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MightyTiles review
- Creates randomised tile patterns of unlimited size
- Unlimited render nodes
- Loading bitmaps is laborious
- Some redundant UI elements
By Paul Roberts, Oct 24, 2012
Software type: Max Plugin
Version: 1.0.2
Category: Texturing
Company: Dieter Finkenzeller
Covering large areas with tile materials can be a headache. We're pattern spotting machines and recurring details can quickly give away a repeating texture.
One workaround is to create maps that lack distinguishing marks, but this can take away realism and visual interest. Alternatively, huge textures can be created that cover geometry with no need for repetition, but these substantially increase memory usage and seldom have the resolution to render well at close range.
Enter MightyTiles, a texturing plugin that creates varied tile patterns by randomly selecting bitmaps from a library, shifting HSVs, jiggling transforms and much more. The result: textures with no size restriction, no visible repetition and lots of interesting variety.
Despite its 1.02 suffix and release earlier this year, MightyTiles is not a completely new plugin. Its predecessor was originally released in 2010 by MaterialWerk under the name Brix.
Let's see what MightyTiles has to offer.
What it Does
MightyTiles takes a number of bitmaps, such as images of single bricks, and randomly distributes them according to one of fifteen built-in tile patterns. Each bitmap is instanced and once loaded can be used unlimited times with no additional memory overhead. Because the resolution of each brick texture can be very large, the resulting material can be used for close up renders as well as from afar.
MightyTiles is much more than a simple tiling map. Further variety is added by randomising the position, rotation, colour, bump and displacement value of each tile. Bricks can take their colour from another map to create mosaic effects. Mortar has its own set of controls to customize tinting, displacement, and can be generated procedurally to blend with the mortar in the bitmaps or even replace it.
In addition to a diffuse map, each individual brick or tile uses a separate bitmap for alpha, bump, displacement, and reflection. These are all controlled from a single MightyTiles map making for a very simple and efficient shader network.
Interface and Workflow
After installing MightyTiles two new maps are available, Mighty Tiles itself and the MightyTiles Slave map.
The first of these is used to create materials using either the small library that comes with the plugin or by creating your own custom sets using the Tile Designer.
Working in conjunction with this is the slave map that takes the output from the MightyTiles master and allows for the extraction of a single channel, either the diffuse, bump, displace, reflection or specular.
MightyTiles is smart, and will automatically detect if it's in the diffuse, bump or displace channel of a material. But as Max only supports these 3 outputs, to use the reflection and specular maps the Slave Material is required. A typical shader set-up may comprise a MightyTiles map with a single slave to use the reflection map (as shown on the accompanying image).
The slave map is also useful if you wish to isolate a particular map channel to render it to a texture. Handy if you need to bake down a map for further modification or use in another application.
The MightyTiles interface remains largely unchanged from Brix. In addition to rollouts for settings, updates, help and an information panel that displays statistics, there are 6 other panels. These can be broadly categorised into 3 sections that set the pattern, determine the textures used, and randomise parameters
Each section is well laid out and easy to understand. I personally would have preferred the tiles rollout nearer the top since you can't see the effects of any other setting until you have chosen a brick set from the library, but this small niggle aside the workflow is straightforward and intuitive: pick a tile set, choose your bond, set the aspect ratio, mortar, and add desired variations. One of the great benefits of MightyTiles is its ease to set up and use.
3 Comments
(October 24, 2012, 11:07 am)
Thank you very much Paul! This is really a great article about MightyTiles with lots of details and explanations.
(October 25, 2012, 8:18 am)
Really nice review! Thanks Paul
(October 29, 2012, 9:30 pm)
Nice review, could someone explain which are the most important differences between Migthy Tiles and Walls and tiles from VIZPARK? im planning on buying one of them and donow if they are really similar or not (since prices are differents)


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Living With COPD: A Brighter Future
Learning that you have COPD can be difficult news to take. You might worry about having to give up your favorite activities, or expect to feel sick most of the time. It's common for people with COPD to feel anxious, depressed, or stressed about their condition. But the reality of living with COPD is much brighter than you may imagine.
For starters, being diagnosed with COPD means that your doctor can prescribe medications and other treatments to improve your symptoms and put the brakes on the progress of the disease.Learn why coping with COPD may be easier than ever ›

subset: commoncrawl


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All the best Gift Ideas
All in one place & in stock ready for delivery
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The largest selection of discount fishing tackle online!
All our clearance tackle has massive savings but once its gone its gone!
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Brilliant groundbait designed By Alan Scotthorne. It works for roach and bream.
To get the proper mix put 0.75 litre of water for 2kg dry mix. Mix vigorously and leave for 15 minutes. After put the rest 0.25 litre of water. For medium current waters add 2 kg of MVDE damp leam . In clear waters put magic colour blato to darken the groundbait.


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If you're already making a difference and doing something to further the idea of sustainable urban mobility, we want to hear about it!
By registering your promotional action on this website, you can become a part of the Sustainable Urban Mobility campaign. Once registered, whatever you're doing to help promote a more sustainable approach to transport usage will be displayed on our map of actions covering the European Union's 28 Member States, plus Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein.
Whether you've decided to cycle to work with your neighbours, or you're an employer taking concrete action to encourage your employees to use public transport, we're eager to help you share your success story.
Please note, the action that you register must promote a behavioural shift towards a more sustainable urban mobility culture (with a particular focus on multimodality) and must be of a promotional rather than a technical nature (i.e. technical innovations themselves will not be recognised).
How does it work?
All you have to do is fill in the short forms on this website and tell us all about the promotional action you're organising in your neighbourhood, city, school, organisation, or company. If your promotional action meets the eligibility and evaluation criteria of the European Commission's Sustainable Urban Mobility campaign, then within three weeks of submitting your application, we'll let you know whether your action has been officially accepted.
What's in it for me?
First and foremost, we want to help you to share your success story with the wider world. By joining the European Commission's Sustainable Urban Mobility campaign, your promotional action will not only become part of a much larger campaign, it will also be visible on our map for all visitors of this site to see.
In addition to increased visibility, you will also be allowed to use the European Union logo, the 'Do the Right Mix' signature, and associated promotional materials on your website and social media pages.
Finally, if you are a non-commercial body (i.e. an organisation such as an NGO, a local authority, a public body, or a school/university/research institute), you may be eligible to apply for up to EUR 7 000 support for your promotional action from the European Commission. Once a year, registered promotional actions that demonstrate strong impact on the local, regional, or national level will be invited to apply for financial support. The third call for applications – which runs until 30 April 2014 – will co-finance activities taking place during the period running from 1 June 2014 to 31 December 2014. Based on the evaluation and eligibility criteria, a committee of experts selects one winning action per country.
Interested? Click here to register your promotional action.
Whether you want to join a promotional action or set up your own, we encourage you to visit our best practice library or click on the map of Europe to learn more about registered promotional actions in your country.


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Lizzy Long to play at Mountaineer Opry tonight
MILTON -- The Mountaineer Opry House has hosted quite an array of bluegrass legends over the last year, from J.D. Crowe to Jesse McReynolds. Tonight, one of the best of the new generation of bluegrass musicians, Lizzy Long, will bring her voice and multi-instrumental virtuosity to the Opry stage in Milton.
The show begins at 7:30 p.m. and the tickets are $12 for adults, $10 for seniors, and $5 for kids 12 and under.
Lizzy Long, 24, grew up down the road from bluegrass legend Little Roy Lewis in the eastern Georgia town of Lincolnton. She learned to play music at a young age, starting with the fiddle and then adding the guitar and banjo. After problems at home with her family caused the state to intervene, Little Roy stepped up and became Long's foster parent when she was a teenager. Her involvement in the music business grew from there.
"Little Roy and (wife) Bonnie, they got me when I was 15 years old," said Long. "Little Roy started to take me on the road with him, and I did that all of my high school career and college career. Then, when I was through with college, I moved to Nashville and I've been doing it on my own ever since."
The college time that Long refers to took place here in West Virginia as she was a part of the Glenville State College Bluegrass Music Certificate Scholarship Program led by music veteran Buddy Griffin.
"Buddy asked me to come and be kind of a starter on that and I did," said Long. "So, I was the first student in the bluegrass program, and we've got it going great. There are a lot of students there now."
Her latest album is called "Lizzy Long and Little Roy Lewis -- Front Porch Pickin'." Her previous album was titled "Little Roy Lewis, Earl Scruggs, and Lizzy Long -- Lifetimes," so she is playing and recording with some true legends these days. Other mentors for Long over the years have included Buddy Spicher and Mac Wiseman.
"I'll tell you, it's kind of breathtaking," said Long. "I've had my share of sacrifices with it all, but I wouldn't trade anything for it. They have always backed me up and they've always had a lot of trust and faith in me. How much more can you ask for than Little Roy Lewis and Earl Scruggs to say, 'We believe in her, and we're going to stand behind her'."
The rest of Long's band includes Al McCall, Rickey Rakestraw and her twin sister Rebekah on bass. Also joining Long tonight will be Glouster, Ohio, native Megan Murphy on mandolin, another former student of the Glenville State bluegrass program who plays with her own band called Yankee Bluegrass.
"I just want to entertain folks the best I know how and make them happy," said Long. "If I can see a smile on somebody's face, that's great. And, I want to be Lizzy Long while I'm doing it. I don't want to be anybody else."
The Herald-Dispatch welcomes your comments on this article, but please be civil. Avoid profanity, obscenity, personal attacks, accusations of criminal activity, name-calling or insults to the other posters. Herald-dispatch.com does not control or monitor comments as they are posted, but if you find a comment offensive or uncivil, hover your mouse over the comment and click the X that appears in the upper right of the comment. If you do not want your comment to post to your personal Facebook page, uncheck the box below the comment.


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Parallel Verses
New International Version
This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God's servants, who give their full time to governing.
New Living Translation
Pay your taxes, too, for these same reasons. For government workers need to be paid. They are serving God in what they do.
English Standard Version
For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing.
New American Standard Bible
For because of this you also pay taxes, for rulers are servants of God, devoting themselves to this very thing.
King James Bible
For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.
Holman Christian Standard Bible
And for this reason you pay taxes, since the authorities are God's public servants, continually attending to these tasks.
International Standard Version
This is also why you pay taxes. For rulers are God's servants faithfully devoting themselves to their work.
NET Bible
For this reason you also pay taxes, for the authorities are God's servants devoted to governing.
Aramaic Bible in Plain English
For this cause, also, you pay the head tax, for they are the Ministers of God who are appointed for these things.
GOD'S WORD® Translation
That is also why you pay your taxes. People in the government are God's servants while they do the work he has given them.
Jubilee Bible 2000
For this cause ye also pay them tribute, for they are God's ministers, attending continually to this very thing.
King James 2000 Bible
For, for this cause pay you tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.
American King James Version
For for this cause pay you tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually on this very thing.
American Standard Version
For this cause ye pay tribute also; for they are ministers of God's service, attending continually upon this very thing.
Douay-Rheims Bible
For therefore also you pay tribute. For they are the ministers of God, serving unto this purpose.
Darby Bible Translation
For on this account ye pay tribute also; for they are God's officers, attending continually on this very thing.
English Revised Version
For for this cause ye pay tribute also; for they are ministers of God's service, attending continually upon this very thing.
Webster's Bible Translation
For, for this cause ye pay tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.
Weymouth New Testament
Why, this is really the reason you pay taxes; for tax-gatherers are ministers of God, devoting their energies to this very work.
World English Bible
For this reason you also pay taxes, for they are servants of God's service, attending continually on this very thing.
Young's Literal Translation
for because of this also pay ye tribute; for servants of God they are, on this very thing attending continually;
Parallel CommentariesMatthew Henry's Concise Commentary
13:1-7 The grace of the gospel teaches us submission and quiet, where pride and the carnal mind only see causes for murmuring and discontent. Whatever the persons in authority over us themselves may be, yet the just power they have, must be submitted to and obeyed. In the general course of human affairs, rulers are not a terror to honest, quiet, and good subjects, but to evil-doers. Such is the power of sin and corruption, that many will be kept back from crimes only by the fear of punishment. Thou hast the benefit of the government, therefore do what thou canst to preserve it, and nothing to disturb it. This directs private persons to behave quietly and peaceably where God has set them, 1Ti 2:1,2. Christians must not use any trick or fraud. All smuggling, dealing in contraband goods, withholding or evading duties, is rebellion against the express command of God. Thus honest neighbours are robbed, who will have to pay the more; and the crimes of smugglers, and others who join with them, are abetted. It is painful that some professors of the gospel should countenance such dishonest practices. The lesson here taught it becomes all Christians to learn and practise, that the godly in the land will always be found the quiet and the peaceable in the land, whatever others are.
Pulpit Commentary
Verse 6. - For for this cause ye pay (so, rather than, as in the Authorized Version, pay ye. The γὰρ suggests this interpretation. So in the Vulgate, ideo enim et tributa praestatis. The Christians, we may suppose, did pay all legal dues and taxes; it was a recognized principle that they were bound to do so; perhaps because of Christ himself having settled the question in his dictum about the tribute-money (Matthew 22:21). And what the apostle means may be that the same principle on which they paid their taxes extended to all legal requirements) tribute also: for they (i.e. the officers who exact tribute) are God's ministers (not, as in ver. 4, διακόνοι, but λειτουργοὶ. This word, with its correlatives, is used in the New Testament especially with reference to the ceremonial services of the temple, and to their counterpart in Christian devotion; but not exclusively so (see Romans 15:27; Philippians 2:25). In classical Greek it denotes peculiarly persons performing public duties, or works of public use. This well-known use of the word may have suggested it here, the apostle meaning to say that such as in any such way served the state were in fact serving God), attending continually upon this very thing; i.e. on λειτουργία for God.
Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible
For, for this cause pay you tribute also,.... To show that we are subject to the higher powers, and as a proof and evidence of our subjection to them, we do and ought to pay tribute to them, to support them in their office and dignity; and this is done not for fear of trouble, of distress on goods and estate, or imprisonment of person, but for conscience sake: payment of taxes is not a mere matter of prudence, and done to avoid dangerous consequence, but is and ought to be a case of conscience; whatever is anyone's due, and of right belongs to him, conscience dictates it ought to be paid him; as therefore it tells a man, that whatever is God's should be rendered to him, so whatever is Caesar's, should be given him; and indeed to do otherwise, to refuse to pay tribute, or by any fraudulent means to deprive the civil magistrate of his due, is not only to do an injury to him, but to the whole body politic, which has a greater concern therein than he himself; and such a person forfeits all right and claim to his protection:
for they are God's ministers. This is another reason why tribute should be paid them, not only to testify subjection to them, and keep conscience clear, but because they are called unto, and put into this high office by God; for promotion to such honour and high places comes not from east, west, north, or south; but is by the providence of God, who puts down, and sets up at pleasure; they are his vicegerents, they act under him, are in his stead, and represent his majesty; and therefore, in some sort, what is done to them is done to him:
attending continually upon this very thing; not of laying, collecting, and receiving tribute, but of service and ministry under God, for the welfare of their subjects; for rightly to administer the office of magistracy requires great pains, care, diligence, and assiduity; and as great wisdom and thoughtfulness in making laws for the good of the body, so a diligent constant concern to put them in execution, to secure the lives of subjects from cut throats and murderers, and their properties and estates from thieves and robbers; and they are not only obliged diligently to attend to such service at home, but to keep a good lookout abroad, and penetrate into, and watch the designs of foreign enemies, to defend from their invasions, and fight for their country; that the inhabitants thereof may live peaceable and quiet lives, enjoying their respective rights and privileges; and since therefore civil government is a business of so much care, and since our rulers are so solicitous, and constantly concerned for our good, and which cannot be done without great expense, as well as diligence, we ought cheerfully to pay tribute to them.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
6, 7. For, for this cause pay ye—rather, "ye pay"
tribute also—that is, "This is the reason why ye pay the contributions requisite for maintaining the civil government."
for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing—"to this very thing."
Romans 13:6 Additional Commentaries
Submission to Authorities
…5Therefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath, but also for conscience' sake. 6For because of this you also pay taxes, for rulers are servants of God, devoting themselves to this very thing. 7Render to all what is due them: tax to whom tax is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor.
Cross References
Romans 13:5
Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience.
Romans 13:7
Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.
Treasury of Scripture
For for this cause pay you tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually on this very thing.
Ezra 4:13,20 Be it known now to the king, that, if this city be built, and the …
Ezra 6:8 Moreover I make a decree what you shall do to the elders of these …
Nehemiah 5:4 There were also that said, We have borrowed money for the king's …
Matthew 17:24-27 And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received tribute …
Matthew 22:17-21 Tell us therefore, What think you? Is it lawful to give tribute to …
Mark 12:14-17 And when they were come, they say to him, Master, we know that you …
Luke 20:21-26 And they asked him, saying, Master, we know that you say and teach …
Luke 23:2 And they began to accuse him, saying, We found this fellow perverting …
Romans 12:8 Or he that exhorts, on exhortation: he that gives, let him do it …
Exodus 18:13-27 And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses sat to judge the people: …
Deuteronomy 1:9-17 And I spoke to you at that time, saying, I am not able to bear you …
1 Samuel 7:16,17 And he went from year to year in circuit to Bethel, and Gilgal, and …
2 Samuel 8:5 And when the Syrians of Damascus came to succor Hadadezer king of …
1 Chronicles 18:14 So David reigned over all Israel, and executed judgment and justice …
Job 29:7-17 When I went out to the gate through the city, when I prepared my …
Jump to PreviousAccount Attending Authorities Authority Care Cause Continually Devoting Energies Full God's Ministers Officers Pay Really Reason Rulers Servant Servants Service Taxes Tax-Gatherers Themselves Time Times Tribute Work
Jump to NextAccount Attending Authorities Authority Care Cause Continually Devoting Energies Full God's Ministers Officers Pay Really Reason Rulers Servant Servants Service Taxes Tax-Gatherers Themselves Time Times Tribute Work
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Alphabetical: also are authorities because devoting for full give God God's governing is of pay rulers servants taxes the their themselves thing This time to very who why you
NT Letters: Romans 13:6 For this reason you also pay taxes (Rom. Ro) Christian Bible Study Resources, Dictionary, Concordance and Search Tools
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When people describe effective leaders, some qualities come up again and again. Good leaders tend to have charisma, intelligence and conscientiousness in abundance. But according to research by Daniel Ames, the Sanford C. Bernstein & Co. Associate Professor of Leadership and Ethics, that's not true of assertiveness.
Working with then colleague Francis Flynn, now at Stanford University, Ames studied MBA students and their bosses and found that more assertiveness is good only to a point. Whether leaders he studied were seen as either too assertive or not assertive enough, colleagues judged them as less effective than those who got assertiveness just right.
"It's a sort of Goldilocks effect," says Ames, adding that the idea first came from feedback work colleagues were giving students in his leadership class. Some students were hearing, "You need to speak up and stand your ground," while others got the opposite advice — to ease off. So it became obvious that when it comes to assertiveness, people can err in either direction, with only some consistently finding the happy medium between pushing to get their way and kowtowing to the wishes of others.
Less obvious is how that happens. Clearly, low assertiveness can break a leader because failing to stand up for your values and goals gets in the way of getting what you want. But equally damaging is pushing too hard to advance your own agenda. That approach backfires, as Ames's research confirmed, by incurring high social costs. A boss who announces a major organizational decision without consulting the people it will affect, for example, will erode important relationships. And over time, such a domineering style will likely lead to high turnover and undermine the organization's productivity, teamwork and innovation: hardly the stuff of effective leadership.
But while colleagues' reviews often mention flaws in assertiveness, professionals who do get it just right rarely get credit for that skill. In this sense, Ames says, assertiveness is like salt in a sauce: when there's too much or too little, it's hard to notice anything else; the right amount goes unnoticed, but it lets the leader's other "flavors" come through.
If that perfectly assertive leader sounds like you, you may be right — or you may be like most people, who don't know when they're being too tough or not tough enough. It turns out that while plenty of us come across as either bullies or pushovers, "virtually everybody puts themselves in the 'appropriately assertive' category," Ames says. In fact, he believes if we knew we were getting assertiveness wrong, we'd adjust our actions accordingly.
That's because we decide how assertive to act based on our assumptions and predictions about where our actions will lead, according to another of Ames's studies. For example, if people act pushy and overbearing, it may be because they wrongly assume they can push hard before others are disgusted by them. "So it's not that overassertive people are callous jerks and underassertive people have no ambitions about getting their way," explains Ames. Instead, both types may be making inaccurate predictions that are causing them to behave in ineffective ways.
This insight highlights a path for change: if you can just get people to rethink their assumptions, they'll adjust their behavior.


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A small Java
And after all that blather about what a great name "They Must Be Stopped!" was, I have renamed it. Mainly because I changed the aim of the game a bit too much. So I might use the other title next year again for something else
More info coming up shortly, but she's playable anyway:
ps I am pretty sure this is the first NANY app to mention 'gerbils' on its teaser screen.
Playable, and I'll finish it off when I return from holiday in mid-Jan.


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Voters in Missouri are deciding if they want to extend the Bella Vista Bypass into their state. The 19-mile project would be built from Bentonville in to Pineville, MO, which would become a section of Interstate 49.
A three-mile stretch of the Bella Vista Bypass in Hiwasse is complete and being used by drivers.
Arkansas voters approved the half cent sales tax to pay for its part of the two lane $150 million Bella Vista Bypass. However, voters in Missouri are deciding if they want to pay for five miles of the bypass into their state costing them close to $40 million.
If Missouri voters reject the highway tax, the bypass will stop about two miles south of the Arkansas-Missouri border on County Road 34, according to John McLarty, transportation study director for the Northwest Arkansas Regional Planning Commission.
"It's not a road to nowhere, but it would be a road to a county road up in North Arkansas on the west side of Bella Vista," McLarty said. "But it would be much nicer to go to Pineville, MO in the Missouri portion of it."
If the highway tax passes, people will be able to drive from Bentonville into Missouri on interstate 49. The Bella Vista bypass would complete I-49 from Fort Smith to Kansas City.
"It's eventually going to go all the way from Shreveport, Louisiana up to Kansas City, and then even plan to be further North," McLarty said. "It's a major interstate corridor and this is one of the missing pieces of it."
"We are close to having the money to finish it so we'd like to just get the job done," he said.
Interstate 49 ultimately will connect Louisiana all the way to Canada.


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Howry: We listen to, but don't argue with, our readers
Criticism can be healthy
Deputy Opinion Page Editor Mike Craft sent me a couple of e-mails last week that contained several letters to the editor critical of The Star. I was surprised by the volume because we hadn't run any stories that touched on the usual hot issues that prompt an outpouring of criticism: illegal immigration, global warming and growth. There are others, but those are the big three.
The Opinion staff forwards critical letters to me as a courtesy. I don't like surprises, and certainly not surprises in which the criticism points out an error that we have not properly addressed. We welcome critical letters and routinely run them, even when we know the criticism is wrong.
Some time ago, a businessman asked me whether it made good business sense to run critical letters, especially since we seldom, if ever, respond to them in print. I don't think he was convinced by my explanation that a newspaper is not a typical business. I explained to him that we are also a public trust, and our business depends on being an open forum. Our stock in trade is credibility, and there is no credibility when we don't allow our readers to interact, offering differing opinions, ideas and explanations.
There are newspapers that refuse to run letters critical of their coverage or editorial stances. Others, mainly the larger papers, employ an ombudsman to act as a referee in disputes with readers. And there are some that regularly provide rebuttal to criticism in the form of an editor's note that accompanies the critical letter.
I have an editor friend who devotes his weekly column to responding to critical letters. Although he occasionally acknowledges the validity of the criticism, as often as not, he takes on the letter writer and responds in kind. As much as I admire and respect this editor, I don't agree with his approach.
We generally don't rebut criticism for a number of reasons. For one, we simply can't afford an ombudsman. For another, arguing in print with a letter writer is most often unseemly and unfair. It makes us look overly sensitive and defensive and unfairly gives us the last word. That is not what the Opinion pages, and especially the letters to the editor, are about. Credibility depends on fairness.
The main reason we rarely rebut critical letters is grounded in a much more fundamental principle. It is the guiding E.W. Scripps principle as symbolized by the lighthouse logo: "Give light and the people will find their own way." It is our belief that wherever the light is shined, even when it is shined on us, our readers will find the truth for themselves.
This is not meant to be a "look at us, aren't we wonderful" kind of explanation. It is not news to anyone that we make mistakes. It also is not news that our system of acknowledging and correcting mistakes is at times balky and awkward. We don't need to compound matters by engaging in spats with readers to demonstrate our righteousness. If we are to remain faithful to our principles, we must allow our readers to have their say without whining, self-serving explanations, or denials.
We are human, although that might come as news to some, and valid or not, criticism does sting. Yet, we understand that not accepting criticism makes for an unhealthy relationship with our readers and advertising customers and, ultimately, an unsuccessful newspaper, both as a business and a trusted source of information.
As I read the list of critical letters, I was pleasantly surprised for two reasons. The first was that the criticism was all over the board and not one of the hot topics. The second, and far more pleasant realization, was just how engaged readers were with the newspaper. From a lengthy criticism about the depth of our coverage of the National Day of Prayer, to deep disappointment over our lack of coverage of a local science fair, to an accusation that our economic reporting was slanted because of our corporate ownership, the readers demonstrated their relationship with the newspaper is healthy, engaged and ongoing. That is enough to warm any editor's heart.
So, keep those letters coming. The more we are challenged, the more we are forced to think about what we do. The more honest dialogue we have with our readers, the better we become. And be assured, just because we don't respond doesn't mean we aren't listening.
Joe R. Howry is editor of The Star. He can be reached by phone at 437-0200 or by e-mail at firstname.lastname@example.com.
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SOUTHBOROUGH, Mass. - Richard S. Steele, 70, of Yarmouth Port, formerly of Medway and Southborough, died peacefully at the Brigham and Women's Hospital on Saturday, Dec. 15, 2012 from a traumatic brain injury. His wifePatricia (Rocheford) Steele died of cancer in 2008.
He leaves a daughter, Bonnie Gardner and her husband James of Uxbridge; two grandchildren, Ryan and Dylan; his siblings, Edward P. Steele and his wife Ellen of Bonita Springs, FL; James D. Steele of Fort Lauderdale, FL; Jeanne Borggaard and her husband Howard of Shrewsbury; Shirley Steele of Plymouth; and many nieces and nephews.
Born in Worcester, he was the son of the late James McCall and Irene (Jacques) Steele. Richard was a graduate of North High School of Worcester and attended Wentworth Institute of Technology in Boston. Richard was a member of the the Army National Guard in Worcester. He worked for Wellesley College and the Raytheon Company in building design and renovations. Richard spent the last three years of his life on Cape Cod.
Some of Richard's favorite things were sports and the outdoors, especially anything having to do with the water. He was happiest as captain of his own boat as he was an avid boater. Richard was also a very competitive golfer and enjoyed beating family members at the game.
Family and friends may pay their respects at the Morris Funeral Home, 40 Main Street, Southborough, from 10 to 11 a.m. Dec. http://Morrisfuneralparlor.com20 . A Mass of resurrection will follow at 11:30 at St. Mathews Church Highland St., Southborough. Burial will be at the Southborough Rural Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent in Richard's memory to Traumatic Brain Injury at Brigham and Women's Hospital, ATT: Development Office, 116 Huntington Avenue, 5th floor, Boston, MA 02116
To leave words of condolence to the family please visit Morrisfuneralparlor.com


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Pantsless Party Pooper? Verlin's Likely Closed
Categories: Restaurant News & Reviews
|Put your pants back on. Verlin's is closed.
Verlin's gained even more notoriety after Daily RFT published a photo taken there of Lt. Governor, and presumed 2012 gubernatorial candidate, Peter Kinder with bartender Tammy Chapman. Daily RFT later reported that Kinder had been "obsessed" with Chapman in the 1990s, when she was an exotic dancer in Sauget, Illinois. Kinder claimed that he had stopped at Verlins merely to use the bathroom when he ran into Chapman.
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Promote Safety of Pedestrian in Montgomery County
HAWK stands for High-intensity Activated crossWalK signal.
This new signal uses traditional traffic and pedestrian signal heads but in a different configuration
How it works: When not activated, the signal is dark, allowing drivers to freely pass through. It is activated when a pedestrian pushes the walk button. The HAWK signal begins flashing yellow to indicate to drivers someone will be using the crosswalk. It then goes to solid yellow like a typical traffic signal, advising drivers to prepare to stop. The signal then turns solid red, requiring drivers to stop at the crosswalk. Finally, the signal goes to flashing red, letting drivers know that after coming to a complete stop, they can proceed once the pedestrian has crossed safely. The signal then returns to the dark condition.


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|New York @ New Jersey
|90 - 83
|Record: 23-59
Brown, who missed the previous three games with a stomach ailment, let Herb Williams do much of the work in the season finale at the Continental Airlines Arena. The Knicks avoided their first 60-loss season with a 90-83 win over the Atlantic Division champion New Jersey Nets .
"He was giving his input whenever needed, and telling me certain things to do," Williams said. "But for the most part he let me run the show."
Brown did not speak with the media either before or after the game. He was escorted out of the arena by security personnel and members of the Knicks' public relations staff.
Williams said team doctors advised the 65-year-old Brown not to stand too much during the game because of his problem with acid reflux.
"He seemed OK to me, but he was sitting down for the most part," Williams said.
Nate Robinson said it was obvious Brown was back as the Knicks (23-59) snapped a five-game losing streak and won for only the fourth time in 18 games.
"On the side you could hear him yelling your name a lot," Robinson said.
The Nets (49-33) were an accommodating host for Brown, giving starters Jason Kidd , Vince Carter and Nenad Krstic the night off, while playing Richard Jefferson only 18 minutes.
New Jersey will open the playoffs at home against Indiana on Sunday at 1 p.m. EDT. The Pacers clinched the No. 6 seed in the Eastern Conference on Wednesday with an 89-83 win over the Orlando Magic .
"Indiana is a very talented team," said Kidd, who has gotten the last two nights off. "We respect those guys. They have a lot of talent over there. In my mind, they're not a sixth seed. They are one of the top teams in the East. We're going to have to play our best to beat those guys."
Indiana beat New Jersey 2-1 in the season series.
Jamal Crawford led the Knicks with 23 points and 11 assists. Eddy Curry added 18 points and Robinson added 15, including two late 3-pointers that put away the game.
Jacque Vaughn had 15 points and Jefferson 13 for the Nets, who made Williams and Brown sweat a little to avoid the record 60th loss by cutting a 19-point deficit to five in the fourth quarter.
Brown's status for the game was kept a secret until just before the tip-off. He attended the morning shootaround in Greenburgh, N.Y., but Williams ran it. Brown arrived at the arena a couple of hours before the 7:30 p.m. EDT start.
However, the Knicks never indicated whether Brown would coach. About 90 minutes before the game, Williams said he didn't know whether he or Brown would coach.
Brown answered the question himself around 7:32 p.m., walking onto the court in a dark suit. He smiled and greeted Carter with a handshake and a hug.
The crowd seemed oblivious when Brown was introduced as the Knicks coach a couple of minutes later, but that's how this season has gone for New York.
Brown and the Detroit Pistons parted ways after last season and he signed a five-year, $50 million contract to coach the Knicks. It has been an embarrassing season for New York, which has rarely played well as a team.
The 59 losses ties a Knicks' single-season record, the last time in 1985-86.
Brown's all-time worst season as an NBA coach came in 1988-89, when the San Antonio Spurs posted a 21-61 record.
The highlight of the meaningless game was a spectacular alley-oop, fast-break dunk by Robinson with 6:40 left in the third quarter. The NBA's dunk champion caught a pass from Crawford and slammed it home, hanging on the rim for several seconds. It earned him a technical foul.
Nets F Clifford Robinson played in his 1,310 game, taking over seventh place on the NBA's career games played list from Moses Malone. ...The win snapped the Nets' six-game winning streak against the Knicks. It was only New York's fourth win in 22 games against its cross-river rivals.


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|Deliver eye-catching designs for print, web, and devices such as tablets, e-readers, and smartphones using Adobe® Creative Suite® 5.5 Design Premium software, the ultimate toolkit for designing content that captives audiences in multiple media. Create striking images and graphics, design high-impact print and digital publications (including eBooks), construct standards-based HTML5/CSS3 websites, and craft interactive content that is displayed consistently across screens of all sizes. CS5.5 Design Premium combines the latest versions of Adobe Photoshop® Extended, Illustrator,® InDesign,® Dreamweaver,® Flash® Professional, Flash Catalyst,® Fireworks,® and Acrobat® Pro, as well as a complimentary subscription to Adobe CS Live online services. Enjoy creative freedom, precise control, and high-quality production for print, web, and mobile design.
* Adobe online services, including Adobe CS Live Services, are available only to users 13 and older and require agreement to additional terms and Adobe's online privacy policy (available at www.adobe.com/go/terms). Online services are not available in all countries or languages, may require user registration and may be subject to change or discontinuation without notice. Additional fees or subscription charges may apply.
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Time: 9.45AM 4.00PM The Sheila McKechnie Foundation (www.smk.org.uk) is a registered charity that supports campaigners to make an impact. We run a series of one-day introductory level campaign workshops throughout the UK to equip people with the skills to bring about change at a local or national level, supported by the Tudor Trust. We are running workshops in Birmingham and Gloucester in the next few weeks, and would like to invite individuals, charities and community groups who want to learn how to campaign to influence change. The Birmingham workshop, which will be run in partnership with RJF Public Affairs and Regional Action West Midlands, will take place on Friday 22nd March at: Carrs Lane Church Centre, Carrs Lane, Birmingham, B4 7SX (http://goo.gl/maps/pU5UV). The speakers will be: Harmit Kambo, Learning & Development Manager, SMK (Facilitator); Marc Reeves, Partner at RJF Public Affairs and Sion Simon, MP for Birmingham Erdington from 2001-2010. Participants will already be involved at a basic level of campaigning or just about to get started - whether you are challenging local authority social care changes or protesting about climate change - if you want information and advice about the next steps, then this campaign workshop is for you.
These workshops are heavily subsidised but we still require all participants to pay a small fee of £10 to attend. However, if there is a reason you are unable to pay this amount, please email Aura Lehtonen prior to the workshop, briefly explaining your circumstances.
To find out more and to download a registration form, visit www.smk.org.uk/campaign-workshops. If you have any queries, please contact Harmit Kambo on email@example.com or 020 7697 4042 / 020 7697 4040.


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Eye Teaming Problems
Eye Teaming Problems
(Binocular Vision Problems)
What is an eye teaming problem?
It is not enough to have 20/20 vision and be able to see the board or a book clearly. We have two eyes and in order to see properly, we have to use our two eyes together in a very precise and coordinated fashion.
Every time we look at something, we must accurately aim the two eyes directly at the object of concern. Each eye sends an image to part of the brain involved in the process of seeing. This part of the brain called the visual cortex then tries to combine these two images to make one "fused" image. If these images are identical, the result is normal, clear, single vision and a perception of depth. If, however, the two eyes are not performing in a coordinated manner, the visual cortex will receive two different images and will experience double vision.
As you can imagine, double vision is not something a child or an adult can tolerate. It becomes very difficult to function either at school, play or work if double vision occurs.
What types of eye teaming problems can occur?
The two most common types of eye teaming problems are:
- Convergence Insufficiency
Convergence insufficiency is an eye teaming problem in which the eyes have a strong tendency to drift outward when the individual is reading or doing close work. If the eyes actually drift out, the person experiences double vision. To control the eye's tendency to drift, the individual must exert excessive effort to make the eyes turn back inward.
- Convergence Excess
Convergence excess is an eye teaming problem in which the eyes have a strong tendency to drift inward when the individual is reading or doing close work. If the eyes actually drift in, the person experiences double vision. To control the eye's tendency to drift, the individual must exert excessive effort to make the eyes turn back out.
How common are eye teaming problems?
Approximately five to ten percent of children and young adults have eye teaming problems significant enough to cause some of the complaints listed below.
What are problems and symptoms associated with eye teaming issues?
People with eye teaming problems may complain of the following:
- Eyestrain and headaches after reading for a short period of time
- Inability to concentrate when reading
- Short attention span
- Frequent loss of place when reading
- Rubbing or closing an eye
- Words moving on the page
- Good decoding skills, but poor comprehension
Eye teaming problems resulting in these symptoms actually have more of an impact on learning or performance at work or school than vision problems causing a lack of clarity. Unfortunately, most school vision screenings are only designed to detect vision problems which cause a lack of clarity. Very few school screenings even test for eye teaming disorders.
How are eye teaming problems treated?
There are currently two methods used to treat eye teaming problems. Sometimes eyeglasses alone can be prescribed to provide relief from the complaints associated with eye teaming problems. These glasses are usually prescribed for just reading and must be removed for seeing the board. With very young children, who would have trouble removing and putting on the glasses multiple times throughout each day, bifocals can be prescribed. A bifocal allows the child to wear glasses at all times while in school.
Often eyeglasses alone are not sufficient to completely solve eye teaming problems. Although the glasses may provide some relief, the eye teaming problem's symptoms persist and another form of treatment must be used. This is referred to as VISION THERAPY.
Vision therapy is a treatment approach involving weekly office visits. During these visits, carefully selected and sequenced activities are practiced by the patient. This treatment restores normal coordination, flexibility and function to the eye teaming system and leads to improvement of symptoms.
The success of vision therapy has been well documented in scientific literature.
Any other questions can be directed to Karen Pollack:
Monday through Thursday


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Need more information? Our friendly staff can assist you. To get in touch, click here or call (877) 499-7746 (SPINE) for more information or to make an appointment
We'll continue your care after your back surgery as well, should you need inpatient rehabilitation, home-based services or outpatient physical therapy to help you return to a pain-free life. Being a patient with PinnacleHealth, the area's healthcare leader, also means that you have access to the most innovative surgical advances, including:
Artificial Surgical Disc Surgery - Intervertebral discs act as cushions between vertebrae. Age, injury, or disease can cause damage in these discs.This damage to the discs can cause chronic pain and limited mobility which may require disc surgery.
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Laminotomy/Discectomy/Foraminotomy - Minimal Invasive practices are used for these pain relieving procedures.
Lumbar Spinal Fusion Surgery - This treatment is used to relieve pain caused by degenerative disc disease and can be performed endoscopically.


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Temptalia Asks You – Do you consider yourself a beauty addict/junkie?
Do you consider yourself a beauty addict/junkie? Are you just totally all-over makeup? Do you LOVE everything about it? Or do you think you're a little more low-key?
Discussion and debate are highly encouraged, and we expect community members to participate respectfully. When asking a question, please check the FAQ section (above) for information about purchasing, price, dupes, and the like. If you have general feedback or need technical support, please contact us.
Comments that include advertisements, self-promotion, insults, etc. may be in violation of our comment policy and subject to deletion. Please see our comment policy for more information.


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Sisters at the Pfister, A Charitable Affair
First annual Sisters at the Pfister, a Charitable Afffair. It's a day of empowerment for women by women in the elegant atmosphere of Milwaukee's historic Pfister hotel. The Sisters at the Pfister charitable affair will inspire the mind, body and spirit as women join together and unify in their exchange of knowledge on beauty, health and purpose. A memorable affair created by generous support to raise funds for Children's Hospital of Wisconsin and Make-a-Wish foundation® of Wisconsin and to cultivate positive community relations.
Head to www.eeventsmilwaukee.com for more information.
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Find hotels & motels in Oliverea using the list below. Find cheap and discounted hotel/motel rates in or nearby Oliverea, NY for your upcoming personal or group trip. We show the best Oliverea New York hotel/motel rooms. Review the Oliverea hotel list below to find the perfect lodging. We also have a map of the Oliverea hotels. Need 5+ Rooms? Secure Oliverea Group Hotel Rates
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Jennies Gluten Free Bakery, Macaroons, Almond Flavored, 8 oz (226 g) (Discontinued Item)
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Jennies Gluten Free Bakery, Macaroons, Almond Flavored, 8 oz (226 g) (Discontinued Item)
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Shipping Weight
The Shipping Weight includes the product, protective packaging material and the actual shipping box. In addition, the Shipping Weight may be adjusted for the Dimensional Weight (e.g. length, width & height) of a package. It is important to note that certain types of products (e.g. glass containers, liquids, fragile, refrigerated or ice packed) will often require protective packaging material. As such, these products will reflect a higher Shipping Weight compared to the unprotected product.
Product Overview
Sulfite free coconut, organic evaporated cane juice with honey, egg whites, natural flavor. No synthetic color, no artificial flavor and no chemical preservatives.
Contains egg whites and coconut (defined by the FDA as a tree nut).
Baked in a dedicated facility free of: Peanuts, gluten, wheat, casein, lactose, dairy, soy, yeast and sulfites.
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Plugged Up: Doctors See Signs of Worsening Constipation in Children - 10/25/2010
Plugged Up: Doctors See Signs of Worsening Constipation in Children
Hopkins Children's starts new clinic to treat it
Release Date: October 25, 2010
Mild constipation in children is fairly common, but gastroenterologists at Johns Hopkins Children's Center have been seeing what they believe is the start of a troubling trend: more children with more serious and chronic bouts of the condition. Experts attribute the problem to lack of physical activity, inadequate water intake and fiber-poor diets.
Read more: http://www.hopkinschildrens.org/Plugged-Up-Doctors-See-Signs-of-Worsening-Constipation-in-Children.aspx


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Once the euphoria of winning the "Write to Win" contest died, I settled down to dividing my time between other competition entries (honing my ability to write across genres and styles) and finishing "Mitchell's Run". I didn't try to follow the synopsis, just wrote, researching as I went.
The Mountain Cattleman's Association was the first cab off the rank and a phone call from an oil rig in the middle of the Timor Sea worked wonders in opening doors and their annual race meeting was during my next spell ashore.
We went and had a ball.
Armed with new information and insights, the story moved onwards until more questions arose, this time about flying a Cessna into a mountain airfield. A colleague on the rig had an extensive computer setup, which included Microsoft Flight Simulator and I flew the appropriate aircraft into an airfield that closely approximate the one I'd imagined until I could replicate the hero's flying skill (in the computer at least).
The next question was a little more bizarre.
The story begins with the heroine being rescued from a blizzard by Andrew Mitchell and they shelter in a mine until the storm blows itself out. Returning to civilization, the heroine discovers that Andrew Mitchell went missing in the same area a century earlier and she is left with a mystery, which, as a modern young woman, she doesn't believe.
Logically, the body must be found, but I had no idea what a century-old skeleton would look like.
Another phone call from offshore, this time to the Victorian State Mortuary Services (the Coroner's Office) and I found myself talking to a very engaging woman who listened and made suggestions, describing the appearance of the skeleton, the official procedures in such a case, and anything else I cared to ask.
When I came on leave, I armed myself with a box of chocolates and went in search for her, only to find I'd been talking to the top lady in her field of Forensic Pathology.
I've tapped that source of information more than once since and bought her a dinner as well.
"Mitchell's Run" was finished in time for another competition, this time for a five book contract with an emerging Australian publisher, and I won it because the judges thought it felt authentic.
My writing career had begun.


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Schiava: This Northern Italian Red Grape Works Magic
I headed to Alto Adige, in part, to find inspiration again. I'd maneuvered a tough summer, and to be honest, I didn't care about wine much at the moment. "Try to relax and enjoy your trip," my friend told me before I took off. "Italy can do magical things," she promised. More