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Thursday, February 2, 2012
Did I StuDer?
18 comments:
Rachel, you picked a gorgeous pair of studs! I love the size you've chosen too!ReplyDelete
Ooooh! dangerous how easy it must have been to use! Pretty studsReplyDelete
Lovely, in all ways! I'll have to check it out for my wishlist!ReplyDelete
OMG...those studs are so beautiful! Good call on getting the Tulip studs. I think you can wear it with a casual or formal clothing. Too cute.ReplyDelete
Omgsh!!! Have you always wanted diamond earrings? What made you get them, or want them now? Those are incredible!!!ReplyDelete
- chillairandperfumeFebruary 3, 2012 at 11:19 PM
BEAUTIFUL (you and the earrings!)ReplyDelete
- Diana TeodoroFebruary 3, 2012 at 11:33 PM
Ah a girl can never go wrong with diamonds, can she? And the model you chose is lovely. How amazing is it that they asked you to review their product? Pretty amazing, I say. And what a great idea it is that you can custom make your own studs. I'm sure a lot of people will love the idea of something original in these mass production times we live in.ReplyDelete
- RachelsSLFebruary 5, 2012 at 9:11 AM
Thank you Diana. I agree, customization of items in these times is a brilliant idea.ReplyDelete
- RachelsSLFebruary 5, 2012 at 9:11 AM
thanks Hannah!ReplyDelete
- RachelsSLFebruary 5, 2012 at 9:14 AM
I have become a minimalist over the years. I love fashion, beauty, and all kinds of other things but when it comes down to purchasing something it has to be really special for me to take the plunge. If I have "things" I want them to be something I can pass down to my children that they will find as special as the things I've inherited from my Grandmother. Some of the most appealing things about Anjolee were their Green manufacturing practices and their gem sourcing. There's complete peace of mind for me with that.ReplyDelete
- RachelsSLFebruary 5, 2012 at 9:14 AM
- RachelsSLFebruary 5, 2012 at 9:15 AM
thank you Jen! I thought they had a bit of a retro feel to them which was their appeal to me. I love their flexibility and subtlety.ReplyDelete
- RachelsSLFebruary 5, 2012 at 9:15 AM
Aww thank you Lindsay!ReplyDelete
- RachelsSLFebruary 5, 2012 at 9:16 AM
Very very dangerous. They have some great designs and such flexibility that it would be easy to get into serious trouble I think hehehe.ReplyDelete
- RachelsSLFebruary 5, 2012 at 9:16 AM
Thanks Laura!ReplyDelete
Nice earrings!ReplyDelete
- thepennypinchingpreppyFebruary 8, 2012 at 7:47 PM
very cute and super simple, chic. perfect.ReplyDelete


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NCSE is pleased to announce that the latest issue of Reports of the National Center for Science Education is now available on-line. The issue — volume 38, number 2 — is the tenth issue in the newsletter's new, streamlined, and full-color format.
When Governor Jay Inslee signed Senate Bill 6032 (PDF) into law on March 27, 2018, the state of Washington committed to provide $4 million "to provide grants ... for science teacher training in the [N]ext [G]eneration [S]cience [S]tandards" — adopted in 2013 — "including training in the climate science standards."
When the Idaho legislature adjourned sine die on March 28, 2018, a three-year-long struggle over new state science standards ended, with a generally positive outcome.
A pair of "Campus Free Speech Acts," Assembly Bill 299 and Senate Bill 250, died in the Wisconsin legislature on March 28, 2018, when they failed to meet a deadline.
About two thirds of Americans overall realize that most scientists think that global warming is occurring and that it is caused by human activities, according to a new poll from Gallup. But the partisan polarization of opinion on climate change continues to be clear.
National Center for Science Education, Inc.
1904 Franklin Street, Suite 600
Oakland, CA 94612
fax: 510-788-7971
For Reporters | Store | Events

subset: commoncrawl


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i need advices, coments, and so on !
i'm building my first board and, there is a question that stands open, template, shape and so on !
my question is, why the f..k are kiteboards build symetrical as they are not, never ( wel, exept for short moments during transitions when yours exacly downwind) never never riden symetrical.
i mean, ok, twin tip wise they have to be symetrical, but, Hell to Toe, they ere not ridden symetrical so, why are they
i'm talking about the shape, AND the flex !!!!!!
so, i did cut the foam ( but have not yet poured the rail ) in a non symetrical way, meaning my board has more round rail on the heel side then on the toe side ( looks to me then, toe side i'm not as good as heel side and, loosing speed and gettint more into the water ) so i was thinking if i get the rail ( ahd then the surface of the wet area straighter/wider i'l be more easy on toe side !
question for you
IF building non symetrical ( heel / toe ) twin tip, is it better to have rounder rail toe or heel, or straighter rail toe or heel.
solution : more inserts so i can reverse the pads and deceide what i like more !!! héhé
AND what about the flex, should i get the heel side more stiff ? as there is more pressure on it ? maybe not flex wise ( long way ) but maybe concave wise ? could ad some layers of directional fibers on heel side so that the concave does not get UP while under pressure ( rigind ) but the board still flexes ???? so on the botom side of the board !
comments ???


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10 Timeless iPad Sleeve & Case Designs
The Apple iPad has been around for some time now and accessory makers have had plenty of time to mature their style and craftsmanship. We're big believers in protecting our tablets, so pairing them up with the best classic sleeves money can buy was simply the next logical step.
Below is small collection of my personal favorite sleeves and cases I've tracked over the past several years. While many of the choices reflect a more utilitarian style, I believe the material choices and quality of construction speaks for itself. There's plenty to be had here, especially if money is no option.
- The Ashdown Workshop Premium iPad Case ($137)
- APC Book Jacket Select ($225)
- West Elm Felt Holder ($12)
- Dodocase Spring Summer Collection ($80)
- Poketo Envelope iPad Case ($50)
- Octavo Luxury Case For iPad ($120)
- Stash Bags iPad Case ($75)
- Tape Cork iPad Sleeve ($33)
- Hard Graft X Pocket iPad Case / Heritage Collection ($160)
- Fieldfolio iPad Case ($69)


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Topic: Family Guy funnies
Hello everyone,
Who here watches Family Guy? Cuz I'm here to discuss the Star Wars jokes on the TV show 'Family Guy'. I think that it's a VERY funny show, and I think it's funny how they use refferences to Star Wars in thier jokes! lol lol lol!!
I just saw one last night with a SW joke...........
Peter: That was like the time I saved Luke Skywalker!
*Flashback to Hoth where Han puts Luke in animal for warmth*
Han: dont worry Luke I'll save ya.....
*Drags Luke to naked Peter, cuts open stomach...*
Han: You sure this is alright?
Peter(still alive): Yeah, it's mostly fat.
LOLOLOLOLOLOL!!! Did anyone see that?!!
.......anyway.....try to name some Family Guy SW jokes!!.........lol!
[color=blue]Listen to My Rap Songs!![/color] [url=http://www.myspace.com/dinonkeys]www.myspace.com/dinonkeys[/url]


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Up to [cvs.NetBSD.org] / src / sys / netinet
Request diff between arbitrary revisions
Default branch: MAIN
Current tag: bouyer-quota2-base
Revision 1.111 / (download) - annotate - [selected], Wed Dec 9 00:45:25 2009 UTC (9 years ago) by dyoung
Branch: MAIN
CVS Tags: yamt-nfs-mp-base9, yamt-nfs-mp-base11, yamt-nfs-mp-base10, uebayasi-xip-base4, uebayasi-xip-base3, uebayasi-xip-base2, uebayasi-xip-base1, uebayasi-xip-base, uebayasi-xip, rmind-uvmplock-nbase, rmind-uvmplock-base, rmind-uvmplock, matt-premerge-20091211, matt-mips64-premerge-20101231, jruoho-x86intr-base, jruoho-x86intr, cherry-xenmp-base, cherry-xenmp, bouyer-quota2-nbase, bouyer-quota2-base, bouyer-quota2
Changes since 1.110: +4 -5 lines
Diff to previous 1.110 (colored)
Remove superfluous cast of a pointer to void *. Compare a pointer with NULL, not 0. No functional change intended.
This form allows you to request diff's between any two revisions of a file. You may select a symbolic revision name using the selection box or you may type in a numeric name using the type-in text box.


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// call this method whenever you want to output a block of rgb data. It is assumed that // rgbData is nNumLeds * 3 bytes long. void setRGBData(unsigned char *rgbData) { memcpy(m_pData,rgbData,m_nLeds); m_nDirty=1;}
void setColor(int pix, uint32_t c){ leds[pix].r = (c >> 16) & 0xFF; leds[pix].g = (c >> 8) & 0xFF; leds[pix].b = c & 0xFF; }
Initial support: 595 style shift registers - http://www.usledsupply.com/shop/rgb-32-spi-dmx-decoder.html hl1606 based led strips - http://bliptronics.com/item.aspx?ItemID=83 lpd6803 based led pixels - http://bliptronics.com/item.aspx?ItemID=86 tm1809 based led strips tm1804 based pixels ws2801 based led strips and pixels lpd8806 based led strips - https://www.adafruit.com/products/306 ucs1903 based led strips sm16716 chipset support for the ws2811 chipset


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KU defensive tackle to try out with Chiefs
By J. BRADY MCCOLOUGH
The Kansas City Star
LAWRENCE | Kansas defensive tackle James McClinton will try out with the Chiefs this weekend at their rookie minicamp.
Im going there looking for a contract, and were going to get it, said McClinton, who was not selected in last weekends NFL Draft. Im trusting God.
McClinton was the Big 12 defensive lineman of the year and a second-team All-American last year for the Jayhawks.


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Web design center background image html jobs
Hello, I need a logo for my Internet Gaming Center. The logo should use the text Menbun Gaming. You can use your imagination and create illustrations or whatever you like just make sure to include the name: Menbun Gaming. This is the fanpage of my business just so you know what type of business I have: [login to view URL] I
We are a Canadian based native English BPO Call center seeking Inbound or Outbound campaigns. We do not want any sales related campaigns but can do any lead qualifications, inbound customer services campaigns, appointment setting campaigns etc. Other campaigns may be considered as well (Order Processing, Complaint handling, Email and Chat support, etc)
Am looking for someone to set up my google merchant and to feed the account from my website photo. and run a search network and display campaign
We looking for 6 Hindi callers, 2 Telugu and 1 kananda callers. Both I/b and O/b would be there. Preference would be to use per day basis. Project Duration : As when we do a campaign.
I'm looking for someone who able to develop the system for manage a homeless center - residental records, auto fill sample documents by samples. The database should be view and edited by employers of the center. Able to filter, add, edit residental data's. Able to generate daily reports from current inhabitants etc. Lot of custom fields in data's and
Please create the attached logo
hi am in need of a quality writer who is able to produce quality work within a given duration thereby ensuring that the work is 100% unique
Hello we need desktop application through it we can add our clients and get in touch with them always . that is the database mapping of the applications
Hello there. I am trying to use Windows Media Center Browser in windows 10. Currently WMC uses IE8, but I wanna install IE11 or Microsoft Edge for WMC Web Browser. This could help me connecting to some sites like youtube. The only thing is to build MediaCenterWebLauncher.msi. But I just can't do it. Feel free to discuss me on the project. Happy bidding
Looking for a call center to work on commission to sell ebook it U.S.A. and Canda
Hello. We are Looking for Call Center Solution based on Freeswitch (Multitenant) (Not Vicidial or GoAutodial) along with Source Code. If anyone have ready, contact us and provide us demo. We will purchase instantly. For more information you can chat with us. Thank you
I need to get 500 email addressee from shell Gas station with Car wash
This project has to be done with Windows no MAC. And it needs office 2016 for windows to complete this project.
Hi , We are in search of the call center who is willing to run the UK and US campaign. your agents must be experienced and well trained. No deposit required to register. Totally commision base project with confirmed and good weekly payout. Make sure you have your own DDV Note: ONLY BID IF YOU AGREE ON PROJECT REQUIREMENTS : PLEASE DONT WASTE
We need a similar logo like the attached. This is a sofa ( where a patient is lying for the psychology session ) and a mast from a sail boat We are waiting for your designs similar to this but not the same! Thank you very much!
...are seeking an outgoing bilingual English+Mandarin or Cantonese speaker to assist working at our booth during the Cosmoprof Asia Show at the Hong Kong Convention &Exhibition Center in Wanchai on 11/14-16/2018. Assistant will meet and greet buyers,exchange business cards and explain to them about the personal care and fragrance products on display.
Merchant Center optimisation its self explanatory
looking for an agent to do telesales from home with a high commission
380 to 400 euro/per day 6+ yrs. of infrastructure management with windows system administration (setting up AD,DHCP,DNS etc.) basic networking, hands on experience on server hardware, ability to create and manage Virtual servers(Hyper-V), installing and configuration of various Microsoft products/application like SCCM, SCVMM, SQL etc and ability to manage end user equipment like Windows surfaces,...
Seeking experienced call center for merchant cash advance to screen potential clients and eventually collect applications.
Upgrade Windows Media Center Browser WMC currently uses Internet Explorer 8 Integrate Internet Explorer 11 or Microsoft Edge Into WMC WMCMediaCenterWebLauncher: Inernet Explorer11Edge Build: [login to view URL] C:Windowsehome[login to view URL] WMC App: YouTube requires IE11 or Edge Desktop > Right Click > New > Shortcut > Location:
...from document. I need to center it, crop white margin, and resize it. So, this is what I need 1. select file(s) 2. select 'need to process pages', such as 3-20 (don't process cover page, and index page, for ex.) 3. resize ALL pages to A4 (need a check box, including/excluding ALL pages or only pages indicated before) 4. center content (set up even/odd
THE DUTIES ARE: * Keep records of materials filed or removed, using log-books or computers. * Add new material to file records, and create new records as necessary. * Perform general office duties such as typing, operating office machines, and sorting mail. * Track materials removed from files in order to ensure that borrowed files are returned. * Sort or classify information according to guidel...
Bid only experienced candidate, In starting it will be a part-time job. soon you have to do full time. You should know outlook & email handling, Website account management,You need to provide telephone support as well, So You should be fluent to speak Hindi & English both language. Check out the website [login to view URL] The website is related to herbal medicine & also have produc...
Google Merchant Center (GMC) | Shopping Ads | Shopping Campaigns | Data Feed | PLA Ads I need a freelancer who can do all the following tasks: -will create and verify a google merchant account -Shopping ad campaigns + 30 products in merchant feed exported - do conversion tracking, remartketing in order to make sales - do competitor analysis The winner
incorporar codigos de Merchant Center, para programa de reseña de clientes de google en woocommerce Wordpress, dejarlo funcionando ([login to view URL]) en mi ecommerce "[login to view URL]"
The name of the Company is Digital Management, LLC . headquartered in Bethesda, MD, But we have locations in many countries, I believe you are well set & eligible to hear and know more about the opening positions Just follow the briefing. You can ask questions when i am through. Let me know when you have finished reading and understand every line ..You are to respond back with an ''D...
We are looking to skillful guys to Configure 3 SPA3000 devices & 1 GSM gateway with xCALLY contact cloud center (Asterisk base call center system). The job will be mainly sitting the devices to be connected with xCALLY systems using the sitting parameter of xCALLY GUI. * the xCALLY is hosted in VPS @ germany. * The VPS @ germany is connected to NordVPN
i need to configure Issabel Call Center Module for Ingoing campaings
i got a project which pays between $100 to $150 per verified sale for home sec equipment in USA you will be provided a script and do calling in USA you don't have to take any information on call just do a simple transfer to sales expert in USA and he will be taking care of calls and closing it for you
We need help to get our products correctly displayed ant entered into our merchant center so that we can create shopping ads.
Upgrade Windows Media Center Browser WMC currently uses Internet Explorer 8 Integrate Internet Explorer 11 or Microsoft Edge Into WMC WMCMediaCenterWebLauncher: Inernet Explorer11Edge Build: [login to view URL] C:Windowsehome[login to view URL] WMC App: YouTube requires IE11 or Edge Desktop > Right Click > New > Shortcut > Location:
I want to hire people to contact Forex leads in Gulf area and want to sell highly targeted leads
Only serious offers - No mediators without knowledge and skills We are searching for a application, able to protect against Frauds and BotCalls Any Solution will be tested before purchase. Price can be discussed
Residing in Region 1 and ready to start ASAP
We need you to call our clients, ask questions and write these on Excel file.
I have IT training center based in Albania/Tirana and I want to hire trainers/instructors who have experience in teaching programming/coding courses like Python, Java, Javascript, PHP, C++, etc. I can accept two models of teaching: 1- Physical delivery 2- Remote delivery. Physical Delivery means to hire instructors in Albania and they provide the training
...Mbps or more Internet connection speed Windows/Mac computer with Google Chrome browser USB Headset with noise cancelation feature Silent working environment (without any background noise) Terms: • Work from home • Target country: USA • Working day: 9am-6pm (EST-New York time) • Performance bonuses and referral incentives • Paid breaks: o Lunch: 1pm-2pm
I have an Android Launcher app which retrieves a list of apps installed and pre...screen icon. The launcher functions perfectly and I only need assistance with the textview/imageview alignment on screen I would like an Android Guru to align the list - center vertically and horizontally on the screen and display each item as a button as per attached:
We have a old norwegian barn, and want to start a holiday center/camping in and round the barn. I need a architect or technical designer with good ideas. How to make this project interesting for tourists. The barn have three old silos, There I wish small holiday apartments. which is cleverly utilized. I have different big roms, and want a smal waterland
Configurazione call center robot automatico
The payout is 60 a back, 20 for shoulder and 15 for ankle/ wrist that passes eligibility and same and similar We do not provide data- dialer We need a center doing Dme right now
As described on the title, i want to center my shopify store LOGO in mobile version, as it's already centered in the desktop version! It must be done in the code, can't do it in shopify settings! Thanks,
system should include the following 1- opening and tracking tickets 2- products managment 3- spare parts mabagment and broadcasting 4- billing managment 5-HR section 6- users &roles 7-dynamic workflow based on each company importent : sytem will be used by mulrible companies
Hi i need to setup local users and remote users in call queue and with 4 different schedules in 3CX VOIP phone system
***You MUST have your OWN CALLING LISTS for this campaign, NO EXCEPTIONS!*** We're looking for a CALL CENTER (no individuals), to make APPOINTMENTS for a Mortgage Company. You MUST set 25 appointments PER WEEK consistently (to start). We will provide the calendar with dates/times to schedule them. You will be ONLY calling Las Vegas, NV USA. You MUST
***You MUST have your OWN CALLING LISTS for this campaign, NO EXCEPTIONS!*** We're looking for a CALL CENTER (no individuals), to make APPOINTMENTS for a Website Design/SEO Company. You MUST set 10 appointments PER WEEK consistently (to start). We will provide the calendar with dates/times to schedule them. You will be ONLY calling Las Vegas, NV USA
***You MUST have your OWN CALLING LISTS for this campaign, NO EXCEPTIONS!*** We're looking for a CALL CENTER (no individuals), to make APPOINTMENTS for a Life Insurance agent. You MUST set 20 appointments PER WEEK consistently. We will provide the calendar with dates/times to schedule them. You will be ONLY calling Las Vegas, Henderson NV USA.
We are providing IT Services online and onsite. Company is based CA, USA Looking for experience centers who can generate leads with 60 Second Buffer time. This is per hour per agent payment plan. This is totally outbound. We don't provide data+dialer+VoIP. Only pay per hour per agent. Preferred non-Indian centers.
A large European financial company is looking for a partner - a call center. We have a list of contacts of companies potentially interested in the service we offer. The goal of the call center is to call and offer a service. In case of interest of the client, fill in the questionnaire about the client and transfer it to us for the conclusion of the


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ORBIT™ is an algorithm created by SocialSphere to identify the 500 people most influential in discussions of Massachusetts politics on Twitter. Rank is calculated using data on number of followers, engagement levels, frequency of on-topic tweets, and re-tweet and linking pattern statistics. To qualify for the list, a user must have created three original tweets on issues related to Massachusetts politics over the last four weeks. Like many other ranking systems topicality is weighted for recency, with tweets from the past week receiving full weighting and less recent tweets receiving only a partial weight.
The talk: Politics on Twitter
Tracking the stories that the Massachusetts political community is talking about on Twitter.
Globe weekly poll
Biggest impact on Twitter Potential Audience.
DATA: Twitter/SocialSphere
Daniel McLaughlin, Cecilia Reyes / Globe Staff


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From Contamination to Beautification: Ferns Remove Arsenic From Soil
For Teachers
Arsenic is a chemical element that has the symbol As. Arsenic is widely distributed in nature and is associated with the ores of metals such as gold, lead, and copper. Arsenic also enters the environment through human activities, as arsenic is often used in pesticides, dyes, and chemical weapons. The arsenic compound chromated copper arsenate (CCA) has also been used as a wood preservative. At high doses, arsenic is a poison to humans and other animals which can cause death, and at lower doses over a longer time, it can also cause cancer. Arsenic contamination of soil and water is thus an environmental health issue.
In 2001, University of Florida researcher Lena Ma discovered that the Chinese brake fern (Pteris vittata) grows well in arsenic-contaminated soil. This plant accumulates large amounts of arsenic in its fronds, the portion of the fern that is above ground. This discovery led to the idea that brake fern could help clean up arsenic-contaminated soil. The use of plants to clean up contaminated soil and water is called phytoremediation. Phytoremediation offers an environmentally-friendly and cost-effective method to remove arsenic from contaminated soil. In addition to brake fern, other plants have been found to be useful in phytoremediation. Sunflowers were very effective at removing radioactive materials from the water near the site the 1986 nuclear-power-plant disaster at Chernobyl, Ukraine. Poplar trees are also useful in removing a wide range of pollutants from soil and have been used widely for this purpose.
The flowchart below illustrates how brake fern could be utilized in the remediation of arsenic-contaminated soil. It is important to note that the phytoremediation process does not result in the disappearance of the arsenic. During phytoremediation, the arsenic moves from the soil to the fern fronds. It is then easy to harvest the fern fronds and further concentrate the arsenic in a safer location. Sometimes remediation processes result in complete destruction of the contaminant, as when microorganisms degrade polyaromatic hydrocarbons completely to carbon dioxide and water.
Data Sets
These data sets are the results of experiments conducted by scientists who are investigating the Chinese brake fern and its application to phytoremediation of arsenic-contaminated soil.
Method: Scientists collected brake fern plants from several uncontaminated sites and then planted them in pots containing soil. The soil contained 97 p.p.m. arsenic, and the brake fern plants were grown for 20 weeks. The concentration of arsenic was measured in the fern's roots and fronds at various timepoints. The concentration of arsenic is expressed in p.p.m. The abbreviation p.p.m. stands for parts per million, or one milligram arsenic per kilogram of soil or plant.
- Where does the fern concentrate the arsenic – in the frond or in the root?
- (answer: The ferns concentrate the arsenic in the frond.)
- Why might the fern store the arsenic here?
- (answer: Storing the arsenic in the frond could help the fern avoid herbivorous predators, or predators that eat leaves.)
- When did the fern show the greatest increase in frond arsenic concentration?
- (answer: The fern showed the greatest in increase in arsenic concentration between 6 and 8 weeks of growth.)
- How could you design an experiment to test this hypothesis?
- (answer: You could test this hypothesis by offering brake fern leaves with and without arsenic to hungry predators, such as grasshoppers.)
- What is a hypothesis for this experiment?
- (possible answer: Grasshoppers will not eat ferns that have been growing in arsenic-contaminated soil. Other hypotheses are possible.)
Method: In another experiment, brake ferns were planted in pots containing various amounts of arsenic (50 p.p.m., 500 p.p.m., and 1500 p.p.m.). The control soil contained no added arsenic, though very low levels of arsenic are naturally present in soil. After 6 weeks of growth, the scientists measured the amount of arsenic present in the fern frond.
- Was the fern effective at removing the arsenic from the soil?
- (answer: Yes, the ferns were effective at removing arsenic from the soil.)
- Compare the 2 week and 6 week values for arsenic concentrations in the ferns. How does the arsenic-removing ability of the fern compare with low arsenic (control, low-As) versus higher arsenic (As-contaminated soil, medium As, high As) concentrations?
- (answer: The low-arsenic treatments have greater As removal at 2 weeks than at 6 weeks. The high-arsenic treatments have greater As removal at 6 weeks.)
- Why was the control soil included?
- (answer: The control soil was included to measure arsenic accumulation in "normal" conditions, i.e. ferns growing in soil not contaminated with arsenic.)
- These data show the average arsenic content of four replicate ferns grown during the experiment. Why did the scientist use replicates and average the measurements from each replicate?
- (answer: Variability exists. The use of replicates helps account for this variability and gives a more precise answer.)
Method: In another experiment, ferns were planted in pots with arsenic-contaminated soil. After 12, 16, and 20 weeks of growth, the scientists measured the amount of arsenic present in the ferns. Specifically, they measured the arsenic concentrations in old fronds, young fronds, and the roots. Mg/kg dry weight is a concentration measurement that means mg arsenic per kg dry weight of fern.
- Does the fern store arsenic in the root or in the frond?
- (answer: The ferns store arsenic in their fronds.)
- Does the concentration of arsenic in the young fronds change much between 12, 16, and 20 weeks of growth?
- (answer: The concentration of arsenic in the young fronds does not change much between 12 and 20 weeks.)
- Does the concentration of arsenic in the old fronds change much between 12, 16, and 20 weeks of growth?
- (answer: The arsenic concentration in the old fronds rises considerably between 16 and 20 weeks)
Grasshopper herbivory and arsenic-containing ferns.
Method: Grasshoppers are herbivourous predators, which means they graze on plants. Ferns are a food source for grasshoppers. Hungry grasshoppers were placed by themselves in small boxes. They were offered a small piece of fern frond as their only food source. The fronds were taken from ferns grown in arsenic-contaminated soil (experimental) or uncontaminated soil (control). The fern fronds were weighed daily for 5 days to determine how much fern the grasshopper ate. The data is presented below as a graph and in a table.
|Amount of fern frond eaten (mg)
|24 h control
|24 h arsenic-treated
|48 h control
|48 h arsenic-treated
- What hypothesis might this experiment be designed to test?
- (possible answer: The fern's accumulation of arsenic in its frond is a defense mechanism to avoid herbivorous predation.)
- Does the amount of fern frond eaten change much between 24 and 48 h?
- (answer: No, the grasshopper does not eat much additional fern between 24 and 48 hours.)
- Why might the scientist have chosen 24 and 48 hour timepoints to measure the amount of fern frond eaten?
- (possible answer: The scientist might have not been sure which would be the best timepoint to answer the question they were asking. If the grasshopper got hungry enough, they might have eaten some of the fern at the later timepoint.)
- Did this experiment confirm or deny the hypothesis that "the fern's accumulation of arsenic in its frond is a defense mechanism to avoid herbivorous predation"?
- (answer: The data confirms the hypothesis.)
- Do the table and the graph present the same information?
- (answer: Yes.)
- Which do you prefer for this data: the graph or the table?
- (Answers will vary.)
- In general, when might you choose a graph instead of a table to present data? What factors influence the decision?
- (answers might include: The choice of a table versus graph can be influenced by: the nature of the variables (quantitative or qualitative), the number of independent variables, the total number of data points to be shown, and whether you want to emphasize the individual values or the overall trend. Other answers are possible.)
Method: In a similar experiment, hungry grasshoppers were placed by themselves in small boxes. This time, they were offered a choice of three pieces of lettuce. The lettuce had been dipped in water for 10 seconds. One piece of lettuce was dipped in water containing a high concentration of arsenic (1.0 mM), one piece of lettuce was dipped in water containing a low concentration of arsenic (0.1 mM), and one piece of lettuce was dipped in water containing no arsenic (0 mM). After 24 h or 48 h, the amount of each piece of lettuce that had been eaten was scored on a scale of 1-10, with 10 representing a completely eaten lettuce leaf. The abbreviation mM stands for millimolar. One molar means one mole of a substance per liter of water.
- Was there any difference in the amount of control lettuce eaten between 24 and 48 h?
- (answer: No, there was no difference observed for the control lettuce seen between 24 and 48 h.)
- Is this what you expect in a control?
- (answer: Yes.)
- Did the grasshoppers eat any more of the 1.0 mM arsenic lettuce at 48 h than at 24 h?
- (answer: No.)
- What does this tell you about the willingness of grasshoppers to eat lettuce dipped in 1.0 mM arsenic?
- (answer: Grasshoppers will not eat lettuce dipped in 1.0 mM arsenic. They try it and do not like it.)
- Did the grasshoppers eat any more of the 0.1 mM arsenic lettuce at 48 h than at 24 h?
- (answer: Yes.)
- What does this tell you about the willingness of grasshoppers to eat lettuce dipped in 0.1 mM arsenic?
- (possible answer: If the grasshoppers get hungry enough, they will eat lettuce dipped in 0.1 mM arsenic.)
- Why do you think the scientists used the 1-10 scale to score the amount of lettuce eaten? Why didn't they just weigh the lettuce as they weighed the fern fronds in the previous experiment?
- (answer: Dipping the lettuce in water changed the wet weight of the lettuce, so it would not work to simply weigh the lettuce. Estimating the area of lettuce eaten was the next best option.)
Method: This experiment tested the effect of fertilizers on brake fern's accumulation of arsenic. The three types of fertilizers tested were Compost 1, Compost 2, and phosphate rock. Brake fern plants were grown in pots in soil with 125 mg/kg arsenic. Equal amounts of fertilizer were added to experimental pots, and no fertilizer was added to the control pots. The scientists measured the arsenic concentration in the roots and fronds after 12 weeks of growth.
- Did any fertilizer cause the fern to accumulate large amounts of arsenic in the root instead of the frond?
- (answer: No.)
- Did application of the fertilizers increase arsenic uptake in the ferns?
- (answer: Yes.)
- Which fertilizer was the most effective at increasing fern arsenic uptake?
- (answer: Phosphate rock was the most effective fertilizer for increasing arsenic uptake.)
- Which fertilizer would be the best choice to add to ferns when planning a phytoremediation project?
- (answer: Phosphate rock would be the best fertilizer.)
- What other factors might influence the decision of which fertilizer to choose?
- (possible answer: Other factors might include the price and availability of fertilizer in sufficient quantities.)
Brake fern distribution
View a map of brake fern distribution in Florida.
Why might the fern be present in some counties but not in others?
Extension activity:
Fern phytoremediation of arsenic-contaminated soil
Here are some values you can use to predict how ferns might be used to phytoremediate an arsenic-contaminated soil.
- Typical arsenic concentration in contaminated soil = 100 p.p.m. = 100 mg arsenic per kg soil
- One brake fern plant can extract 38 mg arsenic from soil in 20 weeks
- 90% of the extracted arsenic is stored in the frond (aboveground biomass)
Assume that ferns can remove 20 mg arsenic per kg soil in 20 weeks. At the end of 20 weeks, ferns are harvested and replanted until the desired soil arsenic concentration is reached. How many harvests would be required to phytoremediate a soil contaminated with 100 mg/kg arsenic? (answer: about 5) How long would this take? (answer: 100 weeks, or just over 2 years. This assumes the fern can grow year-round.) How many harvests would be required to phytoremediate a soil contaminated with 400 mg/kg arsenic? (answer: 20 harvests) How long would this take? (answer: 400 weeks, or about 8 years) Is it realistic to assume that the ferns will always be able to remove 20 mg arsenic per kg soil in 20 weeks? (answer: No.) Why or why not? (answer: Some of the arsenic will be "harder to get to", and the removal efficiency will not always be ideal.) What might be some limitations of using brake ferns to phytoremediate arsenic-contaminated soil? (possible answers: The ferns will only remove arsenic from soil to the depth their roots will grow. This technique is only feasible in places where the fern will grow.)
Do research to find an arsenic-contaminated site that interests you. Using the information here and other data you find in your research, make a plan to use brake ferns to phytoremediate the site. What is the history of the site? How big is it? Where is it located? Is it contaminated with compounds other than arsenic? How many fern plants will be needed? How long will the phytoremediation take? What will be done with the land after the cleanup is complete?
Other phytoremediation applications:
- Salt-tolerant barley and/or sugar beets are commonly used for the extraction of sodium chloride (table salt) to reclaim fields that were previously flooded by sea water.
- Sunflowers were very effective at removing radioactive materials from the water near the site the 1986 nuclear-power-plant disaster at Chernobyl, Ukraine.
- Poplar trees are also useful in removing a wide range of pollutants from soil, from pesticides to heavy metals. Poplar trees are good candidates for phytoremediation.
Research one of these topics (or another topic of your choice) further online.
Web site resources
- Create A Graph, from the US Department of Education's National Center for Educational Statistics. This outstanding web interface allows students to create several different types of graphs. Highly recommended. Free!
- InspireData, commercially available graphing software
- web site for Dr. Lena Ma, the scientist who discovered the arsenic-accumulating properties of brake fern
- Soil contamination and bioremediation information
- Data used in this activity was obtained from the following publications. The articles can be downloaded from the following site: http://lqma.ifas.ufl.edu/PUBLICATION.html
- Cao, X., L.Q. Ma, and A. Shiralipour. 2003. Effects of compost and phosphate amendments on arsenic leachability in soils and arsenic uptake by Chinese Brake (Pteris Vittata L.) Environ. Pollution. 126:157-167.
- Ma, L.Q., K.M. Komar, C. Tu, W. Zhang,and Y Cai. 2001. A fern that hyperaccumulates arsenic. Nature. 409:579.
- Rathinasabapathi B, L.Q. Ma, and M. Srivastava. 2006. Arsenic hyperaccumulating ferns and their application to phytoremediation of arsenic contaminated sites. In: Floriculture, Ornamental and Plant Biotechnology: Advances and Topical Issues (1st Edition), Teixeira da Silva JA (ed), Global Science Books, London, UK, pp 305-311.
- Rathinasabapathi, B., M. Rangasamy, J. Froeba, R. H. Cherry, H. J. McAuslane, J.L. Capinera, M. Srivastava, & L.Q. Ma. 2007. Arsenic hyperaccumulation in the Chinese brake fern (Pteris vittata) deters grasshopper (Schistocerca americana) herbivory. New Phytologist. 175: 363–369.
- Tu, C., L.Q. Ma, and B. Bondada. 2002. Arsenic Accumulation in the Hyperaccumulator Chinese Brake Fern (Pteris vittata L.) and Its Utilization Potential for Phytoremediation. J. Environ. Qual. 31:1671-1675.


text:
All too often the world feels like a pile of poop.
It seems like we are challenged to face some kind of obstacle, sorrow, illness or tragedy all too often. Many of us live with worry and uncertainty on what feels like a daily basis and the media is full of gloom and doom. All the more reason to find the things that bring us love and joy, and cherish them. That's probably the people we love, but too often take for granted.
It's Thanksgiving Day weekend in the United States, so be thankful if you have loving parents, your spouse, your friends, your job and all the people and things that make you happy, laugh, and bring you joy. Be thankful and let them know how you feel.
Seriously. Do it today and tomorrow and between shopping on Black Friday. When you're standing in that mile long shopping line, take the hand of your loved one (mother, wife, husband, child, friend) and say, "I love you. Thank you for being here with me." Tell your friends, siblings, children, and your parents that you love them and are proud of them. That you are glad you have them in you life. Let them know you appreciate and need them.
A moment ago, I said to tell "even your parents." I say "even," because I think we forget our parents need to hear they are loved and appreciated. That you are as proud of them, as they are of you. I suspect most of us think of our parents as strong and always there for us. That they are forever people – immortals. In a way they are, because they shape who we are, and in so doing, embed a little piece of themselves in our hearts. Everyone who touches us with love and friendship leaves a little piece of themselves in our hearts that we can hold onto forever.
As I write this, I have two very dear friends fighting for their lives. Kathryn Kozora is battling the monster we know as cancer. Sophie Bartold is in the final days with her battle against the same monster. Both are wonderful people. As good and kind and caring as can be. Both are deeply loved and cherished by many. With any luck, Kay will win her battle. For Sophie, a gentle and loving mother to us all, even the "kids" who were not blood members of her family, her battle appears to be coming to an end. Now we wait for her to slip quietly and hopefully, gently into the embrace of her maker. I visited Mrs. Bartold on Sunday. She was in amazingly good spirits and her usual cheerful self. We had a long, nice visit. Sophie Bartold is (as is Kay Kozora) another one of the Palladium Heroes behind the scenes who helped me and the company when we needed it most. But Sophie is much more than that. She is a dear friend and surrogate Mom who I love and care about. Her passing will be felt deeply by many people, but that's only because she shared her love and laughter with so many of us fortunate souls. I love you, Mrs. Bartold, thank you for being a part of my life.
In this time of sorrow, I find comfort in the warm memories of my own parents, in the friendship of Sophie's sons, Thom and Ken, and from all the wonderful people in my own life. Thom is another great friend who has played a huge role in my life as well as Palladium's. I am grateful and thankful to have him as a friend and I'm sorry for his pain. The struggles of these two wonderful people so close to Thanksgiving Day and my own struggles make me grateful for everyone in my life.
This Thanksgiving Day I'm grateful for so many things. I'm thankful for having had two amazing parents who taught me about all the best things life has to offer. They taught me to cherish love and friendship. They taught me not to be afraid of sharing my thoughts, feelings and my life with other people. They taught me to recognize the gifts of beauty and joy all around me. To cherish what really matters: People, friendship and love. That includes all my wonderful friends, my crazy-but-wonderful family, and you, the greatest fans on the entire planet. Heck, in the entire Megaverse! You help keep me going. You are part of the joy in my life. Thank you.
Alex, my best friend since 8th grade, scared the daylights out of us and gave us reason to worry twice this year, first with his house fire and then with his serious blood condition. I am so thankful that he is back at home, back on his feet and has his medical condition under control. I'm thankful Palladium is on the move with new releases as we move forward into an uncertain future. I'm thankful to have the privilege of working with so many talented and creative souls and to have so many awesome, kind and generous people as Palladium fans. I'm thankful for a job I love and hope I am able to continue to spin new worlds of adventure for many years to come. I have so many stories yet to tell. I'm thankful to have this forum with which to share my feelings, my sorrows, my happiness, hopes and dreams.
I am thankful for everything I have and to the multitude of people who love and care about me. I love you too. I care about you too. I want you to know that. From Alex, Kathy, Wayne, Julius, Matthew, Monica and Adam, Kay, Sophie, Connie, Thom, Ken, Jeff, Joe, Aubrey, Teresa, Tony, Barry, and Brian, to the Palladium fans and all my friends and family around the world, you are special and important to me. You are appreciated. You give me strength. I apologize that I cannot list all of you by name, and I am humbled to be able to say that I have so many people in my life that I cannot begin to list them all. Each and every one of you have brought happiness, laughter and warmth into my life. Most of all, you have helped make me a better person and rich in the things that make life worth living. Thank you so very, very much.
I could probably go on, but don't worry, I won't. ;)
This weekend I want to make sure I let the people I love know how much they matter, and I hope you will do the same. Don't wait until that person is fading or gone. Do it now. Spread a little joy and love with a few simple words of appreciation and gratitude. I'd say we should all do such every day, but we all know that's not going to happen. But on this holiday of Thanksgiving, it is the perfect opportunity to take a moment to say I love you to the people who matter. Yep, sounds like a good plan. I'm starting with this Weekly Update.
I'll be brief and to the point.
Robotech® New Generation™ Sourcebook is at the printer. I approved the printer proof last Friday. It should ship between November 29 and December 2. With the Thanksgiving holiday we cannot get an exact ship date from our printer at this time. This book is hot and has one of the highest pre-order numbers we've seen in a long time. Robotech® fans will not be disappointed. Have you ordered yours?
Rifts® Path of the Storm™ – One writer's vision for the Rifts® movie is at the printer! We finished it last weekend and it was waiting for our printer first thing Monday morning. I approved the printer proof just this morning and have been told the book ships December 5!
This title is part sourcebook, part movie script and all fun. It was a labor of love for all parties involved and we think Palladium fans are going to love it too. The screenplay is a fast, fun adventure story that is a pleasure to read. To make it more fun, the author has statted out the key characters in the script and gamers can use the heroes, villains and story ideas in their own campaign should they choose to do so. This is a unique product that should appeal to all Palladium fans. After all, it lets the reader step behind the veil and see what goes on behind the scenes. And it's a 96 page book priced at only $12.95 retail. It will ship December 5.
I continue to tweak and fine tune Rifts® World Book 32: Lemuria. It should go to the printer in a week or two. I've been calling Rifts® Lemuria a book of wonders. It is jam-packed with exciting new ideas and characters, not to mention a lot of cool new weapons, living body armor, Biomancy magic, monstrous riding animals, symbiotes and toys gamers will go wild over. Stuff that can be used on land and undersea. This is another hotly anticipated book with a high number of pre-orders. Keep 'em coming.
Dead Reign™ Sourcebook Three: Endless Dead™ is next in line for completion and it too is full of ideas that will surprise and please gamers.
Online sales remain worrisome. However, they have closely mirrored 2010 sales, and last year around this time, sales shot through the roof and stayed there for the entire month of December. I'm praying that will be the case again this year. So please, don't forget about us over the long holiday weekend. Order some of those books you've been meaning to get. Buy a Christmas Surprise Package for yourself or a gaming friend and let your imagination run wild.
Best deal in gaming. Alright, it's that time of year where you start thinking about Christmas and buying loved ones holiday presents. Stores everywhere are advertising like crazy and offering amazing sales. But one of the best deals anywhere is right here: The Christmas Surprise Package – $80-$90+ worth of merchandise (often more!) for only $38 plus shipping and handling. And you also get autographs if you want them and the element of surprise with your wish list. Heck, the Palladium Christmas Surprise Package may be "the very best" gift money can buy! At least for gamers. Don't miss out.
The other cool thing about the Palladium Christmas Surprise Package? You can buy one (or several) for yourself to fill in holes in your gaming collection, try new RPGs and game settings, get back issues of The Rifter®, get original art, art prints, autographs, and surprise your fellow gamer with one choice book or a pile of books for Christmas. Can you imagine the look on your friend or loved one's face when you hand him a pile of role-playing products worth $90 (or more) . . . with autographs? And you only paid $38 (plus shipping and handling). Word it right and you may get a Surprise Package that has enough items to give to two or three friends. No other game company offers an opportunity like this. And for a lot of people this is the only way to get books signed by some of the creators and Palladium staff. What are you waiting for? Order yours today. :)
Click here to order yours today.
Don't forget, DriveThruRPG.com offers 90+ Palladium titles as PDFs including The Rifter® #1-48, first edition printings of Rifts®, Palladium Fantasy®, Heroes Unlimited™, BTS, and other game lines, as well as books such as Nightbane® Book Four: Shadows of Light™ and both versions of the The Mechanoids® RPG (1985) and The Collected Mechanoid Invasion® Trilogy (1981-1983), plus the new G.M. Support Kit and sneak previews of various books. The sneak peeks for Rifts® Lemuria, Vampires Sourcebook, and Endless Dead™ will be appearing soon.
BIG SALE on Kevin's Online Toy & Collectibles Store. Alex and I put a dozen new "Palladium" items (books, proofreader copies of books, rare stuff), and a lot more toys and action figures into my online store. All items are from my personal collection and are generally in very good to mint condition – and over the holiday weekend, starting today, ALL items are 20% to 30% LESS than the usually low prices. What a steal. Great holiday presents for someone. Check it out.
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving Day and a joyful, long weekend with those you love. Give thought to those presents for those special people and have fun shopping, seeing movies and gaming. Please don't forget about Palladium Books when you're running around to all those other sales this weekend. Game on and enjoy!
– Kevin Siembieda, Publisher, Writer and Surrogate Santa
During the holiday season, we like to let you see some of the many comments we get with the Christmas Surprise Packages. It's a nice way to acknowledge some of our fans and to share with you the kinds of words we hear from gamers throughout the season. We show only initials as some people would rather keep their identity private. Our thanks for your kind words of appreciation and encouragement.
We are happy to do the Christmas Surprise Packages and spread a little joy and fun around the globe. It is a privilege and an honor to touch so many people with our games. The Surprise Packages are our way of giving back and saying thank you to our legion of amazing fans. In this selection of comments everyone seems to be looking forward to new product. – Kevin Siembieda
R.B. in Dedham, Massachusetts, writes: Thank you once again for continuing to provide the Christmas Surprise Package. I look forward to it every year, and enjoy expanding my gaming collection. I may not get to game as much as I would like, but the time spent is well worth it. Whoever said paper and dice games are dead has obviously never seen Palladium's ever expanding game collection. Thanks again.
K.I. in Orlando, Florida, writes: I love the Christmas Surprise Packages! It's funny, the first thing that gets me in the Christmas spirit is seeing this go on sale. Thanks Palladium.
S.G. in St. Anns Ontario, Canada, writes: Keep the great ideas coming!!
J.W. in Gatlingburg, Tennessee, writes: You guys rock. I bought the first Rifts® book and it remains a linchpin for my concepts of storytelling and science fiction. Thanks.
J.D. in Elyria, Ohio, writes: Just got my Surprise Package, and it was awesome! I'm coming back for more!
E.W. in Park Forest, Illinois, writes: Always love this [Christmas Surprise Package] every year. Keep up the good work.
E.B. in Spearfish, South Dakota, writes: Rifts® is awesome, fun gaming at its peak.
C.A. in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, writes: I hope things look up for Palladium Books. I haven't played since the 90s, but I read the books and roll up characters for imagination's sake now and again. I cut my teeth playing horrible hack and slash games of Robotech® on an almost daily basis with my best friend and little brother. Perhaps I will look for a campaign someday. In the meantime, I appreciate these little opportunities to get lost in your creative work and think about character and destiny in a potently imaginative way. Thanks for all the memories and long live Palladium Books.
This sourcebook is epic in scope and opens up an entirely new range of game play by allowing mecha and O.C.C.s from all eras of Robotech® in one setting.
For the first time ever, Veritech Fighters, Destroids, Battloids, Hover Tanks, Cyclones, and something called "Frankenmecha" – giant mecha amalgamations that combine the limbs, weapons and body parts of two or more mecha. There are also rules for creating Frankenmecha, new weapons and vehicles, seven new resistance fighter character classes, Invid Hives, key characters from the TV show, world overview and more. 8½ x 11 book format (not manga size), 96 pages.
The battle for the liberation of Earth starts here. For the first time in its history, the Earth has been invaded and occupied by alien invaders – the Invid. The Invid think they have won, but Freedom Fighters, UEEF soldiers and other heroes continue to fight until they win.
Everyone wants to know what's going on with the Rifts® movie. Well, this book presents an insight and behind the scenes info on that front by Kevin Siembieda, plus an entire screenplay written on speculation by Matthew Clements as well as game stats and artwork for major characters in the script. Kevin was so impressed with the writer's screenplay that he had Matthew make changes and improvements and sent the second draft to Jerry Bruckheimer Films for their consideration. Meanwhile, Matthew and Kevin hit it off and the next thing he knew he became Palladium's new staff writer.
We thought it would be fun to let Rifts® gamers and Palladium fans see the type of Rifts® movie we at Palladium Books would like to see made. So we are presenting Matthew's screenplay as a proposed Rifts® movie script and Rifts® sourcebook. The screenplay is a fast, fun adventure story that is sure to please Rifts fans. To make it more fun, the author has statted out the key characters in the script and gamers can use the heroes, villains and story ideas in their own campaign should they choose to do so.
This is a unique product and a fun read that should appeal to all Palladium fans. After all, it lets the reader step behind the veil and see what goes on behind the scenes.
The power, secrets and magic of the underwater realm of Lemuria revealed. Player characters can use symbiotes, magic and technology to breathe underwater and spend time below the waves.
Lemuria is more than an underwater civilization of aquatic beings. They can trace their lineage as far back as the Atlanteans and can survive on dry land as well as underwater. In fact, their greatest secret is that there is no one resting place for the Lemurians, their great cities are always moving. Learn about the people of Lemuria, new Biomancy magic and weapons, Biomancy engineered riding animals, sea herbs, new powers of healing, sea monsters, and more. Epic adventure awaits.
As time goes on, the zombie hordes only grow in number and strangeness. This book contains horrifying new zombies to haunt your player characters along with new O.C.C.s and tons of tables for detailing Survivors' Hideouts, Safe Haven Communities, Death Cults and more. Survival is not enough. Now is the time for the war against the Endless Dead™. This book is going to be epic. Kevin and all the Palladium creators are pushing the envelope with each and every book they work on.
With zombies and horror all the rage in film and books, this RPG captures all the best aspects of the zombie genre. The setting is as much about survival in a post-apocalyptic world as it is about battling legions of walking dead. If tales of human survival, horror and zombies are of interest, you will love this fast paced game and its sourcebooks.
A zombie horde stumbles toward you, but these aren't ordinary zombies, they are the Palladium staff and freelancers! That's right, this horrifying mash of zombies includes Kevin, Wayne, Alex, Kathy, Julius and Matthew, as well as Kevin Long, Ramon Perez, Freddie Williams, Mike Mumah (the artist), Mark Dudley, Chuck Walton, Nick Bradshaw, Carl Gleba, Jason Richards, Brandon Aten, Greg Diaczyk and many, many others (36 monstrous faces total). Available in two sizes, both signed by the Palladium staff.
The ultimate Zombie Apocalypse T-shirt: The front depicts a woman armed with a shovel standing on the roof of her car as a massive horde of zombies swarm around her. The front of the shirt reads: "Ever have one of those days?" Below the art is the Dead Reign™ logo and the words "The Zombie Apocalypse." Printed white on a black T-shirt. Art by Amy Ashbaugh.
The back of the shirt is red on black and says, "Relax, it's not like it's the end of the world or anything." - but most of that statement has lines crossing it out, leaving only the words "it's the end of the world." Under it is a Nick Bradshaw zombie silhouette and a small version of the Dead Reign™ logo. Funny, poignant, awesome!
The shirt is here and looks even better than the original version printed on a white shirt back in the 1990s. We tweaked and darkened some of the artwork to make it even more dynamic. We have made this shirt affordable so as many people as possible can get one if they want it.
The T-Shirt depicts a Coalition Dog Pack man-handling Santa. (He is a magic user, after all.) Scattered on the floor from Santa's bag of presents are action figures of a Skelebot, Glitter Boy, Erin Tarn, Emperor Prosek, Victor Lazlo, Mechanoids, a Dog Boy plush toy, Spider-Skull Walker, RPG books and other items. The words: "Merry Christmas from the Coalition States."
This T-Shirt has been a fan fave requested for years, but the art for the shirt was lost. The T-shirt place had gone out of business, artist Scott Johnson had sold the original art at a convention and did not have a photocopy, and Palladium's original design and photocopies had vanished. It was only recently that Publisher Kevin Siembieda found a photocopy tucked away where it didn't belong in the Palladium archives. The rediscovery of the photostat has allowed us to reissue this beloved T-shirt in all sizes for the first time in a decade.
As noted earlier, Kevin thought this fun and playful shirt should be made available for the holidays at prices affordable for everyone. These lower than usual prices are good from now through New Year's Eve. Order yours today.
We plan to reprint this T-shirt as soon as our cash-flow improves, probably in a couple weeks. It has the symbol of the Coalition Army and the words, "Property of the Coalition States" emblazoned on it.
Don't forget there is also a fabulous Property of the Coalition States™ coffee mug; white image on black cup. Perfect for that hot cup of cocoa on a cold winter's night, or soda when you game. Looks very official. Everyone at Palladium has one. Holds 15.5 ounces. Mircrowave safe. Cat. No. 2543. Other coffee mugs include Rifts®, Dead Reign™ and Gamer mugs. See the Palladium Books online store for complete details.
A set of four, 2 x 6 inch bookmarks, each depicting a different Palladium game line: Rifts®, Palladium Fantasy®, Heroes Unlimited™ and Dead Reign™. They are attractive, useful and make a fun collectible.
Unknown to most humans, deep within Mexico the vampires have established entire kingdoms. There they live like tyrants and gods, dominating an underclass of cattle people used as slaves and foodstock. Learn more about the vampires, their rivals, allies and the humans who willingly serve their supernatural masters for a chance to join the undead. A must-have guide for those who wish to travel deeper into the Vampire Kingdoms or play as vampires and their human minions.
The Genesis Pits™ Sourcebook takes a deep look at one of the most awesome and terrifying powers wielded by the Invid: the ability to alter genetic structures and evolve their own species as well as other beings. To that end, the Invid have built massive evolutionary laboratories across the Earth and numerous worlds in an effort to find the perfect form to dominate the universe forever. The sourcebook includes a wide range of mutations, different types of Genesis Pits, new Robotech O.C.C.s and new "Frankenmechs" – hybrid mecha made from the leftovers of Earth's fallen defenders.
The Genesis Pits™ Sourcebook goes beyond the cartoon and deep into the machinations of the Invid and their deadly consequences for all who happen into their path.
We wanted this truly epic title out in December or January, but February is just a more realistic release date. We sure don't want to rush a book so many people have been waiting for. We hope you understand.
The Minion War spills across Rifts Earth, where demons and infernals hope to recruit allies and use the Rifts as gateways of destruction. Their influence shakes things up across the planet, especially at locations where demons and Deevils already have a strong presence. More details to follow, but for now, 'nuff said.
Data about the chaos and madness of the early days of the Great Cataclysm, and the brave men and women who tried to stem the tide of destruction and save lives, the First Responders.
This is a great resource for getting out of print Palladium titles and other select books. We've made 90 titles available as PDF digital downloads from DriveThruRPG.com. This is a great way to try Palladium products and get access to out of print RPG source material. Some notable titles include:
All of the following (and more) are being written right now. A few are already finished. Most will be 2012 releases. And this does not include projects I would like to do for Palladium Fantasy®, Dead Reign™, Warpath™: Urban Jungle and new mediums.
Beyond the Supernatural™: Arcanum
Beyond the Supernatural™: Tome Grotesque
Beyond the Supernatural™ Sourcebook
Chaos Earth™ First Responders
Chaos Earth™ – Zombie Apocalypse Rifts-style during the Great Cataclysm.
Heroes Unlimited™ – Had two people who were supposed to be working on a pair of books, but they disappeared on me, so we are looking for folks to write a couple of HU2 sourcebooks.
Nightbane® – An as of yet untitled project, and looking for more.
Palladium Fantasy® – Mysteries of Magic 2 & 3
Palladium Fantasy® – Tombs of Gersidi expanded and new. Plus I have a few ideas on this front myself to revitalize this line, including writing Land of the Damned 3 for 2012 release.
Phase World®: United Worlds of Warlock™
Phase World®: Pirates of the Three Galaxies™
Rifts® Antarctica
Rifts® Black Market
Rifts® China Three
Rifts® Deep South
Rifts® New Navy™
Rifts® Northern Gun™ Books One & Two.
Rifts® Sovietski™
Rifts® Titan Industries™
Robotech® Genesis Pits™ adventure sourcebook.
Robotech® UEEF Marines™
Splicers® Sourcebook One – concepts and art by Charles Walton.
Splicers® Sourcebook Two – concepts and art by Charles Walton.
The Christmas Surprise Package is our way of saying thank you to our fans and putting smiles on the faces of gamers around the world.
What is a Palladium Christmas Surprise Package? $80-$90 (or more!) worth of Palladium Books product for only $38 plus shipping and handling. A minimum of eighty dollars ($80) retail. Sometimes much more! Santa Kevin often packs in $90-$100 worth of goodies.
It's a surprise package because you never know exactly what you're going to get or who will sign your books. We try to include many of the items on your "wish list," but we'll surprise you with stuff you are not expecting. All Surprise Packages are "handpicked" by Kevin Siembieda from YOUR "wish list." All books will be autographed if you want us to sign them. For many of you, this is the only way to get autographs!
We are taking orders right now. Buy one or ten, but get at least one. Buy them as gifts or to try a new game line, or fill holes your collection. Just don't miss out. The Surprise Packages will be available till December 23, 2011.
Spread the word. Tell all your gaming pals, because the Christmas Surprise Package is only publicized by word of mouth, to readers of The Rifter® and on Palladium's website, so tell everyone you know. Buy one for every gamer you know and have a very Merry Christmas.
Click here for more information and to place an order.
The Palladium Open House (POH) is, plain and simply, a blast for everyone.
Think family reunion with people you like from around the world that involves laughs, fun and three days of role-playing games. (Four for those who attend VIP Thursday.) We invite you into our home – the Palladium warehouse and office – where we make the games you love and treat you like family and welcomed guests.
● 40+ Palladium creators are there for you. The Palladium staff and as many of the freelance writers, artists, Game Masters and Megaversal Ambassadors as possible (typically 30-45) are present the entire event. Many run games you can play in. All are there to sign autographs and talk with you.
Unlike game conventions, at the Palladium Open House you have unprecedented access to Kevin Siembieda and other Palladium creators, because they are there, on the floor with you all day long. They are happy to talk about Palladium Books, artwork, writing, movies, comic books and exchange stories about their own gaming experiences as well as listen to yours. Some artists are willing to do sketches of your characters, others bring prints and original artwork to sell. All are friendly and goofy gamers just like you. It seems like we laugh and have fun all weekend long, stopping only to catch a little sleep.
● Gaming events are run all day and into the night. Many are run by the very people who create the games, like Kevin Siembieda, Julius Rosenstein, Carmen Bellaire, Carl Gleba, Brandon Aten, Mark Oberle, Irvin Jackson and many others. There is also an open gaming area for pick up games. When gaming ends for the day at Palladium, there are two meeting rooms at the hotel where you can continue to play games, chat and have fun into the wee hours of the night.
● Panel talks (every day). I and others host several panel talks and question and answer sessions that reveal secrets, offer G.M. tips, player tips and lots of laughs.
● Costume contest (Saturday). YOU should make a costume based on one of Palladium's RPG settings and enter the costume contest. It is always a ton of fun and winners who take 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Place all get Palladium gift certificates and a plaque worthy of hanging on the wall. Best of show gets a $100 gift certificate (actually, it's Palladium Bucks redeemable wherever you find Palladium, at the POH, conventions, or via mail order). Costume contest categories are: Rifts/Science Fiction, Fantasy, Horror/Modern/Superhero, and Best of Show.
● Live auction (Saturday). Get rare, out of print books, proofreader copies, artwork, prints, posters, collectibles, and strange things put up for rapid-fire auctioning by Kevin Siembieda.
● Meet fans from around the world. This year we already have gamers coming from Japan, Australia, Germany, England, Canada and across the country. Note: Our capacity is limited to about 350 people, so if there is a bigger than usual turnout, you may not be able to attend. Order your admissions tickets and reserve your hotel room now. The hotel will not be charged to your credit card till the day before the event.
● The POH is inexpensive compared to most game and comic conventions. You get more bang for your buck, total access to Palladium creators and enjoy everything for the price of admission.
The cost of admission covers everything. The games, the panel talks, the auction, entry in the costume contest . . . EVERYTHING.
The hotel is only $69.95 a night for a room with two double beds or one king-size bed. Suites are under $140. Free hot breakfasts. Note: you MUST tell them you want a room in the Block Reserved for Palladium Books to get the special rate. Your credit card is not charged until a day before the event, so reserve early. Call 734-455-8100, Comfort Inn Plymouth Clock Tower Hotel.
Food and stores all around. There are fast food places and inexpensive restaurants to eat all around Palladium Books. A Bennigans is across from the hotel. Denny's, Dunkin Donuts and McDonald's are down the street one direction, Burger King, McDonald's, Wendy's, Lee's Chicken, Baskin & Robbins, and more are down the other way. Westland Mall is a half mile away, so is Wal-Mart, K-Mart, Target, Kohls, Macy's, Sears, JC Penny, Lowes, Meijer, Sam's Club, Ikea and Dollar Tree, among many others. A large movie theater is around the block, almost walking distance, and another is near Westland Mall. We've got it all. ;)
$40 for the Three Day Weekend (Friday, Saturday & Sunday) when ordered in advance per each individual. $50 at the door and after March 31, 2012, if space is available. Cost of emission covers all events. Note: VIP Night, May 3, 2012, is an additional cost. A new batch of tickets will be made available in February, 2012.
$20 for Friday 9:00 AM till Closing.
$20 for Saturday 9:00 AM till Closing.
$10 for Sunday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
$75 per person for VIP Night – Thursday – May 3, 2012. VIP night is a catered event limited to around 70-80 gamers plus Palladium creators. It is an additional cost, so if you plan to attend the entire weekend you must get a weekend ticket as well. NOTE: Since VIP tickets sell out so fast, we offer them in two batches. The first is sold out. The second offering will be in February 2012. VIP Thursday, May 3, 2012: 3:00 P.M. till 11:00 P.M.
Placing Your Order: Please include your FULL address and apartment number. Also include the complete NAME of EACH person you are ordering a ticket for, as well as your telephone number in case there is a problem and we need to contact you.
Credit Cards: Visa, MasterCard and most credit cards are accepted. All Credit Card orders must include: Credit Card No. – Name on the card – Address of the Credit Cardholder – Expiration Date – Telephone Number of the cardholder. If you are buying tickets for several people, please make sure we have the full NAME of each person.
By Telephone: Call (734) 721-2903 – have your credit card information ready. You may place your reservation online in a similar way as placing a book order or you may use Palladium's order line (734) 721-2903.
Check or Money Order by Mail: Sent via the USPS or other delivery service. Send check or money order to:
Palladium Books
Dept. POH
39074 Webb Court
Westland, MI 48185-7606
Please include your FULL address and apartment number. Also include the complete NAME of EACH person you are ordering a ticket for, as well as your telephone number in case there is a problem and we need to contact you.
All tickets are sold on a first come, first served basis, so get your reservations in as soon as possible! Due to space and parking limitations and safety concerns, attendance will be limited to approximately 350 admission tickets.
Click here for more details and to reserve your tickets.
The Queen of Ghouls – Palladium's very own Kathy Simmons – is locked in her dungeon, devising new ghouls. Go to queenofghouls.com to see her current selection of life-sized Halloween props. See her zombie doctor and other new zombies, Jack Skellington and Sally, and more. New creations are on the drawing board, and so is a new website. Each Halloween prop is truly life-sized (most are 6 feet or taller – Jack is almost 8 feet) and seems almost alive.
Each is an all-weather, life-sized Halloween prop that can handle rain and snow, and is a one-of-a-kind work of art (no two are exactly the same). Each looks frighteningly "real." All come apart and fold down to slightly larger than a king-size pillow for easy storage. Comes with easy instructions, a plastic storage bag, and the lawn stake to stand it up in your front yard. Indoor stand sold separately.
Types of "Ghouls" include: Zombies (all kinds!), killer clowns, wizards, witches, devils, grave ghouls, scarecrows, executioners, mad doctors, deadly nurses, vampires, werewolves, and more. Kathy's also now offering an array of hand-painted Halloween signs, signs with heads and bodies hanging from them, witch's brewing pots, Halloween centerpieces and more. Best of all, her high quality creations are much more affordable and imaginative than most competitors or mass produced items in a store, making them affordable Halloween fun.
If you think the photos online look good, you should see them in person. A typical "ghoul," as she calls her creations, costs $129-$259. You can see some of her work at her Queen of Ghouls™ Ebay store – queenofghouls.com.
Palladium Books has already reserved its booth at Gen Con Indy 2012.
We want to have a bigger presence at Gen Con Indy 2012 and that means more Palladium gaming events. We want Palladium Books to be a much bigger part of the gaming experience at Gen Con Indy 2012. Toward that end, we're hoping a number of Game Masters will step forward and run "official" gaming events at Gen Con. To do that we need your help.
Please let us know if you are planning to run at Gen Con Indy 2012, but most importantly, YOU NEED to contact Gen Con directly and fill out the Event Submission form/application and send it in to them BEFORE THE JANUARY DEADLINE. This can all be done online.
Note: Though there are different "rounds" and deadlines for submitting events, it is our experience that submitting in time for the very first deadline is the only way to sure-fire guarantee the event will be included. So please, let's plan now and get our events entered in the first round, mid-January 2012. Megaversal Ambassadors, please be a vocal and visible part of getting people to run Palladium gaming events for Gen Con Indy 2012. Any and all game settings (Rifts®, Heroes Unlimited, Palladium Fantasy®, Robotech®, Dead Reign™, Nightbane®, Splicers®, BTS, and all the rest) are welcomed. Let's make the halls of Gen Con Indy 2012 ring with Palladium gaming.
© Copyright 2011 Palladium Books Inc. All rights reserved.
Rifts®, The Rifter®, RECON®, Splicers®, Palladium Books®, The Palladium Fantasy Role-Playing Game®, Phase World®, Nightbane®, Megaverse®, The Mechanoids®, The Mechanoid Invasion®, Coalition Wars® and After the Bomb® are Registered Trademarks of Palladium Books Inc. Beyond the Supernatural™, Chaos Earth, Coalition States, Dead Reign, Heroes Unlimited, Ninjas & Superspies, Minion War, Mysteries of Magic, SAMAS, Thundercloud Galaxy, Three Galaxies, Vampire Kingdoms, Warpath, and other published book titles, names, slogans and likenesses are trademarks of Palladium Books Inc., and Kevin Siembieda.
Robotech® and Robotech® The Shadow Chronicles® are Registered Trademarks of Harmony Gold USA, Inc.
This press release may be reprinted, reposted, linked and shared for the sole purpose of advertising, promotion and sales solicitation.


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In 1879, Mark Twain, unafraid of scandal, said the following;
Homer in the second book of the Iliad says, with fine enthusiasm is worth, "Give me masturbation or give me death!" Caesar, in his commentaries, says, "To the lonely it is company; to the forsaken it is a friend; to the aged and to the impotent it is a benefactor; they that are penniless are yet rich, in that they still have this majestic diversion." In another place this experienced observer has said, "There are time when I prefer it to sodomy." Robinson Crusoe says, "I cannot describe what I owe to this gentle art." Queen Elizabeth said, "It is the bulwark of Virginity." Cetewayo, the Zulu hero, remarked, "A jerk in the hand is worth two in the bush." The immortal Franklin has said, "Masturbation is the mother of invention." He also said, "Masturbation is the best policy." Michelangelo and all the other old masters–Old Masters, I will remark, is an abbreviation, a contraction–have used similar language. Michelangelo said to Pope Julius II, self-negation is noble, self-culture is beneficial, self-possession is manly, but to the truly grand and inspiring soul they are poor and tame compared to self-abuse."
Twain's humor is not ill-placed. Masturbation has been proven to be a healthy behavior.
So, if you're going to celebrate his birthday …
Note; I obtained this quote from the very first Sexology book I read, several years ago. Sexual Interactions by Elizabeth and Albert Allgeier.


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DOUGHERTY: 'You snooze, you lose' on bargain air fares
When Southwest Airlines says, "book it now," they mean it.
Nancy and I didn't have the money to pay for a "Wanna Get Away!" special to fly to Corpus Christi, Texas, to get us in the neighborhood of my daughter's Gulf Coast beachfront wedding in July, so we waited a week. Wow!
I sure wish we'd figured out a way to "book it then" because by booking it today (Saturday, April 13) we're paying almost twice what we would have.
By calling Southwest to ask if there would be an opportunity to get a better rate, I had my fears confirmed that the fares are likely to get higher as the wedding weekend nears, not lower. I asked if there might be any "web only" specials for which Southwest Airlines is famous, and she informed me that she has no way of knowing that because they don't tell the phone center representatives about such specials in advance.
I'm not complaining about how the airline phone rep handled it. She did her job. I fly only occasionally and I always have been treated well by Southwest — they occasionally do offer great specials and I have taken advantage of them in the past. But it's frustrating when you can't take advantage of one because you're "broke" that week, but the deal has disappeared by the time my checking account is healthy again.
C'est la vie.
— Mike Dougherty, Editor


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Note: For some reason, you can't get pictures off of NBC's site. So I apologize in advance for the lame pics.
So summer TV has been pretty bleak for me this week. I literally had nothing to watch until Wednesday at 10 pm, at which point I had everything to watch: Love in the Wild, The Challenge: Rivals AND Toddlers & Tiaras. What is a girl to do?
I've decided to go with the network fare first, so Love in the Wild it is. I'm also quite happy that I will be heading home to a full DVR and not re-runs of Flipping Out and Million Dollar Decorators (or whatever else Bravo is showing these days).
The adventure begins with a derigeur montage. Let me start by saying that a montage narrated by an Aussie is much better than a standard montage. Also a montage with hot tub scenes from the first episode is always a good sign. Although, I will say from the start that this week's episode left me with a 'meh' feeling. I'm glad last week's episode was a bit better but I am hopeful that Love in the Wild can hit its stride once the number of contestants goes down a little bit.
Nine Couples remain. Let's get wild.
Since almost everyone switched partners last week, the episode kicks off with the awkward moving out scenes. The bimbos pack up their halter tops and dudes wad up their tight tees and head on over to their new rooms. During the switch, Ben pretty much sums up his life by saying, "Some girls would say I'm the nicest guy ever. Some girls would say I'm the biggest dick they've ever met." Agreed Ben. What I want to know is the ratio of nice guy: dick. I am going to say 90:10. He kind of reminds me of a grown-up Bobby from "Bobby's World" the seminal 90's cartoon voiced by reality-tv judge Howie Mandel. This resemblance creeps me out and any part of me that was going to give him a chance, is now too scared to comment.
A lot of these couples have barely spoken, so what better way to get to know someone than to share a be with them on the first night. I believe in college this is called a night at the bars.
Fun things we learn during the move – the black guy turned out to the be the surfer dude. I totally had the Geico caveman pegged as the surfer but once Jason said he was "stoked" about sharing his room with Erica, he locked that up. I'm also pretty sure that Erica may be a little crazy and that Vanessa is, for sure, A LOT crazy.
This is confirmed when she says, "I think Steele and I are the best matched couple. He's tall dark and handsome and I look like a cross between a fat cat and an old Eva Longoria." Okay, so maybe she didn't say that last part but the majority of that is straight from the cat's mouth. She takes it over the line when she tells us that she wants two boys and a girl (in that order, in case you were wondering) and it would be great to have that with someone like Steele. COOO KOOO.
Now on the important stuff, hanging in the hot tub. As desperation steams off the jacuzzi, Steele discovers why the season fall is so named. This bit of knowledge he drops on Kym clearly knocks her socks (or top – but that's later) off. Her clear amazement gives us a look into how dumb she actually is. I'm just hoping (for their sake) that the hot water is messing with their brains (Wishful thinking, I know). How this guy is a professional anything amazes and frightens me at the same time.
Adventure Time. Bridge Maze.
I'm going to take a quick break from mocking to tell you all how much I adore this host. Darren is no-nonsense. He lets the contestants know that if they fall to their deaths in the bridge maze (is this a real possibility?) that they can die as a couple. This is because they will be tied together. See this is the kind of honesty I've been looking for in reality TV (also the kind of treatment I've been expecting for the contestants. Wait what? They won't fall to their death. aw hell.)
Basically, I think the producers just think of ways to get these couples to annoy the shit out of each other. Here's an idea. Let's tether them together and make them climb all kinds of crazy high bridges and then let's make it a maze and not give them maps. And finally…. we'll make them race! I can just see them all sitting around a table nodding proudly in agreement.
If the couple can accomplish all of this without gouging their partner's eyes out, they get to spend a night in the fantasy suite (or whatever they call it on this show).
This whole adventure kind of bored me. So here is a bulleted re-cap:
- Team Kym/Adam are seriously made for this show. He has a giraffe neck and she has monkey ears. They are a perfect pair.
- Jason and Erica are NOT a perfect pair. He is polite, friendly and mildly normal. She is bossy, easily annoyed and bitchy. Woof.
- Brandee is Peyton from Bachelor Pad's long-lost sister.
- Ben sucks.
- Derek is a big scaredy cat (and screams like a little girl) and Jessica is a sassy, nonsense broad. I like her.
- Vanessa continues her quest to be the craziest cat lady on reality tv. She also compares Steele to Dr. Jeckyl and Ms. Hyde. Yup, she for real said that.
- Vanessa and Steele are no longer in love (in Vanessa's imaginative mind). Their 2 day long love-story is officially over.
- Skip is tight and cool. Mostly because he knows he is all brawn and no brains (his words not mine). I appreciate his honesty.
- Peter is 100% Geico Caveman.
- Kym should not wear her hair in a ponytail. Ever.
So the jungle bunnies Kym and Kyle win the race. The rest of the jokesters fall in line somewhere behind them with Vanessa and Steele bringing up the rear.
Kym and Kyle head off to the fantasy suite while the rest of the group heads back to camp. At the fantasy suite, Kym and Kyle decide to dress up for dinner which translates to slut as "so you're saying there's a chance."
At dinner these two find out they have absolutely nothing in common. She likes dogs (I still contend that yorkies should really count as dogs) while Kyle, surprisingly likes cats. He wants kids, she's not having any rugrats. Actually, she says she doubts she'll ever be mature enough for them. I wholeheartedly agree. Don't do it Kym. We don't need any more reality tv peeps procreating. Teen Mom, Toddlers & Tiaras and The Duggars are taking care of that for us.
While Kyle finds all of their differences appealing (translation: are we hooking up tonight or what?), Kym is not having it (translation: no way jose).
Back at the ranch. Erica continues to hate Jason. Derek and Jessica smooch in the hammock. And Steele and Vanessa decide they officially hate each other. All the while, Ben continues to annoy everyone including Brandee aka his only hope. On the brighter side, Miles impresses Heather with a jungle picnic where we learn that Miles is an experienced slap the bag player (isn't that what it means when you say you like boxed wine?).
After sobbing about how she "deserves" love (why do all people on dating shows say that?), Vanessa decides to get her cat face under control and find some men to dig her claws into (sorry for all the cat puns, i can't help it). She finds Peter and the two if them decide that they are the least attractive people on the show and therefore, should pair up. This strategy is a good one and worked for that wonky eyed weirdo on Paradise Hotel 2 a few years back. This might be the best thing these two have done so far.
The And once again, LITW is picking up where the Bachelorette disappoints. They are going on helicopter ride!
Returning to the fantasy suite, our jungle duo pack up to prepare for their helicopter ride. THANK YOU LOVE IN THE WILD. I was seriously going through helicopter ride withdrawal. In her quest to totally ruin The Bachelorette, it appears Ashley H. has eliminated helicopter dates. What a bia.
Kym continues dropping truth by pointing out that Costa Rica is nothing like Boston. Ya think? What was it – the mountains? The lush green landscapes? The JUNGLE?
Rather than make this a nice date, Kym decides to make s**t as awkward as possible and tells chin strap that she will not be in feed of his services anymore and that she would rather settle with the guy names after a building material.
Did anyone else notice how big of a bia Kym was on this whole date? She was rolling her eyes every other second and making that dumb face 14-year-old girls make when their mom embarrasses them. If I was Kyle, I would have been like – "hey monkey ears. I did you a favor and I won't forget this snub when you are wasting away in the single line at elimination." Instead, he acts dumb and tells her he would team up with her again. So yeah, it's awkward.
Elimination Time aka The Swap Meet.
Girl gets to choose first this time around. Remember that Kym and Kyle can pick whoever they like and that person cannot say no. Everyone else is a crap shoot.
Kym's up. She decides to swing on over to Steele. So we 've got another jungle duo. A little monkey-eared Kym and the big gorilla Steele. A match made in marsupial heaven.
Kyle picks Heather much to her chagrin. She was loving her some Miles.
Jess (who both looks and dresses cute) picks Derek (duh, they've been smooching in the hammock the last 24 hours).
This leaves Peter alone, so rather than go with the plan and pick old Eva. He bails on her and "goes with his heart" by asking Erica. Erica disses him and says no thanks Geico man, I'm taking my insurance to State Farm. So off to the loser line he goes.
Next up, Ben and Brandee. These two decide to "stick it out" for another episode. I'm thinking these two may have a shot to go all the way (not that way). I just hope Ben doesn't annoy me too much along the way.
Teresa and Skip are up. I like these two. They are sweet and harmless or as they put it all brawn/beauty and no brains. They decide to stay together which I hope means they'll get more screen time next episode.
The honeymooners Samantha and Mike decide to
get married stick together. This means we'll be seeing more of their home videos. Woof.
Erica and Jason are up to bat and you know these two are splitting up. Erica picks Miles and he agrees to give it a go.
The final decision comes down to Jason. If the girl he picks accepts, then Peter and the remaining chick have to pack their bags. If the girl he picks doesn't choose him, then he could be gone.
He goes with Jessica (who I love) and she accepts which means Peter and Vanessa are going home. Nice move, Peter. Way to let your heart get you sent home. Don't be confused though, I am totally happy about this. I could barely stand to look at these two anymore. Bracelets off. Syonara suckers.
So, like I said before, I wasn't too thrilled with this episode. It wasn't boring, it just lacked oomph. I think next week will be better when there are fewer couples. Let's stick with it friends – I think we could have a good one on our hands.
So, I wasnt thrilled with this episode but I think now that we;re getting fewer couples it will get better. Stick with this friends. I think we've got a good one on our hands (the previews for next week showed a lot of people kissing in hot tub so I know the SE factor will be high).
What do you think of this show? Who are your favorites? Or more importantly, who makes your skin crawl?
The Challenge is up next. Until then… stay tuned.


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Volume 17 Issue 24 | Nov. 5 - Nov. 12, 2004
Directed by Charles Shyer
Paramount Pictures
Opens Nov. 5 citywide
The indomitable Susan Sarandon plays Liz in the Paramount Pictures remake of Alfie, with Jude Law in the title role. Sarandon recently spoke about playing an older, wiser woman smitten by Alfies charms.
Sarandon aims for intimacy
Ally, activist, actress candidly speaks about playing queer roles and her new flick, Alfie
By Lawrence Ferber
In director Charles Shyers Alfie, gorgeous Jude Law plays a charming, womanizing, uncommitted chauffeur for the character played by Susan Sarandon. Might limousine drivers enjoy a boost in business after the sexy comedy opens this month?
Oh my God, if they look like Jude Law! gushed Sarandon. How cute is he? Is he just irresistible?
Lawwho played Kevin Spaceys volatile bisexual hustler boyfriend in 1997s Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil and Oscar Wildes moody lover, Lord Alfred Bosie Douglas, in the same years biopic Wildeis indeed irresistible, albeit a selfish twit, as Alfies titular lothario. Its the role that put Michael Caine on the map in the 1966 original. Although todays Alfie has been relocated from London to New York City, the remakes title character is still British, talks directly to the camera, and beds down a bevy of ladies including the glamorous and worldly Liz, played by Sarandon.
Hes so good, too, Sarandon continued in praise of Law, who recently headlined the fantastical Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow. Its not easy talking to the camera like [Alfie does] and he pull that off. Hes a hard, hard worker and good guy and deserves movie star status in the old Hollywood sense. I think hes got that kind of grace you dont find too often these days. I think after this fall, hell be up there with [Errol Flynn, whom] he plays in [The Aviator].
Todays Alfie, from director Shyer (Father of the Bride), includes many stylistic touches and nods to the originals 1960s settingfrom a female characters shagadelic appearance to editing tricks. Of course, Laws smarmy Alfie is still an expert manipulator who doesnt fully consider the consequences of his actions, usually leaving a trail of righteously angry lovers, flings and friends behind him.
Jude is so charismatic and interesting and bright it would be pretty hard to not be attracted to him, Sarandon admitted, but what I think is great about the movie is every woman leaves with her dignity intact. He seems to be the one who loses out because every woman is so great. You think, if only he could get over that intimacy problem.
While considering the role of Liz, Sarandon asked that a key scene be changed before she accepted. At one point, Alfie stops by Lizs apartment at an inopportune moment. In the script, Liz lies and claims she has a headache to deceive and get rid of him, but Sarandon saw this action in conflict with the self-made, upfront character Liz seemed to be.
I thought, even if you had a headache wouldnt you let Jude Law in? she explained. Everybodys going to know somethings up anyway. What I liked about Liz is she had a different lifestyle she didnt make excuses about. She was very upfront about everything as opposed to AlfieI guess shes kind of the female Alfie, but shes not a liar. So, I said I dont want to make her somebody who apologizes for her lifestyle, and if you can change that then Id love to dress up in nice clothes and kiss Jude Law.
Sarandon also suggested (albeit unsuccessfully) a lesbian twista scene in which Liz is caught with another woman.
I thought that would be kind of interesting, she said.
Once cast, Sarandon and Law spent time discussing their characters and dynamic together.
Liz really gets Alfie, Sarandon said. I didnt want to be his mother, I didnt want that whole aspect of the older woman younger guy thing. Shes been around and recognizes the kind of guy he is and its okay with her. She genuinely connects with him and thats what we decided our relationship was.
In one of Liz and Alfies most memorableand eroticscenes together, she introduces him to the intoxicating, sensual pleasures of absinthe, a green-tinted drink considered the lifeblood of European poets and artists like Rimbaud, Wilde and Van Gogh. Absinthe is currently illegal in the United Statesbarring a version that doesnt include thujone, a critical, mind-altering component derived from wormwoodbut the real deal was smuggled in and used for portions of the scene, Sarandon said.
I guess the [crew] drank that and we just drank the fake, she noted. Otherwise we probably would have been vomiting through most of the scene!
Offscreen, Sarandon has managed to avoid real life Alfies over the years, although on occasion shes found herself pursued by one.
A slightly older, well-known actor who shall remain unnamed, when I was first in Hollywood doing The Front Page, she recalled. I was staying at the now infamous Chateau Marmont and I came home one night and my bed was filled with roses. It didnt do the trick but it was a nice gesture.
Long a gay favorite, for her onscreen roles in The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Thelma and Louise and The Witches of Eastwick, and offscreen political activism with partner Tim Robbins, Sarandon has proudly played lesbian and bisexual parts herself, notably, in Tony Scotts The Hunger and Paul Schraders Light Sleeper.
One day one of my sons came home, I guess he was in the seventh grade, and said Did you play a lesbian vampire in a movie? Sarandon recalled. And I said Noooo
oh wait a minute, I guess I did! Completely slipped my mind.
Sarandon was once married to actor Chris Sarandon, who netted an Oscar nomination for his role as a transsexual bank robber in Dog Day Afternoon. Looking back, Sarandon recalls that the role almost ended Chris career. Maybe because nobody knew him before that part, everyone just assumed he was a drag queen, and it was very difficult for him after that. But I think things have opened up and theres a lot more flexibility and a lot of [todays actors] are more secure than male stars were early on.
Asked how Alfie might have turned out if the title character had been gay or bisexual, she replies, I dont know. I think thats the mode of the future. I think everybodys probably born bisexual and its just where you fall on different parts of the spectrum. Ive been in long-term relationships with two guys that hadnt been with anybody before or since that were female.
Sarandons candor about gay matters extends to raising her three children, Eva, Miles and Henry.
Everybody we know is gay, she laughed. Almost everybody thats ever worked for us has been gay. Their lives are filled with people that have been in long-term gay relationships, both women and men, so theyre pretty much surrounded. One of my kids was in Little Red [School House], where they have a gay and lesbian month, not just a day! In talking to my kids about this subject I say Look, I think everybody, whatever your preference is, can find themselves in a situation where theyre attracted to and maybe could work in a relationship with something you dont expect. But the real question is having the courage to be intimate.
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Electrical engineering practice: a practical treatise for electrical, civil, and mechanical engineers ...
J. Wiley, 1924 - Electrical engineering
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