text:
Quite possibly. I went through about 6 links to get to the download,On 03/01/2013 03:31 AM, Jeremy Jongepier wrote:
I installed the 32-bit mini iso on this page:
I can't give you a uname because I wrote over it with a minimal Debian
Squeeze (laptop + system tools packages) But, after working for a few
boots on one machine (booting Debian from the flash drive), I tried the
Debian/flash drive in my studio computer and got the message on boot:
"error: incompatible license." And then it goes to grub rescue. And
when I go back to the original computer I get the same error. Bummer.
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Hosting provided by the Virginia Tech Department of Music and DISIS.


text: this isn't a place to visit but a caterer who does a wonderful job. If you have a big function in Parry Sound area you want catered, you cannot go wrong. I have had their food many times and her crew is very professional. The food is delicious and fresh.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Tap Here to view the Mobile Optimized TFLN
My recently uploaded pictures to facebook: Me partying on Beale St. with a single girl on each arm. Ex's recently upload pictures: Several pictures of cats. I win.
He ran five blocks just to watch me and my best friend make out. I think he's a keeper.
How do you get a cum stain out of a trampoline?
In case you were wondering, my scare crow is wearing your outfit from last night.
new girl just came onto the hall stumbling drunk with no shoes on and the guy who brought her doesn't have them either
He sent me a picture of his dick with a cowboy hat on it.
I'm pretty sure that I'm earning a horrible reputation with your friends, but I'm having a fucking great time in the process.
Do you think there's anyone left in this world that hasn't masturbated in a computer chair?
We're talking about addictions in class and there's a girl 2 rows in front of me on Farmville. Hello, example.
The waitress bought us a round. She said if anyone could do 52 margarita mondays in a row, it was us.
Come over. But instead of sex, will you rub anti itch cream all over my face?
And I'm not sure if that's how you pluralize penis. Never planned on needing to know that in my life.
I either just got free sex or a nice jail sentence. Text me in 10 to verify.
Your heart is a swirling cauldron of blackness that does not pump blood but rather a sludgey mixture of evil and broken dreams.
would it be mean if I put better with the lights off on my sex playlist just for my hook up with him?
Follow @tfln


text:
Flashy Debut for Royal Delta Half Brother
Not to be missed in all of the stakes races Jan. 24 at Gulfstream Park was a dazzling debut win by Al Shaqab Racing's Khozan, a half brother to three-time Eclipse champion Royal Delta.
Not to be missed in all of the stakes races Jan. 24 at Gulfstream Park was a dazzling debut win by Al Shaqab Racing's Khozan, a half brother to three-time Eclipse champion Royal Delta.
Ian Tapp takes us through the Fasig-Tipton November Breeding Stock Sale numbers. Listen to comments from Mark Taylor of Taylor Made Sales, Jane Lyon, Brereton Jones, and Ken Ramsey. watch video
Twenty-three horses sold for $1 million or more at November mixed sale in Lexington, but median was down 20% from last year.
Wine Princess, a multiple graded-stakes winner by 2004 Horse of the Year Ghostzapper out of 2002 Horse of the Year Azeri, brought $3 million from DATTT Farm at the Fasig-Tipton November sale Nov. 3 in Lexington.
Crown Queen, a half sister to champion Royal Delta, earned her first grade I victory with a sparkling late run in the $500,000 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Presented by Lane's End (gr. IT) at Keeneland Oct. 11.
Minorette, winner of the Belmont Invitational Oaks (gr. IT) July 5, brings a pair of bullet works to the Aug. 16 Knob Creek Lake Placid Stakes (gr. IIT) at Saratoga Race Course.
Delta Princess, the dam of champion Royal Delta, was euthanized Aug. 5 due to a degenerative stifle condition according to a release from Adena Springs.
TimeformUS Weekend stakes analysis of the G1 Delaware Handicap and G2 Bowling Green Handicap. read blog
Bill Cubbedge's Molly Morgan shot through an opening along the rail on the final turn and drew away to an easy upset victory in the $216,200 Fleur de Lis Handicap (gr. II) at Churchill Downs the evening of June 14.
The all-graded-stakes Pick 4 on the Stephen Foster Handicap card on Saturday night at Churchill Downs is a tricky sequence. read blog
Eaton Sales' Take Charge Lady, the dam of champion 3-year-old colt Will Take Charge, was honored as Broodmare of the Year by the Kentucky Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association at its annual awards luncheon April 17.
It's not often that the connections of a one-horse consignment lead over a sale topper at public auction, but that's exactly what happened to Hoby and Layna Kight at Fasig-Tipton's Florida sale March 24.
With a bullish juvenile sale market on the move, Fasig-Tipton enters its annual Florida sale of select 2-year-olds in training March 24 at Adena Springs South near Williston, Fla.
Celebrating the winners of the 2013 Eclipse Awards. view slideshow
Wise Dan, the 2013 Horse of the Year, became the first horse to win three championships in consecutive years.
Victor Carrasco beat out fellow Puerto Rican riders Manuel Franco and Edgard Zayas to win the 2013 Eclipse Award as the nation's outstanding apprentice jockey.
Superstar mare Royal Delta easily dominated the older female division and notched her third straight Eclipse Award by virtue of three impressive graded stakes victories last year, one of which was grade I.
In the older female Eclipse Award category, two-time champion Royal Delta is the standout finalist, while other impressive mares Joyful Victory and Tiz Miz Sue attempt to make a case with their 2013 grade I accomplishments.
Highlights from the career of dual champion Royal Delta. view slideshow
Becky Winemiller's Wine Princess again proved her affinity for Churchill Downs with a strong victory in the $150,000 Falls City Handicap (gr. II) Nov. 28 at the Kentucky track.
By virtue of her impressive score in the Nov. 2 Chilukki Stakes (gr. II) at Churchill Downs, Don't Tell Sophia will be the 122-pound high weight and likely favorite when she goes postward in the Falls City Handicap (gr. II).
The connections of two-time champion Royal Delta have announced that the 5-year-old daughter of Empire Maker has been retired and will be bred to Galileo.
Don't Tell Sophia rallied from last in the field of 10 fillies and mares to sail past 5-2 favorite Wine Princess en route to a 2 1/4-length victory in the 28th running of the $165,200 Chilukki (gr. II) at Churchill Downs.
Smooth as silk under jockey Gary Stevens, Beholder vanquished both two-time champion Royal Delta and Princess of Sylmar while rolling to an open-lengths victory in the $2 million Breeders' Cup Distaff (gr. I) Nov. 1.
TimeformUS Weekend Plays: Breeders' Cup Edition read blog
Horse | Trainer | Breeder / Owner |
Funny Proposition | Mark E. Casse |
Ice Cream Silence | George R. Arnold, II |
Royal Delta | William I. Mott |
She's All In | Donnie K. Von Hemel |
Wine Princess | Steve Margolis |
Race | Track | Date |
Marshua S. | LRL | |
Frank Whiteley Jr S. | LRL | |
Rego Park S. | AQU | |
Ladies H. | AQU | |
H. Allen Jerkins S. | GP |


text: With over 58,000 subscribers, Modlar is certainly having an impact on the AEC community. We're excited to announce even more manufacturers that have placed their building products in Modlar's online library. As catalogs and brochures continue to be supplemented with actual product specifications online, architects, engineers, contractors, and designers worldwide are turning Modlar to find… read more


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Previous Episode | Next Episode
The Wolf Pack
Alternate Title: A Small Promise
by Dave KochThis page has been viewed 10 times this month, and 411 times total.
- The Adventures of the Little Prince Cartoon Episode Guide
- Jambre-Gallerie International Films
- Cartoon Characters: The Little Prince, Swifty, Danya.
Originally Released in Oct 27, 1982 (Estimate).
- Season: 1
- Color
- Running Time: 30 minutes.
Cartoon Summary:
The Little Prince travels to Earth from his tiny home planet B-612 to make new friends. He helps others solve their problems. He catches comets in his butterfly net and hitches rides on them to other planets. He eventually returns to his home to be with his friend, The Rose Girl, who grew from a stray seed.
Submit Additional Information:
Do you have anything to add to this page? Have we made any mistakes... or do you ahve any additional information about The Wolf Pack? If so, we would love to hear from you. Please send us a quick note with your additions or corrections to this page, and we will make the corrections as soon as possible!
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Close to everything, located at barely two hundred meters from downtown Ushuaia and at three hundred from the beautiful maritime waterfront, six double or single rooms with bathrooms to be shared between two adjoining rooms only, in an original wooden family house designed and refurbished by its owner/architect. A continental breakfast, in accordance with local traditions, is prepared every morning. But the most important is the possibility of chating with a hostess who speaks French, English and Spanish, wich is willing to share her enthusiasm and local knowledge with you.
Aeropuerto, Ciudad, Junto al océano
Buenos Aires, Argentina (EZE)
. If you arrive by bus, you can walk (nine hundred meters) or take a taxi or a remis.
Parque Nacional Tierra del Fuego, Canal Beagle, Naturaleza, bosques, montañas y mar, abundante flora y fauna
Bed and Breakfast
Ordenador, Internet en la habitación, Biblioteca , continental breakfast included
Aire acondicionado, Wi-Fi
Silvia Casalaga
Inglés, Francés, Español


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Share your lunch box tips
Submit your lunch box tip and you could win one of 20 $250 Coles Myer vouchers today! more
8 easy, family friendly recipes each week
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These little cups are perfect for children's parties and can be easily made ahead. This is an attractive way to serve dip and veggies and the kids will love having their own cups.
Dip recipes, Finger food, Healthy, Kids cooking, Kids food, Party food
15 mins
0 mins
Peel and cut the carrots in even sized sticks that are 1cm taller than the lip of the cups. Destring and cut the celery sticks to the same length as the carrots.
In a bowl, whisk together the light sour cream and French onion soup mix until well combined.
Spoon the dip mixture evenly between the 12 cups. Divide the carrots and celery sticks evenly between the cups and serve.


text:
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files released so far...
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The Global Intelligence Files
On Monday February 27th, 2012, WikiLeaks began publishing The Global Intelligence Files, over five million e-mails from the Texas headquartered "global intelligence" company Stratfor. The e-mails date between July 2004 and late December 2011. They reveal the inner workings of a company that fronts as an intelligence publisher, but provides confidential intelligence services to large corporations, such as Bhopal's Dow Chemical Co., Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon and government agencies, including the US Department of Homeland Security, the US Marines and the US Defence Intelligence Agency. The emails show Stratfor's web of informers, pay-off structure, payment laundering techniques and psychological methods.
[OS] US/IRAN.KSA/CT - 10/12 - U.S. Challenged to Explain Accusations of Iran Plot in the Face of Skepticismo
Released on 2012-10-16 17:00 GMT
Email-ID | 144465 |
Date | 2011-10-13 15:44:52 |
From | firstname.lastname@example.com |
To | email@example.com |
List-Name | firstname.lastname@example.com |
Nicholas Kamm/Agence France-Presse - Getty Images
Adel al-Jubeir, the Saudi ambassador, was said to be the target of an
assassination plot involving a Mexican drug cartel.
By ERIC SCHMITT and SCOTT SHANE
Published: October 12, 2011
WASHINGTON - The Obama administration on Wednesday sought to reconcile
what it said was solid evidence of an Iranian plot to murder Saudi
Arabia's ambassador to the United States with a wave of puzzlement and
skepticism from some foreign leaders and outside experts.
Senior American officials themselves were struggling to explain why the
Quds Force, an elite international operations unit within Iran's Islamic
Revolutionary Guards Corps, would orchestrate such a risky attack in so
amateurish a manner.
The White House spokesman, Jay Carney, would not go further than to say
the plot "clearly involved senior levels of the Quds Force." But other
American officials, armed with evidence such as bank transfers and
intercepted telephone calls and with knowledge of how the covert unit
operated in the past, said they believed that Iran's senior leaders were
likely complicit in the plot.
"It would be our assessment that this kind of operation would have been
discussed at the highest levels of the regime," said a senior American
official, who was not authorized to speak publicly about the government's
American officials offered no specific evidence linking the plot to Iran's
most senior leaders. But they said it was inconceivable in Iran's
hierarchy that the leader of the shadowy Quds Force, Maj. Gen. Qassim
Suleimani, was not directly involved, and that the country's supreme
leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was not aware of such a plan.
Iran's leaders marshaled a furious formal rejection Wednesday of the
American accusations, calling the case a cynical fabrication meant to
vilify Iran and distract Americans from their severe economic problems. A
senior member of Iran's Parliament, Alaeddin Boroujerdi, said he had "no
doubt this is a new American-Zionist plot to divert the public opinion
from the crisis Obama is grappling with."
United States officials said they were exploring several theories why the
Quds Force, which supplies and trains insurgents around the world, would
plot an attack in Washington against a close adviser to the Saudi king,
relying on an Iranian-American used-car salesman from Texas who, they
said, thought he was hiring assassins from a Mexican drug gang.
The officials said the plot might indicate a shift to a more combative
Iranian foreign policy toward Saudi Arabia and the United States. The
United States has brought international pressure on Iran's nuclear
program, and Iran and Saudi Arabia have long waged proxy battles for
influence in the Muslim world.
"The Iranians watch the Saudis roll tanks in Bahrain, and they see a key
ally in Syria going down, so they step up the Quds Force," one senior
administration official said. He referred to Saudi military assistance to
the Sunni monarchy of Bahrain, whose majority population shares the Shia
Islam of Iran.
Iran has many trusted networks in the Middle East and has often used the
Lebanese militants of Hezbollah as a proxy. But it has far fewer agents in
the United States, which might have forced it to look to a far riskier
proxy for the plot, officials said.
American investigators have speculated that the Iranian-American accused
in the scheme, Mansour J. Arbabsiar, who lived in Texas on the Mexico
border, may have convinced a cousin, a senior Quds official, that he could
recruit a member of one of Mexico's notorious drug cartels to carry out
the killing.
One provocative theory that American officials are considering is that the
assassination was intended as retaliation for the killing of several
Iranian nuclear scientists during the past two years. Those deaths are
widely believed to have been the work of Israel, with tacit American
approval, to slow Iran's progress toward a nuclear weapon.
In a protest letter denying the American charges late Tuesday, Iran's
ambassador to the United Nations, Mohammad Khazaee, referred pointedly to
the assassination campaign. "Iran has been a victim of terrorism," he
wrote, "a clear recent example of which is the assassination of a number
of Iranian nuclear scientists in the past two years carried out by the
Zionist regime and supported by the United States."
An American official said of Iranian officials that "certainly their
publicly expressed anger at the death of some of their scientists could
have been part of their calculation." But the official said the United
States government had no specific evidence to support that theory.
Juan Zarate, a deputy national security adviser for combating terrorism in
the Bush administration, said that if the upper echelons of the Quds Force
had approved the operation, it also must have been approved by Ayatollah
Khamenei, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad or both.
If that was the case, he said, it crossed what he called a "red line,"
bringing to American soil a proxy sectarian war between Shiites and Sunnis
that Iran has been fighting with Saudi Arabia for influence in the region
in places like Syria and Bahrain.
But Mr. Zarate and senior American officials said the assassination plan
did not have the hallmarks of a Quds operation. "It was very extreme and
very odd, but it was also very sloppy," Mr. Zarate said. "If you look at
what they have done historically, they can put operatives on their targets
and execute. They usually don't outsource, but keep things inside a
trusted network."
One problem for President Obama and his administration is that since
American intelligence claims about Iraq's illicit weapons proved false in
2003, assertions by the United States about its adversaries have routinely
faced skepticism from other countries.
"Of course, that is in people's heads. Everyone is extremely skeptical
about U.S. intelligence revelations," said Volker Perthes, an Iran expert
who is the director of the German Institute for International and Security
Affairs in Berlin.
There may indeed have been a plot, Mr. Perthes said. "I don't regard it as
impossible but rather improbable," he said.
If the Iranian leadership authorized such a plot, he said, that would mark
"a major escalation against the United States, of the kind that hasn't
happened since the Iranian Revolution." It would be "almost an act of
war," and Washington "must react in a different way than it has so far."
Alain Frachon, a Le Monde columnist and a former Washington correspondent,
said that "we can expect anything from a regime as split and divided as
the Iranian regime is," adding that "one group among them is probably
capable of launching such an operation to embarrass the others."
While the United States' history with Iraq might color the European
reaction, Mr. Frachon said, he is "not sure you'll find the same amount of
skepticism in Paris as there was with W.M.D. In the case of Iraq, it was
easier to assess, but Iran is much more opaque, and people are willing to
expect anything from a divided regime."
Steven Erlanger contributed reporting from Paris, Jo Becker from New York,
and Anthony Shadid from Beirut, Lebanon.
Michael Wilson
Director of Watch Officer Group, STRATFOR
(512) 744-4300 ex 4112


text:
Hemorrhoids are veins, normally present in and around the anus and lower rectum, that have become swollen due to stretching under pressure. These are very common in both men and women, and about half the population have hemorrhoids by age 50. Hemorrhoids are also common in pregnant women due to the pressure of the fetus in the abdomen, as well as hormonal changes, which cause hemorrhoidal vessels to enlarge. The process of childbirth also puts severe stress of these vessels.
Hemorrhoids are either internal (inside the anus) or external (under the skin around the anus).
Hemorrhoids may develop as a result of repeated straining during bowel movements, pregnancy, heredity, aging, and chronic constipation or diarrhea.
The following are the most common symptoms of hemorrhoids. However, each individual may experience symptoms differently. Symptoms may include:
Bright red blood present on the stool, toilet paper, or in the toilet bowl
Irritation and pain around the anus
Swelling or a hard lump around the anus
The symptoms of hemorrhoids may resemble other medical conditions or problems. Always consult your doctor for a diagnosis.
The presence of blood in the stool can be indicative of other digestive disorders, including colorectal cancer, so thorough evaluation and proper diagnosis is important.Diagnosing hemorrhoids may include:
Physical examination. This is done to check the anus and rectum and look for swollen blood vessels that indicate hemorrhoids.
Digital rectum examination (DRE). The doctor inserts a gloved, lubricated finger into the rectum to check for abnormalities.
Anoscopy. A hollow, lighted tube useful for viewing internal hemorrhoids is inserted into the anus.
Proctoscopy. A lighted tube, which allows the doctor to completely examine the entire rectum, is inserted into the anus.
Sigmoidoscopy. A diagnostic procedure that allows the doctor to examine the inside of a portion of the large intestine, and is helpful in identifying the causes of diarrhea, abdominal pain, constipation, abnormal growths, and bleeding. A short, flexible, lighted tube, called a sigmoidoscope, is inserted into the intestine through the rectum. The scope blows air into the intestine to inflate it and make viewing the inside easier.
Colonoscopy. A procedure that allows the doctor to view the entire length of the large intestine, and can often help identify abnormal growths, inflamed tissue, ulcers, and bleeding. It involves inserting a colonoscope, a long, flexible, lighted tube, in through the rectum up into the colon. The colonoscope allows the doctor to see the lining of the colon, remove tissue for further examination, and possibly treat some problems that are discovered.
Specific treatment for hemorrhoids will be determined by your doctor, based on:
Your age, overall health, and medical history
Extent of the condition
Your tolerance of specific medicines, procedures, or therapies
Expectations for the course of the condition
Your opinion or preference
Medical treatment of hemorrhoids is aimed at relieving symptoms and may include the following:
Sitting in plain, warm water in the tub several times a day
Ice packs to reduce swelling
Application of hemorrhoidal creams or suppositories
Your physician may also recommend increasing both fiber and fluids to soften stools. A softer stool lessens pressure on hemorrhoids caused by straining. Good sources of fiber include fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Bulk stool softeners or fiber supplements, such as psyllium (Metamucil) or methylcellulose (Citrucel), may also be recommended.
In some cases, it is necessary to treat hemorrhoids surgically. Several surgical techniques are used to remove or reduce internal and external hemorrhoids. These include the following:
Rubber band ligation. A rubber band is placed around the base of the hemorrhoid inside the rectum to cut off circulation to the hemorrhoid. The hemorrhoid then gradually shrinks and withers away within a few days.
Sclerotherapy. A chemical solution is injected around the blood vessel to shrink the hemorrhoid.
Electrical or laser coagulation or infrared photo coagulation. Techniques that use special devices to burn hemorrhoidal tissue.
Hemorrhoidectomy. A surgical procedure that permanently removes the hemorrhoids.
Calculators Try out these calculators: they're fun, they're quick, and they give you important information for managing your health.
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text:
Bible in Basic English (BBE) | New International Version (NIV) |
18 And when he was walking by the sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, whose other name was Peter, and Andrew, his brother, who were putting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. | 18 As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. |
The Bible in Basic English is in the public domain. (The Bible in Basic English Version Online) | Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide. (New International Version Bible Online) |


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CHESTER – Lancaster High School head football coach Bennie McMurray saw his Bruins finish on the short of the final score, but the LHS veteran coach was far from pushing the panic button.
CAMDEN – Buford High School placekicker Tyler Jenkins kicked a 19-yard field goal with two seconds left Friday night to lead the Yellow Jackets to a 17-14 come-from-behind win over the North Central High School Knights in the opening periods of the 36th annual Camden Shrine Club Jamboree.
As the 2011 high school football preseason makes forward progress, the focus is jamboree play.
All four county teams face jamboree action this weekend, with three playing tonight.
The S.C High School's realignment plan for 2012-14 will have an impact on all county schools, with Lancaster High School seeing a major change in its region membership.
Sumter District 2 Memorial Stadium is getting a new name with a familiar ring.
The stadium, built in the 1980s, is now known as Donald L. Crolley Memorial Stadium.
RICHBURG – He grew up in Denmark, South Carolina and now lives in the Charlotte area, but when he first visited Lewisville High School, Larry Davis said he felt right at home.
A trio of county teams will launch their 2011 prep football scrimmage schedules today.
Lancaster, after returning from preseason camp at Camp Bob Cooper in Summerton, will travel to Chesterfield to face the Class A Rams and Class AA Lee Central Stallions at 6 p.m.
County high school football practice is in full swing as the preseason camps, in preparation for the 2011 season, are open with plenty of activity.
Lancaster High School soccer coach Bo Sylvia will be among the Carolinas prep soccer elite this weekend.
Sylvia, who guides the Bruins' boys and girls soccer programs, is a coach in the fifth annual Clash of the Carolinas boys all-star match on Saturday at Daniel Island's Blackbaud Stadium, home of the Charleston Battery.


text:
#0819: What's the Statute of Limitations on a Burnt Corvette?
Original Air Date: 05.10.2008
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How many miles were walked, and how many miles were driven, on one rather curious trip to pick up a new car? Find out!
Sure signs that it's time for a new car, courtesy of the Washington Post's Style Invitational.
Cars Discussed on This Week's Show
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You are currently not logged in, do so now to add comments, like articles as well as photos, submit to competitions, translate articles and gain access to unlimited photo upload! If you are not registered yet, go here to find out more about Lomography and join now! If you just want a limited account for now you can use Twitter or Facebook. We would love to have you as a member here!
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Really nice grouping!
@kibs thank you. This is also my favourite frame. Seems like the halfframes have a lot of potential when using the fact of grouping pictures.
Great combination!
Geocaching Bunker Tour
First Roll with my Olympus Pen EE. This little cam is quite heavy to take it during a walk trough the forest. But I like the results very much. It features up to Iso 200 Films, so in my oppinion its hard to shoot indoors without flash. I have some ideas which I plan to realize outdoors when the weather is sunny. :-)
Taken by thejomi with an Olympus Pen EE-2 loaded with Kodak Farbwelt 200 film in Holz, Germany. Date: 2012-12-29. Time: Noon. This photo can also be found in the album Geocaching Bunker Tour.


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2002-2006 Nissan Altima Front Sway Bar Link Driver Side
1ASSL00123Part Details
- Front / Rear Location: Front
- Side Location: Driver Side
This part replaces:
- New
This replacement sway bar link is just what you need to ensure the safety and integrity of your vehicle's suspension and steering.
Your sway bar helps your vehicle's suspension performance. The main purpose is to reduce body roll when going through a turn at speed. Although the sway bar itself is not a wearable item the end links are. Over time the ball & socket joints can wear causing loose connections, or even come apart and fall off.
- Fits the LH (Driver Side) FRONT
- Replaces dealer part number: 54668-8J000, 546688J000
- Direct replacement
- Built to strict quality control standards
If you can hear your sway bar rattling on a bumpy road it may be time to replace the end links. This link makes a great replacement and offers good cost savings over the dealer part.
Lifetime Warranty
This item is backed by a Limited Lifetime Warranty. In the event this item should fail due to manufacturing defects during intended use, we will exchange the part free of charge (excludes shipping charges) for the original purchaser. Please keep your invoice for proof of this warranty.
Remove the wheel (0:58 in the video)
- Loosen the lug nuts with your 19 mm socket and breaker bar
- Raise and secure the vehicle
- Remove the lug nuts and set the wheel aside.
Remove the sway bar links (1:17 in the video)
- Hit the bolts with penetrating oil.
- Use a 17 mm socket and 19 mm wrench to remove the bolt on each end of the sway bar link.
install the new sway bar link (2:41 in the video)
- Feed your sway bar link into place.
- Thread the nuts and bushings.
- Tighten up both bolts with your 17 mm socket and 19 mm wrench.
put your wheel back on (3:15 in the video)
- Hand tighten the lug nuts
- Lower the vehicle
- Torque your lug nuts in a star pattern to 100 ft lbs.
Tools needed for replacement:
- 1/2 Inch Breaker Bar
- Ratchet
- Torque Wrench
- Flat Blade Screwdriver
- 17mm Socket
- 19mm Socket
- Floor Jack
- Hammer
- Jack Stands
- 19mm Wrench
Ratchets & Related
Screwdrivers & Related
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Tools List:
- 1/2 Inch Breaker Bar
- Ratchet
- Torque Wrench
- Flat Blade Screwdriver
- 17mm Socket
- 19mm Socket
- Floor Jack
- Hammer
- Jack Stands
- 19mm Wrench
Ratchets & Related
Screwdrivers & Related
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This part replaces:
Vehicle Fit
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Pennsylvania Office of Rural Health (PORH)
Enhancing the Health Status of Rural Pennsylvanians
The Pennsylvania Office of Rural Health (PORH) works with local state and federal partners to achieve equity in, and access to, quality health care for Pennsylvania's rural residents. We strive to be the premier rural health leadership organization in the state and one of the most effective State Offices of Rural Health in the nation.
Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett proclaims November 17-21 Rural Health Week
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (University Park, Pa.) In an effort to draw attention to the wide-range of issues impacting rural health, Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett has declared Nov. 17-21 Pennsylvania Rural Health week at the request of the Pennsylvania Office of Rural Health (PORH).
Read the press release for important information about Rural Health Week.
PORH Announces Fall 2014 Magazine
We are pleased to present our Fall 2014 Magazine for your review.
For Information Contact:
Lisa Davis Director and Outreach Associate Professor of Health Policy and Administration Pennsylvania Office of Rural Health 202 Beecher-Dock House University Park, PA 16802
2014: Rural Medicare Advantage Enrollment Update
Rural Medicare Advantage (MA) and other prepaid plan enrollment in March 2014 was nearly 1.95 million, or 20.3 percent of all rural Medicare beneficiaries, an increase of more than 216,000 from March 2013. Enrollment increased to 1.99 million (20.4 percent) in October 2014. MA enrollment increased in both rural and urban areas despite reductions in payment and the conclusion of the MA bonus payment demonstration at the end of 2014.
Some rural counties were reclassified, due to a change in population, and nearly 10 percent of the previously rural MA population is now considered urban; however, the percentage of the rural Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in MA did not change significantly. The majority of growth in rural MA enrollment was in Preferred Provider Organization plans, with over 56 percent of enrollment, while nearly a third of beneficiaries were enrolled in Health Maintenance Organization plans.
Contact Information:
Keith J. Mueller, PhD
RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
Phone: 319.384.3832
Rep. Glenn Thompson (R-PA5) Applauds PORH and the 2014 Pennsylvania Rural Health Award Recipients
New Flex Monitoring Team Policy Brief Examines CAHs' Receipt of EHR Incentives
This policy brief describes current Critical Access Hospital (CAH) participation in the Medicare and Medicaid Electronic Health Record (EHR) incentive programs and compares CAH participation by state.
Monitoring CAH progress in achieving Meaningful Use (MU) is not the role of the Flex Program and Flex Program funds cannot be used to help CAHs achieve MU; however, Flex Programs can share the information in this policy brief with other state stakeholders to increase awareness of the need to help CAHs achieve MU, since CAHs will be subject to Medicare payment reductions if they do not successfully demonstrate meaningful use by 2015. Particular attention should be focused on smaller CAHs that may be facing greater challenges in achieving MU than their larger counterparts
National Rural EMS Conference: Building Integration & Leadership for the Future
Cheyenne, Wyoming | May 5-6, 2015
Click here for more information
USDA Seeks Applications for Grants to Help Finance Rural Broadband
HARRISBURG, Pa, Dec. 22, 2014 – USDA Rural Development State Director Thomas Williams announced today that USDA is soliciting applications for Fiscal Year (FY) 2015 Community Connect Program grants. The program provides grants to establish essential broadband services in rural communities where it is currently not available.
"Many rural communities in Pennsylvania do not have access to broadband," said Williams. "USDA's Community Connect Grant Program ensures that rural residents have the ability to run businesses, get the most from their education, and benefit from the infinite services that fast, reliable broadband provides."
The minimum amount of grants awarded will be $100,000; the maximum is $3,000,000. The deadline for applications to be submitted is February 17, 2015.
Last year, USDA announced new rules to better target Community Connect grants to areas where they are needed the most. To view the rules, go to: http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2013-05-03/pdf/2013-10502.pdf
Since its inception, the Community Connect program has funded 237 projects with investments of $149 million. For more information, see page 75120 of the December 17, 2014 Federal Register.
Advancing the Transition to a High Performance Rural Health System
Despite decades of policy efforts to stabilize rural health systems through a range of policies and funding programs, accelerating rural hospital closures combined with rapid changes in private and public payment strategies have created widespread concern that these solutions are inadequate for addressing current rural health challenges. This paper presents strategies and options that rural health providers may use in creating a pathway to a transformed, high performing rural health system, which are then categorized into four distinct approaches. We elaborate each approach, and discuss a related set of public policy implications that should be considered when following each strategy. We follow the discussion of policy implications with four demonstration ideas that reflect the essential elements of each strategic approach in achieving the aims of a high performing rural health system.
Please click on the following link to download a copy:
RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
University of Iowa
College of Public Health
Department of Health Management and Policy
145 Riverside Drive, N200 - CPHB
Iowa City, IA 52242
Phone: (319) 384-3831
Fax: (319) 384-4371
Web site: www.public-health.uiowa.edu/rupri
Characteristics, Utilization Patterns, and Expenditures of Rural Dual Eligible Medicare Beneficiaries
Dual eligible beneficiaries are known to have a higher disease burden: a higher proportion of dual eligible beneficiaries are disabled, have three or more chronic conditions, report being in fair or poor health or report difficulties with activities of daily living. As a result, Medicare per capita expenditures for dual eligible beneficiaries are nearly double those for other Medicare beneficiaries. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) includes several provisions aimed at improving care and reducing costs of care for dual eligible beneficiaries, including the creation of the Federal Coordinated Health Care Office (FCHCO) and the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation. Located within the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the FCHCO is tasked with monitoring and improving benefit coordination, expenditures, access, and outcomes of dual eligible beneficiaries. The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation is charged with examining alternative models of care delivery, such as integration of services and joint financing models.
Given the pressing need to improve care while simultaneously reducing costs for dual eligible beneficiaries, it is important to ascertain how rural dual eligible beneficiaries may differ from their urban peers, and to examine potential differences associated with race/ethnicity and region of residence. We used a 5 percent sample of Medicare fee for service beneficiaries for 2009 to examine three related questions about the dual eligible population:
- What was the 2009 distribution of dual eligible beneficiaries by rurality, race/ethnicity, and region?
- What was the aggregate and median per capita Medicare spending for dual eligible beneficiaries, and did either differ by rurality, race/ethnicity, or region?
- What were the characteristics of "high cost" (upper tenth percentile in Medicare expenditures) dual eligible beneficiaries, by rurality, race/ethnicity, or region?
Contact Information:
Kevin Bennett, PhD
South Carolina Rural Health Research Center
Phone: 803.251.6317
Rural-Urban Chartbook
- The 2014 Update of the Rural-Urban Chartbook
- Rural-Urban Disparities in Heart Disease: Policy Brief #1
In 2001, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published Health, United States, 2001 With Urban and Rural Health Chartbook. The CDC Chartbook was widely used in directing rural health policy and programming and had not been updated since 2001. The Rural Health Reform Policy Research Center updated the 2001 report to examine the current trends and disparities in urban and rural health. The analyses were based on the most recent data available (2006-2011) from the National Vital Statistics System, Area Resource File (Health Resources and Services Administration), U.S. Census Bureau, National Health Interview Survey (National Center for Health Statistics), National Hospital Discharge Survey (National Center for Health Statistics), National Survey on Drug Use and Health (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration), and the Treatment Episode Data Set (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration). Output included aggregate data stratified by geographic region and urbanization level.
Findings suggest that rural residents fare worse than their urban counterparts on a number of measures, including rates for smoking, death from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and suicide. Overall, residents of rural areas have less access to physicians and dentists. While the nation's health has generally improved over the past decade, urban/rural disparities in health status and access to care persist across a variety of measures, and have grown for some measures (e.g., COPD).
Contact Information:
Alana Knudson, PhD
North Dakota and NORC Rural Health Reform Policy Research Center
Phone: 301.634.9326
Rural Health Network Planning Program Funding Announcement
ORHP is pleased to announce the release of the Rural Health Network Development Planning Program (Network Planning). This is a one year community-driven program targeted to assist in the planning and development of an integrated health care network. Health care networks can be an effective strategy to address a broad range of challenges unique to rural communities by bringing together rural providers and other community organizations. For grantees, this funding provides an opportunity to implement new and innovative approaches to adapting to a changing health care environment that may serve as a model to other rural communities to better align and coordinate local health care services. Network planning activities that model evidence-based frameworks or models that work are encouraged. Previously funded projects include topics such as workforce, behavioral health, telehealth, care coordination, health information technology, and outreach and enrollment.
Historically, grantees have mastered the art of leveraging finances by using ORHP grants to catapult their sustained efforts; they have been able to combine federal funds with local and foundation dollars to support the continuation and development of healthcare services in rural areas. The previous cohort of Network Planning grantees secured over $1.1 M in additional funding to assist in sustaining their programs, demonstrating the importance of collaboration with other organizations in the community. Organizations have creatively sustained and expanded their programs to serve a different population and region, and have worked to ensure that the program is aligned with the current healthcare landscape. As ORHP continues to focus on showcasing outcomes, a priority area that has emerged is the identification of rural evidence-based models, and sharing that information more broadly so that communities have an accessible resource when implementing a similar program. This has led to the development of the Rural Community Health Gateway, located on The Rural Assistance Center (RAC):http://www.raconline.org/communityhealth/ and consists of a number of resources, including success program models and evidence-based toolkits, that may be helpful in the development of an Outreach application.
To learn more about applying for the FY15 Rural Health Network Development Planning Program (HRSA-15-036), please visit http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/search-grants.html?keywords=HRSA-15-036 (click on 'application package' tab at the top to get the Instructions and Application). The deadline to apply is January 9, 2015, and the program contact is Amber Berrian, email@example.com or 301-443-0845.
Rural Implications of the Blueprints for State-Based Health Insurance Marketplaces
Describes features of states' blueprints to operate state-based insurance marketplaces that have particular relevance to rural areas. Presents different states' approaches to service areas and rating areas, network adequacy requirements, rural consumer outreach, rural representation on the marketplace governing board, certification and oversight of Qualified Health Plans, and design of the Small Business Health Options Program.
Contact Information:
Keith J. Mueller, PhD
RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
Phone: 319.384.3832
The Effect of Medicare Payment Policy Changes on Rural Primary Care Practice Revenue
This policy brief describes the impact of recent Medicare payment updates to the Geographic Practice Cost Indices (GPCIs) portion of the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) on rural primary care providers' practice revenue from Medicare. Using rural primary care provider Medicare claims from 2009 linked to the 2013 MPFS relative value units (RVUs), the 2013 GPCIs for non-metropolitan localities, and the GPCI updates from the Pathway for SGR Reform Act of 2013, we developed a revenue model to derive estimates of Medicare-related average revenue in 2013 and change-in-average-revenue percentage due to the GPCI updates for 50 non-metropolitan localities. Holding the conversion factor (CF) and RVUs fixed, we found that changes to the GPCIs made between January 1, 2013 and March 31, 2014 resulted in an average 0.12% (median 0.18%) increase in Medicare-derived revenue to rural primary care practices. Without the GPCI work floor reinstatement, however, primary care practices in rural areas would have been disproportionately negatively impacted through lower Medicare-related revenues.
RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
University of Iowa
College of Public Health
Department of Health Management and Policy
145 Riverside Drive, N200 - CPHB
Iowa City, IA 52242
Phone: (319) 384-3831
Fax: (319) 384-4371
Web site: www.public-health.uiowa.edu/rupri
The Effect of Medicare Payment Policy Changes on Rural Primary Care Practice Revenue
Describes the impact of recent Medicare payment updates to the Geographic Practice Cost Indices (GPCIs) portion of the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) on rural primary care providers' practice revenue from Medicare. Using rural primary care provider Medicare claims from 2009 linked to the 2013 MPFS relative value units (RVUs), the 2013 GPCIs for non-metropolitan localities, and the GPCI updates from the Pathway for SGR Reform Act of 2013, we developed a revenue model to derive estimates of Medicare-related average revenue in 2013 and change-in-average-revenue percentage due to the GPCI updates for 50 non-metropolitan localities. Holding the conversion factor (CF) and RVUs fixed, we found that changes to the GPCIs made between January 1, 2013 and March 31, 2014 resulted in an average 0.12% (median 0.18%) increase in Medicare-derived revenue to rural primary care practices. Without the GPCI work floor reinstatement, however, primary care practices in rural areas would have been disproportionately negatively impacted through lower Medicare-related revenues.
Contact Information:
Keith J. Mueller, PhD
RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
Phone: 319.384.3832
Home Health Care Agency Availability in Rural Counties
A range of medical services can be provided in the home setting, allowing patients to be discharged from hospital or inpatient rehabilitation settings more quickly. Medicare reimburses for six types of home health care: skilled nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech pathology, medical social work, and home health aide services. In November 2011, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services modified Medicare reimbursement for home health care, seeking to control costs by reducing inflation-associated adjustments in charges. In the past, changes in reimbursement may have affected rural home health care agencies more adversely than those in urban areas. The purpose of the current report is to describe the status of home health care service delivery in the rural U.S. in 2008, before passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and related efforts.
We used Medicare Compare Home Health Agency files for 2008 to examine two aspects of home health care (HHC) across the United States: HHC agency availability and quality of services provided. Home health agencies are required to report the geographic areas they serve by ZIP Code; they are also required to report quality results across a range of 12 outcomes. This report is based on agency reports; we did not independently verify that services were actually provided within all listed areas.
Contact Information:
Janice C. Probst, PhD
South Carolina Rural Health Research Center
Phone: 803.251.6317
HHS announces auto-enrollment plans for current Marketplace consumers for 2015
Today, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) expects to announce its plans for helping existing Marketplace consumers get auto-enrolled for next year. These plans would give existing consumers a simple way to remain in the same plan next year unless they want to shop for another plan and choose to make changes. Read the press release for more information.
2013 Pennsylvania State Health Assessment Released
The Bureau of Health Planning is pleased to announce the release of the 2013 Pennsylvania State Health Assessment. This comprehensive assessment provides a "one-stop" summary of information on health status, health risks and healthcare services in Pennsylvania. It will support the department's and our partners' work in developing priorities and policies, garnering resources and planning actions to improve the population's health.
Nominations for the 2014 Rural Health Awards open
The Pennsylvania Office of Rural Health is pleased to announce the invitation of nominations for the 2014 Rural Health Awards!
The 2014 Rural Health Awards will be presented in the honoree's community during the week of National Rural Health Day, November 21, 2014. PORH will begin accepting award nominations on June 16. The deadline for submissions is August 29, 2014.
Nominations for the following categories will be accepted:
*State Rural Health Leader of the Year
*Community Rural Health Leader of the Year
*Rural Health Program of the Year
*Legislator of the Year
*Rural Health Hero of the Year
To nominate, pleasefill out the form
Which Medicare Patients Are Transferred from Rural Emergency Departments?
Note: this policy brief is a revised version of one originally released in March 2014.
Analyzes transfers of Medicare beneficiaries who received emergency care in a CAH or rural hospital and were transferred to another hospital for care. Key findings include the following:
- Among Medicare beneficiaries who received same-day emergency care and inpatient care in 2010, the inpatient stay was in a different hospital for 28.4% of the Critical Access Hospital (CAH) emergency encounters, compared to 9.0% for rural non-CAHs, and 2.0% for urban hospitals.
- The majority of transferred CAH and rural non-CAH emergency patients went to urban hospitals for inpatient care. By diagnosis, most transferred patients with intracranial injuries and cardiac-related diagnoses went to urban hospitals, while 35%-45% of patients with certain mental health diagnoses were transferred to other CAHs or rural non-CAHs.
Contact Information:
Michelle Casey, MS
University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
Phone: 612.623.8316
Update: Independently Owned Pharmacy Closures in Rural America, 2003-2013
Pharmacists provide a range of health services and their loss can have serious implications for the provision of health care, especially in rural areas. Previous policy briefs from the RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis have documented the decline in the number of independently owned pharmacies in rural area, especially between 2003 and 2010. This update shows that the number of independently owned rural pharmacies has, with some minor fluctuations, continued to slowly decline. In addition, the number of rural retail pharmacies (including independent, chain, or franchise) that were the only pharmacy in the community has remained relatively stable since 2010.
Contact Information:
Keith J. Mueller, PhD
RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
Phone: 319.384.3832
Support for Rural Recruitment and Practice among U.S. Nurse Practitioner Education Programs
Describes nurse practitioner (NP) education programs across the United States to identify those actively promoting NP practice in rural areas; describes their use of education methods that may promote rural practice; and identifies barriers to recruiting rural students and providing rural NP clinical training. Programs reported that relocating or commuting to campus-based programs, limited rural training opportunities, and affordability were barriers for rural students.
Contact Information:
Susan M. Skillman, MS
WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
Phone: 206.543.3557
CMS initiative helps people make the most of their new health coverage
"From Coverage to Care" outreach to engage doctors and new patients
On June 16, 2014, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) launched a national initiative "From Coverage to Care" (C2C), which is designed to help answer questions that people may have about their new health coverage, to help them make the most of their new benefits, including taking full advantage of primary care and preventive services. It also seeks to give health care providers the tools they need to promote patient engagement. For more information, follow this link.
A Guide to Understanding the Variation in Premiums in Rural Health Insurance Marketplaces
Provides a framework for assessing variations in the premiums of plans offered in the Health Insurance Marketplaces (HIMs) across geography. Comparisons of premiums must include adjustments for several factors: plan type (metal level), enrollee age and family status, overall cost of living in the area, and the design of marketplace rating areas (state policy choices). What might appear to be differences showing plans in rural places to be more or less expensive than in urban places could shrink or even reverse after appropriate adjustments.
Contact Information:
Keith J. Mueller, PhD
RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
Phone: 319.384.3832
Profile of Rural Residential Care Facilities: A Chartbook
As federal and state policymakers consider their most cost-effective options for strengthening rural long-term services and supports (LTSS), more information is needed about the current system of care. Using data from the 2010 National Survey of Residential Care Facilities, this chartbook presents information on a slice of the rural LTSS continuum—the rural residential care facility (RCF). Survey results identify important national and regional differences between rural and urban RCFs, focusing on the facility, resident and service characteristics of RCFs and their ability to meet the LTSS needs of residents. Rural RCFs are more likely to have private pay patients compared to urban facilities and their residents have fewer disabilities as measured by their functional assistance needs. Compared to urban facilities, the policies of rural RCFs appear less likely to support aging-in-place.
Contact Information:
Jennifer Lenardson, MHS
Maine Rural Health Research Center
Phone: 207.228.8399
Implications of Rurality and Psychiatric Status for Diabetic Preventive Care Use among Adults with Diabetes
Examines patterns of diabetic preventive care use among adults with diabetes to determine whether these patterns varied according to respondents' rural/urban residence or psychiatric status (i.e. the presence/absence of a mental health diagnosis).
Key findings include:
- Rural residents with diabetes are generally less likely than their urban peers to use diabetic preventive services.
- Rural residents with diabetes and mental health diagnoses used some preventive services at about the same rates as urban people with diabetes, and at higher rates than rural diabetics without mental health diagnoses.
- Although rural residents with diabetes and mental health diagnoses used preventive care about as often as other groups studied, they had more diabetes complications than their rural peers without mental health diagnoses.
Contact Information:
Jean Talbot, PhD, MPH
Maine Rural Health Research Center
Health Insurance Coverage of Low-Income Rural Children Increases and is More Continuous Following CHIP Implementation
Prior to the passage of the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), about one in four low-income rural and urban children (family income below 200% of the federal poverty level) were uninsured in a given month. Using data from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, this study found that in the years following CHIP's implementation health insurance coverage and continuity increased among low-income children—particularly for those living in rural areas. By CHIP's maturity, coverage for rural children improved so much that their uninsured rate dropped below that of urban children (14% compared to 20%, respectively).
Among those with health insurance, rural children were more likely than their urban counterparts to lose coverage pre-CHIP, and were less likely to lose it after CHIP was in place for five or more years. Whether low-income rural adults will see similar gains in coverage continuity under the Affordable Care Act may depend on whether states choose to participate in Medicaid expansions and what outreach strategies they use to enroll rural populations.
Contact Information:
Erika Ziller, PhD
Maine Rural Health Research Center
Phone: 207.780.4615
High Deductible Health Insurance Plans in Rural Areas
Enrollment in high deductible health plans (HDHPs) has increased amid concerns about growing health care costs to patients, employers, and insurers. Prior research indicates that rural individuals are more likely than their urban counterparts to face high out-of-pocket health care costs relative to income, despite coverage through private health insurance, a difference related both to the lower income of rural residents generally and to the quality of the private plans through which they have coverage. Using the 2007-2010 National Health Interview Survey, this study examines rural residents' enrollment in HDHPs and the implications for evolving Affordable Care Act Health Insurance Marketplaces.
Rural residents with private insurance are more likely to have an HDHP than are urban, especially when they live in remote, rural areas. Among those covered by an HDHP, rural residents are more likely to have low incomes and more limited educational attainment than urban residents, suggesting that it will be important to monitor HDHP enrollment, plan affordability, and health plan literacy among plans available through the Health Insurance Marketplaces.
Contact Information:
Jennifer Lenardson, MHS
Maine Rural Health Research Center
Phone: 207.228.8399
Nationwide Insurance creates professorship in College of Ag Sciences
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Nationwide Insurance has given Penn State a $1 million gift to create and endow the Nationwide Insurance Professorship in the College of Agricultural Sciences. The gift was announced during an April 25 visit by Nationwide representatives to the University Park campus. Read more
Integrated Care Management in Rural Communities
With a focus on community-dwelling older adults in need of integrated physical, behavioral health services, and long term services and supports (LTSS), the authors of this study review the opportunities and challenges reform initiatives under the Affordable Care Act present for rural communities. We assessed four types of organizational models for delivering integrated care management. Each of these models has different strengths and drawbacks, weighing for and against implementation in rural areas.
Key Findings:
- Introducing an integrated care model in a rural community requires an investment in building relationships with local providers and adapting to local culture and services.
- Integrated care models that cannot adapt to the local delivery system are more likely to face resistance from local providers and those they serve and potentially duplicate or displace existing rural capacity.
- Most models of integrated care management have an inherent bias toward larger organizations and infrastructure. Most are built on an investment in health information technology and other systems and capacities.
- The potential success of any integrated care model is limited by gaps in the continuum of health care services and long term services and supports available in a rural community.
- "Wraparound" integrated care models can fill gaps in existing care coordination capacity, offering a flexible approach that can adapt to a local rural delivery system.
- An investment of public resources in shared supports can lower the cost of integrating care in rural delivery systems.
Contact Information:
Eileen Griffin, JD
Maine Rural Health Research Center
Pennsylvania Dept of Health Releases Cancer Control Plan
On April 28, the Division of Cancer Prevention and Control in the Pennsylvania Department of Health officially released the new 2013-2018 Pennsylvania Cancer Control Plan (Plan), following a formal presentation to the House of Representatives' Cancer Caucus. The Plan was developed by the Stakeholder Leadership Team cancer coalition and focuses on promoting good health and supporting healthy behavior and choices through broad-reaching PSE approaches to prevent and reduce the burden of cancer. Interested parties can now view the Plan on www.LiveHealthyPA.com and report their implementation strategies. Phase One of the LiveHealthyPA.com site is active for Plan review and reporting purposes only.
Paper Released - Extent of Telehealth Use in Rural and Urban Hospitals
Using the 2013 HIMSS Analytics database, we analyze the extent of use of telehealth (aka telemedicine) and find that 34.0% of rural hospitals and 32.0% of urban hospitals had at least one telehealth application currently in use. Rural and urban hospitals did not differ significantly in overall telehealth implementation rates, however rural and urban hospitals did differ in the department where telehealth was implemented. In particular, rural hospitals were more likely than urban hospitals to have implemented telehealth in radiology departments and in emergency/trauma care. In contrast, urban hospitals were more likely than rural hospitals to have implemented telehealth in cardiology/stroke/heart attack programs, neurology, and obstetrics/gynecology/NICU/pediatrics. Follow-up research will verify the differences in types of telehealth implemented and investigate the low reported utilization rates, which may result from confusion of survey respondents about what constitutes telehealth.


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A River Runs Through It is a 1992 American film directed by Robert Redford and starring Craig Sheffer, Brad Pitt, Tom Skerritt, Brenda Blethyn, and Emily Lloyd. It is a period drama based on the semi-autobiographical novella A River Runs Through It (1976) written by Norman Maclean (1902–90), adapted for the screen by Richard Friedenberg.
List of links to A River Runs Through It fansites:
Register to update information, save favorites, post photos, news stories and comments.


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Hey yall im a high school athlete, and i have been lifting weights since i was in 7th grade. This summer will be the summer before my senior year and i really want to bulk up. I'm already taking about 50g of whey after i workout every day.
Am I safe to take creatine before i workout at my age(17)? If so, would it really help that much?
Also, at my age am i safe to take testosterone boosters in the morning like tribulus for the purpose of building muscle?


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New Living Translation (NLT) | New International Version (NIV) |
13 Again and again the LORD had sent his prophets and seers to warn both Israel and Judah: "Turn from all your evil ways. Obey my commands and laws, which are contained in the whole law that I commanded your ancestors and which I gave you through my servants the prophets." | 13 The LORD warned Israel and Judah through all his prophets and seers: "Turn from your evil ways. Observe my commands and decrees, in accordance with the entire Law that I commanded your fathers to obey and that I delivered to you through my servants the prophets." |
Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved. (New Living Translation - The Bible Online) | Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide. (New International Version Bible Online) |


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Location: Cambridge and Online 15% off your first online order or buy 4 bars and get the 5th free at Cambridge Farmers' Outlet on Lensfield Road. Visit www.rawrchoc.com/soil-association
Deliciously raw guilt-free organic chocolate lovingly handmade in Cambridge. Rawr chocolate is dairy-free, gluten-free and 100% natural. Ethically sourced, and diabetic friendly. Born on Cambridge market, Rawr has grown to become one of the most popular raw chocolate names in the UK. Using pure ingredients, Rawr's exciting range of bars and gift collections cater to all who are passionate about luxury chocolate. Rawr chocolate is produced at low temperatures, maintaining the nutritional value of its ingredients. Please your palate with flavours from goji berry and vanilla to crunchy dark cacao. All orders over £10 qualify for free shipping.
Rawr Chocolate, Cambridge Farmers' Outlet, Lensfield Road, Cambridge


text: Asking $200. These wheels have only have a few hundred miles on them...price includes lug nuts...no TPMS. I do not have boxes to ship (I think shipping would kill the deal anyway) so I prefer local sale...I am hoping someone near South Florida would be interested. One of the wheels has some scratches on it when one of my kids decided to tip it over in the garage when I had them stacked (my fault for stacking them!) I tried to take the best pics I could!


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Junya Watanabe Spring 2013 | Runway
Junya Watanabe Spring 2013
Talk about sportif: Junya Watanabe's collaboration with Puma has clearly had an impact on his main collection for Spring 2013 — so much so that he put pieces from that collaboration on the runway.
While the capsule collection, with its high-top sneakers and garments made from tech fabrics, was appropriately athletic, the collection itself imagined the very distant future of sportswear. Garments of all kinds had mesh inserts in a variety of colors, and sportswear fabrics were made chic and forward-thinking with sheer overlays and inventive, body-skimming cuts. There were a few moments when Watanabe didn't dote on track and field: two little black dresses toward the end of the show were among the most chic variations on the wardrobe staple we've seen all week.
- Say goodbye to the affordable Kate Spade shop — The Cut
- And the next face of Chanel is . . . — Style.com
- Joe Zee is the king of fashion, but it's not all fun and games — HuffPost Style
- Now you can get your hands on Shay Mitchell's jewelry — SheFinds
- Currently coveting: all of Victoria Beckham's must haves — Who What Wear
- You have to see Sarah Jessica Parker's latest shoe collection — InStyle
- Is there any hope for Coach? — Fashionista
- Dov Charney just can't let American Apparel go — Racked
- Put down the basic blazer — your work wardrobe, revamped — Lucky


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2011 Venice Biennale Fashion Photos
Fashion Descends on Venice for the 2011 Biennale
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Fashion Descends on Venice for the 2011 Biennale
>> Every two years, the fashion flock meets the art world in Venice for a series of parties and power buys. This year, Hogan, Prada, and Missoni have been among the Venice Biennale event hosts, bringing out guests like Anna Wintour (who was spotted yesterday riding around the city's Grand Canal), Dasha Zhukova, and Naomi Campbell. While some have already come and gone — Anna Wintour, Francois-Henri Pinault, and Salma Hayek Pinault were already spotted attending the French Open in Paris today — we've the fleeting moments of the last couple of days' festivities captured in our slideshow at left.
Read More 2011 Venice BiennaleVenice BiennaleShala MonroqueFranca SozzaniAngela MissoniStefano TonchiJefferson HackDasha ZhukovaMargherita MissoniJuergen TellerMiuccia PradaFrancois-Henri PinaultNaomi CampbellSalma HayekAnna WintourParty Dresses
Salma Hayek
Stefano Tonchi
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Haha, no. That's the dumbest idea. Why would you try to squeeze yourself into such an incredibly crowded market and then split your hardware base even more? It's absolutely, patently dumb.
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I would have liked to have the unique 3DS modes playable in the demo: I'm not getting the 3DS version for multiplayer, since I want the Wii U one for that. So this isn't really convincing me to buy the 3DS version, since none of my friends are going to bother with it anyway.
"This sentiment carries over to the music, which is made up of classic Zelda tunes which have been mercilessly butchered by Omega Force's in-house musicians."
Yeah no thanks.
@Vrael It's not a new console, it's just an incremental upgrade, yet it is released for full price.
While the same can be said for mobile gaming — a new iPhone released roughly every year — keep in mind that the asking price for software in mobile gaming is way too low to produce quality products like dedicated hardware gets. This is the problem. This sets a very bad precedent.
This would be perfectly fine if it wasn't for the fact that the "new" 3DS is only a slight upgrade from the old models in terms of CPU and "power". While this was the same for the DSi, the DSi didn't have exclusive retail games. I really don't like this development.
As long as I don't see this online unless I install it, I'm fine. If Mercedes karts are shoved in my face, I will actually be angry.
I don't understand why women wear stiletto heels. They're scientifically proven to be bad for your feet and your back, they're painful, and you set yourself up for serious foot injury the higher the heels get if you step wrong. And yet, women decide to wear these things — despite all the warnings — every single day. My ex did, and I tried talking her out of it, because I see them as torture devices.
So tell me, then: why are stiletto heels such an issue, when women wear them, buy them, and enjoy them? We all know /why/ women wear them: it is to look good. It makes you taller, it makes your butt more perky, and if used by someone who have trained to walk with them, it can look elegant (although it often does not...) Are we trying to say that women using stiletto heels are demeaning themselves? That you cannot want to look good and also be independent and strong? Seriously? That's sexism on the same level as saying men with muscles are stupid.
@Yorumi Isn't it attacking people by proxy you're annoyed by? People that align themselves with a group cannot claim personal attack when it is the opinions of the group that is attacked.
I read the article. But Samus' new attire in SSB is the spearhead of the argument — "look at what Nintendo is doing with Samus". I agree Other M was manchauvenistic piece of garbage — at least based on cutscenes, I never did play it. But the article talks about her visual appearence being demeaning, or sexualized, and her being objectified. Which is wrong.
I'm also not hiding behind anything: I did directly say that many social justice warriors make issues out of non issues. I stand by that. And I see nothing wrong in questioning a group's motives, when it directly correlates with the discussed topic. And make no mistake that this whole spectacle on women in games is used by some individuals as marketing for their own brand. It's a hot topic. It sells games, it pulls article clicks.
The target I paint with the term social justice warriors are for people that take the act of judging and serving justice into their own hands. Because that's what it means. People bullying those that do not conform to their own ideas and principles. I'm not saying the writer of this article is among these people: but the narrative is certainly narrated by such figures. Recent controversies over the past week ought to make you, too, question their motives.
@Yorumi: Except I do not do what they do. I am not saying their arguments are invalid because of who they are, I'm making a statement about their agenda. What is the point in me repeating the great arguments on this already found and made here in these comments? I'd rather supplement them by adding that a lot of the basis for these arguments is without good reason. Like stated elsewhere, women wear training outfits when they exercise, like men do. What Samus wears is not demeaning: it's perfectly tasteful. Words like objectification are thrown around with no regard for their actual meaning. Samus would be objectified if her purpose in the game was only to be an object of sexual reference and fanservice. But she is a fighter, as powerful as any of the others — male, female or dinosaur — and she wears a sports attire. Like Little Mac.
Believe it or not, but most women do not feel bad about dressing attractively. It's not a shameful act that demeans their person. It's freedom of expression, and the majority dress in a way that makes them feel good by choice. for some that's "skimpy", for others it's more muted. But let's not make an issue out of a fictional character looking attractive while performing martial arts and kicking ass.
@Yorumi: "You're making broad generalizations about a diverse group of people making statements that are absolutely unprovable." Which is precisely what a lot of people in said group of people also do, but the other way. I cannot count the number of times I've been told my opinions are worthless because I am male. If I am male, by default I am part of the patriarchy, and unless I agree 100%, I am a misogynistic apologist. The term sexism going both ways is apparently irrelevant, because due to men ruling the world, men cannot discuss the oppression of women. That is an ad hominem attack based on gender. And this is why I specified one group of people — the social justice warriors. When social justice turns to bullying those who have a different opinion, is it still justice? Most of the arguments thrown around are not based on research, and so we are discussing subjective opinions. For all the people offended by Samus' new training attire, all the people that do not care are silent. They are the majority. The majority of women do not care one iota about how women are portrayed in video games. This is conjecture and I don't have a specific study to link to, but seeing as there's just a tiny group of people online complaining about this serves as my baseline for that argument. It is making issues out of non-issues instead of handling and working on things that do matter. If people honestly feel the portrayal of Samus and her other female counterparts in other videogames warrant attention more than the issue of unequal pay — a cause which women started fighting for in the 70s and still society at large has yet to rectify — then honestly they are more focused on their own image than on the unfair treatment of women.
@Yorumi: I am not attacking any specific person, although I have quite a few in mind. However, again, I do not mention names because that would be a personal attack, and I do not condone that in any way. But sometimes it's required to not tippy toe around people's feelings and just say what you mean: these are my opinions. I'm not naming or targeting anyone with them, and so I do not see what harm it causes whatsoever.
@MagusDiablo: I am saying it to prove a point: that these arguments are patently absurd, and the people making a fuss about this seem to only want attention. Sexualization in videogames is a non-issue: unequal pay and governments trying to regulate things like birth control are true issues for women that the social justice warrior league don't seem to give two seconds of thought for. All they want is to complain about something but do nothing to try to fix anything. Most of them are attention seeking people with an agenda: marketing their own image.
Ok, I'm going to bring this argument down to the level it seems to like to go in: the writer of this article is male, thus part of the patriarchy that oppresses women, and so his opinion is void. Furthermore, since we know no free-thinking woman would ever wear something like a sports bra and shorts attire, or a skin-tight suit (or tights!) by her own free will, all women doing this are not acting out of free will, but are acting out of the oppression of the patriarchy.
@McGruber I hear that. I'm 28 myself, and Letterbox was a service I really enjoyed. I had many "pen-pals" there from all over the world, where we would draw drawings and short stories back and forth to each other. And then Nintendo shut the whole thing down because someone didn't behave, and a parent complained. I mean, I really don't see why they couldn't just make the app unavailable if you had parental restrictions activated. Instead all of us just lost a feature that made the console a great social medium...
To me as an adult, that is offensive, because I'm pretty much being told that this device is now for children first, and everything must be child-proof on it. And apparently since there is the off chance someone doesn't behave, I lose a great feature. It's no wonder a lot of people see Nintendo's consoles as "childish" when things like this keep happening.
For everyone with children who think this is ok: if you haven't set up the parental restrictions on your childs' 3DS or Wii U, they can tap the browser icon and watch porn on it. Or anything else. They can visit 4chan if they want, too. So if you're worried about your children being contacted or getting in contact with strangers, or seeing imagery unfit for them, set up parental restrictions and inform other parents of the same. And perhaps, if you'd be so kind, stop ruining everyone else's fun.
GTA is 18+ on the package. If a parent does not follow this, it is their problem. If parents do not even bother setting up child protection systems on consoles given to their children, it is their responsibility. You can argue all you want that most parents don't do this: all that says is that most parents aren't doing their jobs as parents when it comes to letting their kids play with consoles.
Here's a parenting tip: children below a certain age should not be allowed to play games on consoles unsupervised. I know that sounds like too hard a job, but hey, that's how I was raised. I still managed to sneak out and play Doom when I was way too young because a friends' parent's didn't give a crap about age ratings, and I certainly survived it. But does that mean nobody should be able to play Doom because kids /might/ play it due to irresponsible parents? "Think of the children" is an argument used by parents who do not wish to be responsible for raising their own children.
Nintendo's failure to understand modern internet systems is why we're never getting Flipnote 3D. Hint: Ban children under a certain age from sharing on the internet, like any other intelligent service does.
@Kalmaro With any service where people can post drawn images, there will be kids drawing dicks. If that causes so much trouble, then don't allow kids on the platform.
The thing people forget in all this "please think of tje children" nonsense is that these services aren't just for kids — they're also for adults that do behave themselves. When Nintendo shuts down Letterbox in its entirety because one bad apple managed to get one child to post inappropriate pictures or details — allegedly — then I am angry. Because you can never ever stop this from happening unless you shut it all down. Instead, use the built in child protection to keep children out of it. Case solved.
I am actually getting legitimately angry at the approach Nintendo is taking because it not only makes using these online services completely useless, but it also hurts their reputation. It's nonsensical, ridiculous, and no other company does this. And the children are still ok.
Seriously, the consoles have child protection systems. Just make it so you can't view images created by others if the system is in protected mode. If parents fail to utilize this system — which they are informed of when starting it for the first time — it's their fault, and Nintendo's hands are clean.
This solution Nintendo is using now — like the closure of letterbox — is borderline offensive to me as an adult, and I really kitten hate it.
Please watch the profanity — TBD
I'm probably the only Norwegian that enjoys Tomodachi Life. That's probably not true, but it feels like it.
Then again, the game wouldn't have been fun at all if it wasn't for the fact that I made an irc community into characters in it, and other people find it hilarious to watch what develops. If I had been playing it alone, I don't think I'd enjoy it at all.
The Wii U GamePad won't work properly through one wooden wall, with the console hardly four meters away. That's not going to be a tablet killer: it already kills itself when not used within eyesight of the console :/
Struggles to keep 30fps? No thank you. Seriously, sub 30fps is actually uncomfortable to look at.
I don't like non-Nintendo product placement in my Nintendo games, TYVM. I really really hope I don't see this online if I don't download it; it ruins the feel of the game, simply put. I don't care if other people enjoy it, but I'll actually get annoyed if it's forced on me. I hope those who like this can respect that.
@Shambo Skyward Sword was a wagglefest of a game, with the first few hours of the game a boring, mind-numbingly extended tutorial made for people who'd never played a game before.
I couldn't play through the game for those two reasons. The motion controls better be completely optional in the next one, or I won't bite again, no matter how gorgeous it's looking.
Now if only online matches didn't disconnect ALL THE TIME. I can count on one hand the amount of complete matches I've been able to have, both globally and in my own region. And before you ask: Yes, every other 3DS game works flawlessly online, so no, it's not a local problem.
Eh, I really am not a fan of her videos. The random jumping about with a violin in hand doesn't do it for me.
Also disappointed that it isn't a cover of a song from the game; I don't see any relevance between her song and the game's theme at all.
Shy Guy's career highlight would be Yoshi's Island; they're the main enemies you see there, and come in many different forms too. Shy Guy's on stilts are the best!
I take offense to being called casual for selecting "Normal" in the first place. Somebody rename Casual to "Brohard" and Expert to "Noscope" plzkthnx.
PrincessEevee9: That something is "not required" is at this point uncertain, and also subjective. Some may say that half of the racers in a Mario Kart game are "required", and the rest not, while others would feel differently. Day-one DLC is a touchy topic because of this, because in many cases, the content feels "required" for mostly everyone, and yet you have to pay even more for it, making it feel like a sneaky way to inflate game prices while preying on the human mind. After all, paying 40$ for a game and then 20$ for extra content "feels" better than 60$ upfront for the game, at least to some, and if it's presented cleverly. This is the problem.
@Damo How necessary would you say the microtransactions are for fully enjoying the game? Having played my fair share of iOS games through the last years, I've grown very, very, VERY sceptical to microtransactions. It's enough to make me drop this whole game, especially since it's already far from cheap.
If only there was a demo so I could try this out. After the disappointing Yoshi's Island DS, I won't fall for this again, especially considering the mediocre reviews. But a demo would go a long way in potentially convincing myself that I could like it.
Alas, there is no such thing.
@Ralizah Absolutely agree. In many ways, it's progressive also when compared to western games, which tend to lack balance and finesse in this area. Either a game is all out "progressive" and often feeling disingenous, or they're Gears of War. No, a buff female militant is not progressive...
AC:NL feels honest. When you play a male character, and try on a dress in the store, Mable says something along the lines of "I guess it's ok to be adventurous sometimes." This is actually very clever, because society as of right now – east or west – does not truly accept men dressed in women's clothing, but it's not such a big taboo anymore. It's alright to be adventurous, and the game reflects this. It ever so subtly tells you that it can be ok to wear a women's dress as a man, but do know that it can cause some awkward reactions. It's one of those tiny details on this topic that games can do a much better job of conveying than any other medium, because you have to decide to try it before the reaction is conveyed.
@blodermoder Physical attraction is a necessary and fundamental part of mammal psychology, humans included. While many (myself included) tend to prefer emotional and psychological compatibility more than physiological qualities, physical appearance still plays a significant part when it comes to being able to be attracted to another person. And if you're going to have a healthy relationship with another person, you need to be emotionally and physically attracted to them. If neither is lacking, it can't last long. The scales may tip differently for different people, but both are significant.
This is where sexual objectification comes in: We all have different preferences in physical characteristics when looking for a mate. And make no mistake: Most of our life is spent looking for a mate in one way or another. We are driven by this basic instinct much more than most of us seem aware of. And now enters the common difference between the male and female psyche and instincts when it comes to finding a sexual partner: Males tend to be far more physical. Breasts, hips, skin tone (as a sign of poor or good health), hair qualities, overall body shape; these are important characteristics for a male to find a partner, because it determines the success of healthy and strong offspring. Females also look for physical characteristics, of course, but while physical strength was paramount for healthy offspring in the distant past, in modern times, the strength of a man can be measured by his wealth and/or his power over others (leadership). Today, relative wealth and influence is much more beneficial in terms of security of offspring than physical health. Of course, if a man has a strong, lean physical body and wealth and power, then that is the ideal suitor.
At this point it's apparent that while the options for a succesfull mate have become more varied for females, for men it's to a much lesser degree. Physical appearance, in most societies, is still the dominating factor. These are not absolutes, however, and it varies greatly from society to society; from the west, where women pursue long careers often at the cost of having children – to the middle east, where things are standing still and women are still very suppressed.
This is not off topic, actually: Art can be as much self-fullfillment and gratification as it is social commentary. Pornography, whatever one might think of the demeaning position it puts women in even in modern western society (something I personally cannot enjoy watching), is important. It's important because sexuality when one is alone is as important as when with a partner. But sometimes sexuality is a bit more subtle than that; just playing around in a fantasy environment where all the characters are ample bosomed women flashing their panties can, obviously, have a negative affect on a child's mind, but it can also have a positive effect on a mature mind. Because you get to live out a fantasy that isn't real, you can be more equipped to tackle reality, where everything is far more complicated, comes at an enormous emotional toll (dating is very tough for most people, especially if it doesn't go well). This is where sexual objectification is a good thing; because humans have sexual fantasies, and we can live these out to some extent in virtual environments where no real people are hurt. The few that tend to not understand the gap between reality and the virtual realm have psychological problems that would pose a problem regardless of whether their fantasy plays out in their mind or on a TV screen.
I'd like to comment on the cognitive dissonance part: I am not indifferent towards violence, but I am a curious person. I like to experience as many different experiences as possible in life, bar dangerous substances that alter the chemical makeup of my brain far more rapidly than visual and audio input does. While I'm no doubt indifferent to a certain extent to violence seen on a screen – the internet has caused this – I still do not enjoy violence for the sake of violence. Games like GTA, for example, are amusing playgrounds, but I do find the often gratuitous violence to take more away from the experience than it gives. It removes the weight of violence, and makes every scene that is meant to shock (through story) that much less effective. I do not think that it's only natural for women to be shown this way, but I think that as long as there's variation in how women are depicted – and with today's tv shows, movies and games, there's greater variation than ever.
Sexual objectification will be the norm for a long time: It is a part of our basic instincts. But we have moved into an era where the objectification of people – men and women alike – is more and more in safe fantasy environments, and we are bridging the rights gap between the sexes more and more. That is the important fight: That both sexes be allowed the same fantasies, the same freedoms and opportunities, and the same rights to enjoy objectified charicatures of the gender(s) that they are attracted to.
@blodermoder Sure, but please also read my earlier post about psychology and biology, and do also account for sexuality: While no doubt we should always strive to improve and do better in society and culture, not all objectification is inherently bad. If you are going to claim that games can instill values in society, then why are we not all mass-murderers and raving psychopaths by now? For all of the hours I have spent fragging people in Unreal Tournament 2k4 (the count exceeded 1500 hours last I checked, many many years ago), I am a pacifist in reality; I refused military duty, and while I have trained martial arts, I have used it to never have to fight anyone. For all of the hours I have spent watching anime which obviously objectifies women, I do in no way confuse that with real women; contrary, I watch such shows with women and we both find them amusing, often funny in their banality (a pantyshot again?) Obviously this is anecdotal, but do understand that people in general are not paper thin charicatures; few people play a game and think that women in real life are sluts because the women in the game is. I do understand that a few do, but that is actually a whole other psychological issue, which usually will fall under different categories of delusion. Entertainment and art can reinforce stereotypes, obviously, but you also have to understand the flipside of this: That entertainment and art can be a contrast to reality to bring about a broader look on reality as a whole. I would hate for everything to be homogenized so as to not offend anyone, not that it's possible in the slightest.
@Phle There are all sorts of women out there; don't stigmatize naturally thin and muscular women who look good without makeup. They exist, too, you know.
While the above is slightly in jest – they do exist, though – this is the problem with this argument; there are all sorts of women out there. All sorts. There are women who find games like Senran Kagura Burst a lot of fun, without them wanting to (or not) look like the girs in the game, or not even offended in the slightest. The fight shouldn't be against the portrayal of women in fantastic settings; it should be about equality in rights and opportunity. All this energy is wasted on something that art has done since we started to draw anything more detailed than stick figures on cave walls: Artists paint people unrealistically, often idealistically to impress or to arouse. This is not something that hurts women; lower wages, lack of human rights (like in the Middle East) and being robbed of opportunities in male dominated societies: That is what hurts women.
We objectify men just as much as women; it's just different, because different objectifications interest (or turn on) women, than men. This is something people would understand if they actually talked to a lot of different people.
@Zach: Excuse me here, but you do know men and women are psychologically and physiologically different, right? We should all have the same rights in society, obviously, but to say that women === men is ridiculous. Women have a tendency to fantasize differently about sex than men, for example. Women have a tendency (and do note my repeat use of the word "tendency", because of course this is not globally true for all women everywhere) to be desired, and physiologically women have a tendency to be more attracted to men that can provide for them. This is biology and psychology that combines into what people consider "stereotypes", which it is; we are mammals and our actions and thoughts can be explained to great lengths by basic psychological archetypes.
This is why one has to consider this when one looks for problems in the way women are presented to men in mediums such as art, books, and games; because it's usually teams consisting of mostly men that make these games, and often they target them towards male demographics. I'm sure by now you're thinking "but it's about time we changed this", and I agree to some extent; we should strive to evolve as a species. However, you cannot ignore the presence of biology, psychology, and the inherent physiological and psychological differences between the sexes.
If you look at soap operas that are made for female demographics, I will imagine you'd be hard pressed not to see the male characters as objectified. But they're objectified differently than women usually are; they don't go around dangling super large manly bits, for example, but they do build off psychological archetypes and physical stereotypes that women have a tendency to largely find attractive.
It worries me that we are looking at this so very "black and white"; as if it's all either good or bad. Objectification is inherent in our psychology; we are each and every one of us the only subject in our reality. Everyone else is an object, because we can only try to understand their complex feelings and thoughts, but we can never truly know anyone but ourselves. Objectification combined with sexuality is necessary, because imagination is necessary for a healthy sexuality.
Well, better abolish porn, implement draconian porn filters, and otherwise do what the UK is doing.
Sounds great; I'll keep holding onto my freedom of expression thank you very much. Games are art, and if you're going to not allow certain kinds of art, then you are censoring art. Once you censor art, you've lost it as a society.
@Koffeeking0407 So this is worse than all the wars, the poverty, the treatment of elders, and everything else we're messing up in the world? This is what sends us to hell?
I'm glad I unsubscribed to religion when I was still a naive little child. Around five.