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Badaling Great Wall
The Badaling Great Wall, selected as one of Top 10 Things to Do in China,is located near the city of Yanqing, in Yanqing County, about 70 kilometres (43 miles) northwest of Beijing. It is the section of theGreat Wallsituated just west of theJuyong Pass section, the latter being the putative westernmost section of the Great Wall that was fortified under the supervision of General Qi Jiguang during the reign (CE 1572-1620) of the Wanli emperor, Emperor Shenzhong. However, in ancient times, Juyong Pass and Badaling were considered two parts of one whole, i.e., the Juyong Pass of ancient times consisted in reality of two passes: one in the south, called Nan Kou (but often referred to simply as Guan, or "Pass"); and one in the north, Badaling.
The Badaling Great Wall
The conundrum, therefore, of why the Badaling Great Wall was seemingly not included in the great Ming (CE 1368-1644) Dynasty fortification project that was undertaken by General Qi is that it was indeed part of that immense project, as part of the fortification of Juyong Pass. Moreover, other sources fix the Ming Dynasty fortification of Badaling Great Wall to the year 1571. This is roughly the year in which the Great Wall fortification was completed by General Qi. In 1572, according to the historical record - the general was assigned other duties.
Badaling Great Wall was the first section of the Great Wall to be opened to the Chinese public as a tourist site, when it was inaugurated as such in 1957, though it received few visitors - even Chinese visitors - until the 1980s. Not surprisingly, this section of the Great Wall, lying at such a strategic position immediately north of the capital city, has been well maintained throughout the ages.
Therefore it required little material, but perhaps more cosmetic renovation before it was made accessible to the public. Given Badaling Great Wall's proximity to Beijing, it is also no surprise that this section of the Great Wall is not only the most frequented of the "8 Beijing sections" of the Great Wall, but also the most frequented of all of the sections of the Great Wall.
It was here that President Nixon, in 1972, as the guest of China's Vice Premier, Li Xiannian, visited the Geat Wall as part of Nixon's historic trip to China, on the heels of the thaw in relations between China and the West. It was orchestrated by President Nixon's National Security Advisor, Henry Kissinger. One wonders why Chairman Mao himself, or at least the Premier, Zhou Enlai, did not personally present the Great Wall of China to President Nixon, but perhaps that would have been too rapid a thaw.
President Ronald Reagan visited the Great Wall at Badaling Section (Photo source from the web.)
Mao Zedong, Chairman of the Communist party and therefore leader of the People's Republic of China from 1949 until his death in 1976, once made the following comment regarding the Great Wall: "He who has not climbed the Great Wall is not a true man", a challenge that is difficult to interpret without knowing at least the chronological context in which it was made. It might have been a straightforward attempt to encourage the Chinese people to visit the Badaling Great Wall, in the hope that this would provide income for restoring yet other sections of the Great Wall.
This was unlikely given its capitalist flavour, although this is precisely what Deng Xiaoping initiated in 1984 under the slogan "Love China and Rebuild the Great Wall." However, two years later, the handsome sum of $2.7 million USD had been raised, both within and without China, for the purpose of reconstructing the Great Wall. Or, it might have been part of an effort to strengthen a sense of nationalist pride (more likely, especially if it occurred during the Cultural Revolution), but we'll just have to leave this to historians to sort out.
"He who has not climbed the Great Wall is not a true man"
Numerous other international dignitaries visited the Badaling Great Wall in the years following China's opening under the wise leadership of Deng Xiaoping, including Britain's leader at the time, Margaret Thatcher. The Great Wall Museum at Badaling has a photo gallery showing the many national and international dignitaries who took up Chairman Mao's challenge.
Note that China's other national hero of a generation earlier, Dr. Sun Yat-sen - who was instrumental in replacing China's last Imperial dynasty, the Qing (CE 1644-1911) Dynasty, with the Republic of China (1912-1949) - once paid an official visit to Badaling Great Wall. It was long before Chairman Mao made his famous challenge. A stele inscribed with Chairman Mao's "manlihood challenge" stands at the entrance to the Badaling Great Wall.
In addition, the nearby Great Wall Panoramic Amphitheater shows a short, highly-recommended 15-minute film that previews the highlights of the Badaling Great Wall that is a must-see for those who wish to know what to look for before they begin their tour of the Badaling Great Wall.
The Strategic Significance of the Badaling Great Wall
The Badaling Great Wall is not just another among many sections of the Great Wall; it is a historically ancient strategic natural pass, lying in a valley (eventually renamed Pass Valley, for obvious reasons. It was used by marauding tribes from the north to invade China, such as the Jürchens (who later changed their name to the Manchus before seizing power and forming the Qing Dynasty) and the Mongols, and many others before them, such as the Xiongnu and possibly the Huns.
Badaling was first constructed as a primitive wall during the Warring States (BCE 475-221) Period of the Eastern Zhou (BCE 770-221) Dynasty. It was cobbled together from whatever bits of material that was available locally, from stones to tree trunks to stamped earth to sun-dried mud bricks held together with dried grass in order to defend against marauding horsemen from the north.
Naturally, a wall so primitive required frequent repairs in order to provide an adequate defense of the motherland. When the Ming Dynasty emperors, beginning with the reign (CE 1402-1424) of the Yongle Emperor, Emperor Taizong), moved their capital from Nanjing in present-day Jiangsu Province to Beijing one of the first priorities was to remake the Great Wall. This was an immense project that was eventually put under the supervision of General Qi Jiguang, as indicated above.
The first Ming emperor to undertake the refortification of the Badaling Great Wall was the Hongzhi Emperor, Emperor Xiaozong, who reigned from 1487 to 1505. The next Ming emperor to devote his attention to the refortification of Badaling Great Wall was the Jiajing Emperor, Emperor Shizong, who reigned from 1521 to 1566. But it was during the reign of the Wanli Emperor, as indicated above, that a complete restoration of the Great Wall was undertaken. It extended from the coastal site of Shanhai Pass near the Gulf of Bohai to Juyong Pass north of Beijing, near the border of an earlier Mongolian Empire which today corresponds to the border area between Hebei Province and Inner Mongolia.
The latest "fortification" (restoration) of the Badaling Great Wall was completed in 1957, just prior to its opening, and represents a modest restoration, as indicated above, of the Ming Dynasty refortification. This was surely one of the factors behind the UNESCO World Heritage committee's 1988 decision to recognize the Badaling Great Wall as a World Cultural Heritage Site. It is a well-preserved Ming Dynasty monument that represents a direct link to China's Imperial past.
Badaling's strategic significance has been recognized down through the ages. On one of his campaigns to the northeastern part of the empire, Emperor Shi Huang Di, aka Emperor Qin of the Qin (BCE 221-207) Dynasty, China's first Imperial dynasty, enroute from his capital, Xi'an (formerly known as Chang'an), passed through Badaling. In ancient times, Badaling served as the gateway to nearby Juyong Pass.
A 40-kilometre-long sloping valley, itself a natural pass, connects Badaling Great Wall and Juyong Pass, near Nan Kou. Therefore the valley came to be known as Pass Valley. Moreover, Badaling commands the highest point in the sharply sloping Pass Valley, which ancient Chinese literature refers to as the most strategic point in the surrounding terrain.
A couple of ancient sayings illustrates pointedly the relationship between Badaling and Juyong Pass: "To look down at Juyong Pass from Badaling Great Wall is like watching water being poured into a deep well", and "The strategic vantage point of Juyong Pass does not lie in the village of Guan (i.e., the village where Juyong Pass is situated), but in Badaling".
The first Mongol hordes that attempted to invade China tried to seize Badaling, but were repulsed, thanks to Badaling's famously superior strategic position. Whenever the troops of the Ming generals proceeded beyond the Great Wall in order to preemptively attack the Mongol warlords who continued to plague the empire, it was through Badaling that they marched. The Han Chinese rebel leader, Li Zhicheng, who managed to sack Beijing in 1644, causing the last Ming Dynasty emperor to commit suicide before Li's army, in turn, was defeated the same year by the Jürchens cum Manchus who then established the Qing Dynasty.
Li reached Beijing via Badaling curiously, the Manchus only managed to "breach" the Great Wall because another Han Chinese leader, Wu Shan Gui, the Ming Dynasty commander in the north, secretly surrendered to the Manchus in 1644. He further demonstrated his traitorous resolve and treachoury by instructing the opening of the Shanhai Pass, the easternmost section of the Great Wall situated near the Gulf of Bohai and located immediately south of Manchuria thereby allowing the Manchus to slip into China without firing a shot.
According to the book, "The Night Talk in Chang'an," (present-day Xi'an), published during the Ming Dynasty, Badaling is the nexus where numerous roads meet. Therefore, from Badaling's vantage point, one can go in any direction. Indeed, the name Badaling itself literally means "a hill from whence one can go in 8 directions" ("8 directions" being an ancient Chinese metaphor for "all directions and places"). As an old Chinese proverb regarding the strategic significance of Badaling goes, "if but one man guards the pass, ten thousand of the enemy cannot get through it." Indeed China's turbulent history seems to have borne out the truth of this ancient proverb.
In more recent times, the Dowager Empress Cixi, fled the Eight Powers Allied Forces in 1900 for her role in the widespread violence against Westerners throughout China.It included missionaries, school teachers and others who were what one today would designate as strictly non-combattants, or innocent civilians. The Dowager Empress fled through Badaling. To the east of Badaling stands a 7-metre-long, 2-metre-high rock said to be the spot where the Dowager Empress turned and looked wistfully back towards Beijing and the life of luxury that she was being forced to leave behind. The rock in question has been aptly dubbed "Looking-to-Beijing Rock".
General Description of the Badaling Great Wall
The Great Wall of Badaling Section
The supporting base structure of the double-sided wall at Badaling consists of immensely large stone slabs - "glued" in place with the help of a special mortar whose chief active ingredient is ash - and with the usual brick rampart built atop the supporting base. The slighly modified-triangle shaped supporting base of the wall measures roughly 6.5 metres (about 20 feet) in width at its base and about 5.8 metres (about 16 ½ feet) in width at its top where the rampart sits. The rampart provides enough room, it is said, for five horsemen to ride abreast and is fortified on the inside by means of stamped earth mixed with gravel, resulting in a very solid construction.
The average total height of the wall at this section, including the outer wall of the rampart (see the description below) is 7.8 metres. The supporting base is constructed with a drainage system that prevents the accumulation of rain - and flood water, thus reducing the likelihood that the wall could be washed away in inclement weather, or during floods, an important consideration, given that the wall stretches across a valley.
The Badaling Great Wall is 3.7 kilometres (2.3 miles) in length, strategically dotted with 19 diases, or towers of various types (see the detailed description below) and extends across Pass Valley, then snakes its way up undulating peaks on either side of the valley to the summit on either side. The mountain on the eastern side is both higher and steeper than the mountain on the western side, but it offers better macro views of the surrounding terrain. At their highest points, some of the peaks stand at an altitude of over 1000 metres above sea level.
It is this stretch of the Badaling Great Wall that reveals the overwhelming majesty of the Great Wall of China as it must have looked in its Ming Dynasty heyday. The wall is exquisitely formed with snaking and undulating geometric lines, dotted with square or rectangular tower blocks with crenelatted ramparts.
A crenellated wall consists of solid sections (merlons) that alternate with deep gaps (crenelles) that reach from the top of the wall to its midsection, roughly, created for the purpose of "firing" a weapon. It is akin to the "rooks" ("castles") of a finely crafted chess set, if not the crenellated ramparts of a European castle whose design may well have been inspired by the crenellated ramparts of the Great Wall.
The rampart that sits atop the supporting base is constructed of large - rectangular bricks. The 2-metre-high outer brick wall of the rampart (i.e., the part which faces north) is crenellated with small holes (square or rectangular gaps in the brick wall) near the base of the brick wall that served a dual purpose; as a means for shooting arrows and as a spyhole that kept the observer's body concealed out of harm's way. On the inner side of the outer brick wall runs a 1-metre-high, raised parapet.
To access the rampart, steps were built at strategic points on the inner face (southern side) of the wall, but with a very steep slope in order to save on construction materials. Soldiers were expected to be in good physical form and their stepping surfaces were paved with massive stone blocks. Some of these blocks measure 2 metres in width and weigh hundreds of kilos each.
For the sake of tourists, - though purists are seldom happy with such modernizations, - a cable car has been built at the main entrance to the Badaling Great Wall. Visitors who could not otherwise take up Chairman Mao's challenge now have the opportunity to follow in the footsteps, literally, of some of the planet's most famous personalities.
Moreover, the surface of the parapet at Badaling is probably the most pedestrian-friendly of all of the sections of the Great Wall. As this is the most famous section of the Great Wall which lies so close to the nation's capital, it was important to make it accessible to as many people as possible, irrespective of physical abilities.
A Detailed Description of the Individual Elements of the Badaling Great Wall
Pass City
The Badaling section of the Great Wall consists of two pass cities. One is the eastern pass city, Juyong Outer Town formerly simply called Guan "Pass", which is an important outpost of the Juyong Pass. The other is the western pass city -Bei Men Shuo Yao, or the "The Lock and Key of the Northern Gate", a name that refers to the generals who defended northern China. The pass city of Bei Men Shuo Yao seen today was built in 1505 and is among the most well-known passes along the Great Wall. There is a story about this pass city which explains its peculiar name.
During the Song (CE 960-1279) Dynasty, the government signed a peace treaty with the Liao (CE 907-1125) Dynasty government. The Liao Dynasty ruled over what was called the Khitan Empire, comprising Manchuria, Mongolia and part of China proper. Its inhabitants collectively called the Liao Tartars. The Song Prime Minister, Kou Zhun, was sent by the emperor to defend Damingfu (located just north of Beijing).
One day a Liao envoy passed Damingfu and, seeing Kou Zhun, inquired in astonishment, "What is the Prime Minister of the Song government doing here?!" Kou Zhun replied matter of factly. "Now that there are no urgent or important problems in our central government, I come here as the lock and key to the northern gate of my country. Except for me, no one can fulfill this crucial mission." Henceforth, the term "Lock and Key to the Northern Gate" would be taken to be a reference to that succession of brave generals who defended northern China.
Turnoff City
Near present-day Badaling Railway Station stands a huge, magnificent castle. It was formerly a turnoff point from the main route, hence the name - the former commanding office of the famous "Lock and Key of the Northern Gate" pass city outpost. In ancient times, there were three senior guards stationed here, supported by 800 regular soldiers.
Ancient Cannon
Displayed near the entrance to Badaling Great Wall are five pieces of ancient iron cannons, made in 1638 and representing the most advanced heavy weaponry of the Ming Dynasty. The largest among the five weapons is a 2.85-metre-long, 105 mm caliber cannon, with a huge cache of 105 mm caliber cannon shot.
On the body of the cannon are inscribed the following Chinese characters: "To the Divine General Commissioned by the Emperor". The cannon was moved here in 1958 from Zhangpu, about 10 kilometres east of Badaling. The other four cannons are much smaller, and are also displayed with hundreds of their cannon shells that were unearthed in the area, in 1957. All of these ancient weapons and their ammunition were made in Ming Dynasty China.
Badaling is generally considered the most archtypical and imposing portion of the Ming Dynasty Great Wall. The outer part of the rampart wall is made of large, rectangular rampart bricks, as is the parapet or walking surface. The outer (facing the enemy) rampart walls are between 1.7 and 2.0 metres in height, and crenellated. The entire rampart sits so snugly atop the supporting wall that not even a blade of grass can grow in the space that separates the two. This amazing feat, combined with the wall's ingenious water discharge system, reflects the enviable talent of ancient Chinese architects and engineers.
City Dais
The city dais, aka wall dias, is a platform structure with battlements on its top. It served a dual purpose: as a watchtower and as a platform from which to defend the wall during enemy attacks. There is a wall dias for every 500 metres of wall, again emphasizing the strategic importance of the Badaling stretch of the Great Wall. The platform on top of Badaling's Pass City gate is a typical city dais.
Watch Dias
Also called a watchtower, the watch dais is usually a rectangular, two storeyed structure built as an integral part of the rampart. The ground-level storey of a watchtower served both as a depot for weapons and as an active defensive structure.
It has numerous small portholes through which arrows can be shot or spears jabbed at would-be scalers of the wall. The upper storey contains battlements, peepholes and yet more portholes for archers, as well as a set of beacon towers (see the separate description of beacon towers farther below) for sending out warnings. Located at regular intervals, watchtowers were a very important defensive component of the Great Wall.
War Dais
War daises were blockhouse-like, multiple-storeyed structures built at regular intervals along the Great Wall. A war dais was also a depot for ammunition and food. According to historical records, hundreds of war daises (as well as hundreds of watch diases) were erected between Shanhai Pass and Badaling, under the supervision of General Qi Jiguang.
In all, there are over 1200 watch daises and war daises erected between Shanhai Pass and Juyong Pass, which we now know included Badaling, though the initial plan was to construct 3000.
When a battle would break out, the soldiers could take advantage of the elevated position of the war dais to shoot arrows, fire cannons, cast large rocks, etc., down upon the attackers. A war dias was typically manned by 60 soldiers with enough food, drink and gunpowder to survive a month-long seige.
Beacon Tower
Each set of beacon towers (a beacon tower is a large, relatively squat, slightly conical, silo-like affair. The shape is similar to the modified-hourglass shaped "smokestacks" of the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania in the U.S., but with the top half removed.
It was an integral part of a war dias (blockhouse), where the beacon towers were always placed at the commanding point of the local terrain, otherwise their flame could not be seen. The set of beacon towers was a crucial element of the Great Wall's defensive works, with a war dias and its set of beacon towers situated every 5 to 10 li (1 li = ½ kilometres).
Each blockhouse housed a set of 5 beacon towers. The greater the size of the attacking force, the greater the number of beacon towers that would be lit. In addition, cannons, which could immediately capture the attention of the crews of the neighboring war diases, were fired together with the lighting of beacon towers.
For example, the firing of a single cannon round accompanied by the lighting of a single beacon tower signalled an attack by 100 enemy soldiers, the firing of two cannon rounds together with the lighting of two beacon towers signalled an attack by 500 enemy soldiers, while an attack by 1000 enemy soldiers would spark the firing of three cannons and the lighting of three beacon towers.
A signal from one set of beacon towers would set off replicative signals by neighboring beacon towers, and, depending on the magnitude of the threat conveyed by the signal, the signal would either be confined locally, or spread far. By day, beacon towers emitted only smoke, while by night, they produced flames.
The beacon tower had to be large enough to produce a lot of smoke or flame, as the case may be, hence its enormous size. This highly effective early warning system had been in use in China ever since the Zhou (BCE 1027 - CE 221) Dynasty, another tribute to age-old Chinese ingenuity.
How to Get There?
Getting there by train: Train Y9 on weekends and festivals. This train leaves at 7:44 am and arrives at Pedaling Railway Station at 8:58 am. From there, walk 15 minutes to the entrance of the Pedaling Great Wall.
Getting there by bus: Bus 919 at De Sheng Men Station, buses from the Beijing Tourist Center, or buses from the Tian'an Men Bus Center.
Ticket Price:
Peak season (late spring to early fall): 45 Yuan per person
Off season: 40 Yuan per person
half-priced tickets for students
Opening Hours:
Summer: 6:30 AM to 7:00 PM, daily.
Winter: 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM, daily.
More Tips:
A) The cable car can take you up to the fourth beacon tower - price: 40 Yuan per person, one way; 60 Yuan per person, roundtrip. Note that you can take the roundtrip cable car trip without entering the Great Wall Park, in which case you may not get off the cable car when it reaches the summit, but must remain in the cable car until it deposits you back at the start point.
B) Since Badaling Great Wall is built on steep slopes that reach an altitude in excess of 1000 meters above sea level on its eastern side, it is subject to much wind, and on cool days, this can be a bit chilly, therefore you are urged to dress "layered", i.e., wear an outer sweater and bring along a windbreaker (jacket). Regarding footwear: in spite of the fact that the walking surface on Badaling Great Wall's parapet is very pedestrian-friendly, it is indeed etched in stone, as it were, and not without cracks, and since the presence of liquids (anything from rain to dew to spilt milk) can render the stones slippery, a good pair of sneakers - or better, jogging shoes with air or sealed-liquid cushions, and with a good, rubber-like gripping sole - is to be preferred (your knees and ankles will thank you for them!).
C) Food, drink and lodging:
1) Badaling Dining Hall - situated north of the highway just outside the park's main gate, the 400-square-meter dining area can seat 200 diners at any given time. In the restaurant you will also find separate counters offering drinks, snacks, souvenirs and art works.
2) Badaling Restaurant for Foreign Guests - situated south of the highway just outside West Gate, Badaling Restaurant for Foreign Guests is a hypermodern restaurant-and-arcade offering Chinese and Western menus, but disguised in a traditional Chinese architectural exterior. The 5000-square-meter restaurant-and-arcade is made up of 4 dining halls: central hall, east hall, west hall and a hall for state guests, with a total seating capacity of 1000, and with a number of specialty shops that offer duty-free items of interest to foreign tourist, such as jewelry (pearls, gems and items in jade and agate, etc.), embroideries, Chinese brush paintings, calligraphies, stationary with exquisite Chinese motifs, and Great Wall souvenirs, to name the most prominent. Don't be alarmed if you feel the restaurant shudder slightly from time to time, it is only the high-speed Zhangjiakou-Beijing train passing through the Badaling Tunnel, located some 20 meters underground.
3) Badaling Hotel - next-door to the Badaling Restaurant for Foreign Guests, Badaling Hotel is a small hotel offering accommodation for the discriminating foreign visitor. The hotel boasts 50 beds and 7 double rooms. The hotel's deluxe rooms have private toilets, elegant interior ornaments, a plush sofa, wall to wall carpeting, cable TV and a telephone. Though modest in size, Badaling Hotel has a multifunctional hall where small-scale conferences can be held.
4) Julong (Gigantic Dagon) Hotel - situated to the south of the highway outside West Gate, Julong Hotel stands just opposite Guntiangou parking lot. Typical Sichuan Cuisine - one of China's most popular cuisines, both domestically and internationally (think Chongqing and Martin Yan, the famous Chinese-American travelling TV cook)- is served here. Its 300-square-meter dining hall seats 200 guests.
5) Badaling Tourism Company. Ltd. - lying to the south of the highway inside Pass City, Badaling Tourism Company operates a chain of Chinese and Western restaurants, including this one, that also house souvenir shops as well as specialty shops that sell drinks and snacks.
D) Other Hotels - tourists can easily find local hotels to meet their particular budgets within the environs of Yanqing County; for those on a modest budget, we recommend Yanqing Hotel and Longqingxia Hotel (both rated at 2 stars) in particular.
E) Disabled Facility
Is there the disabled facility in Badaling Great Wall?
There is the disabled facility in Badaling Great Wall. Visitors have 2 choices to climb the Great Wall: ramp and lift.
Ramp: Climb the Great Wall from east gate of the Great Wall. The route is about 300 meters. Visitors can reach the first smoke tower.
Lift: Getting the first gate of the barbican entrance to the Great Wall, then turn left, visitors will see the lift. It takes 5 minutes in the lift to reach the first smoke tower.
Badaling Great Wall rent wheel chairs. Deposit: 1,000 yuan.
The hotline of visitors' center: 69121090
Recommended Tours:
Our local experts are always ready to create you a hassle-free tour. Get an authentic experience by contacting one of our travel advisors.


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Reviewed by Shahed C. (age 8)
I like this book because it's funny and it has really good parts. George did funny things like copy what the coach was doing. My favorite part was the end of the book because George saved someone's life. I think George was brave at the end.
I think my brother Sajjad will like this book because he will learn things not to do.

subset: commoncrawl


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The One Ring Messageboard
tarathiel wrote:We'll just have to give it a try.
So what's your verdict on the Sharpe books that you've read so far?
tarathiel wrote:
Having seen and fired a black powder weapon, although it was a much later design than the brown bess musket and even the baker rifle, i can only imagine the skill it would have taken to load them quickly enough to fire four rounds a minute, as Sharpe so graphically describes.
Hello Claymore, you have to read the other books in those series. 3 in each, I believe. If you liked the Saxon Chronicles, you would enjoy the Warlord Chronicles as well. ( which, to date, Cornwell says are his favorites )
tarathiel wrote:Hi Claymore.
I havn't read much Cornwell other than Sharpe. But i keep meaning to try the Warlord books.
Have you ever fired the Brown Bess Portia?
I only ever fired a fowling gun but it still took an age to load and created an amazing amount of smoke compared to a modern 12 bore. What surprised me is that the 12 bore actually has a much bigger kick when you fire it.
It's amazing how many common sayings date back to this particular period of history, and in particular the firing of a musket or other muzzle loader:
To go off half cocked.
Flash in the pan.
Squib or Damp squib.
Bite the bullet.
I really liked Triumph. It filled in a huge key gap in the story of Sharpe and his personal history.
I've just been given Sharpes Waterloo on DVD
I think i've seen most of them on TV but i know i havn't seen this one yet.
I'm looking forward to a quiet evening in front of the TV.
We also have 2 muzzle loading pistols. When they were new my husband took them to the range to test fire them. He loaded them very lightly. When he pulled trigger (with a string from 6 feet back)
tarathiel wrote:Claymore, the fact that an old muzzle loader has been fired so many times in its life means that there will inevitably be wear and tear on the barrel so it is important that the gun is properly checked out, or proofed.
Because you are dealing with actual gun powder and sparks means that there is more chance of an 'incident' than with a modern gun.
But that said, all firearms need to be handled with respect. I have a close friend who had a very close shave with a split barrel on a modern shot gun. Luckily he wasn't badly hurt but it could have been very serious.
Claymore wrote: Fire-arms are absolutely forbidden where I live.
tarathiel wrote:I thought from your name that you were a Scot.
Bolg wrote:
Does The Sharpe series air on The BBC channel ? ( I have yet to see it ) That's the only British station that I receive here in the U.S.
What is the transition from books to TV like for the first time ? Similar to LOTR on film, meaning you are so expectant to see a book you love in a live action format that you look past the faults ? Just curious here.
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Asahel Cleveland – Born on April 6, 1793 in Worthington, Hampshire Co., MA. Asahel died on December 5, 1845 in Hancock Co., IL. He is my 3rd great grandfather and Pricilla (Benjamin) Cleveland's husband (see below).
Pricilla (Benjamin) Cleveland – Born on April 7, 1796 in Worthington, Hampshire Co., MI. Pricilla is Asahel Cleveland's wife (see above). She died on December 27, 1830 in Pierpont, Ashtabula Co., OH and in buried in the Old Burying Ground (Hall Rd. Cemetery) in Pierpont. Pricilla is my 3rd great grandmother.
Nancy (Ormsbee) Harris – Born on April 6, 1796 in Barrington, Bristol Co., RI. She died on May 28, 1881 in Greenleaf, Brown Co., WI and is buried in the Cato Heights Cemetery, Cato, Manitowoc Co., WI. Nancy is my 3rd great grandmother.
Richard Kemball – Born on April 10, 1595 in Rattlesden, Suffolk, England. He died on June 22, 1675 in Ipswich, Essex County in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Richard is my wife's 10th great grandfather.
Katherine (Seybold) Harris – Died on April 9, 1938 in Clintonville, Waupaca Co., WI and is buried in Appleton Highland Memorial Park, Appleton, Outagamie Co., WI. She was born on September 1, 1858 in Waukesha, Waukesha Co., WI. Katherine is my great grandmother.
The above information is based on information from several sources and isn't fully verified at this time.


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Fernando Garcia, Head of OTT Strategy and Products at Telefonica.
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text:
MIAMI, Jan. 23 (UPI) -- Eric Rivera Jr. was sentenced to 57.5 years in prison in Miami Thursday after his conviction in the 2007 death of football player Sean Taylor.
Rivera, 23, was found guilty in November of shooting Taylor, who played safety for the NFL Washington Redskins, in a botched robbery at Taylor's home in Palmetto Bay, Fla.
Prosecutors said Rivera shot and killed Taylor when he and four friends, not aware Taylor was at home, broke into the home in a robbery attempt.
Rivera admitted in a videotaped confession to Miami-Dade County detectives he shot Taylor, and was initially charged with first-degree murder, but jurors in the 11-day trial in 2013 would not unanimously agree Rivera pulled the trigger. Instead, Rivera was convicted of second-degree murder without a firearm and armed burglary.
In testimony Rivera insisted detectives coerced him into a confession, and claimed he only tagged along with his friends on the night of the incident, and never entered Taylor's home, the Miami Herald said.


text:
We all know these days that a good marketing strategy always includes a digital component…like email, blogs, Twitter, Facebook or Pinterest.
And we all also know that a good digital marketing strategy must be measured and monitored with analytics.
But there are literally hundreds of choices you have to make. Unfortunately, you probably don't know which ones to choose…so you close your eyes and pick.
That's a horrible strategy.
Instead, jump on some of the following digital trend and the tools that help you monitor those trends so you can make your digital marketing strategies both effective and profitable>>>
1. Customer Feedback Analytics
Digging through the thoughts and questions of potential customers to find a problem that can be solved has become one of the hottest trends behind business development and growth.
The question becomes…where do you find those people? And how do you pull information out of them? The following tools will help you.
If you've run a blog or website for any length of time, then more than likely you have a loyal audience. It's that audience who you want to tap.
With just a simple Javascript installation, the KISSinsights survey tool is easy to implement so you can start to get customer insights right away.
Plus, this tool will give you a simple dashboard that allows you to manage the questions you are asking and the responses from visitors.
And the nice thing about the responses? They are very simple and short…in other words easy to manage!
The basic idea about this tool is to learn what visitors are thinking about when they leave your website.
I like to use this tool to learn why certain pages are low-performing…and how to improve them. The survey asks these simple questions:
- Based on today's visit, how would you rate your site experience overall?
- Which of the following best describes the primary purpose of your visit?
- Were you able to complete the purpose of your visit today?
- (If yes) What do you value most about the [sitename] website?
- (If no) Please tell us why you were not able to fully complete the purpose of your visit today?
Naturally, you'll have to analyze the data to understand your findings, but trust me…you'll appreciate what you learn!
By the way, this is not a conventional "customer feedback" tool in that you ask a customer a question and they respond.
Instead, you can look at the behavior of your website users/customers to pull out feedback with these tools:
- Overlay map – With the overlay report you will be able to see the number of clicks on each element of the page.
- Heat map – With the heat map you see where people clicked on your site. This lets you see what's hot and what's not, so you can make changes that improve conversion.
- Scrolling map – The scrolling map shows how far down the page visitors are scrolling so you can identify when they are stopping and abandoning the page.
- Confetti map –Distinguish all the clicks you get on your site segmented by referral sources, search terms and more with confetti.
It's great at tracking things like clicks on AdSense ads or where visitors abandon the page…and you can even segment clicks on your site by referral source.
2. Combined Search And Social Metrics
There's no denying it…social media and SEO go together…and optimizing their elements will lead to higher rankings and more attention.
But it will never work to your best advantage if you don't measure and track those results. So, another hot trend in digital marketing is that of tracking both SEO and social media together.
Even though most of you are familiar with Google Analytics, any analytic strategy starts with this tool…so I have to at least mention it.
Google Analytics is completely free, very easy to use and provides detailed reports and graphs, which is why over half of the top 10,000 sites/blogs use Google Analytics.
You'll get a broad view of where your visitors are coming from, when they come back and what they're doing on your site. Using it at first can seem overwhelming, but as you warm up to its features you'll be able to leverage even some of the more advanced reports.
But in order to view your social media metrics…like tweets and Likes…with Analytics, you'll need to integrate those elements into Analytics. Tim Ware has a great guide on how to do that. If you are comfortable working with HTML code, then it will be fairly easy.
Within 24 hours you'll get reports that show you what actions were taken on which pages…
And engagement…
And of course Google+ is automatically integrated with Google Analytics.
Your next step is to start monitoring mentions and keywords in real-time, which is where Social Mention comes in. Enter a keyword in their search tool and you'll see what people are saying about that keyword.
When I search "QuickSprout," this is what I see:
Then I can see a snapshot of my influence:
This is definitely the tool to use if you want to keep tabs on your brand by measuring its influence and gauging how people feel about it (whether positive or negative) on the social web.
If you are trying to build an effective social media campaign, then one of your first steps is to identify the thought leaders…and then harness their power to help you build your brand.
The tool to use to accomplish this is SocMetrics, a web-browser platform that helps you find and understand who the social influencers are you should be engaging and interacting with so you can grow your social media campaigns.
This tool allows you to validate these thought leaders' influence…
And then build a list of these influencers:
Inside SocMetrics is the Competitive Influence tool, which lets you compare brands and contrast their influence.
You can also find out who is influential on a finite level by narrowing your search to a long-tail keyword and seeing who pops up.
To refine your search of thought leaders to follow and interact with you can use TweetLevel, a tool by Edleman that basically does searches on hash tags.
The way this can help you is to search under a topic you want to dominate, analyze this data, make a list of Twitter users to follow and then start working those relationships.
You can also analyze the buzz around a particular keyword in order to decide if you should pay attention to the trend. For example, you can see the level of buzz…
And then you can see related phrases around those keywords to help you gauge the true scope of the trending topic:
One reason that this tool is hot among social media professionals and PR managers is that it helps them monitor the conversation of their brand on Twitter to see in which direction it is going…and ultimately decide on how to correct it if it is going in the wrong direction.
A new-comer on the social analytics field, ArgyleSocial is designed to help marketers connect the dots between business and social media objectives. And it helps that it is ridiculously easy.
You get team-based collaboration and publishing…
You can monitor Facebook and Twitter from a single dashboard and even delegate tasks to your team members…
And the reports are super-simple, too:
This tool is great for any social media manager…no matter the size of the company…who wants to provide clients the data that proves their social media efforts are paying off.
It's also great for a one-man or woman shop who likes to constantly experiment and tweak their campaigns.
Sure, this is another Twitter analytic tool, but it performs a pretty special function…it can show you howfar your tweets travel.
The reason I love this tool so much is because it has helped me learn how to get more retweets by seeing how many people my Twitter network touches.
Finally, we can't really talk about social media analytics without talking about Facebook…and if we are going to talk about Facebook, then you need to talk about Page Lever.
Yes, you can use Facebook Insights, but this does everything Insights does…and goes beyond it.
For instance, watch to see where fans are coming in on your site:
Use the "Day Overview" function to see data from a particular day:
What I really like about Page Lever is the story…two guys consulting with brands like YouTube and MTV who saw the data shortcomings in Insights…and so decided to create Page Lever.
It worked so well those two brands followed the guys over to Page Lever.
3. URL Shortener Analytics
With so much emphasis placed upon sharing content over the social web, it became pretty importantpretty fast that the links you shared should be truncated.
Enter the URL shortener.
To date, there are over 90 URL shorteners…but only a handful are really worth using. Here are the three I would recommend.
The oldest and by far the most popular, bit.ly tracks your links and then delivers a robust set of stats in a clean dashboard. For a bonus, bit.ly also allows you to create vanity URLs to help you promote your brand.
And you have to love how clean and nice there metric dashboard looks:
The official URL shortener from Google, goo.gl, is fairly new but is pretty popular on Twitter. You get some pretty basic analytic tools like dates when your URL was created and how many clicks each got.
Their metric offering is pretty simple, but you get the most important information:
And by the way, the goo.gl Chrome extension is pretty sweet, too.
Fur.ly looks and feels really cute…but it's pretty slick when it comes to what it offers. You can actually drop multiple links into it and then generate one shortened link.
When any one clicks on the truncated link, they'll be brought to a web page that shows a sequence of the links.
Your first step is to drop in all of your links (create a vanity URL if you like):
Copy the created URL…
You'll then land on a page that allows you two different options (page button or drop-down box) to scroll through all the different links:
In addition, click the bar graph icon and you'll see the number of clicks your fur.ly URL received.
4. Experimentation Analytics
Another area in digital advertising that is growing is with experimentation and testing tools. Whether it's your landing page, home page, sign up forms or even CTA buttons, these tools allow you to make changes and analyze the impact to help you maximize your advertising efforts.
This free service is pretty complex when it comes to installation…but its insights are worth your investment in time. Fortunately the interface is simple to learn, so you won't have trouble once you are set up.
With Google Optimizer, you can do both A/B and multivariate testing, changing the elements on the page and rotating different segments of content…showing you which elements and positions are producing the best results.
It's easy to choose which parts of the page you want to test…whether it's the headline, the text or a graphic. Run a few multivariate tests and you'll quickly learn which set up users respond best to.
This is another newcomer on the scene (2010), launched after helping the Obama campaign raise $60 million dollars.
Using all of the things they learned during that campaign, the people behind Optimizely decided to start a business.
The interface is really easy to use and you can create experiments…even complex ones…and the cool thing is you don't need to know how to code or program.
The tools are just that simple. Plans run between $19 a month to $399 a month.
This is a really great time to be a digital advertiser since there are so many tools available to spread your message, measure and monitor it and ultimately maximize your return on it.
And what's really cool is that a lot of these tools are free.
But that doesn't mean you should ignore those with payment plans. As you probably know, free only provides so many features. And so if you want to expand or drill down certain data…data that could give you the insights that could make an insanely profitable return…it is sometimes worth your financial investment.
What other digital advertising trends are important to know about?
About the Author: Neil Patel is the VP of Marketing of KISSmetrics and blogs at Quick Sprout.


text:
Whittle & Skok Financial Servicespin_dropFull Address directionsopen_in_new Directions
phone (03) 9853 7999
1/260 High Street
Kew 3101, VIC
directionsopen_in_new Directionsphone (03) 9853 7999
|22,516 (2006)
|10.5 km (4.1 sq mi)
|7 km (4 mi) from Melbourne
|Local Government Area:
|City of Boroondara
|State District:
|Federal Division:
Kew is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 6 km east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Boroondara. At the 2006 Census, Kew had a population of 22,516.
Formerly a city in its own right, Kew City Council, Hawthorn City Council and Camberwell City Council were amalgamated in 1994 to form the City of Boroondara. The suburb borders the Yarra River to the west and north, with Hawthorn to its south and Balwyn to its east.
Kew is one of Melbourne?s most affluent suburbs with a plethora of Victorian and Art Deco mansions graced by stunning gardens set back from tree-lined streets, such as Raheen. This is also reflected in house prices where the price of a home is more than twice the metropolitan Melbourne average. There is abundant parkland in the suburb including Yarra Bend and Studley parks. City of Boroondara achieves the highest score of all Melbourne municipal areas on the SEIFA index of disadvantage compiled by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
filter_dramaFood & Drink


text:
A powerful conjurer with an affinity for iron, Sorn has paid a terrible price for his power.
The ochre sands stretch for miles around. Something kicks up the dust. It's a yak. A desert-yak. It ambles slowly, nuzzling the ground for the low-growing shrubs. The ranger freezes. "Stay very still," he warns. "Don't move at all."
"What is it?" you ask, breathlessly.
"It's the most dangerous creature in the whole Ocadian desert. And it's about to eat that yak..."


text:
There are several things you can do to maximize your companion's medical appointments. Using these techniques will not only help you to provide the best quality of care for your canines and felines, it will also give you the best value with your visits.
There are several things you can do to maximize your companion's medical appointments. Using these techniques will not only help you to provide the best quality of care for your canines and felines, it will also give you the best value with your visits.
Show up on time or early to your appointment. If there is paperwork to complete, allow at least an extra 15 minutes. Arriving promptly will ensure your companion is seen as soon as the doctor is available.
If your pet has recently been seen at an emergency facility or a referral clinic, or you have recently moved, please bring the paperwork from other veterinary clinics with you. If you don't have these items, other clinics will have to be contacted to send this information. Presenting these items at check-in saves you time.
Turn off your cellphone when you enter the veterinary hospital. Loud noises can hurt the sensitive ears of small patients in the waiting room. Also, other clients don't want to hear all of the latest gossip between you and your friends. The doctor doesn't want to stop in the middle of the visit for you to take a phone call. Respect the time of your pet's medical care professionals.
Have a written list of all the health issues you are concerned about. If there are several problems, ask the front office for a larger time slot when you schedule your appointment. Most exams are scheduled for 15 to 20 minutes. It is not realistic to discuss multiple maladies in this amount of time. Be prepared to schedule followups or additional appointments if there are multiple concerns.
Provide detailed notes or information on the problem being discussed. When did the issue begin? Know what is going on with your pet. Is she or he eating and drinking normally. What is his or her energy level like? If there is vomit or diarrhea, how often is it occurring, and what does it look like? Is there any change in diet or access to new treats or people food? The more information that you can provide to your pet's doctor, the faster a medical issue can be addressed.
Answer the veterinarian's questions concisely. The doctor doesn't need to know everything your pet did since she or he woke up, just the information that relates to the problem being discussed. If there is more than one animal care taker in the room, don't all answer the question at the same time and don't argue over what is going on. It is best to designate one person to present the problem and discuss it with the doctor. If children are present, have activities to entertain them during the visit. These techniques are to save time, and to get the best care possible for your cherished companion.
Discuss only the patient that is present. Your veterinarian doesn't have time to discuss all of your other animals during a visit. Make individual appointments if you have concerns for your other canines or felines.
Bring a list or the actual bottles of all of the medications and supplement your pet is currently taking. You may not think supplements are important but they can affect the way other medications are metabolized. This list not only saves time, it can affect the health of your companion.
Follow preventive recommendations for your pet. This type of medical care helps to address problems at the earliest stage possible, and allows for the best outcome. It can also help your companion avoid medical problems as well. Items that would fall under this would include but are not limited to heartworm prevention, topical flea control, proper weight management, routine oral care including dental cleanings, annual exams for patients younger than 7, biannual exams and annual lab work for senior patients, etc.
Know your budget and be specific when discussing finances with the veterinarian. Also be aware of other payment options such as Care Credit. Applying for credit ahead of time or having family members that can co-sign can be very beneficial and make the situation a lot less stressful. The sooner you are able to financially provide medical care for your dog or cat, the sooner he or she can be treated and feel more comfortable.
Your veterinarian plays a pivotal role in the care of your companions. Working together is key to providing the best care possible for your cherished companions.
Julie Damron is a veterinarian at Sierra Veterinary Clinic in Stockton. Contact her at firstname.lastname@example.com.


text:
© 2012 The Joy of Cooking Trust and the MRB Revocable Trust
We always like hearing from our friends. Please send us your comments, requests or questions via email.
For a list of known errors in earlier printings of the 2006 75th Anniversary edition, please click here for a PDF of current errata
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text:
|2011-08-24, 16:31
|Link #42
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: In line to confess his sins.
Age: 31
Episode eight.
This episode restored my faith in the series a little bit. I'm not sold overall, but this was a really solid episode on its own. Stan was an good character with a compelling backstory,
Spoiler for episode 8:
The background music used during the fight was really good, I can't recall it being used before, but maybe it was just the whole scene that made it finally stand out in my mind. Mikage's voice acting was also great; really menacing and dark. Looking forward to the conclusion of the fight in the next episode.
|2011-08-28, 18:28
|Link #44
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2006
LOL well what do you expect a low post count on the character. When it comes to minority characters in anime, they aren't really popular here in the states. Look at killer bee for example. The dude is like the main side character in Naruto, but there is barely any threads dedicated towards him in anime websites. Some would say that Japan would be more accepting of black characters than americans are.
|2011-09-07, 11:22
|Link #46
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: In line to confess his sins.
Age: 31
Episode ten.
Another flashback. I'm honestly surprised that we got any backstory on Frost, but I wish it was a little better paced. It seemed like he went from loving father to vengeful psychopath in the blink of an eye. I think having an entire episode devoted to him and his son would have been ideal.
It also turns out he just bit Blade's mother because he was thirsty. A little bland, but in a way, that makes it all the more tragic. Other than the essentials of Frost's backstory, which were interesting, this was a pretty mediocre episode. Hope they step it up a notch for the final two.
|2011-09-07, 14:21
|Link #47
Waiting for more taiyuki!
Join Date: Jan 2004
|2011-09-18, 11:00
|Link #50
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: In line to confess his sins.
Age: 31
Episode twelve.
Blade's come to an end, and no one cares. I guess I can't blame them too much. The episode played out pretty much according to expectations. It was an alright, if bland, final episode. The scene where they showed him changing places with Makoto, invoking her spirit or something, was incredibly cheesy, though. As was the speech he gave at the end; "As long as there are vampires preying upon the weak I will continue to hunt them!". Give me a break. The actual little clip at the very end was actually pretty bad-ass, which leads me to believe that Blade works better when he communicates in one-liners and lets his sword speak for him.
Since the series has come to an end and I've stuck with it, I'll include a make-shift review of it.
Out of the Marvel anime I've seen (everything but Wolverine), Blade stands out as the strongest contender. This is a bit of a back-handed compliment, as none of them have proven to be very memorable. Going on a wild goose chase through the better part of Asia, Blade at least offers some variation. It also felt like quite a bit happened in only twelve episodes, compare this with X-Men, where hardly anything happened in the same time-span. Although a lot did happen, I didn't find it consistently entertaining. Only a few of the episodes were good, and a handful of them were a bit of a chore to sit through.
The animation didn't stand out to me either way. It didn't seem bad, nor was it impressive. The art, on the other hand, was downright bad. It was bland, lacking in detail, and excluding a few characters, it was not much to look at. Everything was a dull gray shade, and characters and objects did not stand out enough from the backgrounds. Blade looked alright, but I don't think the art-style they went with did him justice. The worst offender by far in this category is the lack of blood when the kills are made. I have no idea what possessed them it was a good idea to make the monsters explode into confetti in a freaking vampire show.
The soundtrack was also nothing to write home about. I do remember a single track I could really dig, but the rest was at best forgettable. The voice acting was solid, and probably the best thing the series had going for it. Blade's voice was fairly dark and conveyed his inner strife and depressive mood, Makoto was voiced by Maaya Sakamoto (enough said) and Mikage stood out as the best voiced character in the series to me. Though he had little screentime, his menacing tone and intimidating confidence was a treat to listen to. (Just checked and found out he was voiced by the same guy who does Akagi and Kaiji, that explains a lot!)
Overall, Blade seems like a somewhat lazy effort. It wasn't bad exactly, but it lacked the engaging plot or compelling main characters to make me truly interested. It showed signs that it could be very good when it wanted to in a couple of episodes, but in the end, it settled for a mediocre story with a pedestrian resolution.Unimpressive music and a boring art-style did little to help the show either. You could do a lot worse than Blade, but in the end, it's not something I'd ever recommend. Vampires have been done better in anime, many times.
Score: 4.5 (Mediocre)
|blade, madhouse, marvel
|Thread Tools


text:
The WSIT message security mechanisms require the use of v3 certificates. The default GlassFish keystore and truststore do not contain v3 certificates at this time (but should before FCS). (GlassFish instances installed using JDK 1.6 do have a v3 certificate but the certificate lacks a particular extension required for supporting some secure WSIT mechanisms.) In order to use message security mechanisms with GlassFish, it is necessary to download keystore and truststore files that contain v3 certificates and import the appropriate certificates into the default GlassFish stores.
The XWSS keystores are sample keystores containing sample v3 certificates. These sample keystores can be used for development and testing of security with WSIT technology. Once an application is in production, you should definitely use your own v3 certificates issued by a trusted authority. In order to use WSIT security on GlassFish, you will have to import your trusted stores into GlassFish's keystore and specify those certificates from NetBeans IDE.
To update the GlassFish certificates, follow these steps.
Download the zip file that contains the certificates and the Ant scripts (copyv3.zip) by going to this URL:
https://xwss.dev.java.net/servlets/ProjectDocumentList?folderID=6645[amp ]expandFolder=6645[amp ]folderID=6645
Unzip this file and change into its directory, copyv3.
From the copyv3 directory, execute the Ant command that will copy the keystore and truststore files to the appropriate location, and import the appropriate certificates into the GlassFish keystore and truststore.
This Ant command is as follows:
The command window will echo back the certificates that are being added to the keystore and truststore files, and should look something like this:
[echo] WARNING: currently we add non-CA certs to GF truststore, this will not be required in later releases when WSIT starts supporting CertStore(s) [java] Added Key Entry :xws-security-server [java] Added Key Entry :xws-security-client [java] Added Trusted Entry :xwss-certificate-authority [java] Added Key Entry :wssip [java] Added Trusted Entry :xws-security-client [java] Added Trusted Entry :xws-security-server [java] Added Trusted Entry :wssip [echo] Adding JVM Option for https outbound alias, this will take at least One Minute. ...
To verify that the updates were successful, follow these steps:
Change to the directory containing the GlassFish keystore and truststore files, as-install/domains/domain1/config.
Verify that the v3 certificate has been imported into the GlassFish truststore. To do this, run the following keytool command (all on one line):
java-home/bin/keytool -list -keystore cacerts.jks -alias wssip -storepass changeit
If the certificates are successfully updated, your response will look something like this:
wssip, Aug 20, 2007, trustedCertEntry, Certificate fingerprint (MD5): 1A:0E:E9:69:7D:D0:80:AD:5C:85:47:91:EB:0D:11:B1
If the certificates were not successfully update, your response will look something like this:
keytool error: java.lang.Exception: Alias <wssip> does not exist
Verify that the v3 certificate has been imported into the GlassFish keystore. To do this, run the following keytool commands:
java-home/bin/keytool -list -keystore keystore.jks -alias xws-security-server -storepass changeit java-home/bin/keytool -list -keystore keystore.jks -alias xws-security-client -storepass changeit
If the certificates were successfully updated, your response should look something like this:
xws-security-server, Aug 20, 2007, PrivateKeyEntry, Certificate fingerprint (MD5): E4:E3:A9:02:3C:B0:36:0C:C1:48:6E:0E:3E:5C:5E:84
If your certificates were not successfully updated, your response will look more like this:
keytool error: java.lang.Exception: Alias <xws-security-server> does not exist


text:
There's some incredible news about the planet Mars today.
The journal Science has published a trove of papers that characterize samples taken from mudstones — rocks made of mud and clay — that formed about 3.6 billion years ago in an area scientists have dubbed Yellowknife Bay. The data was collected by NASA's Curiosity rover.
Teams of researchers, including many in Texas, determined that these mudstones must have been formed at the bottom of a lake, probably freshwater, that would have been conducive to life. That is — not too hot, not too cold, not too salty and not too acidic.
So while scientists haven't found life, or direct evidence of microbial life, they have found conditions very much like those on Earth where microbes thrive by converting rocks and minerals into energy.
In addition to clays that would have formed in fresh water, researchers also found key biological elements such as carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen and sulfur that are the building blocks of life on Earth.
"Back about 3.5 billion years ago this could have been a thriving oasis for microbes," Johnson Space Center planetary scientist Doug Ming told me.
The clays Curiosity investigated are similar to those on Earth, indeed those in Houston as well. Residents of Houston are all too familiar with clay-like soils that shrink and swell, causing foundation cracks and myriad other problems for structures.
Smectite, the name given to deposits of clay prevalent across the Houston metro region, is very similar to the clays observed on Mars, Ming said.
The bottom line: Don't build a house on Mars. The soils are terrible.


text:
World Invasion: Battle Los Angeles review 1 star
The movie was called Battle Los Angeles but expanded to World Invasion: Battle Los Angeles for the all important international market which yearn tirelessly for Aaron Eckhart, however seeing as the entire movie has to be one of the most crass attempts at recruitment for the Marines, the movie should be called World Invasion: Recruitment Los Angeles.
Fighting in today's US Army just doesn't have the appeal it once did during the only 'good' war of the Second World War, when everyone was good because Hitler was so bad. Hitler was so bad he made crazy old Stalin look like an ally. These days there's all this talk of war crime prosecutions linked with the US Army alongside a deeply entrenched cultural cynicism that this is all corporate inspired war for profit anyway, so Battle Los Angeles cleans the slate on the question of immoral military behaviour by fighting an enemy we all want to kill, weird squid-like aliens.
It is in pap military movies produced for the entertainment of Indy 5000000 fans that the American Military Industrial Complex most clearly spells out its messages and myths to the recruitment pool of tomorrow and those messages are, 'if you are Hispanic enroll your child into the Marines right now, and if you have sinned in the past for killing lots of people in a needless war, well someone has to make the decision to keep our country safe from weird squid-like aliens and democrats, so man up'.
Marine Staff Sergeant Michael Nantz is about to resign his commission as his last mission in an undefined American war under questionable circumstances didn't go so well and there were deaths. Nantz is questioning his resolve in a moment of existential angst as he ponders the totality of his sins under the yolk of corporate merchant of death status.
He's conflicted, we see him offer his final salute to the flag on his last day and say a silent prayer asking God to bless all those 3rd world nations he napalmed for American economic hegemony. Such navel gazing is thrown aside however as reports come in that a meteor strike is slowing down.
The war room has bewildered military officers shocked at the news that NASA has reported these meteors are mechanical as no one in the military thought NASA could do anything useful. Game faces are put on as civilians are in danger and off the Marines go to battle an enemy not armed with weapons 5 decades old, they look frightened. It's the first time a Marine knows what it's like to be a member of the Taliban.
The weird squid-like aliens kick arse as the Marines get beaten up, with Breaking News the aliens are stealing our water and invading inland, they sounded like a heavily armed Fonterra.
In the Guantanamo Bay justification plot line, Marine Staff Sergeant Nantz grabs an alien and sets to work out via torture what kills the alien. Armed with a 'shoot it where it's heart would be' actionable intel taken under stress positions gives the Marines the edge to battle their way to the Hispanic civilians, the father of whom tells Nantz that he can have his son as a recruit any day. Young 'Hector' crys as Dad dies and Nantz reminds him he is a Marine now, and to bottle those tears for release on the battlefield and at home in domestic violence flash back episodes.
The Marines seem to have multiple skills in saving the Civilians lives that go well beyond what one normally associates with the US Army and their needless deaths inspire the Marines to out think the aliens and come to the conclusion the drone ships are controlled by one large mother ship and that if only they attacked the mother ship, then all of humanity would stand a fighting chance
Which is what happens. Personally if I were a taxpayer on the weird squid-like alien planet, I'd be doing my nut at the weird squid-like alien president about why our military had flown half way across the bloody galaxy to invade a planet with one great big Achilles heal like 'knock the mother ship out and the rest fall over' crap. How the hell can we master inter stellar flight but can't beat the snot out of a bunch of hominids that evolved out of monkeys who only have M-16 rifles which we are getting chewed up and spat out over? Oh and why wasn't the mother ship armoured? Come on, whoever planned this military strike has to lose at least 6 of their 8 legs over this balls up.
I give it one star out of 10.


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Kaiser in the News
Kaiser Permanente leads fully insured commercial health plans in employer satisfaction
OAKLAND, Calif. — Kaiser Permanente announced today that employers ranked the organization's health plan the highest for two consecutive years among fully insured commercial health plans in the J.D. Power and Associates 2012 U.S. Employer Health Insurance Plan StudySM. The organization received high marks in key factors that affect employer satisfaction such as account servicing, problem resolution, program offerings, cost and employee plan service experience.
Kaiser Permanente Hospitals Among the Safest in the Nation
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Nearly all Kaiser Permanente hospitals (pdf) have been given an A rating for patient safety — and none lower than a B — in a new national report card issued Wednesday by The Leapfrog Group. While Kaiser Permanente hospitals were rated among the safest in the country, hospitals nationwide fared far worse. Of the more than 2,600 hospitals that were graded in the report, nearly half (47 percent) received a C grade or lower. In California, it was a similar story. Of the 264 hospitals in California that were rated, 109 (or 41 percent) received a C grade or lower. The complete list of Leapfrog Hospital Safety Score results can be found at www.hospitalsafetyscore.org.


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After yet another lengthy absence from the blogosphere, we're called back into action for Rajo Laurel's second collection with Parisian. This time it was a lot more engaging for P because of the collaboration with SM men's shoe line, Milanos. Check out our thoughts and picks below!
I didn't quite feel like myself without a single color (or three) in my outfit. I ended up going with a Bordeaux lipstick to warm up all that black and white.
vintage polka dot top, Landmark midi skirt, Nine West platforms
Got this really cute stretchy skirt at Landmark for a little over P200! The top is a find from a Hong Kong (I think) vintage store. It's made of a sheer fabric and has a smart contrast collar.
21Men sport coat, Topman shirt and jeans and pocket square, Mark R loafers
P: What I'm especially proud of is that I tied the bow while driving to SMX haha. Anyway, I like this versatile blazer with soft shoulders, you can use it to dress up an outfit or dress it down, if you prefer. I took it straight from the office, rucked the sleeves and switched my slacks for the skinny jeans et voila!
The crowd really turned out in anticipation for this collection. From the cocktail area, we were led into the ramp where the show would be held.
Love these light box displays!
D: This was my favorite House of Laurel look from the show! Beautiful detail!
It was an inspired show with so many different elements all embracing the Japanese theme of the collection. From the drums to the dancers which opened the show, we really appreciated how cohesive the entire program was.
Just like with the first collaboration, the fashion show was followed by a chance for the eager audience to bring home their favorite pairs.
It was a shopping frenzy! Good thing they had several display tables and a ton of helpful SAs! Everyone was clamoring for a closer look.
The mood board for this collection
Above is the complete catalog, including price points and color swatches for each style. Check it out!
D's Picks
D's Picks
This Kahimi tuxedo slipper was a sure winner. I love the Rose Glitter iteration!
Mifune court shoe in moss green. This pair is a nice break from your usual towering platforms. I love the chunky heel and the length of the vamp.
Oshima platform in orange/fuschia. This one was an obvious favorite. It gives the leg such a nice shape and adds a great pop of color.
P's Picks
Of course, I had to go for the monk strap, it's simple, classic and the buckle is boss without trying.
I've always wanted to get a pair of Chelsea boots. These would look great together with dark, slim jeans.
Another style on my shoe bucket list is the suede slipper. You can practically wear this pair with anything and it would look fantastic!
Check out your favorite SM Department Store to grab your picks! Remember, limited pieces per style!
(Mall of Asia, North Edsa, Makati, Mega Mall, Cubao, San Lazaro, Manila, Fairview, Las Piñas, Bacoor, Dasmariñas, Lucena, Lipa, Baguio, Pampanga, Clark, Marilao, Cebu, Lanang, Iloilo)


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- Page 1 Jamo A 101 HCS 5 Review
- Page 2 Features and Setup Review
- Page 3 Performance and Verdict Review
In action the A 101 HCS 5 is an absolute revelation. We approached the system with a certain level of trepidation given the bargain basement price and the size of the satellites, but the Jamo confounds all expectations with a thrilling, detailed and surprisingly smooth performance. We started with our trusty Avatar Blu-ray disc, and after hearing the assurance and maturity with which it handles the epic action scenes we couldn't quite believe that this is only a £300 system.
Take the 'Battle for Pandora' sequence for instance. Despite its diminutive size, this system has an acute understanding of how to convey drama and scale, with thumping helicopter blades, flapping banshee wings and roaring engines sounding absolutely huge. James Horner's score also boasts urgency and drive, plus the breathtaking flurry of machine guns, zooming missiles and crunching trees are crisp and forceful without giving you cause to reach for the volume dial.
The 'Banshee Rookery' scene is equally spellbinding. The soaring strings and choral voices as the Na'vi take flight sound rich and mellifluous, while the creatures' screeching is suitably prominent yet easy on the ear – some speakers at this price make them sound harsh and abrasive.
Flipping to some of the movie's less adrenalin-fuelled scenes, we find the Jamo is able to handle subtle detail with admirable eloquence. As Jake and Neytiri escape into the forest to, er, consummate their partnership, the gentle chirping and fluttering of the surrounding insects, running water and whispering voices of the ancestors are clearly audible and drift around the soundstage beautifully. It's not the last word in detail reproduction, but certainly digs deeper than a £300 system has any right to.
Dialogue is also smooth and forthright, making it easy to hear no matter how frenzied the action. It's all topped off by a superb performance from the A 101 SUB, which delivers tight, agile bass that doesn't overpower the satellites. In fact the sats and sub are a match made in heaven, boasting fluid integration and a seamless crossover. It moves some serious air, pounding out bass effects with gusto.
Next we tried out some music and were greatly impressed. A clip of Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds: Live at Radio City Music Hall in Dolby True HD is a treat, with crisp and sparky guitars and smooth voices. A little more detail, depth and transparency would have taken it to the next level, but that would be straying into floorstander territory – as compact systems go, it's an absolute belter.
If you thought that being on a sub-£500 budget for your speakers meant you had to greatly compromise on sound quality then think again. The Jamo A 101 HCS 5 is proof that you can get exciting, dynamic and detailed sound without having to clutter up your room with massive floorstanders and van-sized subs – the only compact system we've heard in this price class that comes close is the Tannoy HTS-101. Not only has it impressed us with its price and performance, but it also comes with an innovative, space-saving sub, plus those dinky, wall-mountable satellites are sure to go down well with those who like their speakers to be heard but not seen. Impressive.
Trusted Score
Score in detail
Performance 9
Features 8
Value 10
Sound Quality 9
Design 8
Unlike other sites, we thoroughly test every product we review. We use industry standard tests in order to compare features properly. We'll always tell you what we find. We never, ever accept money to review a product. Tell us what you think - send your emails to the Editor.


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Of the more than 40 events presented annually by LCC Performing Arts,
the majority are absolutely free! The Performing Arts programs are
committed to providing accessible arts to our community and our free events are
an important part of that effort. We do charge admission to the fully produced
performances that take place in Dart Auditorium and the Black Box Theatre and
information about purchasing tickets is outlined here.
All seating is general admission.
|At the Door
Admission is available 45 minutes prior to curtain at the performance location: Dart Auditorium, 500 N Capitol Ave. or the Black Box Theatre, room 1422 Gannon Building, 411 N Grand Ave.
|Ticket Prices
2018-19 Season Admission Prices
Mainstage Productions (Dart Auditorium)
$15 Adult
$10 Seniors (65+), LCC Alumni & Staff
$5 Students (with valid college/high school ID)
Black Box Productions (1422 Gannon Building)
$10 Adult
$5 Students (with valid college/high school ID)
Please pay with cash or check; checks are payable to Lansing Community College. We are sorry we are unable to accept credit or debit cards for payment.
|For additional show information, call 517-483-1488.
Return to Events page
Communication, Media and the Arts Department
Gannon Bldg, Room 1222
Phone: (517) 483-1546
Additional contact information »


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For the first time in 90-plus years, the Chicago Tribune is disconnected from the broadcast business.
Its corporate family has been broken up and the Tribune, the wellspring of an empire built on ideas and innovation, is no longer complemented by the TV and radio industry it helped launch in Chicago.
Now we'll see what the newspaper group is really made of, and just how much that's worth.
What previously was known as Tribune Co. is set Monday to become Tribune Media Co., spinning off this newspaper and corporate siblings such as the Los Angeles Times, The Baltimore Sun and Connecticut's Hartford Courant to make it on their own as Tribune Publishing Co.


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On June 24, 1962, the New York Yankees defeated the Detroit Tigers 9-7 in 22 innings. The game lasted exactly 7 hours, making it the longest ever played in terms of elapsed time as of that date.
The Yankees and the Tigers had battled for the 1961 pennant, with the rest of the American League far behind. But heading in late June of 1962, as the Yankees headed to Detroit for a five game series, the Yankees were in fourth place and the Tigers were in sixth.
Here's how the top of the American League standings looked as play began on Friday, June 22:
Cleveland –
Los Angeles 2
Minnesota 2
New York 3
Baltimore 5.5
Detroit 6
But because everyone understood that the Yankees were the team to beat, the Tigers could reasonably feel that they were only three games off of the real pace. A five game series provided the opportunity to narrow or erase thes gap.
Things started well for Detroit. They won the Friday game and split a doubleheader on Saturday. Moreover, Frank Lary, the notorious "Yankee killer," was set to start on Sunday. Plagued by arm trouble, Lary was having a tough 1962 season, but had pitched a shut-out in his previous start. Meanwhile, the Yankees were relying on Bob Turley, whose best days were well behind him.
But the Yankees jumped on Lary for 6 runs in the top of the first inning. A three-run homer by Clete Boyer was the biggest blow.
Turley walked the first two Tigers he faced in the bottom of the inning, and then yielded a home run to Purnal Goldy, who had recently been called up from the minors to fill in for the injured Al Kaline. When Turley walked another batter with one out, manager Ralph Houk replaced him with Jim Coates.
The Yankees added a run off of Lary in the second inning to make the score 7-3. Lary survived the top half of that inning, but the Tigers used a pinch hitter for him in the bottom.
Detroit made it 7-6 in the bottom of third, thanks in large part to a double by reserve catcher Mike Roarke. They then tied the game in the sixth, when veteran Bill Bruton singled with one out, stole second base, and scored on a two out double by Rocky Colavito.
There would be no scoring for 15 innings. In fact, there were few genuine scoring threats.
The most serious threat occurred in the bottom of the 11th inning. Colavito led off with a triple and the Yankees intentionally walked the next two hitters, Norm Cash and Dick McAuliffe. Walking McAuliffe to load the bases with no outs was risky, as it created immense pressure to throw strikes to the next batters. But Houk didn't want his right-handed reliever to face the left-handed McAuliffe with the winning run on third. In addition, the two walks brought him to the bottom third of the Tigers batting order, with Detroit having already used all of its non-pitchers.
Chico Fernandez hit the ball to left field, but not far enough to drive in Colavito. Catcher Dick Brown was next, with one out. Brown always represented a serious double play possibility and, assuming no double play, Hank Aguirre – a famously poor hitter – would follow Brown. Thus, manager Bob Scheffing tried to force the issue by ordering a suicide squeeze.
Unfortunately, Brown popped up his bunt and catcher Yogi Berra tagged the onrushing Colavito to end the inning. Berra, by the way, caught all 22 innings at the age of 35.
When the Yankees finally broke through, they did so through the unlikeliest of heroes. Following a one-out walk to Roger Maris, Jack Reed hit what turned out to be the game winning home run. Reed, a former football star at Ole Miss, was on for Joe Pepitone, who had replaced the injury-plagued Mickey Mantle in right field. This would be the only homer of Reed's brief baseball career.
In the bottom of the inning, Colavito singled with two outs, but Cash flied out to end the game. Taking into account the previous day's doubleheader, the Tigers and Yankees played 40 innings of baseball two days.
Looking at the box score, I'm struck by the fact that Terry Fox, Detroit's closer, pitched 8 full innings. Of course, the role of the modern closer hadn't really been developed as of 1962 – top relievers were often expected to pitch up to three innings. But Fox wasn't far from being a prototypical closer. After missing the first part of the season, he pitched in 44 games, not counting this one, for a total of only 50 innings. Yet, Scheffing had him pitch, in essence, a complete game on this day.
Fox wasn't the losing pitcher, though. That honor went to Phil Regan, a starter (and loser) in the previous day's doubleheader, in which he worked 3 innings. The Yankees got to Regan in his very first inning of work, so Scheffing had reason to want to stay with Fox for as long as possible.
Houk, on the other hand, was able to use a starter for the last 7 innings of the game – none other than Jim Bouton, who limited Detroit to three hits, two walks, and of course no runs. This was Bouton's rookie year, and the Yanks were grooming him as a starter by giving him spot starts along with relatively meaningless relief assignments.
Bouton's performance in this game advanced his career. Before June 24, the future of >a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/762563.Ball_Four"> Ball Four had started only three times. On the strength of this outing – and the weakness of Turley's – Bouton started 13 times the rest of the way. During the following two seasons, he would win a total of 39 games.
The Yankees went on to win the series finale on Monday, dropping the Tigers into seventh place with a below .500 record. In early July, the Yankees assumed their usual place at the top of the standings. They went on to win the pennant by 5 games over second place Minnesota, with Detroit finishing a distant fourth.


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Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback Brandon Weeden admits he doesn't have to deal with much condescending treatment from his veteran teammates.
"I haven't been called kid in awhile," Weeden told Buffalo reporters this week. "I wish they would. I've heard the old man jokes for the last five years. If I heard kid, I wouldn't even know how to react."
The fact Weeden is older than 40 of his 52 teammates makes him one of the most fascinating quarterback prospects to enter the league in a long time. Weeden, who turns 29 next month, will lead the Browns against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday.
The Browns chose to focus on the positives of Weeden's advanced age when they took him with the 22nd overall pick in April's NFL draft. Weeden spent five years in the New York Yankees' minor league baseball chain before enrolling at Oklahoma State in 2007 and turning back to football. The Browns think Weeden's maturity will shorten his learning curve in the NFL.
"I think his maturity helps him as he goes through the process of improving himself," Browns coach Pat Shurmur said. "There's times when you make a bad play, and he has the ability to put it behind him and go make the next one. So there's some things about where he's at in his life that will help him."
Weeden didn't have a lot of success as a pitcher after the Yankees made him a second-round pick in 2002. The highest level of pro ball he reached was Class A. He went 19-26 with a 5.02 earned run average in the minors. Weeden thinks his struggles on the mound make him better equipped to deal with the scrutiny that comes with being a franchise quarterback.
"How to be a pro, to sum it all up, is one thing I learned in baseball," he said. "This is even a bigger level, a bigger stage, than minor league baseball, but it prepared me for it a little bit. Also, how to deal with adversity. Baseball is a game of failure. You learn to bounce back. I've got a pretty level head on my shoulders. Dealing with failure, even though it and none of us want to do it, you've got to find a way to take the positives and move on."
That's what Weeden did after a miserable season opener two weeks ago. He went 12 for 35 with four interceptions in a 17-16 loss to Philadelphia. He was a different guy in last week's 34-27 loss at Cincinnati. Weeden hit 26 of 37 passes for 322 yards with two TDs and no interceptions.
"I prepared last week like I've never really prepared for a game," Weeden said. "I really dissected what we did and came out and really focused on what we were trying to do. It worked. Not that I didn't prepare Week One, because I did. But I went overboard this past week."
The Browns have ranked among the bottom 10 in the NFL in offense 12 of their 13 seasons since the franchise was resurrected in 1999. They were third worst in the NFL in scoring last year at just 13.6 points per game. Colt McCoy, last year's starter, passed for more than 250 yards only once. Weeden is their 17th different starting QB in the last 13 years. They hope they finally have their answer at the position.
"I think he throws the ball well," Shurmur said. "We think his age gives him a step up in maturity. . I think he's a good decision maker. From what I've seen to this point he's been a good leader. And he works extremely hard. With all those attributes in his favor we felt that's what we wanted for our team."
Weeden, 6-foot-4 and 220 pounds, has the size and arm strength that McCoy lacks. In two years as a starter for Oklahoma State, he averaged 346 passing yards a game with 71 touchdowns and 26 interceptions.
"Brandon Weeden to me would have been a guaranteed top 10 pick if he was 22 or 23," said ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper. "You look at his numbers across the board. Versus ranked teams he completed 70.7 percent. Red zone, 69 percent. His arm, his release, his accuracy, his intelligence, his leadership. He's a heckuva quarterback."
Weeden's athletic skill is phenomenal. A 2-handicapper in golf, he was good enough to walk on last year to the Oklahoma State golf team, which entered the college season ranked No. 2 in the country. He never competed in a college tournament, but he was good enough to earn a bag on the 15-member squad.
"I'm a pretty decent player, but you're talking about one of the best programs in all of college golf," Weeden said. "I don't even have my clubs here in Cleveland. I'd be scared to go play right now. It'd be pretty ugly."
Weeden, however, is strictly a pocket passer. He showed the ability to slide in the pocket at Oklahoma State. He took only 12 sacks in 576 drop-backs last season. But whether Weeden is mobile enough to become elite in the NFL is something he will need to prove. He had three fumbles in five quarters in preseason.
"A big portion of the quarterback's game is he's gotta be able to throw the football from the pocket," Shurmur said. "We all know, especially facing a defensive line like Buffalo's, the pocket's not always clean. So then you've got to be able to move around, keep a downfield focus and make a throw. I saw him do that a couple of times last week."
email: firstname.lastname@example.com


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Welcome to OutGROW OutPLAY, Canada's leading children's consignment sale event where savvy Moms sell, shop and save a bundle.
Think back to a time when you found an amazing deal or experienced something so remarkable that you just had to tell others about it. Remember how it made you feel? That is how OutGROW OutPLAY is making parents coast-to-coast feel!
Once you consign, shop and save at one of our sales, you will tell your friends about how much fun you had participating and all the amazing deals you found. Join the thousands of Moms who shop our sale events and SAVE 50% to 90% off retail on all their children's items!
OutGROW OutPLAY CONCEPT
OutGROW OutPLAY is NOT a retail store. Our upscale children's consignment sale events happen twice a year, in the spring/summer and again in the fall/winter. We host our well-organized events in venues with a typical square footage of 15,000 plus. This allows you to comfortably shop our events and unlike any other sale... you are encouraged to bring your children... not leave them at home! Just be forewarned that unattended children will be given an espresso and a FREE kitten :-)
OGOP works hard to accept only HIGH QUALITY, new or like-new children's items on consignment to sell at our events. At an OutGROW OutPLAY sale you will find children's clothing, furniture, nursery decor, maternity wear, nursing accessories and infant equipment such as strollers, high chairs and portable cribs. You will also find an abundance of toys, arts and crafts supplies, children's books, video games, sports accessories and soooooo much more!
All merchandise is inspected for quality, is in-season and is Mom approved by our Army of Super Mom Volunteers. Merchandise is then placed on the sales floor in its specific section. Merchandise is gender, age and category sorted which allows you to easily browse and purchase all the items your growing family needs at prices well below retail.
We help families to consign and quickly sell all the new and like-new items their children regularly OutGROW and OutPLAY. Consignment stores restrict the amount of items you can consign, offer you a 40% to 50% and take a while to cut you a cheque. Our consignors are savvy Moms who don't mind rolling up their sleeves and preparing their items for a sale. OutGROW OutPLAY consignors EARN 65% to 80% of what their items sell for and cheques are ready within 5 business days! A $15 registration fee is deducted from your cheque. You can consign as many items as your heart desires which allows you to make the most amount of money possible for your family.
We've made consigning with OutGROW OutPLAY so simple that you can easily enter, price, tag and track your merchandise directly from our website, in the comfort of your own home!
Another GREAT benefit of consigning with OutGROW OutPLAY is that you get to shop the Pre-Sale EXTRAVAGANZA.
Volunteer for a shift and you earn 70%. Volunteer for two (2) shifts and earn 75%. Volunteer for three shifts (3) and you earn 80%. All consignor cheques and detailed reconciliation reports are ready within 5 business days after the sale.
- REGISTER AS A CONSIGNOR TODAY! Once registered, you will be emailed your Consignor number along with a password so you can login at anytime to Consignors Corner.
- PREPARE YOUR ITEMS: Gather, wash and hang your clothing. Clean toys/baby equipment or anything else. Dig deep into your child's toys box because their is a lot of CASH hiding in there!
- LOGIN TO CONSIGNORS CORNER: Consignors Corner is where you can enter your items, print your bar-coded tags, manage your inventory, book a drop-off time or volunteer for shifts all from the comfort of your home. Everything you need to know about consigning is located here for easy reference, including our comprehensive Consignors 101 Manual.
- DROP OFF YOUR ITEMS: You choose a convenient time from our Drop-Off Schedule, drop-off your items, complete your agreement and pick up your Pre-Sale EXTRAVAGANZA Pass.
- PICK-UP UNSOLD ITEMS OR DONATE THEM TO CHARITY: You will pick-up unsold items (unless you donate) during our designated pick-up times after the sale closes. When you create tags for your items, you have the freedom to choose whether or not unsold items are donated to our Charity Partner. Don't want to pick-up unsold items? Be sure to check "Donate" when making your tags :)