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Average is the best...
I, for most part of my life, have never known being average i guess, except in sports of all kinds. In junior school, I was the best debator & elocutor, best singer, best student, best writer, best friend to many... and the list goes on. Strangely, I never ran after being best at these. I guess I got lucky. Things changed when I shifted base to my parents' place in Delhi. I sudddenly found myself an average guy in a new school, in a new city which was completely alien to me. It was tough to find a place and respect among the new people. It was suffocating to live like this - with everyone around, including your parents, after your life. I guess this is where I started fighting for my place - started striving for the best.
New school and 'home' somehow started to have a bad influence on me - the best debator began to stutter, the best singer lost his voice and sense of music, the best student began to forget his lessons, the best writer just went into hibernation, and the best friend to many was left without a friend to boot. Yet two things survived in me - love and the ability to laugh at myself, and a lot of it.
What started as a mission to leave home turned into preparing for the hallowed IITs (i'd heard they had hostels!) - another race for the best. Fortunately or unfortunately, I got through. Four years of hell further beat up the best in me and tried their best to carve out the average. There were no friends - only competitors. Racing for the best was not a choice, but the only option. But this wasn't the one I was gonna win easily. The average me slowly but steadily took more control. I had long lost the bests in me I had had during junior school years. The other two things that had survived till then also started falling apart. Laughing at myself no longer remained an ability when everyone else was already laughing at me. My idealistic concepts of love and friendship were bludgeoned by somebody I thought was my best friend. Self esteem just ambled away too i guess. And now i dont know if i'm even capable of loving. Getting an average job and average CGPA in the end was just the icing on the average cake.
Coming this far, I really feel average is better than the best, except when the former comes after a desperate race for the latter. I'd have been a much better person had I always been average. So what exactly is the 'average' that I talk about here?
Average is the person who doesnt have the biggest of brains, and thats why uses his heart more often.
Average is the student who knows his literature, but isn't obsessed with it.
Average is the employee who works long hours, but doesnt forget to live his life.
Average is the one who can get away doing what he wants and not what should be, because people are not expecting much of him anyways.
Average is the friend who'll pray for your success and watch your back, but wont be around you all the time to take implicit credit.
Average is the lover who'll love without expecting love in return.
Average are the parents who'll do everything they can so that their children could have a life they never could.
Average is the person who gives his best shot and lives for the present, without worrying too much about the result.
Average is the Sid in you and me who hasn't woken up yet.
Maybe I wouldnt have had as well paying a job as I have now (and i'm not saying this one pays well). Maybe I wouldnt have had a degree from IIT. But maybe, I'd have been happier. Maybe, I'd speak clearly, and be able to sing well. Maybe I'd have been laughing along with a bunch of close friends tonight. Maybe I'd have known unconditional love. Maybe I'd have smiled more often. Maybe...
Posted by Aupsy-The cOOlest One!! at 1:39 AM 5 comments
Labels: Life...or sumthin like it
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Part 4: 10 Things Vmware Server Admins Should Know About Self-Service Catalogs and Lifecycle Management
Part 4! of the series "10 Things Vmware Server Admins Should Know About Self-Service Catalogs and Lifecycle Management" that I'll be publishing over the next couple of weeks.
4. There's a lot more to setting up environments than provisioning servers, the service catalog provides access to all the other required services.
It's great that you can quickly get a server instance going. Awesome, really. But that's not an application hosting service. It's important to understand the "whole product" requested. Is it a raw computing power w/ an OS? or is it an application stack? Or particular integration points, network, storage and security?
There's a need to really think from a whole product perspective. What ancillary services need to go be coordinated to deliver an environment. Typically we'll need to consider
- Network
- Storage
- Security
- Middleware
- Data
- Applications
Sometimes we can create complete application stacks such as: "Small Linux / JBoss / Oracle for standard development." Other times, these items required hand-offs between teams.
In talking with VM admins, sometimes there's a bit of the "not my problem" mentality — it's those other jerks who are slow. But if the think about our job as delivering environments that can work in a data center or in the cloud and as we virtualized the network and storage, there's more and more need for having a catalog of individual server request as well as complete environment
The service catalog contains all the other services that the customer needs in to deploy their application.
In an effort to keep conversations fresh, Cisco Blogs closes comments after 60 days. Please visit the Cisco Blogs hub page for the latest content.

subset: commoncrawl


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Pink is a singer who is no stranger to controversy. Her "rough around the edges," bad-girl look and style I'm sure would scare many parents. But, there's a theme running though much of her work, that although may ruffle some feathers, also has a powerful message.
Her latest single "F**kin' Perfect" is a powerfully moving video about a girls journey to learn how to love who she is. In four minutes you can see the whole gamut of emotions and situations teen girls go through, starting from very little. Bullying. Self-esteem. Comparison. Self-loathing. Rebellion. And it deals with another serious issue, cutting and teen suicide. I was moved to tears watching it. Here's an excerpt from Teen Identity team member Imahni who wrote about the video for TeenIdentityMag.com.
P!nk thinks you are perfect. Everyone here at Teen Identity thinks you are perfect. We love you. Yes, you who are are reading this right now. Can you think the same about yourself? Can you change the way you view yourself so that the first adjectives that come to your mind when describing yourself are- "Beautiful, Wonderful, Special, Loved, and Perfect."
This is the message we're trying to get to teen girls through the work we're doing. To change how they see themselves. With sexually degrading videos by Lady GaGa, Britney Spears, Miley Cyrus, and others getting millions of views, we're happy (and encouraged) to see a video like this get millions of views too.
Here's the clean version of the video. Enjoy. Be moved. And go make a difference.


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94 N. Main Street, Jasper, GA - (706) 253-2457
Remember decades ago when teenagers used to sit on home telephones for hours each night talking to their friends? Then along came the internet and with it an explosion of ways to share your life without actually speaking to anyone.
First it was MySpace, then came Facebook and now there are scores of life-sharing apps available to our teenagers, who have become the most electronically connected generation of all time.
Today, Facetime, texting, and online photos are the way teens prefer to keep in touch. And there are some seriously cool tools to help them. A recent study found that 13 to 17-year-old boys and girls in the United States spend an average of two hours and 20 minutes a day online and 80 percent of that time is spent on social networking sites. According to the Pew Research Center, 86 percent of 15 to 17-year-old girls; 69 percent of 15 to 17-year-old boys and 38 percent of 12 to 14-year-olds have some type of online social media profile.
Regardless of whether we, as parents, like our kids being on sites like Facebook and YouTube as much as they are, it seems the trend is here to stay, replacing trips to the mall to hang out in person. There are advantages to online friends because teens can build social relationships and connect with people of shared interests, regardless of their geography.
Facebook has been the big dog on the street for years but for teens there's a new crop of free social networking applications that can foster their creativity - whether showing off their newest "selfie," musical or artistic projects, or their most recent vacation shots to friends.
With over 100 million users, Instagram is the most predominant teen app out there now. It touts itself as a fun, free, and simple way to make and share photos. Instagram, which launched in 2010, touts their app with its filtered effects and cropping tools as a way to "transform everyday moments into works of art."
Like its owner, Facebook, Instagram's live updates keep teens in the know on what their buddies are doing. However, unlike Facebook or Twitter, Instagram is a photo-only app that banks on creativity.
For teens who want to send their friends gifts, GifBoom is a moving version of Instagram that makes it easy to create animated photographs. Although some users say this app isn't very user-friendly at first, moving Instagram-esque photos is pretty cool and worth figuring out.
For teens or adults who enjoy Facebook's timeline, Path allows you to share almost anything - from your location to what you're watching or listening to at any given moment. Path users can private message and chat instantly. Friends and family can "comment, smile, laugh, gasp, frown, or love your photos, videos, places, music, movies, books, workouts and more."
Path, with its live updating, offers users a minute-by-minute timeline of someone's day (for those who might be interested). The cool thing about Path is you only have 150 friends, creating a more close-knit feeling for many users.
Want to send a selfie that doesn't stay in the cyber-world forever? Check out Snapchat with its real-time picture chatting whose messages disappear in 1-10 seconds after being opened.
Snapchat lets you take a photo or short video, add text or a doodle and send it to your friends to view for a set amount of time (1-10 seconds, your choice).
Once someone opens the pic, they have to press down on their phone screen to view the photo. After the timer is up, the photo or video disappears forever.
Snapchat creators say all the messages are deleted from their servers and the only way they can be captured is if the recipient takes a screenshot or uses an image capture device.
Regardless of which apps teens choose to communicate and keep in touch, there are lots of options out there.
There are good and bad effects for teens from social media but many psychologists who study these effects believe the positive benefits outweigh the negative ones, but parents should make an effort to ensure that the positives win out by monitoring your teens and their online activity.
Happy chatting.


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Jerry Holland & Friends... AVAILABLE NOW!
Recorded three
years before Jerry passed away and features a host of his
musical friends.
Jerry Holland with:
JP Cormier, Hilda Chiasson-Cormier, Daniel Lapp, John Doyle,
Sharon Shannon, Mary Shannon, Ashley MacIsaac, Máire O'Keeffe,
Cheryl Smith, Allan Dewar, Mark Schatz, Brenda Stubbert,
Dave MacIsaac, Kieran O'Hare, Paul MacDonald, Sonnich Lydom,
Jerry Holland Jr, Calvin Vollrath, Howie MacDonald, Dougie MacDonald.
generique achat online.
Website by
OutFront Productions Inc. |
Photos by Carol Kennedy


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I've got an application that won't overwrite a file with the same filename. It will only append the filename with a 'space 1'. If I write a file more than once I get something like this:
- filename.jpg
- filename 1.jpg
- filename 2.jpg
What I need is to only ever have the newest file without the extra space and number.
Is there anyway around this? Perhaps an applescript running in the folder?


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I found this novel to be loaded with humor, some of it subtle and some of it almost slapstick. Here are two of my favorite funny moments:
--The fact that Miranda gained her reputation as a mercurial and intimidating woman because of her near-sightedness, causing her to inadvertently ignore her aquaintences.
--"Why is he always talking to me?" Mr. Shpuntov was saying in a loud angry voice. "Why does he bother me?" "He's your daughter," Cousin Lou yelled into his ear.
What are yours?


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Ahmad Pfeffer
feel free to call us firstname.lastname@example.com!
Critical Intelligence
These Agents within certain Agencies still today do not consider our freedoms or our rights to be truly American, we are "The Americans" who believe in our God Given Rights to be one and who believe in our Constitution with our God Given rights therein- for us all to freely have. We are The Americans who still believe in our Government and our people, who furthermore still have faith in our system when everyone follows the rules… We are The Americans who still believe in our Government and our people, who furthermore still have faith in our system when everyone follows the laws of our land…
Furthermore We are The Americans who believe every citizen has the freedom to exercise his or her own God Given rights of free enterprise and capitalism, especially when acting as Americans within their own country, operating within their own lands and while operating within the rules given that govern everyone – The Constitution…
We The People Who are American men and women believe every citizen needs to be constantly reminded they have the born duty as fellow Americans to expose any corrupted Government Agents standing to deny any one of us of our God given freedoms, who stand in opposition to us or our high laws.
Freedoms We must continually protect and that have need to be continually protected by us all together and further prevented from ever being taken away from us all as Fellow Americans... - Fellow Americans!
-The Americans!


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DANVILLE, Ky. – No. 2 seed Birmingham-Southern got out the gates quickly and never trailed on its way to a 63-47 win over Millsaps College Saturday in the semifinals of the Southern Athletic Association Tournament.
The Panthers improved to 20-7 overall and will play No. 1 seed Centre for the SAA Championship on Sunday at 1 p.m. (central). Centre defeated Oglethorpe 89-80 in the first semifinal game. The Majors close their season with a 6-21 record.
A Kevin Kagarise 3-point basket just under three minutes into the game gave BSC an 8-0 lead which later grew to a 17-1 advantage on a Kagarise jump shot with 13:10 remaining in the first half.
Millsaps went on a 9-2 run later in the half to cut the lead to 22-16 following a Kevin Wilson three at the 4:44 mark but BSC would outscore the Majors 5-2 to close the first half leading 27-18.
The Panthers were able to keep the lead around 10 points before a Larry Thomas 3-pointer sparked a 15-0 run midway through the second half. A pair of John Crain free throws on the end of the run gave the Panthers a 55-29 lead with 7:20 remaining in the game.
BSC would take its biggest lead, 60-32, on a pair of Brandan Marschner free throws with 4:53 remaining and Millsaps could never get any closer than 18 points the rest of the way.
Thomas was the only Panther to score in double figures with 13 points along with three steals while Zac Richards led with a game-high nine rebounds. Blaise White scored nine points and had four steals followed by Richards with eight points.
Nick Cortese had 11 points to lead the Majors while Ryan Berger had a team-high six rebounds.
The Panthers held a 45-31 rebounding advantage with 16 offensive rebounds on the night.


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The world's last remaining flying Vulcan bomber has taken off for its farewell season.
The iconic aircraft soared into the skies above Doncaster to kickstart her final summer of airshows and flypasts.
XH558 will be retired from flying at the end of the summer season but will remain in Doncaster as the central attraction of a new heritage museum devoted to the Cold War aircraft.
With pilot Kev Rumens at the controls, the plane took off for a ninety minute flight with dozens of media crews and aircraft enthusiasts lining up to watch her soar skywards and emit the famous Vulcan 'howl' once more.
XH558 was restored to flight following a major engineering project and returned to Robin Hood Airport - her home during the plane's active life when she was based at the former RAF Finningley - in 2011.


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We take your privacy very seriously and uphold HIPAA laws. We will not use or disclose your medical information without your authorization, except as described in the Notice of Privacy Practices listed below.
Notices of Privacy Practices
All hospitals and facilities follow the Methodist Healthcare Hospital Notice of Privacy Practices unless otherwise listed.
We reserve the right to change our privacy practices and make the new provisions effective for all medical information we maintain. Should our privacy practices change, a copy of the revised notice will be available after the effective date of the change.


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Experience the greatest joy under the heaven "The Joy of Giving" through online tutoring. It's a manmade technology enabled platform which provides online testing assistance. The online Operations management teaching for most of the subjects under the sun. All one has to do is reach to the correct online Operations management tutor. The online Operations management Lessons are much more interactive and with many practical exposures which makes them all the easier to learn and get on the things on a faster pace. Over all the other benefits it also gives you convenience to learn as per once schedule and get the things organized accordingly.
FOR ANY SUPPORTContact Us


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English-UK: Good News Translation 1994
Gjuha: English (British)
Version Information
Good News Bible (Anglicised Version)
The Good News Bible (GNB) is an easy-to-read translation of the Bible which aims to give today's readers maximum understanding of the content of the original texts. It does not follow the traditional vocabulary and style found in the historic English Bible versions. Instead it attempts to present the biblical content and message in standard, everyday, natural English.
In September 1966 the American Bible Society (ABS) published The New Testament in Today's English Version, a translation intended for people everywhere for whom English is either their mother tongue, or another language they learn. Shortly afterwards the United Bible Societies (UBS) requested the American Bible Society to undertake on its behalf a translation of the Old Testament following the same principles. Accordingly the American Bible Society appointed a group of translators to prepare the translation. In 1971 this group added a British consultant representing the British and Foreign Bible Society (BFBS) and the National Bible Society of Scotland (now the Scottish Bible Society). The translation of the Old Testament, which was completed in 1976, was joined to the fourth edition New Testament. This was then known as the Good News Bible, and was issued in American and British editions. The British edition changed the measurements to use the metric system. The text has been updated many times since was updated in 1994, 2004 and 2017, and Study Bible edition was first produced in 1997. It is now known in the USA as the Good News Translation.
The translation has received the Imprimator making it acceptable to Catholics and some editions are printed including the deuterocanonical books. The Good News Bible is used by churches, individuals and schools throughout the world, and is the best selling English translation of the Bible in the United Kingdom and many other countries.
Të dhënat e të drejtave të autorit
Good News Translation® with Deuterocanonicals/Apocrypha (Today's English Version, Second Edition) © 1992 American Bible Society. All rights reserved.
Anglicisation © The British and Foreign Bible Society 1976, 1994, 2004
The copyright for the derivative work of Anglicisation pertains only to the text within the Good News Translation (GNT) that British and Foreign Bible Society adapted for British literary usage, consistent with Section 103(b) of the United States Copyright Act, 17 U.S.C. § 103(b).
Bible text from the Good News Translation (GNT) is not to be reproduced in copies or otherwise by any means except as permitted in writing by American Bible Society, 101 North Independence Mall East, Floor 8, Philadelphia, PA 19106-2155 (www.americanbible.org).
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording or any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.


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Written by Gradye Parsons
Each month the Stated Clerk of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and the Moderator or Vice Moderator of the 220th General Assembly write a column of general interest for the church-at-large.
It was initially a desperate idea. How could we engage our middle school youth in good "ole" VBS? We realized that all of these youth were participants in the school band program. So our wild idea was to have them form a band led by our choir director.
The first Sunday they accompanied a hymn was, well, painful. The hymn took twice as long to sing and it was hard to determine if they were all playing the same one. But they were determined to get better. The youth recruited friends to fill out the band. They practiced more. The congregation never murmured a word.


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Last Updated on
Planning a trip to Australia and have no idea what to see while you're there? For your entertainment and information, I present to you the Seven Wonders of Australia.
Kakadu National Park
Kakadu is the premier national park in Australia and offers some of the most stunning displays of wildlife you can find on the continent. Saltwater crocodiles can be found all over the park, as well as kangaroos and wallabies. In addition to stunning rock outcrops and wildlife, Kakadu some of the oldest aboriginal artwork in Australia. Many of the rock drawings date back over 20,000 years. Kakadu was the location for many of the scenes from the movie Crocodile Dundee
Uluru/Kata Tjuta
Uluru (Ayer's Rock) is probably the best known natural icon in Australia, and no list of the Seven Wonders of Australia could be complete without it. The iron content in the rock makes its colors change through the course of a day from bright to dark red. Sacred to the local aboriginal Pitjantjatjara people, it is also of great cultural significance as well as natural significance. Often overlooked, nearby Kata Tjuta is actually higher than Uluru but has been eroded into several pieces.
Sydney Harbor
What says "Australia" more than Sydney harbor? Maybe a kangaroo holding a boomerang and beer in the outback, but that's about it. The center of Australia's largest city, Sydney Harbor is home to the Sydney Opera House and the Harbor Bridge. You can take a ferry across the harbor, walk across the top of the Harbor Bridge, have tea in the Opera House, and take a stroll in the nearby Royal Botanical Gardens.
Bungle Bungles/Purnululu National Park
Had this list been created 30 years ago, the Bungle Bungles might not have been listed. Having come to the world's attention only in the mid-1980's, the beehive domes of the Bungles make Purnululu National Park the premier attraction in the Kimberly region of Western Australia. Difficult to get to, what makes the Bungles fascinating are the unique erosional features which are unlike anything else in the world.
Great Barrier Reef
The Great Barrier Reef is so big, the scope of it can really only be appreciated from the air, or even better, from orbit. By far the largest coral reef system in the world, the Great Barrier Reef extends over 2,600km (1,600mi), almost the entire length of the coast of Queensland. It is usually on any short list of the natural wonders of the world. There are plenty of places you can experience the reef, the most common of which are Cairns and the Whitsunday Islands.
Giant Eucalyptus Trees of Tasmania
Tasmania is the most unspoiled wilderness in Australia. In addition to its pristine beauty, it is home to many unique species of plant and animal including the threatened Tasmanian Devil. The most dramatic of all the things in Tasmania is the Eucalyptus Regnans, the giant eucalyptus tree. Also known as the Swamp Gum, Mountain Ash or Tasmanian Oak, it is the largest flowering plant and hardwood tree in the world and is second only to the redwood tree in height.
The Great Ocean Road
One of the greatest drives in the world is the Great Ocean Road on the southern coast of Victoria. Carved by thousands of years of battering by the Great Southern Ocean, the sandstone formations of the Great Ocean Road are truly stunning. The Twelve Apostles, London Bridge, Lord Ard Gorge are just some of the significant erosional features which can be seen on the drive near the town of Port Campbell.
Honorable Mention
Lord Howe's Island, Fraser Island, Blue Mountains, Coober Pedy, Shark Bay, Mungo National Park, Pinnacles Desert
Other articles in Gary's Wonders of the World series:
Seven Wonders of the Philippines | Seven Wonders of Australia | Seven Wonders of New Zealand | Seven Wonders of Japan | Seven Wonders of Egypt | Seven Wonders of Spain


text: NEW ORLEANS With billions of dollars in the balance, BP asked a U.S. appeals court Monday to reject a claims administrator's interpretation of the company's partial settlement over the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill. The administrator, Patrick Juneau, is approving millions of dollars in "fictitious" payments for business losses based on what BP believes is a flawed interpretation of the agreement reached with victims' lawyers in 2012, according to BP. "Stop the hemorrhaging of cash," Theodore Olson, a BP lawyer, told a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals in New Orleans, urging the judges to reverse a lower-court ruling and rein in Juneau. "Irreparable injuries are taking place, and monies are being dispensed to parties from whom it will unlikely be recoverable." The company has already been forced to add hundreds of millions of dollars to the estimated $7.8 billion cost of the settlement and have to pay billions more than expected, BP said in court papers. The panel didn't indicate when it will rule. An attorney for the plaintiffs, Samuel Issacharoff, said BP was aware as early as April 2012 of the method that would be used and the likely results. Both sides conducted tests of the business economic loss framework in the settlement in June 2012 and "the parties came up with virtually the same results," he said. BP underestimated the price tag, Issacharoff told the judges. "They costed it out in a way we thought was erroneous from the very beginning." Peter Hutton, an analyst at RBC Capital Markets in London, said the London-based company "feels aggrieved, and this is their last shot." "If they can't get what they see as due process, it will have implications for their confidence doing business in the States," Hutton said before Monday's oral arguments. U.S. District Judge Carl Barbier in New Orleans in March ruled that Juneau is interpreting the contract properly. He dismissed BP's lawsuit against Juneau in April and rejected a request for an injunction barring certain payments while the company appealed. An adverse appeals court ruling would have financial implications, Hutton said. If BP has to pay billions more than expected "it would take up much of their contingency funds and leave them little to spare," he said in an interview. "We are asking the Fifth Circuit to follow established legal principles of contract law and interpret the agreement as written and intended: paying only those claimants who suffered actual losses," Geoff Morrell, a BP spokesperson, said in a statement before Monday's hearing, referring to the appeals court. "Not only is the claims administrator's misinterpretation contrary to the plain language of the settlement agreement and the intent of the parties, but it has ignited a feeding frenzy among trial lawyers attempting to secure money for themselves and their clients that neither deserves," Morrell said. Continue reading BP Presentations


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Jewelry is available for delivery within 1-2 business days to major cities of Ukraine that are regional centers (Cherkassy, Chernigov, Chernovtsy, Dnepropetrovsk, Ivano-Frankovsk, Kharkov, Kherson (Herson), Khmelnitsky, Kiev, Kirovograd, Lvov(Lviv), Lutsk, Nikolaev, Odessa, Poltava, Rovno, Sumy, Ternopol, Uzhgorod, Vinnitsa, Zaporozhie, Zhitomir). The cost of the delivery is $9 + $0.5 for every pound of the gift.
Jewelry is available for delivery within 2-3 business days to small cities of Ukraine (all towns, villages other than regional centers).
Delivery of jewelry to remote villages might require hiring transportation from a regional center, please note that it might be expensive. We will confirm that a delivery is possible and provide a custom quote for every such delivery. The cost of the delivery is $9 + $0.5 for every pound of the gift + any additional charge for custom delivery (if necessary and with your permission).
Pearl origin: China
Metal: 925 sterling silver


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i few weeks ago my boyfriend and i got engaged however we're probably not going to get married. hes a true atheist and that seems to be all that can fit into his life. he says marraige is fribulas. the lable of being a boyfriend or husband is stupid. im not a christian and getting married to him has nothnig to do with religion. hes cut off from feelings, emotion, affection, compassion. do atheists not feel these things? is it just something they have to act or pretend to make loved ones feel as though they care? when he asked me to marry him i was beyond excited. thought it would be wonderful to plan a wedding. he told me he honestly does not care what goes on. says if i want, hell just show up when its time. other then that im on my own. im not sure what to do. give him what he wants and be unhappy? he always gets what he wants but why should i sacrafice what i want. i love him endlessly. but how do you go without feeling?
Views: 796
Children are not the main concern when exchanging vows with someone. They will grow up and exit the home leaving you to figure out why your married to this person for possibly the rest of your life.
If you don't receive the emotional nourishment that you rightly expect from a partner then you have to rethink your situation. Will he change? Big question. Probably not. I would lower your expectations regarding him and keep your options open as far as moving on and leaving this chapter of your life behind. Just don't wallow in unhappiness for years before you decide to go.
Gabriela, I think your comment is just wonderful. Do you mind if I keep a copy?
Having problems with emotion, affection and compassion certainly aren't 'atheist things'. Hell, I'm an atheist that surprised my wife with flowers and a poem of my penmanship at work today for her birthday. Additionally, I'm her greatest confidant with every issue imaginable. We got married, although it was a non-religious ceremony of our own design. I'll agree that if you're life partners, there is no need to be married to stay together long term. Some people prefer not to marry, but it isn't necessary if the shared feelings are there and are true. But we wanted to because we liked the idea of a ceremony to mark this newest and biggest chapter of our lives. If you are having issues with him not being affectionate as you'd like, it's not an atheist thing, but a personal thing. It's hard to examine from an outside perspective, but there are a few things that come to mind. How long have you been together? If you've been together a while, do you think he could have asked just because he feels it's expected? It's odd to me that he would ask you to marry him and then act so uninterested about the issue. It really concerns me that he is acting that way, especially in light of how excited you were when he asked. Then you consider that there are children involved as well, and things get more complicated. I think that you may need to audit your relationship. Figure out how he really feels about you, and you about him. Dependent on where that leads, you'll need to decide if he's the kind of person you want to spend your life with and raising your kids. If you really care, and you're not sure where he stands, then a heart-to-heart talk may be in order. From what you've said, I feel like he's not treating you properly. But the big question will be if his attitude is just him, a product of his true feelings, or because he's suffering from a syndrome of sorts. Best of luck, and I hope things work out regardless of what road you decide to take.
he sounds like a dick...just being blunt. That's all.
If he hates weddings and such, then he should suck it up and be absolutely thrilled about it because you are. He should do it and be overwhelmingly excited for it because you are.
It really sounds like he has some serious issues if he proposes to you then acts like that, assuming what you are saying is entirely true.
Simon, thanks I'm glad you liked my comment and you are welcome to save it and share it :) Is my honest opinion about marriage.
My vote - stay single - and expand your horizons
Why do you love him?
I was married, three children, the whole thing was a disaster, divorced. Would not get married again - no point. If both sides will not do anything, within reason, for the partner, there is no point in being 'together', marriage or not. My new bloke, fervent Atheist etc. 90% on same page, the other 10% the innate differences between male and female.
He doesn't understand some of the 'girlie' stuff. He just goes along with it. I don't understand some of the blokey stuff, I just go along with it. We still lust after each other after 25 years together. We are each others best friend. I think choosing the 'right' partner is a lot of luck, whatever that is. I think this bloke is dodgy. Your children MUST come first. If you don't find the right one, so be it. That is still better than screwing up your kids with someone who is not totally on your side. Your children do not want misogyny as an example on how to live life. There are enough of those around already. As someone who has been there, done that, think seriously about what you are doing.
Listen to redpepper - why are you so friggng unhappy NOW, before you get 'married', before you bring him into the house with YOUR children. Your children deserve better.
What do you envisage in ten years time.
Please pardon the observation, but the relationship you have, as described by you seems terrible. It seems that you're hooked on the idea that "all you need is love" yet when this is all you have, I get the sense that you're incredibly frustrated and disappointed and are looking for more. I'm sure your boyfriend may be a wonderful person, but if he refuses to make any compromises and clearly is unable or unwilling to meet your relationship needs, why are you still with him or even considering deepening the commitment when you'll be unhappy with the decision?
I'm starting to wonder why you feel you want to marry someone who seems so unsuited to you. If you think things get better as time goes by, in general the opposite is the case. What irritates one early on tends to cause dread and rancor as time goes by. Advice from an old guy: find someone who is a better "fit" for your personality from the start: there will be a lot less to work out later on. And there WILL be things to work out later on. To me, it appears that in your relationship with him, he'll expect you to do any required adjusting. Is that what you are looking forward to?
Seems it's more of his Assholism then his Atheisim that's the problem. The guy sounds like he will suck the life out of you if you marry him.


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United States v. 434 Main Street, Tewksbury, Mass. (Motel Caswell)
United States v. 434 Main Street, Tewksbury, Mass.
1986: The year after the US Department of Justice's asset forfeiture fund was created, the account took in $93.7 million from seized property.
September 1994-November 2008: In its civil lawsuit, the government cited 15 drug-related incidents and 19 arrests at the Motel Caswell during this time period, including a fatal heroin overdose in 2007 and the discovery of a methamphetamine lab in one of its rooms in 2005. The activity represents less than 0.05 percent of the 125,000 room rentals at the motel over the 14 years, according to calculations by the defense.
2000: Congress passed the Civil Asset Forfeiture Reform Amendment, in response to evidence that law enforcement agencies were abusing the law's seizure rules.
Sept. 29, 2009: Russell H. Caswell's 66th birthday, and the date that the US Department of Justice filed a verified complaint for forfeiture against his family's property.
April 25, 2012: US Magistrate Judge Judith Gail Dein denied Caswell's motion for summary judgment, which asked the judge to rule against the government's lawsuit before trial. By his motion, Caswell was seeking a declaration that the federal government's policy of sharing the proceeds of forfeited properties with local law enforcement agencies "is an impermissible use of the federal spending power in violation of the Tenth Amendment,'' Caswell also was seeking and a declaration that "by seeking to take [his] entire livelihood, this forfeiture is an excessive fine in violation of the Eighth Amendment."
Nov. 5-8, 2012: The case goes to trial in US District Court in Boston. Dein expressed "serious concerns" about the government's case and its interpretation of the civil forfeiture law.
Nov. 29, 2012: Deadline for post-trial briefs. Following the four-day trial, Dein took under advisement the issue of whether the family-owned motel is subject to the federal civil forfeiture law. She gave federal prosecutors and Caswell's lawyers three weeks to submit written briefs to support their arguments.
2012: US Department of Justice's asset forfeiture fund holds more than $1.6 billion.
SOURCES: Trial transcript and legal briefs, Institute for Justice reports


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Summer Road Trip! Next Stop: The Pacific Northwest
The relatively short distance between Seattle and Portland makes them favorite destinations for vacationers headed to the Pacific Northwest. The two cities are home to major cultural attractions such as the Space Needle, the Experience Music Project, Portland Museum of Art, and the Lan Su Chinese Garden. Both Seattle and Portland abound in cultural heritage organizations, big and small, that introduce the public to the rich and varied history and culture of the region. As you will see, NEH has assisted a number of these organizations in their efforts to preserve the cultural legacy of the region.
Seattle, Washington
Center for Wooden Boats
As a port city, maritime history is an important component of the history of Seattle and the surrounding area. The Center for Wooden Boats, located on the shore of Lake Union, explores the impact of the "small craft heritage" of the Pacific Northwest through exhibits, workshops, and on-the-water experiences. The center maintains an extensive collection of historic boats, boat plans, books and periodicals, photos, and archival materials related to the maritime history of the region. Visitors can see diagrams and models of wooden boats and learn about how they have been used in the past and how they are used today. They can even sail on a boat from the collection, either through a rental or during the center's free public sail held every Sunday of the year. In 2008, the Center for Wooden Boats received a Preservation Assistance Grant from NEH to carry out a conservation assessment of its collections. This effort helped lay the groundwork for a long-term conservation plan for the museum. The boathouse and museum of the Center for Wooden Boats are open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. http://cwb.org/
Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture
Outside the city center, on the Seattle campus of the University of Washington, you can find the Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture, one of the preeminent natural history museums in the region. Founded in 1885 by a group of teenagers in the Young Naturalists Society, the Burke was originally designated the Washington State Museum in 1899. Along with changing special exhibits, the museum offers visitors the geological, natural, and cultural history of the Northwest through permanent exhibits, such as The Life and Times of Washington State and Pacific Voices. One of the treasures of the Burke is its collection of more than 40,000 ethnographic objects, with special emphasis on materials from North and South America, Southeast and East Asia, and the Pacific. To help ensure the long-term preservation of this collection, the museum was awarded a Preservation Assistance Grant in 2010 to purchase equipment to monitor the temperature and humidity levels in storage areas and galleries. The Burke Museum is open most days of the year from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with free admission on the first Thursday of each month. http://www.burkemuseum.org/
Nordic Heritage Museum
Get a more in-depth look at some of the Northwest's major immigrant groups at Seattle's Nordic Heritage Museum. There you will find permanent exhibits describing the history of migration from Scandinavia to the United States, and in particular, to the Pacific Northwest, where many immigrants adapted their traditions of fishing and operating lodging houses. Temporary exhibits at the Nordic Heritage Museum range from the history of immigration to contemporary artworks and the influence of Scandinavian culture in the United States. In 2010, the museum was awarded a Preservation Assistance Grant to purchase preservation supplies to rehouse its collection of historic textiles, many pieces of which were brought to the United States from Scandinavia. The museum also acquired monitoring equipment to help ensure that these materials would be maintained under appropriate environmental conditions. The Nordic Heritage Museum is open Tuesday through Sunday, with free admission on the first Thursday of each month. http://www.nordicmuseum.org/
Richard Hugo House
Seattle is known as the birthplace of "grunge" and is home to a thriving counterculture. So it should come as no surprise that one of the world's largest collections of zines—defined as "self-published, small circulation, noncommercial booklet or magazine, usually produced by one person or a few individuals"—is located in the Emerald City. Seattle's Richard Hugo House oversees the Zine Archive and Publishing Project (ZAPP), containing a collection of more than 20,000 zines from around the world. In addition, the Hugo House serves as a writer's retreat, offering classes, lectures, and rotating exhibits of zines in the archive's gallery. To improve the storage of these materials, the Richard Hugo House won a Preservation Assistance Grant in 2010 and was able to place its holdings in archival-quality boxes and cabinets. ZAPP is open to researchers and the public on Wednesday from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., Thursday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. http://hugohouse.org/content/zapp
Portland, Oregon
Oregon Historical Society
Three hours to the south by car is Portland, Oregon, commonly known as the "City of Roses." The source of this moniker is most likely the city's annual flower festival first launched in the 1880s. Although only incorporated in 1851, Portland has an interesting history and serves as the endpoint for the famous Oregon Trail. To learn more about the history of the city and state, one of your first stops should be the Davies Family Research Library at the Oregon Historical Society. There visitors can explore a vast collection of books, maps, manuscripts, serials, and oral histories, as well as more than two million photographs and nearly nine million feet of film and videotape. These collections cover a myriad of topics including Native American cultures, European settlement, maritime history, and genealogy. In 2008, the Oregon Historical Society was awarded a Preservation Assistance Grant to rehouse a portion of its collection, including business records, military records, ethnographic materials, correspondence, diaries, scrapbooks, playbills, posters, and advertising materials dating from the 1800s to the present, all reflecting the history and culture of Oregon and the greater Pacific Northwest. The library is open 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesday and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Wednesday through Saturday. http://www.ohs.org/
Architectural Heritage Center of the Bosco-Milligan Foundation
Portland is known for its focus on urban planning and a commitment to sustainable or "green" architecture. The Bosco-Milligan Foundation's collection documenting Portland's architecture is located at the Architectural Heritage Center, one of the largest of its kind in the western United States. Holdings include representations of the various architectural methods and styles that dominated the 19th and 20th centuries, including Ironwork, Stonework, Arts & Crafts, and Victorian building styles. A particularly valuable—and vulnerable—part of its collection is 236 stained glass windows, salvaged from 19th-century Portland-area buildings that were demolished. The windows are presently used in the center's educational and public programming on traditional building crafts, the art of local practitioners, and the architectural styles in Portland. In 2010, the Bosco-Milligan Foundation was awarded a Preservation Assistance Grant to purchase shelving to ensure the safe storage of these fragile items. The foundation displays its holdings on a rotating basis, and the collection can be viewed Wednesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. http://www.visitahc.org/
Douglas F. Cooley Memorial Art Gallery at Reed College
A short distance from downtown Portland is the Library of Reed College where visitors may visit the Cooley Art Gallery, which houses exemplary works of art from Europe and North America. Among its gems are works on paper by masters such as Rembrandt, Daumier, Manet, and Rothko. The gallery also hosts special exhibits by contemporary artists. In 2011, Reed College used a Preservation Assistance Grant to carry out an assessment of its prints and drawings, many of which had been stored in unprotected wooden cabinets. The grant made it possible to place 500 of these works of art on metal shelving and in acid-free archival boxes. The Douglas F. Cooley Memorial Art Gallery is open from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday. http://www.reed.edu/gallery/
Washington County Museum
And finally, just outside Portland, is the suburb of Hillsboro, home to the Washington County Museum. There visitors can explore the history, culture, art, and science of this region, known for its rich farmland, as well as its high-tech industry. The Washington County Museum houses a collection of more than 40,000 objects that include Native American artifacts, agricultural implements, furniture, logging tools, and textiles, as well as prints, paintings, and library and archival materials. Current exhibits include Americans All: The Bracero Program in Washington County, which focuses on the history of the Latino community, the largest on the West Coast north of Sacramento and Put a Bird on It: Nature Photography of William L. Finley, which presents forty black-and-white bird photographs from naturalist and wildlife conservationist William Finley. In 2008, the Washington County Historical Society and Museum received a Preservation Assistance Grant to transfer its collection of objects from a cramped storage space to preservation-quality metal shelving. The museum is open Wednesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. http://www.washingtoncountymuseum.org/


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Curtain Cleaning Ropes Crossing
Magic Curtain Cleaning Ropes Crossing offers professional onsite curtain steam cleaning, drapery cleaning & offsite curtain laundry cleaning services. Free curtains take down and re-hang. No shrinkage or damage to your curtains. Restore the new look of your home curtains. Book curtain cleaners for same day service!
- Same Day Curtain Cleaning Service
- Guaranteed No Shrinkage after Curtain Steam Cleaning
- No Color Fade Guaranteed
- Professional Curtain Cleaners with depth curtain cleaning knowledge
- Over 10 Years experience in Drapery Cleaning
- Curtain Mould Cleaning Services
- 24 Hours Customer Service
Curtains are probably the most ignored item at your home. You don't clean them much often as you think they don't get dirty much. After all they are just hanging on the windows and no foot traffic is subjected to them like the carpets. But you are highly mistaken because curtains also attract, just like your carpets, lots and lots of dirt, soil, dust mites, and all sorts of contaminants. They actually act as a filter by storing all these pollutants in their fabric and letting your air remain fresh and clean. However, over a time period, they accumulate contaminants and need to be cleaned to keep your living environment safe, clean, and healthy.
Same Day Curtain Cleaning Ropes Crossing
At Magic Curtain Cleaning Ropes Crossing, we provide quality curtain and blinds cleaning services at the most affordable prices on the same day of the bookings. Our 20 years of existence in curtain cleaning renders us ample experience and enough knowledge about curtain cleaning to do it just the right way. We focus on pleasing our customers in every possible way and thus our cleaning services are customized as per individual requirements.
- Curtain Mould Removal
- Both Sites of curtains steam cleaning
- Curtain & Blind stain removal
- Over 15 Years Experience in drapery cleaning
- All kinds of blinds & curtain cleaning
- Eyelet, Pencil, sheer and pleat curtain steam cleaning
- Onsite & Onsite Curtain Cleaning Services
Blinds Cleaning Ropes Crossing
Blinds are rapidly taking the place of curtains in the home as well as offices. They look beautiful and add elegance to any premises when matched with the interior. But over time, the blinds become dirty and stained if not given the proper care. And When your window coverings are dirty, the whole area looks dirty and clumsy as well. Even if you try really hard to keep your home clean, blinds do not let the impression make. But worry not, hire the professional blind cleaners from Magic Cleaning Services and get completely cleaned and stain-free blinds. We use eco-friendly cleaning solutions and equipment to bring you the best results.
Drapery Cleaning Ropes Crossing
We at Magic Cleaning Services also offer drapery cleaning services. Draperies make your windows look attractive and enchanting. But the fact is they get dirty too! If you also have installed drapes an in the home that have gone dirty, then get them cleaned with the perfection by our cleaners. Our professional can offer you both onsite and offsite drapes cleaning services in Ropes Crossing.
- Advanced drape cleaning methods
- Same day drapery cleaning
- Careful drapery removal and rehang services
- Onsite and Offsite drapery cleaning services
Our Curtain and Blinds Cleaning Process
At Magic Curtain Cleaning Ropes Crossing, it is no magic that cleans your curtains and blinds. On the opposite, it is a proper cleaning method employing the use of scientifically advanced tools, proven techniques, and eco-friendly cleaning solutions that together create the magic you see once we are done with the cleaning of your curtains. We upgrade our solutions and tools but the process more or less remains the same. We have on-site curtain cleaning and off-site curtain cleaning services available in all suburbs of Ropes Crossing and the process is as follows:
- Inspection – We work with both curtain steam cleaning and curtain dry cleaning. The initial inspection is done to help our experts choose the best method and cleaning solution for the curtains.
- Soil Removal – Soil is removed with the help of bio-friendly cleaning solutions.
- Deep Cleaning – Depending upon the fabric of the curtains and amount of cleaning required, we will choose either steam cleaning or dry cleaning.
- Deodorizing – We deodorize the curtains so that they smell great once the cleaning is done.
- Stain Protection – Our specially designed stain protectors keep your curtains stain free for a long time and extent their lives too.
If you wish to opt for offsite curtain cleaning, our cleaners will be responsible for removing and re-hanging the curtains after getting them thoroughly cleaned at our workshop. For blinds, we not just clean the blinds but also the framework and the surroundings to do a complete cleaning of the entire window.
We are experienced to clean all kinds of curtains such as cotton, velvet, silk, polyester, net, or mix. And we can also take care of all kinds of blinds including Roman blinds, vertical blinds, Venetian blinds, roller blinds, and so on.
At Magic Curtain Cleaning Ropes Crossing, our professionals are trained to adhere to this cleaning method because it has given us numerous satisfied customers over the last 20 years in the industry and this way we make certain that our customers get quality services only.
Why Choose Magic Curtain Cleaning Ropes Crossing?
Magic Curtain Cleaning Ropes Crossing is a name built through its customer service, quality cleaning services, affordable prices, and guaranteed results. We have provided curtain and blind cleaning to thousands of homes and offices throughout Ropes Crossing.
We are serious about our commitment to perfection and we work towards achieving our goals by ensuring every single curtain that comes in our hands get the utmost attention and perfect cleaning. Apart from our unmatched quality of curtain cleaning, you will be benefited from many other things when you choose us for the job. Some of them are:
- Lowest drapery cleaning prices in Ropes Crossing
- Absolute customer satisfaction
- Guaranteed Results
- Professional curtain cleaners
- Same day Curtain Steam Cleaning Services
- Curtain & Blinds Mould Removal Services
- Latest Curtain Steam & Dry Cleaning Equipment
- Free Curtain Cleaning Quotes
What's more? We give you the option to choose between on site and off site curtain cleaning at Magic Curtain Cleaning Ropes Crossing. If you do not wish to get it done at home, we will take your curtains and bring them back neat and clean. And if you wish to see how it works then you can get it done in front of your eyes at your home. Our eco-friendly cleaning solutions are absolutely safe as they contain no toxic elements. Even if you have kids or pets at home, you can be sure of their safety with our curtain cleaning service.
Contact Magic Curtain Cleaning Ropes Crossing
Getting in touch with Magic Curtain Cleaning Ropes Crossing is very simple. All you have to do is give us a call! We will ask a few questions related to your service requirements if you wish to get a free quote. And you have no obligation once you get the quote. But we challenge you that you won't get better service at a better price anywhere else other than Magic Cleaning Services.
Come home to a cleaner environment by getting your curtains cleaned and sanitized with our exclusive curtain cleaning services. Call us today!
Customers Reviews


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Design Your Own Bathroom
Comfort. In every moment of existence, humans have an insatiable desire for comfort.
Practically speaking, in order to increase the comfort of your home, your bathroom has to provide the feeling of relaxation. You may not be an interior designer, but you do know what you like and what you don't like. You do know what makes you feel comfortable, relaxed, and what fits your personality.
There are many styles involved in the process of designing your own bathroom, but this is an advantage. This affords you opportunity to find the style that fits you. If you have original ideas on what your bath should look like, then the results will meet your expectations . . . comfort, relaxation, and an expression of who you are. There are several things you need to take into consideration when you are developing your bathroom decor ideas.
The most critically important thing to decide as you design your bathroom is lighting. Lighting is standard decor in your bathroom. Lighting sets the mood and controls the overall image of your bathroom. The mirror you choose comes in a close second. It should reflect your personal style to be sure, but functionally it is the one piece of bathroom décor that can enhance the effects of lighting, and even expand one's perception of the size of the room. Since the bathroom is often the smallest room in the house, the right choice becomes quite important.
The next aspect of adding your personal design to your bathroom is represented by the accessories you actually choose. These accessories are the "theme" of your bathroom, and materialize through decorative holders for toothbrushes, towel racks, hooks, baskets, soap dishes, shelving, and many other accessories. The shower curtain is also a very important accessory to help you complete the overall look of the entire room.
Your bathroom decor ideas will add comfort to your life through your personal art in the form of design. Your successful results will be original and personal and you'll feel a real sense of accomplishment and self expression.


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Entero VU
In the US, Entero VU (barium sulfate systemic) is a member of the drug class non-iodinated contrast media and is used to treat Computed Tomography.
US matches:
Ingredient matches for Entero VU
Barium Sulfate
Barium Sulfate is reported as an ingredient of Entero VU in the following countries:
- Israel
Important Notice: The Drugs.com international database is in BETA release. This means it is still under development and may contain inaccuracies. It is not intended as a substitute for the expertise and judgement of your physician, pharmacist or other healthcare professional. It should not be construed to indicate that the use of any medication in any country is safe, appropriate or effective for you. Consult with your healthcare professional before taking any medication.
Further information
Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.


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Bionic Commando
Get MGS 5: Ground Zeroes for $19.99 through this 2-for-1 sale on US PS Store
Sony is holding a 2-for-1 Sale through the US PlayStation Store and there are some nice bundles listed.
Bionic Commando headlines
Inafune says bad relationship spoiled Bionic Commando
Mega Man creator and former big wig over at Capcom, Keiji Inafune said that a bad working relationship with GRIN caused some oddities in Bionic Commando.
Tuesday Shorts: CoD4StarWars, The End, NiGHTS into Dreams
The holiday is over, the fireworks were cool; let's have some shorts, there's no Dana only Zuul.
Bionic Commando Rearmed 2 requires always-on DRM
Don't go knocking your router out halfway through a level of the newly-released Bionic Commando Rearmed 2. Capcom have chosen to protect the retro side-scroller with the most hated form of DRM.
Capcom releases new art and trailer for Bionic Commando Rearmed 2
Anyone else think Sergeant Dean Wilcox looks like Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, the People's Eyebrow and all?
Bionic Commando ships 550,000 worldwide
Capcom confirmed in its Q1 financial release last night that Bionic Commando's shipped 550,000 units to retailers worldwide. Note: shipped. Not sold. Sales in the US were less than inspiring, so don't be too shocked if there's some mumbling and coughing going on here. Thanks, Kotaku.
Bionic Commando gets the Steam treatment
Bionic Commando has arrived on Steam. The PC version will run you $39.99 and there is also a bundle up for grabs which includes the game plus Bionic Commando: Rearmed for $44.99. More details are through the link.
Bionic Commando PC gets US release date
Capcom just clarified yesterday's news that Bionic Commando would release for PC on July 17, saying the US version will, in fact, hit on July 28. The previous date was European. Here's the tweet, if you don't believe us.
PC version of Bionic Commando gets dated
Capcom has announced that Bionic Commando will be released on PC next Friday, July 17. The gameplay included in the PS3 and 360 copies will stay intact. It will support both DirectX 9 and 10, online options, higher resolutions and remappable controls. Thanks, Eurogamer
Bionic Commando gets 27,000 US sales in May
Whoops. NPD's confirmed to Gama that Capcom's Bionic Commando only managed 27,000 unit sales in the US in May, its debut month. The reboot shipped on May 19. That figure's a total score across both 360 and PS3. Nicht so gut. Hit is for more.
PS3 leaderboards for Bionic Commando are now live
The PS3 leaderboards for Bionic Commando are now live on PS3. No issues were reported with the Xbox 360 version, but apparently there was some sort of glitch with the one on PS3. Don't worry though, all is fixed, and right as rain again. More over on Capcom Unity.
Mills: I'd appear in game where Sun journos were shocked at the "privates"
This was never going to be pretty. Following a Sun story this afternoon that claimed Paul McCartney ex Heather Mills demanded a "six-figure sum" to appear in Capcom's Bionic Commando, the amputee model has said she'd like to appear in a game in which journalists from the paper were shocked at the genitals from a […]
Paul McCartney's ex demanded "six-figure sum" to appear in Bionic Commando [Update]
Update: Capcom just mailed this over: "We will not be commenting on the matter." Update 2: Mills has apparently confirmed the truth of the story on her Twitter, saying the large sum was to be for a charitable donation. The ex-model lambasted Capcom as "stingy" in the process. Here are the tweets: Got offered to […]
Capcom to release titles on Steam same day as retail, considering more RE5 DLC
Capcom plans to release its future titles on Steam the same day as retail. Speaking with ButtonBasher, Capcom VP Christian Svensson told the site that Dark Void and Bionic Commando will be available on Steam at the same time as retail, as the company is taking digital distribution "very seriously." Svensson also said that more […]
Rumor: Bionic Commando sequel revealed through Morse Code
Rumor that a Bionic Commando sequel is in the works hit the net earlier via a strange Morse Code image. Once the code is deciphered its reads the following in German: "Bestaetige Ausfuehrung von Phase Zwei Vorbereitet Aktiviere Projeckt Albatross" Translated into English: "Confirm the Implementation of Phase Two Project Prepared Active Albatross" Apparently in […]
Play Bionic Commando multiplayer demo with Capcom
Capcom's Shawn Baxter has announced over on Capcom Unity that a community play session for the Bionic Commando multiplayer will go into full swing this evening. To play along with the guys from Capcom, log into Xbox Live by 6:00pm EST and send a friend request to gamertag Snow Infernus. Those added will be invited […]
Capcom reveals entire E3 line-up
Capcom has revealed the goods it will be presenting to attendees at E3 this year. Here's what being shown: Dark Void (PS3, 360, PC) Lost Planet 2 (currently 360, PC) Dead Rising 2 (will be "behind closed doors") Spyborgs (Wii) Resident Evil: Darkside Chronicles (Wii) Monster Hunter Freedom Unite (PSP) Marvel vs Capcom 2 (digital […]
Res Evil 5, Bionic Commando confirmed for PC, SFIV for July in the West
Capcom confirmed both Resident Evil 5 and Bionic Commando for PC today, putting to bed months of speculation. Bionic Commando will launch in July, while Resident Evil 5 is to arrive "later in the year". Street Fighter IV has now been confirmed for a July release on PC in Europe. Press release after the break.
Capcom Unity contest giving away 64,000 MS Points
Capcom Unity is giving Bionic Commando players a chance to win 8,000 MS Points a Bionic Commando lunch box, and a code for Bionic Commando: Rearmed on 360. The site is giving away over 64,000 points and the only thing you have to do is download the Bionic Commando demo, change your motto to "Bionic […]
Bionic Commando multiplayer demo available now
It's bloody Live-tastic this morning. The Bionic Commando multiplayer demo just went up, Nelson's confirmed, which means you should probably go and get it now. You'll get eigth-way deathmatch for your trouble. The full game's out next month.
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Bionic Commando latest
Get MGS 5: Ground Zeroes for $19.99 through this 2-for-1 sale on US PS Store
Capcom releases new art and trailer for Bionic Commando Rearmed 2
Mills: I'd appear in game where Sun journos were shocked at the "privates"
Paul McCartney's ex demanded "six-figure sum" to appear in Bionic Commando [Update]
Capcom to release titles on Steam same day as retail, considering more RE5 DLC
Res Evil 5, Bionic Commando confirmed for PC, SFIV for July in the West
Bionic Commando multiplayer demo coming to XBL in a few weeks


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The most influential Megatrends set to shape the world through 2030, identified by Euromonitor International, help businesses better anticipate market developments and lead change for their industries.
Euromonitor addresses your unique questions and challenges across all B2B and B2C industries and geographies through custom, tailor-made research projects, designed to your specific goals.
System Maintenance: Our website will be offline on Saturday September 7th from 4:30AM to 9:00AM BST. We will be using this time to improve our overall service.


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Can anyone estimate N such that Prob( 0 is in the convex hull of $N$ points ) >= .95
for points uniformly scatterered in $[-1,1]^d$, $d = 2, 3, 4, 10$ ?
The application is nearest-neghbour interpolation:
given values $z_j$ at sample points $X_j$, and a query point $P$,
one chooses the $N$ $X_j$ nearest to $P$ ($N$ fixed) and averages their $z_j$.
If $P$ is not in the convex hull of the $N$ $X_j$,
the interpolation will be one-sided, not so good.
I'd like to be able to say "taking 6 neighbors in 2d, 10 in 3d, is seldom one-sided".
If anyone could point me to selfcontained pseudocode for the function Inhull( $N$ points ) (without calling full LP), that would be useful too.
(Please add tags interpolation convex-geometry ?)


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Parents and other responsible adults are always welcome at school. If you know in advance that you will be visiting your child's classroom, we encourage you to notify your child's teacher ahead of time so they are prepared for your visit. We do not allow students to bring friends or other non-registered students to school due to liability and space restrictions. In addition, parents may not bring younger siblings, other children, or babies with them when they visit or volunteer in a classroom. This can be a serious distraction from the learning environment for all students.
DoDEA policy mandates use of visitor badges and positive identification of all visitors and contractors. In compliance with this policy, upon arrival, ALL visitors are required to come to the school office, sign in, show identification, and receive a visitor's badge. All visitors MUST sign out and return the visitor's badge upon leaving the building.
Volunteers are always needed and are a part of the total school program. They assist in the classrooms, office, special subject and resource rooms, and educational support areas. If a parent is volunteering in a classroom, we ask that you please make alternative arrangements for siblings. They are not allowed in the room during the instructional day. We encourage active participation by parents in their child's education and while, younger children are precious, they may be distracting to students in the classroom. We appreciate your understanding and thank you for your support. DoDEA Policy requires that prospective and current school volunteers shall be subject to a standardized application process that includes completion of an application form and standardized background checks. Volunteer applications are available in the school office or the linked Enclosure 2 below. Please allow 5 business days for processing of all volunteer request forms. Once a background check is completed, a volunteer approval is valid for 3 years.
Volunteers are not allowed to use the school copiers unless they have completed training. The office will maintain a list of volunteers who complete this training. If you are a volunteer and would like to have training, please inquire about training in the school office.


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How to Use
Map 2: Southeast Atlantic coastline
from Charleston, South Carolina to
Fort Matanzas, Florida.
Questions for Map 2
1. Locate the land that was given to Gen. James Edward Oglethorpe and his partners. Why do you think Oglethorpe believed that the region of the Altamaha River and the island near its mouth would be a good place for a fortification to repel potential Spanish invaders?
2. Note the location of Fort St. Simons, St. Andrews Fort, Fort William, and Fort St. George. Why do you think the British built forts at these locations?
* The map on this screen has a resolution of 72 dots per inch (dpi), and therefore will print poorly. You can obtain a high quality version of Map 2, but be aware that the file may take as much as 25 seconds to load with a 28.8K modem.


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Wednesday, 25 February 2009
Cycling and the economy
There is clearly a lot of muddled thinking going on. Cycling is not a problem, but is part of the solution so far as reducing dependency on foreign oil, improving people's health (which makes companies more profitable) and leads to a happier society. What's more, encouraging cycling simply makes good financial sense.
A few weeks ago I came across a graph showing the "Current Account Balance" (it's explained at that link) of various different countries. It actually explains itself as "a country's net trade in goods and services, plus net earnings from rents, interest, profits, and dividends, and net transfer payments (such as pension funds and worker remittances) to and from the rest of the world during the period specified."
Green shows a positive balance, red shows a negative balance, or rate of increase in debt. The length of the line shows the size of this trade balance.
Let's look down the list of the top ten nations.
China of course gains its wealth these days due to its incredible level of exports of manufactured goods. It is famous for having a lot of bikes (though sadly cycle usage is dropping), Japan also has a lot more cycling than average. Germany has around 10% of journeys by bike. Saudi Arabia and Russia have oil and gas. Switzerland has about 6% of journeys despite being a mountainous country. The Netherlands has around 27% of all journeys by bike, and leads the world. Norway earns its position in the list due to being an oil exporting country as only 4% of trips are by bicycle there, Kuwait also has oil, and Singapore is another big trading nation with high public transport use.
Now let's consider the three countries which come in behind the Netherlands for the cycling rate. Denmark, where 18% of all journeys by bike, has a small population so is disadvantaged for a position in this list but is still positive at position 38, Similarly Finland and Sweden take 3rd and 4th place for cycling with 11% and 10%, and both of these are also positive. So, the top four countries for cycling are all in the green, doing well financially, and they also have good social policies.
If we look at the other end of the scale, the countries with the fastest growing debts, we find this collection. Not one country at this end of the chart has a high cycling rate.
The USA, UK and Australia have amongst the lowest cycling rates in the world at around 1% of journeys. Italy and France are at 3%. Perhaps the worst position of a country with a reasonably high rate of cycling is India at 11th from bottom. However, that is a country where cycling is associated with poverty and people cycle predominantly because the have to. Mind you, they're still doing better than the bottom ten are.
Of course, correlation isn't causation. I'm not saying that these countries are at this end of the list purely because people who live there are reluctant to cycle. However, it is perhaps interesting to reflect upon the way that the Dutch sometimes refer to their cycling policy as a fiscal measure. Getting people to cycle means spending less on road maintenance, less on imported oil, less on fixing diseases which are caused by a sedentary lifestyle and makes workers more productive.
I've mentioned it before, but the top four countries for cycling, all of whom have positive balances in this comparison, are also the top four for childhood happiness. Is it not worth trying to copy such a success ?
9 comments:
- Kevin Love said...
Interesting graph. I see Canada is at #14, right next to Sweden.
Until the current economic crises hit, Canada had run budget surpluses for the last nine years. Former finance minister Paul Martin talked about completely paying off Canada's national debt by 2023.
Toronto's financial district is called Bay Street, as that is the name of the street at its centre. Bay Street has, of course, a reserved dual-use bus/bicycle lane.
- 25 February 2009 at 00:23
- Jayadeep(JDP) said...
Great observation David - while it may not be obvious, I do believe it reflect the country's attitude towards life and economy by looking at the cycling population.
- 25 February 2009 at 02:00
- spiderlegreen said...
Thanks! More Ammo.
When I think about infrastructure costs, I think about those big trucks that pound our roads into potholes. They are the biggest offender, but cars aren't that light either. But compare that weight to a bike and you see why the costs of maintaining bike infrastructure is so much less.
- 25 February 2009 at 04:16
- Karl McCracken (twitter: @karlonsea) said...
Interesting, but I think you're jumping to conclusions here. What we have are two sets of data ('Current Account Balance' and an amalgam of 'no. of people cycling' & 'No. of bikes'.
You show that there seems to be a positive correlation between the two, but you haven't shown the link. These two sets of data could both be symptoms of a third set of numbers (e.g. density of towns & cities, or policies promoting social equality, or whatever.) Or they could even be completely unrelated sets of numbers - similar to a pair like 'a population's average height' and 'their country's mean height above sea level'. This could show that taller nations live closer to (or in one case, below) sea level, leading one to conclude that altitude stunts the growth.
The facts that are without doubt to me are that:
o People who ride to work take fewer sick days.
o Riding a bike = exercise = endorphins = happy people
o Infrastructure that encourages children to ride, and adults to allow them to do so unsupervised makes for more independent, but more responsible children
o 0.6% is a pitiful proportion of a transport budget to allocate to cycling, and even worse when you see that this 0.6% also includes footpaths and other routes to schools. When you factor in that cycling could be 40% of all trips, it's bordering on scandalous, showing where the real transport, environmental, and social policies lie in the UK.
though of course, I have no data to back any of this up! ;-)
- 25 February 2009 at 10:20
- coco said...
China's cycling rate may be dropping... but from a very high base! I wonder though if that relative drop goes to show that cycling is more sustainable in a democracy (ie China's very high rate of cycling comes from a time when people had, literally, no choice). I know some cycling 'campaigners' who would not say no to totalitarianism if it meant more cycling. And yet the Netherlands manage to do it democratically.
- 25 February 2009 at 10:31
- David Hembrow said...
Jayadeep: I see the cycling rate, and the behaviour of cyclists, as exactly that kind of indicator.
Karl: Correlation is not the same thing as causation. Sometimes it is impossible to find a link which proves that things are related.
However, I think it helps to look at it in reverse. What you then see is that providing decently for cyclists does not in itself cause financial hardship for a country. Indeed, the four countries doing best for cycling are amongst those countries which are doing best economically, so cycling clearly isn't causing them a huge problem.
It's not just cycling. There are a wide range of social policies which are well planned and well funded in these four countries. None of them are causing these countries to under-perform economically. I think there is a good reason why: A happy and stable society is a productive society.
I can't recall how many times I was told in the UK that proper provision for cyclists was "too expensive". Even campaigners in the country don't ask for the best, because they think it unrealistic. Everyone's so worried about spending (perhaps "wasting") a tiny amount of money on cycling.
It brings to mind the expression "penny wise, pound foolish."
- 25 February 2009 at 10:51
- David Hembrow said...
Coco: I think it's quite simple. The Chinese haven't been able to have cars, so now that they're available they are attractive. Unfortunately they seem to be (to some extent, at least) following the same headlong path towards motoring as the entire western world, including the Netherlands, did in the 1950s.
The Dutch approach to get people onto bikes has simply been to make it a very attractive thing to do. No totalitarianism is needed, no-one is forced to do it, and people smile as they cycle.
- 25 February 2009 at 11:03
- Nick said...
Nice try David, but the correlations you make simply don't stand up. I fully agree with your premise that cycling=good and should be encouraged, but I think you're stretching it a bit by using these particular sets of 'statistics' to try to give your argument a solid foundation.
- 26 February 2009 at 16:17
- David Hembrow said...
Nick, I don't think it is that solid. I don't claim there is a direct correlation. That's not the point. However, having been told so many times when in the UK that doing any little thing for cycling was "too expensive", I think it is interesting to note that creating a really decent environment for cycling has not destroyed the economy of this nation. Nor has doing many other things which are desperately underfunded in the UK. Rather, it's those countries which have not done these things which would appear to be suffering more.
- 26 February 2009 at 16:25


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1 Stock to Own for the Next Decade
Last Sunday, I offered up the Father's Day Portfolio for investors looking to beat the market over long periods of time. And while I can't make any promises, of course, I feel pretty darn good about its chances of success. One of the reasons why? Because I added Dick's Sporting Goods to the mix.
It ain't easy
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DKS Total Return Price data by YCharts
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Brand partnerships also provide Dick's with the unique opportunity to offer their customers exclusive products from their most popular suppliers like Nike and Under Armour. Another great example of the win-win-win propostion the stores offer: the business wins, customers win, and its suppliers win. Now that's what I call #winning.
The Foolish bottom line
The whole point behind Foolish investing is to ignore the day-to-day minutiae, and invest in businesses that we think stand to be successful over long periods of time. We're talking years here, folks; that was the point of the chart at the beginning of this piece. And judging from the market opportunity of Dick's Sporting Goods today, I think shareholders of the coming decade stand a great chance of whistling that same winning tune of the past.
The article 1 Stock to Own for the Next Decade originally appeared on Fool.com.Jason Moser owns shares of Amazon.com and Nike. The Motley Fool recommends Amazon.com, Nike, and Under Armour. The Motley Fool owns shares of Amazon.com, Nike, and Under Armour. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
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