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For every complex problem there is a solution that is clear, simple, and wrong.
The NSW Government's current push toward council amalgamations is a classic example.
In a few months' time, the Government's Independent Local Government Review Panel will recommend that there be widespread local government mergers across NSW.
This month, Local Government Minister Don Page committed to take the proposal to cabinet for approval, despite Premier Barry O'Farrell promising before last year's election there would be no forced amalgamations.
The O'Farrell Government has been softening NSW up for a while on this one, knowing that the move is unpopular.
The Independent Local Government Review Panel's initial report proposes a range of alternate governance models for larger, amalgamated councils with expanded responsibilities. They include proposals for full-time salaried mayors and new local government cabinets.
Their recommendations are based on a single, defining assumption: that bigger, amalgamated councils produce superior economies of scale.
Proponents argue that amalgamated councils are more efficient and effective because they supposedly enjoy lower administrative costs per capita and benefit from increased purchasing power and improved utilisation of capital assets.
The argument is simplistic and accessible to those with a rudimentary understanding of economics, and it's easy to understand its surface appeal.
Why run six local councils, when you can run one big amalgamated council? Surely that has to be more efficient?
Not really. The idea that larger councils are economically more efficient than their smaller counterparts is not backed up by research or experience.
So why the gap between theory and experience? The problem is one of category error. Councils aren't businesses.
Economies of scale are traditionally derived from the higher and more intense utilisation of a capital asset. It is much harder to derive economies of scale in organisations that provide human services.
Think of the kinds of services that local councils provide: lifeguards, gardeners, swimming teachers, childcare workers, librarians, garbage collectors — for these sorts of services it is difficult to increase output without a corresponding increase in the number of staff.
Actually, in cases like these, diseconomies of scale can occur where larger and more costly management systems are required to manage a growing and diverse range of activities and staff.
Yet the potential problems with amalgamation do not, by any means, end there.
Unlike in some sectors where producers have identical production processes, councils are not homogenous. The whole point of local government is that it addresses the unique and varied needs of individual communities.
Coastal councils have different expenses to regional country councils. Small, densely populated councils require different services and management systems to large, sparsely populated councils. Some councils have large migratory populations that put stress on council assets each season, while other councils have very stable populations.
You can see how this muddies the neat, theoretical waters.
The fact is that the NSW Government's swim toward council amalgamations is actually against the current public policy tide.
The key concept being explored all over the globe today is in fact "devolution" — the opposite to amalgamation.
The idea behind devolution is to bring decision makers closer to the end user, shortening the feedback loop and thereby improving the quality of service delivery. The devolution of authority to line managers allows them to flexibly respond to external changes and tailor delivery to individual needs.
Amalgamations, on the other hand, reflect the old and opposite mode of thinking: centralisation and standardisation. Representative government is a different beast to most other organisations. It is not just about service delivery or production.
Councillors serve the unique purpose of representing and advocating for the communities in which they live. Most residents enjoy the fact that their councillors are easily accessible and can be found at the local supermarket on Thursday night or at nippers on Sunday morning.
Instead of rushing in to restructure local government, the Independent Local Government Review Panel should be careful it is taking into account the unique needs of each community, the representative function of councils and the accessibility of councillors to their constituents.
It needs to ensure it is not attempting to apply a solution designed for a very different problem.
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Dr Dog
Posted Wednesday, December 12, 2012 - 13:48
Let O'Farrell have his mega councils, as long as he agrees that the biggest waste of taxpayers money is state governments.
One federal tier for national issues like defense and foreign policy and one local tier for service delivery like education, health and child care. Seems fine with me, as long as the funding flowing from the feds is commensurate with population size and special needs like roads in rural areas.
Turn out the lights on the way out of Macquarie Street, Barry.
Posted Thursday, December 13, 2012 - 14:57
Always intriguing to me how the Federal system leads to such a hodgepodge of policies and government settings. Victoria merged all of its councils into larger 'super-councils' in the 1990s - to largely great success. There were many of the same complaints, not to mention the heritage of some of the councils having been in existence for over a hundred years.
However - smaller councils tend to be over governed and expensive to run - larger councils have economies of scale and are able to deliver better services. There is also more scrutiny over governance on larger councils, who have a larger rates base - and thus can afford more and better services.
Posted Thursday, December 27, 2012 - 15:47
Cadwallon, 1969. May I say, codswallop!!!
Forced CouncilAmalgamations in Queensland under Peter Beatty have caused no end of troubles, and now the No Nothing NLP are trying to turn back time, and de-amalgamate those councils desiring same, and finding that the costs are going to be prohibitive on an ongoing basis.
However, those councils which did amalgamate have been pretty much declared disaster zones, with bankruptcy pending. The Roma District Amalgamations, to the Maranoa Regional Council (after another poll and name change to suit the Mayor, a man who is now totally cemented into position because he can not be voted out under local voting rules) is close to absolute bankruptcy, with massive costs from flooding three years in succession, and a levy bank proposed but unfunded. Insurance companies, after three years of massive flooding, have increased annual insurance cover to figures that no one can pay, unless the levy bank is built.
No one can see how our unloved and unwanted Mayor is going to get us out of this one. Massive increases in Rates this last year to cover costs of repairs and replacements in other towns in the new Region, also caused by flooding, have caused great anger in Roma, whose ratepayers are going to have to wear the greatest cost. And all can see that it has not ended there. The Mayor is a great pusher of the CSG Industry, and this town, and others in the Region, have been totally socially destroyed by FIFO and DIDO Gas workers. And it seems that to encourage the CSG Industry, ratepayers are going to have to cough up to support their infrastructure. They are coughing, all right!
Some Amalgamations may have been a success, but they are a rarity, and they are not sticking their necks out to say so.
Again, the VOTERS in our SOCIETY have been totally ignored for the greater good of the Rich and Powerful, by our supposed democratically elected GOVERNMENTS.
Poor Fellow, My Country!


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Fall is an excellent time to repair the damage caused by the summer of 2010. Now is the time to act. Now is the time to prepare your lawn for next spring by adding new grass to brown or bare spots. Even if your lawn seems ok, there is always work which can be done to improve it for next year. If your lawn suffered from the hot, dry weather of 2010 don't think you are alone. Most grass suffered under minimal rainfall, above average temperatures, and brutal heat which in turn promoted insect and drought damage. Don't be fooled and think your lawn is brown simply from a lack of water or heat. Any brown areas in your lawn in September or October can be prime indicators of chinch bugs, white grubs, sod webworms, or other noxious turf pests. If you are in doubt, have an expert examine your lawn because many of these pests will not go away. In fact, they will overwinter and return next spring only to continue the population explosion and expand their dominion conquering your lawn and raising the flag of victory. The problem is, the flag is not your's and will only mean expensive renovations and possibly drastic measures to eliminate the enemy.
What procedures should you consider? Aeration is at the top of the list and can be done up until the ground freezes in November. Seeding after aeration is called overseeding and is a great procedure. For most of us in Upper Valley region, we can seed well into mid October and still expect decent results in most years. Depending upon weather conditions, seeding later is a roll of the dice and results may be reduced by the onset of early snow or unusually cold weather. Have sea kelp applied to your lawn to improve root density and promote organic matter. Let us not forget lime, our old friend who will adjust soil pH so fertilizer works better. Of course, applying a high potassium fertilizer in addition to a standard balanced fertilization is wonderful- especially in October. Potassium thickens cell walls and makes the grass more resistant to drying out, ice and drought damage. Many benefits are derived from a late season balanced fertilization which is not intended to push top growth, but become stored for use next spring in the root system and soil environment. The tougher your grass, the better it can withstand ice, cold, and the drying winds of winter.
In summary, a lot of things can be done in a very short period of time to provide a whole lot of benefit to your home or commercial lawn area. Don't miss the window of opportunity to enhance your brown lawn this fall.

subset: commoncrawl


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It's been awfully quiet at TA-21 this week.
And it's not because of the latest discovery last Friday when a 1940s-era truck was unearthed by an excavator working at the site.
Fred DeSousa of the Los Alamos National Laboratory Communications Department on Thursday morning confirmed there was a problem with the transformer on site.
"We didn't have any electricity and we use that to run the air filtration system," DeSousa said. "We can't do any work inside the enclosures unless we have an air filtration system."
DeSousa said the problem occurred Saturday afternoon when the winds were high.
"We don't know for sure if the high winds caused the problem, but we had equipment failure in our high voltage supply.
"Some of the electrical systems powering the filtration systems need a certain type of power and there was damage to one of the systems."
DeSousa said power has been restored to one of the four enclosures where excavation is being done.
"What we do when we resume operations is that we go through a step-by-step process and prove we can get the systems back up," DeSousa said. "It's a very methodical process."
None of the businesses on DP Road had any interruption in power service.
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Packers linebacker Clay Matthews made a not-so startling revelation as a guest of ESPN Radio's Mike & Mike on Thursday: Green Bay's defense plans to put a lot of hits on 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick when the teams open the 2013 NFL season in San Francisco on Sunday (4:25 p.m. ET FOX).
Considering Kaepernick was such a difficult moving target for the Packers when he racked up 444 yards of offense (181 yards rushing) when the teams last met in the 2012 divisional playoffs, just getting to him a few times will be important for the visitors to have a chance this time.
MORE: Week 1 picks | SN's Super Bowl picks | Preseason award predictions
49ers coach Jim Harbaugh expressed Wednesday that he didn't appreciate the "tough talk" that was coming from the Packers and felt they were borderline "targeting" Kaepernick.
What did the hard-nosed Harbaugh expect from the mighty Matthews, who just got megabucks for how well he chases down quarterbacks?
Both teams will need to be physical to keep Sunday's rematch from being a track meet featured two loaded offenses. You can bet San Francisco's defense just won't let sit there without getting their share of licks on Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
For Kaepernick to have more success against the Packers, he might need to be more like Rodgers -- use his mobility to make more big plays with his arm, rather than absorbing the extra hits that come with trying to make big runs.


text: Woman claims D.B. Cooper was her uncle Share this story email Share this story «Previous 2 of 5 Photos Next » Read the story « » DB Cooper FILE - This 1971 artist's sketch provided by the FBI shows the skyjacker known as "Dan Cooper," or "D.B. Cooper," made from the recollections of passengers and crew of a Northwest Orient Airlines jet he hijacked between Portland and Seattle on Nov. 24, 1971, Thanksgiving eve. Marla Cooper of Oklahoma City, who was 8 years old at the time of the hijacking, told ABC News in an interview broadcast Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2011 that she is certain her uncle Lynn Doyle Cooper leaped from a Northwest Orient plane not far from her grandmother's home in Sisters, Ore. (AP Photo/FBI, File)


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We are always looking for ways to share what we do and what we love with our community. Please feel free to send any information you see below to your friends and help spread the word about Outdoor Outreach and our programs! Requests for media packets and press inquiries can be directed to Ben McCue at 619-238-5790.
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Before you read on and jump quickly to scream foul, please make sure you realize that I write this with some humor, to try and get at the point that "In certain situations, de-normalization is good!" I am not suggesting that we throw away normalization! Are you kidding me? Might as well go play Russian Roulette! However, I think this is an interesting trend among large Web 2.0 companies that are heavy on read, and low on writing. With that said as my preface, read on and joy.
I'm just going through the process of designing a database architecture for a Web 2.0 site we will be launching in a few months, and the first thing the database architect talked to me about at a review was "Don't worry, this design your about to see is going to rock, we have really normalized the data, its hot!". I was happy he said this, but at the same time, it got me thinking about a lot of things. Synapses started flipping through my brain as they do at night when I can't sleep (probably due to the Starbucks I was sipping on).
See, I have never seen eye to eye with database designers on their "Normalization" Zen. When I first started getting into databases and teaching database design and architecture, I always thought to myself "Why all this normalization?". I know, I'm treading into dangerous territory here, but I feel it has to be said. What is dangerous about this topic? I guess the fact that I think we should NOT normalize data for the most part in a Web 2.0 world. Inexperienced DBA's I guess will find this completely incorrect and question my brain capacity, but I would bet experienced DBA's after thinking about what I'm saying, would agree with me. I'll tell you why…
The Argument Pro Normalization
I won't go into too much detail, because all of you know that a proper database is normalized. My guess is at least 80% of web sites out there are running on normalized relational databases. In the current world of relational databases, we have all been taught that you must normalize your data to ensure data integrity by minimizing duplicate data. By doing this, you are ensuring that no application can write data in one location, and not updating another location, and creating two different records, for the same data! This is supposed to also simplify software development, by putting all the data integrity logic at the database layer. You can user stored procedures, views, joins, and have fairly applications that rely on the database to keep the data integrity.
The Argument Against Normalization
How many freaking joins do you have to do to get all the data you want? When I first started my career, I could write ASP pages amazingly fast, with simple databases in the back end. As I started learning more and reading on "Normalizing" your data, I started feeling crappy about some of my designs. I didn't use any joins, didn't really have any transactions, and had very few tables. But, I wrote applications very fast, got results, and never really had any speed issues. I never really had issues bad data either, but whatever.
I Learned to Normalize
I started writing more "enterprise" applications, and had to do more joins, left, outer joins, had to worry about transactions, and had layers upon layers of data access to go through in order to add a new customer. I was told that "It's the databases job to maintain data integrity". Ok it all made sense, I did this. My code became way more complex, my database designs became way more complex, and you couldn't put bad data into the database. Hot! But, it took FOREVER to write the applications to put the data into the database. Not only that, but now, if I needed to scale the application, I couldn't simply add more web servers! I now had to worry about database replication, transactions, and indexes. I soon realized that doing joins took an INSANE amount of processing power.
Normalization Is Slow To Design
Are you still with me? Splitting up your data into small chunks and insuring that no data was stored twice, made writing even the simplest web forms super complicated. Sure I could call a stored proc, but if it wasn't written, I had to get the DBA to write it, or write it myself. If I had to get new data in a certain way, I had to create views, which I was told was fast! Not (Ok, getting better… but still). For one simple form, or simple display page, you could have an INSANE amount of joins!
Normalized Applications Are Slow On A Huge Scale
Why couldn't I just have a table, with all the data I needed for that page? Then for other pages, I could have the same data duplicated! This would actually take stress away from the JOIN, and just let me get data from either location. When an update was done, say the user updates his address, it would be updated in two locations. Is that all that bad? I don't think it is. Just add some constraints, and make sure the application layer follows the constraints.
If Web 2.0 is all about sorting data, indexing our knowledge, sharing our knowledge, speed in development, speed in viewing Web 2.0 applications, and scaling your sites quickly should you're site become the next YouTube, I challenge you to do this successfully with a normalized database full of joins, stored procs, views, and transactions. You might do it, but you will need an army of rocket scientists to do it.
Final Thoughts
Do whatever works for your environment. In an enterprise environment where you are working with financials and maybe have 1,000 people entering data and reading data, by all means, normalize your data. If you are writing an application in the web world, where one day you might have 100 users, and a month later, 10,000,000 users, you better have a quick way of scaling! If you have kept your database de-normalized, and just have tables, and your database is basically a storage area, and has no business logic whatsoever, you will be able to quickly scale your web application by adding servers, replicating code across your web farm, and even putting in cool appliances like BIG-IP in place to cache data and load balance your web farm.
Good luck doing this in a normalized database. You will be able to, you will just be crying the whole way.
So, What Should We Do?
If you are doing more writing than reading, stick to normalized databases. If you are doing more reading than writing, still normalize… but then denormalize your data! Look at the web forms and pages you will have, and see what data will always be displayed, and if you have 18 tables needed to display a users profile, denormalize the data! Imagine what would happen if you have 10,000,000 users reading profiles and running joins on 18 tables.
One of the Reasons for Web 1.0 Failure
I would argue that a big reason Web 1.0 companies failed was because you had an army of people getting money from VC's, getting expensive DBA's, armies worth, to write complex normalized databases, then getting web guys to create the application layers for these complex databases. Why is this the reason for failure? You had slow performing sites that didn't scale. You had tons of bugs, bad performance, and sites and ideas that never even launched because they were "in development" forever! In Web 2.0 you have things like Ruby on Rails, AJAX, and companies like eBay that rely on denormalized databases to scale. You have good looking, fast performing, scalable web sites that are built fast, and not on overly normalized databases.
If you have read this far, I should share some sites with you that give me some legs to stand on for my arguments:
- Normalization is for Sissies
Pat Helland – Database Guru from Microsoft, also had a stint at Amazon.
- Data normalization, is it really that good?
Arnon Rotem-Gal-Oz
Let the comment bashing on denormalization begin!


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Waiting room did not have air conditioning in the middle of summer. Cancelled our appointments one time but never tried to reschedule them. There is one staff, and one Doctor. No computer, no fax machine, no email, no website. Cleaning was 10 minutes. Poor service. I felt like I was in a foreign country.
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Office was odd - it is a single dentist practice, and so he has one big open room with multiple stations. If you're having a cleaning and a filling, you actually move from chair to chair. It seemed odd, especially when my x-rays were being taken and 2 chairs down, with no wall, he was finishing up with someone else. Billing process was "difficult" - the staff needs to learn how insurance works and their responsibilities when they've signed on with a company and agreed to certain pricing.
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Jazz After Dark
Jazz After Dark is a restaurant, cocktail bar and late-night jazz club set in the very heart of Soho.
Live jazz, blues and Latin is played nightly while you sample a wide variety of food, wine, drinks and cocktails.
The à la carte menu features house specials such as spanish mixed grill, steak frites and numerous tapas and vegetarian dishes. There's also a funky jazz lounge for post-meal drinks, where cocktails are served by the glass or jug.
Door charges may apply.
This content has been supplied by Jazz After Dark
Venue Details & Map
Jazz After Dark
- Address
9 Greek StreetSohoLondonW1D 4DQ
- Telephone:
- +44 (0)20 7734 0545
- Public transport:
- Tottenham Court Road, Underground
Book a taxi on +44 (0)844 556 0706 or with London's biggest car service app


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A "religion debate" has arisen over Thanksgiving just as it has over Christmas. Andrew Santella writes about the debate on Slate.com. He explains both sides: there are the politically correct revisionists who want to point out every historical inconsistency and discrepancy in the Thanksgiving tradition in order to destroy its "religious roots", and there are the staunchly religious fundamentalists who argue that Thanksgiving must be labeled "Christian".Santella argues that this bickering turns the holidays into "a tug of war between cold, hard history and comforting popular folklore, between fact and faith." His solution is not to argue for one or the other or even a separate position nearer the middle. Rather, Santella believes all positions are acceptable: "Shouldn't our holidays be able to accommodate both? . . . Can't we assume that the holiday has evolved as some more subtle mix of the secular and the spiritual, one that each of us can adjust according to our own values? . . . Prescribing to others the right way to observe the day is surely one aspect of the traditional Thanksgiving best left behind."
While Santella is correct to see the debate as overblown, his postmodernist answer leaves something to be desired. He is right that Thanksgiving is indeed a more "mixed" holiday than Christmas or Easter—it is not based on a "big event", whether "secular" or religious. But Santella errs by not recognizing the cultural tradition of Thanksgiving and what it means to be giving thanks and to whom.
Regardless of the precise historical details of when exactly the first thanksgiving was celebrated and whether it was a "harvest celebration" or a time of "specific thanksgiving", the important point is that Thanksgiving has been celebrated for many years as a specific time to give thanks as the original Pilgrim settlers gave thanks. This is what has been celebrated for over a century, regardless of its exact historical accuracy. Furthermore, the pilgrims gave thanks to the God of the Bible. Edward Winslow, the governor of the Plymouth Colony, wrote about the great harvest the colony had gathered and finished with, "And although it be not always so plentiful, as it was at this time with us, yet by the goodness of God, we are so far from want, that we often wish you partakers of our plenty." The Pilgrims saw all good things as coming from God, and thanked Him for His Providence. This has been the traditional American view of Thanksgiving ever since the holiday was celebrated in the individual States and then on the national level.


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"The purpose of Wing Chun Kung Fu is to lead you to be free and relaxed. This can never be achieved if you are tied physically and emotionally to techniques. You must free yourself from dependence on mechanical expression and trust your body, your kung fu to protect yourself..."
-- Grand Master Moy Yat
Wing Chun Kung Fu was developed in China 400 years ago by a female Shaolin nun named Ng Mui. Designed for the human body, it is considered to be one of the most efficient and effective forms of self defense that doesn't rely on size, strength or physical conditioning. Wing Chun emphasizes protecting the center of your body (and attacking your opponent's), simultaneous blocking and striking, redirecting your opponent's energy, economy of energy and motion, and relaxation.
Our classes follow the traditional teachings as were passed down from Grandmaster Moy Yat. Students will begin by learning Siu Nim Tao, Wing Chun's first form which trains the basic stance and teaches about the centerline, basic hand movements, relaxation, and releasing energy. Students will then learn more advanced forms as well as Chi Sao, Wing Chun's unique art of sticking hands.
Along with learning the forms comes a variety of partnership exercises that will help train your reflexes and sensitivity. A dedicated student will be able to complete the system in about 2-3 years.
Our Birmingham classes are taught by instructors within the Moy Yat lineage. Grandmaster Moy Yat was one of Grandmaster Ip Man's closest students, and our curriculum follows the traditional training methods through the three hand forms, chi sao and wooden dummy form.
Tai Chi Ch'uan, also commonly known as Taijiquan, is an internal Chinese martial art practiced for both its defense training and its health benefits. There are many styles of Tai Chi, and most trace their development to at least one of the five traditional schools: Chen, Yang, Wu/Hao, Wu, and Sun.
In Birmingham, we currently have a Tai Chi practice group that meets on Saturday mornings about 9AM at the UAB mini-park, right off University Blvd. This group is currently practicing the Yang 24-movement Short Form, the Yang 32-movement Sword Form, and the Combined 42-movement competition form that features elements from Chen, Yang, Wu/Hao, Wu, and Sun styles.
The Tai Chi forms require no previous experience of any kind, and can be enjoyed by people of all ages and abilities. The Arthritis Foundation includes Tai Chi as part of their recommended therapies, and we have several certified instructors who have specialized in this theraputic style.
Practice sessions at the park is FREE and open to the public.
2014 Training Schedule
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM - Wing Chun Kung Fu
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM - Wing Chun Kung Fu
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM - Wing Chun Kung Fu
8:30 AM - 10:30 AM - Tai Chi practice outdoors at UAB Mini-Park
$50 per month - All Wing Chun Kung Fu classes.
Private lessons extra; please speak with an instructor.
Kung Fu classes and practice sessions are held at Agoge Fitness (inside Lakeshore Personal Fitness) in the heart of Birmingham's South Side. This location is close the the University of Alabama at Birmingham college and medical center campus, and is central for most people in the Greater Birmingham Area.
Our Address:
3020 4th Avenue South Birmingham, AL 35233
View Google Map
NOTE WHEN VISITING: Enter from the side door off the parking lot. As you enter, you'll see the strength training studio for Lakeshore Personal Fitness ahead and to the left. Turn right down the hallway to enter the large open space of Agoge Fitness.


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Big Time Rush to play Riverside Aug. 11
Big Time Rush, the tween pop stars who seem to have outgrown their Nickelodeon roots, are coming back to town for a 7:30 p.m. show Aug. 11 at the Riverside Theater, 116 W. Wisconsin Ave.
The group, who headlined at Summerfest last year and the Wisconsin State Fair the summer before that, are on the road this summer as part of their Summer Break Tour; some dates on the tour also include Nickelodeon popster Victoria Justice, but she's not part of the Riverside gig. »Read Full Article(2)
AP Bar & Kitchen opening Wednesday in Walker's Point
Opening right on schedule, AP Bar & Kitchen -- the restaurant by Crazy Water's Peggy Magister and nephew Justin Anthony -- will debut on Aug. 7 in Walker's Point.
AP, at 814 S. 2nd St., is opening in the old Fifth Ward Pub space. "The bones of the building are solid," Anthony said, but the space was refreshed (floors refinished, shelves removed to expose more Cream City brick, stainless steel placed over the bar's top) and redecorated, including a floor-to-ceiling graffiti-like painting at the back of the restaurant. »Read Full Blog Post
CBS calls Time Warner offer empty gesture from company "expert at them"
CBS called an offer to resume contract negotiations from Time Warner a sham, according to The Wrap. Time Warner offered to resume negotiations if CBS allowed its programming to be an a la carte offering until a contract is reached, according to the Hollywood Reporter.
It offered to give CBS TWC 100% of the profit from subscribers that opted in. »Read Full Blog Post(13)
Set to debut Aug. 17, Fox Sports 1 lacks distribution deals, including with Time Warner Cable
In two weeks, Fox Sports aims to launch its flagship all-sports cable channel, Fox Sports 1, but it does not have agreements in place with its major distributors, including Time Warner Cable, which is the chief cable outlet in the state of Wisconsin.
"We are working hard to have the widest distribution possible at launch," a spokesman for Fox Sports said on Monday. »Read Full Blog Post(1)
Donald Driver to speak at literacy program fundraiser
You kind of expect to see Donald Driver in the fall.
It's not on a football field, but Driver will take center stage during the SHARP Literacy "2013 A Novel Event" on Sept. 23. »Read Full Article
'Rock Renaissance Man' Mick Farren dead at 69. Watch him take over David Frost show.
Mick Farren, who the New York Times called a rock renaissance man, died July 27 at the age of 69. Farren was a member of the protopunk band The Deviants, and died after collapsing at a reunion performance.
He suffered from emphysema which MC5 musician Wayne Kramer said he treated with "alcohol and cigarettes." His obituary mentions that he was also a science fiction writer, founder of the British chapter of the White Panthers and wrote for New Musical Express. »Read Full Blog Post
Anodyne plans to serve beer and wine along with coffee at its new roastery-cafe in Walker's Point
When Anodyne Coffee Roasting Co. opens its new roasting plant in Walker's Point this fall, the cafe at the roastery could have beer and wine along with the company's coffees.
It would have one beer on tap, which will incorporate coffee into the ingredients. Anodyne owner Matt McClutchy said the beer is still in development, but it's not expected to be a coffee stout. It will be made by nearby Milwaukee Brewing Co. "We can just walk over and get it," he joked. »Read Full Blog Post(1)
What is Plan B for Time Warner Packer fans? Plus: Packer scrimmage ratings
The possibility of a blackout of Friday's first Green Bay Packer pre-season game on WTMJ-TV (Channel 4) by Time Warner Cable has gone from unlikely to five-days-away-possible.
What is your Plan B, if it occurs? »Read Full Blog Post(42)
Top of the charts: Top five all-time Billboard Hot 100 hits revealed
As Robin Thicke's smash summer hit, "Blurred Lines," sits at number one for a remarkable eighth week, Top of the Charts takes a temporary break in format as the chart every pop song aspires to top - the Billboard Hot 100 - celebrates its 55th anniversary this week.
To mark the milestone of a chart that has evolved from tracking jukebox spins, radio play and sales of 45 rpm singles to today's formula of digital sales, airplay and online streams - all with the aim of identifying the biggest hit across genres in the United States - Billboard has updated its list of the all-time Hot 100. You can find the full list at this link. »Read Full Blog Post
On Tap for Today: The National, Steve Earle, what else do you need?
Welcome to another musical Monday. Pretty cool.
The National play the Riverside Theater. At the same time, Steve Earle and The Dukes are at the Pabst Theater. »Read Full Blog Post
Lollapalooza 2013 Wrap-Up: Best Set, Stage Banter and More
The Postal Service's next-to-last show ever was one of the highlights of Lollapalooza 2013 in Chicago's Grant Park Aug. 2 to 4. Photo by Piet Levy. »Read Full Blog Post(6)
Lollapalooza 2013, Day Three: 2 Chainz, Vampire Weekend, Two Door Cinema Club, the Cure and more
Fans party with rapper 2 Chainz on the final night of Lollapalooza in Chicago. Photo by Piet Levy. »Read Full Blog Post


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While substantial collective action has been taken to tackle the crisis in the euro area, further policy steps are needed to support growth and increase employment. In its latest annual assessment of the euro area, the IMF said that these actions, if taken in concert, would be mutually reinforcing. IMF
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Pathways of Power
Building an Anthropology of the Modern World
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Preview (read now) Add to my own site Give this ebook to a friend Add to my wishlist Author's page Publisher's page
This collection of twenty-eight essays by renowned anthropologist Eric R. Wolf is a legacy of some of his most original work, with an insightful foreword by Aram Yengoyan. Of the essays, six have never been published and two have not appeared in English until now. Shortly before his death, Wolf prepared introductions to each section and individual pieces, as well as an intellectual autobiography that introduces the collection as a whole. Sydel Silverman, who completed the editing of the book, says in her preface, "He wanted this selection of his writings over the past half-century to serve as part of the history of how anthropology brought the study of complex societies and world systems into its purview."
University of California Press; January 2001
487 pages; ISBN 9780520924871
Read online, or download in secure PDF format
Title: Pathways of Power
Author: Eric R. Wolf
487 pages; ISBN 9780520924871
Read online, or download in secure PDF format
Title: Pathways of Power
Author: Eric R. Wolf
Buy, download and read Pathways of Power (eBook) by Eric R. Wolf today!
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Calle 13 Rule the Latin Grammys
Latin Grammy Winners 2011
The 12th Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards on Nov. 10
The Latin Grammy's was opened by Calle 13, Gustavo Dudamel and the Venezuelan Youth Orchestra who performed a powerful and emotioanl rendition of LatinoAmerica, which will no doubt be a classic if it isn't already. I don't think you could have chosen a better song or a better combo to open the show, especially when you consider what is happening around the world.
Puerto Rican hip-hop duo Calle 13 took a record nine out of the ten awards that they were nominated for at the Latin American Grammys in Los Angeles. They achieved that even though they were not getting much airtime in several countries as Residente himself pointed out. This is more than likely due to their politicised lyrics.
Residente's acceptance speech was very much in the same vein, he showed his solidarity to the Colombian and Chilean Students who have been and still are protesting in massive street demonstrations for free education. These students just like calle 13 are another group who get very little airplay.
We at Latino Music UK salute Calle 13 and Residente for winning a record nine grammy awards and most importantly achieving it without the help of mass media.
Calle 13 | Simon Bolivar Orchestra | Gustavo Dudamel | YouTube
Some of who won what at the Latin Grammy's 2011
- Best Record of the year: "Latinoamerica," Calle 13
- Best Album of the year: "Entren Los Que Quieran," Calle 13
- Best Song of the year: "Latinoamerica," Calle 13
- Best Urban music album: "Entren Los Que Quieran," Calle 13
- Best Urban song: "Baile de Los Pobres," Calle 13
- Best Tropical Song: "Vamo' a Portarnos Mal," Calle 13
- Best Alternative song: "Calma Pueblo," Rafa Arcaute and Calle 13
- Best New artist: Sie7e
- Best Female pop vocal album: "Sale el Sol," Shakira
- Best Male pop vocal album: "En Primera Fila," Franco De Vita
- Best Pop album by a duo or group with vocal: "Alex, Jorge y Lena," Alex, Jorge y Lena
- Best Rock album by a duo or group with vocal: "Drama y Luz," Mana
- Best Rock song: "Labios Rotos," Zoe
- Best Alternative music album: "Musica De Fondo: MTV Unplugged," Zoe
- Best Latin jazz album: "Panamericana Suite," Paquito D'Rivera
- Best Folk album: "Deja La Vida Vola: En Gira," Mercedes Sosa
- Best Regional Mexican Song: "A Donde Vamos a Parar," Marco Antonio Solis
- Best Salsa Album: "Todos Vuelven Live" by Ruben Blades y Seis Del Solar
- Best Cumbia/Vallenato Album: "Tesoros" by Juan Carlos coronel
- Best Ranchero Album: "El Hombre Que Mas Te Amo" by Vicente Fernadez
- Best Banda Album: "Todo Depende De Ti" by La Arrolladora Banda El Limon De Rene
- Best Tejano Album: "Recuerdos" by Little Joe and La Familia
- Best Norteño Album: "Los Tigres Del Norte and Friends MTV Unpligged" by Los Tigres Del
- Best Regional Mexican Song: "Tu Me Vuelves Loco" written by Marco Antonio Solis
- Best Instrumental Album: "Forever" by Chick Corea, Stanley Clarke, and Lenny White
- Best Tango Album: "Cigala & Tango" by Diego El Cigala
- Best Flamenco Album: "La Orilla De Mi Pelo" by Nina Pastori
- Best Spanish Language Christian Album: "Lenguaje De Amor" by Alex Campos
- Best Portuguese Language Christian Album: "Extraordinario Amor De Deus" by Aline Barros
- Best Brazilian Contempory Pop Album: "Quinze" by Jota Quest
- Best Brazilian Rock Album: "Zii E Zie – Ao Vivo" by Caetano Veloso
- Best Samba/Pagode Album: "Exaltasamba 25 Anos – Ao Vivo" by Exaltasamba
- Best Musica Popular Brasileira Album: "Aria" by Djavan
- Best Sertanja Music Album: "Joao Bosco & Vinicius" by Joao Bosco and Vinicius
- Best Native Brazilian Roots Album: "Sinfonia & Batuques" by Nana Vasconcelos
- Best Portuguese Language Brazilian Song: "De Repente (Versao Estudio)" written by Nando Reis and Samuel Rosa
- Best Latin Children's Album: "Musica De Brinquedo" by Pato Fu
- Best Classical Album: "Brazilian Guitar Quartet Plays Villa-Lobos" by the Brazilian Guitar Quartet
- Best Classical Contemporary Composition: "Panamericana Suite" composed by Paquito D'rivera
- Best Recording Package: "Chico & Rita" art by Javier Mariscal
- Best Engineered Album: "Drama Y Luz" engineered by Benny Faccone and thom Russo
- Best Long Form Music Video: "En Primera Fila" by Franco De Vita
- Best Singer-Songwriter Album: "Dias Nuevos" by Gian Marco
- Person of the Year: Shakira
In total 49 awards were handed out at the Latin Grammy's.
The Latin Grammys was hosted by Mexican singer/actress Lucero and Chilean American actor Cristián De La Fuente.
Performances from Shakira, Pitbull, Marc Anthony, Demi Lovato and Pablo Alborán.


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Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Welcome to Haase Chiropractic Care.
See Dr. Haase on NBC
Haase Chiropractic Care in Madison, WI is located on University Avenue, conveniently close to the UW Campus. Serving the greater Madison area since 1982, Dr. Haase has been recently named the Chiropractic Clinical Coordinator for Advanced Pain Management, bringing full integration of natural healing techniques to medical pain care specialists. Our primary concern is your good health, vitality and happiness. We help you feel your best!
In addition to providing a choice between deeper manipulations or more gentle low force techniques, we use the latest tools and physiotherapies to help you become pain free and feeling like you should. Cold lazer, Ultrasound, Interferential, Hot Packs, Cold Packs, Traction, Activator and Drop Table techniques are all part of our wellness delivery. Not to mention our focus on Foundational Nutritional Support (see nutritional information under the Products tab)!
We know that each patient is unique and will respond differently to each single treatment. Therefore, we provide these proven techniques to better serve our patients' individual needs.
Low Back, Disc, and Neck conditions are routinely treated along with more difficult conditions like fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue and post accident trauma (auto accidents, worker's compensation). Not only do we treat your condition but we make sure to provide you with helpful advice on home stretching, exercise and nutritional options for your full recovery.
We believe that our Chiropractic treatment is essential in supporting the internal power of the body to heal and maintain its proper balance. Our job is to allow quicker recovery by providing fundamental structural and lifestyle changes designed just for your condition.
Please call 231-3900 to find out how we can help you today! We look forward to seeing you in our Madison clinic soon!


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Stevenson takes on Barrington at the Charger Classic girls basketball tournament at Dundee-Crown High School in Carpentersville.
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Posts Tagged 'Law & Order: LA Ratings'
October 7th, 2010 at 1:48 pm
Wednesday Finals: 'Survivor,' 'The Middle,' 'Modern Family,' 'SVU,' 'The Defenders' Up; 'Cougar Town,' 'The Whole Truth' Down
Wednesday's final broadcast primetime ratings.[Read-More]
October 7th, 2010 at 8:45 am
TV Ratings Wednesday: Cougar Town Rises; Law & Order: LA Drops Big; SVU, Undercovers, The Defenders All Down
Law & Order: Los Angeles dropped to a 2.4 ratings with adults 18-49 in its second outing.[Read-More]
October 5th, 2010 at 2:16 pm
NBC Mulling Moving Law & Order: LA to Thursdays at 10pm?
Deadline's Nellie Andreeva reports NBC execs are mulling over scheduling changes but would like to make as few moves as possible. Obviously[Read-More]
October 3rd, 2010 at 9:04 am
TV Ratings Saturday: Alabama Wins, Puts CBS College Football On Top
The Tide rolled, and CBS went with them.[Read-More]
September 30th, 2010 at 1:40 pm
Wednesday Finals: Better With You, The Middle, Modern Family, Survivor, Law & Order: SVU, Law & Order: LA Adjusted Up; Cougar Town, Whole Truth Adjusted Down
Wednesday's final broadcast primetime ratings.[Read-More]
September 29th, 2010 at 11:59 pm
TV Ratings Wednesday: Law & Order: LA Opens Solid; Hell's Kitchen Steady; Entire 2nd Week NBC, ABC & CBS Lineups Drop
Law & Order: Los Angeles premiered with a solid 3.1 adults 18-49 rating.[Read-More]


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It is week four for the Golden Knights here at winter training and it seems that the good weather has temporarily come to an end. While enjoying the clear skies and tolerable winds for the first few weeks of training, the team jumped more times within that period than almost every year prior. The training has been beneficial for everyone as target scores continue to improve and free fall flying abilities constantly excel. The weather holds have not gone to waste as it gives the new members more of a chance to practice their narration and prep more smoke canisters for use. The time also allows for much needed mentorship while on the drop zone but overall the time give the new guys a moment to take a step back and let the training soak in.
Last week the team was joined by three coaches from the West Point Demonstration Team "Black Knights" lead by head coach Tom Falzone. Mr. Falzone is a veteran skydiver with over 25 years of experience and had a chance to give the team some tips on putting together some larger formations. Both the Gold and Black teams received coaching from Mr. Falzone before putting both teams together for a 20-way formation. Local Boy Scout Troops and JROTC Cadets that came out to watch the Golden Knights perform saw the mass formation. Tom Falzone was thanked by the team as the Black Knights return to home to West Point New York.


text: OverviewBack to top ReNew Life - Liver Detox Kit 30-Day Program - 120 Capsules Item# :55089UPC# :631257624505 Brand:Renew Life Size/Form:120 Capsules Ship Weight:0.39 Servings:60 Dosage:2 Capsule(s) Click here to read a PDF brochure on this product ReNew Life - Liver Detox Kit 30-Day Program (Formerly Called CleanseSmart) Renew Life Liver Detox Kit a Natural Liver Detoxification Support. ReNew Life Liver Detox is an easy-to use, two-part cleansing and detoxification program formulated to simultaneously support, protect, stimulate and assist with the body's natural detoxification of the liver with natural minerals, vitamins, herbs and amino acids. Both the Morning Formula (Part I) and the Evening Formula (Part II) contain minerals, herbs and amino acids that promote healthy liver function. 2-part, 30-day program Supports overall liver health Assists with toxin elimination No binders or fillers Liver Detox includes: Milk Thistle - an herb used traditionally to support normal detoxification functions of the liver. The strong antioxidant activity of the main ingredient in milk thistle (silymarin) helps promote healthy liver function and to protect healthy liver cells. L-Methionine - amino acid that the liver uses to create glutathione. Glutathione is powerful amino acid made by the liver, which acts as an antioxidant and detoxifying compound. Supplementing with L-methionine can help raise glutathione levels. N-Acetyl-Cysteine (NAC) - the liver also uses NAC to create glutathione. Supplementing with NAC can help raise glutathione levels and thus support the natural detoxification functions of the liver. Alpha Lipoic Acid - antioxidant that helps revitalize glutathione and supports detoxification. Selenium - essential trace mineral that enhances the antioxidant power of zinc and vitamins to allow them to function better in their natural detoxification roles. Ayurvedic Herbs - used to promote the natural detoxification capabilities of the liver. Among the most commonly used herbs are Boerhavia Diffusa, Eclipta Alba, Terminalia Belerica, Tinospora Cordifolia, and Picrorhiza Kurroa. Dandelion - herb used traditionally to stimulate bile production and promote healthy liver detoxification. What is the liver and how does it function? The liver is your largest internal organ and it performs many functions including detoxification of the body. The liver works by both filtering toxins directly and by altering toxins so that they can be removed at other stages of detoxification. The liver filters toxins from one quart of blood every minute. After the liver processes these endotoxins (produced in the body), exotoxins (from outside the body) and other wastes, they are sent to the kidneys and colon for elimination. Frequently Asked Questions How long can I stay on Liver Detox™?You may stay on Liver Detox for up to 3 consecutive months without taking a break. The product comes in kit containing a 30-day supply. After 3 months, take a 7-10 day break before resuming Liver Detox. Liver Detox may be taken bi-annually for general maintenance. People with chronic liver problems (hepatitis, cirrhosis, alcoholism) may want to follow the 3-month cycle. You may also use Critical Liver SupportTM daily. Should I make changes in my diet?As with any detox program, emphasize whole, organic, unprocessed foods, particularly those listed under Dietary Suggestions (at right) and avoid processed, refined foods. Alcohol need not be totally eliminated but should be consumed in moderation. Can I take medications while on Liver Detox?Liver Detox is a dietary supplement, not a medication. If taking medication, we recommend that you consult your health care provider before taking Liver Detox. After taking Liver Detox, how long should I wait to eat? You need not wait any specified amount of time, though optimal results may be obtained if Liver Detox is taken 30 minutes to 1 hour before eating or 1 to 2 hours after eating. What if I experience nausea, headache or diarrhea?In the unlikely event that you experience such detoxification reactions while taking Liver Detox, you may wish to reduce the regular dose by half or discontinue use altogether. If reactions are severe or persistent, discontinue use. If symptoms do not resolve, consult a physician. About ReNew Life ReNew Life was established in 1997 by Brenda Watson and her husband Stan. Brenda has become one of the nation's leading authorities on natural digestive health, detoxification and internal cleansing. She is the author of 5 books on this topic and she has helped millions of people live longer, healthier lives through improved digestion, as part of her many public, TV and radio appearances and articles and seminars. ReNew Life produces the leading digestive health products available in health food stores and we take great pride in producing the best-quality products. We believe that through proper digestion and sensible dietary choices we can obtain the nutrition we all require to maintain optimal mental and physical health. The ReNew Life MissionThe ReNew Life mission is to empower each and every one of their valued customers with the knowledge to improve overall health through optimum digestive function and superior nutrition. They accomplish this goal by providing safe and effective natural solutions to digestive care issues through their innovative product line and continued commitment to education. Optimum health begins with a properly functioning digestive system, which is why every ReNew Life product is specifically formulated to provide the highest level of digestive support. The ReNew Life product line consists of formulations that address a broad range of digestive concerns as well as help to cleanse and support the digestive system. Because it is our sole focus, we are able to concentrate entirely on providing the finest digestive care products available. This exclusive focus sets us apart from other companies within the industry Improving Lives Through EducationReNew Life is committed to providing the tools necessary to improve the health of people everywhere. Each day brings new breakthroughs in the field of natural digestive care and functional nutrition, and their consumer helpdesk, staffed by experts, is readily accessible to answer questions and give digestive care advice about any of their products.


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It's the safest crib in the nursury. The Compact Daycare Crib features innovative engineering and superior strength for ultimate safety. All fixed sides with a metal box frame provide center support for daily use and strength, plus durability when used as an emergency evacuation crib. Includes high quality Simmons Antimicrobial, water-resistant 3" Beautyrest mattress, which meets all CPSIA standards.
Features Plexiglas end panels for easy visibility. Phalate-free plastic teething rails provide safety and cleanliness. Metal mattress support provides durable support for the sleep surface. U-channel welded casters attach to the crib leg providing the ultimate strength without compromising the wood integrity. Ready to assemble.
This crib meets or exceeds all safety standards, including the latest CPSIA standards for non-full sized cribs, commercial cribs, and mattress certification. Need more information about the new standards? Visit the CPSC Cribs Standards page for more information.


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This tour also includes other finds from Irish bogs including bog butter and the Petrie Crown.
Maximum: 15 per group. Duration approx. 45 minutes. Wheelchair accessible.
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Surgeon General's Conference to Develop
Research Agenda on Preterm Birth
Nearly half a million babies born in the United States
are born preterm, and this number continues to rise. Preterm
birth is a major cause of infant death and places infants
at risk for serious life-long disability. Congress directed
the office of the U.S. Surgeon General to hold a conference
that would establish a research agenda to "speed the
identification of, and treatments for, the causes of and
risk factors for preterm labor and delivery." In
2007, the Surgeon General named the Eunice Kennedy Shriver
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
of the National Institutes of Health as the scientific
lead for the conference.
Featured Speakers include:
Rear Admiral Steven K. Galson, M.D., M.P.H
Acting Surgeon General
Duane Alexander, M.D., Director, Eunice Kennedy Shriver
National Institute of
Child Health and Human Development
Jennifer L. Howse, Ph.D., President, March of Dimes Birth
Defects Foundation
Scientific work groups will present their draft recommendations
for a proposed action plan. Members of the public will have the
opportunity to comment on the proposed goals and action items before
they are incorporated into a report that will be given to the Surgeon
The conference can be viewed via Web cast at: http://videocast.nih.gov/ For a detailed conference agenda and other information, please
visit: http://guest.cvent.com/EVENTS/Info/Summary.aspx?e=bfc7c1d7-bdfd-41b6-acda-e35a043ea8cb.
The NICHD sponsors research on development, before and after
birth; maternal, child, and family health; reproductive biology
and population issues; and medical rehabilitation. For more information,
visit the Institute's Web site at http://www.nichd.nih.gov/.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) — The Nation's
Medical Research Agency — includes 27 Institutes and Centers
and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
It is the primary federal agency for conducting and supporting basic,
clinical and translational medical research, and it investigates
the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases.
For more information about NIH and its programs, visit www.nih.gov.


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Firefighters returned to a Merritt Island neighborhood Thursday morning after flames reignited at a home.
A fire broke out Wednesday at the Neptune Drive home, and firefighters extinguished the blaze around 5 p.m.
Fire officials used thermal cameras to check the house before leaving, but firefighters say they believe the fire may have not have been completely been put out.
Firefighters say wind probably fueled areas that were still smoldering, sparking the second blaze.
Officials say a man using a blowtorch while conducting plumbing work ignited the fire initially.


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Sun OpenSSO Enterprise In the Coming Year
Sun senior product line manager Daniel Raskin and director of engineering Jamie Nelson, both on access and federation management, recently held a Webinar on the 12-month roadmap of Sun OpenSSO Enterprise, the commercial release of OpenSSO. In a posting, Daniel points to the presentation, which, including the Q&As at the end, runs for approximately an hour.Sounds long, but it's well worth your time. Here are a few areas that the Webinar addresses:
- Access management: key issues and evolution
- Sun's approach, which focuses on simplicity, ease of use, and compliance for both internal and external applications
- Sun's solutions for the various scenarios: internal authorization, single-partner federated single sign-on, Web services
A major OpenSSO deployment is Verizon Wireless's: "40,000,000 users, 1,000,000 logins per day, and peaks at 4,000 logins per minute." Wow.
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Study in the USA - Lodi, New Jersey
Displaying 1-1 of 1 result.
Felician College
Lodi, New Jersey
Private not-for-profit University
Approximate Cost: $41,640.00
International Students: 73
Search Match:Info
Note: Some of the schools in the InternationalStudent.com School Search database have not reported all of the data we make available. When this is the case, it is indicated by 'N/A' (not applicable).


text:
Title: Celtic Heart
Author: Jennifer D. Bokal
Published in August 2007 by: Champagne Books
Genre: Historical
ISBN: None Available
Antonius prepares to lead his people into battle. He gathers all his officers for preparation only to be uprooted by raids and barbarians with hardly any sense to stay away from the fighting. A young tribune by the name of Claudius wonders about the Celts but Antonius informs they have seen none to which Claudius interjects that just because they see none, proves nothing. Antonius assures them that his military training knows when there is no sign of any attacking force he is certain there is none waiting in the shadows. Antonius more or less puts the conversation to rest when he informs he is the leader now, and Claudius should pay no mind to what the Rome leaders teach on military issues. Antonius surveys the area and knows as a Centurion he should trek the wasteland and claim the glory of Rome but he had failed to really listen to his men and now he lay wounded and hurt and with all his men gone, the battle had been lost when the Celts surprised them in attack and unfortunately he had led his own men to slaughter.
Antonius awakes to see the lovely woman caring for him and he knows he has been spared, he is alive. The beautiful girl that has nursed him back to health begins to light a fire in his loins and he finds himself longing to be with her. He wonders why he was brought to the Celts and what they have planned for him, perhaps to serve as a slave but when he learns that he is to be sacrificed he will not hear of the matter. He must find a way of escaping. With no one to really trust, it will be arduous on him but one he must succeed in taking.
Maeve is the daughter of the great Druid. After the Celts win and defeat the Roman invaders and take their leader captive, she is given the task of healing the Roman, Antonius. Maeve doesnt know how to act. This was the man fighting in the battle. The leader whom was cruel and a driven tyrant that sought to conquer the world or was he? There could be a possibility that he is an honorable man and she is wrong about him. Can he be a true man of his word and heal old wounds? In her heart she feels an attraction toward him, a longing that she needs fulfilled. She desires comfort and solace in someones arms, now she wonders could he be just the man. When her father insists that the handsome Antonius surrender and be sacrificed as a gift, Maeve wont hear of it. She must work hard to convince her father she cares for him and doesnt wish him hurt while she tries to reach deep into Antonius heart.
Maeve had never seen a man like the Roman whom she takes care of while tending to his wound. She is surprised of his appearance so much as that of a man and not a boy. With a closer observation she begins to wonder what it would be like to kiss him and touch him. Her father wonders why she seeks to save the Roman, but Maeve fears to look deep into her fathers eyes and confess her real motive from her heart. But her father insists when he is well he will be a gift for another because the Gods have so declared.
Maeve looks around at all the death and blood in the valley and it saddens her about the war. It has been a while since she has been held and she misses that in her life. She desperately hungers for the Roman in a way she cannot explain. When she finds herself in a compromising position with Antonius, she hurriedly leaves the room. She wonders how she could have easily given herself into his arms. Now she knows she must put the Roman completely out of her mind. No matter how hard she pushes away thoughts of the Roman, she knows within her heart she will never be able to be with Fergus, the man that she is to be given to. She has no desire, no passion for him and finds him revolting. She cannot believe that the Gods which her to marry Fergus nor that the Gods wish the Roman, Antonius to be sacrificed. Maeve also refuses to believe that her father has a hand in all of this and sets out to obey the Gods and make her do something that she is strongly against. Antonius carries a secret flame in his heart for Maeve as well as she him. With time running out for them, he must find a way to get out of the locked room before his life is over. He realizes with his limp leg, that has not fully healed, he will not get far even if he manages an escape plan. With demons from his past haunting Antonius, and Maeve caught in the middle trying to obey her father, the two must find a way to quench their fire that burns through their flesh while trying to survive in a land where battles continue to erupt.
Celtic Heart is a story that is most descriptive in a setting where battles come to life, maidens fall in love with true warriors and families become split. In a time when daughters must obey their fathers and follow their guidance, Maeve learns the heartache of loss and the enjoyment of love when she meets Antonius. She is thrown toward him in a magnetic way where the essence of true love melts all through her heart and down to her soul. She is a strong character who follows her heart but wishes to stay true to her father. Antonius has his own trouble when he is trapped and needs to be free. He is already bothered because he led his men to massacre and the demons rage war in his mind. Celtic Heart is a romance where characters emotions echo strongly in a land that is filled with bloodshed, loss and remarkable duty to oneself. The secondary cast of characters blends in well making this tale one that soars powerfully through the pages.
Jennifer D. Bokal creates an immensely robust tale of chivalry and a touch of ruthlessness among those that wish to conquer everything they can in life. She gives in-depth characters that make the reader feel all their sensations. My heart went out to Maeve and Antonius because of their trials. Ms. Bokal weaves brilliant originality in an extraordinary tale that really jumps from the pages of Celtic Heart. The imagery, imagination, lovely landscape and ambiance that connect in this story show her true gifted talents in a read where I eagerly wait for another installment. She pens a well-written adventure that will not soon be forgotten. Celtic Heart is another wonderful read. Be sure to visit Champagne Books and get a copy of this heated and beautifully detailed romance.
Sincerely good reading,
Jennifer D. Bokal Interview Review
Email Jen
Buy Celtic Heart at Champagne Books


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- Andy Lau (36 pics) ... Leo
- Takeshi Kaneshiro (129 pics) ... Jin
- Ziyi Zhang (1345 pics) ... Xiao Mei
House of Flying Daggers
House of Flying Daggers is a 2004 wuxia film directed by Zhang Yimou and starring Andy Lau, Zhang Ziyi and Takeshi Kaneshiro. Unlike other wuxia films, it is more of a love story than purely a martial arts film.
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Bradford Plumer
In California, Climate Politics Are Tricky... For Republicans
September 08, 2010
Conventional wisdom holds that global warming is a losing issue for political candidates. But that's certainly not the case in California, where Republicans are actually getting into trouble for opposing the state's climate law: A November ballot measure that would rescind California's landmark global warming bill until unemployment drops significantly has become an albatross for the Republican candidates for governor and U.S.
Reform the IPCC? Really, Why Bother?
September 07, 2010
Does the world's leading climate-science body need to be revamped? That's basically been the consensus position among observers over the past week (see, e.g., the Times). It all started when the Amsterdam-based InterAcademy Council released its independent review of the IPCC. Prior to this, few people had ever heard of the InterAcademy Council—it appears to be an obscure organization that releases grand scientific pronouncements every now and again.
Why Vermilion Isn't Another BP Disaster
September 03, 2010
At this point, it's safe to say that the explosion on the Vermilion platform in the Gulf of Mexico yesterday won't be another BP disaster. The AP has a handy comparison of the two accidents. And, after talking to a few people about this, here's some more context. BP's Deepwater Horizon platform, recall, was a drilling rig, boring down and developing a well that was 5,000 feet below sea level. By contrast, Mariner Energy's Vermilion platform was operating in shallower water—340 feet—and it isn't a drilling rig.
Another Rig Explosion In The Gulf
September 02, 2010
Not good. Some updates from CNN: An oil rig has exploded 80 miles off the coast of Louisiana… The accident took place 80 miles off the coast of Louisiana on the Vermilion Oil rig 380, which is owned by Houston-based Mariner Energy. U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer Bill Colclough tells CNN that all 13 workers involved in the rig explosion are accounted for, but one person is injured.
The Revisionaries
September 02, 2010
It seemed unthinkable that Vaughn Ward wouldn't, someday, be a U.S. congressman. The decorated Iraq war vet had been handpicked by national Republicans to run against endangered Democrat Walt Minnick for Idaho's first congressional district. Although he was somewhat gaffe-prone (he had an unfortunate tendency to plagiarize campaign speeches from sources like Barack Obama, for instance), Ward had the boyish good looks, the résumé, and—best of all, for one of the reddest states in the country—Sarah Palin's blessing.
The Earth's Busted Up, Yet Humanity's Doing Just Fine. Why Is That?
September 01, 2010
Here's a paradox for you. Most ecologists would agree that we're ravaging the Earth's natural resources at an unsustainable rate—and pushing up against some dangerous thresholds in the biosphere. (See my old piece on planetary boundaries for the gloomy version of this tale.) Broadly speaking, the planet's ecosystems are in terrible shape, and this is widely believed to have negative consequences for humanity. And yet, at the same time, human well-being has never been better. People are living longer, healthier, and richer lives.
Could Reid Resurrect the Renewable Standard?
August 31, 2010
First it looked like the Senate might pass a big comprehensive climate-change bill. Then we found out, no, there weren't 60 votes for any such thing. Well all right, greens muttered, why don't we just settle for a cap on utility emissions and a renewable electricity standard? Nope, not enough votes for that either. Ooookay, well how about a bill that at least regulates the oil industry, what with all that gook bobbing around in the Gulf? No, no, and… no.
The Skeptical Environmentalist Is... No Longer Skeptical?
August 30, 2010
Now this is a pretty striking about-face: The world's most high-profile climate change sceptic is to declare that global warming is "undoubtedly one of the chief concerns facing the world today" and "a challenge humanity must confront", in an apparent U-turn that will give a huge boost to the embattled environmental lobby. Bjørn Lomborg, the self-styled "sceptical environmentalist" once compared to Adolf Hitler by the UN's climate chief, is famous for attacking climate scientists, campaigners, the media and others for exaggerating the rate of global warming and its effects on humans, and the
Man's Inhumanity To Mann
August 30, 2010
Of all the pet causes by climate skeptics, the obsession with Michael Mann has always struck me as one of the weirdest. Most of the broader public probably has no idea who Mann even is—he was one of the climatologists who created the "hockey stick" graph that used various bits of proxy data (such as tree-ring samples and ice-core measurements) to reconstruct global temperatures over the past 1,000 years. Mann and his co-authors found that the current spate of global warming is unprecedented during that time span.
Another Tanker Disaster
August 12, 2010
Via Jon Hiskes, The Onion has the story: In what may be the greatest environmental disaster in the nation's history, the supertanker TI Oceania docked without incident at the Louisiana Offshore Oil Port Monday and successfully unloaded 3.1 million barrels of dangerous crude oil into the United States. According to witnesses, the catastrophe began shortly after the tanker, which sailed unimpeded across the Gulf of Mexico, stopped safely at the harbor and made contact with oil company workers on the shore.


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Buxton and Grant Pharmacy is a traditional established homeopathic pharmacy under independent management offering a one to one service to suit your individual needs. Feel free to visit us at our pharmacy which is situated at 176 White Ladies Rd, Clifton, Bristol.. Better by far, personal care, professional service at Buxton & Grant your independent pharmacy,for all your homeopathy, allopathy,and medicines.
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black mesh cutout 'Paris' cap sleeve dress
designer's notes
Need something sexy for a night out? Wyatt has you covered with this flirtatious little black dress!
color: Black Smooth wool blend ponte knit Mesh scoop neckline Mesh cutout on bodice Flare skirt Unlined Contemporary fit Slip-on Size S measures approximately 24'' long from natural waist; 80% Wool / 20% Polyester; Dry Clean; Imported; style# 326445601


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Abby Renovations Ltd. builds high quality garages all over Calgary, Alberta and surrounding areas including Airdrie and Okotoks. We take care of everything from plans, design, permits to completion. It is because of this that our clients recommend us frequently to their neighbours, friends and relatives.
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Orbit Baby Stroller G2
Among its high-style design features, Orbit Baby has a seat that swivels 360 degrees (and doubles as a car seat. The car seat hub is sold separately.) However, the stroller doesn't offer much storage space, the brake pedal is small, there is no hood window, and you must remove the seat before folding the stroller. Available inBlack, Mocha and Ruby Red at orbitbaby.com.
Reviewed: July 2010
Price When Reviewed: $750.00
- Easy to maneuver and push over pavement, grass, sand, and cobblestone
- Strong brakes that are easy to lock and unlock
- Stable—we were able to load the handlebars with up to 56 pounds before the stroller titled back
- Baby harness is fairly easy to use
- Testers found the handlebar somewhat uncomfortable to grip and adjust
- Not much storage space
- Carrying the stroller when it's folded may be somewhat difficult
What do you think?
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Eddie Bauer Endurance Jogger
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More From Children's Items & Toys


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LaShonda Barnett '98
How did you become interested in women's history, why this particular program?
My last year of undergrad I took a course with Noliwe Rooks and was struck by how she analyzed American Literature drawing less on literary criticism and more on history. Prior to Rooks' class, I had never studied literature through a historical lens. This sparked my interest in studying more history but not merely to learn about the past; I wanted to gain the tools used by historians when conducting research, and this was my primary reason for choosing Sarah Lawrence. I knew that I would get the rigorous training requisite for a budding historian.
Undergraduate Education:
B.A. English Literature & Linguistics, University of Missouri-Kansas City
What was your experience at Sarah Lawrence College like?
Wonderfully challenging. It raised the bar on what I would expect from myself and my life.
"A Journey Home: African American Lesbians and Religious Autonomy"
Reason for your interest in the subject?
Studying history and anthropology simultaneously while at SLC, I became increasingly interested in the ways sexuality was influenced by race and religion. The ethnographic tools I gained in anthropology helped me to do the important work of a social historian--capturing the marginalized voices, synthesizing those voices and analyzing them, then contextualizing them historically.
What did you take from your experience at Sarah Lawrence?
My SLC experience turned my wavering personal belief that my creative impulses had no place in the scholarly arena over on its head-thankfully.
I had often struggled with allowing the two to feed each other. Imagine my delight then when I realized at SLC, that it was not only a possibility but really in the long run, a requirement if I was going to fulfill the promise of any academic or creative project. As a result, now at the heart of my professional and personal life lies a deep devotion to total deconstruction of systems and paradigms that impede or minimize the spirit of individualism. My creative and scholarly work tends to examine legacies of racial and other forms of social injustice in context with the creative, intellectual and visionary strategies developed by women and African Americans over time.
Further education and degrees after graduation:
American Studies PhD, College of William and Mary
Following graduation from SLC, I matriculated in an American Studies PhD program in Virginia with the goal to return to New York City as soon as possible to research and write my dissertation (largely focused on the theorization of black women jazz artists). Upon returning to NYC, I was presented with numerous opportunities. I hosted my own jazz radio program on WBAI, was an invited Visiting Scholar at the Institute for Research in African American Studies at Columbia University (2002-2003); consulted and taught at Jazz at Lincoln Center; acquired a literary agent and as such developed a deeper commitment to my creative writing, and most significantly, returned to SLC to teach seminars on black women's history. Most recently, I completed a book of interviews with African American women singer/songwriters. This project, largely inspired by my doctoral thesis, is the first collection that focuses on inspiration and creative projects among black women musicians across genre. Currently, I'm completing my first historical fiction novel, Jam, which, set in the Jim Crow South, courses a one woman's launch of a black newspaper.


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Reflections On: Being a Writing Fellow
Since 2004, Writing Fellows have assisted faculty teaching ENG 151 by serving as tutors for the students in their individual sections. Last year, in keeping with the college's new fellowship initiatives, the English Department's Writing Fellow internship became part of the larger Rhodes Student Associate Program. During the year, the professor acts as a mentor to the fellow, and the fellow a mentor to the students. Fellows are selected based on their writing ability and must attend a writing pedagogy course with Professor Rebecca Finlayson, Director of College Writing. After graduation, many go on to teach or to attend English graduate programs. Throughout the semester, each fellow holds office hours, helps facilitate activities in the classroom, works individually with students, presents writing tips, keeps a weekly journal documenting the class's writing issues, and confers with the professor on anything from writing assignments to class exercises. Each fellow is engaged in the day-to-day operation of the 151 section and with the writing development of the students.
Recently, Halley Johnson, who served as the fellow for Professor Scott Newstok's section of 151 in Spring 2009, had this to say about her experience:
This year has been a rewarding, productive, and inspirational experience for me. Keeping up a constant dialogue about writing with students of all disciplines and what have become my faculty mentors has greatly influenced my own writing, not to mention my understanding of the body of work I undertake in my own studies. My RSAP position is well-designed and well-executed, and it has given me invaluable experience to supplement my degree at Rhodes and further the skills I will rely on in my future career. It contains a unique set of opportunities to work with students individually and in the classroom, and to both work closely with and learn from professors. I have gained greater technical skills, a more efficient way of communicating both in writing and in speech, and a more analytical consideration of all subjects. I can certainly say that my intellectual development this year has been multiplied many times over by the experiences I′ve had as a Writing Fellow, and that I have a clearer sense of myself in an academic context as well as a personal one. I am positive that without undertaking this position, my understanding and presentation of myself would not have progressed to the extent that they have.


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[Pre-ADwD Spoilers] Daenerys 1 - Spoilers for ADWD
Posted 06 November 2005 - 02:01 PM
Grey Worm appears first, helping four others carry the dead man. They lay the corpse at her feet. The dead man is about 20 years old, and had been slit open from ear to ear. He is stabbed, with more wounds than she can count. Dany thinks that she has seen the man before, but had never spoken with him.
Dany learns that there was a harpy drawn on the wall in blood where his body was found. She thinks that this is typical of the Sons of the Harpy.
Dany asks why he was out alone -- her men are supposed to be out in pairs. She is told that he had been at a brothel. Dany is puzzled, since he was a eunuch, but learns he just liked to be held. A eunuch is still a man.
Someone says that they estimate 6 men had attacked him. He may have fought back; he was found with an empty scabbard. The reason his throat is slit was not part of the attack; he was found with a goat's genitals shoved down his throat, and Grey Worm removed it.
"I am still at war, only now I am fighting shadows," Dany thinks. She commands the Unsullied to find the killers -- to see if any man has been treated for injuries, to see where all these goat genitals are coming from -- detective work, essentially. They leave, and Selmy tells her that the Unsullied are good soldiers, but not good at this investigative work she's now assigned. Dany agrees, and asks whether the knights Selmy has been training could do any better. No, he admits, they are too young. She says her Dothraki cannot do it either, and that Daario is off negotiating [I missed with whom]. Dany realizes no one is suited to the task. [Editor's note: As someone pointed out, this paves the way for Tyrion to show up -- this is exactly his forte.]
Dany leaves the room and goes outside to see one of her dragons lazing under a tree. She affectionately calls him lazy and scratches him under the chin. His scales are warm. "Dragons are fire made flesh," she thinks. She realizes she hasn't been giving them the attenion they need -- and they've been growing so quickly. Soon they will be large enough for her to ride.
She goes inside to get dressed. She hates wearing the tokhar that is the style for the upper classes b/c it's a pain in the @ss. Wrapped too loosely, it falls off; wrapped too tightly, it's constricting. Even when wrapped just right, she has to hold it closed with her left hand. She wanted not to wear it, but was told that Mereen's queen must wear it, else she would not be accepted. She puts on a crown of three dragons, and it is heavy. She recalls that one of the kings Aegon had said that the crown should never rest easy on its wearer's head, "but which Aegon?" She has forgotten.
This causes her to think back on the slaying of her family and what her life would be like now had that not occurred. This in turn causes her to think of the slain slaves she encountered on the road to Mereen, and her response. She thinks that perhaps she did not go far enough. She notes that the former slave owners had quickly hired their freed slaves at slave wages. "To rule Mereen, I must win the Merenese, even if I hate them," she thinks.
She goes to see two Merenese men who advise her. They have changed their Mereen hairstyles; they are shaven. One tells her they've heard of the murder, and that she must seek vengeance. She should kill one man from each of the upper class houses, and at the next murder, she should kill two from each house. The other man advises against this. Dany thinks of the prophesy that she will be thrice betrayed, and wonders who will be the third. She tells the two men to offer 1,000 coins as a reward for info on the murderers.
Dany goes down to court, where she hears from countless people.
The first man offers her a gift of slippers from "the butcher king," [Cleon?] who proposes that they join forces to march on Yunkai. She regrets not having taken the city. She tells the man she will not ally.
A man named Histar is next to come froward, causing Dany to sigh, but think, "I need this man." He ia a wealthy Merenese. She says, "How many times have I refused you? Five?" He says yes. She tells him she knows his arguments well enough to recite them herself, would he like to hear? She then recites a list of reasons as to why she should reopen the fighting pits. When she finishes, he tells her, "You've convinced me!" Someone whispers in her ear that it is traditional to tax the pits at 10%, implying that this is a good source of revenue. She declines to reopen the fighting pits. As he leaves, she thinks to herself that, if she felt she must marry a Merenese, he would be a good choice.
The next to come forward is typical of the former slave owners, who think of all sorts of reasons they need compensation for losing their slaves. His theory is that his former slaves learned weaving from an old slave of his that died; they've now opened a shop, and he should get a portion of the profits. Dany asks him what his old slave's name had been; when he does not know, she makes him buy the shop a new loom and sends him away.
Many others come forward seeking redress for the looting and chaos that accompanied her capture of Mereen. Dany thinks, "I am queen of a city of dust and death." Selmy tells her she should let some of her councillors handle some of these matters for her, but she will not.
Many people are coming to seek money for their sheep allegedly eaten by her dragons. She knows that many are false claims -- her boys can't possibly be eating that much -- but she pays them all. From now on, however, they must swear an oath in the temple before seeking payment. All are dismissed, but one man remains.
The man is holding a sack, and has red eyes. He looks only at the floor. When questioned, he says he has bones, and dumps them on the floor. He says he was out in his field, and the green dragon came out of the sky. One guy impatiently tells him, yes, yes, we know, are you stupid, didn't you hear?, go get your money for your sheep and leave. Dany snaps at him -- "You fool, can't you see? Those are not sheep's bones." They are the bones of a child.
Posted 19 November 2005 - 04:57 AM
Posted 21 November 2005 - 11:51 AM
Posted 06 December 2005 - 02:56 PM
Edited by Musashi, 06 December 2005 - 02:56 PM.
Posted 06 March 2006 - 04:19 AM
He fails to remember the name exactly, but thinks it was something like "Elza" or "Ella". Sounds rather Westerosi, isn't it?
Dany asks him what his old slave's name had been; when he does not know, she makes him buy the shop a new loom and sends him away.
Could it be "Elia"?
Posted 29 March 2006 - 03:28 AM
A coppersmith presents Dany with a suit of copper mail, which she thanks him for. However, she thinks that despite its prettiness, she would much rather wear steel mail instead if she were anywhere near a battle.
Could this be possible foreshadowing that she might reject a Martell alliance in favour of a Greyjoy one?
Posted 01 April 2006 - 02:21 PM
I started reading this series AFTER AFfC came out, so i don't know how accurate these spoilers will be. My cousin, who suggested the series to me, seemed a little leary of them.
Posted 02 April 2006 - 03:33 AM
The first Dany chapter was published in AFFC at the end, and the 2nd and 3rd were released with the first in a booklet promoting AFFC (this was before the split). The 4th Dany chapter is the oldest one here; it was originally thought to be the second, and now appears to be the fourth, but goes over info from the first 3 chapters as if it was new. I feel that it may have been revamped in the last 2 years.
From what we know of events in AFFC, the Jon, Tyrion and the Davos chapters seem pretty in tune. I don't think there's anything to be leary about. Sure, GRRM could change a few details here and there, (he recently stated he was going to go back and flesh out the first 5 Jon chapters in ADWD: wish he had read those!), but I think he won't be doing a complete overhauling at this point.
The 2nd Cersei chapter was an interesting example. He'd read it various time at conventions, but over the course of time added and took away details until it is what it is now. The general plot, actions, etc. remained the same, but the details were changed. (For example: he removed Cersei's coversation with Falyse and Balman Byrch about killing Bronn from that chapter to a one later in the book; and he added the fact that Rugen is missing and that Qyburn found an old Highgarden coin in his cell, but everything else stayed the same).
Posted 02 April 2006 - 06:01 AM
Posted 07 March 2007 - 03:35 AM
he was found with a goat's genitals shoved down his throat
Shagga travelled across the sea?
Posted 25 October 2007 - 07:56 AM
Okay, so here's something that just occurred to me...
A coppersmith presents Dany with a suit of copper mail, which she thanks him for. However, she thinks that despite its prettiness, she would much rather wear steel mail instead if she were anywhere near a battle.
Could this be possible foreshadowing that she might reject a Martell alliance in favour of a Greyjoy one?
A crap load of longships can come in handy, but Greyjoy ground force is very weak. If anything, this means she'll go for an alliance with Tyrion. He's her most powerful potential ally, being the heir to Casterly Rock (I suppose Lord of Casterly Rock now), except for the small problem that he'll be killed the instant he steps foot in Westeros.
Posted 25 October 2007 - 10:07 PM
Posted 05 November 2007 - 08:31 AM
Shagga travelled across the sea?
He would do it in just the opposite way.
Posted 27 April 2008 - 10:42 PM
So we agree on the "black one" being the killer... This bodes well for Dany
Why so?
Posted 07 November 2008 - 11:49 AM
Could this be possible foreshadowing that she might reject a Martell alliance in favour of a Greyjoy one?>>
Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar. Surely not every reference to metals has to somehow represent future narrative choices? It's just Dany not being an idiot: "Pretty mail, but damn, I'm not stupid enough to wear a soft metal to protect myself from hard metal edges".
Or perhaps every single thing that happens to Dany is ripe with Freudian overdetermination. In that case-- the shoes Cleon sends her have pearls on them, so the fact that she puts them on for a while but they pinch her toes must mean... hmmm... that she marries Victarion Greyjoy but finds the marriage too small for her feet?
Edited by aspasia, 07 November 2008 - 11:49 AM.
Posted 10 November 2008 - 08:34 PM
Posted 26 October 2009 - 10:03 AM
However, in AGoT it is her brother (with a little help from Illyrio) that gives the handmaidens as a wedding-gift to Dany: "Her brother Viserys gifted her with three handmaidens. Dany knew they had cost him nothing; Illyrio no doubt had provided the girls." (Bantam massmarket paperback, p. 103).
I know, just a small detail. Has this been emended or is there a way to let George know?
Posted 16 November 2009 - 12:33 PM
Just a small detail: The version of this chapter in my copy of AFfC and currently on George's homepage seems to contain a small error. When Dany and her handmaidens talk about the dead man, the text says: "Khal Drogo had given them [i.e. the handmaidens] to her, ...". (Bantam massmarket paperback edition, it's on the second page of the spoiler chapter in the back of the book and also on George's homepage: http://www.georgerrm...if-sample.html).
However, in AGoT it is her brother (with a little help from Illyrio) that gives the handmaidens as a wedding-gift to Dany: "Her brother Viserys gifted her with three handmaidens. Dany knew they had cost him nothing; Illyrio no doubt had provided the girls." (Bantam massmarket paperback, p. 103).
I know, just a small detail. Has this been emended or is there a way to let George know?
In the next Dany chapter in AGoT, their background is explained that they became slaves when Drogo destroyed their father's khalasar. So, they did come from Drogo, though he did not gift them directly to her.
Posted 06 January 2011 - 08:09 PM
He fails to remember the name exactly, but thinks it was something like "Elza" or "Ella". Sounds rather Westerosi, isn't it?
Could it be "Elia"?
Hmm Elia is dead this is a fact.
Posted 16 January 2011 - 07:33 PM
Any other "pet" that killed a human would be automatically put down, no question. And there's still 2 dragons from which to breed, if breeding to keep dragons extant is part of GRRM's plans for how the story ends. Personally I think dragons, like WMD, cannot be in the sole posession of one family (nation). Too much of an imbalance in power and opportunity for oppression and tyranny. So either there have to be other people with dragons, or no dragons at all, one t'Others have been seen to. As long as they get the dragons to make a decent cache of Obsidian weapons before they're decommissioned then the world will be well prepared for the next onslaught out of the frozen north.
I say kill one of the dragons now.