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|Outlands, any lawful plane
|Activity Cycle:
|High (13-14)
|E (individuals J,K,M,Q)
|Lawful evil
|No. Appearing:
|Armor Class:
|1 (0)
|9, Cl 3
|Hit Dice:
|No. of Attacks:
|3 and 1
|1d4/1d4/1d8 and by weapon
|Special Attacks:
|Poison, magic use
|Special Defenses:
|Magic Resistance:
|M (5˝' tall)
|Unsteady (5-7)
|XP Value:
The tso are a race of slavers, smugglers, and cross-traders who roam the lawful planes – at least until they reach Arcadia or Mount Celestia, where they're not at all welcome. Tso are arrangers and procurers, eagerly pursuing the accumulation of wealth no matter what it takes. Despite their absolute lack of scruples and uncontrollable avarice, they're trustworthy in one regard: They never do anything unless they've got an ironclad contract for it.
Tso are related to neogi, a race of similar appearance and tastes found on the Prime Material Plane. They're larger and stronger than their clueless cousins, standing about as tall as an adult human. The tso's body is spiderlike, with eight insectile limbs and a bulging abdomen. A long, serpentine neck rises from the creature's thorax, and its head is eellike with a mouth full of needle-sharp teeth. Unlike neogi, tso generally use only the rearmost pairs of legs for walking; the forward limbs are smaller, manipulative members. Tso are completely hairless, and their bodies are covered with gleaming chitin and leathery black skin at the joints or along their neck and head.
There aren't many tso, and as a race they're highly social. It's unheard of to meet a lone tso without others of its kind nearby. Tso're capable of magically enslaving other creatures to be their guards and agents, and a tso brood's normally accompanied by 2 to 3 times their number of slaves and bodyguards. All tso're at least marginally competent as mages, and it's rumored that an entire brood acting together can weave spells of dreadful power and sinister purpose.
A brood of tso travels in a bizarre vessel shaped like a monstrous spider; the individual design and characteristics of the vessel are different for each brood, but all tso vessels are capable of flight by means of a secret enchantment. A tso ship's commonly known as an aracheon, aracheas, or arachantine.
Combat: Tso're capable fighters, but they're also a cowardly race and go to great lengths to stay out of harm's way, letting their slaves fight for them. As noted above, a brood of tso can have anywhere from 2 to 3 times their own number of charmed slaves and guards. About 75% of these'll be planar or prime humans, githzerai, and tieflings or aasimar. The remainder're rarer creatures such as lesser fiends or modrons, khaasta, or reaves. These sods'll fight to the death if so ordered by the tso, but it's more common for a typical tso to be careful of its property and try not to get its slaves killed needlessly. That's just good business sense.
When a tso's desperate or backed into a corner, it can fight surprisingly well. It strikes with its two uppermost claws for 1d4 points of damage each, a vicious bite for 1d8 points of damage, and uses its second pair of limbs to wield either a two-handed weapon (a polearm or staff) or a one-handed weapon and shield, improving its AC to 0. The tso's bite is poisonous; anyone bitten by the creature must make a successful save versus poison or suffer 1d10 points of extra damage and be paralyzed for 1d4 turns.
Tso've got a powerful magical ability to enslave other creatures. This functions like an extremely powerful charm. The tso must be able to touch its victim and can make no other attack that round. The victim must make a successful saving throw versus spell at -2 or fall under the tso's thrall, serving willingly and without reservation. The victim's Intelligence score is considered to be halved for purposes of determining the time period between saving throws to escape the charm.
In addition to their enslavement ability, all tso are mages of levels 2 to 5 (d4+1), with appropriate spell capabilities. They favor nondestructive spells that provide information, deception, or the ability to capture an opponent. Tso perceive phantasmal force or detect invisibility to be far more useful than burning hands or Melf's acid arrow.
A group of tso can cast cooperative magic at the base level of the most skillful tso present, plus one for each additional tso – a 5th-level tso mage with 6 lesser tso aiding it casts spells as an 11th-level wizard. The leading tso can choose any spell available to its new level, regardless of whether or not it had memorized the spell to be cast, but the casting time increases tenfold; a spell with a casting time of 7 requires 7 rounds of cooperative spellcasting. Cooperative magic is a property of the tso approach to magic, which is alien and undecipherable to nontso wizards. The spell that empowers the aracheons with the ability to navigate the skies is jealously guarded and must be cast by a brood of at least 13 tso.
Habitat/Society: Tso are social creatures that don't like to be separated from others of their kind. Their social lives revolve around the rest of their brood and the conduct of business from the brood ship. From time to time, business arrangements might require a smaller group of tso to remain bebind, but it's almost inconceivable that fewer than three tso would be sent on such a mission. When a tso does have to leave the ship, it brings its personal servants along with it.
The second driving force behind the tso is pure avarice. A tso's greed is legendary. The tso constantly seek out ways to make money, either through service rendered or the acquisition of highly-desired goods. For example, a tso brood might learn that a Lord of the Nine in Baator's taken a fancy to gems of a certain type. They'll draw up a contract with the baatezu lord to seek out and bring back the objects in question, and then travel to where they can get what's called for. On the other end of the deal, the tso'll use any means necessary to get what they've promised to provide. (It's more profitable when a body doesn't pay to get the inventory he means to sell, after all.)
Tso broods'll take contracts on almost anything. They'll carry slaves, contraband, or even legitimate trade from time to time. They'll accept contracts for kidnaping, assassinations, or arson. If there's a profit in it somewhere, the tso're interested. A brood of tso's extremely devious and clever in the wordings of its contracts and bury all kinds of clauses and subcontracts in the body of the main draft. Tso figure if a sod don't read what he signs, he deserves to get peeled. Negotiations between tso and baatezu are something to see.
The brood ship's led by the oldest and most powerful tso. Usually, this's the most accomplished sorcerer of the brood, but it can also be the tso with the most powerful slave. Tso measure their station in the brood very carefully, factoring in personal wealth, power, and the number and quality of slaves each tso controls. Tso organization's simple: If a blood with a higher standing says jump, the lower ranks jump.
Ecology: Tso reproduce by selecting one of their older brood-members to become the parent of a new brood. This doesn't happen at any fixed interval – it just depends on when a tso reaches a suitable age. When this happens, the other members of the brood paralyze the parent-to-be, beginning a series of radical body changes. The brooding tso is immobilized, but eats constantly for 8 to 10 weeks before 3 to 5 young emerge from its body, killing the parent.
Unlike a neogi brood, the young tso emerge as sentient but smaller versions of their parent. There's a strong tie between siblings, and they're likely to spend their entire lives together. The older tso around the young raise them, and in less than a year the young're incorporated into the tso hierarchy as the low sods on the totem pole.
From time to time, a group of tso becomes too large for its aracheon. Trading parties'll be permanently dispatched from the ship to alleviate the problem for a while, but eventually the brood must split and a new ship'll have to be built. This is a dangerous and unpredictable time for the tso, and months of scheming, plots, and deals revolve around deciding which tso will remain with the original group and which'll strike off on their own.
Last Modified: June 10, 2010, 12:06:00 GMT
◆ 2029 ◆


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SavingsThe heavily hyped and eagerly awaited NS&I 65+ Guaranteed Growth Bond hit the market this week in a way that only the Scarlet Pimpernel could have been proud of. It sneaked upon us with no warning at all, causing widespread panic as eligible people flocked to the NS&I website, resulting in the site crashing under the strain.
So what about the actual bonds? Are they any good? Yes, assuming you are 65 or over and can get your hands on one. If you do, you will be locking into a rate that is higher than any of the equivalent bonds on the market today, even after tax. The one-year bond pays 2.80% on maturity and the three-year bond pays 4% per annum on an investment of between £500 and £10,000. The downside is that early access will cost you 90 days' interest.
At these rates, both bonds sit way above the market-leaders for their respective terms, but if you fancy one, don't think about it for too long because they are going to be gone in the blink of an eye.
Sitting just below the market-leaders for their respective terms is Close Brother Savings and its newly launched Select Gold Fixed Term Deposits. On a minimum investment of £10,000, the two-year variant pays 2.15% yearly while the three-year pays 2.40% and the five-year pays 3.00%. There is no access to funds once deposited.
MortgagesWe have had yet another week of lenders dropping mortgage rates and one of this week's stars is Hinckley & Rugby Building Society, which reduced the rate of its already competitive discounted variable mortgage from 3.85% (max 95% loan-to-value) to 3.49%. This Moneyfacts Best Buy has a setting up fee of £999 with an added incentive of a free valuation.
Loughborough Building Society is another star lender this week after also reducing the rate on what was already a Moneyfacts Best Buy. The three-year discounted variable rate dropped from 2.29% to 2.09%, and what's more, there is no fee. It is available at 80% loan-to-value in England & Wales and 85% if you are buying in the East Midlands.
Credit Cards and LoansIt is not just mortgages that are getting cheaper by the day, credit cards and loans are also following the downward trend. Tesco Bank is now offering an amazing 34 months at 0% interest on balance transfers with its nimble-named Clubcard Credit Card for Balance Transfer Mastercard. As well as one of the longest titles out there, this card also has one of the longest 0% interest terms in the market, just one month below the market-leader. While there is still a fee to move your debt to this card, this is set at a reasonable 2.9% of the total debt transferred.
Staying with the supermarket banking theme, Sainsbury's Bank reduced the cost of borrowing this week. As an example, if you borrow between £7,500 and £15,000 with a Standard Nectar Cardholder Loan, it will cost a competitive 3.6% APR when borrowing between one and three years, 3.7% APR between four years and five years or 5.7% APR for a term of six to seven years. This puts it just below the market-leader in its sector.

subset: commoncrawl


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Little People
HOME All About AIM AIM imag imag ARCHIVE #1 imag ARCHIVE #2 AIM's BLOG Meet Our Members! Help & Information Join the AIM Association LINKS Contact us
Hazel Dowd's Little People
I started dressing 1/12th scale dolls house dolls in 1986; from this I exhibited at Pudsey, Miniature and most north of England fairs since then I have exhibited twice a year at Arnhem and also at Soest in Germany.
On Jan 2000 I started minis4all dolls house group on the internet which is still going strong.
from this I started arranging weekends of workshops and also travel to clubs giving workshops
My web site http://www.hazel-dowd.co.uk for dolls, gowns, hats, kits,
miniature haberdashery patterns and tutorials.
Recently I started to work in conjunction with a friend doing scenes and adding dolls to these, we work mostly from Victorian paintings.
My email is firstname.lastname@example.com


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Sochi 2014: Marika Enne becomes second slopestyle course crash victim
Finnish snowboarder Marika Enne on Tuesday became the second crash victim of the Sochi Winter Olympics' controversial slopestyle course which has already shattered the hopes of one gold medal favourite.
The 21-year-old Enne crash-landed on the final jump, hitting the snow and tumbling forward on a course widely condemned as too dangerous.
She was able to complete her run, but was then carried away on a stretcher.
"She hit her head," Finland team coach Mats Lindfors said.
On Monday, Norway's Torstein Horgmo, who had been a gold medal favourite, was ruled out of the Olympics after suffering a broken collar bone following a spectacular crash.
The 26-year-old crashed on the rail feature of the slopestyle run at Rosa Khutor Extreme Park, an accident which forced course builders to make radical changes to some of the jumps overnight.
The alterations followed a meeting of snowboarders in the aftermath of Horgmo's crash.
Australia's defending halfpipe champion, Torah Bright - chasing three golds at the Olympics - tweeted a photograph of the athletes meeting on the course.
Riders discussing much needed changes to slope style. Changes have been made overnight. Heading up now to check it! twitter.com/TorahBright/st…
— Torah Bright (@TorahBright) February 4, 2014
Topics: winter-olympics, winter-sports, sport, snow-boarding, russian-federation
First posted


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SKU: Asne8250pe.25
MFR: ne8250pe.25
Ashly ne8250pe.25 8-Ch Network Amplifier 250W @ 25V w/ Protea DSP
Multi-channel ne (Networked-Enabled) Series Amplifiers are uniquely designed around an energy efficient Class-D platform with a switching power supply. Connecting and controlling an amplifier for networked systems has now been simplified with ne Amplifiers. This line offers ease of use, setup and control using standard 10/100 Ethernet protocol and Protea™ ne Software. No special outboard control units are needed. Packages rated at 250W per channel, with separate Hi-Z and Low-Z models.
The ne8250 from Ashly is a professional-quality 8-channel power amplifier with Ethernet capability designed for installed applications. Housed in a robust 2RU enclosure, this highly-efficient amplifier uses standard Euroblock input and output connectors, allowing it to connect to practically any 4 or 8 Ohm system.
The ne8250 has an Ethernet port, which offers Ethernet control and monitoring of the amplifier functions using the Proteane software. It also has a normal/bridge switch, allowing you to switch the amplifier into Bridge Mode. Other features include a wide complement of protection circuitry, remote level control, and the ability to expand the unit's capability via optional expansion modules.
Setup and control of this unit is simple with Ethernet connection and Protea NE software. Each channel has its own level attenuator and clip-LEDs. The ne8250pe has an integrated DSP signal processing library, which utilizes two SHARC 32-bit/96kHz processors. This library includes processing blocks for dynamics controls, gain functions, graphic and parametric EQ, crossover functions, delay, metering, and a signal generator.
Protea DSP is very intuitive and easy to navigate—and you will too. No need to attend a one-week training class away from home to learn the software. Common sense layout of controls and features, on-line help, or a visit to the Technical Support page on thier website provides answers to all of your questions.


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English Teacher
1. He understood it very slowly.
2. Very slowly he understood it.
3. Very slowly did he understand it.
My grammar book says if we place 'very slowly' at the front of the sentence for emphasis,
there occurs an inversion like sentence 3.
I wonder which is grammatical between 2 and 3.
Last edited by wotcha; 01-Dec-2012 at 14:48.
You need a better grammar book.
For a start you don't understand things slowly, so I'm not going to address those sentences.
Consider these instead:
1. He approached the growling dog very slowly.
2. Very slowly he approached the growling dog.
3. Very slowly did he approach the growling dog. Possible but not colloquial.


text:
Publisher: Entangled Crush
Release Date: June 16, 2015
Series: Backstage Pass #3
Source: Netgalley
Edition: eARC
Hell hath no fury like a fangirl scorned...
When Daisy Morris finds out she's spending the summer with her dad, bodyguard for Seconds to Juliet-the hottest boy band around-she knows it couldn't be more perfect. But not because she's a fan. Oh, no. Because ever since front man Trevin Jacobs completely humiliated her by standing her up for homecoming, Daisy is out for a little revenge. Yup, Trevin Jacobs is goin' down....
When one of his bandmates bets Trevin he can't make Daisy-the gorgeous but surprisingly ice-cold daughter of their bodyguard-fall in love with him, it's a bet he can't resist. Sure, Daisy won't give him the time of day for reasons he can't understand, and her dad's hell-bend against his little girl spending time with a superstar. But the terms are set, and Trevin is determined to make Daisy fall... hard.
But every front man should know never to trust a girl with a pretty face....
Are you excited for this book? Tell me why in the comments!


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A 10-year-old girl on a back-to-school shopping trip at Macy's would be forever traumatized after her foot was swallowed under the teeth of a landing plate at the top of an escalator. As the escalator ground her foot and leg into its gears, copious amounts of blood and tissue were distributed over at least 11 steps until another shopper finally hit the "Emergency Stop" button. Her injury would require 22 surgeries to save her mangled foot from amputation.
Today, the 14-year-old girl walks with a limp and extremely stunted growth in her injured leg. Her healthy leg underwent surgery to slow its growth rate and match the speed of her injured leg. These severe disabilities will likely plague her for the rest of her life, and Samuel Davis, Esq., needed to show why she deserved major compensation.
We prepared Mr. Davis with an arsenal of strategic visuals to show what went wrong, how it could have been avoided, the young girl's surgical experience, and the irreversible damage she now suffers as a result of the incident. We delivered the following exhibits:
- Animated Escalator Summary to break down the important internal and external escalator mechanics relevant to the case, and establish prerequisite knowledge for future discussions of failure.
- Animated Point of Failure to focus attention on where and why the failure occurred, and demonstrate how following regulations would have significantly reduced the chances of entrapment.
- Animated Mechanism of Injury to show how the escalator trapped and mangled the young girl's foot up to her lower calf.
- 360 Animated Injury to anchor Mr. Davis' case with a powerfully memorable visual of damages that would leave an emotional impression on his audience.
- Illustrated Injury Summary to establish the totality of injuries suffered by the plaintiff at every level: skin, muscles, nerves, vessels, and bone.
- Multiple Animated Surgeries to show the many procedures needed to rescue her foot from amputation, drain blood from her ear drums, and purposely stunt the growth of her healthy leg to match the slower growth rate of her stunted leg.
- Digital Injury Summary to organize all these exhibits into an interactive presentation that would give Mr. Davis complete control over the delivery of his visuals.
The following visual presentation helped Mr. Davis return a $15M settlement for the young victim.
Animated Escalator Summary
The first animation breaks down the internal and external mechanics of the escalator model - as originally designed by its manufacturer - making sure to focus on the important features that would establish prerequisite knowledge for future talking points.
The camera rotates into several different positions, fading from the exterior to the interior to identify the important components most relevant to Mr. Davis' case. A single step is isolated, fading off the surrounding escalator to view and identify the step's subcomponents. The top landing floor plate is then faded on as labels identify the comb plate and comb teeth. The camera then zooms back out to a full view of the escalator and the animation concludes.
Animated Escalator Failure
The second animation focuses attention on the point of failure and demonstrates how following proper maintenance regulations could have significantly reduced the chances of entrapment.
The second animation opens with an establishing shot of the escalator in its powered, operational state. The camera zooms into position to observe the area near the top landing and demonstrate the escalator's mechanism of step movement. The camera then zooms into the landing plate to highlight the interface between the step tread and the comb plate.
Statements identify the meshing of the step tread as a safety feature, designed to eliminate the gap between the step and the landing plate, and reduce the possibility of entrapment.
Chains and sprockets should be free of dirt and wear, maintain proper lubrication, and chains should be free of excess slack... The comb teeth should mesh with and set into the tread surface so that the teeth are always below the upper surface of the treads.American Society of Engineers Safety Code
The camera zooms in to observe the interface of the step tread and the comb plate teeth. Measurement overlays call out the appropriate clearance distance between the bottom of the comb teeth and the bottom of the step thread, as well as the appropriate overlap distance between the bottom of the comb teeth and the top of the step thread.
Animated Mechanism of Injury
The third animation opens with a shaky establishing shot of the misaligned plates that existed the day of the injury at the top of the escalator. Had the escalator been in compliance with safety regulations, the following animation could have been avoided.
The animation opens with the young girl and her family at the bottom of the escalator. Twenty-three excruciating seconds unfold as she approaches one of the most painful injuries imaginable. Knowing the conclusion builds emotional anticipation and drives empathy for the inevitable damage that could have been avoided.
At the moment of injury, we show the escalator's comb plate pop open as the young girl's leg disappears into the escalator's unrelenting machinery. We ended with a 360 animation of the injury to anchor the aftermath, as explained below.
360 Animated Injury
Every strong case needs a strong "visual anchor." We recreated a 3D model of the young girl's foot immediately after its injury, and rotate it in 360 degrees to show its destruction from every angle.
We call this a "visual anchor" because it anchors people's understanding of the injury with an unforgettable image that they will remember when considering damages.
We accurately recreated a model of the young girl's foot immediately after the injury using hospital photos from multiple angles and X-ray scans.Jung Park, Director of Medical Interactives, High Impact
Illustrated Injury Summary
After establishing liability and introducing damages with a highly memorable visual anchor, we illustrated every layer of the plaintiff's damages through the skin, muscles, nerves, vessels and bone.
We also gave Mr. Davis the ability to rotate each exhibit and show the each layer of the injury from multiple angles.
This second tool enabled Mr. Davis to compare every angle of layer of the injury at the same time.
Animated Surgeries
After establishing every angle and layer of the plaintiff's damages, we animated the long list of complex surgical procedures required to save what was left of her foot from amputation.
The first surgery animation establishes the injury, shows the removal of dead skin, and illustrates the suturing of major wounds. It concludes with the placement of a vacuum pump that uses negative pressure to remove fluids and infectious materials, and a foam dressing to support healing.
The second surgery animation demonstrates how surgeons inserted tubes into the young victim's ears in order to drain the blood from inside her ear drum, which resulted from the impact of her fall.
Two days later, an external fixator was placed around the patient's foot. Pins were drilled into her bones to secure the metal hardware into position. Infected tissue was again debrided from the wound, and another vacuum pump was applied with dressing.
After two days, more skin was removed, the wound was irrigated, and more infected tissue was debrided from the area. Another vacuum pump was applied with dressing.
The wound was again irrigated and debrided the next day. Following the repetitious procedure, surgeons sutured a major wound across her ankle, and multiple wounds above her toes. Another vacuum pump was applied with dressing.
This next animation depicts a replaced set of tube being inserted to drain more blood from the victim's ear drum.
The patient was placed in a hyperbolic chamber filled with 100 percent oxygen and atmospheric controls to promote faster healing.
Fourteen days after the initial injury, the young victim would undergo another debridement procedure, but this time she would have two of her toes amputated.
Sutures were removed four days later, as well more non-viable tissue. Another vacuum pump was placed with dressing.
Two days later, surgeons removed a bone capsule from the patient's middle toe, a bone fragment from her big toe, and more non-viable tissue. Another vacuum pump was placed with dressing.
Over the next couple weeks, the patient would undergo the same repetitious procedure four more times: irrigating the area, removing more dead tissue, debriding the wound, and applying vacuum pumps with dressing to promote healing - over and over again.
A month after her initial injury, the plaintiff would finally be implanted with muscles and new skin tissue over her foot, but the muscles and skin would need to be harvested from her Latissimus Dorsi Muscle and her legs.
Muscles were harvested with the arteries and veins attached. The harvested arteries and veins were sutured to the tibial arteries and veins, and the muscle was sutured to the foot. The skin was grafted off the patient's thighs and sutured around her foot.
After almost two long months, she was finally discharged from the hospital.
Four months later she would see her external fixator and K-wires removed.
Six months later she would need steroid injections to reduce scarring.
A year-and-a-half after her injury, it became apparent that her injured leg was suffering a stunted growth. With one leg growing faster than the other, and no way to speed the growth of the injured leg, surgeons decide to stunt the growth of her healthy leg to balance them out.
The visual presentation helped the Defense understand why the traumatic experience and damages were so severe and life-altering, it would be smarter to settle for $15M than take this in front of a jury.
The High Impact presentation brought together the liability and damages strengths of my case in a powerful way. It was without-a-doubt the tipping point in convincing Macy's to pay the entire amount of our offer of judgment.
High Impact's team of visual strategists, artists and developers can build and customize your digital presentation for any case involving personal injury, medical malpractice, birth trauma - or any subject involving complex information.
Interested in working with us? Click here to get started. If you'd prefer, you can email us or call us at (800) 749 2184.


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By marking endosomes with fluorescent tags and watching them move in live cells, Samir Mitragotri, a UCSB professor of chemical engineering, and graduate students Chinmay Pangarkar and Anh Tuan Dinh learned that the endosomes travel to the cell's nucleus using back-and-forth symmetrical movement, rather than taking a more direct route. This forward and reverse motion leads to even distribution of the endosomes on microtubules.
An aster-like layout of the microtubules helps the endosomes accumulate at the nucleus. The researchers think this non-direct approach to the nucleus has evolved to allow hundreds of endosomes to bring nutrients and molecular information to the cell's center for processing. Even if the cell moves or if there's increased traffic flow, there's never a traffic jam on the microtubules.
While it has long been known that endosomes travel in a bidirectional way, it has not previously been established that the transport system is symmetrical. The authors believe that because a number of neurological, muscular and cardiac diseases stem from the malfunctioning of one or more proteins that regulate the transport properties of endosomes or lysosomes, it may be possible to perform in silico and/or laboratory experiments to better understand the relationship between transport properties and pathology.
The delivery of many therapeutic agents, especially DNA and siRNA is dependent on endocytic transport. Understnading how endosome distribution evolves is central to such therapeutic approaches.
Contact: Barbara Bronson Gray
University of California - Santa Barbara


text:
Cocodas are basically coconut macaroons, no not those little fancy french meringue things, they are Macarons.
Cocodas also p*** me off.
According to my research there are hundreds of different recipes and some of them are shocking, such as the one for my first attempt. I spent a good half an hour hacking into and grating a coconut, (never doing this again since I discovered creamed coconut) before commencing with the recipe. The quantities were off by miles, the instructions were vague and it failed before it even got started.
Anyway, Attempt the Second. This recipe was infinitely more simple. Can I also just say at this point that whoever created the 'cup' measuring system is a moron. Anyway this recipe was a case of mix everything together and bake, well I did and they all melted together to form two large biscuits *sighs* but they did taste nice, sweet and coconutty.
Recipe here: Cocodas Recipe
Bolivia have been a member of the IOC since 1936 and have yet to win a medal, probably too busy making stupid recipes, yes I am still bitter.


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Energy Transition in Spain – which way forward?
The energy transition in Spain has been experiencing a downfall over the last few years, starting with the abolishment of economic incentives for building new renewable energy generation in February 2013. As early as 2008, a major tariff deficit became apparent, which was estimated at 25.5 billion EUR in 2012. This deficit essentially emerged due to the fact that regulated electricity prices did not completely cover the costs of electricity generation. This underlined the need for major reform of the renewables support scheme if the envisaged energy transition were to continue.
by Alexa Mollicchi, student at Maastricht University and Ignacio Fresco Vanzini, Florent Marcellesi, Ecopolítica
The first European Renewable Energy Directive from 2001 was a stepping-stone for Spain's influence on and promotion of a clean energy transition in Europe. This influence was mainly due to the fact that Spain already had a target in its national law for an overall 12 percent share of renewables in its energy mix by 2010. In fact, once the Directive became effective, Spain had very little to turn into its legislation. This contributed to creating an environment of trust and confidence in the Spanish market regarding the path it was taking. Moreover, Spain was the first country to adopt support measures oriented towards the production of renewables, namely the FIT and FIP schemes. In general terms, up until 2007, the renewables sector in Spain was doing remarkably well, increasing by 8.9 percent between 2005 and 2006. However, it was also in these years that the problem of the tariff deficit started to emerge; this led to the adoption of policies that rendered the possibility of Spain to become a leader in this sector unachievable.
The 2009 Renewable Energy Directive laid down mandatory renewables targets and the regulation of three different sectors: electricity, biofuels used in transportation, and heating and cooling. The first sector is where Spain experienced the most significant growth. In fact, according to information the Spanish government shared with the European Commission on April 2016, share of renewables in the interim target period of 2013-2014 was 37.8% of the electricity mix, while for the renewable heating and cooling sector the share was 15.8%. In the transportation sector, the share was only 0.5%, far below the 10% target. Overall, the renewable energy consumption in 2014 was 16.2%, well above the goal of 12.09% for the 2013-2014 interim target period.
If the same trends continue in the coming years, it should be relatively easy for Spain to comply with its 2020 targets. However, a number of factors such as the evolution of the economic crisis, the lack of a credible energy strategy, and the total tariff deficit reaching the astounding amount of EUR 25.5 billion, are leading Spain into a period of stagnation and creating considerable uncertainty about the country's ability to reach these goals.
In order to diminish electricity costs and the tariff deficit, the government suspended the support measures to newly built energy plants in January 2012. Eventually, this led to a retroactive elimination of renewable support schemes in 2013, putting at risk the main support for renewable electricity generation and blocking the access to finance new plants. Cutting support measures for renewables was based on the assumption that the deficit was due to high investment costs in renewables. However, other important factors contributing to the deficit were the aid schemes for coal-fired power, or the failure to adapt the electricity tariff to the cost increase of conventional power around the year 2000. In addition, a new self-consumption decree and tax (publicly known as the "Tax Solar Decree") was approved in October 2015. As a consequence, prosumers have seen their right of access to the grid and a fair market price restricted. These hostile measures demonstrate a lack of coherence with the EU's energy policy for 2020, and the compromises made in Paris during the COP21.
As an important consequence of these government measures, however, is that Spain might not be able to comply with its national 2020 targets. This is not only disappointing for producers' efforts but also for the overall strong position Spain held in this sector. Additionally, these measures have highly contributed to the boosting of energy prices, leading to a worrying situation with regards to energy poverty for about 10 percent of the Spanish population that cannot afford the high electricity bills. Given the importance of the energy sector for the national economy, there is no doubt that a clear, coherent and long-term policy perspective is necessary.
In a country with an energy dependency rate of about 72%, cutting support measures cannot be seen as an appropriate decision. Spain should be deciding which energy policy it wants to implement on a long-term basis. Instead of doing so, Spain is currently only applying short-term actions aimed to mitigate the efforts of the economic crisis and to reduce the tariff deficit, without projecting any further goals beyond that.
The revision of the EU Renewable Energy Directive by end of 2016, together with the actions to be taken in line with the Paris agreement from 2015, might encourage Spain's transition to a low-carbon energy system. Spain could take further measures, for example the following:
Maintain public audits of the tariff deficit
Following the opening of an infringement procedure by the European Commission, the (interim) Spanish government approved in February 2016 the first decree regulating energy audits for large companies (>250 employees) to evaluate their energy efficiency. However, the Spanish energy system is a black box regarding the debts generated and its real costs. In order to promote a proper reform and transparency, two additional audits are necessary. First, a tariff deficit audit to analyze the political decisions and responsibilities that led to the accumulation of the tariff deficit and the exact amount owed. Second, an electricity sector audit of every cost attributed to the electricity tariff, as well as the definition of the guidelines determining the price of kWh for the different electricity tariffs.
Erase legal barriers for self-consumption of renewable energy
Spain should erase the barriers to self-consumption of renewable energy and set out the net-metering scheme ensuring that consumers who operate PV systems receive credit for any electricity their systems feed into the grid. While this scheme already exists in many countries throughout Europe, the discussion is still ongoing in Spain.
Change the industrial production model
Energy transitions essentially mean a shift from high energy consumption and CO2 emissions towards a model based on low energy consumption and CO2 emissions, but one which creates sustainable well-paying jobs for many. The key sectors for such "green jobs" are:
- Agriculture, through the promotion of organic agriculture and relocation of production and consumption;
- Energy efficiency, through better building renovation and thermal insulation, equipment of renewables facilities and the installation of more efficient energy systems. These energy efficiency measures could save Spain about 39 billion EUR by 2050; and
- Sustainable Transportation, through promoting greater use of railway transportation of goods from currently 3.2% to 10% by 2020. The transportation sector represents 40% of final energy consumption with 30% CO2 emissions and is thus a vital sector to be tackled in this regard.
Democratize the energy sector
Energy transitions imply a bigger democratic control over the energy sector. It is thus imperative to regulate the practice of revolving doors. In Spain, high-ranking politicians have become part of companies in the traditional electricity industry, such as former Presidents Felipe González and José María Aznar. This phenomenon explains the high level of mistrust towards many governmental energy policies, as this often leads to policies that align with the interests of the old electricity utilities. In order to put an end to this practice it is necessary to introduce a cooling off period to avoid conflicts of interest.
The above recommendations can contribute to deepening the ecologically and socially needed energy transition, and restore Spain's leading position in renewable energy.


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By Jason Yassine
If you're looking for quality Japanese cuisine then it's worth trying out Tokyo Wako (Paseo Colorado, 330 E. Colorado Blvd, Pasadena). This restaurant brings Japanese food to life with vibrant chefs who will put on a show for their customers. With their first restaurant originating in Arcadia, Tokyo Wako has now expanded into Ontario, Long Beach, Monterey Park and of course, Pasadena.
When first approaching Tokyo Wako, I instantly noticed the Japanese themed architecture. Everything from the style of the entrance doors to the windows were very ethnic. As I entered the building the theme continued. I noticed a wall on the left hand side filled with celebrities who have eaten at this location. On the right was a hostess behind a counter who helped get me seated. I was seated in an area with tall chairs and a large metal grill in the center of the table. The waitress brought me the menu and promptly took my order. I decided to go with the Hibachi Salmon which is served with fried rice and mixed vegetables. In addition, the meal also comes with a complimentary salad and soup.
Several minutes after my order was placed, the soup and salad arrived. Visually, the salad looked very fresh and crisp. An assortment of lettuce, cabbage, carrots, and tomato filled the small bowl. The vegetables were glazed with a carrot ginger dressing that visually made it look very colorful. The taste of the salad was quite exceptional and the dressing gave it a tangy kick. Along with the salad came a bowl of Miso soup. The waitress informed me that the soup was cooked with fish stock, so I was skeptical that it would taste fishy. When I was ready to taste it, I blew into the steaming soup and gave it a small sip. Surprisingly, the soup didn't taste fishy as I anticipated because of the combined ingredients of tofu, seaweed, and spices.
Right after I finished eating the soup and salad the chef arrived. He pleasantly greeted me and confirmed my order before cooking on the large grill. The chef began by spinning his cooking utensils in the air. Then he proceeded to do tricks with the ingredients. He spun eggs, threw the shells in his hat, and even created an onion volcano! He definitely put on a show!
After the meal was fully cooked, I thanked the chef and was ready to dig into a visually stunning dish. The salmon was cooked seamlessly with a slight char to its pink color. The fried rice looked very wholesome with vegetables and soy sauce mixed into it. The vegetables (zucchini, onion, and mushroom) were grilled to perfection and came with dipping sauce. The fish was juicy, tender, and flavorful. When paired with the grilled vegetables and fried rice it enhanced the entire dish and made it quite enjoyable.
Overall, I was pleased with this meal. Not only was the food delicious, but I got a free show as well. The service was solid and everyone was friendly. In terms of price, this place will cost you a little more than expected. Regardless, if you're looking to try quality Japanese Cuisine then give Tokyo Wako a shot.


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|cup steel cut oats
|cup light brown sugar
|teaspoon vanilla extract
|teaspoon ground cinnamon
|teaspoon salt
|cup creamy peanut butter
|medium apples, peeled, cored and cut
|into 1/2-inch pieces
- Coat the inside of a 5-6 quart slow cooking with cooking spray.
- Combine the oats, sugar, extract, cinnamon, salt and 3 1/4 cups water in the slow cooker. Add the peanut butter and whisk to incorporate. Stir in the apples, cover and cook on low heat 8 hours.
- Incorporate the somewhat crusty oatmeal stuck to the sides and bottom by stirring for 2-3 minutes. Serve warm.
Wake up to the enticing smell of nutty oatmeal! This oatmeal can be reheated in the microwave the next day; you may need to thin it with a little water or milk.
Nutrition per serving
calories: 326, protein: 9g, carbohydrates: 52g, fiber: 7g,
fat: 11g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Cholesterol: 0mg, Sodium: 231mg


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If you are still searching for the perfect Father's Day gift for your musically inclined dad, this customized guitar pick is thoughtful and punny. Available from giftforbestfriends on Etsy, the handmade metallic pick is engraved with 'couldn't pick a better dad.' This is an adorable way to show your affection for your dad joke-loving old man.
The customized guitar pick not only makes a wonderful present on Father's Day, you could also have it personalized with a different message for any occasion. This could be an upcoming graduation ceremony or anniversary, for example. The made to order picks come in two metals: brass or aluminum. You can also choose from a list of small symbols to add a little flair along with your message.
Personalized Papa-Honoring Picks
More Stats +/-
Superhero Chord Strummers
Rock Star-Worthy Guitar Picks
DIY Customized Guitar Picks
Identity Guitar Picks
Iconic Guitar Picks


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League Board
Area Directors:
Important Fall 01 Playoff
180 Club
Playoffs Fall 2001!!
In an effort to take some of the burden of the long playoff schedule
which many of you have said to be TOO LONG and are BURNT OUT after going
the distance, we will shorten it. Many have expressed a concern to have
a shorter playoff to have a longer break between seasons and spend more
time with family and friends during the Holidays and summers. Only the
finals will be home & home matches, the initial rounds will be one game
played as a regular 11 point season match. The 1st team to reach 6 points
will be the winner of the match. Those entering the playoffs MUST plan
your match strategy carefully to capture the six points and continue
on. Playoff schedules will be out shortly and because of the short duration
of play the WINNING CAPT. MUST call their area director at the conclusion
of thier playoff match to schedule the next match.
|Text based menu
|© SM 2009 Minute Man Dart League. All rights reserved.


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VICTORVILLE — Authorities said a suspect remains at large after allegedly stabbing a 24-year-old man with a sword at a home here Tuesday afternoon.
The incident occurred at a home in the 12300 block of Bridgewood Lane, where San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department officials responded around 1:15 p.m. Tuesday.
Officials said the stabbing occurred after the victim and the suspect, described only as a white male, were involved in a fight at the home. Details on what the fight was about were not provided.
"The fight escalated and the suspect stabbed the victim with a sword," officials said. "After stabbing the victim, the suspect left the location, possibly in a white pickup truck."
Deputies found the victim in the home's backyard with a stab wound to his chest, and he was flown to an area trauma center for treatment. Sheriff's officials later stated his injuries were believed to be non-life threatening.
Officials extensively combed the area but were unable to locate the suspect, who remains at large as of Wednesday.
The investigation is ongoing, and anyone with information is urged to contact Detective M. Gardea of the Victorville Sheriff's Station at 760-241-2911 or Sheriff's Dispatch at 760-956-5001.
Persons wishing to remain anonymous can contact the We-Tip Hotline at 1-800-782-7463 or online at www.wetip.com.


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Ah, the elusive 'stache. Many people have tried to bend this legendary facial hairstyle to their will, and many more have failed. You see, growing a mustache is an art that takes time and finesse to achieve. When executed properly, the upper lip hair creates a certain mystique that leaves the viewer either duly impressed or incredibly jealous. If you're ready to take your mustache game to the next level, read on to discover how The Pros craft their manly, sleek 'staches into masterpieces:
How to Grow a Thick & Healthy Mustache?
Contrary to what you may already think, know, or think you know, growing a mustache is a lot more than simply having enough hormonal energy to summon follicles from the depth of your pores; there's a process, and to have a great 'stache, its steps have to be followed and respected. Here's a breakdown how you can grow a healthy mustache:
Ready your tools
The easiest way to get a truly legendary mustache out of your efforts is to have quality trimmers, combs, and styling products at the ready when you need them most. Get a quality electric clipper to get rid of pesky beard hair encroaching on your domain, and then a pair of manual facial hair styling scissors for the finer points of trimming. A beard balm to nourish your facial hair will keep your work of art looking fresh and some mustache wax will keep even the most unruly mustache under control.
Grow it in
When you're working on your sweet lip full of lusciousness, grow in the rest of your beard along with it to avoid the awkward, half-filled-in stages of your mustache that are bundled with the journey to a truly epic one. Growing a killer mustache is, after all, an exercise in patience. Depending on how quickly your beard grows in and how fully it completes itself, this process can take anywhere from 1-2 weeks to over a month. Wait it out. It'll be worth it. If you are looking to grow a handlebar, check out our post about growing a handlebar mustache.
Trim it back
Once you've got a respectable beard grown in, trim back that savagery into the epitome of refinement: your perfectly-grown mustache. As a rule of thumb, try to be conservative in your styling until you have a rough framework to base the rest of your trimming off of. It would be a real shame to go crazy with your clippers and accidentally venture too far into the body of your luscious lip-warmer.
Maintain your mustache
Once you've grown your mustache, liberated it from the rest of your facial growth, styled to spec, and held in place with quality wax. It won't be long until you'll have to show it who's boss again. If you're not careful, overgrowth and undernourishment will cause your mustache to become scraggly and unkempt. So, every few days, take a few extra minutes in the shower to trim and recondition your stylish 'stache.
Watch how to trim your mustache the best way:
Must Try Mustache Styles
Do's and Don'ts When Growing Your Mustache
So, you've grown the mustache of your dreams. But, how do you ensure its quality? How do you make one that'll be remembered for generations to come? Easy – follow these tips to keep it looking clean and regal:
- DO grow it as long as you want. While there's a time and a place for slim and trim 'staches, if that's not your style, don't try to make it. Embrace the style of the coveted English Mustache by growing your hair as long as it needs to be. It may take over a year to get it to your desired length, but it'll be worth it.
- DON'T go crazy with touching your own 'stache. Not only will it possibly come off as slightly malevolent, dastardly, or even creepy, but it can also make your 'stache look haggard and oily. Style it, then leave it. Done.
- DO take pride in your mustache. These beauties aren't for everyone. Actually, they aren't for anyone but you. So, take pride in what you've created. If you're self-conscious about the stark symbol of masculinity that's taken residence on your upper lip, your demeanor will make it look less like a bastion of badassery, and more like a dead animal parked itself on your upper lip. If you've grown it, you've got to own it.
- DON'T "over style" your 'stache. It's easy to get carried away with all of the crazy things you can make out of a good patch of lip hair; however, less is often more when you're styling. Leave the stepped patterns and razored designs for the sides of Kanye's head. A chevron, a pencil 'stache, an English 'stache; the world is your oyster, but keep it classy.
There you have it! All you need to grow the mustache of your dreams. Keep it clean and classy, and it'll treat you the same way. With the addition of this symbol of manly prowess on your face, you're now part of an elite club with a distinguished history of masculinity and downright coolness. Carry yourself confidently, and enjoy your new mustache!


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10 May, 2018
Fed Square will be awash with live entertainment by some of Melbourne's most celebrated artists, performers and voices on Thursday 17 May to commemorate International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Intersexism and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT).
In a special free evening concert at Fed Square, audiences can expect to be entertained by the soulful sounds of Melbourne's remarkable Mojo Juju and Dani Sib. The spectacular Queen of Queer Cabaret Yana Alana and gender transcendent diva Mama Alto will grace the stage; as well as dancers and performers Adolfo Aranjuez and Raina Peterson.
Accordionist and experimental avant-composer, William Elm will create an intricate and compelling soundscape, and we'll hear from disability and LGBTIQ rights activist, writer and educator, Jax Jacki Brown. There'll be a special performance by Samoan fa'afafine/ trans woman of color, Amao Leota Lu; and it wouldn't be a party without the astounding burlesque and cabaret performer Ana Diction.
On May 17, 1990, the World Health Assembly of the World Health Organisation approved the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD 10), which no longer listed homosexuality as a diagnosis. International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Intersexism & Transphobia (IDAHOBIT) was launched in 2004 to celebrate LGBTIQ people globally.
Fed Square is working with a number of partner organisations to host this free event to celebrate LBQTI+ diversity on this international day of recognition.
Event Partners: Australia GLBTQI Multicultural Council, Carers Victoria, City of Melbourne, Fitzroy Legal Service, Merri Health, Midsumma Festival, Minus 18, Rainbow Families Victoria, Switchboard Victoria, Transgender Victoria, Victorian AIDS Council, Victoria Police, Victorian Pride Centre, YGender


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Navigating The School System
A few weeks ago, I was asked to speak to a group of parents about navigating the school system. Since I believe that all parents, of school aged children, should know where to find help or have their questions answered, I eagerly agreed.
I began the conversation with the following recommendations:
Read all of the correspondence that your child brings home.
Respond to questions and requests from teachers.
Attend PTA meetings and parent conference days.
Participate in school activities involving school and system administrators.
Don't be afraid to ask questions.
Get to know the parents of your child's classmates.
Well, as I was making those suggestions, most of the parents were nodding their heads in agreement and smiling, until I made the following statement: review the information on the school systems web site. Surprisingly, several parents stopped smiling and nodding, and one parent raised her hand to ask a question. She asked, What if you don't have a computer? Although unexpected, since only 60% of American households are estimated to have at least one personal computer, the question was not unusual.
If you don't use a computer, you'll have to be a little more creative when searching for information. Along with the other recommendations, try the following when looking for answers about your child's school system.
One: Look in the phone book. Most school system office numbers are listed individually, or there is a main number. Two: Ask the principal or other school administrator for assistance. Three: Attend Board meetings. You can learn a lot about your school system during these meetings. Four: Ask for a listing of services and phone numbers for each department of the school system. and Five: Visit the School Board building. It's a good idea to know where it is located and what services are provided there, just in case you need them.
If your child spends more than a year attending school in one school district, it is important to know about it and what services are available in case you should ever need them.
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