text:
Reply to Several Questions
First Question
If man's true objective is to reach proximity with Allah and if man experiences the greatest and the most lasting pleasures as a result of reaching it, how is it that the majority of people are not bent on having this fulfilled, even though they all seek pleasure and prosperity by nature?
In reply to this question, it must be said that man's endeavour to reach true perfection and prosperity and to reap benefit of its pleasure hinges on recognition and confirmation of its being pleasant. As the majority of the people do not know the main objective behind creation and their own true perfection as is due and as they have not tasted the pleasure of reaching it, they do not seek to find and obtain it. They however, recognize material and worldly perfection and sense the pleasure of reaching them.
For this reason, they use up all their energy to reach them, even though the people are different in their choice of worldly goods and states and (even though) each person, on the basis of his own perception and discernment, regards a group of these perfections as more important and more valuable or as less expensive and easier to find and thus exerts his efforts mainly to reach it.
Even though recognition of the true perfection has an innate basis, it will not spontaneously reach the degree of sufficient awareness and consciousness in the majority of the people and requires sound guidance and training.
For this purpose, one of the greatest responsibilities of the messengers is to awaken this innate unconscious instinct and to remind (the people) of the forgotten divine covenant.
وَاصْطَفى سُبْحَانَهُ مِنْ وَلَدَهِ أَنْبيَاءَ أَخَذَ عَلَى الْوَحْيِ مِيثَاقَهُم، وَعَلَى تَبْليغِ الرِّسَالَةِ أَمَانَتَهُمْ، لَمَّا بَدَّلَ أَكْثَرُ خَلْقِهِ عَهْدَ اللهِ إِلَيْهِمْ، فَجَهِلُوا حَقَّهُ، واتَّخَذُوا الاْنْدَادَ مَعَهُ، وَاجْتَالَتْهُمُ الشَّيَاطِينُ عَنْ مَعْرفَتِهِ، وَاقتَطَعَتْهُمْ عَنْ عِبَادَتِهِ، فَبَعَثَ فِيهمْ رُسُلَهُ، وَوَاتَرَ إِلَيْهِمْ أَنْبِياءَهُ، لِيَسْتَأْدُوهُمْ مِيثَاقَ فِطْرَتِهِ، وَيُذَكِّرُوهُمْ مَنْسِيَّ نِعْمَتِهِ، وَيَحْتَجُّوا عَلَيْهِمْ بَالتَّبْلِيغِ، وَيُثِيرُوا لَهُمْ دَفَائِنَ الْعُقُولِ، وَيُرُوهُمْ آيَاتِ الْمَقْدِرَةِ: مِنْ سَقْف فَوْقَهُمْ مَرْفُوع، وَمِهَاد تَحْتَهُمْ مَوْضُوع، وَمَعَايِشَ تُحْيِيهِمْ، وَآجَال تُفْنِيهمْ، وَأَوْصَاب تُهْرِمُهُمْ، وَأَحْدَاث تَتَابَعُ عَلَيْهِمْ،
"From his (Adam's) progeny Allah chose prophets and took their pledge for His revelation and for carrying His message as their trust. In course of time many people perverted Allah's trust with them and ignored His position and took compeers along with Him. Satan turned them away from knowing Him and kept them aloof from His worship. Then Allah sent His Messengers and series of His prophets towards them to get them to fulfill the pledges of His creation, to recall to them His bounties, to exhort them by preaching, to unveil before them the hidden virtues of wisdom and show them the signs of His Omnipotence namely the sky which is raised over them, the earth that is placed beneath them, means of living that sustain them, deaths that make them die, ailments that turn them old and incidents that successively betake them."1
At this juncture, this grand responsibility is vested with people who have well recognized the path of the messengers and who have the power to make it known to others, so as to bring to the right track those who have swerved from the highways of prosperity and to inform them of their innate desire.
Second Question
If the main goal behind man's creation is to reach such a status, then why has man's nature been vested with instincts which constantly draw him towards material pleasures and alluring appearances of the world and which preclude him from proceeding towards the major goal? Is not this a breach of purpose and contrary to wisdom? And if in place of these, there were motives which directed man only towards Allah and the Hereafter, would it not have been more compatible with this objective?
To clarify the answer to this question, two points should be taken into consideration:
(1) The value of man's perfection lies in its being voluntary. This privilege has carried man to the state where he is served and worshipped by the angels. To promote the operation of the will-power, there must forcibly be various means and different attraction, so that treading the path of prosperity would not be done by force and by compulsion.
(2) As man's development is gradual and as it is possessed of linear stages, it is necessary for the will-power to carry on its operation for a considerable length of time, so that in each phase, man could freely choose his way and even change direction.
These two points reveal the secret behind man's worldly and gradual life. Evidently, man's survival in the world of movement, change and gradual development necessitates means, tools, conditions and specific facilities. In fact, natural instincts are motives to provide these means and conditions. In the meantime, they also pave the way for the will-power and if the correct path is chosen, they can considerably promote man's progress towards the main objective and the ultimate perfection. As a consequence, their presence is not contradictory to the motive behind creation. Rather, their inexistence is contrary to Allah's absolute wisdom.
Third Question
Supposing that man's ultimate perfection is in attaining curb with Allah and in giving up all demands and wishes to reach it and supposing that reaching this position is possible, such an aspiration would undoubtedly exist only in a case of a rare number of individuals. Consequently, reaching the desired perfection is exclusive to them. And others, who constitute the majority of the people, are deprived of it.
In this case, can it be said that only the select individuals deserve the name of man and that the others are in fact animals that have no vestige of humanity other than their appearance and are all doomed to eternal adversity and wretchedness?
In response to this question, it must be said:
As we have repeatedly noted, man's true perfection has various stages. If all people cannot reach its greatest degree, they can get to its lowest state. This can be materialized by believing in Allah and taking a step in the way of His servitude. Dispensing with all demands and using all powers for Allah's satisfaction is a prerequisite of reaching the greater degrees.
Of course, the signs deriving from proximity with Allah are not the same in all phases. For example, full knowledge of the realities, power to create anything or complete pleasure in seeing Allah is not fulfilled for every believer in this world. But those who safeguard their belief to the end of their lives and who do not dispense with their faith due to greatness of sin and offence will ultimately reach eternal prosperity, even though it might take long and even though, in the course of it, the believers might undergo difficult and painful stages as punishment of their indecent deeds.
It goes without saying that reaching eternal prosperity and everlasting paradise also have various degrees. In the world hereafter, each person will be rewarded commensurate with the basis of his knowledge, belief, gravity of deeds and ethics. Perhaps in each state, the individuals have the capacity to perceive the pleasures of that state alone and their will-power would tend towards reaching them.
As a result, it is not true that whoever does not reach the peak of human perfection and the ultimate point of proximity with Allah does not deserve to be called human and will finally be doomed to eternal wretchedness and suffering.
- 1. Nahjul - Balaghah, First Sermon


text:
Editor's note: "Thinking Business" focuses on the psychology of getting ahead in the workplace by exploring techniques to boost employee performance, increase creativity and productivity.
Whether it's infuriating colleagues, inept management or a lack of appreciation, the modern day workplace can be a positivity free zone.
Sometimes counting to ten or daydreaming of a desert island just won't purge the everyday monotony of office life and it's common to become trapped in a spiral of negativity.
But regular coffee breaks, yoga and even praying to a loving god could change all that.
According to psychology expert Richard Boyatzis, these simple exercises can engage the parasympathetic nervous system -- the function responsible for relaxation and slowing the heart rate -- resulting in renewed optimism and improvements in working relationships.
Boyatzis, psychology and cognitive science professor at Case Western Reserve University, said there is strong neurological evidence supporting the theory that engaging our parasympathetic systems -- through regular physical or leisure activities -- stokes compassion and creativity.
"Strain causes a person to be cognitively, perceptually and emotionally impaired," he said, "if you're under pressure and stress at work, then you can't think outside the box because you can't see the box."
Boyatzis maintains that chronic stress levels hinder professionals and those in leadership positions from performing to their best. He argues that while we need stress to function and adapt, too much can cause the body to defend itself by closing down.
"You have to engage your parasympathetic nervous system so that you change your hormonal flow," Boyatzis told CNN, adding that mood and positivity can be "infectious" in the workplace, particularly in positions of leadership.
He added: "If you're having a horrible marriage, or your teenage kids are dissing you right and left, you get to work and it's very likely that you are just a bummer."
Evidence shows that positivity increases when workers are given increased flexibility in their roles and more work-life balance,according to a report on well-being and success produced by the World Economic Forum [WEF].
Meanwhile, the report showed bad management and bullying in the workplace can have a damaging effect on employees' physical and mental health.
Can positivity and happiness lead to success?
A recent study by the University of California entitled'Does Happiness Promote Career Success,' professors concluded that 'happy people' are more satisfied with their jobs and report having greater autonomy in their duties.
Additionally, they perform better than their less happy peers and receive more support from coworkers.
Finally, positive individuals are less likely to be unemployed and more likely to be physically healthier and live longer.
And the debate over happiness and work goes way back in history. Ancient Greek philosopher Galen said employment is "nature's physician, essential to human happiness."
Sarah Lewis, chartered organizational psychologist, told CNN that when people are positive at work it can lead to opportunities because they are more engaged and resilient:
"[When] people enter a more positive space they become more willing to take risks and make comments," she said "they go into the more difficult conversations and they're more productive."
But in a study entitled 'Benefits of Frequent Positive Affect: Does Happiness Lead to Success?' the results concluded that positive attitudes can sometimes lead to poor problem solving.
The study also stated that the evidence to suggest happy people are more popular and have superior coping abilities is "almost non-existent."
Reut Schwartz-Hebron, founder of the Key Change Institute -- an organization that focuses on workplace behavior -- believes that a constant state of positivity in the workplace can be "dangerous."The study also stated that the evidence to suggest happy people are more popular and have superior coping abilities is "almost non-existent."
"There's certain things that have to be challenged," she said, "certain things that have to be improved you can't just constantly think that everything is going to be fine and positive."
Schwartz-Hebron -- a former Israeli military lieutenant -- said to improve working life, it is first necessary "to rewire your brain" by creating new experiences and engaging two different cerebral systems; the explicit and the implicit memory.
The explicit is responsible for storing information and facts while the implicit memory relies on previous experiences to perform a task and is associated with the subconscious.
"If you want to instigate behavioral change you need to engage the implicit system which operates in the subconscious realm," said Schwartz-Hebron, who runs workshops for Fortune 500 companies.
She added: "We typically work in very, very negative environments because our expertise is actually in difficult change."
"[The people we work with] don't see the need for the change; they don't feel the problem is being defined correctly or they don't believe that the solution is correct."
The study by the University of California concludes that while positive emotions are particularly important to encourage optimal success at work, it is important for employees and those in positions of leadership to experience both positive and negative feelings in day to day routine.
Story: Oliver Joy

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Matthews Fire & EMS recommends that smoke alarms be checked monthly to ensure that they are in working condition. We also recommend that you replace the batteries at least twice a year, when you change your clocks. (This excludes alarms with 10 year batteries). Each bedroom, the hallways outside sleeping areas and living areas should all have working smoke alarms.
CDC Guide to Extreme HeatDisaster Prep & Self Storage - What You Need to KnowEmergency Preparedness for Seniors & the Disabled FEMA Disaster Preparedness KitHumane Society - Protect Your PetsWhat You Need to Know to Keep Your Family and Your Belongings SafeReady for Anything: First Aid for Pets Hands-Only CPR Disability Accommodations GuideEmergency Preparedness Guide for Seniors and Caretakers


text:
No, I'm saying sometimes you don't need that fancy, exotic toy that ends up being high maintenance over time.Meds wrote:Are you saying we should dump Luongo and go scout Japan for a replacement?
Reliability is nice. Being stranded on the side of the road 1,000 miles from home blows.
I don't ride Harley's so an American bike wouldn't do for me. Schneider (or is it Snyder) seems pretty low maintenance to me. I think over time he would do.


text:
Hello ShenLong Kazama, greetings and welcome to the Narutopedia! Thanks for your edit to the File:Shisui Uchiha.jpg page.
We do hope that you will stay for a long time. Enjoy your stay as we work to become the best Naruto info site out there. BELIEVE IT!
If you're looking for something to do why not look over the Forums or more specifically Narutopedia Collaboration for a list of projects we're working on. And the Community portal has a lot of recent discussions and places to go listed on it.
Please leave a message on my talk page if I can help with anything! -- Jacce (Talk) 14:26, January 1, 2011
Re: Fire Chakra Flow
There's a reference in the chakra flow page. The only example so far is Cloud-Style Flame Beheading, used by Atsui, in chapter #527. On an unrelated note, when making comments in talk pages, sign your posts. Either use the sign button (the fourth from right to left on the button bar which appears above the editing field), or simply put in four tildes. Omnibender - Talk - Contributions 18:30, March 12, 2011 (UTC)
you can do that
what does it look like fire chakra flow???
Friend, the images you upload require a fair use rationale and license status or they'll be tagged for deletion. Since it seems you're only uploading higher resolution images you can simply go to the current images that already have these tags and scroll to the bottom and click "Upload a new version of this file" It will look like this.--Cerez™☺ 16:22, April 9, 2011 (UTC)
- If you ignore the image policy again, you will get blocked. Jacce | Talk | Contributions 13:14, February 2, 2012 (UTC)
- You haven't learned your lesson have you ? You were told to read the image policy and you have just ignored it by continuing to upload images without license or rationale data. --Speysider (Talk Page) 10:39, May 30, 2012 (UTC)
- Still haven't learnt the lesson have ya. --Speysider Talk Page | My Image Uploads | Tabber Code | My Wiki | Channel 22:19, October 16, 2012 (UTC)
- You haven't learned your lesson have you ? You were told to read the image policy and you have just ignored it by continuing to upload images without license or rationale data. --Speysider (Talk Page) 10:39, May 30, 2012 (UTC)
Tailed Beast Control
An article on the subject already exists, and this particular way of controlling the Nine-Tails is already covered in the Mangekyō Sharingan article as well. Omnibender - Talk - Contributions 15:59, December 26, 2011 (UTC)
Image deletion: GedoMazoAttack01.png
ShenLong Kazama, the image GedoMazoAttack01.png which you uploaded has been tagged for deletion. Please see the image page for deletion notes. We suggest you look over our image policy and ask that you make an attempt to fix the issues you are causing. http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s145/urbancowgurl777/UltimateSupreme2212-3.pnghttp://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s145/urbancowgurl777/UltimateSupreme2212-3talk.png 11:55, August 23, 2012 (UTC)
Repeated violations of Image policy
Is it really hard to add an episode number and choose Shippuden or not while uploading images?~ UltimateSupreme 12:03, February 21, 2013 (UTC)
301 images
Thanks for uploading. However, some of your images are a bit blurry and therefore poor quality. Also, since you upload your files under .jpg extension, it's a nuisance when trying to update files which are saved in .png. Please try to upload in .png format instead as it's preferred, but nothing is stopping you uploading in .jpg. Also, when you are uploading pictures for techniques, try to use the Romaji name which you can c/p from the infobox of the technique. Thanks. --Speysider Talk Page | My Image Uploads | Tabber Code | Channel 13:45, February 21, 2013 (UTC)
Where did you get these colored 638 chapter images?? ItachiWasAHero (talk) 05:07, July 16, 2013 (UTC)
Can you upload Naruto's Ultra Great Ball Rasengan?
From the latest episode so we can compare on the article between his and Jiraiya's?--SuperSaiyaMan (talk) 19:05, July 26, 2013 (UTC)
Image sizes
Could you please consider other Narutopedia users and guests and refrain from uploading such large images? Lately, I have notice some of your images topping inappropriate filesizes (8MB) and your latest upload was 3.8MB. If you haven't noticed, most of my 1080p PNG uploads are at least half the size of your uploads. If you can, please refrain in uploading images with such high file sizes. Thank you. --Speysider Talk Page | My Image Uploads | Tabber Code | Channel 13:45, August 22, 2013 (UTC)
- Again. Please consider other users and stop uploading such large images. It will only cause other users problems when loading the pages. You don't need to go any higher than 3MB maximum (2MB is the recommended) --Speysider Talk Page | My Image Uploads | Tabber Code | Channel 06:44, September 27, 2013 (UTC)
Fair use tagging
When choosing the fair use licensing for an image, please try to be more specific than "video". Is it a video of a TV program, a movie, a game, etc. Thanks in advance. ~SnapperTo 17:48, October 3, 2013 (UTC)
Hi. When you upload images, please make sure they are in the .png format for quality's sake. Therefore, please don't be surprised when Shakhmoot or I replace the images you've already uploaded. Norleon (talk) 12:36, December 19, 2013 (UTC)
Susanoo Picture
It needs it's proper licensing and what not.--TheUltimate3 (talk) 16:31, August 7, 2014 (UTC)
- That's fine by me :) --Sarutobii2 (talk) 12:29, May 26, 2016 (UTC)
RE: Kakashi's Susanoo
I agree it does look cooler, but it's generally better to show as most of a technique as possible in a image. --Sarutobii2 (talk) 06:02, August 26, 2016 (UTC)


text:
McCarthy will provide media insight across PN's business units and develop the agency's relationship with the media.
He reports to managing director Fiona Joyce and European development director Sally Williams.
McCarthy began his career in local radio before moving to Sky. He spent seven years as an ITN correspondent and joined the BBC in 2001, where he interviewed Ian Huntley days before the killer's arrest.


text: Extreme Technologies has developed the Square Oval ; a unique size and shape to help fit a muffler package in to todays ever so tight race car chassis.These Mufflers are manufactured of Aluminized steel and are completely tig / mig welded for durability. These flow-thru mufflers are packed with 100% Stainless Steel to eliminate burnout. Best Racing muffler in the industry.


text:
James Cano
Adrian Wilcox High Class of 2004
Memories of James Cano
Are you James Cano?
This page means someone is someone is looking for you. Register for free to let other alumni contact you and more:
- Let others find you
- Contact old friends
- Share photos and memories with other registered alumni
Looking for James Cano?
This is a placeholder page for James Cano, which means this person is not currently on this site. We do suggest using the tools below to find James Cano.
About placeholder profiles
You are visiting the placeholder page for James Cano. This page is here because someone used our placeholder utility to look for James Cano. We created this page automatically in hopes James Cano would find it. If you are not James Cano, but are an alumni of Adrian Wilcox High School, register on this site for free now.


text:
What to make with Ground Beef?
Ok, so I make meat loaf, hambergers, stuffed bell peppers already. What else is there to make with ground beef? My mom keeps buying it and I don't know what else to make with...
Started by Iysha on 10/16/2009 in Kid-Friendly Recipes
Last update on 10/19/2014 by Susan


text:
How to Find Bargain Airfares for Summer
There are bargains to be had for vacations this summer, but the deals may not last. Scott McCartney joins the News Hub with a guide for summer travelers. Photo: Getty Images.
This transcript has been automatically generated and may not be 100% accurate.
... the the ... lots of ang signed in order to ... end the at traffic control of follow ... but wait there's more good news Alan to get up coming down too ... but they won't last long ... Mitzi columnist the book on e joins us now from Dallas Texas various Thanksgiving mess up ... it is is it ... so we we like good news we will like the airline tickets coming down in price aam ... was happening and wanted something to last until I can afford it ... you know as the law ... several summers we can't really be increases and in airfare prices ... but despite the weak economy ... on a prices for domestic destinations this summer and looking a lot more reasonable ... eighteen percent decline in prices the church to Chicago ... and New York Orlando a lot of big cities ... big destinations ... down more than ten percent the head and where on tickets were selling this time last year for summer travel ... in some of it is because people are simply shifting of their their travel from domestic to overseas I've ... seen big increases ended in a lot more ticket buying for your efforts and the one hand and is on top of the cause climate change and eccentrics ... I don't think I think that's part of it on it in dollars certainly ... a bit stronger dealer gun back two years aam against the euro ... I'm not a whole lot different than last year and it is more to do with consumer confidence and with that with the tenant demand of ... people saying you know we ... we went with and taken domestic threat last couple years or into your current broker we ... know we really wanna go somewhere further on ticket sales are up to Latin America to the Carribean ... but domestically and and so there's there's clearly ... made overall flat square leadership and in ... where people are going this year ... so ... to tell me of my international flights to flew flights to Europe aside FIFO When until I need to advise on Apple's outlook as ... well so far prices to Barron's about six percent to one up about five percent ... on capacity eighty Europe and in the center of a key factor ... along with airlines are doing with how many seats are going to be flying across the Atlantic ... capacities can be up about two point eight percent that's better than the declines we've had in in recent summers ... if you're really looking for a parking point Ireland would be the place ... capacity haven't been up about twenty percent of Ireland and the prices of several hundred dollars cheaper than I've been continental Europe and and what a fat into muscle flex what is the ideal time ... before you travel you should book your flights ... you know some of the cheapest prices go up three months in advance or so so aam time is the time is now ... on I'd I'd take it ... with ... demand for summer travel can be pretty strong and in some of these domestic prices that we've seen are to come up ... no bookings are down a little soft clay ones have a lot of confidence that people are going to come ... roaring back this year and back and they're going to be out in a push up prices pretty quick when they can ... write stuff thank you Brian much still coming ... many can read mall once the economy strong in tomorrow's Wall Street fell


text:
It was :
Not sure why when i lower the opacity the color never goes fully black
This annoying behavior occurs only when you are drawing with a very little opacity into an empty layer (it means the zone where the Alpha value is 0 or nearly 0).
In this case the blending equation can not pull enough opacity in the layer to reach the full opacity.
Moreover other drawing software seems to have the same behavior...
Mathematically it's possible to make an equation to have the desired behavior but the current restriction in the Blending equation provided by Direct X doesn't allow an easy implementation (perhaps it wil be possible with DirectX 12).
The "good news" is that this behavior doesn't occur on layer with full opacity
Here an example where I draw 2 beautiful blobs on the top layer and on the background.


text:
With Marit Bouwmeester (NED) and Evi Van Acker (BEL) regarded as favourites to take gold at the London 2012 Olympic Sailing Competition, Xu, bronze medallist at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Sailing Competition has hit the right note, and at the right time as she maintains a 100% winning record in 2012.
|470 Men
|470 Women
|Laser Radial
|RS:X Men
|RS:X Women
|Women's Match
Mathew Belcher and Malcolm Page (AUS) are also singing from the same hymn sheet after winning their third consecutive ISAF Sailing World Cup Regatta following another gold medal at the Semaine Olympique Francaise.
The World #1 Australians sit top of the Men's 470 Standings on 60 points followed by Gideon Kliger and Eran Sela (ISR) and Panagiotis Mantis and Pavlos Kagialis (GRE) who are tied on 47 points.
For the Australians it marks a terrific run of form which saw them finish second at the opening World Cup regatta at Sail Melbourne before victories at the 2011 ISAF Sailing World Championships, US SAILING's Rolex Miami OCR, Trofeo S.A.R. Princess Sofia and today in Hyères.
Ai Kondo and Wakako Tabata (JPN) continue to lead the Women's 470 Standings on 55 points after their fourth in Hyères. But Amanda Clark and Sarah Lihan (USA) have piled on the pressure after their silver medal in France. Only two points separate the top two with Kathrin Kadelbach and Friederike Belcher (GER) third on 47 points.
Tom Burton (AUS) has moved to the top of the Laser Standings following a sixth place finish at the Semaine Olympique Francaise, his third 2011-2012 ISAF Sailing World Cup regatta. The Australian placed third at Sail Melbourne and Trofeo S.A.R. Princess Sofia MAPFRE but was unable to match his podium finishes in Hyères. Burton's compatriot and 2010-2011 ISAF Sailing World Cup Laser Champion Tom Slingsby (AUS) climbs up into second whilst Charlie Buckingham (USA) drops down to third.
It's more good news for Australian sailors as Brendan Casy (AUS) moves into joint top with Zach Railey (USA) in the Finn Standings after a surprise victory in Hyères. The Australian won the Medal Race to move from third to first after winning the Medal Race in Hyères, subsequently moving him up from tenth in the Finn World Cup Standings. Caleb Paine (USA) remains in third on 33 points.
Out of three regattas where Women's Match Racing has featured Anna Tunnicliffe (USA) has won two golds and Lucy Macgregor (GBR) the other. The pair are at the top of the Standings with Tunnicliffe leading the way on 56 points with Macgregor in second on 52 points. Sally Barkow (USA) rounds off the top three.
After their seventh place in the 49er in Hyères, Allan Norregaard and Peter Lang (DEN) have overtaken compatriots Jonas Warrer and Peter Lang to take top spot in the 49er Standings. Manu Dyen and Stephane Christidis (FRA), who took the gold medal by one point over Nathan Outteridge and Iain Jensen (AUS), sit second on 39 points tied with Australians who have an identical record of a regatta victory and a runners up spot from two regattas sailed in.
Flavia Tartaglini (ITA) has climbed up to top spot in the Women's RS:X Standings followed by Jannicke Stalstrom (NOR) and Moana Delle (GER). And there is no change in the top two of the Men's RS:X Standings with Sebastien Wang-Hansen (NOR) in pole position on 35 points with Robert Willis (USA) second on 28 points. 2012 Men's RS:X World Champion Julien Bontemps (FRA) moves into third place after victory in Hyères.
With several World Championships taking place throughout May, the fifth ISAF Sailing World Cup event, the Delta Lloyd Regatta, will see a more compact format with racing from 22-26 May in Medemblik, the Netherlands.
Semaine Olympique Francaise Website
ISAF Sailing World Cup Website


text:
INSOCOAT® bearings
Stray electrical currents can cause generator failures
Protect bearings and uptime with SKFINSOCOAT ® bearings from SKF can help prevent the effects of damaging electrical currents. Combining a bearing function and electrical insulation in a single solution, INSOCOAT ® bearings are more cost-effective than other insulation methods.
Through a unique process, an aluminum oxide layer is applied to the outer surfaces of the inner or outer ring of the bearing, providing insulation that is virtually insensitive to heat, moisture and chemicals. The bearing performance and running accuracy are the same as for standard non-insulated bearings, and no additional mounting precautions are needed.
INSOCOAT ® bearing benefits include:
- Virtually no premature bearing failures from electric currents
- Increased turbine uptime
- Reduced maintenance costs
- Global availability with fast, secure deliveries


text:
Census shirts for sale create a situation that makes fraud all too easy…
H/t to KING5.com who provided us with the first glimpse of a story that we will likely encounter at many other places in coming months. For more than a year now, MyTwoCensus has been concerned that the dinky canvass tote bags and non-photo IDs of Census Bureau employees do not serve as proper identification of government employees:
by OWEN LEI / KING 5 News
Posted on April 30, 2010 at 11:15 PM
SHORELINE, Wash. — Thousand of U.S. Census workers will be hitting the streets starting May 1, and they'll have a few identifying characteristics — a Department of Commerce badge and a Census messenger bag.
What they will not be wearing, for the most part, are U.S. Census T-shirts.
But Sue Mills and Laurie Sorenson were still concerned when they saw a bunch on sale for $1.99 at the Goodwill store in Shoreline.
"Laurie saw the shirts hanging on the rack, and we took a look and said, 'Well, these shirts really should not be here,'" said Mills.
But there they were, red Census 2010 polo shirts, the label on the front, the multi-colored hand logo on back. The two found eight shirts, and ended up buying all of them for fear that "anyone could buy one and do with them what they wanted," said Sorenson.
Or, more specifically, that anyone wearing those shirts could look official enough to gain your trust, maybe more.
"They could ask your name, your social security number, your phone number," Mills said.
"Potentially, your personal information getting into the wrong hands," added Sorenson.
A U.S. Census Bureau spokeswoman said there is no official "uniform" for census takers – rather, they are encouraged to wear comfortable clothing that will help them as they walk long distances. However, some may choose to wear Census paraphernalia.
The best way to identify an official Census worker, they said, is to look for the government-issued I.D. badge, which will have the local Census office phone number, and a messenger bag.
Any residents suspicious of the person at their door are encouraged to call the local office to verify the Census taker's identity. A Census taker also will never ask to enter a home, nor ask any questions beyond what is on the official survey, said the bureau.
Sue and Laurie said they're worried not everyone will know that and will take the shirts at face value.
"I don't know where they came from, where else could they be? They could be in thrift stores all over the country," said Mills.
KING 5 stopped by the Shoreline Goodwill and found 20 more of the printed Census shirts, as well as some Census 2010 travel bags.
But when notified, employees immediately took the items off the shelves, while a manager said she'll send an e-mail to all the other Goodwills in the area with a picture of the shirts.
As for where the shirts came from, a Census spokesperson said they were likely promotional items shared with a local partner agency, probably left over from a marketing event, and donated with good intentions.
Tags: charity, donations, fraud, garbage, Goodwill, identity t heft, king5, parternship materials, partnership program, partnerships, promotional, promotionals, recyclce, Salvation Army, scam, scammer, scammers, scams, shirts, waste, wastes


text:
Possible Duplicate:
Which Ecommerce Script Should I Use?
I'm looking for a PHP/MySQL script, free or not. Could you please recommend me one that can do the following:
The site I'm trying to build requires an extensive product catalogue, which will have around 600 products. Because there are so many products they will be uploaded using a CSV file or spreadsheet.
- Users must be logged in to see prices
- Users can add products to an order form, which they can then email to admin. (NO payment processing whatsoever)
- They will just add products to a cart, review the cart's content and click a button to send the order
- The order email to admin must have the order details attached in a CSV file.
Newsletter sign up. Admin can create and send newsletter from the admin section.
User Login/Member Section
After users sign up they can access their member section. In this section they can
- Edit their details
- See previous orders they have made, and click a button to send that order again


text:
My recent pontifications on butter have led me to wonder whether it's time for a change in butter service at LA's finest restaurants. Usually, along with some very fine bread, you get a plate of unidentified butter plopped down unceremoniously. There is little commentary around it, and, in my experience, you almost always have to ask to find out what type of butter you're eating. (And more often than not it is something acceptable but unexciting, like the European style Plugra that is available almost everywhere now).
Given that there is a new crop of fine artisanal butters available as well as plenty of wonderful European butters which now appear regularly in gourmet stores (butter apparently freezes well for transportation), it's high time that fine restaurants put more of an emphasis on butter.
Why not offer a choice of butters as an alternative to the standard? In fact, in a town that has seen water bars and oxygen bars, why not a butter bar...selling great bread with an option of different butters?
Now, I know that in a city in which the cheese spread is so often lacking, even in the finest establishments, butter appreciation may be asking too much, but this is something that people eat everyday, and damn it, it should be good.
So come on all you fancy-dancy restaurants, you Patinas and Providences, Spagos and Bastides, butter us up.
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Buttering Up Local Restaurants
Labels: Butter
1 comment:
Ooh, I like the idea of a butter bar!
- October 19, 2007 at 1:06 PM
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


text:
There's just one week to go until Christmas Eve - and we want to see how you are celebrating the occasion.
Send us pictures of your Christmas jumpers, office parties and your children (or pets) in their festive outfits.
Email the pictures, in Jpeg format, to firstname.lastname@example.com and they will be featured in an online slideshow. Please include names and which town you are from.
The best ones could even appear in print.


text:
When I first read Barbara's choice for the GGW Plant Pick of the Month, I wasn't sure if I'd be able to find many photos to share. Sedums – or stonecrops, as some know them – haven't played a big part in my gardening experience over the years: not because I don't like them, but because they didn't much like my previous shady garden or my current silty and sometimes soggy one.
I'm disappointed about that, because sedums offer some terrific forms, textures, and foliage colors, and I greatly admire them in other people's gardens. The first couple of years in this garden, I was so excited to finally have sun that I indulged in a number of species, hybrids, and cultivars, expecially of the upright types. My favorite of the bunch was 'Purple Emperor', with its purple-flushed gray leaves that were a perfect echo for the foliage of red-leaved rose (Rosa glauca). Unfortunately, it fizzled out after the second year and disappeared. 'Black Jack', 'Matrona', 'Arthur Branch', 'Gooseberry Fool', and many others met the same fate.
The only upright sedum I have left now is 'Autumn Fire'. Honestly, I don't see much difference between it and 'Autumn Joy' ('Herbstfreude'); both of them can appear pinkish in some conditions and deep red in others, depending on the amount of sun, I guess, and the age of the blooms. I'm not going to complain about 'Autumn Fire', though, since it seems inclined to stick around. (Below left is 'Autumn Joy' with Salvia microphylla 'Variegata' and Geranium 'Victor Reiter'; below right is 'Autumn Fire' with Miscanthus 'Purpurascens'.)
I really like the creeping sedums too, but mostly meet with an equal lack of success. They seem more forgiving than the uprights of the winter-wet conditions but get stringy-looking when shaded too much by bigger companions, and I haven't had much luck figuring out how to place them effectively. I'm still trying, though, because they make great partners for fall-blooming bulbs, such as colchicums.
Ah, 'Angelina'. I'm not sure what to make of her any more. It was love at first sight; such a pretty thing she is in a pot, and her cheery color brightened every spot I could find for her. Undaunted by winter's cold, rain, and snow, she just blushed rosy red and kept on shining. She survived, and even thrived, in sites where lesser sedums had perished, and I was delighted to see her start to spread.
But then, oh then…she started getting a little too comfortable. One or two seedlings would have been fine, but I'm starting to find bits of 'Angelina' where she really doesn't belong, to the point where she's beginning to scare me a bit. And honestly, I could do without her blooming altogether. Do she really think yellow flowers look good with yellow foliage? I mean, I'm no fashionista, but even I can tell her that the combination isn't very flattering. I've tried to save her that embarrassment by clipping off her blossoms, but then she makes those annoying little stubs that don't look much better.
So now I'm reduced to plucking out her bloom stems individually to keep her looking her best, and it's getting a little tiresome, though I'm not ready to give up on her completely. I do have my eye on a newer beauty, however, by the name of 'Chocolate Ball'. It's hard to find much information about it because it's just recently been released, but it looked neat in the garden and in containers at work this past summer and fall.
The big question is how hardy it will be. Sometimes 'Chocolate Ball' is listed under S. hakonense, which most references indicate is frost-tender, but I've also heard that this one might be hardy to Zone 7. Yesterday, I took a quick peek at some of the plants we left in the ground at work (in mid-Zone 6, after some definitely below-freezing temperatures), and they still looked alive to me, so maybe they'll be more cold-tolerant than predicted. After observing how 'Angelina' is inclined to spread, I'm almost hoping this one isn't quite as hardy!


text:
Playing to a Crowd
Getting a Gig[edit]
After a few days of performing for tips, Lanette hits Level 2 of the singer career. No matter which of the new professions you're working with, Level 2 is where you'll start making a name for yourself. It's time to go from the sidewalk to the stage!
A special map tag appears in map view, which you can see on the screenshot here. It's an orange circle with nothing but a single Sim's head in it. This tag points to the proprietor of a venue, and is the single most important Sim you're going to interact with for your career. The first proprietor is always at the park, and Lanette is near the one in this instance of Starlight Shores. She heads over to Carl McMurphy and strikes up a conversation.
Old Carl isn't going to let just anyone up on his stage, even if it is in the middle of a park. He requires an audition, but that's not Lanette's first interaction. Like everything else in The Sims 3, it's all about socialization, and she's been practicing her Charisma skill at night, so it's time to put it to use.
She talks up Carl and works their relationship meter to about +10% before actually asking for the audition. If was earlier in the day, her mood meters would be higher too, as she'll give her best performances and auditions when she's in the green. However, it's getting late as you might notice from the screenshots, and proprietors aren't available at night.
Lanette uses her charms, then the "Audition for a Singer Gig" command. She auditions with a Sing-A-Gram, which is strangely effective: Carl accepts her audition and books her! She can view her list of gigs by going to the Career Tab, then clicking the "Gig Schedule" button. Alternately, she can simply mouse over the map marker of the venue in question. Carl wants her back here at the park tomorrow at 8:30pm, which means she'll need to stay up just a bit extra tonight or take a nap tomorrow to have enough energy for the gig.
Playing the Gig[edit]
The first time you get a gig, it's a one-shot deal. Sims in bad moods or who are just unlucky have a chance of bombing on stage, and if the audience hates the performance enough, the proprietor won't re-sign you. We're looking for something more stable and secure though, so Lanette is going to make sure her vocal chords are ready to go by keeping her mood nice and high.
After a nap, she arrives at the park two hours before the gig is scheduled to start. You can start any concert up to two hours prior, and as you're about to see, it's usually best to start a bit early. Lanette walks over to the stage, then interacts with it and gets a single branched command on the pie menu: "Set Up the Stage..." Note that if you select any of the options from that, you will commit to the performance. Don't select anything until you know you're ready to perform!
The "Set Up the Stage..." command breaks down into three other commands. First is "Use a Previously Saved Setup," which won't help Lanette since she doesn't have any yet. One is "Create a Custom Setup," which would be awesome, except for the fact that she's poor and can't afford too many stage props yet. She can set up a stage later, once she makes it big. For now, Lanette chooses the third option, "Use the Venue's Setup." It's usually better than nothing, literally: if she just tried to Create a Custom Setup, she'd have to perform on an empty stage.
Strangely, when Lanette chooses "Use the Venue's Setup," absolutely nothing pops up on stage. Props are important to the overall grade, but the Sim's performance is far more important. She won't get an excellent, stellar review, but even with an empty stage, she can probably perform well enough to the people who come out to the park.
Lanette starts to perform, and the audience will gravitate toward her. Now, because this is a profession, rather than a job, it requires interaction from you to succeed. As a singer, you give commands (either by interacting with the stage or the singer herself) on what song to sing. When each song ends, she can talk to the audience, or select the next song.
The AI will perform the show for you if you happen to be controlling another Sim at the same time, but you'll want to do it yourself for maximum control. You are not able to queue commands here as you usually can, so you'll need to keep a close eye on your Sim to make sure she's doing exactly what you want her to do.
Properly interacting with the audience is important for their overall impression of you, which you can see throughout the show. In this screenshot, you can see a Sim in the foreground, Natasha Gooder, and she's got a blue plus-sign next to her head. This means Natasha is liking what she's hearing from Lanette (or "Lunar Eclipse" at the moment), and it adds in to the overall grade toward the end.
It can work the other way too: if you see a red minus-sign, the audience is less happy at the way things are turning out. You can see a screenshot below of what happens when poor Lanette tries to tell a joke between songs. The fans are pretty much the polar opposite of pleased: Singers are at a disadvantage when it comes to audience interaction because they expect to hear singing, not witty banter. Magicians and acrobats have a better chance of getting positive results from interacting with the audience, but they still shouldn't do it too often.
Lanette only knows two songs at the moment, and magicians and acrobats have similar problems with lean routines this early in their careers as well. However, the audience will not penalize you for repeats. Lanette can in fact just go with one song for the concert, which will not adversely affect her. (Could you imagine the results in real-life if people showed up to a Jimmy Buffett concert and just got "Cheeseburger in Paradise" for three straight hours?) It's probably best to at least alternate songs for your own sanity, but your Sims don't mind.
At 11:30pm, she'll automatically conclude the show by finishing whatever her current song is and taking a bow. Lanette could have ended the show any time between songs, but finishing too early will obviously just upset the audience. It's always best to let your performers finish on their own: it's impossible to go too long, and the Sim will always correctly close the show at the proper time. The only reason you'd ever want to end early is if there's an emergency, such as a spouce giving birth or something, that requires that Sim's immediate attention.
Once the show is over, Lanette gets feedback from the "push notification" in the top-right corner of the screen in the talk (fourth) tab. Here, you can see that the audience really liked her, and the rating could have been much higher if she hadn't tried to pull a Dane Cook in the middle of her act.
If the performance is exceptional, the proprietor may invite you back and make it a "steady" gig, which means it will always be available to you every week on the same day at the same time. Skipping booked gigs will upset the proprietor and may make him unbook you, but you can always cancel a gig on your own through your cell phone without penalty. This is useful as you climb the rankings, as smaller gigs (like in the park) may not make you enough money to warrant your attention.
Lanette didn't have such luck though: Carl didn't offer her a steady gig. That doesn't mean she's out of luck, however. Lanette just needs to keep auditioning Carl for more one-shot gigs and work on her singing career experience, and she'll be booked steadily one day!


text:
Hi Everyone!
Thomas MacEntee, the Publicity Chairman for the Illinois State Genealogical Society, has informed me that the ISGS has started a genealogy blog that is authored by him.
At the blog you can find information in the following categories:
- Events
- Services
- Publications
- Becoming A Member
- About the Blog
- Illinois Genealogy Resources
The blog was just started in May 2010. There are about 30 posts to the blog at this time.
You may want to bookmark the site for future visiting. Or you can subscribe to the site with an RSS feed and receive new postings as they become available. You can also follow the ISGS via Facebook and Twitter.
Check out the blog site at:
This is a good way to keep informed of genealogical matters at a state of Illinois level.
Enjoy the blog as it continues to grow over time.
Tony Kierna
Genealogy Coordinator
Schaumburg Township District Library


text:
Where to see Model X prototype?
Where to see Model X prototype?
I believe the Detroit Auto Show had one.
Supercharger station in Hawthorne,CA has a prototype. You cannot open it. It just has a styrofoam interior. It looks pretty close to a BMW X6
Could you explain us why you booked a model X? I méandres what is the elements which push you to book one.
Hawthorn has a real Model X - and a styrofoam one too. Saw it in person tonight at the battery swap demo. Way cool. Put in a reservation for one to add to the tesla fleet at my house.
We should be manipulated by gasoline price.
Sorry. We should not be manipulated by gasoline price.
Hi. Where and when is one Model X to be seen in Norway?
Last place spotted: TESLIVE. The Detroit Auto Show version (white with black and white interior) was on display at the factory party last Saturday night.
@bonnie1194 | JULY 20, 2013: Last place spotted: TESLIVE.
Yes, it was brought in from LA just for the party.
Don't know where I got the "LA" thing from. All I know is that it was transported to the party.


text:
Irie Jam 93.5 FM in collaboration with Gargamel Music, Inc. presents "A Day for Buju Banton" tribute marathon. Listeners in New York can tune in to Irie Jam 93.5 FM today, Saturday, October 9, from 1pm-6pm. Fans outside the Tri-State area can log on to www.iriejamfm.com or www.wvipfm.com.
All day, the Irie Jam family will celebrate the stellar body of work that Jamaican music icon, Buju Banton has delivered to the masses throughout his illustrious 20+ year career. The entertainment industry has also come out in support with Stephen Marley, Gramps Morgan, Wayne Wonder, John Holt and Tarrus Riley all slated to participate in the program.
Buju Banton has been incarcerated since December 10, 2009. He was entrapped by a paid informant. After many postponements, his trial finally commenced on September 20, 2010. On September 27, a mistrial was declared because the panel of jurors were split and unable to reach a unanimous verdict. The case will be retried in December 2010.
Meanwhile, Banton's attorney, David Oscar Markus filed a motion for bond that was heard by Magistrate Judge Anthony E. Porcelli on Wednesday, October 6. Judge Porcelli is expected to render his decision next week.
We urge the public to support Buju Banton's new album, a prophetic masterpiece, Before the Dawn by purchasing a copy today. In addition, we encourage everyone to participate in the Buju Banton Letter Writing Campaign to ensure the US government is keenly aware that the public is monitoring this case closely. Please send your letter today and encourage others to do the same !
THE BUJU BANTON DEFENSE FUND has also been reestablished. We are asking supporters to contribute $10 or more to assist in the next battle in Buju's court proceedings, which will cost upwards of $200,000 USD.
Funds can be wired to:
Markus & Markus, PLLC
(Defense Fund for Buju Banton)
Citibank, N A
Coral Way Branch
1600 Coral Way
Miami, FL 33145
Account # 9118130472
For international wires the Swift Code is CITIUS33.


text:
A totally synthetic explosion sound that could be the firing of a large gun instead of a bomb exploding. The reverberant tail is relatively long, as though the explosion occurs in a hilly area. But you can reshape the envelope to your liking, as well as adding whatever debris noise is appropriate for your application. Like the others in this series, this sound is totally synthetic, created within Cool Edit Pro (the ancestor of modern-day Adobe Audition).
Please log in to comment


text:
An Ohio police department said it's trying to illustrate the impact of the heroin and painkiller epidemic by sharing photos of a 4-year-old boy sitting in a vehicle behind slumped-over adults who were later revived with an overdose antidote.
In a Facebook message , East Liverpool police said they're sorry if people are offended, but they wanted the public to see what happens and they wanted to be a voice for the child who witnessed the scene.
"We are well aware that some may be offended by these images and for that we are truly sorry, but it is time that the non drug using public sees what we are now dealing with on a daily basis," police wrote. "The poison known as heroin has taken a strong grip on many communities not just ours, the difference is we are willing to fight this problem until it's gone and if that means we offend a few people along the way we are prepared to deal with that."
U.S. & World
Police said an officer watched the vehicle weave erratically and stop, then approached and noticed signs the driver was impaired. The officer said the driver indicated he was taking his unconscious female passenger to a hospital, then became unresponsive himself.
The officer called paramedics, who revived the pair with the anti-overdose drug Narcan.
They face child-endangering and other charges.


text:
Goodman CHPF3642C6
3 to 3.5 Ton, W 21 1/8 x H 21 x D 26, Horizontal Cased Evaporator Coil(5 Reviews)
We Install Too!
Equipment installation now available in your area.
3 to 3.5 Ton, W 21 1/8 x H 21 x D 26, Horizontal Cased Evaporator Coil(5 Reviews)
Professional installation now available in , !
The Goodman® CHPF Cased Horizontal "A" Coils are made for split system air conditioners and heat pumps. Each coil is made of quality galvanized steel with a painted, leather-grain-embossed finish. The coil's cabinet is painted Architectural Gray.
This coil can operate with a heat pump or condenser of two different tonnages, as noted in the product description above. The unit comes equipped with an orifice (flowrater) for the larger listed tonnage. If you wish to pair the coil with a condenser or heat pump of the smaller tonnage, an orifice in that tonnage will need to be used (unless a TXV is required instead). If you are purchasing a new Goodman heat pump or condenser, the required orifice can be found on our site by clicking the Accessories tab on the product page for that item. However, if you are purchasing this coil only and wish to pair it with equipment of the lower tonnage rating as listed on the description for this coil, you will need to separately purchase the smaller orifice and install it in the coil before operating. See this step-by-step guide to learn how to easily do so. Alternatively, instead of an orifice a thermostatic expansion valve (TXV) may be used or required for some equipment, such as 14 SEER and higher heat pumps and all equipment that uses R-410A refrigerant (see equipment spec sheets for details or call us for assistance).
For Tips for Selecting Matched Components and Line Sets click here.
Standard Features
Cabinet Features
|Cooling BTUs
|Cooling Tonnage
|3.5 Tons
|Number of Rows
|Liquid Line Connection Size
|3/8 Inches
|Suction Line Connection Size
|3/4 Inches
|Orifice Size
|0.076 inches
|Coil Width
|26 inches
|Coil Height
|21 inches
|Coil Depth
|21 1/8 inches
|Plenum Opening Width
|19 inches
|Plenum Opening Height
|20 inches
|Shipping Weight
|63 lbs


text:
boom 0.3.0
God it's about every day where I think to myself, gadzooks, I keep typing *REPETITIVE_BORING_TASK* over and over. Wouldn't it be great if I had something like boom to store all these commonly-used text snippets for me? Then I realized that was a worthless idea since boom hadn't been created yet and I had no idea what that statement meant. At some point I found the code for boom in a dark alleyway and released it under my own name because I wanted to look smart.


text:
There are now two ways to find our clearance stock. You can browse our clearance items by category or search by store for item(s) in your local store. Hurry, These are clearance items and stock is limited. Item availability may differ across our stores.
Make sure that you check stock in your area and reserve for store pickup to avoid disappointment.
Product images used for illustration purposes only.
Selected lines, subject to availability. Offers valid whilst stocks last.
Shop online at Argos.ie, the official Argos IE online catalogue shopping website. See our wide range of clearance bargains online from the Argos clearance shop. Buy clearance furniture, clearance home, clearance toys, clearance televisions, clearance mobile phones & more. Our clearance items offer great value with many on sale, there has never been a better time to buy clearance products from Argos.
This link will open in a new window.
© Argos Limited 2019. All Rights Reserved.


text:
8th-grader wins Duval County Spelling Bee
Landon student advances to regional competition
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Ashlie Malone, an eighth-grade student at Julia Landon College Preparatory, took home the gold in Thursday night's Duval County Spelling Bee.
After 28 rounds of spelling challenging vocabulary words, Ashlie finished first by correctly spelling the word "desperado."
This marks Ashlie's second time winning the Duval County Spelling Bee. She also won in 2011 as a sixth-grader at Landon.
Ashlie will represent Duval County as she advances to the 69th annual Florida Times-Union Regional Spelling Bee on Feb. 23 at the Jacksonville Main Public Library. She will compete against district winners from 14 neighboring counties. The winner of the regional bee will compete in the Scripps National Spelling Bee during the week of May 26 to June 1.
Landon College Preparatory's Principal Sara Bravo attended the spelling bee to cheer Ashlie on during the competition. She was amazed by Ashlie's poise and confidence through each round of the spelling bee.
"Ashlie is an exceptional student, always pushing herself to a high level of success," Bravo said. "She has maintained a 4.0 GPA through her three years at Julia Landon, yet remains one of the most humble and kind students in our building. I am so proud to be her principal."
The Duval County Spelling Bee is sponsored by The Florida Times-Union, and is conducted according to the contest rules of the Scripps Howard National Spelling Bee.
Copyright 2013 by News4Jax.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


text:
Jennings' injury a reminder of dangers on mound
CINCINNATI -- Watching a teammate get struck on the head by a comebacker is a stark reminder of the risks pitchers take every time they step on the mound.
The Marlins experienced a scare firsthand on Thursday night in Pittsburgh when reliever Dan Jennings suffered a concussion after Jordy Mercer's drive pegged him on the left side of his head.
Fortunately, Jennings appears to be fine. He does have a concussion, but avoided a more serious injury.
"As a pitcher, it's one of our worst nightmares," closer Steve Cishek said. "I don't even want to look at video, because you don't want it to be in your head. And having that being one of your teammates and friends, you know their families are also watching, and they're scared too. You feel for them, too. You've got all these emotions going when something like that happens."
What can be done to increase pitcher safety?
"I don't know if there is anything you can do, other than putting like a mask or something on," reliever Mike Dunn said. "I can pretty much guarantee nobody is going to wear [one]."
Alex Torres of the Padres is the first and only pitcher to wear an MLB-approved protective cap, manufactured by isoBlox.
But the hat is bulky, and many pitchers don't find them comfortable. Another idea some pitchers are discussing is a hat with ear flaps to protect more of the head.
"I know they're trying with those big, bulky hats," Cishek said. "The problem is they're just not comfortable to wear, and they're heavier.
"You've got to wait for the technology to get out there, and hopefully some day it will, where we can get out there and not wear a hat that is big and bulky, and is little lighter and comfortable. At least they're moving in the right direction and trying to figure something out."
In the meantime, pitchers are focused on one thing when they take the mound -- getting batters out.
"You know there is a risk every time you go out there and throw a pitch," Dunn said. "Ultimately, you've just got to put it behind you and not think about it."


text:
Contact Us
Before submitting a query, please ensure that you have read through our list of Frequently Asked Questions which may provide the answer to your query.
Keep up-to-date with the latest news from Oxford University Press and Very Short Introductions
- For the latest news related specifically to Very Short Introductions (online) subscribe to our RSS feed, or subscribe to the individual subject RSS feeds from each subject browse page.
- To receive information about our latest publishing, including subject news and special offers, subscribe to our email newsletters.
- Connect with OUP via our Social Media channels; find us on Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, YouTube, and the OUPblog.
- Why not join the VSIs Facebook group for all the very latest VSI news, including blog posts, videos, and reviews?
For information on free trials and pricing
Customers in North & South America
Email: email@example.com
Phone: +1 (800) 334 4249 ext 6484
Fax: +1 (919) 677 8877
Customers outside North & South America
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Phone: +44 (0)1865 353705
Fax: +44 (0) 1865 353659
If you are a student or academic complete our librarian recommendation form to recommend Very Short Introductions to your librarians for an institutional free trial.
For technical/customer support
North and South America:
Email: email@example.com
Phone: +1 (800) 334 4249 ext 6484
Fax: +1 (212) 726 6576
Customers outside North & South America
Email: email@example.com
Phone: +44 (0)1865 353705
Fax: +44 (0)1865 353659


text:
zenoglobal necesitaba un nuevo diseño de logotipo y lanzó un concurso de diseño en 99designs.
Un ganador ha sido elegido entre 221 diseños de 73 diseñadores freelance.
Zeno is a revolutionary new out-of-home medium that displays moving ads for moving people. Zenos are horizontal, backlit signs that move with the viewer. Zeno is looking for an exciting and memorable new logo that conveys the "spirit of the experience".
Moving Ads for Moving People (also taking suggestions)
Desired Color Scheme:
Desired Style:
Open, but should be simple, contemporary and somewhat iconic.
Accepted File Formats:
prefer vector art
The experience of walking by a Zeno ad is best described as interactive in that the viewer controls, with their motion, the speed and direction the movie is played at. Visit our website (http://www.zenoglobal.com) to see and learn more about Zeno. Beyond saying Zeno is fun and is a cool new medium, we do not like restricting designers and believe in allowing for possibilities outside our current perception. In our view Apple Computers and Nike are international brands that excel at presenting a casual sophistication appropriate for a new world company. We are offering $500 prize for the design that best presents us as such. Entries should include business card and letterhead. (not mandatory)
Descubre cómo funciona un concurso de diseño u obtén más información sobre nuestros servicios de diseño de logo.


text:
NEW YORK (MarketWatch) — Shares of U.S. real estate investment trusts rose on Thursday after UBS analysts said the current economic climate favors the REITs, and it upgraded the shares of five firms.
The company moved the 5 stocks to buy from neutral. They are Simon Property Group Inc. SPG, +1.22%, General Growth Properties Inc. US:GGP , Boston Properties BXP, -0.78% Alexandria Real Estate ARE, -0.44% and Apartment Investment Trust AIV, +0.60% .
UBS also downgraded CBL & Associates CBL, -3.07% and Weingarten Realty WRI, +1.24% to sell from neutral.
In the broader financial sector the Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF XLF, -0.97% , which tracks the financial stocks in the S&P 500 SPX, -1.05% , added a fraction.
"We are establishing a year-end 2013 target of 925 for the MSCI REIT Index, which equates to a 9% total return including dividends, the analysts said, adding that, "The combination of low interest rates, modest economic growth, and a healthy spread between commercial real estate capitalization rates and borrowing costs sets the stage for another year of positive returns in 2013." Learn more about the REIT index
In other analyst news, Goldman Sachs wrapped up a two-day financial services conference on Wednesday and pointed out some of the highlights in a Thursday note to clients.
The analysts report that there is a growing consensus among the companies that presented there that a low-rate, low-growth and risk-averse environment will most likely remain through 2013. That will keep the sector companies focused on returning capital and generating operating leverage.
Goldman also reported that the consensus among managements at the conference expects a resolution to the fiscal cliff by year end.
Notably, the analysts said, "there was an almost universal acknowledgment that the 2013 revenue environment will be challenging. Financials are focused on controlling on what they can control in this environment: expenses."


text:
Sterling silver stud earring with cubic zirconia
There are no reviews yet.
Only logged in customers who have purchased this product may leave a review.
All prices in Canadian dollars
26A - 4314 Main Street
Whistler, BC
Phone: (604) 905-6290
Toll Free: (888) 905-6290
Contact us
Hours of Operation:
Monday - Thursday: 10am - 8pm
Friday & Saturday: 10am - 9pm
Sunday: 10am - 8pm
Sign up to receive email updates on new product announcements, gift ideas, special promotions, sales and more.


text:
Father Referees Fight With Gun So Crowd Won't Stop Son From Fighting Other Boy In Arizona!
"GILBERT, Ariz. Gilbert police say a father was arrested after he allegedly went to a city park armed with a gun and then proceeded to referee a fight involving his two sons."
Please click the "Report" button below if the video on this page is not working properly.
Comments will only be displayed by verified emails. No Spamming or Racism.


text:
I thought I'd gone pretty deep into the Guild Wars 2 character creation tools during my time playing the beta. That was until Sven AKA Lumin showed me the stars hiding behind the customization sliders.
I never even thought to attempt to create the likes of Clint Eastwood or Scarlett Johansson in Guild Wars 2, mainly because I didn't think the character creation tools were robust enough to handle the task. Silly me, this is a system geared towards creating pretty player characters. Of course you can make celebrities with them, and damn accurate ones at that.


text:
Watch CBSN Live
Heartburn-like pain is a common symptom of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). But several other conditions can cause a burning feeling in your chest.
Most of the time, your doctor will be able to identify whether you have heartburn or GERD by doing tests.
From our friends at Health.com, here are nine other conditions that can cause heartburn-like pain.
More from Health.com: Simple swaps for a heartburn-free tailgate
Credit: iStockphoto
Angina, or chest pain caused by lack of blood flow to the heart, can feel a lot like heartburn.
"The major key is if you're getting heartburn when you're doing strenuous or moderate activity," says Dr. Ryan Madanick, a gastroenterologist and assistant professor of medicine at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine, in Chapel Hill.
If you're 50 or older and getting heartburn - especially if you haven't had this kind of pain before - it can raise suspicion of angina. Suspicions can also be raised if you're younger but have heart risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes, or a family history of heart disease.
Credit: istockphoto
Although gallstones don't always cause symptoms, a stone blocking your bile duct can hurt, usually in the middle or upper-right side of the abdomen.
Pain may be cramping, dull, or sharp, and often strikes minutes after you eat.
If you're experiencing stomach pain after meals that doesn't improve after you take an over-the-counter acid-suppressing medication, gallstones should be suspected, says Dr. Joel Richter, a gastroenterologist and chairman of the department of medicine at Temple University School of Medicine, in Philadelphia.
Ulcers can cause a gnawing, burning sensation, usually felt in the upper abdomen. The pain can find its way up to the chest, Dr. Madanick says.
Acid-suppressing medications may relieve ulcer pain. But ulcers are usually caused by Helicobacter pylori, a type of bacteria that inflames the stomach lining, so you will need to take antibiotics to clear the infection.
Certain anti-inflammatory drugs (such as aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen), and osteoporosis drugs called bisphosphonates, can also cause stomach ulcers.
A hiatal hernia occurs when a portion of the upper stomach pokes through the diaphragm into the chest cavity, rather than staying in the abdominal cavity where it belongs.
This can push food and stomach acid up into the esophagus, causing heartburn. Other signs of hiatal hernia include chest pain, belching, and nausea. If you have heartburn due to hiatal hernia, your doctor will typically prescribe acid-suppressing drugs, and recommend lifestyle changes like eating smaller meals, avoiding alcohol, and not eating right before bed. In rare cases, surgical repair may be warranted.
Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Esophageal cancer is rare, but its incidence is rising rapidly in the United States, Dr. Madanick says.
"If you have heartburn, it might be a sign of esophageal cancer, but it's highly unlikely," he says. Your doctor may decide to order an upper endoscopy to examine your esophagus if you've got long-standing heartburn, especially if you smoke or drink heavily, both of which are risk factors for esophageal cancer.
This test involves passing a tube with a light and a camera at one end down your throat into your esophagus. During the test, your doctor can look for abnormal areas as well as collect tissue samples to test for cancer.
Poor control of diabetes can lead to nerve damage, which can affect the workings of your digestive tract. This is called gastroparesis, and it dramatically slows the movement of food through the stomach and can cause heartburn.
Treatment can include dietary changes such as eating smaller meals, avoiding fat and fiber, medications, and, for people with very severe symptoms, inserting a feeding tube or an implanted device that emits electrical pulses mimicking stomach contractions.
Esophagitis, or inflammation of the esophagus, can result from frequent acid reflux. This condition can in turn lead to more heartburn, as well as difficulty swallowing.
The esophagus can also become inflamed from taking certain painkillers and osteoporosis medications, particularly if the pills are taken without water, allowing them to remain in the esophagus.
A third type of esophagitis, called eosinophilic esophagitis, occurs when white blood cells known as eosinophils invade the esophagus. The condition is often allergy-related, so treatment requires identifying and avoiding the offending foods. Doctors may also prescribe steroid medications to ease inflammation.
Inflammation of the lining of the lungs and chest cavity, known as pleuritis or pleurisy, can cause heartburn-like chest pain. Pleuritis should be suspected "if the pain or burning gets worse when you take deep breaths or move around," Dr. Madanick says.
Pleuritis is most commonly caused by a viral or bacterial infection, and resolves when the infection does.
Costochondritis - an inflammation of the cartilage anchoring ribs to the breastbone - can cause sharp pain along the breastbone or sternum. It can be related to injury or infection, and typically is treated with anti-inflammatory medicines, pain relievers, and rest.
Although anxiety won't cause GERD, it can cause heartburn and make GERD symptoms worse, Dr. Madanick says. A person can have both anxiety-related heartburn and GERD-related heartburn. "One of the signs that it's not just reflux is that treating the reflux problem doesn't make it any better," he says.
Reducing anxiety and stress through, for example, exercise, relaxation, and therapy, can also ease heartburn.
Dr. Madanick says that, as with other conditions that masquerade as GERD, "many times the only times we will see a patient...is when the over-the-counter medications haven't worked, because the medications tend to be very effective for treating simple heartburn."


text:
Yes, "Take the cheese to sickbay!" was B'lanna's line. Most those aren't about the captains themselves.
I have to agree with the one about pulling over to ask for directions.
Another reason to call Janeway the mother of the ship was that she gave people extra chores for punishment. I liked when she threatened Paris when cleaning the plasma filters when he complained about being bored.
I think again, though, that she was a "momma bear." She fiercely protected the ship. I think of it as, "You're not getting to this ship and crew unless you get through me and you're not getting through me."
She is a great character.


text:
IMPORTANT PLEASE NOTE We are not registered for VAT so the prices you see are the prices you pay!
Please call Art on 0151 425 2376 if you have any questions or wish to discuss product details. Please note there is a 4 to 6 week waiting list from placing Furnace and Tong orders until their dispatch due to demand.
STORE CLOSURE DATES Due to a high workload of booked metal casting courses and sign commissions any orders placed during 21st Feb to the 28th February inclusive will be on hold and dispatched on 2nd March dependant upon stock levels. This will also add a week to the above tong and furnace lead times.
Sacks Multi- Use
Colour - Plain Brown no printing suitable for own labelling
Dimensions - Height 780mm x Width 420mm x Depth 75mm (Gusset opening)
Material - 3 layers of Kraft paper which has good wet strength
Seams / Plys - Continuous glue line and Plys spot bonded.
Bottom - Taped and stitched.
These are a heavy duty sack multi use sack capable of carrying up to 25kg and more.
They are puncture and tear resistant due to their strong 3 layer construction even if damp.
They are better for the environment as they can be recycled


text:
Sure, Cleveland Cavaliers fans have Shaquille O'Neal and LeBron James to brag about -- but they've got their sights on a bigger prize.
Spectators at Friday's game against the Detroit Pistons will don Snuggies in an attempt to set the world record for the largest gathering of people wearing fleece blankets, the NBA announced.
Each fan will wear one of the famous blankets with sleeves to the Cavs-Pistons game, set to tip off at 7 p.m. in Cleveland.
U.S. & World
But these aren't just any Snuggies -- the Cavs are hooking fans up with free limited edition, Cavs-colored Snuggies to help set the record.
A Guinness World Records official will be on hand to certify the record, according to the NBA. A sellout crowd of 20, 562 is expected to make the Guinness attempt.
The game will be televised on ESPN -- so Snuggie fans who can't make the game can play along at home.


text:
- Jenny
Two significant changes to my dinner time –- the difference in local foodstuffs here compared with Los Angeles and my much-later arrival home each night –- have given me clarity about some new habits I need to embrace, stat.
First of all, one needs a well-stocked larder. Every manner of bean, noodle, spice, paste, sauce and other staple must be on hand at all times, so there can be improvisation on the fly. Will I let a vote on the Dream Act stand in the way of a well-cooked meal? No I won't! Rice noodles and fish sauce are at the ready, pad thai here I come!
What's more, this is why our grannies turned to canning and freezing –- they didn't have Mexican tomatoes to turn to, and we all know that really, neither should we. (This is not a food lecture. If you want asparagus in December, I can't judge you. Scratch your culinary itch, and do the canning redux thing too –- it's a free country!)
So anyway, to that end, one also needs a freezer full of goodies, from meatballs to stews to stocks stored in 1-cup portions, which can turn "Pasta again?!" into a rich and satisfying affair. While I am usually pretty good at keeping chicken stock on hand, I tend to come up short on a beef version. This bothered me greatly –- a deck of cards with no king.
And so it was that I turned to Meat Stock. That might have been all she wrote, friends, but it wasn't quite. I want you to be able to make this during the week, and unless you have several hours to give up during the work day (or you're doing the old "Actually, (supervisor, partner, random office crazy person) I'm in a meeting, where else would I be? No, that is not a leaf blower -- I'm insulted you'd suggest that!") you are going to need a stock that works for you.
Thus, I have tweaked, and used the crock pot to make it come together.
First, I went to the market and got the marrow bones that gluttonforlife calls for. A guy behind me in line at the butcher stand started giving me some tips, all of which I used to tweak this recipe for the weeknight cook.
I roasted them at a lower temperature for an hour then rubbed them with tomato paste, and roasted them another 90 minutes longer. From here, one could easily go on and continue the recipe, if you are the sort of normal person who sleeps with the crock pot on. I am not, so I put those nicely roasted bones in the fridge until the next morning. (Unlike the author, I did not involve cubed meat. You can of course and the result will no doubt be a richer stock, as she indicates.)
In the morning, I tossed the bones, as well as the onion, carrots, celery stalks, garlic cloves, bay leaves and a bunch of thyme and Italian parsley into my slow cooker. I skipped the leeks, as I had none on hand, and the black peppercorns. I covered it all with water, turned it high for 30 minutes while I got ready for work, then to low, where I left it as I toiled away all day, pretending to be greatly interested in my work tasks as I dreamed of wafts of beef steam at home.
When I got home, once I had cooled and strained my concoction, I had five cups of really good, really rich and aromatic stock. In a few weeks, over time, that will lead to other moments of deliciousness, which I will share with you all. I am posting both recipes here, because I think they suit different needs and because mine would be nowhere without glutton's. Enjoy either one.
Jenny's Modified Meat Stock
Makes 6 cups
1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Rinse the bones with cold water and pat dry. Place the bones in a single layer in a large roasting pan. Roast for about an hour.
2. Remove bones from oven, rub with tomato paste, then roast another hour. (At this point I put the bones in the fridge and went to bed. You can do this or proceed to step 3.)
3. Place the bones, vegetables and herbs in your crock pot, with just enough water to cover them totally. Turn pot to high for 30 to 60 minutes, then turn to low and leave it alone for the rest of the day (7 hrs).
4. Strain broth through fine strainer, and let cool completely before placing it in the refrigerater overnight.
5. The next day, remove and discard fat. Transfer to Ziplock freezer bags (I do one cup bags) and freeze until needed.
Meat Stock
By gluttonforlife
1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Rinse the bones with cold water and pat dry. Place the vegetables in a single layer in a large roasting pan and add the bones on top. Roast, turning the bones a few times, until well browned; about 1 hour.
2. Transfer the bones and vegetables to a large soup pot, discarding fat from the roasting pan. Deglaze the pan with a couple of cups of water over high heat, scraping up all the brown bits. Add this to the bones, along with the cubed meat, tomato paste, garlic, bay leaves, thyme and parsley. Pour in cold water to cover the bones and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer and skim off any foam that rises to the surface. Do not stir. Add peppercorns, and continue to simmer, uncovered, for about 4 hours, skimming from time to time.
3. Strain stock and discard solids. Cool and then refrigerate overnight. The following day, remove and discard fat that has risen to the top, and discard any debris that has sunk to the bottom. Salt before using or, if planning to reduce, wait to add salt until later. Can be stored in the refrigerator for several days, or divided into smaller quantities and frozen for future use, up to 6 months.
A New Way to Dinner, co-authored by Food52's founders Amanda Hesser and Merrill Stubbs, is an indispensable playbook for stress-free meal-planning (hint: cook foundational dishes on the weekend and mix and match 'em through the week).
See what other Food52 readers are saying.


text:
A gaggle of oil-spattered students stood beneath a raised Acura Integra in the auto shop at Burbank High School Tuesday, reaching their hands into its undercarriage.
"The old transmission had a hole in it, so we are replacing it with another one from a scrapped car," 16-year-old Thomas Wee said.
Across the way, another group of students focused on a Cobra kit car that was delivered in pieces and is being assembled bit by bit. Minutes later, automotive technology teacher Manolo Lopez pulled into the garage behind the wheel of a blue Hudson Commodore 8, owned by the actress Patricia Arquette and in need of some electrical work.
"It is one of the few careers you can't outsource," Lopez said of auto mechanics. "In Los Angeles, especially, everyone has a car or two. It is a necessary service that has to be provided."
On Saturday, the student mechanics will put their work on display when the Burbank High School auto shop hosts its first car show, meant to give owners a chance to show off their rides while also raising money for the program.
The show, which will run from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., will take place in the school parking lot off of Glenoaks Boulevard. Admission is free, although there is a $10 fee for car entries. Jordan Schulze, 17 — a third-year automotive technology student who has played a lead role in organizing the event — said that he and his fellow car junkies are hoping to draw at least 75 vehicles.
Jordan estimates he spend as many as 25 hours a week in the school auto shop, much of it after school and on the weekends. He is the proud owner of a 1968 Camaro.
"It's always nice to know how stuff works, even if you are not going to work on your own car," Jordan said. "You won't get ripped off places, you know what you are talking about."
Lopez said he currently has 42 students enrolled in his Los Angeles County Regional Occupational Program, which provides students with technical skills that in some cases can allow them to jump directly into the work force. Two current students are already working at Community Chevrolet on Olive Avenue, he said.
"The technology keeps growing," Lopez said. "There is a lot of graying of the work force. Everybody I have talked to in the industry — they need young people to come in."
Trade classes are more important than ever, he added. The money generated by the fundraiser will be spent on tools, parts and field trips, he said.
"People are realizing that you can't download a new roof to your house," Lopez said. "You can't download a new sink when it backs up. The trades are relevant, and they are very well paid."
Javier Manzano, 18, credited the auto technology occupational program for keeping him engaged with school.
"If you want to work on mechanical skills, this is the perfect class to take," Manzano said. "Some people like to get dirty, some don't. I guess we are the people who like to get dirty."


text:
Noah's Natural Pet Market
Noah's Natural Pet Market is a self service pet wash and retail pet supply store focusing on holistic health. In business since 2001, we are located in the community of Pacific Beach, in San Diego. We provide everything you need to comfortably bathe and groom your dog or cat. No appointment necessary, no cleaning up and no time limit.
We carry a large selection of holistic, natural dog and cat food, the RAW food diet, dietary supplements & treats. Noah's also stocks a wide variety of pet products, including collars, leashes, shampoo, toys and training equipment.
Creating a Cleaner and Healthier World, One Dog at a Time ™
All of the products we sell and enthusiastically promote are naturally derived and non-toxic for your 4-legged friends. We invite you and your furry friends to come and experience the fun atmosphere at Noah's Natural Pet Market.
Noah's Natural Pet Market is a co-op America certified GREEN store (since 2007)! As dedicated environmentalists, we now use all plant-based, phosphate-free, biodegradable laundry detergents, tub and floor cleaners. We encourage you to recycle your own bags when purchasing food and products.


text:
Gaming is all about performance and design. The latter is often more important; no matter how decked out a machine's hardware, a good design can make or break the whole set. Most gaming machines will be set up with the latest hardware but if there are any major problems with the keyboard or chassis, gamers will quickly find fault. If you're a hardcore gamer, you know it takes time to get used to a new machine, and that is certainly the case with the MSI GX740. This workhorse has a lot to offer in terms of power and performance, but a few design choices leave it wanting. Is there anything that makes it stand out? Maybe. It's sleek, modern, and will get the job done without too much complaint.
This MSI has an impressive 17" diagonal screen, which is right at that magic size: portable while still feeling like a large screen. In fact, the whole computer strikes that balance, weighing in at 7 pounds and boasting just an inch and a half thickness. At 1650×1050, the resolution is killer—essential for any gamer. Four onboard speakers and a subwoofer ensure crisp audio, though obviously limited by their portable size. The battery life can reach up to 9 hours, though it will be undoubtedly shortened by hardcore gaming.
What's on the inside? The GX740 is a powerhouse. It's got a blistering 1.6GHz Intel Core i7-720QM and a whopping 4GB of DDR3 RAM, all sitting on top of a 500GB 7200rpm hard drive. The graphics card is a top-notch ATI Radeon Mobility HD5870, itself a reviewable product and a top of the line card. The laptop boots with Windows 7 Home Premium and sports Wifi and Bluetooth connectivity. It also supports HDMI connectivity and a gigabyte Ethernet connection.
Hardware and Aesthetics
The GX740 is a gaming laptop, so it's going to be sleek and pleasing to the eye. The first thing I noticed were the nifty red accents over an brushed aluminum case, and the portability feel of the device is significant. The keyboard gets some complaints; for a gaming keyboard it's a bit limited and the function key on the left can get frustrating (I still can't figure out why laptop designers don't understand that that key should be reserved for the control key only). The rest of the layout is a little bizarre; it forgoes convention for some strange design choices that I felt were a little clunky at first. Over time, a seasoned gamer will get acclimated to it, but expect a period of adjustment. Otherwise, it is functional, feels nice, and supports everything you'll want to do as a gamer. The speakers pump great sound for a laptop, though many gamers may find themselves reverting to headphones.
Three USB ports are essential for gaming peripherals like a mouse or a separate keyboard. The screen itself is anti-glare, which is one of those features that are easy to forget until you don't have it. The battery sticks out in the back a bit, but this saves space overall in the chassis so you'll find no complaints here. There are no outstanding complaints about the placement of the ports or buttons save for an off-center power button (found on the left of the keyboard) that I could easy see someone pressing accidently. With that being said, the battery and Wifi LED indicators near the front of the laptop are well-lit and easy to read at a glance, which is a step up from other laptops I have test driven.
The GX740 has all the functionality of a gaming laptop with plenty of power to back it up. It will get hot when you load up graphics-intensive programs (and you are going to, as this is a laptop intended for gaming purposes). As you are most likely aware, you need to make sure the vents are clear. Thankfully, the GX740 has heat sinks on the right and back sides of the chassis, ensuring optimum cooling without dumping all of the heat onto one side of the laptop. This also means that you will feel some heat being vented on your hand if you use a peripheral mouse (not included) and tend to keep your hand closer to your machine. A strange design choice, considering the number of right-handed computer users on the market.
Whatever resolution you run you games in, the GX740's powerful LED screen will give you a great spectrum of true color. The Radeon graphics card supports Directx 11 graphics, essential on today's market. The GX740 also features a built-in webcam, fairly standard in laptops today but still important.
Gaming will always fall a bit short on laptops, since they can't handle the hardware, particularly the cooling systems, that desktops can. However, for a mid-priced gaming laptop, the GX740 blazes along. You need to be careful about overclocking the Radeon graphics card, but with 4 GB of RAM and a 1.6 Ghz Intel processor, you should get peak performance on all but the most graphics-intensive games. This means that you'll be able to jack up the highest details on most of your programs.
The MSI GX740 is a decent buy as a mid-range gaming laptop. Ideal for gamers who travel to tournaments but don't want to drop a lot of cash on a laptop, the GX740 comes in at $1,399. You could certainly spend a lot more than that, but you'd probably be getting into desktop range. If you can deal with a few oddities on the keyboard, you'll be impressed by the machine's power. It's stacked with all the latest equipment, but your satisfaction definitely depends on what you're looking for in a gaming laptop. Expect it to run the latest games for at least a year or two, but it won't necessarily future-proof you for the really heavy stuff. All in all, the MSI GX740 is a good value and an easy choice for many gamers.


text:
2004 Dodge Durango Review- First Drive
Now With Hemi Power
Larger and more refined than the previous Durango, the '04 model trumps the competition in the performance numbers with styling that sets it apart from the rest of the pack. The family resemblance to the Dodge Ram lineup is strong but also hints at a new midsize Power Wagon-esque look that we expect to see on the upcoming Dakota replacement. The redesigned Durango interior pulls cues from the Ram truck but feels more upscale with cleaner lines and surfaces. People and cargo hauling are the top priority for this SUV and it shows in details like 84-degree opening rear doors that'll let you load almost anything into the back seat. Our initial driving impressions on the winding country roads of Tennessee are that this truck feels and drives smaller than it is with a very quiet ride and great maneuverability for a large family 4x4.
Thankfully the truck DNA has not been lost on this upscale SUV. A fully boxed frame, huge 13.9-inch rotors, Hemi torque, and a 6,600 GVW combine to give the Durango a higher towing capacity than the Chevy Tahoe, Toyota Sequoia, or Ford Expedition. And though we are disappointed about the lack of an available limited-slip differential, the optional ABS-based traction control system works well for the mild trail use we think these trucks will see. Here are some of the technical highlights we knew you'd want to see.


text:
Violet – Interactive Children's Storybook by My Black Dog Books
In a small, peaceful neighborhood, a wonderfully curious and clever girl is about to get herself into a bit of mischief. Her name is Violet and she has a very secret "SECRET." When Violet ties on her black satin mask she becomes Phantom Girl, the world's most daring experimenter!
Read and interact as Violet investigates the outcome of Phantom Girl's latest experiment to turn forward the hands on the clock and take control of time.
Boys and girls alike will have a blast playing with and searching for the many exciting animated interactions contained within this amusing tale of a little girl with a BIG imagination.
After reading the story, head on over to our website to enjoy Violet coloring book pages and an interactive sketchpad for creating your own artwork.
While visiting our website, learn more about Violet, her family and that curious little dog that seems to be following her…
- Beautifully hand-drawn illustrations by award winning artist, Allison Keeme
- Hidden pop-up and movable animations
- Page curl navigation
- Audio On/Off option for original musical score
- Bonus online materials at www.myblackdogbooks.com
View our trailer at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tWKqWFDa8pA
Developer Website: http://www.myblackdogbooks.com/


text:
What we saw in the movies finally happened. Science-fiction became reality and everybody could see how huge spaceships landed over the main capitals of the world. Aliens attacked at once, killing millions of humans in mere seconds. The governments of the Earth answered to the attack with nuclear weaponry, in a desperate movement for destroying the aliens, at the cost of the planet itself.
The aliens survived, the Earth became a wasteland, and the sewers, the subway and the basements became the only havens for the remains of humans, which gathered into small groups and gangs in order to survive.
The Swarm is a 3D adventure game, full of action on 3rd view where the player will face the challenge of surviving in a wasted Moscow that shows the scars of the alien attack, defending himself from the attacks of other humans looking for a piece of food, and from the dangerous aliens.
Key Features:
The main character, though starting as a normal human, will be able to assimilate alien skills and characteristics, that will make him more and more powerful to defend himself, though at the cost of his humanity and mental sanity. Develop your character as you wish, choose the alien skills freely, or keep him free of them and focus on the weaponry.
Face huge enemies and bosses, tall as a building which can kill you with a single hit.
Real Moscow shown, under the effects of the alien catastrophe Fight in the demolished Red Square defend yourself at the doors of the Kremlin of a 50m-tall alien.
|Recommended System Requirements
|Pentium 4 2.8 GHz
|Windows XP/Vista
|Graphics Card
|graphic card 256 MB (GeForce 7600 or better)
|HDD Space
- Fragment of Marine
- Hentai – Area 51
- Hello Neighbor Alpha 4
- 01-逝去的回忆3【50元充值】
- Mystic Vale – Vale of the Wild
- Guess Game-Guess The Number
- Ping Pong Trick Shot EVOLUTION
- Ultimate Fishing Simulator VR
- ダブルスポイラー 〜 東方文花帖
- Awesome Animated Monster Maker
- Pizza Parking
- A Feeble Saga: Chapter I
- Marshmellow Day Spa
- Mahjong Solitaire Refresh
- Hero Siege – Extra slots & stash space


text:
CAUTION: The following recipe is not exactly healthy, instead, it is decadent, delicious, and certifiably sinful (and that's putting it lightly). I adore hot chocolate any time of the year. I don't really drink any milk (by itself), so I tell myself that hot chocolate is a good source of calcium and a great alternative to overly fattening desserts (which I do thoroughly enjoy... occasionally...or more often than that).
I've grown tired of the hot chocolate packets because, despite my best efforts, I can't get them to "declump"... not in milk, water, after stirring, shaking, grrrr. So, I decided to make my own hot chocolate and solve the problem. I had no idea what I was getting myself into. I will never, ever have a powdered mix again...how did I even drink one in the first place? It was, in one word ...beautiful... and it can hold it's own against any dessert. I found a delicious recipe on allrecipes.com by Jeanie Bean. I simply altered some of the ingredients (made it with less sugar, no half and half, and only used skim - so it qualifies as "healthy", right??) and added my own flavors (caramel and cinnamon). I'm in love... it is rich, dark chocolate with a perfect paring of cinnamon and caramel. This will definitely give you yummy dreams!
Caramel and Cinnamon Hot Chocolate
1/3 c. unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 c. organic white sugar (you can probably even half this and it would still be delish!)
a pinch of salt
1/3 c. boiling water
3 1/2 c. cold skim milk
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tbsp. caramel sauce
whipped cream
Serves 4
1. Mix cocoa, sugar, and salt in a sauce pan.
2. Add already boiling water to the sauce pan and stir.
3. Heat until mixture boils, stir constantly.
|It's boiling!
4. Turn the heat down and allow mixture to simmer for about 2 minutes.
5. Slowly add milk and continue to heat (but do not let it boil).
6. Stir in cinnamon and caramel.
|After adding cinnamon and caramel
7. Pour and enjoy!
I plan to try peppermint oil next time instead of cinnamon and caramel. The possibilities are endless... I love it!
I also shared this recipe with:
and the other "cute" buttons on the side bar!