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Solving Problems, Part 2: On Boardby Kuki, CruiseMates Cruise Director | May 2, 2005
In Part 1, we talked about safeguards and procedures to follow in taking care of pre-cruise business, including booking, documentation and so on. Now I want to move on to on-board situations.
But first, there are just a couple of more pre-cruise business items to cover.
When you inspect cruise line brochures, you need to look past the glossy pictures and glowing descriptions, and concentrate on the "dry facts" normally placed in the back of the brochures. These outline the obligations of the cruise line, and your rights as a passenger.
It's also important to read and understand the descriptions of the penalties you face if you have to cancel the cruise before sailing. Reading these sections of the brochure may not enhance the glamour and excitement of planning your vacation, but this is important information to know if things go wrong.
For the sake of public relations, the cruise lines will occasionally make exceptions to the "rules" in their brochures and contracts. But in most cases they will stick closely to the responsibilities laid out by them in these documents.
When Problems Arise On Board
Rule #1: If you have a problem onboard, try to have it remedied onboard, and as soon as possible. Take your problem immediately to the people who can do something about it. If possible, those people will want to remedy the problem as soon as they can.
If you don't act -- if you just carry your problem in your mind for the duration of your cruise without attempting to resolve it, you bear some responsibility for the negative impact it will have on your vacation.
Cabin Problems
If you encounter a problem in your cabin the first day, and it's minor, ask your cabin steward to deal with it first. The Guest Relations desk is often swamped the first day, and you may find a less-than-welcoming attitude if you call or go there to have the problem dealt with. If the problem is minor but the cabin steward can't remedy it, wait until the next morning before trying Guest Relations. If it's something you consider a serious problem, go to the Guest Relations desk to report it, but show some patience to those manning the counters. Being calm and even pleasant will get a more sympathetic ear than banging your fists on the counter.
If by the next day you have been unable to get the problem corrected, or on its way to resolution, ask to speak to the Guest Relations Manager. If you can't do so immediately, leave a note explaining the problem and what you've already done to try and fix it.
It's likely that at this point, your problem will have been resolved. But if it hasn't been, keep climbing up the ladder; ask for a meeting with the Hotel Manager. He or she is ultimately responsible for all issues having to do with the ship's public and private areas for passengers.
If you can't resolve your cabin issue while onboard, keep notes that you can refer to after the cruise, to bring the unresolved problem to the attention of the cruise line's home office. Detail whom you spoke to, and what attempts were made to address the problem. Though in severe circumstances it may be difficult, try to contain your emotions and deal with the issue in a businesslike manner.
Dinner Seating Arrangements
When you booked your cruise, your travel agent should have asked for your preferred dinner seating requests -- early or late seating, and the size of table you prefer. If you are traveling with others, the agent should have cross-referenced your reservations and those of your travel mates with the cruise line.
Even if you're told your preferred dining arrangements were confirmed by the cruise line, check once you're onboard to make certain. If they aren't, ask Guest Relations where to find the Maitre d' or Restaurant Manager. These people will do their utmost to assist in correcting any errors.
In the case of "traditional assigned dining times," you could find yourself seated next to passengers with whom you have little in common. If this could negatively impact your cruise experience, ask the Maitre d' for a change of tables. Maybe this will make you feel like you aren't a nice person, but taking no action will leave you uncomfortable during what should be one of the most enjoyable aspects of your cruise.
Service Issues
The vast majority of staffers onboard will do their utmost to make your cruise the best vacation you ever had. But these are still human beings, and some are better at their jobs than others. And like all of us, some have off-days (or weeks) where they might struggle to do their cruise line jobs properly.
There's a broad cross-section of individual preferences for the type of service we enjoy. Some people want a strict server/guest relationship: They want food and drink delivered efficiently, without any interaction with their servers. Others prefer a more social relationship with their servers. They want the servers not only to serve them efficiently, but also to socialize with them. It's not easy for those who serve passengers to determine quickly which category their guests fall into. I am often amazed at what a good job most crew members do at judging and reacting to those situations.
Admittedly, there are times where these talents fail them, or when the servers are simply not capable of keeping up with the demands of their jobs. In these cases, there are things you can do to alleviate the situation. The biggest mistake a passenger can make, if they are unhappy with a server, is to do nothing. I understand our natural reaction in the interest of being a nice person is to say nothing, and suffer through. That is a mistake I've made myself!
I recommend speaking up if you are unhappy with your service. First discuss the problem diplomatically with the people who are serving you. If it's a cabin steward, let him or her know what would make your experience better. If it's a dining room waiting team, let them know what's bothering you, and suggest what they can do to ease the problem.
If the problems continue, speak to their supervisors. In the case of cabin stewards, that would be the Head Housekeeper. For dining room staff, it's the Maitre d' or Restaurant Manager. For bar servers, it's the Bar Manager.
Clearly the cruise lines, their staff and the passengers want everyone to have an ideal vacation. Each party, including you, has to bear some responsibility to make that happen.
Itinerary Changes
When you select a cruise, the itinerary weighs heavily as a factor. However, there are times when a ship can't get to its scheduled port of call. Sea conditions and resulting safety concerns for the ship, passengers and crew is always a determining factor when the cruise line decides to change a port schedule.
Some ports can be trouble spots for schedule changes on an ongoing basis. Any ports where the water isn't deep enough for cruise ships to dock at a pier always pose some risk. In those cases, the ship has to anchor away from the pier and transport passengers by tender boats. If sea conditions are too rough to run the tenders safely, the port visit will be cancelled. For example, this is a fairly common occurrence with ships calling at Grand Cayman. But it can happen in any port where the ship must sit at anchor in the bay and tender passengers.
Occasionally, weather and sea conditions can cause a port visit cancellation even if the ship is expected to dock at a pier. During hurricane season, for example, it's not unusual for ships to change ports of call -- or completely change their itineraries -- to avoid storms.
Hurricane season in the Caribbean runs from June through November. If you book a cruise during this time, you are taking the chance (and responsibility to understand) that there may be changes to the itinerary.
While I've been concentrating on the Caribbean, itinerary changes can occur on any itinerary, anywhere in the world, because of weather and safety concerns, or even political unrest.
On occasion, mechanical problems can cause delays and changes to scheduled itineraries. These breakdowns are unplanned, and with rare exception they do not occur due to shoddy maintenance. No cruise line is going to purposely avoid necessary maintenance on revenue-producing ships that cost hundreds of millions of dollars.
Cruise contracts cover the bases for these eventualities by stating they may "for any reason" change their itinerary without notice. This notifies the passenger before sailing that the ship may not be going where it is scheduled to go.
While the cruise lines intend to follow scheduled itineraries, their contracts put the onus of dealing with changes on the passenger. Though you may consider this unfair, the cruise line contracts tell passengers: "When you get on this ship, you are agreeing to let us take you anywhere we decide to."
If your cruise itinerary is changed, and you feel the change was unjustified, you can appeal to the cruise line's home office. Initially, you should take your complaint to your travel agent and ask them to carry your grievance to the cruise line. The key in any dispute is getting the ear of someone in a position to resolve it. A travel agent, through long-term business relationships with the cruise line, should be able to access that person more easily than you can.
A travel agent can also try to resolve your problem without some of the emotions unhappy passengers might display in making their argument.
Ask your travel agent to copy you on any written communications with the cruise line.
If the attempts by your travel agent prove unsatisfactory, it's time to step forward and represent yourself.
In Part 3, we'll give some hints on how to represent yourself effectively, and we'll discuss more of the little things that can go wrong, and how to deal with them.


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Fremont County Sheriff's Department / Courtesy Photo
Fremont County Sheriff's Department / Courtesy Photo
A manhunt that started Wednesday afternoon and lasted until the early hours of Thursday resulted in the arrest of a couple in Garden Park.
Authorities captured Raymond Wesley Lannigan, 47, and his wife, Kimberly Ann Lannigan, 47, at about 5:45 a.m. Thursday, according to a press release. The couple is from the Manitou Springs area, Fremont County Sheriff's Office Captain Don Pinover said.
They are suspected of burglarizing a home near Dozier Avenue and Van Loo Road on Wednesday afternoon before leading authorities on a manhunt.
The suspects were transported to the Fremont County Detention Center, where they are being held on charges of first-degree burglary, felony theft, possession of a weapon by a previous offender (Raymond Lannigan), vehicular eluding, criminal mischief, possession of burglary tools and criminal trespass, according to a press release.
Authorities said the capture took place peacefully at Mile Marker 7. The Lannigans, previously armed, had already left their weapons and didn't put up much of a fight.
"There's a bridge there," Pinover said, "they came walking up out of there, and there were some of the Department of Corrections search teams who happened to be walking along the road there and confronted them as they came out of the creek bed."
Pinover said after allegedly burglarizing the home in the 700 block of Van Loo Road at about 3:15 p.m. Wednesday, they led local law enforcement on a chase.
"They said they jumped out of the car and took off down into the creek bed. They wandered along the creek for a while, and they finally just hunkered down and hid in the bushes," he said.
Officers were close to the couple during the search, because the couple said they could hear officers talking, Pinover said. He said the brush in the area is so thick that you'd almost have to step on someone to know they were there.
"They stayed there all night, and then this morning, they walked probably three-quarters of a mile following the creek bed to the north and they were coming out of the creek bed when the DOC searchers happened to be walking down the road and they ran into each other," he said.
The couple initially said their car had broken down, and they were just walking to get help, but Pinover said since everyone knew their identities, the story didn't last long.
"They were unarmed and really didn't offer any resistance," Pinover said. "They were … really battered and bruised from wandering through the woods."
The two had ditched a pellet rifle during the car chase and left the 9 mm semi-automatic pistol in the bushes. Both weapons reportedly were stolen from the homeowner, and both weapons have been recovered by law enforcement.
The press release stated about 50 law enforcement personnel, including members of the sheriff's office, Cañon City Police Department, Florence Police Department dog team, Colorado Department of Corrections (tracking team, dog team, CID and SORT) and Colorado STate Patrol helped in the search. Also, the Fremont County Incident Management Team and a private helicopter from Colorado Vertical assisted in the search.
A reverse 911 call was sent out to people in the area to notify them to secure their homes and vehicles and to report any suspicious activity.
According to the press release, Raymond Lannigan allegedly was burglarizing the home on Van Loo Road when a female homeowner arrived. At that point, Raymond Lannigan fled out the front door and into the awaiting car, where Kimberly Lannigan was ready to drive away, the release said.

subset: commoncrawl


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|Find the best surf spots
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Datum: WGS84 [ Help ]
Latitude: 32° 10.022' N
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Near Herzelia
DistanceIn the city
WalkInstant access (< 5min)
Easy to find?Easy to find
Public access?
Special accessDon't know
Alternative name Herzelia Marina
Wave qualityNormal
ExperienceAll surfers
FrequencyDon't know
DirectionRight and left
Normal lengthShort (< 50m)
Good day lengthNormal (50 to 150m)
Good swell directionWest, SouthWest
Good wind directionSouthEast, East, NorthEast
Swell sizeStarts working at Less than 1m / 3ft and holds up to 2m+ / 6ft+
Best tide position
Best tide movement
Week crowdFew surfers
Week-end crowdCrowded
3 peaks to surf
Author: Anonymous Contributors (1) They surfed this spot ! (12)
No video available
By Mel(M) email@example.com , 15-06-2006
Marina Herzliya - We`re talking about the north side of the Marina (the entrance & exit to the port). This beach 'fires' in the Winter (that includes November thru` April).Because of the Marina wave - barrier & the wave-barrier on the north -side of the break it`s protected against winter 'northerlies'. The bottom is sand & when the big winter waves come stomping-in they jack-up first off the south-point & again off the north-point. The 1st break presents a 2 - 3 metre peak peeling frontside & the 2nd break comes-in @ 11/2 - 2metres peeling front & backside. Then it WACKS the sandbar beach-breaking & barreling-out. Long rides can be had if you pick-up on the first outside break & then connect with the second break (long is like 150 metres). Usually the 'pros'/'vets' wait for the outside 1st break (the 'drop' is their orgasm!)& the super-groms & kamikazes pick-up on the more radical 2nd break. Vibes are ALWAYS good here & the locals are 'ucla'( real-nice). There`s plenty of room for eveyone here, even on a 'crowded' day. In winter check-out the 'teenie-weenies' (groms) with the surf-school & you`ll realize why Israeli surfers are gung-ho, feerless & skilled in their 'blessed sport'(Believe me I`ve seen these little kids @ the school cry when the instructor pulls-em out @ the end of their lesson).May thru` October is okay but preety powerless. You occasionaly do get that 'rogue super-swell' which 'brings everything together' - classic offshores until 10am & awesome perfection until nightfall. If you`re visiting the Marina is a must. During the summer flaccid waves the compensation for all you horny bastards are the babes!!!
By anonymous , 05-05-2006
californian... - i was in the maldives and indo and got to surf with alot of israeli surfers. you can say israeli this israeli that, but i never had problems with them and the only time and last that an israeli dropped in on me he oppoligised and paddled to the next peak. it is right that sometimes you get to surf with some annoying but that includes the hole world: americanos, japs, italians, brazilians and alot more... and and dont get fooled when someone is beeing an asshole dont hate their hole contry!!
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Osaka, Japan, October 30, 2010 - 2010 FIVB Women's World Championship Press Conference Russia v Turkey:
Russia coach Vladimir Kuzyutkin: I am very happy with the result today. I was worried about Turkey's big victory last night (over China). We were able to stop their momentum and that was important.
Russia captain Maria Borodakova: We made some mistakes in the first set but we recovered.
Turkey coach Mehmet Bedestenlioglu: Our team woke up in the middle of the first set. We made five critical mistakes in the second set and could not recover from them.
Turkey player Neslihan Darnel: We didn't use our tactics well today. It's a long tournament and we have many games. I don't think fatigue was a factor (after the big win last night). We just lost our concentration. I'm used to the pressure of big events. It's not a big deal for me.


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Blizzard Entertainment's bestselling real-time strategy game series StarCraft revolves around interstellar affairs in a distant sector of the galaxy, with three species and multiple factions all vying for supremacy in the sector. The playable species of StarCraft include the Terrans, humans exiled from Earth who excel at adapting to any situation; the Zerg, a race of insectoids obsessed with assimilating other races in pursuit of genetic perfection; and the Protoss, a humanoid species with advanced technology and psionic abilities, attempting to preserve their civilization and strict philosophical way of living from the Zerg. Each of these races has a single campaign in each StarCraft real-time strategy game. In addition to these three, various non-playable races have also been part of the lore of the StarCraft series; the most notable of these is the Xel'Naga, a race which features prominently in the fictional histories of the Protoss and Zerg races.
The original game has sold over 10 million copies internationally,[1] and remains one of the most popular games in the world.[2][3][4] One of the main factors responsible for StarCraft's positive reception is the attention paid to the three unique playable races, for each of which Blizzard developed completely different characteristics, graphics, backstories and styles of gameplay, while keeping them balanced in performance against each other.[5] Previous to this, most real-time strategy games consisted of factions and races with the same basic play styles and units with only superficial differences. The use of unique sides in StarCraft has been credited with popularizing the concept within the real-time strategy genre.[5] Contemporary reviews of the game have mostly praised the attention to the gameplay balance between the species,[6] as well as the fictional stories built up around them.[7]
Across the course of the game's development, the races and graphics of StarCraft have changed drastically from Chris Metzen's original concept art. In particular, since their initial public debut at E3 1996,[8] the Zerg have seen extensive changes to their visual design. This was primarily due to Blizzard's attempt to steer the game away from the visual appearance, unveiled at the 1996 E3, that had earned the game a derisive label of "Warcraft in space".[9] The Zerg were originally known as the "nightmarish invaders", later becoming the "Zurg", and then renamed again to its current spelling to avoid any potential trademark conflicts with Pixar's Toy Story character of Emperor Zurg.[8] In the early alpha versions built by Bob Fitch, the Zerg still showed their insect-inspired base, but their appearance was heavily dominated by spikes and bright shades of blue and purple. Early Protoss concept art showed a green and blue color scheme in their mechanical armor. Closely hewing to the familiar visual style of Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness, the build received much criticism from industry press, prompting a redesign of the game engine and an overhaul of the races' respective visual designs.[9]
This new version, unveiled in early 1997,[9] still used the Warcraft II engine as its base, but with distinct changes. The Terrans and the Protoss were detailed to a much greater extent than at E3 1996, revealing many of the game's units in forms similar to those of the final product. Blizzard Entertainment also began the careful task of balancing the game's three races.[9] However, in February 1997, Bob Fitch declared that, despite these efforts, the game engine was simply incapable of delivering features requested by the developers: cloaking, burrowing and many other special effects.[10] The development team therefore embarked upon a two-month overhaul of the graphics engine. This new beta version was far closer to the release version, as the races took on their now-recognisable graphical styles: the brown insectoid design of the Zerg, the sleek yellow armour of the Protoss, and the grey machinery of the Terrans.[11] Most of the unit designs were established at this point, their graphics only undergoing minor changes. Several game features were also added at this stage in the development that never made it into the final release, such as ships banking as they turned,[12] transport ships landing on the ground to pick up and drop off passengers,[12] and efficiency ranks, although Terran units would retain ranks as a purely aesthestic feature. The Terran Valkyrie-class missile frigate also appeared in this build of the game,[11] although it was removed before the final release, only to be reintroduced later in the Brood War expansion.
The Protoss are a race of humanoids in the StarCraft series. They are composed of two societies, the conservative Khalai Protoss and the exiled dark templar. The Protoss are depicted as a physically strong species with access to advanced psionic abilities. The Protoss are considered the most technologically advanced race of the series and are the focus of two episodes within StarCraft and its expansion Brood War, as well as featuring in campaigns in the authorized add-ons Insurrection and Retribution. Protoss strategy in-game is usually built around the quality of units the player controls rather than the quantity. Originating from Aiur, a planet on the fringe of the galaxy, the Protoss are normally shown in the games and the novels of the series as the nemesis of the Zerg.
Protoss society is shown in the background of the series to have been tribal with a strong warrior culture, until a planet-wide civil war allowed a mystic, Khas, to access a natural psionic link shared by all Protoss.[13] Khas' discovery and teachings, labelled the Khala, are then used as a base for a new caste-based society. The Judicator caste forms the Conclave, the ruling body of the Khalai Protoss. The Templar caste constitutes the military, and the Khalai caste includes all other Protoss.[14] The player controls a Templar character in the Protoss campaigns of all the video games to date. Khalai Protoss society is depicted as being stubbornly conservative while maintaining the warrior culture and honor values of the tribal system.[15]
The backstory presented in StarCraft's manual and in the novel Shadow Hunters also shows the rise of a second society of Protoss known as the Dark Templar, a sizeable minority of the Protoss who reject the Khala out of fear of losing their individuality inside the psychic link. The Dark Templar are treated as heretics by the Khalai Protoss and are forcibly evicted from Aiur.[16] Despite their persecution, the majority of Dark Templar do not hold anything against their estranged brethren, seeking to defend Aiur in any way they can. The Dark Templar are presented as nomadic, only settling on the planet Shakuras to study a Xel'Naga temple there. After the conclusion of StarCraft, the two groups begin to reconcile, but the reconciliation is marred by mutual distrust.[17]
StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty also depicts a third faction of Protoss, known as the Tal'Darim. Left behind on Aiur during the Zerg invasion, the splinter group lost their connection to the Khalai society and regressed to a state of aggression and fanaticism.
The Protoss are humanoids, around three meters tall with two luminous eyes, typically gold or blue. With two fingers flanked by two opposable thumbs on each hand, two large toes on each foot, digitigrade legs, broad chests and shoulders with narrow waists, Protoss are very agile and physically strong. A bony crest extends back from the crown of the head, with long neural strands sprouting from the back of the head. These strands facilitate the basic psychic communal link all Protoss naturally share.[18] Each Protoss has a different skin shade that corresponds to the tribe from which they are descended.[19] The Protoss do not possess any visible ears (but they can hear, as when Terrans speak to them or hear what they are thinking), mouths or noses, but are able to communicate telepathically and possess strong olfactory sensitivities. Protoss do not need to eat or drink, but are shown in The Dark Templar Saga to instead absorb energy from a form of photosynthesis.[20] The average life expectancy for a Protoss is about one thousand years. Little is known of the internal anatomy of the Protoss.
In contrast to the other two species, Protoss units and buildings display smooth and elegant designs, usually emphasising yellow and blue colors on armor and vehicles, although dark templar units display gray rather than yellow. Protoss units are generally more expensive and slower to produce in-game compared to Zerg or Terran units, but are conversely also more powerful and efficient in combat. All Protoss units and buildings are covered by a regenerating energy shield, further increasing the amount of damage that they can endure, although the Protoss have no way of healing or repairing their units.[21]
The Protoss are the focus of the third campaign of StarCraft. In the events immediately preceding the beginning of the game, the Khalai Protoss have become aware of a Zerg invasion of Terran worlds, and respond by dispatching a fleet commanded by the high Templar Tassadar to destroy infested Terran worlds. Tassadar instead disregards his orders to massacre the Terran populations, attempting to destroy the Zerg by conventional means. Tassadar later meets a Dark Templar, Zeratul, and embraces the Dark Templar culture, prompting the Khalai Protoss to brand Tassadar as a traitor. Zeratul unwittingly reveals the location of the Protoss homeworld Aiur to the Zerg, leading to a Zerg invasion that devastates the planet. At the end of StarCraft, Tassadar sacrifices himself to save his people and their Terran allies by destroying the Zerg Overmind[22] by crashing his carrier, the "Gantrithor", directly into the hivemind.
The Protoss return in Episode IV of Brood War, the expansion to StarCraft. Following immediately on from the conclusion of StarCraft, Zeratul and a ranking templar Artanis evacuate the surviving Khalai Protoss from Aiur to the Dark Templar world of Shakuras. After the Zerg follow them to Shakuras, Zeratul and Artanis harness the energy of a resident Xel'Naga temple, scouring the planet of all the Zerg. The Protoss attempt to rebuild their lives on Shakuras, but are interrupted by a Zerg raid commanded by Sarah Kerrigan that kidnaps the dark templar leader Raszagal. Using Raszagal as leverage, Kerrigan coerces Zeratul into killing a new Overmind in incubation. Zeratul complies, but later kills Raszagal after it is revealed she has been brainwashed by the Zerg. Zeratul disappears while Artanis takes leadership and tries to reconstruct his people's civilization.[23]
StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty introduces the fanatical Tal'Darim, who are at odds with Jim Raynor while he attempts to find Xel'Naga artifacts for the Moebius Foundation. More significantly, Zeratul discovers that some force has successfully combined Protoss and Zerg genetic material, creating a race of incredibly powerful hybrids. Zeratul travels to Aiur to probe the corpse of the Zerg Overmind for information on an apocalyptic prophecy, and unexpectedly finds Tassadar in an ethereal form. Memories found in the Overmind's cortex depict a vision of a future in which Kerrigan is killed, whereupon the hybrids (led by an entity known only as the Dark Voice) take control of the Swarm, destroy all other forms of life, then obliterate the Zerg as well. The Protoss are the last society left standing against the Dark Voice's armies. Zeratul finds Raynor, knowing his intent to track down and defeat the Queen of Blades, and tells him to spare her life.
The Terrans are a fictional future version of humanity in the StarCraft series. The Terrans are the most splintered of the StarCraft species, consisting of multiple factions that not only fight the other races but each other as well. Considered an adaptive and mobile species, the Terrans are noted in the lore of the series for their ability to quickly access and drain a planet's resources. The Terrans have been dedicated a full campaign in each real-time strategy video game installment to date, and are defined in-game by their specialization of units and tactics of defense and mobility. In the series' storyline, the Terrans are usually displayed as being caught in-between the conflict between the Protoss and Zerg while also dealing with frequent civil wars.
The Terrans are shown to be the most fragmented of the races in StarCraft, with multiple factions all vying for dominance over each other. Numerous factions are used throughout the series, ranging from national governments and corporations to rebels and criminals, although only four factions exhibit any major influence on the overall story arc. The first faction referred to in the backstory of the series is the United Earth Directorate (UED). A unified government of almost all the nations of Earth and several colonies both within and outside the solar system, the UED claims to operate under a policy of "enlightened socialism" but is noted for its harsh methods of public order and media censorship.[24] It is also seen as an advocate for eugenics, resulting in the mass murder of millions and exile of other unwanted criminals and genetic mutants for colonization of the distant Koprulu Sector of the galaxy in which the series takes place. The UED remains outside the events of the series until Brood War, where it takes interest in the discovery of the Protoss and Zerg, the first contact between humanity and aliens. The player controls the UED faction in Episode V of Brood War.[25]
The exiled prisoners from Earth form the Confederacy of Man in the Koprulu Sector. A de facto oligarchy,[26] the Confederacy's inner workings are elaborated on in the novels Liberty's Crusade, Speed of Darkness and Nova. Taking the role of the primary antagonistic faction in StarCraft's Episode I, the Confederacy is shown as the most powerful faction in the sector at the beginning of StarCraft; in the novels, it is depicted as being brutal towards the public and corrupt at the highest levels on its capital Tarsonis.[27] The player gets to control a division of the Confederate Security Forces in the prequel shareware campaign for StarCraft. Due to the brutality of the regime, it is opposed by a variety of rebel groups and is eventually overthrown by the Sons of Korhal. The Sons of Korhal, a rebel group led by Arcturus Mengsk that the player controls during Episode I of StarCraft, form the Terran Dominion to replace the destroyed Confederacy, with the planet Korhal IV as the capital. The Dominion is an autocracy with Mengsk as its emperor.[28] The Dominion's operations are built on in The Dark Templar Saga series of novels. Although Mengsk sees himself as a benevolent dictator, he is shown to be just as harsh as his predecessors.[29]
Mengsk's actions during his campaign against the Confederacy make an enemy of Jim Raynor, one of the Sons of Korhal commanders. After Mengsk betrays other members of his command staff and reveals his real objectives of obtaining ultimate power, Raynor deserts and forms a resistance movement to the Dominion, labeled Raynor's Raiders. Described in the novels as a small army primarily consisting of members from Raynor's former colonial militia, the Raiders use the hijacked former flagship of the Sons of Korhal, the Hyperion, as their base of operations. In Queen of Blades, the group is described as being amongst the most wanted fugitives and rebels of the Dominion. The player assumes the role of Raynor in leading the group in StarCraft II.[30]
The Terrans are displayed as standard humans, and are often seen in-game in powered combat suits and with other war machines such as futuristic tanks and space battlecruisers in use by their militaries. Some Terrans are displayed with cybernetic implants.[31] Human behavior in the fictional history presented in StarCraft's manual also points to the Terrans having the ability to access and deplete a planet's natural resources at an "alarming" rate.[18] The Terrans are also noted in the backstory of the series as having a developing psionic potential. This psionic potential is what entices the Zerg to attack the Terrans, in hope of incorporating these traits into the Zerg gene pool.[32] This psionic element is shown in Terran military technology through super soldiers known as Ghosts. Established as one of the iconic parts of StarCraft, Ghosts are Terrans who are born with ranging psionic abilities—from simple telepathy to advanced powers such as telekinesis or a special ability shown by Nova, where she can kill an entire skyscraper of people in a single thought known as a mind blast. These agents are cultivated by the military after being abducted from their former lives and put through an espionage training regime that can cost them their lives. In-game, the Ghost unit is equipped with a cloaking device and is designed for scouting and designating targets for nuclear strike,[33] and has been developed further through the lore of the series to the extent that the StarCraft: Ghost sub-series was once planned, specifically focusing on the life of a Ghost, Nova.
In-game, Terrans tend to favor traditional modes of warfare, often utilizing combined arms tactics with tanks, aircraft or other combat vehicles in combination with regular infantry. Using light ballistics, large calibre weapons and even tactical nuclear warheads, many Terran units are reminiscent of present-day designs. Terrans are considered to be more adaptive than the other two races and are able to produce units at an average expense. Primary base structures can even lift off and fly to other locations, allowing players to move buildings for quicker troop deployments, access to new resource locations or to save the structures from destruction by the enemy. Terran buildings and mechanized units can be repaired if damaged, and combat medics can heal wounded organic units.[34]
The player is first fully introduced to the Terrans in Episode I of StarCraft. For a number of years before the game begins, the Confederacy is shown to be fighting a slowly losing war against the Sons of Korhal. When the Zerg and Protoss make their existence known, the pace of the war quickly changes. The player, accompanied by Jim Raynor, joins up with Arcturus Mengsk and the Sons of Korhal, and helps bring about the fall of the Confederacy by using Confederate technology to lure the Zerg into destroying the Confederate capital Tarsonis. In the process however, Mengsk abandons his second-in-command, Sarah Kerrigan, to the Zerg on Tarsonis. As a result of the brutal tactics used by Mengsk and his needless sacrifice of Kerrigan to the Zerg, Raynor abandons Mengsk and his newly formed Dominion to search for the lost Kerrigan. When Raynor finally finds her on the planet Char it is revealed that she had been captured and infested by the Zerg Overmind. He then meets Zeratul and Tassadar and consequently becomes an ally to the Protoss. Raynor's forces assist the Protoss in defending their homeworld from the Zerg and in destroying the Zerg Overmind in the game's conclusion.[22]
In Brood War's Episode V, the player takes the role of a captain in a UED expeditionary force, sent to pacify the wartorn sector after news of the discovery of the Zerg and Protoss makes its way to Earth. The UED force meets success in its initial battles, quickly bringing the Dominion to its knees and taking captive a new Overmind growing to replace the one killed by Tassadar. However, the UED fails to capture Mengsk, who allies with Raynor, Kerrigan and the Protoss templar Fenix. The UED is slowly beaten back by this mutual alliance, and although Kerrigan betrays her new allies, her Zerg forces eventually annihilate the UED fleet. Regrouping his surviving forces, Mengsk begins to reconstruct his empire, although he is still opposed by Raynor and his troops.[23]
Raynor is the protagonist and player character of StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty. Over the course of the campaign Raynor's Raiders (as his army is known) fight the Zerg and Mengsk's empire simultaneously. At the behest of a group known as the Moebius Foundation, the Raiders gather the pieces of a Xel'Naga artifact, until it is revealed that the foundation is actually led by Valerian Mengsk, Arcturus's son. Valerian intends to use the artifact's power to destroy the Queen of Blades, proving to the empire's citizens that he will be a worthy successor to the throne. Raynor begrudgingly finishes assembling the artifact and joins the imperial army in an assault on the Zerg homeworld of Char, but not before uncovering proof of Mengsk's treachery on Tarsonis and broadcasting it across the sector. The Terran forces on Char use the artifact to partially restore Kerrigan's humanity, significantly weakening her, but Raynor refuses to kill her. The teaser trailer for StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm, following up on this storyline, depicts imperial forces attempting to assassinate Kerrigan.
The Zerg Swarm is a race of aliens who seek genetic perfection and are the overriding antagonists of the StarCraft series. Operating as a hive mind, the Zerg strive for genetic perfection by assimilating "worthy" races into their own, creating numerous different strains of Zerg. Unlike the Protoss and the Terrans, the Zerg do not use technology; Instead, they assimilate other species' traits by directed mutation in order to match such technology. As with the other two primary races, the Zerg are the subject of a full campaign in each of the series' real-time strategy video games. Zerg units are designed to be cheap and fast to produce, encouraging players to overwhelm their opponents with sheer numbers. Since the release of StarCraft the Zerg have become a video gaming icon, described by PC Gamer UK as "the best race in strategy history".[35] The term "Zerg Rush" or "zerging" has entered video gaming jargon to describe sacrificing economic development in favour of using many low-cost and weak units to rush and overwhelm an enemy by attrition or sheer numbers.[36] The tactic is infamous, with most experienced RTS players being familiar with the tactic in one form or another.
The Zerg are a collective consciousness of a variety of different races assimilated into the Zerg genome. The Zerg were originally commanded by the Zerg Overmind, a manifestation of this hive mind, and under the Overmind's control the Zerg strove for genetic perfection by assimilating the favorable traits of other species.[37] After a species has been assimilated into the Swarm, it is mutated towards a different function within its hierarchy, from being a hive worker to a warrior strain. StarCraft's manual notes that some species bear little resemblance to their original forms after just a short time into assimilation (An example would be the formerly peaceful Slothien species, which was assimilated and mutated into the vicious Hydralisk strain).[38] The Overmind controls the Swarm through secondary agents called cerebrates. Cerebrates command an individual brood of Zerg, each with a distinct tactical role within the hierarchy. Cerebrates further delegate power through the use of overlords for battlefield direction and queens for hive watch.[37]
The vast majority of the Zerg do not have any free will as they are genetically forced to obey the commands of those further up the Zerg hierarchy, although they are sufficiently intelligent to form strategies and work as a team on the battlefield. Despite this, the average Zerg has no sense of self preservation.[39] Along with the Overmind, the cerebrates are the only Zerg with full sapience, each with its own personality and methods, although they too are genetically incapable of disobeying the Overmind.[37] The Overmind also possesses the ability to reincarnate its cerebrates should their bodies be killed, although Protoss dark templar energies are capable of disrupting this process. If a cerebrate is completely dead and cannot be reincarnated, the Overmind loses control of the cerebrate's brood, causing it to mindlessly rampage and attack anything. As a result of the Overmind's death in StarCraft and the subsequent destruction of a new Overmind in Brood War, the remaining cerebrates perished, as they could not survive without an Overmind. Sarah Kerrigan replaced the cerebrates with "brood mothers". These creatures fulfil much the same purpose, but are loyal to Kerrigan and could survive her temporary departure during the events of Starcraft 2.
The Zerg were created from the native lifeforms of Zerus, who had the natural ability to absorb the "essence" of creatures they killed, transforming their bodies to gain new adaptations. The Xel'Naga created the Overmind and bound the primal Zerg to its will. They gave the Overmind a powerful desire to travel across the stars and absorb useful lifeforms into the Swarm, particularly the Protoss, their previous creation, so as to become the ultimate lifeform.
The Zerg are a completely organic race, making no use of lifeless technology and instead using specialized organisms for every function. Their buildings are living creatures, as are the Leviathans that carry them across space. Zerg colonies produce a carpet of bio-matter referred to as the "creep", which essentially provides nourishment for Zerg structures and creatures.[40] The visual aesthetic of the Zerg greatly resembles that of invertebrates such as crustaceans and insects (and certainly draws inspiration from the creatures from the Alien movies). The Zerg are shown to be highly dependent on their command structure: if a Zerg should lose its connection to the hive mind, it may turn passive and incapable of action, or become completely uncontrollable and attack allies and enemies alike.
Zerg buildings and units are entirely organic in-game, and all Zerg can regenerate slowly without assistance (though not as quickly as Protoss shields). Zerg production is far more centralized than with the Terrans and Protoss; a central hatchery must be utilized to create new Zerg, with other structures providing the necessary technology tree assets, whereas the other two races can produce units from several structures. Zerg units tend to be weaker than those of the other two races, but are also cheaper, allowing for rush tactics to be used. Some Zerg units are capable of infesting enemies with various parasites that range from being able to see what an enemy unit sees to spawning Zerg inside an enemy unit. In addition, Zerg can infest some Terran buildings, allowing for the production of special infested Terran units.[41]
In StarCraft, the Zerg are obsessed with the pursuit of genetic purity, and are the focus of the game's second episode. With the Xel'Naga–empowered Protoss targeted as the ultimate lifeform, the Zerg invade the Terran colonies in the Koprulu Sector to assimilate the Terrans' psionic potential and give the Zerg an edge over the Protoss. Through the actions of the Sons of Korhal, the Zerg are lured to the Confederate capital Tarsonis, where they capture the psionic ghost agent Sarah Kerrigan and infest her. Returning to the Zerg base of operations on Char, the Zerg are attacked by the dark templar Zeratul, who accidentally gives the location of the Protoss homeworld Aiur to the Zerg Overmind. With victory in sight, the Overmind launches an invasion of Aiur and manifests itself on the planet. However, at the end of the game, the Protoss high templar Tassadar sacrifices himself to destroy the Overmind, leaving the Zerg to run rampant and leaderless across the planet.[22]
The Zerg return in Brood War initially as uncontrolled indiscriminate killers. Through the early portions of Brood War, Sarah Kerrigan is at odds with the surviving cerebrates, who have formed a new Overmind to restore control of the Swarm. Through allying herself with the Protoss, Kerrigan strikes at the cerebrates, causing disruption of their plans. Eventually, the UED fleet takes control of Char and pacifies the new Overmind with drugs, putting the cerebrates and most of the Zerg under their control. Kerrigan retaliates by allying with the Dominion and the forces of Jim Raynor and Fenix, regaining the ground lost to the UED. However, she later betrays this alliance, dealing long-term damage to her allies' infrastructures. Proceeding to blackmail Zeratul into killing the new Overmind, Kerrigan's forces destroy the remnants of the UED fleet, giving her full control of the Zerg and establishing the Swarm as the most powerful faction in the sector.[23]
In StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty, Jim Raynor and the rebel forces who oppose both the Dominion and the Zerg, manage to secure an ancient Xel'Naga artifact and after successfully infiltrating Char, they use it to subjugate the Zerg and restore Kerrigan's human form. Once again without a unified leadership, the Zerg get divided into multiple broods feuding over control of the Swarm. This situation persists until the events of StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm. Kerrigan, believing Raynor to have been killed in a Dominion surprise attack, becomes the Queen of Blades again, but this time she is no longer motivated to destroy humanity.
The Xel'Naga (whose name, according to the original StarCraft manual means "Wanderers from Afar") are an ancient race that has to date only been featured in the lore of the StarCraft series; their only appearances have been in the form of relics. The Xel'Naga play important roles in the backstories to both the Protoss and Zerg, being responsible for manipulating the evolution of the two races, along with an unknown number of other species. It was speculated that a player could control the Xel'Naga in StarCraft II and although this has been firmly denied by Blizzard Entertainment,[42] they have confirmed the Xel'Naga will contribute to the game's storyline "in a rather epic tale".[43]
In the manual to StarCraft, the Xel'Naga are described as a race determined to create the perfect lifeform. The Xel'Naga are also stated to have come from another galaxy and to have "seeded and cultivated thousands of various species" in their time.[44] The Xel'Naga guided the evolution of the Protoss, a species the Xel'Naga believed possessed purity of form. However, after revealing themselves to their seemingly successful experiment, their presence caused the Protoss to devolve into a fearful and tribalistic mindset. Believing their experiment a failure, the Xel'Naga were shunned and eventually attacked by the Protoss while departing Aiur.[45] The Xel'Naga then discovered the Zerg, small parasitic larvae that could control the nervous systems of other species. The Xel'Naga saw this as purity of essence, and guided the evolution of the Zerg as well. However, the Zerg were animals, concerned only with self-preservation. To help further the Zerg as a species, the Xel'Naga created the Overmind, a central consciousness to organize the Zerg. They hid their existence from the Overmind, however. On becoming aware of their existence (after being filled with an overriding directive it could not fight off), the Overmind attacked the Xel'Naga, infesting and destroying the greater whole of the race. In StarCraft II Wings of Liberty, Xel'Naga watchtowers provide vision in a large circular radius around the tower.[46]
Although the Xel'Naga do not themselves appear during the novels and the video games, various relics left behind from their legacy are scattered throughout the series. One such relic appears in Brood War, a large temple on the planet Shakuras containing the power to wipe the planet clear of other species.[47] During the course of Brood War, the Protoss activate the temple and use it to destroy all of the Zerg on Shakuras.[48] In addition, other structures have been shown in the series. In the novel Shadow of the Xel'Naga, the three main species fight for control of a large Xel'Naga artifact on the planet Bhekar Ro, but accidentally activate it. The artifact releases a creature incubating in the structure, which proceeds to convert the nearby Xel'Naga-empowered Protoss and Zerg forces into energy for nourishment, before disappearing into space.[49] After this, the novel Firstborn reveals that numerous other similar artifacts are discovered by the Terran Dominion within its borders. The Dominion heir Valerian Mengsk consequently sends an archaeological team under Jake Ramsey to investigate these relics.[50] StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty also features a Xel'Naga relic that was broken into pieces. James Raynor and Valerian Mengsk reunite the pieces and use the relic to invade Planet Char and restore Sarah Kerrigan back into her human form.[51]
The species of StarCraft have been popular enough to inspire the creation of several collectable statues and toys based on in-game units. The first series of action figures was released by ToyCom in 2003 and included the Terran heavy infantry firebat[52] with markings similar to some original StarCraft concept art for the firebat[53] and a hydralisk, the Zerg medium assault warrior strain.[54] A series of toys were also made available in 1998,[55] featuring two colour variations of the Terran marine, another hydralisk and a Protoss zealot, the basic Protoss infantry ground unit. In addition, 1/30 scale model kits for the marine and hydralisk were released in 1999 by Academy Hobby Model Kits.[56] A second series of collectable statues, which included one based on the Terran ghost, a Terran espionage agent with psychic powers, was in development but appears to have been cancelled.[57]
Before StarCraft, most real-time strategy games consisted of factions and races with the same basic play styles and units with mostly superficial differences. Thus, the uniqueness and variety of the species in the StarCraft series has been well received by many of the industry's critics. In their review for StarCraft, IGN's Tom Chick stated that the balance and difference between the races was "remarkable", continuing to praise the game's "radical" approach to different races and its high degree of success when compared with other games in the genre. IGN was also positive about the unit arrangements for the three races, crediting Blizzard Entertainment for not letting units become obsolete during extended play and for showing an "extraordinary amount of patience in balancing them."[6] GameSpot was complimentary of the species in its review for StarCraft, describing the races as being full of personality. Stating that the use of distinct races allowed for the game "to avoid the problem [of equal sides] that has plagued every other game in the genre", GameSpot praised Blizzard Entertainment for keeping it "well balanced despite the great diversity."[7]
Other reviews have echoed much of this positive reception. The site The Gamers' Temple described the species as "very diverse but well-balanced," stating that this allowed for "a challenging and fun gaming experience."[58] Allgame stated that the inclusion of three "dynamic" species "raises the bar" for real-time strategy games, complimenting the game for forcing the player to "learn how [the aliens'] minds work and not think like a human".[59] Commentators have also praised the aesthetic design of the three races; in particular, the powered armor worn by the Terran Marine was rated eleventh on in a Maxim feature on the top armor suits in video games,[60] and ninth in a similar feature by Machinima.com.[61]
This positive view, however, is not universally held. For example, Computer and Video Games, while describing the game as "highly playable," nevertheless described a "slight feeling of déjà vu" between the three races.[62]
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text:
It's been a very lucky month for Cole Echols and his family.
The family recently struck oil on its land and it was a personal lucky moment that turned prosperous to the Louisiana cowboy Saturday night in the form of $43,500 in event and shoot out round money at the Roto-Mix Dodge City Shootout Cinch Championship Bull Riding tour event at United Wireless Arena.
"It's sure is a lot of money and I didn't realize it was going to pay that much, but it was real lucky for me," Echols said. "Everything seemed to be going in my favor.
"Anytime you can win that much money, it doesn't matter where it's at; but it was good being in Dodge City, an old cowboy town like this with a lot of rodeo tradition."
Echols has had some monetary success in Dodge City, finishing tied for second in the final standings in team roping as a heeler with Brady Tryan, but the $3,589 he won that day paled in comparison to Saturday night's payday.
"We'll be back for the Roundup rodeo, but I think I'll just ride bulls this time," Echols said.
The cowboy almost didn't qualify for the shoot out round for a chance at his big pay day and his second CBR event championship.
Echols (Elm Grove, La.) was one of eight riders who had a qualified ride in the first round, but was knocked off Greenhorn during the second round of competitors. It looked like he was done for the night as he stood fifth with only the top four coming back for the money round.
But a judge said Greenhorn caused a foul in the chute, meaning Echols would get a reride on the same bull, another chance to reach the final round. Echols made the most of his chance, scoring an 89 to be the only rider with two scores (176.5), assuring him of the last ride of the night.
"To be able to get on the same bull twice and have a bead on him," Echols said. "I didn't ride him very far the first time, but I knew he was going to do and do what I needed to do."
Cooper Kanngeisser (Zenda), Corey Bailey (Paris, Texas) and Alexandre Cardoza (Brazil) all went before him and were bucked. Actually, Cardoza was bucked and chased around the arena floor by his bull Jungle Juice before the handlers and bullfighters could get attention of the animal.
Echols had never ridden on his bull in the shoot out round, Warrior, before; but had seen how he performed before in arenas. Warrior threw a surprise for the rider, but Echols was able to hold on and finish the ride for an 89 score. He earned the title, the event money and the shootout money for his ride. It also moved him to the top of the World Standings with 786.5 points.
"He usually goes to the right, but he just started going then started turning to the left," Echols said. "I don't know if I was riding him right, but I knew it wasn't feeling good until I heard the (eight-second) whistle."
Echols turns lucky break to $43.5K payday at CBR event at UWA
It's been a very lucky month for Cole Echols and his family.


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Fast facts
Registered office: Göteborg
Turnover 2014: SEK 70 975 million
No of employees: 48 593
President: Alrik Danielson
Year established: 1907
Number of manufacturing and operational sites: around 140 in 32 countries
Number of companies: more than 130
Environment: Global ISO 14001 certification, OHSAS 18001 certification
Organization: The SKF business is organized into three business areas: Industrial Market, Automotive Market and Specialty Business. Each business area serves a global market, focusing on its specific customer segments. There are four staff units: Group Finance and Business Transformation; Group Communication, People and Quality; Group Legal and Sustainability; Group Technology Development.
Address: AB SKF, SE-415 50 Göteborg, Sweden
Visitor address: Hornsgatan 1, Göteborg, Sweden
Tel: +46-31-337 10 00
Fax: +46-31-337 28 32


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My NY Mets sketchbook. I create an entry after each Mets game or commentary on the crazy stuff going on around the team.
Nice work Izzy!
Well not all Izzy's fault. Wright did make the error that extended the inning and eventually led to bases loaded. Go Izzy on him!


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Double-Duty Effie
Joe Chandlee of Torrance, California, has always been a '56 Ford F-100 kind of guy. In 1967 he bought his second '56 F-100 with a camper shell. It was painted Meadow Green with a 272ci engine and a three-speed tranny, which he changed to a 389ci Pontiac backed by a Hydro tranny and painted it Rally Green. Fourteen years passed and another transformation took place to a 455 Olds, 400 tranny with a 9-inch rearend, dropped front axle, front mono leaf springs, de-arched rear springs, and a Toyota steering box, and finished in Jewel Green metallic paint by Paul Craig. In September 2003, she ran the California Speedway at Fontana for the California AutoFest. Altogether, Joe had eight '56 Ford F-100s at one time: two stake beds, a panel, utility truck, tow truck, four wheeler, and two additional F-100s! At the current time he has two '56 panel trucks, one of these being done by Steele Smith of Lake Elsinore in Gilmore Red and Creme colors and the Roar With Gilmore logo to ride on his '53 Ford COE.
In December 2008 Joe saw an ad for a '55 Ford COE extended cab hauler. He contacted the builders, Lowell & Justin Wilburn, father and son of Wilburn's Custom Haulers from Jamestown, Indiana. The COE had been sold, however they were getting ready to build their "crown jewel," a '53 Ford COE Crew Cab Hauler. So in January 2009, Joe and his friend Paul took a trip to Indiana and were very impressed with what they were building. Joe was sold on the COE even though it was not a '56!
The truck started out as a '53 Ford COE C-600 grain truck from Kansas. The cab was removed from the frame then married to a '56 Ford F-100 cab stretched to sit low on an '02 E-350 Super Duty frame with front and rear airbags controlled in the dash. The body also features custom side faring steps and modified front fender openings. The bulkhead has a winch and the spare tire is mounted behind the cab. Joe's father owned a Gilmore gas station in Redondo Beach, California, in the late '30s, so his friend Jimmy suggested painting the hauler in the classic Gilmore theme. Painted Gilmore Red and Creme with creme pinstriping by Lowell Wilburn and Joey Constant of Jamestown, Indiana, the "Roar with Gilmore" logo was air painted along with creme pinstriping by Jerry Carr of Jamestown, Indiana. The metalwork on the all-steel truck was massaged by Lowell Wilburn while Justin Wilburn handled the mechanical aspect of the build.
Under the hood, the COE features a 7.3L Powerstroke Turbo Diesel with a 4R100 auto. The chassis features a rearend with 3.73 gears, hydro boost disc brakes on all four wheels, 225/16 Load Range D tires, painted rims with creme pinstriping and Ford logo centers.
The custom interior was built around Harley Davidson captain's chairs with the side door panels and headliner designed to complement the seats with black carpet by Lee's Custom Covers of New Ross, Indiana. The custom console retained the original metal shaped dash and glovebox using the Econoline instrument cluster, built-in GPS, AM/FM/CD/iPod radio, custom air, rear and side cameras, power windows, LED running and brake lights, and a receiver for towing a 1966 Airstream Caravel trailer. The hauler is just under 30 feet long and with the Airstream behind it, just under 50.
The COE was finished in June 2009, just in time to go to the Goodguys 21st Annual Hot Rod Nationals in Indianapolis that month, where it received the Napa Trick Truck award.
Editor's Note: Getting your truck into Readers' Trucks is a snap, of the camera, that is. All it takes are a few good-quality photos of your ride that are in focus and well lit. High-resolution digital photos can be sent in via email to: email@example.com. Traditional prints are also acceptable and should be sent to: CCT, c/o Readers' Trucks, 1733 Alton Parkway #100, Irvine, CA 92606. It is important that you include a detailed description of the modifications you have made to your truck, including any interesting stories behind it. Due to the volume of mail we receive, we regret that we cannot return photographs.


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Editor's Note: TheStreet ratings do not represent the views of TheStreet's staff or its contributors. Ratings are established by computer based on metrics for performance (which includes growth, stock performance, efficiency and valuation) and risk (volatility and solvency). Companies with poor cash flow or high debt levels tend to earn lower ratings in our model. NEW YORK ( TheStreet) -- Gerdau (NYSE: GGB) hit a new 52-week low Friday as it is currently trading at $6.20, below its previous 52-week low of $6.31 with two million shares traded as of 11:20 a.m. ET. Average volume has been 5.5 million shares over the past 30 days. Gerdau has a market cap of $10.8 billion and is part of the basic materials sector and metals & mining industry. Shares are down 28.6% year to date as of the close of trading on Thursday. Gerdau S.A. engages in the production and commercialization of steel products worldwide. The company has a P/E ratio of 5.2, below the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7.
- EXCLUSIVE OFFER: Jim Cramer's Protégé, Dave Peltier, only buys Stocks Under $10 that he thinks could potentially double. See what he's trading today with a 14-day FREE pass.


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If you do not have an account, please click here to register.
Registration is quick and easy and once you're logged in you can keep a list of favourite properties and view properties you've enquired on. You'll soon be able to bookmark favourite pages and save favourite search parameters. It will be quicker and simpler to make future enquiries too.


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Orlando Bloom & Miranda Kerr Separate After Six Years
Orlando Bloom and Miranda Kerr have decided to part ways after six years together, JustJared.com can confirm.
"In a joint statement, Orlando Bloom and Miranda Kerr have announced that they have been amicably separated for the past few months," their rep told JJ. "After six years together, they have recently decided to formalize their separation."
The statement continued, "Despite this being the end of their marriage, they love, support and respect each other as both parents of their son and as family."
The 36-year-old actor and 30-year-old Victoria's Secret model began dating in 2007 and were married in July 2010. They welcomed their son Flynn on January 6, 2011.
The couple was last seen together while out for a night on the town with Flynn on Oct. 7 in New York City.
WHAT DO YOU THINK about Orlando and Miranda separating?


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We all did a writing exercise about what we gained from our experience here in Ethiopia, and what we will leave behind. The following are our anonymous responses.
- What I gained: Accepting that I don't always want to be adventurous; sometimes I need to relax and be comfortable.
- What I will leave: Expectation of how I "should" be; the idea that another aspect is better than how I really am.
- Leaving in Ethiopia my ignorance of the poverty that I thought only existed on TV.
- Taking with me the understanding of what "being present" really means.
- Gained friendships and new ops frameworks.
- Leaving behind impatience and beautiful landscapes.
- Taking away: Many new friends, new experiences, and a greater appreciation for life.
- Leaving behind: Timidity within a group and not trusting my instincts.
- I am taking with me a much better understanding of real difficulty, hardship and poverty.
- I am leaving behind inflexibility, impatience and selfishness.
- I'm leaving behind my short fuse and tendency to make small things into a big deal.
- I'm taking an ability to be resilient and more humble.
- Taking with me:
Hope that people from different beliefs CAN get along and this world CAN BE a better place. Belief that poverty is NOT an impediment to generosity and hospitality.
- Leaving behind a body of work that may serve to save an unknown child's life on some unknown day.


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Scrum Sevens
Last of a dying breed?
Tom Hamilton
January 19, 2012
Julian White is in the twilight of his career but is still one of the sport's most ferocious competitiors © Getty Images
Bakkies Botha Jamie Cudmore Thierry Dusautoir Mamuka Gorgodze Richie McCaw Brian O'Driscoll Julian White
Clermont Auvergne Crusaders England France Ireland Leicester Tigers Leinster Montpellier New Zealand South Africa Toulon Toulouse
Has the role of 'enforcer' been rendered obsolete in the modern game by a wave of ultra-conditioned athletes?
The past decade has seen 'hard men' such as Martin Johnson, Danny Grewcock and Schalk van der Merwe - the man who famously wrestled a lion to save a baboon - all retire and the debate is always raging as to who is the toughest man in the game today.
With this in mind, Scrum Sevens casts its eye across the world to find a host of fierce competitors all vying for that title. There is no fake tan, waxed legs or hiding behind a Twitter account in this illustrious list - these men do their talking on the pitch.
Botha is never far away from the referee's notebook and alongside Victor Matfield formed one of rugby's most intimidating second-row partnerships the game has ever seen for both the Springboks and the Bulls. The 32-year-old is currently turning out for Toulon in France alongside England's Simon Shaw - another man who is never found shirking a tackle.
He may have left South Africa, but there is no escaping his reputation as one of the sport's no-nonsense competitors. Botha was yellow carded on his Springboks debut and has since had high-profile run-ins with the back of Jimmy Cowan's head, British & Irish Lions Test prop Adam Jones and Gio Aplon.
One recent interviewer dared to probe into the formidable lock's chequered history. "When it came to the [Cowan] disciplinary hearing, the judge asked me how many times I had been cited in my life. I told the truth - once. He did not believe me, asked me if I had personal problems, if I hit my kids...It was ridiculous. People are wrong about me. I do not eat children."
Clermont Auvergne's Canadian lock spent an incredible 110 days on suspension during the 2010-11 season having been handed a 70-day ban for stamping on Sarries flanker Jacques Burger and a 40-day ban after being found guilty of punching Perpignan's Gregory Le Corvec. And he has already spent time on the sidelines this term after being involved in an altercation with Stade Francais scrum-half Jerome Fillol.
Boasting the not-so-fitting nickname of 'Cuddles,' Cudmore has also taken distaste to Paul O'Connell and Tim Payne in the past. But regardless of his 'bad boy' image, Cudmore is still hailed as leading light in the Top 14 and Canadian rugby and returned to the international stage for the first time in four years for the 2011 Rugby World Cup.
White will turn 39 in a few short months but is still turning out for Leicester Tigers in the Aviva Premiership and remains a ferocious scrummager. He has 51 caps to his name and has enjoyed 13 years in the top flight of English rugby having had spells with Saracens and Bristol before linking up with the Tigers where he has spent the last nine years. White gained a reputation as one of rugby's 'hard men' during his Bristol days when he was hit with a 10-week ban for a head-butt on fellow England front-row Graham Rowntree.
White's bouts of ill-discipline continued throughout his career with high profiles incidents with Malcolm O'Kelly and later a one-punch flooring of England colleague Andrew Sheridan. He has now found tranquillity in farming and owns 300-acres of land near the quaint village of Stoke Albany.
The All Blacks skipper led the Kiwis to World Cup glory with aplomb despite suffering with a foot injury throughout the tournament. McCaw suffered a stress fracture at the start of 2011 which kept him sidelined for the majority of the Crusaders' Super Rugby campaign and when the injury reared its ugly head during the World Cup he played through the pain barrier to ensure the hosts ended a 24-year drought.
Aurelien Rougerie allegedly did his best to take McCaw's mind off his foot woes during an intense final with video replays appearing to show him making contact with McCaw's eye - a charge the All Blacks' stalwart refused to be drawn on. That incident was just the latest of many to illustrate how McCaw, widely regarded as one of rugby's greatest ever players, has put his body on the line for club and country throughout his illustrious career.
The legendary Irish centre is currently out for the season with a shoulder injury and given his reputation for shrugging of all matter of blows before returning to the thick of the action, you know this one must be serious. He was also famously sidelined in 2005 as the result of a Tana Umaga and Keven Mealamu tip-tackle during the British & Irish Lions' tour to New Zealand which resulted in a dislocated shoulder and he very nearly missed the 2007 World Cup due to a broken cheekbone but he played through the pain barrier for the sake of his side.
O'Driscoll's all-action approach saw him sustain another notable injury when he met the challenge of the Springboks' Danie Rossouw head-on during the 2009 Lions' tour to South Africa. Regardless of the knocks and bruises he has sustained throughout his career, the Irish centre keeps on bouncing back to wow fans and pundits alike and while his body must be starting to feel the effects of years at the coal face, O'Driscoll is still revered by fans from all over the world.
While some of our 'hard-men' have earned their reputation for their brushes with the disciplinary officer and others for their Lazarus-like ability to recover from injury, Dusautoir's place on the pantheon comes due to selfless nature of always putting his body on the line for his country. Dusautoir was awarded the 2011 IRB Player of the Year days after the World Cup Final where he earned worldwide acclaim for his tenacity around the breakdown and heroic tackle rate.
It drew immediate comparisons to his side's infamous quarter-finale victory over the All Blacks at the 2007 World Cup where the Toulouse back-row experienced one of his finest hours - putting in an astonishing 38 tackles. It was also Dusautoir who led the infamous challenge to the Kiwis' Haka ahead of their recent Eden Park showdown. And while it is Dusautoir who gets the nod in our selection, a fellow Frenchman is unlucky to miss out.
The aptly named 'Gorgodzilla' is an absolute beast of a man who anchors the back of the Montpellier and Georgian scrum. Standing at 6'5 and weighing in at around 19 stone, Gorgodze took up basketball before switching to rugby. His rampaging runs with ball in hand coupled with his ability to clear out a breakdown single-handedly have earned him a reputation as one of the Top 14's best enforcers.
From an early age, Gorgodze was getting a reputation as a fearsome figure. John Daniell, in his award-winning book, Confessions of a Rugby Mercenary, recalls one encounter with Gorgodze in training. "He is Georgian, and although I say young this doesn't mean baby-faced. At 22 he is a great bear of a man, and seems to spend all his spare time in the weights room.
"His name is Mamuka Gorgodze and he is dubbed, inevitably, 'Gorgodzilla' - although if you value your life you don't say this to his face. During the pre-season mortal-combat sessions he ran around smashing people into the ground, both will ball in hand and with the kind of sledgehammer tackles that cave in ribcages."
© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
Tom Hamilton is the Assistant Editor of ESPNscrum.
Communication error please reload the page.


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LEBANON, Maine � A New Hampshire man credited with saving the life of a 12-year-old Maine girl being mauled by her family's pit bulls says the two dogs were trying to ''tear the girl apart.''
Adam Horr, of Dover, N.H., was visiting friends in Lebanon on Saturday when he heard screams.
He knew immediately it was ''something bad,'' so he sprinted 75 yards through some woods that separate the properties.
The 41-year-old Horr tells The Portland Press Herald (http://bit.ly/ZTnc3t ) he didn't have time to be scared. He started punching and kicking the dogs, who turned on him.
Police say the dogs jumped a fence while Angel Sargent played with her sister and a friend. She was treated for bites on her neck, legs and shoulder. Her mother says she is doing well.


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It's been kind of a big week around here and I have a bunch of posts I meant to write but, you know, life gets in the way of living sometimes and before I know it, it's Saturday at 3:28 pm and all I've managed to do is drop my kids off at their dad's for the night, fuck the shit out of some lemon cookies I found on Pinterest, and blow dry my cute new hair.
Except that I did also get my son to wash his armpits and his ballsack today, so I suppose I should list that in my accomplishments for the day. I've never actually told either child, specifically, to wash their armpits and ballsacks before, and now I'm kind of worried that maybe neither of them *ever* have. I just really assumed that if you had a ballsack, it was something you'd just kind of automatically tend to, lest it find the chance to wind up in someone else's mouth.
Which can happen, you know.
It's important for me to keep an open mind about the issues of the day, and have friends who see this from various perspectives, because sometimes I act like a complete and total hypocrital leftwing whackjob douchebag on twitter and only my libertarian tea party throwin' incredibly disillusioned smart friends are going to call me out on it.
I imagine Donald Trump must feel exactly this same way about Stephen Colbert.
You just never know when opportunity will strike. WASH YOUR BALLSACKS, YOUNG MEN. Please don't make your parent ask you too. It will kill her/him inside.
And I really do think it's kind of important that we start saying very loudly that the norm doesn't have to be "mother", necessarily, and it doesn't have to be "father" either. Why? Read this post by my fellow mom dad parent blogger Vikki of Up Popped A Fox. Read it, and think about every kid in in this country right now who's got a big ol' political campaign aimed at one of their parent's heads. Raising these kids to be adjusted, happy, secure, confident, and successful is the most important thing we can do. The rest is details.
Speaking of, we went to Tucson for my son's state qualifier in marching band last week, and while they didn't qualify for state, they did increase their rankings an entire level -which is kind of remarkable in just a few short months playing heavy brass instruments in polyester Luigi suits for hours on end under the blazing Arizona sun together.
And if you want to read exactly my thoughts on why I think it's totally fine that those kids walked away from a ball-busting season completed empty-handed aside from some massive self-improvement in the face of BRASS and DESERT SUN and POLYESTER, go read Jim's post on Busy Dad Blog about not winning. He said it a thousand times better than I ever could have.
After the tournament, we went to visit Josh's cousin Chelsea and her wife Molly. Last time we saw them, 3of3 was still a speed bump on my torso, and they didn't have any children of their own yet. Now they have two completely ridiculously adorable children who I totally did not snap one picture of because apparently I forgot I was a blogger. What was interesting to me is that, while my sons of course know that Chelsea and Molly are both chicks, my daughter hasn't ever met them, and we certainly don't make a point of disclaimering everyone we speak of (they're both X gender, they have Y color skin, etc - doesn't fly in my house. People are PEOPLE, not things to be categorized) so I didn't know what she'd think when she saw, with her own two eyes, a family with two mommies.
And you know what she thought? Nothing. Didn't even phase her. It never registered as odd or out of place, it was never even something she mentioned, because she saw exactly what she sees every day: a bunch of kids with parents who love them, and give them coconut popsicles if you ask enough times. She wasn't even phased or the slightest bit confused when we all laughed about the last time we'd seen each other, when four year old 2of3 got into a heated argument with the entire family at a wedding, because it was UNCLE CHELSEA, EVERYONE, NOT AUNTIE SHUT UP.
Children can change the way wee see everything, if we just shut up and follow their lead occasionally.
I didn't vote last election. I was in Canada, it was a huge hassle, whatever whatever yada bullshit excuse, I was in Canada. This year, I look at my son who will be old enough to be drafted/fight and die in a war/vote come the next election and I think crap, I have to show him this is the only thing that matters in his whole entire life on November 6th. I have to show him that this is Priority Numero Uno, especially in Maricopa County where they have purposely whoopsie! tried to trick non-English speaking people into not voting, twice. So I registered to vote in a state that I don't want to be tied to because all I want to do is get out of here at my first earliest convenience and I have attachment issues like that, but I did it.
I registered to vote. Because it's the right thing for my kids.
I live here. Because for today, it's the right thing for my kids.
It's also very good for my taste buds.
I'm getting really good at this cookie thing in Arizona, and I'm finding that the more I get into baking cookies, the more I get into Pinterest. I kind of hate myself for this: I find steampunk endlessly annoying and I don't care what color my staples are. Pinterest is not my thing.
Except when it kind of is.
I don't google search recipes anymore - I Pinterest search. I don't twitter crowdsource Halloween crafts for my kids anymore - I Pinterest-source. 9/10 of the shit on Pinterest makes me worry, a lot, about the state of The American Public, but that remaining 1/10 is absolute, glorious, lemony good.
And I wonder why no one follows me on Pinterest.
So I kind of hate Pinterest, and I kind of hate honey, but I do like a clever contest and I really, really like taking trips, so I thought I'd mention this honey board contest I found while I was looking up porn lemon bread recipes on Pinterest the other day. They're giving like $4,500 in travel away or something. I didn't look too closely. Honey. *shudder*
Sadly, my main traveling days are over. I do get to travel a little bit with my new job at BlogHer (it's not really new, I still just can't believe I get to do THIS job for THIS company), but not nearly as much as I did in 2011. Last year I was on the road every single month of the year - tripping the fuck out over double rainbows in Oregon, singing all the words to New Edition songs in Maryland, and standing in front of the Walmart crying my American eyes out from toilet-shock in Harbin, China. Jim posted to day about our year on the road, and over course the whole post is bass fishing, donuts, and Cadillacs. Men, can't travel with'm, can't get them to apologize for making you film them eating bugs. I guess we can call him giving away a night at any Radission his atonement.
I didn't actually find a suitable lemon bread recipe on Pinterest the other day, but I did find a lemon cookie recipe that I screwed six ways to Sunday today (though they look *magnificent*, and that, friends, is the magic of Pinterest) and I got a pumpkin bread recipe off Twitter from True Insolence that could end war n' stuff better than singin' loud (just dated myself right there, didn't I?). If you want it, drop her an @true_insolence tweet.
And I'm trying to figure out what, if anything, to cook baby daddy on Halloween for his 40th birthday, and really, go ahead and ask me how weird it is that the angsty, writerly, built like a freight-train swimmer boy I saw across the room at Bennigan's just last week is turning FOUR OH next week.
Weirdness abounds. Especially since I don't know if I am supposed to acknowledge it or not. Kids and divorce should both come with rules, especially when they cross streams.
More notable than that is the fact that yesterday was my vagina's second birthday. ::confetti::
Two short years ago, some jerk stole my uterus and replaced it with a bendy straw he tried to pass off as a vagina. He said to me at my six week checkup, "this is the kid of surgery that either gets me a cigar and a bottle of scotch, or a broken nose." He was seriously the best OB ever.
The worst thing to come of this is that I am 37 and I want a baby so bad I can fucking taste it and I want to name it Floyd thanks SueBob and mine are all too big to cuddle and I can't have one anymore. The best thing to come of this is probably that, but also that my vagina now has both its own PR Director and Social Media Manager.
See, what I know that companies like @KitchenAidUSA and @StubHub clearly don't is that you have to have extraordinary people, ones who are invested in both the message and the mechanism, holding the keys to your social media campaigns. Social media eats mediocrity for lunch. If you're going to properly brand something, you've got to have a team behind you that is in, 100%.
Also, a team that will not post the pictures of your post-surgery sutures that you sent them via text message in a morphine-induced haze onto your pinterest free porn board, no matter how tempting it may be.
Excellence through discretion. That's Team Bubble Yum Wind Tunnel.
Also, authenticity. 100% of bloggers surveyed agreed.
@mrlady But it has a strong personal brand. It is AUTHENTIC.— Pam Lewis (@outsidevoice) October 27, 2012
PR, Social Media, and Testimonials. I think I'm going to sign my vagina up to host a Geek Bar at BlogHer '13. #doingitright
Aside: Tweets For Twats™, *the* social media management firm for vaginas, is accepting new clients. DM @bblymwndtnnl for rates and government regulations.


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CRESTVIEW � Because of Councilman Mickey Rytman�s absence due to illness, city leaders couldn�t make changes to water and sewer rates.
CRESTVIEW � Because of Councilman Mickey Rytman�s absence due to illness, city leaders couldn�t make changes to water and sewer rates.
Councilmen Thomas Gordon and Shannon Hayes voted in favor of a one-year 5 percent increase, while council president Robyn Helt and council member Joe Blocker voted against the motion.
Gordon's motion, seconded by Hayes, would have included a $1 monthly fee for storm water assessments.
"We haven't had a (water) rate increase in the past 14 years," Gordon said. "We are past due."
Customers would have noticed a 59-cent increase in their water bills if the motion had passed, City Clerk Betsy Roy said.
Helt agreed that a rate increase is necessary, but said such an increase should exceed the proposed amount.
Helt based her decision on information presented by Tetra Tech, an engineering and consulting firm that provided water-mapping services to the city.
"It was advised four years ago to have a 2 percent increase per year," Helt said. "By my estimation, we're 8 percent behind."
The council will discuss the issue during a future workshop, Roy said.
Contact News Bulletin Staff Writer Matthew Brown at 850-682-6524 or firstname.lastname@example.com. Follow him on Twitter @cnbMatthew.