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Nokia N-Gage as an immersive gaming platform
With the relaunch of the Nokia N-Gage gaming platform getting closer and closer, the noise about the possible N-Gage devices and their functionality, features of the platform, games available for it is getting louder.
Well, today I decided to add my 2 cents to it too.
While browsing through the U.S. Patent database I came upon an interesting Nokia patent application named "Gaming device, method, and computer program product for modifying input to a native application to present modified output" , which describes an immersive gaming platform that your Nokia N-Gage enabled mobile phone can become soon.
The basic idea is pretty simple. Instead of of playing and stopping the mobile games at a discreet periods, the gaming application will be continuously running in the background. And it will also be able to monitor, interrupt and change other phone functions like speaker sound, camera, viewfinder output, keyboard input, GPS data, etc; according to the rules/needs/features of the game.
Nokia even gives some examples of how such games might look like:
- the game story involves encounter with aliens on Earth but that are invisible to humans. Using the gaming device, however, the user can search for aliens and try to discover their hidden base. The gaming application, while executing in the background, may detect when user is viewing through the camera viewfinder in the gaming device. The gaming application may at times (e.g., randomly) intercept the camera viewfinder image before the image is provided to the camera application and modify the image. The gaming application may add faint silhouettes of alien characters to the camera image in real time. The user may keep the camera viewfinder active and pan around, and possibly see a semitransparent alien character. The gaming application could cause such added images to only temporarily appear on the display. By clicking the trigger and taking a picture, the user may be able to store the picture of the humanoid character.
- the game story involves the user being teleported to random locations across the world. The gaming application, while executing in the background, may detect when the user is checking the gaming device's thermometer application, or when the user checks the current geographic position using the gaming devices GPS application. The gaming application may intercept the standard temperature or location input and replace the standard input with a modified input. The native application would then use the modified input to generate an output (that includes the modified input data) to be presented to the user. For example, the gaming application could cause a modified map showing the user's location as Antarctica and a modified temperature display of minus 50 degrees C. to be presented to the user. The gaming application has overridden the sensor information to present the game's alternate reality.
- the game story indicates that high-pitched screams signal the approach of large flying monsters. The gaming application, while executing in the background, may detect when the user activates the FM radio receiver application in the gaming device. The gaming application may intercept the standard received radio broadcast and modify the audio to add high-pitched screams in the background of the audio to indicate the presence of the dangerous monsters.
- the gaming application, while executing in the background, may detect when the user activates the keypad or keyboard and begins typing. Rather than displaying the text that the user is actually typing, the gaming application may cause the display of modified text that provides clues to a mystery to be solved by the user.
Of course such non-standard smartphone functionality interruptions might become really annoying at times, so you'll be able to easily suspend immersive gaming mode anytime.
On the other hand, such immersive gaming functionality opens a whole new area in mobile gaming with a huge potential for a new cool mobile games to emerge.


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|Lady Gabrielle d'Apcher
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OOC: Hi guys. I spotted the PaizoCon Bloggery thread, and I had a neat idea to talk about PaizoCon... in-character. Upon Painlord the Wise's recommendation, I'm giving this its own thread.
I invite players of Taldan PCs to chatter about the Grand Convocation here in this thread, so we may best orchestrate the accomplishment of the Empire's objectives.
IC: What follows is excerpted from the diary of one Lady Gabrielle d'Apcher, Lady of Taldor and Pathfinder. It covers the events of summer 4712.
4 Erastus, 4712
I have been ordered by the Society to embark on a set of missions in frequent succession for a series of Venture-Captains. The briefings promise to take me far and wide, across Golarion, in search of ancient trinkets and powerful artifacts originating from civilizations lost to time. These expeditions promise to be a wonderful opportunity to contribute a treasure trove of lore to the academic community through the renowned Chronicles that will result from my adventures.
I can hardly imagine a worse way to spend the season.
I have grown so bored with these errands, with the unknowable depths of the Decemvirate's greed. I am tired of the Ten's treatment of me, as a blunt instrument, a slave to their endless hunger for more and more magical power. I find myself becoming ever more disconnected from the interests I supposedly represent when I am called upon to play ambassador for the Society. Where once it was no trouble at all to create well-meaning motives for their expeditions, where I could play the heroic face of the Society as easily as I donned my roles for the opera, now I only feel the bile creeping up my throat whenever I invent a noble purpose with which to cover up the Decemvirate's endless lust.
|The Decemvirate
|1 person marked this as a favorite.
Very well, the next time you need to purchase an item from our vaults to aide in your mission, your slanderous words WILL be remembered.
If it is the errands that bother you, speak to your faction "leader." It seems the both of you are cut from the same mold.
Know that all missions we send you upon are for the betterment of the Society....nay, all of Golarion.
All 10 of us!
In a letter to Lady Gabrielle d'Apcher, 4 Erastus, 4712
Lady Gabrielle d'Apcher,
My apologies at being unable to attend your party before the Grand Convocation. I had most sincerely wished to meet you and discuss your thoughts on the Decemvirate.
I too have had... misgivings. Still, I fear that for the furtherance of our great Taldor we must do as we are bidden by the Ten. Taldor MUST rise again, and we in the society have at our disposal the ways to make it happen - if we simply bide our time and carry out our orders.
Perhaps we can meet at a future Convocation, maybe one not so grand, but still grand enough.
I wish you the best,
Locqucious Barthos Jr "Lugg"
PS, please return your thoughts with my messenger. I long for news of the party and the Grand Convocation.
Lugg takes a deep drink from his mug and reaches over for his Djembe drum. Idly he runs his hands over the smooth skin checking for any signs of aging. His favorite skin the tattoos seem to dance on its surface. He begins to hum a tune and thump along...
|Simon D'apcher
Oathday, the 5h of Erastus, 4712
Simon d'Apcher
Pathfinder Lodge,
Cassomir, Taldor
Dear Cousin Gabrielle,
I hope this letter finds you well. I write to you from where I have been stationed, in the Cassomir Pathfinder Lodge run by Venture Captain Hestia Themis. I celebrated a pleasant Archer fest yesterday, well what little I remember of it. I can recommend the Mead made by the druids of the Wild Wood lodge.
It is wonderful that you have been invited to the Grand Convocation. I hope that some day in the future i will get invited. It sounds like a wonderful opportunity to meet colleagues and share stories and experiences.
(the following is protected by an "illusionary script spell)
After the Beast of Gevedon ravaged our family lands, our patriarch Count Philip d"Apcher also asked me to join the Pathfinder Society to help our family.
Like all of us, after training at the Grand Lodge in Absalom, I began running errands for the various faction heads, looking in on an orphanage, retrieving some questionably legal cargo from a sealed dock, and dealing with an Irate Imp, etc.
I have been sent on missions ranging from Sedeq in Qadira to help Grand Master torch with some wayward magical relics, to Riddleport in Varisia to hunt a vicious pirate. One particularly interesting mission that I enjoyed, while escorting by ship, the Ambassador of the Mordant Spire Elves home, we had to solve his apparent "murder".
Lately I have been assigned to Cassomir. It has been nice to be serving at home in Taldor. Recently I worked on a mission involving a series of kidnappings in Cassomir. We also worked on retrieving an artifact of questionable use and application called the Atavistic Splinter. My most recent mission involved going on an expedition to Antio's Crown, a huge mountain in the World's Edge Mountains and retrieving a scepter.
But enough about myself, again I hope you are well, and best of luck at the Grand Convocation.
Simon d"Apcher
( Hmm, It doesn't seem as if i have been able to change my avatar image from my usual one, to this particular character)
|Genome De Nhom
All this formality. Harumph!
I have a decision to make tomorrow night. I've been asked by the remainder of The Ten to leave retirement and return once more to active duty. It seems there is some "grand" ceremony they wish me to attend. For what purpose I do not know. The only question I have left is whether or not Shelyn will bless these aged bones once more for the service of our Society's unknown masters. Perhaps there will be others like me willing to answer the call of the open road one last time.
|Don Walker
|Lady Gabrielle d'Apcher
OOC: Strangely, the wi-fi is working now that it's Friday morning... I can post now!
IC: The following entry is written entirely in the Tien language.
5 Erastus 4712
I find Tien to be a rather efficient language to write in. I am forced to share a carriage with other Pathfinders, and apparently a Venture-Captain. One of the other passengers, a rather odorous druid, I find his presence particularly atrocious. As the only respite I can manage, I now pretend to be drawing out skirmish tactics or taking notes on our tasks ahead, all in Tien, of course, so his leering glances over my shoulder reveal nothing.
I received a rather strange missive this morning, sealed by the sigil of the Grand Lodge. It was very accusatory, implying that I am a slanderer. My lies shall be remembered, it warned. In addition, I found myself disturbed by the usage of the words "faction 'leader,'" as if Lady Morilla's role is a figurative one.
Almost as if the sender read my innermost thoughts, the short letter left me feeling threatened for my safety. How could the sender, claiming to be the entirety of the Ten, have known my heart? It takes all of my will to avoid trembling in this carriage. I will have to be watchful, as there must be more to this than I know. Why would the Ten deliver such a thing to me, without being privy to my thoughts? Do they see me as some sort of threat to them? Or is this missive simply another of Shala's pranks? I see the way the little gnome laughs at me from across the carriage, under that tiny rainbow-colored visor of hers. I will have to arrange for all of her clothing to be bleached before her next mission. And steal her Prestidigitation wand.
The Decemvirate's missive was not the only one I received before the crowded carriage arrived this morning. I apparently have several well-wishers amongst those who share my heritage, one of whom wished me the best at some event called the "Grand Convocation." I will have to pay attention over the course of my time at the Grand Lodge, so as to uncover just what this Convocation is about, and how I can best benefit from the upcoming event. I am certain, however, that my attendance being known will attract others to make contact with me. Lady Morilla will likely approach me at some point, naturally.
The driver and the Venture-Captain are arguing about which direction to turn. How pathetic. There are only so many ways to get to the Grand Lodge, and they are all quite short at this point! Ugh, now we are picking another Venture-Captain, this one a rather young-looking fellow. He seems pleasant enough, but the overcrowdedness of this carriage prevents proper conversation. I cannot wait to be out of this box.
The carriage stops at a public house, someplace called "Mac and Jack's." It is a rather sorry affair; there aren't even any chairs! They insist on selling all of their brews in at least half-gallon servings! What do they take me for, some kind of lush? I rather calmly avoid purchasing any, however the flavor of their wheat ale is quite delicious, I must admit.
Tien cooking is our next stop before the Grand Lodge. I am famished upon sitting down, and they serve me a rather unique experience: a seafood meal which continues to cook itself inside of a hot stone pot! How clever!
The prison finally arrives at the Grand Lodge. I am shown to my room for the duration of the season's adventuring. It is… comfortable enough, at least compared to what the Society usually provides. Communication is restricted, and I wonder what the Decemvirate has planned for me. I have been informed that there is a fifteen-gold-piece charge to communicate with the outside world. What are they up to?
Myles Crocker wrote:( Hmm, It doesn't seem as if i have been able to change my avatar image from my usual one, to this particular character)Probably because you are a Venture-Lieutenant posting in the PFS section of the board.
Donthank you that does make a certain amount of sense
|Chris Lambertz Community & Digital Content Director
|Gaddock Delth
Dear Lady Gabrielle d'Apcher,
I am sorry you find the work for the Decemvirate boring and beneath you. If you do grow so tired of it then I suggest for you to retire back to our great nation of Taldor and work on mothering us some more willing kin. You seem to miss the greater goal in your travels and that is to work for the betterment of our nation. If that task is to much for you then please let another step up. I and all of House von Delth will continue our great work even if it means doing some errands for the society and keeping the rest of the rabble they call to their side in line, I can not tell you how many undignified and uncouth members of the society I have met.
Lord of House von Delth, Lieutenant of the Taldan army, Master of the Zyphus stone, High orator of the Taldan Horse, Master of the spoken word, Lord of lore,
Gaddock von Delth.
|Lady Gabrielle d'Apcher
OOC: I'm finally kicking the post-con daze, enough to start posting again. Wi-fi was not freely available at the hotel, and all of my slots went long, thus causing my absence for the weekend. Enjoy the entries to come!
6 Erastus 4712
I am summoned to meet with Venture-Captain Ambrus Valsin for the first of this series of tasks. The odorous druid is present, and I am introduced to a rather... unnerving Qadiran, calling herself Princess Isis. She outright refuses to share her magics with others, and offers greetings after, quite literally, covering her palm with the products of her seemingly-perpetual head cold and running the result through her hair. I escape accepting her gesture with a quip about how natural her unique choice of hair coloring is.
Beside her is another student of hedge magic named Esper. The two of them make fast friends, as if they were both a part of some witches' fraternity. I wonder if their animals are the actual members? If they are sisters by ceremony, at least they don't share grooming habits.
Supposedly rounding out our little group is another odorous druid, this one called Soryan. My fears have been realized; I am all alone on this one.
The following section is written in a script that is larger and more flowing than the previous one, indicating a sense of excitement.
Fate is not without a sense of irony. I emerge from dinner at the Golden Serpent a hero, the savior of the peers who share my social station. The negotations were short; as it turned out, the entirety of the restaurant was being held hostage!
Many of the hostages were good friends of mine, powerless to free themselves from the mercenaries who held them. But I was different, for I was capable of saving them. I loathe being wielded as a weapon, but at the same time, I find myself savoring the defeat of those who have wronged me.
The Savored Sting is both shunned and venerated by polite society, depending on the time of day. I find her philosophies useful, freeing even, and entirely applicable today. I hide my faith from the friends I have rescued, as I would rather do without the connotations. Where they see only lust, I find focus, the willpower I require to survive my tenure in the Society, the ability to draw upon my inner strengths and save the very friends who would ostracize me if I were to share their source with them.
Today, I am the lady in the room, just as if I were on-stage in Oppara. Just as I use that attention to move their hearts with my performances, I intend to elicit their gratitude towards persuit of a different sort of opportunity.
I flip to previous pages, and chuckle at the irony written on them. Not only have I accomplished something meaningful today, but I will be the one savoring the benefits.
|Lady Gabrielle d'Apcher
OOC: I've snagged some net for awhile, so the entry for the Grand Convocation is in! Note that I am spoiler-blocking the entire thing, so as to not prematurely spoil all those due to play it at PaizoCon UK. Enjoy, and we'll see when I get a chance to post again.
I had no qualms about arriving late, and I was soon overwhelmed by the noise of so many unmannerly guests having to shout over each other in order to hold conversation. I really should acquire an endure elements wand, so as to deal with the body heat of so many attendees at these sorts of events. An adventuring acquaintance of mine named Monojoijoi graciously offered me a heroism spell, and I was given a casting of mage armor by a mage called Farak. Both of these spells had me feeling quite prepared for whatever would come my way, besides the heat of course.
I was able to identify several important figures present, namely, the ten heads of the ten groups within the Pathfinder Society, as well as the spurned Michellia Blakros.
Guaril Karela couldn't help but snivel in public. Does he think that attracts women or something? Or perhaps it's an actual language, and he is giving orders to rodents.
Paracountess Dralneen was, of course, rather free with her affections towards the various guests. It is rather unfortunate, as she would make a rather alluring lady if she knew what the word 'decency' meant.
Amenopheus had the haughtiness to rudely interrupt my conversation with Theodric Alverteen and Lady Morilla. I noticed that he was wearing more cosmetics upon his face than I was. I guess pride and vanity go hand-in-hand.
Ollysta Zadrian apparently doesn't own any clothes which aren't made of metal.
The Qadiran Trade Prince, he was entirely inconspicuous, a testament to his vast wealth. His business is apparently so profitable that he chooses to dress like every other Pathfinder.
Even Grandmaster Torch showed himself, outside of his bathtub for perhaps the first time in decades. He really should see Amenopheus for cosmetic advice.
I received a request from Lady Morilla. It seems that my assistance was needed to choose a new suitor for the spurned Michellia Blackros, after Major Maldris mucked things up by refusing her. His actions are befitting of a citizen of Andoran, always acting so impulsively and with so little intellect. He even decided to attend the party, knowing that Michellia and her family would be there, so soon after rejecting her! No wonder a slaver was on their People's Council; they just don't know how to look before they act!
The Hellknights decided to hold some silly ceremony at the most inappropriate of occasions, a promotion of some sort. The promoted knight, a lady, was a rather pretty one; I found her more alluring than the Paracountess. Even in revealing spiked armor, she at least pretended to have a sense of decency. I could not bear the heat and noise of so many guests, so I slipped out. My exit was enough to attract the likes of Nigel Aldain, curator of the Blakros Museum. He informed me, as well as several other guests who also had stepped out for refuge, about a squatting problem in the building across the street from the Blakros Museum. As there were others who immediately agreed to help, and it would likely have been ages before those Hellknights were done with their little ceremony, I acquiesced.
I assumed it would be a simple matter of knocking on the door and telling whoever answered to leave, but of course it did not end that way. A dwarf paladin named Stonemother sensed evil beings in the dark building, which naturally led to a fight. As it turned out, the Aspis Consortium had begun to tunnel underneath Absalom, towards the museum, with the intent of looting it. How silly of them; they should have at least set up a dummy storefront first, so their squatting would have been more likely to have gone unnoticed. Like that Malfeta did. But alas, ending their plan was rather simple and straightforward matter.
I returned to the party for about another hour, during which I came to the conclusion that Theodric Alverteen would make a lovely suitor for Michellia Blakros. He projected confidence with every statement he made, and he carried an impressive presence which I believe would be quite useful to us if he were her husband. I would assume that she would find his exotic hunting accomplishments thrilling as well, thus maximizing our chances.
Just after sharing these findings with Lady Morilla, it became apparent that Grandmaster Torch had learned of the business at the museum. A bird of his had flown away, and he needed a few of us to retrieve her. Once again, as the other party-refugees were quite eager to assist, and I found the alternative undesirable, I agreed to help.
The little group of refugees tracked the bird to a house not far from the party. The place was entirely looted, the servants dead, and just after that discovery, the group was ambushed by fetchlings from the Shadow Plane. They called themselves members of the Onyx Alliance, indicating that they were organized. They fell to my talents, Stonemother's hammer, and the sword of a sky-worshiping bard named Pallas. If he didn't speak of the Dawnflower, he could be quite attractive.
We tracked their companions to a small chapel in the Puddles district, a place I am always happy to avoid, where the fetchlings' leader assaulted us from the shadows with no success. The imprisoned one, a former Pathfinder called Venla Sirola, was found quite alive, much to Grandmaster Torch's relief.
I returned to the party to find that a murder had taken place in my absence! A couple of soldiers from Andoran were immediately blamed for it, although after some time, it was found that the murderers were actually more fetchlings from the Shadow Plane! They spoke of some sort of ancient deal that the Blakros family had failed to live up to, and it was spoken of again when a horde of them flooded into the party. Pieter Blakros taunted us as he spoke of how he arranged the invastion, and about how Michellia is already betrothed to this Onyx Alliance.
It was not much trouble to dispatch them, due to the abilities of the group I found myself with at the moment, but I worry that the Blakros family fully intends to use the Pathfinder Society as a shield, a piece of meat to throw in the way of their creditors, this Onyx Alliance. At the very least, when the skeletons in the closet are uncovered, they really should inform the Society of the details instead of setting their skeletons upon us as they have done.
|Mim Perdu
A letter of introduction, delivered to Lady Gabrielle d'Apcher, 15 Erastus, 4712
Lady Gabrielle d'Apcher,
It is with no small amount of trepidation that I set quill to paper and begin this missive. My name is Mim Perdu, and, while it is of little consequence as yet, and as of yet, there is only myself to commend it to you, I have a hope that it may be one you find useful in the future.
Forgive this unsolicited introduction, I pray, but it is your own name that is the dearest subject I wish to broach, for it is well-known within certain circles as a bastion of class, distinction, and discretion within a society of misfits, malcontents, and plebeian petty peccadilloes.
While I have easily divined that you are *the one* to study if I would become a jewel of elegance and distinction, and a finely tipped dart in the service of that Grand Dame we both call Mother Taldor, it is often difficult to find the reports that would allow me to follow your career from afar while I continue my studies. For, as is often the case when one incites envy with every word and deed, reports of your accomplishments seems frequently minimized and misplaced by those that have not half your skill nor a quarter of your grace. It is perhaps inadvertent, coincidental, even, though one hopes that the Powers That Be within this Society are skillful and petty rather than loyal but gauche in this particular case, as the training of future Pathfinders is their primary responsibility. Finding word of your deeds has become so difficult in recent months that I find myself concerned upon occasion about your continued existence. Relief and consternation are my constant companions on these treks through the dark recesses of received correspondence from active agents. I am grateful for your continued activity upon this plane, yet find myself more and more disgruntled by the poor organization of your exploits within these walls.
This brings me to the reason for my unsolicited contact; I find my tenure at the Grand Lodge drawing to a close, and could think of nothing finer other than seek service in your employ to further my education beyond these walls and without these frustrating limitations.
Should this request offend in any way, please accept my heartfelt apologies and continued admiration.
Regardless, I remain your faithful admirer in Taldan Loyalty,
Miss Mim Perdu
|Lady Gabrielle d'Apcher
7 Erastus 4712
It will be awhile before I can rest properly. I was given little time to recover from the Convocation before a missive roused me. It was, of course, another task for the Society. The whole business with the Hao Jin Tapestry is apparently coming to a close. Some time ago, the Aspis Consortium had found a back door into the Tapestry, and it is now time to take it from them. I am having difficulty understanding why the Decemvirate believes I am a proper fit for essentially a military operation. I certainly don't radiate that skill set.
The remainder of the group recruited for whatever this will be is of mixed desirability. A pair, consisting of an agile swordsman named Hector and a priest called Fiona, I am quite happy to be placed with them. A ranger called Snowjon and Farak, the self-proclaimed "Most Powerful Mage in All Absalom," they seem competent enough. A dwarven paladin named Thorfin, however, is nothing but either a curse or a cruel joke. From the moment we were introduced, he has been proudly proclaiming that he had died nine times thus far in his time with the Society. I am certain to be in trouble. Fortunately, I believe that the group without him is entirely sufficient.
To make matters worse, the dwarven fool has cursed us by refusing to take any route to success but the most straightforward and dangerous one, the route that will most likely cause him to die a tenth time. I had proposed a less straightforward method of infiltration, using disguise and stealth, which provoked the display of incompetence. It requires an entire group to be subtle and cautious, and to seize advantages through less straightforward approaches, but it only takes one to cause subtle methods to degenerate into bloodbaths. What an idiot. I shall hope to avoid being placed in the same group, nay, the same room, as this lump of holy violence again.
Placed in this undesirable position, I managed well enough. The swordsman Hector proved a competent ally, gallantly fending off trouble, and Farak was quite generous with sharing his beneficial spells. This notion of sharing abilities with others primarily, rather than reserving them for self-survival, has become quite a comfort for me, like a warm blanket on a winter's day. I was glad to be away from the coven, and their inability to assist others. The company of Farak and Fiona was much more desirable, along with Hector's ability to tie the Consortium soldiers down with swordplay and Snowjon's tight-quarters archery.
|Lady Gabrielle d'Apcher
Not all of the Aspis Consortium's presence had been purged from the Hao Jin Tapestry. The Society had recently learned of an alliance being brokered between the Consortium and the ratfolk living within Round Mountain, and, of course, my presence is required to prevent that deal from being completed. It is unfortunate that the Society wishes to send me into hostile areas of the Tapestry once again, for I am in dire need of time to recover from my recent excursions and enjoy the season rather than spending the entirety of it holding off death. As an insult to injury, that horrid witch Isis has returned to haunt me. Not a minute after the group assembled itself, she began throwing insults my way, as if my very existence offended her.
Respect for others is rather lacking among too many of my fellow Pathfinders. I have watched others endure many painful insults from the mouths of Pathfinders, if the poor person even survives an encounter with the Society. It is as if, to many of them, mere membership renders them drunk with power over life and death, entitled to treat others like the garbage that emerges from their bowels. And the way they strut themselves, like peacocks fighting over the right to consume a rotten carcass! They endlessly measure themselves against each other, in order to somehow prove that they are the world's most efficient avatars of slaughter and debauchery.
On the topic of debauchery, I fear for the safety of the "diplomat-saboteur" group the Society has constructed. Beyond the witch, there is a rather... intense elf named Lorn along, from Osirion, a face he would not allow us to forget. He is like Isis, entirely bitter toward my entire race, even though a very large body of water separates us. Beside him is a quirky little gnome called Dr. Fraz, who claims to know everything there is to know about everything. I sense that his knowledge is a facade, though, and that it is merely a foundation he uses for humor more than anything else.
I had encountered the elf Serrano before, at the Grand Convocation. Though he is a filthy individual, and hardly ever sober, I appreciate his ability to take advantage of group tactics in life-or-death situations. In the desert of cooperation I find myself in, he is an ally. I sense that the druid Xorb has begun to see the spirit of cooperation. In retrospect, the incident at the Golden Serpent had him standing back quite often, assisting others with his spells and summons rather than turning into some monster and rending his foes apart. It seems that we have some chance at success after all.
The Decemvirate already requires so much of us, and we do not even know who pulls our strings. How much can we trust the aspirations of invisible kings?
|Farak, the Most Powerful Mage
Arriving at Lady Gabrielle d'Apcher's home is a small immaculate white cedar box. Inside is a short note on light green paper with gold filigree.
Dear Lady 'Apcher,
I would like to apologize for borrowing one of your hair-pins without permission during our mission to the Portal of the Sacred Rune, but at the time I feared for our safety and had nothing else at hand to hold danger at bay. Please allow me to make amends.
Beneath the note is a pair of extremely fashionable Tian hair-pins, in a flattering color.
I assure you that they have all the functionality of your other hair-pins as well. Assuming you accept my apology I would also be pleased to have your company at the opera in Oppara in one month's time.
-Farak, the Most Powerful Mage in All Absalom
|Lady Gabrielle d'Apcher
8 Erastus 4712
I am not entirely certain about the date of this entry, as I have been underground for too long to be certain of it. The last several hours were spent in view of the Pagoda of the Rat, where our Aspis prey have led us, while we wait for more Pathfinders to join us. The elf Serrano has decided to leave, citing the brutal environment; that witch Isis and the strange "scholar" Dr. Fraz have left as well. I would be entirely relieved by this change, except I do not know how much more of Lorn's anger I can endure.
I find myself quite happy with the Pathfinders who have joined us in their stead. The eidolon-master Argcrann seems nice enough, and a half-orc called Davore makes up for his stench with his jolliness. I find the two of them preferable to the ones who left, as I am no longer subject to the melancholia Isis seems to inspire.
A priestess, a savored sister in fact, has joined us; her name is Amethyst. Even better, she is a dignified Lady of Taldor! Not only do I feel a sense of kinship for the first time within the Society, but we share a faith! I am both relieved and excited by Amethyst's presence today, and am already looking forward to being done with this Tapestry and finally returning to Absalom, where I may hope to avoid the errands of the Decemvirate for as long as I can. Instead of scorching my skin while looking for trinkets or retrieving yet another lost child of the Society, for the supposed "betterment of all Golarion," I would much rather arrange to take control of the restaurant and promote my next role in Oppara.
These ratfolk are strange creatures. They have an entire civilization set up in this Pagoda, to the point where they even practice religion, temples and all. Also surprising is the presence of their very own rock garden, as if these creatures are bound by discipline. Sadly for them, this Undying Empress is far from the religious figure she makes herself out to be, as she has turned out to be a foreign rakshasa with a talent for deception.
I rarely happen to encounter such tense, deadly situations. This Undying Empress was a proficient fighter as well as a deceiver. I am fortunate to have had an equally-talented group of Pathfinders with me for the skirmish, especially Amethyst, whose pleasurable channelings of healing energy maintained all the vigor we needed to slowly grind away the rakshasha's defenses. I even reluctantly allowed Xorb to turn himself into a viper and hide in my sleeve, so as to take advantage of my superior agility. I admit experiencing a certain thrill that comes from taking down such a worthy target of my wrath. It only boosts my confidence for the future moments that truly matter.
The Society has no more tasks for me, a fact I confirmed by pretending to volunteer for more. I shall make myself as available to their couriers as an Osiriani ruin for as long as I can, after I see my new friend Amethyst for tea tomorrow afternoon, of course.
OOC: That about wraps up PaizoCon 2012! Thanks to all you guys for your patience while I was somewhat-away. I've gotten some nice comments along the way! Also, I'd like to give Paizo a thumbs-up for hosting such a great PaizoCon and for putting up these in-character boards!
|Lady Gabrielle d'Apcher
A letter of introduction, delivered to Lady Gabrielle d'Apcher, 15 Erastus, 4712
Regardless, I remain your faithful admirer in Taldan Loyalty,
Miss Mim Perdu
Dear Miss Perdu,
There is no need for you to provide any apologies at all; I am quite flattered by the contents of your letter of introduction. It is always a joy to learn of the spread of my reputation, that I have somehow brightened the heart of another abroad.
You are correct in that the virtues of civility and discretion make for a more effective and dignified Pathfinder. As you have discovered first-hand, though, these more subtle qualities rarely are properly documented by the Society. These missing exploits you have referred to do not bother me in the least, for I would rather not be known to the world as, I assume, a slayer of monsters and men; is that what the Chronicles would say of me if my activities were "properly" logged by the people who care for little more than violence and bravado? I very much prefer the reputation I currently enjoy to the alternative.
Your request is a very intriguing one. The next natural step for me, beyond the Society, would be assuming the role of sponsor of worthy adventurers, a patron of the art of heroism. I am interested in exploring this path, and I thank you for the inspiration.
We shall have to meet socially, of course. Do inform me when your travels give you time in Absalom, and it will be arranged for us to have tea and discuss this future.
I look forward to meeting you, Miss Perdu, and I wish you the best in the meantime,
Lady Gabrielle d'Apcher
|Lady Gabrielle d'Apcher
Arriving at Lady Gabrielle d'Apcher's home is a small immaculate white cedar box. Inside is a short note on light green paper with gold filigree.
Dear Lady 'Apcher,
I would like to apologize for borrowing one of your hair-pins without permission during our mission to the Portal of the Sacred Rune, but at the time I feared for our safety and had nothing else at hand to hold danger at bay. Please allow me to make amends.
Beneath the note is a pair of extremely fashionable Tian hair-pins, in a flattering color.
I assure you that they have all the functionality of your other hair-pins as well. Assuming you accept my apology I would also be pleased to have your company at the opera in Oppara in one month's time.
-Farak, the Most Powerful Mage in All Absalom
Dear Farak,
Consider yourself forgiven. The gift you sent is rather lovely, and I thank you dearly for the choice of color. They will go quite well with my favorite Tien silk gown.
Your proposal is quite serendipitous, as I will be performing in Oppara a month from now! I am to play the role of Ileosa Arabasti in the epic The Fangs of Ambition, and it would pleasure me greatly to have you attend the premiere on the 17th of Arodus, at the House of the Immortal Son. Just give your name to the staff when you arrive.
Until the 17th,
Lady Gabrielle d'Apcher
|Mim Perdu
Delivered to Lady Gabrielle D'Apcher,the 26th of Erastil, 4712 AR,
Lady Gabrielle D'Apcher,
It was with great joy and gratitude that I received your reply to my previous correspondence. Your points regarding Subtlety and the Art of Heroism were deeply appreciated. Thank you! Any inspiration upon my part was owed ten-fold already to your own works, and in but a few sentences you have returned it back to me once more. With only a few strokes of a pen, the path before me becomes clear. I will build my future upon the bedrock of your wisdom.
The Art of Heroism! Such easy words, and yet, I had never heard it described thus before. Yet nothing has ever been a better fit. As a patron of such an art, you can only excel, and any that rise under your tutelage only flourish. It would be too bold of me to suggest my own name for such a position, and yet a heart hopes what it will hope.
While I am already in Absalom, my every minute is owed to the Masters within the Grand Lodge until the 30th day of Arodus. Upon graduation, I am to have some small amount of free time before my first assignment. Should any of the three days following coincide with your own availability, it would be my greatest pleasure to make your acquaintance.
With Deepest Regards and a Renewed Hope,
Mim Perdu

subset: commoncrawl


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Give Now
An Emmy Award nominated, Indiana PBS stations documentary production featuring the history, features, and insights of Indiana's state parks.
IU Radio & Television Services is a video and audio production powerhouse.
Using the highest quality production equipment, personnel, and experience, we work with clients to create videos and audio for broadcast, web, CD/DVD/Blu-Ray, and any other possible means of distribution.
Our work has been honored by The Emmy Awards, Cine Golden Eagle Awards, Telly Awards, Society of Professional Journalists Awards, and many others.


text:
We Serve
- Children age birth to three years who have developmental delays or are at risk of having a delay as determined by the parents/guardians, professionals and other members of the Individual Family Service Plan Team.
- Adults with severe and chronic disabilities other than a primary diagnosis of mental illness which occur before the age of 22, that result in or may result in substantial functional limitations in three or more areas of major life activity, and are determined eligible by the State of New Mexico Developmental Disabilities Supports Division.
How/Where to Start?
- Anyone can refer a child to Child Development Services by calling (575) 887-2272 for Carlsbad and Southern Eddy County area or (575) 736-1170 for the Artesia area. There is no charge to the families for this service.
- Adults are referred through a variety of sources, (i.e. self, families, friends, schools, social workers, case managers). Referrals can be made by contacting the Support Services Director (575) 887-1570 at CARC, Inc., who will assist in determining further contacts and necessary documentation. Eligibility is determined through the Regional Office Bureau.
Quality Outcomes
- CARC, Inc. uses input from you and other stakeholders to improve our services.
- Individualized Plans meet the criteria of the person's definition of what is meaningful to his or her life.
- Persons served, parents/guardians, and families participate in decision making and planning.
- Services received are revised and improved based on the expectations and satisfaction of the persons served, their parent/guardian, and their family.
We Fulfill Our Mission by Providing:
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You know the saying, "What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas"? At the risk of betraying "the code", there is just too much to share about last night's Media Party to keep it to myself.
Each year the Super Bowl host city puts on a shindig for all the visiting and local media; as well as "contributors"–those individuals and businesses who generously provided finanical support.
Last night, I was lucky enough to go to Indy's version.
The backdrop couldn't have been better–what says Indy more than the Indianapolis Motor Speedway?
One of the highlights was the glass used to serve beer. It was made completely out of ice. And you were given a glove to hold it. (I'll admit I couldn't drink mind fast enough before the glass melted–but it was a great novelty and conversation starter!)
The party continued in the Pagoda where each floor served something different. On the 4th floor, whisky and cigars. On the the 5th floor, burgers and beer. But the best part, was the open access to so many things "racing".
Visitors could get their photo taken kissing the yard of bricks. The Super cars were lined up–another photo op. I saw some visitors on the winner's stand. The Borg-Warner and Lombardi trophies both available for photos as well.
And what party would be complete without dropping a few names? Some of the "names" seen mingling: former IMS honcho Tony George; Speaker of the Indiana House Brian Bosma;
IMS CEO John Belsksus; Driver Ed Carpenter; comedian Mike Epps.
All in all, it was a wonderful night. And for those of us who've been putting in long hours, a chance to take a breath, have a few laughs, and just relax.
Now, back to our Super coverage.
Kris Kirschner


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If one follows Milwaukee artist Kia Rap Princess in any capacity on any of her social media sites, then they are hip to her new #NoLimit movement. It was inspired by her single & video of the same name. Basically, she's on a mission to prove that there is nothing that can stop someone from fulfilling their dreams if they truly want it bad enough. She's always based her brand on breaking the mold, versatility, and ambitiousness. Now she's ready to kick things up a notch.
The song itself was produced by equally popular Milwaukee name, 40Mil. He did a fierce job. The dense foundation, climactic background elements, contagious rhythm, and strict vibe make for a high-class combination. The hook is clutch too. The delivery has an elfin air about it and the lyrics are pristine. The verses are opulent. Kia Rap Princess utilizes a red-hot flow, assertive wordplay, and nonpareil rhymes. She truly embodies the spirit of an individual who is not stopping for any reason until she gets what she's after.
A handful of noteworthy lines include: "Okay I'm too me. That's K-R-P. And I don't know about you but every day I be plotting on a way to make a dollar sign. So if it ain't about that, make yo way round me. Lame a** n---as can't hang round me. Too grown for the games. Don't play round me. Kia you next, that's on the real! And that's the last thing I heard a n---a say about me." Those bars sum up what Kia is all about immaculately. As a whole, this song is a certified chart topper.
The video for the song was a joint effort between 40Mil and BTS Media. The flick is one of Kia's most successful to date, racking up over 40,000 YouTube views and counting. It opens with Kia & 40 going to visit a record label executive played by local artist Cotton Mouf. The meeting quickly goes sideways as it becomes painfully obvious that the exec is bad news. Tired of dealing with shady music industry types, Kia and her crew decide to teach the exec a lesson. They snatch him up and bring him to an abandoned warehouse. They jostle him around a bit before ultimately leaving him bound to a chair in one of the warehouse rooms.
Once they feel like they have gotten their point across, the gang takes off seemingly leaving the exec to fend for himself. But upon reaching Kia's truck, 40 reveals a bit of a surprise that he had up his sleeve. Readers will have to watch to find out what it is. In addition to the comedic storyline there are: solo shots of Kia turning up, a couple of tough guy clips of 40, glimpses of dancing vixens, snippets of the exec busting a few moves as well, and some snazzy special effects. All in all, it's a radiant offering.
Kia definitely picked a great song/video to develop a campaign behind. Both are of an elite quality and have earned her a lot of positive acclaim. Additionally, the purpose behind her new movement is one that a lot of people will be able to get on board with as the world is full of dream-chasers and free-spirits. She has plans to take her venture on the road next year with a small tour and is cooking up some merchandise ideas too. But she can't do it alone. So if you would like to help by way of sponsorship or donations please hit up her management team at email@example.com. If you are interested in seeing the princess in your area, shoot a message over to her booking agent at email@example.com. If all of that wasn't enough, she is working on some new music too. So be sure to keep an ear out.


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Weight-loss surgery and depression
People who undergo weight-loss surgery may be less likely to suffer from depression as a result. This is the suggestion of new research from Arizona State University (ASU), which showed this type of treatment can lead to an overall improvement in quality of life issues.
To be presented at the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Sociological Association, the study showed individuals with chronic health problems experienced notable benefits following bariatric surgery.
Jennie Jacobs Kronenfeld, a Professor at the ASU School of Social and Family Dynamics, noted: "We thought there would be more negative reactions to the surgery, but the response was very positive."
In addition to reporting a decrease in depression following the treatment, patients also claimed their relationships benefitted and health issue improvements were seen regarding heart disease, diabetes, sleep apnoea and cholesterol level.
Doris Palmer, a doctoral student in the School of Social and Family Dynamics sociology programme at ASU, said the findings show people are more satisfied with their relationships after overcoming stigma associated with being overweight.
Chartered Psychologist Dr Marilyn Glenville commented: "Although the researchers thought there would be more negative reactions to the surgery the response was actually very positive.
"This could be the result of the stigma being lifted that is so associated with obesity and the change from negative to positive comments from family and friends about their size.
"The other benefits that will have reduced the risk of depression is the difference in their health from the surgery and getting back a quality of life that was missing before, such as being mobile, more energy, better sleep quality from the reduction in sleep apnoea and other improvements in health such as lower cholesterol, diabetes and heart disease."
The article mentions diabetes and weight loss surgery, this is a very danger area to tread. This surgery causes deep bleeding, painful vomiting and serious complications. Diet can reverse much cases of diabetes where as Diabetes medications like Actos as been linked to cancer http://spirithappy.org/wp/2011/10/02/type-2-diabetes-diet-actos-linked-to-cancer/Depression
As for depression most cases of depression can be treated with anti depressants. The best treatment may be cognitive therapy but sadly this is not the first line treatment most are receiving.
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I have a Pro CDP, I like it.
This is a discussion on Kimber Ultra CDP II, Who Has 1 ? within the Defensive Carry Guns forums, part of the Defensive Carry Discussions category; I am thinking of getting one, what do you all think of yours.? ( Actually this thread is just to keep me entertained until my ...
I am thinking of getting one, what do you all think of yours.?
( Actually this thread is just to keep me entertained until my gun shop gets one in )
Nothing Wrong With Shooting as Long as the Right People Get Shot.
Clint Eastwood, Magnum Force, 1973
I have a Pro CDP, I like it.
"Just blame Sixto"
I reserve the right to make fun, point and laugh etc.
I prefer the series I over II myself but they are nice handguns.
I sent mine off to get the MIM parts off and some "enhancing" done and it is a nice reliable carry piece.
I have one. It's only got 500 rounds through it, so I'm not sure if it's broken in yet. It's had about a dozen FTFs (Wilson mags), with all but one coming in the first 300 rounds. Some can attributed to me trying different things with my grip. I'm very impressed with how accurate this little gun is.
I have two, the Pro CDP II and my EDC the Ultra CDP II...you will absolutely love the Ultra for CCW. They are both great guns and I have had no problems with either...
Stay armed...stay safe!
Proverbs 27:12 says: The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and suffer for it.
Certified Glock Armorer
NRA Life Member
I have the Ultra Carry II in stainless and it works just fine. Only have about 500 rounds through it.
Just Because You're Paranoid Doesn't Mean They're Not After You.
I love my Ultra CDP II. It's comfortable to carry and shoot, as well as quite accurate and reliable. I like the "carry melt" treatment and front strap checkering. The only change I've made is to put on some smooth grips, which helped comfort a lot when carrying IWB. The ones I'm using are elk antler in standard thickness.
I took a lot of care during the break-in period to and didn't find any issues. I ran over 500 rounds of Winchester White Box 230gr FMJ through it to begin with, then started testing defense loads. I've settled on Winchester Ranger SXT 230gr JHP, for effectiveness and value in a defensive load.
I use only Wilson Combat magazines. In the Ultra, it's model 47OX. I've swapped out the base plates for the thinner model to reduce the profile just a bit. I've never had a lick of trouble with a Wilson mag.
The night sights are very good, and I personally wanted the ambidextrous safety. My young bride is a lefty, and I wanted her to be able to handle it at need. Those who don't have that consideration often prefer not to have the ambi safety. It's never gotten in the way for me or had any tendency to hang up on anything.
An advantage of the 1911 platform is the broad array of top-quality holsters available. For IWB carry, I use a Tucker Answer, and have a Max Con V on order from Gary Brommeland. For OWB, I use Tucker's HF1. There are plenty of other good options from the excellent holster makers that frequent this site.
On the whole, I've been very pleased with the Ultra CDP II. It's my primary carry piece, and a good companion to my Kimber Desert Warrior, my primary home defense handgun. It's a very good option for you to consider.
"We're paratroopers. We're supposed to be surrounded!" Dick Winters
Wow, Thanks!!!! Almost have me talked into one!!!
Nothing Wrong With Shooting as Long as the Right People Get Shot.
Clint Eastwood, Magnum Force, 1973
I have the Ultra Carry and have really enjoyed it. It is a very accurate weapona and I only encountered problems with the stock Kimber mags. I have since changed to Chip McCormick mags and no problems whatsoever. I have 2000+ rounds through it and no problems since around 300. I changed out the stock grips and now have the Chip McCormick conceal carry grips. It is a great carry gun and extremely reliable.
"Do not fear those who disagree with you; fear those that do and are too cowardly to admit it" - Napoleon
I have had the Ultra CDP II for 14 months and love, love, love it! No problems after 1700 rounds. Broke it in by the book.
Then I got a 5" Custom II and love it, too.
Some comparison thoughts:
1. I am more accurate with the Custom II due to the increase in weight and longer sight radius. But, I am very accurate with the CDP II, so no complaint there.
2. I have a holster on order from Milt Sparks for the new piece. The Sparks holster for the Ultra has become a part of my attire so I am barely physically aware of my carry. I also carry the Ultra on occasion in a pocket holster while wearing 5.11 Tactical pants.
3. My wife has shot both guns. She has more difficulty racking the shorter slide. If she wanted to, though, with practice she'd get the hang of it.
Kimber Ultra CDP II is well worth it.
I believe Kimber has been selling their CDP line of guns very successfully for several years, and you have to think they are doing something right with this type of gun, as many people are buying them. I have the Pro CDP myself, and am very happy with it. I think the most unique features of the CDP line that make it so popular are:
1. The melted slide treatment, which makes it very smooth and snag free for CCW - it goes in and out of the holster easily.
2. The checkered frontstrap, which improves the grip and which many 1911s do not offer as standard.
3. The standard night sights, which cost extra on many competing 1911s.
4. The two tone, stainless over black aluminum color scheme set off with rosewood grip panels, making the gun very striking in appearance.
Although mine is a 4 inch Pro CDP, I would certainly consider the 3 inch Ultra CDP based on favorable comments by owners.
Have you seen the new Kimber RCP II ? Nice write up in Combat Handguns magazine [May 2007] Front cover and all. I am ordering mine Tuesday. I know lots of people that love the Ultra II.
i have a ultra cpd II i love it 15,000 rounds thru it shoot it better then any of the other 11 1911s i own/carry
i carry in a brommeland max con 5
i would buy again but would buy a pro cdp with the 4" barrel short grip my wilson cqb compact is 4" short officers grip and it is ideal carry but heavy
the kimber is great had issues with the POS mim parts but swapped them out have had zero issues
i did have 3 mim ambi safeties break and 2 ejectors but 1 was my fault used reg. length mags not officers and actually over inserted (gun ran for 500 more rounds never noticed until i cleaned her)
i will caution you be prepared to change recoil spring set up if you shoot a lot i carry a spare for range work
What about just buying the Ultra, not the CDP. Is there any difference besides cosmetic. Nobody around here has the CDP model!!!
Nothing Wrong With Shooting as Long as the Right People Get Shot.
Clint Eastwood, Magnum Force, 1973
Nah, wait and get the CDP!
"Just blame Sixto"
I reserve the right to make fun, point and laugh etc.


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Dover Police are investigating the armed robbery of a clerk at a local discount store.
The incident took place at 8 p.m. Jan. 12, at the Family Dollar Store at 650 S. Bay Road, in the Bay Court Shopping Plaza, said police spokesman Cpl. Mark Hoffman.
The suspect came into the store, demanding the cashier hand over all of the money in the cash register and store safe. Once he received the cash, the man fled southbound toward the Division of Motor Vehicles complex.
A search failed to turn up the suspect, Hoffman said.
The suspect was described as a black man with a medium complexion, standing 5 feet 7 inches in height with a medium build. The man was wearing a ski mask and carrying an automatic handgun.
Anyone with information on this crime is asked to call the Dover Police Department at 736-7111. Callers may remain anonymous.
Tips also may be submitted through Delaware Crime Stoppers at 800-TIP-333, or online at http://delaware.crimstoppersweb.com.
Location, ST | website.com


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2001 Dodge Stratus Sedan ES 4dr Sedan (2.7L 6cyl 4A)
good things :when i am driving my car,it is as fast as new cars,never behind them,most time in front of. aceleration brilliant,you will be really surprised about it.really fun to drive.edmunds said the truth about it. brakes enough good,4 discs. engine sounds excelent,trunk huge for a coupe car .rear seats very comfortable,they look like sedan seats ,not like the caracteristics coupe little seats.sound sistem enough good.i reproduce music with my phone and sounds powerful.and the last good thing,the car looks really nice for 2001.
and now the bad details,,the front bumper is too low,and sometimes hit the front line when i am parking, and the last one, turning ratio is not so good
2001 Dodge Stratus Sedan ES 4dr Sedan (2.7L 6cyl 4A)
I bought this car with almost 120,000 miles and it drives pretty decent. I've turned several heads with the cars already stylish exterior, with just a few simple mods. First the cars' door molding was shaved to give it the clean look; then I painted my calipers and after market black headlights. After some modifications regarding appearance, I then bought a intake and exhaust system and now I'm up to about 225 hp. You can definitely feel the power and I especially love the improved 0-60 time.
The sunroof, and the autostick, is very fun to use (I like the ability to control the car w/o a clutch).
Sometimes the engine doesn't want to live up to the true amount of HP it has, and the acceleration is depleted. A few people said that it may be my spark plugs, but I wonder if its true that the 2.7 L does have engine sludge problems.
2001 Dodge Stratus Sedan ES 4dr Sedan (2.7L 6cyl 4A)
Very frusturating car to own. I've experienced steering and electrical problems from day one. Blower fan not working on all speeds, radio turning on/off by itself, rear defroster problems. Had to replace the rack and pinion at 42,000 miles. Transmission pan to low to ground making it easy to bottom out resulting in leaks.
Good acceleration with V6 engine. Premium sound 4 disc changer is nice
Overall build quality has to improve before I buy another Dodge. Leather seats feel more like vinyl.
2001 Dodge Stratus Sedan ES 4dr Sedan (2.7L 6cyl 4A)
Engine problems and more engine problems. At first it seemed great but at 55-56K it started to decline. I serviced every 3K and all regular maintenance. At around 90K, I needed my main gasket replaced. Then last week I was informed my engine was shot. Also, had some electrical problems with my windows and especially my radio/CD player. I purchased new with every upgrade, even smokers package (I later learned, even though I have never smoked for xtra $20). Car still looks great, interior & exterior still looks new. This is the second Dodge that this has happened, I owned a Jeep before this and I was to dumb to learn. Never again! I am buying a Toyota! Do your homework, don't buy Dodge
Interior and exterior styling. Never used the autostick, but it did seem fun the 5 or 6 times I played around with it.
R&D! Do some research and fix these problems before you unleash them on us. Engine was very unreliable. Upgraded stereo sounded good before electrical problems.
2001 Dodge Stratus Sedan ES 4dr Sedan (2.7L 6cyl 4A)
Love Dodge styling overall and have owned several Dodges over the years. Had a 6cyl 2001 Stratus ES for almost a year but experienced constant overheating problem, steering problems, and ball joint replacements. This was a "certified" used car from a Dodge dealership. Had a 98 ES also with almost no problems in aver 75K miles but this one was a bust. Also had two Caravans which experienced ATX problems and various brake and lesser interior fit and finish issues... going to Toyota and Honda... mmmm...but must resist Dodge nice styling and innovative features (Charger/Magnum/300...etc)
Looks, performance, safety, price used is very good... but you get what you pay for...
Quality... Quality.... Quality
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How does Bigfoot survive the winter? If they are like us, wouldn't they freeze? This is a great question and should be addressed. Since we do not know much about the Bigfoot we would have to relate to the sciences biology, zoology, anthropology, and maybe even botany and try to extrapolate information to form theories of how the Bigfoot survives bitter winters.
Biology tells us a cryptid (unknown animal) such as Bigfoot would require large amounts of food, and that they are a mammal with a warm blooded system which means they would have to maintain a certain body temperature in order to not have any tissue damage to the extremities. Zoology indicates there are many large mammals that require large quantities of food, and they have learned to deal with bleak winters which drop well below freezing temperatures. Anthropology tells us that man has learned to survive the winter, and can withstand the most extreme climates in the world, but they did this by adapting their survival techniques to include making and maintain fire, structures for shelter, the use of protective clothing and storage of food. But botany?
There are indications that certain plants such as sage can enhance the resistance to cold temperatures. The study of these plants or plant medicinal values would be very helpful, and very valuable to primitive man and all animals. Yes, I said animals. An example is a K-9 (dog) knows the benefits of eating grass when their stomach is disorderly. Grass is a good laxative for them.
Going back to requirements for a large mammal to eat tons of food to survive the winter. There are several methods which are employed in nature, and we can look at the various forest animals to see how they prepare and survive the winter.
The first up is the common bear. Most bears are omnivorous which means they eat both meat and plants and they have an interesting method to prepare for winter. Bears do not truely hibernate, instead they mostly go in to a heavy sleep mode reducing their activity which would burn more calories/energy. They do wake up in the winter at various times and go out on good days to hunt or forage. To prepare for this heavy slumber, they need to overeat during times of plenty (non winter months). They do not rely on food storage. It is mostly the fat on their bodies that gets them through. However, they do seem to shift their diets towards meat in the spring while the forest starts to grow.
One item about the bears of interest which may relate to Bigfoot is their dens. Get deep enough into the earth, and the temperature equalizes to 55 degrees F regardless of the temperature outside. This temperature is very doable for any warm blooded creature with hair. In fact, it might be quite comfortable.
To Be Continued…


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Has it really been a month since my last "Pirate Guide"—the newly introduced "Sonic Boom" feature wherein I write short reviews of a host of new records? Why, it seems it has! My, how time flies. And what a month it has been! I mean, you wouldn't believe the crazy stuff that has gone on in my life. Why just last week…well, let's save it—because we've got records to talk about!
Adam Lambert: For Your Entertainment (19/RCA)
Really, there's not much disparity between American Idol's weakest alumni and its strongest: The show is an assembly line, producing second-rate knockoffs of existing mainstream pap. When one of its singers transcends that negligible designation (e.g., Kelly Clarkson, with "Since U Been Gone"), it's indicative of little more than the law of averages—even a blind squirrel, etc.—and then, the law of gravity—what has Clarkson done since "Since U Been Gone" that renders her better than Pink, Katy Perry…heck, even Allison Iraheta? Adam Lambert is not the show's first genre buster—remember Blake Lewis?—but he's the show's first genre buster with enough singing talent to carry an album and maybe score a few hits. For Your Entertainment, however, does little with Lambert's freakish abilities: It does, to its credit, pair Lambert with a host of hot songwriters, most of whom bury his voice, personality and general appeal in compression, Autotune and filler-quality material. There are enough home runs to justify the album's existence, and even its purchase, but four songs out of 14 (and I'm being kinda generous here) is hardly a better ratio than that produced by the Underwoods of the world. [6/10]
Real Estate: Real Estate (Woodsist)
One of the best things about this past summer was unearthing all these Real Estate oddities—their excellent 7"s, their essential Atlantic City Expressway CD-R—and catching the New Jersey band live, as they seemed to be playing somewhere in New York City every weekend. The band's hazy, suburban lo-fi pop was almost synonymous with boardwalks, shorefronts, salty air and aimless, ponderous days. Their full-length debut kind of falls short on two counts: (1) There's not much new here for those who spent their summer collecting the band's many random and wonderful MP3s; and (2) while they still sound great, these songs are so perfectly suited to the warmer months that listening to them in late fall feels somehow counterintuitive. Are these criticisms of concern to the uninitiated listener? Nope. The music is fantastic, and with global warming, we'll be back at the beach in no time, right? [7/10]
Katatonia: Night Is the New Day (Peaceville)
What is metal? What isn't? This is a conversation I've been having a lot lately, and it's all because of Night Is the New Day—a gorgeous, textured, atmospheric record made by a band with a metal legacy and a metal name, released on a metal label. The album opens with a couple crushing bars, and then…drifts into spacey shoegaze for the next 48-plus minutes. Oh, I'm exaggerating to make a point, but I'm not exaggerating by much. Here's the thing: Night Is the New Day is a nuanced work of great vulnerability and impeccable craftsmanship; it's catchy and expansive and grand. However, it sounds a lot more like Doves than it does, say, Darkthrone. Which is fine—excellent, even—but how will the non-metal world discover this haunting and subtle record made by a metal band? That's a marketing question, irrelevant to criticisms of the work, so let's be clear: This thing is as beautiful, mesmerizing and chilling as a lightning storm, easily one of the best metal albums of the year. Unless it isn't metal. In which case, it's just one of the best albums of the year. [8/10]
Animal Collective: Fall Be Kind EP (Domino)
I dislike empty clichés such as "a band at the peak of its powers," but I love to hear a band at the peak of its powers: that combination of hunger, confidence, vision, ability and opportunity that manifests itself as constant artistic breakthrough. If any band today is firing on more cylinders than Animal Collective, I'd like to see 'em. AC opened '09 with one of the best albums of the decade—the magnificent Merriweather Post Pavilion—but even without that behemoth lighting its way, the Fall Be Kind EP would sound like a huge triumph. Still mining the rich vein of swirling rhythms, blissed-out melodies and elaborate constructions of MPP, AC seem to be on a higher plane than their peers. Who else today is creating such generous, inviting, compelling, adventurous work? You wanna tell me Radiohead? I'm not sure I agree, but let's say that I do: That's not bad company to be in, is it? [8/10]
Lady Gaga: The Fame Monster (Cherrytree/Interscope)
Let's forget all the ancillary elements that make Lady Gaga great—the videos, the live performances, the television appearances, all of which are now approaching the surrealist insanity of Matthew Barney's Cremaster films—and focus on the thing for which she's ostensibly famous: the music. The Fame Monster is just an extended version of Gaga's wonderful 2008 record, The Fame, but its additions are substantial—the best songs here ("Bad Romance," "Dance in the Dark") rival the best songs on The Fame ("Just Dance," "Paparazzi") and even the lesser songs merit a few spins. Stylistically, Gaga is still dealing in fizzy Euro-house, which is part of her appeal: The combination of avant-garde visuals with radio pop has made for a juxtaposition both thrilling and jarring. It would be truly shocking if she stuck to that formula on The Fame's official follow-up—she'll surely get considerably weirder on the musical end, too—so even if she's double-dipping here, she's forgiven, because she may not be so compelling next time around. And she'll surely be…different. [6/10]


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Prentice Hall Reference Guide (with MyCompLab NEW with E-Book Student Access Code Card)
ISBN13:by Harris, Muriel G.
Pearson College Div
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For Freshman-level writing courses, such as Freshman Composition, English Composition, First-Year Writing, Expository Writing or any course where students need help with grammar, research and documentation. The easiest handbook to use. Muriel Harris was the director of the Purdue Writing Center where she worked elbow-to-elbow with students and for over twenty-five years. As she worked with students, she realized that they asked the same questions over and over. Based on her experience with thousands of students in the writing center, Muriel Harris authored this spiral-bound, tabbed and brief handbook. Her unique feature, "Compare and Correct," and "Question and Correct," allows students to find what they need to help themselves with their writing, without needing to know the terms of grammar. Muriel Harris' Prentice Hall Reference Guide is the easiest handbook for students and instructors to use.
Table of Contents
|A Personal Message
|p. vi
|To the Instructor vii Hints for Using This Book
|p. xvi
|Question and Correct & Compare and Correct
|Question and Correct:Some of the Most Commonly Asked Questions About Writing qc1
|Compare and Correct cc1
|The Writing Process
|Purposes and Audiences
|p. 1
|p. 1
|p. 1
|p. 2
|p. 2
|Writing Processes and Strategies
|p. 4
|p. 4
|p. 10
|p. 11
|p. 12
|p. 16
|Editing and Proofreading
|p. 18
|p. 20
|p. 20
|p. 20
|p. 21
|Introductions and Conclusions
|p. 21
|Patterns of Organization
|p. 21
|p. 28
|Writing and Reading Arguments
|p. 28
|Considering the Audience
|p. 29
|p. 32
|Developing Your Arguments
|p. 33
|Organizing Your Arguments
|p. 36
|Visual Argument
|p. 39
|Similarities and Differences Between Verbal and Visual Argument
|p. 41
|Reading Visual Arguments
|p. 45
|Writing Visual Arguments
|p. 47 Revising
|Comma Splices and Fused Sentences
|p. 49
|Comma Splices
|p. 50
|Fused or Run-On Sentences
|p. 50
|Subject-Verb Agreement
|p. 52
|Singular and Plural Subjects
|p. 53
|Buried Subjects
|p. 53
|Compound Subjects
|p. 54
|p. 54
|Clauses and Phrases as Subjects
|p. 55
|Indefinites as Subjects
|p. 55
|Table of Contents provided by Publisher. All Rights Reserved.


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The Namesake
|Kel Penn
|Gogol Ganguli
|Irrfan Khan
|Jacinda Barrett
|Zuleikha Robinson
|Sahira Nair
|Brooke Smith
|Directed by
|Mira Nair
|Rated PG-13
|122 minutes
"We all came out of Gogol?s 'Overcoat'."
Fyodor Dostoevsky
The titular namesake in this sweet, engaging story of ethnic identity crisis is Gogol Ganguli (Kal Penn), the son of Indian immigrants in the United States. The Russian writer Nikolai Gogol, who spent much of his life as an expatriate, was a favorite of the boy?s father Ashoke (Irfan Khan). As a young man, Ashoke was the sole survivor of a terrible train wreck in India. He had been reading Gogol?s classic ?The Overcoat? in a crowded railroad car, and chatting with a fellow passenger who advised him to ?pack a pillow and a blanket and see the world, you will never regret it.?
After the accident Ashoke takes that advice to heart, and moves to New York. He returns to India for an arranged marriage to Ashima (Bollywood beauty Tabu), an aspiring singer, and brings her back to Queens, to a charmless but functional apartment that boasts such wonders as gas twenty-four hours a day, and water you can drink from the tap. When their son is born, they are surprised to discover that American rules require a name on the birth certificate before the baby can be discharged from the hospital. Indian tradition dictates that the name will be chosen by the maternal grandmother, but it can often take months or years to decide. So they give the baby the ?pet name? (for family use) of Gogol; the ?good name? (for public consumption) can be added later.
The movie, directed by Mira Nair (?Monsoon Wedding?, ?Pride and Prejudice?) from Jhumpa Lahiri?s bestselling novel, covers a quarter century in the life of the Ganguli family, from the late 1970s to the present. Another child, Sonia (Sahira Nair) is born, they move to the suburbs, the children grow up as little Americans, and the parents find themselves living with one foot in their new culture and the other in the old. Ashoke makes the transition more easily, but then it is he who made the decision to transplant to this brave new world. On their first morning in the Queens apartment, before he goes to work, he offers to bring his bride a cup of tea in bed. ?That?s the way they do it here,? he says with a shy grin. But despite her resistance to assimilation, Ashima has also made the commitment. In our first glimpse of her, as she arrives home in Calcutta to meet the prospective bridegroom, she sees his American-made wingtips in the hall, and steps into them for a moment before going in.
Gogol and his sister grow up on hamburgers and rock ?n roll. When the family returns to India for the first time they are American teenagers who do not much dig the old world and its ways. ?I feel I have given birth to strangers,? Ashima laments. But a visit to the Taj Mahal inspires Gogol to direct his life?s course toward architecture.
He goes to Yale, where he adopts his belated ?good name,? Nikhil (shortened to Nick.) He moves to Manhattan, and falls in love with a WASP princess named Maxine (Jacinda Barrett). Her wealthy family welcomes him, his New York friends treat him without condescension; his life and his career are American, and still there is the Indian part of his identity that flows beneath the surface, that makes up a part of him he scarcely acknowledges but can?t ignore.
By and large, Nair plays fair with her American characters. Maxine is a privileged blonde beauty, and while she?s occasionally a little insensitive to Indian culture, she?s not quite a caricature. The senior Gangulis hew to a social life constructed almost exclusively around fellow Indian expatriates, but Ashima works at a suburban library where her best friend is an Anglo woman (the wonderful Brooke Smith). Ashima never becomes truly comfortable in the land where she has spent her adult life, but she wryly manages some American slang (?No big deal?) and accepts that her children are from a very different tradition than the one in which she grew up. They will marry for love, not by family arrangement. She and Ashoke have never directly acknowledged the feeling that has grown between them over the years of marriage (?You want me to say ?I love you,? like the Americans?? she teases him once.)
Of course, the apple often falls closer to the tree than it intends to. The old cultural clothes, like the overcoat in the Gogol story, are not always discarded as easily or as painlessly as their wearers would like. Here it takes the shock of a family tragedy to awaken in Gogol/Nick a fuller sense of who he is.
The acting is excellent, though Tabu and Khan age in a manner that recalls Elizabeth Taylor and Rock Hudson in ?Giant?, with white streaked in the hair and a weary slowness applied to the walk to indicate the passage from early twenties to late forties. Nair paints an affecting canvas, with plenty of color but a curious absence of sunlight. The movie squeezes a lot of story into its two-hour running time. It is a saga told in small pieces, a patchwork of short scenes that tumble after each other almost apologetically, as if they would love to linger a little longer, but there is too much to tell and only so much time in which to do it.
© Text 2007 Jonathan Richards - Filmfreak.be
© Pictures


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As magnificent as she looked in those old school bikinis and swimsuits we never got to see Raquel Welch nude or even topless. I did find some nice fakes of her though at Celeb Defamer though. Check out this one of the beautiful actress with her big tits out.
You can see more Raquel Welch fakes at Celeb Defamer, along with over two hundred thousand more of just about any famous actress you can list. Full members also get access to over 60 other HQ porn sites with their password.


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What would you do if your kid ran into the street?
Appropriate punishment?
Comments (6)
Depends. We deal with this a lot when we play in the front yard of our house as we are friends with the neighbor kids across the street. In this case, if she runs in the street, she ends up on a time out or inside where she can't have the "object of her desire," her playmates, for 5 minutes.
If we are crossing the street and she runs ahead (no sign of danger), we talk about it, and either "do over" or just keep going.
If there is a car coming and she doesn't look and I am right there, I'd probably grab her and freak out.
Thanks for your response MeganTheMom. It was more like the 3rd scenario - not that he knows to look for cars, but he is learning to stop at the corner when we are walking. This happened in front of his school on a very busy street. My husband was able to grab him just in time, thank goodness. Even though we do not hit, we had previously said that we would definitely spank him if he ever did something so dangerous, but we didn't because we were too freaked out. We both scolded him and then sent him to his room when we got home and made him stay there until dinner time (3 hours). On one hand I feel like it was a really long punishment for an almost 4 year old, on the other hand I feel like it wasn't severe enough to make him understand just how dangerous that was...
It would depend on the situation for me too. But if it was one of those scary traffic kinds of things, I would do whatever you think would make the biggest impression. Sometimes it's hard to think in the moment though.
My (almost) 4 year old ran away from me in a big parking lot the other day. Something she has done before. I got really mad and scared in that moment. When I put her in the car, I told her that if she did it again, a mean stranger would come by and pick her up and she would never see me again. She burst into tears. Sigh. Probably not the right thing to say, but she remembers it. I am hoping it scares her enough to not run away from me, but not too much! Good luck!
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My daughter has been known to run into parking lots. (As we live in the suburbs we rarely are close to roads, so hasn't been much of an issue. At home she knows where the end of the driveway is and knows she's not allowed to cross it. ) I have swatted her butt for running into parking lots without looking (twice). I did not like it, but she hasn't really done it since, so I guess it was effective. Although I do talk to her about being careful, etc. pretty much every time we're walking through a parking lot still, and try really hard to keep a hand on her. But, she can be really unpredictable.
I'm honest with DD. The first time she ran into a street (no car was coming...but that's besides the point) I told her if she did it again and a car was coming, that the car would hit her and she would get really hurt. That scared her enough that she looks both ways every time now. I think 3 hours in his room was a little harsh, especially since it was a delayed punishment. It should be immediately following the situation...but that's my opinion.
"Tell your lawyer that he may want to skip breakfast when he works your case becuase it's going to be an all you can eat dumbass buffet!"PurlingHooker
I told LO that he would get a big ouchie and would have to go to the hospital if he ran into the street and mommy and daddy would be really sad. He's really good about looking both ways now and stopping at the end of the street. I did have to give him a wack on the butt a time or two and impliment time out originally so he understood how serious it was, but it's not a huge issue now. Of course I have kung fu grip on him when crossing any street. Just cause you never know.
Learn more
Look how far your child has come.
Review your child's growth milestones.
Read about 7 years 6 months : Week 2.
Your growing child
Your 7 1/2-year-old: Spirituality
Your 7 1/2-year-old: Social networking
Your 7 1/2-year-old: Parent-teacher conferences
Your 7 1/2-year-old: Rejection
Your 7 1/2-year-old: Picky eaters
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Get a glimpse of what's to come.
Read about 7 years 8 months.


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Kim wrote in today and comments on my previous post, "I'm Saving $20,000 in Electricity Because I Don't Want to Work to Pay the Bill." She said: Will you provide more info about the solar panels you chose? Where does one even start w/ that kind of project? Do you call your utility and ask if they will buy back ... Read More »
Home > Tag Archives: reducing costs
I'm Saving $20,000 in Electricity Because I Don't Want to Work to Pay the Bill
This morning I had to wake early to greet the electrician. He was kind enough to come over to help me install my latest gadget, the TED, the electricity detective. It was advertised as a DIY kit, and for some homes I'm sure it is a breeze to install. But for some unexplained reason, my house does not have a ... Read More »