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Chad Thompson picked up three wins for the Musketeers in Saturday's meet with the RedHawks
Oct. 21, 2012
OXFORD, Ohio - The Xavier University swimming teams dropped a dual meet with Miami (Ohio) on Saturday afternoon despite strong performances from Chad Thompson on the men's side and Mackenna Rife for the women.
"Miami proved to be a very tough opponent today and a few of our swimmers showed fatigue from last night's meet early on," said head coach Brent MacDonald. We woke up after the first break and raced hard the rest of the way to finish with a few wins. We're looking forward to a great week of training after learning a lot from these two meets."
Thompson picked up three victories in individual events, winning the 100- and 200-yard backstroke events and the 400-yard individual medley. The junior blew away the competition in the 400 IM, posting a time of 4:12.18 and winning by more than 10 seconds. Thompson's win in the 200 back was nearly as impressive, beating the competition by over three seconds with a time of 1:54.12.
Knox Hitt and Sam Conchuratt finished one-two in the 100-yard butterfly. Hitt won with a time of 50.94, just two-tenths faster than Conchuratt. Conchuratt picked up another second-place finish in the 200-yard butterfly, before picking up a win the men's 400-yard freestyle relay team. Eric Dirvin, Pablo Morejon and Luke Johanns joined Conchuratt on the relay team, which won with a time of 3:09.98.
Rife opened with a third-place finish in the 1,000 free, but took home points with first-place finishes in the 500 free and 400 IM. Carolyn Stewart narrowly missed out on a victory in the 100-yard back, being out-touched by four-hundredths of a second. Stewart put up a mark of 58.70 in the event.
Xavier will be back in action on Friday, Oct. 26 when Bellarmine visits the O'Connor Sports Center. The meet is scheduled for a 5 p.m. start. This will be the first meet in Bellarmine's history, as the team was formed just this season.


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Facebook film cashes in on social success
The Social Network, a film based on the tumultuous creation of social media outlet Facebook and the rocky relationship of its founders Mark Zuckerberg and Eduardo Savarin has topped the US box office charts following its stateside release last Friday, October 1st.
Despite its chart-topping popularity and attraction to a generation of Facebook users, the film has fallen short of initial expectations taking $23m (£15m) in its opening weekend. The film, which portrays Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg in a predominantly negative light, has been widely praised by critics.
The Social Network, which is based on the Ben Mezrich book 'The Accidental Billionaires' documents the path that led to the creation of the world's most popular social networking website, the confrontations and law suits that have shaped its ownership and the troubled journey this fledgling website has traveled on its route to 500 million users.
Due for release in the UK on October 15th, The Social Network is expected to prove equally popular with a European market as it has in North America.
Are you keen to see The Social Network or have you already been privy to the so called Facebook movie? Share your views, reviews and expectations with us via the T3 Twitter and Facebook feeds.

subset: commoncrawl


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This method "locks" the laces at each eyelet pair. Great for lacing skates tightly because the lower sections hold
while tightening. It also looks interesting, a bit like a giant zipper.
• Begin straight across on the inside (grey section) and out through the bottom eyelets.
• The ends are looped under the laces where they feed under the sides of the shoe.
• Cross the ends, feeding under the sides and out through the next higher set of eyelets.
• Repeat the looping and crossing and feeding out through the next higher eyelets until lacing is completed.
One of the biggest difficulties when tightening shoes is that of keeping the lower sections tight while working
on the upper sections. Zipper Lacing is a bit like tying a half-knot at each eyelet, which holds quite firmly.
This makes it a great lacing for skates, boots, climbing shoes, or any footwear where very firm support is needed.
Same lacing method for shoes with lugs instead of eyelets.
Similar looking method with larger "diamonds" running down the middle.


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Why I Read: The Serious Pleasure of Books (Paperback)
"Reading "Why I Read" delivers all the pleasure of discussing one's favorite books with a marvelously articulate, intelligent, opinionated friend. It's like joining the book club of your dreams."--Francine Prose
"Wendy Lesser's extraordinary alertness, intelligence, and curiosity have made her one of America's most significant cultural critics," writes Stephen Greenblatt. In "Why I Read," she draws on a lifetime of pleasure reading and decades of editing to describe a life lived in and through literature. As Lesser examines work from such perspectives as "Character and Plot," "Novelty," "Grandeur and Intimacy," and "Authority," the reader will discover a definition of literature that is as broad as it is broad-minded. In addition to novels and stories, Lesser explores plays, poems, and essays, along with mysteries, science fiction, and memoirs. Her passion for reading is infectious--and it resonates on every page. Iconoclastic, conversational, and full of insight, "Why I Read" will delight avid readers as well as neophytes in search of sheer literary fun.
About the Author
Wendy Lesser is the author of His Other Half: Men Looking at Women through Art, Pictures at an Execution, and A Director Calls (Faber and Faber, UK, 97), a bio. of Stephen Daldry. Lesser was also editor of Hiding in Plain Sight: Essays in Criticism and Autobiography. Her latest book, The Amateur, is an intellectual biography in which she explores the intersection of art and experience (Pantheon, 99). A winner of the Pen/Nora Magid Award for Magazine Editing in 1997, Lesser lives in California where she is the editor of The Threepenny Review.


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As I rummaged through my old baseball cards Saturday night wondering if ever crossed swords with during their playing days I sadly realized I needed to get out more often.
I mean I'm no "Playa" as they say, but it might be nice to maybe cop some or even just get my .
But alas the game has changed since I was last out there. I'm told I need to "manscape" first which in the old days meant but now just makes you "Metrosexual".
And hey I don't mind doing a little . Especially if it makes my look bigger. Besides I don't want some girl that shows up all so I guess fair is fair.
But I have to make sure I find a nice girl or next thing you know you've got a case of which I believe comes from sleeping with guys with .
Not to mention I'm not into anything kinky. No S&M chick who wants to whip me with a cat o' nine tails or nymphomaniac begging me to please. I mean a little is as far as I'll go.
Heck anyone without a or a will do just fine. In the end though if I could just find a I'd be a . But alas nothing in this so I guess I'll just go back to being a .
No, seriously...True Story...OK, I'll stop now.


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Reports: Hood chooses Duke
After a long wait, it appears Rodney Hood is coming to Duke.
Despite plans to announce his decision earlier in the week, and finally postponing an official announcement until Monday, reports surfaced last night that Mississippi State transfer Rodney Hood has chosen Duke. ESPN recruiting analyst Dave Telep reported the news on Twitter last night, with Hood selecting the Blue Devils over Ohio State.
The Duke sports information department said it is unable to confirm Hood's commitment at this time.
Hood, a 6-foot-8 wing player, averaged 10.3 points and 4.8 rebounds with the Bulldogs last season. He will have to sit out this season due to transfer rules but will have three years of eligibility left beginning in the 2013-2014 season.
Guard Matt Jones is the only other commit Duke has locked up coming in 2013, though the staff has extended scholarship offers to a number of players including the No. 1 and 2 players in the class, Jabari Parker and Julius Randle.


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Pro-quality features for players on a budget.
Constructed of Siam oak for a great sound and professional durability. Premium-quality heads have crisp sound and sensitive response. Contour Crowns with extended collars improve resonance. Rounded edges improve playing comfort. High-tension hooks and lugs make tuning easy and are exceptionally durable. 11" and 10" head sizes. Includes stable and sturdy basket stands.


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WORCESTER, Mass. - TheDailyVoice.com accepts letters to the editor. Signed letters may be emailed to email@example.com.
To the Editor:
As children head back to school, let's prepare them to be successful both in the classroom and on the playground. How best to manage time; the importance of exercising; eating healthy foods and getting enough sleep; studying hard; and how to get along with others, are just a few of the conversations happening around the dinner table as summer rapidly comes to a close. However, there is one important topic that might be overlooked - tobacco.
Most parents are unaware that the tobacco industry is targeting kids. They have begun introducing new products that are cheap and accessible. Snus, chewing tobacco, small cigars, and dissolvable tobacco are just a few of the items on store shelves that carry flavors such as mint, chocolate, and cherry. Some of these items can be purchased for less than a $1!
The tobacco industry knows that in order to stay in business they need to hook young people. Because their bodies and minds are still developing, young people are especially vulnerable to nicotine addiction. Nearly all adult smokers started before they were 18.
What can parents do about this? Talk to your child about tobacco, especially these new and equally dangerous tobacco products. Log on to www.makesmokinghistory.org for more information. As long as the tobacco industry is developing cheap and accessible products marketed toward children we need to remain vigilant as a community.
Tina Grosowsky, Project Coordinator
Central MA Tobacco-Free Community Partnership
A Program of the UMass Medical School
Funded by the MA Tobacco Cessation and Prevention Program


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Jason Segel on People Laughing at Him When He Gets Naked (VIDEO)
Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
Jason Segel stopped by TODAY to discuss The Five-Year Engagement and shared how there's always hysterical laugther whenever he strips down. He also opened up about working with Emily Blunt, growing up, and his scrapped full-frontal scene.
Fall in "Like" with us! For the latest from Wetpaint Entertainment, Like us on Facebook at Facebook.com/Wetpaint, or Follow us on Twitter at Twitter.com/WetpaintTV.


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Model Number'╝Ü KX-181 KX-183
Description'╝ÜCable TV Converter Box
TV System'╝ÜNTSC/PAL/SECAM
This is a professional quality volume-control CATV converter, effectively receives TV signals from 46 to 870 MHz frequency range. It is mainly compatible with old style TV set, which the TV set can be operated by the controller of cable converter, and can receive full channel programs greatly.Also it can be used with most stand-alone decoders/descramblers.
WANSHENG ELECTRONIC CO.,LTD. ADD.: Jiepai Industrial Park, Taizhou Economic Development Zone, Zhejiang Province, China.Tel.:+86-576-88210019, 88206788 Fax.:+86-576-88206512 www.wansan.com.cn Email: email@example.com PC.:318000www.ipreplicawatches.com


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Harry Martindale, right, and Bobby Atkins deliver gifts to young Gabriel Cruz.
Martindale, right, and Atkins sift through letters to Santa. Every letter Martindale read ended up in the "take" pile.
Bicycles, lined up awaiting delivery. Martindale loved giving bicycles to children.
Little Gabriel Cruz gets a new bicycle for Christmas from Martindale and Atkins.
Posted on Thursday, December 20, 2007
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|Crowne Plaza Hotels Aurora hotels are listed below. Search for cheap and discount Crowne Plaza Hotels hotel prices in Aurora, CO for your family, individual or group travels. We list the best Crowne Plaza Hotels Aurora hotels + motels so you can review the Aurora Crowne Plaza Hotels hotel list below to find the perfect place.
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What You Should Know
|Star Rating
|2 or More Patented Ingredients
|Less Than $5 Shipping
|Trial Offer
|Rejuval Skin (2014 Editors Choice)
|Facial Toner
|IQ Derma
|Ahava Age Control Intensive Serum
|Meaningful Beauty
If you are looking for Dead Sea Mineral Skin & Body Care, then you may be interested in Ahava. This is a line of skin care formulations that contains ingredients from the Dead Sea. These key ingredients are claimed to soothe, heal, and nourish the skin. They may even restore a more youthful complexion. The specific product we will look at more closely in this review is Ahava Age Control Intensive Serum. It is available for $65 per ounce, and is okay for all skin types. This is an anti-aging formula that may help renew and rejuvenate your facial skin.
Product Details
Ahava Age Control Intensive Serum is supposed to help improve skin elasticity, boost radiance, enhance circulation, combat damaging free radicals, hydrate the dermis, and reduce wrinkles. While this formula does offer moisturizing benefits, it can be used in conjunction with a daily moisturizer. This serum may help lift and tone your skin, while strengthening the dermis to minimize common signs of aging. When using Ahava Age Control Intensive Serum, you simply apply one or two pumps of this formula to a clean face in the morning and evening.
Rosemary Flower Extract is used in this serum to help improve circulation and skin elasticity. Vitamin C is incorporated to help brighten the complexion and fend off free radical damage. Horsetail Leaf Extract and Osmoter are used in this serum to hydrate the dermis and minimize wrinkles. Grape Seed Extract is incorporated to prevent signs of aging, while Dunaliella Algae reduces fine lines and creases. Vitamin E is also found in Ahava Age Control Intensive Serum, and combats harmful free radicals.
The Good
- Ahava Age Control Intensive Serum is free of parabens.
- This anti-aging treatment is allergy-tested.
- This product can be used in the delicate eye area as well.
The Bad
- Artificial fragrance is used in this serum, which may cause irritation.
- A long list of ingredients is used in this product.
- This anti-aging serum lacks key ingredients for age spots.
- No user feedback is presented on Ahava Age Control Intensive Serum.
- There are alternative anti-aging treatments with more promising ingredients.
The Bottom Line
First and foremost, it is refreshing to see that Ahava Age Control Intensive Serum is free of parabens. After all, these chemical preservatives can irritate some skin types. It is also nice to see that this serum can be used in the delicate eye area. This means it is formulated to be gentle. However, some users may still have allergic reactions to certain ingredients used in Ahava Age Control Intensive Serum. After all, there is a long list of ingredients found in this product. On a final note, artificial fragrance is used in this formula, which may lead to some skin irritation.


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» Majestic Hotel Goa
Majestic Hotel, Goa
Basic Facts
5 Star Hotels
Located at the top of a lush green hillock in front of river Mandovi bridge highway, just four minutes away from the Panjim city.
travel desk, money changer, laundry facilities, dance floor
Other Services
The trip to Goa remains always memorable and special with the majestic and luxurious stay at The Majestic Hotel, Goa. The hotel is strategically located at the top of a lush green hillock in front of river Mandovi bridge highway, just four minutes away from the Panjim city. It provides the guests, a choice for world class leisure and business facilities and a multi cuisine of home.
Accomodation At The Majestic Hotel, Goa:
The Majestic hotel rooms are all air conditioned with ceiling fans, television, mini bar, telephone with direct dial, newspapers and hair dryers. The bathrooms have hot and cold water showers with bathtubs. There is special beauty saloon with spa where ayurvedic message is available. This is accompanied with the health club and gym of its own.
Dining At The Majestic Hotel, Goa:
The majestic offers several dining options such as the Zayka which serves multi cuisine, the Mandovi is the coffee shop, the bar is called Gagar and Angethi is the barbeque.
Other Facilities At The Majestic Hotel, Goa:
The Majestic offers a travel desk, money changer, laundry facilities and safe deposit boxes. It also has conference facilities and meeting rooms, the indoor recreational facilities and indoor games helps for relaxation and recreation. There is also a disc and dance floor for the entertainment of the visitors. There is a free shuttle service to the Panjim city as well.
GoaHub.Com provides easy online booking facilities for The Majestic Hotel, Goa. For more information and to book your stay, please enter your query in the form below.


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In the days after Sept. 11, 2001, thousands poured into Ground Zero to lend their hands in one of the largest recovery efforts in American history.
Construction in New York City screeched to an unexpected halt when workers left their posts to help, and volunteers had to be turned away because their numbers overwhelmed coordinators' ability to manage them all.
Now, 12 years later, colleges are finding ways to channel the same spirit into service projects in their own communities.


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Edited to Add: This article has been corrected. Thankfully Vette's shock collar cannot be used to make her love your male character.
Bioware's The Old Republic has been released to much fanfare and a blitz of publicity, becoming a surprisingly ubiquitous presence in bus shelters and subway adverts, promising the beginning of "Your Saga" on its release date. With a million subscriptions at this point, at least according to EA, The Old Republic is one of the most popular Western MMOs since the release of WoW.
Reviewing it, like reviewing any MMO, is an undertaking that is necessarily caveated; MMOs, in their very structure, are long games that are unending and built to evolve. MMOs are O. Henry's New York: "it'll be a great place if they ever finish it." Reviews of such are thus works-in-eternal-progress as well. With this in mind, I have to say that I am both deeply enticed by this game, concerned about it, and somewhat hopeful for it. In terms of the game's gender politics, there are a couple of glaring issues, and a lot of small ones– if there is a theme for the game's gender problems it's more a "death by a thousand cuts" situation rather than one that beats you over the head with rank misogyny. Gameplay is smooth, and the MMO presents a polished, even refined title whose cleanness is impressive in a game released just two weeks ago. Despite being a clear WoW clone, it also has several distinctions that go well beyond being mere gimmicks.
TOR is best understood as a game of contrasts, polarities as sharp as the Light/Dark side dyad that its narrative so rigidly adheres to.
Let's begin with gender.
A Thousand Cuts
True to Knights of the Old Republic and Bioware fashion, women are shown here in a variety of roles: smugglers, senators, spies, assassins, soldiers, officers, police officers, Jedi, Sith, and so on. Satele Shan, descendant of Bastila (a favourite Jedi character of mine from the first KoTOR game) is not only a prominent figure, but is the Grandmaster of the Jedi Order. On the surface we find nominal equality; most of the outfits in the game are fairly gender-neutral and do not suddenly reveal lots of skin when worn on a woman (there are a small number of exceptions I've observed thusfar).
Character customisation is also fascinating- you can actually select your body type. From waif, to curvy, to tall and huskily built with muscles, women are given a wider range of body types to choose from than we normally find in such games. Men, similarly, can be skinnier and lither than I've often seen them in any video game, another applaudable first for players of male characters who prefer to not be built like a house.
But it is here where the downsides begin, as well. "Curvy" is as far as the slider allows you to go as a woman, while men can cultivate more prodigious girth. Beyond this, we find a range of problems in portrayal of a small sort that begin to add up. As an Imperial Agent you encounter a man who threatens to blow your cover. There are a few ways you can deal with him but one is distinctly gendered- a man Agent can threaten or intimidate him, but if you're a woman Agent that option is replaced by flirtation/sleeping with him. Meanwhile, Sith Warriors get a companion, Vette, a former slave who comes complete with a shock collar. You can actually use the shock collar to break her. (In a prior version of this article I had said that you could actually shock her into "loving" your character; mercifully this turned out to be untrue and I have since corrected the matter.) To my knowledge this is not possible with male companions- although male slaves do abound in the game as well. The treatment of Twi'lek women- who are most visible in TOR as scantily clad dancers and titillating holograms or neon ads- in Star Wars is a rather interesting topic for another time.
In my article "The Twenty Millennia Decade" I discussed Star Wars' unnerving tendency to default to inexplicable patriarchy. TOR persists in this. As a woman Republic Trooper you find people stunned to find a woman in such a position; you can tell them off quite successfully but the fact that this is even positioned as remarkable is very questionable. Yet again we're talking about a high civilisation, cosmopolitan in the extreme, with many millennia of history. But it's still exceptional for a woman to be a soldier?
What Bioware actually excels in is presenting a very proto-feminist vision of women's participation in society where we are shown to be potentially competent at everything but still somewhat tokenised, still just so happening to be fewer in number than our male counterparts. Bioware is good at providing a few feel-good storylines where your woman character or some NPCs overcome misogyny. Wonderful,yes, and I approve of that. But there is a greater issue beyond this: why is the first principle of presumptive patriarchy itself never questioned?
On a related note, this was the game, one should recall, that a Bioware representative once infamously remarked "had no gays." This remains borne out. Just as you see in Skyrim, where heterosexuality is completely universal, TOR presents not even one queer relationship, implied or otherwise. For the player, queer relationships have been promised in a future patch, via new companions, but this again feels tokenising. There is no reason the existing companions cannot be queer. Bioware is often lauded, with some justice, as a progressive developer. But this is as much a function of how terrible other developers are as it is a function of Bioware's own innate liberalism.
People of colour are portrayed well enough, and visibly, and women of colour are included in this- as companions as well as other NPCs. Further, I would even go so far as to say that sex work is portrayed in a somewhat more realistic way here. One quest on Coruscant has you helping a woman who chose to do sex work escape a jealous and abusive boyfriend. But again, presumed patriarchy, etc. etc. The portrayal of women in this game is, overall, reasonably positive if undermined by periodic nonsense that can- depending on how you feel about these things- add up over time. Woman is a way of being human here, except they are straining against an unmarked patriarchy.
Attack of the Clone
Right down to Force spells, rotations, and general feel, this game is a clear analogue of WoW, more than any other MMO I've played– which is saying a fair bit as most tend to hew close to the market leader's form these days. This is not necessarily a demerit, however. WoW's structure is, in some ways, worth emulating and building on. I have, for now, found it to be a familiar and welcoming style of gameplay that- at last- gives me access to a KotOR with real time combat. I love the play style of my Jedi Consular, the lore that surrounds the class, and the specialisation system that gives each class a wide array of play styles.
If the class abilities and general rhythm of the game (go out, quest, loot, turn in quests, sell swag on the auction house and do crafting) mirror WoW to a T, what TOR is proving to excel at is building on this structure in a few interesting ways. In addition to pantomiming WoW's successes, it also borrows something brilliant from Lord of the Rings Online: a main quest storyline. Unlike LoTRO, however, the main quest is different for each class. Divided into "Acts," this storyline system deepens LotRO's innovation and gives each class a truly unique feel that, in my mind at least, provides a springboard for roleplaying.
Class quests are a double edged sword in this regard. For RP purposes it can be hard to sustain the self-aggrandising plot points in each quest. My Jedi Consular is the only Jedi in the galaxy with a certain power- well, her and every other Consular. On the other hand, used creatively the quests can still lend structure to a dedicated RPer's character, and can also help situate them in the Old Republic world.
Others have commented that TOR is WoW-meets-Knights of the Old Republic. A WoW-like questing/levelling structure with a KoTOR-like dialogue and morality system. This is, so far as I have seen, very true. On a personal level, I like it. It provides depth, and in borrowing from Bioware's own pioneering Mass Effect dialogue system, it gives a voice to your character. But it also gives a voice to the game itself, a distinct vibe that takes it past its predecessors and comprises the best example of Bioware's unique imprint.
Furthermore, companions- in addition to being fleshed out characters- are the nexus of crafting, in a wonderfully innovative system that lends much needed texture and granularity to that WoW-rhythm. While I'm doing game-related chores, I can send my companion off on some mission for a small sum of credits that fetches crafting materials of some kind and raises my crafting skills. The crafts themselves- riotously diverse, from Archaeology to Diplomacy to Underworld Trading- provide players with amusing little diversions and multiple paths to crafted goods. Each player also gets their own spaceship, and I credit the developers with giving each (they are apportioned by class, again) a unique and creative feel.
In the spirit of the game's contradictions, it is a painfully obvious clone of WoW, but one that then distinguishes itself: not just from WoW, but from every other MMO I've seen thusfar. The spaceship, related space combat quests, companion system, and even 'small' details like the beauty of the Galaxy Map aboard your ship set to a lovely orchestral theme, the dialogue system, all serve to not only distinguish TOR from its competitors but positively create an atmosphere that can be said to be distinctly TOR. The game has a lot of potential to make its own unique je ne sais quois, an issue many MMOs struggle with. When I did my first space mission, adapting to admittedly loose controls, I felt I'd finally found where The Old Republic truly stands. It touches that precious commodity of uniqueness and holds tight here.
Space. Spaaaaaace!
But there is one area where I wish TOR had imitated WoW more assiduously: space. World of Warcraft presents a contiguous world where not every square inch of space is given over to questing and combat. There are lovely little areas that seem almost made for roleplay, that are designed purely for the beauty of it, to lend verisimilitude and breathing space to the world. TOR, thusfar, lacks these. It continues the tradition of making city-worlds like Coruscant feel maddeningly small. TOR is highly utilitarian when it comes to space, providing a small staging area that foregrounds a field of enemies overpopulating space where other kinds of social interaction could occur.
I should emphasise, however, that it is nowhere near as bad as Warhammer was in this respect, with practically the only settlements worth speaking of being the capitals of each faction. TOR does at least have some places to sit down, as it were, and your spaceship itself could be the setting of any number of personally-driven adventures.
It will be interesting to observe, over time, what players will make of their space here in the Star Wars galaxy. Haunts appear to be emerging on the Republic/Imperial fleets- beautifully designed midway points on your intergalactic travel- where there seems to be more room for social space. The spaceports are also breathtaking: it's hard not to imagine Taris's eventually hosting more than one guild event.
On the question of beauty, the game can often be breathtaking. It's just a pity more of it isn't given to the players' whims- roleplay and otherwise. But can the game, nevertheless, do a better job of encouraging RP than World of Warcraft or Warhammer? It has that potential, not least in regards to the fact that the class quests provide an excellent skeleton from which you can build a character and a backstory. This marks an intriguing trend in MMOs that I will be discussing more thoroughly in regards to Guild Wars 2: giving your character an actual character via the game design itself. This development heralds, I think, the desire to take the "RP" in MMORPG more seriously than we've yet seen. I can hardly say I disapprove.
If nothing else, it provides that much more opportunity for me to be the character I want to see in games like this. Can these new innovations in class-based storylines provide players with more avenues of RP-based resistance? I'm excited to try and find out.
This is, if nothing else, a well oiled, well-functioning game that betrays stunningly few bugs and technical flaws. A remarkable achievement so soon out the gate. The gameplay can become grindy and repetitive, and too much space is lent to level-appropriate combat zones. But the game retains the promise contained in all KotOR games: capturing the spirit of Star Wars in a way George Lucas no longer seems able to. TOR provides, from the start, a fun experience that- so long as one does not completely hate the WoW/EQ structure- should provide at least some worthy diversion. Does it have staying power? It's too early to say. It may yet degenerate into an overly-expanded raiding game, but for now at least the game seems to have a bright future.
What continues to bother me the most in this polished behemoth is the way gender is portrayed in various, small ways. They come close to realising a post-patriarchal gender order, but ultimately seem to opt for a cliched pantomime of our own world. It's rather unbecoming of a game like The Old Republic, the sweep of whose ambition is as vast as the galaxy it's set in. Indeed, TOR represents one of the most significant contenders in the MMO-scape to date, and knowing that such games are built to grow it makes TOR's present, fairly well polished state all the more impressive. It is my hope that it only becomes moreso, and that it takes women and queer people onwards and upwards with it.


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Jun 12, 2013
Learning to see the good in others (Day 61)
How open are we to the good qualities of others?
Twenty years ago today, I was in the middle of a four-month retreat in the mountains inland from Alicante, in Spain. This was the retreat in which I, along with 25 other men, became members of the Triratna Buddhist Order.
It was an amazing experience to be on retreat for so long, and to be studying and practicing the Dharma so intensely. We were living in a valley in simple huts, surrounded by towering limestone cliffs and rugged rock formations that jutted above the gorse-covered earth. We ate outdoors, and meditated in a simple hall which was filled with incense … Read more »
Jun 11, 2013
The "near enemy" of mudita, or joyful appreciation (Day 60)
As I've pointed out before, we shouldn't experience mudita, or joyful appreciation for happiness that arises in others through unskillful actions. If someone feels joy because they just swindled an old lady or robbed a bank, or because they're high on cocaine, those would be forms of joy based on unskillful motivations and actions, and those therefore aren't the kinds of things that we should, in our own turn, feel joyful about.
But here's a trickier one. Someone asked me about joy that's based on luck, or worldly gains: "I know too many folks (above all in the IT field) who stumbled into riches and others who worked themselves to … Read more »
Jun 10, 2013
Aversion: the far enemy of joyful appreciation (Day 59)
I'm sure you can think of days when you've been driven crazy by someone else's good mood. They're happy, and smiling, and bopping around with a spring in their step, and you're inwardly grumbling; "What's he so happy about!" That's what Buddhism calls arati.
Sometimes we're resentful of others' good fortune. I remember to my shame being with some friends when I was in my twenties, when they won the main prize in a raffle — a flight to Paris for the weekend, plus hotel accommodation. Susie, who was one of the people who won the prize, came dancing up to me with her eyes sparkling and a huge … Read more »
Jun 09, 2013
Flooding the body with gratitude (Day 58)
The other day I suggested the practice of noticing our everyday blessings — things like having electricity, running water, shelter, a relatively law-abiding culture — and saying "thank you" for these things. I stressed the importance of actually articulating these words in our minds (although saying them out loud could be even more effective) in order to overcome the mind's negativity bias, where we tend to pay attention to that which we think is going wrong and take for granted and ignore that which is going right.
Today I want to turn that inward, by reiterating a favorite practice of mine, which is of giving thanks to our bodies for … Read more »
Jun 08, 2013
Accepting compliments as a spiritual practice (Day 57)
Are you able to see your own good qualities? Many of us, apparently, have difficulty doing this.
What happens when someone offers you praise for something you've done, or pays you a compliment? What's your response? Obviously this is sometimes very welcome, but lot of people find this to be a rather uncomfortable experience. They mentally or even physically squirm, and offer up self-deprecating rebuttals, saying it wasn't such a big deal, or that someone else could have done it better, or pointing out flaws in what they did. Sometimes people feel like they need to pay a compliment back when they've been given one, as if a burden has … Read more »
Jun 07, 2013
Seven qualities that science says make us happy (Day 56)
The practice of mudita, or appreciative joy, is summed up in these words from the first century:
When one sees or hears that some person's qualities are esteemed by others, and that he is at peace and is joyful, one thinks thus: "Sadhu! Sadhu! May he continue joyful for a long time!"
We're focusing on the good qualities that people have, as well as the peace and joy that those good qualities bring. I want to focus today on those good qualities, so that we may more readily detect them in ourselves and others. We can't rejoice in what we do not see.
Dr. David Myers, professor of psychology at … Read more »
Jun 06, 2013
Guided meditation on mudita (joyful appreciation)
This video was recorded in a Google Plus Hangout earlier today. It's a 50 minute guided session of the mudita bhavana, or development of joyful appreciation, which is the practice we're focusing on in the current 25 days of our 100 Days of Lovingkindness.
Click here to see all the posts from our 100 Days of Lovingkindness.
Jun 06, 2013
There's a crack in everything (Day 55)
This morning I was heading to work and I became aware that I wasn't letting the world in.
Right now in New Hampshire, where I live, it's late spring or early summer, and the trees, of which there are many on my route to work, are resplendent. Last night's rains have left the greens and purples of the leaves rich and saturated, and the world is alive and vibrant. And yet for a few minutes it was as if I was seeing this through a filter that stripped out all the beauty. And in a way I was; the filter was my mind, clouded by preoccupations. With this filter of … Read more »
Jun 05, 2013
"May good qualities and happiness continue and increase" (Day 54)
Yesterday I wrote about how mudita — joyful appreciation — can help us overcome our inherited tendency to pay more attention to the negative than to the positive.
This is important because in the karuna bhavana meditation (developing compassion) we're inherently focusing on things that are, for want of a better word, "wrong" in life. We're focusing on pain and suffering, and the difficult side of life, and this can feed in to our negativity bias. We can, in consciously cultivating compassion, end up over-emphasizing the suffering that's in the world. Now there's no shortage of suffering in the world, but it's not all that there is to existence. In … Read more »
Jun 04, 2013
The conscious evolution of appreciation (Day 53)
The neuropsychologist (and Wildmind contributor) Rick Hanson, Ph.D., is very good at pointing out that our brains have a negativity bias. Our brains, as he puts it, are like velcro for painful experiences and teflon for pleasant experiences. And this bias has arisen because of our evolutionary history: hominins and early humans who ignored potential threats didn't leave many ancestors, and so we're descended from rather "twitchy" forebears who were good at thinking about things that might go wrong.
But now that, for most of us reading this article, our basic needs are largely covered, and so we find ourselves in the situation not of struggling to live, but … Read more »


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The theme for the designers this week is "Latex". See what they have come up with. 2 Contestants don't make the cut this week as we narrow down to three on this edition of Claim The Fame.
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By Pfc. Benjamin Gable, USASpecial to American Forces Press Service
CAMP LIBERTY, Iraq, Feb. 10, 2007 "Snail mail" is quickly becoming a thing of the past for deployed soldiers thanks to the 1st Cavalry Division's commitment to keeping families close through video teleconferences.
"The guys love using the VTC capabilities here, and we stay busy all the time," said Army Staff Sgt. David Beach, a cable system installer with Headquarters, Headquarters Company, Division Special Troops Battalion, 1st Cavalry Division, and noncommissioned officer in charge of the division's VTC program.
VTC isn't new to Iraq. The 1st Cavalry Division furnished the capability in Operation Iraqi Freedom II, almost four years ago. It is used for operational purposes, Family Readiness Group meetings by the command, and to keep soldiers in contact with loved ones back home. Before this option was available, soldiers were forced to wait one to two weeks for a letter in the mail or wait in long lines to use phones.
Though not new, improvements in technology have made VTC operations better.
"Everything is better this time around," said Sgt. Michael Cooper, a common ground station operator with the division's headquarters.
"Now we have a reliable Internet, cell phones and we can sign up to use the VTC to see our friends and family back home," added the Killeen, Texas native. "This is a great benefit for all deployed soldiers."
Using the VTC is simple. It's available to any soldier assigned or attached to a 1st Cavalry Division unit. After a soldier informs his chain of command, arrangements are made with the family in the rear, and a time and date are set. There is typically a short waiting period to allow coordination with the rear detachment. Then, when the time comes, a soldier simply shows up at the division main headquarters between the hours of 10 p.m. and 9 a.m. Each soldier gets 15 minutes to speak with loved ones in the "Stetson Room."
"This is an important tool for soldiers because it builds more morale when they can actually see their loved ones instead of just speaking with them over phone or Internet," said Beach, a native of Chickamauga, Ga.
The program has been a popular one, Beach said. The division main is averaging 40 VTCs a month. Holidays are the busiest times, he added.
Soldiers and family members benefit from the program. "Last time I was deployed I didn't talk to my family for eight months," said Army Staff Sgt. Lorenzo Antley, a military intelligence analyst from Orangeburg, S.C., assigned to the division headquarters.
"Being able to see my wife and children now keeps me motivated and ready to get back in the fight. They also get a chance to see me and know I am doing fine," he added.
Antley said he will continue to use the program throughout the year, making this deployment to Iraq better than his last.
(Army Pfc. Benjamin Gable is assigned to the 7th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment.)


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Texas International Boat Show a family festival on the water
CORPUS CHRISTI - The name says boats but the fourth annual Texas International Boat Show is about the water and all that goes with it.
"There's a lot of things thrown into the mix this year," said Peter Bryant, president of the show. "We've made it more than boats — with a wakeboard tournament, powerboat derby, redfish pro cup and children's art competition — one hullabaloo fun stop for families."
Mayor Joe Adame thanked organizers and sponsors at a Thursday morning opening ceremony.
"Without risk takers, we can't make this city great," Adame said.
There's more vendors this year offering angler luxuries, such as oxygen systems for onboard live-wells, and other gear, said Kristi Peña, spokeswoman for the show.
But there's something for everyone, she said, with classic car displays, hot tubs, and the usual wide array of about 300 boats and yachts on land and in the water.
Among the boats is the Alexa C2, a posh 114-foot yacht equipped with crew and chef for time-share buyers. It is the largest vessel to ever dock in the city marina.
"What a magnificent monster," said Greg Coleman, of Baytown, who celebrated his 54th birthday this week in Corpus Christi. "You have to check it out, in case you ever hit the lottery."
Qualification for Corpus Christi Pro Wakeboard Tournament begins at 11 a.m. Friday.
"It's probably the biggest wakeboard contest in South Texas with $15,000 on the line," said Blake Vorwald, 28, who twisted his left knee Thursday in a practice run. "I'm knocked out of the game," the Dubuque, Iowa, native said before revving a Sea-Doo watercraft to tow last year's winner Tom Fooshee through obstacles made specifically for the event.
"The seawall is great for spectators," Vorwald said.
That same view at Peoples Street T-Head will feature powerboat racing Saturday and Sunday.
Winners of both competitions will be recognized Sunday along with Children's Art Competition winners. West Division HT Redfish Pro Cup Tour awards are at 3 p.m. Saturday.
When: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. today, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday
Where: Corpus Christi Municipal Marina
Cost: Adults/$10; seniors ages 65 and older/$7; children ages 6-14/$3
Information: www.texasinternationalboatshow.com
Subscribe to the Caller-Times
Need Help? Call us at 1-800-566-8098.
Monday-Friday: 6am-3pm / Saturday: 7am-11am / Sunday: 7am-11am


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OKLAHOMA CITY- Families will be hitting the stores this weekend for tax free shopping across the state. It's a great way to save a buck on those back-to-school clothes.
However, there are other things you need to consider in order to make sure you save as much as possible. Tracy Ann Miller says when it comes to back-to-school shopping, going out with a plan is the key to not overspending.
Before heading to the store, take inventory of what you already have at home, including supplies like pens, pencils and clothing.
Miller said, "Get everything out, see what still fits, what someone else can wear. Look at the clothes from the viewpoint of what do we really need."
Also, set a budget and stick to it. If that fancy notebook doesn't fit the budget, have your child chip in if it is that important.
Miller said, "When they have to be a part of the process, it's a great way to help them learn how budgeting works."
She also stresses that while it's good to save, cheaper is not always better.
Miller said, "If you buy a high quality backpack, it will last several years or can be passed down to a sibling."
While most items, like pencils or glue sticks, don't vary much in price from one store to the next, bigger items, like specialty calculators, may.
For those items, Miller recommends using an app on your phone to compare prices. You should also consider buying used.
Miller said, "Sometimes there are people you work with that have things they didn't use or that are excess."
Second-hand items often are barely used and can really save you a lot.
While this weekend is a tax free holiday in Oklahoma, it does not include everything.
However, it does include clothing that is individually priced under $100.


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Yes I believe u could do that
Sent from my GT-I9100 using WiiHacks
So I have my game's iso (Luigi's Mansion) and I followed all the steps but it's still not showing up in NeoGamma. What could be wrong?
I figured out my problem the games just load suuuuuuuper slow so I guess i need some new sd cards
When I install my wad file from the package with wad manager 1.7 (IOS249), the line "Load GC games with DML." doesn't even appear in NeoGamma (only from SD/SDHC, from USB, from DVD). I have a PAL Wii (4.3E). NeoGamma version R9 b53, d2x56v8final (249). I installed a game wad (Duke Nukem 64) succesfully before. What did I do wrong?
Last edited by bigwiihacking; 04-03-2012 at 02:55 AM.
Try running neogamma from the hbcOriginally Posted by bigwiihacking
Sent from my GT-I9100 using WiiHacks
It must be the revision of neogamma that u r using, it will have nothing to do with the dml .wad file which is only for installing custom ios
Sent from my GT-I9100 using WiiHacks
Neogamma still won't recognize my games. I tried using Wiiflow and Configuarable USB but it didn't work either. They wouldn't even load.
It's hard to determine the problem, it could be your sd card, it could be the way it's formatted, it could be the game itself, it could even be a corrupt cios installs. The fact that on neogamma that u aren't even getting the option leads me to believe that u don't have the correct version installed, but u say u do. Look around the thread u are the only person with this issueOriginally Posted by wegieman2
Sent from my GT-I9100 using WiiHacks
Last edited by Pob3008; 04-03-2012 at 09:59 AM.
Are you using the modified CFG given in the first page? Are you using DiskEX properly and moving all output from it into the SD:/Games directory on your card?
The fact that none of the loaders are seeing the data hints that the data itself is incorrect.


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Sermons 1/25/2013
Encourage your pastor to tell us the upcoming week's sermon topic. It's FREE, and it's open to churches throughout the Big Country. Email it to email@example.com by 2 p.m. each Monday. Please put "sermon" in the subject line. Include the topic, who will deliver it, a short synopsis, when services begin and the name and street address of your place of worship.
Baker Heights Church of Christ, 5382 Texas Ave.
Services: 10 a.m. Sunday
Speaker: Wes McAdams
Topic: "Walking by the Spirit" (Galatians 5:16-18)
Synopsis: Join us for the uplifting final Sunday of our series on Galatians. We will discuss what it means to "walk by the Spirit." How do Christians walk by the Spirit? What are the results of walking by the Spirit? We look forward to exploring these questions with you on Sunday.
Belmont Baptist Church, 2117 Palm St.
Services: 10:45 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Sunday
Speaker: Jimmy Griffith
Topic: (a.m.) "Life is Sacred" (Jeremiah 1:4-5); (p.m.) "Passing the Buck" (Exodus 32:19-24)
Synopsis: (a.m.) Last Tuesday marked the 40th anniversary of the infamous Roe v. Wade decision by our Supreme Court. The court ruled that a woman had a constitutional right to abort a baby, on demand, during the first three months of her pregnancy. Other rulings have made it legal to abort a baby through the ninth month of pregnancy, including partial birth abortions. Since that time, more than 50 million unborn babies have been legally murdered in our country. Many of us believe that all of life, from beginning to end, is sacred. The Bible teaches that, and it also teaches that there is forgiveness for those who violate God's laws. I John 1:9 tells us, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." If you have had an abortion or been involved in one, seek the forgiveness of God. There is healing through the blood of Christ. (p.m.) Will Rogers once said that the history of America will be written in three phrases: the passing of the Indian, the passing of the buffalo and the passing of the buck. Passing of the buck started in the Garden of Eden. After Adam and Eve had eaten of the forbidden fruit and were confronted by God, Adam blamed it on Eve. Eve blamed it on the serpent, but God held all three accountable. We must learn to accept responsibility for our actions.
Brook Hollow Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), 2310 S. Willis St.
Services: 10:10 a.m. Sunday
Speaker: David Hargrave
Topic: "Now Hear the Word of the Lord . . ." (I Corinthians 12:12-27)
Synopsis: Continuing in our closer look at Paul's first letter to the Corinthian church, we look at Paul's masterful metaphor of the church as the Body of Christ. One perspective with which we can see that body is that of the connective nature of all the various parts of the body, the interdependence that one part has on another. Does that perspective lead us to an important question? Just how interdependent are we members of Christ's body on one another?
Episcopal Church of the Heavenly Rest, 602 Meander St.
Services: 8 and 10:45 a.m. Sunday
Speaker: N. Luke Back
Topic: "The Third Sunday After the Epiphany" (Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10; 1 Corinthians 12:12-31a; Luke 4:14-21)
Synopsis: In our Gospel story, Jesus returns to Galilee and enters the synagogue in Nazareth, where He gives what has been called His inaugural sermon.
First Christian Church, Fourth and Elm streets, Colorado City
Services: 11 a.m. Sunday
Speaker: Monte Wike
Topic: "Strange Memorials to Jesus"
Synopsis: The woman who broke the box alabaster ointment on the feet of Jesus and then wiped her tears from His feet with her hair is among those who are remembered by their strange acts of worship. The disciples complained about how costly, ridiculous and inappropriate her display was. Another woman touched the hem of His garment even though she was polluted in blood. She is immortalized in the words "the hem of His garment." Worship can be directed or spontaneous, public or private. It just needs to be sincere and very personal.
Grace Lutheran Church, 1202 S. Pioneer Drive
Services: 10:15 a.m. Sunday
Speaker: Douglas Dirks
Topic: "Third Sunday After Epiphany" (Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10; Psalm 19; 1 Corinthians 12:12-31a; Luke 4:14-21)
Synopsis: The glory of the Lord is revealed in the reading of scripture. People stand at attention. People weep. People prostrate themselves in prayer. The unity of the church is another reflection of the glory of God. Most gloriously, the promises of God are fulfilled in the person of Jesus Christ. Gather round. Listen up. Glimpse the glory of God.
Iglesia Biblica de Abilene, 2801 N. Third St.
Services: 11 a.m. (servicios en Espanol)
Speaker: Carlos Lopez
Topic: "Dios Nuestra Priordad (God is Our Priority)"
Synopsis: Como cristianos debemos a aprender a vivir de prioridades y entender que el primer lugar en nuestras vidas debe de ser ocupado por Dios, primer lugar en nuestro pensamiento, en nuestra manera de actuar y nuestra manera de servir. (As Christians, we must learn to live of priorities and understand that the first place in our lives must be occupied by God, first and foremost in our thinking, our way of living and our way of serving.)
Lawn Church of Christ, 6217 U.S. Highway 84
Services: 11 a.m. Sunday
Speaker: Mike Hardaway
Topic: "Parables of Salvation" (Matthew 20:1-16)
Synopsis: Jesus had just told His disciples in Matthew 19:30, "But many who are first will be last, and the last, first." He then illustrated this statement with an interesting parable concerning workers in a vineyard. A landowner hired laborers early in the morning to work in his vineyard. He later hired more laborers at 9 a.m., noon, 3 p.m., and 5 p.m. At the end of the workday, the laborers were all paid exactly the same amount. Was that fair? What is the lesson Jesus intended to teach us? Come this Sunday and discover for yourself.
Oldham Lane Church of Christ, 5049 Oldham Lane
Services: 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Sunday
Speaker: Chris McCurley
Topic: "Ties that Bind: Selflessness"
Synopsis: Being a disciple demands a choice, a choice between selfishness or selflessness. Being a true follower demands that we set aside self for the sake of serving God and others.
Plainview Church of Christ of Colorado City, State Highway 163 three miles south of Colorado City
Services: 11 a.m. Sunday
Speaker: Larry Fitzgerald
Topic: "'Why Jesus?' Lesson 3, 'Why?'"
Synopsis: Why are so many lives being ruined? Why is every nation on earth facing such tragic and dire circumstances? Why does it seem that the world is coming apart at the seams? It is because people are turning their backs on Jesus. The real question here is: Why Jesus?
Subscribe to the Reporter-News
Need Help? Call us at 1-877-710-6183.
Monday-Friday: 6am-5pm / Saturday: 6am-11am / Sunday: 6am-1pm


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You in a Song on MusicBrainz
Jason Reeves on Last.fm
Jason Reeves (born July 1, 1984, in Arlington, Texas) is an American singer-songwriter and musician. In 2005 he relocated to California where he began a long-standing working relationship with producer Mikal Blue and singer Colbie Caillat. He has co-written many songs with Caillat, most notably the songs "Bubbly", "Realize" and "I Never Told You". "Bubbly" has been Reeves most successful work to date, hitting #1 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary charts, #5 on the Hot 100 and being certified Platinum (along with "Realize") by the RIAA.
Read more about Jason Reeves on Last.fm.
Also from this album:
Reaching,Entwined,Photographs and Memories,Someone Somewhere,The End,Just Friends,New Hampshire,Never Find Again,Old Fashioned Letters,Happy Accident,Hearts Are Magnets,Pretty Eyes,Gasoline,Sunbeam Lights,The Fragrant Taste of Rain


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[useless/zealotry] From: WMP Tag Plus - MPEG4, Vorbis and FLAC metadat, From Topic ID: 75123
- No Warez. This includes warez links, cracks and/or requests for help in getting illegal software or copyrighted music tracks!
- No Spamming or Trolling on the boards, this includes useless posts, trying to only increase post count or trying to deliberately create a flame war.
- No Hateful or Disrespectful posts. This includes: bashing, name-calling or insults directed at a board member.
- Click here for complete Hydrogenaudio Terms of Service
[useless/zealotry] From: WMP Tag Plus - MPEG4, Vorbis and FLAC metadat, From Topic ID: 75123
Jun 12 2012, 01:40
Post #1
Group: Members
Posts: 61
Joined: 21-May 06
Member No.: 31014
The following question to Tim is perhaps not directly related to WMP Tag Plus...
By default WMP loads M4A tracks into the "Other Media" folder. And in WMP Tag Plus you did some magic to persuade WMP that M4A files shall be loaded into the "Music" folder instead.
And also by default WMP loads AIFF tracks into the "Other Media" folder too. This is odd, because WMP can in fact natively play AIFF tracks. So my question is how would one apply the same magic that you used on M4A files to persuade WMP also that AIFF files shall be loaded into the "Music" folder?
Why do you need to use AIFF?
Originally (along time ago in a galaxy far, far away) there was a justification in that originally WMP could play AIFF but could not play ALAC and if you wanted to share lossless music between iTunes and WMP then it was probably your only choice of format. However I spent a lot of time finding a way to get WMP to play ALAC which it now does perfectly and thanks to Tim now even reads the embedded artwork. (Yes I am the person who came up with the solution that lead to the ALAC directshow filter for WMP.)
As ALAC is also lossless and therefore identical audio quality to AIFF but has better meta-tag support, smaller file size, and wider support by hardware and software I can no longer see any real need to consider AIFF, or WAV, or FLAC for that matter. By the way to open-source fascists, ALAC is now officially open-source itself. See http://alac.macosforge.org/
I have my entire library in ALAC, it can play in WMP, iTunes (duh!), Windows Media Center, XBMC, VLC, Foobar 2000, WinAmp, dbPowerAmp, etc., and on devices from Sonos, Roku, Logitech and Apple (duh!). It can even be auto downscaled to AAC during syncing to iPod, iPhone, etc. devices without having to keep two copies.
If Microsoft had any sense they would add built-in support for ALAC to Windows 8 (or WMP 13 or whatever) which they can now easily do since ALAC is now open-source.
Jun 12 2012, 06:53
Post #2
Group: Members
Posts: 84
Joined: 12-May 08
Member No.: 53478
AndrewFG (Whitebear -- http://www.whitebear.ch/mediaserver )
Jun 12 2012, 08:49
Post #3
Group: Super Moderator
Posts: 5275
Joined: 23-June 06
Member No.: 32180
Appreciating functionality ≠ having to use it. Your monologue contributes nothing. This is not helped by your zealotry both for ALAC and against OSS (fascists, really? people still say that? ).
|Lo-Fi Version
|Time is now: 29th July 2015 - 02:46


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Almost There!!
The kids have a lot of questions about the upcoming Wax Museum, on Wednesday, May 30th. Let me give everyone a run-down…
At school, we have been doing research to write an old-fashioned biography book report. Our report will be on display during our Wax Museum. We created portraits of our characters during Arts Alive.
At home, students are preparing to "become" their characters… They are designing some type of appropriate costume, choosing 3 relevant props to go on display, and are preparing a speech. All students should attempt to memorize their speech before the 30th. It is much more interesting to listen to a presentation that has been practiced many times J .
This week's homework will be scaled back, in order to give students plenty of time to prepare. Please be sure that your child takes this opportunity to work hard. Everyone's speech should be completely written in the next day or so, so we can spend time practicing during class time. Bring it to school, I'll copy it for you and am happy to review it and give feedback, too.
On Tuesday the 29th, we will have an in-class dress rehearsal. We will record talks on that day. Bring everything you need!!
On Wednesday the 30th we have a daytime (full costume) performance. Students should BRING their costumes for daytime rehearsals & performances. The evening of May 30, we will have our final performance at 6:30pm. Students should WEAR their costumes, and arrive a bit early to be set up and ready to go. Bring a water bottle for all performances.
Questions?? Let me know!
What's to Come:
If you are able to drive for the upcoming field trip (JUNE 8!!!!!), please let me know. We are close to having enough drivers! Yaay!!
Be sure to visit the blog to see the 6-part series documenting our Books for Babies project. We enjoyed the Mullen-Hall Helping Hands Day. Hopefully your not-so- little 3rd grader filled you in! I promised them copies of our CD before year's-end. Hang in there!
Our "Blogoversary" is in 13 days. Last year our goal was 10,000 visitors and we reached it. This year, I hoped for 20,000. It looks like we'll be at 50,000!! WOW!!! Stop by, look around and leave a comment saying "Hi!"
Stand Tall, Mrs. Brooks
I'm on a roll with Sesame Street (can you blame me? They are wonderful!!!) – this is Bruno Mars with a great message for my hard working Wax-Museum-ers…. Don't Give Up!


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Posted 3 years ago
By Post Staff
Omaha-based ConAgra Foods is buying St. Louis-based Ralcorp Holdings Inc…originally part of Ralston-Purina…for $5-billion dollars. The combined company will have 36,000 workers and total sales of about $18 billion a year.
The agreement ends 20 months of ConAgra trying to get RalCorp…following the rejection of offers of $82, $86, and $94 a share. This deal is for $90 per share, a 28% premium on RalCorp's Monday closing price of $70.23. The companies put the transaction's value at about $6.8 billion when debt is included.
The deal was unanimously approved by the boards of both companies, but still needs Ralcorp shareholder approval. It's expected to close by March 31.
Ralcorp Food Group makes pasta, cereal, snacks, sauces, peanut butter, jelly, mayonnaise, frozen waffles, pancakes and dough. While the deal brings ConAgra some brand names, ConAgra CEO Gary Rodkin says the key to the deal is the private label items it makes for retailers such as Trade Joe's and Costco.
ConAgra Foods will now be North America's biggest manufacturer of store-brand packaged foods such as cereals, crackers and condiments.
Rodkin says with the acquisition, ConAgra expects to get 25% of its future sales from private label, 43% from branded food and 32% from commercial and food service.
ConAgra has been on a buying spree the past 2 years, spending just over a billion dollars to add National Pretzel, Bertolli frozen meals and Del Monte Canada to its list of brands that includes Hunt's, Banquet, Chef Boyardee and Marie Callender's


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While the injury to Theo Walcott would have slightly marred England's excellent 3-1 win in Basel, it did give Manchester City winger Adam Johnson a chance to enhance his ever growing reputation. The former Middlesbrough man did just that with … Continue reading
When Shaun Wright Phillips appeared as second half substitute against Switzerland, he was probably hoping that an impressive display could kick-start his club season. But things didn't go according to plan for the Manchester City winger and a below par … Continue reading
It was often said through out much of the last ten years that England's midfield was its strongest point. With Beckham in his pomp and Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard ably assisted by a constant rotation of players wedged in … Continue reading
Chelsea is a machine. Indestructible. Precise. Physical. Flawless. Arsenal is the total opposite. They're more fluid, and play a beautiful brand of football that is easy on the eye. When the two opposing forces came together on Sunday afternoon, few … Continue reading
Just when Arsene Wenger thought his injury problems were behind him, with Theo Walcott looking likely to return to first team action this week, Nicklas Bendtner decides to off road in his Aston Martin on the way to training on … Continue reading
On Wednesday night, Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate became incensed when Man City's Shaun Wright-Phillips dived to win a foul. After the dimunitive star was substituted, Southgate and Wright-Phillips got into a verbal spat that resulted in SWP giving the two-fingered … Continue reading
The way Chelsea Football Club ruined Shaun Wright-Phillips is a travesty. Go back in time to 2005 and the dimunitive winger was tearing down the right wing at the City Of Manchester Stadium. The player was such a joy to … Continue reading


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I had acquired this from Sephora last summer when I went to the US, when the Aqua Creams were pretty new in Malaysia and they didn't have all the shades (22 of them, if I am not mistaken) in at the counters yet. Of course, by now, I am sure Make Up For Ever(MUFE) Malaysia would have all the shades, especially their counter in Sephora Malaysia. I don't know, as I still haven't the chance to step into Sephora Malaysia yet. Can't wait to go home to Malaysia.....oh, did I just say that? ;) Yes, I am missing Malaysia, especially all the food glorious food, and also MAC!!!! Yes, MAC is such a rare species in the UK countryside! :( And Princess has been asking us to bring her back to Malaysia as she misses her ah ma(grandma) and yiyi(aunt) very much.
OK, back to MUFE Aqua Cream #5......
It is a multi-tasking product that can be used for the eyes, cheeks and lips. But on the box of #5, it states that for 'lips & cheeks'. I suppose it shouldn't be a problem to apply it on the eyes if you like such shades for your eyes. And it's supposed to be waterproof, crease-proof and smudge-proof too, I presume. I tried it out on my cheeks, and yes, it indeed last all day on my cheeks, more than 10 hours, from morning till night. I tried once on my lips some time back, but the texture is not so easy to apply on my lips. I'll talk about its usage on the lips in another post. Let's concentrate on this as a blush first. From the description on the box, it contains a high concentration of mother of pearl.
The texture is soft yet firm. It doesn't swipe as creamy, but soft enough to be swiped and blended out. But the time taken for this to set/dry is merely few seconds. I would say 5-8 seconds max. I applied this using my fingers, as I think the warmth of my fingers would 'melt' the product slightly, making it easier to blend on my cheeks.
When swiped, the product tends to clump slightly, as you can see in the swatches below, making its blendability less easy. I said, less easy, but it's not by any means, difficult to blend. I didn't get it right the first time with some clumps of shade setting on my cheeks before I could blend it out completely. But with practice, I managed to blend it out in time before it sets (see my cheek swatches below).
As mentioned earlier, it lasted all day on my cheeks, that's like more than 10 hours and still looking fresh. And it's easily removed with my Korres makeup remover, and also Shu Uemura Cleansing Oil (on different occasions, of course).
(under natural daylight; left - by the window; right - at my desk)
Notice the clumps of product on the lower part of the swatch.
The photos taken by the window appear slightly washed out.
(under natural daylight; above - at my desk; below - by the window)
This costs USD22 (6g of product) in the US. In Malaysia, I think it costs RM97 (if the price has not changed since the last time I inquired at the end of last year).
Brows: Benefit Silky Powder Eyeshadow in fishnets
Eyes: Boots No.7 Stay Perfect Eye Mousse in Fudge on the lids
Cheeks: MUFE Aqua Cream #5
Lips: I don't remember, but it looked purplish, may be it's MAC Indigo Pink Lipglass from Jeanius Collection.
Face: I don't remember, could be a combination of Clinique Age Defense BB cream and Dodo Cosmetics 2-way cake.


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Q: What comes out of an erect penis?
A: Wrinkles!
A: Wrinkles!
- What's the best thing to come out of a penis? The wrinkles.
- Q: What's the best thing to come out of a dick? A: The wrinkles.
- Q: What is a vagina? A: It's the box a penis comes in.
- What's Irish and comes out in the Spring? Paddy O'Furniture.
- Q: What's the difference between a penis and a bonus? A: Your wife will blow your bonus.
- Q. What do the Rubiks cube and a penis have in common?
A. The longer you play with it, the harder it gets....
- Q: What do they call a black man with a white penis?
A: A polish coal miner who's been home for lunch....
- Q: What is the difference between a paycheck and a penis?
A: You can always find a girl who'll blow your paycheck for you....


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- Home
- Metal Polish - How To Polish Metal - Tips From Eastwood
Polishing a Piece of Hardware
One neat trick for polishing a screw, bolt or other piece of hardware that will be seen is to chuck the threaded end into your drill. You can then spin it up and push the head against a soft wire brush, buffing cloth, piece of leather, etc. to get a great shine.
Second Chance Garage, THE Online Auto Restoration Resource. We show you how to take it apart, fix it up, and put it back together...all while having fun doing it. Subscribe today and get access to How-To's, Auto-Biographies, Beginner's Corner, Auto Theory, Monthly Tips, Dr. Crankshaft, and many Feature articles. All written by those who have done it for those who are doing it!
Because Eastwood/Second Chance Garage have no control over component design, processes, procedures, or over the qualifications of any user of information presented in this website, in no event will Eastwood or Second Chance Garage LLC be liable for any direct, indirect, special, or consequential damages, included but not limited to personal injury or any other damages arising out of the use or misuse of any information presented in this website.


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Centrally located amidst the city�s chaotic streets yet having a tranquil ambiance, hotel Mayura is unconditionally dedicated to service.
Golden Tulip is located at one of the prime locations on VIP Road in Raipur and is approximately 06 kms from the airport and 07 kms from the railway station.
Hotel Piccadilly is a 4-star hotel known for its high standards of services and unmatched hospitality. Located at just 3 kms from the city center, 5 kms
Grand International is conveniently located in Raipur approximately 1/4 km from the Railway Station, 01 km from the bus stand and 14 km from the airport.
Located 1.5 km from the railway station, 1 km from the bus stand and 15 km from the airport is Hotel Celebration that excels in offering the guests a feeling
On a trip to Raipur, you can certainly experience the exquisite feel of the city by putting up at Hotel Aditya, a centrally air-conditioned luxury hotel.
Find great deals on quality Raipur, India hotels & resorts, or indulge at one of our luxury resorts. Take advantage of the many amenities that can be included with your stay such as in-room internet access, wifi, room service, fitness center, pool, hot tub, steam room, and shuttle services to and from the airport. Browse our Raipur, India hotels and resorts and plan your Raipur, India vacation today!


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It is always tricky to get a student to a just right place when doing a teacher directed/focused activity. I love brainstorming sensory calming activities and strength building to help aid is legible handwriting techniques.
Website: http://spotandfreckleslearn.com
Members: 37
Latest Activity: Mar 13, 2014
I made a weighted blanket for my sister to use as a sensory tool with her son, and posted a…Continue
Started by MaryAnne K Mar 5, 2013.
Let's share our ideas about movement in the classroom. What are your favorite movement break ideas?Thank you,Jo-AnneContinue
Started by joannedegiacomopetrie. Last reply by joannedegiacomopetrie Sep 3, 2012.
Hello everyone! I'm a newbie to this community. As a reading specialist I get to work with a lot of children with sensory needs. Most importantly I'm a momma to a creative 6 year old who has developmental delays in speech and language and has several sensory disorders. I look forward to sharing and learning from this group!
Please check out the "How does your Engine Run" - Alert program. I took the workshop 2 years ago. It was amazing! Additionally, Dr. Ayer's books are a wonderful resource. Good Luck this schoolyear!
Thanks to all for sharing their experiences with SI. I am a teacher of 3s and 4s, and I feel we are seeing increasing numbers of children who need support in this area. I want to learn all I can and find new resources for our children and their families. We have some good private practices that screen for various SI disorder and provide different types of treatment - mainly OT and PT. Our school district, however, doesn't recognize SI yet for screening. I am hopeful reading that some school districts do. Thanks again to all in this forum!!!!
Meg, I am sorry about your struggles. You are certainly doing everything for your son. I do not know of any clothing catalogs you can look into but will try to find some information for you. A great catalog for materials is Therapro.com where I have my book. Best of Luck!
Hi. I just joined. I just joined because after a meeting yesterday with my child's preschool, it was suggested he may have sensory integration issues. I am a fairly new blogger, & just posted about it as well:
I would really appreciate any and all suggestions. This is all very new to me...
Welcome New Members. I will be writing a new message this weekend. Does anyone want information regarding a specific topic?
Have a good night!
I hope this e mail finds you all well. I am putting the finishing touches on my workbooks for the Spot and Freckles Learn line, and am amazed how many little details there are. One thing that struck me the most as I was tediously noting every detail, is the need and importance for lines on paper. I am a firm believer that children should use tripple lined paper until, and only until they know letters can go into 3 categories; smalls, talls, and tails.
Thursday, I was working with my rising second grader (I have been tutoring him since November). He finially mastered my line rule, but when he wanted to get our next activity ready he started writing on the part of the paper with no lines. He did not properly end the prior assignment before speeding to what was next. He had not properly transitioned between activities. He was clearly unregulated, disorganized, and his "engine" was clearly running too fast!
OK. I had him stop what he was doing, and breathe, I reviewed with him the assignment he had just completed, had him touch the paper with his pointer finger, then had him high five me to indicate completion. I then them prompted him start the assignment over again; to adjust him mind/body speed, and write between the lines.
Below, you can see the assignment when my student was unregulated and regulated. It only takes minutes to implement regulatory strategies, this is proof to take the time, see the results, and help children to succeed. Our world whirls; fast. Help your children to self implement strategies to slow down, breathe and transition to the next activity when they are at a "just right place". Also remember the importance of noting visual cues the lines in this case!.
Have a wonderful Sunday!
I am currently staying home with my two year old son. I previously taught elementary school and worked with special needs children through integration. I know how much sensory integration is for all children and have an interest in learning more about how to in incorporate it into all areas.
© 2015 Created by teachmama--amy.


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Quality child care is becoming increasingly difficult to afford for working families
ARLINGTON, VA-- According to a report released today by Child Care Aware® of America (formerly NACCRRA, the National Association of Child Care Resource & Referral Agencies), the cost of child care continues to increase while families struggle to afford quality care. Parents and the High Cost of Child Care: 2012 Report provides results from a survey of Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) State Networks and local agencies, which asked for the average fees charged by child care programs in 2011.
The report provides the average cost of child care in 2011 for infants, 4-year-olds, and school-age children in centers and family child care homes nationwide. It shows that in 36 states (including the District of Columbia), the average annual cost for center-based care for an infant was higher than a year's in-state tuition and related fees at a four-year public college. In every state and the District of Columbia, center-based child care costs for two children (an infant and a 4-year-old) exceeded annual average rent payments.
"Families need child care in order to work," said Ollie M. Smith, Child Care Aware® of America's Interim Executive Director. "But, child care today is simply unaffordable for too many families. This is not a low income issue. Families at nearly every income -- except for the very wealthy -- struggle with the cost of child care."
According to the report, in 2011, the average annual cost of full-time child care for an infant in a center ranged from about $4,600 in Mississippi to nearly $15,000 in Massachusetts. The average annual cost of full-time care for a 4-year-old child in a center ranged from about $3,900 in Mississippi to nearly $11,700 in Massachusetts. In New York, parents of school-age children paid nearly $11,000 a year for part-time care in a center. The report also found that in 2011, the average annual cost of full-time care for an infant in a family child care home ranged from $4,500 in South Carolina to nearly $10,400 in New York. The average annual cost for a 4-year-old in a family child care home ranged from $4,100 in South Carolina to about $9,600 in New York.
The report ranks the 10 least-affordable states for center care based on the cost of child care as a percentage of state median income for a two-parent family. The 10 least affordable states (in ranked order) for full-time center-based infant care in 2011 were: New York, Minnesota, Oregon, Colorado, Hawaii, Kansas, California, Illinois, Massachusetts, Indiana and Wisconsin.
The least-affordable states (in ranked order) for full-time care for a 4-year-old in a center in 2011 were: New York, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Oregon, Vermont, Colorado, Kansas, Massachusetts, Indiana, Maine and Rhode Island.
"During the critical years of birth through age 5, 90 percent of a child's brain is developed and essential learning patterns are established which affect school-readiness," said Smith. "Affordability is important because for many families, the cost affects the settings they are able to choose. Parents want quality care. They want their children to be safe. But, too many families struggle with the cost of care as they hope for the best for their children."
In the United States, nearly 11 million children under age 5 are in child care each week and although child care costs are high, most states have inadequate requirements for the quality of care. Currently, the federal Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG), which provides funds to states to help make child care more affordable for families, does not require that funds be used to pay for licensed care. Nationally, about one-fifth of children who receive CCDBG assistance are in unlicensed settings. In 10 states, 30 percent or more of the children who receive child care assistance are in unlicensed settings.
Unlicensed settings do not have to meet state health and safety standards, providers are not required to be trained and the settings are not inspected. "There should be more accountability for quality when child care is licensed or when government funds are used to pay for child care," Smith said. "Children spend an average of 35 hours a week in child care which means child care is a key early learning program. It is time for policymakers to recognize that connection and strengthen the quality of care to promote safety and child development. For the cost, that's what parents think they are getting. Sometimes they are. But, often they are not."
To ensure children are safe, to improve the quality of early learning and to make child care more affordable for working families, Child Care Aware® of America recommends that Congress:
Click here to learn more and download a copy of Parents and the High Cost of Child Care: 2012 Report.
Child Care Aware® of America (formerly NACCRRA, the National Association of Child Care Resource & Referral Agencies), is our nation's leading voice for child care. We work with more than 600 state and local Child Care Resource and Referral agencies to ensure that all families have access to quality, affordable child care. To achieve our mission, we lead projects that increase the quality and availability of child care professionals, undertake research, and advocate child care policies that positively impact the lives of children and families. To learn more about Child Care Aware® of America and how you can join us in ensuring access to quality child care for all families, visit us at www.naccrra.org.


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Honoring Donald Ferguson's memory
A $1,000 scholarship presented by the Fairview Lakes Medical Center Auxiliary in memory of former Chisago Lakes Hospital Administrator Donald Ferguson to a student pursuing a health care career.
Criteria for participation
- High school graduate
- Attending/planning to attend accredited school
- Possess good character, dependability and academic achievement
- Resides in Fairview Lakes region: Pine City to Lino Lakes; Highway 65 to Wisconsin border
Each applicant is considered for each available scholarship. Contact us for complete packet of information.
Amount per individual: $1,000
Number available annually: 1
Application deadline/decision dates: Deadline is March 31; award is mid-June.Scholarship Application (PDF)
Scholarship Guidelines (PDF)
Contact: Jane Denovchek, 651-982-7774


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Crazy news: Terrence Howard has been secretly married for the last five months. The Iron Man actor (replaced by Don Cheadle in Iron Man 2) introduced wife Michelle Ghent at a cocktail party in Cannes for Winnie, his upcoming Mandela biopic with Jennifer Hudson. "To come here and be with my wife, it's the best feeling in the world," Howard told Anderson Cooper. "Terrence is so in love with her and she's a great, down-to-earth girl who really understands and loves him for him," a source told Us.
What surprises us even more than the secret marriage is that someone lived up Terrence's notorious standards for female partners. After all, Howard is anti-premarital sex ("Afterward, I would feel unclean…so I would have to let them go because they didn't help me to be a stronger person"), pro baby-wipes ("If they're using dry paper, they aren't washing all of themselves…I go in a woman's house and see the toilet paper there, I'll explain this. And if she doesn't make the adjustment to baby wipes, I'll know she's not completely clean") and fond of dating multiple women at once ("The greatest number of women I've dated was 12. I've had four women come to my hotel and we all painted pictures together. I was just trying to see which ones I liked the most"). Still, it looks like one lucky lady has passed the audition. See photos of Howard and his lady in Cannes below.
[Photo: .com]


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Below is the poem entitled Riddles which was written by poet
Holburn. Please feel free to comment on this poem. However, please remember, PoetrySoup is a place of encouragement and growth.
Read Poems by
Katty Holburn
I'm not sad, I'm scared... there's a difference.
You see lately, I've been having these dreams.
Weird dreams, and they feel so real.
Like they've dug into the very secret that is myself,
and turned it inside out.
Opened me up, my insecurities awake to be taken advantage of.
Like the stupid little things that scare me the most,
and my bad memories have woven together.
I feel like I'm not in control.
Something is going wrong.
I wake up confused, scared,
I wake up in tears.
My dreams are brainwashing me.
I'm drugging my life away.
Quick fix, quick fix, take this, take this.
When can I take control.
How can I take control.
I feel the effects, the effects of love.
How much it hurts me.
Distance is good, but I get so scared.
I have complete trust in you.
But I feel like manipulation is growing strong.
It's my dreams, they're brainwashing me.
I feel hated, and that someone wants me miserable.
My dreams are brainwashing me.
I know the truth, at least the truth I've been open to.
I know reality, yet I'm still scared.
I'm scared of a lot.
Being hurt again, deceived, lied to.
Being stabbed in the back, again, by a friend.
Losing control, that scares me the most.
I feel like I'm slipping through my fingers.
It's cold here... in my dreams.
Dark too.
I can barely make out the faces in front of me.
Truth is, it's how they make me feel when they're around,
That's how I know.
Voices mean nothing, they're all disguised.
They speak in riddles and in lies.
But it's the feeling, the feeling I get,
That is how I know, I know not to forget.
It's hard to explain, all of these fears.
My dreams have injected them into me.
It's hard to hold on, to reality.
When my dreams, they've brainwashed me.
A comment has not been posted for this poem. Encourage a poet by being the first to comment.


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LOS ANGELES - The owner of a Los Angeles-area trucking company pleaded guilty in federal court here this morning to a federal charge stemming from his role in a massive apparel smuggling plot that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) investigators describe as the largest commercial fraud scheme ever uncovered on the West Coast.
Armando Salcedo, 45, owner of Friends Global Logistics trucking company, admitted in court today that he used the Customs in-bond transportation system to illegally bring Chinese-made wearing apparel into the United States without paying the required duty, in violation of bilateral trade agreements and import quotas.
Specifically, Salcedo pleaded guilty to conspiring to make false declarations and to smuggle. The charge stems from an investigation by ICE that led to the issuance of a 34-count indictment in September 2007. According to the indictment, beginning on an unknown date and ending in 2002, Salcedo and others sent ocean and air shipments of clothing from China to the United States and provided documents to Customs brokers that falsely stated the garments were being sold to companies in Mexico. In fact, using one or more of his companies, Salcedo received the shipments of apparel here in the United States and oversaw their delivery to buyers throughout the country. Among the buyers were several major U.S.-based clothing distributors, including Kenko Warehouse and Hampshire Designers.
ICE's investigation revealed that the far-reaching smuggling scheme resulted in more than 7,000 shipping containers of apparel being illegally imported into the United States. The indictment charged Salcedo with being personally involved in the smuggling of approximately 3,200 containers. Customs documents associated with those containers claimed that the value of goods in those containers was approximately $267 million, but the government believes that the true value of goods was much higher.
During the probe, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers intercepted illegally imported clothing worth approximately $67 million. That apparel, as well as approximately $25 million in cash, has been seized by ICE in conjunction with the investigation. The seized clothing and most of the cash has been forfeited to the government.
Kevin W. Weeks, CBP director of Field Operations, Los Angeles, said: "This is a significant example of yet another attempt to evade U.S. textile trade laws. CBP will continue to vigorously inspect quota-visa importations to protect America's economy."
As part of his guilty plea, Salcedo has agreed to forfeit nearly $5 million in personal property and other assets. Those assets include $1.6 million from the sale of a warehouse belonging to Salcedo's trucking company that was used to facilitate the smuggling scheme, as well as his Downey, Calif., residence, which has been appraised at approximately $2 million. In addition, Salcedo has agreed to give the government nearly $1.2 million in cash seized from a pair bank accounts.
"Commercial smuggling is a multi-billion dollar global industry that robs governments of vital revenues and undermines our economy," said Robert Schoch, special agent in charge of the ICE office of investigations in Los Angeles. "Even more disturbing, the huge profits generated by these illicit activities are often funneled back into other types of criminal enterprises."
Salcedo faces a statutory maximum sentence of five years in federal prison when he is sentenced on May 12. The investigation into Salcedo's co-conspirators is ongoing.


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Big 12 Sports
Here's your chance to share your opinion and views on Big 12 football and other sports.
Monthly Archive for September, 2012
Texas remains atop 'Dirty Dozen' for another week
After a week to watch from my couch, the rankings for this week's "Dirty Dozen" were a little easier to ascertain. Here they are: 1. Texas (3-0, next week @ Oklahoma State) — During his bye, Mack Brown watched Oklahoma-Kansas State like the rest of us. He now realizes how much bigger that Dec. 1 finale […] [Read More]
Big 12 picks: Baylor should thrive tonight in national spotlight
Maybe it was waiting for that airplane last week that sharpened my acumen for my Big 12 picks. Anyway, I had a 3-2 week against the spread which is satisfactory any week. And my 8-0 conference picks head up was my best of the season. Just don't make me wait five hours if you can […] [Read More]
Gillispie resigns citing health reasons
Texas Tech coach men's basketball coach Billy Gillispie resigned Thursday citing health reasons, the school announced. The announcement ends Gillispie's one-season stint with the Red Raiders. His short stay was marked by players' complaints about mistreatment, the team's fewest victories since 1990-91 and their fewest Big 12 triumphs in a single season since the league […] [Read More]
Top 25 picks: Another strong week for favorites
We'll be looking for a better week in our top 25 picks after finishing below .500 again after Week 3. Here are my picks and why I like them. Thursday: Boise State 38, BYU (plus-4½) 31: Boise State is tough to beat at home in September, winning 19 straight. The streak continues tonight, even with […] [Read More]
How the loss of leading rusher Waymon James will hurt TCU
The loss of TCU leading rusher Waymon James with a season-ending knee injury could have some drastic effects for the Horned Frogs. TCU sources confirmed that James is out for the season after injuring his knee in the fourth quarter of the Horned Frogs' 20-6 conference-opening victory at Kansas. James, a senior from Sherman, rushed […] [Read More]
Rhoads pleased with Tiller's growth at ISU
Former Iowa State quarterback Jerome Tiller could have gone in the tank after losing his starting job with the Cyclones. Instead, the former Lee standout has made the most of his playing opportunity to become a key producer at wide receiver for ISU during his redshirt senior season. Tiller started the 2010 season finale and […] [Read More]
Will Notre Dame still remain in the Big 12's scheduling mix?
Notre Dame essentially told the Big 12 "no thanks" last week as they decided to cast their lot with the Atlantic Coast Conference in all sports but football. The Irish have agreed to play five games per season against ACC teams in a loose confederation that will enable them to be included in the conference's […] [Read More]
Big 12 rankings: West Virginia jumps past OU for top spot again
Here's a look at the Big 12 and our rankings after three weeks. 1. West Virginia (2-0, last week No. 1) — Geno Smith has as many touchdown passes as incompletions so far this season. 2. Oklahoma (3-0, last week No. 2) — Sooners coming off bye week as they renew heated old rivalry with KSU. […] [Read More]
Ash, Hasley chosen as Big 12 players of the week
Texas quarterback David Ash, TCU linebacker Joel Hasley and Kansas State kick returner Tyler Lockett were announced Monday as the Big 12's players of the week. The trio were chosen by a media panel for their awards from games of Sept. 15. It is the third career honor for Lockett and the first for Ash […] [Read More]
Show More


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Posts filtered on Tag
If first impressions are lasting, what does Day 1 say?
"You never get a second chance to make a first impression." Okay, don't start drawing conclusions yet, but you have to admit some of the first impressions on Day 1 of spring games were head turning. And perhaps a bit alarming. Yes, it's just the first game, but I assume everyone including Brad Mills was […] [Read More]
Solomon: Astros counting on camaraderie this season
Over the course of last season, the Astros' clubhouse went from dark and grumpy to bright and excited. Dark and grumpy was in last place the first 2 1/2 months. Bright and excited finished 33-27. [Read More]


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Dear Sir,
Since my letter to you on yesterday, I
have received divers & Sundry communica=
=tions from grand river, all going to shew that the
people in that quarter on both sidez need protection,
and nothing but an armed force can do it.
The Mormons named in the warrant
issued by Esqr. Dryden, will not be taken, and
I send you a letter from Smith and Rigdon
which may be of service to me hereafter, and I
hope you will preserve it. From that you can
learn somewhat the state of affairz. I do not
know of any authority I have to direct your
movements in the matter, but I will advise you
and hope you may deem it your duty to act in
the matter to send a force Say of 200 men,
or more if necessary, and from the circumstances
more may be necessary. Dispel the force in
Daviesz and all the assembled armed forcez
who refused to give up, to surrender and be
recognized for it will not do to compromise the
law with them. I shall inform the Governor
of what I have ["done" crossed out] advised, and I have no doubt
but he will approve of it to take time before hand to
Send to him will be useless, for the mischief will be
done before he could act. Please advise me of
your determination by the bearer, I will cordially
co=operate with you, when you may require it.
Austin A. King.
Genl. David R. Atchison,
Dear Sir, The undersigned are fully
impressed with a belief that there is an insurrection
on foot in the countiez of Caldwell and Daviefz
in this State between the Mormons and other Citizenz
of this State. The Citizens of Daviesz have a Mormon
in custody az a prisoner who they took as a Spy,
and the Mormons in
to wit, John Comer, William McHaney, and Allen
Miller, taken and confined as prisoners. They
were taken in passing from Ray through
request you to order out the militia to suppresz
this insurrection, and to save effusion of


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We have been the industry leader in classic, antique and exotic cars since 1978 and our California showrooms contain the largest indoor inventory of highly collectable vehicles in the western United States. Our staff handles all paperwork, financing, and can even assist in arranging worldwide shipments if necessary. We love these cars as much as you do and it will be our pleasure to serve you at any of our 4 locations: Pleasanton, Benicia, Fairfield and Redwood City.
2009 Dodge Challenger R/T Hemi 5.7 TorRed with flat black graphics and black leather trimmed interior manual 6 speed transmission... More
Coupe. Blue w/ black leather. 8.3L V-8, 6-speed manual, fully loaded and driven only 6,100 lifetime miles. Immaculate!... More
1970 Challenger T/A 340 six pack. 340 V-8, auto trans, very highly optioned... More
1999 Dodge Viper RT/10 Roadster Blk/Brn Leather interior, fully loaded, 3" custom stainless exhaust, K & N air filter, blacked out rims, low miles... More
Sensational 1st Gen 1993 Dodge Viper RT/10. Red w/ grey leather. Upgraded 8.0L Hennessy V-10, six speed manual. Featured in Viper... More
Convertible, Red Ext, Blk Int, 8.3 V10, 6spd Man, 5k miles, 1 Owner, Vin:00395... More
1939 Dodge Pickup. 383 Stroker V-8, Richmond trans, frame off restoration last 200 miles. Incredible build quality, see description for details.... More
Largely Original 1941 Dodge Luxury Liner. 41k lifetime miles, 217 L-head six engine.... More


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