text:
Dirty Tricks provides information about politics in the world of Shadowrun, which is a vicious and dangerous game even more so then today. It is a useful reference for games masters who want to mix politics with their games or just understand the way such things work in the Sixth World
Shadowrun: Dirty Tricks, a Deep Shadows Sourcebook, begins with the usual short piece of fiction, next it moves into a short primer on politics, focusing on what makes voter tick and what tricks are used to manipulate them. There is some good information here, mostly using mid to late 20th century examples. It then moves onto scandals, executive entertainment (escort services), and taking the bullet (bodyguards and security). These sections contain good general information on politics and are a useful reference for both the GM and players.
After laying the groundwork for political games (in both sense of the word) it moves on to various political hot spots:
• Seattle, at the exact point that Proposition 23 is going to the vote . . . and its immediate after effects. It's a good time in old Seattle, oh, yes.
• UCAS, an overview of the politics including the upcoming presidential election, senatorial races and various local flashpoints. This provides good adventure seeds and some additional background on the hot issues in UCAS politics (and how they affect runners) is provided at the end of the section.
• The South, mostly about the CAS but also some information of Aztlan and Pueblo, there have been big changes in that region which have opened up jobs for shadowrunners.
• Tsimshian, politics at the edge of the NAN, a small nation and in rough shape -and thus open to Shadowrunners- but it gives a window into some of the wider debates as well.
• United Kingdom, the Mother of Parliaments is not in the best of shape, new politics, new coalitions. This section is very much an overview of the current situation in the UK with a few hints towards potential jobs.
Next, the Power Brokers section gives some details on the secret societies and individuals who shape politics from behind the scenes and what their goals are, probably. Not sold on conspiracies myself, but they do make good gaming fodder.
Lastly, Game Information, a slim six pages of how to apply the information in the book and at least two plots hooks (but not more than four) for each section of the book.
If a GM wants to bring politics to the front and center of their Shadowrun campaign, this is the book for you, otherwise, it is a useful reference as to how politics work in the former US parts North America (with some new info on Tsimshian and the UK). Though, oddly, the California Free State is only mentioned obliquely, you would think that the UCAS and CAS would have a little more interest in it.
Disclosure: As a featured reviewer for RPGNow/DriveThroughRPG, I received my copy of this product for free from the publisher for the purpose of this review.
Note: Read more reviews and other gaming articles at my journal https://seaofstarsrpg.wordpress.com/
'Dirty Tricks' is a book that I feel SR has needed for a while. A seemingly dichotomous proposition exists in a world like Shadowrun – does anyone actually care about governments or ascribe them power in a world where a triple-A megacorp realistically wields more power? This book answers that question well, and keeps a firm eye on situating the political machinations of the Sixth World at the Shadowrunner's eye-level.
There was certainly scope for this to read like a bad political science textbook, but instead we are treated to the wide-ranging (yet always on-topic) posts of the JackPointers we all know and love. Before I dive into the review, I will express my hope that the chap on p. 157 is a foreshadow of a future product?
Mysterious masked men aside, let's take a look at what you get.
The point is though, that whilst the SR American government has outsourced a lot of non-essential functions (police, welfare, etc) to corporations, there is still a role for government. Whilst people are essentially owned by corporations in the 2070's, their sense of self is often still bound to geographic and ethnic ideals, and the government is one representation of these connected ideals (it's a nice theory, anyway). Make no mistake, however, the book underlines all of this with the clear reality that most politicians are in the race for personal power, glory and more nuyen – so very little has changed. If you're after specific examples of this there's a great little discussion on Seretech decision and how that changed the political landscape. I've always thought that this is the case that the SR game world was built on, so it's only right that it gets some treatment in a book like this.
The opening fiction sets up the fact that Proposition 23 is the main political discussion of the Sixth World (at least in the Americas) and was an extremely enjoyable way to open the book. We're then plunged straight into a series of chapters covering opposition intel, voter intimidation, bribes, cons, and even the , err, romantic pursuits of those in office. My favourite section was 'Taking the Bullet' by OrkCEO. Apart from the interesting side of the character (a former runner who now heads up a private security firm), the rest of the chapter covered all of the practical aspects about security detail 'runs. Given that the concept can be applied to a range of other settings (ala Queen Euphoria), this is quite a valuable chapter for both GMs and players alike.
The next block covers the political landscape in Seattle, the UCAS, the South (CAS), Tsimshian and the UK. Whilst each section is individually interesting, I'd recommend taking a break between each chapter. There is a lot of information in here, and despite being well-presented, it is a lot to take in over one sitting. The only major surprise here, was the Proposition 23 results, which I honestly thought would have been in 'SR Missions' for continuity, rather than here. But still, the decision does make sense. Of particular interest was the section on the UK, but that's only because I'm hoping to run a campaign based out of London in the near future. A political run might be just the thing to drop the runners in the drek and see what happens.
It closes out with a discussion of the main power groups such as the Black Lodge, Human Nation, and Illuminates of the New Dawn; followed by a few pages of plot hooks in the style that we've come to expect. Basically, there is no wasted space here, with solid value offered in terms of the hooks (although there would be a significant investment of time to make them into full 'runs).
The approach taken to the writing is consistent with the mood of the book. I read these types of sourcebooks to be immersed in the Sixth World, and the reliance on fiction and Jack Point posts to deliver the information is a very effective choice. The little touches (such as the note on the Jack Point log-in page that you're 'registered to vote in 5 different locales with 3 different SINs') situate the book in-world and show the sorts of (appropriately) 'dirty tricks' which are employed. The artwork is consistently good (one of my favourite pieces is on p. 128), and gone are the typographic errors present in many earlier products this year.
I know almost nothing about US politics (mostly as I don't live in the States), and I did feel a little trepidation about my lack of knowledge going in. However, the authors haven't delivered a treatise on the inner political workings of the US; but rather a functioning sourcebook for fictional game world that is easy to read and could potentially be used at any table.
I really enjoyed the section on Seattle and the metaplot finale for the Ork Underground Missions campaign, but the other sections just didn't inspire or interest me as much as some of the other source products that Catalyst has released lately. I am intrigued how the "famine" hints will play out though with food production and shortage in Aztlan thanks to our favorite Destroyer Great Dragon.
Originally published at: http://diehardgamefan.com/2012/11/14/tabletop-review-shadowrun-dirty-tricks/
Dirty Tricks is the latest Shadowrun sourcebook from Catalyst Game Labs. Appropriately enough, this 162 page tome on political bribery and scandals was released on Election Day for the United States. At first I was surprised that Dirty Tricks was going to be this big. After all, at the end of 2011, they released Conspiracy Theories. It seemed like there would be a lot of overlap. Indeed there is a degree of that; something the book makes mention of several times. However Dirty Tricks fleshes out a lot of things I felt were unpolished in Conspiracy Theories, giving you far more detail so that newcomers to the game can get something out of this book (although it is still best in the hands of Sixth World veterans). In a perfect world, both books would have been one complete text, but who knows? Maybe I can convince CGL to do a "buy one, get one half off" or some or sort of bundling of the two over at DriveThruRpg.com, as both books paint a complete picture on the wacky political spectrum of a world where corporations have more rights than humans, were trolls can run for public office and Slow Loris Shamans can dictate public policy (Please actually make a Slow Loris Shaman someone…)
One thing you need to know about Dirty Tricks is that it is 98% fiction. Only the last ten pages or so are going to give you actual stats and data that is applicable to your tabletop game. Everything else is either short fiction stories or metaplot doled out in the old JackPoint forum style. This doesn't mean there isn't valuable information for your own personal Shadowrun campaign. Just the opposite in fact. It's just you're not getting rules, stat blocks and numbers for how to run a political scandal in your game. That's really how it should be. Something like this needs to be acted out, not decided by the roll of a die. So I love the way the book handles this topic, but you are going to have to read through a lot of fiction and remember that due to the JackPoint format, some of what you are hearing is fact, some is exaggeration and some is outright falsehood (albeit not necessarily purposeful on the part of the speaker). An enterprise GM will walk away from this book with a good idea of how to do a run where players are trying to dig up dirt on a political candidate/incumbent (or suppress it), but they'll still need to actually write the adventure themselves. The most help you'll get in that regard from this book are twenty-seven individual paragraphs, each of which are plot hooks for different potential adventures.
There are fifteen chapters in Dirty Tricks. As mentioned earlier, fourteen of which are fiction and one is a chapter for the GM with a little bit of info on how to run an adventure where politics in the focal point. The fictional pieces are well done. One is about the attack on Aztech's food processing facility by Sirrurg (ouch!) while another features Jimmy Kincaid (last seen in The Twilight Horizon sourcebook) in a rare positive and uplifiting Sixth World tale where good wins out over evil. Remember kids, just because Shadowrun is a darker world than our own, it doesn't mean every story has to be gloom and doom. Then we might as well be reading Warhammer 40,000 stuff. As always the fiction is a lot of fun and helps set the mood for the rest of the book. The only story I'd give a thumb's down to was "Memory in Time." I didn't care for the plot, pacing or writing.
Of course though, it's the JackPoint segments that make up the bulk of the book and what you want to hear about. I'm happy to say all of it is pretty good. There are a few minor quibbles I had regarding the writing of the book as there were some errors about culture, local, voting demographics and the like that don't quite match up with reality and that could have been fixed/rewritten with a little research. One example is that the section of Maine read like it was odd or rare that they have an Independent holding a Senate seat during the 2070s. However, Maine has and always love political candidates that eschew parties. Just look at Angus King. He was Governor for Cthulhu knows how long and just became a Senator. Part of this could simply be the way this section was written, but whether it was poor verbiage or just the writing/editing team just not knowing Maine's political history, this kind of threw me for a loop. Something similar happened with Minnesota. One of the candidates is Jesse Ventura III, meant to be the grandson of "The Body" himself. Well this is impossible. Jesse's kids are Tyrell and Jade. He doesn't have a son named after him and thus there's no way to have a grandson who would pull a Hubert Humphrey the Third. This is pretty common knowledge and also easily found via something like reading about Jesse in a book or via the internet, so as much as I appreciated the shout-out to a man I worked for whilst I was in college, this just felt sloppy to me. Now, little quibbles like this aside, 99.99% of the people who pick this up aren't going to catch these errors and so they won't care. It's still a VERY entertaining read. It's just CGL's bad luck that the main Shadowrun reviewer out there worked on Ventura campaign in the late 90s, lives in Washington D.C., has two Political Science degrees and thus notices little things like these errors and inaccuracies all too easily. What are the odds?
Some of the things you'll find in Dirty Tricks include:
Kay St. Irregular talking about how one obtains (and holds onto ) power through not-so-legal and outright illegal means. The dead even rise and vote Republican – just not for Bob Terwilliger.
How to properly intimidate voters and commit obscene acts of fraud.
Sunshine breaking down just how a scandal explodes.
SeaTAC Sweetie gives a lecture on the sexual appetites of politicians (my favorite section in the book)
What it's like on the opposite side of a political based Shadowrun.
A look at all the major political offices up for re-election in the CAS and UCAS along with a detailed look about each state (and some specific cities) and the people running. Wonderfully done, but as I said earlier, it has a few inaccuracies throughout it regarding our mutual shared pasts (ours being reality and the Sixth World).
The history and result (!) of Proposition 23, which has been a focal point for much of the Shadowrun Missions line of adventures this season. I was a bit surprised the result was revealed here, but it makes sense since this IS a book about politics. I guess I was partly expecting it to play out in an adventure. Twenty-two pages alone is devoted to this, making it the longest topic in the book, but hey, it's Shadowrun and it's a Seattle focal point, of course it's this in-depth.
A whole section devoted to Tsimshian. This was probably the worst section in the book. It wasn't bad, just very dull and this is the one area where newcombers to Shadowrun will be the most perplexed. It's not given any real history like other bits. You're just kind of thrown in to the current status of the nation.
Winterhawk, The Smiling Bandit and newcomer Chainmaker lead us on a merry romp through the politics of the United Kingdom. This is another chapter where people won't know what is going on unless they're really been reading sourcebooks on the UK. Otherwise they won't know who the Lord Protector was (in terms of title and perhaps living state….Blah!) or what's up with the mysterious figure known as the Pendragon. Another place where background information could have been very useful for newbies, but at least it's not as bad as Conspiracy Theories in this regard.
In my second favorite bit in the book, Plan 9 leads us through a look at the Black Lodge and also how he systematically checks things out. It turns out there is a method to the madness of everyone's favorite conspiracy theorist. I loved this look into the research patterns of my favorite JackPointer, as well as a look at my favorite mysterious faction in the game. No mention of Killer BOB or Laura Palmer though.
There are a few other things here and there. Danielle De La Mar is brought up for some reason. She is a relatively obscure character save for the appearance in Jet Set so her being brought up ever so slightly in an indicator that the character is about to get some big time exposure, especially with her "censor the Matrix" campaign. There are also hints that FastJack still isn't quite right (Shedim? Dead and a Matrix ghost now? Senility setting in? You decide!) and that someone big is still after Snopes (but why and who?) . The vast majority of the book is a solid and entertaining read from beginning to end. The price point ($25 for a PDF) might be too high for some, especially when compared to things like Vampire: The Masquerade 20th Anniversary Edition which for five bucks more, gives you a full colour PDF and nearly four times the page count, but for hardcore fans of the system, this is one of the better books CGL has released this year. If you have the money to spare, definitely considering picking up Dirty Tricks, especially if you are remotely interested in politics or need some inspiration for something other than the usual run on evil mega-corporations.


text:
After renovation or installation of furniture or carpets, be sure to allow
for air circulation by opening windows and doors.
Place plants in your office and home to help clear the indoor smog and
remove the volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The following plants all
mop-up VOCs and some gobble up specific chemicals in this brew.*
Additional ways to improve air quality:
If you work in a sealed environment, take a walk at lunch or ask coworkers
to have a walking meeting so that you can get out in the fresh air.
*Read: How To Grow Fresh Air by Bill Wolverton, Penguin, 1997.
Copyright 2003 Erik Peper, Ph.D. and Katherine Hughes Gibney
Permission to copy and distribute Healthy Computing Email Tips for
personal use is granted. Distribution or copying of Healthy Computing
Email Tips for commercial purposes is prohibited without prior written
consent of the copyright holders

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Around half of the United Kingdom's deer population needs to be shot each year to prevent damage to woodlands and other wildlife, according to a group of scientists.
The scientists carried out a census of roe deer and muntjac deer populations across 234 square kilometres of woodland and heathland in East Anglia in the UK, and the results suggest that current management strategies for deer are failing. Although deer numbers in the area appeared stable, it was only because thousands of individuals were being pushed out into the surrounding countryside.
The study indicated that a cull of 50 to 60% of the deer would be necessary to keep their populations under control – much higher than the 20 to 30% that had previously been recommended.
Deer damage
There are six deer species in the UK, of which four are introduced. The current UK deer population is thought to stand at around 1.5 million, meaning there are more deer in the country now than at any time since the last Ice Age.
In the absence of natural predators, deer populations are continuing to expand and are believed to be damaging woodlands, as well as causing road traffic accidents and damage to crops.
According to Dr Paul Dolman, an ecologist at the University of East Anglia and one of the authors of the study, "We know deer are eating out the… vegetation of important woodlands, including ancient woodlands. Deer are implicated as the major cause of unfavourable conditions in terms of woodland structure and regeneration. There is evidence that deer reduce the number of woodland birds – especially some of our much loved migrant bird species like blackcap and nightingale, and resident species like willow tit. We have a problem."
Dr Kristin Wäber, another of the study's authors, said, "Native deer are an important part of our wildlife that add beauty and excitement to the countryside, but left unchecked they threaten our woodland biodiversity…. Current approaches to deer management are failing to contain the problem – often because numbers are being underestimated. Cull targets are often too low."
Venison market
The researchers have suggested creating a market for venison to make a cull more ethically and economically acceptable.
"What we are advocating isn't removing deer from the countryside – what we are advocating is trying to get on top of the deer population explosion and try to control the problems that are being caused. And in a way, [venison] provides a sustainable food source where you know where it comes from, you know it is ethically sourced, you know it is safe to eat, and that puts food on people's tables," said Dr Dolman.
However, others are opposed to a cull. The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) said that it was "opposed in principle to the killing or taking of all wild animals unless there is strong science to support it, or evidence that alternatives are not appropriate." It also added that any cull must be carried out in a controlled and humane way.
The study also reopens a debate about whether natural predators such as lynx and wolves should be reintroduced to the UK, but this remains a complex and controversial issue.
Read more on this story at BBC News – Deer: 50% cull 'necessary to protect countryside' and UEA Press Release – First in-depth deer census highlights need for increased culls.
View photos and videos of UK deer on ARKive.
Liz Shaw, ARKive Text Author


text:
LAS VEGAS — The promotion model for Floyd Mayweather Jr.'s remaining four fights has changed after his latest display of brilliance.
From now on, his co-promoter and pay-per-view executive said late Saturday, his fights will be sold as appreciations, not as threats to his unbeaten record.
"From what we saw tonight, it doesn't matter who you put in front of him, he can beat them," fight promoter Richard Schaefer said. "He's a once-in-a-generation fighter."
Mayweather is now 45-0, and despite a highly questionable 114-114 scorecard by one judge, he was masterful again in taking two world light-middleweight belts away from Mexico's previously unbeaten Saul "Canelo" Alvarez via majority decision at a sold-out MGM Grand.
The punch stats said it all about Mayweather's latest display of fast hands, quick feet and sharp thinking. Punches connected: Mayweather 232, Alvarez 117. Jabs connected: Mayweather 139, Alvarez 44.
"What Floyd's established is that he's one of the best of all time, and we have a limited window to enjoy his skills," said Stephen Espinoza, Showtime's executive vice president of sports.
In beating a world champion for the 19th time, Mayweather, 36, appears committed to fulfilling the four remaining bouts on his Showtime deal — which earned him a guaranteed $41.5 million plus pay-per-view bonuses for Saturday's fight — and then retiring.
"I've only got 24 months left," Mayweather said, looking over to Alvarez, who was seated at the news conference. "This champion will carry the torch. Tonight was just my night."
So, who could be the next opponent? Mayweather said he will fight again in May.
Maybe it'll be unbeaten junior-welterweight world champion Danny Garcia, who was impressive in defeating hard-punching Lucas Matthysse by unanimous decision in the co-main event at MGM Grand.
Instead of being knocked out as many expected, Garcia, 25, of Philadelphia, had Matthysse's right eye swollen and closed from the sixth round on, and knocked him down in the 11th.
"I beat the best fighters at 140" pounds, "what else do you want me to do?" said Garcia, who said he'd like to move up to welterweight, where Mayweather will probably return.
Another Mayweather option could emerge from the winners of welterweight fights pitting Amir Khan against Devon Alexander on Dec. 7 and Marcos Maidana against Adrien Broner on Dec. 14.
"As of right now, those guys would be the top three," Espinoza said.
When Mayweather was asked who could truly be touted anymore as someone who could beat him, he said, "Um . . ."
The ensuing silence took minds to another name.
Manny Pacquiao? He fights Nov. 23 in China against Brandon Rios and has told friends he still wants Mayweather despite all the past failed negotiations.
"At this point, Manny Pacquiao is not in my plans," Mayweather said.
Espinoza would have a powerful voice in such talks and said, "I don't consider anything un-doable. If Floyd ultimately has any interest in it, I have no problem putting all of our efforts into making that fight. We would do that as long as we're not chasing our tail."
As for Alvarez, now 42-1-1, Schaefer said he likes the idea of a possible next date against former three-division world champion Miguel Cotto, should the veteran win his October fight. New International Boxing Federation light-middleweight champion Carlos Molina also could be considered.
Alvarez, 23, was distraught in defeat, telling reporters, "I didn't want to lose. It happened. It hurts. He's very fast and accurate. I had my game plan, but he was very good. . . . I couldn't connect, couldn't find him. . . . We just didn't have an answer."
Even though Alvarez was left puffy-eyed and sullen by Mayweather, Espinoza has big plans for him.
"You saw in a very tangible form the fervor of his fan base," Espinoza said of the Alvarez supporters in a crowd of 16,746, which produced a record $20.03 million in ticket sales for the bout. "They don't think less of him after this fight.
"We saw a more experienced fighter coming out on the better end. He got beaten by the best fighter in the world. 'Canelo' hasn't taken a major step down because he's no longer undefeated. He's still one of the top two most popular fighters in the sport."
Obviously, Alvarez was popular to judge C.J. Ross, whose scorecard wasn't close to those of fellow judges Craig Metcalfe (117-111 for Mayweather) and Dave Moretti (116-112).
"That scorecard was a disgrace," Schaefer said. "How that judge was appointed . . . I would urge you to ask why. And will it happen again?"
Keith Kizer, executive director of the Nevada State Athletic Commission, who gave Ross the assignment after her disputed nod to Timothy Bradley by decision over Pacquiao in 2012, said, "It was one of those things. . . . If you look round by round, there were some close rounds."
Ross disagreed with Metcalfe and Moretti in giving Alvarez the first and eighth rounds. Kizer said he "has no issues with the first, and I'll take a look at the eighth."
"Things happen," Mayweather said, basking in the comfort of someone incredibly unthreatened by it all.
Twitter: @latimespugmire


text:
They're back! Locals stock up on anti-stink bug artillery
Fall should mean apple cider, changing leaves, and fuzzy sweaters, but in the past few years, something less charming has been added to that autumn list: stink bugs. First there's one, crawling harmlessly on the side of your house. Then suddenly there are hundreds: crawling on every surface, finding their way into sleeves, curtains, even your hair.
But is the problem getting better or worse this year?
"It's spotty," says Brian Cecil, an employee at Martin Hardware. "In some places it's worse, in some places it's not. But overall, they're a problem."
As reported in the Hook last year, the brown marmorated stink bug, also known by its scientific name Halyomorpha halys, was first officially documented in Allentown, Pennsylvania, in 2001. Since that time, the Asian insect that releases a pungent odor when stressed has spread up and down the East Coast unhindered by natural predators and seeking a warm place– your house– to hibernate during winter.
Their numbers can be startling.
"You could hear them crawl," says Cecil, recalling the sight of a tarp outside a house in Faber covered so completely that "you couldn't see any blue."
"It was unsettling," he says with a chuckle, noting an influx of customers to the Preston Avenue hardware emporium seeking stink bug solutions including a new trap created specifically for the critters that Martin recently began stocking.
The Southern States Cooperative on Harris Street also has had the traps, which cost $19.95 and work outside by emitting a stink bug-attracting pheromone. They can be adapted for indoor use with a $20 light-emitting attachment. They're selling faster than Southern States can order them.
"We keep selling out," says manager Matt Porter, who notes that stink bug pesticide has been flying out the door as well.The traps– which simply catch the bugs but use no poison– are popular, he says, because they're nontoxic.
"Sales have been very strong" says Stephanie Cates, spokesperson for Sterling International, manufacturer of the Rescue! brand stink bug traps that are currently distributed in the six states hardest hit by the insect invasion: Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia.
"Obviously, it's a product in high demand," Cates says, "due to the panic people have when stink bugs are in their home."
That panic bothers naturalist Marlene Condon.
"Why people feel they have to do anything, I don't know," says Condon. "They don't reproduce in your house, they aren't going to bite you, they're not going to be after you, they're not going to damage your furniture. They're just there to escape the cold."
Condon says the use of pesticides to manage stink bug numbers is particularly troubling to her since it can kill other insects that might otherwise learn to eat stink bugs. Around her Albemarle County house, she says, praying mantises appear to have decided stink bugs are a tasty snack, and spiders are also making meals of the menaces.
"Those native animals need time to increase their population in order to bring down the population of stink bugs," says Condon, who notes the best defense against the bugs is making sure windows and doors are sealed tight so no insects can enter.
"When you see them getting inside, it's mother nature's way of letting you know you have a problem with your home," says Condon. "It means that you're wasting energy and A/C."Read more on: stink bugs


text:
TUESDAY, March 1, 2011 (HealthDay News) -- While the genetic underpinnings of autism are enormously complex, new DNA research is honing in on sets of abnormal genes that may play a role in the disorder.
Researchers from the Center for Biomedical Informatics at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) said that, while other scientists have theorized about a connection between gene mutations, impaired brain development, and the onset of autism, their work is the first to establish the link.
The medical problem, the CHOP researchers said, has to do with genetically driven disturbances in the way nerve cells communicate (via synapses) as well as the manner in which these communications are handled by key neural "messengers," or neurotransmitters.
"This large study is the first to demonstrate a statistically significant connection between genomic variants in autism and both [nerve cell] synaptic function and neurotransmission," senior author Peter S. White, a molecular geneticist and director of the Center for Biomedical Informatics, said in a hospital news release.
White and his colleagues report their findings in the March 1 online issue of Molecular Psychiatry.
The study authors pointed out that while prior research has implicated individual gene abnormalities with an increased risk of autism, each particular abnormality that has been identified to date has been linked to very small percentage of autism cases.
What's new about the current effort, the team said, is the uncovering of entire collections of genes with similar neural roles which, taken as a group, seem to be associated with a greater proportion of autism risk.
The finding stems from a DNA analysis involving about 1,000 autistic children and their families, as well as parallel research with mice.
Searching for links between genetic irregularities and abnormal motor control and/or learning disabilities, the study authors focused on so-called CNVs -- "copy number variations" -- that occur when the number of copies of a particular gene varies from one individual to the next. These CNVs accounted for relatively big chunks of the genetic mutations, the researchers said.
The gene sets of CNVs, they noted, are comprised of more DNA structure than simple individual "snips" of DNA. These CNV gene sets have previously been associated with a range of neuropsychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
In all, about 800 CNVs were identified as exclusive to autistic children. In addition, the CNVs in question tended to be found in genes central to the impaired biological functions that show up in autistic behavior, such as those involving synapse function, nerve cell communication, and brain development, the CHOP researchers said.
"This suggested to us that there may be many different -- possibly even hundreds -- of genetic paths to autism, with only a few gene alterations relevant to each individual patient," White said. "But if those hundreds of genes have similar roles in the nervous system, the end result may lead to the same diagnosis: an autism spectrum disorder."
"Because the gene alterations that we found influence brain development, our hope is that they may eventually provide clues to developing diagnostic tests as well as treatments for children with autism," study co-author and CHOP child psychiatrist Dr. Josephine Elia also noted in the news release.
Ashley Scott-Van Zeeland, a postdoctoral research fellow at the Scripps Translational Science Institute in San Diego, suggested that the new findings may ultimately enable researchers to approach the question of autism treatment with a broader brush.
"What this study found is that there are perhaps many autisms," she said. "There may be a number of unique or very rare genetic mutations associated with the disorder. But this suggests that they follow a common pathway that leads to autism.
"So that could mean that instead of the old paradigm of finding one mutated gene or protein and then developing a drug targeting just for that, now we could look for entire pathways involved in autism. And then potentially we could intervene with those processes with new therapeutics," she added.
More information
For more on autism, visit the U.S. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.


text:
|View Poll Results: Madoka Magica - Episode 06 Rating
|Perfect 10
|9 out of 10 : Excellent
|8 out of 10 : Very Good
|7 out of 10 : Good
|6 out of 10 : Average
|5 out of 10 : Below Average
|4 out of 10 : Poor
|3 out of 10 : Bad
|2 out of 10 : Very Bad
|1 out of 10 : Painful
|Voters: 170. You may not vote on this poll
|Thread Tools
|2011-02-10, 19:58
|Link #101
Senior Member
Or a pretty big character flaw, depending on your point of view.
Just so you know, Mentar, this is a big part of the reason why I've been defending Kyubey, at least up until now ("If there is this big, awful, yet-to-be-said catch to being a magical girl, then why the heck isn't Homura revealing it?").
|2011-02-10, 19:59
|Link #102
Spoiler for episode 6:
|2011-02-10, 20:13
|Link #103
Now think about it from a different perspective and answer a question: If someone offered to draw out your soul and turn it into an item that would give you power... would you do it? Knowing it would turn you into a superhero?
To me, this information doesn't change the end result too much. If the girls thought about it logically, they'd probably conclude that. Then again, they'd probably react emotionally and not calmly think things through.
A question I have asked before, but haven't had anyone answer yet: If someone like Kyube came along and offered you super powers to fight evil creatures and protect people, would you do it? Even knowing that death is a real possibility? Perhaps not everyone would. I would, so maybe that is coloring my feelings some. But I recognize it's not something everyone could handle.
And in all fairness, Kyube could have explained this before. But when I think about it logically, and knowing how emotionally some people react, I can see why he didn't. Had it been me, I would have grilled Kyube for all the details before, but these girls don't seem quite smart enough to do that (which has been bugging me for a long time now.
But it is interesting that Homura knew this, too, and didn't say anything. So if Kyube is evil and bad for withholding information, then so is Homura. Personally, I don't think either of them evil, but time could change my opinion.
But yeah, I'll wait for the subs to get a better handle on exactly what was said, so I can form a better opinion.
|2011-02-10, 20:31
|Link #104
Join Date: Sep 2010
Ahhh, more lulz will be coming with every episode.
I foresee some will start backtracking and preparing excuses but the lulz will not spare them especially those with so may funny quotes
|2011-02-10, 20:31
|Link #105
Stupidity is Bliss.
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: In Hancock's Heart
i'm just seriously hoping homura has good reasons as to why she didn't inform the two about it all. DX i won't be able to accept that she's if ever. DX
i want to know more about homura. i'm so worried. DX
|2011-02-10, 20:35
|Link #106
Join Date: Nov 2003
I hate arguing about semantics
but to avoid even more arguments about that let's just say that I don't sense any active contempt from QB
on the other he is very shrewd businessman, he doesn't explain all the rules, he is lacking in empathy, and feeds on grief (seeds)
at the very least I can say that he is amoral (not immoral) and that being a magical girl is a bad baaad thing
I'd give him the amount of trust I give Koemushi from Bokurano.
The thing with QB is he's becoming more and more like the archetypal devil when regarding the truth. Devils don't lie, they just never
tell you everything, or they only tell you part of the truth
So dealing with him becomes difficult. You can't totally ignore him since he might provide bits of information. At the same time you wonder
what he is not telling you. Like that bit about witches potentially reviving when you dump too much black spots on their grief seeds. Is he in fact, implying that something similar might happen if too many black spots cover your soul gem?
|2011-02-10, 20:44
|Link #107
Join Date: Sep 2010
i) Enron's CEO encouraged their staff to buy their shares a few days before it collasped. Those who did screwed their old age funds and could be homeless and/or bankrupt and that includes your parents. Evil? Not evil?
ii) A con man tricks your parents into thinking you've been kidnapped and get them to give him their life savings, their house (sold) and your savings. Evil? Not evil?
iii) Man drives on the road with a semi and ignores any sedan sized car smashing them and their passengers aside or simply rolling over the motorcyclists because he can't see or hear very well. Evil? Not evil?
iv) Your new girlfriend/boyfriend tells you that she/he needs one of your kidneys or they will die and its true. While you're under anesthesia, they take both your kidneys and she/he disappears. Now you're on dialysis for the rest of your life or until a kind person donates to you. Evil? Not evil?
v) Cannibal says he's like that because of a DNA problem and he's not exactly human and its true. He proceeds to eat your dad who he coerced into knocking himself out by threatening to harm you. He says he would like to eat your mom too because he's still hungry. Maybe he just enjoys eating or he's really still hungry. You don't know. Evil? Not evil?
|2011-02-10, 20:45
|Link #109
This was meaningless
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Not on this site no more.
Age: 31
I wanted to comment on the 17:13 message of yours, but the subs should probably help clear it up and sound less quarrelsome than I.
|2011-02-10, 20:50
|Link #110
Join Date: Sep 2010
|2011-02-10, 21:35
|Link #111
You're right that we don't know what he's doing with the seeds, and we do only have his word that he is safeguarding them, but until we have a better idea of why that is, we only have speculation to go on.
Okay, having said that, finally watched the subs, so I'm gonna work through some of my thoughts.
Kyube is obviously not human, in that he doesn't quite understand human emotions. Or he lacks them totally, and functions as sort of a robot. He clearly didn't seem to understand why people would get upset, when from his point of view, what he does is logical. He does understand some things, such as when he told Madoka that he could say some things to Sayaka, but knows it wouldn't do anything to persuade her otherwise. This harkens back to Kyoko as well, and sheds light as to why he didn't do more to dissuade her; he knew it wouldn't do any good.
He takes a soul and hardens it in a gem, so that the body can handle the stresses of magic, and be easily repaired by magic. This allows them to stand up to witches; without it, someone couldn't use magic or handle a witch fight. There is a clear method to the cost of using magic here, so if Madoka is going to become an MG, she'd have to pay the cost as well. If she gets out of that cost somehow, it will cheapen the sacrifices everyone else has made and make her lucky.
As a side note, where was Mami's soul gem again? I think I read someone say it was in her hair, which would have meant the witch ate it, and thus probably not likely she could come back. But to hear Kyube explain this, even if you had your head taken off, as long as your gem is intact, you could be put back together. That's some damn fine durability there.
I'm more impressed with Sayaka; she's not just naive and knows very well what is at stake. She clearly wants to protect others, from witches or MG's. She's still a bit hot-headed, but it is an interesting back and forth that she has with Madoka there. Madoka clearly represents the ideal, while Sayaka is swinging more pragmatically, while still retaining a desire to protect.
In an idealistic universe, Madoka would be right. But in a cynical universe, Sayaka would be more correct. Time will tell as to which this is, although it is leaning to cynical (which would make any Madoka powerups that don't involve costs to be contrary). But it's interesting to see Sayaka is swinging more in line with Kyoko and Homura.
About this Wdskjfgkjd night thing; it was something that Kyoko clearly knew about, too, and it almost sounds like some sort of tournament or fight. Kyoko thought she would be better off with a friend helping her out in it.
Regarding Homura - Still wondering about this girl. She clearly knew about Soul Gems, but didn't see fit to tell Madoka or Sayaka about it. Why not? If people consider Kyube evil for not telling them, they'd have to call Homura evil, too. Still not entirely convinced she is from the future, but it is a possibility. You can't change the past without creating a grandfather paradox, so it is unclear what she expects to do. Perhaps she is going back in time to create the conditions that would send her future self back in time. Perhaps she's not going to change anything, but merely fulfill what had already happened, and will happen again. If time travel is involved, this is the most likely explanation. I won't speculate too much more, other than to say there are still a few other possibilities (one being that she is a precog and can see possible futures)
Lastly, back to Kyube... I can see why he didn't say anything to the girls. It sounds like this has happened before. Perhaps he told girls and they decided not to. Without girls to fight witches, the witches kill more humans. So, if you are Kyube, you have a choice:
#1. Keep telling girls and hope that some can handle it (and yeah, we all know how young girls can be logical and totally keep their emotions in check)
#2. Leave that part out, as ultimately it doesn't matter much, and you get your soldiers to fight and protect humanity.
It's clear Kyube picked #2. It's not an easy choice to make, and even I would have a tough time doing it. Sometimes, the general just can't tell the troops the full truth, because sometimes people can't handle it. And yet, without the troops, we're all doomed. Which do you pick? If you said #1, that would be the idealistic choice. #2 is the more cynical universe choice.
Which universe are we in again?
I am beginning to lean a bit towards Kyube not being too "good" (in a relative sense). At least, he has done some questionable things, even if I understand the logic. But as noted above, the choice doesn't seem to be an easy one.
That's all my thoughts for now. I'll probably have more later.
|2011-02-10, 22:09
|Link #113
Seems like a meeting of sorcerers and witches. Interesting. Will all witches and magical girls come together in the same spot? If so, what will happen? The plot thickens....
|2011-02-10, 22:09
|Link #114
Junior Member
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Asia
It's the night when witches hold a large celebration.
|2011-02-10, 22:27
|Link #116
Komrades of Kitamura Kou
Join Date: Jul 2004
Age: 34
The devil is in the details
I think the episode perfectly elaborates this statement of how the cunning contractor operates. The precise reason as to why you should alwys read the fine print. Then again qb is not obligated to be completely forthcoming with his information. Dishonest he is, but on the subject of moral relativism, this does not exactly make you evil. He's almost like say Lawful Neutral. He is doing something considered good for everyone at large but does not let the concept of morality limit him.
The cyclic nature of the struggles of the Mg vs witches is indicative of the circle of life concept. Again this feel very cyclical in nature like this has been going for longer than anyone could possibly imagine. Qb himself almost seems like transcending existence who has seen things like this more than once. Watching him and Homura makes me think that my recurrence theory might even be correct or at least partially viable.
As is stands there does seem to exist evil in his actions but a bit of nobility in his intentions. We do have to ask though on what universal moral basis we must judge him and his rather Machiavellian methods. More comments when I watch subs.
|2011-02-10, 22:28
|Link #117
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2007
Age: 32
Just saw the subs and wow that was a heavy revaluation...It's just what can I say you have to see it to believe it...
However (and I know some people will disagree) I still don't think Kyuube is "evil" sure his practices may seem evil but it's still seems to be for the greater good.
Last edited by Dark Wing; 2017-10-18 at 18:21.
|2011-02-10, 22:32
|Link #118
This was meaningless
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Not on this site no more.
Age: 31
|2011-02-10, 22:39
|Link #119
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2006
|2011-02-10, 22:46
|Link #120
Komrades of Kitamura Kou
Join Date: Jul 2004
Age: 34
Oh I'm not denying the evil in his actions, but I'm also not denying the possible Machiavellian intent behind said actions. There is a sort of public service in his contracting gig, but it would be irresponsible to declare him an absolute evil outright despite the moral relativism thaT seems to be onw of the core themes of the show.
|madness, madoka magica
|Thread Tools


text:
SEO Success Means Letting Go of PPC Expectations
Keyword Research for a Firm SEO Foundation
Coverage of
sound bytes,
on the
You're spearheading your company's Internet presence and you're in charge of SEO and/or PPC campaigns. You attend conferences and trade shows, and listen to experts discuss this and that about how to best conduct your various campaigns. You know SEO is a long-term investment, but do you really understand what that means? With all of the chatter that exists in the Internet marketing world, do you really understand the implications of that tiny little statement -- "SEO is a long-term investment"?
The answer is a very important consideration, one with a lot of expectations, planning and resources behind it. It is worthwhile to explore this and make sure that not only you but your entire team and stakeholders have the same understanding. All too often SEO campaigns are entered into with PPC expectations.
Keywords lay the foundation for any successful search engine optimization (SEO) project. As a Web site owner or marketer, you need to know what words and phrases people may type into a search engine to find exactly what your site offers. Then you can strategically optimize Web pages around those keywords, and naturally attract the right type of visitors to your site -- people who will be interested enough to buy, sign up, enroll, subscribe, or do whatever action represents a conversion. And where do you start? With keyword research! Even after the site is humming along, regularly practicing your keyword research skills is necessary if you want to maintain that foundation and keep a competitive edge.
Bruce Clay, Inc. partnered with For Dummies Publications to produce the all-in-one desk reference guide for SEO. The Search Engine Optimization All-In-One For Dummies by Bruce Clay and Susan Esparza is now available for $39.95 from major booksellers and comes with a free $25 AdWords coupon.
The all-in-one desk reference is intended for those wanting to do search engine optimization themselves, providing many tips and hints necessary to optimize and operate in today's online market. But it is also a useful tool for any professional SEO out there needing any extra help. The Search Engine Optimization All-In-One For Dummies is currently available on Amazon.com, Borders.com and BarnesandNoble.com, so be sure to grab a copy today.
Already have the book? Leave a review or drop us a line! We'd love to hear from you. Share your thoughts, comments, questions or critiques.
A diagram recently developed by Bruce Clay, Inc. proposes a hierarchy for search engine optimization efforts. The SEO hierarchy of needs can be consulted in deciding where to devote resources when developing an SEO or marketing campaign. It's a simple way to demonstrate how each requirement of SEO comes in its own time.
Analytics and Web intelligence act as the backdrop for all SEO efforts. Keywords and content are the base of the pyramid, making up the core of any Web site. Above that, site architecture, on-page code and server performance are the backbone of a site's communication with search engines. Usability and optimized Web design ensure the site will resonate with visitors. Finally, link development efforts can take place once the site's content, structure and design are deserving of links and visibility.
Of course, before attempting any of the levels of the SEO hierarchy of needs, an SEO practitioner relies on his or her own strong foundation: SEO training. Quality training in the best practices of search engine optimization goes a long way in establishing a base for future SEO experiences and education.
And SEOs aren't the only ones who benefit from training. Businesses engaged in SEO through a vendor or in-house team should be knowledgeable in the goals and methodology as well. A cross-organization understanding fosters the inter-department cooperation and communication necessary for successful Web site optimization.
Check out Shindigs for a list of upcoming SEO training opportunities taught by Bruce Clay.
In line with Bruce Clay, Inc.'s commitment to providing the SEO community with educational resources, the SEO Newsletter will feature a series devoted to the different parts of the SEO hierarchy of needs. Kicking off the series is this month's Back to Basics article, Keyword Research for a Firm SEO Foundation.
Analytics software company Omniture Inc. has been acquired by Adobe Systems Inc. for $1.8 billion.
According to Nielsen, ad spending in the U.S. dropped more than 15 percent in the first half of 2009.
A 65 percent share of Internet telephone service Skype was sold by parent company eBay for $2.75 billion.
Social network MySpace purchased the music recommendation service iLike.
Numbers reported by comScore last month showed that in July, online video and TV viewing site Hulu had more unique viewers than Time Warner cable television.
Time Warner Inc. entered into an online distribution deal with YouTube to make Warner Bros. movies, TV and news content available on the online video site.
Former Google executive and Feedburner founder Dick Costolo has been hired as chief operating officer of micro-messaging service Twitter.
Antonio Gulli, former director of Ask.com's advanced search projects, will be leading the development of search technology and user interface for Microsoft's search engine, Bing.
Former Yahoo! executive Eric Boyd has joined Microsoft's digital search and advertising group.
The Pepperjam affiliate marketing network and Pepperjam full-service Internet marketing agency were acquired by GSI Commerce Inc.
If you like what you've read in the SEO Newsletter, there's more Internet marketing expertise where that came from. Check out SEM Synergy every Wednesday at 3:00 p.m. Eastern and Noon Pacific on WebmasterRadio.fm.
Bruce Clay and the other hosts discuss industry news, SEO tactics and marketing trends, while expert guests share their insights on methods, best practices and upcoming events. Check out the show schedule below for a look at recent shows and upcoming topics.
September 5
(Listen Now)
Analytics 2.0 and eMetrics Summit
Avinash Kaushik & David Waisberg
Jim Sterne
September 9
(Listen Now)
ad:tech Chicago
Dr. Ralph Wilson
E-commerce Success Stories
September 16
(Coming Soon)
SEO Hierarchy of Needs
Topher Kohan
Digital Cross-Over
September 23
(Coming Soon)
How Hyperlocal Changes Marketing
Martin Canchola
Hyperlocal in the News
September 30
(Coming Soon)
SEO Best Practices: Fact or Fiction?
Heather Lloyd-Martin
Compelling SEO Copywriting
Got something to say? Contact the SEM Synergy team and share your thoughts, comments and questions. You might even hear your question answered on the show.
Bruce Clay, Inc.'s SEOToolSet Training is making very special stops across the globe throughout October.
On Long Island, New York, three-day, standard-level SEOToolSet Training will be presented October 20-22.
In Australia, one-day, standard-level SEOToolSet Training is being offered in Brisbane on October 14, Melbourne on October 20, and Sydney on October 29.
In Italy, the three-day standard and advanced SEOToolSet Training will be presented in Milan from October 26-28.
As part of SMX East, Bruce Clay will present a one-day SEO training course on October 8. SMX East is being held in New York City October 5-8. Use the code smx15bruceclay for a 15 percent discount on conference registration.
The free virtual conference Digital Marketing World will be held September 16.
Digital marketing event ad:tech London will take place September 22-23.
PPC Summit Los Angeles happens September 23-24.
BlogWorld & New Media Expo returns to Las Vegas October 15-17.
And eMetrics Marketing Optimization Summit comes to Washington D.C. October 19-23.
Video customer reviews have been introduced to Google Product Search. High-quality, relevant video reviews are now available for select products through Google Base.
Recently launched Yahoo! Local Neighbors is a message board for every city in the U.S. The service is expected to bring conversation capabilities to local search results and additional marketing opportunities to small businesses.
Mashable's Summer of Social Good campaign, benefiting non-profit organizations Livestrong, Humane Society, Oxfam America, and WWF, came to a close at the end of August.
New Mac operating system, Snow Leopard, contains an anti-malware feature.
Google's Insights for Search tool has been updated with a forecasting feature that will help SEOs predict the popularity of keywords based on historical trends and search patterns. The company also introduced Internet Stats, offering statistical trends in categories such as economics, consumer activity, media and technology.
Google also released a rich snippet testing tool, allowing developers to preview the rich snippets resulting from microformat and RDFa data.
Yelp released the iPhone's first "augmented reality" application. Augmented reality uses the smart phone's camera, GPS and compass to display information about real-world locations.
A study by HubSpot suggests that commercial Web sites with blogs have significantly more visitors, inbound links and indexed pages than their non-blogging counterparts.
There's a rumor going around, born out of the tweets of Microsoft employees who attended the company's annual meeting, that Bing 2.0 could be released as soon as next week.
Word surrounding Yahoo! is that the company is about to launch a major marketing campaign emphasizing the Internet network's size and scale, set to be announced next week. Yahoo! SearchMonkey has released enhanced results, via microformats, RDFa and feeds, for queries related to products, local businesses, events, discussions or news items.
Twitter updated its terms of service, in what some see as a move toward accepting more ads on the microblogging platform. Twitter pro accounts are slated for release by the end of the year, according to co-founder Biz Stone.
Facebook has been busy in last few weeks. The social network launched a Lite version of the site and added a Twitter-like mentions feature that allows for quick chat and tag capabilities. A gift shop that would allow developers to sell physical and virtual goods is in testing.
Online video ad budgets are expected to grow more than 50 percent over the next year, according to a report by advertising network Web TV Enterprises. A study video analytics company TubeMogul compared user engagement of online video viewers across top social sites, finding that viewers referred through Twitter watch videos longer than those referred through Facebook and Digg.
Consumers remain hesitant to make purchases with mobile devices, with privacy and security acting as obstacles for both shoppers and retailers.
A rising voice among Android application developers is bringing attention to the poorly performing market. In a month, the Android Market produces $5 million while the iPhone App Store generates $200 million. The end of the iPhone-AT&T wireless carrier exclusive has been forecasted by top mobile analysts.
In a document to the Newspaper Association of America, Google announced it's developing a micropayment platform that could be used to charge readers for online news content. Google may face a $15 million suit by a blogger whose identity the company revealed under court order. The anonymous blogger used Google's Blogger software, and Google turned over the blogger's identity to a court of law. The blogger is claiming a breach of expected anonymity.
A new opt-in service from Google Maps uses crowd-sourced GPS data to report traffic speeds on highways and city roads alike. A new Street View function makes business addresses easier to view.
Security researchers found that Opera is the browser least targeted by hackers. A faster Opera 10 was released at the beginning of the month. Google released the newest version of its browser, Chrome 3.0.
A revised version of a U.S. Senate bill that proposes giving the president emergency control of the Internet remains a concern for privacy advocates as well as several major Internet and telecommunications companies.
If you
have any questions or
comments on any of the
above Internet marketing news items or if
you would like to
suggest topics for
future search engine optimization articles, please
contact us at Bruce Clay,
Print the full SEO Newsletter


text:
An apology from Clippers owner Donald Sterling isn't enough for Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti.
Garcetti spokesman Yusef Robb said in a statement Monday that despite Sterling's remorse for making racist remarks, the mayor's office wants new leadership of the team. Sterling apologized during an interview with CNN's Anderson Cooper, set to air Monday night.
"We haven't yet seen this interview, which is scheduled to air later today, but regardless, we still believe a change of ownership is in the best interests of the fans and our city," Robb said.
Two weeks after a leaked audio recording captured Sterling making inflammatory remarks, the Clippers owner apologized on CNN. Sterling tells Cooper, "I'm not a racist," and suggests he was set up, blaming "the girl," according to CNN.com.
"Well, yes, I was baited," Sterling said, according to CNN.com. "I mean, that's not the way I talk. I don't talk about people for one thing, ever. I talk about ideas and other things. I don't talk about people."
In audio posted by gossip site TMZ.com, the Clippers owner scolded friend V. Stiviano for posting photos of herself with African-Americans and for bringing African-Americans, including basketball legend Earvin "Magic" Johnson, to games.
Since the scandal broke, Garcetti has taken a high-profile role, repeatedly denouncing Sterling's remarks and telling reporters that racism has no place in Los Angeles. Last week, he called for a "clean break" from the Sterlings, saying neither Donald nor his wife, Shelly Sterling, should own the team.
The Sterlings jointly own the Clippers in a trust. Donald Sterling purchased the team more than three decades ago.


text:
* FAQs
The BEACON ATHLETIC FUND has been established to provide annual financial support to UMASS Boston Athletics including all 18 men's and women's varsity sports, Recreation, Community Outreach, Special Programs and Projects. Central to our efforts on behalf of the UMASS Boston Athletics is the underlying philosophy that athletics is a critical part of the overall educational and University experience for student athletes as well as the entire UMASS Boston community.
The BEACON ATHLETIC FUND believes that education and athletics can help our student athletes achieve their highest goals. UMASS Boston competes in the NCAA Division III, as a member of the Little East Conference (LEC) and the New England Hockey Conference (NEHC). Division III programs do not award athletic scholarships, instead focusing on offering competitive opportunities that develop the student and the athlete. As an outgrowth of that philosophy, UMASS Boston has a long history of fielding winning teams comprised of students equally successful in the classroom and in the competitive arena of choice.
Supporting the BEACON ATHLETIC FUND not only enables student-athletes and many others to pursue their love of sports but also to earn a college degree. Support for the Beacon Athletic Fund will concentrate on providing increased support for unrestricted gifts to a general fund but will also provide giving opportunities for restricted gifts directed towards all of our athletic programs. By increasing annual unrestricted support, we are able to purchase new equipment, address specific program needs and travel expenses for UMASS Boston Athletics. In making a gift to the Beacon Athletic Fund, you can support all varsity programs or you can specify/designate your gift to a specific team.


text:
Travel Impressions - Receive a $200 Air Credit to Mexico!
About Mexico
EXCLUSIVE: Receive $200 Air Credit to Mexico!
The rich land... The dreamy landscape... The warmth of its people... The past and the present in perfect harmony... This is Mexico. Mexico offers vacationers the tranquility and beauty of its lovely beaches, known and admired all over the world for their eternal sun and warm ambiance.
All-Inclusive package prices are per person and include:
• Roundtrip coach airfare
• Roundtrip hotel transfers
• 3-night hotel accommodations
• All meals, drinks & snacks
• Daily Activities
• Nightly Entertainment
• And More!
Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit - All-Inclusive
Starting from $1,040
Grand Velas Riviera Maya - All-Inclusive
Starting from $1,040
Grand Velas Los Cabos - All-Inclusive
Starting from $1,040
Booking Window: Now - December 19, 2018
Traveling Window: January 5 - December 19, 2018


text:
Geneva, Switzerland, March 18, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- STMicroelectronics (NYSE:STM), a global semiconductor leader serving customers across the spectrum of electronics applications, is strengthening its presence in the broadcast set-top box (STB) market with a number of major initiatives. These include:
- Introduction of the STiH301(Liege2), the first member of its new "Liege2" product family that delivers ARM® processing power and HEVC1decoding to entry and mid-range boxes for the broadcast market;
- Launch of smaller and more power-efficient members of the market-proven Liege family for entry-level boxes; and
- Cooperation with MaxLinear to optimize cable and satellite front-ends.
STiH301 (Liege2)
Augmenting the success of the popular "Liege" family (STiH207 and derivatives), the STiH301(Liege2) raises the bar in entry and mid-range broadcast set-top boxes and Internet Protocol (IP) clients by integrating a powerful ARM® Cortex®-A9 processor that delivers performance of up to 4000 DMIPS, an integrated Full HD HEVC decoder, ST's award-winning Faroudja® Image Processing, and best-in-class security in a single System-on-Chip solution fabricated in ST's low-power 28nm CMOS technology.
While ARM cores are increasingly propagating throughout the set-top boxes market, till now the entry-level units have not benefited from ST's expertise in CAS2 broadcast. Derived from the popular Cannes family and leveraging ST's deep expertise in broadcast CAS security, the STiH301 (Liege2) now enables manufacturers of entry to mid-range STB products to benefit from the higher performance of the Cortex-A9 processor and the comprehensive and well-proven ARM design and development ecosystem.
"Containing a powerful ARM CPU and GPU, Liege2 brings all the benefits of the most extensive software ecosystem supporting all STB middleware as well as all types of CAS and DRM3 security," said Eric Benoit, Business Development Director, Digital Convergence Group, STMicroelectronics. "This enables OEMs to develop mid-range broadcast and IP boxes that enhance the end-user experience while maintaining highly competitive cost, size, security, and power-consumption targets."
The integrated HEVC decoder inside STiH301(Liege2) enables broadcasters and operators to leverage this new bandwidth-efficient encoding technology for HD broadcast by offering more channels in equivalent bandwidth or using less bandwidth to reach the end user without a significant increase in bill-of-materials costs.
The STiH301 will be available for sampling in Q2, 2014, housed in a BGA19x19 package.
Liege/Cardiff/Palma family for entry-level boxes
ST is also taking advantage of TV Connect (London, March 18-20) and CCBN (China Content Broadcasting Network, Beijing, March 20-22) to introduce several new variants of its popular Liege/Cardiff/Palma family that is based on the market-proven ST40 core.
"While ST is leading the industry in the transition to HEVC, first with its successful deployment of our Cannes (STiH310 and derivatives) family and now with the launch of the Liege2/STiH301 family, we remain committed to supporting legacy markets and protecting ST customers' investment in this family by continuing to optimize the Liege (STiH207 and derivatives) family," said Benoit.
The new devices, available for sampling now, are housed in smaller 23x23 BGA packages to enable smaller, though even more powerful, entry-level set-top-boxes. The family supports all popular CAS and middleware, including China's SARFT DCAS4 security system middleware.
Cooperation with MaxLinear
To accelerate customer time-to-market, ST is also extending its cooperation with MaxLinear, a leading provider of integrated radio frequency (RF) and mixed-signal integrated circuits for broadband communications applications.
ST and MaxLinear are developing complete reference designs for the cable and satellite market leveraging MaxLinear's FSC(TM)5 multi-channel front-end technology and other ST SoC families. The reference designs will include an optimized hardware implementation for applications with four to eight video channels. The reference designs incorporate MaxLinear's RF expertise with LTE/Wi-Fi immunity and fully integrate MaxLinear's drivers with ST's software SDK to accelerate time-to-market. The reference designs will be available in Q2/2014.
"Combining the complementary technologies of ST and MaxLinear provides the set top box market with the industry's most compelling system solution," said Brian Sprague, vice president and general manager of MaxLinear. "We are very excited by the opportunities to develop complete set-top box solutions that combine the low power and scalability of MaxLinear's multi-channel FSC chipsets with ST's industry leading HEVC system-on-chip solutions."
Please contact your ST sales office for pricing options and sample requests.
About STMicroelectronics
ST is a global leader in the semiconductor market serving customers across the spectrum of sense and power and automotive products and embedded processing solutions. From energy management and savings to trust and data security, from healthcare and wellness to smart consumer devices, in the home, car and office, at work and at play, ST is found everywhere microelectronics make a positive and innovative contribution to people's life. By getting more from technology to get more from life, ST stands for life.augmented.
In 2013, the Company's net revenues were $8.08 billion. Further information on ST can be found at www.st.com.
For Press Information Contact:
Michael Markowitz
Director Technical Media Relations
+1 781 591 0354
1 High-Efficiency Video Coding
2 Conditional Access Security
3 Digital Rights Management
4 State Administration of Radio, Film, and Television (China) Downloadable Conditional Access System
5 Full-Spectrum Capture
ST Liege2-va http://hugin.info/152740/R/1769494/601785.pdf


text:
Welcome to camp 5SOS, a camp for good girls, that are...
Young Summer Love - 5SOS
- by HemmingsTheName
- Rating:
- Published: 21 May 2016
- Updated: 23 Oct 2016
- Status: In Progress
What happens when someone young and famous decides to have feelings for you and you need to decide whether or not you have feelings for them too.
Join MovellasFind out what all the buzz is about. Join now to start sharing your creativity and passion
Loading ...


text:
You are currently browsing the tag archive for the 'Military' tag.
In my research of flying bikes, I fell into some cool military bikes. My bro is in the 82nd Airborne in Iraq – he rules. I was never a military person, but having my brother, and also my step-brother being in the military will change your mind. So, basically, it gets really boring in Iraq, and check out what this guy did.
And when he was all finished welding each link together with eight welds, they asked, what are you going to do now? And he responded, "Well, finish my tour here, then build a bunch of these for my kids!" Whats not to love about a military guy? Anyway, I like the chopper style. Good frame choice my friend.
I also came across this cool fold up bike, which they claim the military uses. My brother has never told me about hopping out a plane, and then having to ride this bike, but here it is none the less.
And Europe always has the states beat in the bike game, and its no different with military bikes. The Swiss Army is known for their knives, but they should be just as well known for their Swiss Army Bicycle. I mean this bike has everything, and honestly, all bikes should be this well equipped in case of a problem on the biking road.


text:
Saddleback College named Dr. Alannah Rosenberg, chair and advisor of the honors program, Fariba Vatandoust, a chemistry instructor, and Collette Chattopadhyay, an art history instructor in the college's Emeritus Institute, as the 2014 Professors of the Year. The professors were nominated by their students and will be honored on April 28th at the South Orange County Community College District Board of Trustees meeting.
Dr. Tod A. Burnett, president of Saddleback College, stated, "Professors Rosenberg, Vatandoust, and Chattopadhyay are exemplary educators who are truly committed to the success of their students. Saddleback College has so many phenomenal professors who are deserving of this award, yet it is clear that this year's Professors of the Year, who earned numerous nominations by their students, have very positively influenced many lives."
The Saddleback Professor of the Year is Dr. Alannah Rosenberg. She has taught at the college since 1990 and is described by her students as "a dedicated teacher and inspiring mentor" who puts immeasurable time and energy into making the Saddleback College honors program a success. Students have called Dr. Rosenberg a "superhero" who is appreciated for her ever-present positivity and reassurance.
Dr. Rosenberg stated, "I am overwhelmed and humbled. I know the quality of my colleagues who have had this honor in years past. They have all been people I admired greatly, and I'm going to have to work very hard to live up to them. And I am genuinely impressed about my poker-faced honors students' abilities to keep this all under wraps while I'm serving as their chair and advisor!"
The Associate Professor of the Year is Fariba Vatandoust, who began teaching chemistry at Saddleback College in 2007, and prepares chemistry students for higher level chemistry classes to ensure their success in the sciences. Ms. Vatandoust is most known for her caring and courteous demeanor and is highly admired for the additional time she takes to answer students' questions and address their concerns, often outside of class.
Ms. Vatandoust stated, "My teaching experience at Saddleback has been wonderful. I love the enthusiasm of the students, and the support from the chemistry department and faculty is phenomenal. I am honored and humbled to be recognized in such a way."
Emeritus Professor of the Year Collette Chattopadhyay created a world-class art history program that receives significant praise from students for her highly topical and thematic lectures that feature the finest experts in the arts, sciences and education. She has served as department chair in Saddleback College's Emeritus Institute for more than six years and has dedicated much time outside of the classroom to establish policies and procedures for the Emeritus Institute and shepherd courses through the curriculum process.
Ms. Chattopadhyay stated, "It is an honor to be named the Emeritus Professor of the Year by my peers at Saddleback College. As some of you know, I will soon be moving to Tucson, Arizona for a wonderful opportunity for my family. I will miss the magnificent groups of students I have had the pleasure of teaching here for the last decade."


text:
The Mille Lacs Area is a special place and its uniqueness is reflected in the variety of activities and events scheduled throughout the year. From festivals and celebrations to arts and entertainment, you'll find many activities every year throughout the Mille Lacs, MN area. Annual events include snowmobile races, fishing tournament weigh-ins and ice fishing contests. There are cultural and arts festivals such as the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe Pow-Wow and there are traditional events like small town 4th of July celebrations and city play days throughout the summer months.
Meat Raffle at Mugg's
Name: Meat Raffle at Mugg's
Date: April 20, 2018
Time: 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM CDT
Event Description:
Join the fun at Mugg's and win some meat to grill over the weekend!


text:
I would like to hire a WordPress Developer - 15/10/2016 08:36 EDT
Presupuesto ₹600-1500 INR
9 freelancers están ofertando el promedio de ₹4651 para este trabajo
Hi, Thanks for your valuable time. I have 5+ years of experience in WordPress Website Development and Search Engine Optimization (SEO). I have worked with clients from various parts of the world. We create best Más
Your project sounds interesting, I'd like to be a part of it by giving you my strong knowledge in web development.
Hello sir, My name is Lahiru Madusanka. web developer, wordpress developer, .net software developer. Working in this industry for 3 years niw and looking forward to working with you sir Thank You Lahiru Madusanka
Hi, I read your job descriptions and I thinks I give you the best results that you want.. I am experience and hard worker person . If you give me this projects I try my best..
Hello, I am a individual developer. I have experience with wordpress CMS. I have 4 years experience working with php and its frameworks(laravel, CI..) Hope you contact for further discussion.
I am an experienced wordpress application developer . The price is negotiable. lEt me know the requirement. I can handle the work in timely manner


text:
|System: X360, PS3, PC
|Review Rating Legend
|Dev: Infinity Ward
|1.0 - 1.9 = Avoid
|4.0 - 4.4 = Great
|Pub: Activision
|2.0 - 2.4 = Poor
|4.5 - 4.9 = Must Buy
|Release: Nov. 5, 2007
|2.5 - 2.9 = Average
|5.0 = The Best
|Players: 1-16
|3.0 - 3.4 = Fair
|ESRB Rating: Mature
|3.5 - 3.9 = Good
The sound effects in Call of Duty 4 are stellar. The voice acting from the various soldiers and enemies are all realistically portrayed, with teammates working in unison to yell out enemy locations and possible dangers. While in some games it is easy (and almost necessary) to ignore the background chatter of your allies, it would be in your best interests to listen to your comrades in CoD4. The only problem is that they are a little heavy on the military speak, which is understandable considering the game's setting, but the jargon can get a little thick for those that are uninitiated.
There are also times that, when you aren't doing what is expected of you or you find yourself stuck, your allies will loop or repeat themselves. It isn't a really noticeable thing in other games, but CoD4 is so immersive otherwise that any minor flaw seems to stick out. The weapon's fire and other sound effects all seem nearly flawless, with reports having the appropriate level of volume depending on distance. The visual and sound effects for stun grenades are so well done that they nearly dizzies the player.
Overall, the single player campaign is an intense, incredible experience, but it is short. To enhance the game's replay, Infinity Ward has included hidden Intel pieces in the game that, when found, unlock in-game single player cheats such as the ability to slow down the game temporarily, turn the game's colors black and white, or get infinite ammo. After finishing the game, the player also has access to an arcade mode, in which you try to get through the game or a single level with a limited amount of lives for the chance to get the high score. Finally, and most anticipated, Call of Duty 4 comes with innovative and incredibly fun multiplayer.
The multiplayer consists of sixteen different maps with modes that include the traditional deathmatch, team deathmatch, and free-for-all. Other game modes include Domination, in which players fight to secure objective points, Sabotage, in which players must plant bombs by an enemy objective, and Search and Destroy, in which one team defends an objective while the other team attacks. The multiplayer is set up for fast, frenzied gameplay, with wide open maps that have multiple methods of ingress for most areas. There aren't a lot of places in any of the maps that are conducive to camping, which forces most players to stay on the run to survive. Also, whenever you are killed, you are shown your death from the enemy's point of view. This is a cool feature, which lets you know who killed you and how, but it also reveals hiding spots and other player's strategies. The savvy player will watch the killcam replay and seek out their killer's hiding spot, which is a point of controversy, although the killcam can be turned off in private matches. Ultimately, the best strategy in multiplayer is to keep moving at all times and keep a pair of eyes in the back of your head.
Overall, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare is an intense gaming experience from start to finish. The story is conveyed much better than the average FPS, the gameplay is varied enough to stay fresh, the graphics and sound both deliver, and the multiplayer is addictive. If Call of Duty 4 can attract enough fanboys away from Halo 3 to experience it, we may have a new contender for FPS of the year. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare proves that you don't have to have Spartan superwarriors, wrenches, portals, or sci-fi to create a great shooter game.
D'Marcus Beatty
CCC Lead Contributor / News Director


text:
- 1/3 cup mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup sour cream
- 1 tablespoon drained capers
- 8 ounces fresh crabmeat, picked over
- 1/2 cup finely chopped celery
- 3 tablespoons chopped fresh chives plus additional for garnish
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- Purchased baked pita chips
Recipe Preparation
Whisk first 3 ingredients in medium bowl to blend. Stir in crabmeat, celery, 3 tablespoons chopped chives, and lemon juice. Season with pepper. DO AHEAD Can be made 6 hours ahead. Cover and chill.
Transfer remoulade to serving bowl; surround with pita chips. Garnish with additional chives and serve.


text:
Mourners in Egyptian city bury their dead after day of rioting killed 37
- Image 1 of 2
- Image 2 of 2
PORT SAID, Egypt – Thousands of people who have turned out for a mass funeral for 35 people killed in rioting in the coastal city of Port Said are chanting against Egypt's Islamist President Mohammed Morsi.
Mourners in the funeral procession were shouting "There is no God but Allah, and Morsi is God's enemy" after praying for the dead Sunday at the city's Mariam Mosque.
There were no police or army troops in sight, but the funeral procession briefly halted after gunfire rang out. The source of the gunfire was not immediately known.
Health officials say at least 37 people were killed, including two policemen, in rioting on Saturday. The violence erupted after a court handed down death sentences to 21 local fans involved in a deadly melee at a soccer game last year.


text:
Linked by Eugenia Loli on Wed 11th Jan 2006 20:54 UTC, submitted by Bob
Office 12 is all about taking it to a whole new level in terms of interaction with the core Office applications and new ways of managing Office documents. Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access and Outlook Composer 12 all feature an innovative "new" user interface. This new user interface promises to deliver on that dream of making access to the tools you use the most in your Office applications not just easier, but with more relevance to the entire user experience and task at hand, writes ActiveWin.
Permalink for comment 84816
To read all comments associated with this story, please click here.
To read all comments associated with this story, please click here.
RE: Office HTML
by sigzero on Wed 11th Jan 2006 23:11 UTC in reply to "Office HTML"


text:
Main Content
First Stop
Students often have many questions and concerns about their experience in college, and they sometimes wonder who to ask and where to go. The First Stop Center is an information desk, located in the Wintergreen Building, that will help you find what you need at Southern. It is staffed by professionals and students who are eager and ready to assist you.
To find us, enter the Wintergreen building, turn right, and then turn left. You can't miss our large semi-circular desk.
When you need to know anything at Southern, make First Stop your first stop!
Contact Us:
(203) 392-7121 or (203) 392-7122


text:
Catherine Zeta-Jones, rocker Graham Nash among Britons honored by Queen Elizabeth II
LONDON – LONDON (AP) — From Wales to Hollywood to "Chicago" — now Catherine Zeta-Jones has an appointment at Buckingham Palace.
Zeta-Jones added a royal honor to Hollywood stardom when she was named a Commander of the Order of the British Empire Saturday by Queen Elizabeth II.
The Academy Award winner is part of an eclectic list of honorees, announced to mark the queen's official birthday, that includes the founder of the Jimmy Choo footwear label and 1960s rocker Graham Nash.
Swansea, Wales-born Zeta-Jones, 40, began her career in British theater and television before moving to Hollywood and marrying actor Michael Douglas. The actress, who won a best supporting actress Oscar in 2003 for the musical "Chicago," can now put the letters CBE after her name.
"I am absolutely thrilled with this honor," Zeta-Jones said in a statement. "As a British subject, I feel incredibly proud. At the same time, it is overwhelming and humbling. And my mum and dad are delighted beyond belief."
Ronald Harwood, 75, a screenwriter whose films include "The Dresser" and the Oscar-winning "The Pianist," becomes Sir Ronald with the award of a knighthood.
"It's more exciting than the Oscar because of the secrecy that's involved," said Harwood, who learned of his honor six weeks ago but was not allowed to tell anyone. "The Oscar is a sudden shock, you take it all in and people make a fuss. But this feels like a very big event."
U.S.-British scientist Charles K. Kao, who shared the 2009 Nobel Prize for physics for his work on fiber optics, also received a knighthood.
Actress Sophie Okenedo, 41, Oscar nominated for "Hotel Rwanda," was named an Officer of the Order of the British Empire, or OBE.
Tamara Mellon, co-founder and creative director of designer shoe brand Jimmy Choo, also was awarded an OBE.
Mellon, 42, who is divorced from American banking heir Matthew Mellon, enlisted east London cobbler Jimmy Choo to design a range of high-fashion shoes. The brand, launched in 1996, was embraced by models, celebrities and the fashion-conscious characters on "Sex and the City." In 2007 Mellon sold her stake to a private equity firm, in a deal which valued the company at 185 million pounds, but remained creative director.
The list also sees a couple of musical rebels join the establishment. John Cale, 68, one of the founders of experimental 60s rock group The Velvet Underground, was named an OBE, as was musician Nash, 68, co-founder of Crosby, Stills and Nash.
Nash said he was "humbled" by the accolade.
"I have been a writer for most of my life but I could never have written this script," he said.
In literary and artistic honors, Guyana-born novelist Wilson Harris, 89, was awarded a knighthood, and Portugal-born artist Paula Rego, 75, was made a dame, the female equivalent of a knight.
Horror writer James Herbert, 67 — author of spine-tinglers "The Rats" and "The Fog" — said he was "totally staggered and deeply honored" to receive an OBE.
Restaurateur Prue Leith, 70, and 94-year-old food writer Marguerite Patten, who both helped Britain shake a dire culinary reputation, received CBEs.
Britain's honors are bestowed twice a year by the monarch — on her official birthday in June and on New Year's Day — but recipients are selected by committees of civil servants from nominations made by the government and the public.
In descending order, the honors are knighthoods, CBE, OBE and MBE. Knights are addressed as "sir" or "dame." Recipients of the other honors have no title but can put the letters after their names.
Most of the honors go to people who are not in the limelight, for services to their community or industry.
Former soldier Bryn Parry and his wife Emma, who founded the "Help for Heroes" charity to help wounded troops, were awarded OBEs.
The awards include MBEs for Frank Duckworth and Tony Lewis, statisticians who devised the Duckworth-Lewis Method, a mathematical system for calculating target scores in cricket matches interrupted by rain.
Other honors went to Susan Gibbs, an announcer at London's Fenchurch Street railway station, who received an MBE "for services to public transport," and farmer James Fitchie, granted an MBE "for services to plowing in Northern Ireland."
(This version CORRECTS Cale honor to OBE sted MBE.)


text:
Artists working in any 2-D media may compete for the Best of Show award of $500, with second- and third-place prizes to be announced on Sept. 13.
On September 12, 1964, President Lyndon Johnson signed legislation creating Canyonlands National Park. The Friends of Arches and Canyonlands Parks and the National Park Service will hold a series of events this year, culminating with a rededication ceremony on Sept. 12. Information about events and programs is available at www.canyonlands50.org.
"We thought it would be a wonderful tribute to Canyonlands National Park," said Laurie Collins, director of the MARC. "We want artists to capture the tagline of the 50th anniversary: 'inspiration, solitude, adventure.' How can we communicate those ideas through art?"
Collins said entries may depict any park in southeastern Utah, but "we encourage images of or inspired by Canyonlands National Park."
To enter, artists must be age 16 or older. The artwork may be submitted by mail or in person and must be ready to hang at the Moab Arts and Recreation Center by Aug. 29 at 5 p.m.
The art entries will be displayed at the MARC from Sept. 6 through Sept. 31 and awards announced on Sept. 13.
Full details about the contest are available online at www.moabmarc.com. For more information, call 435-259-6272.


text:
This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website.
Displaying products 1 - 12 out of 275
Prices shown are either of furniture models displayed in-store at Hatters or manufacturers suggested selling price of illustrated item and not necessarily the starting price of each range. All prices are correct at the time of updating this website but may subsequently vary, please check with Hatters staff in-store or call for the latest price. All sizes are approximate. Headboards, mattresses, linen and other accessories are optional extras and may not be included in the price unless stated otherwise. Due to limitations of screen resolutions actual colours of furniture may vary from those shown on this website. All items shown are subject to availability or whilst stocks last. E & OE.
FINANCE TERMS: *Subject to status, terms and conditions apply. Available to UK residents over 18 years old only. Minimum order value £2,500. Excludes clearance and promotional items. Credit is subject to application and status. Hatters Limited act as a credit broker and not the lender. Barclays Partner Finance is the only lender. Ask in store for details.
Hatters Fine Furnishings | Living, Dining, Beds, Kitchens, Carpets and More | Bedford Showroom © 2018


text:
Opinion: Obama's Second-Term Agenda
Editorial page editor Paul Gigot on President Obama's second-term political agenda. Photos: Getty Images
This transcript has been automatically generated and may not be 100% accurate.
... welcome to Opinion Journal why Mary Kissel with The Wall Street Journal editorial board ... the Labor policy the joins me now for our special coverage on inauguration day ... to discuss the politics of President Obama his second term ... is mostly clean from today's speech at all ... while them ... the president trying to accomplish with this speech today and I I I I thought was an interesting speech ... in a couple of ways was but I thought more ... intriguing for the politics of rather I don't think that there was a phrase here ... and we do think in many ways to them throughout history of important reasons ... in an all girls ... ah but I don't think there's gonna be a memorable phrase here ... something that stands out of people down that's this defined ... Obama second term ... more interesting with the politics were thought that the debate team ... under girding the whole thing ... was a ... very robust defence of ... of government action ... a hand in particular eco collective action so it was a defense ... of of of of an activist ... government to ... adapt to a works on behalf of the pricing benefits for all all kinds of people ... well it is distinct from the first sermon on euro which is kind of a generic address we didn't really get to see ... what the agenda was until the state of the new history for speech was and was ... called wants to do something about the economic ... crisis at the time ... this one is no economic crisis ... Nissan an immediate one ... time debt crisis deficit problem that exists to slow economic growth ... aam but this was focused on ... really defending ... of ... the of the things he wants to be has done ... and wants to do ... what what's gonna listen to one of the things in a very wide so I had some comments on entitlements ... save with the Rolex and ... we must make hard choices to reduce the cost of healthcare and the size of our deficit ... but we reject ... the belief that America must choose between caring ... for the generation that built this country ... and investing in the generational build its future ... so very Dhanya Gopal basically a defense of entitlements as we know them today where the deterioration in the future as a rhetorical ... Turkey was a rhetorical trick in a way because it's a false dilemma right ... on the one he says we reject the notion ... held by we'll know who would presumably has some mental opponents say that there's a ... choice between helping the elderly and investing the future while ... that's not ... the choice ... the choice is really are we going to be able to fix our entitlements ... in no way that sustains them and allows us the means to be able to invest ... in other things like education and ... transportation those kinds of things ... so I think it's a was it was it was almost a can kind of campaign line ... more than it was really a ... an honest argument in that wasn't the only rhetorical hit a maiden speech there was also online about stickers ... Tyson was a tad at the Metro that's the way I read it was so is that we are not this is not make is takers or right after a defense of of specifically of Medicare Medicaid and Social Security ... which of course are ... the entitlements that are ... we all know ... and Democrats no need to be a need to be reformed so I thought that was a fall ... a sour note ... in an inaugural which is supposed to be unifying address ... and almost had a campaign element to it and I don't think that that helped the Presidental figure was as I thought that with most moment of the speech likely ... door also references to things and he he brought up in the first ... thing on fuel climate change the need to invest in sustainable energy ... you've read those records ... well was a little more Probe or manic this this inaugural than I would've suggested program attic and the sense of mentioning specific worries for Second Term OST and our girls are the more general thematic ... unifying optimistic ... this was more saying look I would have these priorities in that sense it was common ... theme park ... a state of the Union address or almost campaign style speech ... I think this pre stages this is not this tells us about a president who's really determined ... in his second term ... two of them push ... he is progressive agenda in to do so do so ... serve like ... in a way that as the opposition's good again in the way he's going to try to roll over them ... it was a bit it was an aggressive ... on very forceful ... speech in that sense of climate change was part of mentioning that I in him and ... he mentioned climate change more ... affirmative week this ... stage ... frankly he did during the entire campaign ... the birthday Wall Street Journal Inaer ... Bond all she go ... thank you for those initial thoughts


text:
If the sentence is well-written, 'accurately' modifies both 'categorize' and 'draw'. If it were meant to modify 'draw' only, the careful writer would compose it as:
'categorize animals and draw them accurately' or
'draw accurately and categorize animals'
('Animals' remains the object of both verbs in all cases, as you see.)
Because these latter are slightly wordier, the writer of the original may have wished you to discern the logic or make the assumption. Really ambiguous ones do come along, for which you should take your choice and blame the author for any error of judgment.


text:
The Jets refused to let Glendale take all the spotlight from the Winnipeg media Tuesday night, as Chevy continued his busy few days by re-signing pending UFA defenseman Grant Clitsome to a three-year, $6.2 million contract.
Since joining the Jets via the waiver wire (of course) in 2012, the best name in the NHL has played in 56 games and managed to chip in with 4 goals and 15 assists, while dancing with multiple blueline partners. Injuries opened doors for Clitsome this past season, as he was allocated time from the 6-7 spot all the way to the top pairing alongside Dustin Byfuglien while Enstrom was recovering.
With the imminent departure of Ron Hainsey the Jets needed to ensure they kept a replacement for the second pairing available, and one would think Clitsome will be that guy. That is of course unless Trouba or Redmond step in and take it for themselves. Regardless, having Clitsome's services available increases the overall depth in the back end that the Jets (along with any team) really need. Should the mystery that is Arthurs Kulda prove to be a hidden gem, things could really get interesting as the options start to really open up.
It's almost a certainty that people will complain about the dollars and term, but in today's market this is how things are. It would appear that Chevy has learnt is lesson from standing pat the trade deadline and decided to be proactive with Grant, who has been the type of hard working player Winnipeg and TNSE admires.
Judging from Cheveldayoff's press conference last week it would appear as if Al Montoya remains as the only UFA the Jets are going to attempt to lockup before really focusing on the RFA's. With $23.9 million in cap space remaining and 8 RFA's to lock up, there is still a lot of work to do in Peg City, so stay tuned and buckle up.