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Sunday, April 04, 2010
A Blueprint for Endgame: Pre-Raid
1. The first Tier of raiding opens 3 months after the launch of Cataclysm.
I greatly disliked the "rush" to get to Naxxramas. Levelling, normal dungeons, and heroics, were all severely diminished by the fact that Naxx was available so early. By delaying the opening of raiding for a few months, that gives everyone time to explore all the other facets of the game at leisure. As well, normal dungeon and heroic loot won't get obsoleted so fast.
2. 5-mans only drop blue gear.
I think that dropping scarce epics was a mistake. For one thing, the one epic drop obsoletes a lot of the other blue gear that drops. For example, [Red Sword of Courage] was strictly better than all other 5-man tanking weapons. Second, it allows you to start the raid game at lower item level. Finally, I think everyone skipped past blues and into epics too fast.
3. Heroic 5-mans drop an 8-piece class set.
I miss the dungeon sets of Vanilla. Dropping an 8-piece set gives something for people to collect, a reason to run many heroics. Ideally one piece would be dropped by the end boss of each heroic instance. There would be a version for each class-role combination. The set would have 2-, 4-, and 6-piece bonuses.
As for looks, I think a good motif would be "greatest hits from Tiers 1-6". That way it's a nod to nostalgia, while reusing artwork. For example, the Ret paladin set might be "Reforged Judgement", or the Rogue set could be "Restored Bloodfang". Alternatively the set could just use the blue Cataclysm armor artwork.
4. Heroic 5-mans do not drop badges at the start.
There is no need for badges at this point in time. Later, once raiding gets underway, badges can drop.
Edit: After thinking about this a bit more, it occurs to me that Heirloom gear will still need to be purchased. Heroics could drop Valiant Badges, but the only things for sale at this point will be the Heirloom gear. I think that Badge gear fills a hole when it comes to the scarcity of raid drops, but since random heroics can be run extremely often, badge gear is not necessary for 5-mans.
5. The Daily Heroic rewards 2x Champion Badges. A maximum of 8 Champion Badges can be earned each week.
There is a weekly cap on Badges so that people do not have to log in every single day.
6. There will be a maximum of 3 epic items available from professions. No weapons. Maybe belt and bracers and a ring. Recipes for these items cost Champion Badges. As well, these recipes require an ingredient which costs Champion Badges.
Here's a little tidbit to make crafting interesting. These recipes should be highly valued, as they are pretty much the only epics in the game (other than maybe a couple epics from exalted faction reputation). I like the way Primordial Saronite has worked out, and I think it's a good model to use for professions at the start of the expansion.
7. Reputation grinds use the "Tabard" model of Wrath.
I really like this model. It's flexible and easy to understand. As well, wearing a faction's tabard really drives home the idea that you are working for that faction, or accomplishing deeds in that faction's name.
I think this model will give people a solid foundation to start raiding. They can take their time leveling, collect sets in dungeons, and will enter the first tier of raiding with mostly blues and maybe one or two epics. I think that the first point is key, though. If Cataclysm launches with raids, a vast amount of content is going to go to waste.
27 comments:
I would really like to avoid the rush to raid like this. Gating similar to Kara in BC is an option, too. It actually felt like an achievement to get into Kara, and it served a good "you must be this tall to ride" check.ReplyDelete
I think all I really have to say here is that I love you. Please go work for Blizzard. :)ReplyDelete
I agree, except I think that the emblem system in Wrath worked very well, and I think heroics should still continue to drop them. Going back to a model where you have to be lucky enough to have the boss you want drop the gear you want in the spec you want and then win the roll is a huge step backward - that gear, especially if there's actual sets, needs to also be available from vendors for emblems.ReplyDelete
All sounds great, but haven't they announced 4 raids at release already?ReplyDelete
Blinding ideas all the way through.Because of the way I started I didnt get into Kara till mid way through BC so I really experienced all of BC.ReplyDelete
With Wrath even my old guild was running raids quite early into Naxx and I felt compelled to keep up so I could raid. Hence I feel I really rushed Wrath to get to 80 and missed a lot of the feel of it.
I can see this happening again in Cataclysm and with such a big change it would be nice to get a few months to "savour" it before I get on the raid merry go round again.
- Anonymous5:51 AM, April 05, 2010
I pretty much agree with everything you said but have one thing to add. Blizzard showed in Vanilla that they could make an instance available but unattainable due to difficulty (Razorgore!!!). I wish they hadn't gone to the concept making instances/raids easy from day 1. In Vanilla/BC they made instances very hard at first and slowly nerfed it to make content more accessible. It forced everyone to concentrate on ways to improve themselves. Now all everyone does is wait for the next loot pinata to open. My favorite nights in the game were when we finally were able to get into Nef's room in BWL and able to enter the Black Temple as it felt very special. It is not the same in WotLK.ReplyDelete
I also wish they'd bring back attunement quests. I think BC's Karazhan quest or the Onyxia attunement were about perfect -- a bit of backstory and it made sure everyone had paid their dues. Bliz got a little too crazy with the SSC to BT attunements though.
It was a shame that heroics seemed to get skipped more so than in BC, until they become just badge-farming randoms.ReplyDelete
- Anonymous8:04 AM, April 05, 2010
I whole-heartedly agree with all of the points you've made. It would be nice to see the return of the dungeon sets.ReplyDelete
I know im in the minority when i say it would be nice to see attunements again.
I've been playing since vanilla and i like how they opened up the game so everyone has a chance to experience all of the content but
i am saddened by the gearscore,gogogo,give me my purples now generation of WoW.
Great post and Great ideas!
Badge gain is already capped (two a day plus the raids.) The question isn't whether or not we have one; lockouts ensure that we do. The question is what that number should be.ReplyDelete
I disagree with capping badge gain over time at such low values. I think there should be some differentiation between players that want to spend their time and effort gaining as many badges as possible and those who approach it more casualy.ReplyDelete
If i'm willing to spend effort on getting those badges - i should be able to.
It's a fine like to tread between requiring the grind and cripping the more dedicated players and you pushed it too far into the 'screw the hardcores, there is only 1% of them anyway'.
It's a fine like to tread between requiring the grind and cripping the more dedicated players and you pushed it too far into the 'screw the hardcores, there is only 1% of them anyway'ReplyDelete
I'm interested in the problem with "screw the hardcores." They are only 1% and they take up a much higher percentage of resources. Given that Blizzard is a business, why wouldn't they be willing to give up 1% to double the size of the 99%?
There needs to be raid content available as soon as you hit the end game... otherwise why level at all? Leveling to the cap just to run heroics... doesn't sound exciting.ReplyDelete
There are a lot of people who have only one level 80. They don't like leveling they don't have alts and they only play the game for raiding. I'm not one of them but at the same time there needs to be room for both.
If things went your proposed way... then the person would hit 85... and stop playing until the raid dungeon was released. Why would they farm heroics for months just to start raiding? Especially if, like in wrath, there is never anything to graduate too. I've ran the same heroics since November of last year. It isn't enjoyable anymore and hasn't been in some time.
There needs to be a fast paced end game. There is always room to take your time through content the second, third... or in my case 10th time around. In the end it all becomes boring and repetitive... do you want to make it that way right off the bat?
I do agree with slowing down how fast we outpace heroics. For instance... I don't think heroics should be available at all until after the first raid content is down. That way you can scale it appropriately and have a challenge, in addition to better rewards. Then maybe after the following tier... allow the heroics to drop emblems.
With that sort of system... the people who want to exclusively raid... can do so without ever having to step foot inside a heroic. But heroics still provide a place for new players and alts to catch up to the current raid content.
- Anonymous9:38 AM, April 05, 2010
"the people who want to exclusively raid...can do so without ever having to step foot inside a heroic."ReplyDelete
there lies the problem imo. skipping a clear path of progression and being able to jump right in to raiding takes away from the feeling of acheivement.
i'm not HC by any means but i'm all for putting out a little effort to progress to endgame raiding, not just hitting 80 and jumping in or being carried through content but thats just me.
- Anonymous10:25 AM, April 05, 2010
I agree with every single one of your ideas. I too would like to see that heroics have a place again before raiding. One thing I would add to your list is the idea of making Cataclysm instances (normal and heroic) a bit more of a challenge than we saw in Wrath. Outstanding post.ReplyDelete
I think gating the first raid somehow (e.g. AQ or SWP) would be a good compromise. It would have to be coupled with challenging pre-raid max level content, however. I liked the BC heroic model much better than Wrath. In BC it took a competent group just to get through Heroic Shattered Halls or Durnhold Keep, and the single epic that dropped at the end was as well deserved as any drop you won in KZ :) In wrath, you could finish any heroic on the day your turned 80 (with the except of HoL, maybe, if you were a holy paladin ;) ). I'd like to see a return to heroic content as a half step between regular instances and the first tier of raiding.ReplyDelete
I completely agree with #1.ReplyDelete
On the surface, it seems strange to favor slower release of content, but it really does make the end game better in my opinion.
That is what I meant... once someone gets into raiding... they should never have to back peddle into doing heroics. Sure you hit 80, you start running instances and heroics to get the gear to start raiding... but once you get into raiding that should be it for heroics.
Heroics should be challenging and lets face it... after you get a bit of raid gear there is no challenge in a heroic. Heck in wrath... heroics were never a challenge.
I'm interested in the problem with "screw the hardcores." They are only 1% and they take up a much higher percentage of resources. Given that Blizzard is a business, why wouldn't they be willing to give up 1% to double the size of the 99%?
Exactly because as you put it "Blizzard is a business", why would they give up paying customers?
And what doubling are you speaking of?
I don't see why they can not opt for having both (they obviously should and are doing that).
Btw, hardcores kill the bosses first, write strats, make movies, host and fill ej, etc... they do live raids at blizzcon too.
The heard of a community is hardcores mostly imho.
I don't really see this plan as "screwing the hardcores". Hardcore people don't just want to raid. They like questing and 5-mans and leveling and lore just as much as the rest of the audience.ReplyDelete
Raiding will come in time. This initial period just gives everyone a chance to stop and smell the roses and prepare for raiding. Plus, it will mean that the race will begin in earnest, with many possible contenders.
Sometimes, building anticipation is just as important as the rest of things.
A guild can wait for its entire raidforce to catch up, and enter the new content as a cohesive group.
I agree with most of what you say, however, I like the idea of tiered epics that they currently have. You're leaving the majority of people who don't raid out of the epic loop this way. This plan satisfies the raiders nicely giving them incentive to look forward to raiding, but doesn't do anything for people who don't raid.ReplyDelete
Oh, maybe I didn't really make it clear, but this is just the pre-raid time period, before the first raid is launched. After the raid game starts up, things will change slightly (Heroics start dropping badges, etc.)ReplyDelete
I'm going to write another post detailing how I'd like the raid game to work.
3 months with no raiding? No thank you, I'd drop the game altogether. Raiding isn't the only thing I do in game, but it is the only thing that keeps me coming back to the game. Obviously, I don't speak for everyone but I get the feeling there are some out there that do share the sentiment.ReplyDelete
Have you thought of what this would do to lower end raiding guilds? People would take breaks from the game and come back at different times. Often, I'm sure they'd find a significant drop in playerbase, and travel to another guild. More people do the same, and you have a mass guild exodus.
I like your other ideas in improving the game and character development paths, but there's other ways to stifle progress without taking a significant portion of the game away for months at a time.
You've forgotten one crucial factor: gear from previous expansion.ReplyDelete
Why would one collect 8-piece blue sets if one could simply walk into the initial raids with ilvl277 triple-socketed epics?
@ Ephemeron with a whole brand new stat system and a new expansion there is nothing preventing Blizzard from making the 8pc set, and bonus be worth more than someones full i277/264 set. If you cast your mind back to WoLK Naxx there were some people still using Sunwell gear in there, cast your mind a little further back to the start of BC and everyone had replaced their Naxx gear in the first couple of levels. Expect Blizzard to find an even better balance this time around.ReplyDelete
@Rohan I think 3 months might be a little too long, remember that we are only going to be moving up 5 levels before people start running heroic instances, that will make finishing off leftover quests a piece of cake and then the exploration soon after. I think 2 months will be plenty of time.
This comment has been removed by the author.ReplyDelete
I didn't replace most of my lvl 60 Naxx40 epics until 68-70. The greens and even many of the blues didn't come close until then. I was a paladin though, and I guess it could have been different for other classes, but I thought the progression was where it should be.ReplyDelete
Three months definitely does seem a little bit long to me, and I think the AJs do have a point about some of the more hardcore players dropping the game and Blizzard losing out. The key is to find the right time period to wait before implementing each aspect of the endgame. One strategy Bliz could use is to create world events and other such entertainment that will keep a lot of the hardcore players interested in the game, while not granting them much in the way of upgrades. This will ideally tide them over for, let's say, a month or so after they reach the level cap but before the competitive raiding is released, yet still keep them on a relatively level playing field with the explorers and slower levelers. Bliz might also do well to build up some hype approaching the release of the first raid or group of raids. The more the bulk of players care about it (or at least the more the hardcores think the masses care), the more likely the hardcores are to stick around to be the first ones to kill the big boss dragons, ogres, and liches.
Strangely, I consider myself to be an explorer, a slow leveler, and a hardcore player. I would LOVE to be able to take my time and actually read quest text without the feeling of being rushed. I really enjoy leveling and exploring the landscapes and towns, trying out the new spells and abilities in different situations, checking out the cool monster types, learning about the professions, and chatting casually with friends along the way, all - get this - without having to take a week or two off from work when the expantion comes out. When I am pressured, both by peers and by my own desire to be at the top of the game, to get to the max level as quickly as possible, I can't do any of the aforementioned fun things without sacrificing precious time toward raiding glory.
@Phelps ... couldn't have said it better myself.ReplyDelete
Gating needs to return. Gating increased the feeling of accomplishment amongst everyone involved. Those people who strived long and hard to get attuned to places like Kara, SSC, TK, and even Hyjal and BT did so with pride. Gate them early with quests. They do not need to be overly difficult. Kara's key quest was challenging in the early days, but it became easier until it was removed. Gate raids and instances and then remove the gates when the time was appropriate. When they lifted the gate for SSC and TK it was appropriate, when they lifted it for Hyjal and BT it was right on. The problem was they never fully lifted Kara's, even when it didnt require the key, it still required one person to have the key.
The biggest thing I can say is, while I am not a huge fan of your concept on raid tiering. I do agree that its probably he best concept that keeps the 10/25 system. I do believe 10 man Heroic should be looked higher upon and even made more challenging and raised above the normal 25. But that is just me looking for a better challenge with my now limited resources.
The big problem with your theory is that if I have the option of going in and doing only a couple of bosses with a pug in a 10man, or a couple of bosses in a pug in a 25man, I will choose 25 all the time. Its impossible to do what you wish with things being puggable. 10man normal raids would be extremely limited to guild/friend raids with the pug people looking for 25s. Personally, I would rather just see them do the Kara/ZA vs SSC/TK system again and make nice, well tuned 10 man instances and nice and well tuned 25mans. Its impossible to tune the same bosses for both levels to a decent degree.
Lastly, the biggest thing I agree with here, is that tier should NEVER be purchasable through emblems/badges. This is one of the biggest mistakes they made in Wrath.


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"Like building a pyramid with the pointed end down."
That's the vivid image Port of Hood River manager Dave Harlan used Thursday to illustrate a central point in the issue of effectively developing parks on the Hood River waterfront: how do we pay for it?
The pyramid metaphor refers to planning a park without a careful plan for funding it, or to pay for it in a way that burdens an economically-strapped Hood River County taxpayer base. "To set it aside now and pay for it later is dubious public policy," Harlan said Thursday in a forum at Hood River Valley High School (details on page A1.)
Decisions are far from complete; a development firm has just been hired, and the City of Hood River will take a close look at the zoning proposal that drives the entire waterfront development process.
Harlan and the Port Commission are doing a good job of making it clear that the public can reap the benefits of parks along the Columbia through private funding of improvements that will also include hotels and other commercial uses.
Harlan literally went under the spotlight in the two forums to present the Port of Hood River's case. Harlan, completing his second year in the position, proved to be an informed and powerful speaker, first describing what he called "the long and sordid history" of waterfront planning efforts and making it clear that a new conceptual plan is now on the table. He then spelled out the precedents for a privately-funded development effort in Hood River — the Urban Renewal District improvements and Diamond Building renovation of the 1980s.
Finally, Harlan effectively demonstrated that the community has options for creating park areas that are complemented by mixed-used waterfront development. As he put it, the master plan to be developed must address "the whole economic picture" of Hood River County.
That point is difficult for some citizens who are understandably passionate about dedicating the waterfront to parkland. But planning for the waterfront cannot ignore the economic needs of the community. Nor is the Port ignoring the recreational needs of the public.
One thing the Port needs to make more clear is the combinations of tax lots, promenades, islands and other pieces of green spaces it believes can be developed to serve the community, but the Port is wise to show that a variety of land linkages can be done to provide for recreational space along the river.
Harlan deftly noted a point that has been made before but should be stressed: a 22-acre green space, the Marina Park, already exists on the waterfront.
That park is already a popular place for families, with the beach, the picnic benches, the windsurfing access, and even the Hood River County Historical Museum. An underused pedestrian bridge already connects the park to the waterfront area now under consideration (as well as to downtown, if you don't mind the freeway noise.)
"We need to ask, 'how will waterfront development help the overall economy of Hood River County?'" Harlan stated.
With businesses and public facilities already present between the mouth of the Hood River and the Hook, the key to waterfront planning is a careful blend of recreation and other uses.
The Port, as evidenced by its presentations Thursday, understands this balance and is getting more skilled at communicating it.
As Harlan put it, "Our task is to open better opportunities for all."
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subset: commoncrawl


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It's no secret the May River is a top priority for the town of Bluffton, residents and visitors.
Ensuring that our river is in good shape and its future is bright, takes work by all of us. The river is a jewel for Bluffton and the community.
There's a huge opportunity for one and all to get involved. Instead of sitting on the sidelines talking about the May River, get out and take part in the 24th annual Beach Sweep/River Sweep from 9-11:30 a.m. Saturday. Weather forecast looks great.
Join the town of Bluffton and lots of others who will organize a clean-up based at the Oyster Factory Park.
The event this year has even more significance than year's past. Bluffton has taken a huge step forward in its quest to clean up the May River.
On Sept. 1, the Bluffton Oyster Factory portion of the river restricted by the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control was allowed to start harvesting oysters once again. The regular season opens Saturday and Bluffton is back in business.
This is huge news and is reason for celebration now and at Saturday's annual event.
The timing for the news could not be better and we congratulate the town and all who worked hard to make this happen. Mayor Lisa Sulka has been one of the biggest supporters of the effort for years. She has reason to celebrate and call for action.
As we said back in April when the town announced it was ending one river committee and working toward starting another, the May River symbolizes Bluffton. A call to action also was issued then. We're issuing another.
Thousands of people participate every year in the sweep, which is South Carolina's largest one-day, volunteer, litter cleanup of beaches, marshes and waterways.
This event plays a huge role in the May River's future. Besides it and the panel put together by the town of Bluffton to work on the action plan that would lead to restoring the May River headquarters to shellfish harvesting standards and protecting future water quality.
Over the years the May River's water quality downgrade has been attributed to fecal coliform counts exceeding federal safety standards for oyster consumption blamed on Bluffton's rapid development. With the development came issues with the river.
The May River headwaters were closed to oyster harvesting by DHEC in 2009 because of rising fecal coliform levels.
Obviously this hurt businesses such as the Bluffton Oyster Co. The company continued to harvest from downstream beds rated "unrestricted."
Now, according to DHEC, a portion of the previously-restricted shellfish harvesting area from eastern Gascoigne Bluff to near Linden Plantation Road is being opened and includes about 21.5 acres of harvestable shellfish grounds that have been re-opened in the May River.
This reopening did not happen overnight and there is still much work to be done. But the town, people who served or are serving on the committee charged with making the May River fully operational, should be applauded for their ongoing efforts.


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Thibodaux native Johnny "Jambalaya" Percle, a well-know Cajun-style chef who cooked for many big-name musicians, died Tuesday night in Baton Rouge.
Thibodaux native Johnny "Jambalaya" Percle, a well-known Cajun-style chef who cooked for many big-name musicians, died Tuesday night in Baton Rouge.
Percle's son, Jonathan, said his father attended a Sunday night concert by his long-time friend and Grammy award-winning musician, Dr. John, at the Manship Theatre in Baton Rouge and suffered a heart attack a few hours later. Dr. John gave him the nickname "Jambalaya."
"I can't imagine a better way to go," Jonathan said.
Over the years, Percle cooked for The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Bette Midler, Blondie, KISS, Chicago, Jimmy Buffet, the Beach Boys and many other musicians. Percle worked on the cooking staffs of many major events, including Final Four college basketball tournaments and Major League Baseball All-Star games, besides cooking for Pope John Paul II in Rome.
The 63-year-old was into "good food, good friends and good music," his son said.
"Our culture has such a rich history as it relates to food and music," Percle said in an interview a few years ago. "It's only natural that the two should be fused together. When you think about the happiest times in your life, the main elements are families eating good food and listening to music."
He cooked at Oak Alley Plantation in St. James Parish and operated the former Bayou Bistreaux at the Bayou Country Club in Thibodaux. He also was executive chef at Nottoway Plantation in White Castle for about 20 years, returning to Thibodaux after Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
Percle, who served as president of the Lafourche Parish Tourist Commission, credits his grandmother as a major influence in his cooking and the preservation of local traditional recipes. She often prepared large quantities of jambalaya and chicken stew at the general store that she and her husband operated near their family farm. When Percle was 16 years old, he began catering for musicians in large arenas, including the Saenger Theatre in New Orleans.
Percle played music and hosted a popular KTIB morning radio show for five years in Thibodaux called "Soul in Yo Bowl."
In 1996, he performed rhymes and rhythms on a musical cookbook CD titled "Soul in Yo Bowl," which was produced by his longtime friend John Bergeron, who's known him since second grade.
"He was my best friend my whole life," Bergeron said. "He was such a brilliant cook. It was an art form for him."
Percle later released Johnny Jambalaya's Herb Marinade and Dressings.
Former NBA superstar Shaquille O'Neal once dubbed Percle the "Elvis of the Bayou." Percle had the chance to cook for O'Neal and the entire LSU basketball team several times during the early 1990s.
O'Neal, who was a big fan of Percle's Cajun-style cooking, approached him about opening a restaurant in Orlando not long after arriving in Florida.
"I guess it was around 1993 or 1994 that I moved down to Orlando," Percle said. "I helped launch two Lagniappe Cafes in the Orlando area. The restaurants did well and I had the chance to hang out with Shaq from time to time."
Percle was modest about any success he achieved in life.
"It's not about me," Percle said. "I've gotten a lot of breaks to go my way. I've always been thankful for those people who have put me in the right place to spread our culture to the masses. I consider it an honor and privilege to spread music, food and love to everyone I come in contact with. I'm full of funk and soul, and I hope that comes through in my cooking."
He is survived by his wife Terry Thomassie Percle; son, Jonathan Richard Percle and wife Blair Bass Percle; daughter, Amanda Talbot Percle and fianc� Terrent Tristan Broussard; sister, Connie Richard and husband Judge David Richard; and grandchildren, Andrea Jolie Broussard and Jai Pierre Broussard.
Visitation will be Saturday from 9 a.m. until funeral time at Christ the Redeemer Catholic Church in Thibodaux. A Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 10 a.m. at the church.


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Distinguishing features
Annual plants.
Plants annual. Culms 3-40 cm, geniculate.
Inflorescences spikelike, 0.8-4.5 cm long; middles internodes 0.5-3 mm; disarticulation either in the rachis, at the nodes beneath each spikelet, or below the florets.
Spikelets solitary, trangential to the axis, 6-25 mm long, more than 3 times the length of the adjacent internode, with 2-5 bisexual florets, sterile florets distal or absent.
Glumes 4-19 mm, including the awns, coriaceous, becoming indurate, 1-keeled, keels glabrous or hairy, never with tufts of hair. Lemmas 5-24 mm long, coriaceous, unawned or shortly awned. Paleas usually shorter and thinner than the lemmas. Anthers 0.4-1.3 mm.
Frederiksen, S. 1991. Taxonomic studies in Eremopyrum (Poaceae). Nordic J. Bot. 11:271–285


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NARNIA Fellows' Research Workshop
Recent developments in the interdisciplinary study of ancient materials from the Eastern Mediterranean
Nicosia, 7 and 8 November 2013
Archaeological Research Unit, University of Cyprus
12 Gladstonos Str, 1095 Nicosia
Thursday, 7th of November 2013
9.00 - 9.10 Welcome address by the NARNIA Coordinator
The study of ceramic artifacts from the eastern Mediterranean
(Chair: Dr Vassilis Kilikoglou, N.C.S.R Demokritos)
9.10-9.40 Dr Noemi Mueller (N.C.S.R Demokritos)
"Mechanical and thermal behaviour of functional ceramics in the Aegean and Cyprus"
9.40-10.10 Christina Makarona (Vrije Universiteit Brussel)
"Geochemical proxies for provenancing Cypriot pottery classes from Early to Late Bronze Age contexts"
10.10-10.40 William Gilstrap (University of Sheffield)
"Ceramic production technology and exchange during the Late Helladic IIIB period in the area of the Saronic Gulf, Greece"
10.40-11.10 Roberta Mentesana (University of Sheffield)
"Technological and social change in Phaistos, Crete, from the Final Neolithic through EMIIA"
11.10-11.40 Artemi Chaviara (Thetis Authentics Ltd)
"A technical approach to pottery production in Attica during the Historic period: Use of raw materials and processing techniques over time"
11.40-12.15 Coffee break
Dating techniques and palaeo-environment
(Chair WP leader: Dr Ioannis Bassiakos, N.C.S.R Demokritos)
12.15-12.45 Evangelos Tsakalos (N.C.S.R Demokritos)
"Luminescence dating and the palaeo-environment in SE Cyprus"
12.45-13.15 Ioannis Christodoulakis (N.C.S.R Demokritos)
"Luminescence dating and the palaeo-environment in SW Peloponnesus"
pXRF application in archaeology
(Chair WP leader: Dr Roger Doonan, University of Sheffield),
13.15-13.45 Dr Ellery Frahm (University of Sheffield)
"Portable XRF (pXRF) Applications in Archaeology"
13.45-15.00 Lunch break
Copper metallurgy in the eastern Mediterranean
(Chair W.P. Leader Dr Vasiliki Kassianidou, University of Cyprus)
15.00-15.30 Dr Andreas Charalambous (University of Cyprus)
"A diachronic study of ancient Cypriot metalwork"
15.30-16.00 Lente Van Brempt (University of Cyprus)
"The production and trade of Cypriot copper in the Late Bronze Age and Early Iron Age"
16.00-16.30 Frederik Rademakers (University College London)
"Ancient urban metallurgy in the Eastern Mediterranean"
16.30-17.00 Mainardo Aniselli (University College London)
"Copper alloy production and consumption in the Tuscia region during the Middle Ages"
Friday, 8th of November 2013
The study and conservation of architectural decoration from the eastern Mediterranean. Issues of material properties and cultural heritage
(Chair WP leader: Prof. Anne Marie Guimier Sorbets, Université Paris-Ouest)
9.00-9.30 Olivier Bonnerot (University of Cyprus)
"A study of materials used in the production of Cypriot wall mosaics, with a special emphasis on artificial materials"
9.30-10.00 Francesca Licenziati (Université Paris-Ouest)
"Techniques and materials used in Hellenistic mosaics, with a particular focus on the glassy materials used in mosaics from Delos (Greece)"
10.00-10.30 Lydia Avlonitou (Université Paris-Ouest)
"Techniques and materials used in wall paintings, from the Classical to the Roman period, in the Eastern Mediterranean. The decoration of the Macedonian Funerary Monuments"
10.30-11.00 Coffee break
11.00-11.30 Liza Charalambous (G. M. EUROCY Innovations Ltd)
"Application and development of computational Intelligence methods in Analyzing Archaeological Data"
11.30-12.00 Dr Marta Tenconi (Hashemite University)
"Assessment and quantification of damage on the building materials from three desert castles in Jordan"
Glass production and trade in the eastern Mediterranean
(Chair W.P. Leader Prof. Karin Nys, Vrije Universiteit Brussel)
12.00-12.30 Anastasia Cholakova (University College London)
"Glass supply and consumption in the Byzantine Empire"
12.30-13.00 Andrea Ceglia (Vrije Universiteit Brussel)
"Glass production in Antiquity" (video presentation)
AIA Tours


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It's basically just a thin film, but it doesn't affect the touchscreen at all, and no fingerprints are visible
I had such a job putting a protector on my I pad without getting those little annoying bubbles
We sell the adhesive protector also for Genos, we have sold al lot for PA4x montage kronos ...You find them on eBay...Greetings from Germany Frank See: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=H1kqRu-xCQA
Wouldn't a screen protector eventually also have fingerprint smudges all over it?
But doesn't the protective film itself get a bit messy after a while? I've always had screen protectors for my smartphones, but they all end up needing a good wipe from time to time.
I am a bit confused by this subject.In fact, I am actually at a loss for words. Wouldn't a screen protector eventually also have fingerprint smudges all over it?And wouldn't it also impact visibility, maybe a teeny weeny bit?Isn't the Genos screen made of a kind of glass that is tough enough to withstand scratches,Unless one, in a fit of rage, attacks it with a carpet knife?Best Regards,Pianoman.
Hello Ingar.I get your point, but it still doesn't answer my question. That is, isn't the screen glass tough enough to withstand scratches?Most mobile phones and tablets nowadays use a kind of glass called "Gorilla Glass" that is supposed to be very resistant to scratches.Wouldn't Yamaha also use this kind of glass for the Genos that is strong enough to withstand wear and tear, knowing that Genos owners will be using their keyboards for at least the next 2 to 4 years?Best Regards,Pianoman.
Pianoman,That was my point, that everything wears out. Whether it's down to us being heavy handed or not everything has a certain lifespan. And if it is down to being a bit heavy handed, l think l'd rather have a screen protector that may afford a bit of protection to the screen and save it from being scratched etc.


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Born from playful experimentation with vintage lighting components, APPARATUS is a collection of fixtures created by designer Gabriel Hendifar and partner Jeremy Anderson. Aged brass, frosted glass, and found objects are assembled by hand to create eclectic, utilitarian pieces. The result is a warm glow that is at once time-worn and thoroughly modern, with inspiration ranging from the kinetic sculpture of Arthur Ganson to the high wire acts of aerialist Philippe Petit.
The collection includes one-of-a-kind fixtures constructed from salvaged components as well as pieces made entirely from contemporary materials. In addition, APPARATUS offers a bespoke service to meet individual needs and specifications.
Shown in Blackened Brass with Aged Brass connection joints and Porcelain cone shades.
Includes two 25W matte white bulbs. Max 60W each.


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Return to Newsroom & Events > Annual Meetings > Past Annual Meetings > Long Beach California 2012 > AM2012 Program
Come relax and enjoy a break from your busy conference schedule! Bio-Oil would like to invite you to an hour of appetizers, cocktails and socializing with friends. All who attend will receive a free gift and a chance to win great prizes. Please RSVP to Kayleigh Tinsley at [email protected] by May 14th. We look forward to seeing you in Long Beach!
Preventing Fracture in Women: An Update on OsteoporosisBreakfast SymposiumTuesday, June 5, 7:00–8:25AM, Convention Center, Room 104BSponsored by AmGenPresented by E. Michael Lewiecki, MD, FACP, FACESatellite Symposium Learning ObjectivesAt the conclusion of this activity, midwives should be better able to:
This session is limited to 300 attendees. First come, first served.
Copyright © American College of Nurse-Midwives. All rights reserved. All Rights Reserved. 8403 Colesville Rd, Suite 1550 Silver Spring MD 20910 Phone: 240-485-1800 | Fax: 240-485-1818 | Web: http://www.midwife.org/


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Ducks host Canucks in home openerby Corey Masisak
CANUCKS (1-1-1) at DUCKS (3-0-0)
Season series: Anaheim takes the ice for its home opener six days after the Ducks drilled Vancouver at Rogers Arena on opening night, chasing goaltender Cory Schneider in a 7-3 victory. These two teams will only meet one more time this season after Friday -- April 25 in Vancouver. The Ducks have scored at least four goals in eight of their past 10 contests against the Canucks.
Top story: The Ducks will try to open the season with three straight wins, including two against perennial Stanley Cup contenders Vancouver, while Schneider will try to settle in as the team's No. 1 goaltender after a rocky start.
Team Scope:
Canucks: Schneider helped avert a city-wide panic by collecting Vancouver's first victory of the season and stopping 34 of 36 shots against Calgary. He yielded five goals on 14 shots against Anaheim in the opener, and Roberto Luongo played well in defeat in the team's second game.
When everyone isn't zeroed in on the goaltending situation in Vancouver, how the team will find depth scoring behind the Sedin twins is hot button issue No. 2. Three of the team's seven goals have come from defensemen, and those guys could help make up for the absence of Ryan Kesler and David Booth.
Ducks: Speaking of teams that have had problems with secondary scoring -- the Ducks' quick start has been in large part because the team has been getting contributions from each of the top three lines. Jonas Hiller has allowed seven goals in the two games, but the offense looks like Bruce Boudreau's vintage Washington Capitals editions.
Who's hot: Zack Kassian has plenty of pressure on him after being acquired for Cody Hodgson last season, and even more so now with Kesler out -- Hodgson would have been an easy call as Kesler's replacement in the middle of the second line. Well, Kassian has two goals in three games and scored the winner in the shootout Wednesday night against Calgary. … Daniel Winnik had eight goals in 84 games last season between San Jose and Colorado, but he has four in two contests for Anaheim already this season. He and Saku Koivu may be on Anaheim's third line, but they've combined for 10 points.
Injury report: Vancouver is short two-thirds of what was its projected second line. A return for Kesler (shoulder/wrist) has yet to be determined, while Booth (groin) is expected to miss four-to-six weeks. The Ducks have a pair of young defensemen -- Sami Vatanen (foot) and Hampus Lindholm (concussion) -- out, but both could be sent to the American Hockey League once they are healthy.


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Mobile development
Budget $3000-5000 USD
I need an Android app. I would like it designed and built.
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November 12, 1949 - March 9, 2013
Monticello, NY
Jessie Wilks, Sr., who was born on November 12, 1949, resided in Greenville, NC with his mother, Beulah Mobley and James Mobley (stepfather). He attended and graduated from Bethal Union in 1967 then receiving his high school diploma.
He move to Monticello, NY at the age of 17 and met his first love, Gloria Wilks, and they married and resided in Monticello, NY for the last 46 years.
He was employed by RSR Company in Middletown, NY for 25 years, where he served as a supervisor. He was able to retire and enjoy family life.
He also was a member of Little Grove Holiness Church under the Leadership of Bishop Thomas E. Ward Sr. in Woodridge, NY.
Survivors include his loving and devoted wife, Gloria Wilks and their four children: Jesse B. Wilks Jr., Keyshe F. Wilks, James E. Wilks, and Tamikia E. Wilks-Hudson (all of Monticello, NY); four sisters: Emma Williams (NC), Geraldine Hardy (Ayden, NC), Willie Mae Harrel (Stokes, NC), and Brenda Stephenson (Stokes, NC); one brother, Robert Outlaw; 13 grandchildren; two godchildren; one daughter-in-law; one son-in-law; two brothers-in-law, and a HOST of nieces, nephews, family and friends. He was predeceased by his father, David Wilks and two brothers: Larry Wilks and James Wilks.
Mr. Wilks will lie in repose from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday, March 16th, at Kings Chapel Mission, 15 Spring Street, Monticello, NY. Services will be held at 11 a.m. at the church. Pastor Michael Willliams will officiate. Burial will be in Rock Ridge Cemetery, Monticello.
Professional services were entrusted to Rhodes Funeral Homes, 259 Walsh Avenue, New Windsor, NY 12553. "Committed To Being The Very Best." Call us anytime at 845-569-1233.


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|2013-04-04, 01:35
|Link #41
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
but but but! awww she looked so cute and beautiful with long hair.... I love long hair
whew natural born hair dresser as MC nice, different.
I liked this first episode ...beautiful yet has an edge to it..............
Iwai is just so dawwww,and Kiri nothing annoying yet, ( except below) hope stays that way, like the name though. anyways will be watching this.
^ yeah i thought so too at that part . I mean hello you're carrying your own scissors, that you're used to. It wouldn't even take a few seconds to try that to, as it feels it's already part of his hands. Like he even said so himself,he finds himself holding it without thinking, meaning to, but oh well, 1 forced blemish due to the writing.
** move to current?
Last edited by garbage; 2013-04-04 at 01:49.
|2013-04-04, 01:38
|Link #42
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Austria
I love the animation and art (including the style changes), and I love the soundtrack. It's cute and demented in a way only anime can pull off.
|2013-04-04, 03:03
|Link #43
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Australia
Premise was interesting but the execution felt either awkward or bad. Events unfolded in a very forced way. I did like how weird and genuinely creepy they made Kiri's fetishism though. It was amusing. Hopefully it'll improve as it goes.
|2013-04-04, 03:11
|Link #44
Staring into your soul.
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: At the darkness beyond time.
i found everthing other than the story compsition interesting, but that is a big issue, but is a shame since the animation, music and execution of the scenea was very interesting, i could see they doing this to cut to the chase, but it was hard to feel any relation between scenes.
|2013-04-04, 03:13
|Link #45
Me at work
edit: got curious, checked out the source,every issue I had with this episode was also present in the manga,the adaptation really sticks close to it.
Last edited by totoum; 2013-04-04 at 03:25.
|2013-04-04, 05:35
|Link #46
The Chaotic Dreamer
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: In a cruel yet beautiful world
Age: 27
Odd first episode... I don't know what else I can really say about it. Iwai is ridiculously adorable with short hair, but I'll miss the long hair. The highlight was probably the scene where those girls watching over Iwai busted in as Kiri was having his fetish moment (and Iwai was enjoying it). That was SO awkward to watch but so funny at the same time.
|2013-04-04, 07:53
|Link #47
Waiting for more taiyuki!
Join Date: Jan 2004
I loved the first episode. Hair/hair cutting fetish given a romantic turn is refreshing. Can't wait to see what else those scissors are capable of doing.
Iwai: Please cut me Kiri-kun.
A little masochism from the female MC too.
|2013-04-04, 09:54
|Link #48
Seishu's Ace
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Kobe, Japan
The business with Grandpap was indeed a clunker, but apart from that I loved that first episode. Atmosphere out the ying-yang - terrific visuals, lovely music, refreshingly different casting. Nothing conventional about it whatsoever. I was immediately struck by a strong TTGL vibe in the look of the show, so I double-checked and sure enough - the character designer and all the A.D.'s worked on Gurren Lagann.
I don't deny the narrative could be a big problem long-term - the exposition was very clumsy. But for one week, I was pretty much swept away.
|2013-04-04, 11:54
|Link #49
Yuuki Aoi
Join Date: Jul 2004
I liked that first episode, too. As Guardian_Enzo says, very atmospheric. It took a while to get used to the character design, but I finally realized how good it was. The contrast of less detailed figures with more detailed backgrounds was interesting.
And the voice-acting had me rushing to identify the voices. Loved the voice of Koiwai Kotori (Kigurumi Haroukitei in Joshiraku; photos) as the Hair Queen. Powerful moe and emotionally authentic at the same time. And also 20-year-old Hanae Natsuki (Wien in TariTari) as Kiri.
His unaccountable slowness to use his own scissors was part of the emotional structure of the piece. Of course we would be frustrated by it, and then when he eventually did use them, our relief and joy would be greater. Or at least mine was.
This relates to my feeling that anime does myth better than realistic story. There was something hieratic -- like a priestly ceremony -- about the way he gradually came to do the deed. If this had been more realistic, it might have been difficult to make her sudden accession of love feel right. And the girl and her keepers were less like ordinary humans than like minor deities of some kind: one vulnerable, the others dangerous.
Now, if we just go on to have them defending themselves from evil episode after episode, this might get old for me. But it has started well.
By the way, director Yamaguchi Yuuji directed another weird show I liked very much: Touka Gettan. That starred two young seiyuus, too: Hayami Saori in her debut, and Ise Mariya in an early role.
Last edited by Kaoru Chujo; 2013-04-04 at 12:55.
|2013-04-04, 11:58
|Link #50
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Virginia, USA
Age: 56
Crunchyroll will carry the stream starting Saturday, April 6, at 4:30 pm PT for premium members and starting April 13 for free members. The stream will be available to the following territories: USA, Canada, UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa. [Source]
Last edited by LKK; 2013-04-04 at 11:59. Reason: fixed link
|2013-04-04, 13:43
|Link #53
One-Eyed Dragon
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: NJ, USA
Well i was interested in the premise, but things felt weird. Iwai was very adorable and sad, though i liked her better with the long hair. Kiri's fetish is way over the top. Though whole killing goods was kinda interesting. Though the part with his grandpa was just so abrupt, and obvious. The 2 girls were interesting in a deranged kind of way. So i guess a fight ensues next time. The visuals and bgm were good though. Don't know if i'll stick with it yet.
|2013-04-04, 16:52
|Link #55
Join Date: Sep 2006
Is hair fetishism a new popular theme now? We had all the combing in GJ-bu last season, and now another hair fetishist.
There were things about the show I really liked, but I think it depends how the plot develops as to whether i stay watching after my usual three or four episode trial period.
Does get brownie points for a scene where the male character and the female character lie on a bed together without conniptions.
|2013-04-05, 05:36
|Link #60
Pleased to Meet You
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Philippines
I read the manga. Let's just say it becomes serious early.
|action, comedy, romance, seinen, supernatural
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|2013-01-04, 21:30
|Link #461
Okuyasu the Bird
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Alberta, Canada
Age: 27
The 2012 anime of Black Rock Shooter is one I really enjoyed despite it being majorly detested or criticised by either fans of the original OVA or music video concepts or people pointing out it's over-exaggerated melodrama and silly characters. The "real world" segments in general is what brought it down really, and honestly from what I liked about the show I say I could do without those too.
That said, the Otherworld aspects were fantastic. It had one of my favorite all-female casts ever often combating each other in very brutal and unforgiving ways. The animation being good accentuated it, and it at least did a decent job telling a interesting psychological story.
The only other BRS concept that looks more interesting to me is the game one, which I have yet to play, but will as soon as it's localization is released.
|2013-01-06, 17:20
|Link #462
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Hen-Tie pen
While not everyone seems to hate Muv-Luv: Total Eclipse but most people complained the amount of fanservice and bad CG. What makes Muv-Luv good for me it reminds the good old days of Vandread and Macross Frontier but only darker.
|2013-01-06, 17:37
|Link #463
Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Australia.
Hayate No Gotoku. It's not necessarily hated? But it's not popular, so I guess people dislike it.
Although, I don't think that 88 episodes should last you 3 days..
Last edited by relentlessflame; 2013-01-06 at 19:40. Reason: Please edit rather than double-posting
|2013-01-06, 17:58
|Link #464
Sisterhood of the Desu
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: in a van by the river
A lot of tropes that seem to happen in anime happened in K actually. Or, I guess I should say, it seems like it was basically a bunch of marketing execs looking at a whole bunch of anime/manga, picking out what was the most popular, and making their own version of it.
That's what I meant. But you should check out the Tv tropes site..it's addictive
|2013-01-06, 18:22
|Link #465
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Wichita
Actually, compared to most harem show, I must say that TWGOK is brilliant. It's very self-aware of many tropes introduced in Harem show. The MC is not a dumb and dense character. And, he's quite serious with each of his target. And, I must say that Keima Katsuragi (the MC) is not a playboy... He not focus on multiple girl at the same time. Instead, he pursue one girl at a time.
|2013-01-06, 19:49
|Link #466
Join Date: Dec 2003
Age: 36
I'm a firm believer in applying your brain to everything you watch, but sometimes if you combine that with the collect database powers of the Internet, I just think it can backfire for some people. On the other hand, some others find anime more fun as a result of recognizing all the patterns. I guess all I'll say is just don't become "that guy/gal" (that person) who can't participate in any anime conversation without constantly hot-linking tropes everywhere, because that's just annoying IMO...
Anyway, a thought in the spirit of of being able to find anime you love even though everyone else hates it, I guess.
|2013-01-06, 22:21
|Link #467
Toji Affairs Secretary
Join Date: May 2009
Location: the Philippines
Oh, I also know of TvTropes. It's just that I don't see it as a problem if a production team decides to go for popular plot ideas, just as long as the end-product is enjoyable.
|2013-01-07, 16:21
|Link #468
Graphic Designer
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Vancouver, British Columbia
Age: 27
With that said, with the release of Minami-ke Tadaima, I thought I'd mention that I rather enjoyed the Okawari and Okaeri seasons of Minami-ke, and almost as much as the original itself. The drastic changes required a little bit of time to get used to, but I think they gave the show greater depth overall. It's not like they killed off the original characters or anything either.
|2013-01-07, 16:26
|Link #469
Last Engage
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Florida
|2013-01-08, 18:54
|Link #470
Sisterhood of the Desu
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: in a van by the river
That's how I knew I was watching and absorbing enough anime though to recognize 'Oh look, there's a tsundere, there's a samurai type' or since we're referring to K, 'Oh look there's a catgirl'.
|2013-01-08, 21:30
|Link #472
Sisterhood of the Desu
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: in a van by the river
It's not that I don't see characters as cliches...though I guess it depends more on the show. In this case, since K seems to be a big topic, it was pretty obvious that they're tropes, though characters like the HOMRA gang and Kuroh had their own quirks.
But then again, I'm a cynical bastard I guess...
|2013-01-08, 21:40
|Link #473
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Idaho
Age: 26
Hayate no Gotoku is running a third season now so it definitely has enough popularity to sustain a continued effort.
As far as cliches, I certainly do pay attention to them. I see a lot of story elements and characterizations as being cliches. I recognize that they fit into a category and that they are a device in one way or another. However, I actually enjoy that. I both enjoy seeing how they work and I enjoy identifying them. Cliches aren't necessarily a bad thing, as they are more often than not inevitable. You'll always have characters who are like characters, and people who are like other people. There are only so many kinds of things that can exist. I suspect that kind of ties in to why you'll see trends in anime as far as character groups or genres. Those trends rotate around as things become old, and then other things replace them.
|2013-01-08, 22:09
|Link #477
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Idaho
Age: 26
It's not as bad as Gunslinger Girl il Teatrino though. Fine. You changed studios. Fine, you can't exactly copy Madhouse and stay consistent with them. BY THE GODS MAN, AT LEAST TRY! I had to do some quadruple takes and a huge rant about how mad I was within two minutes of starting the first episode. I actually had to physically work myself up and prepare for what I was getting myself into. I like Gunslinger Girl, but that massive of a change was really hard to put up with. SUCH A BAD STYLE FOR A VERY DARK ACTION SHOW!
|2013-01-10, 11:29
|Link #478
likes cute things
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Searching for more imoutos
Age: 38
I don't know how many fans vs non-fans there are, but there was a show that I really really liked which had a fair amount of complainers at the time, namely Shuffle. Even though I didn't like the ending (only because I don't care for the character, she's the last on my list), it was very fitting for the way the story progressed.
|2013-01-18, 08:47
|Link #479
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Hen-Tie pen
While technically nobody hates Boy's Be but I think it needed more recognition from today's anime fans. It is the first romance and drama that intended to be seen by shounen and seinen audiences rather than more traditional male ones.
Most seinen heavy drama show like School Days and Yosuga no Sora had their roots in Boy's Be even though BB is not that extreme.
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Why Give?
Madisonville Community College is a vital educational, economic, and arts programming resource for our western Kentucky communities. The college provides higher education opportunities for students which helps them earn an associate degree from a high need occupational area and go directly into the workplace as a registered nurse, an industrial technician, or welder. MCC also provides an accessible avenue to earn valuable credits before transferring to a four-year school.
A gift to MCC is an investment in the lives of students, businesses, and our communities who benefit from comprehensive services that the Advancement Office and Advising and Transfer Center can offer. Our success would not be possible without the generous financial support of alumni, friends, and local businesses who value a strong, affordable college education right here in western Kentucky.
The Melvin Hicklin family recently established a scholarship in memory of Becky Hicklin, a long-time Hopkins County nurse. The award is designated to a second-year nursing student, from West Hopkins County and will have an annual value of $700. Pictured to the left are Jay Parrent, MCC's Dean of Student Affairs; Melvin Hicklin; and Dr. Deborah Cox, MCC's Chief Academic Officer.
See how estate planning and direct giving produces graduates who work in high need occupational areas.


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The former Barcelona coach has spent this season on a self-imposed sabattical following four years of enormous success at the Catalan club, during which he won 14 trophies. And despite being linked with a move to Bayern Munich, the 41-year-old Spaniard has offered hope to his Premier League suitors.
"I've always found English football very fascinating, for the environment, the crowd and the supporters," Guardiola said. "In Italy, Latin people will support you when you are playing and when you lose, they kill you. In England I'm always surprised that people always support everything and that is nice. That's why, maybe, I hope to have the challenge or the opportunity to train there.
"As a player, I couldn't realize my dream to play there. But I hope in the future I have a challenge to be a coach or a manager there and feel the experience of all the coaches and players that have been there. It is unique, to play in that league. The support is amazing. I want to feel the supporters, the environment, the media and the style of the players and everything. I am still young, just 41, so I hope in the future I could be able to train there and enjoy that."
Guardiola was speaking ahead of the FA's 150th anniversary commemorations in London on Wednesday. It was only 24 hours earlier that Real Madrid boss José Mourinho confirmed his interested of coach in the Premier League in the near future.


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Dr. Mikel J. Harry1-480-515-08909:00 AM - 5:00 PM MST
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Tag Archives: Continuous Improvement
Why Do Training Programs Fail?
Creating and delivering "sticky" corporate training requires two basic things. First, any attempt to apply the content must bring some type or form of immediate and verifiable financial value to the company. Second, the content must be able to create … Continue reading
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Authored by Mikel J. Harry, Ph.D. In today's marketplace companies of all types and sizes are looking for top-line growth, reduction in their total cost structure, increased capacity without capital investment, improvements in customer satisfaction, better investor relations, and sound … Continue reading
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Authored By: Rebecca Garcia Lean and Six Sigma methodologies have brought tremendous improvements to my life at work and at home. People who understand these concepts can use what they learn to help clarify issues, diagnose root causes, and pinpoint … Continue reading
Capturing the Voice of Society
Introduction and Overview Since the time of Plato, people have curiously debated many things and explored numerous paradoxical questions — like how to make known the unknown. For example, the human race has long debated whether or not people are … Continue reading


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Grand Theft Auto series
|"Luis" redirects here. For the actor, see Luis Guzman.
- "Hey, I know who I am. Sure, I do bad shit, but that ain't what I'm going to be forever. "
- ―Luis Fernando Lopez
Luis Fernando Lopez is a character in the Grand Theft Auto series, appearing as a supporting character in Grand Theft Auto IV and The Lost and Damned and the protagonist of The Ballad of Gay Tony. He is also mentioned several times in Grand Theft Auto Online. He is a bodyguard and business associate of Tony Prince.
Luis is of Dominican descent and was raised on Frankfort Avenue of Northwood in Algonquin. His mother is Adriana Yanira Lopez, his older brother Ernesto Lopez and his younger sister Leta Lopez-Wilkinson. His father was a U.S. Marine who abandoned them while they were young. He was raised by his mother, who also had a notable role in the upbringing of Luis' childhood (and current) best friends, Armando Torres and Henrique Bardas. He also grew up with Oscar Gomez and Alonso Gomez, Teddy Benavidez and Willy Valerio, older kids by three years, ushered most of the neighborhood kids into drug dealing. During a drug war, Henrique mentions that Luis used to rap while Henrique "laid down" the beat. Henrique claims that Luis was a poor rapper because people used to laugh at him when he would rap. He was also scrawnier in those years, as Armando and Henrique recall. During school, a teacher, had apparently been making fun of Luis' sister, and in retaliation Luis broke the teacher's arm. Henrique at one point reflects on the time the three of them had stolen liquor from Principal Fischer's office, and claims that detention in their school was almost as bad as prison.
When Luis was 17, in 2000, he went to juvenile hall for two years because he shot and injured a teacher who felt up his sister. Armando and Henrique remember spending the summer of 1999 with Luis, meaning it happened during their next school year. Curiously, this does not appear on his criminal record. Not long after his release in 2001, he had been arrested again for grand theft auto. This likely coincides with him taking the blame for a crime committed by Armando and Henrique (neither of whom were caught) and going to prison. During this stint, also two years, he went from being very skinny to being quite muscular. He got his physique by body-building to help against fighting off inmates to keep himself from getting raped or killed. His brother and sister, however, both left Liberty City and started stable lives, married, with children and homes in different small-town suburbs, with little to no interaction with their mother. As a result, she relies on Luis to give her money.
Luis got in police trouble a third time in 2003, for assault, but avoided prison. This likely coincides with Luis being arrested alongside Oscar Gomez and Willy Valerio - the LCPD goes on for years thinking Luis is still closely connected to them, while in fact this was one of their last times together.
Meeting Gay Tony
In 2005, when Luis was 22, his life changed when he accepted a job from "Gay" Tony Prince to be a bodyguard. It wouldn't take long for Tony and Luis to see each other as a sort of father-and-son pair. He cut all remaining ties with his old gang (except Armando and Henrique as friends), and paid his supposed last visit to an illegal cage fighting ring (though he would return). By working for Gay Tony, his life became much more positive, and while he lost respect with old friends who saw him as a yuppie, he was introduced to much more money and glamor. Tony once paid Luis to take helicopter-flying lessons for business purposes (as shown from his Higgins Helitours piloting certificate in his apartment, as well as the Club Management mission with Bruce Spade). Unfortunately, Tony was in debt to several loan sharks across the city such as Mori Kibbutz and Ancelotti family soldato Rocco Pelosi, setting in motions TBoGT's events.
Events of The Ballad of Gay Tony
Luis begins doing several jobs for Tony, witnessing the bank robbery, meeting Rocco Pelosi and Uncle Vince in the introduction. He began doing work for his mother and friends (Momma's Boy, Corner Kids and Clocking Off) then began helping Rocco with his work on missions for Tony; he meets multiple gang officials in peace attempts, all of which wage war nearly killing him and Tony. He would then get The Celebinator (...Blog This!) off Tony's back. Tony would introduce him to Yusuf Amir, who got Lopez stealing a Buzzard, APC, a subway train, and killing Tahir Saeed and Ahmed Khalil. He would later work for Mori Kibbutz, one of Tony's loaners; after completing This Ain't Checkers and beating Mori in a Triathlon, he got Tony out of his grasp.
Things only turned worse for Tony after a Bahama Mamas meeting in the mission Boulevard Baby also went wrong. Luis, Evan Moss and Gay Tony would later buy $2,000,000 worth of diamonds, but lose them at the hands of Johnny Klebitz, who kills Evan, but was fortunately able to reclaim them that much later. Luis also discovered how Tony had befriended Gracie Ancelotti.
Luis began working for Ray Bulgarin, who had him deal with his Marki Ashvilli situation alongside Timur, his right-hand; after discovering how Luis bought diamonds that were claimed to be his, he ambushed and betrayed Lopez by having him witness The Cook's dead head and sending snipers, gunmen and choppers after him. Having left him, Luis gets Tony's attention on this; his life is falling apart now.
Thanks to Niko Bellic and Gerald McReary, Gracie Ancelotti is discovered to be kidnapped. Luis, knowing how she pumped Tony with cocaine, refuses to help, but he is ordered by Tony to track her down. When the Ancelotti's, following this mission, fail to reclaim her forcefully, Tony and Luis are forced to give away the diamonds to Niko Bellic and Packie McReary in the mission Ladies Half Price.
Luis is later ordered by Rocco to kill Tony in the mission Party's Over, but kills Uncle Vince, and spares Rocco due to Tony's claims that Rocco is a made man, and at the cost of a heavy ambush. He later destroys the heroin and then kills Timur and Ray Bulgarin in Departure Time. In the last cutscene, Luis is thanked by Tony as he 'saved' his business. Then Yusuf arrives and the three talk about what their near futures, as the player is to decide what happens next.
It is implied that they finally accepted Yusuf's offer to franchise Maisonette 9 and Hercules, although it is never explicitly stated whether or not this happens.
Sex life
Because of his role as a celebrity nightclub bouncer, Luis has the opportunity to socialize and even have casual sex with famous, beautiful women. Some people mentioned during the game that Luis has a small penis. It's unproved, but this blame comes from his lovers, and he gets angry when somebody else talks about that. Gracie and Daisie both playfully tease Luis about being a closeted homosexual.
He had been sexually linked to:
- Ms. Adams: Luis' 8th grade teacher, who he slept with while he was in her class around age 14. She is possibly his first, as Armando calls Luis "a victim of child abuse."
- Dani Lupisella: Daughter of the Lupisella mafia don, who threatened to "get her daddy chop my balls off" if or when the relationship ended. During "Blog This!...", Luis tells Gracie Ancelotti, who is interested in him, that he will not date mob daughters because of the experience.
- Joni: A close co-worker of Luis at Maisonette 9, who will sometimes give Luis blowjobs and even sex in the surveillance room and later poke fun at Luis' penis. She is Luis' friend. It is also clear that they have a friends with benefits relationship, but if Luis has sex with a woman in Maisonette 9's bathroom, Joni will scream at him for breaking her heart.
- Monique: The two were dating beforehand, until Luis was caught sleeping with her roommate. In the mission Boulevard Baby, she had not held a grudge on Luis and hooked up with him all over again. She is caught red-handed by her boyfriend Vic (owner of Bahama Mamas) who was been thought to be out of town.
- Monique's roommate: Luis slept with her when he was dating Monique.
- Daisie Cash-Cooze: A British socialite living in Liberty City, who once slept with Luis and avoided him afterwards, even though Luis contacted her a few times. She later recruits his help when a famous actor that she cheated on her boyfriend with, Chris Hunt, is about to humiliate her. Although Hunt releases a compromising sex tape to millions of viewers, Daisie happily marries her boyfriend despite the affair.
- Poppy Mitchell: One of several famous people Luis has had casual sex with. When asked about having sex with celebrities by Cloe Parker (who was drunk and advancing on him), he says it's just like normal sex, except they look at themselves in the mirror.
- Margot: A clingy, mentally unstable ex-girlfriend who Luis dated "over a year ago" in early 2007. She attempts to commit suicide twice over Luis. The first time she fails, she uses painkillers and sleeping pills (Luis drives her to the hospital on time), and then a second time she succeeds as she jumps from a two to three story pier and dies. Luis disperses the area after attracting unwanted attention from nearby pedestrians who believed he pushed her.
- Carmen Ortiz: A Bohan woman that Luis was involved with in 2007 and calls "nasty". Armando Torres and Henrique Bardas were also involved with her, the former still dating her. In an eerie coincidence, she is a potential girlfriend for Niko Bellic in the original game.
- Unnamed: Luis has sex with the unnamed Asian woman in the Maisonette 9 bathroom in "Boulevard Baby".
- In a similar fashion, The player has the opportunity to dance and have sex with random women at Maisonette 9.
Murders Committed
- Frickie Van Hardenburg - Murdered when his yacht was destroyed.
- Tahir Saaed - Murdered for tipping off the police in an attempt to get Yusuf out of the picture.
- Ahmed Khaleel - Murdered for tipping off the police in an attempt to get Yusuf out of the picture.
- Jack Duffy - Murdered on orders of Rocco Pelosi.
- Mel Toblowsky - Murdered on orders of Rocco Pelosi.
- Vic Manzano - Murdered for assaulting Monique and attempting to kill Luis.
- Chase Point Dealer - Murdered on orders of Mori Kibbutz.
- Mori Green - Murdered in order to retrieve the diamonds.
- Marki Ashvilli - Murdered on orders of Ray Bulgarin.
- Uncle Vince - Murdered to intimidate Rocco, and to rescue Tony.
- Timur - Murdered for threatening the lives of him and Tony.
- Ray Bulgarin - Murdered for threatening and attempting to kill him and Tony.
Optional Murders
- Mr. Santo - If Luis does not take a dive in Momma's Boy, Santo will try to kill Luis, and he must be killed.
- Union Official - Can be killed during Practice Swing, although it has no effect on the mission.
Heinous crimes committed by Luis
- Escaping a botched drug deal with Armando and Henrique.
- Overseeing a heroin shipment with Armando and Henrique.
- Stealing a Buzzard from Frickie Van Hardenburg.
- Stealing an APC from the LCPD.
- Using remote explosives to destroy a crane, a subway train & a private jet.
- Stealing an out-of-service LTA subway car.
LCPD Database record
Physical appearance
Luis is depicted as a muscular Afro-Latino man in his mid-twenties. He is of light brown complexion with brown eyes and black hair, has a 'high fade' haircut a small bit of facial hair. He also wears an earring on his left ear and has a small tattoo of his own name on his neck. He usually wears a black and white letterman jacket with jeans and white tennis shoes, or expensive suits for club business. He speaks with a New York Latino accent and often mixes in Spanish with his speech. Before he went to prison he was much scrawnier, but the harsh prison lifestyle forced him to build up his body.
Luis is a person who normally keeps his emotions in check, rarely demonstrating his feelings. Despite this, Luis does care for his mother and friends as he was visually struggling to keep his anger toward Mr. Santo from exploding because of his threatening behaviour around his mother. Luis is also very sarcastic and talks back to people when he needs to. He is also more reasonable and careful than most other people, being a perfect foil to the flamboyant, impulsive Tony.
Luis also shows clear disdain for the 'street thug' lifestyle that landed him in prison, and criticises Armando and Henrique for still living it. Despite this, he still helps out his old friends with drug deals and they repay him with vehicles and weapons. He also shows clear signs of bitterness for the time he spent in prison, though this is because he had to furiously fight off other inmates.
Mission Appearances
- The Lost and Damned
- The Ballad of Gay Tony
- As the protagonist, he appears in all missions.
Character trailer
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- Luis is the second Dominican protagonist in the series after Victor Vance, protagonist of Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories.
- If Niko responds negatively to the e-mail "Brucie Owns Reality. Bro!", Niko writes: "There are more important things in life than being a celebrity or having good abs. You've been spending too much time fluffing the bouncer at the Maisonette 9", which could be referring to Luis, but also Dessie as well; however, Brucie does try coming onto Luis at one point.
- Luis is an official licensed helicopter pilot, explaining how he is able to operate choppers; he took a Higgins Helitours weekend crash course, and has a certificate of completion hanging on the wall next to his bedroom in his Northwood Apartment. Based on comments made by Luis during the missions Sexy Time and Ladies' Night, and Armando during a Drug War, Tony is the one who paid for it.
- According to several of Tony's quotes, he has made Luis take advanced driving lessons. This makes sense, since bodyguards are not authorized to chaffeur their boss on a job without this training.
- In the GTA IV mission Three Leaf Clover, the player can kill Luis when he is amongst the hostages in the bank, although this has no effect on the storyline.
- Like Johnny, all of Niko's fighting moves and animations, aside from the basic walking and running ones, are carried over to Luis. This is strange, considering that Niko's fighting moves were meant to reflect his military training, whereas Luis or Johnny technically would not be able to pull them off, though it possible that Luis could pull off some of these moves if he had some special bodyguard training. It is likely that game mechanics are the main cause for this. Johnny and Luis also throw left hooks, while Niko performs left jabs.
- During the friend activities, Armando and Henrique mention that Luis was always a terrible darts and pool player.
- Luis has his name tattooed onto his neck, although it is partially covered by his clothing. It can easily be seen in Three Leaf Clover and Museum Piece.
- When drinking at the bar, Luis blacks out after eight shots, and sometimes could wake up in random places, such as inside the Statue of Happiness or by a lake in Middle Park.
- Luis' physique is more muscular in TBoGT, and his face has become more detailed. Additionally, he has white sneakers instead of the black ones seen in GTA IV and TLAD.
- Luis mentions several times in the game that he doesn't like killing cops.
- Luis and Niko Bellic have crossed paths four times. Once during the bank robbery, but Luis didn't see Niko's face as he was wearing a balaclava, and Niko never acknowledged Luis at the time. A second time later in the same mission, Niko almost hits Luis with his car, this time unmasked. A third time in the museum where Luis ambushes the diamond deal with Isaac Roth, which is the first time Niko takes note of him; as far as Luis is concerned, this is the first time he has seen Niko. Finally, they exchange words during the diamond exchange where Niko and Packie return Gracie to Tony and Luis. Luis might not have recognized Niko from the museum, as he doesn't say anything regarding this. Niko, however does remember Luis crashing the diamond deal and the Gracie exchange. If the player calls Roman after Museum Piece Niko says they were going to be rich but this Dominican looking guy shot the place up. He also refers to Luis as "this Dominican-looking guy" if the player phone calls Roman after Ladies Half Price and Niko will say that Luis showed up twice.
- Luis and Johnny Klebitz have crossed paths twice. Once during the diamond deal with Gay Tony, Evan Moss and The Cook, Johnny and the bikers ambush the deal, and Luis, Gay Tony and Evan escaped, with Luis killing most of the bikers, and Johnny killing Evan and stealing the diamonds. The second and final time is in the museum, where Luis ambushes the diamond deal with Niko Bellic and Isaac Roth.
- Unlike Niko and Johnny, when they are killing people, Luis will seem to act calm when holding up people and killing people as hinted in his dialogue. When holding up people, Luis will often say, "Got something for you", or "So what next?". When killing people, however, Luis will show remorse; saying such as, "Man, what a waste" or "This wasn't my kind of confrontation...but it'll do".
- Out of the three GTA IV protagonists, Luis is the only one not to have someone close to him die. Niko loses either Roman or Kate and Johnny loses his best friend Jim.
- Luis is also the only GTA IV Trinity protagonist to not have a safehouse burned down.
- Luis is one of three protagonists who kills another protagonist's enemy in the whole GTA series, the others being Niko Bellic and Michael De Santa. Luis kills Niko's antagonist Ray Bulgarin, Niko kills Johnny's antagonist Ray Boccino, and Michael De Santa kills Rocco Pelosi in GTA V, who is one of Luis' enemies in TBoGT.
- In TBoGT, Luis speaks with a slightly less thick accent than in GTA IV and TLAD.
- Luis' favorite radio stations appear to be San Juan Sounds and RamJam FM.
- It it likely that Luis used to use steroids, as evidenced by if the player kills Troy in the mission I Luv L.C., Tony will comment "What's wrong with you, back on the roids?".
- After a Booty Call, Luis might say a comment like, "yo bro, don't turn into your papi L" or "man, that girl got issues." Joking that many of the women he sleeps with have drug problems or mental illnesses, and implying his father slept around with many women.
- Luis has a bad relationship with his brother, who often claims to be ashamed of him, saying that he tells his kids Luis is dead. He retaliates by stating that, unlike his brother, he has remained in his mother's life and continues to care for her financially and emotionally. He will also often state that his brother is an asshole, and that he doesn't care about him.
- Luis is the first Latino protagonist that appears to speak Spanish.
- Luis appears to have no unique dialogue with gangs, despite his ties to the Northwood Dominican Drug Dealers. Ironically, and amusingly, gangs such as the Spanish Lords and North Holland Hustlers will not recognize Luis' Dominican ethnicity, and react to him the same as they do with Niko by referring to him as "Russian" or "White Devil" in their scripted threats. A small oversight on the developers' part.
- Despite having several boxes of sneakers next to and on top of his clothing cabinet, the only option of athletic footwear the player can choose are his white tennis shoes.
- Luis is also the only GTA IV protagonist to not work with, or at least see Ray Boccino. This is because they are both rivals about the diamonds.
- In GTA V, If the Player heads to Jimmy's room in Michael's house, he will find a magazine called Residue, which shows Luis on the Front Cover.
- In Luis' wardrobe, there is a black leather coat with a grey shirt and a maroon tie. This could be a reference to the movie Carlito's Way; a movie about a Puerto Rican ex-criminal living in NYC trying to make a legitimate living similar to Luis' story. The main character Carlito wears a similar style leather coat with a grey shirt and maroon tie.
- He is one of two protagonists among those of the 3D and HD universes not to have worked with the government or law enforcement in any way. The other one is Mike.
- Claude worked with Ray Machowski, an LCPD detective in GTA III.
- Tommy Vercetti worked with Juan Cortez, a retired soldier in GTA Vice City.
- Carl Johnson worked with C.R.A.S.H., an LSPD task force and Mike Toreno, a government agent in GTA San Andreas.
- Toni Cipriani worked with Leon McAffrey, an LCPD detective in GTA Liberty City Stories.
- Victor Vance is a former soldier.
- Niko Bellic is also a former soldier, has worked for The United Liberty Paper Contact and Francis McReary, the LCPD Deputy Police Commissioner in GTA IV.
- Johnny Klebitz worked with Thomas Stubbs, a congressman in GTA The Lost And Damned.
- Huang Lee worked with undercover detective Wade Heston in GTA Chinatown Wars.
- Michael De Santa, Trevor Philips and Franklin Clinton work with Steve Haines and Dave Norton, two corrupt FIB agents in GTA V.
- The GTA Online Protagonist works with Agent 14 and Karen Daniels, two IAA agents in GTA Online.
- Luis is markedly annoyed at Yusuf abusing the slur "nigga", almost to the point of losing his temper. This is quite different from his usual demeanor - for example, Luis stays relatively calm when taunted by Rocco (including being mocked for his Hispanic ethnicity) or being threatened by Ray Bulgarin (and seeing the severed head of the cook he made a deal with). Luis's annoyance may be a deliberate attempt by Rockstar to avoid being criticized for Yusuf's overuse of the word.
- There is a picture of Luis on Tony's desk in GTA Online.
- Celebrities in Club Management missions will often mention Luis in dialogue with the player.


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Since taking over as varsity boys' basketball head coach at South High four seasons ago, Matt Johnsen winced each time he looked up to the rafters of the gymnasium. It's not that he didn't care for the look of the red and white felt cloths signifying championships in softball, wrestling, soccer, baseball and other sports, it was the blank section that was bothersome to him; not one boys' basketball banner adorned the walls.
Johnsen will scowl no more as the Falcons made history by picking up their first conference and county titles in program history. "Every game, while the national anthem is playing, I look up to the flag and see that blank spot on the wall," Johnsen said. "It's just real special for the kids and for me to earn the first championship. Every night when I was ready to go to bed, I would put off sleeping and watch some more video. I knew the guys were giving that little extra each day on the court, so I had to do my part. If I went to bed, I would be letting them down."
Despite knowing Nassau Class A would be a dogfight in 2013-14, Johnsen felt he had a team that could be the last one standing as early as this past summer. After a Cinderella run to the semifinals a year ago as the No. 11 seed in the 16-team tournament, and solid play in the offseason, Johnsen had reason to be confident with three senior guards and a couple of quality big men returning.
One of those big men was Dimitri Badette. The senior forward, who has averaged 11.5 points per contest in the postseason, credits his coach with preaching a basic tenet that led the team to the title. "We know we have some guys who can score a lot, but coach taught us to share the basketball," Badette said. "It doesn't matter who the leading scorer is as long as we win. He treats us all with a lot of respect, and really wants us to like and respect one another on and off the court. He cares."
Senior guard William Knight shared Badette's sentiment. "Coach Johnsen pushes us hard every day because he knows what we're capable of," Knight said. "Practices are tough, because coach wants to get the best out of us. He's a great coach. He's taught us to never give up no matter what the situation is. Just get out there, go hard, and persevere. It all paid off."
And now, there's a banner to prove it.