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Frowns Imperator At the End of the World Monday 24/09/2012, 21:45
It seems like 10,000 players online is an average number these days. Was it less or more a few years ago?
Alhalish Veteran URBAN MADNESS Sunday 30/09/2012, 14:19
Card Renting, eh? I like that Idea. But I think that you should charge higher for a card like Guru Cr, like 100.000 clintz for two hours.
I got an idea that can benefit both UR and the players, Player Customization. In other MMOs, players can spend money to give themselves custom titles, avatars and pets. Though it may seem trivial, people love to spend cash on trivial things.
The profile picture avatar is pretty bland, why not a picture of a person that can be customized? Like for example, for 30.000 clintz, you can give your avatar a GHEIST outfit or an Uppers tuxedo. And generic titles like "Veteran", "Imperator' ,"Eternal"? B-O-R-I-N-G.
I'd spend 50 credits to give myself a custom title, like "The Peerless" or "Cao Mengde's Proud Descendant".
And maybe small things like "spend 1000 clintz to unlock the full artwork of this character".
And those pets that I was talking about? You must spend 100 credits to buy them, or pay 1 million clintz (or more depending on the pet). Expensive yes, but they grant you perks like "earn 25% more clintz from battles" or "get 50% more Battle Points". Like the avatars, you can spend clintz to customize them. Also, with these pets, UR don't have to release more Leader.
It may take a long time before these can be realized yes, but it will pay off. I'm sure of it.
Alhalish Veteran URBAN MADNESS Sunday 30/09/2012, 14:28
Oh oh, I got another idea, I call it, the "Rival Guilds" system.
With this system, every guilds may secure an alliance, wage war, and even receive clintz from other guilds. If, let's say, Urban Madness is at war with The Apprentice (sorry Alan, you're still my buddy) then every members of Urban Madness will receive more BP and clintz when they win.
If they are allied however, they can't fight with members of the guild they're allied with. And the guild founders are given a vault where they can allocate clintz to their members, like stipends in an army, as incentives. To increase the limit of clintz that a GF can store, he must pay 100.000 clintz or more as his vault gets bigger.
That way, we can emphasize the "Rivals" in :Urban Rivals".
...Hey, we gotta stop thinking about the economics all the timeyou know, you have to think about the gameplay itself too!
yayu-_-eetr Titan Sunday 30/09/2012, 15:39
Like the ideas everybody. Here's my idea for people who have played mobile games such as '*Pets Live*'. Purchasing habitats, in which helps ranks people's wealth or increase battle strength/defence. Personally l think it can be applicable as a guild bonus to achieve for. *just a passing reference
Alhalish Veteran URBAN MADNESS Sunday 30/09/2012, 15:54
More reasons why I think my idea should be implemented.
With this, the amount of clintz that will get sinked will increase significantly, thus lessening the effects of an inflation, and it also gives an illusion that the guilds in this game are like street gangs, who want to rule all territories, which will make the game more enjoyable.
Also like an army, if a member of a guild is inactive for let's say, two weeks, then he will get 25% less BP and clintz from battles and Kate's tax is increased by 5%. To get rid of this, he must pay 5000 clintz. as a retribute.
Sicba Titan Open Casket Sunday 30/09/2012, 16:27
I really like Alhalishs idea, some guilds have in their description "ally" or "friend" stuff for other guilds, lets make it to use, as well as add "enemy" or so. Of course, limit every guilds "allies" and "enemies" to lets say 4 or so, so that it wont make everyone "at war" with everyone and everybody gets more benefits.
ghelas Titan E X C A L I B U R Sunday 30/09/2012, 23:34
@Alhalish: Shut up and take my money! I mean... I approve!
mahawirasd Imperator Immortality Monday 01/10/2012, 02:39
A good idea indeed.
Although maybe transferring the clintz to a vault first would be more trouble (scripting wise) than it's worth. If anything, bonus clintz should just be calculated after each battle - say the winner (without the system implemented) should have got 20 clintz while the loser (before the system was implemented) should have got 7 clintz, we should just redistribute it directly so that the loser only gets 2 clintz while the winner get 25 clintz. This will make things somewhat simpler and would not be prone to admin corruption or uneven distribution of the vault money.
Furthermore, perhaps this means that a special room for "guild wars" will have to be made where these calculations can be implemented.
Taking it a step further, each "war" could have a BP counter to calculate how much "damage" the guilds have done to each other. Since the winner of each UR match gets more BP than the loser anyway, we could implement this straight away or even use the redistribution script like the clintz part above to make it even more competitive. Perhaps each "war" should last a week (like ELO) and at the end of the week, whoever has more BP "wins" and gets a guild perk or something.
Alhalish Veteran URBAN MADNESS Monday 01/10/2012, 05:33
Gadzooks, I was in a hurry so I left out the important parts in my idea.
Guild founders AND admins will get a vault, where they can store their clintz for the guild's uses. For example, the guild founder can allocate these clintz to members , like a stipend in an army, if they're dedicated to the guild. (AKA active).
To increase the amount of clintz that you can store in the vault, you must pay lots of clintz to Kate, like 100.000 for a 25.000 clintz limit increase, and it gets more expensive as your vault gets bigger.
Also, to prevent the abusing of the alliances system, there are "relationship system". From the very start, all guilds are neutral, but, if they wage war, then their relationship will turn into "bad", then "very bad", then finally "hostile". As your relationship worsens, you can't secure an alliance and in order to get rid of that, you must reconcile by paying clintz to that guild.
The amount of clintz needed to reconcile depends on your relationship.
You can also improve your relationship to other guilds by donating cards and clintz to other guild's vault. That's right, the vault can also store cards.
....However, I think that the biggest problem is not with the economics or gameplay, but popularity. Why not introduce UR through iPhones? Not by making a UR app, but by releasing a mini game based off UR characters, with a cheap price, so that new customers can relate to them.
An Angry Birds-esque game starring Hawkins, perhaps?
@Alhalish I really like that idea! why hasnt that been done yet? That would add a lot more excitement to the game. Sadly I think UR is decreasing in popularity but I think its more because it doesnt have much publicity.
@wasteroftime I disagree I think doing away with old cards is a bad way to go. It wont really be bringing in new people. All that would do is make loyal long time UR players mad that they can no longer use their decks. Kind of what standard is But having it as a seperate game type could be ok sort of like it is now. Bringing this topic back to life because I think it deserves it.


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Come to Zarahemla and begin to unlock the seals that God and man have placed on the ancient record called the Book of Mormon. The Book of Mormon tells the story of God's dealings with two real cultures which anciently inhabited the Americas. At Zarahemla will be found evidence for this claim as well as insights into these ancient cultures and the relevance of their message to today's world.
The articles included here present an ordered examination of the Book of Mormon. While the emphasis is not on the meaning of the message, much that is presented will make that meaning more accessible to the student. The emphasis is on understanding: understanding what this book is; what its writers were like; how it was translated; and the peculiarities of its language and culture. While each of these presentations stands alone, there is an order in their development – each including insights that will enhance the understanding and appreciation of that which follows.
While these articles are the copyrighted works of R. G. Grant, who takes full responsibility for their contents, much of that content has been drawn from the writings of FARMS and BYU researchers. This work is primarily an introduction to their work. Articles may be printed, downloaded, reproduced, and used, without alteration, addition, or deletion, for any noncommercial or non publishing purpose without permission.

subset: commoncrawl


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This coffee table is not my first choice for my living room. In all honesty it is not my second, third or even fourth choice. It is however, what I have at the moment so I have decided to make the best of it.
I guess simple really is better!
I think that looks fabulous!It really lightened up the table.With a little practice you can drill glass. It is a little scary at first, and it's still scary!
Great solution and it brings more light... I am with you on painting some pieces...
It looks great - the perfect solution!
It looks fabulous! I painted a table like this to sell at one of my shows last summer. It was square and had the same pull-out drawer for display. I would *LOVE* to find a rectangular one like this for my sunroom.
Anyway, I painted it white and reupholstered the inside with burlap...it was AWESOME! Now you have me on the hunt for one like this again! LOVE it!
It looks beautiful! I'm the same way, I can't bring myself to painting beautiful solid hard wood.
Your home is filled with beauty and charm, I love it all!
Have a great weekend!
Love, Brenda
Deck The Halls of HOME with JOY!
Sometimes you gotta use what you've got, Stacey, and I think you've made the most of it!
Stacy, I have similar end tables with a display under glass as your coffee table, I love your idea with the lighter fabric and white china. I sure hope you don't mind that I'm going to incorporate your great idea to spruce up my end tables. Thanks so much for sharing.
A small change with big impact :) Looks great!
I really love this idea! It totally brightened it up and the choice of ironstone was brilliant! :)
Whether or not simple is better, I'm sure I don't know...but Simple certainly is prettier!
I like it.
have a great day!
I actually really like that table, especially with the grain sack and white china pieces. Much lighter and more streamlined.
The wood on that table is beautiful. The lighter pieces make it looks like a different table. Way to go...using what you got.
That simple little change made a world of difference! Terrific idea! Angie xo
I think it brightened it up considerably. Looks great with the white ironstone in it too.
The lighter lining inside the display case makes all the difference.....and only displaying three white objects helps even more. Frankly, I like the darker wood in your room as it "grounds" the room in my opinion. You do no want your room to "float".
A small change but big difference! Looks terrific!
Simple is better! The change you made is lovely. I love the impact of such simple changes. That table is fabulous, by the way!
Oh, thank you for not just slapping paint on perfectly good wood. Sometimes paint is the best choice, other times,it really makes me cringe.
The linen is nice, but did you try a print with some color, to really play up the ironstone? Not that you need my decorating suggestions, but I just wonder how something with some complementary color would look?
Oh, thank you for not just slapping paint on perfectly good wood. Sometimes paint is the best choice, other times,it really makes me cringe.
The linen is nice, but did you try a print with some color, to really play up the ironstone? Not that you need my decorating suggestions, but I just wonder how something with some complementary color would look?
perfect! I really LOVE how it looks. Especially the contrast of light and dark now. Love the white ceramic pieces.
What great taste you have Stacy!!!
ps. where did you get your plantation furniture? I love it.
What a great fix...I think the table looks great and the linen really lightens the feel of the table.
This was the perfect solution! Perfect. I love when design bloggers work with what they have, because so often it's not an option to just buy your first choice.
great post!
Thanks Darlene - I did not know this furniture was called "plantation furniture!" This set was something my husband and I rescued from his parent's basement when we were first married.
The liner lightened it up just beautifully and now it also refers to the clock. Great job! (BTW - I don't see any plantation furniture just lovely mid-century pieces).
You did a wonderful job with the line and it looks so much lighter and picks up on the clock. Brava. (PS I don't see any plantation furniture, just lovely mid-century pieces).
what a beautiful idea, the table looks fantastic!!! unique one of a kind
Super pretty, but can I tell you I've never noticed your cane back sofa? OMG I am in love with that and if I lived near you I would offer you money for it!! Was that a find or something inherited? Fantastic! I am looking for a unique piece like that right now and that would so work :)
What a GREAT idea! I love how it came out. I am in total agreement - Lori
Pure Perfection!!
© Red Door Home, LLC, 2009-2015. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog's author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. One picture with a link back may be used provided that full and clear credit is given to Red Door Home, LLC with appropriate and specific direction to the original content. Tutorials are for personal use only and may not be used to make items for sale.


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Are you curious about the Three Minute Egg yoga blocks? One lucky person will receive Namastegg Starter Kit (color of your choice)! The kit contains 2 Namast-eggs, Special Edition Alignment & Flow DVD, and the Signature Backpack.To enter this contest, simply leave a comment to this post and we will randomly select one comment author in two weeks time.
Offer good for U.S. Residents only, 18 years or older, 1 comment per person, multiple comments per person will be disqualified. Contest prizes provided and shipped by www.threeminuteegg.com
Contest ends at 11:59 pm EST on April 17th, 2012. We will randomly choose a number corresponding to the number of the comment post. If you are chosen, you will be notified by email. Winners must respond within three days after being notified of winning. If you do not respond within that period, another winner will be chosen so please check your email (and spam box!) a few days after the contest ends.


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I want to know if there is an easy way to turn a normal looking icon into one that looked sketched. I need some or a web project I am working on, ill give an example.
Normal image:
Sketched looking:
Now I want to do this for some icons that are not available, such as the android logo:


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Further to the north in Scotland where the name claims its origin from "the lands of Lingoch, now Lingo, in the parish of Carnbee, Fife." [3]CITATION[CLOSE]
Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3) In this case, the first record of the name was Vlfus de Lingoch. who witnessed a charter by Eggou Ruffus to the Priory of May early in the thirteenth century.
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We're all about helping out our fellow Jalop, and Mad_Science has more than proven his bona fides yesterday as a worthy commenter. When not getting all verklempt over abandoned racers, Mad has to commute about 60 miles round-trip on Southern California freeways and, as we all know, gas isn't getting any cheaper. Says Mad:
I'm looking for input from my fellow Jalopniks on the best "alternative" commuter car. The obvious choice would be either a bike or something like an old CRX or Civic Hatch, which can be entertaining in their own right, but I'm looking to get a little more creative. Electrics, bio-diesel/veg oil (but what car?), bike-powered kit cars are all on the table. It's gotta be reasonably reliable and cheap, like under $15k and preferably under $10k, with the goal of minimizing $/mile while keeping me out of a soulless Prius. I've got tools, skills, space and (some) time to make it work, but I need some ideas.
So what do you think? Should he go all-out ecomodder? Anyone know who bought Daryl Hannah's biodiesel camino? We're partial to the OM617 so why not pick up a diesel 300TD wagon on the cheap for a veggie oil conversion? He's got at least $10K for this project, meaning that some of you can envision products that leave $9,500 for parts. Let the project car hell begin!


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That's right... apparently I got a rather nasty virus, and my computers will likely be down for a while. I have no idea how long. That means... no new GU's until I'm back up and running again. Hell, I can't even update the front page to let everyone know.
Ever feel like you need a vacation?
I've tracked it down... W32.Klez.E@mm it is a mass mailer, so if you receive a strange email from me, don't open it. It's a security hole in Outlook and Outlook Express. Make sure you have the current updates for these. Also make sure you have the most recent virus definitions available by whatever anti-virus software you're running. It is also within reason for me to assume that this virus came from email@example.com, not intentionally sent I assure, but that's one of only 3 email addresses that I do NOT know what the attachment is. It should also be noted that the attachment file type is random... and PASSED my anti-virus detection. Anywho...blah blah blah... just bare with me as I try to get this corrected. I have lost ALL .txt,.html, and .jpg files on my computer to corruption. Tomorrow is going to be a very LONG ver INTERESTING day.
Woody Hearn - cartoonist
GU Comics
[ This Message was edited by: Woody_Hearn on 2002-03-06 05:18 ]


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A moment on Google Street View showing a Dutch fire truck driving away after allegedly knocking down a little old lady on her bike hit the internet yesterday, today Google's completely erased the moment. Too bad we kept the pictures.
Grotere kaart weergeven"Oh hey look, it's such a nice day for a drive in Amersfoort. Just driving along, following a fire truck through these quaint streets. La-la-la-la-la. Oh... little old lady on a bike, watch where you're going. LITTLE OLD LADY! Watch out for the fire truck it's about to hit [TRANSCRIPT TERMINATED. GOOGLE DOES NOT HAVE RECORD OF A FIRE TRUCK HITTING AN OLD LADY. INQUIRY INTO THE INCIDENT WILL RESULT IN "UNFORTUNATE OCCURRENCES"]


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If you would like to obtain information about our manuscript submission policy please email email@example.com
Important: please do not send unsolicited manuscripts and please note that we do not publish children's books, young adult titles or fantasy/science fiction titles.
We aim to respond with appropriate guidance as soon as possible but please allow eight weeks before sending a follow-up enquiry.
We do not discuss manuscript submissions by telephone.
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Gun vote triggers media outcry
If you thought President Obama was outraged after the Senate killed the plan to expand background checks on guns, you should have seen some members of the press.
Even by the standards of today's partisan media environment, the response has been noteworthy. Television hosts, editorial boards, and even some reporters have aggressively criticized and shamed the 46 Senators who opposed the plan, while some have even taken to actively soliciting the public to contact them directly.
Story Continued Below
The decision by some members of the media to come down so firmly on one side of a policy debate has only served to reinforce conservatives' longstanding suspicions that the mainstream media has a deep-seated liberal bias.
"I guess the liberal media get annoyed when Senators listen to their constituents and think for themselves, rather than doing the media's bidding," Bill Kristol, the editor-in-chief of the Weekly Standard, told POLITICO.
( Also on POLITICO: Manchin-Toomey fails, 'shame on you' shouts from gallery)
"It's clearly biased and unmistakably ideological," said John Podhoretz, the conservative New York Post columnist. "These outlets can do what they do want, but nobody should kid themselves about what they're doing."
Conservatives are doubly frustrated because amid all this cheerleading, the media largely turned a deaf ear to one of the right's central substantive arguments: There is little evidence that the Manchin-Toomey plan could prevent another Aurora or Newtown — a fact many reports glossed over. Indeed, Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein recently stated on the Senate floor that universal background checks, while "very important… would not have been prevented the tragedy in Newtown."
( PHOTOS: Best attacks on the media in 2012)
Nonetheless, leading media figures and outlets still tried to shame the Senate. CNN's Piers Morgan, a longstanding gun control advocate, called the Senate "a pathetic, gutless bunch of cowards." MSNBC's Joe Scarborough said the American people had been "insulted," and called it "a turning point in the history of the Republican Party." The New York Times published a scathing editorial from Gabrielle Giffords, who accused the Senate of being "in the gun lobby's grip," and the Huffington Post splashed the images of shooting victims across the top of its homepage below the headline: "No Justice."
Others went beyond criticism and embraced advocacy. The New York Daily News, which had published a crusading series of covers criticizing politicians for their opposition to gun control, ran photographs of the 46 Senators who had opposed allowing a vote on the background check measure alongside a phone number, urging readers to call and complain. HuffPo's Ryan Grim similarly published those Senators' Twitter handles urging readers to "let them know how you feel." MSNBC's Mika Brzezinski took to Twitter herself and wrote 46 separate tweets publicly shaming those Senators.
( Also on POLITICO: Full coverage on gun control)
Such responses have earned widespread praise from the proponents of expanded background checks, but others question such advocacy can still be defined as honest journalism.
"I call it crusading journalism in the spirit of Upton Sinclair," Arianna Huffington, the president and editor-in-chief of Huffington Post, told POLITICO, adding that she was proud of her editors.
( PODCAST: Boston bombing, gun control)


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Items where Author is "Fazl, Fazluddin"
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Group by: Item Type | Uncontrolled Keywords | No Grouping
Jump to: Conference or Conference Paper
Number of items: 1.
Conference or Conference Paper
Pound, Barry, Massawe, Kasindei and Fazl, Fazluddin (2007) Innovation partnerships for effective adaptive research and technology uptake. In: The International Workshop on Enhancing Agricultural Innovation Systems, March 22-23 2007, Washington. (Unpublished)


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Introduction: Fertilization
Fertilization is the process by which sex cells unite to form a zygote, or fertilized egg. Fertilization results in a new cell with a unique mix of genes. Sex cells (sperm or eggs) contain half the number of chromosomes normally found in the cells of an organism. Fertilization results in a complete set of chromosomes.


text: Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums :: View topic - help Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums"The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Students and Teachers from Around the World!" FAQ Search Memberlist Usergroups Register Profile Log in to check your private messages Log in help Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums Forum Index -> Learning English View previous topic :: View next topic Author Message muniJoined: 08 May 2003Posts: 176 Posted: Tue May 13, 2003 10:03 am Post subject: help daer all if I see my friend after 2-3 days ,can I say that " where u have been"or should I say that "where have you been" when can I say to a person that "where were you" Back to top obelixJoined: 09 Feb 2003Posts: 304 Posted: Wed May 14, 2003 3:12 am Post subject: "Where have you been?" If you say this to your friend, whom you haven't seen for a couple of days, it implies that you were expecting to hear from her sooner. "Where were you?" would be used (for example) when you were supposed to meet your friend at the railway station at 3 o'clock and she didn't show up. Next time you see her you might say, 'I was there at 3 o'clock, "where were you?"' Or, " I looked everywhere for you, where were you?" If she arrived late, you could ask "Where have you been?"(looking at your watch.) Back to top Display posts from previous: All Posts1 Day7 Days2 Weeks1 Month3 Months6 Months1 Year Oldest FirstNewest First Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums Forum Index -> Learning English All times are GMT - 8 Hours Page 1 of 1 Jump to: Select a forum Student Forums----------------ComputersCurrent NewsCultureEnglish SchoolsFamilyFilm and CinemaFoodHealth and FitnessHelp CenterHobbiesHolidaysLearning EnglishLiteratureMaking FriendsMusicOpinionsPetsScienceSportsThe Strange and MysteriousTOEFL and Other English ExamsTravel You cannot post new topics in this forumYou cannot reply to topics in this forumYou cannot edit your posts in this forumYou cannot delete your posts in this forumYou cannot vote in polls in this forum Dave's ESL Cafe is maintained by the one and only Dave Sperling. Banner Advertising | Bookstore / Alta Books | FAQs | Articles | Interview with Dave Copyright © 2018 Dave's ESL Cafe | All Rights Reserved | Contact Dave's ESL Cafe | Site Map Teachers College, Columbia University: Train to Teach English Here or Abroad Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2002 phpBB Group


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The airwaves are abuzz with news of the Gilad Shalit/Palestinian prisoner swap, in which 1027 Palestinian prisoners will be released over two stages and several months in exchange for the release of soldier Gilad Shalit.
Among those to be released are prisoners serving life sentences, and all Palestinian women prisoners, as well as big names like PFLP's Ahmed Saadat, and Marwan Barghouthi.
AJE analyst Marwan Bishara refers to many of those being released as the "lost faces of this conflict" because of the sheer length of time they have been serving sentences-some from before the signing of the Oslo Accord.
5000 or more Palestinian prisoners will remain in Israeli detention of course, many without charge, and conditions conditions continue to deteriorate on the ground. Criticism of the deal aside-the distraction it is causing from ongoing Israeli colonization and apartheid etc., the deal is being celebrated by at least some people: children have grown up without ever knowing their fathers. For the first time in decades, they will re-unite. Tactically, this deal was one both Hamas, and Netanyahu, badly needed. It was Hamas's power play answer to Abbas's UN statehood bid, though Hamas's Meshal emphasized in a televised speech earlier today that this was not a factional, but a national, accomplishment.
Also today, overshadowed by news of the prisoner swap, was this bit of less headline making news: Netanyahu today announced has decided to form a spin committee that would find a way to legalize the construction of illegal settlement outposts on private Palestinian land.
In response, B'Tselem – the Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories, stated that the move will "render the Israeli government an active accomplice in the private land theft and dispossession of Palestinians" and labeled the committee a merely more blatant version of an already existing Israeli occupation policies: "manipulation of the law in order to lend a guise of legality to the settlement project. Until now, the government aided the theft of Palestinian land by turning a blind eye, by lack of law enforcement and, in some cases, by funding construction in outposts. "
The formation of the committee means that the government will now become an active accomplice in the private land theft and dispossession of Palestinians: until now, the government aided the theft of Palestinian land by turning a blind eye, by lack of law enforcement and, in some cases, by funding construction in outposts.


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Master of Arts Degree in Catholic Studies
In the long history of the Church, the gospel has been proclaimed not only by bishops and theologians, but also by philosophers, scientists, physicians, historians, artists, poets, and architects. There is a growing need for a systematic study of the Catholic intellectual tradition across the arts and sciences.
Our Master of Arts in Catholic Studies is an interdisciplinary study of the Catholic intellectual tradition with an emphasis on its relation to Western philosophy. The program is open to all qualified students and will particularly benefit Catholic educators and other professionals serving in a Catholic context.
Course and research requirements
Students in the program take 34 credits that are normally distributed as follows: twelve credits of theology; twelve credits of philosophy (Ancient Philosophy, Medieval Philosophy, Metaphysics, and Introduction to Moral Philosophy); six credits of either language or elective courses; and four credits of thesis direction. To complete the program in two years a student will typically take nine credit hours per semester.
First Year
- Autumn semester
- PH 210 Ancient Philosophy (3)
- S 261 Catechism: Prayer (3)
- L 281 Latin I (3)
- Spring semester
- PH 211 Medieval Philosophy (3)
- S 262 Catechism: Catholic Doctrine (3)
- L 282 Latin II (3)
Second Year
- Autumn semester
- PH 207 Metaphysics (3)
- S 263 Catechism: Liturgy & Sacraments (3)
- Spring semester
- PH 206 Introduction to Ethics (3)
- S 264 Catechism: Moral Life in Christ (3)
- Thesis Direction (4)
Special studies students may substitute elective courses for the required Catechism courses. These elective courses include: Church History, Theology of Faith and Revelation, Liturgy and the Arts, Philosophy of Nature, Epistemology, Catholic Social Doctrine, Modern Philosophy, Natural Theology, Contemporary Philosophy, and Christian Anthropology.
Comprehensive Examination
Typically, comprehensive examinations will be given each spring or when the student has completed degree program requirements. Students must complete the course requirements before sitting for the examination.
Prerequisites for Admission to the Program
In order to apply, a candidate must have completed a Bachelor of Arts degree with a 3.0 average.
Application and letter of recommendation forms are available below for download or from the registrar's office.
Master Of Arts Application Form
Master Of Arts Letter Of Recommendation Form
Someone who is interested in Catholic Studies, but not in a full master's degree, can take many of the Athenaeum's courses individually.
Percentage of students admitted each year who have graduated:
Two-year total
Percentage of students admitted each year who are still enrolled or have graduated:
Two-year total


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Playing The Mexico Card
It is amidst this backdrop that the immigration issue was up-played to keep these two stories, indicative of a failing war, out of the public eye. The puppy dog media predictably complied, and we saw an orgy of racist, anti-immigrant views permeating the airwaves.
(Sadly, opportunist Hillary Clinton also supports the Wall).
So, George Bush and the Republicans have decided to build a Berlin Wall-type fence to keep Mexican immigrants from coming into this country. The sheer absurdity of this is breathtaking. Yet, due to the stroking of racism and fear mongering many are silent on this issue.   Â
In a bill dubbed the Secure Fence Act of 2006, the Bush Administration has allotted over $1 billion to build this fence, including vehicle barriers, unmanned aerial vehicles, infrared remote cameras, satellites and other high-tech equipment.
This, from an Administration that still can't rebuild the drowning communities of New Orleans. Whom do they think they are fooling? The only thing this act does is play into the insecurities and racism of many in the nation.   Â
This racist, fear-fanning bill was made possible by Republican spin doctoring orchestrated to divert the American people's attention from the disasters occurring in Iraq. At the time, two major cases of war crimes in Iraq were about to blow up as major news stories. One of them was the Haditha Massacre. The other was the rape and murder of a 14-year-old Iraqi girl and the subsequent slaughter of her family members by American soldiers to cover-up the crime.   Â
In the Nov. 15, 2005 Haditha Massacre, 24 Iraqis were killed in retaliation for the killing of Lance Corporal Miguel Terrazas, even though those murdered were not involved or responsible for his death. The Marine Corp stated that these civilians were killed when they returned fire while being attacked by "insurgents.�
The story was a big lie, and even Rep. John Murtha—himself a former soldier—admitted that American troops "killed innocent civilians in cold bloodâ€? and that the Marine Corp engaged in a cover-up of these crimes. However, the cover-up of the Haditha Massacre started coming out around the same time that another atrocity had just taken place: the rape of 14-year-old Abeer Qassim Hamza al-Janabi. Four soldiers took part in the rape and murder of Abeer. The ringleader of the group was Pfc. Stephen Green. Green and his fellow soldiers not only raped and killed Abeer, but also killed Abeer's mother, father and five-year-old sister. After she was raped and killed they burned her body with kerosene.   Â
It is amidst this backdrop that the immigration issue was up-played to keep these two stories, indicative of a failing war, out of the public eye. The puppy dog media predictably complied, and we saw an orgy of racist, anti-immigrant views permeating the airwaves. Can't solve the Iraq debacle? Use the Mexican "dark� threat as diversion.
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Cabling and bracing trees
Having just returned from the annual North Central Texas Urban Forestry Conference this last week, I was reminded of the process of cabling and bracing trees. The reason that I was reminded of this type of work is that part of the curriculum of the conference was a class dealing with structurally defective trees and whether or not properly installed cabling and bracing is helpful to those plants.For an arborist, it was a pretty interesting lecture with a lot of good practical information. I'm afraid that for the average lay person, it probably would have been a little dull. As usual for these kinds of classes, there was also some time spent on the latest installation methods and hardware. One of the things that fascinates me about trying to hold trees together with metal and wires is the fact that this process is an attempted melding of a dynamic, living, and growing organism (trees) with a static, often rigid, unchanging, usually metal, mini-framework. With a little bit of thought, you can see how hard it is to wed these two incompatible things together into a successful, continually growing and changing tree.As you can imagine, it didn't take professional arborists very long to figure out that just randomly installing some bolts, cables, and chains in trees was both not very effective, and unreasonably expensive. Unfortunately, unprofessional arborists discovered that they could litter trees with parts and charge unsuspecting clients a lot of money for it.Usually when arborists are talking to clients about installing hardware in trees, we normally don't make a distinction between cabling and bracing, but other than the fact that they are both artificial means of strengthening trees, they are two different things.Cabling is when attachment points are installed on branches and then some type of chain, cable, or rope is run between these artificial tie ins so that the connected branches can share structural stress and mutually support each other. There are a lot of different ways to correctly install cabling, and there are many more ways to incorrectly install it.When I see cabling that is incorrectly installed, the most common mistakes are either in the height of the installation, the attachment points, or the size of the hardware. Properly installed tree cables should be approximately two thirds of the way up the branch measuring from the base of the branch, not the height above the ground. As you can imagine, since it can be difficult to reach that spot in a tall tree and very awkward to work between two branches at that height, most cabling is installed much too low. When the cabling is tied in too low down the branches, the stress on the cable is greatly increased which if nothing else will result in early failure of the cables and/or attachments.Attachments that are correctly installed should be drilled into or through the branches where they are placed. This allows the living cambium of the branch to continue to grow and pass nutrients into the canopy and allow photosynthate to come back down the branch from the leaves. Drilling holes through and placing hardware in branches two thirds of the way up the branch is exactly as hard as you think it is, so instead of the drilling, most people just wrap cable or chain around the branch instead. Wrapping something around the wood instead of drilling through it has an effect on the tree very similar to a tourniquet on the limb of a human being. When you see a tree that has been tied together by running chain, cable, or something else around the branches, you are looking at incorrectly installed hardware that is going to be detrimental to the health of the plant.I often look at trees where the cable has broken, the attachment hardware has pulled out, or some part of the system has failed due to wear or stress. A lot of times, this is due to the fact that the hardware and cable used were to light duty for the stress they were subjected to or, and I think this is unfair to the customer, the installer put in material that would handle the tree only as it was on the day of installation. Since trees are supposed to grow and get larger, it shouldn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that when the tree gets larger, the stress on the cabling is going to increase and that needs to be allowed for when it is installed.Bracing is when bolts or very heavy cables are run through the trunk or the branch unions of the trees and tensioned so that there is little or no movement allowed at the installation point. I much prefer to brace if it will solve the problem. If applicable to the tree, and properly done, bracing has the advantage of being very heavy hardware that is a permanent installation which will should not need further work (more expense to the customer) a few years down the road. Additionally, as the tree grows and covers the ends of the hardware, the bracing will become partly or totally hidden.Cabling and bracing are both expensive work that done incorrectly will be a large waste of money. When you are dealing with an I.S.A. Certified Arborist, you are talking to someone that has been tested and certified in this type of work, when you are talking to someone else, where did they get their training?The next KWKC Green Team workshop titled Annuals and Perennials will be held at 2 P.M. Saturday, March 26th at Willow Creek Gardens, 1820 South Treadaway, in Abilene. If you have any landscaping, landscape maintenance, or tree questions you would like answered in this column, submit them care of email@example.com or firstname.lastname@example.com.


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There's just one problem: "Outside a handful of laboratories and workshops," the New York Times reports, cellulosic ethanol "does not exist."
This has not, however, prevented the Environmental Protection Agency from levying penalties on petroleum companies for failing to purchase this nonexistent fuel. The EPA engages in verbal sleight of hand. Instead of being fined for failing to make the agency's pipe dreams come true, "refiners are required to purchase 'credits' from the EPA," explains Brian McGraw of the Competitive Enterprise Institute. "Essentially, the EPA is requiring them to send them money in lieu of meeting the cellulosic ethanol mandate. The product they are required to use does not exist, and rather than giving them a pass, the EPA requires that they pay for phantom credits, despite not getting anything out of it."
These fines — er, credit purchases — are, of course, passed on to consumers in the form of higher gas prices; and when gas prices go up, so do the prices of most other products.
The Times argues that the EPA "is being lenient by the standards of the law," and there is some truth to that. The agency has vastly reduced the original ethanol targets; the 2011 target was dropped to just 6.6 million gallons, and for 2012, it is 8.65 million. As "lenient" as this may appear, critics say it is still too harsh in light of the fact that, as McGraw writes, "no companies have to this date been able to produce cellulosic ethanol that qualifies by EPA's definition." "Yet, presumably to save face," he adds, "the EPA has not lowered the cellulosic ethanol 'mandate' to zero gallons."
In fact, EPA spokeswoman Cathy Milbourn told the Times that the 2012 cellulosic ethanol quota is "reasonably attainable." The paper continues: "By setting a quota, she added, 'we avoid a situation where real cellulosic biofuel production exceeds the mandated volume,' which would weaken demand."
Milbourn need not worry that production will exceed the EPA's quota for many years to come. There are simply too many barriers to overcome.
First is that cellulosic ethanol production is so difficult and expensive that no one in the private sector is willing to invest in it without hefty government subsidies. Thus far the feds have poured at least $1.5 billion into ethanol startups, with more subsidies on the way. Not surprisingly, "the half-dozen or so companies that received the first round of subsidies never got off the ground," the Wall Street Journal noted in a December editorial. Georgia's Range Fuels, for example, received $162 million in federal and state subsidies to produce ethanol from pine chips; last week The New American reported that Range had folded a year ago, an utter failure. The Journal cited Alabama-based Cello Energy, whose ethanol production was supposed to account for some 70 percent of the 2010 cellulosic ethanol mandate. The company went bankrupt in October of that year, having achieved nothing except bilking taxpayers.
"Incredibly," the Journal remarked, "those projections [of Cello's production] were made before Cello had built its plant to produce the fuel and before the technology was proven to work." Similarly grandiose claims for upcoming ethanol plants are thus to be taken with several grains of salt.
No matter how much Congress and the EPA will it, the technology to produce cellulosic ethanol in mass quantities just doesn't exist — and won't exist for a long time. According to a recent article from the Oil & Gas Journal:
In October, the National Research Council published findings of a study on biofuels concluding that in the absence of "major technological innovation or policy changes" the US won't meet EISA's ambitious target for cellulosic biofuel — 16 billion ethanol-equivalent gal by 2022. The required processing technology isn't developing fast enough, despite strong federal help. And the economic challenges are daunting, despite subsidies.
Another barrier to cellulosic ethanol production, the article observes, is cost. "Only in an economic environment characterized by high oil prices, technological breakthroughs, and a high implicit or actual carbon price would biofuels be cost-competitive with petroleum-based fuels," it quotes the National Research Council study's executive summary.
Then there is the matter of just who is going to use all this mandated ethanol. Continues the Oil & Gas Journal:
A more-immediate constraint looms: the blend wall, the maximum amount of ethanol the gasoline market can absorb under regulatory and practical blending limits. EPA has deferred the problem by raising the ethanol cap in gasoline for many vehicles to 15% from 10% — but only, according to the study, until about 2014. After that, surmounting the blend wall depends on surges in the sales of fuel containing 85% ethanol and vehicles able to burn it. The surges would require greatly expanded subsidies and other forms of federal expenditure at a time of historic fiscal austerity.
Despite all these obstacles to producing cost-competitive cellulosic ethanol at the mandated volume, there are those who insist that the mandate must not be repealed. Retired Vice Admiral Dennis V. McGinn of the American Council on Renewable Energy told the Times, "I am absolutely convinced from a national security perspective and an economic perspective that the renewable fuel standard, writ large, is the right thing to do."
McGinn and others of his ilk seem to believe that if Congress passes an edict demanding that cellulosic ethanol be produced, the technology to do so will magically appear. But as the Wall Street Journal observed, "That same leap of faith has driven subsidies to alternative energy for 40 years," and there is no reason to expect things to turn out any differently this time.
Meanwhile, tapped-out taxpayers are forced to subsidize unproven technologies, and oil companies are penalized for not purchasing ethanol that does not exist. Critics say it's about time that "historic fiscal austerity" kicked in and put paid to this expensive, unconstitutional folly.


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Our volume UPS discounts are passed-on directly to you for the lowest possible shipping rates.
Lennox OEM Heavy Duty Blower Wheel ReplacementDirect Drive Blower WheelUses: For Furnaces, Ventilation Air Handlers SystemsRotation: .Rotation determined by Facing Hub.Hub Size: 1/2•All steel Wheel highly corrosive resistant finishes and is carefully balanced. Replaces Part Numbers: 45L66, 45L6601. LB-29333BCN CAR45L6601.Used in Equipment Models:


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Clock Changes in Palu, Central Sulawesi, Indonesia
Daylight Saving Time (DST) Not Observed in Year 2019
Palu currently observes Central Indonesian Time (WITA) all year.
Daylight Saving Time has not been used since our records start, in 1970.
DST data from before 1970 is not available for Palu, Indonesia. However, we have earlier DST history for Makassar, Indonesia available.


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Danbury night club to reinvent itself
DANBURY -- Due to lackluster crowds, the Skyy Bar and Lounge that opened in the city's downtown less than six months ago is changing the way it operates.
Instead of opening as a night club on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, trying to attract area college and university students, the club will become a catering hall for more "mature" functions, according to Ian Bick, a local entrepreneur who started the business in October.
It will also host teen parties when the facility is available, Bick said.
The club was the first to open in the city's downtown after an entertainment license was put into place last year that again allowed such establishments in the city's center.
For years clubs were barred from the area after several clubs were closed due to unruly crowds and underage drinking.
"New changes coming soon," the club recently posted on its Facebook page. "Stay tuned for what's in store."
Bick said the Ives Street business, which was once the home of Tuxedo Junction, was just breaking even and failed to turn a profit in the five months since it opened, so he decided to change his business model.
He said he blames himself for the failure because he spent more time planning the business than marketing the club.
Bick said he recently took full control of Skyy Bar from his partners after the liquor license for the business expired in February.
"I may eventually look to get another license, but at this point we'll be doing teen nights," he said.
Bick said he will also use the facility as a catering hall that will appeal to an older crowd.
"The idea is to use the facility as more of a venue than a club," he said. "Our goal is to have it booked every weekend."
The entrepreneur said he also hopes to create some synergies between the Skyy Bar and Bick's Burgers, a business Bick also opened recently on Ives Street.
The gourmet burger shop, he said, is attracting people to the city's center "who have never been downtown before."
Tom Devine, chairman of CityCenter and the owner of Two Steps Downtown Grille on Ives Street, said he was happy to see Bick invest in the club and clean up the property when it first opened in October.
"We were hoping, and we still are, that he can succeed," Devine said. "While the club was open there weren't the kind of disturbances and noise issues as when it operated as Tuxedo's. That's the kind of clean operator we need on this block."
Mayor Mark Boughton said as long as the business conforms to the city's entertainment license, he doesn't envision any problems with a change in format.
"We want anyone trying to operate a business in the city to be successful," Boughton said. "If this is the business model he needs to be successful, as long as he maintains all the licensing requirements, then great."
email@example.com; 203-731-3358; www.twitter.com/DirkPerrefort


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The Ultimate Gig Booking Guide | Phosphene Productions
Booking regular shows is an essential part of being a musician when expecting to be heard by the public, and a question we here at Phosphene Productions get asked a lot about. Though everyone has their own technique when it comes to finding the perfect show, many artists new to the scene should devise a "template" to work by and to keep yourself organized when contacting so many different people.
Our goal in this article is to give you a sort of template to use when beginning to develop your own booking strategy, and by the end you should have all the necessary information to kick off your gig.


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YORK, Pa. — Saniya Chong is a much watch.
When the 5-foot-9 Ossining point guard is on the court, the fans lucky enough to be in attendance get to see one of the nation's best players – a dynamo in every sense of the word. Off of it, college coaches and fans wait patiently to see where the rising senior will take her talents next season.
"I do feel like I have to try my best every single game," she said. 'I'm the point guard. I control the ball."
Over the weekend she played with Ossining coach Dan Ricci with the Hudson River Breeze at the Blue Chip USA Invitational at the Toyota Arena in York, Pa. Chong quickly became the talk of the tournament. She averaged 46.6 points per contest over five games as her team went 4-1 in the Platinum bracket. That includes a 53-point performance against the Pittsburgh Rockers in front of UConn head coach Geno Auriema, a memorable effort in which she also has 10 rebounds and five steals.
"When I tell her one of the coaches is here, she seems to perk up," Ricci said.
The Bronx native has trimmed her list of suitors down to just four – UConn, Maryland, Ohio State and Louisville – after eliminating North Carolina and Miami. Because of its close proximity, Chong has already taken an unofficial visit to UConn, which she called a "wonderful place." She plans to begin scheduling official stops in September.
A lot has changed for the reserved Chong in just a year's time, when her only offers were Virginia Tech and Ohio State, and she was unranked by most scouting services.
"I guess you can say it was a little overwhelming," she said of the attention. "There is a lot of pressure. You want to do your best."
Added Ricci: "The coaches say she is getting better at it. She is doing a better job of opening up on the phone."
There are detractors, of course. There are those who believe Chong is overrated because her Ossining team doesn't play high profile enough teams. She plays her travel ball with the Westchester Hoopers and the Breeze, not more well-known squads like Exodus, the Gauchos or the Philly Belles. Her gaudy stats, the doubters contend, are coming against teams who can't physically match up with the long, quick and athletic lead guard.
"To be honest they haven't really seen me play before," she said. "They don't know who we are and what we do. It's not a big deal to me. When they actually do see me, I give them all I got. I just hate when people talk and they don't really know what's going on."
The results speak for themselves.
Chong averaged 33.3 points, 9.7 assists, 5.2 rebounds and 5.0 steals as Ossining went 23-1 and reached the NYPHSAA Class AA state semifinals last season. It's lone loss came to eventual state Federation champion Cicero-North Syracuse and Breanna Stewart as Chong scored 21 points. The more than 2,000-point scorer was invited to tryout for the USA U17 national team and also dropped in 54 points, including eight 3-pointers, in a win over Archbishop Molloy at the Francis Lewis Winter Ball.
"I've never seen a girl who could consistently put the ball in the basket like that," Molloy coach Scott Lagas, who has coached high school and college basketball for 14 years, said at the time. "That girl is special."
That's the reason why Chong has some of the nation's best college programs to choose from and will end her career as one of New York State's top all-time leading scores. Ricci doesn't believe she can make a wrong choice. He just wants her to make the best one.
"It's a big opportunity," Chong said. "You only get this [chance] one time."


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I have Mac mini (mid 2010) server running Mac OS X Server Lion 10.7.3 (11D50b)
At some unspecified point in time (which could have coincided with the installation of Logitech Media Server to serve a SqueezeBox in the next room, but I can't prove that), all the icons in the System Preferences turned into the default icon of System Preferences itself.
Besides the visual change, everything else is working as expected.
Now, the primary question is - how do I get the icons back? Secondary question is, how this could have happened and what could be done to prevent that.


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Pond & Lake Q & A
Q: Should I leave my bubble aeration system running in my farm pond all winter long? – Steve in Minnesota
A: The short answer: Yes, you should keep your aeration system running all winter long. No matter the season, for the health of your fish, you want to breathe that life-giving oxygen into your pond or lake. A bubble aeration system, like the Airmax® Aeration System, keeps the oxygen well-dispersed throughout the water column and prevents the water from stratifying; it also keeps a hole in the ice to allow harmful gasses to escape.
Stir Up the Strata
As the summer cools to winter, a shift happens below your pond's surface. If the water is not circulated, it naturally separates by temperature: In the summer, the warm oxygen-rich water sits on the top while the cool water, thick with toxic gasses, sits at the bottom. As winter approaches, those different pools of water will flip. The cool water – and all the gasses – rises to the top while the warm water sinks. The pools of water mix – and in extreme cases – this stratification, seasonal shift, and toxic gas distribution can cause a winter fish kill.
A bubbler aeration system prevents that. If the water is churned and moved all year long, it will not stratify. The water at the top and bottom will remain the same temperature, oxygen will be saturated throughout the entire water column, and the gasses will not build up. That makes for an ideal environment for the fish.
Keeps a Hole in the Ice
If your pond freezes over completely and there is no hole in the ice, the decaying matter in your pond (all the fish waste and detritus that naturally break down beneath the surface) releases deadly gasses that are trapped underneath the ice. Prolonged, this will cause a winter fish kill. A bubbler aeration system stops this from happening. The moving and cycling water creates a hole in the ice, allowing the harmful gasses to escape while allowing healthy oxygen in.
A word of caution: If you want to ice skate on your pond and you're not concerned about fish throughout the winter, we recommend you turn off your aeration system completely. That way, the pond will freeze solid and you'll be safe while you have some winter fun.
POND TALK: Do you keep your aeration system on all winter long?
Filed under: Aeration, Pond & Lake, Winterizing | Tagged: Aeration, aeration system, leave aerator in the pond for winter, winterization, winterizing |


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Hello, if you start a thread in the shooting the breez section I will be sure to interact with you there.


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Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Eating the Crust of the Bread
For example, we would like to believe that all that we need to know about our ancestors can be learned from the U.S. Census records, that is, the white air bread centers of our genealogical loaves. This reminds of the reaction of some of my grandchildren to some "12 grain bread" we had for dinner. There was quite a controversy over what each of the ingredients might be and whether or not the ingredients were "acceptible" for consumption. In the end, they refused to eat any of it.
When do we know we are "eating the crust" so to speak? I believe it is when we begin extending ourselves into new areas we have never researched before; such as learning German Black Letter Script or studying out 16th Century parish registers. In the U.S. it may be learning about probate or beginning to understand land records. In every case, moving into a new area of research is like eating the crusts of our research loaves. One thing I can say is that after a while, you will begin with the crust and relish it for its consistency and nourishment. You may even go on to eat 12 grain bread!
3 comments:
Interesting post, but there's nothing wrong with cutting off the crust of your bread.ReplyDelete
I'm still mostly concentrating on the "white bread" (or the "low-hanging fruit") because there is so much of it to cover. But the word I used above is "concentrating." I am also venturing out into other fields (for example Netherlands local records for one emigrant branch).ReplyDelete
And I don't know about others, but for me, the census before 1850 (the first every-name census) is a new field. The research there is very different!
Thanks for the thought-provoking ideas.
I love 12 Grain, but it takes a while to get your system used to it. I am diving in, one bite at a time though. I am mostly a white bread researcher at the moment, but the further I get the more excited I get about the richer stuff just waiting to be dug into! Thanks for the post - I love your analogies. I am an analogy thinker and I will look at my lunchtime sandwich a bit differently tomorrow. :)ReplyDelete


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Bauscher, Buffet, chafing dish, chef, Cold Buffet, Deep Plate, Facebook, Hepp, Party, porcelain, stainless steel, Sushi
Recently, Bauscher Hepp, Inc. hosted a wedding shower for our very own Kelly Brown! (Congrats to the happy couple!) Our new Cold Buffet stands were the perfect way to display and serve our Asian themed menu. The vibrant colors of the sushi, wasabi, & sauces really popped against the bright white porcelain tray, and the mirror effect of the 18/10 stainless steel stands enhanced all that surrounded it.
With its winning minimalist, clear, and discreet design HEPP's new Cold Buffet stands fit in perfectly with any buffet presentation. Offering the simplest of choices: available in two heights (5" & 7.5") & with porcelain or 18/10 stainless steel 1/1 GN trays.
The no mess ice packs offered as an accessory make keeping your food cold as easy as possible, with no need to worry about melting ice, or dripping chafing dishes. For even more convenience, the Cold Buffets are stackable even at different heights making storage simple and organized.
*Photo's courtesy of Danielle Douglas


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Neville the Blue Bear
"Yeah yeah, pass me the crack. I said pass it bitch! Do you think I enjoy hitting you!?"
"He's your problem now"
"It was difficult re-adjusting but I've found substitutes for my addiction... There's no rehab for raping kids"
Neville the Blue Bear, former Smile! TV star, and one time rap solo artist has been entertaining kids for many years; in more ways than one. Renown for his wacky behaviour and ludicrous antics, this bear became one of the biggest things to hit the UK since N-Dubz, which isn't really an achievement. In early 2008 Nev became the first animal to be involved in pedophilibeastiality (having sex with underage animals) and again in mid 2008, and when it was thought he had got over his fetish, it occurred once again in 2009. His subtle use of language makes grooming children over the internet 'childs play' as he would put it. His powers of suggestion and misdirection are rivalled only by Derren Brown, in ability to sex up kids. Nev was never as successful in making them forget the incidents as Derren was, hence the numerous allegations held against him by nearly every young child's parents in the northern hemisphere. He has never been successfully prosecuted however, largely due to his several million-pound out-of-court settlements for his "suspected" kiddy fiddling (every mother has her price). All non-public allegations towards Nev seemed to have been settled out-of-court, many believe these cases have been dealt with by his Croydon-based crime ring in a very legal and professional manner. Nev was nominated for a MOBO in 2002, but upon losing to Dappy from the not so popular group 'N-Dubz', he jumped on stage during dyslexic Dappy's 3 word acceptance speech, and was quoted to have said:
"Yeah yeah, Dappy, I'm really happy for you, Imma let you finish, but Michael Jackson had one of the best videos of all time. That sex tape was almost as good as two girls one cup"
The dyslexic rapers only response was in the form of a Twitter post stating he was, "furyrous". His Facebook status however, was incomprehensible; but the general feeling is that he was very very upset. Because of this incident the MOBO was stripped from Dappy, also ridding him of the 6 nectar points and free wrigleys gum the award is equivalent to. This whole episode was parodied by Kanye West at the MTV music awards ceremony, during some trashy white girl's acceptance speech. This caused more controversy than Nev's incident because no one really cares about MOBOs or Dappy.
Where Did It All Go Wrong?[edit]
Nev started out life working on a TV set with Sooty & Sweep, but with producers suffering from the Credit Crunch, making Nev redundant seemed like the best solution. Sooty is largely believed to be responsible for Nevs addiction to Crack Cocaine, and for beginning his downward spiral into prostitute killing. Popular belief was that both Sooty and Sweep smoked so much Crack they lost their voices and now suffer from mild retardation. Sue the Panda was brought in as a replacement to Nev, so that the audience could understand what the fuck Sooty and Sweep were on about half the time. Sue, kindhearted as they come helped Nev to deal with his addiction, suggesting rehab be the best solution before he began his new career on the Smile! show, where Nev would have to balance out yet another mildly retarded co-host.
During the 2002 post-MOBO-awards party a very drunk Nev decided to hit on Lady GaGa. Nev claimed that while he was making his way to third base he felt something he'd never felt before. Something new and excited. A penis. Nev, in his extremely wasted state tried to tell Lady GaGa's then boyfriend, Mike Tyson of her throbbing member, but Tyson, having none of it, chewed part of Nev's ear off. Mike was sued for cruelty to animals and the money Nev made from the settlement went on a weeks worth of hookers, supplied to him by Sooty.
Nev's sinister love for children was expressed through a video game that was played on the TV show Smile! before complaints that it was too much like Grand Theft Auto but with child prostitutes. The show were forced to change the video game to something more basic, but Smile! still received complaints after Nev laughed and called one viewer playing by phone a, "stupid cunt", for failing to move when approaching a trash can. This was the first time the producers realised that Nev was high while they were on air. It is commonly thought that Crack was the reason why Nev was such a cheeky little shit all the time. Nev ended up auditioning for a job on the hit TV series called, "Men Behaving Badly", but he couldn't handle his alcohol and wasn't considered 'bad' enough. This led to Nev starting a new show called, "Bear Behaving Badly", which Nev was considered much more suited for. The show was pulled from air after only a few weeks because Nev chose the word of the week to be 'feltch'.
In June 2009 Nev came completely off the rails when his puppet master Michael Jackson tragically passed away. His 7 year rehab had pushed him to the edge, his wife had left him and his experience of, "The Weakest Link", had not gained as much money for his charity, "Crack-Addicted-Bear Support", as he'd hoped. Nev had become the centre of the public eye, causing controversy wherever he went; everything from tripping kids on the street to luring them into his sex van. After losing his master, he stopped being able to get away with his sexual abuse and no one has seen him since he became the United Kingdom's most wanted bear.
Nev Appearance on Jeremy Kyle[edit]
Left is a picture taken from Nev's celebrity interview with Jeremy Kyle, a popular daytime TV show depicting arguments and DNA results of young chavs that really put the "dole" into "Adolescent". The interview was made famous because for once Jeremy was put in his place when Nev told him that he had anger management issues and that his kids don't love him. This interview rang alarm bells with both Jeremy's producers and Nev's manager, Courtney Love. The interview didn't last long before Jeremy started crying and shouting about how it was his show and Nev was wrecking it. This show was never aired because Jeremy had it pulled. The interview has been written down however, and the script went as follows:
- Jeremy Hello, welcome to my show, here we have Nev, former Smile! TV presenter and one time rap solo artist. How you doing Nev?
- Nev Yeah yeah, I'm alright Jezza yeah yeah. Just smoked a bowl and I am on it like Sonic
- Jeremy Nev you do realise we'd asked you here today because of your drug addiction?
- Nev It really pisses me off when people say Crack is a drug but they never say someone has a drug addiction when it's cigarettes, they are drugs too! You smoke cigarettes Jezza, you hypocritical tramp so don't give me that.
- Jeremy My cigarette addiction isn't nearly as bad as yours Nev, now come on.
- Nev You know what your problem is!? You were born with a shitty quiff and a forehead like a tombstone, and you still manage to have a God complex. You get angry at those on the dole but at least most of them can control their anger issues, unlike you. Don't tell them to, "put something on the end of it", when a vile human being like yourself needs to do just that. Your inbred offspring disgust me. They don't love you.
The Headlines[edit]
In 2007, out of the many newspaper headlines surrounding Nev's life, one that caused both confusion and controversy was:
"Nev, The Bear of Ghanaian Descent: Racist & Rapist?"
The headline accused Nev of racism after he called his Ghanaian cousin, Addae, a, "dirty dirty jeb". While the slang word, "jeb", is not defined as a racist term, it can be considered racist when followed by, "the fucking porch monkey". Nev denied being a racist but his comment of, "I'm not racist you ginger Arab", didn't support his claims.
"Neville The Blue Bear; PG Tips Monkey's Son?"
This headline caused much grief for PG Tips' frontman, "Monkey", who had to explain that while they may look very similar, they are in fact of a different species from eachother, are both male, and neither possess the proper 'equipment' to have sex anyway. This debate was discussed on the reality TV show, Trisha Goddard, which is basically Jeremy Kyle but without finding the families that go on it in the Job Centre. This switch from one TV show to another was largely because of Nev's ban from Jeremy Kyle. The DNA results came back negative, disproving the rumour surrounding Nev's true identity, but this was also when Nev learned he was HIV positive.
"Nev: "I'm not dyslexic you deckhed!""
This article was considered rather controversial at the time, since making fun of Dyslexic people is considered a taboo subject. Nev wanted to sue the newspaper for printing such invasive personal information, but his letter to, Lawyers4U was not taken seriously, since, "I am very unpleased whith the Daley Miror", made it seem like a joke.


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YPSILANTI, Mich. — The Ball State men's basketball team is starting to make a habit out of winning in the final second.
One week after downing Norfolk State on Majok Majok's buzzer beating dunk, the Cardinals opened Mid-American Conference play Wednesday by defeating Eastern Michigan, 60-58, on a pair of Chris Bond free throws with 0.6 seconds left.
Bond finished a perfect 8-for-8 from the floor and scored 18 points to match teammate Jauwan Scaife for game-high honors. Bond couldn't miss even when he tried Wednesday. The junior forward attempted to miss his second free throw in the final second but banked it in instead.
Tyler Koch batted away Eastern Michigan's length-of-the-floor inbounds pass on the final play to secure the road win at the Convocation Center.
The Cardinals improved to 7-6 (1-0 MAC) with the win and will return home to host Kent State for a 2 p.m. tipoff Saturday at Worthen Arena. Eastern Michigan dropped to 7-8 (0-1 MAC).
Junior guard Jesse Berry dished out a career-high six assists. He found himself with the ball in his hands on the final possession, just like last week when he hit Majok for the game-winner.
Berry took the ball with eight seconds left and the game tied at 58-58 after a pair of free throws by Eastern Michigan's Jalen Ross knotted the game for the first time since midway through the first half. Berry worked the ball up the floor and threaded a pass to Bond on the left baseline. Bond went hard to the basket, drawing a foul to set up the game-winning free throws.
"Jesse had his head up the whole time, he saw all his options, and Chris happened to be the best option," Ball State head coach Billy Taylor said. "Chris did a great job finishing tonight. On that play, he went strong to the basket and forced the official to make the call."
Ball State overcame 19 turnovers against Eastern Michigan's 2-3 zone defense, but the Cardinals also recorded 18 assists on their 24 made field goals. Ball State shot 58.5 percent for the game.
The Cardinals found success working the ball inside against the zone. Ball State held a 34-20 advantage in the paint, often finding Bond on the baseline or working the ball into the lane to Majok or Zach Fields, who combined for 14 points.
"The sharing of the basketball was great," Taylor said. "The turnovers were too high, but I thought a lot of our turnovers came on plays where we were trying to be unselfish but just didn't execute the pass."
Ball State also won the rebounding battle 29-16, led by Matt Kamieniecki, who returned to the lineup after missing two games with injury and grabbed seven boards in just 15 minutes.
On the perimeter, Scaife shot 4-for-8 from the 3-point line as he continued his hot hand. Scaife is now 11-for-19 from beyond the arc with 57 points over the past three games.
Ball State shot 63.6 percent in the first half and led 33-28 at the break. The Cardinals led by as many as eight on multiple occasions in the second half, including 56-48 with 4:26 to play. But they went the rest of the way without a field goal as Eastern Michigan clawed back to tie the score late.
Derek Thompson led the Eagles with 16 points, while J.R. Sims added 12. The Eagles shot 51.2 percent from the floor for the game.
"I thought our guys showed a lot of resiliency and a lot of character," Taylor said. "It was tough for us to score down the stretch with their trapping defense, but we found a way to win."


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Help people prevent food waste at home! Assist staff presenting the Eat Smart, Waste Less Challenge. Share your personal connection to food waste, help attendees fill out the Challenge form, give out tools, co-present or just observe and learn how to give the presentation yourself. Master Recyclers who are trained on the presentation can check out the kit from Washington County, give the presentation and return the kit. Learn more about the campaign at www.EatSmartWasteLess.com. Staff from Washington County are prepared to set up, give the presentation and put away equipment and materials.
Contact: Caitlin Ahearn, 503-846-8712


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Nathan MacKinnon jersey among raffle items to benefit Jeff Karas family
Dawg Nation's Marty Richardson met with new Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon in Denver on Monday and obtained a signed jersey from the No. 1 overall selection in Sunday's NHL draft. MacKinnon was told of the June 24 passing of prominent Littleton-area youth coach Jeff Karas and was happy to help in Dawg Nation's upcoming benefit skate for Karas' immediate family: wife Heather and children Marina and Michael. This is what Dawg Nation does.
The benefit skate will be Sunday, 2 to 3:30 p.m. at the Ice Ranch in Littleton. Free ice, thanks to the arena and the Littleton Hockey Association, but donations requested, with 100 percent of the funds going to the Karas family. Jeff Karas, who died after a long bout with leukemia, served as a volunteer LHA board member/coach and also coached with the Colorado Select (girls).
Raffle tickets will be sold for $5, with the winner getting the MacKinnon jersey. Please spread the word and, if you cannot attend the event but would like to donate, visit www.dawgnationhockey.org or contact Marty Richardson at firstname.lastname@example.com.


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Clergy: Would Jesus pack heat? NRA: Do pastors pack any clout?
From this Washington to Washington, D.C., church leaders shocked by Newtown are getting ready to go up against the National Rifle Association in an effort to limit or ban high-capacity magazines and assault weapons, and to require background checks on all gun purchases.
The killing of 12 people inside an Aurora, Colo., movie theater did not get priests, ministers and rabbis hot under their clerical colors. Nor did the killing of six at a Sikh temple in Wisconsin.
"But a hail of bullets inside Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, which took the lives of 20 first graders and six adults -- was able to mobilize religious activists on gun control after years of failing to gain traction," the Religion News Service reported on Saturday.
Clergy leaders are now asking: "Would Jesus pack heat?" Gun advocates can pose a question right back: "Do pastors pack any clout?"
The Very Rev. Gary Hall, dean of the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C., said in a post-Sandy Hook sermon:
"The Christian community, indeed, the entire American faith community can no longer tolerate this persisting and escalating gun violence against our people. Enough is enough." Hall went on to say, boldly: "The gun lobby is no match for the cross lobby."
The question, however, is one of tactics and political firepower. A bevy of Seattle parsons did hold a post-Sandy Hook news conference. Sadly, the venting of hot air was testament to why gun control has secured so little traction in the Washington Legislature. Ten speakers held forth. They delivered no sense of objective or strategy to get there.
A few religious voices are, however, posing unsettling and needed questions: How can it be that "pro-life" leaders in Congress, so passionate in defense of the unborn, be at the same time among the gun lobby's most steadfast supporters?
Murder is evil. It denies the right to life. Society deserves, as much as possible, to be protected from this evil. Measures such as limiting the bullets in ammunition clips -- instruments of mass murder in Tucson, Aurora and Newtown -- would seem prudent in countering violent criminal behavior.
"Those who consider themselves religious or pro-life must be invited to see that the desire to prevent gun-related deaths is part of the religious defense of the dignity of all life," Rev. James Martin, a Jesuit priest, wrote in the magazine America.
The pro-lifers in Washington, D.C., and Olympia should be asked, does life begin at conception but end in an elementary school classroom? Is life a gift from God that can be taken away in a movie theater? If the calling is to "choose life," shouldn't Christmas shoppers at a Clackamas, Ore., mall have that choice?
The National Council of Catholic Bishops, big defenders of life in the womb, has been notably reticent on the taking of life by guns . . . especially guns that are not designed for sport or hunting or self-defense. Seattle Archbishop J. Peter Sartain issued a bland statement of prayer and sympathy.
In a pre-Christmas sermon, however, Fr. Michael Ryan at St. James Cathedral pondered what advice St. John the Baptist would give on the subject, and concluded it would not be platitudes or empty prayers.
"Something tells me that he would speak to us about regaining our moral compass as a society, about shunning the ways of violence that are aided and abetted by the easy availability of the most lethal kind of assault weapons, and also by the violent video games that have come to pervade our culture."
The gun lobby has out-mobilized and out-spent its adversaries, but mostly it has outlasted them. The press devours details about the latest mass assassination, but then loses interest and moves on . . . as, sadly, does the country. Sadly, it was so with Seattle after the May killings at a coffee house on Roosevelt Way.
Will it be so with Newtown? Our local Episcopal bishop, Greg Rickel, raised a key issue in his post-Newtown blog:
"Coming just days after a shooting at Clackamas Mall, just south of us in Portland, and several months away from the horrific shooting in a Colorado theater, I fear our greatest danger, and some of what I feel now, is our getting used to it. This is not something to get used to."
Washington Ceasefire is sponsoring a march against gun violence in downtown Seattle on Sunday, Jan. 13, just under a month after the shooting of 20 first-graders at Sandy Hook Elementary School.
The march will test our attention spans, whether we are "getting used to it" or whether this is indeed a mobilization of religious activism against gun and video violence. And will that activism be mobilized effectively, and directed? The gun lobby is not to be beaten on a wing and a prayer.


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The around-the-globe effort will be chronicled by the Travel Channel in a special on Feb. 17. Sports Illustrated said Tuesday it's the first to do a fashion shoot in Antarctica, where temperatures were subfreezing.
Among the locations featured are Namibia, China, Australia and Easter Island, one of the most remote places on Earth.
Swimsuit magazine editor MJ Day says it took seven months to complete.
Sports Illustrated will reveal its cover Monday. It can be a star-making opportunity. Last year's cover model was Kate Upton. The magazine hits newsstands Feb. 12.
LOOK: Sports Illustrated's Swimsuit Issue 2012
MEET: Last Year's Swimsuit Issue Cover Model


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Jai Rodriguez stars in local premiere of sprawling, multi-ethnic musical
For not quite the 96,000th time, the cast of San Diego Rep's "In the Heights" is powering through the propulsive musical number "96,000" on a recent afternoon at the theater's Chula Vista rehearsal hall.
In between takes, some of the actors — clearly gassed by the show's athletic choreography — sprawl on the floor or rub aching muscles.
But at the center of the ensemble, Jai Rodriguez is looking poised, primed and ready to roll.
It may be true that the title of "96,000" — one of the signature songs from the Tony Award-winning, hip-hop-inflected musical, set in Manhattan's ethnically diverse Washington Heights — refers to the dollars in a lottery pot.
To hear Rodriguez tell it, though, it's just possible this stage and television star has 96,000 reasons to be part of the Rep production.
"Being Latino, coming from New York — living in Washington Heights for a good portion of my adult life," Rodriguez begins, ticking off some of the show's main attractions for him.
"I felt like I knew these people. The characters weren't fictitious to me. I could literally say, 'That one's Jonathan, that one's so and so.' All the jokes that were sort of inside New York jokes, that now have been broadened to sort of appeal to the masses, I understood.
"(So) in many ways I didn't feel I was very different from the character" — meaning Usnavi, the young, Dominican-born bodega owner at the center of "In the Heights."
"He is kind of looking for a sense of home and belonging. He lost his parents and was raised by this grandmother figure. Same with me: I was raised primarily by my grandmother."
A 'Heights' primer
A look at the some of the people and places that figure prominently in the musical:
Washington Heights: An ethnically and culturally diverse neighborhood in Upper Manhattan that serves as the musical's inspiration and setting.
Usnavi: The show's central character — a young bodega owner whose late parents emigrated with him from the Dominican Republic. (His father adapted the name from a passing ship bearing the words "U.S. Navy.")
No me diga: A Spanish phrase that means, essentially, "You don't say!" (Or maybe more accurately: "No way!") It doubles as the title of a gossipy song performed by three of the show's women.
Inutil: Another Spanish word, meaning "useless." It serves as the title of a number sung by the father of the character Nina. (Local angle: The song served as an inspiration for "Star Trek" icon George Takei to launch what became the Old Globe Theatre-developed musical "Allegiance," which is partly an ode of gratitude to Takei's own father.)
Piragua: A Puerto Rican shaved-ice treat that's a favorite of the sweltering characters in the show.
And Rodriguez's connections to the show go on — not just to Usnavi, but by extension to Lin-Manuel Miranda, the composer-lyricist-actor who created the show and originated the role of Usnavi on Broadway.
In 2008, "In the Heights" became the toast of the Tony Awards, winning four of the trophies (including best musical); it went on to be named a Pulitzer Prize finalist.
"Heights" also became the first hip-hop-driven musical to make it big on Broadway, although Miranda's score takes in such styles as Latin jazz, traditional show tunes and modern pop as well.
"One of the really common things we've heard is people saying after the show, 'I'm not a fan of hip-hop, I didn't think I'd respond to it, but I really loved it,' " said the musical's book writer, Quiara Alegría Hudes (who won a Pulitzer last year for "Water by the Spoonful"), in a 2008 U-T interview. "Even though they'll swear up and down that they're not hip-hop fans."
Taming the beast
"In the Heights" did come through San Diego in 2010 as a Broadway/San Diego touring show, but this will be the first time a San Diego-area theater has produced the musical. And for the Rep, finding an actor suited for the role had to be at the top of the to-do list.
Enter Rodriguez, who acknowledges he'd been wanting to play the role "forever." The L.A.-based actor had instructed his agent: "Please, if 'In the Heights' ever comes to a reputable regional theater on the West Coast, let me know."
Rodriguez actually is not best known for his stage work: His most prominent role has been as the "cultural correspondent" on "Queer Eye," the Bravo cable network's makeover/reality show that ran for about five years starting in 2003, when it was called "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy."
But his theater credits include the prime role of Angel in the touring version of the musical "Rent," as well as the title role in off-Broadway's "Zanna, Don't!" He also did Broadway stints in "Rent" and "The Producers." (Right now Rodriguez is back on television, in the ABC-TV series "Malibu Country.")
While Rodriguez knew he wanted to play Usnavi, he also knew how much he would be taking on.
"To be honest, it's such a beast of a role that I was intimidated by its magnitude," he says. "The language is so specific to New York and Washington Heights — the character even says that his 'syntax is highly complicated' (to quote the title song's lyric) because he immigrated from the Dominican Republic.
"So you have elements of the New Yorker accent, you have the cultural accent. And they're all things I grew up with that I tried to shed! So here I am highlighting them in the show," he adds with a laugh.
It was Rep co-founder and artistic leader Sam Woodhouse, the production's director, who pointed out that such quirks are at the very heart of the show's power and appeal.
"What Sam said, which I love, is: We're not doing this show so that everyone understands every moment and every lyric and every line. Because some things are written as inside jokes, and some things are in Spanish. So some things are going to go over people's heads.
"What we're doing is inviting the audience into this world of 'In the Heights.' If the show were called 'In San Diego,' it might sound different."
In a separate interview, Woodhouse says he believes that "all great art achieves universality through the specific," and that the peculiarities of Washington Heights aside, "there's an energy of life on the streets here that I think we recognize."
One other element that's specific to "In the Heights" — or at least is more true of this musical than of other shows the Rep has done (and that includes some big ones) — is its sheer scope. Woodhouse says that in many ways "Heights" goes beyond such recent large-scale productions as "Hairspray," "The Who's Tommy" and "Zoot Suit."
"This is a huge dance spectacular in terms of big numbers with a great amount of movement," he says. "The scale of the production in terms of the number of performers, the range and diversity of the music, the range and diversity of style and content, just makes it an enormously complicated puzzle."
One way the theater is solving the puzzle is to team once again with the San Diego School of Creative and Performing Arts, which was likewise the Rep's partner on those three previous shows.
SCPA actors and musicians are an integral part of the production, taking on prominent roles in a couple of cases. The concept has worked increasingly well since it was instituted in 2010, Woodhouse says.
The students' "commitment to professionalism and appreciation for (the opportunity) has risen dramatically," he says. "They understand the payoff that their dedication (creates)."
In many ways, the students' cultural diversity — and that of the characters who populate "In the Heights" — also tie in ideally with the Rep's longtime, pioneering mission of inclusiveness.
"It's an incredibly diverse community, Washington Heights," as Woodhouse observes. "It's like City Heights in San Diego."
At the same time, he notes, the musical raises questions that people of all backgrounds grapple with in an ever-mobile, quick-shifting society: "Where's home? How do I know I'm there? Is it a place — or is it in my heart and in my mind?"
For a couple of hours in the theater, at least, home will be in the Heights.
"In the Heights"
When: Previews begin Tuesday. Opens Aug. 4 . Performances: 7 p.m. Tuesdays-Wednesdays; 8 p.m. Thursdays-Fridays; 2 and 8 p.m. Saturdays; 2 and 7 p.m. Sundays. Through Aug. 25.
Where: San Diego Repertory Theatre's Lyceum Stage, 79 Horton Plaza, downtown
Tickets: $35-$62 (students $18; other discounts available)
Phone: (619) 544-1000
Online: sdrep.org


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SquallStrife wrote:Prof, chill, I'm trying to think of an alternative! Festive season is keeping me pretty busy. I'm just slotting in dev time where possible at the moment.
I'll hopefully have an alternative anti-spam solution by the end of the weekend.
Ahh well, not so much my problem as it is yours, so not sure why you're suggesting I "chill".... Just letting you know he wasn't the only one with the problem. I have drivers to share, just post when the problems are fixed and I will try again later when I have time.