text:
|2010-06-17, 09:32
|Link #101
Seeker of Truth and Lies
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: In your Dreams. And Nightmares
Though I said it would take less than a week, thanks to lots of spare time, it only took me half a day to finish Day 20! That said, there was only two new scenes to translate, so it was bound to take little time anyway. This time we have a new automatic scene at midday with the student council group as they're all amazed at Suzaku's promotion to Euphemia's knight (though Kallen is less than pleased, to say the least), and another scene with Lelouch in his room in the evening. However, the next update will not be so quick, as I'm going to be a bit busy tomorrow and part of Saturday as I finish my final high school exam (YAY!) and at last graduate from high school itself. After that, nothing but summer for me! (Along with summer jobs, but I'm not going to think about that right now.)
And, by the way Arbitres, you said that there isn't any spoken words at the end, just sad music...but then, where does that scene with either Nunnally or C.C. (like the translation you gave me) come in? Sorry if I'm still sounding clueless here, I'm just trying to get a grasp of how it works in the Geass ending.
And for the cutscenes, I would love it if you could help me compile translations for those that happen in the anime. (Though it might be more problematic with those cutscenes in other routes that don't happen in the anime. But that's for another time.)
Hmm, I guess I'll go with the Kuro no Kishidan route first then...Besides, I want to FINALLY see the scene where Lelouch reveals his identity as Zero to Rai. (That's something I've always wanted to see.) After that, who knows? Thanks for the suggestion, in any case.
|2010-06-17, 23:41
|Link #102
Disabled By Request
Join Date: Jan 2010
...Weird. I usually encounter the Kamine Island event during 19 or 20. Oh well.
The Geass Ending has the character ending as an automatic scene. The scene happens after the anime cutscene - when you hear the instrumental version of Mosaic Kakera you know you are near the credits.
There aren't that many Lost Color anime cutscenes - just three. Two involve Rai geassing Euphemia and one is Geass ending. Maybe we could get Yamiro to take a screenshot of the list of movies so we (when I say 'we' I mean you.) can make a list.
I'll get to the anime cutscenes then.
|2010-06-18, 12:52
|Link #104
Seeker of Truth and Lies
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: In your Dreams. And Nightmares
Thanks for helping once again, Yamiro.
And yes, please translate the titles if you can. (And take all the time you need to do it; I understand about the final exams, I just finished my last one today. GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL, HOORAY!...Sorry, had to do it. )
And Arbitres: I think it is finishing on the 20th for me; I just haven't had a chance to go through it yet (exams and all). Edit: Ah, I see, I wrote 20th on my last post instead of the 19th by mistake! Sorry about that.
And what do you mean there are only three Lost Colors anime cutscenes? Do you mean just at the end of the game? Because I could have sworn there were others, like the fireworks scene in the Onsen sub-route.
Last edited by Eternal Dreamer; 2010-06-18 at 13:20.
|2010-06-18, 14:00
|Link #106
Seeker of Truth and Lies
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: In your Dreams. And Nightmares
|2010-06-25, 05:32
|Link #107
Lux ex Silesia
Hmm, that took some effort. I don't know how do you do it, dear Eternal Dreamer. Well, at least, I hope it helps you somehow.
Spoiler for Long:
Last edited by Yamiro; 2010-06-28 at 04:05. Reason: LAST Update
|2010-06-25, 22:45
|Link #108
Seeker of Truth and Lies
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: In your Dreams. And Nightmares
Thanks for the list, Yamiro! With this, it'll be easier to keep track of what we need to translate for the videos.
Also, the translation for the end of the Geass route has been coming along; it's just that it's so LONG that it's taking me a while. (I still have quite a bit to finish even now.) Just so you all know, the automatic end scenes for each route will be put on their on separate pages on the website. (I'm still trying to figure out how to organize that as well. ) I would say that the soonest I'll be finished is next Tuesday or Wednesday, but don't be surprised if it takes me all the way to next Friday to complete it. (But it shouldn't take me any longer than that, luckily.)
|2010-06-26, 03:31
|Link #109
Lux ex Silesia
I'm glad I could help. If you want I can try to translate what's in the movies
...or I can help you with translating Ashford path (since I discovered it's not that hard to translate this stuff, one just needs tons of patience -.-')
...and uhh, you still want that picture?
|2010-06-26, 20:15
|Link #110
Seeker of Truth and Lies
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: In your Dreams. And Nightmares
I would love your help with translating the movies! (Since I pretty much suck at translating anything if it's not text. )
And if you'd like to help translate the Ashford route in the future, that would also be wonderful. (Though, if you want me to be honest, what I would really like you're help on is the Blue Moon route, as it's one I can't play on my PSP version of the game. But since you seem to have shown dislike for it, I'm not gonna force you. Really, what you want to help with is all up to you in the end...Though I've pretty been repeating that same line on this discussion since the beginning. )
And, sorry if I'm forgetful, but what picture are you talking about?
|2010-06-27, 04:52
|Link #111
Lux ex Silesia
Well, dear Eternal Dreamer, to go to Blue Moon we have to go to Ashford first! That's why I proposed my help with the Campus route :P
And I don't feel any dislike towards the PSP version. I just don't have it... I messed up my PSP so the only way to play it for me would be buying the original version - which is impossible to obtain here.
The battle-picture-thingy? ;P
|2010-06-27, 06:27
|Link #112
Seeker of Truth and Lies
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: In your Dreams. And Nightmares
Ah right, that's true that we have to go through the Ashford Route first.
And sorry if I made you misunderstand, but I wasn't saying you dislike the PSP, but rather the Blue Moon route instead. But that just might be my own impression of you.
As for the "battle-picture-thingy", if you're referring to the one for the "Tohdoh-rescue" battle, then yes, I would like it. Otherwise, it doesn't seem that I'm going to be in any battles for a while. (At least until I get around to starting the Black Knights route.)
|2010-07-04, 18:26
|Link #115
Seeker of Truth and Lies
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: In your Dreams. And Nightmares
Sorry for taking so long, but I'm proud to announce that I've finally finished my translation of the Geass Route Ending! (Hooray!) This time there are a LOT of new scenes, which can all be found by going on the new Route Endings page. (Go check it out as soon as you can.) This time around it was the Nunnally ending, which was just too SAD! T_T (Seriously, that is the most emotional and tear-filled scene that I've seen so far in this game.) As for what I do next, I'll be doing some tinkering with the Geass Route now, to see if I can get the C.C. ending and such. I'll continue to add new scenes to the website, of course, but I won't be keeping up the "Current Route" page for this next bit. Once I'm finished this, I'll move on to the Black Knights Route. However, for the next four or five days, I'll be taking a break from translating, so don't expect much update in the meantime. (I will, however, be soon adding the video transcripts I recently obtained, courtesy of Yamiro, in the next few days.) In any case, please enjoy these new translations for the end of the Geass Route.
And Yamiro, thanks once again for the video translation.
|2010-07-06, 01:28
|Link #116
Junior Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Oy. I'm a huge code geass fan, and was very unhappy to see this game wasn't coming over to NA. Then I found you guys and I just wanted to say thank you in advance for all the hard work you guys are doing. you totally kick ass. *goes to his happy place and waits patiently... and happily*
|2010-07-11, 15:54
|Link #117
Disabled By Request
Join Date: Jan 2010
By the way Eternal Dreamer, the translation(s) I gave you... Were they accurate or no? I'm particularly interested in the Rolo scene translation I scrounged up and gave you. (The C.C. one doesn't bother me too much though, for some reason.)
|2010-07-11, 21:36
|Link #118
Seeker of Truth and Lies
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: In your Dreams. And Nightmares
Though it took a little longer than I predicted, I've finally uploaded the video transcripts (thanks for this largely go to Yamiro for this, by the way). From now on, if a scene has a video moment with talking in it, the video transcript will be put into a separate document, right beneath the link to the scene on the site. Next time I update, however, there will be a new page that lists all the video transcripts. (Though things will get a bit harder when the videos occur outside the events of the actual anime, but we'll cross that bridge when we come to it.) Also, I've added two new rooftop scenes with Lelouch from my recent replay of the Geass Route; more are sure to come in the future. Hopefully I'll have a bit more the next time I update this site.
To Regless: Thanks for the support for this project! I too was devastated when I found out that this game wasn't going to come out in English. (It was for that very reason I started this project; for people like you and me. )
And Arbitres: Well, to be honest, I only used the Rolo translation you gave me very briefly as a reference, but I still appreaciate that you gave it to me... (...I know, I suck at trying to say things nicely. ) However, I do intend to use that C.C. ending translation when I get to it, so have no worries! (...Yep, I definitely suck at saying these kind of things. )
|2010-07-19, 18:49
|Link #119
Seeker of Truth and Lies
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: In your Dreams. And Nightmares
I've now finished all the scenes for the Geass Route! I've added the C.C. and Lelouch end scenes (the latter wasn't as bad as I thought, though Nunnally still remains my favorite), as well as several other scenes I found after replaying the game: a scene with Lelouch in the classroom, Minami in the hangar, another C.C. in Rai's room, another Tohdoh in the command center, another Urabe in the hangar, another Senba in the lounge, another Asahina in the lounge, another Chiba in the hangar, and one with Chiba in the lounge. I've also corrected several scenes and details on the site as well, so don't be surprised if you notice small differences from before.
I also have an announcement as well: from this Wednesday to the end of the month, I'll be on vacation camping with my family, so I won't be able to update this site or respond to any messages until I come back. When I get back, however, I'll be starting the Kuro no Kishidan right away.
Also, Arbitres, I just wanted to say thanks for the trans of the C.C. ending. There were certain parts I was unsure about, but I was able to fill in some blanks thanks to it.
And, if you have the time, could you please tell exactly how to go about getting into the KnK route after finishing the Geass Route? This is my first time finishing the game, so I'm a bit unsure how I'm supposed to go on from here. (Also, is the Narita battle in KnK different from the one in the Geass route?)
|2010-07-19, 21:22
|Link #120
Disabled By Request
Join Date: Jan 2010
The battle at Narita for Geass route is indeed different from Black Knight route Narita. Because in KnK route Narita you get to use geass at Narita to make the battle easier (Geass route = you fight JLF forces/Burai. In Black Knight = you fight Britannian forces/Sutherlands.)
There are three endings. Lelouch/Zero ending and Karen ending... and there's Diethard ending.
I wouldn't know how to go about it, just talk to Karen quite a bit in the early stages. Agree, notice the grief the Japanese suffer as well, etc etc... You know your on Kuro no Kishidan the moment the automatic battle scene in the ghetto occurs. You could also talk to Tamaki and Ohgi to fill the blanks of when you can't talk to Karen. (Because they count too.) Otherwise, talk to Rivalz or Nunnally when you can't do those, either.
Also, you should avoid talking to Suzaku at night, anyone with the '?' (Unless it's Karen at Ashford with '?'. Everyone else is C.C., who will draw you into geass route.)
By the way, could you give me C.C.'s ending dialog for Rai in her ending? I want to know if it was correct or if there was additional to it.
Anyways, I hope my ever so brilliant crash course on how to start KnK helped. xD
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JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (Feb. 27, 2010) -- In their final regular season tune up before the Atlantic Sun Conference Tournament, the ETSU Buccaneers' men's basketball team will take on league champion Jacksonville Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m. inside the Veterans Memorial Arena.
The Bucs (16-14 overall, 12-7 A-Sun) still find themselves battling for seeding heading into the season's final day of action. Meanwhile, the Dolphins wrapped up at least a share of the league title with their win over Campbell Thursday night.
For more on the matchup, click the game notes link above or read the game notes located below.
Buc bits
Winning their second straight game with a 61-46 win over North Florida and assuring themselves of at least a .500 season, the ETSU Buccaneers will end the regular season Saturday at 2 p.m. taking on the Jacksonville Dolphins ... The Bucs improved to 16-14 overall, 12-7 in Atlantic Sun Conference play, while the Dolphins assured themselves of at least a share of the A-Sun regular season title with a win over Campbell Thursday evening ... ETSU and JU met in the championship of the A-Sun Tournament a year ago, with the Bucs prevailiing and earning a trip to the NCAAs ... The Bucs hope to continue to build momentum as they prepare for next week's Atlantic Sun Conference Tournament ... Preseason All Atlantic Sun Conference pick Mike Smith (Vandalia, Mo.) has been out for much of the season and will applie for a medical redshirt to hopefully rejoin the Bucs in 2010-11 ... In Smith's absence, Tommy Hubbard (Boston), along with Justin Tubbs (Trussville, Ala.) and Micah Williams (Manchester) have stepped up their games. In fact, Hubbard has posted double-doubles 13 times this season. ... Currently, Hubbard and Tubbs lead the team in scoring, with Hubbard averaging 13.9 points per game, and Tubbs pitching in 12.4 a contest ... Williams is the only other ETSU player averaging double figures with 11.5 a contest.
The series against Jacksonville
ETSU and Jacksonville have met 11 times with the Buccaneers holding a 7-4 edge in the all-time series ... Since joining the A-Sun in 2005-06, the Bucs are 6-2 against the Dolphins, including an 85-68 win over the JU in the finals of the A-Sun Tournament last March ... The Bucs only losses to JU since joining the conference came in 2007 and 2009 during trips to JU ... ETSU won the last meeting between the two schools back on Dec. 21, 2009 in Johnson City, 93-70
Last time against Jacksonville
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (Dec. 21, 2009) - Trailing by five at 27-22 with 6:39 left in the first half, the ETSU men's basketball was able to find its stride offensively and ultimately outscored Jacksonville by 28 points the rest of the game, winning 93-70 in a key early season Atlantic Sun Conference matchup at the ETSU/MSHA Athletic Center. ... A crowd of 3,271 looked on as four ETSU players scored in double figures, while junior forward Tommy Hubbard (Boston) posted his seventh double-double of the season with 15 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Buccaneers' attack. The Bucs - who will not play again until a Jan. 4 road trip to USC Upstate - enter the Christmas break with a perfect 2-0 A-Sun record and 6-7 overall mark. Meanwhile, Jacksonville - the preseason league favorite - falls to 1-7, 0-2. ... While Hubbard finished with yet another double-double, junior guard Micah Williams (Manchester) pitched in a team high 17 points, junior guard Justin Tubbs (Trussville, Ala.) tossed in 16, and sophomore guard Jarvis Jones (Memphis) added 14 in the winning effort. Meanwhile, freshman point guard Bruce Grimm (Rochester, Ind.) made just his second career start and responded with six points, six assists and four steals, while turning the ball over just twice. ... For Jacksonville, A-Sun preseason player of the year Ben Smith finished with a game high 32 points, while Travis Cohn netted 15. ... Early on, this meeting of regular A-Sun contenders and a rematch of the 2009 league tournament title game looked liked the battle that was expected. Both teams traded the lead in the opening 14 minutes and the Dolphins even pushed out to their largest advantage of the contest at 27-22. However, the Bucs answered that charge by outscoring JU 19-5 to close out the half and lead 41-32 at the break. ... After the intermission, the Bucs kept the pressure on and never let up, outscoring the Dolphins 25-12 over the first 10 minutes of the second half, and ultimately holding a lead of as many as 35 at 93-58 with 2:32 left.
Last time out
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (Feb. 25, 2010) - Forcing North Florida into 19 turnovers and outscoring the Ospreys 23-7 off those miscues, the ETSU men's basketball team's play on the defensive end proved critical as the Buccaneers enjoyed a 61-46 victory in Atlantic Sun Conference action Thursday night at the UNF Arena. ... While the Bucs held UNF to just 30 percent shooting for the game and swiped 10 steals, ETSU got a team-high 14 points from freshman guard Sheldon Cooley (Tampa) in the victory. In addition, ETSU got 10 points apiece from guards Adam Sollazzo (Tampa) and Micah Williams (Manchester), as the Bucs' bench outscored the Ospreys' subs, 28-12. ... The Bucs managed to win despite shooting just 43.5 percent (10-of-23) from the free throw line, but ETSU did hit on 42 percent from the field. UNF held a 46-36 edge on the boards, but the Ospreys were just 2-of-21 from beyond the 3-point arc. ... In the first half, the Bucs built a lead of as many as nine points at 22-13 when Sollazzo hit a layup at the 4:59 mark. UNF answered to pull back to within five at 24-19 with 3:04 left, but six straight points from the Bucs - capped by another Sollazzo score with three second left in the half - made it 30-19 at the break. ... The Bucs enjoyed their 11-point advantage despite hitting on just 3-of-9 shots from the free throw line. However, ETSU connected on 42 percent of its shots from the field in the first 20 minutes, while using their fullcourt defense to hold the Ospreys to just 29 percent shooting from the floor and an 0-for-8 clip from 3-point range. ... After the break, the Bucs kept the defensive pressure on the Ospreys early and used multiple UNF turnovers to build their lead to as many as 16 at 39-23 with 16:19 left in the game. UNF managed to cut that advantage to nine points midway through the second half, but that would be as close as the Ospreys would get as the Bucs pushed back out to a 19-point advantage late in the game. ... The Ospreys were led offensively by Andy Diaz with 15 points and 11 rebounds.
Jan. 30 not a good day for Bucs
For the second year in a row, the Buccaneers dropped a critical overtime game on Jan. 30 ... One year ago, the Bucs fell 82-72 at Jacksonville, in a game that Dolphins' guard Ben Smith hit a long range 3-pointer to tie the game in regulation and force the extra period ... The Bucs again found themsevles in an overtime game on Jan. 30, losing a nine-point lead in regulation with six minutes left and ultimately giving up a five-point lead in OT to fall to Lipscomb, 85-84.
Century mark not usual for ETSU defense
Giving up 100 points in the loss to Belmont (1/23/10) was not usual for the Buccaneers ... Before that game, the Bucs had not given up 100 or more point in over two years ... The last time it happened was on Dec. 15, 2007, when the Bucs lost to Syracuse 125-75 ... This season, the most points the ETSU defense had allowed was 85, in games at Arkansas and UAB ... For the year, the ETSU defense is giving up an average of just 67.0 points per game.
Jones steps up at the point
Coming off the bench to play the point guard position in the Bucs' last game against Lipscomb, sophomore guard Jarvis Jones (Memphis) answered in a big way with a career high 17 points, including the game-winning 3-pointer with .4 seconds left in regulation ... Jones played 23 minutes in the game and was 3-of-4 from 3-point range.
Williams bringing more offense to the table
Junior guard Micah Williams (Manchester) has worked his way into the starting lineup thanks to more consistent play on the offensive end ... He has scored in double figures in 16 of his last 21 games, and recently matched his season high with 22 points against Stetson (2/6) ... He most recently scored 10 in the win over North Florida (2/25) ... Currently, Williams is one of three Bucs averaging double figures scoring this year with 11.5 points per game.
Hubbard steps up game in 2009-10
Much has been written and reported about junior forward Tommy Hubbard (Boston) and his efforts to improve his offensive game, and those strides have led to some solid numbers ... He currently leads the Bucs with 13.9 points per game and 8.6 rebounds a contest ... while he has posted 13 double doubles on the year, his efforts began to pay off on the offensive end against Chattanooga back on Nov. 17 ... Setting career bests for points (26) and rebounds (13), Hubbard collected his first career double-double against the Mocs ... In addition, he hit his first 3-point shot in three seasons with the Bucs, and didn't stop there -- ultimately finishing with four long-range bombs on the night.
Record setting night from the arc for Bucs
Hitting on 11-of-14 shots from 3-point range against Arkansas, the Bucs put their name in a multiple of record books ... First, those numbers set a new school record for 3-point field goal percentage in a game with a 78.6 percent mark, breaking the previous record of 66.7 percent which had been done three times previously ... In addition, it was the best shooting effort in the "nation" this season for teams taking more than 10 shots in a game ... And it was the best percentage by a team in the A-Sun since Nov. 28, 1999 when UCF was 11-of-14 in a game against South Carolina state.
Sollazzo to honor Coy with number change
When ETSU's rising sophomore forward Seth Coy (Montgomery, Ind.) was tragically killed in a car accident this summer, it left the entire Buccaneer community with a deep sense of loss ... As is often the case, those that are left to mourn have looked for ways to remember the Bucs' 6-foot-11 "Gentle Giant." ... For sophomore guard Adam Sollazzo (Tampa), who was Coy's roommate, the answer was simple ... Changing his jersey number from No. 20 to Coy's No. 43, Sollazzo will play the 2009-10 season to honor his friend and have that memory with him each night.
ETSU the "only" A-Sun team picked among nation's best "Prestige" programs
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (July 22, 2008) - Since the beginning of the modern era for NCAA Division I-A basketball - marked by the expansion of the NCAA Tournament field to 64 teams in 1984-85 - the ETSU men's basketball program ranks in the Top 30 percent of the 300 programs that were eligible for the postseason at that time, this according to a new "Prestige" ranking released by ESPN.com ... The Buccaneers, who have enjoyed six NCAA Tournament trips, one NIT berth, seven 20-win seasons, and a slew of conference regular season and tournament championships since 1984-85, ranked tied for 82nd out of 300 teams, meaning they were in the Top 27 percent of schools making the list. ETSU was ranked ahead of every current Atlantic Sun Conference team, as well as former Southern Conference rivals Appalachian State, Western Carolina, Georgia Southern and UNC Greensboro. The Bucs also were placed ahead of every current member of the Colonial Athletic Association with the exception of Old Dominion ... In addition, the Bucs ranked ahead of SEC schools such as Tennessee, Vanderbilt, South Carolina, Mississippi State, Georgia, Mississippi and Auburn, as well as other major programs such as Virginia Tech, Notre Dame, DePaul, Bradley, Clemson, California and Florida State.

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Car Forums / BMW / BMW X3
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BMW X3 Sunroof
stever Posts: 52,683Check out this X5 post while waiting for responses:
Mr_Shiftright, "BMW X5 Maintenance and Repair" #468, 13 Jan 2007 10:16 am0
myx3 Posts: 1Hello Everyone,I am new to this and I greatly appreciate your time and consideration.
I purchased my 2004 x3 with 59K miles from an auction in December 2007. I love this vehicle, drives great (gas mileage ok). I knew (or thought the rear interior shade for sunroof was missing but later noticed it was lodged in headliner) however the sun roof worked fine for several weeks. Then one weekend on a drive to FL I opened the sunroof, heard a lock of clicking (probably parts breaking) and the sunroof remained open in the "tilt" position. I took it to the local Volvo "authorized bmw center" and they recommended an upholstery shop. Took it there, they tore down the headliner removed the sunroof and said that about 400 bucks in parts were needed and 450 for labor. I like my sunroof so I agreed. TWELVE DAYS LATER , parts from Germany, they assembled and it still would not leave the tilt position when activated. They showed me in manual where "the system had to be initialized by BMW." They did refund the Labor portion of repair. I drove 107 miles one way to closest BMW Delearship authorized repair center. By the way since then it rained and I had water in rear interior of vehicle. After two days at dealership they said sunroof was "wedge" , cost would be 3300 bucks for New Sunroof Cassette, they supposedly repaired leak cleaned drains, and were suppose to program key. They could not close sunroof back and wanted to charge me 300.00 for them to close it, when it was in the close position when I brought it in!! Reluctantly they closed it back for no charge, but plenty of headache. I talked to a body shop to see if i could get a refurbished sunroof cassette, he located one for 500 but got damaged during shipping from California. Meanwhile, I noticed a couple of weeks later 5 INCHES OF WATER in the plastic "holder" in rear of vehicle and driver rear floor was also very wet. I called the dealer back, drove 107 miles ONE WAY to let them take another look. AFTER TWO DAYS, they said " when they gave the vehicle back to me the interior shades were closed and the exterior was completely shut>" They accuse me (or someone else) of opening after they closed? Why would I do that when I have learned by now that it will not be able to close back unless you remove entire Sunroof again. I CALLED THEM A BOLD FACE LIE! Obviously, I would know if this was true (the interior shades were open because it could not go into close position) they also said that my key could not be programmed because the water had damaged the TCU whatever that is. I am losing the fight because it is my word against theirs..... I would like to get my sunroof fixed It is difficult for me to believe that the entire unit needs to be replaced when something is working but "binds" when you activate motor, why not just "unbind" or fix the area that is binding. Why NEW CASSETTE? I want the problems fixed (what are your thoughts on refurbished cassettes)and the leak fixed, but do not know where to turn. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I truly apologize for long email.
Sincerely Needs Help!!0
bodoc44 Posts: 1I am having a problem with my 2005 BMW moonroof leaking. Has anyone found a solution?
Please reply asap, it will be greatly appreciated.
pp2009pp Posts: 228Lots of chatter about this. If it is the roof leaking those are likely stuffed up roof drains. People are using weed wacker line to clear them out until they run clear.
If you park outside, more like to have a problem. Someone said pollen stuffed up his drains. Why it leaks into the passenger compartment? Who the heck knows.
Other sources of BMW X3 leaking: engine compartment where debris collects under the hood catch basin causing leaking into the cabin.
Back windshield washer fluid leak.
Door vapor barriers not working.
Hopefully it is something simple like the roof drains being clogged because that sunroof is a cassette and if it breaks you may need to replace the entire thing - out of warranty?
I have a 2004 X3 with 70k miles on it (although this fix will work on any leaking sunroof). I purchased this vehicle new (it was a program car). My X3 never lived outside (it had always been garaged) until I started spending extended periods of time with my fiancé two years ago (my work requires only an internet connection and an airport).
Once it lived outside, the car started leaking after every heavy rain (and when I say leaking, I mean all I needed was the koi to have a once worth $50k now worthless piece of German engineering become an upscale pond using the floor of my vehicle). It has been in the shop numerous times since. Over the last two years, I've spent hundreds in having BMW blow out the panoramic sunroof drains (they eventually showed me how to do it) and hundreds more in replacing the driver's door vapor seal. Nothing has resolved the leaking. So, I put on my closet engineer hat and came up with the following workaround. My fiance is an engineer and was impressed by the effectiveness of this workaround. (Not meaning to pat myself on the back, but desperate times leads to desperate measures.)
The Fix:
First, let me say that this workaround is 100% effective. It is also very inexpensive ($150.00), but it may not be All That for everyone.
What I did was find a location that installs 3M Paint Protector film, also known as the Invisible Bra. I've used the Invisible Bra product on all of my BMW's so I had a company called Tint King install a sheet of the 3M Paint Protector film across the top of my car. (Actually, they installed two sheets with about a 1/4" overlap at the sunroof seam due to the size of the panoramic sunroof - as well as about 4" around the edge of the sunroof, totally sealing it from the elements. See pictures below.)
The film is completely see through (you would never know it was there) so you can open the shade and get full sun. You can also see out the sunroof as if you were looking through glass alone. You cannot, however, open the sunroof, which is why this workaround may not be for everyone. But, for me, that is more than acceptable.
I was lucky enough (or unlucky enough) to have tornadoes rip through the area - along with another round of torrential rains the tornadoes brought with them - the day after my install which allowed me to test my workaround. The car interior was completely dry.
I used Tint King (in London, Ontario – I am an American who spends much time in Canada, as my finace is Canadian. Tint King did a GREAT job and the car has not leaked during any of the subsequent rains, including the one that brought the tornadoes. There are Tint King locations throughout the US and Canada (I used Google). You seriously cannot tell the film is on the top of the car. It is crystal clear. (The film is also 100% removable should you desire to remove it at a future date.)
Sorry for the reflection of the car's interior. I snapped these with my cell phone right after installation and there's not much to see other than gray and blue sky.
Note that the remaining water from the installation has completely dissipated and the film is flat and perfectly installed. They couldn't initially squeegee out that bit of water due to the lip around the sunroof.
An Unconcerned BMW of North America:
When I called BMW of North America to ask them to help me out with drying the underside of the mats (IOW pay the labor to pull up the mats and dry the vehicle once and for all), they told me tough luck. I need to eat my German engineered crap sandwich and enjoy it. The cost for BMW to dry out the flooring under the mats is more than $600 which is all labor.
I was told that BMW is completely unaware of any leakage problem in their vehicles and it was my responsibility alone if I wanted to dry out the cabin floor. I tried to get some pages of a manual to show how to pull up the carpets so I could do it myself and was told to check YouTube (I couldn't find one that applied if anyone has some help/instructions for pulling up the front cabin carpeting it would be greatly appreciated.) I was told that there were no design problems causing leakage and too bad for me.
I told her I was a three time BMW owner (new 2001 X5, new 2004 X3, used 1999 318ti) and was looking to get a new car in the upcoming months and that I had a hard time justifying buying another BMW when I didn't feel that they were standing behind their product in what is obviously, reading all the BMW boards, a design flaw. Enjoy my turd sandwich was the only response.
Additional Information:
A couple of other things; the installed carpets show no sign of mold (something I won't know fully until I can lift those carpets up). The BMW floor mats molded badly. Once I removed them, the smell immediately went away. I will not be replacing the BMW mats. I am going to solely replace my ancient WeatherTech rubber mats.
As an added bonus, the cabin is much quieter now that the 3M Paint Protector film is across the top of my car. It used to have more wind noise than I would like with the shade fully open. No more.
Lastly, my vehicle is older (though I am the only owner) so I probably have little leg to stand on in a class lawsuit, but I think that owner's experiencing this disaster with their once worth tens of thousands of dollars but now worthless pieces of German engineering should band together to get some kind of compensation. Seriously, who is going to purchase my or your leaking BMW disaster? In my eyes, this is unacceptable for a premium brand.
Now that I no longer have the leaks, I will keep this guy until it's time for me to get a new car and then I will probably give it away to one of my friend's kids or donate it to a good cause.
Sorry for the length of this post.0
msemprebon Posts: 1Justjayna, Thanks for your post. Hopefully this information will be helpful for my garage and may be worth a trip to Quebec or another company that tints as you state.0
cuteboynnova Posts: 1I've had the same problem with water leaking into the rear passenger floorboards of my 2004 BMW X3 over the last several years following a heavy rain/snow.
BMW of Arlington did attempt to repair the problem (replaced drains and interior carpeting and floor mats) and they even covered 100% of the costs (several thousand dollars) but the problem resumed within two month's time and has gradually gotten worse over the last two years. The moisture has created a mold and mildew problem (again) and I am worried about the potential health consequences of being exposed to this for prolonged periods of time. BMW was never able to identify the source of the leak and they tried several high-pressured water tests to no avail. But, it's clear to me that BMW will not be able to correctly fix the problem unless they do something akin to the solution that you've proposed.
One thing that I have recently noted is that there is a container in the rear (just inside the hatchback) on the right side of the car. This container seems to fill with water after it rains and the floorboard seems to be dry until this compartment becomes full. Has anyone else noticed this?
In good conscious, I can't trade this car in and pass this problem along to someone else. I bought this car used from Carmax and I feel that someone else just passed the problem along to me. I also plan to give the car to a friend or donate it once I'm ready for a new vehicle though I'm worried that the mold and mildew could create health issues with the next owner. Obviously, being unable to trade the vehicle in represents a loss of thousands of dollars to me and I would support a class action lawsuit. It sounds as if BMW has been made aware of this and has not taken the problem seriously, at best.0
dmw8 Posts: 1How is the 3M paint protection film holding up? I have a leaky sunroof on my 2004 X3 and am considering your innovative solution. I certainly don't want to spend the $3500 or so I understand it costs to fix the sunroof, which will probably just start leaking again! Thanks in advance for the update on your car!0
It's holding up very well.
Remember that after you apply tge 3M film you can use the power shade screen but don't try to open the glass as you could damage the motor that powers the shade screen.
I'd do this again in a heartbeat! The car's been cleaned, dried, detailed and it's like it was when I got it. I'm very pleased.
FYI, my 3M invisible bra has been in place since I got the car and it's faded some (seven years, not too shabby) but if you keep your car for a long time, you may have to replace what you've put on the roof. Well worth a small investment for keeping perfectly clear like glass. You truly cannot see it on the car0
jmoney2702 Posts: 1:lemon: Wifes 2011 X3 arrived with improperly installed rear master seal, leaking sunroof(4 attempts to repair including complete replacement by dealer. Still leaking), seat memory refuses to work after many computer reflash attempts, lights began flashing and horn going off (no security system of any kind), coolant leak, passenger side mirror stuck in down position after reverse, ad naseum...Service Manager awesome by saying car needs to be replaced and helping fight BMW in our Lemon Law and Warranty Claim. First two bmw's were awesome. This is our last! Guess that's what happens when assembled in the U.S.0
nancysx3 Posts: 1I recently purchased a 2008 X3 with 28K miles ... I love it, drives great, very comfortable. BUT .... every time I open or close the door my sunroof "clunks" and makes it sound so cheap. Also, when I have my sunroof open all the way & doing highway driving it makes a terrible clunky sound ... like the wind is getting between the 2 glass panes & rattles then terribly. Any solutions to this ??? it just sounds terrible when opening & closing .... THANKS !0
ggm0481 Posts: 1hi, im having terrible issues with my 2011 x3 as well (to make a long story short, the DME was messed up, burnt up all my sensors and even after the replacement of the DME lights are STILL coming on) They dont want to do anything with the car. Let me know if you were successful so i can speak to the person you spoke/are speaking to.0
1. Call BMWNA and work with them to resolve your issue. You must do this first.
2. If not resolved, sit down using Word or some WP program and write a detailed explanation of what happened. Use pics, list service dates/service details, warranty information, what BMWNA said/did, or what have you, to support your issue. Make sure it's perfect or near perfect (spelling, logical flow of thought, all your ducks in a row). Post with a way that BMW will know who you are (first (and last, if you're comfortable) name, service locations, etc.)
3. Post it on every BMW board you can locate.
4. Hope you have a strong case and BMW offers to resolve the issue (if so, they'll contact you via your BMWNA contact...they log all calls).
Good luck!0
My 2004 X3 sunroof stuck open in the rear (flipped up) and had to be closed manually by the dealer. The dealer said all roof components are broken and in pieces. Very puzzling as I only used it occaisonally as a vent. It happend at the same time as the AC failed, various oil leaks and all the windows would not work. BMW corporate would not assist with sunroof repair and said it was not a recall. To repair the sunroof is $1,900 !. I am so disapointed with the car as it seems to have fallen apart at 100K miles - over 6K in repairs in 3 months. I would not recommend this car except for a 3 year lease where all is covered. Not for someone who expects longevity.0
Same thing happened to me. I had to have it manually closed at the dealer. The sunroof was in pieces. BMW would not consider it a recall which was disapointing. You can have it manually closed for about 100$ vs 2000-3000 to repair it.0
bmwwhisperer Posts: 1If you have rainwater collecting in to the carpeting and cubby near the rear of your X-3, your sunroof drainpipes may be clogged or bio-fouled. The drainpipes are located inside the rear corner pillars behind the removable panels that you would remove to access your rear lights. The drainpipe is a 1/2 inch diameter black tube running down the inside corner. I chose to cut my drainpipes at approximately the level of the tops of my rear lights, or midway where they are visible. You'll then need to blow out the pipes (top and bottom half) with compressed air, with the sunroof slightly open. You could also jet compressed air from the bottom drainpipe outlet, but the debris needs to go out, not back upwards into the sunroof area. Either way, your drainpipes can bio-foul, especially if you live in a humid climate and you may have to jet them or flush them out periodically.
You can repair (reconnect) the drainpipes with duct-tape or electrical tape. I used a stint made from a McDonald's straw to keep the piping rigid while reconnecting the two halves. Sunroof problems can be daunting, but if you are patient and creative, you can master their maintenance and enjoy that open air exhilaration of your beloved Bimmer.0
notmybmw Posts: 101Hey, whisperer.......I couldn't disagree with your post more vigorously.
To have to be either "patient" OR "creative" while simply trying to get your FIFTY THOUSAND dollar German luxury automobile to perform the way it was designed is a crime against consumer sensibility and a giant PIE in the face of alleged German design superiority.
I used to be an "Kraut import snob"......but after spending just 2 months acquainting myself with my wife's (thank God) LEASED X3, everything from its orange-peel paint job to intermittent iDrive display has me wondering what has happened to the marque.
Our old (2004) 325i is twice the car in terms of both form AND function.
Did I hear someone say they're assembled in America now? That would explain a lot.0
bmwx3ugh Posts: 1Dear Jmoney,
My daughter's 2006 BMW X3, which was always garaged, has now developed deep puddles of water in the passenger side of the car as well after sitting outside for 2 weeks during a vacation. Mold and disgusting stuff was growing inside the car. BMW suggests we contact our insurance company because of all the potential damage to the wiring inside the car. The car had to be towed to the garage because it wouldn't start. Have you resolved your issues with your wife's car? I certainly feel that BMW is somewhat to blame. After seeing all of the issues on the web with the problems with the sunroof seal, I'm surprised they did not recall or fix this issue. It would have prevented issues like this. I look forward to hearing from you. Thank you,0


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I'm game...I haven't played in 4 years and am rusty!
The courts at Memorial Park are nice...
It is in central El Paso, just north of I-10 and between Piedras and Copia streets.
What part of town do you live in?
Saturday or Sunday mornings would work for me...
Well, I like early Saturday mornings, but I forgot that I have an appointment that morning. I am a basketball referee and I have 2 games Saturday. How about Sunday?
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Recent History
In the mid-1980s, the Carolina Foothills Garden Club and the City of Greenville adopted a master plan for the park that was designed to restore the beauty of the area and provide a safe and welcoming gathering spot for individuals and groups.
The vision for a dramatic public garden was finally realized when the Camperdown Bridge was removed in 2002. Using funds generated through a local hospitality tax, and building on the master plan designed in 1999 by landscape architect Andrea Mains, Falls Park was developed to include 20 acres of gardens showcasing Reedy River Falls. In August 2002, Mayor Knox White announced "In Full Bloom in 2003," a $13 million initiative to transform the park into a public garden and oasis. Included in the project was construction of a 355-foot-long, 12-foot-wide, curved suspension bridge that was designed by world-renowned architect Miguel Rosales to provide dramatic views of the upper falls and the gardens below. Additional designs called for a new park building with two levels of plazas, a private restaurant, public restrooms and the garden's maintenance facility to be located on the South Main Street end of the bridge.
Hidden away for more than 40 years, the Reedy River Falls were obscured by the Camperdown Bridge until its removal in 2002.
The pedestrian bridge opened views of the falls and the park.
Most of modern day Greenville was hunting land used by the Cherokee Indians, whose main villages were located in what is now Oconee County. A part of the Iroquoian Nation, the Cherokees may have set up temporary summer camps along the banks of the Reedy River. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, Indian artifacts were found along the north bank of the river.
European settlers were forbidden to live here until 1777, when the Cherokee were forced to cede their land to the new state. Referred to as the "the cradle of Greenville," it was the magnificent, life-giving falls of the Reedy River that led the first settlers to this region.
In 1768, Richard Pearis, who was married to a Cherokee Indian, established a trading post and grist mill at the base of the falls. In 1774, Pearis bought 50,000 acres – including the falls - from his son, who was considered a member of the Cherokee Nation. At the time, it was unlawful for a white man to purchase land from the Indians, so this allowed Pearis to get around the system. Pearis eventually sided with the British during the American Revolution. When he returned to Greenville, his business and family were gone.
Following Pearis, Lemuel Alston built a small tub mill on the site of Pearis' mill. In 1815, Vardry McBee bought more than 11,000 acres from Alston, including most of present-day Greenville, and built two flour mills – one in 1817 and one in 1829. McBee was a philanthropist and gave the land for the town's first schools, colleges and churches.
In the 19th century, a variety of industries eventually clustered along the Reedy River. Those industries included an ironworks, the Gower, Cox, and Markley Coach Factory, a sawmill, a paper factory, an armory, as well as grist and corn mills.
In 1876, McBee's heirs worked with three Massachusetts mill owners to open the water-powered Camperdown Mill, which produced yarn and gingham until 1956. The falls provided a power source for industry in the early 19th century. A variety of industries eventually clustered along the Reedy River, including an ironworks; the Gower, Cox and Markley Coach Factory; a sawmill; a paper factory and an armory, as well as grist and corn mills. A 27-acre mill village grew up on the hills surrounding the falls, complete with churches, mill store and recreation grounds. Whole families, often including children as young as 9 or 10, worked at the mills. They rented the mill houses for 50 cents a week per room; water and lights were supplied by the mill. The extension of Church Street in the late 1950s destroyed much of the once-extensive mill village.
In 1852, Furman Institution (now Furman University) bought the land. Three textile mills and a cotton warehouse operated in the early 1900s, all contributing to the pollution of the Reedy River.
In 1967, the Carolina Foothills Garden Club reclaimed 26 acres for the current park, with the support of the City of Greenville, Furman University and the Planning Commission. Over the next 40 years, the Garden Club and the City of Greenville have worked with individuals, corporations and state and federal agencies to further develop the park, clean up the river and restore the historic Falls Cottage. In 1990, landscape architect Andrea Mains introduced the concept of transforming the park into a regional attraction, with beautiful public gardens and a pedestrian bridge.


text: The Creators Project recently interviewed digital-installation renaissance man Karl Sadler about his role as both an artist & a director. The interview highlights his latest project, "The Sculpture of The Album," made in collaboration with popular London-based band The XX. Through harnessing technology and art, Sadler gives visual form to the band's music, creating a physical representation of the intangible. The piece sheds light on what happens when media and message are mixed, and, on a broader level, the creative process. Visit The Creative Project site to read the full interview with Sadler, as well as explore other creatives from around the world working across a broad range of media. If you're in the NYC area, stay tuned for The Creators Project Launch Event June 26!


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|NewsUSA) – You teach your kids to brush their teeth, yet every trip to the dentist could reveal another cavity. But don't fret. You're not doing anything wrong — children can still develop dental cavities, or areas where harmful bacteria damage hard tooth structure, in spite of every precaution. In fact, tooth decay remains the most common chronic condition in children and adolescents.
"Kids have very special oral care needs, and are much more likely than adults to form cavities," says Dr. Jeffrey Hillman, D.M.D., Ph.D., chief scientific officer of Oragenics, Inc. For one thing, children tend to like sugary foods, which make them more likely to develop cavities. But sugar does not cause cavities directly — sugar feeds the bad bacteria that cause tooth decay.
Brushing can help prevent tooth decay by removing plaque, or buildup of bad bacteria, but it's not a perfect technique. For one thing, it only takes 20 minutes after eating to develop plaque, and few children brush and floss immediately after eating. Also, brushing can't remove plaque from between teeth. To fight plaque between teeth, parents should floss their children's teeth at least once a day until about age 10, when children can start flossing for themselves.
In addition to daily brushing and flossing, oral care probiotics, or "good" bacteria, may help. Dr. Hillman recommends giving children an oral care probiotic supplement, such as EvoraKids (www.myevorakids.com). He explains that oral care probiotics work by flooding the mouth with good bacteria, which adhere to tooth surfaces, including crevices, pits and fissures in the chewing surfaces, leaving less room for bad bacteria to grow. "The probiotics effectively compete with certain harmful bacteria for both nutrients and space on teeth surfaces, reaching where brushing and flossing can't," says Dr. Hillman.
Despite all of your best efforts at home, a trip to the dentist can still do wonders. Regularly scheduled dentist checkups are critical to any healthy mouth. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends that parents take their children to the dentist by age one.
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Farlow headed down the steps, it seemed he should take a bridge across the river to the ruins.
The shadowy figure lunged from behind the tent, and swung with its sword. Because it missed Farlow got a chance to strike back with his whip, and missed his attacker.
Players my send in orders through post, PM, or both.
Anyone may suggest what the actions of Farlow will be by posting.
Health: 7/7
Sanity: 91/95


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In 2011, 26 pastoral care workers were killed worldwide—18 priests, 4 religious sisters, 4 laypeople—as victims of crimes or in retribution for their activities on behalf of marginalized people. • A grant from the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation will underwrite a survey of Catholic youth by the Secretariat of Clergy, Consecrated Life and Vocations to identify cultural traits that affect openness to a call to a vocation. • At St. Augustine High School in New Orleans, disciplinary paddling is officially over, as is a legal struggle over control of the school following an out-of-court settlement on Dec. 23, 2011. • The bishops of the Philippines are seeking funding for the construction of 1,000 houses for the victims of flooding in December that has claimed the lives of more than 1,200 people and left hundreds of thousands displaced. • Pope Benedict XVI will meet with Cuba's President Raul Castro and Mexico's President Felipe Calderón when he visits Cuba and Mexico on March 23-28. • Having celebrated their 75th birthdays, two U.S. cardinals and 20 other U.S. bishops will be eligible for retirement in the coming year.
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Wales v England, Six Nations, March 16
Jenkins to lead Wales against England
ESPN Staff
March 14, 2013
Prop Gethin Jenkins is set to become Wales' third captain of this year's Six Nations © PA Photos
Gethin Jenkins will lead Wales into their Six Nations title decider against Grand Slam-chasing England at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday.
The 32-year-old loose-head prop returns to the starting line-up at the expense of Paul James having recovered from a calf muscle injury and takes the captaincy from flanker Ryan Jones who has been sidelined with a shoulder injury. Justin Tipuric is promoted to openside in Jones' absence with Sam Warburton switching to blindside flanker.
Warburton began the championship as Wales captain but lost his place in the side through injury and despite a return to top form against Scotland last weekend, coach Rob Howley has opted to let him concentrate on his own game. "Sam really enjoyed the preparation last week, and then the way he played against Scotland - he was man of the match," said Howley.
"I think it speaks volumes for Sam. One thing about our squad is how selfless they are, and I said I would rather stick to my preparation (of last week). In terms of Gethin, he is vastly experienced and has captained Wales previously, including many times when Sam or Ryan has gone off in a game.
"Leadership is not just about the captain, it is about the unity within the squad. We are lucky enough to have a number of leaders who can step up, and Gethin has that responsibility that weekend. Sam has been outstanding over the last few weeks, and as I've said, it is about what is best for the Welsh team playing against England on Saturday, and that situation is Gethin Jenkins to be captain."
It will be the fifth time that Jenkins has led his country with the most recent occasion being the victory over Italy in last year's Six Nations. "It won't just be me making decisions out there on Saturday," said Jenkins. "There has been a big emphasis on leadership and more boys speaking up in this campaign. I think, from the autumn games this season, we felt we were a bit quiet.
"For me, it is just a case of slotting in, saying a few words today and tomorrow and just getting the boys' heads on for the game on Saturday. Ryan has done a great job. He slotted into it easily, and hopefully it will be the same for me. A lot of people have an input these days, and it is just a case of leading the side out on Saturday and playing as well as you can to lead the boys from the front."
Howley has no qualms about fielding Warburton and Tipuric - two openside specialists - in the same back-row. "Throughout the Six Nations, we've been consistent in saying we would like to see Justin and Sam play at some stage together," Howley said. "I was really pleased with the way Sam and Justin worked together last weekend (Tipuric replaced Jones in the second-half). They put pressure on the ball, and they are very smart, intelligent rugby players.
"We've got two world-class number sevens, two fetchers, two players who can be smart in the contact area, and those qualities will once again be needed in abundance. It's great to come towards the end of a championship when one team is going for the Grand Slam and the other has got the opportunity for the championship.
Howley has named an unchanged backline for the fifth game running, with Mike Phillips set to become Wales' most capped scrum-half with his 77th Test appearance. Jonathan Davies and Jamie Roberts will make their 14th championship appearance together, passing the previous Wales best held by Ray Gravell and Steve Fenwick. Two changes on the bench see James replacing Ryan Bevington and flanker Aaron Shingler featuring instead of a promoted Tipuric.
A seven-point victory for Wales should be enough to secure successive championship crowns - a feat they last achieved 34 years ago - although a win by any margin or draw would thwart England's Grand Slam bid.
"Six Nations tournaments are normally special, but to come to the end of a long campaign with everything up for grabs, it is going to be a special atmosphere on the weekend," said Howley. "I have said to the players to embrace it. We've been here before, it is not new territory for us. We are looking forward to the challenge."
Wales: L Halfpenny (Cardiff Blues); A Cuthbert (Cardiff Blues), J Davies (Scarlets), J Roberts (Cardiff Blues), G North (Scarlets); D Biggar (Ospreys), M Phillips (Bayonne); G Jenkins (Toulon, capt), R Hibbard (Ospreys), A Jones (Ospreys), A-W Jones (Ospreys), I Evans (Ospreys), S Warburton (Cardiff Blues), J Tipuric (Ospreys), T Faletau (Newport Gwent Dragons).
Replacements: K Owens (Scarlets), P James (Bath), S Andrews (Cardiff Blues), A Coombs (Newport Gwent Dragons), A Shingler (Scarlets), L Williams (Cardiff Blues), J Hook (Perpignan), S Williams (Scarlets).
© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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A group consisting of Google, Dell, Facebook, Homeaway, Intuit, Rackspace, Red Hat and Zynga have filed an amicus brief with the U.S. Court of Appeals suggesting that courts stop honoring and upholding patents with purposely vague wording.
The brief covers all the legal angles, but the layman's version is that phrases like "on a mobile device" or "over the Internet" are just too broad and meaningless. These types of patents should not be granted, and existing patents using such broad terms should not be upheld. Direct from the brief:
Many computer-related patent claims just describe an abstract idea at a high level of generality and say to perform it on a computer or over the Internet. Such barebones claims grant exclusive rights over the abstract idea itself, with no limit on how the idea is implemented. Granting patent protection for such claims would impair, not promote, innovation by conferring exclusive rights on those who have not meaningfully innovated, and thereby penalizing those that do later innovate by blocking or taxing their applications of the abstract idea.
Notably absent from the group putting this forward are Microsoft and Apple, companies that have recently tried to enforce overly-broad patents against Android vendors with mixed success. Both companies have also had their share of run-ins with questionable patents, so their participation is something I would have thought was likely.
Nobody knows how effective this will be, but it's great to see it happening. If more companies are vocal about the situation, the government will have to respond in some manner. Anything to get rid of the status quo is a move forward in my book.
Source: All Things D


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DETROIT — John Gibbons was all smiles in the visiting manager's office after his Toronto Blue Jays wrapped up yet another sweep of one of the American League's most successful teams.
"We're feeling good right now," Gibbons said. "We're confident, and we're playing good baseball. We're rolling."
Juan Francisco and Brett Lawrie hit consecutive home runs in the sixth inning off Justin Verlander, and the Blue Jays completed a three-game sweep of the Detroit Tigers with a 7-3 victory Thursday. The AL East-leading Blue Jays have won 19 of 23, including sweeps of defending champion Boston, AL West-leading Oakland and AL Central-leading Detroit.
"It's a great atmosphere — we've got a lot of positivity in here," Lawrie said. "Everyone likes to have fun, and everybody's comfortable with one another."
J.A. Happ (5-2) allowed three runs and seven hits in 6 1-3 innings for Toronto. Casey Janssen got the final out for his 10th save in 11 chances. He needed only one pitch to retire Nick Castellanos on a line drive to left with two on.
Melky Cabrera also homered for the Blue Jays.
Verlander (6-5) allowed six runs — five earned — and eight hits in seven innings. He walked four and struck out four. Toronto scored three runs each in the fourth and sixth.
"My fastball was great today, but I just missed some off-speed pitches," Verlander said. "If I execute those four or five pitches, this would have been a fantastic game. I feel like I'm turning the corner with the mechanical adjustments I've made. I know the results don't reflect that, but I felt great out there."
With the score tied at 3, Adam Lind drew a leadoff walk in the sixth. Francisco followed with a homer to right, and Lawrie's drive to left made it 6-3.
"Against a guy like that, you can't really be on your heels," said Lawrie, who did not have an at-bat against Verlander before Thursday. "You've got to be ready to go. Worked a couple good at-bats against him today, and ended up putting one in play, and it ended up being big for us."
It was the 10th homer of the season for both Francisco and Lawrie. Toronto has hit a major league-leading 87. The Blue Jays won despite the absence of Edwin Encarnacion, who missed the game with a back issue.
The Tigers are still in first place, but they should no longer feel too comfortable after dropping 13 of their last 17. The last time Detroit endured a 4-13 stretch spanned the end of the 2010 season and the beginning of 2011, according to STATS. In 2011, of course, the Tigers began a streak of three straight division titles they're now hoping to extend.
Detroit scored twice in the third and once in the fifth, but the Blue Jays had an answer each time.
Ian Kinsler opened the scoring for Detroit with an RBI triple and scored on Torii Hunter's sacrifice fly. But Jose Bautista led off the fourth with a flyball that Hunter and centre fielder Austin Jackson each seemed to expect the other to catch. Hunter ended up trying to make the play at the last second, and the right fielder was charged with a two-base error.
The Blue Jays eventually loaded the bases with one out, and Dioner Navarro hit an RBI single. Erik Kratz followed with a two-run single to put Toronto ahead.


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Growers can sign up for the Conservation Reserve Program at their local USDA county service center beginning May 5, Secretary of Agriculture Ann Veneman said
Veneman made the announcement during an April 22 Earth Day celebration in Maryland. She also announced that USDA is releasing $1.8 billion in funding for other conservation programs including the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), and the Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP).
According to a state-by-state breakdown provided by USDA, individual states will each receive between $733,000 and $69 million in financial and technical assistance from the funding.
Among the Sunbelt states, Texas and California top the list of Natural Resource Conservation Service conservation funding recipients receiving $130.9 million and $98.2 million.
The Southwest states of Oklahoma and Arizona are slated to receive $50.1 million and $25.1 million in NRCS funding.
Missouri leads the list of Mid-South states with $61.4 million, followed by Mississippi with $59.4 million, Arkansas with $52.5 million, Louisiana with $52.2 million, and Tennessee with $28.6 million in NRCS funding.
In the Southeast, Florida tops the list with $53.3 million, followed by Georgia with $41.9 million, Alabama with $29 million, North Carolina with $38 million, South Carolina with $28.1 million, and Virginia with $25.5 million.
"America's farmers and ranchers have made great strides to improve the environment, and this administration is committed to assisting their ongoing stewardship efforts to enhance soil, water and air," Veneman said.
"These announcements highlight the importance that President Bush places on a strong environmental policy that is compatible with a growing, healthy economy. His 2004 budget includes a record $3.9 billion for conservation on our nation's farmlands, which is more than double the funding level from when he came into office."
The general signup for CRP, which is in addition to CRP's ongoing continuous signup program, will be May 5 through May 30. Current program participants with contracts expiring this fall can make new contract offers during the sign-up period.
Veneman says only one other general signup for CRP will be offered before the current farm program expires in 2007.
The Conservation Reserve Program pays landowners annual rental payments and up to 50 percent of the cost of establishing conservation practices in exchange for enrolling environmentally sensitive land into the program and out of agricultural production.
Acreage enrolled in the program is then planted to resource-conserving vegetative covers, making the program a major contributor to increases in wildlife populations, Veneman says.
The 2002 farm bill authorized USDA to maintain CRP enrollment up to 39.2 million acres, with USDA reserving 2 million acres of that total for the most environmentally desirable and sensitive land targeted with the continuous sign-up program. All new CRP contracts will become effective either Oct. 1, 2003, or Oct. 1, 2004, whichever the producer chooses.
USDA's Farm Service Agency will again evaluate and rank eligible CRP offers using the Environmental Benefits Index (EBI) for environmental benefits to be gained from enrolling the land in CRP. Decisions on the EBI cutoff will be made after the sign-up period ends, and after analyzing the EBI numbers of all the offers.
Those who would have met the previous sign-up EBI thresholds are not guaranteed a contract under this sign-up, according to USDA officials.


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Prevalent Technology needed a new logo design and created a contest on 99designs.
A winner was selected from 96 designs submitted by 23 freelance designers.
Prevalent Technology Corporation
The Prevalent Technology Corporation is a "Lean" business consulting and solution provider.
Mission Statement: Provide innovative solutions allowing businesses the opportunity for realizing a systematic elimination of waste and highly efficient process improvements thereby increasing total value.
Our flagship product is an "Andon" type software system that is used to notify management, maintenance, and other workers of a quality or process problem. The centrepiece is a signboard incorporating signal lights to indicate which workstation has the problem.
Primarily manufacturing companies & service companies.
The logo needs to be clean and professional looking and should appeal to business owners. The design should be easily reproduceable on a business card.
I'm thinking perhaps something incorporating a lighthouse, light tower, or some other signaling "device" which emphasizes the nature of the Andon system.
A logo that conveys a message of innovation, optimization, or waste reduction are other possibilities.
The attached graphic is a simple design draft that I came up with for the title of the company. but you don't have to build a logo around that design or color scheme... I'm looking for creativity.
Possible variatioins on company titles:
"The Prevalent Technology Corporation"
"Prevalent Technology Corporation"
"Prevalent Technology, Inc."
Thank You!
Find out how a design contest works or learn more about our logo design services.


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From Grab & Go To Wow for Under $10: Affordable Vase Upgrades
When you don't have the time or budget to visit the florist you can often find a great basic arrangement at your local grocery store or farmers market. Keep one of these great vases (all under $10) on hand to replace a basic glass vase and upgrade your arrangement from grab and go to truly special.
1. Seaside Vase $10 via West Elm
2. Porcelain Sweater Vase $10 via Target
3. Socker Vase $13 for 2 via Ikea
4. Hobnail Glass Vase $6-$12 ea via Bhldn
5. Birch Covered Vase $5 via Save On Crafts


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INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - On the second day of competition at the USA Swimming Phillips 66 National Championships and World Championships Trials at IUIPUI on Wednesday, MIT graduate Wyatt Ubellacker '13 (Georgetown, Ky.) swam his first event of the week, the 50-meter butterfly. Seeded 19th out of the 23 athletes entered in the event, he made it back to the championship final when he came eighth with a 24.15 at prelims.
Swimming just lanes away from Ubellacker at finals were Matt Grevers and Cullen Jones, who have both won multiple Olympic medals. Racing the 50 fly for the second time that day, Ubellacker swam a time of 24.15, the same exact time he went at prelims, staying true to his seedings and touching in eighth place.
Next up for Ubellacker is the 100-meter butterfly, which he will swim tomorrow morning.


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Injury Bug Bites Again
It saddens me to bring this news to all of you. Our defense has taken what I consider to be a pretty tough blow. Defensive End Marcus Spears is now out 4 – 6 weeks with a sprained MCL. It happened Thursday towards, ONCE AGAIN, the end of a day or practice. It was the last full practice at the Alamodome in San Antonio Tx.
Here is the full story: http://www.dallascowboys.com/news/news.cfm?id=44DB5EFC-CE85-5006-0C9CFC8E4E0D47EB
On a better note, I was fortunate enough to attend the first practice of the season this year at the Alamodome in San Antonio. I took my 7yr old son who had never seen the Cowboys live before. Yes it was only a practice but to hear him scream when Tony Romo ran out onto the field cheering the Cowboys on, made me a VERY proud father.
I am so totally excited about the upcoming season. I have had a very tough offseason but things seem to be coming together for me. Sorry I have not had the chance to post much this off-season. Looking forward to the game Sunday night against the Bengals when the Cowboys start their run to the Super Bowl.


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Feb. 23, 2000
By Mark Patton
Santa Barbara News-Press
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - Adama Ndiaye had to consider meeting up with lions and panthers, or swimming with crocodiles, whenever he ventured outside his old neighborhood.
"When you go out camping in the wild, you better know where you're at," said Ndiaye, a foreign student from the West African republic of Senegal.
He's camping out on a new block now, but there are other kinds of animals to worry about: Ones with dangerous elbows.
Ndiaye, UCSB's 6-foot-9 junior center, is adapting to the rough life among the beasts of NCAA Division 1 basketball. He's asserted himself enough to become the Big West Conference's No. 2 shot blocker (1.57 per game) and No. 4 rebounder (7.5), helping the 11-12 Gauchos surge to second place in the league's Western Division with a 7-5 record.
"So far, it's been good this year," said Ndiaye, who will lead UCSB into battle tonight when Cal Poly visits the Thunderdome for a 7 o'clock game. "I've been banged up a few times, but nothing really serious. Nothing that would keep me from playing, anyway."
That wasn't the case last year when he hit the floorboards more often than the backboards. He missed a month of the season -- a span covering five games -- after suffering a lower-abdominal injury in the Santa Clara game on Dec. 17.
"I came in for a rebound and came down hard, right on somebody's hip bone," recalled Ndiaye (pronounced Nee-eye). "It felt very painful."
He needed surgery and wound up dropping 10 pounds. He weighed just 205 when he finally returned.
"He wasn't as comfortable to go out and compete when he came back because of the kind of injury he had sustained," said UCSB coach Bob Williams. "He became a little protective of himself."
The pounding that Ndiaye took last year -- his first in Division 1 basketball after having transferred from Oklahoma's Bacone JC -- convinced him to bulk up during the offseason.
"It's a war out there," he said. "Once you have one or two good games with the offensive rebounds, they start spotting you. And then it's totally over for you."
Ndiaye also had to learn some of the tricks of the trade.
"I remember last year," said Williams, "when (Long Beach State's Mate) Milisa, a very sophisticated foreign player, purposely stood on Adama's foot during an out-of-bounds play. Adama pushes him off, just reacts, and gets the foul.
"He's learned the subtleties of it the hard way."
Weight training got Ndiaye up to 228 pounds by the time he returned to school last fall. His weight now fluctuates between 220 and 225.
"I'm not going to let people push me around anymore, I don't care how skinny I am compared to them," he said. "I try to hold my ground."
Ndiaye, who didn't start playing organized basketball until he was 15, did come into the game with some physical tools, including great quickness and leaping ability.
"He grew up playing soccer, which is why he has such good agility and moves his feet so well," Williams pointed out. "He's also got such long arms. We measured them fingertip to fingertip, and his armspan is 7-foot-5! We just laughed, and so did he.
"He affects a game like a 7-footer does. He's become a dominant defensive presence."
Ndiaye's offense has been coming around, too. He scored a career-high 19 points last Thursday at Cal State Fullerton to boost his scoring average to 8.5 per game. He's shooting 48.6 percent from the floor and has made 19 of his last 22 free throws.
"He's a legitimate threat," said Williams. "You have to worry about him on the low post. He's still better facing up, but he's doing nothing but getting better every week.
"He's a coaches dream. He's extremely bright, and he wants to become a better player. He does all the little things to make himself better. By next year, I think he'll be as good a big guy as there is in the Big West."
Ndiaye, who honed his game at summer camps in Hawaii and Las Vegas last year, hopes to return there this year. But he also plans to visit his home in Dakar -- a city of 800,000 on the West African coast -- which he hasn't seen since leaving for a Texas prep school in September of 1996.
"My family is going crazy, they miss me so much," he said. "It's hard for me, too. I have a big family of uncles and aunts and cousins, and it's hard for me to stay in contact with all of them.
"The two people who are closest to me are my sister and grandma. My grandma is getting old now, and I really want to see her. She still always worries about me."
Ndiaye was raised by an uncle after his mother died when he was 7.
"He was like my father and taught me how to be a man and everything," he explained in an interview after first arriving at UCSB. "He died in a traffic accident when I was 16. That's what really hurt me. It broke me down and made me sick a lot.
"My uncle died and I had all kinds of family problems. I just couldn't wait to go to school and come here."
He took a few detours before arriving at UCSB, prepping at Marine Military Academy in Harlingen, Texas, and playing for Bacone JC in Oklahoma. But he's found his true second home at UCSB, where he's majoring in bio-psychology.
"It cannot get better than this," Ndiaye said. "I enjoy everything about it. The place is beautiful, and the people have been so nice and friendly. I love my teammates."
And he's become a truly popular figure around campus.
"He's a sincerely nice guy, with a great smile, and he laughs very easily," said Williams. "He's a fun guy to be around. People just gravitate to him. I don't know of anybody who doesn't like being around him."
Except those who are trying to score against him.


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Md. man facing trial for death of NC teen
Md. man facing trial for death of NC teen
The trial of a 28-year-old Baltimore man accused in the death of a North Carolina teen is getting underway in Baltimore.
Michael Maurice Johnson has pleaded not guilty in the 2010 death of his ex-girlfriend's 16-year-old sister, Phylicia Barnes. The teenager from Monroe, N.C., disappeared while visiting Baltimore for the 2010 Christmas holidays and her body was found in the Susquehanna River months later. Johnson was indicted in April and has been charged with first-degree murder.
Prosecutors say Johnson killed Barnes in her sister's apartment and then used a 35-gallon tub to move the body.
Evidence in the case is expected to include a video that shows the defendant, victims and others engaged in sexual conduct.


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For this week's Daily Dose of Digital Challenge: recoloring part of a paper.
These are pics of my nephews. They just LOVE their toy cars!
In this Project (All DD):
Ali Edwards
Everyday Twill
Anna Aspnes
Stitched by Anna White No. 04
MonoBlendz Origins Paperie
Jesse Edwards
Childs Drawings Brushes and Stamps
Pattie Knox
Absolutely Acrylic Alphabet No. 01
Fasten Its!
Katie Pertiet
Roughed Up Krafty Paper Pack
Postage Strip Numbers
Ledger Paper Pieces: Leaves No. 03
Web Challenge Freebie, 8.30.09
Ad Challenge Freebie, 10.25.09
Mindy Terasawa
Boys Rawk Paper Pack (some papers recolored)
Andrea Victoria
Everyday Inspiration Freebie, 2.08.09
Fonts: Interstate, Pea Missy
Thanks for looking! : )


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Spinalogic Express includes all the advanced front desk resources of Spinalogic. It can be installed on a single workstation so you probably already have the hardware you need. You get all patient accounts and appointment tools. You get our advanced Promotions Engine with ROI tracking to grow your practice. You get Checkpoint Tracking to focus your team trainings on the places that will result in the greatest growth.
Speaking of practice growth, Spinalogic will easily grow with you. Start with the Express edition. When you are ready, move to Complete. And when you get big enough, step over to the power of Unlimited. If you decide to wind up your practice, you can change back down again so you don't need to feel you are locked into something you may not need. You can make your changes at any time. In fact, it's so easy, we usually recommend you start with Express then move up when you are ready.
You'll also get advanced Patient Education tools, Inventory Management with Zero Touch Ordering, advanced Appointment Scheduling, and an extensive array of patient management tools. You even get PayPal integration for debt-collection and Zero-Touch Patient Payments plus HICAPS integration. Seriously cool!
We've even studied practices that have installed Spinalogic to find out how much they have saved and in every case the savings and/or growth have been remarkable. So we know that Spinalogic will more than pay for itself on your bottom line.
You may be concerned that all these great resources are going to complex and hard to use. But don't worry, we've had years of practice at this and by listening to your colleagues (and using the software ourselves!), we've made them easy to master.
In fact, to make it super easy to get started, we have integrated video training right inside Spinalogic which takes you step-by-step to get the most out of your shiny new software so you and your team can be up and running in just a couple of hours. Then we have advanced trainings that you can do as you are ready that focus on things like Saving Time, Seeing More Patients, Saving Money, Best Practices and Having More Fun.
We know that many offices have old software they want to upgrade, so to make it easy to bring your old data across, we even have a data importer that can import from a wide range of existing systems.
You'd probably expect to pay a lot for a system like this… but you won't with Spinalogic. You can pay with an easy monthly lease at the cost of about two adjustments per month, or you can buy it outright if you like to own things. Whatever floats your boat.
And even better? You can have it for free. That's right the first month is completely free so you can download, install, import, setup and play. See if you like it. Check that it really works like I say. If you do like it, just keep it and we'll start billing. If you don't you can cancel yourself at anytime 24/7 in that first calendar month, and you pay nothing. This way you get all the chance you need to really put Spinalogic through its paces – even with real patient data – and if it's not for you, you don't pay a single cent. It's completely risk-free.
But I know you're going to love Spinalogic – it's the upgrade your office needs. That's why I can make this offer.
Download it for free and try it out right now.
Complete patient administration system. Includes all front desk needs
- Patient accounts
- Appointment management
- Patient messaging
- Inventory
- Promotion tracking
- Experts
- HICAPS integration
- Zero-touch payment
Suitable for all Health Professionals.
Here is a list of all the features of Spinalogic along with what you'll get in the Complete version when you are ready for it. Don't freak out when you see the size of the list! Like I said, we've been working on this for years and now we've made it super easy to learn and use.
Want to know what hardware you need? Here is a list. It's pretty short though – basically you just need a newish PC (like less than 4 years old!).
And you shouldn't really just listen to what I have to say, hear what some of our clients think.
If you are already using a full paperless clinical record system, you may want to go directly to Spinalogic Complete or Unlimited. Still you may want to try out Express first since you can just install it on one PC. You can still see most of the clinical features of Complete/Unlimited, you just can't save your changes. Call us if you want to have a chat.
We've made pricing very easy and available in AUD, NZD or USD so you can use the currency that works best for you. You can see pricing for Express lease at the free trial. For other editions and complete support costs and buy-out options, contact us and we'll send it right out. Pricing is very competitive.


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Northern Nevada reaches "Tipping Point" with Colin Kaepernick, Apple investment, Barrett-Jackson win and "Top 10" lists galore
The last 12 months in Northern Nevada have led to an impressive "tipping point" in the region's history: University of Nevada, Reno star alumni Colin Kaepernick took the San Francisco 49ers to the Super Bowl in his first year as an NFL starter; Apple announced a billion dollar investment in the Reno/Sparks area, starting with the development of a new server farm for its growing iTunes and iCloud needs; Lake Tahoe was voted the #1 lake in the United States by the readers of USA Today; Barrett-Jackson, the world's premier collector car event company, announced a new Reno Tahoe auction starting in August 2013; and the region garnered "Top 10" wins for everything from "Top 10 Ski Resorts" (Forbes), "8 Hot Towns to Snap Up Bargains Now" (Where to Retire magazine), "Healthiest Cities for Women" (Women's Health), "America's Hottest Cold Cities" (Livability.com), "Best Cities for Cycling" (Bicycling magazine), "Best Cities for Dogs" (Men's Health), "Great Places for Christmas Spirit" (USA Today) to "Top 10 Spas" (Atlantis: "Best Casino Hotel Spa" and "Best for Romance"; Peppermill: "Best for LGBT", Spafinder), "Loosest Slots in the Nation": #1 ranking (Casino Player magazine), and many more.
"It seems that the rest of the country is finally figuring out what those of us who are fortunate enough to live here – or visit regularly – already know: Reno Tahoe is one of America's best 'undiscovered' four season resort destinations," said Christopher Baum, President and CEO of Reno Tahoe USA. Added Baum, "The beauty – and mild climate – of our high desert setting in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains is a distinct advantage over better-known desert resorts of the lower Southwest, especially in the summertime when our 80 to 90-degree daytime temperatures make our long list of world class sports and special events a 'must do' for savvy travelers who appreciate enjoying the great outdoors."
And with hot spot Campo landing on Esquire's list of "The Best New Restaurants in America," even Reno's fun dining scene is really taking off.
Amongst the many signature special events that take place annually in the Reno/Sparks/North Lake Tahoe area are "Street Vibrations" Spring and Fall motorcycle rallies; "Reno Rodeo," including "PRCA Extreme Bulls"; "Artown"; "HDRA Reno 500 Off-Road Race"; "Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival"; "PGA Reno-Tahoe Open"; "Hot August Nights" car cruise; "Barrett-Jackson Reno Tahoe Auction"; "Lucas Oil Off-road Racing Series"; "Best in the West Nugget Rib Cookoff"; "The Great Reno Balloon Race"; "Virginia City International Camel Races"; "National Championship Air Races"; and many more.
"No resort destination in North America has a stronger lineup of unique, highly attended special events and competitions every summer than Reno Tahoe USA," according to Baum. "This region is a beehive of special event activity from June through September."
Baum is quick to note that Reno Tahoe's well-deserved reputation as an outdoor sports mecca helps keep the destination busy 12 months a year. Besides Lake Tahoe's world class skiing, snowboarding, snowmobiling, snowshoeing and cross country skiing, visitors can also take advantage of whitewater rafting and kayaking in the Truckee River (including a stretch of rapids that passes right through downtown Reno); more than 50 challenging golf courses; triathlons, marathons and jogging; hiking, mountain biking and rock climbing (including North America's tallest manmade climbing wall in downtown Reno); hunting and fishing in forest and desert locales; skydiving and parasailing; personal watercraft, paddle boarding, sailing and surfing (!) in Lake Tahoe; and off-road driving in Jeeps, dune buggies and ATVs.
"Reno is also a national leader in team competitions, with our National Bowling Stadium in downtown Reno, and Golden Eagle sports complex in Sparks, hosting more bowling, baseball and softball tournaments than anywhere else in the country," according to Baum.
Add the AAA baseball champion Reno Aces, the NBA D-League's Reno Bighorns – and high school and collegiate competitions for everything from volleyball to boxing to pole vaulting – and Northern Nevada is definitely a sports destination of incredible variety and appeal.
So what does this highly diverse avalanche of national recognition, accomplishment and good news all add up to?
"We also made Businessweek's list of 'America's 50 Best Cities,' right ahead of Phoenix and Scottsdale," according to Baum. "So if tens-of-thousands of new visitors don't start coming here soon, I'd be very surprised."


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Haymarket, Edinburgh
I once met Ray Davies in a bar. I literally bumped into the great man just as I was exiting the toilet. Which isn't the most auspicious place to meet a pop legend - between cubicle and urinal - or to announce an undying love for the man's god-like talent. But 'carpe diem' and all that, so I did, and also said how brilliant I thought his film Return to Waterloo. Considering the amount of daft punters, myself included, he no doubt has to deal with on a daily basis, The Kinks' genius was exceedingly gracious and kind.
Waverley, Edinburgh
I guess it was because I was rather middle-aged in my teens that unlike my contemporaries, who were out drinking, taking drugs and enjoying the folly of youth, I was at home the Friday night Return to Waterloo aired on telly. I'm glad I was, for Davies film was an incredible piece of TV, and unlike anything I'd seen before.
Looking back, it was a daring commission by the broadcasters, Channel 4, for here was a first time director's film with no real plot, no dialog, just a series of vignettes tied together by a cycle of songs, about the day in the life of a Traveler (played by the superb Kenneth Colley) - his hopes, his fears, his desires, his failings, his loss. Doesn't sound like much, does it? But believe me, it was.
Waterloo Underground
The film erupts out of a dark railway tunnel into a summer's day. The Traveler wanders a railway station, through its crowds, then follows a girl with blonde hair, a newspaper headline with identi-kit picture - a rapist / murderer is on the loose. The Traveler follows the blonde (a memory of his missing daughter? a possible victim?) down into the underground, he passes a Busker (Davies, himself), and follows the girl along the platform. An underground train approaches. The Traveler' nears the platform's edge, its lights bleach out his face, and suddenly, as the day's events rattle by, we return to the beginning.
It's an opening that makes you sit up and take notice, as we are presented with several possible scenarios. Are we watching a murder mystery? A thriller about a missing daughter? A tale of sex/adultery/incest? It soon becomes clear these story-lines are unimportant, as what Davies is doing is something far more clever, subtle and personal.
Davies was thirty-nine when he made Return to Waterloo and it is filled with the disillusion of a man creeping towards his middle age and possible mid-life crisis. At the time, Davies was splitting up from his lover, Chrissie Hynde, with whom he had a daughter, and the film is tinged with a remorse for family life, for things that could have been, the pain of love lost. The question is how much does the Traveler represent Davies? How much is it a refraction of his own feelings?
Dear lonely heart, I wish things could be the way they were at the start…
But as we see, they can't. Actions, or the lack of them, bring their own unexpected results.
Clapham Junction
Ken Colley has a list of credits from The Music Lovers, through Ripping Yarns to Star Wars and Return to Waterloo. He is one of cinema's and television's greatest character actors - a far better performer than most leading men. Colley does what many actors forget to do, he acts with his eyes. When you watch Colley, you know what his character is thinking, what he's feeling, what is going through his mind.
The train journey is a metaphor for the Traveler's life, in much the same way as Sylvia Plath once used it to describe her pregnancy:
Boarded the train there's no getting off
Nearing Waterloo Station, the Traveler fantasizes of a way of "getting off" - by giving his younger self the keys to his future, here's what will happen, kid, here's what you can do.
Lime Street, Liverpool
Did you know that Waterloo Sunset was originally Liverpool Sunset? It was Davies' paean to the city he loves:
"Liverpool is my favourite city, and the song was originally called Liverpool Sunset. I was inspired by Merseybeat. I'd fallen in love with Liverpool by that point. On every tour, that was the best reception. We played The Cavern, all those old places, and I couldn't get enough of it.
"I had a load of mates in bands up there, and that sound – not The Beatles but Merseybeat – that was unbelievable. It used to inspire me every time.
"So I wrote Liverpool Sunset. Later it got changed to Waterloo Sunset, but there's still that play on words with Waterloo.
"London was home, I'd grown up there, but I like to think I could be an adopted Scouser. My heart is definitely there."
Waterloo Station
As we approach our destination, there's a question: why did Davies call his film Return to Waterloo? What was he returning to?
Millions of people swarming like flies 'round Waterloo Underground
But Terry and Julie cross over the river
Where they feel safe and sound
And they don't need no friends
As long as they gaze on Waterloo sunset
They are in paradise
This description from Waterloo Sunset does not fit with Britain in the 1980s. The sixties promise of "paradise" has been bartered and sold, by the then Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. Tory policies during that decade knew the price of everything, but the value of nothing. But let's not get too political, for the next song is as much about a private heartbreak as it is about public disillusion.
Now all the lies are beginning to show,
And you're not the country that I used to know.
I loved you once from my head to my toe,
But now my belief is shaken.
And all your ways are so untrue,
No one breaks promises the way that you do.
You guided me, I trusted you,
But now my illusion's shaken.
We had expectations, now we've reached
As far as we can go.
Return to Waterloo reaches its destination, a brilliant and original film, which leaves one wondering why Davies hasn't written and directed more for film and television?
A few years ago, a friend told me Ray Davies allegedly has this burning ambition to write a sitcom - now wouldn't that be something?


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NOTE: Sorry about last night. I had some computer issues and watched helplessly as the Mets finally won.
The Mets stopped one slide last night, can they halt another this afternoon?
The Mets' dismal road trip – now 2-7 after Johan Santana's sparkler last night – continues today in Los Angeles with Mike Pelfrey attempt to end a three-game losing streak in which he has failed to make it out of the fifth inning in each.
"I'm just going through one of the worst stretches of my life,'' said Pelfrey, who has a 15.30 ERA during that span.
In the worst start of his career Monday in Arizona, Pelfrey gave up six runs on seven hits in 1 1/3 innings.
Mets manager Jerry Manuel said Pelfrey has a mental block when it comes to his fastball; he doesn't trust it anymore and is relying too much on his secondary pitches.
"He's not a finesse pitcher, he's not a trick guy,'' Manuel said. "He's a power, sinker guy, and that's what he's got to get back to.''


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Leighton Meester: 'I Hate You, Dad' in Boston!
Leighton Meester grabs a snack while on break from filming I Hate You, Dad on Monday (June 20) in Boston, Mass.
The 25-year-old actress stars in the comedy along with Adam Sandler, Milo Ventimiglia, and Andy Samberg.
"Happy Fathers Day!! Ironically, I start shooting I Hate You Dad tomorrow #IHYD haha," Leighton tweeted the day before.
Leighton, who performed in West Hollywood last week, recently told Parade.com she's hoping to release an album "very soon – hopefully before the end of the year."
"In the meantime, I want people to get a glimpse of what I'm doing. I love live music and I love to see people's faces when I'm performing," she added.