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After a heartbreaking draw against the Union last weekend, the Fire travel north to Montreal to face another side looking for a first win of the season Saturday (2:30pm CT on My50/TWCSC). The game has added spice with former coach Frank Klopas facing the Men in Red for the first time as opposition coach.
Here are a few tactical observations to keep in mind on Saturday.
Continued focus on the wing play - taking advantage of Shipp's positioning
In last Saturday's match, Patrick Nyarko returned to the starting lineup and impressed. On the other side of the field, Harry Shipp looks much more comfortable when he cuts inside, as opposed to hugging the touchline and taking on players.
Shipp's set piece play alone is worth a place in the starting eleven, but his ability to pick a pass is also a dangerous weapon. Shipp's tendency to drift inside also benefits the Fire for other reasons.
First, in the absence of a creative central midfielder, it's not felt as much when the rookie comes central and occupies those positions. Against a team like Montreal that boasts an impressive attack, the use of two defensive-minded midfielders can be necessary (as I will explain in more detail later) but with Shipp filling the gap, the Fire don't lose much in an attacking sense.
Shipp's positioning also opens the door for Greg Cochrane to show his attacking talents from the left back position. Cochrane has fit seamlessly into the Fire back line and his excellent crossing ability has been on show in recent matches.
With the Impact's wide players like Mapp reluctant to track back on a consistent basis, the Fire could again benefit from attacking in the wide areas.
Continuing to win the ball high up the field - catching Montreal in transition
In the first half last week against New York, the Impact sliced through the Red Bull midfield as if they had three extra players on the pitch. Klopas emphasized transitioning the ball from defense to attack as quickly as possible and for most of the first half, that worked to devastating effect.
Montreal should've been well ahead at halftime but actually went into the break behind 2-1. The reason for this was because the Canadian team was caught trying to force the ball forward too quickly, resulting in turnovers, which the Red Bulls capitalized on twice in three minutes. I expect the Impact to try this tactic again on Saturday.
- INFOGRAPHIC: Where Fire and Impact are scoring, conceding from
Players like Mike Magee and Quincy Amarikwa both like to hound the opposing team when they are in possession in their defensive third. The Fire's first goal last week was a perfect example of this, with Amarikwa nicking the ball from a defender before setting up Magee for an easy tap in.
If the Fire can force the Impact into turnovers high up the pitch, it could prove costly for the Canadian team.
Attempting to contain Montreal's fearsome attack - staying compact and limiting mental mistakes
Just when we thought an attack featuring Marco Di Vaio, an in-form Justin Mapp and Felipe was going to be a challenge, the Impact went out and acquired promising American youngster Jack McInerney.
This move could see the Impact change formation to a two striker statute with Di Vaio and Jack Mac up front or see McInerney play in one of the wide attacking roles behind the target striker. In any case, the fluidity of the Impact's attack will be a major challenge for the Fire to contend with on Saturday.
None of the Montreal attacking players stay static for long, with Felipe essentially having a free role in the hole, Di Vaio often pushing wide, and Mapp cutting inside with the ball at his feet on a regular basis. With this in mind, the Fire defense needs to stay organized and compact and not allow Montreal to drag players out of position.
This has not been a problem for the Fire this season, with most of the team's nine goals against coming from lapses from set pieces. A clean sheet Saturday afternoon would be a massive achievement.
Prediction: The Fire score early and finish the game off late 2-0 with goals from Magee and Hurtado.
Stephen Piggott is a contributor to Chicago-Fire.com. Follow him on Twitter @irish_steve.
After picking up a point on the road in D.C. last week, the Fire are back at Toyota Park on Saturday afternoon to face the Philadelphia Union (3:30pm CT My50/TWCSC) looking for the club's first win of the season and to extend their unbeaten streak to four games.
Here are a few things to look out for from a tactical perspective…
A change on the wing? Going with a veteran over youth
In last week's match in D.C., youngster Benji Joya again started on the wing for the Fire but again failed to last the full 90 minutes in his third start in a row. Defensively, Joya left his outside back Greg Cochrane exposed on more than one occasion in the first half before Frank Yallop switched Joya to the right wing.
In the attack, Joya also found it difficult to get into the game before he was substituted in place of Patrick Nyarko. The Ghanaian had an immediate impact; setting up Qunicy Amarikwa for the equalizer after a brilliant nutmeg.
Saturday seems like a perfect game for Nyarko to get his second start in 2014 for a number of reasons. First, his speed in the attack will cause Union left back Fabinho trouble. In the Union's last two matches, the Brazilian's lack of pace has been a weak spot.
Nyarko also provides ample cover defensively, something the Fire will need against a Philly team who's tactics emphasize getting as many players forward as possible when they attack.
Bringing the strikers closer together - pushing Magee closer to the goal
In D.C., Mike Magee cut a frustrated figure, trying his best to get into the game but with not a lot of chances to influence it. Magee started in a deeper role behind Quincy Amarikwa and both players were unable to link up on many occasions throughout the match, but not for lack of trying.
Against Philly, I expect Magee to be a lot closer to his striker partner with the Fire playing more of a 4-1-3-2 role instead of a 4-1-4-1. Moving Magee further forward allows Alex to further influence the game from midfield, something he wasn't able to do in D.C.
At this point in the season, coach Yallop favors the Magee/Amarikwa partnership in the attack and in a home game, I expect a formation that fosters as much interplay between the pair as possible.
Stifling the Union attack - limiting opportunities for
Jack Mac
In last week's match away to Montreal, striker
Jack McInerney caused major problems when he was able to get on the end of through balls from the Philly midfield.
In the attack, players like Le Toux and creative mid Vincent Nogueira are always looking to play
McInerney in behind while U.S. international Maurice Edu can also do the same from his deeper midfield role.
While much of the focus will be on
McInerney, Brazilian Leonardo Fernandez has impressed coming off the bench in Philly's last two matches, scoring in one, and it would be no surprise to see him on the pitch from the start on Saturday.
EDITOR'S NOTE: Jack McInerney was traded to the Montreal Impact in exchange for Andrew Wenger Friday morning, hence his name being struck through. It is not known at time of edit if Wenger will join the Union in Chicago for Saturday's match.
Prediction: The Fire will finally get a first win of the season - 2-1 with goals from Quincy Amarikwa and Harry Shipp.
Stephen Piggott is a contributor to Chicago-Fire.com. Follow him on Twitter @irish_steve.
Outside a bar at halftime, one team was up a man and four goals. The crowd outside was split, not between teams but between ideals. Who would go back to watch the second half? It was a beautiful Saturday afternoon at the beginning of spring and a few of us wanted to go sit in a park. The game was all but over. But for some reason, everybody followed one guy back in, back to their seats at the bar. "It's part of the contract," he said. "It's what we do."
What contract? It's the contract we sign as fans. The contract to watch and be a part of the sport in America. But what responsibility do we have to the game? What do we owe it? Are we ever allowed our Saturday afternoons?
My annual fan contracts have evolved over the years with regards to the Fire and the sport of soccer in general. Whereas I used to sign up for the atmosphere, or the results themselves, now I sign for the athletics, the ideas, and the story of the competition. Sometimes, I even take my Saturday afternoons soccer-free.
I don't have to sing or cry anymore. I salute those fans, those who sign the emotional fan contract. They're stronger than I. They're the ones singing at Toyota Park against Red Bulls in the cold. They're the ones proving the word fan comes from fanatic. They're the ones spending hours upon hours on tifo or travelling all over the country, dealing with airports and buses and Kansas City. Those fans carry the club. They're as much a part of the team as the players.
- TIFO TIMELAPSE: The work put in to create home opener tifo
But then, I'm not one of them. I'm a different kind of fan. I'm a supporter, in the true sense of that word. I want the team to do well and I want to support it towards its goals. My contract with the team is to be a part of that progression.
Nowadays, that supporter contracts costs me two things: my money and my time. I pay to watch the games and I give my time to watch and read about my team.
But as a supporter, I can't stand the occasional debates about who the "real" fans are. They're tiresome. The truth is that it's simply difficult in MLS to figure out the "right" way to support your team. Young, and comprised of mostly young organizations, it's a unique league in the world of soccer. Doesn't it come with a different kind of contract for us to sign now as fans, supporters, consumers, and participants?
In MLS, there is for us American soccer fans the first chance in a generation to support our local team. Our team in our city. Our contract with the league and our team in the league is about something bigger. It's about the idea of growing something that is ours.
Our participation, now, is the basis of American soccer.
It's in that umbrella of growth, that fungal tarpaulin, under which we all stand together. Hipster craft beer MLS fans, soccer moms, whatever. We all struggle with our responsibility, caught between fandom and supporterdom, between Saturday afternoons and the bar - but that's ok. That's part of the uniqueness of our American soccer contract. We get to carve out our own relationships with the team and the league. Like a cartoon rumble, we define it as it defines us, and we roll together down the hill.
Some of us will go to the stadium once a year for the tailgate while others go every week out of unshakeable loyalty to the badge; some of us will go to see a new tactical development while others want to see a guy they played against in high school - the point is that we're all there. Supporters and fans, side by side.
In the end all the arguments about MLS fans are pointless because there is only one way to watch the game. It's the way that makes you want to watch, follow, and maybe buy a shirt or a ticket. That's the way we build this thing - so go and find your way.
Ben Schuman-Stoler is a contributor to Chicago-Fire.com. Follow him on Twitter @bsto.
The Chicago Fire Soccer Club welcomed community partner, City Year Chicago at Sunday's home opener against the New York Red Bulls. City Year, an education-focused non-profit organization that combats the nation's dropout epidemic by uniting young people of all backgrounds for a full year of full-time service in high-need schools. Because of the Fire's support and the support of all of our team sponsors, City Year Chicago is able to place 206 corps members in 20 schools, impacting 5,000 5th through 9th grade students through academic supports, mentoring programs, after school activities and parent engagement initiatives.
As the partnership continues in 2014, the Club extended an invitation to all 200 members of City Year Chicago to attend the Fire's first home game at Toyota Park. Those who were able to attend joined Fire owner Andrew Hauptman on the field prior to the match for photo op and recognition.
The Club will also have presence at City Year's Family Engagement Night Tuesday evening as members of the Chicago Fire Foundation and Community Relations Department will be in attendance.
Select shots from the Fire's 1-1 draw with Portland presented by MiAllstate
After a lackluster performance last weekend out in LA, the Fire are in Portland for what should be a much sterner test against a Timbers team unbeaten in home regular season play for over a year (1:30pm CT on My50 / TWCWI). The Timbers will also be looking to avenge the 2-2 draw in the team's only meeting last season where a brilliant Fire comeback left Caleb Porter seething. Here are some things to look out for from a tactical perspective.
A tweak in formation option A: Packing the midfield
Against a Portland team playing their usual 4-3-3 formation, a safer option for the Fire, especially away from home, is to play another holding midfielder alongside Jeff Larentowicz in an attempt to pack the midfield. Portland rely on late runs from players like Will Johnson and another holding midfielder would ensure the Fire would be able to track these runs more effectively.
Logan Pause would be the prime candidate to partner Larentowicz in the engine room. Portland always look to get playmaker Diego Valeri on the ball and rely on his through balls to create many of the team's chances. Pause and Larentowicz read the game extremely well and are masters at intercepting the kind of balls Valeri will be looking to play.
This option requires that the Fire drop one of its attacking players, which in this case could be Chris Rolfe who is battling an injury. The approach could be seen as a negative one, but playing against a team unbeaten at home for over a year and one that scored the third highest amount of goals in the league last season, the Men in Red also need be realistic.
A tweak in formation option B: Eliminating the target striker
A more progressive option for the Fire this weekend would be eliminating the target striker completely in favor of a smaller and quicker attack. This move would see Juan Luis Anangono, a player isolated during large stretches of last weekend's match, drop to the bench in favor of a quicker, more dynamic player such as Quincy Amarikwa, a player on the cusp of a starting eleven place.
In last weekend's match against the Union, Portland were undone on more than a few occasions by some neat and quick interplay by the Philly midfielders and strikers. With this smaller formation, the Fire will have more opportunities to play this type of game.
The interplay between players such as Duka, Rolfe, Joya, Amarikwa, Alex and Nyarko could certainly cause the Timbers problems with Benji Joya's goal last week serving as a classic example of this: Amarikwa playing a brilliant through ball to Alex who in turn found Joya at the back post for a tap in finish.
While this formation would certainly make the Fire quicker, it should also provide the Men in Red with an opportunity to have more possession and even slow the game down at times, especially if the away team manages to take the lead. With possession below 45% in last week's loss, an emphasis on keeping more of the ball is also necessary.
Set pieces: a weakness for both teams
Both the Fire and Timbers have had problems defending set pieces in the past and that was apparent again during the first match of the season for both teams. Fire defender Bakary Soumare admitted fault after his mark was able to head home the winner for Chivas while Portland also gave up a goal from a corner against the Union.
The Fire's defensive play from crosses and set pieces was certainly suspect last weekend and coach Frank Yallop made no secret of his disappointment at how his team gave up goals in this manner.
Though Portland are not a very big team, players like Diego Valeri and Gaston Fernandez are some of the best set piece takers in the league and a more cohesive performance by the Fire back four is needed on Sunday afternoon. On the other side of the ball, with the Timbers also looking frail on set pieces, I expect the Fire to load the box when the dead ball opportunities arise.
Prediction: 1-1 with the Fire goal coming from Alex
Stephen Piggott is a contributor to Chicago-Fire.com. Follow him on Twitter @irish_steve
WATCH: Clint Mathis on what it will take to earn a result in Portland
Select shots from this afternoon's Chicago Fire Season Kickoff Luncheon and Primary Kit Unveiling
Tottenham Hotspur rode a brace from Emmanuel Adebayor as well as an own goal to a 3-1 win over Swansea in Barclay's Premier League action on Sunday. Adebayor opened the scoring in the 35th minute off of a header served from Christian Ericksen to take Spurs into the break up 1-0.
An own goal on the other side of halftime from Swansea defender Chico made it 2-0 before Adebayor tapped in his second of the day as Danny Rose's cutback from the left in the 71st minute.
Swansea pulled a goal back late through Wilfried Bony in the 78th but it was too little too late as Spurs manager Tim Sherwood earned his fifth win in seven Premier League matches since taking over the side on December 16.
The result moves Spurs to fifth in the Barclay's Premier League, level on points with fourth place Liverpool as they ready to welcome second place Manchester City to White Hart Lane on Wednesday.
Check out highlights of the match courtesy of NBC Sports below.
Tickets for the Fire's friendly vs. Tottenham Hotspur go ON SALE to the general public this Friday, January 24. For more information, please visit www.chicago-fire.com/spurs.
The Fire won back-to-back away games and scored six goals. They sit in a playoff position and control their own fate with two games remaining. Juan Luis Anangono is heating up. Mike Magee is so hot he's scoring goals by accident. Sean Johnson is playing like, and being recognized as, one of the four or five best American goalies. Jeff Larentowicz is owning midfields. Jalil Anibaba and Austin Berry are two of only three MLS players who've played every single minute so far this season and their defensive relationship is finally solidifying. There's real depth on the outside and through the middle (where captain Logan Pause and summer standout Daniel Paladini are working to get past Alex and Arevalo Rios).
That's the general view right now. The squad is playing up to their potential and the depth is supporting them. The competition for spots is pushing everyone harder, and the depth is allowing Frank Klopas to cover for injuries, international duty (Rios, Lindpere), or to go with the hotter player (Anangono over Chris Rolfe).
In other words, things are shaping up nicely. The general feeling is a good one, momentum is building, the Twitter trolls have returned to their caves, and it's hard to fend off enticing thoughts like, you know those lower-seeded teams that barrel into the playoffs and scare everyone because they're playing with momentum and confidence? What if the Fire can be that team?
All season long, the Fire's major problem was consistency. They were infuriatingly inconsistent from game to game and, indeed, from half to half. Maybe it was a focus thing, maybe it was a changing personnel thing, who knows. But now the Fire are managing games better. They're attacking straight from the beginning. They're pressuring the ball all over the field. They're getting crucial two-goal advantages and defending well enough to hold on to them.
We saw all that last week in D.C., where a super high defensive line pushed the Fire team way up the field to pressure United players into mistakes that led to chances and goals. We saw the same thing in Dallas on Saturday night. Alex, especially, was way up the field in the first half, never letting the Dallas players play the ball comfortable in their own half. (Magee, Anangono, Patrick Nyarko, and Dilly Duka deserve credit too.) How many shots did the Fire have at the top of the Dallas box in the first 30 minutes? It was harassment.
So just like in DC, a high defensive line and concentrated pressure led to a 2-0 first half lead. But just like in DC, we saw where it could be dangerous. We saw the team pay the price of so much early pressure, with Nyarko tweaking a hamstring and the rest of the team almost running out of gas late in the second half. We also saw how pushing too eagerly can be scary:
But I like this high pressure because it fits the moment, with the Fire desperately needing these results to make the playoffs. There are just two games left and the Fire have to prove their potentially newfound consistency beyond the past two away wins. They have to show the urgency and the commitment and the work rate into the next two games, too. Klopas's high risk and high pressure tactic fits.
It's a great moment: After all the work and all the struggle, suddenly the players' quality shines through. Suddenly everybody trusts each other. Goals and points happen. Anibaba scores a stunner. Other teams hit the posts.
I don't know about predicting anything against Toronto and New York. But if we keep seeing the Fire play as they have these past two games, they'll get to play a few more.
With the Eastern Conference playoff race so tight between seven teams, some called me crazy for starting Playoff Math so early this year. I shunned the criticism because I feel strongly that Eastern Conference nerds need their fix the remaining two months of the season.
In an attempt to keep this piece at readable length, I chose not to use a points per game basis as fellow stat nerd Tweed Thornton at Hot Time in Old Town uses. His analysis is equally interesting and I suggest you check it out.
So, with that, I breakdown the playoff outlook for the eight teams that still have a reasonable shot at an Eastern Conference playoff spot…
Montreal Impact
Current Points: 41 (12-7-5)
Games Remaining: 10 (4 home/ 6 away)
2013 Home/Away Record: 9-1-3 / 3-6-2
Maximum Possible Pts: 71
Average Opponents Pts: 34.4
Remaining Schedule: 8/31 @ PHI, 9/8 @ NE, 9/14 vs. CLB, 9/21 vs. VAN, 9/28 @ CHI, 10/4 @ HOU, 10/12 vs. NE, 10/16 @ LA, 10/19 vs. PHI, 10/26 @ TFC
Rundown: Though they had a small dip in form, Montreal is back at the top of the Eastern Conference after Saturday's 5-0 shellacking of Houston. Much of Montreal's success can be chalked up to their dominant home record (they've lost just one game at Stade Saputo this season) but the team also has the toughest remaining schedule and has away matches against playoff contenders, Philadelphia, New England, the Fire and Houston before season's end. Add to that the fact that Montreal is also competing in CONCACAF Champions League play on September 17 at San Jose and September 24 at Heredia and the top spot is far from secure.
New York Red Bulls
Current Points: 39 (11-9-6)
Games Remaining: 8 (5 home / 3 away)
2013 Home/Away Record: 7-2-3 / 4-7-3
Maximum Possible Pts: 63
Average Opponents Pts: 31.3
Remaining Schedule: 8/31 vs. D.C., 9/8 @ HOU, 9/14 vs. TFC, 9/22 vs. FCD, 9/29 @ SEA, 10/5 vs. NE, 10/20 @ HOU, 10/27 vs. CHI
Rundown: Despite a 3-2 defeat to Chivas USA at the weekend, Red Bull still sits in pretty good shape, two points back of the lead. New York holds a strong home record and of their eight remaining matches, five will be played at Red Bull Arena. Also unlike fellow playoff contenders Montreal, Sporting KC and Houston, New York only needs to focus on MLS Regular Season play the rest of the way.
Sporting KC
Current Points: 39 (11-9-6)
Games Remaining: 8 (4 home / 4 away)
2013 Home/Away Record: 6-4-3 / 5-5-3
Maximum Possible Pts: 63
Average Opponents Pts: 30.5
Remaining Schedule: 8/31 vs. COL, 9/7 vs. CLB, 9/21 @ TFC, 9/27 vs. PHI, 10/5 @ CLB, 10/9 at HOU, 10/18 vs. D.C., 10/26 @ PHI
Rundown: Sporting KC holds an identical record to New York and has to juggle two more Champions League games but has one of the easiest remaining schedules among the eight playoff contenders. Though their home record isn't as stellar as you'd think, with the strong atmosphere Sporting Park provides, its unlikely KC is the team currently inside the bubble that falls down the stretch.
Philadelphia Union
Current Points: 38 (10-8-8)
Games Remaining: 8 (4 home / 4 away)
2013 Home/Away Record: 6-3-4 / 4-5-4
Maximum Possible Points: 62
Average Opponents Pts: 33.1
Remaining Schedule: 8/31 vs. MTL, 9/8 @ SJ, 9/14 vs. HOU, 9/27 @ SKC, 10/5 vs. TFC, 10/12 @ D.C., 10/19 @ MTL, 10/26 vs. SKC
Rundown: With eight games left, the Union sit just three points out of first place thanks to the 4-5-4 record on the road (second best in the East) while holding serve at home (6-3-4). Things just got pretty interesting for Philly after New England's 5-1 weekend thrashing of the Union pulled the playoff race much tighter. From a Fire perspective, their grounded out, back-to-back wins over the Men in Red in May could easily be pointed to as the difference between being in and outside the playoff bubble. If the Fire take three points in either of the 1-0 losses, the two teams are swapped in the Eastern Conference table…
New England Revolution
Current Points: 36 (10-9-6)
Games Remaining: 9 (4 home / 5 away)
2013 Home/Away Record: 6-4-3 / 4-5-3
Maximum Possible Points: 63
Average Opponents Pts: 31.5
Remaining Schedule: 8/30 @ TFC, 9/8 vs. MTL, 9/14 @ CHI, 9/21 vs. D.C., 9/28 vs. HOU, 10/5 @ NY, 10/12 @ MTL, 10/19 vs. CLB, 10/27 @ CLB
Rundown: New England has been the surprise entrant into the race this season. The Revs have certainly found ways to punch way above their weight. Even after a six-game winless run in July and August, New England still find themselves inside the bubble with seven of their nine remaining games all against relevant Eastern Conference playoff contenders.
Houston Dynamo
Current Points: 36 (10-8-6)
Games Remaining: 10 (5 home / 5 away)
2013 Home/Away Record: 7-2-3 / 3-6-3
Maximum Possible Points: 66
Average Opponents Pts: 33
Remaining Schedule: 9/1 @ CHI, 9/4 @ CLB, 9/8 vs. NY, 9/14 @ PHI, 9/21 vs. CHV, 9/28 @ NE, 10/4 vs. MTL, 10/9 vs. SKC, 10/20 vs. NY, 10/27 @ D.C.
Rundown: Though not quite as great as 2012, Houston has kept up pretty good form at BBVA Compass Stadium so far in 2013. The Dynamo sit sixth only by the Goals For tiebreaker and currently hold at least a game in hand on everyone in front of them except for Montreal. At the same time, a loss to the Fire on Sunday at Toyota Park would see the Men in Red leapfrog the Dynamo into sixth place with nine matches remaining.
Chicago Fire
Current Points: 34 (10-10-4)
Games Remaining: 10 (4 home / 6 away)
2013 Home / Away Record: 8-4-1 / 2-6-3
Maximum Possible Pts: 64
Average Opponents Pts: 31.1
Remaining Schedule: 9/1 vs. HOU, 9/7 @ SEA, 9/11 @ TFC, 9/14 vs. NE, 9/21 @ CLB, 9/28 vs. MTL, 10/4 @ D.C., 10/12 @ FCD, 10/19 vs. TFC, 10/27 @ NY
Rundown: After failing to win a game in the month of March, the Fire's 8-3-3 record since the arrivals of Bakary Soumare and Mike Magee in late May is nothing short of fantastic. Having said that, the team still finds itself two points outside of the Eastern Conference playoffs. Much of the team's success is due to holding the second best home record in the Eastern Conference (8-4-1) though the side's away record is also the second worst (2-6-3). Perhaps worse though is that after Sunday's game vs. Houston, the team will play just three more home matches in 2013 vs. six away games.
The key to any team making the playoffs is doing the business at home and the Fire should still aim for the maximum 12 points available there. However, in order to make the postseason again in 2013, the team needs to find ways to pick up more points on the road. Luckily they have one of the easiest remaining schedules in the Eastern Conference and visit both Toronto FC and D.C. in two of their remaining six away games.
Columbus Crew
Current Points: 29 (8-12-5)
Games Remaining: 9 (5 home / 4 away)
2013 Home / Away Record: 5-4-3 / 3-8-2
Maximum Possible Points: 56
Average Opponents Pts: 33.5
Remaining Schedule: 8/31 vs. SEA, 9/4 vs. HOU, 9/7 @ SKC, 9/14 @ MTL, 9/21 vs. CHI, 9/29 @ FCD, 10/5 vs. SKC, 10/19 @ NE, 10/27 vs. NE
Rundown: The Crew are here because though it doesn't seem likely, they're still in the playoff race. In my opinion, the key for Columbus is how they do in their next two matches, both of which are at home. A win over Western Conference foes Seattle won't be considered a "six pointer" but it will keep the Crew alive for another important midweek home date vs. Houston.


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- Ringling College of Art and Design Student Named to Team USA Quidditch Team!
Ringling College of Art and Design Student Named to Team USA Quidditch Team!
June 6, 2012 - 21 first string and 21 reserve players have been selected to represent the United States in quidditch at the Olympic Expo Games in Oxford, England this summer. Bryan Bae was selected from Ringling College of Art and Design as the snitch for the team.
Bryan is a well-known snitch in the Florida Quidditch Conference, with the current record for longest game ever snitched. Having participated in the Quidditch World Cup V, he relies on his entertainment skills to dodge the seekers, making him fun to play against as well as to watch from the sidelines.


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Cardinal Keith O'Brien Resigns After Accusations Of Inappropriate Behaviour Are Made Against Him
Former Cardinal Keith O'Brien sits inside his office inside his... News PhotoEdinburgh - Scotland,Former,Human Interest,Keith O'Brien,Office,People,Religion,Residential Building,Scotland,Sitting,Spirituality,UK,VerticalPhotographer Jeff J MitchellCollection: Getty Images News 2013 Getty ImagesEDINBURGH, SCOTLAND - FEBRUARY 26: Former Cardinal Keith O'Brien sits inside his office inside his official residence on February 26, 2013 in Edinburgh, Scotland. The former Cardinal who was Britain's most senior Roman Catholic and head of the Scottish Catholic Church, has resigned following allegations from three priests and one former priest of inappropriate behavior. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)


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San Antonio Spurs v Golden State Warriors
The Warrior Girls, the Golden State Warriors cheerleaders, perform... News PhotoAdidas,Basketball - Sport,California,Cheerleader,Golden State Warriors,Horizontal,Match - Sport,NBA,NBA Pro Basketball,Oakland - California,Oracle Arena,Performance,San Antonio Spurs,Sport,USA,Warrior GirlsPhotographer Ezra ShawCollection: Getty Images Sport 2013 Getty ImagesOAKLAND, CA - FEBRUARY 22: The Warrior Girls, the Golden State Warriors cheerleaders, perform during their game against the San Antonio Spurs at Oracle Arena on February 22, 2013 in Oakland, California. The Warriors are wearing new short-sleeved uniforms for the first time. The Warriors won the game in overtime. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)


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I'm a little late in getting this week's Recipe Roundup from last week's Thriving on Thursday post up. Last night was just one of those nights, when you get to the end of your tether and you just don't have any energy for anything else. Not saying the kids were misbehaving or naughty, but you just get tired of hearing them, dealing with them and being switched 'on' all the time. No time out. The time out for me did eventually happen, around 9pm last night, but by then I was exhausted. Anyway, all good now so here's the beautiful recipes that were linked up at last week's Thriving on Thursday. Thank you everyone for taking the time to link up.
Appetisers, Salads & Snacks
Sweet Treats


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17 U.S. Code § 1008 - Prohibition on certain infringement actions
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No action may be brought under this title alleging infringement of copyright based on the manufacture, importation, or distribution of a digital audio recording device, a digital audio recording medium, an analog recording device, or an analog recording medium, or based on the noncommercial use by a consumer of such a device or medium for making digital musical recordings or analog musical recordings.
Source(Added Pub. L. 102–563, § 2,Oct. 28, 1992, 106 Stat. 4244.)
LII has no control over and does not endorse any external Internet site that contains links to or references LII.


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Cyber Monday Deals
Cyber Monday 2015 deals, with low prices and sales on Cyber Monday electronics, video games, DVDs, and more
Looking for Cyber Monday Deals?Cyber Monday 2015 isn't until after Thanksgiving weekend this December, so if you're already here that must mean you are as excited as we are for Cyber Monday Deals! Make sure to bookmark this page today so you won't miss a thing for Cyber Monday 2015. Looking for even more great deals right now? You can:
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Cyber Monday Deals Week: Online Deals Every Day
Thanks for stopping by for Cyber Monday! We hope you took advantage of all the Cyber Monday deals and are getting excited for Cyber Monday 2015. There was plenty to choose from during our Cyber Monday event, including options for your home, kitchen, and garden, with great deals on household appliances such as a brand-new coffee maker, blender, food processor, or toaster oven. We hope you found great gifts for the gourmet in your family or for yourself, so you could make warm and delicious seasonal treats for your guests this holiday season. You can also make your home a welcoming place for entertaining in the long cold nights ahead with new equipment for your home entertainment system. You and your loved ones can get cozy on the couch with the options in the TV, Video & Audio Store, and many more deals that are available with Cyber Monday discounts to make them more affordable than ever.
If you enjoy saving on products like computers and accessories, Cyber Monday is the perfect time to take advantage of seasonal deals and upgrade your devices, including affordable laptops, smartphones, solid-state drives, and more. Computer accessories make excellent holiday gifts, with everything from wireless mice to compact flash drives and durable laptop bags. Plus, find thoughtful, low-cost stocking stuffers for your technophile friends and family.
Cyber Monday also brings deals on toys and games, DVDs, and video games to make shopping for kids easier, too. From RC vehicles and foosball tables to coloring posters and talking dolls, there's something for every age group and interest. Just don't forget the batteries! Amazon.com offers Cyber Monday deals on basic necessities like connecting cords, batteries, and coffee to make your online shopping experience as convenient as possible.


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|Herschell Gordon Lewis
|Frank Kress, Henny Youngman, Amy Farrell
|Run Time
|Age Policy
18 and up. No one under 18 admitted.
|More Info
Herschell Gordon Lewis was the first filmmaker on earth to show audiences what happens when a tongue is ripped out of a face. So, he's basically a great humanitarian. From BOIN-N-G to THE WIZARD OF GORE, Lewis' filmography is a treasure trove of horror and exploitation history. THE GORE GORE GIRLS is not only the final film from his golden era -- it's also his best. GORE GORE is Lewis's own private NASHVILLE, a pinnacle of self-aware ingenuity and black humor. But where Altman used a Chaplin to seduce us, Lewis used a vat of steaming French Fry oil. And someone's face.
When the Chicago summer gets you hot, Tops 'N' Bottoms will get you hotter. Usually. Unfortunately, trouble is afoot at Henny Youngman's dejected strip club. Strippers are being murdered in perverted ways, police are baffled by the killer's identity, and a fat guy keeps drawing faces on fruit, then smashing them. What will Youngman do? You got it! He'll hire detective Abraham Gentry, a back-alley Columbo with a fake British accent. Inexplicably refusing the advances of Nancy, his cute/sexy/drunk reporter sidekick, Gentry hits the streets with hundreds of awful puns, a prejudice towards the ladies, and a walking cane. Curious personalities abound. Woman's lib protesters threaten the integrity of Tops 'N' Bottoms. Finally, a bartender yells, "I'VE GOTTA TAKE A SHIT!"
But he never does.
Is this movie influential? Sure, but that's not a big deal. Is it misogynistic? Maybe, but only if: 1. You've never watched the entire film, and 2. You've never seen SOME LIKE IT HOT. Is it awesome? Well, Henny Youngman performs two stand-up routines. And the whole thing ends with Abraham Gentry sitting on a couch for five minutes and talking. But that only happens after a Cadillac runs over a guy's head.
THE GORE GORE GIRLS forged a brave world of bizarro, ultra-gore horror. It's grimy. It's disgusting. It's even a little creepy. But it's never really about the killer bashing away at someone's ass with a meat tenderizer. It's about the marching band music playing during that act, and the shaking of salt 'n' pepper over the mutilated ass. It's about the negative space, and the self-absorbed humor housed within that space -- the content, rather than the form. Though filled with Lewis' expected stamps (room mic ambiance, out of focus scenes, static longshots), the director's adherence to his own comedic sensibilities eclipses anything else that's thrown at the audience. This movie is a comfort zone for horror freakazoids that's impervious to comparison, criticism, or the ravages of time. Plus, there are W.C. Fields impressions. (Joseph A. Ziemba)


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NEW YORK (MarketWatch) — While Colorado and Washington have legalized possession of up to an ounce of marijuana by adults, the rest of the country (as well as federal law) has yet to follow.
So, what does this mean for those working in these states? West Point cadets versus cadets attending the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs? What about Frontier Airlines RJET, -0.70% pilots, who hub out of Denver? Will a different set of rules apply to the Denver Broncos than do the Dallas Cowboys?
"I know that the major sports leagues have made announcements that they are not going to be changing their policies," Mason Tvert, co-director of Colorado's Campaign to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol, tells me. "The initiative explicitly states that employers can maintain their own policies."
Read Minyanville's "The Bizarre Habits of 9 Highly Obsessive CEOs."
The Campaign's largest individual donor is tech entrepreneur and angel investor Scott Banister, who has started and sold companies to AOL Inc. US:AOL and Cisco Systems CSCO, -0.38% , was an early backer of Facebook Inc. FB, +0.06% and sits on the board of PayPal EBAY, +0.90% . And, though employers can set their own rules, Tvert believes they have better things to do with their resources.
"A lot of employers out there have no interest in firing their employees just because they use marijuana in their spare time," Tvert says.
Nate Newton, a former Dallas Cowboy, told USA Today that "You cannot stop it."
The pitfalls of working from bed
More mobile, wireless devices means more people are working from bed. A comfortable idea in theory is not so good for people in practice, as productivity expert Laura Stack and WSJ's Sue Shellenbarger explain on Lunch Break.
"Once the 48 (contiguous) states legalize it, what can college or pros do then — tell players they can't do it? Come on, man. That's a joke," Newton said.
Still, former Broncos tight end Shannon Sharpe says allowing NFL players to partake "will never happen… not in our lifetime, because of the way kids follow what NFL players do."
Attorney Sean McAllister, one of Colorado's leading drug policy reform lawyers, who helped frame the state's marijuana policy, tells me that "you can't be fired for doing something outside work that's lawful, but [marijuana possession] is still illegal under federal law, so this has not been litigated yet, there is no precedent."
Read MarketWatch's "How to invest in legalized marijuana."
However, McAllister confirms that nothing in the law "says employers need to accommodate marijuana."
"You can't be fired on the basis of race, religion, age, or sexual orientation, but states that have litigated this outside Colorado, like Montana and California, have said, 'You don't enjoy any special rights regarding marijuana that would prevent an employer from firing you,'" he tells me. "You have a relationship with your employer — if they have a problem with it, you will too."


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B-Low The Belt Salma Belt
Need Assistance? Contact Us Now
Leather: Cowhide.
Made in the USA.
Width: 5in / 12.5cm
S: 27-29in / 68.5-73.5cm
M: 29-31in / 73.5-78.5cm
L: 31-33in / 78.5-84cm
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Shipping Available: Shipping Within USA Only: For Amazon Prime members, free two-day shipping is available for all Shopbop products.


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Add to Wish List
Reserve in store
Classic tailored wool trousers in black featuring a semi-fitted cut on the waist through to the legs.
Slant pockets and concealed zip and hook fastening.
100% Wool
Dry clean only
True to size with a relaxed fit.
Model measures 178 cm/5'10" tall, 93 cm/36.6'' hips, 61 cm/24'' waist and 85 cm/33.5'' bust.
She is wearing an Italian size 40


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Congatec AG Combined PLC/HMI Computing Module: Brief
Embedded computing module supports both real-time control and human machine interface (HMI).
Imagine a universal embedded platform suitable for many kinds of industrial applications—one system that seamlessly integrates both a real-time OS and an HMI. In this solution, two previously separate systems are fully functional without restriction and have been combined without any changes to the software. Now imagine that you can put your hands on one—quite literally.
The congatec conga-ARkit* is a programmable logic controller (PLC) reference platform from congatec AG and Real-Time Systems (RTS) GmbH. It uses a conga-CAx* COM Express module built with the ultra-low power, industrial temperature Intel® Atom™ processor Z5xxPT series and the Intel® System Controller Hub US15WPT chipset. The compact form factor (just 95x95mm²) fits right into a DIN Rail housing slot. It puts out just 5 watts of heat, which means it is ideal for mobile devices. (Yes, you can hold onto it with your bare hands.) Thanks to Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology and a real-time hypervisor, it can simultaneously and reliably run two separate operating systems—including a real-time operating system and a general purpose operating system.
"It's a perfect fit" for the automation industry which is facing pressure to reduce costs and energy consumption while improving reliability and performance. "Partitioning a compact and powerful embedded computer module to run two independent operating systems and applications can reduce the hardware cost of a system solution by as much as 50 percent," says Christian Eder, congatec marketing manager. "And because one machine has a statistically smaller chance of failure than two, reliability goes up when you reduce the number of parts. That makes it a super-efficient platform that's ideal for both mobile and PLC solutions.
Read the full Congatec AG Combined PLC/HMI Computing Module Solution Brief.


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Wayland Baptist University is affiliated with the Baptist General Convention of Texas. Wayland Baptist University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award degrees at the associate, baccalaureate, and master's levels. Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097 or call (404) 679-4500 in order to (1) learn about the accreditation status of the institution, (2) file a third party comment at the time of the institution's decennial review, or (3) file a complaint against the institution for alleged non-compliance with a standard or requirement. Normal inquiries about the institution, such as admission requirements, financial aid, educational programs, etc., should be addressed directly to the institution and not to the Commission's office. The university is an accredited
institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Music.


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This has been one of the best seasons the Carbon girls soccer team has had, but that doesn't mean they are beating everybody.
On Tuesday, the team traveled to Moab and met up with Grand County High School in a Region 8 match. The Lady Red Devils came out on top, 3-1, but the Carbon girls gave quite a battle in the process.
Carbon's single goal came in the second half of the game when Tabby Cummins popped it in for a score.
Carbon, now 3-4, stands in the middle of the pack in the Region 8 standings. Juan Diego leads the region with an 8-0 record.
With two more region games to go the team faces North Sanpete this afternoon (Thursday) at home.
Their final regular game of the season will be against Juan Diego at home on Oct. 4.


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|Print Page
Emery Telcom Video recently announced that the company has signed a definitive asset purchase agreement on the cable television systems of Precis Communications.
The wholly owned Emery Telcom subsidiary indicated that the cable television systems involved in the purchase are located in Price, Helper, Wellington, East Carbon, Sunnyside, Castle Dale, Huntington, Orangeville, Ferron, Moab, Monticello and Blanding.
Precis Communication has historically provided cable television to subscribers.
The acquisition will enable Emery Telcom Video to upgrade the Precis facilities and provide enhanced broadband offerings within the local service areas, noted the company.
The acquisition will also allow Emery Telcom to expand the company's existing marketing opportunities within the video and telecommunications industries, according to officials.
Based in Orangeville, Emery Telcom was formed as a cooperative in 1950.
The company initially focused on providing telephone services to residents residing in the Emery County area.
After being established in 1950, Emery Telcom has expanded the company's focus to provide a wide range of communications services to thousands of customers residing in communities located throughout Carbon, Emery, Grand, and Wayne counties.
Examples include local and long distance telephone services, cable television Internet access and advanced telecommunications like DSL along with other high-speed digital Internet connections, concluded the company.
|Print Page


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Trust in the Audi-certified brand specialists to help you choose your next luxury vehicle, whether it's a new Audi or one of our premium pre-owned vehicles! As your Audi dealer in Toronto, Audi Downtown Toronto has established itself in just a few short years as the reference for Audi vehicles, products and services in the GTA. We are committed to providing you with the level of first-rate care you deserve and expect from the Audi brand.
We invite you to take a moment to browse our all-new website, view some photos and videos, and meet our team of Audi experts. You can also take a look at the current job postings at our growing company. And of course, we look forward to meeting you in the showroom or in our modern service centre!Contact Us


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is it free and on english
is it free and on english
yes it is aww my internet is shittier den dial up
damn then i must have super crappy internet because is download it at 45 kb/s
Someone Know the website (Ghost online) to rigastier
oh after you download the game, run it and it will have a register button.
closed beta has ended already so even if you download it, the game servers won't work.
btw, yes it is in english and the players are mostly english also since the english community is dominating the malaysian/singaporean GS~
But someone know it is the Open beta or the close beta?
Dont you need an account?


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Portrait of a Resurgent Killer
-Graphic design by Greg Hubacek
Not long ago, it was tempting to think the battle against measles was being won. Stepped-up vaccination campaigns had driven the number of reported cases down to 32,000 in 2007, according to the World Health Organization, the lowest ever recorded. Over the past three years, however, there has been a resurgence. In 2009, more than 30 countries experienced widespread epidemics. In 2010, 28 countries declared epidemics, reporting 223,000 cases and 1,200 deaths. In 2011, many African countries have experienced large-scale outbreaks, particularly the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
MSF was a pioneer in the move to vaccinate widely for measles after epidemics had already started, saving many lives in the process. In 2010, MSF vaccinated more than 4.5 million children in Chad, Malawi, South Africa, Yemen, Zimbabwe, and other countries. Through August of this year, teams had vaccinated more than 3 million children in DRC alone.
Measles is prominent in South Asia and present in many other countries—cases are rising in the US and Europe as well—but it's in Africa where the evidence is most striking. The data shows the urgent need for action but most countries that experience epidemics do not adequately mobilize resources and organize vaccination campaigns. They pay a heavy price, and the costs may well rise as case numbers continue to climb back towards previous levels. In addition to its work in the field, MSF is calling for an effective outbreak response mechanism, backed by secure financial and technical resources, to be established immediately. "We know for a fact that there will be additional epidemics in the near future," said Florence Fermon, MSF's vaccination coordinator. "It would simply not be right to wait for them to occur. We need an effective system to anticipate and prepare for the coming outbreaks."


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This is my first post ever. I drew a 125 deer tag. A 100 bull elk tag. All for Wyoming. Can u please reply with GPS coordinates as to where the best animals are in the unit that I can get to with my ATV. I don't want to invest a lifetime into figuring out the best spots on my own. Just your honey holes please.
(Yes. I'm getting old and grumpy)


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Weekly yard waste collections start again
Residents are reminded that weekly curbside collection of yard waste began last week and will continue until the first week in October.
Yard waste is collected on the same day that trash and recycling is picked up.
Residents can also bring materials to the city's compost facility, located behind the Mickey Stevens sports complex on Sandy Lane, Mondays through Saturdays from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Additional information about yard waste, trash and recycling collection is available in the Warwick calendar, which is mailed out annually to residents.
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Saturday, 10 September 2011
Surname Saturday: Shades of Brown
The Browns stare down at me from the family photo on the wall, 13 faces frozen in time; I watch them, they watch me. I can make our eyes meet, but that's as far as it goes. They have their time, I have mine and as the years roll by we are moving further apart. The only physical connection we can ever have is for me to find their descendants: my lost cousins.
I should have grown up with a huge family, but that was not to be. Richard Henry Brown and Ellen Warren, my great-grandparents, had 11 children but their descendants are scattered. Early in the last century they began leaving Bristol; first Joseph to Australia, then Robert to Canada. Reginald and Ernest followed Joseph a few years later. The Great War proved a disaster for the Brown family. Apart from the two eldest boys, who were married with children, all the Brown boys joined up. Reginald and Ernest fell within 10 days of each other in 1916, Sidney died early in 1917.
After the war the family seems to have gradually drifted away from each other. The girls, Alice, Gwen and Gladys, kept contact with the boys, but the boys didn't seem to keep contact with each other. Consequently, most of the Brown grandchildren and great-grandchildren grew up in ignorance of each other.
Alice and Gwen did not marry and although Gladys married twice, she had no children. I discovered that the two brothers who emigrated had children, and I have found some of their children. We are very happily reunited.
My research has shown that brothers Harold and Edwin, who stayed in Bristol, had children, and indeed I have now contacted one of Harold's daughters and found his other daughter's daughter. I am still looking for his son and his family. Edwin Brown's daughter was still alive a couple of years ago, and has emigrated to New Zealand. She is at the top of my "wanted" list.
Will I ever reunite the family? Well, perhaps some of them don't want to be! So far, we have all been delighted to find each other and our family history has been enriched for the reconnection. Later this month I will actually meet one of the "lost" Brown cousins (although he actually has another surname) on his visit to the UK from Australia. The thought thrills me, but actually, no matter how wonderful my new cousins turn out to be, I will always love the silent stillness of my family, steadily watching me from behind the glass on the dining room wall.
4 comments:
- Patti said...
What a lovely post! And how wonderful that you are going to have a chance to meet one of those Brown cousins.
I, too, lament the "small" family I grew up with. Though most branches of my family had long been in America, for whatever reason, it seems that the family lost contact with one another. My great-grandfather McBeth actually grew up with 8 siblings, which meant my grandfather had lots of aunts, uncles and cousins. Everyone lived in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania area, but for some reason, the ties weren't kept up, and I never even knew those relatives existed...until I began this search. Thankfully, there are others in that branch who are also seeking, so we have been able to connect.
I definitely can relate to your post. I'm longing for lost cousins too.
- 10 September 2011 at 11:03
- Judi Bee said...
Hi Patti
Thanks for the feedback, glad you enjoyed the post. It's such a shame that people grow apart, though it is of course understandable. I guess that we should have less excuse to go our separate ways nowadays, since email, Facebook et al make it simple to stay in touch.
Wishing you lost of lost cousins too!
- 10 September 2011 at 13:12
- Laura said...
I found myself nodding along with your post. I too have a line to which I am particularly attached. Thank you for putting those feelings into words in such a lovely way. Good luck with your quest to find the remaining family!
- 14 September 2011 at 12:56
- Judi Bee said...
Thanks for your kind comment Laura, and what a splendid hat!
- 14 September 2011 at 13:03


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Built for Skiers. The Atomic Skiwear Lookbook 14/15.
ATOMIC has made skiing even more fun with its "Pin It To Win It!" competition: a free app for the iPhone saves data such as speed, slope and lift distances and rewards skiers with pins. Up for grabs is a range of 2012-13-spec gear from ATOMIC.
Skiing has never been so much fun: the "Pin It To Win It!" competition is a unique opportunity to win ATOMIC prizes while out on the slopes. The competition finishes on April 14, when the prizes will be awarded. And the prizes are fantastic: for instance, the main prize will go to the participant who manages to collect the most points – a complete, seven-piece set of ATOMIC ski gear, which doesn't even hit the stores until the fall. It's really easy to play "Pin It To Win It!": the free "MaptoSnow" tracking app for the iPhone needs to be installed and then run on three separate ski days of the player's choice before April 14. The app uses GPS to calculate various data such as current altitude or average speed, and the skier is rewarded with pins. For example, for every 20km skied, skiers are awarded a 20km pin, which is worth so many points. Pins mean points, so the more points a skier collects, the further up the rankings he or she moves. Pins can be collected at all European ski resorts which support the "MaptoSnow" app. An up-to-date list of resorts can be found at www.maptosnow.com/faq. Once you confirm your "Pin It To Win It!" entry, those pins collected on the first three days tracked by the app will be counted. You can choose any three days during the competition period (February 15 to April 14, 2012). After the third day, no more pins are awarded. When the competition ends on April 14, the skier with the most points will be kitted out from head to toe by ATOMIC. Participants in 2nd to 10th places can also win 2012-13-spec gear. "Pin It To Win It!" prizes: - 1st prize: a full set of ski gear (one pair of skis, ski boots, poles, helmet, goggles, protectors, bag) - 2nd prize: one pair of skis and ski boots - 3rd to 5th: one pair of skis - 6th to 10th: one pair of ski boots The "MaptoSnow" app as well as further details can be found on our Facebook page.


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Beloit, WI -- The Beloit College Women's Soccer team waited almost the entire 90 minutes before finally getting a pair goals to top Ripon College in a Midwest Conference match on Sunday afternoon at the Strong Complex Soccer Field.
After 86 minutes of scoreless soccer Kirsten Takaki hit the back of the net with the lead goal off an assist from Sian Cunningham. And then just 20 seconds before the final horn Cunningham got a goal of her own, unassisted, to put the finishing touch on the win.
Willow Macy made five saves in net for the win.
The Bucs have a few days off before getting back on the field Wednesday when they host Alverno College in a non-conference match. Game time is at 4:00 p.m.


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Last edited by ApocaRUFF; 11-05-2013 at 08:23 AM.
"....However, as with all things, you will encounter the odd retard and or asshole."
-------(New Video!)------------------------(New Post!)[4/12]----------(Updated for ArcheAge!)[4/28]
Youtube Channel | Twitch | Gaming Blog | Amitabha Gaming Guild
My new Skyrim video. Recorded live.
My TwitchTV: http://www.twitch.tv/emrendil
My YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/Emrendil
My Twitter: https://twitter.com/Emrendil
but even without spending cash its easy to make galders. level40 gift box sells for milions, gem fragments from the mine sell for 4-6k each. quest items sell for 1k ish in desert beach area.
Last edited by Abhorsen; 11-05-2013 at 11:11 AM.
anyway, dont talk about that here, im just sharing screenshots. if u want to know something PM me bro (ingame or on forum, my name is GrandTickler)


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42 U.S. Code § 18313 - Assurance of core capabilities
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(a) Sense of Congress
It is the sense of Congress that—
(1) the ISS, technology developments, the current Space Shuttle program, and follow-on transportation systems authorized by this chapter form the foundation of initial capabilities for missions beyond low-Earth orbit to a variety of lunar and Lagrangian orbital locations; and
(b) Space Shuttle capability assurance
(1) Development of follow-on space transportation systems
The Administrator shall proceed with the development of follow-on space transportation systems in a manner that ensures that the national capability to restart and fly Space Shuttle missions can be initiated if required by the Congress, in an Act enacted after October 11, 2010, or by a Presidential determination transmitted to the Congress, before the last Space Shuttle mission authorized by this chapter is completed.
(2) Required actions
In carrying out the requirement in paragraph (1), the Administrator shall authorize refurbishment of the manufactured external tank of the Space Shuttle, designated as ET–94, and take all actions necessary to enable its readiness for use in the Space Launch System development as a critical skills and capability retention effort or for test purposes, while preserving the ability to use this tank if needed for an ISS contingency if deemed necessary under paragraph (1).
(c) Sense of Congress regarding human space flight capability assurance
It is the sense of Congress that the Administrator shall proceed with the utilization of the ISS, technology development, and follow-on transportation systems (including the Space Launch System, multi-purpose crew vehicle, and commercial crew and cargo transportation capabilities) under subchapters II and III of this chapter in a manner that ensures—
(2) a balance of the development, sustainment, and use of each of these capabilities, which are of critical importance to the viability and sustainability of the U.S. space program; and
(d) Limitation
Nothing in subsection (c) shall apply to or affect any capability authorized by any other subchapter of this chapter [1]
[1] So in original. Probably should be followed by a period.
Source(Pub. L. 111–267, title II, § 203,Oct. 11, 2010, 124 Stat. 2812; Pub. L. 112–273, § 2,Jan. 14, 2013, 126 Stat. 2454.)
2013—Subsecs. (c), (d). Pub. L. 112–273added subsecs. (c) and (d).
References in Text
Any other subchapter of this chapter, referred to in subsec. (d), was in the original "any other title of this Act", meaning any other title of Pub.L. 111–267, Oct. 11, 2010, 124 Stat. 2805. In addition to title II which is classified generally to this subchapter, Pub. L. 111–267contains titles III to XII which are classified generally to subchapters II to XI, respectively, of this chapter and titles I and XIII, 126 Stat. 2809, 2846, which are not classified to the Code.
LII has no control over and does not endorse any external Internet site that contains links to or references LII.


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BUFFALO, N.Y. -- The Buffalo Bills have announced details on their prices for season tickets for the 2013 season.
The cost of some tickets have gone down to $25 per-game in the 300 level.
If you're getting other non-premium season ticket seats, the price stays the same, and season tickets are currently on sale.
But, here's where you can expect to pay more. The price of individual games are going up by an average of eight dollars. The average price of an individual game ticket is $74.51.
The Bills organization points out tickets are among the lowest average price in the league.


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Geography | Government | History
The greater part of the country is mountainous. Its principal ranges are the Tien Shan, the Kunlun chain, and the Trans-Himalaya. In the southwest is Tibet, which China annexed in 1950. The Gobi Desert lies to the north. China proper consists of three great river systems: the Yellow River (Huang He), 2,109 mi (5,464 km) long; the Yangtze River (Chang Jiang), the third-longest river in the world at 2,432 mi (6,300 km); and the Pearl River (Zhu Jiang), 848 mi (2,197 km) long.
Communist state.
The earliest recorded human settlements in what is today called China were discovered in the Huang He basin and date from about 5000 B.C. During the Shang dynasty (1500–1000 B.C.), the precursor of modern China's ideographic writing system developed, allowing the emerging feudal states of the era to achieve an advanced stage of civilization, rivaling in sophistication any society found at the time in Europe, the Middle East, or the Americas. It was following this initial flourishing of civilization, in a period known as the Chou dynasty (1122–249 B.C.), that Lao-tse, Confucius, Mo Ti, and Mencius laid the foundation of Chinese philosophical thought.
The feudal states, often at war with one another, were first united under Emperor Ch'in Shih Huang Ti, during whose reign (246–210 B.C.) work was begun on the Great Wall of China, a monumental bulwark against invasion from the West. Although the Great Wall symbolized China's desire to protect itself from the outside world, under the Han dynasty (206 B.C.–A.D. 220), the civilization conducted extensive commercial trading with the West.
In the T'ang dynasty (618–907)—often called the golden age of Chinese history—painting, sculpture, and poetry flourished, and woodblock printing, which enabled the mass production of books, made its earliest known appearance. The Mings, last of the native rulers (1368–1644), overthrew the Mongol, or Yuan, dynasty (1271–1368) established by Kublai Khan. The Mings in turn were overthrown in 1644 by invaders from the north, the Manchus.
War Losses Cause China to Sign Away Sovereignty
China remained largely isolated from the rest of the world's civilizations, closely restricting foreign activities. By the end of the 18th century only Canton (location of modern-day Hong Kong) and the Portuguese port of Macao were open to European merchants. But with the first Anglo-Chinese War in 1839–1842, a long period of instability and concessions to Western colonial powers began. Following the war, several ports were opened up for trading, and Hong Kong was ceded to Britain. Treaties signed after further hostilities (1856–1860) weakened Chinese sovereignty and gave foreigners immunity from Chinese jurisdiction. European powers took advantage of the disastrous Sino-Japanese War of 1894–1895 to gain further trading concessions from China. Peking's response, the Boxer Rebellion (1900), was suppressed by an international force.
The death of Empress Dowager Tzu Hsi in 1908 and the accession of the infant emperor Hsüan T'ung (Pu-Yi) were followed by a nationwide rebellion led by Dr. Sun Yat-sen, who overthrew the Manchus and became the first president of the Provisional Chinese Republic in 1911. Dr. Sun resigned in favor of Yuan Shih-k'ai, who suppressed the Republicans in a bid to consolidate his power. Yuan's death in June 1916 was followed by years of civil war between rival militarists and Dr. Sun's Republicans. Nationalist forces, led by General Chiang Kai-shek and with the advice of Communist experts, soon occupied most of China, setting up the Kuomintang regime in 1928. Internal strife continued, however, and Chiang eventually broke with the Communists.
On Sept. 18, 1931, Japan launched an invasion of Manchuria, capturing the province. Tokyo set up a puppet state dubbed Manchukuo and installed the last Manchu emperor, Henry Pu-Yi (Hsüan T'ung), as its nominal leader. Japanese troops moved to seize China's northern provinces in July 1937 but were resisted by Chiang, who had been able to use the Japanese invasion to unite most of China behind him. Within two years, however, Japan had seized most of the nation's eastern ports and railways. The Kuomintang government retreated first to Hankow and then to Chungking, while the Japanese set up a puppet government at Nanking, headed by Wang Jingwei.
People's Republic of China Is Established
Japan's surrender to the Western Allies in 1945 touched off civil war between the Kuomintang forces under Chiang and Communists led by Mao Zedong, who had been battling since the 1930s for control of China. Despite U.S. aid, the Kuomintang were overcome by the Soviet-supported Communists, and Chiang and his followers were forced to flee the mainland, establishing a government-in-exile on the island of Formosa (Taiwan). The Mao regime proclaimed the People's Republic of China on Oct. 1, 1949, with Beijing as the new capital and Zhou Enlai as premier.
After the Korean War began in June 1950, China led the Communist bloc in supporting North Korea, and on Nov. 26, 1950, the Mao regime sent troops to assist the North in its efforts to capture the South.
In an attempt to restructure China's primarily agrarian economy, Mao undertook the "Great Leap Forward" campaign in 1958, a disastrous program that aimed to combine the establishment of rural communes with a crash program of village industrialization. The Great Leap forced the abandonment of farming activities, leading to widespread famine in which more than 20 million people died of malnutrition.
China Is Condemned for Poor Treatment of Tibetans
In 1959, a failed uprising against China's invasion and occupation of Tibet forced Tibetan Buddhism's spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, and 100,000 of his followers to flee to India. The invasion of Tibet and a perceived rivalry for the leadership of the world Communist movement caused a serious souring of relations between China and the USSR, former allies. In 1965 Tibet was formally made an autonomous region of China. China's harsh religious and cultural persecution of Tibetans, which continues to this day, has spawned growing international protest.
The failure of the Great Leap Forward touched off a power struggle within the Chinese Communist Party between Mao and his supporters and a reformist faction including future premier Deng Xiaoping. Mao moved to Shanghai, and from that base he and his supporters waged what they called the Cultural Revolution. Beginning in the spring of 1966, Mao ordered the closing of schools and the formation of ideologically pure Red Guard units, dominated by youths and students. The Red Guards campaigned against "old ideas, old culture, old habits, and old customs." Millions died in a series of violent purges. By early 1967, the Cultural Revolution had succeeded in bolstering Mao's position as China's paramount leader.
President Nixon's Visit to China Establishes New Relations
Anxious to exploit the Sino-Soviet rift, the Nixon administration made a dramatic announcement in July 1971 that National Security Adviser Henry Kissinger had secretly visited Beijing and reached an agreement whereby Nixon would visit China. The movement toward reconciliation, which signaled the end of the U.S. containment policy toward China, provided momentum for China's admission to the UN. Despite U.S. opposition to expelling Taiwan (Nationalist China), the world body overwhelmingly voted to oust Taiwan in favor of Beijing's Communist government.
President Nixon went to Beijing for a week early in 1972, meeting Mao as well as Zhou. The summit ended with a historic communiqué on Feb. 28, in which both nations promised to work toward improved relations. Full diplomatic relations were barred by China as long as the U.S. continued to recognize the legitimacy of Nationalist China.
Following Zhou's death on Jan. 8, 1976, his successor, Vice Premier Deng Xiaoping, was supplanted within a month by Hua Guofeng, former minister of public security. Hua became permanent premier in April. In Oct. he was named successor to Mao as chairman of the Communist Party. But Mao's death on Sept. 10 unleashed the bitter intraparty rivalries that had been suppressed since the Cultural Revolution. Old opponents of Mao launched a campaign against his widow, Jiang Qing, and three of her "radical" colleagues. The so-called Gang of Four was denounced for having undermined the party, the government, and the economy. They were tried and convicted in 1981. Meanwhile, in 1977, Deng Xiaoping was reinstated as deputy premier, chief of staff of the army, and member of the Central Committee of the Politburo.
Beijing and Washington announced full diplomatic relations on Jan. 1, 1979, and the Carter administration abrogated the Taiwan defense treaty. Deputy Premier Deng sealed the agreement with a visit to the U.S. that coincided with the opening of embassies in both capitals on March 1. On Deng's return from the U.S., Chinese troops invaded and briefly occupied an area along Vietnam's northern border. The action was seen as a response to Vietnam's invasion of Cambodia and ouster of the Khmer Rouge government, which China had supported.
In 1981, Deng protégé Hu Yaobang replaced Hua Guofeng as party chairman. Deng became chairman of the Central Committee's military commission, giving him control over the army. The body's 215 members concluded the session with a statement holding Mao Zedong responsible for the "grave blunder" of the Cultural Revolution.
Under Deng Xiaoping's leadership, meanwhile, China's Communist ideology went through a massive reinterpretation, and sweeping economic changes were set in motion in the early 1980s. The Chinese scrapped the personality cult that idolized Mao Zedong, muted Mao's old call for class struggle and exportation of the Communist revolution, and imported Western technology and management techniques to replace the Marxist tenets that had slowed modernization.
Student Demonstrators Are Killed at Tiananmen Square
The removal of Hu Yaobang as party chairman in Jan. 1987 signaled a hard-line resurgence within the party. Hu—who had become a hero to many reform-minded Chinese—was replaced by former premier Zhao Ziyang. With the death of Hu in April 1989, the ideological struggle spilled into the streets of the capital, as student demonstrators occupied Beijing's Tiananmen Square in May, calling for democratic reforms. Less than a month later, the demonstrations were crushed in a bloody crackdown as troops and tanks moved into the square and fired on protesters, killing several hundred.
In annual sessions of the rubber-stamp National People's Congress in 1992 and 1993, the government called for accelerating the drive for economic reform, but the sessions were widely seen as an effort to maintain China's moves toward a market economy while retaining political authoritarianism. At the session in 1993, Communist Party leader Jiang Zemin was elected president, while hard-liner Li Peng was reelected to another five-year term as prime minister. Since 1993, the Chinese economy has continued to grow rapidly.
China Becomes an Economic Power, but Continues to Suppress Personal Liberties
Deng Xiaoping's death in Feb. 1997 left a younger generation in charge of managing the enormous country. In 1998, Prime Minister Zhu Rongji introduced a sweeping program to privatize state-run businesses and further liberalize the nation's economy, a move lauded by Western economists.
On July 1, 1997, when Britain's lease on the New Territories expired, Hong Kong returned to Chinese sovereignty, and in 1999, the Portuguese colony of Macao also was returned to Chinese rule.
In Aug. 1999, China rounded up thousands of members of the Falun Gong sect, a highly popular religious movement. The government considers the apolitical spiritual group threatening because its numbers exceeded the membership of the Chinese Communist Party. China severely restricts its citizens' civil, religious, and political rights. The use of torture has been widely documented, and for many years it has executed more people than any other country in the world, carrying out more than three-quarters of the world's executions.
China was admitted to the World Trade Organization in Nov. 2001. Its entry ended a 15-year debate over whether China is entitled to the full trading rights of capitalist countries.
In Nov. 2002, Vice President Hu Jintao became general secretary of the Communist Party at the 16th Party Congress, succeeding President Jiang. Hu Jintao also assumed the presidency in March 2003.
Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), a worldwide health threat, hit China in March 2003. After coming under fire by the World Health Organization for underreporting the number of its SARS cases, China finally revealed the alarming extent of its epidemic.
Beijing officials angered democracy advocates in Hong Kong in April 2004, when they banned popular elections for Hong Kong's chief executive, scheduled for 2007.
Tension between China and Taiwan intensified in March 2005, when China passed an antisecession law that said the country could use force if Taiwan moved toward achieving independence. "The state shall employ non-peaceful means and other necessary measures to protect China's sovereignty and territorial integrity," the legislation said. Taiwanese president Chen Shui-bian called the bill a "law of aggression."
In June 2005, the China National Oil Corporation (Cnoc) bid $18.5 billion to take over the U.S. oil company Unocal. The Chinese firm withdrew the bid in August amid strong resistance from U.S. officials.
After months of pressure from the Bush administration, China announced in July 2005 that it will no longer peg the yuan to the dollar. Instead, the yuan is linked to a fluctuating group of foreign currencies.
The police shot and killed about 20 people who were protesting the construction of a power plant in the southern city of Dongzhou in December. Chinese officials blocked the spread of information about the event.
Government officials announced in December that China's economy had grown by 9% in 2005. China is poised to have the world's fourth-largest economy, after the United States, Japan, and Germany.
In May 2006, China completed construction on the Three Gorges Dam, the largest hydroelectric dam in the world. More than a million people will be displaced when the area is flooded. In July 2006, China opened a $4.2-billion, 710-mile-long railway from Qinghai Province to the Tibetan capital of Lhasa. The highest railway in the world, it ascends as high as 16,500 ft, requiring all compartments to have regulated oxygen levels. The railway will increase ethnic Chinese migration into Tibet, which many see as a deliberate attempt to dilute Tibetan culture.
China tested its first antisatellite weapon in January 2007, successfully destroying one of its own weather satellites. Analysts deemed the move a provocative challenge to the United States' supremacy in space-based technology. Others speculated that China is seeking to push the U.S. toward signing a treaty to ban space-based weapons.
In the spring and summer of 2007, dog food and toothpaste products that originated in China were recalled due to the presence of poisonous ingredients, leading many to question the safety of Chinese products and the reliability of its regulatory system. In July, China's former head of the State Food and Drug Administration was executed for accepting bribes from pharmaceutical companies in exchange for favors.
Natural Disasters Ravage China
In January 2008, severe snowstorms in eastern and southern China killed at least 24 people. Half of the country's 31 provinces lost power, about 827,000 people were evacuated from their homes, at least 600,000 train passengers were stranded, and some 20 major airports were closed. The economic cost of the storm is projected to be $3.2 billion.
In March, some 400 Buddhist monks participated in a protest march in Lhasa to commemorate the failed uprising of 1959, that resulted in the Dalai Lama fleeing to India. The protests, the largest in two decades, turned violent, with ethnic Tibetans reportedly attacking Chinese citizens and vandalizing public and private property. Chinese police used force to suppress the demonstrations. Tibetan leaders said that more than 100 Tibetans were killed, but Chinese officials claimed only 16 fatalities occurred and denied that police had used lethal force. China barred many international news organizations from the country and limited the flow of information out of the country. The demonstrations and violence spilled into Gansu, Qinghai, and Sichuan Provinces in western China. Chinese officials accused the Dalai Lama of masterminding the protests, a charge the spiritual leader denied. Zhang Qingli, Tibet's Communist Party leader, reportedly called the Dalai Lama "a jackal in Buddhist monk's robes, an evil spirit with a human face and the heart of a beast."
President Hu visited Japan in May and cited an "everlasting warm spring" in relations between the countries. It was the first visit by a Chinese head of state in a decade. While Hu and Japan's prime minister Yasuo Fukuda failed to make progress on resolving a dispute involving a gasfield in the East China Sea, they did agree to regular meetings, signaling a thaw in their cool relationship.
At least 68,000 people were killed and thousands injured when a 7.9 magnitude earthquake struck Sichuan, Gansu, and Yunnan Provinces in western China on May 12. Nearly 900 students were killed when Juyuan Middle School in the Sichuan Province collapsed. Several other schools also collapsed, killing about 10,000 students. In addition, a well-known panda reserve in Wenchuan was destroyed. The disaster was further complicated by landslides in Sichuan Province that blocked rivers and formed quake lakes that officials feared may cause devastating floods. It was China's worst natural disaster in three decades. In September, the Chinese government acknowledged that poor construction of hastily built schools possibly contributed to their collapse in the earthquake.
China Hosts a Successful Olympics
The 2008 Summer Olympic Games kicked off on Aug. 8, 2008, with a spectacular opening ceremony that many observers called unparalleled. In the lead-up to the games, however, China was dogged by its abysmal human-rights record, crackdown on the Buddhist monks, nearly intolerable air quality, attempts to censor some journalists reporting on the Games, and continued ties to the Sudanese government. In addition, four days before the opening of the Games, two members of the Turkestan Independence Movement, which is also called the Turkestan Islamic Party, a Muslim group based in western China, drove a truck into a group of police officers and then threw explosives and stabbed them. Sixteen police officers died and another 16 were wounded in the attack. Days later, another 12 people were killed in a wave of bombings attributed to the group. As host of the Olympics, China exceeded expectations, despite its moves to stifle protests and dissent, proving that the country is an economic powerhouse. China also won a record 51 gold medals, and a total of 100 medals.
The good will and enthusiasm that followed the Olympic Games was tarnished in September amid reports that three children died and more than 53,000 became sick after drinking milk-based formula that was tainted with melamine, an industrial chemical that's made from coal and used to produce plastic and fertilizer. Officials reportedly knew of the scandal months before it was publicly disclosed.
Space Exploration, Government Reforms, and Military Crackdowns
On Sept. 27, 2008, astronaut Zhai Zhigang stepped out of the Shenzhou VII spacecraft and made the first spacewalk by a Chinese astronaut. The achievement was an important step in China's quest to build a space station by 2020 and someday land on the Moon.
The government announced a land reform policy in Oct. 2008 that will allow farmers to "subcontract, lease, exchange, or swap" rights to the plots of land assigned to them by the government. The government said it hopes the policy change, which coincided with the 30th anniversary of land reforms under Deng Xiaoping, will lead to increased output and greater efficiency.
With countries all over the world facing a financial crisis, China's State Council announced in November that it will spend about $586 billion, or about 7% of China's GDP, on a stimulus package that will include building new airports, subways, low-income housing, and rail systems.
Although China was generally praised for its handling of 2008's earthquake in Sichuan, by the quake's one-year anniversary in 2009, some of the international goodwill had evaporated. China restricted access to the area by journalists and artists; parents of children who where killed in the quake had their complaints ignored and suppressed; and the government's official investigation into the schools and hospitals that collapsed in the quake claimed that none had been improperly constructed. The government did implement new regulations for the construction of schools and hospitals, but that was little comfort to bereaved parents and international organizations demanding accountability.
On the 20th anniversary of the violent military crackdown in Tiananmen Square that left hundreds of democratic activists dead, China tried to deter remembrance of the event. Police officers stood guard around the square, barring foreign journalists from entering. In response, tens of thousands of people held a candlelight vigil in Hong Kong to mark the anniversary of the brutal killings.
Rioting in Urumqi, China between two ethnic groups—Muslim Uighurs and Han Chinese—led to the deaths of at least 156 people at the hands of the police on July 6, 2009. Riot police locked down the Uighur portion of the city to try and stop the protests. It was the worst ethnic violence in decades.
Taiwan and China signed a landmark free-trade agreement in June 2010 that lifts or reduces hundreds of tariffs for both sides. Officials from both Taiwan and China described the deal as the most important achievement since the 1949 civil war. Taiwan seems poised to benefit more economically from the deal than China, and China sees a political benefit as the agreement brings the two closer together.
The exiled Dalai Lama, who has lived in the northern Indian town of Dharamsala since 1959, sent a shockwave through Tibet in March 2011 when he stepped down as leader, requested a demotion to elected politician, and proposed amendments to the constitution. While he has made a clear break with politics, the Daliai Lama remains the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism.
In April 2011, the government-in-exile of Tibet swore in a new prime minister, the first to be elected since the Dalai Lama renounced his position. Lobsang Sangay, a 42-year-old fellow at Harvard Law School, campaigned for an autonomous future for Tibet under Chinese sovereignty. The new prime minister polled 27,051 votes, 55% of the total electorate, to beat two other secular candidates. China has not acknowledged him.
Leaders Propose Strict Limits on Media
Perhaps in reaction to popular uprisings going on around the world, leaders in China proposed new limits on Internet use and media in October 2011. The proposal included some of the strictest measures in years. For example, the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television limited 34 major television stations to two 90-minute entertainment shows per week. The same TV stations were also limited to two hours of news every evening. The two hours of news must be approved by the state. Audience ratings were ordered to be ignored.
Leaders said the new limits would go into effect January 1, 2012. The media crackdown coincides with an upcoming switch in leadership within the government and ruling party, a shift that will take place over the next year.
China Sides with Russia to Block U.N. Action in Syria
In February 2012, China joined Russia in making international headlines by blocking an effort by the United Nations Security Council to end the violence in Syria. Both countries vetoed the resolution just hours after the Syrian military launched an assault on the city of Homs. The Security Council voted 13 to 2 for a resolution backing an Arab League peace plan for Syria. Russia and China voted against the resolution, seeing it as a violation of Syria's sovereignty. Syria's 11-month uprising has caused more than 5,000 casualties.
On February 14, 2012, Xi Jinping, vice president of China, arrived in the United States for a visit. China's presumptive next president, Jinping was watched closely on his visit by American leaders, who looked for clues to his future policies on critical issues such as the nuclear programs of North Korea and Iran.
On July 19 2012, China sided with Russia again and vetoed a United Nations Security Council resolution to impose sanctions on the Syrian government. The proposed U.N. sanctions were intended to push Syria into putting a peace plan into action and ending its 17-month-old conflict. The resolution was proposed by Britain and backed by ten other council members, including France and the United States.
Blind Dissident Seeks Refuge at American Embassy
In April 2012, Chen Guangcheng, a blind lawyer and one of China's most well-known dissidents, escaped from his rural home where he had been under house arrest since 2010. Chen went to the American Embassy in Beijing where he asked U.S. officials for help. On May 2, Chen left the embassy to receive medical treatment at a hospital in Beijing for an injured foot. After tense negotiations, the Chinese government agreed to relocate him away from Shandong Province, his hometown, where Chen said his family had been attacked. The government also promised that Chen would be allowed to pursue his law studies at a university. Chen's friends questioned the validity of the government's promises and, while in the hospital, Chen admitted he left the U.S. embassy in part because the Chinese government officials threatened his wife's life if he remained there. Although Chen's friends had said he desired to stay in China, he went on to say, while in the hospital, that he wanted to leave the country because "guaranteeing citizens' rights in China is empty talk."
On May 4, 2012, Chen requested help from Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, who was in China for meetings on economic and security issues. Chen revised his request, asking if he and his family could go to the U.S. temporarily instead of receiving permanent asylum. Clinton and the Obama administration worked quickly to negotiate with Chinese officials to avoid an increase in tensions between the two governments. During her visit, Clinton said that progress was being made "to help him have the future that he wants." On May 5, China agreed to allow Chen to apply to study in the United States, a move which was quickly praised by Clinton.
On May 19, after leaving Beijing with his wife and two children, Chen arrived in New York City where he would live and study at New York University. He spoke at a press conference where he said he was grateful to the American Embassy. He also thanked Chinese officials for "dealing with the situation with restraint and calm." About the Chinese government, he added, "I hope to see that they continue to open discourse and earn the respect and trust of the people."
Tension Increases with Asian Neighbors Over Islands in 2012
Regional tension over claims to islands and resources in the South China Sea flared throughout 2012. For centuries, China has declared sovereignty over the sea and many of its islands, including the Paracel and Spratly islands, which are rich in oil and gas reserves and fish. However, Vietnam has also laid claim to the Paracel and Spratly island chains, and the Philippines say the Spratly Islands are within their territorial claims.
While the issue has been festering for decades, China took a tougher stance in 2012, warning other nations to refrain from oil and gas exploration and placing naval vessels in the South China Sea. At the same time, Vietnam and the Philippines have been more aggressively dispatching ships-both military and civilian-to the sea. There was little hope that the nations could solve the problem diplomatically, with China saying it would only negotiate bilaterally and both Vietnam and the Philippines both insisting that the U.S. and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) mediate the dispute.
China's Economy Falls to a Three-Year Low in 2012
In a June 2012 quarter ending report, China's economic growth fell to a three-year low. Economists predicted that it would decline even more before rebounding. However, by September 2012, consumer inflation had eased to 1.9 percent from 2.0 percent in August. The drop in inflation gave the government room to cut interest rates and was a positive sign that China's economy would soon be on the upswing again.
Also, while China's growth slowed in 2012, it was still the leader of all the major emerging economies. China's GDP growth was 7.6 percent in the year's second quarter, ahead of India (5.5 percent), Russia (4 percent), and South Africa (3.2 percent). Moreover, while there was a slowdown in China's production and consumption of consumer goods, basic resources, and materials; the country's tourism, education, medical care, and luxury car industries thrived throughout 2012.
The Transfer of Power Begins
On November 8, 2012, the Chinese Communist Party's 18th Congress convened in Beijing, beginning its leadership transition. Having ruled China since 1949, the party faced its biggest transfer of power in years. It was only the second time the party prepared to transfer power from one leader to another without violence or protest. The only previous time was when current President Hu Jintao took over for Jiang Zemin in 2002.
The 18th Congress began with the expectation that changes were coming in every area of the Chinese Communist Party. For example, seven out of nine members of the party's elite Standing Committee were scheduled to retire. The biggest change would obviously be Vice President Xi Jinping taking over as president. When he takes over as president in March 2013, Xi, the son of a revolutionary leader, will face the daunting task of maintaining economic growth and increasing China's role as a global power.
On November 9, 2012, Google confirmed that all of its services including Gmail, maps, and its search engine were not accessible in China. The service interruption came just as the 18th Congress convened. Chinese cyber-police also took further steps to control information ahead of the leadership transition in the Communist Party. Companies in and around Beijing were ordered to use computer hardware to log online traffic and block certain Web sites.
Protests over Newspaper Censorship Grows
Protest began in early January 2013 over censorship of Southern Weekend, a newspaper. Journalists at the paper said local propaganda officials were interfering with their reporting and called for the ouster of Tuo Zhen, a propaganda official in the Guangdong Province. The journalists at Southern Weekend said he was responsible for a change in a recent editorial that called for more respect for constitutional rights. By the time the piece was published it praised the current political system.
On January 7, 2013, hundreds of people gathered outside of the Southern Weekend headquarters to protest against the censorship. Meanwhile celebrities responded with a show of support via the internet. Actress Yao Chen quoted Russian dissident Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn online: One word of truth outweighs the whole world. Hung Huang, an entrepreneur, stated online that Tuo "destroyed, overnight, all the credibility the country's top leadership had labored to re-establish since the 18th Party Congress."
Chinese Hackers Attack The New York Times
For four months in late 2012 and early 2013, hackers in China attacked The New York Times. The hacking included gaining access to the paper's computer systems and getting employee's passwords. The attacks came at the same time that The New York Times reported on an investigation that Prime Minister Wen Jiabao's relatives had acquired a several billion dollar fortune through business dealings.
The New York Times hired computer security experts to study the hacker's activity. After gathering evidence, the security experts were able to push the hackers out and block them from returning. According to the security experts, no customer data was stolen. The experts believed that the attack was part of a wider computer espionage mission against U.S. news media outlets that report on Chinese leaders and business dealings. In fact, a day after The New York Times reported the incident; The Wall Street Journal revealed in a statement that hackers had infiltrated it, too, "for the apparent purpose of monitoring the newspaper's China coverage."
On February 19, 2013, a 60-page study was released by Mandiant, a U.S. computer security firm, which showed evidence linking Unit 61398, a Chinese military unit, to the groups responsible for a large portion of the recent hacking in the United States. The study, which included digital forensic evidence, didn't prove that the hackers were inside the military unit's headquarters, but did show evidence that they were either inside or very close to Unit 61398.
The Transfer of Power is Complete
On Thursday, March 14, 2013, Xi Jingping assumed the presidency of China. Of the 2,956 delegates, only one voted against Xi. Three delegates abstained. Li Yuanchao was named vice president.
Assuming the presidency completed the transition of power to Xi. The process began four months ago when he was named chairman of the Central Military Commission and general secretary of the Communist Party. This final step put him in charge of all three centers of power in China.
Powerful Earthquake Kills 186 in Sichuan Province
A strong earthquake struck southwestern China. At least 186 people were killed and around 8,200 people were injured. The earthquake caused mountainsides to collapse into valleys. Available drinking water became a problem following the earthquake.
Reports conflicted on the magnitude of the earthquake. China's Earthquake Networks Center reported that the earthquake was a 7.0 magnitude, while the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) put it at 6.6. A series of aftershocks followed. According to the USGS, some of the aftershocks were a magnitude of 5.1.
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