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Party Time
Having just returned from a job involving getting chased by giant birds ("Wow, we do this a lot…"), Ardan proceeded to put out feelers on an odd merchant, then went back to rubbing elbows with adventurers, scouting potential employers, and charming his way into the next woman's bed. All with the results he's grown accustomed to over the last few months.
There's only so long you can share the same stories about that one time the grizzled dwarf hit that goblin shaman in the face with his axe really hard. Only so many times you can smile at the young half-orc rogue bragging how he snuck past "a hundred guards" and took the nobleman's magic necklace right off his neck as he slept (particularly since this half-orc spills more drinks than anyone else in the bar). Only so many times you can will your eyes not to glaze over while some drunken cleric pontificates about his stick-up-the-ass god of shininess or the inebriated 100 lb. wizard boast about how even the denizen's of Xagyg's towers have grown to fear his arcane might.
There's only so long you can pour drinks into the merchants and subtly promote your skills. You would think that if these wealthy men didn't have any work for you, they could at least buy a round themselves… once in a while.
And there are only so many women you can… well, okay, that never gets old. But lately, there hasn't been much of the chase, of the game… of subtle seduction. Well, who could blame them for having good taste and knowing quality when they see it? Still, his recent companions were somewhat… artless… in the dance of seduction.
So… Ardan has gotten bored.
What can he do?… What can he do?…
Ardan decides to head up into the Garden and Noble Quarters during the Freeday gate openings. He first heads up to the Menangerie with most of the crowds. Nice.
Later, he shifts his clothing into his noble's outfit. Then, he decides to wander through the Garden Quarter for a bit, then into the Noble Quarter. He's familiarizing himself with the territory and what security he can see. After a while, he decides to test the security in the Noble Quarter. He turns down a path toward one of the manor houses, then veers off into the trees, always assuming he's being watched. He wanders near to several manor houses, but keeps himself concealed. If discovered, he will just feign ignorance, and claim to have been lost in "the gardens." While he did a fine job concealing himself, he was able to move about with impunity. How disappointing. He finally turns into a courtyard, and after hearing a guard approaching, decides to sit on a bench and admire some statuary. The guard arrives, and while he is suspicious, Ardan manages to bluff him with the "I'm a noble from out of town and thought I was turned around in the gardens" routine (though Ardan has to stare him down a bit after the guard tries to drag him out). Ardan learns that this is the estate of Lord Greenwood, and the guard escorts him out, after Ardan asks the guard to please extend his (Ardan comes up with the name of Baron Cyrus Mumson from the Bandit kingdoms) apologies for accidentally trespassing on his grounds.
Ardan then decides to break for lunch, and spends some time talking with the upper class types in a local restaurant/tavern, and learns that there is a little soire at, coincidentally, Lord Greenwood's estate this evening.
Ardan is interested now…
Heading back into the more colorful area of town he hangs his hat these days, and finds the three hafling brewer women he "entertained" after surfing his way to victory over the beer monster at Brew Fest. From them he gets the name of a vintner who gives him a good deal on some elven wine. Checking that his noble's outfit is straight, he takes the wine and proceeds back up to Lord Greenwood's estate. He presents himself to the servant who answers the door, and asks to speak with his lord. The sounds of music and voices can be heard inside. Lord Greenwood arrives, and 'Baron Cyrus Mumson' formally presents himself to Greenwood, saying that he is quite sorry for inadvertently stumbling into the lord's gardens. 'Mumson' then presents his with a small token of esteem, "a bottle of elven wine from a master vitner I acquired during my travels. Ah, but it seems I've called on you when you have guests, I will call on you some other evening…" As Ardan moves to leaves, his calculation pays off and Lord Greenwood shows impeccable noble hospitality and insists the 'Baron' join the festivities.
Baron Mumson initially draws glances from the assembled aristocrats, being an unknown. His lack of renown and clothing that, while fine, is perhaps not in style this season soon convince them he is not a power player, and they go back to more interesting plots and people. Mumson initially goes around the room, mostly idle chit chat and trying to figure out who's whom in the room, what they do, their relationships, etc. And, of course, seeing who the available women at the party are. He took a few initial stumbles do to his relative lack of familiarity with a noble's only affair (including asking a lady to the next dance, rather than asking for a place on her dance card). Another noble gentleman was kind enough to offer some roundabout pointers, which Mumson thanked him for… in a roundabout way.
After the first half hour or so, Mumson adjusts to the mood and workings of the room, and begins to get more into his purposes here for the evening. He drifts from conversation to conversation, gravitating towards merchants or aristocrats who might have use for adventurers, particularly those who are speaking of difficulties (caravans being waylayed, items stolen, items needing to be "recovered," etc.). He chimes in with, "oh yes, I had similar troubles recently with (such and such a problem). Fortunately, I haven't had any further issues with it after I acquired the services of this fellow, Ardan Corvo, and his crew of 'adventurers.' So, he spends half the night networking, dropping Ardan Corvo's name, and generally making a good impression with the party goers as "Baron Cyrus Mumson."
The other half of the evening, having already taken care of 'business,' is spent in pursuit of elegant ladies in beautiful gowns. Evaluating the room, there are several women, some quite fair, and many of which would not give the time of day to a 'new money' noble. A group of lovely young ladies, many of whom seem to be young enough that this might be their first society function, gather in one corner. They glance at Mumson when he approaches, while giggling and whispering behind their fans. Attractive, young girls. 'Mumson' has had far too many girls recently. He needs a woman.
He finally spots her across the room. The most striking brown eyes smile at him from above an intricate fan, then turn away again. He circles the room towards her, throwing a knowing smile in her direction as her gaze periodically drifts back towards him. Mumson gives her an ever-so-brief gaze as he introduces himself… and asks the elderly matron that had been chatting with her for the honor of the next dance. [Dale refers to this as the Heineken commercial I got in his Greyhawk game… I just call it good tactics. Go in too early, you may seem like an artless womanizer (and only one of those is true). Go for one of the young girls, you just seem like a predatory going for the freshest faces, and likely inadvertently insulting the woman.] The elderly matron happily accepts his offer. Mumson is somewhat confused at the slight giggle he notices the woman with the gorgeous eyes try to hide as he and his dance partner take their places on the floor. That same giggle might be heard above the din of the crowd later in the dance, when Mumson and the old woman are off in a somwhat deserted corner. To anyone who might have been watching from the rest of the room, the only indication that anything might be amiss was a surprised widening of Mumson's eyes… as he felt the old woman's hand drift down from his waist and take a surprisingly strong grip of his backside. Giving a polite, yet nervous smile down into the face of the matron leering up at him, he manages to complete the rest of the dance with only a couple steps missed. Afterwards, he is, thankfully, able to politely decline an offer of the dirty old lady to meet her out in Greenwood's garden.
After a few dances pass, Mumson approaches the woman with the fan (when she is separated from the matron with the strong hands…), and asks for the pleasure of a dance with the loveliest woman in the room. "Oh, well, I believe you already danced with my mother, Countess Hypatia Loressi. I know she would be quite pleased to have another turn around the dancefloor with you," she suggests from behind her fan, her eyes full of laughter at his momentary look of nervousness.
"Finally," Ardan thinks… "a woman."
Easily falling back into his casually confident demanor, Mumson smiles. "All right, then… the second loveliest woman."
Feigning considering the request, she finally says, "very well," snapping her fan shut, revealing a smile every bit as lovely as her eyes. Mumson gingerly accepts the hand of Lady Martha Rayneston, and leads her to the dance floor. The disguised rake admired her as the two of them fell naturally into the embrace of the dance. Gentle curves and a graceful step could be gleaned beneath a beautiful gown of green and gold, accentuating the long golden tresses held in an elaborate style above an elegant neck. A few locks were allowed to casually fall free, framing a face having seen perhaps a dozen summers more than the giggling girls in the corner… years which had somehow only deepened the Lady's beauty. A pair of soft lips curl into a warm smile, and the entrancing brown orbs that had caught Mumson's attention shine with keen wit and a clear purpose.
The same one Ardan has in mind…
The music begins to play. The two of them commence the slow, graceful circles and steps of the dance, gliding across the floor amid the twirling dresses of a dozen other noblewomen and their partners. Though graceful, she moves somewhat hesitantly. "I hope you'll forgive me if I'm a bit slow, I don't get an opportunity to dance very often."
"I find that very hard to believe," said the thief in the nobleman's clothes. "And you needn't worry, you move as gracefully as an angel."
She blushes at the compliment, and her breath catches as he pulls her slightly closer during the next turn. As the music continues to unfold, her hesitancy falls away, and her feet take over the movements she had repeated so often, long ago. The two dancers relax into an easy rhythm, moving together as if they were one person. Gentle movements of strong, calloused hands stir subtle replies from pale, soft fingers… both communicating more than the next turn or twirl. Bodies held close, the scent of perfume and the feel of warm breath flowing from between ever-so-slightly parted lips war for Ardan's attention. But in the end, it was her eyes that won. As the peak of the song fades and the end of the dance grows near, brown eyes and green become locked together, oblivious to nearly all else.
If the acrobat's gaze had not been held so, he might have been more conscious of the sound of conversations slowly dimming as the dance went on, as more and more pairs of eyes turned to regard the beautiful couple twirling fluidly amidst the others on the floor. Had his attention been focused more on the crowd, their faces, marked with a mixture of fascination, interest, scandal, satisfaction, and anxiety might have warned the faux noble to a potential problem. But, instead, the dance finally comes to an end, and the fair lady and her young companion finally twirl to a gradual halt. Brown eyes blink themselves back to consciousness. Baron Mumson takes a step back, and performs a slight bow to his dance partner. Before he so much as straightens up, he hears a shout carry across the dance floor. "Martha!" a sharp male voice exclaims.
Slowly rising from his bow, and turning to regard the man revealed as the crowded floor parts, Mumson nearly misses Martha's hasty curtsy to him, before she strides toward the man at the end of the room. The sharply dressed gentleman is in his early thirties, about a decade older than Mumson. He has the features of a man that never smiles, the perfectly manicured appearance of one who does not permit one detail of his affairs to go out of place, and the eyes of a man who enjoys power over others. Mumson realizes very quickly this must be her husband. In his head, the acrobat sighs, "well, I suppose I should go over and try to smooth things over…"
Crossing the floor, Mumson can hear more distinctly whispered words of rebuke from the severe-looking man. Martha seems appropriately subservient, but he detects occasional flashes of indignation in her lowered eyes. The din of conversation fades as he approaches the husband and wife. By the time Mumson reaches the pair, the room has gone completely quiet, the crowd openly regarding the three guests at the end of the room, no longer even pretending not to notice the unfolding drama.
"Excuse me, sir, I don't believe I've had the pleasure of your acquaintance. I'm Baron Cyrus Mumson." An offered hand was ignored by the stiff-shouldered man.
"I am Lord Everard Rayneston. This is my wife, Martha." Rayneston seems to be hoping to burn holes into Mumson with his glare alone.
"I must say, Lord Rayneston, your wife is perhaps the most talented dancer here. You are a very lucky man."
"Yes, I am." Rayneston takes two steps toward Mumson, stopping quite close to his face. Mumson is not accustomed to having to glance up at people, being slightly over six feet tall, but Everard Rayneston was a few inches taller, and Mumson detects a well-toned frame beneath the lord's clothing. Looking down on the acrobat, Rayneston spits "and you have been too forward with my wife. You have insulted me, and I hereby challenge you." Gasps are heard in the crowd, and the assembled nobles began to mumble to each other for a moment before falling silent again. No one so much as breathes.
Mumson looks Rayneston right in the eye… and a big, happy grin slowly spreads across Ardan's face.
Now it's a party.
"I accept," Ardan replies. A pained look crosses Martha's features, and hushed mumbling rises from the crowd. "And," he continues, "as the challenged party, I believe I have the choice of weapons."
"And what weapon would you choose?" snaps an annoyed, yet eager-looking Rayneston.
Ardan pauses for a beat, letting the crowd lean in. Looking Rayneston dead in the eye, he cheerfully responds, "how about a waltz?"
In the delicious moment of confusion that crosses Rayneston's face, Ardan turns and strides slowly across the dance floor, the performer in him coming out as he plays to the crowd. "Lords and ladies, where I come from a noble would not dream of being so gauche as to bring bloodshed into the home of his host," a nod thrown to Lord Greenwood. "However, in matters such as these, a competition to entertain our assembled peers is always welcome. Lord Greenwood, with your permission, I propose a Duel of the Dance. The rules are simple. Lord Rayneston and I will partner off with various ladies to dance for the assembled guests. We will dance until one of us yields or until our host decides the duel is over. Once that happens, you," raising his arms gesturing all around him at the crowd of nobles, "you, lords and ladies will decide who is the victor!"
"You are making a mockery of tradition!" Rayneston shouts over the crowd's reaction.
"Well, it is somewhat unorthodox, I admit. And certainly if a noble has no skill in any sophisticated pursuit other than swordplay, it would be somewhat unfair." Rayneston bristles at the barely veiled barb. "Would you care to withdraw your challenge?"
"Of course not!" Rayneston snaps back.
Turning to the now excited crowd, "and you, lords and ladies, would you be interested in some truly lively entertainment?" Almost all the nobles excitedly voice their agreeement. A small number, mostly the old guard (including an ancient gentleman wearing a sword that he obviously lost the ability to use effectively twenty years ago) stiffens and murmmurs their disapproval of the lack of proper form. But they are clearly outnumbered by the rest of the bemused aristocrats, eager for this new amusement. As Lord Greenwood nods his assent, the servants begin preparing a list of ladies interested in taking part in the dancing duel. The young ladies in the corner eagerly volunteer to take part in the show, most of them hoping to end up sharing the floor with Mumson, rather than Rayneston. Indeed, most of the assembled noble's do not like him. Aside from his charming personality, he is "new money," and has a habit of stepping on the toes of the other nobles to get what he wants. He has some allies, mostly those who do business with him or who owe him favors, but many of the party goers agreed simply for the possibility of seeing the man humiliated, and to have a say in that humiliation. Mumson's gamble couldn't have paid off better. Unable to back out now, Rayneston begrudgingly walks onto the dance floor with Mumson.
The two "duelists" each take the hand of one of the lovely young maidens. Lord Greenwood's seneschal announces that the musicians will continue to play until the host commands them to stop. Each lady will carry an hankerchief in her hand, and dropping it will mean she must then retire from the dance floor. The rules explained, the participants ready, the music begins…
The first dance sets the tone for the entire evening. Rayneston does a thoroughly… adequate job. He stiffly goes through the precise movements of the waltz, not so much leading as pushing and pulling a disappointed-looking seventeen-year-old lass across his end of the dance floor. She is only too happy to drop her hankerchief at the conclusion of the song.
Meanwhile, Baron Mumson simply glides across the floor, performing each step with a fluid grace that more than made up for the inexperience of the blushing girl he spritely leads from one end of the crowd to the other. ["God helps those who can roll a natural 20 in a pinch."] His partner, rosey-faced, both from the dance and the excitement of the moment, clings to her kerchief with an iron grip.
The dances continue, gradually increasing in difficulty. Both competitors change partners fairly regularly. Rayneston's bow out nearly every dance, due chiefly to his natural way with people. And while the ladies are eager to dance with the exciting new baron, most are not able to keep up with the energetic pace he tends to maintain. That, and the girls are well aware of the pointed stares of their fellows in the wings. To his credit, Rayneston does loosen up… a little… as the contest continues. Just enough to keep it from being entirely one-sided. Ardan still manages to outperform his opponent during every song, sometimes deliberately going out of his way to draw near to the man and pull some trick to break his concentration. During one song, Ardan manages to actually bring the raised hands of all four dancers together, and then prance away with Rayneston's former dance partner now holding onto the rogue's waist. (In this case, Rayneston manages not to stumble due to the sudden change in his dance card, but his irritation at the gaul of the prancing fool was clearly visible.) These occassional "flourishes" not only embarass the frustrated aristocrat, but disrupt his focus and rekindl his anger… both conditions which make performing graceful, distinguished movements set to music while gentley communicating to an attractive young lady far, far more challenging…
Finally, Rayneston, snapping at one of the young ladies for not catching up quickly enough to a turn at the end of a lively elven tune, exclaims "Enough of this farce!" to no one in particular. Ardan, seizing on his frustration suggests that, "if your lordship is unable to keep pace, perhaps we should finish the duel dancing alone." Many in the crowd snigger at the red-faced Rayneston. Lord Greenwood looks thoughtful for a moment, then dismisses the musicians and whispers to a servant, who then departs, returning shortly with an old, oldly-shaped wooden box. Lord Greenwood turns to the two "nobles" and says, "this artifact has been in my family for a long time. It shall provide the music for your final dance, which you shall both perform alone." The group of ladies yet to be called to dance quietly pout amongst themselves.
Opening the box, and appearing to manipulate something that no one else is able to see, Greenwood nods to the dancers. "Begin." A strange music, lively, powerful, familiar yet alien begins to play. The rigid lord does his best to do what he abhors… improvise. He tries to blend moves of the various "standard" courtly dances to a shifting song that does not fit any of them. He is less than successful.
Mumson has thus far tried to not step too far out of character, not to go so far as to display the true extent of his acrobatic abilities to the crowd… But something about this music just draws him in, and the performer in him rises to the surface. As the song progresses, he lets himself loosen up and get more energetic, letting the frenetic beat of the phantom music guide his movements until he finally just decides, "oh, who cares?" That thought gives way to a series of back flips, jumps, and double spins over Lord Greenwood's dinner table, to the very vocal reactions of the onlooking nobles (almost totally positive…). Ardan finally ends the song with a forward flip to the ground in the center of the floor, spreading his hands in a flourishing finish. Just like the old days. The crowd cheers, and Baron Mumson straightens, smiles, and bows to the crowd, and to Lord Greenwood.
With the applause masking heavy footsteps, Ardan barely notices a red-faced Rayneston charging in to pummel the impudent poppinjay who made a fool of him in front of his assembled peers. That rage instantly transforms into surprise as the baron, bending down for another bow, spins on his heel to rise with a theatrical flourish, neatly and "accidentally" tripping the charging lord, who tumbles face first into the finely polished mahogany floor. And, while the now-horizontal noble is not in a position to appreciate the obviously staged look of confusion on Mumson's face as he glances about, before finally noticing Rayneston face down on the floor next to him, Rayneston can keenly hear the raucous laughter of the crowd in response to Ardan's comical play. "Why Lord Rayneston! You should be careful! These floors are quite slippery."
Everard Raneston staggers up from the floor, nose slightly bloodied from it's courageous attempt to break the man's fall, and glares upon Mumson. Mumson, ready for the possibility of a second attack, watches as the angry aristocrat slowly regains enough composure to allow him to straighten up, pull his ruffled clothes part-way into place, then turn on his heel and storm out of the room without a word.
After a brief silence, Lord Greenwood joins Baron Mumson on the floor. "I think it's quite obvious who has won this particular 'duel,'" Greenwood remarks with a smirk.
Bowing slightly to the lord of the manor,"I must congradulate your skills as a host, sir," Mumson replies. "I haven't had this much fun at a party in years."
"I should hope not," Greenwood laughs.
"I feel I should apologize for any damage to your dinner table… or your orchestra." With that comment, the crowd titters and then slowly returns to chatting amongst themselves. After a few more words with a very interested Greenwood, Mumson turns to see Lady Martha Rayneston, still standing in the corner with her mother. Though her face is once again hidden by her fan… her eyes smile at him.
During the next few hours, the party is a far calmer affair. Baron Mumson spends most of the time bantering with several nobles who, earlier, had seemed to not even notice his existence. He is somewhat concerned that his performance might have betrayed his identity to someone. Not that it really matters, but if some noble or servant had seen his high-flying anti-alcoholic display of acrobatics at Brew Fest, this amusing little game might soon come to a close. That would be a shame. Luckily, no one seems to recognize him… as far as Mumson can tell. Most of the aristocrats are as interesting as a mound of dirt, and the baron quickly searches for various ways to excuse himself from them. After he finishes running the gauntlet, and having spoken with what must have been every aristocrat and merchant baron in Greyhawk, Mumson finally is able to *somewhat* surreptitiously make his way to Lady Rayneston, who nurses a glass of wine and watches the dancing nobles.
She smiles at his approach. "Congradulations on your victory, Baron Mumson. Quite an… impressive display."
"Thank you, milady. And Cyrus, please."
"A great pleasure to meet you… Martha," her name spoken in a low whisper. "I apologize for any embarrassment I may have caused you."
"Not at all," she chuckles. "I thoroughly enjoyed the show."
"I hope I haven't put you in a precarious position in regards to Lord Rayneston."
Meeting Mumson's gaze, Martha replies with casual confidence, "I can handle 'Lord Rayneston' easily enough, though you may need to worry. Everard does not like losing, particularly in such a spectacularly public way."
"Well, then he should invest in dance lessons." She stiffles a laugh and smiles behind her fan. "And he certainly has no excuse for his lack of grace, having such an enchanting dance partner with whom to practice." Martha's cheeks grow flush above a hidden smile, and her eyes take on a purposeful, mischevious glint…
"Perhaps you would care to spend some time 'practicing' in a more private room," she quietly suggests.
Visions of smooth, supple flesh beneath fine silks, and the sounds of breathless moans briefly run through Ardan's mind. She senses his desire, hidden behind emerald eyes and a wolfish grin. He pushes them aside. Giving in now would likely mean that his little masquerade might end due to the hidden eyes of curious servants and the rampant gossip of idle nobles. Ardan wanted to savor his time with the Lady Rayneston. This game was far too enjoyable to stop now…
"That sounds quite lovely, Martha," the baron whispers, "but I wouldn't want to damage your reputation. People tend to gossip, and if we ducked out at the same time, some of our fellow guests might get the wrong impression."
Looking demurely disappointed, "Well, perhaps we could meet to share a dance some other time."
"Maybe it would be best to avoid such a meeting, if only to stop loose tongues from wagging. I'm sure we would be able to share many a dance at the next gathering of the season." This genuinely surprises the lady, whose expressive eyes quickly recover from a momentary look of puzzlement.
"Perhaps you are right," the now somewhat-irritated lady formally replies.
As Lady Rayneston begins to turn to leave, Mumson snares her back with a single… "however…" Martha turns back toward the baron, the innocently curious expression on her face nearly obscuring the coy glint in her eye. "I was planning to ride out of the city for a picnic lunch next Free Day. As you are far more familiar with the area than I, perhaps you might be so kind as to suggest an attractive, secluded spot to enjoy something… delicious."
Thinking for a moment, Martha met Mumson's gaze and says, "There is a large peach tree about two miles from Greyhawk along the old North Road. The area around it is quite lovely, and secluded… perfect for a nice, private picnic."
"That sounds most lovely. I will be glad to spend next Free Day in such an idyllic spot. Thank you, Martha."
"You are most welcome, Cyrus."
"I must excuse myself, and finish mingling with the other guests. I look forward to our next dance, Lady Rayneston. Whenever that might be."
"As do I, Baron Mumson," Martha replies.
As both turn and head back to their next conversation, she with her mother, he with some minor faceless nobleman, both wore a sly smile on their lips and a barely perceptible hint of anticipation in their gait.
The rest of the evening proceeds quietly for Mumson, who finishes his time at the party chiefly by regaling groups of haughty nobles with tales of Baron Mumson's travels and courtly life (the odd one actually being true). Before leaving, he makes sure to ask Lord Greenwood which estate Everard Rayneston calls home - "So I can either make my apologies, or avoid it at all costs…" Greenwood informs him that the Rayneston estate is in the Garden Quarter, and gives him directions. After thanking Greenwood once more for "a most thoroughly enjoyable evening," Mumson takes his leave.
Walking out of the gate in the imposing wall separating the upper class quarters from the more crowded streets and avenues of the rest of the city, Ardan thought back on the the events of the day…
He had crashed a high society soiree.
He had impersonated a nobleman.
He had cut out the middleman and become his own noble patron/advocate.
He had backflipped off a dinner table bigger than his residence (and that likely cost far more), to the cheers of crusty nobility.
He had publicly humiliated a very powerful man who, quite likely, would now be planning to do everything possible to destroy his life.
… And he was now going to be having an affair with this nobleman's wife.
"Okay," Ardan smiled absently to himself. "Today was fairly interesting…"


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RStefan01.com - Starcraft
I'm no longer playing Starcraft, but I'm leaving this page up in its original form since it's ancient and stuff.
Those are the stats for my RStefan01 account on Battle.net, that's the only account name I use for this game. Generally you'll find me in 4v4 or 3v5 comp games, and 2v2 or 3v3 human games. I'll play on just about any map, including BGH =p
On the subject of my disconnects, most of those happened while I was going through different local ISPs. I did have AOL at one point, which many people blame their discs on, but that was while I played original Starcraft. I think there were only one or two occasions where I disconnected on purpose, those were games where the other people admitted to cheating. Looking back, I probably would have taken the losses instead, since I have more disconnects than losses now. (Or at least I did when I first wrote this hehe)
When I first started playing the game, like many people, I played as Terran because I thought they were a good "newbie" race at the time. I eventually changed to Protoss, which I played for quite some time. Presently, I usually play as Random since I'm fairly good with all of the races now.
Original Starcraft record:
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Tridus' War Room RPG
Crazieman's Earth Map
© Richard Stefan 1996-2014

subset: commoncrawl


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Steve Parnell reports on how the Sheffield Society of Architects took the initiative and organised a charrette to rethink its struggling retail centre
Despite many years of procrastination and negotiation, last July's announcement that Hammerson was pulling the plug on developing the Sevenstone retail quarter – Sheffield's version of Liverpool One – came as no surprise to the city's sceptics
The recession hit as soon as the area defined for the New Retail Quarter (NRQ) had been emptied of its retail by a blitz of compulsory purchase orders. The centre has been left in a sorry state ever since – at the mercy of pop-ups and stop-gaps with shop windows dressed up belying the void like a corpse's cosmetics.
To address this problem, the Sheffield Society of Architects invited the city's architects to a charrette with the aim of proposing ideas to revive Sheffield's centre. Among those involved were HLM, Hadfield Cawkwell Davidson, Norton Mayfield, Studio Gedye, Axis, Marsh Grochowski, Robin Ashley, Coda Studios and academics from Sheffield University, including Satwinder Samra and Russell Light.
Introducing the event, Julian Dobson of Urban Pollinators said Blairite language like 'New Retail Quarter' missed the huge opportunity that presented itself for Sheffield to define the first of a new model of city centres – rather than the last of the old.
The design brief was divided into seven themes and each group allocated one: identity and uniqueness; spaces and places; connectivity; quality; top-end market offer; beyond retail; phasing and risk. The site assigned was specifically the boundary of the NRQ, which adjoins the popular Peace Gardens to the east, The Moor pedestrian shopping zone to the south, an impromptu car park to the west, and the sacrosanct John Lewis to the north.
The potential site extends across the entire city centre from The Moor, which currently looks like a mouth with more gaps than teeth, to the Castle Market – itself awaiting extraction.
The architects' main non-shopping thinking was founded on Sheffield's perceived identity as a city of independent thinkers, alongside events like Doc/Fest (claimed as the Cannes for documentaries), Grin Up North (a large comedy festival), and Tramlines (an independent urban music festival). Visitors to these events say that one reason why they love visiting Sheffield is its public space.
A key theme for the designers was to make the centre a destination for people from within Sheffield and from further afield for reasons other than shopping. One proposal was to encourage the council and owners to allow the temporary occupation of a building.
Sheffield has historically focussed on gold and steel routes through the city. But the spaces and places group proposed a circuit, interspersed by existing and new public spaces with active frontages. This simple, realistic proposal may be surprisingly effective at consolidating a sense of place out of an incoherent, pockmarked centre.
Meanwhile, the connectivity group proposed an additional 'green' route, linking the Peak District to the centre by greening Ecclesall Road and Charter Row up to the anachronistic Charter Square. It also proposed an improved link with Meadowhall via a greened Don Valley, astutely noting that the centre should not compete with the mall, but embrace it – especially considering High Speed 2 is currently planned to stop there.
The quality group picked up on the lacklustre Sheffield Central Library and Graves Art Gallery, which was state of the art for the 1930s, but noted what a new 21st-century library could add to the centre. The existing library could be converted into an improved gallery to complement a conference centre which was proposed over the road by the top-end market offer group.
Several interested parties from Sheffield City Council arrived to comment on the proposals at the end of the day, including its head of regeneration Simon Ogden, the cabinet minister for sport Isobel Bowler, and the interim head of planning Maria Duffy. All seemed to accept the sentiment of the proposals.
The temporary use idea, for example, is currently in progress under the code name Reuse Sheffield. And coincidentally, the very same day at MIPIM, the council announced that it was going to be leading the city centre development by setting up an investment fund to search for several partners, rather than be under the influence of a single large developer like Hammerson again. Ogden noted that if independents could revitalise the city centre, then they would have done so by now, and threw the words 'high-end retail', 'anchors', and 'hard-nosed developer' into another sentence.
Nevertheless, the reception of the afternoon's envisioning was definitely positive, and the subsequent announcements affirm much of the thinking that has been going on in the city. If Sheffield wants to grow up from being Britain's largest village, it could do worse than asserting its independence from pre-boom debt-fuelled retail consumption and become one of the new city centre models.
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#1 What is the gm(48)?
The gm(48) is a quarterly 48 hours GameMaker game jam from the community of /r/GameMaker.
The game jam is sponsored by YoYo Games, and have been run by the community for over 5 years. It is organized by former /r/GameMaker moderator, Peter "tehwave" Jørgensen.
#2 What is a game jam?
A game jam is an event about developing games in a limited amount of time and usually with restrictions.
Game jams are an opportunity to learn, share ideas and gain inspiration. The restrictions and limited time force developers to think outside of their comfort zone, which results in unique and interesting games. Game jams often give awards and prizes to the games that win.
#3 How do I participate?
You participate by creating a game from scratch in the 48 hours from when the game jam starts to when it ends.
Before the deadline is reached, you must submit your game to the website. You'll need an account on the website in order to do that.
You don't have to register or sign up before the game jam starts.
Check out our Quick Guide for more information.
#4 Can I enter as a team?
Yes, you can. We even have built-in functionality specifically for that purpose.
Log in, then create your team and when you submit, select your active team to submit as.
#5 Where is my old account?
You technically never had an account on the old website. When you signed in using your Reddit account, we used your username as a unique identifier, and that's how we knew what belonged to you. In other words, you never created an account.
When the new website was written, there wasn't any accounts to transfer over. That means that you will have to register a new account on the website.
#6 What happened to the games from previous jams?
As a result of rewriting the website from scratch, the games from previous gm(48)s are incompatible with the new infrastructure.
You can claim your past entries by going to https://gm48.net/claim and follow the instructions provided there.
#7 Can I compete in Ludum Dare at the same time as the gm(48)?
You can submit your game entry to the Ludum Dare as well as any other game jam, as long as your game entry adheres to the gm(48) rules. This includes only starting production after the gm(48) starts.
#8 Can I start pre-production before the game jam starts?
Yes, you can.
You are permitted to start pre-production, e.g. brainstorming, storyboarding, and designing, of your game before the game jam starts.
#9 Can I ask friends and family to rate my entry?
Yes, you can. We encourage you to share your entry.
We realise that it can be difficult to keep their ratings unbiased, but please do your best to ensure that your entries are judged fairly.
We take the issue of rating manipulation serious, and we have systems in place to prevent it. We will take the necessary actions to prevent the competition from being unfair.
#10 What happens if my entry is disqualified?
If your entry is disqualified, you can find the reason why and the entry's score on the Dashboard.
We handle disqualifications on a case-by-case basis. If the violation or act that led to the disqualification is severe, your entry may be removed from the game jam.
In all cases, a disqualified entry is withdrawn from the public results, and is not eligible to win any prizes.
#11 How is the theme selected?
The community suggest themes and vote for them through two rounds:
The first round, which runs from two weeks before the game jam starts to a week before it starts, you can both suggest themes and vote for them. You can suggest up to 3 themes.
The second round, which runs from a week before the game jam starts to when it starts, you can only vote for the 10 themes selected from the first round, and those are the 7 best themes & 3 most controversial.
#12 How does the "Funny" vote work?
The "Funny" vote was implemented as a way to try to combat themes that were not suitable for our game jam.
In the future, we might do more with the themes that are voted most funny. Let us know your ideas and thoughts!
#13 Do I own the rights to my game?
Yes, you fully own the rights to your game. We reserve the right to use your game for promotional purposes.
For more information, read the Terms and Conditions.


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WH Allen, 2014.
Pp 342. £16.99
Yasmin Alibhai-Brown
There were no psych-fix or self-improvement books on my shelves. Now there is one: Thrive: The Third Metric to Redefining Success and Creating a Happier Life. Don't laugh. Never ridicule or underestimate this author, journalist, editor-in-chief, ( ex) politician, America's biggest and busiest networker, entrepreneur, multimillionaire, spiritual, mental and health guru who looks just great and never has a bad hair day. I present to you Arianna Huffington, ( previously known as Arianna Stassinopoulou) a woman who has been gifted amazing powers of self-regeneration ( and reinvention) by the Fates. Born in Greece in 1950, she migrated with her mum to Britain, got a scholarship to Cambridge and became, say some, 'the most upwardly mobile Greek since Icarus'. But unlike the recklessly ambitious Icarus she never burns out or melts down.
In the 70s, she hooked up with the cerebral Bernard Levin, wrote an anti-feminism book (The Female Woman) and won many, helpful male admirers. In the 80s she moved to the US, quickly made friends in high places, turned frightfully right wing, married Michael Huffington, a rich Republican who eventually confessed he was bisexual. They parted but the surname stayed, opened doors. In 2003 she stood against Arnold Schwarzenegger for the governorship of California and lost. Two years later she founded the eponymous online Huffington Post ( liberal, centre left) which was sold to AOL for 305 million dollars. It is now a global brand, read and taken seriously by readers, writers and unpaid bloggers.
This Greek goddess never fades, never regrets, always astounds and awes. The Greek word 'arete' means excellence, effectiveness, living to one's full potential. Arianna is its embodiment.
In April 2007, she fainted and fell in her home office.: 'I was on the cover of magazines and had been chosen by Time as one of the 100 most influential people. After my fall, I had to ask myself, was this what success looked like?' No, dear Arianna, it's what middle age feels like. But Ms Huffington didn't get to where she is by accepting inevitable life changes. She wrote this book.
So what is the 'third metric'? There's this stool of life, you see. Two legs stand for the pursuit of money and power. The third is what humans apparently need to be fulfilled and stable. (And not fall over. ) We must slow down, reflect, relish each moment, unplug devices and give.: '[Gazelles] are my role models. They run and flee when there is a danger- a leopard or a lion approaching- but as soon as the danger passes they stop and go back to grazing without a care in the world'.
We know vast ambitions can lead to mental disharmonies, stress and perpetual dissatisfaction. The world would be a better place if bosses and nations were not so greedy, were kinder to themselves and others. However, Huffington's heroes reach this nirvana after they get rich and powerful. They don't leave or lose the rat race. Steve Jobs meditated and wanted a book by an old Indian yogi handed out at his memorial. And John. F. Kennedy took soothing naps. Huffington too goes on long, invigorating hikes, is keen on sleep and spirituality, values personal relationships. Ameliorated capitalism and soft power play is self-gratifying. It does not make the world more just or equal.
That said, the book offers persuasive arguments, is full of fascinating research, much fire and passion. Huffington draws people to her, commoners was well as captains of industry, the media, arts and cultural establishments. What gall- an outsider, scorned for her outsiderness, shows them again and again. I wish she would choose me to be her new best friend.
The Independent 23/3/2014


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The latest attempt at securing a ceasefire in Gaza may have broken down, but behind-the-scenes diplomacy to resolve the conflict has once again shone a spotlight on Qatar's mediatory role in conflict resolution. The country is attempting to restore its battered Arab Spring reputation as the ideal interlocutor that is uniquely placed to bridge divides and bring ostensible adversaries together. Thirteen months after the change of leadership in Doha, the new emir and foreign minister are adopting a far quieter, low-key approach to mediation. Eschewing the fanfare of their predecessors' frenetic forays into the regional arena, Qatari officials are going "back to basics" and returning to the style of mediation that propelled the country to international prominence in the 2000s.
Prior to 2011, Qatari mediation in Yemen, Lebanon, Darfur and the Horn of Africa established the country as a "go-to" mediator in the Arab and Islamic world. Although the initiatives had a mixed record of success, they established a visible regional niche for the then-emir, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, and his prime minister, Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim Al-Thani. Both men invested considerable time and effort in the various sets of negotiations and committed significant pledges of investment as a distinctly Qatari model of "business diplomacy" took hold. However, the country lacked the depth to follow up initial breakthroughs with longer-term monitoring and implementation of agreements, leaving Doha open to criticism of the growing gap between policy intent and professional capability.
During the Arab Spring, Qatari policy became more interventionist and associated with "picking winners" in transition states in North Africa and the Levant. Particularly in Egypt and Syria, Qatari support for the Muslim Brotherhood became increasingly controversial among local and regional actors who viewed the group's ideology and objectives with deep suspicion. Aside from causing tensions with fellow Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, Qatar's approach undermined the country's reputation for impartiality. Rising scepticism of Qatari motives manifested themselves in Mali in 2013, when the activities of a small Qatari humanitarian team in the Islamist-controlled north became the focus of fevered speculation that Qatar was backing the rebel movement.
Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani took over from his father in June 2013 and promptly replaced Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim in a government reshuffle that saw the posts of prime minister and foreign minister split. Together with his foreign minister Khalid bin Mohammed al-Attiyah, Emir Tamim had to navigate a regional backlash against the Muslim Brotherhood and Qatar's support for the organization. This culminated in the withdrawal of the Saudi, Emirati and Bahraini ambassadors from Doha in March 2014 amid accusations that Qatar was threatening the security and stability of the GCC. Over the same period, Qatar's carefully-nurtured international image was also taking a series of blows from allegations relating to the 2022 soccer World Cup and the poor treatment of migrant laborers.
Two recent developments suggest that, after a difficult winter and spring, Qatari mediation is being revived in a manner that draws upon Doha's ability to act as interlocutor. The first was Qatar's involvement in arranging a prisoner exchange deal that saw five Taliban prisoners released into Qatari custody in return for the release of U.S. Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl. The late-May breakthrough occurred after months of painstaking preparation that, in the words of Secretary of State John Kerry, "exemplifies how vital our partnership with Qatar is and will remain." In a rare convergence of activity, President Obama and Taliban head Mullah Omar both issued statements publicly thanking Emir Tamim, illustrating Qatar's utility in serving as an intermediary for indirect negotiations and back-channel communications between sworn adversaries. It is this ability to balance relationships with a wide array of mutually antagonistic foes that gives Qatari mediation its "comparative advantage."
Similar patterns have been evident in Qatar's search for a mediated solution to the spiralling violence in Gaza. Qatar has been active in regional attempts to secure a ceasefire between Israel, with whom it has maintained discrete trade links, and Hamas, whose leader Khaled Meshaal has long been based in Doha. In October 2012, then-Emir Hamad became the first head of state to visit Gaza since the Hamas takeover of power there in 2007. The visit represented a symbolic breaching of Israeli and international sanctions on Gaza and resulted in a Qatari pledge to invest between $250 million and $400 million in Gaza to finance essential housing, health and infrastructure projects, although it is unclear whether and how much of the pledge materialized.
During the latest Gaza conflict, Emir Tamim and Foreign Minister al-Attiyah have engaged actively in shuttle diplomacy. Visitors to Qatar have included U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglo and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who is thought to have met with Hamas leader Meshaal while in Doha. Emir Tamim also traveled to Ankara to meet Turkey's prime minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, while al-Attiyah held extensive triangular consultations with Davutoglo and Kerry in Paris. It is difficult to determine the extent to which these talks contributed to the short-lived humanitarian ceasefire announced on July 31. The ceasefire rapidly disintegrated as both sides quickly resumed fighting, laying bare the intense mutual distrust of each side in the conflict. Secretary Kerry called al-Attiyah when news of the missing Israeli soldier broke to ask Doha to use its influence to intercede with Hamas. This illustrates one way Qatar can play an important role in coming days by conveying messages between Hamas and the international community and facilitating confidence-building measures that can move all parties closer to accepting the logic of a durable truce.
Kristian Coates Ulrichsen, Ph.D., is the Baker Institute fellow for the Middle East. His research examines the changing position of Persian Gulf states in the global order, as well as the emergence of longer-term, nonmilitary challenges to regional security. He is also a visiting fellow at the LSE Middle East Centre and an associate fellow at Chatham House in the United Kingdom. Follow him on Twitter at @Dr_Ulrichsen.


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Welcome to BizTech Expo 2014
Sale Date Ended
Page Views : 1050
Our Team is always ready to answer your queries at all time.
Official Website : www.biztechevents.com/expo2014
E-mail : firstname.lastname@example.com
About Exhibition : BizTech Expo Tarapur 2014
India will witness this mega Industrial Expo which will highlight the latest trends and techniques in Machinery, Tools and Equipments applicable in Automotive, Steel, Pharmaceutical, Printing, Packaging and Other Industries. The three day extravaganza is all set to showcase the most competitive technology and processes used in these industrial sectors. The event will be especially beneficial to the industrial town of Tarapur which are in close vicinity of Mumbai as it will provide a platform to suppliers, manufacturers and customers for interaction and exploring business opportunities in related areas.
BizTech Industrial Expo - Tarapur is an exclusive industrial exhibition on industrial products, technologies and related services. Only at BizTech Industrial Expo visitor can experience complete value chains and swap information with experts from a complete spectrum of industrial sectors.
BizTech Expo will provide your business with the opportunity to meet thousands of genuine major decision makers from the diverse and growing industry, along with national and international visitors. BizTech Expo is based on its location of exhibition and every organization need to select a multiple way of display its products in the exhibition. BizTech Expo need to show brings together the best selection of products and technology that includes all segments of today's trends of global market.
Exhibitors can show-case their Products & Accessories in different ways. The conventional method is to display equipment & products in "SHELL SPACE" (Stall). Else you may choose to design your own area with your chosen style in "BARE SPACE".
Facilities for Exhibitors : Material Handling Facilities like cranes for machine shifting machines. Additional Electricity, Stall Fabrication, Audio Video Equipments, Furniture for Display. Volunteers, Catering Services.
Benefits of BizTech Expo Participation : BizTech Expo participation is the important things to know about the market condition and latest trends of the products and services in the market. BizTech Expo is the platform where we can find best and good products and services easily because there are many types of products and services of different brands and companies. Its good for consumers to make good decision for the business and know about market values of products and services.
In the exhibition, sellers and buyers meet face to face and they can choose best things in the market. Buyers can ask about the business's products or services and receive an immediate answer by sellers. Participating in BizTech Expo demonstrates the presence of that business in that market, enhancing the brand and giving the customers in that market an idea of what the business is and what it can provide them.
Counters for Pre-Registered Visitors :


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Thank you for visiting today. If this is your first visit, take your time and look around. I have plenty of information and resources available to you. If you are a return visitor, thank you. I would love to hear from you and tell you how I can serve all your real estate needs.
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Lexington, South Carolina has a lot to offer its residents. It's a great city for single individuals, those with families or those looking to retire. If you have any questions about Lexington, SC, Lexington Real Estate or if you know you are visiting the area and would like a personal tour, please give me a call. I will be happy to spend some time with you and help you make the best Real Estate choices to best suit your individual needs. Give me a call today at 803-348-1155. I hope to hear from you soon!
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My name is Dena Mixon and I would love to be your Lexington, SC REALTOR! I am professionally trained and experienced to help home buyers and home sellers in the Midlands of South Carolina. I work very hard to help clients achieve their real estate goals. I can promise that I will always give you the care and best possible service that I can give! Whether you are selling, buying or just have a question, please call or text me at (803)348-1155. EXIT Real Estate Consultants.
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Update: The Facebook page is back up with a new status update from band stating that Static Cycle's future is still uncertain. Below is the full statement.
On Monday, some of our internal band conflict was made public. One of the four members of the band chose to delete the other 9 administrators of the Static Cycle facebook page to prevent the management team and the rest of the band from communicating with the fans. The comments made were not discussed or agreed upon by the group. As of yesterday, we regained access to the page. We want to sincerely apologize to all of you; our fans, friends and families. The last few days have taken a great toll on us. We have shared some of the greatest moments in our lives together and there are better ways to deal with conflict... you deserve better from us. At this moment, we do not know if we will continue playing music together and the future of Static Cycle is uncertain. We hope we can retain the valuable friendships we have built. This is bigger than the music, but we pray shortly we can return to making music the focus again. We ask for your patience as we move forward toward a resolution behind closed doors as a family. To those of you who have reached out in support and shared your kind words, thank you so much, you have kept us going the last 48 hours. Static Cycle
Update: Static Cycle's Facebook page appears to have been deleted -- facebook.com/staticcycle now redirects to the Facebook homepage.
Original post:
Local modern-rock group Static Cycle announced on Facebook that the band is no more.
That was Monday.
Today, the band's future is less clear. A few hours after the Facebook announcement, Static Cycle frontman Jared Navarre called local radio station KWHL from Houston to state that the band was not done and that the previous announcement was made prematurely.
Then drummer Dennis Smith called KWHL to say that Navarre's announcement was news to him.
Whatever the group's future, the outlook isn't as rosy as it was a month ago. Fresh off the release of "Part 2: Rehydrate," the band played a big New Year's Eve show at the Egan Center, sharing the bill with Vertical Horizon, Alien Ant Farm and Hawthorne Heights. The band also got some extra attention thrown its way in late 2010 when Bristol Palin appeared in the video for "Inside This World of Mine."
Below is the original announcement on Facebook.
It brings me great sadness to announce that Static Cycle is officially over. Due to irreconcilable differences the band has decided to break up. Thank you so much for the love and support you've showed us over the years!! We never would have made it this far without you!!! Dennis Smith Static Cycle Owner/drummer firstname.lastname@example.com
Navarre's call to KWHL:
Smith's call to KWHL:


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It is a fun hobby for many people, but it will also make a great investment as it will greatly increase your income. You and your friends can enjoy online betting. Sportsbet offers a great guarantee with all services they provide. Online betting isRead more
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First generation Versa models came with a 122 bhp 1.8 litre engine in all bar the very basic model which had a slightly less powerful 107 bhp 1.6 litre unit. When the second generation model arrived, it was, and still is only offered as a 1.6, and the press scratched their heads and moaned, as is their wont. One of the reasons why the old Versa was not bad to drive was because the engine was quite lively, and the car had decent performance for such a bargain basement model, so it did seem like a retrograde step, as it only develops 109 bhp and 107 lb/ft of torque and is installed in a car which is physically larger than its predecessor. All models are front wheel drive, and a five speed manual gearbox is standard. Base cars have the option of a four speed automatic, and the rest of the range gets the much despised Nissan CVT. My test car was an SV model, which meant that it had the CVT 'box, which, in theory should make the most of the relatively limited power and torque. In a way, it does. You would never describe the Versa as anything other "adequate" in the go department. It is not fast, or even brisk, but nor is it anything like as challenged as the Chevrolet Spark proved to be when it comes to an incline.
I had the Nissan for a whole weekend, during which time it was taken 50 miles down the Freeway, pottered around some urban streets and on the second day up into the hills for some photos, so I experienced a variety of driving conditions. Acceleration is modest, but if you push hard on the throttle, you do get some, and the Versa can at least gets out of the way of its own shadow. You will need to make it work hard to get it up even moderately steep hills, though, and as is often the case with CVT gearboxes, the transmission has to pause and think about what to do after you right foot has issued the instructions. Pleasingly, though, the 'box proved far less jerky when slowing down than is often the case with these transmissions, so driving the Versa smoothly was not too much of a challenge. The up side to the rather limp performance comes when you need to refuel. I drove the Versa 278 miles and the bars on the fuel gauge hadn't much extinguished, so I was a little surprised when I managed to get 7.6 gallons into the tank. However, this computes to 36.58 mpg US, or 43.7 mpg Imperial, so actually, the tank is clearly quite large, and whilst I had used a fair amount of fuel, this is still decently economical, as befits a car where "low cost" is the order of the day. Sadly, you will feel all the evidence of low cost thanks to its skinny 185/65 R15 tyres. There's not a lot of grip, and the car felt plain skittish, hopping and skipping around at times even on quite smooth surfaces. The steering is light, but not unduly so, but be in no doubt this is not a car that you will drive for the sheer pleasure of it. Grip is limited, and there is a certain amount of body roll and understeer from relatively low speeds, but given the available power, you would have to be really trying hard to get into very serious trouble with this car. Sadly, the ride is also not that good, feeling rather crashy even on some of the smoother surfaces. At least the brakes seemed well up to scratch, doing their job with no fuss, and only moderate effort required on the pedal. A pull up handbrake is fitted between the seats. The Versa is a relatively small car, and it proved to be easy to manoeuvre, so parking it in tight spaces was not hard, and judging the extremities was not particularly difficult, even if all you had to help you were two large door mirrors.
If the driving characteristics had not convinced you that you were in a car pretty much at the bottom of the food chain, then the interior certainly would. In absolute terms, it is not that it is particularly low quality, though you are not going to issue gulps of delight at the richness of the materials or all the "surprise and delight" features, as these are, not surprisingly, not in evidence at all, and you the plastics, whilst reasonably grained looking are rock hard to the touch. What you do get is neat enough, fits well together, but is very simple, and completely devoid of any real design flair or imagination at all. The dash moulding and door casings were a mixture of black and grey, though an effort to reduce the rather dominant aura of plastic has been made by putting some cloth inserts in the door trims. A simple cowl covers the two dials: rev counter and speedometer which straddle a couple of angled bar charts for water temperature and fuel level. The centre of the dash contains a simple but quite effective AM/FM radio that did at least sport a CD slot. Below this are the silver grey rotary dials for the air conditioning system. Stock Nissan issue column stalks operate the indicators and lights on the left of the column and wipers to the right. Cruise control functions off buttons on the boss of the steering wheel. In the SV, though, there are no audio repeaters. The wheel itself is a plastic moulded item which will win no prizes for being nice to hold and use.
My biggest gripe concerned the seats. Nothing looked awry when you first saw them, and they had the expected range of adjustments – all manual, of course – including a height adjuster, which combined with an up/down on the column meant that a good driving position was not the issue, it was simply that the seats were slightly too small, feeling just plain mean. Another couple of inches width would have made all the difference. It's not as if the Versa is a particularly narrow car and that there was no space for anything bigger, but simply that these seats felt like they were designed for the much smaller bodies of Asian customers than the larger European and bigger. I don't think I'd want to sit on the seat for long, as it felt lacking in support as well as not being the right shape for my, let's be honest, far from large frame. Those in the back will think that they get a far better deal, and indeed they do. For a car in the sub-compact class, the Versa is roomy. Indeed, so much so that Hertz appear to be trying to up this car into the next Category of rental car, based on size alone (not a good idea, but that's a different story!). There is plenty of leg room, and head room, and whilst three adults across the rear seat might be a bit tight, they would fit, and there is a flat floor for the middle seat occupant to put their legs without having to worry about a transmission tunnel. The boot if a good size, too, and you can make even more luggage room by dropping the asymmetrically split backrests to create a long load platform. Inside the cabin, there is a massive glovebox, as seems to be the case on all US market Nissans, cup holders in front of the gearlever, and bins on the front doors. There is a map pocket on the back of the passenger seat, but rear seat passengers are not given bins on the doors and nor is there a rear seat armrest.
No longer is the Versa a sub $10,000 car as was the case with the most basic version of the old car, but that really was a stripped poverty spec car that I suspect few people actually bought. Bottom of the range is now the 1.6S, which with a manual gearbox listed in 2014 at $11,990, or an additional $1000 if you changed the transmission to the auto box. Above this is an S Plus, the SV and the top of the range SL. The S does not boast a long list of features, though you do get a 2 speaker AM/FM radio with AUX output and a CD player (which you did not get in the old Base model car), air conditioning, cloth seats, intermittent wipers and an adjustable column. That's about it, though. No central locking, even, and manually operated windows which would be a major pain these days. Spend a further $800 with the S Plus model and you get cruise control. The CVT equipped SV adds remote central locking, electric windows, a power adjustable driver's door mirror, remote boot release and split folding rear seats. It lists at $15,240. The SL is the top spec car and this, listing at $16,890. This comes with alloy wheels, fog lights, rear spoiler, an upgraded audio unit with XM Satellite radio, MP3 player and wheel mounted controls, variable intermittent wipers, an anti-theft system, passenger vanity mirror. A number of options can be added, including a reversing camera (presumably in anticipation of impending US legislation to require these on all new cars).
For what it is, the Versa is not actually a bad car, though it is definitely one that you would choose out of necessity rather than one that you really aspired to. It is not a car that I enjoyed driving much, and before anyone observes that this was because I had also been behind the wheel of cars like the BMW M3 and Mercedes C63 in the days preceding this test, I will point out that in a couple of weeks sampling a dozen different US rental cars, 4 of them were in the same Hertz Class, Group B as this Versa At this end of the market, you are going to have to make some compromises, be it in space, performance, features, driving dynamics, quality, or in the worst cases, several of these, and the only way of alleviating the "pain" is to spend more $. In SV trim, the Versa's biggest weakness seemed to me to be the uncomfortable seats, but beyond that it will get the job done, which is not what I said about the Chevrolet Spark. As tested it was noticeably cheaper than the Kia Soul and Chevrolet Sonic, so to say that I preferred both of those is not an entirely fair comparison. However, for some reason, Hertz in their wisdom are now trying to put the Versa in a rental category above all of those, where it will vie for your attention with the Corolla, Jetta, Civic and Chevy Cruze. Why anyone would ever willingly take a Versa in preference to any of those (yes, even the Corolla) I cannot for one moment conceive, as apart from the amount of space inside it, it is so clearly an inferior and massively cheaper car. As a cheap and very roomy economy car, the Versa makes some sense, but that should be the limit of its ambition and reach.


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Thursday, January 03, 2008
Honey Spelt Bread
Happy 2008! Today is an absolutely chilly day in Fort Lauderdale. The temperature is the coolest it's been since last winter--we're talking mid-50's right now, and I love it. I know that's pretty wimpy compared to winter in the rest of the country, but it's such a relief to finally feel a change in the air, although I know it will only last for about two days. Then it's back to beach weather.
I've had so much fun reading all the "best of 2007" lists on so many of my favorite blogs. I never get tired of drooling over everyone else's beautiful food and reading about your adventures. I also want to take a sec and thank everyone, bloggers and non-bloggers alike, who reads and comments on my blog. I would love to hear from you about what you like and what you want to see more of. I love getting your emails and will do my best to answer every one.
So how to begin a new year? Mike and I started 2008 with Hoppin' John and cornbread on New Year's Day. It's not too late to conjure up a little luck of your own with this traditional New Year's dish. However, if you're still in baking mode due to winter weather, but need a break from holiday decadence, I have a great yeast bread for you.
This recipe for Honey Spelt Bread was in the December issue of Food & Wine. I had eaten store-bought spelt bread and liked it, and I have been occasionally flirting with alternative flours for baking. Spelt is similar to wheat, but contains more nutrients and amino acids. It does contain gluten, but is more easily digested by people with wheat sensitivity. It also has a nuttier flavor than regular wheat bread.
This bread has a dense, sturdy homemade quality, and it's very, very good. I like it better spread with butter than as a sandwich bread. Jam, cheese, avocado or nut butter would also be great. But, what really recommends this bread, in my opinion, is the incredibly easy method. You don't even have to bother with proofing the yeast. I didn't think this would actually work, but I wanted to give F&W the benefit of the doubt, so I tried the recipe as written. It took me less than 10 minutes and barely any effort to put the dough together. My loaf rose beautifully, baked evenly and looked exactly like the picture in the magazine--love it when that happens!
Honey Spelt Bread
Adapted from Food & Wine, December 2007
Note that spelt flour makes a very soft dough that must be baked in a loaf pan. If you don't have a stand mixer, I think it would work if you mix with a wooden spoon and do the kneading by hand. This loaf freezes beautifully. I love it with Kerry Gold Irish butter as an accompaniment for soups like this.
Makes 1-9x5 loaf
4 1/2 cups (540 grams) whole wheat spelt flour
2 tsp. fine sea salt
2 tsp. active dry yeast
1 3/4 cup cool (70 F) water
2 tbs. honey
In a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook, combine the flour, salt and yeast. Turn mixer on to medium-low speed and add the water and honey. Mix until flour is moistened, about 2 minutes, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed. Increase the speed to medium and knead until a stiff dough forms, about two minutes more.
Lightly coat the inside of a large bowl with butter and flour, shaking out any excess flour when finished. Transfer the dough to a lightly floured work surface and shape into a ball. Place dough in the floured bowl, cover with plastic wrap and a dish towel and let it rise in a warm place until doubled in bulk, about 1 1/2 hours.
Preheat oven to 450 and coat a 9 x 5-inch loaf pan with cooking spray. Turn the dough out onto a floured work surface and gently punch it down. Fold the dough into a loaf shape and transfer to the baking pan, seam side down. Cover with plastic wrap and a dish towel and let it rise a second time until puffed, about 1 hour.
Lightly dust the loaf with flour and use a sharp, thin knife to make a shallow slit down the length of the loaf. Bake for 35 minutes until loaf is golden on top and sounds hollow when tapped on the bottom. An instant-read thermometer inserted in the center of the loaf should read 180 degrees. Let cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a rack. Cool completely before serving.
4 comments:
- Peabody said...
What a gorgeous looking loaf.
Hope 2008 brings happiness and good health to you and all you care about.
- Susan from Food Blogga said...
Spelt is so hot right now, isn't it? I love the look of this bread and that it's healthier for you too. May 2008 be good to you.
- Sophie said...
A very professional looking loaf Julie! It's a useful tip that you need to have a loaf pan to hand (I'm always eyeing up bread recipes and wondering if I can get away with cooking them free form)
Happy 2008!
- Emiline said...
I would love to make this...I don't think we have spelt flour here, though. We don't have a lot of things!
Enjoy your weather! It was nice here today, too. 60's. It's been so cold. (MO)
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- Short-term rental or long-term purchase:
It's a waste of time to continually speculate where Cliff Lee will be traded once the Mariners decide to pull the trigger. On a daily basis rumors, innuendo, suggestions and ideas pop up from voices credible and idiotic. It fluctuates like weather patterns and the longer it goes, the worse it's going to get.
And just think: it's only June 30th----we have another full month of daily Cliff Lee melodrama to sift through.
In today's NY Times for example, Tyler Kepner discusses potential desire of the Yankees to sign Lee as a free agent after the year; that he's former teammates and close friends with C.C. Sabathia; that he'd love the spotlight of New York----Story.
Friendship isn't going to have anything to do with where Lee signs. We've seen it before where players have been speculated to end up in certain places because of close relationships and ended up going where: A) the money was highest; B) the location was most palatable; and, C) the state of the team was positive.
It's a business and no matter how many recruiting calls Sabathia or anyone else makes to Lee, it's going to come down to what's best for the pitcher personally and professionally. That could be the Yankees; or it could be someone else; and Lee has proven himself to be immune to outside pressures when it comes to business.
We hear that the Mariners are looking for a "big league ready catcher"; that they need bats; that they need arms; that they need this; that they need that----that they at least have to surpass the prospects they surrendered to get Lee from the Phillies in the first place. Who knows?
Mariners GM Jack Zduriencik is presumably encouraging the eclecticism of what he's looking for. The fewer people that know what the asking price is; the back-and-forth of whether Lee would discuss an extension in-season; the potential to keep him immediately rather than run the risk of losing him after a rental; and the number of teams pursuing him will only enhance the Mariners chances of getting a bigger package.
All the rumor-mongering is meaningless and we won't know until we know; until a deal is done; and until Cliff Lee is pitching for someone other than the Mariners. As of right now, that could be just about any contending team from either league because Lee could be the difference between missing the playoffs and winning the World Series.
- Some safe assumptions:
On another note with Lee, you have to assume that the Yankees are caught between their future wishes to snag Lee and winning this year----which they might not do if Lee ends up with the Twins, Red Sox or any other AL contender. They'll be involved with Lee and I don't buy the thought that they won't jump in if the opportunity presents itself to get him; they are a legitimate possibility to trade for him just like the other suitors.
If they're not going to trade for Lee in-season, it's a fine line the Yankees are walking, hoping for the best case scenario.
Much like the trade rumors in recent years involving Johan Santana and Roy Halladay, the Yankees didn't want to mortgage a massive chunk of their future to get the pitcher, then have to pay him as if they were signing a free agent; nor did they didn't want the Red Sox to get him. The Red Sox haven't been mentioned as a pursuer of Lee at all, but Theo Epstein is watching and the Red Sox have the prospects to get him----don't discount the possibility.
If Lee winds up with a team like the Twins, for whom he would absolutely be a rental, the Yankees and Red Sox would have to face the idea of dealing with Lee as a Twin in the playoffs. He'll be available as a free agent at the end of the year...but he might be coming into town just having singlehandedly bounced them from the playoffs.
Much like Santana and Halladay, the Yankees and Red Sox probably want to see Lee out of the league entirely and to a team like the Rockies; Cardinals or Reds----teams that won't have the money to keep him. If Lee winds up with a money team like the Mets, the Wilpons and Omar Minaya are not going to let him leave; and they're certainly not going to let him leave to go across town to the Yankees----even if that means drastically overpaying in dollars.
Lee as a rental for a team with payroll constraints is just as important to the determination of his future address as anything else. Going to a team that can pay him might preclude his free agent availability entirely.
- If money's not a factor, state of the team will be:
Regardless of the venue to which he ends up being traded, let's say the money is identical for the Mets and Yankees as they chase Cliff Lee after the season, will the Yankees situation still be the more ideal one over the long term?
With the financial power they have, they can buy their way out of most holes, but if the Brian Cashman/Hank and Hal Steinbrenner era has shown, it's not a "money is no object" attitude anymore.
Which team is in better position for the future?
The Mariano Rivera, Derek Jeter, Andy Pettitte and Jorge Posada era is drawing to a close. All are late in their careers and while they still have productivity left, they're eventually going to decline----it's unavoidable. Alex Rodriguez is 35; Phil Hughes will be a rotation linchpin; but no one knows what's going to become of Joba Chamberlain.
Let's say Lee signs for 5 years with the Yankees; by year 2 of the deal, there won't be Rivera; there won't be Pettitte; there won't be Posada. Jeter will still be there.
That group is the foundation upon which the five Yankees championships since 1996 was built. It's not as difficult to replace them statistically as it is cohesively and practically. Those Yankees teams were always more than a high payroll; they were an end-result of the sum of their parts. That's something that was missed as the likes of Jason Giambi and other mercenaries were imported. Cashman has tried to get back to building from within by developing players who are Yankees through-and-through, but getting such selfless stars and having them evolve as a group doesn't happen that often.
Rivera is irreplaceable even if Chamberlain or anyone takes over and accumulates the saves. Will the new closer be able to handle a game in Boston in late September or October? Will he be as unflappable as Rivera in the World Series as the spotlight is shining upon him?
It looks easier on a stat board and in theory than in practice.
The Mets' core is younger. David Wright and Jose Reyes are entering their primes; Mike Pelfrey is blossoming into an ace; Ike Davis and Ruben Tejada have shown that the Mets farm system is far better than previously given credit for.
If the money is the same and/or Lee is heading into free agency having last worn a Mets uniform, it is really so automatic that he goes across town?
I don't think it's a done deal that any and all desirable free agents will head straight to the Yankees.
Not anymore.
- Viewer Mail 6.30.2010:
Jeff (Acting Boss) at Red State Blue State writes RE my shout out during the Diamondbacks game:
Congrats on bein' liked by Sutt & Grace! I missed it too... for the same reason... gotta have Al & Dan calling my Redbirds games.
This is just the beginning, Prince.
Just the beginning....
That's what Count Dooku said. Hopefully my head will remain attached to my shoulders by the end. It's 50/50.
Jane Heller at Confessions of a She-Fan writes RE the shout out:
That shout out is the coolest thing I've ever heard! I would have jumped out of my seat! Wow! See? Your hard work is not in vain.
When I started getting the messages, I was in shock. I dunno what would've happened if I'd seen it live. Knowing myself, it would've gone just like I said: a slow head turn toward the TV, eyes wide in bewilderment and thinking, "did that really just happen?"
The Brooklyn Trolley Blogger writes RE the shout out:
SWEET! Congratulations on the D-Back shout out! What's good is good Dude! And that kind of stuff always finds it's way. Stay ruthless. Don't forget us little people.
Thanks. There are no little people in my organization. Everyone is valuable in their own way and I never, ever forget.
My book is still available on Amazon, I-Universe and Barnes and Noble.com. It's available for download as an E-book here. You can also now get it for less that five bucks on BN via download here.


text:
This weekend I met Lauren & Lee in DC for an engagement session! It was cold, wet, and windy downtown, but these two were such troopers… Lauren was even in short sleeves for a good portion of the shoot! I'm so glad we decided to keep our original plans to meet at the Washington Monument. Lee is a history teacher and the location was so fitting for them.
Lauren & Lee met at Frostburg State University where they were introduced by a mutual friend. They have been together for six years and are absolutely perfect for each other! I have known Lauren since elementary school and have never seen her so happy! They're a couple who has the power to light each other up — their laughter is contagious, and the way they relate to one another is so genuine and kind. They will marry this October at Stone Manor Country Club. I am delighted to be part of their day!
The photo below is one of my favorites – You can just see the thought bubbles over each of them!
[For those who don't follow football, they are wearing rival jerseys]
Lauren, I'm sorry our Steelers didn't pull it out on Sunday. At least it was a good season
– and we went farther than Lee's Ravens! haha.
Click here to view a slideshow of all images!


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Medical-Grade Vitamin Infusions for Skin
ost people concerned with the appearance of their skin, are aware of the role that vitamins play in skin health. Vitamins A and C are the main antioxidants, used to fight the damage to our skin caused by UV exposure and pollution.
Healthy youthful skin has a specific structure with blood vessels at the base like a safety net, which transports oxygen and nutrients to our skin. On top of this vascular network sits Melanocytes that produce pigment to protect our bodies against UV damage. A scaffolding-type structure is in place above the blood vessel network and allows hair follicles, nerves and other structures to be suspended in our skin.
This structure is maintained by vitamins in the skin (food for the skin). When our skin is exposed to UV (over decades of life, or in sudden bursts eg tanning) free radicals are set free which breaks down the skin structure – the scaffolding collapses. This means our skin gets thinner, the structures normally suspending the scaffolding are now bent and crushed (think collapsed building). This means the normal delivery system of nutrients to our skin is damaged and even tough we might have a healthy diet and not have a lot of UV exposure, the damaged skin is not able to get these nutrients where it needs to go – this is how our skin 'ages'. It becomes thin, irregular in texture, and pigmentation because the normal strucure is damaged. Trying to compensate for the damage, the body grows tiny little blood vessels into the collapsed structure – we see this as rosacea/tiny capillaries on the skin surface.
To correct this structure/scaffolding, we need to rebuild the collagen and elastin beams – this can only be done by 'injury to the skin'. A controlled injury would be a Laser that penetrates into the deep layers of the skin, thus stimulating fibroblasts and platelet secretion in order to grow us new collagen. In this manner, 'aged looking' skin is made more youthful – we regain the youthful structure. This is why collagen cannot be sold in a bottle/cream/lotion/topical product. It is a live fiber that grows in response to an injury to the skin.
At Hummingbird Medi Spa we provide Medical Infusion of Vitamins to feed the skin. Using low frequency (audible) Ultrasound waves and then Galvanic Iontophoresis, we can penetrate 4 weeks worth of medical grade vitamins A & C into the skin. It is a painless procedure that has no 'down time' – no need to hide because your face is red. Results are instantly visible because the skin structure is pumped full of vitamins during the process.
We also use these Vitamin Infusions as preparation for any laser treatments done on the face (it can be done on the body too). Skin that is nutrient depleted, cannot grow us anything even if it is correctly lasered – you cannot perform at your best if you did not get lunch; your skin cannot produce collagen at its optimum if it is nutrient depleted either. These Medical Infusions have been done for decades and have consistently proven their benefits


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"The Boone"
Interior of Boone Pickens Stadium during the 2017 season opener
|Former names
|Lewis Field (1920–2002)
|700 West Hall of Fame Avenue, Stillwater, OK 74078
|36°7′33″N 97°3′59″W / 36.12583°N 97.06639°WCoordinates: 36°7′33″N 97°3′59″W / 36.12583°N 97.06639°W
|Oklahoma State University
|Oklahoma State University
|56,790 (2017)[1]
60,218 (2009–2016)[2]
60,000 (2008)
44,700 (2007)
43,500 (2006)
48,000 (2005)
47,800 (2004)
48,500 (1999–2003)
50,614 (1993–1998)
50,440 (1972–1992)
39,000 (1950–1971)
30,000 (1947–1949)
13,000 (1930–1946)
8,000 (1920–1929)
|Record attendance
|Astroturf 3D Decade (2013–present)[3]
Desso Artificial Grass (2005–2013)[4]
Astroplay (2000–2004)
AstroTurf (1972–1999)
Grass (1920–1971)
|Broke ground
|October 2, 1920
|1924, 1929, 1947, 1950, 1971, 2009
|Construction cost
($625 thousand in 2018 dollars[6])
$286 million (renovation)[7]
($334 million in 2018 dollars[6])
|Gary Sparks (Renovation) Crafton Tull Sparks
|Oklahoma State Cowboys (NCAA) (1920–present)
Orange Peel Concert (1996–2006)
Boone Pickens Stadium (previously known as Lewis Field) has been home to the Oklahoma State University Cowboys football team in rudimentary form since 1913, and as a complete stadium since 1920. The facility is the oldest football stadium in the Big 12 Conference but was left largely neglected and enjoyed only modest renovations throughout its near-century of existence.
With the resurgence of Cowboy football, sparked by the 2001 victory over the Oklahoma Sooners in the annual Bedlam Series game and the subsequent 2002 Houston Bowl season, interest grew for a major overhaul of Lewis Field. An ambitious fund-raising project for the renovation dubbed "The Next Level" became the flagship effort of the Oklahoma State athletic department.
Officially, the capacity is 56,790.[8]
The "Lewis Field" era
Oklahoma State, then known as Oklahoma A&M, first began playing at the current site of Boone Pickens Stadium in 1913. Originally known simply as "Athletic Field,"[9] it was renamed Lewis Field in 1914 after Laymon Lewis, a former dean of veterinary medicine and of science and literature and one of the most popular figures in the school's history. In addition to his duties as dean and instructor at OAMC, Lewis served as the school's acting president in 1914. Under his brief administration, OAMC established the first school of commerce and marketing in the nation and developed experimental stations around the state. In addition to naming the field after him, the students also dedicated the 1914 yearbook, its first, to Lewis.
The school built a permanent 8,000-seat grandstand—roughly corresponding to the lower level of the current facility's north grandstand—in 1920. The stadium originally was positioned in the traditional north-south direction, but was reoriented east-west to avoid the strong prevailing winds. It remains one of a handful of major stadiums in the United States with goals at the east and west ends, and the only one oriented that way in the Big 12. Because of this, the sun becomes an advantage to the team defending the west end zone during sunny afternoon games, because the team defending the east goal has to look directly into the bright sunlight.
The university planned to build a horseshoe-shaped stadium, similar to Ohio State University's Ohio Stadium, in the 1920s to be called War Memorial Stadium. These plans were scrapped before any construction of the proposed stadium started, and the first addition to Lewis Field came in 1924 with the first steel and concrete portion of the current stadium built on the south side. During the 1929–1930 seasons, 8,000 permanent seats were built on the north side for an overall capacity of 13,000. In 1947 the south stands were increased from 20 to 53 rows and capacity climbed to nearly 30,000. For the first time, a permanent press box was then added.
Prior to the 1950 season, 10,600 seats were added to the north stands, increasing capacity to 39,000 (including temporary endzone bleachers). After the 1971 season the cinder track was removed, lowering the field 12 feet and making the space between the field and the stadium retaining walls among the smallest in college athletics. Twenty rows of permanent seats were also added to both sides of the stadium. This expansion, including complete conversion to an artificial turf playing surface, cost $2.5 million and was financed through private donations.
Press box construction was completed in 1980 at a cost of $1.8 million. The press box has seating for more than 200 members of the print media, with separate levels for radio/television broadcasters, photographers and VIP seating on the first level capable of handling 300. A lighting system for night games was installed in time for the 1985 season and cost approximately $750,000.
The all-time attendance record for Lewis Field is 51,458 for the Bedlam Series game in 1979.[10]
On August 7, 1976, the field hosted an NFL exhibition game between the Cleveland Browns and the Atlanta Falcons. The field also hosted the Oklahoma Outlaws and the Houston Gamblers of the USFL professional football league in 1984. Due to a conflict at Tulsa's Skelly Stadium, the Outlaws were forced to play their last Exhibition game in Stillwater, losing to the visiting Gamblers by a score of 34-7. Only 6,120 attended the cold February 19 game.[11]
Boone Pickens and "The Next Level"
Lewis Field was officially renamed Boone Pickens Stadium during a halftime ceremony at the 2003 football game versus the University of Wyoming. The stadium's name was changed to honor OSU alumnus T. Boone Pickens, a Texas oilman and entrepreneur who founded Mesa Petroleum Company in 1956 and served as its CEO from 1956 to 1996. Pickens donated $165 million overall to the university, the largest single donation for athletics to an institution of higher education in American history, to create an "athletic village" on campus, but the construction of the village was postponed due to the economy's downturn.
Pickens' gift helped build the west end zone at Boone Pickens Stadium, a multi-purpose indoor practice complex, new soccer, track and tennis facilities, a new equestrian center, a new baseball stadium (completed in 2020) and new outdoor practice fields. During the 2003 football season, OSU broke ground on a $260 million upgrade to Boone Pickens Stadium which included a brick exterior to match the modified Georgian architecture of the OSU campus, and a connection to the Gallagher-Iba Arena. The stadium turf was replaced in 2005. Boone Pickens Stadium was the second NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision program to install the Desso Sport System's Football Pro Artificial Grass Surface. The first installation was at University of Wyoming's War Memorial Stadium, also in 2005.
The funds used for the expansion of the stadium have been a topic of controversy and discussion among students and the public, including the city of Stillwater. The athletic village came under intense scrutiny within the community and garnered statewide attention. In 2005 and 2006, OSU held "town hall meetings" to allow members of the community to express their concerns. At one meeting in the Stillwater Public Library, Commissioner Hank Moore told then-OSU President David Schmidly, the meeting's moderator, that OSU's actions in implementing the athletic village under the Campus Master Plan contradicted the principles of democracy.[12]
Another hotly contested issue between the Stillwater city commissioners and OSU administrators was the closing of Hall of Fame Avenue, the street running parallel with the north side of the stadium. At the same meeting, Moore said OSU broke a trust agreement with the city on the closing of the street.[citation needed] In January 2007, an agreement was reached regarding Hall of Fame Avenue granting the city ownership, which could revert to OSU if the city opens a roadway specifically to replace it.
During Spring Commencement exercises at the stadium on May 6, 2006, President George W. Bush gave the commencement address, becoming the third U.S. president to speak at an OSU commencement (following George H. W. Bush and Richard Nixon).
Official rededication
The stadium was officially re-dedicated as Boone Pickens Stadium on Sept. 5, 2009, when the #9 Cowboys opened the fall football season against #13 Georgia Bulldogs. Prior to the game, there was a grand-opening ceremony outside the stadium. On hand for the ribbon-cutting were coach Mike Gundy, university president Burns Hargis, athletic director Mike Holder and Boone Pickens. Attendance for the game was 53,012, which was a new Oklahoma State Football attendance record surpassing the 52,463 from the 2008 meeting with Troy University.
Attendance records
With their success on the football field under Mike Gundy, the Cowboys have set numerous attendance records at Boone Pickens Stadium. The following are the top crowds in the history of Boone Pickens Stadium.
Top 10 Single Game Attendance
|Nov. 23, 2013
|#3 Baylor
|Oct. 19, 2013
|Oct. 24, 2015
|Oct. 25, 2014
|#22 West Virginia
|5 (tied)
|Nov. 7, 2015
|5 (tied)
|Sep. 14, 2013
|Nov. 5, 2011
|#17 Kansas State
|Oct. 5, 2013
|Kansas State
|Nov. 22, 2015
|#10 Baylor
|Dec. 7, 2013
|#18 Oklahoma
See also
- ^ [1]
- ^ OKState.com - Boone Pickens Stadium
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2014-08-08. Retrieved 2014-07-25.CS1 maint: Archived copy as title (link)
- ^ "Oklahoma State University - Data Sheet [PDF File]" (PDF). 1st Turf. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2006-10-15.
- ^ "Boone Pickens Stadium History". November 28, 2008.[dead link]
- ^ a b Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis Community Development Project. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. Retrieved January 2, 2019.
- ^ Boone Pickens Stadium Reborn
- ^ [2]
- ^ "Ballparks.com - Boone Pickens Stadium". Archived from the original on 2018-01-23. Retrieved 2018-11-30.
- ^ BPS History - Lewis Field Legends Archived 2008-09-15 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ [3]
- ^ "Athletic village — it could be all for nothing". The Daily O'Collegian. Archived from the original on 2013-01-30.
- ^ Okstate http://www.okstate.com/boxscore.aspx?path=football&id=1489. Retrieved 14 November 2015. Missing or empty
- ^ Okstate http://www.okstate.com/boxscore.aspx?path=football&id=1484#box-score. Retrieved 14 November 2015. Missing or empty
- ^ Okstate http://www.okstate.com/boxscore.aspx?path=football&id=1512. Retrieved 14 November 2015. Missing or empty
- ^ Okstate http://www.okstate.com/boxscore.aspx?path=football&id=1499. Retrieved 14 November 2015. Missing or empty
- ^ Okstate http://www.okstate.com/boxscore.aspx?path=football&id=1514. Retrieved 14 November 2015. Missing or empty
- ^ Okstate http://www.okstate.com/boxscore.aspx?path=football&id=1481. Retrieved 14 November 2015. Missing or empty
- ^ Okstate http://www.okstate.com/boxscore.aspx?path=football&id=1459. Retrieved 14 November 2015. Missing or empty
- ^ Okstate http://www.okstate.com/boxscore.aspx?path=football&id=1483. Retrieved 14 November 2015. Missing or empty
- ^ Okstate http://www.okstate.com/boxscore.aspx?path=football&id=1490. Retrieved 14 November 2015. Missing or empty