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Open Thread: Talk About What Matters Most to You
Discuss and debate the issues that mean the most to you.
I've read a lot of articles about the pressure for women to have long hair, how long hair is seen as the marker of femininity, of heterosexuality, of womanly submission to male aesthetic preferences or whatever, and how women are sick of being told they have to wear their hair long. I have kind of the opposite problem.
I have really long hair. It's to the middle of my butt and I'm growing it past my butt (I write about my hair a lot). My hair is one of my major hobbies and I spend a lot of time rinsing it with different weird things (coffee, tea made with dried catnip, diluted vinegar) and experimenting with products to keep it healthy and happy. I collect hand-crafted hair accessories to decorate my hair with. In short, am pretty obsessed with my long, pretty hair.
However, I'm also pretty sick of people assuming I'm straight, a woman, and/or generally interested in pleasing men based on my hair.
Actually one of the reasons I wear it so long is as a screw-you to one particular man, an abusive ex-boyfriend who made me keep it short while we were together. The other reason I have it long is because I like it, and the other other reason I have it so long is because it makes me less dysphoric.
See I'm genderfluid, meaning for me there are days I spend feeling like a man, days I spend feeling like a woman, and days I spend feeling like something else entirely. I'm femme, I'm always femme. If I'd been assigned male at birth, I'd still be femme and I'd still probably wear my hair long. If I were to transition to living as a man, I'd still wear my hair long.
My long hair makes me feel like a J.W. Waterhouse nymph or a super slutty hair metal groupie when I'm a woman. When I'm a man, it makes me feel like a badass glam rock viking warlord. And on other days, well, it makes me feel like me.
Despite all this, I often feel frustrated by the assumptions people make about me based on my hair. I do not like people taking me for a straight woman, because I am not a straight woman. I do not like people assuming my hair is there for men's benefit. If I had to explain my sexuality succinctly, I'd say that I'm attracted to all genders, and don't really care much what genitals folks have. But I'm only attracted to femmes, people who sometimes wear makeup and dresses, people who take time on their hair and like being thought of as pretty, people who never dress in classic BUUUUTCH style.
In my life I've been in four serious relationships, two with women, two with men. One of the men is now my husband. I've had somewhere around 25 sexual partners: men, women, and people of various other genders. More women than men -- if one is attracted to femininity it's a little easier to find women who fit the bill. I think it's absurd I have to give my sexual credentials to prove I'm "queer enough" but I end up having to, and I end up having to a lot more than when I had shorter hair.
When I was in high school, when I'd just started dating my first girlfriend, I felt like I was "supposed" to cut off my knee-length hair to prove that I was in fact actually queer. Later, when I figured out my gender identity, I felt obligated to cut it shorter, because well that's what DFAB trans are supposed to do. So I did both times, and I hated it.
By the time I was with my second girlfriend I'd grown my hair back out, rebelling against that abusive ex-boyfriend I mentioned. Men didn't believe us when we said we were a couple, and frankly I think the fact that we both had long hair had something to do with it.
When I started dating again after she and I broke up, I was acutely aware that there was a queer beauty standard, and it was one I didn't fit. With my long hair, my makeup, my long nails and my miniskirts, when I went to gay bars, everyone assumed I was a straight girl there to dance. I've had so many people tell me my hair, more than any other aspect of my presentation, discredits my gender identity that I've lost count.
I'm also sick of feeling like there's some tacit agreement that my hair makes me somehow less of a feminist, because the asshole dudes who think what women do with their hair is somehow their business might approve of my hairstyle. I shouldn't have to give a damn what those dudes think either way.
Admittedly, I am a sex worker, so concessions to the male gaze must be made here and there. (Mostly I don't have as much ink as I would have if it wouldn't really hurt my earning potential.) But my hair is not one of those concessions. Although I've had clients who specifically wanted to be sure I hadn't cut it off before booking with me, they don't see it loose anyway.
I wear my hair up in front of anyone who's not my husband or immediate family. I get hit on a lot less in public with my hair up, but I also think people think I look less queer than ever. Because A: even if we accepted DFAB trans people with long hair, buns would probably still be unacceptable and B: I think a lot of people see what they think of as "married woman putting her hair up" as a sign of modesty, like I'm saving my "crown of glory" for the eyes on my husband/owner. As much as I may be into some weird stuff in terms of my private sex life, that has nothing to do with it.
I'm a sex worker, I make more money if I get naked, and I wanted to have one part of my body that wasn't up for public display. It's not a modesty thing, it's a privacy thing, and it's definitely not a gender or sexuality thing.
I'm sick of there being a dress code I have to conform to before my politics, my sexuality, and/or my gender are seen as valid.
I know for a lot of people a haircut can feel immensely liberating, but for me? It feels like an act of submission. My hair isn't my femininity, my hair isn't my womanhood, my hair is my freedom -- from my ex, from social norms concerning men's (and women's) appearance, from all that is tidy, clipped and authoritarian. My hair is long like a Cavalier fighting Puritans during the English Civil War, like a Viking, like a Spartan warrior. (Yes, they wore their hair long, and they got it done before big battles, so if you saw a Spartan whose 'do looked especially good, you knew to run the other way.)
Also if I ever see the term "queercut" again I will punch a wall. Can we quit doing the "really *insert type of people X* only look like *Insert narrow stereotyping physical description Y*" thing? I know who I am.


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Early Childhood Program
Welcome to the Hazel Park Schools Great Start Readiness Grant Program (GSRP) located at Webster Early Childhood Center. The Hazel Park GSRP program is a State of Michigan funded grant program that provides four full days of a tuition free high quality preschool program for qualifying four year old children. The HighScope curriculum, a research based curriculum, is used to prepare children for future school success. Our program consists of eight classrooms with 16 children per classroom and two teachers, our Early Childhood lead teachers have a teaching certificate and a Bachelor or Masters degree in Early Childhood, our associate teachers have a CDA or Associates degree in Early Childhood. We offer full day classes M-Th from mid September to early June with two meals and a daily snack. Transportation is available for Hazel Park families. Our program services families from Oakland, Wayne and Macomb counties. For more information please call 248-658-5550.
Andrea Bratton
Webster Early Childhood Center Supervisor
(248) 658-5234
Mrs. Ashleigh Alley
Secretary to the GSRP Supervisor
(248) 658-5501
Webster Early Childhood Center
431 West Jarvis Ave.
Hazel Park, MI 48030

subset: commoncrawl


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Phone: 2528-840
Connect to: Library Web Site❌
Library details: Biblioteca Nacional del Ecuador Eugenio Espejo is a National library.
This library is affiliated with Ecuador. The collection of the library contains 150,000 volumes.
Permalink: https://librarytechnology.org/library/47318
(Use this link to refer back to this listing.)
Administration: The director of the library is Sra. Soledad Fernández de Córdova .
|Collection size
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Record History: This listing was created on Aug 27, 2009 and was last modified on Jul 18, 2014.
Updates: Corrections or Updates? Registered members of Library Technology Guides can submit updates to library listings in libraries.org. Registration is free and easy. Already registered? login. Or, you can report corrections just by sending a message to Marshall Breeding.


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Just getting started with NetMail? This is where we're laying out the basics. Whenever we get a lot of questions about something fundamental, we'll post the info here.
Join a discussion group where customers can post articles about problems they encounter, or tips and tricks that other users might want to know about. The groups are open so you can post a message without subscribing. If you wish to receive messages, then you can join as described below:


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One more week until new Dork Towers hit GeekDad! Read all the Dork Towers that have run on GeekDad.
This article has been reproduced in a new format and may be missing content or contain faulty links. Contact firstname.lastname@example.com to report an issue.
Find the Dork Tower archives, DT printed collections, more cool comics, awesome games and a whole lot more at the Dork Tower Website.Go Back to Top. Skip To: Start of Article.


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"Forcing a child to play an instrument rarely leads to the love of music making we want."
(Dr. Robert A. Cutietta, author of "Raising Musical Kids")
I have very mixed feelings about this statement. I was one of those children who's parents "forced" them to play an instrument. In my family learning to play the piano was not optional for my siblings and me. Practicing the piano regularly was also not optional.
My parents made a deal with me during one of my many rants about wanting to quit. They said that if I could find 3 adults that had quit playing piano as a child and didn't regret it then they would let me quit. I tried for years, asking every grown up I came across. Needless to say, my parents won. Every adult I spoke to said "I wish I would have kept going." Not only did I develop my own love for the piano, but I also went on to study music in college, perform on multiple stages worldwide, and even become a piano teacher myself.
We've all heard of the cognitive and physical benefits of learning an instrument as a child. We've heard how students who study an instrument for an extended period of time have improved grades and test scores, increased creativity, and stronger balance in left/right brain function. Even so, it can be very difficult when our kids refuse to practice or argue to quit taking lessons. The competition is fierce with the internet, video games, sports, and even school work. As a teacher, I encourage parents to push through and continue through those phases (which is exactly what they are) in setting non-negotiable standards for their children. I do, however, recognize the need to maybe switch to another instrument or introduce new musical genres into the students repertoire. Music teachers and parents can work together as these different stages of growth arise for the young musician.
There are always ways to keep it fresh!
The Music Junction offers piano and voice lessons at our Burbank and Hollywood locations. Call us today to learn more.
Are you ready to sign up for lessons? See Our Rates. | Questions? Contact us.


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Welcome to the Calhoun County
Parks and Recreation Sites
Saks Comunnity Center
Janney Furnace
Janney Furnace Museum
Calhoun County Sports Complex
Agri - Center
Calhoun County is growing its parks and recreational facilities and is proud to offer some of the finest facilities in the area. From baseball fields to museums, all new and well maintained.
Would you like to reserve a Recreation Center? Maybe a pavilion - Call Steve at (256) 770-4658.
Forms and additional information for the Recreation Centers can be found under the link on the left
or simply click here.
Wish to reserve a field at the Sports Complex? For an hour? For the day? Please follow the link on the left and review the calender to see if the field(s) are available and give us a call or email us for your reservation.
Got a general question? Please call the Commission office at (256) 241-2800 or email us and we'll get you in touch with the right people.
Other contact information can be found by clicking the word "Office" at the top of the page.


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Paul Rudd & Jimmy Fallon Perfectly Recreate Styx Music Video
Paul Rudd took Lip Sync Battle to the next level while making an appearance on The Tonight Show on Friday evening (April 29).
The 47-year-old Captain America actor and Jimmy Fallon completely recreated the Styx music video for "Too Much Time On My Hands."
The duo got their 80′s gear out and donned jumpsuits, sparkly vests and curly wigs for the perfect recreation.
The video makes total sense, as Jimmy has been singing the song on the show all week and even had a mini dance session with Adam Levine.
Watch their video below…
Jimmy Fallon and Paul Rudd Recreate Styx Music Video
Click inside to watch the actual Styx video Paul and Jimmy recreated…
Styx – Too Much Time On My Hands


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Which colleges are the best in the U.S.? It depends which ranking you believe.
U.S. News & World Report, Forbes, Kiplinger's, and a few others have their own special recipe to pick the winners, and as frazzled parents and teens have found, their list results vary wildly. For example, U.S. News just named the University of Pennsylvania and Duke the 4th and 10th best universities in America, but Forbes ranked them the 83rd and 104th best schools.
So which rankings are legit and how should you use them? To find out, MoneyWatch.com took a hard look at their methodology and rated the raters on a scale of one to five stars. We can only recommend one: Forbes' America's Best Colleges. Despite its limitations, it comes closest to actually measuring the quality of the education at the nation's best schools.
Ultimately, though, the usefulness of any college ranking will depend on what criteria matters most to you and your teen. The best strategy: Use a few of the rankings to amass quantifiable and anecdotal data, allowing you and your prospective freshman to create your own Top 10 list.
U.S. News & World Report
Report: America's Best Colleges 2010
No. 1 National University (tie): Harvard University and Princeton University
No. 1 Liberal Arts College: Williams College
How it compiles rankings: In grading 1,400 schools, kingpin U.S. News looks at what it considers to be key measures of quality. Examples: What college administrators think of their peer schools (25 percent of a college's score), how many students return after freshmen year, faculty salaries, and class sizes. Its rankings favor elite schools because U.S. News bestows higher marks to institutions with the best reputations that also reject most applicants and enjoy extremely generous alumni.
What's good: The magazine generates useful lists of top up-and-coming schools (University of Maryland at Baltimore County and Hendrix College are No. 1) as well as specialty colleges that focus on fine arts, business, or engineering.
What's not good: As I've written in my MoneyWatch.com blog, The College Solution, U.S. News relies heavily on the reputation of schools, through its administrator peer reviews, which virtually guarantees that the Ivies and other highly selective institutions rank highest. Harvard's president is supposed to rank all the national universities - from Oklahoma State to Drexel - and vice versa. Schools also try to game the U.S. News rankings. According to Inside Higher Ed, Clemson's president, for instance, gave his only "strong" rating to his own school.
Best for: Families mystified about college choices and looking for the most comprehensive rankings.
MoneyWatch.com rating: ***
Report: America's Best Colleges 2009
Best College: United States Military Academy
Best College Buy: Berea College
How it compiles rankings: Forbes' self-declared aim is to size up 600 colleges "based on the quality of the education they provide, the experience of the students and how much they achieve." The Center for College Affordability & Productivity, an education think tank, helps produce the rankings. Twenty-five percent of a school's score is based on students' satisfaction with their courses, according to evaluations at RateMyProfessors.com. This being Forbes, another quarter of the weighting is pegged to salaries of a school's graduates. The Forbes rankings also favor schools with high four-year graduation rates, and ones whose faculty and students win national and international awards. (The magazine also puts together a smaller list of 200 schools called "America's Best College Buys.")
What's good: Forbes actually attempts to measure the quality of the education students receive (imagine that!). Lesser-known liberal-arts jewels such as Centre College, Lawrence University, and DePauw University score very well.
What's not good: Since Forbes ranks only 600 schools, some wonderful schools are undoubtedly missing. Some critics complain that a portion of each school's ranking depends on the number of alumni listings in Who's Who in America.
Best for: Finding schools offering quality educations and preparation for decent-paying jobs.
MoneyWatch.com rating: ****
Report: 2009 Best Values in Colleges & Universities
Best Value Private University: California Institute of Technology
Best Value Private Liberal Arts College: Pomona College
Best Value Public College: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
How it compiles rankings: The magazine generates three Best Values lists: one list of 120 public colleges, one of 50 private universities, and one of 50 private liberal arts colleges. It starts with 500 to 600 schools and narrows down candidates based on academic factors such as SAT/ACT scores, student-faculty ratios, and graduation rates. After shrinking the pools academically, the magazine rates schools based on their cost and financial aid. In the final scoring, academic quality counts for more than price.
What's good: With the cost of a bachelor's degree soaring - now an average $34,132 a year at private colleges and $14,333 at public universities - it's smart to factor in the cost of an education when shopping for a school.
What's not good: The lists don't really measure the quality of the education. And just because Kiplinger's praises a school for its financial aid practices doesn't mean your teenager will benefit. For instance, Pomona College (No. 1 in Kiplinger's Liberal Arts list) stuffs its aid packages with free grant money for needy students but doesn't offer merit scholarships to upper-income kids. So wealthy parents can be stuck paying more than $200,000 over four years - not necessarily a great "value."
Best for: Discovering potentially generous schools with smart students.
MoneyWatch.com rating: ***
Princeton Review
Report: The Best 371 Colleges
How it compiles rankings: The Princeton Review has a bunch of mini lists but no overall list. Each year, the college prep outfit selects "the best" public and private colleges (371 in the 2010 list), although it won't say exactly how these schools are chosen. It then asks students from those schools - 122,000 this year - to rate their institutions in 62 (sometimes quirky) categories and produces rankings of the top 20 colleges in each. You can find lists, for instance, of schools with the most liberal students (Warren Wilson College) and the most conservative (Texas A&M); the most religious (Thomas Aquinas College) and least religious (Bennington); the "happiest students" (Brown University) and the "least happy students" (United States Merchant Marine Academy).
What's good: Princeton Review has one of the few rankings where you can find out what students really think about their schools - for better or worse. In surveys asking students about the accuracy of their school's category results, more than 92 percent say they are on target.
What's not good: There is nothing scientific about these rankings. And some of the data is a little old. Some surveys from this year's rankings are from the 2006-2007 school year.
Best for: Comparing the quality of life at academically comparable schools.
MoneyWatch.com rating: ***
Washington Monthly
Report: College Guide 2009
No. 1 Liberal Arts College: Amherst College
No. 1 National University: University of California at Berkeley
How it compiles rankings: Washington Monthly, a neoconservative political journal, looks at 258 national universities and liberal arts colleges through a very different prism than other raters. Starting with the premise that the best schools make significant contributions to society, the magazine bases its ratings on three criteria: social mobility (recruiting and graduating low-income students), research (producing "cutting-edge" scholarship and PhDs), and service (encouraging students to give back to their country).
What's good: The magazine admirably wants to steer attention away from what it calls the "maniacal focus on elite schools" and shine a spotlight on unsung state schools, where the vast majority of students end up.
What's not good: The parameters are extremely narrow, albeit honorable, and large universities get favored treatment. Also, many students won't give a hoot about some of the magazine's measurements. Schools with many students in the ROTC enjoy a rankings boost, for example.
Best for: Gathering possibilities for idealistic teens who want to change the world.
MoneyWatch.com ranting: **
American Council of Trustees and Alumni
Report: What Will They Learn?
How it compiles rankings: The newest and nerdiest kid on the ratings block, the nonprofit American Council of Trustees and Alumni, ranks 125 universities to see which "are making sure their students learn what they need to know." Translation: whether a school requires undergrads to take classes in seven core subjects: composition, literature, foreign language, U.S. government or history, economics, mathematics, and natural or physical science. Each school is assigned a letter grade based on its online course catalog. A school gets an "A" if it requires classes in six to seven core subjects, an "F" if it requires one or none. ACTA was founded by Lynne Cheney and Senator Joseph Lieberman.
What's good: The council is nobly drawing attention to the weakening of general education requirements at colleges.
What's not good: The criterion is so stiff that only seven schools got an "A": Baylor University, City University of New York at Brooklyn College, City University of New York at Hunter College, Texas A&M, United States Military Academy, University of Arkansas, and University of Texas at Austin. Schools that scored a big fat "F" include Amherst, Brown, and the University of California at Berkeley.
Best for: Ensuring students will leave college having taken courses in all major disciplines of academia.
MoneyWatch.com rating: **
Best of the Best
So how do the nation's top colleges and universities stack up? After wading through all the major rankings, MoneyWatch.com found that these schools were consistently rated among the best:
Stanford University: Only school to make Top 10 lists of U.S. News, Kiplinger's, and Washington Monthly
Pomona College: No. 1 in Kiplinger's Best Value Private Colleges and Princeton Review's Best Classroom Experience; No. 6 in U.S. News' Best Liberal Arts Colleges
College of William & Mary: Forbes' No. 1 state university, U.S. News' No. 6 Best Public University, No. 8 on Washington Monthly's list
Princeton University: Tied with Harvard for U.S. News' No. 1 National University; No. 2 Forbes' Best Colleges
Davidson College: No. 4 in Kiplinger's Best Values Liberal Arts, and No. 9 in U.S. News' Best Liberal Arts Colleges
More on MoneyWatch:
The Best Colleges You've Never Heard Of
Why US News' College Rankings Are a Joke
The Best and Worst College Degrees by Salary
Are Ivy League Schools Fudging Their Numbers?
Top Colleges to Cut Big Aid Packages?


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I find this description of how the D20 System works enormously enlightening and useful.
It speaks of Dungeons and Dragons, but D&D 3.5, D20 Modern and Star Wars RCR are all essentially the same system mechanically, with various tweaks.
D&D: Calibrating Your Expectations
An Essay by Justin Alexander
- I've been working and playing with the new edition of Dungeons & Dragons longer than most. Ryan Dancey sent me a playtest copy of the new Player's Handbook back in 1999, almost a full year before it was released at GenCon 2000. I had been an outspoken critic of AD&D for several years at that point and, more recently, been involved in a number of heated debates with Ryan over the OGL and D20 Trademark License.
- By the time I was done reviewing the playtest document and sending my comments back to Ryan, I had basically done a 180-degree turn-around on both. Wizards of the Coast had assembled three incredibly talented game designers – Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook, and Skip Williams – to rework the system, and they had succeeded brilliantly. They stayed true to the roots of the game and captured the best parts of it, while shedding decades of detritus and poor design. There were still a few quibbles here and there, but they had taken advantage of the largest and most expensive design cycle for an RPG ever conceived and used it to deliver an incredibly robust, flexible, and powerful system.
- One of the most impressive things about 3rd Edition is the casual realism of the system. You can plug real world values into it, process them through the system, and get back a result with remarkable fidelity to what would happen in the real world.
- Some people will consider this to be a remarkable claim. It doesn't take much experience with the roleplaying hobby before you're familiar with dozens of vehement diatribes on the lack of realism in D&D and the resulting shortcomings in the system. Whole laundry lists of complaints (aimed at hit points, the encumbrance system, falling damage, or attacks of opportunity, for example) have been generated. In fact, such claims are so prolific that making the opposite claim (as I have done) is practically a heresy of sorts.
- But, in my experience, these complaints largely originate either from people carrying over their criticisms of previous editions (where many of the criticisms were true) or from people failing to actually look at the facts and run the numbers.
- So what I want to do, rather than just making my claim, is to take a look at a few rules, actually run the numbers, and demonstrate how effective D&D really is at modeling the real world.
- Before we do that, though, I want to make one disclaimer perfectly clear: D&D is a game. Its systems are abstracted and streamlined in order to keep things simple and, more importantly, fun. So, yes, there are compromises. (You'll see a graphic example of the types of compromises which are made when we talk about the Jump skill.) The game is not a physics text. Nor is it without flaw.
- It's just really, really good. And part of what makes it really, really good is the fact that it does this simulation casually. It doesn't make you do the math. It's worked the math into the system. All you've got to do is roll the dice and handle some basic arithmetic.
- This essay should also be understood as something more than a defense of the game from illegitimate critique. That defense is, in fact, almost an unintentional consequence of what this essay is actually about: Providing a useful resource for those who want a deeper understanding of what the numbers really mean. If a character has a skill bonus of +15, how talented are they? If they have a Strength of 14 how strong are they? And so forth.
Breaking Down a Door
- Breaking down a door in D&D requires a Strength check. So the first thing we need to understand is the distribution of ability scores in the general population.
- According to the DMG, defaults NPCs in D&D are built on one of two arrays: The elite array and the average array. The elite array is used for exceptional individuals. The average array is… well, average.
- Elite Array: 15, 14, 13, 12, 10, 8
- Average Array: 13, 12, 11, 10, 9, 8
- Using the point buy system, the elite array is built on 25 points. The average array is built on 15 points.
- John Kim demonstrates that the elite array is, in fact, the statistically typical result of rolling 4d6-drop-the-lowest (the default character generation) if you round down fractional results. Similarly, although John doesn't show it, the average array is the statistically typical results of a 3d6 roll.
- The DMG doesn't tell us how common an elite character will be, but they are supposed to be a cut above the average. I think it's safe to say that they're supposed to be rare. There are a number of approaches you can take to figuring out exactly how rare. For example, I did some back-of-the-envelope calculations using the DMG demographic information regarding how many characters are of a level high enough to suggest exceptional accomplishment in the real world (as we'll discuss later). I also ran the numbers from MENSA (which accepts only those who intellectually qualify in the top 2% of the population) and then compensated to include the non-intellectual ability scores. And so forth. But, consistently, these inferences got me a figure right around 5%.
- What does all this mean? It means that the vast majority of people you meet will be lucky to have a single +1 bonus in any of their ability scores. Most of them will, in fact, have straight 10's and 11's across the board.
- So, with that in mind, let's go back and talk about breaking down a door.
- Breaking down a simple wooden door – like the doors you might find inside a typical house – is a DC 13 check. This means that the average person (with a +0 Strength modifier) will succeed at breaking open the door about 40% of the time. This means that one or two strong kicks from just about anybody will kick the door open.
- This matches our real life experience: Interior doors just aren't that sturdy.
- Next, let's take a look at something sturdier. For example, a well-made front door with its deadbolt secured. This would be a DC 18 check in D&D (for a "good wooden door"). This is a lot harder to bust open: The average person will only have a 10% of knocking it open on the first attempt. It's going to typically take five or six really solid kicks for the average person to get through such a door.
- Again: This matches our real life experience. Front doors are strong, but the fact that they're not impervious to breaking-and-entering is evidenced by thousands of burglaries every year.
- But once you take a thick wooden beam and use it to bar the door shut with solid iron construction (Break DC 25), it becomes impossible for the average person to simply throw their shoulder against the door and break it open.
- And, again, this matches the real world. Breaking a six-inch thick beam would be nearly impossible for all but the strongest among us. Breaking such a beam without hitting it directly (instead diffusing our impact through a door) is essentially impossible.
- Breaking down doors is a simplistic example, but it shows how much thought has gone into make the system consistent with the real world, even when it comes to the small details.
- It's also interesting to look at various magical effects in the system and seeing what they mean in real world terms. For example, a hold portal spell adds +5 to the Break DC of a door. So a hold portal spell is basically equivalent to adding a deadbolt to a door (make sense). An arcane lock spell, on the other hand, adds +10 to the Break DC of a door, so it's basically the equivalent of barring the door shut.
- So if the necromancer rushes through a portal and magically seals it behind him, what does it feel like when the party's fighter throws himself against it? Now you know.
- (And knowing is half the battle. Go Joe!)
- One of the things which directly led to the creation of this essay was a mini-rant by Shamus Young on encumbrance in D&D:
Now, I like to travel light: I don't check baggage unless I really need to. For my five-day trip I managed to get everything into a single reasonably-sized carry-on bag. It was just the bare minimum of items for five days: I wore a few clothing items twice to save space, and only carried a couple of books and a laptop for entertainment. Nevertheless, the strap of this bag bit into my shoulder as I walked, and the weight threatened to pull me off balance. A full-out run was nearly impossible, and a light jog caused the weight to bounce all over the place, slam me in the leg, and generally make the simple task of walking a bit more tricky than it normally is. It wasn't just the weight that was a problem: the volume made the stuff difficult to manage as well.
Note that I was not wearing any metal armor. I wasn't carrying enough food for five days in the wild. I didn't have a sword, rope, grapple hook, spare dagger, or any other items D&D characters seem to keep handy. Try lugging five days of food and a few metal weapons a half-mile or so and you'll quickly see that the D&D rules for carrying capacity are pure comedy.
- Pure comedy? Well, let's run the numbers.
- What was Shamus lugging around with his carry-on that day? Sounds like about three outfits of clothing. A laptop. A couple of books. A complete outfit of clothing in D&D is rated right around 4-5 pounds (unless you're wearing royal regalia, which we'll assume he wasn't), so let's say 13 pounds of clothing. A quick Google search turns up this page which suggests that his laptop probably weighed about 7 pounds. Poking around on Amazon suggests that books can reasonably weigh anywhere from about half a pound to about three pounds, depending on size and format. Let's assume an average and call it 3 pounds for two books together. The luggage probably weighs another 7 pounds. Plus another 5 pounds for any miscellaneous stuff he didn't mention explicitly (like toiletries).
- Adding that up quickly we can see that Shamus was carrying somewhere in the ballpark of (13 + 7 + 3 + 7 + 5) 35 pounds.
- Now, I'm guessing that Shamus isn't a professional weightlifter. And, by the same token, he probably isn't a 90-pound weakling, either. My guess is that he falls solidly into the D&D average: Strength 10.
- For a D&D character with a Strength of 10, the 35 pounds or so that Shamus was carrying constitutes a medium load. A medium load hits you with a check penalty on physical actions, reduces your speed, and stops you from running full out.
- Which, when we compare this to Shamus' experience, sounds like a pretty accurate mechanical representation: "…the weight threatened to pull me off balance. A full-out run was nearly impossible, and a light jog caused the weight to bounce all over the place, slam me in the leg, and generally make the simple task of walking a bit more tricky than it normally is."
- And he was also carrying the weight in the worst way possible – as an off-center load. D&D doesn't try to model how you're carrying a load, but it's reasonable to assume that the rules are designed with the assumption that characters are carrying their gear in a way which minimizes the inconvenience.
- (To understand the difference, grab a 25-lb. weight and try jogging around the block with it held in your hand. Then load up a backpack with 25 pounds of stuff, pack it tight, and strap it across your back. Do the same run. It'll be a lot easier. There's a reason backpacks were invented.)
- This is one of the way in which D&D chooses to make a playable compromise rather than trying to slavishly model every aspect of reality. Sure, you could try to create a system which attempted to model how awkward it was to carry a particular item in a particular way. Maybe items carried in the hands carry a x2 encumbrance penalty. Maybe carrying more than one or two spears is more difficult than carrying an equal weight of a smaller and more compact item.
- But such a system would be a nightmare. It's already enough of an overhead headache to try to keep an accurate tally of just the weight being carried. Most groups will only do the occasional "update" of weight carried, rather than trying to account for every time picked up or dropped as it occurs. And this is fine.
- But if you tried adding a whole new layer complexity in which players had to figure out exactly how many standard rations will fit into a small, medium, or large backpack or how carrying them in a bag on your hip will affect their encumbrance you'd almost certainly create a system which would never be used (because no one would want to use it). It wouldn't increase utility and accuracy, it would reduce it.
- But with that acceptable layer of abstraction in place, how else does the system demonstrate its accuracy?
- Well, let's look at the military. How much does the equipment they carry into combat typically carry?
- Historically, militaries have tended to have kit weights for their infantry soldiers in the 40-60 pound range. We've seen that, for average people, this would constitute a medium load: Not so heavy as to be a serious impediment, but definitely inhibiting compared to wearing winter clothes.
- Of course, most soldiers aren't of average strength. Boot camp is specifically designed to build strength (among other things). It wouldn't be unreasonable to expect an average infantryman's highest ability score (13) to be in Strength. And with a Strength of 13, anything up to 50 pounds is considered a light load (with no penalties to action).
- And take a look at this recent article: The amount of gear carried by an American infantryman is creeping up into the neighborhood of 70 pounds or more. That's a heavy load for a person with average strength (10), and even our physically fit soldiers with above average strength (13) who were previously wearing light loads are now being weighed down with a medium load.
- Our soldiers aren't too happy with all that extra weight. And D&D shows us why.
- On a slight tangent, another common complaint about D&D's encumbrance figures go the other way: They claim that things like longswords should be heavier and that plate armor should make it impossible to do anything physical. Most of these beliefs are either built on shoddy replicas, urban legends, or simple misunderstanding.
- To pick on Shamus Young again, he also jumped on this bandwagon: "The system is even more messed up than it seems. A quick glance at the item weights in the player handbook will reveal gems like the following: A longsword weighs 4lbs. Even using lightweight modern metal alloys, I think you'd have a very, very hard time getting an adult-sized longsword that weighs only 4lbs. Even if you did somehow have a sword that light, it would feel like a toy in your hand."
- But even casual research quickly reveals that 4 lbs. is almost exactly what historical long swords weighed. The essay "What Did Historical Swords Weigh?" by J. Clements is an excellent resource for this. People didn't make slow, heavy weapons and awkward armor because their lives depended on not making weapons and armor like that.)
Knowledge and Crafting
- There's a common fallacy when it comes to D&D, and it goes something like: Einstein was a 20th level physicist. So, in D&D, Einstein – that little old man – has something like a bajillion hit points and you'd need to stab him dozens of times if you wanted to kill him. That's ridiculous!
- The problem with this argument is that Einstein wasn't a 20th level physicist. A 20th level physicist is one step removed from being the God of Physicists. Einstein was probably something more like a 4th or 5th level expert.
- This can be a little bit difficult for some people to accept, so let's run the math. At 5th level an exceptional specialist like Einstein will have:
- +8 skill ranks
- +4 ability score bonus
- +3 Skill Focus
- In the case of our 5th level Einstein, that gives him a +15 bonus to Knowledge (physics) checks. He can casually answer physics-related questions (by taking 10) with a DC of 25. Such questions, according to the PHB description of the Knowledge skill, are among the hardest physics questions known to man. He'll know the answers to the very hardest questions (DC 30) off the top of his head about 30% of the time.
- And when he's doing research he'll be able to add the benefits of being able to reference scientific journals (+2 circumstance bonus), gain insight from fellow colleagues (+2 bonus from aid another), use top-of-the-line equipment (+2 circumstance bonus), and similar resources to gain understanding of a problem so intractable that no one has ever understood it before (DC 40+).
- (This 5th level Einstein can also be modeled with as few as 5 hit points – 1 per hit die. Even if he rolled an average number of hit points on each hit die (3 each), as an old man his average Constitution of 10 will have dropped two points. With the resulting Constitution penalty, he still only has 10 hit points. This is the other reason why the hit point argument holds no water.)
- You'll see this same fallacy trotted out whenever someone insists that the local blacksmith "must" be at least 10th level in order to be competent in their profession. In reality, the typical village blacksmith is probably only a 1st level character. At 1st level the average blacksmith's Craft (blacksmithing) skill looks like this:
- +4 skill ranks
- +1 Intelligence bonus
- +3 Skill Focus
- +2 from an assistant or apprentice helping them
- That's a +10 bonus on their checks. This bonus allows them to take 10 and craft masterwork-quality items. By 3rd level an experienced blacksmith can do that without the help of an assistant.
- Even less capable 1st level blacksmiths (without an assistant or the Skill Focus feat) still have a +5 bonus to their skill. This lets them take 10 and craft high-quality items (the only things they can't handle are exotic weapons and complex items).
- And what does an exceptional 5th level blacksmith look like?
- +8 skill ranks
- +4 Intelligence bonus
- +3 Skill Focus
- +2 masterwork tools
- +2 from an assistant or apprentice helping them
- That's a +19 bonus to the check. When taking 10 he can essentially triple the speed with which he can make common items like iron pots and horseshoes. He can easily create work far surpassing masterwork quality and can every so often (when he rolls a natural 20) create a work of essentially legendary quality (DC 39).
- What does all this mean?
- It means that the most extraordinary blacksmiths in the real world top out at 5th level. Amakuni, the legendary Japanese swordsmith who created the folded-steel technique? 5th level.
- Arachne, the legendary weaver who challenged Athena herself to a duel (and lost)? She might be 10th level.
- Does this mean you should never throw a 10th level blacksmith into your campaign? Nope. D&D is all about mythic fantasy, after all. But when you do decide to throw a 10th level blacksmith into the mix, consider the fact that this guy will be amazing. He will be producing things that no blacksmith in the real world has ever dreamed of making. And a 20th level blacksmith is one step removed from Hephaestus himself.
- Coincidentally: Why do dwarves have such a reputation for mastery of the forge? They have a +2 racial bonus to Craft checks. That means that, unlike human blacksmiths, the average dwarf doesn't need to be 3rd level in order to single-handedly create masterwork items – they can do it at 1st level. Basically, due to their natural aptitude, dwarves are master craftsmen before they ever leave their apprenticeships.
- How well do these numbers hold up when compared to other skills? Well, let's take a look at the Jump skill.
- Based on our analysis of the Knowledge and Craft skills, we know that a 1st level character has professional competency in their chosen field. We also know that a 5th level character represents the most legendary levels of skill – the type of people who come along once in a generation.
- So, when it comes to jumping, a 1st level character probably represents a typical college athlete. A 5th level character, on the other hand, represents the small handful of jumpers who challenge and break the world records. It would make sense then, that Olympians would probably fall in the 3rd to 4th level range (better than your run-of-the-mill specialists, but not quite at the level of once-in-a-generation).
- Let's take a look at a 4th level Olympian jumper:
- +7 skill ranks
- +3 Strength bonus
- +3 Skill Focus
- That's a +13 bonus.
- Now, back in the original 3rd Edition (3.0), the result of a running long jump check was:
- 5 ft. + 1 ft. per 1 point above 10
- This can be more easily paraphrased this way: The distance of a long jump is equal to your check result minus 5 feet.
- Our Olympian's jumps will range from 9 feet (stumbling all the way on a roll of natural 1) to 28 feet. But a typical Olympic event involves three jumps in which the best distance is recorded. That means that roughly 80% of the time, our long jumper will be jumping between 20 feet and 28 feet in competition.
- Looking at the 2004 Olympics, the top forty men's long-jump results during the qualification round range from 24 feet to 27.25 feet. Those types of results will be posted approximately 60% of the time by our Olympic long-jumper.
- With our 5th level jumper we can bump the ability bonus up to +4, add a +2 synergy bonus from Tumble, or a +4 bonus from the Run feat. The result would be a the ability to achieve jumps in the 29-35 foot range. The world record is currently set at 29.35 feet.
- So, once again we're finding that 5th level is right at the dividing line between legendary real world performances and the impossible realms of the superhuman.
- And you'll find similar fidelity with the high jump rules. (In fact, the 3.0 high jump rules are even more accurate than the long jump rules.)
- The jumping rules, however, are perhaps the most visible victim of gameplay compromises in D&D. When the system was revised for D20 Modern, the distance of a long jump was revised to simply equal the DC of the check. This change was later picked up in the 3.5 revision of the D&D rules.
- This rule is a lot simpler to remember, but it makes jumping significantly easier than any other skill (compared to real world performance). Under the new rules, 1st level characters can now trivially perform Olympic-level jumps and our typical Olympians will be routinely smashing the world record. (The high jump rules, on the other hand, remain fairly accurate.)
Analyzing Aragorn
- So what have we learned so far? Almost everyone you have ever met is a 1st level character. The few exceptional people you've met are probably 2nd or 3rd level – they're canny and experienced and can accomplish things that others find difficult or impossible.
- If you know someone who's 4th level, then you're privileged to know one of the most talented people around: They're a professional sports player. Or a brain surgeon. Or a rocket scientist.
- If you know someone who's 5th level, then you have the honor of knowing someone that will probably be written about in history books. Walter Payton. Michael Jordan. Albert Einstein. Isaac Newton. Miyamoto Musashi. William Shakespeare.
- So when your D&D character hits 6th level, it means they're literally superhuman: They are capable of achieving things that no human being has ever been capable of achieving. They have transcended the mortal plane and become a mythic hero.
- This requires a shift of perception for some people, but I've found it valuable, when crafting my own campaigns, to keep it in mind: Even though the PCs inhabit a world where there are many higher level characters, once they've gotten past 5th level or so, they are truly special individuals. They will be noticed. Their accomplishments will be (and should be) things which would enshrine them in the legends of our world. It's OK for them to excel.
- To help put this in further perspective, let me pop another popular canard:
- People love to stat up their favorite heroes from fantasy literature as 20th level juggernauts. Fafhrd? 20th level. Elric? 20th level. Conan? 20th level. Aragorn? 20th level Luke Skywalker? 20th level.
- I mean, they must be 20th level, right? They're the biggest, bestest heroes ever! They're the greatest warriors in a generation! Some of them are reputedly the greatest swordsmen who ever lived in any universe EVAH!
- But when you stop and analyze what these characters are actually described as achieving, it's rare to find anything which actually requires a 20th level build.
- Take Aragorn, for example. He's clearly described as one of the best warriors in Middle Earth. But what do we actually see him do? Let's take THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RINGS as an example:
- He leads the hobbits through the wilderness with great skill. (The highest Survival DC in the core rules is DC 15. A 1st level character can master the skill for non-tracking purposes. Aragorn, as a master tracker, would need to be 5th level, have at least one level of ranger, and have spent one of his feats on Skill Focus (Survival) to achieve all of this.)
- He drives off the ringwraiths at Weathertop. (It's difficult to conclude anything from this because it's one of the more problematic passages in the book when subjected to analysis. If the ringwraiths are truly impervious to harm from any mortal man, why are they scared off by a guy waving two flaming brands of wood? Are they vulnerable to fire in a way that they're not vulnerable to mortal weapons? The point is, the true strength of the ringwraiths is obscure, so it's impossible to know how tough Aragorn would need to be in order to accomplish this.)
- Aragorn treats Frodo's wound, unsuccessfully. (The highest Heal DC is 15. As with Survival, Aragorn could have mastered this skill at 1st level.
- In Moria (fighting orcs): Legolas shot two through the throat. Gimli hewed the legs from under another that had sprung up on Balin's tomb. Boromir and Aragorn slew many. When thirteen had fallen the rest fled shrieking, leaving the defenders unharmed, except for Sam who had a scratch along the scalp. A quick duck had saved him; and he had felled his orc: a sturdy thrust with his Barrow-blade. A fire was smouldering in his brown eyes that would have made Ted Sandyman step backwards, if he had seen it. Aragorn slays no more than six or seven CR 1/2 orcs in this encounter. A trivial accomplishment for a 5th level character.
- Even if you follow Aragorn all the way through The Two Towers and The Return of the King, you'll find that this is fairly representative of what he accomplishes. The only other notable ping on the radar is his ability to use athelas, and even if we don't assume that's merely an example of him knowing athelas' properties, with a Knowledge (nature) check, it's still just one ability.
- So what can we conclude form this? Aragorn is about 5th level.
- And since Aragorn is one of the most remarkable individuals in all of Middle Earth, this would imply that Middle Earth is a place largely like our own world: People who achieve 5th level are uniquely gifted and come along but once in a generation.
- Does that seem like a proper description of Middle Earth? It does. Tolkien was crafting a false mythology – a forgotten epoch of our own world. Thus the people in it are much like the people we know, although they live in a world of heroes and magic.
- For the record, I'd probably model Aragorn as a Rgr1/Ftr1/Pal3. That gives you the tracking, lay on hands, and quantifies his ineffable ability to instill courage in those around him. Use one of the feat selections for Skill Focus (Survival) and you're still left with another three feat selections for the final tweaking.
- Why do people make the mistake of modeling characters like Aragorn as 20th level characters? I think it arises from several factors.
- First, there is the assumption that the fictional world of the novel is a typical D&D world. If someone is described as the best in the world, therefore, they must be 20th level. Otherwise there would be people better than them and the description wouldn't be accurate, right? But the reality is that, in Middle Earth, there aren't any 20th level characters, At least, none of mortal stature. Even the most exceptional of the immortal elves are most likely no more than 8th level or so, and that's pushing it. Gandalf is a demigod cloaked in mortal form and I'd have difficulty statting him up as even a 10th level character.
- Second, people can be thrown off by some contortion required by D&D in order to get a very specific set of abilities. A character is described as having one very specific ability that only a 5th level druid can have and is simultaneously described as having another ability that only a 12th level ranger can have, so clearly they must be a 17th level character, right?
- Well, no. Authors don't design their characters around the class progressions of the core D&D classes. Take, for example, a character who can assume an ethereal state without casting a spell. The only way to do that in D&D, using only the core classes, is to be a 19th level monk. But if that's the only special ability the character in question has, it would be completely nonsensical to model them as a 19th level monk – they don't have any of the plethora of other abilities such a monk possesses. What you're looking at is a character with a unique class progression or possibly a prestige class. Or maybe a racial ability.
- Finally, you'll get into an arms race of expectations which just reinforces the whole thing: Aragorn must be 20th level. So the orcs who posed such a challenge to him must be 15th level or higher. And since those were elite 15th level orcs, Aragorn must have been 20th level in order to face them.
Concluding Thoughts
- The problem with having false expectations about what Strength 20 or 15th level really means is that it creates a dissonance between what the rules allow characters to do and what you think characters should be able to do. For example, if you think that Conan should be modeled as a 25th level character, then you're going to be constantly frustrated when the system treats him as a demigod and allows him to do all sorts of insanely powerful things that the literary Conan was never capable of. From there it's a pretty short step to making pronouncements like D&D can't do Conan (or Lankhmar or Elric or whatever).
- The other problem is the expectation it brings to your campaigns. If you believe that epic adventures are only possible for characters who are 20th level, then your players are going to have a long, hard slog through lower levels of utter tedium before they can get to the "good stuff" that resembles the fantasy stories they love.
- I'm seen people spend countless hours trying to tweak various rules so that, for example, 20th level characters, who are basically mythological demigods, can't fall off the Cliffs of Insanity and survive because no one could survive a fall like that. Well, that's true. No one in the real world can survive a fall like that. But that's because no one in the real world is a demigod. You might be missing the forest for the trees here.
- The fact that D&D can handle a range of powers from the subhuman all the way up through the superhuman and into the demigod-like is actually one of the system's strengths. People will rightfully point that, beyond 20th level, the system begins to break down. But compared to virtually every other RPG ever designed, D&D's performance across that wide range of powers is still amazing. Nothing else can really compare.
- For example, HERO was originally designed to model superheroes, and it does that exceptionally. It's also very good at handling cinematic action heroes. But when you ask it to do normal human beings, it starts developing some serious clunkiness. On the other end of the spectrum, GURPS is great at handling human beings near the normal end of the spectrum, but gets progressively more awkward the more powerful the characters become.
- But what frustrates some people is that D&D assumes that you're going to move from one level of power to an extremely different level of power. So they spend a lot of time tweaking the system and trying to get it to perform at a more uniform level from 1st to 20th level.
- I think this is the hard way of doing it. Instead of fighting the system, I'd rather try to work with it: Target the precise range of levels which form the sweet spot for whatever campaign concept I'm working on, and then tinker with the character creation and advancement rules to keep the campaign focused in that sweet spot. Those changes can be as simple as XP awards will be 1/10th the normal size and everyone should create a 5th level character, but more complicated variants are more than possible.
- The point is that you find that sweet spot and then you tinker with one aspect of the system, rather than trying to redo the whole thing.
- And the first step in finding that sweet spot is to recognize what the numbers really mean. Which neatly takes us back to the beginning premise of the essay. I wouldn't suggest going back and re-reading it like a literary ouroboros, though. It's long enough as it is.
To Eve Forward, for giving me the impetus to collect a variety of my scattered thoughts into this single essay.
To Rupert Boleyn, Malachias Invictus, Doug Lampert, and Sea Wasp (Ryk E. Spoor), who have all contributed to the development of these thoughts in online discussions over the years.


text:
|Rebecca Sims
(whaler: t. 400)
Rebecca Sims was built as a general trading ship in 1801 by Samuel Bowers of Philadelphia for Joseph Sims. Refitted during the winter of 1806-07, she set a record of 14 days on an eastbound run from Cape Henlopen, Del. to the mouth of the Mersey (Liverpool, England) in May 180t. She was eventually taken out of general trading service, refitted as a whaler, and by 1850, was sailing from New Bedford on extended voyages to the South Atlantic and to the pacific. Still operating at the outbreak of the Civil War, Rebecca Sims was acquired by the Navy at Fairhaven, Mass., on 21 October 1861 for use in the "Stone Fleet," the ships which were to be sunk as obstacles in the shipping channels of the South's major ports.
The whaler was stripped of all unnecessary equipment filled with stone; and, under the command of her previous master, James M. Willis, sent south in late November. In early December, she arrived off Savannah, whence, at midmonth, she proceeded to Port Royal. On 19-20 December, she and 16 other ships were sunk in the main channel of Charleston Harbor.


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The Banks County track and field team is scheduled to head to Rabun County on Thursday, weather permitting, to face Rabun, Habersham and Walhalla.
Thursday's meet comes after a few days off and a lull in practice due to the rain late last week.
While the forecast is not 100 percent promising for Thursday, the team is set for the 4 p.m. start.
Maggie McCoy comes around the track during a recent meet. McCoy took first place in the 3200m run last week at Jefferson.
BCHS track heads to Rabun Co.
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|The scent of a paper factory
Festestranda on a Saturday morning in March
Posted by Ragnar (Moss, Norway) on 11 March 2017 in Landscape & Rural.
Thank you so much for looking at my photoblog.
If you have any questions about me or my pictures, please contact me at r.gjemmestad(at)gmail.com
My wife will be really happy if you have a look at her photoblog as well! http://trudema.aminus3.com/
Ana Lúcia from Leiria, Portugal
11 Mar 2017 3:32pm
L'Angevine from Angers, France
12 Mar 2017 8:18am
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text: Submitted by Doug.Agee on Sat, 2013-11-23 13:52 Groups audience Stonefly Society - 048 Utah - 9UT Cache Anglers - 665 Great Basin Chapter - 705 High Desert Anglers - 620 High Country Fly Fishers - 599 Weber Basin Anglers - 681 The Green River Vote Up Down +1661 + Wednesday, December 11th, 2013 - 2:00am to Wednesday, December 11th, 2013 - 4:00am We are excited to have a meeting in conjunction with Bonneville Fly Fishers at the Murray Library. The guest speaker with be Jason Zicca of Fall River Flyrods who will be sharing his secrets of building bamboo rods. Please join us. This will be a big one. JasonZicha_FallRiverFlyrods.jpg Who's attending this event? There is no one currently attending this event.


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November 3, 2015
COLUMBIA, S.C. - The S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control has closed some shellfish harvesting beds in
Charleston County due to excessive rainfall, the agency announced today.
"This closure affects shellfish harvesting from Captain Sams Inlet north to Garrison Landing and the north point of Bull Island," said Mike Pearson, manager of DHEC's Shellfish Sanitation Section. "The affected area will reopen once water quality data indicate that bacteria levels are once again suitable for shellfish harvesting. Previous closures in the Wando River remain in effect."
For more information on clam and oyster harvesting areas in Charleston County, call DHEC's Charleston Environmental Health Services Office at (843) 953-0160.
Jim Beasley
Public Information Director


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A Message from the Chair
Welcome to the Communication Studies Department at Northeastern University.
On this site:
- Prospective students can read about our dynamic undergraduate program, discover the wide variety of opportunities for experiential education, and become familiar with the faculty.
- Current students can review requirements for the majors and minors, get information about specific courses and academic advising, and locate phone numbers and email addresses for the department's staff and faculty.
- Alums can read the latest news about students and faculty along with complete lists of award winners.
Communication is an essential part of a liberal education, and the members of the faculty are always happy to speak with prospective students, majors, and alums about our programs and activities. For questions and comments, please contact the department.
Dale Herbeck
Chair, Communication Studies Department


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Let us leave aside the poor blog layout, Dejan's picture 'above the fold' taking up to much screen real estate. In actuality he's not that ego-driven.
What's important in this article is the issue of making OBJECTIVES clear and and communicating (i.e. putting them in your Statement of Objective, what ISO27K calls the SoA) and keeping them up to date.
Dejan Kosutic uses ISO27K to make the point that there are high level objectives, what might be called strategy[1], and the low level objectives[2]. Call that the tactical or the operational level. Differentiating between the two is important. They should not be confused. The high level, the POLICY OBJECTIVES should be the driver.
Yes there may be a lot of fiddly-bits of technology and the need for the geeks to operate it at the lower level. And if you don't get the lower level right to an adequate degree, you are not meeting the higher objectives. Continue reading Control objectives – Why they are important


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PARIS — Perhaps it is fitting that a 50-second video clip of an ear-shattering explosion of 13 shortwave radio antenna towers on the Spanish Costa Brava is getting viewers on the Web site YouTube.
It took 32 pounds, or 14.5 kilograms, of dynamite to fell the massive antennas, which long relayed news from the United States to the former Soviet Union. But the most powerful force behind the demolition was the rapidly shifting landscape of radio, where listeners are migrating toward MP3 players, Internet radio and podcasting.
The felling of the towers was the latest noisy outburst of a cost-cutting trend that is silencing the familiar and crackly shortwave voices that leap across the globe through the clear night sky in times of crisis and Cold War, tsunami and Thai coup.
In January, the Finnish public broadcaster YLE will end all of its shortwave broadcasts with the goal of saving money and diverting resources to online news services.
Next month, Germany's public broadcaster, Deutsche Welle, will end its German-language shortwave broadcasts aimed at Canada and the United States.Continue reading the main story
The Japanese public broadcaster, NHK, and the Korean Broadcasting System are also reducing shortwave services.
The leading international broadcaster, the BBC World Service, is pursuing a diversification strategy that regards the future in stark terms. "Audience needs are changing and technology is moving rapidly," reads the news service's explanation of its strategy through 2010. "Shortwave is also declining at a fast pace and if we don't change, we will die."
Critics of the retreat warn, however, that shortwave is the most reliable communications medium of last resort. They point out that it can allow determined broadcasters to reach across borders even when repressive national regimes halt FM broadcasts, block Internet sites and jam television programming.
"Shortwave does not respect boundaries and reaches the rich and poor," said Graham Mytton, former head of the BBC's audience research unit and now a media consultant. "Most international broadcasters think things are driven by technology, but not entirely. They're driven by politics and local media circumstances. Their mistake is they downplay shortwave because they're living in developed societies. But they don't go to rural areas like Nigeria, where everyone has a shortwave radio."
Smaller international broadcasters with more limited resources are phasing out shortwave entirely. Slovak Radio silenced its shortwave programming in July, and Swiss Radio International ended shortwave broadcasts two years ago to transform into an online news service, www.swissinfo.org.
In the meantime, all of the world's largest international broadcasters, from the United States, France, Germany, England and the Netherlands, are cutting back or reviewing precious resources devoted to shortwave radio.
"The future of shortwave radio is quite clear," said Guido Baumhauer, director of strategy and distribution for Deutsche Welle, or DW, in Germany. "It's all going down when it comes to the consumers."
With the average age of its shortwave listeners hovering at about 50, DW expects to save more than €10 million, or $12.78 million, a year by reducing shortwave services, according to Baumhauer, who said the money would be invested in other services like Internet radio and podcasting.
The state-subsidized broadcaster is phasing out shortwave programs for North America and the Balkans and reducing daily transmissions of shortwave programs to 160 hours from 200.
"In the U.S., if people are really into German they have so many other ways to get consumer information," Baumhauer said. "Considering the costs related to the transmission, there's no point in continuing."
The history of shortwave radio dates to 1927, when Philips Laboratories of the Netherlands transmitted shortwave broadcasts from Eindhoven to the Dutch East Indies.
The BBC trailed behind with the founding of the BBC Empire Service in 1932.
Shortwave radio provided a vital alternative voice in wartime Europe. Radio Oranje, for example, was set up in London after the German occupation of the Netherlands to broadcast uncensored news. Through the Cold War years, international broadcasters used shortwave to shout over the Iron Curtain.
While held in his luxury villa during an attempted coup d'état, the former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev listened to shortwave transmissions of the BBC and Voice of America.
But after the Berlin Wall fell and new media forms flourished, there was less need for shortwave transmissions in developed countries.
International broadcasters like RFI of France and the BBC started striking hundreds of partnership agreements with local FM stations to rebroadcast their programs with clearer sound.
With the advance of technology, it has also become increasingly difficult to say what a radio is, since it can be distributed through digital television, mobile phones, computers or satellite radio, according to Michael Mullane of the European Broadcasting Union for public broadcasters in Geneva.
The BBC eliminated its North American shortwave transmissions in 2001, when there were still an average of more than two million listeners.
But with FM rebroadcast agreements with local stations, the BBC now has five million listeners in Canada and the United States, according to Michael Gardner, a spokesman for the BBC.
The BBC is constantly reviewing its expenses in connection with shortwave radio, he said, but in the meantime, the news service still reaches two-thirds of its weekly 163 million radio listeners through shortwave.
This year, the BBC actually posted an increase of about five million shortwave listeners in rural areas of Africa and Asia, but Gardner says the increase amounted to existing listeners who were surveyed for the first time in Myanmar.
David Hollyer, former managing director in Spain for the U.S. government's Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty, is wistful about the long-term consequences of mothballing and destroying shortwave transmitters.
The transmitters in Spain, he argued, could have been deployed to broadcast to Central Asia to reach a Muslim population.
Instead, with the changing political climate, U.S. authorities closed the station in 2003, ended its lease, and turned over the towers to Spain.
When Hollyer watches the amateur YouTube video of the familiar towers crumbling in clouds of smoke, it reminds him of an Edwin Markham poem.
"To paraphrase," he said, "the towers went down with a great shout upon the hills and left a lonesome place against the sky."Continue reading the main story


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Educational lunches and dinners at some of the Lake District's top hotels and restaurants.
Recent past events have included Bordeaux Dinners, a Port and Cheese Evening, a South African Evening - with a principal from Waterkloof Winery and a Pudding Wine Evening.
They are always fun and interesting events and it is always a pleasure to attend and learn about wine from some of the engaging producers we meet in the trade.
So, come on your own, bring a friend or gather a crowd. Call 015394 46891 or email
to book.
South African Evening Product Details
Whisky Evening - Brown Horse
£25.00 (including 20 % tax)An evening of whisky with Alex Johnston at The Brown Horse on Tuesday, 11th December 2012. £25 per person - including supper. Product Details
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I'm back to using my iPad as my primary tablet after a few weeks of doing most of my mobile tablet computing on the Google Nexus 7 Tablet. Google and Asus produced a great 7-inch tablet and I love it. It's close to being the tablet I've wanted since I began using tablets with the similarly sized Samsung Q1 Ultra.
However, they left off one important feature that sent me back to my iPad when I'm out and around away from home or the office.
Like chocolate chip cookies without the chips, a tablet without persistent wireless network access doesn't fit my usage anymore.
When Google and Asus introduced the Google Nexus 7 Tablet I loved the smaller, more portable form-factor. It's comfortable. I check my email, Twitter, read a few web sites, find a movie time or a good restaurant and then put it away. It even fits in my pocket and feels more like I'm carrying a paperback book or a small DayTimer, something I used for about 15 years before going to a PDA and later a smart phone.
The Google Nexus 7 Tablet fits my lifestyle nearly perfectly and I love the tablet. I get the same long battery life and ease of use that the iPad offers. Tablet apps work great on the device and blown up phone apps look pretty good most of the time since the jumpt from 4 or 5 inches to 7 inches isn't that big. It's almost the perfect solution.
For everything it does right, one thing is missing. I miss constant connectivity via 3G or LTE. I got so used to using the 3G of my iPad 2 and now the 4G LTE of my New iPad, that carrying the Nexus 7 feels limiting. Most places I roam offer Wi-Fi so it only bothers me about a third of the time. However, those times were enough to send me back to my Verizon 4G LTE iPad that sat at home.
Readers might ask why I don't tether with my Samsung Galaxy S III? I do. However, that's not as quick or complete as built in 4G LTE on the new iPad. I need to turn on the personal hotspot feature each time I want to connect so I don't end up with a dead battery on my phone.
What does this mean for people who want or need Internet access 100 percent of the time? It means, Google needs to go back to the drawing board and release a similar device with 4G LTE built into the device.
I could even see a new phone that offers a huge screen even larger than the Samsung Galaxy Note that the user can connect to a nice Bluetooth headset like my Motorola Elite Sliver so I can carry one device and use it as a phablet and make the occasional phone call when needed?
This also means that Apple can jump into this space and produce the rumored new mini iPad with 4G connectivity and sell millions to people like me who now want a smaller talbet with always-on Internet access.


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PASADENA, Calif. (Jan. 17, 2013) – In a ceremony this evening, the Pasadena Tournament of Roses® Association's Board of Directors confirmed R. Scott Jenkins as president for the 2013-2014 Tournament year. Jenkins will provide leadership for the 125th Rose Parade® presented by Honda and the 100th Rose Bowl Game® presented by VIZIO on Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2014.
Jenkins revealed "Dreams Come True" as the theme for the 125th Rose Parade. "The 2014 theme is a reminder that not only is it possible to reach seemingly impossible goals, but that by boldly pursuing those goals, we have actually attained them," said Jenkins. "Dreams have come true and continue to come true as a result of imagination, passion, creativity and hard work. And regardless of size or scope, dreams fuel the stories of our lives."
Jenkins has been a volunteer member of the Tournament of Roses Association since 1982 and was elected to the Executive Committee in 2003. Throughout his extensive Tournament career, Jenkins has served on many committees and was chair of four: Formation Area, Float Entries, Queen and Court, and Services and Properties committees.
In addition to Jenkins' many years of service with the Tournament of Roses, he is currently president of the Foundation of San Marino Community Church, a board member at Forest Lawn Memorial – Parks & Mortuaries, and general counsel of the Western Justice Center Foundation. He is also active in the Pasadena Rotary Club, Twilight Club, and Caltech Associates.
In the past, Jenkins served as president and trustee of the San Marino Unified School District, president and director of the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank, president and trustee of the San Marino Schools Foundation, chair of the Citizens Oversight Committee for the San Marino Schools Modernization Project, and elder at the San Marino Community Church.
In 2002, Jenkins received the San Marino Citizen of the Year award for his contributions to the community. In 2003, he was recognized with the Golden Apple Award from the San Marino Unified School District for his work with the schools. Professionally, Jenkins is a Partner with Hahn and Hahn Lawyers with a corporate and real estate practice.
Born and raised in Pasadena, Jenkins attended Pasadena High School. He received his A.B. in Economics from the University of California, Berkeley, and earned his J.D. from the University of Southern California. He currently lives in San Marino with his wife, Cindy; they have two grown daughters, Courtney and Lindsay. Jenkins enjoys golf, weight-training, and reading. The Jenkins regularly participate in church mission trips to Africa and in August of 2012, they led an expedition to the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania.
– ROSE –About the Pasadena Tournament of Roses®
The Pasadena Tournament of Roses is a volunteer organization that annually hosts the Rose Parade® presented by Honda, the Rose Bowl Game® presented by VIZIO and a variety of associated events. The Tournament's 935 volunteer members act as ambassadors of the organization within the community and serve on one of 31 committees that ensure the success of the parade and game. Collectively, they contribute upwards of 80,000 hours of manpower each year. The 125th Rose Parade presented by Honda, themed "Dreams Come True," will take place Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2014, followed by the 100th Rose Bowl Game presented by VIZIO. On Jan. 6, 2014 the Tournament also will host the 2014 VIZIO BCS National Championship at the Rose Bowl Stadium. For additional information on the Tournament of Roses please visit the official website at www.tournamentofroses.com.


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CBS Local– On Thursday PETA asked Twitter why anyone would eat bacon, and as you may have guessed, many responded, including Republican Senator Orrin Hatch of Utah.
Sen. Hatch didn't just provide his 'best argument' as PETA requested, but decided to use actions to prove his point in a not-so-subtle jab at the animal rights group.
The initial PETA tweet has caused a bit of a stir, unsurprisingly considering how popular bacon is in America. Sen. Hatch wasn't the only person to respond with his best arguments.
Bacon has become even more popular among American consumers in recent years and in January pork belly prices rose by 20 percent as supply dwindled and demand for bacon soared.
So while PETA may be fighting the good fight and trying to protect animals, bacon keeps growing in popularity and there doesn't seem to be an end in sight.


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VOXX International Corporation Realigns To Take Advantage Of Global Automotive Growth And To Drive Innovation Across New And Emerging Product Categories
Company announces formation of VOXXHirschmann, combining all global OEM Groups
VOXX Electronics Corp created to focus on emerging technology trends, innovation and partnerships in both advanced mobile and consumer electronics to both the retail and enterprise markets
Jan 06, 2014, 02:00 EST
HAUPPAUGE, N.Y. and LAS VEGAS, Jan. 6, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- LVCC, CENTRAL HALL, BOOTH 10404/10415 – VOXX International Corporation (NASDAQ : VOXX ), a leading manufacturer and supplier of consumer electronics products in the automotive, premium audio and consumer accessories industries, today unveiled organizational changes that are expected to position the Company for growth in the coming years.
The Company announced today the formation of a new subsidiary, VOXXHirschmann, which combines all Original Equipment Automotive Groups into one single entity that includes Hirschmann Car Communications® ("Hirschmann"), Audiovox Incaar®, Code Alarm® OE and Invision®. The combination of these assets is expected to significantly strengthen the Company's tier-one status as a global manufacturer, while leveraging shared resources for sales, product development and customer support. This new group has over 200 engineers, with product development and engineering facilities located in Europe, Asia and the United States. Furthermore, VOXXHirschmann now has the added benefit of four manufacturing facilities strategically located in Hungary, Germany and the United States (Florida).
As part of this realignment, Ludwig Geis, who previously served as Chief Executive Officer of Hirschmann, has been appointed President and Chief Executive of the new company. Before joining Hirschmann, Mr. Geis served as Chief Executive Officer of Infotainment Solutions with Siemens VDO Automotive and prior to, held several managerial roles in the automotive industry. The team in Europe will concentrate efforts on the European and China markets, while the domestic team will focus on both North and South America.
Pat Lavelle, VOXX International's President and CEO stated, "This is a significant step for our organization and provides us with a true, tier-one, global manufacturing footprint that we believe will drive innovation, speed our time to market and strengthen longstanding customer relationships. Both through internal product development and acquisition, we have significantly expanded our OEM offerings and today, do business with virtually all of the major OEMs today, including GM, Ford, Mazda, Toyota, Jaguar, Land Rover, Daimler, BMW, and VW Group, among others. The technology we've brought to market and other projects that are in development have us very excited about our growth prospects. Through this combination of our OEM Groups into a single business unit, we will be in a stronger position to take advantage of innovative developments for the Asia, European and domestic markets, and we believe, fuel growth over the coming years."
The Company also announced today another significant development – the formation of VOXX Electronics Corp ("VEC"). This new group was formed to take advantage of emerging technology trends, for both mobile and consumer electronics product categories. Audiovox Electronics Corporation has been consolidated into this new company and Tom Malone; previously President of that group has been named President of this newly formed venture. VEC will continue to drive innovation by focusing in the mobile arena on some of the newer and more attractive growth categories, such as connectivity, telematics and OE integration solutions. The new technology efforts will focus on communications, imagery and biometrics and some of the new product offerings will be on display at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, NV this week. Entree into these high profile, high energy markets will set the tone for the future of VOXX Electronics as an innovative market leader bringing advanced technology and solutions to both the end consumer and enterprise customer. The company believes that technology at this level has the potential to revolutionize industries and change forever how consumers interact with their electronics.
Lavelle continued, "This is a natural move for us as we continue to expand beyond traditional mobile electronics products and diversify into new categories. Over the coming year, we will remain focused on driving innovation, while strengthening our industry partnerships and leveraging our global distribution network; one of our greatest competitive strengths. Our business is evolving and I believe this new venture will put us in a stronger position to take advantage of emerging and exciting technology trends in the future."
About VOXX International Corporation:
VOXX International Corporation (NASDAQ : VOXX ) is the new name for Audiovox Corporation, a company that was formed over 45 years ago as Audiovox that has grown into a worldwide leader in many automotive and consumer electronics and accessories categories, as well as premium high-end audio. Through its wholly-owned subsidiaries, VOXX International proudly is recognized as the #1 premium loudspeaker company in the world, and has #1 market positions in automotive video entertainment and remote starts, digital TV tuners and digital antennas. The Company's brands also hold #1 market share for TV remote controls and reception products and leading market positions across a wide-spectrum of other consumer and automotive segments.
Today, VOXX International is a global company…with an extensive distribution network that includes power retailers, mass merchandisers, 12-volt specialists and most of the world's leading automotive manufacturers. The Company has an international footprint in Europe, Asia, Mexico and South America, and a growing portfolio, which now comprises over 30 trusted brands. Among the key domestic brands are Klipsch®, RCA®,Invision®, Jensen®, Audiovox®, Terk®, Acoustic Research®, Advent®, Code Alarm®, CarLink®, Excalibur®, Prestige®, and Pursuit®. International brands Hirschmann Car Communication ®, Jamo®, Energy®, Mirage®, Mac Audio®, Magnat®, Heco®, Schwaiger®, Oehlbach® and Incaar™. The Company continues to drive innovation throughout all of its subsidiaries, and maintains its commitment to exceeding the needs of the consumers it serves. For additional information, please visit our Web site at www.voxxintl.com.
Safe Harbor Statement
Except for historical information contained herein, statements made in this release that would constitute forward-looking statements may involve certain risks and uncertainties. All forward-looking statements made in this release are based on currently available information and the Company assumes no responsibility to update any such forward-looking statements. The following factors, among others, may cause actual results to differ materially from the results suggested in the forward-looking statements. The factors include, but are not limited to risks that may result from changes in the Company's business operations; our ability to keep pace with technological advances; significant competition in the automotive, premium audio and consumer accessories businesses; our relationships with key suppliers and customers; quality and consumer acceptance of newly introduced products; market volatility; non-availability of product; excess inventory; price and product competition; new product introductions; foreign currency fluctuations and concerns regarding the European debt crisis; restrictive debt covenants; the possibility that the review of our prior filings by the SEC may result in changes to our financial statements; and the possibility that stockholders or regulatory authorities may initiate proceedings against VOXX International Corporation and/or our officers and directors as a result of any restatements. Risk factors associated with our business, including some of the facts set forth herein, are detailed in the Company's Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended February 28, 2013.
Investor & Media Relations Contact:
Glenn Wiener
GW Communications (for VOXX)
Tel: 212-786-6011
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
SOURCE VOXX International Corporation


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Financial Policies Training: The First Eight Merianne Cardas Administration and Finance. Agenda. Context and Background General Policy Information The First Eight Policies Travel Expenses Meal Expenses Purchasing Card Violations Alcohol Purchases Employee Recruiting Expenses
Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author.While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server.
These PowerPoint slides are intended for training purposes. In the event of any discrepancy or interpretation difference between the policy and the slides, the policy dictates.
(Note: this policy applies to alcohol purchases; Board Rule 10-17-07 addresses possession, sale and consumption of alcohol on campuses.)
530407 (Alcohol (Approved Purchases)) or
531901 (Lab Supplies)
(Note: Meal and entertainment expenses in excess of $200 per person for employee recruiting are not reimbursed.[Employee Recruiting Policy])


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From well-appointed conference and boardroom facilities to broadband-connected executive suites and smaller meeting rooms, we have a range of attractive corporate spaces for hire.
Rooms can be booked for use between 8.30am-5.30pm Monday to Friday, when our reception staff will be on hand to welcome your guests and attendees. You can also hire our spaces individually, or in combination, to suit your needs – and include a number of hospitality options.
Please note that all listed prices exclude VAT.
If you are interested in contacting us about our Stirling Hub, please email email@example.com


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Free download software » Software » Free Microsoft Office 2010 x86 OPK-CRBS
Free Microsoft Office 2010 x86 OPK-CRBS
Microsoft Office 2010 x86 OPK-CRBS
Microsoft Office 2010 x86 OPK-CRBS | 1.58 GB
The OEM Preinstallation Kit (OPK) for Office 2010 is a set of tools, documentation, and product files that assist licensed original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) in preloading Office 2010 and PC Essentials on new computers for distribution to end users. Preloading the Office 2010 image adds immediate value for your customers and also gives you the opportunity to sell Product Key Cards for full Office 2010 suites. Preloading the remainder of the PC Essentials components enhances the value of your PCs by providing world-class tools for email, instant messaging, photos, video, blogging, searching, and surfing the Web.
Homepage: http://oem.microsoft.com
(Free Microsoft Office 2010 x86 OPK-CRBS Downloads)
Dear visitor, you went to the site as unregistered user. We encourage you to register or enter the site under your name.


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As astrologers reveal, the December 13-14 Full Moon will be governed by the airy sign of Gemini. The moon will also be bringing events, feelings and emotions that coincided with the November Sagittarius New Moon to a culmination.
The thing is December's Full Moon is in fact another Super Moon of a recent series of super moons that are providing illumination to the world. This is in fact the last illumination point in 2016, which will finally set everything buried deep inside your soul free.
Although the last energy for the current year – December's Full Moon, is extremely powerful and will liberate you of all you need to let go of so that you can freely absorb the fresh, new energy of 2017.
According to astrologers, the December Full Moon will also trigger a so-called mystic rectangle, which is not only magical and mystical, but, it'll also supercharge a lot of energy. Plus, this mystic rectangle will be opening up a portal into a new realm, accessible to all those welcoming the new energy of 2017.
New beginnings will define 2017, whereas all unpleasant events of 2016 will be brought to an end, and the December Full Moon is the final assessment point.
It's important that you transcend the old energies so that you are able to join in the new cycle of 2017. On the plus side, there's still time to let go of things you no longer need in your life in the new year. Although this purging energy cycle ends with March 2017, the energy to release will grow vaguer and vaguer after this Full Moon.
Therefore, the Universe offers an invitation to everyone who feels ready to let go, and who feels a desire to transcend into their absolute and fullest potential – the December Full Moon. The power of the mystic rectangle will open the portal allowing you to let go of things quickly and accelerate into the new energy of 2017.
You have to tune in with the portal in order to be able to access and take the shortcut through the releasing process. However, if you aren't ready to let go or fully open your awareness and shift your vibration, the portal won't be accessible to you.
Now, it's also important to know that the purging will be very intense, but once it's over, you'll feel like a newborn. Also, be aware of everything that comes up for you around this Full Moon because whatever lessons or subjects you have been dealing with in 2016, will probably rise up into full consciousness. This is the only way to become completely ready to let go and access the new energy of 2017.
People sensitive to the moon cycles will particularly be able to feel the intensity and energy boost of December's Full Moon.
This is the time to be with yourself in order to fully reflect and let go. Also, nourish yourself under this moon and reap all the benefits of the marvelous illuminating energy it passes as this is the perfect time for a cleansing ritual.


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From The Godfather Part II to Indiana Jones to X-Men: First Class: The History of the Movie Prequel
In 60 years, prequels made from creative decisions to economic decisions and everything in between.
By most measures, 2011 is the Year of the Sequel; there are more follow-ups coming out this year than ever before, which is really saying something. (Remember 2009, when we got new Transformers, Terminator, and Twilight movies and a Squeakquel? That was a mere runner-up!) And on June 3, we'll see that increasingly common subspecies of sequel: the prequel, this time in the form of X-Men: First Class. Once a rare phenomenon reserved either for inordinately ambitious storytellers or moguls out to make a desperately quick buck (and, maybe in the case of one George Walton Lucas Jr., both), it's quickly becoming a popular approach for any big Hollywood franchise wishing to either reinvent itself or reboot with cheaper actors. So just as prequels tout themselves with the come-on "See how [iconic villain/hero] became the character we all know," let's take a history course and see just how prequels became the trend we all know.


text: ProEx was excited to participate in a kids triathlon camp, which was held from August 13-17 at Eisenhower Park in West Hartford, CT. The camp, in it's third year, was organized by Team Training New England, a local business that is passionate about training adults and children on how to do triathlons. There were 60 children who participated this year, ranging from ages 6 to 13.On Monday, August 13th, Eric Kopp, Director of Clinical Education, and Chris Stackpole, a physical therapist in the Farmington location, gave a talk to the kids on the importance of proper stretching as part of their camp training. In addition, the kids learned about fitness, nutrition, and skills needed for biking, swimming and running.On Saturday, August 18th, the campers were able to showcase their newfound skills in a triathlon race geared toward children. Before the start of the race, Eric and Chris were back to give a dynamic stretching warmup to all participants as they embarked on their swim, bike, and run."We had a great time talking to the kids," said Kopp. "Triathlons are demanding and require proper stretching and warmup techniques before and after. If an athlete prepares their body properly before their work out then they will reduce their chance of injury and have more fun participating in the sport."


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Windsor Folk Music & Arts Society
Welcome to the Windsor Folk Web Site. The site contains a full schedule of Windsor Folk sponsored events and activities. It will be soon be updated to provide a listing of our 2016 concert series as well as other folk music events and venues in the Windsor area. We welcome your input and suggestions for news items and information.
We also urge you to attend one of our "Acoustic Stages" - a showcase of area talent that's sure to please! For more information, click the "Acoustic Stage" link on the top menu.
For tickets to our wonderful Concert Series, please click the "Tickets" menu item, again, located at the top of our page.


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Welcome to Rudd Orthodontics, where we service Rio Rancho, Corrales, Bernalillo, Placitas, the greater Albuquerque area and Santa Fe with two convenient locations in Rio Rancho and Santa Fe.
Rudd Orthodontics is proud to offer outstanding orthodontic care for the entire family in a clean, relaxing atmosphere. We want your visit to be the most enjoyable experience as possible, and that is why we constantly strive to provide you with the best customer service possible. With each appointment you can count on being seen by the doctor. We take pride in spending time with the patients and making sure that your orthodontic needs are met. We offer a wide range of orthodontic treatment to meet the needs and desires of each individual patient. Our offices are equipped with state-of-the-art technology to ensure our patients receive optimum results in the most efficient manner possible.
Call today at 505-891-1151 for your complimentary consultation which includes a full exam, free x-rays and digital imaging.


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Ouachita Electric Cooperative and South Arkansas Telephone Company are pleased to announce the joint creation of Arkansas Rural Internet Services (ARIS).
ARIS will be building a fiber data network to all of OECC members in the next three years. This fiber data network will allow OECC members to receive up to 1Gb Internet service, Voice services and Skitter Media services.
Introductory Pricing
|65 & Over Bundle(15Mbps Internet & VOIP phone)
|$49.95 per month
|500Mbps Intro Internet Service
|$50.00 per month
|Gigabyte Intro Internet Service
|$89.95 per month
|VOIP Telephone Service w/LD
|$10.00 per month
|$30.99 per month
|$81.99 per month
|$88.99 per month
|HBO Multiplex
|$18.31 per month
|Showtime Multiple
|$12.50 per month
|Cinemax Multiplex
|$13.50 per month
Payment by CREDIT CARD ONLY.
VOIP Telephone Service
1 line with unlimited National Long Distance - $10.00/mo
Optional battery backup for ONT to buy or rent.