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The game will feature cutting-edge technology, prototype high-tech weaponry, and state-of-the-art single-player and multiplayer modes. Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Future Soldier will go beyond the core Ghost Recon franchise and deliver a fresh gameplay experience, with an unparalleled level of quality that will excite long-time fans and newcomers alike.Gamers that end up buying the upcoming Splinter Cell Conviction for their 360s will get an exclusive invitation to a summer multiplayer beta test for Future Soldier. Conviction is still pegged to launch on April 16th.
Step into the future, soldier.
Bryn says: There's not too much to go on other than the series' previous success, which is a good starting place I suppose. Personally, I was always more attracted to the Rainbow Six: Vegas games than the Advanced Warfighter series, but Ubi knows what it's doing here. What would you like to see from Future Soldier?

subset: commoncrawl


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The UK High Court has ruled that ISPs must block its customers from The Pirate Bay, the popular P2P file sharing site.
In November 2011, the British Phonographic Industry asked a number of UK ISPs to block its users from the file sharing website. Virgin Media, Sky, Everything Everywhere, TalkTalk and O2 replied saying that a court order would be required to get them to put such limiting measures in place. And that's exactly what they are now faced with.
The UK High Court has ruled that these ISPs must now implement measures to stop browsers from entering the site. BT is also implicated, but has asked for a few more weeks to deal with the matter. Unsurprisingly, the BPI is happy about the news, saying "sites like The Pirate Bay destroy jobs in the UK and undermine investment in new British artists… its operators line their pockets by commercially exploiting music and other creative works without paying a penny to the people who created them."
However, Virgin Media's response was lukewarm, suggesting a more positive approach to the piracy problem would be better, "As a responsible ISP, Virgin Media complies with court orders addressed to the company but strongly believes that changing consumer behaviour to tackle copyright infringement also needs compelling legal alternatives, such as our agreement with Spotify, to give consumers access to great content at the right price."
There's no shortage of spokespeople ready and waiting to spout their two penneth on the subject, landing on both sides of the argument. Some of the most practical say that the more tech-savvy will easily be able to circumvent any measures put in place. Have your say below in the comments.
The Pirate Bay launched in 2003, and uses BitTorrent files to let users share conent. It calls itself "the most resilient BitTorrent site on the net", but this ruling will come as a blow to its many UK fans.
via BBC


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The Limousine Company, Ireland, one of the leading transportation management company, servicing the Corporate and Business and Private Sectors in Ireland with our Executive Car Service, Ireland.
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text: May 11, 2015City PostsAlzheimers.net Home > Resources > Alabama > Mc Kenzie Dementia Care Facilities in Mc Kenzie, AL Use our Alzheimer's Care search tool to find the best options for your family – a FREE Service! Location: Only show communities with in a mile radius. Roomtype: Don't Care 1 Bedroom 2 Bedroom Budget: Unsure Standard Luxury Searching Database... Loading Austin communities. Narrowing search radius. Filtering all Luxury communities. Prioritizing 1 Bedroom options. Checking availability. Narrowing search radius. Loading results. Continue Please send results to: Request Info Sorry there was an error: What Happens Next? We are calling you now to understand your situation better. * We put you in touch with a nearby Senior Living Advisor. Our service is free to you! We won't ask for your payment information. How We Help Your advisor works to understand the situation you're facing. They provide a list of communities that meets your needs. They guide you through the process. * Business Hours: Mon - Fri: 8 AM - 9 PM Sat - Sun: 11 AM - 5:30 PM By clicking Request Info you agree to the terms and conditions of our Privacy Policy. You also consent that we, or our partner providers, may reach out to you using a system that can auto-dial; however, you do not need to consent to this to use our service. A Place for Mom is paid by our participating communities, therefore our service is offered at no charge to families. Nearby communities in other cities B&C Assisted Living, LLC 388 County Road 1143, Troy, AL 36079 46.54 mi away B&C Assisted Living, LLC has the skill to resolve any aggression that residents may have, trained staff monitors medication and reminds residents when it's time to take them, the property has a nurse that is able to administer injectable medicine, complimentary transportation is at the disposal of residents, and full tubs are available. Call 877-346-5791 to speak to an advisor See more features Get pricing now!


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Sunday Champagne Brunch - September 29, 2019
10:00 AM to 12:30 PM from Weirs Beach
11:15 AM to 1:45 PM from Alton Bay
12:30 PM to 3:00 PM from Weirs Beach
Main Deck Entertainment
Mike Livingston
Scrambled Eggs
Hash Browns
Baked Beans
3 Chef Choice Entrees
Fresh Fruit
Assorted Salads
Made to order Waffles
Assorted Desserts
Orange Juice
Passengers over the age of 21 will also receive a complimentary mimosa.
Menu items subject to change without notice.
- Times listed in the cruise schedule are departure times. You should plan to arrive at the port 20-30 minutes prior to departure, to find parking, secure your tickets and and walk to the dock.
- Metered parking and paid parking lots are available at Weirs Beach. At all other ports, street parking or paid lots are available.
- Daytime Scenic Cruise tickets are non-refundable, however they are not date-specific and do not expire. If you are unable to cruise on your intended day, you may use your tickets for another day.
- Periodically, a public cruise may be unavailable if the ship is chartered for a private event. Click here for current unavailable dates.


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GOP groups spill secrets
For two years, outside money was a secretive game, with deep-pocketed conservative groups refusing to detail their methods or strategies — let alone discuss their donors.
Nowadays, though, it seems like they won't stop talking.
Story Continued Below
No ad buy, direct mail drop, bus tour stop or robocall is too small for a news release or leak to a hungry political press corps.
Even Americans for Prosperity, the main political group of the billionaire brothers Charles and David Koch (once regarded as the most secretive of secret spenders), has opened up about its spending, instructing its press shop to provide reporters with details about its $72 million worth of ad buys.
( Also on POLITICO: Series: The Billion-Dollar Buy)
The reason is clear: Conservative super PACs and outside groups face the very real possibility they'll have spent $1 billion and failed to elect Mitt Romney or deliver a GOP Senate.
That means professional political types could have a lot of explaining to do, especially to the rich donors who financed the record spending spree and are wondering if their investment was squandered.
So the operatives running the superPACs and nonprofits are scrambling to prove they made a difference in any way they can. They're positioning themselves to claim credit for successes, dodge blame for failures and prove that they're not one-trick ponies that can only do narrowly targeted advertising.
Karl Rove's Crossroads outfit, which mostly focused on television ads boosting Romney and GOP Senate candidates, has been branching out into House races and get-out-the-vote activity, working with Ralph Reed's newly robust evangelical mobilization group Faith and Freedom Coalition.
A coalition of groups in the Koch brothers' network — including Americans for Prosperity, 60 Plus, Concerned Women for America and CitizenLink — met recently to discuss how to prove they were giving donors bang for their buck.
( Also on POLITICO: Outside groups spent $213M in Oct.)
The pro-Romney Restore Our Future superPAC has been boasting to donors that its advertising in Michigan and Wisconsin helped make both states competitive, while the nonprofit American Future Fund has sought to differentiate itself from the crowd by spending on anti-Obama ads in Midwestern turf not long ago regarded as nearly impossible for Romney to win — Minnesota.
It's all being done with an eye toward after the election, when operatives, donors and fundraisers expect a major reshuffling of the conservative groups that reaped an unprecedented flow of cash resulting from rich Republicans' enmity for President Barack Obama and from the Supreme Court's 2010 Citizens United decision loosening campaign finance rules.
"Without question, after it's over, there is going to be a sorting out of who got the job done, and I think there will be some who might lay claim to accomplishments that they maybe didn't personally accomplish," said Idaho businessman Frank VanderSloot.
"Some of these organizations will gain in stature and some will probably fall by the wayside," said VanderSloot, who has contributed $1.1 million to Restore Our Future, raised at least $2 million more for Romney's campaign and hinted he might have given to Crossroads.


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Ash Ketchum
- Ash redirects here. For the item attached to Ho-Oh, see Sacred Ash. For the ash found at the foot of Mt. Chimney, see volcanic ash.
| Ash Ketchum
サトシ Satoshi
| 200px
Art from the Diamond & Pearl series
|10 (as of debut)
|Eye color
|Hair color
|Pallet Town
| Delia, Unknown father (EP002), Unknown grandfather (EP002) (Japanese only) (anime)
Mom (manga)
|Trainer class
|Game counterpart
|Anime debut
|Pokémon - I Choose You!
|English voice actor
| Veronica Taylor (4Kids)
Sarah Natochenny (TPCI)
|Japanese voice actor
|Rica Matsumoto
Ash Ketchum (Japanese: サトシ Satoshi) is the main character of both the Pokémon anime and the Electric Tale of Pikachu manga, and is believed to be based on the protagonist of the first generation Pokémon games. He shares his Japanese name -- which can be taken to mean "wisdom" or "reason" (智) -- with the creator of the Pokémon franchise, Satoshi Tajiri. His English surname is a pun of the original English motto, "Gotta Catch 'em All!."
|Spoiler warning: this article may contain major plot or ending details.
In the anime
Ash's main goal in life, as described in the first episode, is to be the world's greatest Pokémon Master. Ash began his journey at the age of 10 as a warm-hearted and well-intentioned but stubborn, rash and amateurish Pokémon Trainer. He was forced to accept the cheeky Pikachu from Professor Oak as his starter Pokémon because he carelessly broke his alarm clock and woke up late on the day he was set to get his first Pokémon. He was determined to achieve his goal, however, and when Pikachu saw that he was willing to compromise his own safety to keep it safe he formed a strong bond of friendship with Pikachu. This would set his course for the future.
However, from that point, Ash still had a lot to learn about becoming a Trainer. His first Pokémon was caught by luck, he knew absolutely nothing about battling, and was hesitant to admit it whenever he was wrong. Many of his first Gym badges were given to him merely out of gratitude for his assistance rather than claiming an actual victory in battle over the Gym Leaders; of his first five gym battles, only his victory over Lt. Surge was an actual victory. Every time he thought he was doing well, he would somehow cross paths with his childhood rival, Gary Oak. He always reminded Ash that he was always a step or seven behind, with Gary catching around forty-five Pokémon by the time Ash had only caught his seventh. This hampered matters further when, owing to his inexperience, his Charizard, his most powerful Pokémon, refused to listen to him until Ash could prove himself to the powerful Fire-type.
Over time, Ash's dedication to his goal paid off. After earning his first eight badges he went on to compete in the Indigo League, advancing to the fifth round - one further than Gary. After recovering from his defeat, he continued on to improve his skills; take on new challenges; and compete in more Pokémon League competitions - triumphing in the Orange League and the Battle Frontier.
Ash has changed a great deal over the course of the series, particularly in regards to his skill at Pokémon training, but his earnestness, rashness, and determination have remained. Never straying from his goal, he has remained loyal to his friends, his family, and his supporters, but most of all his Pokémon. Ash became a great Trainer by learning to find and use the inner strength of each of his Pokémon by bonding with them. For example, when he received a banner filled with prints from his Pokémon in The Unbeatable Lightness of Seeing!, he knew which Pokémon placed specific prints, showing his close bond with them. He also learns where their hidden abilities lie, as well as resorting to unorthodox strategies when fighting particularly challenging opponents. For example, he uses his Pikachu's speed to outmaneuver larger foes and attack. In another instance, his Charizard defeated Gary's Blastoise by causing the field to overheat before mounting a close-quarters attack while Blastoise was blinded by the steam. He also prefers to train a Pokémon to be the best it can without forcing it to evolve, as evidenced by his treatment of Gligar in Fighting Fear With Fear!. He is happy when his Pokémon evolve but lets them choose whether or not they want to evolve instead of forcing them.
Early on, Ash originally trained not to further himself but instead to catch more Pokémon than Gary. He later slowed his pace which allowed him to focus on the individual traits of each Pokémon. At the Johto League Silver Conference, with great humility and maturity, Ash finally won a battle against his old rival, signifying a great milestone in his history. His maturity has also increased in his dealings with Pokémon. This is shown when a Mankey stole his hat in Primeape Goes Bananas, he screamed and yelled at it, even climbing trees just to get his hat back, but when an Aipom did the same in Slaking Kong, he stated merely that he would feel strange without a hat. When Aipom stole his hat again in Setting the World on its Buneary, however, while it was under his ownership, he chased after it in the same manner as before.
In most episodes of the anime, especially those during the Johto League saga, Ash befriends someone who will influence him and cause him to strive to become a better Trainer. Although he is not a dependent individual, he is still young and has learned to make his way relying on his friends, particularly the maternal skills of Brock. The honor of "best friend" is usually reserved for Pikachu but Ash has come to see his closest human friends in the same light over time; using the term for Misty and Brock in Gotta Catch Ya Later as well as May and Max in Battling the Enemy Within.
He has traversed much of the Pokémon world and has thus far participated in four Pokémon League regional competitions, but he is still learning new things about Pokémon all the time.
Ash has gained a close connection with many legendary Pokémon, including Mewtwo, Ho-Oh, Lugia, Latias, Azelf, Shaymin, Giratina and Arceus. In the English dub of the second movie, he was revealed to be "The Chosen One" - the one who would bring balance back to the world when it was disrupted. Although viewed as a normal human, Ash does have some special abilities, as he is said to have the same aura as Sir Aaron, a legendary hero, and is theoretically able to manipulate it in much the same way. However, he has not received any training in this field, opting to continue his Pokémon journey instead. He has also been likened to an ancient aura guardian in The Keystone Pops!, who also had a partner Pikachu. Later, in Pokémon Ranger and the Kidnapped Riolu! Parts 1 and 2, Ash uses aura again to locate a lost Riolu and read Riolu's mind as well.
He has a Contest Pass for the Sinnoh region, though he has stated that the contest he got it for was the only one he intends on entering. He also has one for the Hoenn region as it was required to watch one of the contests held there. Ash carries half of a broken Poké Ball with him everywhere, while Gary has the other half, as a symbol of their ongoing, but now friendly, rivalry; Misty's special lure, which she sent to him as a gift; and half of a ribbon he received in a contest against May before she left the group to compete in Johto. Ash also participated in the Wallace Cup on the suggestion of Wallace but he lost in the third round.
Ash lived with his mother, Delia Ketchum, until he left for his Pokémon journey at the age of ten.
His father was never introduced. The anime suggests that his father was once a Pokémon Trainer who began his journey in Pallet Town, and that he is still living. An interview with the series' storyboarder confirmed Ash's father is a Trainer on his own journey. According to the same storyboarder, Ash's father may or may not be introduced in the series, depending on its necessity to Ash's further maturity and development as a Trainer.
Ash is an only child, breaking from the tradition of several other main characters, with the exception of Dawn and possibly Tracey, whose siblings are often a foil or focal point in their lives.
As a Trainer, Ash has captured and befriended a sizable number of Pokémon over the course of the anime. His philosophy on training is that Pokémon are individuals and that a combination of trust, friendship and hard work are needed to overcome adversity. He seems to battle best with Pokémon that are similar to Pikachu: ones that are speedy and maneuverable, yet able to perform high-powered attacks; however, he is willing to work with any Pokémon that comes into his care. Ash's battle style is generally spontaneous and fairly unorthodox, and his Pokémon often reflect these traits.
On hand
This section is based on the Pokémon with Ash in the most recent episode to air in Japan. For the current tournament, he also has access to any Pokémon at Professor Oak's lab.
Pikachu ♂
| 250px
Treecko → Grovyle → Sceptile ♂
| 250px
Gible ♂
With Professor Oak
In training
Charmander → Charmeleon → Charizard ♂
Gligar → Gliscor
Caterpie → Metapod → Butterfree ♂
| 150px
Pidgeotto → Pidgeot
Traded away
| 150px
Aipom ♀
Given away
| 150px
Ponyta → Rapidash
| 150px
Hitmonlee ♂
- Ponyta/Rapidash: Borrowed from Lara Laramie after she was injured and couldn't ride Ponyta in the race in The Flame Pokémon-athon!. It evolved into Rapidash when it was racing against Dario's Dodrio during the race and earned Ash the win.
- Porygon: Lent to by Dr. Akihabara to help stop Team Rocket from stealing Pokémon from the Pokémon Center's PC system in Computer Soldier Porygon however, this episode was not aired outside Japan.
- Arbok, Weezing, and Meowth: Used during a Pokémon League exam in The Ultimate Test.
- Hoothoot: Borrowed (with Brock and Misty) from Hagatha in order to navigate the haunted forest in Illusion Confusion!.
- Seaking: Caught and released during the contest in Hook, Line, and Stinker.
- Hitmonlee: Borrowed from Master Hamm in Pasta La Vista! to battle May with a Hitmonchan.
- Raichu: Trained during Camping It Up!.
- Spoink and Mantyke: Used in the Pokémon triathlon in One Team, Two Team, Red Team, Blue Team!.
Badges obtained
Indigo League
- Boulder Badge (Showdown in Pewter City)
- Cascade Badge (The Water Flowers of Cerulean City)
- Thunder Badge (Electric Shock Showdown)
- Marsh Badge (Haunter versus Kadabra)
- Rainbow Badge (Pokémon Scent-sation!)
- Soul Badge (The Ninja Poké-Showdown)
- Volcano Badge (Volcanic Panic)
- Earth Badge (The Battle of the Badge)
Orange League
- Coral-Eye Badge (Fit to be Tide)
- Sea Ruby Badge (Navel Maneuvers)
- Spike Shell Badge (Misty Meets Her Match)
- Jade Star Badge (Pokémon Double Trouble)
Johto League
- Zephyr Badge (Fighting Flyer with Fire)
- Hive Badge (Gettin' The Bugs Out)
- Plain Badge (A Dairy Tale Ending)
- Fog Badge (From Ghost to Ghost)
- Storm Badge (Machoke, Machoke Man!)
- Mineral Badge (Nerves of Steelix!)
- Glacier Badge (Nice Pryce, Baby!)
- Rising Badge (Better Eight Than Never)
Hoenn League
- Stone Badge (The Winner By a Nosepass!)
- Knuckle Badge (Just One of the Geysers)
- Dynamo Badge (Watt's with Wattson?)
- Heat Badge (Going, Going, Yawn!)
- Balance Badge (Balance of Power)
- Feather Badge (Sky High Gym Battle!)
- Mind Badge (Solid as a Solrock)
- Rain Badge (Eight Ain't Enough!)
Battle Frontier
- Knowledge Symbol (The Symbol Life)
- Guts Symbol (Wheel... of Frontier!)
- Tactics Symbol (Tactics Theatrics!!)
- Luck Symbol (Queen of the Serpentine!)
- Spirits Symbol (Ka Boom with a View!)
- Ability Symbol (Second Time's the Charm!)
- Brave Symbol (Pace - The Final Frontier!)
Sinnoh League
- Coal Badge (O'er the Rampardos we Watched!)
- Forest Badge (The Grass Menagerie!)
- Cobble Badge (A Triple Fighting Chance!)
- Fen Badge (A Crasher Course in Power!)
- Relic Badge (Shield with a Twist!)
- Mine Badge (Dealing With Defensive Types!)
- Icicle Badge (Sliding Into Seventh!)
- Beacon Badge (DP179)
Pokémon Competitions
Pokémon League ranking
Ash placed in the Pokémon League competitions listed below.
|List of competitions (heavy spoiler)
Pokémon Championship battles
Ash challenged the following Pokémon championships as well:
|List of battles (heavy spoiler)
Miscellaneous Competitions
Ash has also participated in the following competitions:
|List of competitions (heavy spoiler)
Voice actors
In the manga
In the Ash and Pikachu manga
Ash is a starring character in Ash and Pikachu, a manga series based on the Johto saga of the Pokémon anime.
In The Electric Tale of Pikachu manga
Ash Ketchum is a starring character in The Electric Tale of Pikachu, a manga series based on the anime. Ash's journey in The Electric Tale of Pikachu follows roughly the same plot as in the anime: first traveling the Kanto region to participate in the Pokémon League, before embarking on a journey around the Orange Archipelago.
While there are many similarities between the anime and manga versions of Ash, there are several differences as well. For example, while the anime version of Ash appears to be indifferent to love and romance, the manga version of Ash has a huge crush on Gary's sister, May Oak. He is also prone to quickly falling in love just like Brock, but to a much more subtle or less extreme degree.
Ash's appearance differs in the manga as well. He wears a red jacket, much like Red's, instead of the blue he wears in the anime. Also, for the duration of the first volume, he wears a different hat, which is solid red with a "PM" on the front. Beginning in The Human Race and the Pokémon Race, his hat is changed to match the one he wears in the anime.
Ash owns many of the same Pokémon as in the anime, with a few exceptions: he captures a Fearow and an Oddish. He also captures a Mankey, which he trades to a shady salesman for a map of Mt. Moon, and a giant Slowpoke, which he trades to Gary Oak.
| → →
Caterpie → Metapod → Butterfree
| → →
Charmander → Charmeleon → Charizard
Traded away
Slowpoke (giant)
- Mankey: Given away for a map of Mt. Moon with false directions to find a Clefairy.
- Giant Slowpoke: Given away to Gary for May Oak's photo.
In the Magical Pokémon Journey manga
Ash, along with Misty and Brock, make cameo appearances in bonus chapters of the Magical Pokémon Journey manga. In the bonus chapters, Ash and co. have mistakenly wandered into the world Magical Pokémon Journey is set in. The bonus chapters chronicle their attempts to return to their own world (of the anime) and their encounters with various aspects of the Magical Pokémon Journey canon which differ from the anime's canon (such as the use of Poké Balls).
In the TCG
This listing is of cards mentioning or featuring Ash or his Pokémon in the Pokémon Trading Card Game.
|Set no.
|Ash's Torkoal
|7th Movie Half Deck (no English release)
|Ash's Grovyle
|8th Movie Half Deck (no English release)
|Ash's Phanpy
|8th Movie Half Deck (no English release)
|Ash's Swellow
|8th Movie Half Deck (no English release)
|Ash's Aipom
|9th Movie Half Deck (no English release)
|Ash's Treecko
|ADV-P Promotional cards (no English release)
|Pikachu M
|Movie Commemoration Random Pack (no English release)
|Staraptor M
|Movie Commemoration Random Pack (no English release)
|Pikachu M LV.X
|DPt-P Promotional cards (no English release)
- Ash has captured each generation's Template:Type2 starter Pokémon: Bulbasaur, Chikorita, Treecko and Turtwig.
- Ash has also captured every Template:Type2 starter Pokémon whose English names begins with a 'C' and whose Japanese names begins with a 'ヒ' hi: Charmander (Hitokage), Cyndaquil (Hinoarashi), and Chimchar (Hikozaru).
- Ash has captured, befriended, used, or otherwise had under his command at least one of every type of Pokémon except for Template:Type2 and Template:Type2.
- In both the Kanto and Johto story arcs, Ash managed to capture all three of the starter Pokémon for both regions. This trend was broken in the Advanced Generation series, where he only captured Treecko; instead the other two were caught by May and Brock.
- The last Pokémon that Ash has captured in every region (except Sinnoh) are a part of one-evolution families, namely Phanpy in Johto, Snorunt in Hoenn, and Aipom in Kanto. Of these three, Aipom is the only one not to evolve under Ash's care.
- He always catches a local bird-like Pokémon of the region - Pidgeotto in Kanto, Noctowl in Johto, Taillow in Hoenn, and Starly in Sinnoh. Though not all of these Pokémon were captured in their first form, they all evolved into their final forms under Ash's care; the exception being Noctowl, who cannot evolve.
- As of the thirteenth movie, Ash has encountered every legendary Pokémon from the first four generations at least once.
- All of Ash's primate-based Pokémon have been under the control of someone other than Ash at some point (Primeape is currently under Anthony's command, Ambipom was under Dawn's ownership and is currently being trained in Vermilion City, and his Infernape was formerly owned by Paul).
- All three of these primate-based Pokémon were also shown evolving on-screen, and none of them evolved in the care of their original Trainer (Primeape evolved in the wild just prior to Ash capturing it, Ambipom evolved under Dawn's care, and Infernape (also as a Monferno) evolved under Ash's ownership).
- Ash also captured a member of each turtle-based evolutionary family.
- Three members of Ash's Sinnoh party have evolved while battling Paul: Grotle, Staraptor, and Monferno. Of those three, Grotle and Staraptor both evolved while battling Paul's Honchkrow.
- Ash has only caught Pokémon when he does not have a full party of six with one exception: his capture of Krabby.
- Ash has two fully-evolved Template:Type2 starter Pokémon (Sceptile and Torterra) and two fully-evolved Template:Type2 starter Pokémon (Charizard and Infernape), however, neither of his Template:Type2 starter Pokémon (Squirtle and Totodile) have evolved at all, or even indicated their desire to.
- Ash has several Pokémon in common with his current rivals; Paul and Barry. He and Paul both own a Torterra and have owned a Gliscor as well as both training the same Chimchar at some point. Like Ash, Barry owns a Staraptor and a Heracross. Other rivals of Ash's have had alike Pokémon; Gary has also owned a Squirtle and a Krabby, Morrison has a Gligar, and Tyson has a Sceptile and Donphan. Both had them on their league teams before Ash would later obtain them himself.
- All of Ash's Template:Type2s that he still owns, except for Charizard, have two immunities. Gliscor is immune to Electric- and Template:Type2s. Noctowl, Swellow, and Staraptor are all immune to Ghost- and Ground-types.
- Ash has traded away three Pokémon: Butterfree, Raticate, and Aipom. Of these three, Butterfree was the only one Ash got back, and also the only one that is not a Template:Type2.
- In each region (except for the Orange Islands), Ash always loses against at least one of the Gym Leaders before challenging them to a rematch.
- In the original series, Ash pinned his badges to the inside of his jacket. From Hoenn onwards, they have been kept in a case.
- Ash battled four legendary Pokémon, he has defeated two legendary Pokémon and also has been defeated by the other two.
- Ash has so far battled five Elite Four members, namely Lorelei, Drake, Agatha, Flint and Bertha. He has lost to all five without defeating a single Pokémon of theirs.
- In all of these battles, except Bertha, Ash used Pikachu in each one.
- The largest amount of episodes that Ash has gone without obtaining a badge was the gap between the Snowpoint and Sunyshore Gyms, ends in DP179, where Ash finally won the Beacon Badge. The gap was a total of 52 episodes. The shortest amount of time between badges was the one-episode gap between Showdown in Pewter City and The Water Flowers of Cerulean City.
- The date of Ash's birth, according to Takeshi Shudo's anime novelizations, is 10 years, 10 months, and 10 days exactly prior to the day he began his Pokémon journey. Being that the same novelization declares that Pokémon Trainers obtain their first Pokémon in April of the year following their 10th birthday, and the anime itself began broadcast on the first of that month in 1997 in Japan, Ash's birthday, if April 1 was the first day of his journey, would be May 22.
- Ash has crossdressed once in each anime series: The first time he did this was in Pokémon Scent-sation!, in the original series. He crossdressed a second time in Love at First Flight, in the Advanced Generation series. Tanks for the Memories! marked the third time he crossdressed, in the Diamond & Pearl series. Each time Ash has crossdressed, he was never willing to do so and was coerced or forced into it in some way.
- In addition to dressing as a girl, Ash has dressed up as fruit on at least two occasions. The first time, he dressed as an apple in Pokémon Food Fight! while the second he dressed as an eggplant in Claydol Big and Tall. On both occasions he was used to lure a large Pokémon.
- Several of the variety of ash trees, from which his name could be derived, are related to Kanto in some way: not only are there trees known as the "red ash", "green ash", and "blue ash", for the first three games, but also the "indigo ash", for the Indigo Plateau.
- Arnold and Travis are both doppelgängers of Ash. His first meeting with both of their mothers was being mistaken for them and embraced in a hug as the boys were away from home at the time.
- When Veronica Taylor was interviewed in the documentary "Adventures in Voice Acting", she stated that during her audition for the role of Ash, he was known as Casey at the time.
|サトシ Satoshi
|Can be taken to mean 智 (wisdom; reason); named after Satoshi Tajiri.
|English, German
|Ash Ketchum
|Ketchum sounds similar to catch 'em. First name can be found in Japanese name, Satoshi. Also, Ash is a default name for Red in Pokémon Red and Blue. Ash trees are suggested as another explanation as well.
|Sacha Ketchum
|Similar to Ash.
| 한지우
Han Jiu
|지 is from 智 satoshi. Alternatively, 지우 can mean "close friend".
|Chinese (Mandarin)
| 小智
Xiǎo Zhì
|智 is from 智 satoshi. Can mean "young wisdom"*.
|Chinese (Cantonese)
| 小智
Síu Ji
|Same as Mandarin name.
Related articles
External links
- Poké Master, the fanlisting for Ash
- Satoshi's Profile on Pokeani (Japanese)
- SPURT!, shrine to Satoshi.
On Bulbagarden forums
|This article is part of Project Anime, a Bulbapedia project that covers all aspects of the Pokémon anime.


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The current rate of cesarean section in the United States is 40-50%. The World Health Organization states that this rate should not be higher than 15%. That is a huge discrepancy! Once common cause for cesarean section is improper position of the baby. This could include breech or transverse position of the baby. Many women are told that their only option to help their baby turn is a rather uncomfortable, not very successful procedure, called an external version. ?
When a pregnant woman is told that her baby is in the breech position, she is commonly given two options: 1) schedule a cesarean section or 2) do an External Cephalic Version (ECV). What many pregnant women do not know is that there is another option: The Chiropractic Webster Technique. This article describes what the Webster Technique is and how it may help women avoid breech presentation and cesarean section.
Displaying: 1 - 3 of 3


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In May 2013, when 1 World Trade Center reached its final, dizzying height, topped off with a distinctive stainless-steel spire, the glass-sheathed structure became the tallest building in the Western hemisphere. Well before that, it had already claimed the title of the tallest building in New York City. But no matter how high 1 WTC might be, and whatever monumental skyscrapers follow in the years and decades to come, in America or elsewhere around the world, there will always be one, inimitable building that looms larger, and is viewed more fondly, than any other.
The Empire State Building opened for business on May 1, 1931, in the midst of the Great Depression, with New York governor Al Smith's grandchildren cutting the ceremonial ribbon that introduced the 103-story wonder to the world. For four decades, it was the tallest building on the planet, before it was finally surpassed in 1972 by the World Trade Center towers anchoring lower Manhattan three miles to the south.
[See more NYC landmarks in the gallery, "A Love Letter to New York"]
Today, long after losing its title as the tallest building in the world, and at a time when taller structures (everywhere, but especially in Asia) are rising at a dizzying clip, the ESB nevertheless still stands alone—literally and figuratively—on the New York skyline.
Literally, because when seen from the east or west of Manhattan island, the Empire State's immediately recognizable, graceful bulk rises unchallenged from a neighborhood that, by design or lucky chance, is empty of any other buildings even close to its size or grandeur; figuratively, meanwhile, the ESB stands alone because, for innumerable people around the globe, the Art Deco masterpiece remains, at something like a primal, subconscious level, the world's iconic—perhaps even its Platonic—skyscraper.
Yes, Dubai's mind-boggling Burj Khalifa, almost a quarter-mile higher than the ESB, quite simply dwarfs it; Malaysia, Canada, Chicago, Saudi Arabia, China, Russia and other cities and countries all have buildings or freestanding structures that are taller than the Empire State. But one would be hard-pressed to find—with the possible exception of the ESB's even more ornate, gleaming Deco neighbor to the north, the Chrysler Building—a more treasured skyscraper anywhere on earth.
An elegant and imposing tower of limestone, granite, glass and steel, the Empire State Building when glimpsed from afar, or when encountered from mere blocks away, is unique among modern edifices in its capacity to so suddenly and fully stir imaginations and cause hearts to race. (On what other building, anywhere in the world, could the lovestruck King Kong have so dramatically, romantically battled airplanes before plunging to his death?)
So . . . congratulations, 1 World Trade. It's heartening to see a truly phenomenal skyscraper soaring, once again, above lower Manhattan. But know that, three miles to the north, as it has for 80 years, the city's most beloved tower stands alone in the hearts of countless millions.
Ben Cosgrove is the Editor of LIFE.com


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It Is Never Too Late
The Master's Love
I Needed to Come Back
Finding Forgiveness
I do not know who in this vast audience today may need to hear the message of forgiveness inherent in this parable [see Matthew 20:1–15], but however late you think you are, however many chances you think you have missed, however many mistakes you feel you have made or talents you think you don't have, or distance from home and family and God you feel you have traveled, I testify that you have not traveled beyond the reach of divine love. It is not possible for you to sink lower than the infinite light of Christ's Atonement shines.
Whether you are not yet of our faith or were once with us and have not remained, there is nothing in either case you have done that cannot be undone. There is no problem which you cannot overcome. There is no dream that in the unfolding of time and eternity cannot yet be realized. Even if you feel you are the lost and last laborer of the eleventh hour, the Lord of the vineyard still stands beckoning. "Come boldly [to] the throne of grace" (Hebrews 4:16), and fall at the feet of the Holy One of Israel. Come and feast "without money and without price" (Isaiah 55:1) at the table of the Lord. . . .
My beloved brothers and sisters, to those of you who have been blessed by the gospel for many years because you were fortunate enough to find it early, and to those of you who have come to the gospel by stages and phases later, and finally to those of you—member or not yet member—who may still be hanging back, to each of you, one and all, I testify of the renewing power of God's love and the miracle of His grace. His concern is for the faith at which you finally arrive, not the hour of the day in which you got there.
So if you have made covenants, keep them. If you haven't made them, make them. If you have made them and broken them, repent and repair them. It is never too late so long as the Master of the vineyard says there is time. Please listen to the prompting of the Holy Spirit telling you right now, this very moment, that you should accept the atoning gift of the Lord Jesus Christ and enjoy the fellowship of His labor. Don't delay. It's getting late.


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North Raleigh: Community
School Notes: March 2
Scholarships available
Golden LEAF Scholarship information and applications for 2014-15 are available at www.CFNC.org/GoldenLeaf. A total of 215 awards, valued at $12,000, will be available for students attending a qualifying North Carolina campus and are funded by a grant from the Golden LEAF Foundation.
Financial aid open
High school seniors in need of college financial assistance can register for FAFSA Day. Financial aid officers and specialists will be available across the state Feb. 22 to help complete and submit Free Application for Federal Student Aid forms online. A list of locations and registration is at CFNC.org/FAFSAday or 866-866-CFNC.
Send School Notes to email@example.com.


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Published Dec 21, 2011
Whether it's an independent gallery or a private collection, what sets your favorite art gallery apart?
Stand up, improv, sketch comedy. Who makes you laugh? see the Top 5 →
Classic rockers, hip-hop artists, or country crooners; who rocks your... see the Top 5 →
Grab a date or the kids, and have fun either way! see the Top 5 →
Maybe it's your go-to spot for a rainy day or the place you take guests... see the Top 5 →
Black boxes, thrusts, and prosceniums all have stage presence, but which... see the Top 5 →
Whether it is a comedy or tragedy, everyone loves a great performance. Who... see the Top 5 →
The 2011 FOX 8 Cleveland ENGER HOT LIST awards are based on more than 129,000 votes from local Cleveland-area experts.


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Home › Scene › Capital Idea! ›
Capital Idea!
Connecting, communicating and collaborating were the evening's buzzwords at a recent party at Capital Distributing in Dallas with Modern Luxury Interiors Texas. Many of the city's elite builders, designers and remodelers gathered to hear Liza Hausman, vice president of marketing for the Internet design sensation Houzz, reveal the results of a new Houzz study on building, remodeling and designing from the homeowner's perspective. Photography by Laura Squire


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Development Redefined: A Holistic Vision in Bangladesh
UBINIG (Policy Research for Development Alternatives, in English) is a progressive grassroots development organization working within communities throughout Bangladesh. The organization is founded on a premise of holistic development rooted in protection of indigenous knowledge and community values. Formed in the 1980s out of a series of study groups involving activists from around Bangladesh, UBINIG's aim is to create more sustainable, localized, and indigenous forms of development.
The organization has nine centers around the country, where they work with farmers, weavers, children, and community members.
UBINIG also works closely with local handloom weavers in Tangail, Bangladesh, the country's most famous textile producing district. They give weavers initial capital to buy one or two looms followed by training for marketing their work.
Click here to start the slideshow of weavers from Tangail, Bangladesh.
:: Wowing the World of Finance.
- : Video—With a briefcase and a motorcycle, a banker in India gets poor communities on their feet.


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CANCELED: On Looking: New York Through Fresh Eyes
For most of our lives we ignore the world around us. Walking through the city, we often pay more attention to our cell phones than the myriad stimuli we encounter on the street, from people and pigeons to sounds and smells. In her book, On Looking, Barnard professor of psychology Alexandra Horowitz renews her attention to the complexity of an ordinary "walk around the block," by walking with and talking to people with distinct perspectives—an artist, a sound engineer, a journalist, an insect tracker, and others. In this event, Horowitz and panelists including Madeline Schwartzman, Barnard adjunct professor and author of See Yourself Sensing; Avery Gilbert, PhD, self-described "smell scientist" and sensory psychologist; Ian Frazier, journalist and author; and Margaret Mittelbach, adjunct professor of environmental studies at NYU, discuss what they notice when taking a walk in the city, revealing the layers of things we could see right in front of us—if only we'd open our eyes.


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Wednesday September 17, 2003
by Paul Roat
Fighing conch talk, hurricane discussions discussed
Debi Ingrao is a senior biologist at Mote Marine Laboratory specializing in benthic research - the stuff on and under the bottom of the water. We asked her about the Florida fighting conch invasion on the beach at Bean Point in Anna Maria last week.
As you may remember from the front-page picture in The Islander Sept. 10, thousands of the 4-inch-long shells appeared on the beach. Suzi Fox from Turtle Watch said they acted like lemmings, only instead of leaping off a cliff into the water, they were hurling themselves out of the water and up on the beach.
"I find it hard to believe that the fighting conchs would intentionally crawl out of the water for any reason, Ingrao said, "although they are sometimes stranded as the tide goes out.
"Most likely it is storm related. However, there is a remote chance it may be related to secondary effects of red tide events in our area. Or it could be a combination of the two."
Ingrao said the fighting conchs are very common in our area. She said they probably "got washed ashore when strong winds created a big surf. These snails prefer to be in the water and not exposed to air, heat, sunshine or freshwater. Since they cannot always control where they are they have developed some protective maneuvers.
"When they get stranded on the beach, their strongest desire is to get back to the water. Some may not be very patient and try to crawl back to water's edge. Some may be a bit lazy and stay put on the surface of the sand hoping the tide or a big wave will wash them back into the sea. If they are not close to the edge of the water, neither of these choices is a very wise one - a land predator could eat them, humans could pick them up for a treasure, but, worst of all, they could slowly bake inside their shells as the sun beats down on them.
"Other fighting conchs have a strong will to survive and will bury in the sand to protect themselves from the predators, heat, etc. Then, when they sense the incoming tide, the conchs will pop out of the sand and start leaping, hopefully toward the water and safety. I suspect it might take them a bit to figure out the right direction to go so it might appear that they are 'leaping' away from the water for a while. Many eventually figure it out."
Ingrao offered a little historical background on the occasional conch invasion on our shores.
"After Tropical Storm Gabrielle a couple of years ago, I received many phone calls about thousands of conchs washed up on Longboat Key and Siesta Key beaches. I visited several sites and there were thousands washed up on the beaches and observed them for a while. In your picture, it looks like quite a few have just popped out of the sand as I watched them do after Tropical Storm Gabrielle."
And what about that leaping, hurling motion many of the snail were engaged in?
"The 'hurling' you observed is one of their means of transportation - normally they crawl on their foot, but when they are trying to escape a predator - move a 'long' distance quickly - they will use their operculum (the 'trap' door they close when picked up, threatened by predators or stranded above the water line) to 'pole vault' across the beach. They stretch the operculum out as far as they can then flip it really quickly giving the impression they are 'hurling' themselves - it basically throws the whole animal into the air and forward."
And what about getting the heck out of the water due to a red tide bloom? Ingrao said it was unlikely.
"During red tide blooms (or any large algae bloom), one of the secondary effects is a decrease in dissolved oxygen in the water, which negatively affects all animals living in the water to varying degrees. Few scientific studies have been completed to determine how these red tide events affect bottom-dwelling invertebrates like the fighting conch. Based on limited diver observations of bottom habitats in red tide affected areas - and the dissolved oxygen decreases near the bottom and in the sediment - many of the animals living in the sediment will come to the surface of the sediment and try to leave the area if they are able. (Fish, crabs etc., might be able to leave the area.) "Others animals, like clams, basically can only come to the sediment surface and hope for better dissolved oxygen levels than what they have experienced in the sediment. If the dissolved oxygen levels are not high enough, the clams will gape trying to get as much of the limited oxygen out of the water as possible and eventually die.
"Fighting conchs have some mobility and it may be possible that they might be able to move away from an area into shallower water where there is more wave action increasing the dissolved oxygen. This could put them at the mercy of the beach surf and result in them being tossed ashore. At this point, this is speculation."
Another odd time on the beach, eh?
Fish farm flounders in Gulf
It looks like local, Gulf farm-raised snapper, cobia and amberjack won't be coming to a fish market near you anytime soon.
Members of the Gulf of Mexico Fisheries Management Council have recommended to deny any permits to allow a fish farm in about 100 feet of water in the Gulf about 30 miles from Anna Maria Island.
The National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration's fisheries officials will have the final say on whether or not Florida Offshore Aquaculture will begin the pilot program, the first open-water fish farm off Florida. That decision is expected after myriad other federal agencies review the proposal and make recommendations, but Gulf council's decision will have a big say, and should cause some big sway, in the final fed decision.
FOA is a Pinellas County-based company comprised of Capt. Tommy Butler, known for his super-fast boat, Reality Check; Thomas D. Powell, who launched the Sound Advice stores in the mid-1970s; and Jody Symons, who retired as a Motorola salesman several years ago.
The trio's proposal was to secure fish cages on the bottom, then raise snapper, mahi-mahi, pompano, cobia and amberjack until they reach legal size and sell them.
The aquaculture project would be the deepest such fish farm in the United States. The farming promoters argued the need for the deep system to avoid any red tide outbreaks.
Gulf council members questioned FOA's principals on their experience - almost nil - and the threat of pollution from all the by-product fish food and fish waste products the farm would produce.
Sandscript factoid
Hurricane Isabel has kept many of us glued to our television sets watching weather forecasts in the past week as it churned across the Atlantic Ocean, at times reaching maximum sustained winds of better than 160 mph. That wind speed made it more powerful than Hurricane Andrew, and we all know what happened 11 years ago to Homestead and Cutler Ridge.
Here's a place to go for some trivia for those of you who want more data than provided by the talking heads on TV:
The National Hurricane Center, National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration Website offers lots of information. The above address is for an esoteric element of the information, called "Discussions."
The discussion section is basically just that - a discussion of the various computer models, data from ocean buoys, satellite imagery and all the other stuff that goes into a forecast.
I guess you could call it the behind-the-scenes look at a tropical disturbance.
For example, with Hurricane Isabel, several of the computer models were arguing for a more northerly track days and days before the turn actually became a reality. The official forecast did not bring up that northward turn, since only two or three of the models were predicting it at the time, but the forecasters in their discussions were saying it had a good chance of veering right.
And so it eventually did, sparing Florida again from a Category 5 storm.
Factoid's factoid
Back a few years ago, Tropical Storm Harvey was churning around in the Gulf, with an expected landfall near Cedar Key. The computer models at the time were pretty much in agreement on where the storm would hit with one exception: a "rogue" model that suggested that the unthinkable would happen and Harvey would do a 180-degree turn and head to the Florida Keys.
That model, known as NOGAPS, was right, and the storm hit near Flamingo with very little damage. I always pay attention to whatever NOGAPS has to say as a result of that brilliant prediction. Some of us weather watchers even talked for a while about coming up with some T-shirts: NOGAPS RULES!
To find out about the various models, by the way, go to the link at the left of the NWS-NOAA site called "Forecast Models," and you can learn more than you would ever want to know about hurricane modeling.
Copyright © 2002 / 2003 The Anna Maria Islander. All rights reserved.


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The life of a star can be described as a battle between two forces, gravity and pressure. Once a thermonuclear fusion reaction has begun and is sustained in the heart of a star, it will push matter outward, constantly fighting gravity, which is trying to pull all the matter in the star inward. What wins out in this cosmological tug-of-war depends primarily on one thing: the mass of the star. If a star, or stellar remnant, has a mass that is within in a certain range—heavier than the Chandrasekhar mass, but below the Tolman-Oppenheimer-Volkoff limit—then it is likely that it will end its life as a neutron star.
Neutron stars are clusters of mass that are between 1.5 and 3 times the mass of the sun, but are much, much smaller, often with diameters on the order of tens of kilometers. Given this, they represent the densest material known.
Prof. Farnsworth: One pound of it weighs 10,000 pounds!
According to Sudip Bhattacharyya at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, "[Neutron stars represent] fundamental physics. There could be exotic kinds of particles or states of matter, such as quark matter, in the centres of neutron stars, but it's impossible to create them in the lab. The only way to find out is to understand neutron stars."
To further our knowledge of neutron stars, scientists need to measure two key properties: their size, and their mass. A pair of recent studies using the ESA's XMM-Newton and JAXA/NASA's Suzaku X-ray observatories have made great strides in advancing our understanding of neutron stars. Using XMM-Newton, Bhattacharyya and colleague Tod Strohmayer studied the binary star system Serpens X-1. They looked at the spectral line that results from hot iron atoms whirling around the star at a speed of about 0.4c. While they are not the first to examine this phenomenon, they were able to do it with a much higher resolution thanks to XMM-Newton's large mirrors. They found that the iron line was smeared by the doppler effect, relativistic beaming, and the extreme curvature of space near such a massive object. According to Strohmayer, "We have seen these asymmetric lines from many black holes, but this is the first confirmation that neutron stars can produce them as well. It shows that the way neutron stars accrete matter is not very different from that of black holes, and gives us a new tool to probe Einstein's theory."
In a concurrent study using the Suzaku X-ray observatory, the same authors teamed with researchers from the University of Michigan to study a trio of neutron star binary systems. Measurements from the two observatories put the diameter of these massive (1.5-3 times the mass of the sun) objects at only 29 to 33 km. With the new-found ability to measure the relativistic iron line about neutron stars, astronomers have another tool to add to their arsenal when it comes to studying these exotic bits of matter. With an estimate of size and mass, physicists can generate an equation of state for the matter packed inside these cosmic bodies. This new technique could also open up new avenues of research, probing the interior of the stars.


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Have you lived in your home for decades and accumulated too many items to take to a smaller space?
Are the very things you love creating safety issues for you in your home?
Does a recent change in your health or progressing physical limitations require new accommodations to your existing living arrangements?
Do you or a family member need minor assistance with daily activities?
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Moving to a new home, senior community or assisted living facility?
Organize Anything experts understand the needs of seniors who love their homes and their things. Our Seniors Services in Truro will provide caring and confidential services so you feel secure knowing your comfort and health is our priority. We evaluate and adjust your space and services to meet your individual needs. Seniors Services in Truro will help create an independent living environment that is safe and easily functional.
Our organizers can provide the following Seniors Services in Truro:
• Provide referrals for key suppliers
• Manage projects like minor renovations
• Assist when family members are out of town for short periods of time or are living elsewhere
Seniors Services:
• Bill payment and budgeting
• Mail and excess paper management
• Making your home healthier and safer- fall prevention, decluttering, air quality
• Creating systems that encourage your short and long term health goals
• Simplifying processes to find things faster and access easier
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• Decluttering, sorting and organizing belongings
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• Organize collections, mementos and photographs
• Estate planning and important document locating
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Organize Anything will help you plan your move. We will coordinate the tasks that need to be done and supervise activities to make the transition smooth.
Organize Anything will create a plan tailored to the seniors capacity and resources. We assist with the emotional and physical aspects of a move.
It is our policy to treat seniors with dignity, using patient dialogue to assist with the decision of what to keep and what goes.
Seniors Moves Services:
• Coordinate movers
• Measure furniture and create detailed, to scale floor plan of new space for furniture placement
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Call the experts at Organize Anything to make you and your family's life less stressful.
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The Chestnut Hill Community Association's Pastorius Park concert series returns at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 15, with a performance by singer-songwriter Jeffrey Gaines. The Harrisburg-born Gaines grew up with an eclectic love of music and has released six albums since being signed in 1990 – his most recent being "Jeffrey Gaines Live" in 2004.
Gaines' sound has been described as heartfelt and unpretentious and fits somewhere within the Alternative Pop/Rock and Folk genre. His music speaks to everyday life, and the emotional and intense sound of Gaines' music makes the concert-going experience relatable and enjoyable to just about everyone in his audience.
Raised listening to R&B, Gaines found his own inspiration within the electronic New Wave sound. After doing time with local garage bands covering The Who, The Kinks and The Jam, he was ready to break out and pursue a career of his own.
His first album, "Jeffrey Gaines," was released in 1992 to four-star praises from The Philadelphia Inquirer. Gaines then went on to release 1994's "Somewhat Slightly Dazed" amidst the 90's tumultuous period of grunge rock.
His album "Galore" was released in 1998 to rave reviews. Following it was "Always Be" in 2001, which included a chart-topping cover of Peter Gabriel's "In Your Eyes" that quickly picked up popularity and opened up Gaines' sound to a wider audience.
Gaines released "Toward the Sun" in 2003, produced by Mitchell Froom (Elvis Costello, Bonnie Raitt and Crowded House), further expanding Gaines' catalogue and gaining him an even bigger following.
Gaines is known for his close bond with his fans, who often help to pick the songs he will perform.
"When it's just me playing, I only know the first song I'm going to play, but from there the energy and the vibes tell me what the next song is gonna be," he said. "Someone may yell a song, and I'm like 'Exactly! Good call.' That's so fun to me, keeping it really exciting and spontaneous."
The 2004 "Jeffrey Gaines Live" album is his first-ever career-spanning live album. Recorded in November 2003 at the Theater of the Living Arts in Philadelphia, the album is truly special to Gaines and a tribute to his fans.
"Some artists record their whole tour, picking the best stuff to release – we didn't do that here," Gaines said of the album. "This is one show, one night being captured."
The Pastorius Park Concert Series is sponsored by the Chestnut Hill Community Association, The Chestnut Hill Community Fund and Chestnut Hill Hospital. The Jeffrey Gaines concert is also sponsored by WXPN.


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Published May 24, 2012
Whether it's for crepes, coq au vin or crème brûlée, tell us where you say bon appetit!
Samosas, tandoori, and naan. How delicious! Who does Indian cuisine... see the Top 5 →
Tell us who puts the meatball on top of your spaghetti! see the Top 5 →
Fajitas, tacos, enchiladas, guacamole oh my! Whatever brings you in, where... see the Top 5 →
These restaurants take old ideas and melt them into tasty new ones. Who... see the Top 5 →
Candlelight, soft music, and the best company. Who's #1 for your date... see the Top 5 →
If it comes from the sea, these restaurants know how to serve it right... see the Top 5 →
The 2012 KCRA 3 A-List awards are based on more than 273,000 votes from local Sacramento-area experts.


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With the furor surrounding the death on July 4 of army corporal Hung Chung-chiu (洪仲丘) threatening to spiral out of control, it was only a matter of time before Minister of National Defense Kao Hua-chu (高華柱) stepped down to take responsibility for Hung's death and the subsequent cover-up.
Although Hung's family was right when they said on Monday that Kao's replacement did not change a thing with regard to the case — as the 66-year-old was not directly responsible for the 24-year-old's death — drastic action had to be taken and it was, for two main reasons:
For purely political reasons, President Ma Ying-jeou's (馬英九) administration needed to do something symbolic to show that it is being proactive about the case. When controversies snowball, it is not unusual for heads at the very top to roll.
However, it is evident from the public's reaction and that of the Hungs that the move was insufficient. The family, and the many others who over the years have been unable to obtain the truth about the mysterious deaths of young servicemen, want the cases to be solved. They want answers.
By appointing Deputy Minister of National Defence Andrew Yang (楊念祖), who was Kao's deputy on policy issues since September 2009, the administration may have taken a step in the right direction. By elevating him to the top position, the well-respected, academically inclined 58-year-old has become the first civilian to head the ministry under the Ma administration.
Pan-green media immediately criticized the move, saying that Yang not coming from a military background would make him an inefficient defense minister. However, the inclusion of an outsider and the possibility of making a clear break with the past might be just what the military — beset with serious problems over the Hung controversy and the struggling all-volunteer program — needs.
That is not to say that Yang, who spent much of his academic career studying the US-Taiwan-China triangular relationship, will not face internal opposition from the armed forces, which traditionally are resistant to change and external meddling. Reforming the military and addressing the corruption eating away at them from the inside while it attempts to shift from a compulsory to a volunteer-based force will be an extraordinarily complex challenge.
However, to say that Yang cannot achieve this goal simply because he comes from a civilian background is invidious and fails to take history into account, since many defense chiefs before him — including at the world's largest defense institution, the Pentagon — also came from a non-military backgrounds and have performed their jobs well.
An additional benefit to Yang heading the ministry is the unusually good relations he has with the US military, the defense industry and academia, which certainly will pay dividends when it comes to facilitating exchanges with Taiwan's principal security guarantor. His ability to interact directly with foreign officials in English and his keener understanding of the need to entertain good relations with Western media — a marked deficiency among leaders of the armed forces — will also be important assets at a time of heightened sensitivity to a possible defensive abandonment by Washington.
Taiwan military observers often argued that despite his position as vice minister, Yang had little influence within the ministry. His elevation to the top job will be an occasion for him to show what he is made of. Given the high stakes and the critical phase the military is currently in, it is essential that Yang be given the support and latitude he needs to prevent the armed forces — Taiwan's last line of defense against Chinese encroachment — from collapsing.


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Misibis Bay is sweeter the 2nd time around! ♥
Due to the unfortunate experience we had on our day tour in Misibis Bay, the management granted us an overnight Gift Certificate in a Garden View Room (worth P20,000), which was later on upgraded to a Junior Suite Deluxe (worth P27,000) for free! This generous gesture delighted me big time.
Airfare tickets are not included of course, but luckily we scored round trip tickets to Legazpi for around P782.00 only (c/o Cebu Pacific's P12 promo). Much cheaper and convenient than taking the bus.
And off we go again to Misibis Bay. As soon as our plane landed, the staff of Misibis Bay was already waiting for us. Free airport transfers and on-board refreshments (yummy cookies!) for Misibis guests.
As usual, some dancers welcomed us by performing the traditional Ibalong dance. After that we headed to the reception area right away. Refreshments and a little snack were served.
The reservation officer asked for my ID and a deposit fee of P2,500 (which will be refunded upon our checkout). Also, since we're a group of 3, we paid an additional P3,888 for the extra person. After that, the lady handed their suggested itinerary for us. There's truly a lot of things to do in Misibis Bay.
Since we arrived 4 hours prior the standard check-in time, I asked the officer in charge if the room is ready. She said yes, we may use the room as early as 10am. Very nice. And to our bigger surprise- she informed us that we got a free upgrade again. We'll be staying in a One Bedroom Deluxe, a poolside villa! Rate per night is P38,000 and I'll be getting this for free! Spell happiness! ^_^
The size of this villa is 65 square meter. Huge enough for 2-3 occupants.
Now the bedroom..
I loved the dim light effect of our villa! As you know, I prefer my own room to be dim as well.
Now for the bathroom..
Luxurious indeed, and another one of its kind is this easy pool access.
It was such a delight to have a gorgeous villa for a day.
Here's a panoramic shot of the poolside villas.
Who wouldn't turn into a camwhore if this place is all yours?
yes, Sandara Park and the gang were also there in Misibis at the time. ano ngayon? hehe
Im very much overwhelmed with the entitled GC that we received. It was more than we expected.
At 1pm, we decided to have lunch. Since we already tried the lunch buffet in Misibis, we chose to have ala carte dishes this time.
Surprisingly, these dishes were really yummy! Each dish is already good for 3 persons. We spent a total of P1,500- inclusive taxes and tip. A bit expensive but we concluded it's just right for a meal inside a luxurious resort. Besides, the dishes were really yummy, not to mention the very attentive staff - Ken. We're satisfied. Btw, these creamy buko pandan ice candies are free of charge. Rem ate 4 ice candies and I had 2. Ang sarap! ^_^
After lunch, we strolled the area and found ourselves in the pool. Still, there's not much guests. Only staff are everywhere to assist you with everything you might need. Service deluxe at its finest.
We then decided to take a nap and enjoyed our luxurious villa. Good thing we already visited these attractions the last we visited Misibis Bay.
At 4pm, it's time for the non-motorized activities. These activities are free of charge. The gloomy weather was just perfect. Who wants sunburns?
The next we tried is Wind Surfing. And it's not easy at all. Ang bigat. Ang hirap i-control. I commend the patience of the staff for teaching us, one by one.
I had no interest to do Kayaking after, but seems I had no choice. Haha Let's do it then.
The wind and the wave direction were so strong that we cannot control our sailing anymore. The staff rescued us. Haha
I salute every staff for warmly accommodating us. Our bottled water and fresh towels awaited us after we've done an activity. Thank you mga bossing!
We have tried snorkeling in Marina before so we skipped doing that one.
Aside from these activities, guests can also do parasailing, jet ski, wake boarding, diving, ziplining, and a lot more. You can also visit some interesting spots nearby like the glass cathedral and amphitheater. Click here for Misibis Bay day tour.
We went back to our villa and enjoyed taking a bath in their luxurious bathroom. One of the best bath time ever!
At 8pm, we went out to have dinner. Buffet is served but guests have the option to order ala carte dishes. Since I think the buffet spread is not very exciting, we chose to have pizza and pasta meals instead. What I love most - my favorite pumpkin soup and mango panna cota were given as complimentary appetizer and dessert! Super like! ♥
the pasta is too spicy. the pizza had overwhelming toppings. the soup - divine!
Anyway, there's a live band performance too. And since the Korean pop stars and the crew were also there, the band played some Korean songs that night. Yes, pasikat. ^_^
We spent a total of P1,500 for this dinner. Good enough specially they gave us that remarkable pumpkin soup, mango panna cota, and superior customer service. =)
The scene is nothing but glamorous and elegant. Agree?
No booze for us that night. We chose to have coffee and tea instead in our own veranda.
Come next morning, we had our complimentary breakfast buffet in their restaurant. Still, there's not much guests. I believe 2NE1 had a good choice, Misibis Bay has privacy.
What's for breakfast?
cheese and bread, congee, omelet station, angus beef tapa
Before going home, we strolled the beach area for the last time.
The sand may not be pink, but that's not Misibis is all about. It's about the world-class service. It's about luxury and exclusivity. Mind you, it's 1 of the 3 resorts in the Philippines that is accredited by the Small Luxury Hotels of the World.
We concluded it was really an outstanding experience in Misibis Bay. I have never experienced this kind of service until I stayed there. This is the finest. Im proud that there's kind of luxury resort in Legazpi.
..and yes, Im willing to save money to afford a Misibis Bay getaway in the future.
Cagraray Island, Bacacay, Albay, Bicol Region, Philippines
email: email@example.com
contact no: 661 8888


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Accessible Travel
Spain is not overly accommodating for travellers with disabilities, but some things are slowly changing. For example, disabled access to some museums, official buildings and hotels represents a change in local thinking. In major cities more is slowly being done to facilitate disabled access to public transport and taxis; in some cities, wheelchair-adapted taxis are called 'Eurotaxis'. Newly constructed hotels in most areas of Spain are required to have wheelchair-adapted rooms. With older places, you need to be a little wary of hotels who advertise themselves as being disabled-friendly, as this can mean as little as wide doors to rooms and bathrooms, or other token efforts.
Some tourist offices – notably those in Madrid and Barcelona – offer guided tours of the city for travellers with disabilities.
Inout Hostel Worthy of a special mention is Barcelona's Inout Hostel, which is completely accessible for those with disabilities, and nearly all the staff that work there have disabilities of one kind or another. The facilities and service are first-class.
Museo Tifológico This attraction is specifically for people who are visually impaired. Run by the Organización Nacional de Ciegos Españoles (National Organisation for the Blind, ONCE), its exhibits (all of which may be touched) include paintings, sculptures and tapestries, as well as more than 40 scale models of world monuments, including Madrid's Palacio Real and Cibeles fountain, as well as La Alhambra in Granada and the aqueduct in Segovia. It also provides leaflets in Braille and audio guides to the museum.
Madrid Accesible (Accessible Madrid; www.esmadrid.com/madrid-accesible) Your first stop for more information on accessibility for travellers in Madrid should be the tourist section known as 'Madrid Accesible', where you can download a PDF of their excellent Guía de Turismo Accesible in English or Spanish. It has an exhaustive list of the city's attractions and transport and a detailed assessment of their accessibility, as well as a list of accessible restaurants. Most tourist offices in Madrid have a mapa turístico accesible in Spanish, English and French
Accessible Travel & Leisure Claims to be the biggest UK travel agent dealing with travel for people with a disability, and encourages independent travel. Spain is one of the countries it covers in detail.
Barcelona Turisme Website devoted to making Barcelona accessible for visitors with a disability.
ONCE The Spanish association for those who are blind. You may be able to get hold of guides in Braille to Madrid, although they're not published every year.
Society for Accessible Travel & Hospitality (www.sath.org) A good resource, which gives advice on how to travel with a wheelchair, kidney disease, sight impairment or deafness.
Metro or tram lines, or stations built (or upgraded) since the late 1990s, generally have elevators for wheelchair access, but the older lines can be ill-equipped (including many of Madrid's lines; check the map at www.metromadrid.es). Even in stations with wheelchair access, not all platforms necessarily have functioning escalators or elevators.
The single-deck piso bajo (low floor) buses are now commonplace in most Spanish cities. They have no steps inside and in some cases have ramps that can be used by people in wheelchairs.
If you call any taxi company and ask for a 'Eurotaxi' you should be sent one adapted for wheelchair users.
Accessible Travel Online Resources
Download Lonely Planet's free Accessible Travel guides from http://lptravel.to/AccessibleTravel.


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Don MacAskillon February 7, 2017
Troy, your wildlife photos are incredible! Thanks so much for sharing them with me and the world. Keep it up!
Danon July 17, 2011
Awesome man. Well done.
TomHennemanon March 20, 2011
sweet nice pics
Cindyon October 25, 2010
Wow, these photos are amazing!! What model of camera are you using?
Shawnaon July 14, 2010
Those are the best firesworks pictures I have ever seen! You do great work,Troy!
georgesydlowskion February 18, 2010
Great Eagle photos - nice detail and good action
CLG-Photographyon February 17, 2010
Troy....these are amazing!!! Unreal! Keep it up...
Sandyon February 16, 2010
Beautiful pictures Troy
ynoton October 16, 2009
nice elk photos


text:
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The product in question is Jefferson Scott's Character Creation for the Plot-First Novelist, a system intended to help writers develop well-rounded characters. According to the website where it's available for sale,
Character Creation for the Plot-First Novelist begins with a character center and then adds layers in a logical fashion, coming at character creation from a variety of angles--everything from how we perceive people in real life to how the character is (or isn't) impacted by the love of God. [more...]
As you can guess from that last bit, Scott is a Christian writer.
The system consists of three parts. The first part is a lengthy chart called the Character Creation Template, which asks a series of pointed questions about the character you are creating. They are good, sometimes challenging questions, and as the website promises, they come at the character from several angles and force the writer to think about the character in ways he may not have before. The chart is divided into several color-coded sections, twelve in all, that range from "Vital Statistics," including such basic info as name, age, and nationality, to such matters as "Interior Journey" and "What this Person Says and How S/He Says It," probably the most difficult section for me, which includes tough questions like, "How well can this person communicate an idea or story? If not understood the first time, how does s/he try to solve the miscommunication? Illustrate." Oh man, that's hard, especially since I don't know what a s/he is. Is that some kind of mutant?
After it's finished asking questions, each section of the chart demands a summary. The final sections demand a final summary, the composition of a definitive scene depicting the character, and a monologue.
Filling out the chart, Scott warns, takes approximately four hours per character, but I believe a thorough treatment actually takes around eight. I have found that filling out these charts is extremely taxing, partly because they challenge me to consider my characters in new ways and therefore demand a lot of imaginative input. In the process of completing the chart, I learn things I didn't previously know: for example, I'm currently designing a ten-year-old martial arts master with hypoglycemia; even though I already knew a good deal about him before, even though I already knew he had a romantic and melancholy nature and a pervading sense of inadequacy, when I began filling in data on the chart, it suddenly struck me that his life has been characterized by a complete absence of male friends or father figures, and suddenly I found myself exploring the implications of that. Had I not used Scott's system, I would have uncovered the importance of his relationships much more haphazardly, if at all.
The second part of the system is a set of pop psychology books the user will need to create the character, and which must be purchased separately. In his sales pitch, Scott only mentions one book, David Keirsey's Please Understand Me II, around which his character-creation system is structured. The book is a detailed description of the sixteen Myers-Briggs personality types, which seem to have some faddish popularity. I'm not qualified to evaluate whether Keirsey's book is worth the paper it's printed on, or whether the Myers-Briggs system has any merit, but I admit that, so far, every time I dream up a personality for a work of fiction, I inevitably find that personality described with some exactness in one of the sixteen types outlined in Keirsey's book, even when I think the character is too larger-than-life to have a Myers-Briggs type.
When it comes to real life, I'm tempted to place personality-typing in the same category of junk science I place physiognomy and horoscopes, but as far as fiction goes, my only serious concern with Keirsey is his repeated insistence that these personality types are intact at birth and unchangeable. I find this unlikely, especially since the questions on his "Personality Sorter" are so vague, I could easily answer them differently on different days. A writer should give serious thought to how his characters change over time through the course of a story; the changes may be profound enough that even his personality type changes. The Myers-Briggs system might actually lend itself well to this, since there are four "core types" around which the sixteen types are built. If a character changes profoundly, such as by becoming more assertive and less reclusive over time, it might be a good idea to move him from one type to another while leaving his core type the same.
Scott doesn't mention it in the description of his product, but he uses two Christian works of pop psychology in his system as well, both of which the writer will need if he is to fully understand all the questions on the chart. The first of these Christian pop psych books is Gary Chapman's Five Love Languages. In filling out information on a character, Scott asks for a "primary" and "secondary love language." The writer would need to be at least remotely familiar with Chapman's work to understand what Scott means. Chapman's book has some flaws, but they appear to be outweighed by his insights, so it's not a bad idea to pick up a copy of this. However, rather than simply filling in the names of two of Chapman's "love languages" and moving on, it would probably be a better idea to give serious thought to how the character expresses and receives affection, and why. Since the major protagonists in the work I'm currently creating are all eleven and under, it feels a little weird to write about their "love languages," but The Five Love Languages often reads as if it were written to people eleven and under, so I figure it's okay. Besides, Chapman does have a chapter on children in the back of his book, which I found helpful.
It is probably best to use Chapman only loosely. Rather than merely marking down a love language for the character and moving on, I think it is worth the time to think in more concrete terms about how each character receives or shows affection. In doing so, I came to realize that a character may not necessarily prefer to receive and show affection in the same way. For example, one of the characters I'm designing, a pistol-packing fourth-grade girl, enjoys playing hostess, entertaining guests, and treating her friends to elaborate meals (in keeping with her ESFP "Artisan Performer" personality type), all of which Chapman would characterize as the "acts of service" love language. However, in considering the character, I realized she wasn't particularly interested in other people serving her, so I concluded that the "love language" with which she expresses herself, and the "love languages" (I'm beginning to hate that phrase) she prefers from others, are different. I distrust Christian pop-psych as a rule, but nonetheless, Chapman got me thinking about my characters in new ways.
Chapman's major deficiency is the same as Keirsey's. In the chapter on children, he appears to work from the assumption that "love language" is something a person is born with. The writer, however, should consider how life experience has shaped a person. For example, if his family was cold or even absent as he was growing up, a character may crave physical affection, or perhaps shy away from it. The writer should not only consider the character's attributes, but how the character developed those attributes. It would be a good idea to jot down some of that information in the "love language" space on Scott's chart.
Also, while I'm on the subject, I wish Chapman would either come to a final decision regarding the gender of my spouse or else stop writing in second person. As he writes, my hypothetical spouse keeps switching between him, her, him/her, and him or her. I feel like I'm married to Ranma.
The final book Scott uses is unfortunate and represents his only major flub. The book is Robert S. McGee's Search For Significance, which looks like an archetypal example of the kind of garbage that has done so much to reduce Evangelicalism from a real religion to a cosmic self-help seminar. Nonetheless, the questions on Scott's chart that draw from the book almost--almost--manage to make it useful. When Scott asks about the character's "wrong thinking" or "self-medication," he is essentially asking about self-reinforcing behaviors, about how the character rewards himself or treats himself when stressed, and about addiction. This is the section in the chart to explore a character's retreat into comfort food or comic books or alcohol, if he retreats into such things. Nonetheless, Scott's questions get off-base because he hews too closely to McGee: he asks, for example, "What is God's answer to that wrong thinking category?" and then presents four options, "justification, reconciliation, propitiation, or regeneration." The Catholic, of course, will scratch his head and wonder if those aren't more-or-less synonyms. Indeed they are, and in McGee's book, they essentially mean the same thing: talking yourself into believing you're fine and dandy no matter what you've done or what your life is like because you've received the alien righteousness of Christ. Though a writer might gain a little inspiration from McGee, using him too much could, I am convinced, harm an artistic work. McGee's solutions to "wrong thinking" mostly amount to flatulent pep talks that could be summarized as, "I'm fabulous, gorgeous, and darn it, Jesus likes me." If your characters' problems are that easy to solve, you're doing something wrong. Nonetheless, after skimming McGee to get an impression of what Scott is getting at in this section of the chart, I find it is quite easy to retool Scott's questions so they are meaningful.
The third part of Scott's system is a simple computer program called CharPick. Its major purpose, according to Scott, is to randomly generate basic information for walk-on or minor characters. So far, I have found little to no use for CharPick. The data generated by the program include such things as a Myers-Briggs personality profile, wealth, cultural heritage, place of origin, and a number of other factors. The program is customizable, but I haven't bothered; I find it more useful to simply open the chart and fill in the CharPick information myself without using the program. I tend to think it would be too much trouble to customize the program to randomly generate information that, more likely than not, I already know about the character anyway. Certain sections, such as "disability," aren't worth customizing. The hypoglycemia "disability" of my aforementioned underage martial-artist, for example, is not built into the program, so I would have to add it myself, but I have no intention of introducing more than one hypoglycemic character to the story, so there would be no point.
The only real drawback to Scott's system is an inevitable one: a chart is stagnant, but a character, or at least a central character, should not be. The chart, when finished, will be a very thorough examination of a character, but it will be a thorough examination of that character at a single point in time, probably when the story begins. If a writer wishes to explore how the character changes over time, it may be necessary to fill out the chart twice or thrice. Considering that it takes eight hours to fill out the chart, that sounds daunting, but at least it should go more quickly the second or third time around, since much of the information won't change.
My only other complaint is a minor one: Scott's Character Creation Template is color-coded, probably so the information can be found quickly and easily. However, I like to print mine after I'm finished. Because a finished chart, thoughtfully and thoroughly completed, will fill over twenty pages, that's a serious drain on an expensive color ink cartridge. I usually switch to black-and-white printing before printing the chart, which of course defeats the purpose of the color-coding.
The writer will, of course, get out of Scott's system what he puts into it. I recommend spending extra thought and time on those questions that seem the hardest to answer or the least interesting; after all, those are probably the aspects of the character you've thought about the least, and which are therefore most in need of development. I am finding the system useful, and it is encouraging me to learn things about my characters I likely wouldn't have learned otherwise. If you're an aspiring writer who wants a systematized way to develop and keep track of characters, Scott's Character Creation is worth considering.
But even though I'm finished, I can't quit until I point out that some sentences in Gary Chapman's Five Love Languages read uncannily like R&B lyrics. For example, Chapman writes, "One of you comes home and asks, on a scale of zero to ten, how is your love tank tonight?" (p. 140). Now just imagine that set to a well-dressed, sweaty beat:
On a scale of one to ten, baby--
How's yo luv tank tonight?
(How's yo luv tank tonight?)
I said how's yo luv tank tonight?
(How's yo luv tank tonight?)


text:
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|East Asia (except China and Mongolia), Southeast Asia, the Americas
|Africa, Southwest Asia, Europe (except Russia), Oceania and their territories
|Central Asia, East Asia (China and Mongolia), South Asia and Central Eurasia
Unlock your DVD player using a remote control unlock code. This service has been created to free players from region locks, added by manufacturers to control movie distribution. This is achieved by tapping simple DVD codes into your player using its remote control. Once the DVD sequence has been entered, your player will become region free. Multi-region unlock codes will free the power of your player allowing you to watch movies from anywhere in the world. DVDExploder ensures a first class experience, offering personal code research and rapid customer service. We describe ourselves as 'Number One' in the DVD code industry. See for yourself today.


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