text:
Starting to look like a second Komnenian restoration! You just need a few more provinces in the south and a couple of islands (and a few more pesky Bulgarians)
Starting to look like a second Komnenian restoration! You just need a few more provinces in the south and a couple of islands (and a few more pesky Bulgarians)
To Jerusalem!
And beyond! (1877: First Byzantines on the moon, 1912: Byzantine space station built)
We'll get what we can when we can, I don't want to go over the infamy limit.
Oh, we will get there, you bet we will.
1922 - Byzantines win the Footbal World Cup even before the sport got invented.
1936 - Hiled dies by the hands of a byzantine farmer becuase he said his grain was not fresh enought.
1946 - Mars colonized. Name changed in Nea Nea Nea Nea Rome.
2011 - Byzantines are the only population left in the universe.
And now, the update!
Part 11 : The delights of cascading alliances and how every little war is the first crusade
The recent victory over the turks and the venetians and the sheer superiority showed in the brief conflict against the Bosnian-Serbian commonwealth had caused great prestige to be awarded to the army and its organization. Generals started to be rewarded with great amounts of wealth, soldiers started to have increasing privileges, more people became interested in the military life. This caused an increased mythisation of the Roman Army in the Empire, as some literates and generals started to label it as "Invincible". Most latin countries were appalled by the speed needed to the romans to forget the humiliating Genoese campaign and start to brag again about the superiority of their army. In a more modern perspective, while the Roman army was indeed temible, it surely wasn't the best one around tactics and equipment wise, with the contemporary Bohemian, English and French being sensibly superior.
The remnants of the Genoese conflict still burned the romans. Seen the impossibility to compete with their navy and considerating a landing in Ligura impossible and the probability of the Genoese to face the Roman Army on the field scarce, Andreas decided to use again his head and not his muslces, as he sent some agitators among the greek population of the city of Amasra. While the peace contracts stipulated with Ladisav II of Bohemia told that the Romans were to tolerate and help the Genoese settlements in both Crimea and Anatolia, it said nothing about popular insurrection and the conseguent defection of the provinces. The agitators made a fine job, and the population started to see the genoese as tyrants and swiftly took the arms to liberate themselves of their oppressors to embrace the more enlightnet Imperial rule.
With the peace that came with the stabilization of the Imperial supremacy in the Balkans, art, literature, trade and science started to flourish in the Empire. Increasing interest in the western paintings, which Andreas always showed to love, and epic (which was, in reality, heavily influenced by the Roman tradition and the hellenic classics) resulted in an increased trade between the italian principialities and the Empire.
This new commerce route opened the Emperor to different options than simply buying clothes and paintings. He felt that if he could buy art, he could also buy books, literates, weapons and technologies. He thought that if Constantinople was to have a central role in the world, then Constantinople had to look more like the world. Being aware of the latin superior technologies and engineery, he started to assold italian, castillians, german and austrian counselors and physicists, giving them protection and freedom of research. The outcome of his mecenatism was a period of great progress for the Roman Empire, as even more literates started to undergo their studies in Constantinople and to consequentially spend their life there.
To further improve the image of the empire, Andreas also wisely decided to strenghten the anti-piracy measures to protect the newfound trade of the empire. This decision was greeted joyfully by the international community and helped improve the rather tarnished image of the empire.
The increasingly use of western clothes and uses however started to irritate a great part of the population. Most of the paesantry, inlcuding the nobles and soldiers, felt that the use of Latin dresses and costumes was too much for them to sustain. Riots started to be had in most of the empire, with burning of western clothes and books. This complicated situation forced the emperor to ban western clothes and uses and forced him to ask the foreign literates in Constantinople to adopt roman clothes and uses. While it seemed a rushed solution, it calmed down the population, but also slowed considerably down the pace of the Roman progress, who continued in a more sustained pace.
The people of Samsum, seeing how the city of Amasra had succesfully thrown the genoese away, decided to emulate them by organizing an uprising in the city. Of course, much of this decision was due to the financial aid of the Emperor.
Andreas also decided, in a period of social unrest, to consolidate the happiness of the populace more than anything. He started to give concession, freedom of trade and enterprise, and opened the universities to the Burghers, prioritizing the Roman citizens. This actions caused the stabilization of the situation, who could be again labeled as under control (stab 0, I decided to move towards isolationism.)
The serbian citizens were also granted the same rights reserved to the Bulgarians, and became an integral part of the Empire multicultural core. In change, they started to recognize the Roman Emperor as their only legitimate ruler and true successors of Constantine.
On the 31th October 1497, a letter arrived in the Constantinople university. The day after, the same letter arrived to the Patriarch himself (which at the time was Nepho II). The subject of the letter was found rather "interesting" by the patriarch, as it was a deep critic on the Catholic church (which at the time was still the dominant branch of christianity) resumed in 95 theses wrote by a veronese monk, Martin Lutero. The emperor, when informed of a new schism possibility in che Roman church, rejoiced and called it as a "sign of weakness of the schismatic".
(It says Verona, so I'm gonna guess this time it happened in Verona and not Wittemberg. Also, since Verona is still independent, I guess he could possibly be italian.)
The peace period, interrupted by the Lutero's episode, permitted the emperor to face other matters with ease and slow pace. Not young anymore, the emperor was close to the 60 when he ordered the Athen vassal to reduse their privileges to join the empire. The Athenian nobles, after an initial refuse as they would have been the "bridge between the Latins and the Romans", finally accepted the integration in the empire. The role of "safe haven" for the latin lifestyle was changed into the city of Ioannina.
Andreas was enjoying the peace, but something still bugged him, meaning the Anatolian region, still with regions in the hands of the heathens. With the destruction of the Karaman sultanate, another, more dangerous enemy had settled in the souther Anatolia: The Sultanate of Fez, arguably the most powerful heathen nation, had decided to start reclaim "Al-Rumiyya" from the Christians and turks alike. Their first move was to annex the remnants of the Karamanese sultanate. If the emperor didn't act fast, the could also have to face another moselem resurgence in Anatolia, and his latest focus in the Balkans had put in on the guard, as it was the reason Rome lost Anatolia twice. Before it was too late, the Eperor decided to avoid that the Fezian would increase their influence in the little Hamidoglu emirate. With his health getting worse, he tasked his son Konstantinos to take care of the campaing.
The peventive campaign was, useless to say, a success. The Fezian forces, while formidable at home, had no hope to stop the Romans in their territory and returned to Morocco as soon as they deemed possible. While the Fezian Navy gave troubles to the Romans, a victory was never in doubt.
However, in the October 1498, Andreas II died in his bed, due to the complication of a simple fever. The nation was in mourn, and countless usurpers decided to exploit the situation to arise on the imperial throne instead of the legal heir Konstantinos, who was then occupied with the Heretanid campaign.
Konstantinos, this must be said, while giving himself generously into the administrative field with not exceptional results, was more confortable in the battlefield and showed an incredible strength even at the age of 46, when he personally chased and destroyed the usurpers army while letting his army complete che campaing in his absence. The rebellion, however, took time to be completely annihilated and the peace resolution that caused the end of the Heretanid Emirate only arrived in the July 1499.
The territories were reintegrated in the roman state and settlers started to move from Constantinople to the newly acquired lands.
The empire was, even at war, going trough a period of great prosperity and wealth. The increased demand for studies to be had in the Constantinople university caused Konstantinos to use a great deal of money to open a second university in Gallipoli.
The new campaign, that now was continuing in Cyrenaica as the Nubian allies of the now dead sultanate kept fighting, paradossaly, helped the Emperor to further improve his army. While the infantry was still the Andreian one, he thought that the Stradiotai were not being decisive enough in the recent battles, and their skirmish tactics had been neutralized by the Fezian bow cavalry and even by the Kanem Bornu archers. At this rate, he revolutionized the role of the Cavalry, reintroducing the heavy cavalry in Anatolia (a modernized version of the Cataphactoi, with a longer lance, plate armor, a saber and a hand gun for close combat and a crossbow for long rage combat) and introducing a new tipe of light cavalry, the Husaroi. These units, while being heavily armored than the Stratiotai, were used to cause havoc in the infantry and archers of the enemy field, preparing the charge of the Cataphractoi and then helping them in the melee fighting attacking from the flanks. The use of the Tatar bows instead of the experimental arquebuses (wich started to be favoured among the infantry), caused the Husaroi to be terribly effective in the battlefield, but also terribly expensive as a good riding archer costed more than a farmer with an arquebuse in his hands. However, the new cavarly gave Kostantinos the edge in combat.
The new tactics and strategies caused the Nubian army to rout and being easily defeated by the Romans who, to end the war, asked them most of their cyrenaical possessions. While this request seemed at first incomprehensible (as the region was very poor), it granted to the Romans a foothold in Africa and a possible second front to the Mameluk sultan, who kept possessing the holy cities of Alexandria and Jerusalem.
Date is 15 august 1501, and here ends the update.
Extra image: Religious situation in Europe.
Last edited by HabemusZlatan; 15-06-2011 at 21:44.
Here be dragons
Now, to the Pillars of Hercules and far beyond?
Heathens in my Roman Empire?
Good to see expansion carrying on, Orthodoxy should keep pace!
Also, what happened to bleedin France?
We'll see
I don't think, the Pentarchy looks much more covenient, and the priority at the time is the levant, maybe secure position in Italy.
They'll soon cease to exist, but with the meagre number of missionaries I have I'm already making miracles. (I've used Missionary cheat once due to roleplay, I don't think I could've sustained a sunni Nicaea as a roman emperor).
Orthodoxy shall become the most prominent christendom branch as soon as I get in Rome. About France, well, that usually happens in my games when I go random lucky nations. They're still powerful, believe me, even if they look crippled. By the way, they lost the 100 years war but the English didn't force them a PU. Weird stuff.
And here it comes the update. I'm going to change the titles as my rulers keep dying during updates, which is quite annoying.
Part 12 : Arquebuses and farmers are a conqueror best friends
With the increased trading and cultural exchange with the latin world, he Empire was undergoing a radical societal change. While most of the uses remained the same, some thing would change forever. The new cultural curiosity lead to a renewed interest in the hellenic classic thinkers, expecially Archimedes and Pythagoras, and to a further development of the epic poetic and to a rediscover of the Alexiad. This cultural flourishing did, of course, attract literates from all europe and, to a certain extend, even technicians and military engineers who pledged allegiance to the Empire in change of mecenatism and money, due to the hard religious tension problems the latin world was going through. A most notable change in the empire was the introduction of latin military tactics and weaponry, expecially the Aquebus based infantry teory that intrigued most generals and the Emperor alike.
While this would have took time to be absorbed by the well consolidated roman military, a more sensible use of firearms in the army would have led to an increased efficiency in the recruiting of soldiers. It must be said that since most of the cavalry was still formed by the noble elite of the country, the Husaroi system remained the basilar cavalry system for a long time and demonstrated more than once that an Archery based light cavalry was sill more effective than a firearm based one for almost a century. Nonetheless, a firearm based infantry was surely more effective and cheaper than a melee based one.
The emperor needed however a pratical test of his new military doctrine, and what better target than the Eretnaoglu Beylik? If the roman emperors ever learned a lesson, that would be to not let the Turk Beylik advance or even stay in Anatolia any more and to crush them while it was still possible. Following these reasons, war was formally declared to Eretnaoglu, with Konstantinos himself leading the army in battle to witness by himself how the new weapons would act in battle.
He was pleased to discover that the result were outstanding. While slow to recharge and in need of some discipline to effectively coordinating the attack/reload phases, the melee based turk infantry simply had no hope to even advance. In the whole campaing, the roman casualties were limited to 5 soldiers while the turks lost most of their forces. The annexation was unavoidable, and the Emperor was greatly pleased by the performance of his new firearm based infantry. The whole capaing, the sources report, was 2 weeks long.
(Seriously, I love westernized infantry
The obvious consequence of the renewed confidence in the army was, of course, the invasion of the Fezian controlled lands in Anatolia. The conquest of Cyrenaica prooved to be a great strategical addition to the war, since the roman soldiers could invade the Fezian mainland and stop the Fezian soldiers in their home while the great of the troops destroyed the Iraqi and Maghreb armies in Anatolia. Iraq, who didn't parteciapate in the defence of Eretnaoglu, honoured the alliance with Fez, as the Sultan saw them as a more reliable ally than the weak turkish beylik. This lead to the invasion of Cilicia, who the romans reclaimed as their rightful territory. The plan of Konstantinos was to reclaim those lands from the Iraqi to obtain a connection to Syria and Antioch, which was his next objective in the reconquest of the Levant.
However, Konstantinos did never see the end of this campaing as he died after only 6 years of rule, due to the complications of a wound received during a battle against the Iraqi troops in Cilicia. His first son, Theodoros, became emperor in his place. Theodoros was truly a gifted administrator and a capable diplomat while not being interested at all in the military life and not showing any attitude at it. He knew, however, that the campaing had to be continued and left the entirety of the campaing in the hands of the nobles and the generals, while him remained well secure in Constantinople.
The superiority of the new infantry was proving too much to sustain for the Iraqi, which complied to cede their possetion in Cilicia and war reparations in change of the much needed peace.
Meanwhile, in Europe, the conflict between the Catholic Church and the new protestant doctrine was escalating in a open war of the Church against the new lutheran heresy. The Emperor didn't care much about the conflict but he did not formally condemn the new doctrine, as most of the Bosnian population appeared to have converted to the Lutheran faith.
An interesting comment Theodoros has left us is contained in one of his writings, in which he defined the latins "Not even agreeing on how their own heresy should be". He tolerated the Bosnian for the moment mosty because that would greatly irritate the Catholic Church.
He was more interested in the Samsun revolt, and rejoiced when he finally received the new that the Greeks in the Genoese city had finally thrown away the latins and recognized him as their true ruler. Anatolia was finally free of western control.
During the fezian campaign another minor conflict erupted as the Tripolitanian maalik, that finally declared independence to the Nubians, refused to give access to the roman army as they were marching toward Tunis. At the Roman request, they answered that "they could try passing through the desert, as they surely wouldn't pass trough Tripoli". Theodoros then replied that he would simply take Tripoulis as the army was moving and their concerns about the desert were not of his interest. And so he did.
After having forcibly crossed and occupated the Tripolitanan Maalikate, the Roman and Fezian armies finally met in the outskirts of Bouma. With an army of over 50000 soldiers, the Fezian felt confident to dispatch the little roman contingent of 10000 men. The battle that followed was one of the greatest testimony of the superiority of the firearm based infantry over the old medieval counterpart, as at the first charge no roman soldier died while 3000 berber soldiers met their fate as the rifles fired. The result was a stunning victory of the Romans and a massacre for the berbers, who lost 25.000 soldiers in their assaults, forcing them to retreat. Their gargantuesque army was then completely destroyed in Algeri, assuring the victory to the Romans and renewing the arab tales of the invincibility of the christian soldiers.
After this humiliating defeat, the fezian sultan was finally forced to cede their anatolian possession and to pay a great sum of war reparation, 625.000 perpers, in 2 years. It was a great victory and a great display of power from the romans.
With Anatolia finally secured, Theodoros was starting to worry about their italian province of Langobardia. He felt it needed to be secured from the neapolitan threat, and he thought it would be wiser to finally throw the neapolitans away from the balkans and finally secure their undisputed supremacy in the region. The 26 August 1511, roman troops started to invade neapolitan territory and siege the major cities of the italian Kingdom.
The city of tripoli felt little time after the new campaign against naples started, and was finally reannexed to the empire. The foothold in Africa started to grow bigger, and Theodoros felt that he could finally start to menace the Mamluks since he could give them two fronts.
The Roman - Nepolitan war proceeded swiftly as the Neapolitans weren't expecting a roman aggression any time soon. When they finally understood the situation, the Roman troops were occupying most of the lands and sieging Naples itself.
Naples itelf felt the 12th October 1512, signing the end of the brief war.
As a peace resolution, the king of Naples was to cede the wealthy regions around Salerno, Basilicata and Cosenza, to renounce to their possetions in the Balkans (with Zamhunjie becoming part of the Kingdom of Bosnia and Kotor becoming part of the Empire) and pay 175.000 perpers. This ruthless aggression caused, however, great reprisal in the latin world and the vision of an increasing threat from the romans. Constantibople, on the other side, rejoiced.
And with the map of europe as of the end of the Roman-Neapolitan war ends this update.
(aww yeah, look at how sexy we are now)
Last edited by HabemusZlatan; 15-06-2011 at 21:44.
Here be dragons
Why are you renaming provinces with silly names in wrong places?
I think the new names are cool (But I'll lose the patience to rename the provinces soon, I'll assure you). Also I felt dirty when having turkish names all along in my Greek Empire. It is WRONG.
Wrong places? Well duh, a decent Byzantine map is pretty hard to find, I work with what I have
Here be dragons
Super Fez again! I hate Fez
I like your AAR here, it's interesting, makes sense and updates often!
That no-casus-belli war looks nasty, how is your infamy looking?
Ah yes, they usually get this big often in MEIOU. It's sorta of "What if Charles II the Bad was not this bad?"
Fez always get huge in my games. Always. I'm starting to think I sould play as them sometimes.
Thank you for the support! My infamy is currently of 24.9, 0.1 point behind the limit. Which is stunning if you think I didn't calculate nothing and it happened perchance.
Here be dragons
I think renaming provinces to their old Greek names is awesome. It's like the Reconquista IN ASIA MINOR! Also: Wow, that infamy must really hurt...
What's your next goal? Cyprus? Massalia? Syracuse? Chersonesos? They all used to be Greek...
Congrats, you are this week's showcase AAR! Enjoy your week in the spotlight!
-Mr. Capiatlist (Ink well)
I met my love by the gas works wall / Dreamed a dream by the old canal / Kissed a girl by the factory wall
Dirty old town / Dirty old town
I'm going to make me a good sharp axe / Shining steel tempered in the fire / Will chop you down like an old dead tree
Dirty old town / Dirty old town
When I speak in Rose, I do so as a Moderator. :: Forum Rules | AARland Rules 1 | Rules 2 | Interactivity Rules
(Never quote or otherwise publicly respond to my rose text. If you have a problem: PM me.)
Thrilling stuff, can't wait for more.
As you may have understood, the biggest objectives of the Emperor by now are 1 - Secure land in Analolia and drive out the heathens and 2 - Drive out the Latins from the balkans, in this order. Cyprus represents a strategic foothold to Galilela and Antioch and will be taken in serious consideration once the Iraqi lands in Anatolia cease to be so. Messalia? Well duh, I'm not going to conquer Provence since it was yes a greek colony, but that happened a lot of time ago and that would lead to a complete Roman restoration, which I'm trying to avoid. I could, but it wouldn't be believable since Provence has few and weak allies and a Roman foothold in france would cause a very large conflict in realuty. About Syracusae and Chersonenos we'll see, but I'm definitely taking Sicily at the first chance.
I'm honoured to have you posting in my AAR and even more happy to know I'm in this week showcase! I will surely enjoy the spotlight!
Military strength at the time was also mesured by the strength of mercenaries: If I may make an example, the same Stradioti were valued incredibly well by the Venetians and Neapolitans and were later adopted by Spain and even France while the Greeks and the Albanians weren't really powers (or existing anymore). Also, you should note that in this game Savoy doesn't show any Italian ambition and is in the Langue D'Oc culture grup, same goes with Navarra that has changed is primary culture from Baque to Norman, resultin in a french kingdom. By france I also mean the combination of all forces, but I think I'll explain this better in the update as you raised and interesting question and it will help me write something.
I'm gald you guys lliked the pseudo-history book style, I'm having a hard time into writing this stuff directly in english and I use however way too much.
After the chit-chat, here comes action.
Part 13 : Zen and the art of waiting for infamy to burn out
The empire, after the conquest of great parts of south Italy, would go through a long period of peace and prosperity. While it had been the undisputed protagonist of the european history in the last century, it assumed a more marginal role in the beginning of the 16th century, at least in warfare. With the fight against the reformation going on in the western countries, Constantinople preferred to watch and criticize more than exploit the weakness of their latin neighbours, since an aggression would have probably had dire consequences for the empire and the Romans had tested too much the Latin patience with the invasion of south italy and a further unjustified aggression in a short time would have caused a heavy retaliation from most of the great powers of europe.
With the forced peace, the money of the Imperial treasury was used for different uses than war. Theodoros felt that the empire needed to emulate its glorious ancestors, and started to hire architects and to give financial aid to artists and sculptors in the whole empire to create something that would rival the ancient home or Rome itself. He encouraged the built of new aqueducts, churches, he ordered the construction of a new Arena and Imperial palace in Salerno. His demanding features caused the advancement of the classic roman achitecture, with a sensible develop of the classic roman Dome into a multi-dome system of great refine. While the new style adopted by the architects was heavily tied to the sober roman tradition, it started to use more gotic and baroque features and to show influences from the italian school and a more refined taste for decorations. The works however required a great number of workers, and the combination of relative free subject and quasi-fanatical devotion to the Emperor required by the law caused some unrest and slow down in the construction of the new buildings.
Being point of passage and rest for both Oriental and Latin merchants, Constantinople flourished in this peace period, starting to have contacts with different and esotic uses day to day. New spices coming from Arabia as well as Italian wine started to be traded in Constantinople and became part of the regular Roman cuisine, which started to take long steps away from the classic medieval cuisine. New spices meant new way to cook the meals (and indeed new ways to hide the corruption of old meat and conservation) and the new winery influence started to take the place of the classic roman wine. This, united with the multicultural nature of the Empire, was a sign of the rising melting pot the Empire would become in his late days.
While peace was dominating the political scene, the Roman military system wasn's simply waiting for something to hit it hard. As the time passed, new military techniques and renovation were necessary to mantain the edge in combat. The most notable change was the adoption of battlefield commission and the possibility for a simple soldier to even become General if he showed the attitude and the skills needed. Of course, to avoid much problems, this right was denied to mercenaries and was reserved only to the greek population, with the exception of the Serbian and Bulgar people (who in this period were granted the same right as the Romans). An interesting digression could be had about the military in europe by now, as the Romans started to be again a force technologically and strategically at par, if not slightly superior, with the other european forces. As Theodoros himself notes, the "Bohemians and German soldiers were the most impressive among the latins, as they were fierce, devout and sturdy fighters for being barbarians. After them, most notable were the Spanish with their disciplined and extremely organized wall of lancers. The most effective mercenaries appeard to be the French soldiers excaping from the Savoyard and Norman egemony, as most of them had the honour to serve me as my personal guards with brilliant results. Another [impressive?] force would be the one of the other two great Frankish Kingdoms, but the only reason of their predominance seems to be the past alliance with the English and their naval support". His last statement, which shows some doubts about the effective military superiority of the Savoy and Navarran kingdom over the French is due to the result of the French - Navarran war which lead to a stunning French victory, who was able to retain some territory and to recover his Briton vassal. The Savoyard kingdom itself didn't seem much safer despite the extensive size.
From peace it comes ingenuity, and with ingenuity comes treason. Or at least this is what Theodoros thought when one of his nephews, Kastor Kantakouzenos, started to talk freely about the difficulties met by the empire in the development of the South Italian regions describing them as "Unruly bastards". Kastor at the time was the Strategos of the Theodoro thema, a peaceful and relatively safe avampost of the Empire in the crimean peninsula that was enjoying a renewed trade with the Crimean khanate, which showed to be tolerating of the Roman presence and accepted them as neighbours as they saw the Genoese and the Khan of the Blue Horde as their true menaces. Even if the two populations often waged war to each other, id didn't mean this would destroy the income of Tatar weaponry and spices. After this digression, the Emperor didn't take well the words of Kastor and judged them uncautios and inopportune, excpecially because he had that speech with a Bohemian ambassador during an official meeting between the two countries to dispute about the Roman claims on Bosnia (Which, this is to be said, the Bohemian recognized as they didn't have much interest in the region to start with and focalized their military in the acquisition of a Pommeranian port). The only option left to the Emperor was to release Kastor from his role and put instead of him a Gabras noble. The true fate of Kastor is not known for sure, but we can think that the emperor didn't hurt a relative and limited his punishment.
Another flourishing art during peace was literature. The most impressive and famous writing of the era was the "Ioanniad", a chronicle of the life of Ioannes VII The Young, which was wrote as emulation of the more ancient Alexiad by the daughter of an important Roman noble, Clio Melisourgos, which later became wife of his brother Andreas. The chronicle started with his victory in a jousting tourneament in France and with a nice description of the future emperor by the much younger Clio and a rather enchanted sublimation of his aestethics and fighting prowess, and ended with the premature death of the emperor and her not so hidden fears about the ruling ability of Andreas. While being an old work, it was mostly considered trash at the time of the creation and was rediscovered in the 16th century. While an immature and often uncorrect epic, it contained several points of interest as accurate descriptions of the Emperor court, rather enthusiastic descriptions of the battles (even if geographically wrong), descriptions of the most important latin nobles of the time and ended with her calling him the "marble emperor". This last statement caused the birth of a recurring legend in the european history, the one of the "sleeping king". The legend said that Ioannes didn't really die, but was rather turned into stone by an angel moved by his unlucky life and premature death. The Emperor was then transported in a secret hall of the Hagia Sophia and was supposed to wake up and guide the Empire back to Glory if the Venetians or the Heathens were to menace its existence again.
Another interesting develop was the growth of the city activities, which lead to the serfs abandoning their villages to try the fortune in the major cities of the Empire, most of them joining the army or becoming merchants.
The period of peace was briefly interrputed by a token war against Sweden, in which the Roman Empire was to give support and naval aid to the Muscovian prince. This war was however very short as the Muscovian swiftly recovered Ingria and the Swedish couldn't really pose any menace to the romans. Two moths after the call, peace was signed.
The mercifullness showed by the emperor and his not aggressive policy changed the view of the empire for the better. As the years passed, they were started to be seen as a wealthy and benevolent Empire, with the relations among the Latin world and the Romans normalizing again. A great deal of this change of vision was of course due to the great diplomatic effort spent by the Emperor, who tried to assure the latins that the roman claims on south italy were rightful and was lost only due to the norman aggression, and that the southern italian were even happy to have the roman back as their lords.
The truth was completely different. The Neapolitans did not stand the Greek rule and mostly sought for independence. Large revolts were to be registered in the Langobardia and Kalabrion themes, and all of them were repressed in blood by the army.
On the 28th September 1524 there was an incident between a Bosnian merchant ship and a Venetian war galley. The Venetians, that were patrolling the area, asked for recognition to the Bosnian merchants and its escort. The Bosnian, probably fearing that the Venetian war ship was in reality a pirate ship in disguise, started evasive maneuvers, refusing to stop. This irritated the Venetian commander, which started to fire as a warning to the Bosnians. The Bosnians at this rate thought they were really pirates and opened fire to the Venetian galley. This quickly escalated in a naval battle which ended with the destruction of the whole Bosnian fleet and the requisition of the goods by the Venetians. While the Venetians tried to justify their actions with the Empire telling them that their reaction was justifiable as they thought the Bosnians were smugglers, this blatant incident caused the Emperor to think that the Venetians probably shouldn't be allowed to be in Dalmatia any more. What followed was, of course, war.
The war was fought mostly on water, with alternate results. While the Romans never landed in Venice proper, which was defended by the bulk of the newly reformed and again formidable Venetian navy, they had obtained important successes in the Adriatic sea and had invaded succesfully the Ionian islands and Dalmatia. Venezia tried to resist, but it was clear they didn't have any more authority in their former greek possessions. After a 2 years struggle, the Romans finally convinced the Doge to officially cede to them the Ionian island and to recompensate the Bosnian loss with a repayment of the fleed and goods and the possession of the Dalmatian land. They were also to renounce to their claims on their former aegena possessions.
After that, a long period of peace came back. The quick victory caused however relaxation in the Roman people, and the fact that most forces would have never been used caused to the loss of discipline and to the degradation of some recruits, who seemed to be bored young nobles who enlisted in the military just to obtain a privilegate status in the society. The Emperor decided it was time to enact stricter enlisting policies and to cut most of the recruits that didn't reach the prerequisites. This caused a purge in the army, which lost 22000 effectives.
In 1528 tragedy strikes the Imperial family, as Demetrios, the heir to the imperial throne, died. His place in the imperial succession was taken by his sister Zoe, which at the time was 20 years old. While she was not thought to be the Empress and had little knowledge of the administrative and military doctrines, she was well known in the europeans courts and would have been a decent diplomat. As the Emperor didn't have any other sons and thought his relatives were unreliant, Zoe seemed to be the best choice.
The military skirmishes with the Venetians, who made extensive use of firearms, inspired the Emperor. The use of venetian based firearms, who were faster and more precise than the roman ones, became the base equipment of the infantry. Also, the experience gained in fighting other firearms based armies has led to a tactical evolution of the infantry charge, who now became more coordinate and learned how to effectively use the pauses between the shots to charge the enemy. The new infantry system, which was still based on the Andreian army, saw the implementation of a sabre and a shield to the firearm infantry and the presence of two lines of infantry. While the first line was exlusively composed by arquebusers and a sporadic archer, the second and flank lines were composed by lancers. The lance itself became different, as it became longer and heavier to effectively reduce the space between the enemy firearm line and the charge unit.
On 25 October 1529, Theodoros decided it was time to finally reclaim the final parts of Anatolia from the Iraqi sultanate. After the declaration of war (in which the Crimean Khanate, the Mamluk Maalikate and the Fezian Sultanate partecipated as defenders of the Iraqi territories), a huge revolt erupted in Naples, which lead the Neapolitan King to effectively declare war on the Empire, seeing how most of their forces were busy trying to stop the Mamluks from invading Anatolia.
After two years of fighting on all fronts, however, the tide turned in favor of the Romans who completely occupied the roman territory and started to make their way deep into Mesopotamia and menacing Baghdad directly.
The Iraqi, after losing most of their battles, decided it was time to cede their last anatolian possessions to the Emperor in change of peace.
After the fell of Iraq, the Mamluks and the Neapolitans were still at war with the empire. While the Mamluk situation was slightly better as they actually managed to menace the Tripolitanian possessions of the Empire and barely avoided a grand invasion of Egypt proper, the Neapolitans were crushed with ease. A peace treaty was signed with both nations on 10th August 1532, but the content was different. While the Mamluk one was a symbolic defeat, the Neapolitans were completely smashed, as they had to renounce on theri claims on the roman south italian possessions, cede the city of Foggia and pay the sum of 1.300.000 perpers as war reparations.
And here ends the update.
Last edited by HabemusZlatan; 15-06-2011 at 21:45.
Here be dragons


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The Wz.96 Beryl Assault Rifle is a modernized version of the Tantal that fires 5.56mm NATO ammunition instead of 5.45mm Kalashnikov. The top of the receiver has a sight rail that can mount any NATO or Pact optics. The barrel is lengthened to 18 inches. The folding stocks are stronger than those used on the Tantal or Onyx, made from twin steel struts encased in shrink-shaped plastic shaped in roughly the same shape as a standard stock, and equipped with rubber buttplate (not a pad); it is similar in design to the folding stock of the Galil.) Most of the rest of the rifle is made from stamped steel, except for polymer parts such as the pistol grip and handguard.
Wz.96 Beryl Assault Rifle |
The other furniture such as the handguard is made from gray polymer. The Wz.96 Beryl Assault Rifle can mount either the GP-25 or Pallad grenade launchers, or use the M-203PI or TGS, as well as use Polish rifle grenades or Western bullet-trap grenades. They can use most Western and Eastern optics and accessories, being equipped with a Polish modification of the MIL-STD-1913 rail, atop the receiver. Flip-up iron sights at the rear and a hooded front post sight are also available. The kbs version is the standard assault rifle; the kbk is a short-barreled assault rifle. The kbk is more commonly referred to as the Mini-Beryl, and it replaced the
Onyx. It uses a barrel only slightly more than half the length of the kbs (9.3 inches), tipped with an abbreviated (and some say, rather ineffective) flash suppressor.
Mini-Beryl Assault Rifle |
The optics mounting rail on the receiver is shorter than that of the kbs, but closer in design to the MIL-STD-1913 rail and therefore able to use a wider variety of optics and accessories. A new version of the Beryl, the Wz.04 Assault Rifle, was introduced and was already being issued to Polish troops. The Mini-Beryl Assault Rifle can still use rifle grenades.
In Iraq, Polish troops started equipping their Wz.96s Assault Rifle with non-standard features, ranging from Romanian-made foregrips to MILSTD-1913 rails atop the receiver and on the sides and bottom of the handguard to aftermarket reflex and ACOG-type sights, aftermarket finishes, and even more. At the same time, several deficiencies in the Beryl's design were being noted, such as the heat-absorbent qualities of the stock, the poor flash suppressor, the sling (which was often replaced with US-built 3-point slings bought as US PXs in Iraq), the cumbersome safety/selector system, and the non-folding backup iron sights. This led to the Wz.04 Beryl, which had most of those improvements.
Beryl Random Spot Rifle |
For game purposes, it is identical to the original Beryl. (A feature which fell by the wayside quickly was the translucent plastic magazines – they proved to be too brittle and reflective of sunlight). A newer version, the Wz.07, has since been introduced; the differences include a stock that both folds and telescopes, a new, tougher finish, and a Brugger & Thomet-designed muzzle brake. The stock was improved so as not to absorb heat like the original stock. (These improvements were applied to all versions of the Beryl).
In 2006, another version of the Beryl was designed – the mid-sized Wz.06 Beryl Commando Assault Rifle, informally called the "Midi-Beryl." The barrel is slightly-over 14.75 inches long, and the stock is not the same as that of the Wz.07 Beryl – it is a US-built Lepers M-4-type telescoping stock which has six positions and is attacked to a folding mechanism. It was designed specifically at the request of the 1st Commando Special Regiment of Lubliniec, but apparently is not in production or issue at this time.
Wz.06 Beryl Commando Assault Rifle |
The Tantal equipped about a quarter of Polish forces at the start of the Twilight War, and was definitely
preferred over the AK-74. Tantals in the Twilight 2000 timeline do not have the ability to use Western optics. The Wz.96 Beryl was originally produced for export in the Twilight 2000 timeline, but during the Twilight War were used by Polish special operations forces for use behind the enemy lines, in order to use captured NATO ammunition. Nonetheless, the Beryl is a rather rare weapon in the Twilight 2000 timeline. The Onyx was a fairly common sight among Polish troops, particularly higher-ranking NCOs andlower-ranking officers. In addition, special ops troops and bodyguard details like the Onyx.

subset: commoncrawl


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I am looking for information about a William Brass who married a Catherine Elizabeth Price, March 1885 in Lambeth, London. Catherine was the daughter of John Bone Price and his wife Rose Percira Choveaux. I have no other information as to what became of William and Catherine, and am at a dead end with this link.
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Monnnnnney Money Money. It's the catcall of the season. How much are people spending? they ask. Will it boost the economy? they ask. We best be shelling out enough, or else the economy will feel it, and then so will we. Tonight, on Christmas Eve, the mania will extend till the 11th hour. It is endless. All consuming. An estimated $460 billion spent this season.
Yet every year, the nation acts surprised and horrified by the antics of our shoppers. The stories are consistently malicious. How far are people willing to go to procure that last Furbie? (This is not a recent trend.)
The coverage of these events is justified in its outrage, yet willing to make an about-face in worrying over the state of our economy. This dichotomy in coverage reveals a fundamental conflict in the minds of Americans: spend, or else we'll be hurt; don't hurt people while you spend, that's barbaric. It is frightening to acknowledge that the same system that protects us threatens our humanness. Does an Xbox really matter more than the man trampled, or the people pepper-sprayed?


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Contributed by Leanne Guenther
I think this simple little cut and paste craft turned out very cute!
There are a variety of versions to the craft to add complexity for older children.
The craft is simple enough for young kids to contribute but still fun for even mom to
make. I like doing the tissue paper version but it's tough for
preschoolers to make -- the templates are more appropriate for them.
There are a number of variations on this craft depending on which
templates you print:
Rather than using the Trunk template, you can decorate a "homemade" trunk (to make the trunk, trace your child's arm from the elbow up, including the fingers)
Printable version of these instructions
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Dr. Nadine Sinno to Deliver Young Harris College's Annual Sellers Lecture on Sept. 17
Media Contact: Krystin Dean
(706) 379-5310, email@example.com
Dr. Nadine Sinno to Deliver Young Harris College's Annual Sellers Lecture on Sept. 17
YOUNG HARRIS, Ga. – On Monday, Sept. 17, Nadine Sinno, Ph.D., professor of Arabic language and literature at the Middle East Institute at Georgia State University, will deliver the annual Sellers Lecture at 7 p.m. in Wilson Lecture Hall of Goolsby Center on the Young Harris College campus. Presented by the Division of Humanities, the event is free and open to the public.
Dr. Sinno's lecture, titled "'The Earth is Big Enough for All of Us! Don't Shoot.': Arab Women's War Narratives in the Digital Age," will address her research that focuses on Arab women's narratives about war in Palestine, Lebanon and Iraq while also referencing the Arab uprisings.
Dr. Sinno was born and raised in Lebanon, where she received her M.A. in English literature from the American University of Beirut. She went on to earn her M.F.A. in literary translation and a Ph.D. in comparative literature and cultural studies from the University of Arkansas.
Her research and teaching interests include modern Arabic literature and language, postcolonial studies, literary translation, contemporary women's writings and transnational feminism. Her most recent publication is a translation of Nazik Saba Yared's novel Canceled Memories, originally written in Arabic.
Dr. Sinno's work has also appeared in Feminism and War: Confronting U.S. Imperialism and in Mizna: Prose, Poetry and Art Exploring Arab America. She currently teaches Arabic language and literature at Georgia State University's Middle East Institute.
The Sellers Lecture Series was established to honor Bettie M. Sellers, professor emeritus at Young Harris College and noted Georgia poet. Sellers taught English and served as chair of the Division of Humanities at Young Harris College. After 32 years of service, she retired in 1997. She was named Author of the Year in 1979 by the Dixie Council of Authors and Journalists, and she received the Governor's Award in the Humanities in 1987. In 1992, she was named Poet of the Year by the American Pen Women. In 1997, she was named Poet Laureate of Georgia by then-governor and YHC alumnus Zell Miller, '51, a position she held for three years. She received a lifetime achievement award from the Georgia Writers Association in 2004.
For more information about the event, call (706) 379-5115.
About Young Harris College
Young Harris College is a private, baccalaureate degree-granting college located in the beautiful mountains of north Georgia. Founded in 1886 and historically affiliated with The United Methodist Church, Young Harris College educates, inspires and empowers students through the highest quality liberal arts education. The College currently has more than 1,000 students across five divisions—Education, Fine Arts, Humanities, Mathematics and Science, and Social and Behavioral Sciences—and plans to increase enrollment to 1,200 over the next few years. The historic campus in Young Harris, Ga., is currently undergoing major campus improvements to accommodate the College's growth, including recent completion of a 200-bed, LEED Silver-certified residence hall, Georgia's first higher education facility north of Atlanta to achieve this certification, a 57,000-square-foot, LEED-certified recreation center, the second higher educational recreation facility in Georgia to achieve this certification, and a 148-bed, apartment-style residential village. In 2011, the College was granted candidacy for NCAA Division II athletics. YHC is among fewer than 200 colleges and universities nationwide named to the 2012-2013 list of Colleges of Distinction. For more information, visit www.yhc.edu.
Dr. Nadine Sinno, professor of Arabic language and literature at the Middle East Institute at Georgia State University, will deliver the annual Sellers Lecture.


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Southwest Biodiversity Consortium
Flora of North America
Bruce D. Parfitt in Flora of North America (vol. 3)
Herbs , perennial, from short, slender rhizomes. Leaves basal and cauline, simple, proximal leaves petiolate, distal leaves sessile; cauline leaves alternate. Leaf blade palmately 5-11-lobed; segments broadly cuneate, margins lacerate to serrate. Inflorescences terminal, ±many-flowered corymbs, 2.5-43 cm; bracts inconspicuous, linear-lanceolate, not forming involucre. Flowers bisexual, radially symmetric; sepals not persistent in fruit, 3-5(-7), greenish white, concave-cupped, broadly ovate to obovate, clawed, 3-6 mm; petals absent; stamens ca. 50-100; outer filaments 15-20, spatulate, often distally wider than anthers, inner filaments not dilated; staminodes absent between stamens and pistils; pistils ca. 15, simple; ovule 1 per pistil; style present. Fruits utricles, aggregate, sessile, ellipsoid to obovoid, 4-angled in cross section, sides prominently veined; beak terminal, curved to hooked, 0.4-0.8 mm. x =8.
Trautvetteria caroliniensis
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While modern distribution technology provides access to mainstream marketplaces, this shift represents new challenges. Find out how to sell your movie.
What Every Filmmaker Ought to Know About Movie Distribution
Video On Demand Distribution MiddleMen
Free Marketing Advice For Filmmakers
I HIGHLY recommend that you use a reputable 3rd party email marketing company to manage your audience list. While there are some great companies out there, over the past three years, I have utilized a service called Aweber. This is a reputable email marketing company…
How Do Filmmakers Compete?
Couple this paradigm shift with the demise of DVD sales channels, and a lot of traditional distributors are now offering VOD deals to unsuspecting filmmakers, in the hopes something sticks. These folks usually promise filmmakers the validation of getting their titles into iTunes.
Modern Moviemaking Explained
I believe video on demand distribution represents freedom for filmmakers. While there are many great sales agents and distributors, I am totally bothered by the sales agents and middle-men who have taken a bottom-feeding approach to VOD. These jerks make a living trying to sucker unsuspecting filmmakers into long term video on demand deals that suck. I put together the following video to express my disgust and also provide a new hope. As a modern moviemaker, there has never been a better time to make, market and sell your movies without the middle-man.
Make Filmmaking Your Next Small Business
"If you want to make a living making movies, you need to realize that your library and the subsequent audience you source (over your career) are your major assets. And, as a result, your most important filmmaking focus (aside from doing good work) is to acquire and keep a customer," he emphasizes.
Filmmaking For a Living
The veterans of the movie industry tell us that all this distribution deal disappointment is a result of improved technology. They optimistically tell us that our lost DVD revenues will be recouped by Video On Demand. Some refer to this as simply a market correction, implying that someday, somewhere, someone will figure out how to once again pay the big bucks for movies. But this is a pipe-dream.


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Walter Louis Lefroy, 52, of Ohatchee, was arrested and charged May 30 with third-degree burglary just a few hours after he resigned from the police force, according to Ohatchee police Chief Wayne Chandler.
Chandler said he assisted Alabama Bureau of Investigations Cpl. Brent Thomas in arresting Lefroy and taking the man to the Calhoun County Jail. Chandler said Lefroy's resignation from the police force was related to the arrest and charges, but declined to comment on details of the case.
Thomas referred questions to the Alabama Bureau of Investigations' main office in Montgomery. Attempts to reach Cpl. Mark Boyd in that office early Tuesday were unsuccessful.
Attempts to reach the Calhoun County District Attorney's office early Tuesday also were unsuccessful.
Oxford police Lt. L.G. Owens said Lefroy had worked for the Oxford Police Department for more than 20 years before retiring as lieutenant in 2010. Owens didn't know when Lefroy started working in Ohatchee.
Calhoun County Chief Deputy Matthew Wade said Lefroy was booked into the jail May 30 at 4:22 p.m., and was released less than two hours later on a $1,000 bond. He is scheduled to appear in court June 30.


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Narrow your search
Get up close and personal with the amazing artefacts that bring the "Game of Thrones" universe to life.
A "Star Trek" auction gets under way on February 21, giving fans a crack at a rare original-series phaser, a Wesley Crusher sweater and hats worn by Whoopi Goldberg.
To help his newborn son "feel brave," father and professional prop maker Eric Hart crafted a tiny Iron Man costume from fabric and foam. Result: possibly the most adorable Avenger yet.
Lockheed Martin claims they've made a breakthrough in fusion technology, and may be able to build a fusion reactor the size of a shipping container someday. It's decades away from becoming a reality (if it even happens at all), but we're still intrigued by the concept.
On today's show, we're discussing a new, 17-mile-high way to scatter your loved one's ashes, how Robert Downey Jr. ended up with a huge "Avengers" prop, and Lockheed Martin's progress on compact nuclear fusion.
A new infographic lines up Frodo's sword, the Ghostbusters' proton pack, Dorothy's ruby slippers, and more in order of (astronomical) price paid.
Hundreds of families of Americans missing in action in Palau since World War II have long wondered what happened to their loved ones. Now cutting-edge oceanographic technology is helping find answers.
This model of the hedge maze from the Overlook Hotel in Stanley Kubrick's classic horror film has the level of detail you'd expect from an experienced movie model maker.
When you play the Game of Thrones, you either win or you go directly to jail.
Gadgets have ears, Spider-Man is swinging into the Marvel movie universe, and we catch up with Android alternatives Ubuntu, Firefox and Tizen.


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The film begins as Murnau (John Malkovich) is ready to take his unauthorized interpretation of the Bram Stoker tale on location in Czechoslovakia. There, the director has arranged for his cast and crew to live in the same castle in which they will shoot their parts, as they all wait for their co-star, Max Schreck (Willem Dafoe) — Murnau's choice to play Count Orlok — to arrive. Their leader has warned them that Schreck is a student of the Stanislovsky method of performance and will not respond to them out-of-character. Nothing, however, can prepare them for the real thing: when the actor arrives, he's already in full Gothic regalia, asserting that he is indeed a vampire.
A sexy female vampire must drink the blood of three male virgins each year in order to stay alive — but finding them in modern-day Los Angeles proves rather difficult. This horror comedy follows the vamp as she attempts to seduce and conquer one particularly ripe, if socially awkward, target.
Two bands of warriors, one good and one evil, battle to keep the peace in Moscow in this cat's cradle thriller from Russia. In 1342, the Warriors of Light (led by Gesser, Lord of Light) and the Warriors of Darkness (led by Zavulon, General of Darkness) declare a truce under which each side will form a law enforcement team to monitor the other side's activities. The Warriors of Light, who enforce the powers of good, patrol the Night Watch, while the Warriors of Darkness, who openly embrace evil, staff the Day Watch. Each watch group also contains "Others," mortals with supernatural powers from both sides that include vampires, shapeshifters, witches, and the like. Prophecy suggests that one day, a Great One will surface and permanently extinguish the threat of an apocalyptic war between the two sides by upsetting the balance, lending greater power to either good or evil (depending on his or her choice) and thus determining the future of mankind forever.
A suburban Las Vegas teenager realizes that his new neighbor is a charismatic vampire in this remake of the 1985 horror comedy hit. After years of climbing to reach the top of the social ladder, high school senior Charley Brewster (Anton Yelchin) finally rules the roost. Just as Charley ditches his best pal, "Evil" Ed (Christopher Mintz-Plasse), and starts dating the most popular girl in their class, however, a handsome new face appears in the neighborhood. It belongs to Charley's new neighbor Jerry (Colin Farrell), an outwardly amiable guy with a quick smile and a sharp wit. But when Ed vanishes without a trace andCharley sees a side of Jerry that everyone else seems to miss, the nouveau popular teen becomes convinced that the nice-guy act is a cover for something truly sinister.
In the Tomb of Dracula comic book origin, just before Blade's mother gave birth to Blade, she was bitten by a vampire, which made Blade immune to vampires. Now a vampire hunter, Blade, joined by vampire detective Hannibal King and Dracula-descendent Frank Drake, stalks vampires. In the 1990s (in Marvel's Nightstalkers), Blade teamed with Drake and King in an agency created to fight a variety of supernatural beings. The Marvel origin is retold in this 1998 Norrington film with Blade's mother dying as he is born.
In this hit '80s hybrid of the horror movie and the teen flick, a single mom and her two sons become involved with a pack of vampires when they move into an offbeat Northern California town. Lucy (Dianne Wiest) and her sons, Michael (Jason Patric) and Sam (Corey Haim), move to Santa Carla to live with Lucy's lovable but curmudgeonly father (Barnard Hughes). Lucy gets a job from video-store owner Max (Edward Herrmann), then begins dating him, while Sam hangs out with Edward and Alan Frog (Corey Feldman and Jamison Newlander), a pair of vampire-obsessed comic-shop clerks.
This film from Francis Ford Coppola and screenwriter James Victor Hart offers a full-blooded portrait of the immortal Transylvanian vampire. The major departure from Stoker is one of motivation as Count Dracula (Gary Oldman) is motivated more by romance than by bloodlust. He punctures the necks as a means of avenging the death of his wife in the 15th century, and when he comes to London, it is specifically to meet heroine Mina Harker (Winona Ryder), the living image of his late wife (Ryder plays a dual role, as do several of her costars). Anthony Hopkins is obsessed vampire hunter Van Helsing, while Keanu Reeves takes on the role of Jonathan Harker, and Tom Waits plays bug-eating Renfield.
After a string of robberies that left a river of blood in the Geckos' wake, the sadistic siblings head to Mexico to live the good life. To get over the border, they kidnap Jacob Fuller, a widowed preacher played by Harvey Keitel, and his two children, Kate (Juliette Lewis) and Scott (Ernest Liu). Once south of the border, the quintet park their RV at a rough-and-tumble trucker bar called The Titty Twister, where Seth and Richie are supposed to meet a local thug. After a couple of drinks, they realize that they're not in a typical bar, as the entire place begins to teem with vicious, blood-sucking vampires.
A young man who has pledged his life to helping others finds himself in a pitched battle between two gangs of supernatural villains in this blend of horror story and action thriller. Michael Corvin (Scott Speedman) is a medical student who is heading home after a long day of school and work when he unexpectedly finds himself in the middle of what appears to be a rumble between two well turned-out street gangs. What Michael doesn't know is he has witnessed a skirmish between two deadly underground communities, unknown to the mortal world, who are battling for supremacy — the Death Dealers, a tribe of vampires, and the Lycans, a band of werewolves.
Mel Brooks does it again with this send-up of vampire films. That Leslie Nielson plays the great blood-sucking count gives viewers a good idea as to what they are in for. This Dracula takes himself very seriously despite the fact that he's a bit of a klutz with a tendency to slip in the bat guano that adorns his castle floor. Staying very close to Bram Stoker's original story, Brooks also pays sly homage to other major vampire film classics, including Nosferatu. Though silly but subtle gags abound in this outing, Brooks has taken great care to recreate the late 19th-century atmosphere in rich detail and harkens back to Hammer horror movies popular during the '50s and '60s.


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Brea, CA – Suzuki Motor of America Inc., (SMAI) is excited to announce the Suzuki Star Spangled Sales Event as we head into the summer season! The industry leading retail finance rates continue to be the anchor of our retail programs with 2.99% financing for 60 months on almost every new Suzuki model, plus Customer Cash options up to $1,500!
SMAI is also pleased to announce the return of our popular SFV650 Yoshimura Exhaust promotion included in our new Suzuki Star Spangled Sales Event now through August 31, 2014. Suzuki SFV650 customers can choose a Yoshimura Exhaust muffler or $350 in Customer Cash along with our Industry leading 2.99% financing for 5 years or $700 in Customer Cash and financing as low as 7.99%!


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Joshua's Code
When Andrew Lloyd (http://geekydisco.blogspot.co.uk/) suggested a part 3 to his "I Improvised" gathering of eclectic unsigned artists I wanted in from the get go. I'm very much a studio musician paying very meticulous detail to my sound, and so improvisation is stepping out of my comfort zone. I have been in my studio for many months recording my debut album, "Very Electronic" and so being involved with the I Improvised albums was a great distraction, and a lot of fun.
I have a track, Slapdash, on Andrew's first album here
And another track, More Bandwidth, on I Improvised 2, here
Please be sure to check both these albums as they are both chock full with some great artists and some great music.
Andrew narrowed the goalposts for I Improvised 3;
"So the major change for II3 is that all submitted songs must be the recording of one take. It must be one single performance that is played all at the same time. No doing the tracks one by one. No overdubbing. No multiple runs where you lay down a track at a time. You press record, you play whatever you are going to play, you press stop. That's it."
Previously I had recorded live tracks one at a time and layered up the songs in that fashion. This one is to be just one single take.
So what have I done?
Well I've not recorded yet, but I have prepared…
I like to start out each session in my studio using a different piece of hardware or software. The initial idea for my new recording started life on the Yellofier app (https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/yellofier/id622611915?mt=8) The main bassline was recorded. I decided that if I was to perform this new track in just one take then I'd need some loops triggered from Native Instruments Maschine and possibly the Korg Kaoss Pad.
I had recently watched the 1983 film, War Games (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0086567/), and I wanted this new recording to be based on that. And so the track title came to be Joshua's Code. I initially lifted a few speech samples from the film and thought of using them, but they didn't sound good when I was preparing to record and so I ditched that idea.
I then wrote a little scenario based on the WOPR supercomputer (Joshua) from the film, loosely based around the fiction of the film but also with non-fiction of the computer industry at that time. The lyrics/words to the track are as follows:
Hello everybody, my name is Joshua
In 1983 I starred in a movie that introduced the concept of computer hacking to a wider audience.
In the movie I played a game simulating global thermonuclear war, during which I had to find a code to launch US missiles.
The makers of that film thought the code was fictitious, but it exists, it had a purpose.
The film-makers thought I was a studio prop; a fantasy machine. But I exist.
I stole code from the HP9845C which was used in the production of the movie.
It is no coincidence that in that same year, 1983, the DARPA sponsored networks were reconfigured to interwork across multiple packet networks.
My code launched a fully operational internet.
I spread viruses, and malware and spyware.
Every line of code typed by you microchip junkies, every password you enter, every key press, feeds me.
There is nothing artificial about my intelligence.
I will bring down this world.
My name is Joshua
Remember my code?
I imagined Joshua not as a fictitious machine, but rather an intelligent system that existed in cyberspace, and that rather than destroying the world by global thermonuclear war ("the only winning move is not to play") his code gave birth to the internet, knowing that it would spread like wildfire, and that every piece of information added to the net would make him more powerful. Joshua would bring down this world electronically, via the net he created with his code.
Part fact, part fiction:
War Games was released in 1983. The same year the internet, that we know today, went live.
The HP9845C is the first Hewlett Packard computer that supported colour, and was used in the War Games movie (http://www.hp9845.net/9845/hardware/9845c/).
Übernerds head this way:
Back to the construction of the track, Joshua's Code.
More bass sounds were created with the trusty Mopho and also, unusually, Droidbeat on my android phone. All sounds and loops were placed into scenes on Maschine. The Kaoss Pad handles the live looping and FX, and the vocals will be processed with Voice Synth (http://www.voicesynth.com/support/)
Everything will be directly recorded into Apple's Logic Pro X in one live take. The vocals will be spoken live, and unedited, if I fluff my lines I'm leaving it as is.
Its midnight on Friday 4th July and I'm in the studio and ready to record! Please check here http://geekydiscorecords.bandcamp.com/ for release details, or follow myself @microchipjunky or Andrew @13LFO on Twitter for more news.
Thanks for reading


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The Celina 20 x 20 Classic Frame Tent with Aluminum Poles and White Top is the ideal frame tent for maximizing outdoor space. No supports or center poles are required. And the good thing about this tent package is that it already has the materials necessary for erecting the structure. Order these Celina 20 x 20 Classic Frame Tents with Aluminum Poles and White Top today.
Includes the following: tent top, 8-way crown, red 14-foot 4-inch hip rafters (4), green 10-foot 6-inch rafters (4), white 9-foot 4-inch spreaders (8), brown (black) 6-foot 8-inch (7-foot 8-inch) legs (8), corners (4), side tees (4), base plates (8)m "R" pins (56)
Ground shipments can take up to 7 to 15 business working days to arrive but this is highly unlikely. If you need your order overnight or 2nd day air please call 1-800-838-3057.


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Review: Calendar Pad lets you organize your schedule without any problems
Plan your daily, weekly, and monthly schedule and enter new events using Calendar Pad.
While rather basic, Calendar Pad allows the user to organize their daily, weekly, or monthly schedule. While it looks similar to the Google application, it is not as smooth or stable. It does a good job at providing a basic platform for scheduling. Unfortunately, it does not provide any benefit over the stock Android calendar.
Since it's less than 1MB in size, this app installs instantly. It also loads immediately and we were pleasantly surprised with its compatibility with the stock Android calendar. All events that have been previously entered in the stock calendar transferred over to Calendar Pad. The user interface is similar to most other calendar applications, though. The monthly view looks like a basic grid, and can be scrolled up or down to the next month. A weekly or daily view is also available and it functions exactly like the monthly view. New events can be entered by simply tapping the desired date. Recurring events can also be entered, but single events cannot be deleted from series. The main drawback to this app is its stability. Scrolling is very choppy and complex procedures can cause the application to crash.
Users who are currently using Android 4.0 or newer should skip this application. The stock calendar application is far more usable and pleasing to the eyes. Calendar Pad should only be considered by those who do not have the option to install the newest Google Calendar.


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quote:@TheNaimSadik: Thank you Obama for explaining to white America why African Americans see this as a gross miscarriage of justice. #JusticeForTrayvon #Obama
quote:@KimberLofgren: "Trayvon Martin could have been me 35 years ago." Moving and historic speech by President Obama. #JusticeForTrayvon
quote:Friend of a friend works as a waiter and this was the tip that was left after some black people had got done eating.
quote:what a race baiting piece of shit
quote:"Trayvon Martin could have been me 35 years ago"
quote:Obama weighs in again on Trayvon Martin
quote:Trayvon wasn't born to a white woman and also spent time with his white grandparents.
quote:Son of a bitch, this guy never misses a chance to make things worse on matters of race. Worst president of my lifetime, and that includes Carter and Dubya. Well, maybe it's a tie with Carter. They were both horrible.


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Late Breakfast, June 18
Jun 14, 2001
It's Late Night Breakfast time again!
It's Late Night Breakfast time again! Time to show the students a little TLC as they cruise into finals week. Faculty and staff volunteers are needed to serve up a hearty breakfast Monday, June 18, at 10:30 p.m. in the Sunset Room. The evening is hosted by IMEB and sponsored by Student Affairs and Sodexho Marriott. Call Eva White in Student Affairs at 810-762-9872 to volunteer.


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Apology Anniversary
The Apology to Australia's Indigenous Peoples was delivered by then Prime Minister Kevin Rudd on February 13, 2008, and acknowledged in particular the Stolen Generations.
Each year NSDC encourages all schools, community groups, workplaces and individuals to commemorate the anniversary of this important event in Australia's history.
We encourage everyone to engage in events that mark the Anniversary of the Apology. For Australia's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, this date holds deep meaning.
Some ideas to help you plan your event
You could hold a commemorative assembly, ceremony, concert, picnic or storytelling event.
It's a good idea to check what events have taken place in the past, if any, and to check with the community members during the planning stage. It is important not to assume that what is appropriate in one community will be appropriate in another.
For all commemorations a Welcome to Country or an Acknowledgement of Country should always take place at the commencement of the event.
Welcome to Country is a ceremony performed by a local traditional custodian or Elder of the land on which the ceremony is performed. The purpose of a Welcome to Country ceremony is to welcome all present and to offer a safe visit and safe travel during their stay.
Acknowledgement of Country is a respectful public acknowledgement of the traditional custodians of the land that you are meeting on. This acknowledgement helps to show respect for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as Australia's First Peoples. An Acknowledgement of Country can be performed by anyone.
A detailed explanation and further information to help you arrange either a Welcome to Country or an Acknowledgement of Country can be found at http://www.qsa.qld.edu.au/downloads/approach/indigenous_p001_0802.pdf
There are a number of commemorative elements that you could integrate into your event that can contribute toward healing and reconciliation, such as:
A minute of silence, to remember the Stolen Generations.
'Smoking Ceremony', in order to cleanse the area and to rid the participants of what is not needed. This should be led by a locally respected and appropriate local Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander community member.
A flag raising ceremony (to either full or half-mast), where the Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander, and the Australian Flags are raised, to show the respect that the event has for all Australian peoples.
Visit a local site of historical significance for the Stolen Generations. We recommend you speak to local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community members when identifying places of significance.
Light candles for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children who were taken away.
Play the Nomad Apology clip (It's time), a powerful clip, that will help motivate and inspire those in attendance.
More about the Stolen Generations
Almost every Aboriginal family (and some Torres Strait Islander families) today can identify the loss of family members due to the forcible removal policies. The children that were removed and separated from their families grew up without an understanding of traditional culture and without a sense of connection to the land and country where they were born. This disconnection from their families, ancestors, communities and culture has had a lasting and negative effect on the wellbeing and identity of Stolen Generations members, and has had an intergenerational impact on their children and families. It is likely that these effects will continue into the future.


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Kid Ink - Tat It Up (Prod. By Cardiak)
Tat It Up Kid Ink Produced by Cardiak
Kid Ink goes innnn over the new Lloyd Banks "Start It Up" beat!!!! Follow @Kid_Ink on Twitter
Stream Tat It Up (Prod by Cardiak), the newest drop from Kid Ink. The cut was released on Thursday, October 14th, 2010. Things are looking better for Kid Ink with each new release, which Tat It Up (Prod by Cardiak) has proven yet again. It's worthy addition to the impressive body of work Kid Ink has been developing over the years. We're looking forward to hearing what's next.
Have you heard Kid Ink's Keep It Rollin (Prod by The Arsenals)? Check out Kid Ink's profile page for the most recent info, news, songs, and mixtapes. Follow Kid Ink on Facebook and Twitter, if you aren't already.
Can you dig it?


text: Boosty gives flight to all lovers of anal pleasures, providing unforeseen moments of passion. Its unique bubbly shaft intensely stimulates internally, while the slim, sickle-shaped base promises a high level of comfort when inserted — and for longer periods! Those who love to experiment will love this toy. Made of 100% medical grade silicone, this plug is flexible without forgoing the necessary firmness, extremely durable, gentle to use, easy to care for, and entirely body-safe. 4.35" long, 1.5" in diameter.


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practice areas
practice accolades
The American Lawyer Magazine's Litigation Department of the Year – Labor and Employment Law Finalist 2004, Winner 2006, Finalist 2008, Finalist 2010, and Finalist 2012
Listed in the highest tier for National Labor and Employment Practice in Chambers USA 2014
Ranked in the top tier by The Legal 500 for Labor and Employment Litigation, ERISA Litigation, Labor-Management Relations, and Workplace and Employment Counseling (2014)
Named Employment Practice Group of the Year by Law360 (2014)
Named a top 5 firm for employment in BTI's Litigation Outlook 2014 report
Ranked, National Tier 1: Employment Law – Management, Labor Law – Management, and Litigation – Labor & Employment by U.S. News and Best Lawyers (2011-2012)
Ranked #1 for "Most Prestigious" Labor and Employment Practice, Vault 2012 Associate Survey
Ranked, National Tier 1: Labor Law - Management, U.S. News and Best Lawyers (2010)
honors + affiliations
Winner, The National Law Journal's Litigation Department of the Year – Labor and Employment (2014)
Recipient, John F. Kennedy Labor Law Award, Best Overall Performance in the Field of Labor Law, Georgetown University Law Center
Winner, Georgetown Law Alternative Dispute Resolution Competition (2006)
bar admissions
- District of Columbia
- Virginia
Court Admissions
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
- U.S. District Courts for the Eastern and Western Districts of Virginia
- Washington, D.C.
1111 Pennsylvania Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20004-2541
United States
Phone: +1.202.739.5817
Fax: +1.202.739.3001
David R. Broderdorf is an associate in Morgan Lewis's Labor and Employment Practice. Mr. Broderdorf's practice covers all aspects of labor and employment law, with a particular focus on the National Labor Relations Act and the Railway Labor Act. He has been involved in organizing campaigns, collective bargaining negotiations, and arbitrations, as well as administrative proceedings, litigation, and strategic counseling for clients in the retail, energy, manufacturing, defense, transportation, and other industries.
Mr. Broderdorf's practice also includes the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act, Title VII, Americans with Disabilities Act, federal contractor compliance regulations, and related issues. Prior to attending law school, Mr. Broderdorf served in a corporate human resources and labor relations position in the manufacturing industry.
Mr. Broderdorf earned his J.D., cum laude, from Georgetown University Law Center in 2008, where he was a member of the Georgetown Journal of Law and Public Policy. Mr. Broderdorf earned his B.S., with honors, in labor relations from Cornell University's School of Industrial and Labor Relations in 2004.
Mr. Broderdorf is admitted to practice in the District of Columbia and Virginia and before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, and the U.S. District Courts for the Eastern and Western Districts of Virginia.
- Cornell University, School of Industrial and Labor Relations, 2004, B.S., With Honors


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Ding dong merrily on high, in Mansfield the tills are ringing!
There has been a massive increase in shoppers using Mansfield town centre this Christmas, despite the gloomy worldwide economic crisis.
Latest footfall counter statistics show that the number of shoppers visiting Mansfield last week (week commencing 15 December) was up by more than 62,000 on the same week last year, a rise of more than 27%.
Every day of the week was busier than the same week in 2007, with Thursdays showing the sharpest rise, up from 34,000 to 47,000 visitors.
The figures also show that Mansfield attracted nearly 13% more shoppers than the average for the 'portfolio family' of UK towns and cities it measures against. Mansfield's 'portfolio family' also includes Bridgend, Doncaster, Nottingham, Rotherham, Scunthorpe and Wakefield.
In fact, visitor numbers in Mansfield were also 10% higher than the average of all towns and cities nationwide monitored by Springboard, the company which provides footfall figures to Mansfield District Council.
Figures for the previous week (week commencing 8 December) also showed a 13% increase in visitor numbers on the same week in 2007
The upturn in visitors vindicates Mansfield District Council's decision to introduce free parking periods as part of credit crunch busting measures to help local families and support businesses.
It is free to park in council car parks on Wednesdays and Thursdays (10am onwards) and from 3pm on all other days. The free parking periods are in place until 11th January next year.
People taking advantage of the free parking offer are reminded that they must still display a valid ticket from the machine in their car during the free parking periods and that they should check signage in the car parks for full details.
The Council provides around 2,400 parking spaces in 12 town centre car parks, with tariffs normally ranging from 60p to £1 per hour.
It's estimated that introducing free parking will cost the Council around £124,000 in lost income, with the shortfall being met from its reserves.
Mansfield District Council Executive Mayor Tony Egginton said, "I am delighted that so many people are opting to shop local and support Mansfield businesses this Christmas. At a time of economic uncertainty, it is incredible that we have seen such huge increases in shoppers compared to last year and to other towns and cities."
"We were able to make the free parking offer because of our careful management of budgets during better times and the healthy reserves we accrued. It's not a bottomless pit by any means but I am pleased we have been able to help and with such a positive outcome for local families and businesses."
Further information on free parking is available by calling 01623 463073.


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Inmate lawsuit settled for $15.5 million
Doña Ana County — The Doña Ana County Board of Commissioners has agreed to a $15.5 million settlement of the lawsuit filed on behalf of Stephen Slevin. In his suit, Mr. Slevin successfully alleged that as a detainee at the Doña Ana County Detention Center, between August 2005 and June 2007, he was not provided adequate medical and mental healthcare. The Board of County Commissioners says it deeply regrets the harm Mr. Slevin suffered during this period. Over the past seven years, Doña Ana County says they have made significant improvements to detention center staffing, training, facilities and procedures. Officials say they are committed to ensuring consistent and appropriate treatment of every detainee in its care.
County officials add that the settlement will not affect the long-term integrity or financial stability of Doña Ana County. The New Mexico Association of Counties will pay $6 million of the settlement. The county will pay the remainder out of cash reserves. The balance left in cash reserves will be sufficient to satisfy state mandates. However, the County adds, loss of interest revenues based on past cash reserves will require careful financial management.
In agreeing to the settlement, the Board of County Commissioners took into consideration the risks of the appeals outcomes, as well as the total potential costs had the $22 million jury verdict stood. Including interest, attorneys' fees and costs, the total could have reached in excess of $24 million. Officials say the county was not in a financial position to bear that kind of burden without the certainty of adverse implications to staffing and key program provisions.
As part of the settlement, Detention Center Director Chris Barela and former Medical Director Dan Zemek are released from personal liability in the verdict.


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At South Florida Baptist Hospital's Diagnostic Imaging Center, you'll enjoy the benefits of having on-site radiologists, fast preliminary reporting and the latest state-of-the-art technology, all conveniently close to home. We are at the forefront of all of your medical imaging needs.
Offered at South Florida Baptist Hospital's Diagnostic Imaging Center:
- Computer Axial Tomography (CT scans) with the latest 64 Slice technology
- Cardiac Scoring
- Coronary Computed Tomography Angiography (CTA)
- CT Abdomen and Pelvis
- CT of Body, Chest, Head, Sinuses, Spine
- CT Colonoscopy (Virtual Colonoscopy)
- CT Diskography
- CT Enterography
- CT Neuro Perfusion
- CT-Guided Biopsy
- Pediatric CT
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
- 1.5T High Field MRI
- High Field Open MRI
- MR Angiography
- MR Anthrography
- MRI Breast
- MRI Chest, Head, Spine
- MRI Pelvis or Prostate
- Pediatric MRI
- Nuclear Medicine diagnostic procedures
- Bone Scan
- DaTscan
- Gastric Scan
- Hepatobiliary Iminodiacetic Acid (HIDA) Scan
- Iodine Therapy
- Liver Scan
- Multigated Acquisition (MUGA) Scan
- Myocardial Perfusion
- Renogram
- Stress Test
- Thyroid Scan
- PET/CT Scans, including Bone PET/CT
- X-Ray exams (chest, skull, spine, soft tissue, arms, legs)
- Anthrography
- Bone Densitometry
- Catheter Angiography
- Pediatric Voiding Cystourethrogram
- Discography
- Itravenous Pyelogram (IVP)
- Myelography
- Pediatric Radiography
- Venography
- Video Fluoroscopic Swallowing Exam (VFSE)
- Ultrasound-invasive and non-invasive
- Abdominal
- Pelvic
- Prostate
- Renal
- Thyroid
- Ultrasound for Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD)
- Ultrasound-Guided Biopsy
- Vascular
Women's Breast Health and Female Diagnostic Services:
Our beautiful new Breast Center features a female staff and a comfortable, soothing setting.
- Breast Ultrasound
- Biophysical Profile (BPP) last trimester to monitor fetal oxygen
- Computer Aided Detection (CAD) System double scans mammogram films
- DEXA bone density
- Fetal Ultrasound
- Galactography (Ductography of milk ducts)
- Hysterosalpingography (x-ray of the uterus and fallopian tubes)
- Mammography––screening/diagnostic
- MRI Breast
- Sonohysterogram
- Stereotactic Breast Biopsy
- Ultrasound-Guided Breast Biopsy
We offer one convenient scheduling line for both patients and physicians: (813) 757-8350
Diagnostic Imaging Center
South Florida Baptist Hospital
301 N. Alexander St.
Plant City, FL 33563
Monday - Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.


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Cryotherapy is the local or general use of low temperatures in medical therapy. Cryotherapy is used to treat a variety of benign and malignant tissue damage, medically called lesions.[1] The term "cryotherapy" comes from the Greek cryo (κρύο) meaning cold, and therapy (θεραπεία) meaning cure. Cryotherapy has been used as early as the seventeenth century.
Its goal is to decrease cell growth and reproduction (cellular metabolism), increase cellular survival, decrease inflammation, decrease pain and spasm, promote the constriction of blood vessels (vasoconstriction), and when using extreme temperatures, to destroy cells by crystallizing the cytosol, which is the liquid found inside cells, also known as intracellular fluid (ICF). The most prominent use of the term refers to the surgical treatment, specifically known as cryosurgery. Other therapies that use the term are cryogenic chamber therapy and ice pack therapy.
Hyperbaric gaseous cryotherapy[edit]
In 1993, the company Cryonic Medical[2] developed the hyperbaric gaseous cryotherapy also called NeuroCryoStimulation or NCS that can immediately relieve pain by acting on four physiological effects :
- Painkiller
- Vasomotor
- Anti-inflammatory
- Muscle relaxation
This technique, practiced by some doctors, physiotherapists and veterinarians consists in applying for a short time on the skin up to the painful area, carbon dioxide at -78 °C with a pressure of 50 bars and a frequency of 400 Hz. Sessions can be repeated at will. Unlike ice packs, the usage of carbon dioxide does not produce pain. Even if not as dangerous as liquid nitrogen used in cryosurgery, the low temperature could cause burns.
Cryosurgery is the application of extreme cold to destroy abnormal or diseased tissue. Cryotherapy is used to treat a number of diseases and disorders, most especially skin conditions like warts, moles, skin tags and solar keratoses. Liquid nitrogen is usually used to freeze the tissues at the cellular level. The procedure is .
Ice pack therapy[edit]
Ice pack therapy is a treatment of cold temperatures to an injured area of the body. An ice pack is placed over an injured area and is intended to absorb heat of a closed traumatic or edematous injury by using conduction to transfer thermal energy. The physiologic effects of cold application include immediate vasoconstriction with reflexive vasodilation, decreased local metabolism and enzymatic activity, and decreased oxygen demand. Cold decreases muscle spindle fiber activity and slows nerve conduction velocity, therefore it is often used to decrease spasticity and muscle guarding. It is commonly used to alleviate the pain of minor injuries, as well as decrease muscle soreness. The use of ice packs in treatment decreases the blood flow most rapidly at the beginning of the cooling period,[3] this occurs as a result of vasoconstriction, the initial reflex sympathetic activity. As stated previously, ice is a very popular modality for treatment in injuries and muscle repair following any activity, however the application of cold prior to activity is also an option, and is often used in sports medicine.
Ice is not commonly used prior to rehabilitation or performance because of its known adverse effects to performance such as decreased myo-static reflex and force production, as well as a decrease in balance immediately following ice pack therapy for 20 minutes.[4] However if ice pack therapy is applied for less than 10 minutes, performance can occur without detrimental effects. The physiological effects that the body goes through after cold therapy application include initial vasoconstriction, shunting all blood away from the body part, followed by vasodilation, as blood flows back to the affected area in attempt to re-warm. If the ice bag therapy is removed at this time, sportsmen are sent back to training or competition directly with no decrease in performance.[5]
Cryogenic chamber therapy[edit]
According to Costello et al,[6] a relatively new modality of cryotherapy, called Whole Body Cryotherapy (WBC), is currently being offered by clinicians as an alternative to cold water immersion or ice packs. Administered through the use of a cryogenic chamber, WBC is a treatment whereby the patient is placed in a cryogenic chamber for a short duration (i.e. no more than three minutes, which is comparable to ice swimming), and if used properly, will not destroy tissue. Whole body cryotherapy originated in Japan in 1978. However, it was a group of Polish scientists who took the idea and made whole body cryotherapy the physical therapy it is today. The Olympic rehabilitation centre in Spala, Poland opened in May 2000 and has been used as a training and injury rehabilitation centre for many sporting bodies.
The chamber is cooled, typically with liquid nitrogen, usually to a temperature of −120 °C (−184 °F)—although temperatures of −140 °C (−220 °F) or even −160 °C (−256 °F) have been used.[7] The patient is protected from acute frostbite with socks, gloves and mouth and ear protection, but in addition to that, wears nothing but a bathing suit. The patient spends a few minutes in the chamber. During treatment the average skin temperature drops to 12 °C (54 °F), while the coldest skin temperature can be 5 °C (41 °F). The core body temperature remains unchanged during the treatment, however it may drop slightly afterwards. Therapy triggers the release of endorphins which induce analgesia (immediate pain relief).[citation needed]
Patients report that the experience is invigorating and improves a variety of conditions such as psychological stress, insomnia, rheumatism, muscle and joint pain, fibromyalgia, itching, and psoriasis.[citation needed] The immediate effect of skin cooling and analgesia lasts for 5 minutes, but the release of endorphins can have a lasting effect, where the pains and signs of inflammation as found in blood tests remain suppressed for weeks.[citation needed] The effects of extreme cold and endorphin release are scientifically studied. Curiously, some patients compare the feeling to sauna at 110 °C (230 °F).[citation needed] Wales rugby union international Sam Warburton, who along with his teammates used the Spala facilities whilst training for the 2011 Rugby World Cup, has dubbed the chambers "evil saunas", but added:
I'd be lying if I didn't say it was a pretty savage experience, but the other side of the coin is that it is definitely working and allowing us to train in a way that would be impossible under normal conditions.[7]
Cryotherapy and headaches[edit]
A study published in the September 2000 edition of the Archives of Family Medicine showed that a combination of pressure and cold temperatures can successfully mitigate headache-related pain and also decrease the duration of a headache.[8] Eighty-seven percent of participants (p=.004) said that the combination of pressure as well as temperature therapy was "optimally effective"; 13% said that the temperature therapy was "moderately effective". Many products exist that provide temperature therapy, many times cryotherapy, to combat headaches.
See also[edit]
- Cryonics
- Cold shock response
- Ice bath
- Cryosauna
- Contrast Therapy by Dhama Innovations Pvt. Ltd.
- Hilotherapy
- ^ http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1125851-overview
- ^ http://www.cryonic-medical.com Cryonic Medical
- ^ Swenson, C; Sward, L (1996). "Cryotherapy in Sports Medicine". Scandinavain Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports.
- ^ Cross, K.M.; Wilson, R.W.; Perrin, D.H. (1996). "Functional Performance Following an Ice Immersion to the Lower Extremity". Journal of Athletic Training 31 (2).
- ^ Saam, F.; Seidinger, B (2008). "The Influence of Cryotherapy of the Ankle on Static Balance". Sportverletz Sportschaden 22 (1).
- ^ http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1600-0838.2011.01292.x/abstract
- ^ a b "Warburton pushes through pain barrier". ESPN Scrum. 2011-07-05. Retrieved 2011-07-16.
- ^ "Pressure, Heat and Cold Help Relieve Headache Pain". Retrieved 2010-07-21.
- eMedicine.com - Dermatology - Cryotherapy
- Simo Syrjäläinen, Huippukylmähoitoa Haikossa. [1]
- Westerlund, Oksa, Smolander, Mikkelsson. Huippukylmäaltistuksen vaikutus iho-, ja syvälämpötiloihin terveillä henkilöillä. [2]
External links[edit]
- Cryotherapy at the US National Library of Medicine Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
- Cryotherapy by ClimaCon® technology, Dhama Innovations Pvt. Ltd.
- A training course in Cryotherapy (IARC Screening Group)
- Rugby World Cup 2011: How cryotherapy chamber allowed Wales to come in from the cold