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MAPS is a protocol simulation and conformance test tool that can be applied to a variety of protocols such as MGCP, SIP, MEGACO, ISUP, ISDN, GSM, and others. He added,
Gaithersburg, MD (Vocus) August 20, 2009
GL Communications Inc., announced today the release of enhancements to VoIP Conformance Testing for MGCP , MEGACO and SIP . During the press conference, Mr. Vijay Kulkarni, CEO of the company said, "MAPS is a protocol simulation and conformance test tool that can be applied to a variety of protocols such as MGCP, SIP, MEGACO, ISUP, ISDN, GSM, and others. He added, "The application is scripted and includes various real-time calling scenarios, traffic generation, test plans, test procedures, and test cases for comprehensive testing of protocols".
Mr.Kulkarni, further added, "MAPS MGCP protocol simulation and conformance testing application is designed to test Media Gateways (MG) and Media Gateway Controllers (MGC). It supports conformance test cases and call flow scenarios for MGCP entities in Voice over IP networks. The testing tool provides a MGCP test library that includes test functions to generate MGCP messages, edit messages, simulate a variety of call flows, and control scenarios. "Message sequences" are generated through scripts".
He added, "Some of the important features of the protocol are: Simulates Media Gateway Controller (MGC) and Media Gateway (MG), Generates and processes MGCP valid and invalid messages, Supports fully integrated, complete test environment for MGCP, Supports all the MGCP commands such as CRCX, NTFY, MDCX, RQNT, AUEP, AUCX, DLCX, EPCF, and RSIP, supports automated call generation using scripts, provides protocol trace with full message decoding, custom trace, and graphical ladder diagrams of call flow with time stamp while simulation is running, and Interactive GUI to view status, results, call information, total number of iterations and number of completed iterations".
Brief description of MAPS – SIP and MEGACO testing
MAPS - SIP Testing
MAPS - SIP is designed to test SIP proxy servers, Redirect servers, Registrars and user agents such as SIP phones. Test cases include call flow scenarios for multimedia call session setup and control over IP networks.
The MAPS - SIP Conformance Suite is designed with 300+ test cases, as per SIP specification of ETSI TS 102 027-2 document
The application gives the users unlimited ability to edit SIP messages and control scenarios (message sequences). "Message sequences" are generated through scripts. MAPS can also be used as a Bulk call generator, which generates and receives SIP calls up to 100,000 calls per system.
MAPS - MEGACO Testing
MAPS - MEGACO is designed for MEGACO testing and provides a MEGACO test library capable of testing Media Gateways (MG) and Media Gateway Controllers (MGC). The test library includes test functions to generate MEGACO messages, edit messages, simulates a variety of call flows, and control scenarios. "Message sequences" are generated through scripts.
The MAPS - MEGACO Conformance Suite is designed with 250+ test cases, as per specification of ETSI TS 102 374-2 document. The test suite includes in-built scripts to process MEGACO valid and in-valid behaviors.
MAPS-MEGACO tool also simulates various Media Gateways call scenarios such as Analog Gateways and
Trunking Gateways.
About GL Communications Inc.
Founded in 1986, GL Communications Inc. is a leading supplier of test, monitoring, and analysis equipment for TDM, Wireless, IP and VoIP networks. Unlike conventional test equipment, GL's test platforms provide visualization, capture, storage, and convenient features like portability, remotability, and scripting.
GL's TDM Analysis & Emulation line of products includes T1, E1, T3, E3, OC-3, STM-1, analog four-wire, and analog two-wire interface cards, external portable pods, and complete system solutions. Capabilities include voiceband traffic analysis and emulation across all traffic types (voice, digits, tones, fax, modem), all protocols (ISDN, SS7, GR-303, Frame Relay, HDLC, V5.X, ATM, GSM, GPRS, etc.), and with capacities up to thousands of channels.
GL's VoIP and IP products generate / analyze thousands of calls / traffic simultaneously with traffic types such as frames, packets, voice files, digits, video, tones, noise, and fax using G.711, G.729, AMR, EVRC, GSM and a range of other codecs. Additional features include visual analysis, real-time listening, and recording. The product line also includes Ethernet / IP Testing capability that simulates and checks frame transport and throughput parameters of Ethernet and IP networks, including delay, errors and other impairments.
GL's Voice Quality Testing (VQT) product line complements all of GL's products. Using ITU-standard algorithms (PAMS, PSQM, and PESQ), GL's VQT provides a widely excepted solution across the telecom industry. Voice Quality Testing across multiple networks (T1, E1, T3, E3, OC-3, VoIP, Wireless, and Landline) are all available.
GL's Wireless Products perform protocol analysis and voice quality assessment on GSM, CDMA and UMTS networks. Connections can be made to any wireless phone with automated call control, GPS mapping and real-time signal measurements.
GL's Echo Canceller testing solutions provide the broadest range of simulation and analysis, including compliance testing per G.168 and G.160 across TDM, IP, VoIP and Wireless networks. GL's wirelss VQT solutions help assessing impairments to voice quality such as poor mobile phone quality, voice compression and decompression algorithms, delay, loss and gain in speech levels, noise, acoustic and landline echo, and other distortions are easily assessed and accurately measured.
GL's Handheld data testers can test a wide variety of communications facilities and equipment including T1, fractional T1, E1, fractional E1, T3 and E3 modems, multiplexers, CSU, DSUs, T1 CSUs, DTUs, NTUs and TIUs and more. The testers provide convenience, economy, and portability for almost any interface, including RS232, RS-422, RS-530, X.21, T1, E1, T3, E3, and many others.
GL's Network Surveillance and Monitoring products include Probes for TDM, IP, VoIP, ATM, and Wireless networks. An open standards based approach provides a scalable, feature rich, real-time access to network intelligence. Centralized or distributed access, efficient transport and database loading allow compatibility with 3rd party and standards based monitoring systems.


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Bigfoot Discovery Day Report
Posted by: Loren Coleman on October 17th, 2010
Andy Xie of Bejing is pleased with the photo that a friend snapped of him with the Bigfoot wood carving at Saturday's Bigfoot Discovery Day in Felton. (Bill Lovejoy/Sentinel)
Reporter Jory John of the Mercury News summarizes the events from Felton, California:
Skeptics need not apply.
The Alliance of Independent Bigfoot Researchers and the Bigfoot Discovery Project presented the annual Bigfoot Discovery Day Saturday, staged at the Bigfoot Discovery Museum. The all-day gathering began in 2006.
From local investigators to interested families with children, more than 50 people attended the outdoor lunch and roundtable discussion, where purported Bigfoot sightings and evidence were presented, and numerous stories were told with an emphasis on Santa Cruz County.
Bigfoot Discovery Museum founder and curator Michael Rugg officiated, answering questions and facilitating much of the day's discussion. Rugg said the goal of the annual Discovery Day is to get people in Santa Cruz County to realize that the museum is not just a roadside attraction on the side of Highway 9, but a center for diligent research.
"We have plenty of evidence of a Bigfoot presence up here in the mountains," Rugg said. "I have some vocalizations we've recorded, we have some video that we shot locally, and we have a number of eye witnesses who have reported sightings. In our testing, we've come up with more evidence to indicate it's true than the opposite."
Rugg, who recounted his own Bigfoot sighting as a toddler in 1950, told the gathered crowd that, since he founded the museum in 2004, he's had an opportunity to further his research and hear numerous firsthand tales of sightings.
"Our museum is trying to serve as an advocate for eyewitnesses," he said. "People have been reporting anomalous events that our scientific authority figures have relegated to complete nonsense. What we're saying is, give these folks a break. There are plenty of things to learn yet."
Entering the Bigfoot Discovery Museum, one is confronted by plaster casts of giant feet, looping footage of the infamous Patterson-Gimlin film, where an unidentified creature bounds across the screen, and Bigfoot-themed art. There is also a wall-sized map of Santa Cruz County, with pushpins detailing reported local sightings, stretching from the Santa Cruz Mountains to Nisene Marks State Park in Aptos.
Boulder Creek resident Bill Tucker, a longtime volunteer with the museum who stood behind the counter alongside Capitola resident Mike Barrow, recounted his own experience coming into contact with the unknown. Tucker was camping in Washington in 1987, he said, in an isolated campground. He found himself at a river, where he had the feeling that he was being watched.
"Then, a bunch of rocks came across the river," he said. "This happened, off and on, for the next 12 hours. Something was trying to keep me out of there. I began to believe right then."
Barrow said that his interest stemmed from the Patterson film, which was released when he was 7.
"It grabbed my imagination and, ever since, I've been looking," he said.
Pleasanton resident Tom Yamarone has been involved with the museum in various capacities since it opened, he said. Yamarone, who writes Bigfoot-related folksongs, which he performed later in the evening, said that he was encouraged by Saturday's turnout.
"My interest in the subject is very active," Yamarone said. "It's great to see so many people turn out for this."
The Discovery Day moved to the Louden Nelson Center later in the evening, where further presentations were given, including discussions on the latest game-camera technology used in Bigfoot-tracking and a historical slide-show of newspaper reports on Bigfoot dating back to the mid-1800s.
Rugg said the day was a success. He added that he founded the museum in 2004 because he wanted to "have a bigger part in trying to solve this mystery."
"I'm so sure this is real, I don't care what anybody says," he said.
Loren Coleman
Loren Coleman is one of the world's leading cryptozoologists, some say "the" leading living cryptozoologist. Certainly, he is acknowledged as the current living American researcher and writer who has most popularized cryptozoology in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. Starting his fieldwork and investigations in 1960, after traveling and trekking extensively in pursuit of cryptozoological mysteries, Coleman began writing to share his experiences in 1969. An honorary member of Ivan T. Sanderson's Society for the Investigation of the Unexplained in the 1970s, Coleman has been bestowed with similar honorary memberships of the North Idaho College Cryptozoology Club in 1983, and in subsequent years, that of the British Columbia Scientific Cryptozoology Club, CryptoSafari International, and other international organizations. He was also a Life Member and Benefactor of the International Society of Cryptozoology (now-defunct). Loren Coleman's daily blog, as a member of the Cryptomundo Team, served as an ongoing avenue of communication for the ever-growing body of cryptozoo news from 2005 through 2013. He returned as an infrequent contributor beginning Halloween week of 2015. Coleman is the founder in 2003, and current director of the International Cryptozoology Museum in Portland, Maine.

subset: commoncrawl


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More than $2 billion in disaster loans was approved by the U.S. Small Business Administration to those affected by Superstorm Sandy, the agency said Friday.
About 32,500 residents and businesses benefited from loans in what the agency called the third-largest natural disaster in the U.S. that it has responded to. The tropical cyclone struck in late October.
"Since Hurricane Sandy struck the East Coast in October, SBA has worked diligently to approve loan applications and get money into the hands of storm victims as quickly as possible," SBA leader Karen G. Mills said.
As of Friday, more than 30,000 home disaster loans, worth $1.8 billion, were approved. More than 2,500 business disaster loans were approved for a total of $260 million.


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KieranDavis's Bio
Kieran is a chef by trade but a writer by heart and spend his limited spare time working on his mythological world of cyralost, a land where magic comes at a devastating cost and unlikely heroes command mighty armies, troubadours and rogues ally themselves with wizards and kings on quests and adventures that will carve the heart out of this mythology. A vast world painted with a colossal variety of classic fantasy coupled with new concepts and a really good turn on some old ones.
Kieran is open to advice, comments (and praise of course) and welcomes questions, ideas chat about fantasy gaming, books and anything mythological from like minded fantasy fans.
You can run but you'll die tired, better to dance like there's no one watching.__


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How to find Australia's top credit cards
The only way to find the top credit card for you is to carry out a comprehensive credit card comparison.
Here's how to compare the top credit cards:
- Ask how you plan to use your card – For everyday shopping? For major purchases only? For buying overseas or travel? To transfer an existing balance?
- Compare interest rates – Remember that different rates may apply for credit card purchases, cash advances and balance transfers. Also, beware of introductory, promotional, or "honeymoon" rates.
- Compare interest-free periods – See how long you'll have to pay back your purchases before you're charged credit card interest.
- Compare credit card rewards and extras – Some credit cards reward programs may let you earn points on your everyday spending, while other cards offer extras such as travel insurance.
- Compare fees and charges – Find out if there are any extra costs, such as annual fees, or charges for overseas purchases, and consider whether the credit card's benefits would likely be worth these costs.
You can compare hundreds of different credit cards in Australia, so it's important to consider what you want from your credit card to make sure you select the top credit card options for your personal finances.
The different types of credit cards
Of the wide range of card types available, some of the most popular credit card types include:
- Low rate credit cards
- Low fee credit cards
- Balance transfer cards
- Rewards credit cards
- Frequent flyer cards
There's no shortage of cards to include in your credit card comparison. Your top credit card choice will ultimately depend on what you want to use your card for, and the perks you'll receive whenever you do.
While these are some of the main credit card categories to consider, there are also other variables to consider. For example, if you regularly use your credit card overseas, then this is something you should factor into your credit card comparison.
How to make a credit card comparison
Compare credit card interest rates
A credit card is effectively a flexible personal loan or line of credit – every time you spend money on a credit card, you're borrowing money from the provider, and if you don't repay this amount on time, then you will be charged interest on your balance owing.
When you compare credit card rates, remember that your credit card's interest rate (sometimes called annual percentage rate or APR) may not be the same. Some credit cards charge different interest rates for purchases, for cash advances, or for balance transfers.
When you carry out a credit card comparison, make sure you take into consideration any introductory rates that are on offer. Some companies will offer a low rate credit card as a promotion when you first open the account, whose "honeymoon rate" then reverts to a higher interest rate after the introductory period expires.
Compare credit card fees
If you're looking for cheap credit cards, remember that it's not just the interest rates you'll need to look out for, but the fees as well. Credit cards that charge monthly or annual fees are often (but aren't always) credit cards that also offer rewards.
Most of the time, there are some major trade-offs to make when choosing a credit card. If you want a card with a low interest rate because you don't always pay your card off, then it's unlikely this card will also offer rewards. You'll also find that the credit cards that offer rewards, frequent flyer points or other perks generally come with higher rates and annual fees.
While you may not be able to "have it all" with the one credit card, if you choose your priorities wisely, you may be able to find some of the best credit card offers for you by making a credit card comparison.
Compare rewards credit cards
If you plan on using your credit card on a regular basis, then it might be worth considering a rewards credit card. Many of the biggest providers will give cashback on selected purchases, or allow you to earn points on your spending that can be used in selected stores.
To find the best credit card deals with rewards, consider how you plan to use your card and how closely this matches with the card's rewards program. For example, if you regularly use your credit card at a local supermarket, you may want to consider a credit card that lets you earn points that can be redeemed at these shops.
One of the most popular types of rewards credit cards are those that offer frequent flyer points. Frequent flyer credit cards award points based on the amount you spend, which can then be built up and eventually spent on flights and upgrades with major airlines. If you make regular plane trips for work, to visit family, or because you love to travel, you may want to make a frequent flyer credit card comparison.
If you are interested in rewards credit cards, then be sure to read their terms and conditions. As with any financial product, it's a good idea to be fully aware of what you are signing up for well in advance. The best credit cards for points will offer rewards that suit your spending style without charging too much in fees.
Compare balance transfer credit cards
If you already have a credit card and you're looking for a way to clear the outstanding balance owing, you may want to conduct a credit card comparison to find the best credit card balance transfer deals. Many balance transfer credit cards charge no interest on the balance you transfer from your old credit card for a limited time, so you can concentrate on clearing your debt without worrying about extra interest charges from building up. Just remember that you'll still be charged interest on new purchases.
Choosing your next credit card
No matter what you want from your credit card, it's important to carry out an interest rate comparison and see which credit card options are out there. If you need more information on what's available, then be sure to read the RateCity Credit Cards Guide for more insight into different credit card types, as well as handy tips to help find the top credit cards for your specific requirements.


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My oldest turned 6 in April. She requested a ballerina party, and so off to the store I went for tulle, tulle and some more tulle. She was pleased with the outcome, and I was, tutu (er... too).
|The tutus were the first thing I made - all 13 of them! They're super easy. For a tutorial, go here. I used elastic headbands instead of regular elastic, and I cut each piece of tulle 24 inches long. I made my daughter's tutu twice as full as all of the other partygoers. She was the prima ballerina, after all!
This decoration was two Pinterest projects in one! I was inspired by this tutu wreath, and the tutu fan (that's what I call it!) found here. I made an extra B for the treat table, and spelled out her name with the fans on the mantle. The wreath has found a permanent home on the outside of my daughter's door, so it was a worthwhile project for sure!
For food, we had cupcakes - strawberry and marachino cherry. If you're in Johnson County, KS, hit up Darby's Delights. Seriously the best cupcakes I've ever had, and she offers many yummy flavors! We also served up a veggie tray (the girls DEVOURED it), Chex Mix, and water bottles. I covered my white tablecloth with a pink organza table cloth and surrounded the pink and white serving dishes with pink and purple tutus. A vase of flowers added a nice touch.
|What happens when you remove the table and chairs from your kitchen? You get a fabulous dance floor! Perfect for a bevy of beautiful, budding ballerinas!
Keeping with the ballet theme, I added my swan candle holder at the last minute. Could it be the swan princess, Odette?
|My duo of delicate dancers and their dashing Dapper Dan. (yes, I love alliteration!)
The girls were inspired right away to get to it - even before the guests started to arrive. I wish I could post pics of the party - it was quite a sight with all the girls in their tutus, but as always, I respect the privacy of my friends and family, and only post pics of my own kiddos.


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Wednesday, December 31, 2008
On Gamespot, users were allowed to vote for their Game of the Year. A Gamespot blog author asked why people voted for what they did. Was it based on what game was the most fun for them? Or the most "artistic"? Or what?
For me, the Game of the Year was Metal Gear Solid 4, even though I'd only give it an 8.5 / 10. It wasn't the perfect 10 Gamespot gave it, but for me it was the best I had played.
Here's what I ended up posting in the comments section after reading how some feel that MGS4 did not use its interactive medium effectively, instead relying more on cinematic storytelling norms.
It's odd. For movies, my favorite movies are usually the ones I have the most fun watching. But for video games, my favorite games are more likely to be less about how much fun I had, but how good their storytelling was. You could almost say that I like my movies to be more like video games, and my video games to be more like movies. I voted MGS4 for GOTY, but I'm not sure if MGS4 was the most fun game I played this year. MGS4 left such a lasting impression that I can still clearly remember moments from it today, even though I haven't played it in months. I think I have more fun playing Battlefield 2142 or COD5 online against people, but ultimately these were just exciting experiences not unlike playing a game of basketball or riding a rollercoaster. Like a game of sports, there's no moral or ideology I'm trying to accomplish in 2142. I'm killing for the fun of killing. It becomes a pointless, hedonistic struggle.
I think another reason why I like movies to be more like games is because when I watch a typical movie, it's hard for me to identify with what the characters are going through. After all, no matter what I do while watching a film, the character will proceed forward to whatever ending is in store for them. The character is in the situation, not me, so I'm detached from the story. I'm powerless to help or hinder the characters in a film. So if a movie is more "superficial and fun", like a game, at least I can enjoy that aspect. Story alone will just leave me with a passive, observant feeling.
But a game's story is totally different. I propel the story forward. Through my struggle, I'm fighting for the story to continue. It doesn't matter if it's told through passive cutscenes or through branching dialogue trees, because the story won't continue without my help. Solid Snake's struggle becomes my own. I think this is why I think story is so important in games for me. I need to say about the character "You're a good person, and what you're trying to do is important, and I'm going to help you achieve your goals." And Solid Snake's goals felt important. Another thing that's important for me is that the struggle I partake as a player reflect the struggle that is happening in the story. One of my probs with Bioware games is that their gameplay is ridiculously easy and simplistic, while their storytelling is great and epic. The former weakens the latter's impact. If I'm mashing buttons in a simple and repetitive way to defeat "The Greatest Evil There Ever Was (tm)", the Evil seems a lot less evil. This is why I don't understand the reverence people have for Bioware, Bethesda, and RPG games in general. Neither company releases games that give me that sense of gameplay struggle and challenge befitting their storylines. The "immersion" of being in a Survival of the Fittest post-apocalyptic wasteland is destroyed when I can succeed in every battle by merely hitting the VATS button.
The Metal Gear series is the strange and unique entry in the action game genre that combines the storytelling you expect from an RPG, with the challenging, fast paced gameplay of an action game. It gave me exciting challenging gameplay experiences, and then made my actions feel important through its story. It's rare that a game does all of that together.
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
The demo for Lord of the Rings: Conquest came out on the Playstation Network. Here are my impressions that I posted on Gamespot's forums:
I'm disappointed but I had quite a bit of fun anyway. The frame rate is too low when playing online, although it strangely improves to very acceptable levels in the Tutorial singleplayer mode, where there is even more action on screen than online. Graphics feel out of date, and I honestly prefer the graphics and animations from EA's Return of the King game over this one o_O
The melee combat does not feel that deep, and as someone else said, the lack of a Lock-On feature makes things a bit confusing. I would've liked a lock on feature for the melee classes at least. Right now you have to move both joysticks, then move your thumb off of one joystick in order to use your attack buttons. So your thumb is constantly going back and forth between the right stick and the attack buttons. Just feels kinda weird..
The Scout is interesting in that it feels so much like "ninja" class. He does martial arts and such. It feels out of place but still cool.
The horses seem kinda pointless. You get knocked off a horse very easily. I can only see it being used as a fast way to travel, don't think anyone will be fighting on it for kills..
My big gripe with the combat system is that it just doesn't look like what we saw in the film. Instead it has a very arcade game feeling to it. Archers are running about while shooting arrows. Warriors and scouts are running about frantically while swinging their weapons like madmen.
Multiplayer does not have a battlefield feeling at all. I was under the impression that in multiplayer, there would be ARMIES of AI running around while the human players also battled, thus giving you a big sense of epic fantasy warfare. Instead all you see are the players. 16 people on a battlefield. Wow. 16! Sigh..
Friday, December 19, 2008
Anyway, I found some cool videos on Hulu I thought I'd share on here. First up is "Dr. Horrible's Sing-A-Long Blog." It's a romantic comedy musical about a wannabe supervillain. Made by the creator of Firefly and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I really enjoyed it! The second video is "Speed and Angels", a documentary about two people who have wanted to be fighter pilots since they were kids. The documentary follows their pursuit of that dream. Any fan of military aviation will love this. (Sucks that the embedded videos overrun my blog borders though.)
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Warhammer Online
I was really looking forward to this MMO as the press was describing it as a big change to the MMO formula. Having not enjoyed a single MMO yet, I was excited to see if Warhammer Online would hook me into the genre. But nope.
I focused primarily on the PVP combat scenarios and found the game to be both boring and its controls needlessly complicated. The boredom stemmed from the core mechanics of MMOs, I suppose. My primary goal was to get my statistics to increase. That's pretty much it. There was no compelling story driving me forward. Get more money, get a bigger weapon, get more hit points.
The controls, I thought, were complicated due to the messy mash-up of turn-based, statistics heavy RPG mechanics (inherited from pen and paper games like D&D) and real-time gameplay.
As a melee fighter, I had to do the following in a typical combat situation: move mouse onto rapidly moving enemy, left-click. Hold right mouse button while using WASD and moving mouse in order to close the distance. Continue throughout battle. Use 1-6 keys to trigger special attacks and to use items.
Maybe for seasoned MMO players this is par for the course, but to me the number of buttons I was pressing to pull off relatively simple tasks seemed to be out of place for this style of game. A total of twelve different keys were repeatedly hit in a typical fight. And I thought my eyes had to be in far too many places. How's my health? How's my enemy's health? How's my mana? Has my skill recharged? Has my other skill recharged? What buffs/debuffs do I have on me? What buffs/debuffs does my enemy have on him? I can see how all these demands are easily met in a turn-based RPG situation, say a Final Fantasy game. Or how the demands are not a big concern in a real-time, PVE situation where the enemy is a braindead NPC monster that isn't moving at all (thus leaving the player with just the 1-6 keys to worry about). But the PVP situation seemed to throw everything into a mess.
My rating: 5/10
Interesting feature: Female pain noises sound "orgasmic."
Armored Core For Answer
I really need to stop buying games from FROM Software.
I'm a fan of "mecha" media, like Mechwarrior, Robotech/Macross, Transformers or Gundam. To me, robots are like a form of futuristic armored knights, and they anthromorphize military equipment in a way only a robot can. So even though I never really liked Armored Core 4's demo, I was interested to see if For Answer's 2 player co-op campaign would be enough for me to give the game another chance.
The campaign was really dull. Fodder enemies wait around the map doing nothing, patiently awaiting your arrival so that they can be killed off with ease. Every few missions, you fight an enemy closer to your level. Here, I ended up feeling like my primary battle was with the game's controls, and not with the actual enemy. In order to effectively pilot your mech, you have to use the two joysticks, the four face buttons which shoot and change weapons for you, as well as the triggers. The right joystick controls your facing, while the X and square buttons (on my Sixaxis) shot my weapons. This means I could not control where my mech was looking at while shooting at the same time. This causes a serious and common problem. Anytime you are shooting your weapon, you are giving your target more and more time to leave the center of the screen. It's a very awkward setup that can't be fixed up entirely, even by customizing the controls. Imagine if an FPS game forced you to choose between tracking your enemy with your gun, or shooting that gun. Yeesh.
So the co-op play didn't change the fact that the game just wasn't that great. There's no story to speak of, and the multiplayer combat never feels particularly satisfying. And the voice chat seems broken. Seems pretty rare for a PS3 game to have decent voice chat though. Lame.
My rating: 6/10
Interesting feature: The game seems to take a jab at relaxed immigration policies. One of the factions in the game is considered very pro-democracy, but it is said that its "ideals are being eroded due to its immigration policy which lets anyone who wants to enter become a citizen." Not sure what to make of that, but it caught my ear.
A friend of mine was a QA tester for the bulk of this game's development cycle and had convinced me the game was going to be terrible. But I thought it was really fun. I liked how the game has no HUD. Your health is on the back of your character. Your ammo is on the readout hovering above your gun when you aim it. You access items through a hologram system, and the game doesn't let you pause the game to use items either. All this really helped to immerse me into the game. The sound design was excellent, too.
My biggest complaint is that the game spent far too much time in dark corridors. The first three quarters of the game has a very repetitive look and feel to its environments, and there are few areas that I found memorable. I never felt the same way about Resident Evil 4, which seemed to keep different kinds of environments coming at the player at a good pace.
I liked the controls of Dead Space and wish Resident Evil 5's creators would emulate it.
Rating: 7.5 / 10
Gears of War 2
I thought the campaign was significantly weaker than Gears of War 1's campaign. The level design seemed far too linear in that enemies were constantly appearing straight ahead of me, and there seemed to be far fewer opportunities to flank enemies than in the first game. This resulted in a pretty repetitive campaign. Get behind cover. Wait for enemy to pop up behind their cover, shoot enemy, repeat until they die.
There was no story to speak of, and the multiplayer continues to squander the game's unique cover system. Nearly every battle ends in a near point blank range battle between shotgun users. And being caught out in the open is hardly a risk like it is in other FPS games like Rainbow Six or Call of Duty since you can infinitely dive around. Weapon choice remains shallow, and they've actually made things worse by allowing you to use your grenades as a kind of proximity mine, resulting in a lot of cheap feeling kills.
Rating: 6.5 / 10
Fallout 3
An incredibly boring game. This game's popularity completely baffles me. I played it for at least 10 hours and felt half-asleep the whole time. I kept playing hoping to see something exciting or interesting happen, but nothing ever came. I can only imagine that players are enjoying the post-apocalyptic nuclear wasteland environment of the game, which is pretty unique for a first-person game.
What else appeals to fans of this game?
For me, the combat was extremely simplistic, and felt far inferior to even the most basic FPS games of 10+ years ago. Some have said that instead of treating it like an FPS, view it as an RPG combat system but from an FPS perspective. Even if I do that, what is really here that makes the combat interesting? I press V to engage the VATS system. I choose my target. I execute. All enemies are quickly dealt with in this manner, and I didn't even do anything! I didn't see any tactical or strategical depth to the combat of Fallout 3, and while I'm not a big fan of RPGs to begin with, I was under the impression that their combat typically has some kind of challenge...
Rating: 6 / 10
Left 4 Dead
Technically excellent, but the game feels very repetitive after just a short while, and in many ways, does not feel any deeper than those House of the Dead light gun games you can find at an arcade. You shoot zombies. You shoot a lot of them. I can see a lot of potential in the game if many additions are made, but as it is right now, I have no idea how EA/Valve justified its multi-million dollar advertising campaign, or how gamers justify paying full price for such a shallow game. I paid $20 thanks to a Black Friday deal, and even that seems too much.
Rating: 7.0 / 10
The game needs more game modes. More things to do. Here are some suggestions.
- There needs to be more risk-taking opportunities for players. More reasons for players to leave the group. Right now, everyone knows to stick together. But as any zombie movie fan knows, things get most interesting when the group splits up. When there's some in-fighting between the humans. I think there needs to be powerful and rare items in each game that selfish players might leave the group for in hopes that it will ensure their survival, even if it means increased risk at first.
- There needs to be a strong scoring system. Right now, it's hard to tell who the best player was in the group. You can sorta get a feel for it by waiting for the credits at the end of a scenario, but that takes up to an hour to see.
- Create a game mode where ammo is much more limited. I feel like I always have far too many bullets.
- Create a game mode where two teams of humans are in competition. Not only must they fight each other, but also the zombie hordes. Perhaps the escape vehicle of a map only has room for ONE of the teams. Both teams race to the end, killing each other on the way there, while fighting off zombies. Weapon and resources are limited, and killing enemy survivors means you can take their stuff.
Another idea.. one team is the military, the other is of survivors. The military must fight their way to the survivors, who are themselves fighting increasingly powerful waves of zombies. The military then escorts them out to safety.
Another idea... the military has been sent in to cleanse all witnesses, along with the Infected. The survivors need to evade the military and the zombies. This would create interesting situations where the survivors might lead the military into a Witch or Tank, where the zombies would actually be saving the survivors. This idea could also be a three-team game mode. Zombies vs military vs survivors.
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
I spent a couple months working at Perfect World Entertainment as a game tester for their North American release of their game, Perfect World. I made this trailer for them. Tell me what you think.
I think the music goes really well with it, but being my first trailer for anything, it does feel sloppy in a lot of ways. You can see targeting circles around the feets of enemies, there are screen ratio inconsistencies, and other problems. D'oh! I'm glad the Youtube viewers like it, though. I have to say that I feel kinda dirty making a trailer that spices up the game so much, when I personally found the game dreadfully boring. Haha.
After my temp contract was up at PWE, I got a job as an Audio Video PC Technician, and did that for about 3 and a half months. This was a cool job in many ways, and definitely had the coolest bunch of coworkers I've had. I got to have all expense paid trips to Orlando and Seattle, too. And the job itself was easy enough. I mostly just pushed and lifted heavy objects around. It was good exercise, but the commute was too much, and ultimately I've decided to return to school for some Cisco networking training, which I hope will get me a better paying job that is closer to home. I've also landed a great part-time contract job doing audio editing work. It'll be the perfect job for me if I can get more hours.
In my next post, I'll try to review all the cool (or not cool) gaming stuff that's been pouring in this season.


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Saturday September 26
10 am - 4 pm
Hope Lutheran Church, Virginia Beach
Below are some of the cards you can choose to make:
You will make the cards in pairs (two of each design you choose.)\
Make 6 cards for $10
Make 12 cards for $20
Come when it suits your schedule - but allow enough time to complete your cards by 2 pm.
Please bring your favorite adhesive.
There will be more cards available to make and there will be two additional projects you may choose to make. More information coming soon.
Thanks for stopping by!


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This experiment, like so many, had unexpected results. The adults loved it and the Belle didn't. She ate some of the vegetables out of it, but just spit out the squash. Alas, failure is part of playing the game.
Recipe:Spaghetti Squash Primavera
Roast at 4001 small spaghetti squash, halfed, de-seeded, and oiled
Sautee lightly
sliced carrot
sliced zucchini
sliced zucchini
sliced asparagus
To the veg, add
1 t meyer lemon zest or
1 t meyer lemon zest or
1 t preserved meyer lemon
Toss in the spaghetti squash
Make a sauce by adding
1 t vegan margarine
3 T soy milk
squeeze of meyer lemon
(Can be completed with a few dollops of goat cheese, but of course we didn't.)


text:
(KMOV) – A 19-month-old toddler is safe after he fell into a sewer in the Lafayette Park neighborhood of south St. Louis on Tuesday.
Firefighters say the boy was walking with his father on 18th and Kennett streets when the child slipped on leaves and fell seven feet into a sewer. Firefighter Dennis Tabb, 29, rescued the boy. Tabb is a 3-year-veteran of the department, and while this was not a typical rescue call, he says there was no hesitation to get down there using a ladder through the open manhole. The child was trapped in the sewer for no more than 10 minutes, firefighters say. He was taken to SSM Cardinal Glennon Children's Medical Center as a precaution. He had no injuries.


text:
Via MBK, The Times on stomach churning top form:
Runaway house prices are forcing hundreds of thousands of middle-class families into the hands of rogue landlords, a study has found.
More than 200,000 households earning more than £30,000 a year are renting homes with a "category 1" hazard, which can include rat infestations, unsafe electrics, cold and damp, according to a report by the Citizens Advice charity and the New Policy Institute think tank.
Almost 130,000 of these households earn more than £40,000, suggesting that the blight of rogue landlords is not exclusive to those at the bottom of the social ladder…
Friday, 11 December 2015
If they were just preying on the working class, that would be fine and dandy...
Via MBK, The Times on stomach churning top form:
My latest blogpost: If they were just preying on the working class, that would be fine and dandy...Tweet this! Posted by Mark Wadsworth at 07:41
Labels: Home-Owner-Ism, Hypocrisy, The Times
2 comments:
- mombers said...
Here's a link to the report from Citizens Advice https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/about-us/how-citizens-advice-works/media/press-releases/rogue-landlords-forcing-tenants-into-nightmare/
- 11 December 2015 at 09:56
- Bayard said...
Reminds me of a line in a report in a Portuguese newspaper of a train disaster, seen many years ago by a friend "Fortunately, only third-class passengers were killed" (and no, that was not a mistranslation of the Portuguese).
- 11 December 2015 at 11:25


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Once again I come to the final episode of Broadchurch with my hopes from the beginning of the series somewhat disappointed. The first season had an excellent start, with the usual murder-mystery elements mixed in with an unusual (and heart-rending) focus on the people left behind. But as time drew on, everyone in the world worked out who the murderer was about three episodes before the finale, but the series had been so good up to that point that we all thought, 'Ah, but that'll be a red herring, though.' It wasn't a red herring. There was no last-minute twist, despite writer Chris Chibnall's exhortations to 'Keep watching right until the end'. In the event, what we were avidly awaiting was not some new piece of evidence and a reshifting of everything we thought we knew, but a ten-second trailer for Broadchurch season 2. Nope.
This time around, the series' writers and producers harped on about the fact that Broadchurch season 2 wouldn't be a murder mystery. OK, fine. The best thing about Broadchurch is that the acting is impeccable, and David Tennant (DI Alec Hardy) and Olivia Colman (DS Ellie Miller) are basically national treasures, so a chance to sit back and reflect on how a community recovers after a murderer has been taken away would be extremely interesting. Except that's not what we got. The murderer (Joe Miller, DS Miller's husband) hasn't been taken away; he's decided, for no earthly reason, to recant his confession and subject us to the most unlikely trial the world has ever seen. I very much doubt that what's happening now reflects in any way what communities really go through after a murder.
What's more, apparently the programme makers recognised that this wasn't going to keep viewers watching for eight weeks, so there's a second storyline involving an unsolved murder from Hardy's past. It seems as though the programme makers are trying to have it both ways. They're claiming it's not a crime drama because the bodies weren't discovered in the town of Broadchurch in the first episode (the victims disappeared some years ago in a different police jurisdiction), and yet the driving force of the second season has been working out who killed someone and why. I tell you what, for a programme that definitely isn't a murder mystery, it very much resembles a murder mystery.
And that would be OK, except that, as I've said before, I have very strict criteria for how murder mysteries should play out, and Broadchurch isn't quite meeting them. The central question is: 'Who killed Pippa Gillespie (12) and her cousin Lisa (19), and where is Lisa's body?' The main suspect throughout the original investigation, presided over unsuccessfully by Hardy, was next-door neighbour Lee Ashworth, for apparently no other reason than the fact that he's a bit creepy. Throughout the course of the season, Hardy – and the viewer – has indeed moved on from the absolute certainty that Ashworth did it, mainly because it turns out that everyone involved in the case was a bit creepy: Ashworth's wife Claire, the victim's mother Cate, the victim's father Ricky, random agrochemical specialist Gary Thorpe…
But the difficulty for the viewer trying to solve the case (which is, after all, the whole point of a murder mystery) is that there haven't really been any actual clues, other than the afore-mentioned 'everyone is weird and scary and therefore a suspect' hints. What's especially irritating about these hints is that we get them in odd flashbacks of suspects saying or doing something slightly suspicious – like Claire saying to Ashworth, 'Can we keep lying to the police?' Thus, we know that Claire is dodgy; so when two episodes later the police say, 'Do you think maybe Claire's not being honest with us?', it's not a revelation – it's already old news. Even when it's not in flashback, the audience gets there miles before the police: the idea that Ashworth might have been sleeping with Lisa, for example, occurred to everyone in about episode 2, yet it took Hardy and Miller until episode 7 to suggest it as a possibility.
In contrast, proper, actual revelations have been distinctly unforthcoming. For example, take this post-episode-one list (from the Daily Mail, apologies) of 'Questions that we want answering after the return of Broadchurch', and count how many have actually been answered.
1. Why is Joe Miller pleading Not Guilty to murdering Danny? We don't know.
2. What are the 'secrets' about his fellow Broadchurch residents that Miller hinted to Reverend Paul Coates he wanted to reveal? We don't know.
3. Could there be any other paedophiles living in Broadchurch that Miller will now expose? Ooh…! No.
4. As Joe Miller had an illicit relationship with Danny Latimer, had he groomed or molested any other children in the town? Ooh…! No.
5. Can the Reverend Paul Coates really be trusted? Could his ostentatious (if understandable) public snogs with hot hotel owner Becca just be a cover? Ooh…! As far as we know, no.
6. What is Danny's dad Mark Latimer doing playing secret games of FIFA with Tom – without either his wife or Tom's mother Ellie knowing? Making a classic Mark Latimer error of judgement that probably comes from a good place. Irrelevant in the overall scheme of things.
7. Episode one ended with the fresh horror for Danny's parents of seeing his body being dug up at the request of Joe Miller's lawyers. What will the new autopsy unveil? Ooh…! Nothing.
8. What are the 'discrepancies' with the prosecution case that Miller's legal team has seized on? Ooh…! Spurious lies that make no sense.
9. Will Joe Miller's confession (the big denouement of series one) be declared inadmissible? Yes. For no discernible reason apart from dramatic tension.
10. Can Olivia Colman suffer any more? Yes. One of the reasons to keep watching, because she is splendid.
11. Do the prosecution actually have enough evidence to make a case? If not and Miller is released, might he even kill again? This would make a mockery of the entire first season, so hopefully no.
12. Regarding the other storyline at the heart of series two ('Sandbrook'), why was/is DI Hardy so convinced that Lee Ashworth was responsible for the murder of two girls in his previous high-profile case? As noted above, because he's a bit creepy and weird, so…?
13. If Ashworth didn't kill Pippa Gillespie, who did? THE BIG QUESTION.
14. Who is sending Claire Ashworth the pressed bluebells and what is their significance? ANOTHER BIG QUESTION.
15. Are the bluebells being sent by Lisa Newberry who was baby-sitting her cousin Pippa on the night she was murdered? If not, where is Lisa? A THIRD BIG QUESTION.
Maybe some of the 'I don't know's from questions 1 to 11 will become 'Oh I see's after tonight's episode, but I'm not hopeful. As for the Sandbrook questions, we assume we'll get the answers tonight, because up to this point they've been distinctly unforthcoming. I've been racking my brains to try and bring together the crucial evidence, such as it is, and this is what I've come up with.
1) Lisa's body was never found. The heavy-handed implication has been that the body was destroyed (agrochemically, of course) by Gary Thorpe, but the more likely possibility, which occurred to us on day one but (again) took Hardy and Miller about five episodes to think of, was that she might still be alive.
2) Lisa was pretty. Which means the motive may have been passion. Aside from the questionable implication that being attractive means you must be sleeping with someone inappropriate, a sexual motive means it could have been Ashworth, who fancied her, or Ricky, who fancied her, or either of the wives, who knew that their husbands fancied her, or Gary Thorpe, who probably fancied her as well.
3) Bluebells. As List One makes clear, bluebells are all over the place. Flashbacks have shown Lisa and Pippa playing in a field of bluebells. Claire has some dried bluebells. Ricky has a picture of bluebells. My sneaking suspicion is that bluebells are involved somehow.
4) The pendant. Much has been made of the fact that Lisa's necklace (which was found in Ashworth's car) was stolen from evidence. Again, we found out quite a while before the police did that Claire stole it; but she's given it back to Hardy and Miller now, so…?
5) Claire and Ricky. Claire and Ricky have kept in contact (recall that they were neighbours at the time of the murder), because his number was in her phone.
6) France. After being accused (and acquitted) of the murder, Ashworth fled to France. As Claire asks, "What's so great about France?" No one knows.
It's not a great list, is it? Everything is very vague, and Hardy and Miller have turned up almost no actual evidence. For example, I'm not sure we even know how Pippa Gillespie was killed (feel free to correct me on this)? As things stand, a case could be made for anyone being the murderer.
Claire: Her husband fancied Lisa, so she forcibly removed her and her young cousin from his life. She stole the pendant (found in Ashworth's car) to hide the fact that her DNA was on it. She kept some dried bluebells as a terrifying souvenir of her crime.
Ricky: He fancied his niece; when she rejected his advances, he killed both her and his own daughter to cover his tracks. He kept a picture of a bluebell field as a terrifying souvenir of his crime.
Claire and Ricky: Both disliked Lisa for reasons just mentioned; they ganged up together to commit the crimes.
Cate: Her husband fancied Lisa, so she forcibly removed her from his life. In a traditional murder mystery, it would be her, because she's the least suspicious; but it seems a bit much to kill her own daughter at the same time because of her husband's infidelity.
Gary Thorpe: Killed both Lisa and Pippa out of craziness. Got rid of Lisa's body at his farming workshop.
Ashworth: Hardy's instincts were right all along and Ashworth did it, to cover up his affair with Lisa.
No one: Ashworth and Lisa were having an affair, and, one day, as a result of them focusing on each other, Pippa had an accident and died. To cover it up, Lisa ran away to France, and Ashworth followed later.
I think this last option is the one I'm betting on based on the evidence we have so far (i.e. not much). It explains France and the absence of Lisa's body, although not why Ashworth has come back from France. It also means, again, that the writers can argue that it wasn't a murder mystery because technically there was no murder. I wouldn't put that past them.
But that's not all, of course. The other cliffhanger of season two is whether the jury will find Joe Miller guilty of the murder committed in series one. I don't really see how this can end satisfactorily. If he's found guilty, then what was the point of the trial at all from a dramatic perspective? So we watched a nasty lawyer tell lies about some people; everyone (apart from the jury, it seems) knows they're rubbish, so who cares? But then if he's found not guilty, we end up with a child murderer wandering the streets, and season 3 will be a third incarnation of the same storyline.
SO MANY UNKNOWNS. But even if they're not explained, we can at least expect some nice moments from tonight's finale. I'm particularly hoping for some snarky put-downs directed at one or more of the following: Nasty Defence Lawyer, Nasty Defence Lawyer's Nasty Sidekick (along the lines of Nice Prosecution Aide's beatific smile at her followed by the line 'Abby, you're… you're a truly… horrible person'), Olly the Reporter, Claire (who if not a killer is still sinister and self-obsessed) and/or the Australian Lady Who Slept with Mark and Is Now Sleeping with The Vicar. Furthermore, I fully expect to be brimming with tears at least twice, preferably thanks to Olivia Colman, David Tennant, Jodie Whittaker, or some combination thereof.
Come on, Broadchurch. Turn it around and leave me impressed.


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Zong Unlimited Offer (LBC) has fast become a popular service. This offer allows Zong users to make Zong to Zong calls from their respective location at exciting charges all over Pakistan Ramzan is a month of giving and embracing peace & harmony. Zong celebrates the month of Ramzan and spreads joy to its valued customers during the holy month with ... Read More »
Tag Archives: Zong Location Based Charging (LBC)
Zong Revised its Location Based Charging (LBC)
Zong, that is considered the king of Location Based Charging, has revised its LBS offer for those regions where it was applicable. Read More »


text:
Title: Can You Spell "Compliance," Boys and Girls?
Source: New York Times (B1)
Author: Lawrie Mifflin
Issue: Children's Television
Description: The fall television schedule begins this week and broadcasters
must provide three hours of educational programming for children. The
programming to fulfill this federal requirement is a mixed bag. CBS will
offer "The Weird Al Show" with Weird Al Yankovic who says an educational
message never entered his mind when he set out to do the show. ABC has
retooled "101 Dalmations" with sentimental lessons on friendship and
responsibility. Fox has no new programming for kids. And NBC, the most
watched network, continues to argue that "NBA Inside Stuff" doesn't just
promote basketball, its designed to teach "life lessons." "My concern is
that they'll use these little formulas and will not really try to improve
anything or try new things," says the Center for Media Education's Kathryn
Montgomery [see <http://tap.epn.org/cme/>]. "I'm worried that they'll do the
bare minimum and hope the public complaints will eventually go away."
[See a
summary of the FCC's new rules on kidvid
Title: A Showdown In Texas On Money For the Arts
Source: New York Times (B1)
Author: Judith Dobrzynski
Issue: Arts
Description: Following similar battles in Charlotte and Greensboro, NC,
Anchorage AK, and Jackson Hole, WY, the San Antonio City Council will decide
the fate of the city's Department of Arts and Cultural Affairs (DACA) today.
DACA provides ~$2.7 million in grants annually to 39 cultural organizations,
from the San Antonio Symphony to urban mural projects. "It's an attack on
arts funding overall, the trickling down of the controversy surrounding the
National Endowment for the Arts," says DACA's director, Eduardo Diaz. "These
issues have been festering." Grass roots movements on both sides of the
battle have organized to decide San Antonio's arts funding.
Title: Persuading Young Minds to Buy
Source: Washington Post (9/9/97)
Author: Martha Hamilton
Issue: Advertising
Description: Children spend ~15 billion/year and they are probably
influential in another $160 billion/year of purchases. So, its no wonder
advertisers want to target youngsters. Marketers are looking for new venues
to reach young people -- vehicles like Disney's new children radio. Michael
Brody, a child psychiatrist, says a smaller and smaller number of
entertainment conglomerates are creating the stories that "suffuse
children's lives and are crowding out the ones they might make up for
themselves." Dr. Brody sees advertising aimed at children as an invasion of
children's fantasy life. The Center for Media Education
<http://tap.epn.org/cme/> has studied Websites and found them to be an
invasion of children's privacy as well. A new model of one-to-one marketing
is emerging on the Internet, CME reports: "The goal is not to create
advertising to appeal to a general demographic group...but to create an
individual profile, to get to know a specific user and her likes and
Title: Format Makes Rental Films Disposable
Source: New York Times (D7)
Author: Associated Press
Issue: Encryption
Description: Circuit City Stores and major film studios have reached an
agreement with makers of digital video disk players on a technology that
would create disposable rental films. Divx, an encryption technology, is
designed to prevent movie piracy. Divx-formatted films would be sold for $5
each and would be playable for 48 hours after they are placed in a digital
videodisk player. Disks should be available in test markets next spring and
nationwide next summer.
Gary Handman
Media Resources Center
Moffitt Library
UC Berkeley, CA 94720-6000


text:
David Jones, Chairperson
Program Office: Clow Faculty 401
Telephone: 920-424-3230
I. FACULTYAmeringer, Burayidi, Hintz, Jones, Mars, Reed, Schram
II. DEGREESUndergraduate: A major in Criminal Justice can lead to the degree(s): Bachelor of Arts; Bachelor of Science.
Graduate: Students who complete a major in Criminal Justice may wish to consider advanced study at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh in the Master of Public Administration program. For specifics, please see the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh Graduate Bulletin
III. SUMMARY OF FIELDS OF STUDYSee Criminal Justice
See Urban and Regional Studies
See Graduate Catalog for Master of Public Administration
Please Email email@example.com
Last Updated July 1, 1999


text:
The last couple of weeks have been tough. I did an 80k race, which is one bottle more than I'm used to carrying, and demanding too, of eating at least something. I felt good though, and went off the front. These were roads I know well, so I was able to set myself goals knowing how far I had to go, where the tough bits were, and where I had to get to with a decent gap before I could think about looking for chickens to count. I never made it, but it was close enough to give me hope: I was hovered up perhaps 2k before that point. After 25k out front on my own I was toast and slid out of the peloton willingly, happy with my day's work, but just a little sad I hadn't quite had the goods to seal the deal.
So hope sprung eternal, and with a good performance to motivate me I took a day off work and told the kids not to get into trouble while I went to set about some serious miles. The figures are meh: 130-odd k in just under 5 hours, with 2,900m of climbing. It's a tough ride, but perhaps not as tough as I made it feel. The last hour and a half's suffering was dante-esque. What was supposed to be an enjoyable romp on the bike, a confidence-builder for the hundred miler at the end of the month has had quite the reverse effect. My legs are heavy and – to be brutally honest about this – my arse is killing me.
It would be stupid to read too much into this. Often, my best form comes after my worst. I'm not going to expect too much from this weekend's racing, but I'll be listening to my body with interest. And it's finally pushed me into trying a new saddle to replace the Specialized Romin which sort-of-but-not-quite suits me. I've gone for a Bontrager Serano, which is an entirely different concept to the Romin, much more akin to the old Concors and Cinelli SLX's of my youth. We'll see how it goes. I'll be reviewing it in the future, well after I've given my arse time to get used to it.
In the meantime, I suspect I'm going to be trying to rack up k's as painlessly as possible, keeping up the training stress with consistency rather than big days. It probably won't be enough to get me to the business end of the Round the Mountain in the right position, but there's … just enough buts there to keep me hoping.
Not just the one I sit on. See what I did there?


text:
Real Madrid vs AC Milan
Competition: International Champions Cup
Match date: 30 July 2015
Kick Off Time: 13:00 BST
Venue: Shanghai Stadium
Competition: International Champions Cup
Match date: 30 July 2015
Kick Off Time: 13:00 BST
Venue: Shanghai Stadium
Real Madrid 0-0 (Pen 10-9) AC Milan (Friendly)
Real Madrid picked up another preseason trophy as they won the ICC China region after defeating Milan in penalty shoot out.
Both teams won their first game in that China Tour, so their meeting is decisive in determining which team receiving the title. AC Milan looking sharper in the first 45 minutes as they created better goal scoring opportunities compared to Madrid.
Real picked it up after the break as they're much dangerous going forward and creating chances, but couldn't score. Same goes for AC Milan that could have also won it if not for couple of brilliant saves from Madrid keeper, Kiko Casilla.
Eventually that match had to be determined by penalty shoot out and eventually it was Real Madrid that came out victorious. It was a quite long shoot out though as the score went up to 10-9 with AC Milan final kick from young goal keeper, Gianluigi Donnaruma was saved by Casilla.


text:
How To Color Hair and other FAQ's
Why should I use Manic Panic® hair color?
Manic Panic® Hair Color is a vegan semi-permanent dye fortified with conditioners that add moisture and act as a filler to hair that has been pre-lightened. There are no harmful chemicals in Manic Panic® Hair Color. Our unique formula is gentle to the hair and contains no animal by-products. Our products are Tested on Celebrities Not Animals!™
For intense results the hair should be lightened to light blonde or naturally light blonde. When applied to virgin (unprocessed) hair, results will vary according to hair texture and color. This product should not be used for dyeing eyebrows and eyelashes. If eye contact does occur, rinse immediately with warm water and contact a physician.
Manic Panic® Hair Color and Flashlightning® Kit instruct me to do a strand test before I begin. What does this mean and why do I have to do it?
A strand test is one of the most important steps before beginning a hair color or lightening process. It ensures you will get results you are happy with.It's a preliminary test to determine specifics such as processing times, possible results, and allergies. It is especially important in situations where the hair is damaged, over processed, or the intention is to attempt a dramatic alteration to the color of the hair.
Do I have to pre-lighten my hair before coloring?
Applying Manic Panic® dye to pre-lightened hair is the best way to assure that you will achieve the vibrant results that you see on our color swatches. Lightening with our Flash Lightning® Kits to a pale blonde (level 9–10) will give the most intense results.
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I have never used lightener before, should I have a professional stylist color my hair?
We always suggest having a professional stylist color your hair for the first time. If your colorist is not familiar with our product we will be more than happy to educate him or her.
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Long Island City, NY 718–937–6055
Manic Panic® West LA 323–951–1513
Email: email@example.com
What are the different results with Manic Panic® Dye on Bleached vs. Non-Bleached Hair?
If you want your hair to be as bright as the color swatch, yes you will have to bleach. Here are two examples of Hot Hot™ Pink. The Manic Panic Dyehard® on the left bleached her hair until it was a pale yellow and let the dye process for 30 minutes. Our Manic Panic Dyehard® on the right used the Hot Hot™ Pink on unbleached brown hair and left the color in for two hours.
How can I know if I am allergic to Manic Panic?
MANIC PANIC® Hair Color is PPD FREE! Here's how to perform a Patch Test:
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3) Cover the clean test area with a thin coat of the specific shade of Manic Panic® Hair Color desired.
4) Allow the test area to dry. Leave it uncovered and undisturbed for 24 hours.
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Can I use Manic Panic® Hair Color to cover grey hair?
Our darker colors will cover the grey and eventually fade to a nice pastel. Our lighter colors will add a nice hue of color. We recommend leaving the color on for at least an hour. The longer it is on the hair strand the more it will soak in. Grey hair can be very resistant for any hair color to absorb. Applying heat works well to open up the resistant cuticle layers on grey hair. Even though grey hair is light in color, it generally needs to be pre-lightened or otherwise processed in order for Manic Panic® Hair Color to work best.
Is it dangerous to dye my hair during pregnancy?
Manic Panic® Hair Color is safe to use during pregnancy. As a matter of fact, Tish did not stop coloring her hair while she was with child. She did refrain from bleaching or using any harsh chemical products.
What kind of shampoo should I use after I dye my hair to keep it colored longer?
Mild/gentle shampoos free of oils, clarifiers, sulfates, and sodium chloride are recommended.
What kind of shampoo should I use before coloring my hair with Manic Panic?
Use a clarifying or detoxifying shampoo to cleanse your hair before applying Manic Panic. (Note: Not all deep cleansing shampoos are ideal for pre–wash with MANIC PANIC® Hair Color. Anti–Dandruff shampoos and clarifying shampoos with lots of oils are not recommended; they will prevent MANIC PANIC® Hair Color from processing properly).
How long do Manic Panic® colors last? Is it the same for all the colors?
The way Manic Panic® Hair Color fades varies from person to person and from color to color. Darker colors will last longer than lighter colors. If hair is well taken care of it usually last from 4–6 weeks.
What is UV color?
We have a variety of hair color shades that are UV reactive or Glow Under Black Light.
High Voltage® Classic: Electric Banana®, Cotton Candy™ Pink, Electric Lizard™, Electric Tiger Lily™, Hot Hot™ Pink, and Red Passion™
Amplified™: Classic--Pretty Flamingo and Siren's Song, Amplified--Siren's Song, Hellfire Hot Hot™ Pink, and Cotton Candy™ Pink, Electric Lizard™
Specialized UV lights such as black lights cause substances like the hair colors to glow or fluorescent. Think of the psychedelic posters from the 70's (although you might be too young to remember them LOL). Above is an example of Electric Banana® Glowing under a black light.
Do I need to pre-lighten my hair every time before I dye my hair?
ONLY the new growth! Be careful not to overlap on hair that has already been lightened, this can cause breakage and damage the hair.
Where can I find Manic Panic® hair color?
You can order it directly from our online store via this website. Or go to Sally Beauty Supply, Ricky's NYC, Hot Topic, Spencer's Gifts. You can also call Manic Panic® NYC 718–937–6055 or Manic Panic West in L.A 323–951–1514 for a shop near you!
What is the difference between semi–permanent and permanent hair color?
A semi–permanent like MANIC PANIC® hair color does not contain any harmful chemicals and relies on natural vegan dyes that mostly sit on top of the hair. Manic Panic partially penetrates hair shaft with smaller color molecules than the permanent hair color. Permanent hair colors contain ammonia and require peroxide to penetrate and bond with the hair shaft. Our product is gentle and does not require a mixer.
I start school soon, how can I remove Manic Panic® Hair Color from of my hair?
To remove Manic Panic® Hair Color:
Hot oil treatments, hairspray, alcohol based hair products, shampooing with strong shampoos (clarifying, anti-dandruff, deep cleansing), Dawn dish soap, and exposure to water will result in gradual fading of your MANIC PANIC® Hair Color. Some of the darker colors take more time to fade than the lighter colors and can sometimes leave behind a slight tint.
Remember, if the base of your hair was pre-lightened before applying Manic Panic® Hair Color, your result after the dye fades will be lightened hair. Bleaching is permanent.
When all else fails, here is a trick that our very own Dyehard Gooby and her hair stylist use to remove that last bit of unwanted dye. It is always best to seek help from a licensed Hair Stylist (Please read all instructions carefully!):
Mix in a color bowl:
3 tbs Developer
2 tbs Lightener/bleach
2 tbs clarifying shampoo
2 tbs conditioner for dry hair
1) Put a pair of coloring gloves on.
2) Apply mixture to wet hair stopping about 1 inche away from your roots.
3) Work quickly and begin kneading the mixture into your hair starting from the ends to your root.
4) Work mixture in to hair for 5-10 minutes.
5) Rinse mixture out with warm water.
6) Shampoo and deep condition.
Remember to check hair frequently; while a "Soap Cap" is diluted a person's hair is most fragile when wet and the processing time can vary from person to person. It's always best to seek out a professional hair stylist for color removal.
Is the Manic Panic® Virgin Snow™ a hair dye?
Our Manic Panic® Virgin Snow™ is a toner, not a color. A toner works to remove unwanted pigments left behind after lightening hair. The tones in the toner will cancel out unwanted pigments that are opposite the color wheel. Manic Panic® Virgin Snow™ is a violet toner that neutralizes the unwanted yellow/orange pigments. The end result will be white hair. We recommend leaving Manic Panic® Virgin Snow™ on for several hours. The longer it is on your hair the more it will neutralize the opposite color. Applying heat, with a blow dryer, will also make it work faster. If you don't have the time then we suggest doing it twice.
Can I use Manic Panic® Flashlightning® kit to bleach my permanent colored black hair?
It is very dangerous to apply Manic Panic® Flashlightning® kit to hair colored with a permanent black color. Do not attempt to do this without the advice and direction of a professional stylist who can evaluate the condition of your hair. Lightening dyed black hair can be extremely damaging and result in major breakage!
If your hair is dyed black, some darker MANIC PANIC® dyes will give a stunning highlight (like Vampire™ Red for example) and will not damage but actually condition the hair.
On NATURAL black hair, MANIC PANIC® Flashlightning® Bleach Kit in 40 volume strength is recommended.
Got a question or anything to add to the info above? Drop us an e-mail.
-International customers: firstname.lastname@example.com
-Domestic customers: firstname.lastname@example.com
-Customer service: firstname.lastname@example.com
-All other inquiries: email@example.com
Manic Panic® hair color is the best of its kind. We use superior ingredients that are guaranteed Vegan and PPD free. MANIC PANIC® SEMI-PERMANENT HAIR COLOR contains no animal ingredients and is tested on celebrities, not animals™


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Friday, 21 May 2010
Confection In Black & Lilac...
I left a comment asking Janice could see kindly show us some close ups of the Dresses, which she very kindly did and gave the links to the sellers.
Well I went over to Ebay to have a look and the seller ickle_co, had a couple of dresses for sale.
Now I have to say that this confection in Black and Lilac really caught my eye and was called "Wicked". I could just imagine a Witch getting dressed up in this, to go off to the Halloween Ball.
Well I put in a bid and I won it.
I'm really looking forward to getting it in the post now.
Talking of Post, I had the most wonderful parcel arrive today from Nikki. It is my belated Birthday Present. I'm just trying to get some decent pictures to show you, what the little Witch sent me. I'll hopefully be back later to show you what was inside. xxxx
13 comments:
- WendiesMiniWorld said...
OOOoo thats pretty!!! am approving of purchase and liking very much ...... another thing to add to my 'want' list.... looking around blogland can be expensive LOL
- 21 May 2010 at 17:41
- Marsha (Sassy Mini Dolls) said...
Oh, WOW, this is FABULOUS, Debbie!!! Perfect name, Wicked!!
- 21 May 2010 at 17:45
- The Old Maid said...
Beauttiful dress! Congrats, Debbie! And yes yes please show us what Nikki sent you! I am so curious:)
- 21 May 2010 at 17:56
- Whittaker's Miniatures said...
Oh how funny Debbie! i looked at the dress to and was tempted to bid but resisted and anyone who knows me knows thats unusual so that was lucky or id have been bidding against you!!!It looks beautiful cant wait to see what you think when it arrives. oooh yes what did Nikki buy you????xxxxKate xx
- 21 May 2010 at 19:22
- Glenda said...
What a fabulous dress!!
- 21 May 2010 at 19:26
- brae said...
Wow! Gorgeous! Congrats on a fine acquisition. :D
- 21 May 2010 at 19:58
- Liberty Biberty said...
What a gorgeous little dress! I don't think I should let Liberty see it or she'll want me to make a life sized one for her.
- 21 May 2010 at 20:24
- Bear cabin miniatures said...
Fabalous dress! It's so pretty, I love it :0)
Julia xxx
- 21 May 2010 at 20:27
- Mooghiscath said...
waouh !
- 21 May 2010 at 20:45
- Peach Blossom Hill said...
Wow, that is a beatiful fluffy witch's evening gown. What a grand thing to own!
- 21 May 2010 at 20:51
- Norma said...
That is a stunning dress!!
- 22 May 2010 at 00:28
- kibbygirl said...
oh you lucky girl! that is a wonderful dress. it's just what I would imagine when I think 'gown'!
- 22 May 2010 at 02:46
- rosanna said...
This dress is fabulous !!!! I totally agree with Marsha! I'd like one in real size for me !
- 22 May 2010 at 19:09


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Joe Davison necessitava di un nuovo design di logo e ha lanciato un contest su 99designs.
È stato scelto un vincitore tra 249 design presentati da 93 designer.
We are looking to a top quality logo for our latest project, Storage.com, a major hub for the self storage industry.
Desired Color Scheme:
Black, Brown, Blue
Desired Style:
Bold, Strong, Established, Trusted, Secure
Accepted File Formats:
Vector Formats (.eps, .pdf or .ai); Layered Formats (.psd or .tiff)
Storage.com serves the self storage / mini storage / storage facility industry as a comprehensive resource for users who are searching for storage.
We are in need of a simple, high quality logo.
- The logo should contain the text "Storage.com"
- The ".com" should be the same size and just as prominent as the word "Storage", and they should not be split up.
- An additional graphical element can be added that depicts storage garages and/or boxes, e.g.
Some example industry logos:
Preferred color schemes should consist of strong bold colors, including black, brown, and/or blue.
Maggiori informazioni su come funziona un contest di design o sui nostri servizi di design di logo.


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For my first post as an excited new member of the Limebird team, I thought I would share a few ideas for games and activities that you can do with children to help stimulate their interest in creative writing and storytelling.
1) Alphabet Story – Write the letters of the alphabet on individual pieces of card and place them face down. A complete story must be told in 26 sentences. The first child picks up a card and tells the first sentence of the story using that letter to start the first word. Each child takes a turn adding a sentence to the story, starting with whichever letter they pick up. Whoever picks up the last letter must finish off the story with their line.
2) The Description Game – Print off or cut out from magazines some pictures of unusual characters or landscape/room scenes. Place them face down without the children having seen them. The first child randomly picks one of the pictures, and without showing it to the others, starts to describe the picture whilst the other children draw what is being described. They must only draw what is described without adding anything extra. At the end, they will enjoy comparing how close their drawings are to the original picture. This helps to teach them the significance of detail in descriptions. It works best when the child who is describing cannot see what is being drawn by the others until the end.
3) Fold and write – Each child has a piece of paper and a pen. Instruct them to each write a boys name at the top of the paper and then fold the top over to hide the name and pass their paper round to the next person. They should then write a girl's name, and again fold it over and pass it on. Then carry on in the same way with naming a place they have gone to, something that happened when they got there, something that the boy said, something that the girl said, and what happened in the end. When finished, open them all up and each person takes a turn telling one of the stories.
4) Sentimental objects – Place a number of small objects into a bag. Tell the children that one at a time, they must reach into the bag and pull out whatever the first object is that they touch. They then have to imagine that this object is something that is very special and precious to them, and they have to tell the story of the object, starting "This object is very special to me because…". The fun is in the choice of objects; rather than choosing obviously precious objects, go for things like a screwed up tissue, a broken pencil, a sock with a hole in it etc.
5) Something out of nothing – Print off or cut out some pictures of mundane activities, such as a lady drinking a cup of tea, a man sitting in a chair, a cat eating (advertisements can be a good source for these pictures). Tell the children that they are all going to be journalists. Each one must choose a picture and then write a news story based on the picture. They must make a mundane activity sound interesting and newsworthy. You may need to have done a sample one yourself beforehand to show them e.g. 'The residents of a small sleepy village were shocked when they saw Mary Smith (43) drinking a cup of tea in her garden. Neighbour John (52) said "I couldn't believe it when I saw what she was doing, she had a brown cup, full to the top with tea, and was sipping it slowly". A close friend revealed that this was not the first time Mary had been seen drinking tea'. The children should come up with a snappy headline for their story, and stick the picture on to the page. All the stories can then be clipped together into a finished newspaper.
Do you have any other ideas for games and activities that encourage creative writing in children?
Editor's note – If you would like to learn more about LimebirdVanessa, you can do so here – Meet The Team B x


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Iowa boy receives prosthetic arms
We first blogged about Aaron's story back in May. KCCI in Des Moines has the latest on Aaron in this story from a couple weeks ago:
A 10-year-old boy who has captured the hearts of Iowans continues working with his new prosthetic arms. Aaron Hynes was born with Holt-Oram syndrome that causes deformities in the upper limbs. Aaron said he loves having the new prosthetics. It's also an adjustment.


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I have been reading The Sun King's Garden by Ian Thompson. Inspired by the Sun King I dropped everything on the first warm day and headed off to Lowes and Home Depot for plants. I spent the last two weeks planting and getting the garden in shape which left little time to work on my Sun King project.
I really like decoupage and wanted to do another project. I also wanted to do another historic project. Brittany really liked the Marie Antoinette chest and asked for a similar one with the Sun King. Since she thinks "the Sun King is awesome" I chose him as my decoupage project. The project is taking longer than I anticipated so I am posting it as a work in progress. I will post the work as it progresses and the directions when the piece is finally finished.
Small wooden chest-sanded and varnished
Drawers-painted slate gray and accented with gold
Chest painted and varnished.
Picture of Louis XIV decoupaged on top of the chest.
Decorative elements molded from polymer clay


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- Thomas Frank reviews Zephyr Teachout's Corruption in America, and finds there's even more reason to worry about gross wealth buying power than we could identify before:
We think of all the laws passed over the years to restrict money in politics — and of all the ways the money has flowed under and around those restrictions. And finally, it seems to me, we just gave up out of sheer exhaustion.- Matt O'Brien highlights Richard Reeves and Isabel Sawhill's research into the gross inequality of opportunity in the U.S. by comparing the income levels of college graduates from poor families to those of high-school dropouts from wealthy ones. And Patricia Kozicka reports that Edmonton schools are putting their thumbs on the scale against the poor even further - withholding such basic aspects of social participation as lunch breaks from students whose families can't afford extra fees.
According to Teachout, however, it's much worse than this. Our current Supreme Court, in Citizens United, "took that which had been named corrupt for over 200 years" — which is to say, gifts to politicians — "and renamed it legitimate." Teachout does not exaggerate. Here is Justice Kennedy again, in the Citizens United decision: "The censorship we now confront is vast in its reach. The government has 'muffle[d] the voices that best represent the most significant segments of the economy.' "You read that right: The economy needs to be represented in democratic politics, or at least the economy's "most significant segments," whatever those are, and therefore corporate "speech," meaning gifts, ought not to be censored. Corporations now possess the rights that the founders reserved for citizens, and as Teachout explains, what used to be called "corruption becomes democratic responsiveness."Let me pause here to take note of another recurring peculiarity in corruption literature: an eerie overlap between theory and practice. If you go back to that "censorship" quotation from Kennedy, you will notice he quotes someone else: his colleague Antonin Scalia, in an opinion from 2003. Google the quote and one place you'll find it is in a book of Scalia's opinions that was edited in 2004 by none other than the lobbyist Kevin Ring, an associate of Jack Abramoff who would later be convicted of corrupting public officials....State governments subject to wealthy corporations? Check. Speculators in legislation, infesting the capital? They call it K Street. And that fancy Latin remark about Rome? They do say that of us today. Just turn on your TV sometime and let the cynicism flow.And all of it has happened, Teachout admonishes, because the founders' understanding of corruption has been methodically taken apart by a Supreme Court that cynically pretends to worship the founders' every word. "We could lose our democracy in the process," Teachout warns, a bit of hyperbole that maybe it's time to start taking seriously.
- Meanwhile, Ellie Mae O'Hagan examines Bolivia's experience as an example of a more fair distribution of wealth leading to economic and social improvements:
According to a report by the Centre for Economic and Policy Research (CEPR) in Washington, "Bolivia has grown much faster over the last eight years than in any period over the past three and a half decades." The benefits of such growth have been felt by the Bolivian people: under Morales, poverty has declined by 25% and extreme poverty has declined by 43%; social spending has increased by more than 45%; the real minimum wage has increased by 87.7%; and, perhaps unsurprisingly, the Economic Commission on Latin America and the Caribbean has praised Bolivia for being "one of the few countries that has reduced inequality". In this respect, the re-election of Morales is really very simple: people like to be economically secure – so if you reduce poverty, they'll probably vote for you.- Meanwhile, Tony Burman notes that ill-advised austerity is exacerbating the spread of ebola in all kinds of countries - including the ones who wrongly presumed they didn't need to prepare for it.
- Glen McGregor reports on how Canada's opposition parties are increasing their use of data analytics in the lead up to the 2015 election.
- But of course, changes in party voting will only translate into policy improvement if people are willing to demand that it be followed up with real change. On that front, Thomas Walkom challenges the opposition parties to make clear which of the Cons' destructive policies they'll reverse. And Jim Coyle's review of Michael Harris' Party of One reminds us why we need a new government to restore a commitment to democracy in the face of Stephen Harper's contempt for the idea.


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Carmel--it's pronounced CAR-muhl, which used to be the way you could spot outsiders, but that's been the standard waggish pronunciation, like tar-zhay for Target™, for so long I catch myself doing it sometimes--is the Queen of Hamilton County, which keeps repeating that it's the Fastest Growing County in Indiana as though that meant Still Plenty o' Good Arable Bottom Land Left and not McMansions and strip malls everywhere there isn't already a golf course. They don't add And The Wealthiest nearly as often, unless they're sure you're one of their kind or are interested in leasing some prime retail space. But they're entitled to that one, too.
As I recall it, Indiana was the first state in the nation to complete its portion of the Interstate Highway system, including 465, the ring around what was then mostly suburban or still rural Marion county, which the city of Indianapolis would annex in short order. This facilitated White Flight right out of the county, and the sleepy little village of Carmel, and the nearby, even sleepier, whistle stops of Fishers and Westfield, were among the major beneficiaries, doubly so since Indianapolis' Old Money has always resided on the Northside.
It's a solid Republican area--in fact "solid" seems to weak a word there--and has been, probably, since Lincoln won the War, as John Prine once put it. This circumstance was not noticeably altered by the influx of thousands of middle-to-upper class white people.
You can add to the mix Central Indiana's own Chinatown; the sharpers who ran the Water Company from the 1920s picked Hamilton County as the spot for their new reservoir(s) (at one point the plan--Caution: Army Corps of Engineers At Work!--was to flood a full third of the county). In the end Congress refused to fund the plan, and the Water Company had to content itself with the profits from land around the reservoir they rather astutely turned into a housing development before the county could take it over for a nature preserve. Fishers and Westfield were a little slower getting into the game, but now it's a race to annex the most land before it's all gone, the better to collect water and sewage charges for the rest of perpetuity.
It's been a grand enough spectator sport for the occasional viewer with a sardonic outlook and no tax liabilities at stake, wondering when the whole damn thing would blow up and who'd catch the shrapnel. Long-time readers of this blog with nothing important on their minds might even remember our coverage of the tail end of the Connor Prairie Boondoggle, in which an outdoor laboratory-type living history museum wholly owned by Earlham College, a Quaker institution in Richmond, IN, was wrested from it with the help of Indiana's Republican Attorney General Steve Carter, who stepped in when a lot of Fishers muckety-mucks thought its full commercial potential wasn't being realized. Carter had absolutely no standing to get involved, but he did have an eye towards higher office and a nose for where the campaign contributions required to get there might be located, which is at least 9/10 of the law. As a result, Earlham parted with the museum, which is now in the hands of the sort of people who spend every moment, up to two hours daily, raising funds by selling the wealthy tax-deductible dinners, and--coincidentally, we're sure--a small section of land has been set aside for a much-needed condominium development. At the end of this season the Racist Star glowingly reported that fundraising efforts had set a new record, which is about as surprising as finding that porn sites had proven popular with frat boys. Our personal involvement is limited to the fact that the move to expel the insufficiently commercial Friends was spearheaded by Berkley Duck III, Esq., whom we wouldn't have had the courage to invent.
But if we imagined that the inevitable distant explosion we hoped to live long enough to hear someday would be caused by insufficient infrastructure, shoddy home construction, empty retail space, or, at the outside, water riots, we've had to content ourselves mostly with the six-to-eight legal battles over incontinent annexation that've been going on for a decade now. That is, we did, until late last week.
Because now word has arrived that Car-MEHL has a bit of spending difficulty, unrelated to the general economic malaise. It's more in the vein of Predictable Result of Guaranteed One-Party Republican Rule for Generations. A little over a year ago the soon-to-be-facing-the-necessity-of-buying-airtime-for-eight-solid-months-of-campaign-ads Daniels administration agreed to pay the city $90 mil to take over four miles of Keystone Avenue (Highway 431). Carmel Mayor Jim Brainard announced that this was sufficient funding to allow the city to build six more of its beloved traffic roundabouts, which are sort of a public transportation version of domed stadiums, except with speeding morons coming at you from three directions at once. Evidently what Carmel loves about traffic roundabouts is that they are so utterly unfamiliar to anyone who doesn't (or wouldn't be allowed to) live there that a large percentage of outsiders is likely to die horrible flaming late-model-domestic-vehicle deaths, or stay the hell away after a loved one has. It's a sort of PC replacement for their long-standing tradition of arresting anyone caught driving while Black. The damn things are bad enough when you're traveling Carmel's own surface streets; now they're putting them in on a major north-south thoroughfare which used to belong to the state, which, of course, had previously stymied anything that looked like change, progress, or just vaguely European.
Or that is they were, until Brainard (who'd been reelected--there's a shocker--a year ago while promising not a cent of Carmelite money was needed) turned up asking for $58 million worth of those cents, as the project was 1/3 completed and the money 1/2 gone. And it turned out that, oh--seat belts fastened?--he sorta might have known about this all along, and that $112 million had been the low-ball figure he'd actually been given.
Brainard, to his credit--his credit as a Republican politician, I mean--insists that he never tried to low-ball the plan to his constituents, but was merely misinformed. And overly optimistic that $112 mil could be made to look like $90 mil if one simply wished hard enough, and whistled while crossing any graveyards. And he says he withheld the shortfall until now because he wanted to make sure all the numbers were in before he said anything. The city council, for its part, begins feigning shock, shock! at this wholly unexpected turn of events it had been helping to keep quiet since February.
This comes on the heels of the public collapse six weeks ago of the private-funding cover story for the $80 million asterisk Carmel Performing Arts Center. $70 mil of that public money is already spent; the $40-60 million expected to pay for the limestone façade and skylight, and other classy upgrades, which was supposed to come from private fundraising, is so far roughly $38-$58 million short of its goal. The Redevelopment Commission has ponied up a needed $45,000,000.
Now, again, the only thing that's surprising, to me, is that this was learned not thirty years after the fact, when a dead call-girl's diary was opened or a papier-mâché bridge collapsed, but here and now, about a seated government. And the most entertaining feature, thanks to the Racist Star's new practice of putting reader comments right at the end of stories, instead of making you click a link for them, and thereby having time to steel yourself, has been the die-hard Republican excuse mongering, which has included "this shouldn't be news in an Indianapolis paper!" (the old Love It Or Leave It ploy with a special reverse twist), and the suggestion--which comes, mind you, from someone standing in the wreckage of Reagan-Friedmanomics and, possibly, with a view from his office window of the fifth publicly-finanaced sports palace we've built in the last thirty years, or maybe just the spot where we've torn down one or are tearing down another--that Brainard had somehow "turned into a Democrat."


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Hispanic Studies Semester
Students who study abroad in Barcelona in the Hispanic Studies Program complete one Spanish language class and choose an additional 4 culture courses for a total of 12 semester credits.
Intermediate, advanced, and superior level Spanish speakers who participate in an academic year program and complete 2 culture courses and an additional section of a culture course per term during the year will receive the Diploma de Estudios Hispánicos.
Language and Culture Summer
This program is intended for students who want to study abroad in Barcelona and improve their Spanish language skills in an immersion setting. Level of language study is based on a placement exam administered upon arrival by the University of Barcelona. The culture portion of the language course focuses on key aspects related to Spanish History, Art and Literature in its periods of greatest splendor and character (Middle Ages, Siglo de Oro, Art and Culture in the 20th century). Visits to some of the major cultural sites in Barcelona are part of the course.
Barcelona is a city of contradictions: old and new intertwined, beautiful and industrial, traditional and avant-garde. Bordered by France to the north and the Mediterranean Sea to the east, Barcelona is one of the most 'European' of Spanish cities. Barcelona is a very cosmopolitan city that combines the latest trends with the most typical Spanish traditions.
Although Spaniards from Barcelona speak both Spanish and Catalán, the mixture of local residents and international visitors makes it an easy city to understand and make yourself understood. Barcelona exposes students to several cultures, languages, and world views; but then, what else could be expected from the marvelously complex city of Barcelona?
301 Camp Craft Road
301 Camp Craft Road


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We finished up our place value unit with a few games. This one is called "Roll & Record". Super simple...roll a 'dice in dice' and record the number in the box. Draw a picture using tens and one to represent. Talk about a hit!
This week we were alive and kicking! It was our first time to fully implement our daily routine `meshed together with our reading group rotations and we totally *rocked* it out! Y'all, this teacher was SO proud of my firsties and how well they handled the transition.
We dove into matter this week. This experiment was such a great way to show how matter takes up space. They were amazed by how the water moved! Oh the little things in life!
We began our skip counting unit too. Most of my kiddos are pros at counting by tens so I decided to challenge them a bit with a cup stacking challenge! HUGE hit!
****Post with freebies to come next week!
Here's how we practiced our skip counting by 2's. I will definitely need to leave these up for awhile. Good thing they are all clean!!
Be on the lookout next week for a post dedicated just to our practices of skip counting with lots of freebies!
Enjoy the much deserved weekend!