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I did my favorite hike in Samaipata with Matan Vax, my Israeli travel partner for three weeks in Bolivia.
To start out, Matan and I took a cab from Samaipata to a nearby village where the Dutch owner of Hostel Andorina, Andres, had recommended we try to find a guide named Benjamin (pronounced "Ben-ha-meen").
We asked a few local villagers where we could find him and they pointed us in the direction of an old, dilapidated shack. Outside the shack we found an old man steadfastly making some wooden furniture.
"Estamos buscando por Benjamin" we told him. He responded by showing us a slight grin, prominently displaying his one and only one tooth, and said "Soy yo, soy Benjamin." We had found our guide. We told him where we wanted to go and 3 minutes later he emerged from his home wearing a big pair of rubber boats and carrying a machete.
Matan and I were both surprised at how old Benjamin was, still be guiding folks up in the mountains at the ripe age of 64. But I guess in Bolivia, 64 may be young. According to the Bolivian government, a Bolivian man named Carmelo Flores is now an astonishing 123 years old, which would make him the oldest person who ever lived. Despite the problems with this claim outlined in the hyperlinked CNN article, Benjamin lives a similar lifestyle to the at-least 100+ year old Carmelo Flores. Both live in the highlands of Bolivia, both walk a lot in those highlands, and both eat a very natural diet of Quinoa and local game.
While walking every day in the mountains and eating healthy a natural diet does not guarantee a long life – as the article points out the main reason someone lives longer than others is not because of their lifestyle choices, but genetics – these choices certainly don't hurt. Benjamin guided us along up to and along a mountain ridge above his village.
As you can hear Matan comment in the video above, we were literally in the clouds along the mountain ridge, steep valleys falling away on either side, and a 360 degree view at almost every point on the trek.
Benjamin was interested in U.S. politics and in particular, Obama. He asked me lots of questions during the first 45 minutes of the hike. This is pretty common for wherever I have traveled in the world. When people find out I am from the United States one of the most common questions is "what do you think about Obama?"
As I mentioned in one of my previous blog posts, relations between Bolivia and the U.S. are not the best. Even if Evo Morales doesn't like Obama, Benjamin seemed to like him. This is also a common sentiment among people outside the U.S. – they like Obama, and they don't like former president George W. Bush. These are all just generalizations though.
As Benjamin led us on the trek he seemed to be looking for something.
To continue his "search", as you can see in the video below, Benjamin would methodically swing his machete from side to side in the long grass.
Finally we realized what Benjamin had been looking for, when all of a sudden he reached down into the grass and let out a small shout. What he drew out of the grass surprised both me and Matan.
At first, Matan and I were not sure why he had been looking for this bird, but when I snapped this picture and look back on it now, I can see the hungry look in Benjamin's eye as he holds out the bird.
Whether he would eat the bird that night or coop it to fatten it up was unclear.


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Feb 28, 2018
MONTGOMERY, Ala. - LaGrange beat Huntingdon 8-1 in a USA South match Wednesday. The Panthers evened their conference record at 1-1, while improving to 4-2 overall.
Will Thompson got the match clinching win at #2 singles. He defeated Bailey Burns 6-1, 6-0. The Panthers swept the three doubles matches. In exhibition matches, Bryan Bush and Kyle Kelley defeated Anjala Chandrasoma and Trevor Berry 8-1 in the doubles match. Geoffrey Martin beat Chandrasoma 8-1 and Caleb Tyler defeated Kevaughnte Merrion 8-3 in the singles matches.
The Panthers host Piedmont in a USA South match Saturday at 1 p.m. and Brevard in a non-conference match Sunday at 12 p.m.

subset: commoncrawl


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Congratulations on your engagement! Are you looking for premarital classes or workshops or premarital counseling? Do you want to know more about what it takes to be married? Do you want to learn what it takes to be married from a biblical perspective while satisfying the your needs for your marriage license? You have come to the right place. We are passionate about helping couples in the beginning stages of their lifelong walk together understand what it takes to not only be successfully married but learn what it takes to Divorceproof Your Marriage. We are excited to help you and would love to work with you! It is really easy to get started. You can get started by emailing us at firstname.lastname@example.com .
We look forward to serving you!
Benjamin and Alisha Walker
The Marriage Coaches


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The Philippines is truly a predominantly rice-eating nation. A meal isn't a meal without rice. Just look at Mc Donald's. To adjust to our rice-eating palates, they introduced rice meals like the Fried Chicken Mc Do which features fried chicken and rice.
This time though, they took a step towards the unconventional and introduced the:
Giving you a choice between a burger patty or a fried chicken fillet, the Rice Burger sandwiches the meat and veggies between two rice cakes doused in sauce.
Packed in a cardboard box that instructs you to "open here," the Rice burger is interesting. I love onigiri (Japanese rice balls) so I figured I'd give it a shot. My mom and I ordered one each, both chicken.
Our verdict?
I found it okay. Nothing astounding, it was like onigiri. With meat in between instead of stuffed inside. My mom, on the other hand, didn't like it. "Para akong kumain ng suman!" (It's like I ate sticky rice pudding!) XP


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Dilemma Senior Lee faces - Singapore Ready to Work, but Malaysia is Not – Win-Win opportunities are Sound & Logic but difficult even to take off
On the other hand, the implementers of the IDR would want to "grab all" in taking the lion share especially can be seen by the Bumiputra Malay Contractors Association who would not want to "miss the boat" so to speak. But in getting into the boat, Samy Vellu can vouched they cause a lot of problems in "leakages" – cost over-run, abandoned projects, uncompleted projects, delayed projects and in case of completed ones – shoddy workmanship with "pipes bursting & roof leaking". The outcry from them in not getting the gravy train from the recent Ipoh-Padang Besar electrified double-tracking railway project awarded to Gamuda-MMC is another typical example.(see Bottom, how the problem is resolved with Government "intervention"). They want to have a share but unable to deliver the goods in the end – only the promises stated in the signed contracts.
So Senior Lee Kuan Yew is sending the correct signals, but if there is no change in the mindset and following what Mahathir proposes "calling the shots", and then this so called win-win co-operation would be just a win-fail result. The antipathy attitude, the false superiority complex and the smart thinking of "who needs who more" attitude would made this Malaysia-Singapore relationship even difficult to take off.
= == = == = == = ==
= == = == = == = ==
Extracts from what the Senior Lee says
"This is the signal we want to send out to the Malaysian leaders & Malaysian people. We are ready to work. But so will you, in the end you can go more than we can, because you have critical mass.
For this to happen,
must believe it is really win-win . That Spore will gain, but so will Malaysia and Johore, Johor Baru and Kuala Lumpur Malaysia
Who gains more is left to history to decide. And is a secondary matter.
It needs a mindset change from competition, antipathy for
to co-operation and acceptance of Singapore . If Singapore pushes this, it will be counterproductive" Singapore
= == = = == =
Lee was asked whether
ABOVE & BELOW: PM Abdullah at the launch of the IDR many moons ago and is now struggling to take-off
Citing Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi's proposal of the Iskandar Development Region (IDR)as a move in the right direction, Lee said
Lee said
====from the sourceMM Lee says S'pore and
By May Wong, Channel NewsAsia | Posted:
Later Mr Lee told reporters on the sidelines that he wants Malaysian leaders to know that
Citing Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi's proposal of the Iskandar Development Region, or IDR, as a move in the right direction, Mr Lee said
ABOVE & BELOW: the only signs of some co-operation is the limited cheap airways by Air Asia & Tiger Airways started only recently
Another win-win possibility is faster rail and air travel between
= = == = == =and other critical problems facing the "red dot" in Singapore & views from MM Lee
MM Lee 'not quite sold' on idea of 6.5 million population
By Li Xueying
MINISTER Mentor Lee Kuan Yew 'has not quite been sold' on the idea of a 6.5 million population size in
He said on Friday: 'I have not quite been sold on the idea that we should have 6.5 million.' 'I think there's an optimum size for the land that we have, to preserve the open spaces and the sense of comfort.'
MM Lee was speaking at think-tank Institute of Policy Studies' conference 'Scenarios for the Next Generation', which seeks to gaze into the crystal ball and discuss what Singapore will look like come 2030. Speakers, including Cabinet ministers, academics and journalists, held forth on subjects such as how the economy should evolve, cultural trends, and the
A year ago, the Government had announced that it is making plans to accommodate a population of 6.5 million people - up from the current 4.5 million - in the next 40 to 50 years. This sparked off worries about overcrowding.
= == == = = == = == Can Singapore understand and handle this kind of forced "handouts" to these companies? At the end of the day who would pick up the tabs for their inability to complete a job with a lot of excuses?
Double-tracking project a boon for bumiputra contractors
by Husna Yusop
PUTRAJAYA (Feb 4, 2008): The Gamuda-MMC consortium undertaking the Ipoh-Padang Besar electrified double-tracking railway project will award almost 30% or RM3.7 billion of the RM12.5 billion job to bumiputra contractors and suppliers. It has also identified 335 work packages, including for bridges, tracks, drainage, buildings, stations, utility distribution and landscaping, to be awarded in stages from this month. Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak said today that the consortium, which had identified 180 Classes A to D contracators to take part in the limited tender project, will offer 62 work packages to Class A contractors and 69 to Classes B and C jobbers.
"I would like to urge those of you who received the Letters of Award (LOA) today and the contractors to be appointed later to prove your capability. Should you fail, you will be sacked from the job. "This is important as we do not want the failure of a small group of contractors to result in a delay in the implementation of the project which has been fixed at five years. Delay and failure is not an option," he said at his office. Najib, who chairs the Cabinet Committee on Public Transport, presented LOA to 24 bumiputra contractors -- for various works worth more than RM400 million -- and 10 engineering consultants. Present were Second Finance Minister Tan Sri Nor Mohd Yaakob, Transport Minister Datuk Seri Chan Kong Choy and Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Sri Mohd Effendi Norwawi.
Najib said the bumiputra contractors, suppliers and consultants were chosen based on merit with three main criteria, namely genuineness and hands-on; technically and financial capability; and competitive prices. To ensure continuity, he said, the government will consider giving out more jobs to contractors with high performance ranking. He said MMC and Gamuda had assured the government they would pay the sub-contractors for work done within 30 days.
Apart from creating some 105,000 jobs, Najib said the project would boost


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Over the last several days social media has been alight with personal accounts of sexual harassment, rape, sexual abuse and physical and verbal abuse which stemmed from the above atrocities. Persons, mostly women from the Caribbean, related to the world of social media some of their untold stories. What started as a flame has been the catalyst for many a conversation, discussion, vlog and even newspaper article. Many persons have now finally found the strength and courage to relay their experiences to their friends, associates, strangers – the world.
These posts have been a source of encouragement for some and a reminder to others that they are not alone in their experiences. It has also caused countless persons to reflect, do some retrospection and introspection and realise that they are or were a part of the problem. Many persons have apologised. Many have openly supported the victims and condemned the culprits. Society was also not left unscathed. We know that often at the heart of these issues is how we were conditioned and thus society was also thrown into the fire. In light of all of this, I have undertaken to set out below what the law offers to the victims of these inhumane, highly offensive acts.
The Minor Offences Act Cap. 137 at Section 2 (1) says ' Any person who…
(c) wanders in the public streets or highways or in any place of public resort and behaves in a riotous or indecent manner;
(d) in any street, highway or public place accosts a passenger and offers to take him to the house or residence of a prostitute;
(e) loiters in any street highway or public place accosts a passenger and offers to take him to the house or residence of a prostitute;
(f) in any street, highway or public place, including a beach, without lawful authority or excuse (the proof whereof shall lie on the person accused), accosts, molests, threatens or harasses any person or follows him about;
commits an offence and is liable on conviction before a magistrate to a penalty of $2500 or to imprisonment for 2 years or both.'
Section 2(2) states that in this Section, ' "harass" means to
- Use words, gestures and actions that annoy, alarm or abuse a person;
- Insult, taunt or challenge a person in a manner likely to offend;
- Use obscene and profane language to intimidate a person; or
- Disturb or irritate especially by continued and repeated acts.'
A Sexual Harassment (Prevention) Bill is also in the works and is expected to afford greater protection to employees against sexual harassment in the workplace.
– Kara-Je Kellman


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David Wu resigns from House
Key to getting Wu to agree to depart was Connecticut Rep. John Larson, chairman of the Democratic Caucus. Larson, who won his first House election the same year as Wu, never asked his longtime colleague to resign.
Instead, Larson "spent hours talking to Wu about doing the right thing," said a top Democratic aide, speaking on condition of anonymity. "Larson told him it was only going to get worse and he had to be prepared to deal with that."Continue Reading
Pelosi and New York Rep. Steve Israel badly wanted Wu out, and they told him so in phone calls over the weekend.
But Pelosi and Israel refused to make their demands public, only calling for an immediate Ethics Committee investigation into the sexual encounter with the young woman, the daughter of a longtime friend of Wu's.
That encounter was first reported by The Oregonian on Friday. The woman was only 18 at the time, and she left an emotional voice mail in Wu's congressional office in May alleging what some sources familiar with the message called "disgusting and appalling" behavior by the 56-year-old Wu. Wu told his aides that the two had consensual sex, but the teenager offered a dramatic refutation of that claim in her voice mail, said the sources.
A criminal complaint has not been filed against Wu.
With controversy swirling around him, Larson huddled with Wu for 40 minutes on Monday inside the Democratic Cloakroom off the House floor as the veteran lawmaker considered whether resignation was his best move.
"Yesterday he didn't say what he was going to do; he was pondering his options," said Larson of his sit-down with Wu. "The more [Wu] thought about it, he felt he was better able to serve [his children]" by resigning.
Rep. Mike Honda (D-Calif.), who rescued Wu from a gaggle of reporters Monday, described his colleague as "reflective" when the two went out to dinner that night.
Wu has a history of sexually aggressive behavior toward women, which further undermined his credibility on and off Capitol Hill.
He was accused of attempted rape in 1976 by a former girlfriend, although no criminal charges were filed. Wu was attending Stanford University at the time, as was the woman. Wu was ordered to receive counseling and was disciplined by the university, and he privately apologized to the woman. The allegations became public shortly before the 2004 elections.
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John Bresnahan


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Economics Analysis Seminar Series Archive
Open to the public
Office of Economics
Economics Analysis Seminar Series
Tim A. Graciano
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Kati Suominen
Resident Fellow in Economics at the German Marshall Fund of the United States and American Assembly's Next Generation Fellow
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Everett Peterson
Virginia Tech University
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Michael Anderson, Stephen Smith, Martin Davies
Washington and Lee University , Gordon College , Washington and Lee University
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Nora Dihel
World Bank
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Morihiro Yomogida
Sophia University, Tokyo, Japan
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Stefan Osborne
International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce
Thursday, July 28, 2011 - 11:30am
Potential Implications of a Special Safeguard Mechanism in the World Trade Organizaion: the Case of Wheat
Amanda M. Leister
Market and Trade Economics Division, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Mauricio Mesquita Moreira
Inter-American Development Bank
Thursday, July 14, 2011
David Riker
International Trade Administration
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Megha Mukim
London School of Economics; Visiting Scholar, Columbia University and SAIS
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Mycotoxins Regulations and International Trade Flows Of Agricultural Products: Are the Effects As Large As Perceived
Devesh Roy
International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI)
Thursday, May 12, 2011
Susan Aaronson
The George Washington University
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Marcus Noland
Peterson Institute for International Economics
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Innovation through Protection: Does Safeguard Protection Increase Investment in Research and Development
Benjamin H. Liebman, Kara M. Reynolds
St. Joseph's University , American Univerity
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Justino De La Cruz
U.S. International Trade Commission
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Peter B. Dixon
Center of Policy Studies, Monash University
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Shushanik Hakobyan
University of Virginia
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Shang-Jin Wei
Columbia University
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Maggie Chen
George Washington University
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Daniel Reyes
Georgetown University
Thursday, October 28, 2010
David Riker
U.S. Department of Commerce - International Trade Administration
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Domestic Coalitions and the Push for Policy Change in Bangladesh's Garments and Textiles Industry
Sanchita Saxena
University of California-Berkeley and Woodrow Wilson Center
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Csilla Lakatos
Purdue University
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Chad Bown
World Bank
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Anusha Chari
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Mary Hallward-Driemeier
World Bank
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Optimizing the Economic Growth and Poverty Reduction Benefits of CAFTA-DR: Trade-Led Agricultural Diversification
David Bathrick
Rural Growth Strategist and Retired U.S. Foreign Service Officer
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Rodney Ludema
Georgetown University
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Foreign Acquisitions and National Security: What are Genuine Threats? What are Implausible Worries? A Framework for OECD Countries, and Beyond
Theodore Moran
Georgetown University and Peterson Institute for International Economics
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Kei-Mu Yi
Federal Reserve Bank of Philadephia
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Leonardo Iacovone
World Bank
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Maurice Kugler
CID, Harvard University and Wilfred Laurier University
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Ronald Sands
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Russell Hillberry
University of Melbourne
Thursday, October 15, 2009
The Implications of New Trade Potentials to Agriculture and Poverty Reduction in Low Income Countries
John Mellor
John Mellor Associates, Inc.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Nannette Christ, Michael Ferrantino
United States International Trade Commission
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Amit Khandelwal
Columbia University
Thursday, May 28, 2009
David Wheeler
Center for Global Development
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Scott Barrett
SAIS, John Hopkins University
Thursday, April 30, 2009
James Harrigan
United States International Trade Commission
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Robert Johnson
IES Fellow, Princeton University
Thursday, March 19, 2009
The Value of Trade to the U.S. Economy: An Assessment of the Economic Consequences of Border Closure
James Giesecke
Monash University
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Paul Brenton
World Bank
Thursday, February 19, 2009


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HST and The Vancouver Real Estate Market
Stu's Breakdown on HST and Vancouver Real Estate
With the billeting and the protest proving futile, British Columbians now live life with HST, a 7% hike on the 5% GST to a 12% harmonized sales tax, no more PST. This TAX is like the old GST tax and ONLY APPLIES TO NEW REAL ESTATE, a common misconception is that all home sales are subject to HST. There is also a generous new HST REBATE equal to 71.43% of the HST Payable for new homes under $525,000 up to $26,250; while homes over that price may apply for a flat $26,250 rebate.
The majority of Real Estate will not greatly be affected by the HST, but it will lower the asking prices of new construction: good news for Home Sellers and Buyers looking for Brand New Property, bad news for Developers.
The Bad News for Home Sellers (and Buyers) is that they will have to pay a 7% increase on Real Estate Commissions and Lawyer fees. A $500,000 condo where fees may be $19,000 the sellers pays an extra $1330 in taxes.
A Left Wing approach to governing with the goal to increase business growth and jobs, as well as incomes and employment rates across various sectors. In the long run, this will be good for BC and the Economists (who don't account for Foreign Investment & Tax Sheltered income) may stop rating Vancouver as an unaffordable city to live as the gap between average incomes and average home prices tightens.
In the short run, I find it impressive that British Columbia, and Ontario, are able to implement a tax increase in the midst of an American and Global Recession. I fear the restaurant, retail, and entertainment sectors will slow down as purchasing power decreases, but Real Estate in Vancouver will not be slowing down in the next 5-10 years and our Beautiful Province will benefit from Tax Revenue and Business Growth.
I am confident in our Real Estate Market because of BC's rock solid lending practices and regulations, banking sector, our influx of new immigrants and foreign direct investment, our forward progressing city planning with improvements such as The Canada Line, The Convention Center, The New Sea to Sky Highway, Vancouver International Airport, the new BC Place, and new world class Hotels and Developments as Vancouver has quickly progressed to become a Global City with Worldwide Recognition, Appeal, Admiration, and Respect equating to a very healthy Demand for our limited Supply of Real Estate.
I believe BC's new HST Tax will shrink developers profits as the Market (Buyers and Sellers) determines Real Estate Values, and with a large supply of resale product they will have to be creative with their pricing and packaging to stay profitable. Supply may not expand as previous predictions have calculated as new home starts become less attractive for developers and home builders.
There has been 259 Detached Home Sales and 282 Attached Home Sales in The Lower Mainland in the first 2 and half weeks of July 2010, since the HST was implemented on July 1st, so it appears The Market will continue to roll. While in a traditional July and August summer lull, when many act in May or Move Away, I suspect September and the fall market will bring increased consumer confidence and activity in the market as HST is accepted and continued Record Low Interest and Mortgage Rates propel first-time home buyers, investors (driven by high rent rates), as well as downsizes and upsizers across the Vancouver Real Estate Market.
If you have any questions about HST and Vancouver Real Estate please feel free to call me at 604.562.0532 or email me at email@example.com.
Best Regards and Happy House Hunting:)


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Wednesday, June 12, 2013
Paint, ink, and paper
I've been getting quite a few questions about the materials I use for my paintings, so I thought I would share all my info here!
Paint: Holbein Acryla Gouache ( I order mine online at Dick Blick, doesn't tend to be carried at Hobby Lobby or Michaels. Local art shops may order it for you if you ask though)
Pens: Micron (These seem to be available lots of places - scrapbooking shops, office stores, art stores, pen stores, etc), and Uniball Vision Micro Pen (Available at office stores)
Paper: Rives BFK (this is a printmaking paper, I love the way it absorbes the paint, but beware it cannot take a lot of abuse. )
Paint Brushes: I don't have any brand loyalty when it comes to brushes. I tend to just buy whatever is on sale at the art shop. I like the longer, liner brushes for detail work.
I've used everything from watercolors to oils, thick Arches 300lb paper, and painting on wood. At the end of the day I settled on this acryla gouache on paper because it's what just felt right to me. It's what I'm happiest painting with and it gives me the look I'm going for. Don't be afraid to try different mediums and materials to find what is right for you. Even just trying a tube or two will give you an idea if you like a certain paint.
Labels: Art Materials
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VVoltronSV (7:43:38 PM): The Tigers are arrive at Melanie's lab, as per her request. She's sitting at a table playing with some holograms of mecha tech-specs. She looks over at the Tigers as they come in.
VVoltronSV (7:44:36 PM): Melanie: "About time you showed, the coffee was getting cold."
VVoltronSV (7:44:50 PM): [No music tonight either.]
CrashCarrie (7:45:09 PM): [np]
VVoltronSV (7:47:42 PM): Melanie: "Anyway, the reason I asked you to come here is two fold. First off, it seems the Captain of the Magellan was injured in the last battle. So Sanchez is having to fill in for the forseeable future. It also means that as the ranking officer with ANY sort of flight experience, I'll be taking over CDF for a while."
VVoltronSV (7:47:51 PM): [Feel free to chime in.]
diggers316 (7:48:10 PM): [Suki stands at ease, listining]
VVoltronSV (7:48:47 PM): [You are the third most passive players I've ever dealt with…]
VVoltronSV (7:48:51 PM): [j/k]
VVoltronSV (7:50:14 PM): Melanie: The Second reason is that I'm getting to start on some new mecha designs to go with the Magellan's fleet. Better to have something newer than cobbled together bits of old tech.
CrashCarrie (7:50:48 PM): Sarah stands quietly at ease, listening quietly and nodding her head, then blinking and nodding about the new mecha. She glances to Suki for a moment, then looks up attentively.
VVoltronSV (7:52:02 PM): Melanie: As you two seem to have both the best and worst luck with the toasters, AND you happen to be my lab rats, er tigers, anyway, I'm going to start by asking what you think we need in new mecha.
diggers316 (7:52:10 PM): [Suki frowns slightly, but quickly wipes her face of her dour expression.]
VVoltronSV (7:53:18 PM): Melanie: Keep in mind missiles are a lot harder to come by for the forseeable future and I'm under orders to keep the number of missiles below that of the Alpha if possible.
diggers316 (7:53:40 PM): [Suki's frown reappears]
VVoltronSV (7:54:45 PM): Melanie: So do either of you have any thoughts are am I going to have to go into God-Telepathy Mode and rip them from your minds?
diggers316 (7:56:39 PM): [Suki shakes her head, and if Melanie is reading her surface thoughts she picks this basic feeling and thought up: The reason we are in this mess is becuase someone wanted the new gizmo's. ..c
diggers316 (7:57:35 PM): …And, it would be more logical to spend resources on building up our exsisting stocks of aircraft then waste the time on prototypes, We need planes now, not three years from now. And third, missiles are waht keep us alive and the Haydonites don't use them, and have a hard time dealing with them, so lessening missile load is silly
diggers316 (7:57:43 PM): …d]
CrashCarrie (7:58:07 PM): Sarah ponders just a little bit and nods slightly, considering the concept. She ponders the concept idly, thinking through energy weapon types idly.
diggers316 (7:58:46 PM): [In fact SUki's mind is positivly screaming these things but she is keep her self silant out of respect for rank and protocol]
VVoltronSV (7:59:02 PM): Melanie: The reason we're in this mess is because the Haydonites sent ungodly numbers at us. The reason we're on the Magellan is because somebody got full of themselves, disobeyed orders, and used unauthorized tech.
VVoltronSV (7:59:49 PM): Melanie: You're absolutely right, and for the time being you will be using current stock. However, there are two things that go against your reasoning.
VVoltronSV (8:00:50 PM): Melanie: 1. I have my orders, the top wants new equipment. 2. This is my, and as long as your assigned to me, and your primary job. You're only on "loan" to the City Defense Forces.
CrashCarrie (8:01:26 PM): Sarah starts pondering for one on ways to mount short range versions of old style reflex cannons to planes or tanks, abandoning the train of thought almost immediately as too energy intensive and farfetched. She frowns quietly listening as Suki is spoken to.
diggers316 (8:02:10 PM): [Suki smiles thinly] I didn't say anything ma'am. And if I may say so, I find the implication that we would not follow orders…objectionable.
VVoltronSV (8:04:03 PM): Melanie: Sorry, I'm a telepath and sometimes it's hard for me to tell the difference from someone thinking and someone talking. I'm not the kind of telepath that has to deliberately concentrate read someone else's surface thoughts.
VVoltronSV (8:05:30 PM): Melanie: I also appologize if I made it sound as if you did or were going to do something wrong: When I said orders were disobeyed, I meant Captain Gray and Commander Revan of the Stellar Jungle.
CrashCarrie (8:05:52 PM): Sarah promptly has several things run through her head all at once, particularly about before. She bites her lip slightly and ponders. "Do we have anything that could be reverse-engineered from anywhere, for attempts at further weapons? Anything captured or such? I'm assuming not with the new shps… but…" She shrugs.
diggers316 (8:06:24 PM): [Suki nods] Yes ma'am, I understand, and as much as I persoanlly disliked the men, they did orer us into obsolete mecha, and in so doing, saved our lives.
VVoltronSV (8:08:02 PM): Melanie: We got some of the Haydonite equipment, but as the Shadowtech they gave us was boobytrapped, I am hesitant to do anything short of melt it down and use it for raw material.
diggers316 (8:08:19 PM): [Question: we going with the 'Salavge Op events I ran as 'canon' or no?]
VVoltronSV (8:08:28 PM): Melanie: If you disliked them, I hated them…
VVoltronSV (8:08:35 PM): [Yes it is.]
diggers316 (8:08:39 PM): [kk, thanks]
CrashCarrie (8:10:17 PM): Sarah cringes and nods just a little bit. She shivers just a little. "Unfortunately, until we can strip something of theirs, not boobytrapped, apart, I'd agree. If we could figure out 'how' it works we could designed some unboobytrapped things, but that could take a long time."
VVoltronSV (8:10:28 PM): Mel: We also have some bits of those advanced Invid mecha I'm in the process of reverse engineering.
diggers316 (8:10:39 PM): [Suki] OUr team recovered a few Alpha,s from the wreckage, but the ship still has a functioning reactor core, possibley, and some of it's sub systems, such as turret mounts may still be useable, I know I would personally like to strip and remount the few CIWS guns on the Tigers hanger bay.
diggers316 (8:11:23 PM): [Suki] I'm sure the Magellen wouldn't mind having a few extra point defence cannons as well, win win in my book
VVoltronSV (8:11:50 PM): Mel: Excellent ideas. After we're done here you can head up the engineering crews to do that if you don't mind.
diggers316 (8:12:03 PM): [Suki nods] Roger that ma'am
VVoltronSV (8:13:02 PM): Mel: I'm thinking about keeping the missiles about 50 with an emphasis on SRM with minis filling out the rest. Add on a couple of wings that can support missile hardpoints, should satisfy your desire to keep as many missiles as you can.
CrashCarrie (8:13:48 PM): Sarah cocks her head a little about advanced Invid mecha, blinking. "Really? That's interesting. We heard about the big battloids in the resistance, didn't see them very much though, lucky for us." She hms, and nods. "Depending on what the tech is, though, it's probably not the easiest to reverse-engineer. Though more energy weapon designs could help." She nods a little about the minis, listening again.
VVoltronSV (8:14:26 PM): Mel: And though I doubt we can get Reflex-level energy weapons on a fighter, I do think we should beef that up so we can have solid weapons there for when the missiles are all gone.
VVoltronSV (8:15:01 PM): Mel: Yeah, it is proving a bear, I had to get some medics to help out because of the semi-organic nature of the mecha.
diggers316 (8:15:45 PM): [Suki] The Haydonite seems well versed in close quarters combat ma'am, their articualted gun mounts speak to that, and the are agile as can be. I would focus on lang range hitting power, Beyond Visial Range attacks, things that could force their hand, disrupt their unit cohesion.
VVoltronSV (8:15:54 PM): Mel: The even had a freaking veritech.
VVoltronSV (8:16:09 PM): [Correction: The Invid even had]
CrashCarrie (8:16:16 PM): Sarah nods just a little bit and sighs. "Ouch, ah. Tough to reverse, and hard to miniaturize as well." She just… stops then. "The Invid had a Veritech? You're kidding me…"
CrashCarrie (8:16:27 PM): [*tries to play dumb partly*]
diggers316 (8:16:38 PM): [lyin youASS off!]
VVoltronSV (8:18:20 PM): Mel: The problem with your assessment, Suki, is that the best I can do is get very spotty type of radar reads on them. They have a major advantage in stealth tech.
diggers316 (8:18:56 PM): {suki] What about optical guaidance? TV guided?
CrashCarrie (8:20:08 PM): Sarah keeps pondering the Invid having a Veritech, trying to sort through any rumor she ever heard about it. She listens to the missile discussion and ponders. "If there was only a way to scan radar signal cohesion…"
diggers316 (8:20:14 PM): [Suki] Also, in lieu of the Beta Mounted synchro cannons, why not mount something in it's place?
VVoltronSV (8:20:27 PM): Mel: IR tech is the reasons your missiles still lock-on and track. The problem is YOU knowing where to shoot at.
VVoltronSV (8:21:21 PM): [I bet you can guess why we're having this discussion.]
CrashCarrie (8:21:49 PM): [heehee]
VVoltronSV (8:22:29 PM): Mel: A lot of the reason the sychro cannon was usable on a Beta in the first place is because the Shadow Tech made the power consumption requirement more manageable. Without, well…
VVoltronSV (8:23:12 PM): Mel: I probably could get you a massive E-cannon to fit but its going to have a very limited ROF.
diggers316 (8:23:29 PM): [Suki] I remember reading in history class about the Lancer spcae fighter, and about it's beam cannons, they were very long range and had decent hitting power… [Suki lets her voice trail off]
CrashCarrie (8:24:16 PM): Sarah just listens quietly now, lost in her own thoughts after her one muttering.
VVoltronSV (8:25:14 PM): Mel: That actually could work, I think we may even have 2 or 3 of those on board. Say, Sarah, you're acting like you almost WANT one of the Invid VTs.
diggers316 (8:25:40 PM): [Suki look sover at Sarah quizzically]
CrashCarrie (8:26:43 PM): Sarah laughs a little. "If anyone else could fly one, it would be interesting, certainly. Too bad no one can. I'm just thinking anyway. Kinda too bad, it mgiht work better in space than a Hovertank depending on what they based it off."
VVoltronSV (8:28:08 PM): Mel [telepathically to Sarah]: Oh c'mon. I know your Invid.
VVoltronSV (8:28:28 PM): Mel: I'm sure I could rig something together.
diggers316 (8:29:43 PM): [Suki's mind is now occupied with the image of lazily floating Sakura blossoms]
CrashCarrie (8:30:31 PM): Sarah flinches at the mental message, dropping her act. "If one is intact." She sighs. "I'll drop the act in here though, since Lt. Ishida knows as well. When I left, that VT was only a rumor at very best. I might be able to fly it… it can't be that different on transform controls than any other VT, and I have been a hovertanker for two years… Will Expedition missiles fit it?"
CrashCarrie (8:31:07 PM): Sarah mumbles slightly. "Or my Cyclone…"
VVoltronSV (8:31:12 PM): [The following does not actually happen: Mel: I'm sure Sanchez's 33-S Sexaroid boomers would have put your mind permenately in the gutter by now.]
diggers316 (8:31:42 PM): [Dont nobdy better say an unkind word bout the 33-S! ^_^ ]
CrashCarrie (8:31:44 PM): [LOL]
VVoltronSV (8:32:41 PM): Mel: Again I'd have to jury rig it, and even then it's only a maybe.
diggers316 (8:33:29 PM): [Suki] Better rig it with a cover story too, might, alarm, the other pilots on the CAP to see an Invid veritech flitting past…
CrashCarrie (8:34:50 PM): Sarah nods a little bit. "Well, that would help some, since the technology is sufficiently different. Depending on if it has a radar system and such, properly." She ponders and glances to Suki. "Right…" She shakes her head and consders. "Beyond that, I was mostly pondering for further energy weapons for when the missiles run out. Any design that can be crammed down in would be nice to have. Especially on the Cyclone. The worries about running out of ammunition and such on that are more extreme."
VVoltronSV (8:35:44 PM): Mel: Better yet, start a rumor about the Invid becoming secret allies of ours after finding out we were fighting the Haydonites, might ease anti-Invid tensions. Which could save our green blooded friend if she ever starts bleeeding public.
diggers316 (8:36:56 PM): [Suki] However you want to proceed, I'm on board. Might be prudent to paint the Invid Mecha up in UEEF regalia as well. Just a thought.
CrashCarrie (8:37:11 PM): Sarah laughs a little bit at that. "Doesn't sound so far fetched, I'm surprised if some others who stayed aren't signing up after hearing what went on. The Haydonites blasted our first homeworld before here. And the Expedition is actually standing up and shooting back instead of running. I can imagine a few wanting in on that action."
diggers316 (8:38:06 PM): [Suki] Well we still need to consider the fact that that bit of knowledge isn't exactly well know no is it.
diggers316 (8:38:13 PM): known
VVoltronSV (8:38:58 PM): Mel pulls up two holograms: I'm tempted trying to put one of these or this together, but costs mean I'll likely have to make do with either modifying current Cyclones, or restarting the Garland project.
diggers316 (8:40:15 PM): [Suki] Thats great if they get into the city, but wouldn't do squat in space comabt.
VVoltronSV (8:41:01 PM): Mel: Cyclones aren't meant for Space Combat anyway.
CrashCarrie (8:41:22 PM): Sarah nods a little bit. "In the city or on salvage operations." She rolls her eyes a little then. "Especially if they're well armored and padded from impacts." She rubs a spot where she bumped the hole in the bridge, then.
diggers316 (8:42:39 PM): [Suki] In my opinion the Cyclone is the penultimate close in weapon system, barring a bit more armor plate, and padding. [She adds, still smarting from her 'impacts' as well]
VVoltronSV (8:44:28 PM): Mel: Personal feelings aside: the Cyclone is a great machine, but it does have a great many limitations, and would take squads or Cycs to do what an Alpha could. Plus, you don't really need to bring a knife to a gunfight and all.
diggers316 (8:45:13 PM): [Suki] Apples and oranges ma'am. In my opinion, I would never ask a Cyclone to do a Alpha's job, or vise-versa.
VVoltronSV (8:47:49 PM): Mel: Yeah, we're getting sidetracked. Personally, I could come up with weapons for the current Cyclones, but those motorslaves I showed you is as close to a Cyclone as I can get, was too much miniturazation [I botched that spelling I bet] for me to get design a proper transfromation.
diggers316 (8:48:10 PM): [Suki nods]
CrashCarrie (8:48:13 PM): [miniaturization]
CrashCarrie (8:48:40 PM): Sarah nods just a little bit at that, considering it. "The Cyclone in space is at best a space suit with thrusters, not much more." She ponders and considers.
VVoltronSV (8:49:59 PM): Mel: Better then to focus on smaller battloids or keeping to VTs in that arena then.
CrashCarrie (8:50:38 PM): Sarah in fact has a line about 'freshly squeezes turnip juice' run through her head, from being spoken by a resistance member trying to think of a plan too hard. Then she nods a little. "Well the VTs are best in that arena anyway."
CrashCarrie (8:51:25 PM): Sarah looks over at Suki then a moment. "When they don't look like swiss cheese. Ma'am." She winks then.
VVoltronSV (8:52:22 PM): Mel: Speaking of which: cosnidering the swiss cheese your mecha came back in: Would you prefer more armor and possible shields, either arm shield or pin-point barrier, or greater agility on a VT?
diggers316 (8:52:24 PM): [Suki doesn't flinch]
VVoltronSV (8:54:13 PM): [afk]
diggers316 (8:54:41 PM): [Suki] Any additional defences would be welcome, but that was my mistake, in overestimating the enemy. It won't happen again. [Melanie can sense immediatly that Suki is not angered that she was holes, but rather saw it as a 'humbling and a experiance'
diggers316 (8:54:57 PM): holes=holed
diggers316 (8:55:20 PM): [dammit! okay, 'humbling and a learning experiance'
CrashCarrie (8:55:33 PM): [aww, poor Suki]
CrashCarrie (9:01:54 PM): [peeks]
VVoltronSV (9:02:17 PM): Mel: I'm asking which you'd prefer, the defense are getting an upgrade even if I put a "Please don't hit me" sign on it.
diggers316 (9:03:26 PM): [Suki] A PPB system would need to be automated, otherwise the workload on the pilot would be immense.
diggers316 (9:04:55 PM): [Suki] Armor would be the best option, since it wont go away if the system 'breaks'.
VVoltronSV (9:05:03 PM): Mel: You're right, making something more akin to the VF-1's fighter mode in agility would be a simpler way of doing things.
CrashCarrie (9:05:39 PM): Sarah promptly imagines the sign and laughs, nodding. "Avoiding being hit is usually the best option, if available."
diggers316 (9:06:03 PM): [Suki] Sometimes that isn't an option.
VVoltronSV (9:06:12 PM): Mel: More armor, means more weight, means less speed and agility. Are you alright with that?
diggers316 (9:07:15 PM): [Suki] It's the easiest to implement if we are talking about forwarding upgrades to teh field, and has a low chance of failure, upgraded agility, shields, all that have incredible costs involved regards manpower, maintennace and systems integration
VVoltronSV (9:07:58 PM): Mel: Ok, something that's a bit more like the Brick, I mean Beta.
diggers316 (9:08:05 PM): [Suki] However, Sarah is right, you cannot hurt what you cannot hit…
diggers316 (9:09:50 PM): [Suki] I apologize for bing so pessimistic, and contrary, but, I'm looking at this fromt he 'man in the trench' point of view, sure, fancy gizmo's are nice, when they work, but soldiers want reliability.
VVoltronSV (9:10:12 PM): Mel: So "field" armor packs for existing mecha, and the new mecha to be genuinely agile.
VVoltronSV (9:10:48 PM): Mel: This is brainstorming, being contrary is a good thing.
CrashCarrie (9:10:54 PM): Sarah smiles just a little bit, cringing at the idea of something more like the brick. To her, it looks like a cardboard box with wings and engines. She blinks then. "Packs like the Valkyrie used to have for space? I've read about those."
diggers316 (9:11:01 PM): [Suki] That would be the best of both worlds. I know that the Super series of Shadowfighter was just ebing rolled off production, I figure the armor packs there are still vialble, sans Shadow tech. of course
VVoltronSV (9:14:10 PM): Mel: Well, I've got enough to work with for a while… How about you 2 see to setting up those CIWS turrets you talked about? Unless you have some more ideas?
CrashCarrie (9:14:57 PM): Sarah looks to Suki and shrugs slightly, not having a lot of ideas herself.
diggers316 (9:15:04 PM): [Suki] if we could somehow either recover the data for the Shadows upgrades either from Fleet Command, or take a jaunt out to the ARk Angle where I hear the Skull's have a few and convnce them to part with one… we might be able to ramp up the Magellens factory facilities…
diggers316 (9:15:57 PM): [Suki] But yes ma'am, we will see to the CIWS turrest immediatly.
VVoltronSV (9:16:02 PM): Mel: I'll ask Sanchez if he can't get the info.
diggers316 (9:17:06 PM): [Suki] Of course, and I will deny this of course, if we need to 'recover' a sample of the Super Shadow from the Skull's I have no issue with that, Fleet alwys gets all the goodies anyway…
CrashCarrie (9:17:29 PM): Sarah listens to that and nods a little, ponderign slightly. "I probably shouldn't ask, but was the modification data from the Jungle saved? If we could find the black box or otherwise determine where the adjustments failed, it seemed to /partially/ work." She blinks at Suki then and her eyes widen slightly.
diggers316 (9:18:03 PM): [Suki] That black box is two jumps away and embedded in the prow of a Haydonite Dreadnaught…
VVoltronSV (9:18:27 PM): Mel: I hear a Sterling is in charge of that outfit, I don't think either of you want to deal with that hornet's nest. Now go.
diggers316 (9:19:09 PM): [Suki] I am aware of the squadrons leadeship. [She strightens to attention and salutes.] Ma'am!
CrashCarrie (9:19:57 PM): Sarah nods a little to Suki and ponders, nodding to Mel's words and looking to her CO. "Well, obviously if we were followed once, unless they cleaned up their debris, it might still be there. Depending on how defended it might be." She straightens up and salutes as wel. "Yes, ma'am."
CrashCarrie (9:20:39 PM): [to mel, on the last]
VVoltronSV (9:20:48 PM): Mel give a sloppy salute before playing with her holograms again.
CrashCarrie (9:21:01 PM): [rofl]
diggers316 (9:21:05 PM): [As Suki exits the quarters she rolls her shoulders and makes her way towars the engineering sections offices. Without turning to Sarah…] Well Slugger, lets go see about some point defence turrests.
CrashCarrie (9:21:25 PM): Sarah smiles and nods quickly. "Yes, ma'am…"
VVoltronSV (9:22:29 PM): The hangar bay is crowded and you see several crew working on debris fragments and the like. You see a crew chief see the two enter, looks around quickly and spots a higher-ranked officer and only gives a quick salute to the pair without calling anyone else to attention.
diggers316 (9:23:04 PM): [Suki] Chief? Got a minute?
VVoltronSV (9:24:27 PM): Chief: Yes, ma'am. What do you need?
CrashCarrie (9:24:41 PM): Sarah follows quietly behind, just watching and smiling softly.
diggers316 (9:26:21 PM): [Suki] We've got a few CIWS turrets stuck ona hulk out there we'd like to get moved over here and mounted on the perimeter of bay 12 Alpha.
diggers316 (9:26:44 PM): [Suki] Who would e talk to about getting that done?
VVoltronSV (9:28:19 PM): Chief: That would be Sergeant Shion Uzuki. The Asian woman on the other side of the hangar with oversized glasses.
CrashCarrie (9:29:41 PM): Sarah promptly looks over to the other side of the hangar, to see where the Sergeant is.
VVoltronSV (9:31:21 PM): There seems to be no one quite matching the description but there is someone with their top half seemingly stuck in the maintenance port of a Bioroid Interceptor.
diggers316 (9:31:25 PM): [Suki] Roger that Chief, thanks a lot, carry on [Suki makes her way over to Goggles]
CrashCarrie (9:31:39 PM): [goggles. lol]
CrashCarrie (9:33:00 PM): Sarah blinks at the one stuck in the maintenance port, glancing to Suki and smiling just a little bit, follownig along for that direction and looking to the half-person. "So sorry to see that it's eating you alive…"
VVoltronSV (9:34:30 PM): Uzuki: Half-Eaten..?
CrashCarrie (9:34:32 PM): [bad joke,but eh]
VVoltronSV (9:35:10 PM): Uzuki then proceeds to panic and tries to get herself out, before tripping on a wrench and falling on top of Sarah.
VVoltronSV (9:35:29 PM): Uzuki: I'm sorry did you need something Lt?
diggers316 (9:35:47 PM): [Suki tries a lil Japanese] "Pardon my Uzuki-san, but we have an engineering issue that we feel you might be able to help us with'
CrashCarrie (9:35:54 PM): Sarah laughs, and oofs as she's fallen on, landing on the ground with a *whump*.
diggers316 (9:36:10 PM): [Suki helps Uzuki up]
diggers316 (9:36:17 PM): my = me
VVoltronSV (9:37:53 PM): Uzuki: My apologies for falling on you. What sort of engineering project?
diggers316 (9:37:53 PM): [christ if KOS-MOS shows up I'm gonna freak…]
CrashCarrie (9:38:13 PM): [eh?]
VVoltronSV (9:38:28 PM): [Nope, tempted though I may be, the Steel Angels are the only good androids I intend to add.]
CrashCarrie (9:38:45 PM): Sarah laughs softly and shakes her head. "s'fine."
VVoltronSV (9:39:04 PM): [Xenosaga shout out.]
diggers316 (9:39:10 PM): [Suki, still in Japanese] "There are a few CIWS turrets still aboard the hulk nearby, that we'd like installed on the perimeter of bay 12A. Would you be able to assist us?"
VVoltronSV (9:40:16 PM): Uzuki: Not a problem.
diggers316 (9:40:38 PM): [Suki] Excellent, please le t me know what you need from us.
VVoltronSV (9:42:36 PM): [I'm gonna have to scram sooner than I though, we got 18 minutes.]
diggers316 (9:42:48 PM): kill it here then
CrashCarrie (9:42:52 PM): [aww, okie]
CrashCarrie (9:42:58 PM): [*snug*]
diggers316 (9:43:01 PM): get yerself reasy, take a dump whatever ^_^
diggers316 (9:43:19 PM): sorry carrie, s'man talk here lol
VVoltronSV (9:44:03 PM): Uzuki: what I need from you is mecha operations, sadly we don't have enough EVA maint craft to deal with that sort of job.
CrashCarrie (9:44:23 PM): [*snerk*]
diggers316 (9:44:26 PM): [Suki] We have you covered, we can handle the heavy lifting,
CrashCarrie (9:44:44 PM): Sarah nods quickly at that.
VVoltronSV (9:44:46 PM): [I took my "Getting ready" into my calculations.]
diggers316 (9:44:53 PM): [kk]
diggers316 (9:45:21 PM): [Suki] When are you ready, we can suit up and be ready to go in 5 minutes.
VVoltronSV (9:45:52 PM): Uzuki: Exactly how many gun ports are we bringing over and are we going to need ammo feeds to them?
diggers316 (9:46:27 PM): [Suki] Four, for us specifically, any more would be gravy for the Magellan.
diggers316 (9:46:51 PM): [Suki] And yes, we'd need feeds for them
VVoltronSV (9:47:18 PM): Uzuki: Not energy turrets huh?
diggers316 (9:47:33 PM): [Suki] Well, power feeds…sorry for the miscommunication
VVoltronSV (9:48:19 PM): She proceeds to do data entry on a datapads. Uzuki: We'll have to slave it to some sor of AI system, I don't think we have the manpower to actually man them.
VVoltronSV (9:48:58 PM): Uzuki: I'm sorry. I didn't mean to keep you here. Go ahed and get ready.
diggers316 (9:49:07 PM): [Suki ponders] No ma'am, they'd have to be on automatic, unless Sanchez would give us a gunner crew, but I doubt that.
VVoltronSV (9:49:17 PM): [My spelling is going way down hill.]
diggers316 (9:49:21 PM): [same]
CrashCarrie (9:49:25 PM): Sarah nods quickly and smiles.
diggers316 (9:50:04 PM): [Suki hustles off and gets her CVR-3 on and preflights her mecha and files her and sarahs flight plan (showing Sarah how to do it)
diggers316 (9:50:50 PM): [Figure resistance Invid types dont normally have to go thru the rigmorole of flight plans…hense the 'training']
VVoltronSV (9:51:45 PM): When you return you see 3 Ball type craft near the hangar door preparing to launch.
diggers316 (9:52:02 PM): Oh hush James! just use the SPider bug!
CrashCarrie (9:52:24 PM): Sarah does that as wel, trying to get her CVR on and get to the hovertank again quickly. She rolls her eyes at Suki slightly. "Believe it or not, the resistance had to do quick scrambles often. Having preflight time is a nice luxury." She checks it and gets it next to Suki's plane.
CrashCarrie (9:53:34 PM): [nodnod]
diggers316 (9:53:35 PM): ^_^
VVoltronSV (9:53:50 PM): Uzuki: Ready when you are.
VVoltronSV (9:54:07 PM): [And to make me look even more foolish: That thing is in the Macross book.]
diggers316 (9:54:17 PM): [Suki] Tiger Actual to tower, we are proceeding to hulk according to flight plan.
CrashCarrie (9:54:17 PM): [lol]
diggers316 (9:54:34 PM): [We still love ya James ^_^ ]
CrashCarrie (9:54:41 PM): [*nodnod* ]
VVoltronSV (9:55:03 PM): [I'm checking out, I trust Chris can take it from here?]
diggers316 (9:55:13 PM): [Oh lawdy!]
diggers316 (9:55:23 PM): [Seeya dood, drive safe okay
VVoltronSV (9:55:34 PM): [Yosha.]
diggers316 (9:55:41 PM): [peace out bro
CrashCarrie (9:56:38 PM): [woot!]
diggers316 (9:56:48 PM): i'm a bit tired to runanything, plus since we have ostensibly jumped away from the haydonites based on our intell gathered last hop, it would be a fairly long a tedious operation to remove the mounts and transport them, figure, a good 10 hours in our mecha
diggers316 (9:57:09 PM): but nothing that would need dice rolls
diggers316 (9:57:43 PM): Just picture a musical montage of us uprooting guns, and remounting guns…
CrashCarrie (9:58:08 PM): [aw, okay]
CrashCarrie (9:58:14 PM): [*scritch*]
diggers316 (9:58:30 PM): really, it would be so lame to just roll dice ad infinitum for piloting rolls and such
VVoltronSV (7:43:38 PM): The Tigers are arrive at Melanie's lab, as per her request. She's sitting at a table playing with some holograms of mecha tech-specs. She looks over at the Tigers as they come in.


text:
For a quick cake decorating idea use these edible lady bug cake toppers.
Cute, Fun and Festive. Brighten your Birthday Cake Today.
Here are some fun ways to decorate using these edible ladybugs.
Did you know that:-
The spots on a real ladybug fade as the ladybug gets older.
Check out these fun Ladybug Facts and inspire a Lady bug theme party.
Neil and I have also designed a very cute LadyBug Cake Decoration that's easy to re-create at home.


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In this post I will deal an amazing feature of FLIPHTML5 Advanced Event Editor & Visibility Toggle.
Once you login, click Animation Editor and the new magic environment appears in front of you.
Using the new Advanced Event Editor you can combine different movement and behaviour for each object.
In this case I'm using the Visibility Toggle.
Follow these simple steps and you will get an amazing result:
Select an object then set Advanced Event and click Modify
Select the object to be modified
Select the Action to perform, save and add. Repeating till you are satisfied.
To see the example I created you can visit this link Toggle Visibility Demo
Enjoy your experiments!
Thanks for reading!
Stay tuned, new in-depth post coming soon!
Written by
Angelo Giammarresi


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80's Along!For January, the Unity Craft Along is an 80's Along for Herbology. Check out the thread here. For some ideas, check out Post #2 or how about...
Laurel10 has these awesome socks:
MorganLauren submitted these screaming LegWarmers:
Patronus SwapSignups for the Patronus Swap are going on now. Be sure to stop by and check out all the cool Patronus Images, and to signup too.
Slytherin Weaving StudioIn the Weaving Studio, weaving for an OWL or Broom has been the topic of discussion.
Slytherin Spinning LoungeMeanwhile the Spining Lounge has had lots of lovely yarns.
Joseybug shows off some NEWT spinning:
Starknits had some Detention Spinning and some Art Yarn for Herbology:
And Cattiekins showed off her first Wheel Spin:
Happy Crafting!


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Halfords has commissioned a survey which asked whether the respondents were in favour of number plates for cyclists. A "convincing" 59 percent of respondents were in favour of such a measure, said Halfords, with the retailer claiming the suggestion would "encourage responsible riding."
However, the survey has been criticised by motoring and cycling groups. AA president Edmund King told BikeBiz: "The AA believes that the introduction of number plates for cyclists would be impractical and unnecessary – police already have the powers to stop cyclists."
Cycling UK's head of campaigns and advocacy Duncan Dollimore said: "[The] government has consistently reached the conclusion that such proposals are disproportionate and unnecessary." And British Cycling's policy advisor Chris Boardman said: "No country in the world requires bicycles to be registered because it does not serve the public interest – it would be hugely expensive and drastically cut the number of people who cycle."
The number plate proposal from one of the leading UK retailers of motor-vehicle number plates is included in a press release that has been teased out to the mainstream media over the last couple of days. (The embargo ended one minute ago.) It's possible that the press release will result in some negative coverage for cycling, especially following the recent blanket media coverage given to Matthew Briggs' campaign to incorporate death and serious injury cycling offences into the Road Traffic Act.
The online survey of 2,042 adults was carried out in August by YouGov and has led to the production of "Sharing the Road", a 20-page infographic-heavy report produced for Halfords by its external PR company. The document has a foreword by the retailer's chief customer officer Karen Bellairs, who said "we wanted to examine whether there was a genuine willingness among cyclists and motorists to share the road."
The survey asked whether cyclists should have to take proficiency tests before being allowed to cycle on the public highway, and also asked whether motorists should be required to ride bicycles as part of the driving test. (The answers, respectively, were 50 percent and 18 percent in favour.) Respondents were also asked whether penalties should be increased for cyclists "who don't abide by the Highway Code" and ditto for motorists who "drove aggressively near cyclists." (86 percent and 80 percent respectively.)
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While Halfords may claim that it is not itself advocating for cyclists to be forced to carry number plates, or for sanctions against cyclists to be increased, it's clear that they were the questions put to respondents by YouGov, and provided to them by Z PR of London on behalf of Halfords.
"What our new research makes very clear is that the car is still the nation's favourite means of getting around," said Bellairs, adding that "there is massive support among motorists for better training, more cycle lanes and improved facilities for cyclists." (45 percent of survey respondents said there ought to be "dedicated cycle lanes on all roads".)
Bellairs also claimed that the survey showed, with no evidence provided other than the online questioning, that there was a "genuine willingness" from Britain's motorists to "share the road." She said that this is something that "Halfords, which champions motoring as well as cycling, is very keen to foster."
The Sharing the Road report advises cyclists to "be a peacock" and to "always make sure you're wearing bright clothing when cycling, whether it's a high vis jacket or a high vis vest" but it does not contain similar advice for motorists (Halfords missed a trick here, it could have suggested motorists buy its spray-cans of yellow paint so they can make their cars more conspicuous).
The Halfords press release – which is headlined "Britons back tougher penalities for people who cycle aggressively but drivers and cyclists want to work better together" – states that "65% agree that cyclists should be required to wear reflective clothing, to give them the best chance of being seen."
Required? As in forced? That won't endear the company to many cycling customers.
There was no survey result – or, presumably, any question – about the compulsory wearing of helmets for everyday journeys, either for cyclists or motorists. However, there were questions and answers about cycle servicing. A perhaps surprising 48 percent of those asked said they could mend cycle punctures. And, in what will be news to independent bike shops, 43 percent of Brits can "tighten a loose chain"; 37 percent "know how to adjust their own brakes"; and 31 percent "can clean their gear mechanisms." (Those answers should make one wary of all the others.)
The report goes on to claim that an "overwhelming 93% think it would be beneficial for all education on road safety to be aimed at cyclists and motorists," as if it isn't already.
Responding to the Halfords report, the AA president told BikeBiz:
"Most cyclists are drivers and many drivers are cyclists so we need to live in harmony with each other. Rather than harsher penalties all round, we believe it is preferable to promote better training, infrastructure and positive attitudes."
King said he didn't believe there was a requirement for harsher penalties for law-breaking cyclists:
"There are already penalties in place for cyclists who don't abide by the Highway Code and we believe that targeted enforcement alongside education courses are a more effective way of making our roads safer."
The AA president added that existing laws need to be enforced first.
"We would prefer to see targeted police enforcement through schemes such as Operation Safe Pass whereby the police target dangerous drivers [who pass too closely to cyclists]," said King.
While careful not to criticise Halfords directly (the retailer and Cycling UK partnered for a project earlier this year) Dollimore was critical of the report's timing: "Given the uneven tone of the current debate on cycling, it was perhaps optimistic to expect this survey would be a constructive addition to the discussion."
He added: "We already knew some people instinctively think regulation and testing of cyclists is the answer. Those people frequently fail to appreciate the practicalities of imposing and enforcing regulations on children, the costs involved, or the public health and other implications of putting up further barriers to cycling. Fortunately government has consistently reached the conclusion that such proposals are disproportionate and unnecessary.
"Ultimately, there are opinions expressed in this survey which we agree with, and others we don't, but the truth is this is merely a summary of what people said in response to a series of questions. It's far better, when suggesting a need for change, to assess the arguments for and against, and this is precisely the point we will make to government as it considers its forthcoming cycle safety review."
Boardman said "compulsory proficiency tests and number plates, are quite obviously non-starters and cannot be regarded as a serious contribution to the public debate on road safety."
He added: "The reality is that [British Cycling], and other cycling organisations, already work with groups representing pedestrians and motorists to find ways to make our streets safer for everyone. Indeed Halfords themselves are part of our #ChooseCycling Network of British businesses that strongly believe more cycling is crucial to help business thrive, to encourage people to live healthier lives and to make Britain a greener, less congested and more pleasant place to live."
Boardman – who has an eponymously named brand stocked by Halfords – stressed that "laws should be developed using evidence, focusing proportionately on those with the ability to cause most harm. Around 1,800 people die on British roads annually and more than 99 percent involve collisions with motor vehicles."
The number plate 1D was bought for a record £352,000 at auction yesterday.
Tycoon Nabil Bishara won it in fierce bidding and plans to put it on his wife's Bentley.
His £352,411 offer beats the previous £254,000 best for a DVLA sale, set by 51NGH in 2006. The DVLA's Damian Lawson said after the auction in Claverdon, Warks: We're absolutely over the moon."
Britain's priciest car reg is F1, bought privately for £440,625 in 2008 by Afzal Kahn of Bradford, West Yorks."
On average, the city RTOs earn close to Rs 12-14 crore annual revenue from the sale of special numbers. The number '1' can fetch a maximum of Rs 12 lakh if it is not available in the current running series and is purchased from a future series. A two-wheeler owner can buy the special number for Rs 1.5 lakh. At the Andheri RTO, large TV screens display information on VIP numbers.
The latest statistics show that Pune tops all RTOs when it comes to selling the special registration numbers, while Mumbai comes fifth.
While Pune RTO has sold 30,366 numbers and fetched a revenue of Rs 23.45 crore, this was followed by Nashik RTO where 27,545 VIP numbers were sold to citizens at a cost of Rs 19.59 crore. At Thane, as many as 10,744 special numbers were sold to fetch a revenue of Rs 9.98 crore while Kolhapur sold 10,611numbers for Rs 7.3 crore.
The craze for getting a VIP number began in the northern states," said an official. For example, in Punjab, there have been cases of farmers buying VIP numbers for lakhs of rupees in auction. In 2012, a Chandigarh businessman purchased registration number CH-01-AN-0001 for Rs 17 lakh. The number AK-47 is also popular in Punjab and sold for Rs 3 lakh to Rs 5 lakh almost every year.
On Saturday an Emirati businessman bought the distinctive Dubai car plate number AA10 after posting the winning bid of 3.12 million dirhams during the Roads and Transport Authority's (RTA) 97th 'Open Plates Auction'.
Majid Mustafa, who has been participating in the RTA auctions since 2002, told the UAE-based publication that he will keep the AA10 number plate for his personal use and mount it on one of his numerous cars.
The RTA's year-end auction raised a total of 12.75 million dirhams this time around and saw nine other AA code plates, including 12, 50, 100, 333, 786, 1000, 8888, 11111, and 55555 going under the hammer.
Mustafa also said that he has owned a total of 5,000 special plates, many of which he already traded and gained profitable margins. At a price of 6 million dirhams, the most expensive plate he has ever acquired was I10.
During the auction on Saturday, the second most expensive plate went to Essa Al Habbai who bought AA12 for 2.72 million dirhams.
Another Emirati won the bidding for the third most expensive plate, AA50, priced at 1.84 million dirhams, while a 44-year-old Lebanese expat acquired AA11111 for 1.21 million dirhams.
"I will mount it on my Lamborghini..."
Another Emirati, 32-year-old businessman Jaber Khamis, won the number AA333 after bidding 700,000 dirhams for it.
"The plate (AA333) is really special. I will mount it on my Lamborghini but I might also sell it if I find the right buyer who will offer a really good price," Khamis told Khaleej Times.
At the auction, RTA also unveiled a new design for Dubai number plates. It will feature the Dubai brand logo, and the letters and digits will be printed in black on white background.
In October, RTA already raised 25 million dirhams at the 'Open Plates Auction'.
"The number auctions organized by the RTA are characterized by transparency and enthusiasm. They measure up to the aspirations of customers who seek exclusivity in this regard. Such auctions suffice the needs and aspirations of number plate enthusiasts, and reflect RTA's keenness to realize its third strategic goal of 'People Happiness'," said Ahmed Bahrozyan, CEO of RTA's Licensing Agency at the time.
$30,000 for personalised plates? Tell him he's dreaming.
Gracemere man Chase Ferguson's "for sale" post attracted plenty of attention overnight, but probably not the kind he was after.
Ironically, the $30K price tag he's placed on a set of "no idea" personalised number plates has spurred a thread of witty remarks and memes, but few interested buyers.
"Two standard size prestige plates. NO IDEA. Excellent condition still on vehicle. $30 000 or nearest offer," he posted to the Rockhampton Buy, Swap, Sell Facebook page on Sunday night.
It comes as the Rockhampton was found to have the second-highest number of personalised plates in the state, with 3644 residents pimping their rides.
The region sits next in line to the Sunshine Coast (5598), which trumps the regions of Mackay (3012); Gladstone (1072); Bundaberg (1072); Fraser Coast (766); Warwick (305) and Gympie (602).
While some are saying Chase's asking price is exorbitant, $30,000 is a bargain compared to some sellers who are asking up in the hundreds-of-thousands-of-dollars.
Rodney Gilchrist has taken up "dream" real estate on the personalised plate front, buying up DREAM1, DREAM2, DREAM3, DREAM4, DREAM5 and DREAM6 and re-selling for $300,000.
The number plates have been on the market for about 12 months, as the church pastor patiently waits for a cashed-up fleet manager to buy the plates.
Chase Ferguson has been contacted for comment.
If none of the above appeal to the rev head in you, here are some of the top-dollar plates up for grabs online:
HEART: The most expensive plates in the state, but the seller suggests a heart surgeon may have the $50,000 needed to snap them up.
Since the dvla introduced the bsau145d legislation it has been increasingly difficult for motorists to obtain number plates with anything other than legal spacing.
There is however another line of argument for the defence of the serial mis spacer. They say that a number plate that has been altered to make a word or a name is much more memorable in the event of an incident.
They also argue that the dvla blatantly auction registration numbers that would be virtually worthless without mis spacing.
Recently, Rishi Kapoor bought himself a new set of wheels - a shiny new luxury SUV - and took it out for a spin yesterday. Mumbai Mirror couldn't help but notice the common thing between Kapoor's cars, old and new - the number plate digits of all cars in this Kapoor household total up to '8'.
A source close to the family told the tabloid that the Kapoor trio - Rishi, Neetu and Ranbir - have always considered the number '8' very lucky for the family. When Ranbir purchased his first jeep back in the late 2000s, the number plate was a one digit, '8'. Later, two cars that followed, one a fiery red sports car and another sedan, too featured a single digit plate.
On the other hand, Neetu, whose driven a blue SUV for the last couple of years, also has a number plate that adds up to 8. "It's also because it coincides with Neetu's birthday, July 8, and everyone in the family makes sure that the registration number totals up to it," the source added pointing out that even Ranbir's football jerseys always have the same number.
The Kapoor clan's affinity for numerology comes as no surprise, since it's always been about digits with Bollywood stars. Amitabh Bachchan, whose birthday falls on October 11, considers his lucky number to be 2 and many of his dozen cars feature the single digit on their plate, three of which have been photographed at multiple events.
Similar for Shah Rukh Khan, who has a triple five (555) on all his number plates. Shahid Kapoor also makes sure to flaunt his lucky number 700 on his plates and even added a custom plate to his Harley Davidson, with the three digit figure on it. Saif Ali Khan sticks to the number 7, since his birthday falls on August 16 and Sanjay Dutt always has a 4545 plate.
Also in the News:
HALIFAX—A Nova Scotia man fighting to have his last name — Grabher — reinstated on a licence plate says police have now forced him to remove an inactive Alberta plate from the front of his car.
Lorne Grabher said he received a call from police Monday after a complaint was lodged against the personalized Alberta licence plate he had on the front of his car.
Nova Scotia requires only one valid plate, at the rear, and drivers in the province often place inactive or novelty plates on the front of their vehicles.
Grabher says police told him he would face a stiff penalty for driving with a fraudulent plate if he did not remove the Alberta plate, which had his last name on it in capitalized letters.
The 69-year-old man said he feels he's being unfairly targeted.
"I've been red-flagged," he said from his Dartmouth home, noting the large number of vehicles in the province that have inactive out-of-province plates on the front.
In 1963, numbers were running out once again, and an attempt was made to create a national scheme to alleviate the problem. The three letter, up to three number system was kept, but a letter suffix was added, which changed every year. In this scheme, numbers were drawn from the range AAA 1A to YYY 999A for the first year, then AAA 1B to YYY 999B for the second year, and so on. Some areas did not adopt the year letter for the first two years, sticking to their own schemes, but in 1965 adding the year letter was made compulsory. As well as yielding many more available numbers, it was a handy way for vehicle buyers to know the age of the vehicle immediately. At first the year letter changed on 1 January every year, but car retailers started to notice that buyers would tend to wait until the New Year for the new letter to be issued, so that they could get a newer" car. This led to major peaks and troughs in sales over the year, and to help flatten this out somewhat the industry lobbied
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This new technology harnesses the power of our robotic security solution with new artificial intelligence, making the robot an even greater asset to a security team.
BURLINGAME, Calif. (PRWEB) December 05, 2017
The new technology, developed in conjunction with Robotic Assistance Devices (RAD), the exclusive North American assembly partner for SMP Robotics, provides an organization additional situational awareness and streamlined guarding on-site.
Swarm technology increases the security guard robot's abilities to successfully patrol any given area, and enables a security operations center to coordinate the paths of multiple robots when they travel.
"We listened to our customers and made updates and improvements to the technology to add this feature, and we are excited it is coming to fruition," said Leo Ryzhenko, CEO, SMP Robotics. "This new technology harnesses the power of our robotic security solution with new artificial intelligence, making the robot an even greater asset to a security team."
SMP is working closely with RAD to expand a comprehensive test track of the swarm technology to deploy in the coming months.
About SMP Robotics
SMP Robotics Corporation is a manufacturer of patrolling and video surveillance autonomous mobile robots. Headquartered in California, the company has offices in Europe and Asia. SMP Robotics started to design robots in 2009 and remains a strong player in the space, today SMP Robotics has its own assembly plant, research and development center and holds more than ten patents in the field of mobile robotics. The robots are available through authorized distributors all over the world; the company continues to actively expand its distribution network. For more information, visit: http://smprobotics.com


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Model turned milk maid!
Miranda Kerr was back on the runway in a swimsuit just seven months after giving birth to her son Flynn, but the model mom admits balancing work and motherhood isn't always easy.
"I am breastfeeding and pumping," the 28-year-old Australian native told Sydney's Herald Sun. "When I am at work, I am pumping. I feel like a milk maid, but it is worth it."
Kerr gave birth to Flynn — who weighed in at 9-pounds, 12 ounces — in January. He's the first child for the Victoria's Secret model and hubby Orlando Bloom. The secret behind her quick weight loss? Breastfeeding. "He's a hungry little boy," she told Us Weekly in April.
PHOTOS: Celebs who romance models
Kerr admitted she "didn't realize how challenging it is being a mother and working," but said her main focus is being a mom to Flynn, 7 months, and wife to Bloom, 34. "My priority is to be with [Flynn]," she told Sydney's Herald Sun. "So I am very selective with [the jobs] I do."
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All imagery ©Greta Costello.
Greta is a tertiary qualified professional with an interdisciplinary skill set - she is a trained photographer with a Bachelor of Art Photography and has extensive experience working on assignments around Australia and abroad. She has a Masters of Art History & Theory with honors and a Diploma of Modern Languages.
She has participated in numerous solo and group exhibitions and has conducted photography workshops in Groote Eylandt (NT, Australia) and Warmun (WA, Australia).
Greta combines her skills and knowledge to create imagery which explores identity, place and culture. She is fascinated by the interplay of urban architecture and the natural environment and the way differing environments shape human existence.
Greta is based in Melbourne (Australia). She welcomes commissioned and collaborative projects and the opportunity to exchange diverse forms of knowledge.


text: Arts, Culture & Media Food as fine art PRI's The World November 24, 2010 In the Geo Quiz, we're looking for the Moon City. So where is it? For starters it's not on the moon. Host Marco Werman takes us to a restaurant in the Moon City where owner Andres Jaramillo has taken food and entertainment planning to a fine art.


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Video: Various Lamborghini Huracans Spotted in Italy
Launched at the Geneva Motor Show earlier this year, the brand-new Lamborghini Huracan is an open book by now, with all of the details around it revealed, analyzed and put to good use in comparisons against the Ferrari 458 Italia, its most feared rival.
We've also seen a couple of video reviews featuring Sant'Agata Bolognese's latest machine, but there's one thing bothering us; we have yet to see the Huracan in the flesh. And that's because the supercar has yet to hit the streets, with its very anxious customers having to keep their excitement in check for another few months.
But production and post-assembly testing is well underway in Lamborghini's home town, as revealed by YouTube's Mikesupercars, who has spotted and taped several Huracans moving in and out of the company's offices in Sant'Agata Bolognese. This is the very first time we get to see the Huracan on the move without being featured in a review, and we're more than happy we are able to do so.
Making the footage even better is the fact that it shows the supercar in various colors, including red, orange, white, and black. According to the uploader, who has seen several vehicles on the assembly line, we're about to see loads of red Huracans on the streets later this year. Red has been popular with Lamborghini customers ever since the Countach hit the market, so we're not surprised that customers prefer this specific hue.
As a brief refresher, the Lamborghini Huracan hits the streets with 610 horsepower and 413 pound-feet of torque under its hood. All that power hails from a 5.2-liter, V-10 engine and travels through a seven-speed, dual-clutch transmission.


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Since the passage of Proposition 64 making recreational cannabis legal in California, there has been some confusion among employers as to whether they are required to accommodate an employee's use or possession of the drug.
What should an employer do, for instance, if a new employee tests positive for cannabis? Since use of cannabis for medicinal purposes has been legal since 1996, what if a worker presents a doctor's note for it? Are employees now allowed to smoke, vape or nibble cannabis edibles while at work? What if an accident occurs and an employee subsequently tests positive for cannabis?
The short answer is that employers do not have any obligation to accommodate cannabis use.
Like John Travolta explained in the film "Pulp Fiction," "It's legal, but it ain't a hundred percent legal."
Although legal issues have arisen over the termination of workers for cannabis use, employers are protected by language in the law.
"Prop. 64 does nothing to change an employer's right to drug testing or termination. There is a clause specifically written into the legislation that expressly protects an employer's right to do so. In 2008, Prop. 19 failed because it did not have that clause," said Susan T. Daniel, founder and principal of Employee Relations Consultants, a human resource consulting firm in Santa Rosa, and also instructor of employment law at Empire Law School.
Largent cited a seminal 2008 decision — Ross vs. RagingWire Telecommunications — in which the California Supreme Court dismissed a lawsuit by an employee who had tested positive for marijuana in a pre-employment drug screen. The court ruled that legalized medical marijuana did not create a general right to use it, but the allowance only protected patients from criminal sanctions.
"Under California law, an employer may require pre-employment drug tests and take illegal drug use into consideration in making employment decisions," the ruling said.
"The law in this case immunizes employees from criminal law but doesn't change an employer's drug policy," Largent said.
In 2016, a federal district court in California reaffirmed that an employer, in this case Kohl's department store, maintains the right to discipline employees even where the marijuana use is recommended by a physician: "It does not violate [California's laws against workplace discrimination] to terminate an employee based on their use of marijuana, regardless of why they use it," the ruling said.
A November report from the California Worker's Compensation Institute, a private nonprofit organization of insurers and self-insured employers, also states employers are free to ban the use or possession of marijuana on the job.
Furthermore, federal laws, including the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Family Medical Leave Act also do not protect marijuana use in the workplace.
However, employers who do not have a well-documented cannabis policy could expose themselves to allegations of discrimination.
"I advise clients to modify their policy if necessary to make clear it's illegal, giving employees clear expectations," Daniel said.
Employers should make it clear that marijuana use is included in a restrictive policy.
"It's one thing to have a policy; it's another thing to enforce it," Daniel said. "I tell people, you don't want to have a policy if you're not willing to enforce it. If an employer is going to test for drugs, they should let the employees know they are going to do it. They should also let employees know the effects of marijuana on the body, that it sticks around."
Because cannabis remains in a person's system longer than other drugs, such as alcohol, it makes for a longer positive test result period. Also, impaired performance due to being under the influence of the drug can't be pinpointed by any scientifically proven methodology, making it much harder to prove as the cause of an accident or poor performance.
Thus, proving that cannabis was the cause of an accident in the workplace presents an often insurmountable hurdle for employers. And in California, the burden of proof of intoxication rests solely on the employer.
"Tests for marijuana are very different from other drugs. They're not nearly as precise, and marijuana stays in your system a long time. In this case, the law is ahead of technology and science," said Daniel.
Industries that struggle with the issue include transportation and heavy-equipment operators, Daniel said.
A new report from the American Automobile Association found that fatal road crashes in Washington more than doubled after that state legalized recreational marijuana. The study is particularly relevant as transportation-related accidents are the leading cause of death in work-related accidents in California.
According to the most recent data, California's Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries shows that 119 California workers were killed in on-the-job traffic accidents in 2014, followed by 75 deaths caused by workplace violence.
Those employers are protected by federal Department of Transportation guidelines that prohibit the use of medical marijuana for transportation jobs, even in states where it's legal.
While employers can currently treat marijuana as an illegal drug that need not be accommodated in the workplace, close monitoring of developing case law is critical, Largent said. Court opinions could shift as public policy evolves in favor of cannabis in general.
"There is tension between employers and citizens doing something legal and keeping their job. They have a right to use it, but there is no job protection," she said. "The subject is getting more publicity from groups saying it's unfair, but the only way its going to change is if state law allows for accommodation."
Daniel agrees.
"I think we're going through a period of feeling our way. It's still too new," she said. "We're going to see the evolution of the law down the road."


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Time: I liked the time required for each lesson and assignment. Anything worth doing is going to take a little bit of time. 15 minutes/day for lessons was perfect – it was easy to fit it into the nooks and crannies of my day. Yes, that's right, I took a call in the subway, and another call at a restaurant…and one at work. You can learn anywhere!!
Participation: I loved my group and felt comfortable participating in all of the calls and assignments. Repetition, reading our Aha's and Concepts out load, etc helped me to retain new information easily. We learn by repeating! The cleanses were an excellent assignment.
Education: I LOVE to think outside the box. I have learned so much and I'm excited about it. 99% of the information in TAFYH was brand new for me - and guess what?!? It worked! I was empowered with new knowledge and I improved my health.
I only wished the written lessons included proper references/footnotes. TAFYH quotes important scientific research, which means that the studies, books and reference materials should also be provided. I care about the validity of research. It helps me trust what I'm learning. It helps to legitimize and contextualize the information. I had doubts about the some of the quoted studies because I had no idea where the research was coming from, the methods used, etc. Personal anecdotes are relatable but are they scientifically valid?
It seems like the research and knowledge in T.A.F.Y.H. is bang on – so why not put the proof with the pudding?
Structure: Excellent. The structure helped us to stay on task and within the 15 minute time-frame. It made it easier to stay committed.
Information: I loved getting a lot of new information thrown at me. All of the information was useful and I know I'll be referring back to it all the time. The format of the information made it easy to digest.
Commitment: I loved committing to my health every single day. It meant that little "oppsie" moments no longer mattered. Every day was a chance to start fresh and to re-commit. It was a great skill to practice with a lot of support – I think I will be able to continue this on my own.
Application: I plan to continue to apply TAFYH concepts and habits from now on. I am willing to share my knowledge to help anyone who needs it (and is open to receiving the kind of help I can offer).
Implications: The implications of this program are profound. Before my leader extended the opportunity to participate in TAFYH, I had been exploring what self love means to me. Through TAFYH, I have had the opportunity to explore this question in a tangible way every single day. My attitude toward exercise has also completely changed. I feel amazing about every bit of activity and exercise I do. I have a much more positive outlook on health than I've ever had before. Thank you!
Reaching Others: I've always been passionate about anything I've been involved in. I can't help but to share my experience with others in natural, open, honest conversation.
BSQ's as form of measurement: BSQs are fun. I like to share them with others. I also loved to see my own progress – the numbers getting smaller!!
Comments: This is a beautiful course. I cannot say what a gift it has brought into my health and my life. It has immense value. Thank you.


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What to visit in Sicily? Trapani is the ideal destination! Our quick start guide, will be not only in the city but also among the wonderful natural beauty of the salt marshes. Also valuable advice for adventurers who would like to see the entire province of Trapani.
The Cathedral, dedicated to San Lorenzo, is the main place of worship of Trapani. Dates back to the 18th century and is a work of the architect Giovanni Biagio Amico. You'll notice the façade is in Baroque style, and I encourage you to enter inside to admire a painting by Van Dyck. There are also other works, like "the adoration of the shepherds", of the 1631 Dutch Geronimo Gerardi.
Discover a city also means plunging into its historic center. We recommend a walk maybe tasting a refreshing granita. If you're looking for souvenirs this is the perfect time and we are confident that if you walk along Corso Vittorio Emanuele and Via Garibaldi, you can find the perfect souvenir to take home with you. Between a shop and the other you can also admire several historic buildings such as Palazzo Cavarretta and the Church of purgatory.
The Church of the souls in purgatory, is the place of worship of major tourist attraction. To characterize it are its "20 sculptures", representing the passion of Christ in 20 stages, during the traditional Easter procession. During Holy week in fact, citizens and many visitors crowd the streets of the city, on the occasion of the "procession of the mysteries". For fans of the genre, this event of Trapani is unmissable, folklore and suggestion are the protagonists of the event.
For lovers of photography and amazing sights, Ligny Tower is the perfect place to go. What makes this particular area, is its location. Is located at the western end of the city of Trapani, where you can admire the fascinating encounter between the Tyrrhenian Sea and the Mediterranean Sea. You'll also enjoy a view that extends from Cape San Vito in Erice, where one can see the Egadi Islands and the small islet of Ant. Inside there is the "Museo civico Ligny Tower", which displays artifacts of the seabed of Trapani.
Are you ready for a unique experience? Pack your camera and explore the salt pans of Trapani and Paceco. The salt pans are also a nature reserve, managed by the WWF Italy, since it is home to numerous species of migratory birds. The old salt mining activity, which still practices is the real peculiarity of the place. The old windmills that once were used for the production of salt, make a stunning landscape. If you are a lover of "special effects and natural," we suggest that you wait for the sunset. Keep an eye on the pools of water containing salt slabs because will paint of different colours.
In addition to the beautiful beaches of Trapani, we invite you to visit the nearby places to the city. If you like nature you can't miss the Zingaro at San Vito lo Capo. If you are fascinated by art and architecture Erice and Ab are right for you. Also please note that from Trapani you can reach the beautiful island of Favignana and the charming town of Marsala. What are you waiting for? You just have to go!


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South Bend Personal Injury Lawyers
If you've been hurt in an accident, call the South Bend, Indiana auto accident lawyers at Stewart & Stewart. An experienced South Bend personal injury lawyer from our legal team will stand up to insurance adjustors to ensure you get the money you need to cover medical bills, lost wages, property damage, future costs, and pain and suffering.
Stewart & Stewart is a South Bend personal injury law firm committed to protecting the rights of injured victims throughout Indiana. We are determined to hold careless manufacturers and negligent drivers responsible for their harmful actions and will do what it takes to secure the compensation victims deserve for their injuries.
Even if you feel you aren't the suing type, having a skilled South Bend personal injury lawyer on your side will help your case. Also, your first conversation with us is free with no obligation. Give us a call or fill out a free online consultation form to find out how we can help after your South Bend auto accident or other personal injury.
Our team of South Bend injury lawyers prepares every case as if it will be tried in a court of law. This preparation allows us to get the best possible results for our clients. Our goal is to work hard to get your personal injury claim resolved quickly with the maximum amount of money for you.
To provide the best service, our injury law firm has offices located in Carmel, Indianapolis, and Anderson, and we have successfully advocated for clients throughout Indiana, including Fort Wayne, Gary, Indianapolis, and Greenwood.