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Would you like to try something new and exciting ? Why not get Hooked on Fencing Today !
On January 10th and 13th we are starting our youth and adult beginner classes. The youth class will be held every Saturday from 9am to 10am for 12 weeks. The adult class will be on Tuesday from 6pm to 7:30pm and will run for 10 weeks. The classes are limited to 12 students, reserve your spot today!
Want to learn to fence right now? Individual private lessons are included for no additional fees in the monthly membership fee. To find out more and see what fencing is about, stop by anytime we are open.
Only THE Best Fencing Club ever! Come by and say hi!
Eric TawneyHoF Member Since 2010
I remember the days when this place started out at St. Clarence in north Olmsted. The club has come a long since those days. Check the place out
Paul KlingerFacebook Review


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subset: commoncrawl


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Syrian refugee children forced to beg on Lebanon streets
25 April 2014 Last updated at 22:48 BST
For the more than two and a half million people who have fled Syria since the start of the civil war, both security and poverty have become growing problems.
One of the largest refugee populations is in neighbouring Lebanon.
There, desperate families are being forced to send their children into the streets to beg.
Paul Wood reports.


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Roasted Sweet Potatoes and Maple Sausage Gravy Recipe
Description:Turkey may be king at the Thanksgiving table, but dinner wouldn't be complete without delicious sides. Please your guests and your palate with this tasty new take on traditional sweet potatoes. (4:40)
Source: Behind The Burner
Tags: Roasted Sweet Potatoes and Maple Sausage Gravy Rec , Behind the Burner , Divya Gugnani , Maple Sausage Gravy Recipe


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The new law says an employer cannot force you to tell them your social media passwords or login to let them see what you're doing. That seems obvious to most people. But what an employer also cannot do anymore is tell an employee or applicant, I need you to 'friend' me on Facebook, or I need you to friend me on Instagram, or follow me on Twitter. That way I can see what you're doing," said Chris McCarty, a Knoxville attorney who specializes in employment law.
Tennessee now joins a list of dozens of states that have passed an Employee Online Privacy Act. McCarty says it protects people who make their online settings private, not the information someone shares with the entire world wide web.
"The default setting for most social media accounts is 'public' so anyone can see it. Anything that is public is still fair game for an employer to see what its workers or an applicant is doing. I tell people to be smart, because everything you do online that is public, it's just like going in the street and doing it," said McCarty.
The new law says employers cannot force an employee or job applicant to provide access to private information.
"You have to take an active role as the user and make everything friend-only and set your privacy settings. If you don't do that, this law doesn't protect you at all," said McCarty.


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Mexico City, May 22 (EFE).- Chili peppers and sauces will take center stage at a festival being held this week in Mexico City, where the spicy plant, one of the pillars of Mexican cuisine, will be honored, organizers said.
The 1st Chilis, Sauces and Mortars Festival, which will be held Friday to Sunday, is being organized by the Enchilada Fair, the National Anthropology and History Institute, or INAH, said.
Mexico exports 560,000 tons of chili peppers annually, both fresh and dry peppers, making it the world's No. 2 producer of the spicy products.
Chili peppers are used in nearly all Mexican dishes, making them an essential part of the local cuisine.
There are about 50 varieties of chilis, but the best known in Mexico are the jalapeño and the serrano.
Some other varieties, like the guajillo, pasilla, chilpaya and "mira pa arriba" (look up), are not well known outside Mexico.


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(19) Louisville 59
(24-9, 10-6 Big East)
(1) Connecticut 65
(32-1, 15-1 Big East)
7:00 PM ET, March 11, 2008
HARTFORD, Conn. -- It had been six years since Connecticut won both the Big East regular-season and tournament titles. That season the Huskies went on to win the national championship.
The Huskies are hoping their latest Big East sweep will be a springboard to similar NCAA tournament success.Charde Houston had 13 points and 11 rebounds and top-ranked Connecticut held off Louisville (No. 22 ESPN/USA Today, No. 23 AP) 65-59 to win the Big East tournament championship Tuesday night.It was Connecticut's 14th Big East tournament title, including three of the last four. The Huskies have won the regular-season and tournament championships 12 times in the same season -- last in 2001-02. In 1995 and 2000, the Huskies also won both Big East crowns and the national championship."It's a good feeling to know these particular players were able to do something that hasn't been done in a long time," Connecticut coach Geno Auriemma said. "Winning six games in the NCAA tournament is part talent, part experience and getting a couple of breaks. We've put ourselves in a position to do that."Renee Montgomery led UConn (32-1) with 20 points, including going 11-for-11 from the foul line down the stretch."Seeing how I was 4-for-19 from the floor at least I made some free throws," Montgomery said.Maya Moore added 13 points for UConn, which most certainly will be a top seed when the NCAA field of 64 is announced Monday.It was seventh-seeded Louisville's first trip to the championship game. The Cardinals (24-9), who joined the Big East three seasons ago, were knocked out in the semifinals last year by the Huskies. Louisville was trying to become only the second team in conference history to win four games in four days. Boston College did it in 2004 as a five seed.Louisville had won 10 of its last 11 games, including Sunday's 57-56 upset of No. 7 Rutgers and Monday's 67-60 win over West Virginia (No. 18 ESPN/USA Today, No. 16 AP), solidifying its NCAA tournament hopes. It marked the first time in school history the Cardinals have beaten ranked opponents in back-to-back games. They beat St. John's in the opening round.Angel McCoughtry led Louisville with 22 points and 11 rebounds. Brandie Radde added 12 points and Candyce Bingham had 11 points and 14 rebounds as the Cardinals outrebounded the Huskies 50-42."It definitely helped get our offense going," McCoughtry said of the rebounding advantage.Houston was named the tournament's most outstanding performer and was mobbed on the court by her joyous teammates after the game when it was announced."I'm overjoyed but if it wasn't for my teammates I wouldn't have gotten this far," Houston said.Leading by 15 at the half, UConn had its chances early in the second half to put the game away, but the Huskies couldn't convert on the offensive end, missing easy shots.Trailing 42-26 early in the second half, Louisville went on a 21-6 run over the next nine minutes to come within 48-47 on Patrika Barlow's 3-pointer from the corner. Radde hit two 3-pointers during the spurt."Everyone on this team hit big shots for us," Louisville coach Jeff Walz said. "We have a group of players who will fight. It was like a heavyweight fight that came down to the last four minutes."UConn responded scoring the next five points on Houston's layup and Montgomery's three free throws to restore the lead to 53-47 with 3:54 left. Louisville wasn't done as Bingham scored the next four points to cut the deficit to two with 2:22 left.The Cardinals would get no closer as UConn hit 13-of-15 free throws down the stretch to seal the win."Coach puts us in those situations in practice," Houston said. "When the score was close we weren't rattled."Walz seemed calm before the game hanging out with the media and joking around. That quickly changed for the rookie coach.UConn went on an early 18-5 run to go up by 13 in the first half. Swanier scored seven points during the spurt, including a nifty floater in the lane. The Cardinals cut it to 10 on Bingham's 3-pointer with 2:48 left, but UConn scored the last five points of the half to take a 34-19.McCoughtry was the only offense for Louisville in the first half. She scored all the Cardinals' points during UConn's run and had nine points and six rebounds at the intermission.UConn, which beat DePaul and Pittsburgh to advance to the championship game, has won five of the six meetings with Louisville. The Huskies beat the Cardinals 92-71 on Jan. 12 in front of 19,123 -- the largest crowd to watch a Big East game.Copyright by STATS LLC and The Associated Press
Team Stat Comparison
Points | 59 | 65 |
FG Made-Attempted | 22-71 (.310) | 22-59 (.373) |
3P Made-Attempted | 6-16 (.375) | 3-15 (.200) |
FT Made-Attempted | 9-12 (.750) | 18-24 (.750) |
Fouls (Tech/Flagrant) | 23 (0/0) | 13 (0/0) |
Largest Lead | 3 | 16 |
Game Leaders
Points | ||
Rebounds | ||
Assists |
2007-08 Season
Next 5 Games
03/23 M-OH 2:42pm 03/25 KSU 7:17pm 03/29 @UNC 12:00pm 11/15 @TNTC 6:30pm 11/17 PEAY 7:00pm |
03/23 COR 7:22pm 03/25 TEX 9:38pm 03/30 ODU 12:00pm 04/01 RUTG 9:00pm 04/06 STAN 7:00pm |
Complete Schedule: Louisville | Connecticut |


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Laura Escudé and others from her Electronic Creatives collective will be offering Ableton Live Master Classes in Los Angeles (March 20-21) or New Orleans (April 3-4). I've included the posters with details below. Visit http://www.electroniccreatives.com/ for further details.
Electronic Creatives also have their own YouTube channel offering nice examples of what to expect in these master classes. I've included a video below and if you'd like see more visit this page to see a list of all videos - http://www.electroniccreatives.com/videos/.
Mark Mosher
Electronic Music Artist, Composer, Sound Designer
Never Miss a Post:. Subscribe to this blog via RSS or Email or on Feedly.
Support The Effort: If you I have inspired you or saved you time consider a donation or music buy.
About/Contact: www.MarkMosherMusic.com


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PREP FOOTBALL: Eagles fall in overtime
Published 09/28/2012, Grand Forks Herald
Tanner Pletschett kicked a 20-yard field goal in overtime to lift Clearbrook-Gonvick to a 10-7 win against East Grand Forks Sacred Heart on Friday night.
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Cruise Control
Question type: Maintenance & Repair
Just had the transmission replaced and while driving with cruise control engaged, the car shook and began slowing. Pulled over for a few minutes check dash for any clues and started back up. Noticed cruise light was not lite so pushed button again to reset it but did not lite or engage. Is there some corralation between these two?
3 Answers
tenspeed answered 2 years ago
It sounds like your cruise control shut off and that caused the shake and slow down as the throttle shut. Check the switch on the brake pedal. That's a common cause of cruise failure.
Chris answered 2 years ago
could also be the crusie control fuse and the new transmission could be installed incorrectly there could be a short circuit which kills the fuse
Subaru_Jim answered 7 months ago
I answered in more detail in another thread - but basically, the Subarus seem to be very sensitive to low oil pressure, and a dirty oil filter might be the only problem. Sounds incredible, but I had exactly your symptoms, tried all sorts of thing, then changed the oil filter. Haven't had a problem since. Easy to buy a new one and find out!.
Your Answer
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Demon's Souls: A Boss Retrospective and Fond Farewell - Destructoid
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I'm a 20 year old lazybones who lives at the beach. I like history, cats, learning how to do internet stuff, and games. I can go on and on, and I like to talk about whatever, so don't hesitate to instigate a conversation. Because I probably won't. I'm lazy, remember?
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Demon's Souls: A Boss Retrospective and Fond Farewell
Old Lion
on 07.19.2013
At first my relationship with Demon's Souls was all passion, late night rendezvous and whiling away the hours till morning together. It was new and exciting, somewhat difficult, yes, but wonderful for all that. We went far together, but eventually we had a falling out.
I think we should see other people.
In truth I had not been faithful. I had played other games. I had even begun to spend time with Demon's Soul's younger, more mysterious cousin, Dark Souls. I am not the only one to have felt that allure.
Dark Souls proved even more difficult in truth, and eventually, after a great deal of stress, we took a break. Dark Souls had stolen my heart, as it had done to so many others. It still has it in truth, but at the time I was tired, and Demon's Souls had looked so lonely... We would have to start over from the beginning, I knew, but I felt it was worth it. So we began again, and what a ride it was. We went as far as we could go.
All the way... to the credits.
We both knew though, that when we were done, it was unlikely we would see each other anymore. Dark Souls and I had made up, and we were going further and further, and my cheating heart has been keeping an eye on Dark Soul's younger sibling.
Oh man, does Dark Souls II look so very, very good.
Temptation with anticipation.
No matter what game I play however, no matter how far I move on, Demon's Souls will always have a special place in my heart.
I wanted to do something for it, or rather, about it.
I thought for awhile, and decided it would be best to highlight the titular demons and the worlds they inhabit... so here we are.
This is for you Demon's Souls.
I remember when we first met... I was so nervous. Ah, good times.
I discussed the end of my love affair with Demon's Souls
I also made mention of poetry.
Yes. There is poetry in this blog.
I thought it only fitting, because I am so romantic.
By the way,
Here there be spoilers.
Prepare thyself.
The Nexus
A great demon stirs below the Nexus,
Oh, black-robed maiden, how you vex us,
Those who've kept their souls are sane,
But bound to here, their souls remain.
The Nexus isn't, technically speaking, one of the worlds. Barring a few exceptions, there are no enemies to fight, and there are no demons in need of slaying.
However, it is an important place within the game, so I'm going to speak about it a bit.
I love the feeling that the Nexus gives off, when you really think about it. It's so eerily symmetrical. So...off. Strange symbols glow along the ground and walls at odd angles. A massive statue hangs impossibly from the ceiling. Despite all that, it is magnificently calm, and (barring those earlier exceptions) the only truly safe place in the game. Music plays here, calming music (until you slay three arch-demons, then it abruptly changes), when music plays no where else (pardoning boss battles that is). People rest here.
can rest here. A smith will repair your weapons and armor, you can store your excess items, there are things to buy, magic and miracles to learn.
Most critically of all, the Maiden in Black will take your souls in exchange for leveling up.
Amidst all the difficulty, danger, and stress the various worlds represent, the Nexus is a place of respite, of reprieve.
Boletarian Palace
Madmen man the battlements,
Slave soldiers of him on high,
Fat officials laugh and kill,
All those who would deeper pry.
Dragons prowl the ramparts too,
Hunting for prey to fry.
The Boletarian Palace is the best castle I've ever seen in a game.
The developers put in so many little things to give off a sense of verisimilitude.
The main path, initially blocked, is very wide, perfect for wagons and large crowds of people traveling to the castle, and there are even dead horses and abandoned carriages left all along the road. If you look below the Lord's Path (i.e. "the red dragon will burn you alive, so you need to run like hell" path) you can see an entire little city nestled in a valley in the shadow of the palace. The outer ramparts are covered in catapults, and you can find storerooms stacked full of explosive barrels and rocks ready to be loaded up and tossed.
There are training grounds with straw practice dummies, and rooms with tables and beds for the soldiers. Further on, in the castle town where the knights lived, you can find even nicer accommodations. Long outdoor tables laden with food, and shelves stacked full with supplies. At the end, you find the King's throne room.
Directly below a great cleft in the mountain looming ominously over the castle, the king oversees the entirety of the palace, from the outer ramparts to the castle town.
His seat of power simply oozes authority.
All throughout however, are seen signs of conflict. Dead bodies lay strewn about, barricades are erected at odd intervals, shot full of arrows, and when you arrive, all the castle's gates have been shut tight. It's delightfully atmospheric.
The Demons
A blob beneath a legion cowers,
A giant knight bears a towering shield,
A silver knight swings a piercing sword,
And an Arch-Demon wears the face of a lord.
I'd just like to say that I love that most of the boss demons have a sort of origin story to them, which may not be obvious, but by gathering bits of lore from items and talking with various characters, you can piece it together. In the Boletarian Palace, all the bosses are demonic forms of former palace residents. Longbow Oolan, who commanded fearsome legions, Alfred, the knight of the Tower, whose shield was impenetrable, Metas, the knight of the Lance, who was famed for his piercing sword, and finally, a demon made in the form of King Allant himself.
Also, I talk about the bosses from the perspective of a melee focused character (What's more romantic than a knight slaying demons with strength, speed, and wit, with nothing but bright steel in hand?), and one who is going through the game for a first time. Strategy by necessity changes as the demon's become stronger in subsequent playthroughs. Just so you know.
Phalanx is a giant blob that covers itself with little blobs that are wearing shields and throw spears.
Okay, there is more to Phalanx than that.
Not much more though.
I actually think the design for Phalanx is pretty cool (most of the boss designs are pretty cool), and just before you actually fight Phalanx, you meet a few of the "hoplites". The little enemy blobs who will assist the actual boss.
It's a nice sort of mini preview, and even though Phalanx is the first boss-
Vanguard doesn't count because he appears as a non-boss enemy later...
Okay, if you want to beat Vanguard get behind him and stay there, when he floats in the air, back away, and after he lands wait a moment so you don't get hit with a shockwave, then jump in swinging.
That's all you're getting Vanguard. Deal with it.
-it can, to those unprepared, be dangerous. The simplest method of extermination, is,
of course, fire. Hoarding firebombs and turpentine throughout the castle will make Phalanx a cinch. You can take down the hoplites individually too, to make the fight easier, so long as you keep track of Phalanx and keep away from it's massed spear attacks.
Phalanx also holds the distinction of being the only boss to actively flee from you. If you slay all of the hoplites, Phalanx, who had been inexorably (albeit slowly) chasing you, will turn tail and run away.
I find this nothing if not hilarious.
Tower Knight
It seems many people experience trouble with the Tower Knight, and at first I couldn't see why. It's fairly obvious that you need to take out the crossbowmen first, and his atttacks are... well, fairly slow. It wasn't until later I learned that many people don't return to the Nexus after defeating the boss prior to him. They just charge on straight ahead. So, they haven't leveled up, or upgraded their equipment. So,
of course,
he's difficult. You'd think a glowing sword that appears out of nowhere would be examined more intently, but I guess not.
Moving on, Tower Knight is fairly simple. Clear out the surrounding area, avoid his shield smash attack, get in close, then nip at his heels (piercing attacks are best I believe) until he falls over like a giant metal Achilles. The you just need to stab him in the head until he dies.
Not very much like Achilles at all actually.
He's going to stick his long,
, sword into you.
Oh, man.
Just hearing his name, you know you don't want to mess with this guy. He's fairly quick, he's got sweeping, shield piercing attacks, and he'll impale you without a second thought. He may actually be one of the tougher fights in the game, if it wasn't for...
Biorr, of the Royal Twin Fangs.
Slaying demons then taking naps...
Aww... Yeah...
Biorr will attract the attention of the Penetrator if you rescue him from his prison cell earlier. There is no reason not to do this. Then the fight becomes much more manageable. As Biorr draws his attention, attack Penetrator's back. Be careful if he impales and throws Biorr, because his attention can shift back to you. Just keep slicing at him, and be mindful of Biorr, because, radical and
as all get out as he is, the Penetrator can still kill him.
His sword is glowing. Glowing is bad.
False King
I didn't know what to expect from False King.
I had heard rumors that he's fast, unrelenting, and powerful.
I didn't know how much of what I'd heard was heresay, or truth.
That is, until I had beaten him.
First off, thinking that he was supposed to be the demonic doppleganger of a human king, I expected him to be about my size.
He is not.
King Allant must have been one big guy, because False King looks to be about 7 feet tall.
He's also intimidating as hell. Huge plumes of energy radiate out from him. He carries a massive sword with one hand. He can grab you by the head with his off hand, lift you up, and jam his sword into your gut. That attack? It also drains one soul level from you, so if you're unfortunate enough to have just leveled up enough to equip your current weapon, you'll get hit with, "You don't have enough skill to use this weapon. It's effectiveness in battle will be lessened." Which would suck. Hard.
As far as fighting him goes, he is more than comparable to Flamelurker, in that both bosses are unrelenting in their assault upon your person. His attacks can pierce through your shield, so even when your guard is up, you take damage. He has long combos that can kill you very easily, and he can dash towards you if you try to put some distance between you two. He's also smaller than many of the other demons. You would think this wouldn't be a problem, but after fighting so many enormous monstrosities, a smaller target
somewhat harder to hit.
My advice? Keep your shield up. Don't get greedy in your attacks. Run when he charges his Soul Blast move (if you can hit him hard enough, you can interrupt this, but it's a better opportunity to heal than any other). Come prepared with strong healing items, and the weapon you are best with. I can offer nothing else, and in a way, that's what makes him such a brilliant fight.
All things considered, he's also quite dapper.
Stonefang Tunnel
The Tunnel City, so musingly deep,
Miners work mindlessly, without any sleep,
Bearbugs hatch in lava flow,
Burrowing where no men dare go,
A graveyard that is fit to hold,
Massive bones of Dragons' Mold.
I love the gradual shift that occurs in Stonefang. First, you start outside, in the warm red glow of the afternoon. You make your way through a "modern" mine, with elevators, railcarts, and wooden structures and supports. Deeper in, you travel through a natural cavern, rivers of molten rock flowing, filled with weird volcanic "plants", lava spitting worms, and self-destructing bearbugs. Inching through some bearbug dug tunnels, you arrive in the final area, a dragon graveyard, and an ancient, crumbling, stone temple built to house (and restrain, if the magical ballistas and Dragon Bone Crusher are any evidence) a god.
The Demons
A terrible spider snares it's prey,
A monstrous demon of fire wakes,
Waist deep in magma, the Deific Drake,
With mighty fists, the Earth it shakes.
I don't know why the hell there's a giant spider that shoots fireballs in a mine, so let's move past that. Flamelurker could be, according to one theory, the demonic form of the Legendary Big M, a strongman who slew dragons with his bare hands. If he is, that only makes a wicked boss all the more wicked. I think this is a likely theory too, since you can find the only mention of Big M -The Fists of God- very near Flamelurker.
Dragon God was born from intense flames and the bones of the Dragon Graveyard, and was evidently worshipped by the ancient burrowers long ago.
Armor Spider
Why are you even here?
Armor Spider is my least favorite boss. It seems shoehorned in with the world, and I can imagine some developers sitting around talking, saying how they have to have a giant spider because Demon's Souls is a videogame and all videogames needs giant spiders.
It's not even very fun to fight. It doesn't move. All it does is shoot fireballs and occasionally lash out with it's little T-Rex style arms.
Make sure you have a decent shield, run up through Armor Spider's fireballs, and then find a good place (like next to it's largest legs, on either side of the tunnel you just ran through) to hold up. It will tire itself out after it's charged fireball volley attack, (make sure you've been upgrading your stamina so you can block longer) and then you run up and smack it around like a bitch. Repeat until finished.
The internet likes it about as much as I do. There are no good pictures of it.
Here's a good one to wash the taste of the last one out of our mouths.
Flamelurker is an infamous boss. He's tough, fast, runs around like a gorilla on fire, and causes explosions to shoot out of his hands. Which is radical.
You'll want to equip something with decent fire resistance, and also having high endurance (and thus more stamina) will help. This battle will likely take a while. Get in one or two strikes while you can, staying away from his double-hand charged explosions. Don't let him corner you, you should always be moving. As his health gets lower, he'll become more fiery and redder. This means he's angry. Which also means he gets faster and more relentless.
Keep up the same strategy, healing when you can, and avoiding his leaping strike, which will likely break your guard. There isn't much more to say; I guess don't step in the lava around his arena. This is one of the better fights in my opinion, it requires both skill and patience, akin to False King.
Intense, and trying.
A prime example of what a Souls series boss fight should be.
I think he's smiling... Maybe he just wants to be friends?
Dragon God
Seen here preparing for the greatest fist bump of all-time.
I feel like Dragon God is something of a missed opportunity. The fight basically revolves around you breaking through rubble, then pinning him to the ground with ancient, magical ballistas, and finally sauntering over to finish him off as he lays pinned.
It's kind of pathetic. You almost feel bad for him.
I don't see why they couldn't have partially pinned him, so that maybe he can move a little bit, and at least weakly attack you. Maybe try to smash you with his hand? That would've made it more like a fight. Maybe he could've cast magic or breathed fire at you or something and you'd have to run and hide from it. Dashing up to hit him as soon as the attack is over. He does, sort of, breathe fire at you after he's been pinned, but it's kind of lame and asthmatic. If you get hit with that you should be ashamed. You'd think something with an incredible title like Dragon God,
Sultan of Chaos
would be more... well, you'd expect more.
As it is, he's a simple puzzle boss with an awesome look to him.
Also? Double mouth.
Tower of Latria
Inmates beg mercy, a meaningless plea,
In the Prison of Hope, nothing human guards thee,
Tall towers rise from the bloody bog,
While ersatz demons stalk the fog.
There is a pervasive wrongness in Latria. It is almost unnaturally dark here. In the Prison of Hope, the darkness is accompanied by the soft, ringing bells and green glow of the octopus guards, and the mournful aria of one of the last sane prisoners. Atop the narrow, shattered walkways of the towers proper, red eyes glow in the blackness,
zooming towards you from out of the night, where any misstep will send you plummeting to your demise.
The ground is so far below that you cannot see it, nor would you want to,
what with the horrible mismatched creatures, and the massive, writhing tentacles crawling like ivy up the towers out of a lake made of blood. Oh, let us not forget the enormous scaly heart, suspended in the center of the largest tower by chains, shall we?
The Demons
An idol for fools, in a church is reborn,
A pair of menacing demons have been cunningly formed,
In a ballroom, atop a throne made of chairs,
The Yellow Garb demon, it's power, it shares.
All the demons in Latria, and not just bosses either, are creations of the Old Monk.
The Fool's Idol was made to suppress the prisoners with the image of their queen.
Maneater is the most powerful demon to be cobbled together, and an interesting version of a chimera as well.
The Old Monk is a withered husk, who usurped the land with the power given by the Yellow Robe he found during his exile, and subsequently he has been drained of life by it.
Fool's Idol
I couldn't find any other picture.
A fairly simple boss, with a gimmick. That being, until you kill the prisoner reviving her, you cannot progress any further, no matter how many times you defeat her. Slay him, however, and you need only kill the idol once.
If you need to, kill the prisoners in the church as soon as you can, as they'll only get in the way.
Otherwise, just keep track of where the idols are, attacking the one which casts Soul Ray, which is the real one, while the illusions cast Soul Arrow (Soul Ray is larger than Soul Arrow). Be mindful of where the paralysis traps are, if you can.
And if you're close to an illusion, go ahead and attack it, it will just disappear and you'll have one less projectile to worry about.
I hate you with all of my hate.
Everybody hates Maneater. Not because he's difficult. In truth he wouldn't be if not for the conditions in which you fight him. Well, them. You see, there are two of them. Which you fight at once, along a narrow bridge. Which they will knock you off of.
This is difficult for all the wrong reasons, but there's no changing it. So let's push on ahead. The only area where you can be at least marginally safe is the center of the bridge next to the brazier. You can be knocked back at least once, and not fall off. Sometimes the brazier will block certain attacks from hitting you. Stay here. This place will grant you the only slight solace you will know in this fight. Try to take on one Maneater at a time, perhaps starting with the original that should be somewhat damaged when the second comes flying in. If you can, cut off the snake tail. No good comes of snake tails. Maybe two-hand your weapon when you go in to attack, because unless you have a very strong shield, one won't be much use against either Maneater's counterattack. All you can do is take whatever opportunity you can to strike, and do your best not to fall to your death.
What's he crying about?
can fly.
Old Monk
The concept for this fight is very clever. The Old Monk, him being the one who turned Latria into what it is, is actually not fought. He summons another player to serve as the boss, and when that happens, the actual demon, the Yellow Robe he was wearing, leaves him to die, wrapping itself around it's new host. I like the idea behind this demon; it's basically a parasite, attaching itself to people, giving them power, but in exchange, it drains their life away. Something as innocuous as an (admittedly giant) cloth garment being so sinister just hits all the right horror notes for me.
Good stuff.
You could also wear it around your head
Anyway, I couldn't really give help for this, since the boss is different for everyone, except it's not anymore because the Demons' Souls servers are all offline (which also means no more getting the Monk's Head Collar A.K.A. The Custard Tornado... which is sad).
Instead everyone gets some bozo with metal claws who shoots Homing Soul Arrows at you. He isn't much tougher than any other AI black phantom, and should be treated as such.
How did he get up on that throne without tripping all over the robe?
Shrine of Storms
Purified in holy storms,
The Shadowmen would mourn their dead,
Within their ruins, shadows form,
And strange phantoms can be found,
Storm beasts to the air are wed,
Whilst dead men walk the haunted ground.
The Shrine of Storms has a very surreal quality to it. Manta rays fly through the sky, shooting crystallized lightning bolts. Skeletons that don't appear to have been quite human swing giant, strange swords. What are essentially grim reapers summon cyclopic spirits. The water in the Shrine
It actually makes sense. When the demons came to the Shrine, the Shadowmen culture had been dead for some time. Nothing remained but bones.
Somehow, the demons tapped into their residual memory- their ghosts, if you will.
The demons took on the shape of what the Shadowmen believed awaited them in the afterlife, all the more prevalent here because the entirety of the island seems to be one giant funeral site. Thus you have the storm beasts, the skeletons, and the shadowlurkers. The demons haven't corrupted the physical world here so much as they have elsewhere, because apart from Shadowmen bones, there was nothing to corrupt. Instead they took the notion of an afterlife, and managed to corporealize it. When you step into the Shrine of Storms, you're stepping into the dying dream of the Shadowmen.
The Demons
Golden Crow, atop the glutton, judges all those who are dead,
Hero of Old, forced to witness, worthier men pass, with sightless eyes,
Worshipped Ray, of enormous size,
Blocks out the sky, wheresoever he flies.
The Adjudicator is a demon formed from the image the Shadowmen had for their judge of the dead, who devoured the unworthy.
The Old Hero is fought in spirit form, as he died long ago. Deemed unworthy, he was bound where others once were purified in the storm.
Storm King was the great pagan god of the Shadowmen. His physical body was created from the concept the Shadowmen held of him: a collosal, flying manta ray.
"Give us a kiss."
The Adjudicator's design is just...
. A massive yellow, slimy, fatty,
; with what can barely be described as a head, an absolutely ridiculously long tongue, and a mouth made of what appears to be torn skin. It's also covered in tattoos and medallions, and is controlled by the shining golden crow nested on it's head.
I think it's funny that in a piece of lore, you learn that people who eat birds are not worthy of being considered heroes after death, and are eaten by the Adjudicator.
I can't help but feel this is entirely prejudicial on the golden crow's part, and I love that.
Unfortunately, as a boss, Adjudicator is fairly easy. It only has one real attack, which is to swipe at you with it's cleaver (unless you stay above it, in which case it'll whip it's tongue out at you... but why would you stay up there?). It's got a glaringly obvious weak spot (
hint! hint!
it's the spot pouring blood out all over the place
) which you attack until it falls over, and then you lay the smack down on the golden crow, who squawks hilariously.
He's not particularly challenging, but I don't consider him nearly as low as say... a certain spider. Mainly because if you strike him anywhere that isn't his weakspot, your attack bounces off with a rubbery boi-oi-oing sound... and that's just... it's just great.
First date, no tongue!
Old Hero
If the Old Hero wasn't blind you wouldn't stand a city's chance against Godzilla. His attacks are crushingly powerful. He can leap the entire distance of the room you fight him in. I heard that there isn't anything beneath his loincloth... except for another fist.
Point is, if you try to take him on without taking advantage of the one disadvantage he posesses? You'll be dead. Take it slow, try to sneak up behind him to swipe a few blows, and then back off while he rampages around. Run if you have to, but after you've gotten some distance away, walk again. Slowly whittle his health away.
You've got all the time in the world.
Don't rush.
Really. Don't.
Storm King
If I saw this thing flying around I'd probably worship it. Just to be safe.
The Storm King.
One of my favorites.
I'm a sucker for giant flying things.
If you want, take a bow or crossbow and try to thin the cloud of storm beasts that hover above the area. You don't have to, but it may help you get to Stormruler.
Pluck Stormruler out of the ground, and swing away.
Twirling tornado blasts of razor wind erupt forth from the blade here, and only here, so take advantage of it. You should be able to take out any storm beasts with one blow, and when the Storm King passes by, take a few swings at him too.
Dodge the storm beasts' crystal lightning, and the Storm King's rapid fire scales, and you should be all right.
Valley of Defilement
Ramshackle constructs made out of sticks,
Wretched unclean ones, giant blood-swollen ticks,
All foulness flows through the valley floor,
Poisonous filth, and nothing more.
What is there to be said of the Valley? It is
. At first, filled with rickety paths, narrow bridges, and enemies who'll shove you over the edge into the wretched abyss... and don't forget the plague rats, or the ticks which burst into a geyser of poisonous blood. The swamp? Which
poison you, and in which you cannot run- but your foes can. Even the giant ones. What of the aesthetic? Dilapidated seems to suggest that at one time the structures in the Valley were
about to collapse. They've always been a hairsbreadth away from disintegrating into the mirk. Walls writhe with bugs. Swarms of flies cover rotting corpses. It is so dark that, even if it were not raining (which it is), you'd barely be able to make out the few torches which light the one somewhat viable path through the muck. When you have managed to make it into the deepest part? You find the worst thing yet.
A river of plague infected blood, inhabited by monstrous, infantile abominations.
The Valley is the worst, largest cesspool you can imagine...
And there is no choice but to wade through it.
It must smell
The Demons
A creature of leeches, all thrashing about,
A demon made of flies, rubble, and grout,
The Sixth Saint, and her righteous knight,
Strive to ease the valley's plight.
The demons here may all once have been holy people.
Leechmonger is a giant conglomeration of leeches which have fused together with malicious intent. There is the possibility that it was formed from the fallen body of Lizaia of Istarel, who perished and fell into the polluted, leech-filled water.
Dirty Collosus is a demonic golem of scrap and filth and flies, possibly created from the deceased Vito, the Moonlight knight.
Maiden Astraea was a living saint who became a demon, in order to obtain the power to lessen the suffering she found. Her loyal bodyguard, Garl Vinland, remains ever by her side.
intimidating. You can see from a distance as it thrashes it's arms about most violently, throwing globs of leeches at you.
It can also heal itself, and that's never good.
In truth, it is remarkably weak. The most straightforward method to it's destruction is to light your weapon afire. Simple as that. Land blow after flaming blow (preferably with some black turpentine), heal when necessary, maybe back away if your health gets a bit low. If the flame goes out, light it again. It will go down more quickly than you ever would have thought.
If you think about it, a leech is a small organism that fills itself up with blood, like a penis. Ergo, this is a picture of penises.
Dirty Colossus
Once again, this is literally the only good picture I could find.
I hate flies. I REALLY,
hate flies. They walk all over crap then try to fly in your face. I once had a dream where an enormous fly lodged itself in my mouth and I choked. Some flies can lay eggs in your skin. They are abhorrent to me. If I could kill every fly in the entire world, even if it would irrevocably change the biosphere or whatever, I would.
The Dirty Collossus is a demon made out of flies.
Given that, I actually think it's got an interesting design. It appears to be partially collapsing, and has reinforced itself with scrap from the environment. It appears to have a giant scarecrow head. I think that it would have made the fight much more interesting if, instead of only breaking apart a bit at the beginning, the Collossus slowly fell apart over the course of the entire fight, culminating with the final blow, upon which it just collapsed in on itself.
Fighting the Collossus is not difficult. Avoid it's flies, which come in both straight forward blast form, and swirling trap form. Keep away from it's swingin' arm. Back off when it's charging up a fly explosion (I may have just thrown up in my mouth a bit), and charge in whaling away on it whenever the opportunity presents itself.
Maiden Astraea
This one can be a bit of a bummer.
Maiden Astraea sits at the end of a river of blood, next to a mound of corpses.
She sends her bodyguard, Garl Vinland, to keep you away.
They both ask you to leave them alone. If you persist in fighting, they insist that you leave even as either one's health drops.
They bring on the guilt trip, saying they do nothing but ease the suffering of the Valley's denizens. That they live humble lives. What right have you to judge them?
If you kill Garl, all you have to do is walk up and talk to Maiden Astraea, who will kill herself.
If you can slay Astraea before Garl, he will simply stand there, stunned at his failure.
Garl can easily kill you, and should be approached cautiously, slowly chipping away at his health, and avoiding his hammer.
Maiden Astraea will heal herself, but not very quickly.
A constant attack will negate any health restored.
She will also cast God's Wrath if you're close enough.
Besides that, take care not to fall into the river, as the plague babies will make your life difficult.
Aside from that... there's nothing more to say.
Except perhaps, that the Dark Silver armor looks very judgemental.
Below the Nexus
The Beast calls, and the sword drops,
Shattering the clear sigil floor,
Far below there is a beach,
Of scattered ruins, from foggy shore,
The Maiden calls forth the thing of yore,
Thus the Old One comes to the fore.
Who else was expecting a
of all things, when they journeyed below the Nexus?
I wasn't.
It's a fascinating area though. A vast desert behind you, filled with ruins and other fallen swords (which implies that this whole ordeal has happened several times before) and a long sloping beach which leads straight into the Old One, who has bowed down to the Maiden in Black.
The Old One.
A mountainous mass of ancient growth, with faint light within.
Eldritch is the only appropriate word.
Within, you fight Allant, or what's left of him. He's become nothing more than a slug-like mass, clutching to his sword.
Honestly? I kind of hoped for a giant blob with an upper body sticking out that tried to swing it's sword at you. I knew that he had transformed into a blob monster beforehand, but it wasn't what I had pictured. I was a mite disappointed.
Okay, maybe
than a mite.
Then you kill the thing that was once a king (you shouldn't need help with this if you've come so far, because if you let him kill you... SHAME.
.), and move forward. There is one last choice to make, and then everything is over.
It was quite the experience. A challenge that arrived, near unprecedented, on the videogame scene. I'm happy that I'm through with it... but I'm also somewhat sad.
Demon's Souls brought forth something of a revolution; it sold well almost entirely on word of mouth, because people wanted real challenge, and they enjoyed helping each other overcome said challenge. It does somewhat defy genre, and it's unique mechanics have begun to spread to other games, not the least of which is it's own spiritual successor Dark Souls, and Dark Soul's upcoming sequel. Demons' Souls has started a trend. A growing one.
No matter what the future holds...
This, the future holds THIS.
...for the Souls series, or for me, or for you- if you like these games, Demons' Souls was at the root of it (actually King's Field was but let's not split hairs).
I'm finished with it for the most part,
and in writing this, I'd like to think I sent it off properly.
Here's to you Demon's Souls!
Rest now...
Slayer of Demons...
The World has been mended.
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Apps That Rise to the Top: Tested and Approved By Teachers
Educators from around the country share their favorite educational apps.
When a computer runs a classroom, is it more efficient? Do kids learn more? A middle school in New York is finding out.
A study of elementary school students using ST Math shows positive results on California state tests.
The principal of an elementary school in one of Oakland's most violent neighborhood gives tips on how to implement a blended learning program that serves the needs of disadvantaged students, many of whom are English language learners.
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Rocketship Education, a network of charter schools based in California, is changing the way students will use computers in its Learning Labs. Rather than spending chunks of time in computer labs with divided computer stations, students will be using computers in their classrooms, with the help of teachers and aids. "The integration between the classroom […]
Erin Scott Starting the year off with ideas on the best ways to use technology to support learning, Larry Ferlazzo collected an invaluable list of criteria last year from educators, to which he added more resources in his recent blog post for EdWeek.Other posts in the series include Using Ed Tech to Create Deep and […]
Growing excitement around technology's potential to transform the classroom has the education community chattering about laptops, tablets and smartphones.


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Mods, if this is innapropriate let me know...
I would like to hear the thoughts of the other listeners concerning this show. I will add link if I can manage it....
Hope it worked. Did anyone else listen to this program? Your thoughts are appreciated.
ETA: He had the phsyic Ginette on.
I would like her to produce a verifiable list of the "over twenty" people she has located with her 'skillz'.
IF she sent the emails, it clearly shows she was telling Luje the child was dead. From the beginning.
Justice for CAYLEE
Dominic found her??? Three coral snakes...
Justice for CAYLEE
I think I have a huge crush on RH!!
Justice for CAYLEE
Please someone ask this woman if she called DC the night before....
Justice for CAYLEE
Someone needs to stuff a sock in Steph's mouth...
Justice for CAYLEE
I found it interesting that RH said he believed the death could have been due to neglect via KC's attempts to put Caylee to sleep....IMO, it is not 'neglect,' to give a 2 year-old chloroform in order to make her sleep-it was not a shot of whisky, or benedryl, it was chloroform-it is aggravated child abuse, which when accompanied by a resulting death, is punishable by the DP in Florida.
Ihope Ginnette does some back next week. I would love to find out if she sent the message to DC the night before. GL was saying the 15th as if that was the night before...RH needs to question her ONLY!
Justice for CAYLEE
AND I want to know who sent DC the map he emailed to Luke showing the area and the Brackenwood house.
Justice for CAYLEE
LMAO @ RH telling Steph that he was the worst interviewer in the world!
Bottom line, she says Casey was negligent and someone else, a male was involved in the murder? Or the cover up? Need to listen to that again...so WHY would Casey still be sitting in jail and not go for a plea?
Justice for CAYLEE
Funny, after the show, you can hear Steph saying "OMG, if he ever..."
Justice for CAYLEE
Me too! We could have learned SO much more if only Richard had done the questioning. He went into defense atty. questioning mode and had her eating out of his hand. She didn't even know what was happening.
I loved it when Steph asked, "Final thoughts, Richard?"
RH: "uh..uh..Dominic Casey is a rookie!" haha!
I love the reference to yo yo heads.
Justice for CAYLEE
I am the LAST one to defend GL, but she isn't too far off in saying that she had very limited email contact with DC. 95% of the emails were between Luke & DC. Luke would very often 'relay' things that Ginette said....(or supposedly said?). But as far as everyone assuming there were tons of emails directly from GL, I haven't seen that many.
IIRC one of them WAS from 11/15.
I would be curious to sleuth the exact nature of the relationship between Luke & GL.
Steph is asking why DC didn't return to the site? DC told LE he went back two more times...
Justice for CAYLEE
This woman is simply ridiculous. Dowsing? Come ON
Justice for GEORGE!
Khaki Pants, we've been discussing it for a while in the Dominic Casey's e-mails thread, starting here, if you want to read it. I didn't know where to begin the conversation. I'm sure the mods would know how to move our posts from there.
I was leery to start a new thread since it did deal with Dominic and the psychic claimed she "didn't send ALL those e-mails" to him. We were on a roll over there.
© My brain is copyright-protected.
Please pardon any typos. I'm a lousy typist and an even worse proofreader.
Big Brother and the Thought Police have arrived
1984 by George Orwell (1949)
All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.
I agree. Her early emails said she felt Caylee was dead. The other stuff came from Luke. Now, there were several pages omitted from the pdf file, but she said early on Caylee was dead. I have to think that DC went with Luke because that was what the A's needed to put out there to media. Then they found out about the duct tape thru Casey or the mysterious male and needed to find the body, so he got back in touch with her.
Justice for CAYLEE
We aren't supposed to give little kids whiskey, either, it could kill them. Benadryl isn't meant for sleeping medication, either.
They neglected Caylee, maybe that's how she got duct tape wrapped across her nose and mouth?
This so-called psychic didn't take into account the duct tape, did she? No matter how "they" did it, through neglect, there wouldn't have been tape on the child's head and face.
Last edited by Zoe Bogart; 08-09-2010 at 02:42 AM.
© My brain is copyright-protected.
Please pardon any typos. I'm a lousy typist and an even worse proofreader.
Big Brother and the Thought Police have arrived
1984 by George Orwell (1949)
All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.


text:
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Archives :: Regions :: Western Europe :: Finland
Displaying 181 - 200 of 259 stories.
June 30, 2010
Borealis has signed a new 10-year contract with Neste Oil (Helsinki) covering the supply of all feedstocks and product streams between Neste Oil's refinery and Borealis's production...http://www.chemweek.com/regions/western_europe/finland/Borealis-Renews-Feedstock-Contract-at-Finnish-Site-Invests-in-Borstar-Pilot-Plant_27746.html June 23, 2010
Kemira says it has agreed to sell its fluorescent whitening agents (FWA) business to German Catec Gmbh. FWAs are used to improve the whiteness and brightness of paper. Financial terms...http://www.chemweek.com/regions/western_europe/finland/Kemira-Sells-Fluorescent-Whitening-Business-to-German-Catec_27576.html May 21, 2010
The second annual Helsinki Chemicals Forum (HCF) featuring discussions between industry executives and chemicals sector stakeholders from around the world concluded today in Helsinki...http://www.chemweek.com/regions/western_europe/finland/Blog-Helsinki-Chemicals-Forum-Could-California-Hold-the-Key-to-EU-Chemical-Industry-Survival_26959.html May 20, 2010
The European Commission says it is making progress in collaborating with national chemical regulators around the world to share best practise on chemicals regulation and promote...http://www.chemweek.com/regions/western_europe/finland/Chemical-Regulation-EU-Urges-Global-Conformity-with-Reach-Advances-Collaborations-with-Canada-U-S-_26860.html May 19, 2010
The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA; Helsinki) has warned the chemical industry that it must start preparing now to submit data relating to the Classification, Labelling and Packaging...http://www.chemweek.com/regions/western_europe/finland/EU-Chemicals-Regulation-ECHA-Flags-January-2011-Classification-Labelling-and-Packaging-Deadline_26832.html April 30, 2010
Kemira says it has agreed to sell its 300,000 m.t./year sulfuric acid plant located at Kokkola, Finland to Boliden Kokkola Oy. All 20 employees with transfer with the facility on May...http://www.chemweek.com/regions/western_europe/finland/Kemira-Sells-Sulfuric-Acid-Plant-to-Boliden_26469.html April 26, 2010
Neste Oil says it has begun trials in Finland for Neste Green 100 diesel, a diesel derived 100% from renewable raw materials that is free from fossil fuel. The trial will feature...http://www.chemweek.com/regions/western_europe/finland/Neste-Trials-100-percent-Biodiesel-in-Finland_26293.html March 11, 2010
Dynea reported a €46-million loss for full-year 2009, compared to earnings of €5.6 million including special items in both years. Operating results dropped 83%, to €3.9...http://www.chemweek.com/regions/western_europe/finland/Dyneas-Profits-Fall-on-Lower-Volumes-and-Selling-Prices_25290.html March 9, 2010
Kemira and The Technical Research Centre of Finland (VTT) will establish a Center of Water Efficiency Excellence in Finland, which will focus on developing new technology to...http://www.chemweek.com/regions/western_europe/finland/Kemira-and-VTT-to-Establish-Water-Treatment-Research-Center_25235.html February 9, 2010
Kemira reported a more than doubling in operating profit, excluding non-recurring items, for the fourth quarter of 2009 to €27.8 million ($38 million), compared with €11.7...http://www.chemweek.com/regions/western_europe/finland/Kemiras-Fourth-Quarter-Operating-Profit-Up-Will-List-Tikkurila-In-March_24651.html January 12, 2010
Huub Meessen, v.p./Europe at Sabic, has been appointed chairman of the Association of Petrochemicals Producers in Europe (APPE) with immediate effect. He succeeds Ralf Kuhlmann...http://www.chemweek.com/regions/western_europe/finland/Huub-Meessen-Appointed-Chairman-of-APPE_24082.html November 20, 2009
Borealis inaugurated today its international innovation headquarters at Linz, Austria. The company invested some €50 million ($74.3 million) to build the HQ...http://www.chemweek.com/regions/western_europe/finland/Borealis-Inaugurates-Innovation-Headquarters-at-Linz_22894.html October 28, 2009
Kemira's third-quarter net income fell 15%, to €41 million ($61 million), on sales down 17%, to €646 million. Operating profit rose 16%, to €65 million. ...http://www.chemweek.com/regions/western_europe/finland/Decreased-Demand-Lowers-Kemiras-Earnings-Downward-Volume-Trend-Has-Halted_22371.html August 27, 2009
Tikkurila (Helsinki) Kemira's paints and coatings subsidiary, says it has agreed to acquire the 50% stake of Slovenian paint firm JUB (Ljubljani) in their joint venture trading...http://www.chemweek.com/regions/western_europe/finland/Tikkurila-Acquires-Full-Ownership-of-Romanian-Trading-Company_21053.html June 12, 2009
Nester Oil and Stora Enso, a forestry products company, have started up a biomass-to-liquids demonstration plant at Varkaus, Finland. The two firms are 50/50 joint partners in NSE...http://www.chemweek.com/regions/western_europe/finland/Neste-Inaugurates-Biofuels-Demonstration-Plant_19473.html June 9, 2009
Climate negotiators representing the European Union (EU) and China in recent days have initiated discussions about their commitment to the reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions...http://www.chemweek.com/regions/western_europe/finland/Climate-Change-EU-and-China-Start-Talking_19293.html June 2, 2009
The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA; Helsinki) has today recommended that seven chemical substances of very high concern should not be used in the European Union (EU) without...http://www.chemweek.com/regions/western_europe/finland/ECHA-Recommends-Restricting-Seven-Substances_19327.html May 29, 2009
The sustainable use of chemicals was promoted at the first Helsinki Chemicals Forum (HCF), held last week in Helsinki. "HCF has a crucial role to play in helping to deliver new...http://www.chemweek.com/regions/western_europe/finland/Helsinki-Forum-Promotes-Sustainable-Use-of-Chemicals_19237.html May 29, 2009
The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA; Helsinki) has launched a campaign to increase awareness among chemical firms that they must actively participate in a Substance Information...http://www.chemweek.com/regions/western_europe/finland/ECHA-Steps-in-to-Rescue-Failing-Reach-Data-Sharing-Groups_19238.html May 28, 2009
The first Global Helsinki Chemicals Forum (HCF) has opened today in Helsinki amid optimism that the forum will become an annual event to promote the sustainable use of chemicals. The...http://www.chemweek.com/regions/western_europe/finland/Helsinki-Chemicals-Forum-International-Community-Steps-Up-Sustainability-Drive_19194.html |
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More Than 1 Million Americans Switched Health Plans During Enrollment Season
Medical Marijuana 101: What It's Like Inside A Colorado Dispensary
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Jars labeled butterscotch, chocolate mint and caramel macchiato tea glisten inside the lit refrigerator. The shelf above is stacked with pizza, flatbreads and butter. The one below has lemon bars, brownies and cookies.
The fridge could be in any higher-end grab-and-go lunch stop. But to shop here, you must present a medical marijuana patient card. And the ingredient list includes the type of pot, along with flour, sugar, milk, etc.
This is Trichome Health Consultants, a medical marijuana dispensary tucked into a line of glass storefronts on a semi-commercial strip in Colorado Springs, Colorado. As Massachusetts prepares to open its first dispensary, possibly in April, this is a glimpse into the future.
Medical Marijuana In Mass.
- Timeline: Key Dates In Massachusetts:
- 11/6/12: Medial Marijuana Legalized In Mass.
- 8/23/13: 181 Apply For Dispensary Licenses
- 1/31/14: 20 Dispensaries Approved
- 6/27/14: DPH Disqualifies 9 Planned Dispensaries
- 11/7/14: 4 More Dispensaries Approved
- 1/2/15: First Mass. Dispensary Cleared To Grow
- More Medical Marijuana Coverage:
- What's In Your Medical Marijuana?
- 10 Things To Know Before Using
- What A Dispensary Worker Needs To Know
- Bracing For 'Big Marijuana'
- Complete Coverage: Medical Marijuana
At first glance, it's a dizzying array of options.
There 11 different kinds of chocolates, granola bars, dog treats, lotions, lip balms and salves along one wall. Colorful pipes, vaporizers and other marijuana accessories line shelves. A long glass case is filled with jars of the classic product: marijuana buds.
Customers are buzzed into Trichome's sales room. There are security cameras at the front door and back door, and one that scans the room constantly.
All marijuana sold here is grown by Trichome.
"We don't trust that someone didn't use a pesticide or they may have powdery mold or pest issues," says Cami Hall, the CFO and a Trichome co-founder. "If you don't know how it's grown, you don't know how it's going to affect your patients."
Massachusetts requires that dispensaries grow the marijuana used in all products, a rule called "seed to sale." Colorado is less strict. Trichome buys some of the products it sells — the bottled teas, for example — from another company.
Every jar, plastic bottle or wrapper has a label that traces the marijuana to a specific plant. In Massachusetts, labels will list the breakdown of cannabinoids — the chemical compounds in marijuana — in each product.
Prices vary a lot. Those flavored teas, with 300 milligrams of marijuana, may be the best value at $16 a bottle, says Hall. Some of the higher-end strains of dried buds go for $200 or more an ounce.
Health insurance does not cover marijuana in Colorado or Massachusetts, and the cost of treating pain or other ailments with the drug can add up.
Kevin Bailey spends $600-$700 a week treating headaches he says date back to a childhood head injury. At Trichome this day he's buying a strain called Sour Diesel, which goes for $175 an ounce.
"That's premium, that's grade A," says Bailey, who turns toward glass cookie-style jars filled with Grade B, or lower strength, marijuana buds at the other end of the counter. "It depends on what kind of potency that you need. For different people, some of these lower potencies aren't good enough."
Bailey has been prescribed various pain medications over the years, but he prefers marijuana.
"This for me is best for me," he says. "Some people might feel like prescription pain pills is good for them, but in the long run that's poison. I feel like it's poison."
Map: Marijuana DispensariesPatients generally figure out which type of marijuana works for them, and the best way to take it, through trial and error. Trichome co-founder J. Card keeps a database of every patient, their ailment and the types of marijuana they've tried. He uses the information to help new patients find a useful strain.
"So whatever patients we had with Crohn's disease we can go in there and see that 10 patients with Crohn's habitually used these types of strains because they seemed to work more than other strains," Card says.
Card is not required to track patient's responses to marijuana and there is no such requirement in Massachusetts.
Bailey pays in cash, as do most patients at this dispensary. Trichome has been able to accept credit cards, but this is not a stable option. Credit card companies are not allowed, by federal law, to process illegal transactions. Marijuana sales are still illegal under federal law.
Trichome has had trouble finding a bank willing to handle its finances. The dispensary has opened, and been forced to close, six accounts since it opened in 2008.
Card says he's worked hard to establish to Trichome's professional image in the community and distance himself from the tie-dye T-shirt culture.
"Our consultants here wear medical scrubs," he says. "They train every day on how to help people with ailments, on which strain helps them."
Card only sells marijuana to registered patients and has no plans to expand to the recreational marijuana market, which is now legal in many counties in Colorado.
"My fear is that recreational [marijuana] is going to overcast medicinal and the true valuable aspects of the medicinal are going to be taken away because of the people who just want to use it to get high," Card says.
That tension — between the supporters of medical marijuana and those building the recreational pot market — has not hit Massachusetts yet.
Here, more than two years after voters approved a medical marijuana law, there are no dispensaries open yet. The first may, if there are no further hitches, open this April or May in Salem. So far, there are 4,975 registered patients in Massachusetts, awaiting the dispensaries.
Supreme Court Insurance Subsidies Decision Could Trigger Price Spikes
Making health insurance available and affordable to millions of people who buy their own coverage was a key goal for backers of the federal health law known as Obamacare.
But if the Supreme Court strikes down the insurance subsidies of millions of Americans who rely on the federal insurance marketplace, it could leave many worse off than they were before the law took effect, say experts.
"The doomsday scenario could materialize and it does impact everyone" — those getting subsidies, as well as those paying the full cost of their plans on the individual market in states using the federal exchange, said Christopher Condeluci, an attorney who worked for Iowa Republican Sen. Charles Grassley on the Senate Finance Committee staff during the drafting of the law.
That's because millions of consumers likely would drop their policies, which they could no longer afford without subsidies.
Most insurers could not drop plans without giving one-to-three months' notice. But the companies remaining in the market would likely seek sharp increases in premiums for the following year, anticipating that the consumers most likely to hold onto their plans would be those needing medical care.
This KHN story can be republished for free (details).One Rand analysis projects that unsubsidized premiums could increase by almost half — an average annual increase of $1,600 for a 40-year-old — and that 70 percent of consumers would cancel their policies.
Those price increases, in turn, would drive more people to drop coverage, spurring further price hikes and potentially leading to what insurance experts call "a market death spiral."
"It's not the subsidy market that will fall apart, it's the whole market" for everyone who doesn't get job-based insurance coverage, said Robert Laszewski, a consultant for the insurance industry who is no fan of the health law. "There will be millions of Republicans who are not subsidy-eligible who are also going to get screwed."
Legal Arguments
At issue in King v. Burwell — slated to be argued before the Supreme Court March 4 — is the basis of subsidies that go to millions of low- and moderate-income Americans in the approximately three dozen states that rely on the federal marketplace. More than 85 percent of the 8.6 million people who purchased plans in those states qualified for subsidies, administration officials say.
The law's challengers point to four words in the Affordable Care Act that say subsidies shall be distributed through marketplaces "established by the state." They argue that that wording bars the government from subsidizing insurance purchased through a federally administered exchange.
Supporters of the law argue that Congress intended the subsidies be available through both federally run and state-run markets, which they say is clear in reading the overall bill.
The ruling would have no effect on the subsidies provided to residents through state-run markets, such as those in California, New York and Washington.
The Obama administration has declined to discuss contingency plans, expressing confidence that it will prevail with the justices. "Congress would not pass a law that 87 percent of folks would not get subsidies, but people in say, New York, would," Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Mathews Burwell said Wednesday.
Experts say Congress could also apply "fixes," such as voting to allow subsidies to continue through the rest of the year.
But whether a Republican-controlled Congress that has pledged itself to the law's repeal would agree to that is uncertain.
Aetna spokeswoman Cynthia Michener said the insurer is talking with lawmakers from both parties "about how to make a grand bargain should the Supreme Court decide against federal exchange subsidies." A decision to strike the subsidies would likely "spur bipartisan action to resolve the issue promptly," she added.
At the state level, officials could decide to establish state-run marketplaces, but they would have to move fast before the start of open enrollment for 2016, tentatively set to begin Nov. 1. And lawmakers in many GOP-led states are likely to resist such steps, citing opposition to the law.
Governors in at least five of the states — Louisiana, Mississippi, Nebraska, South Carolina and Wisconsin — told Reuters they would not create their own exchanges if the court invalidated subsidies.
In another four — Georgia, Missouri, Montana and Tennessee — politics could make it very difficult to set up a state program, Reuters reported.
Florida and Texas, where there is strong opposition to the health law, but also large numbers of residents benefitting from subsidized coverage, officials would face even tougher decisions. "Florida has the highest number of enrollees in the federal marketplace and guess who is running for president? The former governor of Florida," said Condeluci.
That might make Florida lawmakers more agreeable to a solution that would keep subsidies flowing, he said, noting that "Republicans are going to be blamed for the subsidies ceasing."
'Nuclear Option'?
Insurers that sell plans in the federal exchange states would find themselves in a drastically changed market.
Joel Ario, a managing director at consultancy Manatt Health Solutions, said insurers are already working on rates for 2016, which are scheduled for submission by April — two months before the court is expected to rule.
Some insurers have asked state regulators if they could submit two sets of rates for 2016, one that would reflect the subsidies being struck, he said. That idea was backed this week in a letter to the Obama administration by the professional society of the nation's actuaries, who help insurers set rates.
As for the states, Ario estimated that perhaps one third would set up their own markets fairly quickly. If states move at the same rate as they have to expand Medicaid, it could take several years before two-thirds of states have their own markets he said.
Even if insurers wanted to drop coverage immediately in the event the high court struck the subsidies, most could not do so legally. State laws require anywhere from 30 days to 90 days' notice for an insurer to exit a market. And, if they withdraw, they have to pull all their plans, not just those offered through the federal exchange. Under state rules, they may not be allowed back into the market for years, creating a disincentive to bail out, said Laszewski, whose clients include major insurers.
Many insurers don't yet have contingency plans, he said, partly because it's so hard to tell what may happen or what alternatives might be available.
"This is the nuclear option and there really isn't a contingency plan for nuclear destruction," Laszewski said.
Others don't see a ruling against the administration in such dark terms.
"The Supreme Court generally doesn't go out of its way to wreck the economy or the health system," said Stuart Butler, a conservative scholar and senior fellow at the Brookings Institution.
He believes the court is likely to offer some temporary remedy, such as a grace period when the subsidies could continue to flow.
"The idea that there will be some cataclysm the day after is extremely unlikely," Butler said. "We'll see a number of states moving toward essentially setting up a state exchange. We could still see Texas and a few others saying no. But if two-thirds of states find a way to accommodate it, I don't see that a critical mass for the collapse of the Affordable Care Act is there."
Gov. Baker Forces Resignation Of 4 Health Connector Board Members
Gov. Charlie Baker has asked for and received the resignations of four members of the state's Health Connector board, including MIT economist Jonathan Gruber.
Gruber came under fire for saying it was "the stupidity of the American voter" that led to the 2010 passage of President Obama's heath law. Gruber was called to testify before Congress in December. He told lawmakers that he was "inexcusably arrogant" when he made the statement.
Baker also asked for the resignations of board members George Gonser, John Bertko and Rick Jakious, all appointees of former Gov. Deval Patrick.
The board oversees the state's health care law.
In a letter, Baker said he's establishing a new leadership team and wants to take a fresh look at the Connector and improve the operation of that agency.
In a phone interview, Gruber told WBUR Baker's move isn't about politics.
"I think it's about wanting to make sure that the people that are on the board align with his vision of where health care should go in Massachusetts," Gruber said.
With reporting by The Associated Press and the WBUR Newsroom
Interactive Map: Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) Take-Up for School Year 2014-2015
New Online Tool Gives Patients Insight Into The Cost Of Medical Care
Buying health care in America is like shopping blindfolded at Macy's and getting the bill months after you leave the store, economist Uwe Reinhardt likes to say.
A tool that went online Wednesday is supposed to give patients a small peek at the products and prices before they open their wallets.
Got a sore knee? Having a baby? Need a primary-care doctor? Shopping for an MRI scan?
Guroo.com shows the average local cost for 70 common diagnoses and medical tests in most states. That's the real cost — not "charges" that often get marked down — based on a giant database of what insurance companies actually pay.
OK, this isn't like Priceline.com for knee replacements. What Guroo hopes to do for consumers is limited so far.
It won't reflect costs for particular hospitals or doctors, although officials say that's coming for some. And it doesn't have much to say initially about the quality of care.
Still, Guroo should shed new light on the country's opaque, complex and maddening medical bazaar, say consumer advocates.
"This has the potential to be a game-changer," said Katherine Hempstead, who analyzes health insurance for the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. "It's good for uninsured people. It's good for people with high deductibles. It's good for any person that's kind of wondering: If I go to see the doctor for such-and-such, what might happen next?"
Guroo is produced by the Health Care Cost Institute (HCCI) working with three big insurance companies: UnitedHealthcare, Aetna and Humana, soon to be joined by a fourth, Assurant. The idea is to eventually let members of these plans use a companion site to see how differing provider prices affect their co-payments.
This KHN story can be republished for free (details).A nonprofit known for its cost and utilization reports, HCCI receives some industry funding but is governed by an independent board. This is its first tool for consumers.
Consumer advocates praised Guroo but cautioned that the movement toward "transparency" in medical prices is still in its very early stages. Data on insurer, employer or government Web sites are often limited or inaccurate. Consumer information from Fair Health, which manages another huge commercial insurance database, is organized by procedure code.
Even on Guroo, "the average user may not have a good sense of what they're looking at and what they're supposed to do with the resulting price," said Lynn Quincy, a health care specialist at Consumers Union.
HCCI says its prices are what insurers pay for about 70 tests and "bundles" of services described in understandable terms so patients don't need a medical textbook to figure out what they are. Users get the average as well as a range for local and national prices.
It plans to add more procedures later — all for "shoppable" services that can be scheduled, not emergency treatment of a heart attack.
"This at least arms consumers with information about the range of prices in their community [for] one of these care bundles," said David Newman, HCCI's executive director.
If you have a high deductible, for example, you might use Guroo as a starting point for checking prices from medical providers if your insurance company doesn't provide such a tool.
That's not the same as seeing provider-specific prices online, of course. But within a year, HCCI expects to let members of UnitedHealthcare, Aetna, Assurant and Humana track spending on a companion site and check how switching caregivers could lower their out-of-pocket costs.
Initially Guroo doesn't have much information about quality of care, either, which is essential to help patients to make smart choices. Newman says that is coming, too. It's also missing information for Alabama, Michigan and several other states.
BlueCross BlueShield of North Carolina set a high standard for disclosure recently by posting prices — doctor by doctor and hospital by hospital — based on its reimbursement rates, Quincy said. Guroo doesn't do that.
Still, she said, it's an important step.
Given its size, influence and openness, Guroo could become a dominant portal for health care prices, said Hempstead.
"Their stance as a neutral broker and the amount of data that they have and the amount of data that they're going to have really puts them in a difference place," she said.
Testimony of Robert Greenstein President, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities Before the House Committee on Agriculture
Why To Exercise Today: Protection (In Mice) From Diabetes Effect On Heart
You've probably seen those scary maps showing a wave of obesity engulfing the country over the last generation, as state after state converts to more-overweight-than-not. The map above comes from a similar animation, only the wave is diabetes. Watch the states turn alarming colors over time here.
For many of us as we age, Type 2 diabetes is not so much a question of "if" as "when." So even if you don't have diabetes now, here's a bit more inspiration to help fend it off with exercise: Researchers report that — in mice, at least — exercise appears to protect powerfully against a potentially fatal heart complication of diabetes.
The complication is called diabetic cardiomyopathy, and it can lead to heart failure. It may not be first on your list of fears (especially if you've never heard of it before, as I hadn't), but these new findings serve as yet another demonstration of the countless ways that exercise may defend you against health harms. From the University of Virginia Health System's press release:
"This is a proof of concept. It shows that an antioxidant coming from skeletal muscle that can be induced by exercise training can provide profound protection against an important detrimental disease condition," said UVA researcher Zhen Yan, PhD. "The implication is if we can come up with a strategy to promote [this effect] in people who are vulnerable to, or already developing, diabetes, that could prevent the development of diabetic cardiomyopathy."
Yan and his team used genetically modified mice to show that enhancing the production of a molecule called EcSOD – which is produced in skeletal muscle and promoted by regular exercise – would prevent the damaging effects of diabetic cardiomyopathy. These effects include stiffening and enlargement of the heart, which can lead to heart failure.
While the work amplified the expression of the molecule to levels beyond what normal exercise would produce, Yan said it's an important demonstration of the concrete benefits of regular exercise in people. "Our studies show that even as little as two weeks of exercise could significantly elevate the level in the blood and the heart," he said.
Yan says he's also hoping to develop a pill that could help patients who can't exercise, or boost the effect in people who can. Ah, yes, the eternal search for the exercise pill. Don't hold your breath — better to huff and puff instead.