Poland, urged "patience and wisdom" but said the monks' momentum was probably unstoppable.
"I wish them success as soon as possible," he said. "And at a lowest possible cost."
--------------------------Associated Press Writers John Leicester in Paris, Monika Scislowska in Warsaw, Poland, Celean Jacobson in Johannesburg, South Africa and Karel Janicek in Prague, Czech Republic, contributed to this report.
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There are some downsides to the development of technology, but overall it is a good thing. Technology is such a broad subject and includes things like TV, computers, and phones. It can also include microwave, some toys, and many other things. These things help to make our lives more enjoyable and easier.
This is a difficult question, because advances in society have led to a lot of good, such as the development of various things like the polio vaccine and light bulb. However, technology as of late is mostly devoted to entertainment purposes, such as televisions, tablets, smartphones, and the like. It is changing society, and making us less social, while thinking we are more social; more isolated, while thinking we are more connected. We are also trying very hard to keep up with all of the updates and new items, which leads to hyper-consumerism and technological waste and pollution. Technology overall can be for the good, but in many ways it is going a little too far in modern society.


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Victoria Banks and Friends
The Listening Room Cafe
Fri, Jul 13 6:00 pm
"Life is painful and impossible and breathtaking and beautiful. I have to write what I feel." That's where Victoria Banks' third album, Indigo, comes from. "These songs aren't written to fit a genre, or to meet an expectation of a sound," she says. "They're built from bare-bones midnight recording sessions in my attic. They're things that I need to say. And these are the songs that people ask for at my shows, so they're things that people need to hear too." Victoria's list of accolades as an artist is long. Her self-produced, self-penned records When You Can Fly and Never Be the Same made her 2009's most nominated female artist in Canadian country music, earned her the 2010 CCMA Female Artist of the Year award, and sent her out on tour with superstars Reba McEntire, Wynonna Judd, Lonestar, Randy Travis and Johnny Reid. But songwriting is her first love.


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Ruger LC9 review
The Ruger LC9 is the perfect combination of comfort and safety.
After the purchase of Ruger's relatively new LC9 compact pistol several months ago, I am pleased to say it is the only gun I've actually been completely comfortable with while carrying. Due to its compact size, multiple safety features, light weight build and efficiently powerful 9MM round, the LC9 dominates in the compact pistol category. The LC9 is Ruger's "bigger brother" model of the LCP compact, which has the smaller, less powerful .380 caliber round. The only complaint with the LC9 is that it has a heavier trigger pull which makes the accuracy slightly less when compared with other softer trigger pull firearms. With practice however that complaint can be resolved. The LC9 is extremely comfortable to carry for men or women and with multiple safety items such as a chambered bullet indicator, side safety trigger lock and the no magazine trigger lock features, it is highly recommended as a first time concealed carry firearm. It is offered in the colors of solid black or two-tone pink and black for the ladies.
Utah Self Defense Instruction
Utah Concealed Carry Permits
CCW News and Reviews


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always thought you'd be a better back-up singer for roger daltrey than pete townsend?..been practising in the bathroom..? really feel you've nailed the harmonic nuances of 'can't explain'..?
now, you can make your dream come true…
roger daltrey(?) is part of the stable of musicians, sports stars, etc of a company that offers fantasy holidays….
so if you have the readys you can hire daltrey(!) to let you sing with him..
(sort of an up-graded version of hiring a minor 'celebrity' to attend your dinner party..a degrading and embarrassing experience for all concerned….just how tacky is that btw?)
At These Camps, Everybody Is a Star (if Only for a Day) – New York Times


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There's Still Life on Mars
Nothing but space in an uknown place, yet so familiar. The home of raw and untouched beauty, where the elements bloom and grow, develop and flourish without a trace of life.
Creative Direction by me & Miruna Sorescu
The Mean Reds
Conceptual Editorial that reflects 5 emotions related to color RED
All environment in the images is 3D made by Juozas Rasimavicius @rasimovisuals
Make up & Hair Emile Aagaard Andreassenn
Styling by Leo Maribo Jensen
Why is it that when looking at our own bodies, we tend to be instantly drawn to our flaws?
The question is: who gets to decide what's perfect about us what's not?
Embracing Tiny Things that make us different.
Everyday Layers for @sindroms_ magazine
A visual story on Materials that we did together with my favorite 3D artist @rasimo_visuals
Creative direction by me
3D artist - @rasimo_visuals
Red Days is a visual essay all about the beautiful female body&mind.
Own your body -it's something so obvious yet so difficult to stick in our day-to-day routine. With reoccurring symptoms each month, Red Days have power to affect a woman's body and mind.
They can be composed of a roller coaster of feelings: sadness, tiredness or discouragement while feeling goddess-like, beautiful and raw at the same time.
Editorial for SVA magazine
Stylist Lotte Sindahl
Hair & make-up Emilie Andreassen
Model Madeleine Carstensen /Scoop
With a focus on odd poses and angles, the setting is kept clean and minimalistic. This is also reflected in the styling, that mainly features Scandinavian fashion and simple silhouettes. With this editorial, we aim to show the beauty of simplicity in an awkward and less posed way.
Collaboration of Phase One and Fritz Hansen - two brands that represent high-end products and the highest quality in their own industry joined for a project.
Read full story on Phase One website
'Empowerment' editorial for NR magazine http://www.nrmagazine.com/
Stylist Lotte Sindahl
Hair Jill Arnfjord
MUA Lulu Hoa Bokkenheuser
Models Xenia Emily and Maty Sall
fashion assistant Prudence Davis
Melancholia editorial for SICKY magazine
MUA Emilie Aagaard Andreassen
HAIR Cecilie Marie
MODEL Amalie Piper/ Le Management
Desing: Domantas Smaizys
Models: Gossip Model Management
Mathias Kim Walbum & Elisabeth Hjortshøj Thostrup
Makeup/hair: Kirstine Engell
Styling Juli Gyertyános
Make up & hair Diana Korab
Le management models Carla
Inkblot Portrait series
Mixed media - Combination of Ink and photography
Print on Aluminium Dibond Fine Art Baryta
Portraits are inspired by Rorschach psychology test which is used to examine a person's personality characteristics and emotional functioning. The Rorschach test (also known as the inkblot test) is a psychological test in which subjects' perceptions of inkblots are recorded and then analyzed using psychological interpretation, complex algorithms, or both.
I use color, form, movement and shades together with portraits that describe the moment and personality of a person that is hiding behind the inkblot. Form is related to intellectual processes and color provides direct insight into their emotional life.
Their personality, emotions, motives, conflicts and fears are in front of them. Inkblot Portraits are all about imagination and consciousness.


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Isn't she a beauty? We've taken our summery Glasshouse style - inspired by the vintage glasshouses that housed exotic plants brought back to Britain by explorers - and reimagined it for winter with a black 34mm Demi sized dial. Featuring lush botanicals and trellis details, this is one garden that stays in bloom 365 days a year.
Who says pastels are just for summer? Not us. Work your angles 365 days a year with this trans seasonal shimmering midi dial, layered with real lilac mother-of-pearl designed to perfectly capture the light. As if it couldn't get any better, we layered it with delicate rose gold lace florals and rounded it off with a complementing Grey Lilac leather strap. This really might be one of our best yet.
Reach for the stars, courtesy of our beautiful new Celestial styles. Whilst we're often inspired by nature in our designs, this time we stepped it up a notch and took our cues from the wider universe. Taking intergalactic inspiration from the shimmering night skies, for the first time we've introduced glittering metallic flake detail to our 34mm Demi dial - our little nod to the constellations. Finished off with a shining star on the black leather strap, the time to go cosmic is now. So, what are you waiting for?
Ready to go cosmic? The skies the limit when it comes to our Celestial collection, our innovative new designs inspired by starry nights, shimmering skies and a galaxy far, far away. Adding an intergalactic touch to our signature 3D Bee motif, we've added glittering silver metallic flakes onto the 34mm Demi dial. Finished off with a complementing Grey Lilac leather strap, just shake your wrist and watch it shine.
The Enchanted Garden dial you love, on a brand new dial size that we just know that you're to love even more. It's the perfect combination you never knew you needed - until now. Featuring a fresh floral and bee print on a classic white dial, we've paired this sweet silver case style with a complementing Chalk Blue leather strap that'll take you from summer through winter and back again.
One of your most favourite Olivia Burton designs, refreshed for the new season in a way you've never seen before. For the first time, we've layered our beautiful Enchanted Garden print - featuring bold blooms and teeny tiny bees - on a Midnight Blue sunray dial for one of our most impactful styles to date. With a gold case and navy blue leather strap, we wanted to make sure you could get your floral fix even in the darkest months - and with a style as wearable as this it looks like it's mission accomplished.
Shop our 'Outlet' section for 70% OFF
Shop our range of gifts
A "No Hassle" Returns Policy With Spoilt Belle Boutique


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Djokovic beats Raonic, advance to semis
5 // 16 Nov 2016, 07:52 IST
London, Nov 16 (IANS) World number 2 Novak Djokovic defeated Milos Raonic 7-6 (6), 7-6 (5) here to claim a berth in the semifinals of the ATP World Tour Finals.
The Serb needed 2 hours and 14 minutes during the match on Tuesday to dispatch the Canadian in the match at London's O2 Arena, Efe news reported.
Raonic can still reach the semifinals with a win against Belgium's Dominic Thiem, who beat Frenchman Gael Monfils 6-3, 1-6, 6-4 earlier Tuesday.
Djokovic, meanwhile, is poised to reclaim the number 1 ranking from Britain's Andy Murray if he reaches the final and wins.
Murray faces Japan's Kei Nishikori on Wednesday for another of the semifinal slots.


text: Three British soldiers find themselves pulled back to Iraq for different reasons after finishing their tours of duty. Each finds himself grappling with the consequences of his decisions, as well as the affects those decisions have on those who love them. One man leaves his wife and family to search for the Iraqi doctor he believes is his soul mate, another returns to Iraq in search of fortune, and the third hopes his return can positively benefit the people of that war-torn country.


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Corporate Events. Audiovisual Consulting. Equipment Maintenance. Volunteer Projects. We do it all.
Our experienced team will help you bring style and atmosphere to any type of company event, including expos, product launches, executive retreats and company incentive trips. We have an extensive inventory of the most renowned brands of professional audio, video and lighting equipment for local and international businesses organizing corporate events in the Mayan Riviera. From small strategic meetings to large customer conferences, Plug In Audiovisual will work closely with you to select the best elements and design for your venue, vision and budget.
Plug In Audiovisual provides expert guidance and technical support to companies looking to design or upgrade audiovisual installations for clubs, bars, hotels, and restaurants. Our engineers have designed and installed systems for all types and sizes of venues, from intimate bars and trendy restaurants to cutting-edge nightclubs and major international hotels. Our designs and installations can be found in Cancun, Huatulco, Playa del Carmen, Akumal and Tulum. Our knowledgeable team will educate you on the latest technology from leading vendors and help you to design an installation that maximizes your investment. We will work closely with you to design and implement the most innovative solutions to highlight your venue's features and give you a creative edge over the competition.
While we all come from different cities and even countries, all of us at Plug In Audiovisual have found our home in Playa del Carmen. We know how lucky we are to live in paradise and always enjoy the opportunity to give something back to our community. From repairing the audiovisual equipment for public schools to participating in park clean ups, recycling programs, & beach cleans ups to volunteering at the local Christmas Toy Drive, we are always happy to have a chance to contribute. If you know of an upcoming Volunteer Project where we could lend our equipment, hands or time, please contact us with more information.


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About Coz
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Lies and conversation trees
Coz replied to aersixb9's topic in Game Design and TheorySounds like you got this idea out of a crazy dream Your idea sounds like doctors and nurses is just another name for pirate robbers in your dimension, so they are not doctors / nurses at all =P Sounds like a game where you are evil in a non-physical way. Maybe it would be fun in a political game By the way, how come you were going to write on kotaku? as far as I know, they don't have forums, just a blog.
Forgetting How to Play
Coz replied to Schwartz86's topic in Game Design and TheoryDo more creative stuff. Like forsandifs said, play games. Read books again. Push your boundaries. Listen to music you usually don't like. Personally what I do when my creativity seems to run out, is to get on youtube and watch a game videos, trailers, playthroughs or whatever, though I have the tendency to watch more indie games since they often are more experimental. If I have an vague idea of what I want, I search for videos of that kind of games. This has the bonus that I don't have to spend 10 hours playing just to be creative, a few minutes are enough.
Test my Flash game!
Coz replied to Lode's topic in Your Announcementsheh, the game did remind me of Chip's Challenge I only went on until lvl 7 or so, but maybe you could teach the game mechanics in fewer levels? there were some pretty obvious levels that seemed boring to me Also you should implement a high score system of some sort, maybe based on the number of steps, since otherwise there's not much of a point in tracking them. I also loved how the Wizard 'likes to see people solve puzzles'. Made me chuckle. Edit: also, it would be better if you made movement by keeping the key pressed faster than it would be by tapping the key. Otherwise impatient people like me will tap the keys and get tired of it. The word 'MENU' also needs more contrast between the letters. Either separate the letters, or change the colors of the outline or the inside of the characters.
Death based character growth in a survial game
Coz replied to TechnoGoth's topic in Game Design and TheoryA 1 - 2 minute wait to play again after I die sounds like a recipe for frustration. If you save the previously made character, you can just load the save and modify any stats, which should take a few seconds instead. Accumulable score points would allow progression, even if the player doesn't improves, making the game more casual. Achievements sound more hardcore, since I can't get a stronger character just for playing time. So it depends on your target demographic. I would feel like I'm being cheated just by being offered the addon. This is what I figure the game designer was thinking: "I'm going to make a game so hard, that people who want to win will have to buy this addon! ~cue evil laugh~" In this case you better make your game extra fun. But if you have a bunch of addons, and this is just one of them, I might think differently. Check http://armorgames.com/play/10373/hack-slash-crawl It's a dungeon-crawl game where you get achievements at the time of your death for future characters. Lots of room for improvement, gameplay isn't as fast as you want it, but it might help you go in the right direction.
Okay so, Euler angles works fine except when the object has to pass from the -180 to +180 degrees boundary( because the smallest angle between my desired direction and the current direction switches signs ). So I took part of Eric_Brown's method, I used a vector pointing forward in local space, rotated it by the orientation Quaternion and one pointing in the desired direction that I want, but instead of using a quaternion, I got the perpendicular vector between them using a cross product, normalized it, and multiplied this by the angle between both vectors, which resulted in a 3D vector representing proper torque. For the special cases where the vectors are parallel, I multiplied the components of the forward and desired vector, and if any result is negative, then the vectors are opposite, so it's an angle of 180 degrees. In case it was 0 degrees, I would obviously apply no torque. In the case of 180 degrees, I apply a torque of 0.001 radians per second through the Y-axis, since there's no way to figure out the right path. The direction will get fixed in the next frame anyway, and it doesn't introduces and visual artifacts.
Quote:[...]you can use my current favorite method, where you use the initial and final vectors to construct Δq.[...] A small follow-up: I ended up using Euler angles any ways. Though I definitely will use the useful information you gave in the future, to extract independent axis from the 3D vector, I would have to construct 3 normalized 2D vectors, which means 3 costly sqrt calls. One of my issues that I blamed on Euler angles was that there are different ways to express the same rotation, even when you define the rotation order, and that was wreaking havoc when an angle jumped from 0 to 180( even when I didn't apply any torque around that axis ); I modified the algorithm, thought it means a few more basic operations, using the information from euclideanspace.com .
Thank you, VERY useful. =]
Quote:Original post by bzroom I dont think your character should react to torques in this manor. It should be handled at a higher level, with animations and stuff. I plan to add an animation too. Quote:But anyways. I'm not sure how accurate it is but it works pretty well if you project a torque or angular vector onto another to perceive the rotation from a particular axis. I just mentioned torque to make it clear why I need each angle independently. My problem is not with applying the torque, but with getting the angles from the Y-axis independently from the X and Z axis rotations, from a quaternion. And I'm afraid that using Euler angles for more than one axis will make rotations dependent on the order. Quote:If the character is to handle an arbitrary torque but only around the vertical axis you can project all incoming torques onto that axis. That doesn't sounds so bad, but I would rather have my character to be affected through all axis so that it feels more responsive. I guess this would be a second choice if I can't pull the first one off.
Quaternion rotations
Coz posted a topic in Math and PhysicsI have no problem at using a single Quaternion to rotate a point, or with interpolating between two quaternions. I think about Quaternions as some sort of axis-angle rotation. However, handling axis separately is difficult for me. For example, I have a floating character that is looking in a direction. For this I just rotated the character around the Y-axis, since the character should keep it's feet down and face up, so the rotation angle around the X and Z axis are be 0. Now, presume that something applies torque to the character. Now my character has to correct it's orientation by applying torque to look in that direction, and it's what I'm having problems with. I can't just override the orientation instead of applying torque, because then the character's orientation won't interact with any incoming forces during that time. And this torque is represented by a XYZ vector. I converted the quaternion's Y-axis rotation to Euler and this works fine, even thought there might be a less complex and computationally-intensive way. Now, should I do the same for the X and Z axis? what's the best way to extract the rotations around each axis while keeping this function fast?
Import from Blender
Coz replied to Elektron's topic in Graphics and GPU ProgrammingYou need to export the model to a file format that your program can convert to OpenGL, since Blender's own .blend format is probably unsuitable to be used by other programs. You'll have to figure out yourself which file format fulfills best your needs. However the NeHe people have a tutorial about loading a certain format at http://nehe.gamedev.net/data/lessons/lesson.asp?lesson=31 .
gltexgen & texture matrix celshading
Coz posted a topic in Graphics and GPU ProgrammingHi all, I have been trying to apply cel shading( no outlines needed ) to a model, but I'm limited to the fixed function pipeline. I know this can be achieved with glTexGen, and in fact, using a 1D texture( dark to white ) with a GL_SPHERE_MAP works fine, except that the light source is always to the right. If I understand correctly, I could use GL_NORMAL_MAP with glTexGen, then use a texture matrix that contains the light vector in the first row and that should result in the dot product, which would be set as the X coordinate for the texture. However, I have tried this and other variants without success. The closest I could get is that it seems that by scaling the X axis and by rotationg around the Z axis I can move the texture around in directions I want. I tried using a matrix like this as my texture matrix: X Y Z 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 and I'm assuming the light vector is normalized, so if I wanted a light that comes from the sky, Y = -1, so I would use: 0 -1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 and yeah, it doesn't works :p If I could at least get a working example of what I'm trying to achieve, it would be just dandy.
Why do devs not want customer feedback?
Coz replied to sunandshadow's topic in Game Design and TheoryI'm too sleepy to think about how much it relates to commercial projects, but I used to work on a Free software / Open Source game, and they are usually pretty open to feedback. Being entusiast at first, we wanted all the feedback we could get. All the feedback was about known issues, but at least it showed us what people cared about the most. Still, we couldn't set the priorities simply by the desire of the players, but there were many other issues to take into account, so we implemented what we judged that we should work on next. Eventually all the basic features were implemented, and from here on, the feedback we got was basically 'rip off X feature from <famous game>'. We did got some creative feedback, but these people had spent a while thiking, not just something they thought in a moment. However, a short time afterwards, we had pretty much enough material to know what we should build into the game. From time to time we were unsure about small details, but it was unfrequent and we usually solved asking directly, not waiting people to give feedback. We had a page where everyone could put it's feedback; I was one of the lasts persons defending it's existance, but I realized it was a failure after a while. When we needed to ask, it was usually on a mailing list, but it was almost never directed at players, but other developers. I find that there are many reasons NOT to wish for feedback. You don't want to bug your users, you'll get a lot of feedback you don't care about, you probably have your own methods of getting the information that you could get from feedback( a change that you want is not necesarily something that the maker will think it's good for him / her ), maybe you have your own ideas already of what's next. Now, it sounds so obvious that you would want to hear anything your users want to say, but in practice, you'll only want a few very specific details. About the 'I don't like X feature' not being allowed, it seems unlikely anyone would do that. Most programs have the tendency to bloat because the makers are afraid of removing features, then having an user asking "where did feature X go?". Then again, Free software / Open source projects usually have a bug tracker because development is open, but I don't recall seeing a bug tracker for commercial projects, probably since it will give them bad publicity, since no one else shows their bugs, unless they already have a solution and requires user intervention. Also, if you payd for software, even if it comes with guaranteed support, unless there are chances you will renew support and pay them more money, the less support they have to give, the less money they have to spend. The maker would actually have to care about users more than money (i.e. be willing to risk losing money / earn less money ) in order to use more resources for this.
A Realistic Planet Is Pointless
Coz replied to Wavinator's topic in Game Design and TheoryQuote:Original post by Wavinator Are future games going to give us territory fatigue? Not too long ago I moved from the US to Canada, and one of the cheapest flights I could get sent me from California to Vancouver and then over what felt like a third of the Great White North. There were indeed some beautiful sights, but it was a good reminder of just how repetitive terrain is in the real world. So it finally happened. Games are now officially more complex and interesting than the real world. Quote:Original post by Wavinator While this is all awesome in terms of technical achievement, I sometimes wonder if the worlds are getting too big for the content that can be provided and the time a gamer has to enjoy it. If there is an excessive amount of empty space vs. content-filled space, no matter how small the world is, the game will be boring. It's just matter of design. If a designer creates empty space for you to travel through for the sake of realism, the designer is either focusing on the wrong aspect of the game, or maybe there's some dark and evil reason that has to do with money...
seams in blending
Coz replied to Renran's topic in Graphics and GPU ProgrammingI'm not sure it will give enough information for the solution to your problem, but images would help.
Spectral Logic
Coz replied to Delphinus's topic in Game Design and Theory1: Is it even worth writing a design document for a school project? Since you won't actually make a game( unrelated to it being a school project ) and don't have to give your teacher a design document, it seems like an overkill. Just detail the art related areas and write general concepts about everything else, just to be sure there will be consistency. 2: Are my ideas good? I'm not good at giving feedback about this. Sci-fi games with many stats aren't my cup of tea. 3: Do you think I'm likely to be able to carry out the 3D, 2D, and Design Document outcomes considering my time available? Depends on the length of the game. That means, think of a game short enough to have enough time. 4: Any suggestions or tips? Not really, sorry.


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Parmesan Country Fries
We are finally getting rain here for our crops (and my gardens) so it is a good day! Awhile back I made these(click here) potatoes but told you I would someday post my FAVORITE version. Today is THAT day!
3 tablespoons olive oil
6 medium baking potatoes or 12 small red potatoes
1 1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon coarsely ground pepper
cayenne pepper- just a light sprinkle
Parmesan cheese
Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Brush 2 large cookie sheets with 1 tablespoon oil. Cut each unpeeled potato (i had to peel mine today as the skin didn't look too good-- I need my own garden potatoes to be ready to eat NOW!) lengthwise into quarters, then cut each quarter lengthwise into 2 wedges (or, cut potatoes crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick slices). In large bowl, toss potatoes with salt, pepper, and remaining 1 tablespoon oil until evenly coated. Divide potatoes between cookie sheets, spreading each batch into an even layer. Place cookie sheets on 2 oven racks and oven-fry potatoes 25 minutes or until tender and crisp, sprinkle with parmesan cheese, turn potatoes over once and switching pans between upper and lower racks halfway through cooking. Sprinkle one more time lightly with parmesan cheese. I make one pan very crisp and one pan browned but still tender- that way we have something for everyone! Hope you enjoy them. Delicious and much healthier than regular french fries. Leaving on the skin is the best as you get more nutrients that way! Thanks for stoppping by and thanks to those of you who leave the lovely comments! I reallly enjoy hearing from each and every one of you!


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Seven Ways to Find Your Bliss
Did you know that bliss and joy are different from happiness? For much of our lives we search for happiness, But that happiness is fleeting. Ever notices how you yearn so much for something, like a certain job, a mate, a new dress, or a chocolate bar and then when you get it they make you happy for a while. You feel a physical sensation of pleasure, but then something happens – that dress wears out, the chocolate bar doesn't last, the mate leaves and happiness goes flying out the door behind him? That's happiness. It's connected to pleasure and related to the senses. Joy dives deeper and begins to happen when you follow the soul and align with its guidance and desires. It's not so much connected to outer things but something that wells up from within. Here are some ways to go deeper and begin to tap into your bliss.
Debra Moffitt is the award winning author of Awake in the World: 108 Practices to Live a Divinely Inspired Life and "Garden of Bliss: Cultivating the Inner Landscape for Self-Discovery" (Llewellyn Worldwide, May 2013). A visionary, dreamer and teacher, she's devoted to nurturing the spiritual in everyday life. She leads workshops on spiritual practices, writing and creativity in the U.S. and Europe. More at http://www.awakeintheworld.com and on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/DebraMoffittAwakeintheWorld. Also, check out Debra's Awake in the World blog.