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Rules versus mechanics
Ian Schreiber posted on Twitter asking
Game designers: in your everyday use of the terms, is there a difference between "rules" and "mechanics"? If so, what?
I do make the distinction, and I had to think a bit about how to even phrase it. So here's a quick thousand+ words on it. 🙂
First off, I think these are both terms that will feel different to a player vs a designer.
Let's consider a simple example: jumping in a platformer.
In a platformer, the player sees the instructions "you can jump by pressing this button." They see the rule that if they miss a jump, they fall and die. They also see that if they land on an enemy, it kills the enemy, which is another rule. They then think of all of this as the jumping mechanic.
From a more formal point of view, we can use Katie Salen and Eric Zimmerman's terms and break apart the instructions and rules into the three types of rules that they describe in Rules of Play: Game Design Fundamentals.
- Constituative rules are the ones that are mathematical. Fall and die. Make contact with an enemy whilst at a higher screen-space position, enemy dies.
- Operational rules are what is printed in the instructions.
- Implicit rules are unstated rules of behavior (no smashing the console when you die).
Now, the idea that you can jump and land on an enemy is not in here as a rule. That's because it isn't one. It's emergent out of the system of rules.
The classic MDA paper by Hunicke, Zubek, and LeBlanc makes the analogy this way:
The MDA framework formalizes the consumption of games by breaking them into their distinct components:
Rules -> System -> Fun
…and establishing their design counterparts:
Mechanics -> Dynamics -> Aesthetics
Under this model, jumping to land on an enemy is clearly in the realm of Dynamics, which
…describes the run-time behavior of the mechanics acting on player inputs and each others' outputs over time.
The trick then is reconciling all of the Salen/Zimmerman rules types with this model. And indeed, when we look at examples of mechanics in the MDA paper, we find that the definition there tends to be centered around systems — MDA is essentially a system-based way of looking at things.
In an atomic model of game design, such as those used by all the game grammarians (myself, Dan Cook, Stephane Bura, etc), the core precept is that games are made out of games, which I call ludemes after Ben Cousins (Dan calls them "skill atoms"). Each ludeme has rules in its own right; each ludeme may exhibit mechancs, dynamics, and aesthetics. And most importantly, game atoms nest. They're recursive. Essentially, each ludeme is a system, a little machine, and when you dig into what is inside the machine, you find smaller machines, eventually reaching the game equivalent of the wheel, the lever, the fulcrum, the pulley, etc.
Many of these ludemes will never have all three types of rules that Salen and Zimmerman describe. Game grammar focuses solely on the constituative rules. Its objective (as best described in Dan Cook's article "The Chemistry of Game Design") is to focus on what a given ludeme is teaching the player. Common higher-order ludemes (and therefore, clusters of ludemes) are then a direct match-up to Björk & Holopainen's game design patterns.
Critical to this is the notion of separating the feedback from the "black box" machine that lies at the heart of the ludeme. Under this sort of model, "falling and dying" is properly understood as being feedback given by the system on the way to a goal — reaching the next platform. So it isn't a rule at all — it's an outcome, which is not the same thing.
So, if you ask a player, they may tell you that falling and dying is a rule, and that jumping is a mechanic, and that landing on an enemy is also a mechanic.
If you ask a designer (well, a quasi-academic one like me), you might get a lot of different answers based on what of the above they use as their preferred tools for understanding how games work.
So: after all that, my answer to whether rules and mechanics are the same thing, and if not, how they are different! My approach will be biased by the game grammar way of looking at things.
- I tend to think of rules as component elements of mechanics.
- I tend to think of mechanics as the "black box" portion of ludemes or skill atoms.
So to decompose the jumping example:
- There is a prep stage (existing vectors of motion, specific position of the player's token). These arise out of previous interactions with ludemes in the game. (All ludemes always have a prep stage, which is implicitly defined as "everything you have done previously).
- There is an input (pressing the button to jump). The key cognitive challenge is choosing the right prior prep, which given that this is a highly granular movement activity, largely means a timing problem of when to press the jump button.
- There is a goal, which is largely determined by player agency. It may be "lan at targeted point," it may be "land on an enemy."
- The input enters a black box system, where the input is evaluated.
- In this case, the input is evaluated against specific constraints (physics such as vector upwards, effect of gravity, destination location). I call these rules — specifically, of the constituative sort. They are discrete; you can take out gravity, or add inertia on the landing, etc.
- The state is updated with the result. In the case of "land at targeted point" you are basically going to make it or not. Feedback is given to the player of either falling and dying, or getting there.
- In the case of landing on an enemy, you actually intersect with a separate ludeme altogether, which has as its goal "destroy enemy" and has as one of its rules "collide while in a higher screen space position on the Y axis." Feedback is given based on that rule being met.
- In aggregate, "jumping" is then a mechanic, because it is inclusive of prep and feedback. "Jump on enemy" is a mechanic too, which includes the entirety of jumping (nested ludemes).
- Dynamics therefore exist, as in the MDA model, in the interstices between the mechanic and the player's aesthetics experience — which game grammar would specifically define as the feedback, the elaboration of the mental model of the contents of the black box, and the emotions that our cognitive system triggers as part of its own feedback mechanisms.
So no, to me rules and mechanics are not exactly the same, Ian. But I couldn't think of how to fit the above into a Tweet. 🙂
15 Responses to "Rules versus mechanics"
Nice article, Raph!
I generally agree that mechanics are the "black box" (in the aggregate) and that rules are the paths from input to output of said box.
However, I disagree with your example that "Jump on enemy" is a Mechanic. To me, this is a Contextual result of the Rules that govern how the Mechanic "Jump" is handled. The direct, player-facing input is the action "Jump" (the input thus the mechanic); where and how the actor lands is a Context: on solid ground, no ground, on an enemy, etc. Contexts – in my mind – are the realm of Rules, not Mechanics. In chess, I take my Turn (mechanic). On my turn, I must Move a Piece or Forfeit (rule). When I Move a Piece (mechanic), it may move to an empty space without passing through any other pieces or to an opponent-controlled, occupied space on the game board in accordance with its move pattern (rule). If the Piece is moved to an opponent-controlled, occupied space, remove the opponent's Piece from the board (rule). Capturing is not a "mechanic"; it is an outcome of the mechanic Movement given the Context of "Destination is Enemy-Occupied" and the Rule that the Piece previously occupying the space be removed from play.
Notice that Mechanics offer the player an option. Rules determine what happens after an option is selected.
But I couldn't think of how to fit the above into a Tweet.
Possible tweet reply: "Mechanics are processes with input options; Rules provide Contextual output results based on player input."
And now you've got me thinking about what the "simple machines" of electronic gaming could be. So far I've got "movement", "collision", and "state change", and can't think of any more. 😛
Ooh! "Selection"! The screw to "collision"'s inclined plane.
On topic, I like the distinction between "Rule" and "Mechanic", but also see how different people might still draw (or describe) the line between the two in different ways. Well worth thinking about.
Seems easy enough to squeeze all of that into Twitter, just make a lot of tweets in series 😉 But seriously…
The thing that was most eye-opening from asking this question was just how many different answers there were. Paraphrasing the many responses, here are a few answers:
* Rules are constraints on the player, mechanics are more general.
* Mechanics are ways to modify the game state, rules are the way the players interact with the mechanics.
* Mechanics are individual atomic elements of how the game works (what you call "ludemes"), rules are combinations of related mechanics.
* Rules are individual atomic elements of how the game works, mechanics are combinations of related rules.
* Rules are the laws that govern the game, mechanics are the process of implementation.
* Rules are limits and constraints on what the player can do, mechanics are the set of things players can do.
* Rules are things the player can or can't do. Mechanics are the player actions taken to achieve an objective.
* Rules are the contraints of the game that are exposed to the players. Mechanics are the underlying "black box" of how they are actually implemented.
* Mechanics are the smallest kind of gameplay events / event chains. Rules are the numeric relationships between various game objects/values (exact quantities, triggers, exchange rates, etc.)
* Mechanics are available player actions, rules are the conditions that govern when those actions are available + the effects of those actions on the game state.
* Rules are the game's social contract with the player, mechanics are the enforcement of the rules.
* Rules are for non-digital games, mechanics are for video games.
In other words: "Yes, there's a difference, but we'll be darned if we can agree on what it is."
Time to get the grammarians together to hash this thing out once and for all at the next GDC?
Thank you, Raph, for your thoughtful reply.
Thank you, Ian, for posing the question and for summarizing the answers!
I'm working with some Knowledge Organization folks to help us understand these kinds of questions.
The system I use also separates rules and mechanics.
Rules are simple statements like: "presing A the character jumps in such and such way", "when the character hits floor it stops falling", "if the character hits a block with the head, the block breaks", "if the character lands on an enemy, the enemy dies", etc.
Mechanics are collections of rules. For example, the jump mechanic could be the collection of all these rules.
I also use the term dynamics, but I use it to describe the ways mechanics interact with the players. Like strategies, mistakes, deceivings… For example: "run to an enemy and jump before hitting him trying to fall on top of it" or "trying to jump so close from a border to cross a gap that the character falls" or "enemy X jumps sometimes, so if the player tries to jump over it he can be hitted"
In a day to day use it can be useful to speak of "adding a rule to a mechanic to avoid some unwanted dynamic" and such.
So, for me, mechanics are convenient agrupations of rules, and dynamics are the way these rules behave while playing.
Ian, I like the idea of "forging a standard" to ease future GD work and communication. What about "getting together" all the people responsible for the tweets you received, and then, through internet discussion (maybe here, maybe at another "place" such as email discussions), we try to get to some "common standard", by hearing everyone?
I think that uniformity of jargon is something very important to the area.
Mechanics are often built out of smaller mechanics.
This would have to be true, as in the case of falling on an enemy and "killing" it. Technically speaking this would not fall under "Jumping."
The action of rising into the air.
The action of traveling back to "ground level."
The action of contacting "ground level."
Those would all be "Mechanics" with their own sets of "Rules" to dictate how the action is carried out as a "Result," such as how high one can jump or how far they can travel across a plane. The "Result" of killing an enemy that occupies a space you "Land" in would be the output of a mechanic that is activated via the rules of "Landing."
To be thorough, one must consider all three things to properly build a fun game that would be simple for a player to understand. Rules, Mechanics, and Results. If any of those three are overly complicated (or strict,) then you will simply lose the attention of the player, or worse; cause them to cheat which severely diminishes the "play value" of the game and reduces the amount of time they will spend playing it.
That said, you must also cross-check the rules of one mechanic with the rules of the ones immediately affecting, or affected by it. For instance:
Input: Player presses A
Mech: Player Character (PC from here on out) lifts off ground.
Rule: Player stops rising at X vertical distance.
Mech: Player begins to fall.
Rule: Player falls at set speed.
Mech: Player lands.
Rule: Player dies or lands based on distance traveled in "Falling"
Result: Player kills enemy IF they "Land" in an "enemy space" AND have traveled less than the maximum distance allowed in "Falling."
One may also set a conditional mechanic to output a result for special cases, such as being able to "Fall" further if landing on an enemy.
I think the whole communication process could be made simpler if developers recognized the importance and differences in all three terms for base design. Sometimes (though often considered counter-intuitive) things must become more complicated to flow more efficiently.
As a note: I am not a game developer, just a fan who understands how complicated and in-depth the process can be. I'm one of those odd people that often breaks things down to their base elements to figure out how it works, and finds it rewarding. I can't begin to tell you how many times I have defended developers when it came time to implement a bug fix. Most people never care what goes into the process, so I try to fight the ignorance wherever I can. So, if I am completely wrong, just tell me I'm stupid; I can take it, lol. I hope the coding I included in this works…
[…] First, let's consider what a mechanic is. A month ago, Raph Koster wrote a blog about the difference between mechanics and rules. While rules are not related to what I am talking about here, his post describes mechanics rather […]
[…] box, and the emotions that our cognitive system triggers as part of its own feedback mechanisms.(source:raphkoster) 分享到: QQ空间 新浪微博 开心网 […]
[…] game), as can parameters (eg. your run versus your sprint speed in a first person shooter). Some prominent designers consider the rules or mechanics to be a black box. They certainly can be in some cases, […]
[…] game), as can parameters (eg. your run versus your sprint speed in a first person shooter). Some prominent designers consider the rules or mechanics to be a black box. They certainly can be in some cases, […]
[…] Rules vs. Mechanics. Raph Koster's blogpost (2011). […]
[…] Koster, R. (2011). "Rules versus mechanics". Retrieved 29/08/2012, from: https://www.raphkoster.com/2011/12/13/rules-versus-mechanics/ […]
[…] Araújo & Roque, 2009; Cook, 2006, 2007; Hunicke, LeBlanc & Zubek, 2004; Koster, 2005, 2011; Sicart, 2001), but the most relevant idea here is that a mechanic is a metaphor for the actual […]
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Review: Ariana Grande, Dangerous Woman
Pop stars need to stop trying to convince me they're dangerous and just fucking be dangerous already. This is officially tiresome. All these Disney-to-jailbait transitions have been going on since Britney strutted down that school hallway in pigtails for the "…Baby One More Time" video, but let's talk about that song for a second from a musical standpoint: the piano riff, the bass line, the crushing, slow-burning tension that builds right through the refrain until the riff returns and plants you back where you began, and Britney's sexed-up robot voice — it's a brilliant piece of music, a masterful example of how to sustain a pop hook with conservative instrumentation. For better or worse, Britney had an Elvis/Beatles-like effect on the generation that grew up with her, sending the messaging that you can be a young woman, a mainstream pop star, making music for teenagers and pre-teens, and actually matter; actually have people writing articles and talking about your significance to society. Britney is, to some extent, what inspired the current wave of female pop stars to go into music, and what determined the way they did it. Even Madonna didn't start a movement the way Britney did, perhaps because the girls who grew up with Madonna were also growing up with Chrissie Hynde, Kate Bush, and Annie Lennox.
That song came out almost 20 years ago, and yet dance-pop stars shoving their naughtiness in our faces is now more inescapable than ever. I'd attribute this at least partly to the rise of Lady Gaga and her purposely grotesque exaggeration of modern recording technology, reducing sex to pure, cold will. Once Gaga showed up, suddenly Miley Cyrus was dancing around in a cage with black wings on her back, and Christina Aguilera was strapped to a chair in leather bondage, and on and on it's gone, Demi Lovato and Selena Gomez and (let's not leave the boys out) Joe Jonas. It says something that even the female pop singers who were openly more risqué with their content are now making a more concerted effort to be "dark" and "mature." (Though in their case, I'd attribute that to Kanye West; Rihanna and Beyoncé want their own Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy as much as Carly Rae Jepsen and Ariana Grande want their own 1989.)
Ariana Grande is not dangerous. She's not dangerous to such a degree that I'm still wondering whether she was even trying for danger here, or whether she was trying really hard and failed. I'm leaning toward the latter option at the moment, because to be frank, I'm not sure it's even possible to make this style of singing sound dangerous. Everyone acknowledges Ariana as the Disney star who can Actually Sing, and though to a lot of people "singing" just means projecting loudly and hitting the notes (the more melisma the better), she certainly has tons more grace than Miley Cyrus or Selena Gomez. (As an aside, can we bask for a moment in the fact that we're still not seeing think-pieces on Selena Gomez yet? I mean, I know it's coming, but let's just enjoy the open space while it's still here.) Good singing's also about how you inflect the notes; how you shade them, how you offset them against whatever arrangement you're working with. Ariana's way of singing is one that, while still carrying a tune (usually), lifts to the high notes very suddenly and stretches them out to fade into a coo. Sometimes it can be really pretty, especially when she harmonizes with herself. And yet she doesn't seem like a singer who'll ever have the potential to truly bust out and work a hook as viscerally as, say, "Cool for the Summer", let alone "…Baby One More Time". That's why 1989 was such a great album: for all the chatter about Taylor's "reinvention" of her sound, there was no pandering there; those of us who'd been following her career beforehand knew that her worldview remained very much her own. It was a change of sound, not necessarily of vision.
Aaaanywho, this is all a longwinded way of reporting that Dangerous Woman shouldn't be taken particularly seriously as any kind of "maturation," but that it still has some pretty good songs on it. Not counting the bonus tracks, there are only two outright throwaways: "Let Me Love You", which is tuneless and has a really lazy hook and features Lil Wayne saying "grinding on this Grande" (which seems merely gross at first and then reveals itself as gross and totally inevitable once you get over the initial shock and remember who said it), and "Sometimes", which has a pleasant la-la-la'd hook among a hideous Jack Johnson-style acoustic douche arrangement. (Quick note on the four bonus tracks: they mostly try to dump some vague EDM vibes on you. "Bad Decisions" is a good dance song with a solid chorus (especially the way she sings the title words) and "Touch It" is another big-throbbing boomer, but once again these songs are underdeveloped beyond their choruses, and the other two tracks aren't worth mentioning.)
Mind you, it's not Grande's range that's impressive, because aside from her multi-octave vocal dexterity she doesn't have much range, at least not as evinced here. It's the dexterity of the producers, specifically mad genius Max Martin and to a lesser extent mid-'00s r&b-apprenticed TB Hits. The first song, "Moonlight", immediately made me suspect the whole "dangerous" schtick here was a big intentional joke after all, so soft and innocent and downright nostalgic: it really does evoke the mood of late-'50s doo-wop merging into doe-eye girl-group pop. (Very "Earth Angel". '50s retro is in with the kids now, apparently; she even evokes James Dean, albeit Taylor did it first and more convincingly.) The notion of Ariana singing about staring at a guy while they're supposed to be watching a movie sounds gag-worthy, but the arrangement is so gorgeously crafted that it comes across as genuinely sweet: gently-lapping vocal harmonies like light speckling on water, plucked violin turning into a thin bowed harmony line in the middle. This slow-shimmering ballad feel is echoed in the closing comedown "I Don't Care", too (beautiful slippery wah-wah), which bookends the album nicely.
But after the first song comes a bunch of different styles, which unfortunately are all somewhat weighed down by Ariana's lack of interesting inflection. (She has a way of slurring words, so much so that I had to re-play the last words of "Moonlight" many times to figure out what she says—and that's the upfront, intimate conclusion you're supposed to hear.) Sometimes it's the features that save the songs: Macy Gray's part on the brooding, anxious "Leave Me Lonely" is strong, what with that torn velvet molasses feeling of her voice, but the song's boring whenever she's not on the mike. Ditto "Everyday", a pretty generic song but with Future's verse commanding everything in that woozy way of his while Ariana harmonizes around him. On the opposite end of things, you get Nicki Minaj's lackluster bit in "Side to Side"—she was better on their dopey "Bang Bang" single last year—but the music's actually fine, with a solid ska groove. Great bass!
The varying level of success with these styles really pivots back and forth from song to song. Ariana tries out the chopped house sound on "Be Alright", and the deep murmured male voices skipping channel to channel are quite pleasant, but most of what surrounds them—some sweet riffing from Ariana excepted—doesn't deliver much beyond it. (The verse parts in most of these songs are pretty half-assed.) And yet soon afterward she does a swanky, glitzy song called "Greedy" that's just delightful, a sort of '80s big-band pastiche with an incredibly catchy chorus (clearly influenced by Bruno Mars' "Treasure"); the girly-girl upturn on her voice works well, like an improved version of those awful retro-soul pastiches Madonna was doing in the early '90s.
This leaves the two singles, which convey what's right and wrong with this material. The title track, which wasn't quite the smash they probably hoped for, is full of interesting elements: scratchy retro-soul guitar; Max Martin's mastery of aural space with the big synth swells and deep horns into the chorus; stabbed piano in anxious Alessia Cara style. But the pre-choruses don't convey any of the vast desperation Ariana's going for, and the chorus ain't special either. And what's with the way the song just empties out for that guitar solo? The idea's great, but God does it sound feeble. Strange pacing problems there. Second single "Into You", another Martin production, has a simple dark-night pulse that morphs its tone nicely: ever so slightly, it moves from a simple thin muffled pulse to a sharper, fiercer throb, until it goes all-out strobe-y. But the song as a whole feels stilted; Ariana's smoother voice just plain doesn't gel with that rhythm.
And y'know, what's weird is that, when you think about it, that second single should work very well for Ariana. The aforementioned chasteness to her voice would seem, in theory, to make the sentiments of rising temperature waiting for someone to make a move before she makes her own (whether that means moving on or actually making the move herself). And yet it comes across as one of the most unintentionally pathetic sex-me-up songs in recent memory. "A little less conversation, a little more touch my body"—that's just kinda…well, stupid.
So yeah, lotta mixed tones on this thing. A maturation it ain't. Dangerous it definitely ain't. In one of the bonus tracks, Ariana asks: "Ain't you ever see a princess be a bad bitch?" TOO OFTEN, YES! Don't tell me about it, just fuckin' be it! B


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When it comes to foreign holidays, everyone wants a great deal on their currency. If you're anything like me, you'll spend weeks prior to departure monitoring exchange rates and scouring the internet for the bureau de change that's offering the most bang for your buck.
Over the past few months, the pound has performed well against the Euro and the Dollar, making foreign excursions an appealing option for many holidaymakers. But at the height of the recession, when sterling was on an even keel with the Euro, the UK saw a huge rise in staycations, with people opting to holiday at home rather than journey overseas.
Scotland's independence referendum has raised monetary questions not only for Scots, but for the tourists who holiday in the country. For decades, Scotland has been one of the UK's most popular staycation destinations, with Visit Scotland reporting that 12 million domestic trips were made between April 2013 and January 2014. But after the 'Yes' campaign was unable to adequately verify what would become of Scotland's currency should they become independent, what affect has this had on prospective holidaymakers planning to visit the country?
According to a recent YouGov survey, a change in currency would be of greatest concern for those travelling to Scotland. Of the 2,182 respondents from England and Wales who took part in the survey, nearly a third (31%) stated that a shift away from pound sterling would make them apprehensive about travelling to Scotland.
Although not a majority, this figure raises questions about the effect that independence will have on Scotland's tourism industry. When travelling overseas, buying foreign currency is part and parcel, but if you're looking for a relaxing, stress-free weekend break on what was once home soil, a trip to the bureau de change may seem like more hassle than its worth.
Of the respondents who took part in the poll, young adults between the ages of 18-24 were found to be the most concerned about holidaying in Scotland, with 63% stating they would have travel concerns. Of this percentage, nearly a half (43%) agreed that if the currency was to change, this would make them hesitant about holidaying there.
And it's not just currency raising concerns among travellers. Respondents also said that price inflation would be a potential travel concern, with 1 in 4 (25%) stating that an increase in the cost of goods and services in Scotland would make them uncertain about travelling there.
Although the effects of the independence referendum are time dependent, and no one yet knows the future of Scotland's financial landscape, it's clear that holidaymakers from England and Wales already have trepidations about travelling to the country. Whether its currency, price inflation or political disagreements between members of the public, Scotland's tourism industry looks set to change in a profound way. Let's just hope that monetary and political issues can be set aside, and holidaymakers can still feel comfortable travelling to this beautiful and unique country.
One Response to Money biggest concern for holidaymakers travelling to Scotland
Scotland is one of the cheapest parts of the country to travel, if you can get a good deal getting there, like booking a train ticket 3 months in advance.
Sure a stronger pound for foreign visitors is annoying but it is nowhere near where it was six years ago.


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Get insight into target markets using a robust statistical snapshot of a country's market demand for 8 sub-categories of BIM Design software.
Targeted at providers and resellers of Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) software, the Cambashi BIM Design Observatory provides accurate, detailed, consistent market numbers to support coordinated strategy and planning activities.
The provision of these market numbers has been developed by Cambashi in collaboration with AEC/BIM Design stakeholders.
Cambashi has a 30 year, proven track record in the provision of market numbers to the AEC/BIM Design industries.
"Cambashi, in our view, delivered the best quality market data available for the AEC market, from a proven track record" – Jens Lederer, Nemetschek Group
The market data cover end user expenditure revenues for software, excluding services (e.g. consulting, implementation, training) and other non-software items (e.g. hardware).
The data is broken down by the following sub-categories:
- Architectural CAD
- Structural CAD
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Data is provided for each of these segments in 57 worldwide countries, with 4 years historic data and forecasts to 2020.
Reliable data ensure stakeholders buy-in to the marketing plan
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Our BIM Design data enables you to:
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You can perform all of these market analyses for each of the 8 sub-categories – Architectural CAD, Civil CAD, Civil CAE, MEP, Structural CAD, Structural CAE, general purpose CAD, and Other software tools (collaboration, estimating, data management and surveying).
This data set is available as a 'one-off' or through a subscription service.
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To enable you to see exactly what's in the Observatory, we have created a version with randomised data. This allows you to see exactly what you get, but obviously without useful data.
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PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — Beginning at midnight and all day Wednesday, an Internet black-out is going to shut down access to some important websites like Wikipedia.
"It's a protest movement," says Carnegie Mellon University Professor Ari Lightman.
Lightman says the protest is aimed at stopping anti-piracy legislation being considered in Congress.
"You have the folks who are producing content and the folks who are distributing content and they are butting heads," he said.
Artists and content designers say too much is being stolen or pirated online, but distributors worry they will be blamed and the public denied access.
Websites like Wikipedia, Reddit and Mozilla have joined the protest, but they're hardly alone.
Like Wikipedia, WordPress is a very popular website. In one day, WordPress had interaction with 375,000 bloggers, 880,000 roughly new posts, 520,000 comments and 195 million words.
Lightman says this selected Internet blackout will be felt.
Even before the protest has begun, it's having an impact in Washington.
The White House has said it will not support the bill as currently written, and the congressional committee involved has said this anti-piracy law will have to be redrafted again.
What that final version looks like may well depend on the protest on Wednesday.
More Local News
More Reports By Jon Delano


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"I am with you always, to the close of the age" (Mt 28:20). This assurance, dear brothers and sisters, has accompanied the Church for two thousand years, and has now been renewed in our hearts by the celebration of the Jubilee. From it we must gain new impetus in Christian living, making it the force which inspires our journey of faith. Conscious of the Risen Lord's presence among us, we ask ourselves today the same question put to Peter in Jerusalem immediately after his Pentecost speech: "What must we do?" (Acts 2:37).
We put the question with trusting optimism, but without underestimating the problems we face. We are certainly not seduced by the naive expectation that, faced with the great challenges of our time, we shall find some magic formula. No, we shall not be saved by a formula but by a Person, and the assurance which he gives us: I am with you!
It is not therefore a matter of inventing a "new programme". The programme already exists: it is the plan found in the Gospel and in the living Tradition, it is the same as ever. Ultimately, it has its centre in Christ himself, who is to be known, loved and imitated, so that in him we may live the life of the Trinity, and with him transform history until its fulfilment in the heavenly Jerusalem. This is a programme which does not change with shifts of times and cultures, even though it takes account of time and culture for the sake of true dialogue and effective communication. This programme for all times is our programme for the Third Millennium.
Source: Novo Millennio Ineunte, 29


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What happened?
Wells Fargo wanted to increase the number of bank accounts it serviced and implemented unreasonable sales quotas for its personal bankers. To meet these quotas, some bankers opened multiple accounts for its customers without the customer's knowledge or consent. This lead to many people having numerous accounts at Wells Fargo they knew nothing about.
Worse, the bankers engaging in this fraudulent conduct received bonuses and promotions. However, the bankers who did not illegally open accounts were demoted or fired. These employees are now suing Wells Fargo for unlawful termination.
But what does this mean to you?
Well, if you opened an account at Wells Fargo in the last 7 years, then you may have some additional accounts you don't know about. The problem is this: if any of these unknown accounts went into insufficient funds status or were closed with a derogatory status then you are unlikely able to open a bank account at a different institution.
How can I find out if I am a victim?
You can request a "Full File Disclosure" from Early Warning Systems. Click Here for a free template. If you come across any problems or have questions, we can help.


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Airbus appoints Patrick de Castelbajac
Airbus has appointed Patrick de Castelbajac as company secretary and chief of staff; effective from November 1.
De Castelbajac is currently chief executive officer of ATR, a joint venture between Airbus Group and Italy's Leonardo-Finmeccanica.
"As former head of ATR, Patrick is re-joining Airbus bringing a wealth of knowledge and experience. His appointment will provide valuable expertise to Airbus in the current transformation of our company," said Fabrice Brégier, president and CEO of Airbus.
In his new role, de Castelbajac will report to Brégier and becomes member of the Airbus executive committee.


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Euclid Art Association Summer Fine Art Show
The Euclid Art Association Summer Fine Art Show is at Lakeland Community College from
July 23, 2017 - Sept. 8, 2017. The Gallery at Lakeland Community College is at
7700 Clocktower Dr. in Kirtland. It will have original art by our members. A reception & awards will be on Sunday, July 23, from 2:00-4:00 p.m. For more info EuclidArt.com .
Euclid Art Association Gallery
Nancy Daly
21128 North Street
Euclid, Ohio 44117
Nancy Daly
PR for Euclid Art Association. Pastel artist.
Volume 8, Issue 7, Posted 11:11 AM, 07.07.2017


text: If you have an XXY question, feel free to get in touch using the form below. For medical matters, please consult a doctor (and let them know about this site if they lack knowledge of XXY chromosomes). Any information submitted via this form will be kept confidential—your information will not be shared.


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By law, we're required to inform you that you consent to being contacted about your project after completing the form. We will not contact you with anything else.
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I've been a fan of American Idol since Season 1.
These guys are great, but couldn't be more different. In the end, I voted for Adam Lambert because I thought he deserved to win. It's cool. Kris Allen will make a great American Idol.
I went to bed with a sad face, but quickly got over it. Let's be honest. Neither are as great as my true Idol love, Mr. David Cook.


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Home Garden by Agnieszka Hubeny-Zukowska
Agnieszka Hubeny-Zukowska Portrays The Oasis The City Home Garden Home Garden
Agnieszka Hubeny-Zukowska, the creator of the awarded design Award Winning Oasis the city home garden home garden says, Garden surrounding the historic willa in the city center. Long and narrow plot with height differences of 7m. Area was divided into 3 levels. The lowest front garden combine the requirements of the conservator and the modern garden. Second level: Recreation garden with two gazebos - on the roof of an underground pool and garage. Third level: Woodland children garden. The project aimed to divert attention from the noise of the city and turning toward nature. This is why garden has some interesting water features such as water stairs and the water wall..
Home Garden by Agnieszka Hubeny-Zukowska Images:
End of the article, click here to go back to previous page, or alternatively go back to Design Manner homepage.


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However, enough was enough and I went into my craft room to find some yarn and put it to good use.
I've had some pastel mint green 'Debbie Bliss' for a while and decided that today was going to be it's lucky day. I sat down, knitting needles in hand to start a cowl.
The pattern that jumped out at me though, was not a knitting pattern. It was the 'Star Stitch' (also called Marguerite stitch) crochet pattern. Knitting is my first love. I am comfortable with attempting new techniques & new stitches but crochet is a bit wobbly. I decided to give it a go and I'm really happy I did. It's a lovely stitch and comes together easily.
2 balls of 'Debbie Bliss DK cotton'
Size 4 crochet hook
I found the best way to learn this stitch was to watch it being done, rather than trying to read the instructions. This you-tube video from Moogly Blog is great - very easy to follow.
Chain an even number - in my case 116.
Following the Marguerite/Star stitch instructions, continue until you have completed 9 rows - front and back.
It becomes very therapeutic after a while (I guess like all fibre arts).
To Finish
Chain 4 and then single crochet into the chain stitch row between the stars. Continue making the loops all the way down the side.
The ribbon is laced through these loops - a bit like a corset.
Rather than cut the yarn and rejoin for the other side, I slip stitched all along the bottom of the cowl to the other side and Chained 4 to make the other set of loops.
For a bit of detail, I used a fancy bead rather than just tie the ribbon.
So there you have it - a new stitch and a new cowl.
Happy crochet,
Thanks so much for visiting. We'd love to have you join us on Facebook , Pinterest, Ravelry and instagram too


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|Child and a Butterfly
Occasionally, we are given a serendipitous gift. Life puts a simple event in our hands and, if we recognize it as such, we can use it to teach a valuable lesson. Sometimes, even one of the biggest lessons can come from one of the smallest, most beautiful things in nature.
The important thing is, when we're given a special chance to teach our children, to see and feel it with our hearts.
A Butterfly's Lesson
by CJ Heck
"Oh Mama look, a flutterby!"
(her tiny hand held it out to me)
She grasped it firmly in her fist,
afraid to set it free.
Lovingly I showed her
one of life's most painful tests ...
sometimes the ones we love the most
we hurt more than the rest.
The butterfly was still alive,
although its wings were bent
this tiny miracle of grace,
its rainbow all but spent.
The magic dust was there to see.
Tears welled up in her eyes.
I hugged her to me and explained
that real love never dies.
We spoke that day of letting go,
of holding love less tightly.
To hold it gently in our hearts
shows love much more, when lightly.
That day when she was very small,
we more than mourned a butterfly.
We shared a magic, tender moment.
I'll always thank the flutterby.
"A writer soon learns that easy to read is hard to write." ~CJ Heck


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Map & Directions
Office 44 Court St #905, Brooklyn, NY 11201
Frequently Asked Questions on Mediation and Family Law
- What is mediation?
- What are the benefits of mediation?
- Do I ever have to go to court during a divorce?
- What if my spouse or former spouse fails to fulfill our mediation agreement?
- How do we pick an amount for child support or maintenance in mediation?
- What is collaborative law?
- What if collaborative divorce attempts fail?
- Can you be my review attorney?
- Can I get a no-fault divorce in New York?
- What are the new changes to New York divorce laws?
- We are considering adopting a child. How do we learn more about this?


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michael zisman is one of todays great talents on his instrument – the bandoneon, a unique reed instrument, famous for it's deeply melancholic and warm sound is mainly known from argentinian tango music. zisman not only inherited the soul of tango but has also implemented and explored the traditional jazz language on his instrument, like no other player up to date.
at his relatively young age zisman has already realized an astonishing career including projects and recordings with renowned artists such as chick corea, al di meola, paquito d'rivera, billy cobham, bert joris, dado moroni, franco ambrosetti, antonio farao, mark soskin, adrian iaies, gustavo bergalli, heiri kaenzig, matthieu michel, daniel piazzolla, pablo aslan, giora feidman and many more, aswell as with his own ensembles.
michael was born in switzerland in 1982 and holds both the swiss and argentinian citizenship. far from his original home country argentina he started to play the bandoneon. he recieved his first bandoneon lesson at age 8 from daniel binelli, former band member of late great argentinian bandoneonist and composer astor piazzolla. michael recieved his first own instrument, brought to him from argentina by his grandfather, the very same night that piazzolla passed away in 1992.
in his childhood years he learned music mainly from his father daniel zisman, noted violin soloist and composer. after learning the instrument mostly self taught alongside his colleague peter gneist in berne, switzerland he began his musical studies in buenos aires at age 13 with nestor marconi, bandoneon and juan c. cirigliano (former pianist of astor piazzolla), composition.
He made his first public appearance at age 11 together with tango legends leopoldo federico and atilio stampone, as a surprise guest in geneva, 1993.
he debuted on the big stage a year later as part of his fathers tango ensemble in an event called "tous les violons du monde" presented by yehudi menuhin. he realized his argentinian debut in buenos aires at age 13 with legendary tango violinist szymsia bajour who had been a member of the very first astor piazzolla quintett in the early 1960s.
Alongside his father daniel zisman, michael has realized a vast number of records aswell as toured the world in various formations and as a soloist with both symphonic and chamber orchestras.
after returning from argentina he completed his studies with a masters degree in composition & arrangement at the swiss jazz school where he had the luck to study with great artists such as bert joris, andy scherrer, frank sikora, billy brooks, klaus wagenleiter, klaus könig a.o. over the years he recieved various master classes e.g.
with leopoldo federico, jim mcneely, osvaldo ruggiero, roberto lara and daniel schnyder.
aside from an extensive standard repertoire in both tango and jazz, michael specializes in the music of his great role model astor piazzolla.
as a soloist he has performed among others with great orchestras such as the israel philharmonic orchestra, the brussels jazz orchestra, the odense symphony orchestra, the boston mit symphony orchestra, the swiss jazz orchestra and appeared at numerous international venues and festivals such as jazz at lincoln center, jazz in marciac, menuhin fesitval gstaad, baltica jazzfestival, trieste international tango festival, estival jazz lugano, notti di luce bergamo, tango festival wuppertal, festival trayectos zaragoza, bandoenon festival krefeld, international jazzfestivals berne and zurich, kiev tango festival, etc.
in 2007 michael zisman was awarded 1st prize in the bandoneon solo category of the international accordeon competition in klingenthal, germany.


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Product Description
"Fatty Chicken"
From an original painting by Mary Beth Ihnken
Premium 11x14" giclée print on fine art paper
Rigid foam core backer included but not attached to the print
Ready to frame
Our prints are purchased directly from the artist.
Image Copyright Mary Beth Ihnken
About the artist
Mary Beth Ihnken lives with her family in a converted 1810 barn in Brooktondale, NY. Her images are inspired by farm life. In addition to paintings on canvas she does custom interiors and Trompe L'Oeil. An accomplished muralist, her public works can be found throughout the Ithaca area.


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He: Relax baby, this thing is stronger than both of us. Don't fight against it. We were meant for each other. I want to feel your lips on mine, taste the sweetness of your breath.
She: Forget it. The sweetness of your breath has long died. Did you have to eat that clove of garlic?


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About Us
First Baptist Church of Gahanna
Our Purpose Statement: Proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ to All... Minister through the love and unity found only in Jesus Christ!
Our Vision Statement: Transforming our community one heart at a time.
Our History: First Baptist Church of Gahanna was established on February 11, 1963 for the purpose of holding regular devotional and public worship; developing Christian fellowship through personal growth in grace and knowledge of Christ among its members for the glorification of His precious name; proclaiming the gospel message and urging its personal acceptance by those without the Savior, Jesus Christ; and cooperating heartily by prayer, gifts, and service in carrying out the Great Commission of the Lord Jesus Christ as recorded in Matthew 28:19-20, Mark 16:15 and Acts 1:8
At First Baptist Church of Gahanna, you'll find Biblical teaching, Christ-centered worship and a loving fellowship. Here you can find information about what to expect, what we believe and ways we can minister to you and your family. We invite you to join us for worship at your earliest opportunity. We want to get to know you, to minister to your family and to encourage you to grow in your relationship with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Worship includes praising God with instrumental and vocal music. We sing traditional hymns and contemporary choruses. ("O come, let us sing for joy to the LORD,Let us shout joyfully to the rock of our salvation." Psalm 95:1 )
It is our privilege to bring praise, thanksgiving, confession and requests to God in prayer. If you have a need, we would be honored to pray for you. Prayer request slips are available in the pew pocket or emailing it through the Contact us Page. ("Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." Phillipians 4:6)
An offering is taken to support the work of our church as well as missions work in our country and around the world. This portion of the service is intended only for those who consider First Baptist Church of Gahanna their "church home."
("Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." 2 Corinthians 9:7 )
You will fit in at First Baptist Church of Gahanna whether you are dressed formally or in a more casual style. You will see a wide range of styles at our services. Remember we are coming to worship the Lord, so please dress in a modest manner.
Nursery care is provided for children birth through 5 years old. A lead worker will meet you at the door of the preschool area.
Children's Worship is offered for ages 6 through 5th grade. Children will be given the opportunity to follow their teachers to a Children's Worship area before the sermon, for age-appropriate worship and Bible-focused activities. Attendance is optional. Feel free to keep your children with you for the entire service if you prefer to have them worship with you.
Whether you are considering visiting First Baptist Church of Gahanna or have already attended, we want to welcome you. We hope to answer many of the questions you may have about our church, worship services and beliefs on this site. Please feel free to call the church at 614-471-3352 if you have any other questions. We would love to talk with you.
Senior Pastor - Wally Contreras
Wally and his wife Belinda joined First Baptist Church of Gahanna in 2011. Wally became FBCG's Senior Pastor on 01/05/20. Wally and Belinda have three childern: Christian, Brennan, & Ilaria
Rick Reynolds
Jerry Mullins
The ministry of First Baptist Church of Gahanna shall be under the direction of the Lord Jesus Christ working in and through the elders.
John Brown
James D. Corder
Joe Frazier
Our deacons are servant-leaders, serving three year terms (starting and ending on our Thanksgiving Potluck Lunch). If you need assistance, please contact the church and one of our deacons will get in touch with you as soon as possible.


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The Institute for International Education under Tomsk Polytechnic University does its utmost to make students' life more interesting and to reach the main goal of international students at the same time, which is to develop scientific and creative potential.
And the I All-Russia Competition of Foreign Students and Postgraduate's Scientific and Creative Works of this year has contributed to it greatly.
Among organizers of the Competition there were the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation, Federal Agency for Education, Association of Foreign Students in Russia and Tomsk Polytechnic University. Special thanks to Tomsk and Tomsk region's authorities for their support.
Over 340 students from 53 higher educational institutions of Russia representing 50 countries of the world participated in the Competition. There were submitted 244 works, among which 50 were creative and 194 - scientific. The Competition, no doubt, is a significant event not only for Tomsk Polytechnic University but the whole of Russia.
The Competition consisted of two rounds and was crowned with a two-day exhibition of works which was also attended by participants from other cities such as Moscow, St-Petersburg, Irkutsk, Omsk, Barnaul, Novosibirsk, Tambov, Volgograd, Ufa, Cheliabinsk and Kazan'.
The grand opening took place on the 10th May at 14.00 in International Cultural Center of Tomsk Polytechnic University. The audience was addressed by TPU pro-rector for studies Irina E. Nikulina, IIE director Tatiana S. Petrovskaya, President of the Association of Foreign Students in Russia Gabriel Anicet Kotchofa, the head of the International Education Department at the Administration for International Education and Cooperation of the Federal Agency for Education Alexander V. Soloviev, the head adviser to the education and instruction department in the field of human rights under the Office of the Representative on human rights in the RF Svetlana P. Kalinina. They mentioned the importance of the event to support creative and scientific initiative of foreign students and create their positive image. During the ceremony visitors of the exhibition got acquainted with the displays - works by students both disposed on the stands and displayed on computers. A beautifully designed catalogue added to their impressions. Besides every one had an opportunity to vote for his or her favourite creative work.
On the 11th May 2007 in International Cultural Center of Tomsk Polytechnic University the Organizers of the I All-Russia Competition of Foreign Students and Postgraduate's Scientific and Creative Works solemnly announced the results. Acting Mayor of Tomsk Igor N. Shaturny thanked Tomsk Polytechnic University for organizing such an immense event at the All-Russia level. Honourable guests from Moscow backed him up and highly spoke of Tomsk, Tomsk Polytechnic University and the Institute for International Education.
All the students who had submitted their works to the Competition received diplomas of participants in various nominations. Most significant works were awarded special prizes. Thus Famm Kann Newng (TPU, Vietnam) received a prize from the governor of Tomsk region in the nomination "For topical and practical significance for the sphere of technics". Abdelgany Husam who submitted the film "Musing at Abel's Grave" (St-PbSU, Syria), was awarded a special prize by Organizing Committee of the Competition in the nomination "For human approach to arts". The super-prize, a statuette of Greek goddess Nike, in the nomination "For versatility of creation" was awarded to Nguen Thui Tiung (TPU, Vietnam), the author of a number of photos and "Coming to know IIE" book.
A storm of applause by admirers of his works followed the presentation of the prize of the audience sympathies to Abnavas Muaz Mohammad Abdullah (SibSMU, Jordan) for the poem "I do not love you. I won't be your wife".
A special prize from Greek autonomy was given to Andrulla Polykarp (TSACU, Cyprus) "For fruitful alliance of creative and scientific knowledge". In the nomination "For contribution to intercultural interaction of students from different countries" "Multicultural Tomsk" organization presented a football ball to Du Zhui (TSTU, China) who had submitted "Site-Building by the Example of Association of Foreign Students in Tambov 'New Forces'".
As it could be expected on such an event the presentation of prizes was accompanied with brilliant concert items. In the festive climate participants and guests of the Competition shared their impressions with each other.
Here are some of them:
Alexander V. Soloviev (the head of the International Education Department at the Administration for International Education and Cooperation of the Federal Agency for Education):
"To say that this action came off successfully is to say nothing. Both the last-year Festival and the All-Russia Competition today are a great experience not only for Tomsk but also for the whole of Russia. To unite science and arts is always difficult but here, in IIE, they managed to do it skillfully and wittily. Russia has never hosted an event of such a scale as yet; no one higher educational institution has done as much for their foreign students. That's why it was quite right to call the action not simply the All-Russia Competition, but the First All-Russia Competition of Scientific and Creative Works.
"Participants could have submitted their works of any genre. I'm very satisfied that, as soon as the idea appeared, it was backed up by every one including TPU rector Yury P. Pokholkov. Tomsk Polytechnic very quickly occupied the niche which none of Russian universities had occupied for many years before that, although there are over 100 000 foreign students studying in Russian universities nowadays and all of them are talented and have lively imagination and minds. Many of them are not students yet but do already have scientific works. And what would be when they are learning a trade? Holding such actions helps us to trace students' talents beginning with preparation level and up to DSc degree. Coming back to their cities and their native countries the participants, no doubt, will share their impressions and thus will provide us with an effective advertisement, what, in its turn, will allow to attract even more participants next year.
"Besides, such actions help to organize students' spare time who sit in lecture-halls all day long, studying academic subjects. Those, who participated in the Competition, will differ from those who spend their spare time in the street paying little attention to arts and science.
"I'm thankful to TPU for the conditions they offer to hold actions where students can express themselves on the All-Russia level. Tomsk Polytech has undertaken a very difficult job and great responsibility; people here understand that they should be conducted and do it successfully. Good luck and further success in support of educating overseas students to Tomsk, Tomsk Polytechnic University and Institute for International Education! And Federal Agency for Education is ready to back them up in it.
"Annually we enroll foreign students from 120 countries of the world and we expect increase in number of participants next year. We are sure that next year the halls of ICC TPU will be not enough to accommodate the All-Russia Competition' 2008. It occurred to us today to send gratifying letters to parents of excellent students and participants of the actions to make them proud of their sons and daughters. We sincerely want the students to know that their contribution will be appreciated and the administration board of Tomsk Polytechnic in the person of prorector for studies I.E. Nikulina endorsed the idea of course."
Gabriel Anicet Kotchofa (President of the Association of Foreign Students in Russia):
"In the city of Tomsk and in the Institute for International Education of TPU they can organize an event so as to make it a stunning success. Both the Festival of last year and the All-Russia Competition' 2007 surely were conducted on a high level and I'm thankful to the organizers of the action and I'm proud that I myself am among the organizers, too. Such events are very important for foreign students, because Russia is a different country with its own customs, traditions, culture and they have to live and learn here using not their native language, and such events unite the youth from different countries and make their life more interesting. The city of Tomsk has all the conditions to organize such events: here belongs both a scientific potential, and an ability to target globally and hit the target, and its infrastructure. The IIE staff is always ready to make studying interesting for foreign students, support the latter and find out their talents. I would like the foreign students very much to understand that Russia is not only Moscow and St-Petersburg, but also the Siberia. We will be delighted to welcome next year even more participants because 'it's better to see once than to hear a hundred of times'. I'm sure that the students who will by right be called participants of Competition' 2008, will want to study here and become TPU's alumni."
Kalinina Svetlana P (the head adviser to the education and instruction department in the field of human rights under the Office of the Representative on human rights in the RF):
"It's not the first action of the scale to be held in TPU and the city of Tomsk. Last year I was lucky enough to participate in the All-Russia Festival. Both the Festival and the All-Russia Competition of scientific and creative works by foreign students went to great advantage. Both the organizers and students and guests were contented with them. Events of this kind certainly promote intercourse of representatives of different countries and consolidate their friendship. I'm very glad that the rector of Tomsk Polytechnic always welcomes an opportunity to organize an event for overseas students. And of course what's most important in Tomsk and in IIE TPU there is a possibility and willingness to conduct such events. As soon as I came to the Competition I was absorbed in the atmosphere of love, friendship and positive emotions. I was delighted to come to Tomsk again like everyone in our delegation was. After the success of the Festival we did not hesitate that the All-Russia Competition would be held under the same applause and we all would say once again: 'Tomsk and the Institute for International Education of TPU can, is willing to, do and will organize such actions!' I'm sure in a very few years it will become an international movement and the Competition will be held in several rounds. I adore the courage of the 'constructors' of this event - good luck and endless success to them!"
Andrey V. Dobrovolsky (Member of the Association for International Cooperation of Technical Universities of Central and East Europe, dean for work with international students of Moscow State University of Civil Engineering, professor):
"I participated in the Festival last year and in the All-Russia Competition' 2007. Organizing such actions is a very responsible thing and a necessary one for foreign students. Because they come from different countries with absolutely different traditions what courses stresses and upsets. They should communicate, share their experience, and learn something new about their colleagues. To organize such events is to give them an opportunity to do it.
"3 students and 2 postgraduate students from Vietnam, Palestine and Latvia have come along with me and they are very contented and I strongly hope that this trend - to expose talents - has been just started in TPU."
Sergey A. Gajvoronsky (ACEF TPU dean):
"I'm very satisfied with the action: it is undoubtedly necessary to develop scientific and creative potential of foreign students. It promotes peoples' friendship, communication and exchange of experience as well as stimulates Russian students.
I'm proud that our university is a pioneer in conducting such great actions as the Festival last year and the Competition of this year. Nevertheless it puts on us certain obligations and responsibility. TPU has been and is able to conduct every event on the highest level possible and it is always ready to important novations of any sort".
Sukh Uyanga (SibSMU student, Mongolia):
"I'm very glad that this event has taken place and that I've had a unique chance to submit here my work 'The Traditional Mongolian Medicine'. I participated in the Festival' 2006 last year. I'm sure that such actions are inevitable both for us, foreign students, and for Russia as a whole. Our institute seldom holds such events, but if it does I do my best to take part in it, course I write an article, and it's interesting to me to share my experience with other participants, and in the future I will do graduate work. Participation in the Competition will do me good. Besides, I like the city of Tomsk very much; the Siberian youth and my classmates are all my friends. If I have a chance I will participate in the Competition many and many times again. I also want to thank my academic adviser and my teachers."
Hien (TPU student, Vietnam):
"I think I'm lucky to be a TPU student: it's funny and great to learn here, because a great deal of interesting and useful events for overseas students take place here. The Competition was necessary both for TPU and for Tomsk, and for Russia. We, foreign students, got a chance to exhibit ourselves on the All-Russia level. These actions help students to do their graduate work. Both the Festival last year and the Competition' 2007 proved useful. I submitted both a scientific and a creative works. They were a poem and what directly deals with the theme of my degree work. Such events promote strengthening of friendly relations of students from different countries and help to develop universities' partnership. Every on in our group is on friendly terms with each other and we like to learn here. I'm already in my 5th year but if I just can I will certainly come back and take part in the Competition' 2008! My heartfelt gratitude to our teachers and to Samborskaya Marina Anatolievna."
Van (IrSTU student, Vietnam):
"Organization of such events is necessary for foreign students. We've had a splendid chance to demonstrate ourselves and represent our works. I submitted a creative work - "A Smile", a video clip. I was pleased to learn what other students go in for; we shared our experience with one another. If I had a chance I will sure participate in such actions in the future."
Thus, the All-Russia Competition of Scientific and Creative works is over, but still it will live in the memory of its organizers and participants for a long time. It has really evoked widespread responses in the international environment of Russian universities; lots of overseas students took part in it with pleasure and demonstrated their talents. The result once more convinces us that such actions are very important, that they promote the strengthening of friendship and communication between peoples of different countries and leads to solution of worldwide problems.
It's a great fortune that such an action has taken place. Undoubtedly, it's an Event (with a capital E) for the city of Tomsk, for Tomsk Polytechnic and for the whole of our country. It's fortunate that the action was such a success and initiated a tradition to conduct the All-Russia Competition of Scientific and Creative Works by Foreign Students of TPU on an annual basis.
Long Live All-Russia Competition!
Source: the Organizing Commettee of the Competition http://www.iie.tpu.ru/smotr


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Phil was successfully rehabilitated and returned to the ocean!
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Phil, the male harbor seal in our care, has been cleared for release by our veterinary team!
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A male harbor seal nicknamed Phil and a grey female seal nicknamed Luna are making great progress in rehabilitation with our Animal Rescue and Animal Health teams!
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I got this post to the web site today and had to pass it along. Georg Herold-Wildfellner logged into the Design Center from Vienna Austria and used our contact link to say Happy Easter Graphic-Design! He sent an EASTER card to introduce his new font called * PINTO * ... nice idea, fun font, an email marketing campaign gone RIGHT!
It's a novel approach to marketing, and the materials at his site are really fun, so heck yes, I'll post it in the next 60-Seconds! Pinto has four families plus hundreds of ornaments in 1 font combo!
Georg has put an unbelievable number of hours into this creation -- it it pays off for YOU -- letting you transform type into an exciting and beautiful piece of work. The irregular, hand-lettered look adds a real human touch to things and comes along with a lot of loving details.
The random feature in the fonts makes it really look authentically like hand lettering. It's one of the freshest font designs we've seen in a while.
Combine all font-styles the way you want, add some ornamental swashes or banners and even a single word becomes magnificent.
Georg Herold-Wildfellner writes :
What I would set my heart on is graphic design, what I would sell my soul for is type design. Thank God I have a family who occupies both.
We surely agree! And, Happy Easter to all!
See all fonts by Georg Herold-Wildfellner www.buerofliegenpilz.at
Georg also did Aeronaut Font,
and Ivory font,
and Mr Moustache font,
and don't forget the lovely and expressive Weingut script font
And, thanks for reading
Don't forget ... we encourage you to share your discoveries with other readers:
Send an email to our editorial staff
Contribute your own article
Join the Design Cafe forums, or
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Today, throughout St. Louis you may have chanced to find groups of residents lining sidewalks and carrying signs. Their indications read, "Abortion kills children," and "Jesus forgives and heals." They belonged to Life Chain U.S.A., a national annual movement of Christians standing as witnesses versus the murder of this country's kids. Some might encourage them; some might challenge their technique; some may question their effectiveness. But let's put this phenomenon in context.
Bellflower MO 63333 Alcohol Rehab Inpatient
But the problem is that dependency is not simply a personal problem. It is a social issue because a person's addiction has an impact on his/her friends, family, and those who cope with the person. And so, it frequently causes a problem for them too. It ought to never be overlooked, and the person ought to never ever be deciding alone. However, obviously, above everything else, it is vital that the person recognizes that there is an issue, and she or he need to be psychologically inspired to seek treatment.
That's almost 50 million people on this one kind of drug alone. Do they all really require those drugs? Were all other alternatives tired and all possible consequences – like prescription drug addiction and the requirement for drug addiction treatment – weighed versus the advantages?
Rehab for Drug Inpatient
Going to a inpatient rehabilitation centers is an excellent choice if you can get the time away and have somebody to look after pets for you. In rehab you will be provided medication integrated with other kinds of therapy which will help you on your way to healing.
Using the photocopier to produce the fliers for the kids bottle drive, the constituency office, the raffle, the church marketplace, the damp tee t-shirt contests.
These questions are not scientific, and everybody's situation is various. But if a lot of these concerns triggered alarm bells for you, then you might wish to seriously think about entering an inpatient drug rehab center. Take the action today while it is on your mind and your will is strong. The minute you feel the time is right is the very best time to go on and take the leap. If you are not sure where to start, speak with your medical professional. Any relied on physician or even an interventionist can assist you with which center can best accommodate your scenario. Keep in mind that you are not alone and there are always individuals to assist.
Inpatient Alcohol Rehab Centers Near Bellflower Missouri 63333
JFW is quite pricey and the expense varies anywhere from $900.00 to over $1000.00. Fortunately there are organizations such as Blindness and Visual Solutions (BVS) in Pennsylvania, and Division of inpatient rehab (DRS) in West Virginia, that assist aesthetically impaired people acquire these programs. To find out more on JAWS for Windows (JFW), you can go to Flexibility Scientifics' web site witch will be referenced at the end of this article.
For correct treatment a more holistic method is deem needed. Given that compound abuse recovery isn't one- dimensional, your treatment could not be either.
Brief Summary
On the other hand, do not forget to tend to your very own psychological needs. You and your partner might wish to get associated with a specific support system for parents of teens who are suffering from substance abuse. The majority of cities have at least one such program, and you must be able to get information from your physician or your child's treatment center. In any event, it is a great concept to get in touch with other moms and dads in similar circumstances to yours so that you do not need to feel so alone in your struggle.


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- Anastasia Pharris1, Chantal Quinten1, Lara Tavoschi1, Gianfranco Spiteri1, Andrew J. Amato-Gauci1, the ECDC HIV/AIDS Surveillance Network2
View Affiliations Hide AffiliationsAffiliations: 1 European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), Stockholm, Sweden 2 The members of the network are listed at the end of the articleAnastasia Pharrisanastasia.pharris ecdc.europa.eu
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Citation style for this article: Pharris Anastasia, Quinten Chantal, Tavoschi Lara, Spiteri Gianfranco, Amato-Gauci Andrew J., the ECDC HIV/AIDS Surveillance Network. Trends in HIV surveillance data in the EU/EEA, 2005 to 2014: new HIV diagnoses still increasing in men who have sex with men. Euro Surveill. 2015;20(47):pii=30071. https://doi.org/10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2015.20.47.30071 Received: 12 Nov 2015; Accepted: 24 Nov 2015
Trends in HIV surveillance data in the EU/EEA, 2005 to 2014: new HIV diagnoses still increasing in men who have sex with men
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Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission remains significant in Europe. Rates of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) have declined, but not in all countries. New HIV diagnoses have increased among native and foreign-born men who have sex with men. Median CD4+ T-cell count at diagnosis has increased, but not in all groups, and late diagnosis remains common. HIV infection and AIDS can be eliminated in Europe with resolute prevention measures, early diagnosis and access to effective treatment.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
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Cohen MS, Chen YQ, McCauley M, Gamble T, Hosseinipour MC, Kumarasamy N, et al. Prevention of HIV-1 infection with early antiretroviral therapy. N Engl J Med. 2011;365(6):493-505. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa1105243 PMID: 21767103
Lundgren J, Babiker A, Gordin F, Emery S, Fätkenheuer G, Molina JM, et al. Why START? Reflections that led to the conduct of this large long-term strategic HIV trial. HIV Med. 2015;16(Suppl 1):1-9. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1111/hiv.12227 PMID: 25711317
McCormack S, Dunn DT, Desai M, Dolling DI, Gafos M, Gilson R, et al. Pre-exposure prophylaxis to prevent the acquisition of HIV-1 infection (PROUD): effectiveness results from the pilot phase of a pragmatic open-label randomised trial. Lancet. 2015. https://doi.org/http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(15)00056-2 PMID: 26364263
Molina JM, Capitant C, Spire B, Pialoux G, Chidiac C, Charreau I, et al. On demand PrEP with oral TDF-FTC in MSM: Results of the ANRS Ipergay trial. Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI); Seattle, WA; 2015.
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European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). HIV and STI prevention among men who have sex with men. Stockholm: ECDC; 2015. Available from: http://ecdc.europa.eu/en/publications/Publications/hiv-sti-prevention-among-men-who-have-sex-with-men-guidance.pdf
Stromdahl S, Hickson F, Pharris A, Sabido M, Baral S, Thorson A. A systematic review of evidence to inform HIV prevention interventions among men who have sex with men in Europe. Euro Surveill. 2015;20(15):21096. Available from: https://doi.org/10.2807/1560-7917.ES2015.20.15.21096 PMID: 25953133
Fakoya I, Álvarez-del Arco D, Woode-Owusu M, Monge S, Rivero-Montesdeoca Y, Delpech V, et al. A systematic review of post-migration acquisition of HIV among migrants from countries with generalised HIV epidemics living in Europe: mplications for effectively managing HIV prevention programmes and policy. BMC Public Health. 2015;15(1):561. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-015-1852-9 PMID: 26085030
Hernando V, Alvárez-Del Arco D, Alejos B, Monge S, Amato-Gauci AJ, Noori T, et al. HIV Infection in Migrant Populations in the European Union and European Economic Area in 2007-2012: An Epidemic on the Move. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2015;70(2):204-11. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1097/QAI.0000000000000717 PMID: 26068723
Rice BD, Elford J, Yin Z, Delpech VC. A new method to assign country of HIV infection among heterosexuals born abroad and diagnosed with HIV. AIDS. 2012;26(15):1961-6. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1097/QAD.0b013e3283578b80 PMID: 22781226
Desgrées-du-Loû A, Pannetier J, Ravalihasy A, Gosselin A, Supervie V, Panjo H, et al. Sub-Saharan African migrants living with HIV acquired after migration, France, ANRS PARCOURS study, 2012 to 2013. Euro Surveill. 2015;20(46):30065. https://doi.org/10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2015.20.46.30065
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Longer telephoto lenses can be very pricey, especially if you're only looking to use one occasionally or simply don't have the money to drop five figures on top of the line glass. Luckily, third party companies have been producing excellent long zoom lenses for the last few years at much more affordable prices. Today only, you can get an even better deal on the Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM Contemporary Lens in Nikon F or Canon EF mounts.
The Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM Contemporary Lens is a great super-telephoto zoom lens for any photographer who needs some extra reach at a reasonable price. The lens has 20 elements in 14 groups with one FLD element and three SLD elements, as well as a Hyper Sonic AF motor and helpful features like a zoom lock and manual override switches. If you're looking to take it outside for wildlife or landscapes, you'll be glad to know it also features a splash and dust-proof mount, while its 0.2x maximum magnification factor can render closeup objects reasonably largely. And of course, you also get optical stabilization and the sharpness we've come to expect of Sigma's modern lenses, both of which we were impressed by in our review. Today only, B&H is taking $360 off, knocking the lens down to just $729, making it a great time to get this affordable and versatile piece of glass.
3 Comments
This lens is ok for landscape photography but quite slow for birding.
I have the Tamron 150-600 f/5-6.3 and use it for birding all the time. It might not be optimal but it can be done with fairly good results with practice. I don't have, nor will I ever have an extra $10,000 sitting around to spend on a 500 or 600mm f/4 lens.
I know several birders who use the lens and are quite happy with it. Handheld, to boot. They usually up the ISO to 800 so they can use higher shutter speeds. Unfortunately I had to give up on the long lenses,though I drool over them. I had to choose between having the use of the lens or having the use of my hand.


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You are here
Electricity tariffs lowered for productive sectors
By JT - May 16,2018 - Last updated at May 16,2018
AMMAN — Energy and Minerals Regulatory Commission announced on Tuesday a decision to lower electricity tariffs on three productive sectors.
The beneficiaries of the move include the intermediate industrial sector, telecom and private hospitals, according to a statement by the regulator, reported by the Jordan News Agency, Petra.
The measure is part of the Economic Growth Plan being implemented by the government to stimulate the economy within four years.
For the first sector, the government, as of June 1, will not increase the tariff, in case oil prices go up, by more than JD0.10 for each kWh.
The government has set a $55 per crude barrel cap to keep electricity tariffs unchanged, with prices hiked proportionately with the difference in the price of oil.
As for the telecom and private hospitals sectors, the tariffs will go down gradually through three stages that will end in 2020 with the price of each kWh to reach a low of JD0.16 per kWh. The new tariff will go into effect on the first of July, the statement said.
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AMMAN — The Energy and Minerals Regulatory Commission (EMRC) on Thursday announced that it has adopted a scenario for electricity tariffs th
AMMAN — Electricity prices will be increased as of Thursday for all sectors and segments, excluding households that consume 300 kilowatt-hou
AMMAN — The government will increase electricity prices as of Sunday for all sectors and segments, excluding households that consume 300 kil
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The Delights of Her Rage
No one ever said loving someone was easy. No one who truly ever loved anybody at least. Love, contrary to popular belief is... Well it's fucking violent. At least it was for us in that moment. That blissful moment when I was drawn from deep sleep and thrust into the truth of such violence. A dreamless slumber ruptured by a strong haymaker to my upper left temple.
"You motherfucker," she yelled.
"You motherfucking piece of shit," she screamed as the onslaught continued.
I'd like to say I was present in such a way to see the beauty that fueled her anger. That I witnessed the love that hid behind the fire in her eyes. The immense care that subsisted beneath the vehemence of her scream. But in all honesty I was more consumed with the horror of that moment and the ever present fear of pissing myself uncontrollably. A horror and fear that produced shrill sounds that no grown man should ever have to make in the company of others.
"That's right scream you lil bitch boy!" She howled as her fist made contact with my right collar bone.
Yup that was it. I was a lil bitch boy. She surely wasn't wrong about that. I had been a lil bitch boy from the moment we first met and I was finally getting the ass whopping that I deserved. But even though this may sound odd given the noises I was making and the piss I was so desperately trying to contain, but I was now more in love with her than I had ever been... It was as if each strike tore away yet another layer of my cowardice. A cowardice that had kept my love buried so deep for so long.
I know it must sound terribly odd and maybe that's because it truly is, but I was in love in that moment. And even though an ass beating is an odd and kinky occasion to fall in love, it was our moment through and through. For what is love that knows not terror. And if it was so that love was her purpose and terror was her stay, I was more than willing to receive the delights of her rage.
-Thane Hounchell
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Thane Hounchell: Offensive around children, scared of cats.
March 2018


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Does anybody no where I can buy 2 wooden handles for my garden shears.
I don't particularly want to buy some more shears.
3 posts • Page 1 of 1
DIY how to tutorial projects and guides - Did you know we have a DIY Projects section? Well, if no, then we certainly do! Within this area of our site have literally hundreds of how-to guides and tutorials that cover a huge range of home improvement tasks. Each page also comes with pictures and a video to make completing those jobs even easier!


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Italian Rice Balls2016-07-23
- Course: Appetizer
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- Yield : about 2 dozen
- Prep Time : 35m
- Cook Time : 45m
- Ready In : 20m
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- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 5 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 medium onion, diced small
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 pound ground veal
- 1 cup Italian flat-leaf parsley leaves, minced
- 2 tablespoons minced fresh thyme
- 1 tablespoon dried oregano
- Kosher salt and ground black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 1/2 cups tomato sauce
- 2 cups cooked and cooled Arborio rice (cooked until just done, not overcooked)
- 2 cups grated Parmesan
- Canola oil, for frying
- 5 eggs
- 3 cups breadcrumbs with Italian seasoning
- Marinara Sauce, recipe follows, or store-bought
- 3 tablespoons minced fresh basil
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 onion, chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- Three 28-ounce cans whole peeled tomatoes, including liquid
- 1 cup fresh basil leaves
- 1/2 cup fresh oregano leaves
- 1/2 cup fresh thyme leaves
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
Step 1
Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat and saute the garlic and onions until softened, about 2 minutes. Add the meat and cook until browned, breaking up large pieces as it cooks. Strain off excess fat from the skillet. Add the parsley and cook, about 3 minutes. Add the thyme, oregano, 2 teaspoons salt, 1 teaspoon black pepper, cayenne and red pepper flakes. Taste and add more seasoning if needed. Keep in mind that rice and cheese contain salt so be careful not to over salt the meat mixture. Let the meat mixture cool a bit. Add the tomato sauce. Combine the rice with the cheese but be careful not to mash the rice. Add the rice mixture to the meat mixture and stir gently to combine. Check the seasonings. Add additional salt and pepper if necessary.
Step 2
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Use a small to medium ice cream scoop (number 10) to shape the balls so they are a consistent size, and then hand roll the balls as tightly as you can.
Step 3
Pour enough canola oil into a deep skillet or Dutch oven to reach 5 inches. Heat the oil over medium heat to 350 degrees F; use a deep-fry thermometer to check the oil temperature.
Step 4
Whisk the eggs in a small baking dish. Place the breadcrumbs in another baking dish. Roll the rice balls lightly in the eggs and then immediately roll in the breadcrumbs to form a coating. Shake off the excess breadcrumbs. Place them on the prepared baking sheet and refrigerate or freeze until you are ready to fry.
Step 5
To fry, carefully drop the rice balls into the hot oil, a few at a time, taking care not to overcrowd and lower the oil temperature. Cook until golden brown, 2 to 4 minutes per batch. Bring the oil back up to 350 degrees F before cooking each batch. Drain the rice balls on paper towels before serving.
Step 6
Serve with Marinara Sauce for dipping. Garnish with the basil.
Step 7
This recipe was created by a contestant during a cooking competition. The Food Network Kitchens have not tested it for home use, therefore, we cannot make any representation as to the results.
Step 8
Heat the olive oil in the bottom of a large pot. Add the onions and cook until translucent and softened, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute. Use some of the liquid from the tomatoes to deglaze the pan, and then add the tomatoes, basil, oregano, thyme, salt and pepper. Use an immersion blender to puree, taking care to leave the tomatoes slightly chunky. (If you don't have an immersion blender, you can add everything to a blender or food processor.)
Step 9
Bring to a boil and cook for 5 minutes, stirring frequently to keep from burning on the bottom. Reduce the heat to low and cook for 1 hour or longer so that the marinara thickens as some of the liquid cooks out. Check seasoning prior to serving. Add salt as necessary.