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Animal Nutrition Program
Nutrient Requirements of Dairy Cattle
Through the generous support of the American Dairy Science Association (ADSA) Foundation and more than eleven co-sponsors, the National Research Council (NRC) is moving forward on a study to update the Nutrient Requirements for Dairy Cattle. The ADSA Foundation committed $204,000 to the update and worked to secure commitments from eleven additional organizations (see list) for $19,600 each. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration's Center for Veterinary Medicine and the National Animal Nutrition Program (NRSP-9) also support the NRC animal nutrition program.
With funds in hand, the NRC is now requesting nominations for individuals to serve on the study committee that will develop an 8th edition of the Nutrient Requirements for Dairy Cattle. Over the course of 2 years, individuals who serve on the committee will be tasked with reviewing and summarizing new information from the literature and other sources; developing consensus on minimum requirements; developing a model of dairy nutrition; drafting report chapters; and revising the report following anonymous review.
Companies that have committed to provide $19,600 each in support of the study include the following:
IFEEDER (Institute for Feed Education and Research)
Zinpro Corporation
Kemin Industries
The Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy
Cargill Animal Nutrition
BASF – The Chemical Company
Hubbard Feeds
Evonik Industries AG
Elanco Animal Health
Ajinomoto Heartland Inc.
Novus International
Call for nominations
Nominees with expertise in the following areas are being sought: energy nutrition; protein and amino acid nutrition; vitamin and mineral nutrition; nutrient bioavailability; feed composition and feed additives; new feed ingredients; antioxidants; diet formulation; practical feeding, including environmental conditions; nutrient excretion and environmental management; nutrient metabolism and utilization; dairy cattle nutrition and dairy products; and nutrition modeling. See the study background and statement of task for more details. Submit nominations to Robin Schoen. Please provide name, contact information, and a brief description of the expertise and experience the nominee would bring to the study committee. The deadline for nominations is January 20, 2014.
Since the early 1900s, the National Academies National Research Council has led continuous improvements in our understanding of the scientific basis for feeding of animals. For many years, this work was overseen by the Committee on Animal Nutrition. Currently, the responsibility for continuing this tradition rests with the Animal Nutrition Program of BANR.
The primary focus of the Animal Nutrition Program is The Nutrient Requirements of Domestic Animals series, which covers approximately 30 species of economically important farm animals, laboratory species, wildlife, and companion animals. Reports in this series are used as a standard worldwide by government agencies for research and regulatory purposes, by universities for teaching and research, by extension personnel, by food and feed industries, and by veterinarians, livestock producers, and pet owners. In addition to the consensus reports in this series, the Animal Nutrition Program also addresses prevailing and emerging issues through special reports and events.
Activities of the Committee on Animal Nutrition and the Animal Nutrition Program have changed over time in response to emerging issues and changing national needs. Early on, the focal point of the Committee on Animal Nutrition was improving animal nutrition to ensure an adequate food supply for the population during emergency war times. Today, the major focus of work is centered in four important areas:
- Environmental Quality: Refining animal feeding to reduce environmental impacts.
- Animal Production: Improving animal productivity and efficiency.
- Food Safety: Enhancing the quality and safety of food products derived from animal sources.
- Animal and Human Health: Ensuring the health and well-being of animals and humans.
Advances in science and technology, such as rapid gains in the genetic potential of animals, the use of transgenic feeds, development of transgenic animals, and the implementation of computer technology to model the biologic basis of animal nutrition, require continual reassessment of nutrient requirements. Changes in management strategies to address environmental concerns necessitate on-going review of animal nutrition and feeding approaches.
The Animal Nutrition Program responds to requests received from government, industry, or other organizations, utilizing mechanisms such as committee deliberations and consensus policy studies, appointed task forces, brief reports, symposia, conferences, workshops, public forums, and international satellite programs. The traditions and history of the program have generated clear mechanisms, strengths, and responsibilities for continuing activities that are vital to our nation.
Report release schedules are subject to change. For updates and information, please contact Robin Schoen, Director, Board on Agriculture and Natural Resources at 202-334-2236 or e-mail firstname.lastname@example.com. For more information about The National Academies, access their home page at http://www.national-academies.org.


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California Department of Transportation
Date: December 7, 2012
District: 5 - Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Monterey, Santa Cruz and San Benito Counties
Contact: Jim Shivers or Colin Jones
Phone: (805) 549-3237 or (805) 549-3189
SAN LUIS OBISPO - The California Transportation Commission today allocated $306 million to 44 projects that will help ease traffic congestion, improve safety, and support economic growth.
"From one end of the state to the other, transportation projects are providing jobs and improving roads, bridges, and transit for people and businesses in California," said Caltrans Director Malcolm Dougherty.
The allocations include $114 million from Proposition 1B, a transportation bond approved by voters in 2006. In total, $14.7 billion in Proposition 1B funds have been distributed statewide.
The remaining $192 million in allocations came from assorted transportation accounts funded by state and federal dollars.
Among the projects that received funding today were:
- $4.3 million to the San Luis Obispo Council of Governments (SLOCOG) for the replacement of the Estrella River Bridge on Hwy. 46 in San Luis Obispo County.
- $195,000 to the San Luis Obispo Council of Governments (SLOCOG) for the Safe Routes to Schools Program. This funding will help to educate, encourage, evaluate and enforce bicycle and pedestrian safety at K-12 schools in San Luis Obispo County.
- $2.8 million to the Santa Barbara County Association of Governments (SBCAG)/ City of Santa Maria to connect the Santa Maria Airport and the community of Orcutt to the new Hwy. 101 Interchange.
- $5.3 million to the Santa Cruz Regional Transportation Commission (SCCRTC) to improve rail improvements from Davenport to Watsonville for existing freight and recreational rail service and to facilitate the implementation of new recreational passenger service.
Please see the attached file for information about all projects that received allocations
# # # #

subset: commoncrawl


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Order & Return
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Email: firstname.lastname@example.com or Fax: 02 9667 2512.
Our sales team will respond to your order or quotation within 24 hours.
Artwork is required in jpg, jpeg, bmp or EPS format, converted to curves. If artwork is not supplied in the correct format, an additional artwork charge will apply.
3 - 10 working days (According to location) from receipt of deposit for the order without logo .OR. 2-3 weeks APPROXIMATELY from receipt of a written order, signed artwork approval and receipt of deposit for the order with logo. However, if your order is for a specific event please let us know your deadline at the time of order confirmation. Delivery is subject to sighting artwork and stock availability at the time of ordering.
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$12.00 Basic charge for one item
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All stock must be returned in original condition and in its original packaging within 7 days from date of receipt. On orders up to $500(inc GST) there is a $20 restocking fee. On orders over $501(inc GST) there is a 15% restocking fee of total order.
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Made payable to "Blue Pacific Enterprises"
Credit Card
Blue Pacific accepts Visa, MasterCard and American Express
Account: firstname.lastname@example.com


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Full Movie Crazy, Stupid, Love. Streaming In HDWatch Movie Crazy, Stupid, Love. Streaming In HD with duration 118 Min and broadcast on 2011-07-28 with MPAA rating is 597.
- Original Title : Crazy, Stupid, Love.
- Movie title in your country : Crazy, Stupid, Love.
- Year of movie : 2011
- Genres of movie : Comedy, Drama, Romance,
- Status of movie : Released
- Release date of movie : 2011-07-28
- Companies of movie : Warner Bros.,
- Countries of movie : United States of America,
- Language of movie : English,
- Durationof movie : 118 Min
- Average vote of movie : 6.7
- Youtube ID of movie : uGstgE0XnV8
- Translation of movie : EN,PT,DE,RU,TR,FR,SV,CS,ZH,NL,FI,HU,IT,ES,PL,SK,HE,DA,EL,
- Cast of movie :
- Steve Carell ( Cal )
- Julianne Moore ( Emily )
- Ryan Gosling ( Jacob )
- Emma Stone ( Hannah )
- Marisa Tomei ( Kate )
- Kevin Bacon ( David Lindhagen )
- Analeigh Tipton ( Jessica Riley )
- Jonah Bobo ( Robbie Weaver )
Crazy, Stupid, Love. Synopsis:
Play Streaming Crazy, Stupid, Love. At fortysomething, straight-laced Cal Weaver (Steve Carell) is living the dream-good job, nice house, great kids and marriage to his high school sweetheart. But when Cal learns that his wife, Emily (Julianne Moore), has cheated on him and wants a divorce, his "perfect" life quickly unravels. Worse, in today's single world, Cal, who hasn't dated in decades, stands out as the epitome of un-smooth. Now spending his free evenings sulking alone at a local bar, the hapless Cal is taken on as wingman and protege to handsome, thirtysomething player Jacob Palmer (Ryan Gosling). Watch Movie Crazy, Stupid, Love. High Quality
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Director : Glenn Ficarra, Director : John Requa, Writer : Dan Fogelman, Screenplay : Dan Fogelman,
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David O. Russell has a knack for chaotic domestic comedy, with the yelling and the screaming and the occasional punching. Silver Linings Playbook has a lot in common with his previous movie, The Fighter–this one is set in Philadelphia not Boston, and there is a Led Zeppelin set piece in this one, too. It also has Jennifer Lawrence who steals the movie. The rest of the cast is good but she's the straw that stirs the drink.
The story is predictable, you can see everything coming five minutes ahead of time–and not especially credible–but that doesn't necessarily spoil its charms. And Lawrence's character is believable, you've likely known a woman like her, which makes the whole thing work. The more I thought about Silver Linings Playbook after it was over, the thinner it seemed, but I smiled and laughed while I watched it.


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Excelsior Running Club is a men's and women's running group open to all ages and abilities. We provide a friendly and supportive environment with the goal of developing all levels of runners.
The running club offers bi-weekly group training in San Francisco (Tuesdays and Thursdays) and the South Bay. Track workouts are usually conducted at Kezar Stadium in San Francisco and longer weekend runs are held throughout the SF Bay area.
Excelsior team members after the 2013 Across the bridge 12K PA/USATF race.


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Mike Tyson Roots of Fight Shirts
We'll keep you up to date on what MMA and BJJ products are hot in our "Best Sellers" feature.
Roots of Fight is known for their unique brand of MMA, BJJ and boxing apparel. They're the company behind cool items like the Muhammad Ali "Float Like a Butterfly" Hoodie, the Bruce Lee Hong Kong Shirt and many more. If you follow the action on Twitter and/or Facebook, you know that The Rock is a huge Roots of Fight fan.
Two of their Mike Tyson shirts recently jumped into the top sellers list at MMAWarehouse.com. That's no surprise. Roots of Fight have taken the MMA and boxing community by storm with their shirts. Click the pictures for the full product description and more pictures.
Mike Tyson Roots of Fight NY State Games Shirt
Mike Tyson Roots of Fight Brooklyn's Own Shirt
Click the link to check out the rest of the top-selling items at MMAWarehouse.com.


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Thank you for your interest in becoming a Rescue Partner with the Animal Care and Adoption Division (ACAD). Together, we can save lives and give good animals a second chance to find safe, loving forever homes. This is hard work, but the rewards make it worth the time, effort and sacrifice.
If you are a qualified and experienced animal rescue organization that would like to become an approved Rescue Partner with ACAD, please review the terms of our Rescue Agreement. The agreement contains the straightforward policies and procedures that apply to our Rescue Program.
Rescue Partners must be approved prior to receiving or providing care for pets released from ACAD. In order to apply to become an approved Rescue Partner, the organization must meet the following requirements:
Once received, applications are reviewed for accuracy and completeness. Upon notification that your organization has been approved as a Rescue Partner, you will be eligible to participate in the rescue program and be registered to receive daily rescue bulletins that list animals who are in critical need for rescue assistance.
For more information about the Rescue Partner Program, please contact our Rescue Program Coordinator at 954-357-7093.


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Longview Man Charged with Murder in Weekend Shooting
Charges have been filed against 43-year-old Cedric Bernard Carldwell in connection with the Sunday shooting death of 63-year-old Huey Gray of Longview.
Police responded to the shooting in the 800 block of Walnut St. where the suspect and victim were arguing.
Officers say Carldwell shot Gray several times. Gray was transported to a local hospital where he later died. Carldwell fled the scene prior to police arrival. He later turned himself in.
He was charged with one count of murder and is being held in the Gregg County Jail on a $175,000 bond.
Jail records show that Carldwell has been in and out of jail since 1992 on numerous charges including aggravated kidnapping and aggravated assault.


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Story highlights
- More people choosing to ditch the corporate ladder to become long-term temps
- One interim worker says he is now free from "corporate bureaucracy"
- Temporary contract work offers more freedom and flexibility, say advocates
For years the word "permatemp" has sent shivers down the spines of professionals around the world, who fear they will never be able to land themselves a permanent job.
But there is now a new breed of temp on the block, one that is not desperate to hold onto the corporate ladder, but instead chooses to jump off it in order to further their careers.
These so called "supertemps" are top-level managers who have realized that they are often better off, both financially and emotionally, working for various companies on a project-based or temporary basis.
"The number-one reason these high achievers decide to leave their corporate careers behind is for career satisfaction," says Jody Miller, co-founder and CEO of Business Talent Group (BTG), an agency that specializes in pairing up companies with independent business professionals. "They want to choose what type of work they do and for whom. Ultimately they want to be in control of their own life," she adds.
Tony Evans, a 58-year-old chief executive from York, in the United Kingdom, was ahead of the curve when he decided to "decouple himself from the corporate treadmill" and go at it alone in 1994.
"I got to the point where I wanted to do the things that I liked, not just be part of the corporate bureaucracy," he says.
Two years later he set up his interim management services business 3 Graces and he hasn't looked back since.
"I find working as an interim manager incredibly freeing," says Evans. "There is a different level of honesty that you can have with your client when you work as an independent, one which they simply don't get from a permanent employee."
Evans has worked all over the world helping to rescue businesses that are going through a difficult time. "I only get to play when things are complicated, but that's how I like it," he says.
He also is a board member of the Institute of Interim Management (IIM) which supports independent professionals and helps promote them to clients. As with many others who work as an independents, he began his career as an interim when he was made redundant.
A recent survey by the IIM showed that 22% of prospective interims cite the end of employment as a trigger for making the move, but a whopping 70% give professional and lifestyle choices as the principal driver.
This doesn't surprise Miller who says that many of her clients cite a better work-life balance as one of the reasons why they make the switch.
Evans found that when he was made redundant during the recession in the early 1990s he wanted to reassess his life. "I had a young family at the time and although I felt the pressure to ensure I would be able to provide for them I quickly realized that I could earn as much money and do more exciting things if I started to work as an independent," he says.
But even though recent research by McKinsey found that 58% of U.S. companies are expecting to use more temporary arrangements on all levels in the years ahead, Miller still believes that there is a stigma attached to temp work on executive levels, one which she is keen to shed.
"The idea that a person who works on a project basis is not as successful or as ambitious as someone who sticks to the corporate culture is not true, but it is still something that is part of U.S. conventional business thinking," she says.
"My clients could stay in the corporate world if they wanted to, they just choose not to," adds Miller, who recently wrote about the "Rise of the Supertemp" in the Harvard Business Review.
But the emergence of the "supertemp" is not just an American phenomenon. In Europe, where more stringent labor laws exist, temporary work is even more widespread as companies are reluctant to hire permanent staff, says Miller. She adds that although the majority of this work is in the middle tier or below, it is now spreading in the high end.
According to consultancy firm Booz Allen Hamilton, the UK market for interim managers is one of the best developed, accounting for as much as $1.8 billion in revenue in 2009; and across Europe, annual growth in the market for interim executives has been over 20%.
But Evans wants to ensure that anyone who toys with the idea of breaking free from the corporate shackles realizes that all this freedom doesn't come stress free.
"For me the hardest time is at the end of an assignment. I like to work and the downtime gives me itchy feet as there is no guarantee that you will get more work," he says.
That's where agencies such as Milller's BTG have created their niche, pairing up companies in need of talent with independents who looking for the next assignment.
"It takes a lot of pressure off when you have an agency looking for new projects on your behalf," says Evans, who adds that about half of his business comes through agencies; "The rest I get through my own contacts," he adds.
Both Miller and Evans believe that most supertemps share some key characteristics that help them succeed.
"These people like to go in and make an impact quickly," says Miller. "They have specific skills and they like variety and a challenge. They can work as an outsider as well as being able to gain people's confidence quickly and they are natural self-starters who are able to network easily."
Although the current economic downturn has resulted in an increasing number of managers and executives being let go, thus saturating the supertemp market, both Evans and Miller are hopeful for the future.
They argue that it is fast becoming a competitive advantage for businesses to know how best to engage this flexible talent model.
"Companies will start realizing that it is more cost effective and more productive to hire the best possible team for a specific phase, and understand that such a team might not be the team which will manage the next phase," says Miller.
"I think the corporations that embrace that will be the ones that will do best in the future."


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People magazine has named Chace Crawford "Summer's Hottest Bachelor" in their tenth annual Hottest Bachelors issue. The "Gossip Girl" star sat down with the mag to talk perfect dates, dating Carrie Underwood, made-up gay rumors with co-stars and why he loves being a bachelor.
"I'm not not looking for a girlfriend—but I'm not particularly looking for a girlfriend, either. I'm not knocking having a relationship; at the end of the day, you want to share with someone," he told the mag. "But I just look at it as: I have the rest of my life to do that. I'm not in any rush."
VIEW THE PHOTOS: 'Gossip' Guy Chace Crawford
And when Chace does decide to date – his potential love interests better be good at beer pong.
"All you need is a pool table, beer, an electric jukebox and good conversation," Chace said, adding, "The day a girl beats me in a game of Beirut [a kind of beer pong] is a good sign!"
VIEW THE PHOTOS: Robert Pattinson- Hollywood's Hottest Vampire!
As for past relationships, Chace revealed that unlike many Hollywood splits, he only has fond memories of dating Carrie Underwood.
"I have nothing bad to say about that experience. It was awesome," he said of the country super star. "I just didn't know how to deal with it. I learned a ton about dating someone in that kind of spotlight. It was such a whirlwind, but no regrets."
The upcoming star of the "Footloose" reboot doesn't even have regrets about rumors that surfaced on various blogs and gossip Web sites about a secret gay romance with his "Gossip Girl" co-star Ed Westwick.
VIEW THE PHOTOS: From Movie Prince To Starship Captain: Hot Shots Of Chris Pine!
"You know what we really did the first time we heard it?" Chace said of the pesky rumors. "Ed goes, 'Oh, did you hear that rumor about us being gay?' I was like, 'Yeah, man.' He starts laughing and we're kind of like, 'Okay, you want to go play pool and have a beer?'"
Other celeb bachelors also making the list this year include, Robert Pattinson, Bradley Cooper, Chris Pine, Zac Efron, Adam Lambert, Shia LaBeouf, Bret Michaels, Zach Braff, Donald Faison, Prince Harry, tennis player Rafael Nadel, Taylor Kitsch and Brody Jenner.
Related Content from AccessHollywood.com:
PLAY IT NOW: Chace Crawford Talks 'Footloose' Remake, 'Gossip Girl' & More
PLAY IT NOW: Access Extended: Cosmopolitan's Fun Fearless Awards 2009
MORE ACCESS ON THESE TOPICS: Chace Crawford - Adam Lambert - Brody Jenner - Chris Pine - Robert Pattinson


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tonibaloni97 wrote:
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Cameraman Causes Awesome Blooper [VIDEO]
Times like this I am so happy to be on the radio and not on T.V. We have stuff go wrong all the time when we are on the air, but you can't see us. This guys reaction is priceless, I just wonder If the cameraman still has a job, and If he does I doubt he is still working the camera.


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Tonight I'm finally posting the completed DVD wrap commission for the movie California 90420 by Catchphrase Entertainment and New Coast Productions in L.A. I let myself get talked into doing the type setting on this job. This will be the last one. I offer illustration, not graphic design. I just don't have the software, fonts etc. needed for that king of work and I just don't enjoy it. I'm going to stick with my caricatured manipulations. It's what I do best and it's what I enjoy doing. This was a pretty cool project though. In all, there was the original caricature commission, two posters, a t-shirt and the DVD wrap so it was a good bit of work. Check out the movie trailer below and check out the movie if you get a chance. Well, it's official; just got the final approval so this will be delivered tonight. I'm ready to move on to some fun stuff now.
California 90420
Thanks for stopping by. Have a great day and be inspired!


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Story highlights
- Report: Almost half of video game players in U.S. are female
- Gamers cite a rise in strong female characters in top titles
- In gaming circles, though, some say "boys' club" mentality persists
- Marketing overwhelmingly still targets young males
A new report suggests adult women are nearly half of all video game players. That's a number that can be read in the changing tone of some of today's top games. But it's also one that some female gamers say isn't really as close to even as it should be.
According to the "2013 Essential Facts About the Computer and Video Game Industry" report, produced by the Entertainment Software Association, 45% of all game players, and 46% of the most frequent purchasers of games, are female. Adult women make up 31% of the game-playing population.
"This new data underscores the remarkable upward trajectory for video games. It is an entertainment form enjoyed by hundreds of millions of consumers worldwide," said Michael D. Gallagher, president and CEO of ESA, the trade association that represents the U.S. video game industry. "A diverse and energized consumer base, remarkable new hardware, and outstanding software all combine to foster growth for our industry."
Female gamers are obviously a diverse group. Millions enjoy the shooters, strategy games and other titles favored by "hardcore" enthusiasts. Millions more have eased into the gaming world via social and smartphone games, or through family interactions.
One of the top reasons why people buy video games is an interesting storyline, according to the report. And some women have pointed to a rise in the number of games with complex themes and more scenarios that call for decision-making, not brute force, as a selling point.
And it doesn't hurt that many of those same titles have begun to include female protagonists, or at least the ability to create your own.
"Today's game characters are much more customizable than years ago," said Lauren Eleazer, 26, from State College, Pennsylvania. "This is part of overall game development, but every female gamer I've met appreciates being able to style her character and make it more unique."
Jessica Chobot, a television and Web show host whose work has appeared on gaming site IGN, the G4 network and elsewhere, said the industry has been taking notice of the rise of female gamers, and that the inclusion of female characters in meaningful roles is no accident.
"In a lot of ways, it was the perfect storm for change," said Chobot, who is also a writer for the Zombie Studios game, "Daylight." "The gaming industry's awareness of having to appeal to a wider audience -- one that included women -- has been reflected with the addition of stronger female characters.
"The 2013 re-vamped 'Lara Croft,' 'Mass Effect's female version of Commander Shepard and 'Uncharted''s Elena Fisher and Chloe Frazer are just a few examples that come to mind."
Other strong female characters, like Elizabeth in "BioShock Infinite" or Ellie in "The Last of Us," show the range developers are willing to put in their games to attract a wider audience and provide a different experience from games in the past.
Upcoming games like "Beyond: Two Souls" and a new "Mirror's Edge" appear that they'll continue to put women in the forefront of gaming action and narrative.
But, sometimes, it's the little things that can help draw more women into the gaming fold.
"Control schemes need to do more to take into account people who didn't grow up with a controller in their hands," said Colleen Hannon, a senior editor for the website Gamers With Jobs. "I'm not saying make the game easier; I'm saying give people who need to learn those basic skills a path to learn that doesn't belittle or sideline them."
The sustained and growing pop-culture presence of video games also has been a boon for developers looking to add women to their player bases.
"I think this issue is cultural," said Shannon Gagnon, 28, from Scranton, Pennsylvania. "Since being a geek has become something to be proud of, instead of something to hide, more of my female friends are becoming gamers. But they don't see a lot of games they are interested in, because mostly when you see games advertised it is 'Call of Duty' or 'World of Warcraft.' "
A majority of gamers play games with their family -- 16% play with parents, 32% play with other family members and 16% play with their spouse or significant other. That widening acceptance of gaming is also helping women feel like they belong.
"I've noticed the biggest difference in attitude coming from non-gamers, especially other women, who once found my pastime silly," said Audrey Epple, from Macon, Georgia. "Now, they seem more accepting. It has become the norm."
But despite those cultural shifts, talk to many female gamers and you'll hear stories about a darker side of the hobby -- a persistent "boy's club" mentality that sometimes manifests itself in ugly ways.
Story after story recounts female gamers who, once they ventured into gaming circles beyond family and friends, faced mockery, dismissive attitudes and even abuse from their peers.
In one recent story making the rounds in online gaming circles, a girl went into a certain game's online community, asking about its mechanics.
The first response she got was from a male player, telling her he'd answer if she performed a sex act on him.
Harassment of women in online gaming forums is prevalent enough that there's even a derogatory term -- "white knight" -- for male members who step up to defend them -- the suggestion being that they're only doing so to gain favor with the woman involved.
"Age of the other gamer makes quite a difference," said Eleazer. "Older gamers tend to be respectful of female gamers ... . Anyone 15 or younger doesn't get it, but I blame that on maturity."
Chobot says that kind of attitude is beginning to fade, but that it "hasn't quite changed just yet."
"More and more women can be found in high profile and strong roles within the industry," she said. "Yet, just recently, the comment was made to me, 'You're just a host, right? You don't really play games.' "
Hannon, of Gamers With Jobs, said she thinks the way games are marketed plays a role.
"There are more women over 18 playing games now than boys under 17," she said. "But you wouldn't be able to tell by the contents and comment sections of most game publications, the language/behavior of their fellow players online, or the game design, marketing materials and tactics of most game publishers and developers."
Gagnon said trolls will be trolls, especially during competitive, multi-player games. However, she does think game companies could do more to crack down on the abuse.
"I realize these trolls set out to mock any and all gamers and it's not solely focused on female gamers," she said. "But it certainly feels as if I am being singled out."
There's no reason to think the gaming industry won't have more and more of those female gamers to think about in the years to come.
The ESA shows that 35% of parents are playing computer and video games with their children every week and 58% are playing with them at least once a month.
The computer and video game industry as a whole had $14.8 billion in sales in 2012, according to the ESA report. Given that women are 46% of that purchasing audience, there is a great incentive for game developers to keep women in mind.
They say they aren't looking for special treatment, aren't asking for female-only games and, in many cases, don't even like to be differentiated as "girl gamers." Instead, they say, they want to be entertained, to be challenged, to have fun -- just like the guys.
"More women are getting involved, both behind the scenes and as educated consumers," Chobot said. "The boys' club attitude in gaming needed to stop yesterday."


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Quote from: Slinky2* on April 14, 2012, 01:40:09 pmMe Gusta moonPlease don't call it that. :\
Me Gusta moon
What is this, Donkey Kong Country in Space?
That central spot with the arch-looking things is about the size of Earth. The rest that sticks out is extra, so, about the size of 1 1/4 Earths.
A Wizard Did It. One of the most famous tropes, along with Hand Wave, both of which you have pulled off.
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Writer Bret Easton Ellis was upset to learn he was banned from the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) Media Awards on Saturday after causing uproar with a series of controversial tweets.
The "American Psycho" author, who is openly gay, had planned to attend the star-studded event in Los Angeles with a female friend, but he took to his Twitter page to vent after learning he wasn't welcome.
He tweeted, "As a gay man in a domestic partnership who plans to get married I'm sad to hear I've been banned by GLAAD from attending tomorrow's event. GLAAD is supposedly 'furious' about my tweets. And I'm guessing not the ones concerning my boyfriend or how sexy I think ('Girls' star) Adam Driver is."
The outspoken writer has sparked outrage within the LGBT community with recent posts on the social-networking site, including one in which he declared Matthew Bomer shouldn't play Christian Grey in the movie version of "Fifty Shades of Grey" because he is gay.
Ellis also angered followers when he likened watching "Glee" to stepping "into a puddle of HIV" and admitting "I kind of agree with Paris Hilton" after the heiress was caught on tape insisting gay men are "the horniest people in the world."
In response to Ellis, GLAAD vice president of communications Rich Ferraro tells The Hollywood Reporter, "GLAAD spoke with the guest who was planning to bring Bret about some of Bret's recent remarks, which the gay community responded negatively to. We also asked for a time to sit down with Bret. They decided to replace Bret with a different guest and there has been no response to the offer of a meeting. We hope his tweets don't overshadow the high-profile allies and everyday LGBT people (honored at the ceremony)."


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text:
KDE Commit Digest for 27 March 2011
In this week's KDE Commit-Digest:
LongBug champion!
This week's champion is Camila Boemann for fixing bug 127571 which is more than 6 years old!
By emilsedgh at Sun, 2011/04/03 - 12:09pm
Camila is a newbie wrt Dawit: he fixed bug #34578 dating back to KDE 2.2, gcc 2.95, Linux 2.4 times, which is nearly 10 years old!
By Diego Rondini at Sun, 2011/04/03 - 2:29pm
I think it's pretty sad that bugs are allowed to live that long. 6 years to fix a bug?
It's pretty annoying actually, even more so when bugs are reported that aren't even acknowledged - like this one of mine:
By Phil Rigby at Wed, 2011/04/06 - 6:40pm
And how
do you propose to disallow bugs living on for this long?
Make sure to provide a detailed, feasible plan within the next ten days that includes an implementation timeline with detailed fallbacks in case your implementation does not reach its milestones.
By Boudewijn Rempt at Wed, 2011/04/06 - 7:07pm
Delete the old ones!
Just delete all bugs that are older than 365 days. This way there won't be any bugs that are older than one year ;-)
By mkrohn5 at Thu, 2011/04/07 - 1:00am
Or, instead of sarcasm, how
Or, instead of sarcasm, how about having 4.6.4 or 4.6.5 "bug killed" versions where bugs older than 365 days are either fixed, or marked "Can't Fix / By Design" or similar?
My other point was that I filed an accurate, reproducible bug with a screenshot and it hasn't even been assigned to anyone.
By Phil Rigby at Thu, 2011/04/07 - 2:05pm
You could start learning how a volunteer-driven open source project like KDE actually works. You complain that your bug hasn't been assigned to anyone. Big surprise for you, perhaps, but there isn't anyone who can assign your bug to someone else. There are no managers. Generally, developers pick the bugs they want to work on themselves. And there might be nobody who can fix your bug, and even nobody who can try to reproduce and change the status from unconfirmed to new.
Sure, we could handle bug reports better. But the sad fact is that the libraries have a very low number of developers working on it and it's impossible for them to triage all bug reports and do some useful work, like fixing issues or implementing new features. So now it's up to you again: try and help out, for instance by triaging bugs as they come in, or even helping to fix them.
By Boudewijn Rempt at Thu, 2011/04/07 - 3:56pm
Commit Digest feature?
Interested in adding this as a part of the regular Commit-Digest? Apply here: http://enzyme.commit-digest.org/
You can find the source code at the Enzyme homepage: http://enzyme-project.org/
By mkrohn5 at Sun, 2011/04/03 - 10:53pm
Well, actually...
If you really mean https://bugs.kde.org/show_bug.cgi?id=127571 (new feature: split the image), that wasn't Camila, but Srikanth Tiyyagura, a new Krita hacker from Andra Pradesh!
By Boudewijn Rempt at Mon, 2011/04/04 - 8:29pm


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In Sunday's game at Atlanta, the Buccaneers will get an opportunity to prove they meant it when their quarterback, Shaun King, threw four touchdown passes to upset unbeaten Minnesota, 41-13.
When the Sooners toppled Nebraska, 31-14, with quarterback Josh Heupel's passes, they definitely meant it.
For, at Oklahoma now, they have a new kind of Oklahoma coach, Bob Stoops, who came in a year ago to combine a new commitment to pass offense with his old dedication to defense.
And this year, that gives a running-play bastion--America's football heartland--a shot at national dominance with a college team that can throw the ball.
Passes Beat the Option
As Oklahoma leapfrogged Nebraska to take No. 1 in the national rankings, Heupel, as usual, stood well behind the line in shotgun formation on nearly every play, ready to pass every time.
And in the first half, he did throw most of the time to seize a 24-14 lead.
In the second half, when Heupel still threatened continually in shotgun formation--but frequently handed the ball off--it was painful watching Nebraska's slow-moving option offense trying to play catch-up.
Going back more than 30 years, Nebraska has regularly attacked adversaries with a three-part offense: the ground-based option game, a standard running game, and a standard passing game.
And all that time, the Cornhuskers have had trouble against evenly matched opponents--including Oklahoma's old wishbone teams--for one reason: In a college football program, there isn't time to properly practice the option, the run and the pass--all three.
As a passing team, the Sooners, by contrast, only have to practice two things, passing and running, so they're more polished now than any option team.
Only when they outman an opponent can you count on option teams.
Heupel Wins Tough Ones
Oklahoma quarterback Heupel (pronounced hype-ul) is a tough, talented, accurate long passer and clever scrambler who seems in line for both the Heisman Trophy this year and a first-round place in the NFL draft some year.
At 6 feet 2 and 210 pounds, he throws a better long ball than Virginia Tech quarterback Michael Vick, who keeps his team high in the polls despite a schedule of opponents like Akron, Temple and Rutgers.
Heupel's passes just in the last three weeks have overwhelmed Texas, Kansas State and Nebraska, all of whom also failed offensively against Oklahoma's sound defense as developed by Stoops.
The first serious Heisman contender from South Dakota, Heupel, son of an Aberdeen, S.D., football coach is probably the best football player produced in that state since former Ram quarterback Norm Van Brocklin.
You Have to Hit Keyshawn
On the Tampa Bay team, the Buccaneers are also ruled by a defensive expert, Tony Dungy; but the difference between him and Oklahoma's Coach Stoops is that Dungy has never seen a pass offense he likes.
Until, perhaps, the other day.
It was a good omen for Tampa when Dungy allowed King to throw the passes that dethroned the NFL's last undefeated team, Minnesota.
During the offseason, Dungy and his front office had shown the good sense to bring in Keyshawn Johnson, who, although Tampa hasn't seen much of him this season, ranks up there with Buffalo's Eric Moulds, the Rams' Isaac Bruce and a few others on the list of the NFL's leading wide receivers.
When a good one like Keyshawn is double-covered, however, you have to fire the ball to him anyway, sometimes, as Buffalo quarterback Doug Flutie did occasionally this week when Moulds made the catches that turned back the New York Jets, 23-20.
One superior Flutie-Moulds play was, on both ends, among the season's most spectacular.
As a quarterback, Flutie is one of the NFL's great clutch players, but King isn't bad, and when King went to Keyshawn six times in the Minnesota game, for 121 yards, it had to have been a learning experience for the Tampa coaching staff.
Trojans Most Influential
Pro Football Weekly's reporters recently scouted all 31 NFL locker rooms and identified the most influential players on each team, whereupon they paid a rare tribute to USC football.
Although the Trojans are having their problems this season, they produced three All-Americans in other seasons who have gone on to unusual distinction on three different pro clubs.
Named their teams' most influential players this fall--on the field as well as in the locker room--were former Trojans Willie McGinest, New England's standout defensive lineman; Tony Boselli, Jacksonville's all-time all-pro offensive lineman, and Bruce Matthews, who for 18 years has been one of the NFL's great offensive linemen for the old Houston Oilers, who are now the new Tennessee Titans.
On other teams, there were some obvious choices--linebacker Junior Seau at San Diego, running back Emmitt Smith at Dallas, quarterback Brett Favre at Green Bay, tight end Shannon Sharpe at Baltimore--but there were some surprises too.
It turns out that Atlanta's most influential player is running back Jamal Anderson, Oakland's is offensive lineman Lincoln Kennedy, and Washington's is its newest defensive lineman, Bruce Smith, who won out over a locker room full of team leaders.
When It Hurts to Win
The worst thing that could have happened to Cincinnati, which lost its first six games this season under former Coach Bruce Coslet, has happened:
Their new coach, the Bengals' former offensive coordinator Dick LeBeau, has won his first two games to bring them up to 2-6.
There's no chance that in the stillness of any offseason, the Bengals or any other NFL club would have hired LeBeau, a nice guy but a journeyman football man who has spent the last quarter century here and there as an assistant coach.
Now, however, Cincinnati is taking him seriously as a bona fide candidate for next year.
That's always the danger you run changing coaches at midseason.
There's always the chance that the new guy will do well enough to get another shot in the years ahead--meaning the football program is delayed some more into the foreseeable future.
And that's one of the principal reasons why football coaches should only be changed between seasons.
When, for example, Oakland owner Al Davis fired former Coach Mike Shanahan with the 1989 season under way, he sent the Raiders into a tailspin that lasted for a decade and is only now ending.
You'd like to think that LeBeau will outwit the fates and emerge as the NFL's next Vince Lombardi, but it won't happen.
It can't happen.
How Would Bidwill Know?
The Arizona Cardinals are still owned by a member of a family that has devoted more years and energy than any other group to the firing of football coaches in and out of season--with, as a rule, no success whatever.
That's the Bidwill family.
The current leader is President Bill Bidwill, who on the oldest NFL club has lately replaced Coach Vince Tobin with the Cardinals' defensive coordinator, Dave McGinnis.
McGinnis remains winless.
The great wrong with a midseason firing is that the entire blame for a losing record is heaped on one man, the outgoing coach.
In most cases, the outgoing guy actually deserves little of the blame.
Most of the time, the fault is rooted in the front office, as it has been for years in Bidwill's office, and also in the office of Cincinnati President Mike Brown.
Neither Brown nor Bidwill has at any time ever given any indication that he can successfully operate a pro club.
Clearly, neither of their coaches, Coslet or Tobin, suddenly became a bad coach this season.
Changes, to be sure, are sometimes necessary, but the only time to make one is between seasons, which is the only time you can fairly evaluate any football man.
When Bidwill bade goodbye to Tobin, he said: "I felt it was time."
The question then, as always, was: "How would Bidwill know?"
Rams Win with Carson, Green
The St. Louis Rams have brought back, as a consultant, their old defensive coach, Bud Carson; and in his first assignment of the season, Carson appeared to be making a difference the other day.
To return to the Super Bowl this winter, the Rams themselves acknowledge, they'll have to play better defense in the second half of the season than they did in the first.
And, seemingly, the defensive improvement started to happen in San Francisco, where the 49ers set up one of their three touchdowns with a 68-yard kickoff return.
Thus the 49er offense hardly ran wild.
The Rams won, 34-24, after a late-afternoon advance to the red zone, where they ordered quarterback Trent Green to take a knee three times in the last two minutes.
That ended the last chance for 41-24--although Green did extend the Rams' record string of 30-point explosions another week.
Of the old football players who sat through the game, some kept saying that the Rams were "out of synch;" but compared to the club's earlier games this season, there were few indications of that.
The fact is that Green played about as well as injured quarterback Kurt Warner had been playing.
It's true that nearly every week, people have looked at the final score-- and at tapes of some of the Rams' big plays--and said Warner was unstoppable.
Even so, he's had few wire-to-wire routs.
As good as he is--and I'd say Warner is again the football player of the year--most opponents have stopped him part of the time, some for a large part of the time.
Like the 49ers stopped Green this time.
As their usual practice, the 2000 Rams have struggled awhile and come on to win--as they came on with Green in San Francisco.
One question might be whether Green is physically put together solidly enough to last through a 19-game NFL grind.
Though he is listed at 6 feet 3 and 215 pounds to Warner's 6-2 and 220, Green doesn't appear to be as powerful.
Nor is he as quick.
But in his first starting appearance, Green showed that he has most of the right equipment.
He has the fast release you want, for one thing; and, moreover, there's a lot of zip on the ball as a Green pass comes out.
He's also pretty nimble in the pocket.
The Rams with Green are where they were with Warner--still on their way offensively--and Carson could be shoring them up now defensively.
They're a going concern.


text:
Kim Kardashian went North for her baby's name, and will now hang a left for her new name.
By the way, I only needed three compasses and an atlas to figure that out.
According to E! News, Kardashian will change her name to Kim Kardashian West once she marries baby daddy Kanye West.
At her birthday celebration in Las Vegas last week, Kardashian told E! News she'll start going by "Kim Kardashian West" (not hyphenated — Kardashian will serve as a middle name).
The website said she answered the question like she was contemplating it for the first time, and just decided, "Yes, I will take his name."
And this lack of previous thought to a basic issue on her part surprises … who?
This may bode well for West, as Kardashian didn't take her last husband Kris Humphries' name for branding reasons.
"I don't think she should take his name and be Kim Humphries … She needs to be Kim Kardashian because she's worked so hard to get where she is," mom Kris Jenner told PopEater in 2011.
Kris Jenner — who took husband Bruce Jenner's name — must not have worked very hard to get where she was in 2011.


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Mitt Romney vowed he would govern as a "pro-life president" after telling an Iowa newspaper on Tuesday that he wouldn't seek legislation affecting access to abortion.
The Republican presidential nominee, speaking to reporters during a stop Wednesday afternoon in Ohio, said he would act immediately as president to eliminate funding for Planned Parenthood and reinstate the so-called "Mexico City Policy," which prohibits the use of federal funds for promoting of performing abortions abroad.
Slideshow: On the campaign trail
The latest national poll suggests GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney has gained ground with women voters, something his campaign is hoping to build on. NBC's Peter Alexander reports.
"I think I've said time and again. I'm a pro-life candidate. I'll be a pro-life president," Romney said. "The actions I'll take immediately are to remove funding for Planned Parenthood. It will not be part of my budget. And also I've indicated I'll reverse the Mexico City position of the president. I will reinstate the Mexico City policy."
RELATED: Obama team says Romney 'trying to cover up' views on abortion
Romney told the editorial board of the Des Moines Register that he has "no legislation with regards to abortion that I'm familiar with that would become part of my agenda."
His campaign subsequently said Romney would "of course support legislation aimed at providing greater protections for life," prompting the Obama campaign to pounce, and accuse their Republican opponent of obfuscating his true position on abortion rights.
"We're not saying that he's changed his mind on these issues, we're saying he's trying to cover up his beliefs," Obama campaign deputy campaign manager Stephanie Cutter said in a Wednesday conference call.


text: Abandon all that you know, and all that you think you know. Renounce what you have become, what the commercial world has made you. Deny your possessions, what you think you possess. What you own, or think you own, will own you. The freedom of Corporate America is a dungeon of decadence. Imprison yourself in humbleness and refuse their idea of freedom. Only then will you truly be free. Only by severing your attachment with the physical, will you fully be able to realize it, and then come to embrace the spiritual. By your sacrifices, your soul will become empowered through trepidation. You will be reborn as a true human. Your survival will become the only thing in the world that truly matters, and you may face whatever trial you encounter with the strength of the Beast that is within us all.


text:
Google has announced its answer to Apple's new subscription service for the App Store - Google One Pass.
The service lets publishers set their own prices for digital content and was introduced at the Humboldt University in Berlin today by Eric Schmidt, Google's CEO.
Publishers using One Pass can let their subscribers access content on their tablets, smartphones or online using a single sign-on, Google said. They also have control over how and when they charge for content, as Google One Pass supports subscriptions and micro-payments as well as free access.
In a blog post, Lee Shirani, director, business product management, Google Commerce said: "The service lets publishers give existing print subscribers free (or discounted) access to digital content. We take care of the rest, including payments technology handled via Google Checkout.
"Our goal is to provide an open and flexible platform that furthers our commitment to support publishers, journalism and access to quality content. This is another initiative developed to enable publishers to promote and distribute digital content," Shirani continued.
Google's approach is markedly different to Apple's, with Cupertino insisting on a degree of control over subscriptions offered by publishers in the App Store - as well as a 30 percent cut. Google will take 10 percent of One Pass payments as commission.
Some app publishers are already reportedly unhappy with Apple's subscription service for the App Store, with Rhapsody particularly miffed about Apple's insistence on a 30 percent cut of subscriptions.


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Ekso Provides Hope and Healing after Spinal Cord Injury
On January 17, 2002, I suffered a snowmobiling accident that turned my world upside down.
I will never forget being told that, as a result of the T-12 spinal injury, I may never walk again. It took years to come to terms with life in a wheelchair.
During those early days, I remember researching online about "electronic legs" – leg braces programmed to simulate natural walking. The leg braces connected to a computer, which was worn like a backpack. The backpack held technology to trigger walking. It seemed like science fiction, maybe even too far out to be true. I never really thought that this would be something I'd see or experience for myself.
A few years later, at one of my physical therapy sessions at Good Shepherd, I heard about the Ekso Bionics' exoskeleton. It sounded a lot like what I read about – and it was coming to Allentown. That sci-fi idea could now be a reality. I knew that I had to get into this equipment. I had to see what it could do for me, but I knew it wasn't going to be easy to get there.
I kicked my workouts into a higher gear. I worked out longer and more strategically. For eight months, I stretched more, and I loosened my body up. Then last year, I became the first to use the Ekso exoskeleton at Good Shepherd's Allentown campus.
It was a surreal experience. I remember looking at the machine for the first time. I knew what I was supposed to do, and I knew what it was supposed to do. What I didn't know was what I was in store for – a life-changing experience!
My first experience with the Ekso was like an explosion. It just took off. I stood up, focused on my balance and let the machine do the work. It was like a blindfolded roller coaster ride. When I left Good Shepherd that day, I distinctly remember the feeling that significant progress had been made, and, I was just getting started! New hope was put back into me that day.
A week later, I got into the pool for one of my regular aquatic therapy sessions and noticed something special. I could kick my leg out – something I couldn't do before getting in the Ekso. Not very quickly or with incredible strength, but I could kick my leg out. I was elated.
Since then, my regular physical therapy sessions have taken quite a turn. The specialists and I work on all sorts of things with the Ekso – from balance to range of motion to maintaining strength. Since the technology is as new to us as we are to it, we even experiment and try new exercises. We simply go with what works best for me. The Ekso was originally brought to Good Shepherd for enhanced maintenance and conditioning, but now I'm using it for strengthening!
I've experienced another unexpected, but beneficial, side effect. Bladder infections used to be common for me (as they are for many spinal cord injury patients), but I haven't had one since using the Ekso. This has kept me out of the hospital, and has saved me, and my insurance company, significant money.
It took a while for me to accept being in a wheelchair, and I have indeed accepted it. But I'm not giving up. I have renewed hope. I've seen improvements that some might have once thought were unreachable.
Three times a week, I go to Good Shepherd for these state-of-the-art therapy sessions. And, as much as I love monitoring my own improvements and condition, I want to be a guiding light for some of the other patients here. Everyone who has had a spinal cord injury wants what they once had back, and there's nothing I enjoy more than being a first-hand example for those in my shoes.
I want other patients to realize that giving up is never an option. There is hope. We all need to set realistic goals and figure out what works best for each of us. The Ekso at Good Shepherd is working for me.
Watch a video of Kevin walking in the Ekso.
For more information, call 1-888-44-REHAB (73422) or contact Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Network.


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Auschwitz I Appelplatz (Roll Call Square)
The three posts in front of the building across the street support a train rail used only once, in July 1943, to hang 12 Polish prisoners. Scrolling right a bit, you see the Rapportführer's booth from where the roll was conducted. Scrolling around you can see the entire length of the Appelplatz.
Prisoners were assembled here and in both directions left and right, in the morning and evening. It is one of the places where "selections"were made sending prisoners back to slave labor or to their deaths. Each morning and evening all prisoners had to be accounted for, even those who had perished. See [link].
From prisoner Salmen Gradowski's diary found buried beneath the ashes at Krematorium II-Birkenau after the war*. "At almost each block, beside the men standing in line, bodies of three, four persons are lying. These are the victims of the night that have not lived to see the day. Even yesterday they were standing members of the roll-call and today they lie, lifeless, motionless. Life is not important at the roll-call. Numbers are important. Numbers tally…"
See [link].
*Gradowski, S. in "Amidst a Nightmare of Crime: Notes of Prisoners of Sonderkommando Found at Auschwitz", p.p.104 -105, Oswiecim: State Museum at Auschwitz.


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Weather conditions Friday washed out all games in the tournament at Melching Field at Conrad Park in DeLand, Fla. Volusia County, where DeLand is located, has been hit with more than 12 inches of rain since Tuesday. More than 20 inches has fallen during that same time span in nearby Daytona Beach. Predictions were for two-to-six inches of additional rain in DeLand Friday.
The tournament has also been changed to a single elimination format with the Bisons, the No. 2-seed, playing ETSU, the No. 6 seed, Saturday morning at 10 CDT. The Bisons closed out the regular season against ETSU, beating them 6-5 and 16-7 and losing the final game of the series 14-7.
ETSU upset Stetson, the tournament host, 4-2 Thursday night. Belmont edged Mercer 6-5.
At 1:30 top-seeded Jacksonville will face No. 4-seeded Belmont.
The championship game is scheduled for 5 p.m.
Mercer, the No. 5-seed, and Stetson, the No. 3 seed, were eliminated Thursday night in the only two games that have been played. Rain has now completely washed out the tournament schedule twice.
Weather conditions are expected to improve by Saturday, but a final game is schedued for Sunday if it is needed. The tournament must be completed by Sunday night.


text:
F1 Singapore Tickets to Cost More This 2009
Bad news for fans of Lewis Hamilton, J. Button, Rosberg or any of your F1 racers if you're visiting them in Singapore this coming F1 session from 25th to 27th September 2009.
TICKET prices for this year's Formula One SingTel Singapore Grand Prix have increased, but fans can get them at a bargain in early-bird tickets.
They will pay from 7 per cent to 26 per cent less for tickets in six categories including the Pit, Turn 1 and Turn 2 grandstands if they buy tickets early… More on Straits Times Interactive
Good news is that if you book your tickets early, you can still get a discount as compared to last year. As compared with last year, they have new turns, more seats for the fans.
As I look through the Singapore Grand Prix official site to try and book the tickets,
Ticket Sales will commence on 9 April 2009 for selected grandstands. Bay Grandstand and Walkabout tickets will be available from 20 April 2009.
So bookmark your calendar on the 9th of April 2009 and start looking for accommodation here in Singapore!


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Excel Program
The Western Connecticut State University Excel Program is an opportunity for middle school students to develop their academic potential and achieve their goal of admission into a post-secondary educational program upon completion of high school. The program serves Broadview and Rogers Park Middle School students in families where neither parent has completed a 4-year college degree and/or low income families whose taxable income is within our eligibility guidelines.*
The Excel Program, funded by the Department of Higher Education and the Danbury Board of Education, is a year round program serving up to 25 middle school students in grades 7th - 8th. This program begins recruiting students at the end of 6th grade to develop and strengthen their academic skills. Excel is a feeder program for ConnCAP/Upward Bound and upon entrance into high school, students automatically become a part of this program. ConnCAP/Upward Bound will continue to edify and focus their academic and social-personal needs throughout high school in preparation for entrance into a post-secondary educational program.
A mandatory five-week, nonresidential summer program is conducted on the campus of Western Connecticut State University. The summer program, in conjunction with ConnCAP/Upward Bound, is designed to prepare students academically and socially for the upcoming school year. Students are given English, to strengthen their Language Arts and Writing Skills; Math, to strengthen their Mathematical skills.
During the academic year, each student receives an academic advisor who monitors his or her academic and behavioral progress. Student progress is shared with parents at the end of each marking period, during Parent Conferences. The Excel Program works collaboratively with students, parents, teachers, and guidance counselors to assure that students will work towards their academic potential. The Excel Program involves students in their school and community through community service, thereby enabling the facilitation of a sense of community and unity developed over the summer.
In short, the Western Connecticut State University Excel Program stands for respect for others, respect for yourself, and the pursuit of lifelong learning!
Contacts at Broadview:
Mr. Cullagh (8th grade Language Arts, room #208): Excel Coordinator
Mr. Klemenz (Physical Education, gymnasium office): Excel Advisor


text:
Thank you, Tanya!
1 month ago
A Blog detailing the insanity of my medical practice and the stupidity of everyday life.
The real question here is where on earth he got acid these days?
Maybe 15-year-olds don't know what mailboxes are anymore.
I've heard of "going postal" before...
unfortunately, I have seen this sort of behavior with bath salts. Even though it is now illegal, it is all too easy, and cheap, to obtain.
It kind of reminds me of the scene in Fight Club where Tyler actually remembers fighting himself. God, i love that book (and movie)
Who takes LSD these days? For me, it's Jim Beam.
Little Calf Creamery. Delicious homemade ice cream and food in Thousand Oaks!


text:
Car Forums / Kia / Kia Spectra
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Kia Spectra Prices Paid and Buying Experience
[email protected] Posts: 38,515
edited July 2014 in Kia
Please use the following discussion to post your experiences when shopping for an Kia Spectra, including how much you paid if you'd like. Thanks.
Prices Paid Forum
Prices Paid Forum
loco5 Posts: 3I wanted to post my experience and pricing paid for my new Spectra5 I purchased this week.
$16965 was MSRP for the 2005 Kia Spectra5 manual tranny.
This included the options of Sunroof, ABS, Cruise, and Floormats.
I negotiated the price of $15114, which is 3/4% over invoice - cash back incentive of $1000.
I did all of this via the web as I test drove one over the weekend and decided that was what I wanted and I proceeded to email all dealers and negotiate for the best deal.
rsxyjade84 Posts: 1Hey everyone! I just purchased a 2005 Spectra5 about 2 weeks ago. So far I am really impressed with the car. Very quiet,handles good,great gas mileage! I was wondering if anyone has mod their cars? Does it void the warranty?? I was happy with the price sticker was 18,000 cause I got it with sunroof and sport package I think it said but then I got a 1,000 rebate! I got it in black and wished now I would have gotten it in spark blue..lol..oh well..0
chrisducati Posts: 394don't do anything that you can't change back before you take it to the dealer for repair work...Like lowering it would be a warranty void-er. Chipping would too. I too like the lighter colors on this car...they show off the body line that runs from the front over the wheel and along the side.0
I bought the Silver Spectra5 fully loaded minus the ABS. The sticker price was 17,500, we got the car for 260 a month, no down payment and Lojack installed. They gave us a price of 13,880. The term of the loan is a little long because of the lack of a down payment, but it worth every penny. The more I drive this beauty, the better it rides. I test drove this baby and fell in love right away and only read reviews of other cars. It was the best value of all the cars out there. Where can I find new emblems for this car, I would have to bring it back to the dealer and make appointments and I have no time for that, I just want to order one.0
The sticker price for my Spectra5 was 17,500, We got it at 13,880. The test drive was an instant sell, but we had no money for a down payment so we were going to wait, but they kept throwing offers at us. Then we finally caved and and bought the best looking, handling, driving car for the cost. I just wish my fiance wanted a 5 speed.0
Bought Saturday morning, automatic, sunroof, cruise control & floor mats. MSRP was $17540, minus $610 dealer discount & $1000 rebate. This dealer does not negotiate from their advertised price which, in this case, is well below Edmund's TVM. After the test drive, I had two 5-minute phone calls over the next two weeks before deciding. The dealer is 90 miles from me. Other Kia dealers are 85-100 miles in different directions. So comparison shopping is not worth my time or expense. I also bought a Hyundai Accent from this dealer three years ago base on a firm price quote in an email, which took two minutes to write. This dealer handles 15 brands, including Mazda, Nissan, Chevy, Lexus and Jaguar. They are all sold the same way.0
How much did you actually pay for the vehicle? You mentioned the MSRP, but never gave the actual dealer set price.0
$17540 - $610 - $1000 = $15930 before taxes0
Wow I can't believe that a car place can charge that much for a car and not even let you haggle. How do they stay in business?0
herotakesafall Posts: 103This forum has been really helpful, guys. I always have a couple dozen good car choices in mind....but the Spectra5 has been my top choice for months now. I just have to have one. My only problem is....which color! I guess I don't really care. I'm having a hard enough time finding one with an automatic and ABS.0
aerostatic Posts: 1Hi there!
New to the forum and I was curious -- I currently drive a 2002 Kia Spectra [base model] that's been having quite a few problems for about six months, including some belt problems, a suddenly dead battery, replaced starter, alternator and I'm actually taking it in tomorrow to have a CV axle and possibly my transmission replaced!
I've been doing research on the Spectra5. I actually went to a dealership today [when it's closed, so I can look without being bothered!] and am getting pretty convinced this would be a really good deal for me.
Question for those who've traded in a Kia: does Kia still offer the owner loyalty bonus? In December,/January the dealership I've been getting my car fixed at offered me the bonus, so I know it was still around as recently as that. Also, I'm pretty sure it was $1500. Is that right?
Thanks for all the help!0
Has anyone been dealing on or checking prices of a 2005 Spectra5 recently? I was wondering what sort of quotes you have been getting. I have gotten one from a local dealer that was $15,253.00 for automatic and cruise. Is this reasonable? I would have thought a lower price would be warranted given that the '06 line-up will be out very soon.0
crowbar, FWIW, according to my scribble notes from this past Sunday afternoon (can't read my own writing sometimes) says here: Silver Spec5 auto..."no options" which means I probably didn't spot a sunroof or abs on the sticker. Don't recall if cruise & mats were there or not on this one. $100 b.s. processing fee. Total on "Gotta go! Clearin' Inventory!" sticker on window - $14395.
Iowa, seems you and I are seeing the same thing. Zoomer3 has a price for those willing to pay it. Elantra 5 door v. Spec5 for me and my house coming up. For BEEP & giggles, test drove an '04 GT 5spd Elantra in mint condition with low miles and what I thought was a decent price. Absolutely HATED the vinyl (sp?) looking and feeling "leather seats". Since this car could not corner nearly as good as my lil' '00 LX Protege', when going 'round the bend, the sliding fanny going with while grabbing the wheel for stability didn't seem real fun. Cloth for me which I guess rules out the GT's. Elantra 5 doors still an option.
I too, reeeeeeelly like "the looks" of this Spec5. My opinion, it's newer than the Elantra thus the slight disadvantage in pricing. But just wait about 29 more days...0
Thanks for the input. The best quote I have gotten so far is now $14,325.00 with mats, cruise and automatic, so I'm thinking there might not be a lot more wiggle room left. I'm really impressed with the car. I also checked out the Elantra but was not overly impressed with the 'look' of it. I much prefer the Kia.0
human Posts: 5I just bought a 2005 SX (no options) in Los Angeles a few days ago. Here's the break down:
(MSRP + destination = $15,900)
($14,100 selling price) - ($1750 rebate) = $12,350 (excluding ttl)
The Spectra5 was selling for the same price but the rebate is $1000. So if I bought the Spectra5 I would have paid $13,100 (excluding ttl)
0% financing can be subsituted for the rebate. They also have a "competing car" rebate for $750 if you qualify by already owning a car in their list of competing cars (see the kia website for the list).
During the walk through of features the salesperson told me that the check engine light would come on if I open the fuel cap while the car was still on or if I don't close it tight enough. It didn't occur to me to ask why at the time but now I'm wondering if this is by design or just a defect?0
iluvmysephia1 Alamogordo, NMPosts: 7,615it has to do with your car's sensors, which are very sensitive. It will read the "not clicking your gas cap enough times" as a slight exhaust emissions leak and cause the check engine light to come on. I have experienced this with both of my Kia's, including my current Kia, a 2001 Kia Sportage 4x4.
Just don't take your gas cap off while the motor is running and do twist your gas cap on and keep twisting it until your hear 6 or 7 clicks. Otherwise the check engine light will come on and you'll have to have it looked at at your dealership. You can wait for it to cycle itself off-it will turn itself off (the check engine light) in time, say, after starting your Kia and driving it around and shutting it off again several times. It's frustrating but if you follow the emboldened tips above you can avoid it completely.
2011 Kia Soul Sport 5-speed0
sdlfjkasdfja Posts: 1I recently bought a 2005 Kia Spectra EX in Minneapolis.
The car is an automatic, with the additional options of cruise control, alloy wheels and floor mats. The selling price was $14,950 - 1750 rebate = 13,200 excluding the tax, title and license fees. I was not eligible for the competing car rebate.0
I noticed that Hyundai dropped their incentive on Elantra from $1250 to $500 for October, and Kia, at least so far, has not renewed their competive bonus of $500 on the Spectra since it expired Sept 30. Are the good deals getting away, or should I sit tight a little longer?0
Hey doohickie, just wanted to let ya know I picked up an Elantra GT hatch this past Friday night (the 30th). Had the wife breathin' down my neck to trade in our Zoomer and get something with that new car smell. Since time was running against me (angry wife was getting angrier!) and Hyundai/Kia wasn't workin' with me in the free flow of information category (had no clue on the '06 arrivals...and still don't!...had no idea on the possible upcoming rebates...and still don't!), I bit the bullet. Didn't get the mega deal I was pulling for but did okay in the end (9:45pm EST on the last day of the month/end of quarter).
In the end thought the Elantra the better car although definitely dated in comparision to the Spec5. A lil' cheaper too. Know you're kickin' the two around yourself and thought I'd throw these comments your way. Do hope you have the advantage of waiting a bit longer than I did. Mrs. Doohickie I hope for your sake is much more patient than Mrs. zoomzoomitis. Makes the whole process MUCH easier!
Last checked, the crop of '05's are still out there and they haven't moved since Friday (end of rebate day) here locally. I'm thinkin' if you've got the time, the deal will definitely come your way if you stay flexible on your wants and needs. That reduction to $500 on the Elantra is sucker money. My opinion.
All the best and much luck in that final decision.
05 Elantra hatches are pretty rare around here; I haven't seen one on a lot in a few weeks. I'm sure they are around to be had, but I would definitely have to order one I think. 05 Spec5s are very plentiful though.
But it just torques me off that both companies have slashed their incentives at the end of the model year. They should be slashing prices! I suppose they've managed to meet sales goals and don't feel compelled to move their stock. Or maybe they just haven't put the new incentives on the website yet.
In frustration, I checked the Suzuki dealer and fell in love (again) with the Reno. I just love the look of the car, inside and out. The stock stereo is much better than Spec5 or Elantra, and they still have their incentives. They are offering $1000 back on 2006 models, plus $500 for recent graduates (like my wife who got her degree in May). So I'd be looking at a pretty loaded Reno for no more than $13,500, maybe a little less if they throw in some dealer cash.
I just don't have as much confidence in the Suzuki brand, especially the Daewoo-built models. If I knew it would be reliable, it would be the Reno, hands down.
I will talk to a Hyundai dealer or two later this week when I get some time. If they can offer me any kind of a decent deal on an Elantra hatch, I'll probably take it. If not that, then the Spec5; if not that, I might just go for the Reno.0
I think there's something to be said for sales goals having been met. One place I went to gave me such a lowball offer on my trade it was roll on the floor laughable. I happened to know the sales guy and he kinda told me to get to the door as quick as possible. His "boss" was trying to steal my car. IOW, they reeeeeally didn't want to sell anymore of their in stock Elantras. Supply was running a lil' low I think and they wanted to keep what they had for another month especially IF the '06's don't show up 'til the later part of Oct/early Nov. Might be wrong but that was my gut.
Did have to travel a bit to snag my car but the supply was much greater at this cross town dealership. Much higher incentive to move rubber you might say (Their website does claim "Largest Hyundai dealership in volume on the entire East Coast." Who am I to argue?). As I got up and started walkin' towards the door, "my number" magically appeared. Imagine that.
Yeah, I can see the Kia Spec5 might be more abundant than the Elantra GT hatch in some areas although I do think since you mentioned you were interested in the automatic, they (the GT's) ARE out there in larger #'s than the 5 speeds. My opinion, trust hasn't exactly gone through the roof yet with the American public I think on the Kia brand. That's not to say that it won't, just hasn't yet. Hyundai's a little bigger corporate wise and is hitting the JD Power rankings rather well of late. Time will tell if this brand new Korean car of mine stands up to the Japanese products. For the three grand discount I calculated right off the bat, I thought it worth the gamble.
Suzuki cars? Nah. Doohickie, you know better than that. Don't get "torqued" at Hyundai/Kia. Get even. Wait to see what the next hand in the card game deals ya...again, if you've got the time and patience. I still maintain since you didn't pull the trigger yet, wait. There's a car out there that's going to come right into your sights.
PS Spoilers falling off...hmmm...nervous? I was too.0
The Kia salesman just called. Without giving me an "official" quote over the phone, it looks like a $17000 Spectra5 will cost me about $15000. This is more than I want to pay, but he said there is a good chance we can get the special Kia finance rate of 2.9%. My credit numbers are not good enough to automatically get that rate (just a few points below prime), but the salesman said I might still get it if we apply for the loan. After my downpayment, my monthly payment on a 5 year loan would be less than $270 month (my target is $250, but I could afford more).
This number assumes a reduced rebate ($500) and $500 for new graduate incentive (for my wife). And there may still be a little wiggle room for the dealer to bargain a bit.0
I found a Hyundai Elantra hatch with everything I want except the CD stereo (and I'm not averse to putting an aftermarket unit in). Over the phone the salesman said it would be about $13700 to $14000. I think I prefer the Elantra to the Spectra anyway, so I hope to drive out to the dealer (almost an hour from here) tomorrow afternoon and check it out. I may come back with a new Elantra. I was hoping to do better, but with Hyundai cutting back on their incentives, this may be the best I can do.
The model is a Hyundai Elantra 5-door with cruise and AT (no other options).0
tom71 Posts: 46Hi,
How do you like your new 2005 spectra 5 with manual tranny?
Is your car with the 138 hp engine or previous lower powered engine?0
oknitro Posts: 3hi everyone! new to the group, we bought our 05 spectra 5 in may 05, all options, we paid 21,000CAN for it, they threw on the kia front visor and tinted the windows for us too. we took the stock mp3 player out, and replaced it with a jvc mp3/wma deck that has exact same metallic trim as the dash, a perfect match, we opted for the 5spd, would you take anything else? just had awesome mileage last month too! gas here in BC was $1/litre, we only spent $50 for the entire month of aug in gas, and we do a lot of city driving. fun to drive, slick looking car, and wicked on gas! we love it!0
Hi. I am considering the purchase of a 2006 Kia Spectra SX, with auto-transmission, antilock brakes, and spoiler. The only thing it is missing is the sunroof, which I am contimplating finding another with it or just doing without. The sticker is 17,500.
I wanted to know how much you got your car for, before TTT. I am trying to see how much negociation room there is on this car. thanks so much!!0
was the 13,880 after tax tag and title or before?? I am looking at one that also has a 17,500 sticker and I want to see how much room I can move on the price
thanks so much!!0
Hi, I posted this earlier in a different forum but I want to throw out what I was offered by the dealer & was wondering if anyone thinks it's a good one. They offered $14995 for an automatic Spectra5 & $12670 for Spectra (4 door). I like the hatchback better. Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!0
herfnerd Posts: 4Automatic or stick? Sunroof?0
No sunroof, but automatic. This is also the price before taxes or any other charges but it includes all rebates & incentives.0
This discussion has been closed.