text:
All this talk about Grand Bargains and Plan Bs and so forth may have just distracted everyone from what the smart money thought all along, that a deal was much more likely right after January 1, than right before.
Here's what Bill McBride said way back in early November:
My baseline forecast assumes a compromise on the fiscal slope (more of a "slope" than a "cliff", and January 1st is not a drop dead date). My current guess is an agreement will be reached AFTER January 1st - so that the Bush tax cuts can expire and certain politicians can claim they didn't vote to raise taxes (silly, but that is politics).
The fact that Boehner couldn't get Plan B passed, because there was (in his words) a perception that it included a tax hike (when in reality it didn't... it was a cut for all taxpayers), really suggests this technicality matters about when you pass the bill. It's politically easier to vote for a bill after taxes have already risen, and you're doing voters a favor.
That's the gist of this Jonathan Allen piece in Politico, about why folks in DC want to go over the cliff. It gets easier to solve an existing problem, rather than prevent one.
There are last minute talks today in hopes of averting the cliff. And there's of course the chance that the level of acrimony only increases once we go over, and that no solution is forthcoming. But suddenly the early January tax cut plan (perhaps at the $400k - $500K cutoff range), with an extension of everything else, seems to be more likely.

subset: commoncrawl


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A wagon rides above the dirt and stone street, the lamps light up the buildings and the creaky wood that makes up the town among the iron and smoke that builds up Old Gotham. Three man are inside the wagon, those who much resemble their descendants, Alan Wayne, Thedore Cobblepot and Edward Elliot.
Edward: You talk about this architect so much, but I think he was totally not polite to call us to see his plans here. It could have been in his office or something else.
Alan: Don't be such a hard rock, Ed. When you meet him, you'll be as enthusiastic about Gotham's future as much as I am.
Theodore: The re-election is coming. If i support this young man and his plans, I'll be in office next year once again. He is a visionary, we could tell his the new Cyrus Pinkney.
Alan: Indeed, he carries a great influence from Mr. Pinkney.
Edward: Pinkney had class, this man doesn't even gives us the pleasure to show us his work in a decent place.
Alan: He couldn't be somewhere else...
The wagon stops and they get out of it.
Alan: After all, he's working in my bridge!
A gigantic bridge is being build there, connecting Gotham to the other islands and counties around. A young and blonde man coordinates the building of the bridge, Nicholas Anders, the architect.
Alan: There he is, Mr. Anders!
Nicholas: Mr. Wayne. It's great to see you again.
Alan: These are the men whom I spoke to you before, Theodore and Edward. These are the men which the other two bridges will be named from. Gentlemen, this is Nicholas Gate.
Nicholas: Pleasure to meet you, misters. It's a real honor.
Alan: I imagine you want to show them your drawings?
Nicholas: Yes, sure, sure.
He pulls up a piece of paper from his bag.
Alan: I want to continue what my father and Cyrus Pinkney started, but unlike them, who were limited by the technology of their time, we aren't limited by nothing.
He opens the paper and shows them the future, a project of what Gotham should become, tall buildings and industries, the docks, bridges and statues.
Theodore: Quite elegant, but that's impossible. The foundation to these buildings would have to be enormous.
Nicholas: I've managed to create the means to go deep enough and create a substructure that could hold it all.
Alan: Mister Gate and his brother have found a way to lead us to the clouds.
Edward: Intriguing. But are we able to build something like that?
We follow the bridges top and how Old Gotham can be seen entirely from there.
Alan: Of course it's possible, as my father would say "Tomorrow is one dream away."
Batman: Ashes of Gotham [Part 21]: Tomorrow is One Dream Away
Now we can see Gotham from the same view but in the present and the change is big, the buildings cover the city, however everything is so white. As we go far from it, it's noticeable that it's a scale model of Gotham.
Bruce Wayne: Every time I had a bad day, my father always said this for me when he took me to sleep "Bruce, tomorrow is one dream away" It may sound a little corny but it worked for me that time. As most of you know, my father was killed when I was a kid while we walked out of the cinema in the famous "Crime Alley", inside the city's heart. My father passed away, but the dream of a better tomorrow never went away. Well, and I'm investing in this tomorrow.
He lifts his hand up and the model rises from the ground. Several people watch this, such as Commissioner Gordon, Leslie Thompkins, Lucius Fox, and 2 unusual guests next to Vicki Vale.
Bruce: In the next month, Wayne Enterprises will be working to invest in Gotham's Tomorrow. We've been working with several other companies such as Kord Electronics, LexCorp and Queen Industries, and with design firms, so that together we are creating an initiative to rebuild some of Gotham abandoned areas, such as the Steel Mill and the flooded areas from Arkham City. From there, we are planning to expand and upgrade Gotham's metro and train system, the streets and avenues, the bridges and our airport.
The model starts an holographic projection, first it shows the Steel Mill and Amusement Mile rebuilt. The Bridges expanded, the metro, the Archie Goodwin airport, all new shown in blue by the holographic projection.
Bruce: Think in how Gotham was, how it is now, and most important, how it will be!
The projection shows Gotham's center, with buildings that quite resemble the ones in Nicholas Anders project.
The crowd applauds him. Later, he jumps from the improvised stage mounted at Wayne Manor. He greets his guests as usual and shares a drink with Oliver Queen and Ted Kord. Later, he is interviewed by Vic Sage, from Hub City, and by Jack Ryder from GCN. And finally shares a conversation with Lucius Fox about the project.
Lucius: You may not handle a company but you can sure handle a crowd.
Bruce: Thanks Lucius.
Lucius: Thank you, Bruce. The last time I check our stock market, our shares had doubled! People are investing, Bruce, and most important, they want to invest.
Bruce: This project is only becoming true, because of you.
Lucius: Later, meet me downstairs, I got something for your "friend".
Bruce: Sure.
He walks away for a moment and is interrupted by Vicki Vale.
Vicki: There you are!
Bruce: Hey Vicki.
Vicki: You've shown us your plans for Gotham, what about showing me your plans for your room?
Bruce: Maybe later, meet me up there after the party.
Vicki: Okay, let me introduce you to these two men here. This is Zachary Gate, the architect responsible for Beacon Tower, and this is Lincoln March, he's running for Mayor.
Bruce: Yes, I've heard. You own March Venture, right?
Lincoln: Yes, right.
Bruce: Weren't you the financier of Leslie Thompkins clinic at Arkham City area?
Lincoln: Yes. She's a great woman.
Bruce: Well, any friend of Leslie, is a friend of mine.
Lincoln: I've got your vote, then?
Bruce: It depends, do I have yours?
Lincoln: After that presentation, you got mine and Zachary's. We have a proposal. We want to join the project and make a really big investment but I also want your support for my nomination.
Zachary: We want you to be a part of something...
Bruce: Sure, maybe we can discuss this matter later. A dinner maybe?
Zachary: Sure.
Bruce: Well, you can schedule it out with Alfred.
He leaves and heads to the library, then starts to play a certain song in the piano. Suddenly, a secret door opens, he enters in an elevator and heads down to the Batcave. There he meets Lucius Fox.
Bruce: What do you have for me?
He pulls a small box from his pocket and shows him two contact lenses.
Lucius: These are special lenses, they're connected with the Batcave computer and have everything you need, from night vision to lie detector. Basically, you're economizing space, gear and weight. It's the future Bruce and it's in your hands.
Bruce: These will certainly be useful. I got to go upstairs, there is someone waiting for me.
Lucius: It's the reporter again?
Bruce leaves the Batcave.
Lucius: It's always the reporter...
Gotham Bay
A boat stops at the docks, two men are on a boat, however they are heading to an ambush. Several armed thugs are awaiting for them. The two men step away from the boat, one is wearing a coat and a hat covering his face and the other is a big bald man carrying two boxes. When the armed men show up, the man with the coat orders his brute to do something. Suddenly, the man drops his boxes, and grabs the neck of one of the armed men. He breaks the guy's neck with his bare hands, then uses the body as a baseball bat and beats the other thugs. With all the thugs dead on the ground, the man removes his hat and reveals himself as Black Mask.
Black Mask: This city is gonna tremble upon you, Beast.
A small Chinese restaurant is surrounded by cars, vans and thugs. Inside the restaurant, the entire mafia community is reunited to discuss one personal matter.
Salvatore Maroni: Union. This is the word that we need to get rid of those vicious beasts that walk among us. And I know, you all first handily would dispose of rivalries in order to stop the economic downfall Gotham is at. Our families have lead this city into a shining path when it nothing but dirt and wood. And now, we are here sitting in a city of iron, steel and internet, and letting it turn into ashes.
Akahara: Salvatore is right. We need to battle the virus that entered this city.
Carmine Falcone: We should hit them hard and fast, before they even know what's happening.
Rupert Thorne: You have been gone long, Carmine. Things have changed, this is not the times our fathers lived anymore. I vote for us to start something slow, but effective. Taking them meticulously, one by one with precision and caution. We need to send a message to these freaks.
He takes a picture from the wall, where there is a photo from every dangerous criminal in the city, from Black Mask to the Riddler. He picks up the photo of Two Face.
Thorne: And maybe we should start from the one who caused us the biggest damage. First as an attorney to the horrendous monster he became thanks to Maroni.
Maroni: We all know who caused this wasn't me, ain't that right Carmine?
Carmine: I think you probably have forgotten who threw the acid at his face.
Maroni: Maybe, but I didn't forgot who gave the order.
Carmine: Touche. Still, he knows I'm back and he wants my head. And he isn't a loner anymore, he has a whole gang with him and most of Arkham City territory.
Maroni: That's why you're perfect. We need to use you as a bait, a decoy for him to get out of that abandoned piece of the city and go inside our domains. How many years you think you could run your family from safe houses in China? You got to the take the risk for the bigger goal, share a little of our sweat, if you want the Falcone's to play an important part in Gotham again.
Carmine: And the Batman? He's much more of a threat for us then Dent.
Maroni: Everything at it's time.
Wayne Manor
Bruce's phone starts to ring, he puts his hand above it and scroll the screen.
Bruce: Hello...Alright...Yes, I'm coming.
He starts to put on his shirt but he's interrupted by a hand, a female's hand. She carefully drags her hand to his back and touches all the scars he has.
Vicki Vale: What are these?
Bruce: I like dangerous sports, y'know that.
Vicki Vale: Well, sweetheart, you must be really bad.
Bruce: I got to go, important meeting. Alfred has breakfast ready for you downstairs.
He kisses her real quick and leaves.
Vicki: At least this time, he has a decent excuse.
Gotham Train Station
A young man wearing glasses carries his bags disastrously while talking to the phone. His name is Jason Bard and he's the new lieutenant.
Bard: Mom, I'm really busy, I can't talk now...Yes, I'll take care of myself...Yes, he's coming to get me here at the station, he seems like a really nice guy, and I'll need both of my hands when he gets here..This means I need to hang up, bye.
A strange man comes behind him and grabs his bag. It's Harvey Bullock.
Bullock: Well then, you probably need some help my friend.
Bard: Thanks, sir. Wait, are you Commissioner Gordon?
Bullock: Not even close, Detective Harvey Bullock. You must be the freshman, welcome to Gotham. How does it feel?
Bard: Really dark and dirty.
Bullock: You got the spirit, c'mon.
Gotham City Hall
Commissioner Gordon, Mayor Hady, CIA Agent Ralph Bundy and Major Zastrow are reunited in the City Hall at the start of the evening.
Zastrow: KGB was our main espionage defense force against America in the US, after it's closure, we still had some factions who were active. One of them in special, survived until a few weeks ago. Lead by Andrei Yevtushenko, the faction has created almost 30 weapons, human or technological against the other countries. General Yevtushenko was found inside his office, dead with only a glass of cyanide and a few burned papers. Well, one these papers had two words written "Gotham City" and here we are.
Gordon: What would he want in Gotham City?
Zastrow: General Yevtushenko was responsible for several projects inside KGB, including the Super Soldier mission. My country sent me here exactly with one objective, to stop this mission from happening.
Gordon: What consists the mission? And who are the men involved?
Zastrow: Actually, Super Soldier is a one-man army. He's called Anatoli Knyazev, the Beast.
Ralph Bundy: CIA knows him by another name, KGBeast. We suspect he's inside the country since early in the morning. We had a group of armed gunmen disguised as thugs ready to receive a package of drugs coming from Colombia. We found their bodies, totally beaten.
Mayor: So you're meaning, you let a mass murderer lunatic inside my city? Oh god, there goes my chances of re-election.
Gordon: have you got a photo of the man's face?
Bundy: We haven't even got a description of him.
Zastrow: His identity was well guarded by KGB, the only man who knew his face is dead.
Gordon: Do you at least know who are his targets?
Zastrow: No one knows it.
Bundy: My agent here says he already made his first two victims.
Mayor: Oh god, who are them?
Bundy: Major Petrov of Archie Goodwin Airport staff, was preparing for another night of sleep when he ended up sleeping forever.
Gordon: Two of my best detectives worked on this case, he died naturally.
Bundy: That's what the Beast wanted it to look.
Gordon: Okay, who's the second?
Bundy: Terry Cavanaugh, crashed his car after passing on a wet road. Your officers classified it as "child's play who went bad". He was a scientist at Particle Accelerator Project at GothCorp.
Gordon: Why haven't I been informed before?
Bundy: Because we thought you didn't need to know.
Gordon: Until now, right? Until you got your situation out of control? Just tell me what you want?
Bundy: We want the Batman.
The window turns black for a moment but it goes away fast. It's Batman, who recorded the entire conversation.
Batman: Alfred, get me info of everything they've talked about specially related to Anatoli Knyazev and "супер солдат".
Alfred: In a few minutes, sir. While I prepare it for you, wouldn't you mind looking at Aparo Avenue with Starlin Street?
Batman: What's in there?
Alfred: Murder, sir. Harvey Bullock is already there.
Gotham City Dump
Detective Renee Montoya and partner Crispus Allen are discussing with owner, while the other officers close the place with yellow tapes. A blonde man with a fur coat walks next to the perimeter and the officers stop him.
Officer: What do you want here?
Man: Just a fellow citizen wanting to know what has happened.
Officer: Gotham Gazette?
Man: I'm not a reporter, i just wanted to see what happened.
Officer: There is nothing here for you. Keep your nose out of stuff that doesn't concern you.
He walks away and makes a call. While that, the Detectives enter the dump.
Crispus: Where he said the body was?
Montoya: Just follow the seagulls.
They walk among Gotham City's thrash only to find the semi-eaten body of Elizabeth Lupo.
Crispus: Beth Lupo is dead, who's going to give her parents the news?
They both look at each other and say at the same time: Freshman!
Mazzuchelli Gateway to Bludhaven
Two thugs are inside a truck, leaving Gotham in very empty road for Bludhaven.
Thug 1: Why we took Miller Avenue to here? It's full of cops. We could have been stopped by them.
Thug 2: Just relax, dude.
Thug 1: Just try to take lesser frequented streets dude.
Thug 2: Are you really that afraid of cops? Black Mask got the police on his paycheck, no matter how much Gordon tries.
Thug 1: You know it's not the police I am afraid of.
Thug 2: The Red Hood? He doesn't exist, boss only says that so we don't get to cocky.
Thug 1: So what explains Mr. Freeze?
The truck rides over some landmines and explodes. From the top of a street sign, Red Hood is sitting there and laughing over it.
Aparo with Starlin, Crime Scene
Batman glides around the city and lands on the top of building, Harvey Bullock is talking to Officer Harper.
Bullock: It's raining! Get me a cloth, Harper!
Harper: Yes, sir.
Bullock: Ah these new fellas never understand that rain and evidence don't mix up together.
Batman: Hello, Harvey.
Bullock: Damn. You almost scared me. Wanna see the Van Gogh's work over there?
A fat and naked man is nailed on the wall by knives. He's covered in his own blood.
Bullock: Owner of the property came in to get the paycheck. He was known as Sam Strigs, but the identity is false. We found nothing here, no money, no accounts, no fingerprints, the guy is a real John Doe.
Batman: His neck it's broken.
Bullock: I hadn't noticed that.
He moves next to body and starts to turn the guy's neck. He rotates the head.
Batman: Exactly an angle of 270 degrees.
He observes the man's strangely place ears, they're not symmetrical, the right one seems a little higher. His eyes are yellow colored, quite remembering Strigiformes order birds. Then, he takes one of the knives and analyzes it.
Batman: These are old throwing knives, probably the 19th century, they are coated with mercury to stabilize the trajectory. I want to take one.
Bullock: Hell, when do you started to ask? That symbol in the knife, what does it remind you?
Batman: An owl.
Bullock: I think someone is trying to revive an old urban legend.
Batman: I know what you mean.
Next, he looks the guy's hand.
Batman: He fought someone, earlier before his death. There's someone else's blood on his nails.
He uses a small blade to get the blood and puts it inside the gauntlet. Batman starts to smell something. He keeps staring at wall.
Bullock: We have no time for philosophy, Batsy.
He removes some paintings made of blood from the wall.
Batman: Borrow me your cigarette?
Bullock: You smoke now?
Batman: Just give me your cigar.
He sparkles the cigar on the wall and a message burns on the wall "Bruce will Die Tomorrow".
Bullock: Tomorrow? Well, Wayne is safe because his tomorrow is one week ago.
Batman: Unless, John Doe knew when he was going to be found. The owner did come here once a month didn't he?
Bullock: The second Friday of every month. Maybe he knew he was going to die, and knew when he was going to be found. So he left a message for someone to find, so he could warn Wayne. Wow, are we inside an Agatha Christie book?
Batman: Just a minute.
Alfred: Sir?
Batman: Penny One, what you've got?
Alfred: About KGBeast, I've found a connection. Roman Sionis traveled to Moscow this week, the day before Yevtushenko died. He arrived 1 hour before the murder of the officers. He might be somehow connected to the murders.
Batman: Thanks, keep me informed.
Janus Cosmetics Tower
Black Mask: AGAIN?
Anya Volkova: Yes, he destroyed a shipment of F-2000s.
Black Mask: I don't even know what these are.
Anya: Guns, the expensive ones.
Black Mask: Send Orpheus and Onyx over there.
Anya: I already did. It's about an hour and I can't contact them.
Black Mask: So they are dead?
Anya: I sent two of your best men there, and they disappeared.
Black Mask: This is getting quite unpleasant.
Anya: Indeed. What do you want to do?
Black Mask: Send my little friend there and burn his body. Bury the ashes deep down, dig it up and send it to his mom. But that would be foolish...
Anya: Why?
Black Mask: Because it's not my problem only, and I would rather see another person taking the thrash out.
Falcone Penthouse
Carmine Falcone is wearing a white regatta and with band aid on his hands. He punches a man who's tied to a punching bag. The man is bleeding, with several wounds.
Carmine: Thank you, Luca. Where did you find this one?
Luca: He went a little too far in a drug trade.
Carmine: Well, let's arrange what we are doing with Two Face?
Luca: About that, we need to strengthen ourselves up. I don't think messing around with Dent will be effective as we thought. I think we should focus on establishing our family again, the other families laugh at us and try to explore our weaknesses every time. We should stay on defensive, neutral and don't mess around until we are an empire again. You've let feelings go inside the business and that was our ruin.
Carmine: Watch your tongue Luca!
The windows break down with smoke grenades and tear gas.
Luca: Get to the top of the building!
Carmine climbs the stairs and heads to the roof while hundreds of bullets are shot down in the apartment. He gets to the roof and enters his helicopter.
Gordon: Get to the Choppers!
The SWAT agents enter the Police Helicopters and follow Falcone down Diamond District.
Gordon: Place the snipers on the Lacey Towers and in the GCN Building. We need to get him!
Crispus Allen: Sir, I don't think we will need the snipers.
They all look up and the Batwing crosses the sky in high speed. Batman shoots missiles at the helicopter, destroying the back propeller and making the helicopter lose control.
Carmine: Sh*t!
Falcone takes the parachute and jumps from the helicopter before it crashes on a building. When he activates the parachute, Batman comes down on him and grabs him. He ties Falcone with the grapnel gun and hangs him above the police.
Batman: Welcome to Gotham, Mr. Falcone.
All of this is captured in live TV, and on the other side of the city, Two Face watches it.
Two Face: Carmine, my boy, you finally left exile.
10 Years Ago
Harvey Dent is knocked out and tied to a chair. He's somewhere familiar, his house. It's Christmas. When he looks down to the ground, he sees his wife, Gilda, lying there without moving. She's white and expressionless.
Harvey: Gilda?
Carmine: She can't hear you.
Falcone lights up his cigarette, he blows smoke from his mouth. Then picks up the rose from his pocket, he tears one petal from it.
Carmine: She's dead, Dent.
Harvey: No, no, Gilda...
Carmine: I chocked her to death, used my bare hands to kill her. Sounds familiar?
Harvey: I'll kill you, Falcone. I'll end you, you son of a b*tch!
Carmine: You had everything. You were the White Knight of Gotham, you had a wonderful career as a District Attorney, you had a lovely wife, a house, money, everything somebody needed to be happy and more. You had to push it way far than your ambition, you had to take on my Empire! Look where it brought you, my friend. To your end.
Harvey: My end is far from being here, I'll get you!
Carmine: Tomorrow was going to be Maroni's trial. You noticed the "was" in my phrase? The court will delay because of a young man's death as they notice you disappeared. Maroni will be called off and he'll be free. So you will die and everything you worked for will be worthless. I'll expose you, Dent, and your legacy will be nothing but ashes. Finally Gotham will see you as the two faced son of b*tch you are!
Falcone tears his rose apart entirely. He calls his men and they start dropping gasoline on the floor. He leaves the room and drops the cigar.
Harvey: No! No!
The whole room starts to burn, Harvey struggles to untie himself. He starts moving himself with the chair, breaking a frame full of coins and grabbing a piece of glass, so he starts cutting the rope. The flames start getting close to him, a burning curtain falls next to him. He escapes from the chair and heads to Gilda, Harvey looks at the one of his coins, two faced coins, that is burned. One side is clean while the other is totally black. He kisses his dead wife and leaves the room with a half burned suit and a revolver.
Now, Old Gotham Merchant's Bank
Abandoned almost 100 years ago, the Merchant's Bank is an architecture wonder preserved by the Gotham State. On top of it, there is a statue of two men ringing a bell, representing the English, Irish and Scottish merchants from the early 17th century that came to Gotham and established here. Together with the statue, there are several owls symbols representing the extinguished birds hunted by the same merchants. And next to all of these symbolism, there is the biggest symbol Gotham ever had, the Batman. He's holding a criminal from his coat, interrogating him.
Batman: It's a long way down.
Ricky Loose Lips: I don't know nothing! I swear! God, please!
Batman: Someone has brought over 3000 lbs of Semtex down the Docks. YOU WERE THERE, RICKY! Let's how much your coat can hold you until you tell me a name!
Loose Lips: Please! I don't know nothing! I never saw his face!
Batman: Is this a leather jacket? You know, leather coats get smoother with the rain.
Loose Lips: I told you, I don't know his name!
Batman: GIVE ME SOMETHING!
Loose Lips: They call him Emperor Penguin but I no one ever seen his face!
The ground starts to tremble, dust jumps from old statues. The water covering Amusement Mile starts to bubble, some of the wood constructions built by people living in the abandoned areas of Arkham City start to fall and get destroyed. Suddenly, an explosion. Batman throws away Loose Lips and starts running from the Merchant's Bank. he jumps from the building and glides to the Gotham Bay as chaos erupts in the explosion of a bridge.
Batman: Alfred, call Robin, Nightwing and Batgirl. New Trigate Bridge has exploded.
He glides to the top of the bridge and watches the destruction.
Alfred: We've got problem, Sir. It's not the Trigate Bridge, only. It was a trio.
Batman watches as 2 other bridges fall on Sprang River and the wreckage is carried to Gotham's Bay and Amusement Mile flooded areas.
Alfred: They've destroyed Trigate Bridge, Madison Gate and Stonegate Freeway. I'm sending the Batwing to provide aerial support to you.
Batman jumps down and falls on the ground. He grabs two civilians next to a car and puts them aside for a while. He breaks a car's door to catch a family, which was locked inside.
Batman: Hold this up on the air and hold tight.
The Batwing flies next to the bridge and grapples the civilians and flies them.
Batman: Nightwing and Robin. I'm sending the Batwing for you to help civilians.
He calls the Bat-Boat to next to the bridge, and jumps to the lower level of the bridge, which carries the Gotham's train line. He saves the driver and the first wagon of the train, saving at least 13 people. Which are carefully taken to the police with the Bat-Boat.
Batman: I'm sending the Bat-Boat too, in case there are people on the river.
Batman then notices that wagon on the second line is almost falling. He pulls up the Line Launcher and shoots it on the train. It stops falling for a while but it's no guarantee, so, the Dark Knight uses his grapnel gun to stop it from falling. He notices that down on the bridges foundations there are several "Owl" statues, just like in Gotham Merchant's.
Above the lower level, Captain Maggie Sawyer is closing down the bridges.
Cap. Sawyer: The press is already loving this. "The families will fall by the Gates of Gotham", it's what the Gotham Gazette received early this night. We've already blocked the bridges, your boys there did a great job.
Batman: Where's Gordon?
Cap. Sawyer: He's with the Mayor. Dealing with bureaucracy of Falcone's arrest. May I ask where to find Loose Lips?
Batman: You may look at the Gotham Merchant's Bank, he's tied up there. He appointed Penguin responsible for the explosives.
Cap. Sawyer: Impossible. He's at Blackgate, held in custody after the Cyrus Pinkney's Institute for Natural History incident.
Batman: Cyrus Pinkney...
He grapples away from the place and glides back to the Merchant's Bank. He searches for the old entrance, he breaks some wood barriers used at Arkham City period for protection and finds something rather unusual. A plaque with Pinkney's name on it, it describes the monument and declares it National Treasure at the year of 1923. He searches for something on it and finds a button, when he presses it, a small compartment opens and reveals a letter.
Cyrus Pinkney: "January 13, 1855: The moment of my death approaches and there is naught I might to do to stop it. I dared dream of greatness, but in the process, I forgot that such ambition oft demands a heavy price. Still I pay it gladly, for knowing that Gotham has become a city whose magnificence will echo across the ages. But its origins must not be forgotten. And so I have scattered my journal across the city, placing pages where I believe they shall endure. Find them. Read them. Then share what lies within. For though the truth may not be so beautiful as the legend - it is necessary all the same."
Alfred: Master Bruce. I know you're focused on the Bridge but, Cyrus Pinkney's death is known as Gotham oldest cold case. No solution within almost 160 years. A bright architect who died at incredible 40 years, he was responsible for most of what Gotham is now, the gargoyles and everything.
Batman: Even the owls?
Alfred: Sorry, I couldn't hear you right, what did you say?
Batman: Nothing at all, Alfred. Thank you.
Abandoned Subway Station,Bowery, 1 hour ago
A drug trade emerges between Two-Face's gang and the Lucky Hands Triad's men.
TF Thug: I can't take this, my boss only wants the cocaine not the guns.
Triad Thug: Our boss won't be happy with that, he thought it was a two way deal. You either make the deal or die.
All the thugs pickup their guns and point at each other.
TF Thug: We aren't taking deal.
From the top of the Station, the clock pointing down ticks.
Triad Thug: What was that? This sh*t wasn't working for a long time!
The leaders of the trade are both knocked out by a woman and a man. The woman is an African american wearing bandages on her hands, while the man is a Latino wearing a gold and purple suit. They both knock down the entire gang.
Onyx: Haven't seen these in a while, Ekin Tzu is still alive? I thought our boss sent him a pretty clear message of staying out of Arkham City!
Orpheus: These others, Onyx. They were selling landmines, like the ones who destroyed the truck we searched minutes ago. They don't work for Two-Face or Ekin Tzu, they're both from Red Hood factions but from different bosses!
Onyx: I thought he didn't work with drugs. He banned them from his territory.
Orpheus: Strange.
Onyx: Yes, it is.
Orpheus: Not that, I can't contact Volkova.
Onyx: That can wait, we have leads to follow.
Gotham City Hall
Jason Greene, Gotham City Internal Affairs Congressman, is checking the documents in his office. Three nights every week, he works until 12:00 PM, his wife says that he's a workaholic and that he would rather die working than doing anything else. His window reflects a hand, Batman? Probably. But silently, this hand opens the window. He notices his window has opened, however when he looks back, there is no one there. When he goes check the documents again. There is a tall man, wearing a black KGB stealth suit, brass knuckles and a strange mask with red stripes.
KGBeast: You're going to tell me everything I want to know, Mr. Greene, or you may die. Your choice, 60 seconds.
Jason Greene: ...
He pulls his pistol but KGBeast catches his hand and breaks it.
KGBeast: You chose wrong.
The Beast starts punching the guy's head. Blood paints the floor. Jason tries to catch his gun once again but he kicks his hand. KGBeast then grabs Jason Greene and throws him against the window. Batman watches Greene being thrown and jumps to save him. He grabs him but the speed is too much for him to grab the walls. Batman tries to grab a pole but fails. His body reaches a speed so high he can't grab anything without breaking his arms, so he uses his only rope that remained from this night's patrol to save Greene. While he falls he tries to use his cape to glide but it was too damaged in recent events. He is reaching the grounds, when he remembers about Plastic Man and grabs a glue grenade. he throws it on the ground and when he falls above it, he reaches it smoothly. Batman goes check on Jason Greene, but he finds he's long dead, even before the fall.
Batman: Broken neck, probably when he was thrown against the glass.
He walks on the street and asks the citizens to call the police to recover the body. He enter the Batmobile and leaves.
Batman: Alfred, anything on the bridges?
Alfred: Not at all, the bridges didn't have such a big importance for Gotham's infrastructure.
Batman: Our terrorist sent a message for Gotham Gazette about the families collapsing by the Gates of Gotham. Does that mean anything to you?
Alfred: My father used to say the bridges were the Gates as a nickname. He said he learned it from your grandfather, Patrick Wayne. It was a popular saying in the 20th century.
Batman: Maybe I should pay a visit to Cobblepot at Blackgate, but first I need to check information with our friend Warren White.
Jezebel Center, Bowery
A group of gangsters is sitting on a table, talking. They're 5, and with their henchman, almost 15. Above them, in the second floor of the place, Onyx watches them. She picks up her communicator and calls Orpheus.
Onyx: I'm following the trace of these guys. I'm in their hideout.
Orpheus: Have you seen the Red Hood yet?
Onyx: No.
Orpheus: Then contact me when you get him.
The gangsters are possibly associated with the Families, as they are heavily characterized: one is a red head, Sean Riley's lieutenant; next to him at the right, is a Russian from Odessa Mob; at end on the right, one of Gambol's main hitman; at the end of the left, Carl Beaumont's successor at the French Scheme; and in the middle, Mandragora's second in command.
Gambol's: We've made deals with the Black Mask, like everyone.
Beaumont's: You say like we had a choice.
Gambol's: It doesn't matter. He promised us protection and what we've got?
Mandragora's: We got freaking Red Hood on our back.
Odessa's: So you're saying we should make a deal with Red Hood?
Gambol: No, I'm saying if Black Mask doesn't kill him, maybe we should.
Onyx hear a noise and looks back.
Red Hood: Heeey. I felt someone was talking about me.
She freezes, she keeps staring at him with no idea of what to do.
Onyx: Red Hood?
Red Hood: Smart. What was your clue, Sherlock?
Onyx: Don't move or I'll kill you.
Red Hood: How hostile. What did I miss?
He lies on the ground and start watching the gangsters. After a minute or two thinking, she does the same.
Onyx: Basically, they want your head and they're pissed Black Mask can't do that.
Red Hood: Hmm, I'm famous now. So do want to end them?
Onyx: What?
Red Hood: You know beat them. You can look, or help, it's your choice.
He throws a flash grenade down there and jumps into them. He kicks Riley's man in the chest, breaking his ribs, and uses the guy's body to protect himself from the bodyguard's shots. Onyx jumps over the bodyguard and breaks his neck. Beaumont's tries to run but he's beaten by Red Hood while Onyx punches Odessa's. From the doors at least 10 guys enter the room carrying guns. They're trapped and the gunfire begins. As much as they try to dodge every bullet, they get shot in leg and arm once before they break out of the place.
Onyx: We need to run!
Red Hood pulls a Minigun and shoots all of the thugs to death.
Onyx: Are you nuts? They are still my boss men! They still had to answer for betrayal!
He points the gun to her.
Red Hood: What were you expecting? Beating them and leaving them to BAM, kill and rob more people?
Onyx: I won't let you live! You still are Black Mask's number one priority.
Red Hood: I don't know if I'm too fast or too precise, but most never fell it at the moment.
She looks at her side, he stabbed her in the shoulder without her even noticing.
Red Hood: Now I won't let you live to ruin more lives.
Suddenly, he is shot on the shoulder, it starts to bleed but puts his hand on the wound to stop the bleeding. On the other side of the Plaza, KGBeast is holding a rifle and salutes Red Hood.
Red Hood: Shit.
He starts to run from the shots and enters a dark alley. Onyx removes the knife and drops on the ground, when she looks up, Red Hood runs away with a motorcycle.
Suicide Alley, Burnley
The rain drops over the pipes and boxes in this alley, a dog walks away and starts to bark. A hand caresses the dog and it runs away. Boots walk among bodies of suicidal people. The boot smashes a baseball bat and the hand disassembles a gun, piece by piece. Upside down there in the alley is Warren White, the Great White Shark, a white skinned man with sharp teeth, wearing a purple shirt and golden jewelry. Warren cleans the blood on his face.
Great White Shark: Was there any need to punch me?
The man reveals himself as Batman and punches him again.
Batman: Yes. That's what happens when you try to shoot me.
Great White Shark: I had to.
Batman pulls the rope down a little and punches Warren again. He spits a tooth at Batman, who laughs at him.
Great White Shark: What do you want?
Batman: Elizabeth, Angel Lupo's sister has disappeared two weeks ago.
Great White Shark: Find her then.
Batman: I already did, some seagulls found her at the dump.
Great White Shark: You got nothing against me.
Batman: She was partially devoured.
Great White Shark: I ain't no cannibal.
Batman: You aren't but your disappeared thug, Orca, loves eating people.
Great White Shark: She disappeared at almost two weeks...
Batman does him a wink. And enters the Batmobile. He drives to Grand Avenue at the Diamond District, through Gotham Square and stops in front of Royal Hotel. He grapples in one of the GCPD Zeppelins, he looks at Gotham and Bludhaven and sees how different they are. Gotham is dark, obscure and holds many secrets, while Bludhaven is light, luminous and clear. He reflects why Dick chose to protect Bludhaven and how does the cities match Batman and Nightwing. He smiles with a glimpse of hope that Gotham one day will be as good as Bludhaven. He climbs the Hotel, it's statues and gargoyles are something normal in Gotham, however one of them scares Batman. He stops in front of a statue of an "owl man", their eyes are a few centimeters away from each other. He reaches a window, he pulls up a blade from his belt and cuts a circle on the glass. He opens the window from inside and enters the room. Inside the room, two glasses of champagne on the table, the couch is messy, there are clothes all over the floor. He walks inside the apartment and spots someone sleeping on the bed. He approaches the person silently and pulls the blanket. It's a woman, Margo Farr, as the computer identifies.
Batman: Where's Angel?
Margo: So, there's a naked woman in front of you and all you care about is a man?
Batman: I've seen plenty and I'm not in the mood.
Margo: Hard to tell with that suit...
Batman: Where's Angel?
Margo: Far away from you?
Batman: Italy.
Margo: How do you know?
Batman: I've just discovered.
He jumps from the window, and lands on a gargoyle. He starts to wait, looking at the Hotel's entrance. After some minutes waiting, there she is, Margo Farr taking a cab. Batman follows her, jumping from building to building. He spots an explosion in Old Gotham, and calls Alfred.
Batman: Send Robin over there, I'm busy!
He watches Margo as she crosses the Westward Bridge.
Alfred: Sir, Robin spotted the Red Hood running away from what he describes as Russian assassin with a sniper.
Batman: KGBeast?
Alfred: Yes, sir. Two of your current cases in conflict with each other, should I call Master Dick and Mistress Cassandra?
Batman: KGB is on the same level as Cassandra or better, Red Hood is comparable with Nightwing, we've seen him act. I can't send them and handle with their deaths later, Alfred. I'm enough with that already.
Alfred: Sir, why don't you go yourself?
Batman: I'm in a really important case.
Alfred: Make a choice then, Sir.
Batman: Send Nightwing, Batgirl and the Batwing to support them. Call Gordon and tell him to send the S.W.A.T. I'll handle this for a while and I'll be back to help them the sooner I can.
Alfred: Alright, sir.
Batman grapples the bridge and pass over Margo's cab. He watches her from a power pole, a lightning strikes behind Batman and rain drops coldly over his suit. The cab stops in front of small Chinese hotel, Margo leaves the cab. She enters the front desk when a thug whistles over her.
Thug: Come here to daddy baby!
She slaps him.
Margo: You don't know who's my man!
The thug pushes her against the ground and pulls a knife from his pocket. When he's preparing to stab her, Batman breaks the wall and punches him. Margo runs to the stairs and screams.
Margo: Run, Angel! Run!
Batman breaks in the room and watches as Angel jumps the window. He tries to catch him but he enters an alley. Batman hears two shots, he pulls a batarang but when he reaches the alley, he sees two dead people and their child. He drops the batarang on the street and it is carried by the rain to the sewers. The blood drops in the street as the police car arrives. Batman talks with the policemen and leaves with the Batmobile.
Batman: Where they are now, Alfred?
Alfred: Red Hood is driving a motorcycle in the Grand Avenue, "The Beast" is running behind him in a black van. There are at least 10 police cars behind them and an helicopter. Timothy and Richard are creating a barrier in the Moench Avenue, while Cassandra is bringing the Batwing there.
Batman: Tell them I'm coming!
The Batmobile starts to accelerate, the turbine fires up and he runs the streets on at least 185 mph. He enters the beginning of Moench Avenue and spots the barrier a few miles away. However, he spots as the motorcycle jumps the barrier and the van breaks the cars and crosses the barrier. The Batwing follows them right away. Batman follow them too, together with Dick and Tim in motorcycles.
Batman: Batgirl use the Batwing's Rope.
She shoots a rope in the van's back doors. The van is raised and carried away by the Batwing. Robin grapples in the van and opens the door, but there's no one inside. When he looks down, KGBeast has stolen his motorcycle.
Robin: Guys, they're heading to the Docks! And there's no way out there!
Nightwing: I'll catch up with Gordon and tell him to warn the Coast Guard.
Nightwing takes a U-Turn and goes back to Gordon. Batman is now alone with both Red Hood and KGBeast on bikes in the Docks. They're running across containers, trucks and cranes. Several workers jump from the way and loaded trucks are used as jump thrusts. The space is running low, so Red Hood jumps from the vehicle and pulls his pistol. He shoots the Beast but either he dodges them or either they're ineffective. KGBeast leaves his vehicle too and pulls up his gun. Red Hood is on the edge of the Docks, down there, is only the sea. Batman arrives there and looks at the Beast, he picks a Batarang and throws the bataranh at him. But he' still able to shoot Red Hood on the chest, making him fall on the water. Batman attacks him, he blocks the punches and kicks Batman on chest. The Beast points the gun at him.
KGBeast: Any last words?
Batman: Now!
Robin and Nightwing punch KGBeast on the face simultaneously. Batgirl kicks his stomach and Batman knees him in the face. He drops a smoke bomb and jumps on the water, they try to follow him but he disappears.
Janus Cosmetics Tower, Later
Black Mask and KGBeast are reunited.
KGBeast: Where's my payment?
Black Mask: Here.
He gives a list to the Beast.
Black Mask: The names and locations you asked for.
He leaves the room and picks up the phone.
KGBeast: Reunited the Troika.
Alfred watches the Bat-computer as the DNA analysis from the "owls' murder finally is concluded. He drops coffee on the ground, the piece of DNA they found at the crime scene is match with Richard Grayson's.
Next chapter: The misterious cop killer! the Gates of Gotham shall fall!
Thanks to MaxSchreck, kingarthurcurry and Batwoman for the support!


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by MIKE TODD
If you're going to decapitate a clown, the best advice I can offer is to try not to decapitate one that has sentimental value to your wife.
I found this out the hard way about eight years ago, when we were moving into our first house, which was the size of many people's first Tupperware. I leaned a rug against the wall, which seemed like a harmless thing to do, until two hours later, when the rug slid and landed squarely on a ceramic figurine of two clowns that I'd never noticed before, smashing the head of the formerly happy guitar-playing one.
When Kara came into the room to see me sweeping up the carnage, she started to cry. It's true what they say: there's nothing sadder than a headless clown.
"I know it's silly, but I've had those clowns since I was a little kid," she said, picking up the now-macabre knick-knack and rotating the base. When she let go, the figurine played "Send in the Clowns" as it slowly spun on the floor, a strangely wistful song for a kid's toy, as if it knew things weren't going to end well.
I dumped the clown-head shards from the dustpan into a baggie, tucking it aside as if someday, armed with some Elmer's Glue-All, I'd reassemble the seven million fragments. Over time, I came to accept that even a best-case scenario would have the reanimated clown looking like a character in a horror movie. Once you've decapitated something like that, it's very difficult to recapitate it.
A few days ago, just before our eighth anniversary, our son Evan found the headless clown on a bookshelf in the guest room, where we'd put it to remind our guests what happens if they step out of line.
The eighth anniversary is the pottery anniversary, and my attempts to get Kara to start smoking so that I could make her an ashtray had failed. Replacing her beloved and beheaded clown, though, was the perfect gift idea.
Finding a 30-year-old musical clown on eBay took about three minutes. An hour later, the auction was over, and the figurine, a perfect match, was mine.
If you want to be a thoughtful gift giver, it turns out that a really effective method is to destroy your significant other's sentimental objects so that you can replace them eight years later. It's called playing the long game.
We needed a little romance this year, too, since we spent our anniversary with our infant and our constipated three-year-old.
"Gotta go poo poo!" Evan yelled, prancing in place to celebrate his parents' big day. We were in the woods behind our house, turning over rocks to find critters. We had just hit the mother lode: a salamander. When Evan stopped paying attention to it, I could tell the situation was serious.
"Let's go!" I said, scooping Evan up, already running as I slung him over my shoulder. Evan had been using the potty exclusively for about two weeks, and I had no intention of having his first accident be on my shoulders.
Like a great freight train, we barreled across the backyard; CHUGGA CHUGGA CHUGGA CHUGGA gotta go POO POO!
"What's going on?" Kara asked as the door flew open and we stormed past.
"AAAAHHHHH!" Evan replied in a volume that caused a volcano to erupt in Italy.
Skidding into the bathroom, I dropped Evan to his feet and yanked his shorts down.
"Did we make it? Did we make it?" I asked.
Evan looked at me as if I was slightly unhinged.
"Don't hafta go," he said.
Someday, our anniversaries will once again be marked with nice dinners. Until then, all I can do is wait and maybe rip the arms off of Kara's old teddy bears.


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BALTIMORE, MD. – UMBC swimming and diving junior Andrew Eckhoff (Chelmsford, Mass./Chelmsford) smashed his own UMBC record in the 3-mtr competition, while sweeping both diving competition at Drexel. Meanwhile, sophomore Reed Neuendorf (Blauvelt, N.Y./Tappan Zee) won two events to lead the Retrievers at the two-day, unscored, Terrapin Invitational at the Eppley Recreation Center.
Competing in Philadelphia for the second straight week, Eckhoff, who set the school record for the 3-mtr back in October, broke his own record with a score of 361.20 at Drexel. The previous mark was 354.30, set against Towson in an unscored meet earlier this season. Eckhoff also won the 1-mtr competition against the Dragons with a score of 283.42.
In College Park, Neuendorf picked up his second and third wins of the year, claiming victory in the 400 IM (4:02.28) and 500-yard freestyle (4:38.10). The sophomore's time in the 400 free is a personal-best, and ranks tenth in UMBC history, while the 500 time is a season-best.
Junior Dylan Kent (Oakville, Ontario, Canada/OakvilleTrafalgar) claimed silver to give the Retrievers a one-two finish in the event.
In addition, junior Patrick Bryan (Marlton, N.J./Cherokee) won his first event of the year, the 200 IM, swimming a season-best 1:56.11. After posting the best time in the preliminaries, senior Andrew Reid (Ipswich, Mass./Ipswich) finished just behind his teammate with a time of 1:56.83.
Freshman Mark Tracy (Chelmsford, Mass./Chelsmford) won the first event of his career, claiming the gold in the 100 fly with season-best time (51.20).
Tracy, Reid and Bryan also finished two-three-four in the 200 fly, touching just behind Penn's Nathaniel Holmes.
The swimming and diving teams now have the week off from competition before heading to Boston for the America East Championships which begin on Thurs. Feb. 23. The four-day event will be held at Boston University.


text:
Nutrition Facts
Ingredients and Preparation
- Place chicken breasts between 2 sheets of plastic wrap and pound until about ½ inch thick all around.
- Bring 1 cup of water to boil in a small sauce pan over high heat. Mix in the sugar and salt and stir until dissolved. Remove from heat and transfer mixture to a 4-cup glass measure. Add ice cubes and enough water to make 4 cups.
- Place chicken in a resealable plastic bag or covered plastic container. Pour in the brine mixture and seal. Brine for 30 minutes in the refrigerator.
- While chicken is brining, prepare the grill.
- Drain chicken and place on grill. Cook for about 3-5 minutes on each side, until juices run clear. Serve with sweet pickle relish.


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Velasco bids heartfelt farewell to Iran
Tehran, Iran, February 16, 2014 – On Friday, Julio Velasco said goodbye to the team he led to two Asian Championship titles and helped qualify for the FIVB Volleyball Men's World Championship Poland 2014 as he heads home to coach Argentina's men's national team.
"Velasco has given happiness to our nation and caused a rise of national mirth," said Sports Minister Dr. Mahmood Goudarzi. "He accelerated volleyball's progress. During his time as head coach of Iran, volleyball gained very good results. Anyone who makes our nation happy or brings progress to our country even though he is not native of Iran, we consider him as one of ourselves. This memory will remain forever in our minds and hearts. Velasco's work brought enthusiasm to our youngest players."
Velasco, along with his wife, joined his players and sports authorities at the Olympic hotel to bid farewell to Iran.
"I am sorrowful to say goodbye to Iran volleyball," Velasco said. "During the past weeks, Davarzani did his best to convince me to change my decision and to stay in Iran, but I have made up my mind; though it was not a professional one. While living in Iran I have realised that the Iranians are very patriotic people. I hope because of this, people will understand my situation and fixation toward my own country. I am going to Argentina to do my duty for my motherland.
"Iran's success was based on two factors: the players and the good working conditions. I'm glad I chose Iran, not only for the good results with the team, but also to get to know the culture of the country.
"I hope Iran continues its success to the Olympics. I hope players continue the path we have started and paved together, continuing their work, and remembering and accepting the words I have given to them. They have high potential, capacity and great capability. They are distinct players.
"I have no doubt that Iran will achieve higher success in the future. I am sure that Iran will gain good results in the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. I would consider the team's Olympic success a gift from Iran's players.
"I would love to stay with the Iran team until the end of the FIVB Men's World Championship. This team could climb to a high stage in volleyball. But, the team of my birth country needs me, I was asked to help them.
"I would never cut my collaboration with Iran volleyball. This is not collaboration with a new team. Argentina is another story. It is my motherland. I have been away for 31 years and I have a feeling and responsibility toward my fellow countrymen. Unfortunately there is no time for me. This is my last chance to serve my country. I do not want to lose this chance.
"A good coach is a good master. If a good teacher has given his lessons in a good way there is no need to repeat those. I have also told this to my players. Perhaps some of the professional coaches have the belief that if they leave a team, that team will not get good results. But, a coach's success comes at the time when he leaves a team and his players are able to repeat their successes."
Velasco's contract with the Iranian Volleyball Federation was planned through the end of 2014, with intentions to prolong his coaching through the 2016 Olympics, according to Iran Volleyball Federation President Dr. Mohammad Reza Davarzani.
"Leaving in the middle is bitter," he said. "We hope our players will continue the path they played with Velasco to achieve our goals until 2016."


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The car parks of hotels and exhibition centres have to be able to cope with a large number of possible usage needs, often round the clock. PM ABACUS is especially well suited to meeting this challenge, as the system is designed to easily integrate even complex demands into one solution.
Being able to easily park their own vehicle on the way to the hotel, the theatre or to conventions is self-evident for most people. For this reason a system is needed in this area that not only impresses clients with its reliability, speed and simple serviceability, but also offers the opportunity of combining different user profiles and creating additional incentives by linking with a variety of offers. PM ABACUS works quickly, and is user friendly and fail-safe. More added value can be created with the possibility of implementing special rates for particular events, discounts and joint campaigns with selected partners.
Hotel guests will experience a new level of service with the special hotel ticket. A normal short-term parking ticket can be recoded upon check-in via the manual ticket machine by entering the guest's intended date of departure. During this agreed time period guests can use the car park as often as they wish, without visiting the ticket machine specially each time before they leave. The guest will come to value this easy to use and time-saving service.
With the "theatre tariff", short-term parking tickets that are issued at the car park entrance over a certain time period are charged differently at the car park's ticket machines. At all payment times that lie within this period the customer pays a price that has been fixed in advance by the operator. The benefit: tickets can be paid for in advance in order to avoid waiting times at the ticket machines at the end of a performance.
Convention tickets entitle the holder to repeatedly enter and leave the car park at no cost during a set time period. In addition, these tickets can be acquired before an event by the organiser so that they can be passed on to the participants. On the one hand this procedure makes it easier to calculate the need for parking spaces more precisely, and on the other, customers are able to enter and exit considerably more easily and quickly.
Optional extensions such as the license plate recognition system (LPR) via TCP/IP interfaces make PM ABACUS even more effective in this area. In addition, TFT colour displays with a graphical presentation of the operating instructions and multilingual menu navigation make the system yet more convenient and simple to use.


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Associated Press LONDON (AP) The American journalist who has written stories based on leaked documents from former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden said Monday he would not be silenced by what he described as police harassment of his partner, who was detained for nine hours as he passed through Heathrow Airport.
London police detained David Miranda, the partner of reporter Glenn Greenwald, under anti-terror legislation at the London airport on Sunday. Miranda arrived Monday in Rio de Janeiro, where he lives with Greenwald.
A defiant Greenwald promised that he was going "to write much more aggressively than before" about government snooping.
"I'm going to publish many more things about England, as well," he said. "I have many documents about the system of espionage of England, and now my focus will be there, too. I think they'll regret what they've done."
Miranda told reporters in Rio that he was not threatened while he was detained at Heathrow, but confirmed that personal objects were taken from him.
"I stayed in a room, there were six different agents, entering and leaving, who spoke with me," he said after being greeted by Greenwald with a hug. "They asked questions about my whole life, about everything. They took my computer, video game, cellphone, memory thumb drives, everything."
In London, a British lawmaker called for police to explain why Miranda had been detained and why it took nearly nine hours to question him.
Miranda was held for nearly the maximum time that British authorities are allowed to detain individuals under the Terrorism Act's Schedule 7, which authorizes security agencies to stop and question people at borders.
"What needs to happen pretty rapidly is we need to establish the full facts," Keith Vaz, chairman of Parliament's Home Affairs Select Committee, told the BBC.
"Now you have a complaint from Mr. Greenwald and the Brazilian government they indeed have said they are concerned at the use of terrorism legislation for something that does not appear to relate to terrorism. So it needs to be clarified, and clarified quickly."
Vaz said it was "extraordinary" that police knew that Miranda was Greenwald's partner and that the authorities were targeting partners of people involved in Snowden's disclosures.
Greenwald has written about NSA surveillance programs based on files disclosed by Snowden, who now has temporary asylum in Russia. The Obama administration wants Snowden sent back to the United States to be tried for the leaks.
Miranda, 28, was stopped while traveling home to Brazil after visiting Germany, where he met with Laura Poitras, a U.S. filmmaker who has worked with Greenwald on the NSA story.
British police acknowledged that they had detained a 28-year-old man at 8:05 a.m. He was released at 5 p.m. without being arrested, the Metropolitan Police Service said. They have not commented further.
The Guardian newspaper reported it paid for Miranda's flights but said that he was not an employee of the newspaper.
"As Glenn Greenwald's partner, he often assists him in his work," the newspaper said in statement. "We would normally reimburse the expenses of someone aiding a reporter in such circumstances."
In an email Monday to The Associated Press, Greenwald said he needed material from Poitras for stories he was working on with her relating to the NSA, and that he had things that she needed.
"David, since he was in Berlin, helped with that exchange," Greenwald wrote.
The Home Office defended Schedule 7 in a report last year, arguing it was designed to help authorities determine whether people crossing U.K. borders have been involved in the "commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism." Border agents are not required to have reasonable suspicion before detaining a traveler.
The Home Office did not comment on Miranda's detention.
David Anderson, Britain's official independent reviewer of terrorism legislation, said he had asked authorities to explain why Miranda was detained and held for so long. He said fewer than 40 people out of 69,000 stopped under Schedule 7 in 2011-2012 were held for six hours or more.
In most cases, those questioned under Schedule 7 are detained for less than an hour.
"It is such a wide power that it would be surprising if it was used perfectly on every occasion," Anderson told the BBC. "It is a very extensive power and this just points up the need to have it properly controlled."
Isabella Sankey, policy director at the human rights organization Liberty, said the group had challenged Schedule 7 at the European Court of Human Rights. The British government is expected to submit submissions on the merits of the case in mid-September.
"This case very clearly highlights all the huge problems with this power," she said. "Shocking that it is, we're not surprised. We see this power used routinely. ... It's caused huge alienation."
A spokesman for Prime Minister David Cameron said that "Schedule 7 forms an essential part of the U.K.'s border security arrangements," but added that it was for the police to decide "when it is necessary and proportionate to use these powers."
Brooks reported from Rio de Janeiro.


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NFL: Manning's single-season passing record will stand
Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning gets to keep his single-season passing record.
Elias Sports Bureau, the NFL's official statistician, has decided that the "fairest resolution" to a dispute about a 7-yard completion to Eric Decker in Sunday's win against Oakland was to consider the play as a forward pass, as was initially ruled by the Raiders' stats crew, and not a lateral, which would be considered a rush for Decker.
WATCH THE PASS:Should it have stood?
POWER RANKINGS:Who finishes regular season No. 1?
Manning, who left at halftime of Denver's Week 17 game, finished the regular season with 5,477 passing yards, one yard more than Drew Brees' previous record. Had Elias changed the Decker play to a lateral, Manning would have lost the record.
"The determination of Elias is that the fairest resolution is for the ruling of the on-site stats crew to stand," NFL spokesman Michael Signora said in an email to USA TODAY Sports on Tuesday evening.
The passing yards record was one of two major records the Broncos set on Sunday, along with the most points scored in a season, with 606, to break the Patriots' record of 589 from 2007.
Manning broke the single-season touchdown record with his 51st touchdown a week earlier against Houston. With four touchdowns against Oakland, that record now stands at 55.
PHOTOS: Offensive Pro Bowl selections


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Armed Services YMCA Extends Family Memberships to March
By Terri Moon Cronk
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, May 30, 2014 - Military families using fitness centers and respite day care through the Armed Services YMCA will be able to continue their memberships until March of next year, a morale, welfare and recreation program official said yesterday.
MRW program analyst Chris Wright said the Military Outreach Initiative, a five-year contract between the Defense Department and the Armed Services YMCA, was set to expire recently, but it has been extended to March 17, 2015.
The initiative originally reached out to the families of deployed Guardsmen and reservists to give them an opportunity to join a YMCA free for fitness, recreational activities and respite child care, Wright said. It began with the Guard and reserves, he explained, because their families, in most cases, didn't live close to major military installations, where they could use base fitness and childcare facilities. The program later was extended to active-duty families.
"It provides spouses an outlet during stressful times, and an opportunity to maintain fitness, physically and mentally," he said.
Some 2,700 YMCAs across the nation participate in the initiative, Wright said, adding that the memberships are paid through Overseas Contingency Operations funding, because the initiative is tied to readiness and deployment.
"As we continue to draw down efforts in Afghanistan and the Middle East, that requirement is beginning to decline," he explained. "We want families to understand that as popular as it's been, this program is beginning to draw down to prepare for the end of the contract, and [we are] looking for other opportunities."
Other services will remain available to families of deployed service members who live in remote locations following the end of the contract next year, Wright said. For example, through the White House's "Joining Forces" initiative, free personal training and gym memberships are being donated by members of the American Council on Exercise and the International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Association, DOD officials said.
Additionally, Wright said, military installations offer fitness programs and child care, and families can check for opportunities through their service's MWR program.
"We encourage families and service members to remain engaged, healthy and seek recreational and physically activities that help maintain their fitness level," Wright said. "DOD wants people to live healthy."
*Related Sites:*
Armed Forces YMCA Military Outreach Initiative [ http://www.asymca.org/programs/ymca-dod-military-outreach-initative/?source=GovDelivery ]
Military OneSource: Morale, Welfare and Recreation [ http://www.militaryonesource.mil/mwr/leaders?source=GovDelivery ]
American Council on Exercise [ http://www.acefitness.org/joiningforces/donation-search.aspx?source=GovDelivery ]
Health Clubs [ http://www.healthclubs.com/joiningforces?source=GovDelivery ]


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Striped Double Duvet Twin Pack.
Add a touch of class and style to your bedroom with this stunning twin pack duvet set.
Each set contains two designs, each with reversible covers to offer alternative styles.
- 2 x Double Duvet Covers
- 4 x Pillowcases
Available colours: Natural, Mono, Blue
Available sizes: Double, King
Materials: 80% polyester, 20% cotton
Looking for something else? Don't forget to browse our extensive Bedding ranges, for more duvet covers and bedding sets in the latest colours and trends.


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For those fighting the fourth leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States, hospitals like NewYork-Presbyterian are providing hope and treatment during difficult times.
Deemed a "silent killer" due to its lack of warning symptoms, pancreatic cancer is often too advanced at diagnosis to be effectively treated. As a result, more than 90 percent of pancreatic cancer patients die within five years of diagnosis and 7.7 percent survive beyond five years. However, earlier intervention in people at risk and the development of new therapies for pancreatic cancer offer some promise to save more lives.
While the exact cause of pancreatic cancer is unknown, people with certain risk factors are more likely than others to develop the disease. For instance, smokers are two times more likely to develop pancreatic cancer compared to non-smokers. Obesity is another significant risk factor, as well as diabetes, a family history of pancreatic cancer or chronic pancreatitis.
Additionally, people with certain gene abnormalities have a higher risk for pancreatic cancer. For instance, BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations, developments long associated with breast and ovarian cancers, have been found to be linked to pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), the most common type of pancreatic cancer. Women and men who carry BRCA gene mutations are estimated to be at three to four times the risk for pancreatic cancer. For this reason, BRCA-positive pancreatic cancer patients are encouraged to undergo screening for ovarian and breast cancers. Additionally, a genetic disorder known as Lynch syndrome has been associated with colorectal cancer as well as pancreatic cancer and cancers of the endometrium, ovary and small intestine.
Those with a strong family history or genetic abnormalities associated with pancreatic cancer may be monitored for symptoms through endoscopic ultrasound or blood tests that screen for a tumor marker for pancreatic cancer. If cancer is discovered, current treatment can include surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. New approaches to pancreatic cancer treatments are constantly being explored in clinical trials, and targeted therapies that attack specific pancreatic cancer cells and immune therapies can be used to harness a person's immune system to fight the disease.
Because pancreatic cancer is curable in its earliest stages, early diagnosis and treatment at a comprehensive cancer center is crucial. At these centers, patients have access to a multidisciplinary team with extensive experience in assessing and designing individual treatment strategies.
NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Medical Center (CUMC) and NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center have been designated as Centers of Excellence for both pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer care by the National Pancreas Foundation. The designation recognizes centers that provide comprehensive, multidisciplinary care to patients undergoing treatment for pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer, respectively. NewYork-Presbyterian is the only health system in New York to receive both designations at more than one location. Physicians at our cancer centers in Westchester and Hudson Valley work collaboratively with CUMC to treat all cancers.
NewYork-Presbyterian is one of the largest and most comprehensive hospitals in the nation, ranked New York's No. 1 hospital for the 16th consecutive year, and No. 6 in the United States, according to U.S. News and World Report. Affiliated with two academic medical colleges – Weill Cornell Medicine and Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, NewYork-Presbyterian brings together internationally recognized researchers and clinicians to develop and implement the latest approaches for prevention, diagnosis and treatment. The Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Medical Center is one of only three NCI-designated comprehensive cancer centers in New York State. NewYork-Presbyterian provides comprehensive cancer care at all of our locations across the New York Metro area including Westchester County and the Hudson Valley. Learn more at nyp.org/cancer .


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HP's 'Secure Boardroom' gives execs comprehensive view of corporate security posture
- 13 September, 2011 01:34
HP today unveiled "Secure Boardroom," an online portal where the corporate CEO, CIO and risk officer can be presented with a view of technical and business information related to operational security.
Secure Boardroom pulls together information related to the security posture of the organization as well as tracking of investments in security, including vendor products and services, presenting it in a manner that can be understood on a business level.
WARNING: HIPAA has teeth and will bite over healthcare privacy blunders
The service can help security execs address questions such as, "How much money am I spending? Is it transformational?" The goal is to bring a wide range of information related to security into a central point where high-level managers make decisions, says Andrzej Kawalec, chief technology officer at HP.
HP also says it has centralized the organization and development of its security product line -- primarily Fortify, ArcSight and TippingPoint -- to advance integration and develop services around them.
In addition, HP is offering a cloud-based service for security event and information management based on its ArcSight SIEM.
In a product update for the TippingPoint intrusion-prevention system, the appliance has a filter called Web Application Digital Vaccine 2.0. When a new vulnerability is discovered in Web applications, a custom-built "virtual patch" can be put in place until a fix can be developed.
"Web applications continue to be a target," says John Pirc, senior product management with the HP network security product group. He says the Web AD Vaccine 2.0 is the result of bringing in technology from the Fortify product for software vulnerability assessment that HP acquired last year.
Read more about wide area network in Network World's Wide Area Network section.


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War Dogs is a crime biopic made thoroughly exciting by its cast. I have always enjoyed watching a Todd Phillips movie. It doesn't rip you apart with humour alone but also thrives on a great theme throughout, primarily with a story that makes every bit delectable. The bottom-line is that there is always something to look up to in his frames, and that makes the imminent, full of promises.
War Dogs is no different. The biopic though fictionalized beyond limit to scooch in theatrics, comes out as an enjoyable piece that shatters doors of gravitas to bring that smile to your face. What work for the movie are hands down mind-boggling performances by its duo, and its uncanny witty theme. Where at one hand, Jonah Hill makes his character one of the most cherishable ones ever, Miles Teller cannot certainly be overlooked either with his riveting gazing mien that brings profundity to the cinema. Both of them, with their dynamic chemistry together, make War Dogs a fun yet intriguing watch.
The plot is basically an intensified theatrical look into the lives of Efraim Diveroli and David Packouz. With David joining his high school friend Efraim in his pursuit to supply arms and ammunition to the US army, the movie gets into the fine detailing of how their jobs were pulled off. It is a sheer mockery of the then existent feeble policies of US that saw opportunists getting their hands warm in the Iraq and Afghanistan fire.
War Dogs begins with a brilliant diegetic tone from David's perspective, and delves into the story of David's life even before he meets Efraim.
"War is an economy. Anybody who tells you otherwise is either in on it or stupid."
War Dogs is divided into various chapters with lines of crises from its own screenplay for chapter names. Each section gives away what is about to happen which isn't actually the best way of storytelling to be honest. It takes out that element of surprise of what's coming from it. But you have to give it to Todd for his creativity to weave Guy Lawson's Rolling Stone article "Arms and the Dudes" into something tangible.
At one point when you almost begin to think, if War Dogs is just meant to caper all along on its fun theme, the movie proves you wrong almost instantly. You see it enter deeper waters. Drama becomes impactful and you realize all that hourly fun of awesomeness is heading straight for the deep muck they had signed their checks for. Dramatics come galloping then and it levels the movie with its theatrics giving it a perspective and a direction.
If you stare hard at the downsides of War Dogs you will see how much of the detailing have actually been overlooked. To show you what you wish to see, a lot of the backdrop is made to disappear in your subconsciousness. A city in despair doesn't feel like it when you visit it through Todd's fun frames. There is no real tension you perceive. It wasn't intended to get serious at any point, I surmise.
Also, you can say the same by looking at the character Iz played by Ana de Armas. Tension is not allowed to transpire at all. She ends up becoming nothing but a nagging wife.
War Dogs also elongates the Iraq visit too much, creating dispensable humour for one Dick Cheney's America scene, which seemed quite unnecessary. It feels like Todd might have had some extra time frames to cover or might have ran out of substance. So, he creates something that actually didn't happen.
I really wished a profound character came along to show the perpetrators what they were actually dealing with. Why war is not what they think what it is. The gravity of working with elements of chaos as if they were playthings of a child; I think it was important to show them the misery they were offering.
They get a poetic justice in the end, which was nicely wrapped up. A surprise visit by Henry Girard played by Bradley Cooper, who prefers wearing sunglasses, felt justified on the levels of David's morality. But when the question is posed about Bashkim's whereabouts, Henry shuts him with money, thus leaving all his threads out in the open.
At the end of it all, you have to understand, both Efraim Diveroli and David Packouz were really bad men. The way the movie gets manifested is as if what the actors were doing was a good thing. A context that its direction feeds you, and it is sad that something rogue and out of line like that gets celebrated.
You can't help but notice how the movie only plays out on the vantage of David Packouz's perspective. It puts him in the spotlight as a person who had a conscience whilst slaying Efraim's brazen demeanour altogether. At what point in the movie does Efraim ever realize what he did was wrong? Well, never!
War Dogs is thoroughly entertaining. It has plenty of humour all of it coming from Jonah Hill's natural knack for it. Miles Teller brings percipience to the story. It always gives us pleasure watching people get insanely rich. It brings smile to our faces, and that's what primarily the movie tries to earn its green on for the better part. In the later part, we see the decline, which is a fit downhill ride anyway.
Oh and whatever happens, don't ask Efraim the full form of AEY. Watch out for that bit!
The movie's screenplay is abounding with beautiful lines, at times touching rare levels of contemplation.
"I miss not taking shit from anyone."
Miles Teller's diegesis continues throughout the flick dropping brilliant lines that transcends War Dogs altogether. Some lines are subtly put as well, leaving things for viewer's imagination.
"No questions asked."
It is hard not to compare War Dogs with the likes of Lord of War. What Andrew Niccol had created was undoubtedly and effortlessly smart, something you see War Dogs struggling with at numerous points. But it still manages to rope you in with Miles Teller's rapt eyes and Jonah Hill's engaging performance despite the theme movie tries to cash in on.
Despite, how good the movie turns out to be it still remains unscrupulous nevertheless.
What you would definitely take from this movie would be Jonah's signature laugh; no doubt about that.
Check out the trailer of War Dogs movie here:


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Ok.. I want to make this square.. (pic below) I want to make the square about 8 inches. with a 2 inch white border around it. (in the middle of the square will be a hand applique star in white fabric. I want to make it a california king size.. no idea about the dementions of that (average size is fine). I am thinking of doing a red, white and blue 6 inch border around the outside.. Can anybody give me a general idea of how much fabric I will need?
I don't need specific amount I will buy prolly an extra 2 years extra as a precaution and give the extra away to a stash person.


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The UMBC Retrievers (7-14, 3-5) will try to extend their winning streak to three when they travel to meet the Maine Black Bears (4-16, 2-6) at Cross Insurance Center on Saturday, Feb. 1 for a 2:00 tip-off. Both teams are coming off road victories on Wednesday. UMBC won a tight battle, 79-76, in the first meeting on Jan. 11. Live streaming is available on the America East digital network at www.americaeast.tv.
RETRIEVER UPDATE: UMBC snapped a 14-game road losing streak with a 73-61 victory at Binghamton on Wednesday. The Retrievers shot 50 percent (22-of-44) from the floor and got huge performances from guards Rodney Elliott (14 pts.-11 reb.-8 ast.) and Quentin Jones (career high 16 points) and post Brett Roseboro (14 pts./12 rebounds). Elliott leads the squad with 13.9 points per outing.
BLACK BEAR UPDATE: Maine snapped a six-game losing streak with a 68-60 victory at rival UNH on Wednesday. The Black Bears outscored their hosts, 33-25, in the second half to prevail. SR G Xavier Pollard led UM with 20 points in the game and he added five steals. Pollard leads Maine and is second in America East with 15.5 points per game. Maine is second in America East in scoring (73.2 ppg), but last in scoring defense (83.8 ppg).
Who's Up Next: The Retrievers start their second three-game America East homestand of the season on Wednesday, Feb. 5 when they welcome UNH to the RAC Arena.


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Mark Thomas
- Yield
- Makes 6 servings
- Phyllo cups
- 9 fresh phyllo pastry sheets or frozen, thawed (each about 17x13 inches), stacked and halved crosswise, forming eighteen 8 1/2x13-inch rectangles
- 10 tablespoons (1 1/4 sticks) unsalted butter, melted
- 8 tablespoons (about) sugar
- 8 tablespoons (about) finely chopped toasted hazelnuts
- Chocolate Mousse
- 4 large eggs, separated
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
- 1/4 cup water
- 1 teaspoon instant espresso powder
- 8 ounces bittersweet (not unsweetened) or semisweet chocolate, chopped
- 1 1/2-pint basket fresh raspberries
- 2 ripe pears, peeled, diced
- For phyllo cups:
- Preheat oven to 375°F. Generously butter every other cup in 12-cup muffin pan. Place 1 phyllo rectangle on work surface; cover remaining phyllo with plastic wrap and damp cloth to prevent drying. Brush rectangle with melted butter; sprinkle with 1/2 tablespoon sugar and 1/2 tablespoon hazelnuts. Place second phyllo rectangle atop first; brush with butter and sprinkle with 1/2 tablespoon sugar and 1/2 tablespoon hazelnuts. Repeat 3 more times; top with 1 more rectangle and brush with butter, making stack of 6 rectangles. Using small sharp knife and 6-inch-diameter plate as guide, cut out two 6-inch round stacks. Press each stack into 1 buttered muffin cup. Repeat procedure 2 more times, making 4 more phyllo cups (6 total).
- Bake phyllo cups until golden and crisp, about 10 minutes. Immediately lift phyllo cups from pan, twisting carefully to loosen; place on rack. Cool completely. (Can be made 2 days ahead. Store airtight at room temperature.)
- For mousse:
- Whisk egg yolks, 1/4 cup sugar, butter, 1/4 cup water, and espresso powder in large metal bowl to blend. Set bowl over saucepan of simmering water (do not let bowl touch water); whisk constantly until thermometer inserted into mixture registers 160°F, about 3 minutes. Add chocolate and whisk until melted and smooth. Turn off heat; leave bowl over water.
- Using electric mixer, beat egg whites in another large bowl to soft peaks. Gradually add remaining 1/4 cup sugar, beating until stiff and glossy. Remove chocolate from over water. Fold 1/3 of beaten whites into warm chocolate mixture to lighten. Fold in remaining whites. Cover and chill until set, at least 3 hours or overnight.
- Fill phyllo cups with mousse (reserve remaining mousse for another use). Top with raspberries and diced pears and serve.
Related Video
Nutritional Info
- Calories818
- Carbohydrates93 g(31%)
- Fat50 g(76%)
- Protein11 g(21%)
- Saturated Fat26 g(128%)
- Sodium195 mg(8%)
- Polyunsaturated Fat3 g
- Fiber11 g(43%)
- Monounsaturated Fat17 g
- Cholesterol195 mg(65%)


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Assessment Bibliographies and Resource Lists
- North Carolina State University. Internet Resources for Higher Education Outcomes Assessment.
- Florida Atlantic University. Assessment Resources.
- National Institute for Learning Outcomes Assessment (NILOA).
Assessment Best Practices
- 9 Principles of Good Practice for Assessing Student Learning. These principles are the product of the now-defunct American Association for Higher Education.
- Bogue, E. G., & Hall, K. B. (2003). Quality and accountability in higher education: Improving policy, enhancing performance. Westport, CT: Praeger. Available at Brookens Library.
- Gates, S. M., Augustine, C. H., Benjamin, R., Bikson, T. K., Kaganoff, T., Ley, D. G., et al. (2002). Ensuring quality and productivity in higher education: An analysis of assessment practices No. 29 (1). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. Available at Brookens Library.
- Assessment Resource Center. Glossary.
- Ferris State University. Assessment glossary.
- University of South Carolina, Institutional Assessment and Compliance. Assessment glossary.
Assessment Overviews
- Assessment 101: Modules 1 and 2 on the CASL website (www.uis.edu/assessment)
- Kuh, George D., et al. (Eds.) (2015). Using evidence of student learning to improve higher education. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. (Copy ordered 3/10/2015)
- Suskie, Linda and Trudy W. Banta (2009). Assessing Student Learning: A Common Sense Guide. 2nd ed. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
- Walvoord, Barbara E. (2010). Assessment Clear and Simple: A Practical Guide for Institutions, Departments, and General Education. 2nd ed. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
Topics in Assessment
Assessment and Accreditation
- Holden, Barker, Rosenberg, & Onghena, (2007). Assessing progress toward accreditation related objectives: Evidence regarding the use of self-efficacy as an outcome in the advanced concentration research curriculum. Research on Social Work Practice, 17(4), 456-465.
- Kern, S., Sherman, S., & Conte, A. (2004). Evaluation of a standards-based teacher-preparation program. Educational Forum, the, 68(4), 358-369.
Assessment and General Education
- Stone, & Friedman,. (2002). A case study in the integration of assessment and general education: Lessons learned from a complex process. Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education, 27(2), 199-211.
- Walvoord, Barbara E. (2010). Assessment Clear and Simple: A Practical Guide for Institutions, Departments, and General Education. 2nd ed. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
Assessment and Graduate Education
- Association of American Medical Colleges, Washington, DC. (1999). Self-assessment of graduate programs in the biomedical sciences: Narrative guide and companion survey instruments. Report of the task force on benchmarks of success in graduate programs: AAMC GREAT Group.
- Bilder, A. E., & Conrad, C. F. (Winter 1996). Challenges in assessing outcomes in graduate and professional education. New Directions for Institutional Research, 92, 5-16. Find in Brookens Library Print Periodicals Collection (Level 3): Call Number: LA227.3 .N43.
- Delaney, A. M. (1997). Quality assessment of professional degree programs. Research in Higher Education, 38(2; 2), 241-264.
- Haworth, J. G. (Winter 1996). Assessment in graduate and professional education: Present realities, future prospects. New Directions for Institutional Research, 92, 89-97. Find in Brookens Library Print Periodicals Collection (Level 3): Call Number: LA227.3 .N43.
- Maki, P. L., & Borkowski, N. A. (2006). The assessment of doctoral education: Emerging criteria and new models for improving outcomes. Stylus Publishing, LLC.
- Orzoff, J. H., Peinovich, P. E., & Riedel, E. (2008). Graduate programs: The wild west of outcomes assessment. Assessment Update, 20(3), 1-16.
- Stanley, E. C., & Patrick, W. J. (1998). Quality assurance in American and British higher education: A comparison. New Directions for Institutional Research, 25(3), 39-56. Find in Brookens Library Print Periodicals Collection (Level 3): Call Number: LA227.3 .N43.
- Underwood, S. J., & Underwood, D. G. (1998). Starting from somewhere: Modified zero-based curriculum review. AIR 1998 annual forum paper.
Assessment and Liberal Arts Universities
Assessment and Online Education
- Butcher, & Sieminski (2006). The challenge of a distance learning professional doctorate in education. Open Learning, 21(1), 59-69.
- Juwah, (2003). Using peer assessment to develop skills and capabilities. USDLA Journal, 17(1).
- Thompson, T., & MacDonald, C. (2005). Community building, emergent design and expecting the unexpected: Creating a quality eLearning experience. Internet and Higher Education, 8(3), 233-249.
Assessment and Professional Programs
- Legorreta, Kelley, C., & Sablynski, C. (2006). Linking faculty development to the business school's mission. Journal of Education for Business, 82(1), 3-10.
Assessment and Program Review
- Hogan, T. P., Dreisbach, J. H., & Stirton, E. R. (1999). The focused program review as an alternative to the standard comprehensive review. Assessment Update, 11(3), 6.
- Mets, L. (Summer 1995). Program review in academic departments. New Directions for Institutional Research, 86, 19-36. Find in Brookens Library Print Periodicals Collection (Level 3): Call Number: LA227.3 .N43.
Assessment and Student Engagement
- Hu, Kuh, G., & Li, (2008). The effects of engagement in inquiry-oriented activities on student learning and personal development. Innovative Higher Education, 33(2), 71-81.
Assessment of Attitudes, Values, Dispositions, Behaviors, and Habits of Mind
- Suskie and Banta (2009). Assessing Attitudes, Values, Dispositions, and Habits of Mind. Assessing Student Learning: A Common Sense Guide. 2nd ed. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. 183-201.
Effective Assignments and Assessment
- Suskie and Banta (2009). Creating an Effective Assignment. Assessing Student Learning: A Common Sense Guide. 2nd ed. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. 155-164.
Grades vs. Assessment
- How Grades and Assessment are Different, but Can Overlap
- Grading vs. Assessment of Learning Outcomes: What's the difference?
- Assessment of Student Learning Outcomes vs. Grades
- How Rubrics Can Turn Grading Into Assessment
- The Use of Rubrics for Assessment, Grading, and Encouraging Student Learning
- Sample Rubrics
- Critical thinking: sample rubrics from the Five Colleges of Ohio
- Empire State College, State University of New York – A collection of rubrics for the arts, humanities, natural science, social science and American history.
- Holt Rinehart & Winston Rubric Resource – A collection of over 40 sample rubrics related to "social studies".
- The California State University – A collection of rubrics from multiple institutions.
- Clemson University – A collection of rubrics for general education.
Learning Outcomes Assessment
- How to Write Outcomes for Student Learning at the Program Level.
- How to Write Outcomes for Student Learning at the Course Level
- Laney College, Peralta Community College (contains examples of specific course learning outcomes)
- Bloom's Taxonomy Verbs
Measures of Outcomes Assessment
- What are multiple measures of assessment?
- Multiple Measures & Examples. Brigham Young University – Idaho. Outcomes and Assessment.


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Deregulation Nation
"Fusing banking with inherently risky speculative activity is, in my judgment, unwise... We will, in ten years time, look back and say we should not have done that." Sen. Byron Dorgan of North Dakota was one of few opponents of the the 1999 repeal of the Glass-Steagall Act—a 1933 act that separated investment and commercial banking with the aim of preventing another Great Depression.
Nine years after Dorgan's comment, the American economy entered a crisis. Soon, though, corporate profits bounced back to their pre-crisis levels—but the wages of ordinary Americans still haven't. That split helped birth the Occupy movement, calling out the failure of an economic system that benefits a small minority at the expense of everyone else.
How did a small protest in lower Manhattan go viral? With more than 50 cities involved, #OccupyWallStreet is already changing the debate.
By the calendar it's autumn, but for many it is the beginning of the American Spring.