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Originally written on The Victory Formation | Last updated 3/13/13
The Detroit Lions, despite playing with a woefully pathetic defense, have added yet another weapon for Matthew Stafford. Later today, they will officially announce the signing of Reggie Bush to a four-year contract per ESPN's Adam Schefter. Say what you will about Bush's career to this point, but his addition fills a huge void in the Lions already potent offense. The Lions placed huge hopes on the shoulders of Jahvid Best and Mikel LeShoure, thinking they had a dynamite backfield combo to go partner with the best receiver in football. Then Best got a concussion. And another. And his career never developed the way that many expected when the Lions traded up in the draft to take him in the first round in the 2010 draft. Now, the Lions have the speedy back, who also is a pass-catching threat, to pair with the between the tackles power of Mikel LeShoure. This is a key signing for the Lions. The Lions have had a big day so far on the second day of free agency, as they also signed DE Jason Jones and CB Chris Houston.
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Bulletin board
Rookies: Training sessions for ages 7 to 11 from 3:30 to 5 p.m. on Oct. 26, Nov. 9 and Dec. 7; $20 per player per clinic or $50 for all three clinics
Where: Hot Shotz Sports Center at Del Mar Fairgrounds
Contact: (760) 487-1001
Web site: rushfieldhockey.org
What: San Diego's MK 5K Fun Run/Walk
When: 8 a.m. Oct. 24.
Where: Mission Trials Regional Park, Santee (exit Mast Boulevard)
Information: Fundraiser for the Mary Kay Foundation for cancer research/treatment and to raise awareness against domestic violence.
Contact: e-mail firstname.lastname@example.com
What: Crime Stoppers Light the Night Against Crime 5K Fun Run
When: 7 p.m. Oct. 24
Where: Balboa Park
Information: 23rd annual Light the Night Against Crime 5K with expo, glow-in-the-dark logo race T-shirt and more.
Contact: (310) 821-7898 or e-mail email@example.com
Web site: sdcrimestoppers.com
What: Instruction by Athletes Edge for baseball and softball
When: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 21
Cost: $60
Information: Multiple coach discount; CPR/first aid recertification
Contact: (760) 734-1780 or e-mail email@example.com
Web site: athletesedge.net
What: 2009 Youth Cross Country Meet
When: Nov. 21
Where: Melba Bishop Park in Oceanside
Divisions: Bantam (7- and 8-year-old boys and girls combined) will run 1,000 meters at 9:30 a.m. Midget (9- and 10-year-old boys and girls combined) will run 1,500 meters at 9:45 a.m. Youth (11- and 12-year-old, boys and girls combined) will run 2,000 meters at 10:10 a.m.
Cost: $10, residents; $15, nonresidents
Registration: Through Nov. 16
Contact: (760) 435-5233
Web site: www.ci.oceanside.ca.us

subset: commoncrawl


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DISABILITY SERVICES: We're located in the Administration Center (ADM) in the Student Success Center
Phone: (989) 275-5000, ext. 280 | Fax: (989) 275-6755
Our Staff
Jules Brown, Coordinator for Student Support Services
(989) 275-5000, ext. 280
General Office Hours
Monday – Friday: 8 a.m.– 4:30 p.m.
Increasing your success in the classroom by reducing your stress level is the goal of Student Support Services. Our job is to put you on an even playing field.
If you would like to apply for disability services, please download our Application for Disability Services.
Disability Services
Your comfort and confidence at Kirtland will be handled by some truly caring people in the Student Success Center, located in the Administration Center. Assisting students with disabilities by providing accommodations is one of the most rewarding parts of our job. Please call or e-mail us for clarification on any of these areas:
- process for accessing services
- student/college responsibilities
- ADA considerations
- accommodations checklist
- other helpful Kirtland services
- frequently asked questions
- disability related links
- informational sheet: disability services for equal access
Sorry! Student Support Services does not provide testing to determine whether or not you have a disability. We can, however, refer you to places that provide testing.
What's the opposite of overwhelmed?
Let us get up underneath you, remove your barriers, reduce any anxiety you have and boost your confidence.
You must call, e-mail or visit the Student Success Center and disclose your need for help. We can't help you unless you contact us.
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Do you require assistance in the event of an emergency? Register for emergency evacuation assistance.
Visitors: If you are here for the day and will require assistance in case of an emergency evacuation, please call Campus Security at extension 355.
Temporary Parking Permit
Do you have a temporary health limitation that would require you to park nearer to your classroom building? Register for a temporary parking permit.
Medical Issue Registration
Do you have a medical issue that we need to be aware of in the event of an emergency? Register your medical issue.


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Using Selenium with PhantomJS
If you don't want to play around with things like CasperJS to do your simple browser automation, it turns out that PhantomJS has WebDriver support, and in turn, Selenium supports it.
To use it via the Python bindings, you'll need to:
1) Install PhantomJS somewhere
2) Install Selenium from PyPi (or install it with Pip)
3) Run:
from selenium import webdriver
driver = webdriver.PhantomJS(phantom_path)
(phantom_path is the path to the phantomjs binary).
And that's it! Selenium will spawn a PhantomJS process that it communicates to over WebDriver and you can use the Selenium API to do your automation. You therefore don't need Selenium Server either.
(CasperJS seems to be faster at driving PhantomJS than Selenium, based on anecdotal evidence of a single Google search, but it's always nice to have options).
In: Python, Web
Running Clojure on Slackware
To run Clojure on Slackware you'll want a few things:
- JDK (use the Slackbuild from /extra to build the latest version yourself)
- Leiningen (available from SlackBuilds.org)
- Create a command line wrapper to execute Clojure scripts (some examples for learning Clojure expect you to set this up, but don't really tell you how to).
Assuming you've installed Leiningen (in my case, 126.96.36.199), I've created ~/bin/clj with the following to do this:
java -cp ~/.m2/repository/org/clojure/clojure/1.2.1/clojure-1.2.1.jar clojure.main "$@"
In: Clojure, Linux, Slackware
Varnish and Ajax
If you have endpoints on your site that serve up both HTML and JSON depending on the request type, not the URL, then you need to tell Varnish to add this as an extra hash so that it doesn't return JSON to clients expecting HTML, and vice versa. Oddly, I've not actually seen any examples of how to this, so I came up with:
sub vcl_hash { if (req.http.X-Requested-With == "XMLHttpRequest") { hash_data(req.http.X-Requested-With); } }
(Django uses X-Requested-With for is_ajax(), so it is consistent with that – if you were wondering).
In: Apache, Django, Varnish, Web
Linux video acceleration
With the advent of open source UVD support for my HD5750 in Linux, I've been trying to understand what is needed for accelerating video under Linux, and how all the components work together. So I drew a diagram to try and make sense of it all:
Sufficed to say, it's not pretty. The key thing is that there are currently two main modern acceleration API's under Linux – Video Acceleration API (VA-API) and Video Decode and Presentation API for Unix (VDPAU). They don't support all video formats, just some. Not all video drivers support them all (open source Intel and closed source AMD support VA-API, closed source nVidia and open source AMD supports VDPAU), and the support for each of these varies wildly from one piece of software to the next – for example, VLC uses VA-API, the closed source Flash player uses VDPAU.
If you're using a driver that only supports VDPAU, you have a bit more luck, because VA-API currently exposes just a subset of the VDPAU functionality (though this will probably change in the upcoming VA-API release). A wrapper driver has therefore been written that can convert from VA-API to VDPAU, so VA-API software can still be accelerated on VDPAU only drivers. As far as I understand though, the reverse is not true of VA-API drivers and VDAPU software.
In: Linux
Psycopg2 and large result sets
Psycopg2 has a bit of a gotcha when it comes to fetching result sets that can catch out the unsuspecting developer. By default, it does not actually use cursors, but simply emulate them. In practical terms, this means that the entire result set of your query is fetched by the client into memory.
It is documented these days, but buried quite far down if you're not looking for it:
Practically speaking though, what does this actually mean? From a DB API point of view, there is no difference memory wise between:
The entire result set has already been fetched into memory, all you are doing is controlling how much of that you read into Python at one time.
By and large, it's not actually a bad thing, as long as you don't execute queries that return huge result sets. As you generally don't need to do that, the key thing to be aware of in your client code is to write your code in such a way that you do as much filtering as possible at the SQL layer so you can return as small a result set as possible.
As an example, consider something like this:
cursor = connection.execute("SELECT * from cars")
for row in cursor:
if row[1] == "blue":
return row
Using an ORM such as the Django one, the equivalent would look something like:
for car in Car.objects.all():
if car.colour == "blue":
return car
In the above, we're trying to find the first car that is blue. (It's rather contrived that we're calling .all(), but you could also imagine some other filter that returns a large number of car records). Now, let's say that our 'Car' table has 20,000 cars in it. In both cases, it naively appears that we're only reading in one record at a time, but this is not quite the case.
As soon as we executed the query, Psycopg2 loaded the entire result set, which in our case is the entire table, into memory. In the Django example, the only saving grace is that we are lazily creating the Car objects from the row, but that's it – the entire result set is still in memory!
Whilst you could use named cursors (even with things like Django there are various ways to force PostgreSQL to use them), it's generally not necessary. Simply try to do as much of your filtering as possible in SQL to keep the size of the result set small, rather than filtering in your Python code.
In: Linux, Python
Linux Containers (LXC), libvirt and Slackware
I've spent the last few days getting very frustrated with trying to make a Linux Container (LXC) run via libvirt on Slackware – various weird and wonderful error messages about being unable to mount cgroups (LXC depends on cgroups to provide the networking and namespace isolation).
The short answer is that by default, Slackware mounts a cgroup type filesystem onto /sys/fs/cgroup, which causes every cgroup to be mounted into that directory. Libvirt does not like this for LXC – it expects each different cgroup type to be mounted in a separate directory. I've therefore put together the following init script that remounts the cgroups into the format that Libvirt expects (which I've based off the contents of fstab for another machine running Ubuntu):
#!/bin/sh # # /etc/rc.d/rc.cgroup: Cgroup mounting script # # Remount cgroups under a tmpfs directory in /sys. By default, # Slackware mounts /sys/fs/cgroup - however, this does not work # with using libvirt for Linux Containers, because it expects each # cgroup to have its own directory. So, let's do that. # Unmount the existing /sys/fs/cgroup umount /sys/fs/cgroup # Create a tmpfs structure to hold all the new mounts mount -t tmpfs -o mode=755,noatime tmpfs /sys/fs/cgroup for cgroup in cpu cpuset cpuacct memory devices freezer blkio perf_event; do mkdir /sys/fs/cgroup/$cgroup mount -t cgroup -o $cgroup,noatime cgroup /sys/fs/cgroup/$cgroup done
To use this, add it to rc.local before rc.libvirt is called (as libvirt needs to use the cgroups).
In: Linux, Slackware
Slackware, Amarok and Transcoding
As I've recently been importing CDs in as FLAC, I want something that can transcode this for me when and manage my collection when working with my iPod. Amarok has now finally re-gained transcoding support as of 2.4:
However, trying this in Slackware 14.0 RC3, it doesn't work – trying to copy FLAC tracks to my iPod failed with an error message telling me the format is unsupported. A little bit of digging, and it turns out that to get transcoding support, you need to have ffmpeg installed when you build Amarok.
So to get it working, you'll need to install ffmpeg and the relevant dependencies (SlackBuilds.org has this), then rebuild Amarok with ffmpeg installed. Your new, shiny Amarok will then offer transcoding as an option the next time you want to copy FLAC to your iPod.
In: KDE, Linux, Slackware
USB 3G Modem on Slackware – DNS
A follow up from last years post – clearly having not played around with the 3G card since last year, it's only today I realised that DNS wasn't actually working. PPPD was correctly requesting the nameservers from the remote peer, but by default, puts them into /etc/ppp/resolv.conf. This isn't terribly helpful.
PPPD will try to call out to /etc/ppp/ip-{up,down} when bringing a connection up or d'own. By creating these and making them executable, we can get them to set up DNS for us.
I've therefore created them as follows:
#!/bin/sh # Change DNS resolvers if [ -f /etc/resolv.bak ]; then echo "/etc/resolv.bak exists!" else cp /etc/resolv.conf /etc/resolv.bak rm /etc/resolv.conf ln -sf /etc/ppp/resolv.conf /etc/resolv.conf fi
#!/bin/sh # Change DNS resolvers back. if [ -f /etc/resolv.bak ]; then rm /etc/resolv.conf mv /etc/resolv.bak /etc/resolv.conf else echo "/etc/resolv.bak missing!" fi
With this, running wvdial now also takes care of DNS properly and I can actually resolve domain names (you can also extend these scripts if you want things like VPN, etc, but in my case, this is more than sufficient).
In: Linux, Slackware
USB 3G Modem for Vodafone on Slackware
In spite of having to spend too much of my work time getting various 3G dongles working, I've never had to do it at home.
For Vodafone, it's actually quite simple:
1) Install wvstreams
2) Install wvdial
3) Add the following to your /etc/wvdial.conf
[Dialer vodafone]
Init3 = AT+CGDCONT=1,"IP","internet"
Phone = *99#
Password = pass
Username = user
Vodafone don't actually use a username and password, so you just need something to keep wvdial happy. In my case, I'm then creating a symlink to /dev/modem from /dev/ttyUSB0, but I could just as easily add a 'Modem = /dev/ttyUSB0′ line as well here.
Connecting is then just a matter of running as root (or using sudo):
wvdial vodafone
In: Linux, Slackware
Python 2 and Unicode
I've been meaning to write this up for a while, so let's see how we go.
One of the problems I have with Python 2 currently is that Unicode support is a bit of a hit and miss game. The problem is that Unicode was a bolt on extra in Python 2.x – in the brave new world of Python 3, they've actually fixed this up properly, with unicode objects being the default, and a new type, bytes, to represent byte strings. Unless you're doing I/O, then you really do want Unicode (hint – what do you expect len("£") to be?) To give an example:
a = "foo"
In Python 2, this will return a str byte string. If you want Unicode objects, you either need an explicit cast:
a = u"foo"
Or, if you're using Python 2.6:
from __future__ import unicode_literals a = "foo"
Which is all nice, except libraries are the falling down point, as per usual. The situation on 2.x is basically a mess – not entirely unsurprising, given the origins of the unicode type in Python 2.
Here's a small selection of the unicode support in Python 2.x libraries:
csv – str only for input and output
ElementTree (and faithfully reproduced in LXML) – Depends. Accepts Unicode, but on return, it tries to coerce everything to ASCII encoded str objects, and if it fails, returns the original internal unicode object.
PyGTK – Accepts unicode, always returns UTF-8 encoded str
PyQt – either QString, or if you switch on the v2 API, unicode objects.
Django – Returns unicode objects
Pyscopg2 – Returns str in the client encoding, unless you specify you want unicode objects (globally or per connection – Django sets this globally)
As for other libraries, I can't really speak, but I would guess the situation is not much improved there either.
So what are the solutions?
1) Close your eyes, put your fingers in your ears and pretend no-one uses anything but ASCII.
2) Try to only use libraries that actually have proper Unicode support. Oh, and don't forget to declare every string literal as unicode while you're there (or use
from __future__ import unicode_literals
3) Use Python 3 (though quite a few libraries still haven't been ported to it yet, so perhaps not better than 2).
In: Python


text:
A new study suggests that being responsive to a potential partner is perceived as a feminine trait.
2,000-year-old mikvah under living-room floor
Jerusalem family finds ancient ritual bath during home renovations in Ein Kerem.
Riding a bus has never been so easy
HopOn smart mobile payment and ticketing platform for public transport takes the simplification of ticketing to a new level.
One-click wedding planning and sharing
Wedivite website and app — available in English, Spanish and Korean — is the first free socially integrated digital platform exclusively for weddings.
Dancing with the 'enemy'
Pairing up Jewish and Arab children for ballroom dancing turns suspicions into friendships, and leads to an award-winning documentary.
Meet the mom and dadpreneurs (audio)
They're not just working parents; they're entrepreneurs whose startups are centered around their parenthood. Listen in to find out more.
Hollywood is calling (audio)
If you think animation studios are exclusive to Hollywood and Japan, think again. Israelis are in high demand for global collaborations.
New York gets its cappuccino Israel style
New Israeli subscription service Cups allows New Yorkers the privilege of drinking unlimited cups of coffee at selected cafés.
Ronen Chen talks 20 years of fashion (audio)
He thought of becoming an architect, but women all over the world are delighted that Ronen Chen went into fashion design instead.
Turning web chat into searchable business listings
Whodoyou, the new social recommendations engine from Israel helps people find local service providers endorsed by friends and neighbors.
Is Israel going to the dogs? (audio)
Israelis have developed an innovative range of out-of-the-box products for the world's dog owners, from DogTV to a revolutionary, mess-free pooper-scooper.


text:
US Senator Al Franken was in Winthrop Friday morning to discuss the propane shortage of this past winter. Over 50 ag officials, co-op leaders, and area farmers were on hand to talk about possible solutions to the issue in the future, including constructing more storage facilities. Senator Franken cited pipeline disruptions, rail service interuptions due to severe weather, and a lack of regularity in propane markets as some of the causes of the shortage. Many of those on hand for the meeting stressed the need for infrastructure improvements to deal with possible future propane issues. Another possible solution discussed with Senator Franken was to retrofit grain dryers and homes for increased energy efficiency, which could reportedly create energy savings of around 30%. Franken also discussed hiring veterans onto the propane trucking fleet to increase distribution capabilities. The US Senate Energy Committee held a hearing on the propane shortage issue last week as well.
Al Franken Visits Winthrop Friday


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downshift/braking methods
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Joined: Jan 2012
Location: Florida
Oddometer: 291
Originally Posted by
................So the crux of my misunderstanding lies here: Both tires gain more traction with more weight on them, but because the contact patches are of a certain size, we have the most traction when the weight is distributed in proportion to the contact patch size on the tires!
Now with that in mind, it gives me another question.........
Yes, with more or less weight on the contact patch, the area of contact grows or shrinks some, but it cannot change as much as the vertical load or force applied on the patch.
That means that if you double the load, the area does not double.
Furthermore, the area has much less influence on traction than the vertical force.
Reduce area in half and you may reduce traction in 10%; reduce vertical force in half and you reduce traction at least 50%.
The lateral force also deforms each instantaneous contact patch sideways, forcing the next one to land a little off the trajectory (a micro side-slide among successive instantaneous contact patches) and forcing the rider to over-steer (or under-steer if the rear slides more) to compensate.
In real life, the vertical force can be drastically reduced while the lateral force remains the same (bad because traction is reduced but not lateral force) when rolling over road imperfections that the suspension cannot follow impeccably: right after the crests are the killers because the tire and the weight that it supports float for fractions of seconds, due to the inertia with which the weight of the bike and tire fall or rise.
To make things worse, a nervous rider could interfere with the little self-adjustments that the steering geometry does to adapt to the sideways forces that appear when rolling over road imperfections at substantial angles of lean.
In that way, for bad suspension and bad road, the contact patch constantly goes from deformed to symmetrical to deformed.
As a deformed tire is more rigid than a normal one, the inherent suspension of the tire also constantly goes from bad to good to bad (which worsens the overall suspension).
Some tire's manufacturers claim that their tires grow the area of contact patch as those lean (see schematic below); however, there is nothing they can do about the internal stress of deformation and uneven distribution of vertical forces.
The contact patch of a tire leaned 45 degree is feeling and resisting slide from a lateral force as big as the weight that it is carrying (over 200 lbs for a light sport bike with a 50/50 weight distribution).
As I see it, for a constant lateral force (steady turn, radius and speed) and the actual variable vertical force and area and rigidity of the patch, the less weight and inertia the better to stay within the margins of the traction that is necessary to counter-act that force.
While leaned, the closer to a wheelie attitude, the less critical these things that affect front traction become.
...........Very sorry, Beendog, I couldn't understand your last question.
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All Occasion Cakes Dayton
If your looking for special occasion cakes Dayton is home to one of the best bakery cakes for every celebration. Below is just a small sample. We do incredibly creative grooms cakes, baby shower cakes, bridal shower cakes, graduation and birthday cakes, and any other party cake you can think of! We make all our cakes with the freshest quality ingredients giving you a cake that not only looks fun and exciting, but tastes unbelievable. We are known throughout the greater Dayton and Cincinnati areas for our moist, soft tasting cakes. We have had numerous requests to have our cakes shipped to friends and families of our clients who live in other states. Try one of our cakes for yourself and we know you too will fall in love with Sweet Cream Cakes Dayton Ohio. Contact us to discuss your custom specialty cake creation. We try to return your email within thirty minutes of delivery to our inbox.
Our specialty cakes photo page contains just a small selection of the hundreds of special occasion cakes we have created for our clients. If there is a design you would like to request or if you have a photo of a cake you'd like us to create for you, please feel free to email it to us and we will give you a prompt response with an estimate.


text:
Limitless: Alex Wong has transformed from ballet star to commercial success
So You've Graduated. Now What? How to navigate the tricky time between college and career
Bringing the Past Alive: Today's reconstructions show just how much classical ballet has evolved
Choreography Knocks: Opportunities for choreographers at all levels
A Growing List of Living Female Choreographers
We want your feedback!
By Wendy Perron
There are unspoken conventions in ballet that no one ever challenges. I mean, you don't just lie down in the middle of a performance. But New York City Ballet corps member Justin Peck, in his world premiere, Year of the Rabbit, had eight dancers do just that. On their backs, with half their bodies extending out of the wings, lying comfy-like, arms behind the head lounge-style, while the principals did their stuff center stage. Even more shocking, all eight suddenly curled back up and out of sight in one fell swoop, leaving the two main dancers looking around, paranoid about what might happen next. Brilliant. It was a use of the side space I haven't seen since Trisha Brown's Set and Reset (1983). Not to mention slipping in a shard of psycho-drama in an otherwise "abstract" piece.
Toward the end, Peck sets up four rows of dancers, just like the finale of countless Balanchine ballets. After all the strange geometric shapes of Peck's groupings (possibly related to the rabbit and other Chinese Zodiac figures like tiger, ox, and rooster), you can't help but be a little disappointed that he reverts to an old-world sense of pageantry. But then a single dancer dashes into a different row, and another dancer leaves her row, and general mayhem breaks up the lines. We are seeing the order of ballet deconstructed before our eyes. This could have been interpreted as an insult to the House of Balanchine, but it was a blast!
Here's to knowing what rules to break in order to usher in a fresh breeze!
(Photo: Paul Kolnik, Courtesy New York City Ballet)


text:
A dermatological treatment method includes directing laser energy having a wavelength of 2.79 μm onto skin. According to disclosed methods, the energy can function to ablate a first portion of epidermal tissue, coagulate an underlying second portion of epidermal tissue, and promote collagen formation in tissue of the underlying dermis. In an exemplary treatment apparatus, a laser using a YSGG gain medium is mounted in a handpiece. The handpiece may include a two-axis scanner to allow for uniform scanning of the energy over the tissue surface.
1. A method for reducing skin wrinkles comprising the steps of:
generating a pulsed beam of laser radiation from a YSGG gain medium, said beam of radiation having a wavelength of 2.79 microns; and
scanning the pulsed beam over the skin in a two dimensional array of spots within a treatment region, with the fluence at each spot being between 2 and 5 joules/cm2 and with the pulse width being between 100 and 600 microseconds and wherein the fluence and pulse width are selected to ablate the upper surface of the skin to a predetermined depth and to create a layer of coagulated tissue below the ablated region with the thickness of the layer of coagulated tissue being at least as great as said predetermined depth of ablation and wherein the temperature of the skin to be ablated is raised to at least 90 degrees centigrade while the tissue in the layer to be coagulated is raised to a temperature between 70 and 90 degrees centigrade and wherein said coagulated tissue creates a natural dressing which subsequently peels from the skin resulting in a reduction in skin wrinkles.
2. A method as recited in
3. A method as recited in
4. A method as recited in
5. A method as recited in
6. A method for reducing skin wrinkles comprising the steps of:
generating a pulsed beam of laser radiation from a YSGG gain medium, said beam of radiation having a wavelength of 2.79 microns; and
scanning the pulsed beam over the skin in a two dimensional array of spots within a treatment region, with the fluence at each spot being between 2 and 5 joules/cm2 and with the pulse width being between 100 and 600 microseconds and wherein the fluence and pulse width are selected to ablate the upper surface of the skin to a predetermined depth and to create a layer of coagulated tissue below the ablated region with the thickness of the layer of coagulated tissue being at least as great as said predetermined depth of ablation, said coagulated tissue creating a natural dressing which subsequently peels from the skin resulting in a reduction in skin wrinkles and wherein the fluence and pulse width are selected to heat the skin below the coagulation layer to a temperature between 45 and 65 degrees centigrade to promote the generation of new collagen below the coagulation layer.
7. A method as recited in
8. A method as recited in
9. A method as recited in
10. A method as recited in
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/778,896, filed Mar. 3, 2006, U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/888,061, filed Feb. 2, 2007.
—Inventors: Scott A. Davenport, David A. Gollnick, Steven Christensen, Dean A. MacFarland and Robert Bernhard Estrada—
The subject invention relates to a dermatological treatment method and apparatus using laser energy for resurfacing and/or rejuvenating skin.
Ablative skin resurfacing has been performed using carbon dioxide lasers emitting radiation at 10.6 microns. (See for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,335,242) While these lasers could provide good results, recovery times were long. The long recovery times have been attributed to the significant depth of thermal damage associated with this longer wavelength radiation.
In an effort to reduce recovery time, Er:YAG lasers, operating at an output wavelength of 2.94 μm, have been used to ablate tissue. The very high water absorption associated with the 2.94 μm wavelength decreased thermal damage and decreased recovery times, although a reduction in efficacy was sometimes observed. Generally, this reduction in efficacy is thought to be a consequence of a reduced thermal damage profile in skin, post-ablation. An example of the use of Er:YAG lasers for tissue treatment can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 6,395,000 which utilizes high repetition rate pulses (greater than 100 hertz). Another approach is to treat the tissue with micropulses within a relatively long pulse envelope. See U.S. Patent Applications 2001/0016732 and 2004/0133190. See also U.S. Pat. No. 6,193,711. All of these patent documents are incorporated by reference.
The approach described herein is intended to both increase efficacy and reduce recovery time.
Referring to
Laser source 18 is provided with an Er:YSGG or a Cr,Er:YSGG gain medium. This gain medium has a primary output at 2.79 μm which has a depth of coagulation in skin that falls between the depths associated with CO2 lasers (wavelength=10.6 μm) and Er:YAG lasers (wavelength=2.94 μm.). The characteristic depth of coagulation in skin after laser ablation is 40 μm for 2.94 μm light, 75 μm for 2.79 μm light and 125 μm for 10.60 μm light (Kaufmann et al J Dermatol Surg Oncol 1994;20:112-118). As discussed in greater detail below, use of a primary wavelength of 2.79 μm ablates to remove a precise amount of tissue, while also coagulating to create a natural dressing and to promote new collagen formation.
A laser based on an Er:YSGG or Cr,Er:YSGG gain medium offers two other advantages. First, it is more efficient than Er:YAG. Second, the upper level lifetime is ten times longer, allowing low threshold operation allowing longer pulse durations relative to Er:YAG lasers at similar energy levels. Longer pulse durations may be exploited to produce different post-ablation thermal damage profiles in treated skin. In exemplary modes of operation, pulse durations on the order of 0.2 to 25 ms and preferably 0.5 to 10 ms are contemplated, with spot sizes on the order of between 1 and 10 mm, repetition rates ranging from single shots to 20 Hz, and preferred fluences within the range of 0.25 and 20 J/cm2.
As shown in
The handpiece 12 is illustrated in
A safety shutter 32 is positioned between the laser cavity 22 and the combining mirror 30. The shutter has open and closed positions. When the shutter is in the open position the beam 100 passes to the next optical component, which in
When not directed to the beam dump, the beam 100 impinges onto X-Y scanning mirror 34 which is driven by stepper motors to provide X-Y movement of the beam 100 on skin S. A protective window 36 on the handpiece (see also
Control electronics are schematically illustrated in
Microcontroller 40 additionally provides drive signals to the stepper motors of the X,Y scanner 20. Encoders associated with X and Y direction stepper motors provide feedback for use by the microcontroller in identifying the rotational positions of the stepper motor shafts.
As discussed, safety shutter 32 is positioned to terminate delivery of the treatment beam to the patient S. An encoder attached to the shaft of the shutter motor detects the position of the safety shutter. The microcontroller 40 monitors the position of the safety shutter 32 and in the event of a discrepancy can terminate laser exposure by closing the safety shutter. Others ways of terminating exposure include disabling the high voltage power supply to prevent charging of the main charging capacitor or disabling the discharge of the main charging capacitor (thus preventing the firing of the flash lamp).
Details of the X,Y scanner assembly 20 will next be discussed in connection with
Referring to
Components of the scanner 20 are shown in
Y-movement scanning unit 58 is mounted to the base 50. X-movement scanning unit 60 is mounted to the yoke 54.
In general, the y-movement scanning unit 58 has components that abut the yoke 54 to produce forward/backward pivoting of yoke 54 about pins 56, causing corresponding movement of mount 46 and mirror 34. See the arrows marked "y". The x-movement scanning unit pivots the mount 46 back and forth as indicated by arrows "x" to produce side to side movement of the mirror 34.
Details of the Y-movement scanning unit 58 will be described with reference to
The cam 66 and shaft 64 are coupled such that the mount 68 is laterally offset from the shaft 64. Thus, activation of the motor to rotate the shaft 64 produces eccentric rotation of the cam. A useful way to visualize the movement of the cam is to picture an automobile wheel being rotated about an axel that is laterally offset from the center of the wheel. The eccentric movement of the cam 66 results in cyclic movement of the cam bearing 70 towards and away from the cam follower bearing 74 with which the cam bearing 70 is in contact. As a result, the yoke 54 (as well as all components carried by the yoke) pivots back and forth about the pins 56, moving the mirror 34 as indicated by arrows "y" in
X-axis scanning unit 60 includes a stepper motor 76 carried by the yoke 54. Stepper motor 76 includes a shaft 78 coupled to the mirror mount 46. Activation of the motor 76 pivots the mirror 34 side to side relative to the axis of the shaft 78.
Each of the stepper motors 62, 76 is preferably provided with an anti-backlash spring 86 a, 86 b coupled to its shaft, to prevent backlash of the shaft when the polarity of the input to the motor is reversed.
Referring to
In an exemplary embodiment, operational and treatment parameters might, but are not limited to, the following:
During use of the disclosed treatment apparatus, the user selects the appropriate treatment parameters. Next, the handpiece 12 (
As illustrated in
The disclosed apparatus and associated methods have been described in connection with resurfacing and/or rejuvenating skin for treatment of dermatological conditions such as improvement of facial texture by eliminating fine lines, wrinkles, and/or scars, or for eliminating discoloration caused by photo damage. However, the method and apparatus may also be used to treat for other applications and/or to treat other biological tissue.
While various embodiments have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example, and not limitation. It will be apparent to persons skilled in the relevant art that various changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. This is especially true in light of technology and terms within the relevant art(s) that may be later developed. Additionally, it is contemplated that the features of the various disclosed embodiments may be combined in various ways to produce numerous additional embodiments. Thus, the present invention should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims and their equivalents.
Any and all patents, patent applications and printed publications referred to above, including those relied upon for purposes of priority, are incorporated by reference.
Patent Citations
Non-Patent Citations
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Reality Check - Could being Good or Evil in games affect real life?
Cam investigates whether playing as a good or evil character in a game could affect the way you behave in real life.
by Sarah Lynch on
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Flex those mental muscles and join Cam Robinson on a journey of discovery in Reality Check, the show that investigates the science behind your favourite games, and spawns a few wild theories of its own.
Schedule: Thursdays at 12pm PT
Host: Cameron Robinson
That is a great question and you have to be careful what you play; this is mostly with mature games because some of the aspects can be controversial.
I really hope they honour your request for experiments revealing the effects of time, Cam. I'd guess that the time it takes for the effects to diminish and the intensity of them is roughly proportionate to the time exposed to the stimulus and the intensity of it.
It has always been about mental age and never about content. 10 year olds (for the most part) are not mature enough to play M rated games with bloody executions and morally dark choices. Simply, their brains have not developed enough to correctly process this kind of information, and it may have effects on their ability to empathize or recognize extreme behavior. Now, age is somewhat relative, there are 10 year olds who ARE very mature, and 25 year olds who still think like children (my brother is one of them). Also, this isn't unique to video games - movies, comics, etc. that glorify "evil" should also be reserved for those mature enough to process the information.
A mature adult who understands make-believe and fantasy can appreciate games that allow them to take a darker path without real world consequences. We all have negative emotions, and we learn not to act on them. Children haven't yet developed that filter.
Isn't that Infamous : Second Son
can anybody tell me which game is being played at 00:44 in this video?
Well in game i usually play the good guy because being evil in a game goes against who i am. You can still feel the effect of being evil even if it's just a game. killing a mother and her child in a video game will still have an effect on you. i think a lot of people who play evil characters are probably just doing stuff they are not brave enough to do in real life. For some it might be to relieve stress. I cannot just turn my personality on and off even in games, even in games my morals hold firm. Maybe i am just not much of a roleplayer.
I cannot believe this has actually been published, by the APS of all... For crying out loud. So many issues with the study.
1. Serving chilly is not necessarily evil, that's a subjective opinion. If anything it could be considered a little hilarious.
2. Serving chocolate COULD be considered evil just as much as chilli, the UNKNOWN recipient could be allergic, and the person serving it is under the impression they MUST consume the entire amount.
3. ANY CONCLUSIONS draw can ONLY express a correlation, and not a cause and effect. Playing a video game did not MAKE the person serve chilli or chocolate. Playing a video game might influence a particular disposition however.
4. The study did not attempt to explore at all whether they are testing for TRAIT personality features of the individuals, or just the state based personality inclinations. IT IS IMPORTANT TO KNOW, that trait and state are very differing. A person might have a happy trait disposition, where the MAJORITY of their life they express themselves happily, however this does not mean that they do not express in the opposite way sometimes (state based). Observing a state based action is NOT indicative of a personality trait.
5. Were the participants followed afterwards? How long were these conclusions applicable for? Is it being suggested that these participants are now forever more inclined towards evil or good? Or is it just for 5 more minutes?
6. The article stated that they used an "(ANOVA) revealed the predicted interaction effect, F(2, 188) = 35.91, p < .001, ηp2 = .28, but no main effects" - BUT NO MAIN EFFECTS. Which means they did not find what they were looking for or what they concluded in the end. WTF. The conclusion APPEARS to be draw entirely from experiment 2 which apparently only just had a significant finding. Even this should be verified.
This is a terrible study by any measure. I have completed a masters up to this level, and if I came across this article, I would NOT cite it. I cannot believe it was published, it fails on so many basic levels of good science.
Also, twice as many people is actually a small amount. It's only 50% more. It's saying that out of 5 people, 1 person gave more chilli than the breaking point. That is, 2 gave chocolate, 3 gave chilli. No big deal
And yes, I like chilli, and I would've been disappointed if someone gave me chocolate instead. I would do the same for the other person. That does not make me evil, and this study can go poo itself.
That's very interesting, but you have to be so careful reading anything like this. I think the sample size IS big enough, contrary to one or two comments. At least, big enough to spot a correlation. Especially as they did the experiment twice and achieved similar results. But you have to consider a lot of other facors - the class of people being tested for one. If the experiment was done at a university then those 100 or so people were probably all students. More specifically than that, the majority of those students probably worked in the same department as the researchers (let's say the computer science department). Even further, the students volunteering for the experiement would have represented those of a more adventurous or outgoing disposition. So it's possible that "100 gamers" actually means "100 outgoing 18-22 year old computer science students who had nothing better to do that particular day". And they are supposed to represent mankind! Of course, it's also possible that they made their sample out of people of all ages and backgrounds, but unlikely.
To me the research looks a bit dodgy and doesn't make a good point one way or the other .
also the group of tested people is way too small to say any thing about anyone . But that is my opinion on a lot of studies these day's . I mean ; How can you make a statement about what people do or like if you only test 100 or a 1000 people ? To me that's just unbelievable .
I know that's the way these studies are done , but i just don't agree on the basic presumption that they make running these studies .
Just my 2 cents ....
I'm a helpful guy in real life, but in KOTOR I went down in a very dark path.
The utility of this study seems pretty limited. It is merely verifying an effect that we have known about for many years, priming. Priming can be easily accomplished with virtually anything. When the subsequent task is rather simple (like choosing chocolate or chili sauce), the effect is even more pronounced. But, a particular priming event does not typically last for long periods of time, and complex moral decision making works, cognitively, quite different. Certainly, the results may be very valid, but I scope is likely quite limited.
This study puts a loaded shotgun in the hands of the enemies of videogames.
It does not matter if there are issues or disclaimers, the anti gaming folks will love this. Its a study from scientists, though the antigames do not need research to push their agendas.
I would also would like to know the age group too.
I am curious if any of the anti games groups pick this up.
There was a TED talk that covered some benefits to playing videogames.
I don't know if I have the link.
Asking if being good or bad in a game affects the way you act in real life is like asking if violent video games make you more violent. It doesn't depend on the games but the person themselves.
I played the Mass Effect trilogy as an evil character. I find it fun to be evil at times in games. But it's still a game to me. Everything I do is all virtual. In real life, I'm nothing like the characters I play in the games I play.
I´ve been playing GTA IV and some of the tasks Bellic has to do are too immoral for me sometimes. Worst thing so far, throwing the stabbed body of some woman to the ocean just because her husband thought he was cheating on him. This game is absolutely not for kids. Even If Its hard to believe, that task left me a little bit concerned about the game. Yeah It was an optional task, but you end up knowing about the husband´s crime just when you reach the parking lot.
The game sometimes has "Ironic" moments tho. Like when Bellic goes to that attorney interview, and he ends up saying "Looks like I didnt get the job" after you wack him. I dont know why but I laugh hard after that phrase. Must have been the way Niko talks" Pure irony I guess.
Absolutely after playing Goat Simulator i now need to headbutt people and sacrifice people to the Devil goat god....actually the good and evil thing if anything will bring out what you already have inside you, not plant any seeds, now back to headbutting
Its strange me and my friend both play games like fallout and oblivion. Im quite passive and always play evil characters. He on the other hand is more aggressive ha in the flesh (hope he dosent read this) and he always plays as good characters.
Maybe we like to play our opposites?
That Mass Effect bit was great, missing Feedbackula already hey cam? I think it'll be very noticeable on the weekend, some people might get withdrawal symptoms =P
I think the research is a load of crap and really who cares. I play a game like Elder Scrolls how I'd do it if I was actually there more or less, I don't go through just being a saint, just good, and I don't go through it being a brainless barbarian either.
It is why we have those adult ratings.
Some games are not meant for kids, as kids are more malleable at this age and may misinterpret some actions of the hero.
On a side note, many studies about games have NOT found a corellation about games and physical violence.
If they had found a big enough corellation, you can be sure some US senators would jump at the chance to corellate games with guns.
1:10, poor choice Cam, I would of gone with "I miss feedbackula"
I always believed how a person plays a video game character, in regards to behavior/choices, is an extension of himself/herself. So choose wisely.
I refuse to play the bad guy or evil characters in video games. I will never play games like Grand Theft Auto.
whats this bullshit?? im always playing the bad guy and im the nicest guy i know!
p.s. all of these researchers should burn in hell
Two extensions would be interesting here. One, the characters being played were 'fighting enemies', i.e. engaging in violent behavior. Does this suggest that the effects observed come from vigilantism/bullying? What if the game characters did something else, like exploring?
Two, the second part of the experiment seems like a harmless prank, suggesting that people might be more prone to mischief rather than to being mean. What if the options given were a bit less 'harmless'? Psychologists have never been opposed to using (small) electrical shocks on their test subjects.
One other group that would be interesting to see in this test is age groups. Are specific age groups more prone to transferring their game play decisions to real life than others.
Very interesting but I feel the number of participants in both of the tests was way too small to come to any significant conclusions it need to have a sample of 1000 people or even more to have deffintitive results.
bull crap.
I want to know why chili sauce is the nasty thing to do? Personally if you gave me a paper cup of chocolate and a paper cup of hot sauce, I'd take the hot sauce every time. I mean, there is a reason I put it on everything. Surely I'm not alone in this preference for spicy food over sugary food.
But I think the real take away here is that people who are invested in something take on traits of something. I'd guess that this is the same force that makes people tense their muscles when watching an action movie.
I don't think this research is particularly useful, because the purpose it serves is a political tool of moralists to condemn hobbies like our own.
I agree with Cam's hunch that the effect is just a mood hangover from playing the game and would wear off quickly.
Back when I was a teenager I used to love gokart racing at a place called Malibu Grand Prix here in the US. I noticed that I always drove like a lunatic on the way home! Thankfully it was very temporary.
To be honest, I'm always "hurting" when I play the dark/evil side. That may be the reason why I have never finished a game as the bad guy. An I mean never. It must be the way I am built.
P.S. Please don't cancel this show too. I'm still waiting for new content from you guys to make up for the cancellation of Feedbackula and The Waiting Game.
I would like to see the home players' choices were beyond punishment with hot sauce if their choices they really had drastic effects on the lives of anonymous strangers, which would be their choices.
There is no sense to analyze the behavior of the good and evil without taking into really bad situations, hot sauce is a prank, people do not care to prank others.
Moral system in games, especially in RPG's is awesome. When playing most times I'm picking choices I recall as the good ones (or at least the "better", or "less harmful to others" if the choice is blurred). I'm just simply view myself as a character and I pick choices I would pick in a real life too if I was in such a situation. Sometimes I care about characters too much to do something which could harm them in any way possible even when I know they are not real, but there was an episode on this before. But there are as well those characters that I hate like this white shirt bastard in Hotline Miami which killed me 4 times in a row. When I finally got to him I was mashing buttons on my Xbox pad with hatred in eyes as I was watching as his brain decorating the furniture. When he started to look more like a jam I calmed and asked myself "what the heck am I doing?". This character was the one I hated in games the most, but when I finally killed him (or turned into tomato juice) I turned off the game and all the emotions wore off. I wasn't into killing another people or even do any harm to the them. I guess such studies are hard to be proved, because gamers will never agree that their games have any affect on them and the media will pick parts that suit them like "Being bad characters makes you a bad man", or standard "you kill people in games? you will kill people on the streets" without any second opinion. That's the way it is, it was and probably will be. Ok that's all from me, back to Bioshock Infinite to train some more this massacre thing. Oh, I forgot, CoD is for that, Infinite is for moral choices, I love them
This is a great study; often people do not realize how much their environment or actions (whether virtual or not) are affecting them. I would wager most want to believe we are our own selves, completely above influence and manipulation when it is oftentimes the exact opposite.
I have noticed, between myself, family and friends that our first playthroughs of games where we are given morality tests are often closest to our real selves.
I also wonder what studies can be done on gamers and the concept of empathy, even if it is towards virtual characters who do not actually exist. I've seen friends play games and then seriously wondered if they are latent sociopaths who only follow society's rules because they fear consequences in real life.
My brother was notorious for this.
This is why I hope that in future RPG's and games with like elements, developers will encourage more intense moral ambiguity instead of clear black and white choices; maybe then people might get a sense of the real person they are, if only on a small scale.
personally for me I don't like playing games with such a strict moral choice system, I rather like to play games where the lines between morally wrong & morally right can be more blurred as it is in real life, I find when I play games I tend to make my character based around my real life self, this means that ever action I rationalize & due to my own karmic balance chose what I want to do, this opinion can also be dependant on the environment of the story, so if I was playing a game like Skyrim I would kill people although be it I only kill my enemies when I need to preferring to instead stealthily infiltrate places, now despite the fact I wouldn't kill someone in are modern day I would not put it morally past myself to do such an act if the world was like Nirn in TES:V Skyrim.
for this same factor of playing the character as myself I also avoid playing games where I cant play as a female character, now this comes down to my own self immersion, I CAN NOT get immerser in a game where I am forced to play as a male character as I feel NO connection to the in game avatar, allot of people would call me stupid for this as it limit's the games I will & wont play BUT this is just how I feel comfortable playing games, despite what I said I can usually also play a game where the main character is a cute creature of some sort, I can get immersed in these based on the fact I find the creature cute & there for emotionally do not want it to fail.
5 minutes sounds extremely little, atleast for me it's impossible to get immersed in that short time. Especially when you add the testing environment. Even if the results were somewhat relevant, I don't think they tested what they probably wanted to test.
I volunteer to the "Stay in BB mansion for a week, retreat to a gaming chamber for a week to play as the good/bad guy, get back into the BB mansion for a week" test.
I think it's the opposite. I don't think games have a big enough impact to influence you, there is so many things out that have a much bigger importance. I think that your decision in a game reflect a bit the type of person you are. And even then not always like. Sometimes you just want to try and be the bad guy you know. And even then it depends on the actions itself, if it's a dumb empty "bad action", it doesn't really feel attractive, I think it comes down to what qualities those actions require.
Take per instance, Hannibal Lector, the guy is serial killer and a cannibal. It's not what he does, but how he does it. He does it with such "class", he's a mass murdering psycho but yet does it meticulously with intelligence and some sort of weird refinement.
I am a pretty decent human being, I'm actually a pretty good dude. I try to usually be as nice as I can. There's something really fulfilling about being able to put a smile on someone's face. Let be something as little as holding the door for someone. And when I play video games I have the hardest time doing wrong choices and sometimes it actually pisses me off because sometimes it griefs me, like in Rust, I feel like shit when I betray people or KOS, and often end up getting fucked. And I know it's silly because it's the point of the game, but still when I fuck someone over, even if it's in a game, I know that person dies a little bit inside lol. And weirdly enough, I don't get mad at all when it happens to me, I accept the fact that most are dicks.
I think in order for games to have an effect on you, you'd have to be secluded and really over exposed to it. Clockwork Orange type of shit, not necessarily forcefully like in the movie, but some kind of extreme exposure. Like only doing that, with very little social interaction over an extended period of time. The human brain is the most complex thing in the known universe. Think about it, the collection and arrangement of atoms in such a special and specific way, that it managed to achieve consciousness. It's fucking crazy!Love this series btw.
Very interesting to see these results. I had wondered about this for a while, ever since I started a second playthrough of the first Mass Effect arbitrarily choosing renegade options and noticed myself feeling a bit more aggravated than when I had simply chosen what I thought I would.
I actually agree here.
Yet still, not on the scale as presented here. Everyone has those bad days, when he/she wants to be unsocial around everyone. But after playing as the villain people usually calm down, thus reducing the possibility of the gamer being cranky and unsocial in real-life.
Dumping the feelings into a virtual world is harmless fun, as it was originally intended!
Honestly, the previous generation should stop accusing games for provoking violence and bad morales. The current generation doesn't kick (okay, not always) the machine after losing. But the previous generation did that in the arcades when they them selfs were young. They just conveniently forgot that fact. :)
Any repeated thought/action and exposition will influence your thought patterns after awhile, moreso if done during an alterned state of mind like being high on weed for example from my experiences, this state increase immersion. introspection is necessary to discern it
One simple word
@RuthlessRich Fair points for sure. I think more research is actually worth investigating. Although, Human nature in essence boils down to the lowest common denominator. How we use the denominations do vary.
You're right . It always depends on the person . It's the same if you let a crazy person play football or games , he's crazy so his acts are going to be crazy .
Plain and simple .
That goes for everything in life .
But there is one strange factor going on and that is Amerika .
Amerika is one ( or maybe even THE ) of the most violent society's in the western world ! So is it save to say that Americans are more violent then the rest of the west ???
It is offcourse a cultural issue for the most part . Especially the eagerness to have guns / weapons drives people to use them more easily i think .
That would be a nice study to see emerge .....
@Chupacabra3332 Not for kids? It does have an 18 certificate after all :P
@wretch1d +1 for recognising the difference between trait and state personality features! :)
@adam0598 I say it has more to do with the -first- playthrough. What's interesting is when you look at trophy lists, you'll always see the "light side" trophies have a higher percentage completion - sometimes significantly higher. Most people play as good -first- and then many don't play again, or never end up playing as evil despite repeated playthroughs. I would bet that many who got the "evil" trophies also have the "good", and got those first.
Check out Fallout, Mass Effect, or Infamous for some examples.
For myself, I will say that (as an example) I played ME through twice mostly paragon before my first renegade, and I did enjoy several of the renegade interactions, but that doesn't offset that my initial inclination was paragon.
@Jimmy191280 who says they are bad or evil, they are a victim of circumstance...
@ronison123 nice guys are usually closet serial killers..oh he was such a nice guy.
@ronison123 I saw what you did on that last line. Pure Irony. Or maybe youre not as good as you think ;)
@ronison123 Because, you know, nice guys wish an eternity of suffering on people...
@ronison123 Evil people don't think of themselves as evil people :-)
@lunaticrichard @TooCoolForYouAmerika is one ( or maybe even THE ) of the most violent society's in the western world
objectively wrong. did you TRY researching at all?


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Forest Grove Campus Capital Improvements Planned for Summer
Updated May 19, 2015. Facilities Management will embark on several projects this summer to enhance the Forest Grove Campus and University Avenue.
Spring Commencement Brings Graduates, Families Together for Celebration
Pacific University held its 2015 spring commencement exercises on Saturday, May 16 at Hanson Stadium on the Forest Grove Campus.
Pacific University Student, Alumnus Receive Fulbright Scholarships
Carlos Esparza '15 and Jordan Kronen '14 will teach English in Mexico and Malaysia, respectively, during the 2015-2016 academic year.
Professor Jules Boykoff Receives Fulbright Award
Dr. Boykoff will travel to Brazil later this year to research the politics, economics and social issues of the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.
First Annual Boxer Giving Day Raises $165,295 in 24 Hours for Pacific University
Boxer Nation rises to the occasion.
Center for Peace & Spirituality Releases Annual Report
The Pacific University Center for Peace and Spirituality (CPAS) has released an Annual Report for the 2014-2015 academic year.
Updated Smoke-Free Tobacco Use Policy Goes Into Effect on May 31
In conjunction with World No Tobacco Day, Pacific University's updated Smoke-Free Tobacco Policy takes effect.
Important Information from the Student Health Center
A case of chickenpox has been identified in a resident student of the Forest Grove Campus. The Student Health Center advises students and employees to take appropriate precautions.


text: Thrill rides, games of chance on the midway, and that great carnival food... it's all at the Big Rock Amusement Carnival this week at the south McMorran parking lot in downtown Port Huron. The carnival runs until Saturday night and Big Rock's Matt McDonagh tells us while last year saw the carnival at Desmond Landing, this year it's back to a previous location. The carnival will be in a new location next year as the site is scheduled to become the home to a new bus transfer center and parking area. This week though it is back to the carnival location of old with plenty of rides and entertainment. McDonagh says some of the thrill rides this year include the Gravitron, the Himalaya, and the Extreme. There's also about a dozen rides available for the little ones, but they have to be at least 36-inches tall to get on. For the kiddies McDonagh says a new one is the Wiggle Worm, which goes up and down and around in circles. $20-dollar armband tickets will be available for certain days and normal ticket prices are $1-dollar each, or they have a value pack of 24 tickets for $20-dollars. The rides require 2-to-5 tickets each.


text:
Darren Aronofsky Developing Series Based on Margaret Atwood's MADDADDAM Trilogy for HBO
According to Deadline, HBO is moving forward with a TV adaptation of Margaret Atwood's science fiction series MADDADDAM, with Oscar-nominated director Darren Aronofsky set to executive produce via Protozoa Pictures. Aronofsky is also considering directing.
The trilogy, which includes ORYX AND CAKE, YEAR OF THE FLOOD, and MADDADDAM, is "set in the mid-21st century in a world where corporations have taken over for governments and the genetic modification of organisms is perversely ubiquitous. It centers on the events before and after a Waterless Flood that wipes out almost all of the world's population and follows an extensive cast of characters, including those responsible for the apocalypse and those struggling to survive it."
Atwood will serve as consulting producer on the project.
Home Box Office, Inc. is the premium television programming subsidiary of Time Warner Inc. and the world's most successful pay TV service, providing the two television services - HBO® and Cinemax® - to approximately 127 million subscribers worldwide. The services offer the most popular subscription video-on-demand products, HBO On Demand® and Cinemax On Demand® as well as HBO GO® and MAX GO®, HD feeds and multiplex channels. Internationally, HBO branded television networks, along with the subscription video-on-demand products HBO On Demand and HBO GO, bring HBO services to over 70 countries. HBO and Cinemax programming is sold into over 150 countries worldwide.
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This is a Tanfoglio model TZ-75. Its a 9mm Para cal and comes with one 10 shot mag. Its a double action semi auto pistol. Features a slide mounted safety and a 4 1/2 in. barrel. Has a blue finish with original wood grips. There is a couple of scratches on the back of the grip pic 9&10 and the safety will not engage. Gun fires fine. ser# is blacked out in pics. NOT SOLD IN CALIFORNIA .PAYMENT TO BE MADE NO LONGER THEN 7 DAYS AFTER AUCTIONS END. WE ACCEPT ALL MAJOR CREDIT CARDS(+3%), MONEY ORDERS,CASHERS CHECKS AND PERSONAL CHECKS (10 DAY HOLD ON PERSONAL CHECKS).WINNER TO SUPPLY A SIGNED FFL AND PAY SHIPPING OF $25.00. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FEEL FREE TO CALL (818)787-4373 TUES-SAT 10AM TO 5PM PACIFIC TIME GOOD LUCK!
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- " Very nice room, very hot but that's to be expected in mid July. Well informed and helpful member of staff. Excellent location in the heart of Zadar. "
- 25 Jul 2014 Kerry Scotland


text: GALLERIES Marisa Tomei Back to Top ▲ Marisa Tomei Marisa Tomei Marisa Tomei Picture 6 AskMen Editors Share on Facebook Share on Twitter 0 Shares Marisa won an Academy Award for her performance in 1992's My Cousin Vinny. She proved it was no fluke when she received a second Best Supporting Actress nomination ten years later for her work in In the Bedroom. Continue reading Marisa Tomei's profile. Next Page gallery Comments Show Comments More Like This Celeb Galleries Mickey Rourke Read More Promoted Around the Web Special Features Special Feature Over 100 Ways To Make This The Most Jaw-Dropping Year Of Your Life Read More Special Feature 100 Ways To Look Better Than You Do Now. Smooth Up, Man. Read More Special Feature From Dating To Fitness, Over 75 Ways Men Are Winning 2015 Read More ad


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Find a similar product below or contact our experts for a recommendation of great alternatives. Call us at 800-449-9128.Similar Items:
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The Robot is Back! Extremely Limited Edition!
The Robot Les Paul Studio Ltd. is an electric guitar that offers all the power, tone, and performance of a traditional LP Studio model, with the addition of the revolutionary Robot automatic tuning system.
Gibson's Robot Guitar, the world's first guitar with robotic tuning technology is available once again. You don't have to tune up your car every time you drive it. Now you don't have to tune up your guitar every time you play it. The Robot Guitar does it for you. Just plug it in, dial in the tuning, strum the strings, and play.
The self-tuning system is built into a gorgeous Gibson Les Paul Studio guitar without changing its looks. All the sound and playability that have made the LP one of the most successful electric guitars of all time are retained. To tune itself, the Robot Guitar uses an onboard central processing unit (CPU) that analyzes the pitch of each string as detected by the Tune-Control bridge. Tuning information from the CPU is relayed to the motorized tuning machines that efficiently adjust each string to the correct pitch with a distinctive whirring sound that lets you know Robot Guitar is on the job.
You activate the Gibson Les Paul Robot Guitar with the Master Control Knob (MCK) that functions as a tone control in the down position and is pulled up to activate the tuning system. In addition to standard (A-440Hz) tuning, six commonly used tunings are selectable from the MCK. Users can also program their own custom tunings as well as set the guitar's intonation. Now, with the Gibson Robot Guitar, you'll spend more time playing--in tune. In live performance you can easily change tunings practically soundlessly on the fly, keeping your show flowing smoothly. There's no longer any need to haul several instruments to the gig to cover various tunings; The Robot does it all for you!
The Robot Les Paul Studio Ltd. has a chambered mahogany body with maple top and nitrocellulose finish. The mahogany neck is hand-shaped into a rounded '50s profile and is topped with an ebony fretboard. A Gibson 490R humbucker with Alnico II magnets in the neck position and 498T humbucker with Alnico V magnets in the bridge position provide that "Patent Applied For" sound. Four-conductor wiring allows connection of a push/pull pot for coil-splitting. Wax potting reduces the chances of microphonic feedback. The performance-safeguarding Neutrik jack secures the cord into the guitar.
Robot Les Paul Studio Ltd. Electric Guitar
Reviewed by 6 customers
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I bought this guitar thinking that it will be amazing to play,hear and to tune ofcourse. I was right. I got the silverburst one and love the look of it and the whole guitar in general. Totally worth it.
I won this guitar a couple of weeks ago at a charity auction. I already own a Dusk Tiger, a 57 Historic Goldtop, a CS-336 and two PRS SC245's so I am COVERED in the high end double humbucker department. I thought I would bid on the guitar for the Red Cross cause and sell it afterwards to recoup some of my dough but after one rehearsal and one show, I have decided to keep it. I love the tuning feature - and it stays in tune, too. I really like the 490/498 pups. They're more PAF than the 57's with a little more brightness / top end. All in all, it's great, understated Les Paul - sounds great, plays great - couldn't be happier or more surprised.
I actually have the Limited edition 1st run version of this guitar. I am happy to say it was a great buy. The guitar is awesome. I have had no problems with it not tunning properly. I planed to but it as an investment and selling in in a few years; however ,it sounds so good I think I'll keep it.
Gibson, come on, this is a quality instrument althought it is a "studio" model, it is superior to the "ordinary" studio model, better finish. My first guitar was a new 1972 Fender Statocaster, good guitar but I find this Robot guitar asbolutely "Genial" I have always struggled to keep my guitar in tune. This Robot solves that problem quick. It appears that there is very often one string that does not quite synchronize with the others...well strum again and it will adjust by itself. Be sure to read the instructions, it is very tempting to just pull the key and finish the tuning by hand, which you can do, and forget to push it back ALL THE WAY IN , if you don't it will spin and spin and spin. Bottom line Gibson are inovators and put out a quality insrument, Yeah pricy but these guitars sound good unless you have a low quality amp and instument wires. Got mine at this website and I recommend it to my friends.
this has got to be the best sounding i have ever bought. Im am a big time collector. I have collected everything from a Epiphone SG to a Tiger Eye Paul Reed Smith Custom 10th Anniversary Private Stock Electric Guitar. I have got to tell everyone who loves guitars "this is a must have".
I purchased this guitar thinking that it was a revolutionary step in electric guitars, I should have known that the high tech tuning would be faulty. When I first purchased this I realized that the A string wouldn't tune properly, I returned, and still the exact same problem occured with the replacement, and the replacement after that, before they put a model into production Gibson should work out all the bugs. Over all a very dodgy guitar I would prefer a standard of over this, and for the price... Perhaps in a few years it will be perfect but now it's terrible.
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Introduction / History
The government of India has declared that the most primitive tribe in Manipur is the Maramei, in the Senepati district. There are still places where outsiders are not given free access.
The Maramei worship nature and their ancestors. They pray to mediums, practice spiritism, superstition, etc. They believe rice beer, which is a very intoxicating drink, to be the source of life and energy.
Immorality is widespread among the Maramei and if an unwanted baby is born out of wedlock, the Maramei will kill the baby by squeezing its neck using a wooden pole. When the baby dies they will pierce bamboo spikes all over the baby fearing that it would wait for them and take revenge in the next world.
The Maramei do not eat pork because there is a traditional belief that their ancestors were orphans and they were fed and brought up by a mother pig.
|Profile Source: HeartCry Missionary Society


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In case you haven't paid your hospital bill yet...
Comments (9)
Married to my BFF/DH Brad 10/26/2008
Our Beautiful Girl born 8-16-2010
Little MAN (kung foo master) due 4/11/13
Some hospitals also have a charity fund set up to help pay your hsopital bill too. Sometimes they even pay in full! It never hurts to call them and ask if they have assistance available. The night before I went into labor with my second son Max, my first son, Miles, spiked a fever of 105+, and he is neutropenic, so we had to rush him to the hospital. That same night I went into labor with Max and had a repeat c-section at a different hospital.
We called the hospital where we took Miles for his ER visit and asked if they had assistance available. They did, so we filled out some paper work, sent it in, and based on our income and the fact that we had a $5K + hospital bill at another hospital, they waived our entire bill, which was around $1500 I think.
It was awesome.
Married 12 years to my amazing husband. Mom to Miles born 9/4/07, Maxwell born 06/17/10 & Jackson 03/22/13. Elliana Born 6/25/14
Hide your crazy and start acting like a lady
My Blog: Crazy Mom of G & M
I tried to pay off my $8,000 hospital bill and son's NICU stay and they would not offer any discount. You are lucky. I did pay it off all at once so we didn't have it hovering over us.
I got my bill from the hospital and it said on there that if I paid in full they also offer a discount!


text: Chargers Dispute Mathews' Complacency Talk From UTSanDiego.com Apr 1, 2013 Share Tweet Next ARTICLE » Use your ← → (arrow) keys to browse more stories Stephen Dunn/Getty Images 347 Reads 0 Comments The Chargers locker room has different sorts of attributes. At its core, there is pride. Continue Reading on UTSanDiego.com »


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Bbq Mackerel with Tomato & Anchovy Sauce
|Olive oil
|4 Tablespoon
|3 Clove (15 gm), finely chopped or crushed
|Anchovy paste/Finely chopped anchovies
|2 Tablespoon
|Tomato puree
|4 Tablespoon
|Chili flakes
|1⁄2 Teaspoon
|2 , roughly chopped
|Basil leaves
|4 (Plus Extra To Serve)
|4 , gutted, heads removed
1. Pour 3 tbsp oil into a medium frying pan and heat gently, then add the garlic - if it sizzles, the oil is too hot. Cook for about 3 mins until the garlic is just beginning to brown. Stir in the anchovy paste for a couple of mins, then the tomato puree for 2 mins more - you should now have a lovely aromatic paste.
2. Add 250ml water and the chilli flakes with some seasoning, then simmer gently for 3 mins. Stir in the chopped tomatoes and basil and keep warm.
3. Heat the barbecue. When the flames have died down and the coals are glowing, season the fish and brush with the remaining oil. Lay on the grills, or on a sheet of foil if you are worried about it sticking, then cook for 5-6 mins on each side until the fish is charred and just cooked through. You can also cook this indoors on a griddle pan.
4. Lift each fish onto a plate, spoon over some of the sauce, scatter with fresh basil and serve with Barbecued potato wedges and some rocket or, if you've been foraging at the seaside, sea veg.


text: There is no bandwagon to jump off of. The Mariners have won just 44% of their games over the past 10 years and attendance has dropped by almost a million and a half in that span. If there was a bandwagon getting off would be a good idea. It was a bad ride. Ive


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Suzanne Eovaldi: How can Port St. Lucie keep Mets' franchise? Give the organization Digital Domain building
Let's give the organization Digital Domain building
The New York Mets baseball franchise is the ideal entity to receive the Digital Domain building and surrounding area for use as its spring training facility and base of operations as an outright gift from the city of Port St. Lucie.
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Maria Kang
Got a big controversy over the above photograph. She's a local lady here, who's created a national uproar. I guess it's the "What's Your Excuse?" line rubbing some people the wrong way.
Jack Armstrong of Armstrong & Getty was complaining that her occupation has been toned down, failing to find mention in articles like this one. She's some kind of fitness trainer or something. So I guess the rebuttal would be…"my excuse is that I'm not a fitness trainer"? And it would seem I can throw stones like everyone else at hapless Maria, since I'm not a fitness trainer either and I seem to have packed on thirty pounds plus over the last couple years. So pass the rock and let's get in line, right?
Sorry, no dice. This is not about fat.
There are two kinds of people in the world. Some say, "if one guy did it anywhere, that means anybody else who wants to, can do it everywhere." The other kind say, "if one guy somewhere can't do it, then nobody else should be able to do it either." Perhaps the Facebook ladies getting all p*ssed off at Ms. Kang have hit a compromise: "I'm willing to do what it takes to get the weight off, so long as nobody, anywhere, does or says anything to make me feel bad." It's that last set that is the problem here, not Maria Kang. You have to choose your battles. The fact is, a lot of people who have weight problems simply want to have everything as good as they can possibly have it, every waking minute of every day. Why get a Quarter Pounder, when there's a Double Quarter Pounder right next to it for only another dollar? "She said something that rubbed me the wrong way, now I must start a revolution" — that's just an extension of that. Feel feel feel, every situation that comes along, it's all about how it makes you feel. That's how people put on weight.
You know, there are certain truisms about criticism, whether the criticism is personalized or not: Criticism is almost never one hundred percent on-the-money. It's always wrong somewhere. But it very seldom entirely misses the mark, either. You have to, as the adage goes, "take what you like and leave the rest." In the case of criticism, nobody likes any of it, so what you need to do is take what will help you and improve your situation…and leave the rest. Did Maria Kang's flippant comment entirely miss the mark? With everyone?
Let's answer that question with another question: Are the complaining-people not answering her question rather directly? "My excuse is that you're making me feel bad about myself." And in so doing, are they not proving the question has more than a little merit? "What's your excuse" means, boiled down to its essentials, "how little does it take to make you abandon your goal of a better body?" And the answer is "some stranger on Facebook posting pictures I don't like." Pretty low bar. So there's opportunity for improvement there.
The real tragedy is this: That is precisely the problem Ms. Kang was trying to solve, if I'm reading her message right. And I think I am. She took the time and trouble to reach the emotionally sensitive types, the kind of people who aren't inclined to say "no pain no gain," just-do-it, the kind who have not yet pushed past that first milestone. The must-feel-good-all-the-time types. And, those are exactly the ones who are biting her head off over it.
We can have a legitimate argument over whether or not she deployed sufficient tact. But she was trying to help. And the fact is, these people can't admit that they're the ones who have the problem. They're showing the real reason why they don't look as good as Maria Kang, from the neck down, and nothing is going to change there until something changes between the ears. That makes the whole thing personal, and a bit nasty. Maria Kang didn't make it that way and neither did I.
Cross-posted at House of Eratosthenes and Rotten Chestnuts.
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The transforming pink puffball makes his way to Nintendo 3DS in a game jam-packed with creativity!
REVIEW – Stick It To The Man (Wii U)
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P&G Assures Shareholder Value Creation - Analyst Blog
At its shareholder meeting held on Oct 8, 2013 in Cincinnati,
consumer giant
The Procter & Gamble Co.
) declared shareholder value creation to be its top priority and
reiterated the strategic initiatives adopted to improve
In order to improve the company's operating performance, new chief operating officer (CEO), A.G. Lafley unveiled a strategy, which focuses on value creation for shareholders through sales growth, gross and operating margin expansion and strong cash flow productivity. The company outlined four steps to achieve its target.
The company will invest selectively in core businesses, which include the most profitable categories, brands, markets, channels and customers. The other three initiatives include, making strategic, focused investments in innovation and go-to-market capabilities, accelerating cost savings and productivity improvements and improving operating discipline.
While the company's U.S. business is stable, P&G is expanding its presence in the developing markets to capture the increasing growth opportunities as the developed markets are nearing saturation. It is also localizing production in developing countries to improve customer service and lowering supply chain costs to boost margins. The company's volume and market share growth trends in the developing markets have been encouraging.
Procter & Gamble generates strong free cash flow annually, which allows it to invest in product innovations, acquisitions and brand development as well as return shareholders through and buyback and dividend distribution The company repurchased shares worth $6 billion in fiscal 2013, $4 billion in fiscal 2012 and $7 billion in fiscal 2011. In fiscal 2014, the company expects to repurchase $5 billion-$7 billion shares.
Moreover, since its incorporation in 1890, P&G has continued to pay dividends for 123 consecutive years. The 7% dividend hike in April was the 57th consecutive year of dividend increase. Impressively, over the last 10 years, P&G has returned $98 billion of cash to shareholders, through both dividend and share buybacks, which is 90% of its reported earnings.
P&G carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Though all its afore-mentioned plans sound encouraging, we prefer to wait until these drive substantial organic revenue growth. Moreover, challenging consumer spending environment in the U.S. and volatile market dynamics in other countries remain overhangs.
Other consumer staples stocks that are worth considering include Pinnacle Foods Inc. ( PF ), Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc. ( GMCR ) and Inventure Foods Inc. ( SNAK ). While Pinnacle Foods carries a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), Green Mountain and Inventure Foods hold a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).
GREEN MTN COFFE (GMCR): Free Stock Analysis Report
PINNACLE FOODS (PF): Free Stock Analysis Report
PROCTER & GAMBL (PG): Free Stock Analysis Report
INVENTURE FOODS (SNAK): Free Stock Analysis Report
To read this article on Zacks.com click here.
Zacks Investment Research


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And we got a new joe in town
When the record player get to skippin and slowin down
All y'all can say is them niggas earned that crown but until then
from Outkast – Rosa Parks Lyrics on Genius
Dre use a record player physically breaking down from wear and tear for a symbol for every great rapper's eventual decline, an idea they explored further on "Aquemini". At some point OutKast will get replaced by a hot new duo and call it quits, but when they do they'll be remembered as kings. I mean there is a crown on top of their logo after all.
To help improve the quality of the lyrics, visit Outkast – Rosa Parks Lyrics and leave a suggestion at the bottom of the page


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Air crash puts spotlight on depression and mental illness
Mar. 31, 2015
As more information comes out on the Germanwings plane that crashed into the Alps last week, many pundits have rushed to blame the co-pilot's history with depression. That rush to judgement and the surrounding media hype not only stigmatizes people battling depression, it may push them further away from the help they need. Dr. Chris Lowden, psychiatrist at NorthShore University HealthSystem, joins us to talk about the stigma. Also, music from Ryley Walker.
Free-range parenting faces critics
Mar. 30, 2015
The free-range parent advocates for their children to explore and discover independently and the movement is on the rise after a Maryland couple was cited by protective services in early March for letting their children walk to a park just a mile from the family's home. The public's response has raised the question of freedom and how much autonomy parents should or shouldn't be allowing their children. We talk with psychologist Dr. Wendy Mogel and author Mei-Ling Hopgood. Also, more fallout from Indiana's Religious Freedom Restoration Act.
Mayoral runoff heats up after second televised debate
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Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Cook County Commissioner Jesus "Chuy" Garcia faced off Thursday, during round two of the televised debate portion of Chicago's mayoral race. We take a look at what issues drove the conversation and who came out on top. Also, we hear the story of a Illinois National Guard member accused of supporting ISIS. And, we discuss how the seflie stick plays into trends in tourism.
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Wedding Limos near north robinson,oh
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Statement of Significance (as of designation - December 8, 1976):
Built (1859-60) on the theories of Orson Squire Fowler, the Armour-Stiner House is the only fully domed octagonal residence in America.
There is no current threat to the NHL.
There have been no changes since the last reporting period.
Comments and questions about the database may be directed to firstname.lastname@example.com