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There's nothing more satisfying than sending your enemy into a hysterical fit by sticking them with your grenade.
Views: 43,820 | Posted: 11/23/2011
By: TL-97
This video started as more of a test for video editing techniques to be used in another project. But then kind of tured into it's own mini project. It's a character introduction/promo vid for the continuing Kirby story fic, even if Kirby himself doesn't appear in this one. It's more of an introduction for more characters anyway. And there are a few first time appearances here as well as some underlying meaning to the way it's set up. A full revised version of of this video may be made at some point but for now it's a short promo.
Views: 543 | Posted: 07/10/2011
By: GameTrailers
**SPOILERS** You need to press the RIGHT analog stick LEFT (hence the clicking noise you hear). Just a fun little easter egg at the end of Halo 3 ODST of Buck and a pet monkey from Halo 3!
Views: 1,231 | Posted: 05/25/2011
By: GameTrailers
Nathan fillion on his role in halo 3: ODST
Views: 12,022 | Posted: 05/25/2011
By: Murderone
Well this is the legendary first presentation of Halo game, and undoubtly a surprise for many - just look on what platform it was originally made. After this presentation Microsoft entered with big bucks, and the rest is history. Apple at this time was only at the beginning of ascent from financial troubles, maybe that explains why they allowed this game to slip away. It was 1999, original iMac (bulky, made in many colors version) was not even a year old, and Mac OS X was more than a year away (this demo was run on OS 9). Funny thing is, this version of game was created for Open GL and on PowerPC processors, used then only by Apple and Amiga computers. First X-Box, and of course PC's used Intel CPUs. Today all consoles (PS3, Wii and X-Box 360) use PowerPC technology, while Apple switched to Intel around the same time, for many official reasons, but most probably because IBM (PowerPC producer) could not manage creation/production for everybody. Anyway - Mac users were crushed w...
Views: 2,230 | Posted: 05/25/2011
By: Mike
12 Fresh Orbital Screens
Views: 411 | Posted: 05/25/2011
By: GameTrailers
This video is just amazing! UT3 takes on Halo in amazing vs dance contest. Don't ask me how this was made, but it is truly awesome! Must See!
Views: 3,177 | Posted: 05/25/2011
By: BlunTz
ODST Campaign Footage! PART 2: [make_url]arc:content:gt-authoring:4114ee91-bd97-42bd-a40b-952d1264cf2d[/make_url]
Views: 647 | Posted: 05/25/2011
By: wesxpresswmb
This trailer is bad ass but kind of a teaser still I think it's cool.
Views: 753 | Posted: 05/25/2011
By: wesxpresswmb
these are some guys that use smart exploits of the game and I think it's dishonorable but a good strategy! enjoy!
Views: 515 | Posted: 05/25/2011
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Rod Laver Born: Aug. 9, 1938Australian tennis player only player to win Grand Slam twice (1962,69); Wimbledon champion 4 times; 1st to earn $1 million in prize money, won 11 Grand Slam singles titles. Fact Monster/Information Please® Database, © 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.
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Tesla: 100% Market Share in Silicon Valley
The $100,000-ish Tesla Model S competes primarily with other $100,000 luxury sedans. What does that mean? It means Mercedes S550 and BMW 750. That's the market segment. A $100,000 luxury sedan doesn't compete with a $40,000 car or a $20,000 car.
So the critical question is this: In the seven or so months since volume production began, what has happened to Tesla's market share in its target segment?
One way to find out is to count these new cars on the street. When you buy a brand-new 2013 model-year car, you get a dealer document that's pasted to the front window, which you exchange for the final license tags within 60 or so days.
As it happens, the last 60 or so days is the relevant time period for Tesla anyway, in this case. So this makes the case easy.
On the average day in the last month or two, I have seen at least a dozen Tesla Model S cars on the streets while hanging out in Silicon Valley -- every day -- increasing in frequency every few days. The key point here is: How does this compare with Tesla's main competitors, the Mercedes S-class and the BMW 7-series? In the last two months, I have not seen a single brand-new Mercedes S class or BMW 7 series. Not one. That's compared to at least a dozen brand-new Teslas every day. You know what conclusion I draw from this? In a matter of only a few short months, Tesla has gone from 0% market share to 100%. Not 99%. 100% -- in these parts of Silicon Valley anyway. I can hear the complaints and objections already. "That's anecdotal. Not enough sample size. You didn't look at every street 24/7. BMW and Mercedes sell their flagships somewhere." The complainers would be right. But I'm also right. I'm not making this up. I'm only doing what analysts in New York are doing when they comment "When I ride the N.Y. subway, the only tablet I see is the iPad, no Android" -- or whatever the comparison may be. What is the moral of this story? It is this: By my own account as an extremely observant car nut, Tesla now has 100% market share in its "home" market of some part of Silicon Valley. The fair climate makes it an ideal place for an electric car, but 100%? Seriously? Tesla isn't banking on getting even 20% of the $100,000 luxury sedan car market. In other words, if Tesla can quickly get to 100% market share in Silicon Valley -- where over a million people live -- perhaps it can get to 50% or whatever other decent number somewhere else. Even 10% would be heroic. If Tesla gets anywhere close to a double-digit market share number, it will have been an epic success. As of today, there probably aren't much over 5,000 Teslas on the road -- in the whole world. But it took only a few hundred of them to prove to me that Tesla is getting to 100% market share at its geographical tip of the spear -- Silicon Valley. The beauty of an uneven distribution in the earliest phase of deploying a new product is that we can see much further into the future in at least some corner of the market. For Tesla, that future is in its home market, and Tesla's competitors -- BMW 7-series and Mercedes S-class -- had better watch out because the air just went out of their sales balloons. "Tesla already got to 100% market share" -- now that's a headline you can take to the bank, unfair as it may be. At the time of publication the author had a position in TSLA and AAPL. Follow @antonwahlman This article is commentary by an independent contributor, separate from TheStreet's regular news coverage.Check Out Our Best Services for Investors
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text:
LOOK of the DAY
January 22, 2013
Michelle Obama
Editor's choice
WHAT SHE WORE Michelle Obama took the Inaugural Ball stage in a red Jason Wu halter gown, satin Jimmy Choo heels to match and stacked Kimberly McDonald for Forevermark bangles.
WHY WE LOVE IT With a dress this dynamic, we can't wait for four more years of fashion!
Read MoreLess


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now Ł12.00 was Ł18.00
Stylish and comfortable, these smart stretch-cotton chino trousers are a perfect addition to your wardrobe. With a flattering gently tapered leg and a rolled hem, these ladies trousers feature the addition of elastic to the waistband for a comfortable and easy fit. Perfect worn with a loose linen blouse or lightweight knitwear, simply add sandals or flat pumps for a fresh, chic look this season.
Length: | 74cm (29ins) when unrolled |
Product Care: | Machine washable |


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Watchtime - usa' .1 watch magazine | wristwatch reviews, Watchtime is america's no. 1 watch magazine with one of the world's fastest growing watch websites. watchtime also hosts award-winning luxury watch events..
Worldwatch institute, Analyzes interdisciplinary environmental data world, providing information build sustainable society. website articles broad. http://www.worldwatch.org/ Earthwatch institute > home, Volunteers. people world, ages backgrounds, join earthwatch expeditions. corporate. research-based employee engagement . http://earthwatch.org/ Arrow video - midnight city | watch online free, Arrow video: watch arrow full episodes, previews, clips, interviews video. violent shipwreck, oliver queen missing presumed dead . http://www.cwtv.com/shows/arrow/midnight-city/?play=a07041c5-e9d9-4922-b8ab-1d14ba11eafc


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By Shamecca Harris
Robyn Fenty, better known as Rihanna, is internationally revered for her fierce fashion sense and infamous rants. Whether in matters of her closet or her love life, the "Diamonds" singer is always candid.
However, this wasn't always the case.
"I had to regain my fearlessness because it did go away for a little bit." Rihanna, 25, told Glamour for its November issue, which hits newsstands Oct. 8. "My mother said something to me a few years ago: 'I've seen something in your eyes I've never seen before: fear.' She was like, 'No, this is not you.' I just got back to being OK with myself."
See: Rihanna Through the Years
And who exactly is Rihanna?
The singer insists that there is more to her than the bad girl image she portrays. "Rihanna, that tends to be people's own [creation]," she admits. "Robyn is who I am. Rihanna–that's an idea of who I am."
Along with regaining her confidence, the singer continues to experiment with bold new looks, currently trying out a cropped curly 'do. The style chameleon said she places icons like Nicole Richie and Princess Diana high on her best-dressed list, but reveals that her ultimate fashion inspiration is her mom.
"My love for fashion–let me say, my admiration for fashion–started with my mom," she said. "I used to watch her get dressed. She was around my age right now, and she was so fly. So fly."
Related: Chris Brown says Rihanna has 'Forgiven' Him
Thanks to mom, Rihanna is a style icon in her on right and will share her passion for fashion with viewers nationwide on her new TV Show "Styled to Rock," set to premier Oct. 25.
"I felt like there were all these talented people in New York who had a very keen eye for style and design, but I couldn't find them [to work with]," she added. "I get excited by discovering new designers."


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nice hotel with friendly staff . rooms were very clean and good breakfast. very close to the skiing resort . we were a family of ten people and took three rooms . the two small things are that the Wi-Fi was not working and the breakfast should be a little bit earlier because of the busses . but they were... More
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text:
Unbiased Reviews by Real People
Reviewed by 5 users
by fitzkissa Mar 22, 2007 - Updated Mar 24, 2007 (A Very Helpful review)
Author's Product Rating: 50 Recommended: Yes
Pros: All around fantastic vehicleCons: poor stereo system, low gas mileageThe Bottom Line: This is a great truck for work or play. We use it for both and have never been disappointed.
This article refers to the diesel version of the Ford F250 with an extended cab. This is one of the safest feeling, strongest, powerful and secure feeling trucks I have ever been in. I'm very picky about vehicles and this one gets top rates. We ... read more
Read the full review
by thetruthis2003 Feb 20, 2004 (A Helpful review)
Author's Product Rating: 10 Recommended: No
Pros: The auto tranny shifts.Cons: The biggest paper weight I've ever owned.. see reviewThe Bottom Line: I wouldn't even consider buying another Ford ever again. Their quality and technical expertise is gone forever. You will be wasting your money.
I bought an 04 with the new powerstuck diesel. What a piece of crap. The steering wanders, pulls to the left and there is a dead spot from the center of the steering wheel in which turning the wheel has no effect. The dealer says, give it a month or two ... read more
by desertrattt Jun 1, 2003 (A Helpful review)
Pros: Power, Comfort, EconomyCons: Initial Throttle responseThe Bottom Line: Its worth the extra cost for the diesel, the quiet diesel.
Living in the Arizona Mountains, this power combination really shines. Even running in this part of the country we manage 15 MPG city, and 20 MPG hwy. The truck drives like a "BIG" sports car. Steering is smooth and responsive, cab is roomy and quiet ... read more
by fcpd018 Feb 17, 2003 (A Helpful review)
Pros: PULLING POWERCons: TURNING RADIUSThe Bottom Line: A REAL WORK HORSE AND AT A FAIR PRICE
I BOUGHT THE FORD F-250 TO REPLACE A FORD-F150 WHICH I USED TO PULL MY 27 FT. TRAVEL TRAILER. THE F-150 JUST DID NOT HAVE THE POWER OR SUSPENSION TO PULL THE TRAILER. THE F-250 HAS POWER TO SPARE WITH THE TRITON 5.4 ENGINE. THE F-250 PULLS THE CAMPER ... read more


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"At Escher Industries you'll find we have absolutely no glass ceilings!"
N. and L&P, thanks very much for the nice comments here! I have also been a huge fan of Escher's work for a long time and there are lots of ways his compositions have excellent symbolism for us all of these years later.
You've capture exactly that which separates those who can draw (you) from those who can't (for example, me) -- perspective. Brilliant.
Caroline, Geezerchick and Nikki, thanks very much for the positive feedback on the cartoon! I really appreciate the comments.
Donna, thank you very much!
Caracalla's Amanuensis, those are some clever ideas you have mentioned. I think all gyms should add the Moebius strip. I'd like to go for a run on one of those!
Caracalla's Amanuensis, those are some clever ideas you have mentioned. I think all gyms should add the Moebius strip. I'd like to go for a run on one of those!
No glass ceiling is a good thing, you can always look up and not see, well, with glass ceiling you never know what you'll see!! ;D
You don't know how much this resonates with me. A couple of years ago, just before I took early retirement because I hated the changes occuring in my company, I had dreams about my building as if they were designed by M.C. Escher - hallways that never led anywhere, elevators that never stopped on my floor. This reminded me of those dreams.
"The art of life imitating art...and having an even better view of life revealed, in the reflection" Bravo!!! Heals all who are still afraid of heights, or dread going round-in-round in a symmetrical direction...however judging from that big hole in the middle of the stairway...it further affirms that even without the supposed presence of glass ceilings...one should always watch their step.


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New XPG Xupreme 200X Flash Drive Offered in Capacity Up to 64GB
Taipei, Taiwan - July 2nd , 2009 - A-DATA® Technology Co., Ltd., a worldwide leading manufacturer in high-performance DRAM modules and Flash application products, today introduced its new 64 GB capacity XPG Xupreme 200X flash drive, which is the first flash drive compatible with Windows® 7 (32-bit and 64-bit). Coated with an elegant dark grey aluminum color, the XPG Xupreme 200X flash drive presents the high-performance USB flash drive in a simple yet stylish design of XPG product line. It offers capacity from 8GB to incredible 64GB, and supports up to 30MB/s (200X) read speed.
The XPG Xupreme 200X flash drive also certified for Windows Vista and Windows® ReadyBoost, offering the high performance advantages to this operation system. Moreover, the XPG Xupreme 200X flash drive also comes with a practical leather strap and provides true "Plug and Play" function to make your storage utilization more convenient.
With the capacity up to 64GB, the XPG Xupreme 200X flash drive is the perfect blend of high performance and simple flash drive to improve your digital lifestyle, and maximize your storage.
High Performance up to 30 MB/sec read speed
Compatible with Microsoft® Windows® 7
Certified for Microsoft® Windows Vista
Support Windows® ReadyBoost
Support USB 2.0, backward compatible with USB 1.1
Dashing, durable, lightweight Aluminum casing
Hot Plug and Play
Color: Dark metallic grey
Capacity: 8GB/16GB/32GB/64GB
Dimension: 66.0*19.0*10.0 mm (LxWxH)
Weight: 15g
About A-DATA
A-DATA Technology, the world's 2nd largest vendor of DRAM Modules (iSuppli, May 2009), 4th largest of USB Flash Drives (Gartner, May 2009), and the Top 20 global brand in Taiwan, offers complete memory solutions, including DRAM Modules, USB Flash Drives, Memory Cards, Solid State Drives and Portable Hard Drives. Being committed to constant innovation, A-DATA delivers first-rate quality and industry-leading product performance to our customers. A-DATA products have been globally recognized by winning major design awards, including Germany's iF Design Award and Reddot Award, Japan's Good Design Award, Best Choice of Computex Award, and Taiwan Excellence Gold Award. To find out more about A-DATA Technology, you can visit the A-DATA website at http://www.adata-group.com and OC.adata.com.tw.
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Claude Julien tweaks lines for morning skate, Johnny Boychuk's status uncertain | 03.27.13 at 12:05 pm ET |
Wednesday's morning skate featured more tweaking of the Bruins' line as they prepare to host the Canadiens in a contest for first place in the Northeast Division. Claude Julien has moved Milan Lucic back with David Krejci and Nathan Horton, while Brad Marchand skated on the third line with Rich Peverley and Jordan Caron.
The lines were as follows:
Milan Lucic – David Krejci – Nathan Horton
Daniel Paille – Patrice Bergeron – Tyler Seguin
Brad Marchand – Rich Peverley – Jordan Caron
Jay Pandolfo – Gregory Campbell – Shawn Thornton
Johnny Boychuk, who has missed the last two games with an apparent foot injury, was back on the ice for the Bruins for the first time since leaving practice last Friday. Julien said following the morning skate that Boychuk's status for Wednesday's game is "uncertain" given that he has not been cleared to play. Boychuk will be re-evaluated Wednesday afternoon.
Matt Bartkowski said he is unsure whether he is in the lineup for Wednesday, but don't count out Bartkowski playing even if Boychuk returns given Aaron Johnson's recent struggles.
Johnny Boychuk out Monday vs. Maple Leafs | 03.25.13 at 11:23 am ET |
Bruins defenseman Johnny Boychuk will miss his second straight game when the B's host the Maple Leafs Monday night at TD Garden, Claude Julien said Monday morning.
Boychuk left Friday's practice with an apparent foot injury. He did not practice Sunday after missing Saturday's game in Toronto. In his place, Matt Bartkowski played 13:05, posting a minus-2 with one shot on goal. Bartkowski will play in his second consecutive game Monday
The Bruins did not hold a morning skate Monday, but Julien shuffled the team's lines in Sunday's practice. They were as follows:
Brad Marchand ' David Krejci ' Nathan Horton
Daniel Paille ' Patrice Bergeron ' Tyler Seguin
Milan Lucic ' Rich Peverley ' Jordan Caron
Jay Pandolfo ' Gregory Campbell ' Shawn Thornton
For more on the Bruins, visit weei.com/bruins.
Johnny Boychuk out, Rich Peverley back in Bruins lineup vs. Maple Leafs | 03.23.13 at 7:13 pm ET |
Johnny Boychuk will miss Saturday's game against the Maple Leafs, with Matt Bartkowski making his season debut in Boychuk's place. Boychuk suffered a leg injury in Friday's practice, causing the B's to recall Bartkowski from Providence.
Rich Peverley, who was a healthy scratch Thursday against the Senators, is back in the lineup. Claude Julien is keeping Ryan Spooner in the lineup, with Jordan Caron a healthy scratch against the Leafs. Spooner will center Peverley and Jay Pandolfo.
For more on the Bruins, visit weei.com/bruins.
Bruins recall Matt Bartkowski on emergency basis | 03.22.13 at 5:03 pm ET |
The Bruins recalled defenseman Matt Bartkowski on an emergency basis Friday, the same day that defenseman Johnny Boychuk left practice with a right leg injury.
Bartkowski will be available for Saturday's game against the Maple Leafs. The 24-year-old has three goals and 21 assists for 24 points in 56 games this season.
For more on the Bruins, visit weei.com/bruins.
Shootout magic: Brad Marchand, Tuukka Rask come up big as Bruins beat Devils | 01.29.13 at 9:48 pm ET |
Brad Marchand scored the decisive goal in the sixth round while Tuukka Rask stopped 5-of-6 shots in the shootout as the Bruins beat the Devils, 2-1 in overtime Tuesday night at TD Garden. The Bruins (5-0-1) have gained at least a point in all six games this season. The highlight of the shootout came when Tyler Seguin had to re-do his first shot that produced a goal because a fan threw something on the ice. Seguin repeated his effort and scored again.
The Bruins and Devils are the only teams in the Eastern Conference without a regulation loss so far, joining San Jose and Chicago in the West, who were perfect coming into Tuesday's action.
The two teams battled to a scoreless tie in the opening 20 minutes. Each team recorded nine shots on goal but neither team sustained serious pressure. The main highlight of the first period was a fight between Boston enforcer Shawn Thornton and New Jersey tough guy Krys Barch. In a bout that lasted for nearly a minute and a half, Thornton landed several clean shots before the two were broken apart by the officials, with both teams applauding their skater for staying on their feet the entire time.
The Bruins killed off an Andrew Ference tripping penalty with five minutes left in the first, giving them 24 straight kills to open the season.
But the Bruins were not as lucky in the second period as Johnny Boychuk was whistled for tripping at 7:22. David Clarkson redirected a Marek Zidlicky shot from the left point past Tuukka Rask for the first power play goal allowed by the Bruins in 25 chances this season.
The Bruins would kill off the next three power play chances and finished the game 4-for-5 on the penalty kill. They are 27-of-28 on the penalty kill this season.
The Bruins came out with much greater intensity in the opening minute of the third period and were buzzing around Johan Hedberg. Boston's best chance came when Dougie Hamilton fired a shot from the left point that just went wide, missing the stick of David Krejci. Instead of a goal, Krejci was called for goaltender interference, taking some momentum away from the Bruins. Read the rest of this entry »
Johnny Boychuk 'ready to go right now' | 01.08.13 at 2:49 pm ET |
If you see Johnny Boychuk around town and want to call a toast to hockey being back, order anything but Red Bull.
The Bruins' defenseman, who is back in town after spending the lockout overseas, couldn't escape the stuff while playing for EC Red Bull Salzburg of the Austrian Hockey League. Rather than a refrigerator of bottled water, gatorade and other sports drinks, the dressing room over there offered one drink. Guess what it was?
Fortunately, the tap water was good to drink and it didn't prove to be anything more than a minor inconvenience for the Bruins' defenseman. After his first practice back with teammates on Tuesday, Boychuk spoke highly of his European experience.
"It was kind of like I wanted to go and play somewhere and get into actual game shape, and work hard while I was there," Boychuk said. "I heard you have to work really hard, so it was good. We rode the bike a lot and you got in shape really quick there. That was a key part of going there, was getting into competitive hockey, too."
As was the case with fellow Bruins blueliner Dennis Seidenberg in Germany, Boychuk played on a team that rotated its defensemen more heavily, meaning the games didn't end up being as taxing as they figure to be in the upcoming NHL season.
"We rotated a lot," he said. "Everybody played around the same minutes, but at least you got to play quite a bit."
Even with less minutes, the offensive numbers were good for Boychuk — two goals and six assists in 15 games — so is he becoming the puck-moving defenseman for which the Bruins have been searching for years?
Not exactly. Boychuk called the numbers "decent" but attributed them to his team's style of play.
"It was a little bit different," he said. "The coach wanted us to jump up in the play more and it helped up a lot."
For what it's worth, Boychuk appeared to pinch more often early last season than he had in the past, so maybe his lockout performance was a combination of weaker competition, being more offensively involved and simply improving. After all, this will Boychuk's fourth full NHL season (using "full," liberally, as he played in only 51 games in 2009-10), so he still feels he has improvements to make.
"Now I just want to step my game up a little bit more every year and play well defensively and when there's a chance to jump up there offensively I will," he said.
With camps opening soon, Boychuk thinks he got everything out of playing in Austria that he wanted. He's sharp, and he's in shape.
"I'm ready," he said. "I'm ready to go right now, so it's a perfect situation for me because you had to go there and work hard. Now that the season's starting I'm glad I went there because it was a good experience and you really had to work hard to stay in shape there."
Bruins getting offensive with the defense | 04.24.12 at 10:21 am ET |
For all of the talk – and deservedly so – about Patrice Bergeron finally getting nominated as a finalist for the Selke award for best defensive forward in the game, it's ironic that the offensive play of the Bruins' defensemen is a key reason they even find themselves in a Game 7 Wednesday night against the Caps.
"Yeah, they've played well all series, but also I think all year and it's just another aspect of our game that shows right there that we're deep offensively, but also we're deep on defense and throughout the lineup," Bergeron said Monday. "They've been helping us in this series a lot to just get offense, but also defensively to stop their skilled guys and can't say enough about all of them back there. They all do their job and they all take pride in it."
Everyone knows about the abilities of Zdeno Chara and Dennis Seidenberg in helping to contain Alex Ovechkin, Alexander Semin and Nicklas Backstrom. And everyone knows that both of them bring cannons from the point with their slap shots. What fans – and even the Caps – may not have counted on was the offensive contributions of Johnny Boychuk and Andrew Ference.
Boychuck had one of his patented "Johnny Rockets" on a power play to tie Saturday's Game 5 at 3-3, when time was running down. Sunday, it appeared for all the world that Ference – on "Earth Day" – had given the Bruins the game-winning goal in regulation when he pinched down and scooped up a rebound off a Tyler Seguin shot and put it in the net.
Earlier in the game, it was Ference who smartly read the rush of Patrice Bergeron and Rich Peverley out of the offensive zone circle draw toward the slot and fired a shot that Peverley tipped past Braden Holtby for the game's first goal.
"I think he's done a great job," B's coach Claude Julien said of Ference. "We've always liked Andrew's battle and also for his size and also for the fact that he certainly has good versatility. He moves well, he skates well and again, we keep encouraging our D's to support the attack and go out the ice and he's done a great job of that."
There is a risk, of course, like when Chara and Seidenberg get caught too far up ice as was the case on Capitals' goals in Games 3 and 6. In Game 6, the Capitals tied the game, 2-2, when Jason Chimera got behind Seidenberg, who had a broken skate, and beat Tim Thomas.
"Our D's seem to be finding a little bit more balance in this series as we get near the end, between jumping in [and] supporting, and also being reliable defensively we can't forget the fact that this is a team in Washington that's got some guys that can score goals and they love to blow the zone quickly. So we've got to be careful we don't get our D's caught up the ice all the time, but he did a great job [Sunday] at identifying that opening and going up the ice and giving us that lead."
The Bruins will be relying on that again in Game 7 as they look for every advantage.
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text:
Goldman Sachs Won't Be Prosecuted In Fraud Probe
A Senate panel found last year that Goldman Sachs marketed four sets of complex mortgage securities to banks and other investors, but failed to tell clients the securities were very risky. The Justice Department said the "burden of proof to bring a criminal case" could not be met.
Copyright © 2012 NPR. For personal, noncommercial use only. See Terms of Use. For other uses, prior permission required.
NPR's business news starts with a Justice decision.
MONTAGNE: The U.S. Justice Department announced late last night that it is not pursing criminal charges against Wall Street bank Goldman Sachs or its employees. A Senate panel investigating the financial crisis had charged that Goldman bet against the same risky mortgage bundle it was also selling to clients. The Justice Department said in a statement it could not meet the burden of proof to bring a criminal case.
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Spent 3 nights there in June 2013. Could not ask for more. Close to the Town, Transport on your door step if you choose not to walk. Meals very tasty and a friendly staff that pointed me to the various landmarks of interest. I thoroughly enjoyed myself especially ion the land of Sibelius.
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- OR - Select an option belowThe humidor room is nearly as large as the lounge, which gives you a sense of what El Clique's priorities are. Comfortable armchairs allow patrons to enjoy a leisurely smoke from a large selection of premium cigars (buy five, and the sixth one is free). The tidy bar is small and the drinks limited to cocktails and wine with no draft beers, while two medium-sized screens air sporting events. Drinks are two for one during Heat and Dolphin games, and live Latin music is featured on select nights. El Clique offers tapas, appetizers and sandwiches. Tucked between stores, the bar opens and 11 a.m. and stays open as long as there are customers to serve.


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Your host, Aitxpea, will treat you wonderfully. Be ready for a wonderful country breakfast. The clean, modern rooms will surprise & refresh you. Usotegi is 1 of the places we want to re-visit if & when we ever get back to the Basque country.
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text: Devious Journal Entryi dont understand why people hate eridan. he only killed two trolls, two trolls. i mean like what the hell? gamzee is no better yet half of the fan-trolls i've seen are his matesprit. i dont understand. i actually think that feferi did deserve something bad to happen to her because she left eridan, but nothing that serious. that was over reacting, but still.


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Rodney Foster, Melinda Terwilliger's best friend and part-time therapist, nodded. He was always nodding during their "sessions." He was only a grad student, but his father was one of the most brilliant minds in psychotherapy, and Rodney was planning to follow in his father's footsteps.
Melinda didn't mind being his lab rat, really. Their sessions were informal, helpful and free. And, most important, she trusted him.
"When did you first become aware the thug was following you?" he asked.
Melinda's muscles tensed as she felt transported back to the events of a few days earlier. "I felt his eyes on me. I know he turned his head to watch me as I walked quickly past, and there was some kind of warning bell going off in my head, telling me something was up. But I didn't know what to do, or whether to trust it." She felt like an idiot now for having ignored what, in hindsight, seemed so obvious.
"Not surprising," Rodney said. "You know, the instinctive awareness of danger is something animals have, particularly in the wild. There's no reason to assume we humans don't have similar senses. I happen to believe we do, but we bury them in things like reason and logic and even good manners. Often, to our own detriment."
"That's exactly what I did." She nodded slowly as she recalled the incident. "I didn't turn around, didn't look back, but I heard his footsteps behind me, and I knew he was following me. A cold shiver rushed up my spine, just like people always say it does. I felt it so palpably that I wanted to slap it away. No, no, that's not what I wanted to do. I wanted to break into a dead run. Everything in me told me to run. I had to fight not to."
"At least you know your instincts were working. You just weren't listening to them."
"I will next time, that's for sure."
"There you go, something positive came from this."
"You and your positive thinking," she muttered.
Rodney shrugged his skinny shoulders in a distinctly feminine way. "It works for me. But back to you. Why do you think you didn't want to let yourself run, Melinda?"
She shrugged. "I guess I thought I'd look like an idiot."
"To whom? The thug? Why did you care?"
"I don't know."
"And yet, you didn't run. You basically put your chronic worry about what other people think of you, your constant need to please others, to be liked and approved of by them, ahead of your own well-being."
She pursed her lips as he touched on her most sensitive issue. "I—I quickened my pace, though."
He sighed, but didn't press her on what he called her Doormat Tendencies. "And then what happened?"
She drew in a nasal breath and caught a whiff of her own perfume, tender-scented sweat pea. It gave her little comfort. She even smelled like a 'fraidy cat, she thought miserably. Why couldn't she be strong and tough and self-assured the way some women were?
"He quickened his pace, too," she said. "And there was a dark alley up ahead, the last one before my duplex. The one that always gives me the worst case of goose bumps when I walk past it after dark. I just knew he was going to yank me into that alley when I got close enough. So I started to cross the street. That's when he grabbed me."
"Stop right there," Rodney interrupted. "Answer quickly, without thinking first. What did you feel when he grabbed you?"
"Panic, of course."
"Surprise? Now try to answer honestly."
She frowned. "No. No, I was expecting it by then."
He nodded. "I think you've been expecting it for months. Ever since those thugs moved into that house on the corner."
"They're ruining the neighborhood. It used to be so nice, but now you just see those four who live there, lurking around all the time. Looking like gang members or something. The fat one, the skinny one and the heroin twins."
He smiled a little. "That's a great nickname for the two females. It fits them."
"I just know they're dealing drugs out of that house, what with the lowlife scumbags that are in and out of there at all hours of the night. More and more of them are hanging around longer. They don't seem to have jobs or lives or, God forbid, bathtubs. They just stand around, taking up space in the streets and making the neighbors nervous. You know Mr. Peabody's coffee shop was robbed last week?"
"I know."
"Broad daylight, guy in a stocking mask, waving a gun around. Got away with eighty-seven bucks. Probably went straight to that drug den and spent it, too."
"Did your guy have a gun? Your mugger?"
She shook her head, refocusing. "He had a knife. I felt it pressing into my side. He said not to make a sound, and I didn't. I just stood there and let him take my purse. I already had my keys in my hand, but he got everything else. And I just let him take it."
"Given the circumstances, that was probably the smartest thing to do, Melinda."
She shook her head. "After it was all over—after I unfroze enough to look around me and he was gone and I was alone—I realized there was a tear in my coat. From that knife. He'd pressed it hard enough to tear my coat, and he could have torn my flesh just as easily. It was like my body suddenly snapped back to life. I broke into a run and didn't stop again until I was behind my own door."
"That's the fight-or-flight response."
"Well, why was it so slow in coming?"
Rodney frowned.
"Why does my fight-or-flight response only kick in after my 'deer caught in headlights' response gets finished? Why couldn't I have broken into a run before I passively handed over my credit cards?"
"Because that's what you expected yourself to do. Look, hon, we've been having these sessions for almost a year now, and all your problems are just new versions of the same basic story. You're a doormat. You're a victim. This is just the blown-up version of the same tale."
"Oh, come on, getting mugged isn't the same as—"
"As what? Doing your colleagues' work for them without pay? Letting your sister drive your car while you take the train and make the payments? Loaning money to every ex-boyfriend who asks even though you know you'll never get it back? How is this different? Tell me? This guy didn't know it, but he didn't even need that knife. All he had to do was tell you he needed your purse and you'd have handed it over."
"I would not!" she denied.
"You're a sucker, Melinda. You are taken advantage of constantly because you expect to be. And, I believe, because you think people won't like you if you say no to them."
"I don't—" She drew a breath, sighed. "I do. You're right, I do that. Maybe not to the degree you say, but yeah. Why, though? Why am I so weak?"
"Because you believe you are."
She rolled her eyes and sat up. She'd been lying on her own sofa, as if she were in some cliched shrink's office, telling Rodney about her latest drama. And instead of helping her, or telling her how to get stronger or at least how to feel better about being the victim of a violent crime, he'd gone off on his usual tangent about her creating her own experiences. If she really wanted to change, she would do so. She must be getting some kind of gratification from being used, or she would put a stop to it. If she let him keep going, he'd get onto the flimsiness of reality as we believe it to be and quantum physics and dead cats in boxes.
That was where he usually lost her. "I'm going to make some more herbal tea," she said, to distract him. "You want some?"
Rodney sighed loudly. "Sure." Then he was quiet for a long moment as she padded past him in her socked feet and headed to the tiny kitchen to put a kettle on the four-burner range. When he spoke again, he was on an entirely new track. "How are things going with the new math teacher?"
"Going?" She didn't know what he meant. There was nothing going whatsoever. Just because she got goose bumps and a little queasy feeling in her belly every time Matt MacGuire flashed his to-die-for dimples in her direction, didn't mean anything. She never should have mentioned the new math teacher to her busybody, well-meaning friend. "I haven't even met the man yet. Why on earth do you ask?"
"Because you're attracted to him."
"So, I suggested you go up and introduce yourself, ask him out to lunch. Have you done that?"
She was very glad he couldn't see her face just then. It heated at the very thought. "I'm not one of those aggressive, make-the-first-move types, and you know it. If he has any interest in me, he'll let me know when he's ready."
"Shoot, how's he supposed to know there's anything to be interested in? You make yourself practically invisible."
She rolled her eyes as she took cups from the cupboard. "I like being invisible."
"No, you don't. You're miserable. Constantly asking me to tell you how to change your life, and then never listening to the advice I give. What good can I do if you won't even listen to me?"
He stayed where he was, in the easy chair by the window. She leaned back away from the range, so she could see him through the doorway. It was snowing again, big fat flakes falling past the window at his back. "I thought the shrink was supposed to listen to the patient," she said.
"I'm more than a shrink. I'm your friend."
"Best friend." She said it softly, glancing back at him through the doorway. "Fine, I'm listening. Talk."
Rodney shrugged. "You keep telling me you want to stop being a doormat."
"I do."
"Then here's your answer. Stop being a doormat." She paused with cups in her hands, waiting for the punch line, but he was finished. "Geez, Rodney, if you're ever going to be a great shrink, you're going to have to do better than that. I am what I am."
"You are what you believe yourself to be."
"Bull." She broke eye contact, opened a cupboard, took down the glass dish that held a selection of organic, herbal teas, each in their own little compartment.
"How about if I prove it to you? How about that, huh?" Rodney asked.
She frowned, backing away from the cupboard again and turning to stare into the living room at him. "What do you mean?"
He drew a deep, nasal breath, then blew it out slowly. Finally, he got to his feet. He was tall. Way over six feet, probably six-three or -four. And he was scrawny as a scarecrow. His nose and Adam's apple were the two most prominent features one noticed on him, and as a result, his high school nickname had been Turkey. Turkey Foster. Go figure. No one called him Turkey now. He was a bona fide genius. She tended to forget that because they were such old friends.
"What are you thinking, Rodney?" she asked.
"Okay, it's drastic. But it could work. It could make you feel like a whole new woman, give you confidence, change your life entirely. Depending, of course, on how badly you really want to change. And how susceptible you are to hypnosis, of course."
"Hypnosis?" She felt her mouth split into a smile, but when he didn't return it, she knew he wasn't kidding. Not at all. He was dead serious. She poured hot water into the cups, set them on a tray with the tea bags, creamer and sugar bowl, and started for the living room with the lot of it.
Rodney kept talking the whole time, apparently on a roll. "If I can make you believe that you are a woman who never lets anyone walk all over her, then you won't be. It's that simple. It's what I'm basing my thesis on. Will you let me try?"
Tilting her head to one side, she studied him. "You're going to turn me from a doormat into a barracuda, just by what, dangling a pocket watch in front of my face?"
He shrugged. "Something like that. If you're game."
"You really believe in this stuff?"
"Doesn't matter if I do or not. It's what you believe that's going to matter here. If you believe it'll work, it'll work. If you believe what I tell you while you're under, you'll become it. Are you game?"
She lowered the tea tray onto her coffee table, considering things as she went. "You won't make me mean or snotty, will you?"
"I promise."
"Are there any you know, side effects?"
"Definitely. The people who are used to taking advantage of you are going to be damned disappointed to find they can't do it anymore. They might stop coming around. Or, they'll respect you as an equal, remain as a friend and go find a new doormat to take your place as their favorite enabler."
"I'm not an enabler."
"Yeah, you are. But you won't believe that until you see what happens when you stop."
She drew a deep breath. "I guess—I guess it wouldn't hurt to try."
"Great. How about tomorrow?"
"How about right now?"
He smiled at her, shaking his head. "First she's hesitant, then she's in a big, fat, hairy hurry," he said.
She shrugged. "If I don't get over being a big coward, I'm going to have to move. This neighborhood is no place for weaklings. Annabelle, next door, chased that same herd of thugs down the sidewalk with a broom a week ago. Accused them of trying to steal her cat, Percy. And she's seventy-something."
"You could learn a lot from Annabelle." Rodney leaned forward to choose a tea bag and dropped it into his cup. "Tomorrow night, after work. My place, okay? Around seven?"
"Okay." She fixed her own tea, took a sip and burned her tongue.
"So what did the police say about your purse?"
"That I shouldn't walk home alone from the train station anymore."
"That's helpful." Rodney rolled his eyes. "You'll have to drive."
"I would, except that would mean leaving my car there all day, and God only knows who'd get after it. I'd come home to find it stripped."
"And your sister has it anyway," Rodney added. "Love the positive attitude, by the way. Just assume the worst-case scenario will always come to be. If you leave the car there, it'll get stripped. Why not assume it won't?"
"Because I'm not an idiot?" she tried.
"Because you're a pessimist," he corrected her.
"So maybe you can tweak that a bit tomorrow night, too."
Posted January 19, 2011
Heart of Winter is a keeper to revisit every year when the cold, bleak days after the holidays threaten to overwhelm. These three stories encourage, console, delight, and sizzle with sexy romance.
The Toughest Girl in Town by Maggie Shayne takes Melinda Terwilliger from being the number one citizen of "Wimpdom" to being a can-do, no-holds-barred defender of her neighborhood.
Melinda's best friend Rodney, a graduate student of psychotherapy, says, "you are what you believe you are". He declares Melinda is a victim and doormat because she sees herself in that light. Consequently, she is taken advantage of continually. After he hypnotizes her and extraneous suggestions slip in to influence her, she finds her "inner strength". Her world starts to spin. Once a shrinking violet, she is now a violet with iron petals.
Matthew MacGuire, the gorgeous new math teacher at her school, makes friends with her, even though every single woman in school pants for him. He soon finds his agenda concerning Melinda will be much harder to manage than planned. His clandestine mission tethers on the verge of ruin, as she becomes an "overconfident risk-taker".
The secondary characters' roles gain momentum as the story unfolds. Some major surprises add tension and suspense to this unique love story as Maggie Shayne weaves together a provocative story with humor and vibrant characters while exploring the premise that reality is what one believes it to be. She weaves in a tantalizing love that shimmers and shines among al the dingy things in life.
Melinda's metamorphosis makes enthralling reading.
Resolution by Linda Winstead Jones takes place in the Smokey Mountains of Tennessee with the snow making Nell Rose's life even more miserable than before and she had all ready declared it "sucky". Deplorable as things are for her, an undercurrent of humor periodically brings a smile. Alone, lost, and stuck in a ditch with snow and cold all around, Nell Rose walks to a distant light which proves to be a light to her life in so many ways.
Julian Maddox, a successful writer with a past, likes being alone in his mountain home, but finds himself saddled with an unwanted guest for the duration of a savage storm. Divorced and an ex-cop, he has seen too much of the horrible hurt people inflict on each other. He likes his solitary life.
Nell Rose's newly made resolutions are put to the test as the chemistry between her and Julian sizzles and sets off sparks. Both Nell Rose and Julian carry emotional scars from old hurts, but, in their isolated cocoon that's like a wrinkle in time, they reach for the promise of solace and satisfaction for that undefined need that each feels deep down.
When the outside world encroaches, their paradise is ripped apart. Old hang-ups and fears rear their ugly heads as lies fuel the flames of insecurities. Breathtaking, adrenaline-pumping action keeps the reader turning pages.
Mystery Lover by Day Leclaire takes the reader into the corporate world where climbing the ladder to success reigns supreme. When Jayne Myleston and Jonathan Blair both get a $2,500 ticket to the Mask Ball from their boss, Nick Fontana, often called Mr. Intimidating, the reader is in for a vicarious adventure as an irresistible courtship that bubbles with humor at times, has a serious undercurrent, and is conducted on two fronts with intensity and mind-boggling strategy.
Originally posted at The Long and Short of It Romance Reviews
Posted January 3, 2012
No text was provided for this review.
Posted October 4, 2011
No text was provided for this review.


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Embedded Optimum Controller for Process Loop Using ARM Controller
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Embedded controllers are often the heart of an industrial control system or a process control application. They may also be at the centre of a portable data acquisition system or remote controller that allows an application to keep running even if its umbilical link to the outside world is cut. At the same as control systems is an important application class of embedded systems, feedback control is also an important basic technology that can be employed in the design of embedded real-time systems. Feedback control is a well established and mathematically well-founded theory that is ideal for handling uncertainties.
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This website helps householders to compare replacement boiler quotes with an indicative estimate of the cost of a quality installation from a Gas Safe installer. Try our online cost calculator to compare your new boiler quote.
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A recent visit to the Solar Energy UK 2014 exhibition at the NEC Birmingham (14-16 October 2014) highlighted a few innovative products that may well … ...read more
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Our online boiler calculator covers the whole of the UK. We also have pages giving example replacement boiler cost estimates for various parts of … Read more
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From time to time the government offers boiler grants which subsidise the cost of replacing an old boiler with a new one. This page highlights schemes that offer free boiler grants or some … ,,,read more
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A wood burning stove can be a useful addition to a house as it gives an alternative method of heating at least one room. A wood burning stove installed in a house with … read more
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Installing a central heating system requires a range of specialist skills related to gas, electricity and water. Nowadays those with the right skills … read more


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Jan 14, 2011, 01:38 PM | #1 | ||
'Call of Duty 4' and 'Civilization IV: Colonization' Hit the Mac App Store
Aspyr Media, the company responsible for the porting of a number of Windows games to the Mac platform, has taken the notable step of embracing Apple's Mac App Store, potentiality leading the way for a surge in gaming interest that could drive growth on the new app marketplace. For its debut, Aspyr is offering Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare and Civilization IV: Colonization, two notable titles from the company's library of games. Aspyr has told us that it is planning to bring "many" of its titles to the Mac App Store, although some of its games do not meet Apple's current requirements for Mac App Store offerings and will thus be unable to make the transition in the immediate future. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare Call of Duty 4 made its debut on the Mac platform in September 2008, but remains a popular first-person shooter title among Mac gamers. Weighing in at a massive 6.85 GB in the Mac App Store, Call of Duty 4 offers players an immersive gameplay environment and a well-regarded storyline. Quote:
Sid Meier's Civilization IV: Colonization Civilization IV: Colonization is an updated remake of the original 1994 Colonization turn-based strategy game, with the Mac version of the new game having seen its first release in January 2010. Quote:
Aspyr and other developers are of course subject to Apple's policies of taking a 30% cut of revenue from Mac App Store sales, making it more difficult for developers to match pricing found through other channels such as Amazon that take smaller profits. But the convenience of the Mac App Store's purchasing, installation, and updating capabilities may serve to draw in users and help drive the growth of the gaming market within the store. Article Link: 'Call of Duty 4' and 'Civilization IV: Colonization' Hit the Mac App Store |
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Jan 14, 2011, 01:40 PM | #2 |
I wish BlackOps was released for Mac
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Jan 14, 2011, 01:41 PM | #3 |
A bit random with Call of Duty 4.... Surely they'd want their most recent title Modern Warfare 2 on there first? And then add the older games.
Worth the weight |
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Jan 14, 2011, 01:41 PM | #4 |
The future doesn't look bright for Mac Steam.
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Jan 14, 2011, 01:42 PM | #5 |
How are patches/updates handled?
Would the entire 6GB app need downloading again? Not such a worry with small normal apps on the store but a 6GB app is fairly hefty! Good news either way, but ill stick to Steam for big games, even if I have to go into Windows for some of them. More Mac games for Steam! |
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Jan 14, 2011, 01:45 PM | #6 | |
Worth the weight |
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Jan 14, 2011, 01:45 PM | #7 |
Weird how Apple promote a game that was originally released in November of 2007 and we all sit here in wonder... ooooh... ahhhh.
Seriously, now that Apple has a great delivery system for games, they need to work with developers to encourage development of games for OS X. |
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Jan 14, 2011, 01:45 PM | #8 |
Why haven't these hit Steam for Mac? This is not cool.
Maybe if everyone who'd ever been close to you had died, you'd be sarcastic, too.
Macrumors Steam Group |
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Jan 14, 2011, 01:47 PM | #9 |
I wonder why they didn't put Civ5 too :/ Do they have an exclusivity deal with Steam or something?
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Jan 14, 2011, 01:48 PM | #10 |
Did that Harry Potter Lego game get taken down? That was $49.99 too.
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Jan 14, 2011, 01:50 PM | #12 |
Civ5 is also on Steam for Mac. Not sure why CoD4 isn't on Steam for Mac, but I remember reading something about how Aspyr(guys who ported it) wouldn't get anything for the game if it was sold on Steam. I believe it has to do something with Activision/Infinity Ward. Last edited by asdf542; Jan 14, 2011 at 01:56 PM. |
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Jan 14, 2011, 01:50 PM | #13 |
Interesting, but how do updates work?
Surely it's not the same as the iOS App Store where the entire application has to be downloaded again for even the smallest of changes? |
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Jan 14, 2011, 01:52 PM | #14 |
LOL! Are you being serious?
Let's compare here. Apple's "App Store" which has no gaming community, no messaging system, no server browser, no sale system, and is brand new vs Steam, a platform embraced by every major and indy publisher and gamers on Mac AND PC. The fact that the App Store is OS X only will make it a niche gaming market at best. I think it will blow up for casual-indy games but why would I buy Civ4 on the AppStore when I can play it on Mac and Windows using the same license key on Steam (which yes, you can do right now with Steam). If anything, I think Apple should redirect gaming interest to the Steam platform, but I guess a deal like that would be unprecidented for them. |
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Jan 14, 2011, 01:52 PM | #15 |
remember that awesome cod game u played back in 07.. well get ready to pay 50$ for the exact same thing, but this time....... ITS ON A MAC!!! omg:apple :
Last edited by ast03; Jan 14, 2011 at 02:00 PM. |
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Jan 14, 2011, 01:52 PM | #16 |
Sorry double posted.
Last edited by palebluedot; Jan 14, 2011 at 01:53 PM. Reason: Double post. |
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Jan 14, 2011, 01:52 PM | #17 |
This is fantastic. Keep it up Apple.
Can we install on multiple macs like on iphones (you can install on a bunch of iphones as long as u use same logon) ?
HyperX13 |
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Jan 14, 2011, 01:53 PM | #18 | |
Sure Timothy Dolan looks nice in that flamboyant robe but he is just too intolerant to respect. |
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Jan 14, 2011, 01:55 PM | #20 |
Great, so at this rate we'll be able to play Black Ops on the Mac in the year 2015! way to go!
Sarchasm: The gulf between the author of sarcastic wit and the person who doesn't get it. |
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Jan 14, 2011, 01:57 PM | #21 |
But I thought APPLES weren't for gaming! [/s]
That's great and all, but can it run Crysis? *obligatory wink* |
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Jan 14, 2011, 01:57 PM | #22 |
Why are the Games US-only!? Really sucks to not be able to find them in the german store.
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Jan 14, 2011, 01:59 PM | #24 | |
It appears in the UK store. |
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Jan 14, 2011, 01:59 PM | #25 |
I find it interesting how Apple, who's main philosophy in creating the App Store for the i devices, was to limit fragmentation and control quality by forcing all applications to come through one channel. This way, all users would benefit from a single source to browse for applications, without having to worry about price shopping, or apps that might brick their devices, and such.
It seems that the Mac App Store is creating even more fragmentation for OS X. Now I have yet another place to shop for software. Mac Games Arcade, Steam, Mac App Store, retail shelves, Online distributors, bargain bins... Where am I supposed to look? I think the best solution - honestly - would be for Apple to force developers to use the App store. The App store (for i devices) has proven to be a great way to get your application out there, with free marketing and distribution. I don't see why any developer wouldn't be on board with this. No more backup discs, no more managing serial numbers, no more physical waste... The only challenge here would be quality control vs the open system. I still want to be able to install a system extension, or add-on that might customize Mac OS X in some way Apple didn't intend, but on the same hand, I wouldn't want someone posting a free App advertising a new screensaver that would erase my hard drive on launch. If they could find a balance there, I think everyone would benefit, as they have on the iDevices. Before you yell, remember, I'm not endorsing a closed system, just a closed singular distribution channel. |
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This Russian PT Cruiser Wedding Limo Is The Worst Thing Ever
Jesus, Russia. You've really gone and done it this time.
Jesus, Russia. You've really gone and done it this time. » 6/13/14 6:49pm 6/13/14 6:49pm
Recently, AskReddit asked the ultimate question of a little-understood, massively maligned subculture: "PT Cruiser owners, what tragedy burdened you with your car?" Here are the best of the replies. » 4/10/14 2:53pm 4/10/14 2:53pm
Sarah Richardson is a model citizen of Las Cruces, N.M. She's a beauty queen, she volunteers in the community, and she may even want world peace. But she ended up disturbing the peace the other day when she allegedly got drunk and crashed her car into a light pole. » 12/19/12 3:40pm 12/19/12 3:40pm
Just when you thought it was impossible to find that perfect car, the Ministry of Magic saw fit to release this gem upon the Muggle world. Quit waiting for MTV's Pimp My Ride to visit your home. It's available on Autotrader in the U.K. » 5/04/12 4:30pm 5/04/12 4:30pm
An airbrushed PT Cruiser depicting naked people in a "passionate embrace" drew attention from a Utah TV station and a report to the South Jordan police. Meanwhile, who gets to walk free from harassment? Mormon nudists. » 5/20/11 1:15pm 5/20/11 1:15pm
The streets of East St. Louis were filled with screams and gunfire this morning as a naked man with an AK-47 went on a shooting rampage from behind the wheel of a stolen PT Cruiser Convertible. » 10/12/10 4:30pm 10/12/10 4:30pm
The woman who was shot is expected to be fine. The motive and name of the carjacker/shooter have yet to be released, but…The PT Cruiser started the whole retro-car trend. It's gone now, but should they ever do a retro version of that retro car, let's hope they use today's Nice Price or Crack Pipe custom V8 as the template. » 8/02/10 8:00am 8/02/10 8:00am
Right on cue with the death of the PT Cruiser, Buzzfeed has assembled a gallery of horribly customized examples, all of which are too horrible to ignore. Why can't we stop looking? Gah! I can't stop saying horrible! [Buzzfeed] » 7/15/10 10:30am 7/15/10 10:30am
Today is the final day of production for the Chrysler PT Cruiser. Once the shining star and gotta-have Chrysler of the moment, the much-neglected PT has finally been put to rest. It serves as a perfect demonstration of Chrysler's failings. » 7/09/10 5:30pm 7/09/10 5:30pm
Chrysler has taken the art of blowing smoke up consumer asses to a new level at this year's Detroit Auto Show, unveiling enough paint-and sticker-special editions to fill an entire gallery. Nitro Detonator? Really? Let's take a depressing look. » 1/08/10 1:30pm 1/08/10 1:30pm
Many cars have been killed because of the Carpocalypse. But we don't think the bloodbath should be over. With the help of Jalopnik readers we've identified nine on death row and one that should be read its last rights. » 9/02/09 2:00pm 9/02/09 2:00pm
Last year the Chrysler PT Cruiser Dream Cruiser Series 5 was unveiled on Detroit's Woodward Avenue. Now, on the day we find out it's not-yet-dead, we finally answer the only question we had: How much does that billet grille weigh? » 7/31/09 12:30pm 7/31/09 12:30pm
Despite initially announcing otherwise, Chrysler says today that the Bryan Nesbitt-designed PT Cruiser, the most dangerous new small car in the U.S., will unfortunately remain in production. Well, you win some and you lose some. » 7/31/09 9:45am 7/31/09 9:45am
In the most expected product news ever, Chrysler's axed the PT Cruiser. We're just happy we won't have to sit through the reveal of yet another not-so-special "special edition" at the Woodward Dream Cruise. [Bloomberg] » 1/15/09 8:30am 1/15/09 8:30am
The Insurance Institute For Highway Safety has retested the most popular small cars in America and the good news is they're getting safer. The bad news comes if you own a PT Cruiser. » 12/17/08 3:30pm 12/17/08 3:30pm
Chrysler revealed its latest special edition vehicle ahead of this Saturday's Woodward Dream Cruise this morning at Duggan's Irish Pub on Woodward Avenue — the 2009 Chrysler PT Dream Cruiser Series 5. As the name suggests, it's the 5th version of the PT Cruiser to be revealed at the Woodward Dream Cruise. And, like… » 8/12/08 10:00am 8/12/08 10:00am
Since we put out the word that justice can be purchased at the 24 Hours of LeMons South, some teams became quite innovative about the methods used to make sure that the Bullshit Inspection judges take a reasonable approach to the determination of car value. Taping $5 bills under the hood certainly gets our attention!
» 7/25/08 5:50pm 7/25/08 5:50pm
We've seen plenty of ridiculous customizations, but this one has got to be one of the craziest. As if starting life out as a PT Cruiser wasn't bad enough, it has since been re-sculpted with some sort of alien popping out of the front. Just looking at the photos, we can only imagine how much time it took to create this… » 6/05/08 1:20pm 6/05/08 1:20pm
While we're not quite so disinclined towards the little faux-retro econoboxes ourselves, a writer over at BrooWaha makes a fairly convincing case for the theory that the "PT Cruiser has murdered taste and massacred better judgement, all the while asphyxiating our culture's collective memory." Strong words for a car… » 12/18/07 6:00pm 12/18/07 6:00pm


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105 search results for Reba McEntire
Earworm Alert! Iggy Azalea's 'Fancy' Mashed Up With Reba McEntire 'Fancy'
Type: Article | Date: Tuesday, Jun 3, 2014
The only disappointing thing about this is how long it took to become a reality. -
Kelly Clarkson reveals track listing for holiday set, 'Wrapped In Red'
Type: Post | Date: Thursday, Sep 5, 2013
Trisha Yearwood, Reba McEntire and Ronnie Dunn guest on Christmas album -
Watch: Kelly Clarkson's new video for 'Tie It Up'
Type: Post | Date: Wednesday, Aug 14, 2013
She salutes marriage as she gets ready to walk down the aisle -
Press Tour 2012: Lily Tomlin, Reba McEntire talk ageism, 'Malibu Country'
Type: Post | Date: Friday, Jul 27, 2012
Sarah Rue reveals her 'Real Housewives' inspiration -
'The Voice' adds famous advisers Reba McEntire, Monica, Sia
Type: Article | Date: Saturday, Apr 30, 2011
Consultants will help coaches Cee Lo, Adam Levine, Christina Aguilera -
Reba McEntire, Keith Urban, LeAnn Rimes, more sing on 'One Voice' charity single
Type: Article | Date: Thursday, Apr 5, 2012
Billy Gilman-penned tune features 18 leading country acts' voices -
Clear Channel strikes deal with Big Machine label for radio royalties
Type: Article | Date: Wednesday, Jun 6, 2012
Biggest radio company paying artists like Taylor Swift for play for the first time -
Blake Shelton pegged to co-host ACMS with Reba McEntire
Type: Post | Date: Wednesday, Jan 12, 2011
The Oscars, the CMAs and ACMs all feel two is better than one -
Kelly Clarkson sparkles on 'Wrapped In Red' holiday album
Type: Post | Date: Monday, Oct 28, 2013
She looks to classic holiday albums of the past for delightful set


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When Colorado rancher and part-time tribal investigator Charlie Moon gets a call from Wanda Naranjo, she's panicked. Not only is her sink leaking, which Moon graciously fixes, but her sixteen-year-old daughter, Betty, has gone missing. For how long? Only a few hours, but she's pregnant. So what about the father-to-be? It's a good question and anybody's guess. Betty has kept her lips sealed on the subject.
And that's not all. Betty claimed to be going to… (more)
Publisher: St. Martin's Press (November 08, 2011)
Collection: Minotaur Books
Format: EPUB
Protection: DRM
Language: English


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Ocean Shores Art Expo
Friday 29 August - Sunday, 31 August 2014
our 11th Year!
Friday 29 August - Sunday, 31 August 2014
our 11th Year!
Take a tour of the 2014 expo hall
Local young artist Daniel Hend was working on a mural in a Mullumbimby Laneway, when I met him, like many other artist he had plans to enter the 2014 Ocean Shores Art Expo.
Great weekend, thank you to all our supporters!
Thank you to all our artist friends for entering this year, and the judges value time, and our many sponsors for prize money, the many visitors who came and filled the halls with life and thank you volunteers for all the help we had, in the end it is you who makes this happen. The list of awards is found under the Artist tab, |
Please join our mailing list:
Ocean Shores Art Expo 2013
Proudly supported by Lions Club Brunswick Mullumbimby
The Krista Bernard award continue to feature at the Ocean Shores Art Expo. In honouring the life and achievements of Krista, the Bernard family will select one artwork from all categories for the award.See Award conditions here


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Overdevelopment, Overpopulation, Overshoot
Container City: Shipping containers, indispensable tool of the globalized consumer economy, reflect the skyline in Singapore, one of the world's busiest ports.
Topics: Harry Potter, Books, Entertainment News
A minute past midnight on Aug. 2, bookstores across the country will for the first time repeat a ritual once reserved for a single author: J.K. Rowling. They'll stay open late and begin selling copies of "Breaking Dawn" by Stephenie Meyer, the fourth novel of the Twilight series, at the first moment they're officially permitted to do so. Tens of thousands of fans plan to congregate for these release parties, message boards have shut down to guard against leaked spoilers, and as many as a million readers will be blocking out an entire weekend to bury themselves in the book.
The preceding three installments in the series — "Twilight," "New Moon" and "Eclipse" — occupy the top slots in Publishers Weekly's bestseller list for children's fiction (they are categorized as Young Adult, or YA, titles), and are among the top five overall bestsellers on USA Today's list. In May, Publishers Weekly reported that 5.3 million copies of the Twilight books had sold in the U.S. alone. When a movie based on the first novel comes out in December, expect to see book sales jump to numbers that approach Rowling's eight-figure numbers.
No wonder the media has heralded Twilight as the next Harry Potter and Meyer as the second coming of J.K. The similarities, however, are largely commercial. It's hard to see how Twilight could ever approach Harry Potter as a cultural phenomenon for one simple reason: the series' fan base is almost exclusively female. The gender imbalance is so pronounced that Kaleb Nation, an enterprising 19-year-old radio show host-cum-author, has launched a blog called Twilight Guy, chronicling his experiences reading the books. The project is marked by a spirit that's equal parts self-promotion and scientific inquiry — "I am trying to find why nearly every girl in the world is obsessed with the Twilight books by Stephenie Meyer" — and its premise relies on the fact that, in even attempting this experiment, Nation has made himself an exceptional guy indeed.
Bookstores have been known to shelve the Twilight books in both the children's and the science fiction/fantasy sections, but they are — in essence and most particulars — romance novels, and despite their gothic trappings represent a resurrection of the most old-fashioned incarnation of the genre. They summon a world in which love is passionate, yet (relatively) chaste, girls need be nothing more than fetchingly vulnerable, and masterful men can be depended upon to protect and worship them for it.
The series' heroine, Bella Swan, a 16-year-old with divorced parents, goes to live with her father in the small town of Forks, Wash. (a real place, and now a destination for fans). At school, she observes four members of a fabulously good-looking and wealthy but standoffish family, the Cullens; later she finds herself seated next to Edward Cullen in biology lab and is rendered nearly speechless by his spectacular beauty. At first, he appears to loathe her, but after a protracted period of bewilderment and dithering she discovers the truth. Edward and his clan are vampires who have committed themselves to sparing human life; they call themselves "vegetarians." The scent of Bella's blood is excruciatingly appetizing to Edward, testing his ethical limits and eventually his emotional ones, too. The pair fall in love, and the three books detail the ups and downs of this interspecies romance, which is complicated by Bella's friendship with Jacob Black, a member of a pack of Native American werewolves who are the sworn enemies of all vampires.
Comparisons to another famous human girl with a vampire boyfriend are inevitable, but Bella Swan is no Buffy Summers. "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" was at heart one of those mythic hero's journeys so beloved by Joseph Campbell-quoting screenwriters, albeit transfigured into something sharp and funny by making the hero a contemporary teenage girl. Buffy wrestled with a series of romantic dilemmas — in particular a penchant for hunky vampires — but her story always belonged to her. Fulfilling her responsibilities as a slayer, loyalty to her friends and family, doing the right thing and cobbling together some semblance of a healthy life were all ultimately as important, if not more important, to her than getting the guy. If Harry Potter has a vampire-loving, adolescent female counterpart, it's Buffy Summers.
By contrast, Bella, once smitten by Edward, lives only for him. When he leaves her (for her own good) at the beginning of "New Moon," she becomes so disconsolate that she resorts to risking her own life, seeking extreme situations that cause her to hallucinate his voice. This practice culminates in a quasi-suicidal high dive into the ocean, after which, on the brink of drowning, she savors visions of her undead boyfriend: "I thought briefly of the clichés, about how you're supposed to see your life flash before your eyes. I was so much luckier. Who wanted to see a rerun, anyway? I saw him, and I had no will to fight … Why would I fight when I was so happy where I was?" After Edward returns, the only obstacle she can see to her eternal happiness as a member of the glamorous Cullen family is his stubborn refusal to turn her into a vampire: He's worried that she'll lose her soul.
Otherwise directionless and unsure of herself, Bella's only distinguishing trait is her clumsiness, about which she makes frequent self-deprecating jokes. But Bella is not really the point of the Twilight series; she's more of a place holder than a character. She is purposely made as featureless and ordinary as possible in order to render her a vacant, flexible skin into which the reader can insert herself and thereby vicariously enjoy Edward's chilly charms. (His body is as hard and cold as stone, an ick-inducing detail that this reader, for one, found impossible to get past.) Edward, not Bella, is the key to the Twilight franchise, the thing that fans talk about when explaining their fascination with the books. "Perfect" is the word most often used to describe him; besides looking like a male model, Edward plays and composes classical music, has two degrees from Harvard and drives several hot cars very, very fast. And he can read minds (except, mysteriously, for Bella's). "You're good at everything," Bella sighs dreamily.
Even the most timorous teenage girl couldn't conceive of Bella as intimidating; it's hard to imagine a person more insecure, or a situation better set up to magnify her insecurities. Bella's vampire and werewolf friends are all fantastically strong and fierce as well as nearly indestructible, and she spends the better part of every novel alternately cowering in their protective arms or groveling before their magnificence. "How well I knew that I wasn't good enough for him" is a typical musing on her part. Despite Edward's many protestations and demonstrations of his utter devotion, she persists in believing that he doesn't mean it, and will soon tire of her. In a way, the two are ideally suited to each other: Her insipidity is the counterpart to his flawlessness. Neither of them has much personality to speak of.
But to say this is to criticize fantasy according to the standards of literature, and Meyer — a Mormon housewife and mother of three — has always been frank about the origins of her novels in her own dreams. Even to a reader not especially susceptible to its particular scenario, Twilight succeeds at communicating the obsessive, narcotic interiority of all intense fantasy lives. Some imaginary worlds multiply, spinning themselves out into ever more elaborate constructs. Twilight retracts; it finds its voluptuousness in the hypnotic reduction of its attention to a single point: the experience of being loved by Edward Cullen.
Bella and her world are barely sketched — even Edward himself lacks dimension. His inner life and thoughts are known to us only through what Bella sees him say or do. The characters, such as they are, are stripped down to a minimum, lacking the texture and idiosyncrasies of actual people. What this sloughing off permits is the return, again and again, to the delight of marveling at Edward's beauty, being cherished in his impermeable arms, thrilling to his caresses and, above all, hearing him profess, over and over, his absolute, unfailing, exclusive, eternal and worshipful adoration. A tiny sample:
"Bella, I couldn't live with myself if I ever hurt you. You don't know how it's tortured me … you are the most important thing to me now. The most important thing to me ever."
"I could see it in your eyes, that you honestly believed that I didn't want you anymore. The most absurd, ridiculous concept — as if there were any way that I could exist without needing you!"
"For this one night, could we try to forget everything besides just you and me?" He pleaded, unleashing the full force of his eyes on me. "It seems like I can never get enough time like that. I need to be with you. Just you."Need I add that such statements rarely issue from the lips of mortal men, except perhaps when they're looking for sex? Edward, however, doesn't even insist on that — in fact, he refuses to consummate his love for Bella because he's afraid he might accidentally harm her. "If I was too hasty," he says, "if for one second I wasn't paying enough attention, I could reach out, meaning to touch your face, and crush your skull by mistake. You don't realize how incredibly breakable you are. I can never, never afford to lose any kind of control when I'm with you." As a result, their time together is spent in protracted courtship: make-out sessions and sweet nothings galore, every shy girl's dream.
Yet it's not only shy girls who crush mightily on Edward Cullen. One of the series' most avid fan sites is Twilight Moms, created by and for grown women, many with families of their own. There, as in other forums, readers describe the effects of Meyer's books using words like "obsession" and "addiction." Chores, husbands and children go neglected, and the hours that aren't spent reading and rereading the three novels are squandered on forums and fan fiction. "I have no desires to be part of the real world right now," posted one woman. "Nothing I was doing before holds any interest to me. I do what I have to do, what I need to do to get by and that's it. Someone please tell me it will ease up, even if just a little? My entire world is consumed and in a tailspin."
The likeness to drug addiction is striking, especially when you consider that literary vampirism has often served as a metaphor for that form of enthrallment. The vampire has been a remarkably fluid symbol for over a hundred years, standing for homosexuality, bohemianism and other hip manifestations of outsider status. Although the connection between the bloodsucking undead and romance fiction might seem obscure to the casual observer, they do share an ancestor. Blame it all on George Gordon, aka Lord Byron, the original dangerous, seductive bad boy with an artist's wounded soul and in his own time the object of as much feminine yearning as Edward Cullen has been in the early 21st. Not only did Byron inspire such prototypical romantic heroes as Heathcliff and Mr. Rochester (a character Meyer has listed as among her favorites), he was the original pattern for the vampire as handsome, predatory nobleman. His physician, John William Polidori, wrote "The Vampyre," a seminal short story that featured just such a figure, Lord Ruthven, patently based on the poet. Before that, the vampires of folklore had been depicted as hideous, bestial monsters.
Bram Stoker's Count Dracula was the English bourgeoisie's nightmare vision of Old World aristocracy: decadent, parasitic, yet possessed of a primitive charisma. Though we members of the respectable middle class know they intend to eat us alive, we can't help being dazzled by dukes and princes. Aristocrats imperiously exercise the desires we repress and are the objects of our own secret infatuation with hereditary hierarchies. Anne Rice, in the hugely popular Vampire Chronicles, made her vampire Lestat a bisexual rock star — Byron has also been called the first of those — cementing the connection between vampire noblemen and modern celebrities. In recent years, in the flourishing subgenre known as paranormal romance, vampires play the role of leading man more often than any other creature of the night, whether the mode is noir, as in Laurell K. Hamilton's Anita Blake series of detective novels or chick-lit-ish, as in MaryJanice Davidson's Queen Betsy series.
The YA angle on vampires, evident in the Twilight books and in many other popular series as well, is that they're high school's aristocracy, the coolest kids on campus, the clique that everyone wants to get into. Many women apparently never get over the allure of such groups; as one reader posted on Twilight Moms, "Twilight makes me feel like there may be a world where a perfect man does exist, where love can overcome anything, where men will fight for the women they love no matter what, where the underdog strange girl in high school with an amazing heart can snag the best guy in the school, and where we can live forever with the person we love," a mix of adolescent social aspirations with what are ostensibly adult longings.
The "underdog strange girl" who gets plucked from obscurity by "the best guy in school" is the 21st century's version of the humble governess who captures the heart of the lord of the manor. The chief point of this story is that the couple aren't equals, that his love rescues her from herself by elevating her to a class she could not otherwise join. Unlike Buffy, Bella is no hero. "There are so many girls out there who do not know kung fu, and if a guy jumps in the alley they're not going to turn around with a roundhouse kick," Meyer once told a journalist. "There's a lot of people who are just quieter and aren't having the Prada lifestyle and going to a special school in New York where everyone's rich and fabulous. There's normal people out there and I think that's one of the reasons Bella has become so popular."
Yet the Cullens, although they don't live in New York, are rich and fabulous. Twilight would be a lot more persuasive as an argument that an "amazing heart" counts for more than appearances if it didn't harp so incessantly on Edward's superficial splendors. If the series is supposed to be championing the worth of "normal" people, then why make Edward so exceptional? If his wealth, status, strength, beauty and accomplishments make him the "best" among all the boys at school, why shouldn't the same standard be applied to the girls, leaving Bella by the wayside? Sometimes Edward seems to subscribe to that standard, complaining about having to read the thoughts of one of Bella's classmates because "her mind isn't very original." But then, neither is Bella's. In a sense, Bella is absolutely right: She's not "good enough" for Edward — at least, not according to the same measurements that make Edward "perfect." Yet by some miracle she — unremarkable in every way — is exempt from his customary contempt for the ordinary. Then again, by choosing her he proves that she's better than all the average people at school.
Such are the tortured internal contradictions of romance, as nonsensical as its masculine counterpart, pornography, and every bit as habit forming. Search a little deeper on the Internet and you can find women readers both objecting to the antifeminist aspects of Twilight and admitting that they found the books irresistible. "Sappy romance, amateurish writing, etc.," complained one. Still, "when I read it, I just couldn't put it down. It was like an unhealthy addiction for me … I'm not sure how I could read through it, seeing how I dislike romances immensely. But I did, and when I couldn't get 'New Moon' I almost had a heart attack. That book was hypnotizing."
Some things, it seems, are even harder to kill than vampires. The traditional feminine fantasy of being delivered from obscurity by a dazzling, powerful man, of needing to do no more to prove or find yourself than win his devotion, of being guarded from all life's vicissitudes by his boundless strength and wealth — all this turns out to be a difficult dream to leave behind. Vampires have long served to remind us of the parts of our own psyches that seduce us, sapping our will and autonomy, dragging us back into the past. And they walk among us to this day.
Laura Miller is a senior writer for Salon. She is the author of "The Magician's Book: A Skeptic's Adventures in Narnia" and has a Web site, magiciansbook.com.
More Laura Miller.
Container City: Shipping containers, indispensable tool of the globalized consumer economy, reflect the skyline in Singapore, one of the world's busiest ports.
Man Covering His Mouth: A shepherd by the Yellow River cannot stand the smell, Inner Mongolia, China
Angry Crowd: People jostle for food relief distribution following the 2010 earthquake in Haiti
"Black Friday" Shoppers: Aggressive bargain hunters push through the front doors of the Boise Towne Square mall as they are opened at 1 a.m. Friday, Nov. 24, 2007, Boise, Idaho, USA
Suburban Sprawl: aerial view of landscape outside Miami, Florida, shows 13 golf courses amongst track homes on the edge of the Everglades.
Toxic Landscape: Aerial view of the tar sands region, where mining operations and tailings ponds are so vast they can be seen from outer space; Alberta, Canada
Ice Waterfall: In both the Arctic and Antarctic regions, ice is retreating. Melting water on icecap, North East Land, Svalbard, Norway
Satellite Dishes: The rooftops of Aleppo, Syria, one of the world's oldest cities, are covered with satellite dishes, linking residents to a globalized consumer culture.
Child Brides: Tahani, 8, is seen with her husband Majed, 27, and her former classmate Ghada, 8, and her husband in Hajjah, Yemen, July 26, 2010.
Megalopolis: Shanghai, China, a sprawling megacity of 24 Million
Big Hole: The Mir Mine in Russia is the world's largest diamond mine.
Clear-cut: Industrial forestry degrading public lands, Willamette National Forest, Oregon
Computer Dump: Massive quantities of waste from obsolete computers and other electronics are typically shipped to the developing world for sorting and/or disposal. Photo from Accra, Ghana.
Oil Spill Fire: Aerial view of an oil fire following the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil disaster, Gulf of Mexico
Slide 13
Airplane Contrails: Globalized transportation networks, especially commercial aviation, are a major contributor of air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. Photo of contrails in the west London sky over the River Thames, London, England.
Fire: More frequent and more intense wildfires (such as this one in Colorado, USA) are another consequence of a warming planet.
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'Scandal' Takes On Institutionalized Racism And Police Brutality In Ferguson-Inspired Episode
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'Big Bang Theory' Remembers Leonard Nimoy With Touching Tribute
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