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Simple Arithmetic: Jaso + Rays = Success
The more you watch him play, the more you seem to visualize the hidden persona that is within Tampa Bay Rays rookie catcher John Jaso. There is a cerebral side to him that only a select fraction of friends of Rays fans have ever seen off the field because Jaso is a bit different that the catching norm when it comes to usual physical demands of a Major League catcher. It is common knowledge that to play behind Home Plate and take the constant hammering catcher do on a daily basis from errant breaking balls and foul tips you got to have a few screws loose. But maybe Jaso's nuts and bolts are tighter than you think.
Here is a rookie ballplayer who is so "green" conscious that several times during the 2010 MLB season he had a friend drop him off at the back gate entrance to Tropicana Field to carpool or save energy. But that isn't the only quality that makes this young catcher unique. Then again, don't get caught up in the old analogy that Jaso is one of those enigmas wrapped in a riddle, that usually sits behind the plate for Jaso's sin or folly is actually that he is just a little more mathematically inclined than most of his catching brethren.
On more than one occasion during his rookie campaign with the Rays, Jaso has vocalized his future aspiration of possibly becoming a mathematics teacher after his playing days are finished. I can easily imagine Jaso walking around a high school or university classroom entrancing his students with his profound joy of analytical equations and formulas and professing to the invisible magic that lives among the numerals that most of us only love to see on our weekly paychecks.
You could easily see someone with the passion and excitement of numbers like Jaso possibly changing many young lives with just a few paragraphs about algorithms. But right now he is trying to change a few lives with his bat and his play behind the plate for the Rays. And it works to Jaso's advantage that mathematics plays such a central component of his life. The art of catching in the Major Leagues is a position ultimately steeped in game time probabilities and a everlasting sea of predictable percentages.
With Jaso's ease at taking in large quantities of numbers and simultaneously filtering out the mundane and unusable with quick precision, it will make him more in tune with his game day play calling duties behind the plate. With a razor sharp mind based firmly within the guidelines of logic and statistical reasoning, it makes him a clear asset for the Rays, especially at a key defensive play-calling position like catcher.
Want to put Jaso's lead-off status into a more funneled down wisp of probabilities and clarity? No other rookie has ever started more games catching and batted lead-off in one season than Jaso. Sure he might have only started 41 times behind the plate and hit lead-off in 2010, but that mark completely destroyed the previous record held by Hall of Famer and former Philadelphia A's catcher Mickey Cochrane who held the previous mark of hitting in the lead-off spot only 13 times in 1925.
All of this statistical brilliance might not have evolved if Jaso had not had an open mind to change this past Spring in Port Charlotte, Florida. It was during the early stages just after Jaso reported along with the Rays roster of invited pitchers' and catchers' that the Rays staff sat down with Jaso and explained that his probable chances of him making and retaining a spot with the Rays unless he devoting some extra time and energy to revamping and reformulating his catching basics behind the plate. Jaso needed to quickly subtract a few bad habits and add a few more wrinkles to his current catching foundation.
With the help of Rays Bullpen Catcher Scott Cursi and Rays Bullpen Coach Bobby Ramos, Jaso began a intense and prolific change to his overall catching style. By infusing a quicker throwing style and more profound blocking techniques, it easily multiplied Jaso's overall chance to finally aspire to the Major League level. Jaso quickly adapted and performed his changes with precision and became more acquainted to his new stances and throwing motion. Even with his quick renovation to his catching persona, the Rays still had Jaso start the season with the Rays Triple-A club, the Durham Bulls.
But when Shoppach went down with a knee injury, Jaso was quickly recalled from the Bulls on April 13, 2010 and became a key member of the Rays catching equation. Jaso still shows signs of falling back into bad habits behind the plate on breaking pitches in the dirt, or holding onto foul tips. But he showed the initiative of picking the brain of Ramos and Cursi in further developing his overall catching and his ability to show improvements on a daily basis were quickly noticed by Maddon and his Coaching staff.
Since the mathematical classification of statistics seem to be at the true heart of the game of baseball, let's look at some other of Jaso's accomplishments that could ultimately make Jaso the first name on the Rays flowchart both in the line-up and behind the plate again in 2011:
*** Jaso's 59 walks in 2010 led all American League rookies in that category and beat the previous Rays rookie record set by Akinora Iwamura set in 2007 by one lone walk.
*** No one in Major League Baseball had a better walk to strikeout ratio (59-39) than Jaso in his 339 plate appearances.
*** The last American League rookie catcher to finish the season with a OBP ( .372 ) as high as Jaso's (min 100 games) was New York Yankee great Thurman Munson with a .386 OBP in 1970.
*** Jaso finished in fifth place in the 2010 AL Rookie of the Year voting garnering only a single third place vote. That put him right on the heels of fellow Rays starter Wade Davis who finished in fourth place, but Davis's tally only included fourth place votes (11).
Mathematics has always been a key component to Jaso's life off the diamond. And now his love of numbers and probabilities is also starting to help him control his fate on the field. Jaso was a career .291 hitter in the minors for the Rays, and his bat has never been seen as a negative element for him.
Playing the odds and taking calculated risks have come out to his advantage during his rookie season. If Jaso can keep his analytical mind trained on his hitting, and keeps evolving defensively behind the plate, the Rays might have finally found the all around catcher that they have been searching for.
I could see Jaso standing in front of an auditorium or classroom with his trademark post-game Birkenstocks with his excited voice bellowing through the room about the symbolic notations of mathematic principles and the simple origins of numerals. But all that will have to wait as Jaso took full advantage of the opportunity presented to him this last Spring by the Rays to heart to change his catching style.
Maybe Jaso has finally found a feasible conclusion to his personal internal algorithm with a future in the Major Leagues. With more Summers in the Sun predicted for Jaso, it should give him more than ample time to finally come to that long sought after analytical final conclusion that his career in the Major Leagues might just be the best mathematical solution Jaso has ever solved.
6 Comments
Jaso is one of the reasons that Dioner Navarro, who was an All Star only two seasons ago might be looking for another clubhouse in 2011.
But that poses another situation on whether to keep Navarro who will command a little less in salary or release or trade Kelly Shoppach.
They are both basically the same guy with Shoppach have an slight edge defensively.
Might be another mathematical situation coming soon with a totally fiscal equation.
Rays Renegade
Jaso seems like a real find for you guys. A catcher who can hit and call a good game? Don't let him go!
Also, don't forget, all the womens loooooooove Jaso. He even has his own tumblr blog I believe. Or, at least, his pic shows up there a lot.
I never knew he might have an alter ego or some sort of uber blog posting his photos and antics.
Learn something new every day on the Internet.
And here you are, the man who delivers the good to me.
Rays Renegade
Jenn, My first thoughts before entering college was to get a teaching degree and teaching English or Composition courses while also becoming that overweight and now un-athletic looking coach on the baseball, football soccer or track teams.
But something pulled me towards working as a journalist.
I was never a huge math geek or had aninterest in going above and beyond the ususal math requirements.
Saint Jaso…..has a nice ring to it.
Rays Renegade
Anyone who WANTS to teach math is a SAINT. Seriously. Canonize the man now. LOL I teach English and that is hard…would never touch math ;o)


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Gerard Butler Dot Net and The Butler Did It participated in the fan site conference call with Gerard earlier this afternoon to discuss Law Abiding Citizen. Listen to it below (in two parts). Many thanks to Gerard and Overture Films for taking the time to speak with us!
Part 1:
Part 2:
DON'T FORGET!! Set your TIVOs and DVRs, Gerard will appear on The Jay Leno Show tonight at 10pm Eastern on NBC. NBC posts full episodes online after the show airs. Check their site out for video.
Watch more video from the red carpet premiere of Law Abiding Citizen in Los Angeles.
Pictures from the October 6th Law Abiding Citizen Press Conference have been added to the gallery.

subset: commoncrawl


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"At the outset of the creation of the euro in 1999, it was expected that the southern eurozone economies would behave like those in the north; the Italians would behave like Germans. They didn't," Greenspan said. "Instead, northern Europe fell into subsidizing southern Europe's excess consumption, that is, its current account deficits."
Greenspan predicts that as the south's fiscal crisis deepens, the flow of goods from the north will stop altogether and southern Europe's standard of living will go down.
"The effect of the divergent cultures in the eurozone has been grossly underestimated," he added. "The only way to have several currencies from divergent nations lumped together is if they are culturally close, such as Germany, the Netherlands and Austria. If they aren't, it simply can't continue to work."
Tim Worstall also has a good piece on the same subject in Forbes:
While these very different economies are locked into the one currency, one interest rate, system there's really not a lot anyone can do about it. Some talk of fiscal union, which is in essence the rich areas sending money to the poor ones. But absolutely no one at all thinks that those rich areas have the desire nor capacity to ship enough money: we're not talking about a few billions here or there, but substantial percentages of GDP being necessary.
Yes, I do think it fair to say that wild gyrations are a sign of failure in an economic policy or system. And in this sense, I think it inevitable that the euro will fail. For it already has.


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Investigators had not yet discovered the bodies of pro wrestler Chris Benoit, his wife and their 7-year-old son when someone altered Benoit's Wikipedia entry to mention his wife's death, authorities said.
An anonymous user with the same IP address as the person who made the edits confessed early Friday on an online discussion page attached to the Web site, saying the changes were based on rumors and speculation, not hard evidence.
The authenticity of the posting could not immediately be confirmed.
"I just can't believe what I wrote was actually the case, I've remained stunned and saddened over it," the user wrote.
According to Wikinews, an online news source connected to Wikipedia, the Internet protocol address of the individual is identical to that of the user who edited Benoit's profile early Monday morning. An IP address is a unique series of numbers carried by every machine connected to the Internet.
Benoit's page on Wikipedia, a reference site that allows users to add and edit information, was updated at 12:01 a.m. Monday, about 14 hours before authorities say the bodies were found. The reason he missed a match Saturday night was "stemming from the death of his wife Nancy," it said.
Wikipedia confirmed the authenticity of the time stamp and said entry was made by someone using an IP address registered in Stamford, Conn., where World Wrestling Entertainment is based. The anonymous user acknowledged being from Stamford, but claimed no connection to WWE.
Wikipedia referred all further questions to authorities investigating the deaths. Messages left for Fayette County District Attorney Scott Ballard were not immediately returned Friday.
Benoit strangled his wife and son during the weekend, placing Bibles next to their bodies, before hanging himself on the cable of a weight-machine in his home, authorities said. No motive was offered for the killings.
Also Thursday, federal drug agents said they had raided the west Georgia office of a doctor who prescribed testosterone to Benoit.
The raid at Dr. Phil Astin's office in Carrollton began Wednesday night and concluded early Thursday, said agent Chuvalo Truesdell, a spokesman for the Drug Enforcement Administration. No arrests were made.
Hours before the raid, Astin told The Associated Press he had treated Benoit for low testosterone levels, which he said likely originated from previous steroid use.
Among other things, investigators were looking for Benoit's medical records to see whether he had been prescribed steroids and, if so, whether that prescription was appropriate, according to a law enforcement official speaking on condition of anonymity because records in the case remain sealed.
Astin prescribed testosterone for Benoit, a longtime friend, in the past but would not say what, if any, medications he prescribed when Benoit visited his office on June 22.
WWE attorney Jerry McDevitt said that to his knowledge, no one at the WWE knew Nancy Benoit was dead before her body was found Monday afternoon. Text messages released by officials show that messages from Chris Benoit's cell phone were being sent to co-workers a few hours after the Wikipedia posting.
WWE employees are given WWE e-mail addresses, McDevitt said, though he did not know whether Chris Benoit had one.
"I have no idea who posted this," McDevitt said. "It's at least possible Chris may have sent some other text message to someone that we're unaware of. We don't know if he did. The phone is in the possession of authorities."
On Thursday afternoon, the Wikipedia page about Benoit carried a note stating that editing by unregistered or newly registered users was disabled until July 8 because of vandalism.
Wikipedia user admits authoring Benoit entry
Investigators had not yet discovered the bodies of pro wrestler Chris Benoit, his wife and their 7-year-old son when someone altered Benoit's Wikipedia entry to mention his wife's death, authorities said.


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Journal Article
Direct Dual Fuel Stratification, a Path to Combine the Benefits of RCCI and PPC
Control of the timing and magnitude of heat release is one of the biggest challenges for premixed compression ignition, especially when attempting to operate at high load. Single-fuel strategies such as partially premixed combustion (PPC) use direct injection of gasoline to stratify equivalence ratio and retard heat release, thereby reducing pressure rise rate and enabling high load operation. However, retarding the heat release also reduces the maximum work extraction, effectively creating a tradeoff between efficiency and noise. Dual-fuel strategies such as reactivity controlled compression ignition (RCCI) use premixed gasoline and direct injection of diesel to stratify both equivalence ratio and fuel reactivity, which allows for greater control over the timing and duration of heat release. This enables combustion phasing closer to top dead center (TDC), which is thermodynamically favorable.


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Norwegian-Somali ID'd in Kenya mall attack
NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Almost one month after gunmen attacked an upscale mall in Kenya, one of them has been identified as a Norwegian-Somali, officials said Friday, as charred body parts taken from a collapsed portion of the shopping center awaited forensics analysis to determine if they were the remains of the assailants.
The suspect was identified as Hassan Abdi Dhuhulow, the first time officials have confirmed having a real name of one of possibly four attackers from the Somali militant group al-Shabab who stormed the mall on Sept. 21. Norwegian tax records show a Hassan Abdi Dhuhulow was born in 1990 and was registered at an address in Larvik, southern Norway, as late as 2009.
A former classmate of Dhuhulow's at Thor Heyerdahl High School — named after the Norwegian adventurer — said she was shocked when she found out he was a suspect in the Nairobi attack.
"The video I saw looks a lot like him. But it's difficult to see," said the former classmate, who didn't want her name to be used because she was uncomfortable being associated with a terror investigation.
"He was a quiet guy," she said. "He was very committed to his religion, but not extreme. He brought a prayer mat to school."
Larvik is a coastal town of about 40,000, tucked in between the woods and the sea, surrounded by agricultural land and close to the mountains.
Community leader Mohamed Hassan said that Dhuhulow, as a boy, would listen to his elders in the mosque and be respectful.
"He was not a trouble maker here in Larvik," Hassan told The Associated Press by phone.
But newly released video from closed-circuit TV security cameras installed at the Westgate Mall in Nairobi show four armed men, cold-bloodedly shooting defenseless civilians. At one point, a gunman shoots a man who was trying to hide behind an elephant statue. The man survives and, bleeding profusely onto the floor, squirms. Another gunmen comes back and finishes him off.
In other scenes, terrified shoppers and employees scramble for safety, some scuttling like crabs, as bullets flash overhead.
One man living in a Scandinavian country, but not Norway, told AP he believes he had met the Norwegian-Somali gunman at a gathering of Somali immigrants in Oslo, Norway's capital, in 2008.
Yussuf, who only gave his first name for fear of reprisals, recalled the man's name as Abdi and said he was associated with "pretty radical" circles in Norway.
"He was mad. He didn't feel at home in Norway," Yussuf saids. Yussuf said he had not had any contact with the man since then but added that several people he knew thought they had recognized him in the closed-circuit TV footage of the mall attack.
"We said that it could be him when we looked at the video," Yussuf said.
Charred pieces of bodies, enough to fill two plastic boxes about a foot wide and across, have been recovered from the part of the Westgate Mall that collapsed as security forces battled the terrorists, officials said Friday. Four AK-47 rifles believed to have been used by the attackers were also recovered from the rubble.
A Kenyan security official said it is possible the remains are of the attackers but it would not be definitively known until tests are carried out. The two boxes were taken to the morgue on Thursday, and on Friday Western forensic examiners arrived there and locked the boxes containing the remains, a morgue said. FBI agents have been investigating since soon after gunmen invaded Westgate Mall in Nairobi on Sept. 21.
Johansen Oduor, the chief Kenyan government pathologist, said authorities would work on the remains on Saturday. He said he didn't know if the remains were those of two bodies or three — as some reports indicated — because the remains were sealed and he hadn't seen them yet.
Reports in some media had said the attackers used machine guns and had stashed the heavy weapons in a shop at the mall. But none of the CCTV footage that has been released shows the gunmen using machine guns. Instead they have AK-47s, which eyewitnesses have said they brought into the mall. Also there has been no sign that the assailants used a shop to prepare for the attack.
Newly released video from closed-circuit TV security cameras installed at the mall shows that four gunmen entered the mall and casually opened fire on shoppers, the beginning of a four-day siege that resulted in a massive fire and the mall's partial collapse.
Four AK-47 rifles and 11 magazines of ammunition — all apparently used by the attackers — were also found in the mall rubble, the security official said. A rocket-propelled grenade, likely from Kenyan security forces, was also recovered. The two officials insisted on anonymity because the information has not been released publicly.
The Somali Islamic militant group al-Shabab claimed responsibility for the attack, saying it was in retaliation for Kenya sending troops into Somalia to go after the extremists. The gunmen stormed the mall just after noon on a busy shopping day. The siege, which set off heavy battles with Kenyan security forces, lasted four days and resulted in RPGs being fired inside the mall, a massive fire and the collapse of the mall's main grocery and department store.
Al-Shabab threatened to carry out more attacks unless Kenyan withdraws its forces from Somalia, a demand Kenya's president says will not be met. And there are indications al-Shabab may be attempting to carry out attacks in other regional countries.
Last weekend a blast rocked a home in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in a neighborhood where many Somalis live, and officials said it may have been an accidental detonation of explosives by two Somali militants who planned to attack a soccer game.
Ethiopia's anti-terrorism task force found a gun, grenades, explosives, a detonator and a belt at the home where the explosion took place. The jersey of Ethiopia's national soccer team was found at the site of the explosion, in what was perhaps an indication that the would-be bombers hoped to mingle among soccer fans of a game being played last Sunday, a state TV report said.
Like Kenya, Ethiopia has troops in Somalia. So does another regional power — Uganda — where more than 70 people were killed when al-Shabab detonated bombs in Kampala in 2010 as crowds watched the World Cup soccer final on TV.
The U.S. Embassy in Kampala this week said it continues to assess reports that a "Westgate-style attack may soon occur in Kampala." The embassy said it was sharing information with Ugandan authorities and told U.S. citizens "to exercise vigilance and to avoid public venues that attract large crowds."
The Kenyan security forces have come under heavy criticism over allegations they looted many of the shops inside the mall during the siege. Although government officials have denied looting took place, video seen by AP shows soldiers picking items off shelves in a store that appears to be Nakumatt, and then later walking out with bags stuffed with goods.
AP writers Jan M. Olsen in Copenhagen, Denmark, and Karl Ritter in Stockholm contributed to this report.
Copyright 2013 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.


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We are excited to announce that our first offline event, TreeLife by TCH, will be unveiled in a major city in 2013.
This event will showcase innovative and creative sustainable architecture, and illustrate that green can co-exist with urban city life.
The world's first major public exhibition of 'green design' treehouses, TreeLife will bring the biggest names in international architecture, design and art into the one public place for the first time, showcasing cutting edge green and sustainable design.
Life in the trees
Treehouses have become creative eco-statements in the design world. They allow people to literally be "in" nature and peace above the stressful street level of life. The Cool Hunter will invite top local and international architects, artists and designers to design for the event a modern treehouse, created from sustainable and recycled materials
Global program of events:
To celebrate the incredible temporary environment created by TreeLife, the exhibition will host a program of events that will vary from city to city.
Art-life: Green-themed, organic art installations placed around treehouses including topiary.
Silent Cinema: Public, open-air "silent" movie screenings using wireless, sound-proof headphones.
Free bikes at each satellite venue for people to move from site to site in an eco-friendly manner
Hi-Tea: Refresh in the TreeLife High Tea Room
The Green Room: An off-site sister hospitality venue
Sleep overnight in a treehouse: The ultimate tree house experience.
Illuminating TreeLife at night: LED installations and nightly LIGHT SHOW
Rollerdisco: A 70s "rollerskate" rink.
Eco-stage: Artists will perform amongst the installations on the green-powered Eco-Stage
The Ecotarium: A showcase of green technology.
Graphic Art exhibition: 100 TreeLife posters designed by 100 of the world's top graphic illustrators
For sponsorship enquiries, contact here


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Millions of matches. More successful marriages.
At eHarmony, data meets dating
It takes more than chemistry to make 3.5 million online matches daily. eHarmony relies on IBM PureData System to demonstrate the power of love – and analytics.
Learn how the 10,000 PureSystems shipped since April 2012 are driving customer success and growth.
"Consolidating 75 existing physical machines to a single server will cut energy costs by approximately 25%. This will help to improve operating margins, and allow us to allocate valuable financial resources to the pursuit of medical innovation."
- Andrea Guido
IT Operations Manager
Ospedale di Novara
PureSystems adds up for
financial services company
High availability, reduced costs and disaster recovery check out for VALECARD
The Brazilian credit card and consulting company needed to keep customer financial data updated and accurate. IBM PureSystems and storage systems enabled a cloud solution for greater agility, automation and efficiency.
Lightning-fast business
intelligence for the 21st century
New IBM white paper explores signature pattern
Organizations need to harness the value of their data resources. Deployed on the IBM PureApplication System, the IBM Business Intelligence Pattern with DB2 BLU Acceleration provides a fast, rich and simple BI solution.
Learn more about IBM Business Intelligence Pattern with DB2 BLU Acceleration (142 KB)
April 27 - May 1, 2014
Las Vegas, Nevada
May 19-23, 2014
Las Vegas, Nevada


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At 6 a.m. last Thursday, just as Michelle McClain and her five children were in various stages of getting up, dressed and off to school, police busted in the apartment door, guns drawn, and started ordering people to lie face-down on the floor.
Her oldest daughter, 18, was just getting out of the shower. Her 4-year-old and the others were traumatized, she said. "They were asking me 'why are they here, why are they doing this, what did we do?'" McClain told Fox 25 News.
Good questions, ones the Framingham Police and Mass. State Police should have asked before they burst in on the McClain family � with a warrant made out for the apartment next door.
For most of our country�s history, laws and procedures recognized the common law principle that a person�s home was his castle, and that police must knock and be recognized before entering. America�s Founders, still mad over the invasions of colonists� homes by British soldiers, prohibited "unreasonable searches and seizures" in the Bill of Rights.
But no-knock raids were legalized as part of the "war on drugs," justified by the fear that suspects would destroy evidence while the police waited at the door. They have become standard operating procedure, with police drug raids often accompanied by flash-bang grenades and high-tech battering rams. There were around 3,000 no-knock raids in 1981, one study found, and more than 50,000 in 2005.
With that many raids, there are bound to be mistakes, many of them more tragic than last week�s address mix-up in Framingham. In 1993, a Boston minister died of a heart attack after police mistakenly burst into his apartment. Firefights have broken out when people in the house being raided assumed the invaders were criminal gangs, not police. It was in the aftermath of one of these "dynamic entries" in 2011 that a Framingham police officer shot Eurie Stamps Sr. as he lay face-down in his home.
This time, no one was shot when police broke down the door of a Framingham home. Police Chief Kenneth Ferguson and Town Manager Robert Halpin apologized to McClain. The school resource office offered to help reassure the children. That�s the kind of positive response to trouble between police and civilians that was noticeably absent after Eurie Stamps was killed.
The war on drugs still rages, even as people increasingly recognize its failures. Thursday�s raid in Framingham was one of more than a dozen in six communities targeting a cocaine distribution ring. Police seized drugs, cash, weapons and the cars the suspects allegedly used to conduct business. The war will keep raging until the people, through their elected representatives, decide on a different way to address the demand for drugs.
But the collateral damage to people like the McClain family isn�t necessary. All the police have to do is knock on the door, wait for an answer, and treat the people inside as citizens, not the enemy.
Editorial: Advice to police: Just knock first
At 6 a.m. last Thursday, just as Michelle McClain and her five children were in various stages of getting up, dressed and off to school, police busted in the apartment door, guns drawn, and started ordering people to lie face-down on the floor.


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With the American summer blockbuster season behind us, the coming months will see the majority of the year's 'prestige' pictures released in theatres in the build-up to the Oscars in March.
Certain titles are already generating the right kind of buzz - Ben Affleck's Argo, David O Russell's The Silver Linings Playbook, Steven Spielberg's Lincoln - but there's one film (released in New Zealand cinemas today) that is getting generally good notices, but not a lot of overall attention, and it's freaking awesome.
New Zealand-born Australian writer/director Andrew Dominik declared himself a filmmaker of note when his first film, Chopper, was released in 2000. He followed that up with 2007's The Assassination of Jesse James, a lyrical wonder that gave Brad Pitt his juiciest role outside of Fight Club.
Dominik has reteamed with Pitt for his new film, the crime drama Killing Them Softly. And holy stuff if it isn't one of the coolest American crime dramas I've ever seen. Despite feeling like a very modern film, it trades in the kind of lowdown artful grit that lent the best American films of the 1970s their authenticity.
Based upon the 1974 novel Cogan's Trade by George V Higgins, Killing Them Softly stars Brad Pitt as Jackie Cogan, a medium level enforcer who is tasked with investigating when a mob-protected poker game is robbed at gun point in New Orleans.
But Pitt doesn't even appear on screen until almost a third of the way through the film. For the first 30 minutes or so, we follow Frankie and Russell, two degenerates who "plan" and execute the heist, thus necessitating Cogan's involvement.
As ably demonstrated by Jesse James, Dominik has a gift for casting, and that's in full effect in Killing Them Softly. Frankie and Russell are played by Scoot McNairy - the intense indie actor from 2009's Monsters who plays a significant supporting role in Argo - and Australian actor Ben Mendelsohn, who's also enjoying a pretty good 2012 with a supporting role in The Dark Knight Rises.
McNairy is amusingly scuzzy, but it's a real showcase role for Mendelsohn, who deserves Oscar attention for his amazingly convincing performance as a scummy low-rent junkie ambling for a big score.
Despite a long and illustrious career in Australian film and television (he was in The Henderson Kids!) Mendelsohn's only really been on Hollywood's radar since his chilling breakout role in 2009's Animal Kingdom, which appears to have done wonders for the careers of all of its cast. Mendelsohn's sickly, conniving presence in Killing Them Softly is a step beyond his work even in that film, and under Dominik's direction he has created an instantly iconic movie scumbag.
So I was already completely onboard with the film by the time Pitt's Cogan turned up, but he's fantastic as well - Dominik really seems to be able to bring the best out of Pitt, who even in his best performances often can't help reminding the audience that he's Brad Pitt via his recognisable tics and vocal affectations. Not so here. He's all business in a badass leather jacket.
The year 2008 - when this film is set - doesn't seem that long ago, but Dominik manages to make Killing Them Softly feel like a period piece. Barely a scene goes by that doesn't feature or reference some aspect of the 2008 Presidential campaign. It's not exactly subtle, and this seems to be the main complaint among the film's detractors - that the political metaphors are laid on too thick.
I thought it worked though. The film is about modern America, and nothing about modern America is subtle. Dominik comments explicitly on the financial meltdown and bail-out, and his analogy is apt: Who better to represent everyone involved than a bunch of gambling crooks grasping at piles of cash?
Many critics cited the influence of acclaimed director Terrence Malick's lyrical style in The Assassination of Jesse James. That influence is present in Killing Them Softly, but it's under a layer of grit and grime which only adds to the proceedings. And at 97 minutes, this is not a film that outstays its welcome. It's like a swift punch to the gut that aches for weeks.
After toiling for years in straight-to-DVD films, Ray Liotta is gifted his best role in ages as the organiser of the doomed poker game, and gets to demonstrate just how underutilised he has become in the process. He is fantastic. So is the great Richard Jenkins (The Visitor, Six Feet Under) as Pitt's contact.
Looking beyond Mendelsohn's showy performance, James Gandolfini is devastating in a different way as an associate of Pitt's who comes to assist, but ends up just sitting around in his hotel room getting boozed and sending out for prostitutes. There's plenty of existing evidence for Gandolfini's acting genius, but he still manages to impress greatly as an angry, tired, rotten man raging against the world. His metaphorical connotations are boundless.
Killing Them Softly is as much a subversion of crime movie tropes as No Country For Old Men was, and the (admittedly clearly stated) thematic underpinnings lend it dramatic heft. It's a bold American drama that deserves to be called a modern masterpiece. I mean, just look at this poster.
* Seen Killing Them Softly? Like? Dislike? Amped to see it? Comment below!
Follow Dominic Corry on Twitter.


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Q: What is this black mucky stuff on the bottom of my pond and how do I get rid of it? – Several Customers
A: Over time, organics such as leaves, aquatic weeds or twigs fall into the pond and settle on the bottom. These organics slowly begin to decay and will create a mucky layer on the bottom of your pond. As time passes, this muck layer will get thicker and thicker. Before you know it, you'll step into your pond and sink a foot down in muck. Muck is also a food source for algae and pond weeds. As the muck layer grows, so will your problems with algae and pond weeds. So how do we combat muck? Below are a few suggestions:
The best way to combat muck is to use a beneficial, natural bacteria called MuckAway™. MuckAway™ is an aerobic bacteria that instantly activates when put into water and will eat away the muck at an accelerated rate. When used with aeration, you can see up to 3-5″ dissipate per year.
Just remember, any organic matter that goes into your pond will create more muck. The more muck, the more food source for algae and pond weeds. Finding ways to reduce the amount of organics going into your pond is a must. For instance, cutting your grass away from the pond, instead of directly in it or removing twigs and tree branches that have fallen into the pond using a Pond & Beach Rake.
One more way to reduce muck is to use a bottom bubbler aeration system. Aerobic bacteria, like PondClear™, will break down muck at an even faster rate when there is saturated oxygen levels in your pond's water. Aeration also has many other benefits besides breaking down muck, such as clearing the water column of sediments, reducing the chances of fish kills or turnover and eliminating a pond's thermocline. (Read more about the benefits of aeration here)
Filed under: Muck, MuckAway, Pond & Lake | Tagged: bottom muck, how to get rid of bottom muck, how to get rid of muck, how to get rid of mucky bottom, muck, Muck Away, muckaway, mucky, mucky bottom |


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Creative LightWave 3D CG, stunning VFX, and true artistry blend to deliver an onscreen experience unlike any other. Bunraku, the second film from acclaimed director Guy Moshe, is a unique blend of cutting-edge computer graphics and choreographed live action, comic book and video game styles, gritty reality and fantasy, and samurai and spaghetti western genres.
Crime boss Nicola the Woodcutter (Ron Perlman) commands an army of thugs headed by nine deadly assassins in a post-war future without guns. Citizens of the small town, terrorized by Nicola's regime, wait in hope of a hero to save them. A mysterious drifter (Josh Hartnett) and young samurai (Japanese star Gackt) soon cross paths and, with guidance from the local bartender (Woody Harrelson), join forces in a quest to overthrow Nicola's tyrannical reign. At Nicola's side are Alexandra (Demi Moore), the femme fatale, and Killer No. 2 (Kevin McKidd), Nicola's lethal right-hand man.
Origami Originality
The one-of-a-kind film, which debuted on September 30, 2011 in a limited release, delivers an impressive cast and a wealth of eye-catching, awe-inspiring visuals -- all within a $25 million production budget. Bunraku is written and directed by Moshe, based on a story by Boaz Davidson.
Moshe's Picturesque Films, Ram Bergman Productions, and Snoot Entertainment—all in Los Angeles—partnered to produce the film and bring Moshe's vision to cinematic life. To realize the truly unique and strong visual style envisioned for Bunraku, the production team elicited the help of Oliver Hotz, owner and visual effects (VFX) supervisor at Origami Digital LLC in Los Angeles.
Moshe decided early on that he would tell the story of Bunraku by filming entirely on a green-screen stage and using a wealth of VFX and computer graphic imagery (CGI). The crew filmed the live action over a 12-week period and on roughly 30 sets at MediaPro Studios in Romania.
Hotz, named VFX supervisor on the film, led a team of artists at Origami Digital as they crafted a novel folded paper—or origami, coincidentally—world of Bunraku. "The world it's set in is almost circus-like in the feel of it and it's all origami," described McKidd in a Los Angeles Times interview. "The whole universe is constantly folding paper to create a cityscape or interiors of rooms or the sunrise."
Green-screen Greatness
"Even though Bunraku was shot entirely inside of sound stages, the director (Moshe) envisioned a massively expansive world," Hotz explains. Origami Digital was initially contracted to deliver approximately 90 of the more difficult VFX shots in the production, while Snoot Entertainment's Snoot FX division were assigned roughly 300 "A over B" set extensions. The project's VFX work soon grew in both quantity and complexity, so the decision was made to reassign all work to Origami Digital.
The Origami Digital VFX team was responsible for creating virtually everything that wasn't in the immediate set, including a view through the City Square's main archway, a flyover from a Mob Office over the city and past several landmarks, and a colorful, paper-lantern sky. In all, Origami Digital artists delivered more than 1000 shots, which can be seen over roughly 83 minutes of Bunraku's running time.
Given the volume of VFX the team had to deliver for the movie, Hotz elected to farm out preparation tasks to other facilities and enable artists to devote more time to the look and design of the shots. RotoFactory, together with Origami Digital's in-house rotoscope/paint team, delivered mattes for several green-screen sequences. Pixel Magic completed speed changes that were introduced in the edit stage. Algous Studios delivered the type of blood Moshe wanted in the movie, as well as provided elements for Origami Digital's comps and finished "blood only" shots that didn't require any other VFX elements. Lastly, Imaginary Forces handled a montage sequence, "because we had really liked the style of some of its other work and it fit perfectly into this movie," Hotz describes.
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Born in Manila, Jun Quintana Lofamia has lived with his family in Pasig City, in the suburbs of the metropolis for the past decades. He started working an illustrator/artist in 1967 for Liwayway Publishing, Inc., the publisher of the leading comics magazines in The Philippines. Lofamia was present in DC's mystery and ghost titles of the 1970s, including House of Mystery, The Witching Hour and Secrets of Haunted House. Lofamia, whose name was sometimes spelled as Lofomia, was additionally present in the Warren magazines Creepy, Eerie, Vampirella and The Mist, as did comic adaptations of classic novels for Pendulum Press.
He was on the board of directors of SPIC (Society of Philippine Illustrators and Cartoonists) in 1986, and a regular member of the National Press Club. He was a visual concept artist of the Fox Animation Studios (Phoenix, Arizona) from 1996 to 1999. While with Fox Animation, he did among others, 'Anastacia' and 'Titan A.E.'.


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BMW has revealed details of the latest version of its X6 "Sports Activity Coupe".
The frankly weird-looking high-riding swoopy-roofed four-door 4×4 coupe thing is now into its third generation and brings a slightly larger body, new engines and new technology along with revised styling.
It's still clearly an X6, with a strange mix of low fastback-style roofline atop deep doors and wings, all propped up on massive wheels and an SUV-like ride height.
At the front the instantly recognisable kidney grille is present, correct and large. It's not as disproportionately massive as on the new X7 and 7 Series but makes up for it by coming with optional illumination.
Under the skin, the X6 offers a choice of four engines – two petrol and two diesel with outputs ranging from a healthy 261bhp in the xDrive30d to a silly 522bhp in the M50i.
In between these two sit the straight-six xDrive40i petrol with 335bhp and a 0-62mph time of 5.5 seconds, and M50d with 295bhp and a 5.2-seconds 0-62mph time. BMW claims economy of up to 46mpg for the 30d, 41mpg for the M50d and 35mpg for the 40i.
The new 4.4-litre V8 in the M50i features two twin-scroll turbos to help it produce its massive power, 553lb/ft of torque and a 62mph sprint of just 4.3 seconds. Official economy is around 27mpg.
All models come with all-wheel-drive as standard and an eight-speed automatic gearbox and adaptive air suspension. The M Performance M50i also gets its own adaptive suspension setup and M Sport differential and rear-wheel-steering an an off-road pack are available as options.
Priced from £59,340, the X6 comes in three variants: Sport, M Sport and M Performance.
Standard specification on the Sport includes full leather upholstery, sports seats 19-inch alloys and 2.5-zone automatic climate control. Parking assistance is also standard along with driver aids such as cruise control, collision detection warning and city braking.
Optional extras are plentiful, with a 20-speaker Bowers & Wilkins stereo four-zone climate, heated/cooled cupholders a patterned Sky Lounge panoramic sunroof, eight-fragrance "ambient air" system and fancier leather available.
More useful features such as advanced driver assist with adaptive cruise, lane change assist that will steer into another lane when prompted via the indicator stalk and emergency stop assist that can bring the car to a stop if the driver is incapacitated.
Order books are open now, with deliveries expected from November.


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Opgelet! Uw huidige locatie komt niet overeen met het gekozen land.
Wenst u het gekozen land te veranderen?
Möchten Sie ein anderes Land wählen?
Do you wish to change your country?
Do you wish to change your country?
Opgelet! Uw huidige locatie komt niet overeen met het gekozen land.
Wenst u het gekozen land te veranderen?
Metagenics is number 1 in the production and distribution of food supplements on the professional market in the United States, Australia, New Zealand, and in the Benelux.
Metagenics Europe
Metagenics is the European branch of Metagenics Inc, USA, which is part of the Alticor group.
For more information on our parent company, go to www.metagenics.com and www.alticor.com.
Metagenics Belgium, Metagenics Netherlands and Metagenics Italy are direct subsidiaries of Metagenics Europe.
Metagenics Europe coordinates the activities of the group in Europe. From Ostend at the Belgian coastline, we develop the products for Europe and we support the European activities.
Metagenics Belgium coordinates the Belgian activities and also comprises the manufacturing facility in Ostend, where the complete production for Europe takes place and from where all products to European customers are shipped.
Metagenics directly employs 153 people in Belgium, the Netherlands and Italy. Another 100 people are active for us in other countries. Metagenics Europe for instance also participates in Bionutrics, the exclusive distributor in France. The total turnover of Metagenics was in 2015 more than € 30 million.
You can find our partners in these countries under Contact.


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Happy Easter weekend everyone! To celebrate the holiday, also the unseasonable cool weather Houston's been having this Spring, we would like to showcase one of our most popular projects on HOUZZ: Cowgirl Renovation in Tomball, Texas.Our designer Erika worked closely with Wamhoff Development on the gorgeous home. They were the Winner of Houston's Best Prism Award: Remodeler's Whole House Renovation.The client's love of horses and rustic design can be seen the moment you step into this amazing hom...
Even though Phil the groundhog said there will be another 6 more weeks of Winter, Houstonians know that general rules never apply to us. In fact we are noticing signs of Spring everywhere. Wild flowers are popping out of the ground and fresh new leaves are sprouting back to life.
Does Hip and Modern equal Family Friendly? The answer is a definite "YES!" as proven by our designer Erika.When presented with a unique set of requirements, the challenge always excites our designers at By Design Interiors. The photos we are sharing today was taken in a town home resides in the heart of Houston.
Were you one of the Houstonians out driving around doing last minute storm preparation before Hurricane Harvey arrives? All that running around and standing in long lines for drinking water or gas couldn't have been good for your sanity. Well don't fret, we have something to feast your eyes on and melt away all that stress!Our designer Ashton is sharing her latest whole house interior design project.
Our senior designer Carly Crawford collaborated with principal designer Peggy Fuller, on a large scale project that's recently been completed. The magnificent home is now outfitted with opulent custom furnitures, unique accessories that are carefully chosen to suit the client's taste. Enjoy the photos below, we are thrilled with the outcome, and hope you feel the same!Photographer: Daniel Angulo For additional interior details photographs, do check out By Design Interiors' HOUZZ account, have a ...
What's the largest area in a room? The walls of course!To update a space, it's vital to dress up the walls. We are very excited with this year's trend, because wallcovering is back in full force.
"Your home should tell the story of who you are, and be a collection of what you love." -Nate BerkusHome accessories make the room. They showcase your personality, make your home feel interesting and cozy, and they complete the look of a well designed space.Most people can make easy decisions when it comes to choosing larger pieces of furniture, but when it comes to accessories, things tend to get complicated. Today we are going to give you some helpful tips, that should make things easier from ...
Has this ever happened to you? You purchase a piece of clothing/bedding/furniture because it was inexpensive. Unfortunately, after a few times of wear/washing/usage, the item no longer looks/feels the same, in fact, it starts to fall apart quickly.There is absolutely nothing wrong with wanting to save money, but it's important to know frugality doesn't mean we should purchase cheap items.
Happy Spring lovelies! This week we want to showcase some gorgeous photos of our projects, also talk about how to lighten up your space for the season.Spring hues can be difficult to incorporate, they are cheerful and easy on the eyes, but can come off too childlike if not done correctly. Let us help with the following tips:Tip 1: Use a pop of Spring colorTip 2: Use a toned downed shade of pastel, mix with variety of textures, this ensuers the room feels mature instead of too childish.Tip 3...
OK we are sorry for that bad pun, but hopefully it brought you a LIGHT chuckle on this beautiful Friday! If you follow us on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter, then you already know the topic of the week is: LIGHTING.The proper lighting should define your personal style, set the mood and perform the task of helping us see. Here are a few quick rule of thumb when it comes to choosing the right lighting for your home:Living room: Light up different corners Use a combination of types of lamps Use...
Hello lovelies! Did this week fly by for you also? We can't believe January is almost over, though this is definitely not a complaint, it's been a very productive month for our designers, what a great way to start the year off correctly right?Speaking of 2017, did you know mixing patterns is on trend in a big way?
(Whispers) Hello there, We meet again. This week we want to bring up something that's very important for everyone's sanity: Peace and Quiet... With the hustle and bustle of today's hectic life style, we understand how difficult it can be to quiet our minds. Do you find yourself feeling frustrated or agitated, even in the sanctity of your home?
Have you noticed we've been talking about bathrooms a lot this year? Granted it's only the second week of January, but we have been focused on this particular area of the home almost daily. Bathrooms are the absolute essential in one's residential structure, and we must feel comfortable in this most private area of the home. But comfort doesn't mean boring, and we are pretty excited to show you some of our favorite bathrooms projects that's on trend with 2017's muted...
Hello lovelies, hope you are enjoying this very warm holiday season! We know it doesn't feel much like Winter, but the Fall leaves that are popping up all around town is quite stunning, and we will take what we can get!Speaking of colors, have you heard the official Pantone color of the year 2017 is "GREENERY"? Yes, it's definitely an eye opener, in fact, jokesters from Twittersphere have been making some not so kind comments about the color. Comparing it to guacamole and ...
month's "Spotlight on Design" features another one of our truly talented
designers and her gorgeous "Modern Elegance" project !
Mary Blair will take you through the intricate thought process behind her
design, the detailed process itself and the fantastic end results!
It's the little things that about us that make us unique and individual people, and just like with people the same thing is true with chairs.
With only 20 days left til Christmas, it is definitely time to start decorating! We here at By Design Interiors are no stranger to decorating for the holidays. Check out our favorite looks from Christmases past!
During the now called "Great Recession" of 2007-2009, a growing trend underwent a rapid boom! The number of multiple generations of families living under one roof in America grew a stunning 10.5% in those two years alone.
It was by far one of our favorite parts of High Point! This bright and fun collection by Lillian August stole the show, and had many of our designers wishing that some of these wonderfully put together rooms were theirs!
We have all heard the saying, everything influences you. What you read or watch and pop culture will help shape your style decisions whether you realize it or not. Interior Design is no different!
The past few weeks we have shared our designer's adventures in design at High Point Market! The By Design Interiors team was able to see the latest and greatest products from their favorite companies, and there are some definite trends coming in 2015!
It is only September, but it is already time to start thinking about Christmas!
Keeping your kitchen organized can be a nightmare! With so many different kitchen gadgets, new gourmet spices, and millions of cookbooks out there it can be hard to know where to place everything!
We all in our life times have owned a bed in a bag ensemble. While that matching coverlet and pillow shams are super cute, there are thousands of others out there with the same exact bed set as you! This is something as designers, we just cannot stand for. We believe in making every space a unique and perfect reflection of our client's personality.
As many of you know By Design Interiors is located in the great state of Texas. Houston to be exact. While we love it here in the South and wouldn't change it for the world, there are just a few things that only Interior Designers in Texas will understand...
Everywhere you look these days there is DIY this and DIY that when it comes to home design projects. While there some up sides to doing a few things yourself, there are even more advantages to hiring an Interior Designer. Let's take a look at four great reasons you should use an Interior Designer for your next design project.


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Dear Miss Snark,
I attended a conference and pitched my book to an editor of large publishing house. She requested a hard copy of the first three and a synopsis. I sent it along with an SASE.
She emailed me and asked me to send the full via the mail. I emailed back I'd send it along and did, but I forgot to send an SASE with it. Do I email her and apologize for forgetting the SASE or leave it alone?
This is my first novel and the first time I've sent it anywhere. Will I be given the Green-guy-idiot-pass this once or am I screwed?
Send the SASE with a letter. Stuff happens. Do NOT send a mailer for the entire manuscript, send only a #10 SASE. Email her that you've done this. And keep querying agents. This will give you something to do rather than obsess about this.


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Lynette's blog Internet Safety for Kids and Families focuses on raising awareness and educating people about the safe and responsible use of the Internet
Lynette was instrumental in launching the What's Your Story? - international video contest to promote digital citizenship and online media literacy
If you're a kid, you probably spend a lot of time socializing online - but unfortunately that comes with certain risks. By becoming aware of these risks, you'll be better able to make safe, responsible decisions.
See the creative, and often funny, ways these videos present some important information.
Flame Fart Kid - The name of the video says it all.
The Wrong Hands - These two jokers know the subtle ways crooks can find and use our online information.
Where Are You? - Good question – where do you stand?
Through our Internet Safety for Kids and Families initiative, Trend Micro aims to help develop a population of responsible online citizens. Through direct advocacy, access to educational resources, and innovative programs like the "What's Your Story?" video contest we address what it means to be a good citizen in the digital age.


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Prepare Your Car for Storage
You may be leaving the Midwest for winter. Or maybe you just have a vintage Corvette you don't want to sit in the snow. Whatever your reason, follow these tips to prepare your car for storage.
First thing's first: you might as well maintenance your car before you put it in storage. Then it'll be ready to go when you need to move it, especially if you want to do so unexpectedly. And besides, you don't want just plain gas sitting in the tank. You'll need to add stabilizer to prevent corrosion of gas lines.
Outdoor or Indoor
Next, determine what kind of storage you'll need. Outdoor storage makes your car susceptible to weather conditions. It could get damaged from ice storms or hail, and it could rust from wet conditions. But it's usually much cheaper to rent outdoor storage than indoor storage.
Indoor storage adds a level of security outdoor storage can't. Not only does it protect the car from weather, but it also protects against animals and rodents. You can go a step further by adding temperature control.
Whichever you choose, measure the length and width of your car so you'll know how much space you'll need. And, no matter if you choose indoor or outdoor, Infinite Self Storage provides an added layer of security with cameras and coded gates at most facilities.
Learn the Rules
Most storage facilities require your car to be in running condition with insurance and registration. All this ensures the car isn't junked or stolen. And don't be surprised if you can't work on your car while it's in storage. Most self storage facilities will want you to use their units just for storage. Besides, they won't want oil spots on their floors for their next customers.
If you have any questions about preparing your car for storage, give one of our professional team members at Infinite Self Storage a call!


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Puzzle Levels
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Download a FREE Solution for your puzzles!
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4x4x4 Octahedron II - Black Body
Product Information
|Mix up and put the pieces back to start
|Level 10 - Mind Boggling
|Other Rotational Puzzles
|2.83 in x 2.83 in x 2.83 in / 7.2 cm x 7.2 cm x 7.2 cm
Product Description
The 4x4x4 Octahedron II is made from a high quality black plastic. The object of this puzzle is to scramble up all of the sides and then return it back to its original starting position. Although its solving structure is patterned after a 4x4x4 cube, it has 8 different colors to solve for, which make it quite tricky. Also, this Octahedron takes on a more full shape than a typical 8 sided puzzle as each colored face has been extruded to exist across 4 flat surfaces instead of 1. The 4x4x4 Octahedron II is one of many great puzzles created by LanLan.
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DOLLY TOO THIN!!Discuss anything and everything related to our favorite country queen...
Re: DOLLY TOO THIN!!
I think that Dolly looks really good but also feel that she shouldn't have anymore surgery.
Re: DOLLY TOO THIN!!
Is Dolly Parton dead? I heard from a friend that she died of heart failure?
Re: DOLLY TOO THIN!!
Nevermind. I see from this site (http://dollyparton.maxlowe.net/) that it was all just a rumour.
Re: DOLLY TOO THIN!!
What's she weigh now? Well I gotta say I'm a good 4 inches or so taller than Dolly, and I'm still balancing bewteen 87 and 89 pounds, and healthy as a horse, so if they're saying Dolly's too thin, it's a lie. I'm fairly sure. She's 5 feet tall (If that) and has a small frame, it's not like she's THAT thin for her size. And she still looks fabulous, she's in the middle of one heck of an awesome tour, and she's happy with herself, so I'd say she's fine.
"I'm no guru but I'll tell you, this i know is true-You better get to livin'!" -Dolly Parton
Re: DOLLY TOO THIN!!
Oh my gosh no, she's not too thin! I think she looks great! I'm sure she eats healthy foods (most of the time -- like all of us, right? ) so I really believe in just supporting her.
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John Astor
Date: 1763 - 1848
Remarks: John Jacob Astor was born to an artisan class family in Germany. He came to America soon after the Revolution to join his older brother. As a young man, he established a fur trader business in Montreal and London. At the time of his death it was reported he was worth about $20 million, and that made him one of the richest men in America.


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We see Antony Tudor's "Dark Elegies" (1937) too seldom. There are many who consider it one of the foremost dance masterpieces of the last century; for a few it's the greatest. Though I'm not among its ardent admirers, I certainly think it's an important, compelling and finely made piece — well worth seeing and arguing about.
American Ballet Theater, with which Tudor had a long association, used to revive it more often than that company does today. During the 2008 Tudor centenary the only revival I saw was danced by the Joffrey Ballet in Chicago. Congratulations, therefore, to New York Theater Ballet for performing "Dark Elegies" during a program last weekend at Florence Gould Hall.
"Dark Elegies" depicts a community of adults — four men, eight women — who have lost their children. It's set to Mahler's "Kindertotenlieder": songs on the deaths of children. Austerely the dancers show us aspects of parental desolation: a cradling gesture is dropped as if redundant, dancers walk or run with arms held stiff. They aren't aristocrats; behavior and costumes suggest they're workers in a village. Their blocked body language makes them spiritual relatives of the Russian peasants in Bronislava Nijinska's "Noces" (1923), in which, with both pathos and machinelike power, a village's populace propels two people into marriage — and in which nobody seems free.
Though the dance to Mahler's final song suggests that these people have moved through the worst stage of mourning into some kind of acceptance, the tone remains tragic. The original designs by Nadia Benois, which I have seen in a number of productions, included a change of scenery and suggested a new day.
New York Theater Ballet, however, dances "Dark Elegies" without scenery — and to taped music. (Usually the baritone performing the songs is onstage, dressed the same way as the male dancers.) Though this is a loss, and though the company's dancers are on the young and polite side, the ballet still makes a complex impact. With mature performers, the work's suffering can become ritualized; these innocent performers seem touchingly to be discovering their own emotion.
"Dark Elegies" remains one of the most remarkable achievements of psychological modernism in ballet choreography. The sculptural severity of limbs and torso is such that many features of line become bleakly expressive. When a woman steps onto point, the straightness of her leg feels like a stake driven into the ground; and when her foot then comes off point it has the quality of something crumbling.
An arresting factor is Tudor's musicality. You see how dancers strike staccato gestures, where a beat is only implicit in the music; this has a heightened force of protest. Occasional details of heel-and-toe footwork register strongly beside gentle quavers and semiquavers in the score. I must say, though, that the musicality of "Dark Elegies" feels subtly different with each of the five companies I have seen perform it; certainly it has sometimes felt more artificial than in this staging. Though I would like these dancers to have more weight and intensity, they make the piece live from within.
The program, which I watched on Saturday, included two modern ballets. Gemma Bond's "Silent Titles," a world premiere, is a study in the heightened theatricality of silent movies as danced to live piano music by Louis Moreau Gottschalk. The eyes and lips of the four men and three women are heightened by makeup; dressed in black-and-white costumes, their manner indicates intense awareness of the audience. The piece is an amiable series of very slight sketches.
Much more substantial is Richard Alston's "Rugged Flourish," danced by one man and six women to Aaron Copland's 1930 Piano Variations. It's not a wonderful piece: its rather schematic musicality lacks the exciting momentum and play of Mr. Alston's finest work. But its pure-danced choreography admirably shows off the appealing dance gifts of young Steven Melendez, and displays much of what the company's young women are capable of.
The program's two other solos, James Waring's "Feathers" (1973) and "Eccentric Beauty Revisited" (1972), could easily have seemed minor exercises in quirkiness. Few works by Waring (1922-75), a leading figure in the New York experimental dance scene of the 1950s and '60s, are ever seen today; my only prior experience was 25 years ago.
But Saturday's audience played keen attention to them because its appetite had been whetted by a charmingly informative conversation about Waring between his colleagues Valda Setterfield (who wore a long jacket that Waring had made for her, a gorgeous coat of many colors) and David Vaughan. Mr. Melendez danced "Feathers," a study of the transvestite American acrobat Barbette, to excerpts from Mozart chamber music. Mayu Oguri — wearing spectacular attire and a masked headdress designed by Sylvia Taalsohn Nolan along the lines of exotic Asian-fantastic costumes made by Leon Bakst for Vaslav Nijinsky, and moving to Erik Satie's "Belle Excentrique" — conjured up entrancingly bizarre features of vaudeville artists in part-ballet style.
Though neither solo establishes Waring as an important dance maker, both make his oddities vividly interesting. Each is a period evocation, a study of a bygone performance style, full of peculiar details of very precise flamboyance. And these performances on Saturday must have made many feel that they were filling in gaps in their knowledge of New York dance history. New York Theater Ballet is in every respect one of the city's minor companies, but the seriousness that impels it is far from small. Its several short seasons each year keep informing us of areas of choreography that are otherwise brushed aside.


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Mumps is a disease caused by a virus. It usually spreads through saliva (spit). It can infect many parts of the body, especially the parotid salivary glands. These glands, which make saliva for the mouth, are toward the back of each cheek, in the area between the ear and jaw. Mumps can make these glands swollen and painful.
Mumps was common until the mumps vaccine came out in 1967. Now, outbreaks are rare but can happen.
Most cases of mumps happen in kids ages 5–14. But the rate among young adults has increased over the last two decades.
It's very unusual for someone to get mumps more than once. Most people have lifelong protection after a first infection.
Cases of mumps may start with a fever of up to 103°F (39.4°C), plus a headache and loss of appetite.
Swollen, painful parotid glands are the hallmark sign of mumps — a child might look like a hamster with food in its cheeks. The glands get more swollen and painful for a few days. The pain gets worse when the child swallows, talks, chews, or drinks acidic juices (like orange juice).
Both the left and right parotid glands may be affected, with one side swelling a few days before the other, or only one side may swell.
Mumps can lead to inflammation and swelling of the brain and other organs, although this is not common. Encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) and meningitis (inflammation of the lining of the brain and spinal cord) are both rare complications of mumps. Symptoms start in the first week after the parotid glands swell. They can include a high fever, stiff neck, headache, nausea and vomiting, drowsiness, and seizures.
Mumps in teenage and adult males can lead to orchitis, an inflammation of the testicles. Usually one testicle gets swollen and painful about 7–10 days after the parotids swell. In some cases, both testicles are involved. Other symptoms include a high fever, shaking chills, headache, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain (sometimes mistaken for appendicitis if the right testicle is affected).
After 3–7 days, testicular pain and swelling ease, usually at about the same time that the fever passes. Even if both testicles are involved, orchitis rarely causes sterility (being unable to have children).
Mumps also may affect the pancreas or, in females, the ovaries, causing pain and tenderness in parts of the abdomen.
In some cases, signs and symptoms are so mild that no one suspects a mumps infection. Doctors believe that about 1 in 3 people may have a mumps infection without symptoms.
Yes, the mumps virus is contagious. It spreads in tiny drops of fluid from the mouth and nose of someone who is infected through sneezing, coughing, or even laughing.
The virus can also spread through direct contact, such as picking up tissues or drinking from glasses used by an infected person.
People who have mumps are most contagious from 2 days before symptoms begin to 6 days after they end. It can spread from people who are infected but have no symptoms.
Call the doctor if your child has any mumps symptoms or might have been exposed to somebody with mumps. The doctor who can confirm the diagnosis and work with you to watch your child for complications. The doctor will notify the health authorities who keep track of childhood immunization programs and mumps outbreaks.
There's no medical cure for mumps. Treatment involves managing symptoms (relieving pain, preventing dehydration, etc.) while the immune system works to clear the infection from the body.
When mumps involves the testicles, doctors may prescribe medicines for pain and swelling.
Because mumps is caused by a virus, it cannot be treated with antibiotics.
At home, keep track of your child's temperature. You can use nonaspirin fever medicines — such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen — to bring down a fever. These will also help ease pain from swollen glands.
Do not give aspirin. Its use in children with viral illnesses is associated with Reye syndrome, which can lead to liver failure and death.
Serve a soft, bland diet that's easy to chew. Encourage your child to drink plenty of fluids. But don't give tart or acidic fruit juices (like orange juice, grapefruit juice, or lemonade) that make gland pain worse. Water, decaffeinated soft drinks, and tea are better choices.
A child with mumps doesn't need to stay in bed, but may play quietly. Ask your doctor about when your child can return to school.
Children usually recover from mumps in about 10–12 days. It takes about 1 week for the swelling to disappear in each parotid gland. But both glands don't usually swell at the same time.
Mumps can be prevented by vaccination. This is given as part of the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) immunization. Children are vaccinated at 12–15 months of age and get a second dose at 4-6 years of age.
As with all immunization schedules, important exceptions and special circumstances can apply. A child who will be traveling outside the United States, for example, should get the vaccine as early as 6 months of age.
College students and other young adults living in close quarters should be sure they've had both doses of the MMR vaccine.
During a measles outbreak, doctors may recommend additional shots of the MMR vaccine for children 1–4 years old. Your doctor will have the most current information.
Mumps can affect the brain and its membranes. So call the doctor immediately if your child was diagnosed with mumps and has:
Watch for abdominal pain. It can be a sign of problems with the pancreas in either boys or girls or the ovaries in girls. In boys, watch for high fever with pain and swelling of the testicles.
Reviewed by: Raluca Papadopol, MD
Date Reviewed: 14-02-2016


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Full Service Distributor for all your Non-Alcoholic Cocktail Mixes Beverage and Bar Accessories
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IBTS Investment Consulting Co (IBTSIC, 台灣工銀投顧) yesterday said Taiwan's stock market would show improved performance next year, supported by large-cap technology companies, as global economic conditions turn positive.
The stock market would also gain support from ample liquidity as governments around the world have introduced quantitative easing monetary policies to ease problems in their home markets, Kenner Wang (王為敏), chairman and president of IBTSIC, said at a conference.
"Although the European debt crisis and the US' 'fiscal cliff' remain unresolved, we forecast Taiwan's stock market will bounce back to the 8,000 mark next year with a base interest rate of 2 percent," Wang said.
"Due to low base this year, shares of large-cap tech companies will remain the best investment choice with average growth in net profits of 19.63 percent," he said.
Albert Chen (陳振鈞), executive vice president of IBTSIC's research department, said stocks that are related to products running Microsoft Corp's Windows 8 operating system would be the key to gaining high returns next year, given that mobile devices running the new operating systems have growth potential.
Firms developing cloud-computing technologies or manufacturing storage chips, semiconductors and panels are also good investment targets next year, Chen said, adding that Intel's X86 servers and 22-nanometer tri-gate technologies would revolutionize the technology industry, leading firms to upgrade products to meet demand for more efficient and cheaper products.
As the penetration rate of mobile devices increases, price and product features will be niches for companies to achieve high growth, Chen said, adding that low cost, enhanced cloud-computing technologies for unstructured data, such as photographs or notes stored on mobile gadgets, high-resolution retina displays and high-end lenses for camera modules on mobile devices would all be key elements for technology firms to increase market share, while also driving up the sales of manufacturing companies.
Meanwhile, Peter Tzeng (曾耀德), senior vice president of IBTSIC's research department, suggested investors pay attention to Taiwanese cement, tire, bicycle, retail and construction firms, as demand for such products will continue to grow in China amid supportive policies implemented by the Chinese government.
Jean Lo (羅敏菁), assistant vice president of IBTSIC's equity investment department, forecast that growth in the bio-medical industry would become another highlight for investors next year, as the issue of an aging population would drive strong demand for new medicines.
Overall, IBTSIC said it projects Taiwan's economy will expand 2.67 percent next year as exports grow by 4 percent to US$310 billion from this year's estimated figure of US$295 billion.
China's economy is likely to expand 8.2 percent next year, emerging markets by an average 5.6 percent, the US by 2.1 percent and 0.2 percent in the eurozone, it said.
At a separate investment conference, Cathay Securities Investment Trust Co (Cathay SITC, 國泰投信) said the local stock market could trade above 8,500 points next year, despite the implementation of a new capital gains tax on profits from securities transactions.
Under the new tax, individual investors can choose between reporting gains as part of their income or paying a stock transaction tax of between 0.02 percent and 0.06 percent when the benchmark weighted index rises to 8,500 points or higher.


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500 Gilbert Street
Charles City, IA 50616
Phone - 641-228-1099
Fax - 641-228-1157
Standard Hours
Monday - Friday
9:00am - 4:30pm
1:00pm - 4:00pm
June - July - August
+Saturday +Sunday
1:00pm - 4:00pm
Come explore the history of the heartland. The Floyd County Museum in Charles City, Iowa is one of the Midwest's largest rural county museums, with over 50,000 artifacts depicting early and recent prairie life, both agricultural and industrial.
Listed in the National Register of Historic Places, the Museum's home is the former Dr. Salsbury's Laboratories building at 500 Gilbert Street. It is 40 miles east of Interstate 35 on the Avenue of the Saints (US Highways 18 and 218). For directions, go to our Planning a Visit? page.
In 1999, the Museum opened its climate-controlled exhibit area, featuring historic farm tractors, implements and tools of the last century.
Charles City is the birthplace of the gasoline-driven tractor, and the Museum displays several models manufactured here: Hart-Parr, Oliver, and White.
Be sure to see the turn-of-the-century drug store, the country school classroom, and other period rooms as well. The Museum owns Floyd County's oldest existing building, the Muchlar cabin, built in 1853. To learn more about the Museum's holdings, go to our collections page.
Stop by the gift shop for books related to local history, Oliver tractor toys, T-shirts, and other gift ideas. VISA and MasterCard accepted.
The Floyd County Historical Museum is wheelchair-accessible throughout the building.
Use the main entrance facing the rear parking lot.
*Complimentary Wifi throughout entire building*
500 Gilbert Street
Charles City, IA 50616


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Psycadelik Thoughtz
Tighter Slim Fit T-Shirt
Beautiful Girl Gold Plated Necklace
Well now. Thought you wouldn't get invited to B.o.B's birthday party this year? Wrong! Come on out to B.o.B's Platinum Birthday Party presented by Adidas and Greg Street at Wild Bill's Atlanta. MTV's Sway is hosting. RSVP here.
I feel sorry for not coming as well, I'm from Germany.
It looks like it was a lot of fun!
Scrabble helper
too bad I can't come,
I live in Holland :(
mines the 2nd of nov haha to bad im in RI


text: Warning: mktime() expects parameter 4 to be long, string given in ..../includes/class_userprofile.php on line 260 View Profile: steveb - Kifaru Forums Help Remember Me? Home Forum New Posts FAQ Calendar Community Albums Member List Forum Actions Mark Forums Read Quick Links Today's Posts View Site Leaders What's New? Facebook Store Advanced Search Member List steveb If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. steveb Senior Member Find latest posts Find latest started threads Mini Statistics Join Date 05-07-2007 Last Activity 05-09-2019 08:58 PM 0 Groups steveb is not a member of any groups Join Groups 1 Permission Groups Premium Registered Users Recent Visitors The last 10 visitor(s) to this page were: ahisa, Bbrown, crossada, davesuvak, Gobbler, jander, LionHead, msailor, Tperkins, wchristos This page has had 11,957 visits Tab Content steveb's Activity About Me Tab Content All steveb Friends Photos New Activity () Please reload this page to view the 200+ new activity items that have been created. Older Activity More Activity No More Results No Recent Activity About steveb Basic Information Date of Birth December 31 (2020) About steveb Location: Arkansas Interests: hiking, camping, shooting, flying Occupation: pilot Statistics Total Posts Total Posts 1,164 Posts Per Day 0.25 General Information Last Activity 05-09-2019 08:58 PM Join Date 05-07-2007 Referrals 0 -- Kifarustyle -- vB4 Default Style -- Kifaru1 -- Default Mobile Style Contact Us Home Archive Top All times are GMT -6. The time now is 09:09 PM. Powered by vBulletin® Version 4.2.1 Copyright © 2020 vBulletin Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved. vBulletin Skins by Bluepearl Skins Hangama Tube - Place Where You Fun


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How to get rid of mold in garage
By Kevin Stevens, Networx
As many people know, mold is pretty ubiquitous: It can be found on last week's loaf of bread or discovered in an old container way back in the fridge containing some mystery food (also known as the kid's science experiment). It can often be found along the lower edges of your shower and in your garage. Mold doesn't need much to take hold -- just a little moisture and some food. Throw in some warmth and a little time and those countless unseen spores will start to grow and reproduce. Many people suffer ill effects from exposure to mold, so keeping it at bay is always a good idea.
There are many ways to curtail mold's growth and spread; mold cleanup can range from full-scale warfare using a host of toxic chemicals to a gentler, more common sense approach using natural materials.
Break the Cycle
Just as firefighters have been trained in fire suppression to remove one of the three required components (air, fuel and heat), mold works in a similar way with moisture, food and spores. Remove the food: Mold does not grow. Remove the moisture: same result.
The most common food sources for mold in a garage are the paper found on drywall and the wood that holds it all up. Replacing the drywall with new paperless versions or building with steel studs is a great way to limit mold growth in new construction, but it tends to be a costly and involved refit in older homes.
Here, taking away the moisture is a better place to focus your efforts. A simple coat of paint can often be the needed barrier to keep the moisture away from the drywall's paper. Fixing minor leaking in roofs and siding can also keep the moisture out. When you drive your car into your garage after snow or a rainstorm, most of that moisture will stay in your garage for some time and can potentially add to moisture and mold problems. Drains and proper floor slope can do wonders.
Harsh Chemicals or Natural Products
Historically, the weapon of choice for homeowners and their mold cleanup battles has been bleach. Today, many find vinegar equally effective in mold abatement. Tea tree oil mixed with water is also a handy natural alternative, as is grapefruit seed extract mixed with water. These products are pricey compared to vinegar, but keep in mind that they are only needed in small quantities. Normally, only a teaspoon or two are needed, mixed with 2 cups of water. Lots of people use these inside the home in areas where vinegar may cause damage to the surface they are trying to clean; for instance, marble is a material that can be damaged by vinegar.
Since a garage mold cleanup project may be quite large, economical options here are preferred. Borax is one such cost-effective choice. Borax contains elemental boron which is used in many commercial applications for pest and fungicidal control. Borax can be found in your local supermarket in the laundry section, and a simple water-borax solution can be very effective at mold cleanup.
More Cleaning Options
Baking soda, hydrogen peroxide and ammonia are some other common cleaners used in mold cleanup. Baking soda and hydrogen peroxide are a lot more user-friendly than ammonia, which should never be used with bleach. Those two chemicals in combination can produce deadly chlorine gas. If you remember your basic history classes, the Nazis used chlorine gas as a chemical weapon in WWII…making your own in your garage while attempting to clean up mold is not recommended.
Prevention is always a better option than remediation. Keep in mind how the mold growth cycle is constructed and you can reduce the chance that a large mold cleanup will be required. If, however, your defenses have slipped and this pesky fungus has invaded your life, there are a handful of options out there that are both natural and effective.
Source: http://www.networx.com/article/mold-growth-in-garage


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Safari Snorkel kit
All parts required for installation are included in the sale of this product
Part Number SS736HF
Safari Nissan Pathfinder Snorkel Features
- Safari Automotive Australian designed, moulded and manufactured
- Raised air intake to prevent your engine from ingesting harmful elements
- Increased airflow for your D40 ST-X 550 03/2011 Onwards engine
- Water separating air ram design to remove water from the air stream
- Durable and UV stable snorkel and air ram for added strength
- Comprehensive Nissan Navara 4WD Snorkel fitting guide with an accurate template for assisting with installation.
The SS736HF Nissan Navara 4x4 Snorkel is designed to deliver a huge volume of the coolest and cleanest air possible into the stock air cleaner assembly of D40 ST-X 550 03/2011 Onward engines.
With the huge air flow demands of each engine in the Nissan D40 ST-X 550 03/2011 Onwards Navara, Safari took the decision to design a snorkel system that raised the air intake to prevent ingesting harmful elements to the vehicles air cleaner.
Huge air flow is but one aspect of the ultimate in snorkel Nissan Navara design. The Safari snorkel air ram is designed to perform two very important roles. The most obvious is to funnel cool clean air into the snorkel body - but just as importantly, the Safari air ram acts as a highly efficient water separator to remove rain water from the incoming air stream - thus ensuring safe engine operation through even the most torrential tropical storms.
The genuine Safari Nissan Navara 4x4 Snorkel body and air ram is manufactured to the highest standards in durable, UV stable, cross linked polyethylene material. In addition, the substantial material wall thickness delivers huge physical strength to ensure that the Nissan Navara snorkel breezes through the toughest off-road conditions on the planet.
Returns Policy
You may return most new, unopened items within 30 days of delivery for a full refund. We'll also pay the return shipping costs if the return is a result of our error (you received an incorrect or defective item, etc.).
You should expect to receive your refund within four weeks of giving your package to the return shipper, however, in many cases you will receive a refund more quickly. This time period includes the transit time for us to receive your return from the shipper (5 to 10 business days), the time it takes us to process your return once we receive it (3 to 5 business days), and the time it takes your bank to process our refund request (5 to 10 business days).
If you need to return an item, simply login to your account, view the order using the 'Complete Orders' link under the My Account menu and click the Return Item(s) button. We'll notify you via e-mail of your refund once we've received and processed the returned item.
We can ship to virtually any address in the world. Note that there are restrictions on some products, and some products cannot be shipped to international destinations.
When you place an order, we will estimate shipping and delivery dates for you based on the availability of your items and the shipping options you choose. Depending on the shipping provider you choose, shipping date estimates may appear on the shipping quotes page.
Please also note that the shipping rates for many items we sell are weight-based. The weight of any such item can be found on its detail page. To reflect the policies of the shipping companies we use, all weights will be rounded up to the next full kg.


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We have had the opportunity to take a good solid look at the NuVision Lucidium FX10 3D LED Flatscreen Television over the last several months. We actually got a 55" pre-production model from NuVision in early October 2010 and while I've read other articles about "What the television should be like", this is the real deal; what the NuVision FX10 3D TV IS like.
The first thing you should note is there are some issues with 3D. I've been told by the NuVision rep that there is some type of in-line adapter to support some of the "Different" 3D formats (outside of the Side by Side and Over/Under configurations).
That said they are bundling the the Lucidium FX10 with Panasonic Bluray players that they KNOW will work. What surprises me though is the fact that they are selling them without mentioning it.
The other issue I have is the glasses. The unit is shipped with 2 sets of glasses which is fine. However, what is not fine is they are backordered and you couldn't buy another set of glasses regardless of cost (which is $150 when they are in stock). This makes the acquisition of the 3D screen kind of ho-hum because you can't invite the friends over to movie night and if you have more than 2 people in your family well they will have to sit it out and watch the movie the next time around. This is monumentally stupid and unforgiveable.
Now that I have the two gripes out of the way I'm going to have to say that the NuVision Lucidium FX10 3D Television is absolutely STUNNING. This is without a doubt one of the finer televisions in terms of quality (brushed aluminum frame) and performance. I didn't notice any Mura effecting whatsoever on the television no matter how high or low I raised the contrast and brightness.
The Premium Customer Service is pretty nice, although the term is for only 2 years, and the swap out warranty is only for 30 days. The customer service goes like this: If your unit has issues in the first 30 days they will swap it out no questions asked. If your unit has issues after that they will come to your house and repair the problem within two business days. So while it is a great service, the 2 year period on an $8,500 television seems a little light. I'd like to see 3 years. After that anyone that has spent $6999 on a television is probably planning on changing what they have anyway.
Now you can have what NuVision calls a "Mirror" finish added on for an additional $1500. It's a coating they put on the screen that makes it very reflective. The idea is when the unit is off it can double as a mirror on the wall. The problem is it does NOT work like the screen add-ons you can put on cell phones. It does not look like a mirror at all (I was told by the VP of Engineering that the picture on their website is actually a piece of Real Mirror and not a television at all). Instead of looking like a mirror it looks like a really shiny television and while that sounds like it might be ok, it is also very shiny while you are watching it. For instance my wife and I sat in front of the television to watch a movie and we could see ourselves just as much as we could see what was on the television (at night in the dark or in the daylight). It's distracting and we didn't like it at all.
For those of you with narcissistic tendency you might really love the idea of watching your favorite program with your favorite person over-layed on top of the image. That said I HIGHLY recommend that you skip the "LS" feature and save the $1500 for something else like their U Color which is a GREAT idea in practice and theory. It allows you to basically color match your television to anything in your house. Your TV can finally match your curtains or your rug!
Now I might sound like I'm bashing NuVision and I assure you that I am not. In fact, NuVision is one of the best kept secrets in the industry. Their televisions are wonderful, there are just a few pitfalls that you need to be aware of while making a buying decision that is going to make sense for you.
Operation of the unit was very straight forward, the remote control was nice, it wasn't too big or too complicated. We were able to stream 3D content to the NuVision TV with a Seagate GoFlex Media Player and an HDMI cable (We used both 1.3 and 1.4 and it didn't seem to make a difference it worked great with both cables). Comcast also has a 3D offering which we were able to use with the television without issue as well. If you are planning on renting 3D movies then you'll want to use the Panasonic 3D Bluray Player that comes with the unit until the in-line adapter is available. Of course, if you are renting physical discs you are a kind of like the old guy with the remote control that gets up, walks over to the TV and changes the channel by hand… Get with the times and start streaming your digital media to your television . Bluray format is neat, but burning them onto discs is bad for the environment.
Speaking of the environment NuVision has made this television mercury free and it requires 40% less power to operate than a comparably-sized CCFL set. The frame is made from recyclable aluminum and NuVision holds their dealers responsible for recycling the televisions when they are end of life.
NuVision has only been around for 5 years. As they continue to grow so will their offerings. I am looking forward to seeing what they have planned for the future. I'd give the NuVision Lucidium FX10 3D television a solid 9 out of 10 stars. We did not get the LS (mirror)version of this system (We did get to see it in the FX5 they shipped us, which is another review).


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NEW YORK - Netflix says its acclaimed drama "House of Cards" will get a third season.
The online video provider had previously been cagey about the future of the series, which initially received a two-season order of 13 episodes apiece.
It returns with its second season on Feb. 14, when all 13 episodes will join the earlier 13 hours on the Netflix website.
Netflix offered no details concerning production start or release date for the third season's 13 episodes.
"House of Cards" stars Kevin Spacey as a diabolical former U.S. senator now risen to vice president.
The first season instantly made Netflix a force in the arena of original video content and snagged nine prime-time Emmy nominations. Robin Wright won a Golden Globe for her portrayal of Spacey's scheming wife.