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What kind of fish are these?
My neighbor gave these two little fish to my son out of her aquarium. Apparently her fish had babies but she doesn't know what kind they are. They look like black goldfish to me but they're only about 1/2" long.
I have an outdoor fish pond on the deck but I'm afraid if I put them in there the big goldfish would eat them. I also have a little vase/fishbowl with a peace lily in it that I used to have a beta in. Do you think the fish would be okay in that until they get a little bigger?
Here's a top view of them
I think they may be "Molly's" ?
What is man without beasts? If all the beasts were gone, men would die from great loneliness of spirit. For whatever happens to the beasts, soon happens to man. All things are connected.
~~Chief Seattle (Duwamish tribe)~~
Happycats we posted at the same time!
I was also saying that they look like a Black Molly to me.
is this what they look like? http://www.twilightbridge.com/hobbie...blackmolly.htm
What is man without beasts? If all the beasts were gone, men would die from great loneliness of spirit. For whatever happens to the beasts, soon happens to man. All things are connected.
~~Chief Seattle (Duwamish tribe)~~
Happycats, they look a little like that but their bellies are fatter and their tails are smaller. Maybe just because they're babies?
My neighbor has the parents but I haven't seen them. Her son said they're about 2" long.
Could it be a swordtail fish? Females don't have the sword. Check this website for more info.
Beaglemom, they very well could be. They look just like that but they're black. Do you think they'd be okay in the little vase thingy for a while? It's about a gallon. We had an aquarium but we gave it away just last week
Swordtails do come in black. They are pretty easy to care for. I would try to get them an aquarium as soon as you can. I'm worried more about the water ph level. A filter is a definite in order to keep the water clean. It is never a good idea to change their water all at once as it can be a drastic shock to their system. Only feed them what they will eat within a few minutes as any food left over could dirty the water quickly.
They are very cute by the way. It has been a while since I've had an aquarium, I miss it. We used to have 3 set up and running at one time.
Hmmm, I wasn't too keen on the idea of having another aquarium. We don't really have a good place to put one. The old one was in ds' room but when he had friends over they couldn't keep their hands out of it so I took the goldfish out and put them in my pond, then put the aquarium in a yard sale. No one bought it so I gave it to one of the neighbor kids.
Maybe I could give them to my parents to put in their aquarium, then ds could see them when he visits.
Or....would one of the little bitty aquariums (I think they're about 1-2 gallons) that you get at walmart be okay? I have an extra shelf that goes in the computer desk, up top that we don't use. Maybe I could put it there.
Here is what I could find for swordtails (wagtails). The min tank you can have is a 10 gal. I highlighted what is really important.
Scientific Name: Xiphophorus helleri
Family: Poeciliidae
Origin: Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras
Adult Size: 2 inches (5 cm)
Social: Peaceful, suitable for community tank
Lifespan: 4 years
Tank Level: Top, Mid dweller
Minimum Tank Size: 10 gallon
Diet: Omnivore, eats most foods
Breeding: Livebearer
Care: Easy to intermediate
pH: 7.0 - 8.2
Hardness: 15-30 dGH
Temperature: 64-77 F (18-25 C)
Description: Wagtail swords first appeared in the 1940's, as the result of a cross between a gold platy and a wild Xiphophorus maculatus. The distinctive mark of wagtails are the black rays in all fins coupled with very little coloration between the rays. Also notable is the presence of black on the upper and lower lip. Marigold Wag swordtails display an intense color contrast, having coal black fins and a red-gold body.
Habitat/Care: In their native habitat this species lives in very clear, oxygen rich, alkaline waters. Strong filtration is advised to maintain high oxygen levels. Water should be moderately hard, in the range of 15-30 dGH.
Optimum temperature for wagtail swords is lower than for many tropical fish. That should be taken into account when considering them for community aquariums. 74 degrees F (23 C) is the ideal temperature for swords, with lower temps being more readily tolerated than elevated temps.
Beyond the water requirements, wagtails are undemanding in terms of the physical aquarium setup. If breeding is planned, the tank should be densely planted to allow sufficient cover for the fry. Either real or artificial plants are suitable
Diet: Wagtail swords will readily accept a wide variety of foods. Live foods such as mosquito larvae, tubifex, and daphnia. These live foods provide some vitamins that often are lost in dry foods during storage. Freeze dried foods are also readily accepted, and are good alternatives to live foods. The advantage of FD foods is the reduced risk of disease that may be transmitted via live foods.
Because wagtails possess an intestinal tract that is longer than carnivores, they benefit from the roughage found in vegetables. In addition to flake foods containing vegetable matter, cooked peas, lettuce, or spinach may be used as supplemental foods.
Wagtail swords are primarily top feeders, as is evidenced by their upturned mouth. Foods that fall to the bottom, or that are not eaten within five minutes should be removed promptly to avoid fouling the water.
Jackie and her little babies.
Candi- Italian Greyhound
Cash- Italian Greyhound
Jasmine- Tabby cat
Last edited by Jackie467; June 14th, 2005 at 05:40 PM.
Thanks, Jackie. A 10-gallon is what I just gave away. I guess I'll see if my parents want to take them.
I have red swordtails, and they do look like that. More so tha goldfish. I don't think the goldfish's dorsal fin is quite like the fish in the picture.
They are very easy to care for (heck, if I can do it, anyone can!).
Well, I called my dad and he said they haven't had their aquarium up for a while but have been thinking about getting some more fish so he's gonna let me know what they decide. So for now they're still in the jar and I'm changing half of the water every day. Hope they'll be okay for a little while til permanent arrangements can be made for them.
Are you SURE a tank smaller than 10 gal wouldn't work? I'm not gonna breed em or anything.
a smaller tank would work, but they wouldn't be very healthy or happy. putting them in a smaller tank may stunt their growth, meaning that they won't get big in appereance but their internale organs will continue to grow and be bunched up inside them. They will be more suseptable to disease because of that. If you do put them into a 2 gallon I would only put one fish per 2 gallon, meaning you would need two 2 gallon tanks.
Jackie and her little babies.
Candi- Italian Greyhound
Cash- Italian Greyhound
Jasmine- Tabby cat
Oh, well, I hope my dad decided to take them.
They definetly look like a black molly to me.
Black Mollys are the hardest of all molly species to care for.
They really would prefer a brackish water tank, but can be kept in
They need warm water- 76-80F so they need a heater,
and they are one of the larger molly species at 2.5 inches for an
adult male, and 3 for an adult female - and will require a tank of at
least 15G- but a 20G is a whole lot better.
As was said for the swords, they require strong filtration, heat,
and a group.
They absolutely cannot live in anything under 10g- and having kept Mollys
for some time - a 10g is still cutting it too small.
While they are in the bowl, keep them in a very warm room, and do 100% water changes every 3 days, or 50% water changes every day.
They are very sensitive fish, and espescially as fry, should have room to grow. I grow out guppy fry in a 10g tank by themselves, otherwise they are prone to deformities and have to be culled. I dont like culling fish that could have been good otherwise.
My experience would say, the longest these guys can go in the present container, is about 1 week to 2 weeks time. Hopefully they are kept warm enough, otherwise they may die. Try to find them something better, even a tote bin, or plastic container of a 5g size would be immensely better.
What I wonder is - why did you take them if you have no where to put them?
Mollys can live in ponds in Southern California and Florida, but thats about it. My thought is perhaps the neighbor gave them to you to feed to your goldfish?
I didn't take them, my son did. He was over there playing with her kids and she was cleaning out her aquarium and asked ds if he wanted them so he brought them home. I thought maybe we could make arrangements for them since they are cute little guys and he wants to keep them. He's only 8. But I don't want to get a big aquarium again. My dad said they may be able to take them next weekend because they have to get the aquarium ready again. I have some 5 gallon buckets, maybe I could put them in one of those until them.
I understand Dahlia's predicament, children always bring home animals for the parents to take care of. I've done it as a child and all the children I know now that love animals do the same. They just don't understand that it takes preparation for that pet first before bringing it home.
Thanks, beaglemom. I'm glad someone understands. I was the same way when I was a kid except my parents left it up to me to take care of my own pets, so if I brought home fish and didn't have an aquarium I had to figure it out on my own if it meant borrowing one, getting one at the flea market with my allowance or putting them in something else. I don't remember bringing home any fish but I brought home plenty of other critters. Fortunately we lived on a farm so we had plenty of room outside and spare cages, etc...
Yes, in a bowl it is different.
The water is uncirculated and unfiltered, and therefore
will grow stagnant and grow aeromonas bacteria, which can cause
ordinary healthy fish to die- espescially young fish.
Young fish need constant new water to grow healthy and strong.
Not changing the water enough, and not enough room can
cause serious growth defects in young fry.
Is it possible you could get a better picture?
If you have a digital camera, turn on the macro mode
(usually a button with a picture of a rose bud or tulip on it),
and take a pic with flash and one without.
if they are black fish, put the container on a white surface before shooting
the picture.
I do understand that kids bring stuff home, but I got the impression
that you were there when he took them? Perhaps not.
If they are Mollies, they will require at least a 15G tank, as mollies grow
to 3 inches and produce a ton of waste, and a ton of babies!
I didnt mean to sound harsh or anything, my apologies if it came off
that way. Darned internet without tone Lol
That's okay, sneakypete. No, I wasn't there when he took them. I'll try to get a better pic, I did use the mode with the flower but it's hard to get a good shot through the jar.
Do not change the water 100%. When a fish is introduced to the tank, or in this case bowl, bacteria are needed to stave off scale diseases. While a 90% water change can be suitable, never do all the water at once.
When you initially set up a new tank, placing one fish to create a healthy bacteria base is the recommended procedure. Since you already have a good bacteria start, keeping some of the water (as I mentioned, about 10%) is a good idea. That way, when you set up a tank for them, you transfer the entire bowl of water they're in now, to the tank. This moves the bacteria over and keeps the "slime coat" on the fish. If you choose not to do this, then you should buy a water additive to aide in the production of a slime coat for the fish. It will also assist in keeping the stress from changing from bowl to tank at a minimum.
I'm firm - but fair. Mind the rules and enjoy your stay.
According to the Humane Society of the United States:
There are an estimated 3-4 million dogs and cats euthanized each year in the US alone! PLEASE - spay and/or neuter your pets!
In addition to what Trinitie said, when you do introduce your fish to the new tank, don't just release them from the bowl into the tank. Put them in a clear plastic bag with the water from the bowl/vase first and let them float in the new tank for at least 30 min. This will allow them to adjust to the new tanks temperature without shocking them. Just dumping them into the new tank from the bowl could result in shock which can kill your fish.
A new tank should also run for at least a week before any fish is introduced. I usually let them run on their own with no fish for a few weeks. This allows for all plants to be established as well as allowing good bacteria to be well established before the fish are introduced. This process can be rushed if you use water conditioners and additives available from aquarium suppliers.
Plants will also not grow well without Nitrates present in the water. Nitrates are the very end product of the Nitrogenous Cycle. During the cycle plants are only used to help reduce slightly high levels of ammonia and nitrItes, and some plants that are not tough enough will die during the cycle just like sensitive fish.
Here is how the cycle works:
Day 1: Addition of Fish
Days 2-7 Ammonia rises in tank, often to dangerous levels to the fish. This is why you should use either A) Hardy fish like danios or white cloud mountain minnows, or B) Do a fishless cycle using household ammonia
Days 8-15 Nitrobacter class 1 begins to grow, breaking down ammonia into NitrIte.
Days 15-20 NitrIte levels rise to hazardous levels. Nitrobacter class 2 bacteria begins to grow, breaking down NitrItes into their end product Nitrates.
Days 20+ (Can be as much as 60 days), Tank levels stabilize, Ammonia and Nitrites drop off to 0, NitrAtes rise to around 20ppm. This is about the time that your plants will really start to flourish, as nitrates are being produced for the plants to feed off.
OK, now when a Tank or Bowl is UNFILTERED, and has no SUBSTRATE, there is no place for good nitrobacter to grow. Hence why in a small unfiltered tank you should do twice weekly water changes of 100% and rinse and scrub the bowl clean. Otherwise "Aeromonas" or deadly oxygen using bacteria starts to build, as well as you will leave ammonia in the bowl which will continue to concentrate.
In a tank of 5G or larger that is Unfiltered with no Substrate, 100% water changes can be done just once a week.
Remember, Nitrobacter needs surface areas to grow on, and it wont grow on just glass.
I think some of you need to update your knowledge of the cycle a bit,
and should cruise on into the following site for information, and many many resources. A great site with knowledgeable people, who can help you understand why fish are they way they are, what fish are suitable for the tanks we keep, and how to handle diseases, water problems, and other issues.
Sneakypete, I never claimed to be an expert. Maybe I did not word what I want to say properly, many times I am responding to these at work and do not have the time to go indepth. I have had aquariums with many different types of fish most of my life and have never had a problem. I have never had a bowl or small tank, only medium to large tanks with filters and a substrate.
What I was trying to say previously is that fish should never be introduced to an aquarium newly set up with fresh water out of the tap. Tap water is not good for fish. Hence the reason why I usually let my aquarium run for a while on its own with no fish in it. Also, the temperature needs to be correct before your fish are put in the tank. I do introduce plants before I introduce fish and have never had a problem. I've never had a tank or bowl without a filter. Hence the reason why I said that the water changes must be different with a bowl or small tank. My tanks have only ever had a small water percentage change every week since they had filters running all the time. This was done when I would do my weekly maintenance on the aquarium, i.e. cleaning the substrate and glass.
Thanks for the website though. I'm sure it will prove informative to many people.
I do beg to differ. I have just done a search of the www using Google, for the exact phrase "aquarium amount water change recommendations", and I have not found a site that recommends a complete water change. Most people do not keep labyrinth fish in an unaerated tank, let along one without substrate.
I know of one person, who keeps her goldfish in a typical goldfish bowl, without substrate or heater, but she's the only one, in my 20+ years of keeping fish. When a tank is set up, one fish is generally added to produce a viable "good" bacteria colony. If proper water changes are done, at least 25% each week, by using a syphon to sift the substrate, then the amount of harmful bacteria is reduced to a tolerable level. Should water changes not occur on a routine schedule, then a maximum 75% water change, to reduce the amount of stress on the fish.
If you're specifically talking about a goldfish tank of mini proportions (less than 5 gallons), then yes, a complete, 100%, water change can be done, and probably should be done. Goldfish are more apt to handle the temperature change of a complete water change than any other type of fish.
I do think, in this instance, that Beaglemom is correct regarding water changes.
I'm firm - but fair. Mind the rules and enjoy your stay.
According to the Humane Society of the United States:
There are an estimated 3-4 million dogs and cats euthanized each year in the US alone! PLEASE - spay and/or neuter your pets!
Well Go to www.fishprofiles.com and go into the
beginners section and ask. Of 8000 members Im sure they will be able
to tell you they agree with me. That is where I got most of my information.
I have kept fish in small bowls, and they are fine, ONLY if 100 of the water is changed every few days.
Yes, You use water conditioner. That is what it is for.
Yes, you use a thermometer to get the temperature right, otherwise
you will shock your fish. Its not hard to do, and your fish will be
happier for it and healthier.
Also: Goldfish do NOT belong in a small bowl. 1 goldfish requires 55G of space.
No 12 inch fish should be in less than 55 gallons.
All you are allowing by not cleaning the tiny bowl is waste to accumulate
on the bottom of the glass and bad bacteria to form.
Run your finger along the bottom of your fish bowl and see what you feel.
If you dont like it, I doubt your fish do either.
I have successfully raised Angelfish fry, guppy fry, and platy fry all in 5g tank with 100% water changes every week.
What do I have? Healthy, happy fish, who grow fast and dont get stunted.
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Dec. 1, 2004
MALIBU, Calif. (AP) - Glen McGowan scored 18 points as Pepperdine held on to claim its fifth consecutive win, 62-56, over UC Santa Barbara on Wednesday.
The Waves (5-1) ended the first half with an 11-4 run that made it 33-21 at the break and extended its lead to 25 with a 13-0 run to start the second.
But Santa Barbara answered with a13-0 run that cut the deficit to 12 with 10 minutes left and a 11-1 run that reduced Pepperdine's lead to 53-47 with just over 4 minutes remaining.
The teams traded baskets the rest of the way.
Alex Acker and Yakhouba Diawara added 16 and 15 points, respectively, for Pepperdine. UCSB, losers of three straight after a season-opening win at San Diego State, was led by Chrismen Oliver's 14 and Josh Davis' 10.
Pepperdine won despite shooting just 39 percent (22 of 56) from the field. Santa Barbara didn't fare much better, shooting just 40 percent (21 of 52), including 33 percent in the first half.

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text: We Wish You A Merry Christmas combined with Jingle Bells in a short happy medley. Sleigh bells, pizzicato strings, piano, celeste, upright bass, piccolo, oboe, and celesta combine for a bright & cheery sound. Jingle Bells makes a great singalong for Christmas parties or gatherings – the key is good for vocals. Upbeat & lighthearted.


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Rafael Nadal beat Novak Djokovic 3-6, 7-5, 6-2, 6-4 to win his record ninth French Open title on Sunday and in the process tied Pete Sampras for second on the all-time list of Grand Slam singles titles with 14.
The men's final didn't feature the same high quality tennis from start to finish that the women's final did the day before, but it was filled with drama befitting the sport's best rivalry .
When these two play, it often seems like a futuristic version of tennis. They play both offense and defense incredibly well, and are so fit that it often takes two or three "winners" to win one point.
But both looked tentative for most of the first two sets, as if they were thinking too much about what they were trying to achieve.
It turns out there might have been more than nerves influencing the players.
After a commercial break between the third and fourth sets, NBC — in slow motion — showed Djokovic vomiting. He then appeared to open a can of Pepsi PEP, +0.78% and take a sip; an odd sight in an age when players drink only homemade electrolyte-filled concoctions or water on-court. But he had said after his semifinal win two days earlier that he wasn't feeling well, and clearly he still wasn't.
Six games later, up 4-2, Nadal missed an overhead and bent forward as if in pain or at least exhausted.
Then, while celebrating a point at 4-4 in the same set, Nadal, the number one player in the world, pumped his fist so energetically that he appeared to lose his footing, prompting John McEnroe, who was commenting on the match for NBC, to say, "How awkward looking was that? What the heck is gonna happen next?"
But what happened next was what had happened eight times before. Nadal won the championship.
The match lasted over three-and-a-half hours, and for the most part the conditions were sunny and a warm 80 degrees. Afterward, Nadal, who is 28 and from Mallorca, Spain, said, "It was very hard conditions for us today and both of us were very tired. For me, it's just amazing what happened."
Djokovic, a 27-year-old from Serbia, is the number two player in the world. He was trying to win the only Grand Slam tournament he's never won. Nadal now trails only Roger Federer in Grand Slam titles won; Federer has 17.
This was the 42nd time Nadal and Djokovic have played. Nadal held a 22-19 edge before today, though Djokovic beat him at the Internazionali BNL d'Italia final in Rome last month.
Nadal, who received a $2.25 million check for his victory, has already earned over $68 million in prize money in his career. Djokovic, who was given a check for $1.125 million as the runner-up, has earned over $61 million in his career.
And that's not counting the millions they've each earned in endorsements. Nadal has deals with Nike NKE, +1.67% , Babolat and Kia. He also wears a $690,000 Richard Mille watch when he plays; he and the company designed it together. And Djokovic endorses the Japanese clothing company Uniqlo, as well as Adidas, Head, Peugeot PUGOY, +0.27% and Seiko.
Also see:
Maria Sharapova wins her second French Open title
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Anna Ingersoll Roberts, 90, formerly of Whitemarsh, a longtime community volunteer, died March 10 of complications from a stroke eight days earlier at Beaumont at Bryn Mawr., where she had resided since 1996.
Mrs. Roberts was a former president of the Women's Committee of the College of Physicians and was co-chair for four years during the 1960s of the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania's Antiques Show, when it became a significant annual event for Philadelphia. She also worked on many fundraising projects for the Child Guidance Clinic of the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.
She served on the Women's Committee of the Philadelphia Museum of Art and for many years led tours in the museum as a volunteer guide for an ever-expanding range of galleries.
Mrs. Roberts was a direct descendant of Jared Ingersoll, a signer of the Constitution from Pennsylvania and the progenitor of a family prominent in Philadelphia Democratic circles from the time of Andrew Jackson until the presidency of Harry S. Truman.
Raised in Whitemarsh, she attended Shady Hill School in Chestnut Hill and graduated from Westover School in Middlebury, Conn. She was a graduate of Vassar College, where she was president of the class of 1943.
She worked at the War Labor Board in Philadelphia until her marriage to Brooke Roberts in 1944. Dr. Roberts, a surgeon at HUP, died in 2003.
An avid gardener, she was a lifelong member of the Weeders, a women's garden club that contributed to tree planting along the banks of the Schuylkill River.
She is survived by sons Jared, of Arlington, Va., Andrew, of Chestnut Hill, and Thomas, of Wyncote; sisters Gainor Miller, of Cathedral Village, and Ann Clay, of Arlington, Va., and seven grandchildren.
A memorial service was held March 15 at St. Asaph's Church in Bala Cynwyd. Memorial donations may be made to the Ronald McDonald House, 3925 Chestnut St., Philadelphia, PA 19104, or to St. Asaph's Church, 27 Conshohocken State Road, Bala Cynwyd, PA. 19004. – WF


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DANIELSVILLE – Vera Trudie Marlow, 67, passed away Saturday, May 31, 2014.
She was the daughter of the late Charles Edward and Lois Francis Slaton Jones. Mrs. Marlow was preceded in death by her husband, Raymond Marlow.
Survivors include a son, Jimmy Marlow, Commerce; four daughters, Martha Jean Helfin, Commerce, Mary Jane Leftwich, Maysville, Peggy Sue Evans, Maysville, and Linda Louise Coker, Ila; brother, Billy Randall Jones, Hull; 11 grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.
Memorial services will be held Saturday, June 11, at 11 a.m., at the Jefferson Pentecostal Church.
Ivie Funeral Home, Commerce, is in charge of arrangements.
Vera Marlow (05-31-14)
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He got down on one knee, you said yes, and now that ring is firmly on your finger. We all know what comes next – picking the date and planning a wedding!
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I concluded the last post by requesting that those who had left the comments to please contact me. I'm happy to report that Marie and Helen, daughters of Mary Lafferty Branchfield have contacted me and the information that they have begun to share is also pouring in (more about some of the discoveries and surprises provided so far will be shared in future posts).
Needless to say, I am thrilled to have been able to connect with these new 'cousins.' Although neither knew my second great grandmother (as Agnes passed away in 1928), they did know Agnes' children well as their aunts and uncles. I'm certain to learn much more about these family members who until now had only been names on records and in my database.
This branch of the family (my father's maternal line) moved from Scotland to the United States many years ago. While I always have wondered about the hardship of immigration that my ancestors experienced, particularly leaving family behind, usually knowing they would never again be seen, I continue to be amazed that we cousins could be living so close together and yet not know it. Just as I am amazed, based on the information about members of this family branch, about family resemblances, talents, and choices of employment that seem to run inexplicably through the family.
So thank you to Marie and Helen for reaching out and if there are more Branchfields out there, I'm waiting to hear from you too!


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Windows boss shown the door
The technology world is abuzz today with news of the abrupt departure of a key executive at Microsoft. Steve Sinofsky is probably the second most important figure at the company after the chief executive Steve Ballmer. Now he is leaving with immediate effect.
His exit, just weeks after the launch of Windows 8, raises questions about the future direction of the business, not least because he was seen as a credible successor to Ballmer. A 23 year veteran of the company, he was a familiar figure to anyone who attended a Microsoft launch, a polished performer explaining just why we should be excited about the latest innovations in the Windows operating system.
The Windows 8 launch has been seen by the company as a great success, moving Microsoft into the new touchscreen mobile era, with Steve Ballmer celebrating the sales of four million copies in just three days. True, there have been some complaints from those who see the new operating system as an uneasy mix of the new mobile world and the old desktop environment, but Microsoft seems confident that all is going to plan.
So why has the man who has been central to the launch gone? Microsoft's statement revealing the news has done nothing to dampen the rumours of a bust-up at the top. Although it features a quote from Steve Ballmer expressing gratitude for Sinofsky's years of work and another from the man himself talking of the professionalism and generosity of everyone at "this awesome company", there is no explanation of why he is leaving.
That quote from the Windows president is also in an email he has written to Microsoft staff in which he says he is leaving to pursue new opportunities. He says that this is an ideal moment for him to move on, having launched Windows 8, and is keen to dispel any conspiracy theories: "This was a personal and private choice that in no way reflects any speculation or theories one might read - about me, opportunity, the company or its leadership."
So if it is as simple as that he wants to go off and do something else, why did Microsoft not make that clear in its press release? I put that to the company and got no real response.
Then I looked at a CNET profile of Steven Sinofsky. The article, which appears well sourced, talks of a brilliant but divisive figure, feuding with fellow executives and creating "a toxic work environment that has chased talented employees away from a maturing company that's in desperate need of innovative thinking."
So perhaps Steve Ballmer was rather relieved when Mr Sinofsky talked of seeking out new opportunities. In any case, it is inevitable that there will be speculation because Mr Sinofsky's departure comes at a time of upheaval in some other big technology firms.
The most obvious example is Apple, which last month got rid of Scott Forstall, boss of its iOS software division, and John Browett, who very briefly ran the retail operation. Both were apparently axed because of serious failings - notably in Forstall's case the disastrous Apple Maps launch which resulted in the millions who upgraded to iOS 6 getting a much worse product than they'd had before.
What all of these giant companies are trying to do is foster a continued spirit of innovation and risk-taking in a fast-moving environment where any mistake can leave a business floundering to catch up. When I interviewed Steve Ballmer last month, my repeated suggestions that Microsoft had struggled to innovate in recent years were met with some impatience.
But it seems likely that he decided that the completion of Windows 8 was a good time to review how the company was working. Now another company veteran, Julie Larson-Green, has been given the task of heading up Microsoft's most important division, running all of Windows software and hardware engineering.
In my experience, Microsoft still employs some of the brightest and most capable people in the technology industry. But combining their efforts to produce a fast moving business turning out innovative products remains a challenge.


text:
Guess the answers to these questions, then check the link to see how many you got right.
1. U.S. companies in total pay a smaller percentage of taxes than
2. The high-profit, tax-avoiding tech industry was built on
3. When a quadrillion dollars is traded, it generates how much in tax revenue?
4. For every dollar in securities held in the United States, only a one and half cents is held by
Some Outrageous Facts About Inequality
Views: 352
"...One nation, divided against itself,
With invasive airport searches and inequality for all."
Hey! You didn't tell us how many you got right.
All of them.
I get financial updates from a group called "The Other 98%" from time to time....and right now I'm in the kind of mood (about other issues) that I just picked the worst possible answers.
Ruth, I may be wrong, but this doesn't seem to be the America I knew as a child...where everybody (or most everybody) worked together for the common good, who willingly put up with things like gasoline and food rationing because we were fighting a war on the other side of the planet.
The extreme right wing has replaced the common good ethic in the US. See
IMO conservatives hit rock bottom more than 12 years ago...when they tried to impeach Pres. Clinton for something so trivial that late-night comedians got more mileage from the details than the GOP did. And cost the taxpayers millions.
I have been wondering for years why people who call themselves conservative are anti-conservation (among other things).
I just printed that article (7 pages!), and am going to go get comfortable so I can study it.
Do you remember Reagan's Secretary of the Interior, James Watt, who thought it would be just dandy to sell off the natural resources in our national parks and wildlands because....get this....Jesus was going to "come back any minute" and the world would end , anyway?
And do you remember why he was finally "asked" to resign?
Oh! I remember all too well. I also remember the cuts to education and social services.
James Watt ... that incredible douche bag. Hell, I recognized him even before I saw the stuff above here!
LOL! I think he's worse than a douche bag. But do you remeber WHY he was finally fired ("requested to submit his resignation")?
He pissed Nancy off! One 4th of July he forbade the Beach Boys to perform at the Mall celebration because the were "immoral" or some such. Mrs. Reagan happened to be a major fan of thiers, in fact, I think she was the one who wanted them to be there in the first place.
"There hasn't been one sane decision out of he White House in 50 years." RAH
I remember the fooforaw with the Beach Boys. I did NOT know that was what got him fired!
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text:
Scientopia has meant so much to me. It has been a home, a comfortable place, for so long. It has seen me through the biggest transition of my career. My career(s). The people here have been a source of advice, mentorship, strength. Scientopia is a wonderful group of people.
With my new job came new responsibilities, and far less writing in the evenings. Let's face it, when you write all day long, coming home to write at night is a tough call. I've been sad to see my blog so inactive. But that's life, and I'm active in as many places as I can be. I'm not a scientist anymore, instead, I'm a science writer, communicator. Someday I'll be a science journalist (I hope).
So after some thought, I've decided to move on. With the help of the talented web developer Karen Wolf, I've launched a personal author site. You can find all my archives, my blog, and my contact info there, as well as links to all the current stuff I'm doing.
But don't stop reading here! Why would you ever do that! Don't forget me, Scientopians. But readers, make sure to stop by and see the wonderful and necessary views from inside the heart of science.
Internet love always,
Scicurious (Bethany Brookshire)


text:
First Look
First Look: Belkin TuneDok for iPod nano
Company: Belkin
Website: www.Belkin.com
Model: TuneDok for iPod nano
Price: $30
Compatible: iPod nano
It's been many a moon since we've played with a TuneDok - Belkin's plastic cupholder mount for full-sized iPods and minis - and now there's a version for iPod nano. Like the others, this one includes a screw-in iPod holder that changes height based on how deeply it's screwed in to the base, and three plastic cups that can be paired up to adjust for different cupholder depths. In addition to offering two cup thicknesses - one standard, one large - the new TuneDok also includes a rubber cuff that can go around the outside of a cup, thickening it while adding a bit of Griffin iSqueez-like flexibility. This TuneDok is also the first we've tested in a glossy black color, which matches the company's Auto Kit, and of course black iPod nanos.
Editors' Note: iLounge only reviews products in "final" form, but many companies now change their offerings - sometimes several times - after our reviews have been published. This iLounge article provides more information on this practice, known as revving.


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Another thing that we did at Google that I thought was surprisingly effective and useful was strict coding standards.
Before my time at Google, I was sure that coding standards were pointless. I had absolutely no doubt that they were the kind of thing that petty bureaucrats waste time writing and then use to hassle people who are actually productive.
I was seriously wrong.
At Google, I could look at any piece of code, anywhere in Google's codebase, and I could read it. The fact that I was allowed to do that was pretty unusual in itself. But what was surprising to me was just how much the standardization of style - indents, names, file structures, and comment conventions - made it dramatically easier to look at a piece of unfamiliar code and understand it. This is still surprising to me - because those are all trivial things. They shouldn't have much impact - but they do. It's absolutely shocking to realize how much of the time you spend reading code is just looking for the basic syntactic structure!
There's a suite of common objections to this, all of which I used to believe.
- It wastes time!
- I'm a good coder, and I don't want to waste time on stupidity. I'm good enough that when I write code, it's clear and easy to understand. Why should I waste my time on some stupid standard? The answer is: because there is a value in uniformity. As I alluded to earlier - the fact that every piece of code that you look at -- whether it was written by you, by one of your closest coworkers, or by someone 11 timezones away -- will always demarcate structures in the same way, will always use the same naming conventions - it really, genuinely makes a big difference. You need so much less effort to read code that you haven't looked at in a while (or at all), because you can immediately recognize the structure.
- I'm an artist!
- This is phrased facetiously, but it does reflect a common complaint. We programmers have a lot of pride in our personal style. The code that I write really does reflect something about me and how my mind works. It's a reflection of my skill and my creativity. If I'm forced into some stupid standard, it seems like it's stifling my creativity. The thing is, the important parts of your style, the important reflections of your mind and your creativity aren't in trivial syntactic things. (If it is, then you're a pretty crappy programmer.) The standard actually makes it easier for other people to see your creativity - because they can actually see what you're doing, without being distracted by the unfamiliar syntactic quirks.
- One size fits all actually fits none!
- If you have a coding standard that wasn't designed specifically for your project, then it's probably non-optimal for your project. That's fine. Again, it's just syntax: non-optimal doesn't mean bad. The fact that it's not ideal for your project doesn't mean that it's not worth doing. Yeah, sure, it does reduce the magnitude of the benefit for your project, but at the same time, it increases the magnitude of the benefit for the larger organization. In addition, it frequently makes sense to have project-specific code styles. There's nothing wrong with having a project-specific coding standard. In fact, in my experience, the best thing is to have a very general coding standard for the larger organization, and then project-specific extensions of that for the project-specific idioms and structures.
- I'm too good for that!
- This is actually the most common objection. It's sort-of a combination of the others, but it gets at an underlying attitude in a direct way. This is the belief on the part of the complainer that they're a better programmer than whoever wrote the standard, and lowering themselves to following the standard written by the inferior author will reduce the quality of the code. This is, to put it mildly, bullshit. It's pure arrogance, and it's ridiculous. The fact of the matter is that no one is so good that any change to their coding style will damage the code. If you can't write good code to any reasonable coding standard, you're a crappy programmer.
When you're coding against a standard, there are inevitably going to be places where you disagree with the standard. There will be places where your personal style is better than the standard. But that doesn't matter. There will, probably, also be places where the standard is better than your style. But that doesn't matter easier. As long as the standard isn't totally ridiculous, the comprehension benefits are significant enough to more than compensate for that.
But what if the coding standard is totally ridiculous?
Well, then, it's rough to be you: you're screwed. But that's not really because of the ridiculous coding standard. It's because you're working for idiots. Screwing up a coding standard enough to really prevent good programmers from writing good code is hard. It requires a sort of dedicated, hard-headed stupidity. If you're working for people who are such idiots that they'd impose a broken coding standard, then they're going to do plenty of other stupid stuff, too. If you're working for idiots, you're pretty much screwed no matter what you do, coding standard or no. (And I don't mean to suggest that software businesses run by idiots are rare; it's an unfortunate fact, but there's no shortage of idiots, and there are plenty of them that have their own businesses.)


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This is a collection of mathematics problems relating to the moons of the solar system. Learners will use simple proportional relationships and work with fractions to study the relative sizes of the larger moons in our solar system, and explore how... (View More) temperatures change from place to place using the Celsius and Kelvin scales. (View Less)
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This is a set of one-page problems about the scale of objects in images returned by spacecraft. Learners will measure scaled drawings using high-resolution images of the lunar and martian surfaces. Options are presented so that students may learn... (View More) about the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) mission through a NASA press release or by viewing a NASA eClips™ video [4 min]. Common Core State Standards for Mathematics and English Language Arts are identified. This activity is part of the Space Math multi-media modules that integrate NASA press releases, NASA archival video, and mathematics problems targeted at specific math standards commonly encountered in middle school. (View Less)
Materials Cost: Free


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A simple activity to explore how sound is made. All you need is a friend and a piece of string.
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An activity about air pressure to explore what makes a good sail. You'll need some foil, styrofoam, paper, straws, a long pipe, tape, scissors, a stopwatch and water.
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text: Bella my 4 yr old cat has just started pooping and peeing on my son's bed. It happend for the first time about a week ago. Washed all the linens, nothing went thru to the mattress. At that point, we weren't sure which cat it was. We have a newer addition Semper who is 13 months old (we've had him a year). Then 2 days ago, we discovered poop and pee on my son's bed. This was happening when he slept in my bed and we left his door open. This time it did soil the mattress so after vigorous cleaning with Simple Solution extreme Cat cleaner, my son gets in bed tonight and Bella hops up on the bed and poops right in front of him!! What is going on. Now mind you, Bella is not anybody's "cat" in this house. She answers to no one, doesn't care for humans too much, will bite you in a heartbeat. Basically just feed her and clean her litter box and leave her alone. I am lost. I can't imagine her being "upset" with anyone in the house and she is very much a loner. Nothing has changed recently either. Except my daughter's boyfriend coming over alot. But Bella isn't pooping on her bed.


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I'm excited to offer another fun 12 Days of Christmas series at Deal Seeking Mom. Each day through 12/7, I'll post a new 3-day giveaway! Browse all of the giveaways here.
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The North Face Nuptse 900 Goose Down Jacket
Tibetan for "west peak", Nuptse is a mountain that lies just over a mile southwest of Mount Everest and is considered to be the western peak of this climbing gold mine. A coveted jacket among outdoor enthusiasts, the Nuptse? Jacket is a classic puffy jacket that thrives in cold weather conditions, such as those found at a Tibetan base camp. Constructed with 900 goose down fill, this high loft jacket delivers plush warmth in brutal conditions. Updated for 2009, this classic jacket now features a straighter yoke across the chest and an improved, more flattering fit.
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From BioenergyWiki
(Redirected from Subsidy)
Bioenergy > Issues > Subsidies
Information about biofuels and bioenergy and subsidies.
- Note: Also see the page on the Volumetric Ethanol Excise Tax Credit, which addresses a specific biofuels subsidy program in the United States.
- Global Subsidies Initiative - The Global Subsidies Initiative (GSI) of the International Institute for Sustainable Development "is a project designed to put the spotlight on subsidies and the corrosive effects they can have on environmental quality, economic development and governance."
- Ethanol industry lurches in wake of lost subsidy, oversupply, 28 February 2012 by Minnesota Public Radio: "After predicting they would survive the end of a major federal subsidy without problems, it looks like officials at the nation's ethanol producers may have been too optimistic."
- "Since the subsidy ended Dec. 31, ethanol profit margins have declined sharply, even slipping into negative territory. Experts see no quick turnaround in sight...."
- "The loss of the 45-cent-per-gallon federal tax break marks a major change in the economics of ethanol. It also created a double whammy beginning with the closing months of last year, when ethanol producers saw a rush of buyers for the last of a subsidized product."[1]
- Senate keeps ethanol subsidies, 14 June 2011 by Politico: (United States) "The Senate on Tuesday rejected, 40-59, a symbolic attempt to strike ethanol tax subsidies as Democrats are working on a deal to hold at least one vote on ethanol next week."
- "The amendment from Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) fell well short of the necessary 60 votes to invoke cloture and limit debate. Five Democrats supported the amendment and 12 Republican ethanol backers, largely from the Midwest, opposed it."
- "Coburn's amendment would have repealed a 45-cent-per-gallon tax credit to blend ethanol in gasoline that is set to expire at the end of the year. It is estimated that the tax credit would be worth upwards of $6 billion if it continues the whole year. The amendment also would have repealed a 54-cent-per-gallon tariff on ethanol imports."
- "About a dozen senators, led by Thune and Klobuchar, are proposing to immediately — starting July 1 — end the existing blender tax credit and replace it with a variable blender tax credit linked to the price of crude oil through 2014."[2]
- The energy emperor's ethanol wardrobe looks mighty bare , 6 March 2011 by Washington Examiner: "Anyone looking at the ethanol subsidy program should be reminded of the childhood story of the emperor's new clothes."
- "While those who support the program put forth various reasons for their support -- that ethanol will reduce greenhouse gases or curb our reliance on foreign oil -- in reality, it is merely a wealth transfer program from the general taxpayer to corn producers."
- "If we admitted that, and just gave corn producers a check, we would be better off. We would avoid the misallocation of resources and the unintended consequences of the current program, such as higher food prices, that are a result of making the subsidy indirect rather than direct."
- "The environmental reasons for using ethanol are at best controversial. Former Vice President Al Gore has recently said about the ethanol subsidy, 'It is not good to have these massive subsidies.' Producing ethanol from corn and distributing it emits more greenhouse gases than producing gasoline from crude oil and distributing it."
- "If the use of corn ethanol were economically efficient, the ethanol industry would not need subsidies, taxes on the use of competitive fuels, and a government requirement that its product be used."[3]
- Malaysia's once-vaunted biofuel industry grinds to halt, 6 September 2010 by AFP: "Malaysia's once-vaunted biofuel industry has seen production grind to a halt since a March announcement that the government's mandatory switch to the green energy will be delayed to June 2011."
- "Malaysian Biodiesel Association vice-president U.R. Unnithan said...Malaysian biofuel cannot compete in international markets as many countries have protectionist measures and subsidies in place."[4]
- New CBO Report Examines Biofuels Tax Incentives, 16 July 2010 by Mackinnon Lawrence: "CBO releases report this week assessing biofuel incentives. Study finds that biofuel subsidies, costs associated with reducing petroleum use and GHG emissions vary by fuel."
- "First, after making adjustments for the different energy contents of the various biofuels and the petroleum fuel used to produce them, the report finds that producers of ethanol made from corn receive 73 cents to provide an amount of biofuel with the energy equivalent to that in one gallon of gasoline. On a similar basis, producers of cellulosic ethanol receive $1.62, and producers of biodiesel receive $1.08."
- "Second, the report finds reducing petroleum use costs taxpayers anywhere from $1.78 – 3.00 per one gallon of gasoline, again, depending on the type of fuel."
- "Third, the costs to taxpayers of reducing greenhouse gas emissions varies from $275 per metric ton of CO2e for cellulosic, $300 per metric ton for CO2e for biodiesel, and about $750 per metric ton of CO2e for ethanol . NOTE: the CBO estimates do not reflect any emissions associated with land use change (direct or indirect)."
- "Domestic Fuel reports this week that the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) asserts the report provides no comparison to other technologies or types of biofuels against the destruction that goes hand in hand with fossil fuel production."[5]
- Read the full report here: Using Biofuel Tax Credits to Achieve Energy and Environmental Policy Goals (PDF)
- EDITORIAL: Stop 'Big Corn', 5 April 2010 by the Washington Times: "The Environmental Protection Agency wants to dump more corn into your fuel tank this summer, and it's going to cost more than you think."
- "The agency is expected to approve a request from 52 ethanol producers known collectively as "Growth Energy" to boost existing requirements that gasoline contain 10 percent ethanol to 15 percent. The change means billions more in government subsidies for companies in the business of growing corn and converting it into ethanol. For the rest of us, it means significantly higher gasoline and food prices."
- "It's time that this shameless corporate welfare gets plowed under....Big Corn's advocates claim that forcing Americans to use this renewable fuel would reduce dependency on Mideast oil and lead to cleaner air. It's just as likely, however, that they want to get their hands on the $16 billion a year from the 45-cent-per-gallon "blender's tax credit" - in addition to the various state and federal mandates giving us no choice but to pump their pricey product into our fuel tanks."
- "According to the University of Missouri's Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute, the ethanol tax credit increases corn prices by 18 cents a bushel, wheat by 15 cents and soybeans by 28 cents. That means higher prices for most food items at the grocery store and restaurants."[6]
- The Case Against Biofuels: Probing Ethanol's Hidden Costs, 11 March 2010 opinion piece by C. Ford Runge in Yale environment360: "Despite strong evidence that growing food crops to produce ethanol is harmful to the environment and the world's poor, the Obama administration is backing subsidies and programs that will ensure that half of the U.S.'s corn crop will soon go to biofuel production. It's time to recognize that biofuels are anything but green."
- President Obama "and his administration have wholeheartedly embraced corn ethanol and the tangle of government subsidies, price supports, and tariffs that underpin the entire dubious enterprise of using corn to power our cars. In early February, the president threw his weight behind new and existing initiatives to boost ethanol production from both food and nonfood sources, including supporting Congressional mandates that would triple biofuel production to 36 billion gallons by 2022."
- "Yet a close look at their impact on food security and the environment — with profound effects on water, the eutrophication of our coastal zones from fertilizers, land use, and greenhouse gas emissions — suggests that the biofuel bandwagon is anything but green."[7]
- (U.K.'s largest power station) Drax suspends plan to replace coal with greener fuel, 19 February 2010 by Times Online: "Britain's biggest power station has suspended its plan to replace coal with greener fuel, leaving the Government little chance of meeting its target for renewable energy."
- "The power station, which is the country's largest single source of CO2, has invested £80 million in a processing unit for wood, straw and other plant-based fuels, known as biomass."
- "Drax is also one of dozens of companies delaying investments in new biomass power stations because of uncertainty over the Government's policy on long-term subsidies. Hundreds of farmers growing biomass crops may now struggle to sell their produce."
- "The Renewable Energy Association said that plans for more than 50 biomass projects, totalling £13 billion of investment, had been suspended because of uncertainty over policy."[8]
- Biofuels for the poor, 23 March 2009 opinion piece in The Jakarta Post: "After being criticized for being slow to develop the local biofuel industry, the Indonesian government has finally issued two important policies; first, a decree issued last year obliging industries and the transportation sector to use biofuels; and second, its recent decision to provide subsidies for sales of the fuel."[9]
- UK 'should end biofuel subsidies', 26 August 2008 by BBC News: The UK "government should stop funding biofuels and use the money to halt the destruction of rainforests and peatland instead, a think tank has said."
- The RTFO [Renewable Transportation Fuel Obligation] is designed to cut up to three million tonnes of CO2 emissions each year, but Policy Exchange said investing in the protection of peatland or rainforests could result in a '50 times greater amount of avoided emission'".
- Download the Policy Exchange report, The Root of the Matter: Carbon Sequestration in Forests and Peatlands (PDF file)
- Facing criticism, biofuels industry forms new lobby group to influence lawmakers, 25 July 2008 by mongabay.com: "Under attack by politicians, aid groups, and environmentalists for driving up food prices and fueling destruction of ecologically sensitive habitats, some of the world's largest agroindustrial firms have formed a lobby group to influence consumers and lawmakers to support continued subsidies for biofuel production in the United States".
- "The group, known as the Alliance for Abundant Food and Energy, was created by Archer Daniels Midland Co, DuPont Co, Deere & Co, Monsanto Co and the Renewable Fuels Association".
- "The group will promote genetically modified crops to improve crops yields as a solution to meeting global food needs. It does not aim to curtail biofuel production and will lobby Congress to keep subsidies for ethanol and biodiesel production in place".
- US and EU urged to cut biofuels, 7 July 2008, BBC World News: "World Bank President Robert Zoellick has called for reform of biofuel policies in rich countries, urging them to grow more food to feed the hungry."
- U.N. Chief to Prod Nations On Food Crisis, 2 June 2008 by the Washington Post: "U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon will issue an urgent plea to world leaders at a food summit in Rome on Tuesday to immediately suspend trade restrictions, agricultural taxes and other price controls that have helped fuel the highest food prices in 30 years, according to U.N. officials....The United Nations will also urge the United States and other nations to consider phasing out subsidies for food-based biofuels -- such as ethanol".
- The article notes that a "World Bank analyst estimated that biofuel production has accounted for 65 percent in the rise of world food prices, while the IMF has concluded that biofuel production is responsible for 'a significant part of the jump in commodity prices.'"[10]
- Europe, Cutting Biofuel Subsidies, Redirects Aid to Stress Greenest Options, 22 January 2008, The New York Times: "Governments in Europe and elsewhere have begun rolling back generous, across-the-board subsidies for biofuels, acknowledging that the environmental benefits of these fuels have often been overstated....But as they aim to be more selective, these governments are discovering how difficult it can be to figure out whether a particular fuel — much less a particular batch of corn ethanol or rapeseed biodiesel — has been produced in an environmentally friendly manner."
- The article notes that "Several countries — including Australia, Britain, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland, as well as parts of Canada — have removed or are revising incentives for farmers, biofuel refiners and distributors."
- Biofuels — At What Cost? Government support for ethanol and biodiesel in selected OECD countries (PDF file) - September 2007, by the Global Subsidies Initiative. From the description:
- "Government support for biofuels has soared in recent years as policy makers have sought ways to reduce reliance on fossil fuels, especially petroleum. However, up to now the full extent of this support has not been documented. Yet informed public debate over the cost-effectiveness and impacts of biofuel policies is impossible without such information."[11]
- This report "is a synthesis of individual country reports which are being released over the course of 2006 and 2007."[12]
- 14 September 2010, Washington, D.C., USA: Classifying Biofuel Subsidies: Farm Bill and WTO Considerations. (Themes: subsidies, trade, WTO)
|Investment in biofuels | Subsidies | Trade
|Bioenergy issues
| Agriculture (Land use) | Climate change | Economics (Green economy/Green jobs)
Environment | Social (Poverty) | Trade
What is bioenergy? | Benefits/Risks | Who is doing what?
Categories: Economics | Government | Issues | Policy


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Snape Hate
So a friend of mine has shown me that on online communities Severus Snape from the Harry Potter series is a fan favorite for many and is kind of completely excused for being a jerk. I know the here on CR we are all about anime and drama, but I was wondering if anyone had an opinion of Sanpe
Personally I hate when people say that Sanpe is such a great character and that he's the greatest hero in the story. I admit that yes Snape had every reason to hate James Potter, heck if we look at the flashbacks James said the first insult between them ever. But even if Harry looked exactly like James, and he was James' son that doesn't excuse tormenting a 11 year old kid, how low can you get?
Then there's the whole thing with Snape and Lily. Ok yes Lily and Snape were best friends, and yes Snape may have loved Lily at least in some way, but then people say that Lily was so terrible for ending her friendship with Snape. We know that Snape had turned to the dark arts before the fiasco with calling Lily mudblood, and she had talked to him about before but he kept going down the wrong path, and Lily wasn't interested in that path.
Well those are my personal thoughts on the matter, anyone else want to share?
If you have something interesting to say leave a note, I may even pay attention
Sorry, I love Snape hehe..He was my favorite adult character in the series. He was my guilty pleasure at first because I didn't understand why I liked him when he appeared to be such a cold hearted bully. I was a Gryffindor fan all the way, yet I couldn't shake the feeling that there was more than met the eye about him. Then Half Blood Prince came out and after I read it I was really confused by his actions, and thought I was wrong about him the whole time.So It was gratifying when Deathly Hallows came out to finally read about his memories, and why he acted the way he did, even though it wasn't an excuse it was at least an explanation.
He definitely was in love with Lily, which was amazing in itself that he had the capability to show any affection to anyone after the type of childhood he had and felt horrible that he inadvertently played a role in her demise even though he tried to protect her.
The guy was brave to be a double agent the whole time, pretending to swear his allegiance to Voldemort but in reality his loyalties were to Dumbledore and Lily. He may not have possessed the likeable qualities of a hero, but he still was one in my book.
I don't know everything, I just happen to know this. I only know what I know.
Revolver Dogelot
He acts like that toward Harry because he has to. First he is supposed to be on Voldemort's side, so if he was too buddy buddy with Harry it would look very wrong to the other Death Eaters. Second he knew Voldemort would be returning and Harry would be his primary target when he did. Thus almost everything he does is meant to 1: Keep his cover, 2: Toughen Harry up so he has a fighting chance, and 3: also spy and keep an eye on Harry without raising suspicion that he is protecting him.
For the most part it was all an act.
Just call me.... Revolver. Revolver Doge.
Ok admit ably I wouldn't expect Snape after his past to be like a godfather to Harry
That said, acting like a normal teacher would have kept his cover enough. In his memories Snape is ranting to Dumbledore that harry is an egocentric kid who struts around "happy" that he's famous and thinks that he is above the rules.
Harry hates that he's famous for no reason besides surviving in the attack that killed his parents, and the majority of the that Harry breaks the rules it is because he has a job to do, there may be a few times he did it for the fun of it but honestly can any of us say that we have never broken any rules?
Toughening him up, I believe it would have been much more effective to teach Harry things rather than bully him and try to convince him that his father was as evil as Voldemort (an expression). Snape for example in occulmency did not teach Harry much, instead he only repeatedly told him to clear his mind, gave no explanation or advice on how to do that. Oh and lets not forget that the only other thing he did there was tease/taunt Harry over his past memories like being chased up a tree by a bulldog...... admit ably however for some reason (in the movies) I find the part where in his memories Harry is hugging Sirius and suddenly Snape is behind them saying "I might vomit"
Snape didn't do much to help Harry, even if he was trying to toughen him up he should have seen that he was breaking him down.
Ok rants aside I am not trying to hate on anyones opinions here, if anything I would just like to sit back relax and have a debate, debates are so much fun.
If you have something interesting to say leave a note, I may even pay attention
What a great love story -wipes tears-
lol i think snape was alright.
Surfing the net.
No, I detest Snape for being a jerk to Harry. I don't think anything about Snape's past or his affection for Lily excuses that kind of treatment of an innocent boy. Especially when his life's mission is apparently to protect Harry from all who would cause him harm, he thinks he should make the boy hate him as much as possible? Seems rather counter-intuitive if you ask me.
Snape acted that way towards Harry because he should. He probably had the foresight that Voldemort will try to access Harry's mind because of this link between them. If Harry knew that Snape was only acting, then Voldemort will find out and they would not have succeeded in defeating him.
Great love story. I tear up every time I see that scene in the last film, where Snape was crying so hard while he was holding Lily's dead body.
Karkarov wrote:
He acts like that toward Harry because he has to. First he is supposed to be on Voldemort's side, so if he was too buddy buddy with Harry it would look very wrong to the other Death Eaters. Second he knew Voldemort would be returning and Harry would be his primary target when he did. Thus almost everything he does is meant to 1: Keep his cover, 2: Toughen Harry up so he has a fighting chance, and 3: also spy and keep an eye on Harry without raising suspicion that he is protecting him.
For the most part it was all an act.
I, too, agree with this statement.. since it pretty much covers the basics of his character development.
Also, you have to understand that for Snape, seeing Harry Potter 'strutting around' (even if all he is really doing is walking to class) is a constant reminder of missed opportunities and relationships with people. Perhaps he did it to himself, but it would still be painful to have to be reminded of of it every single day when you see the offspring of the woman you used to be friends with and whom you loved (and who abandoned you for whatever reason) as well as that of your childhood nemesis.
I think he has every reason to be bitter.
And honestly, the reason I was such a fan of Snape and why he was my favorite character is because out of the majority of the characters, he was the only one who really had depth and character development throughout the series. The three protagonists were pretty much par for course teenagers.. filled with angst and conspiracy theories about various people.. and often times did get away with a lot that you know the other students (had they chosen the same path) would not have been allowed to get away with.
Knitting up a storm!
Alright... here's my opinion. Be warned, it'll be a nice rant and it will ramble and go off on tangents, but I promise I'll get to the point eventually. It's just that this debate gets me so angry sometimes, though I bottle it up and ignore it and generally don't add my opinion... though of course that resulted in me blowing up upon seeing some of these opinions... I have to say, my boyfriend's face was hilarious though. Made it worth it.
Okay so... Snape. The most complex character in Harry Potter... I won't say he's the most developed, I'd say Harry is (for reasons I won't share here), but he is definitely complex. But I dislike him. With a passion.
There are so many many reasons for it... Starting with the issue of him being 'nice' to Harry.
Oh come on people, just because he's on Voldemort's side doesn't mean he has to be mean to Harry or any of the non-Slytherin students! He could've simply spun it like "I had no choice but to be nice to the brat. Dumbledore would've fired me, the fool, if I did not rein in my temper *sneer*" Problem solved. On top of that, the issue isn't just that he was mean to Harry, but to EVERY student not in Slytherin.
He's such a terrible teacher. And don't say otherwise. First class: The speech was nice until he called them dunderheads, which encourages them to believe they won't succeed! What kind of teacher does that?
Then he calls on Harry and asks him questions. Okay reasonable... but do we know what part of the curriculum they're from? We know they didn't cover the Draught of Living Death until 6th year. Was it really reasonable to ask a new student that on the first day? And Harry had read all of his textbooks even. Not everyone can remember everything they read.
Then, he doesn't bother teaching them at all. No instruction on how to cut, skin, stew, or anything with the ingredients. They're 11 years old, it's highly unlikely that unless the student had a tutor they'd been allowed to handle knives. So they'd know nothing about how to prepare the ingredients, especially the muggleborns! Then on top of that, he doesn't go over the instructions in detail. My AP physics teacher would go over every experiment with us to be sure we knew what we were doing and give us things to avoid and what could go wrong. Did Snape warn them about the dangers of doing it wrong? Nope. Oh you say he was mean to get them to listen? BS. He would've avoided more accidents if he explained the process at the very least. If he'd gone over why it was a bad idea to leave the cauldron on the fire when adding porcupine quills, I'm sure Neville would've found it easier to follow directions, especially if Snape told them that it would cause boils.
And his being mean I feel caused more problems in the end. Yes, strictness is good... but being mean? Bad idea. I doubt that Neville would've done so badly if Snape wasn't breathing down his neck the whole time. Being stressed and scared leads to more mistakes than knowing the dangers and being somewhat relaxed does. Even Harry thought he did better brewing without Snape... and he thought that just after finishing the OWL. Plus, what kind of teacher is a boggart for 13 year old? Face it, he's a great potions master, but a terrible teacher.
Then there's the disaster that was occlumency lessons. Seriously... first lesson. "CLEAR YOUR MIND LEGILIMENS" Wait... what? How is that supposed to help Harry? No instruction, no explanation, no time even for Harry to think. Have you ever tried to clear your own mind? No? Take a moment to try and think of nothing. No emotions, no thoughts... Did you succeed? I've only succeeded once in the years I've tried to meditate that way. And that was interestingly in a meditation lesson in my world religions class to teach us about how Buddhists meditate. It would take Harry a long time to figure it out, and Snape attacking his mind while he tried to do so just made it worse. It made Harry less likely to want to do occlumency, even with the benefits, because of the torture he went through each lesson. Personally, despite being female, I relate to Harry the most... I'm fairly emotional like him.. the best way for me to meditate is to go to what I've labeled my mindscape and try to sort through my memories, to throw away bad thoughts and other things like that... And it actually has helped me. Far more than trying to think of nothing ever did. Snape did nothing to teach Harry, he didn't even give him a book to read! At least if Harry had a book, his failure was his own fault. Oh he didn't try hard enough... right. What motivation did he have? Keeping Voldemort out? He didn't really see the need to you know, he didn't feel the urgency, and he was given the worst teach for it too.
So some of you apparently believe Snape was just trying to toughen him. In what world do you live in does Harry need Snape to add pressure? Take away Snape, and Harry had was already toughened by a lot. Emotionally and mentally abused by his relatives, physically by his cousin, and maybe by his uncle in some way... neglected, not given enough food, likely malnourished. And yet he survived until he was 11. He went into Gryffindor. Then he had to face a troll, cursed broomsticks, his greatest desire, and Quirrelmort by the end of his first year, not to mention everything else he faced by the time he defeated Voldemort for good. Harry didn't NEED to be toughened up! He needed information, to be taught, to be helped... He needed to be taught how to fight, how to think... and he wasn't. If Snape truly wanted to increase Harry's chance of survival, he should have taught Harry occlumency early on and then went on to teach him how to fight and do other essential things that would be necessary in the war. Like wards and all that.
And now onto what really bothers me about the Snape debate... finally. I understand Snape's character. I understand what he went through; I know it must've been tough on him. He's a complex character, and it does fascinate me. I can read fanfictions where Snape is good, and I can read them where he is evil. The good ones generally need him to at least admit he's wrong about Harry and try to change and to help Harry.
What bothers me the most? Is how people use his love of Lily and his intentions and how he helped Harry to justify what he did. Yes, he is wonderfully complex, and yes in canon he was good in the end. But that does not justify his actions one iota for me.
First off, yes, I'm well aware he saved Harry multiple times throughout the years... but he NEVER gave Harry ANY reason to trust him. It was even to the point that 'never doubt authority' Hermione believed he was after the stone! And then there was that fiasco with Sirius. Harry had no reason to believe that Snape would actually listen. Yes, it's reasonable that Snape had to act like he didn't understand, but seriously? He had no way to communicate that he would check to Harry? He couldn't have waited and then told Harry or something? No he just had to let Harry think Sirius was in deep trouble.
I'm perfectly aware that he had reason to hate Sirius and James. They were bullies, although... from what we've seen... While yes they did bully him, Snape did seem to give what he got. But really? Petty revenge and taunting at times of war? He knew Sirius is not hte type of person to sit at the sidelines; that he hated being back at his childhood home. So of course he had to taunt him about being useless. Yes, Sirius going to the ministry was his own fault, but after being cooped up for so long, I don't blame him... especially when he had to deal with Snape taunting him!
Then there's his love for Lily. While I'm not convinced it's romantic love (He's obsessive and doesn't seem to want her to be happy, since she was happy with James and Harry, and he didn't let it go, he wanted both James and Harry to die. He even admitted it.), he did love her in some way.
So... he loved Lily so he protected the son he didn't want to protect because he looked so much like James. And bullied hte son. I don't think Lily would be happy with him. Yes, Snape has every right to be bitter but that does NOT justify the amount of bullying he heaped on Harry. That does NOT justify the way he acted in the least. Just because someone went through a lot does not mean that they should become a bully. Yes, it is understandable that he is the way he is. But in no way does that mean he should be allowed to act the way he does! He's so immature.
In the end he became what he apparently hated. He became a bully. And while Harry was his main victim, he also made Neville a victim and other students victims of his bitterness. He went from victim of bullying to the bully. How is that right? I don't believe in bullying in any form. And what's worse is it's an adult, a teacher, bullying the 11-18 year olds he's supposed to nurture and help grow!
I've seen people say 'oh don't judge him based on what he did as a teenager.' Have I done that here? I don't think I've mentioned how he acted as a teenager at all here. Of course, then those same people then go on to say that James was a terrible person... when we know he matured and likely would've become a great person, because all they know is what we saw through Snape's eyes of James... as a teenager.
Anyways... basically, if you've stuck with me this long... I don't mind Snape. He's a great complex character. I love how he can be twisted good or evil. What I don't like is his deplorable actions because he allowed his bitterness to consume him. What I hate is people defending his actions as a bully with how his love of Lily triumphs over that. He was a good character in the end, but I cannot condone the bullying he did. He should not have been so petty and childish.
And rant over... finally. *collapses*
Life is insane
Snape acted that means towards Harry as a result of he ought to. He most likely had the foresight that Voldemort can attempt to access Harry's mind owing to this link between them. If Harry knew that Snape was solely acting, then Voldemort can determine and that they wouldn't have succeeded in defeating him.in http://www.mmo2buy.com/
Snape didn't know that Voldemort was coming back. He acted that way toward Harry because he hated Harry's father and Harry reminded Snape of James. Snape protected Harry because of his devotion to Lily, but he also hated Harry because he was the product of Lily and James' marriage. Harry sensed that Snape loathed him from the very first book, but he didn't understand it until the end.
Ouzoathena11 has some good insight on this, and I won't restate everything again.
Yeah, Snape ended up being a bitter old bully, but I loved him for it. The flawed characters are the best characters. No one wants to read about perfection. Perfection is dull.
Snape had mixed feelings toward harry. He wanted to protect him and help him grow because of his mother. But seeing his father in harry made him resent him. You have to feel sorry for Snape but he was kinda jerk towards Harry and had only wanted to help him. Snape actually never did anything horrible. Sure he killed Dumbledoore but he asked snape to and dumbledoore was dying anyways. I for one feel sorry for him.
Surrender sanity Suffer Sweet Misery
Snape was always my favorite character. He's interesting and dark, and I think he's probably the deepest character in the series. Also, he was a puzzle, whereas the rest of the story was easy enough to figure out. Harry's actions were always predictable, because the story is the Hero's Journey, and therefore follows a certain pattern. Most of the supporting characters existed to fulfill certain narrative functions, like Hermione providing information about the world (for the reader and Harry). And I suppose because he works as an interesting foil to the messianic hero type that Harry is. Voldemort's complete evil is more like a force of nature than a human phenomena, and his utter sociopathy makes him unrelatable.
Snape is neither a good person, nor an evil person, and in a story about good triumphing over evil, his human conflictedness makes him compelling. The entire story, as a whole, displays certain aspects of the psyche, but Snape is interesting in that because he is very human, he acts in ways that are selfish and destructive, and also with incredible sacrifice and love. I suppose the other character I would pull out as being interestingly human is Ron, because he also is neither truly good or bad. He struggles with jealousy and inadequacy. But Ron is generally a child, and his struggles are never as terrible as Snape's.
I think when Snape bullies Neville, for example, that is terrible. He is not on the side of the good guys for a reason. But that does not take away from the fact that he is the most damaged character, and that he spends his entire life, he gives his life, trying to atone for what he had done. And when it comes right down to it, I'd rather have him on my side than Dumbledore, because he saw Harry as a person, rather than as a hero who must play his part.
Eternity is in love with the productions of time.
Snape is one of the most interesting characters, he was persuaded to be evil since he was rejected by Lily for choosing james. As james bullied snape, he chose the only people who would befriend him, whom would go on to be fellow supporters of voldemort and his ideals aka mudbloods.
I also believe that despite his feelings for lily he couldn't face her when he had finally got friends/being accepted. Yet when lily's life was in danger, he went against everything he came to believe in order to save lily's family. He then felt ashamed and guilt ridden over the fact it was he who had informed voldemort of the prophecy. He had failed to save lily and thus betrayed not just lily but voldermort & his followers too. He was truly alone, truly on his own side.
He then saw harry grow up, looking and acting just like james, his bully who in his eye took lily! No wonder he made it hard for harry, because it was all he saw for years.
Alan rickman's performance was fantastic! Especially the final 3 films. I found it brilliant with snape killing dumbledore which was actually saving him from the inflection of the ring. It hardened harry into helping destroy the horcruxes. He in turn gives harry the truth of who/what he is. That Harry is a horcrux, that dumbledore planned on him dying in order to stop voldermort. That ironically the one who treated so kindly in 6 books/films, was the one who knew he'd be sacrificed and ensured it to happen.
Snape then sees the true harry, he is the image of james but he is more like lily and snape finally sees it clearer than the other characters but says just as they do, harry has lily's eyes.
As for the other students he bullies, it's because of his loneliness from betrayal, his guilt for lily and his enragement for harry being like james. He vents those flaws into causing suffering like a child, if he can't ever have it why should they have it. It's a very human reaction, one we all have felt, me more so than many. I sympathises with him in experience, why is it not fair? Why does one person get to have everything so positive and perfect, without any pain in their lives?
Yet the reality is that action only further damages the individual more while pushing others away. Forever closing the heart.
Ultimately though, it was the love for lily that kept him going, to help harry and even why he died. He was selfish and shortsighted for his own ends but he overcame that for his undying love, which may not have been returned, but transferred to another. One that he had to overcome distaste for, for lily's sake.


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The Amount Of Hair On This Baby's Head Is INSANE
Talk about a shock of hair!
This cool little dude's 'do is the talk of the town - and, naturally the internet - after a hilarious clip of his mum blow-drying his mane surfaced on YouTube.
It's probably worth pointing out here that the bub, little Junior Cox-Noon, is only eight weeks old.
Junior's mum Chelsea told The Mirror that she basically can't leave the house without at least one person commenting on the sheer amount of hair on her baby's head.
And, even though everyone has told her it's only a matter of time until it falls out, it doesn't seem to be going anywhere fast.
"There's none in the cot, none in his little chair or the pram, it's literally just growing and it grows out not down so it sticks up," the presumably proud mum said.
"I definitely don't want to cut it, I want to see how long it actually does grow out.
"I don't know where his hair has come from it's like a big ball of candy floss."
Even doctors are astounded by Junior's impressive 'fro and, understandably, bub's already earned himself the nickname Bear.
Could this kid get any cooler?
Check out the video above for a giggle - and then maybe buy stocks in hair care products.
Looks like Junior's going to need a LOT of them.


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Timberwolves Draft Hummel; Offer Williams To Charlotte
The Timberwolves drafted 6'8 forward Robbie Hummel with the 58th overall pick in the Thursday night NBA draft. Hummel averaged 16.4 points and 7.4 rebounds a game in his senior season at Purdue. He suffered a torn ACL in his right knee twice in his college career. He missed all of 2010-2011 because of the 2nd tear. Hummel is considered an injury risk but is known as an outstanding outside shooter.
The Wolves reportedly offered 6'8 forward Derrick Willliams to Charlotte for the 2nd overall pick in last night's draft with hopes of eventually landing foward Pau Gasol from the Lakers. Charlotte turned down the Timberwolves offer and picked 6'7 forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist of Kentucky instead.
New Orleans had the first pick and chose 6'10 forward Anthony Davis from Kentucky. Royce White of Iowa State was picked #16 overall in the first round by Houston.