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This page is part of the History Of Game AI project curated by the AI Game Programmers Guild.
|Namco, Midway
|AI Era:
|Simple Hard-coded Rules
Designed by Tōru Iwatani for Namco in 1980, Pac-Man is one of the earliest, most-recognizable, and iconic arcade games. The player is in a maze alternately fleeing from and chasing 4 "ghosts".
Description of AI Behavior
The ghosts in Pac-Man act as threats requiring the player to avoid them ("chase" mode). However, when the player "eats" one of the power pills and, becomes invulnerable for a period of time, the ghosts change roles and must avoid being caught ("flee" mode). When the ghosts are caught by Pac-Man, their disembodied eyes return to their starting pen where the ghost "respawns".
Game Terms
There are some general principles about how the game works that need to be understood before one can discuss how the actual decision AI of the ghosts operates.
There are some general rules that the ghosts follow when navigating the maze. The game space is broken up into "tiles" that the ghosts use to navigate. This is different than if they were to use a per-pixel location system.
Target Tiles
The current navigation of the ghost is based upon a "target tile" which serves as a goal for the ghost to move toward. This system is used regardless of whether the ghosts are in chase or scatter modes. Selection of the target tiles is based on the individual ghost logic (below).
Navigation decisions are made just before a ghost reaches an intersection. The type of decision that a ghost makes is dependent on which mode it is in. When a ghost is in "frightened" mode, it simply selects a random direction prior to the intersection. In "chase" mode, however, there is more advanced decision processing.
When in the tile prior to the intersection, it looks at all the exit options from that intersection. It then measures the euclidean distance from that tile to the target tile and selects the tile that has the shortest distance. If the ghost is faced with 2 options that are the same distance from the target tile, the tie is broken by preferring directions in the following order: up, left, down, right.
Note that there is no decision made at the intersections other than how to get to the current target tile. Therefore, this phase can adequately be compared to steering behaviors.
Pac-Man uses a very simple state machine to control the behavior of the ghosts. The ghosts have 4 behavior states that they can be in. The ghosts spend most of their time in either "scatter" or "chase" mode. When the player has eaten a power pill, the ghosts change to "frightened" mode. After being eaten by Pac-Man, the ghosts switch to "respawn" until they have returned to their base.
They switch between chase and scatter happens on a fixed timer. The amount of time spent in each mode is different for each level with the bias being towards chase mode as the levels increase. The result of alternating between these two modes is that there is an ebb and flow to the interactions with the ghosts. This was by design as explained by creator, Tōru Iwatani.
"To give the game some tension, I wanted the monsters to surround Pac Man at some stage of the game. But I felt it would be too stressful for a human being like Pac Man to be continually surrounded and hunted down. So I created the monsters' invasions to come in waves. They'd attack and then they'd retreat. As time went by they would regroup, attack, and disperse again. It seemed more natural than having constant attack."
The AI for the Pac-Man ghosts is a collection of very simple rules that they apply depending on which of 4 states they are in. In some of the states, each of the 4 ghosts has a ruleset that differs significantly from the others. When used in combination, however, they give the illusion of complex behavior.
The normal state for the ghosts is the "chase" behavior. Note that this term is used loosely because not all the ghosts are actually "chasing" the player. The word "chase" is used more as an identifier of the game state. Because each ghost's behavior in the "chase" state is specific to only that ghost, each will be listed separately.
The red ghost's AI is specifically designed to be aggressive towards the player due to the fact that its target tile is set to the tile that Pac-Man is currently in. It is the only ghost that is actively pursuing the player.
Additionally, Blinky is the only ghost that changes speed throughout the course of a single level. The timing of the speed change is based on the number of (non-power-up) dots remaining. On the first level, for example, Blinky will accelerate to be as fast as Pac-Man when there are 20 dots remaining and again to be slightly faster than Pac-Man when there are only 10 dots remaining. The result of this is an increased sense of tension as the player is finishing a particular level.
These two thresholds for speed changes differ by level, happening earlier as the level number increases.
The pink ghost's AI is designed to "feel" opposite of the red ghost's behavior. Pinky actually attempts to get out in front of Pac-Man. This is accomplished by setting the target 4 tiles ahead of Pac-Man's current location in the direction that Pac-Man is travelling. One exception to this is when Pac-Man is traveling up. Due to an overflow bug in the code, the calculation includes a left offset equal to the expected up offset.
The use of Pac-Man's expected position allows the player to exploit the navigation code for Pinky. This was most often seen in situations where Pac-Man and Pinky are in close proximity to each other. For example, if they were headed toward one another, once they are less than 4 tiles apart, the target tile is now behind Pinky. If he encounters an intersection while in this configuration, he will attempt to double-back (by turning) in order to reach the target tile.
Player's would often perform what was referred to as a "head fake" by changing directions rapidly just as Pinky was approaching an intersection. By displacing the target tile just as Pinky was doing the distance and navigation calculations, the player could often force Pinky to move in certain directions. These techniques quickly became part of advanced players' strategies.
The blue ghost uses the most complicated targeting scheme of all the ghosts. Despite being perfectly deterministic, due to the more complex nature of the calculations, Inky is actually the least predictable of the ghosts.
The location of the target tile is actually a hybrid of two calculations. In order to arrive at Inky's target tile, you must use two pieces of data:
First, in a similar manner to Pinky, extend Pac-Man's current direction out two tiles (similar to Pinky's four-tile lead) to arrive at an "offset". Second, draw a vector from Blinky's current position to this offset tile. By doubling the length of this vector, we get Inky's target tile.
Note that depending on the configuration of the actors, this target tile may be in front of Pac-Man (such as when Blinky is pursuing behind Pac-Man), behind Pac-Man (when Blinky is approaching from the front), or deflected to one side or another. Additionally, as this configuration changes, the target tile may vary rapidly. Note also that because Pac-Man's current direction is used as part of the calculation, Inky is susceptible to the "head fake" in a similar way to Pinky. Because of the inclusion of Blinky's location, however, trying to control Inky's movement is far less practical.
The orange ghost is the least aggressive of the ghosts due to his target tile code. There are two parts to Clyde's chase calculations separated by a simple IF statement. If Clyde's location is greater than 8 tiles (Euclidean) away from Pac-Man, he uses the same targeting as Blinky (head directly towards Pac-Man). Once he is within 8 tiles, however, Clyde switches his target tile to his normal patrol corner as per his "scatter" behavior. This means that Clyde will never directly encounter the player unless the player makes a poor decision and gets between Clyde and his corner.
In "scatter" mode, each ghost's target tile is changed to a location outside the maze. These targets are positioned with one outside each corner. The result is that each ghost will go to a different corner and, because they can't actually reach the target tile, will circle in that corner until they go back to chase mode.
Note that the ghosts are not really "scattering" from the player but merely moving in 4 different directions.
While in "frightened" mode, the ghost chooses random directions to go when approaching each intersection. This is the only mode where the ghost is not using a target tile.
When the ghosts are killed, their disembodied eyes return to their starting location. This is simply accomplished by setting the ghost's target tile to that location. The navigation uses the same rules.
What Worked
Simple Rules Create Complex Environment
The careful construction of simple rules for the 4 ghosts created emergent behavior provided myriad gameplay scenarios. While the behaviors of the ghosts seemed complex and almost sentient, there was very little decision-making going on. Novice players felt that there was more AI happening than was actually present. Indeed, the differing rules for the ghosts made for very complex combinations of behaviors.
By alternating between "chase" and "scatter" modes, a subtle sense of tension and release was generated rather than constantly having the pressure on the player.
The individual rulesets for each ghost created a personality for that ghost. The traits of this personality were evident enough that the names of the real names of the ghosts were aligned somewhat with them. These were as follows:
- Blinky, the ghost who follows Pac-Man, was named "Shadow"
- Pinky, the ghost getting in front, was "Speedy" (despite the fact that he wasn't any faster)
- Inky, the ghost who always was on the periphery, was "Bashful"
- Clyde, the ghost who seemed to just do his own thing, was "Pokey"
This would not have worked if the rules were simply chosen randomly by each ghost. Instead, by being associated with each color, the player was able to use this knowledge to his advantage in assessing and beating the pattern.
Appearance of Cooperation
Because of the way the individual chase rules were crafted, there seemed to be an implicit cooperation between the ghosts. For example, with Blinky always following Pac-Man and Pinky mostly trying to get in front, the player often felt "boxed in". In reality, the only ghost that used the position of another ghost in its calculations was Inky who only indirectly used the location of Blinky to determine its target tile.
What Didn't Work
Predictability Leads to Exploitation
Despite the complex-looking behavior, there was no randomness involved in the AI. Even despite the fact that people were often thrown off by the seemingly random behaviors of Inky and Clyde, because the rules were simple, patterns could not only be recognized but they could be pre-determined.
These patterns were discerned and shared between the gaming community and the game quickly became "broken". The designers thought that by simply increasing the speed of the game as levels progressed, they would prevent players from "beating" the game. This however, was not the case.
Every level beyond the 21st was identical -- both in maze construction and the speed of the ghosts -- therefore, the optimal pattern to "solve" the level was the same. At that point, the game devolved into an endurance test to see how long a player could go before making a mistake.
Lessons Learned
Reception by Public
- The Pac-Man Dossier, Jamey Pittman, web,
- Pinky seek bug, Don Hodges, web, 2009
- Understanding Pac-Man Ghost Behavior, Chad Birch, GameInternals web site,

subset: commoncrawl


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One girl's twistedly fantastic interpretation of what the hell is really going on in those tribes.
Friday, February 11, 2011
Russell: Lucifer
If you're new to this blog, then you should know that Russell Hantz has, and always will be, known as Lucifer. It began back in Samoa laced with love. It continued in Heroes V. Villains tinged with disdain. How I'll type Lucifer this season remains to be seen. I'm very up and down with Mr. Spoiler Hantz.
Lucifer will never win Survivor, but he's made a hell of a lot of money trying. Little talked about fact: contestants do get paid (handsomely) for placing near the top. He's good for drama and he's good for ratings. Sometimes his arrogance is charming and other times it's fucking annoying. I never know what I'm going to get with Lucifer. One thing I do know is that he loves the game about as much as I do. No season is ever boring with him playing in it so... thank you Lucifer and GAME ON!
11 comments:
- SuiteDisneyFebruary 11, 2011 at 12:05 PM
Russell made Survivor fun to watch just when it was starting to get boring. Love him or hate him, he gives good show!ReplyDelete
As much as I am going to love watching Russell play again, I just now realised that I'm going to love reading your recap and his interactions(or lack of) on each episode.ReplyDelete
I think Lucifer is fun, but please can he have not have 235 minutes of every hour explaining how he is going to win. Actually, can we not have anyone explaining for 235 minutes in every hour how they are in absolute control and are going to win?ReplyDelete
- AnonymousFebruary 11, 2011 at 2:15 PM
This guy is an idiot and I hated the way he played the game. I'll watch the first episode and if he is still there at the end, I won't watch until he is gone.ReplyDelete
- AnonymousFebruary 11, 2011 at 3:43 PM
@ Anon-2:15 :ReplyDelete
Russell is far-far-far from being an idiot...and neither he nor the Survivor in general would lose much if you don't watch...in fact, thanks to Russell the ratings remain good...he is the casting's saving grace, insurance against another boring season...
Russell is either loved or hated, he can have you delighted or annoyed, but always on the edge of your seat and never-ever indifferent...
- DiabolicalFebruary 12, 2011 at 11:56 PM
Never have, never will like him. He's a cocky bastard and everyone loves to see a cocky bastard fail...which he does so gracelessly. Still...he makes for some good drama at times, despite his misogynistic crap.ReplyDelete
What I hope is that he wins this year and as they hand him the cheque for a million dollars they also slip him a subpoena and sue his hairy arse for that million plus a few more millions for leaking information.
I won't be happy with Lucifer if he latches on to the new Natalie and brings her to the end.ReplyDelete
But you're so right, CL. Russell keeps things interesting. At least we know it won't be boring.
- AnonymousFebruary 14, 2011 at 12:42 PM
Best. Survivor. Playa. Ever.ReplyDelete
- AnonymousFebruary 14, 2011 at 4:10 PM
I don't even like him that much, but in all fairness I have to agree - Best Survivor Player Ever.ReplyDelete
He revived this show and redefined it.
- AnonymousFebruary 16, 2011 at 11:35 AM
My kids and I will never forget watching Lucifer the first time around. We was sooooo annoying, and we 100% hated him...and then he found that idol with no clue at all--and from there on, we started to be more entertained than annoyed. His humungo ego aside, he played Survivor the way we wanted to.ReplyDelete
He really is like the devil--it's hard to know whether you going to hate him or love him. Lucifer has many faces! ...I guess we'll see how this season goes. But I do predict he will be entertaining to watch--even this third time.
This guy is an idiot and I hated the way he played the game. I'll watch the first episode and if he is still there at the end, I won't watch until he is gone.ReplyDelete


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> 7 Bed Luxurious Home HERZLIYA PITUACH, ISRAEL
Located on Israel's most prestigious street, is this Ilan Pivco designed architectural estate. Situated on a meticulously manicured and artfully landscaped dunam (1/4th acre) this state of the art house greets visitors with a 25ft tall touch button steel door. The residence offers 650 square meter (7000 square feet) of unmatched artisan quality finishes and luxury. 7 bedrooms, a study, and home theatre. The gourmet Boffi kitchen offers the best in form and function with large centre island and professional style appliances. The grand formal living room features a wall of floor to ceiling doors that open to the spectacular rear grounds, with marble lined infinity pool, grassy area, and cloth covered loggia. Truly Israel's most exclusive address.


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Make videos and screenshots of your gameplay with Game DVR, and then edit and share your best moments with friends.
To create your perfect gaming montage, you can edit clips from your Xbox One and your PC in your favorite video editor.
If all you need is to trim the beginning or end of a clip to focus on the best moment, use the Trim tool in the Xbox app.
Then, share your edited clips to your favorite social media, including to Xbox Live through the Xbox app.
Trim a game clip
Rename a clip
Game clips are originally named with the game title, the date, and the time so that you can quickly find it, but you can change the name before you share your clip with the world.
Select the clip you want to rename, then select Rename. Enter the name you'd prefer, then press Enter. Remember, any video you share is subject to the Xbox Live Terms of Use, so keep it cordial.
Game clips (under 30 minutes long) and screenshots of popular PC games and any game available through Microsoft Store can be shared to Xbox Live. They aren't automatically uploaded from Windows 10.
Note Xbox checks uploaded content for violations of the Xbox Live Code of Conduct. There may be a delay before your clip or screenshot is visible to anyone else.
To share your captures on other social networks or by email, you'll find the files in the Captures folder, which by default is in your videos folder. From the Xbox app, select Open folder under the clip you want to share, and it will open File Explorer where that video is saved. Then, use the website or app for the social media network to share the clip or screenshot.
Game clips uploaded to your Activity feed on Xbox Live are visible to people on Xbox Live according to your privacy and online safety settings. To make changes:
Thanks for your feedback!
Provide feedback for this topic
Would you like to contact Support regarding the "Edit and share game clips with Game DVR in the Xbox app on Windows 10" issue you were reading about or a different issue?


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In a heavy pot, bring the milk to a boil. Sprinkle in the semolina, whisking constantly over very low heat. Add the sugar, then simmer for 5 to 6 minutes, stirring from time to time. Remove from the heat and add the butter and the eggs, 1 by 1, stirring. Blend in the vanilla. The mixture will be thick but pourable, like a sauce.
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
Butter a deep 10-inch baking pan. In the bottom of the pan, layer 8 sheets of phyllo, leaving the edges hanging over the sides of the pan. Brush each sheet generously with clarified butter. Pour the milk mixture over the phyllo layers.
Cut the remaining sheets of phyllo about the size of the pan and brush each sheet with clarified butter. Place the buttered sheets on top of the filling, then brush the hanging bottom sheets with clarified butter and roll them up to seal.
With a very sharp knife, score the top diagonally in 2 directions to make diamond-shaped slits on the surface. (This makes it easier to cut later, and also allows the syrup to penetrate the pie.) Sprinkle with a little water and bake about 1 hour, or until top is light brown and filling has set.
The minute you start baking the pie, begin to make the syrup. Simmer the water with sugar and the 1/2 of lemon for about 1 hour. Remove the lemon half and squeeze the juice into the syrup. Discard the lemon. Pour the syrup over the pie the minute you take it out of the oven. Be careful, syrup will bubble vigorously and can burn you.
Let cool, and serve, cutting pieces along the slits that you made before baking the pie.


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BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) Kevin Minter doesn't envision LSU's defense fretting over any quarterback, not even Texas A&M's explosive, headline-grabbing, dual-threat freshman, Johnny Manziel.
Minter and LSU held Oregon in check last season. Just last week, the Tigers racked up four sacks against South Carolina's Connor Shaw - a good scrambler in his own right.
So while being showered with question after question about how No. 6 LSU was going to cope with Manziel's playmaking ability, Minter acknowledged there was a part of him that wanted to roll his eyes and just say, ``We can handle this.'' But the senior linebacker didn't want to come off as disrespectful, either.
``Anything can happen. We've still got to prepare well and execute,'' said Minter, who leads the team with 63 total tackles, including 8 1/2 for losses. ``They're a very talented offense and we can't just go in there cocky thinking, `Oh, we got this. We've played teams like this before.' It can get bad for you real quick with an offense like this.''
Earlier this week, LSU watched film of the 20th-ranked Aggies' 59-57 victory over Louisiana Tech in Shreveport on Saturday night. Manziel's 72-yard touchdown run, in which he appeared to be coasting to his right on a roll-out before a sudden burst up field, got the defenders' attention.
``He's surprisingly fast. You don't necessarily know until he's leaving you,'' Minter said, adding that in watching video, he noticed defenders being caught off guard by Manziel's acceleration and breakaway speed. ``You can tell (defenders pursuing Manziel) don't go as fast as they need to and all of a sudden he takes off and they're panicking. He's 30 yards down the field already. So we've got to be able to crowd this guy and play LSU defense.''
Playing LSU defense means the kind of speed to the ball, sound positional play and sure tackling that has the Tigers ranked second in the Southeastern Conference in rush defense (89.3 yards per game), pass defense (130.3 ypg) and total defense (219.6 ypg).
The Aggies, meanwhile, lead the SEC in scoring (47.0 points per game), rushing (235.8 ypg), and total offense (543.7 ypg).
Manziel accounted for an SEC-record 576 yards against Louisiana Tech, rushing for 181 yards and three touchdowns and completing 24 of 40 passes for 395 yards and three touchdowns. In six games, Manziel has nearly 2,400 yards of total offense.
``He's fast, real fast. He's a dual-threat quarterback like ones we've faced a couple times this year but he's faster. ... We have to make sure we keep him contained,'' LSU defensive tackle Bennie Logan said.
``He does a pretty good job throwing the ball on the run and he also does a good job faking like he's going to throw it and when you jump to bat down the ball he'll tuck the ball and run,'' Logan added. ``Coach was telling us to make sure we stay on our feet when we get to him. Don't try to jump for the ball or anything. Make sure you get him contained and tackle him down low.''
Texas A&M does not allow freshmen to speak to the media, so reporters have not had a chance to get Manziel's opinion on the type of defense he'll be up against this week. However, it's clear that his coaches are trying to prepare him to face one of the toughest units he's seen this season.
``You never know what LSU is going to throw at us. They have such great athletes and players that they can do whatever they want and it's going to be a challenge,'' Texas A&M offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury said. ``Watching 11 guys fly for the football on every snap is impressive. I have the utmost respect for this team. When you turn on the film, you see a hard-playing, hard-nose team and it goes a long way.''
Minter and Logan both said that while Manziel might be the fastest quarterback they've faced, they also believe the Tigers have some of the fastest players that the Aggies freshman will see on a defensive line. Defensive end Barkevious Mingo and defensive tackle Anthony Johnson are as fast as anyone playing their positions, Minter said.
This week, Jerrard Randall has been running the scout team against the starting defense, and Minter believes facing the speedy backup quarterback in practice has served the Tigers well in preparing for dual-threat QBs all season.
``He's running the ball around and to be honest with you, we haven't faced a mobile quarterback like Jerrard Randall,'' Minter said. ``He just gives a great look out there and when we go against these mobile quarterbacks I feel like we're more than prepared to face them.''


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Meat Loaf Announces 2012 Tour Dates
Polish off those dashboard lights, boys and girls — Meat Loaf is ready to hit the road behind his new album 'Hell in a Handbasket,' bringing you the live Loaf you crave. It all kicks off June 22 in Austin, Texas.
"People who come to Meat Loaf shows know what to expect. They know they're going to get full-on energy with the best rock 'n' roll band in the world. That's not an opinion. That's the truth," said Meat Loaf in a press release announcing what he's calling the 'Mad, Mad World' tour.
Continued Meat, "Well, a great play can be done with a table, a light, and four chairs. Great shows are about people. You don't want to put up a wall with laser lights, production, and dancers. It's really about going out there and putting on the show of these people's lives without all of the bells and whistles."
Of course, in Meat Loaf's world, "without all the bells and whistles" still means taking a full-sized band on the road, so you can expect to see his complete eight-member crew, dubbed the Neverland Express, which includes a sax player, violinist, and fainting spells. (Phil Rizzuto, who died in 2007, will not be joining the band on tour.)
Although — like pretty much any artist who's been doing it as long as Meat — he'll have to stack the set list with hits, Loaf is still pretty excited about performing songs from his new album. "It's is the most personal record I've ever made," he insisted, adding that it's "really the first record I've ever put out about how I feel about life and how I feel about what's going on at the moment."
Offered Meat in conclusion, "Making this album was a great experience, and I hope my fans enjoy hearing it as much as I did making it."
Meat Loaf 'Mad, Mad World' 2012 Tour Dates:
06/22 — Austin, Texas
06/24 — Del. Benito Juarez, Mexico
06/27 — Los Angeles, Calif.
06/30 — Snoqualmie, Wash.
07/02 — Eagle, Idaho
07/07 — Valley Center, Calif.
07/17 — Montclair, N.J.
07/19 — New Brunswick, N.J.
07/21 — Canandaigua, N.Y.
07/23 — Englewood, N.J.
07/25 — Bethlehem, Pa.
07/27 — Atlantic City, N.J.
07/29 — Salamanca, N.Y.
07/31 — Boston, Mass.
08/02 — Upper Darby, Pa.
08/04 — North Bay, Ontario


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Locked Out
Well I will tell you how it all began. My name is Alex, and well you Might not bleive what I am about to tell you, but I swear it is true.
It was last wednesday, I had just got back from the grosery store when I ran into the most beautiful woman I had ever laid my eyes on.
She ask me if she could use my phone, she needed to call her mom, because she locked herself out of her house and she needed
to get the spare key.
So I let her in the house. The phone is on the counter, I said. I had just finnshed putting up my stuff, when she walked up behind me and
said thank you, no problem any time, I said. you can stay here intill she gets here with the key. she sat on the couch and said thanks.
Can I get you a drink, I asked, she said no thank you. By the way I am Alex, what is your name? Grace, I am your new neighbor.
Nice to meet you, so where do you work? At the college, I teach a poetry class there. Wow you don't look old enough to be teaching, I said,
just how old are you , if you don't mind me asking? 26, and why how old do I look? 20 at most, I said. Well thank you. How old are you if you don't
mind me asking, she said,? 23. WOW, she exclaimed, you really don't look your age, you look as if your at least 30. Thank you I think.
Well at about this time I was really starting to find this girl attractive. and it didn't help that she was wearing just a sports bra and running pants either.
I walk by and hand her a ice cold bottle of water. Thnak you, she says. I know you said you didn't want any thing but you looked thirsty.
She drank about a quarter of the bottle and set it down in her lap. That was good, she said. Your welcome.
Now I was sitting just across from her, and I noticed she was still breathing hard from her run. Her breast were heaving in and out. She caught me staring.
I am sorry. No problem I don't mind, she said. I got up walked over and sat down beside her on the couch. I looked in her eyes for what seamed like
an eternity, I put my finger under her chin and pulled close and kissed her long and gentil. As she pulled back she lookin my eyes and kissed me again.
I slowly started to kiss down her neck down to her shoulder. I moved the right strap of her sports off, and kissed where it had been, I heard a fain sigh escape
her lips. I started to kiss my way across her collar bone to her other strap. I pull off her bra over her head revealing her supple breast,
I softly kissed her nipples one at a time, as I massage her breast. I slowly kiss my way down to her pants, she kicks off her running shoes as I pull down her pants.
And to my surprise she didn't have on any underware on at all. And she was completely shaven, it was beautiful. I kissed softly just above her clit,
she moaned with plaesure as I slid my toung in her slit as far as it would go. I slowly massaged her clit with my toung, her hips starting bucking wildly
but I kept my pace, she screamed with pleasure as she released her juices all over my face.
As I wipe my face clean, she grabs me by the shirt and pulls me in and kisses me hard and says that was amazing, I never came so hard
before. Well it isn't over yet,I said. She looked at me with hungry eyes and kissed me again. I pulled off my shirt, and she started kissing my
chest. Then she threw me down on the couch and started to pull off my pants. She got them off and underware to, then she grabed my throbing 7″ cock.
Now I know I am not the longest in the world, but she said she hadn't seen one quite so thick before and didn't know if it would fit in her.
She put me in her mouth, she pulled me in all the way to the base of my cock. As she started to suck me, my eyes rolled back in my head.
It feels so good, I said. Preasure was starting to build, I warnd her but she didn't stop, I released deep in her throat. I kissed her as she got up.
Damn your good, I said. She smiled and said thankyou so are you.
I laid her back gently on the couch, I got a condom out of the side table drawer and put it on, better safe than sorry, I said, she smiled.
I got over her kissed her once and guided myself into her. Slowly I went in all the way to the end, driving her crazy with ever inch.
As I get all the way in I stay for a minute she is so tight, it feels so good. I slowly start to pull out, her hips start to buck wildly but I keep her still.
She grabs me around the neck and kisses me hard. I stop just as I get to the tip, I wait, it drives her crazy, and I go back in slowly.
She is screaming with pleasure, her juices are running down my legs. Once I get to the base again I start to go a little faster.
In, out, in, out, she screames more and more. The preasure starts to build again,I keep going after I cum. Now she has already cum about 8 times,
but I keep on going at the same pace, now her muceles are squezing me hard, and i can feel preasure building again.
Just as I cum she screames at the top of her lungs and we fall down on the couch together. We lay there for about ten minutes holding each other.
As we are getting dressed I turn to her give her a kiss and say welcome to the neighborhood, just as there is a knock at the door.


text:
Private lessons
A secure browser means a happy sysadmin
Sysadmin blog Securing your browser is not an easy task. There is a lot to understand about how a modern web browser works, and what about them leaves us vulnerable to malware, privacy threats and other attacks. The browser itself is not the only problem; browsers play host to software such as Flash or PDF readers that are vulnerable to attack too. So familiarity with the most common defensive tools is vital if you want to browse the web.
Perhaps one of the greatest browser extensions of all time is Web Of Trust (WOT). It works with all major browsers. It is one of the few examples of "crowdsourcing" I have seen that actually works.
The basic principle is simple: everyone with WOT installed can see the rating that other WOT users give to a site, and use a simple interface to add their ratings to the database. WOT not only provides you an easily visible rating (using colored circles) of the website you are on, but also rates search results in popular search engines like Google. Hyperlinks that take you away from the site you are on will have a WOT circle on them indicating the level of confidence the hive mind has in the destination site's trustworthiness. If you install no other add-on, I encourage you to install and use this one.
Advertisement blocking extensions (adblocks) are fairly controversial. Given the increasing prevalence of malware using (non-text) advertisements as an infection vector, they may be necessary. For an idea as to how controversial I direct you to a recent article on Ars Technica, plus the 2031 comments. Everything that can be said about the subject has been said there.
If you choose to install an adblocker, they are available for all major browsers: IE, Firefox, Chrome, Safari and Opera.
I prefer the less drastic alternative of Flash blocking to an all-out adblock. Flashblocks, in essence, prevent flash objects from loading on a webpage until you explicitly click to allow them. It's important because Flash is a huge vector for infection.
It blocks non-advertisement based flash in addition to the flash an adblock would catch. If you choose to support the websites you visit by allowing advertisements, Flashblock also offers the opportunity for text-based ads to display while blocking far more dangerous flash-based ones. Flashblock is available for every major browser: IE, Firefox, Chrome, Safari and Opera.
Browsers that serve as the bridge between our personal systems and those belonging to other people can lead to privacy problems. Blocking the most obvious candidates (such as Flash) will help to prevent malware installing itself onto your computer and stealing your passwords or sensitive documents.
There are privacy concerns that stretch beyond malware however, and this is where addons such as the Targeted Advertising Cookie Opt-out (TACO) come in. TACO, Beef TACO, Ghostery, Better Privacy and other similar programs can help prevent advertisers – or anyone else – from tracking your movements online.
When it comes to these extensions, all browsers are not made equal. Firefox comes out head and shoulders above the rest. If you are worried about privacy, then the dearth of comprehensive privacy protection extensions for other browsers leaves no option.
IE7Pro deserves an honorable mention. Despite the name, it does support IE8. While primarily focused on interface enhancements designed to bring IE on par with other major browsers from a usability standpoint, it is equipped with a competent adblock.
All of the browser extensions discussed above are minimally intrusive. The extensions form the bare minimum defences that you should consider before using the web. But there remains one extension that we haven't discussed – NoScript – that will require an article all its own. ®


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Member since: 2018
Organization: IZSVe
Great machine with excellent results.
Application Area: Analyze DNA and RNA
"Very easy to use product for PCR. Software is easy to use & learn - results are easy to understand. The product is very reliable."
Status:Advanced Reviewer
Member since: 2017
Organization: WSU Plant Pathology
Never regret having it!
Application Area:qRT-PCR-based gene expression measurement
"Easy to set up the program and extract data. Software is truly user friendly. Since it has an LED system, it always provides us with constant data."
Member since: 2016
Organization: University of Pittsburgh
Easy handling and worth the money and time!
Application Area:Taqman qPCR Assay
"The machine is really good and easy to use. They don't need Rox as internal reference, which is good for SYBR application. The temperature change quickly from low to high or vice versa, which save a lot of time for the cycle. We can finish the run with 50 min. That means we can do around 10 plates within 8hr. The only cons are the high price for the maintenance, but Biorad initial a loyalty program which can save you the money for maintenance if you buy their reagents and lab supplies."
Member since: 2017
Organization: University at Albany
Machine broke after 8 runs-use caution if considering
Application Area:Teaching genetics lab
"This machine is easy to use and gives great results. However, I received it March 2016, used it to teach fall 2016 and spring 2017 and it stopped working after 8 runs. My department didn't purchase the 5k service contract and the warranty expired. While I understand the warranty being expired I am extremely dissapointed in the service. I don't feel that an expensive piece of equipment should break after 8 runs and one operator. Don't buy this unless you purchase a service contract. There are better pcr machines out there."
Member since: 2016
Organization: UCSD
consistent results, easy to use, good customer service
Application Area:qPCR, gene expression analysis
"Easy to use, friendly software, versatile platform"
Member since: 2016
Organization: Labena
Reliable and robust instrument.
Application Area:qPCR, RT-PCR, precision melt analysis
"CFX96 is very easy to use, user interface is very intuitive and simple, results are acquired and can be analyzed in the same software. It is modular so this is plus. During work is quiet, and looks nice. Personally, I think this is one of best qPCR systems on market. Only one drawback is price, but I think best things are not cheap."
Status:Advanced Reviewer
Member since: 2016
Organization: University of Padova
Easy to use and high sensitivity to detect gene expression compared to other models.
Application Area:Analysis of mRNA
"Easy to use and high sensitivity to detect gene expression compared to other models. The CFX96 is a powerful, precise, and flexible real-time PCR detection system. Six-channel (five colors and one FRET channel) real-time PCR instrument combines advanced optical technology with precise temperature control to deliver sensitive, reliable detection for singlexplex or multiplex reactions. powerful yet easy-to-use software"
Status:Advanced Reviewer
Member since: 2008
Organization: Swansea University
Good machine - does the job well
Application Area:Expression Profiling
"Reliable consistent results - works well. The software is good could be a little more intuitiv - hopefully we will see an improved new edition out soon"
Status:Advanced Reviewer
Member since: 2015
Organization: Diagnostic Center for Population and Animal Health
The application variety make this one of the most valuable pieces of equipment in our lab.
Application Area:Realtime PCR pathogen detection and validation
"The CFX96 software is easy to understand and use. Many programs can be installed and quickly selected when setting the machine up for a PCR run. Data analysis is great as you can customize only the information that is pertinent to your use. The unit can also be configured to operate with several other machines or as a standalone unit offering users a wide variety of applications and uses. The LCD touch screen interface is also a nice feature when programming the machine. The company also provides onsite repair and troubleshooting to minimize downtown. "
Status:Expert Reviewer
Member since: 2010
Organization: City of Hope National Medical Center and Beckman Research Institute Department of Cancer Genetics and Epigenetics 1500 E Duar
Great results and save a lot of time and money!
Application Area:analyze gene expression in tissues and cells
"Easy to use and high sensitivity to detect gene expression compared to other models"
Member since: 2013
Organization: Mayo clinic
Great product, but After sales service part is poor.
Application Area:Analyze the gene expression in aging brain.
"This machine is definitely useful for all the filed include clinic. I would like to give 5 stars for this machine, not a service. If this machine has a problem (a simple power problem), it costs a lot (include labor fee) and it takes very long time to take care of this. Most institutions have an engineering department. It should be okay to order the part (simple part), then we can process to fix by our own. "
Manufacturer's ResponseWe are very sorry to hear that you did not have a positive experience. Bio-Rad has multiple levels of service based on the customer's needs and budget. We would be happy to discuss your particular concern directly so we can better understand how we can meet your needs. Please feel free to reach out to us directly at 1-800-424-6723 FREE, or contact your local sales representative.
Member since: 2015
Organization: Auburn University
Great instrument. My research cannot be down without it.
Application Area:protein quantification
"This is a special qPCR because it can make temperature down to 4 Celsius degrees, and most of real-time PCR instrument cannot do this."
Member since: 2010
Organization: Advanced797
Application Area:Changes in gene expression
"This system is super easy to use. Great product for our lab. Would highly recommend to anyone interested in a real-time system. We have used it for about 18 months and have no issues with the instrument."
Member since: 2014
Organization: Africa-ai-Japan Project
"It is very effective and able make high quality results. It is so easy to use and powerful. I would like to recommend other people to use this machine without any hinders. In addition it is can be easily managed and programmed. Also it is not very expensive. From point of my view its activity is more than its prizes. "
Member since: 2008
Organization: Universidad Central del Caribe
Application Area:qPCR
"This is a very user-friendly versatile qPCR system. I am familiar with various qPCR systems and I am extremely satisfied with this instrument. The software, setup, troubleshooting are easy. Bio-Rad service and technical assistance is also superb. I recommend it."
Member since: 2015
Organization: Belgorod State National Research University
"It is good and easy to use even for me as a clinician."
Status:Expert Reviewer
Member since: 2013
Organization: JRFAmerica
Application Area:Viral PCR analysis and amplification
"Easy to use reliable data is very reproducible and the software is easy to use and well developed. As a tool for DNA amplification we have had great success with it."
Member since: 2014
Organization: Ipadlab
Application Area:Diagnostics
"This is a very simple instrument, which works well in all applications using real-time PCR. It is very useful when you want setting the multiplex real-time PCR assay."
Member since: 2013
Organization: ORTHIN LABORATORIO
Application Area:molecular biology
"It's an easy to use instrument for molecular diagnosis. I recommended it for clinical diagnostic assays."
Member since: 2013
Organization: Univ. Of Guelph
Application Area:Gene expression
"Great product. Service upon receiving the product was spectacular. Great demo and walkthrough with the machine. Technical support has been outstanding. Easy to use and straight forward."
Member since: 2013
Organization: Brigham and Women's Hospital, HMS
Application Area:cancer response curves
"High throughput, fast response time, easy user interface. Data analysis software needs improvement. High reagent costs."
Member since: 2012
Organization: Florida State University
Application Area:qPCR
"Bio-Rad have great representatives who are attentive to detail and good demonstrators. They provided our lab with a good deal including an extra thermal cycler."
Member since: 2012
Organization: Pontificia Universidad Catolic
Application Area:Cell and Molecular Biology
"The machine is very easy to use and I have never had any problems with this it."
Member since: 2012
Organization: University of Iowa
"The CFX thermal cycler provides fast and reliable results that remove the need for including ROX dye calibrators needed in ABI products of a similar nature. The software is easy to use and frequent product updates constantly add features and levels of analysis ensuring cutting edge results. Follow-up communications and prompt customer service from local Bio-Rad reps ensure the machine is up-to-date and problems are quickly resolved."
Member since: 2010
Organization: SOUTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY CARBONDALE
"Accurate values in all the wells, even the extreme corners. Can easily draw your graph on the system itself- no need for excel. Less volume used and it is quick (takes only one hour including dissociation curve)."
Member since: 2010
Organization: UNIV. CENTRAL DEL CARIBE SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
"Easy to use and versatile- various applications in one instrument."
Member since: 2011
Organization: MOREHOUSE SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
Application Area:QPCR
"A good system. It's easy to handle and user friendly."
Member since: 2011
Organization: Eastern Tennessee State University
"Great performer. It runs fast chemistry from multiple suppliers with equal efficiency. Software is easy to navigate and intuitive. It is a workhorse- it's run day and night with no problems (no overheating etc). Not particularly easy to adjust baseline value- can cause anomalies in efficiency values."
Member since: 2011
Organization: Univ Southern California
"Easy to use, instruction is well written. Good demo- offers a good training section. Good service."
Member since: 2011
Organization: UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI
"An excellent product that is easy to use."
Member since: 2011
Organization: INST. OF ONCOLOGY ANGEL H. ROFFO
"Excellent cost effective machine."
Member since: 2011
Organization: Instituto de Oncologia A H Roffo
"An easy to use Real Time PCR Machine. Very flexible with an open chemistry. Very fast and reproducible results."
Member since: 2011
Organization: UNIV. OF MIAMI-MILLER
"Great machine, easy to use and excellent customer support."
The CFX96 Touch Deep Well real-time PCR detection system offers precise quantification and target discrimination for up to 5 targets in large-volume reactions.
The system incorporates industry-leading technology and stand-alone functionality to provide a robust and easy-to-use qPCR instrument for reliable results.
To obtain reliable, consistent results, all sample wells must maintain proper temperature throughout each incubation step. The CFX96 Touch™ and CFX96 Touch Deep Well™ systems use six independently controlled thermal electric modules (TEs), the heating and cooling elements of the thermal cycler, to maintain tight temperature uniformity at all points during a run — even while ramping.
The CFX96 Touch Deep Well system produces high average ramp rates and tight uniformity during ramping to yield fast time to target temperature and faster protocol run times. Run times can be dramatically shortened — to less than 30 min — while still producing accurate quantitative results.
CFX96 Touch Deep Well™ systems' solid-state optical technology (six filtered LEDs and six filtered photodiodes) provides sensitive detection for precise quantification and target discrimination. The system can discriminate up to five targets in a single reaction well.
With the CFX96 Touch Deep Well™ system, you can easily determine the optimal temperature of your assay in a single experiment, saving valuable research time. Using the built-in thermal gradient, you can program up to 24°C across the reaction block at any step in your protocol. The thermal cycler provides exceptional temperature uniformity and reproducibility within each gradient zone.
CFX96 Touch Deep Well Real–Time PCR Detection System (185–5196) Features and Benefits:
Manufacturer Bio-Rad | Available Worldwide4.4 / 5.0 | 33 reviews


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Last night, in Manhattan's luxurious and conveniently located Roosevelt Hotel, Ziff-Davis Media held a warm-up party for its not-entirely-necessary September trade show DigitalLife. But the show's timing, on the heels of the more successful Pepcom Digital Experience at the end of June, was poor, because it meant little or no news, and mostly stale hands-on opportunities. So why hold this, and why go?
Because aside from the finger food and the occasional alcoholic beverage, I look forward to meeting in person with companies that I usually deal with via impersonal email. Face time is critical for this business. A good opportunity to meet, yes, even if it was a little too close for comfort. The show's layout was tight: Reporters (and people who claim to be reporters even though they are not) were herded like water buffalo into a tight rectangular track where all of the money-paying exhibitors had set up shop. If you stopped to talk to someone at any of the tables, you risked being trampled. Fix that, Ziff, and we're solid.


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×Contact Us
Making charitable contributions is an easy and effective way to lower your taxes. You are eligible to take a deduction for contributions or gifts made to certain qualified organizations. The contributions can either be in the form of money or property. You must file Form 1040, U.S. Individual Income Tax Return, and itemize deductions on Schedule A, Itemized Deductions, to take advantage of this deduction.
Contact your neighborhood Jackson Hewitt office for more information or assistance.
A charitable contribution is a donation or gift to, or for use by, a qualified organization. It is voluntary and is made without getting, or expecting to get, anything of equal value in return. Deductible charitable contributions include money or property given to qualified organizations, your out-of-pocket expenses when you serve as a volunteer for a qualified organization, and certain expenses you pay for a student living with you who is sponsored by a qualified organization.
Deductible charitable contributions do not include the following, even if given to a qualified organization:
You can deduct contributions made to a qualified organization. To be considered qualified, most organizations (other than churches) must apply to the IRS. Local fundraisers for community members in need of assistance will not be considered qualified organizations unless they have been approved as such by the IRS.
Examples of some qualified charitable organizations include the following:
Some examples of non-qualified organizations:
Usually, you may deduct charitable contributions only in the year they were actually made. A check that you mail is considered delivered on the date you mailed it. A contribution charged on a credit card is deductible in the year you make the charge. The amount of your deduction may be limited depending on the type of property given and the type of organization to which it is given. Some contributions that you are not able to deduct in the current year because of adjusted gross income limits may be carried over to future years.
Extra tax deductions may be as close as your closet. If you donated clothing, toys, furniture, or other household items to charity, you are allowed to deduct the fair market value of your donated items. However, no deduction is allowed for these items unless they are in at least good used condition. The IRS does not provide a guide to determine the fair market value suggesting, instead, taxpayers survey thrift and consignment stores for similar items to provide an indication of the item's fair market value.
Generally, the deduction for property contributed is equal to the fair market value of the property at the time of the contribution. Different rules may apply if the value of the property has increased or for vehicle donations.
IRS Publication 561, Determining the Value of Donated Property, provides general IRS guidelines on noncash donations.
You can verify the organizations eligibility before you make a donation by going to IRS.gov and checking the Exempt Organizations Select Check database maintained by the IRS.
If you donate a qualified vehicle valued at more than $500, you will not be allowed to take a charitable deduction unless you get a written acknowledgement of the contribution from the charitable organization (usually within 30 days) and include the acknowledgement with your tax return. The amount of your deduction is limited by the organization's use of the vehicle. If the charitable organization sells the donated vehicle without having significantly used the vehicle for charitable purposes, generally your charitable deduction cannot be greater than the amount the organization received from the sale of the vehicle. If the organization uses the vehicle for charitable purposes, you should be able to deduct the fair market value of the vehicle immediately preceding your donation. The organization should issue a Form 1098-C to provide you with the required information. For this purpose, qualified vehicles include motor vehicles, boats, and aircraft.
IRS Publication 4303, A Donor's Guide to Car Donations, provides general IRS guidelines on car donations.
If you have an American or foreign exchange student living in your home, you may be able to deduct up to $50 per month as a charitable deduction on Schedule A. You must have a written agreement from a qualified organization that administers the student program. The student cannot be your dependent or a relative, and must be a full-time student at the high school level or below.
Expenses that you may be able to deduct include the cost of books, tuition, food, clothing, transportation, medical and dental care, entertainment and other amounts you actually spend for the well-being of the student. They do not include general household expenses, such as rent, mortgage payments, taxes, insurance, repairs or the fair market value of lodging.
If you are compensated or reimbursed for any part of the costs of having a student living with you, you cannot deduct any of your costs unless you are reimbursed for only an extraordinary or a one-time item, such as a hospital bill. In this case, you can deduct the expenses for which you were not reimbursed.
You cannot deduct the costs of a foreign student living in your home under a mutual exchange program through which your child will live with a family in a foreign country.
You can deduct the out-of-pocket expenses incurred while serving as a volunteer for a qualified organization. This includes the cost of uniforms not suitable for everyday use that you must wear when volunteering, travel expenses where no significant element of personal pleasure is involved, and vehicle expenses for which you can deduct out-of-pocket expenses, such as the cost of gas and oil, or 14 cents per mile. The value of your time or services cannot be deducted.
If you attended a charity benefit or event, you may be able to deduct the dollar amount that is more than the fair market value of the event. For example, if you attended a dinner fundraiser for a qualified non-profit organization for $65 a ticket and the regular price of the meal is $10, your contribution amount would be $55.
If you receive goods or services in exchange for your contribution, you can deduct only the amount of the payment that is more than the value of the goods or services received. For example, if you spent $20 on a school youth group's movie ticket sales and it would have cost $10 to purchase the food items from the store, then you would be able to deduct $10.
If the payment is more than $75, the qualified organization must give you a written statement that indicates the value of the goods or services received.
If you are 70 and a half or older, you can make a direct transfer of up to $100,000 from your IRA to any qualified charity. These direct transfers, or Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCD), are considered part or all of your minimum required distributions (MRD) for the year. QCDs are not taxable and you are not allowed to claim them as charitable deductions on your tax return. Any distributions that are not QCDs are subject to the normal rules for IRA distributions.
The IRS requires you to keep a written acknowledgement from the charitable organization for any single cash or property contribution of $250 or more. You are also required to keep records and receipts for all contributions regardless of the amount or value.
For the contributions of less than $250, you should have a canceled check, receipt from the organization, or other reliable written documentation of the contribution. For all cash contributions, you must have either a bank record or a receipt from the organization. For contributions of $250 or more, written acknowledgement of the contribution from the qualified organization is required to claim the deduction. For property with a fair market value of more than $500, you must include a written description of the donated property with your tax return.
For contributions of property, you should have a receipt indicating the name of the charitable organization, date and location of the contribution and description of the property. You should also have written documentation that includes, in addition to the information on the receipt, the address of the organization, the fair market value of the property at the time of the contribution, and how the fair market value was determined. If you have total property contributions of more than $500, you will need to complete Form 8283, Non-cash Charitable Contributions , and attach it to your return. If you donated property with a fair market value exceeding $5,000, you must get a written appraisal by a qualified appraiser and include the appraisal with your tax return.
For contributions of qualified vehicles (such as motor vehicles, boats, and aircraft) with a claimed value of more than $500, the charitable organization must provide you with a separate written acknowledgement of the contribution (usually within 30 days). Form 1098-C includes the necessary information. The acknowledgement must include the following necessary information:
If the organization sells the donated vehicle without having made material modifications to it or without having significantly used the vehicle for charitable purposes you will need:
If the organization keeps the donated vehicle for its use:you will need:


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He's not as sexy as Ryan Gosling—then again, who is?—but dammit he's a hard drive with a mysterious past, a sweet jacket, and an awesome soundtrack.
If there's one thing I can't get enough of it's inanimate objects brought to life with computer voices and forced to act out scenes to one of my favorite summer releases. I'm holding my breath for a Contagion parody with virus software playing Kate Winslet. Full video below:
You can keep up with Roberto Baldwin, on Twitter, Facebook, and Google+.


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Said Bills General Manager Buddy Nix of how the team has changed since the end of last season, "We're younger, we're a young team. We got speed and some versatility. We brought some toughness to this team."
New Dolphin A.J. Francis got engaged an hour after signing as an undrafted rookie.
Said former Maryland DL Joe Vellano of signing as an undrafted free agent with the Patriots, "They're winners. They know how to win year in and year out."
Endorsement opportunities are drying up for former Jets QB Tim Tebow.
The Ravens are getting younger on the offensive line.
Bengals sixth-round pick Rex Burkhead has befriended a 7-year-old with brain cancer.
Could the Browns have interest in Tebow?
Steelers RB Le'Veon Bell has the look of a No. 1 runner.
Texans WR DeAndre Hopkins is getting in good with Houston fans by supporting the NBA's Rockets.
The Colts have invited Indiana State DL Jordan Bright, Marian University K Michael Josifovski, LSU OL Josh Dworaczyk and Southern Connecticut TE Jerome Cunningham to participate in their upcoming rookie minicamp, but none of them have been offered contracts.
Jaguars WR Justin Blackmon said he was done drinking after a DUI arrest last year, but he has now been suspended four games for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy.
Hopes are very high in Tennessee for WR Justin Hunter, the former Volunteer who is now a Titan.
The Broncos like S David Bruton because he's a versatile player who makes an impact on special teams.
The Kansas City Star projects the Chiefs' offensive line to consist of LT Branden Albert, LG Geoff Schwartz, C Rodney Hudson, RG Jon Asamoah and RT Eric Fisher.
The Raiders have picked up a kicker to give Sebastian Janikowski some rest during the offseason.
Said Chargers LB Manti Te'o, "I can't wait till the day I can turn on the TV again or read the sports page without seeing this story about me."
There's more talk around the NFL that the Cowboys reached when they drafted C Travis Frederick in the first round.
Ohio State co-defensive coordinator Luke Fickell says of Giants 320-pound rookie DT Johnathan Hankins' physique, "No, you're not going to be real impressed."
Eagles coach Chip Kelly added an undrafted free agent from the University of New Hampshire, where he was once an assistant coach.
Redskins rookie S Phillip Thomas says he's going to be the steal of the draft.
Bears LB Lance Briggs appeared to be uncomfortable with questions about NBA player Jason Collins coming out.
The Lions are converting WR Dominique Curry to tight end.
Josh Boyd is the heaviest defensive lineman the Packers have drafted since B.J. Raji.
Here's an interview with Hall of Fame former Vikings coach Bud Grant.
The Falcons have 12-to-1 odds to reach the Super Bowl.
The Panthers needed all of 30 seconds to pick Star Lotulelei when he was still available with the 14th overall pick.
Trading RB Chris Ivory shaved about $2 million off the Saints' payroll, which puts them $3.1 million under the cap.
Warren Sapp will be inducted into the Buccaneers' Ring of Honor.
Cardinals S Tyrann Mathieu was the best player in this year's draft, at least if you go by Dez Bryant's rankings.
Former University of Miami S Ray-Ray Armstrong could be an interesting addition to the Rams.
Lawrence Okoye, the British discus thrower who has signed with the 49ers, recently put on football pads for the first time and reported that they're not as heavy as he thought.
Seahawks CB Richard Sherman and WR Percy Harvin will play Madden as part of an "Art of Video Games" exhibit at a Seattle museum.


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Story highlights
- Veterans Day is celebrated November 11
- CNN iReport invited readers to send tributes to friends and family members who have served in the U.S. armed forces
- Loved ones shared lessons learned from their veterans
Push yourself. Cherish family. Vote. On this Veterans Day, CNN iReporters share the most important lessons they've learned from vets in their lives.
We heard from wives, girlfriends, husbands, children, grandchildren and friends of some of the 21.5 million veterans alive in the U.S. today -- and some who are no longer with us.
Visit CNNiReport.com to see all the submissions and share your own.


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Spicy Sweet Potato Soup
Looking for a different way to serve sweet potatoes?
This is a total cheater recipe that packs a lot of flavor into a very short cooking time. I used Trader Joe's Thai Red Curry Sauce to impart wonderful chile-coconut Thai flavors into this soup and then added fresh vegetables and herbs. It was delicious and only took about 20 minutes to prepare. Perfect for a rainy day lunch!
The recipe includes not only sweet potatoes but sweet potato leaves:
I found these at my local Asian market and have also found them at Farmers Markets. They have a slightly nutty taste and are spinach-like, but firmer. If you can't find them, use your favorite green leaves.
This recipe makes two servings.
Spicy Sweet Potato Soup:
20 oz vegetable broth
1/4 cup Trader Joe's Thai Red Curry Sauce
2 small sweet potatoes, peeled and diced
1 1/2 cups sweet potato leaves (or your fav green)
1 cup broccoli florettes
5 white mushrooms, thinly sliced
2 TBS chopped cilantro
1/2 TBS chopped basil or Thai basil
Heat up the vegetable broth with the diced sweet potatoes. When it comes to a boil, turn down to a simmer and add the Thai Red Curry Sauce. Cook for 2 minutes. Add the sweet potato leaves and the broccoli and cook 3 minutes. Add the sliced mushrooms and cook for 1 minute. Add the chopped herbs. Cook one more minute and serve.
If you want a garnish, chopped peanuts would be the way to go!


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Monte Sereno Real Estate
Spanish for serene hill, Monte Sereno is located in the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains. Named for El Sereno Mountain whose slopes its southernmost tip is built on, Monte Sereno is an oasis of beauty nestled between Saratoga and Los Gatos. Entirely residential, there is no commercial zoning in Monte Sereno and its housing is comprised mostly of single-family homes. The small-town feel, with no sidewalks or streetlights, laid way for John Steinbeck to take up residence while writing some of his most famous novels. There is plenty to keep local residents active, with neighboring towns offering quaint shops and fine dining. The pristine natural beauty of the Santa Cruz Mountains serves as the town's backyard, and hiking, biking and outdoor odysseys are available for all nature enthusiasts. This upscale bedroom community offers much sought after peace and tranquility.
Monte Sereno Property Info
area data
While overarching trends in real estate such as interest rates, economic factors, and consumer confidence all influence the purchase or sale of a home, smaller monthly changes in our local markets can affect your transaction just as much. Our real time market data gives you the most accurate and timely snapshot of your city or neighborhood.
Monte Sereno Market Report
Market News, May 2019
All residential. Information obtained from the Multiple Listing Service and/or public records. This third party information has not been independently verified.
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The first book in Lauren Oliver's New York Times bestselling trilogy about forbidden love, revolution, and the power to choose.
In an alternate United States, love has been declared a dangerous disease, and the government forces everyone who reaches eighteen to have a procedure called the Cure. Living with her aunt, uncle, and cousins in Portland, Maine, Lena Haloway is very much looking forward to being cured and living a safe, predictable life. She watched love destroy her mother and isn't about to make the same mistake.
But with ninety-five days left until her treatment, Lena meets enigmatic Alex, a boy from the Wilds who lives under the government's radar. What will happen if they do the unthinkable and fall in love?
Kirkus Reviews (starred review)"In [Oliver's] dystopian America, love has been outlawed as the life-threatening source of all discord. Lena's gradual awakening is set against a convincing backdrop of totalitarian horror. The abrupt ending leaves enough unanswered questions to set breathless readers up for volume two of this trilogy."
School Library Journal (starred review)"Strong characters, a vivid portrait of the lives of teens in a repressive society, and nagging questions that can be applied to our world today make this book especially compelling and discussable."
Booklist"Oliver's follow-up to her smash debut, Before I Fall (2010), is another deft blend of realism and fantasy...the book never loses its A Clockwork Orange-style bite regarding safety versus choice."
The Horn Book"In a thick climate of fear, Oliver spins out a suspenseful story of awakening and resistance with true love at its core."
New York Journal of Books"Oliver's deeply emotional and incredibly well-honed prose commands the readers' attention and captures their hearts. With a pulse-pounding tempo and unforeseen twists and turns, Lauren Oliver has opened the door on a fantastic new series; the second book can't come soon enough."
Publishers Weekly (starred review)Praise for Before I Fall: "Oliver's debut novel is raw, emotional, and, at times, beautiful....readers will love Samantha best as she hurtles toward an end as brave as it is heartbreaking."
Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA) (Starred Review)Praise for Before I Fall: "Samantha's attempts to save her life and right the wrongs she has caused are precisely what will draw readers into this complex story and keep them turning pages until Sam succeeds in living her last day the right way."
ALA BooklistPraise for Before I Fall: "Oliver, in a pitch-perfect teen voice, explores the power we have to affect the people around us in this intensely believable first novel...This is a compelling book with a powerful message and should not be missed."
Jay Asher, author of the New York Times bestseller Thirteen Reasons WhyPraise for Before I Fall: "This story races forward, twisting in a new direction every few pages, its characters spinning my emotions from affection to frustration, anger to compassion. You'll have no choice but to tear through this book!"
Carolyn Mackler, author of Tangled and The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things, a Printz Honor bookPraise for Before I Fall: "Before I Fall is smart, complex, and heartbreakingly beautiful. Lauren Oliver has written an extraordinary debut novel about what it means to live—and die."


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Wessex Research Group Network - Calendar
Calendar - Google Calendar - Forums - Conferences - Festivals - Groups Map - RSS Explained - WebCal Explained
Our calendar is a fully searchable resource so if your looking for an area group a type of course or a speaker please use the search box within the calendar which is below the monthly detail. You may also locate a group by using the WRGN map.
|You can also subscribe to our calendar information in three ways, via Google - RSS feed - Webcalendar all of these information paths will keep you updated by day, week, month, the choice is your's once you have subscribed. This is free, does not require any personal details, then just let the technology do the rest.
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This site is RSS-Enabled


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I'm about a 3.0 player looking for anybody in that range that wants to play. I live in Ventura, and will travel if its not too far. I typically play at Camino Real park.
Views: 199
Replies to This Discussion
Count me in, Dana. (note the player photo at the top of the page...)
Hi Dana and Lucile, just wondering if any of you would be up for some hitting. I pretty much have flexible schedule on weekends and after 5 pm on weekdays. Never been formally rated, but I'd say I'm anywhere between 3.5 to 4.0 (having been playing since late high school through college and after. Let me know!
Hey Eric, I am definitely eager to hit and I have a very similar schedule to hit as well. Give me a call/text.
Sounds good, Dana. Looks like it might rain tomorrow. We'll see how it goes on Sunday.
Hey guys i am very eager to hit as well. I am probably about 4.0 level. I live in ventura.
909-292-6535. I can play after 5 during the week and am flexible on weekends if i am in town.
Hi all, just wondering if anyone is up for some hitting this week. I'm off after 5:00 weekdays and usually free on weekends.
Can you play in Camarillo?
Yeah sam, definitely
© 2019 Created by Mark / The Mayor. Powered by


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Story highlights
- Nestlé found liable in civil case over secret infiltration of anti-globalization NGO, Attac
- Swiss court ordered Nestlé and security company Securitas AG to pay SFr3,000 per claimant
- Attac filed criminal, civil cases against companies after Swiss TV made allegations of infiltration
Nestlé, whose clashes with activists over sales of baby milk formula in Africa led to widespread boycotts in the 1980s, has been found liable in a civil case over the secret infiltration of a non-governmental organisation.
A Swiss court last week ordered Nestlé and the Swiss security company Securitas AG to pay compensation following revelations that an infiltrator had attended "workgroup" meetings of Attac, an anti-globalisation group. Some of those meetings took place at members' homes.
The world's biggest food company has been at pains to repair relations with NGOs since the milk formula debacle, which led to new health regulations on its marketing.
The rise of social media and rapid dissemination of any wrongdoings -- and a new generation of more socially conscious consumers -- has further encouraged the maker of KitKats and its peers to address issues ranging from child labour on cocoa farms to saving water. Such initiatives are often carried out in partnership with NGOs.
But even though Nestlé has been fostering closer ties with its one-time foes, it has now been found to have been involved in the monitoring of activist activities.
The long-running legal saga began in 2008 when Attac filed criminal and civil allegations against Nestlé and Securitas after Swiss TV alleged that an Attac workgroup in the canton of Vaud had been infiltrated by a Securitas employee on behalf of Nestlé in 2003.
The criminal case was dropped in 2009, but the civil case continued, and Jean-Luc Genillard, president of the civil court in Lausanne, has now ordered Nestlé and Securitas to pay compensation of SFr3,000 per claimant.
A spokesman for Nestlé said the company would like "to reiterate that incitement to infiltration is against Nestlé's corporate business principles", adding that it noted the judge's decision "with disappointment".
However, he said it was too early to say what, if any actions, Nestlé would take next. "We are unable to make any specific comments before the judge's reasoning is released. If it turns out that a Nestlé employee has acted negligently, we will take appropriate action," he said.
Securitas said it had stopped this sort of activity eight years ago and that the judge's ruling had no impact on its current operations. The group said it was now waiting for the judge's written reasoning.
Attac said it was "very satisfied" that the civil court had condemned Nestlé's and Securitas's actions. "Nevertheless, we'd like to point out that we are continuing to critically observe the worldwide activities of multinational corporations."


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Reviewed By: Debra Koltveit on 9/3/09
Rugby ND is a town worth going to; the Prairie Village and Museum is good and the Cornerstone Cafe had good food. It's also 46 miles from the International Peace Garden--another worthy destination. The map lists a restaurant in Esmond, go for the special! It closes at 2 pm, so get there early.


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£534,950 – £975,000
Beaufort Park is North West London's most established new destination by St George. This thriving community is the ideal place to live, with stylish apartments boasting exclusive health and fitness facilities, beautifully landscaped gardens, all with the convenience of the shops, bars and restaurants at the heart of Beaufort Park.
Sales & Marketing Suite
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Difference between revisions of "Oggenc"
(→Command Line)
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Otherwise you can use Gnormalize with vorbis-tools.
Otherwise you can use Gnormalize with vorbis-tools.
Revision as of 02:57, 30 April 2010
Oggenc - encode audio into the Ogg Vorbis format
Oggenc reads audio data in either raw, WAV, or AIFF format and encodes it into an Ogg Vorbis stream. If the input file "-" is specified, audio data is read from stdin and the Vorbis stream is written to stdout unless the -o option is used to redirect the output. By default, disk files are output to Ogg Vorbis files of the same name, with the extension changed to ".ogg". This naming convention can be overridden by the -o option (in the case of one file) or the -n option (in the case of several files). Finally, if none of these are available, the output filename will be the input filename with the extension (that part after the final dot) replaced with ogg, so file.wav will become file.ogg
Command Line
SYNOPSIS: oggenc [ -hrQ ] [ -B raw input sample size ] [ -C raw input number of channels ] [ -R raw input samplerate ] [ -b nominal bitrate ] [ -m minimum bitrate ] [ -M maximum bitrate ] [ -q quality ] [ --resample frequency ] [ --downmix ] [ -s serial ] [ -o output_file ] [ -n pattern ] [ -c extra_comment ] [ -a artist ] [ -t title ] [ -l album ] [ -G genre ] input_files ...
OPTIONS: Show command help.
-h, --help
Assume input data is raw little-endian audio data with no header information. If other options are not specified, defaults to 44.1kHz stereo 16 bit. See next three options for how to change this.
-r, --raw
Sets raw mode input sample size in bits. Default is 16.
-B n, --raw-bits=n
Sets raw mode input number of channels. Default is 2.
-C n, --raw-chan=n
Sets raw mode input samplerate. Default is 44100.
-R n, --raw-rate=n
Sets raw mode endianness to big endian (1) or little endian (0). Default is little endian.
--raw-endianness n
Quiet mode. No messages are displayed.
-Q, --quiet
Sets encoding to the bitrate closest to n (in kb/s).
-b n, --bitrate=n
Sets minimum bitrate to n (in kb/s).
-m n, --min-bitrate=n
Sets maximum bitrate to n (in kb/s).
-M n, --max-bitrate=n
Set bitrate management mode. This turns off the normal VBR encoding, but allows hard or soft bitrate constraints to be enforced by the encoder. This mode is much slower, and may also be lower quality. It is primarily useful for creating files for streaming.
Sets encoding quality to n, between -1 (low) and 10 (high). This is the default mode of operation, with a default quality level of 3. Fractional quality levels such as 2.5 are permitted. Normal quality range is 0 - 10.
-q n, --quality=n
Resample input to the given sample rate (in Hz) before encoding. Primarily useful for downsampling for lower-bitrate encoding.
--resample n
Downmix input from stereo to mono (has no effect on non-stereo streams). Useful for lower-bitrate encoding.
Sets an advanced option. See the Advanced Options section for details.
--advanced-encode-option optionname=value
Forces a specific serial number in the output stream. This is primarily useful for testing.
-s, --serial
Write the Ogg Vorbis stream to output_file (only valid if a single input file is specified)
-o output_file, --output=output_file
Produce filenames as this string, with %a, %t, %l, %G replaced by artist, title, album respectively (see below for specifying these). Also, %% gives a literal %.
-n pattern, --names=pattern
Add the string comment as an extra comment. This may be used multiple times, and all instances will be added to each of the input files specified.
-c comment, --comment comment
Set the artist comment field in the comments to artist.
-a artist, --artist artist
Set the genre comment field in the comments to genre.
-G genre, --genre genre
Sets the date comment field to the given value. This should be the date of recording.
-d date, --date date
Sets the track number comment field to the given value.
-N n, --tracknum n
Set the track title comment field to title.
-t title, --title title
Set the album comment field to album.
-l album, --album album
Note that the -a, -t, and -l options can be given multiple times. They will be applied, one to each file, in the order given. If there are fewer album, title, or artist comments given than there are input files, oggenc will reuse the final one for the remaining files, and issue a warning in the case of repeated titles.
Oggenc allows you to set a number of advanced encoder options using the --advanced-encoder-option option. These are intended for very advanced users only, and should be approached with caution. They may significantly degrade audio quality if misused. Not all these options are currently documented.
Set the managed bitrate window to NN seconds. The bitrate will be forced to the specified average over a floating window of this length. May be fractional (e.g. 3.5)
Set the lowpass frequency to NN kHz.
Simplest version. Produces output as somefile.ogg:
oggenc somefile.wav
Specifying an output filename:
oggenc somefile.wav -o out.ogg
Specifying a high-quality encoding averaging 256 kbps (but still VBR).
oggenc infile.wav -b 256 out.ogg
Specifying a maximum and average bitrate, and enforcing these.
oggenc infile.wav --managed -b 128 -M 160 out.ogg
Specifying quality rather than bitrate (to a very high quality mode)
oggenc infile.wav -q 6 out.ogg
Downsampling and downmixing to 11 kHz mono before encoding.
oggenc --resample 11025 --downmix infile.wav -q 1 out.ogg
Adding some info about the track:
oggenc somefile.wav -t "The track title" -a "artist who performed this" -l "name of album" -c "OTHERFIELD=contents of some other field not explictly supported"
This encodes the three files, each with the same artist/album tag, but with different title tags on each one. The string given as an argument to -n is used to generate filenames, as shown in the section above. This example gives filenames like "The Tea Party - Touch.ogg":
oggenc -b 192 -a "The Tea Party" -l "Triptych" -t "Touch" track01.wav -t "Underground" track02.wav -t "Great Big Lie" track03.wav -n "%a - %t.ogg"
Encoding from stdin, to stdout (you can also use the various tagging options, like -t, -a, -l, etc.):
Another option is Soundconverter (GTK) or Soundkonverter (Qt).
Nautilus the GNOME file manager can also convert FLAC to Ogg Vorbis.
Otherwise you can use Gnormalize with vorbis-tools.
Original source: http://linux.about.com/library/cmd/blcmdl1_oggenc.htm


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May Contain Spoilers
I wanted to read Run for the Roses because the protagonist competes with her Arabian horse, and she rides saddleseat. Do you know how many times I have read a book were the protagonist rides saddleseat? Maybe three, and I read a ton of horse books. Almost every book with competitive riding features hunters or jumpers, so I was stoked to read this story. I wanted to see how closely Abigail's preparations and challenges stacked up against mine. Even though she competes in a different circuit because she shows Arabians and I show Morgans (and Saddlebreds), the run up to the biggest show of the year felt very familiar. I really enjoyed Run for the Roses, and I wished that it was just a little longer. At about 80 pages, most of the action takes place at the Youth Nationals, as Abigail is struggling to stay focused on winning what is essentially her last show. She's about to head off to U of M, and once she's in college, it will be very difficult for her to be able to afford to show.Read more