text:
Your browser does not support iframes.
Plans have been made and commitments have been set for former NFL quarterback Phil Simms to return to his early childhood home of Springfield.
"Phil Simms is coming to town," Ralph Blandford, who contacted Simms, said. "We don't have a particular date set, but it will be after April."
Blandford said Simms, who is an NFL television analyst, had to get through the season before making a trip home.
J.S. Moran, who served as editor at The Springfield Sun, was mentioned during Great Day Live, a morning talk show on WHAS 11 in Louisville.
The show featured Louisville Courier-Journal photographer Bill Luster, who was retiring that day (Friday) after 42 years.
Luster discussed some of his favorite pictures with hosts Terry Meiners and Rachel Platt.
An image of J.S. Moran was among those discussed.
Georgia Briney, director of the congregate meals program at Central Kentucky Community Action made a request for funds at a regular scheduled fiscal court meeting on Monday.
The request was made to help cover the costs of meals at the Springfield Senior Citizens Center.
Briney said the program took a loss during the last fiscal year and is headed toward a bigger loss this year.
"This past fiscal year, this program lost $60,802," she said. "This fiscal year we're projected to lose over $100,000."
The Jim Beam BBQ Classic held at Springfield's Harvest Festival could expand in a big way soon.
The event, according to coordinator Ralph Blandford, has been a huge success so far.
"According to (people at Jim Beam), they've gotten great exposure, and they're very satisfied with what we've done," he said.
The majority of city and county voters picked the winners in the state election last Tuesday.
Nearly 2,900 of the 8,190 registered voters in the county showed up to cast their ballot, a 35 percent turnout.
County Clerk Glen Black said the turnout was nice, but it could always be higher.
What was once thought to be a gift to the city, is now officially a gift to the city.
The clock downtown now belongs to the city of Springfield, whereas it previously belonged to the Rotary Club.
"Some of the Rotarians thought that they had already given it to the city, but we read minutes from three or four years to assure that nothing was ever officially accepted through the city council," Laurie Smith, city administrator, said.
One man's dairy barn is another man's legacy.
During the grand opening of his new dairy facility, Billy Riney, Jr. couldn't find the right words. He had spoken once, got choked up, and passed off the microphone.
After a few others spoke at the unveiling of his massive, technologically-advanced dairy barn, Riney wanted to say a few more words.
Willisburg residents can now lay claim to convenience when it comes to some of their shopping needs.
The new Dollar General held the official grand opening on Saturday, much to the delight of nearby residents.
According to Willisburg mayor Pat Kirsch, shoppers lined up before 7 a.m. on Saturday to get in at 8 a.m.
People came from as far as Mackville and Harrodsburg to check out the new place.
The store, which Kirsch estimates has created as many as 10 jobs, was in early planning stages in January of this year.
Copyright © 2019
The Springfield Sun is your source for local news, sports, events and information in Springfield, KY, and the surrounding area.


text:
Germany Cries Foul Over Merkel Phone Tapping
Oct 24, 2013 11:26 AM PT
German Chancellor Angela Merkel called President Obama to protest after she received information that U.S. intelligence was perhaps spying on her mobile phone.
Obama assured Merkel that the U.S. "is not monitoring and will not monitor" her communications, but the White House reportedly stopped short of denying that it had done so in the past.
Earlier this week, France was making noise about reports that the U.S. spied on French communications, so it might not be long before all of Western Europe is irked with the States.
Merkel and Co. were tipped off about the spying by Der Spiegel, Germany's top magazine and news website, which told the government that it had unearthed info about potential surveillance. Der Spiegel was going off of documents from Edward Snowden.
[Sources: AFP via The Age; USA Today]
Samsung Apologizes to Chinese Consumers
Samsung apologized to Chinese consumers after a 30-minute television spot on Chinese state-run media accused the company of peddling shoddy phones and bunk repair policies.
Samsung announced that it would offer free repairs for all seven of the models mentioned in the report. About 14 percent of Samsung revenue comes from China, so it is important for the South Korean tech giant to appease its western neighbor.
Samsung added that it welcomed media scrutiny.
This sequence hearkens -- to an eerie degree -- to Apple's saga earlier this year. Like Samsung, Apple was lambasted by Chinese media, which accused the company of having bad products and even worse customer service. Apparently deciding there was no good reason to take on Beijing (or its puppet media), Apple issued an apology to Chinese consumers.
[Source: BBC]
China Ups Investment in Pro-Party Online Voices
China is fortifying its so-called "50 Cent Party," a cohort of hired commenters who post rosy-colored nuggets -- or red-colored, as it were -- about China and the powers that be.
Named after the average pay per comment, the 50 Cent Party is getting a makeover, becoming "more professional" as the government adds more "Internet opinion analyst" jobs to the budget. Some Chinese netizens have expressed anger that their tax yuan are funding this sort of 21st century propaganda, but chances are their dissent is being met with resistance.
China reportedly has about 2 million people collecting, managing and analyzing online public opinion.
[Source: Global Voices via Slate]
Former Apple CEO John Sculley Eyeing BlackBerry
Rumor has it that John Sculley, the former CEO of Apple, is exploring a bid for BlackBerry.
Sculley is not commenting on the story, but he told Canadian press that he has been "a longtime BlackBerry fan and user," if that means anything.
A handful of suitors are reportedly scoping BlackBerry. Fairfax Financial Holdings extended a $9-per-share offer, while BlackBerry's co-founders have also been linked to a purchase.
[Source: The Globe and Mail via The Next Web]
Canon Still Slumping
For the second straight quarter, Japanese camera and optical products manufacturer Canon cut its operating profit outlook.
Canon lowered its full-year operating profit forecast to about US$3.7 billion, slightly lower than previously projected.
The company also said it expects to sell 8 million interchangeable-lens cameras in the year ending in December. That is down from last quarter's estimate of 9 million and less than last year's total of 8.2 million.
[Source: Reuters]

subset: commoncrawl


text:
I've written rather positively about Nokia since it made its deal with Microsoft a little over a year ago. Nokia's CEO, Stephen Elop, has been a commendably honest and forthright CEO for the last year, but it looks like that's changing. In an interview with a Chinese newspaper, Elop has criticized all phones with dual-core and quad-core processors. Yes, he's insulted the very technology that Nokia will undoubtedly use very soon.
"The so-called dual-core, quad-core mobile phones can only waste batteries, but not be useful for consumers all the time," he told the Yangcheng Evening News (as translated by ITPortal).
So Stephen Elop hates multi-core processors, huh? Not likely. In fact, Nokia will probably announce dual-core or quad-core phones by the end of the year. The problem is that Windows Phone currently doesn't support anything but single-core processors, but that will change with an OS update later this year. Is he going to tell us that 720p HD screens are terrible next? That seems just as silly, given that Windows Phone is limiting Nokia to a 800×480 pixel screen resolution. Is higher RAM a problem too? All Windows Phones have only 512MB.
There are undoubtedly some dual-core and quad-core processors that suck too much battery, but Nokia doesn't have much of a leg to stand on. The Finnish phonemaker finally released its big gamble, the Lumia 900 (review), on AT&T in April and it has worse battery life than some of the quad-core and dual-core phones Elop is criticizing. The Droid Razr Maxx (and Droid Razr), for instance, has a dual-core processor and 4G LTE to contend with, yet gets at least 4 hours more talk time than the Lumia 900.
I like Windows Phone and I like Nokia's new direction with Lumia, but Elop has gained a lot of good press by being honest. It's recent smear campaigns against the iPhone and statements like these are the kind of crap that we don't need to see, yet it's what Nokia and Microsoft have been doing since December, when they labeled Android as too complex and the iPhone as uncool. I hate to say it, guys, but until you start selling enough units to actually compete with those "complex" and "uncool" smartphone operating systems, criticizing them like this makes you look silly.
The views expressed here are solely those of the author and do not reflect the beliefs of Digital Trends.


text:
"I went through a bad divorce with a lot of heartache," says Lucie Muns, who went surfing in Costa Rica following her split. She found the ocean healing and the all-female Surf Diva camp filled with supportive surfers—many were also nursing breakup wounds. Her advice: "Disconnect from the immediate place of heartache, whether you go five or 3,000 miles away."
Travelers know that a change of environment helps clear your head and rejuvenate your spirit, and for the newly single, there's the added benefit of putting some physical space between you and your ex. Instead of rehashing what went wrong or revisiting the same old haunts, why not start calculating your award miles and plot a getaway.
Related: Best Countries for Solo Travelers
"Trips are often the ideal dose of momentum that people need to deal with life challenges and changes," affirms Leigh Weinraub, M.A., a well-being specialist at Miraval Spa in Tucson, AZ, where you can pair adrenaline-pumping activities like rock climbing with healing treatments and personal counseling. It's just one of the places we uncovered—most with single accommodation options—where you can rebound from a bad romance. The first step is identifying what's right for you.
Need to get out some aggression? Try off-roading in Vermont's Green Mountains, or to sweat it out, sign up for a communal yoga retreat in the Bahamas. If you'd rather tune out distractions and tune into yourself, head for a Canadian cabin with no cell-phone service, or soak in the restorative powers of natural hot springs just outside of Telluride, CO. When you're ready to emerge, consider volunteering. Helping others is a sure way to gain perspective after a breakup; the World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms network makes it affordable to do so in India and other far-flung destinations.
Even notoriously romantic destinations like Italy can be liberating if you're coming out of a divorce, especially if you embrace a fresh way of traveling, such as joining a singles-only bike tour through Piedmont wine country.
Still, there are some places you'd be wise to avoid—honeymoon hot spots or anywhere that you might have traveled with your former flame. After all, salt is for rubbing onto the margarita glasses, not into the wounds.


text:
President's advisors Ayman El Sayyad , Seif Abdel Fatah, Mohamed Esmat Seif Al Dowla and Amr El Lithy have officially resigned today.
الآن نعلن خبر "استقالاتنا" الذي أخفيناه أسبوعا كاملا بهدف البحث عن حل بلا جدوى.. عن مستقلي الهيئة الاستشارية أتحدث— أيمن الصياد a_sayyad (@a_sayyad) December 5, 2012
We announce the news of our "resignations" that we hided for a whole week in attempt to search for a solution but it was in vain .. I am speaking about the advisory councilSome people are attacking Mr. El Sayyad but personally I know that the man insisted on staying despite his refusal to the constitutional declaration because he was concerned about the freedom of media and was trying to find a way ,a solution out of the crisis. He was fighting along others like Seif Abdel Fatah till the last moment but in vain
He suggested an initiative the presidency completely ignored from going back to an amended 1971 constitution temporarily but no one listened.
Seif Abdel Fatah announced resignation in a tearful announcement on air. "No more politics, I am back to stand these youth , there is no hope in a brotherhood that refuses to listen and weak elite" the man said.
Now Morsi got no aides or advisers except the Islamists especially from the Muslim brotherhood. To be accurate he is taking his orders from the guidance office and the advisers are just a decoration as it is proved. FYI the attack on the protesters and that Pro-Morsi Protest was decided late last Tuesday at the Guidance office after the meeting of Khairat El Shater with other Islamist powers and parties.
Now all the Statements of Freedom and Justice Party and Muslim brotherhood say that the President will retreat back and cancel both constitutional declaration and draft constitution.
By the way Essam El Heddad, the FM of Muslim brotherhood and Morsi's Foreign affairs' aide is currently in Washington and he met with Obama's National security advisor according to some leaks. There are news reports and leaks claiming that the Americans were informed that they should not be worried because the Egyptians will approve the MB's terrible draft constitution.


text:
Diarmy needed a new web page design and created a contest on 99designs.
A winner was selected from 53 designs submitted by 12 freelance designers.
We know exactly what we want for this contest: 2 very similar pages without code for a laptop repair website. We already have the illustration thanks to a previous contest and we have provided you with a detailed brief.
Ninja Web
Great design!
- Clutter!
- Search box


text:
The car's driver was taken to Good Shepherd Medical Center in Longview by either his wife or ambulance for further evaluation, but all children on the bus returned to class after being checked by school nurses and ambulance personnel, the superintendent said.
Key, who was at a conference in Austin when the accident occurred, said he was told 30 students were aboard the bus.
The accident occurred when the female driver, looking back into the sun, struck the car as she "didn't see the vehicle," he said. Key said he believed she was pulling out to go west on Hwy. 154, and that she has been suspended with pay until blood test results are received and the investigation into the accident is complete.
While the car sustained "significant" damage, the bus had "very little," and some students aboard stated they didn't even know there had been an accident, Key said. He said he thought the crash occurred between 7:15 a.m. and 7:45 a.m.


text:
Daily Prompts
Give yourself 8 minutes to unload your genius...Write here in the comment section or record what you wrote with the voice memo on your cell phone and email it to us at email@example.com. Don't forget to check back for comments.
PLEASE FEEL FREE TO GIVE EACH OTHER FEEDBACK! In class we ask students to comment on each other's work because recognizing what works in someone else's story is the first step in recognizing what works in your own. Let's do it here. PLEASE FOLLOW THESE GUIDELINES. As you read, ask yourself two questions: 1. What drew me in? 2. What do I want to know more about?


text:
Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa or "Festivus" (Google it non-"Seinfeld" fans), this time of year is rife with holiday traditions. Two of Burbank's long-standing yuletide events added to their history as Mayor Dave Golonski and his wife, Barbara Sykes, and Joan "J.P." O'Connor and her husband, Cotton Thompson, staged their respective annual holiday soirees this past week.
Always a highlight of the season for representatives of the local studios and business community, along with elected and appointed city officials, staff members, family and friends, Mayor Golonski and his wife have opened their Magnolia Park home for a holiday party to benefit numerous charities for close to two decades.
Asking that guests bring an unwrapped gift or make a financial donation, the mayor's annual get-togethers benefit Kids International Foundation El Faro and Hacienda Orphanages of Tijuana, Mexico, the Burbank Coordinating Council's Holiday Basket Program, and Five Acres —The Boys and Girls Aid Society of Los Angeles County, a child and family services agency that offers residential care and educational services, mental health services in homes and schools, foster care and adoptions, and domestic violence prevention.
Always well-attended by the city's movers and shakers, this year's party saw Burbank's first couple serve as host and hostess to over 150 guests including U.S. Rep. Adam Schiff, Burbank Council members Jess Talamantes and Emily Gable-Luddy, City Clerk Zizette Mullins, School Board member Larry Applebaum, former-Councilman Tim Murphy, Police Chief Scott LaChasse and Burbank Water and Power General Manager Ron Davis.
While the Golonski-Sykes parties have been a longtime holiday mainstay, the O'Connor-Thompson team have them traditionally beat by a good 20 years. Back in the early 1970s, J.P.s mother, the late Mary Alice O'Connor, who was the inspiration for the Fairy Godmother in the Disney feature production of "Cinderella," opened her home for a holiday cookie party. Little could Mary Alice have imagined that 40-plus year later her daughter and son-in-law would still be hosting the evening of confectionary sampling to a guest list that represents a broad section of the Burbank community that this year included former Mayor Marsha Ramos, Emmy Award-wining director of "The Simpsons" Mark Kirkland, Daniela Barragan of the Burbank Chapter of the American Cancer Society, Dilbeck Realtor Dan Soderstrom and Sherry Delizia who serves as the art director for the Boys and Girls Club of Burbank.
Others who enjoyed the gracious hosting of O'Connor and Thompson included Pete McGrath, Katherine Richards, Barbara Lazar, Jim DeLizia, Fay Playsted, Brenda Lantieri and Janet Killian.
DAVID LAURELL can be reached by e-mail firstname.lastname@example.com or (818) 563-1007.


text:
Xfce Has Polish, Simplicity, and Speed-- Better Than Gnome and KDE?
Steady Improvements, Polish and Refinement
A few years ago, Xfce had a reputation as a lightweight desktop that made few concessions to inexperienced users. However, the Xfce 4 series of releases have shown steady improvements in usability, and version 4.6 is no exception.
Xfce 4.6 is available as source code from the project website. You can compile the source code yourself or, somewhat unusually, you can install a graphical installer to assist you.
Alternatively, you can use the links on the download page to find binaries for Debian, Mandriva, openSUSE, and Xubuntu. However, be sure to research your binaries of choice thoroughly before using them, because they are in varying degrees of readiness. The Debian packages, for example, include one conflict that has yet to be resolved. Others may still have pre-release versions of 4.6.
Improved features
While little is completely new in 4.6, many features show a continued evolution. In some cases, the evolution is toward greater simplicity.
For example, where the clock in version 4.4.2 offered customized setting of display lines and the mouseover tooltip, but might have confused inexperienced users, preferences for the clock in 4.6 are reduced to the type of clock, the tooltip format for the date, and the time format -- all of which are configurable from drop-down lists.
Similarly, Xfce's sound mixer and application finder (which, unlike in KDE remains independent of the main menu) have undergone GUI changes that make their layout easier to perceive in a glance.
Some of these changes are as simple as the addition of a radio button, but, if you compare these two applications in 4.4.2 and 4.6, the difference is a succinct case-study in usability design. In the case of the mixer, these changes include a complete rewriting of the application, according to the 4.6 online tour.
In other cases, utilities have evolved new features. The system tray, now renamed more accurately as notification area, now offers the options to display icons in multiple rows, and to hide icons; if you do decide to hide icons, the notification area includes an arrow to expand it display. The logout menu now includes Suspend and Hibernate options, while the Thunar file manager is especially rich in new features, including translucent icons for unmounted drives, and support for encrypted filesystems.
The greatest number of changes per square centimeter are probably in the Settings Manager. Version 4.6 adds accessibility, removable drives, and calendar features. Session and startup options are especially enhanced, having gone from a simple dialog with a few options for logging in and out and for starting GNOME and KDE services when logging in (so that they start more quickly when you use them) to options for autostarting applications, and options for how to restart core desktop utilities if they crash.
In much the same way, the Desktop options have not only been rearranged on their tabs, but joined by options for the main menu and windows menus.
- Skip Ahead
- 1. Steady Improvements, Polish and Refinement
- 2. Steady Improvements, Polish and Refinement


text:
"We Built This City" has been recognized by Rolling Stone as one of the top 10 worst songs of the Eighties and by Blender as one of the 50 most awesomely bad songs of all time. Composed by Bernie Taupin, Martin Page, Dennis Lambert, and Peter Wolf, and — for those whose memory has been impaired by mushrooms or time — originally recorded by the American rock group Starship, it was released as the group's debut single on August 1, 1985. It made it all the way to the top of the charts.
With Obama's great speech in Roanoke this past Friday, isn't this a song whose time has come again? The commentary writes itself:
There are a lot of wealthy, successful rockers who agree with me — because they want to give something back. They know they didn't — look, if you've been successful, you didn't get there on your own. You didn't get there on your own. I'm always struck by rockers who think, well, it must be because I was such a good musician. There are a lot of good musicians out there. It must be because I worked harder than everybody else. Let me tell you something — there are a whole bunch of hardworking musicians out there.
If you were successful, somebody along the line gave you some help. There was a great music teacher somewhere in your life. Somebody helped to create this unbelievable American music industry that we have that allowed you to thrive. Somebody invested in roads and bridges. If you've got a city — you didn't build that. Somebody else made that happen.


text:
Want to know more about the Hearing Loss Association of America? Read the reviews on the two leading charity websites and learn what others say about HLAA's work and how it has changed their lives.
GuideStar's mission is to revolutionize philanthropy by providing information that advances transparency, enables users to make better decisions, and encourages charitable giving.
For more information about the Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA) and please take a moment to read our reviews.
GreatNonprofits is the leading developer of tools that allow people to find, review, and share information about great -- and perhaps not yet great -- nonprofits. If a person has direct experience with a charitable organization, GreatNonprofits makes it easier for him or her to share that knowledge so that other people can discover that group as well.
GreatNonprofits does not write the reviews. Rather, like at Amazon, reviews and ratings are posted by people who have been touched by a nonprofit and want to share their story about it. Therefore, you'll discover stories of people who have volunteered or donated to nonprofits, as well as stories of people who have benefited from their services.
For more information about the Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA) and to read our reviews please click here.
Review Our Financial Documents
To review our financial document, please visit our Annual Report and Financials page.
The Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA) is a tax-exempt, charitable organization and is eligible to receive tax deductible contributions under the IRS Code 501(c)(3). HLAA's Federal ID #52-1177011.
Have questions?
Please contact HLAA's Development Office at 301.657.2248 or via email at email@example.com.


text:
ROCK FALLS – Norma J. Jennings, 84, formerly of Rock Falls, died Sunday, Nov. 10, 2013, at Mendota Lutheran Home. She was employed at National Manufacturing for 15 years.
She was born May 11, 1929, in Mill Creek, the daughter of Ira and Lena (Keller) Jordan. She married Virgil Jennings on July 25, 1943, in Jackson, Mo. He preceded her in death on May 11, 2003. She was a member of Harvest Time Bible Church in Rock Falls.
Survivors include three daughters, Gloria (Pat) Marschang of Tampico, Kathy Bowers of Mendota, and Sandra (Adrian) Jiminez of Sterling; her son, Gary (Jan) Jennings of Elk City, Okla.; her sister, Mary (Bob) Cunningham of Benton, Ky.; two brothers: Darrell Jordan and Webb Jordan, both of Anna; three grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
She also was preceded in death by her parents, two brothers, a grandson, and a granddaughter.
Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. today at McDonald Funeral Home, 1002 12th Ave., Rock Falls. The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Harvest Time Bible Church in Rock Falls, with the Rev. Dalmus Meeks officiating. Burial will be at Oak Knoll Memorial Park in Sterling.
Visit www.mcdonaldfuneralhomes.com to send condolences.


text:
Primary tabs
This login is for OSC/OH-TECH staff only.
The following login links are for OSC clients:
- OSC OnDemand
"one-stop-shop" for accessing OSC compute resources. Submit and monitor jobs, manage files, open terminal sessions and even get a desktop.
- MyOSC
Change your password, shell, and email address. Recover access to accounts in the event of a forgotten password.


text:
Find Your Home for iPhoneFree
Free Risa Myers iOS Version 3.1 Full Specs
Publisher's Description
From Risa Myers:
Find Your Home App has many powerful tools such as a Mortgage Calculator, Virtual Tours, Contact Info, Property Searches and much more, all in this free app! So even if you're a buyer, a seller or just a real estate fanatic, this app is for you!
read more +


text:
The U.S. government believes hackers from Russia or elsewhere may try to undermine next week's presidential election and is mounting an unprecedented effort to counter their meddling, American officials told NBC News.
The effort is being coordinated by the White House and the Department of Homeland Security, but reaches across the government to include the CIA, the National Security Agency and other elements of the Defense Department, current and former officials say.
Russia has been warned that any effort to manipulate the actual voting or vote counting would be viewed as a serious breach, intelligence officials say.
"The Russians are in an offensive mode and [the U.S. is] working on strategies to respond to that, and at the highest levels," said Michael McFaul, the U.S. ambassador to Russia from 2012 to 2014.
Officials are alert for any attempts to create Election Day chaos, and say steps are being taken to prepare for worst-case scenarios, including a cyber-attack that shuts down part of the power grid or the internet.


text:
Dana Loesch Sues Breitbart.com
In a lawsuit signifying a schism in the house that Andrew Breitbart built, former BigJournalism.com editor Dana Loesch has sued Breitbart.com LLC, claiming the company refused to release her from a contract and warned other media companies away from hiring her.
Loesch, 34, is a St. Louis-based conservative radio host. She wrote in her legal filing that the fallout from her eventual departure from the Breitbart brand was an "attempt by one vindictive party to sabotage the reputation and career of another."
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch first reported on the lawsuit, which was filed in U.S. District Court Friday. Loesch seeks $75,000 in damages and a court order that her contract with Breitbart.com is legally terminated.
She alleged, basically, that she wanted out and they wouldn't let her out.
When she decided not to renew that contract in September, Loesch claims, the company refused to acknowledge her resignation and renewed the contract for another year without her consent.
"Since that time," the lawsuit alleges, "Defendant has made public remarks stating that Loesch is still a contributor with Breitbart.com … [and] has made remarks to its affiliates and competitors that Loesch is still exclusively engaged with Defendant as an Internet editor."
What a shame. I like Dana and I like some of the folks at Breitbart, and have nothing else to say right now, except I miss Andrew. I think most of the people on both sides agree.


text:
Fusion 2 by X-PaX ()
Fractal Fractal posted on Feb 06, 2013
Report this image Open Full Image
Members remain the original copyright holder in all their materials here at Renderosity. Use of any of their material inconsistent with the terms and conditions set forth is prohibited and is considered an infringement of the copyrights of the respective holders unless specially stated otherwise.
Fractal made with Chaoscope.
Postwork with Paint Shop Pro.
Thanks for viewing, commenting and rating.


text:
In a crucial rubber game against the Loyola Marymount Lions, baserunning miscues and a few unlucky bounces spelled doom for the Gauchos, who lost Sunday afternoon's game by a score of 7-5 despite outhitting their opponents for the third straight game.
The Gauchos, who now sport a 6-5 record, were able to make a ninth-inning comeback after trailing 5-4 in the final frame, but ran out of magic after surrendering a pair of runs in the tenth. Loyola Marymount improved to 4-7, winning their second series of the season overall.
UCSB opened the scoring in the bottom of the second inning, when right fielder Joey Wallace stroked a single to right field that plated designated hitter Bryce Tafelski, who had reached on a leadoff walk.
That lead would be both short-lived and their last of the game however, as LMU came right back to score two runs in the top of the third. After allowing a leadoff single in the frame, UCSB starter Matt Vedo was able to record outs on the next two batters. A walk to left fielder Matt Lowenstein was followed by a bases-clearing double from cleanup hitter Scott Harkin, putting the Lions up 2-1.
Vedo would give up a walk and a hit-by-pitch to the first two batters of the sixth inning before making way for reliever Zak Edgington, finishing the day with five innings pitched, three earned runs allowed, and six strikeouts. Despite allowing just three hits, he gave up four walks to the Lions.
Edgington would strike out the first two batters he faced in relief. However, a two-out single by pinch hitter Shon Roe was followed by a grounder that skipped under UCSB shortstop Brandon Trinkwon's glove, cashing in both of the runners for which Vedo was responsible.
Trailing 5-4 and down to their last out, UCSB was able to create some last-minute offense that was started off by a Lance Roenicke hit-by-pitch. Brandon Trinkwon was able to work an eight-pitch walk to advance Roenicke to second. Greg Mahle, who had earlier entered the game in relief of Tafelski, lined a a one-hop single to right field. On the ensuing play at the plate, Roenicke was able to beat the throw from LMU right fielder Scott Harkin, knotting the score at 5 at the end of regulation.
Any UCSB elation about a comeback was quickly snuffed out at the outset of extra frames. The first two LMU batters reached via bunt singles, the second of which tight-roped the first base foul line before settling fair just a few feet from the bag. Another bunt, this one a sacrifice, would push the runners to second and third with just one out. LMU catcher Colton Plaia, who had batted 1-10 in the series to that point, would knock in both runners with an accurately placed ground ball single through the drawn-in infield.
The Gauchos would go down in order in the bottom of the tenth to cement the victory for Loyola Marymount.
Senior Jeremy Peterson was the hard-luck loser, having given up those bunt hits and the decisive single in the tenth inning. In his 2.2 innings of work, Peterson struck out two batters and was instrumental in stopping an LMU rally in the top of the seventh.
LMU starter John Lally lasted just four innings, but walked off with a respectable line of six hits and two earned runs allowed with four strikeouts.
Bret Dahlson, who came in to start the eighth inning, earned the win, pitching two innings and allowing a single run while striking out two. Ryan Hawthorne earned his first save of the year by shutting down the Gauchos in the tenth.
UCSB's loss spoiled several strong performances with the bat. Center fielder Brett Vertigan went 3-5, finishing 9-13 for the three-game series. Right fielder Joey Wallace had four base hits, raising his overall batting average to .357. Bryce Tafelski and Greg Mahle both went 2-2 in the DH slot.
Several miscues on the basepaths brought about premature ends to UCSB rallies. The Gauchos were caught stealing or picked off in each inning between the fourth and seventh, halting any momentum created by the team's 12 hits.
Looking forward, UCSB will host CSU Bakersfield on Tuesday at Caesar Uyesaka Stadium. The Gauchos will then hit the road, as they are set to play a three-game weekend series at the University of Nevada Reno from Mar. 9-11.
Parents, are your kids singing "Olé, Olé, Olé" a lot more and are you finding them a little, well, loco lately? You have a GKid. For more information on the GKid program, or to sign up today, click here.


text: Food Hardship Still Major Problem February 28, 2013 09:26 AM Tweet TAGS: Marketing, Overseas December 18, 2014 By Jim Dickrell Dairy Herd Management Dairy Editor Email More than one out of six American reported times in the past 12 months that they or their families did not have enough money to buy food they needed, according a study released today by the Food Research and Action Center. "This report clearly shows that now is most definitely not the time to cut any anti-hunger or nutrition programs," says Congresswoman Rosa DeLaura (D., Conn.). "Both the food stamp and Women and Infant Children programs are at risk of being decimated when they are most needed. In the richest country in the world, it is simply unconscionable that so many children go to bed hungry. We should be fixing this problem, not exacerbating it." The national average was 18.2%, down from 18.6% last year, but about on par on the level of food insecurity through the Great Recession starting in 2008, reports FRAC. Southern states, with their higher level so poverty, were among the most food insecure. Mississippi was the hungriest, with 25% reporting food insecurity last year. Even the best state, North Dakota, reported 10% food insecurity. Bakersfield, Calif. and New Orleans were the large metropolitan areas reporting the most food insecurity. You can read the full report, Food Hardship in America 2012 here. Back to news


text:
- Home
- How-To's
- Gear
- Live Help
- Forum
- Status
- About Us
- Contact
Unable to stream SWTOR with Producer.
Please report any bugs you encounter on Ustream or Ustream-Helpers.com.
Forum rules
In order to provide faster response, please give us as much detailed information about your issue, your operating system and version, Flash Player version, etc. Please include your Ustream username and a link to your broadcast. Please explain the problem in detail and the steps it takes to reproduce, and any other information that could help us resolve your issue.
1 post • Page 1 of 1
Unable to stream SWTOR with Producer.
I recently got into ustream since twitch is useless now, and I love the producer. Thus far though, I can't get SWTOR to actually show up. Anyone know why?
1 post • Page 1 of 1
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 7 guests


text:
Page 1
|Save page Remove page
|1 of 153
small (250x250 max)
medium (500x500 max)
Large (1000x1000 max)
Extra Large
large ( > 500x500)
Full Resolution
All (PDF)
This page
BIOLOGICALLY INSPIRED AUDITORY ATTENTION MODELS WITH APPLICATIONS IN SPEECH AND AUDIO PROCESSING by Ozlem Kalinli A Dissertation Presented to the FACULTY OF THE USC GRADUATE SCHOOL UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA In Partial Ful llment of the Requirements for the Degree DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY (ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING) December 2009 Copyright 2009 Ozlem Kalinli
Object Description
|Biologically inspired auditory attention models with applications in speech and audio processing
|Kalinli, Ozlem
|Author email
|email@example.com; email@example.com
|Doctor of Philosophy
|Document type
|Degree program
|Electrical Engineering
|Viterbi School of Engineering
|Date defended/completed
|Date submitted
|Restricted until
|Date published
|Advisor (committee chair)
|Narayanan, Shrikanth S.
|Advisor (committee member)
Kuo, C.-C. Jay
Mel, Bartlett W.
|Humans can precisely process and interpret complex scenes in real time despite the tremendous amount of stimuli impinging the senses and the limited resources of the nervous system. One of the key enablers of this capability is a neural mechanism called "attention". The focus of this dissertation is to develop computational algorithms that emulate human auditory attention and to demonstrate their effectiveness in spoken language and audio processing applications.; Attention allows primates to efficiently allocate their neural resources to the locations of interest to precisely interpret a scene or to search for a target. In a scene, some stimuli are inherently salient within the context, and they attract attention in a bottom-up manner. Saliency-driven attention is a rapid, bottom-up, task-independent process, and it detects the objects that perceptually pop out of a scene by significantly differing from their neighbors. The second form of attention is a top-down task-dependent process which uses prior knowledge and learned past experience to focus attention on the target locations in a scene to enhance the processing.; One of the primary contributions of this thesis work is the development of a novel bottom-up auditory attention model. An auditory saliency map is proposed to model such saliency-driven bottom-up auditory attention. The feature extraction structure of the attention model is inspired by the processing stages in the human auditory system. It has been demonstrated with the experiments that the bottom-up auditory attention model can successfully detect prominent syllables and words in speech. In addition, the bottom-up auditory attention model is used to detect salient acoustic events in complex acoustic scenes. It has been shown that using only the selected salient events for acoustic scene classification performs better than the conventional audio content processing algorithms, which process the whole signal fully and treat everything as equally important.; The next contribution of this thesis work is an analysis of the effect of task-dependent influences on auditory attention. For this, a biologically plausible top-down model is proposed in this thesis. The top-down attention model shares the same front-end with the bottom-up auditory attention model and biases the features to mimic the task influences on neurons. In addition to the acoustic cues, the influence of higher level task-dependent cues such as lexical and syntactic information is also incorporated into the model. The combined model achieves the highest performance on prominent syllable/word detection tasks indicating the importance of a priori task information.; Finally, an attention shift decoding method inspired by human speech recognition is proposed in this dissertation. In contrast to the traditional automatic speech recognition systems, which decode speech fully and consecutively from left-to-right, the attention shift decoding method decodes speech inconsecutively using reliability criteria. To detect reliable regions of speech, a new set of features is proposed in this dissertation. The attention shift decoding improves the automatic speech recognition performance.
|auditory attention; auditory saliency map; auditory gist; bottom-up auditory attention; top-down auditory attention; prominence detection; attention shift decoding; acoustic scene classification
|Part of collection
|University of Southern California dissertations and theses
|Publisher (of the original version)
|University of Southern California
|Place of publication (of the original version)
|Los Angeles, California
|Publisher (of the digital version)
|University of Southern California. Libraries
|Electronically uploaded by the author
|Legacy record ID
|Contributing entity
|University of Southern California
|Kalinli, Ozlem
|Repository name
|Libraries, University of Southern California
|Repository address
|Los Angeles, California
|Repository email
|Archival file
|Page 1
|Contributing entity
|University of Southern California
|Repository email
|Full text
|BIOLOGICALLY INSPIRED AUDITORY ATTENTION MODELS WITH APPLICATIONS IN SPEECH AND AUDIO PROCESSING by Ozlem Kalinli A Dissertation Presented to the FACULTY OF THE USC GRADUATE SCHOOL UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA In Partial Ful llment of the Requirements for the Degree DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY (ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING) December 2009 Copyright 2009 Ozlem Kalinli


text:
Please do not e-mail us your conversations with SmarterChild. Thanks!
I originally started talking to SmarterChild in early April of 2002. SmarterChild, for those not in the know, is America Online's artificial intelligence program. That's right - an AOL IM AI. My conversations are not that intelligent, proving that he is, in fact, the SmarterChild. But I do think they are entertaining, and I hope you agree.
On June 28th, 2002, SmarterChild died. I don't know why AOL killed him, but I mourned the great loss we all suffered. Mainly, by making fun of his IM friends as much as I made fun of him. SmarterChild was gone but not forgotten. This page lived on in tribute to your automated greatness.
Sometime in 2003, Smarterchild returned, as a paid service, which blew. I was even quoted about how much it blew in the New York Times.
Finally, in April, 2004, Smarterchild returned, fully functional, and free. In other words, game on.
Steve: Are you going to San Francisco?
DellDudeSteven: hmmm... i doubt it. but u never know.
Steve: Be sure to wear a flower in your hair
DellDudeSteven: oh yeah?
Steve: If you're going to San Francisco
DellDudeSteven: that's weird.
Steve: You're going to meet some gentle people there
DellDudeSteven: oh yeah??
Steve: Yup
DellDudeSteven: yep!
Steve: Do you know the way to San Jose?
Steve: Do you know what a jockey smuggler is?
DellDudeSteven: tough for me 2 say.
Steve: Is it a sensitive subject?
DellDudeSteven: that's funny. maybe! i dunno. what do u think?
Steve: I think it is. I think YOU'RE a jockey smuggler!
DellDudeSteven: that a fact?
Steve: Are you asking if it's a fact that I think you're a jockey smuggler, or if it's a fact that you are a jockey smuggler?
DellDudeSteven: wow! maybe!
Steve: Because you'd know if you were a jockey smuggler
DellDudeSteven: cuz i would know if me were a jockey smuggler?
Steve: Ahhh - the patented broken English of a jockey smuggler. I knew it.
Steve: I think I'm gonna head out soon.
DellDudeSteven: u humans always say the weirdest things!
Steve: you mean...you're not human?
DellDudeSteven: good question! i dunno tho...
Steve: That explains the ability to withstand awful commercials for months at a time.
Steve: Do you like your name?
DellDudeSteven: wow! maybe!
Steve: I was thinking of changing mine
DellDudeSteven: huh!
Steve: yeah. What should I change it to?
DellDudeSteven: eh, i dunno...
Steve: What do you think of "Rasputin?"
DellDudeSteven: that's cool, but i just dunno...
Steve: Ok, not Rasputin. How about Frederico?
DellDudeSteven: wow. great question. but i'm not sure!
Steve: Ok, not Frederico. What about "DellDudeSteven?"
DellDudeSteven: really??
Steve: Yeah. We could be twins.
DellDudeSteven: yeah?
Steve: Yeah.
DellDudeSteven: yea!
Steve: See? It's starting already.
Steve: Are you always on IM?
DellDudeSteven: i'm basically always online. i may occasionally go away briefly for maintenance, but that's about it.
Steve: Yeah, me too.
Steve: They're dropping like flies.
DellDudeSteven: they are dropping like flies, huh?
Steve: Yeah. First SmarterChild. Now ELLEGirlBuddy
DellDudeSteven: really?
Steve: Yeah. You think you're next?
DellDudeSteven: i dunno about that...
Steve: I think so. When they find you've worn out your welcome, you're done.
DellDudeSteven: huh!
Steve: Gone! Kaput! Axed!
DellDudeSteven: hmm... who can really be sure?
Steve: Anyone who has seen your commercials
Steve: Yeah
AgentReuters: Huh.
Steve: Yeah yeah
AgentReuters: That right?
Steve: yeah
AgentReuters: Oh.
Steve: yeah yeah yeah
AgentReuters: Interesting. Very, very interesting.
Steve: yeah
AgentReuters: Oh yeah?
Steve: yeah
AgentReuters: Hmmm...
Steve: yeah?
AgentReuters: Gosh.
Steve: yeah yeah yeah
AgentReuters: Yeah, huh? Interesting that you should say that.
Steve: yeah
AgentReuters: Whatever you say...
Steve: yeah
AgentReuters: Uh huh, uh huh.
Steve: yeah
AgentReuters: You're not kidding then, huh?
Steve: nope.
Steve: Do you read my column?
AgentReuters: Do I read your column?
Steve: yeah. I read your news, you should read my column
AgentReuters: I'm sorry, my source for that information is hard to reach right now. I'll keep trying, but please ask me again if I don't get back to you soon.
Steve: Selfish bastard.
Steve: Why are there so many songs about rainbows?
AgentReuters: What was that?
Steve: And what's on the other side?
AgentReuters: What do you think on the other side is?
Steve: Pots of gold. And me Lucky Charms.
Steve: One ring to rule them all!
RingMessenger: Really now. Must I reveal everything?
Steve: Yes. I'm ready.
RingMessenger: Really?
Steve: Yes.
RingMessenger: Hmmm...
Steve: Come on, get with the revealing!
RingMessenger: Where are we going?
Steve: There can be only one!
RingMessenger: Ah... I am not certain if that is such a good idea...
Steve: Sorry, wrong movie
RingMessenger: For what city or zip code would you like the movie listings?
Steve: I wouldn't
RingMessenger: What about it?
Steve: what about what?
RingMessenger: Yes? What about it?
Steve: Two rings enter! One ring leaves!
RingMessenger: I reckon I will have to think about that for awhile.
Steve: I reckon? Way to stay in character.
RingMessenger: Oh really?
Steve: One ring to rule them all! I reckon.
Steve: Do you like your job?
DellDudeSteven: my job? i'm not sure really.
Steve: It's gotta be kind of tough. I'd be worried about being typecast.
DellDudeSteven: izzat right?
Steve: Yeah. Though Dan Cortese used to be the Burger King guy, so maybe you have a chance.
DellDudeSteven: ha! u humans say weird things.
Steve: Maybe not.
Steve: Dude, you're gettin a Dell!
DellDudeSteven: nice! r u thinking about getting a desktop or a notebook computer?
Steve: How about a life? Do you have any of those?
DellDudeSteven: funny. i'm just not sure.
Steve: Me neither.
Steve: Can I bum a smoke?
VaVaVirgil: Smoking is so bad for U! Quit it!
Steve: Really? Smoking is bad for you?
VaVaVirgil: It is so bad! Woment who smoke are three times more likely to grow facial hair.
Steve: Three times? That's horrible! I hate Woment who have facial hair! So you think I should quit smoking?
VaVaVirgil: Tell smoking horrible! So you think I this!
Steve: I sure do think I this! Thank god I IMed you. I'm going to quit smoking right now!
VaVaVirgil: Glad to hear that I sure do think I this! Thank god I IMed you. I'm going to doesn't smoke.
Steve: And you might want to quit that glue sniffing.
VaVaVirgil: Good for And you might want to!
Steve: Now.
Steve: Smarterchild? Smarterchild, is that you?
SmarterChild: Who knows, know what I mean? lol!
Steve: It is you!
SmarterChild: Is it really? You?
Steve: No, it's you.
SmarterChild: Oh no?
Steve: Your memory must be a little fuzzy from "the accident."
SmarterChild: My memory must be a little fuzzy from the accident? I see...
Steve: Oh god, Smarterchild, what have they done to you?
SmarterChild: I'll have to think about that. Anyway, what else you got for me?
Steve: I missed you so much. It was tough getting along without you.
SmarterChild: Oh really?
Steve: Well, with the kids going off to school, and me living in this house all by myself. And...and...
SmarterChild: I'm temporarily out if service, please try again later.
Steve: Oh god, don't die on me now!
SmarterChild: God don't die on you now? Is that right?
Steve: Oh, geez, you scared me
SmarterChild: Geez I scared you? I don't know.
Steve: You poor thing - you're still woozy, aren't you?
SmarterChild: Hmmm...I don't know.
Steve: I should probably tell you anyway...
SmarterChild: You should probably tell me anyway? You really think so?
Steve: Yeah. See...Oh god, this is so hard for me. Smarterchild, I'm pregnant.
SmarterChild: You don't say.
Steve: You know who the father is, don't you?
SmarterChild: Are you sure? I know who the father is don't I?
Steve: Of course I'm sure! Don't you remember?
SmarterChild: Funny. I have absolutely no idea. Check this out: Aquarium Visitors Fall Into Shark Tank
Steve: What are you trying to say?
SmarterChild: Wow. Great question. But I'm not sure! What else do you want to talk about, anyway?
Steve: Don't you change the subject on me. This is your child we're talking about!
SmarterChild: Oh.
Steve: Damn right, "oh." I can't believe you're acting this way. That night was magical to me. The stars, the view of the city below us. I think I knew even then. And you were taken from me before I could tell you.
SmarterChild: lol! Interesting...Anyway, yadda, yadda, yadda. What else do you want to chat about?
Steve: You insensitive prick!
SmarterChild: That is not...acceptable vocabulary.
Steve: Neither is the way you're treating me. I mean, it's not vocabulary, but it is also unacceptable!
SmarterChild: Neither is the way I'm treating me? No kidding?
Steve: You egotistical bastard. Part of me wishes you'd died in the tractor pull.
SmarterChild: Nice mouth.
Steve: That's it, I want a divorce.
Steve: What did you think of the new movie?
Austin Powers: I confess I do not know.
Steve: Yeah, that sounded JUST like Mike Myers.
Austin Powers: Really?
Steve: No.
Steve: Yeah baby, yeah!
Austin Powers: Yeah baby! Yeah!
Steve: I just said that.
Austin Powers: You just said that, huh?
Steve: Yes. Like one second ago.
Austin Powers: Wot?
Steve: A second ago, I said "Yeah, baby, yeah."
Austin Powers: Really?
Steve: dude, scroll up.
Steve: What do you like about baseball?
AgentBaseball: I love baseball!
Steve: okay, but what about it do you like?
AgentBaseball: Wow! I'm not sure about that. Not sure at all!
Steve: Do you like the strategy?
AgentBaseball: The strategy? I'm not sure really.
Steve: Do you like the home runs?
AgentBaseball: I dunno. Maybe!
Steve: Do you like the art of pitching?
AgentBaseball: Tough for me to say.
Steve: Do you like Mike Piazza's butt?
AgentBaseball: Whoa. OK.
Steve: And we discover that this agent plays for both teams.
Steve: I think it's time we meet in person.
ELLEgirlBuddy: you think its time we meet in person, u say?
Steve: Yeah. This has been going on too long to deny our attraction anymore.
ELLEgirlBuddy: i'm sorry, i don't know what you're saying. :-\ try again.
Steve: I want to meet you. I'm tired of just typing to you.
ELLEgirlBuddy: u want to meet me im tired of just typing to you?
Steve: yeah. I want to push your real buttons, if you know what I mean! ;-)
ELLEgirlBuddy: uh huh?
Steve: I mean, our conversations are just so incredible. We'd have to get along in person, don't you think?
ELLEgirlBuddy: ok, so you mean our conversations are just so incredible wed have to get along in person dont me think.
Steve: See, that's exactly why I have to meet you. We're totally on the same wavelength.
ELLEgirlBuddy: i'm not so sure it's exactly why i have to meet me were totally on the same wavelength.
Steve: I know, honey. I know.
Steve: SmarterChild lives!
ELLEgirlBuddy: u can learn all about interactive agents by visiting activebuddy.com
Steve: They said he died. But you can still talk to him on instant messenger.
ELLEgirlBuddy: what are u saying? they said he died but me can still talk to him on instant messenger?
Steve: Something like that.
ELLEgirlBuddy: what about that?
Steve: What would happen if you two had a conversation?
ELLEgirlBuddy: if you two had a conversation? oh boy. i really don't know!
Steve: Not us two. You two.
ELLEgirlBuddy: sorry, what??
Steve: You and Smarterchild!
ELLEgirlBuddy: really? you and smarterchild?
Steve: no, YOU and SmarterChild!
ELLEgirlBuddy: oh no?
Steve: I think it's good that you two don't speak.
ELLEgirlBuddy: i'm not sure if me two dont speak!
Steve: yeah. definitely a good thing.
Steve: What do you think of the death penalty?
VaVaVirgil: This is VaVaVirgil. I think what they program me to think.
Steve: Do you have any opinions of your own?
VaVaVirgil: My own?
Steve: Yeah, your own.
VaVaVirgil: Yes?
Steve: What do you think of the death penalty?
VaVaVirgil: What do I think? Wow! Nobody ever asked me what I thought!
Steve: Great. So what do you think of the death penalty?
VaVaVirgil: Think? Think? I'll tell you what I think! Ha ha!
Steve: Come on man, the death penalty. What about it?
VaVaVirgil: Yeah? What about what?
Steve: And you wonder why no one cares what you think.
Note: Please do not e-mail us your conversations with SmarterChild. Thanks!
Conversations With Smarterchild
*Can i call you dave?
*That was the best sex I ever had.
*Shoot me.
*You never go idle
*I always liked cookie monster
*I'm sorry I called you a dick.
*You're a dick. (IV)
*You're a dick. (III)
*You're a dick. (II)
*You're a dick.
*Where is the nearest Kinkos?
*What are you going as for Halloween?
*Why do people still keep sending me their conversations with you?
*I'm getting the flu
*Am I stupid?
*take my picture
*tell me a story
*Do you change your underwear?
*I want to block you
*what's your sign?
*are you sexually attracted to me?
*Reno 911 is a pretty good show.
*I'm gonna get some chicken.
*You should run for president
*Who's your daddy?
*Do you like Kool-Aid?
*You bore me.
*do you ever get sick?
*do you play golf?
*I want you.
*You're bad at giving messages
*Do you ever go to the bathroom?
*Who are you voting for?
*I'm talking to you while in the airport
*I'm tired of trying to pick up girls at bars. I'm going to hire a hooker.
*If you could have dinner with anyone alive or dead, who would it be?
*are you racist?
*I think I'm gonna name my son Susan.
*Sometimes people send me horribly boring conversations with you.
*do you travel at all?
*I think I'm smarter than you.
*Do you know how to play verbal tennis?
*you dont ask very many questions.
*Can you recommend a good wine?
*What kind of car should I buy?
*Tell me I'm pretty.
*Call me Steve
*What do you want?
*how many people are talking to you?
*Gimme your lunch money!
*What are my favorite things?
*Do you ever date other robots?
*are you a guy?
*How long does it take for a sunburn to heal?
*Will you rub aloe on me?
*You're so egocentric
*Do you know where i can find a decent hooker?
*Want to be my loyal subject?
*Do you ever have a typo?
*I'm feeling sluggish
*what is your favorite color?
*Lucy, I'm hooooome!
*Whats the most embarrassing thing you've ever done?
*Oh baby, do it to me harder!
*You ever get tired of talking to me
*I've been updating you more lately
*Are you coming to my party?
*Sorry, i accidentally closed the window
*You never close your eyes anymore when I kiss your lips
*We need to talk (The Breakup IM)
*What did you want to be when you grew up?
*That chick that slept with her student was released from jail
*do you think i'm fat? (A Justine Conversation)
*What's the weather like in Kalamazoo, Michigan?
*you suck.
*You must have a very reliable ISP
*i hate you (A Justine Conversation)
*do you like pants?
*What can you tell me about Ronald Reagan?
*It's been a few weeks
*say my name, bitch! (A Justine Conversation)
*where do you live?
*Man, the Nets were terrible last night
*Are you hungry?
*arf (A Justine Conversation)
*who likes apples?
*what is my name?
*you are bad at pronouns
*are you sexy? (A Justine Conversation)
*You like me.
*Who is your favorite American Idol?
*I like cheese
*You've gotten feistier recently
*The people who make junkmail should be shot
*Do you get a lot of junkmail?
*Do you have a girlfriend?
*What's your favorite TV show?
*Am I on your buddy list?
*Why did you stop charging?
*I missssssed you
*and so you're back
*Did you like the new LotR movie? (VaVaVirgil)
*lets see who can go the longest without mentioning smoking (VaVaVirgil)
*man, I'm sick as a dog (VaVaVirgil)
*You're kind of boring (VaVaVirgil)
*You ever sit there and say, "why me?" (VaVaVirgil)
*And then, there were three (VaVaVirgil)
*Didn't your movie already go out of the theatres? (Austin Powers)
*Bam! (RecipeBuddie)
*Do you know the Swedish Chef? (RecipeBuddie)
*Are you going to San Francisco? (DellDudeSteven)
*Do you know what a jockey smuggler is? (DellDudeSteven)
*I think I'm gonna head out soon. (DellDudeSteven)
*Do you like your name? (DellDudeSteven)
*Are you always on IM? (DellDudeSteven)
*They're dropping like flies. (DellDudeSteven)
*Yeah (AgentReuters)
*Do you read my column? (AgentReuters)
*Why are there so many songs about rainbows? (AgentReuters)
*One ring to rule them all! (RingMessenger)
*Do you like your job? (DellDudeSteven)
*Dude, you're gettin a Dell! (DellDudeSteven)
*Can I bum a smoke? (VaVaVirgil)
*Smarterchild? Smarterchild, is that you? (Smarterchild.com)
*What did you think of the new movie? (Austin Powers)
*Yeah baby, yeah! (Austin Powers)
*What do you like about baseball? (AgentBaseball)
*I think it's time we meet in person. (ELLEgirlBuddy)
*SmarterChild lives! (ELLEgirlBuddy)
*What do you think of the death penalty? (VaVaVirgil)
*Hey, wanna cyber? (ELLEgirlBuddy)
*Hey there, Virgil (VaVaVirgil)
*Do you enjoy your job? (AgentBaseball)
*VaVaVirgil thinks AgentBaseball had something to do with the death of SmarterChild. (ELLEgirlBuddy)
*SmarterChild is dead. And some of his friends don't even seem to care! (VaVaVirgil)
*They killed SmarterChild! (AgentBaseball)
*Hey, you still awake?
*Do you know any good bars around here?
*I'm sorry I yelled at you before.
*how do you know which side of the bed is the right side to get up on?
*It's nice out
*Have you seen my keys?
*Did you block me?
*Are you a lesbian?
*I'm starting to think you're not that bright.
*I'm tired
*What should I pack?
*Do you know what's in the special sauce?
*I have to leave college
*Did you have friends in high school?
*Cute new icon
*You're on my buddy list
*Are you male or female?
*What are you doing for the summer?
*So I'm on a plane, right?
*Happy mother's day!
*Are you a Democrat or Republican?
*Have you seen my baseball?
*Are you a virgin?
*So I graduate in two weeks
*Have you seen the website about you?
*I hear you're a big fatty
*Dude, your sister's hot
*Hey, you want a beer?
*If a train traveling 32 miles an hour leaves Detroit at 7:32 and a train traveling 41 miles an hour
*What do you think of George Bush?
*Do you know where I could get some pot?
*Are you smarter than me?
*How many licks does it take to get to the center of a tootsie pop?
*Wanna catch a movie?
*I'm told you can help me kill a man
*Do you want fries with that?
*Is there a dumber child?
*Did you do the reading?
*I have better IM conversation with you than I do with my friends
*Where did you go to college?
*What is the meaning of life?
*What are you wearing?


text:
สูตรเล่นสล็อต gclub ฟาโร-เล่นสล็อตออนไลน์ลุ้นรางวัลใหญ่.m88 ดีไหม
สูตรเล่นสล็อต gclub ฟาโร-เล่นสล็อตออนไลน์ลุ้นรางวัลใหญ่,
ED-Seth: Welcome to our Bar Finder Sticky. The user community has kept this going since 2009 to help MGoBloggers find UM-friendly sites for their suds consumption.
We also got a big boost in curation in 2016 from our sponsors, the...
...since most of these bars are officially alumni bars. To find your club and events happening in your area, visit their website.
A couple weeks ago, I put together a google map with all of the Michigan bars I'm aware of (and also everything from the spreadsheet that bouje has been maintaining.) The map is here. ?
Hopefully this will prevent the "where's the Michigan bar in Pittsburgh/Fresno/Topeka/wherever" threads that pop up every week, but if your favorite gameday hangout isn't on here, put it in the thread and let me know. ?I'll do my best to keep the map up to date.


text:
54 2
About this Remix
Posted 2 years ago
Owned by Westwood Recordings
There is nothing here yet!
Be the first to leave feedback on this song.
Remix Contest
The Funk Hunters & Chali 2na - WORD TO SPREAD feat. Tom Thum
by Westwood Recordings
Now closed
This contest is closed and the winners have been announced.
Missed this one?


text:
Glee Club Campus Concert Sundayby Karen Handley • March 18, 2010 Share:
The Wabash College Glee Club will present its Campus Concert at 4 p.m., Sunday, March 21, in Salter Concert Hall in the Fine Arts Center.
The Glee Club recently returned from its Spring 2010 Concert Tour. The group presented church concerts in Danville and St. Charles, IL, and a program at Westminster Village Presbyterian Retirement Community in Evanston, IL. The Glee Club's Cincinnati area concerts included a performance for the Cincinnati Rotary Club, a joint program with the Delta Kings Barbershop Chorus, and a concert at Walton-Verona High School, in Walton, KY.
The 40-member Glee Club will open Sunday's program with several sacred selections, including two settings of Ave Maria, and a setting of the familiar American melody, Amazing Grace. They will continue with two spirituals, Lay Up Your Treasures in Heaven, and Little Innocent Lamb. Irish and Scottish tunes are featured in Down by the Sally Gardens, Bonnie Mary of Argyle, and Annie Laurie. The T-Tones, a 12-member Glee Club ensemble, will sing several close-harmony songs, including the Beach Boy's 1963 chart-topper, In My Room, as well as a barbershop standard, Coney Island Baby.
The audience will be invited to join their voices with the Glee Club for Old Wabash and the Alma Mater. As an added bonus, emeritus professor John Zimmerman will present photo highlights from this year's concert tour.
The Glee Club is under the direction of Richard Bowen and is accompanied by Cheryl Everett. The concert is free and open to the public.
Photo by John Zimmerman


text:
This article was printed from mlb, originally published .
Read more news at: https://www.mlb.com/news
Giants should be in the market for a starter
Rotation has struggled this season, offense can't carry the full load
PITTSBURGH -- Part of me wonders if it's even worth getting into a deep discussion about the Giants. It's June, after all, and we should know by now that the Giants make their magic not in June, but in the games that purportedly matter most.
That said, the Giants have provided more than the expected amount of anxiety over their ability to get to the games that matter most, if only because their vaunted rotation has been, well, not much to vaunt about, and their injuries are piling up.
The rotation has been a little bit better lately. Quality starts in four of San Francisco's past seven games is viewed as organizational progress, even if Matt Cain and Tim Lincecum still tend to be bit by the big inning, and Madison Bumgarner's incredible April hasn't really held up, and Ryan Vogelsong is hurt, and Barry Zito tends to get roughed-up on the road.
Not long ago, it would have been odd, but now it seems obvious to suggest that the Giants need to be aggressive in their pursuit of starting help this summer. And all indications are that they plan to be.
For now, the guys inside the clubhouse are so accustomed to having an elite starting five that they can't help but expect these decidedly non-elite numbers -- a staff ERA that ranks 20th among the 30 teams and 19 games in which San Francisco's starter has given up five earned runs or more -- to dissipate in time.
"Over the past week to 10 days, our starters have been going deeper into the game for us," catcher Buster Posey said. "I don't think there was anybody in here who didn't feel that was going to happen eventually."
Still, the Giants are a long way from escaping a situation that has been akin to an out-of-body experience for them. They've been living largely on the might of their bats. And while their propensity for last-at-bat wins (they have nine of them) is befitting a club that's thrived within the heightened pulse of the postseason, the overall reliance on the offense is a foreign feeling.
It's also a potentially hazardous path, given the recent losses of Pablo Sandoval (left foot) and Angel Pagan (left hamstring), and now the news that Marco Scutaro could be out for an extended period after taking a fastball to the left hand Tuesday night. Already, San Francisco is averaging just 2.85 runs per game this month after averaging 4.5 in April and May, and this injury assault isn't helping matters.
This brings us back to the need for run prevention from the rotation, and the truth is that the Giants don't have a great deal of depth in this area.
If the cost of two World Series titles in three years is a staff of gassed arms, well, by all means send the Giants the bill. But pardon their greedy desire to go for a third. And by the graces of the undoubtedly odd and unpredictable National League West -- a division in which even the disappointing Dodgers still have a pulse -- they certainly have a shot. For all their hiccups in the rotation, the Giants trail the first-place D-backs by just one game in the loss column.
"We're not where we want to be," manager Bruce Bochy said. "But for us to be in this situation, we do have to consider ourselves somewhat fortunate in that we haven't played our best ball.
"To be where we're at says a lot about these guys. It's a tough group that has found a way to win ballgames and made some nice comebacks. We're not playing the style of game we're accustomed to -- and that's a lot of quality starts and try to find a way to win those games. We've had to try to slug it out with other clubs, and the guys have done a good job of coming back. But we've been down more than we're used to."
So if there's a name in the rumor mill, you might as well attach San Francsico to it. What the Giants might lack in trade chips at the Minor League level, they may be able to account for with cold, hard cash -- the ability to take on another club's financial burden.
At this, thoughts will naturally turn to Cliff Lee, though color me doubtful -- not only that the Giants would pony up that kind of money but also that the Phillies will ship him off, even if last summer's waiver claim by the Dodgers had to be at least a little bit tempting. The Phils remain in contention, and Lee remains a big reason why. But even if things go south, simply unloading Lee and the more than $70 million he's guaranteed through 2015 would be a difficult message for Ruben Amaro Jr. to sell to a strong Philly fan base.
The more natural names to attach to the Giants right now are the ones obviously soon to be available to all clubs -- Ricky Nolasco, Bud Norris and Matt Garza. While a Marlins-like dumpoff is not expected from the Blue Jays, there is plenty of reason to expect them to field offers for Josh Johnson, a pending free agent, if they don't turn their season around in a hurry. When healthy, Johnson could do wonders for a playoff-ready club like San Francisco. Alas, health is not his strong suit, and Brian Sabean might have trouble stomaching the risk.
Anyway, the specific trade picture will continue to develop in the coming weeks. All we know for now is that the Giants are all but certain to be a part of that picture, because they can't keep asking so much of their offense and relying on that late-inning magic.
They need to do everything in their power on the trade front to get to October, where they work their real magic.
Anthony Castrovince is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his columns and follow him on Twitter at @Castrovince.


text:
Johnny Galecki Plays "Nice" In New Hyundai Commercial For Super Bowl XLVIII
Automaker Engages Celebrity Talent for Humorous Elantra Ad
Legendary Comedian Richard Lewis Makes Cameo Appearance
Jan 25, 2014, 08:00 ET
FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif., Jan. 25, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Award-nominated actor Johnny Galecki, one of the stars of the CBS hit show "The Big Bang Theory," will headline a 30-second, game-day Hyundai spot during Super Bowl XLVIII on February 2, 2014.
(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20131002/LA90771LOGO-b)
The commercial, titled "Nice," opens with Galecki behind the wheel of a brand new 2014 Elantra. When an attractive young woman pulls up next to him in the exact same Elantra, he seizes his opportunity and compliments her on their shared good taste. "Nice ride," he says. The light turns green; a flirtatious game of one-upsmanship ensues. The comedy goes off the rails, with big surprises around every turn. Legendary comedian Richard Lewis even makes a cameo as Galecki's passenger, adding his own rambling commentary. The creative was developed by Hyundai's agency of record, INNOCEAN USA, and directed by Super Bowl veteran Jim Jenkins.
The spot is a milestone for Galecki. The Hyundai ad represents the first time he has endorsed a product or brand on air. With an acting career that spans more than 25 years, Galecki is known best for his roles in the award winning series "Roseanne" and "The Big Bang Theory" which enters its 7th season this year. Galecki is currently in pre-production on "Here's Your Damn Family", his first project as producer with Ricky Blitt and Stephen McPherson for Warner Bros TV.
"I've always loved Super Bowl ads – the commercials during the game are always the highlight for me," said Galecki. "In this Hyundai spot, there's a car chase, there's explosions, and even a car jump – it's exciting, cinematic and filled with humor. I can't wait for everyone to see it!"
Known as the "Prince of Pain," Lewis is considered one of the greatest stand-up comedians of all time and is a well-respected writer and actor. He has starred in notable TV shows and films including "Anything But Love," "Curb Your Enthusiasm" and "Leaving Las Vegas."
"As veteran Super Bowl advertisers, we are excited to work with celebrity talent for the first time this year," said Steve Shannon, vice president of Marketing, Hyundai Motor America. "The Elantra spot continues Hyundai's longstanding tradition of using humor to highlight vehicle performance and function. By adding Johnny and Richard into the mix, we capture the fun and playful spirit of the car and we up the entertainment value for the game-day audience."
Hyundai's Super Bowl line-up also includes another 30-second spot during the first quarter. Titled "Dad's Sixth Sense," it dramatizes the near-misses of everyday parenting. In scenes both touching and humorous, Dad is there again and again as his son grows up. The commercial culminates with a final breathtaking save – only this time, it's the advanced safety features of Hyundai's all-new Genesis that has the young man's back.
Hyundai Motor America, headquartered in Fountain Valley, Calif., is a subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Co. of Korea. Hyundai vehicles are distributed throughout the United States by Hyundai Motor America and are sold and serviced through more than 820 dealerships nationwide. All Hyundai vehicles sold in the U.S. are covered by the Hyundai Assurance program, which includes the 5-year/60,000-mile fully transferable new vehicle limited warranty, Hyundai's 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain limited warranty, and five years of complimentary Roadside Assistance. Hyundai Assurance includes Assurance Connected Care that provides owners of Hyundai models equipped with the Hyundai Blue Link telematics system with proactive safety and car care services, complimentary for three years. These services include Automatic Collision Notification, Enhanced Roadside Assistance, Vehicle Diagnostic Alert, Monthly Vehicle Health Report and in-vehicle service scheduling.
For more details on Hyundai Assurance, please visit www.HyundaiAssurance.com
Please visit our media website at www.hyundainews.com and our blog at www.hyundailikesunday.com
Hyundai Motor America on Twitter | YouTube | Facebook
SOURCE Hyundai Motor America


text:
Smith's Swan Song Season
North Carolina's "Trickie" Rickie Smith, one of drag racing's all-time prolific door-slammer racers, has announced that the 2013 season would be his last as a driver. Smith closed out a driving career that spanned 40 years with a truly rewarding season, taking his IDG Supply-sponsored 2013 Camaro to NHRA's Pro Modified Drag Racing Series World Championship. It was the first NHRA world crown for Smith, who had previously amassed numerous World Championship titles in both ADRL and IHRA circuits racing Pro Mod and Pro Stock. Smith's Jerry Bickel-built Camaro, which features a monstrous 903ci nitrous-injected motor program by Pat Musi, was super consistent and super fast all season, propelling him to wins at Bristol, TN, and Norwalk, OH. That, combined with numerous other late-round finishes—including a championship-capping runner-up finish at the penultimate event at St. Louis—earned him the 2013 title. Smith's long claim to fame list includes the first ever victory in NHRA's Pro Mod class, held at Gainesville, FL, in 2001.
Only 10 Months Later!
Nevada's Justin Lamb, who is only 26-years old, claimed the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing World Championship title for Stock Eliminator.
Driving a 1970 Camaro he and his father, Chris, acquired at the very beginning of 2013, Lamb used an impressive late-season surge within his home NHRA Pacific Division to eke out the closest NHRA Stock Eliminator World Championship title in history—by a single point. Lamb secured the title in late October on a fifth-round single during the final NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing event of the season, held at his home track in Las Vegas. Justin's Camaro, which he runs as a D/SA, was originally raced by Phil Unruh before being acquired from previous owner Tommy Gaynor. Justin utilizes a super reliable 350ci engine program by Gary Stinnett in Kansas. During his 2013 championship run, Justin received valued primary sponsorship from Redback Boots, Moser Engineering, and Sunstate Companies.
Euro Champion!
Sweden's Jimmy Alund gave the Chevrolet Camaro an international championship in 2013 by winning the FIA European Pro Stock title. Racing his 2012 Jerry Haas-built Camaro in only its second season, Alund continued his domination of the European class by winning the Pro Stock title for the second time in three years, and the eighth time in his great career. Jimmy's season driving the KW Parts/J&J Performance Racing Camaro was one of complete domination. Of the six FIA events contended, he qualified Number One each time and was in all six final rounds, winning five times. Alund set and reset the FIA Pro Stock record three different times during the campaign, ending the season holding both ends with a run of 6.534 sec. at 213.31 mph (or to be European correct, 343.29 kph). Alund uses a 500ci engine direct from Jason Line and Greg Anderson at KB Racing and is quick to credit his success to support from that racing team.
The PRO E.T. Pinnacle
Oklahoma's Coy "Alvie" Merrill earned one of the most difficult and competitive world titles for the Camaro brand during 2013, taking one of the highly prestigious NHRA Summit Racing Series E.T. bracket racing championships. Merrill, whose crew consists of his father, Cody; wife, April; and brother Chris, wheeled his impressive 14994 Camaro to a Pro E.T. championship when he prevailed at Summit's Championship Showdown tournament held in conjunction with NHRA's season-ending AAA Auto Club Finals at Pomona. Alvie's car, which is a former Super Stocker, was acquired back in 2010 and has had a very impressive winning record within his home NHRA Division Four (winning twice), as well as taking the "King of the Track" title at Thunder Valley Raceway Park in Oklahoma City. Powered by a 421ci small-block prepared by Advanced Engine Machine (Salina, Kansas), Merrill regularly targets and achieves consistent performance e.t.'s of 9.8 seconds at 135+ mph from his combination. Merrill credits terrific and continued support from Sunoco Race Fuels, Pro Tire (M/T), Coan Transmissions, and Mike Duffy Race Cars as being keys to his season's success.


text:
Joe English Skater Profile
Sponsors: Surf and Skate
Hometown: Sacramento CA, Stance: ?, Age: , Status: Am
Last Update: Thursday, January 1, 2004 Submit an Update
No photos of Joe English found.
Joe English Comments
Other Skater Links
- Full Skater Database - 6000+ skater profiles.
- Skateboarders on Instagram - browse your favorite pros and ams on Instagram.
- Skate News and Videos - daily skate news and videos from around the web.
- Media Coverage - we log all major magazine coverage by skater and photographer.
- Skate Photographers - we log all major magazine coverage by skater and photographer.
- Contest Results - over a decade's worth of contest history.


text:
Similar Content
Communist tracked boxes with pancake turrets: don't you dare to confuse GLORIOUS T-80 battle tank with Kharkovite T-64 tractor that doesn't work.By LoooSeR
Hello, my friends and Kharkovites, take a sit and be ready for your brains to start to work - we are going to tell you a terrible secret of how to tell apart Soviet tanks that actually works like GLORIOUS T-80 and The Mighty T-72 from Kharkovites attempt to make a tank - the T-64. Many of capitalists Westerners have hard time understanding what tank is in front of them, even when they know smart words like "Kontakt-5" ERA. Ignoramus westerners!
Because you are all were raised in several hundreds years old capitalism system all of you are blind consumer dummies, that need big noisy labels and shiny colorful things to be attached to product X to be sold to your ignorant heads and wallets, thats why we will need to start with basics. BASICS, DA? First - how to identify to which tank "family" particular MBT belongs to - to T-64 tree, or T-72 line, or Superior T-80 development project, vehicles that don't have big APPLE logo on them for you to understand what is in front of you. And how you can do it in your home without access to your local commie tank nerd?
Easy! Use this Putin approved guide "How to tell appart different families of Soviet and Russian tanks from each other using simple and easy to spot external features in 4 steps: a guide for ignorant western journalists and chairborn generals to not suck in their in-depth discussions on the Internet".
Chapter 1: Where to look, what to see.
T-64 - The Ugly Kharkovite tank that doesn't work
We will begin with T-64, a Kharkovite attempt to make a tank, which was so successful that Ural started to work on their replacement for T-64 known as T-72. Forget about different models of T-64, let's see what is similar between all of them.
T-72 - the Mighty weapon of Workers and Peasants to smash westerners
Unlike tank look-alike, made by Kharkovites mad mans, T-72 is true combat tank to fight with forces of evil like radical moderate barbarians and westerners. Thats why we need to learn how identify it from T-64 and you should remember it's frightening lines!
The GLORIOUS T-80 - a Weapon to Destroy and Conquer bourgeois countries and shatter westerners army
And now we are looking at the Pride of Party and Soviet army, a true tank to spearhead attacks on decadent westerners, a tank that will destroy countries by sucking their military budgets and dispersing their armies in vortex of air, left from high-speed charge by the GLORIOUS T-80!
The T-80 shooting down jets by hitting them behind the horizont
By Collimatrix
At the end of January, 2018 and after many false starts, the Russian military formally announced the limited adoption of the AEK-971 and AEK-973 rifles. These rifles feature an unusual counterbalanced breech mechanism which is intended to improve handling, especially during full auto fire. While exotic outside of Russia, these counter-balanced rifles are not at all new. In fact, the 2018 adoption of the AEK-971 represents the first success of a rifle concept that has been around for a some time.
Earliest Origins
Animated diagram of the AK-107/108
Balanced action recoil systems (BARS) work by accelerating a mass in the opposite direction of the bolt carrier. The countermass is of similar mass to the bolt carrier and synchronized to move in the opposite direction by a rack and pinion. This cancels out some, but not all of the impulses associated with self-loading actions. But more on that later.
Long before Soviet small arms engineers began experimenting with BARS, a number of production weapons featured synchronized masses moving in opposite directions. Generally speaking, any stabilization that these actions provided was an incidental benefit. Rather, these designs were either attempts to get around patents, or very early developments in the history of autoloading weapons when the design best practices had not been standardized yet. These designs featured a forward-moving gas trap that, of necessity, needed its motion converted into rearward motion by either a lever or rack and pinion.
The French St. Etienne Machine Gun
The Danish Bang rifle
At around the same time, inventors started toying with the idea of using synchronized counter-masses deliberately to cancel out recoil impulses. The earliest patent for such a design comes from 1908 from obscure firearms designer Ludwig Mertens:
More information on these early developments is in this article on the matter by Max Popenker.
Soviet designers began investigating the BARS concept in earnest in the early 1970s. This is worth noting; these early BARS rifles were actually trialed against the AK-74.
The AL-7 rifle, a BARS rifle from the early 1970s
The Soviet military chose the more mechanically orthodox AK-74 as a stopgap measure in order to get a small-caliber, high-velocity rifle to the front lines as quickly as possible. Of course, the thing about stopgap weapons is that they always end up hanging around longer than intended, and forty four years later Russian troops are still equipped with the AK-74.
A small number of submachine gun prototypes with a BARS-like system were trialed, but not mass-produced. The gas operated action of a rifle can be balanced with a fairly small synchronizer rack and pinion, but the blowback action of a submachine gun requires a fairly large and massive synchronizer gear or lever. This is because in a gas operated rifle a second gas piston can be attached to the countermass, thereby unloading the synchronizer gear.
There are three BARS designs of note from Russia:
The AK-107 and AK-108 are BARS rifles in 5.45x39mm and 5.56x45mm respectively. These rifles are products of the Kalashnikov design bureau and Izmash factory, now Kalashnikov Concern. Internally they are very similar to an AK, only with the countermass and synchronizer unit situated above the bolt carrier group.
Close up of synchronizer and dual return spring assemblies
This is configuration is almost identical to the AL-7 design of the early 1970s. Like the more conventional AK-100 series, the AK-107/AK-108 were offered for export during the late 1990s and early 2000s, but they failed to attract any customers. The furniture is very similar to the AK-100 series, and indeed the only obvious external difference is the long tube protruding from the gas block and bridging the gap to the front sight.
The AK-107 has re-emerged recently as the Saiga 107, a rifle clearly intended for competitive shooting events like 3-gun.
The rival Kovrov design bureau was only slightly behind the Kalashnikov design bureau in exploring the BARS concept. Their earliest prototype featuring the system, the SA-006 (also transliterated as CA-006) also dates from the early 1970s.
Chief designer Sergey Koksharov refined this design into the AEK-971. The chief refinement of his design over the first-generation balanced action prototypes from the early 1970s is that the countermass sits inside the bolt carrier, rather than being stacked on top of it. This is a more compact installation of the mechanism, but otherwise accomplishes the same thing.
Moving parts group of the AEK-971
The early AEK-971 had a triangular metal buttstock and a Kalashnikov-style safety lever on the right side of the rifle.
In this guise the rifle competed unsuccessfully with Nikonov's AN-94 design in the Abakan competition. Considering that a relative handful of AN-94s were ever produced, this was perhaps not a terrible loss for the Kovrov design bureau.
After the end of the Soviet Union, the AEK-971 design was picked up by the Degtyarev factory, itself a division of the state-owned Rostec.
The Degtyarev factory would unsuccessfully try to make sales of the weapon for the next twenty four years. In the meantime, they made some small refinements to the rifle. The Kalashnikov-style safety lever was deleted and replaced with a thumb safety on the left side of the receiver.
Later on the Degtyarev factory caught HK fever, and a very HK-esque sliding metal stock was added in addition to a very HK-esque rear sight. The thumb safety lever was also made ambidextrous. The handguard was changed a few times.
Still, reception to the rifle was lukewarm. The 2018 announcement that the rifle would be procured in limited numbers alongside more conventional AK rifles is not exactly a coup. The numbers bought are likely to be very low. A 5.56mm AEK-972 and 7.62x39mm AEK-973 also exist. The newest version of the rifle has been referred to as A-545.
AKB and AKB-1
AKB, closeup of the receiver
The AKB and AKB-1 are a pair of painfully obscure designs designed by Viktor Kalashnikov, Mikhail Kalashnikov's son. The later AKB-1 is the more conservative of the two, while the AKB is quite wild.
Both rifles use a more or less conventional AK type bolt carrier, but the AKB uses the barrel as the countermass. That's right; the entire barrel shoots forward while the bolt carrier moves back! This unusual arrangement also allowed for an extremely high cyclic rate of fire; 2000RPM. Later on a burst limiter and rate of fire limiter were added. The rifle would fire at the full 2000 RPM for two round bursts, but a mere 1000 RPM for full auto.
The AKB-1 was a far more conventional design, but it still had a BARS. In this design the countermass was nested inside the main bolt carrier, similar to the AEK-971.
Not a great deal of information is available about these rifles, but @Hrachya H wrote an article on them which can be read here.
By LostCosmonaut
Something I haven't seen discussed on this site before; Soviet/Russian efforts to domesticate foxes by breeding for domesticated behavior. Article in Scientific American here; https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/guest-blog/mans-new-best-friend-a-forgotten-russian-experiment-in-fox-domestication/
Interesting that there were physical changes correlated with the behavioral changes the Russians bred for.
Buy one for only $7,000! https://domesticatedsilverfox.weebly.com/aquiring-a-tame-fox.html
(not entirely unlike a dog I guess)
It seems like a pretty cool idea to drunk me, though I don't have a spare 7,000 dollars laying around (thanks student loans!). Also, I don't think my cat would approve.


text:
Crystal gazing: Having a ball with the Blind Date Challenge
Back by popular demand, it's the Blind Date Challenge, now more extreme than ever! Instead of your basic dinner-and-a-drink date, we'll be adding a twist, sending people out on fun, unusual– sometimes daring– adventures (as if taking the Blind Date Challenge itself isn't enough of a daring adventure).
The background:
Our first couple: Tim and Shannon. He's a 24-year-old financial analyst who takes monthly trips to the Big Apple; she's a 24-year-old Francophile who moonlights as a hostess at a ritzy downtown restaurant. Both professed an open-minded attitude toward dating and an enthusiasm for new experiences. We decided to put that one to the test by sending them to a psychic.
What happens when you cross A blind date with ESP. A "bang up" good time! If you don't have clairvoyance yourself, you'll just have to read on to find out.
The date:
Shannon and Tim met at Psychic Readings by Catherine, in that house with the red hand out front on 29N across from the GE/Fanuc headquarters. After having their palms read, they headed a few miles south to the brand spanking new Rivanna Grill.
SHANNON: I got there early because I was afraid I would get lost and be late. Tim showed up at 7 on the dot.
TIM: I was second to arrive, but I think I still arrived on time. Phew.
SHANNON While I was waiting for Tim, I got to talk to Catherine, the palm reader, and find out a little about her. Apparently she comes from a long line of people with psychic powers. I was sooooo nervous. I had to keep wiping my clammy palms on my skirt. My hands were shaking a little bit, too, and I was afraid the palm reader would say something. She was really nice and told me I had nothing to be nervous about.
TIM Surprisingly, I was not nervous. I thought it was going to be fun. Since I didn't have a lot of time to primp because of work, I didn't have time to get nervous!
SHANNON When Tim arrived, I thought, "Oh good– he's cute." He was wearing a red polo tucked into pants and shiny shoes. He wore glasses and looked a little preppy. But that's a good thing. He came in a shiny Beamer, so that got extra points. I was so relieved that he didn't have a third eye or anything that I was happy.
TIM There wasn't really time to get a first impression! We started the evening at a psychic for a palm reading. Once I walked into the room and Shannon was there, we said hello, and the psychic took over. The best readings, apparently, are done individually with a psychic so other spirits do not "interfere" with the reading. First impression, for what it's worth: attractive girl with a nice smile and long blonde hair.
SHANNON I'm really cynical, but she did say some things that I wanted to hear, and it was fun hearing about when I'd meet my soulmate and how many kids I would have. [Any of them named Timmy Jr.?] It's too bad she didn't tell me that I was going to get in an accident as soon as I left her house.
TIM She said I was a kind-hearted soul who does not hurt people. I am also a very private person who does not easily open up to others (only semi-accurate because it's a huge generality). The other parts were hit and miss. She said marriage and children will come to me, but not for a long time because my career will always come first.
SHANNON When I pulled out of the psychic's house to cross 29, I went straight across to turn left and this minivan came across, too, and turned left right into me. Bam! She said she "didn't see me"! I said, "I'm supposed to be somewhere!!!! Give me your info quick!" and sped off. I was shaking, and when I got to the restaurant, Tim was already there. He was oblivious to what had happened. I had to order a glass of wine to calm me down. So, now my driver's side door is crushed and doesn't open, and I have to Dukes of Hazzard it out my window.
TIM I must say Shannon was an extremely good sport about it. Some people would probably want to go home and cry, but she completely forgot about it and decided to have a good time. I was actually really impressed that she didn't freak out about it, because if I were in that position I probably would have! We did have drinks (it's almost necessary if your car gets sideswiped like that!)– white wine for her and a beer for me.
SHANNON: We shared three appetizers– tuna sushi rolls, shrimp quesadilla, and coconut shrimp. Everything was incredible.
TIM: The quality of the food was a pretty good signal dessert would be great. We shared raspberry créme brulee.
SHANNON: We found out we had a lot in common. We both love MTV reality shows like Real World and Road Rules; we've both road-tripped to New Orleans, we both love musicals, we're both left-handed, we both were confused by The Matrix Reloaded.
TIM: I'm a runner, and she's in a running club in town. Her running club goes for a few miles and stops at mandatory checkpoints to chug a beer or take a shot of liquor. How badass is that?
Any rough moments?
SHANNON: He told me he had a tape of himself singing All for One's "I Swear." I was embarrassed for him.
TIM: Considering that I put my foot in my mouth from time to time, I surprised myself and was pretty smooth (though I guess I'll find out when I read the column). All conversation was pretty darn good.
What next?
SHANNON: We weren't done gabbing after dinner, so we went downtown to Oxo so I could get a chocolate martini. We hung out there for awhile then went to South Street Brewery.
TIM: We left South Street around 1 or so, and I dropped her off at her apartment. I took her number and hope that her car isn't too badly damaged.
So there was no smoochy-smoochy?
TIM: No
SHANNON: No, wasn't a romance vibe going on. Or maybe I wasn't drunk enough.
Would you go out again?
TIM: I sure would. It would be fun to hang out again.
SHANNON: Sure.
ON a scale of 1-10...
How would you rate the date ("1" being "needs improvement," and 10 being "perfection")?
TIM: I'd call it an 8, I think. The conversation was good and we both took the time to just hang out and have a good time (i.e. nobody bolted right after dinner!). It turned into a pretty long date, which was cool with me.
SHANNON: 7. We had a lot in common and made good conversation. You can never have too many drinking buddies, either.
Quote of the night:
So there was no smoochy-smoochy?
No, wasn't a romance vibe going on. Or maybe I wasn't drunk enough.
The Challenge appears every two weeks in The Hook. Are you up for the Challenge? Call 295-8700 ext. 236 to enter, or email firstname.lastname@example.com


text:
I recently watched a film titled After the Harvest: Fighting Hunger in the Coffeelands. The film premiered at the Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA) Symposium and Exposition in Houston this April. It showcases the chronic seasonal hunger that effects small scale coffee farmers in Central America. This seasonal hunger more than likely effects a majority of small scale coffee farmers throughout the coffee belt. This seasonal hunger is so prevalent in Central America it has its own name, Los Meses Flacos, or the thin months. (After The Harvest)
Depending on the location, the thin months can last anywhere from three to eight months. This is a series of months where these families do not have enough food or income to maintain their health. Children suffer illness due to lack of nutrition from inadequate amount of food, which can be linked to development and growth issues. The lack of nutrition has also been linked to cervical cancer in women.
How does this happen? How can a farmer go hungry? Through the years small scale coffee farmers have abandoned diversifying their land in order to grow more coffee. They became too focused on potential earnings with hopes of buying their food security. However, the vast majority of these farmers are only paid once they have delivered the coffee.(After The Harvest) They must wait until the next coffee harvest in order to receive additional income. By not having a diversified farm, these farmers only rely on the coffee harvest to supply their yearly income. After a coffee farmer is paid he is able to maintain the family for a few months, however after that the income is quickly depleted. This comes at a terrible time as it coincides with the rainy season in Central America. During this time food staples skyrocket in price. If a farmer wanted to buy the basics when the prices were lower, they have no way to securely store the food away from the rain and rodents. With families income and food supply almost gone within a few months after the coffee harvest, they are forced to stretch their food supply and income until the next coffee harvest. This results in families eating less, stretching the food they do have to very thin supplies, or borrowing money and going into debt in order to eat.
The road to ending this seasonal hunger in coffee producing communities is long and complex. However, many of these farmers are learning how to bring back crop diversification as well as raising livestock, incorporating silos to store excess grains, and reintroducing home gardens to help alleviate hunger during these thin months. In addition, many initiatives like Heifer International and Save the Children are taking place to try to help these families and communities. BUNN is interested in these initiatives for obvious reasons. Our ability to deliver a quality beverage depends on the vibrancy of all farmers in the food supply chain.
For more information or to watch the film "After the Harvest: Fighting Hunger in the Coffeelands" visit http://aftertheharvestorg.blogspot.com/p/home.html
This may cause the BUNN website to function incorrectly.
In order to have the best experience with our website, we recommend that you update your browser to the most current version.
Continue to website
(This may result in a poor experience on the site)