text:
Plants vs. Zombies 2's free-to-play structure works with you, not against you
The term "free to play" feels more like a threat than a promise. Instead of spending $5 to buy the entire game once, we may find ourselves paying $1 for the game forever and ever, amen.
Plants vs. Zombies 2 has pulled the neat trick of going free to play while largely side-stepping many of the issues that come with that monetization strategy, however. It's not perfect, but neither is it abusive. I've been happily hunched over my phone for the past few days, collecting suns and exploring the new plants, and never did I feel like I had to pay, although many times I was tempted to unlock content rather than work for it.
The game felt like it was working with me, not against me, and this is a very good thing.
When to pay, and how to avoid it
The game is broken up into three worlds: Ancient Egypt, Pirates, and the Wild West. The game progresses in a linear path at first, allowing you to unlock new plants, new powers, and new levels. Glowing zombies now drop plant food, which you can use to give your plants a temporary power-up. Sunflowers will give you a flood of suns, while pea shooters go fully-automatic, spewing a line of peas at zombies.
Hoarding the plant food, and determining when to use it, is an important part of the strategy. These temporary buffs can get you through tricky parts of each level, and you can of course use coins to buy more, and use cash to buy more coins, but you'll never feel like you must do so in order to move forward.
The difficulty does ramp up significantly faster than the first Plants vs. Zombies, however, and you'll need to learn how to use each plant to its fullest, and to deploy your plant food at the proper times. Casual players may be compelled to purchase new plants or upgrades after failing a mission for the first, or fifth, time, but I was happy to buckle down and force myself to get better at basic strategy.
You need a certain amount of stars to move into the next world, and you won't get them all during your first pass through the opening levels. You can either go back and grind through levels you've already finished and earn stars, with the game helpfully adding new challenges to overcome to get those stars, or pay $5 to unlock the next area of the game.
The new challenges can be fun, if challenging, so the grind may not bother many players. Others may be happy to simply pay to move forward, or pay to unlock plants before earning them, or pay to stock up on plant food to give themselves more of an advantage. I'm not going to judge anyone who does so, but it rarely feels like the game is forcing you down that path, although it will helpfully remind you of the items you can buy every now and again.
This approach actually works with the free to play structure while also pleasing the more hardcore fans. The casual players may be tempted to spend more on powers and plant food to deal with the added difficulty, while those of us who want to truly master strategy will be forced to improve our game.
The different challenges that you need to conquer in order to gain stars force you to think about the game in different ways, and that mitigates the grinding aspect of going back over the board. The writing and presentation is still as funny and light-hearted as ever, and the differing zombie and plant types add variety to the game.
I have a few complaints though, including some annoying difficulty spikes, the fact that the game is iOS-only, at least for now, and the new touchscreen-based powers that allow you to throw a zombie or pinch them with your fingers can be fidgety if you play on your phone vs. a tablet, but these are relatively minor issues next to everything the game does correctly.
Also, with the ability to beat everything honestly, I'm more likely to pay a bit here and there to give myself an advantage. It's a weird psychology switch; I don't mind paying money for free to play games, but I wil only do so if I feel like I want to, and it was my decision to cheat a bit to get ahead. If the game wants to force that decision on me? I'm much less likely to get out the wallet.
It's possible that the monetization may get more annoying, or that other content will be released for purchase that changes the balance of the game, but for now I'm content playing a game that was all the way free, and is likely to remain that way as long as I keep improving and don't get discouraged by the sometimes-tricky challenges. I'm actually tempted to throw a few dollars into the game just to reward the team for the balancing act, but it feels like they earned the money, instead of demanding it.
That's the best case scenario for any free to play game.


text:
Kernel Next: Interim Step for More Efficiency
Andrew Morton had a dream: a new kernel tree which would make kernel development easier to follow and more efficient. He looked for a maintainer and found one in Stephen Rothwell.
The new "Kernel Next" kernel tree is designed to be an intermediate step between Torvalds' and Morton' code. Torvalds' tree holds the next kernel due for release, which is always close to completion. The drivers and changes in the tree are definite fixtures for the next release. Morton's tree is completely different: the "-mm" tree contains developments regarded as too experimental that need testing. Linux Next aims to improve coordination between the two. New developments that successfully pass through Morton's tree will move on to the Next tree and from there to Torvalds.
The developers hope that the new system will improve the quality of code reaching Torvalds and thus facilitate work on the imminent kernel release. The Next tree will contain drivers which stand a very good chance of being accepted by Torvalds. The drivers will be optimized in the Next tree leaving just minor modifications to complete before acceptance for the imminent kernel version. This is a good thing for developers, and will make it easier to separate and differentiate between development stages. At the same time, subsystem maintainers will find it easier to coordinate their work.
The maintainer of the new tree is Stephen Rothwell, who is now looking for subsystem maintainers. He describes the new tree, and how he imagines future cooperation, on the Linux Kernel mailing list. The response from most of the developers who took part in the discussion was positive, although the announcement did fire a discussion on principles of kernel development.
Issue 167/2014
Buy this issue as a PDF
Tag Cloud
Tool Predicts Which Websites Will be Compromised
Carnegie Mellon researchers say 3 million pages could fall down the phishing hole in the next year.
SSH Key Management Guidelines
The US government rolls new best-practice rules for protecting SSH.
Knoppix 7.4 Released
Klaus Knopper announces the latest version of his iconic Live Linux system.
PHP Attack Puts WordPress and Drupal at Risk
All websites that use these popular CMS tools could be vulnerable to denial of service attacks if users don't install the updates.
Heartbleed Bleeds On
According to a report, many potential victims of the Heartbleed attack have patched their systems, but few have cleaned up the crime scene to protect themselves from the effects of a previous intrusion.
Drone Brain Goes Open Source
DARPA and NICTA release the code for the ultra-secure microkernel system used in aerial drones.
Password Management Services Vulnerable to Attack
Should you trust an online service to store your online passwords?
New Raspberry Pi Adds Two USB Ports
New B+ board lets you build cool things without the complication of a powered USB hub.
Microsoft Grabs No-IP.com Domains
Redmond rushes in to root out alleged malware haven.
Firefox Steps into 3D
New initiative will bring futuristic virtual reality effects to the web surfing experience.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
TaqMan® Gene Expression Assays & Arrays Selection Guide
The Most Comprehensive Gene Expression Real-Time PCR Assay Selection in the Industry
TaqMan® Assays are probe and primer sets based on 5' nuclease chemistry using TaqMan® MGB (minor groove binder) probes, the most quantitative gene expression technology available.
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- 384-well plates—configured with any TaqMan® Gene Expression Assays, including custom assays designed to your target sequences and made-to-order assays—for use on Applied Biosystems® real-time PCR instruments equipped with a 384-well block
- 384-well microfluidic cards—ideal for microarray validation or other large-scale profiling studies. They are compatible with our Applied Biosystems® ViiA™ 7 and 7900HT Fast Real-Time PCR Systems
- 3,072-well plates—for use with the Applied Biosystems® OpenArray® Real-Time PCR System to meet high-throughput profiling demands
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I want to design my own primers and probes
Submit your own sequences and have Life Technologies make TaqMan® Assays to your specifications.
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text:
List Price: $199.99
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text:
Men's competition, Espinho
From 2 June To 6 June 2004
Beach Volleyball Home Page
General Info
Entry List
Main Draw
Press Releases
Wrap Up
Star Profiles
WT 2004 Calendar
Press Kit
Other circuits
Photos featured on the FIVB Photo Galleries are downloadable copyright free for media purposes only, and only if FIVB is credited as the source material. They are protected by copyright for all other commercial purposes. Those wishing to use FIVB Photo Gallery photos for other commercial purposes should contact firstname.lastname@example.com. We can put you in touch with the photographer so that you can negotiate directly with them.
Photo gallery
Podium finishers - 1.Brazil, 2.Norway, 3.Brazil
Emanuel (Brazil) sprints after the ball
Vegard Hoidalen (Norway) leaps
A joyous Ricardo (Brazil)
Celebration time - Brazil's Ricardo and Emanuel hug
Emanuel of Brazil in the final
Total support - Brazilian fans cheer their team on
Going down - Ricardo (Brazil)
Brazil's Ricrado and Emanuel in action
Markus Dieckmann of Germany
Jonas Reckermann (Germany) challenges Ricardo (Brazil)
Emanuel and Ricardo (Brazil)
Jorre Andre Kjemperud (Norway)
Norway versus Brazil in the semi-final
Jorre Andre Kjemperud (far side - Norway) in the semi-final
Brazil's Benjamin drops to his knees
Germany's Jonas Reckermann (near side) rises with Julien Prosser (Australia)
Japanese giant Satoshi Watanebe
Katsuhiro Shiratori (Japan) with the spike
Digging in the sand - Katsuhiro Shiratori (Japan)
Japan's Satoshi Watanebe and Katsurhiro Shiratori
Teamwork - Paul and Martin Laciga (Switzerland)
Argentina take on Switzerland in Espinho
Mariano Baracetti (Argentina) jumps for the block
Firm connection - Sascha Heyer of Switzerland
Argentina's Martin Conde dives as teammate Mariano Baracetti looks on
Francisco Alvarez of Cuba rises high
Mark Heese of Canada makes the block
Switzerland battle Canada on centre court
Swissair - Paul Laciga (Switzerland) can't stay on his feet
Paul Laciga (Switzerland) takes to the air
Entertaining the fans in Espinho
Nelson Briyida (left) and Jose Pedrosa of Portugal
Sascha Heyer and Markus Egger of Switzerland
Joao Brenha (Portugal) receives treatment for an injured ankle
Joao Brenha (Portugal) limps out of the tournament
The big man - Ricardo (Brazil)
Facing danger - Ksell Schneider of Germany
Joining hands - Josh Slack and Andrew Schacht (Australia)
Those about to receive - Andrew Schacht and Josh Slack of Australia
Celebration time - Kjell Arne Goranson and Tarjei Skarlund (Norway)
Talking point - Norway's Kjell Arne Goranson and Tarjei Skarlund
Mark Heese of Canada
Pavlos 'Beli' Beligratis of Greece
Dynamic duo - Para and Pedro Cunha of Brazil
Rivo Vesik of Estonia
South Africa's Colin Pocock
Gershon Rorich of South Africa
Miguel Xisto (Angola)
Eyes on the ball - Kirk Pitman of New Zealand
Net result - Emiel Boersma (Netherlands)
Jason Lochhead (New Zealand) makes contact
Bruno Carvalho of Portugal (far side) in action
Emiel Boersma of the Netherlands in action against New Zealand
Austrian referee Andrea Haas lays down the law
Getting stuck in - Hugo Oliveira and Leonel Gomes (Portugal)
An all Portuguese clash on centre court, Espinho
Teamwork - Rui Oliveira and Alexandre Afonso (Portugal)
Hugo Oliveira and Leonel Gomes of Portugal


text:
Welcome to Julia Charles Event Management - AS SEEN ON DRAGONS' DEN
Julia Charles Event Management are a bespoke events management company, able to coordinate all requirements, from table centre pieces and wedding favors, to decorations and entertainment, for any event including birthday parties, weddings, Bar Mitzvahs, celebrations, Corporate, Conferences, award ceremonies, Gala Dinners and more. We are a one stop shop for all of your event needs.
Latest News
Branching out to the Isle of Man for a Masquerade themed event. We have also designed some brand new acts for this year.-
> View more updates
Just some of our Clients


text:
Wix Answers
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Wix Team
What happens if my domain name renewal payment fails?
By Wix KnowledgeBase March 5, 2013
Locked by moderator
Main Category : Billing
Sub Category : Wix Domains
Ticket # : 452522186
Ticket Status : Closed - best reply
Replies(68 replies total)
Replied by coltwcampbell August 11, 2014
My domain was renewed late a couple of weeks ago and is listed as active; however, the website still will not download. Can you help? www.bandsofwest-oak.com
Wix Team
Replied by Niv August 11, 2014
Thank you for contacting Wix support.
I checked your site, however I didn't experience any issues. Shown in the screenshot below:
While working on your Wix site, your computer and browser stores various information. This build up of information can sometimes cause conflict. Please clear your browser's cache. You can find step by step instructions here .
If the issue persists, try using another browser and let us know if the issue is resolved.
We appreciate your cooperation,Niv, Wix Support
- Wix Team
Replied by captainrommy August 7, 2014
My domain's renewal for www.rommywibowo.com has been paid but I am still unable to see the website to be active. Would you help to check and advise me the steps so that the site can be live again?
thank you very much
Replied by Fashionz Daughter July 25, 2014
I paid my renewal for my website and it is not working still. www.fashionzdaughter.comCeo of Fashionz Daughter
Wix Team
Replied by Leah July 25, 2014
While browsing the web, your computer and browser store various information. This build up of information can sometimes cause conflict.
Please clear your browser's cache. You can find step by step instructions here.
I hope this helps! Please let us know if the error is not resolved.Sincerely, Leah Wix Support
- Wix Team
Replied by iampaulyoder July 15, 2014
I renewed my subscription but my site at www.iampaulyoder.com is crashing each time I try to access it. It claims that wix gave me that domain, but this is what I get when I try to acess my wix link. This site is on all my business cards and such. Please help!
Wix Team
Replied by Or Y July 16, 2014
I have been able to recreate the issue.
Please note that your pointing configuration in your registrar (not Wix, but your actual domain host) is incorrect.
To fix this, please follow the instructions here.All the best, Or
Replied by iampaulyoder July 16, 2014
Two things:
1) I cannot understand your response. Recreating an issue is a bad thing. "Pointing configuration" isn't even a thing at all.
2) I bought my domain on wix. I believe that makes wix my domain host.
Wix Team
Replied by dinamiso July 16, 2014
Your domain was purchased through Wix on: 25/5/2013, however your domain was not renewed on: 25/5/2014 as your credit card was declined.
Your domain subscription was canceled.
In general if a domain name has expired, the Wix domain subscription will remain active and our system will continue to attempt to collect payment. If payment is made successfully within the 30 day grace period, your domain name will be reactivated.
If payment is not made within the 30 day grace period, your domain name will be cancelled and will enter a redemption period lasting approximately 35 days. The redemption period is designed to give domain owners one last chance to retain their domain name before it becomes publicly available, however the cost of retrieving a domain during the redemption period is high ($250).
If you do not want to pay 250 $ to release your domain, you can wait 70 days from the moment your domain was canceled and repurchased the domain again from Wix.
For more information about purchasing Wix domains, click here.
Dina-Wix Team.
Replied by iampaulyoder July 16, 2014
Okay. I renewed my subscription almost a week ago, and it's still not working. Does it usually take this long for a payment to go through?
Wix Team
Replied by Or Y July 17, 2014
Please make sure you have properly inserted payment details, as I can see you have not yet paid for your domain.
You can see all the relevant payment details when mouseovering the login drop-down menu on the top right end of the page (Hello, iampaulyoder) > Billing & Payment.
For more information about purchasing domains from Wix, click here.All the best, Or
- Wix Team
Replied by FILIPPOZEPPI July 14, 2014
I managed to inser a new credit card. But i don't know how to send the payment. Can u help me?
Wix Team
Replied by Etti July 14, 2014
I checked your account and both your domains (onsibillis.net and jonsibillis.com) are payed for and active.
To view your invoice:
1. Sign into Wix.com.
2. Go to My Sites > click the user panel on the top right of the page > click Billing and Payment.
3. From Billing and Payment, next to your plan, click Manage.
4. Next to Invoices, click View invoices.
5. Click an invoice from the list to view it.
Your invoice opens in a new browser window/tab.
Let us know if you need anything else.
- Wix Team
Replied by roseduque July 9, 2014
I´ve already pay the domain but it is´nt working
Wix Team
Replied by Anat July 9, 2014
Thank you for contacting Wix support.
I checked your domain and it was indeed paid for and set up properly.
Please allow up to 72 hours for full propagation since the purchase (July 8th).
Please let us know if the problem persists afterwards.Anat - Wix Team
- Wix Team
Replied by al0591 July 9, 2014
For some reason the auto payment failed.
I have used a different card (a debit card), but this has also failed. I know there is sufficient funds I have just checked it.
Now what should I do, my site is down.
Wix Team
Replied by Barrios July 9, 2014
The initial or renewal payment for your Wix domain or premium plan may have failed due to one of the following reasons:
- The payment has been declined by your credit card provider
- The credit card provided has expired or has insufficient funds
- The credit card number provided is invalid
- The credit card provided has not been approved for recurring payments
Please contact your bank/credit card company to check the reason for the failure, or add an alternate card.
Note: If your renewal payment is not successful your domain name will expire and you will not be able to access your website via this domain.
Feel free to contacts us should you have any further questions.Many thanks, Barrios
- Wix Team
Replied by jpmah-ben June 18, 2014
hi, i just made the payment for the domain renewal but when i clicked on the url to my website another page came up and said that this particular domain name is connected to another account...
Wix Team
Replied by Rony June 18, 2014
Are you referring to stallionspg.com?
If not, please provide us with the domain in question.Rony WixTeam
Replied by jpmah-ben June 18, 2014
yes...i am referring to stallionspg.com
Wix Team
Replied by Or Y June 18, 2014
Please note that your domain is up and running on my end:
If you are still having trouble viewing your site, please try doing the following:
1) Go here and click on "Delete all sites". Then clear your browser's cache.
For step-by-step instructions about how to clear your browser's cache, please follow this link.
You can also find a video tutorial here.
2) Try to Flush your DNS. For detailed instructions on how to do so please go here.
3) Please go to the Windows start menu->click on 'run'-> select the first option: 'Run'-> type: 'ping yourdomain.com'->A window will pop with an IP address. Please run this test from several computers.
For Mac users: Go to 'Application' then open 'Terminal' and type: 'ping yourdomain.com'->A window will pop with an IP address. Please run this test from several computers.
-If you receive an IP address on your computer other than the IP you see here and you see this IP from other computers please contact an IT expert in your area for further troubleshooting.
-If you receive a different IP than the IP you see here from multiple locations, please send it to us in order for us to check it.All the best, Or
Replied by jpmah-ben June 18, 2014
its not working...i have tried these ways a while ago...same page prompt out when i enter my website link
this page appeared
Wix Team
Replied by Or Y June 18, 2014
Please note that you can only access your site via the domain: stallionspg.com
Or the free site address: jpmah-ben.wix.com/stallions
Once you make sure having tried all the steps I advised you above, please add a screenshot of what you see while loading your site.
For instructions on how to take a screenshot, please use this link.
To upload the screenshot, simply click on the "Upload" button and follow the steps.All the best, Or
Replied by jpmah-ben June 18, 2014
Wix Team
Replied by Nitzan June 18, 2014
I have checked your domain again as well as your billing records and all is set up and working properly on our end.
Please note that it can take up to 72 hours for the changes to propagate through the systems.
Please let us know should you require any further assistance.Have a great day! Nitzan - Wix Support Team
Replied by jpmah-ben June 18, 2014
alright...thx...i guess i just have to wait a few days to see whats gonna happen
Wix Team
Replied by Niv June 18, 2014
If the issue persists after the period mentioned by Nitzan, please let us know and so we can further assist you.
Thank you for your cooperation,Niv, Wix Support
Replied by jpmah-ben June 21, 2014
Hi, I am from before....I am the one that have a problem with my website link not working..welll after 4 days plus it is still not working...admins, can u all pls check for the problem for me ...my domain is stallionspg.com
Wix Team
Replied by Kosta June 21, 2014
Please follow the instructions provided here.
If the steps in the link didn't resolve your issues, please answer the questions in the same link so we could review the information and investigate further.Kosta, Customer Solutions.
Replied by jpmah-ben June 22, 2014
hi, all the ways and steps that are stated on that page have been tried, none of them worked. i have also tried on other PCs and laptops, the same page pop up when i enter the link to my website. It still says that my domain name is connected to one of the wix account. i am currently using windows 8.1 and tested on windows 7 too. i have tried to open with android phones but same result at the end.
Replied by jpmah-ben June 22, 2014
hi, the problem is resolved...thx..the moment i sent the previous comment, the website is working ald....thx anyway
Wix Team
Replied by Ritti June 22, 2014
Thank you for the update. Please let us know should you have any additional questions.Best, Ritti
- Wix Team
Replied by Preaa92 June 17, 2014
Domain site expired about 3 days ago, just updated payment, why isn't the website and domain name connecting after i have made payments ?
Replied by oxcellence June 11, 2014
Hi there,
My domain (www.oxcellence.com) expired on 3 days ago and I just made the payment for the coming year. On the domain page, my site status becomes active but I still can't get access to the webpage through my domain. What's going on?
Wix Team
Replied by dinamiso June 11, 2014
Dear Kavin,
I checked your site: http://www.oxcellence.com/, your domain is connected and your site loads perfectly from my end.
If you still experiencing difficulties to load the site, please follow the instructions below:
1. Open your browser to a blank page. Close any Wix pages that are open.
2. Clear your browser's cache and cookies of "Everything". You can find step-by-step instructions here.
3. Restart your browser and then log into your Wix account and try again.
Dina-Wix Team.
- Wix Team
Add reply


text:
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia - View original article
|Russell Crowe
Crowe at the Sydney premiere of Man of Steel, June 2013
|Russell Ira Crowe
7 April 1964
Wellington, New Zealand
|New Zealand
|Actor, producer, musician
|Years active
|Danielle Spencer
(2003–present; separated)
|Russell Crowe
Crowe at the Sydney premiere of Man of Steel, June 2013
|Russell Ira Crowe
7 April 1964
Wellington, New Zealand
|New Zealand
|Actor, producer, musician
|Years active
|Danielle Spencer
(2003–present; separated)
|This article is part of a series on
Russell Crowe
Russell Ira Crowe (born 7 April 1964) is a New Zealand actor, film producer and musician based in Australia and the United States.[1] He came to international attention for his role as the Roman General Maximus Decimus Meridius in the 2000 historical epic film Gladiator, directed by Ridley Scott, for which Crowe won an Academy Award for Best Actor, a Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor, an Empire Award for Best Actor and a London Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actor and 10 further nominations for best actor. Crowe appeared as the tobacco firm whistle blower Jeffrey Wigand in the 1999 film The Insider, for which he received five awards as best actor and seven nominations in the same category. In 2001, Crowe's portrayal of mathematician and Nobel Prize winner John F. Nash in the biopic A Beautiful Mind brought him numerous awards, including a BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role, a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Motion Picture Drama and a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role.
Crowe's other films include L.A. Confidential (1997), Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (2003), Cinderella Man (2005), 3:10 to Yuma (2007), American Gangster (2007), Body of Lies (2008) and Robin Hood (2010). Crowe's work has earned him several accolades during his career including a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, three Academy Award nominations in a row (1999–2001), one Golden Globe Award for Best Actor, one BAFTA, and an Academy Award. Due to his success and character variety, some critics[who?] have called him a "virtuoso" actor. He is also co-owner of the South Sydney Rabbitohs, an Australian National Rugby League team. Crowe portrayed Javert in Les Misérables, an adaptation of the popular musical. He appeared in Man of Steel, where he played Jor-El, the father of Superman. In 2014, he co-starred in Winter's Tale, based on the 1983 novel of the same name, and will star in Noah, in which he will play the titular biblical patriarch.
Crowe was born on 7 April 1964 in Wellington, New Zealand, the son of Jocelyn Yvonne (née Wemyss) and John Alexander Crowe,[2] both of whom were movie set caterers; his father also managed a hotel.[3] Crowe's maternal grandfather, Stan Wemyss, was a cinematographer who was named an MBE for filming footage of World War II. Crowe's paternal grandfather, John Doubleday Crowe, was from Wrexham, Wales,[4][5] while one of Crowe's maternal great-grandmothers was Māori.[2][6] Crowe also has English, German, Irish, Italian, Norwegian, Scottish, and Swedish ancestry.[7][8][9][10][11][12] He is a cousin of former New Zealand cricket captains Martin Crowe and Jeff Crowe.[13]
When Crowe was four years old, his family moved to Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, where his parents pursued a career in set catering.[2] The producer of the Australian TV series Spyforce was his mother's godfather, and Crowe (at age five or six) was hired for a line of dialogue in one episode, opposite series star Jack Thompson (in 1994 Thompson played Crowe's father in The Sum of Us).[citation needed] Crowe also appeared briefly in the serial The Young Doctors. Crowe was educated at Sydney Boys High School.[2] When he was 14, his family moved back to New Zealand where, along with his brother Terry, he attended Auckland Grammar School with cousins Martin Crowe and Jeff Crowe. He then continued his secondary education at Mount Roskill Grammar School where a lot of multi talented actors come from, which he left at the age 16 to pursue his ambitions and childhood dreams of becoming an actor. Russell Crowe now owns the South Sydney Rabbitohs[14]
Crowe began his performing career as a musician in the early-1980s, under guidance from his good friend Tom Sharplin, when he performed under the stage name "Russ Le Roq". He released several New Zealand singles including "I Just Want To Be Like Marlon Brando", "Pier 13", "Shattered Glass", none of which charted.[15] He managed an Auckland music venue called "The Venue" in 1984.[16] When he was 18, he was featured in A Very Special Person…, a promotional video for the theology/ministry course at Avondale College, a Seventh-day Adventist tertiary education provider in New South Wales.[17]
Crowe returned to Australia at age 21, intending to apply to the National Institute of Dramatic Art. "I was working in a theatre show, and talked to a guy who was then the head of technical support at NIDA", Crowe has recalled. "I asked him what he thought about me spending three years at NIDA. He told me it'd be a waste of time. He said, 'You already do the things you go there to learn and you've been doing it for most of your life, so there's nothing to teach you but bad habits.'"[18] From 1986 to 1988, he was given his first professional role by director Daniel Abineri, in a production of The Rocky Horror Show.[2] He played the role of Eddie/Dr Scott.[2] He repeated this performance in a further Australian production of the show. In 1987, Crowe spent six months busking when he could not find other work. In the 1988 Australian production of Blood Brothers, Crowe played the role of Mickey.[19] He was also cast again by Daniel Abineri in the role of Johnny, in the stage musical Bad Boy Johnny and the Prophets of Doom in 1989.
After appearing in the TV series Neighbours and Living with the Law, Crowe was cast by Faith Martin[20] in his first film, The Crossing (1990), a small-town love triangle directed by George Ogilvie. Before production started, a film-student protégé of Ogilvie, Steve Wallace, hired Crowe for the film Blood Oath (1990) (aka Prisoners of the Sun), which was released a month earlier than The Crossing, although actually filmed later. In 1992, Crowe starred in the first episode of the second series of Police Rescue. Also in 1992, Crowe starred in Romper Stomper, an Australian film which followed the exploits and downfall of a racist skinhead group in blue-collar suburban Melbourne, directed by Geoffrey Wright. For the role, Crowe won an Australian Film Institute (AFI) award for Best Actor, following up from his Best Supporting Actor award for Proof in 1991.[2] Despite basing himself in Australia for most of his adult life, Crowe was denied Australian citizenship in 2006 and again in 2013 because he had spent too much time in other countries.[1]
After initial success in Australia, Crowe began acting in American films. He co-starred with Denzel Washington in Virtuosity as well as American Gangster and with Sharon Stone in The Quick and the Dead in 1995.[2] He went on to become a three-time Oscar nominee, winning the Academy Award as Best Actor in 2000 for Gladiator.[2] Crowe was awarded the (Australian) Centenary Medal in 2001 for "service to Australian society and Australian film production."[21]
Crowe received three consecutive best actor Oscar nominations, for The Insider, Gladiator and A Beautiful Mind.[2] Crowe won the best actor award for A Beautiful Mind at the 2002 BAFTA award ceremony, as well as the Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild Award for the same performance. However, he failed to win the Oscar that year, losing to Denzel Washington. It has been suggested by the Guardian and Entertainment Weekly that his attack on television producer Malcolm Gerrie for cutting short his acceptance speech[22] may have turned voters against him.[23]
All three films were also nominated for best picture, and both Gladiator and A Beautiful Mind won the award. Within the six-year stretch from 1997 to 2003, he also starred in two other best picture nominees, L.A. Confidential and Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World. In 2005, he re-teamed with A Beautiful Mind director Ron Howard for Cinderella Man. In 2006, he re-teamed with Gladiator director Ridley Scott for A Good Year, the first of two consecutive collaborations (the second being American Gangster co-starring again with Denzel Washington, released in late 2007). While the light romantic comedy of A Good Year was not greatly received, Crowe seemed pleased with the film, telling STV in an interview that he thought it would be enjoyed by fans of his other films.[24]
In recent years, Crowe's box office standing has declined.[25] The Hollywood stock market (HSX) share Russell Crowe (RCROW), issued in 1997, however maintains constant accretion.[26] Crowe appeared in Robin Hood, a film based on the Robin Hood legend, directed by Ridley Scott and released on 14 May 2010.[27] Crowe starred in the 2010 Paul Haggis film The Next Three Days, an adaptation of the 2008 French film Pour Elle.[28]
After a year off acting, Crowe played Jackknife in The Man with the Iron Fists, opposite RZA. He took on the role of Inspector Javert in the musical film of Les Misérables.[29] It was announced that Crowe will be the lead in the Darren Arnofsky film Noah, set to be released in March 2014.[30] He portrayed Superman's biological father, Jor-El, in the Christopher Nolan-produced Superman reboot, Man of Steel, released in the summer of 2013. He played a gangster in the film adaptation of Mark Helprin's 1983 novel Winter's Tale (2014). In June 2013 Crowe signed to make his directional debut with an historical drama film The Water Diviner, he'll also star in the film.[31] Film will focused the time of 1919 will be produced by Troy Lum, Andrew Mason and Keith Rodger.[32]
In the 1980s, Crowe, going under the name of "Russ le Roq", recorded a song titled "I Want To Be Like Marlon Brando".[33]
In the 1980s, Crowe and friend Billy Dean Cochran formed a band, "Roman Antix", which later evolved into the Australian rock band 30 Odd Foot of Grunts (abbreviated to TOFOG). Crowe performed lead vocals and guitar for the band, which formed in 1992. The band released The Photograph Kills EP in 1995 as well as three full length records, Gaslight (1998), Bastard Life or Clarity (2001) and Other Ways of Speaking (2003). In 2000 TOFOG performed shows in London, Los Angeles and the now famous run of shows at Stubbs in Austin, Texas which became a live DVD that was released in 2001 called Texas. In 2001 the band came to the US for major press, radio and TV appearances for the Bastard Life or Clarity release and returned Stubbs in Austin, Texas to kick off a sold out US tour with dates in Austin, Boulder, Chicago, Portland, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, New York City and the last show at the famous Stone Pony in Asbury Park, New Jersey. In early 2005, 30 Odd Foot of Grunts as a group has "dissolved/evolved" with Crowe feeling his future music would take a new direction and he began a collaboration with Alan Doyle of the Canadian band Great Big Sea, and with it a new band: The Ordinary Fear of God which also involved some members of the previous TOFOG line-up. A new single, Raewyn, was released in April 2005 and an album entitled My Hand, My Heart which was released and is available for download on iTunes. The album includes a tribute song to actor Richard Harris, who became Crowe's friend during the making of Gladiator.
Russell Crowe & The Ordinary Fear of God set out to break the new band in by performing a successful sold out series of dates of Australia in 2005 and then in 2006 returned to the US to promote their new release My Hand, My Heart with another sold-out US Tour and major press, radio and television appearances. In March 2010, Russell Crowe & The Ordinary Fear of God's version of the John Williamson song "Winter Green" was included on a new compilation album The Absolute Best of John Williamson: 40 Years True Blue, commemorating the singer-songwriter's milestone of 40 years in the Australian music industry. As of May 2011, there are plans to release a new Russell Crowe & The Ordinary Fear of God recording (co-written with Alan Doyle) and for a US tour which would be the first live dates in the US since 2006.
On 2 August 2011, the third collaboration between Crowe and Doyle was released on iTunes as The Crowe/Doyle Songbook Vol III, featuring nine original songs followed by their acoustic demo counterparts (for a total of 18 tracks). Danielle Spencer does guest vocals on most tracks. The release coincided with a pair of live performances at the LSPU Hall in St. John's, Newfoundland.[34] The digital album was released as download versions only on Amazon.com, iTunes, spotify. The album has since charted at No. 72 on the Canadian Albums Chart.[35] On 26 September 2011, Crowe appeared on-stage at Rogers Arena in Vancouver in the middle of Keith Urban's concert. He sang a cover of Folsom Prison Blues, before joining the rest of the band in a rendition of "The Joker".[36] On 18 August 2012, Crowe appeared along with Doyle at the Harpa Concert Hall in Reykjavík, Iceland as part of the city's Menningarnótt program. They also appeared at downtown bars, Gaukurinn and Kex.[37]
In 2012, Crowe starred and sang as Javert in Les Misérables.
During location filming of Cinderella Man, Crowe made a donation to a Jewish elementary school whose library had been damaged as a result of arson.[38] A note with an anti-Semitic message had been left at the scene.[39] Crowe called school officials to express his concern and wanted his message relayed to the students.[40] The school's building fund received donations from throughout Canada and the amount of Crowe's donation was not disclosed.[41]
On another occasion, Crowe donated a large sum of money ($200,000) to a struggling primary school near his home in rural Australia. Crowe's sympathies were sparked when a pupil drowned at the nearby Coffs Harbour beach in 2001, and he believes the pool will help students become better swimmers and improve their knowledge of water safety. At the opening ceremony he dived into the pool fully clothed as soon as the venue was declared open. Nana Glen principal Laurie Renshall says, "The many things he does up here, people just don't know about. We've been trying to get a pool for 10 years."[42]
Crowe began an on-again, off-again relationship with Australian singer Danielle Spencer in 1989, when they co-starred in the 1990 film The Crossing.[43] Crowe and Spencer reconciled in 2001 and married on 7 April 2003 (Crowe's 39th birthday) at Crowe's cattle property in Nana Glen, New South Wales.[43][44] They have two sons: Charles Spencer Crowe (born 21 December 2003)[45] and Tennyson Spencer Crowe (born 7 July 2006).[46] In October 2012, it was reported that Crowe and Spencer had separated.[47]
In 2000, Crowe was romantically involved with his co-star Meg Ryan while on the set of their film Proof of Life.[48]
Crowe resides in Australia, He has an apartment in Sydney at the end of the Finger Wharf in Woolloomooloo and a 320 ha (791 acres) rural property in Nana Glen near Coffs Harbour. This Nana Glen property, a cattle farm (700 Black Angus), includes a chapel that Crowe built for his wedding to Danielle Spencer.[49] In 2011, Crowe and his family moved to a house with a garden in Sydney´s Rose Bay.[50]
Crowe also owns a house in the North Queensland city of Townsville: he purchased the $450,000 home in the suburb of Douglas on 3 May 2008.[51] It is believed the home is for his niece, who is studying at James Cook University.[52]
On 9 March 2005, Crowe revealed to GQ magazine that Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents had approached him prior to the 73rd Academy Awards on 25 March 2001 and told him that the terrorist group al-Qaeda wanted to kidnap him. Crowe told the magazine that it was the first time he had ever heard of al-Qaeda and was quoted as saying:[53]
You get this late-night call from the FBI when you arrive in Los Angeles, and they're, like, absolutely full-on. 'We've got to talk to you now before you do anything. We have to have a discussion with you, Mr. Crowe.'
Crowe recalled that:[54]
it was something to do with some recording picked up by a French policewoman, I think, in either Libya or Algiers...it was about taking iconographic Americans out of the picture as a sort of cultural destabilisation plan.
Crowe was guarded by United States Secret Service agents for the next few months, both while shooting films and at award ceremonies. Scotland Yard also guarded Crowe while he was promoting Proof of Life in London in February 2001.
In the beginning of 2009, despite not being Australian, Crowe appeared in a series of special edition postage stamps called "Legends of the Screen", featuring Australian actors. He, Geoffrey Rush, Cate Blanchett, and Nicole Kidman each appear twice in the series: once as themselves and once as their Academy Award-winning character.[55]
From his youth to the present, Crowe has had a special love of horses. "They're just like people," he told CraveOnline, "there are some horses that you have a deeper connection with immediately, and you can work on that over time."[56] He has also noted that he sometimes finds it difficult to part with his equine co-stars when a film involving horses wraps.
Crowe has a love and fascination of old maps, which he revealed to cartography fans when he helped launch the exhibition Mapping Our World: Terra Incognita to Australia in the National Library of Australia in early November 2013.
Crowe stated in November 2007 that he would like to be baptised a Christian, and feels that he has put it off for too long. "I do believe there are more important things than what is in the mind of a man," he says. "There is something much bigger that drives us all. I'm willing to take that leap of faith."[57]
In June 2010, Crowe, who had started smoking when he was only 10, announced he had quit for the sake of his two sons.[58] On 10 November 2010, Crowe told David Letterman that he had been smoking more than 60 cigarettes a day for 36 years of his life, and that he had fallen off the wagon the previous night and smoked heavily.[59] By April 2011, it was officially confirmed that Crowe's attempt to quit smoking was unsuccessful.[60][61]
In preparation for several film roles in 2012, from June to November 2011 Crowe underwent a gluten-free and non-alcoholic diet and fitness programme that consisted of walking, mountain biking and workout in the gym. During this period he lost 24 kg (53 lb) reducing his weight from 114 kg (251 lb) to 90 kg (198 lb).[62]
Crowe publicly endorsed Barack Obama, whom he called "the light and the future", in the 2012 US presidential election, and urged Americans to vote for him.[63]
Crowe also publicly endorsed Julia Gillard, whom he called "Leader through tough times", in the 2013 Australian federal election, although he was unable to vote for her as he is not an Australian citizen.[64]
Crowe is a known sports fan and has been a supporter of the rugby league football team the South Sydney Rabbitohs since childhood. Since his rise to fame as an actor, he has continued appearing at home games, and supported the financially troubled club. Following the Super League war of the 1990s Crowe made an attempt to use his Hollywood connections to convince Ted Turner, rival of Super League's Rupert Murdoch, to save the Rabbitohs before they were forced from the National Rugby League competition for two years.[65] In 1999 Crowe paid $42,000 at auction for the brass bell used to open the inaugural rugby league match in Australia in 1908 at a fund-raiser to assist Souths' legal battle for re-inclusion in the League.[66] In 2005, he made the Rabbitohs the first club team in Australia to be sponsored by a film, when he negotiated a deal to advertise his film Cinderella Man on their jerseys.[67] Crowe is friends with many current and former players of the club, and currently employs former South Sydney forward Mark Carroll as a bodyguard and personal trainer. He has encouraged other actors to support the club, such as Tom Cruise and Burt Reynolds.[citation needed] On 19 March 2006, the voting members of the South Sydney club voted (in a 75.8% majority) to allow Crowe and businessman Peter Holmes à Court to purchase 75% of the organisation, leaving 25% ownership with the members. It cost them A$3 million, and they received four of eight seats on the board of directors. A six part television miniseries entitled South Side Story depicting the takeover aired in Australia in 2007.[68] On 5 November 2006, Crowe appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno to announce that Firepower International was sponsoring the South Sydney Rabbitohs for $3 million over three years.[69] During a Tonight Show with Jay Leno appearance, watched by over 11 million viewers, Crowe showed viewers a Rabbitoh playing jersey with Firepower's name emblazoned on it.[70]
Crowe helped to organise a rugby league game that took place in Jacksonville, Florida between the South Sydney Rabbitohs and the English Super League champions Leeds Rhinos on 26 January 2008 (Australia Day). The game was played at the University of North Florida.[71] Crowe told ITV Local Yorkshire the game was not a marketing exercise.[72] Crowe wrote a letter of apology to a Sydney newspaper following the sacking of South Sydney's coach Jason Taylor and one of their players David Fa'alogo after a drunken altercation between the two at the end of the 2009 NRL season.[73] Also in 2009 Crowe persuaded young England international forward Sam Burgess to sign with the Rabbitohs over other clubs that were competing for his signature, after inviting Burgess and his mother to the set of Robin Hood, which he was filming in England at the time.[74]
In the 2010 post-season it was reported that Crowe's influence was critical in persuading Greg Inglis, one of the world's best players, to renege on his deal to join the Brisbane Broncos and sign for the Rabbitohs for 2011.[75] On 5 December 2010 the Sunday Telegraph reported that the NRL was investigating the business relationships Russell Crowe has with a number of media and entertainment companies in relation to the South Sydney Rabbitohs' salary cap. Salary cap auditor Ian Schubert was reported to be delving into Crowe's recent dealings with Channel Nine, Channel Seven, ANZ Stadium and V8 Supercars.[76]
On 26 January 2011 the Sydney Morning Herald reported that the Rabbitohs were about to embark on a five-year multi-million dollar sponsorship deal with the giant Star City Casino. Souths also announced a corporate partnership with the bookmaking conglomerate Luxbet.[77] Previously Crowe had been prominent in trying to prevent gambling being associated with the Rabbitohs. Reuters, on 3 January 2008, reported that Crowe was "fighting a new gladiatorial combat to wean his countrymen off their addiction to gambling machines."[78] In May 2011 Crowe was credited for an arrangement with Fox to have the 2011 State of Origin series broadcast live for the first time in the United States, in addition to the NRL Grand Final.[79] In November 2012 the South Sydney Rabbitohs confirmed that Russell Crowe was selling his 37.5% stake in the club.[80] At the Rabbitohs Annual General Meeting on 3 March 2013, Chairman Nick Pappas claimed Crowe "would not be selling his shareholding in the short-to-medium term and at this stage has no intention of selling at all".[81]
Crowe was a guest presenter at the 2013 Dally M Awards[82] and presented the prestigious Dally M Medal to winner Cooper Cronk.[83]
In football, Crowe said he followed Bristol City[84] and Leeds United.[85][86] Crowe watches and plays cricket. He played in school, and his cousins Martin Crowe and Jeff Crowe are former Black Caps Captains. Russell Crowe captained the 'Australian' Team containing Steve Waugh against an English side in the 'Hollywood Ashes' Cricket Match.[87] On 17 July 2009 Crowe took to the commentary box for the British sports channel, Sky Sports, as the 'third man' during the second Test of the 2009 Ashes series, between England and Australia.[88]
Crowe supports the Leeds Rhinos[89] in the Super League. Crowe supports the University of Michigan Wolverines American football team, an interest that stems from his friendship with former Wolverines coach Lloyd Carr. Carr used Crowe's movie Cinderella Man to motivate his team in 2006 following a disappointing 7–5 season the previous year. Upon hearing of this, Crowe called Carr and invited him to Australia to address his Rugby league team the South Sydney Rabbitohs, an offer Carr took Crowe up on the following summer. In September 2007, after Carr came under fire following the Wolverines' 0–2 start, Crowe travelled to Ann Arbor, Michigan for the Wolverines' 15 September game against Notre Dame to show his support for Carr. He addressed the team before the game and watched from the sidelines as the Wolverines defeated the Irish 38–0.[citation needed] Crowe is also a fan of the National Football League, and on 22 October 2007 appeared in the booth of a Monday Night game between the Indianapolis Colts and the Jacksonville Jaguars.[90] He is also a devout fan of the Toronto Maple Leafs which stems from his shooting of Cinderella Man at Maple Leaf Gardens.
Between 1999 and 2005 Crowe was involved in four altercations which gave him a reputation for having a bad temper.[91]
In 1999, Crowe was involved in a scuffle at the Plantation Hotel in Coffs Harbour, Australia, which was caught on security video.[92] Two men were acquitted of using the video in an attempt to blackmail Crowe.[93]
Four years later, when part of Crowe's appearance at the 2002 BAFTA awards was cut out to fit into the BBC's tape-delayed broadcast, Crowe used strong language during an argument with producer Malcolm Gerrie. The part cut was a poem in tribute to actor Richard Harris who was then terminally ill, and was cut for copyright reasons. Crowe later apologised, saying "What I said to him may have been a little bit more passionate than now, in the cold light of day, I would have liked it to have been."[94]
Later that year, Crowe was alleged to have been involved in a "brawl" with businessman and fellow New Zealander Eric Watson inside the London branch of Zuma, a fashionable Japanese restaurant chain. The fight was broken up by British actor Ross Kemp.[95][96]
In June 2005, Crowe was arrested and charged with second-degree assault by New York City police, after he threw a telephone at an employee of the Mercer Hotel who refused to help him place a call when the system did not work from his room, and was charged with fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon (the telephone).[97] The employee, a concierge, was treated for a facial laceration.[98] After his arrest Crowe underwent a perp walk, a procedure customary especially in New York exposing the enchained suspect to the news media to take pictures. This procedure was under discussion as potentially violating Article 5 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Crowe later described the incident as "possibly the most shameful situation that I've ever gotten myself in... and I've done some pretty dumb things in my life".[99] Crowe pleaded guilty and was conditionally discharged. Before the trial he settled a lawsuit filed by the concierge, Nestor Estrada.[100][101] Terms of the settlement were not disclosed but amounts in the six-figure range have been reported.[102]
The telephone incident had a generally negative impact on Crowe's public image, an example of negative public relations in the mass media. A professional public image as "The Gladiator" had to compete alongside one as "the telephone throwing actor". For example, the South Park episode, "The New Terrance and Phillip Movie Trailer" revolves around a lampooning of his aggressive tendencies. Crowe commented on the ongoing media perpetuation in November 2010, five years into the process, during an interview with American television talk show host and journalist Charlie Rose: "it affected me psychologically" (...) "it indelibly changed me".[103] A new drive to the topic brought the actor's participation in the microblogging service Twitter from April 2010.[104]
In June 2011, Crowe expressed in the course of a friendly[105] Twitter conversation with his colleague, Jewish screenwriter Eli Roth, his views against infant circumcision, calling the practice "barbaric" and asking, "Who are you to correct nature? Is it real that [God] requires a donation of foreskin? Babies are [born] perfect."[106][107][108] The comments coincided with a debate to ban the procedure on infants in California, USA.[109] Crowe, living in New South Wales, Australia, and not being a member of any church,[110] removed the comments the following day and tweeted an apology: "My personal beliefs aside I realise that some will interpret this debate as me mocking the rituals and traditions of others. I am very sorry."[111]
Since 15 November 2011 Crowe has supported the Occupy Wall Street movement via Twitter, asking his 310,000 followers to listen to Keith Olbermann reading the Occupy Wall Street Declaration[112] and stating on 15 November 2011 via his Twitter account, "The OWS statement is a very important moment; like witnessing The Declaration of Humanity".[113]
On 5 March 2013, Crowe posted a video on YouTube purporting to show a UFO flying over Sydney's Royal Botanic Gardens, recorded four years earlier. Crowe and his friend, cinematographer Duane Manwiller, had set up cameras to film fruit bats, but captured footage of the unexplained phenomenon instead. Crowe has been accused of perpetrating a publicity stunt, which his publicist denies.[114][115][116] At no point in time Crowe himself referred to the occurrence of recording the light phenomenon as having seen an "UFO". The "UFO" labelling of one of Crowe´s Tweets originates from articles in The Sydney Morning Herald and The Guardian newspapers.[117]
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Census snapshot: racial demographics map
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Would You Tell Your Child If He or She Was a Surprise?
by POPSUGAR Moms 33 Reactions 0 Shares Print
I have more than one friend that refers to herself as "an accident" and all are fine with the knowledge.
Odd age gaps between siblings or parents telling them they were a "welcomed surprise" are two telltale signs.
But regardless of age, does a child need to know that they are the result of a missed pill or condom breaking?
Would you tell your tot that they were the result of an unplanned pregnancy?
AD1985 5 years
Both of my children have been "surprises", each conceieved on different forms of birth control. While I wouldn't go into the details ("No, YOU were the broken condom, sweetie, your brother was the missed pill..") I wouldn't lie to my children and tell them they were planned. Of course, them being "surprises" is not to say they weren't welcomed, wanted, and deeply loved, which is already well established to them, and they are far too young to ask any of these questions yet.
lovely2190 5 years
being a surprised baby myself i wouldn't not tell my kids. My parents always call me their "bonus" baby. I always thought i was extra special and I think it was the way my parents told me. they never said that i was a mistake or that i was unplanned, they just used words like surprise and bonus.
GlowingMoon 6 years
Same here. I was "not planned, but always wanted." I was a big surprise to my Mom, as she was told by her doctor it would be difficult for her to conceive. She thought there was a possibility that she and my Dad would be childless. When she first heard she was pregnant with me, she was delighted. :) Well, she should be. My sister and I are the best damn things that ever happened to my Mom and Dad. Hahahahaa . . . ! Just kidding. Sort of. :)
freedski 6 years
Ohhh aembry396 that makes me soooo nervous!
SusanTeufel 6 years
I agree with the "Not planned, but always wanted" response. Babies happen when they happen a lot of the time. My parents told me I wasn't a mistake, I was a gift from God, which I suppose is the nice way of saying "we didn't plan you". I know my parents love me. My Mom found out on her 40th birthday she was going to have me (In November) and in February, I was born. I'm 20 now :3 So my poor parents at 58 had their final child (of 3) graduate high school, lol.
TidalWave 6 years
I think it's pretty obvious when you are surprise child. Being born so close to the wedding, while your parents are young, etc. You get to a certain age and you start to assume it.
UrbanBohemian 6 years
Cutting myself off at the second sentence, my dad told me when we were riding in the car to my sister's college graduation. My mom and sister were in the other car.
UrbanBohemian 6 years
I was an "accident" too. Being born 13 months after my sister, my dad told me. I don't care, being unplanned is one thing, and being unwanted is another. They had me, I'm here, and being in the world I feel like I have crashed a party.
Masqueraded_Angel 6 years
Eh...whatever. Regardless if they were planned or not, a child is still born and a new life has still begun. So why mention something that could possibly hurt your child's self esteem later on? "Mommy and Daddy didn't REALLY want me..." I have seen a lot of cases where parents have told their children that they were mistakes, accidents, a surprise etc. etc., so for me I link that to a bitter parent that is feeling resentful towards the child for taking away their freedom. Perhaps once I see this type of conversation done in a positive manner, my point of view will change.
aembry396 6 years
My parents conceived both my brothers on two forms of birth control. They always said, "God wanted us to have you more than anything."
schnappycat 6 years
My son was planned to the minute, literally, with IVF. LOL. So I'll be explaining all of that to him someday. How Mommy and Daddy were in a different room when he was conceived and how when he was actually put into my uterus, Daddy was in a different city. Heh.
luckyme 6 years
My daughter was not planned either. If/when she asks, we will be honest with her. She was the best surprise of our lives!
Gabriela14815884 6 years
I'm with KAEB06, my daughter wasn't planned but if/when she asks me I'll tell her that while she wasn't planned for she was always wanted.
j2e1n9 6 years
Huh? why the hell would you do that? Let them figure it out for themselves when they get older. If they even care.
anniekim 6 years
p.s. on the topic of self esteem peaking in 1st grade or so--I can totally see that. I don't think it's so bad that it drops later. When kids are this age they see themselves as the center of the universe. As they get older they realize other people have equally valid positions in the world--not necessarily a bad thing. That middle school dip sure is rough patch, though.
anniekim 6 years
My oldest was not planned, but we weren't working against it either. So, if she asks I'd probably be honest about it. I'd echo Greggie here in telling her that she was so fantastic we wanted another soon. So her younger sister was planned but not any more loved or wanted. Though I don't know that I'll initiate such a discussion.
Advah 6 years
I always thought there was something terribly more romantic in having/being a 'surprise' child. Now of course telling you're kid s/he's the result of a condom breaking isn't the best way of making it sound romantic - but I just love the idea that, even though you didn't really want a baby at that point, you decided it was something so great you wanted it to change your life. So, jup. :)
JoLee 6 years
I was the product of a plan on mom's part (at 15) and accident on dad's part (at 20). My son was a surprise from missed pills. A surprise like your favorite gift on Christmas morning. His dad and I "did the right thing" and were divorced when my son was 10 months old. the weird part is that I was conceived in the back of a volkswagon bug; I almost died in my own volkswagon bug at 22. My bio-dad (whom I never knew well) owned a VW parts store until he died at 50; and my son's (he's 8) favorite car is a...you guessed..VW Bug. Talk about nature vs nurture. Honesty is the best policy. If you try to cover up your child's past; it will come back to haunt you. God knows I would never want my son to go through my mom's life or my own; they were hard. However, how can you tell a child you made a mistake and at the same time tell them to never do it. For the record: my mom had me two weeks after she turned 16. I had my son at 28.
kikidawn 6 years
yeah it is sad that in first grade it starts to plummet. The poor kids. I was the same way as your daughter when I was in fourth grade. I actually went home and cried in my laundry room b/c I got a B in math!! I'll have to look up the name of it for you... I am trying to finish up a paper right now and unfortunately it is not going good for me! And I know if I get up and look for that right now I am going to spend the next hour typing it out to you! lol :) So I'll write up some of the stuff and try to PM it to you within the next few days (after finals are finally over! :dance: ) Sugar (esp lilsugar) is a big distraction for me
lickety-split 6 years
really, first grade? that's kind of sad isn't it? you know i read something that said that's when bullying is at it's peak then too. maybe a little to cocky for their own good sometimes. thanks for sharing that information. my middle daughter will be in 4th grade next year and i've noticed that she's very hard on herself as of late. if she doesn't get the highest grade possible, lead in the play, isn't the fastest swimmer, etc., she's really bothered by it. i have noticed some long faces coming out of her class lately too so i'm thinking she's not the only one. what is that called btw, that self esteem flow chart stuff.
kikidawn 6 years
"i think kids are so self-centered that they would never assume anything other than they were planned and hoped for. don't they all think they're the greatest kid in the world, lol? who wouldn't want them!? that works for me, i don't think anything else is necessary." lickety split, That is so very true! In my educational psychology class we just went over peer groups, self esteem, etc. The point where a person has the highest self esteem they will ever achieve is when they are in kindergarten and 1st grade. It plummets from there and hits rock bottom in 4th grade. Then climbs and then takes a dip during puberty then climbs and levels out during high school/college/early adulthood. It can get better during adult life, just not that often. You can have high self esteem again, but never as high as when a little kid. The reason for this is exactly what you stated, they are the center of the world. Their parents take care of them, praise them, provide every need and want. Going to school is a shock for them... they are no longer the center of the universe they have other kids to compete with and now they are not always getting praise (think Bs, Cs, and Unsatisfactory grades). They are no longer the best at every possible thing and they aren't yet able to realize being bad at just one thing doesn't mean you are bad at everything. Sorry for the long post! I am just excited about this topic being that I am going to be a teacher :)
lickety-split 6 years
there's a boy in my middle daughter's class that found out he was adopted in 1st grade. he went through a "my real mom doesn't want me" phase and then a "i'm going to run away and find my real mom because she misses me and needs me" phase. my daughter was fascinated by the idea of adoption and couldn't understand how anyone could give up a baby, so anytime he wanted to talk about it she was all ears. it still never came up as to her being planned or not planned. i think kids are so self-centered that they would never assume anything other than they were planned and hoped for. don't they all think they're the greatest kid in the world, lol? who wouldn't want them!? that works for me, i don't think anything else is necessary.
Joelgasm 6 years
I have no kids, but I think it would be fine to tell them they were a welcome surprise. I mean, as long as you're not like 'you were an accident' then I don't think it would really matter. Cuz an accident makes it sound like they weren't wanted, a surprise can be a very good thing.
Aphrosette 6 years
my sisters and sister in law were both accidents and as we have grown older it has become a source of animosity between siblings (myself included) so if we do have an accident I really don't think I'd tell them. Rather I wouldn't tell the other children. They can know and then it is up to them if the news is shared or not.
uptown_girl 6 years
Awww, Damnityell, that's so sweet!
Damnityell 6 years
I'm 5 months pregnant with a surprise honeymoon baby. If my daughter ever asked I'd let her know that she was the best wedding gift we ever received.
kikidawn 6 years
:ROTFL: Yes LilRuck I do have baby fever!! :) Have for a while now. Unfortunately we aren't able to right now b/c of not having any money! :(
LiLRuck44 6 years
First of all kikidawn I've decided that you have baby fever and you just need to have one and see for yourself what you're missing =) You won't regret it. Second, I would only tell my children once they were of child bearing years. I'd never lie if asked, but I'm hoping to avoid it until they can understand.
kikidawn 6 years
KAEB06 said it good: "he wasn't planned but nevertheless, always wanted." That's how I would put it to my children. I desperately want a baby right now, but we are not even close to planning on having one. But if I were to wind up pregnant then that child would definitely be wanted! (and by the grandparents too! His mom is aching for a grandbaby :))
Greggie 6 years
Yup. My kids know that only our middle child was fully planned. We've even told our oldest that even though we weren't planning on a child at that point, we enjoyed him so much that we planned another. :) And with our youngest, we were neither trying to get pregnant nor trying to avoid it. It's a big part of our belief system that whether we plan pregnancies or not, we're always open to the possibility, and I think being honest with our kids on how they came to be cements why we feel that way. (I mean our kids as in mine and my husband's, not saying that everyone needs to feel this way.)
mini_pixie 6 years
I was born while my parents were both in college. I grew up with the knowledge that they got married 5 months after I was born, that my dad dropped out of college and got a job, and that my mom's graduation was delayed an extra semester because she couldn't attend finals. I always knew that I wasn't planned, and even joked in high school about being a true "bastard." But despite all that, my parents never told me I was an accident, and I would never say that to a child of mine either. I knew they weren't planning for me to come along when I did, but they never put it that way to me. I think it was better for me growing up (especially going to catholic school) to not have that phrase rattling around in my head.
uptown_girl 6 years
I was an "accident", born 15 months after my sister. And I think it's fine to know that much. But they didn't go into detail, like "condom broke", or "we were that .5% on the pill", or anything like that. Honestly I never wondered, and I don't think that much info is necessary. I felt like it meant I was a bit of a love-child. Like a child of parents who were so in love? I dunno. They had my sister because they wanted a baby, but me, because of love.
KAEB06 6 years
Our son was a COMPLETE shock but I will be totally honest with him when he asks (which I know he will) that he wasn't planned but nevertheless, always wanted.
Link Love
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- Now this is how you announce a pregnancy! — HuffPost Parents


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First off: Just say the word "snub" a few times. It's one of the best words our language has to offer. Snub. Short, silly, forceful. This is an article about snubs.
It's more of a cautionary tale, really. Because if you get riled up about snubs, you're liable to type or say some silly things. For instance:
Brennan Boesch: He is hitting .345 and has a .605 slugging percentage, and he's hitting .453 against lefties. He should be there.
That was something someone wrote three years ago. And that's not to pick on that specific writer -- it was a pretty common opinion. It was a perfectly acceptable and respectable opinion, even. Brennan Boesch, All-Star, was something of a thing in 2010, but he was denied the privilege. He was a rookie sensation. He was snubbed.
He hit .163/.237/.222 in the second half, and was released just a couple years later. Boesch would probably get snubbed if players were being chosen for an All-Role-Player Team.
Here's two from the same year:
Miguel Olivo, Rockies: There may be other snubbed players who are having better all-around seasons than Olivo, but none was better, relatively speaking, at his position. Olivo is leading all NL catchers in batting (.308), RBI (39) and OPS (.905), and he's tied for the lead with 11 homers.
Mike Pelfrey, Mets: He's one of only three NL pitchers with 10 victories. Of course, we all know that wins don't mean anything, right? That's what the stat people tell us. And his 2.93 ERA actually ranks 12th in the NL.
They were having great first halves. People were really arguing for Miguel Olivo to make an All-Star roster. People were upset that Mike Pelfrey was snubbed. Those arguments look like bad high-school haircuts now.
The annual tradition continues this year, as there are snubs and articles about snubs and discussions about snubs. Snubscussions. The biggest snubscussion in the American League concerns Josh Donaldson of the A's. The third baseman has almost certainly had one of the better first halves in the game, and it's absurd that fans are now forced to play dial-a-reliever instead of getting to vote for Donaldson (or Evan Longoria). But while I understand why A's fans are ticked he isn't on the roster (I would be too), this is exactly the kind of snub that I'd be scared to argue for.
Donaldson is 27. His career minor-league OPS is .834. To be fair, a lot of that came when he was wearing the tools of ignorance and beating his body up as a catcher. But I don't think it's overly cynical to suggest Donaldson is a major surprise. More importantly, here's a list of the players who made the reserves over him:
- Jason Castro, C, Houston Astros
- Nelson Cruz, OF, Texas Rangers
- Edwin Encarnacion, DH, Toronto Blue Jays
- Prince Fielder, 1B, Detroit Tigers
- Alex Gordon, OF, Kansas City Royals
- Torii Hunter, OF, Detroit Tigers
- Jason Kipnis, 2B, Cleveland Indians
- Manny Machado, 3B, Baltimore Orioles
- Dustin Pedroia, 2B, Boston Red Sox
- Jhonny Peralta, SS, Detroit Tigers
- Salvador Perez, C, Kansas City
- Ben Zobrist 2B/OF, Tampa Bay Rays
When it comes to individual seasons, it's pretty easy to find a way to get Donaldson on the roster. Prince Fielder is having a stunningly mediocre season by his standards, for one. Torii Hunter and Jhonny Peralta have been pretty okay, but if they're All-Stars this season, they're on the fringes. It's almost as if there's a common thread between those three that I'm missing ... it'll come to me.
But of all those names up there, which one would you expect to Donaldson to eclipse in terms of future production or established legacy? In 2015, I'm pretty convinced that Machado, Kipnis, and Perez will be better. In 2015, I'll guess that I'll think more about what Fielder, Zobrist, and Peralta accomplished over their careers than what Donaldson will do over his career to that point.
Or, the abridged version: While I don't expect Donaldson to be the Boesch, Olivo, or Pelfrey of 2013, I think he has a much better chance than anyone else on that list. So I'm reluctant to argue for him because I don't want someone to pick on me in three years. Well, that, and I've never believed that the All-Star Game should be filled with the players having good first halves. Not until baseball goes back to a second All-Star Game after the season, too. But mostly the part about people laughing at the idea.
A's fans would be right to suggest that I haven't watched Donaldson enough, that he really is this good now. That's fair enough. Encarnacion would have been the topic of a similar article two years ago, yet he's one of my counterpoints in this one. An argument against him in 2011 also would have aged like a yearbook picture. Sometimes stars are found in funny places, and we might be watching the ascent of Josh Donaldson.
In a few years, though, there's at least a decent chance that the idea of him being snubbed will be funny. I probably would have put him on the roster over someone from the Tigerpalooza. But I'll leave the outrage for the A's fans because I'm not sure what Donaldson is just yet.


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HOUSTON -- The Astros added more outfield depth on Saturday afternoon, agreeing to terms on a Minor League contract with outfielder Brad Snyder in a deal that includes an invitation to Spring Training.
Snyder, a left-handed hitter, has spent parts of the past two seasons in the big leagues with the Cubs, appearing in a combined 20 Major League games (.167 average). He hit .290 in 102 games at Triple-A Iowa in 2011, with 11 home runs and 57 RBIs.
Snyder had his best Minor League season in 2010 at Iowa, reaching career highs in homers (25) and RBIs (107) with 19 stolen bases. He began his career with the Indians as a second-round Draft pick in 2003 and was claimed off waivers by the Cubs in '08.
He will come to Spring Training competing for a backup outfield spot with, among others, Travis Buck, who was signed to a Minor League contract on Wednesday. The Astros claimed outfielder-infielder Brian Bixler off waivers earlier this month.
Brian McTaggart is reporter for MLB.com and writes an MLBlog, Tag's Lines. Follow @brianmctaggart on Twitter. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


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Tuesday, April 166:00 - 10:00 pm
Forchelli Conference Center205 State StreetBrooklyn
Keynote: Yetta Kurland ('97), Senior Partner, The Kurland Group
The Jeffrey E. Rockwell OUTLaws Alumni Achievement Award: Carol Buell ('80), Partner, Weiss, Buell & Bell
RSVP to firstname.lastname@example.com by April 1, 2013
All graduates are invited to attend various student organization sponsored events at the Law School throughout the year. These programs are wonderful networking opportunities for both students and graduates.
Please check the alumni events page for more information and updated listings.
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March 6, 2013
Contact: University Relations
Phone: 410.837.5739
The sixth annual Feminist Legal Theory Conference will be hosted by the University of Baltimore School of Law on Thursday and Friday, March 7-8, at the school. Featuring a series of workshops and a keynote address, this year's conference will focus on "Applied Feminism and Families." Both family law specialists and experts from other areas of the law will present papers, join in discussions, and consider a host of questions related to the important issue of applied feminism's impact on families in the United States and in other countries. The event is free and open to the public; attendance details are listed below.
Papers presented during the conference are expected to address questions such as:
This year's conference will attempt to address these and other questions from the perspectives of activists, practitioners and scholars. The conference will provide an opportunity for participants and audience members to exchange ideas about the current state of feminist legal theories. Conference organizers say they hope to deepen the understanding of how feminist legal theory relates to families and to move new insights into practice. In addition, the conference is designed to provide presenters with the opportunity to gain feedback on their papers.
U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota will serve as the event's keynote speaker. The first woman elected to represent the State of Minnesota in the Senate in 2006 and a strong advocate for middle-class families on a range of critical issues including economic growth, job creation and fiscal responsibility and accountability in government, Klobuchar will speak on Friday, March 8 beginning at 2 p.m. in the Venable Baetjer Howard Moot Court Room in the School of Law.
There is no charge to attend the conference, but pre-registration is requested as seating is limited. You can R.S.V.P. here if you are interested in attending the Workshop Session on Thursday, March 7.
If you are interested in attending the full-day conference on Friday, March 8, go here. Registrants for both the workshop and full-day conference will be automatically registered for the keynote presentation.
Pre-registration will be available until March 1 at 5 p.m. E.S.T.
Information on parking at the University of Baltimore is available on the University's parking page.
Learn more about the University of Baltimore School of Law's Center on Applied Feminism.
The University of Baltimore is a member of the University System of Maryland and comprises the College of Public Affairs, the Merrick School of Business, the UB School of Law and the Yale Gordon College of Arts and Sciences.


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2012 Domaine Leflaive Chevalier-Montrachet
Producer: Domaine Leflaive
Style: White Wine
Grape Type: Chardonnay
Origin: France
Region: Burgundy
Appellation: Cote de Beaune
94-97 Points | International Wine Cellar , September/October 2013
Fresh aromas of white peach, pineapple, lime and crushed stone. Rich, thick and full but with a pungent vein of stony minerality running through the wine and giving it energy and lift. Wonderfully silky and fine-grained grand cru with superb volume and a slowly building, extremely long finish. Before I tasted this approximation of the final blend, I tried the two components of this wine, from the top and lower parts of the vineyard. The Chevalier du Haut, which was near the end of its malo, showed an almost painful spine of acidity and minerality and a rather strict, calcaire-driven finish of lemon oil and iodine. The Chevalier du Bas was distinctly more floral and smoky on the nose and sweeter and more lush in the mouth, without quite the mineral tension of the first sample. But these two components should be extremely complementary.