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Hello fellow bloggers,
This week's blog will be short and sweet. I have a gripe about some of the current methods of packaging. In fact, did you know there is a School of Packaging at Michigan State University? My question is, what does one learn at these packaging schools; how to make life more difficult for the average consumer when it comes to opening products?
The 1982 Chicago Tylenol murders changed the packaging world forever. Seven people died after taking pain-relief capsules that had been laced with potassium cyanide. This horrendous event spurred the onset of tamper proof packaging.
How many of you have been faced with opening the hard plastic seamless sealed packages that blood glucose meters are sold in? One needs a bowie knife to open these packages. I have to wonder how many individuals have been injured attempting to open one. My concern is for those people with diabetes who are faced with dexterity issues from aging, peripheral neuropathy or carpel tunnel syndrome, which can occur frequently in individuals with diabetes.
Manufacturers have made positive strives in improving the ease of opening some packaging; for example, the lipped flip top lids on some of the blood glucose test strips. It's my understanding that the Apple computer company has come up with some innovative new packaging concepts, way to go.
Your ideas or comments?
Have a good week,
Nancy Klobassa Davidson, R.N.
Peggy Moreland, R.N.
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Great Post! I appreciate this post as its interesting and informative.... keep posting regarding the same....
Thank you.....
I am always worried about my uncle he is Diabetic person I wanna refer this blog to him I am sure it will be helpful for him.
Cheap Essay Writing
A few years ago I read an article that stated legislation was on the way to make packaging more realistic... never happened. We all understand pilferage costs all consumers, and we all want better prices. We also understand we don't want our toddlers to get ahold of something that might harm them. I've read accounts of injuries from both the packaging itself (sharp edges and points after having been cut/torn/ripped/blowtorched open), as well as injuries from the "bowie knife" required to open them.
I am a diabetic and also a store owner. Unfortunately the sticky fingers of many in society make it necessary for packaging that is resistant to thieves, so I understand the need for even even while risking injury to get to my supplies!
I take Imitrex, and it gives me a migraine just trying to open those packages as well. What are the packaging people thinking?
I hate those hard plastic packages, too, but some of the manufacturers are listening. I had an electronics item recently that had a perforated outline around the back edge of the package, so instead of having to use scissors to try to open it, all I had to do was grab a small tab and pull it back. I thought it was a great idea!
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Lie Down in the Darkness, Rise up from the Ash
25. Upon the Edge of Ruin
Sam could not believe his eyes. He frankly gaped, and it was a lucky thing that Urdúk was busy with tying Frodo's hands, and that Grishnákh was busy with the fire, else they might well have wondered at his astonishment. Just in time, though Sam shut his mouth and hunched his shoulders, closing his eyes as he tried to order his thoughts. The Ring was not on its chain; there was not even a chain about Frodo's neck any more. His first, horrified thought had been that the Ring had somehow conspired to leave Frodo, just as it had Isildur and Gollum, if he'd understood everything aright in the council. But then realization had set in, and Sam found himself floundering in the face of the obvious truth. It was all too clear that Frodo had been right to hide the Ring as he had, for there was no other choice, but Sam was desperately frightened now on his master's behalf.
That Morgul-knife was bad enough, but now It's in him, and who knows what that might do? Even if It wasn't evil, that's a dangerous thing, to get something metal stuck in a body. He remembered an evening in the Green Dragon, when Ted Sandyman had held everyone enthralled, as he had told (with what Sam had then considered far too much glee, which opinion had only been strengthened since leaving the Shire) about a cousin of his that'd stepped on an old nail. A piece had got stuck, and infection had set in of the worst sort. But that was an accident. How did Frodo do it, then, on purpose? Sam wondered, furtively cracking his eyes open to watch him. He would have had to cut in and–
He couldn't make himself think it all the way through, or he was going to make himself sick. Even worse, though, was the thought of what the orcs might do. This Grishnákh now, he knows something, and I don't like it. What's he want with us now, other than to hand us over to the Dark Lord like prized doves? Sam wondered, fearfully. He tilted his head back slightly to peer at the orc-captain from beneath his eyelashes. The goblin was nursing a small fire to life now, the red glow casting shadows on his face, lending a feverish gleam to his dark, glowering eyes. Urdúk was hovering nearby, clearly uncertain what to do next. Given what had happened to Rakûsh, Sam supposed he couldn't blame him. Wouldn't want to sneeze at the wrong time, if I was an orc in this band, Sam thought. Not to worry about that now, Sam, what are you going to do when that big brute looks your way?
It was cold, lying on the damp earth, but Sam was sweating already out of sheer fright. A little ways away, Frodo was stirring a bit more, and when he moaned, Sam could not help craning his neck a bit for a better look. But almost as quickly, Frodo quieted again. Urdúk simply scowled, but said nothing, and made no move towards either hobbit. As Sam closed his eyes once more, the dreadful silence stretched out painfully, broken only by the sound of Grishnákh snapping twigs to feed the fire. Sam's imagination heard bones cracking, as thoughts of Gimli and ax-heads flitted through his mind. At last, though, "Untie that bandage, Urdúk. Use it to gag him, then leave them with me." A pause. "Now!"
Muttering, the other orc stepped forward and stooped to obey. Frodo sucked in a breath–either from Urdúk's ungentle tugging on the bandage or else for fear of discovery, Sam could not tell which it was. His own breath was coming fast and shallow now, and he swallowed hard. What do I do? There were some things a good Shire lad wasn't supposed to know about, and Sam would've been quite content to live out his life never having come closer to a war than Mr. Bilbo's tales could bring him. He had been grateful, in a way, that the warriors among the Fellowship had seemed to hold a similar opinion about what hobbits ought to know, and had been generally discreet about all the terrible things that they had seen and heard tell of.
But even so, the gaps in their speech, the silences in conversations held when the watches were on, and everyone was supposed to be asleep, except that sometimes it didn't happen that way–Sam had come to have a hazy conception through them of what the others had seen, of what they had decided to spare him and the other hobbits, even in the retelling. And now it doesn't matter at all. I don't want to be one of the ones who has those kinds of talks! But he had to look after his master, and so he made himself look at him, and only at him. Frodo was quite alert now, and his eyes were wide with fear as Urdúk hurriedly tied off the gag and then stomped away to rejoin the others.
"Well, my hobbits," Grishnákh's voice fairly dripped malice, "to have come all this way only to be lost in the mists is a hard end. How fortunate that we found you!" The orc came to squat at Frodo's head, hands clasped behind himself as he leaned forward to stare at his captive. After a moment, Grishnákh continued, "Yess... very fortunate, for you seem quite unable to take care of yourselves." A clawed hand darted down to grasp Frodo's left arm and squeeze hard. A muffled cry got past the gag, and Sam bit his lip hard. "A nasty cut, this. You should take better care, or all the mithril in Middle-earth won't save you. And it hasn't!"
He chuckled nastily, then, at his own joke, and Sam felt his lip curl in disgust. "Don't worry, little hobbit, I do have a mind to keep you in one piece. Something like this," and the goblin gripped harder now, twisting, and causing Frodo to moan and writhe, as blood ran from between Grishnákh's claws, "could be dangerous to you. So, take your medicine." And from behind his back he brought a knife, and Sam gasped. But before he could protest, the Grishnákh touched the metal to Frodo's flesh, and it hissed as flesh burned.
No wonder he wanted that fire! Sam's eyes went wide as saucers, and he was quaking with the effort not to turn away. All he could think was, Faint! Swoon, Mr. Frodo, and let it be over! The scent of burnt flesh and blood had him choking on bile, and feeling rather dizzy himself, but at least after a little while, Frodo's cloth-muffled cries ceased all in an instant as he went limp and senseless once more. Sam let his chin droop towards his chest as he curled up a bit more, breathing hard. Grishnákh, however, continued to talk just loudly enough to make himself heard over the jeers–"Can't take his medicine!" "Doesn't know what's good for him!" "We shall have some fun later!"–and laughter of his followers that wafted across the distance between them. "Saruman and his filthy white badges may have got the other two, but let him keep them," he grated harshly. "I think me I've the real prize. Two hobbits alone on this side of the river–now what could they be up to, eh?" Grishnákh demanded, pulling the gag down, though naturally, he received no answer. "What indeed! Ha!"
There came the sound of armor creaking and scraping as the orc shifted positions, and then suddenly, Sam's chin was caught in a slick, yet vice-like grip and forced upward. "Yes," the goblin hissed softly at him, "you ran away from the others. And I know why. Oh yes. But one question tonight: what shall you do when you face the Questioner, little halfling?" The goblin tapped the hot blade against his right cheek–just a quick touch, as if to prompt an erring child to answer. Sam yelped involuntarily, and Grishnákh chuckled contemptuously at that, then shoved him a way suddenly, as if disgusted. Eyes watering, Sam stared up at him, panting, as the orc murmured softly, "Pathetic fool! Little people should not meddle in affairs that are too big for them."
And with that, Grishnákh stood, leaving Sam trembling and sweating and speechless on the ground. The orc glanced consideringly at each of his prisoners, and said in as mild a voice as ever an orc used, "We will speak again, when we can, until we reach the Black Gate. And believe me, my little ones, that is nothing–you will only wish you had more answers for the Questioner than you have for me."
Having made that threat, Grishnákh wandered back to the fire, leaving Sam and Frodo alone to ponder their fate. Or rather, Sam pondered it–Frodo remained sunk in oblivion, and although it was Sam's dearest desire at the moment to join him there, the throbbing pain of his right cheek would not allow him to rest. 'Til we reach the Black Gate? And how long will that take? Not long enough, I don't doubt it, Sam thought, and could scarcely believe he could think that way about the company of orcs. But the Questioner, and the Dark Tower, and the Great Eye....
Sam shuddered. There had to be a way out. There had to be, and Sam clung to that as, after awhile, even the painfully cauterized cut could not keep him from dropping off into a stupor. We just have to hold on long enough. And I'll think of something, Mr. Frodo, I promise I will! With that, he sank into an uneasy rest, and memories of a magic mirror's visions haunted his dreams.***
As the fog rose up again in the late afternoon, Grishnákh roused the company. "We run now, and continue on 'til dawn." And such had been the stare he had leveled at them that no one had complained of the watery sunlight that hung diffuse in the mist. Frodo had staggered to his feet and given Sam a look that'd just about broken his heart before all expression had leeched from his face with the command to run. Grishnákh had his whip out today, and Sam flinched whenever it whistled past his head. Occasionally, it would lick across his back if he began to slow, and Sam would gasp and redouble his efforts. The hours dragged along with the miles, and when Sam could bear it no longer, he collapsed and simply allowed himself to be dragged along, slung from orc to orc like a sack of potatoes as his porters wearied of carrying him. What Frodo endured, he refused to consider, and concentrated on the blackness that promised escape from the world, even if only for a little while.
The feeling of the earth rising up to slap him pulled Sam back to the gloomy waking world, but to his surprise, he did not open his eyes to misty dawnlight. Instead, as he craned his neck skywards, he blinked up at a bright gibbous moon in a clear, dark sky. All about him was the sound of armor shifting, and muttered orcish, growls and hoots and the overpowering scent of sweat and filth. Why have we stopped? Sam wondered, and wondered if there were any way to take advantage of this unexpected pause. "Sam?" a voice whispered brokenly from behind him, and Sam caught his breath.
"Mr. Frodo?"
There was an ominous pause, and for a moment Sam thought perhaps the other had swooned again. But then, hoarsely, "What's happening?"
"I don't rightly know, sir. I didn't wake up 'til they tossed me down here and–"
"Quiet, slugs!" an orc snarled in a hateful undertone, and both hobbits flinched as if from a blow. But none descended just yet, and so they relaxed, though they spoke no more. He sounds so weak, Sam worried, his attention sliding back immediately to Frodo. Like he's got nothing left in him anymore. These orcs will run him to death before he ever reaches Mordor! With an effort, Sam managed to lift his head off the ground and look around a bit. The orcs were simply standing and waiting, and none seemed to be looking in his direction, so he wriggled and writhed 'til he managed to turn over onto his other side.
His master was facing away from him, and all Sam could see was his back and bound hands, and the scratch marks on the back of his neck from ungentle handling. Frodo was trembling, too, as if he were freezing, which he might well be, deprived of his shirt, and Sam bit his lip. After so long in that swamp and among orcs, he was fairly convinced he would never be able to smell anything ever again, but he thought he detected just the faintest odor of infection, what with his nose almost pressed up against Frodo's back. Someone had thought to rebandage the wound, but it was a filthy rag of a cloth. Probably it was little more than a strip off of someone's cloak or tunic. After a cautery done more to hurt Frodo than to help him, Sam was certain that this would only make things worse.
What if he's truly ill? Would Grishnákh stop? He wants him to live, doesn't he? But if Sam said a word, Grishnákh might well pay attention to Frodo, and to the injury. And that was dangerous, for then he might well somehow find the Ring. But then do I say something and try to save him, or nothing, and let this go on, even if it kills him? Mercy! Sam blinked hard, eyes stinging. He was afraid to weep in front of the orcs, but it was beginning to sink in that even escaping might not be the answer. He might find a way out, only to have Frodo die of his wound and Grishnákh's cruel treatment. His own back hurt from the whip's bite, and Frodo's back was torn where he had been caught by the lash as well. If Sam did not find a way out... he had to, but if he did not, then could he stand to simply let his master die all for the sake of keeping the Ring out of orcish claws? But if I don't, the others will die instead. Merry and Pippin, and all of them, and everyone at home in the Shire, he reminded himself. But they aren't here, and Frodo is!
Just at that moment, Sam heard Grishnákh saying something to the others in his own harsh-sounding tongue. What's this now? he wondered, watching in astonishment as several orcs loped off north-east. The orc-captain said a word and waved a hand at the rest of his company. Obedient to his apparent command, the others, with much grumbling and sighing, sank down to the earth to wait. Grishnákh remained standing, arms folded across his chest. For a time, he gazed after the departed orcs, stiff and fairly bristling with an odd, angry defiance. What's wrong enough to upset an orc? Sam wondered, fearfully. Perhaps Grishnákh felt his gaze, for malevolent eyes turned towards him, and Sam fought the urge to just put his head down and hide behind Frodo. Grishnákh did not blink, though he did turn fully, abandoning the view of the darkened plain to stare at the hobbits with a brooding, hooded look that sent chills down Sam's back. But he did not move to touch them, nor did he speak, and somehow, Sam found this more unnerving than threats.
After awhile, he did let his head sink back down to the earth, let the throb of his cheek blend with the other pains as he closed his eyes and leaned his forehead against the back of Frodo's neck.
Time passed. Everything seemed deathly still upon the plain, for even the orcs were quiet. What they waited for, Sam could not imagine, and he had quickly ceased to rack his brains over the band that Grishnákh had sent away. He could not imagine why the orcs wasted the night, although he was certainly in no hurry to reach the Black Gate. Better to rest for a bit, as much as he could, for he would need it. Frodo's skin against his brow was feverishly hot, and heavens help him if he knew what he would do about that. First things first, or they wouldn't be first, as the Gaffer says. I've got to get him away from these brutes. There must be some chance, and I need both my eyes open and looking if I'm to find it, Sam thought, wishing his eyelids didn't feel like lead weights. And that his back didn't burn. And that his feet and legs didn't ache so....
Sam did not know how he managed to fall asleep, frightened and hurt as he was, but the next thing he knew, he woke to the sight of Grishnákh as the orc grabbed him by the chin and forced a vial between his teeth. Something hot and bitter flowed down his throat, and Sam spluttered, coughing, spraying his captor with a mouthful. Grishnákh cursed but forced another draught down his throat, and then snarled, "On your feet, vermin–the sun has not come up yet!"
Temples throbbing, senses reeling, Sam dizzily obeyed, and found, to his astonishment, that he felt steadier. His limbs were no longer leaden, but nearly feverish, and he felt stronger. What was that? Beside him, Frodo, too, managed to climb to his feet, though he swayed a little. Yet a light was in his eyes, at least, and Sam made himself think that it wasn't the glow of sickness. Orders were shouted, and once again, they were running. But though Sam could not see much over the heads of his captors, and had not a clear sense of where they were going in any case, as he glanced left at Frodo, he caught a precious glimpse of the land about them through a gap in the ranks. Brief it was–too brief for Sam to do more than notice it ere the orcs closed up the circle once again–but where the moon shone down, it was bright, illuminating the plain. And he could see clearly in that one instant that the mountains no longer lay before them, but to the left.
They had turned West.***
Dawn came soon, and when it did, all took advantage of it to rest, and well that they did, for Grishnákh was in a foul temper, pushing his company hard enough that even among the orcs, complaints rose of a particularly surly and nasty sort. In fact, before they had set out the next evening, there had been two more dead orcs, victims of a quarrel which Grishnákh had won. What the matter had been, had been unclear, for none of the vicious exchanges had been in the Common Speech, and Sam was not sure he wanted to even guess what the matter was. Not when Grishnákh had turned such a look on him and Frodo afterwards as had nearly frozen Sam's blood with fear. There had been no time to think on what it might have meant, for the orc-captain had ordered them all to stand and make ready. Another draught of the foul liquor had been forced down Sam's throat and Frodo's, and then the dread command had come, the one word that Sam now knew of orcish–"Brathak!"–and they had begun to run again.
There was one thing to be said for orcish draughts, though, and that was that they did keep a body from running blind and half-witless, and so Sam, after awhile and in spite of himself, began to notice the changes in the land. Since leaving the meres behind, the ground had grown less soggy, and heath had replaced the marsh reeds and tussocks, and here and there a stunted tree or bush would rise up above the plain. Southwest stood a low, rocky rise, seeming a grey and mournful sentinel that stared across the gap at the fanged heights of the Ephel Dúath. Around its easternmost spur they bent their course by hours, passing through a narrow neck of land, and for a time, the ground was hard and stony, a torment to Sam's aching feet before at last the land began to slope gently towards a forest.
And such a forest! Tall and silent stood the trees in the light of the waning moon, and Sam felt a shiver work its way down his back that, for a wonder, had naught to do with the cold or fear. It was nearly dawn by the time they reached it, the orcs surging ahead, eager to reach the shade, as the eastern sky began to grow bright. The hobbits, in a last effort, sprinted along with them, Frodo twice colliding with orcs who swatted him aside. But somehow he kept to his feet until the company came to a halt, at which point he simply dropped and lay like a dead thing, eyes wide and staring, seeming sightless. Sam, gazing at him, was irresistibly reminded of watching Legolas sleep, except he had never known the Elf to have nightmares. But if ever an Elf could have them, I think this might be what he'd look like to me, Sam thought fearfully, panting for breath.
"Eat!" snarled an orc just then, fairly flinging food in Sam's face. It was dark enough that it was hard to tell what he had been given, and the hobbit decided that that was likely for the best, as he snapped after it like a starveling pup, since no one had deemed it wise to untie his hands from behind his back. Frodo, however, did not move, and after only a few bites, Sam decided it was not worth rousing him for a feast only flies might appreciate. Ugh, but I don't ever want to know what it was! he decided, wishing even for the liquor to wash the taste out of his mouth. All around him in the darkness beneath the oaks–for oaks they were, now that Sam had a chance to stare at them closely–the orcs were settling, snarling at each other now and again as they ate or sharpened weapons. There was a murderous undercurrent in their mutterings today that even Sam recognized, and he wondered again what it might mean. Why did we change directions in the middle of the night? Where are we going now? Sam did not know, but he thought that perhaps it was not unhopeful that the orcs seemed on edge.
Frodo whimpered just then, jerking as if caught in a nightmare, and a chorus of soft hisses greeted this, as one of the orcs reached out and clapped a hand over Frodo's mouth. Sam sat up straighter at that and opened his mouth to protest, but the orc turned on him.
"Mind your manners, rat! Bad enough we missed our talk with the Nazgûl gettin' out of Horse Country, but we won't be spitted for your squeaking, either!" he rumbled in a low voice. Sam shut his mouth with an audible click of his teeth, and as Frodo quieted again, the orc released the hobbit and turned his attention back to his own meal.
Nazgûl? Meeting with Nazgûl? Of a sudden, it was all very clear to Sam what had happened. They're running away! he thought, brow furrowing as he put together the pieces. They didn't meet the Nazgûl coming out of the Horse Country... they didn't meet him because they didn't have anything to show for it. That's what was meant before, that these had stuck with old Grishnákh coming over the mountains. They failed, and now they're afraid to go home. Those orcs must've been scouts last night and they must've brought news that Grishnákh didn't like, so he turned southwest instead of going home through the front gate, where everyone must know he ran away empty-handed. But where's the back door then, that he means to take us through? And where are we? Sam wondered. Certainly, this land seemed a better one than the one they had left, though it was still under the mountains that fenced Mordor. Maybe we're close to Gondor by now. Isn't that a thought? But what he would do with it, Sam did not know yet. Weary as he was, he simply lay down beside Frodo let himself fall asleep, and he hoped that neither he nor Frodo would dream.
But Frodo was not asleep. Not really, though he was not truly awake, either. He was Between, unable fully to escape either his dreams or the living nightmare of the march. Yet he knew of the quarrels and troubles of the orcs, and was more certain than Sam, even, of the cause of their perturbation, for he could feel it, too. Even by night–perhaps especially by night–when the horror of a journey had overwhelmed even the potent orc-draught, he had been aware of a burning regard that beat now against the back of his neck, rather than upon his face, and with each stride, it had receded a little, but never enough for its intensity but mounted. Somehow, even in his present stupor, he knew that the orcs were aware of it as well, and that it spurred them onward, even as it fueled their conflicts. That was why the undercurrent in the company that Sam had remarked was so vicious, and a sense of disaster pricked now at Frodo's feverish senses, manifesting almost as an itch between his shoulders that he longed to scratch... or to inflame.
For Grishnákh stood silent watch today, as he had yesterday, but his attention slithered back and forth between the perils of an unfriendly land and his own company. And more and more often, his gaze would touch upon the hobbits, while the heat of that invisible gaze grew worse by the hour, sending waves of distress through the ranks. They need His gaze to stand up and to lie down, to come and to go, and so they are afraid now, for their own desires are not strong enough to oppose his. Not, and live, Frodo thought dully, though his mind continued to turn out words with startling clarity despite the fever and exhaustion. Grishnákh will drive them on nonetheless–he is stronger than the others, but also the more desperate for that! So deep in His will that he desires what He desires... and yet not deeply enough to be trusted for that very reason.
How the orc-captain intended to move his increasingly fractious lot into Mordor in one piece without losing his precious prisoners, Frodo did not know, and he was nearly too exhausted to care. Yet I cannot rest. Why can I not rest? Perhaps it was merely the effect of the draughts Grishnákh kept forcing on him and Sam, but it seemed that no matter how weary he was, no matter how weak from hunger and abuse, his mind could not cease to think, denying him the comfort of oblivion. And so he lay, and his mind kept turning over all that came within its reach, unfettered by the demands of his protesting body, from which he felt oddly divorced. And yet also trapped in it. It burns so, still! Fire was at the core of him, and all else in him was chill, cold, dead. Even Sam's presence at his back felt icy today. Everything felt as ice save for It and for the call of Its Master....
And save for Grishnákh, whose burning gaze, whenever it fell upon him, made his skin tingle, and all his hairs stand on end. And if reason could give a hundred excuses why that might be so, none touched upon the one that underlay the rest, silent as bedrock, yet increasingly present to the hobbit's mind. Frodo found himself watching the orc. Sometimes Grishnákh seemed to feel him staring, and would turn to stare back. It had not been thus yesterday, Frodo thought. But now, as another day wore on towards noon, the orc turned more and more often, and Frodo's heart sped each time, 'til he could scarcely see for the pounding of blood in his temples, and the golden image that dazzled and dizzied his waking sight. For It grows upon the mind, said a voice in his head, one that might have been Gandalf's from some long ago day. The Ring gives power according to the measure of each possessor. Do not make a trial of your strength, Frodo! But It was growing upon his mind of Its own accord, and had been for long. Now, watered and nourished by Grishnákh's stares and the will that beat against his neck from that other gaze–Frodo could see the gold in the goblin's eyes, and he knew that It called to the other. Ash nazg... ash nazg.... That he called to him.
I must not, a part of Frodo thought, frightened. I must not! Yet as the afternoon trickled slowly away beneath the oaks, Grishnákh drew him forth, again and again, to a silent contest of wills whenever their eyes met. And if Frodo did not always win, he did not always lose, either, and memories of a tent in Lothlórien came back starkly to mind. It began thus with Boromir as well. So little a thing! I could make him leave us, Sam and I–I could make him take his band and go. I could make him fall on his own sword, if I wished. I could do this. It is in my hands to do this....
What am I thinking? Frodo shivered, feeling the gooseflesh rise on his arms. It is not in my hands, 'tis the Ring that calls. It calls through me now! How can I stop this? What can I do? To such questions, he could make no answers, but he feared the day when he would wake to Grishnákh's hands on him, for it seemed all too likely that the orc would strip him to the bones in his lust to find that which called to him. And do I want him to? Frodo wondered, and could not muster the strength to be appalled as he gritted his teeth against the fire that spread outward once more from that band of gold....
"Hai! Tark-hai!" Frodo jerked, as commotion broke out all around, all at once.
"Mr. Frodo!" Sam yelled in his ear, apparently torn from his sleep, even as a wave of heat and malevolent triumph seemed to crash over and through Frodo, drowning out everything. For a few precious moments, he was blind and deaf, and gold seemed to sparkle in his sight, to sing in his ears as the old Dwarvish saying went, and he was struck dumb. A jolt ran through his body, and Frodo shook his head sharply, gasping as the world spun dizzily back into being, and then Frodo blinked to find himself staring at Sam across the width of an armored chest. He shivered, then, knowing full well that the moment had come, and he looked up into Grishnákh's blazing eyes. A moment they stared, but then Grishnákh tore his gaze away.
Above the cries of the orcs and the clash and clatter of steel-wrought death came the voices of Men, crying out, "Gondor! Gondor!", moving steadily round them as Grishnákh swore, then ducked and broke to the left, towards the mountains. He will escape! Fool, he will escape and all will come to naught. Tell him to stop! Tell him to stop now! Make him stop! But Frodo's throat was dry, and he could not speak, though Sam shouted once before the orc clapped a hand over each of their mouths. Sam continued to writhe, and at one point, Grishnákh cursed and seemed to stumble a bit. But he quickly recovered, barreling past two of his own lads, head down, knocking them aside like rag dolls. Whether they rose again, Frodo did not know, as the battle faded behind them somewhat, and with it, any hope of rescue.
This is the End then, he thought, and tried to steel himself for it, and so bleak were his thoughts that he did not notice that Grishnákh was limping until the orc lurched to a halt beneath a tree. Tossing the hobbits down, he snarled as he sank to the ground, reached down, and snapped the haft of an arrow that had pierced his leg.
With a hiss, he threw the splintered bit of wood away and rounded on the hobbits so fiercely that both of them shrank back, and Frodo flinched as if from a blow. Ash nazg durbatulûk– No. No no no.... "One of you has It," Grishnákh growled, eyes glowing, and Frodo swallowed, staring at him, glassy-eyed. Ash nazg.... The goblin's claws were restless, and little tremors ran up his arms as muscles twitched and trembled with the fever of lust. He reached for Frodo, but Sam pushed himself between them.
"If one of us had it, we'd've used It, don't you think?" Sam demanded, and Frodo blinked, astonished by the other's tone. Even Grishnákh paused, as Sam went on doggedly, voice rising as if he needed volume to overcome the fact that he, too, was shaking. "You and your lot run us half to death playing your filthy little games with us, and we just run along and take it. You don't think we'd have done something if we'd 'a had a way to stop it? Well? Isn't that what we'd have done? And wouldn't you have done something sooner, if we really had It?"
"You understand nothing." The orc's voice was flat as he stared at Sam, and Frodo closed his eyes before that dark-eyed stare. "Pathetic little fool, you do not begin to understand, for He is the way, the One, and His gaze is the light that drives us... and It is His strength, born of Him and bound to Him, and ever-beloved of Him. You understand nothing!" Grishnákh snarled then, and quick as lightning, a long arm darted out. Sam's cry was cut off as he was flung aside so hard the breath was knocked out of him, and he lay curled up and gasping for air.
The orc spared him not a second glance, but turned and advanced on Frodo, crawling forward as the hobbit tried vainly to wriggle back. But it hurt so to move, and the very weight of his flesh and bones seemed unbearable. Ash nazg.... Claws caught him, sinking into his skin, and Frodo let out a wordless cry. I will not say it! I will not say it, I will not say it...! A hand encircled his left arm, squeezing hard enough to break the scar open again, and another cry was torn from Frodo. NO!
At that very moment, Grishnákh let out a roar, and Frodo choked and recoiled as slaver dripped hot on his face. The orc dropped him with such suddenness that Frodo had no time even to yell before the shock of earth met his spine and then faded. There came then the sound of something whistling through the air, followed by the crash of metal on metal. "Frodo!" Sam's voice reached him through the vertigo, cutting through deeper voices–Men's voices–and someone bent over him. Frodo struggled to open his eyes, and found himself staring up into too-familiar bright grey eyes framed by darkness.
"Boromir!" he muttered weakly, dismayed. And then, suddenly fierce: "You shall not have It!"
And then the world went dark.
Notes on Orcish/Black Speech: Ardalambion. Best site on the web for info on more than just Elvish. 'Brathak' is pure invention, though with an effort to mimic the sound patterns described at Ardalambion. "Ash nazg..." etc. taken from the inscription on the Ring, as read by Gandalf in the Council of Elrond. "Tark-hai" is the orcish word for Númenorean with the standard 'people' suffix, -'hai.' Strangely, I can only find the proper citation for that translation (tark–> person of Númenorean descent) in "Le Seigneur des Anneaux," p. 1226.
"Can't take his medicine!" "Doesn't know what's good for him!" "We shall have some fun later!" TTT, "The Uruk-hai," 64.
"Little people should not meddle in affairs that are too big for them." TTT, "The Uruk-Hai," 73
"The Ring gives power according to the measure of each possessor." FoTR, "The Mirror of Galadriel," 357. Actually a paraphrase, but so close as to deserve a citation.
Many thanks also to Forodwaith for having written of the olvar of Middle-earth. This here city-slicker tips her hat in gratitude.
This is a work of fan fiction, written because the author has an abiding love for the works of J R R Tolkien. The characters, settings, places, and languages used in this work are the property of the Tolkien Estate, Tolkien Enterprises, and possibly New Line Cinema, except for certain original characters who belong to the author of the said work. The author will not receive any money or other remuneration for presenting the work on this archive site. The work is the intellectual property of the author, is available solely for the enjoyment of Henneth Annûn Story Archive readers, and may not be copied or redistributed by any means without the explicit written consent of the author.

subset: commoncrawl


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President's Open House for Admitted Students
Saturday, March 22, 2014
8 a.m.
Event Details:
Register today for our President's Open House for Admitted Students!
- Learn why LC is nationally recognized in Colleges That Change Lives by Loren Pope and The Princeton Review's Best 377 Colleges, of which only 15% of four-year colleges in America were selected for inclusion.
- Participate in a demonstration class led by an LC professor. Our faculty make teaching their first priority!
- Meet students and find out why they have ranked their learning experiences well above the national average in a recent national survey.
- Learn how Lynchburg College can make a private education affordable. More than 98% of our students receive financial assistance.


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For all the hype, the real potential of cloud has yet to be seen. While enterprises have been attracted to cloud by the promise of dramatically lower capital and operating costs, many challenges still remain for the potential of enterprise-grade 'IT-as-a-Service' to become a reality.
The Forum's work in cloud is targeted at solving these challenges and developing best practices and tools that help all players meet the needs of their clients and partners as they deliver and consume digital services hosted in the cloud.
The Enterprise Cloud Leadership Council (ECLC) is a practical, results-based body comprised of many of the world's largest multi-national companies, dedicated to sharing actionable best practices, standing up real-world reference implementations and advancing the adoption of enterprise cloud operating models.
Learn More About the Enterprise Cloud Leadership Council (ECLC)
TM Forum has developed easy to follow guidelines, tools and an API to help business managers and developers overcome the challenges of delivering services in a multi-cloud environment. Learn more
TM Forum's Cloud Services Community includes multiple working teams and groups that address key issues and develop and document best practices and tools. The work they do removes barriers and accelerates adoption of cloud and advanced digital services. Learn more
These short-term collaborative projects are led by TM Forum members and demonstrate real world implementations that showcase the effectiveness of best practices and standards created for the management or delivery of cloud services. Learn more
TM Forum members and staff collaborate to develop and document best practices and tools that are then made available to all TM Forum members. Learn more
Marc Benioff, CEO - Salesforce.com
An Overview of Multi-Cloud Management
Simple Management API: Mission Critical for Complex Multi-Cloud Services
Making Multi-Cloud Management Work for Enterprise Class Services
Online and business simulations for cloud and virtualization
Cloud strategies: Enabling platforms, partnerships and profits


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Related Photo Galleries
Its a titan with honda emblems
got a feeling this might become more popular with chevy discontinuing the avalanche
For one the ridgeline is not a truck, its an suv with a birth defect. Leave it to the big boys to make a real truck
I like it . It doesn't look plastic
Lookz like a fkn Ford
Ya Hondas suck! It's not like they make the top 10 list every year in initial quality, customer satisfaction, overall quality or any of that stuff !! Lol idiots.
Dude I could make any Ford Chevy or dodge truck.last as long as a Honda it's the driver not the truck
I thought this page was for trucks
I have never had a job that it couldn't pull off. Love mine and will drive it until the wheels fall off. And Judging from my personal experiences with Honda, that will be many years from now.
Looks like an avalanche want to be and will do more than we would like to admit
i never like it anyways
No Honda should of made a pickup but with more towing. I live the ridgeline its just you can't haul a fifth wheel travel trailer with it
All it was was in less power copy of the avalanche pointless
Lookin like every other truck
Honda sucks period
I think : I like Honda
Couldn't get worse
Was never a truck.....was an Accord with a bed....
Honda needs a truck to compete with Toyota and the other truck lines being built
I'm sure Honda will get some repeat business. In fact, both buyers of the first gen truck are looking forward to the new model.
About damn time!!!! The 1st gen is a disgrace to Honda. Maybe, just maybe this new one will actually look & act like a truck.
Arturo Salas I don't like that truck at all lol
Honda isn't going to send a V8 here. More likely to send a diesel. It does look like a Nissan Titan though.
I don't like the new body scetch
If the new one has a real truck bed and v8 with 4x4 I'll buy it!
Lol shut up Arturo Salas might read your comment lol
Pretty gay
Arturo Salas Bryan Ortiz
U idiots really need to Google the most domestically made vehicles in north America. And all mini trucks are super gay btw
Still a Honda "Truck" Lol.
Both are shitty
No, they should just stop. Keep up the lawnmowers and dirt bikes though :)
Fj cruiser are going to be gone too:(
i like the look but its not a truck, its a large car to look like a truck
Finally something that looks like a truck. Now they just need to make on that performs like a truck
Dodge dakota much?
Looks like the outline to the Nissan Titan...
No Brian, spouting off BS comments that have no merit to the original topic make one a dumb ass.
Not liking something just because it is different is simply human nature.
Hondas suck
I'll give you that one Luke though with clarity of definition on my part you may be inclined to agree with me.
It's been clearly demonstrated that the vast majority stating their opinion in this thread are both irrelevant to the original question OR simply uneducated on the topic with nothing pertinent to add. Proof is easily obtained by viewing the myriad BS comments like "stupid", "fail", "not a real truck".
FACT: any "opinion" provided without the benefit of being educated or informed on a topic is rendered invalid.
If this offends the stupid people of the world,
well.... it's just my opinion.
Truck??? LoL. Women love them
Who cares ! Domestic trucks rule !
I didn't realize not liking the Ridgeline made one a dumb ass. Thanks for clearing that up.
Listen ppl, Honda doesn't make a truch it a unibody suv with open tub in the back.. Honda's Toyotas aren't made here 90% of parts come from somewhere else and only assembled here.
Hey if Honda wants to make a truck more power to them, but make it a TRUCK
Ugly honda odyssy with a wanna be truck body- both are hideous
Someone's opinion can't be invalid, that's why they are opinions.
Needs a long box option
That's not a truck. That's an SUV with issues!


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Summary Report for:
17-3029.11 - Nanotechnology Engineering Technologists
Implement production processes for nanoscale designs to produce or modify materials, devices, or systems of unique molecular or macromolecular composition. Operate advanced microscopy equipment to manipulate nanoscale objects. Work under the supervision of nanoengineering staff.
This title represents an occupation for which data collection is currently underway.
Tasks | Tools & Technology | Credentials | Interests | Work Values | Wages & Employment | Job Openings
- Design or conduct experiments, in collaboration with scientists or engineers, supportive of the development of nanotechnology materials, components, devices, or systems.
- Implement new or enhanced methods or processes for the processing, testing, or manufacture of nanotechnology materials or products.
- Inspect or measure thin films of carbon nanotubes, polymers, or inorganic coatings, using a variety of techniques or analytical tools.
- Collect or compile nanotechnology research or engineering data.
- Develop or modify wet chemical or industrial laboratory experimental techniques for nanoscale use.
- Prepare capability data, training materials, or other documentation for transfer of processes to production.
- Prepare detailed verbal or written presentations for scientists, engineers, project managers, or upper management.
- Produce images or measurements, using tools or techniques such as atomic force microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, optical microscopy, particle size analysis, or zeta potential analysis.
- Contribute written material or data for grant or patent applications.
- Install nanotechnology production equipment at customer or manufacturing sites.
Tools & Technology
Tools used in this occupation:
|Scanning electron microscopes — Field emission scanning electron microscopes FESEM; Focused ion beam scanning electron microscopes FIB-SEM; Scanning electron microscopes SEM
|Scanning probe microscopes — Atomic force microscopes AFM; Scanning acoustic microscopes; Scanning probe microscopes SPM; Scanning tunneling microscopes STM
|Semiconductor process systems — Extreme ultraviolet EUV systems; Plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition PECVD systems; Vacuum contact printers; Wafer substrate bonders
|Semiconductor testers — Linewidth measurement systems; Optical thin film measurement systems; Parametric analyzers
|Spectrometers — Energy dispersive x-ray EDX spectroscopes; Infrared spectroscopes; Photoelectron spectroscopes; Secondary ion mass spectrometers SIMS
Technology used in this occupation:
|Analytical or scientific software — Image analysis software; Simulation software; SPMLab
|Graphics or photo imaging software — Optical imaging systems
|Office suite software — Microsoft Office software
|Operating system software — Microsoft Windows
|Spreadsheet software — Microsoft Excel
Interest code: RIC
|Realistic — Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
|Investigative — Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.
|Conventional — Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.
Work Values
|Achievement — Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.
|Recognition — Occupations that satisfy this work value offer advancement, potential for leadership, and are often considered prestigious. Corresponding needs are Advancement, Authority, Recognition and Social Status.
|Working Conditions — Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.
Wages & Employment Trends
Median wages data collected from Engineering Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other.
Employment data collected from Engineering Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other.
Industry data collected from Engineering Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other.
|Median wages (2014)
|$29.60 hourly, $61,580 annual
|State wages
|Employment (2012)
|68,000 employees
|Projected growth (2012-2022)
|Little or no change (-2% to 2%)
|Projected job openings (2012-2022)
|State trends
|Top industries (2012)
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics 2014 wage data and 2012-2022 employment projections . "Projected growth" represents the estimated change in total employment over the projections period (2012-2022). "Projected job openings" represent openings due to growth and replacement.


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Discovering the Beauty of God's Evolving Creation: My Story
A college student raised as a young-earth creationist shares his story of coming to understand and appreciate God's evolving creation.
The Resource Finder has powerful filtering features — check out the tutorial to learn more.
A college student raised as a young-earth creationist shares his story of coming to understand and appreciate God's evolving creation.
Jim Stump explores the meaning of the Lenten season from the perspective of evolutionary creation.
A short guide to where BioLogos fits in the origins debate.
In both form and content, then, Genesis 1 reveals that its basic purposes are religious and theological, not scientific or historical.
I became such an expert in young-earth creationist theology and science that it turned into a wrecking ball for my faith.
My childhood in the evangelical church gave me the toolkit that led me to eventually accept the evidence for evolution, and marvel at the God who created it all.
Collection of the best articles of the past several weeks on science (and faith) from around the web.
Some of the Christian objections to evolutionary creation come from a misunderstanding of what the Bible means when it says "God created".
BioLogos president Deb Haarsma responds to Ken Ham's recent comments about Hugh Ross, and pleads for a more gracious conversation between Christians on issues of faith and science.
The 1930 showdown between evolutionist Schmucker and creationist Rimmer generated a lot of heat but shed very little light on the real issues behind the debate.
Recent high-school graduate Jacob shares about his journey from young-earth creationism to evolutionary creationism, and how his faith was challenged and strengthened along the way.
Here are some of the best responses from around the web to David's Barash's controversial editorial about God and Evolution in the New York Times.
If discussions of science and religion sometimes get bogged down in Genesis, perhaps that is because they have not made the preparatory journey through the rich material of the Wisdom books.
When we sit down to read sacred Scripture, we need to develop a rapport with the Bible's various authors and their worldviews. Otherwise, we will unintentionally demand they communicate in the same manner we do.
The new Gallup survey shows in broad strokes the challenge we face. But more nuanced surveys find that only 8% of Americans are convinced creationists whose beliefs are dear to them, and only 4% are convinced atheistic evolutionists whose beliefs are dear to them. The vast majority of Americans are not sure of their position and are open to a conversation.
We must press beyond the various creation narratives in the Hebrew Bible, including the final chapters of Job, to the picture of God revealed in the New Testament—the Creator who does not rationally explain away the scandal of suffering but who instead enters into it.
Because BioLogos accepts the scientific evidence for the age of the earth and common ancestry, Ham believes we are undermining the Bible and denying its authority. However, the authority of the Bible is key for all that we do at BioLogos.
Sometimes, out of fear or some sense of being required to defend our position, Church leaders and teachers have hastily set up a boundary marker around some doctrinal theory which they have confused as a core doctrinal issue.
Watch to see whether the debate encourages the opinion that science and Christianity are at war. We don't think you have to choose sides.
"It's tempting to think that the church needs to decide quickly which of these [original sin] scenarios is right, and which ones must be wrong. I believe the church is better served by taking its time, holding several different scenarios in tension for a while as we think through the implications of each."


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The artistry of water and time created the entrance to this limestone cave in Patagonia, Chile. Limestone is a soluble rock, and over hundreds of thousands of years, the slow movement of water can work like a chisel. Geologists call these structures solutional caves.
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© 1996-2015 National Geographic Society. All rights reserved.


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Parcells doesn't strike me as the type of person that delegates very much authority
Because we DON'T KNOW what happened with Parcells and Ireland, I feel as though we can only judge Ireland since Parcells left. We KNOW he has been in charge since then.
If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it. The lie can be maintained only for such time as the State can shield the people from the political, economic and/or military consequences of the lie. It thus becomes vitally important for the State to use all of its powers to repress dissent, for the truth is the mortal enemy of the lie, and thus by extension, the truth is the greatest enemy of the State.


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Main Content
You're stylish and chic, but you are completely devoted to Jaguars football too. You're definitely a die-hard fan who enjoys looking good while cheering in the stands. Show off that awesome team spirit with the Helmet tri-blend long sleeve T-shirt. It features distressed "Jacksonville Jaguars" lettering printed on the front, a helmet printed with a team logo and soft tri-blend fabric, so everyone will know you're a trendy Jags fanatic. This tee will absolutely show off your fashionable side and your team pride!
- 50% Polyester/37% Cotton/13% Rayon
- Distressed screen print graphics
- Heathered fabric
- Imported
- Officially licensed NFL product
- Tagless collar
- Team colors and logo
Jaguars Customers also liked:
Special event items are produced by manufacturers only after the outcome of a game or event. These are advanced sale items and will ship immediately after they are received in our warehouse.
Manufacturer direct items are shipped directly from the manufacturer. These items are not available for international or expedited shipping.
Customized items can be personalized with options such as your name, your favorite number, and/or designs. Some options may be limited by league rules.


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Experience Michiana: February 14th, 2013
Having trouble with this video? Let us know.
About This Episode
Episode #339
On tonight's show, we'll learn how to age your own whiskey from Journeyman Distillery. Then we'll make a quinoa stuffed red bell pepper and learn more about sustainability from Krista Bailey from IUSB.
- Original Airdate:
- February 14, 2013
In This Episode
Also In This Episode
- Live Music Calendar


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Detailed Forecast
Dee Lewis
MATE Show 2012
This year's MATE show spilled into a couple of buildings. You could find the big equipment in the Expo Center while all the Home and Health Show exhibits were in the Montana Pavilion. If you couldn't make it, our KGHL cameras did to show you what you missed.
Musser Brothers 1
Photo 16 of 58
The toy auction is ON
Billings Farmhand 3
Billings Kubota 10
Billings Kubota 8
Bobcat of Big Sky 1
Bobcat of Big Sky 3
Northland Auto 2
Northland Auto 8
Northland Auto 4
Bobcat of Big Sky 11
Power Bench 2
NBS and KGHL 2
Northland Auto 6
Billings Kubota 14
KR Rauch 2
Yellowstone Implement 3
Musser Brothers 1
American Drilling 2
Billings Kubota 1
Billings Kubota 7
Yellowstone Implement 1
Musser Brothers 3
KR Rauch 1
Musser Brothers 5
Bobcat of Big Sky 8
Bobcat of Big Sky 4
Billings Kubota 11
Billings Rifle
Water Furnace 2
Power Bench 1
Project Meats 1
Bobcat of Big Sky 6
Project Meats 5
Russell Nemetz in front of the booth
Got KGHL?
MATE is in town
S&T Project Meats put on the feed
Grill Guards at Northland Auto
Kubota Orange
YCI and big Green
70 feet of toys
Billings Farmhand got the reds
Catepillar in Force
Unique toys in the Pavillion
Standing guard
MATE show 2012
West Feeds booth
Bobcat of Big Sky
Supporters of the Toy Auction
Massey Ferguson appears
Northland Auto is missing something
Made in America
Wilson's the name
Montana Seed and Grain
So that's what it looks like
The Long line of Orange
Need supplies
Go Green


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Empire of Sports
Empire of Sports Overview
Empire of Sports is an innovative sports game that has done something remarkable. Most sports games like FreeStyle Street Basketball, Football Superstars, and Project Powder focus on a single sport, but Empire of Sports offers six games in a single package. Plenty of missions, minigames, and three large cities to explore help add even more content to the feature rich Empire of Sports.
Sports – Tennis, Basketball, Ski, Bobsleigh, Football (Soccer), Track & Field
Empire of Sports Screenshots
Empire of Sports Featured Video
Empire of Sports Review
By, Erhan Altay
Empire of Sports is the first free to play sports game to support multiple sports. It was originally conceived back in 2007 by a French studio called F4. Despite being publicly available for some time now, the game is officially in prologue (beta) phase. Empire of Sports offers a wide variety of activities and huge persistent cities to explore each of which is filled with minigames, clubs, and stores. It is a massive undertaking that leaves most other free sports MMOs in the dust.
Transcending Borders
Players start by creating their own avatar using the game's surprisingly in-depth character creation system. Besides the usual hair and face styles, players can chose their avatar's height and skin tone. All characters start with the same shirt, pants, and shoes but each come in a variety of colors. Most importantly, players can select which of the three available cities their character will start in. The choices are France, UK, and Arabia. I know what you're thinking, those aren't cities. Let's just assume they meant Paris, London, and Dubai. Finally, players can select a nationality for their character. Its best to pick the one that matches your location since this determines which ranking list you'll be grouped with.
Fitness Club
Newbies begin their athletic careers in a special tutorial area. Empire of Sports is generally beginner friendly, the controls are explained with small prompts and there are a variety of movement methods available. Players can use the mouse, W,A,S,D, or the arrow keys to move around the game world. The controls may vary when playing a particular sport, but the Sports Complex players start in has a tutorial available for each activities. The game's help prompts encourage newbies to try at least one tutorial, but I highly recommend playing all six. The length of each tutorial varies depending on how complicated the particular sport is. There's no limit to how much time players can spend in the Sports Complex so take the time to learn the basics.
Six Degrees of Freedom
The six sports available are Basketball, Skiing, Tennis, Football, Bob-sleighing, and Track & Field. Unlike many Asian sports MMOs, Empire of Sports tries to maintain a sense of realism. But that doesn't mean there's no room for some fun skills. The Tennis mechanics in EoS are much more realistic than, say Fantasy Tennis, but certain trick shots still leave a temporary crater on the floor which is obviously impossible in real life. Basketball is full-court and supports more players on the field than FreeStyle: Street Basketball. Football, also known as Soccer here in the US, is fluid and is probably the most popular sport in the game. Another European sports MMO called Football Superstars competes with EoS. Not being a major fan of the sport myself, I can only encourage dedicated players to try both to see which they prefer. Skiing and Bobsleigh racing are the easiest simplest sports and are basically played alone. Sure there's competitors, but players don't directly interact with them like in the other sports. The most obvious game to compare these winter sports to is Project Powder. Track & Field offers four different gameplay modes including 100m Dash, 110m Hurdles, Long Jump, and Triple Jump. After familiarizing themselves with these sports, players can talk to the local NPC chauffeur and make their way to the city they chose during character creation.
Tourist Attractions
Each city offers unique geography and even has background music that matches its theme. Several NPCs are scattered around each city that offer players missions. The ability to walk around these cities and take on missions helps increase the game's immersion factor, it definitely beats the classic lobby model. Unfortunately, there just aren't a lot of players online at any given time. This makes the cities feel like ghost towns and that can get discouraging. The basic layout of the cities are identical. Each sport has its own corner while the center contains a dance stage, training centers, an air travel office, and other key buildings. By talking to the Dance Trainer NPC, players can activate a Dance Dance Revolution style minigame. There are a few built in tunes, but players are free to import their own music and play the rhythm game to increase their physical attributes. While not quite as in depth as 5street, Dance Online, or Audition Online, the dancing feature in Empire of Sports shows how much content can be packed into a single game. If that wasn't enough, there's also a shooting minigame where targets hoover over the screen and players must shoot them first-person style. It's similar to many arcade games from back in the day. A training room in each city offers several machines, each with a different minigame. One asks players to repeatedly tap two buttons, others ask players to spell out words as they appear. That's right, Empire of Sports has a typing tutor minigame built in! Each of these minigames has adjustable difficulty and 'reps' which control how long they last.
While all the aforementioned minigames help increase a character's physical attributes, there are other places to spend time between sports matches. Clubs and shops offer places to relax and chat, but it seems there's only one kind of currency in Empire of Sports and that's gold. Gold can only be acquired with real cash so that puts a lot of the clothes, accessories and even features out of reach for most players. Participating in certain tournaments and even traveling between cities requires gold. But for all its content, the game has a debilitating fault and that is the severe lack of players. Most cities are empty, and it is almost impossible to find a match. Many people on the official forums ask for more sports like golf and American football to be added, but what the developers really need to work on is attracting players. The game is still in beta, so perhaps there's more to fix before worrying about advertising. Empire of Sports is an interesting game, an original game, and one that sports fans shouldn't miss.
Final Verdict: Good
Empire of Sports has a lot to offer. The graphics are attractive, the sheer number of sports supported is impressive, and the training minigames don't hurt either. The problem is the game seems to be stuck in perpetual beta and just doesn't have enough players to make it functional. Nevertheless, the game has potential so long as the developers keep at it.
Empire of Sports Videos
Empire of Sports Character Creation
Empire of Sports London Tour
Empire of Sports Tutorial Video
Empire of Sports Links
Empire of Sports Official Site
Empire of Sports System Requirements
Minimum Requirements:
OS: Windows XP / Windows Vista
CPU: Intel or AMD GHz
Graphics Card: GeForce 5600
Recommended Specifications:
OS: Windows XP / Windows Vista
CPU: Pentium 4 2.5 GHz or better
RAM: 2 GB or more
Graphics Card: GeForce 6600 GT or better


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H.R.4213 - Unemployment Compensation Extension Act of 2010
To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend certain expiring provisions, and for other purposes. view all titles (9)
All Bill Titles
- Short: Tax Extenders Act of 2009 as introduced.
- Official: To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend certain expiring provisions, and for other purposes. as introduced.
- Short: Tax Extenders Act of 2009 as passed house.
- Short: American Workers, State, and Business Relief Act of 2010 as passed senate.
- Short: Satellite Television Extension and Localism Act of 2010 as passed senate.
- Popular: American Jobs and Closing Tax Loopholes Act of 2010 as introduced.
- Popular: Unemployment Com- pensation Extension Act of 2010 as introduced.
- Popular: Unemployment Compensation Extension Act of 2010 as introduced.
- Short: Unemployment Compensation Extension Act of 2010 as enacted.
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Displaying 181-210 of 1199 total comments.
- kevinelliott 06/20/2010 1:20am
I don't think it would make much difference! These guys are in it for the power, the politics, the notoriety, and the back office deals. Most of them are already independently wealthy. Remember, it takes a lot of money to get into power, and often times the parties only support financially well-to-do types, since they need to understand the party clientelle (i.e. rich fatcat lobbyists and wealthy corporations who support their campaigns).
I love what you're saying in spirit. I wish giving these guys a median salary of an equivalent position would actually make them more accountable and understanding, but if they're already loaded, why would they care? They still have the power, and the back office deals.
- brokechristine 06/17/2010 10:42pm
Shame Shame Shame on the PEOPLE'S representation!!!! GOVT stop lying to make your numbers look good on how f'ing great things are- wake up!!!! Do you even read the news- employers won't hire the "unemployed" hello is this ringing a f'in bell you self righteous bastards. PASS THIS BILL and bail out the PEOPLE until you finally figure out that your earlier decisions to ship our jobs oversees is now biting your assess off. It's GOVT WASTE that has this country in a deficit- funding a war we WILL NEVER WIN- HELP YOUR OWN PEOPLE FIRST!!! How could you f'ers take a vacation on Memorial day weekend ok money to Haiti and stick the American people then- and since then- This is ridiculious!!!!! The unemployed like me due to GM closing my dealership after you gave them my money is too qualified for minimum wage jobs that they know you'll leave at your first chance- so now I can't get a job- pay the rent- buy groceries etc. Do I have to move to a foreign country to get help!!!! shit
- anxietyfilledtaxpayerrobbed 06/18/2010 1:05am
I havent received the 99 wks others have, healthy white guy, havent resorted to crime, havent scammed anyone, look for work everynight and day, havent given up, regardless of the odds If my chrysler doesnt get paid, in 2 wks, which im 8 months away from paying off, they will come take it, i lose out on every dollar ive paid for the dang thing in the last 5 yrs, i was workin hard, no degree, but im a hard worker, drug free and their talking about us doing drugs, like we could afford them, Their the rich elites, laughing at us and taking our tax money and our parents too, going to strip clubs, dishing out money to criminals and other countries, Obtusity, we dont deserve that, and as far as drug tests go, they should be illegal, Against the constitution to force us to give our dna away to anyone, if i piss on anything it will be in there faces as i go down fighting. we all have our day, yours is a coming. Pass the extension bill, make it right or i promise you havent seen anything yet.
I was unemployed in Nov 2009 and fell through some loophole as my benefits ended May 29th 2010. WOW 26 weeks and I have exhausted my benefits? I am competing with people who have been off for 52 weeks and more and I am off any benefits? Hardly seems right that I fell through this crack. Fix it please!! Take off the extra 25 bucks and let us have our regular extended benefits please!!! Make this bill pass and pronto!
- brokechristine 06/18/2010 5:39am
I am in the same boat laid of Nov 2009. I didn't receive 99 weeks either- yep were competing with the first wave of layoffs from 2008- plus I live in a college town. Wonder if these representatives read the news about how employers don't want to hire the unemployed. God help us.
- bluboy1313 06/18/2010 5:45am
Yes, if this isn't the poster child of this broken government wtf! They put so many issues together and make it impossible to have a straight up bill vote just for Unemployment and then the republicans have a new battle cry "oh we must not add to the budget!!!" WTF really is this the time for your BS now? We are watching and can see when the American people are down who really stands by them!
My God this is the third week… when it should have been handle before the break… IF the republicans belief in their cause they should return their pay to the Treasury then they too like many Americans can go without pay but their argument rings hollow when it is just a cheap tactic used when it doesn't effect the elite rich…
A breaking new story is that many banks are now failing to repay their TARP loans!
Hey throw those bums out on the street just like they would do to us when we miss our house payments!!!
I would love to see some homeless bankers!!!
Looks like another week of no check. What a bunch of BS. Our government is so screwed up. This is a kick in the gut for all hard working Americans who are entitled to this benefit. I can't believe they don't understand what this is doing to peoples lives. And they wonder why people don't want to take the time to vote.
agreed – it is BS. however, that is WHY we need to vote so that this type of thing doesn't happen! bottom line is that this is another week with NO check. we help everyone all over the world (and most don't even like us but they'll take our $$), but we don't help in our own backyard. hard to believe….
- brokechristine 06/19/2010 7:47pm
It won't be long and the news will start talking about the increase in guns and ammunition sales- a scene right out of Les Miserabe. The people will have to do what the people have to do- better make sure you protect your right to arms- that will be the next thing they try to take away now that they're pissing the real America off. Part of why our troops are still away is that they won't have a job when they come home either…..chew on that one awhile….
Is this going to come down to the President making an Executive decision to override Congress? Failure to pass legislation to extend unemployment deadlines is going to have a devastating impact on all levels in this country. How can our Senators be so blind as to not see THERE ARE NO JOBS and with employers taking the cold hearted position of excluding unemployed workers from consideration for openings Congress should be adding "Employment Status" to the list of Title 5 discriminatory conditions employers are barred from practicing. America's employers are the ones who dumped all these workers onto awards of the state to take care of all in the name of higher dividends and profits for their shareholders. The government should be holding them totally, by proportion, accountable. They should not be allowed for creating this burden on America.
What is wrong with this picture? Unemployment keeps rising even though our leaders say different, just because people who exaust their tiers are not counted anymore! I have friends that have been on unemployment 2 months longer than me but because my 2nd tier didnt run out before june 2nd i'm out in the cold why is that? i should get all my tiers as others have now it looks as i'll be losing everything i own! i cant even buy food now or pay my bills, i will lose my home for sure!!! i want to work but ohio is so bad there are no jobs unless you work for the state they got plenty of work on bridges and roads but these people already make 25-30 bucks an hour doesnt seem fair. If you idiots in charge can bailout the banks and the automakers that alteady make millions but they can't help the backbone of america us workers to no fault of our own lost or jobs with no hope in sight in finding decent work i mean who can live on 8 dollars an hour? PLEASE HELP US!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
- whywasilaidoff 06/18/2010 7:31pm
Too bad I was busy working and paying taxes all these years and didn't have time to watch our legislators at work. Too bad I was laid off even though I had more seniority than most of my coworkers. I get angrier every moment that I watch what happens while the Senators waste precious time and money. Does anyone else yell at the screen when they are telling stories about movies they saw or spending hours wishing happy birthdays? Thank goodness for the Hollywood walk of Fame because that is one of the most importaint issues today. ???!!!
It makes me mad that my senators voted down this bill. Who are they representing? Get to work for us and do your job!
i read everyone's comments on here daily (and then some) and i wonder what we can do besides posting comments on this website. i have written my congressmen, etc. are they hearing us? this should have been handled weeks ago and tonight on ABC national news they reported that they don't know how they are going to pay for it? funny, it didn't seem to be that hard to use our hard earned $$s to bail out auto and banks. what else can we do to get this taken care of?
- dankennedy73 06/19/2010 9:26am
To be honest, if you are wondering if our represntative hear us the answer is only when it is close to an election and even then it is only to pay us half heartened lip service. We need to stop voting for career politicians, we, "the everyday citizens of this country," who have to endure the ridculous crap that comes from Congress and our respective state legislatures, need to start geting involved. Running for office ourselves and remembering always what it is like for our fellow citizens on the streets. That is why they don't care. Most politician have never been poor, and of the few who have most of them have forgotten.
- loganstorm 06/19/2010 3:28am
Well its official. I've lost my home. If I don't have the rent paid by July 1, my children and I are homeless. I've worked all my life, I am not a deadbeat, I ran out my first 26 weeks of unemployment the day the extension ended. While on UI, I was looking for work aggressively. After awhile, I couldn't even afford the ink for my printer to print resumes, but at least I had the rent paid so my children had a home. I have two degrees, one in child psychology and one in accounting/business management…and was looking even for waitress work and was turned down for being overqualified. When I told them to exploit me, they just laughed. If this bill doesn't pass, get signed & go into effect in the next few days, I'm homeless. I've never been a whiner or a quitter, but I just don't know what do do anymore. If it wasn't for my kids, I might just give up for good.
- mrepictruth 06/19/2010 10:16am
Welcome to debt slavery! America's apathy made it so.
- kevinelliott 06/20/2010 1:37am
I feel for you. Your situation is dire, and you don't deserve this. You're highly qualified for most any position it sounds like. I have read a lot of comments, and have met a lot of people over the years, who like you have several degrees. I almost feel like in a lot of ways this whole country is over qualified. We ship off so much of our jobs overseas that we can't ALL be managers and business owners. We can't all do thought work and engineering (although so much of that is offshored too now). Everyone becomes over qualified, except when it's convenient for a company to wade through piles of resumes and slowly take their pick. Sure, it's their right. But that's the sad truth. Some companies are so happy that they can finally nitpick over which exact candidates they want.
Anyway, you're not alone. Hang in there. Millions in your shoes, and likely hundreds of thousands in your exact situation. Whatever you do, don't go back to school AGAIN. It's unnecessary.
- dankennedy73 06/19/2010 9:43am
Go check out Yahoo News. Just yesterday I read a story about corporations listing jobs that specifically deny unemployed from being able to apply. They want someone with a job already to apply because they believe the same crap everyone else does: if you're unemployed it must be because you're lazy and don't want a job. What a load of bull! I would love a job, but I won't even be considered by anyone for a decent job just because I'm unemployed.
Then Senators who oppose this bill are attacking the middle class americans like myself who work in the construction industry. They want to piss and bitch and moan about boo hoo whos gonna pay for our unemployment.? Hmm i am gonna guess we are going to pay for it our selves, with the govts ability to throw trillions of dollars to banks, automakers supervising boards(not the workers), and yet they can not help out its own citizens. I know that with out the middle class construction workers NOBODY would have a car to drive built by americans, on roads that are built by american workers, to buildings and/or work built by american workers. Yet the senators bitch and moan wondering about taxes and shit. Set your political bickering aside step the f- up and take care of the people who put your fat asses in office. Otherwise we will getyou the hell out its simple
Another thing i noticed was a CNBC report about last months jobs report boasted 438,000 jobs created. Big DEAL what they didnt say was 411,000 of those jobs were Temporary Census workers who are now back on the unemployment line. Bunch of biased bull shit if you ask me
- leslierickard 06/19/2010 2:24pm
It is bs, and it is very biased. Big Buisiness controls the media, the same way it controls the government. If they say jump the government jumps and the media is there to take their pics and report on who jumped the highest.
I do think Obama should over rule this darn thing and sign it in. HE knows that it is seriously screwed up. Bail out banks and no good auto makers and then let the people who are out of work lose everything? not funny. They really need to get working on this bill and get it passed.
- Unemployed1 06/19/2010 5:59pm
They are worried about the money to fund this bill and some parts of the bill should not pass. The unemployment extension should be on a seperate bill. If they are worried about funding unemployment bennefits, what will the do when people have to line up at the welfare office because they lost their unemployment? I am sure that none of us want that, none of us want welfare. We were eligbel for unemployment because we had our weeks in and the job market still sucks. Pass the bill, cant they seperate the unemployment part of the bill and then work on the rest? They need to stop worrying about who looks better in the end. Pass the damn bill already!
- brokechristine 06/19/2010 7:31pm
Our leaders are worried about a welfare state. What they should be worried about is the unemployed rallying together with what little resources we have and taking a road trip to the capitol, making signs, using bullhorns and making an unemployment quilt with each square representing an American family who's American dreams have died.
Our Congress is shameful! I am so tired of hearing that the majority of America wants to lower the deficit, not increase it. This was repeated over and over again during the Senate hearings. Blah, blah blah. Nothing else to say Senators? Yes, we all want to lower the deficit, but right now there are hundreds of thousands of YOUR fellow Americans left out in the cold because of your own criteria. I am a 60 year old unemployed woman that has been laid off 2 times in the past 20 months and currently unemployed for 1 year. Too young for retirement and too old to be hired. Yes, that is a fact that is happening along with employers requiring people are currently employed.The longer I am unemployed will affect my retirement earnings. Senators, sending billions to other countries in crisis, but ignoring your own American citizens is disgusting and shameful!!!! We all will remember come next election.
- leslierickard 06/20/2010 8:13am
Congress is so worried about the defecit….are they even thinking about Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac? It is estimated now that it will cost the AMERICAN TAXPAYERS…yes the AMERICAN TAXPAYERS….$145.9 billion to bail them out of the mess they were in. How does HR4213 compare…how can they seriously say they are worried about the defecit? I am already a week late on my rent with late fees growing every day, I am expecting an eviction notice any day now. I have so many open applications out there, if anyone should call they won't be able to get through…AT&T is shutting my phone off. My electric bill hasn't been paid this month, so that's going as well. I have used the last of my money for what groceries I could get…and it wasnt't much. I won't even be able to drive to a food bank because I will not have gas in my car. My youngest son's birthday is Tues. and it breaks my heart to tell him he will be getting nothing. I just hope to be able to eat by then!
- leslierickard 06/20/2010 8:13amI am so disgusted with our government and ashamed…I really don't think this is what George Washington and our founding fathers thought of when they formed the United States. Somewhere along the way the grasp on reality slipped away and now these politicians live in a fantasy world…at least it's a fantasy world to me, a place where I don't have to worry about my next meal or if my son's will have a roof over their heads come next week!
- leslierickard 06/20/2010 11:29am
Well, my landlord just came by, if I don't have rent this week my sons and myself will be homeless. WHat part of WE NEED HELP is the senate not hearing!


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Would it be possible to access xvba with oss driver?
Would it be possible to access xvba with oss driver?
/me waits patiently (and thankfully) for the TGSI-based work and suggests everyone chill out and do the same (or use gbeauche's xvba-video if using Catalyst).
There are (at least) two different topics under discussion here :
- opening the XvBA API implemented by the fglrx driver
- providing programming information for an open source UVD driver
They are totally different activities - one (XvBA API) started a while ago and is (hopefully) pretty close to being done, the other (UVD programming information) has not started yet and I don't expect it to happen for a while.
I was talking about UVD programming information, but I'm wondering if you thought I was talking about fglrx/XvBA when I said "6 months" and that triggered your comments about how long things should take ?
Does that make any sense ?
If we finished investigating the release of UVD programming info and concluded that doing so was not *quite* safe but close, then a "UVD driver blob over open source stack" solution might reduce the risk just enough to be viable (depending on what the showstopper risk(s) turned out to be). It's definitely one of the options on the table anyways.
amd payes you for thinking and you "still think (,,,)--> XvMC (,,,) --> Galium3D (...) --> ffmpeg (...) --> on shaders"
but in the past you write to me there is no clue about doing this because no single gpu company does this and without an uvd unit you should do this on the cpu then i remembers you about the r600 hd2900 with no uvd unit and h264 decode on gpu then you got a light in your mind and the thinking about an OS version of that stuff was born.
and now the fat brain bridgman thinks about and thats what i talking about amd payes you for thinking so i'm right the AMD OS driver team work on the shader based solution because you think payed by amd about that stuff.
its Psychoanalysis thats my skill other humans are great progammers and i'm great on thinking about people people do what they can do.
I can't argue with that logic.
If thinking counts then OK, it came from me
You can estimate more like 30*30 = 900 hours trying to figure out what releasing one technical detail means legally and what one paragraph of one contract means technically. Then go into overview mode and apply puzzle theory, can you from the pieces combined figure out more than you should? Then start over.
Right or wrong, the content industry claims billions of dollars in losses due to broken DRM. Look up Capitol vs Thomas, for sharing 24 songs they got awarded $2 million in court. I'd find it likely that if AMD accidentally handed over the keys to the DRM there'd be a billion dollar lawsuit on their ass. Let's do two weeks of review for that, sure.
However in my "experience" 6 months is a LONG time! You can code and find out a LOT in that timeframe and that's why i think you can drastically reduce it. In my opinion to 2 weeks, but lets make it 2 months to keep you happy
To me this stuff is all moving to slow and i see to much messages like "6 months" and 6 months later no real noticeable changes (for the user! i'm sure a lot changes we can't see)...
But today something became a lot clearer though.. on the phoronix news for the 10.10 driver : "AMD or their AIB partners have yet to send us any Radeon HD 6000 series hardware, so Linux users are currently left in the dark." which makes me sad but does make me realize (again) that AMD is not caring that much about Linux video drivers..
A few questions.
- How much people are at this moment CODING on the linux fglrx driver?
- Has the legal investigation for UVD even started?
- If pervious is "yes" then how long did it tok so far and how much longer is it gonna take?
- Why don't you "sponsor" a few community people to work on the opensource r600g (gallium) driver? It's not expensive at all for AMD but gives a lot of benifit for AMD! My estimate: sponser 5 people for 6 months full time. That's about ~2500$ a month thus 12500$ for 5 ppl thus ONLY 75000$ for 6 months and you end up with a very complete r600g driver in just 6 months! I'm sure AMD can miss that money for the goal.
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