text:
How to: Create a New Specialty
Author: Sichae (Chris Vorndran)
- Introduction
- Before You Start
- Let's Begin
- Creating The PHP File - Beginnings
- Creating The PHP File - Install/Uninstall Routine
- Creating The PHP File - Dohook - Everything Else
- Creating The PHP File - Dohook - Applying the Specialty Code *Balance*
- Creating The PHP File - Finishing Up
- Testing
- No - No's
- Credits
- Closing
- Document History
So, what are you looking at? All these new specialties coming out... "HEY, I wanna make one!" Well, first you need to learn your basic PHP. But, if worst comes to worst, then it is best to just use another person's specialty as a template.
So, at the end of PR 10, XChrisX and many others were wondering, "How can I make more specialties? The stock three are getting rather bland."
So, Chris went out, and over many days, he shut them all off into modules. So that they may be more easily editable, as well as makeable.
So, what do we have now? A back story, as well as some information. You think you can handle it?
*you nod*
Hold up their bucko! We got to prep you first... think if a surgeon went into operation with dirty hands, eh?
Before You Start
Some things that you might wish to know, before you begin coding a specialty:
*For starters, a rough knowledge of PHP, as well as some good examples (The Core Specialties) is essential. If you do not know the difference between a else and else if statement... then you might not wish to bother... or, you can begin, and if you get flustered you must always remember, you have examples to look upon.
*Another thing that will come in handy, is a Development Server. See, if I ran bad code on my live server, I would get so many petitions about small errors, that I was trying to debug.
I should also note that this document is based on the current 0.9.8 pre-releases of LoGD which you can find on http://dragonprime.net.
Return to Contents
Let's Begin
The first thing you might want to do, is think of a certain skill set, that you would wish to emulate in your specialty. Come on now, I know there is some gears cranking it that head of yours! Think, come on, THINK! Okay, you got one? Good, now onto step 2.
Creating The PHP File - Beginnings
Now, you wish to set up your very first specialty (or you are coming back, because you made a bad one :P) Okay, now begin your PHP file:
// Begin File
// End Begin File
Very good... hopefully you understand the rough outline of the function:
function modulefilename_getmoduleinfo(){ $info = array( "name" => "Specialty - Skill Set Name", "author" => "Your Name", "version" => "1.0", "download" => "http://dragonprime.net/users/yourname/thisfile.zip", "category" => "Specialties", "prefs" => array( "Specialty - Skill Set Name User Prefs,title", "skill"=>"Skill points in Skill Set Name,int|0", "uses"=>"Uses of Skill Set Name allowed,int|0", ), ); return $info; }
1) Naming your Module, as it will be seen on the outside, as well as any
configuration of the file settings from within the game.
2) Author, self explanatory
3) Version No. Don't worry about it... just remember, if you make a change, increment the version number.
4) Download, write in the download link or the location of the zipped file. (Might as well just post in on DP)
5) Category, keep it at Specialties... doesn't need to be altered.
6) Creating the Prefs array, where all user module info will be stored.
7) Skill Points are what increase with Increment Specialty as well as Leveling in game. It usually goes up by one, unless a 3rd party mod is
doing otherwise.
8) Uses is the actual amount of points that you have per day to spend. Stored at Newday.
NOTE: 7 & 8 must remain as int|0", unless you wish for your players to have a head start:
If you understand, then we can proceed, if you do not, then look at your example files.
Creating The PHP File - Install/Uninstall Routine
Okay, so moving on to our "install routine" (NOTE: I shall be outlining each of the hooks, so that you can see which do which):
function modulefilename_install(){ module_addhook("choose-specialty"); module_addhook("set-specialty"); module_addhook("fightnav-specialties"); module_addhook("apply-specialties"); module_addhook("newday"); module_addhook("incrementspecialty"); module_addhook("specialtynames"); module_addhook("specialtymodules"); module_addhook("specialtycolor"); module_addhook("dragonkill"); return true; }
1) Choose Specialty comes about, after a DK, or when a person's specialty is
undecided, and they choose upon newday.
2) Set Specialty comes *right* after the Choose Specialty, in which the buff is set, and logged into your account as your specialty.
3) Fightnav Specialties is hooking into the battle code, in order to display the navs for the Specialty Skills.
4) Apply Specialties is the part of the dohook, which actually defines what each of the spells/skills do.
5) Newday is in there, so that upon newday, you get your accurate bonus, and your specialty is restocked with uses.
6) Incrementspecialty is a function that is used, in order to display the message, as well as increase the skill points.
7) Specialtynames is used by other scripts to call in the name of the specialty.
8) Specialtymodules was added during PR 12 I believe. It is to retrieve the module filename, in order to refresh skills and whatnot.
9) Specialtycolor is just like specialtynames, except that it retrieves the color code.
10) Dragonkill, to reset the uses and skill points, in order to start anew
The Uninstall is much easier:
function modulefilename_uninstall(){ $sql = "UPDATE " . db_prefix("accounts") . " SET specialty='' WHERE specialty='XX'"; db_query($sql); return true; }
1) XX is equal to the two letter variable that you assign to the specialty.
If you understand, then please proceed, if not, then look to the examples.
Creating The PHP File - Dohook - Everything Else
Okay, so we have the Install and the Getmoduleinfo... but the install put in all these hooks... and we haven't used them yet. So, we shall now, in the "dohook". Dohook works like so:
function modulefilename_dohook($hookname,$args){ global $session,$resline; $spec = "XX"; $name = "Specialty Name"; $ccode = "Color Code (`%)"; switch ($hookname) { case "dragonkill": set_module_pref("uses", 0); set_module_pref("skill", 0); break; case "choose-specialty": if ($session['user']['specialty'] == "" || $session['user']['specialty'] == '0') { addnav("$ccode$name`0","newday.php?setspecialty=".$spec."$resline"); $t1 = translate_inline("Little Anecdote, to go alongside the Specialty Name"); $t2 = appoencode(translate_inline("$ccode$name`0")); rawoutput("$t1 ($t2)"); addnav("","newday.php?setspecialty=$spec$resline"); } break; case "set-specialty": if($session['user']['specialty'] == $spec) { page_header($name); output("Background Story of your Specialty."); } break; case "specialtycolor": $args[$spec] = $ccode; break; case "specialtynames": $args[$spec] = translate_inline($name); break; case "specialtymodules": $args[$spec] = "modulefilename"; break; case "incrementspecialty": if($session['user']['specialty'] == $spec) { $new = get_module_pref("skill") + 1; set_module_pref("skill", $new); $name = translate_inline($name); $c = $args['color']; output("`n%sYou gain a level in `&%s%s to `#%s%s!",$c, $name, $c, $new, $c); $x = $new % 3; if ($x == 0){ output("`n`^You gain an extra use point!`n"); set_module_pref("uses", get_module_pref("uses") + 1); }else{ if (3-$x == 1) { output("`n`^Only 1 more skill level until you gain an extra use point!`n"); }else{ output("`n`^Only %s more skill levels until you gain an extra use point!`n", (3-$x)); } } output_notl("`0"); } break; case "newday": $bonus = getsetting("specialtybonus", 1); if($session['user']['specialty'] == $spec) { $name = translate_inline($name); if ($bonus == 1) { output("`n`2For being interested in %s%s`2, you receive `^1`2 extra `&%s%s`2 use for today.`n", $ccode, $name, $ccode, $name); }else{ output("`n`2For being interested in %s%s`2, you receive `^%s`2 extra `&%s%s`2 uses for today.`n", $ccode, $name, $bonus, $ccode, $name); } } $amt = (int)(get_module_pref("skill") / 3); if ($session['user']['specialty'] == $spec) $amt = $amt + $bonus; set_module_pref("uses", $amt); break; case "fightnav-specialties": $uses = get_module_pref("uses"); $script = $args['script']; if ($uses > 0) { addnav(array("$ccode$name (%s points)`0", $uses), ""); addnav(array("$ccode Skill One`7 (%s)`0", 1), $script."op=fight&skill=$spec&l=1", true); } if ($uses > 1) { addnav(array("$ccode Skill Two`7 (%s)`0", 2), $script."op=fight&skill=$spec&l=2",true); } if ($uses > 2) { addnav(array("$ccode Skill Three`7 (%s)`0", 3), $script."op=fight&skill=$spec&l=3",true); } if ($uses > 4) { addnav(array("$ccode Skill Four`7 (%s)`0", 5), $script."op=fight&skill=$spec&l=5",true); } break; //Gonna Leave out the Apply Specialty for now } return $args; }
1) global $session,$resline are just two functions in order to apply it to all
folk. $resline is the sanity check. Not needed to be edited.
2) $spec is setting the Two Letter code for your specialty. Make it relate. If I make "Dragon Powers", It wouldn't make any sense to make it "ZF".
3) $name is just called a bunch of times, just fill it in with your Specialty Name.
4) $ccode is equal the the in-game color code. NOTE If you wish to use `$, it must be `\$, or it will conflict and error.
5) case "dragonkill": includes the two codes that are meant to delete the skill points and usage points for a specialty
6) case "choose-specialty": is the area where you set up the navs for your choosing of specialty. You can add in a little anecdote, in order to sway people to it.
NOTE: You can add in some things, such as:
if ($session['user']['dragonkills'] < get_module_setting("mindk")) break;
In order to set in a limit to the specialty, if the user doesn't have X DKs.
NOTE: The following would need to be added into the getmoduleinfo():
"settings"=>array( "mindk"=>"Minimum DK for specialty,int|5", ), "prefs"=>... prefs should already be set up.
7) case "set-specialty": is just the finalization of the setting of
your specialty. It is also where you set in the back story for your little
8) case "specialtycolor": is just to make sure, that whenever the script is called, it displays the same color as set in the specialty.
9) case "specialtynames": same as specialtycolor, but with the name
10) case "specialtymodules": is used to call in the module file name from another script. Just insert your module file name.
11) case "incrementspecialty": is put in, in order to increment a person's skill points. Not Needed to be altered.
12) case "newday": is just to refresh your use points, as well as put in your bonus.
13) case "fightnav-specialties": is the creation of the navs in the battle script, in order to trigger the right thing, when you click upon it. Only shows up, if you have the right amount of Points.
Of course, there are all kinds of places where you can hook in, like making something in the village only seeable:
// Make Sure to add_modulehook("village"); into the install. case "village": if ($session['user']['specialty'] == $spec){ output("`n As a Dragon, you see a Statue."); } break;
If you understand, then we shall move on. If not, then please go to your example.
Creating The PHP File - Dohook - Applying the Specialty Code *Balance*
Now, to the fun stuff!
Okay, so you got this nice thing, called the
And this is where you set up all of your special moves. Now, I am only going to run down a very basic skill set:
case "apply-specialties": $skill = httpget('skill'); $l = httpget('l'); if ($skill==$spec){ if (get_module_pref("uses") >= $l){ switch($l){ case 1: apply_buff('ts1',array( "startmsg"=>, "rounds"=>, "wearoff"=>", "roundmsg"=>, "badguyatkmod"=>, "badguydefmod"=>, "schema"=>"modulefilename" )); break; case 2: apply_buff('ts2',array( "startmsg"=>, "name"=>, "rounds"=>, "minioncount"=>, "minbadguydamage"=> "maxbadguydamage"=> "effectmsg"=>, "effectnodmgmsg"=>, "schema"=>"modulefilename" )); break; case 3: apply_buff('ts3', array( "startmsg"=>, "name"=>, "rounds"=>, "wearoff"=>, "roundmsg"=>, "regen"=>, "schema"=>"modulefilename" )); break; case 5: apply_buff('ts5',array( "startmsg"=>, "name"=>, "rounds"=>, "wearoff"=>, "atkmod"=>, "defmod"=>, "roundmsg"=>, "schema"=>"modulefilename" )); break;} set_module_pref("uses", get_module_pref("uses") - $l); }else{ apply_buff('ts0', array( "startmsg"=>, "rounds"=>1, "schema"=>"modulefilename" )); } } break;
1)Okay, so what we have here, is a standard buff. With badguyatkmod and
These two values are multipliers. So, if their attack is 10 and I want it to be 5, I do
Same way with badguydefmod. Now, these values can also be used for balance. Let's say I do this:"badguyatkmod"=>.5,
"atkmod"=>2, "badguydefmod"=>1.4,
That would increase my attack, but at the same time, increase his defense. So
the balance? Good.
2) Minions: Okay, so if you have tinkered with mounts, you basically know all of the values for this:
"minioncount"=> Defines the amount of minions
"minbadguydamage"=> Sets the minimum damage that your minion can cause
"maxbadguydamage"=> Sets the maximum damage that your minion can cause
"effectmsg"=> Is to show what is going on, when the creature hits. Include the {damage} tag
to show Damage Dealt, as well as the {badguy} to show whom you are attacking.
"effectnodmgmsg"=> Is to show what is going on, when the creature misses
There are several other things that you can do.
3) The "regen" command. Popular for healing. If I want to heal 5 per turn"
And there we go. Or, you can do some special things, such as:
Like the Mystic Arts does for "Regeneration"
4) The use of atkmod and defmod. These can drastically alter battle. So, you want to keep in mind, balance!
If I up my stats by 50, I want the badguy to at least have a fighting change, so increase his by 40, if not more.
5) This message is just to display that you have no magic points left.
If you do not understand balance, then toy around with the values. Let us proceed.
Creating The PHP File - Finishing Up
function modulefilename_run(){
//Unless you plan to run a script from here, like a shop, you don't need to fill this.
And close the file:
All done. ^_^ hooray, you are Number One!
Okay, so now you need to test it. What I find best, is to set up a dev server on my home box, and test it in there. So, we go in, and for testing
set the skill points to '150' and the uses to '50'. Just so that we can check everything.
So, go to the Forest, make sure your specialty is set. And fight. Test each Skill at least 5 times each, to make sure it is all good.
Now, what you need to do, is:
1. Set Specialty equal to Undecided in User Editor
2. Run Newday from the Village, with the link
3. Check to see if your things look nice.
Optional, but recommended:
4. Check for Translation Compatibility
5. Check for db prefixing
If it all works, finalize the mod. Zip it up, and post it somewhere. Congrats!
You have successfully made your first specialty!
Feels good, don't it?
No - No's
Okay, so I am to give some examples, of what you should NOT be doing. In the case of buffs:
Example One
apply_buff('ts5',array( // Skipping some values "rounds"=>15, "atkmod"=>4, "defmod"=>1.5, }
Okay, now, several problems with this...
1) ATKmod should NEVER be that high.
2) Rounds for Specialties should always be <= (less than or equal to) 5
3) Even though there was an attempt to balance, if the atkmod is that outrageous, then the only cure for it, is a .0001 Def Mod
Example Two
apply_buff('ts1',array( // Skipping some values "rounds"=>5, "minioncount"=>5, "minbadguydamage"=>$session['user']['level'] * 5, "maxbadguydamage"=>$session['user']['maxhitpoints'], }
Okay, things are wrong with this as well...
1) Minion Count should almost never be fixed, unless it is 1 or 2. Making it work off of a val, makes it much easier to balance
2) Since it states "ts1" that means that this is the first spell earned... and it is a bit too powerful.
Example Three
Now, wrong with this, two things:
apply_buff('ts1',array( // Skipping some values "rounds"=>-1, "regen"=>$session['user']['hitpoints'], }
1) Never make the round count -1, as it will set it until next newday
2) Regen should NEVER be that high... it should be a low value, most likely level.
Example Four
Let's see, it looks good. Level 5 Skill, decent stats ... WRONG!
apply_buff('ts5',array( // Skipping some values "rounds"=>5, "minioncount"=>1, "invulnerable"=>1, "damageshield"=>5, "minbadguydamage"=>$session['user']['level'], "maxbadguydamage"=>$session['user']['maxhitpoints'], }
1) NEVER use invulnerable alongside anything else. If it needs to be used, it should be used alone, or not at all
2) Damage Shield is a multiplier, so 5 Damage Shield... the enemy is most likely missing all the time.
To MightyE and Kendaer: Thanks to you both, for providing a great game to add
on to. Given me more to do with my life.
To Current/Beginning Coders: Keep the questions coming! I will help ya out!
Okay, now that this is done... what to do next? How about Spell Check :P
-- Christopher Devin Vorndran -=aka=- Sichae Saracen
Return to Contents
Document History
2005/01/28 - version 0.1web
- Converted to html
2005/01/26 - version 0.1
- Completed first draft of this document
- Posted to DragonPrime
Converted to HTML for use on DragonPrime by Talisman


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Of central importance in Ramsey Theory, and in combinatorics in general, is the "pigeonhole principle," also known as Dirichlet's box. This principle simply states that we cannot fit n+1 pigeons into n pigeonholes in such a way that only one pigeon is placed in each hole, with no pigeons left over.
The pigeonhole principle may seem to be too obvious and simple to be useful. It can, however, be used to demonstrate possibly surprising results. For example, in any big city, Los Angeles let's say, there must be at least two people with the same number of hairs on their heads. To see why this is a certainty, let's assume that a typical person has about 150,000 hairs on his head. Let's also assume that no one has more than a million head hairs.
There are significantly more than one million people in Los Angeles. If we consider each specific number of hairs on a head to be a pigeonhole and each person to be a pigeon, then we can assign the pigeons to the holes representing the number of hairs on their heads. To summarize, there are no more than a million pigeonholes, a million distinct possible numbers of hairs on a head, and more than a million people ("pigeons"). Consequently, there will be more than one person with a given number of hairs on their heads.
We'll see how this deceptively powerful concept plays out next in the field of Ramsey Theory.
Phrased another way, the Party Problem reveals that in any group of six people, we are mathematically guaranteed to find either three mutual friends or three mutual strangers. This is not true in a group of five people, so why is six the magic number?
Let's say you attend a party and become engaged in a discussion with five other people. The six of you could be represented graphically by K6 , the complete graph on six nodes. In this discussion, the relationships between people will be represented by colored edges on the graph, with a blue edge indicating that the connected nodes are mutual friends and a red edge denoting mutual strangers.
Notice that each vertex of the K6 graph has five connections. In the following analysis, we'll focus on vertex A.
Each of A's five neighbors is either a friend or a stranger. Notice that, because there are five neighbors, at least three of them must be friends or at least three must be strangers. Let's focus on the case in which there are at least three blue edges.
Vertices B, C, and D will be connected by three edges, each of which will be either red or blue. Because we are attempting to disprove that at least one of the triangles formed has to have all edges of the same color, we can ignore the option in which the remaining edges would all be blue. We need to consider only the following cases for the colors of the edges connecting B, C, and D:
1. 2 blue, 1 red
2. 2 red, 1 blue
3. 3 red
Note that if any one of the edges connecting B, C, and D is blue, a blue triangle is formed, signifying three people who are all mutual friends. Conversely, a red triangle represents three mutual strangers (i.e., three people, none of whom knows either of the others).
All three cases lead to the formation of either a blue triangle or a red triangle. Note that if edges AB, AC, and AD had been red instead of blue, a similar argument and similar demonstrations would have led to the same conclusion—it doesn't really matter which coloring situations we look at.
This proves that among the six party goers there will be at least a group of three friends or a group of three strangers. This Party Problem is a classic example of Ramsey Theory.
Ramsey Theory is all about finding structure/organization in sets of data. The solution to the Party Problem is an example of this kind of structure, and the size of the party group, six, is known as a Ramsey number. Ramsey numbers tell you how large a group must be before you are guaranteed to see certain structures. For instance, the party problem is formally expressed as R(3,3) = 6. This means that six is the smallest number of people that guarantees that either three of them will be mutual friends or three will be mutual strangers. R(4,5) designates the smallest number of people that guarantees that either four of them are mutual friends or five are mutual strangers. It takes a group of twenty-five to guarantee this, so R(4,5) = 25.
The two examples of Ramsey numbers that we have discussed so far refer to situations in which there are only two types of relationship between people, friend or stranger. The application of Ramsey Theory is not limited to binary situations, however. For example, R(3,3,3) refers to a group in which three types of relationship are possible. These three relationship types might be friend, enemy, and neutral. In this case, R(3,3,3) represents the smallest number of people that guarantees that either three will be mutual friends, three will be mutual enemies, or three will be mutually neutral. In fact, it takes a group of seventeen people to ensure this, so R(3,3,3) = 17.
The ideas of Ramsey Theory apply to more than groups of people, however. For example, similar lines of reasoning can be used to show that if a certain number of dots are placed in a plane randomly, with no three dots collinear, a certain subset of the dots will form the vertices of a convex polygon. In fact, placing five dots randomly in a plane (no three dots collinear) ensures that at least four of them can be connected to make a quadrilateral. This partially explains why, when we see a star-filled sky, we see recognizable shapes that we call constellations.
Another interesting application of Ramsey Theory can be found in text analysis. Any sufficiently long string of letters will have unavoidable regularities, such as certain combinations or strings of letters that must appear. This can somewhat explain why people can find hidden messages in large bodies of text, such as the Bible.
Computing Ramsey numbers, as we saw when we analyzed the Party Problem, takes a fair amount of cleverness. To find the value of a Ramsey number, you have to show not only that the size of the collection is large enough to guarantee that the pattern of interest exists, but also that no smaller group provides the guarantee. The larger or more significant the pattern or structure, the more difficult it is to find the minimum group size that guarantees its existence. Finding an upper limit tends to be fairly easy; what is exceedingly difficult is showing that no smaller number suffices.
An example of a difficult Ramsey number is the value of R(5,5), the smallest number of people that guarantees that either five will be mutual friends or five will be mutual strangers. The value of R(5,5) is known to be somewhere between forty-three and forty-nine. After years of investigation, this is our best answer so far. To see why computing Ramsey numbers is so difficult, let's just say that we believe that R(5,5) is forty-nine exactly. This would mean that any collection of forty-nine people has either five mutual friends or five mutual strangers. To prove that forty-nine is actually the right number, we have to show that any group of forty-eight will not necessarily have the five strangers or five friends. A complete graph with forty-eight nodes has 1,128 edges—we can figure this out by computing C(48,2). Using two colors, one for edges between "friend" nodes and one for edges between "stranger" nodes, there are then 21128 (~ 10339) possible colorings of the 48-node complete graph. This is the largest combinatorial explosion we have seen yet! Each of these colorings has to be examined and determined not to contain the five mutual friends or five mutual strangers in order for forty-eight to be ruled out as a candidate value for R(5,5). The difficulty of computing Ramsey numbers was summed up quite nicely by the great Hungarian graph theorist, Paul Erdös when he said:
[…] imagine an alien force, vastly more powerful than us, landing on Earth and demanding the value of R(5,5) or they will destroy our planet. In that case, […], we should marshal all our computers and our mathematicians and attempt to find the value. Suppose, instead, that they ask for R(6,6). In that case, […], we should attempt to destroy the aliens.
Next: 2.7 DNA Sequencing
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Teacher resources and professional development across the curriculum
Teacher professional development and classroom resources across the curriculum
Exploring Connections
|Introduction | Try It Yourself: Area and Perimeter | The Products Game | Problem Reflection | Your Journal
In this section, you will take a look at your own, rather than your students', approach to a task. As an adult, you possess considerable knowledge about geometry, algebra, patterns, numbers, and calculations. You may not consciously be aware of the connections among these ideas that you make while teaching and while solving problems. The following activity gives you a chance to explore how making connections relates to a better understanding of mathematical concepts -- and this heightened awareness of connections is a first step toward supporting students as they increase the use of connections to learn mathematics. As you work through the activity, pay attention to the variety of mathematics you use to think about the problem, the connections you make, and the new applications of mathematical concepts you encounter.
|Teaching Math Home | Grades 3-5 | Connections | Site Map | © |
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Cake tastes good--nobody's denying that. But is that to say that it doesn't matter what a cake, cupcake or baked good looks like? Most certainly not. We tend to believe that a lovely presentation really does improve your overall taste experience; this is why we were drawn to the work of Naomi Henderson, an Australian university student whose cake decorating skills go far beyond her young years, and whose aesthetic and sense of whimsy instantly had us instantly enchanted. After drooling over her Flickr page for several weeks, we finally connected with this budding pro; here's what we learned about her mad skills in the kitchen, how she even finds time to bake with four jobs, and what the dessert scene is like in Australia:
Cakespy: You live in Newcastle, Australia. What types of baked goods are popular in bakeries there?
Naomi Henderson: The biggest difference between Australian bakeries and everywhere else is pies. All bakeries in Australia sell hot savoury pies as well as sweet pies and cakes and it makes them very popular at lunch. Vanilla slice, lamingtons, custard tarts, apple pies and muffins are the main types of cakes that they sell here. Most bakeries sell cupcakes but they are
just usually packet mix and dipped fondant icing.
CS: You've been to the US (as I see from your Flickr photos)...how did you find the bakery culture different here?
NH: My cupcake obsession started to snowball after I got back from the US (thinking about it now it's probably what started it) and so I didn't really know how big cupcakes were until I got back. Had I known there were so many everywhere I would have planned my whole trip around visiting cupcake stores! Anyway--so I only went to a couple of cupcake stores in New York that I found by accident and unfortunately they were not that great! The cake and the icing were super oily. As for normal bakeries--I didn't really see many around but in Australia they are everywhere.
CS: In the USA, we have quite a few cupcake-only bakeries. Is that the case in your area?
NH: Newcastle is two hours north of Sydney. In Newcastle there are none! But in Sydney there are a few and the number of cupcake stores around the country is growing. Newcastle tends to follow Sydney trends so hopefully they take off here too.
CS: Do you sell your cakes and cookies commercially? If not, what do you do as a day job?
NH: No, not yet anyway! I currently have 4 jobs! I am studying a Research Masters in Computer Engineering where I program robot dogs to play soccer (I have a scholarship so its like a full time job). Also, I am a manager at a drive-thru pie shop / bakery, university tutor and research assistant! I would love to have my own cupcake business and I do plan to start one in the very near future!
CS: What is your favorite type of dessert?
NH: Pavlova! Yum--do Americans know about pavlova??? If not, oh no! It's like a cake made out of meringue and topped with whipped cream (unsugared), passionfruit, strawberries and any other fruit you want to put on it. Mmm...and it's so easy to make! Here's a recipe that's close to what I make (but use a squeeze of lemon juice instead of vinegar and you have to put strawberries on it too): www.abc.net.au/tv/cookandchef/txt/s1590154.htm
CS: What sort of frosting is it on your cupcakes? Fondant? So many of them have such a unique texture.
NH: I use ready to roll fondant. I'm not sure why mine turns out different though! I knead it really well when I'm putting in colour and then try to smooth it as much as possible after I put it on the cupcake.
CS: Do you have any specific bakers, or cookbooks, that inspire you in particular?
NH: I have a bunch of baking, cupcake, cookie and sweet books but my favourite book is Romantic Cakes by Peggy Porschen. I love the colours she uses and her piping!
CS: Are you formally trained in cake decorating?
NH: I've only done a beginner's class where we made flowers, covered a cake and eventually decorated an entire cake, but it's given me enough skills to be able to create most things I want to make.
CS: Do your cakes and cupcakes taste as good as they look?
NH: YES! Even better maybe! They are very fluffy and yum but the problem is that one isn't enough!
CS: What is the next cake project you'd like to take on?
NH: Umm...there are too many! Christmas is coming up so I'm starting to think about that; I'm also trying to design Alice in Wonderland themed cupcakes, and I would like to get more cookie practice so I'm thinking of ice cream, cherry, strawberry, tea pot, tea cup and Pac-man cookies!
Cakespy Note: For some truly delicious cake, cupcake and cookie photos, visit Naomi's Flickr page at this address: www.flickr.com/photos/hello_naomi.


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Grant Henry Hill (born October 5, 1972) is an American professional basketball player who currently plays for the Phoenix Suns. As a collegian with Duke University and early in his professional career with the Detroit Pistons, Hill was considered one of the best all-around players in the game, often leading his team in points, rebounds and assists. His time in the league has been hampered by career-threatening injuries, notably towards the prime of his career.
Grant Hill was born in Dallas, Texas. His father, Calvin Hill, graduated from Yale University with a degree in history, later attended Southern Methodist University and was a three-time All-Pro running back for the National Football League's Dallas Cowboys, winning the Offensive Rookie of the Year Award in 1969. His mother, Janet, is a Wellesley College graduate. After his father's NFL career ended, the family settled in Reston, Virginia, where Grant became a high-school superstar at South Lakes High School and he was selected for the 1990 McDonald's All-American Team.
When the time came to choose a college, Hill's mother states in the Fox Sports Beyond the Glory documentary about Hill's career that she wanted him to attend Georgetown University, while his father preferred the University of North Carolina. Hill chose a neutral path and decided to attend Duke University. Hill played four years with the Duke Blue Devils, winning national titles in 1991 and 1992, where Duke became the first Division I program to win consecutive titles since UCLA in 1973. Despite losing two of the biggest contributors on the Blue Devils, Christian Laettner (in 1992) and Bobby Hurley (who went on to play in the NBA), Hill led Duke to the championship game once again in 1994, but ended up losing to Arkansas Razorbacks. Hill won the Henry Iba Corinthian Award as the nation's top defensive player in 1993, and in 1994 he was the ACC Player Of the Year. During his collegiate career, Hill became the first player in ACC history to collect more than 1,900 points, 700 rebounds, 400 assists, 200 steals, and 100 blocked shots. As a result of his successful college career, he became the 8th player in Duke history to have his jersey number (33) retired. After his freshman season at Duke, Hill played on the bronze-winning U.S. team at the 1991 Pan American Games, held in Havana, Cuba.


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U.S. Equal Employment
Opportunity Commission
Black Employees Subjected to Racial Insults, Federal Agency Charged
GREENSBORO, N.C. – Stokesdale, N.C.-based Yates Construction Company, Inc. will pay $30,000 to settle a racial harassment and retaliation lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the agency announced today. The EEOC had charged that Yates subjected an African-American employee to racial harassment and discharged him in retaliation for complaining about it. The settlement also includes one other person who was allegedly subjected to racial harassment.
According to the EEOC's suit, Rodney McCants and at least one other black employee were repeatedly subjected to the use of racial slurs such as the "N" word, and to racially offensive jokes about African-Americans. The suit further charged that McCants complained about the harassment on at least two occasions in late 2007 and early 2008, but the company failed to stop the harassment. The suit also asserted that McCants was discharged in April 2008 in retaliation for his complaints.
Racial harassment and retaliation violate Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The EEOC filed suit in U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina (Equal Employment Opportunity Commission v. Yates Construction Company, Inc., Civil Action No. 1:09-cv-00687) after first attempting to reach a voluntary settlement out of court through its conciliation process.
In addition to monetary damages, the consent decree resolving the case provides for injunctive relief to prevent Yates Construction from further maintaining a racially hostile work environment or engaging in retaliation. The decree also requires the company to post its policy against racial harassment in the workplace; distribute the policy to employees; provide annual, company-wide training on racial harassment to its owners and supervisors; and report future verbal or written complaints of racial harassment or retaliation to the EEOC.
"The EEOC is glad that it was able to resolve this case in favor of Mr. McCants and the other African-American employee who testified that he was subjected to racial harassment," Lynette A. Barnes, regional attorney of the EEOC's Charlotte District Office said. "Also, the injunctive relief that the EEOC obtained will help to ensure that there are no incidents of racial harassment at Yates Construction in the future."
Tina Burnside, supervisory trial attorney for the EEOC's Charlotte District, added, "The EEOC is committed to combating retaliation and ensuring that employees can complain about discrimination in the workplacewithout the fear of being disciplined or fired."
The EEOC is responsible for enforcing federal laws against employment discrimination. Further information about the EEOC is available on the agency's website at www.eeoc.gov.


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Nixon Admitted 1960 Debate Prep Was 'Totally Wrong'
(NEW YORK) -- He was exhausted, sweaty and pale. His shirt was one size too big and five shades too light. And after a full day of campaigning, he was tired and anxious, all things a candidate does not want to be during his first televised presidential debate.
It was this sickly demeanor that made Republican Vice President Richard Nixon's first televised presidential debate appearance go down in history as one of the worst. And in tapes released exclusively to ABC News Wednesday, Nixon was poignantly aware of how poor his performance was in that 1960 presidential debate against Massachusetts Sen. John F. Kennedy.
In a conversation between Nixon and his White House Chief of Staff Bob Haldeman recorded in 1971 during Nixon's first term as president, Nixon recounts how unprepared he was for that debate, which 77 million Americans tuned in to see.
"Remember, even on the first debate. We made the mistake of not [preparing] for that one. Well, or -- we got prepared. Worked like hell," Nixon says in a tape unearthed Wednesday by Nixon scholar Ken Hughes. "[We were] running the goddamn schedule so hard, we didn't learn from the other -- we're never going to make that mistake again."
The conversation started with the two men discussing the day-long preparation that first lady Pat Nixon went through for a television interview that day.
"You know, it's funny. She would be perfectly willing to do a day's work to get everything organized to put on a reception for 5,000 people at the White House and stand there and shake hands with them and think that was a very worthwhile thing to do," Haldeman says. "But to do the same day's work for a television thing, you kind of tend to feel it's useless, because [unclear] interviewer. You forget the fact that all those millions of people see it."
"You know something?" Nixon responds. "By God, I did not understand this enough in '60. You know, I hated to do television shows."
"I was totally wrong," the president concludes.
Nixon, who lost to Kennedy by a fraction of a percentage in the 1960 election, refused to debate during his second campaign for the White House in 1968. And in 1972 when his Democratic rival George McGovern, a senator from South Dakota, challenged him to a debate, the incumbent president refused.
In another previously-unreleased taped conversation, Nixon and Haldeman came up with two excuses for why the president would not take McGovern up on his debate challenge.
"The differences between these two candidates are so great and so clear that no debate is needed to bring out those differences," Nixon says, dictating what the White House response should be in a taped conversation at Camp David on July 22, 1972.
"Particularly with the international situation and the very sensitive matters that are being discussed, that debate would not serve the national interest," Nixon added.
The main topic of the 1972 election was the Vietnam War. McGovern was fiercely anti-war and pledged to immediately pull all U.S. forces out of Vietnam.
Hughes, the presidential researcher at the University of Virginia's Miller Center, said Nixon's predecessor Lyndon B. Johnson also used the national security excuse. The argument was that because of the information he as president had access to about the Vietnam War, participating in a televised debate could threaten national security because he might accidently say something confidential.
In the newly released tape, Haldeman encourages Nixon to use that excuse to get out of debating McGovern.
"Somebody ought to go out and say that for God's sake with McGovern's total irresponsibility and his running around talking to North Vietnamese that the president would be out of his mind and would be jeopardizing national security to debate," Haldeman says.
Ultimately, Nixon and McGovern did not appear together on a debate stage. Hughes said there was almost no controversy over Nixon's decision to sit it out.
"The expectation was that if an incumbent president did not have to debate he wouldn't," Hughes said.
And because Nixon was dominating McGovern in the polls, "no one really pressured Nixon to take part in this."
Nixon went on to beat McGovern in one of the biggest landslide elections in history, winning 61 percent of the popular vote and 97 percent of the electoral college. McGovern only won one state: Massachusetts.
Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio


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IntroductionsPost Reply
1. risk
2. 18/f/ny
3. i'm a nomad, living where ever the wind blows me
4. my first anime ever was rurouni kenshin when i was like 7 or something, but i only ever saw a few episodes. then this summer i worked third shift and everyone i met watched anime, so i got hooked on trigun and bleach. and now i'm finally watching all of kenshin from the very beginning and i have to say, it's still the best
1. Edward
2. 16/m/Pennsylvania(formally Russia)
3. Six foot three. Interesting about me...play piano, violin, drums, guitar. Can speak English, Russian, learning Spanish(third year), German (first year), Japanese(starting soon). I am mastering different types of weapons. Pwn at any video game in my hands.
4. I got into anime cuz anime is like my dreams expressed in video. Like Zarathustra, I also love music...alot, and vidoe games.
Hello all,
Excelent site.
Hi! I'm Sai Rei, and have been a member of this site for a little while - mainly watching the wonderful anime lol. Now I've decided its finally time to introduce myself!
Nearly 19 years of age (this month ^^), I'm a relative newcomer when it comes to anime. I've only really been interested in it for the past couple of years. Cowboy Bebop is definately one of my favourites, and I watch it whenever I can
I am a great fan of fantasy fiction and online roleplay (a member of a couple of forums..maybe you've seen my name pop up somewhere? :P). I spend quite a lot of time on my beloved computer; playing the odd Rp game (generally the really appauling ones with my best friend. The only good games to play I say :P). I blog regularly about anything trivial, and I love looking at webcomics such as Penny Arcade, VG Cats and Ctrl+Alt+Delete...and of course the roleplaying forums.
I'm a musician; having been playing the violin for twelve years (achieving my Grade 8 a couple of months ago! *celebratory dance*) and I had voice lessons for 3 years, attaining my Grade 7. I've recently finished my A levels and now I am off to uni to study Ancient History and Archaeology.
Well um, I guess that's everything covered. Feel free to chat if you're bored or just plain curious!
Sai x
I'm back baby! XD
1* Denisse B)
3* i draw saint seiya characters/ i hate speak en glish:(
4*i love saint seiya and cowboy bebop.....i`m JULIA!!
welcome all!
Tomoe - love your avatar
Sai Rei - yay snagged another one from the UK!
Crunchyroll Administrator
1. Sanzo (not real name, duh!)
2. 22 (according to ONE of my birth certificates...)/ Male / Europa Confederation, Sol-3, Sol System
3. I have three eyes, four ears, six fingers on my left hand and seven inch tusks... And that's on a GOOD DAY!
4. I'm not as hooked on anime and video games as most other users here. I usually watch anime and play games when I'm dead bored and don't have anything else to do. Personally, I prefer manga than anime and pen & paper roleplaying games than video games.
Sanzo: interesting look you have there! I am intrigued...
If you like pen & paper roleplay, I can suggest some websites you can join. I'm a member of a couple and they do like new people lol. One is focussed on FF7 at Shinra, and the other one is a mixture of fantasy/Sci-fi. If you're interested just let me know and I'll give you some linkage!
I'm back baby! XD
!. Serena
@. 19/f/ny
#. Obsessed w/ chocolate milk...mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm...
$. Someone asked if I liked Salor Moon, (had no idea what it was at the time.) because I had the same name as her. Looked it up, got hooked, end story... happy endings, they rock like chocolate milk...
Recalibrating the transdimenional stablizer of my T.A.R.D.I.S....
1. Adam
2. 19-m-frozen trundra known as MN
3. I took four years of Latin. Really, it's not as bad (or dead) as you may think. LINGUAM LATINAM EST LINGUAM OPTIMUM!
4. My girlfriend (also a member here - see if you can figgure out who!) let me read her Bleach and Hot Gimmick manga, and here I am now.
Oh, and feytwilight, have you tried strawberry milk? It's like choc milk, only better.
1. Paul
3. I love old school RPG's and music. Hit me up on Soulseek sometime...
4. a friend lent me Battle Angel and I've been into video games my whole life!
Yo, another name on the board here...
I'm a major Big O and Trigun fan.
I love Final Fantasy 4 to death.
I'm a writer...not rich or anything yet but I'm working on it.
I need a life...that's me in a nutshell, so hi.
i draw a crazy stickman named M.killa who goes on a killing spree
xxxholic is my fave
1. John
2. Unknown,Male,U.S.A
3. I own a total of 142 games, and I run my own forum called The Kingdom Hearts Forum. Check it out if you can http://thekingdomheartsforum.myfastforum.org
4. Dragonball Z is what got me into anime when I was younger.
Favorite Anime/Manga: Dragonball Z, FullMetal Alchemist, Naruto, One Piece, Zombie Powder, and Claymore.
I found crunchyroll a few weeks ago, and I've been telling all my friends about it. I think this is a great site.
Work for the government, Data Network Operations Planner/Senior Server Farm Administrator
Web Developer/Programmer on the side
Outlaw Star and Trigun are two of my favorites. FulMetal Alchemist, and Samurai Deeper Kyo are up there among many others.
Have I mentioned I like chicken. I like Ramen too but chicken flavored ramen is the best.


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Residence Inn by Marriott Manama Juffair Joins the Capital Governorate to Sponsor Competition for Decorating Buildings and Houses
MANAMA, BAHRAIN--(Marketwire - Jan 31, 2013) - Under the Patronage of H.E. The Capital Governor of the Capital Governorate, H.E. Sheikh Hisham Bin Abdulrahman Al Khalifa, Residence Inn by Marriott along with Capital Governorate of Manama sponsored the competition for decorating buildings and houses on the occasion of the National Day and Accession Day 2012. A cheque of BD 2,000 was presented to the winner, Zamzam Ali Ahmed, at the ceremony held at Marriott's Manama, Bahrain hotel.
The competition was open to all citizens and residents of the Capital Governorate and the public and private sectors. The objective of the event was to beautify the Kingdom and spread the spirit of celebration. The theme of this spirited competition was for participants to decorate in a way that reflects the civilized aspect of the Capital Governorate, "The Kingdom's Heart."
"It was a great opportunity for Marriott to sponsor this event and support the local community to enhance the spirit of celebration among the citizens of the Kingdom," said General Manager of the Manama hotel, Sam Van Campenhout. He further congratulated the winner, Zamzam Ali Ahmed, for her creativity and appreciation for expressing the loyalty to the Kingdom through her participation. It was a wonderful experience to join hands with the Governorate and Marriott looks forward to supporting such events in the future.
The Bahrain hotel is in proximity to many valuable locations. It is one of the hotels near the Royal Golf Club, 2.3 miles from the airport, and is less than 2 miles away from activities such as sailing, snorkeling, scuba diving and more.
To book reservations or learn more about this Financial Harbour Bahrain hotel, visit www.residenceinnmanama.com or call +973 17 362 901.
Residence Inn is Marriott International's second largest lodging brand with more than 600 properties in North and Central America and the Caribbean with additional development under way in Europe and the Middle East and Africa.
Residence Inn is a pioneer in the extended-stay hotel segment, being the first to serve the needs of business travelers seeking apartment-style accommodations for longer stays. Opening its doors to guests in 1975, the brand quickly assumed a leadership role, spearheading design and service standards for this lodging segment. Residence Inn's brand mission is to help business travelers thrive on long stays. Combining style and functionality, its suites are spacious, allowing travelers the ability to work and relax, and maintain balance while on the road. Featuring fully functional kitchens and separate living and sleeping areas in every unit, Residence Inn offers guests flexibility and options that fit their routine. Personalized service and attention to detail help guests feel welcomed and appreciated. Amenities such as connectivity to home and office, health and fitness options, comfortable public areas in which to socialize or relax make Residence Inn the ideal choice for both business and leisure guests.
Contact Information:
Marwan Haddad
Residence Inn by Marriott Manama Juffair


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I have a small variety of 2007 lists, from the Best Books Published, my Best Reads, the Worst Books, and the nine Author Discoveries of the year. But, I am just a small corner of the world and I have read a variety of other opinions.
Here are some links to those other opinions.
Asking the Wrong Questions
A Variety of Words
Graeme's Fantasy Book Review
Fantasy Book Critic
Fantasy Debut
Grasping for the Wind
The Gravel Pit
Jay Tomio: The Bodhisattva
OF Blog of the Fallen
Neth Space
Pat's Fantasy Hotlist
SF Signal
SFF World's Annual Review
Stainless Steel Droppings
The Wertzone
Link help from The Gravel Pit, Stainless Steel Droppings, and SF Signal.
Tuesday, January 01, 2008
The Best of 2007: What Other People Think
Tuesday, January 01, 2008
Posted by Joe on Tuesday, January 01, 2008
1 comments:
- Tia Nevitt said...
Happy New Year! Thanks for including Fantasy Debut.
- January 1, 2008 at 8:42 AM
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


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Toolstation In Kettering Call Connection Number 0844 822 9466
Toolstation In Kettering Call Connection Number 0844 822 9466
Need to call Toolstation In Kettering?
Call Connection Toolstation on 0844 822 9466
Give the customer service team a ring on the helpline number of 0844 822 9466. All calls to this number will route to the official ToolStation Customer service phone number.
Toolstation is a UK-based retailer of hardware, electrical, plumbing, and trade tools. Toolstation was established in 2003 and is based in Bridgewater Somerset. In addition to its online shopping page, Toolstation now has more than 225 local stores throughout the UK. Toolstation In Kettering contact telephone number 0844 822 9466.
Why Do Customers Call Toolstation In Kettering?
- Track and trace orders
- Organise refunds
- Get product support
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Give Toolstation In Kettering a ring on 0844 822 9466 for all enquiries.
Whatever your reason give the Toolstation customer service team a call on the helpline number of 0844 822 9466. Please note all calls will using this number will forward to the official Toolstation UK contact centre.
Toolstation In Kettering Call Connection Number 0844 822 9466
Telephone Number For Toolstation In Kettering
Toolstation In Kettering Complaints 0844 822 9466
Had a problem in the local store? Call 0844 822 9466 to make a complaint about the service.
If you are still not happy you can write to the complaints address listed below.
Toolstation Complaints Address
Lodge Way House
Lodge Way
Harlestone Road
Toolstation In Kettering offer a lot more than tools; electrical, plumbing, screws, fixings, trade essentials and top brands makeup just some of the 11,000+ stock products in the catalogue and are stocked in each branch and available online. If you would like to check if a certain product is in store simply call 0844 822 9466, the helpful call centre staff at the Toolstation HQ will be more than happy to help.
Toolstation opened for business in 2003, and is managed by an experienced team that is focused on working efficiently – keeping costs low so that customers enjoy reliable trade products at unbeatable prices. Industry-leading customer, warehousing and supply systems mean that, while maintaining rapid growth, Toolstation continues to meet its promise to thousands of customers across the UK.
Branches are open 7 days a week, and doors open from 7am to 7pm Monday to Saturday and 9am to 4pm on a Sundays but some are open longer. You can find your nearest branch by calling 0844 822 9466 or by checking on the official website.
The Toolstation head office is listed as, Express Park, Bridgwater, TA6 4RN.
Toolstation In Kettering Jobs – call 0844 822 9466
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Conifer's newest liquor store owners specialize in something a little different: Whatever the customers like.
Creighton and Staci O'Neal are the new owners of Conifer Village Liquors, the sprawling liquor store that sits between Safeway and Aspen Perk Cafe. Transplants from Kansas and current Evergreen residents, the O'Neals ended up in the liquor business after Creighton decided he wanted to get rid of his Denver commute and do something different after 20 years in the software development industry.
The owners of Evergreen Fire Art Gallery and Sculpture Garden are retiring and closing their business.
The gallery in the adobe buildings on Evergreen Parkway, known for its Western-themed art, the Evergreen Angel pendants and events such as Weekend in the West, will close for good on Saturday.
"We tried to find somebody to take over the gallery, but it didn't work out," said Barbara Hadley, who has owned the gallery with her husband, Phil Shanley, since 2008. "Everybody has been very supportive."
Four-year-old Maya Walker doesn't quite understand that her name is famous after her parents named Maya's Cantina and Grill after her.
Maya didn't have much to say about her namesake in downtown Evergreen, which had its grand opening this past weekend. However, she likes to visit her dad, chef Kyle Walker, in the kitchen after preschool.
Never far behind Maya is her younger sister, Millie, 2. Mom Megan Walker is a second-grade teacher at Marshdale Elementary, and Kyle is also a volunteer firefighter with Evergreen Fire/Rescue.
Evergreen is getting a specialty meats and butcher shop.
The new owner of the Tin Star Café on the boardwalk in downtown Evergreen will renovate the place in February and early March, and the new shop will open with the moniker Salt and Meat.
"We will make our own meats and cheeses," owner Nate Heartman said. "We will sell local products as well, but the idea is that we want everything to be made in-house, such as marinade spice mixes. It'll be a one-stop shop."
The Platte Canyon Community Partnership Resale Boutique in Bailey isn't your everyday thrift store.
For starters, it formerly was the Mountain Peace Boutique — a resale shop owned and operated by PeaceWorks Inc. for the benefit of individuals using the Mountain Peace Shelter. After PeaceWorks decided to close the boutique in April, half a dozen volunteer managers pooled their resources and talents to re-launch the shop under a new name and new ownership in July.
The new year will bring a new office for the Evergreen Area Chamber of Commerce.
The chamber is moving to the Stone House on Evergreen Parkway in Bergen Park in late January.
Chamber president Betsy Hays says the new space, with its prominent signage, will make the chamber more visible to visitors as they drive into Evergreen from Interstate 70 — though the signage will not be overbearing, as the chamber tries to be sensitive to its residential neighbors.
The Happy Hippy Market has a pretty cool name.
The shop in the log cabin behind The Den restaurant in Marshdale has a bit of everything — and more.
Marie St. Denis recently opened the shop as a place for local residents or those driving between Evergreen and Conifer to conveniently stop to grab eggs, milk or a quick dinner. Plus, there are locally produced candles, soaps and other items.
Cactus Jack's Saloon has achieved the Colorado Environmental Leadership Program's gold level for its environmentally conscious efforts.
The program, part of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, allows eligible companies and other entities to achieve status as bronze achievers, silver partners and gold leaders.
During a trip up Interstate 70 on any summer weekend, an observant motorist with a list of the 50 states could cross off half the names before reaching the Eisenhower Tunnel.
Vehicles bearing license plates from across the country — from Texas to Alaska and Indiana to California — make their way up the mountains alongside Denver area residents looking to escape the heat and the city.
Kittredge's Ambary Gardens has made great strides in the past 18 months, expanding from a single greenhouse into a full-scale retail operation with plans for further collaboration and expansion.
The business has been selling various hemp-based products, such as salves and tinctures, that are high in cannabidiol and have little to no tetrahydrocannabinol, the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana. Users of such high-CBD products have ailments ranging from migraines and asthma to rheumatism and glaucoma.
Copyright © 2019
Canyon Courier is your source for local news, sports, events, and information in Evergreen, Colo, and the surrounding area.


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Development of cognitive functions (Cognitive Development)
The aim of the study group is to research and characterize the typical brain maturation as well as possible deviations of this maturation in neuropsychiatric disorders during childhood and adolescence.
In particular, it is our effort to get a better understanding of influential factors of the brain maturation (i.e. genetic and hormonal factors as well as environmental influences on the structural and functional organization of the brain). In order to develop specific and age-appropriate interventions on a long-term base, we further study the mechanisms of neural plasticity of the developing brain. The clinical focus of our research is on ADHD and autism, as well as on specific learning disabilities (i.e. dyslexia, dyscalculia), tics and obsessive-compulsive disorders. Within this line, we are focusing on cerebral dysfunctions and the treatment options in the context of psychotherapeutic as well as psychopharmacological interventions.
To be able to identify deviations from typical brain maturation, it is essential to have precise descriptions of the typical brain maturation in typically developing children and adolescents. Here the focus is on the development of cognitive and affective regulation abilities of attention skills and empathy. In addition to neuropsychological methods, gaze behavior analyses, functional and structural MRI, EEG and psychophysiological measures are applied.


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Barboursville, West Virginia Arbitration & Mediation Lawyers
Matthew Ryan Rawlings Esq
Huntington, WV 25701
Derek Marsteller
Huntington, WV 25701
Elliot G. Hicks
Charleston, WV 25302
West Virginia University College of Law
Keith A. Jones
Charleston, WV 25360
Webster Arceneaux III
Sandra Bullman Esq
Charleston, WV 25302
Richard Allen Esq
Charleston, WV 25301
Ted Kanner Esq
Charleston, WV 25301
Nicholas Casey Jr
Christopher Power Esq
Charleston, WV 25301
Michael Spiker Esq
Suite 1500
Charleston, WV 25301
Mr. Paul O. Clay Jr
Fayetteville, WV 25840
Washington and Lee University School of Law
Colleen Michelle Brown Esq
Beckley, WV 25801
Brenda Waugh Esq
Charles Town, WV 25414
West Virginia University
Drew M. Capuder Esq
Fairmont, WV 26554
University of Houston - Main Campus
Vanessa Lynn Rodriguez Esq
Fairmont, WV 26554
West Virginia University College of Law
Monica Haddad Esq
Morgantown, WV 26508
West Virginia University College of Law
Peter Zurbuch Esq
P.O. Box 1819
Elkins, WV 26241
West Virginia University College of Law
Thomas E. Buck Esq
Wheeling, WV 26003
Linda Hausman Esq
Bridgeport, WV 26330
Melvin Kahle Jr
Wheeling, WV 26003
Harry Rubenstein Esq
Morgantown, WV 26501
Debra Chafin Esq
Clarksburg, WV 26301
Landers Bonenberger Esq
Wheeling, WV 26003
Michael John Aloi Esq
Fairmont, WV 26554
Debra Scudiere Esq
Morgantown, WV 26505
Arbitration & Mediation Lawyers in Nearby Cities
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The Justia Lawyer Directory is a listing of lawyers, legal aid organizations, and pro bono legal service organizations. Whether you were injured, are accused of a crime, or are merely engaging in everyday affairs that affect your legal rights or property, an attorney can help you resolve problems or prevent new ones from arising.
Here are just a few situations where you might want to seek the advice of an attorney:
- You were injured in a car or truck accident
- You have been arrested and charged with a crime, such as DUI or shoplifting
- You are considering separating from your spouse
- You have been subjected to harassment or other discrimination at work
Use Justia to research and compare Barboursville attorneys so that you can make an informed decision when you hire your counsel.
It is important to research an attorney before hiring him or her. Be sure to evaluate an attorney's experience (types of cases handled, prior results obtained, etc.). Although prior results are not indicative of the likelihood of success in your case, they can help you make an informed decision.
Also worth serious consideration is the attorney's location, particularly if you will be traveling to visit him or her for consultations.
Finally, research an attorney to see whether he or she has ever been subject to discipline. Although disciplinary actions do not necessarily impact the attorney's competence to handle your case, they may affect your decision whether to hire.
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It is a crucial question in terrorism cases: When should the government step in and make arrests?
If US law enforcement waits for bombs to be made, it may act too late, and innocent people could be hurt. If it acts too soon, it may not have an airtight case, or maybe any case at all.
In its latest terror arrests, involving three men born in Afghanistan, the government seems to have decided it was riskier to not act, say some terrorism experts. After all, the UN General Assembly is preparing to meet in New York this week, followed by the Group of 20 summit in Pittsburgh. Any terror incident would instantly gain world attention.
In fact, one of the defendants was on his way to New York just before Sept. 11.
"The critical issue is, when should the government intervene and intercept?" says Carl Tobias, a law professor at the University of Richmond in Virginia who follows terror investigations. "In all cases, it's a different calculus."
For example, in May of this year, the New York Police Department arrested four men – three of them Muslim converts, according to the Associated Press – as they allegedly tried to plant a bomb at a synagogue in the Bronx. The supposed bomb was actually an FBI-altered device, and the men's defense attorneys are claiming entrapment. The case is pending.
On the other hand, two years ago, the government arrested six men who intended to attack Fort Dix in New Jersey with assault rifles. That plot was still in the planning stages. The case went to trial in October 2008, and all men pleaded guilty or were convicted.
In contrast with US law enforcement, British authorities have been willing to let plots more fully develop before moving against suspects, says Daveed Gartenstein-Ross, terrorism expert and vice president of research at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies.
"Britain has had far more prosecutions for actual terrorism plots," he says. However, he notes, the threat there has become more imminent.
In the latest US terror case, Mr. Tobias says, it appears the government felt it had to act because of concerns that some of the defendants, or perhaps others, were beginning to make bombs. One of the defendants, Najibullah Zazi, has reportedly admitted receiving weapons training from Al Qaeda. He is alleged to have bombmaking instructions on his laptop computer. He and his father, Mohammed Wali Zazi, were arrested Saturday in Denver. Both were charged with lying to federal agents.
However, the younger Mr. Zazi had apparently been tipped off that the FBI was asking questions about him. The person supplying the tips was Ahmad Wais Afzali, an imam in a Queens mosque – something that even Mr. Afzali's lawyer, Ron Kuby, acknowledges.
"The government felt it had to move," Tobias says. "Its hand was forced, and there was no point in keeping it secret anymore."
On Monday, the government arraigned Afzali, who immigrated to the United States in 1981 when he was 8 years old. The government claims he lied to federal agents when he said he had not informed Zazi that the FBI was asking questions about him and that his phone calls were being monitored.
On Monday, outside of the federal courthouse in Brooklyn, Mr. Kuby maintained Afzali's innocence.
The imam did know Zazi for many years, Kuby says. And the lawyer does not deny that the imam told Zazi the FBI was asking questions about Zazi and that the imam knew his own his conversations were being taped.
"So why in the world would the imam lie to the FBI about the contents of a conversation that he knows is being taped by the FBI?" asks Kuby. "It would be as though in this interview, I turned around and said, 'I never gave that interview.' "
• Michael B. Farrell contributed to this report from San Francisco.
For more information on the current terror case, click here.
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MONTPELIER, Vt. - A decades-long boom in the population of snow geese has led state and federal fish and wildlife agencies to expand hunting seasons in hopes of cutting their numbers in half across North America and limit the damage they're doing to fragile Arctic breeding grounds in northern Canada.
Vermont added a spring season hunting season of March 11-April 26 as the birds travel between their wintering grounds in the mid-Atlantic states to their Arctic breeding grounds in Canada. The birds mostly use the Lake Champlain corridor during their spring and fall migrations, though some use the Connecticut River corridor.
New York's hunting season was similarly expanded and is in effect through April 15.
The number of birds is growing because they feed on grain left in farmers' fields across the region, biologists say.
'In the Atlantic states, snow geese are field feeding during the day and they roost at coastal wildlife refuges at night,' said Chris Dwyer, a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologist, based in Hadley, Mass. 'You do tend to see thousands and thousands of geese flying back and forth from different fields.'
Snow geese, and similar species including blue geese and Ross's geese in North America that are collectively referred to as light geese, have grown to record levels, scientists say.
A half-century ago, an estimated 50,000 breeding pairs of snow geese lived in North America. That's increased to estimated 1 million pairs today. The population goal is half that, set by state, federal and provincial wildlife officials in the United States and Canada.
Snow geese are managed by the Atlantic Flyway Council, made up of Canadian provinces, the federal fish and wildlife agencies in the two countries and the U.S. states that make up the flyway: Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Vermont.
Efforts to control snow geese populations have been under way for some time. The expanded spring hunt this year was authorized by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and implemented by Vermont officials, aimed at preserving Arctic lands.
'Although the Arctic is vast, the areas that support migrating and breeding geese and other companion species are limited in extent and some areas are likely to become inhospitable for decades,' said a statement from Environment Canada, a federal agency.
Dwyer said the hunting pressure prompted the snow geese to move around, possibly weakening them.
To encourage the hunt, snow geese hunters may use electronic calls and shooting hours will be extended until 30 minutes after sunset. The daily bag limit is 15 snow geese, and there is no possession limit.
The increase in snow geese hunting has helped business 'a little bit,' said hunting guide Dave De Vries of Addison.
'Snow geese are hard to hunt. There are a lot of eyes all the time. They go up as a tornado,' De Vries said. 'If you are in the field they want to be in, you're going to be good. If not, you're not going to get anything.'


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EEOC Office of Legal Counsel staff members wrote the following informal discussion letter in response to an inquiry from a member of the public. This letter is intended to provide an informal discussion of the noted issue and does not constitute an official opinion of the Commission.
ADA: Health Risk Assessments
August 10, 2009
Dear ____:
This is in response to your June 25, 2009, letter to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC or Commission) asking whether the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) permits your client to require its employees to complete a health risk assessment in order to receive monies from an employer-funded health reimbursement arrangement.(1) You provided a copy of the health risk assessment that asks employees to answer more than one hundred questions in several categories: "Family Health History" (questions 9-16); "Self Care" (questions 17-20); "Personal Health" (questions 21-47); "Women's Health" (questions 48-56); "Older Adult Health" (questions 57-61); "Health Choices-Nutrition" (questions 62-90); "Health Choices-Physical Activity" (questions 91-96); "Health Choices-Alcohol and Tobacco" (questions 97-113); "Health Choices-Safety" (questions 114-121); and "Health Changes" (questions 122-132).
Title I of the ADA strictly limits when an employer may obtain medical information from applicants and employees. Before a job offer is made, the ADA prohibits all disability-related inquiries (i.e., questions likely to elicit information about a disability) and medical examinations, even if they are related to the job. After a conditional offer is made, an employer may ask disability-related questions and require medical examinations as long as it does so for all entering employees in the same job category.(2) Once employment begins, an employer generally may make disability-related inquiries and require medical examinations only if they are job-related and consistent with business necessity. See 42 U.S.C. § 12112(d); 29 C.F.R. §§1630.13, 1630.14; EEOC Enforcement Guidance on Disability-Related Inquiries and Medical Examinations of Employees Under the ADA ("Enforcement Guidance"), available on our website at http://www.eeoc.gov/policy/docs/guidance-inquiries.html. This standard may be met when an employer "has a reasonable belief, based on objective evidence, that: (1) an employee's ability to perform essential job functions will be impaired by a medical condition; or (2) an employee will pose a direct threat due to a medical condition." See Enforcement Guidance at Q&A 5.
Disability-related inquiries and medical examinations are also permitted where they follow up on a request for reasonable accommodation or where the examination or other monitoring is conducted under specific circumstances (e.g., such as where periodic medical examinations are required of employees in positions affecting public safety). Id. at Q&A 8 and 18. Finally, disability-related inquiries and medical examinations are permitted as part of a voluntary wellness program. A wellness program is voluntary if employees are neither required to participate nor penalized for non-participation. Id. at Q&A 22.
Although the Commission has not taken a formal position on the question you have asked, requiring employees to complete a health risk assessment that includes many disability-related inquiries -- such as questions about how often they feel depressed; whether they ever have been told that they have certain conditions, such as asthma, cancer, heart disease, or diabetes; how many different prescription medications they currently take (questions 21-47); or how much alcohol they drink (questions 97-107) -- as a prerequisite to obtaining reimbursement for health expenses does not appear to be job-related and consistent with business necessity. Because all employees are required to complete a health risk assessment as a prerequisite for eligibility for a health insurance program, there is no indication that your client has concerns that a particular employee will be unable to do his job or will pose a direct threat because of a medical condition. Your client also does not appear to be obtaining medical information in response to a request for reasonable accommodation or because it is monitoring employees in positions affecting public safety. Finally, even if the health risk assessment could be considered part of a wellness program, it is not voluntary because it penalizes any employee who does not complete the questionnaire by making him or her ineligible to receive reimbursement for health expenses. For these reasons, the Commission believes that the ADA prohibits your client from making disability-related inquiries or requiring a medical examination under the circumstances you have described.
Finally, although many questions on your client's health risk assessment are disability-related, a number of questions are not. For example, questions about "Self Care," such as whether an employee sees a personal doctor for routine care or has a health care directive (questions 17-20), questions about "Health Choices," such as how many servings of vegetables or fruit an employee eats, whether he takes a vitamin supplement, or eats breakfast (questions 62-90), and questions about "Health Choices," such as how much an employee exercises, are not likely to elicit information about a disability and, therefore, are not subject to the ADA's restrictions.
I hope this information is helpful. Please note that this letter is an informal discussion of the issues you raised and does not constitute an official opinion of the EEOC.
Peggy R. Mastroianni
Associate Legal Counsel
1 - Three types of accounts can be used to help fund employee health care expenses: flexible spending accounts, medical savings accounts, and health reimbursement arrangements. Health reimbursement arrangements are a type of health insurance plan that reimburses employees for qualified medical expenses. Under flexible spending accounts, employees contribute funds through a salary reduction agreement. Under medical savings accounts, the employee or employer -- never both -- makes contributions. Under a health reimbursement arrangement, the employer provides the funds, not the employee See U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, "Health Spending Accounts," at http://www.bls.gov/opub/cwc/print/cm20031022ar01pl.htm. This letter assumes that your client funds the account.
2 - As of November 21, 2009, the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA) will prohibit employers from obtaining any genetic information (which includes family medical history) from applicants or employees, except under certain very limited circumstances. It, therefore, generally will be unlawful for employers to ask applicants and employees whether a relative has or ever had certain medical conditions, such as cancer, diabetes, or heart disease. Although questions about the health of an employee's family member arguably are not likely to elicit information about whether an employee currently has a disability, GINA generally will prohibit such questions. Your client, therefore, will likely violate GINA if it continues to ask questions about an employee's family medical history (questions 9-16) as of November 21, 2009, even if the questions are considered part of a wellness program since, like the ADA, GINA requires that such a program be voluntary. As we explain in our analysis of the ADA, infra, even if your client's questionnaire is part of a wellness program, we do not believe it would be considered voluntary.
This page was last modified on October 6, 2009.
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Summer Gold
Summer Gold
Our Giclee Prints are Fine Art Archival Quality Prints Made to Order. Each print is signed on the front bottom corner by Photographer, Daniel Pullen. 13x19s are bagged with a cardboard backing for stability. 16x24 and 24x36 Prints are professional backed with a foam core for added durability. 11x17 and 13x19 prints have a .5 white margin around the print. 16x24 and larger prints are printed full bleed to the end of the paper and backed with foam core.
Our Fine Art Canvas Prints are Made to Order. Canvases 1.25 inch wrapped with an open back and wire hanging. Canvases are signed by photographer, Daniel Pullen, on the front bottom right hand corner.
Our Framed Fine Art prints are available in two different timeless frame styles, 1.5" Modern Black and 1.5" Modern White. All prints come with a pure white double-mat and a protective acrylic face. Each Framed Fine Art print is shipped with pre-installed hanging hardware and an easy-to-follow hanging hardware kit. The kits include wall markers/indicators, a bottom bumper, as well as small level to ensure your print is hanging perfectly. Each kit contains a step-by-step instruction insert. Framed Prints are Signed by photographer on the back.
Our high gloss Metal Prints are printed on high definition, sublimatable aluminum sheets (0.1" thickness) with a white base that allows our image's rich colors to pop with unprecedented vibrancy. Each print is coated with a protective reflective finish bringing an ultra-modern feel to your walls. Hanging hardware is pre-installed and includes an inset float frame with nail groove track that is recessed from the print's edges and cannot be seen from the front of the print. All metal prints feature rounded corners.


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The Exhaustive List of Board Games You Can Play Online for Free
- Ryan Tullis(Tryken)United States
Hey, wait a minute. What games can we play online, anyway?
Let's find out!
* A link to the website where everyone can play.
* LEGAL and free options only, please!
* Please list options that are easy to access. If someone has to go through a tutorial on how to download fifteen modules and read three different languages, it's not a particularly great option in the first place. However, if it's that great of a place to play a game, and you feel it must be included, please include a link to both the website and the tutorial on how to access the game
* You are always welcome to include cheesy puns in your posts.
- Edited Mon Apr 23, 2012 2:51 pm
- Posted Mon Apr 16, 2012 5:59 pm
- [+] Dice rolls


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SCC wrote:Central Valley's field always seems to be in really good shape and is a fun place to watch 9-man.
I really like the community bowl in Bismarck with a view of the Missouri River also.
point/center wrote:I like Hope. Nice setting, good field. Oak Grove is good to, but mosquitos can be a problem. Another nice field is Kenmare.
lefty wrote:yeah honestly, kenmare is the worst field i've ever played on, including the school playground which was made of pavement. there is only grass on the sidelines and the track does cut on to one of the endzones. its like a street is going through the endzone???? and they don't even have lights so all of the games need to be played during the day. every high school football player wants to play under the lights!
22 wrote:Kemare just built a new football field, they should be playing on it next year
Velva in Iraq wrote:Maybe I am bias, but none the less Velva has to be one of the top fields in the state and the best I have seen in Class A. The setting is excellent for high school football and the atmosphere is unbelievable. The whole town is at every game and I if you have ever been to a Velva-Ryan or a Velva-Stanley game you can't get a parking spot in town. And Larry Sandy treats that field like his baby. I don't think most coaches put in the time he does to take care of his field.
ndfan wrote:I always loved Roller field in Devils Lake, I never got to play on it under the lights. But I got to watch some really good football players play there in the early 90's.
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Quilts of Virginia, 1607-1899: The Birth of America Through the Eye of a Needle
Schiffer Pub., 2006 - Crafts & Hobbies - 168 pages
This new book anticipates Virginias 400th anniversary in 2007 by presenting over 270 beautiful historic quilts and ephemera in over 430 color and vintage photographs. From quilted armor of the 17th century to crazy quilts of the 19th century, these personal family and museum treasures include homespun work of slaves and fancy work of freed women and First Ladies. The eight Virginia-born U.S. presidents are each represented here, with work from George Washingtons great great grandmother to quilting by Mrs. Woodrow Wilson. The contents derive from the study of more than 3,000 quilts statewide that were meticulously examined by the Virginia Consortium of Quilters' Documentation Project. This book is an important contribution to quilting history and Virginia heritage, and will be inspirational today for enthusiastic sewers everywhere.
What people are saying - Write a review
Quilts of Virginia 16071899User Review - acornquilter - Overstock.com
This book should be on every quilters bookshelf! It has incredible quilts and history in it and would make a great addition to any library even non quilters. A great book I highly recommend it! Read full review
LibraryThing ReviewUser Review - Baxtergirl - LibraryThing
Interesting documantation of early Va. quilts Read full review
Eastern Region Bobbi Finley Beth Hayes Marion Booth Lucinda Cawley
Northern Region Bunnie Jordan
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Abram's Delight Accomack County Album Quilt American applique applique blocks Applique Quilt Bonsack border born Botetourt County broderie perse century chintz Civil cloth Collection colony colors cotton counterpane Courtesy coverlet Crazy Quilt Custis dated daughter Detail diagonal diamond dress early Elizabeth embroidered embroidery Fairfax County feathered floral Frederick County Fredericksburg Friendship Quilt fringe Gibbs ginia hand quilting Harrison Hazel Carter hexagon Historical Society Hollingsworth homespun House James Jamestown John Ladies land linen Loudoun County Lynchburg maker unknown Martha Mary medallion motifs Museum Photograph Pidgeon Family Quilt Pieced Quilt Plantation president Quaker quilt designs quilt features quilt pattern quilt top quilters quilting includes quiltmaker Region Richmond History Center River Road Rockingham County Sarah sashing Shenandoah County Shenandoah Valley Sherwood Forest Plantation silk slaves square stitches per inch textile Thomas Jefferson thread triangles Valentine Richmond History Virginia Quilt Waterford Willa Cather William Williamsburg woven