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Being an atheist, writing about beauty of a religion sounds ridiculous and quite hypocritical. Having known its deficiencies and flaws, I am ready, for once, to appreciate its beauty. This is only to get these extremely annoying drones off my back that keep telling me why I am not a true Hindu. And this is to slam my front doors on those supposed upholders of faith who keep entering my home to tell me how I need to live, how I need to 'understand Hinduism correctly' and how 'glorious' it can be only if I were to attain the same knowledge they have attained through their rigorous study, dhyana, meditation, and after deciphering complex algebra.
I think I am quite OK being a Hindu only for one reason - that it allows atheism. And the second best reason is that I am born into it. For me being Hindu is another association, another label, like I am a Telugu, that I am of certain caste, that I am an Indian, that I am a man, that I am human, etc. Some of these labels I am proud of, and some don't matter - like caste. Being Hindu is one of those labels. I don't see a need to shed any of these labels - as long as those labels do not bother my lifestyle and me. I am proud of my roots - but that doesn't mean I consider my labels to be the best while some others are not. I don't go preaching how great it is to be Telugu or to be an Indian. I don't know if a Telugu is superior to Kannadiga or not. I do not deal with such questions and I don't need to answer them. While I am a proud Telugu, I will not die fighting for such a stupid cause as proving 'Telugu is superior to Kannadiga'. Such fights are for fools. I am no fool. When I say I like being a Telugu, it does not necessarily mean I hate Kannadiga. In the same way, being Hindu doesn't mean that I hate other religions.
I see beauty in Hinduism for various reasons. [In my attempt to eulogize a religion I am going to be very generous in giving these accolades. Remember, that for everything that is true for Hinduism, you will find exactly opposite somewhere else within Hinduism.]
These are some of the reasons:
1. There was no such a thing as 'true Hindu'. There are no sets of rules to be followed to prove that you are a true Hindu (till recently). As far as I am concerned, I could be an atheist and still be a Hindu. And someone out there could be praying to Ravana and still be a Hindu.
2. It did not have any single holy text (till recently). There are so many of them- you could pick and choose. It's like Starbucks - many varieties of coffee (and tea) are served.
3. It was not monotheistic (till recently), and that also meant, it was polytheistic. Any one living in this land could come up with their definition for a god and pray to it. No questions asked. They could pray to a widow, or a tree, a snake or a stone. One could even pray to an alien or a film actress (and I think both are the same).
4. It was evolutionary - it changed its form and shape and evolved with time (till recently). Different gods were popular at different times. It is like popularity ratings - sometimes it is David Letterman, and then sometimes it is Jay Leno. The TV shows keep changing. Brahma is now completely faded away. Ganesha is now more popular than his father. Few others, like Indra are completely not welcome back on the show.
5. It allowed for many interpretations of its mythologies. While Ram was good in one version, Ravan was good in another one. Good and bad were treated as something possible in a single human being. Bad does not mean Satan. And being evil does not mean a direct ticket to Hell. Even good people had to struggle hard to get into Heaven. Even the concept of Hell and Heaven change from one book to another!
6. It allowed for atheism. While there could be many gods, it was also possible not to have any god.
And what do I find these days? The very reasons why I like Hinduism are being discarded away by few posers who seem to champion the cause of Hinduism. Without taking my permission they want to represent Hinduism to me, telling me how wrong I am in my interpretations, and why I need to correct it. I say, 'Who the hell are you to tell me how I should live my life?'
The beauty that I see in Hinduism is not found in the holy books, scriptures, or its mythology. It is not found in Vedic Sciences or Vedic Mathematics, its purported achievements of having built nuclear bombs or an airplane. I do not see beauty in its purported complexity of stanzas, slokas, hierarchies of castes, and detailed description of rituals such as ablution.
I think it is found in its simplicity and diversity. It could be taken up by anyone at any time (of course, some of the Hindus were kept out of temples forever). It could be anything to anyone living anywhere. What was true in Hinduism was also false in Hinduism. For some Amavasya (New Moon) is not auspicious while it is auspicious to some others, and they are all Hindus. For some cow is sacred and therefore it is not eaten and for few others it a source of protein for many centuries, and they are all Hindus.
And I don't think Hinduism is so fragile that it needs protection from goons such as Bajrang Dal, fanatics such as VHP, or sympathizers and protectors such as those seen on many elite forums. It has withstood onslaught of many monotheistic, authoritarian and dogmatic religions and has remained vibrant - continuously swelling in its ranks. It has retained its fabric and has continued to be a strong religion. Why should it need soldiers to defend it? And from whom?
What good is it if it can be understood by only those very few elite individuals who can unravel and solve the arcane and obscure conundrums and puzzles? If it can be understood by only few, then how come it is such a mainstream religion?
Hinduism belonged to the people of this land. It will evolve, and it better evolve. It will mean differently to different people. We don't need your Vedas to be Hindus nor do we need to pray to your prescribed gods to be Hindus. I am a Hindu in spite of every rule you impose; and that identity you cannot take it away from me. That's what I like about Hinduism!


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When life hands you a stalker, make lemonade.
Anna Faris recently shared with her agent and manager a real-life encounter the comedienne had with a stalker, a tale they found so funny they decided to pitch it, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Lo and behold, it's been picked up and a script is being developed by Deanna Kizis, who helped develop the original plot.
Faris was recently the subject of a profile in New Yorker (subscription required), in which she confessed her regret for having done the notorious mid-coitus vomit scene with Seth Rogen in "Observe & Report," and expressed glee at how badly "My Super Ex-Girlfriend" tanked. It would appear that maybe her team is determined to help her develop her own vehicles going forward.
U.S. & World
We understand wanting to be the master of your own destiny, it's always a smart play, but we really liked "Observe & Report," and thought she was great in it. Now "Yogi Bear" and "Take Me Home Tonight"? Those are projects worthy of regret.
Faris can next be seen opposite Chris Evans Sept. 30 in "What's Your Number?," about a woman who looks back on the plethora of men she's --ahem-- dated, and worries that one of them may have been The One.

subset: commoncrawl


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Replacement for Hi-Shear® blind bolt blind nut installation mandrel. Hi-Shear® blind bolt and Hi-Shear® blind nut assembly tooling consists of a power unit and driving tool or gun.
Over time, wear in the nose assembly requires replacement of the anvil chuck or mandrel involved in installing the various blind bolts or blind nuts. Commonly referred to as blind bolt mandrels, the mandrels are the most frequently replaced items.


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Roll over image to zoom in
|Max Velocity
|350 fps
|Barrel Length
|Shot Capacity
|Smooth bore
|Front Sight
|Rear Sight
|Suggested for
|Hop Up
|Body Type
Create an online review and share your thoughts with other customers
5.0 5.0
5.0 5.0
5.0 5.0
Things I liked: my favorite thing about the M-16 is it's been the trademark of the United States armed forces for 50 years.
Things I would have changed: nothing at all
What others should know: dont go in water with this gun!!!
5.0 5.0
5.0 5.0
5.0 5.0
Things I liked: Very nice range, full metal RIS and the rate of fire is amazing every battle i've gone to it just destroys the competition. I highly recommend this gun.
Things I would have changed: Wobbly barrel, not much of a problem really. It can be fixed by opening up the rails and using electric tape where the barrel meets the body. Amazing gun nonetheless.
What others should know: If your a person who has battles in your backyard or goes somewhere for battles as big as 6 on 6. this gun is perfect. Its great for long range and decent at close range. You will have to spend a bit of time working on your hop-up though. when it comes the hopup was all the way tightened so you have to zero it in. DO NOT USE BLACK .20's OR .12's JUST USE THE BASIC WHITE .20s. my advice is to get a bipod for the RIS. AMAZING GUN BUY IT!!!!!!!! you cant go wrong. its better than any JG or echo 1 i've owned.
5.0 5.0
5.0 5.0
5.0 5.0
Things I liked: accuracy
Things I would have changed: come with a sling!
What others should know: this is to update my last review. I've owned the gun a while now, and I have bout a scope with a quick detach base to make use of. although adding the scope and a bipod make the gun substatially heavier, its worth it if you're using it for what this gun is designed for.(mid range sniping AND rapid fire surpressing and attacking power) This gun also shoots at least 800rpm if its fully chaged, so I recomend having about 3-4 magazines, because its mags only hold 300rds. Just last week my friend brought over his UTG AK74 warhawk(full size) and I got out my Echo 1 DMR along with my UTG AK47 Spetznaz(Krinkov). Me, my lil bro, and my friend took all 3 guns in the back yard and started plinking. To my amazement, my Echo 1 was FAR more accurate than the other 2 guns!! I love my lil UTG Spetznaz, but its more of a submachine gun to me, and is great for that! I once owned a UTG M14 that I thought was amazing, but I am constantly amazed at the performance of this gun! its quickly becoming one of my favorites. The standard site are what I was using when we were plinking by the way. I didn't have the advantage of the scope.
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|Max Velocity
|350 fps


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Hello All,
My name is Jeff, I am a Canadian who will be moving to the UK shortly. I have some family on the lovely Isle of Wight, so my wife, daughter, and I will be taking up residence in an old heritage cottage for the summer.
I have come to this forum in the hopes of getting to know some of the fine puzzlers from the UK before we move over in May.
Greetings from Canada
If this is your first visit, please introduce yourself and read the forum rules
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2 posts • Page 1 of 1
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- Joined: Wed 15 Apr, 2015 6:02 pm
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- Joined: Fri 18 Jun, 2010 10:45 pm
- Location: Edinburgh, Scotland
Re: Greetings from Canada
Welcome Jeff! You just missed the annual UK Open gathering, but there are Puzzled Pint meet-ups in London reasonably often, which anyone is welcomed to, at which you should be able to meet some kindred spirits.
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2 posts • Page 1 of 1


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Protect Your Most Valuable Asset – Your Eyes! Vital Vision™ is an incredible mix of high-tech ingredients extracted from botanicals and antioxidants. These ingredients are specially formulated to support healthy eyes for keen vision, radiantly colored pigmentation, and vitality in a way you may not have thought possible. Vital Vission's formula contains multiple antioxidants and vitamins to help support and protect your eyesight from free radicals and UV light, leaving you free to enjoy all the beautiful things in your life.
Vital Vision™ contains a powerhouse of high-tech ingredients extracted from botanicals and antioxidants to support healthy eyes for keen vision, radiantly colored pigmentation, sparkle, and vitality you may have never thought possible.
Free radical damage and excessive UV light can wreak havoc with your eyesight. Vital Vision is filled with the botanicals and antioxidants known to support eye health. The carotenoids lutein, zeaxanthin and astaxanthin have been shown to absorb harmful light and act as antioxidants to protect from free radical damage. This amazing formula contains even more antioxidants with the vitamins beta carotene (pro-vitamin A), vitamin C and E. Zinc is added because it is an important co-factor for antioxidant enzymes. These powerhouse ingredients will support and protect your precious eye sight.
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Goldeneye Vineyards was established by Dan and Margaret Duckhorn, who also own the much celebrated Duckhorn and Paraduxx Vineyards in the Napa Valley. Duckhorn Vineyard produces a variety of excellently crafted wines, including highly acclaimed Merlots, Cabernet Sauvignons, ripe and compelling Red Blends, and an elegant Sauvignon Blanc. At their nearby Paraduxx Vineyard, they produce a variety of robust and delicately balanced contemporary Red Blends, each expressing the essence of the Napa Valley soil and the consummate viticulture practices and quality grapes used in its blending.
While the Napa Valley is excellent for growing Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes, its climate is generally too warm and dry for Pinot Noirs. And so it was that the Duckhorns found a cool-climate appellation from which
they could make a Pinot Noir of the same high quality as their Napa Valley varietals. Goldeneye Vineyards, located in Philo, a small town on Highway 128 roughly thirty miles southeast of Mendocino, produced its first vintage of wine in 1997. The high quality and success of this deliciously sophisticated wine helped to make the Anderson
Valley the preeminent Pinot Noir region in California.
What separates the wine-tasting experience at Goldeneye from that of most other wineries is the setting. Rather than standing around an indoor counter where various wines are poured for you, Goldeneye conducts its tastings on a verdant garden deck, which features an awe-inspiring view or the meticulously landscaped vineyards and of a redwood forest in the background.
We were seated at tables shielded from the sun by umbrellas and served a great variety of wines by our most congenial and informative hostess, Janelle Teague. In addition to bringing us the wines, she also provided us with
cheese and crackers to enhance the tasting experience.
Janelle explained to us that the Duckhorns have made their last name the theme of their wineries. Paraduxx is, of course, a play on the words pair of ducks, and Goldeneye is a species of sea duck common to the northern hemisphere.
The duck theme goes even into the shape of the Philo, Confluence Vineyard (so named because it sits at the confluence of the Navarro River, Rancheria Creek, and Anderson Creek). From the air, one can see that the
vineyard has been planted so as to form the shape of a duck.
Naturally, despite the incredible setting and gracious hospitality, the highlight was still tasting the wines. We started with a refreshing 2011 Goldeneye Vin Gris of Pinot Noir. This wine is made entirely of Pinot Noir grapes and is left with the skins for only twenty-two hours, which gives it just a hint of salmon color. The aroma of this wine reminded me of watermelon and rose petals. I could imagine drinking it by itself, or, of course, with chicken or fish.
Next, we sampled the Migration (another duck-themed name) 2010 Chardonnay from the Anderson Valley Split Rail Vineyard. I found this superb wine to have a distinct aroma of pear and apple. Unlike some of the heavier
Chardonnays that seem oaky or buttery, this wine was crisper and a bit more complex.
Lastly, we tasted what we had come to taste—the highly acclaimed and high-end Goldeneye Pinot Noirs, of which there are three: the Anderson Valley Pinot Noir, the Confluence Vineyard Pinot Noir, and the Gowan Creek Vineyard Pinot Noir. While all three were enormously desirable, I preferred, upon several rounds of blind tastings,
the Gowan Creek Vineyard's offering. Gowan Creek Vineyard is located closer to the coast than is the Confluence Vineyard, and has, therefore, a cooler climate. The wine had a lush flavor hinting at blackberries, plums, and wild
cherries. Still, being a Pinot Noir, it was not a heavy wine and could be consumed with virtually any dish or by itself.
Overall, this particular wine-tasting experience wasn't just about tasting spectacularly well-made wines; it also was about enjoying several hours spent is a most relaxing and picturesque setting while chatting with an amiable and knowledgeable hostess. As far as wine tastings go, this one ranks near the top of the list. I would recommend a trip to Goldeneye Vineyards to anyone who visits the Mendocino Coast.
Photos by Philip Michaels


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It Takes a Village: Stevens Alumnus Builds Water Well in Kenya
Rick Kuehn '01 has had many defining moments in his life. For more than six years, he served on active duty with the Air Force and had a host of duties while deployed: a C-17 instructor pilot; chief of tactics in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan; and chief of squadron current operations. The day after his active duty ended, he was commissioned as a major into the Air Force Reserves. He's also served as a disaster responder with the American Red Cross of Greater New York, currently instructing their disaster training classes.
But one recent memory stands out: sitting on the floor, in a modest home in the village of Kipingi, located in southwestern Kenya, peeling a potato-like vegetable for dinner while a sudden but fierce thunder and hail storm erupted outside. He recalls the residents of the home laughing at the sight of this man sitting cross-legged, holding a knife in one hand and cutting into the vegetable. There were not enough chairs to accommodate Kuehn and his companion, so the two Americans opted to sit on the floor while the residents sat comfortably in chairs. The gesture showed the Kenyan people that these visitors to their home and country had respect for them, that these guests weren't out to pity them, but simply wanted to help.
Kuehn, who grew up in Hackettstown, N.J., is a volunteer with Engineers Without Borders Northern New Jersey (EWB-NNJ) chapter, a volunteer organization whose mission is to "implement sustainable development projects in communities around the world with the purpose to improve the standard of living and to empower communities.'' The national group was started in 2000 when a civil engineering professor at the University of Colorado at Boulder met a Belize Ministry of Agriculture representative by chance. Today, more than 12,000 students, faculty and professionals belong to EWB-USA, the parent organization.
The NNJ chapter's latest labor of love is the Kipingi Community Water Project, where the group designed and constructed a well to provide clean drinking water for people in the Kipingi village and nearby areas, which suffer from a shortage of potable water. Previously, the community dug shallow wells that evaporate during the dry seasons or members used contaminated and muddy water from seasonal rivers and springs, which results in a prevalence of dehydration and diseases like diarrhea, cholera and typhoid.
The new well, completed earlier this year, reaches 100 meters (about 328 feet) into the earth and will supply water to those in the village, two nearby schools and other surrounding areas. Kuehn estimates that more than 1,700 people will be able to use this well, which is vital during the two dry seasons of October-November and January-March.
Kuehn spent four weeks this past January and February in Kipingi, ensuring that the well was constructed and operational and that the locals could maintain it if problems arise. And, he said, as these things go, of course there were problems.
"The first two weeks, there was a lot of drilling, a lot of meeting people. During the first installation of the pump, there was a problem'' and the pump was off by five degrees. But the goof was a blessing, in a way, because dozens of villagers came by to help fix the mistake, thereby allowing them to become fully engaged in the project. "Mistakes are OK if you learn from them,'' Kuehn said. He left the villagers with a working well and the knowledge of how to maintain and service it if another problem comes up.
While at Stevens, Kuehn was on the varsity fencing team, belonged to Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity, and was a member of the Air Force ROTC program. After earning his degree in computer engineering at Stevens, Kuehn served in the Air Force for almost six and a half years. As a C-17 pilot, he led a crew of five, and was responsible for up to 50 tons of cargo and more than 100 passengers. But amid the hustle and bustle of a busy military life – one year he spent 285 days away from home -- he felt he was missing something, the use of his engineering skills.
"It was purely for selfish reasons that I began working with EWB. I wanted to develop the engineering skills that I had let slip,'' he said. "I really hadn't been engaged with engineering except through reading about it. I wanted to do something with my life. And I wanted to tell the story, to engage people in a real view of the world.''
Due to his military career, he's traveled into hundreds of places all over the world, including Irag, Afghanistan, Kuwait, Qatar, India and Myanmar, among others. While with the Reserves, he's been deployed to Incirlik, Turkey, and Homestead, Fla. Currently, he is an operations officer in a contingency response unit, the 512th Airlift Control Flight. He describes his unit as a "911 Responder,'' meaning that if there is a need for an operational airport anywhere in the world, the team has 24 hours to assemble, 12 hours to be packed and on the plane, and 40 minutes after landing to have the airfield operational. One recent deployment was in response to the 2010 earthquake in Haiti. He's earned five Air Medals, each signifying at least 20 combat missions.
He stumbled across EWB in October 2009, about two years after leaving active duty with the Air Force. While in Bishkek, his office had the lead responsibility for determining where relief flights could land after the 2005 Pakistan earthquake. He saw up-close the need for relief efforts from this assignment and others like it, and began to think about one day volunteering to help. He discovered more about EWB and the Red Cross, and found EWB's work and mission "unique and very cool.'' Working with the group in Kenya would allow Kuehn the opportunity to "have a real experience. This was not going to be like going on a safari, although that's cool, too.'' It was also going to bring up some self-questioning. "After being out of school for so long, I had to ask myself, 'What do I bring to the table?' ''
Years later, he's more than pleased with his entire experience. "This has allowed me the chance to give back to engineering by doing projects, by building something,'' he said. "It turns out that I do bring something to the table,'' he said, while laughing slightly.
Kuehn enjoys the work so much that, in April 2012, he was appointed president of EWB-NNJ, a one-year position. He took over from Chloe Weck Maietta, who graduated from Stevens in 2007. Greg Maietta, Chloe's husband and a Stevens grad from Class of 2007, was also appointed treasurer during that April meeting.
With his EWB-NNJ duties, Kuehn keeps a busy calendar, but he also has to pay the bills. For the past year and a half, he's been a vice president of SDA Consultants, a New York City-area company that designs telecommunications networks, security systems and audio visual systems. It was started by Sid Sardar '01; Ken Adam '03 serves as the company's Director of Engineering. In July, Kuehn begins his studies at Marines Corps University Command and Staff College (CSC) in Quantico, Va., a highly-selective 11-month course designed to develop his war fighting leadership skills.
But Kuehn doesn't see his work with EWB-NNJ ending anytime soon. The group has about 50 members, 30 of whom are active, and Kuehn doesn't want to lose their activism. They're still deciding what project to do next, but the chapter is committed to monitoring the Kipingi Community Water Project for the next two years, which probably means another trip to Kenya. And in today's technology-driven world, Kuehn and others can web conference from anywhere to stay connected to the group and its projects. "It's a wild world where I can be in a field in Kenya and work just as effectively as I can at my desk in Manhattan,'' he said.
Even with such a full plate, Kuehn is humble and quickly points out how his Stevens education has helped him.
"Today, I more than appreciate the education I received at Stevens. It was intense and it was broad-based, and I feel like I really got it all in terms of variety. Stevens taught me to ask the right questions, it taught me an engineering mind-set. And that's helped me in the Air Force and in business. It applies everywhere,'' Kuehn said.
If you would like to volunteer with EWB-NNJ, would like more information about, or to help with the Kipingi Water Community Project, contact Kuehn at 917-512-5589 or visit http://ewbnnj.org or contact him at [email protected].


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Hi there, I'm working on a problem that involves finding a largest product of any 4 consecutive numbers in a grid. I don't want the answer to the question, but I can't figure out how to search through the 2-d array diagonally both down to the left and down to the right incrementally by 4s. I don't have any code because I can't figure out how to code an algorithm to sort through. I can figure out how to search diagonally without a increment, but with one, I do not now.
I'll attach the text file I'm feeding into the array.prob11.txt


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Find more than 0 Activa Induction Cooktops price in India from leading online stores updated as on 14th August 2020. Prices of mobiles in India range from Rs. to Rs. with the lowest priced activa induction cooktop being for Rs. from and the most expensive induction cooktop being that costs Rs. at .


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HALIFAX – Raylene Rankin of the internationally acclaimed Nova Scotia musical group The Rankin Family died Sunday after losing her fight with cancer.
She was 52.
Marlene Palmer, group's tour publicist, said Rankin's sister confirmed the death.
Rankin and her four siblings — John Morris, Jimmy, Cookie and Heather — formed the group more than 20 years ago and are credited with taking Cape Breton Celtic music to the mainstream.
In a statement provided by Palmer, Heather Rankin said her sister fought "a very long and courageous battle with grace and dignity and was an inspiration."
"Throughout her struggle with cancer she never ceased to show her concern for her friends and family," she said.
"Right up until her last hours of life she was still expressing concern for others. She worried for all of her family and friends, a beautiful lady indeed."
Heather Rankin described her sister as generous and kind hearted.
"She was a little bit older and she took on the role of protector of the younger members of her clan," she said.
"She was a very bright lady and a strong leader and I often looked to her for guidance and I will have a very large void in my life now that she is gone."
Members of Canada's music community were mourning Raylene Rankin's death on Sunday.
Fellow Cape Breton singer Rita MacNeil said she was devastated when she heard the news.
"I've known Raylene a long time. We have lost a great musician and a wonderful person," MacNeil said in a statement. "It's a lasting legacy. An inspiration to all women."
Singer Anne Murray added that Rankin will "live on through her music."
"It is a sad loss of a fine talent from a family who has endured so much tragedy already," she said in a statement.
In 2000, John Morris Rankin died when his truck plunged into the icy Gulf of St. Lawrence near Margaree Harbour, N.S. He was 40.
Federal Heritage Minister James Moore offered his condolences to Raylene Rankin's family and friends on Sunday.
"Her musical talent charmed the nation," he said in a statement which highlighted the many Canadian music awards won by The Rankin Family.
Father Angus Morris of St. Mary's Parish in Mabou, N.S., said Rankin is survived by her husband Colin Anderson and her son Alexander.
Rankin grew up in the close-knit community of Mabou with her mother Kathleen, her father Alexander and 12 siblings, The Rankin Family website said.
The family band first formed under the name The Rankins and won a host of awards over a 10 years period, the website said.
In 1999, the group went their separate ways, with many members pursuing solo careers, it said. But in 2007, the four siblings reunited to form The Rankin Family.


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Shipping [New]
Information from the Australia Post website >
We're here for you during this challenging time
We are doing everything possible to keep delivering during the Coronavirus pandemic. Most of our Post Offices are still open, while our posties and drivers are working to get your parcels to you.
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NYT: Calmes Remembers 'Jaw-Dropping Crowds' for Obama 5 Years Ago vs. Mitt's Small, 'Overwhelmingly White' Numbers
New York Times campaign reporter and Obama cheerleader Jackie Calmes gives President Obama a "humble brag" on Friday while with the president campaigning in the "conservative city" of Colorado Springs, "Obama Drawing Big Crowds but Not Like in '08."
The story voiced concern about a lack of enthusiasm for Romney and a reduction in enthusiasm for Obama, but also served as an excuse for nostalgia for the liberal excitement stirred by the 2008 Obama campaign, reminiscing about the "jaw-dropping crowds" that came to see Obama five years ago.
About 4,200 people of all ages and colors spread across a green at Colorado College on Thursday in this conservative city for a rally with President Obama. Hours earlier, 3,500 supporters did the same in smaller Pueblo, Colo.
Together with two events on Wednesday in Denver and Grand Junction, Colo., an estimated 14,100 people in this battleground state turned out over the past two days to cheer Mr. Obama.
Good crowds, especially compared with the hundreds that typically turn out to see Mitt Romney. But four years ago Mr. Obama often was drawing five-digit throngs, filling arenas' nosebleed seats and overflow rooms and regularly requiring shutdown orders from the local fire marshals.
Calmes located an excuse for Obama's smaller crowds:
Big rallies are expensive, especially given the logistical and security challenges for a president as opposed to a mere United States senator. And Obama campaign operatives, both at the Chicago headquarters and in swing states where Mr. Obama recently has stumped, say the campaign intentionally limits crowds by restricting tickets. The reason is to allow the president to better connect with supporters, aides say.
Calmes noted Romney's smaller crowd numbers and pointed out that at one rally in Chicago, "a couple hundred supporters were seated and enthusiastic, but behind them factory workers stood stone-faced." Then she flipped the race card.
Romney crowds are overwhelmingly white compared with the more diverse Obama audiences, and older voters generally outnumber younger supporters.
For both candidates, then, the crowds so far make for a standard presidential race and are reflective of a more sober and frustrated electorate.
Calmes went on to list the big crowds Obama attracted while campaigning the first time around, quoting a loving AP report from February 2007, over five years ago:
"Barack Obama is attracting jaw-dropping crowds at stop after stop. Democratic rival Hillary Clinton would be thrilled with her own big turnouts except that his are so much bigger. Political insiders are unsure what to make of it all: No one has seen these kinds of crowds so long before Election Day."
Calmes continued with her own memories of Obama's vast appeal:
Yet a month later he more than doubled that, drawing 75,000 for a rally at a riverside park in Portland, Ore., with uncounted boaters crowding the river itself for a view. By mid-October in 2008, Mr. Obama drew an estimated 100,000 people to the grounds of St. Louis's Gateway Arch. And more than 100,000 people greeted him days later in downtown Denver -- more than 25 times the number on hand Wednesday.


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Director Joe Johnston has gone from the big budgets of Captain America: The First Avenger down to the micro-budget of Not Safe for Work. He must be a good barterer because Universal Pictures has tapped Max Minghella (The Social Network) and Eloise Mumford (The River) to star in the Blumhouse Productions thriller. Written by Adam Mason and Simon Boyes, Not Safe for Work centers on a young paralegal (Minghella) trapped at work while a killer is on the loose with orders to destroy certain files and neutralize anyone who tries to stop him. Mumford is in talks to play his co-worker girlfriend.
In other casting news, Rafe Spall (Anonymous) is in talks to topline I Give it a Year for writer/director Dan Mazer (Da Ali G Show). The rom-com follows a young married couple trying to stay together through their first year of marriage. Production is scheduled to begin in London this spring. Hit the jump for more on both projects.
Variety reported on Minghella and Mumford joining the cast of Not Safe for Work. The project is part of a first-look deal between Blumhouse and Universal to produce low-budget genre films. Minghella was recently seen in The Darkest Hour and can next be found in Too Wong Foo Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar-director Beeban Kidron's Hippie Hippie Shake. Mumford, who can currently be seen on ABC's The River, will next star in So Undercover opposite Miley Cyrus.
Variety also reported on Spall's headlining of I Give it a Year. I'm not much for romantic comedies, but Mazer has been a producer/director behind many of Sacha Baron Cohen's projects and that's more than enough to get me interested. Spall can next be seen in Ridley Scott's Prometheus.


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Does anyone know where I would be able to find the source code that was released for the last build or TR before the W-I-P builds were available. I downloaded it along time ago but cant find it on any of my archives.
Thanks for any info.
No worries finaly found it was right under my nose lol.


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Game For Love
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On the bookshelves
In a relationship built on lies…the only truth is their feelings for each other. To fulfill his grandmother's dying wish, linebacker Cole Taylor must find – and marry – a good girl. First grade teacher Anna Davis fits the bill perfectly. Their deal is simple: If she'll be his temporary wife, he'll give her more pleasure than she ever imagined was possible. Only, love is the ultimate game-changer.
* * *
Other contemporary erotic romances by Bella Andre:
Love Me (Take Me sequel)
Bound By Love
Shooting Stars
Game For Seduction (Bad Boys of Football 2)
Game For Anything (Bad Boys of Football 1)
Red Hot Reunion
Tempt Me, Taste Me, Touch Me
Take Me
* * *
Game For Love EXCERPT:
As the small brunette took the glass from his hand, her fingertips barely brushing against his knuckles, Cole was surprised to feel himself growing aroused.
He'd always had a strong sex drive, strong enough that if he didn't get his rocks off at least a couple of times a week, he'd hit too hard during practice from sheer sexual frustration. He'd gotten the call from his grandmother right after Sunday's game and had headed straight to Vegas. Usually within a couple of hours of landing in his old hometown, Cole had at least one woman under him. This time, though, he'd gone without. The only thing that had mattered was taking care of his grandmother.
And fulfilling her dying wish.
"I love champagne. Thank you."
Cole stared down at the woman, who was holding the glass in a death grip. Jesus, was her hand actually trembling? If he wasn't careful, the first available good girl he'd seen all day was going to run away.
Okay. First he needed to stop breathing in the woman's sweetly scented hair, something he'd never, ever noticed on anyone. Second, he needed to think past the heavy throbbing in his groin for three seconds. Long enough to figure out what to say or do to make her feel safe with him.
The problem was, he'd never been with a girl like this. Didn't know the first thing about making a nice girl feel safe and comfortable. Not when he'd spend the past fifteen years perfecting wicked.
Finally, he decided on, "I couldn't help but notice you from across the room."
And it was true; she'd been the only square peg in a room full of round holes. Hell, she might as well have been wearing a halo for all the innocence pouring off her.
"You noticed me?" Champagne sloshed out of her glass and splashed across her chest as she gestured at herself in clear surprise.
"You have beautiful eyes," he began, but then, figuring she might buy his lie if he pulled his gaze from her cleavage back up to her face, he actually did look into her eyes.
Cole was stopped cold by eyelashes so long that when she blinked, the curling tips brushed against the tops of her cheekbones. Her eye color was unlike any he'd ever seen, a combination of blue and green that had him thinking of cool mountain lakes and perfect summer days.
She blinked, smiled, and the way her eyes lit up stopped his breath for a second. "No, not beautiful," he said, almost to himself. "Stunning."
Her eyes got even bigger, along with her smile. "They are?"
He moved closer, those big eyes of her acting like a magnet. A lock of her hair fell in front of one of them and he reached out to slide it to the side, his fingertip barely grazing her skin. He felt her tremble beneath his touch, even as something shook inside him.
What the hell was going on here?
He'd come looking for a good girl. Not another one-night stand.
But he couldn't think straight anymore. Not when all he wanted was this woman beneath him, her blue-green eyes flashing with ecstasy.
"Dance with me."
He had her hand in his and was halfway to the dance floor, when he felt her tug at his arm. It was a surprisingly strong tug for such a little thing.
"I don't even know your name."
She cocked her head to one side, managing to look cute and sexy at the same time. "You know, I think I could have guessed that. You look like a Cole."
"And you look like an angel."
Her lips turned up in another smile and knocked the wind out of him. Again. He'd already thought she was pretty. But when she smiled, she was breathtaking.
"Almost." She looked shy again. "My name is Anna."
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Art of Johanna Rupprecht
Hi! I'm Johanna Rupprecht, a self-educated artist from Germany, specialized in fantasy and sci-fi illustration and concept art. I have a master's degree in biology and like using my scientific knowledge as inspiration for new artwork.
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MMA Champion Shares.
I really enjoyed this book!
I've been training at Vladimir Vasiliev's school in Toronto since 1995 and want to share what it's like.
Systema dates back over 10 centuries, yet it is still cutting edge today.
It had a calling on me. I was not impressed by any other instructo..read more >>


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THQ claims 375K day-one Homefront sales
Despite an embattled launch, THQ is claiming fairly impressive day-one sales for Homefront. The company announced that the game sold 375,000 copies on launch day.
Despite an embattled launch, THQ is claiming fairly impressive day-one sales for Homefront. The company announced that in North America, the game sold approximately 375,000 copies. CEO Brian Farrell said the company is "delighted with first day sales" and is already working on re-orders from retailers.
Of course, it's hard not to wonder if this cheerful optimism is an effort to regain some stock value. The game received mixed reviews, which may have contributed to shares of THQ (THQI) falling 20% on the Nasdaq.
If that weren't enough to deal with, players who picked up the game had trouble logging on for online games. A Kaos representative said the dedicated servers were "at capacity," which caused matchmaking issues. "The demand for servers has outstripped our expectations - so although we're thrilled that Homefront is so popular, we're doing all we can to bring more servers online to cope with this demand ASAP."
Now Kaos is working to upgrade its servers, but if sales are as strong as THQ claims it may be hard to keep up with the growing demand. We'll have to see how well the sales sustain themselves, once NPD numbers are released next month.
Comment on THQ claims 375K day-one Homefront sales, by Steve Watts.


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What A Yarn
Day 7: Blog about a particular yarn you have used in the past or own in your stash, or perhaps one that you covet from afar.
I'm not too much of a "yarn whore" myself, though I do understand how buying some can get addicting! I'm not really feelin' this topic and my memory on how I felt about a yarn while using it is iffy at best, so I'll just talk about my yarn stash as a whole.
The boxes they're stored in fit into the cubbies underneath my desk. Currently I'm only buying yarn after I know what I want to make with it. The picture was taken a few months ago, and my stash since then has depleted to about half its size!
Most of them are acrylic blends (cheap and cheerful!) and my favorites would have to be the lion brand wool-ease skeins in blue and grey seen in the right picture. Soft, warm, and cheap? YES!
Knitting and Crochet blog week was really fun, I discovered so many new blogs to follow, new projects to queue, and new techniques to try! Hopefully there will be another soon!
tagging code: knitcroblo7


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Alexei Ramirez scored the winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning on a throwing error and the Chicago White Sox edged the Boston Red Sox 2-1 on a frigid Tuesday night.
Tied at one, Red Sox reliever Burke Badenhop (0-2) allowed a one-out single to Ramirez. After Tyler Flowers stuck out, Chris Capuano replaced Badenhop.
Capuano walked Adam Eaton to move Ramirez to second. Then with a 3-2 count, Marcus Semien hit a grounder to Xander Bogaerts at shortstop, who one-hopped his throw to first baseman Mike Carp. Carp wasn't able to scoop the throw and Ramirez, who was already running on the pitch never stopped when rounding third and scored without a throw.
White Sox reliever Daniel Webb (1-0) got one out in the ninth for the victory.
Copyright AP - Associated Press


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The Phils defeat the Blue Jays in a rain-shorten game, winning 6-3.
The Phils win a rain-shorten game with the Blue Jays to win their second straight spring training game, winning by the score of 6-3.
The Phils took the lead in the top of the second as, with the bases loaded, via singles by Ryan Howard and Dom Brown, with Howard stopping at second base, and a walk to John Mayberry, Jr., moving up both runners, and with nobody out, Cody Asche hits into a 3-6 force out, scoring Howard, giving the Phils a 1-0 lead, as Brown stops at second base, and Mayberry is wiped out at second base for the inning's first out, as Asche ends up safe at first. The Phils then made it a 2-0 lead as Cameron Rupp follows with an RBI ground out, 5-3, knocking in Brown, while moving Asche up to second base. The Phils added to their lead in the top of the fourth as, with the bases loaded, via singles by Mayberry and Asche, with Mayberry stopping at second base, and a walk to Rupp, moving up both runners, and with one man out, Tony Gwynn, Jr. hits a sacrifice fly, scoring Mayberry, giving the Phils a 3-0 lead. The Phils then made it a 4-0 lead one batter later as, with two men on, and now with two men out, Ben Revere hits an RBI single, knocking in Asche, while sending Rupp up to second base. The Blue Jays get a run back in the bottom of the fifth as, with a runner on first, and with two men out, Colby Rasmus hits an RBI double, knocking in pinch runner Munenori Kawasaki, who was pinch running for Brett Lawrie, who had just singled, making it a 4-1 Phils' lead. The Blue Jays then made it a 4-3 Phils lead as, with two men on, via a lead-off single by Gabe Jacobo, and a single by Josh Thole, moving Jacobo up to second base, and with nobody out, Brett Carroll hits a two-run double, knocking in both Jacobo and Thole, before being thrown out at third base, as he tried to stretch it into a triple, 8-6-5, for the inning's first out. The Phils would get a run back in the top of the eighth as, with a man on second, and with one man out, Rupp hits an RBI double, knocking in Mayberry, who had started the inning off with a single, then moved up to second base on Reid Brignac's ground out, 5-3, giving the Phils a 5-3 lead. The Phils then made it a 6-3 lead as Gwynn follows with an RBI double, scoring Rupp. That would end up before the final score as, with still only one man out, the game would first be stopped and then be called an official game because of the rain.
Dave Buchanan (1-1, 2.25) gets the win as he pitched two 1-2-3 innings, striking out two. Mario Hollands collected his first hold of the spring as he threw one and one-third scoreless innings, giving up a hit and a walk, while striking out two. Phillippe Aumont received his third hold of the spring as he pitched one and two-thirds scoreless innings, striking out a batter. Greg Smith pitched one and two-thirds innings, giving up three runs on five hits, while striking out a batter. Hector Neris collected his first save of the spring as he pitched a third of an inning, getting out the only man whom he would face. Brandon Morrow (0-2, 9.00) took the lost a he pitched five innings, giving up four runs on five hits and three walks, while striking out four. Jeremy Jeffress and Casey Janssen combined for two scoreless innings, giving up three hits (Jeffress (1), Janssen (2)) between them, while striking out a batter (Jeffress). Sergio Santos pitched to one batter, being unable to get him out, as he gave up a run on a hit. Tony Davis pitched a third of an inning, giving up a run on two hits.
The Phils had eleven hits in the game, with John Mayberry, Jr. (Singles) and Cody Asche (Singles, RBI), both leading the team with two hits each. Ben Revere (Single, RBI), Ryan Howard (Single), Dom Brown (Single), Cameron Rupp (Double, 2 RBIs), Tony Gwynn, Jr, (Double, 2 RBIs), Edgar Duran (Single) and Cesar Hernandez (Single), had the other seven Phils' hits. The Phils also had three walks (Jimmy Rollins, Mayberry, Rupp), a stolen base (Rollins (2)) and a sacrifice fly (Gwynn), in the game, while the defense had an outfield assist (Gwynn).
The Phils (8-15-3) will play their next spring training game against the Yankees (15-10) at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Florida. The game is to start at 7:05 pm EDT. The Phils will start Jeff Manship (1-0, 2.25) while the Yankees' starter is still to be announced. The Phils will be trying for their third straight Grapefruit League win, as spring training gets closer to the end.


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Female • 9 weeks
Puppy ID #649010
DOB June 7, 2020
Available I'm ready today!
Color Black & White
Mom's Weight 60 - 65 lbs
Dad's Weight 75 - 80 lbs
Registry AKC
4/4 steps complete
Bonded with Mom
Old Enough
Weighs Enough
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Friday 1st February 2013
|Text too small?
Reserve Bank governor Graeme Wheeler has tax and regulation reforms on his wish-list to foster local savings and investment, saying they would help improve the nation's economy.
In his first public speech of the year, Wheeler told the Canterbury Employers' Chamber of Commerce the first way to lift the country's economic performance is through raising savings and investment and improving New Zealand's productivity.
"We should re-examine the factors, including tax and regulation, that diminish and distort the incentives to both save and invest," Wheeler said.
New Zealand's opposition to foreign investment and focus on putting cash into property was holding back more "productivity promoting investment," he said.
"If we are to attract new capital, entrepreneurship and investment in innovation, our policies have to stand out internationally."
The governor name-checked the ACT Party-inspired 2025 task force, the Savings Working Group and the Productivity Commission as proposing remedies to improve the nation's living standards. Savings and investment were to be the cornerstone of the government's 2011 budget until the Canterbury earthquake caused billions of dollars of damage.
Wheeler applauded the government's plan to return to fiscal surpluses and cut public sector debt, saying that gives the central bank more room to keep interest rates low.
Fiscal deficits "constrain output and employment in sectors facing international competition - sectors where productivity growth is usually higher," Wheeler said. "This is one reason why it's critical to cut back ineffective spending, and ensure that our welfare spending is targeted better at those in need."
"We've much to do in continuing to build our global linkages and addressing government spending and regulatory issues that diminish productivity and competitiveness," he said.
"Addressing these will create valuable payoffs for our future, given our massive resource endowments, our impressive agricultural and primary production engine and the potential in our education, tourism and other sectors," he said.
Wheeler also weighed in on the rising pension bill, saying government spending will be "an on-going challenge as demographic change will greatly expand government outlays unless there's a significant policy change."
The governor touched on the strength of the kiwi dollar, which recently traded at 83.86 US cents and was above 84 US cents overnight despite his own comments yesterday that the dollar was over-valued and undermining exporters and import substitution businesses. He said New Zealand was among a group of nations offering attractive returns to investors in a low interest rate environment.
He said he would go into greater detail on the impact of the currency on exporters and import substitution in a speech to the New Zealand Manufacturers' and Exporters' Association later this month.
Wheeler defended the central bank's focus on price stability, saying stable and low inflation reduce uncertainty and incentives for investors to buy non-productive assets, such as investment properties.
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I am Humbled to be included as a small part of the Joust Wiki.
Joust (video game)
Arcade flyer for Joust. Pictured is a player in front of the arcade cabinet.
|Williams Electronics
|Williams Electronics
|John Newcomer
|Bill Pfutzenreuter
|Jan Hendricks
Python Anghelo
|Tim Murphy & John Kotlarik (sounds)
|Release date(s)
|July 16, 1982
|Up to 2 players simultaneously
|Upright and table
Raster, standard resolution (Used: 292 x 240)
19 inch
Joust is an arcade game developed by Williams Electronics and released in 1982. It is a platform game that featurestwo-dimensional (2D) graphics. The player uses a button and joystick to control a knight riding a flying ostrich. The object is to progress through levels by defeating groups of enemy knights riding buzzards.
John Newcomer led the development team, which included Bill Pfutzenrueter, Jan Hendricks, Python Anghelo, Tim Murphy, and John Kotlarik. Newcomer aimed to create a flying game with co-operative two-player gameplay, but wanted to avoid a space theme, which was popular at the time. Staff worked within the technical limitations of the hardware (originally developed two years earlier for Williams' first game, Defender), excluding concepts and optimizing the visuals.
The game was well received in arcades and by critics, who praised the gameplay. The gameplay mechanics influenced titles by other developers. Joust was followed by a sequel three years later, and was ported to numerous home and portable platforms.
Joust is a platforming game where the player controls a yellow knight riding a flying ostrich from a third-person perspective. Using the two-way directional joystick and the button for flapping the ostrich's wings, the player flies the knight amidst the floating rock platforms and above pools of lava; when maneuvering off the screen to either side, the player will continue its path reappearing from the opposite side. Home console versions use game controllers with directional pads and analog sticks. The rate at which the player repeatedly presses the button causes the ostrich to fly upward, hover, or slowly descend. The objective is to defeat groups of enemy knights riding buzzards that populate each level, referred to as a "wave". Upon completing a wave, a subsequent more-challenging wave will begin. Players navigate the knight to collide with enemies. The elevation of an enemy in relation to the player's knight determines the outcome of the collision. If the protagonist is higher than the enemy, the villain is defeated and vice versa. A collision of equal elevations results in the two knights bouncing off each other. A defeated enemy will turn into an egg that falls toward the bottom of the screen, which a player can collect for points. An egg that sits on a platform long enough will hatch into a new knight; if the player does not pick him up, he will gain a new mount and must be defeated again. The game features three types of enemy knights—Bounder, Hunter, and Shadow Lord—that are worth different amounts of points. A pterodactyl will appear after a predetermined time frame to hunt the hero. A second player, controlling a blue knight on a stork, can join the game. The two players can either cooperatively complete the waves or attack each other while competitively defeating enemies.[1][2]
Joust was developed by Williams Electronics, with John Newcomer as the lead designer. Programmer Bill Pfutzenrueter and artists Jan Hendricks and Python Angheloassisted him. Tim Murphy and John Kotlarik handled the audio design.[3] The game features amplified monaural sound and raster graphics on a 19 inch color CRT monitor.[4] Like other Williams arcade games, Joust was programmed in assembly language.[5] A pack of three AA batteries provide power to save the game's settings and high scores when the machine is unplugged from an electrical outlet.[6][7] The cabinet artwork, by Anghelo, is stenciled on a wooden frame.[3][6] Anghelo also designed artwork for promotional materials;[3] one such flyer featured archaic English, which was also incorporated into the game's on-screen instructions.[2]
Following the success of the 1980 title Defender, Williams searched for new creative staff.[3][5] Believing video games to be the future of entertainment, Newcomer left his job as a toy designer to work at the company who hired him to create game ideas as support for development staff. After a few days, he generated a list of ideas that included game ideas for The War of the Worlds and Joust, Newcomer's top two choices. Technical specifications dictated the selection; Newcomer's vision of The War of the Worlds was infeasible, but Joust could be accomplished with Williams' available hardware.[3] A development team was formed, which decided to create the game using Defender's hardware.[3][8]
Newcomer conceived Joust as a "flying game" with co-operative two-player gameplay. Rather than emulate the popular space theme of previous successful flying games like Asteroids and Defender, he wanted to offer an alternative to spaceships. To that end, Newcomer made a list of things that could fly: machines, animals, and fictional characters. After evaluating the positive and negative of each idea, he chose birds, believing that they would have a wide appeal. Newcomer also felt that birds were a good fit as he was familiar with fantasy and science fiction media featuring birds. To further increase his understanding, Newcomer went to the library to study mythology. He felt that the primary protagonist should ride a majestic bird. The first choice was an eagle, but the lack of graceful land mobility dissuaded the designer. Instead, Newcomer chose an ostrich because he thought a flying ostrich was more believable than a running eagle. To differentiate between the first and second player characters, the developers picked a stork, believing the proportions were similar to an ostrich while the color difference would avoid confusion among players. Newcomer chose vultures as the main enemies, believing that they would be recognizably evil. Anghelo created concept of the characters as guidance for further design.[3]
Creative and technical design[edit]
At the time Joust was done I was hoping to get a broader audience who may want to try a different skill. There were already plenty of shooting games they could play. I wanted to break some new ground. I felt I was already giving the player new things to do like having to flap, run and become so adept at flying that it would be the determining factor in how you collided and defeated an enemy. The cleanest thing I could think of to visually determine a winner was height.
The decision to use birds prompted Newcomer to deviate from the then standard eight-direction joystick. He implemented a "flapping" mechanism to allow players to control the character's ascent and descent. With the vertical direction controlled via the arcade cabinet's button, a two-way joystick was added to dictate horizontal direction.[3] Though other Williams employees were concerned over the design, Newcomer believed that a direct control scheme for flight would strengthen the connection between the player and the character. The combat is devised to allow for higher levels of strategy than traditional shooting games.[3][8] Because flying became an integral gameplay element, he chose to have characters collide as a means of combat. Newcomer felt that the characters' heights on the screen were the best way to determine a victor.[3]
The developers created the game using 96K of memory, which limited the file size of individual graphics and sound effects they could use.[3][8] The memory limits also prohibited Newcomer from creating more characters. The graphics were created at the pixel level and hand-animated.[8] To animate the birds, Hendricks used Eadweard Muybridge's bookAnimals In Motion as a reference. Given the limited memory, she had to balance the number of frames to minimize file size, while maintaining realistic animation. Hendricks originally picked grey for the buzzards, but chose green instead to optimize the color palette as the developers had only 16 colors to create the visuals. Once the colors were decided for the character sprites, Newcomer finalized the look of the platforms. The hardware had limited audio capabilities, and sounds typically required larger amounts of memory than graphics. Working with these restrictions, Newcomer instructed Murphy and Kotlarik to focus on select sounds he deemed important to reinforcing gameplay. He reasoned that the audio would serve as conspicuous hints that players could use to adjust their strategy. Though Newcomer prioritized the wing flap, other sounds effects like those related to the pterodactyl, collisions, and hatching eggs were considered important as well.[3]
In designing the levels, Newcomer added platforms to the environment after the combat was devised. A static game world was chosen over a scrolling world to showcase visual textures applied to the platforms. The hardware could not easily display the textures while scrolling, and the team felt that displaying the whole environment would aid players. The last game world element was a lava pit and a hand reaching out of it to destroy characters too close to the bottom. Newcomer placed the platforms to optimize Pfutzenrueter's enemy artificial intelligence (AI), which factors attack patterns based partly on platform placements. The knight enemies were designed to exhibit progressively more aggressive behavior. Bounders fly around the environment randomly, occasionally reacting to the protagonist. Hunters seek the player's character in an effort to collide. Shadow Lords fly quickly and closer to the top of the screen. Pfutzenrueter designed them to fly higher when close to the protagonist to increase the Shadow Lord's chances of victory against the player.[3] The pterodactyl was designed to attack idle players and be difficult to defeat. The only vulnerability was attacking the creature in its open mouth during a specific animation frame. Newcomer and Pfutzenrueter designed the pterodactyl to quickly fly upward at the last moment when approaching a player waiting at the edge of platform. This was done to prevent an easy defeat of the enemy.[3][9] When processing the graphics, the game gives priority to the player characters over the enemies. As a result, enemies begin to react more slowly when the number of on-screen sprites increases.[10]
While playtesting the game, the team discovered an animation bug they described as a "belly flop".[8][11] The flaw allows players to force the ostrich or stork sprite through an otherwise impassable small gap between two adjacent platforms of very close elevation. Because it provided an interesting method to perform a sneak attack on an opponent below the gap, the developers decided to keep the defect rather than fix it.[11] Newcomer also attributed the inclusion to excessive playtesting that limited the time available to find a solution.[8]
A second bug, which allows the pterodactyl to be easily defeated, was discovered after the game was first distributed. Newcomer designed the game and its AI with each sprite's dimension in mind. A day before the game was finished, however, the pterodactyl's sprite was altered to improve the appearance. The new sprite allowed the pterodactyl to be easily defeated an unending number of times. The player could sit on the center ledge, with a single enemy knight caught indefinitely in the hand of the "lava troll," and kill an unlimited number of pterodactyls simply by turning to face them as they entered the screen in a rapid, never-ending sequence. Using this flaw, the player could quickly accumulate a very high score and a large cache of lives, with no significant skill required. Upon learning of the flaw, Williams shipped a new ROM for the arcade cabinets to assuage distributors' complaints.[3][9]
Reception and legacy[edit]
Given the different control scheme, Williams was concerned that the game would be unsuccessful. Though arcades were hesitant to purchase the game for the same reason, Joust sold well. Williams eventually shipped 26,000 units.[8] A cocktail table version was later released, engineered by Leo Ludzia.[8] It differs from other cocktail games in that it features side-by-side seating rather than opposing sides.[6][8] This setup allowed Williams to use the same ROM chip as in the upright cabinets.[3] The cabinets have since become collector's items. Though the upright cabinets are common, the cocktail version is a rare, sought after game.[6][12]Between 250-500 units were manufactured.[6][8]
Players have competed to obtain the highest score at the game.[13][14] Expert players exploited software bugs to extend the length of their play time and obtain higher scores. One bug, which facilitates the defeat of the pterodactyl, allows players earn a large number of "extra lives". Players can then use the excess lives to leave the game unattended while they rest.[2]
Popular culture[edit]
Joust has been parodied in popular culture. References appear in:
- Joust was parodied in the Robot Chicken episode "Celebutard Mountain."[15]
- Joust strategy was parodied in a 1980s issue of Vidiot as "come up and sit on my face sometime"
- Joust was referenced in the Code Monkeys episode "Just One of the Gamers."[16]
- Joust was also referenced in the video games Mortal Kombat 3 as Shang Tsung`s Friendship[17] and World of Warcraft: Cataclysm.[18] The World of Warcraft version includes a playable mini-game in which a player must equip a lance and dismount enemies, as well as break eggs, and features the same flying mechanics seen in the original game.
- The Knight and Ostrich appear in Wreck-It Ralph. It is seen flying in Game Central Station.
- Joust was played by the protagonist in Ernest Cline's book Ready Player One inside the virtual world of OASIS in order to win a copper key.
Author Steve Kent considered Joust one of the more memorable games of its time.[19] Author David Ellis agreed, and stated that the game retains it enjoyment in contemporary times.[6] In 2008, Guinness World Records listed it as the number sixty-nine arcade game in technical, creative, and cultural impact.[20] A writer for Video Gaming Illustrated called Joust exotic and praised the animation as lifelike.[21] Kevin Bowen of GameSpy's Classic Gaming wrote that despite a concept he described as "incredibly stupid", Joust is an appealing game with good controls and competitive gameplay. Bowen further commented that the multiplayer aspect differentiated the game from others at the time. He described it as "one of the first really fun multiplayer games" and a precursor to the video game deathmatch.[22] Retro Gamerwriter Mike Bevan praised the game's physics, calling them "beautifully realised", and described Joust as one of Williams' "most remarkable and well-loved titles".[3] AComputer and Video Games writer called the game "weird and wonderful".[23] Author John Sellers praised the competitive two-player gameplay, and attributed the game's appeal to the flapping mechanism.[2] In 2004, Ellis described Joust as an example of innovative risk absent in the then-current video game industry.[6] In retrospect, Newcomer commended Williams' management for taking a risk on him and the game.[3] The game has garnered praise from industry professionals as well. Jeff Peters of GearWorks Games lauded the gameplay, describing it as unique and intuitive. Fusion Learning Systems' Jeff Johannigman praised the flapping mechanism and Kim Pallister of Microsoft enjoyed the multi-player aspect.[24]
Sequels and remakes[edit]
A pinball version was released in 1983, designed by Barry Oursler and Constantino Mitchell. The game includes artwork and themes from the arcade version. In addition to single player gameplay, it features competitive two-player gameplay with the players on opposing sides of the machine. Less than 500 machines were produced.[8]
An arcade sequel, Joust 2: Survival of the Fittest, was released in 1986. It features similar gameplay with new elements on a vertical screen.[25]
Joust was ported to the Nintendo Entertainment System version, and to several Atari platforms: the Atari 2600, Atari 5200, Atari 7800, and Atari Lynx consoles, as well as Atari 8-bit and Atari ST home computers.[3] Macintosh and personal computer versions were also released.[26] Tiger Electronics released a small keychain versionof Joust in 1998.[27] A mobile phone version was released in 2005, but omitted the flapping control scheme.[28] In 2000, a web-based version of Joust, along with nine other classic arcade games, was published on Shockwave.com.[29]
Four years later, Midway Games[Note 1] also launched a website featuring the Shockwave versions.[30] The game was included in several multi-platform compilations: the 1996 Williams Arcade's Greatest Hits, the 2000 Midway's Greatest Arcade Hits, and the 2003 Midway Arcade Treasures.[31][32][33] Other compilation titles are the 1995 Arcade Classic 4 for the Game Boy and the 2005 Midway Arcade Treasures: Extended Play for the PlayStation Portable.[34][35] Joust was released via digital distribution on GameTap, Xbox Live Arcade, and the PlayStation Network.[36][37] In 2012, Joust was included in the compilation Midway Arcade Origins.[38]
Other remakes were in development, but never released. Previously unreleased Atarisoft prototypes of Joust for the ColecoVision surfaced in 2001 at the Classic Gaming Expo in Las Vegas.[39] An adaptation with three-dimensional (3D) graphics was in development for the Atari Jaguar CD. Titled Dactyl Joust, it was eventually canceled.[40] Newcomer pitched an updated version of the arcade game for the Game Boy Advance to Midway Games. The company, however, did not sanction it. The prototype featured multi-directional scrolling, more detailed graphics based on 3D renders, and new gameplay mechanics.[3]
Midway Games optioned Joust's movie rights to CP Productions in 2007.[36][41] Michael Cerenzie and Christine Peters of CP Productions planned to expand on a game element for the film's premise. Cerenzie described the script by Marc Gottlieb as "Gladiator meets Mad Max", set 25 years in the future, and Peters commented that the action oriented film would appeal to a general audience. The movie was planned as a tent-pole movie, with a graphic novel by Steven-Elliot Altman as part of the media franchise's release. Midway Games also considered a video game adaptation of the film.[42] Joust's expected release date was set in June 2008 and then later pushed back to 2009.[42][43] The video game company, however, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2009.[44] Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment purchased most of Midway's assets, including Joust, with the intent to develop movie adaptations.[45][46]
Several titles by other developers feature gameplay that either copies or builds upon Joust's design.[22] The 1983 Jetpac and Mario Bros. feature elements inspired by it, as well as the 1984 Balloon Fight.[47][48][49][50]
History of Competition[edit]
John McAllister holds the world record of 107 million points, set in 2010. Christian Gingras reached 98 million points in 1983, and held the record for some time. Lon McDonald reached 99.9 million in the spring of 2013.
Between 2011 and 2013, McDonald also played as many Joust machines as he could locate across the U.S., playing to 10 million points each game, in order to reach 1 billion total points. In the spring of 2013 he completed this tour with his 100th game at the old Williams headquarters at 3401 N. California Ave. in Chicago. People in attendance included Roger Sharpe, Walter Day, and John Newcomer. A small reunion the night before gathered 3 members of the original development team: Newcomer, Python Anghelo, and Bill "Pfutz" Pfutzenreuter.
30th anniversary[edit]
Joust was released on July 16, 1982. In honor of the 30th birthday, on July 14, 2012, Star Worlds Arcade sponsored Lon McDonald playing a game of Joust to 10 million points at the original Twin Galaxies arcade location in Ottumwa, Iowa. The location was converted to The Optical Shoppe many years ago and had not seen a video game event since the mid-1980s. A Joust strategy guide was started as a result of this visit.
- Jump up^ Williams Electronics purchased Midway in 1988, and later transferred its games to the Midway Games subsidiary.
- Jump up^ Heineman, Bill (July 1983). "Coin-Op Classroom: Some Knights to Remember".Electronic Games (Reese Communications) 1 (17): 114–115.
- ^ Jump up to:a b c d Sellers, John (August 2001). Arcade Fever: The Fan's Guide to The Golden Age of Video Games. Running Press. pp. 94–95. ISBN 0-7624-0937-1.
- ^ Jump up to:a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u Bevan, Mike. "The Making of Joust". Retro Gamer (Imagine Publishing) (63): 36–41.
- Jump up^ "Joust – Videogame by Williams Electronics". International Arcade Museum. Retrieved 2010-07-13.
- ^ Jump up to:a b James Hague, ed. (1997). "Eugene Jarvis". Halcyon Days: Interviews with Classic Computer and Video Games Programmers. Dadgum Games. Retrieved 2010-07-13.
- ^ Jump up to:a b c d e f g Ellis, David (2004). "Arcade Classics". Official Price Guide to Classic Video Games. Random House. pp. 337–338. ISBN 0-375-72038-3.
- Jump up^ Ellis, David (2004). "Classic Arcade Game Setup, Restoration, and Repair".Official Price Guide to Classic Video Games. Random House. pp. 433–437.ISBN 0-375-72038-3.
- ^ Jump up to:a b c d e f g h i j k Digital Eclipse. Midway Arcade Treasures. (Midway Games).PlayStation 2. Level/area: The Inside Story On Joust. (2003-11-18)
- ^ Jump up to:a b Digital Eclipse. Midway Arcade Treasures. (Midway Games). PlayStation 2. Level/area: Joust Interview Clip #3. (2003-11-18)
- Jump up^ Vavasour, Jeff (2005-01-13). "Back To The Classics: Perfecting The Emulation For Digital Eclipse's Atari Anthology". Gamasutra. Retrieved 2010-10-29.
- ^ Jump up to:a b Digital Eclipse. Midway Arcade Treasures. (Midway Games). PlayStation 2. Level/area: Joust Interview Clip #2. (2003-11-18)
- Jump up^ Ellis, David (2004). "Arcade Classics". Official Price Guide to Classic Video Games. Random House. p. 385. ISBN 0-375-72038-3.
- Jump up^ "Joust Marathon High Score Rankings". Twin Galaxies. Retrieved 2010-11-16.
- Jump up^ "Joust Tournament High Score Rankings". Twin Galaxies. Retrieved 2010-11-16.
- Jump up^ Seth Green (2007-10-07). "Celebutard Mountain". Robot Chicken. Episode 49.Adult Swim.
- Jump up^ Adam de la Peña (2007-08-01). "Just One of the Gamers". Code Monkeys. Episode 5. G4.
- Jump up^ UGO staff. "Top 11 Mortal Kombat Fatalities Pics". UGO. Retrieved 2008-09-01.
- Jump up^ Newnham, Darren (2010-12-10). "World of Warcraft Cataclysm – Review".Yahoo! Games. Retrieved 2010-12-13.
- Jump up^ Kent, Steven (2001). "The Golden Age (Part 2: 1981–1983)". Ultimate History of Video Games. Three Rivers Press. p. 177. ISBN 0-7615-3643-4.
- Jump up^ Craig Glenday, ed. (2008-03-11). "Top 100 Arcade Games: Top 100–51".Guinness World Records Gamer's Edition 2008. Guinness World Records. Guinness. p. 231. ISBN 978-1-904994-21-3.
- Jump up^ Video Gaming Illustrated Staff (December 1982). "Eye On: Tilting at Videogames". Video Gaming Illustrated (Ion International) (3): 61.
- ^ Jump up to:a b Bowen, Kevin. "Game of The Week: Joust". Classic Gaming. Retrieved 2010-07-14.
- Jump up^ "Arcade Action". Computer and Video Games (EMAP): 30. February 1983.
- Jump up^ Hong, Quang (2005-08-05). "Question of the Week Responses: Coin-Op Favorites?". Gamasutra. Retrieved 2009-05-12.
- Jump up^ Digital Eclipse. Midway Arcade Treasures. (Midway Games). PlayStation 2. Level/area: The Inside Story On Joust 2. (2003-11-18)
- Jump up^ "Joust". MobyGames. Retrieved 2010-07-09.
- Jump up^ GameSpy Staff. "Joust (keychain)". GameSpy. Retrieved 2010-10-29.
- Jump up^ Leeper, Justin (2005-03-16). "Joust Review". GameSpy. Retrieved 2010-10-29.
- Jump up^ Parker, Sam (2000-05-05). "Midway Coming Back At You". GameSpot.
- Jump up^ Kohler, Chris (2004-09-24). "Midway Arcade Treasures Web site goes live".GameSpot.
- Jump up^ Weiss, Brett Alan. "Williams Arcade's Greatest Hits – Overview – allgame".Allgame. Retrieved 2010-07-10.
- Jump up^ All Game Staff. "Midway's Greatest Arcade Hits: Vol. 1 – Overview – allgame".Allgame. Retrieved 2010-07-10.
- Jump up^ Harris, Craig (2003-08-11). "Midway Arcade Treasures". IGN. Retrieved 2010-07-10.
- Jump up^ "Arcade Classic 4 Defender / Joust". GameSpot. Retrieved 2010-07-10.
- Jump up^ Harris, Craig (2006-02-13). "Midway Arcade Treasures: Extended Play". IGN. Retrieved 2010-07-10.
- ^ Jump up to:a b IGN Staff (2007-09-04). "Joust: The Movie". IGN. Retrieved 2010-10-29.
- Jump up^ Edge Staff (2007-05-01). "Why GameTap is Going Free". Edge. Retrieved 2010-10-29.
- Jump up^ http://www.ign.com/articles/2012/11/14/midway-arcade-origins-review
- Jump up^ Ellis, David (2004). "ColecoVision". Official Price Guide to Classic Video Games.Random House. pp. 146–148. ISBN 0-375-72038-3.
- Jump up^ "Jaguar Dactyl Joust Video Released". GameSpy. 2003-10-08. Retrieved 2010-11-01.
- Jump up^ Fritz, Ben; McNary, Dave (2007-09-03). "'Joust' Clicks with CP: Cerenzie-Peters Banner Gets First Project". Variety. Retrieved 2008-09-01.
- ^ Jump up to:a b Gaudiosi, John (2007-08-27). "New Hollywood Company Bringing Joust to the Big Screen". GameDaily. Retrieved 2010-10-29.
- Jump up^ Edge Staff (2008-03-08). "Feature: Reel Gaming". Edge. Retrieved 2010-10-29.
- Jump up^ "Midway Files Chapter 11". IGN. 2009-02-12. Retrieved 2010-10-29.
- Jump up^ VanBurkleo, Meagan (2010-05-12). "Warner To Revive DOA Midway Titles?".GameInformer. Retrieved 2010-10-29.
- Jump up^ McNary, Dave (2010-03-22). "Warner Bros. to make 'Spy Hunter' film".Variety. Retrieved 2010-10-29.
- Jump up^ Edge Staff (2008-03-23). "The Best 50 Games of The 1980s". Edge. Retrieved 2010-10-29.
- Jump up^ Fox, Matt (2006). The Video Games Guide. Boxtree Ltd. pp. 261–262. ISBN 0-7522-2625-8.
- Jump up^ Thomas, Lucas (2007-07-20). "Balloon Fight Review". IGN. Retrieved 2010-07-10.
- Jump up^ Turner, Benjamin; Nutt, Christian (July 2003). "Nintendo Famicom: 20 Years of Fun!". GameSpy. Retrieved 2010-07-10.
- Jump up^ "Buzzard Bait – Tom Mix Software".


text: Fifty Ways To Leave - Paul Simon sur Guitariff.netI'm not certain of any special procedures to posting lyrics since I'm new to this group, but I saw two requests to have this posted and this is the way I like to read music, so here goes: Fifty Ways to Leave Your Lover Words and Music by Paul Simon, 1975 Em/G D6 CM7 B7-9 B7 "The problem is all inside your head," she said to me Em D#dim7 GM9+5 B+ "the answer is easy if you take it logic'lly. Em D6 CM7 B7-9 I'm here to help you if you're struggling to be free; B7 Em Am7 Em there must be fifty ways to leave your lover." Em/G D6 CM7 B7-9 B7 She said, "It's really not my habit to intrude; Em D#dim7 GM9+5 B+ I hope my meaning won't be lost or misconstrued. Em D6 CM7 B7-9 But I'll repeat myself at the risk of being crude; B7 Em Am7 Em there must be fifty ways to leave your lover." Em Am7 Em fifty ways to leave your lover." G Just slip out the back, Jack. Bb6 Make a new plan, Stan; C7 You don't need to be coy, Roy, G just get yourself free. (on repeat: Just listen to me) G Hop on the bus, Gus; Bb6 You don't need to discuss much; C7 Just drop off the key, Lee. G and get yourself free. REPEAT CHORUS Second verse: She said, "It grieves me now to see you in such pain; I wish there was somethin' I could do to make you smile again." I said, "I appreciate that, and could you please explain about the fifty ways?" She said, "Why don't we both just sleep on it tonight; I'm sure in the morning you'll begin to see the light." And then she kissed me and I realized she probably was right; there must be fifty ways to leave your lover, fifty ways to leave your lover." REPEAT CHORUS twice. Chords: (by request) Em/G 322000 D6 xx0432 CM7 x32000 B7-9 x24222 B7 021202 Em 022000 D#dim7 xx1222 GM9+5 320203 -- I don't have a guitar around right now, is this possible? B+ xx1004 Am7 x02213 G 320003 Bb6 x13311 C7 x32310 Hope these help, and I hope they're right! Some of them are just plain bizarre, so your guess is probably as good as mine. Happy fingering!


text:
It just wouldn't be a perfect vacation without a nice assortment of good wines to drink while sitting on the deck, reading a good book or dining at a local restaurant. Fortunately, last week in Avalon provided the opportunity to sip quite a few good wines. Here is a list of what we drank during those seven days with ratings and, in some cases, a comment or two where appropriate.
2007 St. Urbans-Hof Ockfener Bockstein Reisling Spatlese, a delicious white, summer wine, I give this one 91 points.
2002 Thorn-Clarke Barossa Shiraz, great for sipping with some cheese and crackers, 89 points.
2000 St. Francis, Nuns Canyon Reserve, Cabernet Sauvignon, took some time for this to lose it's funk in the glass, then it was very good, 89 points.
2006 Kaiken Ultra, Cabernet Sauvignon, I had always liked the Malbec version of this one and the Cab proved a worthy partner, lots of flavor, 90 points.
2007 Landmark, Overlook, Chardonnay, just the right amount of oak, 90 points.
2005 Franciscan, Magnificat, Red Wine, excellent with a variety of meals we had all week, smooth and graceful, 93 points.
2004 Shirvington, McLarenVale, Shiraz, the four of us split on which of the Shirvington's was better, I opted for this one and gave it 94 points for a barrage of red fruits.
2005 Shirvington, McLaren Vale, Shiraz, almost as good but slightly tamer than the 2004, which appealed to the others, 93 points.
2006 Ribbon Ridge Pinot Noir, Oregon, a little pricey, but excellent with my halibut, however, the other three in our group decided they were not huge Pinot Noir fans, more for me, 93 points.
2005 Mollydooker, Enchanted Path, McLaren Vale, Shiraz/Cab, just stunning and we all agreed, Sparky and Sarah have done it again! 96 points.
2004 Whitehall Lane, Cabernet Sauvignon, this cab and stand with the best of them, goes well with red meat and pasta, 91 points.
I'll have a little more on some of these wines when I do the BYOB reviews in a day or two. Overall, they were some good choices for the week.


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Four with Giants ties on Bay Area Sports HOF ballot
Former pitchers Dravecky, McCormick, owner Lurie, manager Dark up for honor
SAN FRANCISCO -- Pitchers Dave Dravecky and Mike McCormick, former owner Bob Lurie and ex-manager Alvin Dark are the nominees with Giants connections who appear on the 2014 ballot for the Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame (BASHOF).
Besides maintaining the local sports shrine, BASHOF, a non-profit organization, helps Bay Area youngsters play sports through contributions from numerous donors.
Dravecky was named to the "contemporary" ballot, reserved for athletes whose careers occurred since 1981. He spent only three seasons with the Giants (1987-89), but starred in one of the most dramatic events in franchise history when he overcame cancer in his throwing arm to pitch eight innings in a 4-3 victory over the Reds on Aug. 10, 1989. Dravecky fractured his humerus bone in his next start, which turned out to be his final Major League appearance.
Dark and McCormick made the "veteran" ballot, consisting of nominees whose careers preceded 1981. Dark, a three-time All-Star shortstop with the New York Giants during the 1950s who's still alive at 91, managed both San Francisco and Oakland into the World Series, winning the title with the A's in 1974. McCormick became the Giants' first National League Cy Young Award winner when he finished 22-10 with a 2.85 ERA in 1967. Among the franchise's San Francisco-era (since 1958) pitchers, he ranks third in complete games (77) and fourth in wins (104), shutouts (19) and innings (1,741 1/3).
Lurie was nominated in the "distinguished achievement" category. He helped prevent the Giants from leaving San Francisco in 1976 by playing a principal role in purchasing the franchise from Horace Stoneham, who was prepared to sell the team to Toronto investors. Lurie strove to improve conditions for fans at Candlestick Park and tried to find the Giants a new Bay Area home, but four ballpark ballot measures failed. Having exhausted his options, Lurie agreed to sell the Giants to a group that would have moved them to Tampa-St. Petersburg following the 1992 season. Then Peter Magowan, as Lurie did 16 years earlier, led a successful effort to keep the Giants in San Francisco.
Of BASHOF's 150 inductees, 11 served as a player, coach or manager with the Giants -- Vida Blue, Orlando Cepeda, Will Clark, Juan Marichal, Willie Mays, Willie McCovey, Lefty O'Doul, Gaylord Perry, Dave Righetti, Bill Rigney and Frank Robinson.
Winners in each category are expected to be announced in January. The annual enshrinement banquet is scheduled for May 7 at San Francisco's Westin St. Francis Hotel.


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LETTER- Hey, I wrote the score
While I appreciate very much the nice short piece on the film "When Love Walks In" [May 12: "Paladin's progress: Local film lands awards"], I must confess that as the composer of the underscore for the movie, I was a bit disappointed that you did not credit me as one of the contributors to the soundtrack, which, as you note, won an award at the Bare Bones International Independent Film Festival.
While I understand that Terri Allard and Carbon Leaf are something of local celebrities, and that they are indeed great musicians, it's a bit disingenuous to credit them mainly for the success of the soundtrack.
In fact, I wrote more than 50 separate music cues for the film, many of them quite lengthy. Not only did I write more music for the film than any one contributor, I dare say that in fact I wrote more music than all of the other contributors combined.
It's a bit like crediting Celine Dion for James Horner's Academy Award for his score to Titanic (though, of course, unlike Celine Dion, Terri Allard and Carbon Leaf do write their own songs).
In spite of my disappointment about not being given credit for my contribution to the film's awards, I do appreciate and thank you for your efforts to acknowledge the talent of local artists and hope that you will continue to do so.
Stephan Prock
Composer, Lecturer
UVA Dept. of Music
Artistic Director, UVA New Music Ensemble


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Travelling around London Luton Airport
Are you thinking about visiting London Luton Airport? Perhaps you already live in this great town but need to get around without the hassle of parking or the expense of petrol? At Arriva we know travel and we know London Luton Airport, so take a few moments and read through our carefully created guide to attractions and travelling in this great town.


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Bridge group to meet every Wednesday
Wed, August 12, 2020 @ 10:00AM
Beginning and intermediate Bridge players are invited to join an informal group meeting every Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Trinity Episcopal Church. All are welcome and walk-ins are encouraged. For more information, contact 876-2661 or 876-0751.
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