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The beauty is in the beasts
Monster Hunter Tri came out for the Wii in 2009, and now Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate is an expanded version, made available for the Wii U and 3DS. It has updated visuals, more weapons, more quests, and of course, more monsters. With such a hefty amount of content added, it definitely feels more like an expansion than just a few add-ons.
This is a very particular type of game, one that forces the player to learn its intricacies in order to progress. It's a game that will definitely take some time to fully comprehend, but in turn offers one of the most rewarding experiences possible. So long as you have the time to dedicate to it, Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate will reward you greatly.
Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate (3DS, Wii U [reviewed])
Developer: Capcom, Eighting (3DS)
Publisher: Capcom
Release Date: March 19, 2013
MSRP: $59.99 (Wii U) / $39.99 (3DS)
At its core, Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate (MH3U) is a game about completing quests. There's a thin plot setup as the game begins, involving the main town's experiences of frequent earthquakes caused by a big ol' monster. From there, it is up to the player to become enough of a badass to take on the behemoth and save the town.
That's where the quests come in. Quests can range from collecting some items from around the environment to slaying a beastly monster. Completing quests nets both items and money, reflective of the difficulty of the specific quest. Perhaps most importantly, questing awards the player with experience. Not "XP" points that allow the character to level up, but honest-to-goodness experience in the field.
You see, the character doesn't level up in the traditional sense with XP points, but instead the player levels up by simply playing more and honing their skills. If you've played the Skate games, then you have a general idea of what I'm getting at. The character has one of each weapon type in their inventory at the very beginning of the game, and it is up to the player to try them out and decide what weapon works best for their playstyle.
The controls also need to be mastered, as it is not ideal to be accidentally putting your weapon away during a huge monster battle. Every player needs to know what will happen with each button press, as a poorly–timed swing can lead to big trouble.
The GamePad screen and the 3DS touch screen can be customized to display specific information to the player. HUD items like the map, item pouch, or health bars can even be removed from the main screen and placed on the second screen, allowing for less clutter. It's a beautiful addition to the game and one that really makes the game feel more personal.
There are 11 different types of weapons to choose from, four of which are new since Monster Hunter Tri. Each weapon feels like a brand new experience and will take some getting used to. While it may seem simple enough to operate a Bow, learning all of the intricacies and nuances of the combat system takes a lot of time and practice.
Learning the attack animations of both your character and the monsters is what will really elevate your skill to the next level. Larger weapons take much larger swings and it is crucial to know when to attack and when not to attack; when to evade and when not to evade; when to use items and when not to use items. Overcommitment in Monster Hunter can and will lead to damage that should have been avoided. Monster Hunter is a series about playing smart.
Part of that smart play comes in the preparation before a quest. Prior to jumping into a big monster hunt, it is imperative that the necessary precautions be taken. What these precautions are will come with experience, but generally it's a good idea to take plenty of potions, whetstones, and meat into any hunting quest. Heading into a quest all willy-nilly will likely result in a few deaths and failed attempts.
Monsters do not have a health bar to let the player know when it is near death. Instead, the player must use behavioral hints like when a monster begins limping or loses a horn to infer how damaged it actually is. Battles can get quite intense once both the monster and the hunter have taken heavy damage, and one simple mistake could result in death.
Dying during a quest will result in a lowered reward, and once the reward reaches zero, the quest is failed. Failing a quest is merely a setback, however, as the quest is still available to undertake afterwards. It is a good idea to get into the habit of examining why you failed a quest, as to hopefully not repeat the same mistakes.
In addition to monster killing, there are plenty of materials to be harvested, mined, fished, and gathered. After felling a beast, it can be carved up to collect the sweet, sweet materials within. These materials are then usually used for new weapons and armor. There are also plenty of spots around the world to search for bones, mushrooms, herbs, and way more good stuff to be used in item crafting.
It will take a lot of time and specific monster hunting in order to complete that one set of armor or to finish gathering the materials for a certain weapon. In order to keep up with the strength of the monsters, it is important to have some powerful gear. Hunting the same monster a few times over doesn't make for the most riveting experience, but if you manage to get online with some buddies and take a few out, the monotony is certainly lessened.
This game is definitely a time sink. After investing dozens of hours into MH3U, there is still an overwhelming amount of content to be experienced, both online and off. This isn't really the type of game to be played in short, 15-minute sessions. Expect the game to eat up a significant amount of free time, most of which passes in what seems like the blink of an eye.
All of these important concepts combined with a decent learning curve are what gives this game such a strong sense of accomplishment. Taking down your first Great Jaggi is easily one of the most memorable experiences, even if it is the very first "big" monster encounter. Each subsequent monster feels more and more rewarding and it is a feeling unmatched in most games today.
The real draw of MH3U is the online play, which works great most of the time but isn't without a few hiccups. Joining or creating an online lobby works great. There are eight "Worlds," which are labeled with phrases like "Free Play," "Beginners Only," or "Experts Only." Each world holds 10 Lobbies, each with a maximum capacity of 100 players. Players can chat in the lobbies themselves, or join a Room with up to three other players and take on quests. Rooms can be named and password-protected, along with a phrase explaining what the host is looking for, like "Relaxed Hunting!"
The biggest issue with Network Mode is that there is no host migration. If the person who created the Room leaves, the other players are kicked out. It's such an odd omission in such an online-heavy series like Monster Hunter, and can be frustrating if you find a nice solid group of people to hunt with. There's also a text censoring system that has its fair share of oddities. I can understand censoring words like "butt," but typing "pick a quest" yields "****** quest" for some strange reason. Or maybe I'm just so far removed from what kids are calling it these days.
Through my experience, I saw no noticeable latency issues when playing with others. As fellow hunters called out something, I saw it happen immediately instead of seconds later. The microphone in the Wii U GamePad works excellently and guarantees that every player at least has the capability of voice chat. Just a quick tip, though: turn down your television volume, alright? No one wants to hear sound effects twice.
The Wii U can also connect with up to three 3DS systems locally for cooperative hunting with friends. This process is simple and painless, and seeing your 3DS character on the big screen in 1080p is really nice, even if it is just for a brief moment.
In addition to questing, the Network Mode also features an Arena mode that pits players against a specific monster and ranks them on how fast they can bring it down. There is also planned free downloadable content out the wazoo. The DLC schedule for months is available to view by heading to the DLC area of the main menu, complete with a quick blurb about each installment.
It is also entirely possible to take on these multiplayer quests solo, so long as you are ready for quite the challenge. Monsters are bigger and badder in multiplayer, and solo monster hunters will find some serious resistance.
The beauty of MH3U doesn't come from technical fidelity, but instead from the monster design and atmosphere. The models and textures look a bit rough when viewed up close, but in the middle of a giant battle it hardly matters. Some of the environments, while seemingly bland, still manage to elicit a sense of wonder and awe as monsters go running and flying by.
Coming across a new monster for the first time is something truly amazing. As a brief cutscene introduces each one, the only thing likely to be running through your head is "I have to take down that?!" The animations are smooth and deliberate and you really feel the impact of the big hulking swings.
The game is also extremely charming and quirky. Weapons are hilariously over-sized, armor is over-the-top, and the written dialogue is full of stupid yet hysterical jokes. I still can't get enough of the meat cooking minigame and accompanying tune. Soooo tasty!
When playing on the 3DS, the only significant gameplay difference comes with the camera controls. While on the Wii U it is possible to lock on to a giant monster by pressing the ZR button, on the 3DS this functionality is done exclusively with the touch pad. Once locked on, the L button on both systems will focus the camera towards the monster, which is a very convenient addition, especially on the 3DS.
A second d-pad can also be added to the touch screen, and when placed on the right-hand side, this is a decent way to handle free camera movement without the Circle Pad Pro. It is a less than ideal solution, but functions adequately most of the time. The main issue with controlling the camera comes during the underwater segments, as the camera can get a bit unwieldy on the 3DS.
Other than the camera, the 3DS version controls just like its Wii U counterpart. It can get a bit uncomfortable after extended periods of play, but that largely depends on both hand and 3DS size. The text on the 3DS version is somewhat difficult to read as well, especially if the 3D slider is in between off and full. The 3D effect itself looks great, and brings an already engaging experience to life.
The free 3DS transfer tool is something that may only affect a small amount of people, but is nonetheless a great feature of MH3U. The tool is still unreleased, but the idea is to transfer save data from the Wii U to the 3DS to take a character on the go. This requires both systems and the game for both, but if you fall into that subset of owners, this feature should easily justify the situation. I cannot comment on how easy the process is, but hopefully it is painless and quick.
My only real gripe with the game is how the area maps function. Each of the environments are broken down into various numbered sections. Sometimes a quest will mention Area 8 or a friend online will spot a monster in Area 3, so it is definitely convenient to have the map broken up. However, moving between areas elicits a near-instant load time instead of the map being one contiguous piece of terrain.
Usually this isn't an issue, but occasionally a monster will stand in the part of the Area that is beyond the invisible wall that triggers the load time into the next area, making it unreachable. This isn't a huge issue when battling, since the monster will likely move out of it soon enough, but if a monster dies in that unreachable area, you can say "bye bye" to any materials you would have collected. It happens infrequently enough to hardly be an issue, but when it does happen it is frustrating.
Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate definitely isn't for everybody. It requires a lot of time and dedication that some people simply can't put forth. It will take a while to get used to the controls, to determine which weapon is best for you, and to discover the tiny nuances to the gameplay. After all is said and done and the big monster is slain, however, nothing is more rewarding.
Encountering monsters in Monster Hunter isn't like most other games. Monsters will take your breath away shortly before they take your life away. This is a game that will force you to learn from your mistakes, lest you repeat them and achieve the same failure as before. While the visuals are far from stunning and the online lacks any sort of host migration, Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate is one of the best and most rewarding experiences in a long time, and will certainly keep you busy for a while.


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New Testament Era (1-30)
Since the deaths of many of the biblical personalities can not be traced, for the purposes of the New Testament era, we will list the chronological appearance of these same personalities, as they are documented in the Scripture.
- 12 Tiberius I, stepson of Augustus, became emperor of Rome
- 25-26 c, Death of Joseph the Betrothed [1]
- 27 c, John the Baptist [2] begins his ministry including the Baptism of Christ
- 27 September 1: According to Holy Tradition, Christ entered the synagogue on September 1 to announce His mission to mankind (Luke 4:16-22).[3]
- 27-30 c, Three year ministry of Christ [4]
- 28 c, John the Baptist is executed by Herod Antipas [5]
- 30 c, Other events: First death of Lazarus; Dismas the thief crucified on Golgotha Hill outside Jerusalem alongside Christ, the first to enter heaven (Luke 23:43); Judas Iscariot hangs himself.
- 30 Death and Resurrection of Lord Jesus Christ the Son of God. [6]
Apostolic Era (30-100)
The Apostolic period can begin with the death of Christ, or from the Day of Pentecost, and ends with the Apostle John and covers about seventy years.
- 31 Protomartyr of christianity Apostle Stephen delivers a speech before the Sanhedrin (Acts 6:8-8:1) and is stoned to death December 27.
After the Ascension of the Saviour to Heaven, the Apostles preach the Good News to various parts of the world:
- Apostle Thaddeus preaches to Syria and Mesopotamia. He preaches the Gospel to Edessa and converts King Abgar.
- 34 Death of Philip, tetrach of Iturea; Apostle Nikanor the deacon (Acts 6:1-6), d. July 28
- 35 c, Ignatius of Antioch born.
- 35-44 c, The Dormition [7] of the Theotokos, the Mother of Christ, August 15.
- 36 Tiberius orders the death of Annas and Pontius Pilate for their involvement in the Death of Christ, adter being informed so by Mary Magdalene. Caiaphas died on his way to the trial.[8]
- 37 End of Tiberius' reign.
- 44 Agrippa I beheads Apostle James (son of Zebedee and brother of John), July 25; c, Apostle Thaddeus of the Seventy (not Judas), Bp. of Edessa, August 21.
Agrippa I is eaten by worms and dies.
- 50
- Gamaliel [9], teacher of the Apostle Paul dies.
- Rite of baptism develops independently of synagogue.
- Eucharistic rite develops independently of syngague.
- 52 First Apostolic Council takes place in Jerusalem.
- 53
- c. Hierotheus of Athens[10] baptised by the Apostle Paul
- Apostle Evodus of the Seventy appointed by the holy Apostle Peter as 2nd Bp. of Antioch.
- 54 Claudius dies, probably poisoned. Apostle Stachys, of the Seventy, 2nd Bishop of Byzantium (Constantinople), October 31.
- 59 c, Probus, bishop of Verona in Italy, January 12 citation needed
- 60-62 c, Apostle Andrew, [11] 1st bishop of Byzantium (Constantinople), November 30
- 60-63 c, Second death of Lazarus, Bishop of Kittium.
- 60 Saints Aristarchos, Pudens (2 Tim. 4:21), and Trophimos, the Apostles of the Seventy, April 14.
- 61 c, Apostle Barnabas, founder of the Church of Cyprus, traditionally thought to have been martyred in Salamis.
- 62 Porcius Festus dies.; Apostle James, the brother of the Lord and first bishop of Jerusalem, is stoned to death at the instigation of the Sanhedrin, during the short interval between Porcius Festus and Albinus [12].
- 63 Apostle Matthias August 9, stoned to death at the instigation of the Sanhedrin, Jerusalem.
- 64
- 66
- Evellius, advisor of Nero, converted to Christ on witnessing the patience of the martyrs and then himself martyred in Pisa, Italy, May 11;
- Hermagoras and Fortunatus, according to tradition, Hermagoras was a disciple of Apostle Mark and was consecrated Bishop of Auileia in Italy. He and his deacon Fortunatus were beheaded under Nero, July 12;
- Priscus, 1st bishop of Capua, Italy sent by Apostle Peter, martyred under Nero, September 1;
- Photine of Samaria, Anatole, Photo, Photis, Paraskeve, Kyriake, Photinos and Joses and the Duke Sebastianos, martyred under Emperor Nero.
- Christians arrive in Antioch from Jerusalem
- 67 c, Paul, founder of the Church of Rome, beheaded in Rome;
- 68
- Apostle Onesimus of the Seventy, 3rd bishop of Byzantium (Constantinople), February 15;
- Anastasia and Basilissa, martyrs in Rome [14] April 15.
- 70 the Roman emperor Titus captures and destroys Jerusalem. The Romans demolish the Jewish temple and under difficult conditions the Christians emigrate in Pella in the east bank of Jordan river.
- 78 Apollinaris, 1st Bp. of Ravenna, suffered persecution under Emperor Vespasian July 23; Candida the Elder, [17] September 4.
- 84
- c, Apostle Luke near Boeotia, Greece [[ ]] [19];
- after the death of Apostle Luke, Ananias transfers the Panagia Soumela icon painted by Luke to Athens where it is venerated as the "Panagia Athiniotissa".
- 88 Anacletus, 2nd Bp. of Rome.
- 89 Polucarpus I, Bp. of Byzantium (Constantinople).
90-96 (2nd) Persection of Christians under Emperor Domitian
- 90
- Onesimus, [20] February 16; Birillus, bishop of Catania (Sicily), [21] March 21;
- Romulus and companions, [22] July 6;
- Nicomedes, [23] September 15;
- Rufus of Rome, [24] November 21.
- "The Apocalypse" (Revelation) written by John the Theologian in Patmos.
- 92 Mark of Galilee, [25] 1st bishop of Abruzzi (Italy), April 28.
- 96 Martyrdom of Dionysius the Areopagite of the Seventy; Flavius Clemens, [26] beheaded by his nephew Domitian, June 22.
- 98 Melyos, 3rd bishop of Alexandria, September 12; Clement, [27] 3rd bishop of Rome, November 25.
- 100
- Nereus and Achilleus, [29] beheaded in Terracina (Italy), May 12;
- Geruntius of Italica, Bp. of Talco (Italica, near Seville) and martyr [30] August 25;
- Prosdocimus, 1st Bp. of Padua in Italy, November 7;
- 100 Death [31] of St. John the Theologian in Ephesus.
First Century unknown dates
- Apostle Titus, Bp. of Crete (ordained by Paul), died peacefully 97 y.o., August 25.
- Apostle Zenas, Bp. of Diospolis (or Lydda) in Palestine, September 27. [32]
- Hierotheus of Athens, martyrs death late in the first century, October 4.
- The second Holy-unmercenaries and relatives of the Holy Apostle Paul, Zenaida and Philonilla of Tarsus in Cilicia, October 11.
Close of the Apostolic Age
This template displays the series box and includes the article in Category:Saints
- ↑ The apocryphal account, "The History of Joseph", a 4th century document the last years of Joseph's life. According to St. Epiphanios of Cyprus (c315-403), the Elder Joseph lived to a profound old age, having entered into rest at the age of one hundred and ten years old. He reposed just before Christ entered His public ministry to preach the Gospel
- ↑ The Ministry of St. John the Baptist begins in the "15th year of Tiberius" (Luke 3:1-2). He preaches, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near" (Matt 3:1-2) and baptising Christ in the Jordan (Mark 1:4-11)
- ↑ Quoting Isaiah 61:1-2), the Savior proclaimed, "The spirit of the Lord is upon me; because He has anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent me to proclaim release to captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord…" This scene is depicted in a Vatican manuscript (Vatican, Biblioteca. Cod. Gr. 1613, p.1).
- ↑ The three year ministry of Christ includes the appointment of the Twelve Apostles, Sermon on the Mount, miracles, transfiguration, etc
- ↑ The execution of Saint John the Baptist has been recorded in "Antiquitates Judaicae" in Latin published by the Jewish historian Flavius Josephus about 93 or 94 AD, 18.5.2
- ↑ 30AD is thought to be the most accurate dating of the death, resurrection and Pentecost amongst academics and has been used for this article in lieu of 33AD.
- ↑ At the time of her death tradition states she was in her early fifties.
- ↑ The Great Synaxaristes
- ↑ Gamaliel is celebrated as a Pharisee doctor of Jewish Law, who was the teacher of Apostle Paul; the author of the Book of Acts portrays Gamaliel with great respect (Acts 5:34, 22:3)
- ↑ According to tradition, Hierotheus was present with St. Dionysius the Areopagite at the Dormition of the Theotokos. Tradition is not clear whether he is the first Bishop of Athens since other traditions place Dionysius in this role.
- ↑ Apostle Andrew is traditionally thought to have been martyred in Achaia at Patras by cruxifixion.
- ↑ The death of James the Just is also recorded in "Antiquitates Judaicae" published by the Jewish historian Flavius Josephus, 20.9.1
- ↑ Source: w:First Martyrs of the Church of Rome
- ↑ Noble Roman ladies, disciples of the Apostles Paul and Peter, whose bodies they buried. They were martyred under Nero.
- ↑ A virgin martyred in Terni in Italy at the same time as Bishop Valentine.
- ↑ The first bishop of Rome. A disciple of the Apostle Paul, he was one of the Seventy and is mentioned in 2 Timothy 4:21. He was bishop for twelve years and is venerated as a martyr.
- ↑ An aged woman who welcomed the Apostle Peter in Naples and was miraculously healed by him. In her turn she convered St. Aspren who became the first Bishop of Naples.
- ↑ A matron from Rome baptised by the Apostle Peter who converted her husband and her son, St. Nazarius. Her relics are enshrined in Milan and Cremona in Italy.
- ↑ Dating by Anti-Marcionite Prologue to the Gospel of Luke.
- ↑ The slave who ran away from his master Philemon and was converted by St. Paul in Rome and was the occasion of the Apostle's letter to Philemon.
- ↑ By tradition he was consecrated first Bishop of Catania in Sicily by the Apostle Peter, with whom he had travelled from Antioch. He reposed in extreme old age.
- ↑ By tradition ordained by the Apostle Peter as first pastor of Fiesole, he was martyred with several companions under Domitian
- ↑ By tradition he was a priest martyred in Rome, perhaps under Domitian.
- ↑ The disciple that St. Paul greets in Romans 16:13.
- ↑ By tradition, a Galilean and the first bishop, and also martyr, of the Abruzzi in Italy.
- ↑ Brother of the Emperor Vespasian and uncle of Titus and Domitian, whose niece, Flavia Domitilla, he married. In 95AD he held a consular office together with Domitian. The following year Domitian beheaded him for the Christian faith.
- ↑ The date is uncertain. Early sources noted that he died a natural death, perhaps in Greece. A tradition dated from the ninth century tells of his martyrdom in Crimea in 102 by drowning when thrown overboard from a boat with a ship's anchor tied to him.
- ↑ They belonged to the circle of Flavia Domitilla, whome they accompanied in exile to the island of Ponza. Eventually they retured to Rome and were martyred under Trajan.
- ↑ Pretorian soldiers, by tradition baptised by the Apostle Peter, and exiled with Flavia Domitilla to Pontia and later to Terracina in Italy
- ↑ A missionary in Spain in the Apostolic Age
- ↑ Account of the miracle that occured at his grave: When over 100 years old, St. John took seven disciples outside of Ephesus and had them dig a grave in the shape of a cross. St. John then went into the grave, and the disciples buried him there, alive. Later on, when his grave was opened, St. John's body was not there. 'On May 8 of each year, dust rises up from his grave, by which the sick are healed of various diseases.'
- ↑ The Holy Apostle Zenas of the Seventy, a disciple and co-worker with the first-ranked Apostle Paul, was called a lawyer, since he was a learned man and led juridical matters in church courts. He is mentioned in the Epistle of the holy Apostle Paul to Titus (Titus 3:13): "Help Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their way; see that they lack nothing." Afterwards, St Zenas became bishop of the city of Diospolis (or Lydda) in Palestine.

subset: commoncrawl


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Obama seeks to take down NRA ad
The Obama campaign has written radio stations in Pennsylvania and Ohio, pressing them to refuse to air an ad from the National Rifle Association.
"This advertisement knowingly misleads your viewing audience about Senator Obama's position on the Second Amendment," says the letter from Obama general counsel Bob Bauer. "For the sake of both FCC licensing requirements and the public interest, your station should refuse to continue to air this advertisement."
The ad, "Hunter," conflates Obama's anti-gun stances of the 1990s with his current, more pro-gun, stand, and was chided for inaccuracy in The Washington Post, an item to which Bauer's letter refers.
NRA spokesman Andrew Arulanandam, who provided the letter, said it shows clear evidence that the ads are "hurting him," and stood by their substance. He also provided a copy of the NRA's own letter to the stations and memo disputing the Post story, after the jump. He also said the ad is running only in Pennsylvania at the moment.
TO: Station Managers
FROM: Cleta Mitchell, Esq.
Counsel to National Rifle Association
DATE: September 25, 2008
RE: Documentation for Advertising by National Rifle Association Political Victory Fund ("NRA-PVF")
This firm serves as counsel to the National Rifle Association ("NRA") and the National Rifle Association Political Victory Fund ("NRA-PVF"), which is the federal political action committee of the NRA and the sponsor of certain advertising purchased and soon-to-be purchased on your station. It has come to my clients' attention that the Obama for President campaign is engaging in an effort to prevent or stop the airing of certain ads by NRA-PVF, falsely alleging that the ads are 'inaccurate'. The Obama presidential campaign apparently relies on an article appearing in the Washington Post on September 23, 2008 to support its contention hat the NRA-PVF ads should not be aired.
The Washington Post is hardly an objective news source on any subject related to the issues to which the NRA is dedicated, having spent decades attacking not only the NRA but also fighting against the legislation and policies NRA supports to protect the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution, as well as supporting every conceivable government proposal or policy any officeholder or candidate suggests to weaken and disrupt the guarantees of the Second Amendment. It is therefore no surprise that the Washington Post would now attack the NRA for advertisements which truthfully disclose the anti-gun, anti-Second Amendment record of Barack Obama, the candidate supported by the Washington Post.
Attached please find the point-by-point refutation of the Washington Post's article about the NRA-PVF ads regarding Obama's record on the Second Amendment, as well as an article disclosing the bias of the decidedly not neutral "FactChecker" on which the Washington Post article is ostensibly based.
The NRA devotes 100% of its time and resources to protecting the Second Amendment and fighting for government policies and legislation furtherance of the rights of the American people to keep and bear arms.
The legislative and policy record of candidates and officeholders such as Barack Obama are well known and documented by the NRA on an ongoing basis. NRA-PVF's advertising during the 2008 election cycle is based on that extensive research and documentation, which is being furnished to you with this Memorandum.
Accordingly, we respectfully request that your station disregard the shamefully false assertions from the Obama campaign and its attorneys regarding the NRA-PVF ads and that the ads run in accordance with the purchase(s) made by NRA-PVF in the media buy.
Please feel free to contact me at (202) 295-xxxx if you have any questions. Thank you.
Factual Response to Washington Post False Statements on NRA Anti-Obama Ads
Washington Post Claim—500% Tax on Guns
It is unclear from the article exactly what weapons would have been covered by the proposed tax. … Even if Obama did support a big tax increase on the sale of certain types of assault weapons back in 1999, that is hardly evidence that he will move as president to tax the "guns and ammo" most commonly used by hunters.
The Post quotes Obama out of context, claiming that he only wanted to tax "certain types" of guns in 1999. But the full sentence in the 1999 article reads, "Obama is also seeking to increase the federal taxes by 500 percent on the sale of firearm, ammunition [sic] -- weapons he says are most commonly used in firearm deaths." Chinta Strausberg, Obama unveils federal gun bill, Chicago Defender, Dec. 13, 1999, at 3. (emphasis added). Contrary to the Post's assertion, the statement makes no distinction as to what type of guns Obama proposed to tax.
The Post is far too eager to let Obama off the hook just because he hasn't mentioned the idea lately. Obama has supported the idea and has never repudiated that support. Therefore it is fair to say that the statement reflects his views on the issue.
Washington Post Claim—Ammunition Ban
Contrary to [NRA's] claim, the Kennedy proposal of July 2005, SA 1615, was not aimed at "virtually all deer-hunting ammunition." Instead, it would have authorized the attorney general to define types of illegal ammunition capable of penetrating body armor commonly used by law enforcement officials. During the Senate debate, Kennedy said that his amendment would "not apply to ammunition that is now routinely used in hunting rifles," a point contested by the NRA.
NRA contested the point for a simple reason: The Post is wrong.
The Kennedy Amendment would have expanded the current ban on manufacturing "armor piercing ammunition" other than for sale to the government, 18 U.S.C. ? 922(a)(7), by banning any "projectile [i.e., bullet] that may be used in a handgun and that the Attorney General determines … to be capable of penetrating body armor." The amendment called for testing of projectiles against "body armor that … meets minimum standards for the protection of law enforcement officers." S. Amdt. 1615 to S. 397, July 29, 2005.
Body armor is rated in different classes based on the level of protection it provides. The "minimum" level of body armor under Department of Justice standards that were in effect in 2005, Type I armor, only protects against the least powerful handgun cartridges; only Type III and higher armor protects against high-powered rifle cartridges. U.S. Dept. of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Ballistic Resistance of PersonalBody Armor: NIJ Standard-0101.04 2-3 (June 2001).
However, there are many "projectiles that may be used in a handgun" that can also be used in a rifle. Handgun hunting is increasingly popular, and handgun hunters often use handguns that fire common hunting rifle cartridges such as the .30-30 Winchester. See, e.g., http://www.tcarms.com/firearms/g2ContenderPistols.php#spec_charts. A ban on "projectile[s] that may be used" in these handguns would have the effect of banning the same cartridges for rifle hunters. It would even ban rifle cartridges not commonly used in handguns, because any bullet may be fired in a barrel of the correct diameter, regardless of whether the barrel is installed on a handgun or on a rifle.
Finally, it is true that Sen. Kennedy denied his 2005 amendment would ban hunting ammunition. However, in a floor debate on a substantially identical amendment the previous year, Kennedy specifically denounced a hunting rifle cartridge:
Another rifle caliber, the 30.30 [sic] caliber, was responsible for penetrating three officers' armor and killing them in 1993, 1996, and 2002. This ammunition is also capable of puncturing light-armored vehicles, ballistic or armored glass, armored limousines, even a 600-pound safe with 600 pounds of safe armor plating.
It is outrageous and unconscionable that such ammunition continues to be sold in the United States of America.
Cong. Rec. S1634 (daily ed. Feb. 26, 2004). The relatively low-powered .30-30 Winchester was introduced in 1895 and "has long been the standard American deer cartridge." Frank C. Barnes, Cartridges of the World 52 (8th ed. 1997). As noted above, the .30-30 may be fired in a handgun.
Even apart from the Kennedy Amendment, Obama also said, on his 2003 questionnaire for the Independent Voters of Illinois-Independent Precinct Organization, that he would "support banning the sale of ammunition for assault weapons." See Lynn Sweet, Obama's 2003 IVI-IPO questionnaire may be getting closer scrutiny, Chicago Sun-Times, Dec. 11, 2007 (available at http://blogs.suntimes.com/sweet/2007/12/sweet_column_obamas_2003_iviip.html). The rifles that were banned as "assault weapons" under the 1994 Clinton gun ban fire cartridges such as the .223 Remington and .308 Winchester—the same ammunition used in common hunting rifles. See 18 U.S.C. § 921(a)(30) (repealed Sept. 13, 2004). Therefore, this statement also supports a ban on hunting rifle ammunition.
Washington Post Claim—Gun Ban
The … claim refers to semiautomatic rifles and pistols covered by the assault weapons ban, which expired in March 2004.
While Obama does support the ban (which actually expired in September, not March, of 2004), the statement in the advertisement is based on Sen. Obama's vote for much broader legislation and his public statement in favor of banning all semi-automatic firearms.
On March 13, 2003, Obama voted in the Illinois Senate Judiciary Committee for a bill that would have enacted a much broader gun ban. (The vote tally sheet is available at http://www.nrapvf.org/Media/pdf/sb1195_obama.pdf).
The bill under debate that day, SB 1195 (available at http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/93/SB/PDF/09300SB1195lv.pdf), would have made it illegal to "knowingly manufacture, deliver, or possess" a "semiautomatic assault weapon."
The bill defined a "semiautomatic assault weapon" to include "any firearm having a caliber of 50 [sic] or greater." See SB 1195, page 2, line 10 (emphasis added). Under this bill, a firearm did not actually have to be semi-automatic to be a "semiautomatic assault weapon."
Shotguns 28-gauge or larger (by far the majority of shotguns owned in the United States) are all ".50-caliber or greater." See National Rifle Ass'n, Firearms Fact Book 183 (3d ed. 1989). SB 1195 did exclude any firearm that "is manually operated by bolt, pump, lever or slide action" and "any semiautomatic shotgun that cannot hold more than 5 rounds of ammunition in a fixed or detachable magazine." SB 1195 p.3, lines 12-23. However, the bill did not exclude firearms with hinge or similar actions, such as single-shot or double-barreled shotguns used by millions of hunters.
Anyone who possessed one of these firearms in Illinois 90 days after the effective date would have had to "destroy the weapon or device, render it permanently inoperable, relinquish it to a law enforcement agency, or remove it from the state." SB 1195, p. 5, line 33. Anyone who still possessed a banned gun would have been subject to a felony sentence. SB 1195, p. 5, line 15. This "seizure and surrender" provision was much more severe than the former federal "assault weapons" ban, which had a "grandfather clause" to allow current lawful owners to keep their guns. See 18 U.S.C. 922(v)(2) (repealed).
Obama also supported banning a large class of popular hunting firearms on a 1998 Project VoteSmart survey. One of the questions, and the relevant part of Obama's responses, were as follows:
Indicate which principles you support (if any) concerning gun issues.
X a) Ban the sale or transfer of all forms of semi-automatic weapons.
X b) Increase state restrictions on the purchase and possession of firearms.
See Illinois State Legislative Election 1998 National Political Awareness Test (available at http://www.votesmart.org/npat.php?can_id=9490#826:) (emphasis added). Millions of American hunters have used semi-automatic rifles and shotguns for over a century.
Finally, of course, a ban on hunting rifle ammunition (such as the Kennedy amendment Obama supported) would have been a very effective ban on the use of hunting rifles.


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Becoming Ronald Reagan
The Rise of a Conservative Icon
Robert Mann
Narrator to be announced
Book published by University of Nebraska Press
In the 1960s transitioning from acting to politics was rare. Ronald Reagan was not the first to do it, but he was the first to jump from the screen to the stump and on to credibility as a presidential contender. Reagan's transformation from struggling liberal actor to influential conservative spokesman in five years—and then to the California governorship six years later—is a remarkable and compelling story.
In Becoming Ronald Reagan Robert Mann explores Reagan's early life and his career during the 1950s and early 1960s: his growing desire for acclaim in high school and college, his political awakening as a young Hollywood actor, his ideological evolution in the 1950s as he traveled the country for General Electric, the refining of his political skills during this period, his growing aversion to big government, and his disdain for the totalitarian leaders in the Soviet Union and elsewhere. All these experiences and more shaped Reagan's politics and influenced his career as an elected official.
Mann not only demonstrates how Reagan the actor became Reagan the political leader and how the liberal became a conservative, he also shows how the skills Reagan learned and the lessons he absorbed from 1954 to 1964 made him the inspiring leader so many Americans remember and revere to this day. Becoming Ronald Reagan is an indelible portrait of a true American icon and a politician like none other.
Robert Mann is the author of Daisy Petals and Mushroom Clouds: LBJ, Barry Goldwater, and the Ad That Changed American Politics; and many other books. He is also a political columnist for the New Orleans Times-Picayune.
"Ronald Reagan took one of the most unconventional paths to the presidency in American history. Robert Mann tells this part of Reagan's remarkable story in lively, enlightening prose. Ronald Reagan evolved from rags to riches, liberal to conservative, and Democratic to Republican. But as Mann masterfully shows, Reagan's innate talents and personal genuineness were evident at each stage of his transformation into an icon who will never ride into the sunset for conservatives."
—Larry J. Sabato, director of the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia and author of The Kennedy Half-Century
"This typically excellent, highly original work from Robert Mann will emerge as the standard interpretation of Reagan's ideological evolution—and his development as a major political figure. Mann stresses both continuity in Reagan's belief system and recognition of the pre-gubernatorial era's importance. A must-read."
—Robert David Johnson, professor of history at Brooklyn College and the City University of New York Graduate Center and author of All the Way with LBJ: The 1964 Presidential Election
"With empathy and critical insight, Robert Mann guides us on a journey through Ronald Reagan's personal and political awakening. Anyone who wishes to understand the roots of modern conservatism will profit from this engaging and deeply researched study of Reagan's ideological evolution from New Deal liberal to right-wing warrior. Love or loathe him, this book will help you understand him."
—Joshua M. Zeitz, author of Building the Great Society: Inside Lyndon Johnson's White House
All titles are published by:
University Press Audiobooks
an imprint of Redwood Audiobooks


text:
Phillies trade Francisco
On the day teams had to tender contracts to arbitration eligible players, the Phillies traded outfielder Ben Francisco to the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for minor league lefthanded reliever Frank Gailey.
Gailey, 26, is a product of Archbishop Carroll and West Chester University. He was a 23rd-round pick of the Blue Jays in 2007.
He split last season between Single-A Dunedin and Double-A New Hampshire in the Blue Jays' minor league system where he combined to go 5-6 with a 3.41 ERA in 45 relief appearances.
For his minor league career he has gone 23-15 with a 2.45 ERA in 175 games (one start).
"Even as a collegiate pitcher, one of the things that Frank did better than just about everybody at that level is he had a great feel for how to get certain hitters, guys he was going to throw it by them or force contact early in the count," said former West Chester coach Greg Mamula, now an assistant coach at Cincinnati. "He has good movement on his pitches, he can change speeds. There are a lot of different things he can do as far as location, movement and changing speeds and that's been reflected in minor league baseball."
"How he's made his way through the minors and had success and the way he is going to potentially get big-league hitters out is to expose their weakness because he can do different things with a baseball."
Mamula said Gailey will benefit from coming home.
"He's a kid from Philadelphia so he's got family and friends there," he said. "At the time, he was well known as one of the top high school pitchers and going to West Chester, he has that following and has got the support ... There's going to be a lot of people following him, obviously, and a lot of people requesting tickets from him whether he's in Reading, Allentown or Philadelphia."
Francisco, 30, spent parts of three seasons with the Phillies (2009-11), where he hit .259 with 17 home runs and 75 RBI in 225 games. He was initially acquired in the trade that brought Cliff Lee to the Phillies the first time. He hit .244 with 6 home runs and 34 RBI last season.
He made $1.8 million last year and was likely to get a raise via arbitration.
The Phillies have made significant moves to remake their bench and ran out of room for Francisco. The team has added Jim Thome, Laynce Nix and Ty Willingham, along with re-signing Brian Schneider. It is likely the Phillies tender Wilson Valdez before the midnight deadline tonight.
He appeared in 17 career postseason games for the Phillies and belted the sixth postseason pinch-hit home run in club history in Game 3 of the 2011 NLDS against St. Louis.
Tweeted Phillies centerfielder Shane Victorino, "Gonna miss my boy BennyFresh #goodluck in Toronto bro!"
The Phillies now have 39 players on the 40-man roster.


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In 1982, when Gore Vidal was running in the California primary for the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate, he was backed by Max Palevsky, a former UCLA professor of symbolic logic and mathematics, who became a multimillionaire computer mogul, and then wealthier still after he invested some of his first fortune in a Silicon Valley startup called Intel.
But Palevsky's real passion wasn't digital, it was political. And he wielded a goodly chunk of his fortune in support of liberal causes and candidates that included Robert Kennedy, George McGovern, and Tom Bradley.
So, when Vidal entered the California senate race two years into the reign of Reagan, for Palevsky, his considerable intellect notwithstanding, choosing Gore was a no-brainer. The opposition in this primary would be formidable--the sitting Democratic governor, Jerry Brown, coming to the end of his second term, and looking now to go national.
But, while Brown may have been "Governor Moonbeam" to the Republicans, he wasn't nearly left enough for Palevsky. Not when the laser-tongued and arsenic-inked paladin of letters, Gore Vidal, was stepping forward with both pen and sword.
What the big money in politics is mainly needed for, however, is to cover the immense expense of media. And what fills the blank pages, billboards, airwaves, and screens that media is, is advertising.
A friend of mine was friends with Max, and she recommended me to create the ad campaign for Vidal's run.
I was young, but having started my career in the mailroom of a major international ad agency at age 19, had considerable experience. Unusually wide as well—for airlines, high tech, oil companies, wine and booze, cars and motorcycles. I'd also done scores of movie campaigns like Jaws and All the President's Men. And, relevantly, two winning campaigns for California initiatives.
What my friend apparently did not know, I was then as I am now, a conservative. Or, more accurately, as I've long described myself, a Tory anarchist. There is no party in America for that bent, so I've always been a registered Republican.
Understand that being not only an admitted conservative, but an often vocal and declarative one, in an ad agency creative department, is about as common and welcome as it would be in a Screen Actors Guild meeting.
The prospect of having Gore Vidal as a client couldn't have been more delicious. Not just for the irony, but because I'd always gotten a kick out of Vidal as a public personality. Always enjoyed his judiciously meted acid attacks on talk shows and political debates.
Hell, my own mother, who loved seeing the mighty brought low, was Vidal's biggest fan. I couldn't imagine anything more fun than to work on his campaign.
Besides, in advertising as in criminal law, every client is entitled to a stout defense. Or offense, as in this case. I was more than happy to give it my best.
I was offered the job, accepted, and soon found myself driving to my first meeting with Vidal at his home high in the Hollywood Hills. It was all very informal. I met his longtime companion Howard Austen, an unprepossessing man who padded in and out, very quiet, with no obvious interest in the campaign.
I remember being surprised, given what I had interpreted (wrongly) as his mid-Atlantic demeanor, at the dark and heavy Italian, I guess, furniture. And the vermillion wall covering in the library that seemed very 19th-century bordello.
We sat down, talked casually about direction and strategy. This wasn't going to be over-think. I'd been brought in late in the game and now I had to get spots, which he would deliver, written and produced for him to put on air very soon.
Vidal, was, as I'd hoped, a kick, although quite serious and earnest about the race. And not the least haughty or intimidating or acerbic, but helpful, constructive, and conscientious.
And though we were nominally running against Jerry Brown, he wanted really to be running against Ronald Reagan. Or, more precisely, he wanted not a partisan run against Reagan or the Republicans. Way beyond that, Gore Vidal was running against the way America was turning out.
By his lights, not very damn well.
I'm sure he didn't intend or expect to win, of course. He just wanted a bullier pulpit than a talk show from which to sound the alarm.
And, as for me personally, in one regard, I was particularly delighted with him, and pleased for myself, that Gore Vidal delivered the copy I wrote for his spots without changing a word.
Though he had written novels, movies, plays, and essays, all with great success, he deferred to me in the peculiar haiku called the 30- and 60-second spot.
For all his reputation for hauteur, I would forever after remember this evidence of Vidal's graciousness and self-confidence. The public display of arrogance, was in some essential sense, an act.


text:
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The owner of the Serenity Towers at Midtown Memphis retirement community at 400 S. Highland St. has filed a $4.3 million loan on the property.
Orlando, Fla.-based Serenity Towers at Midtown Memphis LLC filed the deed of trust, security agreement and assignment of rents and leases May 29 through CenterState Bank of Florida NA.
The borrower bought the property, formerly known as Highland Towers, in 2010 for $1.8 million from Seattle-based New Wesley Highland Towers Associates. That sale was financed with a $3.2 million loan through the Glenda G. Morgan Charitable Foundation Inc.
The Class C, high-rise retirement center sits on 2.8 acres on the east side of Highland Street between Norriswood and Watauga avenues near the University of Memphis.
It was built in 1964.
The Shelby County Assessor of Property's 2013 appraisal is $3.9 million.
The borrower, Serenity Towers at Midtown Memphis, is affiliated with Elevation Financial Group.
Source: The Daily News Online & Chandler Reports
– Daily News staff
Discount retailer Fred's Inc. said Thursday its May revenue at stores open at least a year fell 0.5 percent, as unusually cool weather continued to reduce demand for summer items.
The drop was smaller than Wall Street expected. Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters expected a decrease of 0.8 percent. The metric is a key measure of a retailer's health, because it excludes revenue at stores that recently opened or closed.
Total sales for the four-week period ended June 1 increased 0.2 percent to $152.4 million from $152.1 million a year ago.
CEO Bruce Efird said unseasonal cool and wet weather in May continued to reduce sales of lawn and garden items, summer toys and other seasonal merchandise. Sales at the company's pharmacy department also were hurt by the continued shift toward generic drugs, he said.
For the first four months of the year, revenue at stores open at least a year fell 1.1 percent, while total sales increased 0.2 percent to $653.9 million.
Fred's operates 715 stores, including 21 franchised stores, in the southeastern U.S.
– The Associated Press
The value of the pension fund that pays benefits to Shelby County retirees is back up to a high not seen since 2007.
The portfolio size of the county's retirement defined benefit plan stood at $1.02 billion in April. The last time the value was higher than that was in December 2007.
Also, the fund for each of the first four months of 2013 has surpassed the monthly values for each of the first four months of 2012.
A retirement fund official said the recent highs in the stock market partly explain the fund's recent performance.
– Andy Meek
The countywide school board meets in special session Tuesday, June 11, to consider another slate of policies for the consolidated school district.
The slate includes recommendations from a schools board committee on the policies for cell phones and corporal punishment.
The committee this week recommended the school system go with a cell phone policy that permits students to have cell phones on campus as long as they are off and stored in lockers or other places approved by school administrators.
The policy closely resembles Shelby County Schools policy.
Memphis City Schools policy banned the phones from campuses whether they were on or off.
The committee recommendation on corporal punishment mirrors the outright ban on the punishment that Memphis City Schools adopted more than a decade ago.
– Bill Dries
America as a whole has regained all the household wealth it lost to the Great Recession and then some, thanks to higher stock and home prices.
The average household still has a long way to go.
The Federal Reserve says U.S. household wealth jumped $3 trillion to $70.3 trillion in the January-March quarter this year.
That tops the previous peak of $68 trillion in the third quarter of 2007, just before the recession began.
The recession cost Americans $15.6 trillion in wealth.
Yet because of inflation and a rising population, the average household has recovered only about 45 percent of the wealth it lost.
Affluent households have benefited most from the nation's recovered wealth because most of the gain has come from higher stock prices.
New figures show that Mississippi's economy grew by 2.4 percent in 2012.
Gross domestic product numbers released Thursday by the federal Bureau of Economic Analysis try to measure all of the economic output of each state.
Mississippi's 2012 growth rate was close to the national average of 2.5 percent, and ranked 17th among the 50 states. That was a marked improvement from 2011, when Mississippi's economy shrank by 1.1 percent, one of only five states to contract.
Federal figures show the biggest contributor to growth in Mississippi last year came from makers of durable goods such as cars.
Only three times in the last 15 years has Mississippi's economy grown faster than the nation.
Mississippi retained the lowest per-capita gross domestic product of any state, at $28,944 per person.
The number of Americans seeking unemployment benefits fell 11,000 last week to a seasonally adjusted 346,000, a level consistent with steady job growth.
The Labor Department said Thursday that applications dropped from 357,000 the previous week, which was revised up from an initially reported 354,000. The less volatile four-week average rose 4,500 to 352,500.
Weekly applications are a proxy for layoffs. They have fallen 7 percent in the past six months and hit a five-year low of 338,000 in early May.
Still, layoffs are only half of an improving jobs picture. The other is hiring, and companies have been reluctant to rapidly create many more jobs.
On Friday, the government reports on May employment. Economists expect it will show that employers added 170,000 jobs last month. The unemployment rate is expected to remain a four-year low of 7.5 percent.
Economists were encouraged by the figures, which come after several tepid economic reports earlier this week.
More than 4.6 million Americans received unemployment benefits in the week ended May 18, the latest data available. That's about 68,000 more than the previous week. The number of people receiving benefits briefly topped 11 million in 2010, the highest on record.
Job gains accelerated over the winter but have since softened, along with the broader economy.
Factory activity shrank in May for the first time since November, according to a survey by the Institute for Supply Management, a trade group of purchasing executives.
A separate ISM survey of service firms found that they grew at a faster pace last month. But a measure of employment in the report fell sharply. That suggests that service companies added fewer jobs. Service firms have been the main source of job gains in recent months.
There have been some positive signs of resilience in the economy. Service companies reported higher new orders. That suggests business could expand further in the coming months.
And steady gains in home sales and construction are providing crucial support for the economy.
Home prices jumped by the most in seven years in April, according a report by CoreLogic released Tuesday. Higher prices can make homeowners feel wealthier, spurring more spending.
Copyright 1995 -
by The Daily News Publishing Co. Inc. - All Rights Reserved


text:
Friday, September 26, 2008
NASA images @ Internet Archive
I am sure most web users are familiar with the Internet Archive website...the huge repository of of books, music, films, and old websites. Now the Internet Archive has joined NASA to archive thousands of NASA photographs.
Here is the press release from NASA:
David E. Steitz
Headquarters, Washington July 24, 2008
Paul Hickman
Internet Archive
415-462-1509, 415-561-6767
WASHINGTON -- NASA and Internet Archive, a non-profit digital library based in San Francisco, made available the most comprehensive compilation ever of NASA's vast collection of photographs, historic film and video Thursday. Located at http://www.nasaimages.org, the Internet site combines for the first time 21 major NASA imagery collections into a single, searchable online resource. A link to the Web site will appear on the http://www.nasa.gov home page.
The Web site launch is the first step in a five-year partnership that will add millions of images and thousands of hours of video and audio content, with enhanced search and viewing capabilities, and new user features on a continuing basis. Over time, integration of http://www.nasaimages.org with http://www.nasa.gov will become more seamless and comprehensive.
"This partnership with Internet Archive enables NASA to provide the American public with access to its vast collection of imagery from one searchable source, unlocking a new treasure trove of discoveries for students, historians, enthusiasts and researchers," said NASA Deputy Administrator Shana Dale. "This new resource also will enable the agency to digitize and preserve historical content now not available on the Internet for future generations."
Through a competitive process, NASA selected Internet Archive to manage the NASA Images Web site under a non-exclusive Space Act agreement, signed in July 2007. The five-year project is at no cost to the taxpayer and the images are free to the public.
"NASA's media is an incredibly important and valuable national asset. It is a tremendous honor for the Internet Archive to be NASA's partner in this project," says Brewster Kahle, founder of Internet Archive. "We are excited to mark this first step in a long-term collaboration to create a rich and growing public resource."
The content of the Web site covers all the diverse activities of America's space program, including imagery from the Apollo moon missions, Hubble Space Telescope views of the universe and experimental aircraft past and present. Keyword searching is available with easy-to-use resources for teachers and students.
Internet Archive is developing the NASA Images project using software donated by Luna Imaging Inc. of Los Angeles and with the generous support of the Kahle-Austin Foundation of San Francisco.
For more information about NASA and agency programs, visit:
For more information about Internet Archive, visit:
The image repository
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Like first sex, writer-director Maggie Carey's debut feature, The To Do List, is quick and messy, fitfully pleasurable, full of promise but not quite adept at getting everyone off. It's an impossibly huge deal yet also a modest achievement, something we have to go through but that will no doubt be improved upon later. Here, at last, is the first raunchy mainstream comedy about a young woman's quest to unburden herself of her virginity--with the foxiest bro in Idaho, no less, a golden lug of shirtless flesh our heroine objectifies with all the male-gaze brio of Tex Avery's Big Bad Wolf pounding his noggin with a mallet at Red Riding Hood's nightclub act.
Except the lust of valedictorian Brandy (played by and written for Aubrey Plaza) is deadpan, held inside, subject to the veto of her shame and intelligence. "You feel like Marky Mark looks," she marvels as she touches the abs of town hunk Rusty Waters (Scott Porter) at a graduation-night kegger, but when she kisses him she's helpless, like she's trying to pick a lock with her tongue. That chance encounter crashes into drunken movie-comedy humiliation, but one thing does firm up nicely: Her resolution to master sex--and Rusty Waters--before going off to college at summer's end.
That premise is both familiar and fresh. Unlike the hapless virgins in previous losin'-it comedies, Brandy knows she can get laid without resorting to trickery--she wants to learn to do it right, to master a skill she can't cram for. (The movie, to its credit, never pretends that Plaza doesn't turn boys' heads.) And unlike for the female characters in previous sex comedies, sex for her is a straight-up choice, something she offers or refuses according to no agenda but her own. This is far from Revenge of the Nerds, where a costumed geek saves the day by sneak-fucking a clueless cheerleader, or from Young Frankenstein, where, with a song cue, Madeline Kahn's bride-to-be celebrates her own rape.
So, the movie is something of a milestone. It's also funny enough, at times, to be recommendable on its merits alone, although there's something dispiriting about its junky look, indifferent pacing, and sketch-comedy characterization. Carey hails from the Upright Citizens Brigade sketch and improv scene, and she knows how to craft a premise and build a joke. Her best idea: Overachieving Brandy plots out her sex life like a course syllabus, crafting a list of things to try before going all the way--hand job, blow job, dry-humping. The film is set in pre-Google '93, so Brandy has to ask her friends (Alia Shawkat and Sarah Steele, given one good line apiece) what some of these even are--"pearl necklace," she presumes, is something a woman does to a man, something that "sounds elegant."
The comic high points, of course, are Brandy's efforts to engineer these sex acts, often with her lovesick ex-lab partner, Cameron (Johnny Simmons). They build to crowd-pleasing climaxes, laughter and literal release. Since we're so many years past There's Something About Mary--and Bill Murray getting slimed in Ghostbusters--the eruption of semen is smartly played as a goofy triumph rather than an affront to good taste: Ejaculation is not the gross-out movies have so often made it; instead, it's more like an achievement you might unlock in a video game.
Plaza is gutsy and often hilarious, both in small moments--nervously steeling herself for "finger-banging"--and when hand-jobbing away like she's trying to loose a bottle's last dab of ketchup. Between the sex scenes, though, The To Do List often flags, especially when Brandy is hanging around a local pool where--too conveniently--she, Rusty, and Cameron have all taken jobs. Carey resorts to puke, farts, and even some weirdly meta shit-eating. She also leans hard on '90s nostalgia, a much more meager vein than the boomer r&b mined in Animal House and The Blues Brothers. Here, the Spin Doctors are played as a joke, Big Head Todd is played in earnest, and 2 Live Crew's "Me So Horny" is an agenda-setting dare. Bill Hader occasionally stops the movie cold with impressions of Eddie Vedder and the neighbor on Home Improvement. He's supposed to be the shiftless manager of a Boise swimming pool, but when not assailing Brandy for the size of her breasts--a miserable recurring gag--he acts like a panelist on some godawful VH1 show.
Brandy has lessons to learn about having sex with the right person, about communicating with a partner and not reducing life's richest pleasure to a checklist of acts. It's only mid-list that it occurs to her that she should try masturbation--and discover how she likes to be touched. And it's only in the end, with a lover who isn't an experiment, that she discovers that her pleasure shouldn't be incidental.
Brandy's parents are wonderfully played by Connie Britton and Clark Gregg. Gregg, as a stern-ish judge, kicks back in bed with The Way Things Ought to Be, the '90s bestseller from slut-shaming man-turd Rush Limbaugh. That's a welcome reminder of this silly film's true seriousness. A lot of bastards out there will hate the idea of young women with a fuck-it list--or even enjoying sex at all. Fuck 'em, and not in the fun way.


text:
Stop the new ethnic cleansing of Kosovo!
14/04/2004: 2045 signature from 57 countries so far! Keep spreading the news! (signatures can only be seen by the administrator) \"Kristallnacht is under way in Kosovo.\" That is how an official of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) describes the violence of today. For decades the Serbian autonomous region of Kosovo has suffered separatist Albanians\' violence. Coexisting is a non-violent separatist movement. Ex-Yugoslav president Milosevic\'s crimes against Albanians gained them international support, especially that of NATO. This support aided the Albanians in declaring semi-independence in 1999. Albanian extremists have been attacking all other ethnic groups and moderate Albanians ever since. Hundreds of thousands of Romas (gypsies) and Serbs have fled Kosovo. Dozens of them were killed. In the once predominantly Serbian populated province, the Albanian extremists today are having their final go at the remaining 5% Serbian citizens of Kosovo. UNMIK spokesman Derek Chappell said \"there has been violence in Kosovo before, but this time it\'s a coordinated action. The violence erupted in a number of places at the same time which shows that it had been planned in advance\". KFOR spokesman Stefan Racenberger emphasized that the conflict is continuing and that tens of thousands of Albanians are on the roads heading towards Pristina. No one knows, he said, what will happen when the mob reaches the city. The excuse used by Albanian extremists for the violence was the drowning of three Albanian children in the town of Kosovska Mitrovica allegedly chased by Serbian children with dogs. UNMIK spokesman Derek Chappell said that the surviving fourth child has told his parents that he and three friends entered the river alone and were immediately caught up in the heavy current. In the meantime, angry Serbs in Serbia proper are calling for the protection of Serbs in Kosovo. During the protests a mosque in the Serbian city of Nis was set on fire. Also a mosque in the capital Belgrade was attacked. This violence, most likely organized by the fascist, nationalist and mafia remains of the Milosevic regime, is inexcusable. It cannot be justified by any attacks conducted by Albanians in Kosovo. Serbian Archbishop Amfilohije is in front of the Belgrade mosque, defending it. Our warm greetings go out to him. The Serbian government has had no jurisdiction in Kosovo since the NATO bombings. UNMIK seems either unprepared or not interested to get involved and protect any ethnic group in Kosovo. Kosovo is in fact still the territory of Serbia & Montenegro. Serbs in Kosovo are being under a savage attack and no one can or dares protect them as it appears. We demand: -United Nations to simply do their job and defend the citizens of Kosovo from extremists. -United Nations to admit if they cannot do the job. -A thorough investigation into the organizers of the violence and swift prosecution of the perpetrators. -An investigation into why UN forces did not know about the planning of this violence and were not prepared to fight it. -Condemnation of the violence from the Albanian government. We support the Serbia and Montenegro government in defending their citizens, also those in Kosovo. This petition will be presented to UN, UNMIK, Serbia and Montenegro government and Albanian government.


text: Introducing the largest bisexual Belgium dating website where you can meet bi-curious men, women and even couples looking to explore their sexuality. Bisexual Dates offers completely free memberships and takes just 30 seconds to register. Click a province/state within Belgium from the list below or scroll to the left to find a bisexual directly.


text:
|* This file is subject to the terms and conditions of the GNU General Public
|* License. See the file "COPYING" in the main directory of this archive
|* for more details.
|* SGI specific setup.
|* Copyright (C) 1995-1997,1999,2001-2005 Silicon Graphics, Inc. All rights reserved.
|* Copyright (C) 1999 Ralf Baechle (email@example.com)
|#ifndef _ASM_IA64_SN_ARCH_H
|#define _ASM_IA64_SN_ARCH_H
|#include <linux/numa.h>
|#include <asm/types.h>
|#include <asm/percpu.h>
|#include <asm/sn/types.h>
|#include <asm/sn/sn_cpuid.h>
|* This is the maximum number of NUMALINK nodes that can be part of a single
|* SSI kernel. This number includes C-brick, M-bricks, and TIOs. Nodes in
|* remote partitions are NOT included in this number.
|* The number of compact nodes cannot exceed size of a coherency domain.
|* The purpose of this define is to specify a node count that includes
|* all C/M/TIO nodes in an SSI system.
|* SGI system can currently support up to 256 C/M nodes plus additional TIO nodes.
|* Note: ACPI20 has an architectural limit of 256 nodes. When we upgrade
|* to ACPI3.0, this limit will be removed. The notion of "compact nodes"
|* should be deleted and TIOs should be included in MAX_NUMNODES.
|#define MAX_TIO_NODES MAX_NUMNODES
|#define MAX_COMPACT_NODES (MAX_NUMNODES + MAX_TIO_NODES)
|* Maximum number of nodes in all partitions and in all coherency domains.
|* This is the total number of nodes accessible in the numalink fabric. It
|* includes all C & M bricks, plus all TIOs.
|* This value is also the value of the maximum number of NASIDs in the numalink
|* fabric.
|#define MAX_NUMALINK_NODES 16384
|* The following defines attributes of the HUB chip. These attributes are
|* frequently referenced. They are kept in the per-cpu data areas of each cpu.
|* They are kept together in a struct to minimize cache misses.
|struct sn_hub_info_s {
|u8 shub2;
|u8 nasid_shift;
|u8 as_shift;
|u8 shub_1_1_found;
|u16 nasid_bitmask;
|DECLARE_PER_CPU(struct sn_hub_info_s, __sn_hub_info);
|#define sn_hub_info this_cpu_ptr(&__sn_hub_info)
|#define is_shub2() (sn_hub_info->shub2)
|#define is_shub1() (sn_hub_info->shub2 == 0)
|* Use this macro to test if shub 1.1 wars should be enabled
|#define enable_shub_wars_1_1() (sn_hub_info->shub_1_1_found)
|* Compact node ID to nasid mappings kept in the per-cpu data areas of each
|* cpu.
|DECLARE_PER_CPU(short, __sn_cnodeid_to_nasid[MAX_COMPACT_NODES]);
|#define sn_cnodeid_to_nasid this_cpu_ptr(&__sn_cnodeid_to_nasid[0])
|extern u8 sn_partition_id;
|extern u8 sn_system_size;
|extern u8 sn_sharing_domain_size;
|extern u8 sn_region_size;
|extern void sn_flush_all_caches(long addr, long bytes);
|extern bool sn_cpu_disable_allowed(int cpu);
|#endif /* _ASM_IA64_SN_ARCH_H */


text:
Tiger Airways Holdings Ltd (Tigerair) (Singapore) reported an operating loss of $24.2 million (all amounts in Singapore dollars) for the fiscal fourth quarter ended 31 March 31, 2014, compared to an operating profit of $12.7 million recorded in the previous corresponding quarter.
Total revenue declined by 32.7% to $161.9 million in the fourth quarter, while total expenses fell 18.3% to $186.1 million year-on-year, mainly due to the exclusion of Tigerair Australia from the Group's results, as the airline ceased to be a subsidiary from July 8, 2013.
Loss after tax of $95.5 million for the fourth quarter was largely attributed to $52.4 million in exceptional charges and $21.5 million in share of losses of associate and joint venture. Exceptional charges comprised a $25.0 million provision for a planned grounding of eight aircraft and a $27.4 million impairment of associate, while the share of losses of associate and joint venture included an $11.9 million provision relating to Tigerair Mandala. These exceptional charges and provisions, which amounted to $64.3 million, demonstrate the Group's resolve to re-set its strategy and consolidate its capacity.
For the full fiscal year ended March 31, 2014, the Group recorded an operating loss of $52.0 million compared to an operating profit of $7.3 million year-on-year. Group loss after tax widened to $223.0 million, compared to the previous year's loss after tax of $45.4 million.
Operations Review (fourth quarter)
Despite an increase in traffic volume (+13.4%), Tigerair Singapore's revenue for 4Q declined by 4.5% to $159.0 million, as yield fell 16.3% and load factor dropped 9.1 percentage points to 75.1%. Unit cost rose by 2.2% as the increase in expenses (+29.9%) outpaced capacity growth (+27.1%). Consequently, Tigerair Singapore recorded an operating loss of $29.4 million for the quarter compared to an operating profit of $21.5 million a year ago.
The company warned of a bleak outlook and was re-assessing its investment in Tigerair Mandala, the group's Indonesian venture according to Reuters.
Read the full report from Reuters: CLICK HERE
Top Copyright Photo: Olivier Gregoire/AirlinersGallery.com. The pictured Airbus A320-232 F-WWDS (msn 4973) became 9V-TRE on delivery.
Image Below: Tigerair. Tigerair in March 2014 signed an Airbus deal to bring 37 new fuel-efficient A320neo aircraft from 2018 onwards. The new aircraft will be powered by a Pratt & Whitney 1100G-JM engine and equipped with large Sharklet wing tips, these new-generation aircraft deliver 15% greater fuel efficiency than the current A320ceos.


text:
Manufacturers of Class I (sterile/measuring), IIa, IIb and III devices must obtain certification against the CE marking directive, 93/42/EEC, from a Notified Body before using the CE mark and placing products on the market.
To enable your organization to achieve CE marking certification SGS is Notified Body 0120 under directive 93/42/EEC for all devices including drug device combinations and associated directives 2003/32/EC (animal tissue), 2005/50/EC (total joint implants) and 2007/47/EC (amendments). A successful audit from SGS will ensure your products' compliance and 93/42/EEC certification.
Our global network of local offices ensures that wherever your company or manufacturing is based, 93/42/EEC certification can be achieved effectively and efficiently.
The certification options under this directive include Annex II, V and VI comprise site audits and assessment of technical documentation. Our site audits will usually assess compliance with both ISO 13485:2003 and directive 93/42/EEC.
United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) accreditation and close links with European Commission and Competent Authorities make us a natural partner to meeting your CE certification requirements. Partnering with SGS gives you access to expert knowledge, a global network of auditors and the opportunity to combine CE Marking with our wide range of other regulatory certification in one audit.
CE mark and sell your medical devices in Europe with 93/42/EEC certification from SGS UK.
6755 Mississauga Road, Suite 204,
Mississauga, Ontario, CA-ON, Canada


text:
Thank You!
"Gratitude is the fairest blossom which springs from the soul."
~ Henry Ward Beecher ~
Dear Readers,
Thank You for Amazing, Gorgeous, Marvelous, Radiant, Talented, Wonderful You.
Thank You so much for your beautifully affirming and encouraging comments. I am grateful for You!
You are the change for good in the world. Keep shining your exquisite light! You are cherished. You are safe. You are BeLoved. ღ


text:
ECAlert is the name chosen by Emmanuel University for the emergency mass notification system made available through the vendor, SendWordNow. Effective communication is one of the major challenges in emergency management. ECAlert will be used to improve our ability to communicate prior to, during, and after emergencies. EC students, faculty, and staff with a valid ManeID can register up to three telephone numbers and two email addresses to receive emergency alerts. SendWordNow is capable of sending out thousands of messages within minutes.
ECAlert will not be used for non-emergency notifications such as lane closures, crime updates, situations that have been contained, situations where a threat does not exist, situations where notification is merely a convenience or other situations when email announcements are the most appropriate communication method.
ECAlert will not replace daily email annoucements for non-urgent messages.
ECAlert will be tested twice a year to check the system effectivenessand to validate accuracy.
Additional information about emergency situations when ECAlert is activated will be posted on the EC homepage.
ECAlert will only be used when there is a severe threat to public safety and health of the entire campus that has not been contained or controlled and when immediate action is required on the part of the recipient group(s), (e.g. chemical spills impacting public health, tornado warnings, active shooters, etc.). ECAlert may also be used to provide weather updates which may effect class cancellations, exam changes for finals, or other important updates that would need immediate action.
ECAlert is administered by the Office of Student Life. However, several EC departments are involved in the project including the Office of the President, VP for Academic Affairs, VP for Finance, VP for Development, Director of Campus Operations, and the Director of Information Technology (ITec). Only authorized representatives from the previously mentioned departments can send emergency messages using ECAlert.
Is it difficult to register for ECAlert?
ECAlert is part of the EC student checklist and is required for activation of your student account. All that is needed to register is go to your student checklist in the CRIS registration system to add your phone numbers and email addresses.
What if I do not register for ECAlert?
If you are an actively enrolled student during the current semester and you do not register your notification method on the ECAlert system, we will automatically send all notifications to your EC and other email addresses, and call the listed home and cell number from your student record.
How are my notification methods updated?
At the beginning of each semester the active student notification phone numbers and email addresses are uploaded to SendWordNow after the drop/add period. In the event you need to make a change to your notifications, contact the Office of Student Life to make the corrections.
Can I opt out of the notification?
You may opt out at any time by changing your ECAlert options from the checklist in CRIS. If this is after drop/add please contact Student Life to make this change effective immediately, otherwise, your change will be effective at the next drop/add.
Can I include "long distance" phone numbers?
Nationwide numbers are accepted. The system will not accommodate international numbers.
Can I receive ECAlert text messages on my cell phone?
Yes. You can choose to receive both a voice phone call to your cell phone and a text message to your cell phone. If your cell phone supports SMS messaging you can receive the message to your phone as an SMS message.
Who will have access to the information entered into ECAlert?
A ECAlert is administered by the Office of Student Life. However, the Administration team, and Office of Information Technology (ITec) are involved with the project. Only a few authorized individuals from ITec and Emmanuel University Administrators can access your information and send emergency messages using ECAlert.
Will my information be sold to telemarketers?
No, neither Emmanuel University nor SendWordNow will share or sell contact information belonging to students or staff members. For more details, please refer to SendWordNow's privacy and confidentiality statement online.


text:
2020 Kia Soul S
Retail $13,900
City 27/Hwy 33 Estimated By E.P.A. - Actual Mileage May Vary
Dealership Information
Best Western Motor
Patrick khalighi
1819 S 7th St
Phoenix, AZ 85034
RESTORED SALVAGE TITLE, We are offering this vehicle at an unbelievable price. Its fully loaded with all the bells and whistles, are just a few of the options this vehicle has to offer. Overall it runs drives and looks great! with no notable flaws (See photos) and at thousands less then market value, you cant possibly go wrong! For a more detailed description visit our website. at: Best Western Motor online at www.bestwesternmotors.com to see more pictures of this vehicle or call us at 602-254-0199 today to schedule your test drive
- ABS Brakes
- Child Safety Door Locks
- Cruise Control
- Driver Airbag
- Front Side Airbag
- Passenger Airbag
- Power Windows
- Run Flat Tires
- Side Head Curtain Airbag
- Telescopic Steering Column
- Vehicle Anti-Theft
Buy Here Pay Here. Bad Credit. No Credit. We Can Help You. Getting a car loan is easier than you think, even with less than perfect credit. • Quick, No Hassle Approvals • Every Application Accepted • No Obligations - Absolutely FREE For over 10 years, Best Western Motor Buy Here Pay Here has helped hundreds of people in Phoenix, Arizona. all points in-between establish a credit rating for themselves while driving good, dependable vehicles. All it takes is a 30% down payment and the ability and willingness to make low monthly payments. Buy here pay here car dealerships are a real solution for people who are in need of a car but are having difficulty getting approved for conventional financing. Whatever your credit, we can pre-qualify you right now for used cars buy here pay here.


text:
SO Sofware Online is a Silicon Valley technology company and is the international affiliate of XMedia Services Limited (XMS) of Hong Kong. Together we are the premier provider of computer consultation services. Our services include, but are not limited to: I.T. outsourcing, graphics design, website building, web hosting, e-commerce, e-marketing services and technology solutions. Every day, we power websites and host thousands of customer visit and lead our clients to online success while saving them time and money. Our worry-free and hassle-free services frees you to focus on running other aspects of your business. Quality, reliability and flexibility, all customized for your special needs make us the preferred e-commerce resource provider.
Our Mission: To save our customers time, money, and hassle from their everyday technology needs. Our dedicattion to each of our customer's success, innovation, trust and responsibility is second to none.


text:
"Last night, as I was sleeping
I dreamt – marvelous error! –
that a spring was breaking
out in my heart."
– Selection from Antonio Machad's poem "Last Night As I Was Sleeping."
The beginning of one of our favorite vegetables: Cabbage
Tip: Cabbage likes "sweet" soil (more alkaline than acidic). If you have acidic soil, perhaps from pine trees near by, you can use wood ash or lime to raise the pH.
After a couple of weeks the cabbage head begins to mature.
"Cabbage: a familiar kitchen-garden vegetable about as large and wise as a man's head." ~ Ambrose Bierce
Tip: The head is ready to harvest when firm to the touch. If you chop off the head at the base of the leaves, the stump will develop a number of smaller cabbage sprouts. These small sprouts may be harvested later in the season, but are unlikely to reach the size of the original head.
An eggplant blossom complete with small spikes to protect it until maturity.
Tip: Eggplants like it hot, hot, hot, so don't plan on planting your starts outside until the threat of frost has passed and the soil is warm. We also recommend mulching around the base of the eggplant to feed the roots and capture heat in the soil.
Tip: Be sure to have compost or another form of vegan organic fertilizer ready to use when you plant your corn. Corn is a heavy feeder and will need to be fertilized regularly.
Green / String Beans
Delicious string beans waiting to be picked.
Tip: Creating flowers, fruits and seeds is a big job for any plant and requires a good deal of energy. Thankfully many of these flowers, fruits and seeds are the perfect dinner for hungry herbivores. So pick your string beans regularly! Harvesting your beans on a regular basis will keep them from getting tough and give your plants more energy with which to continue growing. The quicker you pick mature beans, the more beans you'll get in return!
Related: Probiotics for Insects, Soil and Self
Tip: Cucumbers require a good deal of space to grow. But if you do not have a large amount of space available, cucumbers may be trained to climb on a fence or trellis. Along with reducing the amount of space required for growing, this method also lifts the fruit (cucumbers) off the ground reducing the risk of rotting.
A spiral of Swiss Chard beginning.
Swiss Chard / Silverbeet
Tip: Swiss Chard is as nutritious as spinach, and easier to grow. It can also be continually harvested. Simply pick the outer leaves and stalks first and let the inner ones mature. Be careful to snap or cut the stalks off near the soil line so that the plant won't waste energy keeping an empty stalk alive (eventually the stalk will rot and expose the plant to disease, but not before the plant wastes energy attempting to save the dying limb.)
After a couple of weeks, broad, beautiful Swiss Chard leaves have formed.
Tips: It is particularly important that Swiss Chard leaves have good air circulation available. Make sure to give each plant proper space to grow (1′-1.5′). This is because the leaves are vulnerable to Cercospora leaf spot (a fungal disease that causes light brown patches surrounded by purple halos.) It is most commonly found on chard, beets and sometimes spinach. Warm, rainy weather favors outbreaks so be careful to promptly remove any affected leaves as soon as they appear.
Related: Nettles: Health Tonic and Organic Fertilizer
From the ground up, beets are delicious.
Tips: Beets are a cool weather crop and prefer early spring, fall and mild winter temperatures. They require little room and the leaves can be harvested (wonderful steamed) up until the root is ready to pull (softball sized or larger).
Bok Choy
Bok Choy has to be one of our favorite greens.
Tips: Be sure to start harvesting your first crop of bok choy before the hot weather sets in. Hot weather tends to make the bok choy go to seed quickly. You don't have to pull the entire plant though (although this is fine as well), you can simply harvest the outer leaves and let the inner leaves mature.
A bouquet of beautiful lacinato kale!
Tips: Kale prefers cool temperatures. The flavor will also be sweetened by a touch of frost, but it can be grown in spring, summer or fall. It's an easy crop to grow and oh so very, very good for you. Just remember to keep your kale plants well watered. Along with cool temperatures, keeping the soil moist helps kale leaves remain sweet and crisp, rather than tough and bitter.
Lacinato kale is also often called dinosaur kale.
Tips: If you grow nothing else, plant a pot of kale. It is one of the most nutritious, delicious and simple greens to grow. Young leaves make a wonderful addition to fresh salads; more mature leaves are great in a stir-fry or as a dressed (marinated) salad.


text:
Rope To Silk (T-71) by Tenyo Magic
You show a very soft rope to your audience. By stroking the rope it becomes rigid and stands vertically with no support. With one more stroke of the rope it magically changes to a beautiful silk handkerchief. Our apparatus for this trick is much superior to some you may have seen before. You can also perform other effects whit the rope before you do the stiffening effect.
English instructions included.
English instructions included.


text:
Walt Disney Pictures has released the new American and French poster for Maleficent, New trailer is just around the corner so stay tuned!
Maleficent explores the untold story of Disney's most iconic villain from the classic "Sleeping Beauty" and the elements of her betrayal that ultimately turn her pure heart to stone. Driven by revenge and a fierce desire to protect the moors over which she presides, Maleficent cruelly places an irrevocable curse upon the human king's newborn infant Aurora.
As the child grows, Aurora is caught in the middle of the seething conflict between the forest kingdom she has grown to love and the human kingdom that holds her legacy. Maleficent realizes that Aurora may hold the key to peace in the land and is forced to take drastic actions that will change both worlds forever.
Stars Angelina Jolie as Maleficent, Sharlto Copley, Elle Fanning, Sam Riley, Imelda Staunton, Juno Temple and Lesley Manville.