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March 2nd, 2006, 09:33 PM #1
Memorial Book Club Discussion: Xenogenesis by Octavia Butler
Due to the recent death of Octavia Butler, many of our members have moved the Xenogenesis Trilogy to the top of their to-read pile. To honor Ms. Butler's memory, we've decided to open a discussion on the Xenogenesis Trilogy. I'll open this thread for discussion around the 15th or 20th of March.
The books in the trilogy are:
Adulthood Rites
They are also collected in two different omnibus editions, one entitled The Xenogenesis Trilogy and the other called Lilith's Brood.
I hope many can take part. I can see no better way for us to honor Ms. Butler's life work than to talk about her books.
March 15th, 2006, 02:50 PM #2
I'll go ahead and open this thread for discussion.
March 27th, 2006, 12:00 PM #3
I finished this trilogy last night, and am so pleased I finally got around to reading it. I can't remember how long it's been since I read about interesting aliens, and in such depth. I've been occupied with cyber- and post-human sf, contemporary fantasy, and it feels good to go back to the familiar old roots of sff.
Not that there's anything too familiar in these books. Butler's original and complex society of Oankali captivated me from the beginning. I liked the biological twists and the cultural ramifications, both in the Oankali themselves, and in the ways humans and Oankali came together. The resistance, the acceptance, the blending, the numerous possible outcomes of the genetic mixing, were all involving at both the level of society and at the individual character levels. I found the construct characters fascinating and enjoyed how the characters in the first book didn't fade from view, because I cared about them too.
What'd you think, Erf?
March 29th, 2006, 06:15 AM #4I finished this trilogy last night, and am so pleased I finally got around to reading it. I can't remember how long it's been since I read about interesting aliens, and in such depth. I've been occupied with cyber- and post-human sf, contemporary fantasy, and it feels good to go back to the familiar old roots of sff.
Not that there's anything too familiar in these books. Butler's original and complex society of Oankali captivated me from the beginning. I liked the biological twists and the cultural ramifications, both in the Oankali themselves, and in the ways humans and Oankali came together. The resistance, the acceptance, the blending, the numerous possible outcomes of the genetic mixing, were all involving at both the level of society and at the individual character levels. I found the construct characters fascinating and enjoyed how the characters in the first book didn't fade from view, because I cared about them too.
In fact i often find the Onkali to be too perfectly capable at everything; we are constantly shown being stupid or unreasonable or incompetent humans are, but never the Onkali. At most they make minor errors in judgment, but from their point of view the consequences are always minor (a few human are put into suspended animation again).
The omnipotence of the Onkali (so far), does force the reader and chharacters into a corner when it comes to the moral decisions, the simplistic option of just resisting and fighting is not really a possibility. I think its the best example so far of a book i've read in which supposedly benificient uber-aliens come to Earth to transform and improve humanity (cf. Clarcke's Childhood's End, Tepper's The Fresco). There is always the opposition between wanting humanity to not be interferred with, and wanting to applaud the improvments. In Dawn, i'm feeling both, but i do hate the Onkali more.
The parallel that came to mind, was a man saving a child from drowing, than taking her home and making her a sex slave. He rapes her while she's too young to understand, when she get big enough to fight back, he drugs and rapes her, when she has children he either rapes them or seperates them and teaches them to be rapists. I'm usually dismissive of people who say 'rape is the worst thing that can happen to a women', but in this case i am leaning toward thinking it would be better for the child to have drown.
So at the moment i'm feeling it would probably be better for humanity to have been left to destroy itself rather than being enslaved and raped. I guess drug rape wasn'r a crime when these books were written? I wonder if Butler even saw it as rape to drug someone so they enjoy the experience. I particularly didn't like the times when Onkali to individuals ''your mouth says no, but your body says yes'' - i don't see the victim being sexually aroused as any kind of excuse for forcing sex against someones stated wishes.
But after all that i can accept that there is an argument, that survival is the most important point in the long tem for humanity, i just don't agree with it. Unlike historical slavery, it doesn't seem likely humanity will ever be free again due to the interbreeding. This also has parallels to the systematic rape of black slaves, which has resulted (so i've read) in all their 'black' western decendents being mixed race to some extent. If it had continued until eveyone was mixed race, i wonder what would have ahppened to the concenpt of one race being the slaves of the other?
That will do for now
Last edited by Yobmod; March 29th, 2006 at 06:19 AM.
March 29th, 2006, 09:24 AM #5
I'm still thinking about what to write here but:
So at the moment i'm feeling it would probably be better for humanity to have been left to destroy itself rather than being enslaved and raped.
Don't underestimate Butler's misanthropy-she doesn't think much of the human race at all.
You stack the deck emotionally with your rape analogy, but you're leaving out-the part about being healed of all illness and made practically immortal. There are real boons to this admittedly ambiguous trade. That's not the usual rapist's deal.
The alternative is death -not due to the Oankali, but death due to our own self destructive tendencies.
Last edited by ArthurFrayn; September 10th, 2007 at 08:09 AM.
March 29th, 2006, 09:34 AM #6Originally Posted by ArthurFrayn
I would dislike being told what to do everytime (that was the most disgusting part of the treat for me) but anyway I'd be excited about the new chances and possibilities (I guess).
In fact, I liked more the Oankali than the humans as depicted by Butler
Last edited by odo; March 29th, 2006 at 09:38 AM.
March 29th, 2006, 10:09 AM #7It's important to point out that humanity is about to cease to exist. The remnant (at least as far as Dawn is concerned) are transformed,into something that is really no longer human. Not enslaved.The Oankali are transformed in the process as well.
Its true there have been some benifits for the reamining humans, such as the increased lifespan, but this was also done without the victims consent. I'm firmly against government (even an alien one!) being able to force medical treatment of patients. Refusing medical treatment is a fundemental human right under the UN, and is in the US constitution. Its just another type of rape, and loss of freedom inflicted by the Onkali IMO.
I've just read a part that hints that the Onkali are going to "leave the earth a lifeless husk". It is really not much of a trade off - the Onkali have all of the power, and all humans gain is having their DNA subsumed to allow a parasitic race to spread. The Construct children so far seem much more Onkali than human - psychologicaly Akin hasn't done anything so far that an Onkali wouldn't do.
If the story had been about about an advanced western culture kidnapping and breeding with african captives from a war-torn countries, would people still call it a "trade"? The captives would get better medical treatment, food, etc, and their children wouldn't be african anymore, and would have a new culture. That wouldn't make it acceptable to me.
I think Butler has made the story much more morally ambiguous than "aliens save humanity and merge to the benifit of all, except for a few short-sighted and morally repugnant resisters." Her protogonists may accept the change as the only option, but that doesn't make the change good.
March 29th, 2006, 06:04 PM #8I'm firmly against government (even an alien one!) being able to force medical treatment of patients. Refusing medical treatment is a fundemental human right under the UN, and is in the US constitution. Its just another type of rape, and loss of freedom inflicted by the Onkali IMO.
Everything you say is true,this is an alien invasion, but if you whip out your Boy Scout Manual, I think you're missing Butler's point. Don't worry. There are people who feel exactly the way you do in the novels. Like Butler, I'm of two minds about it.
You sound like you think the novels are obliged to advocate human rights. I think if you had said that to Butler you'd just get a cold stare, and you'd know why.
Conversely, these novels do not advocate subjugation,they just deal with it .
You're supposed to be provoked by these novels. Lilith hates the Oakali as well.She also loves them.
These novels are about being forced to be something other than what you are, with no turning back.
Last edited by ArthurFrayn; March 29th, 2006 at 10:02 PM.
April 2nd, 2006, 11:14 PM #9
I have been meaning to post for a while but have been too busy, and then I would forget.
I read these books in the 80s I think. After they had been published and gone oop, but before the omnibus edition came out.
What I remember was the incredible, searing pain of Lilith's that OB was able to impart. The fact that she had to do something that she hated and that was awful, but it was the only option for the human race. How she had to betray herself and her race for their own good. How she was hated for doing what was necessary, and trying to make it better.
I thought OB had Lilith act out 'the good of the one versus the good of the many'. In many other stories that do this the 'one' has a heroic death, and so doesn't have to deal with the consequences. OB kept the 'one' around after the sacrifice so she has to help cleanup and deal with the mess.
I never took the story to be one of alien invasion, but rather beings who were there to collect and preserve what they could once we humans had destroyed ourselves. Because of the rescue, the aliens were a.) entitled to some compensation, without being thought evil, and b.) because they had taken on a destructive and suicidal group who would basically crap in and destroy their own nest, they had to take actions to prevent that behavior, which now could threaten them (aliens).
I found the first book to be the most memorable. Many say the other 2 books aren't as good, and I don't think I agree. They are much less intense, and have much less of an emotional shock value.
I thought OB was using Lilith to show what its like to be different and know you are right, and to have to chose to follow your soul, and then be rejected by those closest because your way is different than theirs, or the traditional way. I think she was also talking about societies and how they need to give up old habits that were destructive, even if they defined them, and move on and change. Yet change is very frightening and painful and even if its for the best, people who have to change often lash out and try to spread their misery.
OB was very bleak in her views because she was totally embedded in the 70s, no matter when or what she wrote. The upheval and chaos, the hatred and destruction and lack of hope of that time, the malaise, shine through in almost everything she does. I think those times fit in with her personal experiences and reinforced them. I think she wrote to try to warn of what was ahead if different actions weren't taken, but I am not sure that she believed it did or would make a difference.
November 14th, 2011, 12:00 AM #10
I just recently read the Lilith's Brood series and I came across this discussion as I was browsing the books from this book club. I realize many of the people originally engaging this thread may not still be around. Hopefully, some will have read the series though!
I had many of the same reactions as FicusFan. I found it impossible not to have strong feeling regarding the Oankali, however. I disagree with Yobmod that Butler was trying to portray the Oankali as perfect, or should I say that my reading of the books did not reveal the Oankali as perfect. I was constantly struck by the Oankali's lack of culture. They can remember all, so why write books or tell stories or engage/create art? The Human Contradiction, dangerous though it may be, encourages the flourishing of human cultures. At one point in the last book, Jodahs has a conversation (I think it was Jodahs) about how Oankali do not necessarily love their mates, yet it feels like Lilith and Nikanj do eventually feel love for each other. That begs the question whether love as we understand it requires choice. If it does, is the Oankali world mostly without love?
My biggest disappointment with the series was that I feel like she didn't properly conclude it. I wanted to follow the Mars colony and read about their story in the final book. I felt like the story was a story about humans through the Oankali, not other way around. And so I wanted to see perhaps what it would be like for a child of Akin, the only construct in a world of humans (assuming Akin stayed to build the world?), or a child of one of Akin's lovers, or a child of one of the humans we had come to know and care for. The plot she chose for the third book was interesting, but ultimately not satisfying for me. I suppose that her purpose was to see how a human population might be converted to Mars or to Oankali life. I guess the major argument I derived from the book was that men could actually achieve peace. Men as opposed to women, not men as a generic for humanity. That Jodahs's male lover and the male village elder are able to take ooloi mates means they are able to suspend the human conflict. Or so I gathered.
It was a fantastic series. I have dwelt on the questions the book raised for many days after reading it and I'm sure I will continue to contemplate them.
December 14th, 2011, 01:25 AM #11
Jumping In A Bit Late
I was familiar with Octavia E. Butler since my late teenage years. As the only African American woman writing science fiction, she was something of a role model for me. I think that what I appreciate the most in her Xenogenesis Trilogy is their overall, philosophical similarities to her short story "Bloodchild." In Bloodchild, we are introduced to remnants of humanity, in contact with an alien species that has the upper hand. Sort of. I rather enjoy that theme in science fiction and the way the she handled it in Xenogenesis and in Bloodchild, because there's a certain measure of ambivalence in it. She doesn't present black/white issues at all...they're more akin to shades of gray, and for a while, Butler's science fiction was the only science fiction (that I was exposed to) that presented that adult form of ambivalence. Her interspecies relationships were complex and complicated, driven more by mutual need than any other tangible thing, and I suspect that one of the more disturbing elements of her writing (to some, at least) might be that very take on human/alien interactions. If we enter a co-dependent relationship with aliens, how much like them will we become and how much like us will they become? If such a blending takes place, then what happens to our long-cherished notions of "race?" (Especially in terms of race chauvinism!) What happens to our perception of "the stranger?" Indeed, what happens to our concept of "self?" I might be wrong, but I think these are some of the fundamental questions that unify Butler's works. It's rich territory, after all, and admittedly, too few science fiction tales have explored such themes with such compassion, whether that compassion extends toward humans, aliens, or most gloriously, both.


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frantic wrote:I've just had a look online and it seems the alesis that you mentioned would only work with iPads that have the 30 pin dock connector, does anybody know of a solution for this? Or have alesis released a newer model supporting the lightening connector?
dubhausdisco wrote:Hello everyone!
Decided to check out cubasis... Very cool.
May I recommend somewhat of a sleeper in the iOS world-
The Akai EIE. 4 in 4 out, 1 midi din I/o, and a USB hub built in to connect midi controllers.
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frantic wrote:Thanks Stevo!
I'm going to take your advice and start a new thread. thanks fella and good luck with your search. Is your act covers act or originals?
dubhausdisco wrote:Stevo1080,
I will check it out with cubasis, just downloaded last night.
What you are asking works with Auria, and any other app that supports multiple audio outs.
Also I forgot to mention it has inserts on the inputs, (nice feature), and one of those input/output monitor mixers built in.
Very flexible unit, and built like a tank!
frantic wrote:Hi Stevo,
yay the EIE looks great!.... thanks for the info Dubhousdisco! Be really cool if the 4 out can work! If Steinberg gets midi and Tempo Track then I'm sorted! ....Stevo is there a work around for you if you trigger an external sound module for the metronome you need?
knuckle47 wrote:If it means something, I got a response form Alesis about their ioDock and its' lightening plug versus the older connection. Their rep said they are currently finishing manuals for new product introduced at NAMM but their ios line is expanding . Just not yet ready to divulge what it might be ???
Home Studio 87 wrote:Presonus VSl series are iPad compatible (2inn/2out - 4in/4out - 18 in/18 out)
RME too but more expensive !
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Customer Ratings:
I've tried (and sadly returned) many skin products, including PC products, because they either irritated my skin or caused breakouts. This one, though, is a winner! I can tell it's strong and can feel it working, but it doesn't leave my skin dry or irritated. The day after I use it, my skin is softer than ever. I don't use it on my sensitive cheekbone areas - just my forehead, nose, and especially chin. Large tube, seems like it will last a long time. Dispensing hint: remove the flip-top cap.
If youre looking for a good clay mask, search no more. This is a wonderful, basic, purifying mask. Along with the bha 2% liquid exfoliant, they have paired up to make my skin super radiant and reduced black beads and blemishes. It can be drying, so I only do it 1 or 2x a week and make sure to moisturize after.
I use the entire Skin Balancing kit and it seems to be working well - the only one that causes mild irritation is this product. I get a slight burning sensation initially, but it goes away after a minute or so. I have only used the mask 3 times so maybe I just need to give it more time. My face doesn't look irritated after I remove the mask, so that's a good sign I hope!
I have very oily skin. I alternate using Retin-A and the 2% BHA liquid from Paula's Choice. However, sometimes I still get small blackheads. This mask helps get rid of them and also makes my pores appear smaller. If I use it two days in a row, my skin gets dry and flaky, so I limit it to a couple times a week. But I feel it's a nice addition to my skin care routine, as it helps to dissolve the oil that my normal routine misses.
I use this mask every other day on my T zone to control the oil excess.. it is really good, leaves my skin soft and doesn't dry it either. Will continue use this product for years. Thank you!
I used this once and didn't even leave for the full amount of time. I like the texture and it went on smoothly and the results seemed good. But, it made my skin very dry and itchy for several days. I was hoping using the mask would be a good addition to my current routine, but it just didn't work for me. I love all the other products, but this one doesn't work for me.
Thank you for sharing your experience, and we're sorry to learn the Skin Balancing Mask just didn't work for you. It's tricky to know what the cause may have been, but the good news is you can contact Customer Care at email@example.com for assistance with a refund or exchange.
Best clay mask I've come across! No nasties or no irritants. I use this twice a week and it has been doing wonders for my blackheads. It has been hard for me to find things that work for me because I have sensitive oily/combination acne-prone skin and mask are usually laden with fragrance, alcohol and irritants.
Wow! This product is amazing. BHA products only help but so much with clogged pores but this takes it to a whole new level when used in conjunction. This mask is a must have for any one with oily skin that you have to blot all day long. I used this mask and canceled my appointment for a facial. Didn't need an extraction after this mask made my pores so clean and small. Thanks Paula! Please never stop making this!!!! Also thanks for making price affordable because I am a broke college student!
I loved the consistency of this mask & the texture while it was on my skin, but I was only able to apply it on two separate occasions. Each time it burned (I'm probably sensitive to an ingredient... possibly the willow extract?) & I applied for about 8 minutes each time. Though I have more combo skin & not super super oily, it was a bummer that there isn't another comparable mask option, but the CS team was awesome (thanks Isabelle!) with issuing a credit since I can't use it.
I love this mask, I have combination skin or as I like to call the upside down T zone... I use it especially during times I feel like my breakouts aren't improving and this does the trick!!! Love It!
Love this mask. It is great and really makes your skin clean, clear and feeling amazing! Just don't leave it on to long (got busy reading and an hour passed) as it will get really dry, crack and pull your skin painfully. Helps to balance and renew skin.
I use it 2x a week on my forehead, nose and chin. On my chicks I apply the other mask to hydrate them.It works great for me. I get to moisturize my cheeks and clean my enlarged pores on the rest of my face. I can't say if my skin benefits from it alone (I use lots of PC products) but I use it anyways . I used to apply it on my neck too, but it made me broke out the first time I used it. I stopped using it on my neck and now I am fine.
I bought a sample of this mask because although my skin is oily it tends to be sensitive and masks tend to burn and irritate so I thought I would try this. Ooooooh I was sooo impressed. Not only did it feel good, but my skin looked AMAZING after using it. So...I shall be buying a big big bottle! Well, I WISH they made BIG BIG bottles but you know what I mean. :) Love it!
I have not used a mask for the last few years since I read that masks are not really necessary, but decided to try this one since I enjoy PC products. I do like the texture and creaminess of the mask. It's very soothing to apply, isn't drying and rinses easy and cleanly. I don't know if there are actual benefits to my skin from its use, but I do feel pampered and my skin feels soft and clean afterwards. It is gentle enough for my sensitive skin, I have left it on for up to 20 minutes.
This is a wonderful product.....but the cap broke the first time I used it. Maybe a screw on cap would be better?
I have used dozens of masks over the years to clear out the junk inside my large pores but none has worked as well as Paula's Choice. I use it once a week and leave it on for about 15 minutes. After that I notice that my pores are cleaner and smaller. I have not had any adverse reactions to this product. All in all, I would buy it again.
While it was on, this mask made my skin feel very tight. But after I rinsed if off my skin feels amazingly soft and is glowing! Highly recommend for getting that glowy look prior to a night out.
Tried a sample and my face felt and looked great afterwards. My neck broke out, though! I am thinking I need acne skin care routine for my neck and back, and leave my usual skin balancing/hydralight routine for my face alone. I am also not sure about the benefits of an occasional mask, but it can't hurt. I'd say buy a bunch of samples and try them once a week for a couple of months to see if you notice anything. I have a few more to try, but will stick to my face going forward...
Not sure what Paula would say about this, but I use both masks once each week. I first cleanse my face & neck area, then use the mask for oily skin. I leave it on for 15 minutes, then rinse off completely. Next, I use the one for dry skin in the same way. If it's evening, I leave on overnight. If day, I follow with Skin Recovery routine. This has been a weekly routine for several years. My dermatologist says my skin is amazing for 64. He says more like 44. Good enough for me. I love the feel!
I never tried the old formulation as I was scared off by the reviews of a few who said it burned and caused redness. I am happy to say that this formulation caused none of that for me. In fact, it is incredibly soothing and leaves my skin less red and more smooth than prior to using it. It has a very classic clay mask feel but the fragrance free formula and addition of soothing ingredients makes this very different from old school masks I tried years ago. Well done!
I have really enjoyed this mask. I have normal/ slightly oily skin, and I bought it primarily for smoothing/extra blackhead help. It definitely leaves my skin noticeably smoother (even consider my retinue of PC products!). However, the biggest difference I notice is in the creases of my nose. When I use this, they look noticeably less red, and the blackheads are slowly diminishing. It seems to be more effective than even the BHA9, which is weird, I know. But hey, whatever works!
This mask is very effective in leaving your skin very tight and also removes any oily residue. It removes easily with a wash cloth. Very nice product.
I have used dozens of different clay masks that all claim to do the same thing as this one. This is by far the best mask I have ever used. It has a nice light feeling when applied to the skin, yes it is a thicker clay, but it does not feel very heavy like most of the others I have tried. It also has just a very faint tingling sensation when first applied that quickly goes away and is not uncomfortable. Very easy to wash off, and my skin looked smooth and did not feel tight after use.
I would call this a feel-good mask at best... On my skin, it does sting on contact, but I've been using it for nearly two months now, at least once or twice a week, sometimes daily, hoping for it to make any impact at all on my large pores, and I'm so sad to say that it didn't. I did not notice any reduction in my blackheads either, and I've been using the Skin Balancing toner, 1% BHA gel and 8% AHA gel for over a year now as well. I guess my pores just must be extremely stubborn!
What makes this product unique?
This mask's unique formula beautifully balances skin by absorbing excess oil without over-drying or making it feel tight. It also doesn't include irritating, skin-damaging ingredients such as menthol, peppermint, or alcohol. The clay's drawing action helps dislodge blackheads and cellular debris, while the soothing blend of anti-inflammatory agents reduce redness and irritation. The product rinses away completely leaving skin remarkably soft, matte, and beautifully smooth.
This product is 100% fragrance-free.
Who is this product for?
Skin Balancing Oil-Absorbing Mask is recommended for those with normal to oily/combination skin. Excellent for breakout- and blackhead-prone skin, too.
British Journal of Dermatology, August 2007, pages 295–300; Clinical Experiments in Dermatology, January 2007, pages 88-90; Journal of Agricultural Food Chemistry, February 2002, pages 840–845; Journal of Cosmetic Science, January-February 2002, pages 1–9; Journal of Natural Products, January 2001, pages 100–102; and Life Sciences, May 22, 1998, pages 401–407.
Key Ingredients:
sea whip extract, phospholipid, ascorbyl palmitate, kaolin, Salix alba extract, bentonite, bisabolol, glycerin, colloidal oatmeal
Water, Kaolin (clay/absorbent), Bentonite (white clay/absorbent), Glycerin (skin-repairing ingredient), Salix Alba (Willow Bark) Extract (anti-inflammatory), Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder (water-binding/soothing agent), Sea Whip Extract (anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial agent), Colloidal Oatmeal, Bisabolol (anti-irritants), Ascorbyl Palmitate (vitamin C/antioxidant), Tocopheryl Acetate (vitamin E/antioxidant), Phospholipids (skin-repairing ingredient), Panthenol (skin-conditioning agent), Retinyl Palmitate (vitamin A/antioxidant), Stearic Acid, Steareth-2 (thickeners), Caprylyl Glycol (preservative), Butylene Glycol (slip agent), Ethylhexylglycerin, Hexylene Glycol (preservatives), Disodium EDTA (chelating agent), Phenoxyethanol (preservative).
DIRECTIONS: Use on clean skin. Apply a generous layer all over the face and neck (if needed). Let dry for 10-15 minutes. Rinse thoroughly with tepid-to-warm water. May be used as often as needed. Those with oily to very oily skin can use this mask several times per week, while those with normal to slightly oily skin can use it less frequently (once or twice per week, for example).
Detailed instructions on how/when to apply your Paula's Choice products can be found in our How to Put Together Your Own Skincare Routine article.
I thought Paula didn't like clay masks or, at best, finds them unnecessary skincare products. Did she change her mind?
Is Skin Balancing Oil-Absorbing Mask OK for those with rosacea and oily skin?
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Wayland anyone?
Phoronix: Razor-Qt Desktop Still Being Developed, v0.5 Is Near
While there hasn't been a new release since February, like the Trinity KDE 3.5 fork, the Razor-qt desktop environment continues to be actively developed. Razor-qt 0.5.0 will be released soon...
Wayland anyone?
They could target wayland deployment, and be the first fully functional wayland DE. That is the way to gain popularity.
I think most of the conversion from Qt4 to Qt5 can be automated - the next bit would be then making it work well and using some of the newer features
Link (dated at February): https://groups.google.com/forum/?fro...c/ddtz6ymaq8MJ
Sorry to double post but I cannot edit my post anymore.


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http://www.eteamz.com/baysblitz/ Bays Blitz 10U Division 1 Tournament Team will be holding open tryouts for all girls interested in playing highly competitive year round travel team softball. The Bays Blitz will choose the best players available regardless of location. We are looking for players with the highest commitment level and desire to improve their skills while playing with and against some of the more talented players avaiable at this age level. Ages for the tryout is limited to 8-10 yr olds and will be held on: January 22/ 9:30am and January 23/ 2 pm at Bay Area Park located at: 7500 Bay Area Blvd in Clear Lake, Tx. For more information please email Lonnie Fox at firstname.lastname@example.com with Bays Blitz in the subject line.
Online Golf Tee Times with Last Minute Tee Time Deals & Discounts
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Dealing with Your Exercise Barriers
Of course, it's not just negative thoughts that keep you from exercising. You have real reasons not to exercise, right? Let's think about them and see whether you can get past them.
No Time!
I don't have time to exercise. Of course you don't. We've found that basically no one has time to exercise. People don't become regular exercisers because they were bored and didn't have anything else to do. Exercise can seem so frivolous when so many other "important" things must get done.
Broaden your viewpoint. Without enough regular exercise, you're more likely to lack the energy and stamina to tackle all your chores, to feel good at the end of the day instead of exhausted, and to reach your ideal size.
There is no way around your need to exercise. You can't hire someone to do it for you. You can't have it done to you passively while you rest. You can't do just a little and expect huge results. You can't speed it up and do it in less time. Exercise takes as much time as it takes. Even money can't buy you exercise.
If you're really struggling to find time to exercise, get creative. When Helen was a mom with a six-month-old, she would head to the park with her baby in the stroller. There she would run circles on a wide path around the stroller so she could get in her running. Undoubtedly she might have gotten a few curious stares from onlookers, but it worked.
There really aren't shortcuts to exercise. Perhaps that's the real beauty of it. Could it be that your exercise time is time just for you? Time to de-stress, to decompress, to be alone with your thoughts? Time to enjoy some of the sensuous pleasures of your body's movement and sweat?
Today, most health clubs offer childcare, so you can still get in a workout. Or you could develop a home program if you've got small children. Exercise during naptime, when they're in the playpen, or while they play at your feet. You'll find it worthwhile even if it's not your ideal. And don't forget your spouse! Ask him or her to baby-sit while you work up a sweat and enjoy exercising for a half hour.
Put it on your schedule. Don't rely on "when you feel like it" exercising. Schedule exercise into your daily agenda and make sure that you block off at least 45 minutes three times a week—or more. Plan to schedule exercise for the rest of your life. Intermittent bursts of exercise are okay, but they don't add up to much over your lifetime. You never outgrow your need for exercise.
What About My Hair!
I hate what exercising does to my hair! Unless you're bald or you shave your head, there's a good chance that working up a sweat will mess up your hair. Yuck! Wouldn't it be great if you could exercise hard without wrecking your hairstyle or needing to shower afterward?
This problem can only be tackled through practical measures and a good attitude. The best attitude to adopt is that not exercising wrecks a heck of a lot more than exercising ever can. Not exercising wrecks your weight-loss progress, lowers your metabolic rate, and erodes your health. So what's a hairstyle and more antiperspirant when we're talking about your ideal size and health?
Carefully choose the type of exercise and the timing of your exercise to handle your showering and hair concerns. Many of us prefer to exercise in the morning before work. Some prefer after work. Noontime aerobics classes are a bit harder for handling personal hygiene, but you can solve the problem if you're motivated enough. How about an easier-to-manage hairstyle?
Embarrassed at the Health Club
Health clubs intimidate me. Do you find yourself comparing other bodies to yours? Do you believe that others at the gym are looking at your body critically, especially if you're not yet at your ideal size? Or even if you are? We have clients who are embarrassed to be seen riding their bicycles in public. They feel that every passerby is commenting on the size of their thighs. How do you overcome this?
We certainly don't recommend hiding out because you aren't in the shape or at the size you want to be. You can start your exercise program at home. Terrific exercise videos are available, and home exercise equipment is a great investment … if you use them. You can also join a health club or go to the local rec center and exercise. Just be sure to not compare your body to others; rather, use the time as your personal time for you. Luxuriate in the pleasure of moving your body, the sweat, and the heavy breathing.
By all means, do as much exercise out of doors as you want. If a passerby has thoughts about your body, well, only you know how mistaken and petty that person is. He or she is passively riding in a car; you, on the other hand, are getting fresh air, sunshine, and terrific body movement.
Exercise Is Hard and It Hurts
Whenever I start exercising again, my body is so sore. Yes, we agree. At first, you can be stiff and sore after an especially energetic workout. It can be hard to catch your breath, your lungs can feel as though they can't get enough oxygen, you can feel really out of shape. In this situation, you only have two choices—stay out of shape or get in shape.
The only way out is to go through it. You can go more slowly and let your body build stamina and muscle strength without so much huffing and puffing, wheezing, and stiffness.
Last year, Lucy moved to a small city within 15 minutes of the mountains and great hiking trails. "I thought I was in great shape until I started hiking. Oh my gosh, after a half hour my legs were mush, and they wobbled. My heart pounded. I got woozy but didn't want anyone, namely my husband, to know. After several hikes, he started watching me more carefully. When my legs started trembling as I climbed, he made me stop and take my pulse rate. [Do this by counting the pulse on your wrist or neck for 6 seconds and multiply by 10.] If my heart rate was too high, say over 140, he had us turn around and head down the mountain. I didn't like this because I wanted to reach the top. However, by not pushing myself to the top early on, over the summer, I developed the stamina to go farther and farther every hike. Now those same hikes feel like a cakewalk."
Muscle soreness and stiffness on the days after exercise is caused by a build-up of lactic acid in your muscles. To feel better, drink lots of water, stretch your sore muscles, and take hot Epsom salt baths. You can tell by now that we recommend baths for almost any condition. The luxury of massages is great, too.
More on: Exercise Tips
Excerpted from The Complete Idiot's Guide to Healthy Weight Loss © 2005 by Lucy Beale and Sandy G. Couvillon. All rights reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. Used by arrangement with Alpha Books, a member of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.
To order this book visit the Idiot's Guide web site or call 1-800-253-6476.


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By:Lynda Hollenbeck
As predicted in a recent column, I was finishing up my Christmas shopping on Christmas Eve.
I don't plan it that way; it just happens. Even though I love her like a sister, I'm nothing like my friend Brenda in this respect because she usually finishes her shopping in time to celebrate the Fourth of July.
If she didn't have so many redeeming qualities, I would hate her, but alas I can't. She's my kindred spirit in most ways, certainly in the way we view life — i.e., sense of humor, etc.
By:Lynda Hollenbeck
The Christmas season can be counted on to stir up memories.
I'm not alone in this. I think it's probably a pretty universal situation.
When I watch favorite old holiday movies that reflect those earlier times, I do so with more than a few lumps in the throat. But the melancholy reminiscing is tempered by recalling lots of funny things that happened through the years.
I'll never forget the year one of our cats became a Christmas ornament. Literally.
The kids came running to me, yelling "Mom, quick! Come see Leo! He's in the Christmas tree!"
By: Lynda Hollenbeck
Every year I say I won't do it again.
I won't be that last-minute shopper out there trying to become creative and thoughtful after all the Martha Stewart-like, organized people have picked over the finer-but-cheaper things that would have put a gleam in the eyes of my loved ones.
I've been a movie buff since little girlhood. Growing up in Cotton Plant, I saw every offering at James Theatre and occasionally films shown at other venues that were a part of my life during that period.
It was at this time that I developed admiration for so many actors who graced the screen for most of my life. Some are still around, though most have taken their places on the heavenly stage.
By: Lynda Hollenbeck
"They" say — whoever the proverbial "they" might be — that timing is everything.
I won't argue with the thought, particularly in regard to the timing of this column. As I write it, Thanksgiving hasn't happened yet, but by the time it's published, Thanksgiving 2013 will be history.
So what do I focus on as I face the challenge of being betwixt and between what really is my favorite holiday of all? I guess I'll just go for a hodgepodge of "stuff."
First, to belabor the point I just alluded to, Thanksgiving really is at the top of my holiday calendar list.
Lynda Hollenbeck
There are certain foods that I like year-round, but they don't come to mind until special seasons of the year.
One of these is candied yams. I could enjoy these any day of any week of any month of any year, but unless something brings them to mind — or really to eye — I just don't think about them.
While sweet potatoes themselves have more or less come into their own in recent years, I have to be reminded that they're around — though truth be told, I never met a sweet potato I didn't like.
Recently, as I was fishing around in a dresser drawer, I came across an old watch that had belonged to my daughter a lot of years ago. This was a Cinderella souvenir timepiece and featured the beautiful Disney character under the crystal.
Judging from the number of Cinderella wannabes I saw recently at Downtown Benton's Spook City, it appears that Cinderella still is a popular literary/movie heroine for little girls.
Earlier in the week Courier publisher Steve Boggs gave his take on Daylight Saving Time — or rather on the adjustments one must make to accommodate the semi-annual change from Daylight Saving Time back to Central Standard Time.
Steve's chief concern was resetting all the clocks that govern his life.
Remember the time when Halloween got a bad name? Religious right groups and various others protested the holiday as evil, and trick-or-treating for a lot of youngsters was verboten.
Witch costumes in particular were viewed as symbols of demonic worship.
Even when it wasn't a popular position to take, I argued in favor of the celebration and said folks needed to lighten up and let the kids enjoy a harmless activity.
There's nothing any cuter than a little girl all donned out in witch's garb, particularly the classic pointed hat.
It's been a long, long time since I've worn maternity apparel ― and obviously I won't be doing a repeat of this style in my future ― but I do remember those days.
Yet as a woman who likes fashion and loves babies, I have taken an interest in recent trends in clothing styles for expectant mothers.
In the fashion world, like everywhere else, changes are inevitable. Some are good; some are not.


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N.H. couple arrested in Lebanon shooting: Police cite 'drug habit' as motivation for burglary
Thursday, January 17, 2013
LEBANON, Maine — Police arrested a couple in Somersworth, N.H., Wednesday afternoon in connection with a shooting last week at a 2nd Street home that is now believed to have occurred during a burglary.
McCausland said authorities believe Gutierrez dropped Bauer off at the 11 2nd Street resident last Tuesday to allow him to carry out a burglary of the home. Gutierrez then left in her personal vehicle. Police have alleged Bauer was the only one in the home at the time when Potorski was shot, after he returned home around noon for a lunch break that day. Police found Potorski's Ford Explorer abandoned behind a Big Lots retail store in Rochester, N.H., later that afternoon and officials have said they believe the shooter used the victim's vehicle as a getaway car.
The Maine State Police have also said they are actively investigating the timeline of events to clarify exactly what happened inside the home between Potorski and Bauer and have stated the crime was not reported until approximately 1:45 p.m. later that day, when Potorski's wife returned home and found her husband with a gunshot wound in his shoulder and chest area.
Potorski was transported by LifeFlight helicopter in serious condition to Maine Medical Center.


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Scott Receives "Defense of Science" Award
NCSE Executive Director Dr. Eugenie C. Scott was pleasantly surprised on April 12, 2003 at the Center for Inquiry conference in Washington, DC, at which she received CFI's "The Defense of Science Award" for "her tireless leadership in defending scientific evolution and educational freedom." Congratulations to Dr. Scott!
Bill Approved by Committee
The Public Education Committee of the Texas House of Representatives recently approved HB 1447, which will now be considered by the House as a whole. This bill would return total control of textbook content to the State Board of Education.
Tennessee District Rejects Textbooks Over Evolution
The Blount County Board of Education rejected the adoption of three new biology textbooks because they present evolution but do not present creationism, The Daily Times, Maryville, Tennessee, reported on April 5.
The vote to reject the textbooks passed 2 to 1, with four board members declining to vote. Board members Mike Treadway and Jean Simerly voted to deny the texts and Don McNelly voted to approve them.
Louisiana House Resolution Urges Rejection of "Certain" Textbooks
On April 1, Louisiana Representative Ben Nevers introduced House Concurrent Resolution 50, which "[e]ncourages city, parish, and other local public school systems to refrain from purchasing certain textbooks."
The resolution states that "in the effort to encourage the development of students' critical thinking skills, city, parish, and other local public school systems should refrain from purchasing textbooks that do not present a balanced view of the various theories relative to the origin of life but rather refer to one theory as proven fact."
Bill Misses Legislative Deadline
Senate Bill 168 was not acted upon by the Education Committee before a March 1 deadline, and is therefore officially finished for this year's session of the Kansas Legislature. This result was expected following comments by the Education Committee chair that the bill was already "dead in the water". See February 11 news item on this page.
News Alerts
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Evolution and Climate Education Update


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Annual Rollinsford School Meeting deliberative session of this Saturday
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
ROLLINSFORD — The town's annual School Meeting deliberative session pertaining to proposed teacher and paraprofessional contracts will be held Saturday at 9 a.m. at the Rollinsford Grade School. The session is in regards to Warrant Article 6 of the Rollinsford School District Agreement between the Rollinsford Education Association and the Rollinsford School Board.
The second session of the School Meeting will be held on March 12 and will give district residents the opportunity to go to the polls and vote on warrant articles.


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Welcome disc golfer! You can login or create an account.
Questions? Call us: (785) 258-2494
The Axiom Proton 1776 Inspire is an understable fairway driver. It is the second fairway driver from Axiom Discs, and is an understable complement to the breakout hit Crave. Skilled players will be able to get smooth straight and turnover/flip lines from the Inspire, while beginners and lower-powered throwers will gain distance and usability from its understable nature. Inspire is the easiest-to-throw GYRO™ driver.
The 1776 Edition Inspire is a limited run of just 1,776 discs. All cores are Blue Sparkle Proton, with GYRO™ rims of either Red or White.


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Anchor your best outfits with this versatile denim skirt, featuring the classic five pocket design, detailed stitching and a slightly frayed hem. NOTE: Shipping to Australia is FREE. All orders will be sent by Registered Post.
Shipping and Return
Shipping Info: Shipping Cost ($): 11 Shipping Cost Outside US ($): 11 Return Policy: At ColourDujour, we want you to have a fun, exciting and care-free shopping experience! As such, we have created an easy to understand refund and exchange policy and recommend you read the following information carefully before completing your order. OUR POLICY: We want you to love all of your ColourDujour fashion items! So, if your change your mind or require a different size or colour, we will be happy to provide you with an exchange, store credit or refund. Simply email firstname.lastname@example.com within 7 days of receiving your order. Please note that for international orders (outside Australia), ColourDujour will only provide a refund or exchange for faulty or damaged items. All refund and exchange conditions regarding faulty or damaged items still apply. Remember! To ensure a perfect fit, before you place an order, make sure you check the sizing information for each product and compare the product's measurements with your own. Please note sale items, and for hygiene reasons – earrings, cosmetics, lingerie, hosiery or swimwear can only be exchanged or refunded if the item is faulty, damaged or does not match the product description. Please note the following refund and exchange conditions apply to all purchases: - All items must be in a new, original and unused condition, with all original tags attached. - In the case of faulty, damaged or misrepresented goods, we will provide you with an exchange, store credit or refund and ColourDujour will be responsible for all return shipping costs. - In order for ColourDujour to provide quality fashion at low affordable prices, in the case of an exchange, store credit or refund for change of mind or an incorrect purchase, you will be responsible for all shipping costs associated with the return and replacement of your item(s).


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NCAA Football 13 - Xbox 360
by Electronic Arts | Item #: 548195 | (1) |
We're sorry, this item is not available in your selected Club. Check another Club
ESRB Rating: E for Everyone
Take your team to victory with a former Heisman Trophy winner on your team with NCAA Football 13. With former Heisman winners on your roster, see if you have the confidence and poise to utilize his legendary skill set to capture the Heisman Trophy—this time for your school. Experience the game like never before with an all-new passing game where players track and fight for the ball, and feel the excitement of gameday as ESPN Studio Updates bring the game to life in a dynamic football environment. Make your mark and lead your team to glory with NCAA Football 13.
Assembled Country
Ask & Answer
Warranty InformationComputer/video game software must be returned in the original and unopened packaging with a receipt to receive a refund. Defective software must be returned within 90 days of the original purchase with a receipt to receive an exchange of merchandise.
There is no additional information available for this item.


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Lava Heat Italia Patio Heaters
We have selected only the best Lava Heat Italia Patio Heaters for our clients because of the superior quality of this product line. Being introduced to the market 40 years ago, the Lava Italia company has always been searching for ways to ensure the best quality products are being delivered to the customers. Their product line of patio heaters have superior quality and are presented in styled and elegant shape that will suit any given outdoor exterior design. Another important factor that differentiates the Lava Heat Italia products are the extended durability and multifunction of the patio heaters. Making a statement, this company is entitled to only the best reviews and positive feedback.
Initially, patio heaters where designed to be used in commercial settings such as restaurants and bars in order to keep the people warm who enjoy their time outside. After some time the idea of having patio heaters has moved for domestic use, and many manufacturers has concentrated on delivering these items with different design, functions, styles and sizes. There are three basic types of patio heaters today, and majority of heaters use natural gas, propane gas and electricity.
The patio heaters today offer:
- Convenience. All heaters are portable and can be moved around the area to provide extra warmth on the location spot. Many patio heaters that are made for residential use are being run on natural gas and are cost-efficient option today.
- Heat Focus. A parabolic reflector that comes with majority of patio heaters allow to focus the produced heat from the element. For additional convenience, there are patio heaters models with adjustable reflectors that allow to focus the heat in the needed direction.
- Safety Features. The modern line of Lave Heat Italia Patio Heaters is completely safe. Coming with automatic shut off feature, the appliance turns off if tipped over or blocked.
Making a decision towards purchasing quality patio heaters from our professional online store, allows many clients to enjoy buying the best products for affordable price any time they want.
Lava Heat Italia Patio Heater, 2G Propane Outdoor 61,000 BTU - Satin Black
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How to Select
How to select patio heaters
To make your patio a more enjoyable place during cold winter and autumn days, you may consider equipping it with a patio heater. Such a device will help you enjoy your morning coffee on a porch or invite your friends for an autumn barbeque party. No matter what you do outside the house, a patio heater will help you stay warm and comfortable.
To guide you through the process of selecting a patio heater and to help you purchase the perfect device to satisfy your needs, we will answer some of the most frequent questions people ask when looking for such device. The first thing to consider in a patio heater is its size. This depends on the area that requires heating, the bigger your patio is, the more powerful the heater that you need to buy.
The devices that exist today can be divided into the following categories:
Small table heaters, wall mounted devices and standalone heaters. If you are looking for a device that can be moved from place to place, a portable heater is the perfect option for you. Wall mounted heaters will suit people who spend a lot of their time at home and do not really need to heat other rooms of the house. Standalone fixtures provide much more heat and may also become a perfect addition to your patio's decor.
Another important aspect of patio heaters is their heating element. Two main categories of such devices are offered at today's market: electric and propane heaters.
An Electric patio heater is the safest option since it poses no risk of propane poisoning. However, it only heats the nearest area so you will have to sit next to it to feel the warmth.
A propane patio heater provides larger area with warmth and is perfect to be used in bigger patios.
When you know what type of heater you want, make sure it is equipped with an electric starter. Not only is such heating option safer, it also is more convenient since you will not have to mess with fire when starting the heater.
Since all kinds of accidents may happen when you are outside, it is advised to look for a model that comes equipped with an emergency shut off feature. That way, you will rest assured that a coffee or tea spilled around or even on the heater will not affect its operation and will not lead to dangerous consequences.
Now, when you know what main features to look for in a patio heater, you can move to the next step, which is selecting the design and color option of your new heating device. You may not be aware of it, but patio heaters, in addition to providing heat, become a great decorative element of the area where they are installed.


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Post prom, grad committee seeks volunteers
The West Fargo High School Post Prom and Post Grad Committee is looking for parent volunteers. The committee is responsible for planning the Post Prom and Post Grad events in the spring that provide a safe and fun environment for the students.
Are you a newspaper subscriber but you don't have a Digital Access account yet? https://secure.forumcomm.com/?publisher_ID=40&event=subscriber/lookup.
You will need your subscription account number and phone number. Not sure if you have an account? Email us at email@example.com and we can help you.


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Teen gets 10-20 years for baseball bat attack on sleeping Rochester couple
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
DOVER — Before a Strafford County Superior Court judge sentenced him to 10 to 20 years in prison, 19-year-old Phillip Eisenberg turned around in his shackles to face the Rochester family he brutally assaulted with a metal baseball bat and apologized.
Assistant Strafford County Attorney Amy Feliciano told the court the defendant was able to flee the scene in his car because Rob Cox, writhing in pain from a fractured kneecap, told his son to let Eisenberg go.
Rob Cox underwent surgery to repair his knee and Kristin was struck multiple times on her head and face, from which she suffered severe lacerations. Almost a year and a half later, she told the court she now has two scars on her face and difficulty breathing through her nose.
Kristin Cox held her 16-year-old daughter Sydney's hand when she read her victim impact statement, adding since the attack, Dylan Cox would sometimes patrol their home with a golf club to ensure they were safe at night.
Sydney Cox was in the home at the time of the attack and told the courtroom she pushed herself against her bedroom door to hide when she heard screams. She said her brother came to get her after 10 minutes and she went downstairs to check on her family.
"All I saw was my mom covered in blood and my dad was moaning and crying on the ground," she said. "I thought my dad was dying. I mean, I was scared my parents were going to die."
She choked back tears as she thanked her brother for saving their parents.
Feliciano requested a sentence of 13 to 30 years imprisonment for Eisenberg with 7� to 15 years suspended. She said the defendant caused extreme physical injury to the three victims, who still have $30,000 worth of medical bills to pay. The family did not request restitution however, though they said with loss of income they had would end up paying about $60,000 in all.
"It's a horrid, horrid (crime), but under the circumstances, I don't think we should give up on him," Vogelman told the judge.
Eisenberg was ordered to have no contact with the victims in the case and to undergo mental health counseling and drug rehabilitation "meaningfully" during his period of incarceration. An investigation revealed he took eight times his prescribed medication for his attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and was routinely using marijuana at the time. Additionally, a 2�- to 5-year sentence for the charge of burglary has been suspended provided he have no more incidents in the 10 years after his release from prison.
After Eisenberg entered his pleas of guilty, Vogelman argued further against the label of "first degree" concerning the assault charges, stating it indicates the defendant carried out his actions knowingly and purposely. Judge Tucker noted Eisenberg had already entered his guilty plea for those charges and told the defense to submit a motion to amend the sentencing if they wished to discuss it further
While Feliciano argued Eisenberg's mental condition shouldn't play a factor in his imposed sentencing, Vogelman said Eisenberg suffers from various mental illnesses and that could be the only reasonable explanation behind his sociopathic behavior that day.
Feliciano said rather Eisenberg's crimes showed a great deal of thought and planning, where he removed his sneakers before entering the home, bought a new pair after the crime, wiped down his car and texted a friend initially requesting he help him create a false alibi just after the assault.
Rob Cox's father, John, said his family felt "that justice was done."
"You have to support the process," he said, adding the family has attended most of the hearings in the case. "This has been difficult for the entire family."
Kristin Cox told Foster's she felt a sense of closure, noting her family is "strong." Asked how her son was coping, Dylan, now 20, stepped forward and said he felt a weight had been lifted off of him. He plans to attend college in the near future and study art.
"I'm very thankful for my parents and all of my friends that have been with me through this," he said. "It's been a lot. I've had a hard time dealing with a lot of this and it's just good to have good people by me."


text: Tse Chi Tong (Gallen Lo) was once the heir to a medicine oil factory that was closed more than 10 years ago. He is now dedicated to his work as a postman, and he lives with his younger sister Mei Ling (Annie Man) and his late father's loyal servant Chan Tung (Lo Hoi Pang), whose daughter Yuen Yuen (Shirley Cheung) is in love with him. Tong's peaceful life is changed forever when the ghost of a woman named Mak Chau Kuen (Anne Heung) appears before him one day, telling him her tragic love story and begging him to do one thing for her. Tong vows to help her, and he teams up with sparring rich girl Wong Yuk Cham (Charmaine Sheh) on a quest to find the lost letter from Kuen's beau, Miu Lin Sin (Kwong Wa), from 12 years ago…


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Filter by content types:News stories Blog posts Feature articles Polls Image galleries
Filter by tags:
|Cases Chipsets Cooling Copyright CPUs Displays Folding Game consoles
|Gaming Graphics Input devices Internet Linux-Unix Mac Memory Miscellaneous
|Mobile computing Motherboards Multimedia Networking Operating systems Personal tech Podcast Power
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Cree raises its game, lowers prices with 4Flow bulb
Since I posted my Friday night topic and then a blog post about LED light bulbs, I've been quietly waiting for another chance...
Type: Blog post Tags: Miscellaneous
Friday night topic: The nosehair trimmer dilemma
The modern economy is a wonderful blessing in many ways, but it does produce some strange scenarios that can be difficult to process. I remember,...
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Friday night: Your customer service pet peeves
Over the past few weeks and months, horror stories about Comcast's customer service have made the rounds. We've heard a desperate retention rep refuse...
Type: News story Tags: Miscellaneous
Deal of the week: Canon's Rebel T5 DSLR for $349, an ultra-wide IPS monitor for $300, and more
This week's deals post is so all over the place that I almost don't know where to begin. Let's start with something a little different: Adorama...
Type: News story Tags: CPUs Storage Miscellaneous Displays
Friday night topic: Conspiracy theories
You might have heard about the little stunt Nvidia pulled at its Game24 event yesterday. Using real-time global illumination on its new Maxwell GPUs, the...
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The TR Hardware Survey 2014: What's inside your main desktop PC?
If you've been on TR for long enough, you probably remember our hardware surveys. Our first one went up way back in 2008, and...
Poll Questions: • Processor series • If you have an Intel Core processor, is it a • Number of processor cores • Graphics card(s) • Number of graphics cards • Price of each (or only) graphics card at time of purchase • What's overclocked? • Motherboard manufacturer • System memory capacity • Solid-state drive capacity • Mechanical storage capacity (total) • Do you have an optical drive? • Do you have a sound card? • Do you have any expansion cards beside a graphics card and sound card? • PSU wattage • System form factor • Type of CPU cooler • Number of displays • Resolution of largest display • Panel type of largest display • Mouse type • Type of keyboard • Primary operating system • Home network Wi-Fi speed • Internet connection speed (down) • Internet connection speed (up)
Type: News story Tags: Miscellaneous The Tech Report
Friday night topic: why the fear of autonomous machines?
If you keep up with the news these days, you're probably regularly exposed to stories about "drones," killer robots, and the like. You may...
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Morning, all. Just FYI, we're facing what may be the busiest week of the year, and today will probably be the busiest day of that week....
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Friday night topic: Driverless cars
The news that the UK will soon allow driverless cars on its roadways has me thinking. The prospects for driverless cars fascinate me. When...
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Friday night topic: your top movies?
I saw Dawn of the Planet of the Apes last night and was extremely impressed. Thanks to...
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Friday night topic: Do you grow your own?
Our garden is filled with edible goodness this time of year. There's forest of lettuce comprised of at least four different varieties, plus kale, tomatoes,...
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IDC: PC shipments declined less than expected in Q2
The last couple of years haven't been kind to the PC market as a whole. However, IDC's latest numbers show a smaller-than-expected decline for PC...
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Friday night topic: Blowing stuff up
Happy Fourth of July, everybody! So what are you exploding to celebrate independence? Anything? I will be putting to work some of the lessons I've learned...
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Newegg now accepts Bitcoin payments
Been putting off your next Newegg order because you only have BTC on hand? Worry no longer. Newegg is now accepting Bitcoin as a...
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Friday night topic: Coffee
I've kind of resisted doing a Friday night topic about coffee, because I know not everyone enjoys...
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U.S. Supreme Court weighs in on software patents
In a unanimous, highly anticipated decision yesterday, the United States Supreme Court ruled in Alice Corp. v. CLS Bank that adding a computer implementation to...
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Asus Chairman predicts PC market rebound in late 2014
The current conventional wisdom is that PC sales will continue to decline as phones and tablets take over the jobs of entry-level PCs. As
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Friday night topic: your best tech purchases
We've recently explored the question of our worst tech purchases, and what a dreadful collection of stories were told. There is another side to...
Type: News story Tags: CPUs Graphics Miscellaneous
|Here's our take on Vulkan, the next OpenGL
|GeForce Experience update streamlines GameStream setup
|Nvidia may update Shield portable with Tegra X1
|Report: Intel considering acquiring Altera
|Rockstar releases new GTA V screenshots ahead of April launch
|Weekend Shortbread
|Friday night topic: quadcopters!
|The TR Podcast video 173: Torquing the Titan
|Report: AMD R&D spending falls to near-10-year low
|I ran the article through a compression algorithm. Seems like the data was highly compressible - this is what came out: Meet the new drive. Same as th...


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Zodiac Online
Zodiac Online Overview
Zodiac Online is a turn based fantasy MMORPG by EnjoyMMO, the company behind like Magic World Online and Phoenix Dynasty Online. One thing all of these games share in common is that they're extremely similar to each other in terms of graphics and gameplay and unfortunately Zodiac Online isn't much of an exception, at least graphically speaking. Gameplay wise, Zodiac Online is a bit unique, as its the first 'turn based' MMORPG by EnjoyMMO. The gameplay mechanics are similar to other turn based MMORPGs like Myth War 2 Online, Atlantica Online and Wonderland Online. The game's most unique aspect is that it has no set classes and players are allowed to 'advance' their characters anyway they like, which allows for practically infinite different 'builds'. Those specifically looking for a 2D turn based games should find some value in Zodiac Online, but others will likely be turned off by the poor visuals and turn based gameplay.
Zodiac Online Screenshots
Zodiac Online Featured Video
Zodiac Online Review
Zodiac Online is a colorful animated turn based fantasy MMORPG that combines magic and Chinese astrology. Set in a world ruled by celestial signs, beastly creatures, and sorcery players are summoned by the mighty Jade Emperor in a mission to prevent the manifestation of a demon initiated apocalypse. Characters transported to the human world act as Zodiac Envoys on a journey to save mankind from total destruction.
Grinding like a Zodiac Envoy, the Gameplay
Although Zodiac Online appears similar graphics-wise to other games like Magic World Online or Phoenix Dynasty Online the gameplay is altogether unique. There are no set class limits so players have the freedom to build up their characters as they wish. Only attribute points count. The quests and turn-based combat is infused with the ancient history of the 12 Zodiac animal signs. When players begin their expedition they're given several user names of players according to the Zodiac to befriend. There are hundreds of quests available each day. Some tasks are simple like talking to a designated NPC or attaining a valuable item. Other quests are more involved like killing enemies, capturing monsters, and even escorting a wagon of supplies to a particular destination within the allotted time period. While exploring wilderness areas players are randomly transported into combat zones. Once entered a panel appears allowing users the option to attack, use skills, select item, defend, escape, start auto attack, or summon. Zodiac Envoys can fight together in teams, solo, or summon their pet to aid in battle. The multiple pet features in Zodiac Online make the overall gameplay more appealing.
Conquering Demoniac Creatures
Players are allowed pets throughout the game. They serve as more than simply a loyal companion. Each pet can be leveled up and customized into a powerful teammate. An advanced pet can help win battles effortlessly. Pets are earned through completing quests or capturing monsters. When you complete a quest the pet will always correspond with your character's zodiac animal sign. Players who want a more interesting type of pet can capture various creatures during combat using a flask and tame them with a magical potion. Different flasks can hold various monsters. The coolest pet in Zodiac Online is the Elf which can be captured and turned into a personal sidekick as well. The monster capture option gives players a broader range of pets to own than most MMO's with that feature. Special cookies, treats, and food can heal pets damaged during fights.
Enchanted Wedlock
Marriage in Zodiac Online is taken very seriously. Not only do the stars have to be aligned but players must establish a solid relationship before earning the right to enter marital bliss. There is no eloping in this virtual world. The marriage system requires a female and male character to be friends first. After becoming friends they have to form a team together with the male as captain. Only men can initiate marriage. The two must level up together before they are permitted to accept a marriage quest. Weddings can be customized with candy, guests, and gifts. Ceremonies offered include Heaven Palace Wedding, Eden Wedding Palace, and a Restaurant Wedding. Once the marriage quest is completed the new couple is officially wed. The bond can not be broken easily. In order to divorce characters must pay a hefty fine of 886000 of gold and return the rings. There's also a mentor system in Zodiac Online. Any player level 40 or up can mentor another who happens to be below that level. When the apprentice levels up to 40 both characters receive bonus points.
Advancing Weaponry for Combat
Another feature that makes Zodiac Online rather unique is their weapon system. Weapons are magical with the ability to grow or level up. Players can advance a weapon of their choice with the use of spiritual stones purchased in shops. Each stone adds various aptitudes increasing the amount of damage the weapon can inflict on opponents. Leveling up your character also levels up the arms. Weapons are more powerful the higher a player levels up. Characters can choose from mystical clubs to hammers of chaos. Some weapons like the Glazed Flask possess the ability to make rain fall from the sky when it's being used. The Flag Spear brings down thunder. Guild fights also take place in Zodiac Online. Teams can declare war against other guilds by signing up through the NPC Guild Manager. A limit of five teams can battle.
Window-Shopping at the Mall of Magic
Virtually everything can be purchased using coins and gold earned by completing quests at various shopkeeper NCPs. The game has multiple separate shops where players can buy or sell back goods. The Grocer and Shopkeeper have various medicines, salves, healing grass, skill books, and potions. The Armor shop contains magical shoes, robes, belts, hoods, and other garments that will protect during combat. The Pet Curer sells pet food and treats that increase health. The Blacksmith sells weapons. The Jewelry shop sells special necklaces and pendants. Players can also trade among each other. The in-game item mall is filled with additional magic items. None of the bundles or accessories is actually needed. It's a quite small collection compared to other in-game malls. Enchanted items include VIP keys, honeymoon packages, guild resource bundles, teleportation stones, expandable pouches to increase slots in a character's inventory sack and crystals to boost weapon growth speed.
Final Verdict: Good
Despite Zodiac Online's limited graphic options it's still a solid free-to-play 2D turn based MMORPG. Implementing Chinese astrology, an excellent pet system, and a growing weaponry system this game gives players a lot to do. With no set class restrictions players have the power to build the ultimate Zodiac Envoy capable of saving the human world. If cutesy animated graphics aren't a deal breaker most turn based gamers will enjoy Zodiac Online.
Zodiac Online Videos
Zodiac Online Gameplay Video
Zodiac Online Character Creation
Zodiac Online Gameplay Trailer
Zodiac Online Links
Zodiac Online System Requirements
Minimum Requirements:
OS: Windows XP / Vista / 2000
CPU: Intel Pentium 3 1.0 Ghz
HDD: 1.0 GB Free
Graphics Card: Any 16MB Video Card
Recommended Specifications:
OS: Windows XP / Vista / 2000
CPU: Intel Pentium 4 1.6 Ghz
HDD: 1.0 GB Free
Graphics Card: Any 16MB Video Card


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Area sheriffs: Too soon to weigh in on gun control
Saturday, January 26, 2013
DOVER — While a number of elected sheriffs across the country have spoken out against enforcing any new laws that may come into play regarding gun control, it's still a bit too early to weigh in locally with a definitive answer.
A national dialogue is taking place surrounding comments made by top law enforcement officers in counties throughout the United States. According to the website for The New American, sheriffs from "Kentucky, Oregon, Texas, California, Missouri, Idaho, Alabama, Colorado, South Carolina, Georgia, Minnesota, Florida, Nevada, Arizona, Ohio, New York, Utah, Oklahoma, and other states have all spoken out already — many of them in unison."
According to Statesmanjournal.com, Mueller writes in his letter, "Any federal regulation enacted by Congress or by executive order of the President offending the constitutional rights of my citizens shall not be enforced by me or by my deputies, nor will I permit the enforcement of any unconstitutional regulations or orders by federal officers within the borders of Linn County Oregon."
"Let's say I know there's a thousand assault weapons in my county ... I'm not going to be a witch hunter and go door-to-door checking," he said in the article.


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However, bypassing KWin's internal GL checks might be required for it to work. See this post:
However, bypassing KWin's internal GL checks might be required for it to work. See this post:
It's easy to point fingers at people who do nothing and say "at least report it".
But he does a lot of work. So what if maybe he doesn't really have that many time to mess with testing a lot of configs, hey that's where the community can help. It's not like kwin just materializes hours before KDE releases -- anyone can run a trunk build of kwin (regardless of using KDE at all) and test it out.
Of course it would be nice if he went to THAT extra trouble, but hey, if all of us here and commenting on that blog did that much for the free desktop, it would probably rock even more.
Honestly even I get a little tired of trying combos of kernel+X+mesa to get free drivers rocking. And when you find that perfect combo, dang you discover that kernel broke some other hardware you had.
So here's my 0.02 (euro) cents.
Visible bugs get reported (I've filed some myself.) What we can't see, we can't report, obviously.
Volunteer developers don't owe you or anyone else anything! He is not obligated to run a gazillion distributions with trunk builds of Xorg and Mesa.
No! It's the paid Xorg/Mesa developers duty to test their drivers with with the most common composite window managers (currently Compiz and KWin, in the future Mutter as well). The current messy situation wouldn't have happened if the well paid developers did their job in the first place.
And in case there are too few paid Xorg/Mesa developers, maybe some Linux distributors should put some money where it actually counts instead of spending it on a design team that makes purple backgrounds and moves window buttons to the left side....
Most of the Xorg/Mesa developers are volunteers as well. If the paid developers did all the testing you want instead of working on drivers, the problem would take care of itself because the GL 2 support and new hardware support being discussed here probably would not exist in the first place.
Somewhere around 5x the current staffing level would make a lot of things possible. In the meantime, more communication and making more options "user-selectable" rather than "automatic based on extensions and blacklists" would probably help.
What's the problem ? A gazillion is an indeterminate, large number and AFAIK there are an indeterminate, large number of distros to choose from
to hell with it still, i hate blur anyway.
Query the driver about whether it supports feature xyz and only proceed if it does.
If you don't have the hardware to test on, that's a pretty good strategy, unless, of course, the driver lies about what it actually supports. There's no excuse for a driver claiming capabilities it doesn't have.