text:
The Game Plan
Before we jump into Python code, we need to develop the idea behind our game. Nothing complex is needed for our game, since its purpose is just to reinforce the basics of PyGame and demonstrate how to put them to use. With that said, let's move into the idea. The idea is to have the player at the bottom of the screen with the ability to move horizontally. Horizontal movement will be required to dodge incoming objects that will constantly be hurled at the player at fast speeds. Picture the player as a ship having to navigate at high speeds (which will be essentially an illusion, since the player will not be moving vertically; the incoming objects will) and dodge mines or enemy ships.
However, to give it an added degree of complexity and to make it more dynamic, levels will be stored as Python objects. Each level object will be responsible for loading the required images and laying them out in a layout list. The layout list will contain many more lists as elements that correspond to rows of objects. So, for example, picture a layout list as looking something like this:
[[0, 0, 0, 0],
[1, 0, 1, 0],
[1, 0, 1, 0],
[1, 0, 1, 0],
[0, 0, 0, 0]]
A zero would be mapped to a blank space, and a one would be mapped to an object of some sort. The result would look something like this, to draw a very rough sketch with gridlines for visibility:
The green block represents the player, and the red blocks represent the objects that the player is required to dodge. We would simply have to move the objects down and see if the player has collided with any of the objects.
Of course, since the levels would be generated by Python classes that determine what the images are and how they are positioned, levels would not be limited to the mine-dodging scenario I presented earlier. You could have a fish dodging sharks or a spaceship dodging asteroids if you felt inclined to do so.
Also, it's possible to create random object layouts or images using this method. This way, levels could be different each time they are played.
{mospagebreak title=Preparing a Level}
Let's start by making a level and building the game around it. The idea is to create the level out of an object that loads the required images and returns the layout list described in the last section. Before we do that, though, let's create a class from which all level classes can be derived. That way, we can organize things a bit better:
class Level:
def getPlayer(self):
def getObjects(self):
def getLayout(self):
def getBackground(self):
Save the script as levelbase.py.
With the actual levels that come from the Level class, our game will be concerned with four methods: getPlayer, getObjects, getLayout and getBackround. The first method will be responsible for returning the player's image. The second method will be responsible for returning a list of the images of the objects involved. The third method will be responsible for returning the layout list. The final method returns the background image, but it will also need to return the number of rows visible on the screen at a time. This way, we can divide up the background and figure out how long each space will be. The width of each space will be determined by measuring how big the first element (which will be a list itself, of course) is inside of the layout list.
Each element of the layout list will be a number. Zero will represent a blank space, and one and above will represent objects. These objects will be based on images obtained from getObjects, but since the list index will start at zero, we'll have to subtract from each of the elements in getLayout to obtain the proper image. So, to express this in more basic terms, a value of 1 in getLayout would correspond to the first object in getObjects (0), and a value of 2 in getLayout would correspond to the second object in getObjects (1).
{mospagebreak title=Creating a Level}
Now, we're ready to create a level for our game. Name this asteroid.py:
import levelbase
import pygame
class Level(levelbase.Level):
def getPlayer(self):
return pygame.image.load('ship.gif')
def getObjects(self):
return [pygame.image.load('asteroid.gif')]
def getLayout(self):
return [[1, 1, 1, 1, 0, 0, 1, 1, 1, 1],
[0, 1, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 1, 0],
[1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1],
[0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0],
[0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0],
[1, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0],
[1, 1, 1, 0, 0, 0, 1, 1, 0, 0],
[0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1],
[0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0],
[1, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0],
[1, 1, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0]]
def getBackground(self):
return pygame.image.load('background.gif'), 5
As you can see, we simply return the required images, along with the layout list and the number of rows that will be visible at once. This particular level goes with one of the ideas I described above: a spaceship dodging asteroids. Here are the images that the level references:
Notice how the background is not solid, but, rather, it's an image. Because of this, we can't simply erase a sprite by drawing a solid-colored Surface object over it. Instead, we have to get the original background image that the sprite replaced and then draw it over the sprite. Thankfully, this is very simple, and we'll look at how it's done later on.
{mospagebreak title=Sprite Definitions}
Next, we'll need to define the classes for player sprites as well as object sprites. Since the player sprite has no ability to move vertically, it will only have to be moved by its x-position. So, the player class's update method will only need to accept the amount its x-position needs to move. Likewise, because objects will have a static x-position, the object class's update method will only need to accept the amount to update the y-position. Also, our game will move objects by their center positions, not by their upper-left corners. We'll use centerx and centery rather than x and y.
import pygame
class Player(pygame.sprite.Sprite):
def __init__(self, image, xCenter, yCenter):
self.screen = pygame.display.get_surface().get_rect()
self.image = image
self.rect = self.image.get_rect()
self.rect.centerx = xCenter
self.rect.centery = yCenter
def update(self, xAmount):
self.rect = self.rect.move([xAmount, 0])
# Check to see if we have gone offscreen
if (self.rect.x < 0) or (self.rect.x >= self.screen.width):
self.rect = self.rect.move([-xAmount, 0])
class Object(pygame.sprite.Sprite):
def __init__(self, image, xCenter):
self.image = image
self.rect = self.image.get_rect()
self.rect.centerx = xCenter
def update(self, yAmount):
self.rect = self.rect.move([0, yAmount])
Save the script as gamesprites.py. We'll import it as a module when we need to create the sprites for our game. The Player class accepts three arguments when it is initialized: the player image, its center x-position and its center y-position. Note that the player image will already be loaded onto a Surface object by the level, so there's no need to load it again. The Object class only accepts two arguments, the object's image and the center x-position. Since all objects will start at the top of the screen, there's no need to accept any y-position. The update methods simply accept the amount the sprites need to move, with each class moving in a different direction, as described before. Additionally, the Player class checks to see if the sprite has gone off the screen. If it has, we undo any movement to put it back on the screen.
The Internals
The functional code of the game will make up its own module, and related Python instructions will be grouped into the module's methods. This is so we can customize the game later on by importing the module, calling whatever methods we need to call, and passing whatever level we want to play rather than modifying the internals of the game. Using this method of organizing the game, it's possible to add extra features such as a menu rather than limiting it to one game. This also allows us to create custom "Game Over" or success screens rather than relying on a generic one or modifying the internals to create a more specific one. We could also create either a linear or semi-dynamic campaign by going this route.


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subset: commoncrawl


text:
It didn't take long for Anquan Boldin to make his presence known.
The first ball quarterback Joe Flacco threw in the wide receiver's direction ended up as a 21-yard completion that led to a Billy Cundiff 48-yard field goal and a seven-point lead that the Ravens eventually turned into a 20-13 win against the Houston Texans Sunday in an AFC divisional playoff game at M&T Bank Stadium.
It was quite an entrance for Boldin, who was playing in his first game after sitting out the final two contests of the regular season due to surgery to repair a partially torn meniscus in his knee.
"Yeah, I felt good," Boldin said. "I went to Joe before...


text:
October 6, 2012
Press the 'CC' button on the video to turn on subtitles. These are the guys the Obama administration is funding with hundreds of millions of dollars in taxpayer money.
"We started our holy war here and won't finish until this (Jihadis Banner) will be raised on top of the White House. Keep funding them, you always do that, remember? Al Qaeda for instance."
FLASHBACK: New Video Shows Obama-Backed Syrian Rebels Burning U.S. Flag
FLASHBACK: Video: Syrian Rebels Burn American Flag
FLASHBACK: French Surgeon: Half of Rebels In Syria Are Al-Qaeda Terrorists


text:
I tried to get KCRW General Manager Jennifer Ferro to take the bait when I interviewed her last week before the groundbreaking for the influential Santa Monica public radio station's $28 million new home.
"KPCC moved to its fancy new digs in Pasadena a couple of years ago, and now you guys. Does this mean war?"
"No, no, no," she said. "It doesn't have anything to do with KPCC. Their old building was horrible, too. For 15 years KCRW has been bursting at the seams; now we finally get to move on."
OK, Ferro's too smart to put the words inside quotation marks. So I'll just have to do it for her: KCRW and KPCC are arch-rivals in the most important radio market in the nation. These very different public radio stations are competing not just for listeners but for influence and for big money, both from their listeners and from foundations. In the age of the app, their weak broadcast signals aren't the issue anymore. I can, and do, listen to both of their digital feeds through my phone anywhere in the world. So do a lot of people, often through podcasts of individual shows. A whole new kind of pledge drive is possible when everyone on Earth rather than a few thousand liberals in L.A. is a potential donor.
Public radio listenership is minuscule compared with drive-time AM news or the Latino talk and music powerhouses. And the new digital feeds make the Arbitron rankings almost meaningless. Something like 8,000 people tune in to KCRW in any given 15 minutes; 20,000 is the number for KPCC. Yet these are wealthy, informed, highly educated people, and the stations and the sponsors who increasingly make public radio possible have their ear.
KPCC, which switched over to an all news and information format a few years back, has the bigger numbers thanks to its strivingly middle-of-the-road "No rant, no slant" programming and its broadcasting more public radio syndicated favorites — "Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me," "Prairie Home Companion" and even those godawful "Car Talk" reruns. The cutting-edge music shows KCRW specializes in, especially its daily three-hour "Morning Becomes Eclectic," put off mainstream pop listeners. But they are the most significant programming anywhere for the Los Angeles tastemakers who choose songs for movies and commercials. And since that's about the only way indie bands can make a living in the streaming era as sales have plummeted, a KCRW gig is highly coveted.
With this new building, funded mostly by a Santa Monica College construction bond but also by tens of millions of dollars in donations from wealthy foundations and rich Westsiders, those musicians will finally be playing in a KCRW facility worthy of its influence. GM Ferro told me that every day of her 20 years at the station visitors told her they couldn't believe the powerful cultural force came from a cramped college basement almost impossible to find. In the three decades I have been listening, staff has grown from 14 to 110 in the same space. At completion in 2016, they'll have hit the big time.
Many of us who listen relentlessly to both KCRW and KPCC don't realize how lucky L.A. is to have these rivals; no other city in the country has two such powerful and such very different NPR affiliates. The politics of the relationship are fascinating, from KPCC snatching Sandra Tsing Loh from KCRW years ago after an F-bomb was left unedited to KCRW nabbing the great talk host Madeleine Brand after KPCC inexplicably insulted her with a needless co-host. Both have finally burst out of tiny community college basements into the world. The Eastside/Westside tension makes for a Golden Age of L.A. radio, and next week I'll analyze the programming to show how and why.
Larry Wilson is a member of the Los Angeles News Group editorial board. firstname.lastname@example.com.


text:
The York College men's swim squad enters the 2007-08 season with the highest expectations in school history. The Spartans enter the campaign with a dual meet win streak of 18 straight as they have not lost a meet since November of 2006. The green and white return a wealth of talent including seven All-CAC performers, combined with a stellar recruiting class, making the Spartans one of the top teams in the Capital Athletic Conference and the region.
Senior Steve Fulcher, juniors Matt Jennings and Garrett Higgins, and sophomores Steve Doemland and Clark Arnold return to headline a team that is as talented and as deep as any in Spartan school history.
Fulcher is a strong contender for the conference title in both the 50 and 100 freestyle and the 100 and 200 backstroke. Fulcher won the CAC 100 backstroke title as a freshman and a sophomore while he finished last season second in the 50 free. Jennings returns to the lineup looking to defend his 2007 CAC titles in the 100 backstroke and the 100 freestyle. Doemland was another conference winner for the Spartans as he looks to defend his 500 freestyle championship this year. Arnold is another one of the Spartans' top performers after he finished second in the butterfly at last season's championships.
Spartan head coach Gina McHenry, a three-time CAC Coach-of-the-Year, is very excited about the potential of this year's squad.
"Our team goals this year are very simple," states McHenry. "We want to go undefeated in the regular season, win the Capital Athletic Conference championship, and qualify swimmers for the national championship meet. Each swimmer on our team has a role to play in achieving these team goals. As coaches, we will push them to succeed both individually, and as a team."
The Spartans open the season on Oct. 27 at Hood College. York opens the home campaign on Nov. 3.


text:
© 2015 - Columbia Pictures
Running Time: 104 min.
Release Date: May 29, 2015
DVD: August 25, 2015
Netflix: May 1, 2019
Current rating:
based on 1478 votes and 39 reviews
Rate Movie | Read all user reviews
Cast: Bradley Cooper, Emma Stone, Rachel McAdams, Bill Murray, John Krasinski, Danny McBride, Alec Baldwin, Jaeden Lieberher
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text:
Introduction to the Marantz AV7701
The preamp and processor market for the home theater used to be more vibrant than it is now. There were a larger variety of products to pick from, and more from boutique manufacturers as well. The shift to HDMI for everything has led to a reduction here, as the issues that come about from using HDMI make it harder to make a new processor from scratch. With this limitation, it makes the market for these unfortunately ripe for vendors to charge a premium due to the smaller number of options available.
Thankfully Marantz came out with their AV7005 processor a few years ago, which contains almost all of the high-end processing and features that people wanted, but at a lower price-point than almost any processor out there. Now Marantz has some back with the AV7701, a replacement for the AV7005 that brings it up to date with the modern streaming functions of current receivers and processors, and adds a few nice other touches as well while keeping that aggressive price-point. Has this update let Marantz keep this little niche to themselves again? I swapped the AV7701 in for my AV7005 to see if I could tell a difference between the two.
- Design: 7.2 A/V Preamp/Processor
- Codecs: All, Including Audyssey MultEQXT, DSX, Dynamic EQ, Dynamic Volume
- DACs: 24/192
- DSP: Analog Devices ADSP21487
- Video Connections: HDMI 1.4a (6 Rear In, 1 Front In, 3 Out), Component (3 In, 1 Out), Composite (4 In, 2 Out), No S-Video
- Audio Connections: RCA Stereo (6 In, 1 Out), Optical (2 In, Coaxial Digital (2 In, 7.1 Multi-channel (1 In, 1 Unbalanced Pre-out, 1 Balanced Pre-out), USB (1 Front)
- Other Connections: Ethernet (Internet Radio, DLNA, Streaming and Firmware), 12V triggers (2), RS-232, IR (1 In), 2nd Zone (HDMI, Composite Video, Component Video, Stereo Audio), 3rd Zone (Stereo Audio), Headphone Jack (6.3mm), AirPlay
- Dimensions: 7.4″ H x 17.3″ W x 16″ D
- Weight: 21.6 Pounds
- Marantz
- SECRETS Tags: Marantz, Processors, 7.2
Design and Setup of the Marantz AV7701
Moving from the AV7005 to the AV7701 was quick and easy, but it also made the changes in features all the more apparent. The output jacks are now gold plated, which is a nice touch, but they are also no longer color-coded for multichannel. I'm not sure if many people besides me use that to hook up cables correctly, but it is a small change. There's a small reduction in analog video inputs as well, but with an increase in HDMI inputs, I doubt anyone is going to miss them. The update to three HDMI outputs, one of which serves a second zone, is nice to see. I found that the HDMI inputs were a bit tight and I would think I had inserted a cable fully only to discover it was still slightly hanging out.
The larger additions are in the audio streaming features that Marantz has added to the AV7701. AirPlay has gone from an optional feature to a built-in function, and Spotify support has been added as well. Marantz has also added support for scaling content to 4K resolutions, though like most people I have no way to test this feature out yet. The iOS apps have also been updated and made it a bit easier to use, and there is an Android version as well.
A big improvement with the Marantz AV7701 is the setup process. Now after you connect it and power it on initially, you are prompted for what devices you have connected. This helps to pare down the selection of inputs on the front panel when switching, as well as name them correctly, and it is a logical feature to have. The AV receiver is probably the most complex device in a system to configure, so anything to improve that is welcome.
Marantz has also improved upon the web interface, where you can connect to the AV7701 from a computer on your home network to do lots of the setup. This is useful, but fell short in a couple areas that would have made it even better. First, I can't able to log into Spotify from the web, and had to enter my credentials with the remote. If you've become paranoid about your passwords recently like I have, making them longer and more complex, it takes a long time with a remote. Doing this from the web GUI seems very logical to me. Strangely enough, you can do this from the iOS app, but not the web browser.
I also don't enjoy having to establish another account to save radio stations on the AV7701. I have enough accounts already; I'd just like to save a few radio stations to the memory and not need a new login to do so. Finally, a couple features in the GUI are mislabeled, like "Search Podcasts" is really "Browse Podcasts", which is totally different. Once again, on the iOS control you can easily save a favorite without logging into another account. It seems the iOS and Android apps are ahead of the web interface now, though I'd like to see the web option catch up.
Overall, setup of the AV7701 is quick and efficient with the new setup routine; though a firmware update takes over half an hour to do, so plan ahead for that. I ran Audyssey, which has the same setup routine as always, and then was ready to go. The Marantz does provide some nice graphs of the Audyssey adjustments, seen below.
The Marantz AV7701 In Use
Right off the bat I went to Sea Change from Beck to see how Audyssey performs. I've never been a fan of Audyssey and two-channel audio. Recently I've moved into a better listening room, and I was hopeful that if it had to make adjustments they would be smaller in nature. My initial impression is that imaging is much improved over prior implementations of Audyssey, even in the AV7005 that I own.
Vocals and instruments can be located in the soundstage better, instead of being really diffuse in nature. The bass seems to be toned down quite a bit, and disabling Audyssey did bring that back up. While bass is louder with Audyssey disengaged, it also is flabby and loose. I find myself preferring the tightness of the corrected bass, and left it engaged. For the first time, I actually left Audyssey enabled with stereo music. Now this can easily have be the better room, but even with the AV7005 I keep disabling it, so to my ears the AV7701 has improved upon the performance of Audyssey from the prior model.
The phenomenal SACD of Wish You Were Here sounds good, though a bit different. The opening of "Welcome to the Machine" is set deep back in the center of the soundstage, far more distant than I am used to it sounding. At the start of "Wish You Were Here", the audible cough comes out clear and precisely located, and once the song kicks in the details are clear as our recent sunny days. The best aspect of the Marantz is a clear and seamless transition between speakers. As sounds move around me, and across the front of the room, there are no gaps between speakers, or mismatches in level or sound. It throws out a very clear, coherent soundstage that lacks transitions or breaks. With an enveloping mix like the Pink Floyd album, it is wonderful job at sucking you into the space.
The best soundtrack I've heard this year has come from Zero Dark Thirty, the film detailing the search for Osama bin Laden. There are many scenes set in crowded markets and other environments that the film really places you into, and makes you really feel like you are in that space. There are also surprising explosions and assassination attempts that call for quick dynamic surges, as well as the near silent raid on the bin Laden compounds at the end. With all of these varied environments the Marantz didn't disappoint and I stayed engrossed in the film.
A new feature I was happy to see on the AV7701 was Spotify. I've been burned too many times recently buying albums from artists I liked before, only to find their new album disappoints. Now I can simply stream every new album I want to listen to straight to the AV7701 and then decide if it's worth the money. Combined with AirPlay, and support for albums located on a DLNA server, you can quite easily play back all of your streaming and computer audio on the AV7701 without any extra hardware. The available iOS and Android application makes browsing Spotify or networked devices easy to do without a display as well, so you can listen to music without needing your display or projector.
In use, the AV7701 is a well-mannered beast, free of those annoyances and distractions that can turn a good product into one that you don't want to use. It performs admirably in my system, and has some very nice enhancements over the AV7005 to make it more flexible and enjoyable for daily use.
The Marantz AV7701 On The Bench
Data was gathered from the RCA outputs of the AV7701 with Audyssey and other features disengaged with a 2V signal. The CD input was utilized as the Multichannel input bypasses Audyssey and is less likely to be used in real world use.
With a 1 kHz test tone, we see that the 2nd and 3rd harmonics are all around 95 dB below the fundamental frequency. There is an odd noise spike way out at 65 kHz, but that is test setup related, as it appears on every chart. I ran this test in regular, Direct, and Pure Direct modes, with results that were all within the margin of error for the test device, so I didn't see any benefit on the bench to the other modes.
With the 10 kHz test tone, we see the 2nd and 3rd harmonics are much higher, at around 80dB below the fundamental frequency. THD+N is a little higher than with 1 kHz, but overall the spectrum is well behaved.
On the 60 Hz + 7000 Hz IMD test, the Marantz has a decent 0.03% IMD, though this is much higher than with the previous AV7005 model.
On the 19000-20000 Hz IMD test, we see a B-A peak that comes in around 95 dB below the primary tones. Once again, it is a good test result, but not up there with the best of the best.
With Audyssey and everything else disengaged, the frequency response is very flat out to 20 kHz, and then it has a slow roll-off until around 70 kHz where it accelerates. The initial spike at 60 Hz is power line noise and can be ignored.
Here's the interesting graph for our readers, and this isn't a problem specific to the AV7701, but to all current Audyssey receivers and processors. The DSP used by all of them to handle Audyssey processing requires that you downsample the signal to 24 bit, 48 kHz, so all information beyond that is lost if you use Audyssey. So if you're playing back a Blu-ray disc with a 24/96 soundtrack, or listening to a lot of high resolution downloads, you might want to consider performing some A-B comparisons of Audyssey on and off to see which you prefer. I imagine for a lot of people, the benefits of room correction out-weigh the loss of some resolution, but I also think it is something that everyone can test themselves. Hopefully we will see someone implement a DSP that does Audyssey at 24/192, because from my discussions with Audyssey it can work at that sample rate, it is just up to the vendor to use a more expensive DSP to implement it.
For video bench tests, I recommend disabling the video scaling inside of the AV7701. Enabling it causes a loss of chroma resolution and a change in color space, and so I recommend disabling it for the best performance. You lose the ability for menus to overlay content and only get a black background instead, but you maintain the best possible video signal.
Overall on our bench tests the AV7701 does well with no major issues, coming in at the same level or a little ahead of the $2,000 level receivers that I have tested as I would expect.
Conclusions about the Marantz AV7701
When it was released, the AV7005 fit into a very nice niche. There was very little below it in the processor segment, and going above it cost 33-50% more. The AV7701 manages to maintain that well placed position. There are some products in the $800 realm now, but those lack streaming features, Audyssey, balanced outputs, and other features found on the AV7701. Moving above the AV7701 adds a lot to the price, and so it remains in a price class all its own.
Despite having that level to itself, Marantz didn't rest on their laurels and improved upon the AV7005 with better streaming support, a much nicer GUI and setup routine, more inputs and outputs, and little touches like gold plating those connections. I didn't find any area that was worse than the AV7005 at all, unless you really need more composite connections for your retro video game system collection, and the improvements are ones that I am happy to see. The one area I really did hope to see was Audyssey XT32 support, but that is relegated to a more expensive class of preamps.
If you're after a home theater processor, the Marantz AV7701 is a very good choice. It has all the inputs you would need, even a phono connection, and has added very nice networked audio and streaming support as audio moves from physical media to a PC or the cloud. It is as easy to setup as any processor I've used, and it had a soundstage that was completely enveloping. I recommend visiting a dealer to listen to one today.


text:
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie came to the defense of President Barack Obama today, slamming the NRA's "reprehensible" ad that lambasted Obama as an "elitist hypocrite."
The NRA has taken heat for the ad, which slammed Obama for sending his children to a school where they have armed protection and accused him of thinking his children "are more important than yours."
"I think any of us who are public figures, you see that kind of ad and you cringe," Christie said Thursday at a press conference in Trenton.
"I'm a father who is a public figure, who has four children. And my children had no choice realistically in what I decided to do with my career and what affect that has had on their lives."
Christie's office tweeted out video of the passionate response Thursday evening.
"They've got real issues to debate on this topic," Christie said of the NRA. "Get to the real issues. Don't be dragging people's children into this. It's wrong. And I think it demeans them and makes them less of a valid, trusted source of information on the real issues."
Here's the video:


text:
Bristol County District Attorney Samuel Sutter's state police detectives and prosecutors are on a bit of a hot streak.
FALL RIVER — Last summer, all eyes were on Aaron Hernandez's arrest on murder charges, but the Bristol County District Attorney's Office in 2013 quietly had a successful year in investigating and prosecuting local murder cases.
Bristol County District Attorney Samuel Sutter's state police detectives and prosecutors are on a bit of a hot streak, as they have "solved" — described as bringing charges against a suspect — 19 of the last 21 homicides in the county while also securing convictions in 18 of the last 19 murder trials.
Those numbers equal a conviction rate of more than 90 percent and a solve rate of more than 80 percent, which Sutter and his aides are quick to point out exceed national averages — between 60 to 70 percent — in both categories.
"I wonder whether any district attorney's office in the country can claim that kind of success rate in those two areas," said Sutter, who added that he will campaign, in part, on those statistics as seeks re-election this year to a third four-year term as district attorney.
"I think (homicide solve and success rates) are one of the benchmarks by which district attorneys in Massachusetts are measured, and in those states in which the district attorney has the authority and responsibility for investigating homicides," said Sutter, who expects to formally announce his re-election bid in March.
The district attorney credits a variety of factors for his office's successes in investigating homicide cases, including hiring talented top-flight prosecutors, having prosecutors respond to shooting scenes, fostering a closer collaboration between local police and the state police detectives assigned to the district attorney's office, using the grand jury more often to subpoena witnesses, instituting an office policy to seek dangerousness hearings on individuals charged with illegal gun felonies, and using a witness protection fund to shield witnesses in high-profile shooting and homicide cases.
"I think there's been a myriad of reasons why this has happened," Sutter said, who also noted that prosecutors and other office employees have put in more than 17,000 hours of volunteering that he believes has helped cultivate closer ties to the community.
Sutter said he also assigned some of his best prosecutors to a new Homicide and Major Case Unit where they have a lower caseload — about 15 to 20 cases — than other prosecutors so they can better focus on major trials.
"That has paid huge dividends," Sutter said.
Two prosecutors on the Homicide and Major Case Unit — First Assistant District Attorney William McCauley and Assistant District Attorney Patrick Bomberg — helped spearhead the investigation into Odin Lloyd's June 13, 2013, murder in a North Attleborough Industrial Park. Lloyd, 27, a Dorchester man, was shot five times with a .45-caliber handgun, according to court documents.
Following leads that led investigators to Connecticut and Florida, the Massachusetts State Police detectives assigned to Sutter's office charged Hernandez, 24, the former New England Patriots star tight end, with Lloyd's murder on June 26, a little less than two weeks after a jogger discovered Lloyd's body in the industrial park.
"I think the nation, with the investigation of Odin Lloyd's murder, has seen what we in Bristol County have been witnessing for the past seven years," said Sutter, who received enough media exposure from the Hernandez case that several political observers expected him to run for Massachusetts attorney general, a position Sutter expressed interest in during Attorney General Martha Coakley's failed 2010 run for the U.S. Senate.
But last October, Sutter said he would not run for attorney general, in part, he said, to focus on the Hernandez case. Sutter said he will join McCauley and Bomberg on the trial team when opening statements begin in Hernandez's murder trial.
In court filings, Hernandez's lawyers — who said they expect the former Patriots star to be exonerated at trial — have accused the Bristol County District Attorney's Office of prosecutorial misconduct for allegedly trying to mislead a witness in the case and for supposedly leaking prejudicial information to the press. Prosecutors have strongly denied those allegations.
Asked whether he expected his officer to be successful in securing a conviction against Hernandez, Sutter said it "would not be wise" for him to answer, though he added, "I can say I have tremendous confidence in the team we've put together ... and I have tremendous confidence in the case that we continue to build."


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Remember, remember the 5th of November...as its usually a pretty good time to gather the family and enjoy some fireworks, either at an organised display or in the garden.
And this year we want to see your photos and videos!
Send them to us and we'll put our favourites on this website tomorrow.
Simply email them to firstname.lastname@example.com with your name and where you're from.
Bonfire night fireworks - what you should know to stay safe
Warning to pet owners after Byson dies after fireworks shock
VIDEO: Why the noise of a firework is equivalent to a jet taking off but not as loud as a shrimp!
8 facts you may not have known about Guy Fawkes


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At the February 27 meeting of the County Commission, Commissioner Bruce Adams said the county claims the road and directed the county road department to destroy the berm "that has been placed in the middle of our road" and do whatever is required to make the road passable.
Adams also asked that the road department track all costs on the project, in the event a citation is issued, to determine the restitution that would need to be paid to the county.
The road in question is County Road #0570, located in the Creek Pasture area east of Canyonlands National Park. The road is a San Juan County D road claimed under the Federal RS 2477 Statute.
The road was noticed by area residents, who later informed county officials. Photos of the road closure were taken and the incident is well documented.
Heavy equipment was used to push dirt up and block access to the road, apparently several months ago. Two BLM "Road Closed" signs were then installed.
One of the signs was placed on top of the berm in the center of the road, and the other sign in the middle of the road several hundred feet away. Shortly after BLM officials were questioned about the road closure by the local residents, the signs were removed and the berm was partially shoveled out.
The BLM told the residents that the road had been closed by mistake but that it was now open. The Sheriff's Office has determined that at least one of the signs was placed by a BLM employee. However, the BLM denies blocking access to the road by creating the berm and denies placing a BLM sign.
The San Juan County Sheriff's Office is investigating to see if Utah State statute was violated. Federal BLM investigators have been contacted, and have agreed to open an investigation and assist the Sheriff's office to determine possible violations of NEPA laws, and or the BLM's own policies and procedures.
Adams reports that Sheriff Rick Eldredge has completed his investigation and is waiting for the completion of a BLM investigation before taking action.
The Sheriff's office said this action is similar to the activities of two Blanding residents who said they were trying to improve an existing road on BLM land near Blanding. They faced federal charges and a $35,000 fine.


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HANG TIME CAPITAL BUREAU — The Orlando Magic are in discussions with several teams about potential trades for Dwight Howard, including the Brooklyn Nets, according to a league source. However, despite reports of a possible deal between Brooklyn and Orlando, the source indicated nothing was imminent, and that the Magic will take its time before deciding what to do with the six-time All-Star.
ESPN.com reported Tuesday morning that the Nets and Magic were discussing a deal that would send Howard and forward Hedo Turkoglu to Brooklyn for center Brook Lopez, forward Kris Humphries, guard MarShon Brooks and three future first-round Draft picks. However, a source directly involved with Howard's trade talks said the teams had not been engaged in talks since Sunday, before Brooklyn agreed to a deal with the Atlanta Hawks that sent guard Joe Johnson to the Nets for several players and a protected 2013 first-round pick. Another source said the two teams were talking, but that the Magic were talking to other teams as well about Howard, who has asked to be traded to Brooklyn.
The Nets would have to re-sign Humphries, a free agent, before trading him to the Magic in any potential deal. Humphries, who was fifth in the league in rebounds per game (11) last season, is one of the more coveted free agents on the market.
The Nets got Johnson Monday from Atlanta for guards Anthony Morrow and Jordan Farmar, forward Jordan Williams, center Johan Petro and the 2013 pick, which initially belonged to Houston. In absorbing the remaining four years and $89.2 million of Johnson's contract, the Nets committed the bulk of the cap room they had this summer.
The Nets are waiting to hear from free agent point guard Deron Williams, who is being courted by the Mavericks, and who is the key to Brooklyn's hopes of building a title contending team as it moves into the new Barclays Center next season. Williams is likely to decide where he will play in the next day or two. The Nets' acquisition of Johnson is not contingent upon whether Williams returns. Howard and Williams are close and had hoped to play together next season, either in Brooklyn or Dallas. But Howard complicated those plans when he decided to opt in to the final year of his contract in Orlando instead of becoming a free agent this summer.
The Magic have tired of Howard's on-again, off-again desires to play in Orlando, and are determined to trade him this summer rather than go through all the drama that Howard's shifting desires produced last season. The team fired former general manager Otis Smith and former coach Stan Van Gundy after the Magic's first-round loss to the Pacers in the playoffs, and hired Oklahoma City executive Rob Hennigan as its new GM late last month. Hennigan acknowledged Monday that Howard reiterated his trade request to him in a meeting the two had in California last week.


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What is your favorite sundae? Is it piled high with all the fixings and loaded with calories? Do you treasure every bite only to growl at the scale later?
My Favorite Things - $20 Gift Voucher
Simply Betty Stamps - all six Sweet Gothic Kids Birthday digis
To celebrate we're having a blog hop sprinkled with fixings - blog candy fixings! In addition to the candy we have here, some of our design team has candy on their own blogs. Hop along and see how many fixings you can find and check out our team's lovely creations along the way. Leave them some love for all of their work while you're there - and don't forget to pick up your word!
To qualify for the blog hop you have to:
1. Post a comment on each of the cards along the hop
2. Leave a comment on this post with the words you have collected along the way
For the challenge, the regular rules apply:
Entry rules include that card creations must be new, linked back to the challenge, and the link posted must link directly to the card. Maximum three entries per person please however you may combine our challenge with others to a maximum of ten challenges.
So go pick your favorite Paper Sundaes challenge and play along with us! Just be sure to let us know which challenge you chose!


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- We Deliver Solutions!
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To put together the best choices for House Inspectors in Mundelein, IL, you need to be knowledgeable. You should not go into it without consideration, and it is best to know what you should expect. That is why we make every attempt to make sure you are aware of the steps and aren't facing any kind of surprises. Get started by contacting 888-506-4448 to go over your work. We will discuss your concerns and questions whenever you call and get you set up with an appointment. Our company will arrive at the appointed time with the appropriate supplies, and can work with you during the entire undertaking.
To get the best House Inspector in Mundelein, Wyoming, choose House Inspector Crew
You will have a lot of reasons to rely on House Inspector Crew to meet your requirements regarding House Inspector in Mundelein, IL. Our supplies are of the very best quality, our money saving strategies are realistic and effective, and our customer service scores will not be topped. We understand your requirements and ambitions, and we're available to assist you with our expertise. When you require House Inspector in Mundelein, choose House Inspector Crew by dialing 888-506-4448, and we will be glad to help.


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Remembering Doug Morgan
It is with great sadness that we recognize the loss of our friend and esteemed colleague Mr. Douglas "Doug" Morgan, former Director of the Division of Service Systems at HRSA's HIV/AIDS Bureau (HRSA-HAB) and a long-time leader in the nation's response to HIV/AIDS. Since last spring, Doug had served as Deputy Associate Administrator of HRSA's Healthcare Systems Bureau, applying his considerable knowledge and skill to a new array of important national public health programs. Mr. Morgan passed away this week.
My colleagues at the Office of HIV/AIDS Policy and across the Department of Health and Human Services want to honor Doug's many contributions over a distinguished career -- much of which was dedicated to implementing, fine-tuning, and ensuring the integrity of the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program, helping to make it the global model it is today. During his tenure at HRSA-HAB, Doug led the Division of Service Systems, overseeing Federal activities under the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program's Part A (Hard Hit Urban Areas), Part B (State Formula Grants), and Part F (Minority AIDS Initiative).
Prior to joining HRSA-HAB, Doug served as New Jersey's state AIDS Director, and Assistant Commissioner of Health. In that role he was instrumental in laying a solid foundation for HIV prevention and care programs across the state. Because of his extensive experience managing programs to prevent the perinatal transmission of HIV, Doug was asked to serve on an Institute of Medicine panel in 1999. He also was a founding member of the National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors (NASTAD), and provided leadership to the growing organization as Chair from 1996-1997. "As Doug moved from Trenton, New Jersey, to Rockville, Maryland, he never forgot what it was like working within state government to develop comprehensive systems of prevention, care and support for people living with HIV/AIDS," noted Ms. Julie Scofield, Executive Director of NASTAD. "He remained a true collaborator, working with colleagues across the country to solve problems and run better programs. He was highly respected and will be greatly missed."
We offer our sincere condolences to Doug's wife, Ms. Valerie Rochester, and their children, and to our colleagues at the HIV/AIDS Bureau and the Healthcare Systems Bureau as well as the many grantees and other partners who worked with Doug over his many years of service.
As my colleague Mr. Christopher Bates, Executive Director of the Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS (PACHA) observed, "Doug leaves a lasting legacy to the HIV/AIDS field, evident in the Ryan White programs that provide HIV-related services to more than half a million people each year in communities across the country."
Ronald Valdiserri, M.D., M.P.H., is the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Health, Infectious Diseases, and Director of the Office of HIV/AIDS Policy, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.


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Select your newsletters:
ITER Newsline
Keep in touch with ITER through our main news feed, sent weekly.
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Learn more about the ITER Project by subscribing to this quarterly online magazine that is geared toward the general public.
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To write about fusion is to walk a fine line between the temptation of lyricism and the arid demands of scientific accuracy. Whereas the general media tends to [...]
Read more
All ITER components are precious. But some look more precious than others. A vacuum vessel sector, a toroidal field coil, a cryopump, or a divertor cassette a [...]
In a major assembly milestone for the JT-60SA tokamak, the 12-metre-tall central solenoid was successfully installed by overhead crane on 8 May. Japanese televi [...]
The lectures from ten ITER International Schools held since 2007 have been collected and are now available through a dedicated webpage on the ITER website. I [...]
From micro to macro—specifically, from the India-based Neutrino Observatory (INO) that will study neutrino mass ordering events lasting 10-43 seconds, to the La [...]
Alberto Loarte, Confinement & Modelling Section Leader


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Hostess Twinkies
From Conservapedia
Twinkies are cream-filled sponge cakes introduced in 1933 by the Indianapolis based Continental Baking Company. Bakery manager James Dewar came up with the idea for the Twinkie on April 6, 1930, to make more economical use of shortcake pans which otherwise sat idle when the strawberry season was over. They originally contained a banana cream filling, but this was substituted with a vanilla cream filling after banana shortages due to World War II. Since 1995, Twinkies have been produced by the Interstate Bakeries Corporation.[1] One Twinkie contains about 150 calories.[2]


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BSO's Evidence Unit receives, catalogs and stores evidentiary, abandoned, forfeited and lost property in accordance with state and local law which also specifies when such property can be disposed of or discarded. The Evidence Unit presently stores more than 350,000 items in its Ft. Lauderdale warehouse.
In the past, BSO held periodic Sheriff's Sales where this property was sold to the highest bidder. Today, BSO sells it online!
Several times each year, BSO transfers such property to PropertyRoom.com, an online auctioneer that handles the disposal of property from law enforcement agencies across the county.
As part of PropertyRoom.com's service, a registration database called StealitBack.com helps users recover stolen property by matching serial numbers on stolen property with those in PropertyRoom.com's database. By cross-referencing the numbers, PropertyRoom.com determines if an item was reported stolen and returns it to BSO or to the appropriate police agency. Private citizens are invited to register on www.StealitBack.com any items with serial numbers they have lost or reported stolen to their local police department.


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My lazy side-project xfce-appmenu now has finally become a seriously usable tool. it even has a .deb package for easy installation.
Project website: http://my.opera.com/Texel/blog/2008/02/ … editor-0-4
Any feedback is most welcome:)
Thanks - I'll test it.
How about adding new menu items. None of my wine added applications get automatically added to the menu, so I try adding .desktop entries, but it's clumsy.
New version released! see first post:)
great, but there's only the .deb package and i don't use ubuntu or debian, i'm on archlinux, how can i install the pack?
Page updated, now there is a plain zip edition for non-debian distributions:)
Concerning categories: it would be nice if I could choose these via checkbox. Beginners often don't know the categories. Something like the 3rd picture on http://thunar.xfce.org/pwiki/documentat … om_actions where you can choose []directories, ...
i tried that but xfce's category handling is quite buried under a complicated xml structure and i didnt want to spend all the requried time.. may be i'll add that later.
may be any xfcee developer could help on this?
I've posted your editor in our forum. Bug-report: "cannot write to file" while changing entries as normal user and root.


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Click on an icon to see full details of that listing, or scroll down to view all listings.
61 Merchant Quay, The Viking Triangle, Co. Waterford
Peppers Restaurants pedigree, enviable location and stunning interior design makes it one of Waterford Cities most finest Indian dining experiences. Peppers is undoubtedly one of South Ireland's Best Indian Restaurants. All food sourced locally, all
Read more about Peppers Indian Dining | View Map of Area | Photos


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Dahlia Scheindlin
The face of violence: between racism and banal evil
In 1998, an Israeli film appeared called "Buzz." It was based on a true story that had rocked the country four years earlier: two teenagers murdered a taxi driver, shooting him six times in the back. In the style of some great literature, there was no motive at all, just sheer thrill for boys who had already developed a pastime of petty crime. Nobody is making films these days about stunningly random, lethal violence. We've grown ritually used to it. We have a few days to nurse our horror, then we return to the struggle to close out the month…Read More... | 14 Comments


text: Emporio Armani Women's lingerie collections are perfect for the woman searching for design sensibility and practicality. Stylish color palettes, silky microfiber and sexy lace give the Emporio Armani collection the perfect look and style for the modern woman. Created by one of the most famous fashion designers in the world, Giorgio Armani creates each of his masterpieces with one belief in mind. All Armani collections embody the same traits. Each collection strives to be practical, unique and stylish. The Emporio Armani collection backs up this belief to create a flawless look with celebrities like David and Victoria Beckham, Rihanna and Megan Fox as the faces and bodies of the collection. Each face and body for the collection is unique and extravagant just like the articles in the Emporio Armani collection. Not everyone can be a celebrity, but Emporio Armani gives everyone a chance to feel and look like the classic cinematic starlet. The Emporio Armani collection is the only one of Giorgio Armani's famous collections to be showcased each year in Milan's fashion week. The fun, comfortable, modern styles of the collection have gained worldwide attention for women trying to find the perfect lingerie to wear under their clothing. With a trusted brand like Armani, the Emporio Armani collection promises to remain a brand that does not change. It will forever outfit women in classic, alluring styles.


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Pamela Anderson is running in the New York City marathon in November to help raise funds for Haiti.
Now if only the streets of New York were lined with sand and everyone were required to wear a red swimsuit ...
The former "Baywatch" babe, 46, has joined Sean Penn's J/P Haitian Relief Organization along with a slew of other teammates.
"I'm running the New York Marathon this year and raising funds for the J/P Haitian Relief Organization (Can you believe it?)" the actress announced. "Together, I hope we can raise at least $500,000 and make a huge impact in this magical country."
The onetime Playboy model said she is "passionate about the cause" and will keep friends and followers updated on her training and progress through social media. She also included an ode to the poverty-stricken nation.
"To spend time in Haiti is to fall in love with Haiti The magic of this country… The people… The humility… Pride Musicians, athletes and Artists It has been heartbreaking to witness the poverty among people in what should be a very rich country," she wrote on her runner's page.
She also said she'd visited the island nation shortly after the magnitude-7.0 earthquake earthquake in January 2010 and helped with local farms, food distribution in tent camps and even "brought cold beer through rubble-covered streets to volunteers."
"People do things for other people that they wouldn't ordinarily do for themselves," she told the New York Daily News. "Haiti is such a magical place. It has a real special place in my heart.... I have a lot of faith that I will be able to get through it. I'm committed. People tell me that I really don't know what I'm getting into, but that's kind of the story of my life. I'll just go with it."
The 26.2-mile run will take place on Nov. 3, and Anderson admitted that she's working on boosting her stamina with the elliptical and StairMaster machines, doing ab workouts at home, lifting 5-pound weights, doing Pilates and "moving my body as much as I can," Anderson told the newspaper. She added that she's also "running different distances on different surfaces."
After having two boys with ex-husband Tommy Lee, Anderson didn't believe she'd be able to shed her baby weight, but she revealed that she now weighs only 115 pounds but is in the best shape of her life.
"The weight I gained from having two kids, thinking I might have to hang onto that for the rest of my life, is gone," she said. "My legs feel strong.... I feel like a lean machine."
The animal-rights activist is also vegetarian is also watching her diet as she trains, drinking juices and smoothies and eating plenty of vegetables, brown rice and quinoa.
"My refrigerator is full of kale and greens," she said. "I can't imagine something greasy or eating meat."
However, she did admit to cheating on her diet with cappuccinos and chocolate.
The blond bombshell has previously participated in "Dancing With the Stars" and Britain's "Dancing on Ice," and she plans to treat this marathon just like those shows: as a learning experience.
"People think I'm crazy," Anderson told the New York Daily News. "I like to do things that people think maybe I can't do, and this is definitely one of those things. You know, somehow I learned to dance, learned to skate, and all these things that people thought I couldn't do. Now, I'm running a marathon."
Follow Ministry of Gossip @LATcelebs.


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BBC News
- Race to be new UK prime minister begins
- Extinction Rebellion: Met wants 1,130 climate protesters charged
- Donald Trump: Details of first state visit to UK revealed
- Homeowners in England free to build bigger extensions
- Sheffield 'incident': Two boys die in Shiregreen
- Morrissey posters removed from Merseyrail stations
- Universities told not to 'scaremonger' ahead of fee cut
- Four times more data breaches logged in UK
- Chelmsford school locker death: Boy, 9, killed in fall
- Lewis Capaldi: Scottish singer's album is fastest-selling of 2019 so far
- Libby Lane: First female bishop starts new role as Bishop of Derby
- South Wales Italian cafe to close after 84 years
- Alport syndrome: Man's epic journey for kidney charity
- The mayor who wears a hijab
- #HotSoundGuy caused excitement on social media
- Why Charlie Brooker says the news is copying Black Mirror
- Theresa May's 'deep regret' over Brexit
- Theresa May: How the PM fought through Brexit battles
- Theresa May's political career in three minutes
- BBC News Channel
- Newspaper headlines: 'It all ends in tears' for PM May
- Spice Girls: What happened to Girl Power?
- Mumps - is it the forgotten disease?
- The Theresa May story: The Tory leader brought down by Brexit
- Theresa May: Did she solve her seven burning injustices?
- Theresa May: Who will be the next prime minister?
- Theresa May resignation: What does it mean for Brexit?
- Does a hit song really need 9 writers?
Our traditional ANY-Village websites can still be found at their original location:
Below we are listing some of the most popular UK property websites advertising homes for sale in the Newton-Kyme area:
Nestoria (NEWTONKYME Map Search)
Vebra.com (NEWTONKYME Map Search)
Rightmove (NEWTONKYME Map Search)
Zoopla (Newton-Kyme Map Search)
Homes for SALE / Flats for SALE in NEWTONKYME
Homes for RENT / Flats for RENT in NEWTONKYME


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Covering Cornwall & West Devon Since 1851
Sales & Advice Hotline
01579 343078
This stunning stone painted finish collection crafted in solid oak and oak veneer combining curved legs and edges, with dovetail joints will be the centrepiece of any room setting. With its fresh, modern design and Smokey oak tops, this range offers an abundance of character. Wooden and metal handles are included in all pieces.
View the Treviso Range
Please contact us on 01579 343078 to receive the best price for the Annaghmore Treviso Low Display Unit
All Interest Free Credit agreements need to be done in store which normally take
about 15 minutes to complete. The minimum sale order value is the total sale value including all items and any Guardsman or delivery charges (if applicable). Minimum deposit 10% required Example: Minimum order value £600.00 Interest Free Terms Order Value Deposit Monthly Payments10 months £600.00 £60.00 £54.00
Interest Free credit advertised is provided by Hitachi Capital Consumer Finance
We promise to match or better any price. In the unlikely event of finding an identical product elsewhere, we promise to match, or better any price on a like-for-like basis, providing at the point of order all comparable services are included, e.g. delivery and installation.
Please note that the 'price match promise' is limited to our free delivery area.
The competitor must be a recognised, reputable, VAT registered and legally trading UK based Retail Company
Proof of price comparison will be required.
Price matches are only considered prior to ordering.
The products must be identical in all aspects.
Claims for items not in stock or with a long delivery time may not be considered.
Price matches do not apply to end of line, ex-display, or clearance lines.
We reserve the right not to match a price, if it is considered to be uneconomical to do so.
PLEASE NOTE: All online enquiries made Saturday & Sunday will immediately be picked up on the following Monday - Where we will respond as soon as possible.
If you'd like to discuss prices within this time, please ring the showroom on 01579 343 078
* Required Fields


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I attended today's "cage match" at AEI – a debate between Norm Ornstein and our own Steve Hayward on the question of whether the Republican Party is extreme. Steve did a great job, especially considering the constraints of the format and the importance of collegiality among fellow AEI scholars.
I'll leave it to Steve to give an account of the debate, if he wants to. Here's my take on the issue:
Ornstein accuses Republicans of being extreme in tactics, rhetoric, and ideology. With respect to tactics and rhetoric, he's really talking about stridency, not extremism. Republicans aren't assassinating anyone or calling for the overthrow of the government. Ornstein is moaning about inside baseball stuff like too many filibusters, too much time to confirm nominees, and such. Only to a liberal Washington think tank type would this sort of thing pass as extremism.
It is true that right now the Republican Party is quite strident. But I doubt Ornstein can show that, in terms of tactics and rhetoric, they are more so than the Democrats have been. When it comes to filibusters and delayed confirmations, for example, the Dems set a new standard for obstruction of a non-lame duck president during the early Bush years. When it comes to rhetoric, when did a top-ranking Republican Senator match the odiousness of Dick Durbin's comparison of U.S. troops to those of Nazi Germany, the Soviet Union, and Khmer Rouge? Indeed, when did Republicans collectively indulge in the rhetorical excesses and cynicism of Democrats, including then-Senator Obama, in attacking Bush administration policy in the war on terror – nearly all of which has been retained by President Obama?
The real test for extremism is ideology. And the best way to determine whether a political party's ideology is extreme is by reference to the views of the public. Extremism is, after all, usually understood in a relational sense. Generally speaking, views are extreme if they are outside of the mainstream. If a party's views command broad public support then, at least as a matter of presumption, they are not extreme.
Judged in this manner, Republican ideology is not extreme. Its main tenets command significant and often majority support.
Ornstein didn't dispute this reality during the debate. Instead, he pooh-poohed the relevance of elections and public opinion as an indicator of extremism. He did this by pointing to "certain elections during the 1930s." I assume, Ornstein was referring to Nazi Germany.
By suggesting that American public opinion today bears any resemblance to public opinion in Germany during the 1930s, Ornstein loses credibility and forfeits standing to judge rhetoric "extreme." The key Republican Party beliefs that Ornstein considers beyond the pale are propositions like the following: the budget urgently needs to be balanced; the size of the government should be substantially reduced; entitlement programs should be significantly reformed; immigration laws should be strictly enforced. These positions, which of course have nothing to do with Germany in the 1930s, aren't extreme in themselves. They can be extreme only if they fall well outside of the mainstream.
They don't. Moreover, even if they did – as perhaps some did when Ronald Reagan first espoused them – it would still be proper for Republicans to advocate them.
Ornstein kept talking about how Republicans are "crossing a line." But who decides where the line is and when it has been crossed? Ornstein clearly doesn't consider the American voting public suitable for this role. As far as I can tell, Ornstein believes that he and like-minded Washington liberals, using their particular sense of where the line has been drawn in the past, are entrusted with that role.
This view, I would argue, is extreme.
UPDATE: The title I selected for this post seems too harsh. I don't want to give the impression that Ornstein made no valid points today or that he has no argument to make. I just believe that his main argument is wrong, for the reasons stated above.
A better title would have been something like: "An argument that's wide of the mark."
Photo courtesy Shutterstock.


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To the EDN:
In the wake of Sandy's devastation of the East Coast, the Red Cross returned to Estherville on Tuesday, Oct. 30 for a blood drive at the Christensen Center of Iowa Lakes Community College. The blood drive was the 20 (something) annual drive sponsored by the Aviation Club. So, a big 'thank you' to our future pilots for carrying on this wonderful tradition of giving.
We did have one brand new donor, Remia Metteer, who told me that she would donate again and again. Thank you, Remia. Esther Paulsen received her 3 gallon pin and Gilbert Amdahl his 4 gallon pin. Denis Johnson was awarded her 10 gallon pin. Combined, these three donors have been able to impact over 100 lives with their generosity. Such a small thing, such a big payoff.
There were many new names on the sign in list: Zachary Kleinwolterink, Heather Rein, Jessica Vanlay, Joseph Olka, Austin Johnson, Gordon Graver, Christopher Willouts, Ashley Weston and Joshua Young.
If you were a first time donor and I missed thank you and welcoming you, please now accept my apology and thank you for becoming a blood donor. Remind me when you come to the next blood drive on Feb. 14, 2013 at the Duhigg Center so I can properly say "Thanks."
And a big THANK YOU to the many donors who filled the ARC donation can. I will turn that money in at the November ARC board meeting. Did you know that the Red Cross is mandated by the federal government to respond to every emergency and disaster? Yeah we gotta go and help BUT the only way your Red Cross can do this is with your continued financial assistance.
So, thanks again Estherville for another successful blood drive and we'll be back on Valentines Day.
Donna Day-Templin,
American Red Cross Blood Drive Coordinator for Estherville


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Shop & mail order
10am-5pm Mon-Fri10am-4pm Sat
Closed Sundays and Bank Holidays
Buses 120 and 44 run from Sheffield city centre directly to the shop. Buses 52 and 51 run to Witham Road, close to the shop.
Galaxy Four 493 Glossop Road Broomhill Sheffield S10 2QE United Kingdom
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"Saiboat gets a motor
The Columbia Paper
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Hudson River Historic Boat Inc.
191 Route 23 B, Stop 13
Hudson, New York 12534


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Any parent who has ever come into the room to find it a disarray of important papers and office supplies, with a little smiling toddler in the center of it all, knows the importance of cabinet locks. Prevent little fingers from getting caught in your drawers and cabinets or from reaching dangerous and fragile items with a one-of-a-kind magnetic cabinet lock from Rev-A-Shelf.
Magnetic Cabinet Locks & Cabinet Drawer Locks
Cabinet locks and cabinet drawer locks are made for convenience of use. Designed to attach easily to wood, metal and glass surfaces, practical cabinet locks offer a patented disabling feature that enables you to open your cabinets effortlessly even if the magnetic key is misplaced. This convenient feature also allows you to keep your cabinets unlocked when children are not present. Extra replacement keys and locks can be purchased separately to ensure that every cabinet and drawer is secured properly when it needs to be.
So keep your home safe and secure with a magnetic cabinet lock. Protect your walls from permanent marker attacks, your legal documents and filed bills from being overturned and your baking and cooking utensils from untold havoc with simple and easy cabinet locks. Purchase an additional key for your cabinet safety lock, and you'll never be left scrubbing again.


text: NEW YORK ( TheStreet) -- Unless Congress can agree on a deal, on Oct. 17 the U.S. government could hit its debt ceiling and not be able to pay what it owes. Normally it's just a date on the calendar stuck innocuously between Columbus Day and Halloween. This year, it's the date the U.S. Treasury Department says it's basically broke (it will have about $30 billion in cash, and any tax money that happens to roll in). It's hard to imagine Washington pols won't agree to a deal before then, but one bank isn't taking any chances. According to The Financial Times, banks are stocking up on cash in their ATMs in anticipation of a government credit default. ATMs. The reasoning is simple: With the government out of money, a worst-case scenario has Americans making a run on banks in anticipation of a collapsing economy. The Treasury Department says the economic fallout from a credit default could be a freeze in global credit markets, a falling U.S. dollar and rising interest rates. Again, that's the worst-case scenario, but it's one banks take seriously. An article in The New York Times shows Treasury data revealing a default could lead to "a financial crisis and recession that could echo the events of 2008 or worse." Other banks are taking special precautions for customers who rely on government checks for their primary source of income (mostly Social Security recipients.) MS) this week notes that there have been 17 government shutdowns since 1976. Their message clients is to not panic, and that the economy will weather this storm, as it has the previous 17 storms. "We believe there is a zero percent chance of a federal government default at this time," Morgan Stanley told clients. "The U.S. government will pay its bills."


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Replacing A Rusted-Out Lower Fender Panel
An unfortunate aspect of building a hot rod that's seen more than 50 years worth of abuse is the fact that Mother Nature, teamed up with the good ol' common man, has probably taken quite a toll on the state of the sheetmetal. Fenders littered with fist-sized dents, extra holes, skewered sides, and damaged edges. Bumpers bent, broken, or missing completely. Given the fact these old cars weren't built to last 50 years, it's no surprise to see many areas have succumbed to rust, wear, and tear. Areas where two panels meet can often function as a pocket to collect debris, dirt, and mud that eventually rusts these areas out. Wear and tear from standing on the running boards or loading and unloading items can cause the sheetmetal to rip and tear and the hardware to fail.
It shouldn't be shocking that when we started tearing into the bodywork on our '52 Ford F1 project that we would come across some sketchy areas under all those layers of old paint and body filler. The front valence under the grille had been filled, deleting the front bumper, and there were already some areas on the fenders where the body filler had cracked and was chipping away, so it was obvious somebody had performed a bit of "aftermarket" body work in the not so distant past. The only choice we had when it came time to prepping the sheetmetal for paint was to knock the existing paint and filler down and start with each piece in bare metal. This could have been accomplished by a number of means, from media blasting to acid dipping, but since either of these process' would have taken upwards of a week to complete and several hundred dollars, we decided to do it the hard way, with a 7-inch sander and a stack of 80-grit sanding discs. Later that afternoon when the dust settled, we had a fender stripped down to bare metal that was ready to get finessed back into shape.
As we mentioned before, it didn't take stripping the fenders to bare metal to know we had a few issues that would need to be dealt with. When we disassembled the truck, the areas where the running boards and fenders met on either side of the cab had succumbed to the elements to the point where they were basically rusted together. What little bit of steel that was left flaked away as the two were separated, leaving a void that would have to be replaced with a couple patch panels. On a fairly flat surface, such as the top of a fender or a door skin, replacing this void with a piece of sheetmetal cut to fit would be a simple task, but given the shape of the lower front corner of the F1's rear fenders, the patch panel that would need to be fabricated was slightly more complex. The sheetmetal fender is also beefed up in the area where it bolts up to the running board, providing a solid backing to prevent the steel from tearing under flex. Additionally, there is a lip that runs along the wheel well and rolls under the fender at the bottom, further complicating the lower fender section.
We fashioned a patch panel out of 18-gauge sheetmetal and formed it using a hammer and dolly to fit the contour of the fender. The rolled edge was accomplished by doing just that, rolling the edge of the panel over onto itself and then welding it up. The installation of the patch panel went smoother than we thought and added quite a bit of structural support in an area of the fender where it's much needed. The thicker replacement panel also provided a stout backing for the attachment of the running boards, something that was needed in the stock configuration.


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Rowen & Wren: Organic Modern Housewares from the UK
- Location: Online
- Specialty: Unique housewares from England
- Price range: $$
- Website: rowenandwren.co.uk/servlet/storefront
Store History
Rowen and Wren are a couple with a passion for design and an eye for beautiful products. They've been in the retail and houseware design fields for years and now they are bringing their style to an eponymous online shop. And for those of us who are a little style challenged, the couple also offers Room Service, an online interior design service.
Rowen and Wren have collected a beautiful selection of organic modern style furnishings for their online shop. The stylish products are divided into categories or you can shop by one of four collections: Timeless Living, Refined Rural, Distant Home and, just in time for the season, Christmas Collection. All items have been carefully curated to work well individually or together.
For the style challenged, Rowen and Wren also offer Room Service, an online interior design service. For a fee of £289 per room, the couple will "create an inspiring mood board that's totally unique to you, with recommendations that will include our own home wares and soft furnishings such as cushions and throws as well as accents like candlesticks and ornaments to bring your furniture to life."
Shown above:
• Handcrafted Matt & Shine Dishes £32
• Mihka Handcrafted Jug & Beakers £14 - £28
• Bee Homes £8
• On-Off Lantern & Shelf £78
• Hand Carved Lime Wood Antlers £68
• Cartouche White Rimmed Boards £76
• Arissa Turned Oak Candlestick £88
• Shere Wool Cushion £49
• Oak 7 Drawer Mariner Chest £944
• Halse Adjustable Floor Lamp £344
For more about Rowen & Wren, visit their store page over at Marketplace.
(Images: Rowen & Wren)
Around the Web
- Rowen and Wren: 10 Favorite Things For The Living Room[Decor8]
- Rowen & Wren[Not on High Street]
- Rowen & Wren on Facebook[Facebook]


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ACP has acquired the Haut Chemin project, located in the Haute Marne region in north-east France. The wind farm, which comprises ten 2MW turbines, is scheduled to come online in the summer of 2014.
The acquisitions have taken Allianz's investment in renewables to around EUR 2 billion, and its portfolio now includes more than 40 wind farms in Germany, France, Italy and Sweden.
Last month, ACP bought the 8MW Frévent, and the 12MW Ivergny projects in the Pas-de-Calais region of northern France. Parent-group Allianz has also acquired the 30MW Erchie project, in Puglia, southern Italy.
In June, ACP bought two wind farms in France and one in Germany. It acquired the Fontfroide and Bruyère Grand projects in southern France, which have a combined capacity of 23.5MW, from EDF Energies Nouvelles.
The Dahme wind project in Germany, located 80 kilometres south of the capital Berlin, is much bigger with a capacity of 76.5MW. The seller was Spanish energy producer Eolia Renovables.


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First tattoo, "No lies, Just love"
Tattoo No Lies, Just Love by ~FelicityCharlottex on deviantART
That's when I got my Chogyam Trungpa tattoo. It was done by Mark Mahoney in
Just say no! No more tattoos, no more earrings, no more necklaces,
No Lies, Just Love
lyrics from bright eyes "no lies, just love" I was never a big fan of lyric
A tattoo wasn't enough to prove her love for Bret, and so Destiney goes home


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Celebrating Fathers 'Who's Your Daddy'
Congratulations to Craig Barlow of Tyler!
Craig submitted a picture of him and his dad "Buster" Barlow for the Who's Your Daddy contest.
He won a Kamado Joe Grill/Smoker from Outdoor Décor and More.
Thank you to everyone who submitted your pictures of all the outstanding men who proudly answer to the name "dad!"
Each and every photo made us at the station grateful for such awesome listeners!


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Monsanto Technology Stewardship Agreement Legal Opinion
Law offices of Anthony G. Patchett
PO Box 5232
Glendale, CA 91221
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Solution 2
Bankers Laughing All the Way to the Bank
The 'Audit the Fed' bill has been watered down by Senator Bernard Sanders right at the last minute (a common strategy: pretend to be a populist, then at the last minute, the politician "gives in" in the spirit of compromise). The Audit the Fed bill could go to vote in the Senate any day now.
Solution 1
There solution to untangle this web, designed to kill and enslave us, begins locally and expands upward.
The good news is that you can work to dismantle the binding chains in your own town, creating local autonomy.
ICLEI and the mayors are the targets of this UN program, but you can get rid of it by:
- Educating local governments
- Educating the community and buiding alliances
- Applying political pressure to elected officials
- Model legislation to nullify ICLEI in your hometown
The next step is to secure State sovereignty:
- Education
- Creating lobbist groups to put pressure on elected state officials to nullify unConstitutional DC laws
- Model legislation and state tracking is provided through the Tenth Amendment Center
- Vote out collectivists and welcome freedom candidtaes into office
The final goal:
- Independence and self reliance for America- becoming producers instead of importers
- Nullification of unConstitutional treaties
- Breaking the monopolies by removing government edicts that allow monopolies, thus creating a free market with competition
- Get out of the UN
The result: Life , Liberty, Property and the Pursuit of Happiness!


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Join the world premiere of the powerful new short documentary "Libya – The Aftermath of War", today (19/7) at 18:00 CET, presented by the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS).
You can get updates on the screening and leave questions for filmmaker Nathan Beriro on their facebook page! Nathan will be in New York with UNMAS for the launch and is busy answering questions on the Twitter account: @mineaction!
Libya is contaminated with hundreds of thousands of explosive remnants of war that threaten the safety of civilians and aid workers. If these bombs are not properly managed, they could end up in the wrong hands, jeopardizing Libya's recovery and international security. The United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) is currently on the ground to help clear this threat.
United Nations Mine Action Service website:
The Brussels based United Nations Regional Information Centre for Western Europe - UNRIC provides information on UN activities to the countries of the region. It also provides liaison with institutions of the European Union in the field of information. Its outreach activities extend to all segments of society and joint campaigns, projects and events are organized with partners including the EU, governments, the media, NGOs, schools and local authorities.
United Nations Regional Information Centre for Western Europe (UNRIC Brussels)
Residence Palace, Rue de la Loi/Wetstraat 155, Block C2,7th and 8th floor, Brussels 1040, Belgium
Tel.: +32 2 788 8484 / Fax: 32 2 788 8485


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The consolidation talk currently making news in the health club industry is not reserved for the for-profit club market. Nonprofit fitness and recreation facilities also are looking at merger possibilities as well as partnerships with other organizations and businesses.
Tough economic conditions have left many nonprofits struggling to remain solvent during the last few years. This inevitably led to the closing of some facilities, but others have found that merging with another local nonprofit has allowed them to continue operating.
For the Lee County (FL) YMCA, a May merger with neighboring South County YMCA offered a way to reduce overhead and find financial stability while continuing its services to the community. Under the new partnership, Lee County will continue to operate its two facilities in Fort Myers and Naples, and with the help of another local nonprofit organization, the Lee County Y plans to increase its reach by opening another facility this August in Cape Coral. The new branch will be located in a former Shriners Club building that the Cape Coral Kiwanis Club is buying with the intention of having the YMCA operate the new center's programming.
In June, the YMCA of Greater Saint Paul (MN) and the YMCA of Metropolitan Minneapolis announced they will integrate to become the YMCA of the Greater Twin Cities by Jan. 1, 2012. The merger will not be official until ratified by each organizations' general boards and approved at general membership meetings later this year, but Bette Fenton, vice president of marketing and communications for both organizations, says this is merely a rubber stamp.
There would be little for the boards and members to protest. The merger will not affect most staff or members, and it does not bring many sudden changes because the organizations have been sharing some administrative and back-room operations for up to 15 years.
"We had two associations that started sharing services, and over time we started sharing more and more," Fenton says. "We've just decided that now's the time."
There will be one big staff change: a new CEO for the merged organization. The current CEOs of the constituent Ys, who each have more than 35 years of experience with the YMCA, both plan to retire after seeing the merger through. The Y will conduct a national search for a successor, who Fenton says it hopes to have in place by next June.
Fenton stresses, though, that the merger is not at all about downsizing. No facilities are closing as a result, and no budget cuts are planned.
"We've saved money over the years because we've been sharing services and have been very frugal and smart in how these two organizations have been run. That's why they've been so successful," Fenton says. "Will there be additional cost savings down the road? I'm sure there will, but that's not why we did it."
Instead of savings, the merger offers new opportunities, Fenton says.
"We can reach more people, serve more people and expand the mission," she says. "And we believe that we can raise more money together than we could separately."
The merged Y will be among the five largest Ys in the country and will operate 22 full-facility YMCAs. Although there currently are no specific plans for new facilities, Fenton says that is definitely a possibility, along with other new services, programming, day care sites and community partnerships. And with combined assets of more than $260 million and an annual budget of more than $110 million, the Twin Cities Y's growth seems like more than a possibility.
The opportunity to provide better services also was behind The Jewish Community Center of San Francisco's decision to hire Club One, also based in San Francisco, to manage its fitness facility.
"They were building a brand-new JCC, and their core competencies are in other mission programming, but they also knew they needed to have a successful fitness center and membership base to be financially sustainable," says Tom Nelson, vice president of new business development and of community and medical fitness at Club One.
Nelson says the term outsourcing does not accurately convey Club One's relationship with the JCC of San Francisco.
"What they really wanted and what we really strive to do is partner with the JCC, so it's a collaborative effort as opposed to just handing us the keys and letting us run the center," Nelson says, adding Club One made great efforts to understand the mission, vision, values and culture of the nonprofit organization so that the integration would be seamless.
The Club One at the JCC management model is now in place in seven locations, including most of the JCCs in the Bay Area and the Scottsdale, AZ, JCC.
Like the Twin Cities Y, Nelson says that the partnership likely saves operating costs, but savings is not the key advantage.
"Although we do provide efficiencies in operations and volume purchasing power that save on expenses, Club One's financial value [to the JCCs] is in driving membership acquisition and ancillary revenues, such as personal training, etc.," he says. "Selling 50,000 memberships each year across our entire company, we have fine-tuned our marketing strategy and sales approach to be one of the most effective in the industry."


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Who ever said AR is a center? This is like comparing apples to oranges. Who would play AR at center? Only on the whim of a hairbrained, contrarian coach desperately looking for some temporary matchup advantage.I really disagree that AR is worth more than Gortat. I like AR, but he will never make a good center, and he will never be as large and powerful as Gortat.
But ok, since you made the comparison. Randolph can easily be a 17-10 guy. How could Gortat score like that? Gortat can't run, handle the ball, pass and shoot like Randolph. But since we are talking Centers ( or front court players) Let's say the players in question all played 40 minutes. Here are their rebound rates for 40 minutes played.
At 20 years old Randolph is already rebounding on a par with Jefferson and Gortat, but not quite Beans.
Lets take blocks for 48 minutes:
Chum says:
I'm ok with sending Biedrins with Monta in the trade but I can't possibly see what Minnesota would send us in return for Beans
I think that's a stupid trade, what's the point to free up money ?, to do what? I'd trade Beans and Morrow for Jefferson, but Beans and Monta, ??? , what kind of fire sale is that?
Xbay, you rare right Jefferson doesn't fit in with Nelly's scheme, other than being an absolutely terrible defender. There are some other flaws in his game. He has a poor shooting efficiency for an inside scorer. He lobs a lot of lame shots, and never passes out. Biedrins by contrast has one of the highest assist rates among centers in the NBA.
The point I'm trying to get across is that this is a bit more complicated than it appears. I myself would MUCH rather have Kevin Love than Jefferson. He's a far superior rebounder to anyone mentioned, and would fit in perfectly with Randolph. I'd trade Beans or Maggette and Morrow for Love and fillers myself. Minnesota did say anyone's on the table. But realistically, they would prefer to deal Jefferson.
Beans lack of confidence and scoring, my god the free throws is defintely shaking me. But more important than anything, is his inability to hold his own with bigger centers. Gortat is not the answer, but another piece, because he can hold his own.


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Hello, guys! Today I want to share with you a short video, made by one of our readers - Kelby Roberson - a very ambitious 17-year old young filmmaker on youtube with some serious equipment. Kelby dropped me a line on Facebook with his video and when I saw if, I decided to post it and support this fan.
The video is about a 2006 Corvette C6 (V8 LS2 400HP) going out for a ride on some nice peaceful roads and then going back home. Although it's not a super-speed, drifting "fast and furious" movie, it has its charm. The young Mr. Roberson chose a very nice and shiny Vette to work his film skills, because he could pick any other make, but he wanted a true American car. What's more, he has plans to study film in college for the next four years, so Kelby, hope you achieve your goal and keep up the good work! We are waiting your next video showing some burned rubber!
Don't waste any more time a check out the video on Read more!


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Select Sires' SMS Genetic Consultants Meet in California
PLAIN CITY, Ohio, June 19, 2013 - Almost 150 attendees including Select Mating Service™ (SMS™) genetic consultants from Select Sires' member organizations, international guests and dairy producers met at the 38th annual SMS Consultant Conference, hosted by All West/Select Sires in Visalia, Calif., May 6-9, 2013.
Genetic consultants participated in a day of continuing education to ensure that they remain a valuable resource for their customers. The group discussed the latest developments in the Program for Genetic Advancement™ (PGA™), the many strengths of Select Sires' current sire lineup and exciting genomic young sires that are waiting in the wings. They learned about enhancements to the SMS program, innovative technologies and recent trends.
The most widely accepted mating program in the world, SMS continues to have persistent growth that is unmatched in the industry. SMS genetic consultants took the program to record-breaking heights in customer service in 2012. Last year the number of pedigree matings totaled 1,124,100, a record-setting number marking the first time pedigree matings exceeded 1 million animals. For more than 35 years, SMS has been building better cows throughout the world which is evident in the nearly 2 million new animals added to the SMS program in 2012. SMS consultants continue to help dairy producers control genetic recessives, haplotypes, inbreeding levels and create custom selection indexes based on customer goals.
During the first three days, consultants viewed progeny of Select Sires' current lineup and potential graduates in California. Select Sires wishes to thank the following herds for their hospitality: Ahlem Farms Partnership, Hilmar, Calif.; Machado Dairy, Turlock, Calif.; Arlinda Dairy, Turlock, Calif.; Lorita Holsteins, Modesto, Calif.; Genasci Dairy, Modesto, Calif.; Double Oak Dairy, Tulare, Calif.; H&T Dairy, Tipton, Calif.; Decade Dairy, Tulare, Calif.; Westra Dairy, Tulare, Calif.; Curtimade Dairy, Tulare, Calif.; Dias & Dias Dairy, Kingsburg, Calif.; Paulo-Bro Dairy, Hanford, Calif. and De Groot Dairy, Fresno, Calif.
"This year's conference provided consultants and international guests an opportunity to view Select Sires' genetics in action," stated Lon Peters, vice president of dairy sire product services for Select Sires. "The chance to walk behind hundreds of cows was perfect for identifying the type pattern of different sires. All of these herds served as testimonials of what SMS and Select Sires can do for our customer-owners."
Based in Plain City, Ohio, Select Sires Inc. is North America's largest A.I. organization and is comprised of nine farmer-owned and -controlled cooperatives. As the industry leader, it provides highly fertile semen as well as excellence in service and programs to achieve its basic objective of supplying dairy and beef producers with North America's best genetics at a reasonable price.


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Quite a few people have asked me what I think about the Andrew Wylie situation.
In a nutshell, here's an agent who is taking some of his star clients' books, which were sold prior to ebook clauses existing in contracts, and publishing these ebooks himself.
I predicted something similar to this would happen, last October.
There are a few potential problems with this scenario.
First, Wylie is an agent. His job is to sell his clients' work. If he is also the publisher of his clients, there is a HUGE conflict of interest there, as well as some ethical considerations. After all, why bother to try to sell any rights at all when he can make money publishing them himself? Is that truly in his clients' best interest? Does he deserve a commission off of this sale? Is he taking a publisher's cut of the profits?
Second, a lot of folks are annoyed that he made this deal exclusively with Amazon, cutting out other retailers and platforms. Personally, I have no problem with this at all, as I've done basically the same thing with SHAKEN. If Wylie can make more money for his clients by signing with one platform, he should be able to do that without everyone whining.
The publishers, in response to Wylie, have declared they will no longer make deals with Wylie.
Now, I don't really care about the outcome of this little tiff. It doesn't effect me either way. From a purely intellectual standpoint, this is yet another mistake big publishers are making, and they're shooting themselves in the foot once again. If they want the erights, frickin' BUY them.
Publishers are punishing their customers with high ebook prices. Now they're punishing their authors. This is a big sign of an industry flushing itself down the tubes.
A smart publisher would be kissing author ass and offering them big ebook royalties, because if they don't, they're going to get cut out of the equation completely.
As for Wylie, I believe agents are set up to be great estributors, as long as the rules and guidelines are ironed out. It's a complicated issue, and could easily be abused, sort of like making your lawyer the primary beneficiary in your will. But it also gives agents a chance to do something they all really want to do; get their clients' books in front of readers.
So as the digital revolution marches forward, it looks like the writers, and maybe the agents, will be able to survive, and even thrive.
The publishers? I haven't seen any evidence yet they'll make it. But I have seen a lot of evidence to the contrary.
Since I'm a generous guy, and people often ask me for advice, I'll offer it to these three groups.
For the Writers - If you have an out-of-print backlist, or books your agent couldn't sell, or books in print that have no ebook clauses in the contract, I suggest self-publishing them as ebooks. For all other writers, first decide what your goals are, and learn as much as you can about ebooks and traditional publishing before making any hasty decisions. And, of course, make sure you're writing damn good books.
For the Agents - Wylie is taking a lot of heat, perhaps justifiably so. But remember that your clients are your authors, not the publishers who buy you lunch. If you can serve your clients by helping them epublish, you should learn how to do so. And fast, before someone else does.
For the Publishers - Stop trying to stave off the inevitable. If you want to survive, you need to start embracing ebooks, even if they cannibalize your bread-and-butter print sales. If that means downsizing and restructuring your business, do it. And you'd better start treating your authors fairly, starting with bigger ebook royalties, because the authors, and their agents, are going to figure out that once ebooks reach a tipping point, they won't need you anymore.
Friday, July 23, 2010
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