text:
Why I Doubt Artificial Intelligence
What is it that truly separates us from the robots?
It's more than just a self-awareness. OK Google has a self-awareness of a certain sort, but it's certainly not a person.
We people (and many animals) have a consciousness, a sentience, a 'qualia,' that even a robot or computer that passed the Turing Test might not. And whether or not artificial intelligence can have this same sentience or life-force is the question many sci-fi films answer in the affirmative. (i.e. Ghost in the Shell, Her, 2001: A Space Odyssey, etc.)
A scene in Steven Spielberg's Artificial Intelligence: AI illustrates the question.
Professor Hobby: Tell me, what is love?
Robot: Love is widening my eyes a little bit... and quickening my breathing a little... and warming my skin... and touching my...
This robot is an example of what is called a "philosophical zombie." The lights are on, but nobody's home. The robot is intelligent, self-aware, and might even self-replicate. But it's not alive – at least not in any of the ways that deeply matter.
Professor Hobby: You see, what I'm suggesting is that love will be the key... by which they acquire a kind of subconscious never before achieved. An inner world of metaphor, intuition, a self-motivated reasoning, of dreams.
In order to figure out if a device made from synthetic material can have this sentience, we have to figure out why creatures made of organic material can have it. And that is what philosophers call the "hard problem of consciousness."
The tidiest conclusion is to deny the problem exists. That way there is no qualitative difference between us and a robot (or a thermostat). Philosopher Daniel Dennett does just that. In both his book Consciousness Explained and his popular TED Talk, he purports that this subjective "qualia" is just an illusion. You don't actually have a self in the way you think you do. The sum of your parts don't add up to something immaterial.
The primary argument Dennett makes against sentience in his book is that "qualia" is difficult to explain and is in many ways ineffable. I don't find that argument convincing. I'm quite a skeptic, but just because you have trouble describing something with our currently knowledge doesn't mean it does not exist. Especially when I am constantly being provided with evidence of its existence! Descartes said it – cogito ergo sum. The fact that I have a subjective, conscious self is, in fact, the only thing I can be truly sure of. It's much more likely that Dennett has made an error in reasoning than it is that I am a philosophical zombie.
Consciousness poses a challenge to the materialistic views that Dennett holds. He is convinced that matter and physical processes are all that exist in the universe. Consciousness doesn't easily fit into that world view, and so denial is more useful than confronting the "hard problem" head on.
But you don't necessarily need to reject materialism to think the problem exists. Dennett's fellow pop atheist Richard Dawkins [2] subscribes to the theory of emergent consciousness. According to this idea, activity patterns in the brain give rise to consciousness. The new thing (consciousness) can be said to emerge from the old, simpler thing (brain activity) in a way analogous to how hurricanes emerge from air temperature activity. But unlike meteorology, the idea of emergent consciousness isn't a scientific one. At least at this point, it's at the level of philosophical possibility. (I recommend Douglas Hofstadter's I Am a Strange Loop for a longer, better exploration of the idea.)
Emergent consciousness is an attractive idea. It makes intuitive sense, and it seems to allow for a materialistic worldview without the need to deny experiential evidence of sentience.
For the sake of argument, let's assume it's true. This model could provide the possibility of artificial intelligence that is conscious. If my brain patterns create consciousness and your brain patterns create consciousness, why couldn't a robot's brain patterns create consciousness?
My first objection is that brains and computers think differently. It's not simply a matter of complexity or processing power or speed. I readily imagine that one day – maybe this century, maybe not – computers or synthetic networks will exist that have more complexity and can think faster than the human brain. I think there's a qualitative difference between us and "them."
What most of us see when we interact with machines is the physical output. Behind the user interface is code, which describes magnetic poles and whether an electric switch is on or off. Scientists have wired computer chips together in ways that resemble neurons, but they're functionally still chips, not brains. Ditto for possible complex quantum computers. Although computers can be programmed to learn natural language and mimic human irrationality, they themselves are rational.
People are capable of thinking through algorithms and a small few of us can process binary, but that's not how we normally exist. We're not on/off. A calculator will display an error message if asked to do something irrational. Human beings are completely capable of believing two contradictory things at the same time – to Mr. Dawkins's constant frustration.
Human existence is rarely rational. It's difficult to even describe it in a rational manner. The most complete way to describe a computer program might be to look at its code.The most complete way to describe a human life might be to see a performance of Shakespeare's works. I'm not trying to be romantic. Our minds are much better at understanding and remembering through fictional stories than through straight facts.
And these stories communicate things we have trouble putting not just into rational sentences, but into any words at all. Computer language has precise, exact terms – a forgotten '>' can wreck havoc on an entire program. Human language is fungible and elastic, with words that evade universal definition and purpose. Although OK Google might learn some of the "rules" of human language, it always has to translate it back into its own binary code of 1s and 0s. My thought, however, is in the same chaos as my words. There's something about consciousness that seems fundamentally ineffable, which may put it forever beyond the access of a mathematical system.
There are many more elemental problems to consider with the possibility of artificial consciousness. Does the type of matter that makes up my brain make a difference? Is emergent consciousness a special property of oxygen, hydrogen and carbon? Does consciousness require a spinal cord? In Ghost in the Shell, the "Puppet Master" appears to achieve sentience without any of those things.
Is it possible that consciousness a special property to Earth-live that can be inherited, but not duplicated? Are there undiscovered physical forces that exist in the brain or body that give rise to consciousness? If so, will these forces be discovered one day or not? Could they be replicated with synthetic material or not?
These are just some of the questions we'd need to answer before building a conscious machine. I don't think it's happening anytime soon. There are some philosophers who think we'll never figure out how conscious works. The is the position of the "New Mysterian" philosophers, including Colin McGinn. New Mysterianism doesn't claim there is necessarily anything supernatural about consciousness. Dennett and Dawkins' fellow anti-theist popularizer Sam Harris endorses this position:
"But couldn't a mature neuroscience nevertheless offer a proper explanation of human consciousness in terms of its underlying brain processes? We have reasons to believe that reductions of this sort are neither possible nor conceptually coherent. Nothing about a brain, studied at any scale (spatial or temporal), even suggests that it might harbor consciousness. Nothing about human behavior, or language, or culture, demonstrates that these products are mediated by subjectivity. We simply know that they are—a fact that we appreciate in ourselves directly and in others by analogy."
Outside of committed materialists, most people across the world assume a mystical basis for consciousness. It is so unlike anything else we observe in the world, it seems supernatural. When we describe consciousness, we find ourselves most readily drawn to speaking in spiritual language – whether from Bronze Age religious texts or New Age YouTube videos. Some philosophers are using words like "pansychism" or "panprotoexperientialism" and invoking "quantum mechanics" and an almost magical term.
In science fiction, the world of film almost can't help itself but use this same language to portray the acquisition of consciousness by robots. Stanley Kubrick showed the evolution of consciousness as something beyond our ability to grasp by giving astronaut David Bowman a mystic vision beyond even that of the medieval saints.
The Kubrick-developed A.I. Artificial Intelligence has a similar structure as 2001, and a similar resolution. In the quest to "become a real boy," David fixates on the Pinocchio story, and believes the Blue Fairy can grant him personhood. David's 2,000-year vigil in front of a wooden carving of her at Coney Island resembles a Marian devotion, while his interaction with the evolved robots once he is thawed from the ice brings us back into science fiction. The future synthetic creatures he meets are, like David, longing to bridge the gap between themselves and humanity. What they're missing is a soul. Engineering and science aren't enough; Kubrick & Spielberg had to add an ineffable element. They found the answer in David's unconditional love for his mother. Experiencing love, as Professor Hobby explained, is the difference-maker between "real boys" and robots.
Whether we visual it as tapping into a global consciousness, or being endowed with a soul by a creator, a robot's awakening from machinehood to personhood is a gap to be bridged. I'm sympathetic to the New Mysterians on this one. We, as a species, can't even describe the experience of consciousness fully or clearly. I doubt we ever will. And we can't translate poetry or religion into computer code – at least not without losing what gives it fire.


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subset: commoncrawl


text: The game is almost the same as Fatal Fury 2, but it retains the special gauges from the Real Bout Fatal Fury series and introduces a new system called "Tactical Offense Position" (T.O.P.) which is a special area on the life gauge. When the gauge reaches this area, the character enters the T.O.P. mode, granting the player character the ability to use T.O.P. attack, gradual life recovery, or increased attack damage.


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Reflecting on the passing of another year, I can certify but one thing: I'm getting older. This realization didn't come through securing a job with benefits or the death of a loved one. I'm still not married and I have no children. See, I'm talking about getting old because I'm suddenly turning into a different surfer.
It began a while back when I started noticing the infestation of entitled little groms wearing the now-typical brightly colored wetsuits and riding boards plastered with so many stickers that plain white foam couldn't be seen. I get it, brands are willing to set kids up with the hope that if by some miracle they become professionals, they'll remain loyal to said company for the price of a few stickers and maybe a hoodie. This, in turn, will bring that company plenty of advertising and more money in the endgame. The problem, however, lies in the real world outcome of dozens of little monsters with humungoid egos dropping in on people (often at the urging and/or approval of their parents), totally oblivious to the reality of true stoke.
I fought this battle for a long time. I tried to show the youth the right way to ride a short board: with power and speed, deep in the pocket, top to bottom, put her on a rail in a critical, borderline unreasonable spot on the wave powering through to the shoulder. Unfortunately, despite all efforts, they never could grasp the concept of respect. I would let them go if they were deeper to show them first hand the practice of proper etiquette. I was mistaken, however, in thinking they would have taken notice, often being burned by the same kid I'd just given a wave to. I've gotten into it with some of the aforementioned parents, and with the exception of a few responsible fathers, haven't seen very many people paddle over to teach their kids the right way to act.
God save these children. They're coddling and hours of studying footage of themselves surfing may never learn the true and pure joy behind why so many of us surf.
Aside from those poor, misled souls, there are "the others." These "others" are the ones the surf industry both loves, and loves to hate. They are the ones with a decent amount of disposable income, but not as much disposable time. They buy new boards and top of the line wetsuits, the target consumer for each new product the surf industry wants you to desire.
These folks, who are often seen carrying the coolest boards down the beach, have little clue that no matter how amazing the acid wash is on that 5'8" single fin or quad, it would be hard for anyone to ride their board in knee to waist high onshore point surf. And perhaps it shouldn't be the board they start learning to surf on. It's a glancing thought, though, because even though surfing it is nearly impossible, it looks great on the wall at home; it's a sweet conversation piece at parties. Plus, girls like it.
All this is well and good except for when they get in the water on a decent day. Sure enough – just like those little guys – it's time to forget all the rules. It's true that some may not even know the rules to start with, but it doesn't take long to learn not to burn people. Snake me once, shame on you. Snake me twice, shame on you again and now you're just being plain old inconsiderate and starting to ruin my session…dick. It breaks my heart to see those beautiful singles and quads going straight, rather than being put through the paces they were designed to be run through. Beachbreaks that I was legitimately afraid to surf at – places where a friend of mine pulled someone's eye out of its socket once because the guy was holding his head underwater on the inside – are now flooded with this new breed of hyper-equipt goon.
Just like the kids, the beginner goon has a formidable ego as well. This ego comes from all that fancy equipment they buy. They work hard for their money, and if they're gonna spend a grand on a board and four-hundie on a wetsuit, you'd better believe they're the best surfer out there (unless of course someone else got the same suit with the attachable hood, or has a more expensive set of fins). The truly hilarious part, my friends, and cohorts, is that they truly believe they're really, really good. They might even practice their stink-eye faces in the mirror at home for all I know.
I just want to enjoy my surf. Lord Almighty, am I the only one?! I feel like I'm being flanked on all sides by the enemy with nothing left to do but lash out at those around me. So after years of watching these people flood the lineup, there was only one place left to turn. It was a place where the commercially-sterilized and spiritually-oblivious of all ages haven't penetrated. A place hard to market because of its simplicity. The realm of the logger.
That's right, in my desire to hold on to the deep-seeded stoke of my own childhood, I turned to a little cove near my house, where I knew I'd find longboarders. I'd surfed here with them a few times, always as a last resort, and had always had fun. I decided to join them one day after I showed up to one of the better beachbreaks in my area and counted 64 people crowded into an area not much bigger than an Olympic-sized pool. The surf was good but it wasn't cranking. There were no cleanup sets to keep people at bay. Nobody seemed to be thinking twice about taking off on the wave of their choice. Nobody seemed to care if they were roasting someone and blowing their own drop simultaneously. And to top it off, nobody was dishing out the necessary discipline for taming such situations. I would go longboard today.
I grabbed my longboard that day.
I went home and swapped out my thruster for a 9'9" Becker I had bought about 10 years ago. This board had previously been reserved for long flat spells. I paddled out and got a couple head high waves. Surfing a longboard in bigger surf is quite a unique experience, even if you're comfortable with one in the small stuff. I still got dropped in on, but the most miraculous thing happened after each occurrence: I received an apology. Short, concise, to the point: "Sorry about that, I didn't think you'd make the section." That's all it takes! You don't even have to really mean it, just spit it out. Even the smallest showing of contrition wipes clean the sour taste of a ruined wave. I couldn't believe it! "Noooo worries brotha!"
I was smiling; getting long rides now, top to bottom. I had forgotten I even still knew how to play on the nose, but cheater 5's were coming through my toes with an upbeat fluidity. The sea's surface sparkled, the birds whooshed by, eel grass brushed my skin, pelicans dove and cormorants guzzled fish while a pod of dolphins breached playfully on the outside. I did the rock dance getting out, put my board on the beach and was so happy that I went back into the intertidal zone to put my fingers in some sea anemones. That day was nearly two years ago now.
Through the remainder of that year, I slowly shuffled longboarding into my routine. It had changed everything for me. I knew there was still plenty of stoke out there in the big blue somewhere, and it was much easier to tap into if I had a little more foam beneath me.
I still turned to my shortboard when the surf was cranking, but rather than go to the best waves, trying to dominate the pack, I began to seek out empty waves. I learned that the open space in the water allowed me to breathe easier. I learned that there were often just as many makeable waves at a "closed-out" beach break as there were at a go-to spot. If you took into consideration not having to dodge crowds or deal with getting burned on your best waves these facts became apparent I liked the thrill of surfing alone, pulling in alone, making tubes alone, and even, yes, getting hurt alone. My self-imposed exile from crowds thick with egos was making me physically stronger, smarter about my wave selection, and more capable of making it to the shoulder in challenging surf.
I found myself riding a longboard more often. I hunted a few other logs off craigslist and off the used board racks of local shops, adding a 10'3" Comstock, a 9' Vector Vehicles and a 10'3" William-Dennis from some mid 70's shaping experiment to the crew.
The liberal application of longboarding into my life and the positive impact it had manifested itself the other day while I was surfing the cove. I was on the Comstock, and it was only about waist high. I had found a little gap in the crowd where I was sitting, waiting for one to sneak through to me. Then, it happened. I kid you not, someone paddled out and stopped, sitting up on their fun-board so close to me that we could've whispered to each other and held a conversation. I've sat on couches with people and been further away. My first reaction was to give the meanest of the mean-mugs, letting this guy know that he needed to keep moving…but that would've been my conditioning, not my consciousness, in action. All of this ran through my head in 1/100th of a second, while I stared off the side of my board, down through the translucent green water, in disbelief. Then, for some reason I can only explain as being the final internal shift towards positivity I was to make on this journey in the quest for stoke, I smiled. I smiled and I looked at the goon! I looked him square in the eye and cheerily let rip a zealous "Hey there." I didn't raise my voice, the guy still being so close, but there was happiness in my words. We made small talk, both bitching about how cold the water was and commenting on how cool it was that there were so many birds out and about. He paddled for a wave, and without even looking to see if he caught it, I was booking it, satisfied with the positive interaction but not willing to let it continue into any sort of friendship. It's like being in a zombie movie: You can play nice with people, but you might have to compete with them for a dire, life-saving resource sooner or later.
Still, I'm a happier surfer now than I have ever been before. I'm still learning how to flow through this emotional shift, but I've made the definitive move to not be upset in the water anymore. Every surf will stoke me out from now on. Every time I even think about surfing now gets me as excited as it did when I was waiting for a ride to the beach as a kid. Back before cell phones, when a call to the house confirming my friends were on the way sent me sitting on the front lawn with my board and wetsuit in giddy anticipation. The smell of wax has regained its magical appeal, the beckoning scent of a good time in the immediate future.
I guess in the end, I didn't become a new surfer, I just remembered what surfing was all about. I've re-discovered my original stoke. There's no need to take surfing seriously, or to take yourself seriously as a surfer. We're trapped in the world of money, cars, jobs, bills, and ego on the daily already. Don't bring all that shit into the water. If you want to surf for money, good for you, but don't ruin my time out there. If you're new to the sport, may I be the first to say "Welcome! It's a great time, and we hope you enjoy." That's honest, by the way. Surfing could have saved the world if it had evolved properly. Now it's in the Olympics, though, and competition will be forever ingrained in what should be a spiritual practice. It's performance art, in reality; a dance with nature in the most literal form. The silver lining is that it's still there, for those who seek it. There's no need for bad attitudes in the water no matter who you are. Just have fun.


text:
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text:
Local business shows support for Whalley farmers' market
A popular Farmers' Market and Craft Fair in the heart of East Lancashire has been given a boost by one of its regular customers.
Andrew Turner, owner of estate agency Pendle Hill Properties, has sponsored new advertising banners promoting Whalley Farmers' Market and Craft Fair around the area.
Held on the third Sunday of each month, the market sees the centre of historic town Whalley filled with stalls from 10am to 2pm, each selling some of the area's finest locally produced foods and ingredients.
Around 20 stalls on the car park of the Whalley Arms offer a variety of produce including meat and game, cheese, pate, jams and preserves, artisan bread, Asian snacks, meringues and even plants.
And in the adjacent Village Hall around 15 craft businesses gather selling their lovingly made goods from woodturned products, knitted clothing and homewares, and greetings cards.
Andrew Turner, who founded Pendle Hill Properties in Read in 2008, said:
"Whalley Farmers' Market is a busy local market in a thriving small town that brings shoppers into the centre on the third Sunday of the month. It's practically on our doorstep and we're pleased to sponsor these banners to help spread the word about this great market."
Whalley Farmers' Market was founded early last year by local food producers Paul Yates of Que Fresco and Derek Jones of Heritage Kitchen Preserves.
Derek Jones said:
"Whalley market and craft fair gets tremendous support from local Lancashire producers and the Whalley village community. We are delighted with the new banners provided by Pendle Hill Properties which we hope will bring more visitors to Whalley on every third Sunday in the month."
The next Whalley Farmers' Market takes place on Sunday 19 June. For more information, visit the market's Facebook page – search for Whalley Farmers Market & Craft Fair.
More information about estate agency Pendle Hill Properties is available at www.pendlehillproperties.co.uk.


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Vevo relaunches with closer Facebook ties
Vevo, the music video company, has relaunched the popular site with a more personalized, social, long-play viewing experience getting closer and further away from that MTV experience at the same time.
One of the big changes is that you can now only get the full benefits of Vevo with a Facebook login in, which allows you to create a personalized Facebook playlist and share the videos you've watched with your friends on Facebook.
Vevo was the second most watched online video service in the U.S. in January with more than 51.5 million unique visitors watching an average of 62 minutes of video that month according to comScore. It is also YouTube's number 1 partner.
A reminder that Vevo is owned by Universal Music Group, Sony Music Group and the Abu Dhabi Media Company, It also features music videos from EMI and many independent labels but not Warner Music Group, the third largest label owner.
Vevo's changes are going down similar routes as many other ambitious online services which believe they need to have a significant social presence to grow and keep users involved sharing detailed traffic data voluntarily and adding value for advertisers and other partners.
In some senses you could argue there are 'no surprises' from the MTV of the early 21st Century.
Here's Vevo executive Michael Cerda talking through the changes on Vevo's blog:
Before I joined VEVO, I wrote CEO Rio Caraeff a long email. While I was trying to impress him, I was also trying to impress upon him the opportunity VEVO has to synthesize the emotional connection between music videos and fans. I wanted to transport the magical feeling I had as a kid when I started watching music videos, applying it to today's connected digital world. Rio and I talked about migrating VEVO from a website to an experience. What if we could usher fans to their seats so they could enjoy a personalized show? What if we made it interactive with friends? And what if we enhanced the show with cool contextual content along the way? If we could find a way to do all this, we would achieve an unprecedented music video experience.
Fast forward six months and I am pleased to say today we have realized that vision. The new VEVO is a personalized, social, long-play viewing experience. Now when you log in to VEVO using Facebook, we scan your day-to-day Facebook activity to create a personalized "Facebook playlist." For example, if you've "liked" an artist or shared music previously, we'll add that artist's videos to your Facebook playlist. In addition, VEVO's iTunes Match scans your iTunes library and creates a playlist of music videos that match the artists you love. Of course, you can also simply search for a video, watch it and we'll create a long-play viewing experience based on what you've selected! Our friends at The Echo Nest are helping us bring even better video recommendations to you than ever before, enhancing VEVO's music discovery. You'll also notice the new VEVO player is bigger, the quality is better, the videos not only play faster but they also play continuously.
As for those contextual changes I mentioned earlier, be sure to check out the lyrics of the videos you're watching, browse the latest music news headlines or read up on your favorite artist's bios without ever having to click away from the video experience.
As I have been writing for the past hour, the new VEVO has been playing continuously on my computer. During that time, I've discovered Rooney, a band I've only previously heard of but now fallen in love with. I've shared Rooney with my 500 Facebook friends, and when I get home later, I'm going to turn my 13-year old son onto it by using Airplay to stream from my iPhone to my TV. I love when a product experience strikes an emotional chord, and spans many modes and contexts of daily life.
The new VEVO isn't done; it's only the beginning. In fact the best product experiences are never done. They live, breathe and get better over time. I'm looking forward to your feedback along the way. So check out the new VEVO at VEVO.com, on iPhone (iPad is coming soon), Android, Facebook and our brand new Xbox app, which is presented by American Express (US only). Wherever you are, VEVO is at your fingertips.
By the way, while you're browsing and watching VEVO.com and VEVO mobile, you'll notice we've partnered with Disney and their new film, John Carter (US only). They love what we're doing and wanted to be a part of VEVO's future. We're also excited really for the movie's release. Got to love it.
Michael Cerda
We welcome comments that advance the story through relevant opinion, anecdotes, links and data. If you see a comment that you believe is irrelevant or inappropriate, you can flag it to our editors by using the report abuse links. Views expressed in the comments do not represent those of Reuters. For more information on our comment policy, see http://blogs.reuters.com/fulldisclosure/2010/09/27/toward-a-more-thoughtful-conversation-on-stories/


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Official Forums for a Wunderwood 2D chatland.
Welcome to the guild Fuerim's website! Here you will find information, helpful topics, hangouts and more!
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Free forum : When the slayers were activated, the balance between the sexes was tipped
A Balance Private Ran Online Server


text:
Mega Man 10 Weapons, Release Dates Revealed, Screens and Art/
We have quite a bit of new info for Mega Man 10 today, with the announcement of the game's weapons and release dates. For starters, the release dates, which seem pretty staggered throughout March. The Wii version will release right away on the 1st, the PS3 version on the 11th, and the 360 version not until the 31st. Now for the weapons, I'll just let Capcom's PR e-mail handle those:
After launching the Commando Bomb, press up or down on the + Control Pad to make it turn at a 90 degree angle. The blast spreads horizontally (or vertically) and follows the contours of the landscape. This can be used to break through certain walls to get hidden items!
Press the Attack Button once to attach the Wheel Cutter to your arm, and press the Attack Button again to launch it (it follows the contours of the landscape). You can launch it 3 times and it's effective to attack enemies at a distance. You can attach the Wheel Cutter to your arm and dart at enemies!
You can fire tri-directional blades and attack multiple enemies at one time. There are two patterns: surface-to-air on the ground, and air-to-surface in mid-jump.
You can launch a thunder cloud that slowly rises and a lighting bolt shoots straight down from the cloud.
Solar Blaze
Splits apart and launches firebombs (left and right) after a set period of time. Effective when you are pinned between two enemies.
Launch a freezing liquid which flies in a parabolic trajectory. An enemy hit by the freezing liquid will freeze and become unable to move.
You can throw a rubber super ball straight and diagonally up or down. As it gets faster and stronger with each successive bound, you can build up power and hit the target to inflict maximum damage!
A rotating shield of water surrounds Mega Man. Pressing the Attack Button once more deactivates the water shield and hurls high-speed drops of water that spiral outward.
Additionally, there is info on challenges and easy mode:
Brand new "Mega Man Challenges" mode is back!
The "Mega Man Challenges" mode from MM9 has been upgraded! The Mega Man Challenges allows you to practice in stages by clearing various challenges and gives novice players a chance to master the basic controls before attempting the main story mode!Whether you are a novice or an expert, you can brush-up on your game and polish it to perfection!
Comparison between Easy Mode and Normal Mode!
Easy Mode is featured for people who gave up on MM9 or have not played an action game for a long time. In addition, this would be a perfect mode for people who aren't used to traditional Mega Man difficulty and need a little assistance.
[gallery link="file" orderby="title"]


text: A retired principal broker of Krueckeberg Auction & Realty, Dan has a varied resume in the business. Dan has been in the auction business since 1975. He co-owned Schnitz Auction Services for 25 years, served as an instructor at Reppert's Auction School for two decades, served as Chairman of District in 1994 and was a state director for 4 years. Dan has also been a member of the Indiana Auctioneer Association since 1981. Dan's experience is unparalleled – give him a call and learn how Krueckeberg Auction and Realty can help you.


text:
Ms. Bruins
3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th firstname.lastname@example.com
Ms. Bruins has been a teacher for over 20 years. Initially, she attended California State University of Los Angeles to pursue a degree in Criminal Justice, but somehow, she found herself standing in front of a classroom. We are fortunate she became an educator! She became a teacher because she discovered that she enjoys helping children learn. Ms. Bruins, like most passionate teachers, enjoys knowing that she can make a difference in a child's life. Ms. Bruins teaches 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th grade class at our school. One of her goals is to continue to provide a positive learning environment where all students can dream and reach their goals.
Some fun facts about Ms. Bruins:
- Ms. Bruins' favorite subject in school was math
- Her number one travel destination is to visit London, England
- When it comes the kids in the classroom, Ms. Bruins loves to work one-on-one with her students
- She loves to read books, especially mystery books and thrillers


text:
Leading provider of learning and continuous professional
Get in touch 01292 886664
For more
information click here to submit an enquiry or call us on
01292 886664
Find out more about
funding in Scotland and check your eligibility.
JB Management offers an extensive range of VRQs in Management to
choose from. These qualifications are tailored to
organisational and learner needs.
Each VRQ is made up of a set number of credit based units.
The units cover a wide range of leadership and management skills
and knowledge suitable for every level of learner from aspiring
team leader to the highest levels of senior management.
Selected units can be combined to develop a full qualification, or
learning can focus on a particular skills gap or training
Qualifications come in three sizes: Award, Certificate and
Diploma. At every level, each has the same level of difficulty but
they differ in the breadth of knowledge they recognise.
Each unit of a qualification has a recommended number of guided
learning hours, and these can be in the form of training room
lessons, group discussions, supervised practice or tutorials
- or online.


text:
Following the debut of the Champions of Fire Invitational last November, Amazon App Store is back with a new competitive mobile competition called the Mobile Masters Invitational (M2). Scheduled to take place over two days on June 23 – 24 at the Prudential Center in New York and August 18 – 20 at the LA Convention Center in Los Angeles, the live competition will feature top players and teams from leading mobile game Vainglory, Hearthstone, and Summoners War. The competition will be taking place in conjunction with the world's largest Korean pop culture festival KCON.
According to Marja Koopmans, director of mobile esports at Amazon: "We believe in the universal appeal of competition to all mobile gamers. We are investing in new events and experiences that mobile gamers across all kinds of games can enjoy. Events like Mobile Masters are a way to help players show off their skills and find out who is the best at their game. In addition, our tournaments uniquely enable game developers to bring in new audiences to their game while deepening the relationship with existing players."
The event is set to feature some of the biggest names from the 3 mobile titles. The Vainglory tournament will pit world champion Invincible Armada against top North American teams Tempo Storm, Tribe Gaming, Gankstars, NRG, and Cloud 9 in a "Run the Gauntlet" tournament format. Meanwhile, the Hearthstone tournament will feature a number of popular streamers and pro players including William "Amnesia_sc" Barton and Johnnie "Ratsmah" Lee. Finally, Summoners War will feature popular streamers Rinriona, ShreddedPuzzle, and Koopatroopa787.
Fans can watch the Mobile Masters tournament live by attending KCON in NY or LA, or catch the livestream on Twitch. More details on tickets to KCON can be found at www.kconusa.com.


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@Averbis released multiple @ApacheUIMA type systems as open source covering general and domain-specific #NLProc use cases. https://t.co/bA0ElDu3Ix
Today we'll run our first #OpenSpace / #Barcamp at @Averbis. Theme: Living our company #values inside the team. The goal is to strengthen the company #culture an to #learn from each other. This is the 1st time I facilitate such an event, so I'm pretty #excited! 🤪 ☀ 🐝🦄 🐬 🦋2
As a partner of the BMBF-funded consortium SMITH, Averbis is pleased to invite you to the congress "New Horizons in Digital Health"! The congress offers a platform for the dynamic exchange between medical informatics and health care. Free registration: https://t.co/yZiWUrdQ9d
Another publication of my colleague @stschulz et al: On beyond Gruber: "Ontologies" in today's biomedical informa... https://t.co/9xbe63uV6o
New publication by our colleague @stschulz: Quantitative analysis of manual annotation of clinical text samples https://t.co/iyjlngN00A


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Ground Work
Mature, as in grown up, works of art catch my eye too, I'm not always lured in by playful colors and characters. Take for example the soft and imaginative work of D. Ray. This artist holds a BFA in Illustration and with work featured in CMYK Magazine, it's exciting to discover her Etsy store Ground Work and to learn that some of her originals are priced under $75 (such thoughtful and beautiful gifts).
Ground Work clearly has talent, her color and composition being both serene and comforting yet striking and mesmerizing. Her focus: the natural world around her. Exploring what's out there and translating what she sees into soft sensitive forms, combined with a keen eye for color, resulting in delightful works of art. She has a definite style, and though no two paintings are alike, you certainly could group a collection of things on a single wall and create such a diversified focal point as displayed in the image above.
Stunning, mature, fresh, fluid, beautiful.
(images from ground work)


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03.05.15 CMS GlobalSoft announces the launch of CMS Carrier Connector.
Lorton, VA | CMS GlobalSoft, Inc. announced the launch of the CMS Carrier Connector. CMS Carrier Connector is a state-of-the-are certification engine tool, specifically designed for developers wishing to link an existing application to one or more shipping carrier APIs.
To register for a live webinar, "Introducing the CMS Carrier Connector", click here.
About CMS GlobalSoft, Inc.
Headquartered in Virginia, CMS GlobalSoft Inc., was founded in 1988 as a company supporting high-end shipping applications. CMS' extensive industry knowledge, seasoned technical expertise and passion for customer focus have resulted in strong and progressive growth in recent years and earned the company its reputation as an industry leader in transportation logistics.


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NEOCH introduces another Housing 101 workshop for social service providers in the community. This new workshop will be Friday June 13 at 10 a.m. at NEOCH. We will only have space for 40 people to attend, so you will have to get your reservation in quickly. We have a flyer and a webpage dedicated to the Housing 101 here. The workshop will give housing case managers information about HousingCleveland.org, and the new process for getting shelter in Cuyahoga County. There is a presentation about landlord tenant issues from the Cleveland Tenants Organization and one from staff from the Dept. of Veteran's Affairs regarding housing and homeless issues for those who served their country. Finally, we are glad to report that the Housing Center will participate again to give an overview of the Fair Housing Act and how a person searching for housing can protect their rights.
The ADAMHS board offers 3 CEUs for social workers. If you need the CEUs the workshop costs $15 and if you do not it is $10. You get a pretty nice packet of information and light refreshments as part of the workshop. Send in your payment today to reserve your spot.
Brian Davis
Posts reflect the opinion of those who sign the entry.


text:
Advances in the field of orthodontics provide you with more options to straighten your teeth than ever before. While traditional metal braces remain a popular treatment method, they aren't right for everyone. If you prefer a more discreet option that won't require you to spend a year or two with...Read More
Dentistry Blog
Serving Patients from Boston, Braintree, Weymouth, Quincy & Nearby Areas of Massachusetts
The Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies is one of North America's most prestigious centers of post-graduate dental training. There, dentists from across the country converge to learn new techniques, familiarize themselves with new technology and hone their skill sets in a variety of...Read More
The primary appeal of the dental implants the experienced South Shore dentists at Pinnacle Dental Aesthetics provide is that they stave off the serious health issues associated with losing teeth. By replacing your missing tooth with a strong, sturdy dental implant, implant dentistry can prevent...Read More
Braintree-area residents considering dental implants often have a lot of questions. One of the most popular is, "Why should I get dental implants instead of dentures?"
This is an understandable question. After all, many people have seen their parents or grandparents wear dentures. While...Read More
Because temporomandibular joint disorder, also known as TMJ/TMD, and its associated headaches are caused by bite and jaw alignment issues, the experienced neuromuscular dentists at Pinnacle Dental Aesthetics will strive to correct the underlying alignment concerns with our South Shore patients...Read More
Temporomandibular joint disorder is a serious condition affecting many of our patients in the Braintree area. If you're suffering from the telltale TMJ migraine-like headaches, you should speak to the experienced neuromuscular dentists at Pinnacle Dental Aesthetics about addressing your...Read More
The South Shore cosmetic dentists at Pinnacle Dental Aesthetics have years of experience solving dental problems, but we've seen too many smiles ruined by poor dental hygiene.
Dentistry is, in many ways, a complicated field, but it's also a fairly simple one. The best thing you can do to...Read More
You understand how important it is to find the cosmetic dentist who is right for you. This is the person who is going to help you achieve your aesthetic objectives and smile with the confidence that comes from knowing your teeth look great.
Choosing a cosmetic dentist isn't easy, as there...Read More
At Pinnacle Dental Aesthetics, we believe strongly that the cosmetic dentistry our Boston-area patients receive should not involve mercury fillings. That's why we offer porcelain inlays and onlays.
These inlays and onlays are essentially porcelain fillings that replace damaged elements of...Read More
The Boston cosmetic dentists at Pinnacle Dental Aesthetics often recommend dental implants for patients who have lost teeth. Replacing missing teeth is vital, as it allows you to prevent the series of significant complications that arise from lost teeth.
The dental implant procedure is...Read More


text:
Online Conference Replay
WHAT: Online Conference with an extended Q&A Session
WHEN: Saturday 16th March 2013 (concluded)
This event is an online conference discussing Sihr (black magic), Jinn possession (al mas) and Ayn (evil eye) – it's causes, prevention and treatment.
Apologies for the 'hold music'!
LISTEN ONLY + Download the Audio in MP3 format below
(To download the file, right-click on the 'Download' link and choose 'Save Target As…')


text:
Posts Tagged 'Gilad Atzmon'
The Racist, Gilad Atzmon And Zero Books.
Apparently, the racist Gilad Atzmon is about to have some of his disgusting ramblings published.
The publishers, Zero Books, are a small, relatively new enterprise started in 2009, not to be confused with Zero Press.
Atzmon's work is very popular on the Far Right, so I had assumed that only active Jew haters would take the time and trouble to publish his filth, but that's not the case.
Zero Books publish a strange mixture of Paganism, New Ageism and Christianity, with political material as a topping.
This is what they say about themselves, replete with elementary spelling mistakes.
It is not terribly clear who's behind it, but if you're interested in healing properties of stones and other such nonsense then Crystal Prescriptions will surely be of interest!
But back to the rational world.
Concerning this issue, there is a kerfuffle on various blogs as to why a publisher of Leftwing authors (and I use the term loosely) should be publishing a racist like Gilad Atzmon.
Many of these posts raise interesting questions, but as far as I can see they fail to analyse with any precision why this situation came about.
What would compel otherwise highly intelligent people (book publishers, etc) to print propaganda for a racist?
Could it be that they conceivably agree with his views? That they share some of his prejudices? And if so, why?
And whilst those questions are answered, it would be nice if these issues could be addressed:
Why, latterly, has anti-Jewish racism become so acceptable in Western societies?
What brought this terrible state of affairs about?
There needs to be clear analysis as to why the publishing of the racist Gilad Atzmon came about, not just the details of events, but a broader commentary is needed on why his views are deemed fit for publishing by the intelligentsia and what does that tell us about anti-Jewish sentiment in society?
Gilad Atzmon And The US Boat To Gaza.
Thanks to Rebecca for keeping me up to date on events in the US surrounding the racist, Gilad Atzmon, as she comments:
"I just got another email update from the US Boat to Gaza folks – advertising Gilad Atzmon's benefit concert tonight in Oakland. As far as I'm concerned, this means it's no mistake that he's doing this benefit – he's working with them, and they don't care about his reputation as an antisemite. See my blog today: http://mystical-politics.blogspot.com/2011/05/us-boat-to-gaza-and-gilad-atzmon.html "
Searching around I can see that they are advertising the event via their Twitter feed.
It is also on their events page.
It is a pity that this organisation is connected to the racist Gilad Atzmon. Read more at Mystical Politics.
Update 1: Adam Holland has more, and as far as I can see Atzmon might be working with the well-known Holocaust denier, Michael Santomauro:
"Gilad Atzmon is using a notorious Holocaust denial website to advertise a speech and performance he is giving tonight at a Methodist church in Oakland, CA. (Read here.) The website, which is maintained by Michael Santomauro, publishes articles propounding what Santomauro euphemistically refers to as "historical revisionism" concerning Naziism and the Holocaust, as well as anti-Semitic and anti-Zionist articles, and promotional material for books with the same themes. A notice on the website indicates that Atzmon himself sent the promotional notice to the Santomauro website for publication there.
Santomauro has worked as an advance man for David Irving's New York appearances, sometimes under the pseudonym "Michael Singer", under which name he has booked venues for Irving to promote his books. (Read here.) Emails between Irving and Santomauro planning a speaking engagement were copied from Irving's website by hackers and leaked to Wikileaks. (I wrote about that here. The hacked emails are online here. A prior post mentioning Santomauro's link to Irving is available here.) "
Gilad Atzmon And The Signatories.
Rebecca Lesses has a good post on the recent activities of the racist, Gilad Atzmon. I liked this part:
"Signatories of this statement follow below. I think that they should be held responsible for working with Atzmon, who is a notorious antisemite who has been rejected even by other British anti-Zionists like Tony Greenstein and Sue Blackwell.
Nic Abramson, Middle East Crisis Response
Elliott Adams, Past President, Veterans For Peace
Ujju Aggarwal
Laurie Arbeiter, Activist Response Team
Anna Baltzer, Human Rights Activist and Author
Russell Banks, Writer
Kahlil Bendib, Political Cartoonist
Medea Benjamin, Co-founder CODEPINK
Phyllis Bennis, Institute for Policy Studies
Elaine Brower
Naomi Brussel, Activist Response Team
Allan Buchman, Founder and Artistic Director, The Culture Project
Leslie Cagan, Co-Founder United for Peace and Justice
Henry Chalfant, Film Maker
Kathleen Chalfant, New York
Cindy Corrie
Craig Corrie
Ellen Davidson, Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions-USA
Angela Y. Davis, University of California, Santa Cruz
Noor Elashi, Writer
Basem Emara, Gaza Freedom March
Kathy Engel, Poet
Hedy Epstein, Palestine Solidarity Committee, St. Louis, Missouri
Mike Ferner, National President, Veterans For Peace
Lisa Fithian, Alliance for Community Trainers
Felice Gelman, Gaza Freedom March
Jenny Heinz, Activist Response Team/Granny Peace Brigade
Jane Hirschmann, Jews Say No!
Jennifer Hobbs, New York City Attorney/Gaza Freedom March
Nubar Hovsepian, Associate Professor of Political Science and International Studies, Chapman University
Mary Hughes – Thompson, Free Gaza Movement
Abdeen Jabara, Past President, American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, Civil Rights Attorney
Tarak Kauff, Veterans for Peace
Kathy Kelly, Co-Coordinator, Voices for Creative Nonviolence
Eleanore Kennedy
Michael Kennedy
Mona Khalidi
Rashid Khalidi, Columbia University
Naomi Klein, Writer
Ramzi Kysia, Free Gaza Movement
Iara Lee, Cultures of Resistance/Freedom Flotilla Survivor
Richard A. Levy, Labor Lawyer
Karen Malpede, Playwright
Helaine Meisler, Hudson Valley BDS
Gail Miller, Women of a Certain Age
Fatima Mohammadi, Attorney at Law/Freedom Flotilla Survivor
Donna Nevel, Jews Say No!
Michael Ratner, President, Center for Constitutional Rights
Mariam Said, New York
Najla Said, Actor/Writer
Hannah Schwarzschild, American Jews for a Just Peace
Bert Shaw
Moira Shaw
Kathy Sheetz, Free Gaza – USA/Freedom Flotilla Survivor
Ann Shirazi, Granny Peace Brigade/Women of a Certain Age
Starhawk, Alliance of Community Trainers
Eleanor Stein, Albany Law School
Michael Steven Smith, New York City Attorney/Author
Vivian Stromberg, MADRE, Executive Director
Yifat Susskind, MADRE Policy/Communications Director
Chandra Talpade Mohanty, Professor of Women's and Gender Studies, Syracuse University
Alice Walker, Author
Naomi Wallace
Darlene Wallach, Free Gaza Movement, Justice for Palestinians
Donna Wallach, Free Gaza Movement, Justice for Palestinians
Sarah Wellington, Activist Response Team
Diane Wilson, Writer/Activist
Ret. Col. Ann Wright, Freedom Flotilla Survivor
Rebecca Vilkomerson, Jewish Voice for Peace
Dorothy M. Zellner, Veteran Civil Rights Activist
David Zirin, Sports Correspondent, The Nation Magazine"
Stop The War Coalition Promote Racists.
Greens Engage have an excellent post on how both the Berkshire Stop The War Coalition /a>and Stormfront are both promoting the same meeting.
Normally, that wouldn't be an issue, as it could be a simple mistake, but why would Berkshire StWC promote an event where a well known racist, Gilad Atzmon, is participating is hard to say.
Stormfront are doing it because they hate Jews and these neo-Nazis welcome anything that is perceived to attack Jews.
I hope that the StWC, nationally, take steps to repudiate the activities of Gilad Atzmon and their Berkshire branch.
Unite Against Fascism, Islamophobia And Antisemitism
There is a problem in Britain and parts of Europe, that problem is anti-Muslim bigotry.
Most of it seems to be a refocused form of existing xenophobia and racism, that are common to many European countries, including Britain, on the weakest.
The levels of social deprivation and poverty faced by many Asians in Britain is well-known and documented, but more so in areas where there is a predominantly Muslim mix. They are often treated like second class citizens. Bigots and neofascists like picking on who they see as weak or vulnerable, that's why they pick on Muslims for the moment. Their targets have changes over the decades, other ethnic minorities, but the bigot's and neo-fascist's basic methods haven't, stir up hatred.
Modern day neo-fascist in the English Defence League want to use anti-Muslim bigotry to ferment racial hatred in Britain, to start riots and conflict, as the EDL's recent actions show
This type of bigotry however it masks itself should be combated, from the violent racism of the EDL to the casual anti-Muslim joke. It is wrong and socially cancerous to society and individuals.
So I welcomed the recent Unite Against Fascism initiative against Islamophobia and other forms of racism.
Others might have their reservations concerning the UAF, as a SWP front, but I think if they are going to combat racism that I am prepared to pass over, momentarily, the SWP's previous mistakes, whilst they do good work.
Astute readers will notice that the original letter from the UAF includes a passage deploring the rise of antisemitism as well, which is to be welcomed:
"We, the undersigned, are deeply concerned by the rise in fascism, Islamophobia, antisemitism and racism. The English Defence League has organised events across the country, stirring up hatred, Islamophobia and racism – running riot in some cases and provoking violent attacks on Muslim, black and Asian communities and on Mosques and Mandirs (Hindu temples)
Imagine, however, my surprise when I read an email on the 6th November's event and saw something missing.
Yes, that's right, opposition to antisemitism had somehow been dropped from the event's main propaganda. There's a small bit is on a flyer and a previous email, but all of the Facebook links leave it out.
I assumed it was a simple slipup, so I looked on the Facebook page of the UAF.
Nothing mentioning *specifically* opposition to antisemitism, as the letter had.
So I asked a question or 2+ in their comments boxes, but didn't receive terribly illuminating replies.
In fact, the UAF replies were tetchy, defensive and avoided dealing with my questions, directly. I suppose the UAFers didn't know what was going on, but couldn't exactly admit it.
Now I'm prepared to give them the benefit of the doubt in this instance, but I think that the UAF should employ better proof readers and make sure that they don't forget about opposition to antisemitism in all of their documentation.
The UAF need to spell out their opposition to antisemitism on Facebook and in their links, clearly, and not make it appear as an afterthought.
Update 1: Please let me remind any of my new readers to absorb my comments policy, in particular the bit:
"So if you are hung up about the existence of Jews, Muslims, the Roma, immigrants, "foreigners", the French, the Irish, etc and feel the need to express your petty hatreds and xenophobia, do it elsewhere. "
Update 2: For UAFers and anyone else interested in combating antisemitism and racism then the CST's yearly Antisemitic Discourse in Britain is vital reading.
The CST has much more, and here's a PDF copy.
Update 3: Lancaster Unity has a good dissection of the xenophobia and hate mongering found amongst the worst tabloids in Britain over the last week or so.
Gilad Atzmon, Double Think And The SWP.
[Editor's note: I suppose this proves that you shouldn't blog when a bit tired, I have corrected this post.]
Just got back from a news-free little holiday and I had wanted to study what had been going on in the past week or so before posting anything, but my attention was drawn to a rather weak retraction appearing on the American SocialistWorker.org website:
"An article retracted
SocialistWorker.org editor Alan Maass comments on a recent article.
July 14, 2010
ON JULY 13, SocialistWorker.org published an interview with jazz musician and anti-Zionist writer Gilad Atzmon. The interview took up Atzmon's childhood in Israel and his growing awareness of the oppression of Palestinians, as well as his ideas on music and art.
Since the interview's publication, we have learned of many allegations that Atzmon has made not just highly inflammatory, but anti-Semitic statements about Jews, be they supporters or opponents of the state of Israel–and that he has associations with deniers of the Nazi Holocaust of the Jews. The evidence for these serious charges is damning.
We knew that Atzmon was a controversial figure among opponents of Israel when we ran our article, but not the full extent of these allegations. And needless to say, there is no trace of such ideas in his interview with SocialistWorker.org, or it never would have been published.
Nevertheless, we believe that our Web site, which is committed to the liberation of the Palestinian people and to the struggle against anti-Semitism, should not have published the interview without any reference to the controversy over someone who could make the comments and advance the ideas that he has–whatever his motives or reasoning. We have therefore withdrawn the article from our site. We invite our readers to comment by e-mail to firstname.lastname@example.com."
Readers with a slightly better memory than the SocialistWorker.org editor, Alan Maass, will remember how the British SWP (somewhat once related to the American SocialistWorker.org) defended Gilad Atzmon and apparently still do.
Read the rest of this entry »
Atzmon In New York
That well known anti-Jewish racist, Gilad Atzmon, is back.
He's in North America, more precisely up-state New York and surprise, surprise, in the company of a Holocaust denier, Daniel McGowan, [Warning, linked to cached copy of Rense, a racist web site].
Mystical Politics has more.
Update 1: Other related (or slightly related) posts.
Gilad Atzmon's Holocaust Denial And Other Stupid Questions.
Gilad Atzmon, Brockley And Racism
A Racist Speaks Out On YouTube.
The Curious Case Of Rupert And Gilad.
Update 2: I had forgotten, but Seismic has pointed out the nature of Atzmon's racism before in Gilad Atzmon: Israel Has Christ-Killing Ideology.


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U.S. says Delta Air Lines not "appropriate" choice for Love Field gates
It looks like Delta Air Lines is out of the running for two gates at Dallas Love Field.
In a court filing Monday, the Justice Department said Delta is "not an appropriate divestiture candidate" for gates and slots that American Airlines was required to give up to win antitrust approval for its merger with US Airways. Rather, the government said the assets should go to low-cost carriers, such as Southwest Airlines and Virgin America, which are bidding on two gates at Love Field controlled by American.
"The United States concluded that divesting assets to Delta would fail to address the harm arising from the merger and would be inconsistent with the goals that the remedy seeks to achieve," the filing said.
Delta is currently leasing one of the Love gates from American, which is uses to provide flights to Atlanta on small regional jets.
Delta argued that it should be allowed to bid on the gates so it could increase service to other cities out of Love Field once the Wright Amendment restrictions are lifted in October. Last fall, it said it would add 18 daily nonstop flights from Love Field to its hubs in New York, Los Angeles, Detroit and Minneapolis-St. Paul, if it won the gates.
In its filing, the Justice Department said the purpose of the Love Field divestiture is to attract "low-cost carriers" and provide more competition for the newly merged American Airlines, which flies from its major hub at Dallas/Fort Worth Airport. "Delta, given its overall size and scope as well as its presence at DFW, can and does challenge [American] for the business of corporate customers flying to and from the Dallas area," the department said.
Delta, however, believes the gates should go back to the city of Dallas and that local leaders should decide who should use the gates.
"The city has the right under American's lease and the [Wright Amendment Compromise Agreement] to require that these gates revert to the city as common use gates," Delta said in a statement Monday evening. "Officials of the city of Dallas are uniquely positioned to decide what to do with these gates based on what is best for their citizens and businesses."
The department added that the gate divestiture process is expected to begin soon, indicating that decisions have not yet been made.
Also Monday, Southwest said that if it gets the divested American gates it will add 20 flights to 12 new destinations.
Dallas-based Southwest, which operates out of 12 gates at Love Field and will have 16 gates once the airport's renovations are completed, said it is committed to offering more nonstop service to North Texas travelers.
"No other airline can offer the low fares, variety of destinations and customer service that Southwest is committed to providing at Love Field," Southwest CEO Gary Kelly said in a statement. "Southwest's proposal to acquire the two gates is the only option that allows all three carriers to actually grow in this market, which increases competition and provides additional travel choices at lower fares."
The carrier said it would add flights to Charlotte, N.C.; Charleston, S.C.; Detroit; Indianapolis; Memphis; Minneapolis/St. Paul; Newark, N.J.; Philadelphia; Raleigh/Durham, N.C.; Sacramento, Calif.; San Francisco; and Seattle if it gets the gates.
According to a study conducted by Campbell Hill Aviation Group for Southwest, the carrier's proposal would reduce airfares by $100 per round trip for the 12 new markets and produce more than $210 million in fare savings annually to travelers.
Even if it doesn't get the additional gates, Southwest plans to add flights to Boston; Oakland, Calif.; Panama City Beach, Fla.; Portland, Ore.; and San Jose, Calif., in 2015. The company previously announced plans for its post-Wright Amendment schedule to fly to 15 new nonstop destinations.
Virgin America, which announced its intent to bid for the gates last week, argued that Southwest should not get the Love Field gates either because it would then operate from 18 of the 20 gates at Love Field, more than called for in the Wright Amendment compromise agreement, reached eight years ago.
"From a legal standpoint, Southwest agreed in 2006 to operate from 16 gates," Virgin America CEO David Cush said last week. "This is an agreement they entered into voluntarily and whether American or Virgin America is offering out of those two gates, is largely irrelevant."


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Chitosan, amazing Fiber from the Sea
Checklist for Successful Results
from notes by Dr. Ron Schuler, BS, DDS, CCN
Sedalia, Missouri
Take Chitosan with meal when stomach has the most acidic content to enhance positive charge of chitosan. If "fishy" taste is experienced, take immediately before meal to ensure proper mixing with food.
Be consistent.... 2 teaspoonfull of chitosan podwer, 2 times a day at your two heaviest meals.
Take chitosan with 8 oz. of water to expedite efficiency so stomach acid & fiber mix well.
Add fresh lemon juice to your 8 oz. of water if you are older. The acidic condition in the stomach diminishes with age. It's the acid that activates the positive charge of chitosan.
Check your caloric intake. Consume fewer calories than you burn.
Avoid simple carbohydrates (sugars increase your insulin levels, promoting fat storage) in order to burn more fat than you produce.
You need 30 grams of fiber per day for optimal health results. Most people only get 12-15 gms per day. ( Eight capsules of chitosan per day provide 2 grams of fiber.)
Lack of exercise can diminish results. If you have been inactive, it can take 3-4 months to develop the enzymes that burn fat (per Covert Bailey).
If you experience a lot of intestinal gas, you may not have enough of the good bacteria(lactobacilli).
Eat more fresh fruits & vegetables. These contain phytonutrients, fiber, & soil-based organisms which help the digestive system to function better.
For some, constipation may initially occur because of impaction in the intestine with previous matter. This too shall pass. Chitosan users frequently experience decreased tansit time, a major health benefit.
Your Attitude creates a placebo effect, positive or negative. It's up to you.
Return to Dalwoo-chitoSan page.
Last updated August 17, 1998
Maintained by Dalwoo Corporation


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Stewart Architecture is part of the team behind On Forbes, which is delivering greater diversity in housing choices and vibrancy close to Canberra's city centre. As Canberra evolves, shoes will become the "best and cheapest infrastructure investment" says Stewart Architecture's founding director Colin Stewart. But wearing out the shoe leather won't be an arduous task. In fact, a more walkable city will be better for our health, and for the health of the planet.
Read the rest of Art Group's article here


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With over 38 years of experience in designing, organising and delivering superior wedding marquees, we can help you to create your perfect wedding venue. Find out more about our AWARD WINNING Marquee Hire Service.
Choosing a marquee for your wedding offers options for shape, size, styling and creativity like no other venue. It can be designed to fit into your location and landscape, to take advantage of a garden feature such as a lake or pool and to fit as many guests and functions as needed.
Include seating and dining areas, a stage, a dance floor, a bar, sofas and coffee tables, plus an almost endless choice of dressing and lighting opportunities to deliver a truly unique and memorable backdrop for your very special occasion.
See our Wedding Gallery
Our planning team listen to your ideas and aspirations and then create marquee plans and styling options especially for you. We have a flexible system of frames and panels, plus bespoke tailoring and special additions that can be combined to create the ideal space for you.
Whether you want a classic white wedding decorated with flowers and festoons, a modern interior with a clearspan roof and dramatic lighting and planting, a warm welcoming vintage theme with bunting and period pieces or a multi-roomed space with backlit bar and relaxation area, we can create your dream venue.
Call 01372 459485 to discuss your plans with our friendly team
We make planning your wedding marquee effortless, leaving you free to concentrate on enjoying your wedding day with your guests. Our Complete Service offers a seamless end-to-end solution; from your marquee, flooring, linings, lighting, star cloth, tables, chairs, catering, flowers, DJ, music, heating, walkways, electricity generator and luxury loos, we will deliver a 5 star service that you can rely on. All you have to do is approve the plan and we'll manage the rest.
Find out more
See more of our wedding marquee videos here
Our promise to you
In order to give you complete peace of mind and to ensure your event goes as smoothly as possible, we have a Ten Point Service Guarantee
We still dream of the stunning tents you made for us and so many people are still talking about them! The wedding was such a great success due to all your hard work. Thank you again!
Mr C, Surrey
Call 01372 459485 or email firstname.lastname@example.com to discuss your requirements


text: Canadian brand Joe Fresh is an affordable lifestyle brand for men, women and kids. What called my attention about this brand was that they don't just have the "plain and simple" pair of jeans/jacket/shirt. They offer us fashion in denim. It is a fresh approach and a good choice for those of us who sometimes want to wear something a bit dressier than just jeans and tees. Take a look at the image above: wide leg flare jeans and a denim tunic, or, below, the red jeans paired with a lightweight button down for men.


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Transfer Policies
Transferring credit from another institution to VU
To have credits transferred from other schools, you need to request an official transcript from that institution be sent directly to VU main campus at the address listed below. Student copies or transcripts submitted by the student cannot be accepted. A transcript must be sent from EACH school you have attended.
Please have each institution mail the transcript to:
Vincennes University
Military Education Program
ATTN: Jessica Hatton
1002 North First Street, ES-87
Vincennes, IN 47591
Vincennes University will evaluate each transcript on an individual basis. The Academic Dean and Registrar reserve the right to accept or reject credit from other institutions.
From VU to another institution
Transcripts can be ordered in one of two ways: traditional mail delivery (free) or electronic delivery ($5). For more information on requesting a VU transcript, visit the Registrar's Office page.


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Nausea is a feeling of uneasiness that is difficult to express in words. This miserable feeling which is often a pre- curser to vomiting due to irritation in the stomach lining is a signal that there is something wrong with our digestion. . A variety of conditions can cause nausea like indigestion, pregnancy, stomach illness, dehydration, food poisoning, anxiety, stress, motion sickness, stomach illness, acid reflux and certain medications. Many cancer patient undergoing chemotherapy and radiotherapy also experience a feeling of queasiness during their treatment. Eating spicy and greasy foods that are hard to digest, strong food aromas and hot humid temperature can further exacerbate the symptoms. To reduce queasiness, choose low-fat and bland foods. Staying hydrated is important. Drink plenty of water and fluids. Some foods help to relieve from the feeling of queasiness. Here are 9 foods to try.
Foods To Try To Relieve Nausea
1. Ginger
Ginger has been used for centuries in folk remedy as an anti-nausea remedy. In whichever form you may take ginger like ginger tea, ginger ale or raw ginger, it is guaranteed remedy to settle nausea. Scientists believe that phytochemical contained in ginger helps in settling the stomach. Promoting secretion of digestive enzymes ginger helps to neutralize stomach acid. The phenols contained in ginger acts to relax the irritated stomach tissue and bring relief from nausea and also aid the intestine in moving digested food and toxins fast. So whatever unwanted stuff that makes you ill excreted from the system faster. You can take ginger in the form of ginger tea, ginger ale, add grated ginger in soups, and stir fries etc. to sooth nausea and upset stomach.
2. Lemons
Lemons are effective remedy for relieving nausea. The neutralizing acids contained in lemon helps to create bicarbonates that act as nausea-blockers. Lemon helps to balance body's natural pH levels. Squeeze them in your drinking water, tea, soups etc. Sniff them or even lick them. The refreshing smell of lemon will immediate calm and bring relief from nausea. Mix 1tsp. honey and 1tsp. lemon juice and eat. This is a popular remedy for nausea.
3. Peppermint
The antispasmodic and calming effect of peppermint on the lining of the stomach brings relief from nausea. Its nice scent also aids to bring relief from queasiness. Sucking on peppermint candies, sipping peppermint tea with dried peppermint leaves can bring relief from nausea.
4. Chilled Foods
To combat nausea try eating chilled fruit, salad, sandwiches, ice chips, sorbets and popsicles. They go down easier on your stomach than hot foods. Strong aroma of hot foods can trigger nausea.
5. Chili Peppers
Chili pepper contain a compound known as capsaicin that stimulates neurotransmitters that works like ant-nausea medication and restoring proper appetite brings relief from nausea.
6. Apple
Fiber helps to clear out the chemical and toxins from your system. Apple is rich in fiber. Try snacking on apple and crunchy raw vegetables little at a time to keep your digestive system back into track. But too much can further irritate your stomach. You can try apple juice or apple sauce, if you are having problem in digesting solid food.
7. Bland Foods
If you keep your stomach empty, it will increase the nausea problem. Eating dry, toast, salty cracker, dry cereal will bring comfort and also allow your body to receive nutrients. Nibble them slowly throughout the day. They will help to absorb the stomach acids and help to settle the stomach.
8. Banana
When nausea is accompanied by vomiting, it can cause dehydration. Eating a banana will help to restore potassium that has been depleted due to vomiting. Banana will also bring relief from nauseous feeling by stimulating mucus production from stomach lining.
9. Nuts
Your body needs protein for getting energy. Consuming too little protein can make nausea worse. Nuts are good source of protein and easy to digest. They will help to replenish your energy and feel better.
Replace your fluid loss by drinking enough water and fluids. It is one of the best ways to keep nausea at bay.


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JMU Test Prep Courses
If you plan to enroll in an undergraduate studies program or attend graduate school, law school, or business school, we can help you realize your academic goals. With test preparation courses for the GRE ®, GMAT ®, LSAT ®, and New SAT ®, JMU Test Prep is the Shenandoah Valley's leading test prep solution.
Standardized test scores on the GRE, GMAT, LSAT, or SAT/ACT are a major component of your college or graduate school application process. These tests play a significant role in determining the future of your education. Standardized tests help determine your admission status and are often used in awarding merit-based scholarships, grants, fellowships, and assistantships. Let the JMU Test Prep program help you prepare for and ace these important exams!
All Test Prep Courses Include:
- Extensive classroom instruction
- Experienced, expert instructors
- Comprehensive preparation materials, including actual questions and practice tests from the test-makers
- Thorough presentations and explanations
- Convenient access to our team of experts
- Flexible face-to-face and online schedule options
About Our Program
JMU Test Prep program is a partner with Educational Testing Consultants, a leader in higher education test preparation. Each year, Educational Testing Consultants helps thousands of students at major colleges and universities across the United States. Educational Testing Consultants provides a proven program with a record of success and highly trained, top-quality instructors. To learn more about our team, click here.


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Click on a link below to view or download the PDF document.
A Day at Hallsburg
Annual Events and Programs
Young Engineers and Scientists
Hallsburg History
Recycling Note...read more
Parent-Teacher Association
After School Program
Phone: (254) 875-2331
Fax: (254) 875-2436
ASP Cell: 254-315-9017
2313 Hallsburg Rd. Waco, TX 76705
Copyright © 2012, Hallsburg ISD All rights reserved.


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A lovely little package from Korg (who seem to completely get the current synthesizer craze right now, with their classic filter featuring Monotrons and recent re-issue of the classic MS-20 monosynth) and electronic gadget company Little Bits. From the little information available it seems to be a snap together kit for building your own modular synth. I know what I'll be doing this Christmas if Santa reads my letter. I'm rubbish at soldering and this fact has put me off attempting to build my own electronic music circuits - but this kit appears to be solder free. Perfect.
More info here.
UPDATE - Peter Kirn over at Create Digital Music has a hands on review with some interesting sound examples sounding very much like Raymond Scott. More here.


text: Hey everyone, I'm going on a small vacation for thanksgiving and I would like to find a new game for ten bucks or less to entertain me. I use to frequent this website but lately I have been preoccupied with other things, so I don't have any idea as to what's new and good. I'd greatly appreciate some suggestions on which game to purchase.


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I think it might be a physical impossibility for my room to stay clean for longer than 48 hours. Actually, my room tends to be an organized mess… my bed on the other hand is a giant pile of clean clothes.
Every morning I tend to try on at least two outfits and no more than five. In a rush as usual those clothes then get tossed upon my bed. At the end of my work, do I hang them back up? NO. So the pile grows and with Eloy living down in Southern California I have no need for that other half of the bed.
Tonight I tired of looking at the pile. I hung everything back up and threw those few items that were a LITTLE overdue for washing into the hamper. I took a shower. I came in to my room…
Right now, to my left… Wife beater and bra.
I rest my case.


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Although the five St. John's victims have been working for over three decades to call attention to the issue and seek justice for their suffering, their story gained traction after New York Times writer Laurie Goodstein wrote an article in 2010 about the Vatican's failure to defrock Murphy, despite the fact that they were presented with undeniable evidence of his crimes and received strong warnings from some American church officials. Murphy is believed to have molested over 200 boys at the boarding school from the 50s until 1974, when he was transferred to another parish. The Vatican was alerted of Murphy's behaviour in 1963 and did nothing. Actors Jamey Sheridan, Chris Cooper, Ethan Hawke, and John Slattery give voice to the victims, who use sign language with punctuated hand slaps to express the horrors they endured at the hand of Murphy and the shame that followed. Murphy's textbook predatory behaviour found him singling out what he perceived as the weaker students and further exploiting the fact that they faced an obvious barrier in communicating over the phone with their families. Three of the victims, including Terry Kohut, who sued the Catholic Church and named the current Pope in his lawsuit, were on hand for the world premiere TIFF screening I attended and gave their emotional reaction to it afterwards at the Q & A through a sign language interpreter. Just knowing that they were in the audience and reliving their pain while seeing the finished film for the first time added an extra significance and weight to the proceedings.
The investigations resulting from the Kohut lawsuit ended up leading to the discovery of secret Vatican documents that detailed many instances of sexual abuse cover-ups that reach to the highest levels of the Catholic Church, with Popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI (then Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger) substantially implicated. In the years before being anointed Pope, Ratzinger oversaw a Vatican council that monitored sexual abuse cases in the Church, so his post-anointment claims of being unaware of most of what was occurring seem highly unlikely. How his and his predecessor's culpability and mishandling of these tragic cases hasn't been a much larger media story is difficult to understand.
That aside, overall media coverage of child and youth sexual abuse in the Catholic Church has, sadly, become an all-too-familiar story that one almost becomes numb to. Gibney rises to the challenge of presenting a fresh take on a much-discussed important subject with this well-researched and powerful film. My only real negative about it are the re-enactments that Gibney employs, even if they are artfully composed and beautifully shot, using plenty of religious imagery. Re-enactments are a staple of Gibney's work (not to mention Errol Morris'), but the stories he tells are usually compelling enough and, in my opinion, the end results are slightly diminished with this gimmicky device that feels like an imagination crutch for the audience.
Rating: B
Opens in the U.S. in November; TV premiere in early 2013 on HBO
Side note: While exiting a TIFF screening of Roman Polanski: Odd Man Out, I ran into Gibney (who had also just watched the documentary) and got a chance to shake his hand, tell him how much I enjoyed his work, and how forward I was looking to being at the Mea Maxima Culpa premiere the next afternoon. I refrained from mentioning my dislike of his use of the re-enactment segments.
Related post: my May 2010 review of Gibney's Casino Jack And The United States Of Money


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Apply for this exciting position to support the CG missions of safeguarding our Nation's maritime interests in the heartland, in the ports, at sea, and around the globe.Learn more about this agency
For over two centuries The U.S. Coast Guard has protected the maritime economy and the environment, we defend our maritime borders, and we save those in peril. This history has forged our character and purpose as America's Maritime Guardian - Always Ready for all hazards and all threats.
The vacancy is being concurrently advertised under delegated examining procedures for non-status applicants under announcement 17-1990-HQ-RM-D. APPLICANTS WHO WISH TO BE CONSIDERED UNDER BOTH DELEGATED EXAMINING AND MERIT PROMOTION PROCEDURES MUST APPLY TO BOTH VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENTS. NOTE: YOUR APPLICATION TO THIS MERIT PROMOTION VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT WILL ONLY ALLOW CONSIDERATION FOR THIS ANNOUNCEMENT. WE CANNOT ELECTRONICALLY OR MANUALLY MOVE YOUR APPLICATION TO THE CONCURRENTLY ADVERTISED DELEGATED EXAMINING ANNOUNCEMENT. PLEASE ENSURE YOU ARE APPLYING UNDER THE CORRECT ANNOUNCEMENT.
This position is located in WITH THE ASSISTANT COMMANDANT FOR MARINE SAFETY & ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, STANDARDS DIRECTORATE, OFFICE OF STANDARDS EVALUAITION & DEVELOPMENT, WASHINGTON, DC.
Any offers of employment made pursuant to this announcement will be consistent with all applicable authorities, including Presidential Memoranda, Executive Orders, interpretive U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) guidance, and Office of Management and Budget plans and policies concerning hiring. These authorities are subject to change.
Applying to this announcement certifies that you give permission for DHS to share your application with others in DHS for similar positions.
You will serve as an economist with responsibility for economic analysis and consultant services essential to the development of policy, standards, and regulations pertaining to marine vessel, navigational, port, safety and marine environmental protection issues. Your responsibilities will include creating recommendations for policy through economic assessments of impacts, costs, and benefits of alternative proposals for regulatory and standards initiatives; and economic quantification of risks and risk avoidance associated with prospective marine safety and environmental protection initiatives. Being a CG civilian makes you a valuable member of the CG team. Typical work assignments include:
- Advising and counseling Coast Guard executive and program managers on the most economically effective standards, regulations and Coast Guard resource uses from among a wide and highly complex range of alternatives.
- Making authoritative policy recommendations based on the application of sound economic theories to assist in the formation of necessary changes and adjustments to major and complex programs with national and international economic implications.
- Manage and direct technical performance of contracted parties conducting studies to assess the economic impacts of proposed actions and provide economic policy recommendations. May serve as Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) or Technical Project Manager (TPM).
- Serving as an expert economic policy consultant, responsible for representing the Coast Guard at public proceedings, including advisory committee meetings, industry meetings, and public meetings and hearings.
Travel Required
Not required
Supervisory status
Promotion Potential
Who May Apply
This job is open to…This vacancy is open to Merit Promotion, CTAP, VEOA, Individuals with Disabilities, Peace Corps, Interchange Agreement Eligibles, Status Candidates, ICTAP, 30% or More Disabled, Schedule A, Americorps, Land Management, Former Overseas Employees, EVHO, Military Spouses, and Vista appointing authorities.
For definitions of common terms found in this announcement click here
Job family (Series)
This job originated on www.usajobs.gov. For the full announcement and to apply, visit www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/482458500. Only resumes submitted according to the instructions on the job announcement listed at www.usajobs.gov will be considered.


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UNC Charlotte gets $7.7 million federal grant to lead transportation research
UNC Charlotte has been awarded a $7.7 million grant by the U.S. Department of Transportation to lead a study aimed at finding innovative ways to improve the nation's transportation systems.
The work will encompass all types of travel – called multimodal transportation – including airports, seaports, rails, transit systems, bicycle and pedestrian trails and walkways.
UNC Charlotte's Center for Advanced Multimodal Mobility Solutions and Education will work alongside Texas Southern University, the University of Connecticut, the University of Texas at Austin and Washington State University.
Their mission will be to develop innovations that relieve congestion and improve transportation efficiency.
The federal funding is for five years and investigators will collaborate with the Charlotte Area Transit System nd the N.C. Department of Transportation.
Wei Fan, associate professor in the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department at UNC Charlotte, is the principal investigator for the center.
"We will use our research expertise to solve real-world problems for CATS and NCDOT," said Fan in a statement released by UNC Charlotte. "Multimodal transportation is important in attracting people to urban areas, creating communities that are resilient, and robust and improving the overall quality of life."
UNC Charlotte's grant is one of 32 awarded by the U.S. Department of Transportation to develop research centers related to transportation.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx, former Charlotte mayor, said the research will help a nation facing unprecedented challenges from population growth, climate change and increasing freight volumes.
"Universities are at the forefront of identifying solutions, researching critical emerging issues and ensuring improved access to opportunity for all Americans," Foxx said in a statement.
Mark Price: 704-358-5245, @markprice_obs


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Tenaya Ra
"I'm in love," said our longtime shoe tester of the Tenaya Ra ($140; trango.com). "I've worn them on everything from slab to dead-vertical to slightly overhanging to roofs, and they perform perfectly everywhere." Whether you're running a few dozen endurance laps or trying to redpoint your hardest boulder problem in the gym, you'll find high-performance edging, hooking, and smearing. The vacuum-sealed fit had our testers confident on pockets, edges, and the polished limestone nubs of Rifle, Colorado, as well as the almost-horizontal cave at the gym. But you won't have to sacrifice comfort, as they feel good on your foot right out of the box. They're built to last, too: Five months of testing on rock and plastic have shown no major signs of wear on the fully lined synthetic uppers and the 4mm Vibram XS Grip sticky rubber soles. Two Velcro straps make the constant on and off in the gym a breeze.


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by Andrea Goodman
Capricorn begins with the Winter Solstice and carries us into the New Year. It is the darkest time of the year and the time when the Earth is laid bare. We see the essential form of her rocky bones, much like an old woman whose flesh has been thinned and refined over many years. Capricorn gives a straight answer, the unvarnished truth of the situation, much like an old woman who can speak freely and has no patience for lies, whose wisdom simply and eloquently comes through. Capricorn is the earth sign of Winter, the grandmother, the great-grandmother, older than time, the one who mothers the mother.
This year, in the Solstice chart, the birthchart of Winter, Pluto and Mercury are close together right in the middle of Capricorn; planets of transformation and communication, keeper of the mysteries of life and death combined with the messenger and guide, giving us a way to speak beyond the surface concerns. Our season is rich and deep, inspiring the poetry, the story, the necessity to speak of sorrow and fear. The Moon is in Taurus, Jupiter in Virgo, forming a Grand Trine in Earth with Pluto and Mercury in Capricorn. The three earth signs create a triangle, a container of nurturing and substance, the Moon full of feeling, encouraged and generously held by Jupiter, together holding the hands of the intensity of Pluto with Mercury.
In my Solstice vision, I enter the darkness, allow it to surround and fill me. There is a sense of going down and in, I do not know what the darkness holds. And then I feel large arms around me, a woman gathering me up. I feel small, and completely safe. She is earthy, strong, timeless, and has always been here. She holds me tenderly and says, "Tell me everything." The everything I would tell wells up and I find myself crying on her shoulder, in the relief of such a welcome for all I have lived and witnessed.
Mercury within us is our ability to make sense and order of all that we perceive, to connect the dots and find patterns, to develop language to transmit our understanding and to make connections with each other through communication. Mercury allows us to think and to speak, to write and weave webs of interconnection. It is going retrograde; just as it steps from Capricorn into Aquarius, it appears to turn back and delve deeper, going back over the degrees of Capricorn. It will join with the Sun, January 13-14, in an exact trine to Jupiter, We are to go back and retrieve what we thought could not be said, what we started and never finished. We are given opportunities to share our thoughts, to speak plainly as if we were wise old women, beyond worrying about what someone else will think of us or do to us, should we dare to say what is in our hearts.
I am writing this just as 2015 rolls into 2016. There is an exact trine between Mercury and the Moon in Virgo. Moon and Jupiter are together in the sky tonight. We are given a gift this year of harmonious understanding, thinking and feeling attuned to each other, amplified by Jupiter's enthusiasm and sense of possibility. We are embraced by the Mother and in her patient listening, we can fully express what must be said, what we know to be true, and what it is we have come to share.
May your New Year be filled with compassion and joyous expression!
Image Citation: AstroLibrary.org