text:
LARGO, Md.—Noor Tagouri (Bowie, Md.), 18 years old, is the youngest graduate to deliver the student address at Prince George's Community College's 53rd Commencement Exercises, Thursday, May 24, 7 p.m. at The Showplace Arena and Equestrian Center in Upper Marlboro, Md. Tagouri has a 4.0 GPA and will receive an associate of arts degree in general studies and a letter of recognition in events planning. She has been admitted to University of Maryland, College Park where she plans to study broadcast journalism and international development and conflict management.
"The moment I began at Prince George's Community College I discovered my passions, used it to fuel my college experience and opportunities," said Tagouri. "The message I want to convey to our diverse student body at graduation is you will always pave a path to success and your dreams will always be attainable," she added.
Born in the United States and raised as a Muslim-American, Tagouri tested into the Honors Program at Prince George's Community College in her junior year in high school and began taking courses at the college. Her academic achievements at Prince George's include Dean's List, Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society, Honors Citation and graduating with Highest Honors. She also served as a math tutor, writer for the Owl Student Newspaper, participant in Pathways to Student Leadership Program, public relations representative for the Muslim Student Association, founder and president of Fit and Green Club, president of the Muslim Student Association, events coordinator of the Public Speaking Club and member of the Amnesty International Club.
Tagouri was selected as the 2012 Student Commencement Speaker after participating in a rigorous application process. Applicants were asked to submit an essay and resume. Finalists performed a version of their speech before a committee of faculty, staff and a student representative.
"Ms. Tagouri's significant academic achievements, thoughtful essay responses and commitment to her community were major reasons the committee chose her for the prestigious honor," said Clover Baker-Brown, professor of communications and chair of the Student Speaker Competition Committee at Prince George's Community College. "As the youngest speaker in college history, we are proud to have such an inspiring student share her story of success with the larger college community," she added.
Prince George's Community College is a National Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Two-year Education designated by the National Security Agency and the Department of Homeland Security (2010-2015). Established in 1958, Prince George's Community College provides transfer and career programs that help students transfer to four-year colleges and universities and prepare them for the workforce. Each year, 40,000 students take part in more than 200 academic programs and workforce development and continuing education courses. Located in Largo, Maryland, Prince George's Community College has additional sites at Joint Base Andrews, University Town Center in Hyattsville, Laurel College Center, Skilled Trades Center in Camp Springs, and Westphalia Training Center in Upper Marlboro. For more information, visit the college website at www.pgcc.edu.
- Egypt: Entertainment, Food, Languages, Places To Visit + More
- Tunisia: Entertainment, Food, Languages, Places To Visit + More
- Libya: Entertainment, Food, Languages, Places To Visit + More
- Morocco: Entertainment, Food, Languages, Places To Visit + More
- Sudan: Entertainment, Food, Languages, Places To Visit + More


text:
Visit Missing Mile
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
This sim has a lot going on from zombie attacks below to creative rooms in a space station above.
Visit HOKUTO
Posted by Hybie Mynx at 8:56 AM 0 comments
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Silent Sparrow
Head over to Silent Sparrow and explore their sim while you still can
because it will be closing soon. The store is moving to another sim.
Visit Silent Sparrow
Posted by Hybie Mynx at 9:20 AM 0 comments
Monday, September 27, 2010
Sneak Peak @ new Selenium Pulse
I blogged this sim a few weeks back and to my dismay it was shut down.
I contacted the creator/owner of the sim to let them know that
they had a real treasure on their hands and the sim would be missed.
I received an IM in world letting me know that it is going to
be brought back and rebuilt. Here is a sneak peak of the new Selenium Pulse.
It looks awesome. I can't wait to see it finished.
Posted by Hybie Mynx at 10:48 PM 0 comments
Explore Delicatessen
Posted by Hybie Mynx at 7:47 AM 0 comments
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Friday, September 24, 2010
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Pirate Kingdom, Secret World
Posted by Hybie Mynx at 8:58 AM 0 comments
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Take a cloud ride below to the ground to see this "alien" planet.
Visit Antennaria
Posted by Hybie Mynx at 12:18 PM 0 comments
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Sennheiser MD 421 Turns 50!
OLD LYME, Conn. – July 13, 2010 – This year marks the fiftieth anniversary of the introduction of the classic Sennheiser MD 421-U large diaphragm, cardioid, dynamic microphone. The venerable MD 421, which is still in production as the MD 421 II, has been one of Sennheiser's best-selling dynamic microphones for decades thanks to its durability, versatility, and ability to handle high sound pressure levels. Offering exemplary performance on voices, but equally effective on a wide range of acoustic and amplified instruments, the MD 421 continues to be an essential component of any microphone collection in the studio or on the road.
The MD 421 has been improved over the years with upgrades to the housing, output connector, basket, and capsule assembly. A limited-production MD 421 Special Edition that recaptured the full-bodied performance of the microphone's original design was introduced in 2003 to commemorate the ninetieth birthday of Sennheiser founder, Prof. Dr.-Ing. Fritz Sennheiser. The MD 421 II continues the tradition of the MD 421 while upgrading the original design in order to take advantage of improved production techniques and materials.
Significant upgrades incorporated into the MD 421 II include a metal inner chassis for better weight distribution and, with the contour-fitted bass roll-off control, a shorter, sleeker housing. The glass composite housing and hardened stainless steel basket afford improved durability. With the acoustic components now enclosed in the inner chassis the mic is less sensitive to dust and humidity. Servicing is also easier with the new design, since individual components can be more easily replaced and self-sealing acoustic connections mean that adhesives and sealing compounds are no longer required.
Like the original design, notable features of the MD 421 II include a highly directional cardioid pickup pattern that provides clear sound reproduction across a frequency range of 30 Hz – 17 kHz along with very effective feedback rejection, plus a hum-compensating coil. The five-position bass roll-off switch tailors the microphone's performance for diverse applications from radio voice broadcasting to solo and group vocals as well as high SPL instruments such as brass, amplified guitar and bass, Leslie cabinets, and drums, especially toms and kick drum.
The MD 421 II continues to be popular with touring sound engineers such as James Berry (Beyoncé, Solange Knowles) and Bryan Worthen (Foo Fighters, Limp Bizkit). Lady Antebellum's front-of-house engineer, Brett 'Scoop' Blanden, former manager of the Ocean Way Nashville recording studio, uses a pair of MD 421s on electric guitar. "Growing up in the studio as I did, you could never go wrong with 421s," he says. Sugarland's FOH engineer and production manager, David Haskell, uses MD 421s on both the bass player's rigs and on Leslie, and is an avid fan of the model. "I've used those things for a hundred years on drums," he professes. "I'd use a hundred of those things if I could find a spot to stick 'em!"
Get the TV Tech Newsletter
The professional video industry's #1 source for news, trends and product and tech information. Sign up below.
Most Popular
By Tom Butts


text:
Making a Hospice Referral
Referring to hospice is the right thing to do for patients with a terminal prognosis. It is not an easy conversation, but it is one that should be had with the patient and caregiver.
When you know a person who you believe is appropriate for hospice services, one of our Hospice Care Consultants is available to meet with the patient and family to discuss hospice. To begin that conversation contact our hospice agency near you.
We evaluate the patient, the prognosis, the family situation, and any other contributing factors in order to develop a custom Hospice Plan of Care. We also recognize the importance of the primary care physician's relationship with the patient and family, and work closely to ensure your patient's every need is addressed.
Our Interdisciplinary Team, which includes our Hospice Medical Director, can involve the patient's primary care physician (PCP) in decisions made about the patient's care. The PCP may be as involved in the patient's care as they and the patient wish.
If you have questions about the referral process or how our Interdisciplinary Team functions, please contact our hospice agency near you and ask to speak with either a Hospice Care Consultant or the Director of Operations.


text:
Click name to view affiliation
Teachers can create supportive conditions in physical education to mitigate experiences of stress for children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD); however, most are unfamiliar with DCD and lack adequate training to instruct children with impairments. The purpose of this study was to explore teachers' perceptions of and interactions in physical education with children thought to demonstrate functional difficulties associated with DCD. A semistructured interview was conducted with 12 teachers across all elementary years with diverse backgrounds and thematically analyzed. Four themes were produced. Teachers (a) had differing views on the etiology of children's movement difficulties, though (b) all recognized a range of difficulties children demonstrated. They (c) believed it was their role to facilitate positive experiences for these children in physical education but (d) experienced challenges in doing so. Training that increases teachers' knowledge of and abilities to address the needs of children thought to have DCD is warranted.
The authors with the Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada. Zimmer is now with the Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.


text:
Marriage is the bond between two souls and two families. Thus every couple when is going to get married a huge family function in organized in which couples do get blessings of every person. It is really an unforgettable moment. Every person must have to know about the importance of marriage in their life. They should never try to take their marriage for granted. This is such thing which will always remain with that person for lifelong. But it is also one of the truths every husband and wife does have to face so many problems. Understanding problems are common but no one should ever take those longer. It is good for that person to do take husband wife problem solution in Nanded.
When we talk about importance of husband wife relationship then it has great importance. If a husband and wife they both understand they can lead to happy married life. Even every family member will be happy from them and there will be prosperity in their home. But when there is always tension among them then such relationships never go longer. In this situation one should have to take husband wife problem solution in Nanded. This is what which is best for a person who wants to make their married life to move freely. Every such kind of the solution is always best for a person for their betterment. To get solution of this problem a person must have to consult a vashikaran specialist astrologer.
A person who is search of husband wife problem solution in Nanded they never know what is the main cause of the problems among them. It is really important for them to take the help of astrologer. A genuine vashikaran specialist astrologer will let them know what is causing problems among them. Most of the times the planets responsible for married life have get displace from their life. In this way one has to face problems. Below are some of the problems that couples usually have to face:
When it comes to the right husband wife problem solution in Nanded then one has to take the help of astrology. Vashikaran is the magic based on astrology which can surely induce love among the couple. Thus for every that married couple who do want to end problems among them it is best for them to solve their problems with his guidance. He is the one who can make their life happy like ever. There is love, affection and surely care among that couple once again. So, rather wasting any single moment one should always try to consult an astrologer. He is one who can make their married life happy and blissful again.
Pandit Ayush Sharma ji is really an insightful astrologer who has helped me out from the problems that were about to come in my life. He has great vision when it comes to predicting something. His remedies have helped me to keep my family safe from an uncertain problem.
I was depressed; nothing seems to be good to me. But when I have consulted Pandit Ayush Sharma ji he comes to know my problem. He suggests me some remedies which not only helps me to come out from depression but also make the things around me comfortable and easy.
Pandit Ayush Sharma ji is blessed with such powers which make him know about the life of a person. His prediction about me come true and I feel blessed that I have consulted him at the right time. He has helped me to choose the right field for my career.
I was facing problem in my studies, It is Pandit Ayush Sharma ji who has helped me to make get my such problem solved by suggesting me remedy which empowers the planet which is related to my studies. Now I am really doing well with my studies because of him.
Pandit Ayush Sharma ji is an honest person who never misguides any of the people. It is all because of him that today I am getting success in my life. His guidance really matters a lot for me and whenever I am about to do something I always prefer to consult him.
Pandit Ayush Sharma ji has suddenly gets interest in astrology. When he gets interest in it he starts learning about it under the guidance of famous astrologer. After practicing it for 10 years he has become one of the best astrologers.


text:
The story behind Justin Blackmon's Sunday morning DUI arrest in Stillwater, Okla., isn't getting any prettier.
Stillwater police spokesman Capt. Randy Dickerson confirmed to NFL.com that the former Oklahoma State wide receiver smelled of alcohol when an officer pulled him over shortly after 3 a.m. local time. Blackmon agreed to take a breathalyzer test and blew a .24 -- three times the state's legal limit.
Under Oklahoma law, a BAC above .15 constitutes the charge of aggravated DUI. It can be prosecuted as a felony or misdemeanor.
Blackmon, the Jacksonville Jaguars' first-round draft pick, and the fifth player taken overall, was released from jail Sunday afternoon on $1,000 bond. He's due in court Monday.
Stillwater police tried to pull over Blackmon for speeding -- he was clocked at 60 mph in a 35-mph zone -- and driving left of center early Sunday morning, they said. Blackmon drove about four blocks before stopping in a gas-station parking lot. There was no one else in the vehicle with him.
"He was unsteady on his feet, his speech was slurred, and his eyes were glassy and blood shot," Dickerson said in a statement. "He admitted to consuming alcohol prior to driving."
Blackmon had been scheduled to appear in Houston on Saturday to sign autographs, but the event's promoter wrote on Twitter that the receiver wouldn't attend because of illness.
Not a good situation for Blackmon or his new team. It will be interesting to see the legal road ahead for Blackmon, who's now a two-time DUI offender.


text:
Search this blog
- Researchers (119)
- Dissemination (51)
- Researcher Profiles (31)
- Publishing (30)
- Bibliometrics (28)
- Research Skills (27)
- Tools (28)
- Information Skills (29)
- Open Access (24)
- Getting Published (15)
Most recent comments
- Oh yes, I'm writing that too! And tidying up my paperwork, plastering each piece with post–it notes … by Jenny Delasalle on this entry
- A useful list, thanks Jen. I would add "it's never too early to start writing your handover document… by Emma Cragg on this entry
- Yes, Google does find things very fast: I use it a lot to find sites that I know and regularly visit… by Jenny Delasalle on this entry
- Mac OS has the ability to share Safari www bookmarks and other data, securely across multiple machin… by Andrew Marsh on this entry
- Hi Peter, I see that you practice what you preach… and indeed the point that you make about being … by Jenny Delasalle on this entry
Blog archive


text:
Reward Your Employees!
Work Hard Play Harder! Theres no better way to Team-Build than to reward your employees with an outing to the Kemah Boardwalk.
Basic Business Package
$37.99 (per person) Includes:
- All Day All Ride Pass
- Stingray Reef & Rainforest Exhibit Ticket
- Stingray Fish Food
- Boardwalk Beast Thrill Ride Ticket
Deluxe Business Package
$47.99 (per person) Includes Basic Business Package items plus:
- $10 gift card (which can be redeemed at any Landry's-owned restaurant or retail shops)
- Includes Amusement Rides
Eat, Play & Enjoy!
When booking our Basic or Deluxe Business packages, be sure to ask about adding food and beverage to your visit. We offer group menus and pricing at several of our Boardwalk restaurants.
- You must purchase group package tickets in advance for events and/or weekend visits.
- In order to obtain group pricing, tickets and packages, you must purchase through our Group Sales Coordinator, Monday thru Sunday between 9am and 5pm.
- If shipping is required you will be charged ground/overnight shipping rates; if tickets need to be mailed please make sure your order is 7-10 days prior to your arrival.
- Packages with meals must be purchased or confirmed at least 3 days in advance. Meal tickets are non-refundable.
- Tickets issued for Individual Rides, the Stingray Reef, Stingray Food, the Boardwalk Beast and Midway Carnival Games do not expire. They may be redeemed at another date and time for the same value or service.
- All Tickets are non-refundable.
- A contract may be needed to confirm booking (package by package basis)
- Options listed do not include tax. If you are tax-exempt, you must provide a signed state sales tax exemption certificate in advance.
Group Events
For group events, group tickets, meetings and catering information, please fill out our Event Request Form and we'll get right back with you or call our Group Sales hotline at 877-905-3624.


text:
LAS VEGAS, Nevada (CNN) -- Police executed a search warrant at a Las Vegas pharmacy Tuesday morning in connection with the investigation into Michael Jackson's death, a federal drug agent said.
A Las Vegas pharmacy was searched Tuesday in connection with Michael Jackson's death.
Applied Pharmacy on Flamingo Road in Las Vegas sold the anesthetic propofol to Dr. Conrad Murray, Jackson's doctor, a source familiar with the investigation said.
Another source close to the investigation said last month that Murray, a Texas-based cardiologist, is said to have given Jackson propofol, commonly known by the brand name Diprivan, in the 24 hours before he died.
The search of Applied Pharmacy came two weeks after searches of Murray's home and clinic in Las Vegas.
The search warrant served Tuesday authorized investigators to seize documents -- both on computers and paper -- related to the Jackson investigation, DEA Assistant Special Agent in Charge Mike Flanagan said.
The warrants used for those earlier searches, which were filed in a Clark County, Nevada, court, imply that investigators looking into Jackson's death believe that the singer was a drug addict.
The warrants, signed by District Judge Timothy Williams and given to CNN by Las Vegas affiliate KTNV, say that "there is probable cause to believe" that the searches would uncover evidence at Murray's home and office of excessive prescribing, prescribing to an addict, prescribing to or treating an addict and manslaughter.
They cite "probable cause to believe" that the premises contained "records, shipping orders, distribution lists, use records relating to the purchase, transfer ordering, delivery and storage of propofol (Diprivan)."
Murray was with Jackson on June 25 when he was rushed to UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles and when he was pronounced dead, according to Murray's lawyer.
A source involved with the inquiry into Jackson's death has said that investigators found numerous bottles of prescription drugs in his $100,000-a-month rented mansion in Holmby Hills, California.
The items taken from Murray's home included copies of his computer and cell phone hard drives. They were to be turned over to the Los Angeles Police Department, which is leading the investigation into Jackson's death at age 50.
A "thorough and comprehensive" report into the death of Michael Jackson is complete, the Los Angeles County coroner's office said Monday, but police have requested that the report not be released because of the ongoing investigation.
The coroner's office said it would abide by the request that "the cause and manner of death remain confidential" and referred all questions to the Los Angeles Police Department.
CNN's Ted Rowlands contributed to this report.
All About Michael Jackson • Conrad Murray • Los Angeles Police Department


text:
8, De Marzo Street, s/n, 11140
The new ANDALUSSIA HOTEL offers modern and complete facilities in a particular building that recalls the different styles and decorative elements from the Andalusian tradition. It adds to this a neat service, personal and qualified, within a family atmosphere perfect for a rest. Placed in a new and calm residential urbanization with wonderful panoramic views to Conil´s natural environment and surroundings, ANDALUSSIA HOTEL is the perfect place to enjoy a quiet holiday at this picturesque town on the spanish Costa de la Luz. Its strategic location and good connection with the Conil Belt Road make ANDALUSSIA HOTEL to have a convenient access from anywhere in the city and its main points of interest, especially its wonderful local beaches
A cancelação é possível até ás 10 da noite 2 dias antes do dia da chegada sem penalidade.
A cancelação despois desse tempo ou um no-show terã uma penalidade de 1 das noites de permanença.


text:
Fill out the form below or call (888) 466-7849 for a free, no-obligation estimate.
Do you wish your yard was landscaped by Edward Scissorhands?
You too can make statuesque shrub art by cropping your own bushes into shapes and other fascinating formations.
1- Pick the Right Shrub – Look for a shrub with a certain figure in mind because some hedges have similar features to the makeup of certain objects.
2 – Begin Shape Trimming – When you have an idea of what form you want your hedge trimmed into, you can start creating your work of art. At this phase you want a simple shape and no details. Make little snips instead of deep ones, all throughout the season.
3 – Wire Frames – You can also build any shape you prefer with the aid of galvanized wire. Manipulate the wire into the shape you will be smitten for and anchor it to your yard. Program the shrubs to advance over the wire and inward, cutting it back when needed.
4– Care – Bear in mind that your shrub art will need to be watered and possibly mulched. Cut the space around the hedge to get rid of any weeds, and use pest control if there is a threat.
Some shrubs have sharp thorns and/or sticky sap that can irritate the skin. Remember to wear long-sleeves, gloves and protective eyewear.
To truly enhance your beautiful new lawn, consider our tree and shrub program. Our experts will evaluate the trees and shrubs in and around your yard and develop a program to nourish, strengthen, and defend against diseases like rot and fungus, as well as control insect populations before they are allowed to cause damage. Call us today at 888-466-7849 or fill out the Free Lawn Analysis Form to schedule your Free Lawn Analysis at www.callnorthwest.com!
What kind of shapes or animals would you put in your hedges?
Cara Carver
[email protected]


text:
Hitoshi Matsumoto
Japan, 2007
Review by Rumsey Taylor
Posted on 07 May 2008
Source 35mm Print
Categories The 2008 Independent Film Festival of Boston
We first meet Masaru on a commuter bus. He is soft-spoken and unimpassioned, speaking with neither elaborateness nor gestures, a reliable, if unengaging, narrator of his own life. Running out of questions, the interviewer (also cameraman) asks about his umbrella, which Masaru carries around even when there's no threat of rain. He's enormously fond of the device—"[It] only expands and gets big when you want it to," he says with a sudden hint of enthusiasm.
In the next scene, we find him at his home, a quiet, dark place filled with books and old photographs. He's eating with the very same nonchalance he had on the bus. His cat will jump on the table and nibble at his bowl, and he looks at his pet for several seconds before gently removing him. The gesture isn't disciplining enough, and the cat immediately returns. Masaru comments on his meal, expressing a rare, but now familiar burst of enthusiasm for dehydrated seaweed. "It only expands and gets big when you want it to," he says.
You would never know it from talking to him, but Masaru is actually a superhero, and he comes from a family of superheroes deemed "Dai Nipponjin", or "Big Man Japan." They're capable, via moderated electrocution, of growing to enormous size and contending with a variety of other super-sized personalities that invade Japan, each of whom is more a nuisance than a threat. His grandfather is seen in old newsreel footage, his stature a mobile signature in a city's iconic horizon. These heroes of the past are regarded affectionately. Masaru, by contrast, hasn't the charisma of his ancestors. (He also transforms differently from them, his haircut sprouting upward almost identically to Henry Spencer's in Eraserhead.) If his television program is any indication (it airs only in the very early morning), he's more like a sitcom that is well past its prime, recycling the same jokes in perpetuating tedium.
Of course, this is all amazing to us, and Big Man Japan is interspersed with scenes of giant Masaru's battles with a plethora of bizarre monsters: the Strangling monster, the Jumping monster, the Evil Stare monster, the Stink monster, or the Child monster. These battles aren't epic or disastrous as they are in a Godzilla movie, rather, they're hilarious for their brazen surrealism. The Strangling monster, for example, is a gangly thing, its arms enclosed in an extendable loop, and it's face disturbingly human. It has the most enormous comb-over you've ever seen—just after forcibly embracing a concrete building and yanking it out of its foundation, it'll toss its head laterally and with great effort to arrange its hair in the desired fashion.
As he engages these foes in battle, Masaru is decorated in sponsor logos, and he's told by a publicist to keep his arms unfolded, for example, so the new one on his chest will be properly seen. The safety of Japan's populace is of equal, if not lesser, priority to retaining sponsorship. The entirety of Big Man Japan is humorous in this manner, which is to say oddly. It's funny, but not cacklingly or ecstatically so, a vision of comprehensive absurdity. This absurdity is befitted by the film's subtitled exhibition, I think, which renders the enterprise even stranger. Curiously, and despite all the mayhem that's wrought before, Big Man Japan concludes with a painfully hysterical live-action climax that cannot be justly described.
American Teen2008
Mister Lonely2007
Second Skin2008
The Linguists2008
Big Man Japan2007
At the Death House Door2008
The Beaver Trilogy2000
The Beaver Trilogy2000
Nerdcore Rising2008
The Tracey Fragments2007
Medicine for Melancholy2008
Severed Ways2007
Not Your Typical Bigfoot Movie2008
Not Your Typical Bigfoot Movie2008
Encounters at the End of the World2007
We don't do comments anymore, but you may contact us here or find us on Twitter or Facebook.


text:
In 2018, most of the children living at home in the Caribbean Netherlands had working parents. Of the nearly 5.2 thousand children up to the age of 25 living at home on Bonaire, St Eustatius and Saba, 92 percent have at least one working parent.Read publication
Young people aged 15 to 17 years in the Netherlands say they have little interest in politics. Once they are entitled to vote when they turn 18, they do start to find politics more interesting. At the same time, young people place a great deal of faith in politicians, more so than the older generations.Read publication
Slightly over half of Dutch young people between the ages of 15 and 24 occasionally do volunteer work. More than half are also active in associations.Read publication
For eight months now, unemployment among youth has fallen below the lowest point before the economic crisis in 2008. At European level, the Netherlands is in the top three of countries with the lowest youth unemployment rate.Read publication
In 2017, more than half of all children aged 4 to 11 complied with the standards for physical activity as set by the Health Council of the Netherlands. Almost two-thirds were taking part in sports at least once per week.Read publication
In 2017, disrespectful behaviour was encountered relatively most often by women between the ages of 18 and 24 years; 33 percent experienced such behaviour on the street and 22 percent did so in public transport.Read publication
In 2017, 29 percent of 18 to 24-year-olds were addicted to social media in their own view, up from 19 percent in 2015. The share of 25-year-olds who consider themselves addicted is relatively lower.Read publication
In 2017, 4 percent of young people in the Netherlands aged 15 to 24 years were neither in employment nor in education or training (NEET). This is equivalent to 84 thousand young people.Read publication
A very large majority of Dutch 18 to 24-year-olds are satisfied with their lives in general and with their social lives in particular: around 85 percent in 2016. Young adults who are currently enrolled in or who have completed higher education are often more positive than their lower educated peers.Read publication
In 2016, most young people in the Caribbean Netherlands between the ages of 15 and 24 were enrolled in education. This share was highest on Saba: 72 percent. On Bonaire, one-third of this age group are no longer enrolled in education but are in work. They are often full-time workers, similar to the group aged 25 and over.Read publication


text:
Can we help?
Stay on top of what's important among the more than 63,000 claims filed each year in North Carolina with North Carolina Workers' Compensation: Law and Practice with Forms. Written by a former head of ATLA's Workers' Compensation Section, this annual overview of North Carolina workers' compensation law provides a useful resource for practitioners seeking current coverage of North Carolina's complex Workers' Compensation jurisprudence. Topics include:
You'll find Industrial Commission forms, Commission's rules, guidelines, and schedules, including the rules for Mediated Settlement Conferences.


text:
The discussions about the Fastnet incident in the May 2012 issue and the WingNuts deaths in the Mackinac Race (April 2012) both omit to focus on the most obvious of points with respect to safety at sea. What happened in both of these cases would not have happened in a Vertue, or an Alberg 37, or a Mason 44, to pick these three from among many possible examples.
The Mackinac Race deaths were the result of two sailors being forcibly struck by their own lightweight, unstable, and entirely unsuitable vessel. The Fastnet capsize was the consequence of an edgy and improperly designed and constructed boat. Despite the occasional Blackfish sinking when keel bolts are not attended to, traditionally designed vessels with safe initial and ultimate stability will rarely put their crews in the water or kill them when properly maintained and sailed.
There are, of course, always some residual dangers, and some rare and unforeseeable circumstances against which no reasonable protections may be had, and for these, the best of safety equipment should be provided.
But, as a starting point, sail in a soundly designed and maintained boat. Generally, she'll be able to take far more than you can, and—if good seamanship guides her, she may be trusted to bring you back home safely.
Alan Hyde
Via email
In response to the March 2012 editorial regarding improving PFDs, I offer this: One solution to the deflation issue would be to include a dump valve such as is present on all diving buoyancy compensators. One might want to re-design the valve release cord so it is less likely to hang up on rigging, etc., when wandering around the boat.
For the tether release, why not use a short nylon leader from the harness, and fasten the tether to that instead of to the harness? If the tether is under tension, the connection point will then be pulled away from the PFD. Downside is you have to run your hand along it to find the release—probably not difficult, but something to practice.
As a side note regarding safety issues, as a mostly solo sailor, I carry a homemade nylon web etrier similar to those used by rock-climbers, for getting back on board. It's small, lightweight, and in my admittedly limited tests, it made it possible to re-board from virtually anywhere around the boat. One more thing to carry, but it's never hung up on anything, and I no longer notice it.
Gary Aitken
Bahia de Buena Vista, Rio Dulce, Guatemala
We've had some great input from readers on ways to improve tether and PFD/harness designs. The dump valve was a popular suggestion. Our project to come up with a comfortable, effective PFD/harness took on a sense of urgency this month with the Farallones accident. Several knowledgeable professionals have volunteered help on this project, including John Yates of Yates Gear, a major supplier of safety tethers for the U.S. military. Yates put together a prototype (left) for PS readers to comment on. Send suggestions and comments to firstname.lastname@example.com.
In the May 2012 article on boat loan financing, you quoted $530 as the approximate cost of U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) documentation. In 2007, when my boat partner and I documented our boat, we were also quoted $530 as the cost of documentation by our insurer. However, in spite of being a "formaphobe," I found it quite easy to do it directly with the Coast Guard for $92, and it took less than an hour. The cost was $84 for the application and $8 per page for any additional pages. You can find it by Googling "NVDC" (National Vessel Documentation Center) or phoning 800/799-8362. I found both the website and all the USCG folks very helpful.
Joel Block
Chinook, Sabre 34 MK II
Chaumont, N.Y.
Thanks for the tip. Boat buyers whose insurer quotes more than $150 for attaining the documentation for them can look into doing it themselves via the website, www.uscg.mil. The base charge for an initial documentation certificate is $133; it costs $84 to get an exchange certificate.
However, when a boat is financed, most lenders require that an approved USCG documentation agent be engaged to handle the process to ensure accuracy and timeliness. According to Peggy Bodenreider, director of the National Marine Bankers Association, these lender-approved USCG documentation agents carry professional liability insurance and are members of the American Vessel Documentation Association (AVDA), which works closely with the NVDC on issues that could impact the process. As with any business, the USCG documentation agents provide their services for a fee.
Bodenreider explained, "The fee is not an inflated fee, but a charge for a service that assures the seller, buyer, and lender that all is in order with the title documents on a boat purchase."
Check out the AVDA website for more information: www.americanvessel.com.
Regarding the February 2012 Chandlery brief on Gill's aftercare products: The comparison of Atsko Silicone Water-Guard with Gill Reproofing Spray is akin to comparing the performance of a pickup truck with a dual-axle dump truck: They perform similar functions, but they are intended for two different jobs. Atsko Silicone Water-Guard is a very good product for waterproofing lightweight camping and backpacking equipment, but is not intended for use in marine environments as silicone does not provide protection against oil-based stains.
You should have tested Atsko Permanent Water-Guard with the Gill product. Permanent W-G is a water-based fluoropolymer (like the Gill product) that is safe for all washable fabrics, including natural down and synthetic insulated products. It comes in a spray bottle and a 10 oz. aerosol. Both products are compatible with waterproof-breathable or DWR finished products, including semi-permeable membrane laminates like Gore-Tex. The garment dries odor free, resists water, salt and oil borne stains, will not yellow and does not change the hand of the material. Water beading is guaranteed for 25 washes when applied per instructions and washed in Atsko Sport-Wash.
Scott Hopkins
New Lenox, Ill.
I do not recall seeing any tests on chemical bottom paint removers in Practical Sailor. My bottom paint is a hard epoxy, and I do not want to take the time and effort to remove this type of paint, so I am thinking that there must be a good, efficient, and economical product that is safe to use. If PS has done some research and comparative testing, I'd like to know.
Gene Nuth
Via email
Our last full-blown test of chemical paint strippers ran in the November 2006 issue, and we published a follow-up report in the April 2008 issue. The top picks in those tests were Franmar's Soy-Strip (www.franmar.com) and Dumond Chemical's Peel Away Smart Strip (www.peelaway.com). For heavy-duty paint removal—like taking down a 25-year-old epoxy barrier coat—we found that Dumond's Peel Away Marine Safety Strip was the most effective (PS, March 2009). Another alternative to sanding that testers have favored is sodablasting; check out that report in the October 2011 issue.
In reference to your "Avoid Plugging with Proper Vent Installation" sidebar and photos in the March 2012 issue: If you're going to backflush the vent, I think it will take more than just a shutoff valve on the filter outlet, because shutting this valve will not allow the backflush water to return to the tank. It would take a filter bypass arrangement, also with a valve, for this to work. In normal operation, the bypass valve would be shut and the filter valve open. For backflushing, the bypass would be opened and the filter shut.
Jordan Ruzz
In the installation described and pictured, there is a bypass loop, incorporating a water-filled trap as an odor seal. A shutoff valve on the filter outlet (the end connected to the through hull) prevents water from entering the filter, forcing it through the bypass, just as you suggest. We didn't feel the design required valves on both ends of the filter, since with one end sealed, trapped air prevents water from entering the filter; however, placing a valve at both ends would be a safe and conservative approach. In our design, the bypass is always open, sealed only by a water-filled trap.
In regards to your July 2011 article on chafe protection: Readers should be aware that nylon lines can break no matter what there is for chafe protection. I've been a member of Boat/US's catastrophe team for years and have worked a dozen hurricanes, so I've seen a lot of real-world line failure.
As nylon line has a fairly low heat distortion temperature (you can melt the ends with a match, right?), I've seen many failures where the line is welded into a solid doughnut around cleats or pilings. I've also seen the lines fail inside chafe protection. When you peel the three-strand line apart, you can see that the strands melted together where they touch. My take-away from this:
1. We are generally taught that nylon acts as a shock absorber in mooring and dock line applications. My experience has shown me that if the dock lines are stretching like a rubber band, they are creating energy, which equals heat. In a sustained storm, that heat will destroy the line.
2. Lighter dock lines will distort more. It's my experience that most boats in storm situations have lines that are too small in diameter. Half-inch line is appropriate for dinghies; other than that, I would step up to a minimum of three-quarter inch.
3. Three-strand nylon appears to fail far more often than double braided.
4. Cheap import lines fail more often than high-quality line provided by domestic manufacturers.
When Hurricane Bob hit New England in 1991, I saw the Concordia Boats yard manager go out before the storm and slathered the mooring pendants of all the precious Concordia yawls with skid grease where the pennants passed through the chocks. It made an awful mess, but they didn't lose a single boat even though 30 boats were lost in that same harbor.
Jonathan Klopman
Marine surveyor
Marblehead, Mass.
We've discussed the heat issue before, most recently in the December 2007 report on our torture tests of used nylon three-strand, in conjunction with New England Ropes. And the debate over expensive double-braid versus more elastic three-strand is one we have wrestled with for years.
Our advice has generally been that it is most cost effective to go for a larger diameter high-quality three-strand and good chafe gear than an expensive, less-elastic, double-braid line, and most of the rope makers seem to agree. Elasticity (energy absorption) is a desirable trait in anchoring, mooring, and dock lines. However, heat is an issue, specifically, where a dock line or mooring pendant goes through a chock, creating a bend. When the fiber is both stretched and bent at the same time, the internal friction creates heat. Heat is less of an issue in a rain storm, unless the chafe protection keeps the rain out, and then you are making things worse by creating an oven. As we have pointed, some chafe gear (PS, July 2011)—plastic hose in particular—is often the culprit more often than the braid of rope because it contains the heat.
One trend is to regard the dock or mooring line as a two-component system. One component has stretch and another is low stretch. Here's how Steven Parola of New England Ropes describes such a system:
"On a mooring pendant, you could have a section of nylon rope running from the mooring ball almost to the boat (for stretch), then attach a section of low stretch rope, such as STS-12, comprising high molecular weight polyethylene (HMPE) fibers, that runs thru the chalk and to the cleat. The 'system' approach is quite exciting, particularly if your boat/mooring is unattended over long periods of time; but the down side is that it is pricey, as compared to using a nylon rope and occasionally inspecting your line."
With the 2012 hurricane season kicking off, we will be doing an update to our mooring/dock line and chafe gear reports in an upcoming issue.
With reference to "Safety at Sea Pt. III Rambler 100" in the May 2012 issue, the RNLI is described as the "Royal Navy Lifeboat Institute." The acronym actually stands for Royal National Lifeboat Institution.
Far from being associated with the Royal Navy, the RNLI is a life-saving organization composed of volunteers who are funded by charitable donations. More information on this remarkable organization is available at www.rnli.org.uk—and donations are accepted in all currencies!
Gordon Pace
Mi Mula, Dufour 35
Seabrook, Texas
The May 2012 article on anchor rode loads should have stated that windage is a function of the surface area, not the square of the surface area.


text:
Frozen Raspberry Lemonade Smoothie
serves 3 - 5
2 cups lemonade
1 cup raspberries (fresh or frozen)
2 cups raspberry sherbet
1 cup ice
Pour liquid ingredients into the blending jar.
Add all frozen ingredients.
Blend at "PULSE" setting for 30 seconds; then blend at "LOW" setting until smooth. While the machine is running, move the Stir Stick around counterclockwise to aid mixing. Serve immediately.
- West Bend Admin


text:
Niche Marketing
Just when I think the number of sub-genres in romance has every possible angle covered, along comes another, even narrower one. Lisa Renee Jones has kicked off a special-ops/military, paranormal, futuristic romance... and she's not the only one. Readers who enjoy Joss Ware's "Envy Chronicles", Jayne Ann Castle's Harmony series, Cindy Gerard and some of Lora Leigh's Elite Ops, and so on, will feel right at home here.
Jones' premise of genetically modified super-warriors is not unique in and of itself, but I really enjoyed her personal spin-- the windwalking talent is mysterious and sexy and dangerous and super-cool. Love it. Michael and Cassandra's world teeters on the brink of apocalypse, with the super-race bifurcated into Team Zodius, with the naked goal to rule the world and force ordinary, unmodified humans into slavery; and Team Renegade. The thing that makes this series potentially Very Interesting is that Team Renegade is a long ways from white hats and rainbows. Power struggles, loyalties, and betrayals abound, so if you enjoy political intrigue, this should be right up your alley.
While the redemption of Michael is a major theme, Legend is more of a plot-driven story, in my opinion. I never really bought into Michael's "badness" so the redemption was a bit less dramatic than it could have been, but this is a tough line to walk. You can't make a hero too bad or the reader loses empathy. Overall, I'd prefer an author to err on the side of "not quite that bad," as Jones perhaps does. That line is highly individual though, so your take may differ.
Cassandra was an entirely adequate heroine, but more or less along for the ride and a bit of a Mary Sue if one were to be picky. The villains are pretty much over the top evil, which leads me to...
World Building
I'm not always a fan of the military books, but I did like this one. It starts out with a somewhat odd mix of the way-out paranormal and the mundane routine you might expect from a more realism-based contemp, but an early plot explosion sets the stage for the post-apocalyptic -- or more accurately, a pre-apocalyptic-- feel. There is a sense throughout the story of a world on the edge of disaster, while Our Heroes struggle to contain and prevent the cataclysm. The factions each live in something of a bunkered fortress while the rest of the world carries on more or less unaware.
Jones' Zodius world is consistent, creative, and compelling - it's a worthy scene-setter for a new paranormal romance series. The foundation is laid and there are a number of interesting directions it could go. This is another "fated mate" trope, and it doesn't really make any more sense to me than any of the others out there... but it's no worse, either. There's a definite similarity to Leigh's Breeds in that lovemaking bilaterally "seals the deal" for the bond between them, changing both of them physiologically and emotionally/psychologically. Personally, it's not a trope I dig that much but it's not the central focus here and didn't get in my way too much.
The one criticism I have about Jones' world is that the villains are too evil. The genetic intervention takes a permutation that basically causes certain individuals to go insane, but I dunno. I think it's less interesting than a "grayer" set-up. Perhaps future books will have more nuance; I think she's left adequate loopholes and I hope she takes advantage of them.
Bottom Line
While I can't honestly say that this is the very best book I've read lately, I do think it's a well-written paranormal romance with strong plotting and world-building, and I would happily pick up Zodius #2: THE STORM THAT IS STERLING when it hits the shelves this November -- and that's really the acid test, isn't it?
Around The Blogosphere
The Minding Spot
Black Lagoon Reviews
A Buckeye Girl Reads
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
To Read or To Blog, That is the Question
I've been on a total book bender the last week or two, which partly explains why the blog is so silent. I've read some great great stuff lately: I absolutely loved Afterlight by Elle Jasper and the buzz about Thea Harrison's Dragon Bound is 100% justified, if you ask me. Devon Monk's latest Allie Beckstrom book delivered her customary awesomeness; I completely adored Nora Roberts' Bride Quartet and I'm dying to write a post about how she integrates characters with their careers and maybe another one about how much I love the way she writes a kiss scene; I'm in the middle of a fabulous Mary Jo Putney; I need to re-read this awesome Roberta Gellis re-release and review a new paranormal/special ops series by Lisa Renee Jones (liked a lot!); I think we need a discussion about the latest generation of vampires; I'm noodling on a post about romantic/erotic chase scenes and frankly I'm reduced to looking up synonyms for "awesome" to complete this paragraph.
What's got you excited about romance lately?
What's got you excited about romance lately?
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Wickedly Charming, by Kristine Grayson -- Review
Who doesn't love a good fairy tale? I'm convinced that my love of romance in general dates back to the stack of well-thumbed fairy tale books of my childhood -- Grimms, Anderson, and their descendants and variants.
I must say I struggled a little bit with this book in the beginning. I don't think I've ever run into so many parentheticals and nested parentheticals in so few pages before:
It was going to be hot-- California, too-dry-to-tolerate, fifty-bottles-of-Gatorade hot-- but it wasn't hot yet. Still, she hoped she had on enough sunscreen (even if it did make her smell like a weird chemical coconut). She had her hands on her hips (which hadn't expanded [much] since she was a beautiful young girl, who caught the eye of every man) as she surveyed the stunningly large building in front of her...
The first couple of chapters are riddled with paragraphs like this, in both the heroine and the hero's viewpoint. My guess is that this sort of stylistic choice was employed to add the light-hearted, gossipy, "wacky" voice, in kind of a satiric version of an omniscient narrator, or a parent-to-child effect as though the story was being read aloud. I found it a little overdone/awkward, but it eased up relatively quickly.
Prince Charming
While this is really a story about the heroine, I found the hero's arc to be very appealing. He starts out feeling defeated and past his prime, divorced and powerless. At times, this characterization even teeters toward unattractive, but his character progression saves him. In letting the people he loves shine on their own, this prince discovers true power, true magic. Charming is one of the better-drawn beta heroes I've seen, re-imagining his strength from the shallow "sweep you off your feet and into the sunset" style hero to the kind of man who provides a bedrock and battles villains, but stays out of the spotlight most of the time.
Stepmothers get a bad rap in fairytales, let's face it. Really, "step-mother" is shorthand for "amoral greedy woman who comes to a bad end." In this day and age of mixed families, it's time for an update.
I once read about a stepmother who listened to her stepchild relate a fond memory of something she'd shared with her mother. The child mis-remembered; it was something that had happened with the stepmom. But this particular biological mom was not the fairy-tale, loving, sadly deceased parent; she was alive and unwell and was not very capable of creating fond memories. My friend, the stepmother, in one of the more selfless gestures I've ever heard of, said nothing, allowing the child to re-imagine that lovely memory with a woman who really, really didn't deserve it...because it made the child happy.
All this is by way of saying even the best stepmoms-- you know, the ones who don't lead the kids out into the woods and dump them, or make them pick cinders out of the fireplace ashes-- have it tough. Grayson imagines a dark, intriguing backstory for this particular stepmother-- sometimes I was more interested in the backstory than the story-story.
The Story-Story
Frankly I'm always a little leery of a story where the main character is an author; frequently it feels a little too self-referential. On the one hand, I can see how "telling her story" and the analog to the problematic (to the heroine) fairy tale genre makes it an obvious choice. On the other, it's... a little obvious. And a little self-referential.
And if you're tired of bitter unsatisfied women being cast as the villain, don't look to this book for any major changes. It seems that yesterday's Princess is today's Witch, with Charming's ex cast as the villain of the piece.
I thought the most interesting piece of the plot was the glimpse we got of the darker magics of the Kingdoms, but that element was a bit player at best. Still, it served to play up Charming's brains and protectiveness, which helped balance his slightly over-done "geek" element, and there's a seed or two that might come back in other books in Grayson's fairy tale universe.
Bottom Line
Overall I enjoyed this character-driven story, mostly because it takes me back to my childhood enjoyment of fairy tales. It's a story about second chances, and the message is a real one: you have to work for your happily-ever-after. I thought it was uneven in places and sometimes felt like it was trying too hard; but it soon hit its stride and pulled together a readable reminisce with characters you'll root for.
Note: a review copy was provided to me by Sourcebooks.
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)


text:
Visit Albuquerque prohibits users from downloading images from our website.Please use our media library for downloadable images and usage rights.
The true Southwest awaits you in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Come immerse yourself in our rich culture and heritage, rooted in centuries of history. Soak in our blue skies and sun that shines 310 days a year-perfect for outdoor activities. Breathe in the high desert air scented with sage and piñon, and you'll understand why Albuquerque, NM is a destination like no other.
Whether you want to shop for authentic Native American jewelry, try hot air ballooning, explore living history museums, enjoy Albuquerque events and festivals, sample local cuisines or hit the golf courses and spas, Albuquerque has you covered.
For business or pleasure, Albuquerque is a must-see destination in the American Southwest.


text:
PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING LICENSE AGREEMENT CAREFULLY. BY DOWNLOADING THIS SOFTWARE YOU AGREE TO BE BOUND BY THE TERMS OF THIS LICENSE AGREEMENT. This License Agreement details the policy for license of ManageEngine MibBrowser Free Tool ("Licensed Software") on the following topics:
ZOHO Corp. grants you a non-exclusive, non-transferable, worldwide license to use the Licensed Software for no cost in perpetuity. You are forbidden from using the Licensed Software for any other use or otherwise offering it for resale under the terms of this Section 1. ZOHO Corp. retains all rights not specifically granted to you herein.
The Licensed Software may contain software which originated with third party vendors and without limiting the general applicability of the other provisions of this Agreement, you agree that (a) the title to any third party software incorporated in the Licensed Software shall remain with the third party which supplied the same; and (b) you will not distribute any such third party software available with the Licensed Software, unless the license terms of such third party software provide otherwise.
In addition to all other terms and conditions of this Agreement, you shall not:
You may submit technical support queries through our discussion forums. Though ZOHO Corp. will respond to such queries within a reasonable time in most cases, you are not entitled to claim technical support as a matter of right.
ZOHO Corp. owns all right, title and interest in and to the Licensed Software. ZOHO Corp. expressly reserves all rights not granted to you herein, notwithstanding the right to discontinue or not to release any Software and to alter prices, features, specifications, capabilities, functions, licensing terms, release dates, general availability or characteristics of the Licensed Software. The Software is only licensed and not sold to you by ZOHO Corp.
ZOHO Corp. has the right to audit your Use of the Licensed Software by providing at least seven (7) days prior written notice of its intention to conduct such an audit at your facilities during normal business hours.
The Licensed Software contains proprietary information of ZOHO Corp. that are protected by the laws of the United States and you hereby agree to take all reasonable efforts to maintain the confidentiality of the Licensed Software. You agree to reasonably communicate the terms and conditions of this Agreement to those persons employed by you who come into contact with or access the Licensed Software, and to use reasonable efforts to ensure their compliance with such terms and conditions, including but not limited to, not knowingly permitting such persons to use any portion of the Licensed Software for a purpose that is not allowed under this Agreement.
ZOHO Corp. does not warrant that the Licensed Software will be error-free. Except as provided herein, the Licensed Software is furnished "as is" without warranty of any kind, including the warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose and without warranty as to the performance or results you may obtain by using the Licensed Software. You are solely responsible for determining the appropriateness of using the Licensed Software and assume all risks associated with the use of it, including but not limited to the risks of program errors, damage to or loss of data, programs or equipment, and unavailability or interruption of operations.
Because some jurisdictions do not allow for the exclusion or limitation of implied warranties, the above exclusions or limitations may not apply to you.
In no event will ZOHO Corp. be liable to you or any third party for any special, incidental, indirect, punitive or exemplary or consequential damages, or damages for loss of business, loss of profits, business interruption, or loss of business information arising out of the use or inability to use the program or for any claim by any other party even if ZOHO Corp. has been advised of the possibility of such damages. ZOHO Corp.'s entire liability with respect to its obligations under this agreement or otherwise with respect to the Licensed Software shall not exceed the amount of the named developer license fee paid by you for the Licensed Software.
Because some jurisdictions do not allow the exclusion or limitation of liability for incidental or consequential damages, the above exclusions or limitations may not apply to you.
ZOHO Corp. agrees to indemnify and defend you from and against any and all claims, actions or proceedings, arising out of any claim that the Licensed Software infringes or violates any valid U.S. patent, copyright or trade secret right of any third party; so long as you provide; (i) prompt written notice to ZOHO Corp. of such claim; (ii) cooperate with ZOHO Corp. in the defense and/or settlement thereof, at ZOHO Corp.'s expense; and, (iii) allow ZOHO Corp. to control the defense and all related settlement negotiations. The above is ZOHO Corp.'s sole obligation to you and shall be your sole and exclusive remedy pursuant to this Agreement for intellectual property infringement.
ZOHO Corp. shall have no indemnity obligation for claims of infringement to the extent resulting or alleged to result from (i) any combination, operation, or use of the Licensed Software with any programs or equipment not supplied by ZOHO Corp.; (ii) any modification of the Licensed Software by a party other than ZOHO Corp.; and (iii) your failure, within a reasonable time frame, to implement any replacement or modification of Licensed Software provided by ZOHO Corp.
This Agreement is effective until terminated by either party. You may terminate this Agreement at any time by destroying or returning to ZOHO Corp. all copies of the Licensed Software in your possession. ZOHO Corp. may terminate this Agreement for any reason, including but not limited to your breach of any of the terms of this Agreement. Upon termination, you shall destroy or return to ZOHO Corp. all copies of the Licensed Software and certify in writing that all know copies have been destroyed. All provisions relating to confidentiality, proprietary rights, non-disclosure, and limitation of liability shall survive the termination of this Agreement.
This Agreement shall be construed, interpreted and governed by the laws of the State of California exclusive of its conflicts of law provisions. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties, and supersedes all prior communications, understandings or agreements between the parties. Any waiver or modification of this Agreement shall only be effective if it is in writing and signed by both parties hereto. If any part of this Agreement is found invalid or unenforceable, the remainder shall be interpreted so as to reasonable effect the intention of the parties. You shall not export the Licensed Software or your application containing the Licensed Software except in compliance with United States export regulations and applicable laws and regulations.


text:
Judge in Anderson Inquiry: Testimony Will Be Public
The judge presiding over the court of inquiry of Williamson County State District Judge Ken Anderson denied a request Tuesday to allow Anderson's lawyer to depose Michael Morton's lawyers before a Dec. 10 public hearing.
GEORGETOWN — Williamson County State District Judge Ken Anderson sat with his back to the audience in court Tuesday as lawyers discussed how the court of inquiry examining his role in the 1987 wrongful conviction of Michael Morton ought to proceed.
"We are trying our darndest to get ready," said Eric Nichols, Anderson's lawyer and a former prosecutor with the Texas Attorney General's Office.
In court, Nichols argued that he needed increased access to the files of Morton's lawyers to determine precisely what Morton's lawyers knew and when during the 1987 trial. And he asked Tarrant County Judge Louis Sturns, who is presiding over the inquiry, to allow him to depose Morton's lawyers before the public hearing begins Dec. 10.
Sturns denied that request, saying that the purpose of the process was to allow the public to hear the case and that depositions would deprive the public of that right.
"I think it's best for testimony to be presented in open court," Sturns said.
Anderson is the subject of an unusual court proceeding that will determine whether he should face contempt of court and evidence tampering charges in the 1987 trial that sent Morton to prison for life for his wife's murder. Morton spent nearly 25 years in prison before DNA evidence revealed that he was innocent and connected another man to the crime.
Morton's lawyers, John Raley of the Houston-based law firm Raley & Bowick and Nina Morrison and Barry Scheck of the New York-based Innocence Project, requested a court of inquiry in the case after their investigation into the wrongful conviction. They allege that Anderson withheld key items of evidence that could have prevented Morton's conviction.
Anderson has strenuously denied any wrongdoing in the case, though he has apologized for the justice system's failures.
Anderson said in a deposition last year that he was certain he would have told Morton's lawyers — Bill Allison and Bill White — about evidence that pointed to their client's innocence. Nichols said that Morton's lawyers could not use the attorney-client privilege to avoid turning over evidence about what they knew and when.
"The privilege cannot be used as both a sword and a shield," Nichols said.
Among the items of evidence Morton's lawyers allege Anderson withheld is a transcript of a telephone conversation between a Williamson County Sheriff's Office deputy and Morton's mother-in-law. During that conversation, Rita Kirkpatrick told the officer that Morton's 3-year-old son told her he saw a "monster" with red gloves and a big mustache attack his mother. He said his father was not at home. Additionally, Morton's lawyers say police interviews with witnesses who reported a green van that appeared to be casing the neighborhood were not turned over. A report of Christine Morton's credit card being used after her death in San Antonio was also withheld, they allege.
Gerry Goldstein, one of Morton's lawyers, said that the team of attorneys working for Morton had provided affidavits stating they knew nothing of that evidence.
Kevin Kudlac, an attorney with the Innocence Project, said Morton's lawyers had turned over 13,000 pages of documents to Anderson. He said they were not attempting to hide any evidence but would not violate the sanctity of attorney-client privilege.
"We are not trying to hide behind a shield here, but we are trying to protect Mr. Morton's rights," Kudlac said.
The lawyers agreed to work with the law firm of Rusty Hardin, who has been appointed special prosecutor in the case to assist the judge, to determine what evidence should be disclosed to Anderson's lawyers. Hardin, a high-profile former prosecutor-turned-defense lawyer in Houston, was not in the courtroom Tuesday, but he is expected to attend the court of inquiry proceedings that begin Dec. 10.
Setting the stage for what are likely to be the arguments used to defend Anderson in the court of inquiry, Nichols said, he wanted to establish what Morton's lawyers knew about evidence that existed in 1987 that pointed to his innocence. If they knew about that evidence many years ago, the clock on the statute of limitations on the crimes alleged against Anderson may have already expired.
Nichols said he also plans to argue that the judge in 1987 did not issue an order compelling Anderson to turn over all evidence that might help bolster Morton's claims of innocence. Morton's lawyers argue that Anderson's violation of that order put him in contempt of court.
Goldstein said Anderson still committed a contemptuous act when, during the 1987 trial Judge William Lott asked whether he had evidence that pointed to Morton's innocence and he responded that he did not.
"Nothing is more contemptuous than a direct lie to a direct question made by a sitting judge," Goldstein said.
Sturns said he has blocked out a week in December for the court of inquiry but, "if it takes longer, so be it." At the end of the proceeding, Sturns is expected to issue findings that will determine whether criminal charges are filed against Anderson.
Anderson is also facing an ethics lawsuit by the State Bar of Texas for his role in the Morton case. The lawyer oversight agency alleges that Anderson deliberately withheld evidence and made false statements to the court during Morton's 1987 trial. Anderson could be disbarred if he is found to have violated professional rules of conduct in securing the wrongful conviction.
Texas Tribune donors or members may be quoted or mentioned in our stories, or may be the subject of them. For a complete list of contributors, click here.
Texans need truth. Help us report it.
Independent Texas reporting needs your support. The Texas Tribune delivers fact-based journalism for Texans, by Texans — and our community of members, the readers who donate, make our work possible. Help us bring you and millions of others in-depth news and information. Will you support our nonprofit newsroom with a donation of any amount?Yes, I'll donate today


text:
Parameters are Guile's facility for dynamically bound variables.
On the most basic level, a parameter object is a procedure. Calling it with no arguments returns its value. Calling it with one argument sets the value.
(define my-param (make-parameter 123)) (my-param) ⇒ 123 (my-param 456) (my-param) ⇒ 456
parameterize special form establishes new locations for
parameters, those new locations having effect within the dynamic extent
of the
parameterize body. Leaving restores the previous
locations. Re-entering (through a saved continuation) will again use
the new locations.
(parameterize ((my-param 789)) (my-param)) ⇒ 789 (my-param) ⇒ 456
Parameters are like dynamically bound variables in other Lisp dialects. They allow an application to establish parameter settings (as the name suggests) just for the execution of a particular bit of code, restoring when done. Examples of such parameters might be case-sensitivity for a search, or a prompt for user input.
Global variables are not as good as parameter objects for this sort of
thing. Changes to them are visible to all threads, but in Guile
parameter object locations are per-thread, thereby truly limiting the
effect of
parameterize to just its dynamic execution.
Passing arguments to functions is thread-safe, but that soon becomes tedious when there's more than a few or when they need to pass down through several layers of calls before reaching the point they should affect. Introducing a new setting to existing code is often easier with a parameter object than adding arguments.
Return a new parameter object, with initial value init.
If a converter is given, then a call
val) is made for each value set, its return is the value stored.
Such a call is made for the init initial value too.
A converter allows values to be validated, or put into a canonical form. For example,
(define my-param (make-parameter 123 (lambda (val) (if (not (number? val)) (error "must be a number")) (inexact->exact val)))) (my-param 0.75) (my-param) ⇒ 3/4
Establish a new dynamic scope with the given params bound to new locations and set to the given values. body1 body2 … is evaluated in that environment. The value returned is that of last body form.
Each param is an expression which is evaluated to get the parameter object. Often this will just be the name of a variable holding the object, but it can be anything that evaluates to a parameter.
The param expressions and value expressions are all evaluated before establishing the new dynamic bindings, and they're evaluated in an unspecified order.
For example,
(define prompt (make-parameter "Type something: ")) (define (get-input) (display (prompt)) ...) (parameterize ((prompt "Type a number: ")) (get-input) ...)
Parameter objects are implemented using fluids (see Fluids and Dynamic States), so each dynamic state has its own parameter
locations. That includes the separate locations when outside any
parameterize form. When a parameter is created it gets a
separate initial location in each dynamic state, all initialized to the
given init value.
New code should probably just use parameters instead of fluids, because
the interface is better. But for migrating old code or otherwise
providing interoperability, Guile provides the
Make a parameter that wraps a fluid.
The value of the parameter will be the same as the value of the fluid.
If the parameter is rebound in some dynamic extent, perhaps via
parameterize, the new value will be run through the optional
conv procedure, as with any parameter. Note that unlike
make-parameter, conv is not applied to the initial value.
As alluded to above, because each thread usually has a separate dynamic state, each thread has its own locations behind parameter objects, and changes in one thread are not visible to any other. When a new dynamic state or thread is created, the values of parameters in the originating context are copied, into new locations.
Guile's parameters conform to SRFI-39 (see SRFI-39 - Parameters).


text:
How long can the rally last?
Market watchers predict a pullback as stocks fall back in line. But after that, the bulls may be back in town.
|6 month CD
|1 yr CD
|5 yr CD
NEW YORK (Fortune) -- The Dow Jones industrials stormed past the 9,000 mark Thursday for the first time since January, as traders delighted in surprising corporate profits and a rise in housing sales. But are the markets getting ahead of themselves?
Many analysts say they're not -- at least by too much
Since their lows on March 9, the Dow (INDU) has climbed 37% while the S&P 500 (SPX) has gained 43%. Strategists say losses may come in the next two months as stocks fall back to normal valuations. The average stock in the S&P 500 trades at 17 times earnings compared to 13.5 just three months ago.
"The Dow has come very far and very fast," says Hugh Johnson, chief investment officer of Johnson Illington Advisors, who oversees more than $1.5 billion in assets. "On a short-term basis it is somewhat overvalued."
Johnson says the Dow could decline 5% to 10% before year's end to fall in line with historical valuations and market history. Even so, he predicts the U.S. is in the fourth month of a cyclical bull market. According to Johnson's analysis, cyclical bull markets since 1890 have had an average duration of 38 months and sent their stock up by 130%.
"If you look at the history of the bull market -- both in duration and magnitude -- this one is the early stages," he says. "This one has longer and further to go."
Others market watchers agree. Deutsche Bank chief U.S. equities strategist Binky Chadha says gains in the Dow and S&P 500 are sustainable with the rise in the greater economy.
"There's no doubt that the earnings we've seen for far have come in better than expected," says Chadha, who notes that 75% of the S&P 500 companies already reporting earnings have beaten analysts' expectations. That's notably higher than the historical average over the last 10 years of 62%.
Chadha notes that stocks are trading above historical levels on a price-to-earnings basis. The S&P 500 index has traded at 17 times earnings for the past four quarters, compared with the historical average of 15. Yet he believes the economy will continue to improve gradually, noting that 8 of the 11 economic indicators in a Deutsche Bank index have been positive since July 10. "I think that there's upside on the equity markets on a whole," Chadha says.
And J.P. Morgan Funds chief market strategist David Kelly expects the Dow to stay above 9,000 as the economy shows increasing signs of recovery.
"I think the most likely scenario is the market has a very good second half of the year and it builds in these gains," says Kelly. "There's nothing dramatic going on in the economy, but the economy is doing what it's supposed to do."
"There's a gathering body of evidence that the economy is on the road to recovery," he says. "It could be a long bull market if the economy can get to positive economic growth and stay there for a few years."
The retail giant tops the Fortune 500 for the second year in a row. Who else made the list? More
This group of companies is all about social networking to connect with their customers. More
The fight over the cholesterol medication is keeping a generic version from hitting the market. More
Bin Laden may be dead, but the terrorist group he led doesn't need his money. More
U.S. real estate might be a mess, but in other parts of the world, home prices are jumping. More
Libya's output is a fraction of global production, but it's crucial to the nation's economy. More
Once rates start to rise, things could get ugly fast for our neighbors to the north. More


text:
Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 2/10/14
From Press Release
Senior attackman Shane Sturgis (Downingtown East) was named Colonial Athletic Association Player of the Week Monday afternoon following a career-best six-goal game against Michigan on Saturday.
Sturgis finished Saturday's 22-7 victory with seven points in all, becoming the first Nittany Lion since April 11, 2009 to score six goals in a game (Jack Forster vs. St. John's). The CAA player of the week honor is the second of his career following a four-goal outburst against Denver last season.
The high-scoring senior started quickly Saturday against the Wolverines by scoring just six seconds into the contest on a Drake Kreinz (Delafield, Wis.) assist. Kreinz made his collegiate debut as a faceoff man, scoring a goal and winning 15 of 22 faceoffs.
Sturgis scored his second goal 2:46 into the game before notching a hat trick with 1:26 left in the first period. Sturgis made the score 10-0 2:51 into the second period before notching his second five-goal game of his career with 2:38 remaining in the first half. Sturgis would dish his lone assist five minutes into the third quarter and capped his six-goal effort with five minutes remaining in the frame.
The Nittany Lions return to action this Saturday when they host No. 12 Loyola at Penn State Lacrosse Field. Opening faceoff against the Greyhounds is set for 1 p.m.


text:
[twitter-follow screen_name='NoireTropicalB']
I just had to post this!! Sam Fine is breathing new life into this brand!!!! Can't wait to see what else they have in store! Also featuring in The Siren Call Collection promo: celebrity hair stylist Oscar James, celebrity photographer Jin Deyonker, celebrity/fellow Trini Freddie Leiba. Thanks to Erin (Ms. Scandalous Beauty) for the heads up! All info courtesy of Fashion Fair Cosmetics.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZvLbL1kS90]


text:
This is a statement that was read over the PA system at the football game at Roane County High School, Kingston, Tennessee by school Principal Jody McLoud, on September 1, 2000.
It has always been the custom at Roane County High School football games to say a prayer and play the National Anthem to honor God and Country. Due to a recent ruling by the Supreme Court, I am told that saying a prayer is a violation of Federal Case Law.
As I understand the law at this time, I can use this public acility to approve of sexual perversion and call it an alternate lifestyle, and if someone is offended, that's OK.
I can use it to condone sexual promiscuity by dispensing condoms and calling it safe sex. If someone is offended, that's OK.
I can even use this public facility to present the merits of killing an unborn baby as a viable means of birth control. If someone is offended, no problem.
I can designate a school day as earth day and involve students in activities to religiously worship and praise the goddess, mother earth, and call it ecology.
I can use literature, videos and presentations in the classroom that depict people with strong, traditional, Christian convictions as simple minded and ignorant and call it enlightenment.
However, if anyone uses this facility to honor God and ask Him to bless this event with safety and good sportsmanship, Federal Case Law is violated.
This appears to be at best, inconsistent and at worst, diabolical. Apparently, we are to be tolerant of everything and anyone except God and His Commandments.
Nevertheless, as a school principal, I frequently ask staff and students to abide by rules which they do not necessarily agree. For me to do otherwise would be at best,inconsistent and at worst, hypocritical.
I suffer from that affliction enough unintentionally. I certainly do not need to add an intentional transgression.
For this reason, I shall, "Render unto Caesar that which is Caesar's," and refrain from praying at this time. However, if you feel inspired to honor, praise and thank God, and ask Him in the name of Jesus to bless this event, please feel free to do so. As far as I know, that's not against the law ---- yet.
We confidently recommend our web service provider, Orthodox Internet Services: excellent personal customer service, a fast and reliable server, excellent spam filtering, and an easy to use comprehensive control panel.


text:
You have no items in your cart.
Market Price:
Sale Price:
* Required Fields
Note: Because it is manually measured, there may be an error of ±1 cm
Processing time: 1 - 3 days to prepare the order.
Shipping time: 3-7 days for expedited shipping. 7-15 days for standard shipping.
Total Delivery Time = Processing Time + Shipping Time.
Get 10% Discount with 3 steps from cherieday:
1.Please upload photos that you are wearing the dress by order.
2.If your photos are approved, they'll be live on site. and you will receive a 10% discount coupon via email within 1-3 working days.
3.The explanation and right to use the photos will be final in cherieday.com.
For the latest on sales, new releases and more...


text:
NORMAL, IL—According to incredulous sources, local hardware store employee and grown adult human being Rob Peterson, 37, actually expects to be happy in life.
Despite possessing a fully developed brain and a general awareness of the fundamental nature of existence, sources said Peterson apparently continues to believe that achieving long-lasting happiness is somehow possible.
"It's almost like he thinks reaching a place of enduring contentment with yourself and your life is some sort of obtainable outcome," friend Brian McDougal said of Peterson, who reportedly lives on Earth, has experienced life, and is not mentally disabled or abusing narcotics of any kind. "He even gets upset sometimes when things don't go his way, as if misery and disappointment weren't a foregone conclusion. And then, on top of that, he'll cheer himself up by saying that 'it's all going to work out in the end.'"
"I just want to shake him and scream, 'Wake up!'" McDougal added. "Jesus Christ, he's such a downer."
Sources confirmed that while Peterson has been supplied over the years with a glut of compelling evidence that life is a zero-sum game at best—including a thwarted career as a graphic designer, multiple failed relationships, and limited financial mobility—he nevertheless continues to cling to the misguided expectation that he can and will experience real serenity and joy in the long term.
The baffling man has also reportedly read a newspaper before, interacted with coworkers, knows how economies and political systems work, and is undergoing the process of aging, yet has made no effort to revise his original assumption.
"What really gets me is the confidence he seems to have that one day he will be able to shed all of the fears and anxieties that are hardwired into his DNA and the modern world will decide to stop being unrelentingly brutal and allow him some happiness," said coworker Miles Sagal, adding that the delusional Peterson inexplicably presumes that this not only could, but should, occur. "Whenever he's feeling low, he'll allude to some time down the road when he'll have it all 'figured out.' When exactly does he think that will happen?"
"Seriously, what the fuck is wrong with this guy?" Sagal added. "He's aware that he's going to die, right?"
Stunned sources told reporters that Peterson recently expressed genuine disappointment when something he hoped would happen did not happen, despite the fact that such a scenario is an elegant microcosm of life itself. He has also been heard to say on numerous occasions that he "just [wants] to be happy," as though returning to a state of childlike bliss were a reasonable request and not something human beings had already tried and failed to do for many thousands of years before he was born.
While modern psychiatric science maintains that long-term happiness is possible only in the realm of fairy tales, Hollywood romantic comedies, and the naïve imaginings of the youthful mind, experts said Peterson has not picked up on this universally acknowledged truth and may be suffering from the severe misapprehension that life can be what he makes of it.
"Frankly, science cannot explain this man," confirmed noted psychologist Dr. Eli Wasserbaum, adding that most people have their first realization that enduring happiness is an utter fallacy sometime in their late teens or early '20s, when their dreams for the future endure the first fissure in the process of eventual disintegration. "Anyone with the smallest degree of perceptiveness knows that happiness is, at best, a temporary emotional phenomenon. Seeing as Peterson is a college-educated adult, and not a 5-year-old kid on Christmas morning, he should really know better than to think otherwise. We're all just barely hanging on for our entire lives."
"Hell, I'm a respected doctor who makes over $300,000 a year," Wasserbaum added. "You think I'm happy?"
At press time, Peterson was still under the mistaken impression that anything really matters at all in the end.


text:
In the climactic showdown of tonight's season finale, "The Reichenbach Fall," the diabolical James Moriarty sneers at his arch rival, Sherlock Holmes, "You always want everything to be clever. That's your weakness." He's gloating because he's tricked Sherlock into believing that he possessed a code capable of breaking into any security system in the world—a possibility so remote that not even the writers of Sherlock would entertain it. And yet Sherlock swallows it whole (or at least pretends to). For all his belief in deductive logic, Sherlock also has a tendency to get so caught up in the particulars of a mystery that he misses the much larger truth. In this way, Moriarty's criticism is spot-on: Sherlock is so obsessed with cracking Moriarty's code that he misses the blinding, flashing obvious. But the line can also be viewed as a barb directed not just at Sherlock, the fictional character, but at Sherlock, the series—and maybe even its fans, too. "The Reichenbach Fall," an episode that makes numerous allusions to the tale of "Hansel And Gretel," is in some ways a cautionary tale about the danger of following the breadcrumbs too closely. If you're not careful, you might just end up in the wrong place.
The episode caps off a season in which Sherlock has, with varying degrees of success, taken on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's greatest hits: "A Scandal In Bohemia," The Hound Of The Baskervilles, and, now, "The Final Problem," the story in which the author killed off his most famous and beloved creation. In one of the clever transpositions this series does so well, the iconic Reichenbach Falls—the place where the original Sherlock faked his own death—appear in the episode, but only in painting form. After Sherlock recovers Turner's celebrated painting of the falls, he becomes a media sensation. At a press conference, he reluctantly poses in a deerstalker cap—an accessory which, Watson points out, will now be known as a "Sherlock Holmes hat." So far, so meta.
The episode's singular title, "The Reichenbach Fall," is a neat summary of Sherlock's character trajectory tonight. His seemingly fatal plunge—which I'll get to in due course—is preceded by a metaphorical one. Just as Sherlock, "the hero of Reichenbach," becomes a household name, so too does his nemesis. In a sublimely ridiculous sequence, a silent, gum-chewing Moriarty simultaneously breaks into the Tower of London, the vault at the Bank of England, and Pentonville Prison, using little more than a fire hydrant and his iPhone (Stealing the Crown Jewels: There's an app for that!). As the cops come storming in to the Tower, prepared for a fight, Moriarty sits there, nonchalant, wearing a crown and royal robes. It's beyond cheeky; it's borderline kitsch.
So Moriarty is taken into custody, and it doesn't take a genius like Sherlock to realize that this is exactly what he wanted. In what is inevitably touted as "the trial of the century," Sherlock testifies against Moriarty, despite having only met him for five minutes. (The testimony is yet another sly nod to the source material, in which Moriarty only comes face-to-face with Sherlock once). "Two minutes would have made me an expert," he insists. The jury deliberates for six minutes—they were held up by a queue for the loo, apparently—and returns with a startling verdict: Not guilty. Having successfully intimated the jury, Moriarty is a free man.
The surprise verdict is the first of many blows to befall Sherlock over tonight's episode. As act one ends, Moriarty pays a visit to 221B Baker Street to tell Sherlock all about his magical line of computer code. "I own secrecy," he says, adding, "Honey, you should see me in a crown." In Andrew Scott's hands, Moriarty is a distinctly 21st-century villain, sort of a twitchy, (more) flamboyant version of Julian Assange.
The fuel driving "The Reichenbach Fall" is the rivalry between Sherlock and Moriarty. While their cat-and-mouse-game has, technically speaking, been underway ever since the beginning of season one, it wasn't until this season that it really took center stage. One of the favorite themes of detective fiction is the blurring of the line between villain and pursuer—the notion that, to understand the mind of a criminal, one has to have a few screws loose. I'm not well-versed enough in the genre to know if this idea pre-dates Sherlock Holmes, but he's certainly the most shining example of what, by now, has become a screenwriting cliché: the mad detective.
Sherlock is a Flawed Hero®, a character who seems tailor-made for a series on premium cable, even if he's actually on PBS. So when Moriarty frames Sherlock for his own crime—the abduction and poisoning, via mercury-tainted chocolate, of the children of the American ambassador—it's rather too easy for his detractors to believe he's actually a psychopath. Sergeant Donovan doesn't want to believe that Sherlock is capable of solving a crime using nothing but a set of footprints and a few traces of glycerin, so she chooses to believe the version of Sherlock that Moriarty has crafted. She follows the breadcrumbs, if you will, but ultimately succeed in confirming her own suspicions: This Sherlock guy's a loon. As Sherlock tells Watson a short while later, "Everybody wants to believe it, a lie that's preferable to the truth."
For the audience, there isn't a terrible amount of suspense. After all, we know Sherlock is crazy, but not that crazy—or, as Watson aptly puts it, "Nobody could fake being such an annoying dick all the time." Indeed. Instead of suspense, though, we experience something that's more genuinely terrifying: the sense of being powerless to disprove someone else's elaborately constructed lie.
From here, "The Reichenbach Fall" descends even further into the postmodern rabbit hole. Pursued by most of the Metropolitan Police, not to mention a few of the world's deadliest assassins, Sherlock drags Watson to the home of Kitty Reilly, the lady reporter he rejected earlier in the episode who's now published a sensational expose alleging that the "hero of Reichenbach" is an enormous fraud. There, he discovers that her main informant is "Richard Brook," a impecunious Irish actor who makes his living playing a character named "The Storyteller" on a children's television show. He claims he was paid by Sherlock to pose as Moriarty. We only see Scott as "Richard Brook" for a few minutes, but he brilliant embodies the meek, disheveled actor his character's pretending to be; it's no wonder Kitty fell for his story. Of course it also helps that, having been rejected rather brutally by Sherlock, she was all too ready to believe Brook/Moriarty's tale of woe.
Yet there's something about the twist I don't totally buy. While it feels contrary to the spirit of Sherlock to nitpick excessively—part of the fun of this show is how it willfully flouts the very idea of plausibility—but even still this particular twist feels a little flimsy. If Brook is well-known enough that he was on TV, surely someone would have recognized him while he was on trial for the crime of the century? And just how far back does Moriarty's plot against Sherlock go, anyway? Far enough that he was going to auditions years ago just to eventually use his IMDB credits to bring down Sherlock Holmes? If so, you have to honor the guy's commitment.
After a brief and rather inscrutable meeting with poor old Molly, Sherlock at last arrives on the rooftop for his showdown with Moriarty. Having successfully distracted Watson with the (fake) news of Mrs. Hudson's shooting—a plot point drawn very directly from "The Final Problem," for those of you keeping track—Sherlock can face down his rival without distraction. The scene is a terrific showcase for both actors, though, by this point, neither Scott nor Benedict Cumberbatch really needs to prove himself in this department. Sherlock may have cracked the code, but what he didn't anticipate is that Moriarty knew that he would, and that the code itself was nothing but a giant McGuffin meant to distract him from the real plot that's been building all along. What's more, Moriarty isn't a brilliant hacker. He's just a guy who was able to find a few willing, easily corruptible participants to partake in his plot. (It's another revelation that plays into this episode's overall theme, which seems to be the danger of looking at the facts and seeing only what wants one to see.) Unless Sherlock agrees to commit suicide and go to his grave a fraud, Moriarty's crack team of assassins will kill Watson, Mrs. Hudson, and Lestrade.
It's a devilishly clever twist. Not only does it create a seemingly inescapable conundrum for our hero, but it also works as a great way to prove how much he's evolved as a human. Sherlock is willing to give his own life—or pretend to, anyway—to save his friends from certain death. Makes you all warm and fuzzy, doesn't it? Just as he's about to jump to his death, a sly grin spreads across Sherlock's face; he thinks he's got an out. He makes one last-ditch attempt to get Moriarty to call off the dogs, but Moriarty, in a final, devastating twist, pulls the trigger on himself. Now Sherlock's only recourse is to jump—to take the very fall that Moriarty predicted during their tea summit. And so he does, leaving a kind of oral suicide note via his cell phone—a fitting touch for this technology-obsessed show—and then leaping to the ground as Watson looks on helplessly.
In a coda that's both touching and funny, Watson and Mrs. Hudson pay a visit to Sherlock's grave. When Watson, somewhat abashedly, confesses to harboring anger toward his dear, departed friend, Mrs. Hudson assures him his feelings are normal—then unleashes a tidal wave of suppressed anger about Sherlock's various infractions. Watson interrupts, "I'm not actually that angry, OK?" Then, standing over Sherlock's glossy black gravestone, he makes a moving entreaty. "Don't. Be. Dead." The camera pans away to reveal that, a few yards away, Sherlock is about as "not dead" as they come. In fact, there's little to suggest that he's experienced any kind of physical trauma at all—no scrapes, scars, bruises, or bandages. Just that pasty complexion and mop of greasy black curls.
So, we're left with one enormous, juicy question: How'd he do it? In Conan Doyle's story, there was an enormous loophole, since Watson never actually witnessed Sherlock take his fateful plunge. As everyone with access to Wikipedia knows, it was only later that Conan Doyle gave in to fans and revived Holmes, concocting a story about how Holmes bested Moriarty using his martial-arts skills, then climbed up the cliff to make it look like he had also fallen.
In "The Reichenbach Fall," however, there appears to be much less ambiguity. We even see Sherlock's limp, bloody, seemingly lifeless body carried off on a stretcher. So how did the master detective dupe everyone, including a crowd of onlookers? Even setting aside the issue of plausibility—something most Sherlock viewers did a long time ago anyway—there are not too many possibilities that suggest themselves. The closest thing I have to a theory is that whatever Sherlock did, it involved Molly. After all, their final encounter seemed very important yet was never fully explained.
Whatever the case may be, it's a testament to Sherlock's writers that they are able to provoke such breathless speculation over a story that's been re-imagined so many times—to take something old and familiar and make it just as electrifying as the original. And therein lies the particular genius of Sherlock, a show which is able to rearrange, and in some cases completely alter, the details of its source material, while keeping its spirit firmly intact.