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The recent adaptive restoration of Graves Hall at Hope College has earned honorable mention in the Grand Valley American Institute of Architects (GVAIA) 2010 Honor Awards program.
The award was presented during a ceremony on Saturday, Sept. 25, held in conjunction with a reception at the 38 Commerce building in Grand Rapids that recognized projects by area architects in several categories. Graves Hall was recognized for Historic Preservation/Adaptive Reuse.
Dedicated in 1894, Graves Hall re-opened in August 2009 after a year-long, $5.7 million, adaptive restoration that has emphasized a return to the building's original character while updating the 19th-century landmark for use in the 21st.
The architect was Philip M. Davis of Fishbeck, Thompson, Carr & Huber Inc. of Grand Rapids. Construction manager for the project was Lakewood Construction Inc. of Holland.
Graves was constructed as the college's chapel and library, but ceased serving as first one and then the other when Dimnent Memorial Chapel and Van Zoeren Library opened in 1929 and 1961 respectively. Renovations in 1962 and 1980 reconfigured the building for new use, but at the expense of much of its beauty.
In both updating and restoring the historic structure, the latest work was informed by original blueprints as well as photographs and even living memory. Remade were the distinctive art-glass windows that were once a fixture in Winants Auditorium, a connection to the space's original use as Hope's chapel but removed in 1980 due to their deterioration. As when the building opened in 1894, the second floor features four large classrooms, the varnished wooden doors and wainscoting without suggesting the classic elegance of a bygone era. The main staircase, isolated behind metal doors in the 1962 redo, again greets visitors to the main lobby. As prior to the restoration, the ground floor of the building continues to house the Upward Bound and CASA programs, as well as the Schoon Meditation Chapel, all in improved space.
A major new addition - built of stone to match the rest of the building and facing the Pine Grove - includes an elevator that provides access for the first time to the top and ground floors for those with mobility impairments. Other features where the library stacks once stood include an additional classroom and the "Presidents' Room" conference room featuring portraits of all of Hope's presidents. Additional amenities undreamed-of when the structure was built include wireless Internet service and wiring throughout for access to the complete array of technologies that exist in support of education and air conditioning.
Graves Hall Restoration Project Website


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Baltic Sea, German Ostsee, Swedish Östersjön, Russian Baltiyskoye More, Finnish Itämeri, Polish Morze Bałtyckie, arm of the North Atlantic Ocean, extending northward from the latitude of southern Denmark almost to the Arctic Circle and separating the Scandinavian Peninsula from the rest of continental Europe. The largest expanse of brackish water in the world, the semienclosed and relatively shallow Baltic Sea is of great interest to scientists, while to historians it represents the economic core of the Hanseatic League, the great medieval trading group of northern European ports. The many names for the sea attest to its strategic position as a meeting place of many countries.
The Baltic Sea covers about 149,000 square miles (386,000 square km). The catchment area drained by the rivers bringing fresh water into the Baltic is about four times as large as the sea itself. The Baltic proper stretches southwest-northeast on the eastern side of the Scandinavian Peninsula from latitude 54° N to very near the Arctic Circle; its major axis, from eastern Denmark to southern Finland, is a little more than 1,000 miles (1,600 km) long, with an average width of about 120 miles (190 km). The western Baltic extends north through insular Denmark and includes the Kattegat, a strait separating peninsular Denmark (Jutland, or Jylland) from southwestern Sweden. The Kattegat is bounded on the north by the Skagerrak, a deep inlet of the North Sea that separates southern Norway from northern Jutland.
The large islands of Bornholm (Denmark) and Öland and Gotland (Sweden) lie in the western Baltic, while the Åland Islands (Finnish: Ahvenanmaa), farther north, rise from a narrows between Sweden and Finland and mark the entrance to the arm of the Baltic known as the Gulf of Bothnia. Just to the south of the Åland Islands, the narrow Gulf of Finland stretches eastward between Finland to the north, Estonia to the south, and Russia around the eastern end, with St. Petersburg at its head. Proceeding clockwise from the west, the countries bounding the Baltic are Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Russia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, and Germany.
Physical features
The Baltic Sea is a shrunken remnant of the water-covered region that emerged as the melting Scandinavian ice sheet retreated toward the Arctic at the end of the Pleistocene Epoch glaciations. Some 14,000 years ago, ice covered all of northern Europe as far south as the present German-Polish coastline; by 7700 bc glacial meltwater had formed the Yoldia Sea, which stretched east from the present Skagerrak across what is now lake-strewn southern Sweden as far as the present Lake Ladoga, beyond the bend of the Gulf of Finland. A thousand years later, only limited areas of stagnant ice remained in northern Sweden, leaving the freshwater Ancylus Lake stretching from Arctic Sweden and Finland to the present southern Baltic. Later changes, about 4500 bc, led to a breach of the land bridge between the present Baltic and North seas and to fragmentation of the Jutland peninsula by The Sound (Øresund), the Store Strait (Storebælt), and the Lille Strait (Lillebælt). Many of the lowland regions surrounding the sea have been rebounding slowly since the great weight of the glaciers was removed; however, in places such as Stockholm, rising sea levels have slightly exceeded the rate of land uplift. Land uplift and deposition are building up the head of the almost tideless Gulf of Bothnia.
The shallowest part of the Baltic is the continental shelf, from which rise the islands of the Danish archipelago. There the Lille Strait divides eastern Jutland from the island of Funen (Fyn), which is itself separated from Zealand (Sjælland) by the deeper Store Strait. The narrow channel of The Sound between Denmark and Sweden restricts ships to drafts up to 41 feet (12.5 metres); larger vessels call at Gothenburg, Sweden, which is the biggest oil port in the Baltic.
The greatest deeps in the Baltic lie off the southeast coast of Sweden between Nyköping and the island of Gotland, where a depth of 1,506 feet (459 metres) is reached in Landsort Deep; between Gotland and Latvia in Gotland Deep (817 feet [249 metres]); and also in the Gulf of Bothnia in the Åland Sea between Sweden and the Åland Islands. A deepwater channel also extends along most of the Gulf of Finland. The Baltic Sea proper contains a series of basins (e.g., in the Gulf of Gdańsk) divided by shallow shelves.
Marked seasonality is the principal feature of the Baltic climate. Winters are long and cold, and summers are short and comparatively warm. Mean temperatures range from about 14 °F (− 10 °C) over the Gulfs of Bothnia and Finland in midwinter to about 63 °F (17 °C) over southern parts of the Baltic in midsummer. Variability is another facet of the climate. Mild maritime weather from the North Atlantic sometimes extends to the Baltic. At other times, continental influences are predominant, giving periods of severe cold in winter and warm, dry weather in summer. Precipitation varies with weather type, averaging 20 to 24 inches (about 500 to 600 mm) per year. Cloudy weather predominates, and fog is most frequent in spring and early summer. Winds tend to be variable and do not usually reach gale force. Sea breezes commonly occur over coastal regions in summer.
The Baltic Sea is so nearly landlocked (and its outlet so shallow) that its waters are remarkably fresh. Its longest rivers, the Vistula and the Oder, drain regions that have a temperate continental climate; they have low evaporation rates and become swollen by spring snowmelt, thus further reducing the salinity of the Baltic. The highest salinity is recorded in the western Baltic, where it is about 10 parts per thousand at the surface and about 15 parts per thousand near the bottom; the lowest is at the head of the Gulf of Bothnia, where it is less than a third of this amount. The low salinity and the shallow coastal waters cause pack ice to accumulate at the head of the Gulf of Bothnia and off Finland in most winters; sometimes the ice becomes banked up in pressure ridges that are almost 50 feet (15 metres) high. Drift ice forms at and north of the Åland Islands area and also in the inner reaches of the Gulf of Finland, reaching a depth of about 3 feet (1 metre). Navigation between Stockholm and Turku and Helsinki in Finland is possible, except in the most severe winters. Along the Polish and German coasts, ports can be closed by ice for several days a year. In summer the surface waters remain cool, but Arctic temperatures persist at lower depths.
The Baltic, sheltered from the strong North Sea tides, is remarkable for the general absence of tidal currents. Although the great influx of river water and surface runoff, including spring snowmelt, causes an outflow of surface water into the North Sea, a deeper countercurrent of denser salt water flows into the Baltic. Strong northeasterly winds may cause high waves along the southern shores, resulting in coastal flooding; conversely, southwesterly winds have contributed to the formation of sand dunes along the German and Polish coasts and also cause an accumulation of water in the northern Baltic.
Coastal features
The coasts of Sweden and Finland are highly fretted and generally rocky, whereas those of the southern Baltic are flat and rather featureless. Where the crystalline rocks of the ancient rock mass of the Baltic Shield outcrop along the northern coasts, partly obscured by glacial drift and marine deposits, they are often fringed by the low, rocky islands known as a skerry guard. These are most numerous in the Saltsjön (Salt Bay) between Stockholm and the open waters of the Gulf of Bothnia and off the southwest coast of Finland. Off southeastern Sweden the narrow, elongated islands of Öland and Gotland consist of ancient limestone partly covered by sandy drift deposits. The rectangular island of Bornholm off southern Sweden was formed from a detached fragment of granite, and its high cliffs were shaped by faulting and shearing of the rock strata.
The coastal features of eastern Denmark are the outcome of Pleistocene glaciation and of subsequent changes in sea level. The east coast of Jutland, north of the Djursland peninsula, is smooth and low-lying. To the south are shallow bays divided by low promontories. In the area around Schleswig, shallow straight-sided fjords (Förden) occur, and the Flensborg Fjord (Flensburger Förde) forms part of the boundary between Denmark and Germany. The islands of the Danish archipelago have a broken coastline, with a number of shallow inlets and also bars, notably the Odense bar on the island of Funen. Where terminal moraines (deposits marking the farthest extent of glaciers) reach the sea, low promontories are formed. Solid rock seldom outcrops, except for the moderate-sized chalk cliffs along the eastern coast of the island of Møn.
The Baltic coastline of western Germany is one of shallow fjords and bays. Kiel lies at the head of one such inlet, south of the entrance to the Kiel (Baltic–North Sea) Canal, which runs through German territorial waters. To the east is the Bay of Lübeck at the head of the Trave River estuary, where Travemünde—a ferry port for Copenhagen and Sweden—combines the functions of a seaport and tourist resort. Farther to the east, the German coast of Mecklenburg–West Pomerania is flat and low-lying. A series of long shingle bars (Nehrungen), capped by moving sand dunes, has been built up there, cutting off the distinctive shallow lagoons (Haffs) from the open sea. Examples are the west-east spit of Darsser-Ort, on the island of Rügen, and the link (near Świnoujście, Poland) between the islands of Usedom (Germany) and Wolin (Poland), which isolate Szczeciński Lagoon from the open sea. East of the Polish frontier, the port of Szczecin lies at the mouth of the Oder River. Solid rock outcrops conspicuously only on the island of Rügen, where the remarkably irregular coastline includes chalk cliffs that reach a height of about 400 feet (120 metres).
East of Szczecin the coast of Pomerania (Pomorze) is generally flat and featureless, with sand dunes and spits bounding brackish lagoons. The Vistula River drains into the Baltic through a number of distributaries; the historic city of Gdańsk lies on the most westerly of these, the Motława. To the east, spectacular lagoon and shingle bar features have developed. Sand dunes, covering an elongated shingle spit, almost enclose the brackish Wiślany (Frisches) Lagoon, at the northeastern end of which lies Königsberg, the historic German outpost founded by the Teutonic Knights. Once the chief city and port of East Prussia, it is now the Russian port of Kaliningrad. Northward, the cliff coast is noted for its amber, a fossilized resin that formed a valued item of medieval trade throughout the Baltic and as far afield as Venice, which was reached by the "Amber Route" via Kraków (Poland) and Vienna. At the northern end of the triangular inlet of the Curonian Lagoon, at the mouth of the Neman River, lies Klaipėda, Lithuania, the most northeasterly city of Germanic origin in the Baltic. Cutting off the lagoon from the Baltic is another shingle spit (the Curonian Spit), some 60 miles (100 km) long, capped by low fixed dunes and fringed by high moving dunes of white sand.
In the eastern Baltic, glacial deposits cover solid rock, and the coast is broken by broad bars, such as those on which the Latvian port of Riga lies. At the head of the Gulf of Finland is the city of St. Petersburg, founded by Peter I (the Great) as Russia's "window on Europe," with its white buildings in classical style lining the waterfront of the Neva River.
Economic aspects
The Baltic Sea is no longer the major highway of trade that it was in the Middle Ages, when it flourished as the main means of communication between the ports (Lübeck, Rostock, Visby, and Gdańsk) of the Hanseatic League. The German Hansa merchants traded mainly in fish, notably salted herring and stockfish (dried cod from Norway and Iceland), and also in softwood timber for shipbuilding, hemp for ropes, flax for sailcloth, and grain. Forest products included honey and furs, notably from Russia and Finland, as well as Stockholm tar and amber, the latter being a semiprecious commodity. Overfishing of herring, the opening up of trade to the Americas and the Caribbean following the European Age of Discovery (mid-15th to mid-16th century), and the increase in the size of sailing ships led to the decline of the Hanseatic League. Copenhagen, however, continued to prosper on the profits from tolls exacted from passing shipping, until tolls were abolished in 1857.
The construction of the Kiel Canal in the late 19th century and the development of railways and highways in the 20th century began to change the nature of trade and transport across the Baltic Sea. World War II also brought political and economic change to the region, and traditional trading patterns were amended accordingly. In the 21st century the number of ocean vessels sailing around Jutland is only a fraction of that of earlier decades. Instead, there has been an increase in Baltic Sea crossings by large roll-on, roll-off ferries and fast hovercraft, hydrofoils, and catamarans. There are many such linkages, the busiest being between Helsingør, Denmark, and Helsingborg, Sweden.
Bulk cargoes of oil and coal still come by all water routes into the Baltic, and many exports of minerals, timber, and wood products move in the opposite direction by sea around Jutland. These traditional exports represent a diminishing value in overall trade. The greatest values are in consumer goods, most of which are carried in containers by integrated land and sea transport to markets and to and from the North Sea ports of Hamburg, Germany, and Rotterdam, Netherlands. This has led to increased interest in building a bridge between Denmark and Sweden. Shipbuilding has declined in Sweden but has continued in Poland and Finland (especially for ice-strengthened vessels); marine engines are produced in Denmark. Generally, however, light engineering, high-quality furniture production, and motor-vehicle manufacturing have replaced many of these maritime-based industries.
Fishing in the Baltic is less important than in the past. Most of the catch consists of herring, cod, and sprats followed by smaller quantities of eel, salmon, and shellfish. The Baltic has been divided into national zones for fishing, with the bulk of the catch coming from the southern sector and from the Kattegat. Similarly, the seabed has been divided among the Baltic countries, and exploration for hydrocarbons has taken place especially off the eastern shore.
Vacationers have long enjoyed the pleasures of the Baltic coast, but in the early 21st century its expanses of white sand beaches and quaint seaside towns grew increasingly popular with tourists. Among the most-visited resort towns are Rønne, Denmark, on Bornholm island; Ystad, Sweden; Pärnu, Estonia; Sopot, Poland; Liepāja and Jūrmala, Latvia; and Palanga and Klaipėda, Lithuania.
Study and exploration
The Vikings began opening the Baltic to trade in the 8th century ad, and since then the historic events of the region have been related to attempts at controlling the sea. Swedish expansion from the 12th to the 17th century relied on shipbuilding and sea power, and the basis of the Danish empire was its ability to command the straits through the Danish archipelago. The prosperity of the Hanseatic League arose when German Baltic ports provided alternative trade gateways to the Danish straits.
The intensity of the use of the Baltic for seafaring has been matched by equally intensive scientific research. The sea's hydrologic and chemical properties were among the first to be studied systematically. Because of its status as a semienclosed sea—with stratified water columns, low water temperatures, a slow circulation pattern, and much runoff from coastal and river areas with high concentrations of population and industry—the Baltic has been recognized as ecologically vulnerable. The focus of much research has been on monitoring such pollution indicators as oxygen depletion in the deep basins and the concentration of harmful substances in aquatic birdlife. Threats to unique regional flora and fauna have led to cooperation among Baltic countries on environmental protection.Alice F.A. Mutton Alastair Dougal Couper
As early as the 1950s, environmental scientists in the Baltic region became aware of environmental degradation resulting from large-scale industrial development and chemical runoffs from agriculture. This awareness led to the 1974 signing by Baltic countries of the Helsinki Convention on the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Baltic Sea Area, an agreement that was put into effect in 1980, revised in 1992, and reimplemented in 2000. The Helsinki Convention was one of the first international attempts to control land-based sources of pollution in a shared marine environment. Although some significant improvements in pollution control have been achieved, particularly in the Scandinavian countries, it is difficult to determine how much these improvements can be attributed to the institutions established under the Helsinki Convention.
In the early 21st century, environmental concerns complicated plans to build an undersea natural-gas pipeline that would deliver Russian gas to western Europe. Construction of the pipeline, which when completed will link Vyborg, Russia, and Greifswald, Germany, finally began in 2010.The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Learn More in these related Britannica articles:
Germany: The coastsAlong the Baltic coast, the boulder-clay plains shelve rather tamely beneath the sea. However, the typically varied relief of minor moraines, depressions, and other glacial features gives diversity to the coastline. In Schleswig-Holstein long inlets (fjords), carved by water moving beneath the ice sheets, extend to the…
Spain: Spain and the Thirty Years' War…a military organizer) to the Baltic, led to grandiose schemes of building an imperial Spanish fleet in the Baltic with Hanseatic (the Hanse towns on the Baltic were independent mercantile organizations) and Danish help in order to destroy the Dutch Baltic trade and with it the economic prosperity of the…
Sweden: The early Vasa kings (1523–1611)Control of the Baltic Sea became a central issue. In the 16th and 17th centuries the Baltic region, Europe's main source of grain, iron, copper, timber, tar, hemp, and furs, was as important as either the Mediterranean or the Atlantic. The Swedish effort to gain control over trade…
conservation: PollutionThe Baltic has gone from being naturally nutrient-poor and diverse in species to being nutrient-rich and degraded in its ecosystems within a few decades. In the Adriatic Sea, rising nutrient levels have generated a large increase in phytoplankton. Nutrients in the runoff flowing into the Black…
seawater: Salinity distributionAreas of the Baltic Sea may have salinity values depressed to 10 psu or less. Increased salinity by evaporation is accentuated where isolation of the water occurs. This effect is found in the Red Sea, where the surface salinity rises to 41 psu. Coastal lagoon salinities in areas…
More About Baltic Sea7 references found in Britannica articles
Assorted References
- amber deposits
- In amber
- conservation and extinction issues
- salinity levels
history of
- Germany
- Kiel Canal
- In Kiel Canal

subset: commoncrawl


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Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds were married on Sunday night at Boone Hall Plantation and Gardens in Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina, according to People. The 400+ acre plantation, which dates back as early as 1681, has also served as the backdrop for scenes in The Notebook. In addition to a working plantation, the property also includes a working farm, Boone Hall Farms.
While no details regarding Lively's wedding gown have yet been released, we can only image what the 25-year old Gossip Girl star, who is also the new face of Gucci's "Premiere" fragrance, wore down the aisle. (Had we have been given a little head's up about the engagement, we would have rounded up a few fantasy wedding gown sketches. Way to keep us in the loop, Lively.) Meanwhile, wedding guests were reportedly treated to a three-song set by Florence Welch (of Florence and the Machine), a personal friend of Lively's, and nibbled on wedding cake from a bakery in Virginia.
Reynolds, who was voted People's 2010 Sexiest Man Alive, and Lively began dating a little less than a year ago and just one year after Reynolds and his first wife, Scarlett Johansson, ended their two-year marriage. Prior to starting a relationship with Reynolds, Lively was seen out and about with Leonardo DiCaprio.
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Baby girls leggings with label with heart and Shield
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- Glitter print
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Return service: you have 20 days from delivery to follow our quick and easy return procedure.


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Ethanol Rules Hurt California Dairies
November 24, 2013
WUD: EPA Ethanol Mandate Impacting
California Dairy Families
"If you eat, if you utilize any type of motorized transportation, if you care about the environment, the renewable fuel standard that utilizes corn-based ethanol is contrary to your interests."
That was the message delivered first-hand Wednesday to USEPA Administrator Gina McCarthy by Western United Dairymen CEO Michael Marsh. Marsh was part of a small group discussion with Administrator McCarthy sponsored by the CDFA and the Fresno County Farm Bureau at the Efird Ranch in Fresno County. McCarthy was spending time in the valley getting a feel for the breadth of California agriculture.
The agency last week lowered the amount of corn-based ethanol that must be blended into U.S. fuel supplies from 16.55 billion gallons in 2013 to 15.21 billion gallons in 2014. Marsh applauded that decision but indicated that using food for fuel was folly and that the man-date must be repealed. "Our dairymen are just one Midwestern drought away from an-other economic calamity so long as the mandate remains," related Marsh.
Administrator McCarthy responded that she was keenly aware of the challenges faced by livestock producers as a result of the mandate. She also expressed disappointment that other types of ethanol technologies utilizing waste products had been slow to evolve. She indicated the Agency would be looking to find additional incentives to stimulate more in-vestment in things such as cellulosic ethanol that would not be so harmful to California dairy operations.
WUD is supportive of a bill that Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) plan to introduce which would strip the conventional ethanol portion of the renew-able fuel standard while keeping the standard's targets for advanced biofuels intact. In the house, WUD is supporting HR 1462, the Renewable Fuel Standard reform Act of 2013.


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In Stanczyk's first genealogical examination on Ayn Rand's genealogy:
Ayn Rand – A Genealogical Examination — 15th-August-2012
I omitted publishing her citizenship papers, which I am now including in this article.
"Alice" applied for citizenship on 29th June 1929. She declared herself to be a Hebrew (i.e. that she was Jewish), not Russian. She also said she emigrated from Mexico (clearly a lie) and that her last residence was Petrograd, Russia. Her occupation was 'clerk'.
I say clearly a lie, since her Ship Manifest that records her REAL arrival on, 19-Feb-1926 as Alice Rosenbaum arriving in New York City, NY on board the SS De Grasse. I just wanted to emphasize that she was a liar on numerous occasions when it suited her purposes. So I guess I can conclude that Objectivism includes a tenet of lying — tough to base a philosophy/economic theory on lies. That is not intellectualism, that is an academic fraud.
On March 13, 1931 she was granted citizenship. You can see her citizenship is 5 years after her REAL arrival. So what was June 29th, 1929 if not an arrival date? It was a return from her honeymoon vacation! Do you see how she twists things to suit her purposes?
In the original article I did mention that she collected Social Security & Medicare to pay for her lung cancer surgery & medical bills. I forgot to mention that she had applied for Social Security before 1951 (probably in the 1930's like our ancestors) when she lived in CA. You can get her SS5 application if you are so inclined. I chose not to spend the $35 for that document but you can go to Ancestry.com and order the SS5 there easily enough.
— — — — — — — — — — Two more images of Alice O'Connor (Ayn Rand) :


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Porco: 'Life is full of errors'
Killer loses bid to halt Lifetime 'docudrama'
Christopher Porco failed to convince a state appellate judge on Thursday to sustain a restraining order that would have prohibited Lifetime Network from airing a television movie about his murder case.
Porco made his arguments by telephone from prison at an emergency hearing before Appellate Division Justice Elizabeth A. Garry, who issued an order less than two hours later vacating the restraining order and clearing the way for Saturday's broadcast of Lifetime's movie "Romeo Killer: The Chris Porco Story."
Porco, on a speakerphone, began his argument by telling the judge that corrections officers had given him just 30 minutes to prepare.
He stopped occasionally to shuffle through documents as he cited court cases as old as a century and tried to convince Garry that a lower court judge was right to issue a temporary restraining order Tuesday to prohibit broadcast or promotion of the movie.
Porco claims the movie, which he has not seen, is an unlawful use of his name for trade purposes because he said it's a largely fictional and unauthorized account of his story.
Porco invoked New York civil rights law to support his claim as attorneys for the network countered that the lower court restraining order was a constitutional violation and an infringement on the network's free speech rights.
The attorneys for Lifetime Entertainment Services Inc. said Porco's claim is invalid and that a restraining order issued by state Supreme Court Justice Robert J. Muller was unconstitutional.
They said the claims by Porco do not support a judicial order stopping broadcast of the movie and that Porco could still sue for defamation after the airing if there are valid claims.
"There can be no doubt that this is a violation of the Constitution," said David A. Schulz, a Manhattan attorney who argued the case for Lifetime Network along with Michael J. Grygiel of Albany, who also represents the network. Schulz said the movie is a "docudrama" that is based on trial transcripts, interviews and other information gleaned from Porco's heavily publicized case.
He said that while some scenes are fictionalized, the overall story is based on the true events of Porco's case.
"The United States Supreme Court has never affirmed an injunction against newsworthy speech and that's what Judge Muller has done here," Schulz told the judge. "It's clearly unconstitutional and it should be immediately vacated. ... The order is a direct infringement of the First Amendment rights of Lifetime."
Porco countered that he is not seeking monetary compensation from a defamation claim, but that his goal was to stop broadcast of the movie that he believes may unfairly portray his story.
"The issue is not whether or not the events surrounding my life are newsworthy or not, they clearly are, the issue is how is it then treated and portrayed by Lifetime," Porco said. "I think it's become fairly clear that there's just rampant fictionalization in this movie and the only way to determine the extent ... is to have a trial."
Porco said he is entitled to "injunctive relief" because once the movie airs it cannot be undone.
"Life is full of errors, it can never be 'un-errored,'" Porco said. "The movie is substantially fictionalized. ... I don't think many documentary filmmakers would say that this is a documentary. ... They've made up characters, they've made up situations. ... Lifetime made no effort to interview anybody that I know, that I know of. They certainly didn't contact me and they really made no effort to make sure that this is historically accurate."
While the movie contains fictional parts and characters, it follows the basic story line of Porco's murder investigation and trial. However, the film's producers take some liberties with true events, including intertwining Porco in a sexually charged relationship with the daughter of the fictional lead detective portrayed in the movie. Schulz said the movie is a "dramatization" but that the overarching story portrayed in the movie is true.
"None of the material facts about what Mr. Porco was accused of doing, how the investigation was conducted, what happened during the trial, those are all taken from the trial transcripts," Schulz said. "The fact that dialogue is invented, nobody was in a room when, you know, Mr. Porco was talking with some of the people he talked to, so some of that, yes, it's invented, (but) that does not take it outside the scope of First Amendment protection."
Porco, 29, is serving up to life in prison for the November 2004 murder of his father and the attempted murder of his mother. He was convicted of attacking the couple with an ax in the Bethlehem home where Porco grew up.
It's unclear whether Porco will continue to pursue the case against Lifetime Network if the movie airs as scheduled.
More Information
"I'm not looking for financial compensation, I'm looking for the movie to be enjoined (from airing)," Porco said.
Porco's complaint states that he "absolutely maintains his innocence, and is currently appealing his conviction." However, Porco's appeals were exhausted when the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear his case after New York's Court of Appeals affirmed his conviction.
Lifetime issued a statement on Thursday characterizing its production as the "movie Chris Porco doesn't want you to see."
The movie is scheduled to air at 8 p.m. Saturday. Immediately following the movie, Lifetime said, CBS News will air a related one-hour special, "Beyond the Headlines: The Real Romeo Killer," which will include interviews with "real-life characters" including Porco, his ex-girlfriend and Chris Bowdish, who was the lead detective on the case for the Bethlehem Police Department.
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Bouchon Bakery
In lieu of being able to afford to eat at Thomas Keller's French Laundry, Per Se and Bouchon, I will gladly settle for Bouchon Bakery. On the 3rd floor of the Time Warner Building, right above Per Se, sits Bouchon Bakery. There, Pastry chef Sébastien Rouxel of Per Se offers an assortment of lovely and affordable treats. During our breakfast visit, we sampled a seasonal Danish, a pain au raisin, and a chocolate TKO cookie. The seasonal Danish was filled and topped with roasted pistachios, which were fantastic, and additionally topped with apricot. The pain au raisin was made of plump green and red raisins twisted into light, buttery and tasty Danish dough. My companion claimed it was the best he'd ever had. The TKO cookie consisted of two chocolate cookies sandwiching a lovely butter-cream. Thomas Keller proves that he can also do casual pâtisserie very well. Two thumbs up for Bouchon Bakery.
Fauchon Paris in New York
As one enters Fauchon, it is hard not to be affected by the décor. Fauchon's signature white, pink and black colours demand attention. I am told that Fauchon Paris in New York is a modest version of their flagship store in Paris. With a beautiful display of pastries, chocolates, cookies, jams and confections, Fauchon is a wonderful specialty store. While I was in Fauchon, I saw Susan Sarandon buying jams and chocolates as small gifts for friends. The clientele varies, but the store feels a bit chi chi. The items here are definitely pricier than the average chocolatier or pâtisserie, but is it worth it? In my opinion, yes. I sampled the apple tart, which consisted of a thin layer of pastry topped with thick chunks of caramelized apples held together by a surprisingly pleasant apple glaze. The pastry chef Florian Bellanger has designed a wonderful tart—absolutely delicious! I also bought a number of other yummy confections, chocolates, caramels and red fruit candies. Fauchon is a fancy shop, but one I adore. I can't wait to visit their flagship in Paris.
Minamoto Kitchoan
This elegant shop sells some of the finest Japanese confections, known as wagashi, in New York City. Minamoto Kitchoan has stores in other cities, such as London, Paris, Singapore, Taipei, and Hong Kong, as well as shops in southern California and Japan. From red bean sandwiched pancakes, through mochi and dango (which are different forms of rice cakes), to jellies, sponge cakes and cookies, Minamoto's pastries and confections are small, cute and beautifully packaged. With an interesting range of flavours not commonly found in Western bakeshops, Minamoto serves up some cool and creative sweets. I tried three confections. The first was a plum suspended in plum wine jelly garnished with gold leaf. Second, I had a cake that was filled with red bean paste. Third was Hakuunno-Hotori, a pastry filled with white bean paste. The confections here are unusual, inspiring and beautifully made and packaged. Pass by if you have never experienced wagashi and if you love Japanese design.
Well-known chef Tom Collichio of Gramercy Tavern and Craft has opened Wichcraft, a takeout chain that serves fresh and tasty gourmet sandwiches. This chain has become very popular, with new shops popping up around New York and a few scattered across the U.S. Wichcraft serves up sandwiches at price of about US$9. It also sells soups, salads, coffees, pastries and ice creams. Although somewhat steep in price, the food is made with quality ingredients. We sampled two sandwiches: the first included goat cheese, avocado, celery, watercress and walnut pesto on multigrain bread, and the second was a grilled greyer sandwich with caramelized onions on rye. I recommend trying their ice cream sandwiches, which cost US$3.50. The two on the menu the day we went were homemade graham crackers with cinnamon ice cream and chocolate cookies with banana ice cream. Although slow during the busy lunch rush when we were there, Wichcraft's fare was tasty, fresh and higher quality than most fast food.
Technorati Tags: Bakery, Bouchon Bakery, Fauchon, Florian Bellanger, Minamoto Kitchoan, New York, New York Restaurants, Sébastien Rouxel, Thomas Keller, Tom Collichio, Wichcraft


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January, 2019
Here is a sneak peek of our new website which will be
For our 10th anniversary there will be many new works
January, 2019
The German / French TV station arte is doing an amazing feature
on the moon. Yes, we are featured ;) Don't miss it.
June, 2018
November, 2017
A couple of weeks ago I was honored to lead a workshop about the cultural aspects of the »Moon Village«. The Moon and I are a great team, hmmm, maybe I should become the Lunar-Arts-Ambassador ;) Thank's for the picture to Angeliki Kapoglou. Everyone who wonders what the Moon Village Association is, please take a look here: www.moonvillageassociation.org
May, 2017
LIVE MOON SMELLING No. 14 & ALL THE ABOVE
Seeing the Earth from a distance of some 380,000 km away must be one of the most important experiences of the Apollo missions to the moon. The "Whole Earth Picture" is today rightly considered one of the most significant photographs of the twenty-first century. Astronauts describe this experience as the "Overview Effect".
March, 2017
LIVE MOON SMELLING No. 13
February, 2017
LIVE MOON SMELLING No. 12 & The Smell of the Moon
April, 2016
LIVE MOON SMELLING No. 11 & The Smell of the Moon
In the News (Deutschlandradio): "Der Mond riecht nach Schießpulver"
July, 2015
June, 2015
dark frame / deep field
Private View: Wednesday 3 June, 6 - 9 pm
May, 2015
Digital Shoreditch Festival
10.5 – 16.05.2015, Shoreditch Town Hall, London
January, 2015
Emission and Substrates
From a Studio Exchange brings together work by six artists - Briony Anderson, George Charman, Bridget O'Gorman, Maria McKinney and We Colonised the Moon - all artists who have thus far participated in an international work/live exchange in 2013 and 2014 between Acme Studios' Fire Station work/live programme, London and the Fire Station Artists' Studios, Dublin. The exchange provides a rent-free work/live space for a month, a travel bursary and the support of the host organisation. For this recent exhibition at Acme Project Space, London, each artist presents work that was developed or produced during their residency.
We Colonised the Moon, created 'The Embassy of Summer' during their exchange; a permanent installation on the north face of the Fire Station, Dublin, comprising nine nestboxes for pairs of swifts – representing an invitation into the future to return again and again.
This work/live exchange prorgamme was established following an initiative, with Acme's support, by artists on Acme's Fire Station Work/Live Programme. The exchange will continue as part of Acme Studio's Residency and Awards Programme.
The Embassy of Summer at ACME Project Space
Dezember, 2014
Philipp Matthäus Hahn Memorial
Permanent, public sculpture. Steal, aluminium, LED, 2014. Approx 3,5m x 4,5m.
November, 2014
Museum of Post Digital Culture
October, 2014
September, 2014
Sense of Smell
...meanwhile. A very curious mail arrived this days in our German Studio. Looks like our friend Sascha Pohflepp now freelances for the Chinese Space Agency :) How ever, thank you very much. We like it! Great 3D puzzle of Jade Rabbit.
August, 2014
...meanwhile. Sue spends the summer with Malcolm the greyhound on intense olfactory research up in the north of England whilst Hagen does remote fieldwork as curator of FormLAB with US artist Les Joynes in outer Mongolia. Back in Autumn for new projects in London and Germany with The Arts Catalyst, ACME Project Space and Berloni Gallery.
June, 2014
WCTM at LISTE Art Fair Basel
The House for Electronic Arts Basel (H3K) focusing on the dialogue between art, technology, and media presents at LISTE 19 five artistic positions which engage with the themes of the departure into and the longing for outer space.
Opening hours:
Monday, June 16, 2014, 12–5 pm (preview), 5–9 pm (opening)
April, 2014
ACME Centenary Celebrations
March, 2014
Dynamic, Affordable, Apollo-free
January, 2014
Dynamic, Affordable, Apollo-free
November, 2013
Microwave Festival
August, 2013
Shiny Toys Festival
ah yeah!
July, 2013
Residential exchange
April, 2013
Curating the Cosmos
Freedom of the Press
March, 2013
WCTM is back in the studio in London and Stuttgart.
February, 2013
September, 2012
June, 2012
June, 2012
At the end of his six-month Clara-und-Eduard-Rosenthal residency at the Villa Rosenthal in Jena, Germany, Hagen Betzwieser shows recent works in cooperation with Sue Corke. Observations of local phenomena, further experiments in zero gravity, cosmic ice cream, continual space maintenance and a preview of the upcoming summer show in London at EB&Flow.
January, 2012
September, 2011
NEW SCIENTIST – low-tech-moon-landings
To Try At Home
ACME PROJECT SPACE, London
WCTM will be installing a brand new laboratory entitled '101 Harmless Scientific
June, 2011
The Sun Dies Anyway
March, 2011
Structured Talk
September, 2010
MOON, scratch and sniff
May, 2010
Something For The Weekend
February, 2009
iRes, University College Falmouth


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When describing the home of the Balakrishnans, the word stunning seems like an understatement. The homestay is so idyllic that it might be considered the capital of Godâs own country. It is embraced by the Vembanad from three sides and offers unmatched views of the backwaters.
The 10-acre property has 4 beautiful guest rooms which are serene, spacious and each come with their own open air seating area. One of the room will wake up to a breathtaking sunrise which will be seen from the bed itself. For small families, the homestayâs two-bedroom set is the perfect choice. From virtually every section of the home the view of the backwaters is always in sight and one can see languid houseboats float by for hours. All the bathrooms have charming skylights and luxurious tubs. In the homeâs gazebo one can enjoy an open-air meal and also indulge in some bird watching. The home meals are prepared with Ayurvedic touches by Sandhya, a former yoga trainer who has years of experience in the field of spirituality and has frequently hosted at the Art of Living Foundation. A stay in the Balakrishnanâs home is an experience in itself and has been glorified in prestigious publications like Vogue and Brunch.
From the homestay you can enjoy seeing the local fishermen at work. But the family can also make arrangements for you to catch fish along with them. Your catch will be turned into a delicious meal by Sandhya. And when you taste it will be a feast you can never forget. For a cultural experience, the couple personally escorts guests to local temples and arranges Mohiniattam performances. They even organise cruises on the lake with pickups from the home itself. The Vembanad homestay has everything you can imagine and more. After a stay here you will leave with the fondest of memories and with absolutely nothing left wanting.
Mr John Mcgalliard
Dec 2013
Vembanad House homestay Vembanad House provided an idyllic and peaceful haven on the water's edge. The house was beautifully furnished with antique Keralan furniture Our charming hostess was infomative and welcoming. and the food was among the best we ate
Detail Ratings
Detail Rating
Keya Sarkar
Bangalore, India
Feb 2014
Moon shine Great accomodation and a great location. If you are there on a full moon night it is almost unreal. The food is local cuisine adapted to some concept of the foreign pallette. But what needs attention is that the food should be served hot. Stone cold idlis are a big turn off.
Detail Ratings
Detail Rating
Kate Warr
London, United Kingdom
Jan 2014
Whilst Vembanad House is beautifully set by the lake, we didn\'t feel that we had much interaction with the owner. The owner doesn\'t live in the house, but in the back part so it felt more like a honeymoon hotel (we were 3 singles women). The food was ok, but not as good as many of the other places we went to. This was the most expensive place we stayed, and really, you are paying for the location and smartness of the house, but not much else unfortunately. It lacked character a bit.
Detail Ratings
Detail Rating
CheersBye © 2019


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Alexia Paganini, a 16-year-old from Greenwich who trained at the Westchester Skating Academy in Elmsford, represented Switzerland in the ladies' singles at the Winter Olympics on Friday.
She came in No. 21.
- Short Program: 55.26 (19/24)
- Free skating score: 101.00 (22/24)
- Total score: 156.26 (21/24)
Russia's Alina Zagitova earned the gold medal with 239.57 points. Russia's Evgenia Medvedeva took silver with 238.26.
Canada's Kaitlyn Osmond took bronze with 231.02.
"This is the reason I work every single day, every sacrifice I've made for this sport is all worth it for moments like this," she said in a post on Instagram Friday.
"I am so incredibly thankful that I could represent Switzerland at the 2018 Winter Olympic Games. I truly know what it means to be an Olympian now."
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MIDDLEBURY — Addison County Sheriff Jim Coons, who died on Monday evening at the age of 59, was recalled by fellow law enforcement officials as a gregarious, savvy and cooperative public servant who dramatically transformed his department during his three decades in office.
"Jim Coons was the iconic face of law enforcement in Addison County and a bridge between the past and present," said Middlebury Police Chief Tom Hanley.
"He will be a tough act to follow."
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Israel News - Stay Informed, Pray Informed
Six of the seven Supreme Court justices voted in favor of the ruling following petitions by homosexuals married abroad and these couples will have the same status in the Interior Ministry as heterosexual couples married in civil ceremonies outside of Israel.
"We are not ruling that marriage of people of the same sex is recognized in Israel; we are not recognizing a new status of such marriage; we are not expressing any position regarding the recognition of same-sex marriage conducted outside Israel," Justice Aharon Barak wrote.
Justice Barak explained that the court is not interfering with other countries' laws concerning homosexual couples.
"This approach of our ruling created a framework which leaves the most complicated legal questions undecided, while the question of social and moral recognition is left to the Knesset as a legislative body," said the Supreme Court President Dorit Beinish who supported the ruling.
Canada and the Netherlands are among the few countries which legally recognize and perform marriages for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender couples.
In 2005, there were more than 15 Israeli couples married in Canada seeking recognition in Israel, which remained an issue in the Interior Ministry and the Justice Ministry before final negotiations were decided.
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The Diablo III Website outlines plans to nerf the Trail of Cinders rune for the Demon Hunter in the upcoming version 1.0.5 update for Blizzard's action/RPG sequel, calling the fact that it does 500% more damage than intended a bug (explained more fully here). They explain that this could be hotfixed, but will not be, even though there is no ETA at the moment for the new patch:
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A lattice QCD Calculation of the Leading Order Hadronic corrections to g − 2 of the Muon
Principal Investigator: Zoltán Fodor, Institut für Theoretische Physik, FB-C, Universität Münster (Germany)
HPC Platform: JUQUEEN of JSC
Date Published: February 2014
JSC Project ID: hwu10
Researchers from Wuppertal and Marseilles are using lattice quantum chromodynamics (QCD) to calculate contributions of the strong force to the anomalous magnetic moment of the muon, a heavier cousin of the electron.The result will test the Standard Model (SM), the theory describing known elementary particles and quantum forces.
The ratio of a particle's magnetic moment to angular momentum gives the dimensionless constant g. A spinning ball with uniform charge has g = 1. Relativistic quantum mechanics predicts the muon has intrinsic spin which is is twice as effective at generating a magnetic moment as classical angular momentum, i.e., gµ = 2.
A more complete description, quantum field theory, allows for the creation and annihilation of particle-antiparticle pairs. Interactions between the muon and a cloud of such pairs and force-carriers around it make gµ = 2.002331···. We call
the muon anomalous magnetic moment.
Since the 1970s, the SM has explained experimental results with great success. However, the measured value of aµ and the SM prediction differ1 by Δaµ = aµexp − aµSM = (288±80) x 10-11. Does this difference, at the edge of statistical signicance, indicate a failure of the SM? Do unknown particles or forces contribute to aµ?
Fig. 1. Contributions to the SM calculation of aµ and the measured value.
The SM prediction aµSM is the sum of contributions from electromagnetic (EM), electroweak (EW), and strong (QCD) interactions. Physicists represent the contributions with cartoons called Feynman diagrams. In the most important, Fig. 2, a muon encounters a photon γ from an external EM field, then departs with altered momentum. This diagram generates the "2.0" in gµ = 2.002331···.
Fig. 2. The Feynman diagram for a "bare" µ interacting with an EM field.
In the "1-loop" EM diagram, Fig. 3, the charged muon interacts with its own EM field. It first emits an "internal" γ, then reabsorbs it after meeting the external γ.
Fig. 3. A µ emits and absorbs an internal photon as it interacts with the external EM field.
Fig. 4 shows the most important interaction involving QCD. The internal forming the loop in Fig. 3 interrupts its journey to briefly become a foam of gluons and quark-antiquark pairs, represented by the red blob. This interaction contributes only ~ 0.006% of aµ, but more than 85% of the theoretical uncertainty Best estimates are phenomenological calculations using data from e+e− collisions. Can lattice QCD do better?
Fig. 4. The internal photon fluctuates into quarks and glucons.
With lattice QCD we calculate the importance of the QCD foam by inverting a large, sparse matrix (dimension ~ 108). The matrix encodes simulated quark and gluon fields on a discretized block of spacetime. Its inverse describes the propagation of quarks or antiquarks in every permissible way from one end of the blob to the other.
Simulations at different quark masses and discretization scales help control systematic errors. Preliminary results2 (Fig. 5) are consistent with the e+ e− data.
The goal is to further reduce the uncertainty to resolve if ∆aµ is a signal of physics beyond the SM.
Fig. 5. Preliminary results for the diagram in Fig. 4. Mπ 2 is a proxy for quark mass. Larger β corresponds to finer discretization.
HPC platform used for this project: System JUQUEEN of JSC Jülich.
© for all images: Bergische Universität Wuppertal, Fachbereich C - Theoretische Physik
1. J. Beringer, et al..(Particle Data Group), PRD86, 010001 (2012) and 2013 update for the 2014 edition (http://pdg.lbl.gov)
2. E. B. Gregory, et al., Leading-order hadronic contributions to gµ − 2, PoS(LATTICE 2013)302, arXiv 1311.4446.
Scientific Contact:
Eric B. Gregory
Theoretische Physik, Fachbereich C - Bergische Universität Wuppertal
D-42097 Wuppertal/Germany
e-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com
February 2014


text:
Efron: 'Kidman love scenes were highlight of my life'
ZAC EFRON was delighted to land a role playing NICOLE KIDMAN's onscreen lover in THE PAPERBOY and has called the pair's saucy scenes the "highlight" of his life.
Our goal was a welcome surprise to be honest as we haven't had much luck
The High School Musical star recently completed filming on the thriller, which is based on the novel by American author Pete Dexter, in New Orleans, Louisiana and he has revealed he relished his time with Kidman.
He tells the AAP, "She's (Kidman) my love interest... Nicole is so gorgeous. It was everything you dreamed of. She was such a lovely person. I pinch myself everyday, especially after doing love scenes with Nicole Kidman.
"It was the highlight of my life. Nicole was something else and was always in character. She didn't get weird method, like some actors do, but I have never seen anyone so centred."
The Paperboy is due for release later this year (12).


text: Compact 7.1 USB sound card features the military-inspired digital camouflage See the precise locations of in-game sounds and enhance critical sounds to pinpoint the enemy instantly with Sonic RadarGain complete control over loads of sound technologies with NEW Sonic Studio Pro technologyFast adjustments in the heat of gaming action with independent mic and audio volume controlsTrue 7.1-channel HD (192kHz/24-bit) surround sound from a compact USB-powered deviceHear the smallest sound details clearly thanks to the powerful integrated headphone amplifierEnjoy one-click surround-sound brilliance with Dolby® Home Theater V4 Shop Modal header To see, to hear, to win! Xonar U7 Echelon Edition is a compact 7.1-channel USB sound card that retains the high audio quality of the award-winning Xonar U7 and adds the military-inspired digital camouflage pattern that is unique to the Echelon range. 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Sounds are plotted on the 360-degree HUD, even when there's no clear line of sight, so invisibility is no barrier to pinpointing opponents — giving you a distinct advantage over other players! What's more, Sonic Radar's on-screen appearance and position is completely customizable, so you can make it work just the way you want, with whatever game you want! Take complete control of your audio with Sonic Studio Pro! Xonar U7 Echelon Edition features the latest Sonic Studio Pro software suite, so you have full control over every aspect of the audio output — from equalization (EQ) to 7.1-speaker level-balancing. Use the intuitive point-and-click interface to activate preset audio profiles to suit different audio environments, and to fine-tune plug-in Dolby® Home Theater 4 settings. Experience incredible input-noise reduction from Perfect Voice! Unlike noise-reduction technologies that rely on inverse-phase-based noise cancellation, Xonar U7 Echelon Edition's Perfect Voice technology uses advanced algorithms to separate ambient noise from speech. The result is crystal-clear in-game voice communication, even in a noisy environment such as a LAN party — so you can be heard no matter what's going on around you! Gamer-friendly design Gamer-friendly design Love your levels with dedicated mic and master volume controls! Dedicated controls allow you to quickly adjust master and microphone volume without pausing games or going into software menus — so you can tweak audio levels without interrupting your game! The master volume controls even doubles as an instant switch for selecting between headphone output (front panel) and speakers (back panel) — convenience with a click! Upgrade to an amazing sound card with USB simplicity! Xonar U7 Echelon Edition connects to your PC via USB — so you don't need to worry about awkward installation or complicated setup. It even draws power directly from the USB port, removing the need for a power adapter and making for easy portability. Compact enough to slip into a bag alongside a laptop, Xonar U7 Echelon Edition delivers high-quality audio with unrivaled simplicity and convenience. Enjoy unmatched audio quality from a compact and portable device! Xonar U7 Echelon Edition features 24-bit/192KHz audio quality, a 114dB SNR (signal-to-noise ratio) and true 7.1-channel surround sound — all in a compact, lightweight device for true high-definition output, maintaining consistent quality across all surround channels. You've never heard audio so big from a sound card that's so small! Appreciate clarity that's far beyond onboard audio! Xonar U7 Echelon Edition to delivers audio clarity that up to 16 times better than onboard audio, with a signal-to-noise ratio of 114dB. Hear the difference and you'll never want to go back to sub-standard sound hardware! Be compelled by ultra-clean digital-to-analog conversion! Xonar U7 Echelon Edition packs a high-quality Cirrus Logic CS4398 DAC (digital-to-analog converter) that delivers supreme clarity with excellent signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and extremely low total harmonic distortion (THD). Basically, fine components mean fine sound — Xonar U7 Echelon Edition pumps up every sound detail! Pumps up every sound detail with the integrated headphone amplifier! Xonar U7 Echelon Edition includes a headphone amplifier that supports headphones all the way up to 150ohm impedance — so you can plug in some seriously capable gaming cans to hear every in-game detail! Be immersed in astonishing sound with Dolby Home Theater 4! Xonar U7 Echelon Edition has Dolby Home Theater 4 technology built in — so you can your PC into personal cinema with a completely immersive sound system! Dolby's real-time audio encoding and sophisticated digital signal processing delivers astonishing surround sound with speaker setups from 2.0 to 7.1 — and even over headphones. Volume leveler means you won't annoy the neighbors with your favorite actions films while the clever Dialog Enhancer feature means you'll never miss a word of dialog! Echelon gaming set: Your sure-win camouflage combo ASUS Echelon gaming set features an attractive design inspired by the digital camouflage patterns popular in many games and, of course, on real-world military apparel. The set includes everything you need to look good and secure victory — a headset, 7.1-channel USB sound card and headphone amplifier, mechanical keyboard, laser mouse and fine-weave mouse pad. It's the sure-win combo that you're sure to want!


text: hell online 1 0 what is hell online? TOR s4it4m423 asked 2 years agolast edited 2 years ago You must login to post comments Answers Filter Sort by: Most Votes Newest FirstOldest FirstRandomRecently Active Post Answer Keyword Match all Match any Accepted/Unaccepted Show accepted answers only Showing 0 results Your Answer Guest Author Post as a guest by filling out the fields below or login if you already have an account. Name* E-mail* Body* captcha* 2014-05-02 DeepDotWeb


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» Next Gien Collection:
Last moments to enjoy the winter and its comforting moments. We stay warm to prepare for spring with Scandinavian winter.
Read more
For more than 175 years, Gien has been renowned for its supreme faience artistry executed by the finest craftsmen at the Gien Faience Factory in the Loire Valley of France.
The Gien Faiencerie was founded in 1821 by Thomas Hulm (known as Hall). ...Read More »
faience, fine china, tableware, plates, dinnerware, france, french


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During my last run of the update manager, I got an error about a broken package. I went into Synaptic and found that it was the Cardapio menu replacement. I completely removed all packages relating to it, then tried to reinstall. I got this error:
E: /var/cache/apt/archives/cardapio-gnomepanel_0.9.179-ubuntu1-maverick1_i386.deb: trying to overwrite '/usr/bin/cardapio-gnome-panel-applet', which is also in package cardapio 0.9.180-ubuntu1-maverick1
I searched AU and found a similar issue. The solution to that problem was found here.
I tried following those instructions, first using the force-overwrite flag, and when that didn't work, the force-all flag. force-all seemed to work, but when I tried running update, I'm still getting errors. Here's the entire terminal session; can anyone help me out?
esther@esther-linux:~$ sudo dpkg -i --force-all /var/cache/apt/archives/cardapio-gnomepanel_0.9.179-ubuntu1-maverick1_i386.deb
(Reading database ... 184583 files and directories currently installed.)
Preparing to replace cardapio-gnomepanel 0.9.179-ubuntu1-maverick1 (using .../cardapio-gnomepanel_0.9.179-ubuntu1-maverick1_i386.deb) ...
Unpacking replacement cardapio-gnomepanel ...
dpkg: cardapio-gnomepanel: dependency problems, but configuring anyway as you requested:
cardapio-gnomepanel depends on cardapio; however:
Package cardapio is not installed.
Setting up cardapio-gnomepanel (0.9.179-ubuntu1-maverick1) ...
esther@esther-linux:~$ sudo apt-get install -f
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
Correcting dependencies... Done
The following extra packages will be installed:
The following NEW packages will be installed:
0 upgraded, 1 newly installed, 0 to remove and 0 not upgraded.
Need to get 0B/460kB of archives.
After this operation, 2,474kB of additional disk space will be used.
Do you want to continue [Y/n]? y
(Reading database ... 184583 files and directories currently installed.)
Unpacking cardapio (from .../cardapio_0.9.180-ubuntu1-maverick1_i386.deb) ...
dpkg: error processing /var/cache/apt/archives/cardapio_0.9.180-ubuntu1-maverick1_i386.deb (--unpack):
trying to overwrite '/usr/bin/cardapio-gnome-panel-applet', which is also in package cardapio-gnomepanel 0.9.179-ubuntu1-maverick1
Errors were encountered while processing:
E: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (1)


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Call or Text Landio anytime at 713-597-7670 for questions or to purchase this property. Please reference the Landio Property ID Number: Wy_Carbon_00007 Amazing 164 Acre Ranch with County Road Frontage and Mountain Views and less than 30 minutes from the city Rawlins, Wyoming. Buzzard Road (County Road 497) runs through the Northwest corner of the...Sold 164 Acres
Ranch With County Road Frontage
Rawlins : Carbon Co : Wyoming
Natalie Watson : LANDiO


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Israel News - Stay Informed, Pray Informed
Schools across southern Israel were closed Sunday morning after missiles fired by Gaza-based Palestinian terrorists hit two homes and wounded seven people Saturday night.
Shortly after midnight, the first Grad missile landed just outside the southern city of Beersheva, causing no injuries or damage. Not long after, a second Grad slammed into the nearby town of Netivot, heavily damaging two homes.
Three people were lightly injured while running for their bomb shelter, and another four were treated for severe shock.
Among those treated was Pinni Azoulai, whose house was completely destroyed by the missile. Azoulai heard the early warning siren just in time to hide in is bathroom, one of the only rooms in the house to not collapse when the missile struck. "This was a miracle," Azoulai later told Israeli media.
Explaining his decision to close schools in the area, Beersheva Mayor Ruvik Danilovich told Army Radio: "Since many of the schools are unprotected and we have experienced hits on our education institutions in the past, I made the decision after consulting with defense establishment officials. 40,000 children will remain at home today because of the attack that hit us out of the blue."
Rocket attacks against southern Israel have been intensifying over the past two weeks, and in response Israel has been launching more strikes against terrorist targets in Gaza.
"We've had enough of living in fear," a Beersheva resident told Israel's Ynet news portal after Saturday night's attack.
Defense Minister Ehud Barak recently warned that if the situation does not calm down, Israel may retake Gaza, which it surrendered to full Palestinian rule seven years ago.
"If the cabinet orders the IDF to conquer and control Gaza, this is something that is possible today," Barak told a conference at the Fisher Brothers Institute for Air and Space Strategic Studies.
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Amazing Atmosphere.
We bring you San Diego's finest Indian restaurant. Join us at Gourmet India for a unique experience.
We bring you San Diego's finest Indian restaurant. Join us at Gourmet India for a unique experience.
We have a great selection of drink specials and happy hour for you to come enjoy! Come socialize in our relaxing environment.
Our chefs use the same ingredients, and same preparation of meals that they have for centuries. Get a taste of Indian today!
Gourmet India is a San Diego Indian restaurant, committed to serving the highest quality dishes and drinks at fair prices. Our menu varies and changes whenever possible for your satisfaction. Gourmet India's staff strives for the best in order to ensure you have a memorable experience with us. Indian food in San Diego is now one of the most sought after food across San Diego Downtown. This Indian Restaurant on Fourth Avenue next to Horton Plaza in the Gaslamp District is tucked into the street level of a larger building like so many other restaurants in downtown San Diego.
Now on our fifth year, we continue to signify the tradition of fine dining. If you are looking for an Indian restaurant in San Diego, no doubt , Gourmet India could be the experience you are looking for.


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Out Cold: Teen Gets Put To Sleep In The Middle Of The Street After He Dukes It Out With A Ninja After School! (Friends Go Chasing After Him)
Please click the "Report" button below if the video on this page is not working properly.
Comments will only be displayed by verified emails. No Spamming or Racism.


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At a White House dinner of solidarity, Obama addresses war
Willie Grace | 7/15/2014, 3:40 p.m. | Updated on 7/15/2014, 3:40 p.m.
President Barack Obama used the annual White House Iftar dinner Monday evening to briefly discuss the crises unfolding in the Mideast.
"Even as we celebrate all that we have in common, we know that in too many corners of the world, we see violence and terror, and those who would destroy rather than build," he said.
The White House Iftar dinner was started by former President Bill Clinton. President George W. Bush continued the tradition after the 9-11 terror attacks. President Obama has also continued to host them.
The dinner is meant to honor Muslims who are celebrating the end of a day of fasting during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
On the growing conflict between Israel and Palestinians in Gaza, the President staunchly defended Israel's right to defend its borders.
"No country can accept rockets fired indiscriminately at citizens," Obama said. "And so we've been very clear that Israel has the right to defend itself against what I consider to be inexcusable attacks from Hamas."
He added, though, that "the death and injury of Palestinians is a tragedy, which is why we've emphasized the need to protect civilians."
The President also said, "The pictures we are seeing in Gaza and Israel are heart wrenching."
He pushed for both sides to come back to the negotiating table and described a new plan offered by Egypt as "promising," saying he hopes it "will restore the calm that we've been seeking."
He said Americans "care deeply about what is happening there, and I know there are strong views as well as differences about how we should move forward.
"Our goal has been and continues to be peace and security for both Israelis and Palestinians."
Obama also restated his administration's policy on Syria, telling those gathered that, "the Assad regime continues its brutality against the Syrian people and so we continue to help Syrians stand up to [President Bashar al-]Assad and deal with the humanitarian crisis and push back against extremists."
On Iraq, Obama said, "We continue to call for a new government that can unite Iraqis and show all communities in Iraq that they can advance their aspirations through the political process."
Earlier, several dozen protesters gathered outside the White House to call on Arab leaders to boycott the dinner, saying the administration was unfairly taking Israel's side in the Gaza conflict.
For more information go to http://www.cnn.com


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Sir_0nly_0n3 Titan Code of Chivalry Sunday 23/12/2012, 21:34
Yes, that's right! BrainZtorm is once again opening its doors!!
Link: http://www.urban-rivals.com/guilds/guild/?id=1440904
Why is BrainZtorm the best choice for a guild??
~We are one of the few guilds where your personal opinion and feedback is actually taken into consideration! This guild is created for our members! Not for the ego or popularity of a founder and his admins.
~I take the time to get to know each of our members. To other guilds, perhaps it's just another player or high level. If you allow us, we actually get to know who you are as a person. Likes and dislikes, etc.
~Our message board is full of activity! Threads ranging from fun games to innovative guides to improve your gameplay. As well as some other fun surprises you'll enjoy
~Friendly and helpful members always willing to share tricks, give advice, or even lend cards =]
~We have monthly events as well as random contests on the message board so our members can win cards, or even full packs!
~We have some of the best players in the guild, having top ranks in DTs and ELO.
~You will have the best guild experience here!! Just ask our members!
~English speaking mainly, but we do have some French and Spanish speaking members.
~Minimum level 40. We do make exceptions for players with decent scores.
If you are a beginning level, feel free to check out our academy guild:1602706 at:
If you have any questions about joining, please don't hesitate to message -Maka_BZ
edited by Sir_0nly_0n3 sunday 23/12/2012, 21:34
5entinel12x Hero Monday 31/10/2011, 19:53
We are BrainZtorm...
...we do it a lot.
-Maka_BZ Titan BrainZtorm Monday 31/10/2011, 22:03
Yeh im not usually one to kiss ass but its a great guild, everyones really friendly n helpful, iv been bugging on3 and a few others with loadsa noob questions and i always get a quick n helpful reply, cant fault it,... yet ;p lol
Sir_0nly_0n3 Titan Code of Chivalry Tuesday 01/11/2011, 02:42
Lol thanks guys. Good to hear from all of you =]
And thanks for the "yet" Maka =P x_x
Prisoneer Imperator BrainZtorm Tuesday 01/11/2011, 08:15
That guild is awesome
Krak3n_CODE Novice BrainZtorm Wednesday 02/11/2011, 00:38
Come one come all our guild is amazing and fun if you dont believe me or this message board ask people personally everyone loves this guild
Sir_0nly_0n3 Titan Code of Chivalry Wednesday 02/11/2011, 17:52
Hot thread!
87 comments and growing!
Our members support us!
Awesome management!
Cool events for all levels
The list goes on!! Come apply
Sir_0nly_0n3 Titan Code of Chivalry Thursday 03/11/2011, 04:11
Woohoo!! We're number 12 in the World Guild Rankings!! =D!! Keep at it guys!
Krak3n_CODE Novice BrainZtorm Thursday 03/11/2011, 18:38
Really? 90 comments? i didnt know it was that much lol but ehh almost all our message boards are longer than that anyway ;p


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Planalto Bittar Hotel e Eventos - Brasilia
- Free buffet breakfast and free WiFi in lobby
- Collect nights
Planalto Bittar Hotel e Eventos - Brasilia
More Info: 6823 2342from S$62
- Luxury Single Room
- Luxury Double or Twin Room
- Luxury Suite
More great choices
What's around Planalto Bittar Hotel e Eventos - Brasilia
- In Asa Sul
- Sarah Kubitschek Hospital - 11 min walk
- Mane Garrincha Stadium - 25 min walk
- Lake Paranoa - 1 min walk
- Brasilia TV Tower - 11 min walk
- Funarte Plinio Marcos Theater - 15 min walk
- Brasilia Shopping Center - 15 min walk
- Conjunto National Mall - 16 min walk
Getting around
- Brasilia (BSB-Brasilia Intl. - President Juscelino Kubitschek) - 16 min drive
- Galeria Station - 12 min walk
- Central Station - 19 min walk
- 102 South Station - 23 min walk
- Onsite parking not available
At a glance
Key facts
Hotel size
- This hotel has 106 rooms
- This hotel is arranged over 5 floors
- Check-in time 2:00 PM-11 AM
- Check-out time is noon
Required at check-in
- Credit card or cash deposit required
- Government-issued photo ID required
- Minimum check-in age is 18
Travelling with others
- Parents must have child's birth certificate and photo ID *
- Pets not allowed
- Free WiFi in public areas
- WiFi in rooms *
- No parking
In the hotel
- Free buffet breakfast daily
- Restaurant
- Bar/lounge
- 24-hour room service
- 24-hour fitness facilities
- Meeting rooms
- Conference center
- Computer station
- 24-hour front desk
- Tours/ticket assistance
- Dry cleaning/laundry service
- Laundry facilities
- Free newspapers in lobby
- Luggage storage
- Multilingual staff
- Number of buildings/towers - 1
- Year Built 2002
- Safe-deposit box at front desk
- Accessible bathroom
- In-room accessibility
- Roll-in shower
- English
- Portuguese
- Spanish
In the room
- In-room climate control (air conditioning)
- Air conditioning
- Minibar
- Blackout drapes/curtains
- Soundproofed rooms
- Private bathroom
- Shower only
- Free toiletries
- Hair dryer
- 32-inch LCD TV
- Digital TV channels
- Desk
- WiFi (surcharge)
- Phone
- Daily housekeeping
- In-room safe
Recommended hotels
Special features
DiningOnsite venue - This bar specializes in international cuisine and serves lunch and dinner. Guests can enjoy alfresco dining (weather permitting). Happy hour is offered. Open daily.
Planalto Bittar Hotel e Eventos - Brasilia's small print
Also known as
- Planalto Bittar
- Planalto Bittar Brasilia
- Planalto Bittar Hotel
- Planalto Bittar Hotel Brasilia
- Planalto Bittar Hotel Brasilia, Brazil
- Planalto Bittar Hotel e Eventos Brasilia
- Planalto Bittar Hotel e Eventos
- Planalto Bittar e Eventos Brasilia
- Planalto Bittar e Eventos
Parents or a legal guardian traveling with children under 18 years must present the child's birth certificate and an identity card with photo (passport, for example) at the check-in. For international travels from Brazil, if just one of the parents is traveling with the child, she/he must present – in addition to the child's certificate of birth and identity card with photo – a letter authorizing the trip signed by the other parent with a notarial certification of signature. In case the parents or the legal guardian, as applicable, cannot or are unwilling to give this authorization, a judicial authorization is required. People who intend to travel to Brazil with children must consult with the Brazilian consulate before traveling for more information.
Only registered guests are allowed in the guestrooms.
Mandatory fees
You'll be asked to pay the following charges at check in or check out:
- Tourism fee: BRL 2 per accommodation, per night
- Resort fee: 5 percent of room rate
Optional extras
Rollaway beds are available for BRL 60.00 per night
Cribs/Infant beds are available for BRL 60.00 per night
WiFi is available in guestrooms for BRL 8.50 per 24-hour period (rates may vary)
We have included all charges provided to us by this property. However, charges can vary, for example, based on length of stay or the unit you book.
Is the description of this property not correct? Tell us


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By Jack Hough
Already this year, the S&P 500 index of U.S. stocks has gained 11.8%, not counting dividends. With just one more push like that it will hit an all-time high.
That has investors wondering if prices have once again gotten frothy. By one measure, they haven't. The 500 index trades at 13.3 times Wall Street's prediction for 2012 company earnings–on par with its historic average.
Another measure bodes worse, however. That's a comparison of the total value of U.S. shares with the yearly output of the U.S. economy (see chart). The stock market is once again the larger of the two. When that happened during a dotcom stock bubble in 2000 and during the U.S. housing bubble in 2006, the result was a stock plunge in subsequent years.
Will the same thing happen this time? That may depend on what happens overseas.
The purpose of comparing stocks with the economy is to remove volatile earnings from the math. Company earnings tend to swell during periods of growth, when share prices are likely to rise, and shrink during downturns, when shares often tumble. As a result, it can be difficult to spot a bubble using price-to-earnings ratios, because earnings are likely to be unusually high during market tops.
At the moment, U.S. earnings are near a record high as a share of the economy. Over the past 80 or so years that has tended to mean that earnings are about to shrink.
Thus, the chart. If share prices are constrained by earnings, and if earnings are constrained by the size of the economy, investors might as well compare share prices with the economy directly.
But what if earnings are no longer constrained by the U.S. economy? A recent book titled "This Time Is Different" documents the long history of market watchers claiming, unwisely, that valuation rules have changed. But this time things might really be a little different.
Fast economic growth in markets like China, India and Brazil has caused U.S. companies to grow their overseas revenues faster than domestic ones. The average S&P 500 company now collects an estimated one-third of revenues overseas. For tech companies, the figure is over half. And tech has become the largest sector in the S&P 500 (and the one with the fastest earnings growth).
If that's a permanent condition, the chart is nothing to worry about and earnings for U.S. companies have shifted higher for good.
It might not be a permanent condition, of course. Over the long term, as emerging markets become developed markets, they may produce companies that compete more effectively with the likes of Apple (AAPL), ExxonMobil (XOM) and Wal-Mart (WMT) for high-value goods and services, even on U.S. shores.
That's about as far-fetched as a Korean luxury car. Only sixteen years ago, the International Monetary Fund reclassified Korea from an emerging market (like China) to an advanced one (like Japan). Today, Samsung is dueling with the iPhone for smartphone dominance, and Hyundai is seeing double-digit sales growth for its $40,000 Genesis and $65,000 Equus.
For now, however, better to cheer those emerging markets on. U.S. share prices may depend on them.


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Jean-Baptiste Monge is an accomplished fantasy illustrator, whose sketchbook style makes his drawings look as much like field journal entries as works of art.
Monge was one of the artists who worked on Blizzard's Diablo III: Book of Cain, an art book and guide for the action RPG released late last year.
In the gallery below you'll find a selection of his works for the book. To see more, visit his personal site.


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The Crew is a revolutionary action-driving game developed exclusively for next-gen consoles that leverages the new hardware capabilities to connect players online like never before.
Take an exhilarating drive through the US with this new walkthrough, commentated by Julian Gerighty, Creative Director on The Crew.
The Crew takes you and your friends on a reckless ride inside a massive, open-world recreation of the United States that is brimming with exciting challenges. Generous in content and tailored for the connected generation, The Crew is the next-gen game that redefines action-driving.