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Netflix's resurrection of the beloved but short-lived Arrested Development helped cement it's emerging pre-eminence in original online content. The news of a new season was so over-hyped that when the entire season 4 was finally made available, some critics were underwhelmed and kind of perplexed. The show's fourth season turned out to be a departure from what came before, with each episode focusing mainly on one character at a time and overlapping in a way that only made sense once you'd watched them all... and then re-watched them.
Despite the mixed response from a vocal minority, creator Mitch Hurwitz wanted to do a season 5. Netflix seemed interested, with CEO Reed Hastings saying it was up to the "talent." Now we have a confirmation from Hurwitz that it's "definitely" happening... either as a series or a movie.
Chortle reports that during a Q&A with Hurwitz and Netflix chief content officer Ted Sarandos at the Just For Laughs comedy festival in Montreal, Hurwitz was asked whether or not we'd be seeing another season. "Definitely," he stated. Then he turned to Sarandos and said, "I don't want to get into a whole negotiation right now... but I've got a family to feed."
Hurwitz went on:
"I keep thinking about it, and why don't we do the movie version of this and then do the series, because this series kinda peaks with the story?
"I kinda go back and forth between that and a series. But here's the most important thing, whatever we do, I want to get the cast all together and not do another anthology thing, and that's why I keep thinking about kicking off with a special or a three-part show and then going into a series."
Hurwitz then turned to Sarandos and asked, "Are you game for that?" Sarandos responded, "Absolutely. In any form." While a movie had been talked about prior to season 4, it was pushed back in favor of an anthology series that could catch everyone up on the lives of the Bluths. According to Hurwitz, he would discuss the movie idea with Jeffrey Tambor, who plays Bluth family patriarch George Sr. and his twin brother Oscar:
"We would see each other and talk about it, and then it would end up in the press with him saying 'We're doing it!', but we didn't have have a deal, we [didn't] own the property – 20th Century Fox [owned] the property – and there were a lot of things to get in place."
"And also part of it was us stalling a little bit, too, waiting to see if the right idea came to us. And I think it has. We have it basically, we have the next step."
Netflix does not release audience values, but it's safe to presume that no one would be publicly discussing moving forward with a new season if the show had not successfully drawn enough viewers.
The recent Emmy nominations for Arrested Development (Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series, Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing for a Comedy Series and Outstanding Musical Composition for a Series), along with fellow originals House of Cards (nine) and Hemlock Grove (two) have suddenly changed the entire idea of what "television" is, in ways that are not entirely clear just yet.
Netflix's success in this arena will likely re-ignite cries for the company to bring back other beloved series. There have been reports that they have negotiated with the creators of the fascinating, short-lived Jericho, but nothing has come of it.
Still, we're getting more Arrested Development, and that's a good thing. Expect more news on the streaming front as details emerge.
All four seasons of Arrested Development are streaming on Netflix.
Source: Chortle


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(AP) — FedEx Corp. says it will buy up to 30 Boeing aircraft from United Airlines and convert them into cargo planes.
Financial terms of the deal were not released.
FedEx disclosed its plans in a regulatory filing. The package-delivery company said it would buy 14 Boeing 757 aircraft, which will be delivered through 2015, and could buy up to 16 more 757s.
United announced last year that it would buy 150 Boeing 737s over the next several years to replace older 757s.
FedEx spokesman Jess Bunn said Monday that the purchase of planes from United is the latest move in a fleet-modernization program that started several years ago.
"We are retiring older, less efficient aircraft and replacing them with more modern and efficient ones," he said.
Shares of FedEx fell $1.46 to close at $97.02. Shares of United Continental Holdings Inc. rose 3 cents to $31.90.

subset: commoncrawl


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John Maddex Discusses Conciliar Press Move
Recently, Antiochian.org caught up with busy Conciliar Media Ministries CEO John Maddex, to get his perspective on the recent Conciliar warehouse move to the Chicago area.
1. Over the holidays, Conciliar Press moved to a new warehouse location. Tell us first of all, where you are now, and how things are coming along as you resettle your books into a new space.
Maddex: We have relocated to the Chicago area using the services of a professional fulfillment center which serves dozens of publishers. We began filling orders from the new location on January 4 and officially shut down operations in Ben Lomond, CA on January 15. I want to add here that our faithful staff in Ben Lomond worked valiantly with wonderful attitudes to help prepare for the transition all the way to the last day when the truck left for Illinois. They are a wonderful group of people.
2. Can you give us a little background as to why Conciliar decided to relocate?
Maddex: As part of our long term strategy for streamlining and efficiency, it made sense to get out of the fulfillment business and allow a service who does nothing but fulfillment to better serve our customers. This translates into longer hours, savings from the economy of scale on things like packaging materials, picking and packing, large scale relationships with the major shipping companies and a more centralized part of the country to ship to and from.
3. Where are your administrative and editorial offices located now?
Maddex: We are actually a virtual company now with my office in Chesterton, IN along with our new Business Manager Nick Katich, Production Manager Carla Zell in Modesto, Marketing Director Matt Dorning in the Kansas City area, Acquisitions Editor Katherine Hyde in Ben Lomond, and Web Manager Fr. John Schroedel in Kona, HI! Our Ancient Faith Radio staff is in Chesterton and Mokena, IL.
4. What are the board's plans and priorities as you move into this next phase of ministry?
Maddex: We want to continue to develop the combined tools of publishing, radio, and the internet to help bring the Ancient Faith to the Modern World. We are seeing the impact of our podcasters becoming some of our authors for Conciliar Press (and vice versa) with names like Fr. Joseph Huneycutt, Molly Sabourin, Fr. Tom Hopko, Fr. John Oliver, Fr. Pat Reardon, Frederica Mathewes-Green, Fr. Lawrence Farley, Fr. Meletios Webber, Matthew Gallatin, and Dr. Chrissi Hart. More books are planned with podcasters like Fr. Stephen Freeman.
In addition, we are seeing our books become available in digital formats for new reading devices like the Kindle. Also audio books with the first one coming soon now that Fr. Peter Gillquist has finished recording his best selling book - Becoming Orthodox. There are plans to re-introduce periodicals taking advantage of on line technology, and we will also introduce some exciting new authors on a variety of topics.
At Ancient Faith Radio, we continue to see new podcasts and documentaries become available with one of the newest called Glory to Thee: A Chanter's Workshop with Dr. Stephen Kouri. Dr. Kouri gives an actual chanting workshop teaching listeners the 8 tones of Byzantine chant. We also have our first AFR Family Conference planned at Antiochian Village on June 4 - 6 with speakers including Fr. Tom Hopko, Fr. Tom Soroka, Chrissi Hart, Molly Sabourin and Bobby Maddex. We thank God for the privilege of making these resources available and we are convinced the best days are ahead for Conciliar Media Ministries.


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I'm working in a fingerprint enrollment application, written in Java. I'm using 2 different scanners (Lumidigm Venus V302 and DigitalPersona UaU 4500).
My problem is the following: the DigitalPersona scanner is immediately detected as the initialization sequence runs, but the Lumidigm one is never recognized, even when windows says the device is working correctly.
The initialization sequence used in the Java code is similar to the Java FingersSample included in Verifinger SDK:
- Obtain license
- new ScannerMan().getScanners();
The method getScanners() always returns a valid array when the DigitalPersona scanner is connected, but it never returns a reference to the Lumidigm scanner; if the Lumidigm is the only one attached to the computer, the method getScanners() always returns null.
On a side note, all the functionality required by my application has been tested using the DigitalPersona scanner but it's mandatory for my application to support Lumidigm as well.
Am I missing some initialization steps?
Thanks in advance for your help.
Best regards


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It's the game we've all been waiting for. Well, not really, but it is the long awaited return of Linsanity to the Mecca, the arena where Jeremy Lin became a house hold name practically overnight. Lin has struggled mightily this season though, averaging less than 11 points and 6 assists per game, to go along with his abysmal field-goal percentage (under 40%). The backcourt tandem of Lin and Harden has been questioned because of their styles of play and has left many wondering if they don't click well. It hasn't effected James Harden however, as he is averaging 25 points per game, the fifth most in the league.
This game is a lot bigger for the Knicks then Jeremy Lin's return, as they should have some revenge on their mind. The last time these two teams got together the Knicks got ran out of the gym, giving up 131 points to the Rockets in Houston en route to a 28-point blowout, by far the Knicks worst defeat of the year. In that game Harden had 33 and Chandler Parsons added 31, and in the wise words of Bart Scott, the Knicks couldn't stop a nose bleed. The Rockets knocked down 14 of 25 threes, something the Knicks cannot allow to happen again. The Knicks have gone 10-2 since that game, and have allowed 100 points in only four of those last 12 games. Their three-point shooting and lack of turnovers has been the catalyst all season, and could be tonight as well.
The Rockets allow opponents to shoot 38.9% from behind the arc, the fourth highest in the league according to HoopData.com. The Knicks shoot over 40% from downtown and lead the league in 3-point rate. The Rockets are just behind the Knicks in 3-point rate, so be prepared to see a lot of three-pointers tonight from both teams. With Carmelo Anthony questionable with a sprained ankle, the three-point shot will again be huge for the Knicks. Both Harden and Lin like to get out in transition, so the Knicks transition defense will be crucial tonight. The Rockets average 16.8 fast break points a game, and the Knicks need to make sure they get back on defense and force the Rockets to beat them in the half-court game. As we saw when he played in New York, Lin is susceptible to turnovers in the half court and could allow the Knicks to get out into their own fast breaks.
Keeping Omer Asik in check tonight will fall on Tyson Chandler. Asik killed the Knicks last meeting with 18 and 14, and is averaging over 11 boards a game on the season. With Rasheed Wallace likely out again, Chandler's interior defense and rebounding will be essential to limiting Asik's effectiveness.
Tonight will mark the return of another former Knick point guard, Toney Douglas. Douglas played well for a brief time a couple years ago and was the Knicks starting point guard against the Celtics in the playoff series, but seemed to regress significantly last season. Douglas was a part of the deal that brought Marcus Camby back to the Knicks, and has played pretty well for the Rockets this season. He is averaging over 10 points per game over his last 10 games in 22+ minutes. The hard-working point guard was pretty much ran out of New York at the end of last season, and has found a decent fit with the Rockets.
This is a huge game for the Knicks even without the return of Jeremy Lin. That is the last thing on the Knicks' minds as they want to avenge their worst loss of the season. Raymond Felton told reporters this morning that they owe the Rockets something, and I expect them to come out firing at the World's Most Famous Arena.
Follow Brian on Twitter @bcoles1029


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How a company responds to expected and unexpected events can define it for years to come. As business continuity and crisis managers, we are responsible for a broad range of preparedness and continuity functions to ensure a responsive, resilient organization. Some of our recent discussion topics included:
- Strategic business issues facing BC managers
- Business Continuity Interdependencies
- Audits of BC programs & scorecards
- Examples of successful public/private partnerships
- Lessons learned from BP Gulf oil spill disaster
There is no way to avoid a crisis, but our trusted and confidential conversations give us access to best practices for minimizing organizational impact and developing a truly resilient organization.
The power of peer learning
Enduring relationships with trusted peers are the core of the council experience. Enhanced by our global, enterprise-wide reach, these relationships span the world and extend the value of council membership. Confidential peer dialogue provides you with a broader perspective and shared experiences, as well as access to specific knowledge and best practices.
Council membership benefits
Collective problem solving that puts your issue on the agenda
Benchmarking through regular surveys of council members about relevant company practices
Multifunctional insights generated by the wealth of perspectives gathered from over 100 councils (covering more than 50 functions) that work together across geographies
Virtual communities that extend learning opportunities through a variety of online forums and other resources
Who should join?
Senior executives responsible for business continuity at major corporations
Program Director
J. Kelly Stewart, MBA, MA
Program Director


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Kapsch will be a part at this year's railway User Group from 4 - 6 October 2017 in Teddington, Greater London, UK.
Kapsch CarrierCom is an SHIFT²RAIL associated member.
The EU initiative is focused on research and innovation to accelerate the development of new technologies, products and solutions for railways.


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Find local BMW Dealers and BMW Certified Inventory by entering your ZIP code
3264 Commerce Ave
Duluth, GA 30096-4711
Sales: (770) 476-8800
======: Save thousands on this Courtesy Vehicle Special! This BMW is Certified with a 5 year/Unlimited mile warranty and qualifies for rates as low as 1.49%! This BMW came with an original MSRP of $55,070! Internet Price Includes BMW Incentives/Offers! Ask Dealer for details! This 2018 BMW 330e iPerformance Sedan has a Mineral White Metallic exterior and Venetian Beige/Dk. Oyster Leather interior! Options Include a Steptronic Automatic Transmission, Navigation System, Premium Package, Convenience Package, Head-Up Display, Heated Front Seats, Comfort Access, Real Time Traffic Information, 17 Wheels, and a Moonroof. Courtesy Vehicles may vary in mileage and availability at time of inquiry. Please call BMW of Gwinnett Place for more details!This 330e iPerformance is priced $2,800 below NADA Retail. ONLY 6,488 Miles! ======CPO: BMW is now offering a more comprehensive warranty beginning in 2014 that will cover Navigation, Small Electronics, Cupholders, Headlights, and much more! This vehicle's warranty coverage has been extended, as it's now being back by BMW's 5-year/Unlimited mile CPO protection plan! Just like before, this vehicle has been inspected by a BMW-trained technician and we're holding it to the same high CPO standards! On top of that, we at BMW at Gwinnett Place stand behind our Certified BMW's by offering a 3-day Penske Promise that allows you the opportunity to return the vehicle within the first 3 days or 300 miles if you are not satisfied with your purchase! See dealer for additional information! ======CENTER OF EXCELLENCE: BMW of Gwinnett Place was just awarded Center of Excellence for the sixth consecutive time! BMW of Gwinnett Place is the only BMW dealership in Georgia to win this prestigious award! The Center of Excellence Award is reserved for dealers who distinguish their operation through exceptional performance, brand representation, and outstanding customer experience. Pricing analysis performed on 8/20/2019.
3264 Commerce Ave
Duluth, GA 30096-4711
(0 Miles)
Sales: (770) 476-8800
Year: 2018
Make: BMW
Model: 330e
Price: $32,988
Mileage: 6,490
Engine: 2.0L 4 CYLINDER
Transmission: AUTOMATIC
Exterior Color: Mineral White Metallic
Interior Color: VenetianBeige/DarkOyster
Fuel Type: Hybrid
Stock #: 32935
City MPG: 0
Hwy MPG: 0
Featured Options
Sport Line
Convenience Package
Premium Package
Heated Steering Wheel
Fineline Anthracite Wood Trim
Apple CarPlay Compatibility 1y
BMW iPerformance Design
Tier 2
Included Packages
Convenience Package
Premium Package
Sport Line
Additional Options
Heated Steering Wheel
Apple CarPlay Compatibility 1y
BMW iPerformance Design
Tier 2
CO2 relevant vehicles
STEPTRONIC auto w/shift paddle
Tire pressure monitor
Alarm System
Universal garage-door opener
Rear view camera
Matte Chrome Exterior Trim
Floor mats
Auto-dimming mirrors
Auto-dimming rearview mirror
Power Front Seats
40/20/40 Split Rear Seat
Storage package
Acoustic Protection
Rain sensor and auto headlight
Ambient Lighting
Additional 12-V power sockets
LED Fog Lights
Hi-fi sound system
DVD Area coding, North America
BMW Assist eCall
BMW TeleServices
eDrive Services
ConnectedDrive Services
Anthracite headliner
Oil Chg 10,000 mls/12 months
Daytime driving lights
Shipping package
Transport protection
Floor Liners-Black
BMW First Aid Kit
LED Door Projector
Paint Protection Film Level 1
TurboCord Charger
Wheel Locks - Spline Style


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What stars mean
Holiday home - Søndervig, Denmark
Added value
- Energy Saving
Energy SavingThis holiday house is specially environment-friendly and/or energy saving.
- Holiday for two
Holiday for twoAre you newly in love or do you feel like reviving your love life with a romantic vacation?
- Non-smoking holiday homes
Non-smoking holiday homesNon-smoking holiday homes
- Internet
InternetPlease note that the Internet access may be limited to a certain amount of GB. If the internet connection is only available for a fee, this is stated in the house description under 'Facilities'.
- Pets are allowed
Pets are allowedThe following pets are allowed in this holiday home: dog, cat, rabbit, hamster, turtle and guinea pig.
This particularly well-equipped cottage is located in a beautiful landscape with wonderful views of the golf course and the dunes in the distance. It is located in the first stage of the Søndervig Holiday Park. The houses are located near the centre of the city, which offers the easiest access to the North Sea. The city is a renowned seaside resort which takes lot of care to make the guests feel comfortable. The entrepreneurs know exactly what they need to do to meet the needs of guests. So you will not find anything missing here. You can go shopping, enjoy a cup of coffee or a delicious meal or even pamper yourself at the spa. The ancient town of Ringkøbing is located not far from the holiday park. Even there you will quickly feel welcome, because the town is one of the best preserved places of Denmark. The traditional low houses, the red tile roofs and lattice windows take you back in time. The town centre is unchanged since the 19th century and is a good place to start your city tour. You can go for a comfortable walk along the streets with cobblestones and little boutiques. The port exudes a special atmosphere. At the pier you can enjoy the sunlight and a beautiful view of the fjord. Hvide Sande is also a lovely place to visit. Although the port is active and bustling with fishing activities, you will always find a fisherman who is willing to chat. Many activities are available nearby and on the water on both sides of the city. Here you can experience a lot of nature. There is an immense amount of space for everyone - young, old, surfers, connoisseurs of life and active athletes. All homes can use the Beach Bowl in Søndervig - a centre with many activities, some of which are free. See also: C06600+601+602+603+604+605+606+607+608+609+610+611.
About holiday home
- Building material: Stone
- View of the dunes
- Pets: 1
- Water consumption per m3: 60 DKK
- Build (year): 2013
- Our quality rating: 5
- Guests: 8
- Free kids amount (max 4 years old): 1
- Cable TV, german channels
- Radio
- 1 DVD player
- Wireless internet
- Kitchen: Hot and cold water
- Bathroom
- WC: Hot and cold water , Shower
- Bedroom no. 1
- Double bed(s) (2 spaces)
- Bedroom no. 2
- Double bed(s) (2 spaces)
- Bedroom no. 3
- Double bed(s) (2 spaces)
- Kitchen/living room
- Sofabed, mattress or similar (2 spaces)
- Toilet
- WC: Hot and cold water
- Electric cooker
- Refrigerator
- Cooker hood
- Deep freeze: 40 l
- Coffee brewer
- Microwave
- Washing machine
- Tumble dryer
- Dishwasher
- Vacuum cleaner
- All year round insulated
- Electric heating
- Heat pump
- Underfloor heating - bathrooms
- Natural site: 600 m2
- Garden furniture
- Barbecue
- Terrace or similar
- Open and covered terrace
- Golf course: 20 m
- Surfing possible: 7 km
- Tennis court: 250 m
- Mini golf: 300 m
- Swimming pool: 250 m
- Free entry Beach Bowl Soenderv
- Distance fishing opportunity: 500 m
- Distance shopping: 300 m
- Nearest restaurant: 300 m
- Nearest city: 9 km (Ringkøbing)
- Distance water: 500 m (Water)
- Please note that the distances above are approximate, and in direct line from the property grounds.
Places nearby:
Calculate distance


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A Seriously Happy Man
The world's happiest man is Matthieu Ricard, a 66-year-old Tibetan monk and geneticist.
We have no word on the world's happiest woman. If you know her, grateful that you might tell us, so we may name her here.
But the discovery that the world's happiest man is a Buddhist monk is a broad and roomy thing. We're intrigued by the enormity of the questions raised by this finding and feel compelled to stab at answering some of them, however tentatively.
What happened is that neuroscientist Richard Davidson wired up Matthieu Ricard's skull with 256 sensors to measure the monk's meditative brain activity. This was part of a larger experiment where scientists scanned the brain waves of several Buddhist monks as the monks meditated.
Here's how the Agence France Presse reported things:
"The scans showed that when meditating on compassion Ricard's brain produced a level of gamma waves - those linked to consciousness, attention, learning and memory – 'never reported before in the neuroscience literature,' Davidson said.
"The scans also showed excessive activity in Ricard's left prefrontal cortex compared to the right, giving him an abnormally large capacity for happiness and a reduced propensity towards negativity."
Limited happiness
Sorry, can we disrupt this trainwreck of a thought? Don't you wonder what's meant when they say someone has "an abnormally large capacity" for happiness? One may suppose that if you were an inmate at Turkey's Diyarbarkir Prison in the 1980s and were about to be immersed in the ritual excrement bath before having your genitals savaged by the warden's specially-trained German Shepherd, your capacity for happiness, no matter how abnormally large, would be feeling a bit shriveled.
But to suggest our capacity for happiness is to be inferred by wave activity in the prefrontal cortex of the brain, is absurd. This is why so much of neuroscience seems like reductionist junk and quackery.
Let me say clearly: there can be no limit to human happiness.
"When meditating on compassion" – this is another phrase in the news story about Matthieu Ricard that piques my curiosity. I'm left to conclude that this likely refers to the Theravada practice of Mettā, which is the cultivation of loving-kindness. You receive suffering, you send happiness.
And I wonder what is meant by gamma waves being "linked to consciousness…" How are they linked and what is meant by consciousness in this context, exactly? This is such a mine field, I almost typed "mindfield".
Someone once said consciousness is like the Trinity; if it is explained so that you understand it, it hasn't been explained correctly. In the case of neuroscience it seems consciousness means any state other than being asleep, comatose or dead. A pretty low standard, wouldn't you say? Consciousness is a slippery thing, but other definitions at least imply a level of intentionality. As psychologist George Miller said 40 years ago it's a term that covers everything from phenomenalism to panpsychism: "'Consciousness' is a word worn smooth by a million tongues. Depending upon the figure of speech chosen it is a state of being, a substance, a process, a place, an epiphenomenon, an emergent aspect of matter, or the only true reality."
Now in the AFP story, Ricard says that meditating is like lifting weights or exercising for the mind. He said anyone can be happy by simply training their brain.
"Try sincerely to check, to investigate," Ricard said. "That's what Buddhism has been trying to unravel — the mechanism of happiness and suffering. It is a science of the mind."
"It's a wonderful area of research because it shows that meditation is not just blissing out under a mango tree but it completely changes your brain and therefore changes what you are," the monk told AFP.
These are fascinating statements, begging to be deciphered: anyone can be a seriously happy man. I wondered about the interchangeability of brain and mind in Ricard's usage but then realized that for him (unlike the neuroscientists) consciousness is not seated in the brain. Although consciousness can be apprehended by mind – no mind. In other words, as soon as you think you have it, you don't. Consciousness vibrates with infinite energy, everywhere. Consciousness infuses all. And what the scientists measure is not consciousness. What they measure are brain waves.
Ricard, incidentally, grew up among the Paris intellectual elite as the son of celebrated French libertarian philosopher Jean-Francois Revel and abstract watercolor painter Yahne Le Toumelin. So I'm predisposed to like the guy. A prominent monk in Kathmandu's Shechen Monastery, Ricard divides his time between isolated meditation, scientific research and accompanying the Dalai Lama on trips to French-speaking countries. Plus, he has written a book Happiness: A Guide to Developing Life's Most Important Skill which I have not read and so cannot properly recommend.
I am very grateful to Matthieu Ricard for submitting to a brain scan and for leaving me to ponder again the nature of happiness. For what it's worth, I don't believe we can think our way to happiness. Happiness is an experience not an idea. Winds of consciousness may billow the sails of our mind but the winds are not summoned by the power of intellect.
It has a lot to do with intention. Let us observe, though, that happiness is not the exclusive domain of Buddhists, who are killing and terrorizing Muslims in Myanmar at the moment, expressing ethnic intolerance – some of which is being instigated by those in maroon. No happiness there.
But, I defer to the Buddhists who have it right in the mathematical sense that I am a new person, recreated in each moment. So there is no self to fix on, and what makes me happy now may not make me happy later. My happiness, if it is to endure even for an instant, cannot be attached to anything. Only by virtue of intention and detachment do I experience the ever-present happiness which permeates everything and which is available to us all – in limitless supply.
It is in doing nothing that I see everything is done.
(Top Image: A Seriously Happy Man 11x15 watercolour by David Roberts; Bagan 15x11 watercolour by David Roberts; Rangoon Colonial 15x11 watercolour by David Roberts.)


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End-of-life notice: American Legal Ethics Library
As of March 1, 2013, the Legal Information Institute is no longer maintaining the information in the American Legal Ethics Library. It is no longer possible for us to maintain it at a level of completeness and accuracy given its staffing needs. It is very possible that we will revive it at a future time. At this point, it is in need of a complete technological renovation and reworking of the "correspondent firm" model which successfully sustained it for many years.
Many people have contributed time and effort to the project over the years, and we would like to thank them. In particular, Roger Cramton and Peter Martin not only conceived ALEL but gave much of their own labor to it. We are also grateful to Brad Wendel for his editorial contributions, to Brian Toohey and all at Jones Day for their efforts, and to all of our correspondents and contributors. Thank you.
We regret any inconvenience.
Some portions of the collection may already be severely out of date, so please be cautious in your use of this material.
Indiana Rules of Professional Conduct
Comment - Rule 1.3
[1] A lawyer should pursue a matter on behalf of a client despite opposition, obstruction or personal inconvenience to the lawyer, and may take whatever lawful and ethical measures are required to vindicate a client's cause or endeavor. A lawyer must also act with commitment and dedication to the interests of the client. A lawyer is not bound, however, to press for every advantage that might be realized for a client. For example, a lawyer may have authority to exercise professional discretion in determining the means by which a matter should be pursued. See Rule 1.2. The lawyer's duty to act with reasonable diligence does not require the use of offensive tactics or preclude the treating of all persons involved in the legal process with courtesy and respect.
[2] A lawyer's workload must be controlled so that each matter can be handled competently.
[3] Perhaps no professional shortcoming is more widely resented than procrastination. A client's interests often can be adversely affected by the passage of time or the change of conditions; in extreme instances, as when a lawyer overlooks a statute of limitations, the client's legal position may be destroyed. Even when the client's interests are not affected in substance, however, unreasonable delay can cause a client needless anxiety and undermine confidence in the lawyer's trustworthiness. A lawyer's duty to act with reasonable promptness, however, does not preclude the lawyer from agreeing to a reasonable request for a postponement that will not prejudice the lawyer's client.
[4] Unless the relationship is terminated as provided in Rule 1.16, a lawyer should carry through to conclusion all matters undertaken for a client. If a lawyer's employment is limited to a specific matter, the relationship terminates when the matter has been resolved. If a lawyer has served a client over a substantial period in a variety of matters, the client sometimes may assume that the lawyer will continue to serve on a continuing basis unless the lawyer gives notice of withdrawal. Doubt about whether a client-lawyer relationship still exists should be clarified by the lawyer, preferably in writing, so that the client will not mistakenly suppose the lawyer is looking after the client's affairs when the lawyer has ceased to do so. For example, if a lawyer has handled a judicial or administrative proceeding that produced a result adverse to the client and the lawyer and the client have not agreed that the lawyer will handle the matter on appeal, the lawyer must consult with the client about the possibility of appeal before relinquishing responsibility for the matter. See Rule 1.4(a)(2). Whether the lawyer is obligated to prosecute the appeal for the client depends on the scope of the representation the lawyer has agreed to provide to the client. See Rule 1.2.
[5] To prevent neglect of client matters in the event of a sole practitioner's death or disability, the duty of diligence may require that each sole practitioner prepare a plan, in conformity with applicable rules, that designates another competent lawyer to review client files, notify each client of the lawyer's death or disability, and determine whether there is a need for immediate protective action. Cf. Ind. Admission and Discipline Rule 23, Section 27 (providing for court appointment of a lawyer to inventory files and take other protective action in absence of a plan providing for another lawyer to protect the interests of the clients of a deceased or disabled lawyer).


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Jim Hornthal
Fund: CMEA Ventures
Posted by ceobythebay on 2007-09-24
Jim Hornthal is a Venture Partner at CMEA and is a talented, connected and high-octane guy. CMEA did not invest in my company but Jim is involved. He always says it as he sees it, respects managers, follows up on everything he says he will and works his rolodex as much as anyone I've ever met on the behalf of others. You'd be fortunate to get Jim involved in your company in any way.PRIVATE: Members Only


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Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens
These are a few of my favorite things"
From The Sound of Music.
I am not so sure about the raindrops and whiskers, and I have little use for copper kettles, but woolen mittens have some possibilities and brown paper packages typically bring bike parts from UPS and that is very cool.
2010 was a year full of product tests and trail time on various bits of bike components. Over those months, there are things that stood out as something I liked enough to make it a regular part of my 'kit'. As well, some of the trends and technologies that came about or hit the market big in 2010 have left some favorable impressions.
So, that said, Grannygear presents his list of "A Few of My Favorite Things", in no particular order except what comes to mind.
SRAM XX 10 speed (arguably the best of the lot) is what I have been on this past year and the front shifting of the XX chainrings is exceptional. I seldom miss the big ring, but I do think that there needs to be a lower geared crankset. Unfortunately, SRAM, the leader in 2x10 stuff, kinda' boxed themselves in by the BCD (Bolt Circle Diameter) of the new cranks and a 39/26 is as small as it allows for. I have ridden 38/24 cranksets with 10 speed back ends on some Specialized bikes....I bet you will see commercially available cranks from SRAM in that gear range for 2011. In any case, Unless I was building a bike for touring the world or climbing the Rockies, I would choose 2x10 on every geared bike I own.
Wool rocks. No wonder sheep are so happy. This year I was able to sample some of the best clothing products made from Merino wool. Swiftwick socks, an EWR jersey, the wool Buff headwrap, and just recently a set of wool knickers from Ibex clothing, all have made their way onto my finely chiseled body. The new wool blends are not itchy, fit tightly and are easy to care for. Nothing is as nice over a wide variety of temps and conditions and they do not pick up body odor. The only downside is these fabrics do not pack down small like synthetics, but that is about the only bad thing I can think of other than initial cost. They ain't cheap, but they are good.
Tubeless tires are blessed. Yeah, I know that they can be temper mental, especially if you have a tire-rim combo that does not play well. But the Stans' Flows I use on two bikes are just so easy to deal with and when I add a good running tire like the Specialized 2-Bliss versions along with Stan's goo inside...well, it is magic. Enjoy the potential of lower PSI, thorn flats are a thing of the past, you save weight, and the bikes roll better over a rough trail. What is not to like? Honorable mention to the Bontrager TLR system as another shining example of doing it right.
Classic parts. This year I bucked the trend toward more modern freehub designs when I built up mynew SS wheels. The White Industries hubs and ENO freewheel have been tight, right, and light enough. Plus, they look absolutely gorgeous (NOTHING is polished anymore...really) and remind me of the Campy road stuff from years back. They roll like crazy and fill me with satisfaction every time I look at 'em. Kudos to companies like WI, Phil Wood, and Paul's for keepin' it real and the classic hub alive.
Steel bikes. Man, what is it about steel that is so darn good? I like to ride all kinds of bikes and every material has its good and bad points. As well, there is more than just the chemical composition of the tubing that makes a bike what it is. However, the bikes that just make me want to ride over the horizon and smile for years to come are always steel. This year the SS Jabberwocky has been providing me with that grin. Pretty cheap, pretty good looking, and pretty darn fun to ride. Steel is still real.
Buff Headwear. Yeah, it looks like just a head wrap thingy, but man, I love 'em. I can keep sweat at bay, stay warm, keep my ears protected, cover my face, wrap my neck, shade my skin, and play pirate....arrrgh, Matey...the possibilities are endless. I would not want to go back to simple headbands again.
WTB saddles. If I was looking to cross the world on one saddle brand, it would be WTB and specifically, the Pure V model. I own three of them. It is a wide-ish, medium padding deal with a kicked up back edge that works nice for scooting back and getting those glutes into play on long climbs. Everyone's backside is different, so ya' gotta' run what makes you happy. The Pure V was made for my butt. I wonder how they knew?
Singlespeeds. One gear. One planet. The rest is up to you. How can you not love that challenge?
The perfect hydration pack...does not exist yet, but until it does, I have been impressed by the new Camelbak Charge 450 and have been using it for every ride this last month. It is feathery light, smartly designed, expandable, and really comfy. Plus, the new reservoirs are well thought out and an improvement over the past versions.
LED Lighting...has changed everything for night riding. I built my own lights just because it sounded fun and I could do it, plus I saved some money. Now there are lights out there that are so cheap, that I cannot build a set for what I can buy the others for. Night riding rocks. One little gem I use all the time are the FLEA lights from Blackburn, both the front and rear versions. The rear blinky is bright and flashy, but the front lights are so darn useful for those rides that just need a little light to get you back to the house or car, or as a back-up to your Phaser Beam Bunny Burner 2000 lumen whiz-bang lights. One of these Flea lights will get you off the trail at a slow pace and they charge via USB or solar. I used two of them (one may have been enough...two was more than enough) on the h-bars to begin an endurance ride that had 30 minutes of climbing in the dark. I did not want to haul my big lights around all day, so these were perfect.
Elete electrolyte additive and Fluid recovery drink. One keeps me cramp free during hard, long rides, and one keeps me able to get out of bed the next day without feeling destroyed by that hard, long ride. Honorable mention to Carborocket, a performance drink for during the event itself. I have not used it as often but when I have, it has been a solid performer for me
KT Tape. This stuff looks like odd little bands sticky gauze and works like magic. I only use it for long rides where I tape up my lumbar area. It keeps me noticeably pain free, preventing the tightening up of those low back muscles. Not for every ride, but for the right rides.
My wife's oatmeal bars. Seriously. They are little blocks of gooey joy, provide energy that lasts and lasts and they never taste bad, even after a dozen of 'em. No, she will not make them for you...but the point is this - get into the kitchen and experiment with your own concoctions to use as ride food. Power Bars are fine and all, but I eat these oat bars with Green Tea for breakfast, stuff them into jersey pockets for ride snacks, and even grab one with cold milk after dinner. You can't beat the cost of making your own bars and no one likes a Power Bar with tea for breakfast...do they?
So, there ya go...a few of the things I have used, abused, enjoyed, and have come to count on to make rides better.


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YouTube Live did something completely different to celebrate its first birthday. Its engineers gave three gifts to YouTube Partners, wrapped up as new features:
- Wirecast for YouTube Live: This new software allows partners to produce and stream professional-looking live events directly from their desktops to YouTube for free. It allows partners to capture and switch between multiple video and audio sources, roll in media files and images, as well as add live effects and overlays. If you are a YouTube Partner who is enabled for livestreaming, you'll see a link to download Wirecast for YouTube in your YouTube account.
- New publishing flows and real time analytics: Partners now have a guided flow to set up and preview live events before they go live. They can also see real time access to data like playbacks and concurrent viewers of their live streams by geography and format.
- Monetize live streams: Partners can now monetize their live events with advertising or other paid options. For example, a live event can be claimed in the new video manager like any other video and monetized with instream ads or paid options where partners can set different prices by country.
When the initial rollout of YouTube Live was announced on April 8, 2011, there was some confusion over the name because YouTube's first official community celebration on Nov. 22, 2008, at the Herbst Pavilion in the Fort Mason Center in San Francisco had also been dubbed "YouTube Live." That event was also streamed live on YouTube, enabling millions from around the globe to partake in the festivities.
In September 2010, YouTube started rolling out an unnamed live streaming beta platform, which allowed certain YouTube partners to stream live content on YouTube. This platform integrated live streaming directly into YouTube channels. All a broadcaster needed was a web cam or external USB/FireWire camera. The test included a live comments module that let users engage with the broadcaster and the broader YouTube community.
Based on the results of its initial tests, YouTube decided to roll out the platform more broadly to its partners worldwide.
On April 8, 2011, YouTube closed what had been called the "YouTube Live channel," effectively removing all the videos from the 2008 event. In its place, YouTube rolled out a brand-new YouTube Live browse page where users could find featured, live, and upcoming events happening on YouTube.
Here are some of the more interesting ones from April 2011 to present:
- In April, Brazil's Carnival channel launched on YouTube and live streamed a full six days of coverage.
- On April 29, The Royal Wedding of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge was live streamed 72 million times to 188 countries at The Royal Channel.
- On June 6, E3 carried live stream coverage of the gaming industry's annual tradeshow in Los Angeles on the E3 channel.
- In June, Dartmouth College and Stanford University used YouTube's live stream platform to broadcast their commencement ceremonies.
- On June 13, you could watch the Webby Awards Gala on YouTube.
- On June 15, you could watch the live stream of a rare 100-minute long total lunar eclipse on the Google channel on YouTube.
- On June 30, the red carpet event of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 was live streamed from Trafalgar Square in London on the Harry Potter channel.
- On Aug. 5, YouTube livestreamed the 20th anniversary Lollapalooza music festival.
- On Aug. 18, the America's Cup World Series was live streamed on the America's Cup channel.
- On Sept. 15, fans of comedy star Jonah Hill could watch the live streamed interview about his new movie, Moneyball.
- On Sept. 21, some of the biggest bands in the world were live on YouTube performing at Rock in Rio 2011.
- On Nov. 3, the Saudi Ministry of Culture and Information live streamed the Hajj on YouTube for the first time.
- On Dec. 28, Geoffrey Canada's keynote speech about education reform was streamed live by Capella University.
- On Dec. 29, Professional Bull Riders turned a classic sport into a global league with more than 100 million fans tuning in from around the world.
- On Feb. 9, YouTube Live from the Runway was your ticket to the hottest shows at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week.
What does this mean to marketers? YouTube Partners have live streamed a broad range of events. This opens up a whole new category of content for partners to create and advertisers to consider.
Related reading
Eight tips to getting your videos ranked on YouTube in 2019
With 400 hours of video content uploaded every minute, how do you ensure yours stands out and attracts viewers? This article will help you crack the code.
YouTube + child safety: Is the service doing enough?
YouTube has had quite the month in the way of child safety concerns. We look at an overview of what's happened and how the platform has responded.
Mobile search and video in 2019: How visible are you?
Most of our search activity is mobile now and most of our video viewing is too. How should this affect the way we approach SEO for our video content?
YouTube Optimization: Complete Guide
YouTube is the second most visited website in the world. Here's a complete guide to YouTube optimization, ranking factors, search volume, analytics, etc.


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Ten years ago, female wrestlers Arezou Mansourian, Lauren Mancuso and Christine Wing-Si sued the University of California, Davis for, they said, violating Title IX in offering equal opportunity to female athletes. Today, they got their ruling, a mixed one in which both sides claimed victory.
The judge said that UC Davis had, in fact, inadequately complied with Title IX by not offering enough opportunities for women but that the women hadn't proved that university administrators had deliberately discriminated against them. He limited the monetary damages they could seek.
The women were on the men's wrestling team, and when they were cut they argued that they had unfairly had to compete against male wrestlers. The judge found that they had been cut for lack of skill but that UC Davis had failed to provide enough athletic opportunities for women at the time of the filing. While he found that the individual administrators acted in good faith, the university cut more the 60 slots for female athletes around the same time.
Both sides hailed the decision, in part because it clarified the legal ambiguities surrounding Title IX compliance at universities.
California-Davis Violated Title IX, Judge Rules [NYT]
Split Ruling in Title IX Case at U. of California Campus Allows Both Sides to Claim Victory [Chronicle]


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Apocalypse – No! Book Chapters
- About
- Culture War, Class War – Book 1
- Apocalypse Emergency – Book 3
- Apocalypse No – Book 4
- Ch 1 Strange Days
- Ch 2 "Ain't Born Typical"
- Ch 3 Perinatal Media
- Ch 4 – 21st Century, Its Discontents
- Ch 5 Birth Wars, World Woes
- Ch 6 Healing Crisis
- Ch 12 Through Gaia's Eyes
- Ch 8 Derailing War, Violence
- Ch 9 Regressions in the Service of Society
- Ch 10 Cultural Rebirthing, Where Lies Hope
- Ch 11 Control vs. Surrender
- Ch 12 Atman Projects vs. Surrender Solutions
- Ch 13 Peaceful Warriors, Silly Heroes
- Ch 14 To Move the World
- Afterword: Shamans … Scapegoats
- Wounded Deer and Centaurs – Book 5
- Prologue: For Earth's Sake, Get Real
- Chapter One: We Are a Fever
- Chapter Two: Ain't Born Typical
- Chapter Three: Projecting the Perinatal Zeitgeist
- Chapter Four: 21st Century and Its Discontents
- Chapter Five: Prenatal Imprints of Our Unnatural Self
- Chapter Six: Prenatal Oxygen Hunger and Fire
- Chapter Seven: Civilization and Apocalypse
- Chapter Eight: Return of the Centaur
- Chapter Nine: Prenatal Hunger Games
- Chapter Ten: "Bad Blood"
- Chapter Eleven: Prenatal Irritation-Revulsion
- Chapter Twelve: Toxic Womb ~ Toxic World
- Chapter Thirteen: Perinatal Printouts of Generations
- Chapter Fourteen: Birth Wars ~ World Woes
- Chapter Fifteen: The Unsung Consciousness Revolution
- Chapter Sixteen: Eden Arise, Call to Centaurs
- The Great Reveal – Book 6
- Experience Is Divinity – Book 7
- Falls from Grace – Book 8
- Culture War, Class War Blog
Recent Posts
- *Apocalypse NO: Apocalypse or Earth Rebirth & the Emerging Perinatal Unconscious* (2013) by Michael Adzema. (complete book, with my compliments)
- belief/religion/ritual *keep real* feeling *from happening*. They also keep truth from happening. They keep spontaneity and authenticity from happening. Therefore, when religion breaks down, all truth is liable to break loose.
- "your position on the abortion issue is the closest thing to a military uniform indicating on which side of the culture war you have enlisted" and what generation you are most likely from: Sixties & Millennial Generations Versus Gen X, and WWII and Fifties Gens
- the opposite of insanity is not normality … at all! The only sane response in an apocalypse emergency — a situation analogous to one's house on fire — is activism!"
- We learned, early in our lives, the world could not be relied on. We began an ever-increasing mistrust of it, which manifested, critically, in our relation to Nature. Control came in to fill the gap of mistrust that lay between need and satisfaction.
- the Universe has already experienced such apocalypse, now just a red planet…. It was much more fun, filled with life, creative divine noises, and manic whacky Chaplinesque movements, sounds, color, laughter… Instead,why not a hero's tale, billions of heroes…
- Republicans' intention is to cobble the ordinary person's power to get out from under the inexorable increase in their clearly felt suffering as the years go by. For this suffering and the helplessness about it is crucial to the directors' success.
- And so it began, with the blissful knowledge of Unity with All That Is turning psychotically into "I AM the Unity, I am all that is." So it went. I don't know why. But then there is that thing about it all being about greater wisdom…
- People *Are* Dying from Oxygen Deprivation … even the minute changes in our global atmosphere on the whole are having pervasive and dire consequences…
- this idea of getting more power at the cost of others' suffering — whether a "beast," an enemy, a slave, a prisoner of war … or one's own son — is rooted deeply in our cultural practices from the times of early civilization.
Tweets .. Join Me!
- RT @sillymickel: The Spectrum of Realities: Infinite Worlds "Authentic experiences of conscious identification with animals, plants, mater…@sillymickel 51 minutes ago
- RT @sillymickel: WDC 1/56 generation after generation of civilization has engaged, with little awareness of the consequences, in passing do…@sillymickel 1 hour ago
- WDC 2/106 *A Paradigm Crashes, New Visions Abound*…Consider that. But consider also such denial of the obvious, suc… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…@sillymickel 1 hour ago
- RT @sillymickel: *Four Blueprints of "Human Nature"* These imprints on our psyche caused by uncomfortable experiences in late gestation th…@sillymickel 1 hour ago
- RT @MaguFlower: Do THEY understand we are OVERPOPULATED? Ok, just checking, for a moment I thought they didn't want to PAY for unwanted ch…@sillymickel 1 hour ago
- the necessary answer to the dilemma of apocalypse or Earth rebirth lies, not only in the resurrection of a new Eart… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…@sillymickel 1 hour ago
- RT @sillymickel: You see,what the 1% do is drive people into lowered standards of living & poverty where they experience desperation for mo…@sillymickel 2 hours ago
- "…one needs to deal with something before one can stop oneself from reminding oneself that one needs to deal with t… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…@sillymickel 2 hours ago
- WDC 2/105 *The Costs of Ignoring the Unborn Child*…Our convenient denial of the consciousness of the unborn has had… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…@sillymickel 3 hours ago
- We are lifted beyond ourselves in a higher calling & a transcendent yet deeply rooted spirituality. We realize that… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…@sillymickel 3 hours ago
- We Have Manifested a World That Mirrors & Re-Creates Our Traumatic Human Births: Life or Death Matters We Need to F… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…@sillymickel 4 hours ago
- RT @sillymickel: WDC 1/54 who would administer the punishment anyway? For that matter, would that do anything to relieve or prevent the suf…@sillymickel 5 hours ago
- RT @pepper55bs: I think it will heat up I have see heat do alot of things, maybe? I think we are past a fix cause of snowpack melt what are…@sillymickel 5 hours ago
- RT @pepper55bs: @sillymickel I think our generation will form very close bonds because we can see past the end of our nose! I also see thi…@sillymickel 5 hours ago
- RT @sillymickel: use of fire is the great break with Nature that makes us humans, as well as myths saying our being too reckless & getting…@sillymickel 5 hours ago
- WDC 2/104 denying prenate consciousness we lose out on] the physical & social environments such loving pre- & perin… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…@sillymickel 5 hours ago
- This time calls for a new hero's cycle—one that leaves behind the thuggishness of the old one. We are lifted beyond… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…@sillymickel 5 hours ago
- RT @sillymickel: WDC 1/53 & centauric healers & activists are aware that the important thing is not to judge, for who would administer the…@sillymickel 5 hours ago
- Another overlooked aspect of the abortion battle is that anti-abortioners make a big deal out of fetuses being cons… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…@sillymickel 6 hours ago
- RT @sillymickel: 1/1 how the hell did you come up with that, Marty? I'm pro-choice. I thought I couldn't make it any clearer that it is r…@sillymickel 6 hours ago
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Accenture has historically performed disaster recovery of its information systems from a collocation facility. This model, however, is resource intense and wasteful. Even with its high efficiency, Accenture felt it could do better.
The advance of disaster recovery solutions led Accenture's internal IT organization to consider cloud-based disaster recovery approaches to take advantage of the benefits of the public cloud. Such an approach would also be in line with Accenture's "cloud-first" strategy.
Given these conditions, the Disaster Recovery team within Accenture's internal IT organization evaluated options for a new disaster recovery solution. They ultimately chose Microsoft Azure Site Recovery within the Microsoft Azure Operations Management Suite as the solution best suited for Accenture. It was enterprise ready, offered simplicity and offered lower costs.


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Popular music commentary, reviews, and charts relevant to music fans in the United States and the United Kingdom.
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Leona Lewis "Hurt"
So fans have to settle instead for a three-song EP of covers. But really, they're hardly settling, for "Hurt" is quite amazing. This is as mesmerizing a cover as her take on Snow Patrol's, "Run," perhaps better even.
"Hurt" was originally released in the spring of 1995 to promote Nine Inch Nails' first full-length album, The Downward Spiral. It was the album's second-biggest hit after "Closer." "Hurt" was famously covered in 2002 by Johnny Cash, his last single released before his death in 2003.
Lewis's version nicely references both the original as well as the Cash remake. The backing arrangement is spot-on, a building storm of guitar and piano that is more in keeping with the Cash version but also nicely references the dissonant melody of the Nine Inch Nails original that Cash's remake didn't. Oh, and she sounds really great on it too, nicely resisting the urge to oversing what is both a fragile and very angry song. She holds herself in and cuts loose appropriately at the second chorus and bridge.
Her performance on X Factor looks to have ensured this a top 5 placement on the UK singles chart this weekend. She's apparently also set to perform this on the US X Factor finale later this month.
5 comments:
- J.Mensah said...
What do you think about the EP? I really like her covers of "Colourblind" and "Iris." They sound so depressing but her voice is insane!
I liked her cover of "Run" a lot. This doesn't seem as good, although I think maybe I'm not a big fan of the song. Perhaps it will grow on me.
- ww_adh said...
I haven't focused on the other songs as much. I think I like "Colorblind" better of the two. Nice piano on that one. I'm a big fan of the original version of "Iris," so I don't think I care for hers as much.
- That_One_Guy said...
I think she should keep pushing to become the new ballader. "Bleeding Love" and "Happy" are probably in the top of the best pop ballads of the last decade (00-09). Her voice is great and after Echo (one of the best albums of 2009 for me) I cannot seem to get enough of her. Not until "Someone Like You" by Adele has there been someone pushing for true, poptastic ballads a la Mariah and Celine as Leona has.
I miss ballads on the radio. hehe
Thanks for the LL update! ={D
- ww_adh said...
I totally agree. Pop ballads used to be so common and now they're once in a blue moon.


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I, for a fact, quite like Keno[tai]. He's my favorite.
Goddamnit kitkat, you make me look late
Ignore the fail walking at the end. Flash was hating me and wouldn't allow me to change the tween path.
Awesomeness runs strong in the Greivi bloodline.
There is, of course, a difference between having a laugh with someone, and having a laugh at their expense
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This year's crop got off to a fantastic start. Many farmers managed to plant early, thanks to spring-like temperatures in late winter, and early rains helped secure overall health.
But by the time more than 750 farmers and retailers gathered for last week's Corn College event in Bloomington, Ill., things had gone decidedly south. A record drought, the worst in more than 20 years, had many saying their average yields would be off anywhere from 40% to 80%.
Some crops will be completely lost. If attendees come to Corn College looking for advice, they certainly found it. Here are a few of the key take-aways from the event.
Many farmers remain upbeat.
One farmer drew laughs when he told the group that this year's crop would be his best ever—because it was his first. On a more serious note, several farmers from regions where rainfall had been good expected to have record crops. One attendee, Doug Recker, a dry-land corn farmer from Dyersville, Iowa, expects to harvest 200 bu./acre.
Don't count your chickens before they hatch.
Outside the severe drought areas, Ken Ferrie, Farm Journal field agronomist, says some fields are still tracking for yields in the neighborhood of 150 bu./acre. But the weather must cooperate between now and harvest to maintain those yields. "To hold kernels, we're going to need two inches of rain every week, because there is no soil moisture reserve."
Consider a put option as an insurance policy.
Futures prices for corn and soybeans rose to record highs during last week's conference. Mark Gold of Top Third Ag Marketing, who spoke during the luncheon, suggested that farmers buy a $7 December put option for 35 cents. If prices move even higher-- to $9 or $10—they would still be able to sell corn at a higher price, even if it's not the highest possible price.
Don't forget that prices may still fall.
"All it would take is putting the President in front of a press conference and have him mention putting an end to the ethanol mandate or reducing exports," said Gold. The result s of an AgWeb reader poll, conducted this week, indicate that most farmers expect corn and soybean prices to keep rising. Only about one-third of readers think they have peaked.
Some pests remain undeterred by the heat.
It may feel like torture for humans to be working the fields in 100-degree heat, but some insects aren't sweating it. Isaac Ferrie of Crop-Tech Consulting says spider mites and corn rootworm beetles have been big problems during this hot, dry summer. Under normal conditions, you can get a half inch of silk growth a day, enough to outpace rootworm beetles. "But in drought conditions like this, we're lucky to get an eighth of an inch a day. We can't outgrow what they are out there clipping away."
This May be the Year to Cut Your Losses.
Ken Ferrie, Farm Journal field agronomist, says that based on his inspections there's little hope for some fields. "There are fields out here that did not pollinate," he says. "Hybrid, planting date, rainfall and farming practices and are all playing in that."
Start Planning for Next Year.
"This has been a very nitrogen-friendly year, compared to last year," says Ferrie. "We see some pretty decent nitrogen levels holding in the soil." But, if your corn is showing nitrogen deficiencies this year, you need to update your nutrient management plan now. Ferrie says by identifying nitrogen deficiencies this year, farmers can determine what to change for next year to weather-proof their corn.
Catch up on full coverage of Corn College at FarmJournalCornCollege.com.
Thank you to the 2012 Corn College sponsors:
Ag Leader, AgriGold, Agrotain, BASF, Chevrolet, ESN/Agrium, Great Plains, NCGA, Novazymes, Precision Planting, SFP, Schaffert, Top Third Marketing, WolfTrax
It's not too late to attend Corn College! Sign up for one of our Michigan events.


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Third District Court
- Waiver of Preliminary Hearing and Physical Appearance* - Updated Feb 27 2013
- Written Arraignment and Waiver of Physical Appearance
The forms below are maintained by the Clerk of the District Court or the by the Nebraska Supreme Court, and the links on this page are provided as a public service.
More forms are available from the Clerk of the District Court and the Nebraska Supreme Court's Self Help Center.
- Change of Address/Name Form
- Change of Name Forms: Adult/Child (forms and instructions)
- Exhibit 1 (for divorces)
- Work Release Forms


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Has any body managed to combine the dab and fm yet..... I know craig said he was working on something but i havent heard anything on that since last year..
I was going to try a triplexer but a passive one not amplified (as a previous post) as the antena is allready just wondering if any body has tried one ????


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Martin Leads Rams Past Sage
Farmingdale State - 76, The Sage Colleges - 59
Farmingdale, N.Y. - The Farmingdale State men's basketball team defeated The Sage Colleges, 76-59, this afternoon in Farmingdale, N.Y. Junior guard Shahee Martin (Queens, N.Y./West Hempstead) led all scorers with 24 points in the win for the Rams.
Farmingdale State (8-8, 8-3 Skyline) held an early 23-9 advantage midway through the first half. The Gators (4-12, 3-9 Skyline) responded with a 12-2 run, pulling within four points with 3:31 remaining in the half. Farmingdale took a slight 31-29 lead into halftime, despite 17 first half fouls.
Sage scored the first six points after the break to regain the lead, their first lead since leading 5-3 in the games opening minutes. Farmingdale countered with a 12-0 run and took a 43-35 lead with 14:36 remaining. Sage pulled within one at the 11:45 mark on back to back layup's by freshman forward Matt Farbotko (Rouses Point, N.Y./Northeastern Clinton). A 10-0 Farmingdale run over the next 3:11 put the Rams back on top by 10 and was too much for visiting Sage to overcome.
Martin shot 8-for-15 from the field and grabbed four boards to go with his game-high 24 points. Freshman guard Ricco Oliver (Brooklyn, N.Y./Boys and Girls) scored 18 points, while senior guard Terrance Howard (Queens, N.Y./Cardozo) scored seven and had a career-high 17 rebounds for Farmingdale State.
Freshman forward Mason Horne (Albany, N.Y./La Salle Institute) led Sage with 20 points, while freshman center Marcus Hunter (Ridge, N.Y./Longwood) had 12 points and a team-high nine boards.


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Event box
Come join us for a special afternoon of reading to licensed Therapy dogs! This program is geared towards children who need encouragement in reading aloud. We provide the perfect, relaxed atmosphere for reading as the therapy dogs sit quietly and their owners help kids with practicing reading aloud. Register at the program table at the time of the program and start your reading adventure! Recommended for families with children learning to read. No preregistration required.


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VIBGYOR High's journey towards education excellence began in 2004 with an ideal mix of academic and corporate professionals who felt the shared need to provide inclusive education.
At VIBGYOR High, we challenge our students with a unique educational experience which emphasises a seamless blend of academics, sports, performing arts, community and experiential learning programmes.+ Continue reading
Growing Network
State of the art Infrastructure
Unmatched Safety measures
Holistic Development
Teacher Student
Choice of Education Boards
Global Curriculum
Schools in Gurgaon
After imparting quality education across 4 different states in India, We launched first school in Gurgaon, Haryana.
Read More...
President Award Winner Aditya Mittal Brings Glory to Vibgyor School
Cricket Academy of Pathans now at VIBGYOR High!
Mr. Irfan Pathan launched the first cricket camp by CAP (Cricket Academy of Pathans) at Vibgyor High
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Congratulations! Vibgyor High NIBM Secondary Students for winning the District Level
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VIBGYOR High won the first place in Sahodaya Complex Quiz Competition held on 15
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Young Vibgyorite Ishita Katyal , launches her first book "Simrans diary"
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Outstanding Contribution to the Cause of Education Award at the Asia's Best Employer
INNOVATION IN LEARNING AWARD From World HRD Congress
Awards and recognitions from The Economic Times and World Education Congress - 2016
VIBGYOR High, Kolhapur has received British Council's (ISA)
VIBGYOR High, Haralur has received has received British Council's (ISA)
VIBGYOR High, Ecity has has received British Council's (ISA)
Sukhi NP (VH-Horamavu)
LeapStart Badminton Championship 2018 Won Silver medal Read more...
Vishruti Shah (VH-GOREGAON)
All India Rank 3 in CISCE Grade 10 Board Exams
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Saachi P Bagde (VH-AIROLI)
Spell Bee
Second Position in School Level
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Swara Kadam (VH-Balewadi)
Sa Ni Dha at Khanderai Foundation
3rd position in Interschool competition
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As the child enters the teen years (Grades V to X), the pace of academics is gradually accelerated. The student's intellectual, aesthetic, physical and cultural growth is strengthened. They are introduced to a foundation course designed to suit students from the Indian, as well as an International background. Academic challenges become the focus as the students start preparing for the Council For The Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE), CBSE (Central Board of Secondary Education) and the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) examinations.
Throughout these crucial, formative academic years, our consistent effort is to prepare students for the real world. Hence, a host of projects and field trips further augment classroom instruction, where great emphasis is laid on the development of positive attitudes and healthy habits. Students are encouraged to question, hypothesize, analyze and be creative


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Year in Review: Slain king's bones dug up
Richard III's skeleton reveals fatal wounds
Univ. of Leicester
It was reported 528 years late, but the top news from 1485 seems to be that King Richard III may have been killed by a blade thrust upward into his skull or an axe-whack to the back of his head.
Researchers at the University of Leicester in England performed the autopsy on the slain king after an excavation in one of the city's parking lots unearthed parts of Grey Friars Church, where he was buried. A genetic analysis confirmed the skeleton's identity; a descendant on the king's mother's side possesses mitochondrial DNA matching the victim's (SN: 3/9/13, p. 14).
Forensic details revealed by the skeleton generally conformed to the


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Groove Essentials Complete
This value pack includes the complete Tommy Igoe's Groove Essentials 1.0 and 2.0 – 2 DVDs and 2 Play-Along Books with Audio!
Groove Essentials 1.0
The Play-Along book/CD pack and the Groove Essentials DVD
The book serves as a play-along companion for the DVD with 88 tracks and charts and 164 groove variations for over 6 hours of play-along music! The DVD covers 47 grooves every drummer needs to know, with each groove broken down and demonstrated with music. Includes free giant groove poster!
Groove Essentials 2.0
The Play-Along book/CD pack and the Groove Essentials DVD
The second volume of the best-selling original Groove Essentials features a DVD and companion book/CD package with 53 brand new grooves and over 100 variations for intermediate to advanced players. Students will learn the difference between ghost and grace notes (while being encouraged to experiment with both in all six groove "families") as well as important "go-to" grooves, like the Train and Bo-Diddley beats. For more advanced players and professionals, GE 2.0 introduces the concepts of groove construction, interpretation and manipulation- training drummers to think like musicians in order to maximize their full potential.
These tracks also supply a variety of fill-in and soloing opportunities to challenge advanced players. In addition, the book features Igoe's extended "global tours" that will test even the most seasoned professional's chops, creativity and stamina and, as a "first of its kind" bonus, there is a full-length orchestral play-along track designed to provide a taste of playing in a full orchestra, complete with multiple moving tempos, dynamics and feels.


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Situated On Over 56 Prime Acres Of Property In ...
222 Laurel Hill, Mill Neck
- 16 Beds
- 15 Baths
- 57.39 Acres
- 15,924 sqft
School District: Oyster Bay-East Norwich
Situated On Over 56 Prime Acres Of Property In The Prestigious Village Of Mill Neck. This Baronial, 10,000 Sf Manor Home Is Rich With History And Amenities. Built For The Pratt Family And Later Acquired By The Rockefeller Family, Laurel Hill Is Accessed Thr...


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ITIL Basics
Process and Function Definitions
7-Step Improvement Process Consists of defining what should be measured; what can be measured; gathering the data; processing the data; analyzing the data; presenting and using the information; and
implementing corrective actions with the identification of vision and operational goals as input.
Access Management Grants authorized individuals the right to use a service; prevents access by unauthorized individuals; ensures policies and actions defined in Security and Availability Management are performed focusing on Access, Identity, and Rights Management.
Applications Management One of a number of Service Operations functions.
Availability Management Includes reactive and proactive actions to ensure the level of service availability delivered is matched to or surpasses the agreed-upon needs of the organization in a cost-effective manner.
Capacity Management Ensures service performance achievements meet or exceed all their agreed-upon targets in a capacity plan with a focus on Business Capacity Management, Service Capacity Management, and Component Capacity Management.
Change Management Responsible for controlling the lifecycle of all changes. The primary objective of change management is to enable beneficial changes to be made, with minimum disruption to IT
Demand Management Includes activities designed to understand and influence customer demand for services and provision of capacity to meet the demand.
Event Management Provides the ability to detect and make sense of events and to determine if the appropriate control action has been implemented.
Financial Management Addresses the prudent provision of IT Services and includes Budgeting (predicting and controlling costs); Accounting (identifying the actual costs of delivering IT Services,
comparing costs and budgeted costs, and managing variances); Charging (identifying the
payment structure for IT Services when chargeable).
Incident Management Restores normal service operations as quickly as possible to minimize adverse impact and restore provision of service.
Information Security Management A set of assumptions relating to information security including Confidentiality (information is observed by or disclosed to those with a right to know; Integrity
(information is complete, accurate, and protected against unauthorized changes; Availability (information is accessible when required); and Authenticity (transactions and information exchanges can be trusted).
IT Operations Management One of a number of Service Operation functions.
IT Services Continuity Management Addresses a set of IT service continuity and recovery plans that support the overall Business Continuity Plans (BCPs) of the organization. It is the process of planning
and coordinating the technical, financial and management resources needed to ensure continuity of service after a disaster (as agreed with the client).
Problem Management Responsible for managing the lifecycle of all problems. The primary objectives of problem management are to prevent incidents from happening and to minimize the impact of incidents that cannot be prevented.
Release and Deployment Management Ensures a release package can be created, installed, tested, and deployed to a target group or environment successfully and on schedule with minimal unpredicted impact on other areas of the organization.
Request Fulfillment Encompasses service requests from users as well as assistance with general information, complaints, or comments.
Service Asset and Configuration Management (SACM) Defines and controls the components of services and infrastructure; maintains accurate configuration information on the historical, planned, and current states of services and infrastructure.
Service Catalog Management (SCM) Manages the information in the service catalog and ensures it is accurate; reflects the current details, status, interfaces, and dependencies of all services being run or being prepared to run in the live environment.
Service Desk One of a number of Service Operations functions.
Service Level Management (SLM) Responsible for negotiating Service Level Agreements (SLAs), and ensuring that these are met. Service Level Management also is responsible for ensuring that all IT service management processes, Operational Level Agreements (OLAs), and underpinning contracts, are appropriate for the agreed service level targets. SLM monitors and reports on service levels, and holds regular customer reviews.
Service Operations Functions A stage in the lifecycle of an IT Service; includes Service Desk, Technical Management, and IT Operations Management;
Service Portfolio Management (SPM) Describes a provider's services in terms of business value; includes the activities to design, analyze, approve, and charter a service.
Service Reporting Encompasses the process of producing and delivering reports of achievement and trends related to service levels.
Service Strategy Represents an approach for creating service strategies; steps include defining the market, developing the offerings and strategic assets; and preparing for execution.
Supplier Management Ensures value for money is obtained from suppliers and contracts; ensures underpinning contracts with suppliers are aligned with business needs in conjunction with Service
Level Management; and manages relationships with suppliers.
Technical Management One of a number of Service Operations functions.


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An appreciation for the late Eddie Wilson
For almost 40 years, Eddie Wilson was a fixture behind the scenes with the Padres.
My guess is that no one in the history of professional sports in San Diego welcomed more athletes to their place of business than Eddie.
For almost 40 years, Eddie Wilson was a fixture behind the scenes with the Padres.
My guess is that no one in the history of professional sports in San Diego welcomed more athletes to their place of business than Eddie.
Eddie was the security guard at the door to the Padres' clubhouse from the early '80s through the 2010 season. At various times, he was also the clubhouse security guard for the Chargers, Sockers and Aztecs.
For most of his career, however, Eddie could be found at the door to the Padres' clubhouse -- before and after every game -- both at Qualcomm Stadium and Petco Park.
He controlled the door. Eddie determined who entered the clubhouse.
No one got past Eddie without the proper credentials. And even the right credentials were limited to certain time windows on the daily schedule. It was Eddie's duty to control the entrance -- a task he carried out with a smile ... and firm touch.
During my previous career with The San Diego Union, Union-Tribune and UT-San Diego, I had regular contact with Eddie. I am happy to say we became very good friends, although we didn't always see eye to eye on the time of day.
See, there is a universal 10-minute cooling-off period after games when the Padres' clubhouse -- for that matter any sports team -- remains closed to the media. The door is supposed to swing open after 10 minutes.
But 10 minutes is in the eye of the beholder.
Ten minutes to a writer on deadline is an eternity. It is exact.
Ten minutes to the clubhouse security guard doesn't end until the manager or coach says open the doors. Ten minutes can be, well, an eternity.
Numerous times during my beat writing career, I'd have the same conversation with Eddie.
Me: "Eddie, the 10 minutes are up."
Eddie: "No, they're not."
Me: "Eddie, the game ended 12 minutes ago."
Eddie: "No one told me that. For all I know, they could still be playing. I can't see the field from this corridor."
Me: "Eddie. Check your watch. Check with someone inside."
Eddie: "I did. It says 10 minutes isn't here yet. Might not be here in 11 more minutes if you keep asking."
Eventually, the doors would swing open. I'd shake Eddie's hand as I walked past him toward the clubhouse. He'd laugh.
"Center," he'd say, "You know you ain't ever going to win."
I did. But I loved playing the game with Eddie. I loved getting down to the clubhouse early every afternoon just to talk to this man who aged so gracefully.
I remember the panic I felt one time when Eddie wasn't there, because he was always there. I called his home, no answer. Because I had seen his car in the parking lot, the panic grew inside. I asked a Padres official to try to find Eddie, stepping well outside my circle of authority.
It turned out that Eddie decided to spend the day with a very sick friend.
The next day Eddie greeted me with "Why'd you cause that fuss, Center?"
He said it loud enough for everyone to hear. Colleagues looked at me as though I had violated some major rule.
As he opened the door at 3:30, as the media filed in, Eddie whispered "thanks" as I walked past his stand.
I left the clubhouse early that day. In the service corridor of Petco Park, Eddie and I talked. I told him I was legitimately concerned about the health of any friend his age.
Eddie replied: "You don't even know how old I am?"
I didn't. So I asked.
Eddie's reply: "No need for you to know how old I am."
But he slipped me a piece of paper with another phone number to call in case he didn't show up.
I loved Eddie Wilson.
Eddie passed away last week.
He was 93.
Bill Center is a contributor to MLB.com.


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"so why the heck not"?
I think the admission that your router is switched put of the security consideration is enough to put me off this overt geekery ta.
Like most of the planet, you'll prise IPv4 from my cold, dead fingers - I.e. I'll upgrade when I have to, not leave myself wide open to attack on one machine via a tunnelled IPv6 link.
While I applaud your efforts to help people configure and try out IPv6, this seems a little irresponsible.


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If my calculations are correct we now have nearly one-third of the LDS Temple Districts live or going live with new FamilySearch. So far 11 temples are live and 31 have been announced. Within the past week I have confirmation of the Newport Beach, California; Halifax, Nova Scotia and the Toronto, Ontario temples being announced for roll-out with NFS.
The buzz is that we should have the roll-out announcements all made by July of this year. That makes two-thirds of the temple districts still to receive word. Word is that the roll-outs are going on schedule, even a little ahead of schedule. That is fantastic news for everyone. The only hiccup I heard about was on the temple end of things, it put a stop to some roll-outs while they waited for some modifications to be made. All is well and under way for the pace of the NFS roll-out to quicken.
Click here for my New FamilySearch Roll-out List. If you have any announcements to add please email me at: firstname.lastname@example.com
See ya tomorrow, for tomorrow is always another genealogy day!
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Pace for NFS Roll-out to Quicken
Posted by Renee Zamora at 10:19 PM
Labels: new familysearch, nfs
2 comments:
- Rachel Pilgrim said...
I was at a training session last night on NFS (for the Dallas, TX temple district) and Sister Nickels said they are actually slowing down rollout from 4 areas per week to about 1-2 per week. Not really sure why, but I think it has to do with waiting for the new version .92 to roll out in February timeframe.
- January 16, 2008 at 10:38 AM
- Weatherwax Genealogy said...
I just started blog on thee Weatherwax family.
- January 17, 2008 at 6:39 PM
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Develop your signature style as you learn to create unique compositions, work with available light and capture compelling images of honest emotion.
Reveal the intimate moments behind every I do with award-winning photographer Kirsten Lewis as your guide! After Kirsten shares website and marketing tips, youll discover her favorite strategies for helping subjects relax during wedding day photo shoots. Learn to harness ambient light to create perfectly lit, romantic portraits at any indoor venue. Master gorgeous outdoor photographs with techniques for shooting in shade, shadows and harsh light, and discover how to capture a dynamic range of images in less than 15 minutes with Kirstens innovative 360-degree challenge. Give your clients maximum visual variety with expert insight into lens choice and learn which creative risks always pay off for standout portraits.
If you're not delighted with your Bluprint experience, we'll make it right or give you a full refund.


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Did you ever read a book that was so good you wanted to step right into the story and become one of the characters? Did you ever wish that the hero or the heroine could leap out of the book and join you for a chat? Of course one of the nice things about reading a book is that you can always set it down and come back to it later. You can set it down and go get a snack or visit a friend, and come back to it later. Or if you're reading late at night and the story gets too scary you can set it down and turn on some more lights or decide to do something else and go back to reading in the daytime when the villain doesn't seem so threatening.
And it's always nice to have someone to read you a story. Especially if they're a good reader with a voice that can just brings things to life.
Inkheart / Cornelia Funke; read by Lynn Redgrave
Meggie loves books. Her father, Mo, has made her a box, painted bright red as a poppy, to take with her whenever they go on a trip. It's a decorated wooden chest to hold her favorite books. The lid proclaims it as Meggie's Treasure Chest. They do a lot of traveling; Mo says that as a bookbinder he's often called to libraries, the shops of antique dealers, and the homes of wealthy collectors across Europe to repair old and valuable books. Meggie takes her books along because they are, "familiar voices, friends that never [quarrel] with her, clever, powerful friends—daring and knowledgeable, tried and tested adventurers who had traveled far and wide." They were her home.
One rainy night when Meggie is twelve a strange man with a strange name, Dustfinger, appears at their door in the middle of the night. He calls her father by a strange name, "Silvertongue." Meggie wonders who would call on the services of a bookbinder in the middle of the night, and why? Who is this stranger; where does he come from, and what does he want with her father? She eavesdrops. Dustfinger warns her father that Capricorn and his men are coming soon, and that they will do anything to obtain it. As soon as he leaves, Mo orders Meggie to pack her clothes and treasure chest. They have to leave immediately. As they are packing she sees her father wrapping a book in plain brown paper. When he sees her, he hides it behind his back. He doesn't want her to know about this book at all.
It turns out to be not an old book with an expensive binding, but a modern sword and sorcery novel titled Inkheart. It's set in an enchanted world full of fairies, knights, heroes, and some very evil villains, including one called Capricorn. As Meggie learns what this book is, she also learns where Dustfinger came from and where her long-lost mother disappeared. Her mother went into the book when Mo accidentally read Dustfinger and the evil Capricorn out of Inkheart and into Meggie's world.
Funke has a talent for bringing the fantastic plausibly into the contemporary world. She displays it brilliantly as literary characters and treasure are brought out of books and into a criminal gang's hideout in modern Italy. And what more cold-hearted capo could lead such a gang than Capricorn, the man whose heart is as black as ink. Redgrave's eerie reading brings a spine tingle to life in this capture and escape tale to as skillfully and Meggie's father can bring a character out of the Arabian Nights to life.
Inkspell / Cornelia Funke; read by Brendan Fraser
Desperate to return to his own world, Dustfinger finds a reader, a pale, flabby oaf with a magnificent voice, who's willing to send him and his apprentice fire-eater Farid there—for a price. But when Farid is left behind, he goes to Meggie in the hopes that she has inherited her father's gift and can send him after Dustfinger. Because she so wants to see for herself the exotic world that her mother has described to her, she takes them both there and immediately regrets her decision.
In Inkheart characters from the book sprang to life in this world. In its sequel people from this world are transported to the richly imaginative fantasy world of the book. Funke's characters are vivid and distinctive in both worlds and Fraser's superb acting ability makes this an excellent realization of her work.
Inkdeath / Cornelia Funke; read by Allan Corduner
In the aftermath of the disastrous attack on the Castle of Night, in a city occupied by hostile forces, Orpheus is struggling to find a way to bring his hero Dustfinger back to life. He hopes that the bookbinder, Silvertongue who was mortally wounded, and so close to death that the White Women, the daughters of death, came to take him, will be able to bring them close to Orpheus. He wants to bargain with them. But Death sets its own conditions for Silvertongue, and they are quite different from the ones that Orpheus so desperately wants.
Allan Corduner's narration meets the high standard set by Lynn Redgrave's reading of Inkheart and Brendan Fraser's reading of Inkspell. Funke's well-drawn characters give verisimilitude to her fantasy novel set in a fantasy novel. It's one that can be reached and changed by the most skillful of oral readers. In addition to a marvelous adventure yarn she gives a thoughtful portrait of death and the prods the reader to wonder about the nature of reality.


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How important is it for readers of game reviews to understand the conditions under which a review was written? Would it change things if you knew all the early reviews of a game were written based on play time given in one location, under a managed schedule? What if the publisher paid for airfare and hotel rooms for the press? If you read an early review of a certain AAA game, chances are the circumstances behind the review weren't mentioned, but they may change how you perceive the review.
The title was Modern Warfare 2, and Activision paid for both the airfare and the hotel rooms to get publications to cover the game. If you wanted early coverage, this was the only way to get it. Joystiq added an addendum to its review, expressing its issues with the practice, pointing out the event was organized and paid for by Activision. "As this was Joystiq's only opportunity to review the game in advance of its release, we willingly deviated from our standard policy of not accepting accommodations and used the room," the site explained in its disclaimer. "We did so because we felt that participating in this event best served the interest of our readers."
Garnett Lee wrote about his own misgivings in the Shacknews story about the game, and because of the circumstances he refused to call his thoughts a review. "A couple weeks ago Activision took a group drawn from members of the videogame media up to a resort in Santa Barbara for an intensive couple of days playing the freshly completed Modern Warfare 2. Extravagant? Sure, but that goes with the territory for a game that's become one of the biggest entertainment franchises in pop culture," he wrote. "Such an ideal setup also felt a little too removed from the real world to base a fair review on. So take this as impressions then from playing the full game."
Most outlets didn't disclose the circumstances of the review. We tracked down a writer who was willing to speak about the event under the condition of anonymity. Let's take a look behind the scenes, and see how the sausage is made.
"We weren't interfered with"
Reviewers were given a hotel room with a high-definition display, a surround-sound system, and a headset. The game was delivered on a hard drive, and progress was saved on memory cards that were collected after the event. The game was played in marathon sessions so reviewers could finish the single-player campaign.
"We weren't interfered with by PR at all while we played. No knocks on the hotel room door to see how things were going, no taps on the shoulder during the common hall review sessions either," our source explained. "They were available to answer queries if asked, but mainly kept to themselves and weren't breathing down our necks." He pointed out that Activision tends to be very respectful of the boundaries between PR and writers.
He did share some reservations about the time spent playing the multiplayer portion of the game. "Playing in a room full of friendly developers and your games press colleagues with perfect connections is undoubtedly much more fun than gaming online with some of the legendarily obnoxious Xbox Live players," he told Ars. "You'd have to be a pretty na�ve reviewer to think there's no difference—and if you let that experience form the basis of your multiplayer assessment without qualification, you're giving too much credit to online gamers' behavior."
The reviewers had two days of managed time to try the single-player, the Spec-Ops missions, and the multiplayer. The reviews seemed to be limited to the Xbox 360 version of the game, with reviewers given no option to try the PC version. Does this affect how reviewers think about the game? Our writer friend thinks so.
"Yes, to the extent I wouldn't have plowed through the single-player campaign in one sitting. But I'd suggest also that doesn't work in Activision or IW's favor—put most gamers in front of anything for a five- to seven-hour stretch and it will seem old." He also points out the importance of disclosure. "We referenced the review event conditions in our review at points where we thought it would potentially be different from at home, and obviously we consider that adequate," he told Ars. "However I readily concede that, too, is open to subjective analysis, especially when gamers erroneously suspect publishers are stuffing money into reviewer's pockets left, right, and center at the best of times."
This is becoming more common
It's not rare for publishers to set up reviews in this way. We took part in a Microsoft event to review the single-player content in Halo 3, and disclosed it in the review. We did not, however, accept paid airfare or accommodations. The multiplayer was played on our own time, under normal conditions. Another publisher invited us to play through an upcoming game in their offices more recently, and put up the airfare and accommodations. We declined, and told them to simply send the retail code when it was available.
The problem is that the gaming press that isn't local to these event is put in a difficult position: either break their ethical policies to ensure early coverage, or deliver late reviews. It's possible that some sites could pay for their own airfare and hotel room, but that's a huge budgetary decision for a single review. Presenting the game's online play in such ideal conditions also means that no one is shown a clear picture of what play will be like for the actual consumer, and that should be disclosed during the review.
The reviewers at this sort of event are told how long they can play, they are locked down to a specific version of the game—in this case the 360—and by accepting the airline ticket and a stay in "a resort in Santa Barbara," the ethical situation becomes muddy.
Would knowing when and how a review takes place change the way you think about the final score? What's clear is that readers should know the circumstances surrounding how the game was played, and how controlled the situation was. Reviewing the game at home is one thing, reviewing it in a remote location, surrounded by other enthusiasts and the game's creators is another. There is no reason Activision couldn't ship writers prerelease copies of the game: it has been finished and packaged for some time, and the leaks had already spread across the Internet.
Instead the company decided to pay for the gaming press to come to a specific location, stay in company-provided rooms, play the game a specific way... and all this came at a substantial cost to Activision Blizzard.
What value did they get for that money? We asked Activision and have yet to receive a response.