text:
Sale Price:
Hand-carved wooden decorations from the 18th-century Bolivian church of San Javier de Chiquitos are the inspiration for this warm winter accessory.
Made in Bolivia. 100% alpaca. 66"L x 8"W. Reverses to brown with white stripes.
Indigenous people in South America have raised alpaca for its fleece for thousands of years before Europeans learned about the animal and exported alpaca fiber to Spain in the 16th and 17th centuries. Today this domesticated animal is bred throughout the world, but its native habitat is the Andean Altiplano: Ecuador, southern Peru, northern Bolivia, and northern Chile.
Descended from the wild vicuña, alpacas resemble a cross between a llama and a sheep. The fleece is similar to sheep's wool, but is usually softer, less prickly, and has minimal lanolin content, making it virtually hypoallergenic. Its extreme warmth, relatively light weight, and natural resistance to water make alpaca wool an ideal fabric for the frigid winters of the Andean Altiplano. These qualities have also led to a rise in the use of alpaca fiber in outdoor gear and active wear, although it is also easily spun into a fine enough yarn for use in suits and other dress wear.
Most alpaca products can be treated as you would an object made of sheep's woolhand wash using a mild soap and lukewarm water, or dry cleanbut check the tag or manufacturer's instructions for specific instructions.
(based on 3 reviews)
Ratings Distribution
5 Stars
4 Stars
3 Stars
2 Stars
1 Stars
Reviewed by 3 customers
Sort by
Displaying reviews 1-3
Back to top
Gorgeous pattern
By 303Jo
from Denver
Best Uses
Comments about Chiquitos Scarf:
Beautiful scarf that is very warm on cold days. Bought it with the hat. Makes a great combo.
Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend
Was this review helpful? Yes / No
- You may also flag this review
By Ana
from Victoria British Columbia Canada
Very soft. gorgeous pattern
(1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)
perfect – matches expectations
By Serendipity Queen
from Denmark
looking forward to the cold weather to wear this!


text:
Friday, October 19, 2012
Samhain Gacha Event
Organizer: Alyssalillian McMinnar & DelaRosa Glimmer
Hunt Date: October 15th - 31st
Moderate Sim/Event
# of Stores: 24
Hunt Object: Gacha Vendors
Hunt item Price: Varies
Hunt Focus/Theme: Halloween
Start Location: Tamire
Blog: None Needed
Hunt Group: None Needed
Added Info.
AS THE DARKNESS NOW DRAWS NEAR SEE THE CYCLE OF THE YEAR AS THE LIGHT NOT GOES WITHIN LET THE HALLOWS DANCE BEGIN. Samhain is the old winter festival, when the dark part of the year begins. Our monthly Gacha Events theme is Samhain and we have a lots of great offers for all gacha addicts. Gachas: … most time, little cute looking machines, offering a choice of products for one price you set (lower than regular!). Goods are given by principle of contingency. Designers who make copy and no transfer products often setup a extra gacha series. ^^ Gacha items are no copy but transfer and can be given as gift, when you got one double, when playing.
Posted by Brandy Birge at 6:04 AM
Labels: 2012 Hunts

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Added by WINNER GUARANTEED on 16 March 2012
Version 1
Prize: Grand prize: 2 office chairs, 2 Xcalibur chairs, 1 Xcalibur sofa or loveseat, ARV $6295. 1st place(6): 1 club chair, 2 home office chairs, ARV $2800. 2nd place(24): 1 home office chair, ARV $800, 24 3rd place winners too! $300 in free digitizing.
Prize Categories:
Ages: Minimum: 0, Maximum: Unlimited
Closing Date: 25 May 2012
Entry frequency: Information not provided
What you must do to enter: US residents 18+ may enter once.
Statistics: This contest was opened by 2 and entered by 2 ContestChest.com members. 100% of those who opened the contest, entered it.
To see this contest, register if you are not yet a member and log in:


text:
College Hockey:Army Blitzes Connecticut
STORRS, Conn. — Army scored four unanswered goals and Connecticut could not recover the Black Knights took a 5-2 decision on Friday evening at the UConn Ice Arena in Storrs, Conn. With the loss UConn slips to 10-15-7 overall, 7-10-5 in AHA. Army improves to 8-14-3 on the season, 6-12-3 in the loop.
The loss also snaps the Huskies seven-game unbeaten streak.
Army got into the scoring column first after Chris MacLeod found the back of the net just 3:06 into the contest. Army forward Seth Beamer fired a shot from point-blank range that was stopped by UConn net-minder Scott Tomes. However, the rebound was collected by MacLeod who was able to stuff it past Tomes for the score.
UConn outshot Army 14-10 in the second frame and the majority of the Huskies' chances came from close range. However, UConn could not capitalize as Black Knight keeper Bill Moss stopped shot after shot. Army went ahead 2-0 after MacLeod scored his second goal of the evening 4:06 into the second period. Chris Casey gave Army a 3-0 edge 1:11 later when he rifled a shot just past Tomes' glove and inside the near post.
After falling behind 4-0 early in the third period, the Huskies made a bit of a run when James Martin scored and then Matt Scherer lit the lamp 1:37 later. Army's Chad Mayfield would notch a power play goal at the 17:44 mark to ice the victory for the Black Knights.
Tomes made 29 saves in net for UConn and Moss stopped 35 shots for the Black Knights.
The following is a self-policing forum for discussing views on this story. Comments that are derogatory, make personal attacks, are abusive, or contain profanity or racism will be removed at our discretion. USCHO.com is not responsible for comments posted by users. Please report any inappropriate or offensive comments by clicking the "Flag" link next to that comment in order to alert the moderator.
Please also keep "woofing," taunting, and otherwise unsportsmanlike behavior to a minimum. Your posts will more than likely be deleted, and worse yet, you reflect badly on yourself, your favorite team and your conference.


text:
After a short recess from the online and physical shelves of retail, Nakamichi sound products are making a huge come back to the United States in 2013 and beyond. Nakamichi's refreshed new product line has started its rollout to Sears, Kmart, and Amazon.com. Nakamichi's new product lines of headphones, desktop speakers, and home theater sound bars feature fantastic styling and durable build quality that put their products right in line with the top of the line audio manufacturers Bose and Beats. The best part is that the new line of Nakamichi products are half the price of Beats and Bose with the same top quality audio and build quality.
Nakamichi's top three newly released products are listed in detail below to show the consumer a good place to start with their introduction or reintroduction to Nakamichi:
1. The All-In-One Home Theater: NK 22 Sound Bar & Subwoofer Typical Price: $329.99
Surround yourself with rich sound and sleek style from the wireless NK 22 Sound Bar. Whether you're watching movies, TV shows, or listening to your favorite music, the NK 22 delivers high quality sound at a price that's hard to beat. Features: Dolby Digital, 3RS True Surround HD, Bluetooth aptX, and 2.1 Channels.
2. The Shockwave Bluetooth Speaker. Desktop Size. Home Theater Sound. Typical Price: $62.99
Whether you're watching a movie on your laptop or streaming music from a cellphone, the Shockwave is designed to deliver an impressive aural experience, with or without wires. It even takes phone calls over Bluetooth, so you'll never miss a beat. Features: Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR, 80 dB SPL output level, Advanced Audio Distribution Profile (A2DP), Audio/Video Remote Control (AVRCP).
3. Quality Wireless Bluetooth Headphones Typical Price: $69.99
Enjoy a high-quality wireless listening experience that embraces you with sound and comfort. Whether you're flipping through your favorite album or taking important phone calls, the easy-to-tap, on-ear buttons let you switch between music and calls with the push of a button. You will be amazed by the sound quality and comfort of these lightweight, go-anywhere headphones. Features: Wireless, Bluetooth, Built-In Mic, Lithium battery,"(Jacobson Communication PR Release)
A brief history of Nakamichi:
Nakamichi was founded in 1948 by Mr. Etsuro Nakamichi, and has since established itself as a trusted creator of high-quality audio products that deliver sound, style, and substance. The Nakamichi product line is driven by an intense scientific curiosity, the love of music, and commitment to uncompromising quality and performance.
Nakamichi was born from a small research institute in Tokyo, Japan that provided R&D for major brands, government entities, universities, and organizations in the private sector. The first Nakamichi product was a reel-to-reel cassette deck, the Nakamichi 1000, which quickly set the standard for top-of-the-line cassette decks. Since then, Nakamichi has contributed to various innovations in technology, such as the compact disc and similar optical memory systems, paving the way for an entire range of high-end consumer electronics.
Today, Nakamichi prides itself on relentless research and development, while delivering some of the world's best products to people who appreciate sound at its highest quality."(Jacobson Communication PR Release)
Keep in mind that Nakamichi's new products are perfect for any audiophile, music lover, or sound enthusiast that appreciates a quality product, fantastic build quality, and crystal clear sound. The Nakamichi's products are very affordable and deserve a home in your house or apartment.


text:
Hungarian Leader Urges Science to Help Solve Crisis
The ongoing economic crisis marks a global reorganization and lays out a new economic world map, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said during a keynote address to the World Science Forum in Budapest.
Mr. Orban addressed an audience of scientists gathered to discuss matters like the future of human population, new challenges around global diseases, novel methods of of food production and food security, new material technologies, and advancements in brain research and cognitive sciences.
"They say there are two kinds of people, one wanting looks at what he already has and the other who looks at what he doesn't have yet," Mr Orbán said. "One of them is locked in the present, trying to find answers in existing inventories. The other is always aware that there is much more to the world than what we can see and is therefore ready to ask new questions and find new answers."
The prime minister referred to the ongoing economic crisis as a world in change, with rearrangements happening that are unprecedented in times of peace. "We have to accept that if we want to solve our problems we have to find new, unconventional solutions," he said.
This is why Mr. Orban said it is essential for the global scientific community to come up with new ideas and innovations that will enable the world to overcome the current difficulties and usher in what he called a new age in the history of mankind. "We in Hungary believe that Western crises have never been solved by either violence or silence, but the strength of imagination, and the brave people who could come up with new ways to approach issues," he said.
"In the history of the World Science Forum, scientists have never had the kind of responsibility they have today," Mr. Orbán said, wishing participants of the conference all the best in their work to tackle the challenges.


text:
Butterwood Desserts is happy to announce its new retail and full service restaurant opening in downtown Buffalo at the beautifully restored, historic Lafayette Hotel.
Our GRAND OPENING will be sometime in the next few weeks (we hope by August 15th!).
Our new address is:
Butterwood Desserts [Lower Level] Hotel Lafayette
391 Washington Street | Buffalo, NY 14203
Phone: 716-652-0131 ext 7
Parking is across the street on Clinton.


text:
We are indoor cats and this is our blog. Moe is an orange boy with a puffy tail and Mindy is a grey girl with a white tummy. we are also litter mates. We were born outdoors and formerly feral. The two of us were the original 'Team Tabby' That was in 2001. Later we were joined by Cookie, a brown tabby (who is blind) and Mike, a bi-colored tabby. They both needed a new home and we had space for them.
Thursday, November 24, 2011
13 comments:
- Fuzzy Tales said...
Happy Thanksgiving to you! We hope you have a fabulous celebration with lots of yummy food!
- Thursday, November 24, 2011
- Mariodacat said...
Happy thanksgiving to you too pals.
- Thursday, November 24, 2011
- Roy said...
Small celebration this year. Kids are on their own and way far away, so today's festivities are being celebrated by Miss Lisa, myself (Roy Sr), and the 6 Mouskateers, Buddy Bear, Ms Smokey, Ms Princess, Rowdy, Tegar, and MikiCato.
Happy everyday to everyone.
Be safe, be warm, stay happy, and y'all come see us sometime.
- Thursday, November 24, 2011
- Cheysuli and gemini said...
Happy Thanksgiving!!!
- Thursday, November 24, 2011
- Brian said...
I will have a special bite of turkey in honor of our dear friend!
- Thursday, November 24, 2011
- The Island Cats said...
We had turkey! YUM!!
- Thursday, November 24, 2011
- Derby, Ducky said...
Happy Thanksgiving.
- Thursday, November 24, 2011
- Prancer Pie said...
Thank you! We is full of ham and sleepy. Purrs.
- Friday, November 25, 2011
- meowmeowmans said...
Thank you! We had turkey (and will be eating the leftovers in the coming days) ... yum! :)
- Friday, November 25, 2011
- Cat Chat With Caren And Cody said...
that was so thoughtful!!! Thank you! xoxoxo
- Friday, November 25, 2011
- Milo and Alfie Marshall said...
We live in the UK but we are still thankful to have met yoo! xx
- Saturday, November 26, 2011
- Au and Target said...
Happy Thanksgiving to you! We live in Malaysia so we don't celebrate, but we love chicken and turkey!
- Sunday, November 27, 2011
- Miss Kitty said...
We hope you too celebrated it in some way. I know it would not be an American but as dad is from Germany, their TD is more like giving thanks for the years harvest.
Warmest regards,
Ms K and dad
- Monday, November 28, 2011


text:
Hot answers tagged war-horse
Actually it is Albert that insists upon knowing his granddaughters name, not the other way around. I think Albert wants to know her name because he wants to show the old man that he actually cares- and he isn't just using him for getting Joey. He is just trying to honour the little girl's memory a bit by taking interest in her. And Albert's probably thankful ...
Only top voted, non community-wiki answers of a minimum length are eligible


text:
Debate over the appropriate percentage of alcohol in your wine rages on
The AP has an interesting story examining the long-running debate over the appropriate amount of alcohol for wine.
It's no secret that California reds, particularly those from the Napa Valley, have seen the percentage of alcohol per bottle steadily increase over the past several years. In large part, this is due to the fact that grapes are being left on the vine longer in an attempt to produce more flavorful wine, the consequence being an increase in sugar levels and eventually alcohol levels. Many wines from other regions still range in the 12-13% alcohol range, while many of the local producers here don't sell anything below 14%.
A couple quotes from Napa Valley wine industry folks caught our attention in the article. First, Doug White, who is the director of operations at the Vintner's Collective, said of the typical big, bold Napa Cabs: "They fill your mouth with flavor; you can chew on them. They linger on your palate when you're drinking them and that's what Napa is known for  its big, chewy cabs…"
Meanwhile, we found the following passage to be quite entertaining:
At Shafer Vineyards, a Napa Valley producer of highly rated reds, some coming in at 14.9 percent, winery president Doug Shafer won't use technology to reduce alcohol.
"We like our wines. We like the fruit. We like the richness," he said.
Shafer is aware of the debate over how much is too much, but says it's up to consumers to decide what style of wine they prefer. "I'm not forcing anyone to buy our wines  we're selling everything," he points out.
Industry wide, "the quality of wines from around the world just keep getting better and better," Shafer said. "I think this is the golden age for the consumer."
Now, we're admittedly fans of the in-your-face, 'chewy' Napa Cabs and Shafer certainly has a point–consumers can (and do) speak with their pocketbooks, so it could be argued that the local producers are simply giving consumers what they want. At the same time, we'd also love to see more local winemakers tame the growth in alcohol by volume just a bit.
The 2003 Hendry Block 28 Zinfandel we reviewed back in December came in at 15.1% alcohol, whereas the 2005 Folie a Deux Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon we're about to open tonight comes in at a slightly more modest 14.4%.
How important (or unimportant) are alcohol levels to you? What's the highest alcohol by volume you've ever had in a wine? Did you enjoy it, or not?
[techtags: 2003 Hendry Block 28 Zinfandel, 2005 Folie a Deux Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, alcohol, Napa, Napa Valley, Shafer Vineyards, wine, winecountry, winery]


text:
The MX-5 turns 20 this year and these pics show the special version designed to celebrate the anniversary. The MX-5 20th Anniversary edition will be available in both Roadster and Roadster Coupé versions, with the cabrio having a soft top and the coupé having a folding metal roof.
The MX-5 has a snazzy interior with Recaro leather seats in twin tone black and red. Externally the special edition MX-5 is fitted with new lights and 17-inch wheels. The vehicle is currently available in 60 countries, and sinch 1989, about 860,000 models have been sold. See the gallery below for a look at the world's most sold spider over time.


text:
More New and Used
from Private Sellers
Note: Supplemental materials are not guaranteed with Rental or Used book purchases.
Georgia Politics in a State of Change
ISBN13:by Bullock, Charles S.; Gaddie, Ronald Keith
Questions About This Book?
Why should I rent this book?
Renting is easy, fast, and cheap! Renting from eCampus.com can save you hundreds of dollars compared to the cost of new or used books each semester. At the end of the semester, simply ship the book back to us with a free UPS shipping label! No need to worry about selling it back.
How do rental returns work?
Returning books is as easy as possible. As your rental due date approaches, we will email you several courtesy reminders. When you are ready to return, you can print a free UPS shipping label from our website at any time. Then, just return the book to your UPS driver or any staffed UPS location. You can even use the same box we shipped it in!
What version or edition is this?
This is the 2nd edition with a publication date of 2/22/2012.
What is included with this book?
- The New copy of this book will include any supplemental materials advertised. Please check the title of the book to determine if it should include any CDs, lab manuals, study guides, etc.
- The Rental copy of this book is not guaranteed to include any supplemental materials. You may receive a brand new copy, but typically, only the book itself.
- The eBook copy of this book is not guaranteed to include any supplemental materials. Typically only the book itself is included.
Related Products
Updated in its 2nd edition, Georgia Politics in a State of Change, explores Georgia's constitution, politics, and government. It combines historical background and the most current scholarship to tell the story of Georgia politics from the state's founding to the institutions, policies, and people changing Georgia today. Written with an entertaining, conversational style, this concise text provides expansive treatment of Georgia politics and covers new ground not available in any other book on the subject.
Table of Contents
|p. xiii
|Georgia Politics: From Talmadgism to Two-Party Competition
|Georgia and the Rule of the Rustics
|p. 1
|The Historic Past
|p. 2
|Bifactionai Politics
|p. 4
|"Three Governors"
|p. 6
|p. 7
|Georgia Geography and Politics
|p. 8
|The Fall Line and Georgia Regions
|p. 9
|Economic Implications of the Fall Line
|p. 10
|Geography of Antebellum Politics
|p. 12
|Geography of Reconstruction Georgia
|p. 14
|Regionalism in the One-Party System at Mid-Century
|p. 16
|Population Trends
|p. 21
|p. 23
|Republican Rebirth, Democratic Delaying Actions
|p. 25
|Race, Republicans, and Georgia
|p. 26
|Rebuilding the GOP
|p. 29
|GOP Breakthrough
|p. 32
|p. 34
|Constitutions and Institutions
|The Georgia Constitution
|p. 35
|Contrasting the Georgia and U.S. Constitutions
|p. 35
|Georgia and the Bill of Rights
|p. 36
|From Trustee Charter to Constitutional Colony
|p. 37
|The Constitution of 1777
|p. 37
|The Constitution of 1789
|p. 38
|The Constitution of 1798
|p. 39
|The Constitution of 1861
|p. 39
|The Constitution of 1865
|p. 40
|The Constitution of 1868
|p. 41
|The Constitution of 1877
|p. 42
|The Constitution of 1945
|p. 43
|The Constitution of 1983
|p. 44
|Amending: U.S. Constitution versus Georgia Constitution
|p. 45
|The Amendment Process
|p. 46
|Making Change More Difficult
|p. 46
|p. 48
|Interlude votefordanae.com
|p. 49
|Lawmaking 101
|p. 50
|"Target on the Back"
|p. 52
|Post-Elective Career
|p. 54
|The Georgia General Assembly
|p. 55
|p. 56
|Campaign Finance
|p. 60
|Legislative Elections
|p. 62
|Party Leadership
|p. 63
|The Legislative Process
|p. 67
|Innovation and Change
|p. 69
|p. 70
|Staff Support and Resources
|p. 71
|Norms Governing Behavior
|p. 72
|p. 75
|The Executive Branch
|p. 76
|p. 76
|Governor's Responsibilities
|p. 78
|Governor's Budgetary Powers
|p. 82
|Governor's Personal Staff
|p. 85
|Lieutenant Governor
|p. 85
|Other Constitutional Offices
|p. 86
|Secretary of State
|p. 86
|Attorney General
|p. 87
|Insurance Commissioner
|p. 88
|State School Superintendent
|p. 88
|Commissioner of Agriculture
|p. 90
|Commissioner of Labor
|p. 90
|Public Service Commission
|p. 90
|Department of Transportation
|p. 91
|Campaign Finance
|p. 91
|p. 92
|The Judicial System
|p. 93
|Georgia's Court System
|p. 94
|Trial Court Proceedings
|p. 96
|Appellate Proceedings
|p. 97
|Amicus Curiae
|p. 97
|Bases for Judicial Decisions
|p. 97
|Judicial Selection
|p. 98
|Judicial Contests Become More Political
|p. 100
|Judicial Misconduct
|p. 101
|Judicial Officers
|p. 103
|p. 106
|Local Government
|p. 107
|County Government
|p. 107
|County Commissioners
|p. 108
|Consolidated Government
|p. 111
|Municipal Government
|p. 111
|Local Public Officials
|p. 118
|Local Revenues
|p. 121
|The Urbanization of Georgia: Balkan Atlanta
|p. 121
|Corporate Federalism and Milton County
|p. 127
|An Instance of Regional Government: MARTA
|p. 131
|p. 133
|Agents of Change
|Voting Rights in Georgia
|p. 134
|Georgia and Discriminatory Voting Practices
|p. 134
|Georgia and the Voting Rights Act
|p. 137
|African American Office Holding in Georgia
|p. 142
|Georgia Voter Photo ID
|p. 144
|p. 145
|p. 146
|One-Person, One-Vote in Georgia
|p. 146
|Racial and Partisan Consequences of Redistricting
|p. 149
|Redistricting in a New Century
|p. 154
|Redistricting and Partisanship
|p. 157
|Regional Shift in Power
|p. 157
|Redistricting 2011
|p. 158
|p. 163
|Linking the Public to the Government
|Political Parties
|p. 164
|Party in the Electorate
|p. 164
|Party Organization
|p. 166
|Party in the Government
|p. 168
|p. 170
|Interest Groups
|p. 171
|Types of Groups
|p. 171
|Who Becomes a Lobbyist?
|p. 178
|The Impact of the Change in Party Control on Lobbying
|p. 178
|Ethics Reform
|p. 180
|p. 182
|The Electoral Process
|p. 183
|p. 183
|Presidential Primary
|p. 185
|General Elections
|p. 186
|Municipal Elections
|p. 189
|Special Elections
|p. 189
|p. 191
|The Act of Voting
|p. 191
|Participation by Ethnic Groups
|p. 193
|Campaign Finance
|p. 194
|Campaign Consulting
|p. 194
|p. 195
|Education Policy
|p. 196
|Contemporary Education in Georgia
|p. 196
|Completion and Dropout Rates and Academic Performance
|p. 197
|The Evolution of Public Education in Georgia
|p. 199
|Educating the Freedmen
|p. 199
|Early Education Reform
|p. 201
|The Sibley Commission
|p. 201
|QBE: The Quality Basic Education Act
|p. 202
|The Lottery and HOPE
|p. 203
|Recent Efforts: A+ Education Reform Act and No Child Left Behind
|p. 206
|"Tough Times"
|p. 208
|p. 210
|p. 213
|Table of Contents provided by Ingram. All Rights Reserved.


text:
Aliens in GTA San Andreas
| This page needs to be cleaned up to meet the standards of Grand Theft Wiki.
A complete rewrite may be required in this case, or a change to the layout - the information is pretty much all over the place
|Parts of this article are based on realistic Speculation and might not turn out to be correct.
The UFO myth appeared quite early in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas and though it is not so popular at the moment, there still are people looking for it.
It is believed that the myth originated when Area 69 was discovered. The player is only granted "legal" access to Area 69 in one mission, where the player has to find and steal a Jetpack.
However, there is no evidence of any aliens or flying saucers in the game. The only known UFO is the fake one on a pole outside the Lil' Probe Inn. The Inn has started multiple speculations about possible areas where UFOs can be seen. If the player goes down the back behind the counter they will see a small room with a radio transmitter, computer and a map on the wall with 11 dots on it. Four dots are believed to be the pins, as they are located in the 4 corners of the map, where nothing significant is located, while the other seven look like they are marks on the map. The same map is located at Mike Toreno's ranch, which made people believe that he is somehow connected with the aliens. Nothing suspicious has been found regarding the map, it is believed that it is there only for decorative purposes and to create the atmosphere. It could be an included easter egg by Rockstar Games, as it is a possible Beta map, evidenced by the massive differences in land forms. There are some pictures on the walls in the bar itself - some feature locations within San Andreas with a UFO seen in the sky, while others are real-life pictures (e.g. one has got Orthodox church domes on it - suggesting that the picture was taken in the real-life city of Moscow).
A news segment on the radio station WCTR mentions that residents of Bone County area have reported seeing lights over the desert. According to WCTR, the government blames water supply.
The Truth, the hippy Carl meets later in the game, also speaks about "Them... Who can't control our minds" and "Snake-headed aliens who run oil business". As an oil refinery is located near Area 69, it is believed that there is a higher possibility of spotting the UFO in that vicinity, as opposed to anywhere else in San Andreas.
On of the missions CJ does for Toreno involves entering the cargo plane Andromada, killing the crew and destroying it. The crew (people dressed in black as some aliens did in the Men In Black film) utter phrases such as "Carbon based buffoon" and "You evolved from shrews". These phrases are the only clue that made some people believe that they are aliens from the galaxy of Andromeda.
"Mr Hat" and "Mr Trenchcoat"
"Mr. Hat" and "Mr. Trenchcoat" are two pedestrians that appear in the game, as the player never gets to find out their real names, fans have given them simple nicknames based on their appearance. "Mr. Hat" wears an eye-patch, a baseball cap, jeans and a blue shirt, while "Mr. Trenchcoat" wears a black cowboy hat, black trenchcoat, black boots and stars-and-stripes tie. They could be related to the aliens issue in some way. For example, most of the time they spawn near the Big Ear, the geyser or The Lil' Probe Inn - anywhere near the Fort Carson area. Some people claim that they have seen "Mr. Trenchcoat" chasing and talking to people asking them to join. It hasn't been proven that he does that, but a list of phrases that he uses often suggest that he was abducted by aliens at some point in his life:
- They are watching us!
- They know.
- You know they know.
- Get away from me!
- He's one of them!
- You're not gonna probe me again.
- You green blooded monster.
"Mr. Hat", however, doesn't say anything strange, but it was claimed many times that when killed, he spawns again almost immediately after the player has turned away. He is often seen speaking to "Mr. Trenchcoat". It was once claimed that the Sandking that spawns under the Big Ear belongs to Mr Trenchcoat. If the truck is parked there it is supposedly easier to find "Mr. Trenchcoat".
The Big Ear, which some people believe was built by the military forces to control the sky in case aliens invade, points exactly North. There were suggestions about it, but no clear conclusion has been made.
There is no proof of UFOs existence in the game, apart from some clues such as radio conversations, game scripts and pedestrian conversations. In the night red and yellow lights can be seen zooming through the sky. Their models are called UFOlight* in the game data files.
UFO "Proof"
Nevertheless, there is another object, which could have been placed by Rockstar themselves. It looks like an old hand-grenade and has a small exhaust fumes tail behind it; it moves very fast and it is impossible to trace where it came from or where it has landed. Few people have claimed they have seen it, as well as one of the authors of this article - once in Aldea Malvada and the second time in Red County, flying toward the desert. There are no suggestions on what it could possibly be, neither is there anything that can somehow relate to it. The search is still going on, although many people are not familiar with it. The only way to pursue one is by Hydra though even in a Hydra, if you pass through a cloud, you may lose sight of it.
External Links
Video featuring one of those flying objects
Bad quality set of screen caps featuring another appearance of that object


text:
Join or Sign In
Welcome to lalylaland! Here you find some crocheted wooly friends for life - sprung from my imagination, made with my very own two hands and written down by me, Lydia Tresselt, in cooperation with my favorite pen and crochet hook.
You are looking for more lalylala? Visit www.lalylala.com or follow lalylala on Facebook. lalylala's Instagram you can find by searching for laly_dia
Take Craftsy with you!
Craftsy Apps for iOS and Android. Read more »


text:
Together with dogfish and skates, sand lances (sand eels) may be one of the major unexploited fish resources of the northwest Atlantic. The main evidence for this lies in the occasional large catches by fishing vessels from Georges Bank in the south to the Newfoundland Grand Banks, and even Greenland in the north. Additional evidence is provided by the fact that it is a major food item for cod, salmon and several other commercial species, and that the larvae are the most abundant and widespread fish larvae in the northwest Atlantic in the early months of the year.
The name sand lance (launce) or sand eel describes its slender body form but it is not related in any way to the common eels. The northwest Atlantic species fall into the genus Ammodytes but there is doubt about whether there are one or two species. It is generally accepted that the offshore, northern species is A. dubius and the inshore species A. americanus (= A. hexapterus) but the characteristics of the two species overlap.
The sand lance is easily identified by its slender body, pointed snout and long dorsal and anal fins. The fins and rather cylindrical body distinguish it from capelin with which it is often confused. It reaches a maximum length of about 37 cm on the southeast Scotian Shelf but size decreases to the north and south where maximum length of 20-25 cm are usual. Its colour ranges from iridescent deep blue-green to bronze on the back, with white belly when live, but the back darkens and dulls soon after death.
Distribution and Behaviour
Sand lances of various species are found on both sides of the north Atlantic and in the north Pacific. In the northwest Atlantic they extend north from Cape Hatteras to Labrador, Hudson's Bay and West Greenland. They are restricted to shallow water, generally in less than 90 m, either along the coast or to the tops of offshore banks, and to sand or light-gravel bottom. There is no evidence of long-distance migration but they make short passages from rest areas to feeding grounds. They do not appear to seek deeper, warmer water when temperatures fall in winter as so many other fish species do.
Probably the most interesting aspect of the sand lance is its habit of burrowing into the sand or gravel of the sea bottom, from which it gets its scientific name (Greek Ammodytes = sand burrower). This habit is associated with rest between periods of feeding activity and may be correlated with tidal currents or time of day. There is some evidence that the fish avoids strong tidal currents and feeds mainly during the day.
The burrowing habit leads to one of the most peculiar features of the sand lance. In many coastal areas in Europe and North America, the fish buries itself in the sand between tide levels so that it remains in exposed beaches when the tide falls. Digging for sand lances is a popular pastime in such areas - they are used as bait. How the fish survives for hours in the sand, when there is little water for respiration, is an interesting problem in physiology which does not appear to have been investigated.
Sand lances in the northwest Atlantic mature towards the end of their second year of life. They spawn on sand in shallow water during the winter months and their eggs are laid on, or fall to the bottom where they stick to sand grains. The ovary forms a large part of the total weight of the ripe female and each fish lays many thousands of eggs.
On hatching, the larvae rise to surface waters where they remain for a few weeks, providing an important food source for predators. When they are a few centimeters long, they develop into juveniles with adult coloration and descend to the bottom where they remain for the remainder of their lives.
Although sand eels feed on a variety of small organisms, by far the most important in their diet is copepods, particularly Calanusfnmarchicus which, in one study, occurred in 95 per cent of fish examined and formed 65 per cent of total stomach contents. Records from coastal waters in Europe show that the fish emerge in small groups from the sand where they lie, then join other groups as they move out to deeper water to feed.
They feed by snatching at prey as it passes and are believed to follow concentrations of crustaceans as they rise through the water column as light fails in the evening, so that the fish are near bottom during the day and off bottom (or in the sand) at night. Claims that concentrations of sand lance are seen on the surface at night may result from confusion with the saury or billfish (Scomberesox saurus) which occurs in large schools on the Scotian Shelf in summer and is attracted to the lights of fishing vessels. The two species are easily distinguished out of the water as the saury has long needle-like jaws.
Some fishermen have claimed to have followed the rise of concentrations of sand lance at night on their echo sounders, so it may well be that under certain circumstances the fish do feed at night.
Growth and Age
Sand lance in the northwest Atlantic grow quickly for the first four to five years and slowly after that. Age is determined fairly easily from otoliths. The definition of growth zones in the otolith is much clearer in fish from colder, northern waters than it is in warmer water. The maximum age so far determined for A.dubius from the Scotian Shelf is nine years. There does not appear to be any difference in growth rates between males and females.
The Fisheries
There is no Canadian fishery for sand lance. In New England, there is a
minor bait fishery which landed 20 metric tons (t) in 1982. In conjunction with a S t
catch by the USSR (presumably bycatch), the total catch from the northwest Atlantic was
25 t. This contrasts with the total North Sea catch, in the same year, of 660,149 t and a peak North Sea catch in 1980 of 768,760 t. The North Sea fishery is a multinational, industrial fish operation.
The lack of a fishery for sand lance on the Scotian Shelf and Newfoundland Grand Banks may not be because of lack of resource. Factors which also play a part are: distance from market, lack of market demand for sand lance and for fish meal, and no special methodology for capture. In the North Sea, the grounds are fairly near, there is an assured market and a highly developed methodology involving intimate knowledge of fishing grounds, specialized gear (light, fine-meshed trawls with weighted groundropes that sweep bottom) and refined techniques (fishing along crests of sand ridges) which make the fishing a highly-skilled operation.
The techniques to suit local circumstances could be developed in North America if an adequate market and resource existed. The latter is unproven but during experimental fishing operations in 1971 by the Nova Scotian Department of Fisheries, using a small (18 m) trawler with a Danish "Butterfly" net, catches on three consecutive tows averaged 5.4 t per hour, indicating a very considerable resource. Unfortunately, catches at other times varied so much that a commercial operation was not thought feasible. Improved knowledge of fish distribution and behaviour might well solve the problem.
With no fishery, there is no management of the sand lance resource. If a fishery should develop, it might be necessary to protect sand lance stocks, not only to optimize the fishery but also to ensure that the stocks are not endangered as a forage species on which some of our major commercial species such as cod and yellowtail flounder depend.


text:
Sign up to leave a comment
Please sign up to flag this comic.
1 comment
nice, you might want to add some more detail in the back round, the are somr great stage backrounds that people have made, if you dont have one, make one, in a scene one of the walls avalible is a curtain. if you wanna see look at my strip, only in my dreams!
Feb 10th


text:
Redeeming FPU Rebates
FPU Makes 'Cashing-In' On Your Appliance Rebate(s) As Easy as 1-2-3!
1. Send FPU the following:
- Proof of purchase receipt with appliance from a retailer.
- Proof of installation (receipts preferred but photos accepted)
- Customer Rebate Form (download below)
Download the Electric Commercial and Residential Rebate Form
2. Allow six weeks for processing—and enjoy!
3. Contact FPU's Energy Conservation Coordinator at 888.880.0973 if you have any questions.
Send Us Your Rebate Documentation—
Via Mail:
Florida Public Utilities
450 South Highway 17-92
DeBary, FL 32713 (ATTN: Rebates)
Via Fax: 561.838.1756
Email: email@example.com
Questions? Call us at 888.880.0973 and ask for a rebate expert.
Tracking FPU Rebates
To track the status of your FPU rebate (or that of your customer), start by clicking on the following link:
Having trouble tracking your rebate? Reach out to FPU using the contact information above and we'll be happy to assist you.


text:
Erik Kriss, spokesman for the New York State Department of Correctional Services, downplays the influence of gangs among the approximately 60,000 inmates in New York State's 67 prisons.
"We do have an advantage over the county jails," Kriss says. "If we have a half-dozen guys coming in from Nassau and we know they're affiliated with rival gangs, we have a huge prison system," suggesting that each inmate could be sent to a separate prison hundreds of miles away to avoid having them join forces during their extended stay.
"We don't accept or tolerate gang activity, but we do recognize that [gangs] are a reality," he says, adding that there are disciplinary measures for those who do something to show that they are a gang member.
But with prison inmates disciplined 1,193 times so far in 2009 for violating anti-gang rules—which can include receiving a letter with gang references or drawing a gang-related symbol on one's shirt—it doesn't look like anyone is asking for permission.
For those gang bangers who don't spend the majority of their criminal careers locked up, but instead opt for trying to start over as a law-abiding citizen, life on the outside can sometimes be as constricting as being back in the cell.
"It's hard for these guys because invariably they go back to the same neighborhoods, same friends," Lundquist says. "If you live in a certain area you can't help but be close to these guys."
Sometimes the gang life quickly catches up with them and they wind up dead. "You feel bad, you just spoke to the guy and his life was cut short for something stupid," says Nassau's Focazio.
But there is help out there.
"You can't minimize it, because at any time it can happen," says Kevin Robinson, a case manager for the nonprofit Education & Assistance Corp (EAC) in Hempstead, which hosts the twice-weekly Council of Thoughts and Actions, a support group for those trying to get their lives on track. "It's just a false pretense that [gang members] can't get out," he says of gangs, in between helping a line of men with paperwork following a recent meeting.
An ex-con himself who has rebuilt his life since he got out four years ago, Robinson is a testament to the work done by his organization: helping find jobs for recently released inmates and having them enrolled in job-training classes. Groups like his buttress the work that parole officers do to keep ex-felons in check and probations officers do for misdemeanor offenders.
And business is booming. The same day as Roosevelt Day, a Youth Summit at Timberline Park in Brentwood was held with anti-gang messages touted; this followed several shootings at the park over the summer.
Leonard Jeffries, Jr., a professor of African-American studies and political science at the City College of New York, one of the speakers in Roosevelt, says the hands-on approach works best. "We have to get right to the playgrounds, into the streets, where the young people are, because they've been pushed there," he says.
But for the dozens of anti-gang groups on LI that focus on post-incarceration rehabilitation in addition to reaching out to the youth before they go down the wrong path, it is a monumental task they face. The goal is similar to getting an addict in rehab before they change their minds. "We have to get these guys as soon as they get out of jail," says Bishop J. Raymond Mackey, pastor of Tabernacle of Joy in Uniondale and HEVN's founder, adding that an ex-gang member once walked straight to his Baptist church from jail.
"I was fortunate in my situation, I'm not walking away with any physical scars, but I am walking away with mental and emotional ones from things I've seen," says Daniels. "One of my friends was shot dead in front of me."
Despite his hardships, which started with being one of four children raised by a single mother, Daniels is not tempted to return to the guaranteed high-pay world of drug dealing. But he does still describe the Bloods as a positive organization at its core.
"I'm not defending gangs, I'm going against the things that they're doing," he says as he tries to reconcile being an anti-gang advocate who talks of a misconstrued history of one of the nation's largest street gangs. "I just want them to stop what they're doing and do what they were intended to do," which, he says, is to be community organizers, as the founders intended decades ago, and not drug dealers and murderers.
Regardless of his seemingly conflicting worldview, Daniels, HEVN and the dozens of similar anti-gang violence organizations across Long Island have their work cut out for them.
This is part 2 of our special series Gangs of Long Island.


text:
- Overview
- Specs
- Reviews
Louis Garneau Robota II HelmetThe Robota II bike helmet will keep your head protected, well ventilated and dialed-in on all your trail rides. In-Mold exterior with internal frame absorbs and dissipates impacts. 16 generous vents circulate cool air around your noggin, V-Pro receptacle makes it easy to attach or remove the visor and single-handed retention system gives you a perfect fit every time. Head protection doesn't get much better than the Robota II.
- In-Mold construction binds the microplastic and polystyrene together for superior durability and impact protection
- Inner Nerves internal frame system reinforces the helmet's structure, dissipates shock and provides lightweight support
- 16 sizeable vents promote airflow, moisture-wicking and cooling performance
- Sealed Airdry adjustment padding with an ergonomic design enhances durability, moisture-wicking, comfort and is easy to wash
- V-Pro System with quick, snap-in fasteners for easy attachment and removal of the Robota II Visor (plastic plugs are included to fill the holes when not in use)
- Robota II Visor is specifically designed for the Robota and Robota II helmets and offers protection from sun and trail debris
- Reflective decals increase visibility in low light
- SpiderLock Elite retention system adjusts on-the-fly with a single hand
- Steplock Divider cam-locking device quickly adjusts strap position
- Certifications: CPSC-ASTM-CEN
Louis Garneau Robota II Helmet
- colors:
- Black/Red (Black/Red), White/Charcoal (White/Charcoal), White/Silver (White/Silver)
- retention system:
- SpiderLock Elite
- sizing:
- vents:
- 16
- video:
- qpqVaA58lHg
- puF4SzwDxhY
- weight:
- 275g
- rating:
- 4.5
? Place an order in the next Hours Minutes . Overweight charges may apply to some items.Based on delivery to . Change location
Not the correct shipping zip code? Update your information below.
Enter a valid zip code
Please select options for this product
Find in Store Check availability for
Item availability can change quickly and is not guaranteed.
Stores Within 50 Miles of:
Enter a valid zip code
Please select options for this product
Item availability can change quickly and is not guaranteed.
Please contact your local store to confirm status.
Shipping See options for delivery
Estimated Delivery for
Type Estimated Arrival Date
Two Day
Next Day
Next Day Saturday
Change Shipping Destination
Enter a valid zip code
Please select options for this product
- Important Shipping Information
- Additional processing time may be required prior to shipping.
SPECIAL OFFERTake An Extra 20% Off This Item, Discount Taken in Cart. See details
Everything Is On Sale: Event available 6/22/16 - 6/26/16 at all Performance Bicycle Retail locations, online and by phone. Advertised category and/or brand savings taken off lowest marked price on all applicable items during the event period. Some brand and/or item exclusions may apply to this promotion – visit Terms and Conditions for details. Bikes and items labeled Doorbusters are priced as marked and are excluded from advertised category and/or brand discounts. Doorbuster availability limited to stock on hand. Online, discount taken at checkout. Taxes, gift cards, Team Performance memberships/renewals, Spin Doctor Services/Service Plans or shipping and handling on web/phone orders are not eligible to receive discounts. Discounts cannot be applied to previous purchases. Sorry, no rainchecks. In retail stores, colors, styles and select brand availability varies by location. Photographic, typographic and pricing errors are unintentional and subject to change.


text:
Alex Berenson's singular talent, ably demonstrated in the previous 7 John Wells novels, is the ability to build up a convincing world scenario. From the Arabian peninsula, to the jungles of Africa, Berenson is able to find a new story that rings true and believable. Then Wells is cast out there to use his talents, smarts, spycraft and muscular violence to winnow out the truth. Like the real world, John Wells does not always succeed. There are losses of life and of innocence. Berenson, however, seems to have a handle on the world's hot spots and can ably write about Muslims in Arabia, pirates in Africa or a girl with a reed thin voice trying to survive in South America.
The buildup in "The Counterfeit Agent" is very impressive. Berenson outdoes himself in putting together a convincing conspiracy. An unknown ruthless female agent has purchased weapon grade material for a bomb. She has hired a rouge ex spy and put together a hit squad. An America spy in Istanbul, Brian Taylor, has been approached by a Reza, a mysterious Irani, with secrets to tell about his country's plans against America, and the secrets Reza spills are coming true. Could Iran really be thinking of attacking the United States?
Wells, who frets about his now 40 year old body, taking extra time on the shooting range, and doing the kind of exercising that the rest of us dream about, needs a respite from real life. He has proposed to his girlfriend, but she wants him to give up the spy life and gives him 30 days to figure out what he wants.
Enter Vinny Duto, the ex head of the CIA, who is now a Senator. Duto has learned from an old contact in South America that someone is targeting a CIA Station Chief for assassination. He and Ellis Shafer, who is still at the CIA, dispatch Wells to see if the plot is real and the hunt is on.
There is one great scene near the end of the novel where Wells must use every bit of his wits and muscles to extract himself from a tough situation, but the end of the novel ends on a cliffhanger, with America poised on the doorstep of war and a major player unmasked in an "aha" moment, without much in the way of setup. It is the type of neat solution that is the hallmark of a lazy writer, not one of the scope of Berenson, and detracts from the overall story.
The "Counterfeit Agent" is a good book, but not among Berenson's best.


text:
Turkish Airlines to scrap premium economy on HK flights
Published: 08/08/2014 - Filed under: News »
Turkish Airlines (TK) will soon stop offering a premium economy (branded as Comfort Class) product on its Hong Kong–Istanbul service.
According to the airline, it will begin deploying a newly delivered Boeing 777-300ER to replace the current model (also a B777-300ER) as of April 13, 2015.
Turkish Airlines' Boeing 777-300ER
However, unlike the existing model, which offers 63 seats in premium economy, the incoming B777-300ER will instead only offer a two class cabin layout, with 49 seats in business and 300 in economy.
The loss of premium economy will be compensated by an additional 21 seats in business and 54 in economy.
Business class
So what will happen to the existing B777-300ER? Speaking to Business Traveller Asia-Pacific, a spokesperson for TK said the aircraft would be re-deployed onto the Istanbul–Seoul service.
This move follows a similar trend seen with TK's flights to Houston, which offered a premium economy product until July 28. Since then, the aircraft serving the route has been re-distributed, and now operates on flights to Sao Paulo/Buenos Aires.
No more premium economy
The same will soon apply to the carrier's flights to Shanghai. Effective from September 22, the service will no longer offer premium economy, and the operating aircraft will be re-assigned to TK's services to Guangzhou.
In the long run, the airline will be looking to retire the premium economy product from its entire B777-300ER fleet. First announced by TK chief executive Temel Koti last year at the IATA AGM (see here), it has now been confirmed that all subsequent deliveries of the aircraft will no longer offer this cabin class.
IFE system in premium economy
"The new B777 aircrafts joining the fleet [over] the next three years will be configured without Comfort class," said the TK spokesperson.
"Current versions of the B777 fleet with Comfort class configuration will also be converted to the new configurations gradually, which will take some time".
For more information, visit turkishairlines.com
Clement Huang
Krisd777 - 10/08/2014 14:42
Too bad. Premium Economy is a great product for me although i never tried TK´s.
It looks like they have missed this opportunity, its closer to a business product than what the competition have. But they still sell it for less and it does not add up.


text:
Tel 028 9024 3265
These might include parenting issues and the best arrangements for your children, financial matters such as the home and other capital, child support and maintenance or any other problem particular to your personal circumstances. Family Mediation offers the opportunity for parents, or (former) couples, to discuss any or all of these matters together with the assistance of a mediator to reach a jointly negotiated settlement.
Family Mediation is also appropriate in other family circumstances: for example, where families have an adult dependent for whom decisions need to be taken or where there are disputes between adult siblings.
FMNI Service is available throughout Northern Ireland.
The Family Mediation Foundation Training Programme runs from September - November…
Funding has been provided by the HSC Board that will enable couples who have not yet…
Family Mediation NI is supported to provide free family mediation to pre-court parents.


text:
Beijing KaiXuan International Hotel
- Location: Beijing Railway Station,WangFujing Shopping Street,Tiananmen Square
- Address: No.201, Wangfujing Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing
- Tel: 010-52190000 (Book this hotel, call 800-2682918)
- Hotel Name in Chinese: 北京凯旋国际酒店(原万里路青年国际酒店王府井凯旋店)
- Lowest Price: $30
Opened in 2008, the Beijing Kaixuan International Hotel is located on No.201, Wangfujing Street, Dongcheng District, closed to Beijing Department Store and Tiananmen Square. It is 3km away from the Beijing Railway Station and 27km away from the Beijing Capital International Airport.
The Beijing Kaixuan International Hotel offers a total of 206 guest rooms in various standards, including economic room, king size room, standard room and suite. All rooms are equipped with air conditioning, IDD/DDD phone, 24 hours hot water and free broadband internet access. There are Chinese restaurant and Bar in the hotel. Apart from these, the hotel also provides facilities and services such as business center, parking lot, meeting room, reading room, billiards and travel service and so on.
- Prices not include 18% service fee and tax.
- Payment Method: pay using our secure online payment service or pay at the hotel at some hotels.
- Triple/quad occupancy may require an extra bed at extra cost.
Hotel Amenities
|Hotel Services
|Luggage service, Wake Up Call, Business Centre
|Room Amenities
|Air conditioning, Alarm clock, Color Television, Telephone, Bath and Shower, Free for Internet
Hotel Amenities: Parking, Business Center, Deposit Box at Front Desk
Dining Facilities:
Print the Taxi Directions
- Please drive me to Beijing KaiXuan International Hotel , thank you!
- 请送我到北京凯旋国际酒店(原万里路青年国际酒店王府井凯旋店),谢谢
- Address: No.201, Wangfujing Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing
- 地址: 北京 东城区 王府井大街201号
- Tel: 010-52190000
Similar Hotels as Beijing KaiXuan International Hotel
Happy Garden Hotel
From: $ 30
Aoxiangge Hotel
Location: Beijing Exhibition Center
From: $ 30
Beijing Majiapu Hotel Jing Jiang INN
The multi-functional ...
From: $ 30
Check out the list of all 1183 hotels in Beijing


text:
[Audio]: What's up, MuggleCast listeners? If you want to make an impact online, GoDaddy.com has what you need. Get your own dot-com domain name for as low as $1.99. Plus world class hosting, fast and easy website builders and much more. Plus as a listener of MuggleCast, enter code Ron - that's R-O-N - when you check out and get your dot-com domain name for just $6.95 a year. Some restrictions apply, see site for details. Get your piece of the internet at GoDaddy.com.
Andrew: Today's MuggleCast is also brought to you by Borders. It won't be long before the much-anticipated release of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Do you have your mind made up about where Severus Snape's loyalties lie? Do you think he'll betray Harry and his friends, or will he help them to triumph over He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named? Find out more about this complex character in the hot new book The Great Snape Debate available only at Borders. Remember to reserve Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows at Borders and save 40 percent.
[Intro music begins to play]
Andrew: Because, oh my god, like, two new trailers, this is MuggleCast Episode 88, for April 29th, 2007, dedicated to AF.
[Intro music continues to play]
Andrew: We got a Facebook comment on our little group profile last week, and I thought it was very fitting because we were off the show last week, and it just so happens that a certain video game came out last week. It comes from Chris Heaton in West Midlands, the West Midlands network Facebook group. Anyone a part of that?
Ben: I am.
Andrew: Okay, Ben.
Ben: [laughs] Hi, I'm back.
Andrew: Yeah, nobody cares.
[Laura laughs]
Ben: Oh, ouch. That hurts.
Andrew: He wrote:
So, you guys are having a break on the 22nd of April, which curiously is the release date of "Pokemon Diamond/Pearl" in the US. Coincidence? I think not. Doing other things? Yeah, right. Oh, how I love it.
Uh, Chris found out.
Ben: So, he thought we got together to play Pokemon? Is that what...
Andrew: Yeah, because we've been doing this segment on the show lately where we make Pokemon references, and the week we took off...
Ben: [laughs] Oh.
Andrew: ...just happened to be the week that the new Pokemon game was released.
Ben: Oh.
Andrew: That is true for some of us like Eric and Jamie, but for others it's not, like me. I like taking a week off because when we come back it's like a whole big thing, and now I have a studio audience and we've missed out on so much news that we have so much to talk about this week. I'm Andrew Sims.
Ben: I'm Ben Schoen.
Eric: I'm Eric Scull.
Laura: And I'm Laura Thompson.
Andrew: Micah Tannenbaum is standing by in the MuggleCast news center with this week's top Harry Potter news stories. Micah?
Micah: I don't even have time to thank you, Andrew.
Well, it was a week ago today that we received the international trailer for Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix and later in the week received a full theater version that debuted on Yahoo. You can check out the trailers as well as a handful of new screenshots from the film over on MuggleNet.com.
Speaking of trailers, another new trailer has been released, but this time it is for the upcoming Order of the Phoenix video game. It is available for download. The game will be released on June 25th.
MillionairePlayboy.com has posted a review of the brand new Hogwarts LEGO set as part of their new Order of the Phoenix collection, due out in May. You can watch a video review and see some great pictures over on MuggleNet.com.
TIME Magazine has a new article discussing the villains of this summer's movies. Dolores Umbridge is, of course, one of those listed, with the following being said:
"As Dolores Umbridge, the bureaucrat from the Ministry of Magic in this summer's Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Imelda Staunton is a little bit priestess, a little bit villainous. Staunton, the latest in a line of top British thespians to visit Hogwarts, found it a tough balancing act. She said, 'The character has to be ridiculous and yet real and frightening. She has to be silly and yet not cartoony. It's difficult to gauge.'"
And speaking of TIME Magazine, they are currently running a poll asking who the most influential people are in the world. No one person will be selected, but the results are based on an overall vote influenced by site visitors. JK Rowling is one of 202 nominees, so go vote for her now. As of today, the Harry Potter author ranks in at No. 9.
And speaking of Jo, she was honored with a 2007 Rave Award. The award, given to 22 distinguished people, recognizes those who "before changing the game in technology, business, or culture, they first changed themselves." The award ceremony took place Friday night in San Francisco, but Jo unfortunately could not attend.
July 3rd, 2007 has been confirmed as the date for the UK premiere of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. The US premiere will take place on July 8th. The venue is rumored to be in Los Angeles. Furthermore, it's alleged that a premiere is scheduled for June 28th in Japan.
Finally, Bloomsbury has employed security measures for the release of Deathly Hallows. The British Harry Potter publisher has revealed some of their security measures to ensure the magic of Deathly Hallows is maintained until July 21st. According to The Scotsman, the book will only be delivered to bookshops one day prior the release and they will be sealed in crates bound by steel chains. Furthermore, security guards will be deployed to printing plants, and Amazon has agreed to store its copies in warehouses at secret locations.
That's all the news for this April 29th, 2007 edition of MuggleCast. Back to the show.
Andrew: Alright. Thank you, Micah.
Andrew: We're going to start off the show with a little serious note.
Laura: Yeah. We kind of wanted to take a moment, since we did take a break last week, to address the tragedy at Virginia Tech. As former, current, and soon-to-be enrolled college students it really is a horrible realization that something like this can happen on a campus, or anywhere else. Really, I mean, what did you guys think of it?
Andrew: It was just - Yeah, it was just absolutely terrible.
Ben: I just couldn't believe it, you know?
Andrew: Yeah, and...
Ben: It was shocking.
Andrew: And immediately everybody thinks back to Columbine, and this was all very devastating. But even, you know, the magnitude.
Ben: The video was...
Andrew: Oh, yeah.
Ben: That was terrible. They gave the guy exactly what he wanted, which is the problem that I had with it.
Eric: Yeah. I agree, Ben.
Ben: You don't put those videos on air.
Andrew: Right, right. Well, I'm sure NBC got a little...
Ben: Kickback.
Andrew: Kickback. Well, no not a kickback, but you know, they benefited from it.
Ben: Yeah, because CNN - Everywhere had the NBC watermark in the corner.
Andrew: Right. But anyway, Micah came up with a good idea that he suggested to us earlier this week, that we put a little Virginia Tech remnant in the album art this week, to recognize those who were lost in the tragedy and to show our support for everyone trying to get...
Laura: Yeah.
Andrew: ...through this time right now.
Andrew: So, we have quite a few announcements to get to. First, Jamie is off the show.
[Dramatic pause]
Andrew: For a month.
[Andrew and Laura laugh]
Andrew: Got everyone excited for a second. He was actually at Electronic Arts today to report for MuggleNet and MuggleCast about the new Order of the Phoenix video game coming out, and he has to finish up school for the next month and he's busy with that. So, he will be off the show for some time. I just want to let everyone know now before we start getting any e-mails - [In a crazy voice] "Ah! Where's Jamie! I think he's funny! I think he's..." You know?
Ben: British.
Andrew: "A good co-host, and British, yeah."
[Ben and Laura laugh]
Andrew: So, if anyone wants to share some gossip about him? Anyone got some gossip about Jamie?
Ben: About Jamie?
Andrew: Yeah.
Laura: Yeah, he actually made the train this time.
Andrew: Yeah, he did. Good point, Laura. He was on a train today and he did make it. We weren't going to bail him out of this one.
Ben: Actually, send your donations to Jamieisawasteofspace2@gmail.
[Everyone laughs]
Ben: Just kidding. Don't send your money.
Laura: Also, everybody, Micah is not here this week and that's because he's been pretty upset of the lack of updates on Jo's site, so last I heard, he was on his way to Edinburgh to have a little chat with her.
Andrew: [laughs] He seriously IMs me everyday and says, "Why hasn't Jo made an update? Why hasn't Jo made an update?"
Andrew: And it really gets to him more than anyone else...
Eric: I think Micah's got a crush.
Andrew: Also, I just wanted to make a note that we are looking for an audio editor. Someone who can start editing the show this summer just for, like, a month, or two. What I need - What we need is someone who can take the show, take the five audio tracks that we all record, put them together, and clean it up; take out everyone else talking, take out all the - not inappropriate stuff, but stuff that really can't go on the show.
Laura: You can say it. The inappropriate stuff. [laughs]
[Eric laughs]
Andrew: [laughs] Yeah. No, we're looking for someone with experience who is very good at audio editing. You've heard the show, so you know what we are looking for. So, for like a month or two over the summer I need someone who can edit the show because we are going to be very busy. So, e-mail me at andrew at staff dot mugglenet dot com if anyone is interested. And hey, there might be a little kickback your way...
Eric: Yeah, like a shirt.
Andrew: ...if you help us out. You know what I'm saying?
Ben: Also, I'm going to be very busy over the summer so I am looking for somebody in the Wichita, Kansas metro-area to do my laundry.
[Andrew laughs]
Ben: So, [laughs] e-mail me at ben at staff dot mugglenet dot com.
Andrew: A little kickback for that, too? Or...
Ben: Yeah, yeah. [laughs] You can hang out with me.
Eric: If you need guidance and...
Ben: You can handle my undergarments [laughs]
Eric: If you need emotional guidance from that suggestion that Ben just made, you can contact any of us and we will be happy to help you through this tough time.
Andrew: And also if you checked up on the site within the past week or so, we are going to be at - not LeakyMug - we're going to be at Prophecy 2007. We've sort of been hinting at it for a while. We've said we're going to be probably going to Prophecy. And now it's official and we've got all of the details worked out. We're going to be doing a midnight podcast.
Ben: It's going to be sweet.
Andrew: Podcast at midnight.
Ben: Oh my gosh.
Andrew: That's past my bedtime. That might be a problem for me. But we're going to be doing that. It's going to be a lot of fun. Ben, you're excited?
Ben: Oh my gosh. I thrive at night. I'm a night owl. [laughs]
Andrew: [laughs] You are.
Ben: Love it. I love it.
Andrew: [laughs] So, that's going to be a great new spin to the whole live podcast thing that we do.
Laura: The question, you know - A lot of people have been asking, are we really going to wear pajamas?
Andrew: Yeah, I don't see why not.
Laura: I think we should.
Ben: Well.
Andrew: Ben, what's your problem with it?
Laura: Appropriate pajamas, Ben.
Ben: I sleep in the nude, thank you.
Andrew: [laughs] Okay. You've said too much. So visit Prophecy2007.org for more information on that. It's going to be a lot of fun. And I think registration - You can still register.
Laura: Mhm.
Andrew: I'm sure they're running out of spots. The Yule Ball is going to be a lot of fun. Excuse me, the Decade of Enchantment Ball. They just got 250 more spots. So, this thing's going to be huge. I can't even believe it.
Ben: Huge.
Andrew: Also, Ben. Okay.
Ben: Yes.
Andrew: It's time now for our big announcement of the show.
Ben: Oh, geez.
Andrew: We've been working on it for...
Ben: Nobody told me.
Andrew: It's been in the Writely. Seriously?
Ben: Oh. Yeah. Oh, I know.
Ben: Nevermind, I do know.
Andrew: Okay. [laughs]
Ben: I'm kidding.
Andrew: What did you think I was going to say, Ben?
Ben: Oh, I just got you guys good.
Ben: I knew all along.
Andrew: Alright. So, Ben, we've been working on something for a while now. I mean, with all of the trips we're going to be doing over the summer; with all of the live podcasts and such that we're going to be doing, we need money. And we were selling t-shirts for about a year. And...
Ben: We can't do that anymore.
Andrew: Right.
Ben: So, there's a bit of a problem here.
Andrew: Right. But we've come up with a solution.
Ben: A solution. What is it, Andrew? It's pickles again.
Andrew: It's pickles. We're going for a pickle kind of solution.
Ben: It's pickles.
Eric: And Peter Piper picked a peck of peckled pickled peppers. Pickled - pickle - pickled peppers.
Andrew: You know what? Did you say, "pack" in there?
Eric: No, there was a peck, though.
Ben: A pack of pickles.
Andrew: Because today we're introducing the Pickle Pack. Which is a brand new membership, so to speak, to MuggleCast. We'll still be doing the regular shows every Sunday. We'll still be doing the hour-long episodes that you've come to know and love with all the humor and great content that you guys all enjoy. But we're starting something new at PicklePack.com, which is a - How do I want to put it? A membership, it's a membership to MuggleCast. But what you get is a bunch of new, bonus material.
Ben: Bonus content.
Andrew: Bonus content, right. Ben, can you explain what people are going to be getting?
Ben: Essentially, here is what's happening. You're paying us for a subscription to this website. And with this subscription - In addition to the subscription, you get a free t-shirt mailed to you, and you get a lot of bonus content. Now, when we say bonus content, you're probably thinking, "Guys, you're being really vague here. What is bonus content and why would I buy?" Okay. Here's why: You get video blogs for each of us, special episodes, a hint at what's to come with MuggleCast. So, basically, you get previews of things. You get all the stuff that you normally wouldn't get.
Andrew: If you're a hardcore MuggleCast fan, you're going to want this. Each day one of us is going to be making a new blog post, which we're calling, "Blickles." And everyone's going have an assigned day of the week. So, say Laura's on Monday, she'll be posting whether it's a written blog or a video blog. And these can be about anything. They don't even have to be about MuggleCast. But then also we're going to have the inside content, like Ben was mentioning. We're going to throw some bonus stuff in there. Okay, we've been holding to this map that Jamie drew of the United States for quite a while now.
Andrew: It's probably one of the funniest things we've ever seen in our lives.
Ben: Do you still have that?
Andrew: [laughs] Yeah, I still have it.
Ben: Oh, awesome.
Andrew: Jamie probably doesn't want that to get out but it's going to get out. [laughs] Micah has some audio content, we're going to be recording lots of extra stuff, we're going to have bloopers, bonus segments, all kinds of stuff. So visit PicklePack.com for more. I have 600 Pickle Pack t-shirts sitting here in my room right now, and we need to get rid of every last one of them. One of the first videos going up on PicklePack.com is going to be a video of me and my brother, Ryan, modeling off the Pickle Pack t-shirts. So, Ben, how can people sign up for Pickle Pack?
Ben: You can sign up for Pickle Pack by visiting, well, PicklePack.com. Those of you who already have an account on MuggleNet to make comments on the news, you're already a step ahead of the game here. You just go to PicklePack.com, log in, and it will ask you to enter your payment information and Andrew will send you a t-shirt.
Andrew: Right. And it is also going to be coming with a nice little letter that Laura wrote up.
Laura: Yeah, that's right.
Ben: Yeah, the cost is only $30 per year. That includes shipping and handling domestically. We are still working out a system for international orders right now, but it may be slightly more depending on your location and all that, so stay tuned for that. So yeah, go - And remember, all proceeds from the Pickle Pack go to support the show. As we've said before, we have movie premieres this summer we need to go to, we have Harry Potter conventions, and our parents aren't just giving us - they just aren't giving us enough allowance.
Ben: So, we...
Andrew: I've done all my chores.
Ben: We need all of your help.
Andrew: Yeah, we are serious when we say every last dollar of this is going to be going to - into the podcast, into the expenses that it takes to do these live shows. And you are going to be getting your money's worth. There is going to be at least - at least - ten new things going on PicklePack.com every week. So, I mean, this is definitely worth the money. Plus you get a free t-shirt. You know, so it's going to be great. For more information visit PicklePack.com.
Ben: We are only going to be taking sign-ups until June 16, so that gives you basically a month and a half to get signed up. Get your Pickle Pack t-shirt. Go down in history as a member of the Pickle Pack.
Andrew: Exclusive, elusive, MuggleCast Pickle Pack. And then we probably won't be taking sign-ups again until probably next year. So, you know, now is the time to get into the Pickle Pack. And again, all the money will be benefiting MuggleCast. And we appreciate everyone signing up very, very much as you will see in the nice letter Laura wrote up.
Andrew: Now that we got that out of the way it is time to talk about the trailers because we got two trailers within the past week, even. So, which one, do you guys want to start with the international trailer?
Ben: Yeah.
Andrew: Since we got that one first?
Ben: Let's start with that.
Andrew: Alright. Initial thoughts, boys and girls.
Andrew: Who wants to start?
Ben: I want to start. I really do.
Andrew: Okay.
Ben: Okay. I am so pumped for this movie. You have no idea how pumped I am after watching these things. Because I remember back when Prisoner of Azkaban came out, I remember sitting at my computer - we had one family computer, I didn't even have a laptop back then. I was sitting at the one family computer just watching the trailer over and over and over again. And I just got more and more excited. I remember going into the theater and sitting there and getting all antsy, you know.
Andrew: Yeah.
Ben: Antsy in my pantsy at the screen. It was, it was great. And, after seeing this, it was comparable to having that all happen again. You know, being basically a virgin Harry Potter fan. You know, being exposed to it for the first time. And I just - I am really excited for this film. There are a few things I noticed in the international trailer. Something that I really liked was when Umbridge just busts the people making out. I mean...
Ben: ...that's something we've never seen before - people just snogging each other in the hallway.
Ben: Yeah, and I also liked when Fred and George - that scene with the fireworks and stuff as they're flying over the Great Hall. That was really cool.
Ben: But the one thing that just really confused me that I'm still having a hard time understanding, is why was Voldemort in a suit? Does anybody know?
Andrew: [laughs] Laura, you had a good idea about this, didn't you?
Laura: I can't remember specifically where it was in the book, but I remember at one point - I think it was in Order of the Phoenix where Harry remarked and made some kind of comment or a joke about Voldemort hiding behind a dust bin in the street or something and leaping out from behind it or something, and I almost kind of took that as an interpretation, and the suit almost being so many people denying that he was back, that he could be standing in the middle of Platform 9 3/4 in a suit, and no one would notice.
Eric: Exactly.
Laura: And I'm pretty sure it's a nightmare.
Eric: Yeah.
Laura: I mean, there's no way it's not.
Eric: It's definitely a dream sequence-type thing.
Ben: That's a good point, though, Laura.
Eric: Harry just kind of fades in and out.
Andrew: You think this is Harry having a nightmare? Because isn't this right before he's about to get on the Hogwarts Express? Don't you think he might be zoning out or something?
Laura: Well, that could be - it could be a daydream or a nightmare or something.
Ben: Or Voldemort's getting inside of his head. Voldemort put it there. Hm, interesting, though.
Andrew: What if after the close-up of Voldemort in the suit, it cuts back to Harry and he squints at him closer or something, and...
Ben: It turns back into a normal person or something.
Andrew: Yeah, it's like Malfoy or something.
Laura: That would be really cool. I think that would be great interpretation.
Ben: At least it's not a shrunken Jamaican head.
Eric: Yeah, yeah. [laughs]
Ben: That's the way I look at it. [laughs]
Laura: I liked the shrunken head. [laughs]
Ben: [Jamaican accent] Hey, man!
Andrew: That was Cuaron's touch.
Laura: That guy was awesome.
Andrew: I enjoyed that very much. I liked the suit.
Eric: I want that suit.
Andrew: I might be getting that for prom. Still don't have a date yet, e-mail me at andrew at staff dot mugglenet dot com.
Ben: Moving on to the trailer, Ron has a really corny line, and I think that it's going to be one of those lines that everybody's thinking, "Why did he just say that?" Because every movie has a really corny line. In Goblet of Fire was when Harry walked into the tent, and he just turns around and goes, [imitates Harry] "I love magic."
[Andrew and Laura laugh]
Ben: And it just - "Oh, did he just say that? Did he just say that?" That's what you think. The line in the trailer was, [imitates Ron] "Who are you and what have you done with Hermione Granger?"
Andrew: Oh, I thought that was good! I don't think that was very corny.
Eric: No, it was a good line.
Laura: I thought it was okay.
Andrew: It is kind of cliche.
Ben: I thought it was too cliche for my taste. I'm just having a hard time with the sincerity of the acting, you know?
Eric: With Ron? Or Rupert.
Ben: Not with Ron.
Eric: I - geez.
Ben: In that scene, I had a problem with Emma. And, I know, shocking.
Andrew: [Gasps] Ben!
Ben: I love Emma. I love Emma. Emma, I love you. It's just the way she said, "Breaking rules is fun, isn't it?" It just didn't sound like she was in the role, like she was Hermione. It is taken out of context, but in that part it just didn't sound like she was Hermione, you know? That she was being Hermione.
Eric: But thus far in the movie series we haven't really seen - I mean, we've seen a booky Hermione Granger, maybe, in the first movie, but it's never really been important. What's always been more important is, "Does my hair really look like that from behind?" kind of a fashion-sense thing. They've made Hermione more of a girly girl.
Ben: More superficial, basically.
Eric: More superficial, exactly. So, for Ron to say, "Who are you and what have you done with Hermione Granger?" Yes, it's funny, but only for those who've read the book and actually have an image of a booky, intelligent Hermione Granger. Because those who've seen the movies, I mean...
Ben: [laughs] Yeah.
Ben: So, in a way it's almost ironic, too, because...
Eric: Yeah, I think they should have been a bit more careful before drawing that contrast because there's nothing in the movies to support that line and make it funny at all, really.
Ben: Yeah. And something about Goblet of Fire was that I really thought that Emma Watson did an excellent job in that movie. I thought it was her best yet, and I'm expecting that same in Order of the Phoenix, just that line was sort of - to me, it was almost a corny moment. Kind of like at Goblet of Fire when Harry and Ron say "I'll write you every day," or whatever and they are like, "No, we won't."
Andrew: Yeah, yeah.
Ben: It's just sort of - it's just dumb because - Oh, you're friends, you're friends, but you aren't going to bother to talk to each other. I mean, Harry doesn't have anybody but his fat cousin who sits on the couch eating Oreos all day, but he's not going to write to you guys. No, that's not going to happen.
Eric: Biscuits, Ben. Biscuits.
Andrew: Now, I'm a big Alan Rickman fan and I love his portrayal of Snape, but was anyone not amused by him hitting Ron over the head? Because he has already done that, he's already done that.
Eric: Aw, come on.
Andrew: Why is he doing that again?
Laura: But that is part of the thing with these movies. They have these, like Ben was saying, these constant, recurring corny moments, like...
Laura: If you remember back to Sorcerer's Stone, the big thing throughout that was Seamus blowing stuff up all the time. [laughs]
Andrew: Right, right.
Laura: Like ever five seconds he blew something up.
Andrew: That got old quick.
Laura: Yeah, it did. And, I think they just do it for the kids. I think they do it so the kids have something to laugh at.
Andrew: Yeah, that's true. Let's see. What else do these people want to talk about? I was a real big fan of the music underneath this international trailer.
Andrew: I just thought it was very powerful and, you know...
Ben: Now who's doing it this time? Is it the...
Andrew: It's not John Williams, correct?
Ben: Dolin? Something Dolin?
Andrew: Yeah. Peter Dolin, I think, or something like that? Peter Doyle.
Ben: Peter Doyle, yeah that's right. Peter Doyle.
Andrew: Yeah, so I was really impressed by that. My favorite part of the trailer, the music at least, is underneath Hermione - underneath Ron's line "Who are you and what have you done with..." It was like, "bum, bum, bum." I just thought that that was really good.
[Eric and Laura laugh]
Click here to go to page two