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Last week, the Chinese Ministry of Finance introduced interim measures for subsidies for "solar photovoltaic building applications" in China. A fixed subsidy will be granted for both urban BIPV applications and for photovoltaic building systems in rural and remote areas. Technical standards will apply to their installation.
The installed capacity for individual projects should not be less than 50 kWp.
PV systems must include at least 16% efficiency for monocrystalline silicon photovoltaic products, at least 14% efficiency for multicrystalline silicon photovoltaic products, and at least 6% efficiency for amorphous silicon photovoltaic products.
Priority will be given to panels used as architectural components and integrated with grid connected buildings, most notably for schools, hospitals, government agencies and other public buildings.
In order to encourage regional localities to formulate and implement financial policies to support the development of solar photovoltaics, projects in localities that satisfy the following conditions will receive priority support:
(1) The implementation of "price-sharing" policies;
(2) The provision of financial subsidies and other incentive policies;
(3) The formulation of relevant technical standards and regulations, as well as construction methods and diagrams.
Projects already completed will not be eligible for the subsidy.
The standard subsidy for 2009 will, in principle, be set at RMB 20/Wp. The exact amount will be determined by factors such as the degree of integration with the building architecture, as well as the level of technical sophistication of the photovoltaic products.
The Ministry of Finance will first allocate 70% of the total subsidy to the provincial level finance and construction departments, who will then provide the funds to the project owner. After receiving a satisfactory assessment report of the completed project, the Ministry of Finance will disburse the remaining subsidy funds to the project caretaker via local finance and construction departments.
In subsequent years, the subsidy will be adjusted, as appropriate, dependent on how the market develops.
Those applying for the subsidy should provide the following materials:
(1) Approved project registration documents
(2) Technical plans for the solar photovoltaic building application
(3) The signed contract between the manufacturer of the solar photovoltaic products and the project owner/owners
Provincial level Finance and Construction Departments will collect and verify application materials for those applying for the subsidy, and submit a consolidated report to the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development before April 30 and August 30 each year.
Today's announcement does not specify the total funding budget for the program.


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Their focus needs to be on bringing Final Fantasy to the western standard
Outside of the soundtrack and perhaps the number of party members, none of the things I listed are subjective in any way.
How many people are partial to demeaning, misogynistic ass-shots......If Square wants Final Fantasy to succeed as the massive blockbuster of an experience that it is, they need to take a page from developers like Bioware and Bethesda.
Bullshit. There is something of a scale on how subjective or objective certain aspects of creative works are, but if we're going purely objective then only areas like performance and how buggy a game is are unwavering, and even then it can be subjective on how tolerable they are as the Walking Dead GOTY awards show despite the ridiculous save issues plaguing multiple platforms. Certainly I'd be citing stuff like good balance, user friendliness within reason, and responsive controls come WAY further ahead in objective versus subjective than "too linear", "terrible story", and "not enough choices". Not that I don't think at least the first two AREN'T a problem, but let's not act as if it's an objective fact those are bad points (I'm not sure how prevalent some of those issues really are anyway). Unless you're talking purely on what will get the most sales, but that's a very different can of worms and not usually where we bring up the objective/subjective argument I'd think, at the very least though I don't think being very linear is inherently stifling sales, ME seems to do OK and they clamped down more on that after the first game.
So include camel toe with those ass shots? Uhh, OK.(Seriously, WTF was that doing on a robot?)
The things I listed ~- a story ostracized of Final Fantasy's characteristic melodrama- dialogue choices (which, I should add, Square already used in Final Fantasy XIII-2)- environments similar to those found in the PS1 entries (again, which you can find in XIII-2)- character-centric side questsBy the semantic definition of "subjective", could someone theoretically debate the merits of these aspects? Sure. From a grounded and realistic standpoint, not really. Removing sappy dialogue and retroactive continuity should not have game-breaking consequences, and seeing as how Square showed some inherent potential for dialogue options and environments that weren't just corridors with XIII-2, then by my logic they're perfectly capable of reproducing those elements in their next entry to the franchise. The fact that the Walking Dead climbed its way to game of the year and Final Fantasy XIII was met mainly with disappointment should speak volumes about what the majority of players are more interested in (as in, glitch-ridden yet engaging, and not a cinematic 60-hour polished turd of a wonky science fiction soap opera).
What part of "take a page" are you confused about? I'm well aware of Bioware's unseemly portrayals of females in their works.
EDIT: Anyway I'm beginning to sound like a pedantic prick at this point so I'll just quit while I'm ahead. I never meant to say WRPGs were superior to JRPGs or any such nonsense, so sorry if it came across that way.
To be fair to FFVI, FFIV's melodrama loses a lot of its kick when you know that everybody's just going to get better anyway (aside from Tellah who was an old man who got progressively worse as you leveled him and had a terrible gimmick ability).
Might as well put this now.Fabula Nova Crystallis mythology -- Source: Final Fantasy Wiki
Shame it took three games to get that bit out.... though it'll probably be coming back when/if Versus comes out.
Quote from: Aeolus on January 03, 2013, 07:54:41 AMTo be fair to FFVI, FFIV's melodrama loses a lot of its kick when you know that everybody's just going to get better anyway (aside from Tellah who was an old man who got progressively worse as you leveled him and had a terrible gimmick ability).Oh man, I can't recall... did he actually lose stats?ANd yeah, the melodrama is pretty thick in those games. I think the lack of dialogue may actually be a plus on its end.Quote from: Yggdrasil on January 04, 2013, 06:45:09 AMMight as well put this now.Fabula Nova Crystallis mythology -- Source: Final Fantasy WikiShame it took three games to get that bit out.... though it'll probably be coming back when/if Versus comes out.And a shame we only get "the Ghost of Etro" in 13-2....good grief.

subset: commoncrawl


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There's a new game in town, however, that aims to help you do just that. Startup uberfood, a food-delivery service dedicated to local, seasonal, organic and fresh meals, has been serving up the families of La Jolla, Del Mar and Carmel Valley since January, and the enterprise is growing steadily.
Casey Knapp, uberfood's food captain, was approached by uberfood co-founder Gen Furukawa on the day he took his last final exam at Cornell. Furukawa, who also had Cornell ties, presented the idea of a local food-delivery service that would strictly serve what many people wanted and felt were missing — healthy, fresh meals delivered straight to their home.
Knapp, who had grown up on an organic dairy farm in upstate New York, jumped at the chance to bring his nutrition ideals to the opposite corner of the country, where an unnamed investor, who lives in Bird Rock, wanted to test out the initiative.
"I could always see the benefits of healthy eating, and I wanted people to be able to enjoy that in an easy way," Knapp said.
Knapp claims uberfood is doing something entirely unique to San Diego. While there may be chefs who create organic, seasonal menus and deliver them to a limited number of clients, uberfood, Knapp said, is different in that it employs an entire team — chefs, organizers and a fleet of delivery drivers — dedicated to bringing hundreds of meals to the community every week.
Every Wednesday, uberfood delivers dinner, made that same afternoon, to homes across the region (they hope to expand to more areas of San Diego soon). The menu changes weekly, with meat and vegetarian options, salads, desserts and more available for everything from singles to large families. The company works with several local farms to source fresh produce.
On a recent Wednesday, uberfood delivered a meal to La Jollan Julie Cockrell to feed her family that night. A busy mother, Cockrell said the service is a "lifesaver," pointing to the large chalkboard in her living room that kept a schedule all the various activities family members had going that day.
"It's stuff that I would cook — if I had time — and I really value being able to put good food in my kids," she said.
For those who don't need a dinner delivery service — or who need something on the go on days of the week other than Wednesday — uberfood also offers an on-demand lunch-truck service in the area of UTC, with deliveries guaranteed to arrive in 30 minutes or less. The company also offers corporate catered lunches — quite the alternative to the office Subway sandwich platter.
For more information, to see a menu or to order a meal, visit uberfoodsd.com.


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Buyer's Guide: Cozy Wool Turtlenecks
Thanks to us bank pay auto loan online and his http://uristocrat.com/category/events/page/111/ I recently learned that putting on 5 t-shirts on top of each other is NOT considered layering. People still just shake their heads when they see me rocking short sleeves, while the world outside is succumbing to permafrost. So I decided to get my first knitted sweater in years, partly because I kinda grew tired of having to explain why I don't have any winter appropriate garb at all. After the first sweater clad day, I have to admit it feels kinda nice, so nice actually I decided to stock up on knits a little bit more.
Unused – Chunky Roll Neck Sweater
Japanese brand Unused provides this great oversized turtleneck. Crafted from pure navy coloured wool, the sweater features an all over classic ribbed pattern, knit detailing bellow the neck and a spacious boxy silhouette, making it a perfect layering piece. Get it at LN-CC.
Penfield – Adamsville Rollneck
Made from 100% lambswool, this sweater by Penfield is sure to keep you warm this winter. Details include suede elbow patches adding to that understated yet sophisticated look. Get it at goodstead.
NN.07 – Tom Long Merino Wool Rollneck Sweater
This chunky fisherman inspired turtleneck by NN.07 is densely knitted from soft merino wool and features an extra long body, providing enough warmth to wear it under a blazer or a light jacket. The sweater is available at Mr. Porter.
Moncler – Fairisle Polar Neck
The folks at Moncler have been providing quality for 60 years now. Every now and then it seems that they haven been digging through their archives, coming up with some classic pieces like this hand made Fairisle patterned yoke sweater, which looks like it has travelled through time from a 1950s french ski resort. Get it at Endclothing.
Maison Martin Margiela – 14 Men's Replica Chunky Rollneck
This super chunky and warm turtleneck is my personal crowning piece from Maison Martin Margiela's current Fall/Winter collection. Made in Italy from soft, thick premium red wool, the sweater features a striking combination of cable, rib and purl patterns, resulting in a functional and smart looking companion for the following winter months. Oki-ni has it in stock now.
Junya Watanabe – Elbowpatch Turtleneck Sweater
Here comes another one from Japan. This understated yet smart sweater from Junya Watanabe's current Fall/Winter collection features a grey flecked woolen body and contrasting dark elbow patches. The sweater is available at Colette.
Carven – Tan Two-tone Mottled Cableknit Turtleneck
French fashion house Carven is famous for its elaborate knitwear. This piece is no exception from the rule. It features a chunky yet slim fit cable knit pattern grey body and contrasting ribbed knit sleeves. Wear it under a blazer for a smart Steve McQueen style, or rock it with a moustache like a 70s porn star. Get this versatile piece at Ssense.
Buyer's Guide: Cozy Wool Turtlenecks is a post by Fritz Radtke on Highsnobiety.


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JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - To meet the city's needs, the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office is having to cut millions from its budget and eliminate several positions.
The Florida Highway Patrol says these cuts are putting more pressure on its department, doubling the number of crashes troopers will have to respond to.
Last year, FHP investigated about 4,000 auto accidents. Come 2013, it'll likely have to investigate 8,000.
"It's going to change what we do every day and how much we do," FHP Capt. Keith Gaston said. "We have a lot of issues. The main one is we have to figure out how we're going to cover 13-some-odd-thousand crashes that we're not used to covering with the Florida Highway Patrol."
With nearly 200 positions on the chopping block as part of the JSO budget next year, the sheriff has shifted patrol duties on 20 state roads in Duval County to FHP.
Roads like San Jose, Southside, University and Butler boulevards, and Emerson treet are just some of the few areas that will now fall under FHP enforcement.
FHP anticipates many of its calls will be on the Southside, from Atlantic Boulevard through Mandarin, where nearly one-third of all traffic accidents in Duval County are reported.
And with those extra responsibilities comes a change in response times.
"Our typical response time now is anywhere from 15-20 minutes," Gaston said. "I think the worst case scenario, it could go to 30 minutes."
The idea of waiting longer for help isn't exactly sitting well with drivers, who say these cuts compromise public safety.
"It's a pretty bad idea because people's lives are at stake," driver Tim Dolan said.
"I am financially hurting as well as everybody else, so we just can't have that happen. We have to be safe first," driver Lori Taylor said.
"I also have a concern with what's that do to the schedule for the officers out there. Are they going to be working overtime? Are they going to be more tired?" driver Mike Dolan said.
While troopers say they understand the frustration, they say their hands are tied and will remain committed to tackling this new challenge.
"Try to be patient," Gaston said. "We'll be there and get you done just as soon as we possibly can."
Copyright 2012 by News4Jax.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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Here\'s our recap of the final trading day of January. It was an ugly finish to the month, with stocks ending sharply lower in the wake of disappointing earnings and continued worries about emerging markets. Read Market Snapshot for a summary of Friday\'s market action.
4:13 pm | Dismal January ends on bleak note | by William Watts
The closing bell rings out January. There's plenty of carnage to be seen, with the S&P 500 and the Dow posting their biggest monthly percentage decline since May 2012 and marking the first January decline since 2010.
An afternoon rebound ran out of steam, leaving stocks to end the day with steep losses, though off of early lows. The drop added to a dismal January for stocks, with the latest weakness inspired by disappointing earnings from Amazon and Mattell, fears of euro-zone deflation and continued concerns about emerging markets.
The Dow ends the day down 149.76 points, or 0.9%, at 15,698.85. For the month, the blue-chip index lost 5.3%.
The S&P 500 fell 11.60 points, or 0.6%, to 1,782.59, contributing to a 3.56% monthly drop.
The Nasdaq Composite ends 19.25 points lower, a loss of 0.5%, at 4,103.88. The index fell 1.7% for the month.
3:40 pm | Treasurys a hot ticket as stocks suffer January setback | by William Watts
U.S. Treasurys were a hot ticket as stocks pulled back and emerging-market turmoil in January, fostering the biggest monthly drop in the 10-year yield since August 2011.
The yield on the 10-year Treasury note /quotes/zigman/4868283/delayed 10_YEAR fell 0.36 percentage point to 2.669%. Yields fall as bond prices rise.
3:11 pm | Rebound runs out of steam | by William Watts
Stocks attempted to erase losses in mid-afternoon, with the Nasdaq Composite briefly turning positive and the S&P 500 coming within a whisker of unchanged. Then the rebound ran out of steam.
We'll see if we get another push to the upside before the closing bell or whether that was a last-gasp effort at a rebound. All major indexes, including the Nasdaq, are in negative territory. The Dow is again sporting a triple-digit loss but indexes remain well off those early lows.
Dow — down 106,or 0.7%, at 15,742
S&P — down 7, or 0.4%, at 1,787
Nasdaq Composite — down 14, or 0.3%, at 4,110
3:00 pm | Gold gains this month | by Anora Mahmudova
Gold futures settled lower on Friday and lost 1.9% for the week, but gained 3% over the past month, as investors turned to the shiny metal amid weakness in stocks.
2:49 pm | Nasdaq in green | by Anora Mahmudova
It appears late afternoon buying has pulled the Nasdaq Composite out of the negative territory. The tech-heavy index is up a point at 4,124.12.
The S&P 500 is less than a points away from being in positive territory and is now slightly higher on the week.
2:24 pm | January barometer | by Anora Mahmudova
Don't dump stocks just because January was a loss, says Mark Hulbert, MarketWatch columnist.
One of the reasons is the lack of any plausible explanation for why the January indicator should work.
2:13 pm | S&P 500 flat on the week | by Anora Mahmudova
The S&P 500 had trimmed enough of its losses today that it is now flat on the week.
2:01 pm | Stocks trimming losses | by William Watts
U.S. stocks continue to claw their way back from a heavy, early selloff that had slammed the Dow down by more than 200 points to its lowest level since November.
In recent action:
Dow — down 72.95, or 0.5%, at 15,775.66
S&P — down 3.66, or 0.2%, at 1,790.53
Nasdaq Composite — down 4.16, or 0.1%, at 4,118.96
1:56 pm | Fed's Williams: Stock swings haven't changed outlook | by William Watts
Swings by the stock market won't dictate the Fed's policy moves, San Francisco Federal Reserve President John Williams said in an interview with Fox Business News.
While global market moves can have an impact on the U.S. economy, recent gyrations haven't fundamentally altered an improving outlook for the U.S. economy and improvement in labor markets, he said.
1:49 pm | Global Fed critics find sympathetic ear in George | by William L. Watts
It's no secret emerging-market politicians and policy makers feel whipsawed by Fed's aggressive monetary policy easing and, now, the start of its inevitable unwind.
Though they have problems of their own, countries such as India, Turkey and South Africa have hiked rates in an effort to ease pressure on their currencies -- pressure attributed in part to concerns over the Fed's tapering of its bond purchases, which may now be drawing money away from developing countries.
Critics found a sympathetic ear in Kansas City Federal Reserve Bank President Esther George, who told an audience in South Africa that she feared the costs of the Fed's bond-buying plan "can influence other countries by distorting their exchange rates and balance of payment positions, capital flows and rates of credit expansion."
1:46 pm | This week's economic data | by Anora Mahmudova
MarketWatch's A week in charts, gives a roundup of this week's economic reports.
In one line: Consumer spending ramps up, housing falters.
1:07 pm | Pullback was inevitable | by Anora Mahmudova
"We can blame the recent pullback on the emerging markets or capital flows, but at the end of the day, it was going to happen anyway because markets rallied a bit too much at the end of last year," says Jim Russell, senior equity strategist for U.S. Bank Wealth Management.
We would consider this as a buying opportunity. The jury is out on whether stocks will have a bigger correction, but for longer-term our outlook is positive.
One of the reasons for such outlook is that inflation in developed countries and many large emerging markets remains low, allowing central banks to retain accomodative policies.
12:59 pm | Microsoft bucks tech weakness on CEO speculation | by William Watts
You may be asking, who the heck is Satya Nadella? But Microsoft investors seem to be happy with speculation that the executive vice president of cloud and enterprise is the top candidate to replace the retiring Steve Ballmer as CEO of the software giant.
Micrsoft shares /quotes/zigman/20493/delayed /quotes/nls/msft MSFT are up 2.3%, making them the blue-chip index's top gainer as it continues to nurse triple-digit losses and as tech stocks generally take a turn lower.
Bernstein Research's Mark Moerdler offers up one reason why investors seem to be taking to heart the possibility of Nadella at the helm after endless rounds of speculation that focused on corporate superstars such as Ford's Alan Mulally.
It's because Nadella is "an enterprise guy," Moerdler said. "The real opportunity for Microsoft is in that they are moving to more cloud and subscription services. And here's a guy who does that."
12:43 pm | Amazon's slide triggers short sale circuit breaker | by Anora Mahmudova
Sharp drops in Amazon's shares triggered a short sale circuit breaker on Nasdaq OMX at 12:37 p.m. EST.
12:32 pm | Google vs Apple | by Anora Mahmudova
A near 4% jump in Google shares sent the prices to their all time high. Google's market cap is about $50 billion shy of reaching that of Apple.
12:24 pm | Amazon whacked, but Prime price hike could help | by William Watts
Amazon.com /quotes/zigman/63011/delayed /quotes/nls/amzn AMZN is down 9.5%, making it the second-biggest percentage loser in the S&P 500 after missing analysts' forecasts.
But potentially bad news for Amazon customers' wallets could be really good news for shareholders, writes MarketWatch's Rex Crum, weighing in on Thursday's revelation that the online retailer is weighing a potentially big hike in the annual price of Prime, it's two-day "free" shipping program.
12:19 pm | Barbie blues | by Anora Mahmudova
It appears that not enough girls (or boys) wanted Barbie dolls for Christmas. To be fair, the boys and girls in North America just did not covet other Mattel's toys that much either, as sales fell 10%.
The toy-maker is punished pretty badly today, with shares down nearly 10%.
Read more in the Behind the Storefront post by Jim Jelter.
12:07 pm | Chipotle soars | by Anora Mahmudova
Chipotle Mexican Grill /quotes/zigman/395806/delayed /quotes/nls/cmg CMG is the best performer on the S&P 500, after earnings came well above analysts' forecasts. Shares are up nearly 14% at last check.
Chipotle said that it could afford a minimum-wage hike as it signals possible price rise of 3%-5% this year. More on the story, read Steve Goldstein's Behind the Storefront post.
12:05 pm | S&P 500 defending crucial support line | by William Watts
A fierce battle is being waged over the 1,770 level for the S&P 500.
Forex.com's Fawad Razaqzada offers the above chart -- a cash-for-difference index derived from the front-month S&P 500 futures contract.
Here's what he sees happening:
As a reminder, this 1770 level marks the convergence of the previous support-and-resistance zone with the 100-day moving average, a long-term bullish trend line and the 38.2% Fibonacci retracement level of the upswing from the October low.
At the time of this, the index is displaying a bullish hammer candle on the daily chart. If it closes the day around these levels, or better still higher, then we could well see a sharp rally next week. The first obvious level of resistance comes in around 1805, followed by 1820. However if and when the index closes below 1770 then we could easily see another sharp sell-off towards, and possibly beyond, the 200-day moving average, at around 1710.
11:39 am | Indexes in red | by Anora Mahmudova
Selling on Wall Street eased somewhat, with the main indexes off their session lows, but still firmly in red.
S&P 500 /quotes/zigman/3870025/realtime SPX -0.5%
Dow /quotes/zigman/627449/realtime DJIA -0.7%
Nasdaq /quotes/zigman/12633936/realtime COMP -0.5%
11:22 am | Has easy money been made from European outperformance | by William Watts
While we're on the subject of Europe, a lot of investors piled into the Continent in the latter half of last year on ideas the U.S. rally was getting frothy.
While U.S. stocks actually kept moving from record to record, Europe solidly outperformed in a pretty impressive game of catch-up. But now, with valuations on both sides of the Atlantic looking pretty full, further outperformance is far from a sure thing, strategists say, which might make for more of a stock-picker friendly environment.
Here's our story on how investing in European stocks is going to be more work in 2014.
11:18 am | Food stamps and bad weather | by Anora Mahmudova
It's the food stamps, stupid! At least, that's one explanation why Wal-Mart's sales are going to be worse than expected. And the cold weather, of course.
A cut in government food subsidies and harsh winter affected many other companies, writes Steve Goldstein.
11:11 am | Specter of deflation haunting Europe | by William Watts
Hey America, it's not all about you.
Sure, earnings from Amazon and Mattel didn't help matters and that Wal-Mart forecast was a downer, too. But the ball really got rolling in Europe with those low, low inflation numbers.
They've only served to stoke fears that the euro zone, after managing last year to post a long-delayed but meager recovery, is now threatened by the specter of deflation. That's only going to make next week's ECB meeting, and Mario Draghi's monthly news conference, all the more the focus of attention.
So what's a European investor to do. MarketWatch's Sara Sjolin takes a look at how disinflation and the threat of deflation are affecting how people approach European markets.
11:08 am | Fear gauge eases | by Anora Mahmudova
The CBOE Vix index, which is negatively correlated with the S&P 500, has jumped nearly 9% earlier, but since then eased. It is still above the 18 level.
10:48 am | Home builders rally | by Anora Mahmudova
A sharp drop in Treasury yields is benefiting home builders today – a rare bright spot on Wall Street. The SPDR S&P Homebuilders ETF /quotes/zigman/477673/delayed /quotes/nls/xhb XHB is up 0.9%, iShares US Home Construction ETF itb /quotes/zigman/1496092/delayed /quotes/nls/itb ITB rose 1.6%.
PulteGroup Inc /quotes/zigman/129784/delayed /quotes/nls/phm PHM +3.1%
D.R. Horton Inc /quotes/zigman/224125/delayed /quotes/nls/dhi DHI +2.4%
Lennar Corp /www.marketwatch.com/investing/stock/len +2.2%
10:40 am | 10-year Treasurys rally | by Anora Mahmudova
As selling of stocks accelerated this week, long-dated Treasurys rallied, as investors flocked to the safety of U.S government debt market. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note is at 2.65% after dropping more than 3 basis points today. For more on that, read our regular bond report.
10:22 am | Key support levels near for S&P 500 | by William Watts
The January assault on U.S. stocks has major indexes flirting with some pretty important support levels on the charts.
MarketWatch's Barbara Kollmeyer has a round-up of what the technicians are saying about the S&P 500. The 1,775 and 1,700 levels are both seen as levels to watch.
Right now, the S&P 500 is off 16.33 points, or 0.9%, at 1,777.88, so far holding above the January intraday low of 1,770.45 set on Wednesday. The Dow, off more than 192 points at 15,656.08, earlier hit its lowest level since Nov. 8.
10:10 am | Wal-Mart down 1.2% after cutting guidance | by William Watts
The world's largest retailer didn't help sentiment early Friday when it cut its forecast for fourth-quarter profit. Wal-Mart pegged earnings from continuing operations at between $1.50 and $1.60 a share, including a hit from the closing of 50 stores in Brazil and China, and a transaction in India. That's below the low end of the companies previous range of $1.60 to $1.70 a share and the consensus produced by a FactSet survey for earnings of $1.65.
Wal-Mart shares are down 1.2%.
10:04 am | Consumer sentiment falls in January | by William Watts
The University of Michigan's consumer sentiment gauge fell in January to a final reading of 81.2 from 82.5 in December, accoridngot news reports. Economists were bracing for worse, having penciled in a drop to 81.
The Dow, which had fallen more than 200 points in early action, continued to trim its decline but remains down 182 points, or 1.1%, at 15,668. The S&P 500 is off 16.16 points at 1,778.03.
9:55 am | 28 of 30 Dow components in the red | by William Watts
The Dow Jones Industrial Average is off around 190 points after tumbling more than 200 in early action. Unsurprisingly, the index's 30 components are a sea of red.
The biggest decliner in percent terms is Chevron Corp. /quotes/zigman/289939/delayed /quotes/nls/cvx CVX , down 3.4%, while Boeing Co. /quotes/zigman/220026/delayed /quotes/nls/ba BA is off 1.9% and Exxon Mobil /quotes/zigman/203975/delayed /quotes/nls/xom XOM has lost 1.7%.
Bucking the trend is Caterpillar /quotes/zigman/221644/delayed /quotes/nls/cat CAT , holding on to a 0.5% gain, while Microsoft /quotes/zigman/20493/delayed /quotes/nls/msft MSFT is up 0.3% on reports the software maker is close to naming a new CEO.
9:44 am | Early drop deepens, Dow loses more than 200 points
Early losses are snowballing, with the Dow dropping more than 200 points.
Dow -- down 221 points, or 1.4%, at 15,631
S&P 500 -- down 21 points, or 1.2%, at 1,773
Nasdaq Composite -- down 41 points, or 1%, at 4,082
9:41 am | Bulls gored by January selloff | by William Watts
Worries about the so-called January indicator aside, stock-market bulls will no doubt be glad to get January and its emerging-market turmoil behind them. As of Thursday's close, the S&P 500 was on track for its biggest January percent drop since 2010, while the Dow is eyeing its worst January since 2009.
"While China and the Fed had been seen as the major catalysts throughout 2013, markets were caught out by the extent of recent emerging market difficulties and the knock on effect has been more pronounced than many investors expected. However investors will be hoping that they can isolate the current currency concerns and that the equity market juggernaut gets back on the right road," said Rebecca O'Keeffe, head of investment at London-based stockbroker Interactive Investor.
9:34 am | Stocks tumble at open, Dow drops triple digits | by William Watts
There's the opening bell and, as advertised, it's not a pretty start.
Dow Jones Industrials — down 167 points, or 1.1%, at 15,681
S&P 500 — down 18 points, or 1%, at 1,776
Nasdaq Composite — down 46 points, or 1.1%, at 4,078
9:23 am | Headed for opening losses | by William Watts
We're less than 10 minutes away from the opening bell and stocks are headed for a lower start.
Futures on the S&P 500 are down 14.8 points, or 0.8%, at 1,766.40 , while Dow futures are off 145 points, or 0.9%, at 15,588. Nasdaq 100 futures dropped 12.5 points, or 0.4%, at 3,489.50.


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LoGiCaL__ wrote:I'm new to Firebug, and the method of how it works for the first realistic mission. I've completed the mission but I'm not understanding why the process works if the altered code is not truly effecting the site's code. How does it work?
Use what you learned and at least start recon on /realistic #2.
-- Fri Oct 28, 2011 11:32 pm --
I know it sounds useless. Use the time to learn how to learn instead of learn how to beat the mission.
To the guy who has firebug.
Firebug works by editing and altering the html of a page. Now, firebug does have more features, but this is it's main one. It can also be used for cookies, which will come in handy to change your username/password values in later missions *not really spoiler?*.
I would also get user agent switcher that is another addon for firefox. It comes in handy too, as you should find out. Firefox has some nice addons really..
I also got ghostery. It wont help with any missions, but it's fun to see who's tracking your cookies and will let you easily block them. *theres other ways but this is already set up for you*.


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|System: X360, PS3, Wii, PS2
|Review Rating Legend
|Dev: Vicarious Visions
|1.0 - 1.9 = Avoid
|4.0 - 4.4 = Great
|Pub: Activision / Red Octane
|2.0 - 2.4 = Poor
|4.5 - 4.9 = Must Buy
|Release: Sep. 1, 2009
|2.5 - 2.9 = Average
|5.0 = The Best
|Players: 1-4 (8 Online)
|3.0 - 3.4 = Fair
|ESRB Rating: Teen
|3.5 - 3.9 = Good
Career mode is essentially the same as what you've always had in Guitar Hero. However, this time around does include the Bonus Challenges that helped bolster Guitar Hero - On Tour: Modern Hits for DS. These side objectives have players meeting specific goals (Ex.: Utilize the whammy bar for 30, 60, or 80 seconds on held notes). Successfully completing these challenges will net you rewards such as instrument skins and outfits.
Outside of the standard Career mode, the local and online competitive multiplayer options really offer a lot of engaging, diverse gameplay for more serious virtual musicians. RockFest gives players six modes of play with which to mix things up. Momentum constantly changes difficulty for individual players depending on how well they're executing. Perfectionist divides songs up into sections and rewards the player with the highest percentage at the end of the segment. Elimination drops the player with the lowest percentage out of the mix after each section, crowning the last man standing the champion. Do-or-Die penalizes players if they miss just three notes in a segment by temporarily freezing them, not allowing them to accrue points. As the name implies, Streakers gives exponential point bonuses to those players that put long note streaks together. Finally, Pro Face Off is the most straightforward of the bunch, as it is a head-to-head battle where all players play at the same difficulty with the same instrument to see who's the baddest. These multiplayer modes are all very well implemented and perfectly suited to improving the skill set of hardcore players.
Additionally, the Wii version also features two of its own modes exclusive to the system. Mii Freestyle mode is like Wii Music on crack. Instead of worrying about note streaks and even harmony, players can simply rock out and create their own note tracks by just playing to their heart's content. Also, DS owners can join in on the fun by controlling the lighting, camera angles, and setting off stage effects. Best of all, this mayhem can be recorded for posterity through video capturing, which can actually be shared through WiiConnect 24.
DS compatibility doesn't stop with behind the scenes production either. Guitar Hero 5 actually lets two DS players and two Wii players join up in Roadie Battle mode. Similar to the multiplayer antics established in Guitar Hero - On Tour, roadies (DS players) will try to sabotage the competition while efficiently repairing the damage caused by the other team. While this may sound a bit gimmicky, I assure you it's not - it's actually one of the best cross-platform features that has been implemented between the Wii and DS to date. The action is fast, furious, and a whole lot of fun.
On the graphics front, the visuals are the best they've ever been; though, that's not saying a whole lot. Still, the characters are livelier than ever and the environments are varied and engaging. Animations are better, but they still seem quite stiff compared to what's on offer for the other consoles. Also, singers' lips do not synch up particularly well with the songs, and jaggies are ever-present. Graciously, controls are much improved over previous versions. Note tracks are expertly laid out to mimic the songs, and the menu organization is very user-friendly. If you haven't gotten a guitar controller in a while, you may want to check out the new peripheral. The guitars are more realistic-looking than ever, are of much higher quality construction, offer interchangeable faceplates, and the slider bar functionality is even tighter.
Certainly, Guitar Hero 5 is the best title in the franchise's illustrious history. Furthermore, it is undeniably the best music game ever made, as it synthesizes the best of the genre into one neat package. The only question is, is this the reawakening of a phenomenon, or just a beautiful swan song? I guess only time will tell.
Jonathan Marx
CCC Editor / News Director
Game Features:


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Actually, raising the tower was relatively quick and easy. The time-consuming part was tightening all 144 of the cable clamps (6 per guy wire, 4 guys per section, 6 sections) and properly tensioning the cables so that the tower was both straight and vertical. Carl had raised and lowered many towers, so things went smoothly, and John Hippensteel at LMW&S provided straightforward directions for tower assembly.
Raising 120 feet of steel pole is an impressive sight. We used an 8,000-pound-capacity winch attached to the receiver hitch of Carl's 3/4-ton truck. Carl operated the winch, while I examined the tower for bowing or overly tight guy wires. It took about an hour to raise—winches pull slowly, and we checked all guy wires often. Thankfully, the accuracy of my anchor layout really made the tower raising easy; we never had to loosen any of the guy wires for the first ride up.
"Professor" is not a skill set that lends itself to tower raising. But I read the tower and turbine manuals a dozen times, and was fortunate to have excellent help from experienced friends. Installing the system ourselves allowed me to better understand the equipment and how to maintain it.
I had some frustrating moments—like waiting for the turbine to arrive, and a mismatched yaw spindle and tower-top adapter—that rattled even a devoted RE user like myself. The bottom line is that home-scale wind-electric systems are still relatively "alternative," so you have to expect some challenges. I guess the perspective we have to remember is that the "grid" is maintained by thousands of employees, and when we choose alternatives, we become the utility.
The turbine arrived on the second weekend in December, and we finally got it installed and in the air. After raising the tower, everything else seemed easy in comparison—except trenching through the red clay for the wire runs! We ran #2 aluminum wire along with a shielded multiconductor cable for the anemometer I'd purchased to gather wind speed data, so neighbors will have more accurate and local information if they choose to follow our lead.
Bergey's instructions for installing the wind turbine's charge controller and dump load were very easy to follow, and we got the balance of system components wired up in no time flat. Then it was a matter of making a couple of phone calls. The first one was to OutBack to figure out how to program the existing MX60 charge controller that was regulating my PV array so it wouldn't divert energy from the PVs into the dump load at regulation voltage. And the second one was to Bergey to figure out how to keep the backup generator from routing power into the dump load.
Once we ironed out these last details, we were ready to go online. Ironically, just as we released the turbine's brake, the wind died! Two nights later (it seemed like weeks), I heard the wind picking up outside; I got up and checked the TriMetric battery monitor. Sure enough, the meter showed the batteries charging—instead of discharging—at night, which is a beautiful sight for anyone used to living with solar electricity alone. Since that first night the wind system went into operation, our battery monitor has read "FUL"—one of the most beautiful abbreviations an off-grid homeowner knows.


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|2012-09-06, 12:53
|Link #3001
Puppet Master
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Behind You
Clearly that's really why I have an issue with it >_>
Has nothing to do with wanting a coherent narrative in which characters behave somewhat realistically...
The fact that you find no issues with text msg traitor girl and Girard just shows you either live in a bubble or you are just taking the opposite stance as me every time for the sake of arguing. Military personnel and their dependents have access to good healthcare, so to have a pilot become a spy to pay for healthcare is dumb and makes no sense.
|2012-09-06, 14:20
|Link #3003
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Tennessee
Age: 31
|2012-09-06, 16:09
|Link #3004
Puppet Master
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Behind You
|2012-09-07, 02:42
|Link #3005
Join Date: May 2012
|2012-09-07, 03:51
|Link #3006
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Edinburgh
Age: 36
Overall the concept for AGE has a much better layout than recent gundam-takes, in my opinion. A lot of the other AU series and their side stories feel like patch work and doesn't really feel being part of it.
|2012-09-07, 09:14
|Link #3007
The Dark Knight
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: From the deepest abyss in the world, where you think?
Age: 32
In Renai's case it doesn't matter what the base commander would've done since she was being manipulated by that turncoat coward.
They don't have a lot of time and they waste it with characters that had little to contribute or even if they do they aren't.
In Flit's case, everything was paced okay no problem (Loss of colony and Yurin pushed Flit over the edge).
In Asemu's case......I dunno but it was somewhat okay.
By Kio's case.....it seems to have gotten worse. We got Arisa's kid who I thought would've been co-piloting the AGE 3 with Kio. Shanuala was forgotten after she died and it felt like her words didn't go with Kio.
I mean in cases like Renai, it would've made more sense to me if Kio could've used his x-rounder powers to get to her and see why she was so mad. Instead Zeheart got that scene and to top it off it was the base commander who scammed her so it kinda washed the Federations' hands clean in that part.
|2012-09-07, 11:24
|Link #3008
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2011
There was no point to Largan (well in the manga or novel I think he died so it's fine to treat him as non existent I guess)
Kio's arc.... We get Wootbit, who at first disliked Kio, magic happened they became friends and he suddenly vanishes. Wonderful. Then we have people like that random Yes boy of Zehearts. What is the point of him when you have Fram....
Oh and Zera Gins, the so called GREATEST VEIGAN PILOT EVER.
I mean Zeheart could have filled out any role played by him, and Ezelcant basically says in the show that he screwed up and Zera Gins isn't really that important....
And they recycled so many characters for future generations, because they realised they introduced them in a earlier arc for no reason. (I'm looking at you Dique and Yunoa)
|2012-09-08, 15:53
|Link #3010
Praise the sun!
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Sweden
Age: 29
What i don't understand is why they didnt keep the bloody bridge crew for atleast 2 generations, that would make sense, you know, develop them a bit.
Largan would've made a perfect Obright if they kept him in the show
|2012-09-09, 05:12
|Link #3012
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2011
How great = =
And yeah changing the bridge crew was unnecessary = =.
At least tell us what happened to them sheesh.
|2012-09-09, 10:37
|Link #3019
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Russia
My mistake. The ball wasn't specifically made for him, but still, it some sort of prototype machine and seeing how he slaughtered grunts left and right it's obviously quite powerful. The thing served its purpose after being defeated by Seric and making him look cool, so i fail to see what's so useless about it.
|Thread Tools


text: I havent really been into EA NHL games too much lately but I was thinking about buying NHL 14 and got an email about the cover vote and I was wondering, Why is crosby not on there again? Why is it always malkin and letang? Crosby hasnt been on a cover for some reason so I was curious if anyone knows?


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6:00 pm
Outdoor Idaho "Canyonlands Calling" Cameras roam desert expanses, narrow canyons, mountains and rock formations of the southwest corner of Idaho. Participants reveal how eight years of collaborative effort among many interests can culminate in the federal Owyhee Initiative that includes many uses, including designated wilderness.G
6:30 pm
Dialogue "Thomas Keneally: Conversations from the Sun Valley Writers' Conference" Host Marcia Franklin talks with the author of Schindler's Ark, the basis for the Oscar-winning movie, Schindler's List. The Australian writer, who is of Irish ancestry, has recently published The Tyrant's Novel, an account of the Irish diaspora.G
7:00 pm
Need to Know MARIA HINOJOSA ANCHORS. Need to Know examines how behavioral economics is being utilized to encourage low-income workers to save. Correspondent William Brangham reports from Vermont how workers who have repaid emergency loans through automatic paycheck deductions continue to take the lower amount in their paychecks and save the difference after the loan is paid off. D
7:30 pm
Inside Washington NULL
8:00 pm
Dangerous Edge: A Life of Graham Greene This film is a portrait of a writer Graham Greene. It explores how Greene's life both inspired great writing and drove him to attempt suicide. He was a British spy, a doubting Catholic, and a manic-depressive who wrote critically-acclaimed, best- selling novels, including The Quiet American, Brighton Rock, The End of the Affair and The Third Man. D
9:00 pm
Hemingway In Cuba Earnest Hemmingway's niece and documentary filmmaker, Hilary Hemingway, examines how Cuba's culture, landscape and people influenced the writer, who spent more than half his life on the islandG
10:00 pm
Moyers & Company "Mlk's Dream of Economic Justice" Martin Luther King, Jr., who died 45 years ago this month, had long known that racial equality was inextricably linked to economic equity -- fairness for all, including working people and the poor. In the last year of his life, as he moved toward Memphis and assassination, Dr. King announced the Poor People's Campaign to demand an "Economic Bill of Rights" for all Americans, regardless of color. D
11:00 pm
Linkasia NULL
11:30 pm
Washington Week NULL


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Click HERE for the June 2015 edition of the Partnership magazine
About this siteWelcome. This site has been created by the Parish Council to allow us to communicate with the people living and working in our village. You can read more about what the council does here and you can leave a response on most pages to let us know your views on the subject.
Contact Us
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Tel. 01508 470759
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Useful Links
- Ashwellthorpe & Fundenhall P Council
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- Saxlingham Nethergate Parish Council
- South Norfolk District Council
- Swainsthorpe Parish Council
- Tas Valley Churches
- Tasburgh Parish Council
- UK Villages Newton Flotman


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Is your bicycle hanging by its tire in the garage? If so, pull it down and take it for a spin. Bicycling is a great way to get fit and reduce your carbon footprint. It's also a fun way to explore your city and get your kids to get off the couch.
Riding your bike is an effective fat burner. A 150 pound woman who rides her bike for an hour at a leisurely pace of around 10 mph will burn 273 calories. Up that pace to a vigorous one (14-16 mph) and you'll scorch 682 calories!
While you're burning calories cycling will infuse your muscles with strength and increase your endurance and lung capacity. It's also easy on your joints, so is appropriate for any age or ability.
If you work not too far from home, consider riding your bike. Sure, your hair might get flattened on the way, but you'll feel energized once you've arrived that will carry you throughout the day.
Leaving your car at home will also save you gas money and car maintenance and is good for the environment.
Many large communities are starting bike share programs where you can rent a bike and use it for the day. You serve yourself by swiping a credit card, unlocking the bike, and you're off.
Some communities offer bike clubs where you can go on an organized ride with a group of cyclists at your level. As your endurance improves, you can move up to a group that is more advanced.
For more of a challenge, look for mountain bike trails in your community. You can get a great work out and enjoy the beauty of nature.


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TreeHugger's search for celebrity cyclists is paying off. Interestingly, none of the submissions feature portrayals from film or TV – it's all celebrities who ride in Real Life, including a post from G Living featuring Travis Barker (BMX frame), Elle Macpherson, Hilary Duff, and Lindsey Lohan (all on wide-whitewall cruisers), Chloe Sevigny on a folding bike, and Naomi Watts on a hybrid.
My favorite was a link to this video from Daryl Hannah on urban cycling, featuring her ride in L.A.'s Critical Mass. (If that link isn't working, try this one.)


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Magic Soap wrote:They're Assyrian Terminators...
... In sunglasses. Hell yeah. Keepin' it real.
Moderators: Kommander Ken, Elmagnifico, Duerer, BrickSyd
Magic Soap wrote:They're Assyrian Terminators...
jifel wrote:"Any fool can make something bigger and more dangerous, but it takes an intelligent man to do the opposite."
As if we care. More explosives!
Varsaavius wrote:As the size of the explosion increases, the amount of social situations it can't resolve approaches zero.
Dragonfire666666 wrote:Shadowscythe?
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You invite two people from the audience to assist. The two books, The Hidden Canvas and The Tenth Addition, are presented to the spectators, and the first spectator is asked to choose one of the two books. You hand the chosen book to the first spectator and hand the other book to the second spectator.
A third spectator is asked to think of a number between 1 and 100. Let�s say this third spectator�s name is "Tom". You say, "Tom is thinking of a number. That number represents a page in your books. Please turn to that page." Of course they can�t, because they don�t know the number. The natural and only solution is to have Tom announce his number. When the number is revealed, the first two spectators are asked to turn to that page in their books. Upon doing this, you reveal to both of them what the first word is at the top of the page in each of their books!
The included instructions contain additional routines and variations.
Do you own this product? Write a review.


text:
KABUL — It may be over a year away, but Afghanistan's presidential election is fast becoming a lightning rod for the nation's highest hopes and darkest fears, including predictions of conflict and collapse.
Everyone here agrees that a credible electoral process and a peaceful transfer of power will be crucial to the government's survival in an era of vastly reduced foreign aid and protection. The election has been scheduled for April 2014, amid the final pullout of American combat troops and a possible spring offensive by the Taliban.
With so much at stake, there are some signs that Afghanistan's notoriously fractured and self-interested political class could rise to the occasion. Longtime rivals are holding meetings, and there is much talk about putting aside personal ambition for the sake of the nation.
President Hamid Karzai, whose reelection in 2009 was tainted by fraud allegations and whose opponents suspect he seeks to extend his rule through political surrogates, has vowed to step down as required by law. He has taken a series of steps to reassure domestic and foreign critics that he is committed to a fair and free election process.
''A year ago, people didn't believe he would leave. They said he would suspend or change the constitution, that he wouldn't announce a date, that the government would drag its feet,'' said Jawed Ludin, the deputy foreign minister and a government spokesman. ''But so far, everything he has said and done has proven the critics wrong.''
Ludin described the 2014 election as a do-or-die test for Afghanistan's future stability and security, as well as for its relations with the United States and the world. The quality of the election and transfer of power, he and others said, will matter far more than who occupies the presidency after Western forces leave.
''If we fail, the world will turn its back on us, or we could be overrun by the Taliban,'' he said. ''But if we get the election right, it will inoculate us against both threats. The United States won't abandon a legitimate new democratic government, and the Taliban won't be able to topple it.''
A lot can go wrong between now and the spring of 2014, however, and many Afghans fear the election will be sabotaged by a familiar combination of factors that marred the 2009 vote, including terrorist threats and logistical problems.
Critics have questioned whether voter registration and candidates' campaigns can be conducted over the winter, and whether Afghan forces alone can protect the polls from insurgent attacks. Abdullah Abdullah, Karzai's top rival in 2009, recently called for the election to be postponed, saying it would not be possible to prepare voters in remote and snowy regions.
There are also politically tinged procedural disputes, especially a battle over whether to include foreign experts in the panel that will judge complaints of electoral fraud.
If the election is to succeed, observers say, Afghanistan's power elite will have to eschew their longtime habit of backroom calculations and deals, and allow the process to unfold as a meaningful popular contest.


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Olesya Matyushevsky is a leading family law and immigration attorney based in Hilton Head, SC. Ms. Matyushevsky has 9 years of experience practicing law. She is highly respected in her community for her knowledge and experience. Ms. Matyushevsky has experience in CODA (Citizens Opposed To Domestic Violence) and works hard for the people in the community. Ms. Matyushevsky runs her legal practice with respect and integrity for every client.
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lol Nobag. Who suggested that? Randy?
Coach and Tyson to me are just the mild version of Corrine and Randy. If i've endured through more worst, Coach and Tyson are nothing.The thing i like about this season is in the past, we kinda know who will go far based on the edit.. right now it seems like it's still anyone's game. Can be between Coach+Debbie+JT+Stephen+Tyson or Sierra+Brendan+Stephen+Taj.. and Erinn is the only one who has zero percent chance of winning this. But she'll be probably safe until the F6 or F5 and then go.I'm waiting for the day Tyson gets blindsided, then i'm probably throwing a party to celebrate. Anyone wanna join in?
I was hoping Joe would have time to hand that fake idol over to someone, but since he never got to say goodbye, I guess not? I assume he had it hidden somewhere, unless Erinn knows where I expect it may be out of play. Darn. Wonder WHY they didn't let him go say goodbye...seems strange, a little.
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The Hobbit Video Movie Review
Watch, Pass, or Rent Video Movie Review — The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
Are you ready to go back to Middle-earth? Director Peter Jackson takes us back with The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, the first of three movies that make up a prequel trilogy to The Lord of the Rings. This time, Frodo's uncle Bilbo embarks on a journey with wizard Gandalf and a team of dwarves, where they encounter trolls, dragons, elves, and a few other things. So how does The Hobbit stack up to its predecessors? Watch our video review to find out!


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Shown in Bronze finish and White Alabaster glass -
The Batalion Carrera 82FM3 is a transitional flush mount available in Antique Brass, Bronze, Oiled Rub Bronze and White finish.The transitional style is sure to complement any bedroom, entry, kitchen, hallway or bathroom.
New to America, Batalion Imports has chosen Capitol Lighting and 1-800lighting.com as their exclusive distributer in the United States. Drawing upon Spanish and Mediterranean influences and also clean transitional style, Batalion Imports succeeds in delivering wonderful design at affordable prices. Utilizing only natural elements, Batalion blends earth crystals, fabrics, glass and metal to create beautiful sources of illumination. Always in balance, Batalion's collections, will add soft sophistication to any room they adorn. Capitol Lighting and 1-800Lighting.com are proud to be the exclusive showroom and website for Batalion Imports.


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"With all their speed forward they may be a step backward in civilization. May be that they won't add to the beauty of the world or the life of the men's souls, I'm not sure. But automobiles have come and almost all outwards things will be different because of what they bring. They're going to alter war and they're going to alter peace. And I think men's minds are going to be changed in subtle ways because of automobiles. And it may be that George is right. May be that in ten to twenty years from now that if we can see the inward change in men by that time, I shouldn't be able to defend the gasoline engine but agree with George - that automobiles had no business to be invented."
- From the Orson Welles film, "The Magnificent Ambersons" (1942)
Sunday, June 24, 2012
"With all their speed forward they may be a step backward in civilization."
at 6:40 PM Posted by Gary 2 comments
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Hey guys. As you'll see, I'm new here and this is my first post but I look forward to becoming more active here and talking ball.
I'll just be completely up front right now....I'm an Eagles fan (ouch). I was born and raised in PA and came out here to the Pacific NW back in 2003 via the Military. Got out in 2009 and decided to make my life here as I love it here. Finishing up a degree at UW and plan on buying a house and claiming this as my new permanent home.
With all that being said, I try to goto 2-3 Seahawks games a year and I've grown to support these guys over the years unless it involves the Eagles (don't remind me of the TNF game last year, please).
Being that I live 15 minutes from the stadium and love being in the CLF atmosphere that you guys have here, I want to pick up a pair of season tickets for my fiancee and myself. I put the deposit down today for two seats but was hoping for a bit of assistance from a current season ticket holder here.
How does this whole process work from here on out after I've put a deposit down? Anybody have any ideas? Just not sure what to fully expect going forward.
Anyways, that's it. I'm sure a few might run me off because I'm not a primary Seahawks fan but I do support them cause this is now my home and that's fine, I understand it but I'm not here to cause trouble or anything so hopefully its cool I hang around here once in a while.
Had that issue over on the Cardinals message board when I joined to talk the game with them before the NFC Championship a few years ago.


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That was why I haven't used my March pump as much as I wanted.
kgs.i use a 1500watt element and i fill my 4g kettle to the top when i prep water for my mash. it will boil smoothly at 3gallons. this only draws 12.5 amps. most circuits are good to around 20a. i plug mine in to a separate gfi power bar after a few hours the chord may be a little warm but nothing worrisome. i have not gotten a valve on my kettle but i would be happy to even send it out to you to try.


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Studies by veterinary researchers at Kansas State University, with collaboration from Epitopix LLC, have resulted in the United States' first vaccine against E. coli O157 in beef cattle.
"Researchers have done so much to focus on the post-harvest food safety aspect, whether it's E. coli or salmonella," said Dan Thomson of K-State's College of Veterinary Medicine. Thomson is the Jones Professor of Production Medicine and Epidemiology in the department of clinical sciences.
"Controlling foodborne pathogen outbreaks, and specifically E. coli O157, has been a major research initiative of many government and private agencies for the last two decades," he said. "We're really excited about the potential of this vaccine to aid pre-harvest food safety in beef cattle."
Thomson led both challenge studies and field studies to help the vaccine garner approval from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. It was developed by researchers Daryll Emery, Darren Straub and Doug Burkhardt of Epitopix LLC in Willmar, Minn. Thomson collaborated with T.G. Nagaraja, university distinguished professor of diagnostic medicine and pathobiology at K-State, and Guy Loneragan of West Texas A&M University.
"We're excited that this vaccine has been granted a conditional approval by the U.S. Department of Agriculture," Thomson said. "We have been a research collaborator for Epitopix to conduct the work that lead to this conditional approval. Epitopix will now be able to offer this pre-harvest food safety tool to beef producers."
The researchers conducted a challenge study at K-State and studies of commercial feed yards in Nebraska and Great Bend in 2007 and 2008.
"With this vaccine, we observed decreases in cattle shedding E. coli O157," Thomson said. "In our last field study we observed an 86 percent reduction in the number of animals shedding E. coli. Of the vaccinated cattle that were still shedding, we observed nearly a 98 percent reduction of E. coli O157 fecal concentration.
"Epitopix LLC has had many successes with this technology in other industries including poultry and dairy," Thomson said. "They have a product currently on the market for control of Salmonella in dairy cows."
E. coli, like other foodborne pathogens, are bacteria that are present in the gastrointestinal tract of healthy cattle. Foodborne pathogens can contaminate meat or vegetable products. If food isn't properly cooked, the bacteria can harm the people who eat it. More information on proper ways to cook meat is available at: http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/news/sty/2001/2meat1a.htm
Thomson said the vaccine works by not allowing the E. coli bacteria to acquire iron. Instead of targeting the whole bacterium, this vaccine targets certain proteins and protein receptors on the surfaces on the bacteria. When antibodies block these proteins and protein receptors, the bacteria can't absorb iron and are not able to grow or reproduce.
"Iron is to bacteria what oxygen is to humans," he said.
Thomson said K-State appreciates the research partnership with Epitopix on this important pre-harvest food safety tool and that the partnership allowed several K-State graduate students to participate in the study. They included Trent Fox, a December 2007 doctoral graduate in pathobiology and now a third-year veterinary medicine student, St. John; Ashley Thornton, a December 2007 master's degree graduate in biomedical science, St. Joseph, Mo.; and Ben Wileman, a doctoral student in pathobiology, Belle Fourche, S.D.
Thomson said the next step for the K-State researchers is to conduct post-approval studies on the vaccine by looking at its effects on cow herds at the ranch before the calves arrive at the feed yards. This includes studying whether cows can pass the resistance on to their calves.
Source: Dan Thomson
Kansas State University
United States' First E. Coli O157 Vaccine For Cattle
Studies by veterinary researchers at Kansas State University, with collaboration from Epitopix LLC, have resulted in the United States' first vaccine against E. coli O157 in beef cattle.


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Butler Business School financial woes revealed
HARTFORD -- A combination of dwindling finances and a new federal law requiring its students to have a high school diploma may have doomed the now-closed Butler Business School in Bridgeport.
A review of financial records on file at the state Office of Higher Education show the for-profit Butler school and its sister Sawyer schools were solvent when they suddenly closed last month. But key financial indicators were going in the wrong direction.
Butler's composite score, a value assigned to measure the school's financial health, dropped from 2.67 in 2010 to 2.14 in 2012. The score for the two Sawyer schools in Connecticut dropped from 2.35 in 2010 to 2.09 in 2012.
A composite score below 1.0 means the school is not "financially responsible;" a score above 1.5 means it's "financially responsible."
Total income at Butler dropped from $2.8 million in 2010 to $2.7 million in 2012 and its overall liabilities rose 16 percent, from $2.6 million in 2010 to $3.2 million in 2012, according to state records. The Sawyer schools in Hamden and Hartford experienced a similar pattern.
The amount of federal student aid also recently fell, possibly due to decreasing enrollment. Butler saw student aid fall from $2.2 million in 2011 to $716,000 in 2012, according to the U.S. Department of Education. Student aid for the Sawyer schools fell from $7.4 million in 2011 to $2.3 million in 2012.
The declining financial base came as the three Connecticut schools and a related one in Rhode Island faced a potentially dire 2013 because of a new law requiring students to have high school diplomas or a GED. It has been suggested that Butler was dependent on students without high school diplomas.
"We think that might be impacting enrollment," said Connie Fraser, a spokeswoman for the state Office of Higher Education. "The law was designed to prevent diploma mills. It's probably a combination of things."
Butler's website urges students without a high school diploma to earn one while taking classes. "Don't have a GED? The Butler Business School allows you to earn your GED while completing a program in Allied Health or Business," the website says.
The schools' owner, Academic Enterprises, could not be reached for comment.
The sudden shutdown of Butler on Dec. 28 left at least 415 Bridgeport students wondering what will happen. When its sister schools in Hamden, Hartford and Rhode Island closed shortly thereafter, as many as 1,200 students in Connecticut and 300 in Rhode Island were affected.
The Sawyer and Butler campuses offered medical assistant, office information and business training programs. Some students were just weeks away from obtaining their certificates when the schools shut down.
Patricia Santoro, director of academic affairs for the Office of Higher Education, said officials did not yet know how many of Butler's students did not have high school diplomas.
However, late Friday, the office announced that it had organized filing cabinets filled with transcripts and are ready to release them to students. To obtain copies, students must complete and mail a one-page form to the Office of Higher Education. Only mailed copies can be accepted, as original signatures are required. Students may complete the form online, then print and sign a copy before sending it to the Transcript Release Officer, Office of Higher Education, 61 Woodland St., Hartford, CT 06105-2326.
In addition, information sessions are being planned to guide students in the process in Bridgeport, Hartford and Hamden.
Fraser could not say how many transcripts there are, but characterized the number as being in the hundreds.
Anthony Bieda, a spokesman for the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools, said there were no warning signs that the schools were in trouble, although he said the new requirement that students have a high diploma could have thrown the businesses into a "financial problem we would not necessarily have detected."
Meanwhile, State Police in Rhode Island are reviewing Sawyer school's records before determining whether to open a criminal investigation, and the FBI has reportedly jointed that inquiry.
Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn, has said a federal investigation may be necessary because federal student aid was provided to the schools.
The Associated Press and staff writer Linda Conner Lambeck contributed to this report.


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Developer - Lenovo Group Ltd.
Lenovo Mirage Solo VR headset review!
Published on May 4, 2018
We test and review the Lenovo Mirage Solo standalone virtual reality headset! What makes this headset unique is its Worldsense inside-out tracking system, which gives you six degrees of free movement while using it. We show how that works, its limitations, and see what 6DOF adds to Google's Daydream VR platform. Plus, we review Beat Saber!


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Results 1 to 10 of 11
#1 Frugal Queen Elizabeth---Michele O, look and learn02-26-2013, 12:43 PM
I found this link on MSN, when looking at a story about Michelle O's appearance as an Oscar presenter. Ironic placement of this article on the Queen of England, who does practice some budgetary restraint in an article showing Michelle O with her silvery dress and her "wallpaper" of people in uniform behind her. The difference----the Queen has class; the Hawaii travelling, lobster eating, publicity hungry Mrs O doesn't.
Queen Elizabeth knows how to be thrifty when it comes to the Buckingham Palace thermostat.
John Stillwell / Pool via Reuters
A close-up of the queen's thrifty temperature solution.
A newly released photograph shows how the royals keep costs down during the winter.
The picture shows the queen receiving the Australian High Commissioner in the Palaces ornate Audience room where, instead of a roaring fire, a red-hot, double-bar space heater sits in the fireplace.
The UK's Telegraph offers that such a heater would cost £29.99 or about $46. Buckingham Palace spans 830,000 square feet, and temperatures in London Thursday dipped to a low of 34 degrees.
The queen is known for her frugality, often noting her nations economic recession when she makes serious cuts in palace budgets.
" To the world you are just one more person, but to a rescued pet, you are the world."
"A Nation of Sheep Breeds a Government of Wolves!"
- Join Date
- May 2008
- Location
- Virginia
- Posts
- 11,840
The Queen has to be frugal these days, now that she's paying taxes! It's a far cry from Nixon, who used to crank down the air conditioning so he could have fires in the fireplace at the WH."Today, [the American voter] chooses his rulers as he buys bootleg whiskey, never knowing precisely what he is getting, only certain that it is not what it pretends to be." - H.L. Mencken
-- President's Day 2012, Michelle and the girls go to Aspen to ski.
-- Christmas 2011, the first family goes to Hawaii for an extended vacation.
-- Summer 2011, the family visits Martha's Vineyard, Mass., for the annual beach break.
-- June 2011, the first lady, her mother and daughters travel to South Africa and Botswana.
-- President's Day 2011, the first lady and first daughters travel to Vail to ski.
-- Christmas 2010, the first family goes to Hawaii.
-- August 2010, post-BP oil spill beach trip to Panama City Beach, Fla.
-- August 2010, Obama travels to Chicago alone for a weekend 49th birthday bash (and fundraiser).
-- August 2010, the first lady and daughter Sasha travel to Spain for a mother-daughter vacation.
-- August 2010, the family spends summer vacation in Martha's Vineyard.
-- July 2010, the first family goes to Mount Desert Island, Maine.
-- May 2010, the first family takes a four-day trip to Chicago.
-- March 2010, first lady and daughters spend spring break in New York City.
-- Christmas 2009, the family goes to Hawaii for the winter break.
-- August 2009, everyone heads to Yellowstone National Park and the Grand Canyon for a short vacation.
-- August 2009, the first family takes its first vacation from the White House at Martha's Vineyard.
Sixteen vacations in four years?--Odysseus
Sic Hacer Pace, Para Bellum.
Before you can do things for people, you must be the kind of man who can get things done. But to get things done, you must love the doing, not the people!
- Join Date
- Mar 2010
- Posts
- 10,189
This queen went out last week and bought two of these:
They work wonderfully and are more puppy safe.While you were hanging yourself , on someone else's words
Dying to believe in what you heard
I was staring straight into the shining sun
" To the world you are just one more person, but to a rescued pet, you are the world."
"A Nation of Sheep Breeds a Government of Wolves!"
- Join Date
- Jun 2008
- Posts
- 23,541
SonnabendGuest03-25-2013, 09:05 PM
Four star ratings.
I was in an office using one and , though it takes a little while, the place was toasty warm. They are low on power usage and a very good long term heater.
- Join Date
- Jun 2008
- Posts
- 23,541
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Message Board
Jude Fisher Message Board
Talk about the novels, new and used books that Fisher has written!
Author Fisher's Book Reviews
Sorcery Rising - Fool's Gold 1
A young woman and her family travel to the Allfair on neutral ground where she meets with several adventures. Her family is plunged into an intricate scheme of murder, deception and love. She meets a young man, who learns of his magical abilities, thinks he is her friend, and then thinks she is betrayed. She learns the true magic is coming and plunges herself into an unknown world....
Wild Magic
Daw, July 2003, 23.95, 480 pp. ISBN 0756401453 At the latest Allfair, the kingdoms of Eyra and Istria put their differences aside to trade manufactured goods made by merchants from both nations. Virelai, who fled Sanctuary and his master in the arctic regions of the north, takes only the Rosa Eldi and the cat, both being more than they seem. While at the Allfair, Ravyn Asharson, king of the Northern Isles, the Rosa Eldi for his wife and they bo...


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TV's Worst 21 Characters Of The Year
21. Declan Porter (Connor Paolo), "Revenge"
Oh Declan ... so moody, so disposable, such a horribly unnecessary Boston accent for someone who's from Montauk. We'd fully support a "Declan and Yonkers girl elope and never return" storyline on "Revenge." Just sayin'.
20. Sugar Motta (Vanessa Lengies), "Glee"
Not only does Sugar try to bring New Directions down, but she blames her heartless behavior on self-diagnosed Asperger syndrome. How low can you go?
19. Luke Granby (Steven Pasquale), "Up All Night"
When Reagan and Ava's talk show was taken over by their business idol Yvonne, she brought in her right-hand man Luke to run the show on a day-to-day basis. Unfortunately, Luke is an insufferable wannabe alpha-male who works at a standing desk and makes everyone's lives harder for no apparent reason. He got slightly less irritating throughout the season, but the show could never figure out a way to get him out of the leading ladies' way. NBC cast Steven Pasquale as the lead in its upcoming series "Do No Harm," so hopefully we've seen the last of this impossibly annoying character.
18. Steve Evans (Steven Strait), "Magic City"
He may be charming, but Stevie's "bad boy" persona gets old -- especially when he takes his dad's slimy advice on how to woo the women of 1950s Florida.
17. Whitney (Whitney Cummings), "Whitney"
Shouldn't the star of a sitcom be fun to watch ... at least kind of? Whitney just doesn't bring it. Her character is shrill and unlikeable -- can she really carry a second season?!
16. Margaret Schroeder (Kelly Macdonald), "Boardwalk Empire"
There's nothing more irritating than TV characters who can't make up their mind about who they want to be. Margaret Schroeder knew all along what Nucky had done to her abusive first husband, and took his money and enjoyed her new house and lavish lifestyle anyway. Then, at the end of the season, struggling with her overbearing Catholic guilt, she cheated on Nucky with his bodyguard and secretly donated his land holdings to the church. Will she meet the same fate as the other characters who crossed Nucky last season? Probably not, but we can hope.
15. "Revenge"
"We're supposed to feel bad for Charlotte of "Revenge": She found out her dad isn't her dad (her real one is dead and her fake one might be the only actor on the show worse than she is), her mom basically hates her, she broke up with her equally annoying boyfriend (see: Declan, also on our list) after he betrayed her in her brother's murder trial and she's poppin' pills left and right. Despite all that, it's hard to care about Charlotte's downward spiral because she's just so damn annoying. (Spoiler alert: Did we get our wish in the Season 1 finale?)
14. Shane Walsh (Jon Bernthal), "The Walking Dead"
It's tough to root for the self-appointed leader of a group of people being constantly chased by zombies when he's an irrational, hot-headed jerk. Shane's leadership throughout Season 2 of "The Walking Dead" was pretty much a trainwreck, as he grew insanely jealous of Rick and Lori's relationship, murdered Otis and tried to kill Rick, too. Fortunately, Rick saw the betrayal coming and stabbed Shane in the heart. Viewers got an extra treat when he returned briefly as a walker and was quickly put down by Carl.
13. Julian (Chris Diamantopoulos), "Up All Night"
The accent, the ridiculous wardrobe, the general sliminess ... Julian wouldn't have made the cut as a two-minute "SNL" sketch, so why did he stick around "Up All Night" for so long?
12. Daisy (Carla Gallo), "Bones"
A recurring character since Season 4, Daisy is a lab assistant who idolizes Bones. You know the type: sycophantic, irritating and clueless about social interaction. Hands down one of the most annoying characters in prime time, she talks incessantly and doesn't understand the concept of personal space. She's been fired from the lab twice and went on a year-long anthropological dig, but she always manages to return to the show. Stop the madness!
11. Lily Tucker Pritchett (Aubrey Anderson-Emmons), "Modern Family"
Lily in Seasons 1 and 2 -- portrayed by infant twins Jayden and Ella Hiller -- was always a highlight. But in Season 3, "Modern Family" replaced the actresses portraying Cam and Mitchell's adopted Vietnamese daughter with an older little lady. Sure, Lily No. 1 didn't talk, but she didn't need to -- she was just plain adorable. Now, Lily No. 2 has lines that we wish we didn't have to hear.
10. Ben (Ryan Johnson), "Fairly Legal"
Ben may be Kate's partner at Reed & Reed, but he certainly doesn't play the part of the supportive, friendly business equal. A former "ambulance chaser," Ben's main loves (and motivators) are victory and, of course, cold hard cash. His abrasive personality clashes with protagonist Kate ... might as well call their firm Love & Hate.
9. Lemon (Jaime King), "Hart of Dixie"
Every teen soap/medical drama needs a female antagonist, and Zoe Hart has Lemon. Unfortunately, Lemon isn't really fun to hate or root for and no amount of Southern accent, flowery dresses or affairs can change that. Boring.
8. Zach (Graham Phillips) and Grace Florrick (Makenzie Vega), "The Good Wife"
We understand the purpose of the Florrick children (grounding Alicia, giving Julianna Margulies material to win Emmys with), but when these characters are on their own fixing computers or "going missing" (getting baptized), they're terrible. Boarding school is calling.
7. Christina Aguilera, "The Voice"
A picture is worth 1,000 words, and there were a lot of awful pictures of Christina from this season of "The Voice." Always (too) outspoken, often pantsless and working some of the most bizarre accessories -- she definitely gives us something to talk about, doesn't she?
6. Chloe (Krysten Ritter), "Don't Trust The B---- In Apt. 23"
Considering Chloe is the eponymous "B---- in Apt. 23," it's no surprise that she's a huge pain in the ass. This New York City party girl is a con artist who spends most of her time talking about herself, drinking and ruining the lives of those she "loves" (including her BFF James Van Der Beek). Her behavior is horrific. In one instance, she
5. Mrs. Bates (Maria Doyle Kennedy), "Downton Abbey"
In a season far too overstuffed with silly melodramatic events and stereotypical characters, the shrill, greedy first Mrs. Bates stood out. She was one of many eyeroll-inducing characters awkwardly inserted into the period drama, and she was such a cackling, one-dimensional villain that they might as well have given her a mustache to twirl.
4. Ricky Gervais, "Life's Too Short"
Gervais used to be funny, but the version of himself on this HBO show -- and everything else about the show -- proves that he's far too enamored of his withered comedic skills (and very unaware of how much they've deteriorated). That eternal smirk he wears has worn out its welcome.
3. BITCH PUTA WHORE Lori Grimes (Sarah Wayne Callies), "The Walking Dead"
A brief recap of Lori's two seasons of "The Walking Dead": "Keep an eye on Carl. Have you seen Carl? Shane's crazy, kill him. How could you kill Shane?" Need we go on?
2. Betty Draper Francis (January Jones), "Mad Men"
We're not buying that Betty brings us a critique of the restrictions placed on mid-century housewives or a compelling commentary on the changing nature of gender roles. Don't get us wrong, those are interesting topics, but her unchanging narcissism and her selfish petulance simply bore us to tears.
1. Leo (Emory Cohen), "Smash"
"Smash" is getting rid of a lot of baggage for Season 2 ... but why stop there? Julia's son Leo (he of the pot-smoking, arrest and bemoaning his lack of an adopted little sister) has got to go.
Did your least favorites make the cut? Which offensive characters did we forget?
Who, in YOUR opinion is the worst character on TV? Support your opinion w/deets!


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Tom Petty's 'You Got Lucky' Covered by the Gaslight Anthem
Let's say you're listening to Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers' 1982 hit, 'You Got Lucky.' Great song, you're thinking, but those synthesizers don't sound as cool now as they did 30 years ago. Well, if that's how you feel, you're in luck. The Gaslight Anthem have released a cover of the song as a B-side to their new single, '45.'
With the exception of some rough edges replacing the polish and the tinny synths that were so in vogue at the time, it's an otherwise faithful rendition. Drummer Benny Horowitz even nails Stan Lynch hi-hat work. Another difference is lead singer Brian Fallon, who replaces Petty's menacing, icy vocal with a wounded, vulnerable take.
This is not the first time the Gaslight Anthem have referenced Petty. On 'Even Cowgirls Get the Blues' from their 2008 breakthrough, the Fallon describes how his old friends have matured and moved on with their lives. The narrator defiantly declares, echoing Petty's 'Yer So Bad,' "But not me baby, I still love Tom Petty songs and driving old men crazy."
The Gaslight Anthem, a punk-pop band from New Brunswick, N.J., are one of the best young acts around. They have occasionally shared a stage with fellow Jersey boy Bruce Springsteen, who handpicked them to open up for him at some U.K. festival dates in 2009. Their fourth album, 'Handwritten,' will be out on Mercury on July 24.
Listen to the Gaslight Anthem cover Tom Petty's 'You Got Lucky.'


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(CNN) -- A U.S. Army medic was sentenced Friday to life in prison with the possibility of parole after being convicted of murdering four detainees in Iraq, a U.S. military spokesman in Germany said.
Sgt. Michael Leahy Jr., 28, was convicted on two counts of murder and premeditated murder for his role in the 2007 Baghdad area killings.
Leahy was downgraded to private, his pay will be forfeited and he'll get a dishonorable discharge if he is ever released from prison. The sentence was handed down Friday night.
Two other soldiers also face courts-martial in the case, said military spokesman Lt. Col. Eric Bloom.
Leahy was acquitted of murder in a separate incident involving the death of another Iraqi in January 2007.
All About Iraq War • Murder and Homicide