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Bali Scooter, Indonesia – Strange Picture of the Week
Bali Scooter – multipurpose transport vehicle!
The Bali Scooter – Masters of Transport and Logistics Number One, is the Satellite Dish Transporter spotted at Bali, Indonesia. I came across this rather amusing site when I went on my first trip regarding Pesta Blogger, or the Blogger Party, which is an annual blogging conference held in Jakarta because Indonesians are passionate and crazy about blogging – which is why I like going there!
The Scooter is a mainstay of transport in Indonesia. Entire shopping trips, families and household goods are often transported on them. Sometimes, tourists foolishly rent them so they can ride around the chaotic streets of Kuta, somehow miraculously avoiding numerous accidents. Not sure if these Balinese Scooters are covered on the standard terms and conditions of most travel insurance packages!
The Bali scooter is a bit different to these scooters here on Amazon!
I wonder if these two can receive great reception on their Bali Scooter? Not sure how many pay television channels they would be able to tap into!
You have to admit, these two characters are extremely inventive and resourceful! But that is the way of the world in the third world. Lack of resources leads to extreme innovation and making do with what you have, which is usually not very much! And yes, this resourcefulness leads to people far exceeding the engineering capacities of their transport mechanisms!
Oh well. For those going to Bali, it can be a bit of a tourist trap in some places (for example, Kuta) but there are numerous places on the island to escape the hawkers and other enterprising businessmen. Actually, you might actually meet some cool locals if you explore the less visited parts of Bali, as this is one of the standard laws of travelling – the amount of authentic experiences is inversely proportional to the time spent in a tourist trap!
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5 Responses to Bali Scooter, Indonesia – Strange Picture of the Week
hihihihi you should have shown this picture @ Pesta Blogger ;p
"Wow, great reception near Uluwatu… Real Madrid is in for it now… WATCH OUT FOR THAT TR-(CRASH!)"
This give new meaning to being "hooked up" when you travel. A bit extreme!
Travel-Writers-Exchange.com's last blog post..Travel Paranoia Runs Rampant
That's gotta be a lot of signal!
I like this post! it is interesting and informative, thank you so much for sahring this wonderful post keep it up!….

subset: commoncrawl


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Teen Advisory Board Open House
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Jan 31, 2012 - Feb 1, 2012
We would like to invite teens to become involved in events and projects that benefit the Park Hill Branch Library and the greater Park Hill Neighborhood. Anyone in sixth though twelfth grade can apply. Pick up an application at the Park Hill Branch Library. Learn more at our open house on Tuesday, January 31 between 4 -6 p.m.


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Beutler/Rosin: BlockflötenSpiel Heft 2
with illustrations byMarlies Walkowiak
The "BlockflötenSpiel(en)" continues!
As soon as Book 1 (EB 8760) was published, the first questions started coming in: "We are delighted – but how will the BlockflötenSpiel continue? What will be in Book 2 of the new method?"
Here the answers: Music-making for children, as well as children's experience of music, remain the chief goals of authors Irmhild Beutler and Sylvia C. Rosin. Next to songs with German texts, Book 2 offers more pieces from international folklore. Accordingly, the history of the recorder is geographically broadened. Arrangements of classical and romantic pieces, along with technical exercises ("flute fitness training") have been added. An introduction to variation techniques (embellishments, ornaments) on the basis of simple song and dance tunes has been provided, as well as improvisation and contemporary performance techniques. Ensemble music-making with and without the piano remains an important element of the underlying concept. The pieces for recorder ensemble are also notated in score form.
A compelling didactic elucidation of the concept is provided in the teacher's commentary in Book 2 as well.


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Eco-Business is proud to announce our partnership with Global Initiatives in presenting the latest series of Responsible Business Television (RBTV) to launch in 2013.
Responsible Business is the world's longest running television series showcasing the corporate responsibility initiatives of leading companies and featuring inspiring stories of businesses improving people's lives and ensuring a more sustainable future. In 2013 RBTV will begin broadcast for its fifth consecutive year on cable television worldwide. Eco-Business is thrilled to contribute expertise, community outreach and resources as RBTV's new Corporate Engagement Partner.
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Global Initiatives promotes positive social change and sustainable global development through international events and media projects. Through the sharing of knowledge, experience and best practices, these initiatives address some of the greatest challenges facing the world. Highlighting global issues such as the environment, corporate citizenship, and the development of emerging markets, Global Initiatives encourages partnership, inspiration and creating a better future.
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For others it was just another day at the office as career extras. But the arrival and departure of the cast and crew involved in the movie "42" left a lasting impression on several paid and promotional extras who are already calling the scenes shot in Chattanooga at the Historic Engel Stadium an historic event.
The film, starring Harrison Ford and Chadwick Boseman, centers around Jackie Robinson, (played by Boseman) who became the first black baseball player in the major leagues and Branch Rickey, (played by Ford) the executive who signed Robinson. The title "42" refers to Robinson's now-retired uniform number.
Residents from Cleveland and as far away as Stone Mountain, Ga., came to Chattanooga to be a part of the movie. Many of their sentiments were identical in describing the thrill of being in a Hollywood movie and the excitement of watching a remake of history.
Jill Culpepper, a manager at Whirlpool Customer eXperience Center in Cleveland, said being involved in a Hollywood film was on her "bucket list" of things to do and being an extra in "42" lived up to her expectations. Her special moment in motion pictures came the morning of June 5. It was raining. Her 19-year-old daughter, Kaytlin, was with her.
"We arrived at Finley Stadium and a shuttle bus arrived within three minutes," she recalled. "The experience was overwhelming — walking into Engel Stadium, an entire area filled with hair, makeup and wardrobe — not to mention a few men were receiving hair cuts. Red lipstick was everywhere! I was asked to go to 'Hair and Makeup' — an extra's dream come true! Hair and makeup for me was almost like a dream. The people in that section were extremely patient and dedicated. My hair is very thick and chemically straightened, but they invested 1 1/2 hours and 3 pounds of pins to make 1940s waves in my very thick hair."
Culpepper said there were a couple of scenes where she and other extras were filmed in the crowd, something she especially enjoyed since she dreamed of being a Hollywood actress, like Audrey Hepburn, but did not pursue her Hollywood dream. This was the next best thing, according to Culpepper.
"The film crew was very good to provide explicit directions for us to help make our experience even better," she said. "We received snacks and lunch and they provided raffles for various items. It was so cool. It was so fun. I always wanted to do this! This was a wonderful experience and I completely enjoyed my interactions with the team from Southern Hollywood Events. They are very friendly!" Culpepper, who moved to Cleveland in 1983 and attends First Baptist Church there, added, "This is something I would definitely do again. I was so impressed."
Sarah Ritterhouse, who works in Cleveland at Hyperbaric Services of East Tennessee, said she started acting and modeling at age 14, but enjoyed the challenge of acting better. The 19-year-old said she did not know what to expect on her first day on the set of "42," since other sets she has been on were all different.
"This set had makeup, hair and wardrobe fittings," she said. "Each morning women are told to come in rollers and light makeup. You normaly work all day until 7 or 8 p.m. even 9 p.m., and the crew stays even later. You don't get your call time until after you get off work and it can be as early as 6 a.m. However all of this is worth it to the actors because there are very few jobs that leave a legacy like the film industry."
Ritterhouse, an assistant marketing director with The Academy of Mutual Interest in Motion Pictures, an online social website for film buffs, added, "On this set I learned about the technicalities of the production for this particular film. I met a lot of really great people, some that I had met on other sets and made several new friends. It was great to see the bonding that other actors have for each other after several days on set. Films play out better with good chemistry on set. It's long days but I've learned so much! It was a good experience. I would love to do it again but if I don't act anymore, I am grateful for this experience."
Renelda Batts traveled from Stone Mountain to be on the set of "42" in Chattanooga. The 23-year-old said "Being in this atmosphere of film production is fulfilling enough for me. Even if I am not actually seen in the movies as a featured extra, I am able to witness the most important, yet usually unseen, background work that goes into making a film viewable. The sense of urgency of everyone around me, the impromptu demands, and the various set designs created for scenes, all fascinate me so much."
Batts, who received her bachelor's from the University of Georgia with a focus in studio art and interior architecture, said "It is wonderful having the opportunity to be around both of my passions — acting and architecture — relating to set designs. To me, acting and entertaining, along with designing goes hand in hand. It all forces me to use my creative, adventurous side. Most importantly, it also allows me to come alive in this world instead of just simply living. I believe when you come alive, that is one way of knowing you are in the right direction to fulfilling your purpose in this life."
Having worked as a featured extra in the action-adventure "Fast and Furious 5," Batts confessed, "I cannot begin to explain the wonderful experience I had being on their set. Although specifically, this film '42' puts me in awe. I knew from the moment I got the call to be a featured extra that this was an opportunity I could not pass up. The powerful historical presence this film aims to portray will undeniably make this film a classic.
"Aside from the story line, the atmosphere and the people on this set have inspired me. The cast, production staff and background workers I was around made the work environment a joy to be a part of. The 1940s vibe has taken over the set and it could not be any more mystical and beautiful. Seeing everyone in their 1940s attire has been one of the greatest experiences I will take with me. Moreso, I have met so many wonderful people, from the very talented and friendly Chadwick Boseman to the wonderful extras working along with me."
Boseman, the co-star of "42," posed with Batts and other extras on a closed set on June 1. Several background performers said they were impressed with his kindness and humility after the shoot. After the production team wrapped filming in Chattanooga, the cast and crew headed to Macon, Ga., leaving behind several starstruck fans and extras who got their wish to be in a Hollywood film and meet others with similar dreams.
Now they are poised for its scheduled April 12, 2013 release date, hoping that the film, like Jackie Robinson, will be a game changer.


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Follow-Up Postings:
WOW this is your first???? Very professional looking! I'm a fan of Jenny's too. I really need to practice my FMQing - it's only been 5 years lol!!! Each time I practice I wait so long till the next practice that I have to start all over again. Looking forward to seeing you at the retreat!! |
- Posted by toolgranny (My Page) on Sun, Aug 5, 12 at 15:34
Good job. I just love your colors. I'm looking forward to seeing both you and Rosa at retreat. |
- Posted by magothyrivergirl (My Page) on Sun, Aug 5, 12 at 16:33
Beautiful!!! I find the loopy loops to be very forgiving and an easy design to quilt that allows me to relax and get into the zone, although most of my quilting is done on a frame. From the loops, add hearts in between or leaf shapes or any other shape (after practice-practice-practice:) Very pretty fabrics! You have been so productive this weekend |
- Posted by littlehelen (My Page) on Sun, Aug 5, 12 at 18:04
Thank you... Can't wait to meet everyone myself! I'm also happy to find this forum, but I must give credit to Kate...she kindly pushed me to join..so glad I did! Marsha, you are right, loopy loops is forgiving and easy. I recommend it for anyone starting fmq. ...What do you mean most of your quilting is done on a frame... is this a long arm machine? |
Val, it's wonderful! Good job and good use of Jinny's fabrics. You won't be surprised to hear that I love the bling too! Is that from your bead stash? Kate |
Val, your tote is wonderful. I love everything about. You did a great job. |
I love it! Your fabrics are beautiful! Linda OH |
Well done! A beautiful and useful tote bag. See you at the retreat Kristene |
Impressive. I love it! |
- Posted by teresa_nc7 (My Page) on Mon, Aug 6, 12 at 6:50
A lovely tote for your first one, Val! I love the fabrics and the touch of bling. Looking forward to meeting you and the other first time Campers at our retreat. Teresa |
- Posted by murphy_zone7 (My Page) on Mon, Aug 6, 12 at 7:08
Great looking tote.....love that touch of bling. however, be very careful, tote/purse making is kinda addictive. This may be your first but I bet it won't be your last.:) Murphy (who hasn't "bought" a purse, tote, wallet in over 6 years) |
- Posted by lafonda_ranch (My Page) on Mon, Aug 6, 12 at 8:59
Love it!! I love your quilting pattern, too. Robbi |
- Posted by littlehelen (My Page) on Mon, Aug 6, 12 at 19:15
Thank you all...your kind words and encouragement feeds this constant urge to quilt something...anything...LOL!!! Murphy_zone7: I dare say you may be correct, I did the 64 patch over two week nights and made the tote in no time over the weekend...already thinking of more totes. And the bling...well that's actually curtain / drapery hardware to be used for holdback...never used for my curtains and it was just sitting there saying Use Me! V. |
- Posted by sunnycentralfl (My Page) on Mon, Aug 6, 12 at 20:50
Really very pretty. Lovely colors and great quilting...would never guess it's a first time quilting project! THX for posting, |
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Robert Pattinson: On and off set
POSTED: 9:20 AM Nov 01 2012
UPDATED: 7:14 AM Jun 16 2014
With actor Robert Pattinson appearing in "The Rover," join us for a look at the actor on and off the set.
The views expressed are not those of this site, this station or its affiliated companies. By posting your comments you agree to accept our terms of use.


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See your orange on these designs right now!
Enter your colors here, then click the icon below any design to preview it in your colors.
Recommended Just For You
Customer Raves & Reviews
I Couldn't Ask For Better Invitations!
Chalkboard Sweetheart Rectangle Invitations I looked at a ton of invitations from a variety of companies, and I received samples of many invitations, and these were hands down my favorite. The MagnetStreet website made it easy to personalize all the pieces of my invitation suite, and I received our proofs within 24hrs of placing our order. Printing & shipping were very fast and we received them faster than expected! We printed on the textured paper and each piece is beautiful, not a single blemish or issue. I couldn't be more thrilled with how these turned out.
I LOVED my magnets!!!
From Hello to I Do Save the Date Magnets They arrived in 2 days from when they were shipped!!!They are great quality and we couldn't have been any happier!!! I loved that i could make the design my own! I also liked that we got a sample before we ordered all of them!!!!
Great Designs and Quality, Fast and Simple!
From Hello to I Do Save the Date Magnets My expectations were surpassed with our save the date magnets! It took us so long to decide on a design; not because there weren't enough to choose from, but because there were so many different options that we loved! When we finally chose "From Hello to I Do" I requested the free samples that MagnetStreet offers and was blown away by the beautiful samples that they mail to you! The packet was such a big help. The process of creating your personalized design was so easy for us and we absolutely loved the way they turned out! The only thing that I rated as "good" rather than "excellent" was the personalization category. I would have liked to move the heart designs in this template or maybe remove them all together, but we were still very happy with the way our finished product looked.
Amazing! Great service & great product!
Luminous Charm Save the Date Magnets I love that we were able to see our items ahead of time before ordering, and we were also able to personalize and see our specific colors and the paper types. The personalization screens are super simple to use and shipping is really fast! There's also so many cute and fun designs - we've gotten a ton of compliments on our save the dates already and they've only just been sent out! We are already planning on ordering our invitations from Magnet Street!
Love my Magnet!
Chalkboard Sweetheart Save the Date Magnets Magnets turned out perfect!!! We will now be ordering our invitations from magnet street! Can't wait!


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Kindergartners Go to College
Posted Friday, July 11, 2014 - 12:55
By Beverly Goldberg
Kindergartners get a Sneetches storytime at Fullerton College Library from Acquisitions Librarian Monique Delatte Starkey (left) and Library Assistant Betsy Murray. The children were among 1,800 who came to the campus's 19th annual KinderCaminata (children stroll) this spring, during which they tour the campus with parents and teachers. "One event goal is that young participants, some from disadvantaged backgrounds, begin to feel comfortable with the higher education and library environments," explained Starkey. The storytime helps to showcase the campus library's read-aloud collection, which is also available for checkout to those outside the campus community.
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As 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to the elimination of animal suffering, we are the oldest and most comprehensive animal welfare organization in the state providing care for 20,000+ homeless and companion animals annually. For more than 125 years, we have been committed to serving the needs of the people and animals in our community and across the region as a 4-Star Charity Navigator rated nonprofit ranking in the top 1% nationally.
Hours of Operation:
Full Site


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Eligibility & Policies
Satisfactory Academic Progress
In order continue receiving financial aid, you must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP). The policy detailed below is effective July 1, 2011.
Federal regulations require us to monitor the academic progress of all graduate students--including PhD students--receiving financial aid toward the completion of their degree. (Please note: this policy pertains only to financial aid and is separate from other academic policies published by the institution.) SAP is monitored on a yearly basis one or two weeks after professors are required to have grades reported for the spring term. Certificate program students are an exception; their SAP is monitored at the end of every term. As a financial aid recipient, you must maintain the following minimum standards to continue receiving financial aid.
Satisfactory Academic Progress Minimum Standards
- Maintain a cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 3.0 (77 for Graduate Tax students). You must maintain a minimum CGPA of at least 3.0. Find out how GPAs are calculated through the Office of the Registrar. Incompletes that are not completed within one year are calculated as "F" in the GPA. All grades for repeated courses are included in determining the GPA.
- Complete your degree requirements within 150% of the minimum credits required to graduate. This standard is known as Maximum Time Frame (MTF). For example, you may attempt a maximum of 135 credits in order to complete a degree that requires 90 credits. In the case of a class taken more than once, both courses will be counted toward the MTF. The courses used to calculate the MTF will be courses you were enrolled in after the 100% add/drop period. Once you have reached the MTF limit, or at the point we determine it will be exceeded once required courses are completed, you are no longer eligible for federal, state, or institutional aid.
- Complete and pass a minimum of 66.67% of all courses attempted. This is known as the Cumulative Completion Rate (CCR) and is required for you to finish your degree within the Maximum Time Frame. The courses used to calculate the CCR will be courses you were enrolled in at the end of the 100% add/drop period. (Find specific dates for the 100% add/drop period through the Office of the Registrar.) Successful completion of a course of study requires a grade of "Pass" or D or above. Grades of W, NC, NP, WF, F, Audit, or Incomplete do not constitute successful completion of a course. All accepted transfer credits are counted toward this rate, with the exception of transfer credits completed while you are not meeting DU SAP requirements. Remedial coursework is accepted if the credit hours earned apply toward your degree or certificate program.
Financial Aid Suspension and Probation
If you fail to meet either the CGPA or CCR requirements, you will be placed on financial aid suspension and will not receive your disbursement of federal, state, or institutional financial aid, or be able to use your work-study, until a SAP Probation Contract is completed. (Please note that financial aid suspension and probation pertains only to financial aid and is separate from any academic suspension or probation you may have.) To complete this contract, please make an appointment with a financial aid advisor. You will have one term to complete a SAP Probation Contract, which will always be the fall term, or the term immediately following the failure to meet SAP standards for certificate students. If a SAP Probation Contract is not signed, you will no longer be eligible for federal, state or institutional financial aid, unless an appeal is submitted and approved (as stated below).
Once you complete a SAP Probation Contract, you will be able to receive federal or state aid for a probationary period of three quarters to make up the deficit, as long as you are maintaining progress throughout those quarters. We will review your progress prior to the next payment period and if you are not maintaining progress, you will be asked to submit an appeal for the remaining terms. Certificate students, however, have a probationary period of one quarter. You must meet both the CGPA and CCR standards by the end of the probationary period or you will no longer be eligible for federal financial aid. (Please note that we cannot accept any transfer credit completed during the SAP probationary period as a means to change SAP status.)
If you fail to meet the SAP standards by the end of the probationary term outlined in the contract, you will lose your eligibility to receive all forms of financial aid including, but not limited to, work-study and loans during subsequent terms. Should circumstances arise during the school year which you feel will cause you to violate the terms of your contract, contact us immediately. We recommend that you work closely with your academic advisor to help determine appropriate coursework and grade objectives for your degree.
You will be suspended from financial aid if you reach the MTF limit, unless an appeal is submitted and approved (as stated below).
Appeal Process
If you are failing to meet Satisfactory Academic Progress standards and have extenuating circumstances surrounding this failure, you may appeal your status to the Office of Financial Aid.
Examples of a possible appeal include:
- a student who exceeds his or her MTF limit due to a change in degree program
- a student who does not meet the CCR requirement, but subsequently changes his or her degree program
- a student who had extenuating personal/medical circumstances that have since been resolved
To appeal a financial aid suspension, please submit the following documentation:
- A written statement that includes your program of study, anticipated completion date, a list of required courses left to complete the program, and the reason for the appeal.
- If appropriate, third party documentation surrounding the reason for the appeal.
Each appeal request is reviewed on a case-by-case basis by the Special Circumstances Committee. Appeal decisions are emailed to you within 3-5 weeks after submission. If the Special Circumstances Committee needs additional information regarding the SAP appeal to make a decision, an advisor will coordinate this effort and the time frame to make a decision will be delayed. In some cases, an advisor may require a SAP Probation Contract. Appeal decisions are final.
If you have questions regarding this policy, please contact us.


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Inside the HDBaseT 2.0 Specification, Part 2
Show 92-2
To hear the podcast press the play button or download here. Or read the transcription.
In this edition of the SVC Podcast, SVC Contributing Editor Bennett Liles continues his discussion with Dana Zelitzki of Valens about the new HDBaseT 2.0 specification and its impact on residential and academic AV markets. Zelitzki provides a rundown on the latest types of devices incorporating built-in HDBaseT and she outlines the process companies follow to allow their products to carry the HDBaseT logo. She also covers power over HDBaseT, marketing the technology, the idea behind HDBaseT Class B, and the prospect eventually of powering projectors on PoH.
Video links of interest:


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Events Fall into Place
Announcing the Free Fall Event card for Android the board game |
Free Fall | Published 06 July 2011 |
The future depicted in the board game Android is a delicate balance between hope and desolation. Its immersive atmosphere is a combination of a recent civil war, class divisions, and ethical dilemmas. This complex setting is further delineated through Android's unique Event card mechanic. Event cards represent events that take place in the Greater New Angeles region during the investigation players are tasked with.
Anyone who has enjoyed Android's narrative experience, as well as anyone who loves good science fiction, will enjoy the rich and captivating landscape of Free Fall. Now this upcoming novel can even become a part of your games of Android through the Free Fall Event card!
On the case
Captain of Detectives Rick Harrison's hunt for a murderer in New Angeles contains many dramatic and exciting events, and now you can include one of them in your games of Android. Your printed copy of Free Fall will feature a form in the back of the book that you can fill out and mail in for the exclusive Event card. (This offer excludes electronic copies and is available only to customers who pick up the paperback version.)
This Event card entitled "We're tracking you in free fall" will make the Beanstalk a dangerous place to be...
The thin line between man and machine
Free Fall is the first novel based in the dystopian world of Android, written by New York Times bestselling author William H. Keith. In Free Fall it is the future, and murder is still an all-too-common occurrence. When an influential lawyer is brutally murdered at the top of the Beanstalk, Earth's towering exoatmospheric elevator used for interplanetary trade, Captain of Detectives Rick Harrison finds himself on the hunt for a killer. At the center of a deep conspiracy, Harrison's investigation leads him from the megapolis of New Angeles to the moon base of Heinlein and face to face with a question he never expected: what is the true definition of humanity?
The Beanstalk, the Earth, and the Moon
If you've never had the chance to experience this intriguing board game...
Android is a board game set in the distant future in which 3-5 players take on the roles of competing investigators attempting to solve a case and unravel a conspiracy amidst their own personal struggles. Played against the backdrop of two cities, New Angeles and the Moon colony of Heinlein, investigators must learn the lay of the land, avoid threats and temptations alike, and weigh their options as their own personal story unfolds, all while on the hunt for a killer. In this engrossing journey where balance is crucial and every choice has repercussions, will you be the first to crack the case?
Don't miss out on more previews in the coming weeks, and pre-order Free Fall today!
Free Fall is the first novel based on Fantasy Flight Games's Android, and it tells a story of murder and conspiracy in a dystopian future. This rich universe is masterfully brought to life by New York Times Bestselling author William H. Keith, winner of the H.G. Wells Award and multiple Origins awards, and the celebrated author of over 150 novels, short stories, and other published works.
I'd like to know that, too. If I order the paperback in Hungary , can I order the card, too?
Will this card be available outside of the US, too? Specifically in Germany?
hey JJ, in the FFG Book catalog there is a listing for a first of a trilogy set in 'Android' coming in November. So who knows maybe that means at least three more cards!
Just another reason to buy the book. Like I needed more encouragement.
Whoo hoo! Now let's see some POD love for Android!
I knew it, I knew it, I knew it. Just like the Arkham Horror novel. Oh, right, someone else thought of it first and I concured. Ha... LOL
Free extra stuff for your games is always a plus point! With this and the bonus card for Arkham Horror it's all looking rather cool. I hope there are more freebies planned :)


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I bought 'gold mound' spirea from two different nurseries. One gets it's leaves very early and they are bright yellow and very striking in the early spring when the other is dormant. It's leaves are more orange in color and are not at all spectacular. When they are completely leafed out both look the same. Could one of them have been mislabeled or are variations common within a variety? If these are two different varieties does anyone know what the correct names are. Thanks for you help |
Follow-Up Postings:
Are the shrubs newly planted or have you had them planted for at least a few months? Are their locations very similar (sun exposure, wind exposure, soil moisture, soil type, etc) or different? What I'm getting at with both of these questions is whether the shrubs have experienced similar environments in the last few months. It's very very common for cultivars to get mislabeled in the nursery industry. If the shrubs have experienced the same stuff over the past few months and are still significantly different, my first guess would be that, at some point, at least one of them was misidentified. There are other explanations, but that's probably the most likely. And, BTW, we know what you mean, but technically you are talking about a cultivar rather than a variety. The term variety is often reserved, in botanical discussion, for something a little different. Some variations would indeed be expected within a variety, but are usually not present withing a cultivar. Cultivars are supposed to be "uniform and stable" with regards to their selected characteristics (which in the case of this spirea would include the characteristics you mentioned - leaf color, etc). |
Brandon, these shrubs are flanking a sidewalk and growing conditions are identical. They were planted about four years ago, so are well established. From what you've told me they were most likely mislabeled. Thanks for the explaining the difference between variety and cultivar. I just wish I knew which cultivar was which! |
- Posted by ken_adrian z5 (My Page) on Thu, Apr 4, 13 at 7:50
a picture of leaf and flower.. either here or the name that plant forum.. will probably get you an ID ... dig out the miscreant ... presuming its in the middle... take a duplicate from the end .. stick it in the middle ... decide what to do with the oddball ... after bloom.. now.. fall ... just move one ... forget about having 5 in a row ... whats wrong with 4??? i wouldnt be surprised.. if you didnt google PROPAGATION OF SPIREA .... that you might not come up with a billion hits on how EASY it is ... in fact.. bend down a branch.. put a brick over it so it stays in contact with the soil.. and odds are.. it will root by fall.. and you will have your 5th plant ... it will catch up ... who cares what its name is.. other than for the curiosity .... this isnt some exotic that cant be rooted.. now hop to it.. lol good luck ken |
Thanks for the propagating tip. Sounds as easy as rooting hydrangeas, which I can handle. They're mature shrubs so I'll probably leave the 'ugly sisters' where they are because once they leaf out all the sisters look the same. You're right. What's in a name? I'm going to weigh down some branches on the good looking ones today! I can always use more. Transplanting? If I go that route will they have much chance of recovering from the move? They are four or five years old. |
- Posted by formandfoliage 9b (Sunset zone 15) (My Page) on Thu, Apr 4, 13 at 9:39
Sounds like you might have a 'Goldflame' and a 'Goldmound' (or maybe a 'Limemound'). Ken is right about how easy they are to propagate. You can move them with impunity - as long as you do it when they are dormant (no leaves). My issue with both of these is that I hate the flower color so I find myself pinching out all of the buds. That was easy when they were small but now I am trying to just live through flowering! There is a lovely chartreuse foliaged number called 'White Gold' that has white flowers, but it lacks the apricot-taffy new foliage on the others. It's always something... Sara |
- Posted by ken_adrian z5 (My Page) on Thu, Apr 4, 13 at 15:39
Transplanting? If I go that route will they have much chance of recovering from the move? They are four or five years old. ==>> what part of running them over with the truck.. are you not getting.. ????? these shrubs.. you could wrap a chain around the trunk.. attach the chain TO THE TRUCK.. rip them out.. drag them to the beer store.. to buy a 6 pack .. drag them back.. give the 6 pack to the neighbor to dig you a new hole.. and back over it.. dragging it into the hole.. and cover it with soil .... and i will give it a 90% chance of survival.. dormant or not.. if you just water it properly ... but if you are so inclined.. lol.. root a few first.. just in case i am wrong.. lol ... i had an 8 foot tall.. by 8 foot wide plant.. that i cut to 4 inches in august ... finding about 20 rootlings in a circle 6 feet out from the original .... by late fall it was back at 3 feet.. and by the next summer.. back to 5 feet.. you cant kill them if you want ... well you can.. but it will be with malice and aforethought.. which is a fancy way of saying you will have to murder them .... and this goes for ALL spirea ... not just yours .... ken |
Ken is right, about propagating at least! Spirea is very easy. I have one that I rooted in a pot of dirt from a piece that I broke off a large shrub. |
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Do you watch "The Following," the Kevin Bacon show about an Edgar Allen Poe-obsessed serial killer named Joe Carroll? No? Good for you. I do. And I can't stop myself, even though it's one of the worst, most unbelievably, faultily constructed shows out there. Briefly — SPOILER ALERT if you for some reason plan on Tivo-ing this season or something — the show follows ex-FBI agent Ryan Hardy as he works with the FBI's cult unit to track down a serial killer named Joe Carroll, who has started a murderous cult that worships Edgar Allen Poe. Carroll is out to be reunited with his son Joey and wife Claire, who totally hates his guts and is in love with Ryan Hardy. Naturally, Joe has some cult members kidnap Joey in order to lure Claire to his den of leather-bound books and sipping whiskey, and all this is clearly culminating in some kind of mass rampage.
There are only, like, four more episodes left, which THANK GOD, even though I dutifully turn it on every Monday night, grit my teeth and watch it. What's my problem with "The Following"? I am up to my eyeballs in suspension of disbelief. I am happy to suspend my disbelief — this is TV after all — but my disbelief has suspended its disbelief. The show's creators and writers took a very awesome thriller idea — an ex-FBI agent chasing a cult-crazed serial killer — and made it dumb. Here's how. Keep reading »


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This 5k race takes place in downtown Concord and benefits Concord Hospital Payson Center for Cancer Care.
Registration is closed.
Online registration is available.
Online Registration Fee: $25.00Ages 15 and up. Youth Registration Fee: $12.00For children 14 and under.
Join your co-workers and neighbors or bring your family to the annual Rock 'N Race fun run/walk on Thursday, May 16 in downtown Concord. The race, selected by the editors of New Hampshire Magazine as one of the best community running events, is sponsored by Merrimack County Savings Bank and benefits Concord Hospital Payson Center for Cancer Care.
The 5K sanctioned event begins near the State House Lawn at 6 p.m. Register on May 15 at St. Peter's Parish, 135 North State Street, Concord from 11 a.m.-7 p.m. or on race day May 16, at the State House Plaza from noon until 5:30 p.m.
Along the route, grab a bite to eat or a cool beverage from one of the many vendors including New Hampshire Distributors; The Common Man; Courtyard by Marriott; Margaritas Mexican Restaurant; and Granite State Candy Shoppe. Talented area musicians will entertain participants throughout the course and at the finish line, enjoy dinner courtesy of Alan's of Boscawen, Inc.; O Steaks and Seafood, The Concord Cooperative Market and The Meat House while listening to Dusty Gray.
Pay tribute to your loved ones by signing the Rock, Race and Reflect wall that will be placed at the State House plaza on race day. The wall, which consists of three sections each 7 feet high and 8 feet long, is weatherproof and will be placed on display at the Payson Center for Cancer Care's tribute garden after the event.
SAFETY ISSUES REMINDER: With more than 6,000 runners and walkers in 2012, Rock 'N Race has become a meaningful community event. We want it to stay that way and ensure everyone's safety. For that reason and to adhere to USATF rules: Individuals pushing strollers and baby joggers are prohibited from running in this event and must register as walkers. Failure to comply will result in disqualification. Also, NO PETS, bikes, roller blades, skateboards, earbuds or headphones will be allowed on the course.
At this location Concord Hospital Beginning on May 16, 2013
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Responsible Recreation Foundation
Board of Directors
Solicitation of Interest – March, 2013
The Responsible Recreation Foundation (RRF) is seeking applicants to serve on its volunteer Board of Directors. We are currently seeking three members from the motorized recreation community to serve on the Board with the responsibility of overseeing the Responsible Recreation Campaign and its flagship Stay The Trail educational program, as well as other projects. The RRF is looking for individuals who can contribute unique skills and experience that will promote personal accountability and stewardship of roads and trails open to motorized recreation on the public lands of Colorado..
If you have the desire, the vision, the skills and the time to devote to the Responsible Recreation Foundation, we ask that you submit a resume outlining your experience, your vision for the future, and your understanding of the issues facing motorized recreation nationally, with emphasis on Colorado. Please send your expression of interest to Josh McMahon email@example.com.
The Board of Directors will evaluate candidates and select individuals to interview. I hope you will consider the opportunity and accept the challenge to lead exciting and award winning programs unique to Colorado! Please visit the staythetrail.org website for additional information.
Desired Qualifications
The RRF'smission is to reinforce and highlight responsible OHV use, and to modify and mitigate irresponsible use in an effort to minimize resource damage on public land. Our goal is to create a statewide culture of responsible OHV use which will continue beyond the life of the project, effectively creating a stewardship ethic among all Colorado OHV recreationists., Directors need to exhibit a diverse and unique range of skills, qualities, and qualifications. These include:
• An active and personal appreciation for public lands.
• Experience serving on a non-profit board.
• A personal and professional network of community leaders in business, government, outdoor
recreation and/or environmental stewardship.
• The proven ability to work collaboratively and productively with a diverse range of people and groups.
• A desire to be an evangelist for the organization and a proponent of responsible recreation on roads and trails open to motorized recreation with the goal of protecting natural resources.
• Important and relevant skills that can expand the organization's capabilities.
• The time to commit to leading a non-profit organization through the challenges of growth.
Responsible Recreation Foundation:
Board of Directors – Position Description
Position Title: Member, Board of Directors
Function: Provide governance to the organization, represent it to the community and accept the ultimate legal authority for it.
The RRF Board of Directors will be instrumental in developing essential decisions that shape the organization. The Board will be very involved and shape the tone and direction of the organization in subsequent years.
Duties: Service as a member of the Board of Directors comes with duties and responsibilities.
Duty of Care: exercise reasonable caution in making decisions by using your best judgment, actively participating, and asking the right questions.
Duty of Loyalty: put aside personal and professional interests for the good of the organization.
Duty of Obedience: stay true to the organization's mission, so that activities and use of funds are consistent with stated purpose.
• Develop, review and approve the organization's philosophy and review management's performance in achieving it.
• Annually assess the environment and approve the organization's plans for funding its strategy.
• Develop, review and approve the organization's five-year financial goals.
• Annually review and approve the organization's budget.
• Develop and approve major policies.
• Hire, monitor, appraise, advise, support, reward, and, when necessary, change staff.
• Be assured that management succession is properly being provided.
• Be assured that the status of the organizational strength and manpower planning is
equal to the requirements of the long-range goals.
• Approve appropriate compensation and benefit policies and practices for staff.
• Recruit candidates for the Board and fill vacancies as needed.
• Annually approve the performance review of the staff and establish his/her compensation.
• Lead, participate in and oversee board and working committees.
• Annually review the performance of the board and take steps to improve its performance.
• Network and conduct outreach in the community to achieve organization's goals.
• Conduct fundraising and revenue generating activities to support the operations of the organization.
• Oversee and participate in media relations and communications for the organization.
• Conduct volunteer outreach and oversight.
• Review the results achieved by the staff as compared with the organization's philosophy, annual and long-range goals, and the performance of similar organizations.
• Be certain that the financial structure of the institution is adequate for its current needs and its long-range strategy.
• Provide candid and constructive criticism, advice, and comments.
• Approve major actions of the organization, such as capital expenditures and major program and service changes.
• Be assured that the board and its committees are adequately and currently informed, through reports and other methods, of the condition of the organization and its operations.
• Be assured that published reports properly reflect the operating results and financial condition of the organization.
• Ascertain that management has established appropriate policies to define and identify conflicts of interest throughout the organization, and is diligently administering and enforcing those policies.
• Appoint independent auditors subject to approval by members.
• Review compliance with relevant material laws affecting the organization.
The Board of Directors will hold a regular monthly meeting around the Denver metro area to conduct important business. Phone and video conferencing are possible options for the right candidates. Additional meetings with the Board of Directors may be required to address specific projects or issues. Outside meetings with the community and other organizations will frequently be part of Board Member's responsibilities.


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Tue, Apr 28, 09 at 7:56
Maybe someone can suggest sources of woodland plants in northeast Ohio area. I am located by the old Seaworld location but after scouring nurseries, online, and asking around, I can't really find a good source. Sometimes I can find a Master Gardener's plant sale. Anyone have any ideas? I hate to buy online, sometimes I don't have good luck with things surviving. I have Jack in the Pulit, Solomon Seal, Mayapple, and a small variety but would like to get a wider spectrum. Thanks. I am trying to beat back the invasives, but lack the motivation if I have nothing interesting to put in its place. |
Follow-Up Postings:
- Posted by woodlandgal 4 (My Page) on Mon, May 11, 09 at 19:52
Try this site: www.everwilde.com They are in west central WI and sell seeds. |
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Author Comments
A genuine and inventive platform puzzle with a cute story and great music.
Two mammoths from different worlds want to meet each other, so they must travel through the portals in their lands to find the portal that connects their worlds.
On a cold day, a lonely mammoth walks to a lake, to find a image of a mammoth from another world. As soon as they see each other, the wish to meet appears within. Remembering stories from their ancestors, saying that the worlds are connected by portals, they begin their journey across the worlds.
Rated 4.5 / 5 stars
haha feels like retro like but i luv it but the controls are quite hard to use but is okay :D
Rated 5 / 5 stars
I don't really care about the quality LIKE THE REST OF YOU FOLKS OUT THERE, and for a pixelated game, this ios very interesting and fun. The controls take a while to get used to, but overall, this game has a very interesting and adorable little story. I like the music as well. It's pretty cute. ^-^
I think I'll add this game to my favorites. :D
Rated 4.5 / 5 stars
I very much enjoy this game. It has a very unique style and gameplay to accompany a story that is straightforward and cute. The only complaints I would have are the quality and fluidity of movement. Overall, well done!


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The on again, off again couple seemed to be trying to rekindle the flame recently. One things for sure, GRiND365 would never let the curvy bomshell go. With that bubble butt and those DSLs? Oh lawdy.
Tipdrill… C'mon Reggie, don't front–we've seen the sex tape and this picture speaks a thousand words.


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It's Sunday, and you're hungry. This is what I'm having for breakfast today.
The ingredients are just all what I have in the fridge right now; eggs (kind of important for this dish), zucchini, potatoes, ham, tomato, onion and parsley. Oh, and cheese! Who do I think I'm kidding heh..
Mmm that looks good! Have a nice Sunday folks!


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Of Adventures to Come
Announcing the first series of The Lord of the Rings: The Card Game Adventure packs |
The Lord of the Rings: The Card Game | Published 16 February 2011 |
"The Wood-elves tracked him first, an easy task for them, for his trail was still fresh then. Through Mirkwood and back again it led them, though they never caught him. The wood was full of the rumour of him, dreadful tales even among beasts and birds. The Woodmen said that there was some new terror abroad, a ghost that drank blood. It climbed trees to find nests; it crept into holes to find the young; it slipped through windows to find cradles."
-The Fellowship of the Ring, J.R.R. Tolkien
Shadows of Mirkwood
The creature Gollum has been seen in Mirkwood, and Gandalf the Wise has requested his immediate capture. Travel vigilant. The way is not safe...
Fantasy Flight Games is pleased to announce the first series of Adventure Packs for The Lord of the Rings: The Card Game, Shadows of Mirkwood! Introducing six new scenarios for you and your companions, Shadows of Mirkwood expands your core set experience with new heroes, new player cards, and new challenges to overcome.
The Lord of the Rings: The Card Game is the first cooperative/solo LCG, and the contents of each Adventure Pack are designed to support an ever-changing play environment suitable for this new style of game. Each Adventure Pack release will include a new scenario with a new set of Encounter cards that will be featured in the quest. In addition, players will also find a new Hero card and a variety of new player cards for all four spheres of influence.
Designer Nate French shared his thoughts on the creation of the Shadows of Mirkwood Adventure Packs.
A Word From the Designer
The most exciting aspect of designing the Shadows of Mirkwood expansion cycle was the chance to introduce six entirely new scenarios to the game; it provided an opportunity to really push the envelope and see where the core system could go. It was important that each quest in the cycle be playable as a standalone adventure, but I also wanted them to form a distinct sequential narrative when played in order from start to finish, so that an "epic" play experience would be possible for groups with such inklings.
The series was designed around the search for Gollum, and it takes players through the Anduin Valley, along the Eaves of Mirkwood Forest, to the Hills of Emyn Muil, and even into the Dead Marshes. Eventually (if they're lucky), the players will have the opportunity to capture Gollum, after which they must escort him north, through Mirkwood Forest, to Thranduil's palace, for questioning and safekeeping.
Mechanically, I really wanted each scenario to be a unique experience; unlike any of the others and unlike any of the scenarios in the core set. So there's a "tracking" quest with the players looking for clues of Gollum's presence in the encounter deck, a combat oriented quest where the players are helping Grimbeorn the Old drive a group of powerful Trolls away from The Carrock, and one in which they find a wounded Eagle and must keep it alive and bring it to Radagast the Brown at Rhosgobel in a "race against the clock" type of quest. After those two "side quests," the heroes are able to get back on Gollum's trail, which leads to Emyn Muil, an extremely location heavy scenario that involves a lot of exploration. In the story's climactic end, will you be able to keep Gollum under strict guard as you fend off brutal attacks?
In addition to the 6 new scenarios, approximately half of each pack is devoted to new player cards. There is a new hero in each pack (starting off with Bilbo Baggins in The Hunt for Gollum Adventure Pack), and an assortment of cards for all 4 spheres. This was an exciting set to design, and I'm looking forward to its release!
Thanks, Nate! Be on the look out for the first Adventure Pack in the Shadows of Mirkwood cycle, The Hunt for Gollum, coming this spring!
The Lord of the Rings: The Card Game is a cooperative card game that puts 1-2 players (or up to four with an additional Core Set) in control of the most powerful characters and artifacts of Middle-earth. Players will select heroes, gather allies, acquire artifacts, and coordinate their efforts to face Middle-earth's most dangerous fiends. The Living Card Game format allows players to customize their gaming experience with monthly Adventure Pack expansions to the core game.
Nice use of the work "inklings" at the end of the first paragraph.
Do you plan to release a card set that has enough extra cards in it so that we can have 3 of every card in the core game, or do we have to buy three core sets, and wind up with a lot of stuff we don't need?
Lord of the Rings is the first LCG that I've gotten into and I just have to ask, will all 6 of these sets of "The Shadows of Mirkwood" be sold together after they have all been individually released for a slight discount, or do you usually have to buy each expansion separately? At least, what has been your experience with other LCGs?
If you wanna read a good overview of the game go here:
"However, that is little comfort if you announce a game, then only 7 months later release it (with 1 week 'advanced notice' of the rules). "
You do realize that the game got pushed pack, it was originally supposed to be released in the Nov/Dec range last year. I doubt it was their intent to wait this long.
I don't play W:I anymore. Dropped it for AGoT and now LotR. LotR will be great when it comes out. I understand everyone is frustrated that it seems like its been a long time since it was initially announced but other than that I think LotR will be great and will sell well. Even if only for the simple fact it says LotR, that will draw people to it as Tolkien's works have a huge fan base.
@ Toqtamish
Yes, it was a good day (I made it to the final 4 :) with my dwarf deck). That's because W:I is a great game and we had a great variety of players. Also, people were not 'overly experienced players' so they came for fun, not a brutal competition. That definately affects the atmosphere.
Again, it's not the game of lord of the rings "I" worry about, it's trying to convince others to play. If nobody plays, no sense in asking the store to pick it up and buying it. People would be more comfortable if they could read the rules before asking to 'pre-order'.
Also, I understand the concept of LCG, but as of late, people here are getting frustrated at the delays. Again, the store suffers when anticipation turns to frustration and then lack of interest.
In Summerside, the gaming community are hesitant with new games. I'm not a big fan of Money: The gathering (in fact, I despise it) but ask any gamer here, they might get frustrated with the random factor but they more then often will defend WOC because of their punctuality of their releases.
Let me know if you get a chance to come down again (dwarves are itchin for for a bashin!). Till then, take care!
I was at that tourney for Warhammer Invasion, it was a fun time. Prizes were nothing special and just an extra, oh yeah that's neat.
@ Scoob
Here are my concerns and a bit of perspective from Small town Summerside, PEI.
Mutant chronicles: This game was advertised, publicised and pushed litteraly for over a year of build-up and it was a great game. Then, all of a sudden, bam! Sorry not enough interest to continue it. So much for anticipation. Yes we (gamers and retailer) were very pissed about that.
Warhammer invasion: My store held the regionals for Warhammer invasion, an even that was publicised for over a month and a half, both at the store and on the FFG website. We had players from 3 different provinces come for this event. Guess what: there was a problem with the prizes being sent. It was a great hassle to sort it out but the outcome was we did not have the prizes for the event. Now FFG did not charge for the package but my retailer still had to pay for shipping, quite litterally almost the price of the package and he had to ship some of the prizes, at his cost. Very bad for HIS Business both in cost and in his ablility to provide something that was advertised a month and a half before the event. Especially the 'out of towners'
These are but a couple of examples of my issues with FFG. I see a great game in it's potential, I tell my gamer friends and store about this great game. They get hyped about it and ask who the game is by. I tell them FFG....
Oh, the interest level just dropped exponentially. In order to 'sell' a game to my friends, they want something concrete and solid because of the past hassles/ experiences. In this case, in our perspective, FFG promotes and 7 months later, we still don't have rules undermines the confidence we have in the ability FFG has to produce this game, especially since it was demoed at Gencon last year.
So, to answer your question Scoob, its neither the hype of the expansions or requesting more info (or the issue is both). Me, personally, I would like to get this game. However, the fact that it's produced by FFG means unless I have something concrete to tell my store/ gamer friends, they don't want to chance it because more often then naught, we have been disappointed NOT WITH THE GAMES, but the lack of actual retailers service support.
I hope this clarifies the perspective a bit.
How will the expansions be July/August if base set is in April ? 3 months from now is May. So May/June adventure pack cycle begins.
The Adventure packs will start after the Core set, Core set April, cycle starts in May, then go June, July, August, September, October. Come September or October we will start to see advertisements for next cycle of adventure packs. That is how all of the LCG's work.
I really understand your desire for the rules. I think a lot of times mechanics make the game, not the theme. However, for me the theme is definitely the draw to this game, as I love all things LOTR. But again, it makes sense to me that you'd want enough advance notice with the rules to know whether it's a property you want to invest time and money in to.
I'm not as clear why the timing of the advertisements are so important. I've been anxiously following this game since the first posts from Gencon came out, looking for any news. I'm disappointed that firm dates have not yet been given on releasing the base set, and I think we're getting close enough that we should really be able to get it. But personally it makes me more excited to get the base set when they say that they're already preparing the first six packs to follow the base set, because I know they're supporting the game at least for a little while.
So are you requesting more info just to decide on whether to get the base set, or does it actually bother you that they'd hype expansions before they release the base set?
At any rate, I just had to make my first post on the website today because I'm so darn excited for this game!
@ Toqtamish
Please don't take this the wrong way as the question was specifically addressed to Admin. Are you part of the Admin group? and a if you are, for clarification based on your post, the base set is scheduled for april, which means the expansion will be July/ August.
The admin post was vague. However, when I originally posted these types of concerns with BOW, Mr. Peterson was kind enough to explain this issue. He, however, said 'releases', not 'expansions' (and if I can figure out how to link, I would link the response he gave) which to me, implies base set as well as expansions.
I understand 3/4 months based on this. Again, I will re-iterate, we are much past this mark.
He was talking about the expansions, they needed to be announced now so that the network has time. The expansions will start right after the core set comes out in April. Expansions are 3 months away.


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« July 2009 Table of Contents
Thomas Billy, a former chief of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Seafood Quality and Inspection Division, once wrote a memo to Roy Martin, a former director of science and technology at the National Fisheries Institute (NFI). The letter detailed "grave concerns" Billy heard from several U.S. crab companies regarding the practice of intentionally mislabeling the net weight of frozen seafood products. Many shipping cases, he discovered, illegally included the weight of the ice glazing used to protect the seafood from dehydration and freezer burn.
Billy learned the U.S. Food and Drug Administration was aware of the unlawful practice, but lamented that the agency had neither the manpower nor the funds to address it. He wrote, "I feel very strongly that firms under our program should not be placed at an economic disadvantage, and intend to pursue this problem to a positive solution."
That letter was dated Dec. 13, 1977. More than three decades later and despite Billy's best intentions, a solution is still being sought to stamp out seafood fraud, a plague that creates an uneven playing field for competitors, causes untold losses for seafood buyers and ultimately cheats consumers. The FDA is charged with enforcing the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, which prohibits adulteration of seafood species names, actual weights and country of origin in an effort to inflate prices or circumvent import tariffs. Yet the agency still claims that due to a lack of resources, economic integrity violations yield to food-safety and national security concerns.
A frustrated NFI says the paucity of accurate-labeling enforcement doesn't discourage cheating.
"Cheaters cheat either because they are ignorant of the rules or they know they can get away with it," Lisa Weddig, director of regulatory and technical affairs at NFI, testified before the FDA's Science Board in February. Weddig is also secretary of the Better Seafood Board, an organization separate from NFI but created in 2007 by its members as a mechanism to report suppliers suspected of fraud. "The very nature of FDA enforcing fraudulent practices - even those that aren't public health related - will hinder more serious violations," Weddig concluded.
Either the FDA or the National Marine Fisheries Service would catch short-weighting crimes at ports of entry, but NMFS only provides fee-for-service inspections. While the BSB is drawing attention to fraud, industry veterans say more must be done at the federal level. Roughly half of NFI's 300 member companies are part of the seafood supply chain and were required in 2007 to sign a pledge to shun fraudulent practices - species substitution, short weighting or transshipping, which the BSB calls the three cornerstones of seafood fraud.
The challenge lay in the fringes: There are hundreds of companies and individuals brokering deals both within the United States and with foreign suppliers, many of which are either unfamiliar with U.S. laws or, as sources say, are requested by their U.S. customers to process seafood with excess preservatives like sodium tripolyphosphate or ice glazing to bump up the weight.
"It's like the sermon at church - the ones who really need to hear the message aren't there," says Travis Larkin, president of importer Seafood Exchange in Raleigh, N.C. "It's a solution in the middle of the supply chain, but the big problems are at the front and the end."
The 'cheater pack'
Some acts of fraud are difficult, if not impossible, to detect without expensive laboratory work or time dedicated to inspecting overseas shipments. The short-weighting or "cheater pack" con is simple: A 10-pound box of IQF shrimp or tilapia fillets, for example, can have 2 pounds or more of ice glaze coating the product for protection, though industry sources confirm the standard is no more than 10 percent of the product's weight. As that box changes hands, at any point in the supply chain it may be resold as 12 pounds of product.
Now consider that box as part of a 20,000-pound order.
"It's like an old Norman Rockwell [painting] of the housewife and the butcher, each of them pushing on the scale. It's cheating on the weight and it shouldn't be tolerated," says Merle Knapp, VP of sales and marketing at Glacier Fish Co. in Seattle, an at-sea processor and marketer of Alaska pollock, a commonly adulterated species.
"It's always an issue, because it reduces the perceived value" of competing products, adds Knapp. "If it's 10 percent less than ours, that immediately makes us less competitive."
Temptation to cheat, it seems, lurks at every turn. U.S. seafood firms receive mass e-mail offers daily from overseas suppliers for short-weight product - offers they've sent to the Better Seafood Board.
"They're not exactly hiding it," says Bill Dresser, president of Sea Port Products in Kirkland, Wash., which imports a wide range of seafood products.
Price-conscious buyers are lured in, either unknowing or unconcerned about weight discrepancies - losses that can be passed to the next link in the supply chain.
"There are guys out there just fishing, no pun intended," adds Larkin. "I do the math in my mind, and [the price] they're offering is mathematically impossible for a valid pack."
The BSB fields complaints from both NFI members and nonmembers but lacks authority to punish short-weight offenders; Knapp refers to the BSB as the "neighborhood watch." The BSB has sent cease-and-desist letters to a handful of companies, says Weddig, with responses both remorseful and recalcitrant (if one is received at all).
One company has had numerous complaints lodged against it for offering short-weight seafood. Over the past several months, the BSB shared with SeaFood Business e-mails sent to U.S. companies from Maxport International in Beijing offering an array of frozen seafood as low as 70 percent net weight right next to products listed at 100 percent net weight. One source called the company the "short-weight kings."
Weddig says the BSB notified Maxport several times and received five responses, the last one in December 2008. "They said, 'We didn't know, we'll stop.' They continued," says Weddig. "They know what they're doing. They just changed how offers were stated."
A source from Maxport named Daven told SeaFood Business via e-mail that his company "never sold short-weight products to USA." Daven had promised the BSB that Maxport would discontinue short-weight offers to U.S. buyers or that the e-mails were intended for European buyers. The FDA has not issued any import alerts against Maxport International, according to OASIS, the agency's online reporting system.
Dresser says e-mails offering short-weight seafood dwindled after Sea Port Products notified all of its suppliers that short weights wouldn't be tolerated.
"Two years ago, it was absolutely rampant," says Dresser, referring to offers for everything from squid tubes to slipper lobsters. "It was so pervasive that if you weren't going to be involved in short weights, you weren't getting in - the market was entrenched."
Dresser credits the BSB for helping his business and "impacting the behavior" of non-NFI member companies. "And it's not just short weights with us," he adds. "We told our suppliers that should you do short weights with anybody else and we find out about it, we'll stop buying from you."
End users lose out
Some buyers are quite aware of short weights and are holding suppliers accountable. SeaFood Business obtained a letter sent to an East Coast supplier in May by Tawa Supermarkets of Buena Park, Calif., which operates a 22-unit Asian retail food chain under the 99 Ranch Market brand. The letter insisted all the company's suppliers comply with federal law demanding true net weight declarations. In February, the FDA reissued its 1991 Guidance to Industry memo on short weighting - and the corresponding felony charges - at the urging of the BSB.
Sysco, the largest U.S. foodservice distributor, truncated its seafood supplier Rolodex for tighter control. Butch Vidrine, Sysco's director of seafood sourcing, said during the International Boston Seafood Show in March that the company cut its black tiger shrimp suppliers from 159 to three, its Pacific white shrimp suppliers from 300 to seven, its mahimahi suppliers from 60 to three and its scallop suppliers from 25 to two.
Last fall the broadline distributor was fined $200,000 by the Florida Attorney General's Office for supplying fish mislabeled as grouper to restaurants in the Tampa, Fla., area. Sysco, which regularly tests product for species identification, admitted no intentional wrongdoing. But it was a familiar tale: Undercover media stings in recent years have caught numerous restaurants in both the United States and Canada offering mislabeled seafood species, though most of them say their suppliers duped them.
"The caliber of restaurant is irrelevant," says Morton Nussbaum, chairman and CEO of International Marketing Specialists of West Newton, Mass., which markets DelicaSea-branded seafood. Companies that develop brands are less likely to risk impugning themselves with fraudulent schemes, he says.
Still, Nussbaum has witnessed raw tilapia served at sushi restaurants as red snapper sashimi, counterfeit labels placed atop originals and shrimp counts changed because larger sizes command up to $1 more per pound. Suppliers, he adds, are often "aiders and abettors."
Weddig says preventing economic fraud takes frequent spot checks, even from trusted partners. "Canada is cracking down on fraud, so there's a chance that more short-weighted product could be coming into the United States," she says. "Our borders are open, apparently."
Get it together
Patrick McGuinness, president of the Fisheries Council of Canada, says Canada's Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) randomly inspects 5 percent of seafood imports - the United States reportedly inspects less than 2 percent - for food-safety matters and net weight declarations. From April 1 to June 30, the agency "doubled its efforts" on four species - shrimp, basa, squid and Alaska pollock - by subjecting imports to intensive checks because of repeated short-weight complaints.
"Some importers have integrity and commitment to their customers, and bottom line, they were losing sales," he adds. "Strong voices were saying that if somebody gets caught they should face significant fines and their product destroyed - direct, punitive action."
McGuinness says the CFIA, "pound for pound," has more resources than the FDA. What's more, he adds, Canada's health and food inspection agencies are separate entities.
"When you have an agency with dual mandates, and one is superior, the second will always be second," McGuinness says.
Criticism of federal fraud prevention is now on the books. The FDA, NMFS and U.S. Customs and Border Protection "do not effectively collaborate" and haven't "identified a common goal, established joint strategies or agreed on responsibilities," said a March report from the Government Accountability Office on the agencies' performance in preventing seafood fraud. The agencies have different species-identification methodologies and don't share their respective laboratories' data, among other gaps, the GAO noted.
Soon after the report's release, the BSB assembled relevant government regulatory agencies to discuss short weighting and unify their response to it. Officials from FDA, NMFS, CBP, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the National Conference on Weights and Measures attended.
"There is always room for improvements in the ways these agencies interact," says Sebastian Cianci, an FDA spokesperson. "Seafood inspection is just one small part of the seafood-safety program, and given the motivation for committing economic fraud it may be that in addition to increases in inspection capacity, other regulatory tools are needed."
To its credit, the embattled FDA has publicly denounced creative market names like "white roughy" and "bluenose grouper" for inexpensive whitefish species like Vietnamese basa (see sidebar, p. 19). And in terms of food-safety protection, the FDA scores high marks with rejected-shipment notifications on OASIS, says Nussbaum.
"When something is rejected on a Friday, it's there for all to see by Monday," Nussbaum says. "They maintain files of suspect shippers, importers. You'd have to be insane to try anything."
But an executive with a West Coast seafood processor, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, says getting the FDA to carry out all its mandates - like policing seafood fraud - will take more than just throwing money at it.
"It's going to take a complete overhaul," the source says, adding that FDA officials have informed him that if homeland security or food safety isn't the chief concern, there is no budget for it - a similar response to what Cianci provided. "If there's not enough strength to carry out labeling laws, then why have them?"
That's a question that's been asked for more than 30 years.
Associate Editor James Wright can be e-mailed at email@example.com


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Ray WA et al. – During 5 days of azithromycin therapy, there was a small absolute increase in cardiovascular deaths, which was most pronounced among patients with a high baseline risk of cardiovascular disease.
Methods- The authors studied a Tennessee Medicaid cohort designed to detect an increased risk of death related to short–term cardiac effects of medication, excluding patients with serious noncardiovascular illness and person–time during and shortly after hospitalization.
- The cohort included patients who took azithromycin (347,795 prescriptions), propensity–score–matched persons who took no antibiotics (1,391,180 control periods), and patients who took amoxicillin (1,348,672 prescriptions), ciprofloxacin (264,626 prescriptions), or levofloxacin (193,906 prescriptions).
- During 5 days of therapy, patients taking azithromycin, as compared with those who took no antibiotics, had an increased risk of cardiovascular death (hazard ratio, 2.88; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.79 to 4.63; P<0.001) and death from any cause (hazard ratio, 1.85; 95% CI, 1.25 to 2.75; P=0.002).
- Patients who took amoxicillin had no increase in the risk of death during this period.
- Relative to amoxicillin, azithromycin was associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular death (hazard ratio, 2.49; 95% CI, 1.38 to 4.50; P=0.002) and death from any cause (hazard ratio, 2.02; 95% CI, 1.24 to 3.30; P=0.005), with an estimated 47 additional cardiovascular deaths per 1 million courses; patients in the highest decile of risk for cardiovascular disease had an estimated 245 additional cardiovascular deaths per 1 million courses.
- The risk of cardiovascular death was significantly greater with azithromycin than with ciprofloxacin but did not differ significantly from that with levofloxacin.


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July 20, 2009
The following story was written by Sandra Trapp, from Glace Bay, Nova Scotia. Sandra is enrolled in the Adult Learning Program with the Adult Learning Association of Cape Breton County. She won an Honourable mention from Literacy Nova Scotia for the Adult Learners' Week Contest that took place throughout Nova Scotia from March 2 - 9, 2009.
Hi my name is Sandra Trapp. I am 46 years old and I never thought in a million years that I would be back in a learning program and be excited about learning again.
As a child going to school was a nightmare for me because I struggled everyday to learn what came so easy to others. I was not popular and I was teased everyday which made it even harder for me to learn. As I reached the higher grades I entered an adjusted class which wasn't any easier for me. With all the frustration I dropped out in 10th grade.
Years later, I wanted to continue my education, but had a son and got married so I had to put it aside again. Now my son is grown and out on his own. I thought I would try to continue on where I left off years ago. On a good friend's advice I returned to a learning program. I have come to the Adult Learning Program and I really enjoy it. My teacher is great. She cares about each and every one of us. I also find myself eager to learn more each time. Now I have the chance to accomplish something I've wanted to do since I left school years ago which is to get my high school diploma. This is my first year in the Adult Learning Program. I'd like to continue on and maybe do something with this chance I have.
Education is one of the most important things to have in life. Everybody should have the opportunity to learn. For me I'm glad to have the chance to continue my education. Maybe someday I can help someone else.
[This story was taken with permission, from Living and Learning for a Viable Future: The Power of Adult Learning, a collection of stories submitted to Literacy Nova Scotia for the Adult Learners' Week Contest in March 2009.]


text: The bar has a sober atmosphere and ambiance to suit your mood. There a good collection of beverages but the choice could be more. However, do not fall for 'the buy one get one free'. When you ask for your second drink (supposed to be free) you get the answer that it is only for a particular selected light drink... More


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Negotiating with the Taliban?
April 22, 2010 by TMO · Leave a Comment
"Sleeping" with the Enemy"
By Geoffrey Cook, MMNS
Differences Between the U.S., Afghani and Indian Governments
Point Isabel, Point Richmond (Calif.)–Your author is taking his subtitle from a less than notable American film of several years ago to finish up his report on the recent Indian Ambassador to Kabul's comments , Gautam Mukhopadhaya.
At the moment your reporter finds himself at a lovely promontory pointing into San Francisco Bay, and it seems strange to be considering so many matters so far away that I begun two weeks ago from Berkeley. At that time I decided to divide the presentation into two parts because of its length.
Mukhopadhaya continued on how the political position amongst the American voters regarding Afghanistan was shifting away from support to criticism of official military policy in the Hindu Kush. Therefore, the District of Columbia had to change its tactics in response.
Pakistan operates in this War as it perceives to its own interests. Thus, the Ambassador deems that NATO (the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's) allies in the Hindu Kush consider Rawalpindi to be unreliable — which is far from the truth in your writer's opinion.
Both the U.S. and Pakistan are targeting the Taliban, (but Islamabad only considers one branch of the Taliban to be hostile to their interests. The other four branches – which are within their territory, too – they do not consider a threat, and all these parties are comparatively accommodating to the other – including Pakistan. Up to 80% of the Pakistani Taliban resides in the federally administered Northwest Provinces.)
The Americans and Pakistani Armies mutually oppose one "clan" of Taliban, and they are fully within Islamabad's Federally Administered Territories. Thus, Peshawar sees no threat to their survival from the Afghani Taliban.
Further, Washington sees no alternative to the Karzai government that the District of Columbia (D.C.) perceives as militarily undependable. At the same time, the U.S. Administration comprehends Kazai's Presidency to be a corruptible one – an uneasy alliance to say the least!
In the London Conference on the Afghani conflict last January (2010), the European and Canadian allies supported the "Afghanization" of the War and the "regularization" (normalization) of our relations with the Taliban! This, hopefully, would lead to meaningful discussions and, eventually, peace within the Mountains! These talks should be mutually respectful between each party – including the Taliban.
At same time, the Indian representative from New Delhi's Department of External Affairs had to take a dig at their traditional competitors: "We need leadership from the Pakistanis!" (This struggle beyond the Khyber is an opportunity to bring these two South Asian nuclear neighbors closer together instead of tearing them further apart to the dangerous detriment to all!) His Excellency accused D.C. of a failure of leadership during this international crisis. To settle the military security, he urged U.S.-Pakistan operations. (Of course, the loss of Islamabad's national sovereignty would be totally unacceptable to its Muslim citizenry, and put the security of Pakistan's topography under question for its Western and regional allies!) Simultaneously, the Saudis close allies to both, are working with Islamabad and Washington to bring their policies closer together.
On the other hand, the Taliban itself is fed-up. The London Conference approved the Taliban's grasp of the countryside while NATO and the Afghani government would occupy the cities. This is not the battle plan of these "Students." They wish to hold the total fasces within the dry, cold hills, and their mindset is far from compromise at this time.
Yet the Americans presume that they have an upper hand, and, correspondingly, are in the position of strength to negotiate with their adversaries. Actually, it is the Pakistanis who are central for negotiating with the problem some Quetta branch of the Talibani. The Pakistani Army has already begun to begin dialogue in Baluchistan. Rawalpindi considers it has made some progress, and the Generals at their Military Headquarters are encouraged by their discourse with the irregular tribesmen.
The U.S.A. has been following a contradictory policy in the Af-Pak itself. While D.C. has been throwing development funds in Southern Afghanistan, it has been shoring up the military on the frontlines in Pakistan.
Ultimately, though, Ambassador Maukapadya does not discern a desire by the Taliban to parley. In the late 1990s, the Taliban regime in Kabul led the U.S. on their intentions. (Your essayist has some questions about this, and that is His Excellency is not separating the goals of a Nationalist Taliban and an Internationalist Al'Quaeda.) Would the Taliban be willing to form a coalition government with Karzai or whoever may succeed him (them)? (Whatever, a re-establishment of the regime of the 1990s is totally unacceptable to International Civil Society without the checks and balances of the partnership of all Afghani peoples and tribes!) The Ambassador is "…not optimistic."
There is preparation for a major NATO assault upon the Taliban stronghold around the southern city of Kandahar, the center of Talibani power. Maukapadya does not feel the battle will turn the War around.
Concurrently, Europe and North America and their regional associates are employing dual strategies against the Taliban who are replying in kind. This War is far from coming to a mutually acceptable denouement.
Negotiations with Taliban? (Part 1)
April 8, 2010 by TMO · Leave a Comment
By Geoffrey Cook, MMNS
Berkeley–March 15th–Gautam Mukhopadhaya is a career diplomat in the Union of India's Department of External Affairs (i.e., Foreign Service). He was their Ambassador Embassy to Kabul for the first time after the Taliban victory during the 1990s. When, after the 200l American onslaught, the Indian federation deemed it safe enough to re-establish a presence in the Hindu Kush. In many ways, New Delhi is more of a negative influence than a positive one in that area, for they have exacerbated the Indo-Pak rivalry as it was slowly cooling down. Succinctly, your essayist sees New Delhi pulling a geopolitical pincher movement. Rawalpindi has moved significant Divisions of their Army into new areas facing India's Western frontier that previously Pakistan did not judge to be essential to their security. This, curiously, has hurt the military their campaign in the Durand borderlands, for the Pak COAS (Commander of the Army Staff) has decided to move a significant numbers of his military to counter the new Indian concentrations. Further, your author's sources have informed him that there is a very secret "War" being waged between the Pakistani ISI (Inner Services Intelligence) and the Indian RAW (Research and Analysis Wing) within Afghanistan itself destabilizing the efforts of foreign forces (NATO [the North Atlantic Treaty Organization] and especially Washington).
Although (Indo-) Bharat is not an Islamic-majority country, it is the second most populous ("culturally") Muslim land in the world. Although he has a Hindu name, (Former) Ambassador Mukhopadhaya was raised in Calcutta, which is within the eastern (Indian) state of West Bengal, and borders the Islamic-majority nation of Bangladesh. Slightly over a quarter of Indian (West) Bengalis are Muslims, which must have given him a great sensitivity for — and knowledge of — the Afghanistani Muslims, for he was the first Indian chief envoy to be appointed there after the fall of the Talibani State in 2002.
He made a notation which your reporter has heard from other knowledgeable people in field: Iraq was/is a War of choice for the U.S.A. while Afghanistan is one of necessity.
Mukhopadhaya observed that President Barrick Obama of the United States of America is beginning the second year of his Afghan Policy. Obama is now considering negotiations with the Taliban! His Excellency America perceives Pakistan as aggravating the War in Afghanistan, for the District of Columbia (D.C.) perceives that the province Peshawar rules has not pursued the Taliban and Al-Qaida with the zeal for which they the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) hoped, (but the causality figures of Pakistani Army in the N.W.P. [the Northwest Provinces] belie the accuracy of his Excellency's analysis.)
The Obama Administration views not only the Pakistanis but the Indians as "spoilers!" Yet, whatever, the U.S. War effort entails, the assistance of Pakistan's COAS, General Ashram Parvez (Kayani) and his staff, the North Americans with their European allies cannot do alone, for the regional nation-states are long-term stakeholders within their topography!
Violent Jihadi Imagery
July 23, 2009 by TMO · Leave a Comment
By Geoffrey Cook, MMNS
Your author has been commissioned to write a chapter on Violent Jihadi websites for a book on security in South Asia. He gave his initial findings at a conference in Central Florida early last April out of which came an offer to put it on the web, and, also, to expand it into a chapter. Your scribe shall be presenting his further findings at a meeting in the upper Midwest this coming October. After that time, he shall be glad to send on the full exercise to anyone who will e-mail me a request via the Muslim Observer where I shall be publishing a series of journalistic articles based on the research over the next several months.
I was sent a remarkable semi-confidential website study entitled The Islamic Imagery Project published ("pasted") by an academic Committee of the Combating Terrorism Center within the Social Science Department at West Point in March 2006. The document is an e-book, and as a student of such things, there are assumptions that are questionable within while, at the same time, the report is quite enlightening.
The Obama Administration is questioning the purpose and tactics of the struggle in the Middle East and South Asia with what we vulgarly term "terrorism." The study of this document can be of value in creating new, more effective approaches in confronting the irregular clashes that often target civilians. On March 12 2009 Aljazeera and the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) reported that the new government in Washington had decided to drop the designations of the "War on Terror" and "enemy combatant." Vocabulary can tell us much on how this struggle is changing, and on how counter-terrorism (i.e., counter-insurgency) should and /or could be waged more effectively.
Information on the modern imagery of politically violent radical Islamic groups – especially as it appears on "Jihadi" websites — is imperfect. Those conversant in Arabic know that Jihad mostly translates as a spiritual struggle within. Thus, in correct parlance a Jihadist is one who is in spiritual struggle to find an inner "Truth," but in Wahhabi Islam, which was born and nurtured in Saudi Arabia, and spread to become a foundation to fight against the Colonial powers in the Nineteenth, Twentieth and now in the Twenty-first Centuries, Jihad has become a physical struggle. Today it fiercely fights against (Western) Post-Modernism (as it opposes the majority of other diverse forms of Islam). Therefore, Jihad, also, denotes in this context to resist against the "kafir," or non- Muslims, in contemporary radical Islam. The "non-Muslim" is too often considered by them as "hetero-orthodox" Islam — such as the Shiites — as well.
On the other hand, in Shiite and increasingly in modern Sunni Islam, the closely related concept of Itijihad is gaining parlance. Since September 11, 2001, Islam has been grossly misunderstood, and it is the duty to change this through Itijihad as the junior Pakistani academic Rana Eijaz Ahmad argues. Itijihad is a non-violent struggle of enlightenment.
These violent Jihadi organizations have had a brief – so far — but prolific history in the production and distribution of visual "propaganda" as the Committee, who created The Islamic Imagery Project, oversimplifies these images The web masters have created their own distinct genre of Internet-based Islamist imagery. The understanding of this sort of embedded iconography is at an early stage; and, thus, there is much to be done by the practioneers of various disciplines. Within this particular study, the visual "propaganda" (i.e., visual "speech") is more than textual messages; rather, the visual communicates explicitly, as the written word does. The radical Jihadi imagery has become a prime vehicle for communications and the essential tool for the diffusion of Jihadist ideals to diverse scattered cells – not only in South Asia – but throughout the world, but the modern violent Jihadi Movement had arisen in Afghanistan and now, also, resolutely resides in the Northwest Provinces of Pakistan, but, also, has spread worldwide operating in secretive detached cells much as the classic Communist did during the Second World War where one cell may not be aware of the make-up or placement of an adjacent grouping making it hard for the counter-terrorist (anti-insurgents) to break the structures up, thereby, to destroy the resistance.
In future essays we shall observe how select pictures keep and break Islamic injunction using both Islamic and Western sources.