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Here's the video of bonfire night as promised :)
Hello all hencammers!
You are all invited to attend a wonderfully impressive (!) Bonfire Night firework display at my parent's house tomorrow night at around 8pm (GMT).
My parents have spent £80 on fireworks, so it's promising to be a cracking display :)
Hope to see you there - we'll be watching!
Well it's that time of the year when ghouls and ghosts walk down the street knocking on doors asking for sweets...
Whatever your plans for tonight (quiet, or partying, or anything in-between!), have a good one!
I hope you have a really wonderful day! :)
It was awesome seeing you yesterday and I'm glad you enjoyed your gifts - enjoy the themepark tomorrow, me and Lyle are jealous! :D
It's Zoey's second birthday tomorrow - can you believe it?! She sure doesn't act like she's two!!
We've bought her some awesome presents, including a stuffed pink Octopus that she had (and destroyed!) as a puppy, now how fitting is that?! She's also got some beef & liver chews, lots of hide twists, a fortune cookie shaped puzzle feeder and an interactive treat toy.
I'm not sure how she'll do with the treat toy, we tried Kasper with one years ago and he just attempted to destroy it to get the treats out!!
With the treat toy, you hide treats under the red circles. The dog then has to move the circles to one of the two exit points; the circle drops out and the treat is released!
Hopefully Zoey will have an awesome birthday tomorrow, even if she is being left for a little while for my birthday meal with my family! I'm baking Zoey a cake later today and using mashed potato as icing! :D
Happy Birthday Zoey! You are the most mischievous, whirlwind pup I have ever known! You brightened our lives and you're the smallest, most adorable Staffy out there! We love you to bits, even when you're a pain, and hope to have many, many years ahead with you :D
Hi all,
Our local BT exchange was recently (in the last day or so) enabled for superfast fibre broadband, so I've done the sums and pulled the trigger!
Swapping providers from BT has enabled me to get a lot faster broadband for a little bit less than I'm paying now - result!
It means that the streaming should be more reliable, maybe even with less buffering when you open the page. It will also mean we can go even higher in the image quality and resolution... Exciting!
If anyone else wants a cracking deal on broadband (both fibre and standard), look no further than:
Lyle bought me a target stick combined with a clicker as a surprise, and it arrived yesterday. It's brilliant!
You can make the target longer and shorter and the click is a nice volume too. You press the button to produce a click.
So essentially when the dog touches the target, you click (the click is what tells the dog they did the right thing) and then reward. At first you might need to break the behaviour down into smaller pieces (which is called shaping); for example with Zoey I clicked when she looked toward the target at first, then when she moved towards it, and finally when she nudged it with her nose.
It was funny, with Zoey she picked it up faster when the target was longer. Kasper on the other hand was confused by such a long target. Zoey went instinctively to the ball on the end of the target and picked it up super quickly.
Kasper, however, took a lot longer to pick up what the target stick was for, which was surprising. He offered all sorts of behaviours bless him trying to figure out what I wanted (lie down, sit, tall and even a sit pretty which we haven't even mastered yet!). I had to click/treat him as he approached the stick, and toss a treat across the room to reset his position so he could approach again.
We trained for about a minute and by the end he was really getting the hang of it. I've had another session with Zoey since then, and already can get her to jump on and off of furniture following the target stick :D
Check out the forum for extra pics :)
Hopefully the hencam webcam is back! Let me know if you still have problems.
The webcam feeds will be back on Friday!
That's when the carpet arrives so hopefully then I can put all the wiring back that hencam runs from...
Depending on how that goes it will be back Friday evening or Saturday at the latest. Yay!
Wishing my dad (and all the others out there) a very happy Father's Day!
I'll give you your amazing (!) gifts when I next see you, dad :D
The webcam feeds are offline for the next week or two (pretty much until we can get the new carpet laid and get the PC back to where all the camera wiring enters the house), but in the meantime I can set up a single cam on something else...
Your options are: James the snake - probably most of the time it will be showing empty vivarium as he hides under his cork hide...
Or the cows in the field opposite our house, which will mostly be an empty field as the cows aren't in there all the time.
The builder is here all day today so we're offline for the day I'm afraid.
He'll also be here tomorrow so no webcam then either.
Back hopefully the day after (Thursday).
You may have noticed the webcam is offline.
We are having building and electrical work done, so have no PC or streaming at the moment.
We hope to be back as soon as possible.
We've had some beautiful weather here today, same as yesterday - has anybody else had it?
We took Zoey for her walk around the forest, and for the first time since we have lived here the forest was dry and not deathly slippy with mud!
Well, first of all Zoey found a dead thing to roll on, only it was at the top of a hill, so she actually missed it, rolled all the way down the hill, and lay upside-down at our feet!! She was a little grubby after that...THEN the field we walk through was dotted with dried, crusty poo from some animal. Zoey had a little taste and promptly flopped onto it for a roll...'ah well, at least it's dry' we thought...WRONG!!! :gasp:
The poo was wet, gunky and stinky on the inside...ewwww! So Zoey's left side was covered in poop hahahaha!
And finally, on our way out of the forest, Zoey waded through the one and only bog in the WHOLE forest and covered her feet in sludge. Which would have been fine, only she sat down in the middle of the path and scratched her head with a gunky foot!!
So this is what we came back with...
You have only a few more days to get your entry into the competition!
If you can think of a poem, joke, draw a picture or anything else you can think of related to hens and hencam, post it and show off your skills to the rest of us!
Scarlet raised the bar (admittedly to quite a low height) with this epic... thing...
Well it's been a while but Easter is nearing so what better way to welcome you all to the site than 2014's hencam Easter competition?!
There is chocolate to be won!
Simply post your bestest Easter drawing, poem or joke in the Hencam 2014 Easter Competition thread!
There are some simply stunning prizes to be won (this part may be slightly EGGxaggerated). Chocolate Easter eggs! Yay!
As I'm not sure a chocolate egg will make it to the US in one piece (and I can't afford the postage), the prize for the winning entry from the US will be an Amazon voucher worth over $30! ($30.46 to be EGGxact!!)
Good luck!
Lots going on so this is really late - sorry!
Hope you all had a great festive period and are going to have a fabulous 2014...
With the site remodeled and starting our first local dog walking job tomorrow, we couldn't be more excited here at Paws To The Door!
Just to recap we walk and train dogs in the local area including:
Hest Bank,
For more info, or to get in touch, please check out our website at:
Hope you've noticed that the hencam webcam is now much clearer and larger - you shouldn't miss a single moment of high-octane chicken-excitement now!
I've noticed that wild birds are stealing our hen's foods - how dare they!!!
In very exciting (well, mildly interesting) news, recent upgrades to the hencam system have meant that we are now broadcasting in super-high quality!
Our Internet connection can now support a higher bit-rate, our cameras are higher quality CCD with more lines per inch, and our capture hardware supports 64bit offering higher quality and speed.
Hopefully you'll see the improvement straight away, but there are some more tweaks and improvements I will be making over the coming days so keep an eye out :)
Let me know in the forum if you notice any improvement - maybe the feathers on the hens look clearer now? The sound should also be much improved too!
Well, the great hencam bonfire night party was a bit of a damp squib - it rained like crazy all night, so it was reconvened to a later date and unfortunately new location:
(actually, that's a proper firework display going wrong, and setting off all 7000 fireworks at once!)
To make it up to all those that patiently sat watching hencam that night listening to the rain and pretty much nothing else, we're going to try and make it up to you with the amazing, exciting, once-in-a-lifetime display of... INDOOR FIREWORKS! They are notoriously bad, a lot of them look like turds and they were once popular in the 1970's... You have been warned!
I will set a date when they arrive!


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subset: commoncrawl


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"This means the possibility of concluding a contract between the future mother or father, and a woman who will carry and give birth to their baby. Cash compensation for the service is not predicted," the article reported.
The article estimated there were nearly 300,000 who were battling with infertility in this country.
According to Olga Cvejic Jancic, who holds a position at the Commission to the Civil Code, they were outlining the new code details. Points they wanted to underscore included that surrogacy would be considered upon the following circumstances:
Janic goes on to say, "It is anticipated that in the case of surrogacy, fertile cells of at least one of the intended parents shall be used, therefore, he or she will be the genetic parent of the child."
Conversely, while this new Civil Code is being drafted, The Ministry of Health has a different opinion in the matter.
In the article announcement they stated, "…surrogate motherhood in Serbia is prohibited, punishable by imprisonment of three to ten years and that the Directorate of Biomedicine at the Ministry of Health has not been consulted nor informed of any initiative around recognition of surrogate motherhood."
The idea of surrogacy in Serbia has two conflicting opinions, and one, with imprisonment ramifications.
While Serbians wait for more details, I wonder if this isn't happening now because of the turmoil in the Ukraine, which has probably affected the surrogacy business tremendously. I can't see how Serbia would be more appealing to others seeking a less-expensive alternative to the US, but we will just have to wait and see.]]>
While writers are grappling for new material and different angles, there are some articles floating around on the web which I feel have missed the point completely.
The entire case turned on the fact that Patric became a "presumed" parent after the birth of his child, Gus. Patric took him into his home and referred to Gus as his son. Vacation photographs were taken when Patric, his former girlfriend, Danielle Schreiber, and little Gus went on vacation.
Jason became a parent when he took all those steps.
Yes, the couple may have talked about Patric "maybe" taking part in the child's life when they did IVF, but if he never saw his son, he wouldn't be a dad today.
Sifting through the recent print media barrage, there's one article that did get it right.
Attorney Sara Cohen's piece in The Globe and Mail, "When does a sperm donor have parental rights?" was spot on.
She understood the, "far-reaching implications in terms of our understanding of when a sperm donor may also be a parent."
Schreiber used Patric's sperm via IVF to conceive her baby, Gus.
They were together for quite some time, but the tumultuous relationship ended in a permanent breakup. When that occurred, Schreiber cut all ties between Patric and her son.
Cohen writes, "Patric turned to the court for help, arguing that he is a parent to the child. Schreiber responded by arguing that under California law, Patric is not a parent but only a donor and therefore without rights to the child." She continued on in the recap, "At first instance, the court held in Schreiber's favour, in February 2013, finding that Patric is a sperm donor only and not a legal parent. The court relied on a statute that specifically states that where a sperm donor is not a spouse of the woman using the sperm, without a preconception written agreement to the contrary, a donor is not a parent."
Following this, Patric appealed and was victorious.
Even though Patric's and Schreiber's original intention may have been for him to only play the role of a donor, Cohen reports, this decision demonstrates that a sperm donor can become something more based on post-birth behaviour.
Cohen went on to say, "People who are unfamiliar with the specific details of the case, or at least with the court's findings of fact, may see this case as cause for concern as it appears to provide donors with parental rights. Of course, many of us, myself included, think it is good policy for donors, parents and donor-conceived children that the law clearly indicate that a donor is not a parent, without something more."
It's in this part of the article where Cohen clearly defines that Patric's case falls under the "something more" category.
Readers of this article are forced to consider that a parent may not merely mean a genetic connection. Another level of "parenthood" is the part that person plays in the life of a child.
As stated earlier in the article, Patric was part of Gus' life in many ways and instances.
"Arguably, the same finding could be reached even if Patric had no genetic connection to the child," she writes. "To be clear, Patric's legal battle is far from over; he now must stand trial and prove to the court that his post-birth behaviour with Gus is sufficient to meet the threshold of a parent."
While Cohen is an attorney who lives in Canada, she tells her readers not to "underestimate the importance of this legal decision."
While California law is different from Canada, she notes, Canadians using donors would be prudent to establish the relationship a donor would have after the birth.
And I couldn't agree more.
I counsel my known sperm donor clients about this all the time. I often have ex-boyfriends donating to their ex-girlfriends and I always tell my intended mothers, "You can negate this contract and make him a 'dad' just like Patric became one. If that's what you want after the baby is born, great, but if not, keep the ex at arm's length."
The couple placed an ad in Craigslist and Marotta responded.
The state of Kansas is trying to make Marotta pay child support.
In Oct. 2012, the Kansas Department for Children and Families filed a case against Marotta stating he was the father of a little girl, born in 2009. The declared mother was Jennifer Schreiner, who carried the baby
Over time, Schriener and her partner, Angela Bauer split up and are no longer in a relationship.
Immediately, Marotta sought legal representation opposing the state. He never intended to be the father and only wanted to help Schreiner and Bauer in their quest for a baby.
Marotta also states he signed a contract waiving any parental responsibilities or rights to the child.
Still, the state thinks otherwise.
Recently, Marotta's attorney went to the Shawnee County District Court filing a new motion.
Apparently, the state wants to call an expert witness in the upcoming case. Marotta's attorney is tossing out legal hurdles to prevent this expert from getting a seat on the witness stand.
The Topeka attorney, Benoit Swinnen, who filed this motion was direct in his legal claim.
Reporter, Jan Biles of CJOnline.com writes that Swinnen said, "The Kansas Department for Children and Families has failed to disclose its experts in accordance to state statute."
On Nov. 18 and 20, a Ross hearing for the case is on the docket. For those new to a Ross Hearing, this is when the court decides if it is in the, "best interest of the child to set aside a presumption of paternity in favor of a third party."
This sperm donor case has fascinated the media and the public and I hope that Marotta is not declared the father as he is clearly a sperm donor; however, the law is not on his side. Marotta's attorney is doing all he can to prevent a great injustice.
And I know I'm not the only one in his cheering section.
In Biles' article, "Attorney Files Motion Block Expert Sperm Donor Case," she was able to get some hard-hitting quotes from Swinnen.
"Through circumstances I don't quite understand, the court has jumped in and in an order said the state designated an expert, and I don't know when or how that came about because I didn't sign off on it," Swinnen said.
She went on to write, "Swinnen said the district court lacks authority to designate an expert on behalf of the state, and an expert designation is due 90 days before trial unless otherwise approved by the court. He contends no motion was filed seeking relief from the rules and he never received notification of the expert designation."
Biles also points out that Swinnen said the hearing date has been set for several months and should be upheld.
In his recently filed motion, Swinnen says the upcoming case should move forward without the need for experts.
Swinnen told the reporter, "All I want is, let's get the facts and what's in the best interest of the child. It's unfair to keep dragging this on and on when we have a trial date."
Biles did make attempts to get statements from the attorney representing the Department for Children and Families but has been unsuccessful.
No calls have been returned and that's not a real surprise.
Now, we have to wait and see what legal moves are made next.
Nearly a year ago, a Thai surrogate gave birth to twins to an Australian couple. Months later, the surrogate spoke to reporters, alleging the Australian couple took the little girl, but not their little boy. Yes, I am referring to Baby Gammy.
The headlines lit up cyberspace and news stations all over the world. People across the globe were horrified that a couple would walk away from Baby Gammy who was diagnosed with Down syndrome and a heart condition.
The Australian couple, David and Wendy Farnell, created a scandal. Not only did they bring their daughter home to Australia, but when reporters dug deeper, David Farnell was convicted of sexual child abuse years before.
So you may be asking, "What does this have to do with Australians being denied visas for surrogates in India?"
Well, they may be shying away from the tarnished press of the Farnell Family. India may likely be sidestepping; avoiding the line of fire Thai surrogacy has received over recent months.
While the Baby Gammy case is a rare occurrence, I do have to say that his surrogate mother is doing a brilliant job caring for him. In fact, the baby is thriving under her love and care.
Is it right that Australians, who want to be intended parents, are being denied visas because of the Farnell duo?
No. But there appears to be an allegation against a different Australian couple.
Reporter Stephanie March, of ABC.NET.AU shed more light in her feature story, "Australians Couple Frozen Out Of Indian Surrogacy Industry."
She writes, "Surrogacy advocates said India had effectively frozen out Australians from the surrogacy industry following recent revelations a child was abandoned in India by an Australian couple."
This is the first I have heard of this above scenario. Yet again, this is not the norm.
March writes, "In a statement to surrogacy advocates, the Indian Consulate in Sydney said the cause of the current visa delays is over its concern for the welfare of surrogate children born for Australian parents." The statement goes on to say, "It was recently revealed that in 2012 an Indian surrogate gave birth to twins for an Australian couple who left one baby behind, saying they could only afford to take one child."
It's wrong to generalize Australians this way. Due to a family's actions, other couples yearning to become parents are being penalized.
Sam Everingham from Surrogacy Australia told March, "India has put a freeze on all new applications for new intended Australian parents wanting to engage in surrogacy." He added, "Couples trying to embark on the surrogacy process are being denied visas, while those who have pregnant surrogates in India are facing long delays in having their visas issued."
The level of uncertainty and deflated hopes are incredibly discouraging. If only Australia would make surrogacy legal, all of this could be avoided.
Everingham told the reporter, "For those who have got pregnant surrogates we have seen a lot of anxiety and a lot of panic around getting a visa in time for the person."
These intended parents are in a race against time, doing what they can to get on India soil. As each day passes, the angst increases not knowing what the following day will bring.
Authorities in India are beginning to mandate surrogacy industry regulations. They are asking, "Australia for clearer guarantees that children born under surrogacy arrangements will be granted Australian nationality," March reports. "The consulate said it will issue visas if those guidelines are met."
Everingham voiced his worry about the happenings in India. While the situation remains in upheaval, he's genuinely troubled by the fact that couples may seek surrogacy elsewhere. And this is a problem, he said, for less established industries in other parts of the world which may put all parties at risk.
A closer look into surrogacy in India, Everingham said, shows there is a lot less screening of parents before they engage, and, often no screening at all.
He told March, "There is no guarantee that a child will be able to exit that country."
According to March, she writes that India has guidelines for the surrogacy industry but no laws to enforce them.
"Legislation to regulate the industry has been sitting in parliament for several years," she reports. She goes on to write, "Delhi-based surrogacy lawyer Anurag Chawla said until the Indian government enacts laws to govern the industry, problems will continue. The clinics feel they can do anything and said when they are caught that there is no law, so it is a grey area."
It's this "grey area" which is so troubling and undoubtedly concerning to all parties involved, including these innocent newborn babies.]]>
A recent article in USA TODAY by reporter Anita Wadhwani wrote a great piece titled, "Vague surrogacy laws can lead to heartache." This article surrounds the issues occurring in Tennessee. When reviewing Tennessee surrogacy legislation, legal experts are claiming that this state is crawling behind not only in surrogacy laws, but also in fertility and reproductive technologies.
The story goes on to highlight a former Tennessee surrogate mother, who carried a baby for an Italian couple a few years ago, had a change of heart and decided she wanted the baby.
"After years of legal wrangling, the state Supreme Court earlier this month ruled partially in her favor, sending the case back to a Nashville juvenile judge to decide on custody of the girl," writes Wadhwani. She continues, "The girl is now 3, lives in Italy, speaks no English and has been raised since infancy by the Italian couple after the surrogate's legal fight to keep her was dismissed by lower courts."
Wadhwani goes on to write that this is a wrenching custody battle that surrogacy law experts say might have been avoided if Tennessee laws didn't lag woefully behind.
"Tennessee's surrogacy law 'lacks a clear process for persons to create, carry out, and enforce traditional surrogacy agreements,'" the Supreme Court noted in its opinion. "That leaves parties to surrogacy contracts and courts ill-equipped to deal with the complex questions that inevitably arise in this area of law."
These blurred legal lines have created much sorrow for the parties involved.
Benjamin Papa, the attorney representing the Italian couple told the reporter, "Certainly, it's complicated to try at this point to establish a visitation schedule if you have a child who doesn't speak English, has never met the surrogate but does have a biological mother whose rights have never been terminated."
Papa's statement is both excellent and jaw-dropping.
If the biological mother's rights have never been terminated, which is stunning, considering she's been living with her parents for three years and if the surrogate obtains visitation, she will be a virtual stranger to this little girl.
I'm mystified by this. Yet, because the laws are so vague, I'm not stunned by this mess.
"The battle has been very hard," Papa said. "They went through the whole surrogacy process in good faith. From their perspective, the surrogate decided she wasn't going to live up to the bargain at the last minute. They have been very frustrated with her trying to back out of the deal everyone agreed to."
And it appears that this case isn't the only one floating around in the courthouse.
Wadhwani reports, "In one Rutherford County case, the surrogacy arrangement went smoothly. There was no conflict between the surrogate and the intended parents. And then the Tennessee Department of Health intervened." The reporter pushes forward, "The surrogate was implanted with an anonymously donated egg fertilized by the intended father's sperm. When the couple went to court to establish parentage, just before the birth of their child, state attorneys argued against them, saying that the surrogate must be listed as the child's mother on the birth certificate."
The end decision was that the court ruled with state health officials.
Diane Hinson, a Fellow of the American Association of Assisted Reproductive Attorneys shared her point of view regarding this article.
To date, Tennessee remains one of four states which mandat an "intended mother" using an egg donor to become a legal parent after the baby is born.
This adoption process also impacts the surrogate. Hinson said the surrogate, "is on the hook as the legal parent until that adoption proceeding is completed."
Julia Tate, a lawyer involved in the Rutherford County trial, told reporters she plans to appeal this Court of Appeals ruling.
"There are women using donated eggs every day in Tennessee," Tate said. "All these surrogates — they don't want to be named as the mother of the child. All the intended parents want is to be named as the parents. We're out of step with the nation. Our department of health is out of step with the nation."
Tate also pointed out that because of this "stepparent adoption process," the new parents have been unable to receive a Social Security card for their baby and cannot add them to their health insurance plan.
After all the expenses of the surrogacy process, more finances are added on to the tab with the adoption proceedings.
Let's hope that all this can be rectified in the Tennessee courts so these parents are treated with the dignity they deserve. They have endured and sacrificed so much to have a baby.]]>
In the Los Angeles Times, reporter, Karin Klein, questioned whether or not this is a work perk.
Her introduction pretty much says it all.
"It's generous indeed for Facebook and Apple to extend their benefits to include egg freezing for women who want to put off child-bearing. And it might be exactly what some women want. But it's also a sign of how poorly the U.S. workplace has responded to the needs of families," she writes.
Klien highlighted that under these new benefits, female employees will collect up to $20,000 for the process.
She goes on to say that egg freezing is no longer considered an experimental procedure. In the same breath, she continues it's an elective treatment and is not really recommended by the American Society of Reproductive Medicine.
Before the egg retrieval process, a woman must be on a series of hormones prior to the surgery, and sometimes, a short hospital stay is recommended.
Klien writes, "Still, an increasing number of women are expected to want this option. The question is whether they want it because that's their preference in how their lives unfold, or whether they, as well as men, feel that there is little option if they want to be parents, but also want to succeed at their jobs." She continues, "The American workplace, especially the realm of high-powered jobs, is particularly hostile to the family. Longer work hours are demanded, weekends are consumed and paid vacations are much shorter than in many other developed nations."
And Klien is right.
In the Atlantic, reporter, Rebecca J. Rosenjun, reveals some jaw-dropping statistics in reference to maternity leave policies. In her article, WHY NOT HELP FAMILIES? A Map of Maternity Leave Policies Around the World, uncovers staggering information.
"If you're a woman working in the United States and your employer provides paid maternity leave, consider yourself lucky: Just 11 percent of Americans employed by private industry have access to some sort of paid family leave. For state and government employees, 16 percent can take paid family leave," Rosenjun reports. "The U.S. federal government provides no paid family leave to its employees, though they can use their sick days or vacation days that they've saved up. This state of affairs places America in a very small group: countries that neither provide new parents with some sort of Social Security-esque benefit nor require that businesses pay their employees even a portion of their normal salaries."
We offer little, if no support for families. Don't get me wrong, it's a great thing that Apple and Facebook are bringing fertility to the front of the news, but what's really needed is genuine support for families with job security after a woman has her baby and is ready to return back to her position at the office.
What's the use of "egg freezing" when our nation, as a whole, ignores the needs of families?
Another writer taking a jab at this announcement, Kristin Maschka from Huffington Post, listed her thoughts in the piece, "Apple, Facebook and the Absurdity of an Egg Freezing Benefit."
According to Maschka's commentary, women have two career choices: have a company freeze their eggs or a company makes internal changes enabling women to have children, care for her family and still have a thriving career.
She writes, "The egg-freezing strategy means that Apple and Facebook are also saying 'It's up to each woman to plan her way through her work life. If she doesn't, then too bad, it's her fault.'" She continues, "All of this implies women can simply plan and choose our way through today's work life challenges — marry the right guy, don't lean back, choose a family friendly career, have kids early, have kids late, freeze your eggs, just ask for flexibility — and all of it actually prevents us from taking effective actions to change our workplaces and our public policies."
Then there's another buzz about this topic.
In the high tech fields, it's younger employees who are in demand since they are on the cutting edge. Tech companies are making an investment in its youthful employees, and by offering to freeze their eggs, they perhaps are insuring their investment for longer staying power. And when the thirty and forty-something-years arrive for the "first round of childbearing," a new generation of graduate students will enter the corporate doors.
It's something to think about.]]>
Election year is prime time for personhood bills to emerge.
According to the Jamestown Sun, reporter, Ryan Johnson explains there is one infertility treatment clinic in North Dakota, Sanford Reproductive Medicine Clinic, which offers IVF.
If Measure 1 passes, all IVF treatments will come to a screeching halt.
For Measure 1, the Nov. ballot spells out the following, "The inalienable right to life of every human being at any stage of development must be recognized and protected."
Dr. Stephanie Dahl of the Sanford Reproductive Medicine Clinic said if Measure 1 passes, IVF would no longer be an option.
Johnson writes, "It will affect hundreds of North Dakota families who dream of having children," Dahl said. She continued, "IVF is often the only successful option for infertility patients, especially those diagnosed with male-factor infertility."
In his article, Johnsons explains how the treatment in creating an embryo may at times produce abnormal eggs, which would not be suitable for implantation.
Dahl told reporters at a press conference, "However, under Measure 1, these abnormally fertilized eggs must be protected, even if they have no chance of growing into a healthy baby and will result in miscarriage," she said. "Even a lab accident, such as an incubator malfunction that destroys embryos, could become a criminal offense."
According to Johnson, although the North Dakota Medical Association opposed the legislation in 2013, as voting day nears, they're standing on new ground. It won't oppose nor support.
Dr. Steffen Christensen took part in opening the doors to the Sanford Reproductive Medicine Clinic two decades ago. To date, he told reporters, more than 1,000 children were born through the medical efforts of the clinic.
"But this measure could 'literally shut us down,'" said Christensen, adding how it could push him into retirement. Christensen also wanted reporters to know, "If approved, his colleagues could face criminal charges for what they do on a routine basis. We've been successful, we've followed all the ethical rules and regulations and we want to continue to serve the patients of North Dakota and our whole region."
Johnson reported if Sanford Reproductive Medicine Clinic is forced to close its doors, the patients they would have served will now have to journey to others states.
In Valley News Life, Dahl was reported saying, "If Measure 1 passes, we will stop offering IVF immediately. We will begin the process of finding other centers in Minnesota and in South Dakota and Colorado to accept our patients."
National reproductive health groups are opposing this ballot line item.
According to Wday.com, reporter Keven Wallevand said these national groups, championed by medical specialists, have echoed their Measure 1 opposition.
He writes, "The American Society for Reproductive Medicine says Measure 1 would insert the government into personal medical decisions, and would mean the end of in vitro for couples trying to have children."
In N.D., sprouting around churches are political signs urging residents to vote "Yes" on Measure 1. And embedded in church bulletins, Wallevand writes, are inserts voicing the same.
Hundreds, if not thousands of people requiring and needing IVF will be ill-affected if this passes.
An alliance of North Dakota residents has created a grassroots campaign and organization called, "North Dakotans Against Measure 1 (NDAM1)." Their mission is to overthrow Measure 1.
On their website, they clearly engage visitors with the following message, "NDAM 1 believes Measure 1 is poorly written and the unclear language leaves it open to interpretation – leading to more government intrusion into our personal lives. Measure 1 may seem harmless, but it is an extreme and dangerous law. It would have serious unintended consequences if passed." It continues, "Government should not be interfering in our personal decisions."
I'm always proud of grassroots organizations such as this, which has the heart and passion to stand up and fight.
My personal feelings on this measure and these types of "personhood bills" are that a woman's reproductive rights are just that: hers.
Move forward on legislation highlighting "safety and security," but don't cordon off limitations on how a woman procreates.
Infertility treatments are rarely covered by insurance and are incredibly expensive. To now ask that these couples and individuals drive out of state for treatment is ludicrous – and it all boils down to those who oppose abortion rights.]]>
This very scenario has prompted litigation between Jennifer Cramblett, a resident of Uniontown, Ohio, and Midwest Sperm Bank LLC, located in Downers Grove.
It's hard to imagine that something like this could occur, but clinics and the medical world as we all know, are not immune from blunders.
Here's the lawsuit core which is netting international attention.
Cramblett is alleging the sperm she chose was from a Caucasian male, but she found out during her pregnancy, the sperm used was from an African-American.
In the Chicago Business periodical, their reporter, Fareeha Ali writes, "Ms. Cramblett and her partner, Amanda Zinkon, are white and 'their desire was to find a donor with genetic traits similar to them both,'" according to a complaint filed yesterday in Cook County Circuit Court. "After Ms. Cramblett became pregnant, they found out the sperm was from an African-American donor, not the donor they requested."
Cramblett became pregnant in December 2011.
The truth started to unravel following her communication with the sperm bank in April 2012.
With an eye to the future, Cramblett and her partner decided to have more children and wanted to use the same sperm donor.
It was that phone call which alerted her that the sperm donor used was #330, not #380, the one chosen.
"She contacted the Ohio doctor's office, and his secretary told her she had become pregnant with sperm from donor #330. The Ohio doctor and clinic are not defendants," Ali writes. "The suit says Ms. Cramblett got a letter from the sperm bank the next month 'apologizing for the mix-up' and enclosing a refund check for six vials of incorrect sperm."
Following the startling news, Cramblett learned more as to how the mistake allegedly occurred. Apparently, the fertility clinic kept paper records, not electronic.
The complaint continues on by saying that the vials sent on September 2011 were erroneously interpreted. The number "380" looked like "330."
"….and there are no redundancies to catch errors like the one the defendant made with respect to Jennifer Cramblett," Ali reports.
In this day and age, you'd think there would be an excellent digital database and quality control for tracking sperm donor numbers. Why didn't this sperm bank implement a series of back-up systems to ensure that the vials chosen were the ones delivered for the IFV procedure?
The article goes on to say that following the sperm error discovery, Cramblett gave birth to her daughter, Payton, in August 2012. Cramblett and her partner "love her very much," Ali extracts from the complaint.
But having a biracial daughter is causing Cramblett emotional distress.
Ali continues, "Even so, Jennifer lives each day with fears, anxieties and uncertainty about her future and Payton's future. Jennifer admits that she was raised around stereotypical attitudes about people other than those in her all-white environment. Because of this background and upbringing, Jennifer acknowledges her limited cultural competency relative to African-Americans, and steep learning curve," the lawsuit states.
I truly believe that this statement made by Cramblett is by no means based on racism. At least, not her own – her concerns are ones she and her daughter may face outside of the home. And she is obviously grappling with this.
Cramblett, and her partner, Zinkon, raise an interesting issue, because while they love their child, she is biracial and now this couple has to deal with any of those hurdles which may come their way.
For me, reading about this new case naturally triggers past cases entangled in courtroom drama.
Remember, Carolyn Savage? What a medical mistake that was via IVF in 2009.
Also from Ohio, Savage discovered during her pregnancy that she was implanted with the incorrect embryo. After giving birth, Savage had to give the newborn back to his biological parents who lived in Michigan.
Then there is another case that comes to mind, which I believe occurred more than a decade ago. In Europe, a couple had twins: one was Caucasian and the other, biracial.
It was revealed the embryologist didn't clean the needle used for ICSI and sperm from the last couple, who were African American. That's why one twin was biracial.
As a third-party reproduction attorney, it's interesting when I meet with parents to discuss their surrogacy contract. If they bring up DNA testing, they are usually thinking that if the test comes back that the child isn't theirs, it belongs to the surrogate because she had sex. But I also tell them there could be a medical mistake, and while rare, they do happen.
While these stories pop up in courthouses, we can't forget about the top-tier fertility clinics and sperm banks that bring joy to countless couples.]]>
The New York Times kicked off those chains, offering five, well-rounded articles on surrogacy.
Nidhi Desai wrote, Legalize Surrogacy So It Can Be Regulated. Also an attorney who specializes in adoption and reproduction issues, she focused on extinguishing surrogacy hostility.
She writes, "The current debate surrounding gestational surrogacy has lost sight of the incredible potential for these arrangements and has instead turned the issue into a political sword to fight any number of tangential issues. The question we should be asking as a society and within each state is how do we legislate these arrangements in a manner that protects all parties involved?"
A pithy question weaved with a positive impact.
"To protect all parties involved and address all interests, surrogacy should be widely legalized so that each state develops a framework within which it defines how we balance the complex interests of the parties," Desai writes.
She goes on to reference Illinois, where there is consent, medical and psychological screening, legal representation, and more.
"Illinois further protects the process by ensuring that regardless of what happens to the intended parent or parents during the pregnancy, the surrogate is treated fairly and consistent with the terms of the agreement, and that intended parents, the surrogate and the state have the security of knowing that the intended parents are legally responsible for any resulting child," she reports.
I also wholeheartedly agree with Margaret Swain in her article, When a Surrogate Has a Genetic Role.
Also an attorney in our field, she discusses the vast difference between gestational and traditional surrogacy.
In gestational surrogacy, a woman is implanted with a created embryo which has no genetic link.
"In contrast, a traditional surrogate is inseminated with the sperm of either the intended father or a sperm donor, and agrees to place the child with the intended parent or parents following birth. In the majority of jurisdictions, because of this genetic connection, an adoption (or some other type of parental rights termination) must occur before the parental rights of the intended parent or parents are finalized," Swain writes.
A traditional surrogate has "birth mother" rights without legal documentation stating otherwise.
"In Arkansas and Wisconsin traditional surrogacy contracts are enforceable under case or statutory law. In those places, the intended parents, the surrogate and the child are ensured of the outcome of the arrangement, and the permanence of the placement is not subject to challenge, provided the arrangement falls within the requirements of the law," Swain mentions.
If traditional surrogacy is decided, Swain recommends documentation be "carefully drafted, comprehensive legislation as to how those arrangements should be conducted," to ensure protection.
And I fully agree.
Another great article in this series was by Andrea Braverman, Professionals Must Deal With a Surrogate's Emotional Needs. Her credentials include clinical associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology, and of psychiatry and human behavior.
Braverman has been involved in the field of surrogacy for 25 years.
She begins her article opening with, "Women are able to make better choices about participating in gestational surrogacy when they are fully informed about the medical, emotional and legal challenges of the process. Psychological counseling and screening for the gestational surrogate and intended parents are a critical part of how surrogacy has been made safe, ethical and protective for everyone involved."
How true.
She goes on to write, "Education and evaluation through counseling reduces risks by screening for psychopathology or unrealistic expectations. Research shows that psychological counseling helps surrogates and intended parents collaborate to create a positive experience."
I also agreed when she pointed out how ongoing counseling for the surrogate is essential. Having an experienced counselor on hand can assist a surrogate during challenging parts of the journey.
One author I disagreed with was Arthur Caplan in, Paid Surrogacy Is Exploitative.
He writes, "I have no issue with altruistic surrogacy. It is paid surrogacy that gives me ethical heartburn, especially paid surrogacy that involves travel to other nations to find poor women to bear babies."
Why shouldn't a surrogate get paid for what she is doing? It takes dedication, work, and commitment. And intended parents are so indebted to her.
In my practice, surrogacy is not a woman's main source of income and it never should be.
The other article, written by Lisa Ikemoto, a law professor was entitled, The Role of International Law for Surrogacy Must Be Expanded.
Ikemoto writes, "In the global market, legal uncertainty makes surrogacy fraught for intended parents and for birth mothers."
She highlights the challenges regarding legal citizenship and legal parents. According to Ikemoto, international law could change this.
"At the least, surrogacy should only move forward when children born of surrogacy will have legal parents and citizenship assured, when surrogates' health, well-being and daily lives are prioritized, and when intended parents are protected against discrimination based on marital status, sexual orientation, or other status."
I agree. But in the meantime, having an attorney who specializes in national and international reproduction issues is the next best thing.]]>
Tamar Lewin's article in the New York Times, "Surrogates and Couples Face a Maze of Laws, State by State," reviews a complicated topic.
Lewin writes, "While surrogacy is far more accepted in the United States than in most countries, and increasing rapidly (more than 2,000 babies will be born through it here this year), it remains, like abortion, a polarizing and charged issue. She continues, "There is nothing resembling a national consensus on how to handle it and no federal law, leaving the states free to do as they wish."
Lewin points out that there are a total of 17 states which legally allow surrogacy. But with that said, all those states don't follow the same protocol – each state is different with their views and restrictions.
"In 21 states, there is neither a law nor a published case regarding surrogacy, according to Diane Hinson, a Washington, D.C., lawyer who specializes in assisted reproduction. In five states, surrogacy contracts are void and unenforceable, and in Washington, D.C., where new legislation has been proposed, surrogacy carries criminal penalties. Seven states have at least one court opinion upholding some form of surrogacy," she writes.
And then there's California. It's a haven for intended parents looking for a surrogate to help them build a family.
The reporter adds, "California has the most permissive law, allowing anyone to hire a woman to carry a baby and the birth certificate to carry the names of the intended parents. As a result, California has a booming surrogacy industry, attracting clients from around the world."
Lewin also highlights surrogacy arrangements gone wrong.
She mentions a surrogate in Connecticut, Crystal Kelley, being offered $10,000 for an abortion, after a 5-month ultrasound discovered the fetus had health issues including heart defects, a cyst in the brain and a cleft palate.
Kelley flew to Michigan, "where surrogacy contracts are unenforceable," had the baby and the child was adopted by another family.
As I've previsoulsy said, these types of surrogacy cases are not the norm.
Jennifer Lahl also appears in the article, the film creator of, "Breeders: A Subclass of Women?"
Lewin mentions one surrogate featured in the film: A Texan woman, Gail Robinson, who was a surrogate for her brother and his partner.
"In the course of the pregnancy, she had a serious falling-out with her brother and suffered life-threatening eclampsia. Ms. Robinson, who had never had a child of her own, ended up seeking custody of the twin girls she carried and was declared a legal parent, along with the partner, despite her lack of genetic connection to the twins," she writes.
Very interesting considering the fact that in 2011, reporter Ted Sherman covered this legal battle in an article entitled, "N.J. gay couple fight for custody of twin 5-year-old girls."
The surrogate in this Texas case no longer has custody. The biological father does and she has visitation rights, which I think she should never had received. She's not the biological mother and she agreed to act as a Gestational Carrier for her brother and his partner.
Yes, I know, she nearly died and that is awful; however, I'm stunned that she had never given birth before the surrogate pregnancy and that's an absolute must before being a surrogate.
Not only must a surrogate have given birth to at least one healthy child, but that child must live at home with her.
She nearly dies and she's never done this before. I don't care who you are: sister, cousin, best-friend – if you've never given birth I won't be involved in the case. While Lewin does highlight a positive surrogate story, she switches gears on how states are trying to find middle ground, comparable to Illinois.
Lewin reports, "The Illinois law requires medical and psychological screenings for all parties before a contract is signed and stipulates that surrogates be at least 21, have given birth at least once before, and be represented by an independent lawyer, paid for by the intended parents."
I agree. While medical and psychological screenings are not part of the California surrogacy statute, I don't know any attorney in this industry who works with surrogates who have not been medically and psychologically screened.
For couples looking to do surrogacy, you need to be careful who your attorney is and that they know the laws in the state where your surrogacy case will be applied – or if they don't, they associate with someone who does. Most attorneys in California don't have to know the laws in New Jersey, Idaho, Oklahoma, Florida, North Carolina, to name a few, but I do.
If you want to work in this business and do a good job, it's just what you do.


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BILOXI, Miss. - Dan Mullen, head football coach at Mississippi State University, will headline a group of 154 community leaders, business executives and elected officials playing in the C Spire Wireless Pro-Am golf event on Thursday, March 21 at Fallen Oak in Biloxi.
Click here for the original story.
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2015's breakout candidates
Under the radar 2015 recruits
Senior seasons are here for the 2015 class. Here are 10 under-the-radar prospects poised to become household names.
DE Canton Kaumatule
ESPN 300 rank: 48
Kaumatule missed the majority of the 2013 season due to a pair of injuries. Now back and healthy, the 6-foot-6, 270-pound prospect has the chance to make a big jump during the season and at the Under Armour All-America Game. The only sophomore named to the 2012 USA Today Preseason All-USA team in 2012 is the younger brother of Stanford defensive end Luke Kaumatule. The Cardinal and Oregon Ducks are considered the favorites to land No. 48 Kaumatule.
Scouts' Edge: Kaumatule hasn't lost a step with his ability get off the football and disrupt in the first couple scrimmages of the 2014 season. He's pursued the ball with relentless effort and proper angles while showing little signs of rust. Kaumatule made key tackles with his long reach and seems ready to reach his potential this season.
To see 2015's breakout recruits, sign up to become an ESPN Insider.
Become an insider and get access to all our articles and tools.View Insider Benefits »
Magazine subscribers: activate your Insider account.
Craig Haubert | emailRecruitingNation
- National recruiting analyst and analyst for ESPNU
- More than a decade of college and pro coaching experience.
- Graduated from Indiana and Nebraska-Omaha
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- Senior National Recruiting Analyst for ESPN.com
- Coached in four professional football leagues
- Graduated from Eastern Kentucky and Marshall
- Mizzou rallies past Hogs for SEC East crown
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- Epicenter Of Recruiting Is ...?
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What a shitcan of worms this
What a shitcan of worms this all is. Suppose they turn over the records (doubtful), and it does help the defense? I see this as a huge problem for those who seek the surveillance state's abolition. It will reinforce the 'goodness' of the program and invert the mentality of the people to accept that having records will help prove their innocence. The justice system will be turned entirely on its head (not that it's standing upright at the moment).
No longer will the burden of proof fall on the state to prove guilt; it will fall on individuals to prove innocence. And individuals will see this as a good thing.
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Big Bang Theory Teacher Resources
Find Big Bang Theory educational ideas and activities
Showing 1 - 20 of 109 resources
Big Bang Theory: Gun Control
Though dated with references to the Bush Administration, this lesson would be a good way to discuss current issues, particularly gun control. Using an article from The New York Times (linked to this lesson), students answer discussion questions about gun control.
6th - 12th English Language Arts
Bang! You're Alive!-Ocean Exploration
Students explore plate tectonics, the "Big Bang" theory and Earth's history through geological evidence. In this understanding Earth's history lesson plan, students complete a 20 question worksheet on the history of Earth including a time line of Earth's major events.
9th - 12th Science
The Big Bang Theory
Evidence for the Big Bang theory, the definition of galaxies, the life cycle of stars, and Kepler's laws are some of the several concepts covered in this PowerPoint. Sort through the many topics, pick and choose those that most apply to your lesson for the day, and make alterations or rearrange as desired, but definitely check out the straightforward slides in this set.
8th - 9th Science
Modeling the Big Bang and the Formation of the Universe
Sixth graders conduct an experiment to understand the Big Bang Theory. In this Big Bang Theory lesson, 6th graders will observe a balloon with confetti popping to emulate and analyze information related tot he Big Bang theory. Students record the results of the experiment.
6th Science
Is There a Center of the Universe?
The history of our understanding of the center of the universe is explored through this film. The ideas of Aristotle, Copernicus, Bruno, Descartes, and Herschel are included, as well as the new discoveries that have helped the theories evolve.
4 mins 6th - 12th Science CCSS: Adaptable
A Brief History of Life: How Did Everything Begin?
Addressing the idea of intelligent design, as well as a number of creation myths, this presentation gives a measured and scientific perspective to the beginning of the world. It includes a graphic on the Big Bang Theory, evolution, and the emergence of Homo Sapiens.
7th - 11th Social Studies & History
Galaxies, Part 3 of 3
Part three concludes "A Practical Guide to the Universe," completing the description of the Big Bang Theory and what it means. This episode touches on light travel, light speed, and what that means in relation to what we see. While this clip answers many questions, it also poses them, in terms of what we know through science and theory.
8 mins 4th - 8th Science
Exploring the Big Bang with the LHC
In this Big Bang Theory worksheet, students read about how scientists simulate the original Big Bang conditions using atom smashers. Students solve 4 problems given about the Big Bang. They find the average collision energy of particles at that time, they find the number of seconds after the Big Bang that the particles collided with given energy and they determine how long it took to achieve given temperatures after the Big Bang.
9th - 12th Math
Miracle Planet - Snow Ball Earth 1/5
Erratics, or drop-stones, are geographic abnormalities. Large stones that appear in unlikely places point to glacial movement. Lava flow also helps scientists determine timing of multiple Ice Ages. Watch this clip along with the four that follow in your earth science class.
9 seconds 6th - 9th Science


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Posts with tag "lance bass"
Lance Bass' New Reality Show: A Boy Band Talent SearchPosted Jun 19th 2011 at 09:02 AM by AOL TV Editors
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Is the age of the boy band over? Not according to Lance Bass. The former *NSync member and fledgling producer, 32, just revealed that he has sold six reality shows, including one for VH1. According to Vulture, Bass is developing a new reality series with stars like A.J. McLean of the Backstreet Boys and Joey McIntyre of New Kids on the Block taking charge of forming America's hottest new boy...
Lance Bass Poses With His Dogs for PETAPosted Dec 7th 2010 at 09:54 AM by Zach Dionne
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Lance Bass has joined the ranks of celebrities teaming with PETA, posing with his rescue dogs Dingo and Foster. The new campaign encourages prospective pet owners to always consider adoption over purchasing animals. Bass tells PETA, "The most loyal, loving pets definitely come from the pound, because I think they know where they come from. I think they started with a rough life, being sent ou...
Celebrities Team Up for Anti-Bullying CampaignsPosted Oct 6th 2010 at 02:00 PM by John Mitchell
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In September, five teenage boys killed themselves after being physically or verbally (or both) assaulted for being gay. The suicides of Tyler Clementi, 18, Billy Lucas, 15, Asher Brown, 13, Justin Aaberg, 15, and Seth Walsh, 13, have brought national attention to the epidemic of bullying in American schools. Now, a number of stars, many of whom have personal experience with anti-gay bullying, a...
Lance Bass Has a New Boyfriend: Marc Jacobs' ExPosted Aug 2nd 2010 at 10:51 AM by PopEater Staff
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- Famous Couples -
- Music News
Lance Bass has been seeing Lorenzo Martone, the onetime fiance of designer Marc Jacobs, for two months, PEOPLE reports. "They're dating each other regularly, really like each other and enjoy each other's company," a friend of the couple tells the magazine. "They're going to take it one day at a time and see how it goes." Various media had debated whether the former 'N Sync singer and Martone...
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Michael Kidd-Gilchrist with the vicious dunk over Greg Monroe (VIDEO)
Feb 20, 2013, 11:36 PM EST
Michael Kidd-Gilchrist exploded up and over Greg Monroe of the Pistons on Wednesday, finishing with the powerful slam dunk at a critical point in the fourth quarter while the game was still in the balance.
The Bobcats ultimately lost the game, but the jam from MKG will be the enduring highlight of the contest.
Pacers coach Frank Vogel: 'very unlikely' that Paul George plays this year
Nov 22, 2014, 8:00 AM EST
George is trying to get back on the court before the season is finished.
JaVale McGee hanging out with old ladies in the front row (VIDEO)
Nov 22, 2014, 1:56 AM EST
I missed JaVale McGee last year.
LeBron finishes alley-oop, gets an offensive rebound and put-back on ensuing possession (VIDEO)
Nov 22, 2014, 12:01 AM EST
LeBron with a nice highlight package early in Friday's contest against the Wizards.
Eric Bledsoe takes a shot to the face on first possession against Sixers (VIDEO)
Nov 21, 2014, 10:45 PM EST
Bledsoe said yesterday that Philadelphia would lose to a college team.
Dwight Howard has plasma therapy (Kobe therapy) on right knee
Nov 21, 2014, 9:46 PM EST
He will not play against the Mavericks, at least.
Report: Nets have had trade talks with Sixers involving Andrei Kirilenko
Nov 21, 2014, 8:30 PM EST
Kirilenko appears to be done in Brooklyn.
Michele Roberts: NBA agreed to work with union before attempt to 'prove its toughness' with Jeff Taylor suspension
Nov 21, 2014, 7:30 PM EST
National Basketball Players Association executive director: NBA 'chose to bend to the pressure it feels from the current media spotlight'
Magic's Aaron Gordon undergoes foot surgery, out indefinitely
Nov 21, 2014, 6:57 PM EST
Another top pick down. This sucks.
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- Publisher: Ubisoft
- Release Date: Aug 20, 2013
- Also On: PC, PlayStation 3, Wii U
User Score
Mixed or average reviews- based on 341 Ratings
User score distribution:
Positive: 255 out of 341
Mixed: 27 out of 341
Negative: 59 out of 341
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Aug 22, 2013Being described as the most ambitious Splinter Cell yet by Ubisoft, Splinter Cell: Blacklist, despite being overall an Ok game, falls short as a true Splinter Cell experience.
The saga was known for having stories with memorable and charismatic characters, high political tension and some dark humor. The plot in Splinter Cell: Blacklist instead, is uninspired and cliched (Conviction would have been a perfect conclusion for the series) and the characters, including Sam Fisher (if you can call him Fisher) himself, are as interesting as a cardboard, which is a letdown keeping in mind Double Agent and Conviction were big steps forward in narrative terms.
Sam Fisher is totally messed up. In Blacklist, he is no longer the ultimate badass who uses a twisted sense of humor to intimidate terrorists and has a sense of companionship and loyalty. He's now an unlikeable jerk with no humanity. His voice acting is dreadful (Michael Ironside is deeply missed). The new actor phones in his performance and gives the impression he's thinking "just give me my paycheck already."
The gameplay is a continuation of Conviction, and in some times, it's a straightforward shooter, which is the complete opposite of what Splinter Cell should be. It's like suddenly Sam Fisher stopped caring for being a spy. The animation is quite smooth, but unrealistic (Sam Fisher doesn't move his legs when moving through pipes, and you can't believe a man in his fifties moves like Spider-Man).
Splinter Cell: Blacklist is another case of dead horse beating since it doesn't add anything special to the otherwise excellent stealth action franchise.… Expand
Aug 22, 2013In the title it stands "Splinter Cell", although it doesn't feel like Splinter Cell. It feel more like
Splinter Cell: Conviction vol. 2. The characters are flat and boring without any depth. But, in the defense of Splinter Cell series, the characters had never any real depth in the series. Sam Fisher doesn't feel like Sam Fisher any more. The way he talks and moves is different and not different in good way. He sounds like a guy without any conviction, without any real threat in his voice. He always moves quickly, even when he "sneaks". He climbs fast too, like a spiderman, and it looks kind of ridiculous and very unrealistic, since he is an old man. I felt right from the beginning that it was different from previous Splinter Cell series. More action oriented, which defies the whole idea of what Splinter Cell series is all about. I see this new trend in more games now. I understand why Ubisoft made this approach. They wish too appeal too wider audience, I get that. But on the other hand, they are in danger of alienating fan boys who like this game for the slow sneaking pace. When I play this new Sam Fisher now, I felt like I was playing an inexperienced boy scout playing sneaking and shooting for fun. Not like the bad ass Sam Fisher with his deep voice that gave him character and with his black sense of humor that suited Sam Fisher character perfectly. There are a lot of new options in the game. There is a lot of new gadgets available for purchase. But is it a good thing. It can be, but it's not because of the new costumes or new fancy that you can buy and upgrade. It's the tension and excitement of sneaking that made this game series great. Some people may like this "freedom to choose", I guess. But too much choice can make it as an unnecessary distraction. I'll be honest. I haven't play the whole game, but I don't think if I have patience to get through the whole game. I got tired of this fast pace action shooting game, with sneaking elements, very fast. I understand that this game have some appeal, but it's not for me. Call me old faction, but I like sneaking and hiding in the shadows, the Sam Fisher way, the old way.… Expand
Aug 21, 2013Great production and it feels and looks slick but it seems I have grown so very tired of the 'Murica fights the terrorist' trope and I just can't go back.
Aug 22, 2013Great production and it feels and looks slick but it seems I have grown so very tired of the 'Murica fights the terrorist' trope and I just can't go back.
Aug 24, 2013The Splinter Cell series has changed in a negative way and this game just makes it more obvious. Stealth, the ability to jump, nothing around to climb and a linear path. Unfortunately, that is not the Splinter Cell that I grew up with. Glad I just rented it instead of purchased.
Aug 29, 2013Host migration Host migration Host migration. Every second match cannot be finished due to technical issues. Don't buy this game if you want to play the MP. Very annoying
Sep 9, 2013Sam Fisher is dead. What you play in Blacklist is nothing but a cardboard cutout that looks, sounds, and acts nothing like the original character.
The gameplay as well is just cut and pasted directly from Conviction, trying to be more of a Transformers film than something like Ocean's 11.
Aug 21, 2013This review is only for the online multiplayer, which is the only reason I bought it. I wouldn't have paid 60 bucks for a rehash action spy game which looks exactly like Conviction.
I really liked Pandora Tomorrow totally new and innovative spies vs mercs. It was a huge step forward in bringing suspense and fun to consoles in it's day. Chaos Theory made great improvements to that online play. Spies had to play cautious and sneaky. Although kills could be done, it was a careful move that had to be made. Double Agent went down the wrong path. Remote hacking, the more techno look. It was bad. This one ups(or downs) that one. Dumbest thing ever in SC??? Spy one button insta-kills. Run near a merc from any direction, press a single button, almost faster then a merc can shoot you down and you get a insta kill.
Merc's being considered the hunters are a total joke. Spies are so overpowered in their ability to run from any direction and insta-kill its just a horrible idea from whatever person thought this was good. I am done buying Splinter Cell games. They killed the best multi-player concept with silly and dumb gameplay and managed to do worse then the worst spies vs mercs offering they had put out until now.… Expand
Dec 12, 2013Do not be persuaded by the pro-blacklist "stealth revisionists". Those who are willing to make compromises to prolong the life of the stealth genre, if it can even be called stealth in a few years. Revisionism is dangerous, our precious stealth genre will only detract more & more from stealth & water the genre down, turning into nothing but an action game with gadgets.
The game's most disgusting feature is the "win" button, which lets the player kill every single thing in an area with the press of a button, usually without getting detected as well, the player even does this while running.
As if that was not enough, the game adds in alternate pathways which lets the player avoid combat, which the game calls "Stealth" or "Ghost". Pure insult.
Some people may argue that the game can be played like chaos theory or sar but when you look at it, any game can, & blacklist certainly wasn't designed to be played that way. Imagine trying to play a Call Of Duty game like Chaos Theory, sneaking around & knifing people in the back. It would not work at all.
If you have any love for this series left, then please, do not purchase the game, don't encourage ubisoft to release more nonsense in the franchise. Air strike's, win buttons, & head on cover shooting has no place in Splinter Cell. Give this game a 0 & spread the message.… Expand
Sep 5, 2013Splinter Cell: Blacklist is a huge, huge disappointment. To start, the most glaring and evident problem is the fact that Sam Fisher is no longer voiced by Michael Ironside. The voice actor they got to replace him has the personality of a carbon blob he doesn't even try to mimic the original actor. The performance is sub-par and incredibly distracting it makes you wonder who the guy you're playing is supposed to be and when you get to take control of Sam.
Next, let's talk about optimization. The game starts in windowed mode by default and this setting can be changed but will reset every time you close the program. Why, Ubisoft? Why? Crashes are frequent enough to disrupt saves and annoy you temporarily, but otherwise the client seems to run okay when you're not actually doing anything within the game, such as when you're adjusting settings, which you'll have to do upon each and every launch because they reset.
Controllers are just barely supported. There's no variable run speed tied to the angle of the joystick. You go from a dead stop to full on sprint no matter how much or how little you tilt the stick. The d-pad opens the radial menu, but I experience a bug where the menu wouldn't stay open long enough to select anything if I can't switch from lethal to non-lethal takedowns, how can I possibly complete the mission?
The PC keyboard controls are atrocious. The cover system was perfect in Conviction. Sam stuck to walls and objects perfectly until canceled. Now, Sam will move into cover when you tell him to, but will drop out of cover if you try to move in a direction the game doesn't like.
The player character feels sluggish and unresponsive compared to Conviction. Tactical movement and stealth have been replaced by an Assassin's Creed-esque parkour and climbing gimmick that exists only as an obstacle to level progression.
The story is cliche and uninspiring America versus The Terrorists yet again. This time, we have a geriatric former spy (I say former in the sense that he no longer does anything espionage related) turned supercommando that almost makes me wonder if the developers drew inspiration from the main character of Metal Gear Solid 4.
I have no interest in multiplayer, I haven't even gone online yet so I won't comment on that aspect of the game, but from my understanding the popular Spies vs Mercs game mode is back in and many people are enjoying it despite some connectivity issues that have arisen.
All in all, this game is a huge slip from Conviction. I liked Conviction. The way you were led through the content was consistent with the story you're not a spy anymore so you don't have to play by the rules. The gameplay was hard and fast, but also fluid, stealthy and tactical. Blacklist forces you to continue the same style of gameplay without the same sense of purpose it has gone beyond telling a story and has delved into the mad realm where the only thing that matters anymore is catering to the audience who only cared about the fast-paced action gameplay, the so-called "Call of Duty" demographic.
If you enjoyed Conviction for the gameplay, you might enjoy this new sequel as well. If you are a fan of the series from the original game on to Double Agent, you will probably be disappointed. If you didn't like Conviction, then even more reason to stay away. I would advise caution when going to purchase this game no matter what you liked. If you have a console, rent it first.… Expand
Sep 14, 2013Horrendous load times. Unconceivably horrible controls. Voices drop out of sync. Unsure whether or not to consider this a Splinter Cell title.
The game feels like it was rushed and the cheap/junky Unreal Engine brings nothing to the table besides bad physics, bad motion, delayed... everything, stitched materials, and a nice cup of regret for spending $70 on such a massive pile who's sole purpose of creation was to suck as much money from the series as possible while spending as little as possible and continue doing so until they run it into the ground.
TL;DR: Ubisoft TORONTO, Unreal Engine, terrible controls, doesn't really feel like a Splinter Cell game despite the characters and atmosphere (11 veteran to the series). Don't buy this game if you liked the earlier games in the series, and if you already have.. sorry (Ubisoft isn't hehe).… Expand
May 9, 2014so-so, the game starts some nice, but it becomes tiring, boring and difficult
rarely the ubisoft disappoints, but this is a exception
this is a little poor game
Dec 27, 2013This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This game is not what I have expected at all. When I finished Conviction and loved it, I was pleased to hear that Blacklist was soon to be made. I got it just two days ago and I learned that wanting this was a mistake.
Unless you are a hardcore fan of the Clancy series, this game will probably not even touch your interest. I found myself bored with the campaign, I found myself skipping the cut scenes whenever I could. The game play started to be repeated, basically kill or sneak around all the opposition in different settings.
Splinter cell Conviction is better then Blacklist ever will be. Conviction has moments of shock and awe. Like for example, in the Third Echelon level on Conviction. Sam approached the desk, a little talk went on between him and the receptionist, then Sam detonated the explosives on the lower floors of the building.
I never saw a moment amazing like that in Blacklist at all.… Expand
Jan 26, 2014Wow what a disappointment multiplayer is. They threw out the original genius behind Double Agent and made this another crap fast paced game to appeal to the CoD audience. What makes this game bad? The Spies no longer feel like spies. Spies now have guns, not only guns but machine guns. Spies now have to stand directly next to a terminal to hack it, instead of being able to hack faraway with their spy device.
Spies can no longer hack out lights and barely any lights can be shot out.
Level Design is bland and boring, with no more tunnels, lights and barely any zip lines. Just expect to jump on top of crates and hide behind walls.
Spies can just instantly stab and kill Mercs. Instead of having to take them out stealthly and choke them. In double agent you could even talk to the Merc as you choke the life out of them.
So basically all you do now is run around, stab Mercs and jump on random platforms.
It was too bad, because the good part is now you can customize your character. But that doesnt matter because the gameplay is boring. Companies have forgotten what great game design really is and why their older games were great.… Expand
Apr 17, 2014Dear Ubisoft now as this is unfortunately the only platform people like me, that play the games and love them, can get at least the hope of getting some thoughts out to you ... let me clear my throat :
Couple of things need to get done in the new Splinter Cell 7 :
I. SLOW IT DOWN AND USE A NEW ENGINE, like the Unreal Engine again and implement rolls, lock-picking, and MOST IMPORTANT the ability to move in DIFFERENT SPEEDS, not only in two ...
II. Remove THE COVER-SYSTEM ... Whoever thought that this is a good idea ... it may is, but not in this cind of game ... it works in a game like Gears of War but not in a third person stealth game, that has more to offer than stupid action shootings ... in fact it DECREASES FREEDOM for the player ... because he is bounded to that stupid covers all the time and not able to move around freely ...
III. REMOVE ASSAULT GAMEPLAY ... because it is a stealth game and not a Tomb Raider Action Adventure ... seriously noone wants to play a stealth game in assault mode ... so in the name of godfather ... REMOVE MARK AND EXECUTE AND SONAR GOOGLES ... I would love you only for that ... and remove that possibility to buy thousands of weapons or pick em up and to just shoot anyone ... it is senseless here in this particular game ...
IV. REMOVE EVERY SINGLE SADISTIC TENDENCY OF SAM AND THE GAME ITSELF ... as it just teaches wrong ethics to the youth and feels wrong and senseless ... games dont have to be brutal to be good guys ... and Splinter Cell has the philosophy to dont hurt anyone, to do it the professional and unbloody way ...
V. REINTRODUCE THE POSSIBILITY TO CATCH AND CONSULT ENEMIES ... as that was a core feature of Splinter Cell in every game that used to be Splinter Cell ... it is an important feature and a nice gameplay element ... besides that think about reintroducing computers, doorcodes, retinascanners, some new cool stuff, too ...
VI. THINK ABOUT EFFICIENCY ... like if a new gadget or an alternative path is not efficient, nobody will like to use it because it is senseless if there is a more efficient way ... like the Hack System in Chaos Theory was way to dominant ... it was to easy to use it instead of getting a doorcode or something, so that it actually destroyed many great gameplaypossibilities just because it made them not efficient anymore ... same thing for alternative roots ...
VII. THINK ABOUT REALISM ... so dont make Sam talk loud into the mike while he is hiding behind enemies like in Chaos Theory ... and dont let him come to close to the enemy like in Chaos Theory, too ...
That are some core basics, that you should think about ... that I as a first hour fan of Splinter Cell, a hardcore fan of the game, would like you to think about ... peace and love !… Expand
Mar 3, 2014I was excited for this release.. But was disappointed.
Choices on how to play, ghost, panther, assault- more flexibility much like crysis or far cry.
Customising Sam was great.
A fair bit of content.
Way too hard.
Bad graphics, this wasn't a 13 game.
Screen tearing.
Bad facial animations.
Bad and pointless story.
Aug 23, 2014after playing through this game (in a day i might add) i was enjoying it, up until i got the last level. not revealing anything but it is the worst last lever of a game ever, who ever came up with it should be taken outside and shot. Not only is this level stupidly difficult to do with a mouse and it would also seem the antagonist has eyes on the back of his head and is able to see you through walls. this completely ruined the game for me, i haven't finished that level nor do i ever plan to. i payed 50p for Blacklist, it wasn't worth it.… Expand
Jan 2, 2014There's so much wrong with this game... in terms of multiplayer. Single player is fun, but doesn't feel like a traditional Splinter Cell game, Chaos Theory 2.0 this is not. In addition Michael Ironside isn't Sam Fisher, so he ends up sounding angry a lot of the time, and it again detracts from the overall experience. The characters feel somewhat likable however they are largely forgettable, however graphically this isn't 2013 material, but they are passable. Multiplayer however is not. Spies Vs Mercs fails across the board in terms of design and gameplay. There are few modes, and even less that work well. There's an endless amount of cheese that just feels game breaks and the mechanics aren't there. It's like the developers didn't even play the game before release. I don't like this game and can't give it something positive, however the single player is sound, even though it doesn't feel like a Splinter Cell game whatsoever, the multiplayer is so heartbreakingly bad, I can't accept this. This isn't a Splinter Cell game, not by any means. However there is some cheap fun to be had here, even if it is guilty. Just don't expect to find it in the multiplay… Expand
Feb 3, 2014Me and a friend bought this game together in order to play through the co-op and mercs vs spies together, but Ubisoft's notoriously bad combination of Uplay and poor server connections made it near impossible for us to play together. As we scrambled to find solutions, sure that no company could allow an ongoing issue as big as the inability to connect to any friends on THEIR MANDATORY GAME DISTRIBUTION PLATFORM our hearts sank as we found out that people have been reporting this problem for around 6 or 7 months now. Obviously no headway was being made by the devs, so we set about to find a solution ourselves. About 2 hours of work later we both said screw it, no game is worth this much work when for years we haven't had issues playing any previous games together. There are about a hundred different forum posts about this, so I know that the problem is widespread, but Ubisoft forum managers always just claim that customers should contact customer support, which simply tells you to mess around with your firewall settings and the like, which is just general speak for 'we don't know what's going on, try some basic stuff to try and fix it while we do nothing on a more complicated level like trying to rewrite any game code or fix how our modems and servers work'. The software for smooth, clean co-op connection has been around for like a decade, only adding to our incredible frustration at not being able to fulfill the primary purpose for which we bought the game. Sure, you can fix the issue with a combination of firewall exceptions, port forwarding, deleting certain programs and a whole lot of other work, but it just isn't worth it when literally no other game has made me do this before. I feel cheated, and almost like I should be refunded for the unfinished product which no one is doing anything about to fix. While looking up fixes I found people claiming that this very issue happened with previous Ubisoft games for years and NO ONE FIXED THEM. I rate this a 0 not because it is a bad game, but because it was literally unplayable and unfinished to the point that I felt that I deserved my money back because I didn't want it going to a company with such terrible customer support or response to such issues.… Expand
Sep 23, 2013Most will likely find it a fairly inoffensive time-consumer. But it is a new low for the series. [Issue#139, p.90]
Sep 18, 2013Meaty chunks of great stealth game book-ended by identity breaking flourishes. [Nov 2013, p.56]
Sep 17, 2013The design mantra, it would appear, is to offer you as much freedom as possible. [Issue#102, p.70]