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Tuesday, 31st May, 2011, 05:25 AM #1
Waghalter (Lvl 7)
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[Adventure] Serpent's Skull: Souls for Smuggler's Shiv (DM: Mewness; Judge: THB)
The Serpents Skull, Part One:
An adventure path for characters starting at level 1
Starring Our Heroes:
Noriaki Matsumoto, male human, thaneborn barbarian (Pentius)
Hú Lí (Black Fox), female (?) fox spirit, cunning bard (BenBrown)
Takahaan, male dragonborn, bravura warlord (GROMkill)
Castile, female dwarf, battlerager fighter (Dekana)
Kane Arcane, male human, shielding swordmage|wizard (jbear)
NPCsShipwrecked on the Shiv
Aerys, female half-elf from Bacarte. Very beautiful, but hides it. Has a drinking problem.
Alkas, male dwarf from Bacarte (used to be a player character).
The Dartmoor Irregulars, a company of piskies and grigs. (Used to be a player character.)
Gelik, citified male gnome.
Jade, a Magari dwarf who was being transported as a prisoner.
Ishirou, older human male from the Kingdom of Jade. "Adopted" by Noriaki into the House of Storms.
Pezock, a sentimental kenku who has survived on the Shiv for some time, and has an enchanted rapier named Pearl.
Sasha, pretty young human female.
Kovack, captain of the Jenivere
Ieana, quiet scholarly woman
Mentioned in Passing
Itztecolotl, King of Cactizatziliztli
Ihhuicac, daughter of Itztecolotl who is getting married
Dead and/or Gone
Tlacamatli, masked, cadaverous dwarf who recruited the heroes
Mecatl, one of Tlacamatli's guards
Nelli, one of Tlacamatli's guards
Alton, first mate of the Jenivere
QuestsMajor Quest: Get safely off the island.
Minor Quests (one for each NPC): Keep Aerys, Gelik, Ishirou, Jade, and Sasha alive.
Minor Quest: Find a supply of viper nettle berries to help Aerys kick her drinking habit. COMPLETE!
Minor Quest: Find the Nightvoice for Gelik.
Minor Quest: Find the treasure at the end of Ishirou's treasure map. COMPLETE!
Minor Quest: Find evidence to exonerate Jade. COMPLETE!
Minor Quest: Help Sasha capture a baby pterosaur. COMPLETE!
Introduction, Rules, NotesWelcome to Souls for Smugglers Shiv, my first play-by-post adventure. If you ever have any suggestions as to how I can improve things, I would be happy to have them.
Ill be keeping a plot summary updated in one of the spoiler blocks below, and there will be a list of important NPCs above. It can be very hard to remember whats going on in a PbP game, as combats interrupt the story and can take ages to resolve. So if you cant remember what the hell is happening, its somewhere on this page.
Posting frequency: Please aim to post once a day if you can (dont worry too much about weekends, as they are generally slow). If you can post even more frequently, feel free. If a response from you is required, I will wait for two days (with more flexibility if the two days are over a weekend) before NPCing you and moving on (and I will get annoyed if this happens more than a couple of times). Try to keep up a good posting rate even out of combat: remember that no-one can tell the difference between an inactive player and one who is paying close attention but not posting anything. Everyone appreciates responsiveness--a responsive group makes all the difference between a really great adventure and a mediocre one, so I encourage you to find things to say even if your character doesnt have much to do in the current situation. Posting something like Bertie quickly gets bored by the conversation, so he goes off a little way and amuses himself by stomping on ants is perfectly fine. In fact its great, because it gives others something to respond to. Anything is an improvement on silence.
If you will be away for longer than a couple of days, or if your life is getting hectic and you need to slow down, please PM me or warn us in this thread. An unexplained absence of a week or more may lead to my searching for a replacement.
Die Rollers: My favorite online roller, CoCo, seems to have disappeared. =( Currently I am trying out this die roller, which claims to pull its numbers from Random.org and which, therefore, should actually generate random results. Feel free to use it (but please post all of your rolls for this adventure under the same campaign name). If you're a traditionalist, Invisible Castle and the die roller built into this board are still both reasonable options. Be as specific as you can in the notes you add to your die formula before you roll it--specify what you are doing and to whom, i.e. twin strike on Nincompoop 5. Blazing starfall on B6-D8, catching Cloddenbeadles 1, 3, and 4.
Spoiler Blocks: Spoiler blocks with skill requirements will be labeled active, passive, or sometimes active or passive. Active means that you must make the check in order to have access to the information within that block; passive means that you must have a sufficient passive score (10+skill bonus) in the skill. Active or passive means that you can either use your passive score or make a check if your passive score isnt high enough.
Incidentally, I have no problem with your reading spoiler blocks that youre not strictly entitled to, so long as you dont have your character use the information therein.
PC Stat Blocks: Please make a summary of your characters stats and include it in your first post. You should also include it whenever you take a turn in combat, and whenever something happens out of combat that alters your hit points, surges, action points, etc. Heres a sample stat block.
GoldenhornIngvar Goldenhorn Male Minotaur Cleric|Runepriest 1
Initiative: +0, Passive Perception: 16, Passive Insight: 14, Senses: Normal
AC:17, Fort:14, Reflex:11, Will:16
HP:27/27, Bloodied:13, Surge Value:6, Surges left:7/10
Action Points: 1
Righteous Brand
Word of Binding
Goring Charge
Divine Glow
Healing Word
Rune of Mending
Second Wind
Moment of Glory
Defiant Word: Whenever an enemy misses Goldenhorn with an attack, he gains a +4 (non-cumulative) bonus to damage rolls against that enemy until the end of his next turn.
Full sheet: Goldenhorn
Pictures: If you have a picture youd like me to use to represent your PC in combat, post it somewhere.
I will be using Mals Rules for speedier PbP combat. You can read about Mals Rules in the spoiler block below.
The Malenkirk ConventionsMal Malenkirk came up with some house rules for speeding up PbP combat that are now so ubiquitous in L4W that almost nobody actually bothers posting them anymore, which can lead to confusion. Here they are:
1. The DM rolls initiative for everyone to save time. Only one initiative value is rolled for all of the bad guys.
2. Any PCs whose initiative beats the bad guys get to act first. They can act in any order they like and their actions are resolved in the order they are posted.
3. The DM then runs all of the bad guys turns together.
4. All of the PCs (including any who won the initiative before) now get a turn. Play then proceeds with all the bad guys having another turn, then all the PCs, etc. Again, the PCs can act in any order, and their actions are resolved in the order of posting.
5. Effects that last until the end of someones next turn need a special rule, because the changing order of actions could otherwise lead to abuse. Such an effect gives its benefit (or its penalty) to each recipient for one turn only, no matter when that turn occurs in relation to the other recipients or the originator of the effect.
Example: Suppose that PCs Algie, Bertie, Cecily, Dickie, and Edna act in alphabetical order on round 1. Cecily uses a power that grants herself and all her allies a +1 to attack rolls until the end of her next turn. Dickie and Edna each benefit on round 1, as normal, because they act after Cecily.
On round 2, the PCs happen to act in reverse alphabetical order. Even though Edna and Dickie act before Cecily, they no longer benefit from Cecilys effect, because they have already had it for one turn. Cecily benefits from it on her turn, just as she normally would, and Bertie and Algie benefit on their turns, even though their turns take place after Cecilys is over.
This rule can be tricky to apply correctly at the beginning, so let me know if you have any questions about it.
6. To save time, the DM makes enough of the bad guys stats available to the players that they can resolve their own attacks and any opportunity attacks that they provoke.
This rule is frequently ignored; many DMs are simply not comfortable disclosing enemy stats on the first round of a fight, and prefer to reveal them gradually. Unfortunately, that can cause delays (players will wait to see whether the previous attack hit or whether a bad guy is bloodied before deciding what to do). What Im going to do is to put the stats in individual spoiler blocks, and ask you to look at them only when it is necessary for figuring out what happened on your turn, after you have decided what youre doing and made the rolls. Dont look at them at other times. Youre on the honor system.
7. If any other issues come up, I will play them by ear (with the help of our good Judge).
Time, Exploration, and Travel on the ShivHeres some information to help you plan out your days on the island.
Days are about 14 hours long. Sunrise is at 6 am, sunset is at 8 pm. Low tide occurs at 6 am and 6 pm. High tide occurs at noon and midnight.
You can take full extended rests while you are in your permanent camp. You can take extended rests in other places as well, but will have to make some checks because of the difficult conditions. If you have enough time and daylight to set up a temporary camp, Ill call for a group Nature check, success meaning that you can take the extended rest normally. If you dont have time, or fail the Nature check, Ill call for individual Endurance checks to determine how bad youre feeling the next day.
Your hiking speed along paths and through clear terrain is 2.5 mph. (This is standard for a speed 5 party.) In rough terrain, your hiking speed is halved. The jungle is especially thick, so you travel at one-quarter normal speed through jungle (i.e., only 0.625 mph). This extra-slow rate only applies when you are exploring (breaking a trail); if you retrace your steps through the jungle, you go at 1.25 mph.
The daily downpour happens somewhere around 5-6 pm. It can last half and hour or more. Traveling in the rain is almost impossible (it slows you down even more and severely hampers your vision) and traveling after the rain is unpleasant, as you are slowed somewhat by the soggy ground.
The Story So FarTlacamatli, the strange retainer of King Itztecolotl of Cactitzatziliztli, recruits our heroes to participate in a grand games to be held in honor of the marriage of Princess Ihhuicac. The heroes take passage aboard the Jenivere, heading toward the Isle of Opposition, from whence they are to journey through a portal to the Valley of Bone.
Day 1
Disaster! The heroes wake up stranded on the notorious island of Smuggler's Shiv, unable to remember what happened, and immediately have to fight off some giant hungry lobster-things. With them are Aerys, Gelik, Ishirou, and Sasha, as well as a dwarf prisoner named Jade, who is accused of stealing from King Itztecolotl, but who claims to be innocent. After examining the other shipwreck survivors, Jade suspects that everyone was poisoned.
Noticing the wreck of the Jenivere nearby, some of the adventurers climb across the rock face to explore it. They find the bodies of everyone else who was on board, except for Captain Kovack and the scholar Ieana. The crew seem not to have even attempted to escape the ship, and Noriaki notices that the first mate has a deep stab wound in his abdomen--further evidence of poisoning and betrayal. Castile recovers the captain's logbook from his cabin, but it is too blurred to be easily read.
Meanwhile, the Dartmoor Irregulars observe the flight patterns of the local birds and conclude that there may be fresh water to the southeast. The group sets off in that direction and is attacked by some spiders. Upon defeating them, they find another shipwreck survivor wrapped up in their webs.
By the time that they have found the stream they were searching for, it has started to rain, and is getting late in the day. They decide to set up camp. During the evenings discussion, Gelik mentions a ship called the Nightvoice that was lost in the waters around Smugglers Shiv decades ago. Jade speculates on the possibility that a man who could prove his innocence might have been shipwrecked on the island as well. Noriaki devotes his time to perusing the logbook, which reveals that Captain Kovack has no gift for poetry at all. More importantly, it reveals that he was so obsessed with the woman Ieana that he neglected his duties and even contemplated killing his own crewmen, should any of them desire her as well. It also hints that Ieanas true form is different from the appearance she presented. The night is otherwise uneventful save that the Irregulars notice some large creature flying overhead, and Noriaki has a disturbing dream.
Day 2
In the morning, Ishirou gives Kane an interesting map (further detail here) and Aerys asks Hú Lí to help her kick her drinking habit. The group decides to travel along the east coast to look for the distinctive rocks shown on Ishirou's map. Before they have gotten very far, they come across a sheltered beach, where they find the remains of a campfire and some discarded clothing--and overcoat and a scarf--that belonged to Kovack and Ieana. This pair's trail is very faint--the rains of the previous afternoon have all but obliterated it--but the adventurers follow them south, eventually coming to a river, where they notice viper nettles growing on the other side and cross over to gather berries. While searching for more they bump into some very aggressive plants and have to fight for their lives, but they do find a large viper nettle patch.
After gathering berries and having some lunch, the adventurers continue south past the river, following Ieana and Kovack. Later in the afternoon, they find signs that their quarry re-entered the jungle, but they realize they will have to head back to camp if they want to spend the night in relative comfort. Kane marks a tree with his sword to make it easier for them to pick up the trail again.
Back in camp, they give the viper nettle berries to Aerys, who resolves to stop drinking immediately. They also learn that Sasha has been exploring the north-eastern coast and now has a notion to capture a baby pterosaur and train it.
The night is uneventful, save for another sighting of the mysterious flying creature, and the disturbing dreams of Castile and Noriaki.
Day 3
The party is determined to track Ieana and Kovack down at last. Taking Gelik with them, they retrace their steps to the place where their quarry entered the jungle. Once through the forest, they come across an actual trail--and a trap laid on that trail.
Unable to tell which direction their quarry took, the group follows the trail northwest. They find more traps along the way, as well as an abandoned campsite whose inhabitants appear to have been murdered--all but one, who exchanged that fate for one possibly worse: she has been transformed into a mindless a plant-creature like those fought on the previous day. Kane decides to kill her out of mercy, and has a vision of the last moments of her life. Continuing to follow the trail, the adventurers find another campsite, whose inhabitants also seem to have met a grisly end. From there they spot some movement in the distance and set off after it. They soon come across a truly immense crab, which at first appears threatening but proves to be only a dead shell that has been rigged up as a giant puppet by Pezock, a mechanically-inclined kenku, who also uses the crab as his house.
Pezock tells the woeful tale of how his friends were murdered by a tribe of cannibals on the island. Dartmoor asks a bird to take a warning message back to the party's camp, and the adventurers decide that the cannibals must die. That night, they ambush a cannibal war party using a combination of a clever ruse and extreme violence. After this very long day, they rest in Pezock's crab, disturbed only by some unsettling dreams.
Day 4
The next day, the group heads back to camp, persuading Pezock to come along. On the way, they pass close to the hill depicted in Ishirous map (Pezock having revealed that he is familiar with the location) and are unable to resist the lure of treasure hunting. Pezock leads them to another abandoned camp (where they discover some signs of sinister magic) and on to the bare-topped hill. The Irregulars head back to camp, knowing that Dartmoor will be able to send an animal messenger to the top of the hill should anything untoward occur, and Pezock points out some shipwrecks visible from the hilltop. The group decides to spend the night on the hill, in order to see the sunrise as depicted on the map.
Day 5
The sun rises, proving the picture to be amazingly accurate: the adventurers soon locate a spot offering exactly the view depicted and, after spending most of the day digging, uncover a stone shaft. They are immediately attacked by ghouls, but defeat them. Kane is undeterred by the vile-smelling, murky water in the shaft and swims through to recover a box of treasure that includes a beautiful gold Magari calendar disk.
On the way back to camp, the party comes across the wreck of the Brine Demon and retrieves from it a coffer containing Kinkarian's ledgers, as well as an odd little figurine that turns out to be a magical prison holding a trapped fey beast, which Kane frees. The trip back is otherwise uneventful and the night passes peacefully, apart from a strange dream.
Day 6
With Sasha along, the group heads out to try to capture a small bird-reptile. On the way, they discover the corpse of an adult that appears to have fallen out of the sky. When they reach the nest, they find it under attack by other bird-reptiles, seeking to devour the undefended young. They beat them off, managing to save two of the chicks, one of which takes a shine to Noriaki and suffers an abrupt growth spurt as a result of one of the Irregulars odd concoctions.
Leaving Sasha back at the camp, the adventurers decide to explore one of the wrecks, but find it occupied by a hostile presence that they decide is best left undisturbed.
Continuing to explore the island, they follow the stream south from the nettle patch until they reach the top of the ridge. Climbing down again, they cross the valley and climb another ridge, finding there a winding stream that leads to a waterfall. Traveling upstream, they eventually discover a sinister hut with human bones piled around. As the rain is starting, they venture inside. Nobody seems to live here at the moment, but they find an old journal that seems to have been written by someone on an Allarian-sponsored expedition to establish an outpost on the island. Sadly, the journal is mostly illegible, and after the rain passes, the adventurers return to their companions. With some light left in the day, they move their campsite south, to the ridge overlooking the path.
Time & Experience RecordsStart Date: May 30th, 2011 (for Black Fox, Castile, Dartmoor, Noriaki, and Takahaan); July 6th, 2011 (for Kane)
May 30 - June 30 rewards approved here. (Post 361.)
June 30 - August 30 rewards approved here. (Post 687.)
August 30 to October 30 rewards approved here. (Post 758.)
October 30, 2011 to January 30, 2012 rewards approved here. (Post 958.)
January 30 to March 30 rewards approved here. (Post 1143.)
March 30 to May 30 rewards approved here. (Post 1343.)
May 30 to the finish rewards approved here. (Post 1448.)
Key to the MapThe black line shows the party's travels. The light green line shows Kane's travels before joining the group. The orange line shows Sasha's travels.
Current location.
Party's current camp.
Party's old camp.
A: Beach where the lobster-things attacked.
B: Wreck of the Jenivere.
C1: Cliffside nests that seem to be inhabited by large, flying, predatory reptiles.
C2: Joompin spiders nest.
D1: Wreck of Kanes ship.
D2: A wrecked ship with some sort of hostile, shadowy presence.
D4: A wrecked ship already explored by Pezock.
E: Viper nettle patch.
F: Ieana and Kovack's temporary camp.
G: Wreck of the Brine Demon.
H: The blighted caller.
I1: An old campsite (where the plant-creature was standing).
I2: Pezock's old campsite, where the cannibals took a thorough drubbing.
I3: Old campsite (with pentagram and human teeth on wall).
J: A trap.
K: The shaft containing the ghouls and the treasure box.
L: Pezock's crab.
M: Rolling log trap (an old cannibal ambush site).
N: Old hut decorated with human bones.
O: Crossing (available at high tide).
P: Crossing (only available at low tide).
T: Cliff with hanging ropes.
V: The lighthouse.
Last edited by Mewness; Tuesday, 25th September, 2012 at 04:55 PM. Reason: This page is edited constantly to keep it up to date.
Tuesday, 31st May, 2011, 05:37 AM #2
Waghalter (Lvl 7)
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Tlacamatli leads the way to the dock, where a trading ship, the Jenivere, lies at anchor. He boards the ship and begins speaking quietly in Magari to two dwarves standing on the deck. These two look nothing like Tlacamatli, save for the obsidian-toothed wooden swords they carry--they have the typical dwarf build, wear armor made of animal hides, and are bareheaded, with colorful feathers decorating their hair and beards. As Tlacamatli approaches, the captain of the Jenivere, a cheerful-looking, hulking fellow, glances up from a discussion with a member of his crew. He smiles and waves the newcomers on board, signaling a crewman to attend to them before continuing with his discussion.
In addition to the Magari, five other passengers of various sorts are already on board.
GM: The perception/insight checks here assume that your PC spends a few minutes observing the NPC in question. If your PC wouldnt find that NPC interesting, dont bother to roll.
A tanned, attractive half-elven woman is helping the crew with some of the rigging. Though she appears to be quite competent, the men soon laughingly wave her away, saying that shes paid for her passage and should enjoy herself. The woman seems slightly irritated by this, but stops trying to help and turns instead to watch the other boats in the harbor. In human terms, she looks like she is in her thirties. Her dark hair is mostly hidden under a hat that she wears pulled low on her forehead, and her thick, heavy leather armor gives her a slightly mannish appearance. She is armed with a cutlass and a long knife.
Perception 13This woman isnt just attractive--shes extraordinarily so, really quite stunning. But it isnt immediately obvious because of her concealing, rather shapeless clothes.
Not far from the half-elf, a fashionably dressed male gnome is sitting on a crate. He has a very citified manner, and appears to be unarmed. He looks rather bored, and is fiddling with some sort of complicated object, perhaps a puzzle.
Sitting on the deck is a human female, perhaps forty years old. She wears spectacles and her hands are stained with ink. She is writing something in a journal and appears to be completely absorbed in it. She doesnt seem to be armed or armored.
A human male from the Kingdom of Jade sits not far from the scholarly-looking woman, although the two are paying no attention to each other. The man is perhaps fifty years old. His hair has a good deal of gray in it and his face is weathered, but he looks physically very fit. He carries a katana and is looking out to sea in a meditative manner.
Insight or Perception 13He actually seems to be dividing his attention between the sea and the half-elven woman, although his face shows no particular expression when he looks at her.
The last passenger is a pretty young human woman with flame-red hair. It seems that she cannot keep still--she is at one moment bending over the rail to peer into the water, the next moment looking up at a seagull, then sizing up another passenger, then staring at the crew as they work, then scrutinizing something on her own arm. She wears a leather costume that cannot aptly be described as armor owing to its failure to cover most of her vital areas, though it does give observers ample opportunity to admire her athletic, shapely physique. She has a good-sized bow slung over her back, unstrung.
GM: Finally, everyone make an Endurance check for me to use in the future (it has nothing to do with this scene).
Tuesday, 31st May, 2011, 06:50 AM #3
Lama (Lvl 13)
- Join Date
- May 2011
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- Oh, I'm around, most days.
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Noriaki follows behind Tlacamatli to the Jenivere. He steps aboard with a regal air, his eyes scanning the crowd briefly, but not seeing any obvious nobility, he doesn't approach or even acknowledge anyone. He makes his way to the railing, specifically to a spot where he can see the Jadian man, and observes him briefly before turning his own gaze to the waters, placing a hand on the rail as he does so. Noriaki has only sailed once before, and is still slightly awed by the sight of open water.
Insight:1d20+1=4. Not so much.
Mystery Endurance: 1d20+5=18
oocOur Leaders can both grant attacks, and I am a likely recipient of such moves, so I am posting my basic attack stats in my stat block. Feel free to roll any granted attacks for me.
Noriaki Matsumoto Male Human Thaneborn Barbarian 1
Initiative: +3(+5 with Takahaan), Passive Perception: 10, Passive Insight: 11, Senses: Normal
HP:27/27 Bloodied:13
Surges left:9/9
Surge Value:6
Action Points: 1
MBA: +7 to hit, 1d12+4 damage
Howling Strike
Pressing Strike
Escalating Violence []
Howl of Triumph []
Heroic Effort []
Second Wind []
Swift Panther Rage []
Feral Might(Thaneborn Triumph): Whenever you bloody an enemy, the next attack by you or an ally against that enemy gains a bonus to the attack roll equal to your Charisma modifier(+2).
Full sheet: Noriaki
Last edited by Pentius; Tuesday, 31st May, 2011 at 06:57 AM.
Tuesday, 31st May, 2011, 07:09 AM #4
Waghalter (Lvl 7)
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The Jadian man notices Noriaki and bows his head to him before returning his attention to the sea.
The young red-haired woman happens to catch Noriaki's eye while looking over her shoulder and smiles at him.
Tuesday, 31st May, 2011, 07:18 AM #5
Lama (Lvl 13)
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Noriaki gives the Jadian man a slight nod of his head in return before the red haired woman catches his eye. Her energetic manner combined with her revealing garb makes her hard to ignore. Noriaki gives her back a slight smile, out of habit more than anything else, but, unsure of whether anything more is expected, remains at the railing.
Tuesday, 31st May, 2011, 07:31 AM #6
Waghalter (Lvl 7)
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- Jan 2002
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- That ol' Bay Area
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Hú Lí traipses up the gangplank, and she surveys the people on deck. The attractive Half-Elf woman catches her attention for a moment, and Hú Lí gets a rather thoughtful look in her eye. Still looking at her out of the corner of her eye, Hú Lí then bows to the Jadian man, before taking up a place near the bow and producing her flute.
"Shall I play to help the work go faster?" she asks.
rollsHú LíThe Black Fox Fox Spirit (Changeling) Bard 1
Initiative: +1, Passive Perception: 18, Passive Insight: 16
AC:17, Fort:11, Reflex:14, Will:16
+2 vs. AC, 1d6-1 damage
HP:24/24, Bloodied:12, Surge Value:6, Surges left:8/8
Action Points: 1, Second Wind: unused
Powers: Changeling Disguise, Wild Shape, Staggering Note, Vicious Mockery
Blunder, Changeling Trick, Grasping Claws, Majestic Word x2, Words of Friendship
Stirring Shout
Tuesday, 31st May, 2011, 08:41 AM #7
Gallant (Lvl 3)
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- May 2011
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- Los Angeles, CA
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- 354
Trailing after his human friend, Takahaan climbs aboard the deck of the Jenivere and glances around at the other occupants. Eyeing the few others, Takahaan's gaze comes to a halt - admittedly after a double-take - on the attractive half-elf female pouting and focused on the rest of the harbor. Admiring her subtle but alluring figure, Takahaan notices the Jadian man look her way as well a few times.
After looking over the occupants of the trade ship, Takahaan approaches his friend Noriaki and joins him in gazing across the beautiful waters, enthralled by the depth and vastness of the seas.
After a moment of comfort and silence, Takahaan began. "Friend, we have only sailed but once before this. Men speak stories of the intense illness that crossing large waters can bring those who are inexperienced in the way of sailing. May we keep our spirits up and our stomachs steady, as honor and victory await us in this strange land we shall approach."
Looking at his friend, he nodded with a certain solemnity and continued his watch over the horizon above the deep, aquamarine waters.
TakahaanTakahaan Thanazashi Male Dragonborn Bravura Warlord 1
Initiative: +2, Passive Perception: 10, Passive Insight: 9, Senses: Normal
AC:17, Fort:15, Reflex:13, Will:15
HP:24/24, Bloodied:12, Surge Value:6, Surges left:8/8
Action Points: 1
Brash Assault
Intuitive Strike
Dragon Breath
Inspiring Word
Vengeance Is Mine
Lamb to the Slaughter
Dragonborn Fury: When you're bloodied, you gain a +1 racial bonus to attack rolls.
Combat Leader: You and each ally within 10 squares who can see and hear you gain a +2 power bonus to initiative.
Bravura Presence: When an ally who can see you spends an action point to take an extra action and uses the action to make an attack, the ally can choose to take advantage of this feature before the attack roll. If the ally chooses to do so and the attack hits, the ally can either make a basic attack or take a move action after the attack as a free action. If the attack misses, the ally grants combat advantage to all enemies until the end of his or her next turn.
Full sheet: Takahaan
Last edited by GROMkill; Tuesday, 31st May, 2011 at 08:48 AM.
Tuesday, 31st May, 2011, 08:54 AM #8
Lama (Lvl 13)
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- May 2011
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Noriaki gives a small sigh of annoyance, but mainly for show. He's more comfortable with the dragonborn around. "You worry too much, Taka. I can weather a storm, after all, I have been one my whole life. Put your mind at ease, and take in the sights." he says with a twinkle in his eye, making a sweeping gesture that mainly indicates the sea, but also includes the other passengers.
Last edited by Pentius; Tuesday, 31st May, 2011 at 08:57 AM.
Tuesday, 31st May, 2011, 09:03 AM #9
Waghalter (Lvl 7)
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The half-elf woman turns around at the sound of Hú Lí's voice. "You play?" she asks. "Well, I always like to hear a merry tune, even if they don't. I'm Aerys. Aerys Mavato." She sticks out her hand.
Tuesday, 31st May, 2011, 09:17 AM #10
Lama (Lvl 13)
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- May 2011
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Bill McKibben is out with a bracing column basically arguing that President-elect Obama has to take some serious action — that could be seriously unpopular — on climate change. He suggests slapping a heavy tax on carbon, then sending regular Americans an annual check to balance out the load. He calls it "cap and share." (Hmmm…. sounds a lot like the Canadian Liberal Party's idea, which didn't fare well. It lost the election.)
McKibben, referencing James Hansen's latest work showing we actually have to reduce the current concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere, argues for:
Massive government investment in green energy. For this to have any hope of being politically viable, it will need to be seen as the single huge stimulus effort that might lift us out of our financial swamp. (That's almost certainly true, by the way — name another emergent technology capable of re-floating the economy for the long run). We have at least some of the technologies we'd need — wind, the newly promising desert solar arrays, and the ever-useful insulation (the installation of which would at least create a lot of jobs — you're not going to send your house to China for a layer of fiberglass).
He also argues for a massive reincarnation of the Marshall Plan, except this one would be to keep China off coal. It would roughly be the equivalent of every American donating the equivalent of one hour's wages every two weeks, or 1 percent of American GDP — not an easy sell in Congress.
However, a new Zogby poll has surprisingly high majorities in various categories of voters apparently itching for Obama to do something about climate change.
More on Obama, climate and Congress comes from:
That could pave the way for huge new energy taxes. Voters will punish Mr. Obama if they get hammered every time they fill up the gas tank or buy groceries.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
By Rob Schabert, Sports Information Director
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. -- Junior Vasily
Eremeev received the Johnny Donnelly Maverick Award and senior
Abdukhalikov was named the team's Most Valuable Player for the
second consecutive year as the Tennessee Tech tennis team gathered
Thursday for it's annual post-season awards picnic.
John and Marty Donnelly, who established the Maverick Award in 1999, were at the event to present the award named in memory of their late son, Tech Sports Hall of Fame member Johnny Donnelly.
"The Maverick Award is given for determination," said John Donnelly. "One of the former recipients of this award recently passed away. His name was Heath. He didn't play a lot, but he received the award for his support of his teammates and how much determination he showed. It's an honor and privelege this year to present the award to Vasily."
A junior from Krasnoyarsk, Russia, Eremeev (photo at top right) earned second-team all-OVC honors. He posted an overall singles record of 20-12 this year, including a perfect 8-0 record in OVC matches and a 10-4 mark in tournament play. He ended the year on a nine-match winning streak.
Eremeev compiled an 18-9 record in doubles matches, pairing with Artem Tarasov for a 15-7 record including a 7-1 effort in OVC matches. His 18-9 mark was the top record on the team in doubles play.
Doyle presented Abdukhalikov (left) with his second straight MVP
"Syrym has had a great spring, and he's probably one of the best players to have ever played here," Doyle said.
The senior from Almaty, Kazakhstan -- who will receive his
degree Saturday during Tech's commencement -- was named the OVC
Player of the Year and first-team all-OVC while playing the key
role in Tech's unbeaten run to the OVC regular season
Abdukhailikov went 9-0 in league play and 14-2 overall at the No. 1 singles spot, winning every singles match after March 20. He teamed up with Alejandro Augusto to post a 9-0 league mark and a 10-6 overall record at the No. 1 doubles spot.
Doyle also recognized the team's two outgoing seniors (left), including Abdukhalikov and Arturo Santa Ruiz, from Bogota, Colombia. The pair received plaques in recogntion of their Golden Eagle experiences.


text:
Aioi Unibio in Aichi Prefecture
An obscure Japanese whisky called "Rainbow". I think I briefly mentioned its maker at the bottom of this post, but basically I know absolutely nothing about it except for some very basic information about its maker, Aioi Unibio Co. Ltd.. Has anyone tried it?
They are a general alcohol maker and they trace their history back to 1872. I think they have always been fairly strong in mirin (a sort of Japanese equivalent of sherry, often used for cooking but recently experiencing a rebirth as a quality drink), shochu and sake.
"General alcohol" makers are a distinct breed in the Japanese alcohol industry. I`m not sure how their business model works (or worked) but they seem to carry ranges of products that touch on just about every type of alcohol. Quite often, these makers will have a page of their websites entitled "Other stuff" featuring one or two whiskies alongside brandies, vodkas, neutral spirits etc.. Long-time Nonjatta readers will know that I am fascinated by this liminal Japanese whisky world but that I have never quite known what to make of it. I have called it "ji-whisky", by analogy with small local Japanese producers of beer and sake but, whereas "ji-biru" and "ji-sake" are associated in my mind with good quality, I am afraid I am not so confident of these "ji-whiskies".
I have never tasted Rainbow. It might be great. But I am skeptical.
Back to the facts:
English address: Aioi Unibio Co. Ltd.
5 Shimomachi, Maruyama, Nishio,
Aichi Prefecture
Japanese address: 〒445-0891 愛知県西尾市下町丸山5番地
Telephone: 0563-56-2101
Webpage: http://www.unibio.jp/
Aioi Unibio (what a great name!) appear to make two types of whisky.
Their basic offering is the 37 per cent alcohol "Rainbow Whisky". That 37 alcohol percentage is a dead giveaway for a cheap Japanese blended whisky. It is lower than a standard Scotch but you will find many of the cheapest blends in Japan sit themselves exactly on that 37 per cent fence because the Japanese tax regime charges extra for every percentage point of alcohol by which that figure is exceeded. This blend retails for just under 1,000 yen a bottle, which is just a little bit more than brands like Nikka Black and Suntory's Torys. The ingredients on the bottle say it is made of "malt and spirits", which implies to me that it uses neutral alcohol rather than grain whisky, the accepted Scottish second ingredient.
The company's premium offering is "Rainbow Sanshu" at 40 per cent. It appears to retail at just under 4,000 yen a bottle, which is not cheap. You could get a decent single malt from an established maker for that kind of price. It says it is 12-years-old. This is also a blended whisky.
Because this distillery does not appear to make single malt whisky, I have not put it on Nonjatta's main single malt distillery map. However, I have started a new map, called "Other Japanese Distilleries", to which I will add a few more of these obscure blend makers as they come up.
View Other Japanese distilleries in a larger map
Photographs from the Aoi Uniboi website and this prefectural marketing website.


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text: Yorgos Gregory revive a neglected water feature, and drilling expert Roger Skillings is drilling for both a new water well and for geothermal wells. Master electrician Allen Gallant shows Kevin how he bends PVC conduit to run the new electrical service underground over hill and dale. In the second half of the hour, on ASK THIS OLD HOUSE, Roger visits a tropical botanic garden to learn how to care for orchids as houseplants. Then, Roger, along with Kevin, Richard and Tom, asks, "What is it?" Afterward, Tom helps a homeowner purchase and install a kitchen wall cabinet.


text: Prevent the invasion of the human forces to our land in this incredible and addictive action/shooter game. Buy upgrades, unlock achievements, collect power ups and much more in this defense game. Enjoy the incredible experience through 16 levels,destroy a powerfull boss and complete the game in the 3 difficulty modes.


text:
Cleveland Browns Jerseys
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Cheer for Your Team with Cleveland Browns Jerseys
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Stay comfortable through the fourth quarter with your official Browns jersey, designed for superior ventilation and total comfort.


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* Your list is public by default.
Alternative Titles
Japanese: インフェルノコップ
Type: ONA
Episodes: 13
Status: Finished Airing
Aired: Dec 25, 2012 to Mar 19, 2013
Producers: CoMix Wave Films
Licensors: None found, add some
Studios: Trigger
Source: Original
Duration: 3 min. per ep.
Rating: R - 17+ (violence & profanity)
Score: 7.321 (scored by 38,331 users)
1 indicates a weighted score. Please note that 'Not yet aired' titles are excluded.
Ranked: #24392
2 based on the top anime page. Please note that 'Not yet aired' and 'R18+' titles are excluded.
Popularity: #1429
Members: 68,811
Favorites: 840


text:
Bethany provides a wide range of classes and extracurricular activities that allow students to explore and develop their talents.
The Ylvisaker Fine Arts Center serves as the campus art gallery. Its walls are home to an ever-changing collection of artwork; the lobby is frequented by sculpture and other works of art. Each month, a new guest artist displays a portfolio and gives a public lecture on the meaning and relevance of the art.
The last month of each semester is reserved for the student art show, when students have on opportunity to display their work. Each student enrolled in an art class is required to submit at least one work for the show, but many students choose to display several. The works are judged by the art department.
Senior studio art majors are required to hold their own gallery exhibits. This is considered a showcase of academic work and is typically done for academic credit during the senior year.


text:
Japan is a land of gadgets that are both marvelous and mystifying. If you can't go to the home of weird gadgets, why not bring some of the weird gadgets home to you? Here is a list of Japanese gadget gifts that will give you culture shock worse than Bill Murray in a Tokyo karaoke bar.
BTW, if you hate the gallery format as much as the you hate Japan-only gadgets, click here.
Bandai Tokyo Diorama Speakers: Do you know someone who is fascinated by Tokyo's Ginza district circa 1950? Or someone who constantly listens to the Godzilla Original Motion Picture Soundtrack? These speakers are the perfect gift for that person. Packed with LED lights and all sorts of moving parts, this is not your Kindergartner's diorama. $2000 [Bandai]
Bandai Gyoza Maker: Rolling a gyoza—essentially a Japanese dumpling—can be tough and is an art that is best mastered with practice. But who has time for practice or mastery? If you want to crank out neatly sealed gyozas every time, there's no better way than to do just that: crank them out. With Bandai's gyoza maker, perfect gyozas slide out a chute for your snacking pleasure. It's not the most authentic way to serve up this traditional treat but definitely the most efficient. $55 [GeekStuff4U]
Yamanote Line Watch: Is there someone close to you whose life is a little too stress-free? Who wishes they felt like they were doing something? Going somewhere? Get them the Yamanote Line Watch, a replica of signage on Tokyo's busiest commuter line, and give their life some hair-pulling purpose. [Seahope]
Sauce Dispensing Chopsticks: If you know someone who is proud of having recently mastered chopsticks, throw them a curveball by gifting them this sauce dispensing pair. They have the dual benefit of taking your chopstick game into the 21st century while also eliminating table clutter. This is a perfect gift for the person in your life who is defined as much by their laziness as they are for their love of Asian cuisine. $21[Oh Gizmo]
Fantasy Gift: 9h Capsule Hotel Pod: It's always nice to curl up in a nook (if not necessarily with a Nook) to take a nap, and the 9h luxury capsule hotel in Tokyo provides the nook of all nooks. Each pod is equipped with Panasonic control panels for setting the ambiance—presumably one that lessens the feeling that you paid money to nap in a coffin. Still, having one of them in your house virtually guarantees that no one jumps into bed to bother you while you sleep. [9hours]
Humping Dog USB Drive: Dogs always hump things—it's their nature—so why shouldn't they hump your USB drive? "Because they're too small!" you say. Real dogs may be, but this humping dog USB drive from Digital World Tokyo is a perfect perverted match for your Universal Serial Bus. In the end, though, do you really want to subject your ports to this little dog's dongle? We must urge you not to buy, unless you have a friend who really likes weird stuff. $32 [Digital World Tokyo]
Tuttuki Box: Are you or a love one embarrassed to prod and poke at things in real life? The Tuttuki LCD box lets you jab at miniature pandas, guys, and girls with a digital version of your index finger. If you know someone who is prone to stick appendages into holes, this is surely more adorable than the alternatives. $46 [Amazon]
Gundam Robot Slippers: Everyone can dance the robot. But for some people that's just not enough. Gundam Robot Slippers are the perfect gift for the hardcore robot enthusiast. Not only do they make your feet shiny and big, like a robot's, but the slippers emit a robotic crunching noise with each step. This benefits everyone: you sound more like a robot and the maker you've turned against is alerted that you're coming to destroy them. Gizmodo]
Don't forget to recommend your own favorite gift ideas for weird relatives in comments—include pic and pricing if possible.
All Giz Wants is our annual round-up of favorite gift ideas, including amazing attainable objects and a few far-out fantasies. We'll be popping guides catered to different interests several times per day for the next week, so keep checking back.


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New York (CNN) -- In the spirit of spring rebirth, the Occupy movement is ramping up activities as warm weather blankets the country. But while the season is typified by a reawakening of life outdoors, demonstrators are using sleep to get their points across. They call it "sleepful protest."
The sleeping bags started appearing on the corner of Wall and Broad streets across from the New York Stock Exchange on April 9. A civil rights attorney sympathetic to the Occupy movement provided the legal justification for the move in the form of a court ruling from 2000. A federal district court judge said people can sleep on sidewalks as a form of political expression as long as they take up no more than half of the sidewalk and don't block any doors.
Occupy organizers declared a month ago that the movement would be planning a comeback in the spring and summer. Some city and state governments, armed with new ordinances aimed at the Occupy movements, are ready to prevent demonstrators from re-establishing encampments.
For the past few nights, dozens of Occupy Wall Street protesters have slept on a patch of concrete a stone's throw away from the traders and stock brokers who are the targets of their message. "The goal here is to not violate the law and not give the police a reason to move the group," said Ted Schulman, who has taken part in Occupy demonstrations for several months.
Every morning, they talk about income inequality and the role of big money in politics as commuters pass by on their way to jobs in the Financial District. Most people who work in the area seem indifferent.
"They just don't understand how things work," said Wayne Kaufman, chief market analyst at John Thomas Financial. "They have fantasy ideas. But, they're entitled to their opinions."
While police have occasionally forced the protesters to move so the sidewalk could be cleaned, and a few have been arrested, Occupy protester Lauren DiGioia is not deterred.
"We're not afraid anymore. I mean, we've been through so much. All of us have been to jail," said DiGioia, a 27-year-old with hair dyed neon blue. "We know we're doing the right thing."
What are Occupiers really fighting for?
So-called sleepful protests have popped up elsewhere in the country with varying degrees of success. In Washington, police have been less accommodating, while in Los Angeles, protesters have taken to sleeping outside Bank of America branches, a frequent target of the Occupy movement. Similar sidewalk sleep-ins are taking place in Boston and Atlanta.
The protesters on Wall Street don't expect their sleep-in to grow into an encampment like the one that became home to hundreds of people at nearby Zuccotti Park.
"I view this as the pre-campaign. I certainly doubt that this will still be here May 1st when the big rallies start," Schulman said. "My guess is by that point, they'll have taken control of this space again."
Occupy organizers are calling for large-scale demonstrations across the country on May 1 in conjunction with the labor movement's International Workers Day.


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What are they going to do next in the children's line of clothes? The Gap has decided to make skinny jeans starting in size 0-3 mos for babies going up to the toddlers sizes. I have never heard anything crazier then this. It is hard enough trying to put pants on babies because of the bulky diapers and layers of baby fat. This is absolutely crazy!
I will not buy skinny jeans for my 8 year old and I have noticed that trend moving towards my 3 year old sizes. My 8 year old is tall and thin but skinny jeans are too revealing. I want my girls in conservative and stylish clothing.
Parents are flocking to this style because it is the trend. The stores are eating this up.
I do not shop at the Gap because it is not economical for our family. I shop around at different stores trying to get the best deals but taking an adult fashion trend and making it for babies and toddlers is absurd. If you look at this baby in the skinny jeans, they don't fit you see way too much of her diaper. Paying that kind of money so my child can be trendy with her diaper hanging out. I don't know about you but I want my jeans to fit and be comfortable.
I have two kids to buy clothes for so I have to keep things affordable as well as stylish. I do put my kids needs above mine but part of that is I am not still growing. I can wear the same outfit for several years or the same shoes but they cannot.
What will they think of next?


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I was recently given a copy of a photo of my 2nd great grandmother, Kathrine (Tuepper) Hau. I had only seen one picture of her and that was taken when she was elderly. This new photo was taken when she was a much younger woman.
Kathrine married my 2nd great grandfather, Wilhelm Hau, in 1869. Wilhelm passed away in 1884, at the age of 42. More about Wilhelm can be read in the previous post located here. Kathrine married John Butz in 1887.


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John Rogers for NPR/johnrogersnyc.com
John Rogers for NPR/johnrogersnyc.com
John Rogers for NPR/johnrogersnyc.com
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JazzSet with Dee Dee Bridgewater
Chris Potter Quartet On JazzSetWBGO
Chris Potter Quartet On JazzSet
Now in his early 40s, Chris Potter is "the most commandingly skilled saxophonist of his generation," according to New York Times jazz writer Nate Chinen.
Potter and JazzSet host Dee Dee Bridgewater have just come off three months with the Monterey Jazz Festival on Tour, traveling the country by bus. On the bandstand, Bridgewater liked to say to Potter, "I want someone to draw a picture of you and your horn, with cascades of notes pouring out." She loved working with him. Potter plays what he imagines, and he thinks on his feet. He's tuneful, soulful and forward-moving.
Chris Potter's The Sirens is inspired by the ancient Greek tale of exile, The Odyssey by Homer. He'd read The Odyssey in high school in South Carolina. More than two decades later, he read it again, connecting with it even more because Homer's epic "is all about big themes set in bold relief — romantic adventure and a return to home, temptation and identity, life and death. Things we all deal with today."
Potter played many times at the Village Vanguard in bands led by drummer Paul Motian (1931-2011). Mid-journey in The Sirens, Potter inserts Motian's piece, "The Owl of Cranston." At the end, "The Owl" flutters like powerful night bird, landing.
In The Odyssey, hero Odysseus is held captive on an island by the nymph Calypso. Potter's "Kalypso" (think Sonny Rollins' "St. Thomas") leads to a wonderful jam by drummer Eric Harland and — through Ethan Iverson's piano — connects to "The Sirens," the final movement, featuring Larry Grenadier on bowed bass. The saxophonist brings The Sirens to a close with a final, strong melody — a beautiful reading.
Set List
- "Wine Dark Sea"
- "Wayfinder"
- "The Owl From Cranston" (Paul Motian)
- "Kalypso"
- "The Sirens"
- Chris Potter, tenor and soprano saxes, flute, bass clarinet
- Ethan Iverson, piano
- Larry Grenadier, bass
- Eric Harland, drums
Original webcast produced and hosted by Josh Jackson. Technical direction and live audio mix by David Tallacksen, video direction by Michael Downes. Web producer Patrick Jarenwattananon. Surround Sound remix by Duke Markos. Studio engineer Ginger Bruner at KUNV in Las Vegas.


text: Freedom, skateboarding, & simpler times. This will never change. The idea behind BOHNAM was clear, to merge together what you can't live without. For the past 25 years this has shaped Bohnam into what they have become. To create your own path. Find the latest Bohnam t-shirts, hats, bags and other cool accessories, right here at Tactics.


text:
Tour de France stages 6 and 7 – tech gallery
Bikes and gear from last two days before Pyrenees mountain stages
After a Corsican start and arrival on the French mainland, stage 7 closed the second chapter of the 2013 Tour de France, with Peter Sagan (Cannondale) finally opening his account with a captivating win in Albi. Tomorrow, the race heads into the Pyrenees for the first time.
BikeRadar visited the teams at the start of stages 6 and 7 to see what equipment they were running and take a closer look at some of the new kit being unveiled at the Tour.
Some team's choices reflected the impending mountains – Saxo-Tinkoff Bank's spare bikes featured SRAM WiFLi technology yesterday, which gives riders a wider range of gears than the standard system. And burly Lotto-Belisol leadout man Adam Hansen opted for a lightweight Ridley Helium SL for stage 7.
Tomorrow, we can expect more of the same and the arrival of flyweight wheels and frames in large numbers. But for today at least, the high profile wheels and aerodynamic equipment still reigned. See our image gallery to get a feel of what was on show.


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Note: This item is more than 14 years old. Please take the publication date into consideration for any date references.
Print – Plain Text – Permalink
News Release
Media Contact: TPWD News, firstname.lastname@example.com, 512-389-8030
April 25, 2005
7,837 Acres Added to Palo Duro Canyon State Park
AMARILLO, Texas — The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has arranged to purchase 7,837 acres in Armstrong County to be added on the southeast side of Palo Duro Canyon State Park.
The new property includes the site of Maj. Gen. Ranald Mackenzie's battle with native tribes in 1874 in Palo Duro Canyon.
Sometimes called the Grand Canyon of Texas, Palo Duro Canyon State Park currently contains about 18,400 acres. The new acquisition will increase park acreage by almost 43 percent to more than 26,200 acres, making it the second largest currently operating Texas state park after Big Bend Ranch State Park.
"Palo Duro is a priority park for expansion in our agency's Land and Water Resources Conservation and Recreation Plan," said Robert L. Cook, TPWD executive director. "Thanks to the stewardship of the family that cared for this land so well and so long, and to the support of the Amarillo Area Foundation, we can protect some outstanding natural and cultural resources and expand wilderness recreation opportunities."
The purchase was made possible with a $300,000 grant from the Amarillo Area Foundation, which also provided funds to add the 2,036-acre Cañoncita Ranch to the state park in 2002. Amarillo-area businessman, philanthropist and conservationist Pete Gilvin bequeathed the Cañoncita Ranch to the foundation in his will. His generosity also made possible a unique $1.19 million endowment set up in connection with the Cañoncita acquisition to fund ongoing educational programs and maintenance at the state park.
"This new property is contiguous to the former Canoñcita Ranch on the northwest side, and that's one reason we thought it was something Pete Gilvin would want us to support, since we're making this grant out of the Gilvin fund," said Jim Allison, Amarillo Area Foundation president. "To get this kind of property into the park, adjacent to Canoňcita, is a rare opportunity, and it adds to the quality of life in this region. It's a very scenic area, and someday people are going to be very glad this deal was made."
The family of Ed Harrell has owned the property for close to a century.
"This is truly a wilderness area," said Wales Madden, former Amarillo Area Foundation president. Madden was asked to help facilitate the acquisition by bringing all of the parties together.
"To the credit of the Harrell family, they really took care of nature on their ranch in the way they protected their trees and grasses," Madden said. "The rangeland in the canyon bottom is in fine shape thanks to them. As a family, they were anxious for the public to be able to share that property's natural beauty and fascinating history from now on, with no commercial development in view."
The new property is not yet open to the public, and access will remain restricted until appropriate plans are developed within the next year or two. Because of the property's environmentally sensitive and historically important features, natural and cultural resource inventories must be completed before work can start on a public use plan. The ultimate goal is to provide appropriate public recreation and education opportunities in the new part of the state park.
Ranald Mackenzie was a decorated Union military leader in more than a dozen major Civil War battles. After the war, he was assigned to control Native American tribes in the southwest, and for a time led black regiments known as Buffalo Soldiers at various posts, including Fort McKavett, now a state historic site. In 1874, he began the final campaign against Texas High Plains tribes, including the Palo Duro Canyon battle. By June 1875, the High Plains campaign was over, and Mackenzie assumed command at Fort Sill, Oklahoma over the Comanche-Kiowa and Cheyenne-Arapaho reservations.
For more information, anyone may phone Palo Duro Canyon State Park at (806) 488-2227 or see the park Web site.
On the Net:
- http://tpwd.texas.gov/park/paloduro/
- http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/handbook/online/articles/view/MM/fma7.html
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NORTH DARTMOUTH, MA-The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth's men's lacrosse team outscored host Massachusetts Maritime at the outset of the second half, 9-0, and went on to defeat the Buccaneers, 14-3, in a non-conference match at Clean Harbors Stadium Wednesday evening.
Freshman attacker Connor Gaffney (Andover, MA/Andover HS), senior midfielder Nick Brett (Loudon, NH/Merrimack Valley HS/AIC) and junior midfielder Brendan Dalton (Braintree, MA/Braintree HS) each scored twice as the Corsairs scored the first nine goals of the second half, increasing a 5-1 halftime advantage to 14-1 with 9:10 remaining.
Brett led UMass Dartmouth with four goals, Gaffney had three, and Dalton and senior midfielder Christian Roberto (Wakefield, MA/Malden Catholic HS) each scored twice. Dalton and Gaffney each added two assists. John Hojnoski scored twice for the Bucs, and Dan Langley added the other goal.
"We played very good lacrosse for 40 minutes today," said UMass Dartmouth Head Coach Kevin Mahoney. "We played solid defense, we just need to calm down and relax on offense. We are playing really good team defense, we're taking away a lot of teams' transition games and making them take long shots, and we have a strong keeper, and that will keep us in every game. We did a lot of good things; we just have some things to work on."
The Corsairs outshot the Bucs, 39-20. UMD sophomore goalie Nick Thayer (Chelmsford, MA/Chelmsford HS) played the first 52:35, made 11 saves and allowed one goal before junior Pete Foley (Northbridge, MA/ Blackstone Valley HS) finished up. Paul Painten and Eric Kuehn combined to make 17 stops for MMA.
UMass Dartmouth improved to 8-1 with the victory, while Mass Maritime dropped to 5-6 with the defeat. The Corsairs will return to action when they visit UMass Boston Saturday.


text:
Souha Dimasi
From the hardest beginnings … to the most successful endings … despite all the pitfalls...
I always used to and still believe that success is not a matter of luck, that failure is not Darwin's theory that accompanies you all your life, and that behind every bump there is an advancement … Behind each give up there is a glimmer of hope … The difference between failure and success is exactly the same as the difference between the colors of black and white.
As any girl my age I always dreamt of having a slim body especially that God has blessed me with a length of 184 cm, but with the passing time I started gaining weight (136 Kilos); I couldn't climb up the stairs, do simplest house chores, and carry my twin babies.
What a harsh feeling !!!
Add to that the nicknames and comments I received from people around me which I pretended to accept. Every time they did this, I was deeply affected. Such words included 'monstrous' and 'fearful', but I always hoped that I would fulfill my dream one day.
A mother considers herself as slapped by her own child when he/she asks her, "Mum, why are you so fat?"
Here comes the solution to this suffering; this suffering that reaches madness and suicide in some cases.
2013 was a turning point in my life. After all the bad diets I followed because I was self-inclined to evil and because I couldn't have self-control for food, 18/6/2013 was the day that I always dreamed of for 29 years of my life.
Thanks God and thanks to the BSC (Bariatric Surgery Clinic) team, I did the surgery and my new life started.
With every kilo I lost, I gained more consistency over the food temptations.
I thank all the staff at BSC (Body Slimming Center) that has helped me for over five months.
I am now 61 Kilos (I have lost 75 kilos), I always wonder where I was and where I am now;
I thank God for what I have reached and hope to lose more kilos.
I advise all obese people to consult the BSC and take the decision to undergo the suitable surgery.
I tell all to be hopeful and cheerful because it's God's will that some people reach their good endings. Failure sometimes leads to hopelessness and makes you unable to express themselves freely … Hope is the possible way to change, even a bit.
Souha Dimasi


text: European policies have changed our daily lives in major but sometimes subtle ways. The EU Time Machine developed by ESN for the European Parliament lets you travel back in time to find out how. This 3D multimedia app was developed and delivered on time in all EU languages and the 'responsive' design means it adapts to all display sizes.


text: Actress Catherine Zeta-Jones looked great as she walked the red carpet at the premiere of "Red 2″ in L.A. on Thursday night. It was the star's first red carpet appearance since she entered a treatment facility for bipolar disorder. She joined castmates Mary-Louise Parker, Helen Mirren, Bruce Willis and John Malkovich for the premiere.


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An argument based on Lawrence v. Texas was rejected in the Nebraska case of State v. Van, 268 Neb.814 (2004). Van was convicted of first-degree assault on the basis of an extended imprisonment and extremely intense BDSM/torture of a gay male submissive. The submissive initially consented to practices that were quite intense, but the evidence was in conflict as to whether he later withdrew that consent. On appeal, defendant Van argued that this was a case of "two adults who, with complete and mutual consent, engaged in sexual practices common to their homosexual, BDSM lifestyle" and as such was protected under Lawrence v. Texas.
Rejecting that argument, the court made three points. First, it noted that the Lawrence opinion contained a phrase that its doctrine only applies "absent injury to a person". Second, the court emphasized that the evidence on the issue of consent was not clear-cut. Finally, and most fundamentally, the court held—citing the other decisions discussed in this paper—that consent is not a defense to a charge of assault:
Our statutes defining first and second degree assault include no reference to consent…This court has held that "all attempts to do physical violence which amount to a statutory assault are unlawful and a breach of the peace, and a person cannot consent to an unlawful assault".


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December 21, 2012
Crunch time! I hope you're not feeling it but, truth be told, I am. I'm working on something new (can't wait to tell you about it in the new year), getting over being sick, trying to prep for Christmas, getting ready for a vacation, taking care of the boys while my sitter is out of town. You get the picture.
I'm working hard to carry myself with grace and gratitude. I'm not always successful—in fact, I've had a few recent epic failures—but I know that I'm exactly where I want to be. Lucky enough to have two healthy, happy boys by my side. Grateful to be able to give my loved ones gifts and make them a big holiday dinner. Blessed that we can travel. Happy that my health is on the mend. And excited (so excited!) about new opportunities ahead.
I'm overwhelmed, for sure, but thankful. So very thankful. And, honestly, that's all I have for you today. Well, that and this Chocolate Crumb Pear Pie.
I whipped this up while looking for an alternative to apple pie. Pear was an easy go-to, but I wanted something that felt more fun than just pear pie, so I thought to add chocolate. (Because what's more fun than chocolate?!) Chocolate and pear are generally a sophisticated combination. Case in point: this Chocolate Pear and Pistachio Tart. Then I was struck with the idea of chocolate crumbs. Yes!
Making chocolate crumb is just as easy as making regular cinnamony crumb, but way more playful. As a result, this pie teeters on a fine line between traditional and unconventional which, if you ask me, is just the place where a great pie should be.
Add this to your holiday baking list. You'll be grateful you did.
S, xo
Pear Pie with Chocolate Crumble
(can be shared with kids 12+ mos)*
Makes one 9″ pie
For the pear pie:
Simple, perfect pie dough, enough for one 9″, single-crust pie (1/2 the recipe)
5 large pears, peeled, cored & cut into 1/2″ pieces
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon salt
For the chocolate crumble:
1 stick of butter, softened
1 cup of flour
1/2 cup light brown sugar
1/4 cup sweetened cocoa powder
1. Preheat oven to 375. Remove pie dough from the fridge (if using dough that has thawed on the counter, be sure to refrigerate it so that it's cold and firm before using) and place on a lightly floured surface. Lightly flour your rolling pin and roll the dough into a 13? round with even thickness throughout, turning, flipping and lightly flouring the dough as necessary as you go. Carefully fold dough into quarters to transfer it to a 9? pie plate. Unfold and gently ease the dough into the pie plate and up the sides. Trim excess with kitchen shears or a paring knife. Set aside in fridge.
2. In a large bowl, toss pear with sugar, cinnamon and salt; set aside.
3. Make the crumb: Add butter, flower, sugar and cocoa powder to a large bowl. Using your hands, work the ingredients to combine well and crumbs form. Pinch some of the crumbs together to form bigger crumbs.
4. Remove crust from fridge and add pears. Top with crumb topping. Add pie to oven and bake for 50-60 minutes, until the crust is golden and the crumb has turned a rich, chocolate brown. If at any point the crust is starting to brown too much, take the pie out of the oven and carefully cover with aluminum foil before return the pie to the oven to finish baking.
*Note: While there is nothing in this that is unsafe for younger eaters, I recommend this for eaters 12+ months due to the high sugar content. No matter how old your eaters (especially if you share some of this with your wee ones as a holiday treat), be sure to serve an age appropriate portion. A little of this sweet treat goes a long way!


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Young women are more likely to find themselves falling into personal insolvency than men of the same age, official statistics show.
Women aged between 18 and 24 were almost twice as likely than men in the same age group in 2013 to have seen their situation deteriorate to such an extent that they were tipped over the edge financially, according to Insolvency Service figures.
The rate of women in this age group becoming insolvent last year in England and Wales was 7.8 for every 10,000 people in this age band, compared with a rate of 4.0 for men.
In the 25-34 age group, the personal insolvency rate for women was 32.8 per 10,000 adults last year, while for men the ratio was 25.6.
Once both sexes reach the age of 35, the pattern is reversed, and men are more likely to become insolvent than women.
The Insolvency Service said the gap between the numbers of men and women going insolvent has "narrowed substantially" in recent years.
Personal insolvencies, which are made up of bankruptcies, debt relief orders (DROs) and individual voluntary arrangements (IVAs), where money is shared out between creditors, have been on a general downward path since 2009, although rates have decreased faster for men than for women during this time.
Men are still generally more likely than women to be tipped into insolvency, but only just. In 2009, the insolvency rate for women was 26.0 per 10,000 adults, whereas for men the rate was 35.5.
But now, the overall insolvency rate for women is 22.2 per 10,000 adults, while the male insolvency rate is only marginally higher, at 22.6.
In two regions - the South West and the North East - female personal insolvency rates are now higher than those for men.
The Insolvency Service said the narrowing gender gap can partly be explained by the introduction of DROs in 2009. Often dubbed "bankruptcy light", DROs are aimed at people in smaller amounts of debt but with no realistic prospect of paying it off.
The Service said a higher proportion of debtors with DROs are female compared with IVAs and bankrupcies. Someone taking out a DRO must have less than £15,000 worth of debt.
Louise Brittain, a council member for insolvency professionals' trade body R3 and a partner at Wilkins Kennedy chartered accountants, said the larger numbers of young women going insolvent compared with men is in part likely to be a hangover from the pre-credit crunch era when people were making their incomes stretch further by taking out credit.
She said: "I think it's the differences in spending patterns nowadays for that age group. Lifestyles have changed a great deal in the last 20 years."
Ms Brittain also suggested that celebrity culture may have had some influence on spending habits, with people trying to emulate the lifestyles of the rich and famous.
She suggested that there should be more education around sticking to a budget, as in previous decades women had been able to turn to "old-fashioned housewives' budgeting" to stay within their means.
High-profile women who have endured recent financial struggles include former EastEnders star Martine McCutcheon, who was was declared bankrupt last year.
Also last year, it emerged that Sherlock actress Amanda Abbington, the long-term partner of Hollywood star Martin Freeman, had been declared bankrupt over a £120,000 tax bill.
Ms Abbington told the Radio Times in 2013: "It was a big mistake and I'm sorting it out."
Last year also saw singer and reality star Kerry Katona dropped as the face of payday lender Cash Lady after filing for bankruptcy for a second time in five years.
Figures looking at the differences in insolvency rates for men and women were contained in the Insolvency Service's annual report mapping out personal insolvency rates across England and Wales. The report showed that many areas with the highest rates are seaside resorts.
Continuing a trend seen since 2008, the North East region has the highest insolvency rate, with 30.6 cases seen last year per 10,000 adults.
At a local authority level, Torbay has the highest rate of personal insolvencies, with 47.2 cases last year per 10,000 adults. The Isles of Scilly have the lowest, with just one new personal insolvency recorded there in total last year.
Blackpool was named as the local authority with the highest number of bankruptcies, with 11.2 for every 10,000 people.
Stuart Frith, chairman of R3's personal insolvency committee, said: "The North East has the highest unemployment rate in England and Wales, with the region's economy still adapting to the decline of the traditional heavy industries.
"The South West and seaside towns, on the other hand, are still reliant on the tourism sector, an unreliable generator of jobs and growth.
"This sector is often dependent on good weather and plenty of spare cash in people's pockets, while jobs are usually low-paid and seasonal."
Here are the 10 local authorities with the highest personal insolvency rates across England and Wales in 2013, with the rate per 10,000 adults:
1. Torbay, 47.2
2. Denbighshire, 43.0
3. Blackpool, 40.8
4. Scarborough, 40.6
5. Mansfield, 40.4
6. Halton, 40.2
7. South Kesteven, 39.8
8. Hull, 39.6
9. Stoke-on-Trent, 39.5
10. Cannock Chase, 39.3
Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.


text:
Checking in
Posted by brightcoast on April 13, 2013
Hello readers, assuming anyone checks this dusty old thing anymore.
I thought I'd check in for a bit to give you a brief and ambiguous update.
I think of this blog often, and wish I had the time to keep the content current, but alas I currently do not.
I never did get a worthwhile job practicing law after graduation, eventhough I graduated cum laude and passed the Bar on my first try.
I eventually gave up looking and decided to wait for a better opportunity. The rejection from Starbucks still stings!
Alas, eventually I was able to find work as a professional blawger, it was incredibly part time and underpaid, yet I did that for over a year. Then I found an even better blawging job, so I'm still doing that. I almost never get to blawg about current topics that interest me, which particularly include SCOTUS decisions, so I get my fix by engaging with former law school classmates about current legal events, and am putting off the longer copy for that some day.
I've started a personal blog, but out of respect for this space I rarely if ever cover legal events or laws.
I do eventually plan to resuscitate this beast when I get the chance, but I can't say when that will be. I can tell you that the WordPress app may make this substantially sooner rather than later, but I will keep you posted.
In the meantime, hope life and the law is treating you well!


text:
Thirty years after their torture inside the Khmer Rouge's notorious S-21 prison, two elderly Cambodians finally got their day in court as a cash-strapped tribunal attempts to bring justice to victims of one of the 20th century's most serious atrocities.
"I was beaten for 12 days and 12 nights," Chum Mey, one of the former prisoners, told the United Nations-backed Khmer Rouge tribunal on Tuesday, detailing how guards pulled out two of his toenails and electrocuted him in 1978.
"I have a lot of scars on my back as evidence of that torture," Bou Meng, the other former prisoner, said during his testimony the next day, dabbing his eyes with a tissue. "They put me face down and then started to beat me. They kept asking me when I entered the CIA or KGB and who introduced me to the agents."
Mr. Chum and Mr. Bou were two of seven prisoners left alive when the regime fell in 1979, out of more than 14,000 inmates. Chum said he survived because he could repair sewing machines, while Bou eluded execution by painting portraits of Pol Pot, the Khmer Rouge leader who died in 1998.
The men are two of 94 registered civil parties in the trial of S-21's former chief, Kaing Guek Eav, whose alias is Duch. He is the first of five detained former leaders to stand trial. Hearings began Feb. 17 and are expected to last through August, after which judges will determine Duch's guilt and what, if any, reparations to award victims.
'The court needs to calculate [my loss]' in monetary terms
Chum already has a request.
"I want money," he says in a recent interview at S-21 prison, now a museum, in the same room where guards tortured him to confess his involvement in the CIA. "I lost five family members – my wife and four children – and some property under the Khmer Rouge. The court needs to calculate what this equals with money."
"I want compensation from the court," adds Bou, whose wife died in S-21, in a separate interview. Unemployed and living with his children in Kandal Province, he said he struggles to afford travel costs to attend the trial in Phnom Penh. "I want to make a funeral for my wife."
The tribunal's bylaws state "collective and moral" reparations might pay for services for the benefit of victims, although the court has yet to define exactly what this means. As the case against Duch progresses, lawyers and judges are wrangling over how to reconcile the chasm between what victims want versus what the court can give.
A 'novel approach' to international justice
The hybrid court, so called because it combines elements of Cambodian and international law and features both domestic and foreign lawyers and judges, has already taken unprecedented steps to give victims a role in the proceedings. Unlike any other international criminal or hybrid court, the Khmer Rouge tribunal allows victims to register as civil parties with the right to a lawyer and the ability to ask the defendant questions and request investigation into certain crimes.
"It's a novel approach in the field of international justice," Clint Williamson, the US ambassador-at-large for war crimes issues, said at a recent press conference in Phnom Penh. "We think victim participation in the process is a positive thing, but it should not be taking place because people are seeking some type of monetary remuneration at the end of the process."
The idea of reparations raises myriad issues. (To read about what's happened in Sierra Leone and Guatemala, click here.) During Khmer Rouge rule between 1975 and 1979, about 2 million Cambodians, or a quarter of the population, died from starvation, disease, torture, and execution. Almost everyone lost family, and a study by the Documentation Center of Cambodia concluded that approximately 1 in 3 survivors today suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder.
Strong legal and public support for reparations
A victim's claim to reparations is recognized in the United Nations' Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which states that "everyone has the right to an effective remedy by the competent national tribunals for acts violating the fundamental rights granted him by the constitution or laws."
This appears to be widely accepted in Cambodia. According to a survey of 1,000 Cambodians published in January by the Human Rights Center of the University of California, Berkeley, some 26 percent of respondents said they want victims to receive support for agriculture and farming, 23 percent want health care or counseling for victims, and 22 percent want victims to get money. Supreme Court Chamber President Kong Srim said at a November conference that reparations are likely to take the form of schools, memorials, or the order of a public apology, though they could possibly be ordered in monetary form.
It is unknown from where the money would come. The current five former Khmer Rouge leaders in detention have all claimed insolvency – though this has never been seriously challenged. The tribunal's refusal to look for alternative ways of awarding money to victims disappoints and angers many of the 94 civil parties, says Kong Pisey, a Cambodian attorney representing Chum and Bou.
"Some of the victims are even jealous of the defendants – they have a nice place to live, a car that brings them to the court," says Mr. Kong.
Chum is one of them.
"[Duch and the other defendants] don't have to sleep with small containers filled with their own urine and [excrement]," he scoffs, describing his life while inside Duch's prison. "If S-21 was hell, they live in heaven."
Possible trust fund for reparations money
A vocal proponent for reparations, German lawyer Silke Studzinsky leads one of four teams of lawyers representing civil parties in the case against Duch. Ms. Studzinsky has requested the court review its internal guidelines and determine whether Cambodian law – which allows for individual monetary awards – takes precedence in the hybrid court.
Studzinsky's team has also requested the creation of a trust fund into which third parties might donate money for reparations, although the court has twice declined to forward Studzinsky's requests to the biannual plenary session of the court for consideration.
Studzinsky says she plans to raise the requests again. Awarding individual financial reparations, she says, "is part of the justice process. It is not complete if you miss this very important part."
While Studzinsky's group of civil parties is discussing ways to bring attention to the issue, including possibly staging a march in Phnom Penh, other civil party lawyers disagree about the feasibility of individual reparations.
"It could create all kinds of tensions," says Alain Werner, a Swiss attorney representing a group of 38 victims. Instead of amending the court's internal rules, Mr. Werner favors working within the confines of what the court has already approved. "We might be able to say collective reparation could be hospitals, medical care – it could be things which mean something financially to individuals," he says.
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