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Uggla intent on proving naysayers wrong in '14
Braves second baseman working hard to correct bad habits at the plate
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Dan Uggla knows the Braves would have traded him in the offseason if they had found a club that was willing to gamble on him and -- more importantly -- assume an adequate portion of the $26 million he is owed over the final two years of his contract.
Uggla also realizes that many members of the baseball world are doubting his ability to bounce back from what he himself describes as an "awful" 2013 season. But instead of appeasing his critics, the 33-year-old second baseman seems more interested in continuing to benefit from a no-nonsense, blue collar approach that helped him evolve from an unprotected Rule 5 Draft pick to a three-time All-Star.
"Of course there is a chip on my shoulder," Uggla said. "There is always a chip on my shoulder when I come to Spring Training. Last year [stunk]. There are no ifs, ands or buts around it. But at the same time, that was last year. You've got to let it go."
As he prepares for the upcoming season, Uggla has not forgotten the intense anger and embarrassment that overwhelmed him when the Braves left him off the roster for last year's National League Division Series against the Dodgers.
Nor has Uggla erased all of the frustration that has steadily built as he has batted below the Mendoza Line dating back to the final four months of the 2012 season.
But instead of sulking or allowing himself to be satisfied by his guaranteed contract, Uggla has spent the past week giving the Braves reason to hope the lingering hard feelings will not prove detrimental.
The 33-year-old second baseman has worked out at the Braves' Spring Training complex on daily basis since arriving last week, one day before the report date for pitchers and catchers and an entire week before he was required to be present.
"The way the season ended for Danny last year, he could have come in here with an attitude," hitting coach Greg Walker said. "I've seen the exact opposite. He's getting after it. He's been out here every day. He's a competitor and he'll fight you. You don't ever want to bet against a guy that wants to fight you."
Uggla remains thankful that he was able to temper his anger when general manager Frank Wren and manager Fredi Gonzalez pulled him into Gonzalez's office two days before the NLDS began and informed him that he would not be on the roster for the first round of the postseason.
"I said a few words, let them know where I stood and how I felt," Uggla said. "But there was no changing their mind. So, I didn't want to say anything else off the tip of my tongue. I let them know how I felt and kept it short and simple. The anger I had, I knew I had to get out of there fast because there would have been a great possibility, I would have said something just out of anger."
Along with producing career lows in batting average (.179) and OPS (.671) last year, Uggla ranked last in the NL with one strikeout in every 3.14 plate appearances. One season earlier, he had set the franchise-worst mark by striking out once every 3.75 plate appearances. This swing-and-miss frequency offset most of the value provided by the 22 home runs he hit.
Uggla battled blurred vision throughout most of last season and missed a little more than two weeks after undergoing LASIK surgery in August. But Uggla does not believe his eyes were the primary reason he struggled.
Instead he blames bad habits, which began to form after the first two months of the 2012 season. Too often, Uggla found himself leaning on his front foot or left off-balance because his head was moving too much as he prepared to swing.
"Everything was so rushed," Uggla said. "I didn't have any of my legs because I was out on my front foot so bad. I want to get back to my legs, where I have a base, because that is where my swing starts. For whatever reason, I got into some bad habits and I couldn't fix it. I just went into a tailspin."
Uggla's struggles actually date back to early June of 2012, approximately a month before he assumed the honor of being elected to serve as the NL's starting second baseman in the All-Star Game.
In the 129 games, Uggla played from July 5, 2011 -- the day he began a 33-game hitting streak -- through June 4, 2012 -- the day he highlighted a four-hit performance with a pair of homers against his former Marlins teammate, Uggla batted .286 with 32 homers and a .917 OPS.
That's been the only torrid stretch Uggla has had since the Braves gave him a five-year $62 million contract before the 2011 season. In his past 236 games, he batted .185 with a .674 OPS.
"Just like anything else in life, you've got to deal with it like a man and put it behind you," Uggla said. "You don't necessarily forget about it. But you put it behind you and use it in a positive way."
After looking at video this winter, Uggla determined to quiet his swing he needed to begin crouching a little more like he did during his 2006 rookie season. He began working on regaining this stance during his offseason hitting sessions, which began in November and heated up in early January.
"I think he worked on the right things this winter," Walker said. "He's doing it. I'm encouraged."
Along with being confident that he has a better feel for the mechanics of his swing, Uggla appears ready to distance himself from his recent miseries and be fueled by the pain the end of last year brought.
"Obviously, there was a lot of anger and a lot of other emotions going when that all happened," Uggla said. "But you've got to live with it and deal with it."


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Pirates gain first series sweep of season
A.J. Burnett takes loss in return to Pittsburgh
Jeff Locke gave up just three hits and a walk in eight innings, and the Pittsburgh Pirates completed their first series sweep of the season with a 6-2 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies on Sunday.
Pittsburgh had failed to finish a sweep in eight previous tries this season. Philadelphia was swept for the eighth time. The Pirates (47-41) moved a season-high six games over .500, while the Phillies (37-51) fell a season-high 14 games below .500.
Locke (2-1) gave up two runs - one earned - and struck out four. He has made six straight quality starts since being recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis on June 8.
A.J. Burnett (5-8) gave up three runs and five hits, walked two and struck out seven in seven innings in his return to Pittsburgh.
Marlon Byrd gave the Phillies a 1-0 lead in the first inning with a single to left. Jimmy Rollins scored an unearned run from second after he reached base on a throwing error by third baseman Pedro Alvarez.
Alvarez leads the major leagues with 18 errors this season.
Pittsburgh responded in its half of the with two runs to erase Philadelphia's early lead.
Andrew McCutchen beat out a ground ball to shortstop with two outs after Burnett struck out the Pirates' first two hitters. Neil Walker followed with a single.
Against his former batterymate, Pirates catcher Russell Martin hit a two-run double to right-center for a 2-1 advantage.
The Pirates added another run in the third when Josh Harrison led off with a triple that split the gap in right-center. Harrison tagged from third on a shallow fly ball from Walker to center fielder Ben Revere and scored as Revere's throw came in offline.
Byrd hit his 18th home run in the seventh inning to draw Philadelphia within 3-2.
Harrison scored again in the eighth on a RBI triple by McCutchen, who was awarded third base because of fan interference following a crew chief review initiated by home plate umpire Dale Scott.
McCutchen then scored on a single by Starling Marte, and Jordy Mercer drove in another run with a sacrifice fly.
NOTES: Pittsburgh RHP Charlie Morton (5-9, 3.30 ERA) will oppose St. Louis RHP Adam Wainwright (1-4, 1.89 ERA) on Monday when the teams begin a three-game series at Busch Stadium. . Philadelphia LHP Cole Hamels (2-5, 2.98 ERA) will face Milwaukee RHP Marco Estrada (7-5, 4.94 ERA) as the Phillies continue their road trip on Monday.

subset: commoncrawl


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I found some stray feathers from my pillow, a plastic fork, a twig from outside, some toilet paper, sports tape, a gymnastics badge, an old broken bracelet, a set of keys for God knows what, some iron on rhinestone letters and a couple of flowers that fell off a hairclip and I put them all together!!
Hi my name is Renee, and I recently moved from Sydney to sunny Cairns in Qld. I am a single parent with three children, girls aged 8 and 9 and a son aged 6 who feature in most of my work, along with our previous travels.
I first came across scrapbooking around two years ago, after wandering into a scrapbooking shop while looking for a gift for the family member who has everything. I saw the way that the layouts captured the emotions, stories and colours of the photos and just had to give it a go. While my layouts are still hit and miss and I tend to scrapbook in bursts of energy and inspiration I'm really loving the creative outlet and capturing the vibe of (some of) my photos. I'm still experimenting with styles although I'm finding myself gravitating towards layers and bold colours often and I generally create my own colour schemes rather than using collections. I prefer to make double page layouts but generally find them quite difficult!
I discovered the world of online inspiration and challenges about 2 months ago and have been extremely busy creating new layouts daily, hoping to get my photo piles scrapped, improve my scrapbooking and win some of the amazing products floating around (Why are the products I want the most always available only overseas....)
I have to say that I have really enjoyed the ARTastic challenges as I love being able to take a small piece of inspiration from artworks to put into my layouts without being too constraining on the requirements and my layouts for ARTtastic have been some of my most creative so far. I'd really like to thank the team at ARTastic for having me as a guest designer, as a relative newbie on this scene it's such an honour that someone is interested in who I am, and that my work could inspire others in some small way.
Please visit me at my blog www.reneewasaweener.blogspot.com.au
Here are some more samples of Renee's work ...
Welcome. It is so lovely to have you with us on ARTastic this month Renee.
Remember you have until midnight June 30th to submit your entries. We'd love to see your work. You could be a guest designer on ARTastic too.


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Taste test: Prince Michel meets Chang
On Sunday, June 26, Winemaker Brad Hansen had his work cut out for him: pairing his Prince Michel Vineyard wines with Peter Chang's singular dishes, many of which often defy description, like Chinese pumpkin that tasted like a cross between a potato and a cantaloupe, a soup that combines lamb ribs and fish, or mussels in a thick dark sauce that numbs your lips for a good fifteen minutes. Still, at a packed wine dinner at Peter Chang's China Grill, the restaurant's first wine dinner, Hansen managed to pull it off with good humor and a selection of four pretty tasty wines.
Of course, having the wine dinner at Chang's place practically guaranteed a crowd, as the place has been busy since opening in March. It's also become a favorite of local celebs. Patricia Kluge showed up while we were there, though not for the wine dinner, and actor Robert Duval has discovered the place.
Prince Michel Vineyard owner Kristin Holzman was on hand as well. Holzman bought the vineyard in 2005 with her then husband Terry Holtzman, a real estate developer who came to the area to develop estates but stumbled into the wine business. The couple have since divorced, and Holzman is now the sole owner. According to Holtzman, the winery has changed under her leadership, from a more formal environment to one that's more festive and fun.
"Our tasting room is a lot more fun and relaxed," she says, "with people wandering around and chatting, listening to music, and dancing."
One of the more fun (and decidedly less brand-centric) products the vineyard now offers are 'private label wines," meaning you buy a case or two of Prince Michel wine and have your High School yearbook photo as the label and call it 'Big Hair Red' and give it to your friends or family as a gift. Of course, buying a case or two with a nice photo of the bride and groom works nicely for weddings.
Hansen says his work has become easier, and more interesting, since Holzman began acquiring grapes from growers all around Virginia, not just at their own vineyard. "It's definitely expanded our pallet," says Hansen, "and allowed us to experiment more."
First up was their Rapidan River Semi-Dry Riesling, a fruity wine in the German sense, that went great with the mussels in the numbing sauce and something called spicy shrimp toast, a kind of steamed shrimp fritter. We were told that people don't have ovens in China, even today, and that most foods that Americans might bake in an oven are steamed instead. The Arete Chardonnay accompanied the fish balls and lamb rib soup, totally confusing our happy taste buds, and then their Cabernet Franc met up with the steak with chili peppers, Peking duck rolls (basically a kind of Chinese burrito), and a crispy tangle of thin fish strips in a red sweet sauce.
Finally, Hansen served up the Rapidan River Chocolate Wine for dessert (nothing fancy, just fresh fruit and ice cream), a crowd favorite with its rich chocolate smell and serious wine taste.
As for Chang, well, he's been splitting his time between Charlottesville and Atlanta, where he has another restaurant. Both are doing very well, he says. But he also has plans in the work that could take him back to China. While we're going through a recession/depression (or whatever you want to call it), China's economy is booming. For example, he says a small sandwich that might cost you $4 or $5 here will run you $8 to $10 in Hong Kong or Beijing. But don't worry, those plans are about a year or two off. For now, for at least two weeks or more every month, Mr. Chang is ours.
Like The Dish on Facebook!Read more on: peter changPrince Michel Vineyard


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After several years in preparation, a new urtext edition of the famous Glazunov Concerto in E-flat Major, Op. 109 is now available from the German publisher Baerenreiter! What is an urtext edition? An urtext edition of a work of classical music is a printed version intended to reproduce the original intention of the composer as exactly as possible, without any added or changed material. An urtext edition will also specifically tell you what source material was used in creating the edition and include some historical and editorial information. All of those requirements are met in the new Baerenreiter edition. Order here.
Carina Rascher mentioned this project to me way back in 2001, so this has been an exhaustive undertaking by all involved. The editors Regina Back and Douglas Woodfull-Harris have consulted three primary sources. These are the hand-written, autographed score presented by Glazunov to Sigurd Rascher (as well as Rascher's notes comments and correspondence with Glazunov), the composer's sketches from the State Museum of Theatre and Music in Sheremetev Palace in St. Petersburg, Russia, and the original version published by Leduc in 1936.
So, what you have in this edition is a note by note comparison of the sources, indications where discrepancies exist, the original Glazunov cadenza, the Glazunov-revised and extended cadenza from the published version, Sigurd Rascher's self-composed cadenza which he used in performance, and the original ending to the piece. Also included is a revised piano reduction that simplifies the execution of an otherwise very difficult accompaniment, PLUS two saxophone parts. One is the original published version. The second has been specially prepared by Carina Rascher and includes Sigurd Rascher's phrasing and interpretive markings.
Of interest to the scholar will be the well-researched and documented treatise on the origins and publication history of the Concerto. I don't know the word count of the article, but this adds 6 double column, 9.5" x 12" pages (in both German and English) to the publication.
The alto saxophone and piano version BA8732a. The full orchestral score is BA8732. Performance string parts will be available soon.
This new edition will be a welcomed addition to any saxophonist's library. We will run out of copies quickly, but we have more on order from Germany.


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LONDON – Staff at some of the world's top accountancy firms are using insider knowledge gained while working for the British Treasury to help private clients avoid tax, a committee of lawmakers said Friday.
The Commons Public Accounts Committee said Deloitte, Ernst & Young, KPMG and PwC should be barred from working for the government to stop the "ridiculous conflict of interest."
"The large accountancy firms are in a powerful position in the tax world and have an unhealthily cozy relationship with government," said the committee's chair, Labour Party lawmaker Margaret Hodge.
The committee said in a report that it had seen "cases of poacher, turned gamekeeper, turned poacher again, whereby individuals who advise government go back to their firms and advise their clients on how they can use those laws to reduce the amount of tax they pay."
The legislators said the practice made it harder for the government to stop tax avoidance.
Tax paid by major international corporations has become a hot issue in Britain since the same committee last year accused big firms like Amazon, Google and Starbucks of using loopholes to "immorally" avoid tax.
The government has vowed to crack down on tax avoidance.
But the Treasury strongly rejected the committee's latest report, saying its findings bore "almost no resemblance to reality of what government is doing or what is happening."
Accountancy firms defended the behaviour of their staff.
"We disagree with the committee's claims that there is a lack of clarity over where we draw the line between acceptable tax planning and aggressive tax avoidance," said Bill Dodwell, head of tax policy at Deloitte. "We have a significant role in helping our clients understand the law and meet their vital compliance obligations."
Kevin Nicholson, head of tax at PwC, said the company's staff "operate under a clear code of conduct" and professional guidelines.
"We strongly disagree with the (committee's) conclusions about the role of large accountancy firms which seem to be based on a misunderstanding both of what we do and how we do it," he said.


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Investment bank Goldman Sachs believes that sales of the iPhone, iPad, and Mac "could sharply exceed our prior expectations."
According to a report on Apple Insider, analyst Bill Shope told investors that "increasing competitive momentum and compelling new products" will see sales of Apple's key products exceed initial expectations.
"We believe recent macroeconomic uncertainty has had surprisingly little impact on Apple's revenue and profit momentum. Indeed, we believe iPads, Macs, and iPhones could sharply exceed our prior expectations," Shope said.
A next-generation iPhone, iOS 5, new iPods and iCloud products set to arrive this autumn, as well as the iPad 3, which will come early next year, mean that the outlook is bright for Apple, Shope said.
The bank raised its estimates for Apple's September quarter performance to $28.71 billion in revenue and $7.30 earnings per share, up from $27.37 billion and $6.49.
Shope reckons that Apple will ship 42.39 million iPads by the end of 2011, saying that a lack of competition in the market gave Apple an easy ride. In particular, he criticized "the inability of most Android vendors to offer competitive price points."
He also said that Apple will ship 114.5 million iPhones in the whole of 2012, as opposed to its earlier estimate of 109.1 million. However, current iPhone sales were declining as consumers wait for the next-generation handset to launch.
Shope said that sales of Macs would increase from 16.36 million units in 2011 to 18.64 million in 2012, growth of 13.9 percent.
This story, "Analyst Raises Apple Product Sales Estimates " was originally published by Macworld U.K..


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Use this procedure to reset a standalone property that does not have related properties to configure. For example, to remove the existing pool association, you can reset the pool resource to null.
Become superuser, or assume the Primary Administrator role.
To create the role and assign the role to a user, see Using the Solaris Management Tools With RBAC (Task Map) in System Administration Guide: Basic Administration.
Select the zone to be modified, my-zone in this procedure.
global# zonecfg -z my-zone
Reset the property to be changed, the existing pool association in this procedure.
zonecfg:my-zone> set pool=""
Commit the zone configuration for the zone.
zonecfg:my-zone> commit
Exit the zonecfg command.
zonecfg:my-zone> exit
Note that even if you did not explicitly type commit at the prompt, a commit is automatically attempted when you type exit or an EOF occurs.
Committed changes made through zonecfg take effect the next time the zone is booted.


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When it's time for you look for local businesses to help you with your wedding, take a look at our advertisements below. Most will have links to their own websites. These advertisements are updated regularly so please revisit often and mention County Wedding Magazines when making any enquiries.
Everything you need to know about looking and feeling your best on your wedding day!
Fresh, fun, innovative haircare and styling brand, Design.ME, have announced the launch that beauty addicts have been waiting for - Hold.ME Three Ways.... read more
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Posted: 4 March 2019
CBD-infused skincare is Hollywood's trend of the moment, and with celebrity fans including Gwyneth Paltrow, Jennifer Aniston and Alessandra Ambrosio - it's definitely one to watch as Instagram users have shared the #CBDBeauty hashtag over 17,000 times.... read more
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We love the new Twist & Spitz Atomizer designs from The Fragrance Shop.... read more
Posted: 28 February 2019
Your wedding will be a wonderful day, but a long one! So make sure your make-up is fixed in place and lasts as long as you do.... read more
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Created by the founder for her own wedding day later this year, Luxuria is the ultimate in romance.... read more
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Our skin definitely needs some extra TLC when it's colder; it's coping with the cold outside and the drying central heating inside.... read more
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Beautycake is rich in marine collagen proteins, antioxidants, and skin firming ingredients.... read more
Posted: 22 February 2019
Yorkshire-based, fashion-led beauty business Q61, founded in November 2015 by husband and wife team, Michael and Helena Linsky - boasts two luxury nail and beauty studios encompassing a wide range of on-trend treatments to its female and male client base, including nails, waxing, brows and lashes.... read more
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As worldwide plastic pollution becomes an increasing concern, the team behind online hair and beauty retailer Hairtrade.com have revealed ten ways in which we can reduce our consumption of single use plastics and cut out harmful ingredients in beauty products.... read more
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Cheryl Cole has launched new HD Fibre Hair Extensions with Easilocks, which she designed in collaboration with celebrity hair stylist and Easilocks CEO, Shane O'Sullivan.... read more
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According to a major study conducted by the University of Cambridge, more than 8 million people in the UK suffer with some sort of anxiety disorder, with women under 35 especially affected.... read more
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Tom Daxon has launched its newest unisex fragrance, Midnight Saffron, a lasting fragrance for memorable nights.... read more
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With Valentine's Day on the horizon, pamper an prep sessions are key.... read more
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On Tuesday 5th February 2019, we'll welcome the Year of The Pig and to celebrate, Ushvani is launching a new Jade Stone Ritual, a treatment inspired by Chinese New Year.... read more
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We're all guilty of rushing around and giving ourselves very little time to relax and unwind.... read more
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This therapeutic peptide complex includes XEP-30, a patented neuropeptide that relaxes fine lines.... read more
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We're all guilty of a few beauty lapses here and there, whether it's forgoing the SPF under your foundation or shunning the hairbrush because you hit the snooze button too many times.... read more
Posted: 31 January 2019
Luxurious beauty brand, New CID Cosmetics, was born out of a leading hair, makeover and photography salon.... read more
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Combining a fascination for the alchemy of aroma with the world's most sought-after elements, Ted's Tonics collection of fine fragrances for men is available in Ag (Silver), Au (Gold) and Cu (Copper).... read more
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Grooms-to-be, if you're looking to step-up your beauty regime in the lead-up to your big day, check out Ted Bakers new collection, The Grooming Room.... read more
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Prep eyes and intensify your eyeshadow with Lid Lock Eyeshadow Primer from Barry M.... read more
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Ted Baker's latest collection of fragrances is sure to entice. From sweet floral scents to heavy woody aromas, its beautifully packaged designs are a treat to treasure..... read more
Posted: 14 January 2019
Foreo takes a look at how the beauty industry has taken tips from its fashion and tech counterparts to disrupt 2019 and bring to the market new innovations and the smartest beauty gadgets we have ever seen to date.... read more
Posted: 11 January 2019
To help you find inspiration for your big day, take a look at what's caught the eye of our editors.
There are literally hundreds of ideas, products and services from wedding suppliers across the UK along with links to their web sites as pointed out by our ever resourceful team.
Take a look at what our Editors Love!


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My first year writing about gardening in Toronto, wow!
|My wife's banana bread mini-loaf, before being sacrificed to the blog gods.
Time does really fly by between work, the kids, and blogging. I'm really enjoying writing and documenting plant/landscape/garden-related topics. It allows my creative side to burp up ideas which I love to share with you, kind reader.
Thank you for reading and commenting over the past year. Who knows where the muse will take me over the next year?
Come along for the ride!


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By popular request, this thread is a place to post weekend observations and have discussions with others on wide-ranging topics.
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Open Weekend Thread...
Posted byAmy Jamison at9:08 AM
World View & Market Commentary.
Forest first; Trees second.
Focused on Real & Knowable facts that filter through the "experts" fluff and media hyperbole. Where we've been, what the future may hold and developing a better way forward.


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AJ Bell Youinvest is an easy to use, award-winning platform Open an account
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If you have any concerns, don't log in - instead contact us.


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Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina is full of faith in understudy Brad Jones - but hopes to be back to replace him in the near future.
Reina suffered a minor hamstring injury while on international duty with Spain last week and was not risked against Reading.
Jones impressed in the 1-0 win at Anfield, with two top-class saves denying the Royals an equaliser, but Reina hopes to replace the Australian in goal in Sunday's Merseyside derby against Everton.
Reina told Liverpool's official website: "I'm getting better, little by little. It wasn't worth taking any risks because you risk it getting worse. I'll be patient and get really good.
"Brad was excellent. He was composed, he was really good in the air, when he was called on he was fast off his line, and he played well with his feet. He had a complete game.
"He's a good fighter and a good 'keeper for Liverpool, not just an understudy. He's another 'keeper for the club and he'll do his best to play as many games as possible."


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ASUNCION, Paraguay -- A powerful storm killed five people and injured 81 in Paraguay as it blew across the southern cone of South America on Wednesday, ripping roofs off ramshackle homes and leaving thousands of people without shelter.
No deaths were reported outside Paraguay, but power outages were widespread and many people had to be evacuated as rivers overran their banks and coastal areas flooded. Wind gusts reached more than 60 mph and heavy rains raked Paraguay, southern Brazil, northern Argentina and Uruguay.
(MORE: Storm Safety & Preparedness Tips)
Near Paraguay's capital, Asuncion, four soldiers died and 14 were injured when their dormitory roof caved in, and a falling sign killed a teenage girl outside a shopping center in the suburb of Mariano Roque Alonso.
"All the lights went out and the wind began to blow, but this wind we thought it was a hurricane. It lasted about two minutes. It was terrible," said Andres Caballero, who was inside the shopping center.
Tin roofs littered the streets of the suburb after the storm blew through, and Mayor Heriberto Marmol said that "a large part of the city needs to be reconstructed."
Paraguay's interior minister, Carmelo Caballero, said the national emergency office would donate materials so that people can rebuild.
Meteorologist Eliana Klering in Brazil said the cold front caused heavy downpours and flooding, with winds that "reached 100 kilometers per hour and ripped tiles off roofs."
Uruguay's government closed shopping malls and shut down its ports as a precaution, suspending ferry service to Argentina's capital of Buenos Aires. The wind broke windows in several buildings in Uruguay's capital and toppled about a hundred trees. Three of the country's highways were cut off by flooding.
The low-pressure system also sucked humidity from northwestern Argentina, where high winds and unseasonably hot temperatures combined to spark at least eight wildfires.


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The Blitz Wargaming Club supports now also AGEOD games which are based on the ATHENA Engine, which are most of the AGEOD games. A ladder and a forum section have been established for the AGEOD games, together with a database which includes the scenarios of the supported games. The until now supported games are:
Alea Jacta Est
Alea Jacta Est - Parthian Wars
Alea Jacta Est - The Cantabrian Wars 29BC
Alea Jacta Est - The Spartacus Revolt 73 BC
American Civil War The Blue and the Gray
Birth of America II - Wars in America
Birth of Rome
Civil War II
Civil War II The Bloody Road South
English Civil War
Espana 1936
Hannibal - Terror Of Rome
Napoleon's Campaigns
Revolution Under Siege
Revolution Under Siege Gold
Rise of Prussia
Rise of Prussia Gold Upgrade Kit
Thirty Years' War
To End All Wars
To End All Wars: Breaking the Deadlock
Wars of Napoleon
Wars of Succession
All those possessing one of these games and are interested in human opponents should join the club.
Overall the support of the AGEOD games should contribute to foster the gaming between human opponents, as the AI is usually only good up to a certain point where the experience of the player outnumbers the AI's capabilities. After this point only a human opponent can keep up the gaming fun. This is achieved through the support of the AGEOD games by the Blitz, but beyond this it should also improve the AGEOD games as every feedback is way more effective if both sides are human players and by that come to a more balanced feedback that can improve the games without bringing imbalance into the game.
All that know the Blitz Wargaming Club can't be told anything new, those that do not know it should only be referred to the motto of the club:
"Helping the Rookies, Connecting the Regulars, and Honoring the Hardcore Since 1999!"


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Dodgers sweep doubleheader on homers in 12th
Van Slyke, Butera hit solo shots; Jansen escapes jam in bottom half
MINNEAPOLIS -- First pitch of Game 1 was 12:11 p.m. CT, last pitch of Game 2 was 11:22 p.m., and when the Dodgers' first doubleheader sweep in 12 years was finally secured with a 4-3 nail-biting win over the Twins in an Interleague series sweep, it wasn't only the $100 million superstars making it happen.
It was bench players Scott Van Slyke and former Twin Drew Butera slugging home runs in the top of the 12th inning to give 39-year-old Jamey Wright a victory after three innings of relief work, capping a day that began with a 9-4 win in the day game.
"It was important for us to show we can come from behind," Wright said of the Dodgers, who did it twice in this game. "It doesn't have to be one or two guys doing it."
Van Slyke's homer was his third, Butera's was his first since 2012. Van Slyke also tripled, walked twice and stole a base. The last Dodger to accomplish all of that in one game was Marlon Anderson in 2006.
Both came off Twins left-handed reliever Brian Duensing, whom Butera knows well.
"I was looking for something up and got a fastball middle," Butera said. "It's a slight advantage having caught him for four years. You know what his ball does and what he likes to throw. It's definitely easier knowing a guy and what he likes and when he likes it, if it runs, if it cuts. That helps anybody."
Kenley Jansen earned his 11th save, but first loaded the bases in the bottom of the 12th and allowed one run before stranding runners at second and third by getting Chris Colabello to line out to a well-positioned first baseman Adrian Gonzalez, triggering both celebration on the field and consternation on the Internet over Jansen's struggles.
"Sometimes you just hit them at people," said Colabello.
The Dodgers won despite stranding a staggering 16 of 24 baserunners -- 12 of them reaching on walks -- and committing two more errors for a season total of 31, which leads the Major Leagues. The errors resulted in an unearned run, or the Dodgers could have won the game in nine innings. Time of game was 5 hours, 11 minutes.
"Don't rain on my parade," manager Don Mattingly said when asked about the errors, before acknowledging that the unearned runs need to be minimized by better defense.
The big names were involved, too. Gonzalez homered, Yasiel Puig had two more hits before his streak of reaching base in nine consecutive plate appearances was snapped. Brian Wilson continued his rebound by retiring all three batters he faced, two on strikeouts, while stranding runners at the corners. Brandon League didn't allow any of six batters to hit a ball out of the infield.
The late game, a makeup of Tuesday night's rainout, began as a matchup of 26th-man callups. For the Dodgers, it was Red Patterson, a former Coach Store salesman drafted in the 29th round, making his Major League debut. For the Twins it was Kris Johnson, a former first-round pick of Boston who was pitching in the Independent League in 2011, making his first Major League appearance of the season and fifth of his career.
Johnson left the game first, after only 4 1/3 innings, even though he was pitching a shutout and leading, 1-0. There were six walks, though, along with 106 pitches.
Patterson survived a 30-pitch first inning and settled into a groove. He retired 11 consecutive batters at one point, but lasted only one-third of an inning longer than Johnson. The only two hits he allowed were to the first two batters he faced, but he walked three and made 87 pitches. League stranded the two runners he inherited from Patterson.
"That was a blast," said Patterson, who was joined by his parents, wife and close friend. "I enjoyed every moment of it. In the first inning, I had a lot of nerves, but I got into a rhythm, even though I didn't have a breaking ball. This was everything I could ask for. When I got the call, I had a tear in my eye, to be honest. It's the second-greatest feeling to getting married."
The Dodgers tied the game in the sixth inning. Van Slyke tripled high off the center-field fence, shaking up center fielder Aaron Hicks, who slammed into the fence and was later removed with concussion-like symptoms. Juan Uribe then singled up the middle to score Van Slyke, the ball glancing off the pitching hand of reliever Anthony Swarzak, who also stayed in the game.
Puig was involved in another controversial play while batting in the sixth inning after the Dodgers tied the game on Uribe's single. After Dee Gordon's two-out walk, a Puig swing appeared to clip catcher Josmil Pinto's glove, but plate umpire Tim Timmons did not call it. Puig eventually walked and Hanley Ramirez left the bases loaded by popping out.
The Twins took the lead when the Dodgers committed back-to-back errors in the sixth on throws to first base. Uribe made a spinning stop of Plouffe's smash to third, only to throw the ball away as Trevor Plouffe took second. Colabello hit a tapper fielded by League, who whirled to throw to third base, but nobody was there as Uribe also charged the bouncer. League then threw off-balance to first, past Gonzalez, as Plouffe scored the unearned run.
Gonzalez, though, got the Dodgers even again, leading off the seventh inning with his ninth homer off Michael Tonkin, an opposite-field shot into the Dodgers bullpen.


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The south/central region, also known as the Merrimack Valley Region, is home to New Hampshire's three largest cities, Concord, Manchester, and Nashua. The region stretches from just north of Concord the state's capitol, down to the border of Massachusetts with an excellent highway system, for an easy commute to Boston. Manchester-Boston's Regional Airport in Manchester is an easy alternative to Logan for domestic flights. History, the arts, entertainment and a plethora of culinary choices too many to name are available throughout the region, and the countryside is complete with many New Hampshire icons including covered bridges, classic villages, wineries and pick your own farms. From the Shaker community at the Canterbury Shaker Village, to a sports event or concert at the Verizon Center to Clydesdales and Adventure flying, this region is a great place to live and play. Here are some of our favorite places and things to do:
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Browsing Faculty and Researcher Data and Papers by Author "Kaeberlein, Matt"
Now showing items 1-1 of 1
Age- and calorie-independent life span extension from dietary restriction by bacterial deprivation in Caenorhabditis elegans Smith, Erica D.; Kaeberlein, Tammi L.; Lydum, Brynn T.; Sager, Jennifer; Welton, K. Linnea; Kennedy, Brian K.; Kaeberlein, Matt (2008-05-05)Background: Dietary restriction (DR) increases life span and delays age-associated disease in many organisms. The mechanism by which DR enhances longevity is not well understood. Results: Using bacterial food deprivation ...


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Does it mean that I have to put the flash memory off the code for just an EA module?
HiI started to compare the "EPD extension board" (EPD) with the embedded artists E-Paper Adapter Board (EA)Here are some of my results (not sure if i am correct, please confirm or correct me)EPD: 5V, with serial flash, 5V tolerant, analog Temperature valueEA: 3.3V, no serial flash, not 5V tolerant, I2C Temperature sensor Here is a table of matching pins (at least what i think). Please note, that the polarity might be different for EPD and EA....
// configure temperature sensor S5813A.begin(Pin_TEMPERATURE);
void S5813A_Class::begin(int input_pin) { pinMode(input_pin, INPUT); analogReference(ANALOG_REFERENCE); this->temperature_pin = input_pin;}
int temperature = S5813A.read();
int S5813A_Class::read() { return Tstart_C + ((this->readVoltage() - Vstart_uV) / Vslope_uV);}
Wire.beginTransmission(addr) <- (where addr is defined futher up int addr = 92;)Wire.send(0);Wire.endTransmission();Wire.requestFrom(addr,1);While(wire.available == 0) ;int temp = Wire.receive();return temp;
void setFactor(int temperature = 25) { this->factored_stage_time = this->stage_time * this->temperature_to_factor_10x(temperature) / 10; }
FLASH.begin(Pin_FLASH_CS, SPI); if (FLASH.available()) { Serial.println("FLASH chip detected OK"); } else { Serial.println("unsupported FLASH chip"); }
#define test_width 264#define test_height 176static char Matrix_bits[] = {0x00, 0x00, 0xFF, 0x10, ....0x00, 0x00, 0x1F, 0xAA, ....}
byte Matrix[176] [33]
FLASH_TABLE(byte, 33, {0x00, 0x00, 0xEE, 0x77 ...}, {0x00, 0x00, 0xEE, 0x77 ...}, {0x00, 0x00, 0xEE, 0x77 ...},………);But I cannot change the values in this matrix...I also thought about changing the matrix in the .xbm file, or create a new one every time the code is running.. But I don't know if it is actually possible.As anyone ever did something like that with such a wide matrix on Arduino?If I'm not clear with my demand, please ask, I really need some help.Thanks


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The Amazon.com Books homepage helps you explore Earth's Biggest Bookstore without ever leaving the comfort of your couch. Here you'll find current best sellers in books, new releases in books, deals in books, Kindle eBooks, Audible audiobooks, and so much more. We have popular genres like Literature & Fiction, Children's Books, Mystery & Thrillers, Cooking, Comics & Graphic Novels, Romance, Science Fiction & Fantasy, and Amazon programs such as Best Books of the Month, the Amazon Book Review, and Amazon Charts to help you discover your next great read.
In addition, you'll find great book recommendations that may be of interest to you based on your search and purchase history, as well as the most wished for and most gifted books. We hope you enjoy the Amazon.com Books homepage!


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Miles Ahead/Nina: Flawed but Fascinating
By Ron Wynn
After recently seeing Cynthia Mort's "Nina" a few weeks in advance of viewing Don Cheadle's "Miles Ahead," both seem to me flawed but fascinating. Each has a magnetic lead performance, neither attempts to provide the kind of substantive portrait that a documentarian would seek, and depending on your agenda, you can find them satisfactory, decent or atrocities. That there have been folks who've devoted lots of words and space while differing in their assessments is another indicator of just how difficult the whole biopic field has become.
Mort's "Nina" was embroiled in controversy almost from the beginning, in large part due to the casting of A-list actress Zoe Saldana to portray the dynamic, often controversial NIna Simone. Charges of "colorism" were launched, and those cries became even louder when word surfaced about the alleged use of skin darkening makeup and a fake nose to enhance the facial contrast between Saldana and Simone. Add the presence of another international star in David Oyewolo to portray her manager Clifton Henderson, and many critics branded this little more than stunt casting designed to get Hollywood backing and major market circulation.
Mort's response did validate, to a degree, the casting charges. She acknowledged that there were others considered for the role (though she wouldn't list their names) and also said Saldana initially turned down the part, returning only because she truly wanted the film made. But the bottom line on "Nina" is that it is a far better film than some claimed. Saldana does a marvelous job of communicating Simone's very complicated, mercurial personality, though it only skims the surface as far as truly documenting her artistic versatility. However it does spotlight her integrity and determination to do the music she cared about rather than what would be the most commercial, and it also highlights a fierce dignity, cultural awareness and solidarity that were unquestionably at the core of her music.
What "Nina" isn't, and this is the implicit weakness in any biopic, is an exhaustive cinematic summation of Simone's career, a breakdown of what made her unique and distinctive as a stylist, or a thorough recitation of all her career highlights. Folks who look to Hollywood productions for that kind of detail will always be disappointed, and "Nina" is no different. It has to condense and take shortcuts, and sometimes the juggling of exact and reworked for creative impact details tend to blur to the point that no one should take for granted that everything they see her actually happened. Netflix's Oscar-nominated Simone documentary would be the place to go for those who want a comprehensive look at Nina Simone. As a work of dramatic intensity with some biographical elements, "Nina" succeeds despite its weaknesses.
If the evaluation is based wholly on acting skill and storytelling impact, then Cheadle's "Miles Ahead" also can be deemed a success. It was understandable that with a career as majestic, extensive and varied as Miles Davis, no biopic that was only in the two-three hour range could fully do it justice. Plus Cheadle announced from the very beginning he had no desire to even attempt some kind of career-spanning epic. So, despite learning to play the trumpet to ensure accuracy, Cheadle instead opted for a work that focused on Miles Davis off the bandstand, while still giving you glimpses of what made him such a star on it.
You do see in the various "gangster" episodes of Miles Davis the things that also came through in his music. These include an adventurous spirit, a desire to never do what's expected, a character who could be obsessively selfish one minute and remarkably kind the next, and someone who never felt they were treated the way that they should have been by those in positions of power, whether they be music executives or police officers.
As a lifelong Miles Davis fan and someone well versed in his various adventures, musical and otherwise, Cheadle's portrayal was quite credible in many ways. But where "Miles Ahead" didn't quite click was in communicating the greatness of his music, which since it didn't set out to do that anyhow, is probably an unfair criticism. Only in the jam session portion at the end does some of the wonderful energy and vitality that was in all Miles' great music come across on screen, and then it's as much due to the assembled group as to anything else coming from the film.
The standard Hollywood biopic will never really satisfy the hardcore music fan, because they are about exaggerated personality and dramatic conflict first and foremost. Even those that do come close to also revealing what made the central character so important like "Ray" or "Get On Up" still have to focus more on things that will hook audience members who are casual listeners or in many instances totally unfamiliar with the music of the person being profiled, especially if we're talking about non-rock or pop musicians. It is unrealistic at this point to expect the sort of adherence to fact and concern about technique and artistic evolution in a Hollywood biopic that you'd routinely demand from something on even the History Channel, let alone a stand-alone documentary.
Thus, in terms of the job that they were required to fufill, both "Nina" and "Miles Ahead" are basically serviceable works considerably elevated by outstanding lead performances, and augmented with some scenes from key moments in both performers' lives that everyone should know. Given the general state of 21st century cinema, that qualifies as the best one can expect when commercial studios are in charge of any production.


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UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Penn State's Executive Vice President and Provost Nicholas P. Jones will host an open house from 3 to 6 p.m. Oct. 30 in the Nittany Lion Inn Ballroom.
Faculty, staff, students and the community are welcome, and light refreshments will be served.
Jones, who will give some brief remarks during the meet-and-greet, had been the Benjamin T. Rome Dean of the Whiting School of Engineering at Johns Hopkins University before coming to Penn State in July.
To RSVP, contact Lori Smith at firstname.lastname@example.com. (RSVP is not required but is encouraged.)
Last Updated October 17, 2013


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'Super Mario 3D World,' 'A Link Between Worlds: 2 of this year's best games
Remember, remember the 22nd of November. Right smack in the middle of the PS4 and Xbox One launch madness is when Nintendo launches two of the best games of the year. The struggling Wii U gets a much-needed software boost with the release of "Super Mario 3D World" while the 3DS sees an original Zelda title with "The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds."
Super Mario 3D World
I was a bit skeptical at first when Nintendo revealed this sequel to 3DS' "Super Mario 3D Land." Don't get me wrong, "3D Land" is a must-own game for the handheld, but I was hoping for something along the lines of "Super Mario Galaxy" or the much more open "Super Mario 64."
After watching gameplay videos, though, my skepticism slowly went away. Then I got my hands on it, and after playing through the first world, I had to keep going.
"3D World" starts off typically like other Mario games. Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach and Toad are strolling along joyfully when they notice a clear pipe sticking out of the ground. Out pops the Sprixie Princess begging for help, but then Bowser pops out to capture her in a bottle. Mario and company dive down the pipe and into the Sprixie Kingdom where our heroes travel through dozens of levels across multiple worlds.
Reminiscent of the classic NES title "Super Mario Bros. 2," players can select between Mario, Luigi, Peach and Toad in any level, and each have their unique abilities. While Mario is an all-around type character, Luigi jumps higher but has poor traction, Peach hovers in mid-air but is slow, and Toad is a speedster but can't jump high.
Messing around with all the characters, I found all four to be acceptable in pretty much every level. This is important since multiplayer is a major focus. Players have the option of selecting their character before the level begins, or it can be randomized in case someone wants to hog a specific one. Players can also hop in during a level as well, so no waiting around until it's finished.
Unlike "New Super Mario Bros." where having several on screen at once can become very hectic in a hurry, I didn't notice that too much in "3D World." Since it's on a 3D playing field with more open space to run around in, there's a lot less bumping into each other to create havoc (on accident anyway). Players are mostly free to run around and get as many points as they can before reaching the flagpole. Sometimes, though, the camera during multiplayer can become disorienting at times.
The game features some of the best level design to date from Nintendo, and the fact it's in glorious HD makes it even better. Levels have a uniqueness about them that stand out from others. Part of the fun is seeing what comes up next, so I won't spoil all the details. One level that plays with shadows has superb lighting effects while another is a tribute to Mario Kart that I wanted to play again and again. The new cat power-up will have you climbing up every wall to find secrets. Nabbing cherries to control multiple Marios or others at once leads to some very strategic situations.
The difficulty of "3D World" comes from finding three hidden stars in each level, as well as collecting dozens of stamps to complete your collection. The game can be breezed through in a day tops if one decides to just rush to the end of every level, but that's no fun. Collecting these stars will test one's platforming skills - even some spots in World 1 which is typically the easiest. It's encouraged to attempt to get them all, too, since they help unlock more levels.
From a console standpoint, the PS4 and Xbox One will get all the attention this holiday season. The Wii U desperately needs software to stay relevant into 2014, and "Super Mario 3D World" is the best game to give the console a chance at turning it around.
4 stars out of 4
The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds
One of the best Zelda games out there is "A Link to the Past" for the Super Nintendo. "A Link Between Worlds" for the 3DS is a sequel of sorts as it takes place in the same Hyrule overworld where you'll be jumping between good and evil versions of it. However, Nintendo shook up the familiar formula we've seen in past Zelda games, which I found did much more good than harm.
This game is all about exploration and letting players decide how they want to tackle the objectives at hand. Instead of being held back by specific items not yet found, popular tools like the hammer, ice rod, fire rod, hookshot and more are able to be rented out from a kooky character named Ravio, who decides to open up shop inside Link's house. As you progress, these items can be eventually be purchased. It's nice having those options near the beginning instead of having to grind it out.
Renting has its risks, though. Fall in battle and you'll lose all those items. However, it's not a difficult game. Thanks to all that exploration, I was able to obtain three empty bottles early on to hold health drinks and fairies to revive me if I died.
Instead of managing an inventory, a meter is used for items that automatically replenishes itself over time, essentially giving you unlimited firepower. This will irk some.
What opens up the gameplay even more is the ability to merge Link onto walls like a painting, allowing him to traverse to areas inaccessible from his normal self. When allowed, crossing large gaps can be done with ease by the way of a flat surface. Merging onto houses in the village gives you the opportunity to see behind them, something that's hard to do with the top-down perspective. Rupees and hearts are drawn on surfaces awaiting to be collected, which is a clever idea. There are limits where you can travel, but there a lot of places and secrets waiting to be discovered.
Dungeons make good use of this mechanic, too, like on moving platforms. You'll have to be quick to merge onto an obstacle that threatens to push Link to his doom, and at the same time keep an eye on the meter so you don't run out of magic. Enemies painted on walls will even pop out at you for a surprise attack.
Side content is available if you're not in the mood to save the world just yet. A Cucco dodging mini-game is a fun way to collect more rupees, as is a treasure-picking game if you really love gambling. A pink octopus desperately wants you to collect her babies spread out across the land for rewarding results.
Moving Link around the world is smooth with the circle pad, and selecting items is a snap with the touchscreen. Pins can be placed on the map to remember points of interest, and the game thankfully lets you know how many octopus children are left to find in different areas.
I adored the music so much since it brought back childhood memories of "A Link to the Past." Overall, the visuals are nice. Sometimes the 3D models in cutscenes look awkward, but they're just fine during gameplay. The story is interesting with a nice cast of characters in both Hyrule and the darker version called Lorule (get it?).
Fans of Zelda, especially "A Link to the Past," will definitely enjoy what "A Link Between Worlds" has to offer. It's a fantastic trip down memory lane that should hold up for years to come.
3 1/2 stars out of 4
Downloadable codes for "Super Mario 3D World" and "The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds" were supplied by the publisher for this review.


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American heroes honored in All-Star Game ceremony
NEW YORK -- Rob Jones lost both legs to an IED in Taliban territory, received new prosthetic legs and taught himself how to row -- right into the 2012 Paralympics.
Israel Del Toro had a 15 percent chance to live after an improvised explosive device (IED) explosion left him with third-degree burns over 85 percent of his body. He survived, had 120 surgeries (so far), and became the first 100 percent disabled airman to re-enlist in the Air Force.
Josh Hooker's left leg was mangled in an explosion in Iraq and a few moments later, he watched his good friend die right before his eyes. Dozens of surgeries and skin grafts later, he had his leg amputated and soon was up riding a bike. He now rides 50 miles a day and spends most of his free time volunteering.
Jeff Mittman was left blind, without a nose, lips or teeth and severely damaged his right arm in a bomb explosion in Iraq, where he was serving as an adviser to the Iraqi Ministry of the Interior. He's endured dozens of surgeries to reconstruct his face and now travels nationwide to share his experiences as a motivational speaker, encouraging people to provide support for disabled veterans.
The word "hero" is thrown about quite a bit in sports -- probably a bit too much when considering the true meaning of the word. Suffice it to say, men who throw a ball to a three-inch target at 99 mph are hugely talented and should be lauded for their efforts. But are they heroes? That word probably needs to be saved for those who actually define it.
Like, for example, the 30 veterans and military service members, including the aforementioned, who were honored during a moving ceremony prior to the 84th Major League Baseball All-Star Game Tuesday night at Citi Field. These men and women were recognized for their service and for overcoming unbearable challenges that tested their physical endurance as well as their spirit. They all prevailed. They all are thriving. They are, by definition, heroes.
"Tribute for Heroes" was a joint venture between Major League Baseball and PEOPLE Magazine, where fans were invited to vote for the winners at TributeForHeroes.com, picking 30 from a pool of 90 finalists. Those 30 were given the VIP treatment throughout the All-Star festivities, a three-day bonanza that concluded with an on-field tribute, a rousing ovation from more than 40,000 fans and some face time with the players, who presented them with American flags.
First Lady Michelle Obama and Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden, delivered a special message to the winners that was played on the scoreboard and shown throughout the stadium during the ceremony.
Military presence was front and center during the pomp and circumstance portion of the All-Star Game, beginning with select members of all segments of the Armed Forces emerging from the left-field corner with a giant American flag to kick off the ceremony. Unfurled, the flag took over the entire outfield at Citi Field.
The teams lined up between the bases for introductions, and not surprisingly, the biggest cheers went to those with Mets ties: current players David Wright and Matt Harvey, 1986 Mets manager Davey Johnson, and current Mets skipper Terry Collins.
A stirring rendition of the Canadian anthem was delivered by 2nd Lieutenant Scotty Newlands, followed by the United States anthem, sung by "American Idol" winner Candice Glover. Next up was a unique flyover, consisting of four ships, including three Agusta A119 Koalas and one Bell 12.
While the Mets have many legendary players who have worn their uniform during their decorated history, even the entire 1986 World Series winning roster would agree there really is only one logical choice to throw out the first pitch before an All-Star Game in Queens.
Tom Seaver, known in his day as "The Franchise" and "Tom Terrific," for obvious reasons, emerged from the home dugout to do the honors. The choice for catcher was also a no-brainer: Wright, also known in these parts as "Captain America."
Heroes appropriately were the focus of this elaborate ceremony, which is part of the point of having an All-Star Game. Those folks, combined with the baseball dignitaries, made this an unforgettable night in New York.


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Genesis is the last ceiling panel you'll ever need to install. Genesis ceiling panels are manufactured from cellular PVC with both smooth and textured surfaces available. The Designer Series ceiling panels offer styles that go way beyond the standard ceiling tile, but still offer the same great benefits.
- Genesis panels resist rust, corrosion, water, mold, mildew and bacteria
- Panels are made of virgin-grade PVC vinyl and work with most standard 15/16 in. grid systems
- Genesis will not spot, stain, rot, swell or peel due to moisture
- They are impact resistant and are available in 2 ft. x 2 ft. panels


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Stop Smoking - Recovering From The AddictionWe often hear that smoking is injurious to health, but then we conveniently forget this fact the moment we stick a cigarette in our mouth. Breaking the habit of smoking is challenging, and more so, recovering from the addiction. One way to stop smoking is to gradually reduce the number of cigarettes/cigars smoked daily, and eventually stop altogether. This requires strong resolve, and many a time, smoking cessation needs medical intervention and counseling.
The habit of smoking can prove to be injurious to one's health. Using smoking cessation products and medication is the most appropriate way to quit smoking.Smoking is a physical, as well as psychological addiction. There are many people all over the world who smoke daily. This habit can prove to be very dangerous, since it can cause some serious medical conditions. Heavy smokers often find it hard to stop overnight. You can certainly get rid of this habit, but it usually takes a while.
1. Nicotine Patch: These are self-adhesive, small patches which are to be placed on any part of the body, generally where there is no hair. They supply nicotine to the body at a constant rate, which helps you suppress the cravings for smoking.
2. Nicotine Lozenge: These are small tablets meant to be placed in between the gums and cheeks. They have some amount of nicotine that mixes in the bloodstream, which in turn reduces your craving for smoking.
3. Nicotine Nasal Spray: This is a product which is supposed to be sprayed into the nostrils. It also consists of some amount of nicotine which is absorbed by the nose lining, resulting in the person not feeling the need for smoking.
4. Nicotine Inhaler: This is a device which provides little doses of nicotine to keep a control on the cravings. When you use this inhaler, a small amount of therapeutic nicotine gets dissolved in the bloodstream, hence contributing to smoking cessation.
5. Nicotine Gum: These are chewing gums with suitable amounts of therapeutic nicotine levels. The nicotine is absorbed in the bloodstream through the lining of the mouth, which again discourages your smoke cravings.
A few of the aforementioned products not only help you get rid of your smoking habit, but also aid in dealing with the withdrawal symptoms. It is strongly recommended that you use these products after consulting with a qualified doctor. In some cases of extreme smokers, a combination of herbal products as well as medicinal therapies is essential. You will also need to use a few of these products throughout the day in order to decrease your cravings. Also, note that the aforementioned aids to quit smoking are sold under different brand names.
Benefits of Quitting Smoking
There are so many disastrous effects of smoking on one's health. For instance, the risk of developing cancer is much higher in smokers than in non smokers. Lung cancer is most commonly found in smokers. Other forms of cancer that they can get includes blood cancer, brain cancer, breast cancer, pancreas cancer and so on. If you do not smoke for the next ten years, then the risk of death from cancer reduces to half.
Prolonged period of smoking leads to hardened blood vessels. This makes smokers prone to high blood pressure, stroke, and heart disease. When you stop smoking, the body's self-correcting mechanism, given time, significantly reduces this risk.
There are several adverse effects of smoking on your sexual health. Men often suffer from impotency after heavy smoking, because normal blood flow to the penis and gonads gets badly affected by smoking. Many smokers get a low sperm count, as the sperm produced by the body fails to survive for long. Even the childbearing age of women who smoke gets shortened due to nicotine.
Smoking gives rise to so many gastrointestinal problems. This happens because it tends to increase the acid production inside the stomach. This excess of acids often flows back into the esophagus and causes gastrointestinal reflux. As a result, you feel a constant burning sensation in your chest, and many other physical discomforts that you just accept as an inevitable part of your life. Once you stop the habit, these niggles will be negated.
As soon as you stop smoking, the body's healing mechanism starts working, and repairs the damage caused by smoking. Body temperature, blood pressure, and pulse rate, that tend to rise under the influence of nicotine, gets normalized when you stop smoking for few days. The chronic cough that used to keep you (and your family, and pets, and neighbors) awake during the night will stop bothering you within a month or two. You will get a more refreshing feel every time you breath. Your stamina and lung capacity, which is the health aspect most affected by nicotine, increases within six months.
Tips to Stop Smoking Naturally
Getting rid of the habit of smoking can be very tough. However, the more you prepare yourself for quitting, the easier the task will be.
1. Prepare a Plan: Most smokers, at some point in their life, do try to quit smoking but without any success. A mistake that most of them commit is that they quit suddenly. While sudden, abrupt quitting does work for a few, it may not for most. If you are the type of smoker who cannot wake up one fine day and announce "I quit!", then you need to chalk out a proper quitting plan.
2. Set a Deadline: Naturally, this should be the next logical step that follows. Set yourself a quitting deadline. It could be anything between two weeks to two months. However, be sincere and serious about it. If you end up giving yourself a period of six months to quit smoking those cigars, it simply means that you're not serious about it.
3. Make up your mind: There are various drugs and medications available to assist people who wish to quit this habit; however, they are of no use if not backed with a strong will and commitment. So, one of the first things you have to do is take a firm and final decision to get rid of this habit. As strong will-power will make all the difference in your life, without which the following tips will be of no use.
4. Begin Slowly: One of the main reasons why many quitters fail is that, they stop smoking suddenly, which results in quick and sudden relapse. To avoid this, start with reducing the number of cigarettes you smoke daily. Take a week or two for yourself, to come to one cigarette a day. By now, your dependence on smoking would have decreased and you will be more confident about leaving that one cigarette too. Then decide a date when you will give up this habit completely, and do so successfully.
5. Flush Out the Nicotine: Once you have quit this habit completely, get rid of all the nicotine content from your body. To flush the nicotine, drink plenty of water, or fruit and vegetable juices, for a couple of days. A whole day of a liquid diet can help you immensely. After that, start following a healthy diet which includes fiber, protein, and carbohydrates. Avoid eating junk food and foods high on sugars.
6. Get High Without Smoking: Nicotine in cigarette makes the smoker feel relaxed by increasing the dopamine activity in the brain. This results in increased pleasure of the smoker.
7. Start Cutting Down: If you want to meet your deadline date, you should immediately start cutting down on your daily dose of cigarettes. How many cigarettes you cut down per day will depend on how heavy a smoker you are. During this phase, you could also consider substituting your regular cigarettes with special smokeless cigarettes.
8. Find a Friend: By this I do not mean go around town making new friends. What it implies is that you should catch hold of a fellow aspiring quitter. Having the company of somebody who is going through the same journey as you are, can sometimes help in strengthening your resolve and can make the task a little bit easier. Just make sure that the other person too is equally serious about quitting smoking.
9. Find Out Your Weaknesses: This is something that you should do while you are in the quitting process itself, and not after you have quit. Think about what situations make you want to light up. Are there any specific daily activities that trigger you to have a puff? Identify them and note them down. In future, you will need to distract yourself during these very situations.
10. Visualize: This is a very powerful weapon. Close your eyes and see yourself as having quit smoking successfully. Visualize yourself as having achieved your goal. Doing so not only strengthens you mentally, but the positive vibrations and frequencies that you give out to the universe do come back in the form of desired success.
11. Family Support: This is also something that is very important in making sure that you stay away from cigarettes after having taken the trouble to quit. Each time that you feel like lighting up, ask your family members or friends to distract you, keep you busy, and in the process, keep you away from cigarettes. Slowly, your psychological and physical dependence on tobacco and nicotine will start reducing and it will ultimately be eliminated.
12. Think Positive: It is one of the most important things in the process of quitting smoking. Always think positively about your new resolution. Even if you fail once it does not mean that you're a failure. So, do not be hard on yourself, just be confident and committed. You must stand by your decision, and you will succeed. If possible, also try to involve someone in your quitting plan so that he or she can motivate and inspire you to keep up with your commitment.
There are various activities that can help you relax, and distract from the urge to smoke:
• Exercise regularly
• Go for a short walk or jog
• Go for a long drive or bike ride
• Listen to music
• Talk to friends, family members, and loved ones when you feel depressed
• Meditate to keep stress at bay
• Engage in your hobbies
• Treat and reward yourself with a movie, dinner, or a new book every time you succeed suppressing the urge to smoke
Try to Stay Away From Smoking: You must anticipate the situations and feelings that generally make you feel the urge to smoke, and try to avoid them. For example:
• Avoid joining your friends who smoke, and who are most likely to force you to do so.
• Substitute your smoke break with 'water breaks' or 'juice breaks'.
• Keep yourself busy in work or some or the other task, such as talking to friends, and walking, etc.
• Give some exercise to your brain, by playing crosswords, puzzles, and riddles, etc.
• Try to keep your hands busy, doing household chores, such as washing the car and gardening, or writing and painting, etc.
• Keep hard candy or chewing gum handy, and chew on them when you feel the urge to smoke.
• When it comes to going out, make sure to choose places where smoking is not allowed.
• Try to socialize more with people who don't smoke.
• You may also join a support group where you can share your feeling and problems.
Myotcstore Related Categories:Nicotine Patches
Smoking Cessation Gums and Lozenges


text:
Wallpapers on your desktop are of great benefit than it seems at first glance.
Let's look at several types of wallpaper.
Wallpapers with your favorite characters.
People always associate themselves with the heroes of books, films, comics and so on. This behavior of people is based on the fact that they suppress their fears and strengthen the best sides in themselves. For example, looking at how a powerful hero fights against evil, a person also wants to be kind, strong, to bear the truth and protect the weak.
Motivational wallpaper. This kind of wallpaper is especially useful. Every day we have to solve the tasks that take away our energy, so the stress accumulates and we do not want to do anything more. But, if you see a beautiful, positive, joyful or call-to-action picture in front of you, your brain starts to develop positive emotions and stress goes away.
Corporate wallpapers. For business, it is very important that all team members are in shape and strive to solve one common goal. You can place the slogan of your campaign on corporate wallpaper and thereby motivate employees to work better.


text:
- Učlanjen(a)
- 31.07.2014
- Poruka
- 366
Luxion KeyShot Enterprise 6.0.264 (x86/x64) | 512.07 MB | 533.07 MB
KeyShot 6 brings even more speed and simplicity to creating high-quality visuals. Experience a completely optimized workflow with faster lighting capabilities and expanded material features with the new KeyShot Material Graph. Advanced tools enable scripting and geometry editing, allowing you to do more in KeyShot to create amazing shots even faster.
Key Features:
- Interior Light Mode
- Material Graph
- Materials on Labels
- Geometry View and Editor
- Material Animation
- Camera Path Animation
- Responsive KeyShotVR
- And much more.
Improved Workflow Efficiency
Easier ways to set up your scene, work more efficiently, and deliver amazing visuals with speed.
Greater Material Control
More control over materials with enhancements and advanced material editing for unlimited possibilities.
Amazing New Capabilities
New capabilities to elevate what's possible with geometry, viewing and rendering your scenes.
Powerful Feature Enhancements
More power from import to creating animations and interactive visuals of your designs and ideas.
System Requirements:
- INTEL Pentium 4 processor or AMD or better
- Windows 7 32/64 bit
- or Windows 8 32/64 bit or later
- OpenGL 2.x or higher
Download From NitroFlare
Download From Rapidgator


text:
False goatsbeard
Astilbe chinensis 'Vision in Red'
Common Name: False goatsbeard
Genus: Astilbe
Species: chinensis
Cultivar: 'Vision in Red'
Category: Perennials
Growth Rate: Fast growing
Features: Suitable for growing in containers
|Hardiness: Hardy
|Height: 0.45 m (45 cm)
|Sun/Shade: Full sun or Partial shade
|Spread: 0.30 m (30 cm)
|Foliage Type: Deciduous
|Flower Colour: Pink, Red
|Foliage Colour: Green
|Flowering Period: July & August
Soil Type: Normal/Loam or Clay/Heavy
Soil Moisture: Moist, but well drained
Dense spires of tiny red;flowers appear in midsummer above a neat mound of shiny serrated green leaves. This astilbe is ideal for a moist bog garden or water's edge but it will also do well in containers if it is kept well watered. This cultivar has long-lasting flowers and will grow in full sun. In drier soils it will need to be in a shady spot.
- Garden care: Newly planted astilbes need to be well watered until they are established. Lift and divide large clumps every three or four years discarding old woody rhizomes.
Similar Plants:
False goatsbeard
Astilbe 'Bressingham Beauty' (× arendsii)
False goatsbeard
Astilbe 'Fanal' (× arendsii)
False goatsbeard
Astilbe chinensis 'Vision in Pink'
Related Articles:


text:
To Katie Hahn:
To play multiple families, go to the menu and click on the player name. It will bring up a screen for more players.
To Shari:
It's really not a question of whether it's worth the money because you can only sell duplicates. The question is, do you need the money? How intent are you on completing the collections? You'll have to start over if you sell them. And I believe duplicates sell online for $5, $15, and $50. Someone correct me if I'm wrong, please. :)
To Tiffany:
I think you can only have six kids max. But give it a shot and see if the parents will have more than six when one is gone to Europe. And please let us know what you find out.
Is this person with the fluctuating income a Day Trader? I have found that this career does that. On one level they are making great money, then the next level up not so much. The salary varies each time they get a promotion up and down. Like anything to do with sales (and commission), the salary will fluctuate based on economic conditions and luck. At least, that's my theory.
About having more than 6 kids, you can't. I tried it after a couple of my kids had been drafted away (one to Europe, one to Japan). The game just tells you that you can't have more than 6.
My oldest family is about to go into its 5th generation, with 79 trophies and counting . . .
[Edit: Thanks for the information! -Pam]
Hi all, I cant seem to get my family to make a meal, i put them on the fridge and they go off to do other things and when i put them on the kitchen area they go look for a snack, please help!....by the way i got triplets the first time they made a baby and i think its really funny after they try for a baby they get tired then if they produce a baby they become exsausted. lol
I know that they are supposed to "get a drink" in order to release water pressure on the hose, but everytime I drop one of my people on the sink they prepare a meal, look for snacks, work on career....they never get a drink. The few times that they have gotten a drink on their own, there has never been any message of low water pressure. I have already purchased the tape and placed it by the hose. What am i doing wrong?
hey pam..just sharing..
i have 2 families on the go currently..One family with 4 kids, i have 1500 in my account and they are pretty happy..but the puzzles still running slowly cause 'not having stocks' in the store..another family..i have 6 kids! and im very excited although all of them are exhausted..the mother is still pregnant so its up to the father to bring all the money to the house..i keep giving him energy drink but he always exercises. the money is also in a bad condition, i have $200 to feed 8 mouths..I'm working on it though.
just wondering..when the kids leave the house, then if they dont come back and the parents are getting older..then who's going to be the money maker? and if they dont come back, how are going to have the later generations? and what happened to the balanced money that we have in the account after the parents die?
They remain in the house as 18 yr olds my theory is that when they turn 19 they leave. All of my children were 18 for sometime before they left.
My experience when trying to upgrade to the newest version was that I had to start all over.
The rays of sunshine are just a nice visual reflecting a nice day
How do you get multiple families? I have one and my kids are going off to college! Help! I want more people. Also how come I have had 27 dryer fires but no oven fires? What happens after you get the picture? I have all the pieces, what now? I do not have a lot of pieces for the other collections...need one more coin...need a bunch of bugs and the other twigs need some. Any help is appreciated!
To Ash:
Ok, so the knob is in place on the door. The next step is -
Retrieve the key under the welcome mat.
To Chrissy:
Have someone get a drink at the bathroom sink if the kitchen won't work.
To Zue-anne and Chooopppss:
About the kids taking over -
When the parents die, you will have the option of choosing any of their children to take over the house and start the next generation. It won't matter how old they are when the parent dies, they'll all be adults for you to choose from. And it won't matter if they went away as children. They will all be there for you to choose from.
To Grinnyp:
I have a snail. :)
To Lasy:
If you download the updated version from the site where you purchased game, you shouldn't have to start over.
None of the children work at careers until they become the next generation. However, when they turn 14, they can do adult activities and chores.
To Vicky:
To make them happy -
Give them treats, make sure the house is clean, plenty of food, praise them, buy upgrades. They will get happy over time.
To Ali:
About the store -
Check to see which version you have (lower left corner of the menu screen). If it's a version prior to 1.00.05, you should probably download the new version. Go back to the site where you originally purchased the game. One of the improvements is that the store refreshes every four hours.
To Mari:
When the people here talk about multiple families, it doesn't mean more people in your existing family. It's just that you can play more than one game at a time, each with its own family. To do this, click the player name on the menu screen and you will have the option to start other families.
Oven fires are random. Yours just hasn't happened yet.
You get a trophy when you complete any of the collections. You should have gotten one for completing the picture.
question, how do I get someone to make coffee? The wife makes it and I praise her for it and she continues to do it. But the husband, I drag him to the coffee machine and he "sees kitchen work area" and will start "looking for snacks", but he doesn't make coffee.
As for the tired/exhausted question and raising energy levels, another thing I do that helps a good amount is napping if it is during the day. I just drag someone to one of the couches in the living room and they may do it, especially if they are tired enough. Otherwise, if that does not work the first several tries, praise them when you do catch them "taking a nap". It raises their energy a good amount (more than coffee or a hammock, although compared to coffee, it takes more time to finish doing).
Is there any way to allow your adults to die so that the kids can take over? My adults are so low on energy that they won't work and I'm running out of money. Two children have already left for college and my female is 50 and the male is 49. (The place I bought my game from does not have the new version and I refuse to buy it again.)
To Jessica:
Check the FAQ located at the top of this page.
To Magnolias72:
About career advancement -
Drop them on their work area as much as you can and praise them with the green hand or a piece of candy/fruit every time. Also, their careers will move faster when you buy the upgrade for the room.
To Meme:
The grill seems to only feed the person who is doing the grilling, and then it's only a small amount on their "fed" bar.
To Rachel:
I haven't figured out the coffee thing yet. :(
To Vicky:
It's antitussive syrup for a cough.
To Sarah:
Mine sleep at night when I drop them on the bed. However, the game needs to be closed for several hours for their energy levels to rise substantially.
To JIGuest:
I'm afraid the parents just have to die on their own before one of the children can take over the house.
It sounds like your problem is the energy levels. All of the game sites are supposed to have the updated version of the game. Which site did you purchase from?
For anybody who has being trying to unlock the shed where you mistakenly praised them before they unlocked it and it now just has the doorknob connected and it says confused everytime you drop them in front of it, try dropping them on the welcome mat. I did this and then they went and unlocked the shed door and then you can take out the watering can and water the flowers :-)
Ok, I'm confused. I placed 1 of my people on the doorknob in the sandbox and it said they were going to fix the garage door.
I decided to leave her and go see what the husband was doing and when i got back to her it said she was doing something totally different.
I took her to the garage door and it said it was locked so I took her to the doormat and it said she saw the key but was confused. What did I do wrong here? How can I fix it?
The dad in one of my families health is very low. It tells me he is "a but weak". The doctor consult showed no infections and I have given him penicillin but nothing is working. My question is do you think that it is part of the game to possibly have someone with bad health and might die young. I would like to hear from people who had a person die young and how the person acted before dying
The sick dad has twins. One of the twins are now having health issues. It is also telling me that she is "a bit weak" She ia only 4 and he is 31 Her health bar is just under halfway. Could this sickness be genetic? Strange
You can not make them clean up after a meal One of them will eventually do it on their own
Hi all.
I know there has been talk about making the coffee, but i still can't work out the Latte praise. How to you get your little people making Latte's??
Also on the praising, what is the deal with the rotten fish? I have no idea.
I am on my 6th generation with 72 trophies and i really want to sort this out. The other trophies are mainly collection and upgrade ones. These two are stumping me!! HELP!!!
To Aillina:
The kids do not get a job until after the parents die and one of them takes over the house.
To C:
Try closing your game and restarting. The doorknob should be back in place for you to start over.
To Vicky and JIGuest:
Medicines only help when they are sick, not when they are weak. Their degree of weakness depends on how long they were sick before they were cured. Once they have been given the medicine, they should start to get stronger, but it takes time. Be sure you have plenty of food, make them eat meals, give them vitamins when available.
To Debbie:
When you choose a child to carry on the next generation, the other children just stay on the family tree. They don't appear in the game.
To Jessica:
You're looking at the family screen. You need to be on the menu screen. The player name you need to click is your name. You are the player. It will bring up a new screen where you can make new families.
To Dancingdolphin:
It's possible that childhood activities will have an impact on adult careers, but I haven't been able to prove it yet.
To Faith:
About children -
If your couple dies without children, the game is over. Don't let their arguing deter you. Keep dropping them until they try to make a baby. If they argue, pick one of them up and drop again. I've had to do it six or seven times in a row before they would go to the bedroom. Also, keep in mind that they don't always have a baby when they try. You've still got time, though. The females can still have babies into their 40s.
To Shauna:
It's possible for it to be part of the game that a person is weak and dies young, but I don't think it's likely. There are ways to improve their strength. Weakness is different from illness. Medicines won't do anything if the person is weak, so the penicillin was no good. I had a couple of people die young, but I deliberately left them unattended because I needed to know what would happen (research for this thread). The mother was well into her 30s before she died. The dad was about 39 and was very pathetic. All of his bars were down to zero, but I nursed him back to health. He lived another 20 years.
Their weakness is related to how long they were sick before they got medicine. To help them, you need to make sure there is plenty of food, make them eat meals, give vitamins when available. Keep up with everything and they should grow stronger.
Sorry this is so long. :)
To ArcticAngel:
Bugs appear in pretty much all the places that coins and twigs appear. Plus, they also appear in the upper left corner. Bugs seem to be the hardest to find of all the collections.
To Dancingdolphin:
Adopting children is a random event, no matter if it's a single parent or a married couple. It's not guaranteed either way.
To JIGuest:
For the rotten fish -
You'll see one of your people walking toward the kitchen and it will say something about a strange smell in the activity bar. Praise them when you see this. They'll pull a fish out of the refrigerator and put in the garbage.
I imagine the latte is similar. Watch to see them making coffee and praise.
I've purchased my game through real one arcade and it is the 1.00.01 version. I understand the newer version is 1.00.05 but real one arcade says they won't have that available for a little bit....so not right.
[Edit: You may want to try downloading it again anyway. According to the developers of Virtual Families, you can't always tell that it's the new version from looking at the download link. -Pam]
oh yes, some other things i found while playing the game :)! For couples that argue when you try to get them to make a baby, it seems like they are less likely to argue if you try one of these
1) Buy perfume from the store and put it on one of them.
2) Give some sort of house upgrade so they will be "celebrating".
Either seem to put them in a better mood as far as prevent arguments. Also, if you have couples that do not make babies so easily when they do try, this is what I have done to minimize using up time in the game itself. I know that generally changing the clock on the computer is discouraged, but in this case, changing the clock hasn't seem to have any adverse effect in my game thus far. I pause the whole game then speed up the computer clock by an hour. Whether or not it is too soon to make a baby seems to depend on the time passed in your computer NOT the game. So after you change the time, un-pause the game and drop your couple together and it will no longer say it is too soon to try for a baby.
[Edit: We strongly advise against changing the computer clock for any reason. Not only can it ruin the game, but it can also mess up other functions that rely on the computer clock. -Pam]
I praise my family when they exercise and they do it more often, I think this keeps their health up. I have a couple in their mid 50's and they are still very healthy. I also find the hammock very helpful if they are tired. They will take a nap ever time you put them by the hammock. Some times I do it two or three times in a row. If you play the game intently for a long time their energy seems to go down faster. Sometimes you just have to leave them alone to get their energy back up. By the end of the day there energy is low, but when it gets dark they go to bed and in the morning they have more energy. My couple in their 50's never had any children even though I tried as much as possible. I think cause I wanted to find a good match for and so I waited till she was 38 before I accepted a proposal. Now I realize the match isn't that important.
Hi. Just sharing, and some confusion.
I've been playing this for more than a week and started with my new generation this morning.
My past generation family was great. The parents were bringing lots of money (dad was a dress designer and mom a cake designer) and managed to reach master level. They got a boy, 3 girls and twin girls and they've good behaviors. I seldomly used the red glove. I always praise them for their homework, giggle party and playing train.. giggle party is so adorable.
However, the dad passed away this morning and since his wife was so depressed, i decided to start with a new generation.
I chose one of the twins since she got the most salary- $105/day but what confused me now is that after she got her first promotion, her salary became $60/day. I'm sure she didn't chang her career.. It's still a day trader, hehe.
Anyone experience this before?
To ftp_hitt:
About the Gopher hole.
Try the youngest kid. Under the age of 8 seemed to work best with my families.
Drop the kid until he/she says "digging a hole to china", praise them and let them dig, just guard the "gopher hole" against parents who try to fill it.
After you have the hole "playing on the lawn" will come up just keep dropping the kid.
For me it only worked with the same kid that dug the hole. Good luck, it takes patience.
To Brown:
Grinnyp had a good theory that the Day Trader careers have salaries that fluctuate because that's how it is in real life. I think that's the case in your situation. The salary will probably go back up again with promotions.
To Nikki:
The age of the children at the time of the parents' death won't matter. You'll choose one to carry on the family and they will all be in their early 20s.
To Brown and Pam:
The Day Trader does indeed go up and down. I got my Day Trader all the way to level 8. On the odd numbered levels they make more money, on the even ones they make less. On level 7 she was making $510 a day! Then she hit level 8 at $240.
Best I've found so far is still Lobbyist, which starts out around $100 and tops out at $485 on level 8. I've got three working right now that I have high hopes for. I have a programmer that is already making $200 and is at level 4 or 5, and a Dental Instrument maker who is also earning around $200 at level 4. I'm hoping my hacker, who started at like $40 will eventually come into some big money.
Not enough going on in the game to keep you interested?
Create several usernames and maintain a family under each
Energy levels low?
I think the game is intended to be played in short spells - I check on my family first thing before I go to work, and then when I get home - they have time to recover energy in between - i.e. leave 'em alone!
Wanna play for longer at one time? See my first point above.
Just having fun here! Wow, call child protective services. My kids make the major bulk of the income (they sell the collectibles). I have had 3 year olds wash the dishes, take out the garbage and sell collectibles in the rain!
Is there an area where we can leave screenshots from our game? We should make a "see my family!" thread where we just post cute screenshots of our families, I'd love to see all the different kinds. Family trees would be nice too. My kids do look like their parents. Although 2 of the 3 kids I have so far and kinda ugly despite having adorable parents =/. But the first one was SUPER cute.