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Blood Bound
Blood Bound is a game of deduction, bluffing, and strategy for six to twelve players. You and your clan of vampires must work together to capture the leader of a rival clan. The catch? You can't be sure who is your ally and who is your enemy.
Treachery abounds, and betrayal is inevitable. Will you employ negotiation, clever maneuvers, and utilize your special ability to determine friend from foe? Or will you resort to betrayal and deceit in order to root out your rivals?
Paranoia will rule as players work to uncover the identities of their teammates and collar their rival clan leader. You may be targeted by your rivals, but you may also be targeted by members of your own team who don't think you can be trusted. All the while, you'll need to work through the mistrust and deception to uncover the information you need to capture your rivals' leader. If you capture the wrong vampire, you will stumble into your enemies' trap, leading to defeat for you and your clan. This means you must be diligent in determining the allegiance of other players and discovering their rank within their clan.
All told, Blood Bound is filled with tense moments of tough and tactical decision making, and choosing the wrong person to trust could spell disaster for you and your clan.
Uncovering Information
At the beginning of the game, each player is secretly dealt a card with the identity of a member of either the Beast or Rose clan. Beast and Rose clan identities are equally distributed in each game, so a six player game will have three members of each clan. A game with an odd number of players adds the nefarious Inquisitor, who plays by his own rules. If he wins, both clans lose.
Players keep their identities secret from everyone else, save for the clue icons in the lower right corners of their identity cards. Each player shows his clue icon to the player on his left. The game begins with everyone knowing exactly two pieces of information: his own identity, and one other player's allegiance.
After players have received their identities, one person is randomly assigned the dagger. During play, the player who possesses the dagger is the active player. On your turn,you must choose to either attack or pass. If you pass, you simply give the dagger to another player, and your turn ends. Choose well. The player receiving the dagger becomes the next active player and can then attack anyone – including you! If you decide to attack, you choose another player, and declare that you will attack.
When you attack, you force your target to suffer a wound. Your target must reveal a piece of information about himself to everyone at the table by taking either one of his affiliation tokens or his rank token. An affiliation token can be a blue beast token, a red rose token, or a gray question mark token, and this hints at the clan with which the player is affiliated.
The rank token indicates your status within your clan. A value of "1" indicates that you're the Elder, and a "9" makes you the lowest ranked clan member. A wounded player must take one of the tokens listed on his character card, as shown at the right. Each wound a player suffers leaves his identity more fully exposed. After revealing a token, the target becomes the active player and must decide whether to attack or pass.
Through attacking, and forcing others to suffer wounds, you gain more information about your opponents, as well as your own clan members. As more and more information is revealed, you must try to deduce who is the leader of your rival clan, and capture that vampire by forcing him to suffer a total of four wounds.
Meanwhile, you want to avoid being attacked. Suffering wounds forces you to disclose information about yourself, and revealing any information about yourself is dangerous. It can make you a target for your rival clan, or even a member of your own clan who believes you are being deceptive.You may use your turns to pass the dagger, or you may try to convince other players to attack your rivals. Anything works, so long as it deflects attention from you!
Powerful Abilities
In Blood Bound, no two players are alike, and everyone has something to hide. As an example, each player's identity accords him an ability, unique to his character, and each is only available the moment he reveals his rank token.
Whenever you suffer a wound, you may choose to reveal your rank token and use your ability to either wreak havoc on enemy clan members or to protect and heal your own. Some abilities, like that of the Assassin, allow you to force others to suffer wounds. Others, like the ability of the Guardian, provide protection to a player of the your choice. For the most part,abilities may only be used once per game, so timing is essential. Use your ability too early, and you're forced to play the remainder of the game with your rank revealed, making you a target for the opposing clan. Wait too long, and you may not have time to use your ability before the game ends.
There are other ways to keep your rivals guessing. When another player is attacked, if you haven't yet drawn your rank token, you may volunteer to intervene, or take a wound on his behalf. Because intervening requires you to draw your rank token, you could use your ability to protect someone you believe to be a friend, or wound an enemy player.
Revealing your rank token may allow you to use your ability, but it also shows everyone what position you occupy in your clan. Even as a low-ranked clan member, you must be careful not to reveal too much about yourself because your Elder's ability allows him to make the lowest ranked vampire in your clan the new leader!
Trust No One
In Blood Bound, you can count on your rival vampires–and even your friends–to bluff and betray you throughout the game. Table talk is encouraged as long as everyone can hear it; however, no one is under any obligation to be truthful.
Some identities, like the Harlequin, even have false information built into their character cards. The Harlequin's clue icon is opposite of his actual affiliation. For example, the Rose clan Harlequin (shown at right) has a Rose clan clue icon. This allows her to masquerade as part of the opposing clan. Other vampires can draw question mark affiliation tokens, making it difficult to ascertain their allegiance.
Even wounding other players doesn't always yield reliable information. Any player wounded must reveal accurate affiliation tokens, but there are exceptions to this rule, notably the ability of the treacherous Inquisitor, who is added to a game with an odd number of players. The Inquisitor conceals himself somewhere in your midst, loyal to no one but himself. When he suffers a wound, the Inquisitor may draw any affiliation token he likes, making him a particularly insidious opponent.
You need accurate information. Should you and your clan act upon incorrect information and capture the wrong vampire, you will lose the game. How will you get the information you need? Will you lie, bribe, cajole, and threaten? Or will you hide in the shadows, keeping your ears open but your mouth shut?
Blood Bound is particularly well-suited for larger gaming groups and parties. It can support up to twelve players, so gather your friends for this game of secrecy, deduction, bluffing, and betrayal!
15 - 30 minutes
6 - 12 players
Ages 14+
Recent News
The copyrightable portions of Blood Bound are ©2013 Fantasy Flight Publishing, Inc. Licensed by Heidelberger Spieleverlag. © of the German version by Heidelberger Spieleverlag. Blood Bound and Fantasy Flight Supply are trademarks of Fantasy Flight Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved to their respective owners.


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Explains the fundamentals of simple and complex programming in Perl 5.
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text: Bookmarks Aging changes in organs - tissue - cellsPrint-Friendly Previous imageEnlargeCloseNext image / NavigatorMinaker K. Common clinical sequelae of aging. In: Goldman L, Schafer Al, eds. Goldman's Cecil Medicine. 24th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2011:chap 24.I Would Like to Learn About:Expand All Collapse All Information All vital organs begin to lose some function as you age during adulthood. Aging changes occur in all of the body's cells, tissues, and organs, and these changes affect the functioning of all body systems.Living tissue is made up of cells. There are many different types of cells, but all have the same basic structure. Tissues are layers of similar cells that perform a specific function. The different kinds of tissues group together to form organs.There are four basic types of tissue:Connective tissue supports other tissues and binds them together. This includes bone, blood, and lymph tissues, as well as the tissues that give support and structure to the skin and internal organs.Epithelial tissue provides a covering for deeper body layers. The skin and the linings of the passages inside the body, such as the gastrointestinal system, are made of epithelial tissue.EpithelialThe term "epithelium" refers to layers of cells that line hollow organs and glands. It also is those that make up the outer surface of the body. Ep...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Muscle tissue includes three types of tissue:Striated muscles, such as those that move the skeleton (also called voluntary muscle)Smooth muscles (also called involuntary muscle), such as the muscles contained in the stomach and other internal organsCardiac muscle, which makes up most of the heart wall (also an involuntary muscle)Nerve tissue is made up of nerve cells (neurons) and is used to carry messages to and from various parts of the body. The brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nerves are made of nerve tissue.Nerve conductionAGING CHANGESCells are the basic building blocks of tissues. All cells experience changes with aging. They become larger and are less able to divide and multiply. Among other changes, there is an increase in pigments and fatty substances inside the cell (lipids). Many cells lose their ability to function, or they begin to function abnormally.As aging continues, waste products build up in tissue. A fatty brown pigment called lipofuscin collects in many tissues, as do other fatty substances.LipofuscinLipofuscin is a brownish pigment left over from the breakdown and absorption of damaged blood cells. Lipofuscin is found in heart muscle and smooth m...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Connective tissue changes, becoming more stiff. This makes the organs, blood vessels, and airways more rigid. Cell membranes change, so many tissues have more trouble getting oxygen and nutrients, and removing carbon dioxide and wastes.Many tissues lose mass. This process is called atrophy. Some tissues become lumpy (nodular) or more rigid.Because of cell and tissue changes, your organs also change as you age. Aging organs slowly lose function. Most people do not notice this loss immediately, because you rarely need to use your organs to their fullest ability.Organs have a reserve ability to function beyond the usual needs. For example, the heart of a 20-year-old is capable of pumping about 10 times the amount of blood that is actually needed to keep the body alive. After age 30, an average of 1% of this reserve is lost each year.The biggest changes in organ reserve occur in the heart, lungs, and kidneys. The amount of reserve lost varies between people and between different organs in a single person.These changes appear slowly and over a long period. When an organ is worked harder than usual, it may not be able to increase function. Sudden heart failure or other problems can develop when the body is worked harder than usual. Things that produce an extra workload (body stressors) include the following:Heart failureHeart failure is a condition in which the heart is no longer able to pump out enough oxygen-rich blood. This causes symptoms to occur throughout the...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Illness Medications Significant life changes Sudden increased physical demands on the body, such as a change in activity or exposure to a higher altitude Loss of reserve also makes it harder to restore balance (equilibrium) in the body. Drugs are removed from the body at a slower rate. Lower doses of medications may be needed, and side effects become more common.Medication side effects can mimic the symptoms of many diseases, so it is easy to mistake a drug reaction for an illness. Some medications have entirely different side effects in the elderly than in younger people.AGING THEORYNo one knows how and why people change as they get older. Some theories claim that aging is caused by injuries from ultraviolet light over time, wear and tear on the body, or byproducts of metabolism. Other theories view aging as a predetermined process controlled by genes.MetabolismMetabolism refers to all the physical and chemical processes in the body that convert or use energy, such as:BreathingCirculating bloodControlling bo...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article No single process can explain all the changes of aging. Aging is a complex process that varies as to how it affects different people and even different organs. Most gerontologists (people who study aging) feel that aging is due to the interaction of many lifelong influences. These influences include heredity, environment, culture, diet, exercise and leisure, past illnesses, and many other factors.Unlike the changes of adolescence, which are predictable to within a few years, each person ages at a unique rate. Some systems begin aging as early as age 30. Other aging processes are not common until much later in life.Although some changes always occur with aging, they occur at different rates and to different extents. There is no way to predict exactly how you will age.TERMS TO DESCRIBE TYPES OF CELL CHANGESAtrophy:Cells shrink. If enough cells decrease in size, the entire organ atrophies. This is often a normal aging change and can occur in any tissue. It is most common in skeletal muscle, the heart, the brain, and the sex organs (such as the breasts). The cause of atrophy is unknown, but may include reduced use, decreased workload, decreased blood supply or nutrition to the cells, and reduced stimulation by nerves or hormones.Hypertrophy:Cells enlarge. This is caused by an increase of proteins in the cell membrane and cell structures, not an increase in the cell's fluid. When some cells atrophy, others may hypertrophy to make up for the loss of cell mass.Hyperplasia:HyperplasiaHyperplasia is increased cell production in a normal tissue or organ. Hyperplasia may be a sign of abnormal or precancerous changes. This is called...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article The number of cells increases. There is an increased rate of cell division. Hyperplasia usually occurs to compensate for a loss of cells. It allows some organs and tissues to regenerate, including the skin, lining of the intestines, liver, and bone marrow. The liver is especially good at regeneration. It can replace up to 70% of its structure within 2 weeks after an injury. Tissues that have limited ability to regenerate include bone, cartilage, and smooth muscle (such as the muscles around the intestines). Tissues that rarely or never regenerate include the nerves, skeletal muscle, heart muscle, and the lens of the eye. When injured, these tissues are replaced with scar tissue.Dysplasia:The size, shape, or organization of mature cells becomes abnormal. This is also called atypical hyperplasia. Dysplasia is fairly common in the cells of the cervix and the lining of the respiratory tract.Neoplasia:The formation of tumors, either cancerous (malignant) or noncancerous (benign). Neoplastic cells often reproduce quickly. They may have unusual shapes and abnormal function.As you grow older, you will have changes throughout your body, including changes in: Hormone production Hormone productionThe endocrine system is made up of organs and tissues that produce hormones. Hormones are natural chemicals produced in one location, released into ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Immunity ImmunityYour immune system helps protect your body from foreign or harmful substances. Examples are bacteria, viruses, toxins, cancer cells, and blood or ti...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article The skin The skinAging changes in the skin are a group of common conditions and developments that occur as people grow older.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Sleep SleepSleep normally occurs in several stages. The sleep cycle includes:Dreamless periods of light and deep sleepSome periods of active dreaming (REM slee...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Bones, muscles, and joints Bones, muscles, and jointsChanges in posture and gait (walking pattern) are common with aging as changes in the skin and hair. The skeleton provides support and structure to t...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article The breasts The breastsWith aging, a woman's breasts lose fat, tissue, and mammary glands. This causes a reduction in the size and firmness of the breasts. Many of these ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article The face The face The appearance of the face and neck typically changes with age. Loss of muscle tone and thinning skin gives the face a flabby or drooping appearanc...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article The female reproductive system The heart and blood vessels The heart and blood vesselsSome changes in the heart and blood vessels normally occur with age, but many other changes that are common with aging are due to modifiable factors ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article The kidneys The kidneysThe kidneys filter the blood and help remove waste and extra fluid from the body. The kidneys also help control the body's chemical balance. The ki...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article The lungs The lungsThe lungs have two main functions. One is to get oxygen from the air into the body. The other is to remove carbon dioxide from the body. Oxygen is...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article The male reproductive system The male reproductive systemAging changes in the male reproductive system may include changes in testicular tissue, sperm production, and erectile function. These changes usual...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article The nervous systemThe nervous systemThe brain and nervous system are your body's control center. They control your body's movements, your senses, your thoughts and memories. They also...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Related Information Open ReferencesReferencesMinaker K. Common clinical sequelae of aging. In: Goldman L, Schafer Al, eds. Goldman's Cecil Medicine. 24th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2011:chap 24.BACK TO TOP Review Date: 5/11/2013 Reviewed By: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Bethanne Black, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial Team. The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. © 1997- A.D.A.M. content is best viewed in IE9 or above, Firefox and Google Chrome browser.Content is best viewed in IE9 or above, Firefox and Google Chrome browser.


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How can I stream movies that are on an Airport Time Capsule on my iPad 1?
I'm thinking of buying an Airport Time Capsule mainly so I can load it with a ton of movies and watch them on my iPad 1 while traveling in my motorhome.
I have a couple questions about using an Airport Time Capsule please...
1) Can I stream a movie directly from the Airport Time Capsule to my iPad using one of those free video player iPad apps or do I have to put the movie in iTunes on my iPad first before I can actually watch it? (I called Apple with this same question and got two totally different answers from two humans) The bottom line is... What is the fastest, easiest most hassle free way to watch movies that are stored on the Airport Time Capsule on my iPad 1?
2) Is it possible to move movies from a DVR to the Airport Time Capsule? I called Time Warner and Cox and they said I can do that but weren't to clear on how to actually do it. Is it as simple as hooking up a USB cable from the DVR to the Airport Time Capsule and then dragging them into the Time Capsule?
3) Is there a better wifi external hard drive than the Airport Time Capsule? Like maybe the Seagate wifi hard drive??
Thanks very much!
UPDATE: This will be with NO internet.
Am assuming you mean without an accessible computer nor an internet connection available.
iPad 1 ???
Perhaps take a look at FileBrowser.
I use FileBrowser to stream from my NAS. Works well.
I should have clarified that before but this will be without internet.
What about the iPad 1?
Is FileBrowser an iPad app?
Yes. If you follow the link in the post above it takes you to a page with additional info. At the bottom of the page is a link to the iPad app in the app store.
Yes I looked at the FileBrowser page and it looks awesome. Do you know how Filebrowser compares with Plex?
Plex will require you to have a computer running as the server.
If you have your computer there with all the movies in iTunes, then you don't need Plex or FileBrowser. Just use Home Sharing in iTunes and in iOS.
Hi Magentawave - there are some excellent suggestions but most depend on the use of a computer and the presence of a Wi-Fi network - you really need to tells us what equipment you will be using? I'm assuming you will be traveling, so will you just have an iPad 1 and some unit that will carry the movies; if so then a Wi-Fi network would be needed to stream the movies to your iPad w/o having the files stored on the device.
Also, tell us if this is for home use and/or while you are traveling - if the latter, airplane, hotels, RUV, etc.? If you have a TV w/ a DVD player, then other options come to mind, especially when wanting to get movies from your DVR to view - I have a few 'other' suggestions but would need to know your specific needs. Dave
I will need to conserve energy so I would prefer to do this without my computer running.
Are you saying that I can share files, in this case it would be movies, between my iPad and Macbook Pro without internet and wifi?
Thanks for replying. I think I covered the equipment I'll be using and what I want to do in my first post, but to reiterate...
I want to watch the movies that are stored on an Airport Time Capsule on my iPad 1 and I want to stream the movies directly from the Airport Time Capsule on to my iPad because I don't want to put them in my iPads iTunes or download them on to my iPad. I want to do this with NO internet as I travel through Mexico, Central America, and South America in my motorhome. I was considering the Airport Time Capsule because its basically an external hard drive that creates its own wifi network. There are other external wifi hard drives available, like the one Seagate has, but none of them are larger than 1 TB, whereas the Airport Time Capsule is 2 or 3 TB's.
I appreciate everyones response and if I can do all of the above with just the Filebrowser app on my iPad 1 and an Airport Time Capsule then that is really simple and I like simple!
I called Time Warner to ask them if its possible to transfer the movies on the DVR to the Time Capsule and they said it is but couldn't explain how. Does anyone know how to do this? Would I plug both the Time Capsule and the DVR into my Macbook Pro with USB cables and then just drag the movie files over from the DVR into the Time Capsule?
Without knowing exactly which cable box you have (each company has one or more preferred boxes). You could use an analog method and video capture device to pass the files to the Mac.
I can't say for sure but I doubt that you can just drag and drop the files from the box to the Time Capsule. The USB ports on some boxes are "service ports only and would not accept a hard drive. On other boxes the port will accept a hard drive but you have no way of controlling which programs are on the original DVDR drive and which are on the external hard drive. On the boxes I've seen that have this feature the external drive is essentially seen as an extension of the existing DVR drive and isn't intended to be read directly by the computer.
There are some boxes that have firewire ports that can be used to connect to the Mac and transfer files. The ports may/may not be active. Here again the process involves playing the file in real time while the computer is connected to the box. One hour of video would take an hour to transfer. The files are often in .m2t format and often have to be transcoded to a more usable format. There is also the possibility that the file will not transfer/transcode properly due to copyright restrictions.
2 Attachment(s)
What I've done for 4-5 years is to use a stand-alone Sony DVD burner (on my 2nd model shown below - not cheap), but I've burned to DVD-R over 500 films off my DVR - process is tedious in that the DVR is attached to the Sony device via composite AV cables and has to be played in 'real time' - now it does work, though! There are SD card inputs but these only go in one direction, i.e. SD card to DVD - now if only they could go the other way (or if there is a similar device that would 'burn' to SD cards) - if so, then there is a solution (or several).
I also own an AirStash device (also shown below) - this accepts SD cards (even of large capacity) and sets up a personal Wi-Fi network; there is a free app for the iPad which allows easy transfer of photos/music/movies from the SD card to the iPad - NOW - only to figure out how to get the movies off the DVR to SD cards? Intriguing I must say - Dave :)
Now there are several follow-up posts concerning the DVR situation - in my post, I've explained my way of getting DVR movies unto another medium (DVD-Rs) - the AV can be fed to any compatible external device but the process is slow & tedious - if these files could be placed on SD cards then using the AirStash would work w/ your iPad - I've not given it a try but I believe the movies can be streamed from those cards rather than loaded onto your iPad.
However, just curious about your motorhome - do you have a TV w/ a DVD player? If so, may be easier to just use optical media and if you want the movies from your DVR then you could burn them to DVD-R like I've been doing for years. Dave :)
@RadDave I did something similar to what you do with the DVR. For a while I had a TiVo unit with a DVD burner in it. Getting the initial file took about half the time it took to watch the program. I gave up that method when the burner died. Even at its fastest the process was still time consuming due to the transcoding needed to yield an editable file.
I've tried the firewire cable process but the files are huge (20-40 GB for most programs), As far as I can tell the few programs I've seen that help with this have not been updated with new features in some time. Some of the programs can be copied freely, some copied once, and some won't copy (depending upon flags set by the copyright holder). Transcoding to a usable file can be very time consuming. Sometimes even VLC can't play some of the files.
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Most of us think of a colorectal cancer screening and quickly dismiss the thought.
Uncomfortable, awkward, painful, embarrassing. Is it really necessary? The answer is "yes." Why?
Cancers of the colon (large intestine) and the rectum are extremely common. In fact, they are the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States, claiming 50,000 lives per year. The American Cancer Society estimates that almost 143,000 new cases were diagnosed in 2013.
The good news is that rates of the disease have been falling steadily over the last 20 years. A big part of the decrease is directly related to testing for colorectal cancer. Not only can testing help find the disease early, when it's highly treatable, but it can actually prevent the disease. Most colorectal cancers start as small, non-cancerous growths called polyps. By finding and removing these polyps, you can stop cancer before it starts.
Four out of every 10 adults (50 years and older) who should get tested are missing out on this life-saving test. Here are the most common excuses.
"No one in my family had colorectal cancer, so I don't need to get tested."
Fact: Most people who get colorectal cancer do not have a family history of the disease. Colorectal cancer can strike anyone, regardless of age. However, 90 percent of cases occur in people over age 50. If you have a personal or family history of colon polyps or colorectal cancer, your risk is higher, so talk to your physician about getting screened earlier. But everyone 50 and older should get tested.
"I'm not having any symptoms, so I don't need to worry."
Fact: Many people who are diagnosed with colorectal cancer have no symptoms, and people with polyps rarely have symptoms. If you wait to get tested after symptoms develop, you might miss the chance to prevent the disease or find it before it grows and spreads.
"If I have cancer, there is nothing they can do about it, so why bother getting tested?"
Fact: Colorectal cancer is one of the most detectable and, if found early enough, most treatable forms of cancer. More than 80 percent of all cases of colorectal cancer can be prevented with recommended screening.
Source: Adapted from an article by Durado Brooks MD, MPH, American Cancer Society
There are a number of different tests for colorectal cancer:
Take-home tests. The fecal occult blood test (FOBT) is the most common take-home test, used to detect blood from a stool sample.
Flexible sigmoidoscopy. During this outpatient procedure, a doctor uses a thin, flexible tubular instrument to view the lining of the rectum and the lower third of the colon.
A Double Contrast Barium Enema (DCBE). This is another outpatient procedure in which the patient is given an enema containing a barium solution and air. The combination coats the lining of the rectum and colon, which allow polyps and other abnormalities to be visible on an X-ray.
Colonoscopy. This is the most common outpatient procedure. A thin, lighted tube is inserted into the rectum and allows the doctor to view the inner lining of the colon. If polyps are found, they can be removed and collected for analysis.


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1958 Dodge Coronet 2 Door Sedan This car is a solid driver quality sedan, a solid #3 car. In 1958 the Coronets had the all... More
Earth Motorcars is proud to offer this stunning 1966 Dodge Coronet 500 Hemi numbers matching beauty! After being dropped for 1958 the Coronet nameplate... More
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1923 Dodge Brothers. Was a touring car cut down to make a pickup. Runs, but the water pump seal nuts leak. Windshields are good,... More
This very special 1971 Dodge Challenger convertible with a scheduled production date of Wednesday, May 26th, 1971 left the assembly plant in Hamtramck, MI with... More
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SUMMARY34682-mile survivor1 of 733 1970 Challenger R/T SE hardtops fitted with a 440/3-speed drivetrain / 1 of 50 believed to still existOriginal 440 cubic... More
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Just in! Call or visit our webiste for more information.... More
Just in! Call or visit our webiste for more information.... More
1934 Dodge Pickup. 512 C. I. Cadillac V8. Nice optioned and updated. Equipment includes a Turbo 400 automatic transmission, power steering, power disc brakes,... More
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This amazing car was found by a Texas Mopar fanatic in 1990 as a rolling chassis, what was left of a long time drag car.... More


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Some useful feeds scraped by varchars.
Update: Microsoft Reseach now offers RSS feeds as well. Check out Microsoft Research News and Headline, Microsoft Research Downloads and Microsoft Research Publications.
Update: Ben Hammersley wrote a scraping script to expose fedex package tracking as RSS. You can also get custom bootleg RSS for 2$.Posted by Julien on June 01, 2004. Permalink
I have a RSS feed for tracking UPS shipments: http://www.young-technologies.com/Utilities/PackageTracking/Posted by: SuperJason at December 20, 2004 06:47 PM


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Welcome to AHEAD GOLF South Africa
"Some things in life take years to perfect, others are available to see you get there"
With a consistent balance of creativity, simplicity & the forward thinking of the Ahead brand, there is no doubt you will find performance, comfort & enjoyment in every product you acquire. With valuable experience in the branding department the options are endless in terms of customization and personality of your private or corporate logos on golf shirts, caps and a whole lot more.
It is available all within one brand, from simple things that get you around the golf course like Pitchforks and Ball Markers to showing off where you've been with Bag Tags and Headwear. It can simply even make a statement with the advanced materials in the Apparel lines & golf shirts.
Aside from supplying our own brand of top quality golfing apparel, we also realise a need for top quality customization for your company's branding. We use a variety of methods for our customised branded hats and caps to ensure that your logo will have that professional finish.
The methods we use include:
Felt Applique
Rubber Applique
Iron Applique
Woven Applique
Namedrop Embroidery
3D Embroidery
Leather Applique Embroidery


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|Jose timofonic <soytimofonico@xxxxxxxx>
|Thu, 15 Feb 2007 13:52:23 +0100 (CET)
Hello, I found a bug when using the "lock" command since 1.8.0 update. When I'm out of the computer, I usually use "clear && lock -npv" on my user account. Since using 1.8.0 is becoming very common that after a few hours I put the correct password for unlock but it's like putting it incorrect, even after a lot of tries writing it slowly. I'm sure wrote the password correctly, and not being drunk if somebody thinks about it :/ I want to know if there are other people experiencing the same problem, and what to report for helping to make this bug fixed. Best regards, timofonic ______________________________________________ LLama Gratis a cualquier PC del Mundo. Llamadas a fijos y móviles desde 1 céntimo por minuto. http://es.voice.yahoo.com


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Exclusive | Melendez Impressed, Not Scared Of Pettis, Finds Refocus With UFC Signing | UFC NEWS
In our sport, unless you have the letters UFC engraved on your championship belt, you are not considered the best in the world. Simply put, the UFC is the mecca of MMA and every champion outside of the organization is never going to be viewed as the kingpin of their division. Gilbert Melendez, however, is a very rare exception to that viewpoint.
The last man to hold the Strikeforce lightweight title, Melendez has been hyped as the best lightweight fighter in the entire world since 2009. If you ask a handful of intelligent MMA enthusiasts who the top fighter is at 155-lbs, some will say current UFC champion Benson Henderson but a good chunk will tell you that Melendez is better.
On April 20, we are finally going to determine who is truly the king of the lightweight division as Melendez challenges Henderson for the UFC strap at UFC on FOX 7. This is the fight that fans have been craving for, but nobody is more excited than "El Nino".
"It feels great [to finally be in the UFC], I'm jazzed about it and ready to see how I match up against these guys," Melendez told BJPenn.com Radio.
"I've been wanting to test myself for a long time and find out where I really stand out there and now I'm going to get the chance to do that right out of the gate against Benson Henderson. It's a nervous feeling but it's a good feeling and it's going to be exciting."
Melendez last fought eight months ago earning an exciting decision victory over rival Josh Thomson under the Strikeforce banner. Unfortunately injuries have kept Melendez on the sidelines since. During his time away from the cage, Melendez has watched Henderson rise to the occasion as a champion. Henderson has defended his belt twice, a close decision in a rematch against Frankie Edgar and a dominant win over Melendez' teammate Nate Diaz.
In the Diaz fight, Melendez really studied the UFC champion and learned quite a bit about how he operates.
"I saw how tough Benson is mentally and I familiarized myself with his tactics and how he follows a gameplan," Melendez said.
"He has tremendous athleticism but to my buddies defense I wish we would have seen that fight a little differently because he punched Diaz right in the eye. It was a beautiful punch by Henderson but it hindered the rest of Nate's performance."
Melendez holds victories over a laundry list of top lightweights outside of the UFC's Octagon. From Tatsuya Kawajiri to Shinya Aoki to Jorge Masvidal, Melendez has beaten all of the tiger sharks but now he is about to swim in deep water with some dangerous great whites. Henderson presents a very different matchup for Melendez but that just pumps the California native up even more.
"He's the UFC champ first of all. He's a slick guy that has very good focus and is mentally strong. Even when he gets knocked down, he pops right back up like nothing happened. He really believes in himself and that goes a long way in this game and especially in a fight," Melendez said.
"Being in the UFC makes me refocus 100% and I've been asking for this my whole career. I've been talking a lot about fighting in the UFC and now I'm here so there's some pressure on me to back up my talk."
Should he prove successful against Henderson, Melendez will certainly not receive a break as he will likely make his first title defense against the division's deadliest striker, Anthony Pettis. Pettis is fresh off a destructive TKO finish over Donald "Cowboy" Cerrone at UFC on FOX 6 this past weekend and should be next in line to fight the champion.
Melendez is overly impressed with Pettis but is by no means intimidated. He knows he has his work cut out for him against Henderson and he's not looking past him. However, he believes at some point he will lock horns with "Showtime" and it's a challenge that he welcomes.
"That fight was the only one I was concerned with and Pettis looked amazing. He pulled off some crazy stuff so I was definitely impressed. "Cowboy" is a very tough guy, he caught that right hand out the gate and it seemed like he couldn't gather himself," Melendez said.
"Not that Cerrone was rocked but it seemed like it threw him off his rhythm and Pettis landed some good strikes and did really well. But am I scared? No I'm not scared."
To listen to the full interview you can do so below:
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6 Responses to "Exclusive | Melendez Impressed, Not Scared Of Pettis, Finds Refocus With UFC Signing | UFC NEWS"
You cant fear someone you dont see coming. The only time you'll be in fear is when you awake and your being helped up by the officials. I like Melendez but showtime will rip him apart and Ben Henderson is gonna pick him apart. He isn't UFC caliber like I once thought he might have been.
please "Melendez has been hyped as the best lightweight fighter in the entire world since 2009. If you ask a handful of intelligent MMA enthusiasts who the top fighter is at 155-lbs, some will say current UFC champion Benson Henderson but a good chunk will tell you that Melendez is better." are you out of your mind ? the guy could barely get past josh thompson. he's going to get out worked and out classed by bendo and then pettis is going to knockout bendo and win the lw title.
The guy who wrote this article obviously lives in California and is a big fan of Melendez. Melendez hasn't ever looked impressive in his fights. The only impressive fighters out of the Ceasar Gracie camp is Nick and Nate Diaz. Benson Henderson is wipe the floor clean against this guy. The only guy that give rubs against Ben Henderson is Anthony Pettis.
Alex, I've never been to California except for flight layovers. Nice try though.
Gil, you obviously live in the same dreamworld as the rest of your team. Wake the hell up! You have no chance and you know it. Who have you beat? or even fought? your a joke and you even getting a title shot is even more of one! you fight a bunch of nobodys for years, barely win and now you get a title shot? Dana give your head a shake and put together good fights, not one sided ones.
Melendez is worried or he wouldn't have to reassure all of us. I'm glad Gilbert is getn leapfrogged for Pettis. Pettis deserve it more Gilbert just doesn't impress myself alon with many
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Student Spotlight: Erica Burger
Erica Burger
Major: Theater
When Erica Burger was in high school, she was searching for a place where she belonged.
"Sometimes it's hard to find a niche," she said. "I did summer theater at COD, and after high school in the fall I was offered a job in the shop at COD. It was so much fun -- I hardly ever did the same thing twice. I gained experience working in the theater, and through the program I forged many friendships."
She also liked the array of classes that allowed her the flexibility to finish her prerequisite classes while enjoying her work with the theater program.
Burger earned her Associate in Arts degree and has been working as a freelancer in stage management and lighting design ever since. She spent five years at Oprah Winfrey's Harpo students, helping to rebuild the space and working on the crew. She's been an event engineer for Centerstage at Governors State University, has worked with such companies as Citadel Theatre Company and Trap Door Theater, and has worked at the House of Blues for nearly six years as a lighting designer for concerts. She is designing for a Danish opera in January 2014.
In addition, she is currently finishing her degree in lighting design at Columbia College Chicago and would like to secure a position in charge of lighting for a large Chicago area theater.
She considers College of DuPage a second home and has even earned certificates in computer programming just to expand her skills.
"I live on the north side of Chicago but still do gigs for COD," she said. "They are really good about keeping that family relationship going. They value my skills, and I have a lot of fun working there. As long as they need me to help with a theatrical or concert setting, I'll be there.
"My advice to prospective students is to just do it. College of DuPage has a great Theater program, and you should do the lab hours because the experience really does help you. Whether you're approaching it from an actor's view or a technician's view, you'll be better prepared when you get into real world."
College of DuPage
425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn IL
60137 (630) 942-2800
2015 College of DuPage


text:
- When will your next book be released?
- Will there be more books set in the world of the Black Magician Trilogy?
- Will there be a film of the Black Magician Trilogy?
- What inspired the Black Magician Trilogy?
- Did you base the Black Magician Trilogy on an era or culture of this world?
- What inspired the Age of the Five trilogy?
- Will there be more books set in the Age of the Five trilogy?
- My parents have heard that there is sex in the Age of the Five trilogy. Is this true?
- What are you writing now?
- Do you want to know about typos/errors in your books?
- Do you need proofers or beta readers?
- Will you read my manuscript/story idea/suggestion for future books?
- Can I have some tips on writing?
- Where do you get your ideas from?
- Are any characters based on yourself?
- Are any characters based on people you know?
- How are the names/landmarks pronounced?
- Why all the invented words for animals, etc.? Why not call a cow a cow?
- Was x, y or z supposed to be a surprise, because I guessed it would happen?
- Was the Black Magician Trilogy influenced by Harry Potter books?
- Could you recommend other authors?
- Could you recommend other Aussie authors?
- Could you recommend some non-fiction books?
- Why isn't x, y or z author in your recommended reading lists?
- I can't find your books anywhere! What should I do?
- Are there editions of your books in other languages?
- Are there audio editions of your books?
- Are there electronic editions of your books?
- Do you have any control over the price of your ebooks?
- Can I write a screenplay/roleplaying game/computer game based on your book/s?
- Can I use images or text from your site?
- I've set up a forum for discussion on your books. Do you mind? Could you come and visit?
- Why don't you set up a forum on your website?
- Are you on Twitter?
- Are you on Facebook?
- What is your stance on fanfic?
- Can I have an autographed photo? Can I send books to you to sign?
- Spoiler Questions
When will your next book be released?
Rough dates are noted next to the titles on the Books page. I will post updates on release dates on my blog when I know about them. Otherwise, check online bookstores.
Will there be more books set in the world of the Black Magician Trilogy?
After I finished the Black Magician TrilogyI didn't have enough ongoing story to write more books in that world, but after a few years inspiration came and ideas developed until I had the foundations for a prequel stand-alone novel (The Magician's Apprentice) and sequel trilogy (Traitor Spy Trilogy) and a novella called "The Mad Apprentice", published in the anthology Legends of Australian Fantasy. So I won't say 'no' to the possibility of more Kyralia books, but it will probably take a few years for the few small ideas to develop – if they do at all – into something big and complex enough to encompass a book, or three. Between the Black Magician Trilogy and the prequel and sequel I wrote the Age of the Five trilogy, and I'm now creating a whole new universe with the Millenuim's Rule trilogy. I have many, many stories to tell and worlds to create, so I hope you'll join me in exploring them.
Will there be a film of the Black Magician Trilogy?
Though I have a film agent, and there has been some interest, so far the rights haven't been sold. I have no intention of making a film myself, though I'm always flattered by the innocent exhortations by fans that I should try. Since I lack the training, experience, connections and funds to do it, and I firmly believe that nobody would like to see a film made with a cheap hand held camera on badly made sets in my back yard with my friends as actors, I'm happy to wait and see if someone with the right credentials comes along with a serious proposal.
It would be wonderful to see my stories made into films, and even better if they were made into good films. But let's be realistic. Few fantasy series have been, and those were considered classics (Lord of the Rings) or are immensely popular children's fiction (Harry Potter, Narnia – which is both children's lit and a classic). Compressing the Black Magician Trilogy story into one film would be difficult. Still, it's great to hear readers think it is worthy of the Big Screen.
If I ever sell the rights and someone makes a film, believe me, I'll be blogging about it!
What inspired the Black Magician Trilogy?
Strangely enough, the Barcelona Olympics inspired the first chapter of The Magicians' Guild story. I was watching late night news and saw a report that claimed the city authorities had sent trucks around the city, into which all the homeless were loaded and then taken them to other cities. That night I dreamed that I was one among hundreds of people being driven out of a city… by magicians. We started throwing stones and instead I threw magic. I woke up and wrote down the dream, sure that in the morning I'd read it and laugh (most dreams make for bad stories). But I didn't. Later it fit with a world I'd created where magic was latent and required expert tuition, so the teaching of it became a privilege only available to the rich.
Did you base the Black Magician Trilogy on an era or culture of this world?
Not really. I've found that some people think the Black Magician Trilogy is 'medieval' (as in European Medieval) simply because it's fantasy. I deliberately set it in a more technically advanced era. Sonea's world lies somewhere between late Medieval and Victorian times, with the development of technology skewed by magic: the lack of warfare for a few hundred years and the presence of powerful sorcerers meant nobody was motivated into creating guns and cannons. A rich intellectual elite control knowledge, so printing presses have been invented. For the architecture, food and furniture I took inspiration from Japanese culture. The Sachakan culture is what I imagined might evolve from a vaguely classical Roman past – an empire that had slowly diminished, but through magic was able to sustain a form of slavery.
What inspired the Age of the Five trilogy?
I have to dig a long way back into my memories to answer this one, as the original story was sketched out when I was about 14 or 15. The most obvious source of inspiration was classical era mythology. I tried to imagine what it would be like to live in a world where gods were real, had bad tempers and interfered in human affairs – usually to the human's detriment. At the same time I was inspired by science, especially biology. I tried to imagine what a mermaid would really look like or if it really was possible for a horse to have wings. Not all of these imaginings have ended up in the trilogy, but I've tried to incorporate magic into the ecosystem as if it was just another force upon which animals and plants — and humans — could call upon for survival.
Will there be more books set in the Age of the Five trilogy?
I don't have any plans to write a sequel, for two reasons: unlike with the Kyralia world no ideas have developed since I finished it, and the way I ended that story (in the epilogue) allows the reader to make up their own mind what the future might be like. If I write a sequel, I will have to choose one of the options.
My parents have heard that there is sex in the Age of the Five trilogy. Is this true?
Yes, it is true. I was aiming for an older audience with this series. There isn't a lot of sex, however. Tell your parents to find a copy of Priestess of the White in a bookstore or library and read the first half of chapter 20 – just a few pages. If they feel that scene is too adult for you, then you had best wait until you're a little older before reading the trilogy.
What are you writing now?
The Millenium's Rule trilogy.
Do you want to know about typos/errors in your books?
Yes, please. Out of the hundreds of thousands of words in my books, despite rigorous editing processes, it's inevitable that a few mistakes will make it to printing. And the ebooks have their own formatting issues. Corrections can be made to reprints and ebooks, so head over to Report a Typo and let me know what you've found. Bear in mind that there are spelling differences in different regions.
Do you need proofers or beta readers?
No. Publishing companies arrange proof reading, so it's not something I get to decide. It also happens at a stage in the process where there is no time for outside proofers to have a look at it.
As for test readers, I'm very choosy about who I seek feedback. As you can imagine, I don't want to give messy, unpolished versions of my books to anyone but those I know and trust!
Will you read my manuscript/story idea/suggestion for future books?
No. There are two reasons: firstly, it puts me in an awkward position legally if your ideas turn out to be close to mine; secondly, when someone suggests I do something a certain way it starts to feel too predictable, and if lots of people gave me suggestions there's soon be no options left.
Can I have some tips on writing?
Yes. Go to Writing Advice.
Where do you get your ideas from?
Taken literally, this is really a rather silly question, but I figure you're really asking what inspires me. Lots of things do: books I've read (fiction and non-fiction), the news, tv, radio, films, music, people I talk to — be they friends or just some stranger I struck up a conversation with. There are stories everywhere. I think the key is: most stories are about people — what happens to them and what they do in reaction to it.
Are any characters based on yourself?
No. In many ways Sonea is what I'd like to be. She's smarter and stronger. Never assume that a character's story reflects the author's life. Even if the author has put bits of themself in, you can't be sure which bits they are. And why would you assume the hero/heroine is based on the author when you wouldn't assume the bad guy/gal is?
Are any characters based on people you know?
No. I use character types but not specific people. A friend of mine once begged me to put him in my book. Eventually I gave him a choice: he could be the gay mage or the guy who didn't get the girl. He declined both. Another time I used a friend's name, but that character unexpectedly turned evil and I vowed never to do that again!
How are the names/landmarks pronounced?
I really don't mind how other people pronounce the characters' names. Every person who reads the books automatically decides how the names sound as they read them, and correcting that would only change their experience of the book.
Why all the invented words for animals, etc.? Why not call a cow a cow?
Because it's not a cow. It's an animal that fills the same ecological niche as a cow. Naturally, humans are going to domesticate animals that are useful to them, so those animals of another world that happen to be used for fur or meat or transportation will be similar to those of our world used for the same purpose.
What amuses me about this question, is that nobody ever asks me why I didn't call a llama a llama. Assuming that all made up animals are like European ones is not unlike taking it for granted that all fantasy worlds are "medieval' or that all characters are 'white'.
Was x, y or z supposed to be a surprise, because I guessed it would happen?
When it comes to people predicting how something turns out, somebody will always expect things to turn out the way they do. It's most common when something could be one way, or another. I call these outcomes '50/50 twists'. (50/50 as in there are two possiblilities, and so you always feel 'half right' when you find out the answer.) Occasionally people email me who guessed everything and feel cheated. Don't be. You're a rare and clever reader!
Was the Black Magician Trilogy influenced by Harry Potter books?
Actually, nobody has ever asked me this, but having stumbled on a few amusing reader reviews that assumed they were, I thought I better point out the obvious: The Black Magician Trilogy was completely written by 1996, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone was first published in 1997. I didn't read HP1 until my agent told me all about it, in 2000. I loved it. JK Rowling has done all writers a great favour by encouraging a whole new generation to read – which can only be a good thing for the rest of us!
Could you recommend other authors?
Yes. I have Recommended Reading pages.
Could you recommend other Aussie authors?
Yes. I have a 10 Australian Authors Recommended Reading page.
Could you recommend some non-fiction books?
Yes. I have a 10 Non-Fiction Favourites Recommended Reading page.
Why isn't x, y or z author in your recommended reading lists?
The answer is on my Recommended Reading pages.
I can't find your books anywhere! What should I do?
First, check at least three bookshops, and not all of the same company. Look for stores that specialise in fantasy and science fiction books. If these bookshops don't have the book you're after, ask them to order it for you. Sometimes they haven't realised that the stock has run out. They can't rely on their databases to tell them they have none left if the books have been stolen. The best part about you asking a bookshop to order in my books is that they'll often decide to order a couple more at the same time, and more orders tells publishers how much interest there is and therefore what size print run to do next.
Sometimes the publisher has run out and hasn't printed a new run yet. A good bookstore chain will have a service where they'll search to see if other stores in the company have a copy left, then order it in for you.
Otherwise you could order from an online bookstore. But do remember that, if you don't buy some books from bricks'n'mortar shops, they'll close down and there'll be nowhere for authors to do signings.
Are there editions of your books in other languages?
Yes. Check each title under the Books pages on this site to see which books have been printed in which languages. I'm afraid the list will always be incomplete, as the only way I know if a book has been published is if I receive a copy, and some publishers are slow to or forget to send them.
Are there audio editions of your books?
Yes, though it may take a while before an audiobook of a new books comes out. Some are available in both abridged and unabridged versions. There area also German and Polish audio books.
Are there electronic editions of your books?
Yes. Check the web page of your favourite ebook reader. You have my sympathy if a book is unavailable in your country. As an Australian, I encounter this problem as well. It isn't a territorial rights issue. All of the rights of my books in the english language have been sold and my publishers have endeavoured to make them available. Research I did in 2011 revealed that the problem is most often technical, and lies with the format and the seller. It's new technology that became very popular quickly, and these issues will be sorted out eventually.
Do you have any control over the price of your ebooks?
No. And I don't think enough time has passed to judge what the right price is, yet. Occasionally a reader will email to complain that the print edition is cheaper than the ebook. The reason for this can be complicated. Often it's because the print edition has been discounted, not that the ebook price has been hiked.
Can I write a screenplay/roleplaying game/computer game based on your book/s?
I have received several emails over the years from enthusiastic amateurs wanting permission to write a screenplay, make a roleplaying or computer game, or other creative projects using my worlds. While I do like to see other creative people inspired by my work, I can't give such permission. Rights for these sorts of things have either been sold already (as part of publishing contracts), or are part of a package someone else is selling on my behalf (my film agent, for example).
If you are considering creating something based on my books, or anybody else's, you owe yourself and the author the time and respect to research international copyright law and follow it. And remember, it probably won't be me sending a lawyer around to your door, but the big, powerful publishing or film companies.
Can I use images or text from your site?
My author photo and biography, the book covers and the back cover blurbs are available for use, but all other text and photos belongs either to me or my publisher and is not available for use outside this site without permission.
I've set up a forum for discussion on your books. Do you mind? Could you come and visit?
You're welcome to start a forum to discuss my books. I'd love to visit, but I'm afraid I don't have time to visit all the forums out there dedicated to my books. There are also legal reasons why I avoid reading other people's story ideas relating to my books. Good luck with the forum, anyway. I hope it is a success.
Why don't you set up a forum on your website?
Because I don't have time to maintain it.
Are you on Twitter?
Yes! Follow @TrudiCanavan for links to new blog posts and Twitter silliness.
Are you on Facebook?
There's a page there, set up by one of my publishers, but nobody can remember who set it up and what the password is. I don't mind, because I don't have time to play in more than one social network.
What is your stance on fanfic?
Go to Fan Fiction.
Can I have an autographed photo? Can I send books to you to sign?
I used to sign photos and books posted to me, but I don't any more. I was in danger of spending more time going to and from the post office than writing. I do sign books at bookshops and conventions, so keep an eye on my blog for notifications of such events.
This can be read only after reading The Novice
This can be read only after reading The High Lord


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Not only has O'Neal proved his athletic prowess on the basketball court, he also recently earned a doctorate in education.
A promise O'Neal made to his mother Lucille a decade ago came to fruition when he graduated with a doctorate from Barry University in Miami, Florida.
O'Neal told his mother that he would pursue his education after he realised his dream of playing in the NBA. During his basketball career, which spanned 19 court seasons, he first attained a Bachelor's degree in general studies, went on to a Master's degree via an online programme and finally a doctorate with emphasis on organisational learning and leadership and human resources.
Abcnews.go.com quoted O'Neal as saying that making his parents proud was what spurred him on.
"One, I promised my parents I would follow my passion for education. Two, I wanted to continue my education and three, I wanted to challenge myself. The hardest part was getting back into high-school mode. You ever have that high-school teacher that says, you've got to read six chapters over the weekend?" he joked.
In addition, O'Neal reportedly flew in his professors to meet with him and spent many a sleepless night writing his thesis, based on humour and leadership.
"I'm proud because I know he earned that title. With all the money he's got, he could have paid for an honorary degree. But he didn't. And now I get to call him Dr O'Neal," Lucille O'Neal says.
O'Neal enjoyed an illustrious career in basketball, having been a four-time NBA champion. He also made history by signing a $120 million (R960 million) contract with the LA Lakers in 1996 and he was instrumental in leading the USA basketball team to Olympic gold in in the same year.
O'Neal has also appeared in several movies and can add a rap career to his impressive list of accomplishments.
Sources: abcnews.go.com, www.biography.com


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Grandparents who are raising their grandchildren in "grandfamilies" have a hard time making ends meet. The same holds true for relatives like aunts and uncles who are raising others' children. … Back to Article
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Letters to the editor (08/29/13)
Evaluations were flawed
(This is in reference to) Dee Towndrow's letter in the June 13 edition of the Valencia County News-Bulletin titled: "Trash Haulers Should Be Local."
I agree with Dee; there is no good reason why our trash haulers in Valencia County should not be local. The vendor resources exist right here in the county, right now, ready to go.
The problem is in the way the county chose to solicit bids, but the problem goes farther than that. The "bid" process was actually a request for proposals, which was designed as though the county was buying some sort of commodity, such as furniture or copiers or landscaping. Conceptually, it was the wrong method.
In reality, trash collection is a utility. It is specifically called a utility in the state of New Mexico Purchasing Code, just as is the furnishing of water, natural gas, electricity, etc. With the issuance of the proper type of RFP, Valencia County could have negotiated a contract with the local vendor resources, and we could have already been enjoying the benefits of a cleaner Valencia County, plus all the jobs and revenue would have remained here in the county.
During the years leading up to this current RFP, (which is now facing litigation) there were many, many public meetings soliciting citizen input. Unfortunately, the vast majority of that citizen input was ignored, as was the input and recommendations of the solid waste committee, of which I was a member, and vice chairman.
One local company who submitted a proposal wanted to utilize all the smaller local companies as subcontractors, and to provide multiple convenience centers with nominal charges for certain outlying residents who did not/could not opt to pay for a standard container and its monthly charge.
They also wanted to provide recycling services to all residents at no charge. County purchasing never even tried to negotiate any such contract. In my opinion, the "evaluation" of the proposals was fatally flawed.
The now-disputed contract seems to me as though it was steered toward Waste Management, who just happens to own the landfill where all our trash will go. I have nothing personal against Waste Management. They are a well-managed upstanding company with global operations.
The problem: there is really no incentive for them to contribute to the local economy, nor is there any incentive for them to help us clean up the growing mess of garbage on our mesas and in our arroyos.
The recent (disputed) contract only requires them to pick up the garbage once a week and take it to the landfill, and very little else.
We need a solid waste management plan that takes control of our entire waste stream; a plan that actually works. We need a plan that gives each and every citizen the opportunity to do the right thing with the trash they generate.
I am deeply disappointed in the county leadership for not insisting on properly soliciting and negotiating the best possible contract for the county, and for its deserving residents.
Paul Alexander
Los Lunas
Words can hurt everyone
How about us Americans? We have become so judgmental and sanctimonious.
Has anyone listened to rap music? The "N' word is used so often by Black, so-called entertainers, in music, movies and the stage, such as Chris Rock and others.
Is the "N" word the only offensive word used today? What about the "F" word? It is used in movies and TV. It is used like an everyday word to some.
Too many, I am sure that it is as offensive as the "N" word is to Blacks. I guess it is all right to refer to African Americans as Blacks?
How many ethnic groups are referred to by names that are offensive to them? For instance, in many parts of the county, Hispanics and Mexicans are called "Greaser." Italians are called "WOPS" and on and on.
I am not from the South, but have been around southerners enough to know that many of them have been raised by their parents to refer to Blacks as the "N" word. To them, it is second nature, especially the older generations of southerners who are still fighting the Civil War.
Is what is happening to Paula Deen right? To me, I do not know what all the fuss is about. If what I am hearing about, the case is accurate. To ruin a person's career for something that she admits happened a long time ago is ridiculous. I am not what you call a fan of hers, but I guess she is pleasant enough and she surely seems to be a loving mother.
Her show is certainly enjoyed by many. I just don't think that she should be crucified for this. As our Lord said, "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone."
And that goes for the use of offensive name calling.
Ron Salazar
Los Lunas
New year at St. Mary's
For almost a year now, a lot of work has been going on next door to Saint Mary's Catholic School.
We will be moving into our new gym and cafeteria in late August. Not only are we excited for our new building, volunteers and staff have been working hard on the classroom building all summer.
It is truly amazing how lucky we have been to have so many people donate time and services to us in our effort to give the school a "new" look on the inside and out.
Everyone on the staff at Saint Mary's, as well as the parents, are so grateful to these wonderful people and businesses who have helped us. Toby's Doors provided a brand new set of front security doors for us. Ned's Pipe and Steel provided the materials for our beautiful new fence on our south end.
Willie Martinez with Kenyon Plastering brought his men in on three weekends and completely re-plastered our front entry hall and applied a beautiful brick façade around our new reception window. Manny Aragon at Carpet Warehouse donated flooring for the new staff bathroom.
There are no words to express the look on the faces of our alumni and friends who have dropped by to see the renovations. Teachers have been painting. Parents have been laying tile. Mario, our maintenance guy has organized all the construction activities. It has been a productive summer!
This year and in the future, not only will Saint Mary's be providing a top-notch academic education to area students, we will be basking in the beautiful blessings that members of our wonderful Belen community have bestowed upon us.
Thank you all so very much. Come by and visit a "new" Saint Mary's!
Melodie Good
St. Mary's Principal


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Mayor Ballard changes mass transit sales pitchJanuary 23rd, 2013 at 5:35 pm by Jim Shella under Jim Shella's Political Blog
Mayor Greg Ballard (R-Indianapolis) was at the Statehouse Wednesday seeking the ability to raise taxes. Those taxes would be used to build a better mass transit system.
What the Mayor and others want is the authority to hold a 2014 referendum in Marion and Hamilton Counties so that voters could decide if they are willing to pay more for better buses. A committee in the Indiana House heard the bill that could lead to an increase in the county option income tax of .3%.
This is the third try at legislative approval for mass transit improvements but this time there is a different focus. Gone, for the time being, are the dream concepts of light rail and rapid transit, replaced by an emphasis on buses that would permit people to get around this area without the need to own a car. Rep. Jerry Torr (R-Carmel) says the result would be, "Expanded bus service, with nicer, cleaner, quieter buses than what we have now."
Mark Miles, the past president of the Central Indiana Corporate Partnership, told the committee that the plan would double the amount bus service in Marion County and could establish bus service in Hamilton County.
"If we don't build it they will not come," said Mayor Ballard while making the case that it's all about attracting corporate talent, "and if we don't build it, the young people who grew up here, may not stay."
There will be no vote on the transit bill until next week.
Tags: Greg Ballard, Jerry Torr, Mark Miles


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Category Archives: Paris
Stairway to Heaven
On a rainy spring day I was photographing under the bridges in Paris, trying to keep my camera dry. The bridge shown in this image is the Pont Solferino, a pedestrian bridge over the Seine. My position is with the Tuilleries at my back, looking across the river at the Musee D'Orsay on the left.
The image shown here in black and white (above) and color (below) is composed from a bracketed sequence of five shots at exposures from 6 seconds to 1/60 of a second. I used my 15mm f/2.8 Zeiss lens, with a little post-production work to correct the perspective distortion. The HDR blending caused the people climbing the stairs to "ghost"—an effect that adds to what one person viewing my images has called a "stairway to heaven."
Want to learn more about how I convert to black and white? The recording of my webinar Converting to Black & White with Photoshop and Nik Silver Efex is now available for unlimited access ($19.95).
Photographing the Paris Skyline
Photographing the Paris skyline at dusk would seem to be pretty straightforward. The rooftop observatory on top of the Tour Montparnasse is open late, and there are gaps in the plexiglass allowing one to shoot without worrying about reflections. With a camera on a tripod, what then could be the big technical issue?
Not so much if all you need to do is display your images at a small size, but plenty it turns out if a large reproduction (print size 60″ X 40″ or 150cm X 40cm and up) is the requirement.
In the spring of 2013 I shot Paris City of Light and Les Lumières de Paris from the top of the Tour Montparnasse. By the way, the Tour Monparnasse is a hideous high-rise built in the 1970s that doesn't fit in with the elegant Paris skyline in the slightest. The joke is that the best thing about the Tour Monparnasse observatory is that you can't see the Tour Montparnasse from it. Bus loads of Chinese, Korean and Japanese tourists ride the elevators up to the Tour Montparnasse observatory, but most of them stay on the floor below the plein air top deck.
Anyhow, my 2013 shots were good enough for a couple of publications, but there was "trouble in Paradise" when an art publishing client of mine ran some really large test prints. These images just weren't sharp enough.
What can cause lack of sharpness under these conditions? First, in any landscape shot that includes a distant vista diffusion due to atmospheric conditions is always a factor, and there isn't much you can do about it except wait for a really clear day (not always possible). Paris is often moist, and has some pollution from cars and other sources, so this limiting factor is a real consideration.
From the viewpoint of photographic gear and the craft of photography, the issues are camera motion, optical sharpness, resolution (sensor size) and sensitivity settings.
As I've noted, my camera was on a tripod. But my observation and analysis was that the real problem was slight camera motion, caused by the wind coming through the gaps in the plexi, even using my tripod. Absent the ability to come back with a heavier tripod, which wasn't possible, the fix in 2014 seemed to be to use a faster shutter speed.
So in the two images of Paris Sunset (far above, above and also shown here) I shot at 1/100 of a second for a relatively short duration shutter speed. This implied bumping the ISO, to 1250 in each case.
The good news: my files this time stand up to the blow-up that is required!
Paris Sunset
Towards the end of April, on top of Tour Montparnasse in Paris, France, I watched late afternoon fade into dusk and night. As the sun set, the lights of the City of Light came on. A spectacular view, and best of all because, being shot from the Tour Montparnasse, the view does not include the Tour Montparnasse: a truly ugly building from the 1970s that spoils the symmetry of the classical Paris skyline.
What's new is old again in Paris
Paris is a city with a tremendous and varied historical legacy from many eras. But after you are here for a while you realize that it is also constantly changing. Construction and renovation is continual. There's scaffolding on almost every block.
With some notable exceptions, retail decors change quickly to keep up with fashion. The laundromat I tried to go to this morning has disappeared in the year since I last washed clothes there, replaced by an upscale boutique.
With this continual reinvention against a backdrop of history in mind, it is fun to use a new technology (my iPhone camera in the image shown to the left) to capture an old landmark, Les Deux Magots—the Saint-Germain-des-Prés watering hole of Hemingway and a whole cavalcade of literary and artistic types of yore (today it is more the touristic types!). Likely the waiter dressed in much the same way back when Hemingway frequented the joint.
Shot with my iPhone camera and processed on the spot with Filterstorm, Lo-Mob and Plastic Bullet as I was out "flaneuring" today.
Night at the Louvre
Photographing after dark in the grand courtyard of the Louvre is always great fun. The pyramid becomes an abstraction, and is an interesting contrast in its modernity with the ornate structure of the grand old palace.
Do you prefer this image in color or black and white? I started with the color version (above), then thought that the lines and shapes of the diamonds within the pyramid, and the triangular-shaped reflecting pool, would make a strong composition in monochrome (below).
Under the Pont de la Concorde
A pedestrian esplanade runs from the Musée d'Orsay to the Tour Eiffel along the left bank of the Seine River. This walk way has been reclaimed from vehicular traffic only fairly recently, and it is the scene of art exhibitions, music, and much general festivity.
Wandering with my camera on this esplanade I was caught in a heavy spring downpour. Along with a crowd, I took refuge under the Pont de la Concorde. There was no place to put my tripod, so I placed my camera on the stone railing. I added a neutral density filter, and shot this six minute exposure to soften the water while keeping the detail in the stone work that supports the bridge.
Spirals at the Hotel D'Orsay
If you know me, you know that I am nuts about photographing spiral staircases. The Hotel D'Orsay in Paris has two, one with an elevator running up the middle, and the main stairs, which has five flights in a narrow spiral formation.
This kind of staircase tends to be harder to photograph than meets the eye. First, they are rarely well lit. This means a long exposure if you are stopping the lens down to get enough depth-of-field for most of the spiral to be in focus. The problem with a long exposure is that this kind of old staircase is usually they are rickety and transmit vibrations. If anyone comes up or down the stairs, they are likely to spoil your exposure just by walking past.
Another issue is holding the camera steadily above the stair for a straight shot down. You need a good tripod and steady nerve, but you can usually brace the tripod against the railing to make this possible. To make life easier and avoid all the trouble, simply shoot the spiral staircase with your iPhone!
Double Rainbow over Paris
In the afternoon the rain started to come down hard, with a lush, almost tropical sound as it fell hard on the rooftops of Paris. I went upstairs because I had left my window open. I stuck my head out the window before I shut it. Around the corner was a hint of a rainbow.
I grabbed my camera, dashed downstairs in my t-shirt and jeans, took an umbrella from the bin next to the front desk, and ran the two blocks to the Seine River. A double rainbow was forming, upstream in the direction of the Louvre and the Musee D'Orsay. Precariously balancing my camera and using the umbrella to shelter it from the wind and rain I snapped a few photos.
Sometimes you get lucky.
Rain in Rodin's Garden
One of my favorite places in Paris is the garden behind the Rodin Museum, where I went this morning. Of course, a Rodin garden would not be complete without Rodin's sculpture. It was fun photographing the famous sculptures in the rain, which added to the textures and feeling of the place. The face of "The Thinker" is shown here, overexposed and processed for high-key.
Pont Royal
Spring in Paris means that sometimes it rains, which can make it all the more romantic. I took advantage of the moody light today to photograph along the Seine River. From time to time rain squalls hit, and my camera and I went for cover under one of the bridges. I used a long exposure (two minutes) to flatten the moving water and give and old-fashioned appeal to this shot of the Pont Royal.
Exposure data: Nikon D800, 35mm Zeiss lens, circular polarizer, +4 ND filter, 120 seconds at f/13 and ISO 100, tripod mounted.
Looking back and thinking forward
I've been looking through my archives from last year in Paris—and finding many images that I want to process! Looking back at the crop from the spring of last year helps me to understand what I did right, and what I didn't get to do. I am using the inventory to check plan my photography this year. Both the images below are essentially unmodified (other than RAW processing) from the straight shots—these were about being there and getting it right in the exposure, not about post-production.
About the image: I used a moderate wide angle focal length, and stopped down enough (to f/18) to get both the carousel and the Eiffel tower in focus. Since this was at night, a moderately long exposure was required (3 seconds) to be able to stop the lens down and get the depth-of-field I needed.
Exposure data: Nikon D300, 18-200mm lens at 18mm, 3 seconds at f/18 and ISO 200, tripod mounted.
About the image: Cars, trucks and busses whiz around the Arc de Triomphe endlessly. I wanted to show these cars as streaks, but with the sunset in the sky there was insufficient light for a long enough exposure. I added a polarizer and a +4 ND filter to cut down the light reaching the sensor so I could adjust the exposure proportionately to allow a longish (30 second) shutter speed.
Exposure data: Nikon D300, 18-200mm lens at 18mm, polarizer and neutral density filter, 30 seconds at f/22 and ISO 100, tripod mounted.
Apartments on the Boulevard Haussman
I was struck by the regularity in this apartment building. Nobody had planters out, no bikes were stored, and old shoes weren't resting in the window embrasures. This kind of tidiness is what you might expect from the haute bourgeoisie along the Boulevard Haussmann in Paris. I photographed the facade to emphasize its evident symmetry, and processed it using the same set of techniques I used with Room with a View (where there were old sneakers outside the windows!) to make the image look as much like an etching as a black & white photo.
With the image I had pre-visualized, and in this kind of situation, in both shooting and processing I am very glad to have the monochromatic HDR toolkit at my beck and call!
Exposure data: Nikon D300, 18-200mm lens at 130mm, five combined exposures at shutter speeds between 1/13 of a second and 1/800 of a second, each exposure at f/8 and ISO 200, tripod mounted.
Banks of the Seine
Using the same lens (my Zeiss 35mm) and the same camera-in-motion technique as In a Paris Park creates a moody and atmospheric image in monochrome of the banks of the Seine River and the Ile St-Louis in Paris. This could be an image from the dawn of photography—when long exposures were the norm, and it was difficult to get a crisp image in twilight—rather than a capture made with a state-of-the-art sophisticated DSLR.
Exposure data: Nikon D800, Zeiss 35mm f/1.4 at f/8, 4 seconds at ISO 50, hand held.
Related image: Ile de la Cite from Ile St-Louis.
Sunday in the Park with George
Sunday in the Park with George. "George" in this case was my Zeiss 35mm f/1.4 lens. The park is Square Jean XXIII, just behind Notre Dame in Paris, on a cold November day near twilight.
The most typical goal of photography is to render crisp images where camera motion is not an issue. This can be achieved by using a fast shutter speed—usually a shorter duration of time than 1/125 of a second—or by putting the camera on a solid support, such as a tripod.
What fun to turn this on its head by intentionally moving the camera during exposure. The results often don't look very photographic, and it takes a good bit of trial and error to find the right exposure combination. It's also easier when there is some light, but not too much light. Try this technique in the middle of the day, and even with loads of neutral density filters it is hard to get decent results.
As with the light, so with the motion—you want to move the camera in a consistent way, with enough movement to create an attractive effect but not so much as to turn the image to mush! In this case, "George" and I consistently panned slowly from left to right, pausing on the couple on the bench briefly, and going up and down at the right end of the exposure.
I feel lucky when shooting this way to get one out of a hundred shots turning out decently. Even a few seconds can seem like a very long time when one does it over and over again!
Exposure data: Nikon D800, Zeiss 35mm f/1.4 at f/4.5, 4 seconds at ISO 50, hand held.
Louvre Reflection
I shot this image last year during a night photography session with my Paris photography workshop. Paris is a great city to photograph at night, with many opportunities for dramatic image making!