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November 21
Christmas Tree Lane
ValleyCare Health System's signature fundraiser Christmas Tree Lane and holiday boutique will be held for three days starting Nov. 21 in Pleasanton's Palm Event Center, 1184 Vineyard Ave. Called a "Midwinter Night's Dream," the benefit will transform the Palm Event Center into a Christmas wonderland where decorated Christmas trees, silent auction gift baskets, gourmet fare, the boutique and a visit with Santa promise to immerse visitors in the Christmas spirit.
From 5 to 8 p.m. on Thursday evening, Nov. 21, ValleyCare is inviting families to join in a "Wonderland Family Stroll." This event will offer holiday treats while children have the opportunity to shop for their parents in "Santa's Secret Shop." Photos with Santa will be available. Adult tickets are $15 and $10 for children.
November 22
Tinsel Teas and Silent Night Soiree
The "Tinsel Teas" are scheduled for Friday, Nov. 22 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Palm Event Center as part of Valley Care's Christmas Tree Lane three-day fundraiser. Participants can enjoy high tea, purchase chance-drawing tickets for trees and a china table setting and get a jump start on shopping at the Holiday Gift Boutique. Tea tickets are $45 per person.
At 6:30 p.m. that evening, the "Silent Night Soiree" begins, featuring a silent auction, sit-down dinner and entertainment by Special Blend and dancing to a DJ. Tickets for the evening event are $90.
November 23
Silver Bells luncheon
The three-day ValleyCare Christmas Tree Lane fundraiser will culminate with the Silver Bells luncheon on Saturday, Nov. 23 at the Palm Event Center, 1184 Vineyard Ave., Pleasanton. Doors will open at 10:30 a.m. for guests to enjoy the lights and colors, visit the "Merry Gentlemen" to purchase chance-drawing tickets for trees, enjoy gourmet fare and entertainment, and place bids on silent auction gift baskets, wreaths and garlands. The highlight of the event will be a drawing for decorated Christmas trees and a china table setting. Tickets are $100 each, with all proceeds benefiting ValleyCare's Breast Cancer Program and the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. For more information, visit www.valleycare.com/christmastreelane or call 373-4560.
Holiday Spirit Stroll
The first Holiday Spirit Stroll will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 23 in downtown Pleasanton. Participants in the 21-and-over event can shop along Main Street and sample a variety of local beer, wine and cocktails at 15 downtown locations. Tickets are available online at www.pleasantondowntown.net and will be sold with cash or check at Clover Creek, 670 Main St.; Berry Patch, 350-A Main Street; and Studio Seven Arts, 400 Main St. Pre-sale tickets are $30. If available, tickets will be sold the night of the event for $35. Tickets, which must be redeemed by 6 p.m. at the starting location at the Museum on Main, 603 Main St., include admission to the event, an event map, and 15 beer, wine and cocktail tastings at participating downtown locations. Designated driver tickets will be sold for $5 on the night of the Holiday Spirit Stroll. For information, visit www.pleasantondowntown.net, call 484-2199, or email Julie Vlahon at email@example.com
Magical Holiday Evening
Celebrate the holidays at Downtown Pleasanton's Magical Holiday Evening, the annual family-friendly downtown open house, from 4 to 7 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 23. Downtown shops, restaurants and businesses will be decked out in holiday lights, and Santa will come by for an early visit.
December 5
VREN's Pleasanton Weekly Holiday Fund party
Valley Real Estate Network's annual Pleasanton Weekly Holiday Fund party will be from 6 to 11 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 5 at the Marriott Pleasanton, 11950 Dublin Canyon Road. Enjoy music and dancing, appetizers, drawings, a live auction and no host bar. Proceeds benefit the Pleasanton Weekly Holiday Fund, which will provide thousands of dollars in non-restricted funds to 10 local charities again this year. Tickets are $20 and are available by calling 548-1980, or at the Pleasanton Weekly office, 5506 Sunol Blvd., Suite 100.
30th Annual Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony
Dublin will hold its 30th Annual Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 5, at the Dublin Civic Center, 100 Civic Plaza, Dublin. There will be entertainment and caroling, cookies and hot chocolate. For information, visit http://www.ci.dublin.ca.us/ or call 556-4500.
December 7
Hometown Holiday Parade and Tree-Lighting Celebration
Floats, marching bands, drill teams, and more will celebrate the season as Pleasanton's unique Hometown Holiday Parade marches down Main Street on Saturday, Dec. 7. The one-hour parade begins at 5 p.m. and the tree lighting follows directly after at the Museum on Main Street. For information, visit the City of Pleasanton's website, www.cityofpleasanton.gov.
December 14
December People Holiday Rock 'N' Roll
Firehouse Arts Center will present December People Holiday Rock 'N' Roll at 8 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 13 and Saturday, Dec. 14, at the theater, 4444 Railroad Ave. Tickets are $30 to $40 each. This high-powered quintet, made up of some of the world's biggest bands -- including Boston's lead guitarist Gary Pihl -- presents a family-friendly classic rock Christmas show for all ages. December People plays familiar Holiday songs in the styles of all the top bands of our time. Go to http://www.firehousearts.org/events.
December 14
Impressions of the Nutcracker
San Ramon Valley Dance Academy will present "Impressions of the Nutcracker" at 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 14; and at 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 15 at the Dougherty Valley Performing Arts Center, 10550 Albion Road, San Ramon.
San Ramon Valley Dance Academy's production of "Impressions of the Nutcracker" incorporates multiple dance styles in a fast-paced production that follows the traditional story line of the Nutcracker. In just over an hour, this popular story ballet performance will delight and entertain the whole family. Tickets are $22 for adults and $19 for youth and seniors. For more information, visit www.ci.san-ramon.ca.us/parks/theater.
Breakfast with Santa
"Breakfast with Santa," a popular Dublin tradition, will be on Saturday, Dec. 14, at the Shannon Community Center, 11600 Shannon Ave., Dublin. Families are invited to enjoy a pancake breakfast, served with sausage, fruit, coffee and juice, followed by the arrival of Santa Claus. There will be three seatings: 8:30 a.m., 9:45 a.m. and 11 a.m. Tickets are $11 for residents, and $13 for non-residents. This event benefits the Dublin High School Irish Guard and Band.
20th annual Breakfast with Santa
Bethel 247 of Job's Daughters International will host the 20th Annual Breakfast with Santa from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, Dec. 14, at the Grange Hall, 743 Diablo Road, Danville. Tickets are $8 per person, with children 3 and under free. Cost includes breakfast and a photo with Santa. Crafts for children, a craft boutique, a bake sale and live entertainment will also be featured. The pancake breakfast is a fundraiser for Job's Daughters, a nonprofit Masonic youth group for girls between 10 and 20 years old which teaches skills such as organization, leadership, communication and financial planning.
December 22
Sing-Along Messiah
The San Ramon Arts Foundation will present San Ramon's Annual Holiday Sing-Along Performance of Handel's "Messiah" at 7 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 22, at San Ramon Presbyterian Church, 12943 Alcosta Blvd., San Ramon. Tickets are $10; vocal score is $10. Choral Workshops and ticket information are available at www.SanRamonArts.org.
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Craig Noble, City Corp.'s general manager, said he wanted the phone numbers of Tri County's board members to call and personally thank them for their efforts.
Willard said he'd rather just write letters, because some people, including a certain City Corp. general manager [Noble], "You can never get them on the phone," he said.
"Yeah," Noble responded, "I'm gonna have to talk to [operations manager Larry] Collins about that."
The fact is the general managers of the two primary water utilities in the Arkansas River Valley are joking with each other. That wasn't the case a few years ago, when Willard and Tri County suggested they thought there was no other alternative than to settle the water rates between City Corp. and Tri County in court.
Fast forward to Tuesday morning, when the two board chairmen signed on the dotted line. After cussing and discussing, agreeing to disagree, the boards have realized this is a much better result than what would have happened in a courtroom - no telling how much longer and how much more thousands of dollars later.
"We sit down across the table in front of each other," Willard said Tuesday. "For a while, we listened to what other people said. That's not good. We read the paper and somebody said this and somebody said that. You're a lot better off sitting down and discussing your problems.
"We take an interest in each other's projects. It kind of helps us. There are some cases where they have customers they can't serve, so we provide Tri County services to them. Vice-versa, we agreed to give City Corp. about 55 customers because we weren't doing an adequate job. Their rates are better, so it works out for everyone. We all benefit."
There's the key. The numero uno, biggest and best result of this whole agreement - which still has to be approved by the Russellville City Council - is the fact ratepayers from both City Corp. and Tri County benefit with some gains.
While they admitted Tuesday they've got it laid out pretty good, they also realized you can't cover all the aspects of a major contract between two water utilities for the next 20-30 years. Not everything is covered, but they can always sit down and address the issues they missed.
What a concept. Board members and representatives of Tri County and City Corp. are saying they will sit down with each other to work out their disagreements, or talk about the rain falling, or the special sales tax election June 12, or the lunch buffet at the restaurant, or anything else. If everything's not hunky-dorey, they'll discuss it. Or cuss and discuss, as Noble put it; or agree to disagree, as Willard said.
As we've stated in this space before, we contragulate everyone involved in this agreement, the negotiations and talks behind it, and the future of our water hopes and needs for years to come. As they said Tuesday, cooler heads have prevailed, and their dispute is being settled outside the judicial system - saving ratepayers a large amount of cash.
Hey, Middle East, Persian Gulf - anything's possible.

subset: commoncrawl


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Thread: Test Server Issues
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Test Server Issues
Project Details: I currently am designing a website for a local theater group and every time I connect my site to the test server I get a 404 error. I don't know what I'm doing wrong, I have already bought the server space and things appear to be running smoothly but when I access my site I can't test it. Could someone please tell me what's wrong?
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If you need someone to help you set up your site on hosting i can do this for you no problem!
All thats required is:
- The finished files for your site
- login information for your ftp server
- If no FTP server is set up, login information for your hosting
- the hosting information i.e. goDaddy, Networksolutions, etc.
Like i said i'm willing to help but i do need this information to help set up the site.
If you're interested, please contact me by any of the methods below with your budget for the setup and i'll be glad to get back to you asap.Jonathan R.
Email: email@example.com
Skype, Aim, & Jabber: logicaldevelopment
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Went over to the pond in my apartment complex, like I do every evening, to cast the fly rod for some bass. I've always seen some tarpon rolling and caught one, but it was only 10 inches or so. Hooked up to a big fish but never saw it before it spit the fly. I fished around the pond a little ways with nothing. Then I came to a spot in between some trees that looked fishy. Cast my fly out and strip two or three times and SLAMMED! Fish on! The slack line is flying back out and then up comes a really nice tarpon flying out of the water! I manage to keep it hooked, but it is burning the drag on my 5 weight. It would make another jump and I'd gain on it, but then it would make another hard run. At one point, it was on the other shoreline and I was well into my backing. Got the line back and then called my mom to come down when I realized I had a shot at landing this one. She didn't get down there till about 10 or so minutes into the fight and just caught the end on video. Fight lasted about 20 - 25 minutes all together and the fish jumped 6 times. My little fly held up, it was hooked just outside the mouth, which explains why it didn't snap the 20 pound leader. Got a few pics and revived after the great fight. A few people around the pond gave some cheers when i landed it. I estimated it between 25 and 30 pounds. By far my biggest catch on the 5 weight fly rod. Left the GoPro at home as I was saving it for a night snook trip. So didn't get the blistering runs or amazing jumps this fish made. Just the very end of the fight.
Link to the short video(Ends after the snapshots):


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Phil Spector outside the Clara Shortridge Foltz courthouse in Los Angeles on March 5, 2009
Photo: Charley Gallay/Getty Images
The Week In Music: Pacino To Play Spector
If to know know know him is to love him, maybe we'll love legendary music producer Phil Spector just a little bit more after Al Pacino plays him in a reported upcoming HBO biopic written by David Mamet. Certainly Pacino helped humanize Dr. Jack Kevorkian, the so-called Dr. Death, in HBO's You Don't Know Jack. Perhaps he can bring some much-needed pathos to the Spector story. For you kids, Spector, who is currently serving a 19-years-to-life sentence for murdering actress Lana Clarkson, created the Wall of Sound in the early '60s with acts such as the Ronettes and Righteous Brothers, and went on to produce the Beatles and the Ramones.
In Caltrans/music news, the Imperial Stars — a Southern California outfit of "hard core hip-hop heads" — wreaked a bit of freeway havoc on Oct. 12. The band blocked all but one lane on Interstate 101 in Hollywood, Calif., for what appeared to be a performance on top of a large truck advertising the band. Unfortunately, the California Highway Patrol was not amused by the stunt and arrested the band members and had the truck towed, all while traffic had extended into the San Fernando Valley. As for the Stars? "Imperial Stars OUT OF JAIL we will be having dinner in hollywood tonight. Who wants to join us??? Stay tuned for location...," the band tweeted the day after. It would seem this elaborate scheme was an effort to promote the band's latest video for the aptly titled "Traffic Jam 101." Pretty savvy for a bunch of hip-hop heads, but while the video has received more than 35,000 views, one viewer offered the Stars a bit of A&R advice: "WTF? They should have sent a demo team out to the 101 rather than a tow truck."
Vince Neil is no stranger to excess, evidenced by three decades of decadence with Mötley Crüe and the name of his new autobiography, Tattoos & Tequila. But Neil has shown a sharp eye for fiscal responsibility when it comes to his dogs, dogs, dogs. Faced with spending thousands of dollars to charter planes to cart his two cocker spaniels between his homes in San Francisco and Las Vegas, Neil has purchased a private jet exclusively for transporting his motley mutts. "Just because of them I had to buy a jet," said Neil. "I would have to charter planes for the dogs all the time and it was getting so expensive that I realized it was cheaper to buy a plane than to keep chartering it."
There's no swearing in Eminem's house, he swears. During an interview on CBS' "60 Minutes" on Oct. 10, Eminem was a virtual Parents Music Resource Center answer service. Does he feel a sense of a responsibility to his young fans? "I feel like it's [parents'] job to parent [their kids]," said Eminem. And how does he treat his kids? "Profanity around my house? No." Eminem is currently raising daughter Hailie, 14, with ex-wife Kim and is also raising Lainey, daughter of Kim's sister, and Whitney, Kim's daughter from a previous relationship. So why the expletives in Eminem's music and not at home? "Music, this is my art," he told "60 Minutes."
Has the untamable Miley Cyrus gone too far? The Parents Television Council thinks so, taking to task her new video for "Who Owns My Heart?" The council, which describes itself as a non-partisan education organization advocating responsible entertainment, released a statement saying, "It is unfortunate that she would participate in such a sexualized video like this one. It sends messages to her fan base that are diametrically opposed to everything she has done up to this point. Miley built her fame and fortune entirely on the backs of young girls, and it saddens us that she seems so eager to distance herself from that fan base so rapidly." Stirring the pot even further, Miley's dad, Billy Ray Cyrus, sits on the PTC's advisory board. No word on whether Papa Cyrus was advised regarding the council's statement, but this incident has to break his achy breaky heart.
All seems to be right again in Weezer's world. The band announced it will release a new album, Death To False Metal, on Nov. 1. Even better for Rivers Cuomo and friends, the campaign to break up the band has been officially halted by organizer James Burns. "The amount of attention this thing has gotten is unreal. I expected to ruffle a few feathers, but this is pretty insane," said Burns, who intimated that the campaign was a hoax from the start. "I figured since the Internet wasted so much of my time with all the ridiculous articles about the new Weezer album, I thought I'd return the favor and waste some of the Internet's time. Boy howdy, did I succeed." At last count, the campaign had raised more than $2,000. Boy howdy, we hope all the contributors got their money back.
An ambitious 23-year-old Chinese musician has accomplished what some master pianists, such as a Bill Evans or Earl Wild, might consider an impossible feat — playing the piano without the most vital tools: arms. Pianist Liu Wei wowed the crowd on the final night of "China's Got Talent" in Shanghai, winning the competition with an almost unbelievable performance of James Blunt's "You're Beautiful," using nothing but his 10 toes. Wei lost both of his arms in a freak electrocution accident at the age of 10, but that didn't stop him from pursuing his dream of becoming a concert pianist. "At least I have a pair of perfect legs," Wei said. He does have legs and he most certainly knows how to use them.
If you're looking to give love a bad name with blood red nails on your fingertips, you won't find it in the new line of polish from TWIM heartthrob Justin Bieber and nail care company OPI. Inspired by the music behind his biggest hits, Bieber fans can wear his fame on their fingertips in an assortment of shades and flavors, including One Less Lonely Glitter (lavender), Prized Possession Purple (grape), Give Me The First Dance (silver), and Me + Blue (dark blue). The hues will be available exclusively through WalMart beginning in December, just in time for Christmas. Hey, these may even make great companion stocking stuffers for the Bieber doll.
As David Letterman might say: Oprah, meet Ryan. Ryan, meet Oprah. Looks like Oprah's not the only one starting her own cable channel. Add "American Idol" host Ryan Seacrest to the list. Teaming with AEG and CAA, Seacrest will be one of the leads behind AXS, a new music channel that will pull from AEG concert and live venue assets, according to Rolling Stone. In addition to hosting "Idol," Seacrest also hosts "E! News" and the radio show "America's Top 40," and produces "Keeping Up With Kardashians." At this rate, his next challenge will be keeping up with himself.
New Jersey has them. New York has them. Orange County, Calif., has them. And now the rock world will have them too. Real housewives. E! is teaming with "Real World" producer Bunim/Murray Productions for a new docuseries titled "Married To Rock," premiering Nov. 7. The show will feature a cast of no doubt entertaining ladies, including Etty Farrell, wife of Jane's Addiction frontman Perry Farrell; Susan Holmes McKagan, wife of former Guns N' Roses bassist Duff McKagan; Josie Stevens, wife of Billy Idol guitarist Steve Stevens; and AJ Celi, girlfriend of the Cult guitarist Billy Duffy. "We're raising the curtain on the rock and roll lifestyle and showing there's more to it than the late-night partying, ravaged hotel rooms and jet-set life we've all read about," said Lisa Berger, executive VP of programming at E! No word on whether rock debutante Pamela Anderson will make an appearance with Tommy Lee and/or Kid Rock.
Bruno Mars "Just The Way You Are" holds on to the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100 while Taylor Swift's "Back To December" is No. 1 on the iTunes singles chart.
Any news we've missed? Comment below.
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text: TLM, innocent question here: Why do you swing like that? Is it because you 'were' swinging like that a few years ago when you picked up the game and were trying to imitate someone and eventually you got it to work? or is it because you've found success with it so why change it? or is it because you've tried a more conventional swing but didn't have the discipline it would take to change your current form? or is it because you've tried to change it but a different type just didn't work for you? or is it because that's the only swing pattern that feels ok without some sort of pain or flexibility issue? or is it because you just like swinging that way? Again, innocent question. Just curious. The reverse in itself is fine, I guess, but you seem to play a lot so I'm wondering how come you haven't gotten down to business and at least try to ingrane a slightly different footwork pattern so that you can really get some drive in that reverse if that's the way you want to go. You seem to be able to move well enough to do that. I mean... just 1.5 steps configured a little differently would enable you to really pound it with that swing. I see a lot of wasted energy in that swing that if put into the ball would be a pretty heavy shot. The difference between your shot now and your shot with even just slightly more weight transfer and contact point adjustment would be huge.


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RTÉ TWO's comedy panel show that successfully forecast an entire year's news is back. This time, however, it'll be broken into weekly bite-size chunks as two teams predict Next Week's News. The show will boast three of the top comedians in the country – PJ Gallagher, Neil Delamere and Bernard O'Shea – as regulars.
Host Bernard O'Shea will take the top stories, headline-making people and trends du-jour of the week and brazenly ask two teams "what's next for…?"
Channelling their clairvoyant skills, Neil Delamere and PJ Gallagher captain the teams attempting to run the gauntlet of inventive rounds, bets and predictions.
Each week they'll be joined by national and international guests in the fight to be the first and funniest to forecast… Next Week's News.
Starts Monday 20th January 2014 on RTÉ TWO.
Next Week's News: Cheaper than fitting a Delorean with a flux capacitor.
A Happy Endings Productions for RTÉ.


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Editor's note: The following commentary was submitted in response to Craig Medred's Aug. 20 column marking the 20th anniversary of Chris McCandless's death.
Ask the average guy in the food court or video store, even the graduate student of literary history, and he'll swear on Franklin's Autobiography that self-reliance is an inviolable, uniquely American inheritance derived from an unquestioning faith in the sanctity of rugged individualism and unconquerable independence. Whosoever would be a man, the belief goes, must be able to stand on his own, renounce the interdictions and commandments of governments and society and, like Horatio Alger's icons of rags to riches -- his newsboys and bootblacks and CEOs-in-embryo -- make his own way up in the world. In the tradition of the American western and hard-boiled detective fiction, self-reliance means being "tough," unsentimental and always prepared, when the onerous world of laws and propriety and surrogate authority is too much with us, to light out for the territory.
Jon Krakauer, author of Into the Wild and himself a confessed outdoor junkie, knows the deathless lure of unsullied wilderness for the romantic dreamers and misfits who burden the literature of self-exploration and initiation, whose Jack London fantasies, he remarks, often exert an irresistible temptation to "patch holes in their lives." And certainly the Christopher McCandless Krakauer introduces us to on the deteriorated edge of the Stampede Trail, on the April 22, 1992, at the inception of his fatal odyssey into the wild, was a young man equally convinced that the way back to himself, to Truth and whatever there was of self-authenticating Virtue in the world, was away from civlization and security and that, whatever he found there, it was probably worth dying for.
RELATED: Forget Chris McCandless. Has Craig Medred gone into the wild?
Jim Gallien, the large-hearted Alaska native who rescued the pitiably unburdened hitchhiker outside of Fairbanks, described McCandless as "determined" and "real gung ho" and excited about trying (perhaps as blubber is tryed in the whaler's trying pots, to separate the precious elixir from the disposable detritus of flesh) his best stuff in the harsh loneliness of the wild. And while it is convenient to disparage his arrogance, condemn his hubris and deplore his lack of humility, Alexander Supertramp is a timeless reminder that the rush of raw experience, the irresistible throb of independence and being footloose "has always exhilarated us." This esurience for unmediated experience is not the extreme delirium of mental illness (a pin that many of McCandless's detractors have impaled him with), unless, for example, Martin Luther King, who was an extremist for love and brotherhood, was also mentally ill, as was Christ, and Ghandi, etc.
The cult of popular detective fiction and the ageless western, reverberant in the American and European classics McCandless annotated in his traveling library, have canonized this impulse for unrestricted life and its against-the-grain attitude toward civilization and its discontents, a natural tendency to seek authentic being over against the herd and to see as heroic that man or woman with the fortitude to resist the suasions of the group and the self-destructive material and communal values they purvey (only the solitary companionship of runaway slaves and aboriginal fellow-travelers is immune to this species of contamination). McCandless's experience seems to corroborate this salutary anti-social movement, a calculated excursion that "was to be an odyssey [emphasis mine] in the fullest sense of the word, an epic journey that would change everything," in which he would be "unencumbered, emancipated from the stifling world of his parents and peers, a world of abstraction and security and material excess, a world in which he felt grievously cut off from the raw throb of experience."
The raw throb of experience. There it is, the romance and allure of self-reliance and unfettered individualism in a catchy slogan, a thumbnail adumbration of the collectively imagined life of cowboys and frontiersmen wandering the untrammeled forest path or open road, soldiers of fortune questing in exotic jungles, even underground vice cops battling the corruption that threatens to overwhelm them, as well as a nameless gallery of "lone" rangers who inhabit the margins of our collective American consciousness, if not the borders of some real cultural space.
So it might have been wise to stop here, aesthetically and intellectually content to have "proved" an enduring indigenous ideal, and concede with the cultured despisers of society's "joint-stock company" -- who may be happy enough reading or dreaming of a mythical west or Thoreauvian rustic cottage or primitive hunter's cabin in the uncharted wild -- that a credo of self-reliance may depend on the social institution of a kind of orthodox "outsideness" and its prophets of a redemptive alienation. But the truth, as always, is more complicated; it's this kind of outlaw conformity, yes, but it's also more than this, just as the mature plant derives from, but is more than, the seed that "contains" it. One must look to the terms already evoked to appreciate Christopher McCandless's wilderness adventure: exploration and odyssey.
Exploration and Odyssey. In both words is contained the idea of circuit, of a passage outward and return, a spiritual revolution presaged in McCandless's response to a seminal passage in Pasternak's Doctor Zhivago. Before the epiphany that might have saved his life, he is reminiscent of Andre Gide's immoralist who, in the last extremity of disencumbrance, begs his friends to give him some reason to live, because "this useless freedom tortures [and immobilizes him]" and he cannot move ofhis own accord. In Zhivago, next to the author's insistence that only a shared happiness is real, McCandless wrote large, " 'HAPPINESS ONLY REAL WHEN SHARED'." Krakauer believes -- and I find his conviction and the dying boy's marginal testimony compelling -- that McCandless had ended his "long, lonely sabbatical ... [and] that upon returning [emphasis mine] to civilization, he intended to abandon the life of a solitary vagabond, stop running so hard from intimacy, and become a member of the human community." Unlike Gide's immoralist, Chris McCandless had discovered a reason to live, and the real meaning of self-reliance.
Look at Ronald Franz, the grizzled Ancient of Salton City, the "disciplined, self reliant man" who found in the young adventurer the nexus he'd lost in his many years of solitude. When the young man he offered to adopt left for the consummation of his wilderness journey, he suffered the dreadful emptiness that the other's absence left, demonstrating the terrible inadequacy of the limited "doctrine" of self-reliance and its promise of personal power and enrichment.
It seems, then, that genuine selfhood is only achieved in the completion of a circuit, in the necessary movement away from some artificial locus of relevance, indeed, but just as surely in a return of the rejuvenated, recrudescent self to some vital source that sustains it, as Odysseus returned to Ithaca after twenty years of exile and wandering to his life at home. And what this necessary circuit says about "finding oneself' and achieving spiritual balance and wholeness is true about the real subject of this re-vision. McCandless's wilderness misadventure of self-reliance proves more than the solitary's outlaw dependence on himself, but rather, as Ralph Waldo Emerson said in his very American essay on the subject, leads further inward to the discovery of our immanent divinity, a recognition which prompts the discovery of divinity in our neighbor, which leads not to isolation, but to a community of individuals whose empowerment is in relation to each other and is grounded in some Original, immaterial and eternal fountainhead of In-spiration.
Why, then, does the story of a young man who found in the immediacy of primitive conditions the true meaning of self-reliance in life unhanseled and free of all that drags on it, provoke such a prodigious volume of human vitriol and ugliness? For he hasn't just disturbed readers of Into the Wild; he has angered and offended them. But can your purer, unbiased mind see him there, a forlorn wraith in the wilderness who, like Melville's Bartleby, without rancor or smugness or smirky superiority or the practiced posing of the complacent rebel, simply preferred not to submit to our cherished pieties of the good bad boy whose rebellions follow the track of an approved orthodoxy? No, it seems that Christopher McCandless threshed out of the Alaska taiga more than the occasional ptarmigan or squirrel, for his odyssey, as he called it, unnerves his detractors. His daring strikes at the heart of tender vulnerabilities hidden under stuccoings of habit and expedience, challenging us to imagine, perhaps even to realize, if we dared, life raw and unfiltered, to know for a moment a freedom real and precarious, stripped of the nagging fears that always call us back from the brink of immersion, back to security, back to the obligations we imagine are the salvific realities of sanitized, civilized life.
How else to explain the unkindness and virulent mean-spiritedness of readers who have measured him for a straightjacket, or the irrational and self-righteous machismo of his Alaskan detractors, unless both the attempt to prove him mentally unstable or impudently and imprudently unprepared disguises a secret shudder of resentment that it was McCandless who dared to live, like the young Russian in Conrad's Heart of Darkness, the pure spirit of adventure. I suggest that a portion of the best and most unintentional part of us all died with Chris McCandless and that, whatever our paltry verdicts amount to or wherever resurgent life recalls the spirit of the young adventurer, two things are true: We can never forgive him for having done what we would never do ourselves and, without sentiment or self-reproach, he will always remind us of the recurring and inevitable passing of something pure and unspoiled in human life. So execrating him with expressions that impugn his humility or preparedness, or calling him a selfish and unfilial thrill-seeker, is not foolish or wrong-headed; it's beside the point, for there was a hard lesson in his excursion into the wild. And when, in spontaneous movements of sympathetic imagination, we reach out to the dying boy in the last lonely, unthinkable agonies of starvation, his death will leave us with an ineffable sadness that is naturally inseparable from anger and hostility and which comes from a too clear sense of our too human helplessness.
Peter Witteveld, PhD, lives in Carmel, Indiana.
Alaska Dispatch encourages a diversity of opinion and community perspectives. The opinions expressed herein are those of the contributor and are not necessarily endorsed or condoned by Alaska Dispatch. To submit a commentary for consideration, e-mail commentary(at)alaskadispatch.com.


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My name is Crystal and I hail from Indiana, the Hoosier state. I am in love with the Twilight books, but who sn't on this site. I think Stephenie Meyer has a captivating way of writing and praise her on her skills to be able to give vampires a new light.
My favorite character is Edward Cullen, but not because he is some uber handsome vampire, but because he is willing to sacrifce his comfort to be with the one he loves. He would do anything for Bella and I think that is very comendable.
My favorite minor character is Jasper. I think he has a very cool power and he had to put up with the vampire wars. He is a very tourtured soul. Jasper has been through a lot and the Cullens lifestyle is the hardest for him. I sympathize for Jasper.


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It's not quite a pink "Team Edward" tee and sparkle binders, but we heart you, Taylor ;)
Via TwiFans
- Lorabell
I'm surprised Taylor agreed to be in a commercial where the F word is used. There's hope for the boy yet!ReplyDelete
I think Robert's commercial is funnier..lmaoReplyDelete
hahaha, dude!! where's that photo from?! lol, i'm always out of it :p
So friggin' cute.ReplyDelete


text: I have my radar detector mounted on a front shelf that I built, with earbuds connected to it. I'm trying to figure out a way to connect a handheld CB so that it also runs through my earbuds as well and possibly a CD. I want the radar detector to override everything else. I like to listen to the CB chatter when I drive long distances for the traffic and radar updates.Music would be nice but last on the list if I have to give something up. The CB I'm considering is a Cobra.I also believe they have some kind of PTT switch and it comes with a DC adapter.I was mostly interested in listening in on the CB but if there was a simple set up to talk that woud also be nice. I really would appreciate your input because I'm trying to get all this organized for the National.Thanks, John


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The Moore's Ford Bridge Prayer Vigil to pray for the guilty parties responsible for the lynching massacre of two couples, will be held at the Walton County Courthouse on Main Street in Monroe, Ga., on Saturday, July 14, from noon until 1 p.m. On Wednesday, July 25, there will be a news conference at the statue of Gov. Eugene Talmadge, who was instrumental in getting the KKK lynch mob that murdered the Dorseys and the Malcolms.
On Saturday, July 28, the Annual Reenactment will be held at noon starting at the 1st African Baptist Church on Tyler Street. The actual reenactment will end up at the Moore's Ford Bridge, where the lynchings occurred. For more information call the Georgia Association of Black Elected Officials state representative Tyronne Brooks at 404-656-6372.


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Visible Technologies Acquires Cymfony to Expand Global Product Offering
April 6, 2012 - Bellevue, WA
Visible Technologies® today agreed to acquire Cymfony, combining the two award winning social media analytics and insight solution providers. The acquisition will enable Visible® to capitalize on the momentum of an emerging market and scale quickly to meet evolving customer demands. New and current Cymfony and Visible customers benefit by gaining access to expanded solutions with far-reaching global capabilities. Visible will be led by Richard Pasewark, former President of Cymfony.
"Customers need to realize enhanced value from social media analytics to drive business decisions," said Richard Pasewark, CEO of Visible. "Bringing together Cymfony and Visible will uniquely position the company to deliver actionable insights and global solutions via expert services, scalable technology, and international content."
The new Visible will build on the strengths of Cymfony's global content, sophisticated analytics, scalability to thousands of enterprise users, and actionable consumer insights. Combined with the dynamic social monitoring and analytics platform, strong recent growth, and expanded partnerships of Visible, the new company will double in size and continue to service Forbes Global 2000 businesses in a variety of industries, including financial services, pharmaceutical, automotive, consumer products, retail, travel and hospitality, telecom, technology, and agencies.
"Social media has become an integral component to any marketing strategy, and we are seeing increased demand on all fronts -- particularly as customers build out their investments and seek greater support through professional services and global solutions," said Joseph J. Grano Jr., Chairman of Visible Technologies and Chairman and CEO of Centurion Holdings. "For the last decade both Visible and Cymfony have clearly been product innovators, and the acquisition of Cymfony will fuel continued success for Visible."
Current Visible and Cymfony customers will continue receiving support on their solutions. All customers will benefit from the expanded global social media content and insight practices, with additional technology enhancements to be shared in the near future.
Led by a strong team of executives from both companies, Visible Technologies is headquartered in Seattle and operates from Boston, New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and London, UK.
Visible Technologies is privately held by Centurion Holdings, Ignition Partners, In-Q-Tel, Investor Growth Capital, and WPP Group, plc. Prior to the transaction WPP, the world's largest communications services company, owned approximately 24% of Visible Technology and all of Cymfony. After closing, WPP's stake in the merged company is 49% with Visible's management and venture investors retaining voting control of the company.
About Visible Technologies
Visible is the leader in social media monitoring, analytics, and services for enterprises globally. Visible's award-winning technology and expertise helps businesses analyze social media conversations to better understand consumer preferences, market dynamics, competitive strengths and weaknesses, and other information critical to a company's reputation and brands. Visible is the solution of choice for many Forbes Global 2000 companies in a variety of industries including financial services, pharmaceutical, automotive, consumer products, retail, travel and hospitality, telecom, technology, and agencies.
Visible delivers social media analytics at internet speed and enterprise scale. www.visibletechnologies.com
Add to Digg Bookmark with del.icio.us Add to Newsvine
Media Contact
Ashley Ennis
Barokas Public Relations for Visible Technologies
Email Contact


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It looks like you're new here. If you want to get involved, click one of these buttons!
2013 and earlier Volkswagen GTI Lease Questions
What would be the absolute best price and also a good price to lease a 2012 VW GTI, 4Dr w/ Convenience and Sunroof for 36 months and 12,000 miles/yr? I want to lease a GTI but don't want to rush for a crappy deal. According to KBB, MSRP is $27,770 and Fair Price is $27,201. I would appreciate your responses.
Thanks !
NYCwhatever, I do not see anywhere for dealer contribution for $3000, where are you reading those fine prints?
Here's the information that you're looking for abd4. Volkswagen Credit's November buy rate lease money factor and residual value for a 36-month lease of a 2013 Jetta GLI with 15,000 miles per year are .00013 and 54% for consumers who qualify for its top credit tier.
Volkswagen is providing $250 cash on leases of this car with automatic transmissions and it is waiving the first month's payment as well.
Prices Paid: Buying & Leasing Experiences Forum
Hi Earlbiggs. Yes, that is the correct lease money factor for all GTI models through the end of the year, unless Volkswagen makes some sort of unscheduled enhancement.
Prices Paid: Buying & Leasing Experiences Forum
mwlim12 Posts: 2Hey Stumpjumper 1 -
If you're looking for the best price on a VW GTI my recommendation is basically to run the numbers yourself on what the lease payment should be for that particular GTI. All the invoice numbers are available on Edmunds and US News World Report - just find out the residual & money factor, plug in the Invoice cost and that's it. Use the Edmunds lease calculator or do the math manually using the forumula they provide. That will provide a good target price. There are also a few fees - Destination & bank acquisition - which you can try to negotiate for the dealer to cover, but that's your call. Dealers also get rebates from the manufacturer, so you can also try to squeeze that out of them.
Just this weeked I leased a 2013 GTI 4 Door on a 42 month lease w/15,000 miles. Dealer initially told me it'd be $367/month, but I ran the numbers myself and came up with $322/month. I pretty much told him that's what I'm comfortable paying and if he can meet that price I'd come straight down to sign. After some back and forth he finally agreed.
Oh, one other suggestion: unless you get a thrill out of face to face negotiations then do this over the phone. Once you're at the dealer you're on their turf. Better to be on the phone and if they hit you with a curve ball you can tell them you'll call back and consult the internet to see if they're pulling your leg.
Hi Car_Man,
What is the residual and money factor for 2013 VW GTI 4dr Convenience/ Sunroof package for 12,000 mile and 36 months lease? I would really appreciate if you provide me this no please.
Hello stumpjumper1. Volkswagen Credit's December buy rate lease money factor and residual value for a 36-month lease of a 2013 GTI Convenience / Sunroof with 12,000 miles per year are .00120 and 56% for consumers who qualify for its top credit tier.
Prices Paid: Buying & Leasing Experiences Forum
Hi car_man,
I'm looking at leasing a 2012 VW GTI Autobahn with DSG, MSRP $32,735 and negotiated price $27,685. For 36 months lease, 12,000 miles/year dealer asks for lease factor of 0.00125 and residual value of 49%. Down payment of $1400, including DMV fees, acquisition fee and security fee. Please let me know if this is a good deal or not. Thank you in advance.
Happy New Year!
Payment amount?
Prices Paid, Lease Questions, SUVs
$387 + tax, total $409/month
Thank you.
Hi Andrei. The money factor that you were quoted seems way out of whack to me. Through 2nd (today) VW Credit's buy rate lease money factor and residual value for a 36-month lease of a 2012 GTI Autobahn with 12,000 miles per year are .00008 and 49% for consumers who qualify for its top credit tier.
As far as this car's selling price goes, there is a gap of around $1,750 or so including incentives between this car's MSRP and dealer invoice price. I don't see how you are getting such a huge discount on this car.
Of course, the huge money factor mark-up that's going on is probably part of the reason, but this seems like a very strange deal to me. Having said that, the payment that you were quoted seems reasonable to me for this model.
Prices Paid: Buying & Leasing Experiences Forum
Thank you! I wanted to get a lower money factor and they did not go for it. So I went to another dealer who had a 2013 GTI autobahn with the 0/0/0 lease for 42 month. Monthly payment came at $350 + tax. Love the car!
cal2000 Posts: 10Nice. Was it a 4 door or a 2 door model? What was the drive-off amount? Just fees and DMW registration perhaps? Any accessories included? Thanks.
4 door with DSG transmission. The drive off amount was only fees and DMV registration.
You're very welcome hai975. Enjoy your new GTI!
Prices Paid: Buying & Leasing Experiences Forum
dima11 Posts: 1Hi Car man,
Could you please tell me the MF and Residual for 36 month/15k miles per year lease on a 2013 GTI 4dr Base with DSG transmission? MSRP is $26,490.
deetle Posts: 1If I can get a 2012 Mercedes E Class whose MSRP is $68000 for 0 down $560 a month for a 3 year lease , I sure should be able to get a VW whose MSRP is less then %50 percent of that for %50 percent of the monthly payment.
So any one paying more then $300 a month on a $0 down lease for a measly $34000 MSRP car is getting ripped of by the manufacture and dealer or has bad credit. Rule of thump for a $0 down lease is that if you are paying more then a $1 a month for for every $100 of car something wrong. The car doesn't hold its value , bogus residual value from dealer , bad money factor , ...
But no innovative for VW to improve their financing terms as long as people are wiling to pay $2 a month or every $1 of car.
I think you are picking one single expensive car... that has great lease deals on it (for now)...
The typical $68K car leases for $800-$1000 per month...
So, not exactly apples to apples...
$1/mo. per $100 of MSRP is an admirable goal, but hard to come by.... Maybe 5% of vehicles can be leased for that amount.. (those are the ones I like, though)
Good luck!
Prices Paid, Lease Questions, SUVs
donuschak Posts: 4Hi Carman,
Could you provide me with current lease rates for a 2012 2-door GTI. Looking for 36 mo./10k lease; MSRP $29,985, dealer offered $27,487.
Greetings Dave. Volkswagen Credit's January buy rate lease money factor and residual value for a 36-month lease of a 2013 GTI Base with 15,000 miles per year are .00054 and 53% for consumers who qualify for its top credit tier.
Prices Paid: Buying & Leasing Experiences Forum
Hi donuschak. Volkswagen pulled the plug on its lease support on 2012 models. If you really want to lease, you would be better off going with a 2013 model.
Prices Paid: Buying & Leasing Experiences Forum
cambiamento Posts: 2Hi Car Man,
Thanks so much for all your insight, very very informative site and these lease blogs are awesome.
What are with current lease rates for a 2013 4-door GTI Autobahn. Looking for 36 mo. 12k maybe 15k mile lease?
Was quoted the following and it seemed high to me.
MSRP $31,600, offered $30,420. 36 month, MF .00168 Residual 55% $3,500 down leaving me with a monthly @ $416
buyinggti Posts: 1hi guys
first time posting. i've been reading this forum for the last hour and failing algebra 1 in high
school does not help me understand any of this, so please help!
heres my situation. already have two cars in the house, but i always wanted to drive a manual gti and wife finally agreed! when i told her about 1999 down 36 months $289 deal thats going on.
she wants me to do 2 year lease, and checking some of my nearest dealers inventory. i found these two with the color option that i want
msrp 27,405
msrp 31,025
i want to do 2 year lease with 10,000 or 12,000 mile lease with 1999 down.
how much monthly payment should i be paying or ask dealer for realistically, when i call them?
my situation is all dependent on what my wife thinking process. seems like the consensus here is 0 down but she does not seem to mind 2000 down pay, so given the scenario that im willing to downpay 2000 including taxes fees, etc. what should my monthly payment be?
i know i am clueless, but any input would be appreciated! thx
Hello Car_man,
I leased the 2013 GTI Autobahn on 1/18/13 in Huntington Beach California. I have excellent credit (over 800). The total price was $32,760. My lease is 36 months & 15,000 miles per year. I put 0 down and am paying $599/month. Is this a fair deal? Thank you.
saladariii Posts: 3I was asking for $0 down and got the following prices from Galpin VW in van nuys.
42 Months 36 Months Down Payment
396.41 427.53 750
The 750 covers first month's payment and fees.
I think that's extremely high. GTI doesn't have great lease deals currently though but you could technically buy a 2012 GTI Autobahn with 0% APR for that price and with additional 2 years of payment you could have owned the car.
What is your residual?
The risidual is $17,362.80. I just saw on the paperwork that the Adjusted Capitalized Cost is $37,522.74. My sticker price was $32,760.00. Is that normal???
Hi again Saladariii,
1) So your offer was was for the 2013 GTI Autobahn? (Sticker $32,760)
2) Was it for 15,000 miles?
3) $750 Down & $427.53/month for 36 months?
I need to contact McKenna and dicuss my lease. Thanks for your help!
You're very welcome cambiamento. Thank you for the kind words.
Volkswagen Credit's January buy rate lease money factor and residual value for a 36-month lease of a 2013 GTI Autobahn 4-door with 15,000 miles per year are .00068 and 53% for consumers who qualify for its top credit tier.
The residual value for a lease with 12,000 miles per year would be 2% higher.
$3,500 is too much money to put down on a lease.
Prices Paid: Buying & Leasing Experiences Forum
Car_man: You wrote: Volkswagen Credit's January buy rate lease money factor and residual value for a 36-month lease of a 2013 GTI Autobahn 4-door with 15,000 miles per year are .00068 and 53% for consumers who qualify for its top credit tier.
This is exactly what I want. I am top tier credit. What should the payment be on 0 down? My sticker price is $32,760. They quoted me $599.00/month.
Hi pawesner. This car's payment will depend upon what its selling price is. Do you have a selling price in mind?
Prices Paid: Buying & Leasing Experiences Forum
This discussion has been closed.


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I'm not sure I can add more to what is already posted. My 2005 RT has never sat unused more than 5-7 days since I've had it. I ride year round to include commuting to work during the winter. The motorcycle sits outside in the parking lot overnight. Coming out in the morning after a night shift, temperatures have been as low as the low to mid 20's. It's sometimes been slightly sluggish but always fired right up on the first or second try.
Experience IS NOT the best teacher! Someone else's experience is the best teacher.


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Made in the USA
18 comments post a comment
Without America, we might not have many of the things we take for granted, at least not in their present forms...
I just heard from my chum Gaby Lorenzo at Atmel that they are kicking off the month and celebrating Independence Day with a patriotic infographic titled "Made in the USA."
As Gaby cheerfully told me: "From 'Stars and Semiconductors' to the saucy details of BBQ, this infographic shares some interesting facts on U.S. manufacturing and some longstanding American traditions."
The folks at Atmel are really rather enthused by all of this. They've even written a blog about it over on their Bits & Pieces from the Embedded Design World website.
I have to say that I do enjoy Atmel's infographics -- I always discover some tidbit of trivia or nugget of knowledge that resonates with me and sticks in my mind so I can amaze my family and friends (my wife thinks I'm really clever, and I don't like to disillusion her).
Even though I'm from England, I do enjoy the 4th of July holiday. I'm always amazed to think what a young country America is, and how the Americans have come so far in such a short period of time (with a little help and guidance from their older, wiser friends, of course).
Without America, we might not have many of the things we take for granted, at least not in their present forms, such as television, microprocessors, the Internet, or iPads, to name but a few. At the very least, the world would be a very different place. What are your thoughts as to the best, most useful, and most unusual things that America has presented to the world?
While you are cogitating and ruminating on that, I, everyone else at EETimes, and the Atmel team all offer you our very best wishes for a very happy 4th of July!
— Max Maxfield, Editor of All Things Fun & Interesting
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The Psychology Department at Immaculata University is designed to prepare students for entry-level positions in business, education, or social service agencies, or for graduate studies. As a psychology major, you will gain an understanding of the major areas of psychology and psychological research methods and of how this knowledge translates into real-world settings.
At Immaculata, you have every opportunity to develop a course of study that will best suit your career needs. If you desire to major in "straight" psychology, you can choose to complement this knowledge with any one of a variety of minors, of which some of the most popular are social work, sociology, and business.
Internships are strongly recommended because graduate schools and employers show the most interest in graduates with practical experience. The Psychology Department has selected a variety of sites for students to choose from, including hospitals, residential treatment facilities, and schools serving students with developmental delays.
Research opportunities include work with faculty on topics such as:
If graduate study is your intention, you could choose to apply to Immaculata's master's or doctoral programs in psychology. If immediate employment is your goal, you may seek employment in social service agencies or with employee assistance programs. Regardless of your choice, a degree from Immaculata University will give you the advantages to succeed.
For more information about this program, please contact Dr. Dawn Kriebel, email@example.com or 610-647-4400, ext. 3292.


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SOLANO COUNTY — A raging fire damaged seven homes in a remote area near the Sacramento River in Solano County Friday, causing millions of dollars in damage, a fire dispatch official said Saturday.
The fire in the 1000 block of Collinsville Road was first reported just before 1:30 p.m. The fire spread to the other homes and eventually reached four alarms, with 50 firefighters from 10 different fire companies assisting, a Solano County dispatcher said. By the time crews extinguished the blaze, four of the homes were a total loss.
The area is about 17 miles outside of Rio Vista and seven miles south of Bird's Landing, Montezuma Fire District Chief Joe Rosewall said.
The American Red Cross was called to assist residents displaced by the fire, according to Rosewall.
The fire was contained between 9 p.m. and 9:30 p.m., and mop up crews finished their work at around 2 a.m.
Rosewall estimated the blaze caused an estimated $2.5 million in damage.
wire services contributed to this report.


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Want some design advice. My buddy is having me build a computer for his daughter for christmas, and all he requested was that i base it off one of the cases that has the two "bubble" filled tubes up the front of the case.
So ive taken her nickname and her fav color and put a spin on it. I'm going to find (or make) pink led fans, two pink cathodes, and im going to paint the drive faces pink. The case itsself is silver. To top it off im going to cut out a capitol "K" (her nickname" in the side and make it the window.
I think it'll come out very nice. I can modify any led fan with pink LED's, im just having one hell of a time finding pink cold cathode lights!


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In a move perhaps inspired by Google Map's adoption of Wikipedia content and Google's overall preferential rankings of Wikipedia, Facebook has been testing out articles that are highly similar to Wikipedia's. In fact, Facebook's article pages have actually sucked in Wikipedia's initial article content for topics in a great many cases I've seen thus far:
From my perspective, this sort of breaks one of the great benefits of hypertext that made the internet great: linking to source content. (more…)


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In the end, a win was essential and Janine Beckie's 65th-minute goal was all Canada needed.
Korea DPR pressed for a late equalizer but a Canadian team that's progressed with each game at the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup Canada 2014 is through to the quarter-finals, where they'll take on Germany in Edmonton on Saturday after a 1-0 win.
Whitecaps FC Girls Elite graduate Emma Fletcher started and played 59 minutes in the victory.
"We knew that we were going to need a goal at some point. I couldn't be prouder of the girls to get that result," said head coach Andrew Olivieri, who earned the biggest result of his coaching career, and in his hometown, no less.
"We knew it wouldn't be an easy match. North Korea were all but qualified going into it but we knew that they were going to be certain that they can play a very smart match which made it more difficult for us to win."
Both the performance and the result marked a continued progression and evolution of this Canadian team in the tournament.
After the 1-0 defeat to Ghana and a first half against Finland where Canada was down two goals, Canada has stepped up and gotten better with each step they take on the field. Had they not been faced with this early adversity with the tournament, it's quite possible Tuesday's game at the Olympic Stadium would have gone much differently.
A win against a tough Korean team was one thing but with the pressure of a home tournament on top of that, it makes the result all the more impressive.
"We've been at our best when we've been able to run at defences and running behind them," said Olivieri, who made the shrewd decision to introduce Amandine Pierre-Louis in front of her hometown. That decision paid dividends, as Pierre-Louis was involved in the build up to Beckie's goal.
"Without that space it became difficult so we just had to find a different way. We needed some individual quality to make the difference and we're lucky we got that."


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Summaries of EU Legislation
Summaries of EU legislation: direct access to the main summaries page.
- Archived: true
Radio and telecommunications terminal equipment
This Directive establishes the regulatory framework for the placing on the market, free movement and putting into service in the European Union (EU) of radio equipment and telecommunications terminal equipment. The aim of this Directive is to create an open and competitive single market. It also aims to ensure a high level of health and safety protection, and to avoid harmful interference.
Directive 1999/5/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 March 1999 on radio equipment and telecommunications terminal equipment and the mutual recognition of their conformity [See amending acts].
This Directive is intended to encourage rapid dissemination of innovative technology and thus promote competition in the internal market for telecommunications.
The Directive applies to radio equipment * and telecommunications terminal equipment *. The Directive also applies where this equipment :
- incorporates, as an integral part or as an accessory, a medical device within the meaning of Directive 93/42/EEC on medical devices;
- incorporates, as an integral part or as an accessory, an active implantable medical device within the meaning of Directive 90/385/EEC on active implantable medical devices;
- constitutes a component or a separate technical unit of a vehicle, within the meaning of Directive 72/245/EEC relating to radio interference caused by motor vehicles;
- constitutes a component or a separate technical unit of a vehicle, within the meaning of Directive 2002/24/EC relating to the type-approval of two- or three-wheel motor vehicles.
The Directive does not apply to apparatus exclusively used for activities concerning public security, defence, State security and the activities of the State in the area of criminal law; nor does it apply to:
- radio equipment used by radio amateurs, except when it is commercially available fully assembled;
- equipment covered by Directive 96/98/EC relating to marine equipment;
- wires and cables;
- radio equipment intended to be used solely for the reception of sound and TV broadcasting services;
- products, equipment or components within the meaning of Council Regulation (EEC) No 3922/91 relating to the field of civil aviation;
Essential requirements and harmonised European standards
Member States must ensure that apparatus complies with the essential requirements of the Directive where it is properly installed, maintained and used, which is a condition for its being placed on the market.
The following essential requirements are applicable to the apparatus:
- protection of the health and safety of the user and any other person, including the security provisions laid down in Directive 2006/95/EC, relating to electrical equipment designed for use within certain voltage limits (but with no lower voltage limit);
- electromagnetic compatibility as per Directive 2004/108/EC;
- use of the spectrum allocated to terrestrial/space radiocommunication and to orbital resources, which make it possible to avoid harmful interference.
When an apparatus is in conformity with harmonised European standards, in accordance with the procedures established by Directive 98/34/EC, the Member States presume that the current Directive's requirements have been met.
Information and notification
Member States shall ensure that the manufacturers or the persons responsible for placing the apparatus on the market provide information on its use in the documentation or packaging, together with the declaration of conformity with the essential requirements.
More specifically, for radio equipment, this information must be sufficient to identify on the packaging and in the instructions for use of the apparatus the Member States or the geographical area within a Member State where the equipment is intended to be used.
For telecommunications terminal equipment, such information must identify the interfaces of the public telecommunications networks to which the equipment is intended to be connected.
CE marking
Apparatus which complies with all the essential requirements bears the CE conformity marking. Manufacturers identify their apparatus by stating its type, batch and/or serial numbers and by the name of the manufacturer or of the person responsible for placing the apparatus on the market.
If a notified body has been consulted by the manufacturer regarding the equipment's conformity with the Directive, its number accompanies the CE marking.
In its Decision 2000/299/EC of 6 April 2000, the Commission established a class of radio equipment and telecommunications terminal equipment that cannot be used everywhere in the EU (as in the case of non-harmonised national frequency plans). This type of equipment must bear a corresponding warning mark along side the CE marking.
Placing on the market and free movement
Member States must not prohibit, restrict or impede the placing on the market and putting into service on their territory of any apparatus if it complies with the essential requirements and other provisions of the Directive.
If a Member State decides that apparatus does not meet the requirements of this Directive, it may prohibit, interrupt or restrict the placing on the market and also the putting into service of that apparatus.
Putting into service and the safeguard clause
Member States may restrict the putting into service of radio equipment only for reasons relating to the efficient and appropriate use of the radio spectrum, the need to avoid harmful interference, or public health issues.
If a Member State decides that an apparatus does not satisfy the requirements of the safeguard clause, it may take measures to withdraw it from service, to prohibit its being in service or to restrict its free movement.
Conformity assessment and notified bodies
This Directive lays down the procedures from which the manufacturer may choose for assessing conformity with the essential requirements for different types of equipment. Member States notify the Commission of the bodies they have designated to carry out the conformity assessment procedures.
If the manufacturer so chooses, the procedures for assessing conformity with essential requirements in Directive 73/23/EEC and Directive 89/336/EEC may also be used for assessing conformity with the respective requirements of those directives.
Key terms used in the act
- Radio equipment: a product, or component thereof, capable of communication by means of the emission and/or reception of radio waves utilising the spectrum allocated to terrestrial/space radio communication.
- Telecommunications terminal equipment: a product, or a component of a product, which is intended to be connected directly or indirectly to interfaces of public telecommunications networks.
- Apparatus: any radio equipment, telecommunications terminal equipment, or both.
Entry into force
Deadline for transposition in the Member States
Official Journal
Directive 1999/5/EC
OJ L 91 of 7.4.1999
Amending act(s)
Entry into force
Deadline for transposition in the Member States
Official Journal
Regulation (EC) No 1882/2003.
OJ L 284 of 31.10.2003
Regulation (EC) No 596/2009
OJ L 188 of 18.7.2009
Successive amendments and corrections to Directive 2000/29/EEC have been incorporated into the basic text. This consolidated version is for reference only.
Report from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament of 9 February 2010 - second Progress Report on the operation of Directive 1999/5/EC, on radio equipment and telecommunications terminal equipment and the mutual recognition of their conformity [COM(2010) 43 final - Not published in the Official Journal].
This Report describes the operation of Directive 1999/5/EC with a view to its future revision.
The Report notes that the objectives of the Directive have been achieved in terms of:
Last updated: 03.08.2010


text:
Name: butter_beer_drinker
House: Gryffindor
Title: Paradise
Warnings: None
Word Count: 281
Authors Note: hope you can feel the heat!
The sun glared brightly off the white sand surrounding them. A red and white striped umbrella provided a small island of shade in the intense heat. Buried deep in the sand, next to Hermiones beach chair, was a cooler filled with Champaign and Balsamic Sauce Mignonette, the tangy companion for their oysters
Hip deep in the warm tropical waters, Ron stood gazing out into the varying shades of blue. Waving his wand around to create the Bubble-Head charm, he disappeared into the depths. Under the water he watched as a sea devil skimmed the water below him. Watching its graceful movements, he thought the stingray looked like more like an angel flying through the coral.
He moved away and towards the edge of the reef, the oysters were four deep along the wall. He smiled and began pulling them off and putting them in a water basket. Brightly colored fish darted out of their hiding places and schooled behind him.
On the beach, Hermione dug in her bag for a quill or even a pencil to work a puzzle with. Finding neither, she decided to set up the table. She conjured a small wrought-iron table set then using the plates and utensils provided by the hotel, she laid out two place settings. She smiled at the whimsical origami napkins that had been provided; the bird of paradise fold was perfect for the setting.
Ron approached his new bride and set the basket down in the sand. He wrapped his arms around her and placed a chaste kiss on her cheek. Ron had thought a honeymoon at a Muggle hotel would not go well, he was happy to have been proven wrong.


text:
Name: MerryD/Mere
House: Hufflepuff
Title: The Magic of Plants
Warnings: None
Words: 500
-MereSweat dripped down Aynslee Smiths back. It started as a small drop and gradually slid down her back, leaving a trail of dirt and salt behind. Her whole back was coated in these trails, making it moist and disgusting. Her shirt clung to her awkwardly as she bent down placing one palm on the hot earth.
In her other hand she held a tiny rosemary bush. As she gently placed the delicate plant in the small hole she had dug, she forgot all about sweat trails on her back and the clinginess of her shirt. Aynslee loved plants. They were her passion.
She loved the feel of the damp earth between her fingers as she created an indent in it. She loved the softness and delicateness of a young plant. She loved the energy that ricocheted off of them, making her giddy. There was nothing in the entire world like watching a plant you care for grow into a something big and beautiful
Aynslee finished patting the dirt around the herb. She stood up and brushed her dirty hands on her equally dirty thighs. Aynslee surveyed her handiwork. There were herbs: the rosemary bush she had just planted, pineapple sage, regular sage, basil, and mint and there were flowers: pansies, petunias, marigolds, zinnias, Black-eyed Susans and dahlias. Arranged in a bed of mulch, it was a perfect blend of flowers and herbs. Exactly what the Taylors wanted.
Aynslee pulled her wand out and flicked her wrist slightly to the right. A gentle rush of water flowed out, creating pools at the base of each plant under her direction.
Unknown to Aynslee, Mrs. Marsha Taylor had exited her house and come to see Aynslees progress. Its beautiful.
Aynslee jumped a foot backwards, nearly landing on her zinnias. Oh, gosh, I didnt see you, she said wiping her hand across her forehead, to keep the sweat and sunscreen mix from burning her eyes. So, you like it? She gestured behind her to the garden.
I love it. It really adds to the house. Marsha gushed. She and her husband had recently moved to Maryland and had been taken with all the gardens. In their search for a gardener, theyd found Aynslee Smith. She was renowned gardener in the area, who also happened to be a witch, like them. Would you like some lemonade? asked Marsha, inviting Aynslee in.
Oh! Umm... no thanks, Marsha, it was nice of you to offer though. I should really be going.
Well, if youre sure...
I am.
Thanks again for the wonderful job youve done. Are you coming back tomorrow? asked Marsha.
Yes, I will be here everyday this week, replied Aynslee as she eyed the garden.
Great! See you, then. Marsha left the front yard and re-entered her house.
Aynslee glanced back to the garden. On of her dahlias had a wilting flower. She whipped out her wand and tapped the flower gently. It instantly regained its full glory. Satisfied, Aynslee stowed her wand and Disapparated.


text:
The 2011 State of the Union
What will President Obama tell America about the State of the Union tonight? We'll be providing commentary throughout the address, and you can watch a livestream of the speech below. Join in the fun, with comments!
Watch Barack Obama talk about America, right here:
8:40 — Oh look, it's the whole speech. Umm... please keep reading the liveblog?
8:43 — We are watching CNN and Wolf Blitzer keeps asking British guy Piers Morgan, the new CNN host, if The King's Speech will win Best Picture. Only British people can have opinions about this. Wolf Blitzer is showing Barack Obama entering a car. Stay tuned, he may be heading to a strip club.
8:45 — Let's take a look at a random paragraph from the speech. It is about the Soviet satellite Sputnik from the 1950s, and how it made America get its shit together:
This is our generation's Sputnik moment. Two years ago, I said that we needed to reach a level of research and development we haven't seen since the height of the Space Race. In a few weeks, I will be sending a budget to Congress that helps us meet that goal. We'll invest in biomedical research, information technology, and especially clean energy technology – an investment that will strengthen our security, protect our planet, and create countless new jobs for our people.
Countless new jobs! Fine, he can be reelected. Want five or ten jobs? Vote Obama.
8:50 — There are now 3D outer-space charts on CNN; it's just that important of a night. The 3D poll numbers show that Americans are full of shit about cutting the deficit. They want to cut foreign aid, which is like $20 in our budget. John Boehner is reading names of Obama's "escorts" into the Capitol.
8:55 — What about the Congressional Prom Dates? Which is your favorite couple? Mine is notorious enemies Pete King and Anthony Weiner. It can only end in anal beads. Gawker Night Editor Max Read is a fan of the Pelosi-Bartlett-Chu threesome. "its what democracy is all about," Max writes, like a pervert.
8:59 — The cabinet members are all entering Congress. There's Hilldawg. There's Tim Geithner! There's Bob Gates. There's some nerd who probably runs, what, HUD or something.
9:02 — Lest there's any confusion: We will be covering Michele Bachmann's Greatest Speech Ever tonight. Did you think we'd cover Obama's speech if we didn't have that to look forward to?
9:05 — Hey look Obama showed up. There's Dennis Kucinich greeting him! And there's Sheila Jackson Lee. And Eliot Engel! So on a cursory glance, three of the five "aisle hogs" were right in place this year.
9:10 — John Boehner was already anxiously licking his lips and drooping his eyes while introducing the President. That means he's trying not to cry, seriously.
9:12 — They all clap for Gabby Giffords. Hooray! Now he says we've all "had our differences over the last two years," but, uh, we should shut the fuck up now. He does not care that everyone is sitting together.
9:16 — He says the country wants us to work together, to provide for our children. John Boehner licks his lips again.
9:18 — Obama: You know how you used to be able to head to a factory downtown and get a job for life and have a decent salary and benefits and a solid pension for retirement? Yeah, that's gone. Now you have to peel grapes and clean shit for actual rich monsters to qualify for a for-profit college loan, and then die. A bright future is everywhere! (Mostly China!)
9:21 — Innovation will save us. Anyone of you Americans got anything to innovate? Yeah, me neither.
9:22 — "Thirty years ago, we couldn't know that something called the Internet would lead to an economic revolution." It was just a sack of lasers back then, essentially. But then "Google and Facebook" came along, he says. And we all know how many jobs those have created!
9:25 — Sputnik moment! We need as much R&D now as we did in the early '60s, and his upcoming budget will solve that. We will reinvent ourselves. We will fund clean energy! We will have one million electric vehicles on the road within four years, just like Gerald Ford used to say.
9:28 — "So tonight, I challenge you to join me in setting a new goal: by 2035, 80% of America's electricity will come from clean energy sources." Sure, why not? We'll forget that we promised anything by 2035, hopefully. What were we talking about?
9:32 — Education should be more important. Teachers should be afforded more respect. Less job security, but more respect. Reward good teachers, and "stop making excuses" for bad ones. The GOP is jacking off to this. More "math" is what we need. Ugh. This does not bode well for bloggers.
9:34 — We're revitalizing America's community colleges! That's a good thing, of course. He talks about a good community college in North Carolina, educating all of the unemployed furniture workers. It will now be impossible to get into.
9:36 — Next topic: The Mexicans. What to do about the Mexicans who live here? Bomb them? No, the president says. We need comprehensive immigration reform. (Wouldn't a few bombs be cheaper?)
9:39 — He wants to redouble efforts for high-speed rail. Yes! And oh ho ho, a joke: "For some trips, it will be faster than flying — without the pat-down." Take that, your own administration! But seriously trains going 10,000 miles per hour would be awesome.
9:41 — Okay: He wants to lower the corporate tax rate without lowering revenue. Since our main priority now is to type as fast as possible, we can't really get into this, but: Corporations will want the tax rate that they will pay less under. The effective corporate tax rate is very low now. They will not want a lower nominal rate with fewer loopholes. Just keep in mind!
9:44 — Now is the "Fine, whatever, I'll talk about health care" part of the speech:
Now, I've heard rumors that a few of you have some concerns about the new health care law. [Joke! — Ed.] So let me be the first to say that anything can be improved. If you have ideas about how to improve this law by making care better or more affordable, I am eager to work with you. We can start right now by correcting a flaw in the legislation that has placed an unnecessary bookkeeping burden on small businesses.
9:46 — "But now that the worst of the recession is over, we have to confront the fact that our government spends more than it takes in." Eh, you deal with it.
9:48 — More metaphors, about horrible, horrible aerial death:
Cutting the deficit by gutting our investments in innovation and education is like lightening an overloaded airplane by removing its engine. It may feel like you're flying high at first, but it won't take long before you'll feel the impact.
Isn't that kind of exactly what's happening in the airline industry right now, where they're trying to meet razor-thin margins?
9:50 — He wants to look into "medical malpractice reform to rein in frivolous lawsuits." The GOP nearly faints. Also, he wants to "fix" Social Security, which is solvent through 2037.
9:55 — Outside analysis time! A reader, "Adam," writes in:
Lmfao!!! That was some funny shit, bro!!! Ha ha ha I was totally expecting something serious, can't stop laughing now. What the hell is Gawker anyways, how did you clowns end up on my facebook?!?!
It's true. Obama does look poised tonight.
9:57 — America's on the up and up. "Look to Iraq," he says.
9:59 — "American Muslims are a part of our American family." Our, you say?
10:01 — Also: Afghanistan's fine, everyone chill out. Thanks Mr. President! Oh and nukes are being locked down in Russia. If North Korea gets them, we will bomb them. NATO is good. Forging new alliances. (He is kind of rushing through the foreign policy stuff that America's 500 billion unemployed people stopped caring about.)
10:05 — He is thanking the troops and we're an hour in the speech. So it can't be much longer, maybe a dozen paragraphs or so.
10:06 — The internal Gawker editorial commentary is trenchant, currently.
Jim Newell: max, say something funny
Max Read: ah uh
Max: i havent even been watching
Jim: that works
Max: did something happen with salmon?
10:09 — Obama blames the American Dream for why this "working class kid from Scranton," Joe Biden, is behind him. Sorry, man.
10:11 — "That dream is why someone who began by sweeping the floors of his father's Cincinnati bar can preside as Speaker of the House in the greatest nation on Earth." Do you even need to be told that this got John Boehner crying again?
10:13 — Oh thank god he's done. He gave a shout-out to that guy whose company's drills saved the Chilean miners. Sure! Well, the speech sounded fine. "This is basically what we thought it would be," the idiot Wolf Blitzer immediately chimes in.
Everyone take a one-minute break before hilarious responses start.
10:21 — We have to wait for Michele Bachmann's Tea Party response. This requires sitting through Rep. Paul Ryan's official lame-sandwich response. Speaking of sandwiches, where's our man in the field?
10:23 — Why does Wolf Blitzer keep asking the Tory redcoat Piers Morgan what he thinks about an American president's speech? All he knows is "Queen this, Queen that."
10:25 — Oh shit, Rep. Paul Ryan's Republican response!
10:26 — Paul Ryan name-checks Rep. Gabby Giffords. Nice. How will you cut government spending, Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin?
10:27 — If we don't get our debt situation in order soon, Paul Ryan's three children's children will be poor. That's a good enough reason not to get our debt situation in order, right?
10:28 — Taxes, penalties, mandates, fees, oh my! Paul Ryan says businesses and unions want all of this crap eliminated permanently. Paul Ryan is looking out for unions! The things you learn during 2011's Congressional Prom State of the Union.
10:30 — "We believe government's role is both vital, and limited." The boilerplate is getting hot!
10:32 — "Endless borrowing is not a strategy." Prove it.
10:33 — Ryan says that our safety net is turning into a hammock. Hey-o! You thought this guy didn't have any fuckin' jokes? He does: Buck up, you fat lazy slobs. Stop swinging between trees all day. There are jobs everywhere.
10:37 — And so goes Paul Ryan, ladies and germs. That was the most boring thing we've ever seen. But at least he didn't humiliate himself in historic fashion, which is all that really matters for an SOTU response.
FOUR MINUTES UNTIL BACHMANN. Get drunker.
10:42 — Red State editor and CNN contributor Erick Erickson has scanned through the transcript of Bachmann's Tea Party response and likes it more than Paul Ryan's! Both parties will probably agree with this, for opposite reasons. Candy Crowley says that Paul Ryan's speech did Republicans good tonight, because he didn't sound like a fucking idiot.
10:44 — Gloria Berger looks freezing cold, sitting next to that indoor fan in her jacket.
10:48 — There is a severe lack of "Michele Bachmann" on my teevee right now. Wolf Blitzer promises we're moments away!
10:49 — Oh there she is!
10:50 — Michele Bachmann was standing in front of the Constitution, and is now standing in front of a water reservoir. Now it's a chart! SHE HAS A POWERPOINT BEHIND HER.
10:51 — She is teaching from a Powerpoint and not even looking at the camera. The camera! to your slight left! Oh, now the Powerpoint is showing the Constitution again. George W. Bush was bad at debt, she says, but Obama is worse. This is classic.
10:52 — LOOK TO YOUR LEFT. Imagine there's a Constitution over there, or something.
10:54 — Now there is the Iwo Jima picture on her Powerpoint. Oh wait, back to the Constitution image.
10:56 — Well, that was a completely useless exercise. Did that really happen? It was as boilerplate as Paul Ryan's response, except the speaker wasn't even looking into the camera, and had props. Anyway, thanks for doing that, Michele Bachmann.
10:59 — As we say every night, "Now that Michele Bachmann has called for a World War II against Barack Obama, it's time to log off."
Thank you all for coming in and commenting and occasionally reading the liveblog! Keep sending the 10,000 things we missed to email@example.com. Good night!


text:
The default World of Warcraft user interface has undergone some excellent changes over the last few months. After the Shattering and Cataclysm, loads of new UI features were implemented and improved upon. In the future, even more tweaks are being added, with the addition of enhanced dungeon maps and other goodies for lore buffs. I can honestly say that right out of the box, the WoW user interface is better today than ever.
However, there are still improvements that could be made, most of them in areas that just haven't been updated in a good long while. I've got a list of three pieces of the UI that I believe could use a makeover.
The default World of Warcraft user interface has undergone some excellent changes over the last few months. After the Shattering and Cataclysm, loads of new UI features were implemented and improved upon. In the future, even more tweaks are being added, with the addition of enhanced dungeon maps and other goodies for lore buffs. I can honestly say that right out of the box, the WoW user interface is better today than ever.
Everything about battlegrounds has been changing for the better lately, with the absolutely awesome Battle for Gilneas (Nordenwatch 2.0) and Twin Peaks. For some reason, however, we are still left with the old, original battleground menu, complete with scroll bar. I am under the impression that scroll bars are nasty design, mostly because I do not have all the options present in front of me without having to do a little digging for information.
What can be done? One of the ways that I think the battleground selection menu could be improved would be to make it a little bit more like the archaeology menu, in which each battleground has an icon in addition to a plain text name. You could keep the window the same size but use icons for the battlegrounds, which open into the bottom window area to display the story, lore, and mechanics of that specific battleground.
The bag inventory has been one of the mainstays of World of Warcraft since the beginning and hasn't changed much at all in the course of the game's life. Inventory in general is a hard nut to crack, and Blizzard has done a pretty darn good job with its inventory system. For a long time (and it is hard for me to confess), I never used a bag mod because I could easily arrange my items bag by bag on my own, never letting an addon do the work for me.
Right now, the inventory system that comes default in WoW is satisfactory. It gets the job done, but addons have been bringing some much needed customization to the party.
What can be done? One of the biggest concerns that I have when using the default inventory in WoW is that quest items are sometimes hard to find. ArkInventory, my addon of choice right now for inventory management, allows me to create a bag that places all of my quest items into it. I think the WoW inventory system would benefit greatly from a bag for quest items only, much like how Warhammer Online kept your quest items in a separate place. Not only does this cut down on clutter in your main inventory, but it allows players a little wiggle room when accepting or completing quests with a full or near full inventory. I know that I have had to drop things from my bag when picking up quest items because I forgot to sell.
The second thing that I wish the default inventory system had is an auto-combine feature -- one little button that could be pressed to auto-combine disparate items into stacks. Sometimes I have lost a ton of inventory space because I had no idea some items could be combined because they were hanging around in different bags. Auto-combine would be real nice and probably an easy addition.
Something that has always bugged me about the default player frames is the thinness of the health and mana bars in relation to how important they are as well as the size of the unit frame. Addons solve this problem, of course, but a lot of players love the Warcraft look of the default player and unit frames. I have to agree -- I still think the art is classic, and I used the defaults for a long, long time. However, having the actual plain text number on those thin bars always frustrated me, and in these days of mana conservation and watching those meters even more carefully, things might need to be thickened up.
What can be done? Give players a few options for their user frames. Maybe offer a default, then add in a thicker health/mana bar version for players with less-than-perfect eyesight or who just like a more manageable health bar. I know that Blizzard can purposefully leave out a lot of options due to the prolific number of addons out there that serve this purpose, but the default player and unit frames have always been a sore spot for me.
What do you think is ready for an overhaul on the default WoW interface? Every expansion has granted us some awesome new features for what many consider the best and most flexible user interface in MMO gaming now. I always look forward to new interface additions.