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The Works of Robert G. Ingersoll
Dresden Memorial Edition (XI, 463-470)
HTML, Editing by Cliff Walker
Crumbling Creeds
by Robert G. Ingersoll
There is a desire in each brain to harmonize the knowledge that it has. If a man knows, or thinks he knows, a few facts, he will naturally use those facts for the purpose of determining the accuracy of his opinions on other subjects. This is simply an effort to establish or prove the unknown by the known -- a process that is constantly going on in the minds of all intelligent people.
It is natural for a man not governed by fear, to use what he knows in one department of human inquiry, in every other department that he investigates. The average of intelligence has in the last few years greatly increased. Man may have as much credulity as he ever had, on some subjects, but certainly on the old subjects he has less. There is not as great difference to-day between the members of the learned professions and the common people. Man is governed less and less by authority. He cares but little for the conclusions of the universities. He does not feel bound by the actions of synods or ecumenical councils -- neither does he bow to the decisions of the highest tribunals, unless the reasons given for the decision satisfy his intellect. One reason for this is, that the so-called "learned" do not agree among themselves -- that the universities dispute each other -- that the synod attacks the ecumenical council -- that the parson snaps his fingers at the priest, and even the Protestant bishop holds the pope in contempt. If the learned can thus disagree, there is no reason why the common people should hold to one opinion. They are at least called upon to decide as between the universities or synods; and in order to decide, they must examine both sides, and having examined both sides, they generally have an opinion of their own.
There was a time when the average man knew nothing of medicine -- he simply opened his mouth and took the dose. If he died, it was simply a dispensation of Providence -- if he got well, it was a triumph of science. Now this average man not only asks the doctor what is the matter with him -- not only asks what medicine will be good for him, -- but insists on knowing the philosophy of the cure -- asks the doctor why he gives it -- what result he expects -- and, as a rule, has a judgment of his own.
So in law. The average business man has an exceedingly good idea of the law affecting his business. There is nothing now mysterious about what goes on in courts or in the decisions of judges -- they are published in every direction, and all intelligent people who happen to read these opinions have their ideas as to whether the opinions are right or wrong. They are no longer the victims of doctors, or of lawyers, or of courts.
The same is true in the world of art and literature. The average man has an opinion of his own. He is no longer a parrot repeating what somebody else says. He not only has opinions, but he has the courage to express them. In literature the old models fail to satisfy him. He has the courage to say that Milton is tiresome -- that Dante is prolix -- that they deal with subjects having no human interest. He laughs at Young's "Night Thoughts" and Pollok's "Course of Time" -- knowing that both are filled with hypocrisies and absurdities. He no longer falls upon his knees before the mechanical poetry of Mr. Pope. He chooses -- and stands by his own opinion. I do not mean that he is entirely independent, but that he is going in that direction.
The same is true of pictures. He prefers the modern to the old masters. He prefers Corot to Raphael. He gets more real pleasure from Millet and Troyon than from all the pictures of all the saints and donkeys of the Middle Ages.
In other words, the days of authority are passing away.
The same is true in music. The old no longer satisfies, and there is a breadth, color, wealth, in the new that makes the old poor and barren in comparison.
To a far greater extent this advance, this individual independence, is seen in the religious world. The religion of our day -- that is to say, the creeds -- at the time they were made, were in perfect harmony with the knowledge, or rather with the ignorance, of man in all other departments of human inquiry. All orthodox creeds agreed with the sciences of their day -- with the astronomy and geology and biology and political conceptions of the Middle Ages. These creeds were declared to be the absolute and eternal truth. They could not be changed without abandoning the claim that made them authority. The priests, through a kind of unconscious self-defense, clung to every word. They denied the truth of all discovery. They measured every assertion in every other department by their creeds. At last the facts against them became so numerous -- their congregations became so intelligent -- that it was necessary to give new meanings to the old words. The cruel was softened -- the absurd was partially explained, and they kept these old words, although the original meanings had fallen out. They became empty purses, but they retained them still.
Slowly but surely came the time when this course could not longer be pursued. The words must be thrown away -- the creeds must be changed -- they were no longer believed -- only occasionally were they preached. The ministers became a little ashamed -- they began to apologize. Apology is the prelude to retreat.
Of all the creeds, the Presbyterian, the old Congregational, were the most explicit, and for that reason the most absurd. When these creeds were written, those who wrote them had perfect confidence in their truth. They did not shrink because of their cruelty. They cared nothing for what others called absurdity. They failed not to declare what they believed to be "the whole counsel of God."
At that time, cruel punishments were inflicted by all governments. People were torn asunder, mutilated, burned. Every atrocity was perpetrated in the name of justice, and the limit of pain was the limit of endurance. These people imagined that God would do as they would do. If they had had it in their power to keep the victim alive for years in the flames, they would most cheerfully have supplied the fagots. They believed that God could keep the victim alive forever, and that therefore his punishment would be eternal. As man becomes civilized he becomes merciful, and the time came when civilized Presbyterians and Congregationalists read their own creeds with horror.
I am not saying that the Presbyterian creed is any worse than the Catholic. It is only a little more specific. Neither am I saying that it is more horrible than the Episcopal. It is not. All orthodox creeds are alike infamous. All of them have good things, and all of them have bad things. You will find in every creed the blossom of mercy and the oak of justice, but under the one and around the other are coiled the serpents of infinite cruelty.
The time came when orthodox Christians began dimly to perceive that God ought at least to be as good as they were. They felt that they were incapable of inflicting eternal pain, and they began to doubt the propriety of saying that God would do that which a civilized Christian would be incapable of.
We have improved in all directions for the same reasons. We have better laws now because we have a better sense of justice. We are believing more and more in the government of the people. Consequently we are believing more and more in the education of the people, and from that naturally results greater individuality and a greater desire to hear the honest opinions of all.
The moment the expression of opinion is allowed in any department, progress begins. We are using our knowledge in every direction. The tendency is to test all opinions by the facts we know. All claims are put in the crucible of investigation -- the object being to separate the true from the false. He who objects to having his opinions thus tested is regarded as a bigot.
If the professors of all the sciences had claimed that the knowledge they had was given by inspiration -- that it was absolutely true, and that there was no necessity of examining further, not only, but that it was a kind of blasphemy to doubt -- all the sciences would have remained as stationary as religion has. Just to the extent that the Bible was appealed to in matters of science, science was retarded; and just to the extent that science has been appealed to in matters of religion, religion has advanced -- so that now the object of intelligent religionists is to adopt a creed that will bear the test and criticism of science.
Another thing may be alluded to in this connection. All the countries of the world are now, and have been for years, open to us. The ideas of ether people -- their theories, their religions -- are now known; and we have ascertained that the religions of all people have exactly the same foundation as our own -- that they all arose in the same way, were substantiated in the same way, were maintained by the same means, having precisely the same objects in view.
For many years, the learned of the religious world were examining the religions of other countries, and in that work they established certain rules of criticism -- pursued certain lines of argument -- by which they overturned the claims of those religions to supernatural origin. After this had been successfully done, others, using the same methods on our religion, pursuing the same line of argument, succeeded in overturning ours. We have found that all miracles rest on the same basis -- that all wonders were born of substantially the same ignorance and the same fear.
The intelligence of the world is far better distributed than ever before. The historical outlines of all countries are well known. The arguments for and against all systems of religion are generally understood. The average of intelligence is far higher than ever before. All discoveries become almost immediately the property of the whole civilized world, and all thoughts are distributed by the telegraph and press with such rapidity, that provincialism is almost unknown. The egotism of ignorance and seclusion is passing away. The prejudice of race and religion is growing feebler, and everywhere, to a greater extent than ever before, the light is welcome.
These are a few of the reasons why creeds are crumbling, and why such a change has taken place in the religious world.
Only a few years ago the pulpit was an intellectual power. The pews listened with wonder, and accepted without question. There was something sacred about the preacher. He was different from other mortals. He had bread to eat which they knew not of. He was oracular, solemn, dignified, stupid.
The pulpit has lost its position. It speaks no longer with authority. The pews determine what shall be preached. They pay only for that which they wish to buy -- for that which they wish to hear. Of course in every church there is an advance guard and a conservative party, and nearly every minister is obliged to preach a little for both. He now and then says a radical thing for one part of his congregation, and takes it mostly back on the next Sabbath, for the sake of the others. Most of them ride two horses, and their time is taken up in urging one forward and in holding the other back.
The great reason why the orthodox creeds have become unpopular is, that all teach the dogma of eternal pain.
In old times, when men were nearly wild beasts, it was natural enough for them to suppose that God would do as they would do in his place, and so they attributed to this God infinite cruelty, infinite revenge. This revenge, this cruelty, wore the mask of justice. They took the ground that God, having made man, had the right to do with him as he pleased. At that time they were not civilized to the extent of seeing that a God would not have the right to make a failure, and that a being of infinite wisdom and power would be under obligation to do the right, and that he would have no right to create any being whose life would not be a blessing. The very fact that he made man, would put him under obligation to see to it that life should not be a curse.
The doctrine of eternal punishment is in perfect harmony with the savagery of the men who made the orthodox creeds. It is in harmony with torture, with flaying alive and with burnings. The men who burned their fellow-men for a moment, believed that God would burn his enemies forever.
No civilized men ever believed in this dogma. The belief in eternal punishment has driven millions from the church. It was easy enough for people to imagine that the children of others had gone to hell; that foreigners had been doomed to eternal pain; but when it was brought home -- when fathers and mothers bent above their dead who had died in their sins -- when wives shed their tears on the faces of husbands who had been born but once -- love suggested doubts and love fought the dogma of eternal revenge.
This doctrine is as cruel as the hunger of hyenas, and is infamous beyond the power of any language to express -- yet a creed with this doctrine has been called "the glad tidings of great joy" -- a consolation to the weeping world. It is a source of great pleasure to me to know that all intelligent people are ashamed to admit that they believe it -- that no intelligent clergyman now preaches it, except with a preface to the effect that it is probably untrue.
I have been blamed for taking this consolation from the world -- for putting out, or trying to put out, the fires of hell; and many orthodox people have wondered how I could be so wicked as to deprive the world of this hope.
The church clung to the doctrine because it seemed a necessary excuse for the existence of the church. The ministers said: "No hell, no atonement; no atonement, no fall of man; no fall of man, no inspired book; no inspired book, no preachers; no preachers, no salary; no hell, no missionaries; no sulphur, no salvation."
At last, the people are becoming enlightened enough to ask for a better philosophy. The doctrine of hell is now only for the poor, the ragged, the ignorant. Well-dressed people won't have it. Nobody goes to hell in a carriage -- they foot it. Hell is for strangers and tramps. No soul leaves a brown-stone front for hell -- they start from the tenements, from jails and reformatories. In other words, hell is for the poor. It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a poor man to get into heaven, or for a rich man to get into hell. The ministers stand by their supporters. Their salaries are paid by the well-to-do, and they can hardly afford to send the subscribers to hell. Every creed in which is the dogma of eternal pain is doomed. Every church teaching the infinite lie must fall, and the sooner the better.
-- The Twentieth Century, N. Y., April 24, 1890.
The Works of Robert G. Ingersoll
Dresden Edition, (XI, 477)
HTML, Editing by Cliff Walker
The Agnostic Christmas.
Again we celebrate the victory of Light over Darkness, of the God of day over the hosts of night. Again Samson is victorious over Delilah, and Hercules triumphs once more over Omphale. In the embrace of Isis, Osiris rises from the dead, and the scowling Typhon is defeated once more. Again Apollo, with unerring aim, with his arrow from the quiver of light, destroys the serpent of shadow. This is the festival of Thor, of Baldur and of Prometheus. Again Buddha by a miracle escapes from the tyrant of Madura, Zoroaster foils the King, Bacchus laughs at the rage of Cadmus, and Chrishna eludes the tyrant.
This is the festival of the sun-god, and as such let its observance be universal.
This is the great day of the first religion, the mother of all religions -- the worship of the sun.
Sun worship is not only the first, but the most natural and most reasonable of all. And not only the most natural and the most reasonable, but by far the most poetic, the most beautiful.
The sun is the god of benefits, of growth, of life, of warmth, of happiness, of joy. The sun is the all-seeing, the all-pitying, the all-loving.
This bright God knew no hatred, no malice, never sought for revenge.
All evil qualities were in the breast of the God of darkness, of shadow, of night. And so I say again, this is the festival of Light. This is the anniversary of the triumph of the Sun over the hosts of Darkness.
Let us all hope for the triumph of Light -- of Right and Reason -- for the victory of Fact over Falsehood, of Science over Superstition.
And so hoping, let us celebrate the venerable festival of the Sun.
-- The Journal, New York, December 25, 1892.
The Works of Robert G. Ingersoll
Dresden Memorial Edition (XI, 457-460)
HTML, Editing by Cliff Walker
The Jews.
When I was a child, I was taught that the Jews were an exceedingly hard-hearted and cruel people, and that they were so destitute of the finer feelings that they had a little while before that time crucified the only perfect man who had appeared upon the earth; that this perfect man was also perfect God, and that the Jews had really stained their hands with the blood of the Infinite.
When I got somewhat older, I found that nearly all people had been guilty of substantially the same crime -- that is, that they had destroyed the progressive and the thoughtful; that religionists had in all ages been cruel; that the chief priests of all people had incited the mob, to the end that heretics -- that is to say, philosophers -- that is to say, men who knew that the chief priests were hypocrites -- might be destroyed.
I also found that Christians had committed more of these crimes than all other religionists put together.
I also became acquainted with a large number of Jewish people, and I found them like other people, except that, as a rule, they were more industrious, more temperate, had fewer vagrants among them, no beggars, very few criminals; and in addition to all this, I found that they were intelligent, kind to their wives and children, and that, as a rule, they kept their contracts and paid their debts.
The prejudice was created almost entirely by religious, or rather irreligious, instruction. All children in Christian countries are taught that all the Jews are to be eternally damned who die in the faith of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, that it is not enough to believe in the inspiration of the Old Testament -- not enough to obey the Ten Commandments -- not enough to believe the miracles performed in the days of the prophets, but that every Jew must accept the New Testament and must be a believer in Christianity -- that is to say, he must be regenerated -- or he will simply be eternal kindling wood.
The church has taught, and still teaches, that every Jew is an outcast; that he is to-day busily fulfilling prophecy; that he is a wandering witness in favor of "the glad tidings of great joy;" that Jehovah is seeing to it that the Jews shall not exist as a nation -- that they shall have no abiding place, but that they shall remain scattered, to the end that the inspiration of the Bible may be substantiated.
Dr. John Hall of this city, a few years ago, when the Jewish people were being persecuted in Russia, took the ground that it was all fulfillment of prophecy, and that whenever a Jewish maiden was stabbed to death, God put a tongue in every wound for the purpose of declaring the truth of the Old Testament.
Just as long as Christians take these positions, of course they will do what they can to assist in the fulfillment of what they call prophecy, and they will do their utmost to keep the Jewish people in a state of exile, and then point to that fact as one of the corner-stones of Christianity.
My opinion is that in the early days of Christianity all sensible Jews were witnesses against the faith, and in this way excited the hostility of the orthodox. Every sensible Jew knew that no miracles had been performed in Jerusalem. They all knew that the sun had not been darkened, that the graves had not given up their dead, that the veil of the temple had not been rent in twain -- and they told what they knew. They were then denounced as the most infamous of human beings, and this hatred has pursued them from that day to this.
There is no other chapter in history so infamous, so bloody, so cruel, so relentless, as the chapter in which is told the manner in which Christians -- those who love their enemies -- have treated the Jewish people. This story is enough to bring the blush of shame to the cheek, and the words of indignation to the lips of every honest man.
Nothing can be more unjust than to generalize about nationalities, and to speak of a race as worthless or vicious, simply because you have met an individual who treated you unjustly. There are good people and bad people in all races, and the individual is not responsible for the crimes of the nation, or the nation responsible for the actions of the few. Good men and honest men are found in every faith, and they are not honest or dishonest because they are Jews or Gentiles, but for entirely different reasons.
Some of the best people I have ever known are Jews, and some of the worst people I have known are Christians. The Christians were not bad simply because they were Christians, neither were the Jews good because they were Jews. A man is far above these badges of faith and race. Good Jews are precisely the same as good Christians, and bad Christians are wonderfully like bad Jews.
Personally, I have either no prejudices about religion, or I have equal prejudice against all religions. The consequence is that I judge of people not by their creeds, not by their rites, not by their mummeries, but by their actions.
In the first place, at the bottom of this prejudice lies the coiled serpent of superstition. In other words, it is a religious question. It seems impossible for the people of one religion to like the people believing in another religion. They have different gods, different heavens, and a great variety of hells. For the followers of one god to treat the followers of another god decently is a kind of treason. In order to be really true to his god, each follower must not only hate all other gods, but the followers of all other gods.
The Jewish people should outgrow their own superstitions. It is time for them to throw away the idea of inspiration. The intelligent Jew of to-day knows that the Old Testament was written by barbarians, and he knows that the rites and ceremonies are simply absurd. He knows that no intelligent man should care anything about Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, three dead barbarians. In other words, the Jewish people should leave their superstition and rely on science and philosophy.
The Christian should do the same. He, by this time, should know that his religion is a mistake, that his creed has no foundation in the eternal verities. The Christian certainly should give up the hopeless task of converting the Jewish people, and the Jews should give up the useless task of converting the Christians. There is no propriety in swapping superstitions -- neither party can afford to give any boot.
When the Christian throws away his cruel and heartless superstitions, and when the Jew throws away his, then they can meet as man to man.
In the meantime, the world will go on in its blundering way, and I shall know and feel that everybody does as he must, and that the Christian, to the extent that he is prejudiced, is prejudiced by reason of his ignorance, and that consequently the great lever with which to raise all mankind into the sunshine of philosophy, is intelligence.
The Works of Robert G. Ingersoll
Dresden Memorial Edition (XII, 81-84)
HTML, Editing by Cliff Walker
The Great Banquet.
Chicago, November 13, 1879.
Twelfth Toast.
The Volunteer Soldiers of the Union Army, whose Valor and patriotism saved to the world "a Government of the People, by the People, and for the People."
When the savagery of the lash, the barbarism of the chain, and the insanity of secession confronted the civilization of our country, the question "Will the great Republic defend itself?" trembled on the lips of every lover of mankind.
The North, filled with intelligence and wealth -- children of liberty -- marshaled her hosts and asked only for a leader. From civil life a man, silent, thoughtful, poised and calm, stepped forth, and with the lips of victory voiced the Nation's first and last demand: "Unconditional and immediate surrender." From that moment the end was known. That utterance was the first real declaration of real war, and, in accordance with the dramatic unities of mighty events, the great soldier who made it, received the final sword of the Rebellion.
The soldiers of the Republic were not seekers after vulgar glory. They were not animated by the hope of plunder or the love of conquest. They fought to preserve the homestead of liberty and that their children might have peace. They were the defenders of humanity, the destroyers of prejudice, the breakers of chains, and in the name of the future they slew the monster of their time. They finished what the soldiers of the Revolution commenced. They re-lighted the torch that fell from their august hands and filled the world again with light. They blotted from the statute-book laws that had been passed by hypocrites at the instigation of robbers, and tore with indignant hands from the Constitution that infamous clause that made men the catchers of their fellow-men. They made it possible for judges to be just, for statesmen to be humane, and for politicians to be honest. They broke the shackles from the limbs of slaves, from the souls of masters, and from the Northern brain. They kept our country on the map of the world, and our flag in heaven. They rolled the stone from the sepulchre of progress, and found therein two angels clad in shining garments -- Nationality and Liberty.
The soldiers were the saviors of the Nation; they were the liberators of men. In writing the Proclamation of Emancipation, Lincoln, greatest of our mighty dead, whose memory is as gentle as the summer air when reapers sing amid the gathered sheaves, copied with the pen what Grant and his brave comrades wrote with swords.
Grander than the Greek, nobler than the Roman, the soldiers of the Republic, with patriotism as shoreless as the air, battled for the rights of others, for the nobility of labor; fought that mothers might own their babes, that arrogant idleness should not sear the back of patient toil, and that our country should not be a many-headed monster made of warring States, but a Nation, sovereign, great, and free.
Blood was water, money was leaves, and life was only common air until one flag floated over a Republic without a master and without a slave.
And then was asked the question: "Will a free people tax themselves to pay a Nation's debt?"
The soldiers went home to their waiting wives, to their glad children, and to the girls they loved -- they went back to the fields, the shops, and mines. They had not been demoralized. They had been ennobled. They were as honest in peace as they had been brave in war. Mocking at poverty, laughing at reverses, they made a friend of toil. They said: "We saved the Nation's life, and what is life without honor?" They worked and wrought with all of labor's royal sons that every pledge the Nation gave might be redeemed. And their great leader, having put a shining band of friendship -- a girdle of clasped and happy hands -- around the globe, comes home and finds that every promise made in war has now the ring and gleam of gold.
There is another question still: -- Will all the wounds of war be healed? I answer, Yes. The Southern people must submit, -- not to the dictation of the North, but to the Nation's will and to the verdict of mankind. They were wrong, and the time will come when they will say that they are victors who have been vanquished by the right. Freedom conquered them, and freedom will cultivate their fields, educate their children, weave for them the robes of wealth, execute their laws, and fill their land with happy homes.
The soldiers of the Union saved the South as well as the North. They made us a Nation. Their victory made us free and rendered tyranny in every other land as insecure as snow upon volcanoes' lips.
And now let us drink to the volunteers -- to those who sleep in unknown, sunken graves, whose names are only in the hearts of those they loved and left -- of those who only hear in happy dreams the footsteps of return. Let us drink to those who died where lipless famine mocked at want; to all the maimed whose scars give modesty a tongue; to all who dared and gave to chance the care and keeping of their lives; to all the living and to all the dead, -- to Sherman, to Sheridan, and to Grant, the laureled soldier of the world, and last, to Lincoln, whose loving life, like a bow of peace, spans and arches all the clouds of war.


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|Justin Boswell (The little guy in the middle)
|Seattle, WA
By the way those are not our tanks in the picture, our band "Every Single Day" was playing at Chuckanut Brewery in Bellingham, WA and we got this pic......All time year round FAVE is the 90 minute IPA. I have a 120 IPA put away but am having a hard time letting it sit there and age (strike that it's been had). LOOOOVE Palo Santo and you cannot beat a good apri-hop on a hot day especially when Randal The enamel Animal is involved. i've had EVERY dogfish that I can find on the West coast here in Seattle and am always searching for the ones I have never seen. Also looking forward to getting the new signature glasses and putting those bad boys to use.
I have read brewing up a business and it was one of the most inspirational and realistic stories of small business I have ever encountered and it has driven me to make my own dream a reality.
Thanks Dogfish! You guys rock!
Not to the left, not to the right, and especially not down the middle. I see it as more of a bi-lateral take on the world of beer. Looking at things side ways and then coming at them as a whilrlwind of innovation and comfort zone destruction. Love, Liberty, Libations & DFH!

subset: commoncrawl


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Last edited: 14 April, 2014 - 13:03
Fair Winds and Following Seas
Last edited: 21 June, 2016 - 09:10
I used to think it was clever to confuse comedy with tragedy. Now I wish I could distinguish them. John le Carré
Last edited: 3 May, 2015 - 09:15
Best regards
Last edited: 16 April, 2013 - 00:36
Regards, Shing | email iwcforme1976 (at) gmail (dot) com
time does not change us. it just unfolds us. max frisch.
all that really belongs to us is time; even he who has nothing else has that. baltasar gracian.
8541 Wrote:Great post and very timely indeed, for me coming just at a moment I start a restoration project of a Seeland three‐quarter which was produced around 1879 - a Cal. 20 "bascule à pilier".
Last edited: 1 April, 2015 - 15:37
Last edited: 31 January, 2013 - 22:19
JimmyR Wrote:Congrats, a good read indeed. I also have another Pocket Watch full of Enlish Assay marks, a Tschopp-Boston (International Watch Co)...
If it´s of interest, I´d post pictures of this watch, or maybe even start a new thread, as it´s also a watch not seen that often. I know for a fact that Alan Myers has one with the same markings ;-)
Regards, Michael
Last edited: 25 February, 2015 - 17:29


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|the animation language
al reference
animation tools
tutorial #1
tutorial #2
Tutorial #1: Getting Started
For the most part, these tutorials only require the ox interpreter and a RenderMan renderer as the default rendering package in AL (such as "bmrt" or "prman"). However, you'll be able to experiment more easily if you're also using ogre along with ox to view the examples interactively.
I usually start up ox in an xterm window (the ">" is the UNIX prompt):
> ox Welcome to OX, version 5.1 [9/29/99] [Xt/Motif][BMRT][OGRE][Chant] ox -->and then run ogre from the ox interpreter:
ox --> (ogre)
If you want to make sure everything is working, type the following (bold font) in ox and press return.
ox --> (world (sphere))
Your screen should look something like the following:
Simple examples can be tried by typing directly into the interpreter,
but you'll want to save non-trivial examples from these web pages
to your own personal directory and then load them into ox. AL files
are loaded using the Scheme
ox --> (load "ex1.1")
There is a very handy Emacs mode which allows a keystroke (Ctrl-c Ctrl-l) to load the file being editied in the current Emacs buffer. See ${ALHOME}/contrib/al/emacs-lisp/README for more information on the al-mode for Emacs. Refer to the ox software description for additional information about loading files.
(world the code which creates the scene, i.e. the world model )
Generating an image in AL usually requires the following steps:
Making Shapes
Geometric primitives (gprims) are special AL functions for making shapes. The quadrics (spheres, cones, cylinders, disks, hyperboloids, paraboloids, and torii) are gprims which are both flexible and easy to use. The following AL command is a complete AL program. It creates a world model containing a single torus ("doughnut") shape. (In order to see anything at this point, you'll need to be running ogre.)
ox --> (world (torus))
The "thetamax" parameter allows the "sweep" angle (in degrees) of the torus to be specified. The default "thetamax" is 360 degrees. To create a "half-torus," we specify an angle of 180 degrees for the "thetamax" parameter.
ox --> (world (torus 'thetamax 180))
To make the torus thinner, the "minorrad" parameter can be adjusted (the default for "minorrad" is 0.5). As many parameters as needed can be set in the paramlist. Remember also that the order of parameters does not matter.
ox --> (world (torus 'thetamax 270 'minorrad 0.25))
All cameras have a name (so that they can be referenced during rendering) and type. The "perspective" camera is the most commonly used type and it has a number of optional parameters including
The default camera used by RenderMan render packages is called "main" so it's convenient, particularly if you only need one camera, to define a camera called "main." Below is a world model containing an example camera definition and a torus. You can copy this program into a text editor or just save this file into your own directory. Then it can be loaded into ox.
(world (camera "main" "perspective" 'from '#<1 1 3> 'to '#<0 0 0> 'fov 45) (torus) )
Rendering Once a world model containing geometry and a camera has been defined, we can render an image of it using the
The AL commands below load
example 2.1 and render it.
ox --> (load "ex2.1.al") ox --> (render)
A "wireframe" version of the image can be rendered by setting the "style" parameter to "vector" (as in vector line drawing).
ox --> (render 'style "vector")
By default, the image will be rendered to the screen at a default resolution. The size of the output image (shaded or wireframe) can be adjusted using the "format" parameter. The value for the "format" parameter has several forms. The most commonly used one (shown in the example below) is a list containing the horizontal and vertical resolution, in this case, 320 by 240.
ox --> (render 'style "vector" 'format '(320 240))
To render the image to a file, use the "display-name" parameter to set the filename and set the "display-type" parameter to "file."
ox --> (render 'display-name "myimage" 'display-type "file")
Altering the Appearance of Shapes with GopsGeometric primitives (gprims), like the torus, create simple geometric shapes. Geometric operations (gops) affect the way gprims are drawn in terms of position, orientation, scaling, color, and shading.
gop changes the surface color of gprims (the default surface color
of gprims is white).
Colors in AL are specified using 3 reals (red, green, and blue) each in the range of 0 to 1. Try typing the following AL program into the ox interpreter:
ox --> (world (color 1 0 0) (torus))
If you're running ogre, you should see a red torus.
Let's try rotating the torus 90 degrees about the Y-axis. The program below does just that (you can type this directly into the AL interpreter or into a file which you can then load into AL). The code which has changed since the previous program is in bold.
Now, let's add a cone which is scaled along the Z-axis to make it longer (the cone, by definition, points along the Z-axis).
Note that the cone is also colored red and rotated! That's because
a gop applies not only to the immediately following gprim, but to
all following gprims!
But what if we don't want that? The effect of gops can be limited
using another gop, called the
There is one other very important property of transformation gops. For a particular gprim, the transformation gops which are closest (in the program) to the gprim are applied first. So, in the example program above, the cone is
(rotate 90 y-axis)when the torus is drawn and
(scale 1 1 2), (rotate 90 y-axis)when the cone is drawn. And for the cone, that's why the scale is applied before the rotation.
separator gop localizes the effect
of gops to a particular block of code.
Any gops appearing in body will not apply to any gprims or anything else (like shaders) outside of body. Let's use a separator so that the color gop and rotate gop (in the program above) apply only to the torus. Note that now the torus is rotated and colored red, but the cone is not.
Some New GprimsThe
box gprim creates
a six-sided, polygonal cube which extends from -1 to 1 in each dimension.
A slightly more complex gprim is the surface
The example code below (available as ex4.1.al) uses the patch, box, and sphere gprims to generate the model shown in the images immediately below. This example will be used repeatedly in this section to illustrate the use of shaders.
;; example 4.1 (world (camera "main" "perspective" 'from '#<1 1 3> 'to '#<0 0 0> 'fov 45) (separator (uscale 3) (patch "bilinear" 'P '(#<-1 0 1> #<1 0 1> #<-1 0 -1> #<1 0 -1>))) (separator (translate -.5 .5 .2) (rotate -30 y-axis) (uscale .5) (color .54 .14 .14) (box)) (separator (translate .6 .35 .8) (uscale .35) (color 1 1 .25) (sphere)) )
Light Source and Surface ShadersLight source and surface shaders are specified using the
name specifies the name of the shader to use (e.g. "spotlight" or "plastic"). Most shaders have several parameters each with a reasonable default value. The parameters can be changed by specifying the parameter name and value in the paramlist. For example,
(surface "plastic" 'Ks 0.7 'specularcolor '#<0 0 1>)specifies the "plastic" surface shader and changes the value of the "Ks" parameter to 0.7 and changes the "specularcolor" from its to default of white (#<1 1 1>) to blue (#<0 0 1>).
Always remember that shaders are gops -- they affect all subsequent geometry and can be localized using separators. Also, shaders are affected by transformation gops. In other words, most lights and other shaders are rotated, scaled, translated, etc. just like gprims are (altough this behavior is dependent on each individual shader implementation).
In example 4.2, two light source shaders are specified (one "ambientlight" and one "spotlight") and the "plastic" surface shader is applied to all surfaces.
ox --> (query-shader-types) ("displacement" "imager" "light" "surface" "volume")
with a valid shader type, it will print a sorted list of the
available shaders corresponding to that type for each directory in
your shader path.
ox --> (query-shader "surface") /usr/local/prman/prman/lib/shaders carpet cmarble ... spatter stippled stone texmap wood
If we supply
ox --> (query-shader "spatter") surface spatter Ka 1.0 Kd 0.5 Ks 0.699999988079071 roughness 0.200000002980232 specksize 0.00999999977648258 sizes 5.0 specularcolor "rgb" #<1 1 1> basecolor "rgb" #<0.1 0.1 0.1> spattercolor "rgb" #<1 1 1> /usr/local/prman/prman/lib/shaders/spatter.slo
Example 4.3 applies the "spatter" shader,
with changes to a few shader parameters,
to the cube. Note that the spatter shader is applied only to the cube
because the
gop is used to make the
spotlight cast shadows. By passing
#t as the
argument to
(the default is
#f -- don't cast shadows), any subsequent
light sources will cast shadows.
Both the "prman" and "bmrt" render packages support this facility. However, the "prman" package only supports shadows for the "spotlight," "distantlight," and "pointlight" light source shaders and even though AL does much of the work regarding shadow map generation, there are still numerous controls for shadow map appearance and efficiency. You should consult the PRMan AL extension documentation for more information.
The use of hierarchically animated models and animation tracks (avars)
will be discussed in a later tutorial.
time is a Scheme number (an
integer or a real) which corresponds to the current "logical" time
in the world model.
It is sometimes called "global time" because is often associated with the
current frame number of an animation.
It is not "wall clock" time -- it does not change
continuously. It only changes when we set it directly or when we
execute another AL function which sets it (like
If you type the variable
name "time" into the ox interpreter, its value will be printed
(like any other Scheme expression).
The default value for
time is 1.
ox --> time 1.0
Unlike other Scheme variables,
Try the following experiment. Define a world model which only
prints the value of
ox --> (world (print time)) 1.0
Note that the body of
ox --> (set-time! 5) 5
The value "5" is printed because the world model was automatically
re-evaluated by
time for the
thetamax paramter." (Thetamax is the sweep angle
and can have a value between 0 and 360 degrees.)
(world (camera "main" "perspective" 'from '#<1 1 3> 'to '#<0 0 0> 'fov 45) (sphere 'thetamax time) )
If you are running ogre, you should see a thin sliver of an arc instead
of the full sphere (because
ox --> (render)
Now try changing
ox --> (set-time! 180) () ox --> (render)
Instead of calling
ox --> (render 'frame 270)
By passing a list containing the first frame, last frame, and frame increment as the value for the "frame" parameter, a sequence of frames can be rendered. The following command renders frames 1, 55, 109, 163, 217, and 271 in wireframe at a resolution of 160x120 to the screen.
ox --> (render 'frame '(1 271 54) 'format '(160 120) 'style "vector")
To render the frames to a file, set the "display-type" parameter to "file." The default value for "display-name" is "frame~s" which means that the individual frame filenames will be "frame0001," "frame0055," etc. The "~s" is replaced by the current frame number padded, by default, with 4 zeros. If you specify a different "display-name" and forget to include "~s" in the name, all the frames will be written to the same file (probably not what you want). The "~s" can be placed anywhere in the name.
ox --> (render 'frame '(1 271 54) 'display-type "file" 'format '(160 120) 'style "vector")
AL: The Animation Language is Copyright © 1992-2000, Stephen F. May


text:
This is a stunning dress. I was married in August 2012 and I still get compliments on it! The flower/beading details make it look very expensive. This dress features a keyhole back, small train, and buttons going down the back.
BEST PART: This dress is UNALTERED. It fit me like a glove so I didn't need any alterations. No holes or stains. Only worn for 4 hours. Never worn outside.
There is no bustle. There is an internal ribbon tag that came with the dress that I just held on to.
I have a veil that I would consider selling to an interested buyer. I haven't decided on a price since i love it and am considering keeping it. It is half length, attached to a comb, with a subtle and elegant white pearl bead scalloped edge. The dress and veil complimented my english garden/shabby chic wedding perfectly.
It is truly stunning. It was the first dress i tried on and i was out the door in 15 minutes. Purchased at Betsy Robinson's Bridal Salon in MD.
Feel free to email me with any questions. This dress is far to lovely to collect dust in my closet!
Return Policy- must return within 3 days of receiving the dress.
- Label Size: 0
- Street Size: 0
- Bust: 32C
- Waist: 24
- Hips: 32
- Height with Shoes: 5'9''
- Alterations: none
- Color: Ivory
- Silhouette: Fit to Flare
- Material: Lace, Satin
- Neckline: Cap Sleeve
- Style: Applique, Classic, Floral, Glamorous, Open Back
- Condition: Used
- Original Owner: Yes
- Has Original Receipt: Yes
- Preservation Method: dryclean only
- Terms of Sale: Returns Accepted
- Location: Greenville, SC
- Will Ship to: Anywhere at Owner Expense
- Payment Methods Accepted: Escrow.com
Please read our BUYER'S GUIDE before purchasing a dress online.


text:
Slideshow: Essential Proprietary Network Admin ToolsSlideshow: Essential Proprietary Network Admin Tools
An IT Pro's Toolkit
There is no way to predict the day of the sysadmin and surprises are part of the job. However, being prepared for those surprises can alleviate the unpleasantness of the unexpected. While a sysadmin may not always have the answer to every problem, immediately, keeping the right tools in reach will provide the capability to get the right answers fast and efficiently, especially in an IT world that is increasingly mobile. Here is our selection of powerful admin tools to make your life easier.
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text:
Disease Proof
Watch Out for Cancer Lefties
The Cancer Blog relays some information claiming left-handed women are more likely to develop breast cancer than their right-handed counterparts—really weird. Take a look:
This left-handed conclusion, published in the journal Epidemiology, comes from the study of 12,000 women in the Netherlands whose medical histories were followed for 13 years. Discounting all other factors -- lifestyle, environment, and other disease -- left-handers came up with a risk of breast cancer 1.39 times that of right-handers. For pre-menopausal women, the figure climbed to 2.41.Okay, so what happens if you're ambidextrous?
When considering all sorts of illness, left-handed women had a 70 percent higher chance of contracting any cancer and a 30 percent higher chance of a fatal disease of the circulatory system. It's not just breast cancer -- it's any number of health conditions that may be linked to regular use of the left hand.
Scientific reactions on this topic are mixed.
Trackbacks (0) Links to blogs that reference this article Trackback URL
Comments (1) Read through and enter the discussion with the form at the end
Jen - June 8, 2007 4:56 PM
Wow...they are really reaching on this one! Being a 'left-handed woman' myself....I'd like to think positively-that I have a very good chance of living to 130 yrs old.
Dr. Fuhrman's Executive Offices
4 Walter E. Foran Blvd.Flemington, NJ 08822
Suite 408
Suite 408


text:
March 18, 2006
TEMPE, Ariz. (www.thesundevils.com) -- The NCAA Women's Swimming and Diving Championships came to a close Saturday in Athens, Ga. with the Sun Devils finishing in 29th place. Freshmen Amy Konowalik (Derby, England) and Erin Hobbs (Calgary, Alberta) and sophomore Caitlin Andrew (San Antonio, Texas) competed for Arizona State University Saturday.
Swimming in her third event of the meet, Andrew finished 24th in the 100-yard freestyle with a time of 49.88. In the 200-yard breaststroke, Konowalik touched the wall in 2:16.59 during the preliminaries and placed 32nd in the event. It marked the second event she competed in at the NCAAs. Hobbs competed in the platform diving event and finished 23rd with a score of 193.80. During the NCAAs, Hobbs competed in all three diving events.
Next up, ASU's men's swimming and diving will travel to Atlanta to compete in the NCAA Men's Swimming and Diving Championships. Competition will begin March 23 and conclude March 25.
-- Sun Devil Swimming and Diving --


text:
The Charanka Solar Park: Based on data provided by 11 Solar Radiation Assessment Stations installed and functional in different parts of Gujarat, the state has the potential to harness over 10,000 megawatts (MW) of solar power, setting aside just 0.1 percent of its land mass for this purpose.
The Solar Park in the village of Charanka in the Patan District in Northern Gujarat has been established over an area of around 2,000 hectares (or 4,942 acres) that provides integrated infrastructural facilities in terms of power evacuation, land, water, roads, etc. Located in this single cluster are 214 megawatts of solar photovoltaic (PV) generation projects. Over the first few months, the average generation of electricity from these solar power plants averaged 4,500 to 5,000 kilowatt hours (kWh) per day, which is close to what was estimated.
Canal solar power: Located on the Narmada Canal, this is another innovative project, which reduces the need for huge tracts of land to set up solar power plants. The 1MW project has been implemented by two state utilities, in the water and energy sectors, with financial assistance from the National Bank for Rural Development.
This project was developed along 750 meters of the canal, generating solar power through panels mounted over water. Electricity is then being directly fed into the local grid utilized by nearby towns and villages, thereby minimizing transmission and distribution losses.
The engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contract for this was granted to Sun Edison India Private Limited. (The inverters and compact sub-station suppliers are Power One, Italy and ABB Limited, respectively.)
Initial studies have indicated that these solar panels would also help reduce water evaporation (almost 9 million liters per year) -- a critical benefit in India, which is plagued with water shortages and unsafe drinking water. Utilizing just 10 percent of the existing canal network of 19,000 kilometers can facilitate the installation of 2,200MW of solar power and can save around 4,500 hectares (or 11,119 acres) of land.
But the cost of the project (around $3.22 million, at the current exchange rate) is higher than traditional solar PV plants on land. This is mainly due to higher structural costs for mounting the panels. An extensive study for long-term sustainability must be undertaken before this project is widely replicated.
The "solar city" of Gandhinagar: Through a policy to generate electricity using solar panels on rooftops, Chief Minister of Gujarat, Narendra Modi, has said that Gujarat's capital city of Gandhinagar will become its first "solar city."
The Climate Change Department of the State Government (the first of its kind in India) has facilitated multiple installations of Solar Roof Top Systems of assorted ratings from 1kWh to 150kWh at more than 150 government locations, aggregating to a capacity of 1.47MW.
These systems cover an area of two hectares (or four acres) of household rooftops, or close to 2 percent of the total roof space in the city. The electricity generated is used by the buildings and contributes to approximately 1 percent of the city's total energy consumption.
This initiative has been further scaled up by the development of India's first Public Private Partnership (PPP) model for installing 5MW rooftop systems in the capital. More than three dozen companies participated in a tough tariff-based competitive bidding process, and SunEdison and Azure Power were awarded the development of 2.5MW each. Private roof owners offering their rooftops will get green incentives of three rupees (Rs. 3) per kWh from the developer who has to set up the rooftop system at his cost, and gets paid a feed in tariff of Rs. 11.50, per kWh.
Getting home owners to grant permission for use of their roooftops may be a tough challenge considering the escalating real estate costs. But a bold beginning has been made. The results of this experiment will have important implications for many growing cities in India.
Related posts:
Dr. Rajiv Kumar Gupta, Senior IAS Officer


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"Beer Bust Sunday and Rockin Friday Nite"
about me
I'm 5'11 & 170 lb tattooed motherfucker with a ten inch dick. Blah, blah, blah,blah. An easygoig laid back sexmachine. Blah, blah, blah. I collect skulls and porno and my collection is massive like my cock(that is pierced). I live in LA and like to party in Silverlake and Hollywood! I enjoy vomiting (pasta with red sauce). I seem to have this fascination with morbidness and gothic shit. Black is my favorite color and I luv Death Metal! I am mad at my parents because they cut my foreskin and I own a MAC. Blah, blah, blah. I eat yellow snow and pick my nose and eat it as well! I love farting and belching in public and I don't wear deodorant. I allways have mornig wood and admire SATAN! I am a Licensed Cosmetologist in the state of California and fry and dye hair at my private salon(Salon Natas) in Los Angeles. I work on freaks and porn stars. The experience of Evil is a good thing. I want to be a monster. All that is Human is alien to me. I transgress all of the laws established by Man, I trample every Value underfoot, and nothing of what Is can define or limit me. Did I mention I'm Bi! Blah, Blah Blah. I luv redheads!!!!!!!
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text:
JWC TO THOMAS CARLYLE ; 21 January 1848; DOI: 10.1215/lt-18480121-JWC-TC-01; CL 22: 225-226
[21 January 1848]
Well Dear, I have written to Lady Harriet that I am not going at all—the only rational course under the circumstances— So now you are to do what you think best for yourself without reference to me— You are not to hurry home on my account—I am not so ill as to make that a duty for you, nor so well, as to make it a pleasure. But if you continue ill yourself you will certainly be better in your own nest, with me to tell it to—and all your own way, as far as material things are concerned—
Do not be uneasy about me—I should know the ways of this sort of cold by now—and I am sure that with reasonable care it need turn to nothing dangerous—tho it might easily be fixed in my lungs by any rashness.
John said he would write a note himself— I sent for him to take counsel before I began writing1— Some Watts2 have come to town with whom he dines &c and it is amazing how in a few days he has gone all to smithers (morally) Last night he came for an hour before going to these Watts, and found me lying on the sofa very much done up, and cuffing worse than usual. "How d'ye do"! he said like Mr Toots3
Mercy I am going to be belated
[no signature]


text:
Precios especiales para alojamientos de Budapest: hotel y apartamento - Budapest Hotel: reservaciones online
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Budapest Dentist - Heal your teeth in Hungary »»
The Budapest dental medic faculty of the Hungarian Semmelweis University is a legend in Europe. The last 15 years the (Budapest) Hungarian dentists and their Budapest dental clinics reached the same professional level...
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There are three terminals at Budapest's Ferihegy airport (Terminal 1, Terminal 2A and 2B). Make sure you know which terminal you travel to/from the Hungarian capital.
Nothing but fashion brands in Budapest »»
The Váci street, called the "Hungarian Fifth Avenue" or the "Hungarian Mariahilfer Strasse", is on the list of the most expensive avenue of the world, so...
In wine is truth - in Hungary also »»
During your stay in Hungary, don't miss the wine tasting from your programs. You can acquainted with the famous Hungarian wines, which won first prizes in a number of international competitions...
The Saint Stephen's Basilica in Budapest »»
The Saint Stephen's Basilica is one of the most beautiful and most important religious and tourist sights of Hungary. The largest church in Budapest, dedicated to Stephen...
Taste it Hungarian way »»
The Hungarian cooking characterised by its own components which give the original flavour for the meals and the way of preparing. Concerning the ingredients these are...
Thermal baths in Budapest »»
If you plan to spend more than one day in Budapest, it's worth visiting one of the Hungarian capital's thermal baths.
Entertainment for men in Budapest »»
Budapest is rich in bars, cafes, discos, nightclubs and casinos, giving wide range of entertainment for both young and older men.
Public transport in Budapest »»
The Budapest Transport Company (BKV) is responsible for the transport of the Hungarian capital. The BKV operates 194 bus, 31 tram, 14 trolley buses, 3 metro and 5 suburban railway (HÉV) lines...
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Budapest is an excellent choice for those women who beside the sightseeing would like to have some rest, and spend some time for other activities.
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BHB. All rights reserved - 2003 Budapest – Hotels Booking - Budapest Hotel and Apartment discounts |


text:
Jun 242013
Here's a way to save some money on outlet shopping. Sweetjack has a deal for $40 worth of clothing and accessories for $20 at Saks Fifth Avenue's Off 5th, the upscale store's outlet. In South Florida, Off 5th is at the Dolphin Mall in Miami and at Sawgrass Mills in Sunrise. The deal is available until July 7 or until it sells out, whichever comes first. It and must be used in store, not online.
Click here to get $40 worth of clothing for $20 at Saks Fifth Avenue Off 5th.
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text:
Home Folders
All members of the Sage Community have a personal storage folder on our local network, called SageNet. This folder is commonly referred to as your 'Home Drive'. This folder can be accessed on or off campus. To access and use the folder, as well as any shared folders on the network, users must "Map a Network Drive".
For step by step instructions on how to Map to a Network Drive click here
If you require any assistance or have any questions, please contact our Helpdesk at (518)244-4777, email at [email protected] or check online in our Knowledge Base.


text:
ASU out-hit
UA pitcher Sarah Akamine (8-2) drew the loss, while ASU's Katie Burkhart (22-8) earned the victory.
ASU took a three-run lead in the first inning on a pair of singles and a home run. Kaitlin Cochran led off with a base knock to center and moved to second on a Bianca Cruz groundout. Next, Ashley Muenz singled to center to plate Cochran for the game's first run. Two pitches later, second baseman Mindy Cowles flied a ball that rode a deep right that just cleared the wall for a two-run homer.
After scoring just two runs in 14 innings against Burkhart in two previous games, the three-run deficit may have appeared to be an insurmountable one. However, UA mounted an unlikely second-inning comeback to tie the game. Jenae Leles led off with a walk, but was still standing on first with two outs and an 0-2 count on Sam Banister. UA's sophomore from
With two runners on,
Akamine worked out of a bases-loaded situation in the bottom of the third without allowing a run .
ASU escaped a Wildcat run in the top of the fourth, as Callista Balko hit a fly ball to deep center that took Cochran all the way to the wall, before the ASU center fielder came down with the catch.
The Sun Devils scored a pair of runs in their half of the fourth to take a 5-3 advantage. Cruz singled Jessica Mapes home to take the lead. ASU got its second run of the frames when Cowles drove in Cruz for her second RBI hit of the game.
ASU tacked on another run in the fifth singled on four hits. Cochran singled Michelle Smith home for ASU's sixth and final run of the contest.
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Mortal Kombat (World) ROM
Sega Genesis - Sega Megadrive ROMsGenre: ActionFightingRating: ESRB: M, PEGI: 16+
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Welcome to the original Mortal Kombat. This game probably needs no introduction, but you basically choose your favorite fighter and beat your opponent literally to death. From one on one fights to two vs one endurance matches, your skills will be tested.
Don't forget, press down, up, left, left, A, right, down at the main menu to enable the blood and everything that made this game famous.
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All Comments (13)
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she deserves a young dick more powerfull lol ( amazing beauty)
Mmmmh ora guardo bene
this is common in collage days
I want be fucked by an old man!!!


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The happiest states – or states ranking the best when measured by the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index – were revealed in February of 2014. Based on 2013 data, North Dakota residents scored the highest numbers in terms of well-being. Quite logically, North Dakota's neighbor to the south – South Dakota – came in second on the list of happiest states in the country.
Best United States places to live in 2014
Previously, Hawaii held the top spot on the list – for four years, actually – but fell slightly in 2013's ratable data.
Taxes: The States with the Highest and Lowest Taxes in the US in 2014
On the low end of the list, West Virginia and Kentucky maintained their positions as the bottom two states as Kentucky came in at number 49 and West Virginia came in at number 50. It's the fifth year in a row that these two states have held on to the positions which assert they are the least happy states in the country.
So, how does Gallup and Healthways determine which states are happier than others? They obtain their data by conducting more than 178,000 interviews with American adults across all 50 states in the union. The interviews were conducted from January through December of 2013. The interview examined life evaluation, emotional health, work environment, physical healthy, healthy behaviors, and access to basic necessities. The Well-Being Index measures from 0 to 100. Zero is the lowest and 100 is an ideal score of well-being.
The well-being survey has been conducted since 2008 which allows some room for comparison over the past several years. In the past year, from the 2012 figures to the 2013 figures, the Well-Being Index score for the nation has dropped one-half point from 66.7 in 2012 to 66.2 in 2013. This year's score matches the previous los score which was measured in 2011 over the past six years.
The Happiest States in the United States (Well-Being Index)
- North Dakota
- South Dakota
- Nebraska
- Minnesota
- Nebraska
- Vermont
- Colorado
- Hawaii
- Washington state
- Iowa
At the other end of the list…
The Least-Happy States in the United States (Well-Being Index)
- West Virginia
- Kentucky
- Mississippi
- Alabama
- Ohio
- Arkansas
- Tennessee
- Missouri
- Oklahoma
- Louisiana
The scores ranged on the Well-Being Index from 70.4 for North Dakota to 61.4 for West Virginia.


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Writer's Corner for June, 2005
Julia Quinn
I'm a big fan of Julia Quinn and I have been for a number of years now.
Of course, the bright, sparkling dialogue for which she's so well known certainly has a lot to do with my affection for her books. And, not surprisingly, her characters – some of the most three-dimensional, interesting people you'll meet anywhere in romance – also play a role. Add in her deft touch with a love scene and it's hard to argue with the fact that in the talented hands of Julia Quinn, "light" means smart, funny, and real – a claim to fame many other "light" writers just can't make.
It's In His Kiss, the author's new release, perfectly illustrates why, in an overwhelming sea of "sameness", there's nobody quite like Julia Quinn – something all those readers propelling her to the top of the New York Times list clearly have no trouble recognizing. With the seventh book in her Bridgerton series about to hit the selves, Julia talked with me recently about her new release, her approach to writing, and the future of historical romance.
--Sandy Coleman
Julia, I just finished It's In His Kiss and it's already one of my favorite books of the year. (Now, how's that for a start?) If I had to come up with one word to describe this one, I think it would be "charming" since that nicely describes heroine Hyacinth Bridgerton and hero Gareth St. Clair, as well as the thoroughly lovely way you tell their story. If you had just a minute or so to describe the book and your goals for it for our readers, what would you say?
First off, I'm so glad you enjoyed It's In His Kiss. I've finally reached the stage where I love it myself. Generally, when I'm writing a book, I'm too deeply into it to judge what I'm doing. I may love parts of it, but I always stress that the big picture I have in my head isn't holding together. Then, once I'm done, I fall into a worried phase, when I start comparing it to my other books and stress that readers who liked this one won't like that one. Then, as I get closer to the book's release, I start realizing that I actually like it a lot.
So I knew with Hyacinth that the story was going to have to be fun. And once I decided to make Lady Danbury an important character, that part was easy. The dialogue in this one just wrote itself. But I also wanted to make sure that the story was more than just a romp. It needed to have some emotional depth as well. This was mainly achieved through Gareth's background, as Hyacinth had already been established as a character without any serious "issues."
I'm glad you mentioned Lady Danbury because her HEA is one of my favorite moments in the book. You handled is so delicately and it's so, well . . . not sappy (perish the thought!) it's a really wonderful emotional payoff and perfectly illustrates why I think only Julia Quinn is Julia Quinn.
One word (and, okay, it's not really a word) that I would never be used to describe a Julia Quinn heroine is TSTL. Your heroines are usually young women with a lot of confidence in their brain power and far less so when it comes to men. I think a lot of AAR readers – well, me, anyway – recognize those young women very, very well since no matter how far we go in life, we never quite get over our high school selves. Do you think that recognition factor is one of the keys to your popularity?
I don't know if it's a key to my popularity, but I do know that for one book in particular - Romancing Mr. Bridgerton - readers really identified with the heroine. It actually took me a bit by surprise, as the hero, Colin, was a character I'd received a lot of email about. Everyone wanted a story for him. But once RMB came out, it was Penelope everyone loved. And I think that was because so many of us saw ourselves in her. I think you're right - we don't get over our high school selves, at least not 100%. I'd like to think that I'm a very different person than I was in the mid-80s. I know have more self-confidence, and I also have a better idea of who I am and how I wish the world to perceive me. But every now and then something will happen that will throw me right back to being 15 years old, and you know what? It's a horrible feeling. High school wasn't all bad, but still, you couldn't pay me enough money to be in high school again (and don't even mention junior high!) But that experience is part of what has shaped me, and even as I cringe, I do value the memory. And I drew on it when I wrote about Penelope. I remember so vividly that sense of dichotomy, of knowing who you were on the inside and not understanding why you couldn't figure out how to be the same person on the outside. I think this resonated with readers. They saw themselves in her.
I think a lot of readers will identify with Hyacinth, too. I certainly did. Protecting yourself emotionally by hiding behind your wit is something a lot of smart girls have to get over, I think. Hyacinth may not have had many serious issues, as you say, but that certainly rang true for me.
She was definitely a challenging character to write. She'd appeared in so many books before, and she has such a smart mouth. I actually had to scrap sixty pages of a different version of the book because I realized that there was no way to work the plot and remain true to Hyacinth's character without her coming across as insanely stupid. (I mean, you don't mouth off to the guy with the gun, right?) Even with the story I eventually wrote for her, there was always a fine balance when it came to her. She couldn't be syrupy sweet, but she also couldn't be obnoxious. I tried to humanize her with a few awkward moments as well, like when you explain a joke and then realize that everybody had got it on their own.
Julia, a bit of a delicate area here, so bear with me. As you well know, there are a lot of writers out there now clearly attempting to emulate the "Julia Quinn style" - they're attempting not only to emulate your success, but I'd also argue ( as I have on more than one occasion already) that there is something so accessible about your style, that you make it seem far easier than it really is to write a "light" book that is also emotional, smart, and real. So, do you think I'm completely off the deep end here or is there some truth to that contention?
I don't think any writer sets out to emulate another writer's style. But I do think writers gravitate toward the style or tone or setting of the books they love. Take me for example. When I started writing Splendid, my first book, my favorite authors were Johanna Lindsey, Julia Garwood, Judith McNaught, and Lisa Kleypas. I had realized that I loved the Regency era, and I adored witty repartee, which I think all four of those authors do superbly. So, naturally, that was what I gravitated toward. If new authors are writing Regency historicals with a light touch, I don't think it's because they want to write a "Julia Quinn style" book. Rather, I think they're just like I was - they gravitate toward what they like.
That said, I think there are dangers when writing a so-called "light" book. The book should never be about the humor. Ultimately, it has to be about the romance. When I look at my growth as a writer, I think it mostly lies in characterization and emotional depth. I still have a very light style (even When He Was Wicked, certainly my darkest book, is written with a light style), but I try to make sure there are deeper layers, a bigger emotional payoff. I spend a lot of time before I sit down to write developing the characters. I want them to be three-dimensional, and not just the same hero or heroine I did the time before.
Is that hard to do? Yeah, I think it is. Am I the only one doing it? Of course not.
You took a chance last year with When He Was Wicked, a book that was more somber in tone that what readers have come to expect from you and even featured a widowed heroine who loved her husband and – gasp! – enjoyed sex with him. Obviously, as a writer, you wanted to explore something different, but did you feel your publisher was with you every step of the way? It won our reader's award for Most Hanky Read of the year, but I'm curious as to what feedback you might have gotten overall from readers.
Avon was a little nervous about the story when I turned in the synopsis but in the end, completely supportive. I wouldn't say that When He Was Wicked stepped outside of the romance genre in any way, but the structure of the book was atypical for romance: the first four chapters took place four years before the real romance part of the story begins. And in those four chapters you meet the heroine's first husband John and see that they have a great marriage and love each other very much. When he dies, he does so essentially "on camera," and the reader really sees Francesca's grief, as well as that of Michael (who is John's cousin and the ultimate hero of the book).
No one ever asked me to turn John into a bad guy or to change Francesca's relationship with him in any way. The one concern my editor expressed at the outset was that Michael might not feel like the hero of the book with the memory of John hanging over the story. So, I promised that I would keep that at the front of my mind through the writing and that was that. And I did assure them that I wasn't planning to show Francesca and John being intimate. When I turned the book in, I was asked if I might consider trimming the opening, mostly because it felt very tragic. I thought about it and decided that I wanted to leave it as it was. I felt that it was essential for the reader to see all this in order to understand how Francesca and Michael interacted in the rest of the book. I could have just told about their history, but I felt it would be a richer book if I showed it instead.
Reader reaction was interesting. Some just adored it, saying it was the best book I'd ever done. And some didn't like it at all, because it wasn't what they expected from me. I'd say the majority of readers liked it quite a bit but perhaps wouldn't rank it as their favorite. I'm fine with that. I'm very proud of the book and feel that I grew a lot as a writer with it.
There's much discussion these days from both readers and authors about the impending death of historical romance, but judging by your career, reports of that death have been greatly exaggerated. How does it look from where you sit?
Oh, this is a tricky one. I don't believe that historical romance is dying, but it has certainly shrunk a bit. There are far fewer historical books being published than just a few years ago. This is due to a number of reasons. Chick Lit and Paranormal have taken off, and a number of authors have veered in that direction. Also, mass-market as a format is in decline, while trade and hardcover are on the rise (this is true across the board, not just romance). But for whatever reason, it's very difficult to publish historical romance in hardcover. The contemporary audience seems much more receptive to it.
But even with all that, I think there are plenty of signs that historical romance is healthy and strong. A lot of us routinely hit the New York Times list, both the short list and the extended. At my publishing house, Avon, there are considerably more historical authors publishing in the top spots than contemporary.
There are hurdles, though. The potential market for contemporary romance is bigger than for historical. Readers who think they like Chick Lit or Women's Fiction may pick up a contemporary romance, especially when it is published in hardcover or trade. The challenge for historical romance, in my opinion, is to figure out how to grab these readers and perhaps those of historical fiction (which often has a romantic subplot), and show them that Historical romance can be terrific as well.
Also, don't you think that a lot of contemporary readers don't even know they're reading romance.? I'll bet a substantial portion of Nora Roberts' readers fit into this category. With historical romance, though, as you say, there are no ifs, ands, or buts about it and all the prejudices about bodice rippers immediately kicks in.
Oh, absolutely. Lots of people pick up contemporary romance without even realizing it. I don't think most readers look at the categorization on the spine.
You've given me with a nice transition into another tricky question. As I'm sure you know, something termed the "Avonization" of historical romance has been batted around the AAR message boards on more than one occasion. As someone who loves historical romance and reads a lot of them, frankly, I think there's some truth to the fact that there is a bit of a pre-fab quality to a lot of Avon romances. And, since Avon arguably dominates the historical romance market, the result is an awful lot of cookie cutter romances out there. So, if the historical romance market is shrinking "a bit" do you think that this "same old-same old" problem is one of the factors responsible for that?
It's hard to say. I know that many readers feel that the reason the Regency era is so popular is that that's all there is for people to discover and buy. But the truth is, when I started out in the mid-90s, there was a great variety of settings, and it became clear - very clear - that Regency historicals were outselling the rest by a lot. I was one of the lucky ones, as that was what I wanted to write, anyway.
As for "Avonization," I just hate that term. I certainly haven't read everyone on the list, but there is great variety in writing style and voice among the Avon authors. I don't write anything like Stephanie Laurens, who doesn't write anything like Teresa Medeiros, who doesn't write anything like Lisa Kleypas, who doesn't write anything like Christina Dodd. And then there's Eloisa James, who I think is enormously talented, who really turns the normal structure of the romance novel on its ear. That's just looking at the top of the list, obviously, but I think there is great variety in the midlist as well. I've adored Laura Lee Guhrke's Avon books – more so than her earlier ones. Adele Ashworth is just brilliant. Mary Reed McCall has stuck to Medievals, and they are so rich with history. Is every author fabulous and fabulously original? Well, probably not, but you're not going to find that at any publishing house.
Fair enough. In a May interview with AAR, Connie Brockway said this: "Sadly, I don't think there is much of a market in historical romance these days for exploring things which aren't easily explained in the context of a kiss or resolved with a declaration of love. And, before anyone jumps down my throat, of course there are exceptions. And brilliant ones, too. But not enough and growing rarer." Does any of this resonate with you?
I think you can explore the sorts of issues Connie has brought up, but it's a tricky thing to do. To me, a successful romance has to have the love story as the "A" story of the book, so if you want to explore other issues, they can't dominate the book. In my later books, I have tried to give some of my characters issues and problems that aren't solved with an "I love you." The "I love you" certainly helps, as it is almost always easier to battle your demons with someone by your side, but in the end, they're your demons, and the character's growth and change must come from within.
Well, you know, Julia, in romance - as in just about everything - it takes a great deal of skill to reach those greater depths and higher places. I'm sorry - really, really sorry - that Connie no longer finds historical romance challenging, but I'm also glad that you don't seem to plan on going anywhere! I know you've got at least one book left in your Bridgerton series, do you have any clue - or, probably more correctly - will you give us a clue as to where your future books will take us?
I'm sorry about Connie, too. I've never actually sat down and made a list of my ten favorite romances, but if I did, As You Desire would surely be on it.
As for me, I do have an idea of what I want to do after the Bridgertons, but I still need to flesh it out. I do know that I'll be doing a two-book series, and they will both take place in the Regency. But beyond that, you'll have to wait and see. As will I - all I have right now is a three-sentence idea. But I'm excited about it! I never set out to write an eight-book series, and while I've loved almost every minute of it (no writer likes every minute of writing), I am starting to feel like it's time to move on.
Since you're at my mercy here to come up with the questions, I'll ask you if there's a question I didn't ask you for which you had the absolutely perfect answer?
I don't know about a question, but the answer is most definitely 42!
That one, I'm told, is for all you Hitchhiker fans out there.


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Pseudonoise LFSR sequences of length $N = 2^k-1$ have the nice property that their cyclical autocorrelation is $N$ when the sequence is lined up with itself, and $-1$ elsewhere.
Is there a way to construct sequences of other lengths, that their cyclical correlation is close to $0$ or $-1$ when not lined up? If not, why not?


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A new lineup of mini-PC cases have just entered the market from ASUS, with a press release highlighting the birth of their new mATX based "TS-6 Series". These cases come as two seperate models (with a range of colours to choose from), with both the TS-63 and TS-6A differing only as far as appearance goes.
Check out the announcement here for full details.
Taipei, Taiwan; August 28, 2006 - ASUSTeK Computer Inc. (ASUS) today introduced t he TS-6 chassis series, which is stylishly designed for mini-PCs yet still offers ample interior space for the most advanced specifications and efficient heat dissipation. The innovative and slim design accommodates the latest must-have features, and permits both vertical and horizontal placements, providing the flexibility to fit in both offices and homes.


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October 2012
Giants forward Dalton Sward says David Musil trade is an opportunity for Vancouver youth
Dalton Sward has a little old-school Vancouver Giant in him, with the gumption he shows on the ice. We tracked him down to talk about Wednesday's big trade, which saw No. 1 defenceman David Musil, 19, go to the Edmonton … Continue reading
Girls V-Ball: Red Serge weekend, latest rankings, plus final placings at six weekend invites
Port Coquitlam's Riverside Secondary is the place to be this weekend if you're a fan of senior varsity girls volleyball. The Rapids play host to the 13th annual Coquitlam RCMP Red Serge Classic on Friday and Saturday. The top five … Continue reading
10.31.12 edition: The Province's Big 5 football rankings and guide to all of the weekend action
SCHEDULE TRIPLE A FRIDAY 3:30 p.m. — Mt. Douglas at New Westminster (Mercer Stadium) 4 p.m. — Rutland at Kelowna (Apple Bowl) 5 p.m. — West Vancouver at St. Thomas More (Burnaby Lakes) 6:30 p.m. — Salmon Arm at Mt. … Continue reading
Sun Devils' switch only enhances chemistry between slotback Mann and quarterback Menzies
TSAWWASSEN — The long and the short of a great football story unfolding in Tsawwassen is that David Mann and Kyle Menzies have arrived at their senior seasons lining up in positions they seem born to play as key members … Continue reading
Mouat's Siemens stays the course, super senior gets last crack at another B.C. X-C title
ABBOTSFORD — Alex Siemens has distilled a theory about her approach to running. "I just find that if I am not falling over at the end, I didn't give it my all," the senior cross-country standout with Abbotsford's W.J. Mouat … Continue reading
Fake Canucks Season – Viewer Question Mailbag Edition
Pretty simple premise folks. We asked twitter to ask me and Bowman questions about the Fake Canucks season. Or about anything that popped into their minds. And you guys responded. We did our best to answer the best Twitter had … Continue reading
Nervous worldwide fans debate Disney's purchase of Lucasfilm
As you may have heard – in-between pictures of sharks swimming through Grand Central Station and the lobby of the Empire State Building – The Walt Disney Co. announced Tuesday it is buying Lucasfilm Ltd. for $4 billion. News of … Continue reading
Red-hot Horak on fire as Heat prepares to avenge playoff loss to Marlies
Roman Horak has scored seven goals in his first seven AHL games this season with the Abbotsford Heat. That should more than grab the attention of the parent Calgary Flames. (Getty Images via National Hockey League).
VANCOUVER — Seven goals in your first seven games looks good in any league, especially for an NHL prospect. It raises expectations, makes comparisons inevitable and can be the leg up on becoming a roster mainstay. Which, of course, begs … Continue reading
Off the Stanchion Cartoon – The NHL runs into trouble on Halloween – Drawn by Sheena !
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Vancouver Giants trade David Musil to Edmonton Oil Kings for young d-man, draft pick
The Vancouver Giants' re-boot began an earnest Wednesday. The Giants sent arguably their top player, defenceman David Musil, 19, to the Edmonton Oil Kings for blueliner Mason Geertsen, 17, and a first-round pick in the 2013 WHL bantam draft. Musil … Continue reading


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Maintaining our sense of humor is paramount for keeping us healthy and happy. If you are reading this series because you are hoping that by maintaining an organized home or office you will avoid all problems on your journey between life and death, stop reading now. If, on the other hand, you are reading this article as a way to get motivated to do some clearing and cleaning or to make the process of doing what has to be done, more enjoyable, read on.
Home and office organizing can be a very serious business, or it can be fun. While preparing to write this article, I thought about what motivates us to want to get our homes and offices in order, to get our bodies and lives in better shape, and what distracts us or keeps us from wanting to tackle the ongoing, daily issues and tasks of life? I thought we'd all do better with a little humor, so here goes. Even those who seem to be the mavens of home organization or who have made it and probably pay someone else to get work done, have something to say about home organization, house cleaning, and the whole subject of taking care of ourselves.
Erma Bombeck, one of my idols, wrote two great books (I still have the original paperbacks and read them frequently), The I Hate to Cook Book and the I Hate to Do Housework Book. Some of her ideas and suggestions set me on the road to writing and devoting at least a part of my life to organizing and taking care of the simple daily business of living.
"Housework is a treadmill from futility to oblivion with stop offs at tedium and counter productivity."
"Housework, if you do it right, can kill you."
Comedian Phyllis Diller quipped:
"Housework can't kill you, but why take the chance."
"I'm eighteen years behind in my ironing. There's no use doing it now; it doesn't fit anyone I know."
And my favorite:
"If your house is really a mess and someone comes to the door, greet him with 'Who could have done this? We have no enemies!"
Author, A.A. Milne found promise in disorder:
"One of the advantages of being disorderly is constantly making exciting discoveries."
And author, Louisa Mae Alcott is purported to have said, "Housework ain't no joke." And in her day, that's the truth though I seriously doubt she ever said this, but who knows?
Mark Twain's opinion was that we should "Have a place for everything and keep the thing somewhere else; this is not a piece of advice, it is merely a custom."
On a more philosophical note, Simone de Beauvoir said, "Few tasks are more like the torture of Sisyphus (the guy destined to roll the rock up the mountain only to have it roll back down and thus start the process over until the end of time) with its endless repetition; the clean becomes soiled, the soiled is made clean, over and over, day after day."
She makes is sound so depressing, and that is precisely why we find whatever ways we can to make the tasks that we have to do anyway, more enjoyable, more meaningful, and if possible, more fun.
Agatha Christie and I agree on one thing: "The best time for planning a book is while you're doing dishes."
Stop being serious about organizing, and just be happy being who you are where you are, in the middle of whatever messes are making up your life right now. It's okay. Nothing is so important it can't wait for you to laugh, take a walk or a nap, or just sit and stare mindlessly out the window on this winter's day. Take some advice from Robert Brault, a freelance writer who had thoughts on housework:
"I am never five minutes into stripping the clutter from my life before I start running into the clutter that is my life."
"There is no daily chore so trivial that it cannot be made important by skipping it two days running."
Personally, I strive to follow the advice of William Morris: "Have nothing in your home that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful."
And until I am ready to write a serious piece about how important it is to find fun and effective ways to organize your home, your office, and other aspects of your life, I leave you with this thought from Erma Bombeck. It made me laugh too hard to have any real thoughts, and perhaps you'll enjoy it too, and give yourself a break to take time off.
"My second favorite household chore is ironing. My first is being hit on my head of the top bunk bed until I faint. —Erma Bombeck
And by all means, enjoy simply being and appreciating the fact that you have a home, a space of your own, where you can create, dream, work, live life fully each day.