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The Coffee Purist Vs. The Roast Stylist
Roasting is a fairly straightforward act. You dump coffee in a heat chamber, it cooks, you stop the roast where you think it will taste best and that's it. When we roast coffee we are basically cooking a dried seed, a singular ingredient, a singular and continuous cooking process.


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Rafael Nadal is sittin' on top of the world. After grabbing the gold medal in Beijing and rising to world no. 1 this week, the Spaniard is THE baller of the moment.
But Rafa wasn't feeling so great about his chances at the Olympics after arriving in the Chinese capital "incredibly tired" after a summer beyond his imagination. So how did he find the motivation to make the golden run? According to Rafa,
The only reason I was able to win was the lift I got from living in the Olympic village. Being among many other great athletes was fantastic. And the support I got from the rest of the Spanish team was amazing.So surrounding yourself with the energy from people striving for the same, ultimate goal is more motivating than holing up in some 18-star hotel by yourself? It's genius!
Although they don't know it, it was thanks to them that I somehow found the energy and mental strength to get the gold medal. I would not have been able to manage this from a hotel, however luxurious it was. The feeling at the end on the podium was indescribable. I am very happy to have made it to Olympic champion.
(image via Getty)

subset: commoncrawl


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Judge Kocurek welcomed back to court
Counterfeit wine destroyed
Honoring military this Veterans Day
F1 Austin Grand Prix Day 2
Looking back at Bastrop fires
Family, friends honors Elijah Hernandez
Report It
PHOTOS: semi rollover, pipe spill
Father's Day 2013
US & World
Navy pilots at hospital following crash
Disney ticket redeemed 22 years later
Timeline: EgyptAir Flight 804 crash
EgyptAir Flight 804 crash
8 shot dead at 4 locations in rural Ohio
Columbine High School massacre
Photos: Bernie Sanders visits Purdue
Bernie Sanders rally in Austin - 2/27/16
Bernie Sanders rally at UMass Amherst
New Hampshire: Behind-the-Scenes
The Road to Nomination
Taking Your Questions to the White House
8 Iconic TV moms from ABC hit shows
Remembering Prince (1958 - 2016)
SXSW Film 2016 : Part II
SXSW Film 2016
Rory and Joey Feek throughout the years
Oscars 2016: Winners
McDonald's through the years
10 Delish Drinks: Margaritas
Man hands out love notes to honor wife
Lafayette's The Grand Theater Reopening
Cops take pies to the face for charity
Hidden Pines Fire report
2015 Turkey Trot
Dell Children's 2015 'Dangerous Toys'
V-J Day in Austin, 1945
Father's day 2015
Barbecue Across the U.S.
Easter Sunday around the world
Snakes found in North Carolina
Woman reportedly attacked by 3 dogs
Pets enjoy February flakes
Houston Zoo residents feel the love
Rattlesnake Round-Up at the Capitol
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2016 NFL Draft 1st Round Picks
AP Photos: 120th Boston Marathon
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Super Bowl 50 Halftime Show
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Super Bowl? Or Super No Self-Control?
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East Coast battered by storms, tornadoes
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Gulf Coast storm damage - Feb. 23, 2016
Sunset Photos 1-31
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Last living Ground Zero rescue dog
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The White House reacts to 9/11
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Riding along with Border Patrol
Border Agents in the Rio Grande Valley have had their hands full with the influx of immigrant children coming across the border.
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KXAN rides along with Border Patrol
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GAITHERSBURG, Md. (WUSA) - Staff Sgt. Jennifer Hunt faced her most terrifying day while riding in a Humvee in Iraq in 2007. "My vehicle was struck by a roadside bomb while we were out on patrol. At first, I wasn't really sure what had happened because there was this kind of big thump and then our Humvee started to fill with smoke, it started to get cloudy," she said.
When all was said and done, there was blood streaked across the windshield, Hunt has shrapnel wounds and a burn, and her colleagues were hurt.
"Everyone started doing what they needed to do to make sure everyone was okay, help out the casualties, the people that were more injured than us, get out of the area, make sure there weren't more things coming down, there weren't people that were going to be shooting at us, or there weren't secondary devices that were going to be blowing up other vehicles, " she said.
And Hunt's role during that time? "There, I worked on micro-grant projects for local Iraqi businesses."
Hunt job wasn't to be fighting on the front lines, yet there she was. The married mom of a toddler says the military's policy of excluding women from direct combat roles below the brigade level is unconstitutional, and the front lines have no boundary.
She and four other military women are suing the Department of Defense. The other plaintiffs are Marine Capt. Zoe Bedell, Marine 1st Lt. Colleen Farrell and Air Force Maj. Mary Jennings Hegar.
Hunt shares, "I think the reality is for these wars is there are no frontlines. So, even if you're in an area where it doesn't seem that dangerous, it can get very dangerous very quickly."
The Department of Defense says it's not its policy to comment on pending litigation. They say they've recently opened up 14,000 jobs to women, but there are still about 238,000 positions they won't let women perform.
DoD Spokesperson Eileen M. Lainez says, "The recent openings are the beginning, not the end, of a process. The services will continue to review positions and requirements to determine what additional positions may be opened to women. Our goal is to ensure that the mission is met with the best qualified and most capable people, regardless of gender."
Anu Bhagwati, of the Service Women's Action Network, says even if DoD opens up the remaining positions, it's unlikely women will take them all. "This is a matter of a few women perhaps being given the opportunity to fulfill those assignments, not every woman wants to be an infantryman, not every woman wants to be a Navy seal, just like not every man wants to be an infantryman or wants to be in special operations, " Bhagwati said.
Hunt recovered quickly from her shrapnel wounds and burns. Since then, she's married her husband, and given birth to a little girl. She's still in the Army Reserves. But, as time has moved on, she says the military should too. "Women have already proven themselves able and willing to fight in combat roles and this policy doesn't reflect the reality of all the women who have served honorably and it's time to change it, " she said.


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Photo courtesy of Thinkstock.
You don't build strong leaders by micromanaging them, but by unleashing them to tap their full potential. That's the philosophy of Bernard Tyson, the recently appointed CEO at Kaiser Permanente, one of the largest health-plan providers in the U.S. with more than 9 million customers.
Tyson said his chief role is to set clear expectations for leaders and trust them to be accountable. "My analogy is driving a car: the speed limit is 55 miles per hour. I tell my team, 'Listen, I can't be in the car with you every day. I have to trust that you know how to drive and can steer us in the direction we need to go.' "
Building an authentic culture means "embedding the vision and mission of the organization in the hearts and minds of the people that carry it out," Tyson said. "It's not what we say that matters, but how we behave that drives our mission to provide access to quality care that is affordable."
Tyson touched on an issue of pressing concern within global organizations: Leadership credibility and the role it plays in driving employee engagement. Only 1 in 3 employees (34 percent) considers their managers to be effective leaders, according to a report by Development Dimensions International in Pittsburgh. Titled "Lessons for Leaders From the People Who Matter," it surveyed nearly 1,300 employees in 10 countries.
"Many employees think their leader is a jerk, and it affects their own performance. They aren't engaged and aren't giving their best," said Richard Wellins, a DDI senior vice president.
It's a lesson not lost on Tyson, 54, who succeeded George Halvorson as CEO in July, after serving as Kaiser's president and chief operating officer since 2010 — the year Congress passed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. "If my messages are inconsistent, over time employees will stop listening to me," Tyson said.
Like the health care industry generally, Kaiser Permanente is bracing for a seismic shift in the U.S. health care system. The company reportedly sent cancellation notices to about 160,000 of its policyholders in California, part of an estimated 4.3 million people whose individual coverage was dropped by various insurers since the law took effect in October.
Despite its rocky start, Kaiser Permanente officials say they generally support the new law. Specifically, the Oakland, California-based health care giant remains on the prowl for health care professionals to fill the hundreds of jobs it expects to create during the next several years.
The U.S. has added about 17,000 health care jobs per month in 2013, although the number slipped to 12,500 in October. Tyson said recruiting takes on a special significance, especially making sure new employees learn the values behind Kaiser's corporate vision and mission.
A key component will be acclimating newly hired employees through "storytelling" about Kaiser's history, with executives and front-line leaders using the anecdotes to shape Kaiser's culture. Most of the stories stem from the history of Henry J. Kaiser, the shipbuilding magnate who used his vast fortune to establish the Kaiser Family Foundation in 1948. Kaiser launched it in response to losing his mother at a young age due to lack of access to affordable health care.
"We are fortunate to have this immense legacy of stories to draw on. As a leadership, Bernard expects us to use those stories to focus our mission and set the tone," said Chuck Columbus, a Kaiser senior vice president and human resources officer.
Rose Gailey, a consultant with consulting firm Gagen MacDonald, said senior leaders face a complex set of responsibilities compared to those in previous generations. In addition to setting strategy and organizational purpose, executives need to empower front-line leaders and unleash their potential.
"That's why organizational stories are such a critical medium: Scripted messages don't get people to take ownership of a strategy. And execution requires people to have ownership," said Gailey.
In addition, Kaiser takes its "cultural temperature" through an annual employee survey that has a high rate of participation. Tyson said 84 percent of its 175,000 employees completed its most recent survey last year.
"People know we take it seriously and value their input," Tyson said.
Knowing they're being heard also helps Kaiser burnish its reputation as a desirable employer, a key factor when trying to land top applicants in a crowded field, Tyson said.
"We have a high percentage of employees who say they would highly recommend Kaiser as a great place to work and believe they make a difference in society. We think that's a pretty powerful message when we go out recruiting."
Garry Kranz is a Workforce contributing editor. Comment below or email firstname.lastname@example.com. Follow Workforce on Twitter at @workforcenews.


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Blackboard Preview
The new version of Blackboard Learn, which will be installed during May 14-19, will enhance the ability to capture meaningful statistics at the course and system levels. It will also provide many features that faculty have requested, such as inline grading, an enhanced calendar, and achievements.
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Train To Teach
CELTA in Angkor Wat, Cambodia
The CELTA is an introductory training course for those with little or no previous ELT experience/training. CELTA is recognised worldwide and is a requirement for all quality language schools.ACE Cambodia
Train To Teach
British Council's Aptis for Teachers
Based around teaching concepts and contexts this is an ideal online test for non native speaker teachers to certify their level of English. Take the test at home and get your certificate.Find out more


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DANCING WITH THE STARS - KIRSTIE ALLEY - Kirstie Alley has emerged as one of the great actresses of her generation, proving time and again that she is capable of great depth and range, as well as possessing comedic timing second to none. Kirstie's work in television has earned her seven Golden Globe and eight Emmy nominations, winning one Golden Globe, two Emmys and three People's Choice Awards. She joins MAKSIM CHMERKOVSKIY, who is back for his tenth season. A star-studded cast filled with celebrities across a variety of genres are set to compete each week on the dance floor in the spectacular two-hour season premiere of "Dancing with the Stars," MONDAY, MARCH 21 (8:00-10:01 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network. (ABC/BOB D'AMICO)
Thank you so much for this aritlce, it saved me time!


text: I've always learned that when calling to a bull you want to sound a little less aggressive and mean than the bull that called. When you sound to big and intimidating, the bulls will shy away and not come in. Be sure to mix in estrous cow sounds but always sound a little less than the bull you are calling to and you will call in many bulls!


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Hello All,
I want to install Zimbra on a server with 1 Live IP and I local IP. How do I go about it. How do I secure the server since it is not going to be behind a firewall. More so, what security measure I am going to take to make sure my server is safe.
This installation is necessary because we need to get our Intranet mails on the fly when such mail is very important and needs our attention.
Kindly help.


text:
BKE Extra Long & Lean Tank Top
- Basic tank
- Bodu length 27 3/4" on size medium
- 95% Cotton, 5% Spandex.
- Machine wash cold water with like colors. No chlorine bleach. Lay flat to dry, reshape when wet. Low iron if needed.
- Made in Canada.
Have a Question?
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Women's Shirts
Women's BKE core Shirts
- Body length 27 3/4" on size medium.


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Wine and Water Bottle Labels
Refine Your Search
Wine and Water Bottle Labels
Wine and water bottle labels are a fun and creative way to add your own personal touch to your wedding reception. Are you giving your guests bottles of wine as wedding favors? Are you providing bottled water throughout the night? Choose personalized bottle labels featuring a design that coordinates perfectly with your wedding style and colors. Guests will be surprised and delighted! Browse our other wedding accessories like personalized coasters and cake knives and serving sets.


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Joined IHG® Rewards Club at a Hotel?
Joining is easy and free
Earn points at over 4,700 hotels
Redeem points for free rooms and more
Contact your local IHG® Rewards Club Customer Care to source your PIN and to update your profile with your email address. When you receive your PIN you can also update your email address via www.ihg.com/updateemail.
Reward Nights
When redeeming points for a Reward Night, you may only book one room at a time.
Once you complete your Reward Night reservation you will be given the option to duplicate this reservation.
* Requires affiliation in the respective organization.
** Best Available Rate Search does not include affiliation rates.
To book more than 9 rooms for one stay or request a quote, please use our Easy Meetings tool, call 1-800-MEETING (in United States, Mexico and Canada) or contact a Global Sales Office.
A perfect business trip begins with our hotel's terrific location near Kansas City and just off I-435. The Holiday Inn® Hotel & Suites Overland Park Convention Center places you near major companies with easy access to downtown Kansas City.
Corporate guests appreciate being within walking distance of the Overland Park Convention Center. We're also near Black & Veatch, YRCW, Verizon Regional Headquarters, CenturyLink, Ericsson and Apria on the Sprint Campus in Overland Park, KS. Our
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Corporate guests appreciate being within walking distance of the Overland Park Convention Center. We're also near Black & Veatch, YRCW, Verizon Regional Headquarters, CenturyLink, Ericsson and Apria on the Sprint Campus in Overland Park, KS. Our hotel's complimentary shuttle can get you to meetings on time when they're within a two-mile radius of the hotel. Business guests can take advantage of free high-speed, wireless or wired Internet access in every room and three meeting rooms. A 24-hour business center makes it simple to fax or copy a last-minute contract for your meeting.
Looking for something to do while you're here in Overland Park, KS? Since our hotel's location is near Kansas City, enjoy a night in the KC Power & Light District or at the Sprint Center. There's fabulous shopping at nearby upscale Town Center Plaza and Country Club Plaza. Best of all, our guests can easily get to Arrowhead Stadium, Kaufman Stadium and the Kansas Speedway for a NASCAR-adrenaline rush.
As one of the best Overland Park, Kansas hotels, you'll enjoy upscale amenities and accommodations. Make your reservations today at one of the best hotels near Kansas City.


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Health Sciences
News: Dental Hygiene Applications Deadline Extended to April 1 at PCC
Pasadena City College's Dental Hygiene program is now accepting applications through April 1. The program is accredited by the American Dental Association, a specialized accrediting body recognized by the Council on Post Secondary Accreditation and by the United States Department of Education.
"Dental hygienists make an average of around $300 a day," said Thomas Neiderer, PCC Dental Hygiene program administrator.
Release Date: 03/11/2013


text:
Main Menu
Pages for ...
About Manchester
Strategic Initiatives & External Relations
Graduate and Professional Programs
Contact an Admissions Counselor
Scholarships and Financial Aid
Information for First-Year Students
Information for First-Years' Parents
Information for Students Studying Abroad
College is typically a time of exploration, growth and change. It can also be a time of struggle, frustration, stress and distress. To assist students as they find ways to cope with these and other issues, and to foster personal awareness/growth, Manchester University offers counseling and support services.
Counseling Services, a part of the Student Development Staff, is also a member of the Success Center. Counseling Services is housed in Calvin Ulrey, on the first floor as a part of Health and Counseling Services.
Individual counseling services are available, consultation, and facilitators, all at no charge to students. Support groups may be organized for students with specific concerns and work-shops may be provided throughout the course of the school year. To schedule an appointment or consult with a member of the staff, contact the Office of Counseling Services at 260-982-5306.


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Honeywell Dolphin 7800 Android Mobile Computers
The Honeywell Dolphin 7800 handheld computer, or enterprise digital assistant (EDA) is one of the few enterprise-grade mobile computers available on the market with the Android Operating system from Google.
As with all Dolphin 7800 scanners, this device is built for demanding mobile workforce applications that require industrial quality durability and usability. This Dolphin Android device features a Honeywell-enhanced Android Operating system, 3.5" outdoor-viewable color VGA display, and Adaptus Imaging Technology which allows both 1D and 2D barcodes to be scanned in difficult conditions. Additionally, the Dolphin 7800 Android features an integrated color camera which enables photos, image capture and video capture. For communications, in addition to 802.11 a/b/g/n for WLAN communication, this device includes options for GSM on AT&T networks as well as EVDO for Sprint and Verizon networks.
Lastly, to help in deployment and support efforts and reduce TCO (Total Cost of Ownership), this device is Remote Mastermind Ready which means that you can manage it remotely and track usage of installed device.
As an Authorized Honeywell Reseller, we only advertise MSRP (List Price) on Honeywell Dolphin 7800 Android Mobile Computers as part of their MAP (Minimum Advertised Price) policy. To get the actual price of an item, please call one of our product specialists at (714)922-1140.
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Honeywell Dolphin 7800 Mobile Computer - Healthcare Model, WLAN (802.11b/g), High Density Scanner with Green LED Aimer, 3.5" QVGA Color Touchscreen, Camera, 256MB RAM/512MB Flash and 1 GB SD, 46-Key QWERTY Keypad, Extended Capacity Lithium-Ion Battery (3.7V, 4000 mAh), Android Operating System. (M160415).$1,848.00 Click for priceMAP Restricted*
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text:
Flushing, NY (Sports Network) - John Buck hit a solo home run and Mike Baxter
added an RBI, as the New York Mets relied on 5 2/3 shutout innings from Dillon
Gee to take a 2-0 victory over the Washington Nationals in the rubber match of
a three-game set.
Gee (1-3) allowed just three hits and three walks while striking out six and
also avoided becoming the first Mets starter since Steve Trachsel (2001) to
lose his first four starts of April.
David Wright walked twice and scored a run for the Mets, who won a series
versus Washington on the road for the first time since September 2-4, 2011.
Washington starter Jordan Zimmermann (3-1), who was looking to become the
first Nationals pitcher in 16 years to win his first four starts of the
season, gave up two runs on two hits over five innings. He fanned four and
walked three.
The Sports Network


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HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - The NCAA's decision to dial back one of the penalties against Penn State for its handling of the Jerry Sandusky molestation scandal is drawing positive reaction from students and others associated with the university.
The school got some good news Tuesday after two years of scandal, when the NCAA announced it would gradually restore 20 football scholarships.
It says the school has already made significant improvements to its athletics programs. The NCAA may later consider reducing the team's four-year bowl ban.
Five scholarships are being restored next year and 15 more will be phased in until the school reaches the limit of 85 in about three years. That's a season earlier than to which the school had agreed.
Penn State has a 3-and-1 record and doesn't play this week.


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BLACK FRIDAY ends tonight! Save $25 off $200* Use code: TLBF15
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Tim Bergling, aka Tim Berg, Tom Hangs and most popularly Avicii makes the big, old school club bangers that techno was founded on. Avicii has been a name in the industry since the tender age of 18 and Avicii tickets for his headlining spot on the inaugural Identity tour were a huge hit.
Avicii's career skyrocketed after he won Pete Tong's Fast Trax contest, pulling 70% of the vote for his track Manman and he hasn't turned back. He was voted Breakthrough DJ/Producer of the year in 2009 by the magazine OnlyForDJs and has received Tiesto's seal of approval. In 2010, Avicii tour dates for his first world tour catapulted the DJ into the upper stratosphere of the genre where he enjoys such treats as headlining the International Foam Festival. Catch Avicii in concert when he comes to your area!
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Magic. That settles all problems.
(I'll get back to you with an actual answer, when I finish reading.)
One thing that I struggle with all too much in map-design, specifically architecture, is whether or not to make the building pretty or to make the building as efficiently laid out as possible.
Too often I see buildings that may look great on paper or from outside, but inside I hear so many complaints about how oddly laid-out and awkward it is to navigate the building's interior. It seems as if contemporary building design embraces the artistic side of architecture more than the engineering side and to the effect that we have very pretty buildings that make little sense on the inside.
And I even see a similar effect in computer and video games such as The Sims 3, where people often make houses or buildngs that look amazing from afar, but inside they are cramped and awkwardly laid-out, limiting the inhabitant's movement unnecessarily.
So I put to you guys, how to strike a balance, an optimized equilibrium between the two?
I find that simpler floor plan shapes that favor circuits and symmetry tend to be more easily navigated, but they are very boring and simplistic and are often shunned by fellow map-makers as amateurish. For example, a rectangular building is simple, easy to make, easy to navigate usually, but frowned upon as lazy and badly designed. But then I find that complex and irregular designs, while difficult to design, are needlessly difficult to inhabit and navigate. It seems that modern structure design has become somewhat elitist and inattentive to the actual usefulness of the structure that it produces. Look at M.I.T.'s newer buildings for God's sake *facepalm*.
How does a building that looks this way benefit the users at all? Why does it need to be so irregular? Is this not then just a wasteful design that is more of an ego-trip for the architect? Could you imagine being the contractor or a fireman trying to understand this building while erecting it or trying to test it for fire-safety?
I will confess, I am a big believer in form following function. So it's natural for me to poo-poo designs that seem to have little regard to their function whatsoever.
Though I hate Falling Water with a passion because if you design a building where all the contents have to be purpose-built for it, then it's obvious that you don't intend to enable and encourage a wide variety of usage, you're just making a fancy building to go into your portfolio. I am referring to the furniture for this structure. The doors and furniture were specially made for Andrew Lloyd Wright's designs. Could you imagine how expensive replacing one would be if it broke or got too old to use? Again it seems that some modern architecture considers artistic appeal far more than practical application.
So then I try to make a pretty map for my D&D group but I quickly realize that if it's pretty, then it just doesn't make much sense to me why it'd be designed that way and waste as much resources to build as it does:
Why would elves build in trees? What if there was a lightning storm? What if invaders used flaming arrows and greek-oil to set the trees on fire? What if termites eat the tree's roots away? Is it really worth the building expenses, then, to build up there? If it was then wouldn't we humans have done so more often instead of building on bedrock and stone foundations that don't rot and erode much slower?
And why would Dwarves build such huge hallways and rooms if they are so much shorter than humans? Why would they limit themselves to building underground when they could more easily get fresher air and access to agricultural bounty above-ground? Hell...what if there was an earthquake? Our friends in the trees and below ground would equally be screwed wouldn't they?
If you say: "Because there's magic" then I will glare at you and think mean thoughts. Magic is present to expand our horizons in speculation and creative role-play, not to create excuses for us to design something silly and impractical.
Speaking of which: why do dungeons have so many traps and secret passages? Who built them with that kind of money to throw around? How did they intend to keep things like that a secret from the hundreds of builders they had on site at the time? How the hell are the orcs inside supposed to get to the bathroom if there's a DC 26 spike trap between their barracks and the john and the doorway to the restroom is guarded with a ruby statue of a gargoyle who demands solutions to riddles? I mean there's fantasy and then there's fantastic crap. Things don't need to be complex and original to be good. Sometimes the simplest solution is truly the best one.
I mean there's a reason why the simple designs are still around: because they work. Because they don't cost as much to build and maintain as hipster's wet-dream amalgamations of material like M.I.T.'s pock-marked building:
But then I'm just one guy, and I'm no architect, nor am I a civil-engineer (which I feel should be BOTH utilized when designing a building by the same exact person) so I'm curious what you guys think?
Magic. That settles all problems.
(I'll get back to you with an actual answer, when I finish reading.)
Foremost, Architecture is art and a science, just like how Cartography is. There are ones that go for function, and plausibility, and others go for the outlandish, and artistic (At times - that pockmarked building is just weird.)
And getting an equilibrium is hard, it's easier to make something so useful and solid that it is beautiful, and to make something so beautiful it works, but it's hard to make something that both works, and is beautiful.
Not to throw magic around, but most elves in settings have magic, or don't live in tree houses at all, but rather live in the woods as a hunter gatherer who sleeps in trees without houses. Said magic could enhance the trees, and stop most fires from happening on the tree.Why would elves build in trees? What if there was a lightning storm? What if invaders used flaming arrows and greek-oil to set the trees on fire? What if termites eat the tree's roots away? Is it really worth the building expenses, then, to build up there? If it was then wouldn't we humans have done so more often instead of building on bedrock and stone foundations that don't rot and erode much slower?
Inferiority complex, they feel small, and so they build big. And why compete in the above ground with a massive crap ton of other races vying for the above lands, when you could have one entrance to an entire underground nation self sustained by mushrooms and underground water? If you add under-dark into the equation, that's also another reason to build in the ground - so you can have access to all the exotic meat, plants, and wonders of that place.And why would Dwarves build such huge hallways and rooms if they are so much shorter than humans? Why would they limit themselves to building underground when they could more easily get fresher air and access to agricultural bounty above-ground? Hell...what if there was an earthquake? Our friends in the trees and below ground would equally be screwed wouldn't they?
You're also mistaken about earthquakes, people are much safer below the ground during an earthquake (I'm talking about more than just a basement.) people in mines don't feel earthquakes at all, and if they do they're minutely small, and if tree's fell because of earthquakes that easily, there wouldn't be alot of forestry would they? These things are natural, and can handle themselves from disasters - in that way, they make perfect shelters at times.
I completely agree with you here - minus traps and secret passages - I don't like dungeons that do that unless they have a good reason. There're secret passages and traps in dungeons in real life, it isn't that far fetched, really. Fantasy might be taking it a bit over what would be considered realistic but it is fantasy. Look at the pyramids for example, they have alot of secret passages and traps, to protect something - their pharaoh. I completely agree about the orcs though, I try to never do that in my dungeons unless I absolutely have to.Speaking of which: why do dungeons have so many traps and secret passages? Who built them with that kind of money to throw around? How did they intend to keep things like that a secret from the hundreds of builders they had on site at the time? How the hell are the orcs inside supposed to get to the bathroom if there's a DC 26 spike trap between their barracks and the john and the doorway to the restroom is guarded with a ruby statue of a gargoyle who demands solutions to riddles? I mean there's fantasy and then there's fantastic crap. Things don't need to be complex and original to be good. Sometimes the simplest solution is truly the best one.
For what it's worth, I think you might be forgetting one crucial part of the equation: history. Most buildings in the world today, and most buildings that have ever been created, were not designed. People build what they need, when they need it; it was only the rich and powerful who tended to add embellishment and design to their structures. Thus, a simple rectangular house - possibly only one room - is not only a plausible design for a building, I'd wager it's also the most common historically.
The key factor, though, is that the rectangle might be extended at some point, based on needs and circumstances: a new baby in the family? Add an extra room. A new tenant who makes pots? A kiln/workshop might appear. Through processes like these buildings can evolve over time. It is relatively rare that a structure will be demolished when use changes, as it is so much cheaper to keep what is already there. The interesting thing about this process is that the building form does follow function, but the function changes, and so the building becomes less and less coherent.
So my advice to you: design your buildings so they look undesigned.
Another piece of advice (for all mapmakers): what looks boring on a sheet of paper (a rectangle, a grid) would not necessarily be so in reality. The addition of doors and windows, brickwork, furniture etc would obscure the simplicity of layout, as well as making the place look 'lived in'. That, I think, is why isometric drawings/maps are so popular here on CG.
Oh, one thing I forgot to add is the golden ratio, so most houses wouldn't be just square.
Golden ratio - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Featureless boxes of glass, with every floor of the box a set of rigid white corridors, each indistinguishable from the next. It's not a terribly livable design for humans, even if it does appeal to a small segment of the population. Human memory is associative, meaning that you need a context in which to know things. Variations in form and style between the floors of a build and between buildings themselves helps members of the community to navigate efficiently. If everything looks the same, most of the population will get lost fairly quickly.
The whole "lots of intelligent races so that it's OK to kill non-humans instead of humans" argument never quite works for me. To me, having different races requires magic or something indistinguishable from it.
Why would elfies live in the treeses? Perhaps they share in the life energy of the trees. Perhaps the secretions of the trees enable their breeding behaviors. Perhaps they simply like the sounds of the leaves. Is it more efficient for them to have a different lifestyle? Maybe. There may be whole groups of elfies out there that are house-living, dirt-grubbing critters distinguishable from other races only by the very thin veneer of pointy ears.
Why woould a dwarf live underground? It's usually associated with their creation myths. It's where they feel comfortable. Maybe they do like open spaces, but the sight of the sun and stars terrifies them at a level few can tolerate. Maybe tall galleries are much, much easier to ventilate due to the use of convection to move air around but without having to feel the breeze.
I do agree that most dungeons seem to be just a random collection of things stuck together. More precisely, they are a collection of elements strung together to provide the PCs with a challenge first and foremost, and any other elements are secondary. Very few dungeons have good ventilation, a good food and water supply for all of the inhabitants, and a good sewage system. But most people don't care because it's irrelevant to the problem they're trying to solve (have a good time). Fantastic races and unrealistic settings are the norm because they don't want to role-play the exciting "shuffle the cards, deal out hands, and try to put together matching sets of colors" game over and over and over and over and over and over and over.
My experience is that a whole lot of folks don't prefer to be running or playing with a clockwork simulation. Those folks that do, well we usually call them "engineers."
I have a similar reaction to postmodernism in architecture. Sure, deconstructing architecture in specific and art in general is useful, but I don't really think we need 60 years worth of making things wrong just to prove that tradition has no hold on us. I think a lot of buildings should be designed that should never be built. The Denver Art Museum is another good example of a ridiculous design that has a significant negative impact on its usability. They've replaced the roof at least twice, and at great cost because of the odd materials and shape. There seems to be some kind of notion that art is only good if it's "innovative," but innovation isn't about simply doing something that hasn't been done before. It can't be forced that way; when you try it just comes across as pretentious. In my not-at-all humble opinion, of course.
I do somewhat disagree with you concerning Falling Water. True, you aren't going to have manufactured goods going into it, but what you will have are careful and proficient crafters maintaining it. It will be expensive, but anyone who can afford to own Falling Water in the first place has plenty of money. I would actually like to see a lot more of that kind of work in the world—products that depend upon and contribute to a small economy rather than a gigantic one—although not on that particular scale. On the other hand, that particular house has a big longevity problem. Between the water and the trees, its days are numbered, even leaving aside the structural problems it's had since day one.
In my opinion, good design is functional as well as beautiful. A rule should not be broken for the sake of breaking rules but because the rule is standing in the way of better design, and the consequences of breaking that rule need to be thoroughly understood and compensated for.
Bryan Ray, visual effects artist
I'd first point out something about the "bad" examples you give: I've seen pictures of the outside, but I've never actually been inside any of them. Have you been into the Stata Center, or Simmons Hall, or Fallingwater? If you have and they're terrible inside, then I guess that's that; but I've been into a lot of buildings that look boring on the outside but are still barely functional inside. It's certainly possible to trade off aesthetics with functionality, but it's not necessary. You have to use custom furniture in Fallingwater ... but just because it's harder to replace, does that mean you shouldn't use an eminently comfortable chair that fits in perfectly with its surroundings, slides under the table like they were meant to be together (they were), and is beautiful to boot? The Stata Center look strange from the outside, but floor plans look pretty normal on the inside - rooms are rectangular, corridors just bend at angles slightly different from 90 degrees.
As to your complaints about fantasy worlds, I have to point out that we create fantasy worlds to scratch different itches. Do we aim for verisimilitude, for a world that looks enough like our own that the players can project their expectations of real-world actions faithfully onto the conworld? Do we aim for aesthetics, try to create a world that is strange and beautiful and wondrous? Do we aim for a reflective world, through which we can explore bigger issues? And I'm sure there's other considerations to take into account.
So, from your post, elves living in trees. From a functional viewpoint, this is a bizarre idea: it's not for nothing that hardly any societies throughout history, and none past the stone age, have lived in trees. It's hard, it's dangerous, and you gain hardly any advantage against things smarter than wild animals. If the players expect their real-world logic to work in the fantasy world, they'll immediately notice the same drawbacks you did and burn the forest down rather than besiege the elves. From an aesthetic viewpoint, though, it might make more sense: elves aren't human, they're something strange and wondrous, they're closer to nature and live in tree-cities built of gossamer and fog! This might also work from a reflective viewpoint; maybe the GM is using these elves to explore environmental or alienation-from-nature themes in the world building.
The explanations traditionally given for "but why?" (like "Magic!") are usually justifications of choices made for aesthetic reasons; and this isn't a bad thing! It lets the players experience something built for aesthetic or reflective reasons and still have some idea of how things will work from a functional perspective. It makes players push their willing suspension of disbelief a little further; and, while it may be a little too far for a player expecting hard verisimilitude, it might not be too far if the players are open to more aesthetics or reflection on larger themes.
tl;dr: You can have aesthetics, and functionality, too. But as long as your audience is okay with it, you can give up some of one for some of the other.
Last edited by gilgamec; 09-12-2013 at 10:14 PM.
And I have indeed heard that caves and being underground in general is actually quite a safe locale during an earthquake. I suppose if you think about something enough you can find a reason to do it and for it make sense. Somethign I obviously wasn't doing too much of.


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The hearing will come to order.
I welcome everybody today to the hearing on Russia that's being held by the Helsinki Commission. This is the latest of several hearings on the subject of human rights, civil society, and democratic governance in Russia under the Putin administration.
As per the commission's mandate, we will examine today how Russia is complying with the core principles of the Helsinki Accords and subsequent OSCE documents.
This hearing is being held at a time when many are deeply concerned by the downward trajectory of civil liberties and democratic governance under the Putin presidency. We intend to examine today some of the more recent events that have exacerbated this situation.
There's no question that there are many countries in the world where the human rights situation is much worse. But unlike Russia, those countries are not longstanding members of the OSCE, the Council of Europe, and the G-8.
Given Russia's desire to play a constructive role on the world stage, the Putin administration will have to decide whether it intends to play by the rules that Russia adopted as governing principles for its own government and its civic institutions. Russia will have to demonstrate beyond rhetoric that it is committed to democratic governance, human rights, and the rule of law.
That will mean, of course, competitive challenges to the existing power structure. It will mean allowing and promoting an open and pluralistic power center. And it will mean listening to the wisdom and wishes of the Russian people, not the other way around.
These were the animating aspirations of the Russian people when they courageously gained their independence and became free from the communist leaders and their system. Instead, Russia today has simply become a stagnant autocracy, living on receipts from energy resources and cozying up to repressive, if not lethal, regimes from around the world.
In the last few weeks, we have seen a spy scandal in Moscow, in which the Russian security services alleged that certain Russian NGOs are linked to alleged British intelligence activities. This smacks of tactics from the communist Brezhnev era and is clearly an attempt to justify recent promulgation of legislation that would restrict Russian and foreign NGO activity.
NGO activity is at the heart of the human rights provisions of the Helsinki Accords, the right to know one's right and act upon them. The NGOs are the little battalions that empower the citizenry to participate actively in the political process on a day-to-day basis, keeping government open and responsive to its people.
Today we will hear from administration witnesses who will discuss the response by the United States to the challenges faced by NGOs and to the overall decline in human rights protection in Russia today.
We will also hear from a panel of experts who have been extensively engaged in these areas.
There is considerably more cooperation in the past between the United States and Russia in areas of mutual interest, such as security and economics, and the world today is safer and better for it. But the question remains: Is Russia ultimately a reliable partner?
It is an important question, and we hope to find some answers today, because the implications of President Putin's policies extend well beyond Russia's borders. How Russia acts and how the West responds send important signals to dictators in Belarus and in Uzbekistan, and even to Iran, where Russia and the West are intimately involved in trying to resolve tension over its nuclear ambitions.
Earlier today, I spoke by phone to one of those in Russia who was not silent back in the 1970s when she fought for freedom and certainly would not be silent today. In fact, I asked Ludmilla Alexeeva if it would be wise for me to mention at this hearing today that we talked. After all, it is her organization, the Moscow Helsinki Group, that is being accused by Russian authorities of spying.
In the kind of spirit that has characterized her lifelong commitment to human rights, she said to me, "What can the authorities do that they haven't done already?"
I look forward to the statement of our witnesses. I have some questions to follow. And I want to applaud those NGOs in Russia and particularly those in Moscow.
And as I spoke with her, I said: It's relatively easy for me in Washington to talk about the need for human rights than individuals would be able to freely express themselves in Russia. It's quite another thing for somebody in Moscow and an NGO to do the same.
And I applaud her efforts. I applaud what she stands for. It reminds me of -- I was at the Coretta Scott King funeral yesterday. And it's one thing to talk about it now; it's another thing to walk on the bridge in Selma going to Montgomery, as they did and as she has done in Russia.
I look forward to the testimony.


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Michael Matthews sprints to stage win at Tour Down Under, Goss reclaims jersey
- By VeloNews.com
- Published Jan. 20, 2011
- Updated Jan. 20, 2011 at 10:52 AM EDT
- 2011 Tour Down Under - Stage 3: Michael Matthews takes the win.
- 2011 Tour Down Under - Stage 3: Tyler Farrar is introduced to a pair of locals before the start.
- 2011 Tour Down Under - Stage 3: Robbie McEwen is still in the hunt for a stage win.
- 2011 Tour Down Under - Stage 3: Cavendish shows the damage from his crash on Stage 2.
- 2011 Tour Down Under - Stage 3: Katusha's Aleksandr Kuschynski in the break.
- 2011 Tour Down Under - Stage 3: Aleksandr Kuschynski and Luis Pasamontes help drive the break, but the escapees were reeled in. Graham Watson Photo - GrahamWatson.com (file)
- 2011 Tour Down Under - Stage 3: Martin Kohler and Tim Roe.
- 2011 Tour Down Under - Stage 3: Jack Bobridge launches a late attack.
- 2011 Tour Down Under - Stage 3: Davide Vigano and Stuart O'Grady ramp it up for Leopard-Trek.
- 2011 Tour Down Under - Stage 3: Ben Hermans loads up on a hot, hot day.
- 2011 Tour Down Under - Stage 3: McEwen kept the leader's jersey for a day.
- 2011 Tour Down Under - Stage 3: Michael Matthews celebrates the win.
- 2011 Tour Down Under - Stage 3: Goss reclaims the jersey.
HTC-HighRoad's Matthew Goss reclaimed the leader's ochre jersey at the Tour Down Under as fellow Australian Michael Matthews (Rabobank) romped to victory on stage three on Thursday.
Goss started the 129-kilometer (80-mile) stage from Unley to Stirling in the Adelaide Hills on the same time as but behind overnight leader and Australian compatriot Robbie McEwen of RadioShack.
And despite suffering a puncture 10 km from the finish line, the Tasmanian battled 40 degree Celsius (101 Fahrenheit) temperatures and a tough circuit to regain the lead he took after winning stage one on Tuesday.
"I only just got back at the bottom of the climb with about 4km to go so it was a very hard way to get the jersey back but I'm very happy to be in it now," said Goss, who now leads defending champion Andre Greipel by two seconds.
A four-man breakaway entertained the thousands of fans who had turned up along the roads of a hilly 21 km circuit which the peloton raced three times in the finale.
However, their lead evaporated shortly after the start to the final lap.
A number of attacks came late in the race; including a futile effort from Australian stage race hopeful Richie Porte, before a 50-strong bunch reformed in time for a mass sprint at the finish.
Matthews, who is in his first year with Rabobank, showed more of the same sprint prowess that won him the under-23 title at the world road race championships in October.
It is the 20-year-old's second win of the season, following his victory in stage two of the Jayco Bay Cycling Classic.
Nicknamed "Bling" for his tattoos and earrings, Matthews was quick to thank Tom Leezer and the other teammates who gave him support throughout the day.
"I was like 50th wheel with 4km to go and then Tom (Leezer) put me in perfect position for the sprint," said Matthews.
"It's one of the most difficult races (stages) in this tour so it's really great to win this one and thanks to my team."
Matthews feared being pipped at the finish line by Goss, who won the pre-race criterium and the first stage thanks to unbeatable sprint finishes.
However the HTC-HighRoad all-rounder had nothing left when it came to challenging on the home straight.
"When he (Matthews) went there was no way I was going to keep up with him over the last 100 meters, I was already gone," added Goss.
A second Australian win in three days — Britain's Ben Swift of Team Sky won stage two — means two-time champion Greipel remains winless so far.
The German sprinter quit HTC-Highroad at the end of last year, joining Omega-Pharma in a bid to relaunch his career. Despite admitting the finish did not suit him, Greipel was left frustrated.
"I wanted to sprint from 250 meters to go, but the lead-out guys (in other teams) boxed me in on the barriers and I couldn't pass them," said Greipel.
Britain's Mark Cavendish, also of HTC-Highroad, began trailing early into the final lap of the circuit and was happy to finish having suffered cuts and abrasions in a spectacular crash on Wednesday.
Friday's fourth stage is a 124 km ride over undulating terrain from Norwood to Strathalbyn.
Stage 3
GC after stage 3
FILED UNDER: News TAGS: Matthew Goss / Michael Matthews / Tour Down Under


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Insight Tops EPA Fuel Economy Report
The 2001 Honda Insight earned top honors for the second straight year in the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) annual report on automotive fuel economy. With an average fuel economy of 64 mpg, the Insight surpassed the next most efficient vehicle by more than 16 mpg.
Also making the top ten list were two versions of the all-new 2001 Honda Civic, the Civic HX with manual transmission and the Civic HX with CVT (continuously variable transmission). The all-new Civic, now classified as a compact car by the EPA, boasts significant improvements in safety, performance and efficiency, with fuel economy gains ranging from five to nine percent over previous models.
"With fuel prices hitting new highs, we see consumers looking more closely at fuel economy as a factor in their car purchase," said Tom Elliott, executive vice president of American Honda Motor Co., Inc.
Also posting a top score in the 2001 fuel economy study is the redesigned 2001 Accord, earning a tie for first place in the mid-size car segment. The Accord Sedan and Coupe boast new styling, a quieter ride and numerous other improvements for 2001.
|The Honda Insight made the top ten list on the EPA's annual fuel economy report.


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Tested by fire
Middle East | Gaza's sturdy but small Christian population confronts Islamic militancy and the Israeli blockade
GAZA CITY-From Erez Crossing, a gray wall of forbidding concrete stretches as far as the eye can see, dotted with observation towers. The road to Gaza and up to this, the main checkpoint into Gaza from Israel, winds through lush croplands. Acres of winter wheat give way to almond trees, figs coming into leaf, peach trees in blossom, and orange groves filling the air with their heady fragrance.
At the checkpoint the fecund landscape comes to an abrupt end. If the Israeli government has granted you a permit to cross the border into Gaza, as it has granted me, then you present your passport, enter through a series of barbed wire and concrete barriers, and go into the terminal-a cavernous hangar that is eerily quiet except for the slamming of metal doors.
There you must pass through passport control, zigzag through a series of mechanized gates and scanners (including full-body scanners for the return), then out an automatic steel door and through the half-mile long buffer zone separating Israel from Gaza. It's a maze to be completed in reverse before Erez closes at 3 p.m.
This is where the journey back in time begins. In the fields young men dig potatoes and dump them into a cart hitched to mules. Others scavenge rubble from what used to be an industrial zone run by the Israelis. Out on the dirt roads, donkey carts loaded with edible greens collected along the roadside compete with beat-up sedans, dodging potholes and broken pavement.
Gaza is where 200,000 Palestinian refugees fled the advances of the Jewish paramilitary forces during the 1948 Arab-Israeli war. There the mostly refugee descendants are a dense population of 1.4 million on a strip of desert coastland measuring 25 miles long and only a few miles wide. There the Muslim Brotherhood launched Hamas in 1987, firing homemade rockets on Israeli forces from the Jabalia refugee camp. Rocket attacks into Jewish settlements became so disturbing in 2008 that Israel launched a three-week air and ground offensive Dec. 27. Thirteen Israelis were killed during that war and 1,400 Palestinians. Hulks of government office high-rises and apartments, bombed by Israeli missile fire 16 months ago and left untouched, signify the destruction and stagnation that is life in this walled-off territory.
If you ask residents to describe Gaza, young and old say the same thing: It's like living in a prison. Israel and Egypt, which controls Gaza's southern border, allow few Palestinians to leave, and they permit entry to few outsiders. The Palestinian Authority is launching economic development projects across the West Bank, but none of that progress reaches here. Since Hamas seized control of Gaza in 2007, Israel has intensified a blockade that prohibits nearly all but food and a few essentials from entering the country.
There is no equipment for cleanup from the war, and material to aid reconstruction is prohibited. More than two-thirds of the country is dependent on food aid, according to health workers, and foraging in the fields outside Gaza City is evident all day long. Even Gaza's fishermen-whose legendary skills extend back to when the Philistines occupied the area-are no longer permitted to fish in waters more than 3½ miles from shore.
At the same time, Hamas is tightening its grip on the local population. In March it banned men from cutting women's hair. And on April 15 it executed two Palestinians convicted in a Hamas military court of collaborating with Israel.
So it's amazing that Pastor Hanna Massad, having gotten out, chooses to go back. Again and again.
Massad was the full-time pastor of Gaza Baptist Church for 11 years. Now many call him the "pastor in exile." In 2007 authorities advised his family and six others to get out after Islamic militants kidnapped and murdered another leader in the church, Rami Ayyad.
The 26-year-old was found dead in the street of multiple stabbings and gunshot wounds to the head near the Christian bookshop he ran, the only Christian store of its kind in Gaza.
"There was a lot of chaos and lawlessness. We felt it was wise to leave, but we thought we would come back after a few weeks. We thought it would get better, but instead it became more dangerous," said Massad, 50, whose wife had worked alongside Ayyad in the bookshop.
Hamas seized control of Gaza four months before Ayyad's death and had won a victory in the Palestinian Authority's parliament. Gaza residents say it did so by providing social services otherwise lacking. Hamas funded mosques, schools, soup kitchens, orphanages, and medical clinics in Gaza.
The Baptist church, which first opened in the 1950s, had increasingly provided a similar safety net by running a library, youth programs, and medical clinics, and by helping with a school that began in 2006 and currently serves 250 mostly Muslim students. A few workers in Gaza, who asked not to be identified for security reasons, say they believe that Islamic militants increasingly saw the church programs as competing with their own-and Ayyad as the face for that work.
So Massad, his wife, and two daughters-with the help of the Israeli and Palestinian Bible Society-left. They lived in the West Bank near Bethlehem for 10 months, then moved to Jordan, where his wife has family. Ayyad's widow and her three young children (she was pregnant when her husband was murdered) also evacuated to the West Bank, along with other families connected to the church work.
Massad is the only one allowed to return, and he comes back for several weeks at a time to serve in the church, to preach, and to help supervise the school. At one point he was cut off from his family for 10 months as Israeli authorities refused him permission to leave Gaza.
When Massad does go back, it is to the stucco house where he was born. In 1948 Israeli advances in the Arab-Israeli War forced his parents and grandparents out of Jaffa, and like hundreds of thousands of others, they ended up in Gaza. We talked in the home's walled garden, sitting on plastic chairs where his Bible lay open beneath the shade of mango trees his father planted in the 1980s. The garden is small but contains 50-year-old olive trees planted by his grandfather, several lemon trees, and beds of parsley and greens. Massad hires a caretaker in his absences, as he is the only one left to manage the property: One sister has just died of a long-term illness and another with muscular dystrophy requires home care.
"I really did not want to leave because a shepherd does not leave his sheep," said Massad. Many who remained in Gaza left the church out of fear following Ayyad's death but are slowly returning-up to 200 people currently attend the regular Sunday afternoon service. In all, church leaders estimate, Gaza has about 1,000 Christians-mostly Greek Orthodox and Catholic, with a growing number of evangelicals-out of its total population of 1.4 million.
"We live between two fires," said Massad. "Muslim persecution and Israeli occupation."
He began as pastor in 1987 but left in 1991 to study at Fuller Theological Seminary in California, just as Hamas influence began to grow. By the time he returned in 1999, Hamas' militant influence was being felt among church members. Evangelism, he said, is a red-line issue, and most women in the church wear hijab, or a full-length head covering, when they go out in public so they can't be distinguished from Muslim women.
Since 2007, he said, "There is risk, and we have to be careful." But being careful also means forging relationships with receptive Hamas leaders: "We let them know that it is very important for the Christian community to feel safe here," said Massad. "When there is a risky situation I talk to them. The danger is more likely a small group of militants."
In addition to its war with Israel, Hamas is struggling to hold control inside Gaza. Rival groups, including Islamic Jihad and Salafia, have claimed responsibility for most recent attacks on Jewish settlements and for kidnappings-while Hamas publicly states it intends to maintain a ceasefire with Israel. But increasingly, say residents, control of Hamas-and therefore Gaza-is coming from outside the territory. In March Hamas' military chief in Gaza warned of increased bombings by al-Qaeda and Salafists against Hamas' own leaders and said, "Security anarchy is extensive and [Hamas military] men are being killed." Political decisions are made by Hamas leaders in Syria, Lebanon, and Iran. "If things change there, they will change here," noted Massad. "But for the last 10 years all we've seen is more militancy."
And increasing deprivation as a result. Last week Israel allowed wood and aluminum into Gaza for the first time since 2007; it still blocks urgently needed concrete and cement.
What Israel does allow into Gaza is easier to list than what it does not: human food, animal food, groceries (like soap), and medicine. It blocks large items like cars and appliances, all manner of equipment and spare parts, and small items down to light bulbs, candles, matches, books, musical instruments-even crayons.
Palestinian Christians say that what's harder to endure than the persistent shortages is the travel restrictions. The families evacuated along with Massad's family left behind parents, siblings, and others; and with few exceptions they have not been allowed to see them since. One young father (none wanted their names used in print) told me his parents were allowed to visit Bethlehem recently, for one week only, and it was the first time they had seen a new grandchild born in 2007. Israel does not permit whole families to travel outside Gaza (believing they will never return to Gaza unless some family remains there), so another young mother told me she has not seen her younger siblings since 2007. The five families living near Bethlehem are not permitted to travel anywhere outside the Bethlehem area either.
"We see journalists and humanitarian workers traveling to Gaza, but Palestinians are not allowed to go," said Bishara Awad, founder and president of Bethlehem Bible College. His wife Salwa is from Gaza and has not seen her family members who remain there for nine years. When her sister-in-law died in Gaza last month, Israeli authorities denied her permission to attend the funeral.
"You don't want to talk politics, but when you share your story that is what comes out," said Massad. "We as Arabs and Palestinians did a lot of bad things, but we have suffered, too. With Israel it is not eye for an eye or tooth for a tooth; it is 100 teeth for a tooth."
Across the street from
the bookshop, whose bright blue doors now remain closed and locked, is Ahli Arab Hospital. It began in 1882 as a British hospital run by the Christian Mission Society. It eventually came under the control of the Southern Baptists, but today it is run by the Anglican communion.
When I sat down at the hospital with director Suhaila Tarazi, before I could ask a question she said simply, "We lack medicine and need supplies."
She had just received from the Ministry of Health the list of medical items showing a zero balance in Gaza: It contained 440 items. "Our biggest problems here at the hospital are treating kidney disease. We need dialysis equipment and X-ray development solutions. Our other big problem is spare parts for all equipment."
Ahli Arab is an 80-bed hospital but currently can operate only 50 beds. "Our target group is the poorest of the poor, which is a growing group," said Tarazi. Even with outside support that includes the Archbishop of Canterbury, who made a special visit in February to rededicate a hospital chapel destroyed by an Israeli bomb in 2003, Tarazi and her health workers are not exempt from shortages. Electricity is cut off about every 8 to 12 hours, and the hospital must ration the use of generators because of fuel shortages.
As Gaza's isolation deepens, in recent months Tarazi sees two trends: the increase in waterborne diseases and gastroenteritis; and patients showing up with their whole families-often eight to 10 people-who hope to receive better food and shelter at the hospital than they can scrape together elsewhere.
"We have a life-threatening problem with sewage because of the shortage of treatment facilities. It is dangerous to eat fish from less than three miles offshore, as they have been swimming in water likely contaminated. And now 40 million liters of water are pulled daily from the same sea to meet basic needs."
It's hard to see how current negotiations are enough to break the cycle of violence and deprivation. Rocket launches and suicide bombs bring blockades and border closures that further isolate Gaza, keeping "good guy" Palestinians out while militancy within the small enclave grows, prompting more Islamic militant violence and more restrictions from Israel.
Back at Erez Crossing the most prominent features of crossing the border at the end of the day are the ambulances and rows of wheelchairs. Each day health workers try to convince Israeli authorities to allow their worst cases through for care in the cities of the West Bank and Israel. If they succeed, the patients are unloaded from the ambulances and pushed by wheelchair across the buffer zone-and into the present again.
Perpetual war: Gaza timeline
The first mention of Gaza is in Deuteronomy 2:23, when the Avvites occupied the territory, soon to be overrun by Philistines. By 1300 b.c. the city had become the conqueror's coastal base from which they launched attacks against Israel in what now seems a perpetual state of war. Captured by Napoleon in 1799, Gaza came under Egyptian influence, and the UN handed control to Egypt when it created modern Israel in 1948.
1949 Israel signs truce with Arab countries that declared war on it in 1948. Egypt retains control of the Gaza Strip and refugees move there.
1956 Israel invades Egypt, mostly in response to Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nassar's takeover of the Suez Canal. A year later it withdraws.
1967 Six-Day War begins as Israel attacks Syria, Jordan, and Egypt and captures Gaza and Sinai from Egypt, and the West Bank from Jordan.
1979 Egypt and Israel sign a U.S.-brokered peace treaty to normalize relations. They also agree to a framework for self-rule for Palestinians living in the West Bank and Gaza.
1982 President Ronald Reagan endorses full autonomy under Jordanian supervision for Palestinians living in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Israel rejects the plan.
1987 Palestinian uprising, or Intifada, begins. Hamas is founded and launches attacks on Israeli forces from Gaza.
1988 Palestinian leadership splits over growing Hamas influence.
1993 Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and Israeli PM Yitzhak Rabin sign Oslo Accords to negotiate an end to the conflict based on a two-state solution.
1995 Rabin is assassinated by an Orthodox Jew who opposed the Oslo accords. Shimon Peres becomes temporary PM in his place.
1996 Peres declares war on Hamas after suicide bombs kill Israeli civilians.
2000 At Camp David, President Bill Clinton brings together Arafat and Israeli PM Ehud Barak for final negotiations under the Oslo Accords. Barak offers a list of Israeli concessions, but Arafat balks. In September the Second Intifada begins under growing influence of Hamas in Gaza.
2001 A powerful bomb at a Tel Aviv disco kills 17 and injures dozens more, as Intifada violence continues through 2004, leaving over 1,000 Israelis and more than 4,000 Palestinians dead.
2004 Israel fires missiles into Gaza in a targeted assassination of the spiritual leader of Hamas, Sheikh Ahmed Yassin. In November, Yasser Arafat dies in a Paris hospital.
2005 Israel completes troop withdrawal from the Gaza Strip but does not ease movement restrictions for Palestinians living there.
2006 Hamas wins Palestinian parliamentary elections, ousting Arafat's Fatah party but not his successor, Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas.
2007 Hamas gunmen rout Fatah from Gaza, killing 100 people, and seize control of the territory. In October Christian bookshop manager Rami Ayyad is found dead.
2008 In December Israeli troops and tanks cross into Gaza, launching a ground war after a month of exchanging airstrikes. Three weeks later, Israel withdraws to Gaza Strip borders but launches a naval and land blockade. More than 50,000 Gaza residents are displaced.
2010 UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon calls on Israel to end two-year blockade, saying over half of Gazans are food-deprived.
Shadow of death
Three Israeli civilians have been killed by Gaza-launched Qassam rockets since November 2008, but the "junkyard" rockets pose daily fear and uncertainty for the 800,000 Israelis who live within their 10-mile range, according to a new report from Human Rights Watch (HRW). Lacking guidance systems, the rockets are "inherently indiscriminate" and threaten civilians in violation of the laws of war, the report says. At the same time, HRW faults Israel for nearly 800 civilian deaths in Gaza in its 2009 offensive, and provides evidence that a number are the result of drone-launched missiles, suggesting-since the drone is one of the most precise weapons in its arsenal-that the civilians were targeted.


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May 24, 2016
Showers on and off again today... some downpours, some breaks, some thunder too. There is still potential for SEVERE WEATHER, but it's not expected to be widespread. The best chances this morning for dangerous weather is North and East of Valdosta.
Cloudy all day and humid - warm too. 70s for highs, but cooling is coming. 40s tonight, as clearing begins, getting cooler over the next few nights - could fall below freezing by Sunday morning.
There's always more weather info on Facebook and Twitter... connect with us there!!!
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(The Chirp) -- Get ready because this is just beginning of our hearing more and more about Cardinals farm hand Oscar Taveras. Today, Taveras was included among the nine players selected to the Topps Double-A® All-Star Team.
Taveras (20) of Sousa, D.R., finished second in Double-A with a .321 batting average, third with a .572 slugging percentage and 37 doubles and fourth with a .953 OPS.
The Springfield Cardinals outfielder was also among the top 10 in RBIs (94, 6th), hits (153, 7th), runs (83, 8th) and homers (23, 9th). The St. Louis Cardinals inked Taveras as a free agent in November 2008


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The Devil Wears Prada
|Release Date: June 30, 2006
|Running Time: 109 mins.
|MPAA Rating: PG 13
|Box Office: $124,732,962.00
|Genre: Adaptation, Comedy, Drama
Meryl Streep
Anne Hathaway
Emily Blunt
Stanley Tucci
All Cast & Crew >>
Summary:In the dizzying world of New York fashion, where size zero is the new 2, six is the new 8, and a bad hair day can end a career, Runaway Magazine is the Holy Grail. Overseen with a finely manicured fist by Miranda Priestly--the most powerful woman in fashion--Runway is a fearsome gauntlet for anyone who wants to make it in the industry. To make Runway the fashion bible of New York and therefore the world, Miranda has let nothing stand in her way--including a long line of assistants that didn't make the cut. It's a job no self-respecting person can survive, yet it's an opportunity a million young women in New York would kill for. A stint as Miranda's assistant could blast-open the doors for re... Full Summary >>


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Vilsack and King Debate At Spencer
(Spencer) -- The two candidates seeking the position of Iowa's 4th District Congressional seat met for the second time, but for the first time in front of a live audience during a debate held Saturday at the Clay County Fair at Spencer. The tone of the debate between Republican Steve King and Democrat Christie Vilsack was at times candid, pointed, and tense. Vilsack continued her critical comments of King by saying he is an embarrassment to Iowa. King shot back by saying that Vilsack and the liberal left, continue to distort his comments, and take a small comment and make it a headline of lies. Vilsack began by telling the crowd of more than 500 why she is seeking the position of Congresswoman. Vilsack says she wants to protect Iowa's small towns.
Listen to
Vilsack was unable to finish her comment as she was interrupted by the debate's moderator for going beyond her allowable time.
King, informed the group how he and his wife built a earth moving construction company and that it is time to "Restore the American Dream, together."
Listen to
The first question had to deal with the Affordable Health Care Act, sometimes referred to as "Obamacare." The candidates were asked if they were to write a healthcare bill, what three things would they include for healthcare? Vilsack responded by saying she would want to see children remain on their parent's insurance plan until they were of the age 26. She also advocated a plan in which the patient would pay for healthcare results instead of services.
Listen to
King says he would first repeal the Affordable Health Care Act. He told the crowd that one way health care costs could be reduced was to allow insurance companies to sell policies across state lines, which would allow for more competition.
Listen to
A sharp contrast was noted when the candidates were asked about the farm bill legislation. Democrat Vilsack says the pending farm bill is the "Most Important Legislation for Iowans" and she was critical of King for failing on his leadership to get the farm bill passed in the House of Representatives. The two candidates differed on the SNAP or food stamp program.
Listen to
King says the farm bill did pass through the Agricultural Committee which he is a member. He informed the crowd that there have been several documented cases of fraud involving the nutritional food assistance program, and he says that needs to stop.
Listen to
During the debate, the candidates were also asked questions regarding Social Security, government regulations, Immigration, and Education.
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Read our Malaga city guide for information about eating out, things to do and much more.View Malaga Guide »
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Hi Guys,
Just want to say that we have installed several zimbra bes in the past, some with flawless execution some with out.. However this takes the cake. Version 7.2 release of zimbra with the latest ZCB from the server and Version: 220.127.116.11 of bes express= maddening experience.
We cannot for the life of us make the bes console see the users from zimbra (we are still in test phase, with a split domain exchange 2003). When you go to add users from the BES Express console, the list presented is a the list from Active Directory, not the GAL from zimbra. We have confirmed that the outlook profile has the correct GAL. We have reinstalled 3 times. We also have another client with the same issue on a production zimbra 7.2. What are we doing wrong??? I have never seen this. We even created a seperate user account as to not conflict with the existing BES Express for exchange installed (zbesadmin vs Besadmin). I will escalate this to support as we are a NE client, but I was wondering if anyone else had tried this and made it work.


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Dietary Considerations: Kosher
The world's best chocolate dipped treat! real banana! Healthy! Zero Trans Fat. Diana's Bananas are a natural product. Though nature makes her bananas in many sizes and shapes, we do our best to keep our products uniform. Diana's Bananas are delicious and a good source of potassium (See bottom panel for nutritional information). They contain no artificial flavors, preservatives, color or trans fats. A treat that makes you feel good! Try the other varieties of Diana's Bananas: Milk Chocolate and Milk Chocolate with Peanuts. Eat a whole bunch! Weirdly Good! The World's Best Chocolate Dipped Frozen Treat!: Our family started in the fine confection business nearly 50 years ago. Our parents opened a little fudge store in Chicago's Old Town and Aunt Diana's Old Fashioned Candymakers grew from there. We had a booth at the very first Taste of Chicago, where we introduced our hand-dipped, frozen bananas, now one of the most famous treats at the (Taste). The demand for them was so great that we started Diana's Bananas, Inc. to make them available to everyone year-round. Only the most ripe, sweet bananas are selected for Diana's Bananas. We then quick freeze and dip the bananas into our thick, all-natural, high-grade chocolate. Banana Babies are for grown-up and kids of all ages. Try our full-sized Bananas (singly packed), too! Weight Watchers (Weight Watchers and Points are registered trademarks of Weight Watchers International, Inc. The points provided here were calculated by Diana's Bananas, Inc. based on published Weight Watchers information and do not imply sponsorship or endorsement of those points or of Diana's Bananas Banana Babies products by Weight Watchers International, Inc.) Points=3.


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May 2, 2013 | 522 views
And they're off at Belmont
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Belmont Park's 56-day Spring/Summer Meet got under way last Friday, with Read the Research winning the track's opening race of 2013, taking a one-mile dirt event by five lengths with jockey Javier Castellano aboard.
Read the Research established control out of the gate and was hardly pressured in the allowance optional claiming event, which had a purse of $64,000. She pulled away down the stretch and paid $7 to win. Peggy Jane completed the exacta, and Haldane finished third. The trifecta paid $120.
"It was a beautiful trip," Castellano said. "She broke on the lead and controlled the pace. I'm very proud of the way she ran. When I asked her for a little more in the stretch, she gave it to me."
Castellano, one of the top jockeys in the country, said it was exciting to be back at Belmont. "It's wonderful to be here," he said. "It's my favorite track in the world. I love everything about it."
The 145th running of the Belmont Stakes, on Saturday, June 8, is the glittering centerpiece of the meet, which runs through July 14. The oldest and longest leg of horseracing's Triple Crown, the 1½-mile Belmont will be supported by four additional graded stakes.
The Belmont Stakes Festival begins on Saturday, June 1, with Elmont's Belmont Stakes Parade kicking off a week of community events that includes the Belmont Stakes Blue Ribbon Run for Prostate Cancer on June 2, a special Triple Crown Q&A with renowned New York jockeys Ramon Dominguez and Richard Migliore on June 4 at the Elmont Library, the Garden City Belmont Festival on June 7 and the Floral Park Belmont Festival on June 9.
But there's no need to wait until June for special events at Belmont. This Sunday, the New York Racing Association will host a Cinco de Mayo party in the backyard, featuring Mariachi Loco de NY. And May 11 marks the beginning of an indoor farmers' market at Belmont, which will be held weekly on Saturdays throughout the meet (except Belmont Stakes Day) on the first floor of the Grandstand.
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KeywordsBelmont Park, opening day, 2013, Spring/Summer Meet, Belmont Stakes
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You know you need a plan to handle the unknowable twists of fate -- and the impact they'll have on your bank balance.
Yet even if you think you've accounted for every possible contingency, says Karin Stifler, a financial planner in Hudson, Ohio, it's likely that you're relying on some outdated advice or overly general rules of thumb.
Have you charted the right path to financial security?
Test your knowledge with these questions. Chances are, you'll learn something that will help take your future from solid to impregnable.


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Hulett named to World Cup team roster
Tug Hulett, infielder for the Omaha Royals, will represent the United States at the 2009 International Baseball Federation (IBAF) Baseball World Cup in Europe from September 9-27.
Hulett is batting .292 with 11 home runs and 53 RBI in 92 games with Omaha this season. He played in 12 games in a pair of stints this year with Kansas City. Tug joined the Royals from the Seattle Mariners in February. He is the son of former Major League infielder Tim Hulett.
Tug will see a few familiar faces on the coaching staff. Last week, USA Baseball announced that Royals special assignment coach Eddie Rodriguez will serve as manager. Former Royal Jamie Quirk will be the third base coach and bench coach.
Congratulations to Tug on this honor!


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Testimony :: Hon. Steny H. Hoyer
Ranking Member - Helsinki Commission
For well over a decade now, I have been active on issues relating to the former Yugoslavia's violent demise, and the need for an active U.S. role if the international community is to succeed in ending this violence and restoring respect for Helsinki principles. I continue to feel that way and hope the united states will remain actively engaged in the region.
On this Commission, let alone in this Congress, there are a wide variety of views about the role of NATO and the presence of the U.S. military in southeastern Europe generally and in Bosnia and Kosovo in particular. Whether one believes we should be there or not, I think we could all agree that the best solution now is to achieve the progress in the civilian sphere that would establish genuine security in the region and allow our troops not only to come home, but with mission accomplished.
I view this hearing as focusing on that exact point. If we want to see our military commitment to the region conclude, we must work to develop institutions and organize elections that give the people of Kosovo the ability to govern themselves. We must help them create a police service that protects citizens and enforces the law. We must help create a judiciary in which the law is upheld and offenders are held accountable. We must support the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia in The Hague so that a sense of justice can facilitate ethnic reconciliation and tolerance. We must help stop those who resort to violence, in Kosovo, Macedonia and elsewhere.
It may take time to do these things, but it will take even longer if there is the perception that we are not committed to seeing our goals ultimately realized.
As a former Chairman of this Commission, I also have followed the evolution of the CSCE into the OSCE, of a forum for dialogue into an organization with a presence in the field. I am impressed with the efforts of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo and of OSCE missions elsewhere to bring the promises of the original Helsinki principles into the lives of people in need.
There are, Mr. Chairman, many problems in southeastern Europe. To a great extent, these problems could not be resolved effectively as long as the main problem in the region – Slobodan Milosevic – remained in power. His removal by the people of Serbia has created a new opportunity for progress. I hope we will not let this opportunity slip away but will, instead, use it creatively so that, in the not too distant future, our presence and our assistance will no longer be needed. I look forward to what our witnesses have to say in this regard.