text:
Another example is Davis. Had he become a stud PF, then BC would have been praised for taking a guy who dropped far lower than expected. BC has since said that Davis wasn't even on their internal big board, because they had zero expectations of him being available to them at #13.
With every pick there's always going to be a certain amount of credit and luck involved. I just don't think it's a fair comparison to say that Valanciunas dropping one spot to #5 is the same level of 'luck' as Durant being falling into OKC's lap at #2 that year. There may have been some disagreement over whether Oden/Durant should have been #1, but there was 100% consensus that there was a hugely substantial drop off between those 2 players and #3 that year, so picking whichever of those 2 players that's left after the top pick doesn't really take a whole lot of strategic thinking.
The draft lottery itself is all about luck, when it comes to assigning draft positions. It's a lot easier to be 'right' the higher you're picking. The teams that can consistently draft productive rotation players in the late 1st round and 2nd round are far more impressive to me than teams that get top-5 picks right. I think the whole discussion just illustrates how awful it is being stuck in the middle-classs wasteland of the NBA, where you're consistently drafting in the #10-20 range... not good enough to truly compete and not bad/lucky enough to get a top-5 talent on draft night.
that second bold part - its also much easier to make mistake as there are dozens of possible players to miss on. And that in turn makes it more difficult to have a good draft record.
third bolded part sounds distinctly opposite of what you were saying this offseason. Should Presti therefore not get credit for tanking and thereby not leaving himself in the NBA wasteland? Something you referred to as 'luck'?
Last edited by Craiger; Thu Nov 15th, 2012 at 02:42 PM.
Something big is missing in this thread (if I didn't miss it). All talk about a pick being good or bad is with the assumption that the players develop irrespective of the context of the team that drafted him. Development and becoming a good player does not take place in a vacuum. It's very well possible that one of the good players that were drafted by the Thunder would not have developed the way he did on another team.
Also, for those advocating to always draft BPA without regards of fit, it's pretty obvious to me, considering the type of players and positions they played, that the Thunder did consider fit as part of their process to decide who was the best player available.
I think there are quite a few players picked high who ended up in a situation that was a bad fit and consequently didn't develop as well as they could have in another situation. Maybe some people (or a lot) see this differently but I don't have to go any further back than last year's number 2 pick, Derrick Williams, for an example of someone ending up in a bad situation to develop who might have done better elsewhere.
Some teams are much better at developing players than others and some situations are much better for the development of a specific player than other situation. Simply looking back at a draft and deciding whether a certain pick was wrong or right based on how a player has developed years is way too simplistic. Context matters for how players turn out.
You're absolutely right that situation plays a key role in player development, which in turn plays a key role in determining the quality of the pick used to draft said player.
"I may be wrong ... but I doubt it"
"I may be wrong ... but I doubt it"
There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)


text:
Lt. Paul Stokes tells Instant Tea there's been a significant increase in motor-vehicle burglaries near the Cedar Springs entertainment district in recent weeks, so DPD deployed a bait vehicle to 3200 Throckmorton with a laptop computer and a GPS unit in plain view.
And the sting operation worked. On Sunday afternoon, a suspect opened the unlocked vehicle, which was parked on the street, and removed the items. The 42-year-old white male was arrested a few blocks away at 3200 Wycliff by officers who observed the theft.
"This is proactive policing to address BMVs in the area," Stokes said Monday. "We've had an uptick and it's caught our eye, so we have our surveillance out. We wanted to get on it before it was a huge problem.
"If people would lock, take and hide, we wouldn't have to do this," he added.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Old Media Hack Attacks New Media Hacks
Howard Kurtz scolds Politico this morning for spinning stupid bullshit "stories" into Drudgebait, a critique we endorse. But: Physician, heal thyself.
Except for the part where he calls it "smart and substantive," Kurtz makes a well-known case against Politico:
Politico, the Web operation and newspaper launched more than two years ago by two Washington Post veterans, is actually a smart and substantive site. But in its relentless pursuit of traffic — not all that different from the networks' relentless pursuit of ratings — Politico sometimes plays up the novel, the fleeting, the provocative take that briefly titillates but evaporates within hours. And that has some critics accusing the site of dumbing down the art of reporting.
True enough. ("Sometimes"?) But Politico doesn't "play up" novel takes, they invent untrue stories out of thin air. The facts are (usually) true, but the sin is in making stories not out of the facts themselves, but out of the anticipated reaction on the part of partisan institutions, like Drudge and the Republican Party, to the facts when presented in a certain light. There's nothing "novel," "fleeting," or "provocative" about the simple fact that Barack Obama laughed during an interview with 60 Minutes. The story Politico pushed in that instance was premised on the idea that Drudge et. al. could be counted on to disingenuously make something out of that laughter, and Politico was happy to serve up the ball.
And Kurtz has batted those balls around plenty! He lingered on the novel, fleeting, and provocative invention that Gen. Wesley Clark viciously attacked John McCain's sacred service to his country last year by maintaining, in response to a direct question, that being a pilot is not a qualification for the presidency. He blamed John Kerry for the faux outrage over his "botched joke" about military veterans, a bullshit Politico-esque story if ever there was one.
Kurtz's complaint is more that Politico tries to write headlines that will grab traffic, which, hey—what are you gonna do? The Washington Post could stand to gain some more readers for it's substantive, serious coverage of the political scene.
Take the paper's Bo series for instance. The Post's coverage of Bo, which was supposed to be a silver-plate Post exclusive, handed out by the White House in exchange for the Post's silence on a gardening story that had been promised to the New York Times, is an exercise in the sort of sober, non-audience-generating reportage that is currently rocketing the newspaper industry to new heights of profitability. Post reporter Manuel Roig-Franzia is obviously proud of his work on the beat:
Let's follow the trail.
The Obama puppy trail.
Why? Because it is our duty.
Don't be ashamed, Manuel. It is what it is.


text:
State Water Project
SWP Facilities
- Upper Feather River Lakes
- Oroville Area
- North Bay Area
- South Bay Area
- San Luis Area
- Coastal Branch
- South San Joaquin
- West Branch
- East Branch
Have you ever wondered where the water you drink and use comes from?
To reach many of us, water must travel long distances through complex
delivery systems such as the California State Water Project. The SWP is
the nation's largest state-built water and power development and conveyance
Planned, designed, constructed and now operated and maintained by the California Department of Water Resources, this unique facility provides water supplies for 25 million Californians and 750,000 acres of irrigated farmland.
The California State Water Project is a water storage and delivery system of reservoirs, aqueducts, powerplants and pumping plants. Its main purpose is to store water and distribute it to 29 urban and agricultural water suppliers in Northern California, the San Francisco Bay Area, the San Joaquin Valley, the Central Coast, and Southern California. Of the contracted water supply, 70 percent goes to urban users and 30 percent goes to agricultural users.
The Project makes deliveries to two-thirds of California's population. It is maintained and operated by the California Department of Water Resources.
The Project is also operated to improve water quality in the Delta, control Feather River flood waters, provide recreation, and enhance fish and wildlife.
Today, the Project includes 34 storage facilities, reservoirs and lakes; 20 pumping plants; 4 pumping-generating plants; 5 hydroelectric power plants; and about 701 miles of open canals and pipelines.
The Project provides supplemental water to approximately 25 million Californians and about 750,000 acres of irrigated farmland.
Funds from the sale of general obligation and revenue bonds have provided about 78 percent of financing for construction of the State Water Project. Full repayment of these bond funds is being made by Project beneficiaries, rather than by the general taxpayer.
Other funding sources have included tideland oil revenues, investment earnings, legislative appropriations for recreation, federal flood control payments, and water contractor advances.
Currently, short-term financing is obtained by commercial paper notes which are replaced periodically by long-term revenue bonds.
Annual Costs
Annual costs include the salaries of a diversified team of engineers, biologists, specialists in water development and power generation, hydroelectric plant technicians, and civil maintenance workers, as well as expenses (equipment, supplies etc.) required to operate and maintain SWP facilities. Annual costs also include power purchases, exchanges and sales.
Annual payments by SWP contractors total about $600 million per year (1996). Of that amount, operation and maintenance (O&M) costs for labor and equipment account for 25 percent. The cost for power (purchases minus sales) amounts to 32 percent. Bond service payments of principal and interest and repayments for other capital financing are about 37 percent. The remaining 6 percent includes deposits for replacement reserves, insurance and other miscellaneous costs.
Repayment of SWP Costs
The 29 water contractors repay all water supply related costs of the SWP. These represent about 94 percent of the annual costs for operation and maintenance of SWP facilities. The remaining costs are funded by the federal government for joint operation of San Luis facilities (3 percent) and State general funds for recreation and fish and wildlife enhancement (3 percent).
Contractors also repay with interest about 89 percent of SWP capital expenditures made through 1995. Repayment of the remaining 11 percent comes from the federal government for flood control (2 percent) , the State general funds for recreation and fish and wildlife enhancement (5 percent), and the rest from miscellaneous sources.
All contractors pay the same rate per acre-foot for the cost of constructing and operating facilities which store and convey the SWP water supply. In addition, each contractor pays a transportation charge which covers the cost of facilities required to deliver water to its service area. Thus, the contractors more distant from the Delta pay higher transportation charges than those near the Delta.
Full payments are made each year for fixed SWP costs regardless of the variations in water deliveries that occur from year to year. Fixed costs include those for operation, maintenance and debt service. Contractors also pay costs which do vary depending on the amount of water delivered during the year. These include the costs for energy used to pump water to their aqueduct turnout locations.


text:
Discussion in 'Trek Tech' started by CharlieZardoz, Jul 18, 2013.
Interesting, I didn't remember that at all.
Still, I dig the parallel.
^^IIRC it's CV-6 that is pictured on the TMP rec deck.
Here is the screencap from TMP. Interesting to notice that the Enterprise on the right shows the TOS configuration and not the current / last shape of he TOS Enterprise as the refit version.
On the TNG conference lounge's sculpture wall it's definitely CVN-65.
I don't doubt that's true, but damned if I can find it in TMoST. I did see carrier names discussed as other starship names, Forrestal mentioned wrt starship tonnage, and CVN-65 used for a size comparison diagram.
Not knowing the details of the name choice, "Enterprise" would seem to be a happy two-for-one: The storied lone survivor of the early carrier battles for WW2 appeal, and the new super-carrier much covered in the press for its revolutionary propulsion and being the largest mobile structure ever built.
Quite right, though maybe we shouldn't assume those five images are the only ones ever displayed on those "screens."
Slight tangent, but I've often wondered how the navy at large feels about the NCC-1701 in relation the CV-6 or CVN-65. Do they feel that the starship Enterprise overshadows the real ships, or that her fame helps bring those famous ships' real feats to a greater audience?
In my own anecdotal experience, they consider the Star Trek ships to be basically "part of the family," fictional descendents of the USN ships. No negative feelings, in my experience.
/\ My experience tallies with yours.
At least according to Memory Alpha, it's on page 164. (I'll admit I don't have the book myself. )
Thanks; I don't know if there are different editions or what, but it's not on that page in my copy. That page does have the 1967 memos about the names of other starships, but nothing about CV-6.
Fair enough. And there's no denying that many people have more respect for the exploits of the real USS Enterprises thanks to the fictional ones.
I dunno what to tell you except that the Memory Alpha article is wrong. Page 164 of TMoST is relating a thread of memos amongst Roddenberry, Fontana, and Justman regarding the establishing of the names of the other starships, not Enterprise. In fact there is no discussion about the origins of the name Enterprise in the whole chapter...
I haven't re-read the whole book in a while, but, to my recollection, all it says about the origins of the hero ship's name is that it was originally going to be Yorktown and then Roddenberry decided to change that to Enterprise, but I'm not sure that it ever says when exactly or why. I've been meaning to re-read this book anyway, so, when I do, I'll make sure to look for this point. Maybe it is in there and I just forgot.
P.S. Someday, someone ougtha compile a subject index for that dang book!
I just looked and didn't see it either. Perhaps it's time for a re-read!
The generally accepted answer to the rename seems to be that part of Roddenberry's premise was a depiction of a multi-racial, international crew, and Yorktown was overly American since it was named for a Revolutionary War battle site. Enterprise is more international since the British also had and have ships called Enterprize/Enterprise.
^^ That's what the good book essentially says (without those correct details you added). I re-read the entire book earlier this year but found no evidence to the real aircraft carrier Enterprise (other than the size comparison).
I dunno. I do remember hearing that it was named after CV-6 even before Memory Alpha came into existence, but darned if I can remember where from.
Did, maybe, someone on the production staff serve on CV-6?
I remember this as well, with the understanding that it was a better sell since the Enterprise had far more exploits than the Yorktown (not that the Yorktown was lacking in it's own exploits), but I cannot remember where I had hear that either.
Anywho, just to put in my two cents about the original argument, I don't know what the original name of the ship would have been (though I admit I do tend to go with Yorktown), but I favor the idea of renaming another Constitution class ship for a couple reasons:
There is no reason to not believe that there were other interim ships between the old connies and new excelsiors. ST6 occured 50 years after the Constitution was created, there had to be more ships in the meantime. Having said that ships are going to be created out of necessity, so if there are plenty of connies and/or more on the way, they may not have the need for another variation of flagship design. However I do not believe they would continue building the ships 50 years later, you never hear of a 50 year old design still being built but with all new tech, a new design that better fits the new tech will be created, and in the mean time, the old is refitted to keep up the numbers until the newer design can fully replace it. That sort of thing is happening now, for example F-16Cs are being refitted with new tech to keep them in service until all the bugs are ironed with the F-35, but although a newer design of the F-16 is available, they do not serve in the US because it is easier to keep the current fleet flying then throw them away and start with an all new fleet when you are waiting on a whole 'nother fleet anyway.
Also, I find it really hard to believe they would put so much effort into building a whole new ship and then decommission it a couple years later. If the design/tech were still viable, it would still be used, regardless of replacement by a modern design. This still leaves open the comment by Kirk in his log at the end of ST6 that another crew would continue, though it is uncertain if he means that the command crew would be decommissioned and the ship would continue, or if the new crew meant the next incarnation of enterprise, with a new crew (E-B and Harriman's crew).
Also, some things to think about:
-Just because visual asthetics make ships look similar, it does not mean it is the same technology. For example, the Curry kitbash on DS9 was a Exselsior design with connie engines, but that does not mean that they are the same engines as the connie (they would have been, in fact, too large for the connie). The New Orleans class had similar design asthetics as the Galaxy class, but it was noted several times that the latter was more advanced than the former (the Galaxy class had a whole new designed engine system, noted various times on screen, which would have to differ even from the Nebula class, which would have been the most similar).
-Keep in mind that just because the ship was renamed for Kirk, doesn't mean the ship was built for Kirk. It could have easily been a ship awaiting decommission, but being the only available ship laying around, it could have been hurredly refitted into working condition (which in turn ended up botched) and then renamed for posterity.
-Book series are very unreliable. I tend to lean toward tech manual type stuff from official sources rather than "authorized works" from fan authors. Neither are any more canon than the other, but at least the former are more reliable sources.
-The thought of the Yorktown being named by Roddenberry is a big issue here. Keep in mind that there was more thought put into it than just the ravings of a man whose creation exceeded his reach, otherwise it likely would not have ended up in places like the TNG tech manual: "Gene Roddenberry, in a nod to his original name choice from 1964, suggested that the Yorktown was renamed USS Enterprise-A at the end of Star Trek IV, explaining why the latter ship seemed to be launched so quickly at the end of the movie. The Next Generation fourth season writer's technical manual also indicated this to be the case. This was further validated when, in the Encyclopedia, Mike Okuda described the Yorktown in 2293 as the second ship to bear this name."
-About Connies making it into the 24th century, there is an unreliable though technically canon onscreen anser: "At least one unnamed Constitution-class vessel participated in the Battle of Wolf 359 in 2366. Wreckage of the vessel or vessels was seen there as the USS Enterprise-D passed through the "grave yard" of ships that were defeated in the battle." -http://en.memory-alpha.org/wiki/Unnamed_Constitution_class_starships
Ok ok, my ranting is over. The truth is it is all 100% opinion, and each is going to believe whatever they believe regardless of what anyone says.
Separate names with a comma.


text:
By Charles K. Trainor
Bullies usually can be found knocking their classmates' books to the floor in hallways, snapping towels in the locker room, or stealing lunch money in the cafeteria. However, another type of bully lurks in our lunchrooms. Corporate bullies are siphoning large sums from money earmarked for school lunch and breakfast programs.
Some unscrupulous food vendors and service providers engage in fraudulent practices that illegally increase their profit while promising savings for districts. Illegal practices may go undetected for years because these companies reduce district costs while secretly adding to vendors' and providers' profits with various types of food fraud.
Login or Subscribe
Connect with us:
Copyright © 2018, National School Boards Association. American School Board Journal is an editorially independent publication of the National School Boards Association. Opinions expressed by this magazine or any of its authors do not necessarily reflect positions of the National School Boards Association. Within the parameters of fair use, this article may be printed out and photocopied for individual use, provided this copyright notice appears on each copy. This article may not be otherwise, linked, transmitted, or reproduced in print or electronic form without the consent of the Publisher. For more information, call (703) 838-6739.
American School Board Journal. The Source for School Leaders.1680 Duke Street, Alexandria, Virginia 22314, USA (703) 838-6722
© National School Boards Association


text:
New Erlang SHA-2 Implementation
February 20th, 2011 | Published in code, erlang, performance | Bookmark on Pinboard.in
A few years ago I wrote a pure Erlang version of the SHA-2 hash algorithms (SHA-224, SHA-256, SHA-384, SHA-512). They were kinda slow but they worked fine, and a number of people used them.
I've now rewritten the functions in a new Erlang library application named
erlsha2, available at github. The
erlsha2 implementation uses Erlang NIFs, making it significantly faster than the original. The original Erlang implementations are still there too, but they're automatically overridden by the NIF library when it loads.
Compared to the original module, the exported functions in this module have been renamed; they used to have names like
hexdigest224 but they now have shorter names like
sha224 to more closely match the Erlang
crypto module. I also implemented the
final function groups for each hash algorithm to allow data to be incrementally hashed, also to match the
crypto module.


text:
Are their any restrictions on what I can put on my website?
Posted by , Last modified by on 15 December 2010 02:31 PM
|Members can do pretty much anything they want with their websites so long as it does not contradict Christian beliefs. Any content that is illegal, immoral, or offensive in nature is expressly prohibited. Additionally, content which promotes ideas that are contrary to Christian beliefs (non-Christian faiths, cults, or sinful behavior) is also prohibited. OCC reserves the sole right to determine whether any content must be removed.


text:
A Stocking Full Of Assorted Goodies For You
· As we gaze at the Bassett Hound literally taking a dump in the middle of the three-way intersection outside the window of Defamer HQ-2 (a Christmas miracle!), we think fondly of Defamer videographer Molly, who is away today. We therefore had no choice but to plunder from the tidily wrapped video gifts beneath the tree of our more affluent cousins over at Jezebel. Look, everyone! It's Charo singing "Feliz Nablahblah" on the Pee-wee's Playhouse Christmas Special!
· 'Tis the season to be breathalyzered: In what is unlikely to be the last celeb DUI of the year, Boy Meets World's Topanga was picked up for drunk driving.
· Still wracking your brains trying to come up for the perfect, last-minute present for the loved one who has everything? How about driving them insane with personalized postcards from an unsigned maniac in a tiny Polish village?
· Is it Christmas?
· What's Jesus's birthday without occasional Defamer guest-contributer Nick Malis's musical ode to the loneliest holiday?
· We plan on spending our Christmas working on our Guitar Hero 3 game, though we have a ways to go until we even approach the insane skill-levels of Conrad the Great. Meanwhile, those of you who don't find Xmas 2008's Most Wanted under your tree this year can still get in on the fun with Handbell Hero.
· Well, that's it, everyone. True, we're Jewish, but in the spirit of inclusionism, we're out of here until Wednesday. All the best to you and yours. Chag Samayach!


text:
Brad DeLong makes his students read a buncha fucken shit over the summer for his Fall Econ 1 course at Cal. I say this makes him a dick. Do you give summer assignments for Fall undergrad courses?
Brad DeLong makes his students read a buncha fucken shit over the summer for his Fall Econ 1 course at Cal. I say this makes him a dick. Do you give summer assignments for Fall undergrad courses?
Prof-like Substance says
Fuck no. Mostly because there would be no hope of them actually reading it, but also because many of them work all summer to afford school. School is not in session during the summer or over the December holiday and they don't need me piling on for no damn reason.
human says
Does he also assign readings during the semester, or do people just read everything up front? Because if it's the latter, that could be an interesting way to structure a course. If the students have the opportunity to register for a different econ course or otherwise plan around it, I don't see a problem.
If it got sprung on them and there are no other openings on the other hand, it's kind of unreasonable to fuck with people's schedules that way.
namnezia says
No way. Plus it would make no sense as people don't really know their final schedules until the end of the first week of the semester. If anything I would add more prerequisites for my course if I thought students were coming in insufficiently prepared.
gnuma says
No. He's a dick.
Jen says
No – I never liked summer reading assignments as a student (since I always worked full-time), and I don't think any perceived educational/pedagogical value would be worth the angst. Besides, at the smaller state school at which I teach, we have a high percentage of transfer students who don't register until just before classes begin (during transfer orientation), and my course roster is completely in flux, and will continue to be, until registration is formally closed two weeks after the start of the semester.
zoubl says
I was given a summer reading assignment for my high school freshman biology class, and a report was expected on the first day of school. The teacher was a dick, but it ended up being a great book and I never forgot it.
Profs should do whatever they want to torture their students, as long as they're learning something from it. Yes, you can have a summer job AND read. Some of us had work study jobs during the school year. The kids have 8-10 weeks to do the assignment. It's not that fucking hard.
Anonymous says
I was given a list suggested reading of about 12 books before starting undergrad biology in Cambridge (UK) and told that I'm expected to choose and read a couple of them. I think I read five although I was working full-time. I thought it was fair, given that there wasn't much spare time during term time.
Dominique says
Oh my !. You are a nerdy secchione but wonderful
prodigal academic says
No way. I can't even count on my students to read stuff I assign over the semester. Why penalize my responsible students (who might actually do the assignment), when I would have to reassign it for the vast majority who ignored it.
Kate says
I require that my students have read the syllabus and checked out the course website by having them complete a really easy 10 question "orientation" quiz due the night before the first class. But that's it. I don't think I would ever assign reading before a class.
physiobabe says
What, they work 24 hours? Should have enough leisure time to do a bit of reading. What's the problem?
Arlenna says
No way, man. The three people (out of 250) who would actually read it are also the same three who will read it if I assign it during the semester. They should be adequately prepared by the prereqs we require, and if they aren't there are academic year mechanisms in place for them to catch up or flail out.
unbalanced reaction says
Absolutely not! I get them for 15 weeks, and that's it.
Former for-profit prof says
I used to teach at a for-profit that had a mandatory "prep week" assignment. We taught 7 weeks on, 1-3 weeks off (depending on when in the year) so students often had only a week to do it. The instructor sort of had say over what the assignment was, but sort of not. If you were teaching for the first time, they generally just gave the students whatever your colleagues had assigned previously, and they didn't go to any great lengths to inform you that you had the option to change the assignment. If you wanted to change it, you could propose a new prep week assignment, and I think they were supposed to follow your wishes, but they could "forget" to put the new one in, or strongly encourage you to reconsider.
The first prep week assignment that I had to work with was shit. The one I devised was much better. Fortunately, my supervisors liked the one I devised.
I have to say that I worked with some great colleagues and students and had a lot of fun at the for-profit, but I also found the system to be weird and suspect. Every faculty meeting included reminders of new rules to deal with regulatory/accreditation/liability issues.
LadyDay says
No way.
Considering that he's an Economics professor, it's not surprising. These are the folks who believe in all that "free market"/deregulation crap and perpetuate it by teaching naive kids about it every semester. Anyway (and obviously), saying that most Economics professors are totally "out of touch" with the lifestyles of the "proletariat," preferring to stare up their own anuses, instead, is an understatement.
Not that I have anything against Economics professors.
Dr. No says
Whaaaaaaat? Wouldn't you then have to grade some shit just as the semester begins? Fuck that.
Spiny Norman says
I've got no problem with it at all. It's piss — 200, maybe 250 pages, and as for expectations, Cal is probably the best public university on the planet.
Also, look at what he's actually assigning. Fair enough that DeLong wants people to start with a common vocabulary, especially since Econ is not a college-prep prereq like chem and physics.
Would I do it myself? No, but my course has a shitheap of prerequisites.
Spiny Norman says
I should add that my HS AP English teacher assigned about 5 times that much reading the summer before his course. The majority of us did it, too.
BB says
Both of my kids had reading assignments of absolute BS before starting first year college. For that cr@p I paid for books plus tuition.
LadyDay says
That's just the economics of summer reading.
LadyDay says
Should I ever venture into an economics class again, the first question I am going to ask is:
what's the price of public health at the expense of deregulating industrial emissions.
Because *everything* in the realm of economics gets reduced to mere monetary value.
Gingerale says
No, not for undergrads.
Brian says
Professorial young students………. are they being trained by Professorial Professors?


text:
screen radio.
The Traverse, however, was really redesigned from the rubber to the roof, as Chevrolet states, and offers class-leading maximum cargo space. Add to all that a new Silverado half ton coming in 2013 and a redesigned Corvette and it is easy to see why this will be an exciting year at Vogel Chevrolet.
In talking about technology and the 2013 offerings at Vogel Chevrolet, Johnson mentioned something many people probably do not know. The OnStar service available in most vehicles over the last decade can be contracted on a month to month basis. Anyone going on a trip who might like the support provided by OnStar—including navigation and roadside assistance—can pay for just one month of OnStar if they wish.
Safety improvements, too
Improvements in new vehicles go well beyond convenience features. Safety continues to be first, with new collision avoidance systems offering forward alerts and lane departure alerts. Johnson said on some new vehicles if the driver has cruise control on and is gaining on a vehicle in front of him or her, an alert will sound.
StabiliTrak is a feature which has been around for a few years now but is becoming more standard. The electronic stability system helps prevent a vehicle's back end from fishtailing in slippery conditions.
continued from page 17 B
All these features are available at Vogel Chevrolet in Kiel, an uncommon dealership in that Johnson provides "a no-pressure atmosphere. We make sure you get the vehicle you want. I do a lot of ordering. Chevrolet has gotten quicker in the time you get your vehicle. The delivery time has gotten much more consistent throughout the year."
Vogel Chevrolet also offers an inventory of used vehicles, many of them local trades from people who upgraded to a new or different used vehicle at Vogel.
Whether or not a person has bought a new or used vehicle from Vogel Chevrolet, they can still benefit from the veteran service staff which repairs all makes and models of vehicles in its modern shop. The Service Department will pick up vehicles in need of repair or give people rides at no charge to their home or workplace while their vehicle is being repaired. Vogel Chevrolet also does towing service and added a flatbed truck a few years ago.
In a separate building on the Vogel Chevrolet property is the state-of-the-art body shop which also fixes everything from deer collisions to the occasional complete restoration.
"2012 was a good year," Johnson said of Vogel Chevrolet. "We've seen steady growth over the last five years."
And with what is coming in 2013, there is no reason to believe that trend will change.


text: I use a blackberry for my phone and find it difficult to open and view league information/standing/tennis player history on the blackberry web browser. Seems like my friends who have iPhones don't have the same issues. I recall filling out a survey for the USTA over a year ago and the survey mentioned that the USTA was looking to possibly create a USTA and/or Tennis Link application. Does anyone know if there is an application out there for Tennis Link? If not, for those blackberry users, do you all have any problems accessing and using Tennis Link on the web browser as well?


text:
I don't think companies invest in finding out why is their perception bad. They invest in changing it.
I think Perl needs someone with a marketing hat. Someone who has this as a paid job. One of the first things she should do is to find out what is really
Steve Yegge covered these points at OSCon a few years back.
The root problem is that geeks don't do marketing well, don't respect marketing, even when marketing is the most important thing we can do for ourselves and our projects. (It's been a while since I listened to his talk, so my memory is fuzzy here.)
One of the interesting points he made is that GTE (the phone company) had a very bad reputation among its customers and in its service area. They conducted a poll to see what it would take to improve
I find this really interesting. If Perl's PR is so bad that we can't pull out of it, then I guess always referring to Perl 6 as Rakudo (assuming that's the implementation you use) could be a great thing.
That being said, I'm not a defeatist and I don't believe Perl's PR problems are insurmountable. The Perl community's resistance to PR, however, might be, thus making this a moot point.
The Perl community's resistance to PR....
Isn't that odd? Someone recently called me a marketer during a disagreement, and the context suggested the other person meant it as an insult.
Marketing should help and sustain technical development, not go against it.
You say "marketing". I call it describing a very real, very large pachyderm which has taken adverse possession of the room [perl.org]. We will never agree on a term.
However, I think we can both agree that marketing activities should reflect reality. That's why I base my conclusions on (and refer to) publicly accessible raw data, such as timelines, release dates, bug reports, patch submissions, commit logs, documentation, and mailing lists are all public information. Anyone who wants to review that data in its orig
You systematically misrepresent the problems that the Perl 5 development has, and invent new ones. You propose technical solutions that show a total lack of understanding of what is a large user base for Perl 5. You refuse to listen to people who actually work on Perl 5. You arrogantly think that if most people on P5P think you're wrong, that's because most of P5P is wrong. Perl needs PR, but _your_ kind of PR is certainly hurting Perl a lot.
I highly recommend the Notes from the Perl 5 BOF at OSCON [perlfoundation.org] -- in particular those sentences which mention the words "blead" and "maint".
I was not present at the meeting, yet the discussion seems very familiar. Would you make the same criticism of the participants?
As Dave Mitchell said on P5P [mpe.mpg.de], a list of hasty notes taken during a discussion among a non-representative group of mostly irregular porters was bound to ignore the most important problems. Yet I effectively recognize many concerns which I already mentioned (see for example the end of http://consttype.blogspot.com/2009/07/job-of-pumpking.html [blogspot.com] ) and I largely agree with the general line of thought. Which has little in common with yours, as explained on modernperlbooks. The BOF discussed about release managemen
The BOF discussed about release management and volunteer herding; they didn't propose to break backwards compatibility,
That's only technically true:
Chip: Once we've defined a deprecation cycle, we define breakage of compatibility.
Don't misquote me: I didn't called you a marketer.
You're right. I apologize. You have called me a marketdroid [blogspot.com]; I suppose the suffix is of vital importance. The same post implies I'm a propagandist, that I'm anti-p5p, and called me hysterical and deaf to criticism. You've a [blogspot.com]
I didn't delete anything except from my own initiative (and you know that), and for the rest I plaid guilty: what you're doing on modernperlbooks is disinformation and FUD. I note that it's Chip's turn to be quoted out of context. And now you're speaking about healthy debate, while I resigned in disgust from P5P after months of trying to avoid responding to your attacks. It would have been wiser to ignore you completely. Which I shall do from now on, since you still refuse to understand technical arguments.


text:
Lucky Guest House
At Lucky Guest House you will find a warm welcome 24 hrs/ day. Our staff will help you with all your needs, e.g.: tourist/ night life info, ticket service (shows or city tours), laundry service, money exchange,taxi. Free Wi-Fi in restaurant & all rooms.
Lucky Guest House has been open since 1989. it is located in tajganj and 2minute distence from TAJ MAHAL. Now, it is a modern hostel with a 24h reception. It hosts groups, backpackers, families and single travelers.
Lucky Guest House has been open since 1989. it is located in tajganj and 2minute distence from TAJ MAHAL. Now, it is a modern hostel with a 24h reception. It hosts groups, backpackers, families and single travelers.
The closest train station, agra cantt & agra fort., is just a short drive away from lucky guest House and is a perfect start to discover agra. All of agra's famous sights are easily reachable: only 2 minutes to the TAJ MAHAL; 10 minutes to AGRA Fort,baby taj,sadar bazar,multiplex
Lucky Guest House offers a variety of services: a rich breakfast, tourist information, ticket services, guided tours, Internet, laundry service, money exchange.
Availability & RatesTo view availability and prices please select dates and click 'Update Dates'
B&B Facilities & Policies
- 24 Hour Reception
- 24 Hour Security
- Air Conditioning
- Cable TV
- Currency Exchange
- Free Parking
- Free WiFi
- Internet Access
- Laundry Facilities
- Meals Available
- Restaurant
Cancellation PolicyThis property has a 1 day cancellation policy. Failure to cancel within this time will result in a cancellation charge equal to the first night of your stay.
Must-Read Guesthouse InfoThis property has specific Terms & Conditions.
we have 24 hours in day open reception with helpfull staff so in the case of being late n any other problem u can contact us,most important is our roof from there u can see beautiful view of taj mahal
DirectionsShow MapHide Map
From Airport:
How long distance: 8 km
How much time: 25 minutes
How much money: 80 ruppes
What Transportation Vehicle: auto rickshow
From Bus Station: idgah,isbt
How long distance:5 km,12 km
How much time: 15 minutes,35 minutes
How much money:60 rupees,100 rupees
What Transportation Vehicle: auto rickshow
From which train station Cannt/Fort:
How long distance:cantt 6 km, fort 3.5 km
How much time: 15 minute,10 minute
How much money:80 rupees n 50 rupees auto,
What Transportation Vehicle:auto rickshow
taxi from all bus stand,train station or air port cost 250.rupees
Located Near
address of this property is 3/12 chowk thana tajganj agra .this is the center point of western & southern gate of taj mahal ,next to tajganj police station , and very close to all important places of agra.


text:
Wesfarmers considers $1 bet limits after GetUp! pokies campaign
THE owner of Coles supermarkets, Wesfarmers, is considering $1 bet limits on the poker machines it owns as the company explores options to distance itself from the pubs and gambling business.
GetUp! confirmed it had dropped Wesfarmers from the anti-poker machine campaign that it launched earlier this year against Australia's supermarket giants after speaking with management and being encouraged by its commitment to tackle problem gambling issues.
''We were extremely pleased at the good faith they have shown over the past six months, but we're looking for more concrete answers at this stage,'' said GetUp! organiser Erin McCallum, who sent a letter last week requesting an update on the company's progress.
It is understood that Wesfarmers has engaged corporate consultants, the Boston Consulting Group, to look at the economic impact of introducing reforms, like $1 betting limits, on its poker machines, which are believed to number around 1300.
Wesfarmers spokesman Alan Carpenter said the company would not comment on what might be happening with its pubs business.
GetUp! has indicated that if it is not happy with Wesfarmers' progress it may still target Coles as part of its anti-pokies campaign this Christmas.
It is understood Wesfarmers is exploring alternatives to owning and operating its 92 pubs, and associated poker machines, as it does not see it as a natural fit with its other businesses. Betting limits are one of the options under consideration and not necessarily the most likely one to be adopted.
Implementation would be expensive and would only drive gamblers to nearby pubs and clubs if it was the only operator to implement them.
This argument was raised by Woolworths in opposition to GetUp!'s resolution to introduce $1 limits on its poker machines, along with other curbs.
Neither supermarket operator can afford to sell off its pubs if it compromises their liquor business, which have become a lucrative enterprise for both companies.
Wesfarmers and Woolworths are required to own pubs and hotels in Queensland as these are a prerequisite to operating bottle shops in the state, like Woolworths' Dan Murphy's brand. Most of Wesfarmers' pubs are in Queensland.
Woolworths has said that, in practice, pub ownership was also required to underpin its liquor business in other states. Most of the hotels owned by Woolworths' pub joint venture, ALH, are outside of Queensland.
The GetUp! campaign led to an extraordinary meeting of Woolworths shareholders last week to consider a resolution to introduce curbs on its poker machines.
The resolution was soundly defeated, with 95 per cent of investors voting against it. In his final meeting as Woolworths chairman, James Strong said the resolution was a ''radical proposal'' that was being ''put forward for one company and not for everybody else in any other form of gambling within Australia. I think we've made that point and it remains valid no matter what the arguments are around accountability''.
Colin Kruger is a business reporter. He joined the Sydney Morning Herald in 1999 as its technology editor. Other roles have included the Herald's deputy business editor and online business editor.
Get the Morning Edition
Sign up for our daily wrap of the news you need to start your day.


text:
Discussion in 'Science and Technology' started by JanewayRulz!, Jul 16, 2012.
LOVED this quote...
"You would really be forgiven for thinking that NASA was trying to pull a fast one on you and we actually put a rover out in the Mojave Desert and took a picture," project scientist John Grotzinger said.
And the conspiracy theorists HOWL! "
NASA Mohawk Engineer really has become famous, hasn't he?
^^ I'm so embarrassed, I never noticed the engineer. Good eye!
Curiosity Rover Sends Back 1st 360-Degree Color View (PHOTO)
I appreciate they didn't tint it really red so we would believe it was real. That's definitely a cool pic.
I watched the whole thing live and the whole time I was wondering "what's up with that guy". I can see how he became a topic.
God, gorgeous.
360 degree panorma :-
Here's the mostly complete panorama in full-res, awesome stuff.
I've heard somewhere (think it may of been one of the BBC News website articles) that some of these panorama shots have been 're-coloured to colours that humans are more used to seeing'. What does that mean?
They've probably added more reds and browns than what is "really there." But I've also heard that the pictures we're getting here are "true color" ones as opposed to the "doctored" ones we've gotten in the past.
Yeah they have basically been saying that the colored ones were some of the very first images but now the color is what the camera sees. It shouldn't be much further off in color than a picture from your phone.
Stunning, annotated panorama on the BBC site:
That's awesome. For the first time I really get the feeling of sitting in a giant crater with a mountain in the middle.
It should be noted the panorama shot has a touch doctoring/tomfoolery with it and isn't a 100% true representation of what it looks like on the surface of Mars from the Curiosity cameras.
In what way? I mean, no picture you see is a true representation of what you'd see with your own eyes, how is this modification worse than what came out of the camera?
What Trekker4747 states is true to some extent - the image of Mount Sharp has been colourised, the image of the Sun inserted from a previous rover, and some regions of the sky extrapolated. However, it's still an exciting taster of what's to come - if you're into that sort of thing.
If they've inserted and deleted elements, then it's most definitely cheating. I didn't notice those, but I couldn't even look at the sky in this one since the interface of the BBC viewer barely passes as "working". I did spend much time looking at a previous version of the same panorama that was black and white. I don't think that the tinting here can be considered doctoring, though.
We've fired up the lasers, baby:
We're going to show those rocks who is the boss now.
Separate names with a comma.


text:
Boycott ABC - We do not want Government run media!
On the night of June 24, 2009, the media and government become one, when ABC turns its programming over to President Obama and White House officials to push government run health care. The network plans a primetime special -- 'Prescription for America' -- originating from the East Room, and excluding opposing voices on the debate. This is basically a tax-payer funded infomercial designed to help Obama force universal health care on Americans whether we want it or not. ABC has lost all journalistic integrity and should no longer be considered as anything more than spokespeopl for the liberal left. I will no longer have anything to do with anything put out by ABC, and hope there are others who feel the same. Our country is going down a dangerous path, and to have a so called news agency acting this irresponsibly is a scary thing. It is not farfetched to envision a time when our media is compeletely controlled by those in Washington and there is no longer a free exchange of ideas.
AnonymousJun 21, 2017
9 years agoCharlene Henderson United States9 years ago
9 years agoJohn Morton United States9 years ago
9 years agoJohn Poshepny United States9 years ago
9 years agoKristen United States9 years ago


text:
This web page refers to our older busTRACE 7.0 which is no longer shipping. Click here for details on our latest generation busTRACE software.
This WEB page comes from the busTRACE 7.0 User's Manual. (Table of Contents)
busTRACE can capture I/O activity on the computer it is running against. busTRACE also has the ability to capture I/O activity on a remote computer across your local area network. In fact, busTRACE can capture I/O activity across multiple computers simultaneously, including capturing I/O activity on your local system at the same time!
Whether busTRACE will work across your network depends on what types of gateways, routers, and firewalls you have installed between the remote computer (i.e. the "server") and the local system (i.e. the "client"). Since we use TCP/IP for PC to PC communications, chances are good that you will be able to use this feature across your company's network.
In order to use the remote capture feature, you will need to configure both the remote "server" and the local "client" system.
If you have a software firewall on either the "server" or "client," you may need to configure the firewall to allow busTRACE to communicate remotely. A program such as Symantec Internet Security, Windows XP Service Pack 2, or Windows Vista, will notify you when an application attempts to use the network.
See Also:


text: Several people have asked on another thread what these are and noone has explained them. I have never made any. I probably could explain if I researched it but I know there are folks on here who could explain it a lot better. Thank you so much with your help.


text:
Icelandic Geothermal Energy
Iceland's largest energy company is considering construction of the world's longest underwater electric cable so the nation can sell its vast geothermal and volcanic energy to the European market. By the end of the year, state-owned energy company, Landsvirkjun, will complete a study of building a sub-sea cable that could deliver as much as five terawatt-hours (5 billion kilowatt-hours) annually to Europe, enough electricity to power 1.25 million homes. Geothermal energy is thermal energy generated and stored in the Earth. Thermal energy is energy that determines the temperature of matter. Earth's geothermal energy originates from the original formation of the planet, from radioactive decay of minerals, from volcanic activity, and from solar energy absorbed at the surface. The geothermal gradient, which is the difference in temperature between the core of the planet and its surface, drives a continuous conduction of thermal energy in the form of heat from the core to the surface.
From hot springs, geothermal energy has been used for bathing since Paleolithic times and for space heating since ancient Roman times, but it is now better known for electricity generation. Worldwide, about 10,715 megawatts of geothermal power is online in 24 countries. An additional 28 gigawatts of direct geothermal heating capacity is installed for district heating, space heating, spas, industrial processes, desalination and agricultural applications.
Geothermal power is cost effective, reliable, sustainable, and environmentally friendly, but has historically been limited to areas near tectonic plate boundaries. Recent technological advances have dramatically expanded the range and size of viable resources, especially for applications such as home heating, opening a potential for widespread exploitation.
Geothermal wells release greenhouse gases trapped deep within the earth, but these emissions are much lower per energy unit than those of fossil fuels. As a result, geothermal power has the potential to help mitigate global warming if widely deployed in place of fossil fuels.
The proposed Icelandic cable would be as long as 1,180 miles, depending on its destination; company officials are considering linking the cable to Britain, Norway, Holland, and Germany. At present, Landsvirkjun produces about 75 percent of Iceland's electricity by tapping into the nation's huge stores of geothermal power.
In 2010, the United States led the world in geothermal electricity production with 3,086 MW of installed capacity from 77 power plants. The largest group of geothermal power plants in the world is located at The Geysers, a geothermal field in California. The Philippines is the second highest producer, with 1,904 MW of capacity online.
For further information: http://e360.yale.edu/digest/iceland_considers_giant_cable_to_sell_geothermal_power_to_europe/2840/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+YaleEnvironment360+%28Yale+Environment+360%29&utm_content=Google+Reader


text:
Mega-cool Image Blender app for the iPad
1 comments post a comment
This is a simple and clean iPhone and iPad app with a single purpose - blending multiple images together.
Following on from my earlier blog about a Mega-cool Camera Lucida app for the iPad, I just ran across another very interesting app called Image Blender, which was created by Johan Andersson.
This is a simple and clean iPhone and iPad app with a single purpose blending images together. You can use multiple blending modes (like Multiply, Overlay, Screen, and many more); you can also move, rotate, resize, and mask the top image.
The comments on the iTunes App Store are universally positive, with many pointing out that this app is constantly being refined and improved.
You can see some examples of the amazing effects one can achieve over on the Image Blender Group Pool on Flickr:
At only $2.99 from the iTunes App Store, I think this is a real bargain. I just downloaded it and I intend to play with it this coming weekend (perhaps superimposing images of myself striding around alien landscapes).
If you found this article to be of interest, visit Programmable Logic Designline where in addition to my Max's Cool Beans blogs you will find the latest and greatest design, technology, product, and news articles with regard to programmable logic devices of every flavor and size (FPGAs, CPLDs, CSSPs, PSoCs...).
Also, you can obtain a highlights update delivered directly to your inbox by signing up for my weekly newsletter just Click Here to request this newsletter using the Manage Newsletters tab (if you aren't already a member you'll be asked to register, but it's free and painless so don't let that stop you [grin]).


text:
Obama has kicked off a new conversation -- but where it's going is still unclear
President Obama and Democrats in Congress are talking about climate change again -- and environmentalists are delighted. Greens on and off Capitol Hill have rushed to interpret Obama's inaugural pledge to "respond to the threat of climate change, knowing that the failure to do so would betray our children and future generations" as a harbinger of action -- starting with tough new greenhouse gas rules for power plants and a rejection of the proposed Keystone XL pipeline, which would bring Canadian oil sands crude to the Gulf Coast. But Obama has given few hints about his climate agenda, preferring to focus instead on what he did in his first term, including curbs on auto tailpipe emissions and the first-ever U.S. greenhouse gas rules for power plants.


text:
Oh sorry! I missed you Redsland and was Unassisted there too???Originally Posted by Redsland
Oh sorry! I missed you Redsland and was Unassisted there too???Originally Posted by Redsland
2017 Reds record when I'm attending: 16-14 FINAL2017 Dragons record when I'm attending: 1-0 FINAL
"We want to be the band to dance to when the bomb drops." - Simon Le Bon of Duran Duran
Yep.Originally Posted by KittyDuran
Makes all the routine posts.
Never wished I was in Cincy more than now. Sounds like I missed a hell of a good time.
This is the most post modern thing to ever happen on RZ.
Dieter would like now to do a dance for you.
Tremble as I rock you.
Get your nunchucks and the keys to your dad's car. I know where we can get a gun
Was this saved anywhere? I've gotta listen.
Hide your power alleys; Hide your wife
It was a great time last night. I got there a little late but just in time to look up and see Alfred up there talking to Tracy and Seg. That just started things off. For the record, the couple that were told to "get a room" were not RZers. Puffy wanted to go up and ask a question about minor league phenom Jim Coombs but said Rosie wouldn't let him. The funniest part of the night came right after that when GAC asked me who Jim Coombs was. I said, "Why don't you ask him?" So he turns to Puffy and asks him, "Who the (heck) is Jim Coombs?" Puffy said, "You're looking at him" and even pulled out his driver's license to prove it. I was ROTFL! I had to hold Creek back when some guy - not the kid - started dogging on Dunn. Later, when the kid was up there saying all he does is strike out and hit HRs, Creek was yelling at him calling him an idiot. GAC was really getting in Seg's grill about Dunn hitting higher in the lineup and Tracy was actually saying that he'd think about that and get back to him on the show tomorrow. So give Tracy a little bit of credit, he didn't reject the notion out of hand. But Tracy wouldn't criticize Miley because "He's a friend of mine." :rolleyes I guess Felipe was supposed to show up but he never made it. As far as I know, there wasn't anyone from RedsZone that got on the mike who haven't been identified already. We certainly had a great time there last night and I enjoyed meeting all the out of towners who I haven't met previously. And, of course, it was good to see familiar faces too.
OK. Finally made it home. First thing I did when I got out of the car was kiss the driveway!
I'm tired as hell, so I'll try not to be too long-winded.
I want to first off THANK Chip for allowing me to stay with him these last couple of days. It was much appreciated buddy!
What a weekend! These Redszone gatherings get better and better every year. But I don't know how we can top last night.
We were sitting at a group of tables right next to the WLW stand. And after Alfred went up I said we, as Redszonians, cannot let this opportunity pass us by. And when Zombie got up there (chains and all), Jim Combs and I felt that this was Redszone's time. We were all definitely wired after that great game.
I talked more in-depth with Tracey and Seg before they went on air. All I can say is don't judge them totally by their "on-air" personalities. They're there to play off the audience and each other. They like being the antagonists.
Off air I asked Jones what he thought of Miley's lineups - he smiled and said he likes Miley as a friend. So that is why I went back when they were live and asked them the question again. I wanted to use that as a "springboard" for the positioning of Dunn in this lineup. And Puffy did a great job afterwards in following up on that.
Puffy and I make a great team.
And it was Seg who didn't know what OPS was. Jones told him that it is OB% + SLG%. When I asked them why Dunn shouldn't be batting 2nd (which Tracey didn't disagree with me on), it was Seg that brought up that Dunn K's too much. And I give Jones credit for correcting Seg and say that is totally over-rated.
But Puffy is absolutely right about Bonds.
We tried to caox some of the women of Redszone to the mike; but they all got bashful all of a sudden.
We definitely got our Redszone plugs in though. Both of them said they were gonna visit there and browse.
Felipe Lopez was suppose to be there, but didn't show. But overall, it was a splendid time.
Got to meet alot of new people. You really can't get to know someone until you meet them in person.... Puffy, Roy Tucker, Red Leader, ochre, Unassisted, Old Righthander, LetsGoJunior, Sandy and Alfred. And then there was the regular motley crew (Teamsters, creek and hubby, Boss, Chip, Rosie, SuperBarry).
Did I miss anyone?
The HOF visit was excellent. People - you have to see this! And Sandy was a big help with her vast knowledge of baseball history. And the highlight was getting to meet/talk with ex-Red SS Leo Cardenas. I told him that for me growing up in the 60's, and before there was a Concepcion and a Larkin, he was one of the players I idolized.
I also got to meet the Red's #1 pick - Jay Bruce. I asked him if he could pitch?
I took about 60 pics folks, and I'll get them posted as soon as possible. But rigght now I'm going to hit the sack - I gotta work tonight!
We went to another bar over in Newport after Gameday... and all I can say is that Puffy likes to dance on tables to good German music.
Again - An excellent weekend.
"In my day you had musicians who experimented with drugs. Now it's druggies experimenting with music" - Alfred G Clark (circa 1972)
Nice free plugs last night on the Extra Innings show everyone....
Matt is there anyway of getting a recap of the show on WLW's website?Originally Posted by Matt700wlw
2017 Reds record when I'm attending: 16-14 FINAL2017 Dragons record when I'm attending: 1-0 FINAL
"We want to be the band to dance to when the bomb drops." - Simon Le Bon of Duran Duran
I don't think we do that....sorryOriginally Posted by KittyDuran
We're pros'ting, we're pros'ting.......Originally Posted by GAC
Man, I love that place.
Dang, I'm kicking myself for missing the excitement last night. I'm sure I'll get the full recap from Creek this week.
What if this wasn't a rhetorical question?
All models are wrong. Some of them are useful.
GAC, quit making out with the driveway and post some pics!
Makes all the routine posts.
Boy hope Z is ok today thenOriginally Posted by Redsland
Go Gators!
I listened to this on the way home from the game last night and every single time I heard someone on the mic say something that sounded like a RZer I told my wife 'hey that's one of ours'. And lo and behold most everytime it was. It was freakin hilarious to hear people talking about Krispy and Tracy not understanding OPS and the mention of Raisor etc etc etc.
Kudos to everyone there, and next time we'll join you guys!
Championships for MY teams in my lifetime:
Cincinnati Reds - 75, 76, 90
Chicago Blackhawks - 10, 13, 15
University of Kentucky - 78, 96, 98, 12
Chicago Bulls - 91, 92, 93, 96, 97, 98
Everything that happens before Death is what counts.
― Ray Bradbury, Something Wicked This Way Comes
Hopefully you heard a plug or two. I can't remember; did anyone remember to plug RedsZone?
Makes all the routine posts.
Board Moderators may, at their discretion and judgment, delete and/or edit any messages that violate any of the following guidelines: 1. Explicit references to alleged illegal or unlawful acts. 2. Graphic sexual descriptions. 3. Racial or ethnic slurs. 4. Use of edgy language (including masked profanity). 5. Direct personal attacks, flames, fights, trolling, baiting, name-calling, general nuisance, excessive player criticism or anything along those lines. 6. Posting spam. 7. Each person may have only one user account. It is fine to be critical here - that's what this board is for. But let's not beat a subject or a player to death, please.


text:
At this year's Monterey Classic Car Week and Pebble Beach, Cadillac took over Tehama Golf Course (owned by Clint Eastwood, who was curious enough to stop by) overlooking the Carmel Valley to celebrate the latest developments in its Art and Science design language with a rolling parade of its newest models: the gorgeous new CTS, luxury electric ELR and last year's well-received convertible concept, the Ciel, culminating in the rebirth of the Cadillac flagship: the 2013 Elmiraj Concept.
Inspired by the legendary '67 Eldorado, the Elmiraj is a grand coupe four-seater with the elegance and length of its predecessor but the same futuristic technology and innovation we've seen pioneered by the company over the past few years. The trademark top-of-the-range presence that started with the Ciel has been built upon but refined into a much tighter package.
The Elmiraj contains a wickedly powerful 4.5-liter Twin Turbo V8, which produces about 500 horsepower and approximately 500 pound-feet of brute torque. This puts its performance on par with—if not slightly above—the new Mercedes-Benz S-Class flagship S550, which has about 449 horses and 516 pound-feet of torque. Coupled with a 17-foot length (about a foot and a half shorter than the Eldorado), the Elmiraj is shaping up to be a luxury behemoth—should it be chosen to go into production.
The design emphasizes Caddy's trademark long dash-to-axe profile, giving the classic coupe design a modern update that reminds us of what's been built out of the Camaro refresh but much more distinguished. The bodywork isn't overly cluttered with adornments or bold accents, though the functional dual air vents for the twin-turbo in the long hood are an attractive touch, hinting at the power that lies below. All of this rides on 22-inch aluminum wheels that are anchored by ceramic brakes with monoblock calipers.
{"pbembedwidget":"gallery","id":"14468","size":"large","alignment":"left"}Inside, the Elmiraj's mix of luxury and technology, at the usual exaggerated level of detail seen in concepts, works well in the 2+2 layout of the vehicle. The sculpted high-performance seats are bold but comfortable, wrapped in caramel-colored leather with titanium accents that play up the handpicked fallen Brazilian Rosewood veneer. The 10-inch touchscreen for entertainment and navigation conceals itself within the dashboard when not in use, underneath the transparent instrument panel. This moving-compartment functionality seems to be a trend with Cadillac; we noticed it in our test drive of the ATS earlier this year.
The most unique addition was the much-rumored redesign of the Cadillac logo on the large front grille. Gone is the wreath of eras past, with the remaining crest streamlined and stretched. If this is any indication of the risks Cadillac is willing to take in its design direction in the future, we could be looking at a much more competitive player that can not only reinvent American luxury from where it has stagnated but also challenge the dominant European manufacturers as they attempt to overtake China and other key emerging markets. We look forward to watching Cadillac's star continue to rise.
For more information, visit cadillac.com


text:
Morales to pitch in back-to-back games for rehab
By Michael Periatt / MLB.com
BOSTON -- Before Franklin Morales, who is on the 15-day disabled list with a left pectoralis strain, can rejoin the Red Sox's bullpen, he'll have to prove he's ready to contribute.
In the next step of his rehab, manager John Farrell said the lefty will throw in back-to-back games for Triple-A Pawtucket on Saturday and Sunday.
Morales' rehab stint has been successful so far. He pitched Monday and Wednesday and recorded a scoreless inning in both outings.
Farrell said he'd like to see Morales build up some more endurance before he returns, however.
"Well, the one thing we have to do and just my view is that he's thrown two innings of I think 13 and 15 pitches, so we'd love to say that when he comes back to us he'd be that efficient, but I think you still have to get him a little extended," Farrell said. "He's had such a start-and-stop year that we want to be sure that he's at least answered a few questions in this rehab assignment he's on right now."
Morales has had trouble staying healthy this season. He missed the first 52 games of the season with a lower back strain and then was placed on the disabled list again with an injured pectoral muscle. His last appearance for the Red Sox was on June 22.
The Boston bullpen has had three season-ending injuries this season, but that doesn't necessarily mean Morales is guaranteed a spot once he's healthy.
"We have to get the best balance with the limited slots available out there," Farrell said. "I think first and foremost is that Franklin gets to a point where we make the necessary decision at that time."
Red Sox still in disbelief from comeback win
BOSTON -- As manager John Farrell went through his Friday morning routine, he was still thinking about his team's thrilling rally in the bottom of the ninth the night before.
"I think there was a time this morning just sitting around having a cup of coffee thinking, 'Still can't believe we won last night,'" he said.
The Sox scored six runs in the bottom of the ninth Thursday to top the Seattle Mariners, 8-7, and record their Major League-best 11th walk-off win of the season.
It was just one game over the course of 162 of the regular season, but Farrell said games like the one Thursday can have a larger effect than most on the season as a whole.
"To what extent, I don't know, but there is an effect," he said. "I think it's a cumulative one. You know, given the number of late-innings wins that we've had here, our dugout was very loose last night. And there wasn't added pressure. It was a matter of one game at a time putting up the best at-bat he could. Certainly some momentum started inside the inning, but I think people always want to say, 'Well, what could this mean going forward?' I just think it's a continued growth and confidence that we have as a team."
Nine of the 10 batters the Red Sox sent to the plate during the ninth inning reached base Thursday and only one hit -- a double -- was for extra bases. Daniel Nava finished off the comeback with a deep single to center field.
"Yesterday just showed that we never give up," said Mike Napoli. "We grind out a whole nine-inning game."
Ross 'jaded' by departure from Red Sox
BOSTON -- Cody Ross was clear. He didn't appreciate the way Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington treated him on his way out the door last season.
While playing for his new team, the D-backs, on Friday, Ross took that frustration out on the Sox, erupting for four hits, including the go-ahead home run in the seventh inning of Arizona's 7-6 win.
"I've had this game circled on my calendar for a while," Ross said.
Red Sox starter Jon Lester, against who Ross had three hits, certainly took notice.
"Obviously he came back with a little bit of a chip on his shoulder," he said.
Lester was Ross' teammate last season, but Ross wanted to be a part of the new -- and hopefully more positive -- chapter this year.
He expressed those feelings to Cherington and thought they had a pretty good chance of becoming a reality.
When that didn't come to fruition, Ross said he was told by Cherington that the Red Sox were not interested in signing players to long-term deals.
It wasn't long after that conversation that Ross said the Sox inked free agents Shane Victorino and Mike Napoli to three-year contracts, though Napoli's deal was later changed to one year after the discovery of a hip condition.
Ross said he felt "jaded" by the situation.
"I wouldn't say betrayed, just maybe jaded a little bit," Ross said. "You know, when you hear one thing from the top that they're not going to sign guys to long-term deals and then turn around a week later and do it, it doesn't really -- I mean I'm a person, too. I'm not just a baseball player. You know, I have emotions and feelings."
Ross was particularly surprised given his relationship with Cherington.
"I'd be lying if I said I wasn't surprised," Ross said. "Me and Ben had a great relationship. Very open. I felt like I could go and talk to him about anything. He would come to me and talk about certain stuff that you know that general managers don't necessarily approach players about sometimes. We had a great relationship. It was just, I don't know if the fact that I expressed to him first that I wanted to come back may have hurt me a little bit, showing my hand if you will. But things happen for a reason. I'm a firm believer in that."
Ross insists the situation is all in the past now. He landed with the D-backs in what he called a "doozy" of a free-agent process, but Arizona is where he makes his home and his new team is in the middle of a pennant race in the National League West.
"It all works out," he said.
Ross said he still pays attention to the Red Sox, and while he doesn't necessarily cheer for the team, he roots for his old friends like Dustin Pedroia, Lester and John Lackey.
"It was obviously sad to see him go," said Lester, "but at the same time, obviously we're all happy with who we've got in this clubhouse now."
Ross was part of a clubhouse last year that many described as a detrimental environment. Seeing the Red Sox's success this year, he said the environment must have changed.
"Just being a part of how that went down and then seeing and hearing about how it is now, I would assume night and day," he said. "So good for them. I'm glad that they got their clubhouse back intact and are doing great things."
Michael Periatt is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


text:
I have a friend said his graphics card was broken and was looking for recommendations for a new one. Naturally, I said, "Send an email with the relevant specs and I'll let you know." He sent this:
"I have an Asus laptop. 4G ram, runs Vista, nVidia GeForce 9800m 512mb video card (which is the broken component)."
Uh oh! Never replaced a laptop graphics card, so I'm looking for advice. Is it possible (I'm suspicious that the card might be soldered onto the board), and if so, is it worth the time/effort/expense? (I looked at Newegg and Amazon and didn't even see mobile graphics cards for sale.) He's not a tech guy, so he didn't know more specifically. Sounds like the laptop is from 2008 or so (judging by the graphics card).


text:
« Exit photo gallery
Northeast blizzard hits New England
The storm, named Nemo by The Weather Channel, brought at least 2 feet of snow to parts of the Northeast.
Eguin Belasquez steers a snow blower through mounds of snow as he helps his friend dig out of his driveway after a snow storm on Feb. 9 in Sea Cliff, N.Y.(Photo: AP Photo)
Please see the Comments FAQ if you have any additional questions or email your thoughts to firstname.lastname@example.com powered by Disqus
More: See all POLITICO photo galleries
Did you know that this gallery has keyboard shortcuts? Use your left and right arrows to navigate through the gallery.


text:
The proposed configuration for the 7000 Series will be provided to the manufacturers bidding on the railcar project, which CTA says could be up to 846 cars and cost nearly $2 billion. The 7000 Series is designed to replace the oldest railcars in the CTA's fleet, reducing the average age of the fleet to around 10 years by 2022. The CTA issued an Invitation for Bids in February 2013 for the railcars and expects to select a manufacturer by January 2014. The new railcars, expected to begin delivery around 2016, will replace equipment that is nearing or beyond 30 years of age. "Replacement of these aging cars will reduce service delays from mechanical breakdowns and save millions of dollars in operating costs," CTA said.
CTA said the new seating design was created "after careful study of existing design, passenger flow, capacity, and comfort, and is a hybrid of the best features from existing CTA railcar styles—incorporating both forward- and aisle-facing seats." The CTA conducted both empirical research as well as customer surveys to develop a recommended seating configuration.
In the new design, the front of the car would offer aisle-facing seats to maximize standing space. The center of the car would feature an asymmetrical mix of forward-facing and aisle-facing single seats and seat pairs, similar to the configuration found on the 3200 Series railcars used on CTA's Brown and Orange Lines. This configuration will allow for more passengers to stand with ease. The rear of the car would include rows of forward-facing seat pairs, providing the maximum number of forward-facing seats in area that will not impede passenger flow.
Additional features include two locations per car for passengers with wheelchairs. Also, the configuration could include offset poles and straps for standing passengers on each side of the aisle, instead of poles located directly across the aisle from each other, which increases the chances of passengers standing back-to-back and inadvertently blocking the aisle.
The new design would have a maximum 38 seats, compared with the 38 to 46 on other railcars. The proposed configuration would have a more even mix of forward-facing (53%) and aisle-facing (47%) seats in a design "that promotes more efficiency in boarding and exiting the train while providing passengers several standing and seating choices," CTA said.
The CTA fleet currently consists of approximately 1,300 rail cars. The new 7000 series cars would replace the CTA's oldest rail cars, including the approximately 400 2600 series, which were built between 1981 and 1987 by Budd Company. Additional, later-year options could allow for the timely replacement of the 256 cars in the 3200 series, which were built in 1992-93 by Morrison-Knudsen. In addition, the CTA could expand its rail fleet if ridership trends or system expansion warrants.
CTA is currently taking delivery on the newest generation of cars, the 5000 Series, manufactured by Bombardier. As of early August, 290 of a total planned 714 railcars have entered service on the Pink, Red, and Green Lines. The 5000 Series cars are replacing 2200 Series cars manufactured by the Budd Company in 1969-70, 2400 Series cars built by Boeing-Vertol between 1976 and 1978, and a portion of 2600 Series cars built by Budd between 1981 and 1986.


text: Okay, maybe it won't actually become the G.I. Joe/Transformers Channel, but Discovery Communications and Hasbro have announced their plans to transform (no pun intended) the Discovery Kids Channel into a new network that showcases the best of both companies. So alongside existing Discovery Kids shows like Bindi The Jungle Girl, Turenstein, and Endurance, will be shows based on Hasbro properties such as G.I. Joe, Transformers, and My Little Pony. http://www.hasbro.com/corporate/media/press-releases/hasbro-discovery-joint-venture.cfm


text:
East-West showdown winner will gain bragging rights
By Kevin Hill
That special time of year is here again. It's time for the annual Russellville Junior High East-West football showdown at Cyclone Stadium. The game, which is part of the RJHS homecoming festivities, will kick off at 6 p.m., following the naming of the homecoming king and queen.
This year's game has an added flair. The Westside Whirlwinds (7-2, 5-1 River Valley Junior High Conference) are in a tie with Searcy atop the conference and, with a win, can clinch at least a share of the conference championship.
"Yeah, it's a huge game for the kids -and there's a little bit more to it," RJHS West coach Josh Edgin said. "There's a lot on the line including the whole East-West rivalry and, basically, bragging rights for three years."
The East Whirlwinds (3-6, 2-4) struggled early before gaining momentum in the final weeks leading up to this game. Both coaches want to win and agree this will be the toughest, most exciting game of the season.
"We would love to get a win," RJHS East head coach Rick Correia said. "Our kids have put in a lot of work, and we're expecting the best every year in the East-West game -it's usually the best game of the year. I'm expecting the best out of the West, and I expect the best out of the East. It's going to be a great showdown."
"This game is never easy and (today) is not going to be anything different, it'll be the toughest game of the year," Edgin added. "They do a lot of great things and they've got a lot of great kids over there. Just about every game this season we've been able to walk in and know we're faster than the other team. This game I don't know that we're going to be there. It's going to be a matchup of two great teams. More importantly, they all know each other, and they play with an added energy, you know, like 'We've got to walk the hall with each other.' This year we're pretty evenly matched with each other. But even years when one team was way better than the other, this game always turned out to be a good ballgame just because of the pride the kids put into it."
The West Whirlwinds have relied on defense and team speed this season, and Correia said he's been working with his East team to get them ready to face their counterparts.
"We worked hard this week on making sure to wrap up on tackles and getting to the football," he said. "I'm expecting 11 bodies to get around the ball on every play. They have great athletes, so if they make one guy miss and we don't have another guy there, they're liable to take it all the way. So, we've tried to make sure our kids fly around to the football."
Edgin's group has a different problem. With a quarterback who can throw the ball and some speedy and tall receivers to catch it, his team will be facing something they haven't seen all year.
"To play against Cody (Jones), first we've got to be sound," he said. "We've got to be in the place that we're supposed to be in. We just can't have mental mistakes -we have to be flawless on defense and make sure our mental preparation is there.
"We practice to not allow the big play. They're going to get their catches, and they're going to do the things that they do. Our job is to, when they do get their catches, just get them down on the ground. Our motto is 'Always live for another play.' You know, if you have another play on defense, that means they haven't scored yet. And the more plays an offense is out there, the better the odds are for a turnover or punt."
Correia said his team's biggest concern was RJHS West's speed on defense.
"The thing about their defense is that they're so fast and can get to places defenses can't normally get to," he said. "So on route running we have to be very precise, and we have to be able to run the ball a little bit. That way they can't just bail out and drop into coverage. Last week (against Vilonia) was our first week all year that we ran for over 100 yards. So I'm hoping for another good performance from our offensive line again."
Bragging rights are up for grabs, not just for the teams, but also for the student body. The kids love the rivalry and would love to see a big crowd out supporting their teams.


text:
Okay, so obviously in the Wizarding World people need to keep their food cold, just like in our world. I've always envisioned them using some sort of charmed box, but I can't for the life of me think of how it'd be done, or what they'd call them.
And on the topic: what about toasters? or ovens, for that matter? How would wizards compensate for not having electriciy in this case?


text:
Printer-friendly format
Email this thread to a friend
Bookmark this thread
|This topic is archived.
|Home » Discuss » Archives » General Discussion: Presidential (Through Nov 2009)
|Sebastian Doyle (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore
|Tue Aug-04-09 08:37 PM
Response to Reply #9
|10. Yes, I'm a birther or a freepazoid because I make a joke about "bipartisanship"
|Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top
|Home » Discuss » Archives » General Discussion: Presidential (Through Nov 2009)
Powered by DCForum+ Version 1.1 Copyright 1997-2002 DCScripts.com
Software has been extensively modified by the DU administrators
Important Notices: By participating on this discussion board, visitors agree to abide by the rules outlined on our Rules page. Messages posted on the Democratic Underground Discussion Forums are the opinions of the individuals who post them, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of Democratic Underground, LLC.
Home | Discussion Forums | Journals | Store | Donate
About DU | Contact Us | Privacy Policy
Got a message for Democratic Underground? Click here to send us a message.
© 2001 - 2011 Democratic Underground, LLC


text:
Regular price: $22.80
Nicole Martin was only eight years old when the vampire slaves rose up in rebellion and killed her family....
Once, Sarah Bingham's biggest challenge was making her students pay attention in class....
He is the guardian of hell, more monster than man. She is the goddess of oppression, more angel than woman....
When Destiny McCree wakes up beside a dead man on an Oregon beach, she knows only this: she has to keep moving, keep searching, and keep one step ahead of the forces that have been pursuing her....
For most, a plane crash means the end of life. For Dusti Dawson, it's just the beginning...Dusti and her sister Batina survived the crash, thanks to a couple of brothers....
Raven Black hunts evildoers for fun, but her vigilante justice isn't the only reason she's hiding from the law. Half vampire, half mage, she's spent years living as a rogue to stay alive....
Nicole Martin was only eight years old when the vampire slaves rose up in rebellion and killed her family....
Once, Sarah Bingham's biggest challenge was making her students pay attention in class....
He is the guardian of hell, more monster than man. She is the goddess of oppression, more angel than woman....
When Destiny McCree wakes up beside a dead man on an Oregon beach, she knows only this: she has to keep moving, keep searching, and keep one step ahead of the forces that have been pursuing her....
For most, a plane crash means the end of life. For Dusti Dawson, it's just the beginning...Dusti and her sister Batina survived the crash, thanks to a couple of brothers....
Raven Black hunts evildoers for fun, but her vigilante justice isn't the only reason she's hiding from the law. Half vampire, half mage, she's spent years living as a rogue to stay alive....
Paradise, blooded daughter of the king's first advisor, is ready to break free from the restrictive life of an aristocratic female....
Ally Marshall isn't just a wolf shifter - she's a Seer. But a girl doesn't exactly need special powers to know that Derren Hudson despises her entire kind....
Savannah Dupree is a freshman studying at Boston University on a full scholarship. But Savannah possesses something even more remarkable than a quick mind....
Nalini Singh dives into a world torn apart by a powerful race with phenomenal powers of the mind - and none of the heart....
Luz Velez is a shapeshifter who can't shift. Every time she tries to summon her inner wolf, she has a massive panic attack....
Willow knows she's different from other girls, and not just because she loves tinkering with cars....
In a place where ecstasy can cost you your life....
She's a demon-slayer who hungers for sensual pleasure - but fears it will always be denied her, until Tayla Mancuso lands in a hospital run by demons in disguise, and the head doctor, Eidolon, makes her body burn with unslakable desire. But to prove her ultimate loyalty to her peers, she must betray the surgeon who saved her life.
Two lovers will dare to risk all.
Eidolon cannot resist this fiery, dangerous woman who fills him with both rage and passion. Not only is she his avowed enemy, but she could very well be the hunter who has been preying upon his people. Torn between his need for the truth and his quest to find his perfect mate before a horrific transformation claims him forever, Eidolon will dare the unthinkable - and let Tayla possess him, body and soul.
I decided to start reading the Demonica series based solely on its hotness factor and Pleasure Unbound definitely delivers a stellar performance on that front. I was also curious to see how Larissa Ione was going to work the seminust demon story line. And, I must say, I really really enjoyed learning about their natures. She took a completely different approach than what I'd expected; one that's similar in some respects to the werewolf life mates one that I so adore. Score! The chemistry between Eidolon and Tayla is scorching and the added bonus of experiencing their tale via an audio book will leave you feeling hot and bothered in the nicest possible way.
Ione does an amazing job of developing her characters and their background stories in this novel. Her demons aren't all lumped into one category. There's a multitude of different breeds with various traits, personalities, strengths and weaknesses. Some are good and some are bad but the brothers seem to fall into a gray area. I loved how much thought and time was put into defining Eidolon and his seminust brethren. At first I was expecting sex crazed incubi and I was okay with that, but I couldn't have been more wrong. These demons NEED sex like they need air otherwise things can get horribly painful and even death can occur. Sounds crazy, right? I don't want to go into too much detail because Larissa does a far better job than I ever could and you really do need to experience this series for yourself to understand what I'm talking about.
This story isn't just about Eidolon though it's also about Tayla. These two couldn't be more opposite but then again, you know the saying… Anyway, they go at it like a demon and a slayer should. Their encounters are violent, intense and raw; and I'm not just talking about their fights either. I enjoyed watching the unlikely relationship develop between this duo. Tayla fights Eidolon's pull tooth and nail but as things progress, their chance meeting ends up looking more and more like fate.
The side characters are also incredibly noteworthy. I'm holding out hope that a few of them will get books of their own in the Demonica series or in a spin-off. Maybe they already have, I have some research to do!
Pleasure Unbound is high on action and romance which can be a difficult combo to pull off. Many paranormal romances seem to get sidetracked once the lovin' kicks in and never quite make it back full circle. My blood was bubbling as much from the toe curling nookie as from the ass whooping thanks to this book. Cassandra Campbell does a fab job of narrating this novel too which also helped amp up the wow factor. I'm committed to this series for the long haul and can't wait to check out Shade's story in Desire Unchained. I'm looking forward to Wraith's even more but, one step at a time!
7 of 7 people found this review helpful
I got this audiobook because of the great reviews it had and because it was on sale. This is my first demon book, the first book I've listened to by this author and narrator. I was scared at first because of the demon thing and I had low expectations. Dark Paranormal romance is not my thing but I wanted to give this book a try.... And I loved every minute of this! I could not stop listening!
The storyline seems ridiculous but trust me, it actually works! Eidolon is an incubus demon, Tayla is a demon hunter who can never "finish" when she's with a man. They end up meeting when she's injured and taken to a secret demon hospital.
The story is really interesting, well developed and it introduces you to a world of demons very complex and not at all what you could expect. The story is unpredictable and complex and the sex (lots and lots of it... After all he's an incubus) is hot! And the romance, it's there and it's wonderful.
My favorite paranormal romance is Slave to Sensation by Nalini Singh and after that I've listened to many PNR books looking for one that makes that huge impact on me and I found it. This book is that good. The narrator does an AMAZING job too! Be prepared because she uses a little creepy voice for the demon at times but it's part of the story. If your scared about listening to a demon story like I was let me reassure you that there are no devil worship, no bad talking about God or really scary thing.
The next book in the series is not narrated by Cassandra Campbel so that sucks but I am definitely looking forward to more books by this author and/or narrator. So give this book a try if you like PNR, you won't regret it.
12 of 13 people found this review helpful
I was happily surprised by this book and purchased book 2 right way. This book reminded me of a cross between Gena Showalter, Lara Adrian and Christine Feehan. She kept a great balance throughout the book by building the action, the paranormal world they live in and the romance. The sex scenes are hot and steamy! There is nothing I hate more than when authors write the big build-up to the romance and sex, then leave you to fill in the blanks. In this Larissa Ione did not disappoint - hot, steamy and wicked!!! Hey Audible - you need to get the remaining 4 books of this series and her others ASAP!
16 of 18 people found this review helpful
I'm a total sucker for paranormal romance, I won't lie, and I've been making the rounds on quite a few authors, looking for the next series I can fall in love with. Sadly, most disappoint. Fortunately, I recently discovered Larissa Ione, and I've been so happy! I got so immersed in her world, and came to care so deeply for her characters. I've now finished what's available, and am happily anticipating more to come! If you're into paranormal romance, definitely give her series a go.
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
This was my first time with Larissa Ione and it hooked me for the entire series. Ione does an awesome job weaving the characters together. Two people who should have never come together find they must help each other. This the first book in the series and you get a lot of information about the underworld, the hospital and an introduction to the other characters who will make up the books to come.
I was very impressed with the story and you will not be disappointed by this series and it leads you into a whole new series that is just as good.
If you love a good paranormal romance with steam, Ione delivers. She has become one of my new favorite authors. I can't wait to see what she does next.
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
This is the first book that I have listened to/read from Larissa Ione, and she is now on my list of "must reads." I got the book due to the good reviews from some women who I follow, and it was totally worth the credit. This is the first book in the Demonica series. Please note that the first two hours of the book are complex and a bit hard to follow due to the number of characters and the various kinds of demons, but stick with it, because it is totally worth it. Eidolon, the main male character, is a totally hot, doctor demon, and Tayla, is a demon-slayer, who fallas for Eidolon, as she discovers a dark secret about herself. Larissa is a great writer, and the story was compelx and interesting with twists and turns, and great promise for the next books in the series. After this book, I downloaded the other books in the series and I can't wait to listen!
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
Bought on Audible
May 2011 BBA Read
Overall Rating 4.25
Character Rating 4.5
Story Rating 4.0
Audio Rating 4.0
NOTE: I read/listened to Pleasure Unbound because it is the May 2011 read for BBA and I'm going to Authors After Dark 2011 where Larissa Ione will be the keynote speaker. I am so glad that I did because now I am hooked. It is a bit sexier/grittier/darker than I was expecting but I think the tone fit the story perfectly!
What I Loved: Tayla is a woman stuck in the middle of a bad situation. She just found out she is part what she hates and that those she has always trusted either lied and/or are uneducated about the demons that they hunt. Add to that her attraction to Eidolon and you have got one messed up leading lady. This, to me, is what makes her a fantastic lead. You get to watch as she grows into the person (demon) she is supposed to be. Eidolon is a great balance to her though he does have issues of his own: changing, brothers that can drive a man crazy, and a hospital he needs to run.
What I Liked: Wraith and Shade were fantastic side characters in this book. I enjoyed each moment they were in Pleasure Unbound. I also loved Gen(Gem)--sorry I listened to it on audiobook so I am not sure which it really is--the part she is involved with is fantastic. I really liked that story arc.
Complaints: None
Audio Specific Review: Narrated by Cassandra Campbell, she does a fantastic job with almost everyone's voices. There was enough nuance difference that each one stood out on it's own. Her pacing, pronunciation, and emotions were great. I recommend her as a narrator.
Who I gave it a 4.25: This was a fantastic beginning to a series. Pleasure Unbound was a book that had a good story and was still able to introduce character's whose stories are yet to come.
Who I would recommend this too: PNR readers that like the darker stories. Think dark like JR Ward because it is that gritty and sexy.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
I wasn't sure I would like this book/series since it was Demons.. I'm a vampire kinda gal. I loved Midnight Breed and Black Dagger Brotherhood, and I have to say the Demonica Series is right up there in the top three! I would consider this story to be paranormal erotica, not just PNR!
I decided to get it on audiobook instead of for my Nook, just to have "something to listen to" while I waited for the newest Lara Adrian book to come out. I was totally taken off guard at how much I enjoyed this book! I can't get enough!
There is a lot going on in this book, but the narration is perfect. She reminded me a lot of Hillary Huber, whom I love to listen to (and who narrates the second book), her inflections and timing are dead on.
I'm in love with this series and can't wait to move on to the next (audio)book! I think I'll also get the series on my NookColor!
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
What a great listen!! The author put in some effort in building this world, creating wonderful characters and delivering some nice action. Great pay off for those enjoying this book. Narration was perfect on this. I'm off to download book 2!
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
Really loved this book. Already listened to all 5. A great paranormal romance with lots of action. Demons, vampires, wolves, angels, hunters, everything you could imagine mixed together with humor and passion. Kinda made me think of ER full of monsters. Can't wait for a new one.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful