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Established for over many years, A1 Garage Door has built up an outstanding reputation as the leading garage door repair and installation specialist throughout the Woodinville, WA. We pride ourselves on our excellent customer service and have achieved a customer satisfaction record which is second to none. We want our products to provide you with years of quality service, so at A1 Garage Door, we provide a comprehensive guarantee, so you can be confident that when you invest in a new garage door you'll be receiving the best possible service at the most cost effective prices. Our installation work is also guaranteed and our garage doors have a maintenance free finish, therefore presentable year round to complement your home and save you time and money.
Garage door openers provide convenience, security, and added value to your home. Not having to exit your vehicle to open or close your garage door in the rain or freezing weather is nice, but with today's concerns about security being able to turn on the light and enter and exit your garage, while safely inside of your car, provides an added level…
Deciding to put in a new garage door can be a big decision. After all, the garage door is the biggest moving device in your whole home! You definitely want to get it right. When the technicians from A1 Garage Door come to install your new garage door, they do it with four goals in mind. First and foremost, the focus of our installation is on safety…
Tightening a spring, winding a spring, loosening a bracket or some similar task can cause the spring to uncoil without advanced warning. These springs are powerful, so that action could result in you being hit by that spring and knocked from your ladder. The wire in the springs can cause deep cuts, the spring can cause broken bones and the fall itself can…
We repair all major brands and models, including Liftmaster, Linear, All-O-Matic, Sentex, Elite, Viking and Mighty Mule and carry parts in stock to get your electric gate working again quickly! We provide quality gate repair services including automatic gate repair, gate opener repair, welding repairs for iron gates and access control repairs.
In the event that your garage door breaks down in the middle of the night or over the weekend, you don't have to wait 'til morning or Monday to have it fixed. At A1 Garage Door, we offer 24-7 emergency garage door repairs to customers throughout the Woodinville area. Whether you have a business or home with a broken garage door, we can come to troubleshoot and likely fix the issue the same day. Otherwise, we will recommend a replacement and do the installation for you at an unbeatable price.
Having a damaged garage door or a garage door that isn't working properly or at all can be, not only frustrated but also can severely interrupt the flow of your life. We rely on our garage for a safe place to store our cars away from outsiders, bustle in the neighborhood, and even the harsh wear of the weather. Not to mention it provides a more comfortable experience when our vehicles are subjected to the harsh temperatures, making it inconvenient for us in the morning when we have to leave for work or to drop the kids off at school.
When you are using your garage doors excessively, they are prone to getting damaged. Although springs do not usually break before their life span is complete, if they are not properly maintained and used then they tend to break earlier. Another major reason why springs break over here is the frequent fluctuations in the temperature as well as the extreme conditions that are here.
You might have heard a loud snapping sound followed by the inability to open and close your garage door. This is typically a sure sign of a broken garage door spring. Garage door springs' lifetime varies depending on the amount of use your garage door has over a period of time. Springs are one of the most common failures on today's modern garage doors. We specialize in replacing springs and get your door working again fast at a great price. We have just about every spring on our trucks so we can get your door fixed without a second trip.
Garage Door Openers are so important to the safety of your family. A garage door is far more complex than they may seem, and anything as small as a single broken spring could be preventing your opener from working. Our team will be happy to help you select a new garage door opener, or repair the opener you already own.
A1 Garage Door is a full service garage door company in Woodinville, WA providing new garage door installation. If you are looking for a new residential or commercial garage door, look no further. It has never been easier to choose a custom garage door that you can be proud of. We offer C.H.I. overhead doors, DoorLink garage doors and Windsor garage doors available in many styles and options.
From your standard sectional overhead door to roll up doors, we install and service all types. All work is guaranteed, so whether you need rolling steel doors, commercial panel doors, full view commercial doors or roll up doors, rely on our A1 Garage Door.
A garage door may be the one item that you never think about breaking, but due to what it does and how it operates it is one of the items that is likely to fail with time. This is true should you use the garage door regularly, like parking your car or truck from the garage on a daily basis you are not working. However, you should realize if the garage door does break, it generally will not be work that you might want to try to accomplish by yourself. This is where you should use some guidelines to help you in locating the best garage door repair company in Woodinville to complete your repairs.
We provide garage door repair services in Woodinville 98072, 98077, Bothell, Mill Creek, Kenmore, Edmonds, Mukilteo, Mountlake Terrace, Lake Stevens, Lynnwood, Everett, Kirkland, Redmond, Fall City, Duvall, Carnation, Maple Valley, Bellevue, Renton, Mercer Island, Newcastle, Issaquah, Sammamish, Snoqualmie, Clyde Hill, Medina, Yarrow Point and Hunts Point, Washington.
Replacing or repairing garage doors is quite a cumbersome task that most homeowners can't handle on their own- it can also be dangerous as items within the door can be compressed. It is at this point that you seek for a garage door repair company. It is everyone's desire to get a business that is reliable and dependable when fixing their broken garage doors. Unfortunately, some will ask for hefty fees, while some end up wasting your time and effort to boot.
We have seen all sorts of problems, from a garage door that will not open or close completely which can be due to a damaged or faulty close limit switch, to a jammed door, resulting from a broken cable or pulley. Garage doors require regular professional lubrication of the hinges so as to avoid annoying squeaks or pops developing. These are just a few of the many calls we get from our customers regarding their garage doors, so don't hesitate to contact a professional in order to ensure safety in Woodinville garage door repair.


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An 8-year-old diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor didn't think he could fulfill a lifelong dream of being a police officer.
That changed Tuesday when Joey Fabus was "sworn in" as an honorary Bethel Park officer and became the youngest cop in Pennsylvania.
"He wanted to be a policeman when he grew up and he gets to do that today," Fabus' mom, Cindy Fabus, told NBC's WPXI.
U.S. & World
The day's top national and international news.
Fabus was given a toy police car, badge, uniform and real handcuffs to perform his new officer duties.
The Bethal Park police also staged a traffic violation by having the 19-year-old daughter of an officer roll through a stop sign in front of a municipal building, Tribe Total Media reported. The 8-year-old wrote the woman a traffic ticket but later lobbied in court for it to be dropped — all with a smile on his face.
Doctors have given Fabus six months to a year to live, according to WPXI.
"It has been wonderful. We've had a huge outpour of love and support, and it means the world to us," Cindy Fabus told the station.
A benefit concert will be held for Joey on July 19 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel at 7 p.m.

subset: commoncrawl


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9/14/11 - New Jersey American Water (For full report click here: AmWater Test Results)
We tested your gel and spray against the following products:
Your gel was the best we tried and the spray was the 2nd best. It was reported to me that the gel lasted up to 3 days in the field without the workers safety glasses fogging up. The spray lasted a full day in the field. The best the other products did was up to 4 hours before the lenses fogged. I will be supplying this information to all of our locations within New Jersey as well as all of the other American Water locations around the country. So if you receive any orders with American in the company name (such as Pennsylvania American, California American, etc), it was from my recommendation.
If you send me some samples, I'll give them out at the September 23rd meeting. I already have the instructions, MSDS, and price list that you provided to me.
Bob Charney, CUSA, Chairperson NJUA Safety & Health Committee, Sr. Specialist ORM, New Jersey American Water.
To see more testimonials/reviews click here.


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Würzburg is a pleasing harmony of history, culture and wine. This university town and former royal seat is idyllically situated on either side of the Main river and offers a vibrant atmosphere and an endearing charm. It has gained a name as the centre of the Franconian winegrowing region and, not least, as a city with exceptional places of interest.
Würzburg is full of contrasts: a former episcopal seat and a young university town, baroque architecture and a distinctly mediterranean feel combined with Franconian hospitality. The architectural splendours that define the city reflect a range of periods. Art, culture and Franconian wine are essential parts of Würzburg life and create a feast for all the senses. Visitors will find themselves on a captivating and exhilarating tour of discovery through different eras and styles. Even from afar, the two imposing towers of St. Kilian's Cathedral point the way to the city. Built by Bishop Bruno in 1040, it is the fourth largest Romanesque church in Germany at a total length of 105 metres. Würzburg's famous landmarks are the UNESCO World Heritage Residenz Palace, with its palace gardens and square, the Marienberg Citadel and the 180-metre-long Old Main Bridge, which is lined with impressive statues of saints. Straddling the banks of the Main river amid idyllic vineyards, the location alone is reason enough to visit Würzburg. Another reason is the local wine served in Bocksbeutel bottles, whose characteristic flattened round shape has become a trademark for the entire region. It is not known for sure whether the shape is derived from the traditional water bottles once used in the fields, but it does have a significant advantage: it prevents the bottles from rolling away. Quaint pubs and traditional wine taverns offering local Franconian cuisine as well as top-class international restaurants can be found throughout the city. And, because this is Würzburg, it's only right to order a Bocksbeutel of wine along with your meal.
The centrally located Bürgerspital was established as a charitable institution for people in need of care in the 14th century but also upholds another fine tradition: wine growing. Regarded as the birthplace of the Bocksbeutel, the winery is certainly worth a visit. Also in the city centre is the Bürgerspital restaurant and wine tavern, regarded as the world's centre for Bocksbeutel culture. But culture is also on offer elsewhere, for example in the fascinating museums. One of these, at the Marienberg Citadel, houses the largest collection of works by the famous woodcarver and sculptor Tilman Riemenschneider. You will encounter this great artist again in the Cathedral Museum, which features around 300 pictures and sculptures from the last millennium. Its concept is fascinating: Christian themes interpreted by modern and contemporary artists, such as Ernst Barlach, Joseph Beuys, Otto Dix, Käthe Kollwitz, Wolfgang Mattheuer, Werner Tübke and Andy Warhol, are juxtaposed with the works of the Old Masters, including Riemenschneider, Georg Anton Urlaub, Johann Peter Wagner and Johann Zick. Slightly more modern art from the 19th century to the present day is the focus of the award-winning Kulturspeicher Museum at the old docks. Art by the world for the world is housed in this exhibition space covering 3,500 square metres. It includes the Ruppert Collection, which presents concrete art in a remarkable setting. A classical art collection awaits discovery at the Martin von Wagner Museum. The discovery of X-rays, which also took place in Würzburg, may not appear to have anything to do with art at first glance. However, Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen's invention has been used to analyse and preserve countless works of art. Röntgen's original laboratory welcomes visitors, and the city looks forward to your visit too.
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The shortage of officially-licensed Sochi 2014 pins in Olympic Park appears to be over.
Volunteers, journalists and other guests in the main media center lined up Friday in a small souvenir store to browse through and buy the beloved mementos, which have become a tradition at each Olympic Games.
The IOC and Sochi organizers promised action after getting multiple questions on the pins over the past few days. The Russian mint produced 1 million pins for the games, selling them in airports, stores and other places in Russia before they arrived in Olympic Park.
U.S. & World
Here's a close-up of some of the pins:
Close up of #sochi2014 pins. Some are country-specific, others depict different sports & random stuff. pic.twitter.com/qho6jlIyt9 — Oskar Garcia (@oskargarcia) February 14, 2014


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Polly (Sarah Chalke) is faced with a dilemma this week on ABC's How to Live with Your Parents (For the Rest of Your Life): Should she go on a date with Scott or stay home with her daughter?
Get the scoop on 39 must-watch season finales
The question's a no-brainer for her mother Elaine (Elizabeth Perkins) and stepfather Max (Brad Garrett), who encourage her to have a night out on the town.
"Why don't you let us take care of Natalie and you go out with Scott?" Elaine suggests. Sounds like a great plan! But babysitting their granddaughter may not go as smoothly as they anticipate ...
How to make a sitcom like How to Live with Your Parents
Check out this sneak peek of Wednesday's episode, including a hilarious flashback that provides some insight into Polly's parenting style.
How to Live with Your Parents (For the Rest of Your Life) airs Wednesdays at 9:30/8:30c.


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- 1 1/2 cups fresh lime juice
- 1/3 cup soy sauce
- 1/3 cup rice syrup (available in Asian markets), or honey
- 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 2 teaspoons sesame oil
- 2 tablespoons minced garlic
- 2 tablespoons minced ginger
- 3 cups grated peeled daikon radish
- 3 cups grated peeled carrots
- 2 long French bread baguettes, about 30-inches each
- 5 Baked Catfish fillets
- 1 cup fresh cilantro, stems trimmed
- 3 jalapeno or serrano chile peppers, thinly sliced
- In a blender, mix the lime juice, soy sauce, rice syrup, vegetable and sesame oils, garlic, and ginger on high speed for 10 seconds.
- In a bowl, combine the radishes and carrots with 1/2 cup of the lime juice mixture. Toss and refrigerate for 15 minutes.
- Cut each baguette in half lengthwise without cutting all the way through. Scoop out about 1/2-inch of the soft dough inside both sides of the bread. Spread each side with the lime juice mixture and top with the baked catfish. Drain the shredded vegetables and arrange on top of the fish. Lay the cilantro and peppers over the vegetables. Cover with the top piece of bread, pressing down to seal. Slice each sandwich on the bias into 2-inch thick pieces, getting about 15 mini-sandwiches per baguette.
Recipe Details
- Source: Emeril Live EM1F15e
- Dish Type: Sandwiches


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Home > Health Library > Spinal Cord Injury: Finding a Rehab Center
Rehabilitation (rehab) for a spinal cord injury (SCI) is typically done in a special center. You and your family work with a rehab team, a group of health professionals that designs a unique plan for your recovery. This plan will help you recover as much function as possible, prevent complications, and help you live as independently as possible. The team includes your doctor and a rehab nurse, plus specialists such as physical and occupational therapists.
The rehab center should be able to meet your special needs. Research the center keeping this in mind, and ask questions about its staff, accreditation, equipment, activities, programs, and how it transitions you back into your community.
Current as of: November 20, 2019
Author: Healthwise StaffMedical Review: Adam Husney, MD - Family MedicineMartin J. Gabica, MD - Family MedicineKathleen Romito, MD - Family MedicineNancy E. Greenwald, MD - Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
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Current as of: November 20, 2019
Author: Healthwise Staff
Medical Review:Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine & Martin J. Gabica, MD - Family Medicine & Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine & Nancy E. Greenwald, MD - Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
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Remember Sean Crowley? The not easily forgotten tie maven and exquisite Anglophile living in Brooklyn has inspired a short film as part of The Dandy Portraits! For this portrait Mr. Crowley gives us a rare peep into his world, where there is always time for tea.
The film was made by Rarebit Productions, a creative partnership between me and my betrothed, Kelly Desmond Bray. We filmed at Sean's apartment, and also paid a visit to Bobby From Boston and met Bobby Garnett, the owner of the esteemed vintage clothing store in Boston where Sean worked when he was just out of college. Every inch of Sean's brownstone apartment is filled with his collections (and Meredith might have a shoe or two in there), but to my surprise when I left his environment I felt inspired. I thought I would feel the need to clear clutter immediately, but instead I could see the delight that comes from having beautiful things surround you. Enjoy!


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ULTIMA® X5000 Gas Monitor
1 Part Number(s)
The ULTIMA® X5000 Gas Monitor is the future of gas detection for oxygen, toxic and combustible gases. MSA XCell® gas sensors with TruCal® technology offer calibration cycles up to 18 months (local calibration respected). The gas transmitter's advanced, multi-lingual OLED display is easy to read and the unique touch-screen interface makes it simple to navigate.
TRIGARD® Gas Monitoring System
1 Part Number(s)
Designed to meet a variety of demanding applications, from wastewater facilities, to light industry and commercial applications, the TRIGARD Gas Monitoring System features MSA's precision craftsmanship and detects chlorine, sulfur dioxide and other toxic and combustible gases. The adjustable-range unit also detects oxygen deficiency and enrichment. AC or DC powered, the system features a highly visible LCD screen and simple push-button calibration. Boasting sturdy NEMA 4X design and a single board, the unit offers multiple sensor mounting options. Our patented sensor disconnect-underpower feature allows all sensors to be replaced in hazardous areas without area declassification, while interchangeable smart sensors are pre-calibrated for installation right out of the box.
Ultima® X Series Gas Monitors with X3® Technology
0 Part Number(s)
The Ultima X Series Gas Monitors with X3 Technology bring the power of multi-sensing, signal boost and ModBus output to the Ultima X line of MSA gas monitors. The units are crafted from either stainless steel or NEMA 4X-rated plastic, and our patented SafeSwap sensor disconnect-underpower feature allows all sensors to be replaced in hazardous areas without area declassification. The interchangeable smart sensors eliminate the need for reconfiguration, while the use of one circuit board increases reliability. Each sensor can be placed up to 3,000 feet from the monitor, while the scrolling LCD screen displays sensor reading and gas type. Note: This is a custom product. Please consult your local sales manager or contact Customer Service for configuration details
PrimaX® P Gas Transmitter
1 Part Number(s)
Designed to detect gases indoors or outdoors, our PrimaX P Gas Transmitter measures oxygen and toxic and combustible gases. The flameproof transmitter is housed in a powder-coated aluminum enclosure that will protect it in extremely dangerous conditions. The unit also features a large, easy-to-read LCD screen and three LED status indicators for up-to-the-second reporting. The transmitter attaches to an integral mounting plate for easy installation, and it can be easily calibrated using the built-in keypad. It uses a 4-20 mA output signal to transmit its data, and it can also be configured to use HART digital communication. With easily replaced plug-in sensors, the PrimaX P transmitter is suitable for laboratories, chemical plants, power plants and several other industry settings.
Ultima® XL/XT Series Gas Monitors
1 Part Number(s)
Engineered to provide cost-efficient gas detection, the Ultima XL/XT Series Gas Monitors are simply an outstanding choice. The units boast a hand-held HART port running over 4-20 mA output which provides convenient setup, calibration and diagnostics. The interchangeable smart sensors eliminate the need for reconfiguration, while local calibration employs LEDs and push-buttons. Indoors or outdoors, some of these explosion-proof models feature infrared technology that eliminates the need for frequent calibrations. Some units operations are based on dual-wavelength, heated-optics technology, which compensates for temperature, humidity and aging effects. The monitors use only one circuit board for increased reliability, and they're easy to install with two-piece field-wiring connectors.
Ultima® X Series Gas Monitors
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Designed to provide thorough, continuous monitoring of many hazardous gases, the indoor/outdoor Ultima X Series Gas Monitors offer excellent performance and MSA quality craftsmanship. DuraSource™ Technology offers extended sensor life, while HART provides convenient setup, calibration and diagnostics. HART also allows for existing component install and wiring to be used. A single circuit board increases reliability, while our patented sensor disconnect-underpower feature allows all sensors to be replaced in hazardous areas without area declassification. The units are crafted from either stainless steel or polycarbonate, and the interchangeable smart sensors eliminate the need for reconfiguration. Our scrolling LCD screen display sensor reading and gas type, while the calibration process includes date stamping and the ability to calibrate locally or remotely.


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Beat the Streak Report: Monday, Aug. 4
Picks of the day
Aubrey Huff, DH, Orioles
- 5-for-9 (.555) vs. LAA LHP Joe Saunders
- .468 AVG during 12-game hit streak
- 1-for-2 (.500) vs. BAL RHP Dennis Sarfate
- .432 AVG during 11-game hit streak
Weekend picks, results
Friday: Mark Teixeira (LAA): 1-for-2; Matt Kemp (LAD): 1-for-4
Saturday: Justin Morneau (MIN): 1-for-3
Sunday: Albert Pujols (STL): 0-for-3
Top 5 current leaders
(yesterday's pick)
1. soxwhite24, 34 games (Matt Holliday)
2. bassman, 27 games (Alfonso Soriano)
2. mxedout, 27 games (Brian Giles)
2. t-birds8, 27 games (Brian Roberts)
5. 92gm, 24 games (Matt Stairs)
BTS season leader: Robert Paradise, 48
BTS all-time leader: Michael Karatzia, 49
MLB all-time leader: Joe DiMaggio, 56
Yesterday's results
BTS leader soxwhite24 stretched his streak to 34-games over the weekend, making him the first leader in four weeks to hold onto the top spot through a weekend. Last night, soxwhite24 capitalized on Matt Holliday's two-homer barrage against Ricky Nolasco and the Marlins.
leader was the sole member of Friday's Top 5 to last through the
weekend. Newcomers bassman, mxedout and t-birds8 took advantage of the
turnover and fought their way into a three-way tie for second-place
with 27-game streaks. Fifth-place competitor 92gm, who stayed alive
last night thanks to Matt Stairs (2-for-3), rounds out the Top 5 with a
24-game streak.
Yesterday's most-picked player, Alfonso Soriano, rewarded fans for their faith by going 3-for-5 with a solo homer against the Pirates. Albert Pujols, who was chosen by 4.8% of fans, was the only member of the Top 5 most-picked players who couldn't deliver a hit. The All-Star first baseman was held hitless in four trips to the dish against Brett Myers and the Philadelphia 'pen.
Yesterday's Top 5 most selected players
1. Alfonso Soriano (CHC): 5.6%, 3-for-5
2. Albert Pujols (STL): 4.8%, 0-for-3
3. Ichiro Suzuki (SEA): 4.7%, 1-for-4
4. Matt Holliday (COL): 3.6%, 1-for-4
4. Dustin Pedroia (BOS): 3.6%, 1-for-4
6 Comments
Justin Morneau went 0 for 3 Saturday not 1 for 3 as you have posted on this blog. I wouldn't have gone down to 0 if he had 1 hit on Saturday.
Justin Morneau 0 for 3 on Saturday.
I can't log in to make my pick. Anyone else having problems?
i am also having the same problem when i go to pick a player it does show a list of players what can i do to rectify the problem so i can make my picks?
Another error in your scorekeeping system:
Ichiro Suzuki went 2-3 on Monday, Aug. 4 — NOT 0-0 as you have posted.
Please correct my score in the standings to reflect Suzuki's hits, as I picked him as my hitter for the day.
It wasn't an error.. The game was played on the west coast which means it finished late which means you just have to have a little more patience.
They always show batters as 0-0 until after the game is over and the stats come in.


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A few days ago, Warcraft Technical Game Designer Celestalon dispensed two hours worth of information on Twitter. One specific topic caught my eye. It's no secret that racial bonuses in the game are a little skewed and slightly imbalanced. Many of the top tier raiding guilds are Horde and I'm fairly certain much of it is due to the min-maxing bonuses that the racials provide. So come Warlords, they're mostly getting overhauled. While nothing has been finalized just yet, here's where the racials stand right now.
WoW Head's Perculia did a phenomenal job hunting down and assembling the information in an easily digestible package right here. You can check out the official blue post about racials here.
- Draenei: Heroic Presence is now +X to your primary stat. Gift of the Naaru heals for the same amount but over 5 sec.
- Dwarf: Lost Crack Shot and Mace Specialization. Gained Might of the Mountain, a passive which adds 2% Crit Damage. Also… A change to Stoneform: Also removes Magic/Curse. HOWEVER, it still cannot be used while CC'd. (It is still NOT a CC-break)
- Gnome: Escape Artist dropped to a 1min CD (from 1.5min), and Shortblade Specialization became Nimble Fingers, 1% Haste. Also- A tweak to Expansive Mind. Was +5% max Mana. Now +5% Max Mana, Energy, Rage, or Runic Power.
- Humans lose the Mace/Sword racials. The Human Spirit becomes +X to two secondary stats of your choice. Every Man for Himself, we're still evaluating. Itemization changes may mean no nerf needed.
- Night Elves: Quickness also increases movement speed by 2% passively. They also got a new passive which is quite unique… (Remember, no more haste breakpoints!) Touch of Elune, a new passive which grants 1% Haste at night, 1% Crit during the day.Shadowmeld is unchanged.
- Worgen: Darkflight is staying unchanged.
- Blood Elf: They gain Arcane Acuity, a 1% crit passive. Arcane Torrent now restores 20 Runic Power, or 1 HoPo, or 3% Mana, or Chi.
- Goblins: Not much. They were about at baseline. Time is Money becomes real 1% Haste, not just attack speed / cast speed. Subtle diff.
- Orcs were one of the outliers we brought down. Lost the Axe Specialization, and Hardiness is 10% Stun reduction (down from 15%). Blood Fury is unchanged.
- Tauren: Endurance becomes +X Stamina. Brawn is a new passive which increases Crit Damage/Healing by 2%.
- Troll: Berserking Reduced to 15% Haste (down from 20%).
Undead are seeing relatively few changes. Tweaks to the scaling rate of Touch of the Grave, and WotF to 3min CD (up from 2 minutes).
Pandaren, of course, will most likely not see a change and retain their Epicurean bonus.
The Draenei racial bonus is much more appealing. Too bad we don't know what the +X value is for the primary stat. It's going to go right to Intellect for priests of all kinds. Gift of the Naaru will heal 20% of a target's health over 5 seconds (instead of 15). It's another healing spell you can add to your bar and you can save it for emergencies (every 3 minutes).
My first Priest was a Dwarf. I miss Stoneform and the ability to shrug off poisons. Now it functions as a secondary self dispel since it can remove magic debuffs and curses. The extra crit damage is handy for the Shadow and the Discipline Smiters though. May not be as helpful for Holy.
What about the Gnomes? There's still the bonus to mana but it's been expanded to include the energy of other class types. The natural 1% haste is new and useful for all priest types.
Humans gain a rather unique spin to their buff. They get to select which two secondary stats get a bonus. I imagine one of those will be Spirit and the other will be Haste, Crit, or Mastery — Whatever your priest is short on. An interface is being worked up right now allowing you to pick. The ability to pick and choose offers some neat flexibility.
Night Elves. Sigh. Really? Server time makes a difference now? Blah. I hate randomness. But it looks like there's not much that can be done about that.
Horde side, Blood Elves continue to be the winner. The crit bonus passive is second only to Arcane Torrent's innate mana restoring capability.
Goblins? The ability to Rocket Jump is huge in heavy movement fights. Now you get a flat 1% haste instead of a bonus to attack and bast speed.
Orcs can't play priests so that point is rather moot.
Tauren Priests are already benefitting from a slight stamina boost allowing them to withstand a little more damage than usual. But the new Brawn bonus is a solid boon for priests of all types.
The first iteration of the Troll's Berserking was pretty overpowered. It was like a mini-Heroism on demand. Now it's been nerfed to a flat 15% Haste bonus instead of the 20%. Not quite as good but still reliable for burst healing your way through stuff.
Huge nerf to the Undead's Will of the Forsaken with the cooldown going up. No other changes.
So let's assume that you're rolling a new Priest. You have all these excellent racials available to you. No more of the junk bonus to hit or expertise or any of that stuff.
Which one should you go for?
If you plan on playing Alliance, I would favour the Draenei bonuses. Hard to say for sure without knowing what the X value is. If you're PvPing, Dwarves or Gnomes are a good bet. I like Gnomes though since Escape Artist is handy (and the fast cooldown).
If you plan on playing Horde, I'm leaning towards Blood Elves. That mana restore is so nice to have especially on progression fights when you're tapped out. Berserking is another trait you'll find attractive and is great if you're playing either shadow or healing.
Personally, I'm staying a Pandaren. Can't get enough of that food buff.


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- This event has passed.
Live Music: Karaoke
October 30, 2019 @ 9:30 pm - 11:30 pm
|Recurring Event (See all)
An event every week that begins at 9:30 pm on Wednesday, repeating indefinitely
Join us in Rab's High Roller's Lounge every Wednesday Evening for Karaoke with Staten Island's Original Karaoke DJ… Georgie Zipp. 21+


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Join the "No LNG Exports Campaign" on Tuesday, June 19 in Shady Cove, OR to write comments to stop the proposed Pacific Connector fracked gas pipeline and Jordan Cove LNG export terminal!
When: Tuesday, June 19 6:30 - 8:30 pm
Where: Upper Rogue River Community Center (22465 OR-62, Shady Cove, OR 97539)
What: Last week, the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and the US Army Corps opened a 60-day public comment period for a critical permit that, if denied, could stop the proposed Jordan Cove LNG export terminal and Pacific Connector fracked gas pipeline.
Oregon DEQ is responsible for deciding whether this massive fracked gas pipeline and export terminal would negatively impact the water quality in Oregon. Federal regulators cannot approve Jordan Cove LNG or the Pacific Connector fracked gas pipeline if the Oregon DEQ decides that the project does not comply with Oregon's water quality standards. Fracked gas pipelines in Oregon, Maryland, and New York were stopped because state agencies denied this permit.
For the next two months, it's up to all of us to submit comments that demonstrate that the impacts of this project would be far too devastating for the health and safety of our communities, clean water, and the local economy.
More meetings in Klamath Falls, Chiloquin, Myrtle Creek, Camas Valley, Coos Bay, and Klamath to come! Stay tuned on your email and social media for info about those workshops.
BEFORE THE WORKSHOP: Call DEQ to ask for a longer public comment period in our communities!
DEQ has only given our communities 60-days to write comments about how this project would impact Oregon. Can you call Richard Whitman, the Director of DEQ, at (503) 229-5696, to ask for an extension of the public comment period for Jordan Cove's Clean Water Act certification to 120-days?


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Experienced Leader Looks Forward to Supporting the Global Planning Community
REDLANDS, Calif., Nov. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- ESRI welcomes Ahmed Abukhater, GISP, as the new community development industry solutions manager on its government team. Abukhater will focus on planning and economic development including industry-wide enterprise geographic information system (GIS) and planning 2.0 initiatives.
"GIS provides the tools planners need to make informed decisions and better align with government transparency and accountability goals," said Abukhater. "I am excited to work with the global planning community to develop solutions that cater to their unique planning and geodesign needs today and in the future."
Abukhater most recently worked as a project manager for the University of Texas at Austin, where he initiated and implemented the first campuswide GIS system for Wi-Fi access point inventory in the country. Prior to that, he worked as a GIS coordinator for the Center for Sustainable Development at the University of Texas at Austin and as a city planner for the City of Champaign, Illinois.
With extensive experience utilizing and teaching GIS in planning fields, he has an in-depth understanding of a number of areas including environmental science, sustainable development, community development, planning support systems, multicriteria evaluation, groundwater modeling, cultural hydrology, spatial morphology, conflict resolution and mediation, and equitable water resources management and allocation.
"Ahmed's holistic approach to addressing everyday community development needs will help government organizations as they use GIS to meet key objectives, integrate Web 2.0 technology, and improve services," said Jack Dangermond, ESRI president. "He is a great addition to the government team."
About ESRI
Since 1969, ESRI has been giving customers around the world the power to think and plan geographically. The market leader in GIS, ESRI software is used in more than 300,000 organizations worldwide including each of the 200 largest cities in the United States, most national governments, more than two-thirds of Fortune 500 companies, and more than 7,000 colleges and universities. ESRI applications, running on more than one million desktops and thousands of Web and enterprise servers, provide the backbone for the world's mapping and spatial analysis. ESRI is the only vendor that provides complete technical solutions for desktop, mobile, server, and Internet platforms. Visit us at www.esri.com.
ESRI, the ESRI globe logo, GIS by ESRI, www.esri.com, and @esri.com are trademarks, registered trademarks, or service marks of ESRI in the United States, the European Community, or certain other jurisdictions. Other companies and products mentioned herein may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective trademark owners.
Press Information Contact: Emily Vines, ESRI Tel.: 909-793-2853, extension 1-3571 E-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com Images Available upon Request
Web site: http://www.esri.com/


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Research Management Program
|1. A typically bundled set of multiple and interdependent Projects and/or Releases that are related to or exist for the Discipline known as Research Management and that are being delivered to meet a greater set of common Research Management specific Goals, Objectives, Outcomes or Imperatives.
Read More
|1) The Semantic Root Noun for this term is: Research
2) Semantically Related Terms: The "Research Management Glossary"
3) The Research Management Home Page covers much more about other related terms and concepts associated with this term or phrase.


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About David
David J Kroll, PhD, is a molecular cancer pharmacologist and state university professor in the southern US. Hailing from the New Jersey Meadowlands area, David always intended to pursue a career in the pharmaceutical industry. But after a BS in Toxicology at the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and Science and a PhD in Pharmacology & Therapeutics at the University of Florida, he was bitten by the teaching bug and has since seized every opportunity to talk to students – or anyone else who might listen – about drugs and the wonders of pharmacology.
Kroll's interest in natural products – single-agent pharmaceuticals from plants, microorganisms, marine creatures, etc. – led him to also be tapped for public and professional commentary on the exploding area of herbal medicine and non-botanical supplements in the 1990s while a faculty member at the University of Colorado School of Pharmacy in Denver. He was fortunate to develop excellent relationships with television, radio, and print journalists, and became interested in the use of media to inform health consumers and combat pseudoscience. Throughout his time teaching and running a small lab on the tenure track, David took great enjoyment in writing for and speaking to general audiences who had few options for objective information on dietary supplements.
In late 2005, he began the blog, Terra Sigillata, under the pseudonym, Abel Pharmboy. Picked up by ScienceBlogs.com in June, 2006, Abel's Terra Sig enjoyed a four-year run with a great community of bloggers there before taking a hiatus on WordPress in Summer, 2010.
In August, 2010, David was ecstatic to be invited to move Terra Sigillata to CENtral Science, the online blog network of Chemical & Engineering News (C&EN), the official organ of the American Chemical Society. Here, Terra Sig has remained a specialty blog on natural products, focusing on chemistry and pharmaceutical issues. The Right Chemistry, our introductory post, describes our path from ScienceBlogs to our comfy new home here at CENtral Science.
In September, 2010, David also began a new blog – Take As Directed – at PLoS Blogs. Take As Directed is an expansion of the many areas Terra Sig began to cover as David wrote about personal issues related to medicine – his father's death from alcoholism, his reflections on chronic illness, life challenges in a dual biomedical career family – as well as less serious and occasionally flippant observations on life, music, and culture. In October, 2012, Take as Directed relocated to the Pharma & Healthcare section of Forbes.com.
DISCLAIMER: Statements made on this blog are solely the personal opinions of the author and do not reflect the positions of his employer or his other affiliated academic institutions, graduate training programs, professional associations, or research funding agencies.
In his spare time, David is also an amateur singer-songwriter. This aspect of his work is revealed in a nice interview with Princess Ojiaku, a neuroscientist and fellow musician who writes the blog, Science with Moxie. You can hear some of his past and current work in this regard at his ReverbNation site.
If this is too much for you to read, David can also be found on Twitter as @DavidKroll in more manageable bites.
You can always send David tips, suggestions, complaints, corrections, or just say "hello" by e-mail to abelpharmboy at Gmail.
Last updated 24 October 2011.


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Baker back in lineup, draws start at third base
MINNEAPOLIS -- After sitting out four days with a bruised right knee, utility man Jeff Baker returned to the Rangers' lineup Saturday against the Twins as Texas attempted to snag its sixth series win of the season.
With veteran Adrian Beltre in need of a break from the field and the Twins sending out starting left-hander Pedro Hernandez, Texas manager Ron Washington opted to slot the right-handed Baker in Beltre's spot at third base.
Beltre, who launched his 350th career home run in the sixth inning of the Rangers' 4-3 victory Friday, was shifted into the designated hitter spot, with Lance Berkman getting a scheduled day off.
"I wanted to get Beltre off his feet," Washington said. "He thought today was the best day to do it, so I did it. Baker will make the plays."
Baker has not played in a full game since April 19, making two pinch-hitting appearances before he was injured making a highlight-reel diving catch in the second inning Tuesday in Anaheim.
Rookie shortstop Leury Garcia was filling in on the left side of the infield in place of Elvis Andrus. It is only the second time this season Andrus has been absent from the Texas starting lineup, taking a scheduled day off like Berkman. Andrus extended his current hitting streak to six games Friday by going 2-for-5 with a double.


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You can spend millions of dollars on network security, but it's all for naught if the data center has physical weaknesses that leave it open to intruders. Red team experts hired to social-engineer their way into an organization say they regularly find physical hacking far too easy.
Ryan Jones, senior security consultant with Trustwave's SpiderLabs, says data centers he has investigated for security weaknesses commonly have the same cracks in the physical infrastructure that can be exploited for infiltrating these sensitive areas. Jones says the five simplest ways to hack into a data center are by crawling through void spaces in the data center walls, lock-picking the door, "tailgating" into the building, posing as contractors or service repairman, and jimmying open improperly installed doors or windows.
"Over the years, you can spend millions of dollars protecting your network, but [many organizations] are leaving the front door wide open. They are missing huge gaping holes" in their physical security of the data center, says Jones, who will discuss his findings at the conference today in Sao Paulo, Brazil. "These are the top ways we get in."
One of the flaws in the physical design of most data centers is their drop ceilings and raised floors, Jones says. "The walls don't go all the way up [to the ceiling] or down [to the floor]," he says. The drop ceiling leaves a void for an intruder to remove a ceiling tile from a nearby area and then crawl to the data center from above it. "You can crawl down carefully to where you need to drop down," Jones says.
And raised floors -- built for cabling and cooling purposes -- can also be physically exploited, he says. "With a raised floor, there's a gap between the installed floor and the concrete bottom of the building," he says.
Jones says crawling in via ceiling tiles or through raised floor gaps are easy ways to get inside without getting noticed or doing any damage to the structure. "I've seen employees take advantages of these weaknesses" for things like going back to get keys they left in the office, he says.
The best fix is to fill those gaps with sheet rock, he says. Some organizations opt to lay metal fencing or chicken wire there as well, but Jones acknowledges that a determined intruder could merely cut the wire and gain entry into the data center.
Social engineering expert and penetration tester Steve Stasiukonis, founder and vice president of Secure Network Inc., says these gaps are "brilliant" ways to get inside the data center. If there's sheetrock in the way, he says, it's easy to cut a hole in it and squeeze inside. "A lot of government facilities have a 'code of silence room' [where] they have to make sure the sheetrock goes to the roof and there's a barrier so no one can climb over the ceiling tiles," says Stasiukonis, who doesn't perform any carpentry-type breaches on behalf of his clients because it's too destructive to the data center environment.
Another common physical weakness in the data center is the door lock: Jones says he sees many weak locks and unprotected door latches at the data center threshold. "Lock-picking is a well-known and understood trick," he says. "It's almost a sport now."
Free lock-picking kits distributed at Defcon and for sale on the cheap online make it easy for most anyone to crack the standard door lock, he says.
Secure Network's Stasiukonis says his team has its own lock-picking kits, including a "gun" the size of an electric toothbrush that picks locks. "Most data centers have cheap, regular key locks on their doors," he says. He says his team sometimes installs small wireless cameras you can purchase from a spy shop that snoops on keyed-entry doors to learn the code when someone enters the data center.
The best way to lock down a data center lock is to either purchase a higher-end lock or an electronic lock, or to use biometrics, Jones says.
Proximity access keys are best, according to Stasiukonis, because they also authenticate the user who enters the data center and provides an audit trail of the person's comings and goings. "This technology is rock-solid and relatively inexpensive," he says.
Jones and Stasiukonis both swear by "tailgating" as a foolproof way to get into the building -- or even the data center -- via legitimate employees. Stasiukonis recalls one engagement for a client in which he posed as a hardware salesman and got into a data center secured with biometrics by helping carry a tray of food into the data center. "People are usually very gracious. They even hold the door for you," Stasiukonis says.
SpiderLabs' Jones says it's a sure way in because most people don't want to challenge someone's legitimacy at the door or get into any confrontations. "Every building has a smoking area around it. You can hang out there and wait ... and follow [an employee] in," he says. "And if you're on crutches or talking on the phone, people hold the door open for you. They don't want to be rude."
The only ways to mitigate this type of unauthorized entry is to have either turnstile-based badge entry, where only one person can get in at a time and with a badge, or with some sort of rotating door, he says. "Or a security guard who makes sure people have badges and doesn't let in [those who don't]," he says.
It also helps to train employees about letting others into the building. "You have to make them aware that it's not just their responsibility, but it's important to their jobs. If the company loses a lot of money [due to an intrusion], they might not have a job anymore," Jones says.
Then there's the classic social engineering ploy of posing as a technician, salesperson, cleaning crew, or contractor as a way to gain entry into the building without raising suspicion or being questioned. Both Jones and Stasiukonis have donned costumes as courier servicemen or equipment repairmen in their engagements for clients. "When all else fails, social engineering is the way to go. It works almost every time," Jones says.
Stasiukonis' firm now even hires out trucks and hardware to go with their get-ups. "We've kicked it up a notch. We have the truck with a load gate, and we have a copier we bring in 'on trial,'" he says. "What's more authentic than the guy who brings stuff?"
Kelly Jackson Higgins is the Executive Editor of Dark Reading. She is an award-winning veteran technology and business journalist with more than two decades of experience in reporting and editing for various publications, including Network Computing, Secure Enterprise ... View Full Bio
Recommended Reading:


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Hello, hello. It has been my pleasure to be here for a while, and I thought it'd be the right time to start up a thread. I do remember my first being a total letdown, soley upon the purpose that I was young and naive. Alas, here I stand ready for a new adventure and a new take on Middle Earth.
Alright, contrary to what I stated before, I am accepting new players at this time, and I quite encourage you to join, whether noob or veteran. Posting here in this thread will be plenty warning for those of us still here.
EDIT: I'd like to stick with canon characters as much as possible [aka no wizards, mages, werewolves, undead, elementals, etc].
EDIT: Plot has been fixed for more geographically and chronologically correct play.
The Storyline
It is the year1430 Shire Reckoning (Fourth Age), nearly ten years after the War of the Ring has ended. Shadow is still being scraped from the lands of Middle Earth. There is word of a large and growing rebellious legion in south-eastern Middle Earth near Belfalas. Not once have they been seen, Wynter's Rose is a faction formed while Sauron was still active, and the only connection passed through the generations from parent to child. They are human, but barely. They train, they hunt, they kill. There is no stopping the destructive force that they so rightfully claim. With a new leader who is strong, willful, and malevolent, the goal of Wynter's Rose is to see the kingdoms of Gondor and Rohan end. Mordarias has long governed the union of Sauron's followers, ruling with much austerity and dignity in his company, stopping at nothing to see his will done.
Oriana Silverleaf is one of the last remaining Elves of Middle Earth. Though long wished by her father to accompany him to the Grey Havens, she has desired for a much more adventurous life. She wishes to investigate the mystery surrounding Wynter's Rose, her mortal mother telling her tales of the supposed valiant crew of mobsters. While her mother idolized the alliance, Oriana thought otherwise. Why did they oppose King Elessar and his rule? What was so wrong with King Eomer? With these questions in mind, Oriana pleaded her mother for the location, to no avail. With her mother deceased of old age and her father traveling to the Undying Lands, she sets out, only currently seeking knowledge that will lead her to an unknowing and ultimately active part in the destruction of Wynter's Rose.
Oriana will begin in Lorien with her father's final council, and continue down the great river, to Edoras, where her father has arranged council with King Eomer himself to speak of this uprising. From Edoras, she will travel on the North-South Road to Minas Tirith to speak with King Elessar. After council with him, Oriana may do one of two things: 1) travel south around the mountains as best as possible to make it to Belfalas, or 2) backtrack and travel due west through the mountains.
[It is roughly 300 miles from Lorien to Edoras, and the same from Edoras to Minas Tirith. In reference, Boromir traveled alone from Minas Tirith to Rivendell, a total of roughly 700 miles, in 3 months. 300 miles for one individual rider should take a little less than a month.
Now, any and all of these plans may change due to character intervention and sub-plots. Any and all are welcome, however, do keep in mind all the circumstances of the Fourth Age and the geography. I'm no Tolkien master, but merely having a copy of the books with maps and appendices is extremely helpful.
Character Bios
Amethyst Jade
Name: Oriana Silverleaf
Date of Birth: 2850 TA [making her roughly 180 yrs old]
Gender: Female
Race: Half-Elf
Marital Status: Single
Occupation: Traveler [at the moment]
Alliance: Undecided
Appearance: It is often said that half-elves look more mortal than anything, and so said is true of Oriana, save for her pale green eyes, a trait common of her father's line. Her skin is fair, slightly on the pale side, and iridescent in some instances of moonlight. She mainly wears a crimson cloak, and dark gold and green tunics. High dark brown boots are her only shoes, besides her few formal garments in other locations, such as Rivendell and Lorien. She has long, straight dark chestnut hair that falls elegantly to her mid-back when down all of the way. However, Oriana prefers it be tied up in a ponytail as best as she can manage. Some bangs obscure her vision, falling just below her cheek bones. She is not short nor tall, nimble, and sure-footed. She stands tall and confident, a trait her father taught her.
Personality: Oriana is not a quiet character; however she tries to keep her poise when around strangers. She dislikes immaturity, but loves to have fun. She's definitely adventurous, but prefers to keep her business to herself and her companions. She can hold her tongue at times, and most times holds it when it is most needed to be let loose. Needless to say she is somewhat shy. She voices her opinion rarely, but will take charge when in a (rare) necessary situation.
Weapons: Oriana prefers the bow, as most elves, and an extensive staff she found in the wilderness off Lorien. Dropped by a visitor no doubt, Oriana begged her father to teach her to use it. Because he loves his only daughter so much, he caved, allowing her a private weapon tutor. She learned, as she is a fast learner, and picked up a new love. A sword, at best, is for another being. She prefers not to use them, just for the sake of her using only one hand. She prefers using both hands as equalizers when fighting. Daggers are hidden throughout her garb, used only when needed.
History: Oriana was born to a mortal mother, Andromithur, and elven father, Elibryn. She was raised mostly in the woods of Lorien, and traveled between there and Rivendell. She disliked the War of the Ring, and refused to play any part in it, however now she realizes her mistake. She has lived a near uneventful life, save for her meeting of Aragorn when they passed through Rivendell. The most she would offer were her wishes of safe travel. She met Bilbo also in her travels, finding him interesting and very wise, and visited him often while he stayed in Rivendell. Before her 47th birthday she does not remember much. Her father said there was an accident, but she has never pursued the question. Now it is on her mind constantly. The history she knows of is quite unimportant, however what she does not know is what she plans to find on this journey.
Horse: Akita is a charcoal Friesian mare and is quite in tune with Oriana's feelings. The Friesian is a heavy bodied, black, up-headed horse with an expressive face, high-set neck and outstanding crest. Their manes and tails are luxuriant and long and they have feathering from the knees down. They are intelligent, sweet natured and willing. Their powerful elastic gait, grace and agility make them excellent at dressage, driving and jousting.
Arail Fordorthien
Name: Faril, "huntress"
Nickname: Draug,"wolf"
Race: Human (Dale)
Gender: Female
Age: 30
Marital status: Widow, now unattached.
Occupation: Tracker, hunter.
Height/Weight: 5'7", 140 pounds
Appearance: Tall and slim with a rather straight figure, toned and slender muscles. She is not very fair, but that does not bother her in the slightest, as she seldom, if ever, cares about her looks. She has a roundish face with prominent cheekbones, sharp and almond shaped brown eyes and black, shoulder length hair that she keeps tied back at all times. She has scars on several places on her body, even though many are so old that they are barely visible against the relative paleness of her skin; the most visible is a very fine white scar crossing her right cheek. It is an old one, and does not affect any of her facial muscles.
Outfit: Brown tunic and leggings underneath a green leather coat and a hooded cloak, well-worn leather boots.
Means of travel: She prefers walking but still owns a rather nondescript bay gelding.
Personality: She's a loner really, keeps to herself as much as possible. A nasty temper once provoked, and may at times snap at the oddest things. She deeply despises overly feminine women. Her sense of humour leans rather heavily to the sarcastic side.
Weapon: A yew longbow and two knives, of which one really is more like a shortsword. She also carries a rather special crossbow. It is small enough to fire with one hand and hang from the belt, a composite bow made from yew and horn dyed black, limbs are recurved and it has two tracks, so the bow can have two bolts cocked and release them in rapid succession. It is probably a one of a kind piece, at least the elf who made it for her had never heard of another like it. (I got the idea to this weapon mostly from David Gemmell's novel "Waylander", but also in part from the small, handheld crossbows used by the Drow in the books by R. A. Salvatore...I always liked the idea )
Past bio: Born in Dale, she spent most of her time out in the woods, truly more comfortable with the wild and its birds and beasts than with the people around her. She got married at 18 to a rather brusque and harsh man, for reasons she can't quite seem to remember. None the less they lived a rather peaceful life, in a relationship not exactly built on great love, but rather a kind of affection and understanding. The one thing they could never see eye to eye on was the fact that he wanted her to be more feminine and "house-wify", something that she absolutely detested. They never had any children and he died when she was 27; she doesn't particularly mourn him. After that she once again returned to the wild, occasionally offering her services as a tracker of criminals to one lord or another. She has travelled quite extensively throughout the lands on the eastern side of the Misty Mountains, but for some reason Rohan has found a special part in her heart. At the moment she is hard on the trail of a murderer, having pursued him through what is now called East Lórien, but as he has eluded her for so long and thrown a couple of less than enjoyable surprises her way she is far from cheerful at the moment...
Leander: half elven, undetermined age, but appears to be 30-35, tall, lean athletic build, pale skin, honey colored eyes long silver hair and silver fingernails - Dresses in a form fit black leather battlesuit, wears 8 serpent tooth daggers strapped to his arms and legs, carries a double edged broadsword, Tanglorn- when not wearing the battlesuit, he wears a hooded cloak, tunic, trousers and low top boots of a non descript brown that seems to blend with the surroundings.
Blood born member of the El Al'Loth, a secret society dedicated to rooting out dark forces and preventing the spread of evil (as they see it) that remains in the world after the destruction of the One Ring. Each has a medallion which(among other things possibly) focuses and enhances the one true talent they all share. The Osaril is the most powerful of these medalions.
Still working on that 'one true talent' thing - I am borrowing from Silverbergs' Lords of Light and Darkness here. The talent allows him to alter his relative position to time and space. helps him move unseen in a crowd or super quick and when pressed in battle or seriously outnumbered, he can perform a Temporal Fugue
He's a hard as steel/heart of gold/ man of few words type who is pretty darned hard to defeat in battle. He is an assassin by trade and is more likely to pull a covert opperation rather than a full on charge, but charge he will if it comes to it.
[b]Name: Andalion.
Nickname: The Silent Man.
Race: Grey Man.
Gender: Male.
Age: 111.
Height: 6'4"
Weight: 166 lbs.
Hair Color: Dark brown.
Eye Color: Sea-green.
Marital Status: Unmarried.
Appearance: He appears quite rugged to most, and the fact that he does not indulge himself in enjoying the trivial things available to him while in "civilized" society does not help that appearance. His hair is actually quite fine and thin as it falls about his head, roughly to the jaw at the shortest length, perhaps to the mid-neck at the longest tip. A bit of scruff along the cheeks, jaw and chin give that ruggedness more to add to the table, though it's evident that he keeps his neck clean, when he can. He has quite a toned body, with leathery skin that is weathered in color and hard, wiry muscles that aren't quite noticeable beneath the leather of his clothes, except for in his overall stature. There are several dozen scars all along his body. From within his weathered visage shine two eyes of a color that is defined by the word "absent". They are colorful enough, an intriguing sea-green that some have found captivating in his time, but the absence comes from the general solemnity one finds within these two orbs. Beneath the rugged exterior is a handsome enough man, to be sure, but he likes to think that the land finds him more appealing as he is.
Build: Tall, lean musculature as if hewn from stone.
Profession: Generally speaking, he has no profession. He calls himself a "man of nature", which is basically just his way of saying he's a woodsman, although there's no denying that he's more than a simple woodsman.
Outfit: As per his travels, Andal's outfit is subject to quite a bit of change, and yet it all normally comes down to rudimentary clothing that usually consists of leather and cloth. For instance, in his most recent travels, he has worn a green cloth tunic, belted to let the lag fall to nearly his knees over dark leather breeches tucked into very worn and weathered brown leather boots that reach to just under the knee. He also typically wears a cloak, commonly of gray color. The only long-standing item is the clasp of whatever cloak he is wearing, which is of white-gold and shaped in an oval ring, with the middle hollowed out; it is the sigil of the Grey Men.
Means of Travel: Andal can always find food for himself, but some of the places he travels are not fit in that sense for a steed, and so he travels primarily on his own two feet unless he plans ahead or certain situations make a steed necessary. He has his greatest ally in nature, and nature speeds him on his way.
Personality: He seems to be a rather quiet man, not prone to throwing himself at things emotionally. There is a solemnity to his character, a kind of melancholy, though most make the mistake of thinking he's an unsociable person. It's hard to truly define him as a man from another point of view because of his reserved nature, which is all most people get to know about him.
Skills Include: Andalion has a variety of skills, his queerest and most complicated being a sort of empathic bond he has with nature and its animals. He can't truly…talk to them, but in a sense, he can in fact communicate with them. The trees "speak" to him; the rocks "move" in his eyes. Animals seem to know what he's thinking, and he them, almost at random. He's been noted to carry a longbow of rather heavy draw weight, suggesting skill with the weapon, as well as a sword of rather unique characteristics, although just how talented he is with it isn't widely known.
Weapons of Choice: Andal carries a handmade bow. His house traded with elves on a common basis…and somehow got their hands on a bit of mallorn wood. Not wanting to see it go to waste in building some stupid hut for one of his clansmen, he took a bit and crafted himself a fine bow, as high as his shoulder. He carries the necessary quiver and arrow supply, and a battle-tested short blade on his left hip. Over his back, the handle jutting past his right shoulder, he carries the pearlescent long sword named Hiril , meaning "Lady" in Sindarin.
Original Name: Ledenna Fionnich
Road Name: Lithtaur
Race: Human
Heritage: Rohirrim, Gondor/Southern(?)
Age: 20-25
Gender: Female
Martial Status: Single
Occupation: Shield maiden, housekeeper and essentially farm hand at her father's house, she is forced to become a wanderer and eventually a Ranger later in life.
Skills: A master Blacksmith and farrier, enough skill in sword and bowcraft to keep her and her companions alive, rudimentary healing skills with add up to improvizing field dressings. Master Bard much later in life.
Description: Tall (about 5 feet 8inches, give or take an inch) and strong even at this early age from mucking stalls and baling hay.
A lightly tanned complexion with deep brown eyes and brown hair usually tied back in a tail that hangs to her waist.
Equipment: A map as well as an ash flatbow, knife and a longsword with a black leather grip and iron pommel. A small "R" is enhraved into the right side of the blade near to the hilt. A flint and tinder and a flute accompany her later.
Personality: Though friendly and usually polite, Lith is somewhat reserved and often nervous (flighty?) at large formal gatherings. She is patient and does not anger easily but she strikes quickly when she is. She has a very strong feeling of kinship with friends.
Family: Father and House- Roedan Fionnich served as a King's Rider and all the family on his side are Rohirrim.
Mother- Lenna- Her father was Rohir and her mother was said to be Gondorian (Lithtaur got her dark hair from her mother's mother). There is Westernesse blood somewhere in Lenna's line but there have been some questions.
Usual Companions: A sturdy, middle-sized buckskin stallion named Spirit and a large gray-white (female) wolfhound called Anaiu.
History: Refusing to surrender with the downfall of Sauron, brigands and outlaws have made it their solemn duty to ravage the border farms and villages of Rohan for their own gain as well as revenge until the land is theirs or until they are dead. Living but a few leagues from the river and far from help, only hurried news and her aged father's foresight saved Ledenna and her mother from the initial onslaught when the raiders came upon the settlement with their blades and flaming brands. Ledenna reached safety and found help from a cousin several days ride away, only to return to a smouldering house, a scattered herd and a hundred other horrors waiting for her. Only later did she learn that by the worst luck her mother had been taken on the road as well. With the help of her cousin and his men she proved her paternity in the days that followed but eventually Ledenna found that, without her father and her house to speak for her, she had no more station in the land which she had loved and would always call home. Doubt had been on her unlucky mother for years and, though the women who knew the truth intervened for her, in time Ledenna was gently turned away by the men of her people. They would help her as her father's daughter but she would live alone or leave as long as her name was remembered.
She left, journeyed to Gondor and there found her mother's family in Pelargir. Knowing their bloodlines best, and loving her granddaughter's grit, the matriarch made persuasive arguements for Ledenna to join the ranks of the Rangers and become Lithtaur. An old sword of worth she was allowed to keep but Lith was made to give up all other personal oddments for the King's service. The old woman's only gifts were a flatbow, a long knife, a map and her blessing with orders to spend several year wandering in hardship before returning for directions to where Lith would find the one she was to call teacher for a great part of her life. Anaiu and Spirit would follow of their own will.
Lith has followed the river's western shore northward for several months with a solid heart for proving herself. Perhaps she will follow it to its very tributaries. But what of the other roads? Would she leave the fastest road back, to a family which would have been happy to have her and say that the old woman was outlandish even for them, just to see all the rest of the world from map corner to map corner? Or beyond?
Name: Fallasse
Gender Female
Race: Human (Dol Amroth)
Age: 20
Marital Status: Single
Family: A brother and two sisters.
Occupation: Librarian and healer in training, but adventures from her books tend to pull her more than she would admit, she learned the sword a long way back just because it is like dancing and swords are pretty
Weapons: A lovely engraved short sword, a bow if she needed to
Height: 5' 3"
Weight: 120 lbs
Hair: dark blonde and very curly and almost to her waist
Eyes: brown
Personality: Somewhat quiet, she is after all a librarian, she also is quite amiable and can talk to most anyone, though she is not always comfortable with strangers. She is brave at need, though she doesn't know it, and she can be cowardly when she is very scared. She is fiercely loyal, a good friend and she loves to laugh and loves a good joke. She is very compassionate and loves to be there for people....but don't touch her temper...
History: She was born in Minas Tirith to silversmith and his wife, and she often enough saw Elessar and the royal family and they have a tight space in her young heart. She once saw King Eomer and thought he was quite splendid. She loved to listen to the old tales, especially those about Aragorn and Eomer. She and her siblings moved to Dol Amroth for its beauty and their grand respect for Prince Imrahil. Their mother was raised in Dol Amroth, and Fallasse always wanted to return to her mother's hom and see the places and people her mother saw. And of course, when she got there, the beauty did not disappoint her
Clothing: She usually dresses in long gowns of grey or blue, often with slits to the thigh and leggings beneath. She's sure to look lovely and feminine at her work at the library, with most of her hair down. When she is with her patients she ties it all back in knot on the back of her head. She has a specific brown gown and apron for this job. She goes barefoot as often as she can, but she loves her knee-high soft leather boots for riding and traveling.
Specific Skills: She is quite a lore master in her own right and has a good knowledge of the geography of Middle-Earth and its heroes and tales. She is a skilled swordsman, even if she has never killed anyone in a real fight. Her skill as a healer is very good, especially in the matter of stitches.
Name: Meneldor
Nickname: The Swift
Race: Eagles of the North
Location: Mindolluin
Age: Unknown
History: Meneldor is one of the legendary brothers of Gwaihir the Windlord. He played a small part in the War of the Ring, helping his brothers to rescue Frodo and Sam from the slopes of Orodruin when the Ring was destroyed and Sauron fell. He later was the messenger who announced to Minas Tirith of the downfall of Sauron and the coming of King Elessar.
When the War ended, he returned with his brothers to the Misty Mountains, but a growing restlessness forbade him to settle down there. With the approval of Gwaihir, he struck out south to find a place he could call home. Surprisingly, he found it at the top of Mount Mindolluin, the mountain under which Minas Tirith was established. He set up his eyrie there and was soon befriended by King Elessar.
In return for the privelege of setting up his eyrie on Mindolluin, he agreed to be a "watchman" for Gondor. Little escaped his sharp eagle-eyes while he was on watch. He was often used as a swift messenger between Gondor and Rohan, and had borne messages between Elessar and Eomer, and to Faramir in Ithilien.
Appearance: He is a large brown eagle with bright eyes. He wears a golden collar, a gift from Elessar, and a sign of his office of watch-eagle.
Personality: He is loyal to a fault, but is not a kindly bird, as most eagles are wont to be. He makes friends slowly, but when one befriends him, he is a friend for life. He can be quite fierce, and has a temper which is as swift as his flight. So, he is called "The Swift" for more than one reason.
Name: Hades (original name is long forgotten)
Race: he was human once, of Numenorean origin
Age: born in Numenor, about fifty years before its downfall
Gender: male
Appearance: very tall, about 1m95 (no idea in feet), so skinny that he looks almost like a walking skeleton. Usually entirely clad in black - with a long, cloak that covers him entirely. A huge hood covers his face, which is not easy to guess. When he uncovers it, scars ravage the face - it has strictly no expression at all. His features are so torn and stretched that it is impossible to guess how he has looked like in his youth, when he was still human. He will only uncover himself when it is inevitable. Until now nobody who has seen Hades face uncovered has lived to tell afterwards.
Equipment: through the ages, several black horses, all those, which have agreed to bare him. Always in black boots made of heavy, shining leather, with metal soles. Nothing but by look he could almost be taken for a Nazgûl, but he does not spread the same feeling of despair around him and he does not have the dreadful screaming voice of the ringwraiths.
A long Numenorean sword with a black grip and a long steel blade, sharpened on both sides. If he draws it, and decides to fight, he can move to quickly to be seen. His hands could strangle any enemy, even an ork or an elf. His physical strength can bruise bones by his bare hands too. Spreading fear, darkness and cold are yet his main weapons.
Skills: He can read minds to a certain extend, but not deeper and happier thoughts. In the same time, he can direct the thoughts and action of his victims, spreading despair in their hearts, suffocating all happiness around him. His presence will be felt like a shadow, and those who are unprepared to meet an ancient servant of the Dark Lord will be in danger of being overtaken, influenced, slaves to his will. He will sometimes submit someone to his will just for the pleasure of seeing this person despair or act foolishly.
Hades enjoys torture, both physically and mentally.
His main weakness is a deep disinterest for all living creatures. He hates them all, and most of all, he hates himself. He does not understand the idea of hope, love, friendship or loyalty and is unable to foresee many actions of humans or elves if they are motivated by feelings he does not conceive.
Biography: Originally, Hades was born as one of the sons of a Numenorean notable on the court of Al Pharazon. His family was a strong supporter of the king, hating the elves and preoccupied with the question of immortality, worshiping Sauron in his form. Being good-looking, noble and intelligent he was chosen to become a spy among the faithful among the Numenoreans and pretended to be an elf-friend to be the friend of Isildur and Elendil. Yet, treachery at this time was not natural for him - he really did believe in Sauron as ruler of the world and wanted to express his support openly. But the promised reward was immortality for him and his wife, given by the Dark Lord. The only creature that Hades has loved in all his life was his wife, who was even more ambitious than him, and stayed with him to gain the promised immortality only. Hades hoped to become the holder of one of the Rings of Power of which Sauron had spoken and he carried one for a while. As he lusted for power, he accepted the mission of treason. His hatred of the elves was very real and it was difficult for him to fulfil his mission as a spy. So, it was not astonishing that the faithful never fully trusted him.
After the fall of Numenor, Sauron punished him by taking the Ring he had carried and ever since Hades heart is darker than the deepest night. He hates the Valar and Eru who have made perished his home country, he hates the elves because of their immortality, he hated men because of their weakness, he hates the Dark Lord because he has taken away from him what he desired most, he hates the Nazgùl.
But most of all he hates himself. For, if Hades has survived the downfall of Numenor by the power of Sauron, he was completely disfigured. And like many other servants of the Dark side he was betrayed, for the only person he cared for, his wife Asyraya died. She cursed him before the waves closed over her - holding his failure responsible for her death. Failed as a traitor, he was of no use no more to Sauron who rejected him. Hades understood that he would never be a powerful servant of the darkness, never a Lord among men, alone forever. As his power is not given by birth, nor fully on the Ring (he has not carried it long enough for that), it is not subdued to the Valar. He has survived his own death, one reason for his powers, he has survived a punishment of the Valar, and so they cannot destroy him any more.
This is also why Hades becomes stronger when Sauron has been defeated and can unleash his power fully in the Forth Age only. Another time for him would thus have been after the victory of the Last Alliance.
He loathes his life and the only pleasure that is left for him is in torturing others, so that his pain becomes the pain of others.
In Middle Earth since the fall of Numenor, he has learned all that there is to know about it and followed all servants of the Darkness that have accepted his presence. Thus he has learned his skills of domination over the mind and used them in every way he could imagine.
After the victory of the Last Alliance, for a first time Hades could use his powers as Sauron was defeated and the power of the Rings weakened. He chose then the Easterlings and through his power of controlling weaker minds has inspired them a worship of a dark God, in fact himself. Hades enjoyed ceremonies with torturing initiations and human sacrifices... Later when the power in Dol Guldur roses again, he had to abandon his little realm, but from this time dates his encounter with an ancestor of Alandriel and his interest in her.
The fall of Sauron has rejoiced him, setting his powers free once more. He hopes now to be able to be considered as an enemy of the elves, to gain hatred if it is the only thing he can gain. Even though he would never tell so silently he hopes to find the failure in his immortality and to meet the opponent who could kill him. He wants to be the next Dark Lord or nothing at all and he will do everything to stretch out his domination.


text:
Standing in Continental Square in this southern Pennsylvania town in the early 1940s, it wouldn't have taken long to divine the subject foremost in the minds of the citizenry.
You would have seen young men in olive-drab uniforms trudging up from the train station, looking for something to do to kill the few hours of their layover. Many of them would have dropped by the USO post in the square, where they would have been directed to an old schoolhouse over on Beaver Street to grab a bite to eat, play board games, and, if they stayed long enough, enjoy a dance with a pretty local girl.
Elsewhere in the square, you would have spied residents standing in line at a small booth to buy US war bonds. In the windows of all the shops and the big department stores – Bear's, Wiest's, and Bon-Ton – you would have seen large posters drumming up support for the war effort or darkly warning about staying on the lookout for Nazi spies.
IN PICTURES: York, Pa., reflects on the wars
If you had hung around long enough, no doubt you would have been swept up by community campaigns to collect scrap metal or tires for the defense industry. You would have heard boastful references to "the York Plan," a civic initiative that brought local manufacturers together to win huge armament contracts. And certainly there would have been some grumbling as well – about gas rationing and the dearth of ladies' stockings, a consequence of silk being siphoned off to make parachutes.
World War II, in other words, was inescapably Topic A – and probably every other letter of the alphabet as well – in York as it was in every other small town or big city in America in those days.
Today, nearly seven years since the invasion of Iraq and nine years into "the war on terror" – one of the longest conflicts in US history – York's Continental Square tells a different story. Or rather it tells no story at all in terms of the present military entanglements. There isn't a single visible clue that the country is at war. No posters. No banners. No ribbons. Nothing. Even the peace vigils that were held in the square every Friday afternoon starting in 2002 were discontinued in 2008.
"It's almost a forgotten war," says Leada Dietz, a coordinator of People for Peace and Justice, the York group that organized those demonstrations. "It's almost as though there is no war."
York, a manufacturing town of about 40,000 (in a county of 425,000) known for making barbells and Harley-Davidsons, is hardly alone in its aloofness from the war. Other than places where military bases are located and among military families, the two wars seem far from the emotional heart of Americans these days. Iraq and Afghanistan have become America's screen savers – always present but rarely focused on – something that opponents and supporters alike agree, though for different reasons, isn't good for the men and women fighting there nor for any clear sense of national purpose.
Polls bear out the wars' invisibility. A CBS News/New York Times survey conducted in early February found 52 percent of respondents identified the economy as America's most pressing problem. A mere 3 percent named the Iraq and Afghan wars as the nation's biggest worry.
It may be that a lengthy US conflict has never registered so faintly in the American psyche.
"I would say that of our wars that have involved 100,000 servicemen or more, this has had the least engagement from the point of view of the public and society of any major conflict in our history," says Michael O'Hanlon, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution in Washington and coauthor of the book "Toughing It Out in Afghanistan."
The reasons for the country's disengagement are familiar. Unlike major conflicts of the past, the present ones have not involved a draft, sparing the vast majority of young men and their families of the worry or reality of being directly affected by the wars. The dangers and casualties of these wars have been borne only by volunteer soldiers.
During the Bush administration, Americans were even prevented from seeing the most emblematic evidence of that danger: the sight of coffins bearing the bodies of American soldiers returning to this country. (President Obama overturned that policy early in his term.) The number of American soldiers killed in Iraq or Afghanistan now stands at 5,401. More than 58,000 died in Vietnam and 405,000 in World War II.
President George W. Bush bucked historic precedent in another way. Not only did he not raise taxes, as occurred in almost every past major war, he actually passed a tax cut. There would be no shared sacrifice even on financial grounds.
The policies of holding Americans harmless renders the war remote and unreal for most, says Andrew Bacevich, a professor of international relations at Boston University, a Vietnam veteran, and the father of a soldier killed in Iraq in 2007.
"Americans are not asked to participate, and only minimally experience the various effects of one of the longest wars in our history," says Mr. Bacevich.
Although the impact of the present conflicts may be limited, that doesn't mean that the experience hasn't altered the views of Americans. A recent poll by the Pew Research Center found that 49 percent of Americans – an all-time high in 40 years of polling – believe the United States should "mind its own business" internationally.
As Luther Sower, a World War II vet and retired York County school administrator says, "I don't believe we should be putting our noses in everyone else's affairs. I don't do that in my private life, and I don't think we should do that in the world."
Carroll Doherty, an associate director at Pew, attributes that finding to the severe economic downturn but also to war fatigue.
Bacevich points to another likely change in outlook as a result of what has happened in Iraq and Afghanistan. For many, the idea of quick, decisive military victories as a result of superior technology, he says, "has pretty much been demolished."
* * *
It may not be fair to say anyplace in America is typical, but like many other cities and towns in the US, York finds itself remote from the present wars but hardly immune. At least three residents of York County have died in Iraq, although the York Daily Dispatch, the local newspaper, has identified as many as 17 fallen servicemen with local connections.
It is a town of little ostentation with modest brick and frame homes in tidy neighborhoods, an old fashioned farmers' market (with a heavy Amish flavor), and major roads lined with all the familiar chain stores and restaurants. The city, once a stage for ugly race relations, recently elected its first African-American mayor. The city leans Democratic in a county that tends to go Republican.
Like many towns in America, York was a manufacturing city, but it had a knack for building big, heavy things. Safes were made there. And farming equipment. Tanks and ordnance as well. Perhaps the most iconic sight in York is the statue along Interstate 83 of a man holding a barbell above his head at York Barbell. Caterpillar closed up shop a decade ago, and Harley-Davidson is shutting its plant there, too.
The town honors its military past with markers or monuments commemorating wars all the way back to the Revolution. In Continental Square, it even acknowledges the city's dubious distinction of being the largest Northern city to surrender to the Confederacy during the Civil War.
Craig Trebilcock is a York lawyer in the Army Reserve who was in Iraq in 2003 and 2004, during the invasion and early reconstruction. To his delight, upon his return home, he found an "incredible" amount of goodwill directed toward his generation of soldiers.
"There is none of this Vietnam War reception when you come home," he says. "When you come home, you are treated like a hero, and your family's sacrifice is definitely recognized."
But over time, after his return, he came to realize that the goodwill did not necessarily mean that the wars those soldiers were fighting figured prominently in the psyche of the people of York.
"The war doesn't affect anyone," he says, referring to the two wars, as many do, as though they are one. "The town really prides itself on the York Plan from World War II, and every family was involved in Victory gardens and bond drives and collections for the defense industries."
But that is far removed from what he sees around York today. "It's a consequence of the way we go to war these days. It doesn't affect the general community, whether it's York or Des Moines or anywhere else," he says. "It's a volunteer Army, so there isn't a general sacrifice at a personal or economic level. There's no rationing. We're an affluent country. We can go fight two wars at the same time, and most people don't even feel a pinprick."
"Frankly," he adds, "I don't think the average person thinks about these wars at all. They're more concerned about what's going on in 'Lost' or who's winning 'American Idol' than what the country is doing overseas."
His wife, Terrie, a high school history teacher, feels the same way. Although she says she received support from family and close friends when Craig was in Iraq, she was surprised how others reacted upon learning she was the spouse of a deployed soldier. "The reaction you get from people you don't know very well – it's almost as though you have a disease, as though they were worried that I'm going to ask something of them," she says.
At her children's school, she was disappointed to find officials flummoxed by her desire that her kids be excused when the school broadcast television news about the war.
To her surprise, she finds the most consistent engagement in the wars among the students at Hereford High School, across the border in Maryland, where she teaches.One group, "For Our Troops," sends care packages to troops, organizes ongoing memorials to two of its alumni killed in Iraq, and even drafted model legislation limiting protests near soldiers' funerals. (Members of an antigay Kansas church had infamously demonstrated at the funeral of a Maryland soldier.)
Some of the students from her school have also chosen to enlist, knowing the near certainty of being deployed to a combat zone. "To those kids, the war is immediate and tangible," Mrs. Trebilcock says, "but I don't think most people get it."
To her, America's detachment from its wars demonstrates what she feels is a lack of backbone in the country, an unwillingness to make sacrifices for a greater good, either at home or abroad. "We are," she says, "spineless creatures."
Daniel Meckley III, a retired corporate executive, still remembers the fervor that enveloped his hometown after Pearl Harbor. "You could barely get into the recruiting offices," he says. "Everyone wanted to get into the services. It was a war everyone believed in."
Every other house, it seemed, displayed a flag with a blue star in its window, indicating a son in the service. As the war persisted, many of those blue stars were changed to yellow, indicating a son killed in combat.
Mr. Meckley recalls his father becoming an air raid warden and his future wife a candy striper in the hospital. Everyone, it seemed, was buying war bonds and hauling their scrap metal, iron, and aluminum foil to collection sites. While men joined the service in prodigious numbers, women flocked to factories to help meet defense production needs.
"There was an indomitable spirit then," says Meckley, who became a Navy officer during the war. It is a communal spirit he sees as absent now. "I don't think [the war] even registers with a lot of people. I'm not sure people even connect it with 9/11 anymore."
Phil Avillo, another wartime veteran – he lost a leg as a marine in Vietnam – agrees that the war is far from people's minds because it is far from their daily existence. "We no longer see the connection between terrorism and the way we live our lives," he says. "9/11 did that but only for a month or so, until George Bush said, 'Let's go shopping.' "
Instead, Mr. Avillo, a retired York College history professor and twice an unsuccessful Democratic candidate for Congress, says when the US first attacked Al Qaeda and the Taliban in Afghanistan, Americans should have been forced to reduce oil consumption as well. "The president should have made the case that reducing our consumption of foreign oil was one more piece of the war on terror."
Instead, he says, the war goes on, "but for most people, life hasn't changed at all. Most communities are unaffected."
The war, compounded by politics back home, has made him question the ability of any leader to rally the country to unite behind a cause.
Dana Shearon, an instructional aide whose brother, Philadelphia policeman Gennaro Pelligini, was killed in Iraq in 2005, tries to keep the war vivid by speaking about Gennaro to her students at York Middle School whenever she can. "I talk to them about the Pledge of Allegiance," she says. "I tell them I always thought it was important, but it took the death of my brother for it to really sink in."
The war, she admits, has left her with views she prefers not to harbor. "When my brother was killed, I was working for a contractor who fingerprinted immigrants. I remember fingerprinting an 86-year- old woman from the Middle East and thinking, Was it your kids who did that to my brother? Was it your grandkids?" It is a prejudice, she says, she tries to choke down.
* * *
To say there is no visible sign of the present conflicts in York is not true, and that is thanks in particular to Jack Sommer, a Pittsburgh transplant who owns the Prospect Hill Cemetery, eight blocks north of Continental Square.
In early August 2005, some disturbing news caught Mr. Sommer's attention: Eight soldiers from Pennsylvania had been killed in Iraq in the span of five days.
"It got me thinking," Sommer says, "we should do something about this."
Sommer's older brother had fought in Vietnam, and Sommer never forgot the poor treatment accorded returning soldiers as a result of an unpopular war. No matter how people stood on the intervention in Iraq or Afghanistan, he didn't want American forces disgraced or ignored. But what could he do?
The answer surrounded him there at Prospect Hill. Soldiers from every American war since the Revolution are buried on the grounds of his cemetery. He decided that Prospect Hill was a fitting place to honor all American soldiers who had given their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Beginning in 2005, Sommer arranged to plant an American flag on Prospect Hill for each soldier killed. Eventually, he created three sections, one for all Americans killed in Iraq, another for all Americans killed in Afghanistan, and a third for Pennsylvanians who died in the two conflicts, with a state flag for each.
From April to December, when the display is taken down for the winter, the hillside quivers with more than 5,000 flags. Huge banners for the dead soldiers with York ties fly along George Street by the cemetery. Local businesses sponsor the banners, which bear the photographs of soldiers.
Whenever there are an additional 100 to 150 new deaths, Sommer schedules a memorial ceremony during which all the new names are read aloud. It's been a tangible gauge of the intensity of the two wars, as combat deaths in Afghanistan now vastly outpace those in Iraq. In the spring, he replants all the flags. It used to be that just his laborers did the work, and it would take them half a day to complete the job. Now, the flag plantings attract 30 or 40 volunteers each spring. They finish the work in under an hour.
"I think this is our responsibility as a democracy, to be aware of the price that we are paying," Sommer says. "What shouldn't happen is that it goes unrecognized."
The display resonates with many people, and not only military families. Callers check in after severe weather to make sure the flags remained standing and to volunteer to restore them if they didn't. Sommer's assistant, Steliana Vassileva, whose younger brother served in Iraq, says that one woman stops whenever she passes by to say a prayer. "And she has no one in the military," Ms. Vassileva says. "She just feels a sense of ownership."
No one sees the young woman unless, perhaps, the occasional cemetery worker. It is a quiet, solitary reflection that the US is, in fact, a country at war – even if many Americans have to remind themselves.