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Big holiday, big celebrating: Three major festivals ring in the 4th of July
By Annie Alleman June 26, 2013 5:38PM
Rides are a major attraction at Naperville's annual Ribfest. | Submitted photo
Article Extras
Updated: July 30, 2013 7:25AM
Summer is in full swing, and three big festivals hope to draw in the crowds in the coming days.
The Taste of Joliet bows this weekend with appearances by arguably two of the hottest names in pop culture right now: country music star Hunter Hayes and Zendaya, runner-up on the TV show "Dancing with the Stars."
The Fourth of July weekend brings Naperville's Ribfest, where in addition to ribs, you'll find Slash, Styx, Rick Springfield and Lynyrd Skynyrd.
That same weekend, Lisle rolls out its Eyes to the Skies Festival, which features hot air balloons taking flight twice a day along with nightly fireworks, live music and lots of other activities.
It's a good time to live in the Chicago area.
REO Speedwagon can't fight this feeling, and in 2012 the band couldn't fight Mother Nature, either.
Rain showers forced the 2012 Taste of Joliet headliners off the stage a mere 45 minutes into their set, said Joliet Park District spokesman Brad Staab. Park district officials heard about it afterwards, too.
The 20,000-some people who showed up for REO Speedwagon were the most for a Taste of Joliet band.
"People have been asking for them to come for years, and then the fact that they didn't get to play a full set — everybody kind of came up to us and said, 'Man, it would be great to have them come back this year,'" Staab said.
Ask and ye shall receive. REO Speedwagon is once again set to play the Taste of Joliet, with a 9 p.m. show June 28.
"They're back to finish it up this year, so hopefully they will get to play a full set," he said. "We're happy to bring them back."
This year, however, the group may be overshadowed by a Disney star.
Zendaya, who stars on Disney's hit show "Shake It Up," is slated to perform at 4 p.m. June 30. Zendaya received major national exposure this spring when she came in second place on "Dancing with the Stars." She will do a meet and greet after the show.
"That's a big one," Staab said. "Our lineup is pretty good this year, so she will be a good finish to the weekend."
On June 29, Joliet goes country with Maggie Rose, Dustin Lynch, Easton Corbin and headliner Hunter Hayes. Hayes is the Country Music Association's 2012 new artist of the year and his debut album, "Encore," has hit the top of the country charts.
In addition to REO Speedwagon, other main-stage entertainment includes ARRA and 7th heaven beginning at 7 p.m. June 28.
Putting the "taste" in Taste of Joliet this year will be food from 25 local and regional eateries.
"We try to keep it local as much as we can, but we also try to provide a variety," he said. "We don't want seven pizza vendors in there."
Among the delicacies at the Taste are hot dogs and pulled pork nachos from Babe's Hot Dogs; deep-fried Twinkies, Oreos, pickles and candy bars from K&D Treats; giant turkey legs and giant fried hot dogs from Blackhawk BBQ and Seafood; sweet corn from the Joliet Fire Department; corn dogs, nachos and lemon shake-ups from Pam's Dance Academy; and smoked turkey legs, kettle corn, fudge and draft soda from Siegel's Cottonwood Farms.
Other selections include pizza, smoothies, a plethora of frozen treats, burgers, bratwursts, Italian beef sandwiches, deep-fried candy, and classic festival foods like kettle corn, funnel cakes and cotton candy. See the website for a complete list of vendors.
At the Kid Zone, you'll find a bounce house, face painting and a balloon artist. Radio Disney and Disney Junior will be on hand as well.
♦ With 25 food vendors, a carnival, kids zone and headline entertainment, the Taste of Joliet runs from June 28-30 at Memorial Stadium, 3000 W. Jefferson St., Joliet. Hours are noon-midnight June 28-29 and 11 a.m.-7 p.m. June 30. A $50 mega pass to the carnival is on sale at the Inwood Athletic Club front desk. Follow on Twitter @TasteofJoliet for up-to-the-minute information.
Naperville's Ribfest, one of the Chicago area's biggest festivals, returns during the Fourth of July weekend with lots of ribs and some big-name entertainment. Headlining entertainment includes Styx, Slash, Rick Springfield and Lynyrd Skynyrd.
Presented by the Exchange Club of Naperville, in cooperation with the city of Naperville and the Naperville Park District, Ribfest runs from 4-10 p.m. July 3 and noon-10 p.m. July 4-7 in Knoch Park in Naperville.
Exchange Club volunteer and Ribfest spokeswoman Julie Lichter said there are a few new things
at the fest including a new 500-person eating tent and a big screen in the eating tent that's double the size of 2012's.
"So they will be able to enjoy their ribs and see the concerts," she said.
There are 13 rib vendors that come from such far-flung places as Ohio, Texas and Georgia in addition to a few from Illinois. BBQ Masters, of Georgia, is the lone new vendor to Ribfest. Ribs are judged by sponsors, local celebrities and even by children. They use the Kansas City Barbeque Society evaluation process to judge both ribs and sauce, she said.
Don't like ribs? Not a problem.
"Besides the ribs, we have all kinds of things from filet mignon sliders to the onion blossoms and things that are good for you and not so good for you — all that awesome stuff people like to get once a year," she said.
The music is going to be great this year, she added.
"We have Styx [July 3] night and a little country for the Fourth of July. Nothing's better than a little apple pie and ribs and a little country music on the Fourth of July."
Speaking of the Fourth of July, what's Independence Day without some skyrockets?
"We also have the fireworks, which are a big deal," Lichter said. "Last year we were one of the very few suburbs that had any fireworks." There is a musical simulcast to go with the fireworks found on WERV-FM (95.9).
Some 30,000 people come to see the fireworks. Gates are opened at 7:30 p.m. for people to enter the park and stake out their spots.
"There's not a bad seat in the place to see the fireworks," she said. "It's a nice way to watch the fireworks."
On July 4, country music is king with acts like Mason River, Michael Krejci, Casey James, Love and Theft, and Billy Croft & The 5 Alarm. ARRA takes the stage at 8 p.m.
Headlining July 5 is Slash featuring Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators.
July 6 will see a couple of blues bands, a couple of rock bands, and finally 1980s rocker Rick Springfield will take the stage at 8:30 p.m.
Lynyrd Skynyrd closes out the festival with an 8:30 p.m. show July 7.
The best way to ensure you see your favorite act is to buy tickets online.
"I'm not saying it won't be busy and crowded, but we certainly try to accommodate those who have prepurchased their tickets," Lichter said.
"In addition to the carnival, we have a petting zoo, we have bouncies, we have a Euro bungee, we have face painting and we have a magic show. All of those things are free with admission to the park."
That can all be found in the Naperville Bank and Trust Family Area.
"They are providing all this extra entertainment for families to enjoy at no additional charge," Lichter said. "And the petting zoo is double the size [of previous years]. We have multiple magic shows throughout the day as well."
All monies raised from Ribfest go toward more than 50 agencies working to erase child abuse and domestic violence
"In over the 26 years that we have been putting on Ribfest, we've been able to give out about $13 million from the proceeds of this event," Lichter said. "It is put on by about 140 Exchange Club members, who then work with about 4,000 community volunteers to man the event.
It's a big deal."
♦ Ribfest runs from 4 to 10 p.m. July 3 and noon to 10 p.m. July 4 to 7 in Knoch Park, 724 S. West St., Naperville. Tickets cost $15 at the gate (kids 11 and under are always free with a paying adult) or $10 during Family Fun Time hours of noon to 3 p.m. daily except July 3. Carnival mega passes can be purchased during that time for $10. Parking is recommended in the remote lots at the Burlington Lot, Naperville Central College, Naperville North High School, Neuqua Valley High School and Cowlishaw Elementary School. Accessible and volunteer parking can be found at All Saints Academy. Twelve additional remote lots can be found on the Fourth of July. Visit Ribfest's ribfest.net, the Facebook page or on Twitter @Ribfest_NXC for detailed maps on where to park and where to find your favorite ribber.
The famous hot air balloon festival includes a carnival, live music on two stages, a children's area, a craft fair and a nightly fireworks show.
And, of course, there's also the balloon launch and balloon glow.
Balloons take flight at 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. daily, conditions permitting. The morning flight is free to watch; the evening flight requires the $5 admission. The glow should begin around 7:30 p.m.
"We get a couple thousand people out in the morning to see that," Eyes to the Skies spokesman Roger Leone said. "We caution people — it's dependent on the wind speed. The balloons don't always go up, but we do have a balloon glow every night, and those are always fantastic. It's a beautiful sight — the colors — because every balloon is different. It's quite an impressive sight."
The festival is a community event put on by the nonprofit Eyes to the Skies Committee. More than 100 booths will be at the craft show, which is located on the main thoroughfare of Short Street west of the bridge and east of the main festival entrance.
Music includes local favorite the Gina Glocksen Band opening the main stage July 3, with Pat Travers following. Acts on the Fourth of July include Infinity and American English. Semple and Ambrosia play on July 5, and country-rockers Poco play July 6, followed by headliners Pure Prairie League.
There also will be two food courts and a children's area.
"We have a new outdoor feature in the children's area," Leone said. "Part of it's a climbing wall; another part is like an obstacle course for kids."
Look also for face painting, temporary tattoos, arts and crafts, games, inflatables, demonstrations, glitter braids (for a fee), exotic animal show, science show, reptile show, magic show, trick dog show and an ice cream-eating contest.
"If you can't find it at our festival, it's just not out there," Leone said. "One of the reasons people like it so much is that once you enter the park, you have 110 acres to do what you want. If you want to sit under a tree by the water, you can. If you want to go on the carnival rides, you can. If you want to get a beer, you're not confined to a beer tent. You can grab your drink and walk around. It's really fun."
♦ The Fourth of July parade is at 11 a.m. in downtown Lisle. The fireworks show will be presented at 9:45 p.m. and is set to music. Festivalgoers can take tethered rides on a first-come, first-served basis. Tethered balloon rides cost $20 for adults and $15 for children. Craft show hours are 5-11 p.m. July 3, noon-11 p.m. July 4, 3-11 p.m. July 5 and noon-11 p.m. July 6. The festival takes place at Lisle Community Park, 1825 Short St., Lisle Visit eyestotheskies.org.
Annie Alleman is a local freelance writer.


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subset: commoncrawl


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Supreme Court seems to look to sidestep decision on gay marriage
By MARK SHERMAN Associated Press March 26, 2013 8:08AM
- Filings in the Defense of Marriage Act, Prop 8 cases
- Live blog: Gay marriage argument hits Supreme Court
- SCOTUS blog: Explaining Hollingsworth v. Perry
- Supreme Court gay marriage cases: Audio, transcripts
- GRAPHIC: Where gays can marry
Article Extras
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Updated: March 26, 2013 9:49PM
WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court suggested Tuesday it could find a way out of the case over California's ban on same-sex marriage without issuing a major national ruling on whether gays have a right to marry, an issue one justice described as newer than cellphones and the Internet.
Several justices, including some liberals who seemed open to gay marriage, raised doubts during a riveting 80-minute argument that the case was properly before them. And Justice Anthony Kennedy, the potentially decisive vote on a closely divided court, suggested that the court could dismiss the case with no ruling at all.
Such an outcome would almost certainly allow gay marriages to resume in California but would have no impact elsewhere.
Kennedy said he feared the court would go into "uncharted waters" if it embraced arguments advanced by gay marriage supporters. But lawyer Theodore Olson, representing two same-sex couples, said that the court similarly ventured into the unknown in 1967 when it struck down bans on interracial marriage in 16 states.
Kennedy challenged the accuracy of that comment by noting that other countries had had interracial marriages for hundreds of years.
There was no majority apparent for any particular outcome and many doubts expressed about the arguments advanced by lawyers for the opponents of gay marriage in California, by the supporters and by the Obama administration, which is in favor of same-sex marriage rights.
Kennedy made clear he did not like the rationale of the federal appeals court that struck down Proposition 8, the California ban, even though it cited earlier opinions in favor of gay rights that Kennedy wrote.
That appeals court ruling applied only to California, where same-sex couples briefly had the right to marry before voters adopted a constitutional amendment in November 2008 that defined marriage as the union of a man and a woman.
Several members of the court also were troubled by the Obama administration's main point that when states offer same-sex couples all the rights of marriage, as California and eight other states do, they also must allow marriage.
Justice Samuel Alito described gay marriage as newer than such rapidly changing technological advances as cellphones and the Internet, and appeared to advocate a more cautious approach to the issue.
"You want us to assess the effect of same-sex marriage," Alito said to Solicitor General Donald Verrilli. "It may turn out to be a good thing. It may turn out to be not a good thing."
Charles Cooper, representing the people who helped get Proposition 8 on the ballot, ran into similar resistance over his argument that the court should uphold the ban as a valid expression of the people's will and let the vigorous political debate over gay marriage continue.
Here, Kennedy suggested that Cooper's argument did not take account of the estimated 40,000 children who have same-sex parents. "The voices of these children are important, don't you think?" Kennedy said.
Same-sex marriage is legal in nine states and the District of Columbia. The states are Connecticut, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Vermont and Washington.
Thirty states ban same-sex marriage in their state constitutions, while ten states bar them under state laws. New Mexico law is silent on the issue.
Polls have shown increasing support in the country for gay marriage. According to a Pew Research Center poll conducted in mid-March, 49 percent of Americans now favor allowing gays and lesbians to marry legally, with 44 percent opposed.
The California case is being argued 10 years to the day after the court took up a challenge to Texas' anti-sodomy statute. That case ended with a forceful ruling prohibiting states from criminalizing sexual relations between consenting adults.
The court has several options for its eventual ruling, which is not expected before late June. In addition to upholding the ban and invalidating prohibitions everywhere, the justices could endorse an appeals court ruling that would make same-sex marriage legal in California but apply only to that state. They also could issue a broader ruling that would apply to California and eight other states: Colorado, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Nevada, New Jersey, Oregon and Rhode Island. In those states, gay couples may join in civil unions or become domestic partners and have all the benefits of marriage but cannot be married.


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The Movie Diary: Call me maybeBy Dom Cioffi
Arts Correspondent | February 27,2013Scientists and philosophers have been studying the phenomenon of consciousness for centuries, and while profound strides have been made to better understand the "I" that we all experience, it still remains one of life's greatest mysteries. I go through phases where I ingest any and all information related to this subject, whether its advances in MRI imagining that point to the foundations of consciousness or thousand-year-old practices of mindfulness that help focus consciousness.
I'm also intrigued how levels of consciousness vary between individuals. Some people seem to walk around in a semi-conscious haze while others appear hyper-aware of everything in their presence. I'd like to think that I'm on the latter part of that spectrum. When I walk into a new environment, my eyes immediately start scanning, taking in as much information as possible. I want to be completely aware of my surroundings — the sounds, the smells, the colors, etc.
My father-in-law, on the other hand, is the complete opposite. When he walks into a room, he couldn't care less who was there or what was happening. Subsequently, we call him Mr. Magoo because of his compete disregard for the world around him.
And while this bumbling approach to life can appear endearing at times, I've also seen his semi-conscious state infuriate strangers when he inadvertently bypasses them in a line or cuts them off in traffic. His seemingly oblivious nature has taught me that some people simply aren't as aware as others. He doesn't do this to be rude or mean; it just doesn't occur to him.
I was forced to remember this recently while I was in a theater watching this week's feature, "Dark Skies." The movie centers on a middle-class American family that begins to notice strange phenomena occurring within their home during the night. Eventually they realize that something "otherworldly" is responsible.
The film was delivered in a believable fashion and had its fair share of tension and uncertainty. Unfortunately, when the climactic moment of the story arrived, everything fell apart. But I cannot blame the film in this instance since something entirely unrelated was responsible for the demise.
Here's the scenario: The film is approaching its apex with everyone in the audience on edge. The music is intensifying; the lighting is growing ominous. As the beautiful mom is inching down a dark hallway with a knife raised in hand, the viewer suddenly becomes aware of a mysterious figure lurking just behind her. There it is — the first look at the creature who has been terrorizing the helpless family; an obvious alien life form with gangly appendages and a long, almond-shaped head. Its features are disguised by the nighttime shadows, but it is no less horrifying as a silhouette.
At this point in the film, I am completely enveloped in the story. These are the moments that make me love motion pictures — those precious minutes where I cease to exist and my consciousness is one with the action on screen. Depending on the quality of the film, this can happen for a short time or for the entire length of the movie. In the case of "Dark Skies," my disbelief was beautifully suspended.
And then some guy's cellphone goes off.
In this day and age, it's hard to forgive anyone whose cellphone rings in a theater. There are signs everywhere, and prior to the film's start a special notice is displayed on the screen with a booming voice stating, "Please silence your cellphones now!"
But honestly, it's just common sense.
Nevertheless, this guy's cellphone rings, which completely rips me out of the drama of the film. As I stated earlier,
I've gotten better about giving people the benefit of the doubt, so while I was irritated, I opted to refocus on the film and not this gentleman's indiscretion.
But just as I was implementing this forgiving attitude, he actually answered the phone!
I'm not lying. It was as if he was sitting at home in his living room. "Hello? Hey, what's going on? Uhhh, I'm watching a movie. What are you up to?"
I am in shock at this point and completely removed from the action of the film. I keep trying to look back at the screen, but then every bit of my attention is drawn to this guy's conversation, not only because of his level of rudeness, but also because of the volume of his voice. I've been going to the movies every week for 19 years, and I have never had this happen. I've heard phones go off and listened to kids have inappropriately loud conversations, but never anything as rude as this.
In the end, I resisted saying anything, but another guy sitting just behind me didn't restrain. "Are you kidding me, dude?!" he shouted.
I caught the look on the guy's face who was on the phone, and it was one of complete shock. He was obviously taken aback by the reprimand and unaware that his actions would be construed as annoying.
So, while the kind warnings are copious in every theater in the world, let me restate for those whose level of consciousness may be somewhat stunted: If you're going to the theater (or any social event), please silence your phone. That ring (or ridiculously inappropriate conversation) could ruin the experience for the rest of the crowd.
A disrupted "C+" for "Dark Skies."
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Reviewed by Automobile Magazine on 11/13/2007
Horsepower compensates for a lot of sins, however, so SRT gave the Caliber the best power rating in the category and installed the beefy front brake calipers from the 4100-pound Dodge Charger R/T. An aggressive body kit is nicely matched to five-spoke, nineteen-inch wheels. At $22,995, the price is right, too.
High horsepower is nice and all - the 285-hp Caliber SRT4 is very fast, and Dodge says it will top out at 155 mph and hit 60 mph in about six seconds - but sending all those horses through the front wheels results in frustrating torque steer, even at high speeds. Moreover, the steering itself is numb. Since there is no limited-slip differential, the ABS works the big calipers overtime to help juggle the torque between the front wheels. The Caliber has a surprisingly decent ride, but there's only so much the dampers can do for body and wheel control when the gigantic wheel/tire combination at each corner weighs more than fifty pounds. Our lumpy, bumpy test route quickly overwhelmed the SRT4 and revealed that the Dodge is not as cohesive and fluid as the GTI. The SRT4 is closer to the hot-rod spirit of the Mazdaspeed 3, but it's unable to match the Japanese car's balance of speed, grip, and refinement--and the Mazdaspeed is hardly what we call refined.
The recipe for such a car is pretty simple: increase power, tweak the suspension and chassis, and embellish the bodywork. But as any good chef can tell you, the end product is a reflection of the quality of the ingredients. In this case, Chrysler handed the SRT team a can of Spam, and they doctored it the best they could and cooked up a very good Caliber. Unfortunately, you'll never get a world-class meal when you start with Spam, and neither will you get a world-class hot hatch when you start with a Caliber.
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Hailey Duke Inspires
Olympic alpine racer Hailey Duke isn't hard to pick out from the crowd leaving Warm Springs after a great day spent on the slopes. Most recreational skiers don't look this comfortable with a pair of racing skis slung over each shoulder. She also carries a huge backpack and juggles the rest of the equipment she needs to train for what will be some of the most important six weeks of her life. And that doesn't even take into account the Team USA race suit she is wearing beneath her jacket; the same one she wore in the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympic Games, except now the cuffs are a bit frayed and are rolled up to her knees. She has a second one she races in.
Duke is beaming as she comes off the hill, thrilled to be back in Sun Valley, thrilled to be training on Baldy. Her bright blue eyes sparkle with delight as this native daughter (she was born in Sun Valley and lived here until she was five) explains how happy she is to be home. "My parents were both Sun Valley Ski Instructors when I was little," she said, "I learned to ski on Dollar. This winter, I had to figure out where my support system was, where I could train most effectively and be most comfortable. Sun Valley is it. Baldy is an awesome hill. It provides everything I am looking for at the top level – the best surface, great courses. It just doesn't get much better than this."
Effective training is critical to the 28-year-old at this juncture in her racing career as she is taking a run at the Sochi Winter Olympic Games that begin in less than 40 days in Russia. She explains, for slalom skiers, the meat of the season starts now and she plans on soon traveling to Utah and then on to Europe to try to secure one of four women's spots for slalom racers on Team USA. Making this happen as an independent athlete requires raw determination, outstanding organization and laser-like focus. Thankfully Hailey possesses all these traits.
Part of her motivation stems from now feeling strong, fast and healthy following brain surgery last February. Yes, brain surgery. After years of fighting overwhelming fatigue, Hailey was finally diagnosed with a benign brain tumor that was attached to her pituitary gland. A successful surgery left Hailey feeling much better quickly and by spring, she was back on her skis, pursuing her Olympic dreams. Due to her health concerns and subsequent declining results, she was cut as a member of the U.S. Ski Team and suddenly needed to learn to negotiate the tricky world of competing as an independent athlete. That means not only training at an elite level, but fundraising, securing sponsorship, planning complex itineraries and literally chasing the dream.
Since the surgery, Hailey says she feels great – invigorated, energetic and ready to take on everything that this next chapter entails. She is also slightly amazed that she was able to accomplish everything she did – great World Cup finishes and a spot on Team USA in 2010 – while the tumor unknowingly grew. Just imagine what she is capable of totally healthy and healed.
Hailey is ready to see just what she is capable of and to that end, spent the morning with the Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation Gold and FIS teams running slalom gates on Lower Warm Springs. She is living with coach Erika Hogan who she knew from her younger years in Sun Valley. "I'm living a few blocks from where I was born," Hailey said. "I love the healthy vibe here. I love the people. It's the best place to home base during this critical time for me."
For the SVSEF athletes running gates alongside Hailey, having an Olympian among them is also incredibly inspiring. "I tell the younger kids that we are all skiing the same course," she said. The FIS racers are those 16 and older who have qualified by criteria or been invited by the coaches to ski at the FIS (international) racing level. "It's not that far away from where they are to where I am. We are working on the same things," Hailey said.
Hailey will be training on Baldy 2 -3 hours each day before she leaves for her upcoming races that include two Europa Cups. To get to Sochi, she will need to podium in at least one Europa Cup race, get to the final World Cup race before the Olympics and from there, hopefully, it's on to Russia.
"I really don't believe you're only as good as your last race," she smiled. "I bring depth and experience to the sport and plan to work as hard as I can to represent America in Sochi."
To support Hailey in her quest for the 2014 Winter Olympic Games, and to follow her progress, please log onto haileyduke.com or follow her on social media. If you see a smiling woman with a frayed Olympic race suit encouraging local athletes before dropping into the course herself, be sure to say hello and give her your best wishes. Hailey Duke is an excellent ambassador for alpine racing and for Sun Valley and is sure to inspire the New Year's resolutions to anyone with snow sports dreams.
Hailey Duke's spirit, grit and optimism are a great example to us all.


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This little hand-sized humor book in the same format as the best-selling HOW TO SPEAK ALASKAN is a collection of delightful words of wisdom, humor, insight, and inspiration from the men and women who run the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race®, the Yukon Quest, and the sprint races, and those who mush just for fun. Those who shared their sled dog wisdom, love and respect their dogs. And if you love dogs, you will love this book.
"A dog musher needs two things--a wife and a truck. And they both have to work..." --Anonymous
ABOUT THE EDITOR: Trish Brown is the author of several nonfiction books for adults and two children's books, including the award-winning CHILDREN OF THE MIDNIGHT SUN and the recently released picture book GROUCHO'S EYEBROWS.


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Legends Bay is one of Brighton Homesâ most established communities, located on FM 3180 in Baytown, Texas. Legends Bay offers New Homes starting from the $160s and ranging from approximately 1300 Sq. Ft. to 2800 Sq. Ft. Our lot sizes are on average 50' x 115'. Oversized lots are available. We have added 4 new plans to this great community which allows you to choose from 15 different floor plans. We have a variety of plans to fit any lifestyle. Check us out today!!
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Dish Letter: Upgrade Receiver (721 etc)
Posted 15 September 2008 - 06:39 PM
It would probably make more sense for me to replace the 721 with another HD DVR. (I am currently subscribed to DishDVR Advantage and dishHD.) Does anyone know if I would have to pay monthly lease and DVR fees on the new receiver if I do the VIP upgrade instead of the simple swap to a DVR522?
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Posted 15 September 2008 - 08:27 PM
Posted 16 September 2008 - 03:08 AM
Maybe, its worth a try. I've been with them about the same and that's my package. I have a DVR fee waiver on my 7200 (part of the deal when I originally bought it, temporarily lost it, then got it back when I contacted ceo@echostar). My other DVR was a 721 which died and was replaced w/ a 522 no charge and no DVR fees. On the phone anyway, the deal is no lease charges, no DVR fees, just pay what I'm paying now. The only catch is that the 625 is officially leased, I won't own it like I do my 7200 and 522. But neither do I have to return the 7200. Not sure what I will do with it though, as it will shortly be a paperweight. I would get a modest credit on my bill if I return it (I think it was $20). I thought about eBaying it, but it would be useless as a functional reciever - only good as a collector's item. Which is the one reason I have to hang on to it - the first DVR reciever and the only (so far as I know) reciever w/ webTV.
Did you have to agree to any 12/24 month commitment? What about the phone line fee? I've been with dish since 2000 and have 2 7200s and 2 721s and have never been hooked up to a phone (would be a major pain). Also, it seems the 625 has some kind of funky wireless ability to display the second tuner on another TV? (And the 522 doesn't?) If so, I wonder if I can get rid of at least 1 receiver on the account. Finally, I wonder if it's best to call afterhours or during 'peak' hours to get a nice CSR??
Posted 16 September 2008 - 05:35 AM
As to getting a nice csr, you can always ask to be put through to someone in the customer retention department. Once I was switched over, the new person was much more helpful.
Waiver for phone line, no install cost, no 24-month committment and no charge to go from a 7200 w/1 tuner to a 625 with 2-tuners.
My monthly cost will remain the same.
Posted 16 September 2008 - 10:44 AM
Today, 9-16, I saw a lease charge on my bill online. I called and talked to Angel who insisted the lease fee applied in spite of my explanation of the forced dish initiated upgrade. She finally waived lease fees for one year only.
I just wrote to ceo@echostar and am awaiting a resolution.
Anyone else have this problem? Is there a better way or any tips on how to get this resolved?
Posted 16 September 2008 - 01:23 PM
Posted 16 September 2008 - 02:36 PM
I got the same letter today, and I was surprised because when I called the told me since I am in Puerto Rico I have to go to a retailer and buy a new receiver. That's a bull I have been with dish since 1999 and the CSR treat me if I was worth crap and I said hell no! I ask for a supervisor and he could not help either!. I am so mad! Well I am going to have and keep on watching the 721 and when it dies, I don't know what I am going to do!
Today finally, I got a call from Dish today and they are going to change my 721 for a 522. Well at least I got something out of nothing!
Posted 16 September 2008 - 03:07 PM
Posted 16 September 2008 - 03:16 PM
Has anyone got a 722 in exchange for their 721 without any charge or new monthly fees? I don't have an HDTV but hope to get one someday.
No, they are charging me $200 installed (they wouldn't let me do it myself). I could get it free if I would take the 522. I know I want HD soon, so now is as good a time as any. The 622 has a lot less space and was only $50 cheaper, so I went with the 722. The CSR wouldn't even offer the HD DVR's until I said I wanted HD. Monthly fee will always go up for the HD service. I am NOT being charged a DVR fee. I am keeping the 508 for now and was told several times my bill will increase $10/mo. for the HD service.
Posted 16 September 2008 - 04:15 PM
Posted 16 September 2008 - 05:06 PM
I am planning on buying the HD set before Friday when the tech will come to do the install. When you move from a 721 to a 722 installed, will the tech bring all necessary cables including HDMI, or will they expect me to have those?
Usally they will bring the component cables you have to provide HDMI if you want it.
Leased 722 DVR (Under contract until 08/02/10?)
(The installer had me sign an exsisting customer 18 month agreement!)
Owned 301 (Purchased at Wal-Mart 12/12/03)
Posted 16 September 2008 - 05:51 PM
Usally they will bring the component cables you have to provide HDMI if you want it.
http://www.monoprice.com for excellent HDMI cables for very little $$, shipped quickly.
PS Some installers may provide an HDMI cable... some can bill it to E*.
Olevia 542i fed by ViP622 and 522
Posted 16 September 2008 - 06:17 PM
- both have a 120gb hard drive w/ 100 hrs of recording
- both have 2 tuners w/ a PIP option.
- I'm guessing both have a 9 day program guide??
- both are PocketDish compatible
- both have UHF remotes
- both have mult-room viewing options
So what is the real difference?
Do they include the DPP separator in the box?
Posted 16 September 2008 - 06:30 PM
Posted 16 September 2008 - 06:43 PM
The only difference is HD size.
Well the 2 brochures I'm looking at say BOTH are 120 gig drives
Can I assume these receivers are backwards compatible? Compatible w/ Legacy hardware anotherwords.
Posted 16 September 2008 - 06:58 PM
The "lease fee" is the same thing as an "additional receiver fee" that you are paying for your owned 721. When a receiver is leased instead of owned, that fee is just called a "lease fee" instead. You have to pay for mirrored programming for additional receivers regardless of owned vs. leased.
But I gave up my 721 to them for the $10 credit. I had only one receiver (the 721) and I still have only one receiver(the 625). So there shouldn't be any mirror fee?
Thanks for the reply,
Posted 16 September 2008 - 07:44 PM
Posted 16 September 2008 - 07:47 PM
Pepper at SatelliteGuys did that long time ago, I can confirm too - 522 will report itself as 622 on System Info screen after install 250 GB disk inside. Using same SW.
Well the 2 brochures I'm looking at say BOTH are 120 gig drives
Can I assume these receivers are backwards compatible? Compatible w/ Legacy hardware anotherwords.
Posted 16 September 2008 - 07:50 PM
With legacy / DishPro, 1 cable to each tuner. With DishProPlus - one cable to the receiver (you can use the Seperator).
Posted 16 September 2008 - 07:50 PM
I received the letter last week, called 9-11, talked to Bethany and was assured there would be no lease or dvr fees for the foreseeable future. The 625 was installed 9-13.
Today, 9-16, I saw a lease charge on my bill online. I called and talked to Angel who insisted the lease fee applied in spite of my explanation of the forced dish initiated upgrade. She finally waived lease fees for one year only.
I just wrote to ceo@echostar and am awaiting a resolution.
Anyone else have this problem? Is there a better way or any tips on how to get this resolved?
This is what I'm afraid of happening... just getting a CSR's "word" that there won't be any fees etc. If it's going to be $1 more to my bill I just won't upgrade--sorry, not for Dishes poor legal record (seriously, how many legal cases have they won--ever?)
I just hate doing any upgrades of anything...they never go smoothly... I don't change cell phones/plans, I don't switch to Gieco just to save $50 a year etc.... the time and aggreviation in something going wrong just isn't worth it.
Anyway, please keep us posted! Users that have been here since 2000 and eariler should be grandfathered in for the life of the account and should not be 'upgraded' to extra fees that we were never paying to begin with.
Quick tech question: If I want to have 2 dual tuner receivers being fed by 1 coax each, what LNB and switch will I need? (And I would guess 1 diplexer for each receiver as well).


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Radici Bellissima 1725 Ivory Rug
Item #: 1341725BLK-P Add to Wishlist
Description: The Bellissima collection offers variety of rugs ranging from the classic traditional pattern to the very elegant contemporary designs. These rugs are made very easy to clean and maintain. Made in Italy.
- Collection: Bellissima
- Brand: Radici
- Material: 100% Olefin
- Weave: Machine Made
- Styles: Contemporary Rugs
- Origin: Italy
- Available in the following sizes: 3' 3" x 4' 11", 5' 5" x 7' 7", 7' 9" x 11', 9' 10" x 12' 10", 5' 3" Round, 8' Round and 2' 2" x 7' 7"
I thought the rug looked kind of "cool" in the photo, but in person, it really blends well into the decor and doesn't add shock value. The reds are deeper than they appear on my computer screen, which actually works very well for me. The rug is soft, and so far, looks to be able to stand up to wear. So far, so good! Pleasantly surprised - in fact, I wound up putting it in a much more central location than I'd planned, because I like it so much.
RECOMMENDED: Yes, I would recommend this to a friend.
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The Trojanettes, whom have been playing strong basketball as of late really got after the Lady Falcons in the girls game.
With Strong defense and three players scoring in double figures the Trojanettes routed the Lady Falcons 52-22 to finish the regular season with a 23-3 mark and 10-0 record in Region 4-3A.
Carvacier Sanders led East Side with 19 points, LaShyra Cotton scored 14 points with 12 rebounds and Errica Blair scored 11 points in the win.
The Trojanettes led Velma Jackson 29-10 at halftime.
"We are playing really well right now. Defensively we are playing good basketball and we are starting to get other people involved on offense," East Side head coach Jaboria Walker.
On the boys side it was the Falcons beating the Trojans 37-33.
Velma Jackson led East Side 14-12 at halftime. At the end of the third quarter Velma Jackson led East Side 29-21.
East Side was able to fight back and to a 33-30 game. With 1:03 left in the fourth quarter, East Side's Charles Jackson hit a three point shot to tie the game at 33-33. Velma Jackson did not panic as Quinndarius Weatherspoon drove baseline, pull the defense to him and then bounce passed the ball to Moses Greenwood who scored the lay-up for a 35-33 lead.
East Side would turn the ball over on their next two possessions, one resulting in two free throws from Weatherspoon to secure the victory for the Falcons.
Jon Paul Davis led East Side with 14 points and Charles Jackson scored eight. Weatherspoon led Velma Jackson with 15 points and Greenwood scored 13 points.
The Trojans will be back in action Tuesday as they Region 4-3A tournament starts at East Side. The Trojanettes will not play until Thursday, as they are the No. 1 seed in the region.


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The Xbox 360 is one of the most treasured and important games consoles ever manufactured.
Microsoft's industry-shifting system carries a remarkable selection of first and third-party titles, many of which can now be picked up for a song. But which ones are the most essential? Below is CVG's final list of the twenty best Xbox 360 games.
The selection was put together by CVG's editorial team, and each game mentioned here tends to reflect their review score, but not as a rule. Also, some entrants are not exclusive to the platform, but that doesn't make them any less essential. Of course, you can also suggest your own vote in the comments section below if you feel strongly about it. Should a particular game garner enough support, we'll update this article to include it.
[CVG's complete best of library: Best PS4 Games | Best Xbox One games ]
Gears of War 2
Gears of War 2 is the cover-based shooter at its finest. The sequel to Epic's Xbox 360 exclusive blockbuster took the core mechanic of moving between cover points and refined it to be smoother and more intuitive experience. The feeling of pumping bullets into monster flesh has never been more satisfying than it is here.
This chart-topping sequel also featured some of the best multiplayer in the series to date, most notably with the introduction of the brilliant Horde mode. While the game's campaign made players live the adventures of Marcus Fenix and Delta Squad, Horde let them create their own blood-pumping tales of teamwork and camaraderie to recount around the watercooler.
Watching your friend fearlessly gun down a wave of Locusts as they valiantly fight over your downed body; nailing a cluster of Butchers chasing a teammate with a hammer of dawn strike; setting up an impenetrable fortress of shields and obliterating Locust scum - few games since have managed to replicate the exhilaration of these moments since.
Try it if:
- You're running low on machismo
- Like the feeling of poking raw steaks with a needle
- Have ever pretended your sofa is cover and lobbed a grenade (read: apple) over it
Halo 3: ODST
Likely to be the most divisive entry in Microsoft and Bungie's sci-fi first-person shooter franchise, Halo: ODST broke away from the series' longstanding conventions to present an experience that tried to differentiate itself in almost every way.
Adopting an open-world structure, players were cast as an Orbital Drop Shock Trooper and must explore the ruins of New Mombasa to find their squadmate. Guided by the Superintendent, a voiceless artificial intelligence that maintains the city, players must navigate the dark, hauntingly somber city, choosing either to engage enemies or evade around them, following clues to find out what happened to the rest of the squad.
In addition to its narrative and atmospheric differentiations, Bungie mixed up Halo: ODST's gameplay by taking away the crutches Master Chief offered by being a super soldier. As normal humans, players were more fragile and much less agile, thus taking the strategic wrinkle of combat that many could overlook in previous games and making it essential to success in battle.
Another of ODST's strengths is its cast of characters, which are brimming with personality. Some might argue that they're quite archetypal, but their interactions and stories are nevertheless more engaging than silently gunning and punching aliens as Chief.
Halo: ODST felt like a game Bungie really wanted to get off its chest; a collection of themes and ideas perhaps deemed too different to introduce to a series with an audience as large as Halo's. The fact that it's so different also arguably makes it the most interesting entry in the series. Well worth picking up.
Try it if:
- You like your space marines with a soul
- Charming AIs are your thing
- Soaking up atmosphere sounds swell
Grand Theft Auto 5
GTAV is the greatest Grand Theft Auto game of all time. It sounds like hyperbole of the highest order, and puts this humongous title in a most elite bracket, but this spectacle of flawlessly delivered entertainment across 100 hours finally settles a decade-old debate.
For everything GTA5 delivers - from its staggering sun-kissed beauty that somehow stretches across the entirety of Los Santos, to its new standards of cinematic set-pieces - perhaps what is most crucial is that GTAV understands the flaws of its predecessors. The experience has been streamlined to ensure there is no wait for the campaign and side-missions to start shining.
Even for a game so impossibly vast and detailed, Rockstar's latest crime opus always (always) feels immediate and hassle-free. Not only is that a first, but it was hitherto implausible.
Try it if:
- You have multi-personality disorder
- You loved Heat
- You were frustrated by checkpoints and waiting times in previous GTAs
Portal 2
At the time it was considered a small miracle; a first person game without a single fatality or bullet to its name. And although games that followed Portal 2 had further opened the possibilities of first-person games (The Stanley Parable, Dear Esther, Proteus, et al) there's still nothing quite like Valve's perspective-shifting perplexity.
Aside from carrying the production qualities that wouldn't be out of place in a Pixar movie, not to mention exquisite writing, the main achievement of Portal 2 was its room-to-room emotional journey from dumbfounded stoner to Escher-esque mastermind. There's nothing in the world that makes you feel so smart.
It's also, you know, hilarious.
Try it if:
- You like to stretch your brain
- Adorable robots make you swoon
- You enjoy laughing
Mass Effect Trilogy
For the modern generation of video game players, BioWare's Mass Effect series might just have the same lasting impact that Star Trek and Star Wars had on sci-fi fans before it. That's not as big a stretch as you might think - people continually discuss the brilliance of this BioWare trilogy to this day.
Held together in three games (and a few spin-off novels) BioWare crafted a unique and intricate universe full of interesting planets, fascinating alien races and cultures, machiavellian political machinations and an epic good versus evil struggle. Best of all, it's all backed by an engrossing lore bible that makes an already colourful world even more vibrant. It's one of the few titles where reading information packets is as rewarding as playing the game itself.
As Commander Shepard, players travel to all corners of the galaxy, playing the part of an intergalactic detective/police man/agony aunt; resolving feuds, solving mysteries and recruiting able bodies to his campaign to resist the imminent Reapers invasion.
Critically, the three-game epic lets players reshape the story and craft their own hero. With an array of dialogue options to sift through, each adhering to the consistently high writing standard, and actions that define the moral virtues of protagonist Shepard, as well as how he or she is treated by the world around him, Mass Effect becomes an extraordinarily involving, consuming experience. With the trilogy now complete, it's the perfect game to marathon through TV-series style.
Try it if:
- You're in the market for a sci-fi universe to get obsessed with
- You think alien politics > actual politics
- You'd like to punch a really annoying reporter in the gob
Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved 2
Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved 2 is one of those games that takes up permanent residents in your thoughts. In almost every facet, it's designed to keep you yearning to play more and thinking about beating scores.
Though its gameplay is simple, involving moving a small ship with one thumbstick and shooting enemies with the other, it's a game that demands the highest level of skill. To rack up high-scores you'll have to consistently thread your ship through huge swarms of enemies, employ your more powerful weaponry at the most strategically opportune moments, and have the stamina operate at the peak of your game-playing abilities for lengthy periods.
It's as much a stressful playing experience as it is enjoyable. But in those moments when you think you've given all you have to offer, the lingering high-score of a friend will ignite the competitive flame within again.
Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved 2 is a game about fighting maintain order in complete chaos, and it'll have your heart racing and blood pumping while you do it.
Try it if:
- You loved Smash TV
- You don't think one million bullets is very many
- You wish to experience a state of shooter zen
Dark Souls
When people discuss Dark Souls, almost always it's to explain in some way how perversely difficult it is. From Software's perfected torture sim will push patience and stress levels to their genuine limits.
But that's an unfairly narrow view of the game; yes it's difficult, but it's also an expertly crafted, fascinating and mysterious game. Though it may not seem like it initially, its mechanics are as unimpeachable as rock, paper scissors. It's rules are written in stone and, once you've read them and committed them to memory, Dark Souls becomes a satisfying ballet of execution, strategy and, above all else, self-control.
Around every corner awaits a new obstacle that will challenge your understanding of the core rules and, perhaps after a few deaths, teach you a new way to interpret and adapt your skills to satisfy them.
At the same time there are vital elements of the larger RPG experience obfuscated by cryptic explanations and baffling requirements. Though much of it isn't essential to the experience, taking the time to crack their codes (whether through experimentation or a quick Google search) can make for a much richer experience.
The cycle of encountering a new challenge, being defeated by it, learning how to overcome and then conquering it that Dark Souls provides is intoxicating, as is evident by the hundreds of hours we've spent playing the first game.
But beyond that, Dark Souls features one of the most complex and memorable stories in games, made even more engrossing by asking players to piece it together for themselves. For a game so famously abusive, few know of the relaxing delights of thinking about the meaning behind character dialogue, considering what might be motivating the different figures and forces in the world.
Try it if:
- You love a real challenge
- You're up for a bit of otherworldly anthropology
- You'd happily praise the sun
Call of Duty: Black Ops
Call of Duty: Black Ops signified the point when the studio long considered as the B-team usurped Infinity Ward to deliver the best Call of Duty yet.
Black Ops' most memorable achievement is presenting a campaign that wasn't just typically thrilling, but also featured a story worth caring about.
The narrative focused on the player character, Alex Mason, being tortured by government agencies in order to relive black ops missions he participated in during the Cold War. The information he provides could be critical to defending against a modern threat, but as the campaign progresses Mason's psychological instability threatens to implicate him.
In addition to being well-acted, the story in Black Ops managed to be entertaining and accommodate all the bombast the series has become synonymous for without being a shallow echo of Hollywood action flicks. Ironically, Infinity Ward's games - once praised for delivering intelligent narrative - would progress to become such things.
Black Ops also managed to provide a fresh take on multiplayer, with a variety of new perks and special weapons, as well as a new progression system that let players unlock what they wanted using currency earned in-game. These days, however, the multiplayer mode is harder to recommend, given the proliferation of exploits. However, it's campaign alone makes it worth picking up and playing.
Try it if:
- You shoot first and ask questions later
- You enjoy customisation and progression systems
- You don't mind being a few years LTTP
BioShock: Ultimate Rapture Edition
The virtues of the first BioShock have been extolled countless times since its release, and its impact on narrative and world design is still evident in games which ape it today. If somehow you haven't already played BioShock, it's probably due to wilful stubbornness or doubts of its quality. This is your last chance: Play it.
BioShock 2, on the other hand, is unfortunately a much harder sell, which is a shame because actually it's a surprisingly excellent follow-up to a game that, in a perfect world where publishers choose not to cash-in on success, didn't need a sequel.
In BioShock 2, players returned to Rapture many years after the events of original and take control of Subject Delta, formerly one of the Big Daddy's in charge of a Adam-gathering Little Sister. Separated from his ward, he embarked on a journey to find the Little Sister he was originally paired with, but encounters resistance from Sophia Lamb, a psychiatrist using her own philosophies and ideologies - which carry their own dangers - to unite and revive Rapture.
Like the first game, BioShock 2 is about exploring the collapsed utopia of Rapture, observing how the grandest plans capitulate, how ideals can become corrupted and how one vision for society will never be perfect. BioShock 2's biggest challenge was, certainly at the time, it felt like an opportune way to cash-in on the first game's success. In many ways the long shadow cast by the original was the biggest contributor to it being overlooked. Many dismissed the game, but those that gave it a chance would find something every bit as narratively praiseworthy as the original, with better combat and pacing too.
Purchase the Ultimate Rapture Edition and you'll have both titles, along with the excellent Minerva's Den DLC for BioShock 2.
Try it if:
- You love atmosphere with a story
- You can splice shooting segments into a smart narrative
- You're willing to risk having an existential crisis
Trials: Evolution
It may have seemed that Trials came out of nowhere, but in reality developer RedLynx had released the first entry in the series, a small Java-based browser game, all the way back in 2000. It wasn't until nearly a decade later that the side-scrolling motorcycle platformer finally took off, with the 2009 Xbox Live Arcade release of Trials HD.
As impressive as it was, it wasn't until its successor Evolution was released that the series reached a summit that few games can touch. While this was mainly down to the principles that had been with the series since the beginning - its fiendishly addictive 'one more go' gameplay, its simple yet deep physics-based control method, its stomach-churning jumps - it was the addition of a level editor mode and, crucially, the ability to upload tracks for strangers to play that made Evolution such a profound success.
With a near-endless supply of user-made levels to download at any point, Evolution is the definitive racing game for obsessive types.
Try it if:
- Crashing is okay
- Shaving milliseconds off a time makes your heart flutter
- You find face-plants funny
Fallout 3: Game of the Year Edition
Much like a classic play, Fallout 3 lacks the modern touches but is timelessly engrossing at its heart.
That's not to say the narrative was anything special (it was elementally a list of post-apocalyptic chores through seas of garbage and rubble). But what made Fallout 3 atone for all its sins, and stand as one of the greatest games of its age, was its impossibly vast world that players could fall further and further and further into.
From the moment you venture out from the survival shelter Vault 101, the world is yours to save and savour. A lifetime of options, from nuking a town all the way to eating a dog, ensures that the story feels undeniably yours.
Those who have played it may remark on Fallout 3's famous ugliness, or its sea of bugs and odd moments, but each will have their own unique stories to tell.
Try it if:
- You love stories that intertwine with your decisions
- You thrive in depressing environments
- You like canned goods
Super Street Fighter IV: Arcade Edition
Though some technical-minded fighting game purists may turn up their nose at Street Fighter IV, the more reasonable agree that Capcom's latest entry into the beloved fighting game series strikes a masterful balance between depth and accessibility.
Choosing to maintain the classic one-on-one side-on brawl format was no doubt crucial to achieving that old-school feel, but Capcom has brought the series into the modern age with a gorgeous art style that renders old favourites such as Ryu, Ken, Dudley and M. Bison in chunky 3D.
Street Fighter IV is easily one of this generation's most visually stimulating games; along with the highly expressive character models, it also boasts backgrounds ranging from animal infested Jungles to Vegas casinos, as well as lively set-pieces for the explosive action. New systems such as Focus create a unique new spin on the tried-and-true gameplay and give mechanics such as EX a unique new use. Of course, Capcom has spent numerous iterations tweak and re-balancing the game, as well as introducing new characters to the roster and features.
Ultra Street Fighter IV (which, at the time of writing, is unreleased) stands to be the definitive version of the game, completely rebalancing the cast, adding four new characters and features such as YouTube uploads. Whether its Ultra Street Fighter, or the cheaper Super Street Fighter IV Arcade Edition, this game is a must-have for even the most casual fighting game player.
Try it if:
- You can chain hadokens
- You loved arcades
- You like masterfully calibrated fighting games with endless depth
As far as character action games go, Bayonetta is the gift the keeps on giving. Its core mechanics are deeply satisfying and, for those willing to really sink there teeth in, it offers incredible depth. The game's combo system is so open-ended that it feels like it's on the precipice of broken.
Using the sword-swinging, gun-firing witch's various weapons and powers to create ridiculous combos in training mode alone can occupy someone for dozens of hours, but there's also a solid campaign mode too.
It's campaign doesn't make a lick of sense, of course, but it strings together so many jaw-dropping cut-scenes that the questionable quality of the whole good-versus-evil story and awkward characterisations are given a pass.
Bayonetta's Witch Time, which slows the action to a crawl when you successfully dodge an attack, thus leaving your enemy open to feel the full wrath of your button-pressing frenzy, is still one of the most satisfying mechanics we've experienced. If you like hitting buttons and seeing cool, absurd and over-the-top things happen, this is the game for you.
Try it if:
- You like to press a lot of buttons and watch cool things happen
- You're up for cheesy story, characters and acting that's fun
- If you'd describe yourself as a combat connoisseur
Castle Crashers
Over the years, Xbox Live Arcade has become something of a haven for fans of side-scrolling beat 'em ups. A genre previously thought dead after enjoying a successful heyday in the 16-bit days, it now enjoys a second life on the digital marketplace thanks to a mix of old titles (Streets Of Rage, X-Men, Final Fight) and new offerings such as Scott Pilgrim Vs The World, Double Dragon Neon and this brilliant offering from indie studio The Behemoth.
By introducing RPG elements to the traditional beat 'em up gameplay, Castle Crashers allows players to improve their characters over time, not only improving their stats but also teaching new attack moves and combinations. This may not seem like a revolutionary concept - far from it - but it was relatively uncommon for this genre and helped prevent the onset of repetitive gameplay that plagues many other side-scrolling fighters.
Try it if:
- You wish side-scrolling beat 'em ups would make a comeback
- You curse Sega for not doing another Streets of Rage
- You have friends
XCOM Enemy Within
Few expected it to work, and considering the lineage of flawed console strategy games, it had no right to. But XCOM Enemy Within handled so exceptionally well that, should you play it on PC, it's recommended you use a game pad.
That may be one of the most interesting aspects of XCOM to outsiders, but its commitment to perfection doesn't stop here. Somehow, this flagship Firaxis title extracts the strategic overview of games like Rome Total War, and the base-building hook of Civilization, and still delivers its bombastic moments through the cinematic lens of a third-person action game. It's quite a revelation.
The list of things to adore here barely has an end to it. Yet perhaps what makes XCOM such a remarkable achievement beyond anything else is how the player falls in love with their army, right down to the individual soldier.
Such passion for your squad becomes inevitable from the moment you give one their own name. The love blossoms gradually; when you take a risk and hinge so much responsibility on each one, when you grow and learn with them, when you build them new weapons, when you send them out into the endlessly fascinating and threatening unknown.
There is a beautiful irony here. XCOM borders on flawless because it integrates so much of what people love about PC strategy games. Yet it stands out because you love its individual characters - a feat that the likes of Total War and Civilization have not yet managed. Advantage, consoles.
Try it if:
- You fall in love easily
- You want an excuse to read Sun Tzu's The Art of War
- You like to think before you act
Batman: Arkham City
Both Batman: Arkham Asylum and Batman: Arkham City are games which any self-respecting Bat-fan (and gamer) should have in their collection. In our review we said put it best by saying the second game was "very much Rocksteady's Dark Knight to its Batman Begins".
Despite being a significantly bigger, more ambitious game, the level of detail in the construction of Arkham City, the quality of writing and the performances were every bit as good - if not better - than the more focused Arkham Asylum.
With the freedom to patrol the streets and skies, players could feel even more like the Dark Knight by swooping down on unsuspecting thugs to lay a beatdown. Or toy with enemies using various Wayntech gadgets to strike fear into the heart of nogoodniks from the shadows.
Arkham City is bursting with excellence, and moments like the Mister Freeze boss battle, or the various callbacks to Batman lore are too good to miss.
Again, our review put it best: "It's a belief in the character and, most importantly, a belief in itself that has seen the [Rocksteady] deliver one of the greatest Batman interpretations of all time. And you know what? Maybe even one of the best games ever."
Try it if:
- You are vengeance
- You are the night
- You are The Batman.
Red Dead Redemption: Game of the Year Edition
It may be Grand Theft Auto that immediately springs to mind whenever Rockstar Games is mentioned, but for some the wild west adventure of John Marston is the publisher's greatest accomplishment. By taking the free-roaming gameplay of GTA and transferring it to the America and Mexico of the 1910s, Red Dead is at once both familiar and unique.
Its stunning visuals, outstanding voice acting and twist-filled plot made it a game that stuck in players' minds long after the final credits rolled. The Game Of The Year edition added all the multiplayer DLC packs released following the game's launch, but more importantly it also includes Undead Nightmare.
This brilliant expansion pack features a brand new single-player adventure complete with ghost towns and cemeteries to explore and zombies to kill. Indeed, the fact it managed to make zombies feel fresh and relevant may have been Red Dead Redemption's greatest achievement of all.
Try it if:
- You like Clint Eastwood movies
- You've ever wanted to hog-tie outlaws
- You're quick on the draw
Rez HD
What was born as a Dreamcast game in 2001 is cited here, some thirteen years later, as one of the greatest to grace the Xbox 360. Perhaps that's the most extraordinary accolade Rez deserves; to stand as a timeless masterpiece that can survive generations the way, say, Tetris has.
United Game Artists' pioneering project defied categorisation upon release and the same is true today. No developer has captured the synaesthetic majesty of a trippy rhythm-action game colliding against an on-rails shooter. Rez makes such a feat seem easy, natural even, as though the outstanding focus and craftsmanship required to pull this off was merely a session jamming experiment.
It's a triumph in a more traditional sense too. Behind the euphoric audiovisual extravagance lies an unforgiving high-score challenge that tests reflexes and strategic thinking. That is, if you want to look beyond the visual splendour, the glorious evolving music and those unforgettable sights.
The Xbox 360 version, by the way, is the only one that offers HD visuals. How important is that? Put it this way: How important is it to listen to music loudly?
Try it if:
- You love dancing
- You love shooting
- You love flying
Dead Space
For all its comforting modern furnishings (in particular a HUD and mapping system wired into your protagonist's suit), it is the timeless survival-horror gameplay at the heart of Dead Space that makes it essential to this day.
A creeping sensation of dread, punctuated by bursts of panic, ensures the USG Ishimura and its undead patrons leave an unwashable mark on the player. Some scenes, particularly those in that godforsaken medic bay, are horrifying to the point of being impossible to wipe from memory.
Among its long list of accomplishments, the audio design stands above all. Its collection of foley and audio motifs help construct an immaculate sense of location - a vast hollowed ship floating through space, at times with the oxygen sucked out of its corridors - which managed to sound both convincing and otherworldly.
Considering its history of James Bond titles and other artless tie-ins, no one expected EA's Redwood Shores team (now Visceral) would rise to the occasion so wondrously when given their own IP. It shows what a little faith can do.
Try it if:
- You think Event Horizon would make a good game
- You like games to keep you on edge
- Floating around in zero gravity sounds cool to you
Assassin's Creed Heritage Collection
For the price of one game, the Assassin's Creed Heritage Collection will get you Assassin's Creed, Assassin's Creed 2, Assassin's Creed Brotherhood, Assassin's Creed Revelations and Assassin's Creed 3. In terms of a value proposition, that's hard to turn down.
Of course, we're not saying every game in that bundle is a winner, but each has its merits and is worth experiencing.
Although the first Assassin's Creed is a game with clear flaws, it is thematically interesting and takes place in an setting very few games explore. The repetitive gameplay can grate, but it weaves an intriguing story that blends factual history with fantasy science fiction.
Assassin's Creed 2 and Assassin's Creed Brotherhood, meanwhile, are arguably the strongest entries in the series. Although they will be remembered for giving us the charming and incredibly likeable Ezio Auditore, the games also established and refined the template that all following Assassin's Creeds have adhered to - for better or worse.
Revelations, an enjoyable game in its own right, fails to stack up to the two games before it, but it is nevertheless an essential chapter in the series. It wraps up a three game story arc and provides closure on Ezio's tale.
Much like the first game in the series, Assassin's Creed 3 is mired by flaws, but starts off strong with a unexpected twist that is worth seeing. It's also worth playing for its hooks into the excellent follow-up, Assassin's Creed: Black Flag, though you'll have to pick that one up separately.
Try it if:
- You think stabbing bad guys in the neck while wearing a hoodie is cool (it's not, fyi)
- You want to learn about history
- You like conspiracies
Honourable Mentions
Skyrim, Blur, Shadow Complex, Uno, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, Minecraft, The Orange Box, Mark of the Ninja, Binary Domain, Tomb Raider, Mafia II, Forza Horizon, Forza 4, Braid, Project Gotham 4, Spelunky, WWE 2K14, Puzzle Fighter, 1 vs 100, LIMBO, State of Decay, Driver San Francisco, Outland, Fez, Far Cry 3, Far Cry: Blood Dragon, Rock Band series, Mortal Kombat, Super Meat Boy, N+, Puzzle Quest, Dark Souls 2, Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light, Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix, The Walking Dead, Viva Piñata, Deadly Premonition
Words: Tamoor Hussain; Chris Scullion; Rob Crossley


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Orginal owner, IF Deluxe 26er, 19 inch. Top tube is 23 inches center to center.
Your chance to own a Somerville IF cheap. Sterling head badge, 2 tone paint. 8 speed setup, XTR 950 shifters/brake levers, Avid BB7 Discs, Thomson Stem and Seat Post, King headset, RaceFace Atlas cranks, XTR front and rear derailleurs (the silver 8 speed 900 series), Nevegal tires and custom built wheels - Phil Wood disc hubs, Mavic 519 rims, 36 spokes - hand built by Gravy Wheels in CA. Rear wheel was serviced by Phil Wood and ridden only a few times after that. Marzzocchi Bomber Atom 80 fork. Drivetrain is almost new, fork has been serviced along with headset. This thing is ready for a new home. Only reason I am selling is that all I ride is 29er now, been selling the 26ers one by one, too many bikes to maintain. The frame was $1750 new, the wheels were over $700.
Take the whole thing and give it a good home for $1000.


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It absolutely was a fantastic pleasure to know about the newest concert through "The Missing Children" I'll be before long acquiring our seats reserved and can comprise to the present in 2010. I really like this guitar rock band and their songs. I am hoping I am receiving notification in the web site about the graduation of the present.
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Our stage so hot, great http://www.frivboss.net/
Amazing performance - this is the future of music http://www.smartpics.ca/
Some times its a pain in the ass to read what blog owners wrote but this site is really user pleasant! . http://www.fashiondesignslatest2012.blogspot.com


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1/11 Cubs Convention attendees
Are you going to the Cubs Convention? Manager Mike Quade and his coaching staff will be there, including Mark Riggins, Rudy Jaramillo, Lester Strode, Bob Dernier, Ivan DeJesus and Dave Keller. Here are the players scheduled to attend the winter fan fest, which begins Friday at the Hilton Chicago:
Current players: Jeff Baker, Darwin Barney, Justin Berg, Marlon Byrd, Andrew Cashner, Starlin Castro, Casey Coleman, Tyler Colvin, Blake DeWitt, Matt Garza, Tom Gorzelanny, John Grabow, Koyie Hill, Scott Maine, Carlos Marmol, Sean Marshall, Carlos Pena, Fernando Perez, Aramis Ramirez, James Russell, Jeff Samardzija, Carlos Silva, Geovany Soto, Randy Wells, Kerry Wood, Carlos Zambrano.
Former players: Ernie Banks, Glenn Beckert, Mike Bielecki, Bill Buckner, Jose Cardenal, Doug Glanville, Randy Hundley, Fergie Jenkins, Greg Maddux, Gary Matthews, Keith Moreland, Dave Otto, Milt Pappas, Lee Smith, Tim Stoddard, Steve Trout, Todd Walker, Billy Williams.
Minor League players: Chris Carpenter, Jay Jackson, DJ LeMahieu.
– Carrie Muskat
2 Comments
Where is Dempster, Davis, Grace, Dawson? I would even take Shawon Dunston at this point. This is not a very impressive lineup of past players. Steve Trout? Dave Otto? Doug Glanville? Seriously?
Jim Hendry dunk tank anyone? That would increase attendance.


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(09-28-2012 08:30 PM)homerjg007 Wrote: sweet blaster!
(09-28-2012 09:27 PM)jaredhuizenga Wrote: Every time I see a hot box post it makes me want to run out and grab a blaster to see if I can land a second one. My best (and only) good card from mine was a Trout refractor. Nice hits on those 2 you scanned in.
(10-01-2012 08:02 PM)alstott9adams Wrote: AMAZING blaster


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Double header day was rather successful, mais non? I enjoyed every minute of it – except for the minutes when I was suffering through a beastly Little League game – and I think us Giants fans are feeling positively optimistic (that is not a double positive, despite appearances. Read it again and you'll see.) When double headers go awry, it's doubly depressing. But when they go right? It's doubly wonderful.
Lincecum is slowly but surely looking better and I adore his motto for this last start, "Simple, stupid. Just throw." (That quote, of course, courtesy of Henry Schulman over at the Chronicle.) Nate Schierholtz and Pablo Sandoval are both quickly and surely looking completely fabulous and San Francisco basically did the whole > than New York thing. Which I don't necessarily agree with in the city sense, but in the baseball sense, it is most certainly true.
That is my creepy clapping Joker photo for the Giants. Not that I am creepily clapping to the Giants. I am non-creepily clapping. It's just that the Joker doesn't know how to do that, you know?
On another note, the Huff situation is one of the stranger storylines to come out of the day. As it turns out, he wasn't exactly benched, during the double header. He wasn't there at all. He texted Bruce Bochy in the morning and said he had to go deal with a family emergency. Whatever is happening, all the best to him and his family and I hope everything is all right.
Today the Giants are at the humbly-named Great American Ballpark in Cinci and I am expecting a San Francisco > Cinci to follow up the NY series. Then I will use my clapping photo again and we will all be happy. Deal? Deal.
Diamond Girl
p.s. The Rangers, people. The Rangers. I need the Giants to have an off day so I can go all Texas on you.


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The Road dir. by John Hillcoat
based on book by Cormac McCarthy IMDb | Metacritic Grey is the first word I think of when I think about this film. Grey and bleak. That is to be expected; this film is set after the apocalypse. A time when...
19 Jan, 2010
based on book by Cormac McCarthy IMDb | Metacritic Grey is the first word I think of when I think about this film. Grey and bleak. That is to be expected; this film is set after the apocalypse. A time when...
The scariest fact about the Disneyland measles outbreak
You don't get vaccinated just to protect yourself. You do it to protect others.Six of the cases were in infants too young to have been vaccinated.
Six of the cases were in infants too young to have been vaccinated.
Six of the cases were in infants too young to have been vaccinated.
Six of the cases were in infants too young to have been vaccinated.
"The measles vaccine is not licensed for use on babies younger than 12 months. That means that, for the first year of life, babies depend on the fact that everybody else around them gets vaccinated. This essentially creates a firewall: if other people are vaccinated, they won't catch the disease — and won't spread it to young children who cannot get protection.
This is what scientists call "herd immunity," and its a huge reason we get vaccines in the first place. The shots aren't just about protecting ourselves from measles, mumps, the flu, or other diseases. They're about making it really hard for those who are medically frail (like the elderly) and those who can't get the vaccine (often babies and pregnant women) to catch a disease that could be devastating to them. The vaccinated people form something like a fence around the vulnerable people, making it extra hard for the disease to come in."
This is why everyone who CAN safely be vaccinated NEEDS to be vaccinated.
Not vaccinating for religious reasons, or because of misleading, debunked, ableist "concerns" about the "safety" of vaccines is horrific, unethical, and dangerous to everyone who comes in contact with you.
Oklahoma. This was a place where Kathryn's workplace had a cussing jar, a quarter per swear, and the words written on it, "Let Go and Let God." Here, Christianity was the religion — Tracy and Kathryn were believers — and Oklahoma football was the religion — Tracy and Kathryn were believers — and people could be decent and kind and judgmental, sometimes all at once, which was why, when Tracy told some Rotary Club friends that she and Kathryn were getting married, she kept her eyes planted above their heads so she wouldn't have to look at their faces."I don't want you to hate me, and I don't want you to disown me. - Metafilter
For nearly as long as the antifeminist culture war known as Gamergate has raged across the internet, a microcosm of the battle has taken place on Wikipedia. Should Gamergate defined as a push for ethics in gaming journalism, or a paranoid campaign against women in gaming? This week, Wikipedia's highest court made a major decision in favor of the former.
If the phrase "Wikipedia's highest court" surprises you, you're probably not alone. Theoretically, the free encyclopedia is a purely democratic operation—anyone can edit Wikipedia, after all—but there is a byzantine and largely unseen hierarchy that governs disputes among editors, culminating in a Supreme Court-style panel called the Arbitration Committee. The committee's latest decision: to punish a group of five editors who fought to maintain a Gamergate page that presented the "controversy" largely as an assault on women—that is, who fought to present Gamergate as it actually is.
Mark Bernstein, a blogger and Wikipedia editor, notes that the so-called "Five Horsemen" were not only barred from contributing to Gamergate articles, but from any articles relating to "gender or sexuality, broadly constructed." By contrast, the only pro-Gamergate users punished by the committee, Bernstein writes, were "disposable accounts created specifically for the purpose of being sanctioned."
The episode punches a neat a whole in the idea that Wikipedia is a neutral and democratic platform. The Wikipedian community is something like 90 percent male, and if Bernstein's numbers are correct, its highest ruling body has a similar demographic makeup. That the world's seventh-most popular website would look at Gamergate and decide that what's needed is a silencing of feminist perspectives is depressing, but it's hardly surprising.
Wikipedia Purged a Group of Feminist Editors Because of Gamergate. (via wilwheaton)
I think it's time I stopped using Wikipedia, no matter how useful as quick research it may be. Who's with me?
(via fluffyfemme)
Wikipedia has always been pretty useless when it comes to politically charged subjects such as Gamergate because of crap like this. You can still use it for random bits of specific trivia, but not to get uniased information on a current topic that talk about oppression.
(via a-little-bi-furious)


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A van driver who delivers quite often to my office always asks to use our toilet. The other day we were having a laugh & chat, as i was on my own, when i asked him how come he ALWAYS uses our loo when he comes. He said in his job he has to take any oppertunity he can as he never knows when he'll see another toilet. Then he said he always has spare pants in his van as more than once he has been so desperate for a piss, he just pissed his pants in the van. Jokingly i said "Nice" he smiled at me & said "Yes it is" & winked. I am going to persue this guy!
Dedicated to watersports GROUP: WATERSPORTS
Anyone care for a drink?
Haha, ok a couple more for Russkie!
A few new pics outside
UnknownRebel. I wish i was with you when you are releasing that golden necta! I would'nt waste a drop. Nice cock & balls too.
Something from today....
Thanks for showing these great pics, i love the hot golden piss. i have pissed on my own but i would love to get together with another pisser mmmmm. maybe soon ,,,,,
Here are a couple new ones....enjoy
be gentle...my first piss pic....
Last edited by armastus4all; October 16th, 2011 at 11:00 AM.
Love being pissed on while fucking a guy
i'll add one to this post...
Last edited by jonny9969; August 25th, 2011 at 04:51 AM.
Thanks for sharing, Billy and Jonny. Love seeing your pissing dicks.
this thread really makes me miss my last BF. He pissed on me and in me daily. Only time he ever pissed alone was when I wasn't home to help him out. I'd really like to find me another piss bud or two
Thanks for sharing the pics. I have yet to meet a guy that will do watersports with me.. I have always wanted to. I have to admit I am afraid to bring it up most of the time.
So great to see so many hot dicks pissing. Nothing better than holding a guys dick in your mouth, waiting for the stream to start...
I wonder if a guy could bottle some and send it to other guys? Hmmmmmmmmm!
one of the worst tragedies in life is being forgotten by some one you can never forget!
Will add more if anybody is interested
Last edited by UnknownRebel; October 5th, 2011 at 02:59 PM. Reason: delete
This is somthing that I have always found interisting but never took it to far. I love looking at the videos and pictures but have never really done any piss play myself.
Finger Lickin Good
nothing like releaving myself when back from work
My favorite was a massive masculine bear standing tall and proud looking down on a less masculine bottom who was kneeling before the stud while the stud pissed in his open mouth.
Pissing in someone's mouth feels almost as good as cumming in it.
Piss bukakke and piss gokkun is very enjoyable both for the Tops and the bottom.
Piss play is my fave! I need it more & more lately. I was rimming a guy in local park last week & he suddenly stood up & said he needed to piss so i asked if i could have it. He had had a few drinks & he pissed buckets full, DELICIOUS.
bump got a bit full of piss and had to release!
i was wondering when i watched parker and rod pissing scene how could they produced that much piss? it doesnt seem to be normal??
LOVE your pics
Love feeling of warm piss one my naked body.
Hot pics! Love to see guys pissing. If you look in my gallery I've got some guys pissin and one of me!
I'm a fan of the copious and clear. I like to guzzle piss, so the strong, yellow stuff is too much to drink a ton of. Plus, I like to get covered in it, so the more the better.
Thats hot!


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Divine Providence
Read Matthew 6:25–32. What does this passage say about God's providence? Think of times you attributed events under the canopy of God's providence to chance. Why is it more comforting to think of providence instead? Notice God's providential governing of ...Read More
Assured by Love
We tend to think secretly (perhaps subconsciously) that God must have loved us for some reason within ourselves. But Scripture says there was nothing in us to love. Have you begun to understand the amazing nature of divine love? Pray ...Read More
Church Discipline
The doctrine of justification by faith makes no sense if God is not a God of judgment. When people see God's judgments in the church, they ought to tremble and must come to grips once again with their free justification ...Read More
The Person of Christ
The gentle and compassionate nature of Christ that shines through in the Gospels leads many non-Christians to admire Jesus as a teacher. Of course, they will not want to confess Jesus' deity, because to do so would mean that His ...Read More
Dull of Hearing
We must never forget the basic truths of the Christian faith because, if we do so, we will not go on to maturity. The cares of this world and confidence in our own wisdom can make us neglect these basics ...Read More
The Garden of Gethsemane
Honestly presenting our hopes and fears before the Lord carries with it the danger that we might sin and become mad at Him when His will does not match ours. Nevertheless, we may humbly admit all that is weighing upon ...Read More
The Fruit of the Gospel
If there is no change from smug self-righteousness to humble, selfless repentance in those who profess the gospel, then the church should consider whether it is in fact preaching the gospel and its application to all of life. Of course, ...Read More
Counting Faith as Righteousness
A desire to obey God and do good in itself is not opposed to faith. The problem arises when we see our works as the basis upon which God declares us righteous. John Calvin comments, "It is not he, whom ...Read More
Build Yourselves Up
Building ourselves up in the most holy faith provides the content we need to refute falsehoods. Praying in the Spirit gives us the power we need to stand firm. As we keep ourselves in the love of God, our assurance ...Read More
Sitting on a Suitcase
When a believer dies, it is natural for the friends and family of the deceased to feel a profound sense of loss. But the deceased, if a Christian, feels no pain since he is ushered immediately into the presence of ...Read More
Daily readings to encourage your heart and mind in the pursuit of God and his glory.Topics
- All
- Angels and Demons
- Atonement
- Basic Reformed Theology
- Irresistible Grace
- Limited Atonement
- Perseverance of the Saints
- Total Depravity
- Unconditional Election
- The Church
- Church Discipline
- Church Leadership
- Creeds and Confessions
- God
- Holiness
- Sovereignty
- Heaven and Hell
- Heresies
- The Holy Spirit
- Jesus Christ
- Cross
- Incarnation
- Resurrection
- Justification
- Last Things
- Man and Sin
- Sacraments
- Salvation
- Faith
- Regeneration
- Scripture
- Systematic Theology
- Theological Views
- Roman Catholicism
- Music
- Apologetics
- False Teaching
- Atheism
- Christianity and Culture
- Creation
- Ethics
- Philosophy
- Bible Figures
- Bible Interpretation
- Books of the Bible
- Gospels
- Covenants
- General Reference Works
- Jesus' Ministry
- Life of Jesus
- New Testament
- Old Testament
- Parables
- Prophecy
- Sermon on the Mount
- Ten Commandments
- The Lord's Prayer
- Controversies in the Church
- Arts
- Covenant Theology
- Creationism
- Inclusivism
- Law and Gospel
- Lordship Salvation
- Politics
- Sabbath
- Spiritual Gifts
- Theonomy
- Women in Ministry
- Marriage and Family
- Divorce
- Parenting
- Practical Theology
- Discipleship
- Evangelism and Missions
- Grief and Death
- Pastoral Ministry
- Preaching
- Worship
- Spiritual Growth
- Anxiety and Worry
- Apostasy
- Assurance
- Conscience
- Depression
- Doubt
- Fellowship
- Godliness
- Guilt
- Humility
- Joy
- Knowing God's Will
- Legalism
- Love
- Money and Stewardship
- Oaths and Vows
- Prayer
- Pride
- Repentance and Forgiveness
- Sanctification and Growth
- Service
- Spiritual Fruit
- Suffering
- Thankfulness
- Vocation
- Ancient Church
- Biography
- Reformation


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Item | Qty | Price | Total |
It's never too early to teach children the value of a dollar. Indeed, a lifetime of good spending habits begins as soon as a child is old enough to recognize money. Whether your child already has a piggy bank, or needs a friendly reminder to save his or her pennies, Teach Children to Save Day - which is celebrated April 24 - is a perfect opportunity to remind children that saving money can be fun.
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Manchester United Tickets
Get your football tickets on viagogo - the official hospitality reseller of Manchester United. Manchester United is one of the best teams in the professional football world. Consistently playing at the very top of the English Premier League for over the past quarter century, "The Red Devils" have fierce leadership, star talent and a renowned passionate style of play. Find the Manchester United tickets you're looking for on viagogo, the world's largest ticket marketplace. Select a match from the Manchester United 2015 fixtures to view the range of tickets available. All Manchester United tickets are covered by the viagogo ticket guarantee! Hospitality seats include access to a cash bar - please read the package notes for more information.
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