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Campaigners claim FIT legal victory
Campaigners fighting government plans to slash solar subsidies are claiming a major victory in court.
Yesterday environmental group Friends of the Earth and solar companies Solarcentury and HomeSun launched a High Court challenge against a government decision to cut feed-in-tariff payments from 43p/kilowatt hour to 21p/kWh claiming it was unlawful as a consultation is still ongoing.
The reduced payments came in for solar photovoltaic schemes from December 12 despite the consultation into the changes not finishing until Friday 23 December. For social landlord PV schemes there is a further, deeper cut in April to 16.8p/kWh.
Friends of the Earth told Inside Housing that the judge today ruled the government's plans to act retrospectively were 'legally flawed'.
Andy Atkins, Friends of the Earth executive director said: 'These botched and illegal plans have cast a huge shadow over the solar industry, jeopardising thousands of jobs.
'We hope this ruling will prevent ministers rushing through damaging changes to clean energy subsidies - giving solar firms a much-needed confidence boost.
'Ministers must now come up with a sensible plan that protects the UK's solar industry and allows cash-strapped homes and businesses to free themselves from expensive fossil fuels by plugging into clean energy."
'Solar payments should fall in line with falling installation costs but the speed of the government's proposals threatened to devastate the entire industry.'
The successful judicial review decision is likely to be appealed by the government.
A spokesperson for the Department of Energy and Climate Change said that the department was awaiting full details of the court case before issuing a statement.
Inside Housing is calling for social landlord to be given fair access to the feed-in-tariff through our Green light campaign
Readers' comments (20)
Once again this Government's cavalier attitude to the housing sector and the environment (or more to the point the Pickles approach to his department) looks set to cause huge cost to the taxpayer. Both legal fees and compensation costs could be massive - not to mention the lost cost of service supply.
This Maverick Minister needs to be curtailed before his 18 months of havoc causing results in terminal loss.Another fine performance by the Cabinet aka The Crazy Gang.
My heart bleeds for Mr Goon......sorry Huhne :-) That should wipe the smug look off his face.
Good point US --- but Mr Goon is not very good with legitimate points, allegedly!
What do you expect from deceived, arrogant, millionaires who have found themselves in cabinet to propagate their fiefdoms at the expense of the rest of the country?
F451 - this "debacle" will probably cost the taxpayer a fraction of what the recent pensions strikes did, and will inconvenience a tiny minority of the population, unlike those strikes.
The difference between the two actions is that the government is trying to save the country money, whereas the pensions strikers were trying to save themselves money.
From a moral perspective under these considerations, who is more justified in their action?How can the strikes have cost the taxpayer - it saved on a day's pay, and we all know from the Tory Press that the public sector only cost, not produce - so where's the loss. Or are you one of those blue people waking up to the fact that without all the essential and social roles fulfilled by the public sector the private sector can not function, and without the lucrative forced privatised public contracts private sector profits take a massive dip.
Personally I think the strikers should demand a pension arrangement equal to that of banking executives, or threaten to leave the country!F451 - Oh dear, do you have no idea of how GDP is calculated? Do you have no concept of the secondary harm caused by such strikes?
Personally I think the strikers should realise that they get a damned good deal compared to people like myself who have private pensions, even after the proposed adjustments. My pension fund is now worth less than it was in 2006 (poor fund performance does not stop the fund managers taking their fees and charges) and because of the poor annuity rates being offered the projected pension I can expect to receive when I retire is now much lower than it was when I started paying into the scheme. (That is, if I can ever afford to retire)
Public sector workers don't realise how "well off" they really are as far as their pensions are concerned.... and no, I am not a Smurf or an avatar.
I do Gavin - I was just enjoying the point disproving all those who claim the public sector produce nothing, a worth nothing, are non-jobs etc.
I was also enjoying the typical comment that demands public sector level down to the lowest rather than the commentator suffering the effort and hard work to level up to the highest.
Just because you are too lazy or incompetent to argue for a better deal is no reason to wish to prohibit others from doing so. Maybe if those moaning about Union control in the 80's could reflect on what they have now lost by throwing out the Unions they may be able to connect the two - but I doubt it as that takes an above average sense.
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Withings Smart Baby Monitor for iPhone. Backpacking cutlery - tableware. Welcome to Kogeto. Michelangelo Two Bike Gravity Stand Space Saving Bicycle Storage from PUBLIC. Home. 11 cheap gifts guaranteed to impress science geeks. Science comes up with a lot of awesome stuff, and you don't need a Ph.D, a secret lab, or government funding to get your hands on some of the coolest discoveries.
We've got a list of 11 mostly affordable gifts that are guaranteed to blow your mind, whether or not you're a science geek. Click on any image to see it enlarged. 1. Aerogel Also known as frozen smoke, Aerogel is the world's lowest density solid, clocking in at 96% air. Gadgets : Bornrich : Bornrich - Home of luxury and most expensive things. Ultimate Freedom. Self-Balancing Unicycle. Designed in America with new features, more power, and even MORE portability than ever!
Rigid Construction The SBU V3 is precision crafted by hand with 6061 alloy. The Traveller's Medicine Cabinet: 5 Essential Drugs for the Road. While out roving you aren't always (or even often) anywhere near a hospital or pharmacy.
But, if you pack these nutritional supplements and natural medications wherever you go, you'll be able to cope just fine. #1: Kratom The Situation. Margaritaville Liquor Chiller. Out of Aces - A Man's Guide to Luxury, Girls, Games, Poker, Drinks, and the Maverick Lifestyle. Project Glass. Snow Peak.

subset: commoncrawl


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Human NDR1 (nuclear Dbf2-related) is a widely expressed nuclear serine-threonine kinase that has been implicated in cell proliferation and/or tumor progression. Here we present molecular characterization of the human NDR2 serine-threonine kinase, which shares approximately 87% sequence identity with NDR1. NDR2 is expressed in most human tissues with the highest expression in the thymus. In contrast to NDR1, NDR2 is excluded from the nucleus and exhibits a punctate cytoplasmic distribution. The differential localization of NDR1 and NDR2 suggests that each kinase may serve distinct functions. Thus, to identify proteins that interact with NDR1 or NDR2, epitope-tagged kinases were immunoprecipitated from Jurkat T-cells. Two uncharacterized proteins that are homologous to the Saccharomyces cerevisiae kinase regulators Mob1 and Mob2 were identified. We demonstrate that NDR1 and NDR2 partially colocalize with human Mob2 in HeLa cells and confirm the NDR-Mob interactions in cell extracts. Interestingly, NDR1 and NDR2 form stable complexes with Mob2, and this association dramatically stimulates NDR1 and NDR2 catalytic activity. In summary, this work identifies a unique class of human kinase-activating subunits that may be functionally analagous to cyclins.
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I use liquid seaweed fertilizer in my yard. It's really powerful, so I only have to use a little. I dilute it with water, so the majority of what the plants are getting is water.
I've used it on my grass, my vegetable garden, and my flowers. It has worked really well. It contains all kinds of nutrients that plants need, and a bottle lasts a long time.


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Your Pop Alternative Source
The software also helps you and shows you How to download You tube videos, it gives you an option before starting download and helps you select the proper format for downloading that supports your device. They want a committed team of apprentices. You actually have to get into these completely off target ideas about How to Download YouTube Videos.
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New figures expose shortfall in EU sow stall ban compliance
ONLY a handful of member states look set to comply with new pig animal welfare regulations which will come into force across the EU on January 1, shocking new figures reveal.
Member states have had since 2001 to comply with the partial ban on sow stalls. But the latest figures on member states' readiness for the ban reveal just five member states are already fully compliant, including the UK which banned sow stalls in 1999. A further six reported compliance in excess of 90 per cent.
But many of the rest, including most of the UK's biggest competitors, remain woefully short, including France at 33 per cent, Germany at 48 per cent and the Netherlands at 63 per cent. Even Denmark, the biggest exporter of pigmeat to the UK had only managed 85 per cent compliance.
Even allowing for a 'last minute rush' to remove sows from stalls and house them in new group pens, the National Pig Association (NPA) estimates that nearly two million pigs a week from farms operating illegally will be delivered to Europe's processing plants. That equates to around 40,000 'illegal' pigs an hour entering the European food chain in January.
Stewart Houston, chairman of the British Pig Executive, said he was 'flabbergasted' when the figures were circulated at a European Commission meeting earlier this month.
"We were amazed because we had been working with the commission all year on this and the messages we were getting was that compliance was much higher," he said.
Mr Houston said, unlike with the 2012 battery cage ban, there were no measures in place to stop the trade in illegally produced low cost pigmeat.
"We have been saying for a long time Europe would be awash with product from illegal farms. It now looks like it's going to be twice as bad as we thought. It is going to be a nightmare for UK and EU retailers and food service companies to be certain they aren't selling product from illegal farms," he said.
NPA chairman Richard Longthorp said: "This makes a mockery of Europe's animal welfare legislation," Mr Longthorp said. 'As the United Kingdom imports around 60 percent of its pork — much of it as processed food such as ham and bacon — shoppers will need to be very careful about what they choose from supermarket shelves and when eating out in restaurants."
He revealed the NPA will be asking retailers, processors, food service companies, pork product manufacturers and restaurant chains to sign a 'pork pledge confirming that they will only source pork from legal systems 'in the New Year.
Those who sign will be displayed on a 'wall of fame', while those who 'cannot or will not commit' could be exposed on a 'wall of shame', he said.
The British Retail Consortium's head of media, Richard Dodd, said the majority of pig meat sourced by UK retailers came from UK farms.
He said UK retailers have been 'working with suppliers for a long time' on ensuring pig meat products 'in whatever form' meets their requirements. He said he was 'confident' all pigmeat on supermarket shelves would be sourced from legal systems next year.
Supermarkets have also been in discussions with Defra to establish which member states were making the best efforts to comply and have been lobbying the European Commission to ensure strict enforcement of the new requirements.
Compassion in World Farming chief executive Philip Lymbery said there was 'no excuse' for those member states that have not complied, given the lengthy amount of time they have had to prepare.
"Many UK retailers have already pledged not to sell pork products from non-compliant countries, once the ban comes into force. I would encourage all retailers and processors to follow suit to demonstrate to non-compliant member states that this disregard of the law and of sows' welfare, will not be tolerated," he said.
Who is complying, who's nearly there…and who's not?
Figures on the current state of implementation of the partial sow stall ban were distributed at a meeting of the European Commission's Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health (SCoFCAH) on December 4. They showed:
100 per cent compliant: Austria, Estonia, Luxembourg, Sweden, UK.
90 per cent +: Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia.
70- 90 per cent: Denmark (85 per cent), Finland (73) Greece (83), Latvia (82), Malta (75), Poland (80) Slovenia (72), Spain (70).
Less than 70 per cent: Cyprus (48), Belgium (45), France (33),Germany (48), Ireland (57), Italy (69), Netherlands (63), Portugal (63).
Readers' comments (10)
Countries that do not comply with Pig welfare regulations should not be allowed to import meat into the UK, the lorries should be turned round at port of entry, when they get the message compliance or no entry matters will change, this country is too soft on law and regulations, you can virtually do anything without fear of prison or any other deterrent.Peter Dyson | 21 December 2012 0:35 am
I completely agree with the above comment, it seems that if you agree and comply with the law in this country and do your best to do a good job you have every inspector, lobby group and general do gooder breathing down your neck judging and criticising you. Those that dont bother get away scot free. Stop any food imports into this country that dont reach the same standards we have here!!!There will be no "illegal" pork from member states on January 1 2013. The partial ban on stalls allows member states to have sows in stalls for 4 weeks for insemination. Therefore, no-one can break the EU rules until 29 January unless the law is applied retrospectively to sows already held in stalls. Even then, a sow that is kept in stalls for more than 4 weeks then has a 4 month gestation and it takes c. 6 months before its piglets are slaughtered and the "illegal" pork enters the food chain. Leave aside the problems of tracing pork cuts to finished pigs and then back to "illegally" held sows it's difficult to see how
any enforcement process could begin to deal with this (or would want to) until the end of the year. That's the reality.I believe these farmers should be grossly fined and their farms should be boycotted and not permitted to export their animals. There is NO EXCUSE for this---NONE!
I believe these farmers should be grossly fined and their farms should be boycotted and not permitted to export their animals. There is NO EXCUSE for this---NONE!
We need a more DECENT world to live in with less fears of abuse going on and suffering.
We need a more DECENT world to live in with less fears of abuse going on and suffering.
Good heavens, these folk's aren't any better than the crooks, liars and thrives on Wall Street, who constantly seek ways to make a quick Buck, regardless who else might get hurt, and they Wonder Why we loath them so much, and those Bankers, don't even get me started on those rotten to the core amoral pigs themselves, with their sheckels and unearned profits, Spit, is what I do right in their eye, as I pull the rope on the blade flying down a wooden guide-shoot, to loop off their diseased amoral heads into a basket to where we would Feed them to the free range porkers! How about them Apples say yea all? Bloodily right with Animal justice, mans cursed rule over beasts that provide us life, morons and idiot's ignorant fools they are, the lot of them all I say.
I think it would take only a week for a farm to change over if they faced a week of confinement in one of their own gestation crates. A pig for a pig.
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gave lilvicval a medal for lilvicval's answer to
The Munsell color model was the first color model to do what? (1 point)
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is replying to Can someone tell me what button the professor is hitting...
Thanks for being so helpful in mathematics. If you are getting quality help, make sure you spread the word about OpenStudy.


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IDEA supports the implementation of a M & E system in Dominican Republic
18-02-2015IDEA International Institute collaborates with the Dominican Agribusiness Council (JAD) in order to...
IDEA and the government of Gabon are committed to develop capacities of the public administration
16-02-2015The Prime Minister and Minister of Budget of Gabon received a delegation composed of the General...
Idea supports the implementation of Budgeting for Results in the State of Tabasco (Mexico)
16-02-2015Between the 10th and 11th of February, 2015, 20 civil servants of the Planning Coordination of the...
IDEA facilitated the Training Workshop in M&E for the Ministry of National Education in Romania
30-01-2015Currently Early School Leaving (ESL) is considered a priority for the Government of Romania due to...
Monitoring the Implementation of the Human Resources Capacity-Building Plan of the Public Administration in Cape Verde
23-02-2015This project aims to help public officials from different sectors for the implementation of a monitoring and execution of programs and projects, particularly for monitoring the Plan for Capacity Building of the administration in Cape Verde. The proyect was conducted in 2011 for the Secretary of State for Public Administration with funding from the United Nations.
Good Practices Analysis in Results Based Management: Canada
04-02-2015Dr. Frédéric Martin (Co-Founder and Co-President of the Institute for Development in Economics and Administration, IDEA International) presented the conference: "Good Practices Analysis in Results Based Management: Canada" The conference was held at the Permanent Seminar in Results-Based Management organized by the School of Public Administration of the Federal District (Mexico) This...
Designing a Staff Performance Management System for an Inter-Governmental Organization
20-01-2015The Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), which is a regional inter-governmental organization responsible for overseeing disaster risk management in its 18 Participating States, is implementing its Regional Comprehensive Disaster Management (CDM) Strategy 2014-2024
Evaluation as a Tool for Decision Making: A review of some main challenges
22-12-2014The results-based management devoted the evaluation of programs as a fundamental component of performance measurement and monitoring. Through its involvement into the decision-making chain, the evaluation contributes to the development of organizations and to the (re) definition of their general and specific orientations.


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Tested by the Good Housekeeping Research Institute
FuelBelt 24 oz. Bottle
Product Review
About GHRI Ratings
XGood Housekeeping Research Institute (GHRI) ratings are based on laboratory tests conducted by our scientists at the U.S.'s foremost consumer products evaluation laboratory, and incorporate consumer feedback. GHRI is situated on the 29th floor of the Hearst Tower in New York City and is staffed by chemists, engineers, nutritionists, textile specialists, culinary experts, and other scientists.
Using state-of-the-art equipment, GHRI experts test consumer products — from microwaves to mascaras — for their performance, safety, and, with the help of volunteer testers, ease of use.
Established in 1900, before there was a Federal Drug Administration or a Federal Trade Commission, GHRI has always been the most trusted source consumers can rely on to choose products that are safe and effective.
FuelBelt's 24 oz. Bottle combines a traditional, squeezable plastic body with a grooved side for easy gripping. Our testers found the mid-sized bottle easy to open, and the wide mouth made drinking during exercise a snap. But there's one caveat — water may leak or spill out if the bottle ends up upside down. The manufacturer promotes this bottle as BPA-free. fuelbelt.com.
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Chapter 3 : Surely You Must Be Joking
| Rating: Mature | Chapter Reviews: 10 |
Background: Font color:
She told James and Al. How did I know? They came to visit me, but they didn't say a word. Instead the pair of them just glared at me. Especially Al. He looked like someone had kicked his puppy. He looked like I had betrayed him in the worst way possible. It's not like sleeping with his best friend is a one way street. I couldn't have done it alone. I really don't understand what they have to be mad at me about. Al can't even pull the family bloodline betrayal thing because he's best friends with the bloke!
As for Malfoy, well, he decided he wasn't going to make an appearance. Whatever, I didn't want to see his stupid face anyways. Even if it was the prettiest face around. Listen to me, like a school girl. I missed the rest of the days classes. I should be studying. I should've been studying instead of hiding out in a corridor. What is wrong with me? I am SO not my mothers daughter right now. Completely unnaceptable.
As long as I keep bashing myself, I won't be tempted to think of him. I won't even give him a name. He's just him. That's all. I pulled out a book from my bookbag. Lily had been so nice as to bring it to me. She was the only family member currently talking to me. Hugo doesn't count, he is embarassed by me, can't be seen talking to his older sister. I mean, I'm sure it doesn't help that I baby him in front of his friends. I just can't help it. He's really awful at making sure he looks presentable.
I opened the book and just stared at it. The words weren't even registering. I re-read the same page at least ten times before sighing and shove the book away. I guess I can kind of understand why Al is mad at me. But why James? It's not like it was his best friend. Is it because I told Lily? That makes no sense, because I just told her. I really probably would've told him.. Eventually. Besides. It was at one of his stupid parties that it all started, anyways.
It started at LAST years first night back party. It seems I like to make a point of not sleeping in my own bed on the first day back at Hogwarts. Anywho. I've always planned my cousins' parties. Everyone knows I'm the best at it, and clearly, I love a good party. So despite James' no one under fifth year rule, I've always been invited. It was the first night of fifth year, I was so proud to be a prefect, but not quite ready to start my role as one. I just wanted one carefree night. That sure was what I got.
James had started on the firewhiskey long before the party started. In fact when I returned to the Room of Requirement after changing, he was well on his way towards being belligerent. That's besides the point. Of course Albus and Malfoy were already there, and while Albus doesn't drink much, Malfoy does and so he came over and offered me firewhiskey. Oh I really disliked that boy, but I took it anyways. It was a party, I supposed for one night I could get along with Albus' friend.
I didn't really see him again until further into the middle of the night. We walked into each other. He actually spilled his punch on me. Which lead to him, in a somewhat drunken stupor, to try to wipe it off of me. Well, being so close we naturally had started to snog. From there... Well, let's just say I took getting along with Albus' friend quite seriously. That was the beginning of the end.. With him.
After that he went back to ignoring me, only talking when we crossed paths during prefect duty. I was fine with this, more than happy to forget my unfortunate mistake. Until I walked into him between classes. The hallways were full of people, and I was getting ready to yell at him, just assuming it was some silly first year who had the misfortune to get in my way. Instead I looked up into his brilliantly bright eyes. I was mesmerized. I murmured something and ran away, I certainly wasn't going to stand there and stare into the eyes of the boy I shagged at James' party. That's pure foolishness.
Until later that night when we walked into eachother again. This time we didn't walk away from each other. The benefit to having parents and an uncle who had a map of the school, and a cousin who liked to take things, was that my cousins and I knew every passage hidden around the school. I used that to my advantage that night with Malfoy. After that night he was a little twat, only talking to me when convenient, and teasing me.
I swore at that moment I wouldn't fall under the spell of his eyes ever again. Until three weeks later, when I did it again. It was sort of a routine. Malfoy and I would slink away and shag after bumping into each other and then he'd tease me to annoyance. Then he'd do something and I'd be so shocked at how sweet it was, that we'd slink off to a passageway and then we're at six. He'd then ignore me until he dragged me off. The chemistry was undeniable. That's why I keep going back. Or so I keep telling myself. It's not really working. I know I'm in denial about the whole thing. But really, who wants to admit that they're in love with a bloke who doesn't feel the same way.
I mean, he certainly didn't treat me like one of his girls. Shagging them and then casting them aside when he was bored. He didn't even have that many, there were more girls fawning over him, trying to get attention than he would ever care to chose, that boy was extremely picky. I suppose that should make me happy, that he would choose me, and continue to keep coming back. But it actually made me feel sick to my stomach. He was just using me. It truly feels really awful.
I'm being too needy. That's what's wrong with me. Malfoy is in this for a good time, and here I am trying to make love and roses come out of his bloody ears. That's quite the picture actually, I'd really love to see that. I snapped out of my thoughts and reflections as I heard footsteps coming towards me. Assuming it was Madame Pomfrey I shoved my books under my pillow and hastily pretended to be asleep.
The only problem is, with my eyes closed like this. All I could think about was him. And the fact that I haven't been calling him, him. I'm really bad at this whole not thinking about people thing. Someone pulled back my curtains, I could hear them doing it. Whoever it was cleared their throat. But not to try to get my attention, no, it was almost as if they were nervous. Must be one of my cousins, I rarely ever get hurt, or show emotions like pain and sadness. It would've been really weird to have me ask to stay overnight instead of going to the rest of the days classes. And to see that I had been crying.
I was distracted from my thoughts on how strange my cousins must have felt when a warm hand moved gently across my head and brushed my hair out of my face. I inhaled sharply. I knew I was going to give away that I was awake if I couldn't control myself, but I knew that touch. Why was he here? He never cares. This is so unlike him. It's late, why is he not sleeping, or studying, or tormenting first years who think they can get around with a late night walk? Why isn't he anywhere but here, touching my face and being so sweet.
He left after a few minutes, tucking my blankets in around me. He closed my curtains again and I waited until I heard the footsteps dissapear completely. I opened my eyes and stared at the ceiling. Scorpius Malfoy had just come up to my bed, and sat next to me, touching my face and playing with my hair. I really must be dreaming. This was probably the strangest day of my life. I was never going to be able to sleep now. Not minutes after thinking this did I fall into a nice comfortable sleep, dreaming of roses and love pouring from Scorpius Malfoys ears.
I walked into the Great Hall and approached the Gryffindor table slowly. I wasn't really sure how this day was going to go. Albus was glaring at me from Slytherin table, and Scorpius wasn't even looking at me. I quickly averted my gaze from them, no need to trip again. I approached the end of the table where my family and friends were sitting. As I got closer I realized I didn't remember my friends visiting me. Had I been asleep? Or had they really not visited me. Then it dawned on me, Lily had probably told them too. They were all more than likely just as mad at me for not telling them as James was. I assumed I was right when Lily was the only one who greeted me when I sat. I looked around the table.
Jacqueline gave me a half smile. She had been my friend from the second my family and I strolled onto the train first year. She didn't even ask me my name, but instead sat right next to me and chattered the whole train ride. By the time we reached Hogwarts I knew her name, her family history, her goals and aspirations and all of her favorite things. The girl really liked to talk. Her hair was a honey blonde colour that almost seemed red in some lighting. She had a tan complexion, which of course I envy, I really did get cursed with the Weasley colouring. If I had to chose the person I was closest to at Hogwarts, it certainly would be Jacqueline. I knew she wouldn't stay mad at me for long, especially since she already knew that I've shagged Malfoy before.
Then there was Blair. We were instant friends as well. Of course, she was a bit bitter that I had been chosen for Prefect and not her, but let's face it. I'm the top of our class, and the daughter of Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley. Being a prefect runs in my blood. Blair was going to stay mad at me for a while. That I knew. The girl was brilliant at holding grudges, and there was nothing she hated more than when I kept secrets from her. I looked over at her now, and she flicked her black hair and looked the other way. I nearly snickered, but I knew that would only anger her more. I'd just win her over later. I honestly wasn't too worried about it.
My other roommates didn't really count. Don't get me wrong, they were lovely girls.. most of the time. I just didn't care for their opinions like I did that of my family. My brother was sitting at the other end of the table. He had started doing this after I tried to fix his hair in his first year. His friends still tease him about that, I think. And then there was James who was glaring at me over his food. Of course no matter how angry he was, his appetite wasn't going to be diminished.
I glared back at James as I put food onto my plate. Two could play this game. It wasn't fair to blame everything on him, but let's be realistic. I probably would never have slept with Malfoy in the first place if James didn't insist on having his stupid parties. I don't even understand why he's so mad at me. He already knew I slept with Malfoy the first night back. Sure he didn't know how I felt, or how often I had done it, but really, did that matter at all?
I nearly said as much. But I didn't want all of the people in the Great Hall to hear our argument. James didn't look much like a Weasley, but when he was angry, it was evident. There was that one time that James and I got into an argument that was so bad that we both had detention for a month because we nearly destroyed an entire hallway. This wouldn't be that bad, but I knew he was going to get loud. I didn't need the nosy students of Hogwarts to hear my business. And I'm positive that Malfoy doesn't want the entire school to know that he shagged me. After all, what would that do for his precious reputation. Even if everyone knew who I was before I even did.
By the end of breakfast, Jacqueline and I were talking again. We walked down the hallway arm in arm and she was already teasing me for tripping and falling.
"That really is so like you Rose. Can't even run away from people without falling on your face." She was laughing and I elbowed her in the ribs.
"Oh stuff it, Godard." She hated it when people used her last name. She prided herself on being feminine and girly, and to her, her surname was anything but.
She looked at me somberly before bursting out into laughter again. We were laughing as we strolled into charms and got ready for the days class. Unlike Blair and I, who I think got along because of our love for books and school, Jacqueline and I get on... Well. We're both crazy I suppose. Her temper rivals mine at times, and we both love partying to an extent that is probably unhealthy. We also value how we appear to the public, which is something I developed because I am her friend, I think.
Jacqueline and I continued talking until class started, and even then we were chattering away. I love charms, don't get me wrong, but it's so easy, I always have a hard time actually focusing in class. When class ended we strolled out, still talking. Well, it was more her talking and me listening. The girl really does love to talk. Loads.
When we finally seperated for the day, me to go to Transfiguration and she to Divination, I thought of Scorpius Malfoy for the first time since breakfast. A little disappointed in myself for letting him slip into my thoughts, I soon realized it was bound to happen, as he sits directly behind me in class. How unfortunate.
I slip into my seat next to Blair and peer over at her without really turning my head. I can see that she's trying not to look at me and say something. I can also tell that she seems more mad at the Bloke behind us than at me myself. That's comforting. She'll get over being mad at me within the week. As class started I tried my hardest to focus. I hadn't really paid much attention last class, and missed an entire afternoons worth of classes yesterday.
Yet as hard as I tried to focus on whatever we were being taught, I could feel his eyes staring at the back of my head. I stared at my book and took a moment to clear my head. I would not give him the satisfaction of distracting me once again. For the rest of class I paid attention with fervor, and even made it a point to stay after class, to talk with the Professor. Nobody would wait around, all eager to run off to eat lunch, or do whatever they may. I was talking to him about Animagi, an idea that truly intrigued me actually.
As I walked out of the classroom, I was happily oblivious to the person waiting against the wall outside the classroom for me. I continued walking up towards the library, intending to spend my free time finding something new to learn, that I didn't yet know. I heard him fall in step beside me before I saw him, and something inside of my dropped. My stomach felt hollow and I for whatever reason I wanted to cry. Rose Weasley doesn't cry. I certainly wasn't going to break that rule twice in less than twenty-four hours.
"What do you want?" I asked him, keeping what I said short, unemotional and as detatched as possible. I wasn't going to let him play his games with me this time.
"Rose." It was all he said. Just my name. It was almost sort of a whisper.
I stopped walking to give him a look. When he said nothing else I walked away quickly. Catching sight of my cousin James I ran after him, attempting to catch up to his brisk walk. Of course, being my graceful self, I tripped on the stairs and nearly fell into him.
"You know, Rose, you really should be more careful." James said to me, grabbing my arm to steady me. He wasn't exactly gentle, but the fact that he was even saying anything gave me hope. Perhaps he wouldn't be as stubborn as I thought.
"You know, James, it's no good to be thick-headed." I tried to take on as playful a tone as possible. If I could get into a banter with him, maybe this would be just a little easier.
"Well, I wouldn't have to be thick-headed if you would just tell me things. Like what you do with my dear brother's unfortunate friend. You're supposed to be the smart one Rosie." He looked at me this time, something I had been waiting for him to do since he saw me yesterday.
"James, I think even you can understand why I would say nothing about feelings for a cousins best friend." An eyebrow raised as I said this to him, the look on his face was pure surprise, as if he hadn't expected me to know that he fancies Jacqueline.
He looked as if he was going to walk away, and I nearly swore under my breath, that wasn't how I wanted the conversation to end, but instead he turned to face me fully. "I'll push you back down the stairs next time you keep something from me." He had that mischievous sparkle in his eye. James had always been easy to win back over. Even in arguments he never really had a chance against me. Albus however, had always been my greatest difficulty. I could never really win an argument with him. Nor he with I. We always came to standstills.
As James and I walked off talking about Quidditch, I remembered how I had left Scorpius in the hallway. Glancing back, I saw him standing back, far away from us. He was just staring at me, but his expression was one I hadn't seen before, and for some reason, I just couldn't read it.
As usual, I don't own anything you recognize, it's all JK Rowling, and also a clever little drop in from Airplanes in the title, so thanks to the writers of that!
So firstly, I want to thank you so much for reading this chapter! Not only does this mean that you read chapters one and two, but you liked it enough to read all of three! I struggled a lot with this chapter, to be honest. I wasn't sure how to write it, and I must admit, I kept confusing myself. I also wasn't sure how to go about the flash back. I didn't want it to be too long, and I didn't want it to be too drama filled either. I really wanted this chapter to just sort of move the story along. Introduce her friends, the rest of her family, or most of it, anyways. I'm conveniently leaving out Molly and Lucy, but who likes them anyway?
Please review! I love getting home from class or work and reading my reviews! It's the best feeling ever! Constructive criticism, what did you hate, love, like, dislike. But try to be kind! I think I let some "americanisms" slip in this chapter, but I tried to catch them all.
I also tried to make the chapter a little longer, I know my last two have been really short, so I'm slowly trying to get the amount in the chapter up!
Oh, and do you love the banner for the story or what? I'm in love with it! Thanks again to Elysian from TDA for that. It's literally perfect.
Thanks again!!
xoxo LL
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After a long day of driving or hiking, the natural hot springs at Roper Lake State Park are inviting and invigorating. Enjoy desert vegetation, an accessible fishing dock, and stunning views of Mount Graham. Roper Lake is stocked with Largemouth bass and Rainbow trout; it's a great place for kids to catch their first fish. Boats are limited to small electric motors, creating ideal conditions for a sail board or a canoe. Enjoy five miles of trails in the park and nearby Dankworth Pond. Take advantage of excellent birdwatching and glimpse Gamble's quail and heron. The park's camping cabins offer an easy, fun camping experience.
Roper Lake has 30 lake surface acres, a boat ramp, natural stone hot tub, a swimming beach, a day use island with picnic tables and grills, camping cabins, and campgrounds. Reservations are available for camping cabins and select campsites.
Visitor Center
The Roper Lake Visitor Center is open year round. It features a gift shop, local area information, Junior Ranger programs, and restrooms
Roper Lake State Park has modern, handicap accessible restrooms in the Visitor Center. There are also 2 restroom buildings in the campground.
Gift Shop
The Gift Shop, located in the Visitor Center, has books, clothing, children's toys, flora and fauna guides, fishing equipment and bait.
Group: Day Use Areas
Island Group Ramada: Large grassy area, near swimming beach, includes BBQ grills and water spigots, no electricity. Maximum Group Size: 30 people. Restrictions: NO fishing in swimming areas, no bottle containers, and no vehicles in day use area. Please leash dogs. Bring wagon or other device to haul picnic items. The walk to the Gazebo is about 150 yards. Hours: 6 am – 10 pm. Group Use Fees: $25 reservation fee in addition to per vehicle entrance fees.
East Mesa Group Ramada: Large Group Ramada with picnic tables, BBQ grills, water spigots, and electric outlets. Parking for 20 cars. Overlooks the lake. Group Use Fees: $25 reservation fee in addition to per vehicle entrance fees.
Group: Camping Sites
Gila Group Area Campground: 15 campsites surrounding a large group Ramada with BBQ grills, large fire ring, and picnic tables. No electric in this area. Water is available. There is a 10-vehicle minimum to reserve the group area. $25.00 reservation fee in addition to camping fees applied per vehicle per night.
Camping and RV Sites
Hacienda Campground: 20 sites with water & electric (20/30 amp). Each site includes fire rings and picnic tables. Hacienda campground has a bathroom with hot showers near entrance of campground. Most sites will accommodate a vehicle length of up to 45 feet and are a mix of pull through and back-in sites.
Cottonwood Campground: 25 sites with water & electric hookup sites (20/30/50 amp). Each site includes fire rings, picnic tables, and a small shade Ramada. Cottonwood campground has a bathroom with hot showers. Most sites will accommodate a vehicle length of up to 45 feet and are back-in only.
Gila Campground: The Gila campground offers 8 cabins, 5 non-electric sites and a 14 site group camp area. All non-electric sites include fire rings and picnic tables. Water is available at most sites.
Camping Cabins
Eight cabins line the lake at Roper Lake State Park offering a plethora of recreational opportunities. Cabins at Roper Lake are variably furnished with bunk beds with mattresses and/or full size beds with mattress. The cabins are outfitted with electricity and air-conditioning/heating. Open flame as produced by candles and stove burners are not permitted in the cabins. Picnic tables and charcoal grills make for a well-equipped outdoor setting. Restrooms and showers are within walking distance. Cabins are available year-round.
Dump Station
The park has a sewage dump station. The dump station is only available to registered campers.
Roper Lake has two shower buildings located in the campgrounds. These buildings are handicap accessible and have hot running water. There is no extra fee to use the showers for registered campers. They are open year-round.
Picnic Areas/Shelters
There are several picnic areas throughout the park near the fishing and swimming areas. Most of these areas include a picnic table, BBQ grill and a shade Ramada.
Hiking Trails
Five miles of trails in the park let you stretch your muscles and view the wildlife.
The Mariah Mesa Nature Trail is .75 miles and has interruptive signage along the way. The rest of the trails in the park are paths that connect the campgrounds and day-use areas together.
Roper Lake has Largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill, sunfish, catfish, and Rainbow trout. The park has a boat ramp and a handicap accessible fishing dock. Gas motors are not allowed to be operated on the lake. Fishing is not allowed in the swimming area.
A valid Arizona fishing license is required for anglers fourteen and older. Licensing information is available online at Arizona Game & Fish, or purchase a fishing license at a local dealer.
The park has a swimming area with a sandy beach. No lifeguard on duty. Swimming is at your own risk.
Boat Ramp
The park has a boat ramp and parking for boat trailers. Gas motors are not allowed to be operated on the lake. The park does not rent watercraft.
Non-Motorized Watercraft
Non-Motorized Watercraft may launch at the boat ramp.
Wildlife Viewing
Roper Lake is an excellent place for bird watching. Species commonly seen are Gamble's Quail, Redwing Blackbird, Yellow headed Blackbird, Great horned owl, Cardinal, flycatchers, Kingfisher, Mallard duck, Ruddy duck, Grebes, Egrets, Herons, and Mergansers.
Mammals commonly seen are bobcats, raccoons, rabbits, squirrels, and coyotes.
Ecology Overview
Roper Lake State Park is located 6 miles south of Safford in Graham County in southeast Arizona. In 1974, under a management agreement with Arizona Game and Fish Commission, Arizona State Parks opened Roper Lake State Park to facilitate outdoor activities including hiking, camping, swimming, and fishing. Dankworth Pond was purchased by State Parks in 1975 and is managed as fishing "lake". Roper Lake is comprised of a 30 surface acre lake and Dankworth Pond is comprised of a 15 surface acre lake. Dankworth Pond is located 3 miles south of Roper Lake. The Roper Lake-Dankworth Pond complex totals just over 338 acres including 20 acres of leased Bureau of Land Management property adjoining Dankworth Pond. Elevation at Roper Lake is 3,130 feet.
The Roper Lake-Dankworth Pond complex is bounded by a mix of agricultural land and Chihuahuan Desert Scrub. Characteristic or representative shrub species of the Chihuahuan Desert Scrub include Cresosotebush, Tarbush, Mesquite, Agave and Ocotillo. There is only one "endemic" plant species called lechugilla. The Chihuahuan Desert has a great diversity of wildlife species stemming from the riparian habitats, ephemeral streams, lakes, and sub-surface water aquifer.
Roper Lake's hot spring flows through a man made structure and then out of a pipe and into a wetland containing two large, cattail encircled pools before entering the lake approximately 800 feet downstream.
Roper Lake-Dankworth Pond complex is home to 5 species of amphibians, 1 turtle species, 9 lizard species, 10 species of snakes, 28 species of dragon and damselflies, and over 60 species of birds. Common mammal species such as collared peccary, desert cottontail, grey fox, and mule deer, raccoon, and coyote are present within park boundaries.
Native habitats, endangered species and plant community composition and diversity are impacted by the occurrence of less desirable native and non-native (also known as invasive) plant and animal species in Arizona. Problem non-native invasive species, due to their potential to invade an area and cause adverse ecological impacts found at Roper Lake–Dankworth Pond include Saltcedar, Russian Olive, Bermuda grass, Mosquitofish, and Green sunfish. Cattail is a problem native invasive species, due to its potential to spread rapidly closing open water, reducing or eliminating wildlife habitat, reducing plant and animal species diversity, and decreasing water level stabilization.
For a number of years Graham County had been working with its legislators to have a State Park in their county. In 1972, HB 2150 authorized the acquisition of Roper Lake as a State Park. The bill also included authorization to construct a lake and appropriated $150,000 for the construction of a 100 surface acre lake in Graham County to be operated as a State Park. Senator Ed Sawyer, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, introduced the amendment to the bill.
Park's staff worked closely with Graham County officials, the Arizona Game and Fish Department, and the Bureau of Land Management to identify and determine the feasibility of creating a water-based recreation facility in the vicinity of Safford.
On July 28, 1972, a Preliminary Engineering Feasibility Report was completed by the Game and Fish Department and submitted to the Park's Board. The findings and conclusions on the sites examined were not promising. The next alternative examined in cooperation with the Game and Fish Department was the potential for a large lake on the Dankworth property two miles south of Roper Lake. The analysis of this site showed that a large lake was not feasible. After the investigation of other sites, the construction of a 100 surface acre lake was determined not to be feasible from an economic or engineering standpoint.
The best alternative appeared to be the management of Roper Lake by State Parks and perhaps the future acquisition of the Dankworth site. Roper Lake is located approximately 6 miles south of Safford and consists of a 32-acre lake. The main part of the Park, located around Roper Lake, was developed in the early 1960's as a private recreation area. The lake and the property were sold to the Arizona Game and Fish Commission in 1969. The other unit, Dankworth Pond, has a 15-acre surface lake located about 3 miles south of the main Park. It was operated as a private catfish fishing lake before acquisition by State Parks in 1975.
State Parks began negotiations with the Game and Fish Department to secure an acceptable agreement wherein State Parks would operate and manage Roper Lake. These negotiations resulted in a Management Agreement approved by both the Parks Board and the Game and Fish Commission. On December 31, 1974, Roper Lake State Park became official. This Park opened to the public in March 1975 with Jeff Dexter as Park Manager. The park's two units totalled 338 acres.
Roper Lake SP, 101 E. Roper Lake Road, Safford, AZ 85546
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Dinosaur Fossil With Fleshy Rooster's Comb Is First of Its Kind
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Soft tissues are rarely preserved in fossils, but a newfound dinosaur fossil features a fleshy crest, much like that of a rooster, atop its head.
Hubble Spots Water Plumes on Europa
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Many Earth-Like Planets Have Climates Too Hot for Life
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Architect's Gorgeous Portraits Show Internet's "Connectedness"
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Predator Insurance: When Livestock Becomes Prey, Conservationists Pay
December 11, 2013
Compensation programs for endangered animals are catching speed.
Climate Change Affects Ultrasonic Bat Signals For Better and Worse
December 10, 2013
A shifting climate will affect how bats around the world detect their prey using sound.
New Record for Coldest Place on Earth, in Antarctica
December 10, 2013
The new lowest temperature on Earth breaks a record set 30 years ago in Antarctica.
Three Ways U.S.-China Conflict Is Helping on Climate Change
December 10, 2013
Tension between China and the United States often has given way to progress on climate change. The world's top two carbon polluters will discuss cooperation as top U.S. environmental official travels to Beijing this week.
Scientist Solves Mystery of Green Lightning, Says It's Surprisingly Common
December 10, 2013
Green lightning may strike in most thunderstorms, but the phenomenon is visible only during volcanic eruptions, suggests one scientist.
iPads Improve Classroom Learning, Study Finds
December 10, 2013
The power of iPads and other tablets can help students learn concepts of enormous scale, like the size of the solar system, that traditional methods struggle to teach.
Opinion: South Africa Has Failed to Live Up to Nelson Mandela's Legacy
December 10, 2013
Years after Mandela left office, the gap between rich and poor is worse than during apartheid, and education standards have collapsed.
Pictures: Europe's Biggest Dark Sky Park
December 9, 2013
Europe's largest "dark sky" park will allow tourists to admire the stars from the border of Scotland.
Google Doodle Honors Computer Programmer Grace Hopper
December 9, 2013
Today's Google Doodle honors computer programmer Grace Hopper, a naval officer and one of the first computer programmers on the Navy's Mark I computer.
Mars Lake Could Have Supported Life Billions of Years Ago
December 9, 2013
The Mars rover Curiosity team describes a once-watery landscape.
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First Person: Riding Along on Nelson Mandela's First U.S. Tour
December 7, 2013
A South African journalist remembers life on the Mandela plane—and what it taught him about America.
Have We Found the Lost Colony of Roanoke Island?
December 8, 2013
A map with a secret, a hidden fort, and remote sensing join forces to offer clues to the mystery of the lost colonists of Roanoke Island.
Say What? Your Voice Tells People How Tall You Are
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Cape Wind Deadline: Headwinds for Offshore Turbines
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Offshore wind farms could produce abundant clean energy close to coastal population centers. To critics, however, the towering turbines are unsightly and expensive.
New York's Metro-North Train Crash Calls Attention to the Impact of Fatigue on Safety
December 4, 2013
Charles Czeisler, a professor of sleep medicine at Harvard, talks about the role that sleep deprivation plays in transportation accidents—and what should be done to address the issue.
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Fatal Skydiving Collision Highlights Risks of Large Group Jumps
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Discovery of Oldest DNA Scrambles Human Origins Picture
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Giant World War II Sub Discovery Shines Light on 4 Historic Submarines Still Missing
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Maui Death Raises Questions About Spike in Hawaiian Shark Attacks
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Mississauga 04/11: Addressing the Root Cause of Depression, Anxiety, Brain Fog and other Mental Health Issues
- Health & Wellness
- Huron Park Community Centre, Mississauga Ontario
Thyroid Boot Camp West Chester - April 5th, 2014The Living Proof InstituteSaturday, 5 April 2014 from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM (EDT) |
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Sometimes, I'll phrase my commentary as questions: "Do you think that's a good idea?" or "What do you think of that?"
What's great is that the older he gets, the more often he'll turn to me and offer the kinds of commentary that I model for him. For example, we recently watched "Beauty and the Beast" together for the first time; he'd been asking about it for a while. "The Beast shouldn't yell like that," he told me. "It's naughty." Then, later, when Belle appeared in her gold dress for the ballroom scene: "Hey, where did her blue dress go that I like??" (blue is his favorite color.) Whatever his comments are, I like to hear them – and I make sure to give him an answer so he knows I'm listening.
Even though my son is only four, I've had some conversations with him about topics or behaviors that are shown across more than one program and movie. Such conversations need to take place while the television is off, so I've found it important to pay attention to his interests and his reactions while we're viewing things together, to gauge what he might like to talk about later.
For example, my son has been interested in the concept of "thieves" since he was about two-and-a-half years old. One day, our family were enjoying a picnic on a park bench in Salem, Mass., when a sneaky seagull stole his sandwich! It just crept up behind us and grabbed it through the slats in the bench. To say we were caught off guard is an understatement.
Our little guy was really upset about losing his sandwich this way, so we encouraged him to shoo the nearby seagulls away by shouting, "Go away, thieves!" He seemed a bit empowered by his ability to fight back.
Now, anytime we are at the beach or another location where seagulls approach, he is vigilant about shooing them away, saying, "You can't have our food, thieves!" He's even noticed seagulls creeping up on other families and seems to have made it his personal mission to try to scare encroaching seagulls away. He doesn't like thieves.


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Officers' Quarters: Neros and zeros
I can't take credit for the column name -- it was a turn of phrase used by the writer of this week's reader e-mail. It's a fitting expression, as you'll see. He wonders just how to get people to care again when a guild is faltering.
Thank you for this column, hopefully you and the comment crowd can help me. Over the last few days I've had to watch my beloved guild start to unravel. Our problem is, apart from a few select officers and members, we have too many Neros, content to fiddle as our guild burns, and Zeros, members who don't really contribute anything but a raid spot. Nobody seems to care enough to even sign up for our website. We have had trouble with our loot system, suicide kings, and raid scheduling, and it has caused some key members to seek other guilding opportunities.
My questions boil down to frustration at what seems to be a a guild that is nothing more than the sum of its parts. Our GM has floated the idea of taking the core and uprooting for greener pastures, but I am not alone in O chat when I express my desire to see the guild survive. I have a few questions to that end. How successful would a bad-ectomy be, that is a surgical removal of the members who don't seem to have the same goals in mind as the officers, or barring that, what are some ways to collect feedback from the members on the state of the guild? Or the biggest question of all, How do I get guild members to care as much about the guild's progression as they do for that of their characters?
Spencer, it's interesting that you use the word "bad-ectomy." It tells me that you believe your guild has a disease that requires a cure -- a disease caused by bad players. You're saying that the lack of caring, the gquits, and other ailments are all symptoms of this disease. But if the bad players are the disease, the officers are the immune system. That means you're responsible for them. You're responsible for inviting them into the guild. You're responsible for letting them ruin the experience for other players. You're responsible for allowing them to raid without pushing them to improve.
Sure, you could remove them like a cancer. However, let's walk down that road a bit. How would you announce such a decision? How would you carry it out? Face to face by telling them, "You suck, please leave"? Gkicks in the middle of the night? Imagine the drama and upheaval either way.
The officers are going to look like jerks no matter how you decide to do this. Not everyone you kick is going to be an outcast, either. You might find that some of your better players stand behind their less-skilled friends and quit, too. Guilds can be a tangled web of relationships. Plucking some threads may unravel everything.
After this "surgery," some of your remaining members may applaud you, but some may wonder if they're next. You've set a precedent you can't take back: perform well in raids or get booted. That's about as hardcore as you can get. Are you willing to lead a guild like that? You might have more successful raids after such an action, but will people have more fun -- or will they worry so much about being the person who causes a wipe that they're too stressed to enjoy themselves? It's a solution with far-reaching consequences.
The other solution your officers are considering is to disband or abandon the guild and start fresh. This decision might be a solution to your problems. Again, it will be a drama-fest for a while, but it could be worth it. But first you should ask yourselves how sure you are about your core players. There seems to be some disagreement about this decision. Are you certain everyone you need in the new guild will follow? It's a risky way to go. You'll certainly alienate everyone you left behind. In fact, you'll probably have to switch servers if you do this or else the bad blood will never really go away.
In my opinion, the best way to save your guild is to find out which members actually care and then work with them to make the guild well again. Talk to these members to find out what they like and don't like about the guild. Ask for suggestions on how to improve it. Talk to your ex-members, too. Try to get an honest reason for why they quit.
Part of getting your members to care is showing them that the officers care. Make a post on your website asking what your members would like to change about the guild. If a member posts, no matter how negative they might be, they're proving they care just by posting, so take that into consideration.
You mentioned that you've had trouble getting people to sign up for the website. The best cure for that is giving them a chance to vent to the officers or to share their opinions about the guild. Announce this post requesting feedback and I can practically guarantee you'll see more people on the site.
After all of your research, if you find out that you need to revamp your loot system or your raiding policies, then do it. If something else turns out to be the issue, fix it. If you need suggestions or manpower, ask the members who identified these problems to help you fix them.
If it all comes back, as you theorize, to your bad players, then you could reconsider the above situations. Or you can offer incentives for those players to improve and the means to do so. Bad players may seem like a disease, but believe it or not they can be a resource. With a little bit of help and guidance, you might be surprised at how quickly they can learn to step up their game. I've seen it happen over and over again.
Most bad players aren't inherently, irrevocably bad. Most are bad because they don't know that what they're doing is subpar. They haven't taken the time to research the best practices for their spec. They may not even know that they can! Also, no one has sat them down and coached them.
As I said above, you are responsible for these bad players in one way or another. Before you take the drastic step of kicking them all out, give them a chance to learn. Now, a bad player can only improve if they want to improve. You can't force someone to learn. With Ulduar releasing soon, it's the perfect time to ask them to try. Make it clear that players who underperform and who haven't shown any effort to do better at their role won't see the inside of Ulduar.
Use class leaders or officers as coaches. Point out class-specific resources on the Web, like this very site. Use tools like Recount or WoW Web Stats to evaluate players in your current runs. Keep track of who is improving and praise them.
A member who refuses to try isn't worth your time. You don't have to kick them. Just don't take them to raids and make it very clear why. The reason shouldn't be that they aren't very good. The reason should be that they're not trying their hardest to play well. It's a world of difference. Even these players are helpful to your cause -- they serve as an example to others about what happens when you don't care.
If you have to look outside the guild to fill slots with hard-working raiders, then do it. More importantly, tell your members that you'll do it. When Ulduar goes live, PUG players will be coming out of the woodwork for a shot at the juicy loot inside. You'll have your pick of the litter. If you have to resort to PUGs, you might even recruit a few good players along the way.
In my opinion, it's much easier to care about a guild where everyone who raids is trying their hardest, regardless of their skill level.
Filed under: Officers' Quarters (Guild Leadership)


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Daniel Sayles is part of a family, a family of criminals. After one last heist, the family agrees to no more... : Mystery And Crime » Read
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Austria l France l Switzerland l Italy l Germany
Skiing in Europe should be on every skier's list. The Alps of Austria, Switzerland, France and Germany are massive, with dramatic jagged peaks like the Matterhorn in Zermatt and Mont Blanc at Chamonix, The Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau. The European Alps are like the mountains of New England skiing with the Rocky Mountains on top - from high elevation above tree-line skiing all the way to ski villages miles below. The scenery is extraordinary, and the après ski is legendary - after all - the Europeans invited it! Many European ski resorts are interconnected by modern lifts and offer a regional ski pass, like in the US at Big Sky Moonlight or Snowbird - Alta in Utah, but on a much grander scale. If you are considering, or better yet - planning, a ski trip to the Alps, see our travel tips for skiing in Europe and our Tips for packing and skiing in the Alps. Switzerland's Zermatt, Verbier and Les 4 Vallees, Saas Fee, St Moritz, Aletsch Arena, Adelboden, Gstaad, Engelberg and Grindelwald in the Jungfrau all offer immense ski terrain with lively ski villages at the base and two to five star Swiss hotels. Austria, skiing the Arlberg, Vorarlberg and Otztal resorts of St Anton, Soelden, Lech Zurs, and Obergurgl Hochgurgl provides you unbelievable scenery, high elevation assuring great snow for a long season, traditional on mountain dining in centuries old chalets, with modern Doppelmayr ski lifts and posh lodging for a luxury ski vacation in the Alps. France's Val D'Isère Tignes and Les Trois Vallées are huge, more skiing than you can do in a week. Austria's Arlberg region offers 94 lifts and 211 miles of skiing on groomed trails and plus thousands of acres of open bowl off-piste skiing from St Anton to Stuben, St Chrisoph, to Lech and Zurs and Warth Schroken. Solden and Obergurgl offer high alpine skiing, Solden is where the US Ski Team trains. Despite the huge mountains and tons of terrain, skiing in Europe is as much about the lifestyle of skiing as it is the actual sport of sliding downhill. Mountaintop lunches serving gourmet cuisine and Gluhwein or Grappa are as important as the fresh snow and first tracks. Après ski in Europe includes dancing, live music, drinks with a view of the slopes, followed by relaxing spa and sauna treatments, then elegant dining often with a view of the slopes. European ski resorts have lodging that ranges from quaint chalets to condominiums, four and five star ski hotels to small inns and bed and breakfasts. Our editors travel to Europe to review some of the best ski resorts in Austria, Italy, France, Switzerland and Germany to help you plan your luxury ski trip to the Alps. In recent winters, our editors visited Zermatt, Verbier, Saas Fee, Aletsch Arena, Adelboden, Engelberg, Haslital, Gstaad and The Jungfrau. so see our complete reviews and photos of these luxury Swiss ski resorts. We also recently skied Austria and the famed ski resorts of St Anton, Soelden, Lech Zurs, and Obergurgl Hochgurgl. Future ski plans include reviews of more of The Alps, including Italy, France and Germany ski resorts.
Swiss Ski Resort Reviews: Aletsch Arena l Adelboden Lenk l Gstaad l Jungfrau l Saas Fee l Verbier l Zermatt Matterhorn Switzerland Photo Galleries: Aletsch Arena l Adelboden Lenk l Engstligenalp l Verbier l Zermatt l Saas Fee
Austria Ski Reviews of Lech - Zurs l Solden l Obergurgl - Hochgurgl l Ski Austria Austria Ski Albums of St Anton l Lech - Zurs l Solden l Obergurgl - Hochgurgl


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Yo Gotti - CPR
CPR Yo Gotti
Editor Rating: HOTTTTT
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Gotti vents about industry people and fake rappers over DJ Drama's new single "My Moment" instrumental. Takes shot at Plies?
Listen to CPR, the new track by Yo Gotti, which was dropped on Monday, October 22nd, 2012. Yo Gotti's odds keep getting better with each new leak, and CPR will undoubtedly improve his chances of winning. It's a worthy addition to a respectable catalogue that has seen a lot of growth since Yo Gotti debuted in this game. We're looking forward to the follow-up.
Check out Yo Gotti on Have Mercy (Gucci Know Not What He Do). If you dig this, visit Yo Gotti's profile for the latest info, news, songs, and mixtapes.
Can you dig it?


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@turquoise-- I'm sure that there are exceptions, but for the most part, both skills and qualifications are necessary to be hired. Employers are looking for people with aptitude as well as experience in their respective fields.
There may be types of jobs that require more skill than qualification or more qualification than skill. But in general, it's good to have both.


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Look, I hated Miley Cyrus' VMA performance just as much as everyone else did. Therefore I hate that I feel compelled to defend her over it, because everyone and their brother wants to hop on the "We Hate Miley" blame train this week. First, Robin Thicke threw her under the bus by basically saying the onus for the disaster performance lies squarely on her shoulders. You know, the classic guy cop-out. Now, one of her backup dancers for the performance has hopped on the bandwagon and publicly ranted about her experience during the VMAs.
Hollis Jane, a self-described little person, was dressed as one of Miley's backup bears during and performed during the show. She took to her own personal blog to share her anger and humiliation over the performance:
"I had never been in a performance where I was purely meant to be gawked or laughed at. I will never forget that performance because it is what forced me to draw my personal line in the sand. For the first time I felt truly ashamed of being a little person. We were being used simply because we were little. It felt like society still saw us as a joke, despite the fact there is literally nothing different about me other than the fact I am small."
I'm with you, Hollis. It was a shitty performance overall, and I don't know anyone who didn't feel uncomfortable watching it. But here's the thing – you can't really complain about it when you could have walked away at any point in time after feeling the shame you described. You had rehearsals leading up to the performance, didn't you? No one held a gun to your head and made you perform, did they? And why rant now, weeks after the fact? Sounds a little suspish to me. Not to mention kind of exploitative. To me, it sounds as if Hollis is using the "little person" thing to garner a bit of sympathy and attention. Which I doubt other little people would appreciate.
Yes, Miley is more than a little annoying and insensitive at times. But let's give it a rest, folks. The VMAs are over, and Miley wasn't the only person responsible for Miley's performance. Like my parents always said: "When you've got one finger pointed at someone, you've got four more pointing back at you."
(Photo: Tumblr)


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