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Tuesday, August 24, 2010 | It was a rare sight.
A group of county supervisors and labor leaders sitting across the table from each other at a public meeting having a calm discussion, even offering each other complements. There was no shouting, no finger pointing and even the posturing was kept to a relative minimum.
What made it even more remarkable was the topic: public pensions.
They were together at the behest of the Little Hoover Commission, a statewide grand jury of sorts that is looking for solutions to the most vexing of public policy conundrums -- providing public services amid a fiscal environment dominated by shrinking revenues and ballooning annual pension payment obligations.
Orange County has become a darling of late among those who study public pensions.
One of the nation's most politically conservative counties has actually achieved something that looks like progress by -- get ready for this one -- cooperating with labor.
The results?
Landmark deals that radically lowered the public unfunded liability on retiree medical costs and ushered in a new tier of public-sector retirement offering lower benefits to workers.
"Orange County has done a better job of addressing issues proactively," said Little Hoover Commission Chairman Daniel Hancock after visiting Friday with a host of county supervisors and labor leaders to hear about Orange County's reform efforts.
Now, perhaps everyone was on their best behavior because of the audience and the place settings trumpeting the OC as a statewide leader on pension reform. The mood was so cooperative and complimentary that some members from the Hoover panel privately wondered whether they'd just been snowed by a dog-and-pony show.
To be sure, there are those who say that Orange County's newest pension reform proposal isn't reform at all, and could end up costing taxpayers more. Newly elected county supervisor Shawn Nelson -- who, curiously, was not at the meeting -- is in that camp.
But, then again, maybe a corner has indeed been turned.
After numerous years of battling each other on the pension issue through a host of controversial and costly election campaigns, as well as through tough labor contract negotiations, the two sides seem to have gotten to know each other.
And a light seems to have come on.
Both sides seem to be reacting to poll numbers that indicate an increasingly angry electorate over public sector pensions. And as the unfunded liability continues to swell, so does voter anger.
At both sides.
Last week, county elected officials and labor leaders publicly acknowledged those harsh realities to state commissioners. During what at times seemed like the start of peace talks in a conflict, both combatants agreed that they had battled themselves to stalemate.
And after reaching stalemate, the two sides told state commissioners they found that nothing cures an unfunded liability better than open communication.
"It requires a lot of trust," said Orange County Employees Association General Manager Nick Berardino.
Sitting across from Berardino was Supervisor John Moorlach, who basically agreed. Moorlach said he's tried just about every approach in the book -- ballot initiatives, legislation and even lawsuits -- but none work as well as the negotiating table.
However, both sides acknowledged that there are still battles to be waged. And the stakes are astronomically high.
Orange County faces a $3.7 billion unfunded liability for its pension system, one that was largely triggered after large benefit increases in 2001 (for public safety) and 2004 (for general employees). Investment losses and actuarial changes also keep fueling the unfunded liability, which has driven up annual payments considerably and put major pressure on public sector budgets.
Last week, Little Hoover Commission members got the lowdown on the plan Orange County leaders crafted that allows new hires, and potentially existing employees, to choose to participate in a less expensive pension system.
That plan -- which would allow workers to retire with 1.62 percent of pay for every year worked at age 65 instead of the current 2.7 percent at 55 -- is still awaiting approval from the Treasury Department and may even require an act of Congress.
Since the lower-tier retirement plan was instituted in May, a few new hires have opted into it. However, the majority of hires still appear to elect the 2.7 percent at 55.
Nelson opted for the 2.7 percent at 55 formula and said his own example shows that workers won't opt for something that nets them a smaller retirement payoff.
He's also publicly questioned whether the new formula negotiated by his four colleages -- Supervisors Moorlach, Bill Campbell, Pat Bates and Janet Nguyen -- might cost taxpayers more because of retirement gaming by senior employees. County officials are now studying actuarial assumptions of the new deal and will report back.
Yet the new formula in Orange County is still one of the first approaches that commission members said they have heard from anywhere in the state that can begin to shave off some of the county's unfunded pension liability.
Neither side tried to shy away from the fact that they view the world in radically different ways and often clash verbally at the negotiating table as well as in the press.
"As we work toward policy results, it's a bumpy road," county Chief Executive Tom Mauk said.
Yet the key to getting something done in Orange County seems to be the fact that there are always open lines of communication.
Political leaders on both sides of the aisle need to cool their rhetoric, Berardino said, and figure out realistic policies that can bring the long-term pension liability down.
That means putting a muzzle on the Republican folks who talk about a world without unions, or pensions, or shifting to 401(k)s. And it means sidelining union leaders who don't want to admit there's a problem with pensions that are too generous, he said.
Little Hoover Commission member Marilyn Brewer, a former state legislator and inhabitant of Orange County's fifth floor, asked Berardino how such a program could take hold at the statewide level, where one meeting participant described unions as "standing in the corner with their arms crossed."
"Continue to build on small successes," he replied. One jurisdiction at a time with solutions that match conditions on the ground.
Supervisor Campbell, who was a key negotiator on the new pension benefit, reiterated the point that each jurisdiction has to create the right set of policies and incentives that match their own realities.
For example, the new tier in Orange County has a chance to work because supervisors and labor already agreed to a key point back in 2004: Employees must pay out of their paychecks to help fund their pensions.
That key point is what may make the new tier more attractive to new hires because having the 1.62 percent formula leaves more in their paycheck, Campbell said. Other incentives, such as capping retiree medical benefits, also helps to encourage people to stay on the job longer, Campbell added.
Little Hoover Commission members left the meeting noting that they are likely to continue hearings throughout the fall and prepare a report on what they heard across the state by early next year.
The most appealing thing about what they heard in Orange County, Hancock said, was a "level headed" approach to start chipping away at the problem.
Please contact Norberto Santana, Jr. directly at email@example.com, and follow him on Twitter: twitter.com/norbertosanatna. And add your voice with a letter to the editor.


text:
Yes. One of the most famous of the mountain men that lived here was the legendary Jim Bridger [1]. After years of western exploration and guiding wagon trains, he retired to a farm just south of Kansas City at the old community of Dallas at 103rd and State Line. He died and was buried there on the farm in 1881. Later in 1904, Granville Dodge had Bridger's body moved to Mount Washington Cemetery in Independence, Missouri, and had a monument [2] built commemorating Bridger.
Bridger was also memorialized in the sculpture in Pioneer Park [3] in the Westport area of Kansas City along with city founder John C. McCoy [4] and freighter Alexander Majors [5].
For more information search the Local History Index [6].
Librarian Sara Nyman
April 2006
Next FAQ >> 7. What companies did political boss Tom Pendergast own? [7]
<< Return to all Kansas City FAQs [8].
[1] http://localhistory.kclibrary.org/u?/Biographies,96
[2] http://www.kchistory.org/u?/Mrs,990
[3] http://www.kchistory.org/u?/Assorted,900
[4] http://www.kchistory.org/u?/Biographies,232
[5] http://www.kchistory.org/u?/Biographies,243
[6] http://www.kchistory.org/cdm4/explore.php?page=localhistoryindex
[7] http://www.kclibrary.org/kchistory/what-companies-did-political-boss-tom-pendergast-own
[8] http://www.kclibrary.org/kchistory/kansas-city-faqs

subset: commoncrawl


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This is a joint account for two best friends who are so alike that we consider ourselves twins.
We are absolutely crazy according to anyone who knows us and we are obsessed with reading. We have a best friend who is just as crazy as us and is kirstys stalking buddy :)
Kirsty is the writer who is constantly in her own world and is obceossed with music. Shes insane and belongs in a mental institution for her obsessions with ninja spoons. Mess with her friends and you will find yourself through the nearest window and straight into a hospital.
And Sophie is the poet/musician who cant seem to be able to write lyrics to songs despite the two points previously mentioned. She is amazing at all her subjects but fails to have the ability to be punctual. Throw something at her and about 99% of the time she will either mess it or drop it.
We have started posting a book that we wrote based on crazed daydreams that started while on a paper-round and haven't stopped. It's called 'Dragged Into the Past We Didn't Know We Had.' please read, comment and post! Our name 'XxJDMIKxX' is actually based on two of our main characters, Jasmine Davian Lynne and Maya Isabelle Kane.Also try our new book `Only fate decides...or does it?` its about... well, if u wanna know, then you`re going to have to read it.
This is the SANE was of describing us. we like to keep the sanity behind the scenes so if u wanna risk it message us. If u like remaining sane then WARNING! Like warning signs ever work but oh well dont say we didnt tell u so ;) :P
Well that's about all you need to know about us for now I guess ;)
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Featured work.
my bursts of inspiration (random short stories)
By XxJDMIKxX
Social data: 515 reads. 7 votes. 3 comments.
Other Works by XxJDMIKxX.
Only Fate Decides...Or Does It?
702 2 6
"I'd just jump if I were you. You might not know where your going to land but it's worth the risk." ...
Dragged Into the Past We Didn't Know We Had
729 11 29
Ok, so i know we're not normal, and i know our lives have never been perfect, but come on! with the life...


text:
Florida Flyboys
We were incredibly fortunate to have the guys from the Florida Historical Preservation Group or as their Facebook page states, the Florida Flyboys. They were simply amazing adding to the Precon a great level of authenticity to the WWII scene created by the folks at Fantasy of Flight with their aircraft. Between the planes, the guys and the jeep, we had hundreds of possible set ups we could shoot and have fun with. Here they are out with the Stinson L-1, first time the L-1 had been out after many years of complete restoration. Everything in this frame could have easily been seen exactly the same way 70yrs ago during WWII!
Since I was working the field helping the students so I didn't have much time working any particular situation the Florida Flyboys would set themselves up in. So when I saw this scene in the shade of the wing of the C-47, I ran over before they could move. Shooting with the D4 and 18-35, I got up close shooting at 18mm (notice how little distortion there is at 18mm). Then shooting on the fly with only moments, I made the three clicks you see moving them slightly in the corner to make the selection which one I liked best back at the computer. Because after these three clicks, I was out helping a student.
Now shooting on the fly, I didn't have flash out (should have!). So finishing was done in post with ACR used to open up the shadows which should have been done with flash. The only other thing done in post besides ACR was using Pro Contrast in Nik's Color Efex. I want to thank the Guys for being not only great sports, but for helping preserve and share our history!


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(Photo by Brent Shipman, Staff)
SIKESTON -- Things went south quickly for the Scott County Central Bravettes on Thursday while hosting Saxony Lutheran.
Under a hail of six first quarter 3-pointers, the Lady Crusaders were able to build a 27-point halftime lead before cruising to a 65-39 win.
"They were on fire in the first half," Scott Central head coach Matt Limbaugh said of Saxony Lutheran. "Even after your great defensive possessions they would somehow drive the lane and throw up a shot that would go in.
"That's what great teams do. Just when you think you've had a good possession they throw the dagger at you."
The Lady Crusaders came into the contest as the second-ranked Class 3 team in the state and didn't waste time in proving why with a total of six girls contributing to a 28-8 opening run.
Four different Saxony Lutheran (19-2) players hit a three during the rally as the Lady Crusaders put up all six of their 3-pointers in the first eight minutes of play.
The Bravettes (14-6) slowed down Saxony Lutheran in the second frame, but were still outscored 14-7 to give the Lady Crusaders a 42-15 lead heading into halftime.
After the break, the Bravettes attempted to put together a comeback with Abby Ross opening the third quarter with a quick put-back. Six-straight points by Saxony Lutheran followed, however, and Scott Central was forced to try and keep their deficit below 30.
As the final minutes of the frame wound down, the Lady Crusaders pushed ahead by 34 points thanks to a 9-2 run.
Back-to-back baskets from Ann Dennis and Johniqua Fort had the Bravettes back within 57-37 to start the fourth.
Through the final frame, Scott Central fought to turn off the turbo-clock and after once again trailing by 34 points, rallied for eight-straight to close out the night.
"Our bench came out and shot the ball well," Lady Crusaders' head coach Sam Sides said. "We had six threes in the first quarter and that gave us a cushion.
"We kind of eased up after that and in reality I thought we can play a lot better."
With a total of 10 girls contributing to the cause, Saxony Lutheran was led by Brianna Mueller's 15 points and four assists. Abby Hadler, Lauren Hecht and Raegan Wieser had eight points each for the Lady Crusaders with Wieser also coming away with a team-high eight rebounds and four assists.
Maddie Brune had seven points, six rebounds and a team-high five steals.
"We're blessed with a lot of depth," Sides said. "I have 10 girls that can play. Mostly underclassmen. I have two seniors that play and another hurt.
"My sophomore, (Hadler), scored a little bit. I thought she played well. She's been shooting the ball well the last couple games and has really gave us a lift."
Leading Scott Central was Mikaela Blissett with 11 points while the Bravettes got nine points from Ziaire Davis and six points each from Derien Ditto and Fort.
"They didn't quit even though the scoreboard was rough," Limbaugh said of his team. "I kept telling them not to even worry about the score and just continue to fight and to continue to try and get better.
"Playing a good team you just have to hope for the best, try to stay positive and know there's more important things in the future."
Scott Central will try and put the loss behind them when they host the Oran Lady Eagles tonight at 5 p.m. for homecoming.
Scott Central's boys junior varsity game will follow the Bravettes contest with Scott Central and Oran's boys varsity squads capping the night's homecoming action.
|Scott Central
SAXONY LUTHERAN (65) -- Abby Hadler 8, Grace Mirly 7, Ali Galemmo 2, Brianna Mueller 15, Natalie Mueller 2, Lauren Hecht 8, Tess Daniel 4, Ashlynn Collier 4, Raegan Wieser 8, Maddie Brune 7. FG 29, FT 1-4, F 15. (3-pointers: Hadler 2, Mirly 1, Brianna Mueller 1, Hecht 2. Fouled out: none.)
SCOTT CENTRAL (39) -- Mikaela Blissett 11, Johniqua Fort 6, Abby Ross 4, Ziaire Davis 9, Derien Ditto 6, Ann Dennis 3. FG 15, FT 8-15, F 9. (3-pointers: Ditto 1. Fouled out: none.)


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Monday, 15th August, 2011, 04:27 PM #1
Legacy of the Silver Dragon (Swords and Wizardry Core, 4th Ed)
This is a new PbP based on the Swords and Wizardy Core (4th edition) ruleset. I aim to get started between next weekend (August 20th) and the end of the month, depending on how things flow.
Here you can find both the free PDF, and the print edition of the 4th edition rules (if you decide to order the print edition from another vendor, be careful as there are multiple editions still available):
Below is a quick description of the campaign, more will be provided soon.
The backdrop is a small town on the outskirts of human civilization that had a protector in the form of a Silver Dragon named Eliaesel, who lived in a mountain nearby. She was effectively the ruler of the town, although she empowered a council to overrule her rulings if 3/4 of the members agreed to do so. The council was made up with equal numbers from all facets and races of society.
And then Eliaesel vanished (not sure how long ago, likely 5-10 years before the start of the campaign). The town hoped she would return, but none sent to the mountain to search for her were able to find her lair, or if they did - none that did returned. Instead they found hostile humanoids, which had left the town alone due to its protector.
Currently the town is in a state of flux. The Council attempts to hold onto its power, but without a strong leader over it, they get little done. They have called for a vote by the populace to elect such a leader, and numerous people have thrown their hat into the ring.. but the politics have grown fractious, and no matter who wins - large portions of the populace will likely be unhappy.
And, those aforementioned hostile humanoids are beginning to realize that the town is no longer as well defended as it once was... Caravans need guards, the town's threats need to be scouted, and there are rumors of items in ruins and caverns in the mountain which could be used to protect the town. Within the town itself, factions try to dig up dirt on those who wish to become the leader of the council. There are opportunities aplenty for those who would style themselves a hero... or for those who just wish to change their lot in life and level of income.
Last edited by gambler1650; Monday, 15th August, 2011 at 04:31 PM.
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Monday, 15th August, 2011, 04:28 PM #2
One thing I'm debating is starting stats and character generation:
Unlike more modern iterations, abilities really aren't as important - or at least don't appear to be at first blush. The range of modifiers and what they modify is generally less (though 4th edition S&W did add a few additional modifiers). What a high attribute is often best for is that it provides a 5% increase in XP received if your profession's prime attribute (strength for a fighter for instance) is 13+, so the character advances more quickly.
The REAL killer is hit points. If you roll a 1 for HP, your character pretty much is guaranteed to die unless you're super cautious and lucky). And unless you have a CON of 13+, you always have a chance of starting with 1 HP. I do plan to run this without fudging die rolls, though I plan to provide some help (see below) since most of us aren't used to the old school style.
I propose the following for character generation:
3D6 in order (in other words, roll the dice for each attribute).
If your character has either of the following conditions, you may reroll it:
Less than 54 TOTAL points for attributes (the average is 63 - 10.5 per attribute, 54 is if you rolled a 9 on every attribute), OR
No attribute 13 or above.
Now it's also possible to have 3-4 people who all roll up a character that would be a better fighter than anything else. To allow for party flexibility, I will permit each character to switch any two attributes.
For Hit Points: Roll the die for your class as given, divide by 2 (rounding down) and add to HALF the maximum HP you could have achieved. Then add/subtract your CON modifier.
So, let's say you're a Fighter with a CON of 14 (+1 to HP). Your hit die is 1D10. Half of your maximum HP (10) at Level 1 is 5. You roll a 3, which is halved and rounded down to 1. 5 + 1 (Die Roll) + 1 (CON Bonus) = 7
So, what I suggest is.. once you've looked at the rules, roll up a set of attributes. One way to determine the party composition would be to then post the attributes with your first and second choice of character (profession and race). Then discuss amongst yourselves who (if anyone) will switch attributes in order to make the party more diverse.
If you prefer to keep your character's attributes/class (even race) secret for some reason, then feel free to message me with the attributes/character class/race, and when I've seen the whole list, I can make suggestions as to if someone should change their classes, or do a swap of two of their attributes.
So, additional 'help' to the party. I plan to use a 'Hero Point' type system, where you can spend a Hero Point to:
1. Force one reroll (but you must take the result).
2. Cause any damage that would reduce you to 0 or less HP to leave you at 1 HP.
(Possibly others if I think of them)
Players will start with 1 Hero Point, and gain extra Hero points by, well, doing things heroically.
There's a fine line between heroic and foolhardy however. Simply charging 10 orcs as soon as you see them (think Han Solo and stormtroopers), isn't going to get a Hero Point. If somehow you do so and take out all 10, then probably you'll get a Hero Point. If you hold a doorway against 10 orcs when one of your company is down, and the other is desperately trying to find a way out of the apparently dead end you're in - you'll probably get a Hero Point, possibly even before the scene is completed (allowing you to hold out longer).
Hero Points will also be awarded for good roleplaying. If you consistently write:
"I'm swinging my sword at the nearest Orc, hoping to protect the wizard."
you'll only get Hero Points for actions described above. If however you provide more description and make your character seem to come alive through your writing, you'll likely get a Hero Point after major climaxes (the end of a particular adventure, or series of events). This doesn't mean that you have to write paragraphs of literature. But as in the example above, something like:
<Character Name> steps forward menacingly, keeping himself between the slavering orc and the fallen wizard. "You're NOT getting past me," he says, and then brings his axe smashing down towards the orc's head.
would be sufficient if that level of description is done consistently.
Monday, 15th August, 2011, 07:28 PM #3
Spellbinder (Lvl 16)
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Tuesday, 16th August, 2011, 02:44 AM #4
Defender (Lvl 8)
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I agree, sounds like a great start. Does the town have a name?
I will get a set of stats up and see what the dice have in store for me. Oh such a sense of wonder, not knowing what I will play till I see the rolls
PbP Games
Living EnWorld
Kali Tsafra currently in Once Upon a Rheim
Ru'shal currently in the Red Dragon Inn
Other PbP
Baron Dartis Kalnian in Deuce Traveller's Last Stand of the Dorinthians
Troth vec-Neag in Mightier than the Sword
Broderick Bvarizak in Shattered Seas Chronicles
Tristan d'Toussaint in Rowaini Musketeers: One For All and All For One
Jonas Kewiczak in Constables of the 14th Ward
Brazinak Kzaniskan in Constables of the 14th Ward
Jovik Magnix
Kerin Rookstone
Thurien Hurvaal
Kyranvik Vondestrok
Corus Varan
Sir Richard Goodlake
Tuesday, 16th August, 2011, 04:03 AM #5
Whizbang: Thanks!
Fenris: The rolls you made fall under the second category for a re-roll of the character if you want it (no attribute above 13). If you want to keep the rolls, feel free to do so.
The town is named Ascadar after the adventurer that founded it in the past (specific time line will be forthcoming sometime in the next week or so).
Looks like the person I was hoping to drag into the game is willing to do so, and I see we have a fourth person interested, so we may have the starting group of players set.
Tuesday, 16th August, 2011, 02:45 PM #6
Spellbinder (Lvl 16)
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Last edited by Whizbang Dustyboots; Tuesday, 16th August, 2011 at 08:14 PM.
Tuesday, 16th August, 2011, 04:01 PM #7
Defender (Lvl 8)
- Join Date
- Feb 2002
- Location
- Long Island, New York
- Posts
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ø Block Fenris
ø Friend+
PbP Games
Living EnWorld
Kali Tsafra currently in Once Upon a Rheim
Ru'shal currently in the Red Dragon Inn
Other PbP
Baron Dartis Kalnian in Deuce Traveller's Last Stand of the Dorinthians
Troth vec-Neag in Mightier than the Sword
Broderick Bvarizak in Shattered Seas Chronicles
Tristan d'Toussaint in Rowaini Musketeers: One For All and All For One
Jonas Kewiczak in Constables of the 14th Ward
Brazinak Kzaniskan in Constables of the 14th Ward
Jovik Magnix
Kerin Rookstone
Thurien Hurvaal
Kyranvik Vondestrok
Corus Varan
Sir Richard Goodlake
Tuesday, 16th August, 2011, 05:32 PM #8
Ok, those rolls are accepted...
Note that if you choose a Cleric, you get 1 bonus first level spell due to a Wisdom above 15+. Otherwise, Clerics can't cast spells until 2nd level.
Remember also that you can switch any two attributes if you'd prefer NOT to play a cleric.
Last edited by gambler1650; Tuesday, 16th August, 2011 at 07:56 PM.
Tuesday, 16th August, 2011, 07:23 PM #9
Cutpurse (Lvl 5)
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Alright, here I go:
3d6=18, 3d6=5, 3d6=13, 3d6=10, 3d6=12, 3d6=13. Switching CHA for INT, that gives us:
GOLD: 3d6=15*10= 150 gp
HP: 1d8=2, 1d4=4 = (4+(2/2) + 2+(4/2))/2 + 1 Con = 5 HP (and half a hit point in storage for the next level)
Chosen: Detect Magic, Read Magic and Sleep.
Random in alphabetical order: 1d100=6, 1d100=85, 1d100=49, 1d100=32, 1d100=10, 1d100=69, 1d100=16 -> Gained Charm Person, Magic Missile, Protection from Evil and Shield.
Antares, the Elven Fighter/Magic User is born!
Last edited by Binder Fred; Tuesday, 16th August, 2011 at 08:30 PM. Reason: Forgot HPs!
So it goes.
Active charactersYannock Bole, a nature-based fighter in 3SpdDragster's Assault on Dire Wood (5E D&D)
A nameless gand artifact hunter in Green Karl's A Gathering Darkness (SWS/5E D&D)Memorable gamesFastus, blacksmith of flames in Tailspinner's Jade Regent (Pathfinder)
Antares, an Elven fighter/mage in Gambler1650's Legacy of the Silver Dragon 1 2 (S&S 4th)
Sloor Sanbraiz, a Besalisk scoundrel in Possum's Dawn of Defiance I II (Star Wars Saga)
Seif al Mariam, a touareg guide in Relique du Madde's Warlords of the Red Sands (PL6 M&M)
Nightshift, a teleporting security guard in Jemal's Mutant Rising (PL10 M&M)
Tuesday, 16th August, 2011, 10:30 PM #10
Ok, so our character list so far is:
Bosco Bracegirdle: Halfling Thief (Dextrous and Charismatic... and apparently at least somewhat wise.. the first two are classic Thief.. The last... refreshingly unusual )
Antares: Elven Fighter/Magic User (Pretty nice all around... Super strong, relatively smart and socially average, but not so dextrous... )
(Fenris, any idea what you want to play ?)
This could be an interesting party given the background for the town. As I've written it (and I'll have a more thorough description soon), it's 51% human, 30% halfling, 12% dwarf, 7% elf. One of the dynamics of the town is that under Eliaesel, all races and levels of prosperity (poor through rich) had equal representation (so the actual racial makeup on the council is 25% for each race). Not everyone felt that was fair, but given the prosperity the town achieved - out of proportion for its location on the edge of human civilization - complaints were mostly mere grumblings. Now that Eliaesel is gone, the humans are beginning to try to assert what they see as their right of majority to rule, while other races try to hold on to their slice of the political pie. This situation is also bringing those former grumblings simmering into something a bit uglier - outright racism, especially against dwarves and elves. As is usually the case, the average human likes the other races well enough and is willing to let them live and let live. It's the vocal (often drunken) component that's the most dangerous to non-humans. Some of the human 'politicians' vying for head of the council are subtly to not so subtly playing on these themes. Generally those from the other races are playing up the theme of past prosperity that cooperation achieved.
The upshot, since there are two non-humans already, is that if you're from the town, you've seen (and heard from elders) how things have changed in a short time noticeably.
Last edited by gambler1650; Tuesday, 16th August, 2011 at 10:42 PM.


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LG Amundsen GW880, the third Android smartphone from LG Mobile, has been launched.
The LG Mobile Korean website announced that initially, the LG Amundsen will be available only in China. In China, China Mobile will sell Amundsen, running OPhone, the version of Android promoted by China Mobile.
LG did not announce the price at which the Amundsen will be launched. Here, we have some technical specifications and features of the latest Android phone in the market.
LG has named its latest Android phones after Norwegian Roald Amundsen, the first man to reach the South Pole. The LG Amundsen looks eerily similar to the iPhone, (see photos and pictures alongside) in terms of overall looks as well as the display of squarish icons on its home screen. The LG Amundsen will come with GPS, Bluetooth, Mobile TV and a 5 megapixel camera. The Android Amundsen is also a 3G-enabled phone, with TD-SCDMA, the variant of 3G popular in China.
LG already has two Android phones – the LG G620, also known as LG Eve, and the LG GT540. The touchscreen phone has a smart 3.5 inch display, with 800 X 480 WVGA resolution.
At the launch of the LG Amundsen, both companies – China Mobile and LG Electronics – said that the Chinese handset market is set to witness an explosive growth of smartphones. LG hopes to tap into this emerging market with the launch of the LG Amundsen. LG also said that the phone is secure for mobile commerce and financial transactions.
We are not sure whether LG will launch the Amundsen in India, but we will definitely welcome more Android phones into the Indian mobile market. The adoption of Android by China Mobile, the world's largest mobile operator, has hugely helped this emerging mobile operating platform. Google, which promotes Android, has been driving the popularity of this mobile platform with free applications, the latest being voice-guided navigation for GPS-enabled phones. There is barely half a dozen Android models in India, and more such phones coming to India will contribute to the development of Android applications tailored for the Indian customer.
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Democratic Party leader Darlene Ewing responds to potential challenge from Craig Watkins' top assistant
Dallas County Democratic Party Chairwoman Darlene Ewing said today that she's a "proven commodity" and would stand on her record in a race against District Attorney Craig Watkins' top assistant.
Heath Harris, the First Assistant District Attorney, said Tuesday he was preparing to run for the chairmanship of the Dallas County Democratic Party. If successful in getting on the ballot, he would face Ewing in the March primary.
"Our success in Dallas county has come through unifying the traditional base but also growing it," Ewing said. "Under my leadership, we've done that by paying attention to Democrats wherever they live in the county. We need a broad-based, inclusive coalition, not control of the party by the District Attorney's office."
Harris says he's running in part because the party has failed to produce high turnout during primary elections in mid-term years.
Ewing says his statement is misleading.
"The party executive committee has a policy that we do not become involved in primaries," she said. "In the primary, we are neutral. We focus on winning elections in November against Republicans, and we've done that remarkably well. I am happy to debate my record in General elections, but I suspect Mr. Harris will have less to say about that, because we win."
Harris, however, says turnout could be better, even in general elections. He says Republicans are still a threat to be successful in Dallas County.
Since taking control of the county party in 2005, Ewing and Democrats have never lost a countywide race.
"I am a proven commodity and I stand on my record and the strong, winning campaigns we have run," Ewing said. "Under my leadership, we haven't lost a countywide race in four cycles. That includes 2010, when Dallas County remained blue while other counties in Texas went red. We made a monumental, unprecedented effort that cycle and weathered the storm."
In her prepared response, Ewing did not mention Watkins, who some Democrats contend is trying to take over Dallas County politics by putting up candidates to challenge incumbent judges and running Harris against for party chairman.
Watkins has declined to comment on Harris' bid to lead the local party. And Harris says he's a veteran politico and was involved in politics before his association with the DA.


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Definition of frail in English:
1(Of a person) weak and delicate: his small, frail body she looked frail and vulnerable
More example sentences
- During the day the bus takes vulnerable and frail people on shopping trips and outings.
- We are bombarded with images of elderly people being frail and sickly.
- He was desperately frail, too weak to move his limbs but still strong enough to let out that cry which tears at every human heart.
infirm, weak, weakened, feeble, enfeebled, debilitated, incapacitated, crippled, wasted;
delicate, slight, slender, puny;
ill, ailing, unwell, sickly, poorly, in poor health;
decrepit, doddering, tottering, shaky
informal weedy
1.1Easily damaged or broken; weak: the balcony is frail the country's frail economy
More example sentences
- Reviewers and critics frequently refuse to be honest about Australian movies because they believe this will damage the frail home industry.
- With the numerous difficulties the country is experiencing due to the frail economy, Zambia has depended on such close allies to surmount her difficulties.
- Markets will continue to wait for war and, in the process, further slow down an already frail economy.
fragile, breakable, easily broken, easily damaged, delicate, flimsy, insubstantial;
unsteady, unstable, rickety, ramshackle
informal teetery, jerry-built
British informal wonky, dicky, dodgy
rare frangible
1.2 archaic Weak in character or morals.
Example sentences
- If you use it then you will likely to be perceived as brave or the opposite of coward or frail.
- That's what public relations propaganda is all about - conning frail, vain humans.
- People are frail and make stupid mistakes and one kiss in a bar is not the end of the world, especially when she feels so bad about it.
weak, easily led/tempted, susceptible, impressionable, malleable, vulnerable, defenceless, impotent;
fallible, errant, erring, flawed, imperfect
rare resistless
nounUS informal, dated
A woman.
Example sentences
- Cosmetic manufacturers will never go out of business because the frails will always want to look like portraits of the women they believe we dream about.
frailly adverb
- Example sentences
- That was the question wavering frailly on my mind as I slid down the back of the wall and broke out in uncontrollable sobs.
- Occasionally I came upon a precocious spray of Dutchman's breeches, or wild bleedingheart, hung frailly with delicately transparent shell-like blossoms.
- Throughout his triumphs and scandals, and everything in between, he comes across as completely genuine and frailly human.
frailness noun
- Example sentences
- To those who met him from at least the 1960s onward, he already appeared a frail individual, but his frailness belied his determination and toughness.
- Amara studied the woman, her ancient yet wise face, the frailness of her limbs contradicting the underlying strength embedded in them.
- Taking a deep breath, he began, the frailness of his voice alarming him.
Middle English: from Old French fraile, from Latin fragilis (see fragile).
fraction from Late Middle English:
Medieval mathematicians called numbers that were not whole numbers fractions. The name came from Latin frangere 'to break', also the root of fracture, fragile, and fragment (all LME), and ultimately of frail (Middle English). People who struggled to learn about fractions may not be surprised to learn that the word is also linked to fractious (early 18th century), or 'bad-tempered'.
Words that rhyme with frailail, ale, assail, avail, bail, bale, bewail, brail, Braille, chain mail, countervail, curtail, dale, downscale, drail, dwale, entail, exhale, fail, faille, flail, Gael, Gail, gale, Grail, grisaille, hail, hale, impale, jail, kale, mail, male, webmail, nonpareil, outsail, pail, pale, quail, rail, sail, sale, sangrail, scale, shale, snail, stale, swale, tail, tale, they'll, trail, upscale, vail, vale, veil, surveil, wail, wale, whale, Yale
For editors and proofreaders
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Inhabit Real Estate Collaborative welcomes you to our comprehensive Albuquerque real estate website. No other site provides more detailed Albuquerque real estate market information than you'll find here.
Inhabit Real Estate Collaborative is a locally owned and operated, full service real estate firm in Albuquerque, NM. We focus on individual professional relationships with all of our clients, and are fully vested in the vibrancy of our local community. Inhabit provides exceptional service that is adjusted to the unique and individual needs of our clients.
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Featured Homes
If you're a buyer, you want to check out our Featured Homes, as they're selected for their quality and amenities. As a seller, you'll want to see your home on this page.
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Our home search page is one of the most valuable tools on this site for both buyers and sellers. Keep your finger on the pulse of the market by visiting the real estate search page.


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Dark Floors
|Dark Floors – The Lordi Motion Picture
Theatrical Release Poster
|Directed by
|Pete Riski
|Produced by
|Markus Selin
|Written by
|Pekka Lehtosaari
|Story by
|Music by
|Ville Riippa
|Jean-Noel Mustonen
|Edited by
|Distributed by
Release dates
Running time
|85 minutes
|€4.2 million[1]
|Box office
Dark Floors – The Lordi Motion Picture is a 2008 Finnish horror film that features Lordi band members playing the monsters. Mr. Lordi has also designed the film's logo. The film was released in February 2008 and stars William Hope, Leon Herbert, Philip Bretherton, Ronald Pickup, and Skye Bennett. A new Lordi song, Beast Loose in Paradise, is featured in the end credits of the film.[3][4][5]
A young, autistic girl at a hospital holds the key to defeating other-dimensional monsters that seek to kill everyone.[3]
- William Hope as Jon
- Leon Herbert as Rick
- Ronald Pickup as Tobias
- Philip Bretherton as Walter
- Noah Huntley as Ben
- Dominique McElligott as Emily
- Skye Bennett as Sarah
- Mr Lordi as Lead Monster
- Amen as Monster
- Kita as Monster
- Awa as Monster
- OX as Monster
|This section does not cite any sources. (March 2015) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)
Dark Floors was a concept that Mr. Lordi had maintained interest in since he had first launched his band. Horror films had played a key role in shaping the look of the Lordi costumes. Indeed, with the production of 'The Kin' in 2004, Mr. Lordi's expertise in makeup, costume design and prosthesis had gained him some considerable experience. Shortly after the band's Eurovision victory, Mr. Lordi asked film producer Markus Selin to contact him with any film ideas he may have. Mr. Lordi had previously worked with Selin as a storyboard artist.
The vast majority of leading actors in the film are British, a choice made by Mr. Lordi.
The film was produced between March and April 2007. The general populace of Oulu largely played the background characters, from the living nurses to the dead, yet animate, bodies. Amputees were also largely asked for, to play the zombies, and many were willing to collaborate. Each extra had five minutes screen time maximum.
Lordi's part in the film[edit]
All of Lordi's then-current lineup are present within the film. The band had been working on an accompanying end credits song (which turned out to be Beast Loose in Paradise). Performing this song for the end credits, the band members believed, would not ruin the atmosphere that became one of Dark Floors's strong points. Indeed, none of the Lordi members have spoken dialogue in the film, choosing instead to communicate with roars and growls. In addition, stunt extras were used when certain shots were difficult for the actual members to pull off, notably a stunt double actually running in Ox's costume.
Only Awa was present in the film by means of special effects; her scenes were shot using green screen. The four other members – Mr. Lordi, Kita, Ox and Amen – were all present in person for their scenes.
Mr. Lordi, in addition to designing the film's logo, conceived a large portion of the story, and co-wrote the aforementioned song 'Beast Loose In Paradise.' The film's atmospheric musical underscore was composed by Ville Hang.
During most of Dark Floors' production, Lordi was actively involved in Ozzy Osbourne's Ozzfest tour, with stunt doubles filling in for them for certain scenes. Nonetheless, each member took an active part in the overall development of the film. An example of a scene shot without the involvement of one of the actual bandmembers occurs in the morgue scene, in which Kita pulls out one corpse's internal organs.
The full budget of Dark Floors reached $4.3 million (U.S.), making it one of the most expensive films made in Finland. Most of the budget was spent on special effects design, set construction, and a large marketing campaign, along with the post-production process.
Scenery and Special Effects[edit]
The sets were the largest constructed in Finland, taking up a massive 1700 square metres during the basement carpark scene. Electrical work was very much conventional, using the same method as for a family home. It had been originally planned to shoot the film on location in the Baltics, but the village of Oulu was chosen instead, with special effects used to replicate a city when necessary. The production team visited hospitals to research the workings of an X-ray, thereby adding both credibility and authenticity to the CGI-rendered X-rays shown.
When principal photography was completed, the extended post-production phase was launched, including the insertion of Awa's ghostly appearance. This served to complement the other special effects that contributed in no small measure to the film's overall look.
Advertisement and promotions[edit]
The film was originally intended to premiere in 2007, at the Eurovision song contest in Helsinki, whose opening number, featuring Lordi, with a performance of 'Hard Rock Hallelujah.' Unfortunately, the team could not finish their tasks in time; moreover, Lordi were already putting final touches on their Bringing Back the Balls to Europe tour. Post-production was therefore expanded into May of the same year, and was eventually rescheduled to December.
The press conference was held at the Cannes Film Festival the weekend of the 19th and 20 May 2007. Lordi appeared personally, as did director Pete Riski, producer Markus Selin, and virtually all the leading actors. All involved responded to questions, and shared unusual anecdotes on making the film.
Dark Floors was slowly 'leaked' by way of a marketing campaign, and the press were permitted to witness the production of Kita's lift scene, although everything else was kept under wraps.
Home Media[edit]
The film was released on Region 2 DVD in the UK by Metrodome Distribution on 20 April 2009, priced at £12.99 RRP.[6] The release includes several extra features, listed as "Behind the Scenes of Dark Floors", "Cast & Crew Interviews", and "Dark Floors World Premiere featurette including Q&A with Lordi, the cast and crew and a live Lordi performance". The film is rated 18 by the BBFC for "strong bloody violence and horror".[7]
Derek Elley of Variety called it "a cultural oddity with an OK concept" that will perform well on video.[8] Bloody Disgusting rated it 3/5 stars and wrote, "Even though it's plastered in heavy clichés and predictable plot-twists, has no sense of mood or tempo and features some of the least scary monsters ever to grace the silver screen, it's still remarkably entertaining."[9] Joshua Siebalt of Dread Central rated it 2.5/5 stars and called it a boring, uninspired film that is "not nearly as fun or cool as it should've been".[10] Todd Brown of Twitch Film called it "a tightly plotted, exceptionally well shot thrill ride".[11] Ian Jane of DVD Talk rated it 1.5/5 stars and wrote that the film does not exploit its visuals or interesting premise.[12] David Johnson of DVD Verdict wrote, "Straight out of Finland—ghosts, demons, autism, and heavy metal combine for a one of the more interesting and out-there haunted hospital movies to come around in quite some time."[13]
See also[edit]
- ^ Jensen, Jorn Rossing (2007-09-03). "Principal photography wraps in Finland for Lordi film". Screen Daily. Retrieved 2015-03-05.
- ^ "Dark Floors". Box office Mojo. Retrieved 2015-03-05.
- ^ a b Solar Films
- ^ "dark floors -arvostelu - Arvostelut.net". Arvostelut.net<!. 2009-03-05. Retrieved 2009-05-02.
- ^ Helsingin Sanomat (2008-02-06). "Lordi-elokuvan avausviikonloppu oli vaisu - HS.fi - Viihde". HS.fi. Retrieved 2009-05-02.
- ^ DVD Times - Metrodome in April
- ^ BBFC - Dark Floors classification information
- ^ Elley, Elley (2008-08-27). "Review: 'Dark Floors'". Variety. Retrieved 2015-03-05.
- ^ "Dark Floors (Finland release) (V)". Bloody Disgusting. 2008-02-23. Retrieved 2015-03-05.
- ^ Siebalt, Joshua (2008-07-24). "Dark Floors (DVD)". Dread Central. Retrieved 2015-03-05.
- ^ Brown, Todd (2008-07-19). "FANTASIA: DARK FLOORS Review". Twitch Film. Retrieved 2015-03-05.
- ^ Jane, Ian (2008-11-02). "Dark Floors". DVD Talk. Retrieved 2015-03-05.
- ^ Johnson, David (2008-11-07). "Dark Floors". DVD Verdict. Retrieved 2015-03-05.
External links[edit]
|Wikinews has related news: Lordi to star in horror movie
|Wikinews has related news: Lordi horror movie receives 300,000 euros of Finnish government funding
- Solar Films's Dark Floors Site
- The Finnish Film Foundation's Dark Floors page
- Nordisk Films: Dark Floors
- Nordisk Film International Sales: Dark Floors
- Kaleva newspaper's Dark Floors gallery
- Dark Floors — The Lordi Motion Picture at the Internet Movie Database
- Dark Floors — The Lordi Motion Picture at AllMovie
- Lordi.fi


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The Enhanced CANDU 6 (EC6) Generation III reactor design is the only reactor that offers:
The EC6 is a 700 MWe class heavy-water moderated and heavy-water cooled pressure tube reactor. Heavy water is a natural form of water used as a moderator to slow down the fission chain reaction neutrons in the reactor. It is one of the most efficient moderators and enables the CANDU design to use natural uranium as fuel, which is unique to CANDU reactors. The use of natural uranium increases a country's energy independence as fuel can be manufactured locally, and reprocessing and associated issues can be avoided.
Heavy water coolant passes through the reactor core and removes the heat generated by the fission chain reactions. This heated reactor coolant heats light (ordinary) water and converts it to steam, which drives a turbine-generator to produce electricity.
The EC6 reactor is the evolution of the proven CANDU 6 design. It is based on the Qinshan Phase III CANDU 6 plant in China, designed to meet industry and public expectations of nuclear power generation that is safe, reliable and environmentally friendly.
It has been enhanced by using the experience and feedback that AECL gained in the development, design, construction and operation of 11 CANDU 6 units operating in five countries. CANDU 6 reactors are performing well on four continents with over 150 reactor-years of excellent and safe operation.
While retaining the basic features of the CANDU 6 design, the EC6 reactor incorporates innovative features and state-of-the-art technologies that enhance safety, operation and performance.
The latest CADDS tools and innovative integrated systems linking material management, documentation, safety analysis and project execution databases are used to ensure that accurate and complete configuration management can be readily maintained by the plant owner.
The EC6 reactor has projected an average annual operational performance factor of 94% and 92% lifetime including mid-life retubing. The performance factor is the ratio of available capacity to the theoretically possible capacity, and this characterizes the reliability of the plant. In recent years, the global CANDU 6 fleet achieved an average lifetime performance factor of 89%, which ranked the fleet in the world's top reactor performance echelons. In the last decade, three of the CANDU units in South Korea ranked in the top 10 list for world reactors.
The EC6 reactor design benefits from the proven principles and characteristics of the CANDU 6 design and decades of operation.
Proven CANDU strengths include:
Our EC6 Technical Summary discusses the EC6 in more detail.
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The smallest animals are the most numerous creatures on earth. Learn to distinguish the different families of bugs as well as now to respect them. They are absolutely the majority of the things that walk our planet. Respect and protect the little things!
For further information contact Jackie Keller at 585-457-3228 or email@example.com.
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Strange Things Boutique
DVD. Ninn Worx / Adam and Eve.
sobering to realise that it's now almost twenty years since
Michael Ninn first came to global attention for his seminal works
Sex, Latex and Shock
– movies that stood at the forefront of what was a decade-long
new Golden Age for the adult industry, marked by a new sense of
creativity amongst filmmakers and a much-needed backlash against
the moral prudishness of the 1980s. A lot has happened since –
the prudes have returned, the internet has decimated the creative
side of the adult industry just as video did in the early Eighties,
and Ninn has moved from VCA through Private and onto his own production
house. He's been pretty quiet for the last few years, but
now is back with a long-awaited epic, The Four.
Effectively a porno sequel to 300, the film takes
place in 480 BC and features Brea Bennett, Renee Perez, Nikki
Kane and Cassidey as the wives and daughters of the fallen Spartans,
who seek revenge on the Persian God King Xerxes (Marco Bandaras).
Through The Oracle, the four are granted the power of the 300,
and they set out to defeat their enemy…
Stirring stuff, but don't expect a conventional narrative
here. The story is essentially fleshed out in a relentless narration,
while the film concentrates on visual symbolism – the four
girls being filled with power and sexuality while the film flashes
back and forth between battles, sexual encounters and plotting.
Essentially, The Four plays like a mix of music
video and erotic vignettes, keeping dialogue to a minimum and
visual stimuli to the max – very much the classic Ninn style,
in other words.
This is undeniably gorgeous stuff – Ninn's fast-paced
editing, his penchant for slow-mo, continual camera movement and
weirdly, deliberately artificial sets and CGI graphics (some effective,
some not so much) very much to the fore here. No other adult director
– in fact, few directors full stop – have Ninn's
ability to make video look so good - the warmth, richness and
depth here is certainly a match for anything shot on film.
four leads acquit themselves fairly well – Renee Perez in
particular is impressive in the well-mounted fight scenes, which
stand comparison to the likes of Spartacus – Blood
and Sand and its offshoots (another show that deals in
a world of hyper-unreality - though there is rather less blood
on display here!), and the epic scope of this can't be questioned.
If there's a downside, it might be that the lack of a conventional
narrative structure tends to distance the viewer from the characters,
especially as the film naturally comes to a stop every so often
for a lengthy sex scene.
Still, this is hugely impressive stuff, and while I personally
miss Ninn's cybersex, fetish-flavoured approach of the mid-Nineties,
there's no questioning that this epic production is a strong
return to form for one of the adult industry's genuine visionaries.
The DVD release of The Four is as epic in scope
as the film itself. As well as the three hour plus movie (split
over two discs for optimum quality), there's over two and
a half hours of exhaustive, if sometimes repetitive behind-the-scenes
footage on a third disc, and a fourth disc that is effectively
a free film – The Girls of Ninn Worx, which
is essentially a series of beautifully shot vignettes featuring
Ninn's contract stars (the stars of The Four
plus Jana Jordan). At well over three hours, it's a pretty
impressive addition to the package, reminiscent in style to Ninn's
earlier plotless projects like Diva – slick,
sensual, soft-focus erotica that shows off Ninn's visual
style perfectly (and why is there not a book of Michael Ninn photographs
available? Hello Taschen, this sounds a job for you…).
An astounding effort, The Four shows that Michael Ninn can still
teach the new breed of porn directors a few tricks. If you were
a fan of his classic titles who lost touch with his work in the
late Nineties, this is a very good place to reacquaint yourself
with him.


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Vince Flynn Collectors' Edition #4
Extreme Measures, Pursuit of Honor, and American Assassin
by Vince Flynn
A Mitch Rapp Novel (Book 4)
- #3086 in Mystery & Suspense, Thrillers
- #2309 in Fiction & Literature, Thrillers
- #10798 in Fiction & Literature
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In this special collectors' edition, relive the action in Vince Flynn's #1 New York Tmes bestselling political thrillers: Extreme Measures, Pursuit of Honor, and American Assassin.
Extreme Measures
In the secretive world where fearless men and women wage a daily covert war, the CIA has intercepted two terrorist cells--but a third, led by a dangerous mastermind, is feared to be on the loose. Counterterrorist agent Mitch Rapp joins forces with a warrior as dedicated--and lethal--as they come: ex-Marine and elite operative Mike Nash. Both Rapp and Nash have stared down the jihadist culture of death. Both have saved thousands of lives without accolades or acknowledgment of their personal sacrifices. But the political winds have changed on Capitol Hill, and certain leaders want Mitch Rapp put back on a short leash. And when a nightmare scenario descends on Washington, D.C., Rapp and Nash will follow new rules of engagement: their own.
Pursuit of Honor
When Washington, D.C.'s National Counterterrorism Center is struck by a series of devastating explosions, the results are catastrophic--185 killed, including public officials and CIA employees. Such an act of extreme violence calls for extreme measures--and elite counterterrorism operative Mitch Rapp, joining forces with trusted team member Mike Nash, finds himself in the frustrating position of having to illustrate the realities of national security to government officials up in arms over the agents who rushed in to save countless American lives. Meanwhile, with three al Qaeda terrorists still at large and Nash traumatized by the horrors he witnessed during the attack, Rapp must help his friend while threading his way through the naysayers on Capitol Hill--and silently, swiftly, do what he must for the sake of his country and the pursuit of honor.
American Assassin
Before he was considered a CIA superagent, before he was thought of as a terrorist's worst nightmare, and before he was both loathed and admired by the politicians on Capitol Hill, Mitch Rapp was a gifted college athlete without a care in the world . . . and then tragedy struck. Two-hundred and seventy souls perished that cold December night of the Pan Am Lockerbie terrorist attack, and thousands of family and friends were left searching for comfort. Mitch Rapp was one of them, but he was not interested in comfort. He wanted retribution.
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eBook Details
- Atria/Emily Bestler Books, December 2011
- Imprint:
Atria/Emily Bestler Books
- 9781451660586
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Fifty Places to Dive Before You Die
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Description: Fifty Places to Dive Before You Die:
- Draws on the expertise of diving authorities from around the world to describe fifty of their favorite diving destinations for divers to experience their unique underwater wonders, ranging from such Caribbean favorites as the Grand Cayman Isles to Lembognan, Indonesia, accompanied by helpful trip planning suggestions.
- Hardcover
- 224 pages
Brand: Harry N. Abrams
Measurements: 9½" x 9"
Care: Wipe with a dry cloth
Published: October 1, 2008
Official book description:
The earth's oceans hold many wondrous surprises—be they the small, colorful "critters" off the coast of Papua New Guinea, opportunistic red demon squids in the Sea of Cortes, or naval wrecks in the lagoon of Bikini Atoll. In Fifty Places to Dive Before You Die Chris Santella has invited diving experts from around the world to share some of their favorite destinations, so ardent divers can experience these underwater wonders for themselves—either on location in their SCUBA gear, or at home in their armchair.
The fifth in Santella's bestselling "Fifty Places" series, the book takes divers from hot-spot destinations like Raja Ampat (off the coast of West Guinea) to old Caribbean favorites like Grand Cayman Isles. Readers will swim among whale sharks off Myanmar, befriend wolf eels off the coast of Maine, and marvel at the giant mola mola of Lembognan, Indonesia. These wonderful creatures—plus the brilliant coral reefs that often provide their backdrop—are captured in 40 gorgeous color photos from the world's greatest underwater photographers. And for readers who want to travel to these breathtaking locales, Santella provides complete "If You Go" suggestions to help you plan your trip.
Material: Paper
Care: Wipe with a dry cloth
Brand: Abrams


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GirlWritesWhat on "The Necessity of Domestic Violence": "I don't really find too much [that's] seriously ethically questionable."
Yesterday, we took a look at Ferdinand Bardamu's manosphere manifesto "The Necessity of Domestic Violence," a thoroughly despicable piece of writing that concludes:
Women should be terrorized by their men; it's the only thing that makes them behave better than chimps.
I decided to take a look at Bardamu's post yesterday after running across a discussion of it in Reddit's new FeMRA subreddit, a forum ostensibly devoted to what "women can do to advance men's rights as women." It's a strange little subreddit, started by a man and dominated by some of Reddit's most unsavory MaleMRAs, some of them banned in the regular Men's Rights subreddit.
Recently one of the most unsavory of the bunch, calling himself JeremiahGuy this time, posted a link to Bardamu's domestic violence manifesto, which he hosts on his website. Jeremiah naturally used the discussion as an excuse to post more apologias for domestic "discipline" along the lines of the quote from him I featured yesterday.
But I was a little surprised to see GirlWritesWhat, the blabby FeMRA video blogger who's captured the hearts of Reddit's Men's Rights crowd, step into the conversation with something of a defense of Bardamu's noxious views. After reading Bardamu's manifesto – the one advocating that men "terrorize" their women to make them behave – GWW blithely concluded:
I don't really find too much in the article that strikes me as seriously ethically questionable.
Have I taken that remark out of context? Yes. In context, it's worse. Here's the entire quote from her, and a further clarification of her position.
She wasn't the only one in the discussion to get upvotes for suggesting that men slapping women around from time to time isn't really such a big deal. MaunaLoona (a MaleMRA) wrote:
Lots of MRAs like to pretend that they care about male victims of domestic violence. But the Men's Rights movement hasn't done shit for them. And here, I think, is why: too many MRAs are less interested in helping male victims of domestic violence than they are in providing excuses and justifications for male abusers.
Posted on August 16, 2012, in antifeminism, antifeminst women, domestic violence, FemRAs, men who should not ever be with women ever, misogyny, MRA, patriarchy, reactionary bullshit, reddit and tagged alpha males, antifeminism, creepy, domestic violence, feminism, men's rights, misogyny, MRA, patriarchy. Bookmark the permalink. 746 Comments.
is playing the role of Steele believes at least half of what they're posting.
Like a certain someone….
*conspiracy goggles on*
This DOES mean that MRAs understand that if it's okay for a man to hit a woman as a relationship balance, it's perfectly okay for a woman to hit/emasculate/insult/"keep him edge and humiliated" right?
No? Imagine that.
Steele believes at least half of what they're posting.
But he posts so little of substance. Half of that is barely worth talking about.
So why do you come here?
I'm a little bummed that turned out to be Pell. He kept the trolling going for a day or so at relatively low levels, but his ego as usual just couldn't stand not to be known.
And that's just really, really sad.
If we're making up titles we pretend to have I want to be the Procurator of Justice. Because it just sounds awesome.
Damn it, I oversleep and miss an awesome meltdown.
Welp, I'd better get back to my job as Senior Papal Supervisor. I tell you, if Benny Sixteen takes another ninety minute lunch, that's going on his record.
Back when MR*L was new, I claimed the title of Men's Rights Space Pope.
This has not lapsed. I got dibs.
If Steele is a lulz troll then I would like to congratulate him on his very effective impersonation of a person who can't write for shit.
Well, if we're making silly names for ourselves…I want to be known as Queen of the Bedly Goodness.
What is a pillowinhell, anyway? I'm curious. I imagine it's something along the lines of "People in hell want ice water," only pillow is substituted for ice water.
It stems from "I'm so tired I'd accept a pillow in hell, if the devil offered me one".
Chronic low energy here. Doctors say I'm the picture of health, but I'm telling you only the Greek god of Sleep could beat me in falling asleep.
Dear MRAs,
Please, do advertise that you enjoy assaulting people. Preferably within the earshot of law enforcement officers.
Hell, I'll buy you a T-shirt- "I'm an abusive asshole who doesn't mind beating the shit out of people I think are weaker than I am because that makes me feel good about myself."
Hopefully this will lead to people (rightfully) not wanting to touch you with a ten foot pole. Or talk to you. Or, indeed, ever interact with you if they can at all help it.
I don't know if I've ever wished that Reddit MRA Island would actually HAPPEN more than I do at this moment.
Girlwriteswhat is apparently having some people calling the DMCA on her head and everybody is blaming PZ Myers and Freethought Blog. Because obviously it's the "atheist bullies" who never heard of her that are involved, and not somebody who might have gotten peeved at her defending indefensible shit like, I dunno, domestic violence.
And it couldn't possibly be someone who got put in the hospital by one of her loyal followers, could it?… Nah, one of those eevil libruls did it.
Pillowinhell, try the following:
2. Iron tabs
3. Cuban coffee, alternated every two times with
4. Sangria.
@ katz
He also installed a pedometer on David's chair, because he's just that much of a genius.
He also installed a magnet on David's shoe so he can tell when David leaves the house.
Is it in bad taste if I mention the fact that the first thing that comes to mind when I hear the word "pedometer" is some sort of measuring device to calculate the amount of pedophiles in the general area?
Reynardine, as internet advice goes… I LIKE IT!
Eight out of six minor daemons of Pandemonium reccommend Reynards Cure for all that ails you!
Just to recap, Lawgirl/Pell is a Doctor Lawyer Hacker who is a major shareholder in… the internet? I don't know, their post wasn't very clear on that point. Also they have been to Russia dozens of times and I guess never saw any women actively being beaten in front of them, thus proving that there is no domestic violence in Russia at all. Sounds legit to me!
He connected a chronometer to a thermometer and put it under a bridge to time troll meltdowns
Technically though I guess a pedometer would be a device to measure the number of *children* in the general area.
Word rootz, Iz unnerstandz em.
He put a Geiger counter on the DNS to monitor how many HTMLs David uploads.
He uses a spirometer to check for corrupt vice presidents!
He has a magnetometer so Ian McKellan can't sneak up on him.
I misread magnetometer for manginameter.
He uses a manginameter to check for male feminists.
"and even pushing needles under their nails are among them."
Holy shit, are you with the Spanish Inquisition? o.O
Holy shit, are you with the Spanish Inquisition? o.O
Betcha didn't expect that!
…I'm sorry, I had to, I think there's a nerd law somewhere
and as part of that thread…
Oh Ferdinand understands game principles I assure you.
The most alpha thing you can do when a bitch is shit testing you is smack her, and boy will her loins get frothy.
Women understand pain. When a man has the right to dish out pain when a woman misbehaves, guess what? She stops misbehaving so much. She stops starting fights. She stops initiating violence. She respects his authority. She behaves. She stops it with the antics, somewhat.
When a man doesn't have that right? Well, you have the world today, where the female can do anything she wants to the husband and the kids, and he has almost no recourse unless he wants to end up in jail. Everything he does to attempt to "control" women is "abuse".
And that's the whole point of feminism: remove male power. Complain whenever a man tells a woman to do something, even when it's for her own benefit. Slut Walk to complain when a police officer makes a suggestion he feels may protect women from rape. Call it "abuse" when a man takes care of the money at home so the woman doesn't spend it frivolously. Etc. etc.
If it's okay to discipline your children when they misbehave, why not your woman when she misbehaves like a child too?
When men are forced by society to tolerate women's misbehavior, it only gets worse, it only becomes harder for a man to control the relationship for both their benefits. That's the point Ferdinand makes. But watch white knight "MRAs" call me a wife beater for daring to even bring up the topic for discussion and evaluation.
i know i have been warned about him but reading is believing
I hate these people with the passion of a million burning suns. And sometimes you don't see it coming. I certainly didn't.
A friend and I had been discussing paranormal things, ghosts, etc at the bar. It was her, me, and my boyfriend at the time. He was ignoring us, or so I thought. It wasn't until we left the bar that he got pissy at me, which then broke out into a verbal fight, all over the fact that I believe in ghosts. I "should have known better". And to prove his point very thoroughly, he kicked me near the knee, so hard, in fact, that when I woke up the next morning, I had a bruise that went from just under my knee to my ankle.
I did not have sex with him after that. In fact, I spent the night in bed alone with a knife contemplating suicide. I was not inclined to have sex with him for quite awhile after that.
This is also leaving out the fact that I treated to yelling and screaming if I didn't have an orgasm, as if that was my fault or something, despite the fact that I repeatedly warned him that sometimes, I just don't. And really, he even knew about the previous boyfriend that held me against him and rubbed against me so that he'd get off while I cried silently. (Of course, that was never one of the reasons that the LegKicker would theorize upon. It was always something else that was my fault.)
What really pisses me off about the whole thing was that some of our friends claimed to be psychics. And he willingly hung out with them and even had a huge crush on one. He didn't even argue with them about their beliefs!
"Corrective action"? I still believe in ghosts, so there. I just don't talk about it unless I know the person very, very well.
Diagram Jail
I am TOTALLY naming a band this. If not a band, then something.
When he wants a drink he checks the barometer.
He uses a spirometer to check for corrupt vice presidents!
He has a magnetometer so Ian McKellan can't sneak up on him.
He uses a sextant to look for PUAs.
I love you people.
Wow. This is the most amazing (in good and bad ways) thread. I've only known this site for a couple of weeks. I love the way you regulars take down the trolls and the MRAs in general: you're fiercely witty and alarmingly well educated and it's a pleasure to read y'all (spirometer has to be my favourite from this little lot). I've also not encountered trolls quite so abysmally … abysmal, lol. Pell's meltdown was something else. Mind-bogglingly vile but weirdly instructive, going from the "LawGirl" fakery and then showing the true colours (sort of the same shade as diarrhoea, really). The closest I've seen to this sort of stuff is the NiceGuy(TM) losers who have colonised the women's pages on HuffPo. (I didn't read RustyNail, sorry Steelepole's, stuff: he's dreary.)
And the kittens. Knowing there will be kittens is reason enough to read here even if there were no other.
Oh, and ancient history for the thread: that Dorothy Sayers quote from Gaudy Night refers, I think, to the threatening letters being left by a religous nutter whose husband had committed suicide. Very apt, because she blamed Evil Women Academics for killing her husband (he lost his job when his academic fraud was exposed). I love the Wimsey books. I missed half of what was going on in GN, haven't the background knowledge, but loved the rest.🙂
how does she manage to write this crap with a straight face?
This thread is unbeliavable…
Anyway. Seems like the MRA:s have this straw feminism they're arguing against who thinks that a man must never be ANGRY with a woman no matter what she does, he's only allowed to ever smile and nod no matter what she does or he's an emotional abuser. But that's nobody's opinion.
Me and my husband rarely argues about anything. However, a few months ago this happened:
We have four dogs, and we agree that they shouldn't have to be home alone too long. We try to arrange things so they won't have to be alone for more than six or absolutely tops seven hours. Anyway, this night my husband had left for work at four in the afternoon. I had been a speaker at a conference and had been away all day. In the evening, everyone speaking, commenting or arranging the conference were to have dinner together at a restaurant. However, at the restaurant, I forgot about time. Until I suddenly checked my watch and o shit, it's eleven! And I have some distance to travel!
Came home past midnight. My husband called. He hadn't been able to reach me on my mobile since the battery had died.
Husband (angry): Did you just come home?
Me: Er… yes.
Husband (angry): So the dogs have been home alone for more than eight hours! Did anybody piss on the floor?
Me: Let me check… no.
Husband (angry): Well that's lucky!
Me: I know I fucked up. I just forgot to check my watch, I was having such a good time. Sorry.
Husband: Okay.
Matter resolved.
Of course it could just as well have been the other way around, the genders aren't really essential here.
The point is, that these MRA:s seem to believe that feminists would think that my husband emotionally abused me here, because he got angry over something I did. BUT NOBODY CLAIMS THAT. Nobody has ever said that "being angry=emotional abuse". When you interact with other people, you can sometimes get angry. That's NORMAL, and nobody disputes this. Now, what's NOT normal is if he'd hit me when he eventually got home from work, or if he'd started belittling me by telling me how stupid and worthless I am or some shit like that to really scare me off from behaving like that in the future. But just being angry with somebody because that person has done something you've agreed on shouldn't be done? That's NORMAL; and nobody has disputed that.
This DOES mean that MRAs understand that if it's okay for a man to hit a woman as a relationship balance, it's perfectly okay for a woman to hit/emasculate/insult/"keep him edge and humiliated" right?
No? Imagine that.
If only that were actually the way it was. In reality, women get off scott free when they hit/emasculate/insult/"keep him edge and humiliated", and men have no way to defend themselves without being lambasted by accusations of DV and misogyny. When women abuse their men, people are more likely to cheer the woman on than offer assistance.
Gotta love the lady that just assumes he had it coming.
Oh, and let's not forget an entire studio audience laughing at the oh, so hilarious topic of a guy getting his penis chopped off.
Something tells me that if I went on TV and started laughing and joking about female genital mutilation with the justification that "she probably deserved it" it wouldn't go over so well.
Even raising your voice at your wife can be considered DV now. And, the standard practice of police is to arrest the man even when the woman is the aggressor.
So, I really think you are mistaken, but only somewhat. I am pretty sure they think it's okay precicesly because there are a considerably number of women already doing all that shit
hit/emasculate/insult/"keep him edge and humiliated
And so they believe that hitting back is justified.
Honestly, I really don't think women have a good concept of boundaries or crossing the line in agitating people because they never learned that lesson in school. If a boy starts getting into another boy's face and won't leave him alone he might have to face the consequences of violence. Boys are taught to never hit girls, and they rarely do(despite what you all see in your wacko feminist fantasies of epidemic DV sweeping across the nation at unparalelled rates fueled by the remaining subversive influence of the patriarchy!) Girls don't usually hit guys either, but I think what a lot of men have a problem with is the double standard of men doing hard time for DV, and women often getting off with something like anger management classes.
So where do we cross the line? If women and men are equal, at what point can a man retaliate?
Is this justified?
What if the initial aggressor(the smaller kid) was a girl(but a girl that can hit even harder than that kid, you know, because women are so strong, just as strong as men right?) Should that kid just stand there and take it? Run away and get bullied because he ran away from a girl?
I believe that violence should only be used as a last resort, but I also think few of us can keep our cool in situations like that. I think the most ironic thing about some feminists(and MRAs) is that their complete lack of understanding and empathy for the other gender stems from either a lack of experience(which both groups almost always claim to have in spades) or (and sorry to hurt anyone's feelings) a completely warped view caused by a single traumatic experience. Of course, this is just speculation though. As is 99% of feminist theory.
My house was robbed by black people twice. I didn't start to believe that black people are the only people that rob houses or that all black people rob houses . But some women think it's fine to cheer on other women for chopping off guys' dicks or beating on their husbands because maybe they had a bad experience in the past and guys probably deserve it because they are the only ones that do DV. I know, you are probably thinking "I don't think that way", but that is how big feminism and the US Government act when they make laws about DV. I don't remember whose comment it was, but they were saying that it's so hard for women because sometimes the DV shelters are full. At least women get shelters. I think the reason a lot of MRAs are so angry about the DV issue is that most feminists won't even recognize that it is an issue for men, and they fight tooth and nail to keep things like a men's shelter from being built.
@Balance: Can you give one single example of a guy who merely raised his voice, the woman called the police and he was arrested? And can you give a single example of a men's shelter-project that were supported by MRA:s and opposed by feminists?
I give you this: Lots of people don't take woman-on-man violence seriously. It's often treated as okay for a woman to slap a man, because, you know, she's just a little woman, she couldn't really harm anybody. However, the only people I've seen seriously discuss this problem are self-identified feminists: I think Ozy has written a piece about this, and two Swedish feminists called Hanna Fridén and Anna Svensson has written about it as well. There are probably many more examples.
When MRA:s write about the matter however, it's not so much about violence being wrong, as about "men should be allowed to hit women who hit them or merely are really annoying", and that's a whole other matter.
Besides, when somebody is a victim of emotional abuse I think it's really rare for them to "defend themselves" through physical violence, simply because part of being an abuse victim is that you get into this mentality where you think everything is YOUR fault. I had a male friend who for some time had an emotionally abusive girlfriend. He'd never "defend himself" because he saw everything that happened as his fault, he just tried more and more to please her and adjust to her ideas. Me and my husband seriously tried to talk him into breaking up with her (I repeat: BREAK UP with her, not "defend himself" by hitting her), but he wouldn't listen. Eventually she broke up with him, and like a year later or so when I'd repeat things she'd said to him he could finally agree that yeah, that was pretty abusive.
If you can't stand the behaviour of your partner: BREAK UP. And in a situation like the one I described above, the problem is that the abused partner is too intimidated to BREAK UP, not that the victim is too intimidated to "defend himself" with violence.
Too long; didn't read Balance's illustrated screed.
I think the reason a lot of MRAs are so angry about the DV issue is that most feminists won't even recognize that it is an issue for men, and they fight tooth and nail to keep things like a men's shelter from being built.
Welcome to fantasyland everyone! Don't eat the stripey berries, and watch out for the two-headed squirrelephant.
Oh my God. How hard is it to understand the concept that "you don't hit people you love"? The solution to another person's nagging, bullying, whatever else these idiots are claiming that all women in relationships do is a swift dumping, not battery. An emotionally healthy person who is not a piece of shit is not going to want to control their partners' behavior, either through "nagging" or through a swift smack. Emotionally healthy people solve relationships that are making them unhappy and where there is no sign of change through leaving, NOT through abuse.
(Please note that I am not contrasting leaving to staying, as there are so many reasons why it can be difficult to leave an abuser, and nobody should be judged for having difficulty leaving a situation designed to trap them into staying. I'm contrasting leaving with active abuse).
Balance knows that rather than setting up refuges for men, MRAs have been actively trying to get existing (women's) ones shut down. And feminists are like, superbad so they must have been doing the same thing, but more.
watch out for the two-headed squirrelephant.
Pfft. I have Power Attack.
Like, they make an ass out of themselves at a party and the host asks them to leave and they refuse to go?
No, they do leave, but then they come back in ten minutes later wearing a top hat and comically enormous fake moustache as a cunning disguise.
(If you think this is giving them too much credit, imagine the moustache has 'ACME FAKE MOUSTACHES' embossed across the front of it.)
If the MRM would really spend their energy campaigning for a men's shelter and supporting male victims of DV that would be great. I mean, it IS a problem that men have trouble being taken seriously when they're victims of DV because a real MAN wouldn't have that kind of trouble to start with… And it would be great to have an MRM that makes something productive rather than just bitching about evil feminazis.
Clarification: It's not MY position that a "real man" (whatever that is) can't be the victim of DV, but there's this widespread idea in our culture that this is the case.