text:
Lizzie Lynn Lee was a guitarist, receptionist, executive assistant, tarot reader, boutique owner, and graphic artist before she discovered that writing is her dream job. The advantage is that she can do it in her pajamas and socks. She's an incurable chatterbox, heavy metal aficionado, book worm, digital enthusiast and a night owl since most of her stories were done in the wee hours of the morning because of her caffeine-induced insomnia. These days she still plays her guitar whenever she gets bored staring at her computer's screen or plotting the most elaborate scheme of world domination. Fortunately, she has a chronically short attention span.
Review by:
on Feb. 23, 2014 :
I really enjoyed reading this book. This is a quick steamy read. I will be reading more books by this author.
Cat has decided to step out of norm and have cyber sex. During her chat she loses power so she goes to bed. Later that night, she hears a knock on her door and gets up to answer it. When she gets to the door she see a man on the other side. And not just any man but the guy from her job and she is shocked. Once he's in the house she realizes that this is her cyber lover. And things really get hot.
I would recommend this book to others.
(review of free book)
Review by:
on April 02, 2013 :
(no rating)
(review of free book)
Review by:
Jess F.
on March 11, 2013 :
1.5 out of 5 stars. Basically, it was everything I had hoped for a "hot short read," the only problem was it was too short. Meaning as soon as it got good it was over. Yet it definitely had potential. However, the description gives you a completely different ideas as to what/who the cyber lover actually is, what really happens is very unexpected. =0/
I don't recommend it but you may enjoy it if you are a fan of Ms. Lee.
Review By: From Me to You ... Book Reviews
(read more of this review and a teaser on my blog)
(review of free book)
Review by:
Margarete Schulz
on Sep. 30, 2011 :
For being as short as it was, I sorta liked it. Concise and to the point. It would have been interesting to see this idea expanded into a longer story with some more background on the characters...
(review of free book)
Review by:
Jessa Callaver
on April 30, 2011 :
too short but otherwise hot.
(review of free book)
Review by:
Ernest Winchester
on April 02, 2011 :
A mildly interesting story, stopping too soon for good erotica. But I bet real women in the real world are desperately hoping that computer geeks don't have that ability, because that would be, well, scary. What happens in cyber-world, should stay in cyber-world
(review of free book)


text:
The Transgender Day of Remembrance event in Malaysia was held on Saturday, Nov 20. Organised by this writer and Hafidz Baharom, the venue sponsored by Good Samaritan Metropolitan Community Church (GSMCC) and the event was supported by Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) Malaysia.
The event started with myself speaking on the implications of transphobia and the dangers gender non-conforming people face in a society that views them as subhuman or second-class citizens. She also explained the sad fact that 179 names that appear on the list maintained by the "Trans Murder Monitoring (TMM)" project by Transgender Europe (TGEU) year's list were there by fortune of them having families and friends; most transgender people's deaths are widely ignored, their bodies unclaimed, and many of them died alone.
Hafidz Baharom also shared about the hateful climate LGBTs have to live under, and how it contributed to the infamous 10 gay suicides between early September and early October in the US, and many more. Hafidz, an openly gay Muslim man, also spoke about being target of abuse and bullying when he was with someone he loves who happens to be a man, because he does not conform to society's expectations of him dating a woman.
The Good Samaritan Metropolitan Community Church then sang a song for the audience, which included Edwynn Yeap, president of PFLAG Malaysia; and all prayed for a day of unity against transphobia as Pastor Joe Pang led them to a moment of silence. After the candle was lit, all the names of 179 trans people, who had their lives in front of them but taken away in extreme and hateful circumstances, were read with the echoing of "we will remember" after each name. At the end, they all applauded, as the dead were given a good and deserved sent off. The night truly belonged to our fallen sisters and brothers.
As the candle's flame continued to burn, the movie Prayers For Bobby was presented, which shows just how at times people hurt the ones they love to the point of death without realising it, and for some they finally learned the value of accepting instead of denying one's true self, whether it involves sexual orientation or gender identity. At the end of TDOR, one is reminded that violence and brutality towards LGBTs could happen to anyone, even straights perceived to be gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender person.
TDOR 2010 is often left out in many LGBT event calendars in Asia, with Malaysia being one of only three Asian countries to remember the dead this year, and Kuala Lumpur among 187 cities in 19 countries worldwide. Therefore, it is vital that more public events to bring forth awareness of the plight of transgender people be initiated, to reduce the stigmatization of trans people by religious fundamentalists and shorten the influence of a heterosexist society determined to treat gender variant people as lesser human beings.
The lesbian and gay movement in some states should also stop throwing transgender people under the bus, because gender non-conformity includes homosexuals, who are expected to present and express themselves as heterosexuals do in a socially constructed hierarchy. The "T" after LGT must not be silenced, and more efforts could be put in place by the movement to see them through, instead of making them a sub-context in lesbian and gay events. There are many transgender people born different, surviving with any jobs for a life and harm no one, and they too deserve rights and equality as anyone else.
As sure as transgender people are perceived as gays, and vice versa, anyone in the LGBT population can be a target for hate crimes. Transgender Day of Remembrance is for all.
About Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR)
TDOR is a day held every year to commemorate those who have been killed due to the climate of intolerance towards gender non-conforming people. This is also a day to create awareness on transphobia and hate crimes towards the transgender population of the world. Starting off in the United States back in 1998, TDOR is now held throughout the world on November the 20th every year.
According to the "Trans Murder Monitoring (TMM)" project by Transgender Europe (TGEU) that started off in April 2009 to collect data and research homicides of trans people worldwide, there were 487 murders in 39 countries since January 2008. A report this year mentioned "Yet, we know, even these high numbers are only a fraction of the real figures; the truth is much worse". This is due to many unreported cases worldwide that cannot be accounted for, making it impossible to highlight a more accurate figure.
Based on the findings of the TMM project, of 179 deaths reported this year, 75 of them were shot and 36 were stabbed. Most of the dead were sex workers, while the 20 to 39 year age group is most vulnerable to the violence and brutality towards transgender people. The TDOR website recorded the youngest reported death of any year; a 17-month-old toddler who died of a cardiac arrest, after his mother's boyfriend shaken, boxed and choked him to death in an attempt to stop the baby from behaving in a feminine manner.
Yuki Vivienne Choe is a transgender lesbian activist in Kuala Lumpur.

subset: commoncrawl


text: Deadspin Up All Night: Don't Be Stupid, Don't Be Limp 1 Tim MarchmanProfileFollowUnfollow Tim MarchmanFiled to: duan! deadspin up all night 4/28/14 7:11pmEditDelete Invite manuallyPromoteXDismissXUndismissBlock for deadspinHideShare to KinjaShare to FacebookShare to PinterestShare to TwitterGo to permalink Thank you for your continued support of Deadspin. We're going to do this. 1 22Reply 22Discuss


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Featured car - Jag XKR-S GT vs SRT Viper TA
Jag XKR-S GT vs SRT Viper TA
Latest news
507bhp V8 for new British sportscar
David Brown Automotive's 'Project Judi' will sit on the XKR base, gets supercharged V8507bhp V8 for new British sportscar
First drive: Jaguar XKR-S GT
"It drives like no Jag I've ever driven before. In a good way." Ollie Marriage reportsFirst drive: Jaguar XKR-S GT
Gallery: the Jaguar XKR-S GT
More pics of the hardcore 542bhp Jaguar XKR-S GT coupe. Ten units have been confirmed for the UK, at £135,000 each...
Ten Jag XKR-S GTs will be sold in UK
542bhp track-prepared road-legal coupe is set for Blighty, yours for £135kTen Jag XKR-S GTs will be sold in UK
More pics of the Jaguar XKR-S GT
Check out more pics of the harder, faster and more track-focused version of Jag's XKR-S
Be afraid: it's the Jag XKR-S GT
It's the most track-focused Jag road car in history, and it wants to hurt youBe afraid: it's the Jag XKR-S GT
First pic: meet the new Jaguar XJR
The daddy of the XJ range headed for global debut at New York Motor Show…First pic: meet the new Jaguar XJR
Jaguar offers first glimpse of the XFR-S
It's coming: the fastest, most powerful Jaguar saloon ever produced set for LA motor show…Jaguar offers first glimpse of the XFR-S
On the trail of the Jaguar F-Type…
We headed to Jaguar's Nürburgring-based test centre to uncover more about the upcoming drop-top…
TG Mag Extra: Porsche 911 vs Nissan GT-R vs XKR-S
We put the new 911 up against the Nissan GT-R and Jaguar XKR-SWatch video
Nissan GT-R vs Porsche 911 vs Jaguar XKR-S
Sometimes, a car is too lairy and scary. Sometimes, it's too comfy and boring. But sometimes, it's just right...
This is the awesome Lyonheart K
Remember the Growler E-Type update? It's back with a new name. Thank God…Revealed: the Lyonheart K
TG drives the Jaguar XKR-S in Norway
The Jaguar XKR-S is a special car in need of a special road. Thankfully, the Norwegians made sure it got one...
Jaguar XKR-S vs Nissan GT-R, part 1 (Series 17, Episode 4)
It's beauty versus the beast in a straight-out fight to the death. Well, to the neck injury, at lest.Watch video
Jaguar XKR-S vs Nissan GT-R, part 2 (Series 17, Episode 4)
It's beauty versus the beast in a straight-out fight to the death. Well, to the neck injury, at lest.Watch video
Stig's Supercar Showdown: wallpapers
Hi-res decoration for your computer from our multi-million pound road trip to Italy
Video: this month's cover shoot
11 cars, 6071 bhp, £3.7 million and many tyres. Welcome to our fantastic new issue of Top Gear MagazineCheck out the video
Jaguar XKR-S: official pics
Jaguar's subtle rocket gets a less subtle bodykit and power upgrade
Jaguar's subtle rocket gets a less subtle bodykit and power upgradeRead about the new Jag


text:
War Horse Gallery
THE NATIONAL Theatre's acclaimed production of War Horse transferred to the West End's New London Theatre earlier this year and is currently booking until February 12, 2010.
Based on Michael Morpurgo's novel and adapted for stage by Nick Stafford, War Horse is the story of Joey, young Albert's beloved horse who, at the outbreak of World War One, is sold to the cavalry and shipped to France.
Roll your mouse over the left and right-hand sides of the image and then click to view more pictures.
2 of 5
Read more about War Horse l View photos from Steven Spielberg's movie version
Recent Galleries:
- Clarion Gallery
- Thriller Live Top 18 Gallery
- Thrill Me: The Leopold & Loeb Story Gallery
- Clarion - rehearsal gallery
- Shrapnel: 34 Fragments of a Massacre Gallery
- Titus Andronicus Gallery
- Romeo and Juliet - Peacock Theatre (Gallery)
- Yarico Gallery
- Gods and Monsters Gallery 2
- Wicked - Emma Hatton as Elphaba


text:
Selecting a pool for your yard can be a complicated process. Here's a guide to help you sort out which type is best for you.
Most above-ground pools are constructed with aluminum, resin or steel sidings with vinyl liners. Patterned walls are available.
Also popular are the most basic above-ground pools, the type easily filled with a garden hose and stored away when not in use. Because they require no filtration equipment they must be regularly drained, cleaned and refilled to provide a clean swimming environment.
These are made at the manufacturer and delivered in one piece. Typically they are more flexible than concrete pools and are a good choice in earthquake prone areas. Also available are fiberglass panel pools which are constructed on site and allow more design flexibility.
Often the most costly to build, concrete pools are poured on-site. You may custom-design virtually any shape or size. Several finishes such as plaster, paint and specialty coating materials such as Pebble Tec are available in a range of colors.
These pools are built with panel walls that are fastened together and sit on a concrete foundation. A custom-made vinyl liner then covers the entire pool.
If your primary reason for owning a pool is fitness, consider a lap pool or swim spas.


text:
Reach tens of thousands of people instantly by advertising with Ekklesia. Find out more
The Anglican Bishop of Buckingham has recorded a Christmas message for the LGBTI community congratulating newly-married same-sex couples.
As the Synod on the Family ends, Savi Hensman examines the greater openness with which the Roman Catholic Church is now debating sexuality.
A two-year process of conversations on sexuality has begun in the Church of England, at a gathering of bishops. Similar discussions are taking place in several other churches in Britain.
The College of Bishops of the Church of England will meet for two days from 15 to 17 September to continue the process of Shared Conversations on Sexuality, Scripture and Mission.
Equal marriage is now taking effect in England, Wales, Scotland and many other parts of the world. Some Christians welcome this, others are unsure or opposed. Against this background, theological reflection on sexuality and gender identity is particularly important.
An Ekklesia research paper might be useful in helping the Church of England to tackle the controversial issue of sexuality, a general synod member suggested. Synod, meeting from 12-14 February, also discussed women bishops, climate change and safeguarding.
As the Church of England discusses the Pilling report on sexuality, it has come under pressure from certain other Anglican leaders, who claim that accepting the proposals would show a lack of commitment to biblical teaching and global Anglicanism. But the rationale for these claims is flawed.
Some church leaders ignore personal experience and scientific evidence when discussing sexuality, unless these fit in with their existing ideas. They may think this shows their faithfulness to the Bible and so to God. But they are wrong.
Church of England bishops, and later general synod members, are to discuss sexuality in early 2014. For some of us who are middle-aged or older, there is a sense of déjà vu.


text:
Free Shipping
Our largest package of velcro holsters offers the greatest amount of savings. Buy a 10 pack of velcro holsters to fill your safe with quick access handguns. These holsters will attach nicely to any safe or surface with a carpeted interior. The velcro holsters not only provide quick access to your weapon, but also free up shelf space for other items. These quality holsters are made of a durable material that will stand up to years of wear and tear.
- Acorn Velcro pistol holsters work on any safe, car trunk or on any carpeted surface that works with the hook side of Velcro.
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text:
Research Output for Leonard Kritharides
Note: The 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 publications have not been audited.
Jump to: Publications | Grants and Consultancies | HDR completions
Leonard Kritharides may be from another institution or only recently joined Deakin University.
2014 External
Ding Ding*, Rogers, Kris*, Macniven, Rona*, Venugopal, Kamalesh, Kritharides, Leonard*, Chalmers, John* and Bauman, Adrian* (2014) Revisiting lifestyle risk index assessment in a large Australian sample: Should sedentary behavior and sleep be included as additional risk factors?, Preventive Medicine, vol. 60, pp. 102-106, Elsevier Inc, New York, NY [C1]
ERA journal ID: 13754 – Scopus EID: 2-s2.0-84893822315
Citation counts: Scopus - 1, Thomson - 1
DRO entry for this publication
2005 External
Lau, George T.*, Ridley, Lloyd J.*, Schieb, Max C.*, Brieger, David B.*, Freedman, S. Benedict*, Wong, Louise A.*, Lo, Sing Kai and Kritharides, Leonard* (2005) Coronary artery stenoses: detection with calcium scoring, CT angiography, and both methods combined, Radiology: a monthly journal devoted to clinic radiology and allied sciences, vol. 235, no. 2, pp. 415-422, Radiological Society of North America Inc., Oak Brook, Ill. [C1.1]
ERA journal ID: 16795 – Scopus EID: 2-s2.0-17644408427
Citation counts: Scopus - 29, Thomson - 22
DRO entry for this publication
Grants and Consultancies
No grants and/or consultancies found or audited – the 2014 HERDC financial return has not been completed or loaded as yet.
Higher Degree by Research Completions supervised by Leonard Kritharides
No completions found or audited.
- Legend:
- * Not a member of Deakin University at time of output.
DRO to publications collection last synchronised: Friday 29th May 2015 10:04pm


text:
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The SEC has ordered registered securities exchanges and FINRA to submit a tick size pilot program within 60 days. The order specifies that the control group will be quoted at the current tick size increment, $0.01 per share, and trade at the increments currently permitted. The first test group would be quoted in $0.05 minimum increments and trading could continue to occur at any price increment that is permitted today. There are two other test groups with a $0.05 minimum with different trading rules. The pilot program would be in effect for a year.
The views expressed herein are the views of the blogger and not those of Stinson Leonard Street or any client.
DISCLAIMER: Because of the generality of this update, the information provided herein may not be applicable in all situations and should not be acted upon without specific legal advice based on particular situations.
© Stinson Leonard Street - Dodd-Frank and the Jobs Act
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text: View larger Rotate A. Reynolds Wilshire Signature Five-Pocket (Dark Grey Front) Not Available Available Colors:Dark Grey Front Dark Grey Front Sorry, this product is out of stock and has been discontinued! Details: Colors: Black, Dark Grey Sizes: 24, 26, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 36, 38 Wilshire fit. Small check five-pocket pants with Andrew Reynolds custom trim package. Item code: 3130000564/021 Share this: Facebook Twitter Like


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Concrete, Stone, Parking, etc. Curbs local companies in Texas TX- Displaying all 5
Macon Concrete Products Inc San Antonio, TX
We offer concrete stone parking curbs and a variety of NEC concrete products. We carry precast water storage tanks, truck wheel stops, car stops, bollards and stair treads. Visit our website to view our capabilities and products. Free no obligations quote available on all items.
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Top quality manufacturers serving Texas TX have been highlighted in this comprehensive source of industrial information. A broad range of CURBS: CONCRETE, STONE, PARKING, ETC. manufacturers has been compiled in this industrial directory designed to provide information on leading, quality oriented manufacturers serving Texas TX.
Cities being served include: Abilene, Addison, Amarillo, Arlington, Austin, Baytown, Beaumont, Brownsville, Bryan, Carrollton, Conroe, Corpus Christi, Dallas, Denton, El Paso, Fort Worth, Garland, Grand Prairie, Grapevine, Houston, Humble, Irving, Katy, La Porte, Laredo, Lewisville, Longview, Lubbock, Mansfield, Mc Kinney, McAllen, Mesquite, Midland, New Braunfels, Odessa, Pasadena, Pearland, Plano, Richardson, Round Rock, San Angelo, San Antonio, Spring, Stafford, Sugar Land, Temple, Tyler, Victoria, Waco, Wichita Falls.
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Concrete, Stone, Parking, etc. Curbs local companies in Texas TX - Displaying all 5
Concrete, Stone, Parking, etc. Curbs - Companies Serving:All States
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West Virginia WV (4)
Wisconsin WI (9)
Wyoming WY (1)


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Terry L. Farber, 61, of Columbia City, died at 5:54 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 22, 2012, at his home. He had been in failing health.
He was born Aug. 25, 1950, at the Luckey Hospital in Wolf Lake, a son of Lawrence E. and Ruby L. (Hearld) Farber.
A member of the class of 1968 from Columbia City High School, he graduated from IPFW with a degree in Engineering.
On June 15, 1967, he was united in marriage to Marold A. Jackson. They have always made their home in the Columbia City area, moving to their present home in 1996.
He began his career at Columbia Die Mold as a mold maker then at Precision Plastics as a tool shop manager, retiring in August 2012, as Vice President of Engineering.
He attended Eberhard Lutheran Church and was a member of the Columbia City Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks #1417 and Sons of the American Legion Post #98.
Surviving relatives include his wife, Marold; two children, Erika (Dustin) Pickett of Westfield and Jeffrey (Stacie) Farber of Columbia City; four grandchildren, Delaney and Ellis Pickett and Sydni and Jacob Farber; two sisters, Rosalie Kay Kleespie of Columbia City and Kerry Barr of Hermiston Ore. and a sister-in-law, Nancy Farber of Columbia City.
He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Larry Farber.
The funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday at Smith & Sons Funeral Home, Columbia City. The burial will be in Eberhard Cemetery. The visitation will be from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home.
An Elk twilight service will be conducted at 8 p.m. Saturday.
Preferred memorials are to the donor's favorite charity.
Condolences may be sent to www.smithandsonsfuneralhome.com.


text:
AP IMPACT: Haiti flight logs detail early chaos
"It was a madhouse," said Air Force Brig. Gen. Bob Millmann, an adviser on airlift operations in Haiti. "We saw a situation that was untenable, like stuffing 5 pounds of sand into a 3-pound sack."
Air Force controllers started guiding air traffic a day after the quake and assumed official control from Haitian authorities three days later. They used a system developed in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. It requires pilots to dial an Air Force telephone bank to get an assigned landing time.
"When the Air Force took over the tower, things made a marked turn," said Jon Fussle, a pilot for the nonprofit coalition Haiti Relief Group.
Rescuers, countries and aid groups complained early on of a bottleneck that kept lifesaving equipment, medical care and supplies from Haitians who were trapped, injured or made homeless by the quake.
They blamed the Air Force as five planes carrying 85 tons of medical and relief supplies from Doctors Without Borders were diverted to the Dominican Republic, and three charter planes carrying water and tarps from the Christian relief organization Samaritan's Purse were turned back. Doctors Without Borders claimed that the diversions cost lives and forced the organization to buy hardware-store saws in Port-au-Prince for amputations.
However, most of the problems occurred before the Air Force took full control. And the AP review found that at least one Doctors Without Borders plane headed for Haiti without a landing slot, and circled as controllers unsuccessfully tried to squeeze it in.
U.N. humanitarian chief John Holmes commended the U.S. for the system it set up.
"The Americans taking over the Port-au-Prince airport was absolutely crucial," he said in an interview Wednesday. "Clearly there were some glitches. But I don't think there was any intention to favor military flights over humanitarian flights. It was simply quite difficult to set up a system that included genuine real-time priorities."
The waiting list for a daylight landing slot is now about a month long, with about 1,000 planes in line, although those willing to land between 11 p.m. and 3 a.m. can get in much sooner. Pilots said the phone lines are frequently tied up.
The AP reviewed restricted federal logs from Jan. 16, when the Air Force began managing air traffic, to Feb. 8. It also had exclusive access to logs from Jan. 12 to Jan. 16 through FlightAware, a Houston- and New York-based company that tracks air traffic in the United States.
Those logs show that on the first day of Air Force management, 48 flights from the U.S. and 25 from other countries landed. More than half of the American flights were military or government. But the Air Force defends that decision in the name of security, adding that many of the flights also carried aid.
"No one knew what the response of the Haitian people would be to this terrible event, but we knew we had to secure the airport to save lives," Spears said. "So yes, we did send in men and women with guns, and we have not needed to use them."


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The information in this continuing series is presented in the guise of a tourist's handbook; actually, an informative field guide backed by trustworthy research. The text is also "layered" from the most essential to more in depth details. Therefore the reader reads as much or as little of the information predicated on his or her time and interest in the subject matter. It's also hunky-dory for readers to to skip some of the details. The point is to have an enjoyable virtual tour and learn what you can and will.
Previous tour diaries, as destinations, in this series were: Glen Canyon, Monument Valley, Bryce Canyon, and a recent series on the Colorado Plateau, recently published this past week (all three series). These posted URL's and dates can be accessed through my profile. All the information for the tour series is also extrapolated from a larger two-book tome I hope to publish sometime next year, entitled Famous Landmarks Of The Southwest. This magnum opus lists well over one hundred of the most scenic icons relative to the Colorado Plateau's national parks, national monuments, some state parks, tribal lands (like Monument Valley), and archeological ruins. Hiking trails and slot canyons (details on same) are also presented in this two-book tome (the first book listing all the destinations and the second book presenting optional reading supplements relative to key amplifying details mentioned throughout the first book). The operative word in this special collection series for the Daily Kos community is extrapolated. This means I am offering an abridged account that will cut down on the more lengthy version contained in the 'Famous Landmarks' texts.
With these facts in mind, let get started on today's tour––Chaco Canyon, which is considered the most alluring of all archeological ruins in North America, and possibly the world. Considering some of the human intrigue that happened here before its abandonment, one might even say the most mysterious. (Continues after the fold.)
Location/Geography: In northwestern New Mexico, San Juan and McKinley counties. Closest town: Farmington or Aztec. Area: about 34,000 acres. Chaco Canyon lies entirely within the San Juan Basin and is surrounded by the Chuska Mountains in the west, the San Juan Mountains to the north, and the San Pedro Mountains in the east.
Spotlight (just the facts, ma'am): Chaco Cultural National Historic Park (hereafter, "Chaco Canyon" or "Chaco") is an engaging and sui generis archeological ruins that has no parallel whatsoever to any other setting. Like a Mecca-shrine in its own right, only without a postulated prophet-oriented purpose, Chaco's layout is deemed the most significant of all Ancestral Puebloan communities (a culture previously dubbed the "Anasazi," though this moniker is no longer vogue or appropriate). To some Puebloans, particularly the Hopi Indians, Chaco remains a guarded secret. Solar/lunar alignment of its numerous structures typifies Chaco's telling cosmological utility to the inhabitants. Hence, the magnitude of its archeoastronomy corollary to the cosmos. Some archeologists and anthropologists (hereafter, "cultural scientists") equate Chaco Canyon to Arizona's Casa Malpaís ruins, possibly even Colorado's Chimney Rock archeological site, and specifically in view of the strong emphasis placed on observing changing seasons. Where these people built this literal shrine of the prehistoric ages, all roads led here. For modern day visitors, once leaving regional main highways the entry points (there are two) are unpaved. Driver are thus cautioned to slow down and ease back into another time frame from long, long ago. . .
After a while the scenery changes, the elevation dips and what's ahead is a more promising view of Chaco Canyon's austere and engaging backdrop:
And if you feel like it, you can give one of these guys a lift. But don't hit 'em, because this is open range country and any livestock you run into (or they into you) means you have to pay the rancher. No kidding. . .
Snapshot (more details): Chaco Canyon is typically desiccated terrain. Its high desert setting denotes an isolated sector away from the more populous Ancestral Puebloan communities that once lived throughout the Four Corners regions, whose numbers may have been well over 100,000 strong just before their great diaspora off the Colorado Plateau in the late 13th Century.
It is believed the numerous and so-called Great Houses built throughout Chaco's compound were functional temples. Chacoans who came here, and perhaps an exclusive roster of people from select clan members, made annual pilgrimages for ceremonial purposes. From Farmington, New Mexico, on Hwy. 550, then to County Road 7900, travelers came from afar, each bearing a variety of acquired trade goods (as gifts), such as pottery and jewelry. Rimmed by mesas, Chaco is located within lowlands circumscribed by dune fields, ridges and a topography generally defined by a mountainous terrain. The broad layout of Chaco's periphery generally follows a northwest-to-southwest axis. Home to the most exceptional concentration of archeological ruins in the Southwest, this site was designated a national monument in 1907. In 1980, an additional 13,000 acre allotment was added. The park is set in a secluded high elevation canyon carved by the Chaco Wash. With its assemblage of ancient ruins, Chaco is the foremost cultural and historic attraction of its kind. One glance at the Great Kiva of Chetro Ketl will suggest why many people, professional and laymen alike, consider Chaco the most important of all archeological ruins.
Remarkably, as much as is known about this visually arresting site, what some might dub a altogether mysterious setting and an equally mysterious human history motif, Chaco continues to generate its fair share of speculation. We know only that this assembly of singular structures was used during part of the year by the majority of Chaco's inhabitants, most likely as a religious hub. Indeed, very little is understood about Chacoan ceremonies. Possibly, Chaco Canyon was similar in ways to other famous pilgrimage sites such as Mount Kailash in Tibet (an active site for the past 15,000 years). Designated a national historic park in 1980. Governing body: National Park Service.
Guided Tour Essentials (a more complete comprehension): Given Chaco Canyon's geographic aspects, there are immense gaps between the southwestern cliff facades. Specifically, the numerous fingered-side canyons (commonly called rincons). The Chacoans made special use of these places, for they were critical in funneling rain-bearing storms into the canyon-like setting, thereby augmenting water resources. For obscure or clear reasons beyond archeological interest, especially the intrigue of its layout and numerous ruins, Chaco's milieu may be the most important site of its kind in North America. Apart from the Ancestral Puebloans who came and went here over the centuries, many distant tribal people also visited Chaco, bringing with them offerings such as pottery, exotic birds, and jewels to mention some articles. From 900 to 1130, the Chacoan culture was nothing less than industrious; also, glorified. The inhabitants built multi-storied buildings and planed extensive roads throughout the 49,710 square miles encompassing the San Juan Basin that defines the overall topography of this region. Indeed, perfectly straight roads that originate in Chaco emanate out for many miles to other pueblo or so-called Great House sites. The question remains: Why build roads when these people had no carts, much less animals to pull them? Perhaps the answer lies in some religious significance rather than trade. Perhaps there's another riddle. Still, the network of roads Ancestral Puebloans cleared and fashioned led to this epicenter of culture and people came here by the thousands.
Another question often entertained when visiting this site concerns he original builders and dwellers. Namely, what were they thinking by aligning most of their structures to either solar or lunar light? Why was the alignment so important and so particular given the mathematics of design? Recently, some cultural scientists suggest that several of the large central buildings, especially the most famous, Pueblo Bonito, were used primarily for ceremony (though without saying exactly what kind of religious or spiritual ceremony). It follows how Chaco Canyon's cultural center in the Southwest likely served as a ceremonial hub for outlying Chacoan communities. Astronomy, specifically the discipline of archeoastronomy, played a pivotal role in Chacoan culture, as realized from astute empirical observations of the heavens taken over many decades. Indeed, there is a special landmark close to their dwellings where trained observers, possibly shamans or the like, had marked the solstices, equinoxes, and solar noon, including so-called standstill positions of the moon revealed on thirteen light markings on petroglyphs (see below for a further explanation).
Incredibly, eleven of the major structures are directly oriented to either the sun and moon. Each major structure also has an internal geometry that corresponds to the relationships of the solar and lunar cycles. More astonishing, most major structures are oriented in a solar-and-lunar alignment. The aforementioned Pueblo Bonito, located at the approximate center of Chaco Canyon, plays the central role in this precise arrangement.
Latter Day Discovers: The ruins of Chaco Canyon were first discovered in 1849 by Lt. James Simpson, a member of the U. S. Army forces newly arrived in the New Mexico territory, also a member of the United States Topographical Engineers. He was assigned to the military governor Colonel John Washington. Washington's goal was to contact the warring Navajos for the sake of obtaining a peace treaty, but it's more likely he wanted to impress them with the military superiority of his expedition. Headed for Canyon de Chelly the expedition came across a fascinating landscape of well-preserved ruins (with much of the credit given to the typical aridity of the Colorado Plateau). This was Chaco Canyon and Col. Washington gave Simpson permission to examine the impressive landscape of multistoried ruins. Simpson's guide, Carravahal from the San Juan Pueblo, provided the name Pueblo Bonito, which is Spanish for "beautiful town." At the conclusion of his expedition, Simpson published the first description of Chaco Canyon. Later, it was Richard Wetherill, a rancher and archeologist, along with George Pepper from the Museum of Natural History, who became the first to excavate at Pueblo Bonito. They started their excavations in 1896 and ended three years later. When they finished, Wetherill remained at Chaco Canyon running a trading post until he died in 1910. In the short period Wetherill and Pepper excavated, they had uncovered an amazing one hundred and ninety rooms, while photographing and mapping all of the major structures in Chaco Canyon. Wetherill and Pepper contributed immensely to the early excavation of Chaco Canyon. Naturally, precious archeological booty over the years was discovered. In some cases, artifacts were consigned to museums and sometimes sold for profiteering and private collections.
Those pieces that were not usurped by so-called thieves of time provide a window to the past revealing the artistry of the people who made numerous utilitarian and artistic vessels.
Also, considering how clay pottery was introduced to Ancestral Puebloan culture during the so-called Pueblo I Era (750 to 900), the amazing artistry of crafting pottery has grown ever since. Here's an example of a contemporary Puebloan design:
(FYI: Strangely, not too many skeletons were ever found here, leading some cultural scientists to view Chaco as opened to the people only during part of the year. According to one researcher (Craig Childs) 650 remains were found throughout the region, with 131 remains found at Pueblo Bonito (a relatively low number comparable to other archeological sites), all buried in two major tombs. The remains were stacked like firewood. Was Chaco considered another infamous massacre site compared to places like Cowboy Wash or Sand Canyon? Possibly.)
Radiating Roads From The Center: Ancient roads of amazing engineering feats to build them radiated from Chaco's hub. The North Road among them seemingly vectored off into the distance, whose purpose has long intrigued cultural scientists. Perhaps it was a symbol of migration or direction representing death. From the air, these roads, most of them, are discernible. Still, the North Road and its purpose holds the interest of many cultural scientists. It is the only main road leading to and from Chaco, which is also part of a braid of thoroughfares inscribed in the desert scrub landscape, thus requiring more labor than building the dwellings at Chaco. Regardless what was in the way, the road builders of Chaco changed topographical features by continuing straight ahead, including building massive and impressive ramps or carving stairs up to summits of landmark features, then back down the other side. More than 100 miles of roads have thus far been documented throughout the region, with nearly 300 miles of partial roads still visible in some sectors. Some believe the roads actually extended much farther, say, over a thousand miles, heading this or that way, and always in a straight line. Still, it was the North Road considered to be the most complicated and longest, which stretched more than 50 miles from Pueblo Alto (which is one of the many Great Houses) to the San Juan River.
The Unknown Factors Of Chaco's Network Of Roads: Cultural scientists have long pondered and debated Chaco Canyon's vast network of roads. For instance, was there a special ceremonial endorsement associated with the North Road or any other similar pathway leading to or from Chaco? Was there a direct connection from one settlement to the other, depending on which road was followed? Averaging 30 to 40 feet wide, what was the purpose for such width? Were some or all of the roads intended as trading routes? Perhaps some were even used for moving goods? In one sector of the North Road, there are four or six other regional roads running abreast––why? Was it more than a utilitarian road plan for the Chacoan people? Perhaps something symbolic? To address the previous thought about Chaco's straight road designs, according to some theories these people needed to be seen from great places. Winding roads would have therefore meant being more invisible in a mostly flat and unbroken terrain such as this region affords. Seeing farther also highlights a certain psychological advance, suggesting a sense of security. By constructing locales that afforded a greater perspective of the distances, people go more easily travel from place to place without getting lost. Indeed, the precise linking factor of sites for navigating was possible, regardless any landmark blocking the way. Thus a pragmatic and georitual landscape was created.
The North Road overview (the longer outline):
Presented with the unique layout of Chaco's roads radiating from the center it likely was a way of inscribing the Ancestral Puebloan minds onto the landscape itself. The way these people planned their settlements and built their monuments that lined up in a precise way does indeed mesh with the topographical features throughout this overall setting. For instance, consider another Great House of Chaco, Casa Rinconada. Lines radiating from this dwelling pass directly through a number of other Great Houses, including penetrating through the centers of some of the larger kivas, thereby connecting to significant landmarks in the great distance. This design is not merely coincidental. Flawless symmetrical angles and intersections were computed (added together) to the finest detail. Surveyors, as well as priests, were part of the planning; they designed the roads and structures, most likely assisted by arco astronomers who formulated a map of the cosmos overhead. Combined, these specialists in the community created the initial outline and floor plan that enabled people to accurately move along preexisting terrestrial lanes of travel. Such travel could be accomplished during time of drought, and probably without causing territorial disputes with other tribal people. These roads were thus used as convenient maps for people to follow in times of need as well as for pilgrimage.
One other notable aspect of the people utilizing the terrain, especially higher places, was for signaling. One settlement could easily stay in touch with a more distant settlement, especially to warn others of imminent danger. This was a way to let other Ancestral Puebloan communities know they were not alone. Settlements flickering to life as fires burned in the night compensated for both darkness and the distance. Most of the sites were located on average 20 to 30 miles apart. The sites were therefore a convenient network for conveying information, linking one settlement with the next in line. Even during the day it was possible to send signals that could easily be seen. This means was accomplished by knapping obsidian (volcanic glass) that flashed in the sun. Perhaps pyrite mirrors (a/k/a "fool's gold") were also used.
Given such broad dimensions of nocturnal open space. . .
Ancestral Puebloan sentinels were able to connect with outlying communities by doing this. . .
The Real Significance Of Chaco Canyon––Its Deign: The noteworthy aspect of Chaco's design is twofold. First, the elaborate architecture that has withstood the test of time for many centuries. Every slab of rock has been quarried and assembled, as though these builders were read from a master architect's blueprints such as is common today. Yet these people had no blueprints; they had no writing; no numbers. They had only pictographs for images left behind for others to see. But someone guided these people to build their dwellings with such preciseness and perfect solar or lunar alignment. There was indeed purpose in everything these people did.
Principles Of Archaeoastronomy: The other important aspect of Chaco's dwellings refers to the precise alignment of most of its structures. The alignment also directly relates to archaeoastronomy. Such scientific knowledge required generations of astronomical observations to skillfully and meticulously coordinate each building's construction so that it aligned with the cosmos. But where did the mathematics originate that made this possible? Some cultural scientists surmise the high degree of mathematics came from the Mayan civilization. And there are some diehard X filers who hold out for extraterrestrial schooling. But the Ancestral Puebloans were an intelligent and innovative culture that likely tapped into what humankind has always tapped into for creative genius: something abstruse from within.
Other than the flawless design of Chaco's solar and lunar-aligned dwellings, all of which is predicated on archaeoastronomy, further evidence for this empirically-based science is the famous Sun Dagger petroglyph at Fajada Butte, a prominent site rising above the canyon floor (see below). The main complexes at Chaco are Pueblo Bonito, Neuvo Alto and Kin Kletso, all of which played a vital role in Chacoan belief systems. Visitors and scholars alike agree that Chaco represents the most interesting of all archeological ruins in the Southwest. Some might even suggest the most interesting site on the planet. Certainly, the abundance of curious and functional rock art keeps one speculating about the reason this unparalleled site was built, then later abandoned. In the wake of their departure, some of the structures that were partially destroyed by the very people who built and designed this ostensible religious center in a typically dry and sandy location here in northwest New Mexico.
Chaco Canyon is probably the best example of any archaeoastronomy site on the planet. Its science involves archeological aspects, as well as stellar observations. Apart from Chaco Canyon, Colorado's Chimney Rock, and Arizona's Petrified National Forest are some of the more notable archeological sites where such incisive observations took place.
Today's means of star gazing:
While for Ancestral Puebloans their predictive means was by way of the naked eye:
Specifically, tracking a precise sun ray on a precise glyph:
While achieving this verification without guessing:
In the archives of archeology, archaeoastronomy is a fairly recent contributor to a science-based disciplined by means of precise observations, both solar and lunar. Originating as pagan holidays in some parts of the world, archeoastronomy survives in modern times as neopagan holidays. Those who study archeoastronomy consider all its aspects worthy and telling in both a predictive and historical sense. Relative to the above mentioned sites (among some few notable others), what we have learned about the Ancestral Puebloans thought processes has contributed invaluable cultural information, particularly in their calculating annual solstice and equinox events. These observations include intervals of cross quarters (a cross-quarter day falls approximately halfway between a solstice and an equinox).
That famous glyph and dagger also was ensconced in this world famous Chaco landmark, called Fajada Butte"
Archaeoastronomy draws on several scientific disciplines for its knowledge banks. Primarily, disciplines related to astronomy, archaeology, anthropology, psychology and epigraphy (the decoding of ancient inscriptions). As for astrology, this, too, was important in adding to the storehouse of archeoastronomy's knowledge. Its discipline, although not scientifically-based compared to astronomy, was nonetheless integral to humankind centuries ago. That's because myth was as dominant in ancient times as mass media is today. For many people, astrology continues to hold fascination because the planets, sun and moon have always held sway with some people's minds and imaginations. To be sure, its many facets of study and interpretations poses a wide appeal to cultures, race, even religion. However, the subject of archeoastronomy treated in this theme supplement will focus solely on this discipline, while also admitting astrology somehow, and in some way, managed to interphase with its science. Chaco Canyon's significance is also touted in the following exposition.
Prehistoric Human History: Somewhere between 900 and 1150, Chaco was a major focal point of culture for the Ancestral Puebloans. They came here for a specific reason. Most likely, a ceremonial center. The layout of the dwellings certainly attests to a special relationship of the temporal with the eternal, namely an interest in the cosmos by predictive means (the solstices and equinoxes). The innate purpose for a massive complex distant from populated hubs, such as today's Canyons of the Ancients (near Cortez, Colorado) or Mesa Verde, was to establish an archeoastronomy nucleus that was compatible with Chacoan religious beliefs. It's also assumed that the Mesoamerican Mayan and/or Aztec culture had influence on the Chacoans; certainly the similarities of construction and the advanced mathematics to conceive such building plans has ties with (especially) the Mayans. Perhaps such influence also stems from the urbanism of both the Mayans or Aztecs, particularly favoring a precision for predicting equinox and solstice events. It is assumed by many cultural scientists, even most Puebloans, how there's a likely crossover of religious beliefs and attitudes that may have struck a cord with the Chacoans. Without doubt, the Mayan polity, as a small hierarchical state, may have suggested a model similar to that of the Chacoans. Apart from such persuasive cultural modeling, the Chacoans did not merely imitate and build obvious pyramidal structures as the Mayans were especially noted for. Instead, they quarried sandstone blocks and hauled, or most likely rolled, these heavy stones in place and built the great structures of this epic cultural axis point. They also harvested timber from afar, assembling fifteen major complexes in Chaco Canyon, all similar to building designs of most other structures from this era. These utter and intriguing masterpieces of architecture would also become the largest building structures in North America until the 19th Century.
An Ancestral Puebloan Four Corners migration pattern:
Innovated Building Design: Although there is no archeological evidence that clan systems ever existed during the Ancestral Puebloan's occupation of the Four Corners region, cultural scientists have discerned enough from Chaco and its construction to lead some to believe clans were in fact assembled here. Principally, these would be the Scarlet (or "Parrot") and Kachina clans that are preserved today in the Hopi society. Whoever were the major overseers of Chaco's development, clans or otherwise, they used innovative masonry techniques for the construction of the multiple-story pueblos and Great Houses. Pueblo Bonito, the largest of these stupendous Great House structures, had over six hundred rooms and forty kivas, typifying Chaco's significance as a major ceremonial center. Building pueblo structures, especially the Great Houses, took many decades of coordinated effort to complete. Indeed, the design demonstrates a deeper understanding of the natural cycles of the Earth and its relationship to the cosmos. Many other examples of astronomical knowledge have been found in Chaco Canyon. But its layout of perfectly aligned structures is really the clue why these castles in the desert were built.
Consider, also the back wall of Pueblo Bonito is aligned on a perfect east-west axis. The precise alignment means on the Summer Solstice(June 21 or June 22), the sun passes directly over this wall.
Near the summit of Fajada Butte a crack in the rock wall is aligned with a spiral petroglyph, so that sunlight shining through the narrow opening of the this chink is perfectly centered during the moment of the solstice. Sunlight penetrating a window in nearby Pueblo Bonito also perfectly aligns with an inside corner of the building, but only during the Winter Solstice. Additionally, several petroglyphs have been found depicting astronomical events, such as the great supernova of 1054 (see below for more clarification). It's amazing to think someone first had to notice the clockworks of the universe, as viewed from Fajada Butte, then upon computing the evidence by keen observation over the decades, build Pueblo Bonito in such a way to confirm the great celestial event, if a confirmation. It also boggles the mind the inspiration and ingenuity behind this affair.
Although Chacoan culture flourished for some four hundred years, and possibly a great deal longer, the Ancestral Puebloans left the region toward the end of the 13th Century (around 1251 and possibly as late as 1287). Several causes may have contributed to this mass emigration (a diaspora by any other name). However, the reasons why these people abandoned this thoroughly distinctive settlement remains one of the great mysteries of archeology. The same applies for why the Ancestral Puebloans departed from their homeland after having successful sustained their existence here for well over one thousand years. Nevertheless, evidence of an extended drought suggests a reasonable cause that initiated a restive cultural mindset, by which all else followed.
Thus a tradeoff for this typical Chaco desert terrain scene (then and now):
For a new country, like this (New Mexico's Rio Grande Valley):
There is also a matching theory that the Chacoans left elsewhere for a wetter climate, which is largely accepted by cultural scientists. Another theory, however, has something to do with religion but does not adequately explain what those religious concerns were. There may even have occurred a simmering social disorder or disagreement among the people (or various clans in the Ancestral Puebloan community) that finally broke out. Perhaps, too, an infectious and fatal disease had spread, including poor nutrition and iron deficiency causing anemia. Certainly, in view of some human remains of mostly women and children found at some of the ruins, a malady of some kind may have triggered a hasty departure. Cannibalism is thus sometimes suggested, though this often contentious subject (as Puebloans see the matter) is seldom mentioned by most cultural scientists, especially the park service that oversee many archeological sites throughout the Southwest.
(FYI: Even after Chaco was fully abandoned by the 13th Century there was a later revival of sorts, for people came here to repair some of the dwellings (Pueblo Bonito for one example). Then these people moved on again. Not until the 19th Century does activity resume again, which happened when Chaco was rediscovered, first by the Navajos, or perhaps initially it was the Hopis, then later archeologists.)
If you plan to visit here, and if you happen to see what appears like freebie artifacts on the ground. . .
It's bad form and bad juju to pocket any archeological artifact, even seeming throwaway stuff from the past. If you do get tempted to swipe something, keep in mind a shaman might be watching and turn you into something wholly other. . .
Or worse. . .
Let's continue this missive in tomorrow's final installment. The information thus far presented should be enough to exercise the Daily Kos community's minds, and who knows. . .some of you may have already figured out some of the enduring mysteries and all-out strangeness cultural scientists have pondered since Chaco Canyon was first discovered.
As always, intelligent and thoughtful commentary is welcomed.


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Where the success is.
night and she is about to blast off in Coventry with a
new stage show that is out of this world. TV writer
MARION McMULLEN catches up with the woman who has the knack of giving audiences what they want.
A SMALL-TOWN wedding provided the inspiration for Vicky Featherstone for one of TV's biggest hits.
She went to Yorkshire to attend the wedding of her best friend's sister and found the heart-warming family gathering firing her imagination.
As the best man cracked jokes and the glasses were raised in a toast to the happy couple, Vicky was getting the first ideas for a new TV drama based around a close-knit community.
Her best friend's mother just happened to be a district nurse and soon the whole project began to gel.
''It all started from that wedding,'' remembers Vicky, ''but no-one had any idea how successful it was going to be. Television audiences are very unpredictable and Where The Heart Is was something very new.''
Vicky was working as a TV script editor at the time and joined forces with writer Ashley Pharoah to create Where The Heart Is.
He recalls: ''I was very conscious that we didn't want to create a happy, clappy Sunday night television series. It is not escapism. It does make you think. Within one show you can have comedy, pathos and bleakness, and life is like that.''
Vicky and Ashley met district nurses in a small Yorkshire town as part of their research and were initially surprised at their cheery view of life. Ashley, who wrote the original series, says: ''The first thing we noticed more than anything was how much they laughed when they were together, even though their work was harrowing at times and boring at others. They laughed from dawn until dusk.
''I think their laughter is a way of coping with what they have to deal with. There is a lot of unpleasantness, they are at the coal face, and it is far from glamorous. It is not ER.''
They tried to capture that feeling in the series and Where The Heart Is was a hit with viewers from the very first programme. Vicky herself lays a lot of credit at the door of Sarah Lancashire and Pam Ferris who play the lead roles.
''The actors are just fantastic,'' points out Vicky. ''That's why it's so successful. They are just so believable. I think about 14 million people watched the first night it went out and the number never really dropped through the series.''
Vicky certainly knows what she is talking about when it comes to drama. The 31-year-old was studying English and drama at Manchester University when a friend asked her to direct his new play.
She went on to do an MA in directing and came to public attention when she took a production to the Edinburgh Fringe.
Since then she has worked at West Yorkshire Playhouse, Bolton Octagon and The Bush Theatre in London.
Her spell as a TV script writer has been followed by a return to theatre and she is now the artistic director of popular touring theatre company Paines Plough.
She beat 180 other applicants to land the post just over two years ago and is a strong supporter of new writers. Coventry playwright Chris O'Connell is currently the company's writer-in-residence.
''The company was going through a bad patch when I joined,'' says Vicky, ''and it was a real test to see whether we could turn it around. It has been a busy few years, but very rewarding and we've got a great company.
''We are a touring company and I catch up with them at every venue. I am used to touring now.'' She laughs: ''I have been up and down the whole of Britain and I know all the B&B's and pizza restaurants.''
Paines Plough are bringing their latest production The Cosmonaut's Last Message To The Woman He Once Loved In The Former Soviet Union to Warwick Arts Centre next week for a two-night run from Tuesday.
''It is basically a love story,'' explains Vicky. ''There are two cosmonauts in space and they believe everyone has forgotten them, so they begin to remember their life on earth. It is written by Scottish writer David Greig and is a remarkable piece of theatre.''
Getting productions on the road takes a big chunk of Vicky's time, but she always finds time to catch up with the latest happenings on Where The Heart Is every Sunday.
''I'm not connected with the programme anymore, but I always watch it,'' she confesses. ''I sometimes find myself saying 'That's not how Peggy would behave' and commentating on the behaviour of the characters. The other week Tony Haygarth, who plays Vic Snow, hugged his son when he left home and I remember thinking 'He would have been much closer than that.'' Vicky smiles: ''But I do think it is a lovely series and the people in it are very human - that's why it is so popular.''
THE stories always focus on human relationships. They are not medical case histories, but relationships that are sparked off by events in and out of Peggy's professional life.
Pam Ferris who plays Peggy Snow
THERE is a tremendous amount of humour, the sort of humour that comes out of every day life. The stories concentrate more on this small community, where everybody knows each other, rather than on cases at the health centre. It is quite a unique series.
Sarah Lancashire who plays Ruth Goddard
THE series appealed to me because of the very wholesome, warm, gentle feel of the whole thing. It is very much a family orientated piece with good morals, charity, loving and giving. Where The Heart Is is an uplifting series when you can do something good and make somebody happy.
Tony Haygarth who plays Vic Snow
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|Coventry Evening Telegraph (England)
|Jun 5, 1999
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Police seeking motive for Texas gunman's attack
McKINNEY, Texas A gunman who pulled into a suburban Dallas police station parking lot with a trailer loaded with explosives, set fire to his pickup truck, then started shooting at the building was apparently hoping for a massacre, police say.
In the end, only the gunman - identified by police as 29-year-old Patrick Gray Sharp - was killed.
Sharp died after a shootout with officers Tuesday morning. McKinney police Chief Doug Kowalski says it's unclear whether he was killed by an officer's bullet or one of his own.
It's also unclear what his motive was.
"He had a plan. He was activating his plan. He was heavily armed," Kowalski said. "He looked like he knew what he wanted to do. What we don't know is why he wanted to do it."
Sharp may have intended to lure people from the police station so that he could shoot at them from a field across the street where he had taken position, Kowalski said. He also may have intended to kill them by blowing up the trailer, he said.
The fire set off ammunition in the truck but failed to ignite the trailer, which was filled with wood chips, ammonium nitrate, gasoline and road flares, Kowalski said.
Investigators found an assault rifle, a shotgun and a handgun on Sharp. Kowalski said Sharp fired at least 100 rounds at the police station, and the chief counted at least 23 bullet strikes on the building.
The chief said Sharp was found dead after police fired an unknown number of rounds while pursuing him in a line of trees where Sharp had taken cover and into an open field near Collin College, which was on lockdown after the shooting.
Sharp's roommate, Eric McClellan, told The Associated Press by phone that he was on vacation outside Texas when he received calls from state troopers and his stepfather telling him what happened. He said he was "still in shock" and that there was nothing about Sharp that would lead him to believe he would try to attack police.
"He was fine and dandy when I left Texas two days ago, and, all of a sudden, I get a phone call," McClellan said. "There's nothing I can say. He was a great guy, a good friend."
McClellan said he was questioned about Sharp by police and couldn't provide them with much information.
He said he and Sharp kept guns in their residence because they like sports shooting.
"We're Texans," he said. "We have the right to bear arms."
McClellan said he was doing contract work for building wire manufacturer Encore Wire Corp. six years ago when he met Sharp, who was an employee of the company. They had been roommates for four years, he said.
Collin County records show Sharp and McClellan are co-owners of the home they shared near Anna, a town about 15 miles north of McKinney.
Authorities descended on the rural cluster of manufactured homes not long after news of the shooting broke, neighbors said. They were still there nearly 12 hours later, plainly visible after dusk through windows of the light-brown home with a large yard.


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Five-day Weather Forecast for Oklahoma City, OK
Even though the tremendous rains have come and gone, flooding will continue on the major rivers in the South Central states for the next couple of weeks.
United States travel weather forecast
Severe weather, including isolated tornadoes, will once again target the nation's midsection into Wednesday night.
Showers and thunderstorms from the Intermountain
While the center of Andres will remain a thousand miles away, its moisture will still get drawn into the Western United States and enhance thunderstorm activity later this week.
The Minnesota Vikings new stadium, set to be completed in July 2016, will feature innovative solutions to fight the region's harshest conditions.
Extended Weather forecast overview for the South Central United States
El Nino is forecast to last into the fall of 2015, but will it be enough to break expanding drought conditions along the Pacific coast of the United States?Read Story >
With the start of meteorological summer and astronomical summer right around the corner, it is time to start thinking about summer activities and vacations.Read Story >


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A man who wears many hats.
The Minister of State in the ministry of Parliamentary Affairs, Shukla is also Secretary, All India Congress Committee (AICC). Associated with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), he is Chairman of the Indian Premier League (IPL). In addition, Shukla is a friend to top politicians, bureaucrats, industrialists, film stars, cricketers and media men.
From starting his career as a cub reporter to becoming a Member of the Upper House of Parliament, Rajya Sabha, he has traversed the long winding road with sheer hard work and indomitable will.
"I do not take up a responsibility unless I am sure of putting my heart and soul into it," Shukla tells Gulf News in an informal tEaA[logical not]te-Ea-tEaA[logical not]te at his Safdarjung Road bungalow.
So how do politicians, whom he interviewed in the past as a journalist in various capacities, now perceive him?
"It's a change of perception, environment and attitude as well. People change their opinion according to your position. And both politicians and bureaucrats begin to take you more seriously, as they suddenly feel you have become more important," Shukla said.
"Having been a journalist for almost 20 years and then becoming a politician has definitely been an interesting and enriching experience for me. I realise that strutting around in power corridors for political coverage, a journalist becomes half a politician. And constant interaction leads to personal relations. Many scribes begin to advise politicos on certain matters, to which the latter even pay heed," he informed.
As a media person, Shukla frequently visited the Parliament House to watch and report the proceedings from the press gallery.
But, he admits, "When I made it to the Rajya Sabha, the feeling was altogether different. It was absolutely awesome, though not of shock and awe, as I was already familiar with both - the precincts and the people. It was exciting to look at the press gallery - this time from a different angle!"
Shukla had managed the unmanageable while hosting the television programme EoACAyRu-ba-ru' by having heart-to-heart talks with eminent personalities - both at the national and international level.
He shared, "It was quite a task first approaching and convincing some heads of states and finally getting them in front of the camera."
Denying that he had an extra edge over others in the fraternity, Shukla credited his persuasive skills that worked for him. "I always try to do a job well and do not attach importance to where I stand. I know the art of maintaining long-term associations. And believe that relationships must not be utility-based and have to be retained beyond profession. It is important that people have faith in you, because as a journalist you work within the parameters of professional ethics," he said.
Shukla makes a clear distinction between the power struggle that prevails in many minds - the EoACAypower' as a journalist and EoACAyultimate power' as a politician. "A journalist lives with the EoACAyperception' of power, because politicians give him importance and he has connectivity with people-who-matter. But the actual EoACAytaste of power' comes only on entering politics," he ensured.
So, was it for this EoACAytaste of power' that he entered politics?
Shukla makes an extremely candid confession. "I will not deny and have no hesitation in admitting that as a political correspondent I had the desire to be like the politicians I met. Many journalists desperately want to get into Parliament and become ministers, but they do not like to disclose their cards, until they are sure of getting a seat, as it is difficult to make it without the right opportunity.
"My fundamentals were different. Once I decided to enter politics, I saw no reason in hiding my aspirations. Wanting to try my luck, I came out in the open and contested the Rajya Sabha elections. And was fortunate to win with a huge majority of votes.
"Pretensions do not help. It is not correct to masquerade as a journalist and at the same time pursue a different agenda. Times have changed. And for those willing to continue with journalism after entering politics, there is plethora of opportunities to write in newspapers."
Shukla knows better. He continues to write in national dailies and maintains the equilibrium between the two professions. In a recent column he blasted those paying humble tributes to film star-turned politician Rajesh Khanna after his death, though they ignored him when he was alive.
Shukla wrote, "This breathless coverage may have served as an eye-opener for the younger generation and conveyed in some measure the cult status Kaka (as RK was fondly known) enjoyed in his hey-day, but to those of my generation - a generation that got a front-row view of Khanna's many highs and lows - this almost theatrical display of public mourning by those who did not spare a thought for Kaka when his life was at its lowest ebb, smacked of hypocrisy.
"Few know of the trials and travails Khanna was subjected to in the past 15 years. Those Bollywood personalities who are now paying him public homilies are the very same people who not only distanced themselves from Kaka, but also made fun of himEoACA*.Films that were coming his way would suddenly vanish at the insistence of these stars, who would pressure the producer or director to ensure that Khanna was not cast in the film."
Unmindful of the party he represents, Shukla writes further with honesty and alacrity, "I must also mention that many Congress leaders made fun of Khanna and tried to ensure that he remained in political wildernessEoACA*.Many would spread baseless rumours about him (during the campaign days) not being able to make it on time and waking up only after noonEoACA*.That is why those who are now shedding tears for Kaka before the camera seem nothing more than opportunists to me."
Shukla had first met Khanna in 1974 in Mumbai. True to his word of maintaining long-term relationships, he was among the couple of people in Delhi with whom Khanna shared his joys and sorrows and he remained close to the superstar till the end.
Upright about his feelings, Shukla is a refreshing change from the mundane image of an Indian politician. With his cool and easy demeanour, he manages to get any kind of staunchest opposition turn into a favourable situation.
The politician said, "I am of the firm opinion that there is no place for personal enmity in politics. It is a matter of believing in different ideologies. So, fighting at an ideology level is fine and if you pursue with this mindset, relationships remain cordial."
Welcoming professionals, he maintained that experts from different walks of life were required to change the face of Indian politics. "There is definitely a dearth of good and efficient people in politics and it would be good to see right-thinking professionals dominate the political system," he suggested.
"The irony is that parents want their sons and daughters to be doctors, engineers and MBAs and choose a safe career. But at the same time they do not hesitate to criticize the politicians. The result is that children do not strive to enter politics and this paves the way for others with medieval mindsets," he added.
Shukla was born on September 13, 1959 in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh. His father was a lawyer and the family led a humble life. It was only after his elder brother got into journalism that Shukla became familiar with the profession. He joined a small publication and earned Rs.100 as monthly salary.
Ambitions to grow brought him to Delhi. He says, "I got exposed to an altogether new world and thank the several editors and senior journalists who gave me the opportunity to work with them."
Shukla informed that he was one of the few journalists who worked at various levels - district, division, state, national and international. And the exposure led to understanding the nuances of administrative set-ups better.
Talking about the high points, he said, "My association with former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, provided catapult to my journalistic career. I accompanied him on different tours and the relationship strengthened when he was in the opposition.
"He encouraged and appreciated my work and let me handle my duties professionally without ever asking me to write against his opponents. He motivated me to do fearless journalism."
I asked him if other political leaders suggested that he write favourable reports and how he handled such situations? Shukla admitted, "Yes, there were many who wanted the story to be molded according to their fancy.
"I had to convince them that by doing so I would lose my credibility as a journalist. I would explain to them about stating facts and promise to certainly also present their point of view. Thereafter, the judgment would be left to the readers. This way, the equation remained good."
Shukla appreciates sincerity and hard work. That's probably the reason why he and Anuradha Prasad chose to marry. Anuradha is Chairperson of B.A.G. Network that produces feature films and runs television channels.
The two met while working as journalists in the same building in Delhi. Shukla is forthcoming with details, "Anuradha was with the news agency Press Trust of India and I represented Sunday magazine. We would often meet and grew fond of each other. We married in 1988."
Crediting his wife for her strength and vast knowledge, he confided, "We share common interests and she often advises and guides me. Her inputs are vital, but there are times when I do not agree with her opinion and ignore her suggestions. If she is proven right, she scolds me!
"A thorough professional, she never lets her brother, Ravi Shankar Prasad, a prominent BJP leader, or myself interfere in her business ventures. And has an enormous capacity to tell both of us to keep away from her work. Our recommendations too never work!"
The couple has a four-and-a-half-year-old daughter Vaanya, with whom Shukla said he tries to spend value time. But since along with politics, he also has sports issues related to BCCI and IPL to deal with, the fond father always finds paucity of time to devote to his daughter.
Cricket has been his passion since school days. And Shukla acknowledged the support he got from certain prominent people in the field of sport. That's how he first joined the Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association and was later "encouraged" to get into BCCI, wherein he held different positions for almost 20 years. As its Vice-President, he was instrumental in getting the Indo-Pak cricket series organized in 2004.
Heading IPL since last year, the cricket enthusiast is keen that India and Pakistan should continue to play with each other. He said, "There may be security concerns for the two teams to play in Pakistan, but I see no reason why the matches cannot be held in India. Cricket should not turn into a political issue. After all, the two countries played even after the 1971 Indo-Pak War, the 1999 Kargil War and the attack on Parliament House in 2001.
"My feeling is that cricket can help the two nations. The bonhomie developed during the last series in Pakistan remains etched in people's minds when Indians got an overwhelming reception and shopkeepers there refused to take money from the visitors. It was a golden era of the Indo-Pak relations."
The IPL chief felt that if the two countries continued to play regularly, winning or losing by either side would seize to matter after some time. And the euphoria of creating a war-like situation would ultimately vanish.
Believing in the philosophy of making efforts and then being content with the results, he does feel disillusioned at times. "But then my inner strength helps," he said.
What do politicians generally fear, I ask him.
Shukla is prompt, "Insecurity is the main ingredient of politics. You cannot be sure of anything. With re-elections every five years, there is constant anxiety."
But what about those who do good work in their constituency? "Then there is the concern about uncertainty of ministership. An Indian Administrative Service officer can sit pretty in office for the next 30 years and feel the security of a job. But politics means taking a risk," he responded.
Well, it does not seem that politicians live their lives with the Damocles sword hanging on their heads all the time. And if that were the case many would have left. "Not that, but uncertainty is certainly prevalent," the politician clarified.
Shukla, though, does not have to worry. He has his feet dug firmly on the political ground where many other ambitious people would like to tread. But what goes in his favour is the fact that he has not rubbed anyone the wrong way and has no enemies or political adversaries.
Favourite Indian destinations - Goa and South India
Favourite destinations abroad - Dubai and London
Favourite food - Chaat (spicy snack), Lebanese cuisine
Favourite films - Mother India, Swadesh
Favourite actor - Shah Rukh Khan
Favourite actress - Kareena Kapoor
Favourite singers - Mohammed Rafi, Mukesh
Favourite lyricist - Sahir Ludhianvi
Favourite ghazal singer - Mehdi Hasan
Al Nisr Publishing LLC 2012. All rights reserved.
Provided by Syndigate.info an Albawaba.com company
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text:
Wi-Fi issues continue to hamper OS X users despite updates
Apple's efforts this week to remedy the Wi-Fi connectivity issues plaguing many OS X users produced mediocre results, judging by comments left in Apple's support forum.
Apple's efforts this week to remedy the Wi-Fi connectivity issues plaguing many OS X users produced mediocre results, judging by comments left in Apple's support forum.
A glitch in the search software in Apple's OS X Yosemite can expose private details of Apple Mail users, revealing their IP address as well as other system details to spammers, phishers and online tracking companies.
Apple has come out with a second beta of Mac OS X Yosemite for developers, but it's not clear whether this latest build will address the WiFi problems that continue to affect an undetermined but apparently substantial number of users.
Apple has handed the first Mac OS X Yosemite update to developers for testing, and is reportedly asking them to focus on three areas, including Wi-Fi connectivity, which have been problematic for many users.
The cries for help from frazzled Mac owners whose Wi-Fi connections went haywire after upgrading to OS X Yosemite are being met by Apple with stone-faced silence.
Complaints that Mac OS X Yosemite disrupts or entirely disables Wi-Fi have been flowing into social media sites and discussion forums since the release of the OS last Thursday, but Apple has yet to acknowledge there's a problem.
Apple is being called out for how it shares desktop and Web searches in its latest desktop operating system, Yosemite.
Apple desktop and laptop computers will play better with iPads and iPhones via new Continuity integration features on iOS 8.1 and MacOS X Yosemite, available free, starting Monday for iOS 8.1 and today for Yosemite.
Apple exposed iOS users to security threats by taking three weeks longer to patch the same vulnerabilities in the mobile OS that it previously fixed in Safari on OS X, a former Apple security engineer said.
The access code locking the iPhone 5 of an Italian murder victim is depriving police of information that might help them solve the crime, but Apple has so far resisted requests for help in unlocking the device, a Milan prosecutor confirmed Friday.
The next version of Apple's OS X – dubbed OS X 10.10 – has been spotted in web analytics reports, suggesting that Apple is already working on the operating system that will succeed Apple's new OS X Mavericks.
Apple's widely anticipated Tuesday product launch (Wednesday 7am AEST) is expected to bring evolutionary updates to its iPad line and launch dates for new PCs and the latest version of its desktop OS.
A new piece of digitally signed spyware for Mac OS X uses a special Unicode character in its file name to hide its real file extension from users and trick them into installing it.
Shipments of devices based on Apple's Mac OS and iOS will close the gap on those of products running all flavors of Windows over the next two years, but Windows will then start to pull away again, according to figures from Gartner.
Previously unknown Mac OS X spyware, signed with a valid Apple Developer ID, has turned up on the laptop of an activist from Angola at a human rights conference in Norway.
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First impression on unpacking the Q702 test unit was the solid feel and clean, minimalist styling.
For work use, Microsoft Word and Excel programs pre-installed on the device are adequate for preparing short documents.
The Fujitsu LifeBook UH574 allowed for great mobility without being obnoxiously heavy or clunky. Its twelve hours of battery life did not disappoint.
The screen was particularly good. It is bright and visible from most angles, however heat is an issue, particularly around the Windows button on the front, and on the back where the battery housing is located.
My first impression after unboxing the Q702 is that it is a nice looking unit. Styling is somewhat minimalist but very effective. The tablet part, once detached, has a nice weight, and no buttons or switches are located in awkward or intrusive positions.


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Iona Tops Loyola, 1-0, In Double Overtime
Oct. 23, 2011
NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. - Katie Higgins scored on a header in the 102nd minute as Iona topped the Loyola University Maryland women's soccer team, 1-0, in double overtime on Sunday afternoon in New Rochelle, N.Y.
It was the third-straight overtime game for the Greyhounds, marking the fourth time in Loyola history that the team has played three or more overtime games in a row.
The Greyhounds (5-11-1, 3-3-1 MAAC) fell to 0-2-1 in extra sessions this season.
Sophomore keeper Didi Haracic made five saves in net and held a team scoreless in regulation for the third-straight match. Haracic has not allowed a goal in her last 310 minutes of regulation time and became the sixth keeper in Loyola history to notched 90-plus saves in a season.
Iona (5-9-3, 4-2-1 MAAC) keeper Trista Rivera notched the shutout while making four saves in the contest.
The match was evenly played throughout, with Loyola finishing with a 14-13 advantage and shots and each team recording five corner kicks.
Jenny Thornton led the Greyhounds with four shots. Thornton, Nichole Schiro, Joe McLaughlin and Tessa McClenahan each had shots on goal in the contest.
McClenahan's shot came on a header in the first half that tested Rivera, but the Iona keeper was able to make the stop as the two sides went into the halftime break scoreless.
Each team had opportunities in the second half, recording seven shots apiece in the final 45 minutes, but neither side was able to gain an advantage as they went into overtime knotted at, 0-0.
It was the third-straight match for Loyola where neither team was able to score during regulation, the longest such stretch in program history.
Loyola recorded the only two shots of the first extra session. Freshman Gabrielle Tana put a try just wide of the net while Thornton had a scoring opportunity stopped by Rivera.
The Gaels were able to get the game-winner early in the second overtime off a corner kick. Safi Ayinde delivered the kick that found the head of Higgins and beat Haracic into the back of the net for her first goal of the season and gave Iona the, 1-0, victory.
The Greyhounds sit behind Fairfield (11 points) and Canisius (10 points) for the fourth and final final spot in the MAAC Championship heading into the final two matches of the regular-season. Marist (19 points) clinched the No. 1 seed while Niagara and Iona are tied with 13 points each.
Loyola returns home to conclude regular-season play against Manhattan on Friday night at 7 p.m. and Saint Peter's Sunday at 1 p.m.
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The Loyola University Maryland men's and women's soccer teams were among 861 college soccer teams...
Folan Named To Academic All-Patriot League WSOC...
Loyola University Maryland women's soccer senior Colleen Folan was one of 11 student-athletes to ...
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The Loyola University Maryland women's soccer team concluded it's first season under head coach...
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|Browser support
|Skin support
|If all displayed information is important, important information is easy to find.
—Ken Arnold, quoted by Eric Raymond in chapter 1 of The Art of Unix Programming
Unclutter helps in freeing Wikipedia from distractions. It does so by hiding some of the editing hints, warnings, never-to-be-used helpers, policy reminders on talk pages and other unnecessary verbosity. It also adds hiding links to discussion headers and editnotices, wraps and minimises user signatures.
Warning: Enabling the stylesheet installed by Unclutter is not recommended for inexperienced editors, who might find the advice hidden by this script to be occasionally useful. Specifically, hiding messages reminding you of Wikipedia policies does NOT exempt you from these policies. New users may wish to install Unclutter with the stylesheet disabled by default, see the configuration section below.
Copy the following line into your
window.kephirUnclutter = { /* configuration */ }; importScript('User:Kephir/gadgets/unclutter.js'); // [[User:Kephir/gadgets/unclutter]]
You may want to insert configuration options before importing the script; again, see the configuration section.
The CSS stylesheet will be pulled automatically from the page
Non-Wikipedia installs[edit]
To install the script outside of Wikipedia, use this line instead of
Wikipedia-specific settings will not be activated. The CSS stylesheet will be pulled from the page
User:Kephir/gadgets/unclutter.css on the local wiki, not from Wikipedia. Currently, only the English Wiktionary has a customised stylesheet; other wikis will have an empty sheet imported, which has no effect. Leave a note on the talk page if you want a stylesheet for your wiki.
Note: Unclutter is tested mostly on Wikipedia, which means it expects to run on a fairly recent version of MediaWiki. Compare Wikipedia's Special:Version page to your own wiki's before reporting problems.
Templates and interface affected[edit]
Items marked "heuristic" may be potentially incomplete or affect unexpected places, although the selectors have been chosen to be as specific as possible.
By the stylesheet[edit]
- Copyright and policy warnings and reminders in the old editor — hidden
- JavaScript, CSS, category and file editnotices — hidden
- {{talk header}} — notice hidden; archive box kept
- {{calm}} — hidden
- {{off topic warning}} — hidden
- {{controversial}} — hidden
- {{not a forum}} — hidden
- {{db-meta}} — trimmed down
- {{proposed deletion/dated}} — trimmed down
- Overly fancy user talk pages — restored default styles (heuristic)
- Welcome templates — trimmed down (heuristic)
- Twinkle preferences notice — hidden
By JavaScript[edit]
- Editnotices and editintros — made collapsible
- Category and template list in the old editor — made collapsible, hidden by default
- Discussions on talk pages and other discussion pages — made collapsible
- Signatures — minimised
Importing the script will also add a "Toggle Unclutter" item to the toolbox. Clicking it will change whether the stylesheet affects the page.
Signature minimisation[edit]
By default, Unclutter scans non-special non-article pages for timestamped signatures, wraps them up and replaces with a text of the form:
The last link will show the original signature. In the section below, you can learn how to change the default behaviour; instead of completely hiding customised signatures, you might want to apply styles to specific users or groups (i.e. IP editors). Unclutter wraps signatures inside a span element and attaches CSS classes to them to allow this. When signature minimisation is disabled, this is the only thing Unclutter does.
- kephir-unclutter-minisig
- Attached to the minimised signature.
- kephir-unclutter-signature-wrapper
- Attached to the original signature.
- signature
- Attached to both of the above.
- signature-username
- Attached to signify whose signature it is. When referring to this class, some special characters may need to be escaped according to the CSS escaping rules.
- ipv4
- Attached to signatures of editors identified by an IPv4 address.
- ipv6
- Attached to signatures of editors identified by an IPv6 address.
- unregistered
- Attached to all signatures of unregistered editors.
The following classes are used in the minimised signature:
- dash
- The initial em-dash (—).
- username
- The user's name.
- annotation
- The username annotation, if any.
- tlk-link
- The talk page link.
- ctb-link
- The contributions page link.
- act-link
- The user's act link (for actions performed by this user).
- log-link
- The user's log link (for actions performed on this user).
- sig-link
- The "sig" link.
For example, to hide the log link, add this to your stylesheet:
.kephir-unclutter-minisig .log-link { display: none; }
To configure Unclutter, add the following code before importing the script:
window.kephirUnclutter = { enableOnPageLoad : true, wrapDiscussions : true, collapseDiscussionsByDefault: false, signaturesProcess : true, signaturesMinimise : true, signaturesColourise : true, signaturesExceptions : [], userAnnotations : { /* "username": "annotation" pairs, separated by commas */ }, processSig : function (context) { return false; }, postProcessSig : function (context) { return false; } };
To set options, change values to the right of the colon. The values listed here are the defaults. Any line in the above code may be omitted, except for the first and the last. The last item should not end with a comma; this is a syntax error and will prevent the script from executing.
- enableOnPageLoad
- Whether to enable the stylesheet on page load. Inexperienced users should set this to
false, otherwise nasty things may happen. At worst, a visit to Administrators' noticeboards. You have been warned.
- wrapDiscussions
- Whether to wrap discussions inside divs to make them collapsible. Disabling this might improve performance slightly, if you do not use this feature.
- collapseDiscussionsByDefault
- Whether previously unseen discussions should be collapsed or expanded by default. Previously seen discussions are left in the state they were last seen; HTML5 localStorage is used to remember it.
- signaturesProcess
- Determines whether to scan pages for signatures to process. Articles and special pages are never scanned. Only timestamped signatures are recognised, as non-timestamped signatures are too difficult to identify.
- signaturesMinimise
- Determines whether to minimise found signatures.
- signaturesColourise
- Determines whether Unclutter will set different background colours for signatures of different users.
- signaturesExceptions
- An array of names of users whose signatures are exempted from minimisation. Usernames should be written inside single or double quotes, separated by commas, like this:
["Example", 'Undefined']
- userAnnotations
- A braced list of
username: annotationpairs, both enclosed within double or single quotes, separated by commas. The signature minimiser will attach the appropriate annotation to the username specified. For example:
{ "קיפודנחש": 'kipod' }(past default).
- processSig
- A JavaScript function which is called before minimisation and may return
trueto prevent Unclutter from performing it. The
contextis an object containing various information like the username, the DOM node of the minimised signature, etc. See the source code for details.
- postProcessSig
- A JavaScript function which is called after minimisation.
contextis the same as above.