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15 Arundhati Articles
From Billa to Rudhramadevi – a look at Anushka Shetty's stunning transformation from glamourous hottie to warrior queen!4 days ago 0
As her big budget period flick gears up to hit the screens this weekend, we look back at Anushka's transformation from being a glam doll to a star… Read Article ▶
Kajal Aggarwal: I can choose whatever script I want now8 months ago 0
The Special 26 actress is having a great run down south... Having spent nearly a decade doing mainstream commercial cinema, actress Kajal Aggarwal… Read Article ▶
Here's why Anushka Shetty is on cloud nine…10 months ago 0
After the debacle of Selvaraghavan's Irandam Ulagam at box office, the Mangalorean lass will make a comeback to big screen after an year It has been… Read Article ▶
Kamal Haasan-Madhavan to voice for ANR-Nagarjuna in Manam Tamil dubbing?1 year ago 0
Sources claim that the makers are in talks with Kamal Haasan and Madhavan to lend their voices for film's Tamil dubbed version After touching… Read Article ▶
After 2 month stint in forest, Netru Indru is ready for release!1 year ago 0
Vemal, Prasanna starrer Netru Indru was shot completely in the dense forest of Tamil Nadu and Kerala Director Padma Magan of Tamil… Read Article ▶
Actors carry warrior princess look for the screening of Koel Mallick's Arundhati!1 year ago 0
The cast talks about their look in the film Carrying the 'Look' of their characters, Tollywood superstars breezed in the Koel Mallick starrer… Read Article ▶
Anushka Shetty: The Yoga Babe!1 year ago 1
The Arundhati star was yoga instructor! Read on to get the full scoop... In the year 2005, a starlet was born who would later rule the Telugu and… Read Article ▶
Shruti Haasan, Nayantara , Shriya Saran, Anushka Shetty and Priyamani: Who is the hottest South babe? Vote!1 year ago 0
There are quite a few Southern actors who are trying to make place in B-town but there are these divas who have a strong foothold in their own… Read Article ▶
Is Kodi Ramakrishna's Avatharam inspired from a real life incident in Kerala?2 years ago 0
Apparently, the film is not entirely a work of fiction! Filmmaker Kodi Ramakrishna says his forthcoming Telugu fantasy thriller Avatharam is loosely… Read Article ▶
Anushka Shetty's next to be shot in 3D3 years ago 2
The babe from South has her nose deep in history books for her upcoming film After proving herself in Arundhati, Anushka Shetty is gearing up for… Read Article ▶
Sonu Sood: South film industry has been more disciplined than Bollywood3 years ago 2
Actor Sonu Sood, who is straddling both Hindi and South cinema successfully, says that the Southern film industry is more disciplined and… Read Article ▶
Kareena Kapoor to play Arundhati3 years ago 9
The Agent Vinod actor will be seen playing the queen in the Hindi remake of the blockbuster Telugu film After playing walk-in-walk-out parts in… Read Article ▶
Producer bashes up director over 'Arundhati'4 years ago 0
Mercurial producer R S Gowda allegedly bashed up director B R Keshava in Prasad Lab in Bangalore. Keshava has filed a complaint against Gowda in the… Read Article ▶
Prabhu Deva stops Nayan from signing new movie!4 years ago 0
Nayantara and Prabhu Deva are painting the town red with the love story. Updates on the jodi keep appearing on tabloids on and off. The latest is… Read Article ▶
Rajinikanth: a Sonu Sood fan?4 years ago 1
The Dabangg actor recalls the Superstar giving him the biggest compliment he received Rajinikanth has millions of fans, but guess whose fan… Read Article ▶


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University Housing is dedicated to creating a positive experience for residents. This year, more than 200 students participated in the week-long Resident Advisor (RA) training prior to student move-in. Nearly 80 students are returning RAs with at least one year of experience and 11 students are returning for training as third-year RAs.
RA training for residents of East Campus (Avent Ferry, Wood, North, Watauga, Syme, Gold, Welch, Becton, Berry and Bagwell halls) began on Aug. 7. Activities for the 72 RAs included safety training, building preparation, scenario skits, team building and more. One popular team building exercise included a high ropes course.
"We take all our RAs to a high ropes course to do something outside training that can teach them team collaboration," said Sahana Sankar, Resident Director (RD) at Avent Ferry Complex. "The RAs truly love the ropes course because they are really able to push themselves out of their comfort zones."
On West Campus (Bragaw, Lee and Sullivan halls), 53 RAs moved in Aug. 6 and six Administrative Coordinators (ACs) moved in on Aug. 4 to prepare for the upcoming year. On Aug. 5, the ACs gathered for a retreat at the Friday Institute to prepare for their added leadership roles and to outline expectations of their position. "The AC Retreat ultimately provides a time for the Resident Director (RD) and AC to get to know one another and figure out the best ways to communicate with each other and what additional responsibilities the AC can manage," said Cherelle Pinckney, RD for South Bragaw.
During RA training on West Campus, residents participated in icebreakers, teambuilding exercises, training sessions and evening socials that encouraged interaction and engagement among RAs. "This year for RA training, we decided to include Turi Watson from the Office of Student Conduct and an additional session QPR-Suicide Prevention Program from the Counseling center," Pinckney said.
On Central Campus (Bowen, Metcalf, Carroll, Tucker, Owen, Turlington and Alexander halls), 58 RAs began training sessions Aug. 7. Some training sessions were held online through a Moodle site while others involved traditional skits and hands-on participation. All training sessions were loaded into Guidebook and RAs used their mobile phones to find the right place at the right time.
"I would say the training session RAs are most impacted by is our Behind Closed Doors session," said Christina Ujj, Community Director Alexander and Turlington halls. "Returning RAs act out scenarios and the new RAs get to try the skills they acquired during training to respond appropriately."
Training for RAs in charge of on-campus apartments began earlier than for residence halls. With earlier move-in dates, RAs needed extra time to prepare for incoming residents. Wolf Village residents began moving in Aug. 10 so 16 RAs began training Aug. 1.
To encourage team bonding, RA and Resident Mentor (RM) training included a Leadership Retreat. "We were able to facilitate a lot of conversations on multicultural leadership and team building by coordinating many different activities at UNC Wilmington and on Wrightsville Beach," said Sam Byrd, RD at Wolf Village. "The RAs and RMs had a chance to spend ample time together over the trip and develop meaningful relationships."
Even though this was the first year of RA training for residents of Wolf Ridge, the 10 RAs enjoyed many team building activities leading up to opening Aug. 1. During their five-day training, one exercise called "Crossing the Line" really resonated with the new staff members. RAs were silent as the RD read statements aloud about identity. If the RA agreed with the statement, then he or she took a step across an imaginary line. The group then discussed how the statements made them feel and how they could use the experience to assist residents of Wolf Ridge.
"Crossing the Line was one of the favored events because it allowed people to see that they were not 'alone' in identifying what often are invisible characteristics or identities," said Detric Robinson, RD at Wolf Ridge. "It helped them gain a sense of belonging and understanding. I was told that it also played a role in building trust and friendship because of the high level of trust that was needed to openly identify with some of the statements."
To learn more about becoming a Resident Advisor in your area, visit the RA application page. Applications open Oct. 1 and information sessions begin Oct. 22. "Being an RA is an awesome job opportunity," Ujj said. "You will learn so much about yourself and gain great skills that can transfer to any job after college."

subset: commoncrawl


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Disgusted Reaction to Ugly Loss
I was going to take today off from posting, and I'm going to take much of this bye week off. Actually I can't remember another time when I was happier that there was no Bears football on a given week in the Fall.
Nice comments from the fans in yesterday's post. It's odd, I know the anger from all of us is there, but it's more stunned, bewildered disgust than anger. I think Gary's "surreal ineptitude" comment sums it up. Or perhaps "serial ineptitude" might be another word for it.
It just dawned on me yesterday to remember that it was the Bears organization that decided to fire Ron Turner and most of the offensive coaches following the 2009 season. As disgusted as we are right now, remember how disgusted the fans were following the 2009 season? Buying billboards to show our public disgust?
I was as disgusted as everyone else, but I was surprised when I actually did NOT agree with the Turner firing. I thought it was a sham-in 2009 it was more the incompetent defense's fault that the Bears went 7-9 than the offense's. Firing Turner, to me, was a way for Ted Phillips, Jerry Angelo and Lovie Smith to find a scapegoat for what was becoming more of an overall organizational problem.
So for the second consecutive offseason, the Bears' organization decided that they could sell the fans on hiring coaching "gurus" to install fancy systems and sell the fans on the belief that they could coach the Bears' mediocre talent to a higher level. What we plainly have now is a lot of football players that aren't very good (please see 2008 first round draft pick Chris Williams being pushed straight back into Jay Cutler for the first sack of yesterday's game).
Jerry Angelo has drafted a succession of players over a 10-year period that are slipping further and further into mediocrity. I am not a Bears fan that wants the 2010 team to fail in order to get everyone in the house fired from Phillips on down. And the unfortunate reality is that a 5-11 season in my opinion won't even make this happen.
But I will say this: the Bears' next opponent, the winless Buffalo Bills, almost beat the strong Baltimore Ravens last week. Chicago has proven it can't play with average teams like Seattle and Washington. If the Bears do lose to Buffalo, who else are they going to beat in 2010?
Then in an offseason when the likes of Bill Parcells and Bill Cowher will be available, we'll probably get to watch another season of status quo. I am currently questioning why I put myself through watching this year in and year out.


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An epic bug hunt featuring a unique blend of co-op play and squad-level tactics. With your friends, form a squad of four distinct IAF Marine classes. Plan your attack using an unlockable arsenal of weapons with countless loadout configurations against a wide variety of aliens. Blaze your way through an overrun, off-world colony, eradicating the alien infestation in environments ranging from the icy planet's surface, to a subterranean lava-flooded mining facility.
Jun 6th, 2011 4 people agree 1 person doesn't
for a free game, this is one incredibly fun sci-fi creation, building on steam's co-op capabilities, which gives it immersive replay value, making it an awesome return-back platform for general cooperative-skills practice with new gamers and relaxing eye-hand coordination training gamers usually seek. given its free access to the game's sdk, enriches the experience even further, adding various creative production of new game content based on valve's source engine.
what would u need more from a top-down squad-based shoot 'em up action game? valve did a great job piercing to gamers globally with this free content.
May 6th, 2012 3 people agree 1 person doesn't
Free. Sci-fi. Multiplayer coop. Source Engine. This mix makes the game very fun to play and provides breathtaking experience. Beautiful graphics. However it lacks new levels and campaigns, inspite of community have provided about 53 playable campaigns.
Apr 28th, 2011 3 people agree 1 person doesn't
steam free download like! awesome super game!
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Amazing game! Shame that Valve abandoned it... :/
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Crepe Wool Dress
Out of stock
Unfortunately this item is out of stock
Red crepe wool dress with lightly pleated skirt from Roksanda Ilinicic. Bateau neck. Sleeveless. Defined waist leads into a lightly pleated skirt. Concealed side zip. Unlined. Specialist dry clean only.
Item ID: 10307693
- Composition
- Wool 100%
- Brand Style ID
Your order will be shipped directly from the boutique to you. Farfetch ships worldwide using DHL and UPS, and you will be able to track your order at any time. The cost of shipping your order will be calculated at the checkout.
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Delivery duties are included in the item price when shipping to all EU countries plus USA, China, Canada, Switzerland, Singapore, Australia, Japan, South Korea, Kuwait, Qatar, U.A.E, Saudi Arabia and Taiwan.This means all import duties are included in your order, so the price you see is the price you pay. You will not receive an additional duty bill from the courier to receive your shipment. If you are ordering from within your own customs zone or country, import duties will not be applicable anyway, however you may have to pay VAT or local Sales Taxes where applicable (for the UK and USA these are included at the checkout).
Delivery duties are not included in the item price when shipping to all other countries. This means you may be liable to pay import duties on receipt of your order.
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You have 14 days from receiving your order to return the item to the boutique using our free returns pick-up service. We strongly recommend that you book your free returns pick-up within 7 days of receiving your order to ensure that it arrives back to the boutique in time. Please note for standard orders we can only collect returns from the same country to which your order was delivered. For click and collect orders we can collect your return from the country your order was delivered to and also the country of the original boutique you ordered from. We are unable to accept returns of earrings for hygiene reasons. We are also unable to accept returns of fine Jewellery. Click here to read our full returns policy.
Specialising in demi-couture, Belgrade born Roksanda Ilincic has shown her fashion collections at London Fashion Week for the past 11 years. Her work is elegant, with a touch of effortless modern cool. She has now been supported by Fashion East, Topshop New Generation and British Fashion Council's Fashion Forward award.


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London Pass BlogBack to Blog
Discover some unusual London attractions on a trip to the city
Published: Tuesday 11th of January 2011
London is home to a vast array of museums and many visitors to the British capital will make a beeline for the likes of the Natural History Museum, the Tate or the British Museum when they arrive.
However, there are some quirky and fascinating London attractions that offer exhibitions about everything from cartoon characters to anaesthesia, so whatever your interests, you're bound to find something that catches your attention.
Combining art with functionality, fans were once an important part of many ladies' outfits and to see an astounding collection of the fashion item, you can visit the Fan Museum.
It has the honour of being the only establishment in the world that is dedicated to the fan, with exhibitions not only showcasing some beautiful examples of the accessory, but also detailing how fans are made and how they have been used throughout history.
A selection of the museum's vast collection is put on display and changed every four months, so you could return to this London attraction many times and always find something new to see.
The exhibits are spread between two Grade II listed buildings in Greenwich, which also boast an orangery and a Japanese-style landscaped garden for visitors to enjoy.
If you are taken by the outdoor space at the Fan Museum, you may want to head to a London attraction dedicated to horticulture - the Garden Museum.
Here the focus is very much on British gardening and you can look forward to a range of temporary exhibitions, its permanent collection and of course, a garden.
Artwork relating to plants and gardens is often on display and the establishment regularly hosts exhibitions on garden design.
The garden itself is divided into two distinct sections - the wild garden, which aims to encourage environmentally-friendly horticultural practices and showcase natural garden design, and the knot garden, where you can see a 17th century design and witness authentic planting methods from the period.
After you have enjoyed all that the Garden Museum has to offer, you may want to find some light relief and the Cartoon Museum could be just the place to go.
The collection here spans British cartoons from the 18th century to the present day, as well as caricatures and comic strips.
Many examples are taken from the UK's newspapers, as well as comics such as The Beano, the Dandy and Topper. You can enjoy a blast from the past as you view the images of Desperate Dan, Dennis the Menace and the Bash Street Kids.
If a trip to this establishment awakens your inner child, then you should follow it up with a visit to the Centre for the Magic Arts.
Home of the Magic Circle, you can only visit this museum by booking on to one of the daily tours that starts at 11.30 and lasts for around two hours.
You will be treated to a talk about the history of magic, as well as being able to see some priceless magical items, posters from famous performers and listen to stories about some of the great illusionists.
A short magic show is all part of the experience in the centre's theatre, so you can begin your day of sightseeing in London in a truly magical way.
One more unusual museum that may pique your interest when researching things to do in London is the Anaesthesia Museum, which is located on Portland Place in Marylebone and home to a collection that details the history of anaesthesia.
More than 2,000 objects are on display here and you can not only discover more about the development of anaesthetic but also find information on other forms of pain relief that were used in years gone by.
With such a wealth of interesting London attractions to visit, why not head off the beaten track a bit when you spend time in the capital?
Related articles
Follow The London Pass blog to learn about the latest news with attractions, sights and sightseeing events in the city. As well as useful tips, hints and advice for visitors to the city and how to make the most of your sightseeing time in London. We hope you enjoy…
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London attractions provide fun for all the family
Monday 27th of May 2013 There are three things that every kid loves best. Sweets, cartoons and chocolates. So if you are planning...
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SubRosaSoft ships CopyCatX 4.0
updated 03:00 am EST, Wed November 15, 2006
CopyCatX 4.0 ships
SubRosaSoft.com today shipped CopyCatX 4.0, its software-based drive duplication and recovery system for Mac OS X. It features a completely Universal Binary application for native Intel- and PowerPC-based Macs, a new and streamlined user interface, multiple-targets duplication support, and a dual-bootable CD to support a wide range of Macs. CopyCatX utilizes sector copying instead of the "file-by-file" copy employed by most backup software. "Sector copy is extremely fast and enables a user to retain every detail of the original drive -- from bootablity to the icon locations," the company said. "CopyCatX is neither file nor OS dependent; it can quickly and easily make an identical copy of Linux, Windows, Macintosh, or TiVo based drives."
CopyCatX is now available on a dual-boot CD, allowing users to boot both PowerPC and Intel-based Macs quickly and easily; it supports most Macs ranging from G4s to the latest Mac Pro. For administrators who need to deploy multiple drives or machines with identical content, it offers a multiple targets copying function that enables users to duplicate multiple drives simultaneously. SubRosaSoft CopyCatX requires Mac OS X 10.3 or later and is available for $50 ($10 more for CD). Upgrades are $20 ($30 on CD).


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The cabin crew of a Finnair flight from Helsinki to New Delhi went a little Bollywood today. Om Shanti Om!
(And on that note, I'm adding two more new categories that were lacking up to now: A Passage to India, and Cool Beans.)
A useful primer to keep in mind, seeing how the war drums are beating louder these days.
Bonus: Something even MORE disturbing about Iran:
Ahem. A little mood music, maestro:
Ah, that was lovely. And a timely reminder of the class of person we're dealing with here: an unelected monarch who dares to try to shut up a democratically elected leader confronting him over Spanish support of a coup against democracy in Venezuela. Yes, that was Chavecito, and yes, that was the so-called king of Spain telling him to shut up. Quite the nerve on ol' Juan Carlos, seeing as he was installed by Franco the fascist and all. His legitimacy as a ruler has always been in question. Little wonder he was so snippy. I don't suppose his rotten royal temper will be improved at all by these revelations, either:
The King of Spain is a serial womaniser who once made a pass at Princess Diana while she was on holiday with Prince Charles, a book has claimed.
It also alleges that Juan Carlos is a 'professional seducer' who has had numerous affairs and has not shared a bed with his wife for the past 35 years.
The Solitude of the Queen by Pilar Eyre, which is likely to prove controversial in the Catholic country, claims the king made a 'tactile' advance to Diana while she and Charles were on holiday in Majorca in the 1980s.
It follows much-derided allegations made in 2004 by Lady Colin Campbell that the princess had a fling with Juan Carlos while on a cruise in August 1986 and then again the following April.
During a 1987 visit, in which Charles and Diana went to Madrid, the king was pictured smiling as he kissed the princess on the hand – a gesture which left Diana looking embarrassed.
Miss Eyre's book also alleges that Queen Sofia has not slept in the marital bed since 1976 and only remains in the marriage out of 'a sense of duty'.
She even claims the queen stumbled upon her husband with one of his alleged lovers, the Spanish film star Sara Montiel, at a friend's country house in Toledo in 1976.
Sofia, now 73, was forced to attend a football match the day afterwards 'as protocol demanded', before storming out of the Zarzuela Palace, their official residence, with her children.
Advised to stay with her husband, she was told a break-up would mean she would 'end up being paid to liven up the parties of the newly rich'.
Miss Eyre adds: 'The role of the queen is sad, she is the loneliest woman in Spain.'
Nasty allegations, no doubt. But I can't say I'm surprised, and they sure don't sound out of character for this arrogant old fossil. I guess he's used to getting whatever he wants, and can't bear to be contradicted on anything. Little wonder, then, that he told Chavecito to shut up when the latter dared to demand an honest answer out of him. Real sovereignty and nobility are not his stock in trade, so he obviously has trouble seeing them exercised by an elected leader!
Marital rape: It's not just "rough sex" or "role-playing".
A young academic has been sentenced to four months in jail for sexually assaulting his wife during rough sex despite his claim that, in their dominant-submissive sexual role playing, "no" frequently meant "yes."
The 33-year-old man, who cannot be identified to protect the anonymity of his now ex-wife, made the fatal error in being "willfully blind or not seeking clarification" as to whether she was playing a role or she truly did not want intercourse, Ontario Superior Court Justice Michael Quigley said Monday.
"The onus was on him to ascertain whether 'no' did, in fact, mean 'no,'" Quigley said.
A York University student at the time of the sexual assault four years ago, the man admitted during his trial in March that his wife said "no" when he grabbed her and forced himself upon her in their bedroom. He grabbed her hair, put his arm over her throat, and pinned her down, saying "You want it, don't you? You know you do."
The man insisted he believed her 'no' actually meant 'yes,' since she spoke in her modulated role-playing submissive voice and her body language had been encouraging.
But the judge ruled last May this was a "convenient fabrication" and found the man guilty of sexual assault.
The ex-husband testified that if she had wanted him to stop she should have used their safe word – "cabbage" – signaling that aggressive role playing should immediately end.
But in her testimony, the former wife denied the existence of the safe word.
She testified that although there was some harmless, dominant-submissive role playing in their eight-year marriage – initiated by him – she adamantly denied she ever agreed to violent or aggressive sex.
She said the intercourse they had on Feb. 8, 2008, was a brutal and non-consensual rape, during which he ignored her sobbing and cries of "no."
The ex-husband claimed she delayed reporting her rape allegations until eight months later in the context of a family law dispute involving their two children.
What people do in the privacy of their own bedrooms is their own look-out. But even with a safeword, the word NO should still be non-negotiable. It should mean the same thing no matter what the context.
And if you're wondering whether this horrific encounter was emblematic of something else, the evidence strongly suggests it was:
The woman testified he had a very bad temper and during their marriage increasingly tried to control her movements, forcing her to effectively become invisible.
He demanded constant quiet when he was studying, notwithstanding the presence of their young children, she said. The couple would often communicate by text message at home, even when sitting near each other.
Controlling, emotionally distant, a poor communicator, effectively abusive, and potentially dangerous to their two young children, thanks to his temper trouble? That also kind of puts a crimp in the whole idea that the "rough sex" in which "no still means yes" was consensual.
Let's hope this case becomes a precedent-setter; it could have been dangerous if the ruling had gone the other way.
Crappy weekend, everyone! And there goes another one into the drink, just like those poor souls on that ship with the dipshit captain. If you feel like your world is being piloted by fucking incompetents and self-centred bastards on just such a level, pat yourself on the back…it is. And here come this week's winners (pronounced wieners), in no particular order…
1. Mitt Fucking Romney. Yep, Mittens was in fine form this week…if by "fine form" you mean insensitive, ignorant, asinine and arrogant. And those were just his good bits. And his past came back to bite him, too, as an old video clip resurfaced. How can anyone be so cold and cruel to a guy with muscular dystrophy who can't get around anymore without his wheelchair? Well, I guess it helps if you've been fortified by a major hate-on for marijuana. Or if, like Mittens, you're just so damned absorbed in getting yours that you don't give a damn about anyone else's. PS: Ha, ha, ha…BULLSHIT.
2. Bob Fucking Marshall. Well, isn't it refreshing to hear a "pro-lifer" come out with what he really "thinks" of children — namely, that they're God's punishment to women for being slutty jezebels, and all that cal? And isn't it refreshing, too, to hear just how stupid these old men are about disabilities, and how kids born with defects are just God's way of saying fuck-you to slutty jezebels who've had abortions? FYI, Bob, an aunt of mine in Germany had an abortion in the second trimester of her second pregnancy, to PREVENT giving birth to a child with severe disabilities. She had developed rubella in her first trimester, back in the Good Old Days when there was no vaccine against it. And did she EVER have to jump through hoops to get that operation! She had never had an abortion previously, so how her chance case of "German measles" could have been a judgment from God for an abortion is beyond me. But hey, I bet Bob could explain it really fucking well, eh?
3. Don Fucking Ainsworthy. Wasn't it thoughtful of him to throw those Occupy protesters off his bus, simply because he hates what they stand for? Maybe he'll learn to understand their points better when his job goes bye-bye.
4. Karen Fucking Santorum. Yes, for once, it's Icky Ricky Ass-Sploodge's missus getting listed. When you go homophobic (and slanderous!), this is what you get here, lady. And no, you can't oppose same-sex marriage without homophobia, so quit pretending "he really loves them".
5. Colin Fucking Heaton. Need further proof that the teabags are all fucking insane, and racist against Mexicans? Look no further than this one, who thinks they should all be enslaved to build a border fence with built-in gas chambers. Yeah, I can't envisage THAT going anything but well…
6. Bryan Fucking Fischer. Isn't it obvious why he's obsessed with Teh Ghey Sex? He's not getting ANY, so of course he's eating his heart out. And that's why he's so willing to glom onto stupidities about lesbians, too. (Well, that, and he's not getting to watch. Makes him grumpy, y'know.)
7. Frank Fucking Henley. Unbelievably, this Mountie seems to have been in some kind of cahoots with the infamous Robert Fucking Pickton. There's a reason women in Canada have come to mistrust the RCMP, and it lives in Vancouver. If you can't trust the cops to make sure even the saddest crack-addicted hooker on the Downtown Eastside doesn't get picked off by a serial killer who'll feed her to his pigs, you can't trust them for anything.
8. Jamie Fucking Johnson. File this one under Shit Santorum's People Say. And also Shit Bible-Thumping Sexist Fuckheads Say. People, there is a reason Michele Fucking Bachmann doesn't deserve to be elected president, and it's not what she's got under her skirt. It's all that crazy biblical shit in her head, same as it is in yours! Crazy biblical shit makes people incompetent to lead, and gender's got nothing to do with that.
9. Tim Fucking Scott. And speaking of crazy biblical shit making people incompetent to lead: Christians a "minority under assault"? In the US? WHERE??? Everyplace I look, it's them doing the assaulting!
10. Patrick Fucking Wooden. And even more crazy biblical shit! I sense a theme developing here. In this case, the shit being that gay men all wear diapers because their penchant for anal sex has left them incontinent. I have yet to meet a single one, even a prostituted one, for whom that is the case. And how about all those straight people also doing anal on a regular basis? Do THEY all waddle around in adult diapers, too? Or is that just a David Fucking Vitter thing? (Oops, wait…he has a baby-man fetish. Never mind!)
11. Ron Fucking Paul. Not only are his racist newsletters of the past not an anomaly, they're not even a thing of the past. And now we know what libertarianism is really all about: "Individual rights"…for whites only. And a dirty, separate fountain for everyone else, as usual.
12. Joe Fucking Nocera. I wonder how much BP is paying him to lie his ass off for them in the NY Whore Times. Those "sparkling" beaches are still covered with the sheen of spilled oil, mark you my words.
13. Peter Fucking MacKay. Dude's brain is still obviously in honeymoon mode. A spy scandal won't hurt Canada's reputation? Well, of course not…Canada has a reputation as a "playground for spies", as one expert puts it, so of course there's nothing to hurt there.
14. Stephen Fucking Harper. Meanwhile, Petey's boss is scared of Iran and its phantom menace. It's doing nuclear research! Oh noesies! Never mind that the nuclear program is actually just for electrical power generation, and maybe medical isotopes, and that Iran is co-operating with the UN. Or that one of its leading scientists was recently murdered by the Mossad. No, we're supposed to shit our pants in unison, on the orders of our so-called government, over the fear of nonexistent nukes! For such a big-talkin' tough guy, Harpo sure is a fucking wimp.
15. Chris Fucking Dodd. Ever since this once-progressive former senator went over to the Dark Side (otherwise known as the Private Sector), he's been a total d-bag. Since when is a temporary blackout of Internet sites a "dangerous gimmick"? Oh, only since it put the Dark Side at the risk of having its shitty legislative attempts to own the world…DENIED.
16. Francesco Fucking Schettino. Whatever possessed him to run his cruise ship aground off the coast of Italy? I'm still scratching my head over that one. But as to his cowardly claim (among other lame excuses) that he "just fell" into a lifeboat, coincidentally ahead of just about everyone else on the vessel? That's a no-brainer; it's a load of pure merda. Incidentally, he's got a new nickname: Captain Crunch.
17. Rich Fucking Lowry. If you thought Captain Crunch was a wanker, wait'll you get what this silly turdnugget has to say about the cruise ship crash. Let's just say that he doesn't know fuck-all about the Titanic, which was definitely a classist catastrophe, in that not only upper-class women and children, but rich men also got dibs on what few lifeboats there were (and which were often launched only half-full, at that). Those in "steerage" went down with the ship, for the most part, but the captain did not, and was pilloried for it in the press. If you're gonna wax on about how chivalry is dead, shouldn't you admit that it actually died long before the Titanic was launched, if it ever lived at all, and quit fucking blaming feminism? (PS: Lowry is also full of shit on other details. The last song the band played before the Titanic went down wasn't "Nearer, My God, to Thee". It was an Anglican hymn called "Autumn". Anyone know how to hum a few bars?) PS: Rich has brain-dead company in the Great North too, alas.
18. Ward Fucking Connerly. Well, well, well, well, WELL. Can anyone who's followed his career trajectory honestly say they're surprised to learn that this leading campaigner against affirmative action has, in fact, been FOR it all along…at least where lining his own pockets is concerned? And is there anything more reprehensible than a man who hijacks the civil-rights discourse to the benefit of racists, denying his own people their fair shot at everything, while grabbing up all the goodies for himself? Somewhere, Dr. King is shaking his head.
19. Lamar Fucking Smith. Booby prize of the week goes to this hypocritical Tex-ass, who's so busy promoting his own so-called anti-piracy stance that he couldn't be bothered to notice or care that his own personal website is in violation of the very law he's trying so hard to ram through.
PS: Ha, ha!
20. Peter Fucking Palumbo. It's shameful when an elected official needs a civics lesson as badly as this one does. And the lesson for today, kiddies, is that prayer has no place in public schools. Do it in church, do it at home, do it in a closet if you must, but don't expect to ram it down the throats of those who don't share your beliefs…unless you're ready for a fight that will make you look like a sanctimonious fucking jackass.
21. Rush Fucking Limbaugh. Cheating on your wife for six whole fucking years, and then asking for an "open marriage" before you divorce her outright for the woman you've been schtupping behind her back, is a sign of GOOD character? Only if you're a fucking Pigman with even more skeletons in his closet than Newt Fucking Gingrich. Because things like that are bound to mess with your perceptions of right and wrong, y'know.
22. Newt Fucking Gingrich, people. Newt Fucking Gingrich.
PS: They sure loves them some hypocrites in South Fucking Carolina. Newty Lying McCheatypants just won the primaries there.
23. Dana Fucking Milbank. Fighting against a hardcore right-wing assault on choice is NOT "hysteria". But thanks for framing it as such, you lazy sexist wanker. And if you really think the anti-choice crowd has "legitimate concerns" about abortion, either name them or shut the fuck up. (I'm guessing the reason he didn't name any is because there really aren't any…that aren't thoroughly grounded in Religious Reich horsepucky.)
24. Vic Fucking Toews. Get the fire extinguisher, somebody's pants are smoking…again.
25. Alykhan Fucking Velshi. He's gone from shilling for the ultra-polluting "Ethical Oil" astroturf group…to an environmental working group in Toronto that boasts Jack Layton as a founding member? I smell a mole in here.
26. Andrew Fucking Adler. I fail to see how assassinating the president of the United States could halt Iran's nuclear program. But I'm sure he's thought this through ever so well. And the shutdown of his own right-wing rag likewise, I'm sure.
27. The Fucking Harper Government™. It is clearly a government by, of and for the Hardcore Stupid. How else to explain their habit of trotting out Tony Fucking Clement to play a shell game for the public? And how easily fooled do those bastards think we are, anyway? Forget the pricking of the thumbs. All we have to do is look at that shit-eating smirk on Phony Tony's face to know that something imbecilic this way comes.
28. Mark Fucking Wahlberg. I have no doubt that the former Marky Mark was scheduled to fly on one of the planes that later smacked into the Twin Towers. But I do have my doubts (and very grave ones) that he would have clobbered the boxcutter-wielders and landed the plane safely. Unless, of course, he was armed with his magic Dirk Diggler Dong of Death.
29. Penny Fucking Starr. Why do I get the feeling that she, along with everyone else in the Religious Reich who wastes a lot of time and energy bashing gays, is actually a secret fan of guy-on-guy porn? Not that there's anything wrong with that — but really, shouldn't she come clean about it?
30. Rick Fucking Santorum. If his daughter got raped, he'd "discourage" her from getting an abortion because it would ruin her life? The abortion, not the rape? Talk about your unfit fathers. And your fucked-up priorities.
And finally, to all those who actually supported (and/or still support) that abomination that was SOPA/PIPA. Jesus H. Christ, you people do NOT know the Internets. I hope it hurt when they all leapt up to bite you.
Good night, and get fucked!
Today's entry in the annals of rotten cop behavior is a two-fer. First, from Florida, a disturbing case of racist elder abuse, caught on dashcam (despite the cop's efforts to switch the camera off):
Details from Raw Story:
Technicians in Florida have recovered dashcam video of a Melbourne police officer beating a 66-year-old man who suffers from dementia even though the officer deliberately tried to disable the recording.
An attorney for beating victim Albert Flowers told Florida Today that his client was prepared to sue the city of Melbourne.
"He should be fired," attorney Paul Bross said of Officer Derek Middendorf. "Anyone who's being pulled over by this officer should be terrified."
"It's clear (Officer Middendorf) tried to destroy all the video in this case. He thought he had turned off the camera, and that's why he acted the way he did."
The video clearly shows Flowers calmly walking towards the police cruiser before Middendorf suddenly delivers a kick to his midsection. Before Flowers is able to get up, the white cop drops to his knees and pounds his fists into the African-American man's face.
Flowers spent a month in the hospital after the encounter.
There is a good chance that the city of Melbourne will be paying for Mr. Flowers' medical care, and I'd say they owe him. They'd also be fools not to fire that abusive cop.
Next, from Merry Old England, a far-from-merry tale of just how far cops will go to spy on, infiltrate and try to break up environmentalist groups. How about fathering out-of-wedlock children and then fucking off out of their lives, leaving not one but two or more bewildered victims in their wake?
Last month eight women who say they were duped into forming long-term intimate relationships of up to nine years with five undercover policemen started unprecedented legal action. They say they have suffered immense emotional trauma and pain over the relationships, which spanned the period from 1987 to 2010.
Until now it was not known that police had secretly fathered children while living undercover. One of them is [Bob] Lambert, who adopted a fake persona to infiltrate animal rights and environmental groups in the 1980s.
After he was unmasked in October, he admitted that as "Bob Robinson" he had conned an innocent woman into having an 18-month relationship with him, apparently so that he could convince activists he was a real person. She is one of the women taking the legal action against police chiefs.
Now the Guardian can reveal that in the mid-1980s, just a year into his deployment, Lambert fathered a boy with another woman, who was one of the activists he had been sent to spy on.
The son lived with his mother during the early years of his life as his parents' relationship did not last long. During that time, Lambert was in regular contact with the infant, fitting visits to him around his clandestine duties.
After two years, the mother married another man and both of them took responsibility for raising the child. Lambert says the woman was keen that he give up his legal right to maintaining contact with his son and cut him out of her new life. He says the agreement was reached amicably and he has not seen or heard of the mother or their son since then.
Lambert did not tell her or the child that he was a police spy as he needed to conceal his real identity from the political activists he was spying on. The Guardian is not naming the woman or the child to protect their privacy.
Lambert was married during his secret mission, which continued until 1988.
Nice, eh? No word on what his wife thought of the whole affair, though. Probably something unprintable, if anyone has even thought to ask her at all…
And he's not the only one who messed around on the job, ON ORDERS.
The second case involves an undercover policeman who was sent to spy on activists some years ago. He had a short-lived relationship with a political activist which produced a child.
He concealed his real identity from the activist and child as he was under strict orders to keep secret his undercover work from her and the other activists in the group he infiltrated. He then disappeared, apparently after his superiors ended his deployment. Afterwards, she remained under surveillance as she continued to be politically active, while he carried on with his police career.
The Guardian understands that as he had access to the official monitoring reports, he regularly read details of her life with a close interest. He watched as she grew older and brought up their child as a single parent, according to an individual who is aware of the details of the case.
The policeman has been "haunted" by the experience of having no contact with the child, whom he thought about regularly, according to the individual.
Sounds like this unnamed officer was himself a victim of the trap he was ordered to set. Just another occupational hazard, I suppose.
And let's not forget the infamous Mark Kennedy case, either, in which activist women were basically defamed as sluts, and their entire organizations slammed, baselessly, for "promiscuity". The fact that the police ordered their own officers to be promiscuous (supposedly, in order to blend in with those slutty, slutty hippies) is an irony that will, of course, go utterly unremarked. Right along with the less sexy, but more disturbing, irony that the police also ordered these same undercover officers to give false testimonies in court to further "protect" their fake identities. And, most disturbingly of all, if we look at Mark Kennedy in particular, is how emotionally ruinous it all turned out to be. At which point we have to ask: Is anything these people do real? And is all this fuckery actually worth it? Has it led to anything at all productive, like, you know, the arrest of an actual terrorist?
I have a pretty good guess as to what the answers will be. How about you?
…and Evo had a great time meeting one of the great Brazilian soccer team's heroes (and his own too, no doubt), Ronaldinho:
Evo also presented Ronaldinho with a special medal for his outstanding contribution to South American sportsmanship:
And there was a friendly match between Flamengo and a local team, Universitario de Sucre, at which Ronaldinho undoubtedly shone:
Bonus: Here's a little song by Jorge Ben, which pretty much sums up Brazilian pride in teams like Flamengo (and other fun things about life in a tropical country):
"I live in a tropical country/Blessed by God and beautiful by nature/In February there's Carnival/I have a Fusca and a guitar/I root for Flamengo and my girlfriend's name is Tereza…"


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- Filed Under
QUESTION: The image quality on my new HDTV doesn't look quite right. Did I get a defective model? Should I call a professional?
ANSWER: It's more likely you just need to calibrate the TV. You can get close to a professional picture for free. Start with the site TweakTV. It has ideal settings for your specific TV model that you can plug in for a much better picture. If you want an even more advanced calibration, some movies come with a calibration disc built in. Search your collection for one of these titles or request one from Netflix. They walk you through a THX-approved calibration process fairly easily. THX -- a standard setter for audio and video quality in the film industry -- even has a free app that can remarkably improve your TV's picture and sound.
Q: I want to buy a Kindle but I don't know the difference. What can a Kindle Fire do that a regular Kindle can't?
A: Confusingly, the Kindle and Kindle Fire are actually two different gadgets. The Kindle is an e-reader. If you just need a gadget to read things on the go, the Kindle Paperwhite e-reader is your best bet. The Fire, on the other hand, is a full tablet. Even though it has a Kindle app built in, e-readers are almost always better for your eyes. The battery life is much better, too. However, if you want to surf or play games, grab the Kindle Fire or Kindle Fire HD.
Q: I need to do a background check on someone I know. Are there any ways to do this for free?
A: You'd be surprised what a simple Google search can turn up about someone. Once you've done that, search for them on other sites like PeekYou, too. That rounds up their social media profiles to find out things about them. If that's not enough information about them, you can use BeenVerified's free app to do one background search about a person per month. It searches court records and other public information.
Q: My friend said that Facebook gave her a virus. Is this possible? How can I stop it from infecting me?
A: It's absolutely possible. Scam posts and malicious Facebook apps make it easy for scammers to slip a virus onto your computer. The most popular way they do this is through scam posts. These are usually videos or an app that ask you to update a driver before they let you access the content. When you click OK, you're actually downloading a virus and spamming your friends. To sniff out any scams you've posted, use the Social Media Scanner by ESET. You should also double-check sites like Snopes or Facecrooks to see if something is a scam before you post it.


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Although Basenotes strives to ensure that all of the reviews that appear on the site follow the review guidelines, occasionally one or two reviews may slip through the net.
Thank you for your help in making the site a more enjoyable experience
Your Name
Your Email
Great scent, Great Buy, and a Very Cool Bottle...
Guys if you want an underrated scent at a great price, French Connection United Kingdom (FCUK) Late Night is the one to get. The real beauty of this cologne is the (large) bottle is a conversation piece that is uniquely designed. I detect floral and fruit notes in the beginning and the fragrance then settles into a clean outdoorsy musky spice scent. I am not big on these type of fragrances, but this one is a keeper. Truly unique..!!
I have been pleasantly surprised at the longevity. It is about average, perhaps above average, lasting about 6 hours on the skin and 8+ on my shirtsleeve. While I could not smell it, Sweetie still detected the fragrance following a hard day at work. The initial fragrance has good projection early on then settles on the skin - still not complaining and not bad for a blind purchase.
Due to the consistent spicy notes, I am suggesting mostly a fall or winter fragrance that can be used for any occasion. The packaging is above average, and as already stated, the bottle is first class designed. My cologne collection is now 300+ bottles - Late Night just may be my favorite bottle. The spray mechanism is a bit awkward, but not significantly.
Late Night has potential "Wow Factor" - I received (solicited) positive feedback and as a first, a colleague wrote down the name to buy as a present for her husband. Good enough for me. The buy is outstanding, Amazon currently has it listed for $22.00 for the large bottle and free shipping. Not too shabby..!!
All things considered I will give Late Night is 4 stars out of 5. It is truly a gem - and the bottle will be a great addition to your collection. Ride the wave and don't ask where it goes...
15th November, 2012
Basenotes is an online guide to perfume and fragrance, featuring news, a database of fragrances, perfume glossary, fragrance forums, user reviews and more.


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Loss of Deposits Insurance
NZAC is pleased to provide Loss of Deposits Insurance to NZAC members resident in New Zealand who are participating in an NZAC or other instruction course or guided trip within New Zealand (e.g. Adventure Consultants, Alpinism & Ski Wanaka, Alpine Guides or Aspiring Guides).
We also have a curtailment extension for those undertaking an NZMGA course.
This insurance endorsement has been made possible by Alpine Risk Management (see Financial Disclosure Statement, pdf 195kb) and are underwritten by ACE Insurance Ltd.
As soon as you have booked your NZAC or other company's course, or guided trip, it is advisable to take out our 'Loss of Deposits' Insurance.
What LOD Insurance covers
Once you have paid for your course or trip, then for any unforeseen circumstance* you are unable to attend, you are covered for the loss of deposits made up to a maximum of $5,000 exclusive of GST. An excess of $100 will apply to each and every claim.
*as defined in the endorsement.
Loss of Deposits Endorsement wording (pdf, 107KB)
Full Insurance Policy Document (pdf, 273kb)
Curtailment Extension for NZMGA Courses
If your course has commenced and you have to withdraw from the course at any time prior to completion due to an unforeseen circumstance*, you are eligible for a refund of 50% of the non refundable part of the course and accommodation costs paid for during that time.
An excess of $100 will apply to each and every claim.
*as defined in the endorsement.
Loss of Deposits NZMGA Endorsement wording (pdf, 109KB)
Full Insurance Policy Document (pdf, 273kb)
Optional Extension
For an additional premium, cover can be extended to insure you for any unrecoverable travel or accommodation expenses associated with You traveling to or from the Course of Instruction and for Your accommodation directly before or directly after the course. The maximum you may claim under this extension is $1,000 and is subject to a single policy excess of $100. This benefit is in addition to the loss of any deposits.
The Loss of deposits Insurance Premium is 5% of the cost of your course/trip fee.
The Optional Extension for Travel and Accommodation Insurance = NZD$57.50 (GST incl).
Download a copy of the Application form (PDF, 481KB) and send it to Narina in an email to insurance [at] alpineclub [dot] org [dot] nz; by fax: (03) 3777 594 or post to PO Box 786, Christchurch 8140.
Please note that all applicants must be NZAC members - if you are not currently a member you can join at the same time - see the Application Form for more details and visit Membership Benefits to see some of the other benefits of joining NZAC.
Who is eligible for LOD insurance:
- NZ Citizens and Permanent Residents
- Visitors from overseas living and working legally in NZ with an appropriate visa (visitors to NZ on tourist visas only are not eligible for our LOD insurance)
- Australian residents can obtain this cover through our Travel Insurance.
All Claims are handled by Alpine Risk Management (see Financial Disclosure Statement, pd 195kb). Visit the Claims webpage for more details.
An excess of $100 applies to each and every claim.


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Our regional team has been crafting beautiful natural masterpieces since 2012.
{1} Tay Lai Hock, Kampung Chief and Founder of Ground-Up Initiative (GUI) (Singapore)
{2} M. Ibnur Rashad, Kampung Scientist at GUI and Co-Inventor of iBam (Singapore)
{3} Anna Tsang, Social Entrepreneur and Fashion Coordinator (Singapore | Cambodia)
{4} Ira Herawaty, Woman Entrepreneur and Artisan Coordinator (Indonesia)
{5} Esmon Omar, Artisan Developer and Design Coordinator (Singapore | Indonesia)
With the iBam Landmark, you can now listen to your favourite music..
{1} ..a little LOUDER
If you want to amplify your favourite music playlists from your mobile phone and add a natural timbre to your music, simply slide your phone in with your phone speaker facing towards the backwall of the iBam. For best optimal performance, increase the music volume of your phone to the maximum.
{2} ..a little GREENER
Inspired by the bamboo in Nature, the iBam was designed to be tough, resilient and minimalist, while taking care of the environment within the ecosystem. The bamboos have been harvested in a sustainable manner for many generations, and bamboo is one of the world's fastest growing grass plant. And, our acoustic engineers discovered that the bamboo has a natural resonance to amplify music. So, out goes any need for electricity.
{3} ..a little HAPPIER
If you're in the happier party mood, simply slide in your smartphone and share your music with your friends around you. With each iBam you get, you're essentially sharing your love and karma with the artisans, stay-at-home mothers and the Kampung community. With your lifestyle in harmony with Nature and Community, you will feel more joyful that you have contributed to the healthy growth of a more sustainable Earth.
Well, our designers decided to get rid of all electronics from the speaker. The best thing of all you gain power independence and you now have the freedom to enjoy your music almost anywhere, in the great outdoors or even at home, without any hassle of recharging.
{5} ..while HELPING BUILD A HISTORIC LANDMARK
Ever since the first iBam was launched on Facebook by Ground-Up Initiative (GUI) in November 2011, it went viral and proceeds from iBam sales have helped build up the 21st Century Kampung. Designed with the Sustainable Living Lab (SL2), iBam 2 is 'half the size, double the sound' and has also helped build SL2 into Singapore's first and leading community-driven makerspace. Designed with craftsmen and designers in Indonesia, iBam Landmark funds the development of GUI into its next historic phase of land development.
Help build Singapore's first village campus to nurture grounded community leaders and social entrepreneurs.
iBam Landmark is made with a degree of precision you'd expect from a finely crafted Stradivarius violin - not a speaker.
We learn a great deal from listening carefully. In order to create a speaker that amplifies the sound of music from your phone, we had to design the speaker in a completely new way.
To make sure everything from the iBam Landmark sounds crystal clear, our team of engineers focused on the natural resonance of the bamboo and the signature slit design - amplifying every note of your music. It's technology that's breakthrough.
As a gift to commemorate Singapore's 49th birthday, our team of artisans and designers in Singapore and Indonesia dedicated time and effort to design and engrave the timeless Singapore Skyline on a rounded piece of bamboo with a natural golden smooth surface finishing.
iBam Landmark is crafted individually by the hands of artisans and seamstresses for your smartphone, be it an iPhone 4, Samsung Galaxy Note, HTC, Xiaomi, BlackBerry or any phone with speaker for that matter.
In essence, it's half the size, double the sound. Truly a landmark in sustainable speaker design and regional craftsmanship.
Apr 2008: Ground-Up Initiative (GUI) was born at Lim Chu Kang
Apr 2009: GUI shifted to Bottle Tree Park (Yishun) to build the Sustainable Living Kampung from scratch with the power of community
Nov 2011: First iBam version appeared on GUI Facebook page and it went viral around the world
Mar 2012: iBam was first mentioned on the global stage at TEDxBled at Slovenia, as part of Challenge:Future Youth Conference
May 2012: iBam 2 was co-designed with Sustainable Living Lab (SL2) and first 100 pieces crafted in-house until orders went beyond our capacity
Oct 2012: Establish partnership with Indonesian craftsmen and bamboo suppliers to help craft large volumes of order
2013: iBam 2 orders went global to as far as United States, Europe, Korea, Japan and many other geographical locations
9 Aug 2014: Launch of iBam Landmark on Singapore's National Day
25 Dec 2014: Expected latest date to receive iBam Landmark in time for Christmas Day
{1} Which phones and devices does the iBam Landmark work with?
We've designed the iBam Landmark to work with all smartphones ranging from the Apple iPhone to Samsung Galaxy Note to Sony Xperia, as well as gadgets like the iPod Touch. If your device has an in-built speaker, the iBam shall be your music companion.
{2} Do I have to connect the iBam to any power source?
We've gotten rid off all electronics from the iBam so that you're spared the hassle to buy batteries, charge your speaker or connect it to an electrical outlet. We've crafted, sculpted and carved each iBam from a single piece of bamboo. No plugs, cable or electricity needed.
{3} No electronics? So how do I adjust the volume?
Since there are no electronics, you simply need to adjust the volume control on your phone or device. For best optimal performance, increase the volume to maximum and face your phone speaker towards the backwall of the iBam.
{4} Will my iBam Landmark look exactly like the picture?
Each iBam is unique and may have natural blemishes which enhance its character. Like a Stradivarius violin, our engineers carefully crafter your iBam into its patented signature design. Your iBam started off naturally black and it gets refined by our craftsmen into a natural golden tone from its original source without any dye coating. While each iBam have similar geometrical dimensions and undergoes the same crafting process, as it is a product from the Earth, variations in texture, colour and hue enhances its natural beauty.
{5} Can I connect my phone charger while it sits in my iBam?
Yes, you can. We've designed the iBam to have space for a charging cable while maintaining its sleek and elegant signature design.
{6} Will I be able to leave the case on my phone when using the iBam?
We can design each iBam to fit even the thickest of phone cases. As we're making a limited edition of 49 iBam Landmark pieces, we'll be able to craft your iBam to fit your specific case.
{7} Are the iBams really crafted by hand in Indonesia and packaged in Singapore?
Yes, they are not mass-produced in any factory. Each iBam Landmark is crafted in Indonesia, from growing of the bamboo to carving to engraving. Each iBam comes with a beautifully elegant pouch sewn by stay-at-home mothers in Singapore. All done to support local maker and artisan communities.
{8} What does a "compact bamboo speaker" mean?
The iBam Landmark is not a substitute for an electric speaker. It is merely a greener and simpler alternative. The geometric dimension helps amplify and direct the music from your phone. It is compact enough to fit in your bagpack or to be carried around in a pouch. It might not be loud enough for a grand party, but for a few friends around a table, for your family at a beach picnic or for a dinner date, it's the perfect product.
{9} Do you ship internationally?
Yes, we do. International shipping fees apply. Please select the correct reward type for 'Global Orders'.
{10} Could I get special offers if I order in bulk?
Yes, we offer special rewards when you order 5 or more. It includes special logo or message engraving to make it unique to yourself or your organisation. To find out more, please feel free to email us at firstname.lastname@example.com
{11} What if my iBam Landmark arrives damaged?
In any case your iBam arrives broken due to mishandling during shipping, take a photo, inform us immediately and we'll replace it at no additional cost. We're committed to getting you the iBam Landmark as you would love it to be.


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Petitioning President, India Pranab Mukherjee and 10 others
Respect the Universal Right to Freedom of Expression
Sign our petition and urge the leaders of ten foreign countries where people are being imprisoned or sought for charges on free speech grounds to demand they respect the right to freedom of expression and immediately grant their freedom and protection.
For more information, visit the Campaign for Free Expression.
Letter to
President, India Pranab Mukherjee
Prime Minister, Thailand Yingluck Shinawatra
President, Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari
and 8 others
We, the undersigned, write on behalf of the people who are being punished in your countries simply for expressing their beliefs regarding religion and other aspects of culture. We implore you to respect the right to freedom of expression, which is protected by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and immediately grant their freedom.


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Our Top 10 for 2013. No. 5: Simon Willis says the best philosophy is one without rules
From INTELLIGENT LIFE magazine, May/June 2013
Outside the entrance to Plato's Academy in Athens, there is said to have been a little sign which read, "Let no one enter here who knows no geometry". Whether or not this is true, it tells us something about the qualities philosophers have tended to prize.
But what if those qualities distort the conversation? Philosophy is a house of many mansions: abstract concepts might be just what you're after in the philosophy of mathematics, but what about the questions raised by everyday life—questions about how we should live? Kant, for example, tried to derive moral principles using reason alone, and for all his rigour and logic it can be hard to recognise ourselves in what he wrote. He wasn't even trying to give us a mirror, but to define what morality looks like for any rational creature, not just a human one. "There is, in philosophy," the American philosopher Stanley Cavell has said, "a certain drive to the inhuman, to an inhuman idea of intellectuality." I'm looking for a philosophy which brings us back to earth.
That philosophy is particularism, a fancy word for a simple idea: that in our ethical lives, rules are useless. Instead we should pay attention to real people in real situations. You can find arguments for it in thinkers as diverse as Aristotle in the fourth century BC and Ludwig Wittgenstein nearly 2,500 years later. Aristotle thought of ethical judgment as a matter of discernment and fine distinctions, literally seeing a situation in all its complexity. Wittgenstein wrote of rules in his "Philosophical Investigations" that "only experienced people can apply them aright". You can be up to your neck in rules, but they don't in themselves tell you how to apportion blame, or to whom, or how much. For that, you need to look at what's in front of you. If you don't, you're driving in the dark without headlights.
Placing practice above principle puts the burden of judgment back on us, and leaves us vulnerable to life's obscurities and self-deceptions, to the tangle of our duties and commitments. We might aspire to clarity, but we could easily be blind. That said, it's an idea which represents the difficulty of doing the right thing, and why would we want less than that?
What do you think is the best philosophy? Read Jesse Norman on Aristotle, mashed up, Angie Hobbs on Plato's idea of flourishing, Anthony Gottlieb on Hume's scepticism, Colin Blakemore on doubt and Susie Orbach on self-knowledge. Vote now in our online poll
Simon Willis is apps editor of Intelligent Life and a former associate editor of Granta
Illustration Neil Gower


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Victorian PQ Aquatics - WTO declaration 2006
Declaration of an Approved Wildlife Trade Operation
Commonwealth of Australia Gazette, S 229, 20 December 2006
Commonwealth of Australia
Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999
Declaration of an Approved Wildlife Trade Operation
I, ANDREW MCNEE, Assistant Secretary, Marine Environment Branch, as Delegate of the Minister for the Environment and Heritage, have considered in accordance with section 303FN of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (the EPBC Act) the application from PQ Aquatics, public comments on the proposal as required under section 303FR, and advice on the ecological sustainability of the operation. I am satisfied on those matters specified in section 303FN of the EPBC Act. I hereby declare the operations for the harvest of Phycodurus eques (leafy seadragon) from South Australian waters, and Phyllopteryx taeniolatus (weedy seadragon), Hippocampus breviceps (short headed seahorse) and Hippocampus abdominalis (pot bellied seahorse) from Victorian waters, by PQ Aquatics in accordance with relevant State permits, to be an approved wildlife trade operation in accordance with section 303FN (2) and (10)(d), for the purposes of the EPBC Act.
Unless amended or revoked, this declaration:
- is valid from 31 December 2006 until 31 December 2009 and;
- is subject to the conditions applied under section 303FT specified in the Schedule.
Dated this 14th day of December 2006
Andrew McNee
Delegate of the Minister for the Environment and Heritage
Subject to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal Act 1975, a person or persons whose interests are affected by this declaration may, within 28 days, make an application in writing to the Department of the Environment and Heritage for the reasons for the decision. An application for independent review of the decision may be made to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal, on payment of the relevant fee, by or on behalf of the person or persons whose interests are affected, either within 28 days of receipt of the reasons for the decision, or within 28 days of this declaration if reasons for the decision are not sought. Further information may be obtained from:
Declaration of the syngnathid harvesting and captive breeding operations of PQ Aquatics as an approved wildlife trade operation.
Additional Provisions (section 303FT of the EPBC Act)
- Export of syngnathid species is restricted to specimens held or taken under permits issued by Fisheries Victoria Division of the Department of Primary Industries, or Primary Industries and Resources South Australia and their offspring.
- PQ Aquatics to advise the Department of the Environment and Heritage (DEH) of any material change to the legislated permit conditions or operating arrangements of the facility that could affect the criteria on which Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) decisions are based, within three months of that change being made.
- Harvest of syngnathids is prohibited in Commonwealth waters.
- Wild caught and cultured syngnathids are not to be returned to the wild.
- PQ Aquatics to breed Hippocampus breviceps and Hippocampus abdominalis in captivity as specified by the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Regulations 2000.
- Annual reports are to be provided by PQ Aquatics to DEH and should include:
- total harvest; including species, location, quantities, size, reproductive state and sex of individuals collected;
- results of spawning, mating and rearing trials and the number of mortalities that have occurred;
- quantities and numbers of specimens for each species sold or held as stocks; and
- details of the reproductive success of the operation as agreed between PQ Aquatics and DEH.


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Aerial surveys help track forest changes over time
By Bob Berwyn
FRISCO — There's good news and bad news from Colorado's forests. Mountain pine beetle activity has faded to the lowest level since 1996, but spruce beetles continue to spread in the San Juans and in northwestern Colorado.
The spruce beetle outbreak was detected on 485,000 acres in 2014, compared to 398,000 acres across the state in 2013, according to the U.S. Forest Service and the Colorado State Forest Service. The annual aerial survey by the two agencies shows that the spruce beetle outbreak expanded to 253,000 new acres. Continue reading
Filed under: agriculture, Environment, Forest health, forests, pine beetles, pine beetles and wildfires, US Forest Service | Tagged: aerial forest survey, Colorado, Forest health, forests, mountain pine beetles, spruce beetles | Leave a comment »


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What is the base of your irrigation system?
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The Hunter Rotor adjustment tool is used to make arc and radius adjustments on each sprinkler in Hunter's product line.
For adjusting any Hunter Rotor; (including PGP; PGH; PGM; I-20; I-25; I-40; I-60). and for use with the PS model spray heads.
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2015 Teen Choice Awards Performances: Watch
Check out all the performances from the 2015 Teen Choice Awards.
Check out all the performances from the 2015 Teen Choice Awards.
See the complete 2015 Teen Choice Awards winners' list.
Get the LONG list of winners under the cut!
Does Jason Derulo ever give anything less than a stellar live performance? He rocked it out once again with a mashup of 'Wiggle' and 'Talk Dirty' at the 2014 Teen Choice Awards!
The Teen Choice awards happened Sunday night. Ready to see which of the nominees went home with surfboards? Check out the full list under the cut.
Let your voice be heard! The first wave of surfboards for 2013's Teen Choice Awards are waxed and ready for handing out, now the only thing left to do is vote for your favorites!
Throughout the night, 2012 Teen Choice Awards hosts Demi Lovato and Kevin McHale (that dude that plays Artie on 'Glee') teased the audience, mentioning that viewers were asked to submit videos of them singing along to Carly Rae Jepsen's hit song 'Call Me Maybe.'
Teens get a bad rap as being a pretty angsty, hormonal bunch — but they're also smart, fun and kind of awesome, so it only makes sense that the 2012 Teen Choice Awards followed suit. With nominations for everyone from Justin Bieber to Nicki Minaj to Zooey Deschanel, some frontrunners are predictable: Katy Perry, Miley Cyrus, Selena Gomez and hostess with the mostess Demi Lovato are favorites for all of their categories, though for some of them they're actually competing against one another!
The 2012 Teen Choice Awards brought out a pretty fashionable bunch. Hostess with the mostess Demi Lovato rocked a futuristic, super long blonde ponytail — gone are her blue and green (once pink) tips! It was a huge night for Lovato, as she wasn't just co-hosting with 'Glee' star Kevin McHale, she was also up for a few awards of her own. You go, Demz!
They might not be as prestigious as the Grammys or the Oscars, but the Teen Choice Awards are a lot more fun — and they've just announced their nominees for this year's ceremony.
Selena Gomez and Taylor Swift lead the pack, with five and six nominations, respectively. Other stars boasting multiple nods — drawn across the pop culture spectrum, including movies, music, television, fashion, and sports — are Justin Bieber, Adele, Lady Gaga, and Eminem.
Take a look at the list of music nominees below, then read the full list at the Teen Choice Awards website — and mark your calendar for August 7, when this year's winners will be announced.


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Thursday, August 01, 2013 - 21:47 PM
New Grant McFarland Video
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Grant McFarland
Independent, Atrium Audio
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I was eleven years old. I played snare drum for the elementary school band. However, my music history goes back farther than that. I've been a musician since age four, starting on the Cello.
With MEINL since:
November 16, 1986
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vincent grino posted on Aug 01, 2013 - 22:21 PM
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this is one of the best things I've seen since Star Wars! Great job!
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text:
BANGOR, Maine (NEWS CENTER)-- The state states there is reason to believe Nichole Cable died last Sunday soon after she disappeared. Her body was found eight days later. For more than a week critical evidence was faced with the elements that included rain and sun. The evidence response team will be faced with even more hurdles as they gather evidence and find out what happened that night.
Former forensic scientist Alicia Wilcox said, "There are quite a few challenges for the investigators at the crime scene and later the examiners at the crime lab with those types of scenes. An individual's body that lay exposed with the weather and that type of environment is not a friend of forensic science."
According to Wilcox, the rain could have diluted evidence, washed away footprints, and possible erase fiber or trace elements.
Wilcox said, "You would approach that crime scene and you don't know whether the DNA or fibers have washed away or have been eroded. You assume they are still there so maybe there is evidence under somebody's fingernails there may be evidence under the body. There may be evidence that is preserved. So you go into it assuming that there are fragile pieces of evidence that may be trace or latent, invisible and you would go ahead and process the scene as such."
Investigators would have collected anything that might be useful in the investigation before transporting it to Augusta. There is, however, an emotional strain placed on the investigators especially when dealing with a victim so young.
"We set that part aside as much as possible to do this in a professional way and to do justice for the victim in this case. The examiners and investigators will set that part aside and will deal with that in their own time.One of the things I used to think of was, 'if I don't do the job who else will do it?' There is a feeling that even though there's an emotional to the job, there's a lot of job satisfaction to bring justice to the victim and her family," said Wilcox.
The state crime lab will continue to examine the material and uncover more evidence to piece together what happened that night.


text:
February 1st, 2012 by WCBC Radio
Governor Martin O'Malley's State of the State Address will be broadcast on WCBC today as a part of the mid-day report airing at 12:05PM.
Sign up for WCBC exclusive Text messages by texting [WCBC] to 68398.
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Showing Visitor Messages 1 to 15 of 28
August 24th, 2014 5:36 PMMrDollSteakNo. I just don't have any new sprites to post.
I'm busy with uni and the rombase.
Thanks for the offer but it's okay. Feel free to post whatever sprites you want to on the thread, but that doesn't mean they'll automatically be accepted.
August 24th, 2014 11:16 AMGOLDstandardHey MrDollsteak,
Are you taking a hiatus from the gen VI sprites to work on the rom base? or are you busy with life like everyone right now haha If you're busy, I can work on whatever sprites you want me too, I have a bit of free time this week.
Sorry if I come across as pushy, I just love to see updates on that thread :p
Cant wait to see them
July 20th, 2014 8:19 PMMrDollSteakIcon definitely. Maybe the front sprite, I think I'll make a back sprite for it myself.
July 20th, 2014 6:04 PMGOLDstandarddo you think you'll be able to use it?
July 20th, 2014 4:47 PMMrDollSteakOh sorry, didn't see it. Must have been on the list page.
July 20th, 2014 11:55 AMGOLDstandardhey
Did you see my dedenne sprite and reject it? If so, what should I do better for the next time?
July 8th, 2014 9:01 PMGOLDstandardwas just combing through some of the newer anims in your rom base
They are overall really great. I really liked moonblast, scald, brine, flash cannon, poison jab, stone edge, steamroller, venoshock, frost breath, x scissor, bulldoze, gunk shot, ice shard, and brave bird to name a healthy few :3
March 2nd, 2014 4:50 PMGOLDstandardOHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.
THANK YOU. now I get it haha
So I find the original check. Place my routine which just branches to free space, then in that free space I have it check for every ability related to that behavior byte then after checking them all it branches back.
Thank you so much
Unsuprisingly, I have another question :p
How do you find the original checks? I believe you said to use a debugger, but I would not know where to set breakpoints?
March 1st, 2014 7:55 PMMrDollSteakYou don't put the branch in free space.
You find the original check, then replace that with a branch to your routine, which loads new checks. Then if Sap Sipper is not successful you branch back to where it was before.
March 1st, 2014 12:52 PMGOLDstandardI hope this doesnt sound too noobish, but at that region, I can't find any free space to put my branching command :3 (By branching command I mean the code that loads the pokemon's ability, checks if its sap sipper, and then branches to my code)
February 27th, 2014 9:49 PMMrDollSteakI assume you're using Fire Red? In that case why not use my rombase? That's got Sap Sipper done. But anyway I put Sap Sipper where Water Absorb and stuff are. 1A000 region somewhere. Don't have the offset on me, but you should find it there.
February 26th, 2014 7:42 PMGOLDstandardalright,
Yeah, I kind of felt like that would be the case :/
I appreciate your response and help though. The problem that still baffles me, is how to determine where and how to insert my written ASM. Through one of Kurapika's code samples, I learned how to write code that makes the game check for the new abilities, but I'm not sure where I would add the check in game. Let's say, for instance, I wanted to code for the ability sap sipper. Where in the game do I add the code so that it checks for the ability at the appropriate time?
Thanks again, your responses are very helpful!
February 25th, 2014 10:50 PMMrDollSteakThe problem with making a tutorial is that there isn't a set way.
Each ability and item check follows 'roughly' the same formula, though in each case it's different.
There are also a butt ton of different offsets and locations.
As for inserting new abilities that's the same as anything else, it's just a matter of writing the code, which usually requires some experience with ASM or by looking at how Vanilla handles those types of routines and hijacking that.
That being said, feel free to PM me if you start looking for checks and thing in your debugger, or want help with some specific checks. I don't have them all obviously but in my search through the rom I've identified a few.
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Towards a new digital ethics: Data, Dignity and Technology. Read our Opinion and press release.
On 24 September 2015, the EDPS and the European Academy of Law will hold a workshop entitled Competition Rebooted: Enforcement and Personal Data in Digital Markets. More information on the event can be found on the ERA website.
Cyber-safety shouldn't take a break when you do. Check the EDPS tips on how to stay safe online when on holiday.
The EDPS has identified a number of topics of specific relevance which have become subject to an extensive analysis and the elaboration of a paper. There are three categories:
A position paper touches upon areas which fall under the EDPS' supervisory tasks. By issuing a position paper, the EDPS gives his authentic interpretation of Regulation (EC) No 45/2001 on certain points. In that sense, a position paper gives visibility and guidance on a particular topic.
Background papers deal with specific areas where the EDPS feels that a preliminary or further developed analysis is needed. By issuing a background paper, the EDPS gives his view on how to come to a balanced and proportionate solution in a particular field.
A policy paper clarifies the way in which the EDPS intends to exercise his tasks and powers, such as his consultative role with respect to proposals for new legislation. This allows institutions and bodies or other parties involved to take that policy into account and enables the EDPS to be more effective.
Role of Data Protection Officers (DPO) in ensuring effective compliance with Regulation (EC) No 45/2001, 28 November 2005
In this paper, the EDPS underlines how compliance with the Regulation in the institutions and bodies must be ensured at different levels. The DPO has a key role to play and the paper examines his/her functions and gives guidance on how they can best perform these tasks in an independent manner.
The EDPS stresses that all institutions and bodies need to appoint a DPO. However, this appointment does not in itself imply automatic compliance with the Regulation. Other obligations such as that of notifying processing operations to the DPO and subsequent notification by the DPO of sensitive processing operations to the EDPS for prior checking must be complied with.
Transparency and data protection are both essential elements of democratic life in the EU, and both contribute to good governance. The interaction between these rights - i.e. the way in which to deal with public access to documents containing personal data - may however be perceived as difficult. Providing guidelines for the EU administration, the paper describes the two rights and their legal backgrounds. It also gives a list of examples and a checklist.
When dealing with these cases, it is imperative that the responsible officials make a concrete and individual examination of the specific document. Firstly, disclosure can only be refused if the privacy of an individual is at stake. Secondly, the negative effect of disclosure of someone's personal data must be substantial and thirdly it has to be examined if data protection legislation allows disclosure.
Public access to documents containing personal data after the Bavarian Lager ruling, 24 March 2011.
The previous background document of 2005 the relevant parts of which are referred to in the "Public access to documents containing personal data after the Bavarian Lager ruling".
Speech delivered at LIBE Committee on 12 July 2005
Conclusions on releasing further information about lobbyists, 31 August 2006
The EDPS as an advisor to EU institutions on policy and legislation: building on ten years of experience
Policy on Consultations in the field of Supervision and Enforcement, 23 November 2012
Monitoring and Ensuring Compliance with Regulation (EC) 45/2001, 13 December 2010
The EDPS and EU Research and Technological Development, 28 April 2008
The EDPS as an advisor to the Community institutions on proposals for legislation and related documents, 18 March 2005
With this paper, the EDPS laid down his policy in the area of consultation on legislative proposals; one of his main tasks based on Articles 28(2) and 41 of Regulation 45/2001. The paper underlines the ambition to become an authoritative advisor who contributes to the quality of EU legislation.
Describing the scope of his advisory tasks, which extends to legal instruments in EU's third pillar, the paper also lays down the working methods and the main orientations of the EDPS. The EDPS does not only issue formal opinions on proposals adopted by the European Commission, but also plays a role in other stages of the legislative procedure.


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Power Generation Handbook 2/E, 2nd Edition | 9780071772273
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Author(s): Philip Kiameh
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THE DEFINITIVE GUIDE TO POWER GENERATION--FULLY REVISED Updated throughout to cover the latest technologies and applications, Power Generation Handbook, Second Edition, focuses on the basics of power generation using gas turbine, steam, wind, solar, co-generation, and combined-cycle power plants. Other essential topics such as calculations, efficient plant design, emission limits, monitoring, and the economics of power generation are discussed in detail. A real-world case study illustrates the material presented in this authoritative resource. Coverage includes: All components and subsystems of the various types of gas turbine, steam power, co-generation, combined-cycle, wind turbine, solar power, and generator plants Advantages, applications, performance, and economics of low-emission, high-efficiency power plants Selection, operation, and maintenance of gas turbines, steam turbines, valves, compressors, governing systems, combustors, de-aerators, feedwater heaters, transformers, generators, wind turbines and generators, and solar power stations Monitoring and control of all power station environmental emissions Power station performance monitoring and performance enhancement options
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August 6, 2012
ages: 9+
First sentence: "I know I'm not an ordinary ten-year-old kid."
Support your local independent bookstore: buy it there!
I've seen this one around for months -- it has been on the New York Times Bestselling list, after all; and that's not mentioning all the blogs I've seen it at -- but for some reason, I've just never felt compelled to read it before now. Perhaps it's because I figured it was one of the "those books", feel-good stories about kids with disabilities that are supposed to enlighten me while making me somehow grateful I don't have to go through that.
And in many ways it was that book.
August is an ordinary kid in many ways: he likes Star Wars, he enjoys reading and hanging out with his friends. Sure, he's been home schooled, but that's because he's had so many surgeries that going to school wouldn't have been practical. See, he has a condition that isn't one of those you can hide: it affects his face. So, first impressions are not good.
But, now he's starting fifth grade, and in addition to all the ups and downs, conflicts and highlights that go with fifth grade, August has to deal with a whole new set of people seeing his face, and judging him before they even get a chance to know him.
Of course, there will be kids (and parents) who can't get past August's facial anomalies. Of course, there will be bullies and problems and Things To Overcome. And, of course, August will Rise Above It All.
But -- and this surprised me -- it was also not that book.
There was a matter of fact-ness to this book that helped surpass the whole agenda for me. August was clearly an amazing kid, not because he's special but because he's not. He faces the world as any other ten-year-old boy would, and it's everyone else -- from his parents to his sister to his friends -- who endow him with difference. I appreciated having the book from August's point of view, but I also liked the chapters where we got to see him through different eyes (for the most part; there were a couple of times when I wondered why Palacio chose a specific character to move the story along). It was in doing this that Palacio got her main point across: that we are all people, no matter what we look like.
As an interesting side note: A picked up this other book the other day, and even though it's not usually what she reads, she began reading this. There's a friend of hers at school who is like August (though it's his hands and arms, not his face), and she was interested in the idea that something like what her friend has would make a good book. I'm looking forward to talking to her about it when she finishes.
And, perhaps, that's the best thing that can be said about Wonder: it will inspire conversation and discussion among those who read it.
3 comments:
- Miss K said...
This was one of my favorite books of the year (although I agree with you about the boyfriend chapter!). Please let us know what your daughter thinks about it, I'm curious.
- August 6, 2012 at 8:26 AM
- Ms. Yingling said...
I always struggle with changes in point of view, but it was used to good effect in this book. This has circulated slowly and steadily, mainly thanks to a teacher who read and keeps recommending it, and would certainly be great for our 8th grade unit on Challenges.
- August 6, 2012 at 12:36 PM
- Brandee Smith said...
I have heard great things about this book and I appreciate you writing out such great details. It is one I will check out for sure.
- August 20, 2012 at 3:21 PM
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text:
Putting aside the somewhere-between-creepy-and-supremely-twisted electioneering with which the Democrats infused President Barack Obama's "return to civility" speech last week in the wake of the Tucson tragedy, the honest observer has to offer credit where credit is due. Obama's address — while certainly no "Morning in America" — didn't, well, suck. Let's call it "predictable acceptability." Obama struck all the right notes of measured non-partisanship. He issued a reasonable call to people across the fruited plain to "use their words."
So, it's a bit of shame that his party missed his message. Perhaps they were too busy printing the partisan t-shirts which they issued to attendees at an event which was billed as a memorial/prayer service for the victims of a freak show reject, the accused shooter Jared Lee Loughner; but descended into a "what dead and/or injured people?" carnival atmosphere which evinced memories of the appallingly grave-dancing political rally which replaced Senator Paul Wellstone's 2002 memorial service.
While Obama endeavored to quell the partisan fires which had little to nothing to do with Loughner's break with reality, the Democrats kicked into high gear their desperate effort to handcuff Loughner's murderous rampage to pretty much everyone who has ever knocked back a cup of hot Tetley's.
Against this backdrop of finger-pointing and flame-throwing, a number of members of Congress have announced a bipartisan effort to turn the State of the Union into a Congressional love-in. Americans who have grown used to seeing the two parties (and Bernie Sanders) separate like the boys and girls at a junior-high school dance will evidently be treated to Democrats like Senator Chuck Schumer holding hands with Republicans like Senator Olympia Snowe.
Some pundits have suggested that the Democrats are pushing for the mixed seating to cover up their numerical minority. That's possible. Others claim that both sides are simply making another hollow symbolic gesture. That's also entirely likely. We are, after all, talking about politicians.
The image of Nancy Pelosi proverbially sitting in Eric Cantor's lap, while marginally unsettling, doesn't fill me with a sense of burgeoning civility in American politics. I know that the moment the cameras have been turned off they're going to head back to their respective sides of the Capitol and begin plotting to undermine each other with every tool at their disposal.
The people of this nation don't require bipartisan symbolism from their elected representatives. We require greatness — or at least an era of limited embarrassment. Instead of vacuous pronouncements about political cooperation between adversaries from both sides of an institution which enjoys approximately the same popularity as a cat in the dog pound, perhaps those who tread the halls of American governmental authority should consider actual accomplishment.
The Republicans, their numbers swelling with the addition of Tea Party-backed conservatives, should break with their own traditions of grandiose rhetoric and actually effect real change. It goes without saying that the new Republican Congressional majority is a direct result of voter dissatisfaction with the borderline fascist government-by-fiat proclivities of the Democrats. They should seize the opportunity to reward the electorate's trust.
Go ahead and sit with your little Democrat friends at the State of the Union, Republicans. Heck, go ahead and rework the office assignments so that Pelosi gets a little desk in the corner of Speaker John Boehner's office. However, don't be swayed by the plaintive cries of bipartisan cooperation from the same Democrats who have attempted to connect Loughner to every Republican since William McKinley.
You're there to do a job. Stand up for the beleaguered victims of years of Democrat economic mismanagement. Help restore respect for the individual which is burned into the lines of the U.S. Constitution. Provide a bulwark against the statist steamroller of Obamacare, of the constant incursions against free speech, of the right to keep and bear arms, of the right to show due respect to the Almighty (or not, if that's your choice).
If the Democrats require a boost to their self-esteem, let them seek therapy. Maybe they'll get free t-shirts.


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"Companies are looking for ways to break free from the business limitation imposed by a network paradigm that has been dominated by a single vendor," said Dave Donatelli, an HP executive. He added, "By acquiring 3Com, we are accelerating the execution of our Converged Infrastructure strategy and bringing disruptive change to the network industry." The acquisition will also expand HP's Ethernet switching offerings, add routing solutions and strengthen the company's position in China -- a quickly growing market.
The agreement has already been approved by the HP and 3Com board of directors, and is still subject to customary closing conditions. The deal should be finalized in the first half of 2010.