text:
- The player successfully learns and succeeds at a given task with enough time.
- The player fails and is subsequently replaced by someone who can.
Stop Covering for Other's Bad Play!
Eventbrite? Or Eventbust? Thoughts on BlizzCon 2014 Tickets
Complete clusterf*ck.
Those are some of the words on Twitter used to describe the ticket purchasing process this year for BlizzCon 2014.
First of all, congratulations to everyone that managed to secure and score tickets for this year's BlizzCon! I managed to get some for myself and Conquest will be returning in full force again with some new faces (and old).
What exactly was different about this year versus previous years?
The Old System
Historically, Blizzard has done a fairly good job managing ticket purchases. You had to keep refreshing the page, select your order, and you'd get thrown into a queue. There would be an indicator that showed you what place in line you were. If you were 1356th in line and there were 10000 tickets available, you knew you were locked in for a ticket. Once the indicator reached zero, that meant all the tickets were spoken for and had been sold. There were no more left in the system.
The New System
This year, Blizzard opted for something different. They decided to use Eventbrite instead. A few of my guildies had used Eventbrite before and mentioned that the system itself had crashed during smaller events and concerts (with a capacity of 2000 seats). BlizzCon hitting the 20000 ticket mark made me wonder if Eventbrite could even handle the expected load.
My guild has done this annually now. We had a thread set up to coordinate who was able to buy tickets, what their maximum purchasing capability was, and who needed tickets. We were all on Mumble when the tickets went live and I hit refresh, selected four, and was thrown into their waiting room. Some of my guildies were faster on the draw than I was and managed to proceed right to the checkout page. I had given up hope. I figured if I was in the waiting room, there was no way I'd be able to get tickets. But I had no visual indicator as to how many tickets were remaining so I stayed on there.
Minutes later, I was thrown out of the queue and informed that the event had sold out and that there were no more tickets available.
My first year of not getting my own BlizzCon ticket. There goes my streak.
Or so I thought.
Resigned and frustrated, I kept slamming my F5 key just because. Then I noticed my page had changed. The sold out notice was gone. Tickets were available again. Perplexed, I decided to go for it. Changed my ticket quantity to 3. Was told that it wasn't available, but I could buy them in singles. Said screw it, selected 1 ticket and was thrown into the checkout page again. By this point, all but 4 people in guild had tickets that were spoken for. 3 of us managed to check out in time and get order confirmations on our tickets.
The last guy was still stuck and wasn't able to get his either as it had thrown him another sold out error.
On a hunch, he was smart enough and decided to wait a few more minutes before trying again. Sure enough, 24 minutes after the first wave of tickets had been released, he managed to purchase a single ticket for himself. Everyone who had signed on and committed to a ticket managed to get one.
Weird right? What the heck happened?
Based on what I saw and my conversations with others, tickets were held on the checkout page by people purchasing them. If people did not finalize their purchase or if their check out process timed out after 8 minutes, those tickets would then be released back available for purchase.
However, the rest of us in line had been thrown out and we would not have known about it. Why would it tell us that tickets are sold out if they weren't actually sold out?
I felt that was absolute ludicrosity. Way preferred the old system. At least I knew for sure that I had a chance. And at least I knew that once the supply bar was empty, it was literally empty. I understand that the system this year had the unintentional side effect where people could show up late and purchase a ticket 20 minutes later. Neat in a way, but not exactly fair for the people who started the F5 refresh spam on the dot.
How can this be solved?
Easy. Put in something that the previous BlizzCon pages had: A bar that shows how many tickets are remaining. Calculate it based on actual tickets confirmed and sold. I think that'd go a long way towards placating many interested players.
Oh and don't actually throw people out of the queue.
Why They Switched
Good question. Why did Blizzard switch?
One reason why we're using Eventbrite is because there is a quick and easy system to help us monitor purchases and be able to take tickets back from scalpers/bots.
BlizzCon is notorious for having a huge number of people trying to sell and scalp tickets. Listings appeared on Ebay weeks before the actual BlizzCon ticket sale. I'm not sure about the countermeasures or the success rate of trying to stop and minimize the effect of scalpers, but I loaded up Ebay and decided to search it up:
Maybe it'll get shut down? Who knows?
Active Mana Regeneration: Not a Fan
Edit: This feature has since been removed from Warlords.
Have you seen the latest news for healers? They took away our Hymn of Hopes, our Innervates, and stuff.
Actually, they gave Innervate back. Have a gander at the latest section from the patch notes:
Active Mana Regeneration (New)
Another part of the changes to healing is providing a way for them to better manage their mana. There are ways to spend more mana for more healing but, we're also adding methods for healers to trade extra time or healing or more mana to use later in a fight when they really need it.
- Innervate has been redesigned to now have a 2-second cast time with no cooldown, and causes the Druid to gain 2.5% of maximum mana every 4 seconds for 8 seconds. Spending any mana on a healing spell will cancel this effect.
- Crackling Jade Lightning's channel duration has been reduced to 4 seconds.
- Stance of the Wise Serpent now also causes Crackling Jade Lightning to cost no mana, and restore 2% of the Monk's maximum mana if the ability is channeled for its full duration.
- Divine Plea has been redesigned to be instant cast with no cooldown, and consume 3 Holy Power to immediately regain 7% of maximum mana.
- Atonement is no longer triggered by Penance.
- Penance now also refunds 1.1% of the Priest's maximum mana each time it deals damage.
- Chakra: Chastise in addition to existing effects, now also causes Smite and Holy Fire to restore 0.75% of maximum mana each time they are cast instead of costing mana.
- Telluric Currents is now a passive ability for Restoration Shaman and causes Lightning Bolt to restore 1.25% of maximum mana each time it is cast instead of costing mana.
- Glyph of Telluric Currents: This glyph has been removed.
Huge, yes? Our combat regeneration has evolved quite a long way. During vanilla, we had to work with the 5 second rule: Stop doing anything for 5 seconds to unleash the full power of our mana regen. Then we went to a model where classes had different abilities to use on cooldown (while other classes just didn't have to worry about mana at all). More changes are being worked with now to shake things up.
What happened to Druids?
I can see Druids are understandably upset with how Innervate's going to work now. It was originally supposed to be removed but now it's back. Are Druids really supposed to just sit there for 8 seconds and not do anything while Innervate does what it does? Any healing spells automatically interrupt it. But if you cast your damage spells, you're negating the damage you're regenerating.
Doesn't make sense.
Unless you consider that Wrath isn't going to cost you any mana.
Now you've got something to do while you wait for Innervate to gas you up. Spam that Wrath! But know that you can always cut Innervate off at anytime with a healing spell. Useful for those unexpected emergencies that tend to flare up during raid combat.
What happened to Priests?
Out of all them, the Priest mana abilities are the most interesting. And I say that not because I'm a Priest. I'm just that biased. Because Priests are the master class.
I'm a little concerned about the Penance one. It's normally used on cooldown for me. There's almost always someone that can benefit from a fast burst heal. So to use that on a hostile target instead of a friendly is concerning. Can't quite place my finger on the why.
The Holy Priest side of things is going to be even more engaging. Now I have to actually bind a key to the Chakra: Chastise stance specifically. Priests will need to really get used to Chakra dancing. There were times through this expansion you can get away with being a little lazy and be in the non-optimal Chakra. But with the removal of Hymn of Hope, you have to pay attention and ensure you're in the right stance or else you're not going to have any mana left to do anything.
What's this mean for healers overall?
Much of the regen mechanics are designed to give healers key decisions to make. Do I continue to burn through my mana reserves? Or should I take a moment now and risk raid integrity and regenerate mana? If you're not already communicating with your other healers now, you need to start. Practice with mana potions or something. Raids in Warlords will typically be rocking 4 to 5 healers at most. If a Resto Druid needs to stop healing for a bit, the rest of the healers need to know. That's 20% to 25% less healing power during those brief seconds. It helps to know the encounters inside and out. When are the less stressful parts of the encounter? When is the most stressful part? At what stage should I ensure I have a sufficient amount of mana reserves remaining? Not sure how tightly tuned the next raid instances will be, but you're going to have to practice doing some DPS.
I'm going to miss just relying on Hymn of Hope and Shadowfiend. As if we didn't have enough to do already. Didn't exactly sign up to DPS. I just want to stare at health bars and do what I do best: Heal players, not spend part of my time DPSing because I have to.
Eh, I have no doubt I'll probably change my mind later when I can give the game a spin. Until then, I'll just keep on griping.
5 Killer Priest Changes Coming in Warlords
Good gravy, so many new changes coming with the alpha notes! Instead of going through all of them, I'm just going to summarize my favourites. You can turn to BlizzPro later in the week for a more in-depth analysis.
Atonement nerfs
Don't tell me you didn't see this coming. For almost the entire expansion, Discipline Priests were considered top tier and a virtual must have in progression focused guilds. It wasn't so much the temporarily healing buff from Evangelism, but the Archangel ratios which made us a force to be reckoned.
Let's deal damage with any of our main DPS nukes. On top of that, a portion of the damage done is going to also heal. Oh and it's a smart heal!
In a way, I'm disappointed that it's lowered but I can't help but think it'll help equalize the state of healing classes a little more. At the very least, maybe it'll lower Discipline representation some and allow us Holy Priest guys back into the fray as a better alternative. There was nothing really wrong with Holy (well, there was but we'll cover that in a moment), but Holy just wasn't quite as well sought after.
That'll be different in the future largely because of…
Chakra changes
Remember when Chakra came into play? It was almost two expansions ago during the start of Cataclysm. It essentially functioned as a stance for Holy Priests. Certain spells would become stronger depending on which Chakra you had active and you'd gain access to a Holy Word spell that corresponded with that stance. It was intended to provide flexibility and allow Priests to select the role they were going to perform in a raid: Single target healing or multi-target healing.
If you were in a Chakra stance and wanted to do something outside of the benefit, your spells wouldn't make quite as an impact. The alpha notes said it quite clearly: The buff from being in a certain Chakra "felt like a penalty for being in the wrong Chakra, rather than a bonus for being in the right Chakra".
Chakra: Sanctuary provided a strong buff to Prayer of Healing which was great when I was covering groups but it was lousy if I needed to spot heal the tank for a few moments. Lowering the bonuses attained in Serenity and Sanctuary are a start. Saying "I'm only losing 10% of a healing boost instead of a 25% bonus" is much more reassuring. Instead, Holy Word: Serenity and Sanctuary are receiving more of a healing bonus. I suspect our normal baseline spells will be adjusted and balanced accordingly.
Removal of Mana Hymn
Just like that.
How else am I supposed to get my mana back? One of our healing utilities is out the window as a victim of Blizzard's crackdown on ability bloat. Now they've promised that mana regeneration rates and spirit will be monitored to offset the loss of Hymn of Hope. Now I'm really at the mercy of my own healing spells. I can't heal full throttle and rely on Mana Hymn to provide me with a cushion anymore. I'm going to miss it.
New glyphs
To be more specific, I'm giddy with Glyph of Restored Faith. It can be used as an escape or a closer or if I just want to get next to someone. Maybe it isn't that killer, but I really do like the fun I can get with this. I can pull myself out of harms way if I'm caught standing in a fire! It's like a pseudo defensive cooldown!
Level 100 talents
You can find the new talents at the recently updated WoW Head calculator. I liked that old talent with Void Shift where you could use it as many times as you wanted but I guess that one was tossed.
Now there's healing talents when you reach level 100 like Words of Mending. Every healing or absorb spell generates a stack of Word of Mending. Hit 5 stacks, cast a free Prayer of Mending! Worried about Prayer of Mending overriding itself? A minor change was introduced where Prayer of Mending from multiple Priests are able to be applied on the same target. Not only that, one Priest can have multiple applications of Prayer of Mending on more than one target!
I mean, yo dawg! I heard you like Prayer of Mending! So I put a Words of Mending on your Prayer of Mending so you can Prayer of Mending while you Prayer of Mending!
Holy Priests gain access to another talent called Clarity of Purpose. It replaces Prayer of Healing with a new spell called Clarity of Purpose. We know that smart healing spells are getting dumber. But if healing spells were given an IQ, I'm certain Clarity of Purpose would take home the smartest heal ever award. It'll heal players within 10 yards of your target. Not only that, it splits the heal so that weaker players receive more of the healing pie.
Now that's legit!
This is going to be a fun beta testing period. Warlords needs to come soon! I'll do my best to keep track of any pertinent Priest changes and updates as we progress through the development stages of the expansion.
The Edge: April Fool's, Mythic Rosters, and Shaking up Dungeons
Several weeks ago, I joined BlizzPro's The Edge videocast team as a third co-host on their show. I still receive questions from readers asking about the Matticast. This was one way for me to return to the casting circuit. We'll be talking about news (at least, only the pertinent ones). Along the way, we'll offer what we can about classes, skills, and raids.
- Live on Air: Tuesday 7:00 PM CST (5:00 PM Pacific, 8:00 PM Eastern)
- Channel: BlizzPro
- Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
- Twitter: @edge_blizzprotv
In the last episode, we discussed cross-realm raiding and preparing your guild for Warlords. This week's episode 14, the crew takes a closer look at the different factors that go into planning your roster for Mythic. Meanwhile, faux patch notes kept us entertained for the day with nods and inside jokes along with pop culture references. Sadly, I think I only got half the references.
I'll add some additional thoughts about building a Mythic roster in a future post. This is the first expansion where I've had to really whip out my whiteboard and really think ahead about the roles each player will have going into an expansion. I wasn't in such a position when we transitioned from Vanilla Warcraft to Burning Crusade (and going from the 40 man to the 25 man). I can only imagine what it was like for GMs in those positions who had to make the tough call of picking 15 out of 40 players to release.
Sean wanted to take a page inspired from Diablo. Why not have loot drops completely randomized in a limited pool? But I don't think anything can be done that can really entice me to jump back into heroic dungeons when I'm well already into raiding. Let's face it, the first week or two of a new expansion, I'll be dungeon diving repeatedly to get my priest at a level where he can adequately compete for raiding and then never going back again.
If there's a system mechanic that increases character progression in addition to raiding, I'm going to be annoyed. Raids should be the ultimate way to progress a character's power (excluding PvP). Dungeons just aren't my thing and I hope we don't have to run them to get some kind of currency or items that augment our gear. Just isn't necessary. In my mind, you should be running heroic dungeons because:
- You want to get started for entry level raiding.
- Certain vanity rewards like pets or mounts (or challenge mode gear).
- An activity you enjoy with a smaller group of people.
- You need the 3000 valor points for the legendary cloak on your 4th alt.
Look, if you like dungeons and stuff, power to you. I'm just not a fan. I can't think of anything they can do to really encourage me to go back in after I've had a taste of raids. There's a finite amount of time I spend playing WoW per week and I don't want to split up my time being forced to do something I don't want to do for the sake of maximizing my character's power.
They can't exactly utilize the mechanics from Diablo's adventure and bounty modes. You're controlling a character with 6 abilities in that game. All areas of a map are randomly generated. All the loot stats and features are also randomly generated. In Warcraft, you're playing your toon which has all these attacks and cooldowns. All the heroics are on a set layout. Lastly, each dungeon has it's own set of loot rewards from each boss. Does WoW need anymore RNG? Right now, I know that if I wanted a weapon, I could run a certain boss in a specific heroic over and over again until I attained it. Chance says that if I do it enough times, eventually the dice roll will go in my favor*. At least I'd know what I can do increase the odds. With completely random loot tables, it wouldn't matter what I did. I'd have a roughly equal chance no matter which boss I came to.
*In practice, I have the worst luck.
What about you? Are you a dungeon runner? What drives you to propel your characters through 5 mans? What would you like to see to improve your experience within them?
How Guilds Make 800k Gold Selling Boss Kills
The news that cross-realms are allowing players to raid on other servers on both normal and heroic mode is a god-send! Players are no longer restricted to paying server transfer fees in order to raid. Cross-faction raiding isn't going to be a thing anytime soon (and I doubt it ever will), but at least players can now raid across servers. This is a great way for a prospective player to "try" a new raiding guild before they commit to transferring. It's great for guilds like mine to help fill out a raid in case we're short players by using a service like Open Raid.
Another benefit? You can start selling guild runs and kills. It's also known as "guild boosting".
There's a market out there for players who want the normal mode achievement. There's players who want the gear that your guild has been routinely sharding week after week. People might scoff and laugh, but there's always going to be a buyer. People want the loot, the achievements, and the mounts but aren't necessarily able to commit the time required to a proper raiding guild. Just keep in mind that gold and loot still can't be traded on non-connected realms so they'd have to transfer a character with gold plus the items that are the rough equivalent to the price negotiated upon. I've seen some players willing to transfer an alt and then boosting their main.
Want to make it even easier? Make sure the alt is the GM of their own guild. Last I checked, guild bank transfer limits were at 1 million gold. The character needs to meet the requirements though.
How does one go about it?
I'd strongly suggest doing this with a 25 man raiding team. I imagine it's significantly harder to carry a person on 10.
Step 1: Discuss it with your guild
I'm using the word "discuss" in a loose term. It should be pretty easy to sell your guild on the idea. Remind them that that funds coming in are going to guild repairs and to the next expansion (recipes, crafting materials, enchants, etc). Will your participating raid members obtain a small cut? If you've already made that decision to sell runs, let the guild know. Any dissenters can be silenced with sound reasoning. If they still disagree, well that's ultimately up to you to decide. No one has to participate if they don't want to.
We'll get to the actual agreements in a moment.
Step 2: Advertise it
You can sell something but if no one knows about it, you're not going to be able to make any gold. No one's going to come to a run they don't know about! Hit up trade chat and see if anyone local is interested in the kills. Failing that, see if anyone on Open Raid is willing to go. Advertise on your server's forums! They'll ask you for a price and that's going to fluctuate greatly based on things like your server progression, what they're entitled to, what bosses are going down, and so forth.
If you have a guild website, consider creating a page dedicated to this information. Make sure you include the important stuff like the price and what they get. Include who they should message about it. Throw in the dates and times if you know it for a fact. If loot prices are different, specify that too.
In fact, some guilds have websites with full pages dedicated to just selling runs.
That's where the next step comes into play…
Step 3: Settle on the terms and price
Are clients paying for just a Garrosh kill? Do they want a specific item? Do they want all items? Are they expecting a full clear? Heroic boss kills? All of those factor into. Speak to your client and figure out what they want. It seems the going rate for a straight up Garrosh kill with whatever loot they want is 15k.
Naturally the going rate of this stuff is going to be influenced by demand and the progression capabilities of your server.
Figure out and set your guild prices for:
- Loot (Both normal and warforged)
- Achievements
- Mounts
- Titles
Talk to your client and figure out exactly what they want and what they're paying for. Once you have that step figured out…
Step 4: Arrange payment
Take a deposit.
Some guilds ask for non-refundable 15% up front. Other guilds ask for 50%. Consider cutting a deal on the price if the run is scheduled to occur on the day of. Again, this obviously isn't going to work if the player is on a cross realm since they can't trade gold but if they're willing to transfer servers on an alt, take that into consideration. I find that the more well-known a guild is, the higher the deposit they can command. Reputation seems to play a big part. Guilds that routinely top the kills race ask for a higher deposit because they don't want to be ripped off. Buyers can rest easily knowing that these are guilds who are also quite serious and skilled at what they do.
Step 5: The logistics
This up to the raid leader to decide. Which player is going to sit? Is the client going to attempt to participate and contribute? It might just be easier for them to die immediately and AFK lest they accidentally mess up the kill. This is where the client can pay up the rest of the fee associated with the run.
Does all this sound ridiculous? Unrealistic? Who'd pay that much gold for this stuff? Y'know, there's over 7 million subscribers. There's going to be a select few who are willing to buy their way to the top.
Last minute reminder: There is an absolute ton of risk involved in these kinds of transactions. There's no guarantee the guild can carry a person from start to finish. There's no guarantee a person is able and willing to pony up the rest of the mentioned fee. Either party can get ripped off at any time. If something doesn't sound right, walk away. I doubt Blizzard GMs will be able to assist with this type of stuff if someone gets scammed or ripped off.
6+3 Lessons on Guild Leadership: Don't Make These Mistakes!
Kurn (@kurnmogh) | Kurn's CornerOne of the first mistakes I made in the formation of my guild was one that a lot of people make: we mostly relied on "common sense" to dictate what was and was not acceptable. For whatever reason, "common sense" was fine for the first couple of months, but after more recruits joined us, it became apparent that we actually needed to sit down and write out rules to let people know what behaviour was expected of them. The worst part of it all is that my officers and I were just dumbfounded at how poorly some people could behave! We honestly could not understand how anyone thought X or Y behaviours were appropriate. As such, most of the rules we wrote had a "private name" used to refer to them by the officers, as they were named for the guild member who caused us to write the rule in the first place, along the lines of "the Kurn rule" or "the Majik rule". It definitely made for some memorable moments, but what I took away from it was that you have to be clear about your expectations from the start!
We had a raider early on who had a really difficult personality and didn't get a long with a lot of our long-time raiders. Problem was that he was really good DPS, and I found myself with a dilemma after he caused a kerfuffle with some of my players. I had to choose between showing him the exit and hurting overall raid DPS, or attempting to smooth over the row and investing some of my credibility into him. I chose to do what I (mistakenly) perceived as being for the greater good and worked things out, but there was an even bigger incident not much longer after that and he really had to go that time. Trying to find a compromise (and compromising my own integrity) only kicked the ball down the road a little ways. I should have ripped the band-aid off quickly, and I paid for that dithering in the end.
- Find a way to deal with it: Involves muting, not socializing, or other methods.
- Find a way to change it: Involves talking to the player and asking them that their behaviour needs to change.
- Remove the problem: The ol' gkick strategy.
Adam Ferrel (@FerrelES) | Epic SlantOne of the hardest lessons I learned the first time around is that people aren't actually expendable. When you're in a highly competitive environment with a ton of applicants it is easy to forget that. Everyone wants to be "uber" and kill the top monsters. As a motivation tool my officers and I leveraged this. We'd remind folks that there were people in the minor league waiting for the slot on the roster. It really demoralized more than it motivated. Later on I focused more on developing talent and retention. Keeping even average players for an extremely long time yielded far better results.
Amy Emmence (@amyemmence)While not an original or very early on officer, I feel when I became an officer, I felt a bit less than worthy and did not try and actively do more for my guild than I had done before. I realize now that I was asked to be an officer because I was "worthy" of the role and respected in the guild and let that guide me now.
Liore (@Liores) | Herding Cats
Sometimes you have to be a jerk. Don't farm it out to officers, don't put it off, don't hope that things will magically get better — part of your job is making people feel like you are securely in charge and protecting the guild community.
@Jasyla (@Jasyla_) | Cannot Be Tamed
When I took over as GM, I set expectations for officer activity too high. As an example, in the first month of MoP the role officers were expected to give raiders written reviews every week so we could nip any performance issues in the bud. After the first month, these were expected to be done monthly. This was great while it lasted but after a couple months sitting down and writing 8 healer reviews (or worse, 14 ranged reviews) really wore on people and the activity dropped off, causing some disappointment. A couple officers even stepped down from their roles – this wasn't the only reason, but I'm sure the workload was part of it. The lesson? Set realistic expectations. It's better to do things well, even if that means those things happen less frequently. People can only dedicate a certain amount of time and energy to the guild before they start burning out.
My biggest mistake was a significant lack of game/life balance. I poured an unfortunate amount of trial-and-error into the guild in the early years, lacking any formal knowledge of what it took to build and maintain a successful guild, to the detriment of those around me. Guilds are demanding (especially raiding ones), but all can be managed if you have the necessary tools and know where to set boundaries.
(@Zaierpally)I think the biggest mistake I've made is not having enough communication. I've had a couple of different instances where I thought everything was going great and then it all blew up in my face because there hadn't been good enough communication. I've had situations go from good to terrible because of a lack of communication both between myself and other officers/the GM and between myself (as an officer) and the rest of the members of the guild.
Scott Andrews | Guild Leader's HandbookOutside of me as the guild leader, the leadership had no structure. Officers had no specific tasks and I simply promoted every "founding member" regardless of ability or desire to lead. Committed and organized leadership is a key part of a successful guild, and the lack of it made everything way more difficult for me in the early going than it should have been. Fortunately, many of my officers stepped up in a big way when I needed them, or the guild would have died in its infancy.
Cast Times on Instant Spells Highlights Warlords Healing Changes
A new week means a new Dev Watercooler! Today, Blizzard looked at healing gameplay. Cataclysm was the last expansion where there was a true healing "reset". Mists of Pandaria largely preserved that same model. Now we're entering Warlords where the healing model is getting changed again. The Watercooler can be summarized in three points:
- Health and resilience
- Smart heals getting "dumber"
- Instant casts getting slower
Raiding realities going into Warlords
The Mythic size raid group is dropping from 25 to 20. Less players overall which means slightly less healers to bring in so I can understand the dumbing down of some of the spells. More difficulties and the ability to scale the number of players you bring in also allows raid groups to control for that. Keep this in mind as we go down the list of changes. Lots of the freakout is taking future expansion plans and applying it to the current game.
What's happening to the mana regeneration? That's going to go up. At the start of Cataclysm and Mists, I've had to chug pots and burn cooldowns just to keep up with running the heroics. To be fair, this was a time when there wasn't that much information on how to do the bosses. Much of our time was spent working on staying alive not so much killing the boss fast. Everything leveled off weeks later as we acquired more gear and crafted more stuff.
If I'm interpreting it right, it means our healing style shouldn't change that much between doing heroic dungeons and heroic raids.
The downside is that now we're losing out on our low-throughput healing spells (Nourish, Holy Light, Heal, and Healing Wave). I'm not afraid to see them go. Let's be real, we've only ever used these spells twice ever in an expansion: Once at the start of it because we couldn't afford to cast Greater Heal and at the end of the expansion when we run out of mana on a long and dragged out boss fight.
… Oh, you guys never ran out of mana? Must be nice!
Our smart healing spells are getting dumber. Instead of striking the most wounded player, the spells will now hit any wounded player. Healers can also jump on the blame RNG bandwagon! A reduced raid size does mean higher odds that our spells will hit intended targets at least. No more using Circle of Healing without abandon anymore.
Absorbs are being looked at. They've always been incredibly strong dating back to Wrath. Discipline has been so dominant compared to Holy. Not much information was offered as far as what specifically they plan to do with it other than tuning the strength of absorbs. Can't see that problem going away though. Doesn't matter if Power Word: Shield absorbs for 50000 or 10000. That's still an additional layer of health going on top of players.
There's a nice summary at the bottom of that part on what the devs plan on hitting.
That's a lot of big changes for healers: reduced throughput, more triage, less powerful "smart" heals, weaker absorbs, fewer spells, and a new focus on efficiency decisions.
Okay, let's look at instant spells. Not so instant anymore are they? Cascade, Divine Star, Halo, and Prayer of Mending are being given a 1.5 second cast time! To be fair, other classes are seeing reductions in their instant spell arsenals. Wild Growth and Uplift have cast times tacked onto theirs.
Hey remember when Prayer of Mending didn't have a 10 second cooldown?
Pepperidge Farm remembers.
I can understand Divine Star and Halo getting cast times. But Cascade? It's not exactly appealing in the current version of talents. Maybe that's just how the encounters are setup. Cascade actually takes time to travel around from player to play so I'm not sure why that cast time is needed.
Hang on, these are PvP nerfs? Hrm, okay. Not what I wanted to hear. What I'm more concerned about is what those spells mean for Shadow. Divine Star and Halo are one of the few spells we can cast on the move and that's being slowed down slightly.
Speaking of more questions, what's going to happen to Atonement or the Monk version of it?
Decision Making
Maybe I'm just hitting a point of mental fatigue. I liked having smarter heals around. I liked having one less thing reduced to chance. When I'm not busy dodging a meteor, dispelling a silence, and deliberately taking damage for my Prayer of Mending to fly off, I was reassured that my smart heal would always hit the most injured player without any thought. Now I have to take extra time and carefully consider a choice between using a single target heal or a multi target heal. Granted, I've already been doing that since vanilla. But over the years, the small incremental changes to healing and rendering them smarter helped cut down on burnout rates. Healing the dark shaman top side and taking care of the Iron Tombs and the like was pretty darn engaging.
Healers think and decide way more than any other role in the game. Tanks, granted, have it fairly difficult. They have to consider boss positioning, direction, and their own cooldowns. One wrong choice and it's an automatic wipe and that's a ton of pressure. But at least those mistakes can be corrected quickly on the next-go round and aren't as dynamic (as in, the boss shouldn't face this direction or this defensive cooldown has to be used at this time).
Healing is a little more dynamic. You're not always going to see the same situation. A different person might receive a debuff. Instead of a rogue standing in fire, it's going to be a mage and are they shrewd enough to Ice Block it? Who needs the dispel in the next 5 seconds when that debuff goes out? Now I have to gamble with my spells. I have to hope that my Prayer of Healing will splash onto that really wounded guy and not the one who is at 90% health. Because if that RNG dice goes against me, I better follow up fast with a Penance or else that really wounded guy is going to wind up a dead guy.
Current: A small group that just took more raid damage than others? No problem, I can respond fast with a Circle of Healing and they'll be safe.
Future: A small group that just took more raid damage than others? I can use Circle of Healing that might hit all of them, but I better be prepared to follow up with a few Flash Heals just in case it doesn't.
I love choice in games. I like the ability to pick and decide my fate and that of others. I just wish that those dynamic choices be from the encounters more so than from my tools. Now there's one more thing we have to actively think about all the time instead of simply relying on reaction.
Bring on the beta!
Which Warlords of Draenor Racial Would You Want Now?
A few days ago, Warcraft Technical Game Designer Celestalon dispensed two hours worth of information on Twitter. One specific topic caught my eye. It's no secret that racial bonuses in the game are a little skewed and slightly imbalanced. Many of the top tier raiding guilds are Horde and I'm fairly certain much of it is due to the min-maxing bonuses that the racials provide. So come Warlords, they're mostly getting overhauled. While nothing has been finalized just yet, here's where the racials stand right now.
WoW Head's Perculia did a phenomenal job hunting down and assembling the information in an easily digestible package right here. You can check out the official blue post about racials here.
- Draenei: Heroic Presence is now +X to your primary stat. Gift of the Naaru heals for the same amount but over 5 sec.
- Dwarf: Lost Crack Shot and Mace Specialization. Gained Might of the Mountain, a passive which adds 2% Crit Damage. Also… A change to Stoneform: Also removes Magic/Curse. HOWEVER, it still cannot be used while CC'd. (It is still NOT a CC-break)
- Gnome: Escape Artist dropped to a 1min CD (from 1.5min), and Shortblade Specialization became Nimble Fingers, 1% Haste. Also- A tweak to Expansive Mind. Was +5% max Mana. Now +5% Max Mana, Energy, Rage, or Runic Power.
- Humans lose the Mace/Sword racials. The Human Spirit becomes +X to two secondary stats of your choice. Every Man for Himself, we're still evaluating. Itemization changes may mean no nerf needed.
- Night Elves: Quickness also increases movement speed by 2% passively. They also got a new passive which is quite unique… (Remember, no more haste breakpoints!) Touch of Elune, a new passive which grants 1% Haste at night, 1% Crit during the day.Shadowmeld is unchanged.
- Worgen: Darkflight is staying unchanged.
- Blood Elf: They gain Arcane Acuity, a 1% crit passive. Arcane Torrent now restores 20 Runic Power, or 1 HoPo, or 3% Mana, or Chi.
- Goblins: Not much. They were about at baseline. Time is Money becomes real 1% Haste, not just attack speed / cast speed. Subtle diff.
- Orcs were one of the outliers we brought down. Lost the Axe Specialization, and Hardiness is 10% Stun reduction (down from 15%). Blood Fury is unchanged.
- Tauren: Endurance becomes +X Stamina. Brawn is a new passive which increases Crit Damage/Healing by 2%.
- Troll: Berserking Reduced to 15% Haste (down from 20%).
Undead are seeing relatively few changes. Tweaks to the scaling rate of Touch of the Grave, and WotF to 3min CD (up from 2 minutes).
Pandaren, of course, will most likely not see a change and retain their Epicurean bonus.
The Draenei racial bonus is much more appealing. Too bad we don't know what the +X value is for the primary stat. It's going to go right to Intellect for priests of all kinds. Gift of the Naaru will heal 20% of a target's health over 5 seconds (instead of 15). It's another healing spell you can add to your bar and you can save it for emergencies (every 3 minutes).
My first Priest was a Dwarf. I miss Stoneform and the ability to shrug off poisons. Now it functions as a secondary self dispel since it can remove magic debuffs and curses. The extra crit damage is handy for the Shadow and the Discipline Smiters though. May not be as helpful for Holy.
What about the Gnomes? There's still the bonus to mana but it's been expanded to include the energy of other class types. The natural 1% haste is new and useful for all priest types.
Humans gain a rather unique spin to their buff. They get to select which two secondary stats get a bonus. I imagine one of those will be Spirit and the other will be Haste, Crit, or Mastery — Whatever your priest is short on. An interface is being worked up right now allowing you to pick. The ability to pick and choose offers some neat flexibility.
Night Elves. Sigh. Really? Server time makes a difference now? Blah. I hate randomness. But it looks like there's not much that can be done about that.
Horde side, Blood Elves continue to be the winner. The crit bonus passive is second only to Arcane Torrent's innate mana restoring capability.
Goblins? The ability to Rocket Jump is huge in heavy movement fights. Now you get a flat 1% haste instead of a bonus to attack and bast speed.
Orcs can't play priests so that point is rather moot.
Tauren Priests are already benefitting from a slight stamina boost allowing them to withstand a little more damage than usual. But the new Brawn bonus is a solid boon for priests of all types.
The first iteration of the Troll's Berserking was pretty overpowered. It was like a mini-Heroism on demand. Now it's been nerfed to a flat 15% Haste bonus instead of the 20%. Not quite as good but still reliable for burst healing your way through stuff.
Huge nerf to the Undead's Will of the Forsaken with the cooldown going up. No other changes.
So let's assume that you're rolling a new Priest. You have all these excellent racials available to you. No more of the junk bonus to hit or expertise or any of that stuff.
Which one should you go for?
If you plan on playing Alliance, I would favour the Draenei bonuses. Hard to say for sure without knowing what the X value is. If you're PvPing, Dwarves or Gnomes are a good bet. I like Gnomes though since Escape Artist is handy (and the fast cooldown).
If you plan on playing Horde, I'm leaning towards Blood Elves. That mana restore is so nice to have especially on progression fights when you're tapped out. Berserking is another trait you'll find attractive and is great if you're playing either shadow or healing.
Personally, I'm staying a Pandaren. Can't get enough of that food buff.
Raid Leader Questions: Reset or Extend?
Back in Wrath, right around the era of the Trial of the Crusader patch, Blizzard pushed out a new feature. It was a tool designed for raids who didn't raid as often or who had trouble investing significant and meaningful hours in progression before the week reset and all their progression and work had been lost.
Yes, the lockout extension feature.
To my knowledge, it was one of those things that not many players really raved about but no one slammed it down either. It was completely optional and not many had the desire to extend it. Two expansions later, raids are getting larger, there's more trash in the way, and time just seems to be a factor. This isn't 5 years ago where I was in a raid that insisted on everyone going way past their bed time to get that much needed kill in. I was in guilds that asked much of their players to sacrifice sleep and hours for the sake of progression.
When Conquest was first formed, one of the key decisions was laying down our hours. In order to maximize the potential pool of players, I ensured that our times were west and east coast friendly. But this had the cost where we would not be able to go past our end times even if we had gotten a boss down to 1%. With Siege of Orgrimmar being the deep instance that it is, many of the players lobbied for more time on end bosses and extensions on the week to put in more work. It's paid off because we secured kills on Nazgrim and Malkorok on the days where we normally would've reset.
At the same time, like other raiding guilds, we've seen our share of players come and go. This is the part of the expansion where many players are slowly returning back to the game. They're smart and skilled players, but sometimes there's nothing they can do to survive through a large explosion even with all their defensive cooldowns used simply because their health is too low. Or we're not able to meet a DPS check on an earlier boss like Norushen and Sha of Pride.
It's a tough balancing act between providing our newer players with the gear and experience they need now so they can be in a position to help us later versus ensuring that the raid has adequate time to work on progression bosses in the second half of Siege. Blizzard has announced the end of the Challenge Mode season coming soon to coincide with a new patch deployment. While there's been no mention of a friends and family alpha, the patch signals that we're one milestone closer to the next expansion and our time in Siege is growing shorter.
How long does it take to gear a freshly geared 90 and put them in a position where they are no longer a detriment to a heroic raid boss?
My estimate is 3-4 weeks. This includes running the raid finder, flex raids, using crafted pieces, and completely carrying them through any available farm content. On 25 man, that time could be cut to 2-3 weeks largely due to the larger pool of gear that drops from killing bosses (6 items on 25 vs 2 items on 10) and this assumes they're diligent in farming their Lesser Charms on the island or via pet battles.
Reset please!
My original stance was to continue weekly raid resets. Until we've got a core group of 25-30 players who've been around long enough where they don't need gear anymore, we're going to need to keep that farming going. Every once in a while, we can pull in a player who is already at our level and ready to go to the point where we don't need to gear them out. If we don't funnel gear, eventually we'll reach a point where we run out of players to bring in (because turnover, people leaving/quitting/new jobs/no time, etc). Our depth is amazing. It's how we can even field raids sometimes. There's always going to be a bottom end and we have to narrow that gap between top and bottom to help make it easier for us when we reach the harder progression bosses. It makes sense to do this at the beginning of the tier as well to really maximize all that gear coming in.
Now here's the flip side of the equation.
Extend please!
When we get to a new boss, we need time to learn the nuances. We have to learn the new phases and mechanics that come with it. We have to wipe to it. We have to see it so that we can understand and then execute. This usually happens towards the end of the week because the first part of the week is spent clearing UP to that boss. Our ultimate end objective is to KILL everything in this instance. The fact that it's the final tier in the expansion means that we have a silent countdown clock hanging except we don't know what the end time is going to be. I'd rather err on the side of clearing everything early then clearing everything too late. I want to get these guys a heroic Garrosh kill. That's what we're all here to do. Just when it seems like we're all prepared and ready to take down a new boss, we run out of time, and it's Tuesday. We have to kill all that stuff again. And guess what? There's days where our consistency and our mindset isn't there and we don't even GET to the new boss that we want which cuts in to our progression time, and then boom, reset again.
This is where we are at today. This is why I proposed the compromise of 3 pulls to get it done on farm or else we move on. It helps ensure chances on getting the players that need gear their gear while simultaneously ensuring that we have enough allocated time to work on a new progression boss. Problem is, that isn't good enough anymore.
We're still lacking on time. In the end, we've opted to switch to an extended week schedule. Week 1 is spent getting as far as we can, week 2 is spent extending to work on whichever boss we just cleared to. Any new recruits are typically brought in during week 1 to learn and get suitably equipped. Our veterans and heavy hitters are brought in for the progression stuff.
I really miss winged instances.


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"Nicer than I expected - Very nice actually" Top 5 Page for this destination Saint-Tropez by JanPeter74
Saint-Tropez Travel Guide: 81 reviews and 260 photos
Most people who know something of the French Cote d'Azur, know Saint-Tropez. During the 1960s, Saint-Tropez became a favourite hangout for the international jetset and has a mundaine reputation ever since.
Too be honest, I expected an overpriced, touristy place, that stuck to this 60s fame and is notorious for its VIP spotting. Well, touristy it is and like any other Mediterranean place somewhat overpriced as well, but despite the big yachts in the port, which are actually quite a nice sight, the village still has a lot of traditional charm. Definitely worth a visit!
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David Hostel features 8 furnished double rooms, and 2 dormitories. We also have family rooms, private unit, and... More Info »
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All rooms at Ahuzat Haosher have elegant wooden furnishings and tiled floors. Each includes a kettle and fridge. Some... More Info »
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AfterBite Outdoor takes the sting out of insect bites and relieves pain and itching on contact
AfterBite Outdoor quickly stops the pain and itch of insect bites. Contains ammonia with baking soda and tea tree oil in an easy-to-apply gel for fast-acting relief. Portable 0.7-oz. tube is conveniently sized to carry with the rest of your gear when you head outdoors. Ideal for use on bites from chiggers, fire ants, mosquitoes as well as bee and wasp stings. USA made.
See all Insect Repellent Supplies


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Cash or Debit Accepted
3250 Hessen Strasse R.R. #1
St. Clements, Ontario N0B 2M0
(519) 699-5524
Latitude: 43.5034
Longitude: -80.6391
We are located 7 km west of Waterloo.
From Weber Street and Benjamin Road
Signs are posted during the season guiding you from Weber St. and Benjamin Rd. to the farm.
From Toronto or Points East
From London or Points West


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I was SOOOO glad to find this plugin, but seemingly I can not get it to work.
Whenever I use the link code in a caption (does not matter which version of the code, or if I use single or double quotes) I have the same effect that I had without the plugin when I included a regular HTML link: caption and surrounding div gone, image just displayed "as is", no floating, no caption, no link...
Is it possible the plugin is sabotaged by the theme (Thesis with Blogussion skin in this case)?
Anybody else having similar problems?
thanks for any hints, I would LOVE to finally have links in my captions, and so would the folks who's images I use in my blogs... ;-)


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Citigroup analysts say GM's (GM) partnership with Lyft could afford it a better position than competitors in the autonomous driving race as it can generate money while validating the fleet.
The activist investor has accumulated a 14.9% stake, which comes after the company formerly known as Tribune Publishing rejected a hostile bid made by USA Today publisher Gannett
Recon Capital Partners CIO Kevin Kelly and political consultant and TV contributor Harlan Hill discussed the effects of General Motors' (GM) most recent recall on the auto industry on FBN.
History is not on the bulls' side here.


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Choral Workshops
"A wonderful, uplifting musical experience!" May, Dublin
Our workshops offer keen choral singers the opportunity to delve deeper into some of the Choral Pilgrimage repertoire. Workshops are led by two prominent members of The Sixteen; associate conductor Eamonn Dougan and singer and musicologist Sally Dunkley.
Workshops are limited to 75 singers and offer a range of vocal coaching including warm ups, breathing techniques, stylistic advice, tuning and vocal blend. Also offered is an insight into the composer and the historical context of the pieces. Singers should be confident in holding their own line and have some experience of singing in a choir.
This year participants will work on two pieces – Arvo Part The Deer's Cry and Byrd O lux beata Trinitas. The workshop music is sent out a month in advance and participants are encouraged to learn the notes beforehand so finer details can be explored.
Tickets and booking
Tickets are £25/30 per person and participants are also offered a £5 discount to any own-promotion Choral Pilgrimage concert (the workshop place must be booked first).
Discounts can be used when booking concert tickets over the telephone with the National Centre for Early Music (01904 651485) or on their website tickets.ncem.co.uk. Sheet music and break-time refreshments are included in the cost.
Please note that we offer a 50% discount to anyone under 18, in full time education or on Jobseeker's Allowance. If you wish to book a discounted place please call our office on 020 7936 3420 and speak to a member of staff who will guide you through the booking process. You will be required to bring documentation to prove your status to the workshop.


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- Adult Skin Problems Slideshow
- Quiz: Is Ringworm Contagious?
- Gallery of Skin Problems Pictures
- Patient Comments: Erythema Nodosum - Experience
- Patient Comments: Erythema Nodosum - Treatments
- Patient Comments: Erythema Nodosum - Symptoms
- Find a local Dermatologist in your town
What is erythema nodosum?
- Erythema nodosum is a type of skin inflammation that is located in a certain portion of the fatty layer of skin.
- Erythema nodosum (also called EN) results in reddish, painful, tender lumps most commonly located in the front of the legs.
- The tender lumps, or nodules, of erythema nodosum range in size from one to five centimeters. The nodular swelling is caused by a inflammation in the fatty layer of skin.
- Erythema nodosum can be self-limited and resolve on its own in three to six weeks. Upon resolution, it may leave only a temporary bruised appearance or leave a chronic indentation in the skin where the fatty layer has been injured.
What causes erythema nodosum?
Erythema nodosum may occur as an isolated condition or in association with other conditions. Conditions that are associated with erythema nodosum include:
- medications (sulfa-related drugs, birth control pills, and estrogens),
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- normal pregnancy.


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Using Picture Controls with the D7000
Gotta say, I am completely befuddled with how to set and use Picture Controls with my D7000. For my everyday shooting, I want to increase the overall sharpness of the photos, the overall saturation, and the overall contrast, but I'm not able to figure out how to make the settings I change, to stick. And then, I'm not sure how to pick a picture control for a certain shooting situation and have the camera stay with those settings until I, what?, go back into the controls and reset them? Anyone know of a really good tutorial that will walk me through, step by step, how to set several picture controls, name them, and then (just as importantly) walk me through what I need to do to activate the specific ones when the need arises? This camera will do most anything anyone wants it to do; just wish it was more intuitive and easy to use... Help, please...!
Visit my Nikonians gallery.
Visit my Nikonians gallery.
#1. "RE: Using Picture Controls with the D7000" | In response to Reply # 0
Here is a link to the Nikon imaging site that goes into quite a bit of detail about picture controls.
You can check page 131 of your manual for details about Picture Controls and the D7000 as well as page 136 on how to create a custom picture control.
There are always two people in every picture: the photographer and the viewer.-Ansel Adams
Visit my Nikonians gallery.
Visit my Nikonians gallery.
#2. "RE: Using Picture Controls with the D7000" | In response to Reply # 1
Thanks Marc...! I appreciate the tip... I find the manual a bit daunting, but perhaps that's my nearly 70 year old mind...! Thanks again...! Cliff
#3. "RE: Using Picture Controls with the D7000" | In response to Reply # 0
"Anyone know of a really good tutorial...?"
Darrell Young's "Mastering the Nikon D7000" (pinned to the top of the D7000 forum). Darrell's book is so well laid out and user friendly that it will inspire you to learn all aspects of your D7000.
Darrell breaks down the complexities of the D7000's Picture Controls, auto-focus, flash, the custom setting menus ... everything, with patience and foresight, and notes the Nikon manual's page numbers for reference. Darrell mentions that he sometimes needs to refer back to his own book, and often keeps the Kindle version with him for quick reference.
#4. "RE: Using Picture Controls with the D7000" | In response to Reply # 2
It is not your mind – Nikon manuals are not very well written.
Dave Summers
Nikonians Photo Contest Director
My Nikonians Gallery | Current Nikonians Contests
#6. "RE: Using Picture Controls with the D7000" | In response to Reply # 5
Another book for a carry along in a camera bag is "David Busch's Compact Field Guide for the Nikon D7000". It's in a handy spiral bound form that works well for field use
I also have the rockynook "Mastering the Nikon D7000" which is very comprehensive, but not quite so useful for a field carry book. I don't, by the way, use the Nook or an eBook and prefer a hardbound book in the field.
#7. "RE: Using Picture Controls with the D7000" | In response to Reply # 5
I hope that does it for you. When I bought the D7000, I got it for a wedding shoot. Hopefully, my last one. I got Digital Darrel's book & David Busch's (not the field guide). I only had three weeks to be ready for the shoot.
I found Busch's book to be more helpful. It has his recommendations throughout the book, in columnar style depending on the type of shooting you are doing. I used Darrel's book to get a discount for the Gold membership on here.
I just wished the D7000 had U1-U5 instead of just U1 & U2.
Visit my Nikonians gallery.
#8. "RE: Using Picture Controls with the D7000" | In response to Reply # 7
Thanks Charlie...! I bought David Busch's book early on and found/find it a bit overwhelming. I then bought John Batdorff's "Nikon D7000 From Snapshots to Great Shots" which I found/find easier to use, but still incomplete somehow. I've just bought Digital Darrel's book on Kindle as well, so will see how I do with that one. I also find that ALL manuals that come with a product are all written by the people that developed the product, people who are already intimately familiar with the product. They 'assume' way too much understanding of the product by the consumer, thus users manuals that are difficult to impossible to glean any real use from...
Thanks again for the help...! Cliff Harvey


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Luxury Atlantic City Stay + Comedy Tickets & More
Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa • Atlantic City, NJ
Escape Kit
- A One-Night Stay for Two in a Classic King Room with Comedy Club Passes for Two, Mondays Through Thursdays ($79) or Sundays ($89)
- Or, a One-Night Stay for Two in a Classic King Room with $100 Dining Credit (Excluding Cafeteria Outlets), Fridays ($299)
- Or, a One-Night Stay for Two in a Fiore King Suite with Comedy Club Passes for Two, Mondays Through Thursdays ($139) or Sundays ($149)
- Valid for Stays from Now to April 30, 2016 (Blackout Dates Apply)
- Combine Vouchers to Stay for Two Nights
- After Purchase, Follow Your Voucher's Redemption Instructions to Complete Your Reservation by March 4, 2016
Between the "extremely elegant" accommodations and "wonderful" employees, this is "the only place to stay and play in Atlantic City!" - Raves from LivingSocial Members
The Destination
As the first Las Vegas-style resort on the East Coast, Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa is the pride of Atlantic City, attracting top comedians and celebrity chefs, not to mention the casino circuit's highest rollers. And you? You're about to be a part of that exclusive group.
The Digs
Widely recognized as the spark that reignited Atlantic City, this Italian-style 2,000-room hotel at Renaissance Pointe is more than just a gambler's jackpot: With 12 restaurants, 10 shops, a comedy club, a concert theater, an event center, a nightclub, more bars than we can count, and—oh yeah—a spa, salon, pool, and fitness center, this resort is a destination in and of itself. After a $50 million redesign of the guest rooms and hotel corridors last year, each tastefully appointed room features floor-to-ceiling windows, a marbled bathroom—the Fiore Suite boasts a deep-soaking tub and a two-person shower—a bed draped in fine linens, a flat-screen TV, and sleek modern furnishings.
The Diversions
Where better to kick off your stay than at the casino? Slots, blackjack, poker, roulette—you name it, Borgata has a few dozen options. Then, head to dinner at one of the five fine-dining restaurants, where those who have opted for the $100 credit can indulge. Some of the country's top chefs have restaurants at Borgata, dishing up the best of everything, from steak to seafood, Japanese to Italian. "Dining here is the best of the casino hotels,"Frommer's says. And according to Zagat's 2012 and 2013 America's Top Restaurants Guide, it's also home to Atlantic City's top restaurant—Old Homestead Steak House.
Afterward, go for a laugh at The Comedy Club. Several nights a week, The Music Box hosts stand-up shows beginning at 9 p.m. If you can find the time—and you really should—arrange to luxuriate during a treatment at Spa Toccare. Here, tensions melt. Knots disappear. Skin glistens. And a new you emerges just in time to wave buh-bye to your worldly cares. "The undisputed champ," says Frommer's of Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa. Even without this Escape, you'd be hard-pressed to disagree. With it, you're in for the best of the best in Atlantic City.
The Details
• Remember to call and book your travel before March 4, 2016
• Vouchers not redeemed by March 4, 2016 will be converted to Deal Bucks in your LivingSocial account used to purchase the offer, equal to the paid value minus any discounts or promo codes applied at the time of purchase
• Be ready with ID and credit card to pay the $150/night deposit at check-in
• 14% tax, $5/night occupancy fee, and $10/night resort fee is not included—you'll pay those directly to the property
• Resort fee includes basic Wi-Fi and access to the fitness center during your stay
• Borgata pool is restricted to ages 18+ unless accompanied by an adult
• No pets allowed on property
• Blackout dates: January 15 and 17; February 12, 14, and 15; and March 24 and 25, 2016
The hotel room is amazing. It's beautiful, comfortable, and quiet and we had a nice view. We loved our stay and would certainly go back!-- LivingSocial Member
Amazing time. Borgata was very accommodating.[...] Spa was amazing and the comedy show was great!-- LivingSocial Member
escapes 30-day promise
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A new Displayground Post - The Rise Of The Mobile Workforce
"Pico projection is a great example of a feature that can help users fully benefit from mobile. With embedded pico projection in a mobile device, doctors can share information with patients without huddling around the small screen, contractors can display full sized construction blueprints to workers at a project site, and teachers can show presentations and video from their smartphone to their entire classroom"
The "huddling around" idea seems outdated--and holds little truth. No one I know huddles around a smartphone. While I am somewhat confident in the outcome, I worry this company lacks an infusion of fresh ideas. We grow conspicuous. Worst case scenario: the company gets cut-off from forward thinking ideas during their critical stage of development. That appears to be happening now. Beyond a point, keeping big secrets does not benefit the investment community.
imo it's not at all about cooking up new ideas. It's about closing the sale now. Esp when dealing with really large companies, just getting the lawyers to sign off on a licensing deal might take 2-3 months, so I'm not yet too concerned about how long it is taking. Preferably this quarter, at latest next quarter we need to see a design win. I think we will but there is absolutely no guarantee until something is announced or we get a sudden jump in earnings from Pioneer because an OEM is buying through them and not signing a deal direct with MVIS. I'm pretty sure that if they sign any deal it will be announced as soon as signed because MVIS needs that to get their next financing done at the best possible price. Who knows, an OEM willing to license the picop with an upfront payment might be able to buy a decent piece of MVIS at the current pps as part of the deal. I would not mind that so much because it will be a huge sign of life and if MVIS is going to survive, it's gonna be worth a lot more than it is now that much is certain.
the "huddle" marketing plan is brilliant.....much better than "squinting disease". I see people huddling around and passing around all the time....not just photos and videos but games too. in asia multiplayer smartphone games are quite popular.
I've emailed IR at Microvision regarding that we need news on company developments, etc. This is not what we need. We need news on orders, new contracts with some major and minor customers. These displayground posts are almost worthless at this point. The only thing that will more this stock up for us long time investors, is news, that has substance to it.
Sentiment: Strong Buy
It was pathetic and makes one wonder why they bothered to put it up. The example applications were ridiculous. Then they point to that dumb video were almost all of the "example" were clearly faked. You would think that by now everything would have be of actual use, hey, pull out that whopping 25 lumen projector that is so precious that they only show it to a few people.
It says, "contractors can display full sized construction blueprints to workers at a project site. " What an absolutely silly application for a ~15 to less than 25 lumen projector. Where it this guy going to find a dark enough place to project a 25 lumen image of any size on a construction site? Then there is the teacher in the classroom example, unless the classroom is pitch dark only a few people will be able to see the image; better to buy a much cheaper projector with a lot more lumens.
The whole blog was just amateur/beginner time.
That displayground blog is almost as worthless as the website itself... it has NO up to date information.... Jeff provided a opportunity for AT to make adjustments when he announced his resignation six month ago and we see that little was done in the time allotted.... Jeff left the company earlier this month and the company still lists him as the CFO.... This could be considered misleading information to would be investors thinking that MVIS had an active "CFO" on March 30, 2013..... MicrovisionMarketing is the listed blogger, who is MicrovisionMarketing??, nobody willing to put there name on it??? Looks more like a self promotion to the creator of the youtube special effects piece... Fairy Tale Stories and Smoke and Mirrors has been the MO for years...... Can hardly wait to see the Rev's for Q1, if Any.... LOL.... No doubt expenses are up with the late December Hire...... AT, SELL IT OR LOOSE IT..... TO THE ABYSS
Things like this simply point to just how clueless this management team actually are. This kind of deliberate efforts to cast the company and the products in a bad light can only be for one of two reasons. Either they really are as clueless as they portray themselves to be or these posts are a deliberate attempt to put further downward pressure on the share price.
I find it difficult to believe that anyone could possibly be stupid enough to put something like that on the blog in a genuine attempt to pass it off as either "News" or even reasoned commentary. While the entire post had absolutely no implications for Microvision's business it also had the effect of confirming that the company has absolutely no real news to release. And that is very, very bad news for ordinary shareholders.


text:
William H. Macy
Fargo: Celebrate the 20th Anniversary with 15 Things You Didn't Know About the Film Turned TV Series
Originally posted 03/07/2016 03:20PM
Snow. Blood. Accents. And a woodchipper. That's Fargo.
What Is William H. Macy's Not-So-Hidden Talent?
Originally posted 04/05/2015 08:35AM
Actor William H. Macy stars in Showtime's dark comedy Shameless but the 65-year-old actor admits he still gets a little starstruck (and awkward!). Macy reveals his handiwork around the house and he'll even binge watch Friends with his two daughters from time to time, when he chatted with PEOPLE this week about "one last thing" …
Lea Michele and Kate Upton Teaming Up for Road Trip Sex Comedy The Layover
Originally posted 03/26/2015 01:15AM
Lea Michele is getting busy now that Glee is over.
Felicity Huffman Was 'So Scared of Marriage' but It Ended Up Saving Her
Originally posted 02/24/2015 08:50AM
There was a time when Felicity Huffman was so petrified of marriage that almost anything seemed preferable. Luckily for her husband, William H. Macy, she eventually became more scared of not getting married.
Why Does William H. Macy Call His Wife, Felicity Huffman, Flicka?
Originally posted 01/25/2015 08:50PM
No, William H. Macy isn't referring to his wife in any equine way!
William H. Macy Wins Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series
Originally posted 01/25/2015 08:20PM
William H. Macy took home the SAG award for outstanding performance by a male actor in a comedy series – beating out some of the funniest men on television.
Felicity Huffman: I'm Loving My Daughters' Teen Years
Originally posted 08/27/2014 08:00AM
It's not usually a parent's favorite stage of life, but former Desperate Housewives star Felicity Huffman says she and husband William H. Macy are relishing their daughters' teen years, angst and all.
William H. Macy and Shameless Costars Search for Freedom on Their Harleys
Originally posted 09/03/2013 11:30AM
William H. Macy and his Shameless costars Justin Chatwin and Steve Howey took off on a 900-mile motorcycle ride from Los Angeles to Aspen in search of freedom, a quest that was inspired in part by Macy's wife, Felicity Huffman, who asked him to describe his love for his Harley Davidson.
"Felicity was saying one time, 'Well what is it? You don't like to ride in a car, how come the motorcycle, which is a lot more uncomfortable, how come that's so great?' " he told PEOPLE exclusively. "It's freedom, it's such freedom. And she said, 'Well there's the road, what do you mean by freedom?' So that was the kickoff point."
William H. Macy Reveals How He Keeps the Passion Alive with Felicity Huffman
Originally posted 01/26/2012 08:35AM
Fake it 'til you make it.
That, in a nutshell, is William H. Macy's advice to men on how to keep things passionate after the first few years of marriage.
"Just act like you love her more than anybody you've ever seen in your life, and you'll get it back in spades. Just pretend," says the actor, 61, whose been married to Desperate Housewives actress Felicity Huffman for 15 years. "You have to pretend. Make it up, just make it up!"
PHOTO: William H. Macy and Felicity Huffman Pose Together for Milk Ad
Originally posted 05/23/2011 10:45AM
They're milking it ... together!
William H. Macy and Felicity Huffman are the latest in a long line of celebrities to show off their milk mustaches for the "got milk?" campaign.
Their ad marks the first time the couple has posed together professionally. Macy and Huffman are expected to unveil the ad together at Scholastic Parent & Child magazine's Family of the Year event in Los Angeles on Monday.
They teamed up in order to set a positive example for their daughters and to promote good nutrition at a young age, according to a press release.
– Alla Byrne
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I will not speak a word against Shiv Sena: PM Modi
- published: 05 Oct 2014
- views: 4276
While addressing a rally in Tasgaon, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke about its former ally Shiv Sena. He stated , in the absence of Bala Saheb Thackeray, first Maharashtra polls are being held. I have immense respect for him as he dedicated his life towards the making of Shiv Sena. Hence, I have decided that I will not speak a word against Shiv Sena. This is my tribute to him. For more news subscribe to Aajtak: http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCt4t-jeY85JegMlZ-E5UWtA...


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at BiggerBras.com
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Greyhall Hypnotherapy opens in Smokey Point
- Sep 10, 2013 at 9:38AM
Certified hypnotherapist Scott Whippo was welcomed to the community during a ribbon-cutting on Saturday, Aug. 24, by Arlington Mayor Barbara Tolbert at the office for his new practice, Greyhall Hypnotherapy, which shares space with the Arlington-Smokey Point Chamber of Commerce offices.
Search warrant reveals human remains
- Feb 14, 2014 at 4:20PM
ARLINGTON — Detectives with the Snohomish County Sheriff's Office served a search warrant at the 8100 block of Wade Road in Arlington on Thursday, Feb. 13, and discovered human remains buried under a concrete slab on the property. The verification that the remains located were human was corroborated by an anthropologist with the King County Medical Examiner's Office.
McCoy's bill establishing Native American Heritage Day passes Senate
- Feb 14, 2014 at 4:35PM
OLYMPIA — Native American Heritage Day is one step closer to becoming an official state holiday, under a bill passed on Friday, Feb. 14, by the Senate.
Kendall urges legislators to support expansion of school breakfast program
- Feb 15, 2014 at 8:00PM updated at 10:28PM
OLYMPIA — Dennis Kendall started his day earlier than usual on Thursday. That's because the former mayor of Marysville, who is still looking out for the community's best interests, joined almost 80 other volunteers for the 8th Annual United Ways of Washington Lobby Day in Olympia.
Barker celebrates birthday with Feb. 23 open house
- Feb 15, 2014 at 10:19PM
LAKEWOOD — Former Lakewood School District Board member Elwood Byron "Woody" Barker will be celebrating his 90th birthday from 2-4 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 23, at his home at 1826 156th St. NE in Arlington.
Local food service businesses earn awards
- Feb 15, 2014 at 11:03PM
EVERETT — Arlington and Marysville food service businesses were well-represented in the Snohomish Health District's Food Safety Excellence Awards for 2013.
Going the extra mile | GUEST OPINION
- Sep 12, 2013 at 7:55AM
It's no secret that our state has serious deficiencies within its transportation grid.
Cougars upset Cedarcrest in season finale
- Feb 18, 2014 at 5:22PM
LAKEWOOD — The Lakewood High School boys basketball team ended its season on a high note, defeating Cedarcrest 51-48 on Feb. 10.
Opus Bank donates to Voices of the Village
- Feb 21, 2014 at 6:59PM
ARLINGTON — Village Community Services' Voices of the Village musical performance ensemble received $2,225 from Opus Bank on Friday, Feb. 14.
Chicken dinner Feb. 23
- Feb 21, 2014 at 7:30PM
SMOKEY POINT — The Stillaguamish Senior Center is hosting a chicken dinner on Feb. 23, from noon to 2 p.m. They are serving roasted chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, coleslaw, roll, drinks and dessert.
Apologetics Forum of Snohomish County addresses dinosaurs Feb. 28
- Feb 21, 2014 at 10:11PM
ARLINGTON — The next meeting of the Apologetics Forum of Snohomish County will start at 7 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 28, at the Atonement Free Lutheran Church, located at 6905 172nd St. NE in Arlington.
Lakewood school bond still short of supermajority
- Feb 26, 2014 at 9:47PM
LAKEWOOD — The Lakewood School District is tantalizingly close to meeting the required supermajority to pass its building bond, but unless the next set of election results shows the approval side gaining at least 32 votes, it won't be close enough.
Pilchuck Rentals helps Arlington landscaper recover from theft
- Feb 27, 2014 at 12:11AM
MARYSVILLE — When Arlington landscaper Joel Martinez woke up to find his livelihood stolen, Pilchuck Rentals of Marysville stepped in to help out a fellow local business and a loyal customer.
Barker celebrates 90th birthday with family, friends
- Feb 27, 2014 at 12:54AM
LAKEWOOD — Elwood "Woody" Barker's family and friends helped him celebrate his 90 years, at his home in Lakewood on Sunday, Feb. 23, with recollections that all served to confirm his lifelong work ethic.
Bridal Dress Swap Meet kicks off, Prom Dress Exchange returns
- Feb 27, 2014 at 11:50PM
SILVANA — The inaugural Bridal Dress Swap Meet at the Peace Lutheran Church in Silvana on Saturday, Feb. 22, had already drawn 20 shoppers to peruse its aisles of 150 dresses by noon, in spite of the day's dark skies and rain mixed with snow.
Arlington Police looking for daytime burglar caught on video
- Feb 28, 2014 at 11:47AM
SMOKEY POINT — Arlington Police Detectives are asking the community for help in identifying a daytime burglar in the Smokey Point Area.
Day of Service benefits local food banks
- Sep 25, 2013 at 10:51AM
The Arlington and Marysville community food banks were again among the beneficiaries of this year's National Day of Service and Remembrance, thanks to the Arlington stake of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints conducting their third annual food drive from Sept. 9-14, to honor the memory of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
XYZ, Your Image studios open in Smokey Point
- Sep 30, 2013 at 5:06PM
SMOKEY POINT — XYZ Studio and Your Image Studio were officially welcomed as neighbors of Mt. Pilchuck Ski & Sport at 5200 172nd St. NE in Arlington on Saturday, Sept. 28, as 35 participants turned out for that morning's free Zumba class in spite of the gray skies and drizzle outside.
Gleneagle Golf Course hosts 'For the Love of Music Auction' March 8
- Mar 7, 2014 at 4:32PM
ARLINGTON — The Gleneagle Golf Course at 7619 E. Country Club Dr. in Arlington will serve as the site for the Marysville-Pilchuck High School Music Boosters' "For the Love of Music Auction" from 5-10 p.m. on Saturday, March 8.
Haddock to retire as superintendent of Lakewood schools
- Mar 10, 2014 at 2:24PM
LAKEWOOD — Lakewood School District Superintendent Dr. Dennis Haddock has announced his plans to retire before the close of the current school year.
USS Ingraham departs on deployment
- Mar 11, 2014 at 2:54PM
EVERETT — The Oliver Hazard Perry-class guided-missile frigate USS Ingraham (FFG 61) departs Naval Station Everett on Tuesday, March 11, for a seven-month deployment to the U.S. 4th Fleet area of responsibility.
Marysville Rotary presents $3,000 to Lakewood elementary schools
- Mar 12, 2014 at 8:36PM
LAKEWOOD — The Lakewood School District's three elementary schools officially became recipients of the Rotary Club of Marysville's generosity yet again on Wednesday, March 5.
Fall Weather Is Here | WEEKLY CARTOON
- Oct 7, 2013 at 1:59PM
Local business, schools seek to stop bullying
- Oct 7, 2013 at 3:22PM
A local pizza restaurant has made a crusade out of stopping bullying in schools, and area school districts are touting their anti-bullying measures.
VCS 'WorkStrides' set for March 18-20
- Mar 14, 2014 at 10:23AM
SMOKEY POINT — Village Community Services is offering its next "WorkStrides" seminars from Tuesday, March 18, through Thursday, March 20, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. all three days, in Suite 200 at 3210 Smokey Point Dr. in Arlington.
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- Report: #482645
Report - Rebuttal - Arbitrate
Complaint Review: NAAC, NATIONAL AWARD ADVISORY CENTER
NAAC, NATIONAL AWARD ADVISORY CENTERwww.yahoo.com Internet United States of America
NAAC, NATIONAL AWARD ADVISORY CENTER I got a letter from them stating that i had won 1.9 million cash and awards. That i just had to send $19.99 do do the filing. I wish i would have looked closer and just looked on the internet. Vining, Minnesota
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I had gotten a letter from the NAAC stating that i had just won 1.9 million dollars in cash and awards. We thought it was all true we read it and read it and decided that it has to be true cause we have never heard of this whole thing before. So they asked for $19.99 for the filing fee and we sent it then I looked on the internet to see if it was all true and I see this website and see it's not true at all. It had a little blue card stating Prize award certification label. With numbers stating about your account. E. Gibson 3/67 I wish someone would stop these people it has been going on way to long. I will do anything to stop this. The way everyone is sitting now people don't really have $19.99 to spare atleast i didn't.
This report was posted on Ripoff Report on 08/19/2009 06:47 PM and is a permanent record located here: http://www.ripoffreport.com/r/NAAC-NATIONAL-AWARD-ADVISORY-CENTER/internet/NAAC-NATIONAL-AWARD-ADVISORY-CENTER-I-got-a-letter-from-them-stating-that-i-had-won-19-482645. The posting time indicated is Arizona local time. Arizona does not observe daylight savings so the post time may be Mountain or Pacific depending on the time of year.
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text: I'm having a weird problem with my account. I bought a couple of games 2 days ago and put all of them into my 360 to add them to my list of played games. The weird thing however is, that I get achievements and the points add to my gamerscore but none of the games shows up on my list, neither on my xbox nor on xbox.com under played games. Is it actualy possible that the list is full... I currently have 469 games on my list... Anyone else ever experience this?


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can anyone explain to me if there is a difference between a medical dx and a educational dx. Brayden has medical autism. Does he have to get dx with educational autism as well for the school to help him with it.
educational vs medical autism
DS(12),DS(8, ASD, ADHD ,Anxiety), DS(3 ( Severe Allergies to Dairy, Egg, Peanut, Tree Nuts
Comments (10)
Yes, unfortunately the school has to do their own evaluation. Of course the medical should be taken in to consideration.
The school is going to Identify their own areas that they feel he needs help in and then start providing services they give .. It's one of those things.
The reason the school does their own evaluation is to determine if his autism will effect his ability to get a "regular" education and function in the regular classroom. Which it most likely will. That way they then figure out what to put in the IEP.
Have some fucking compassion for the fact that I am facing my biggest fear.
Please help me raise money for my surgery-
How do you go about getting an educational dx done?
ODS (8), MDS (6) and Lil WTF born 11.6.14
Same old Reygo
Bunny, I care.
How do you go about getting an educational dx done?
You have to have the SD evaluate your child. This is a good idea even if you are not going to use the pre-k option, as I believe you mentioned in a prior thread Amy, because it will allow you to change your mind through out the year and get your child in, and/or just choose to use the SD out-patient services (where you could bring your child into the school just for ST, PT, OT several times a week). We are opting out of pre-k for now, but going to use the SD services and our insurance to double up on therapies instead. It's crappy to have to go through the whole process, but it protects your child's rights.
Amanda, we got our med. dx only as "fire power" in case the SD tried to bully us around. Turns out the SD did not give us a hard time at all and actually gave the boys a more thorough and fair assessment than our crappy DP! The med. dx can help you get services like SS and hook you up with other groups for services, but the SD needs to do their own assessments to determine where your child will fit into their programs and such. HTH!
Thanks Heather. I will contact them tomorrow.
We aren't plannig on sending him to school this year, but if we could utilize them for ST it would be very helpful.
ODS (8), MDS (6) and Lil WTF born 11.6.14
Same old Reygo
Bunny, I care.
So if brayden already has a iep for develpemental delay and now has a medical austism dx do I specificly ask the school to do a eval or should I leave it alone. as of right now he goes to school 4 days a week for 2.5 hours he gets 60 min. a week of ST and 30 min. a week of ot.
DS(12),DS(8, ASD, ADHD ,Anxiety), DS(3 ( Severe Allergies to Dairy, Egg, Peanut, Tree Nuts
Originally, I was going to suggest leaving it alone, but then it occured to me that he might be eligible for K next school year. Will he be going to K next year? We opted for the school board to do their full eval the spring before Joseph went to K. I felt that made the most sense since we would have the best idea of what he would need in terms of K. It worked for us, because Joseph needed a new label before he turned 6 anyway. The developmental delay dx cannot stay forever, but some states don't use it for kids older than 6 and others wait until 9. Anyway, I would be sure to have a new eval before K.
sahm to Elizabeth (10) Joseph (8) and Catherine (5)


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It's bat season. Baby bats are leaving the nest, and getting lost, sometimes in your home. It's a situation that can be dangerous.
Most Cases of human rabies are caused by sick bats. Because of that doctors say you need to take extra precautions. Bat proof your home by fixing loose shingles, and fill in any holes a bat could go through.
If you are bitten or exposed to a rabid bat, you need to get medical treatment before symptoms appear or rabies is almost always deadly. Experts say if you find a bat in a room where you were sleeping, you should consider yourself exposed to the bat. This is because a bat can bite you in your sleep with their small teeth, and you may not even know it.
The treatment is expensive and involves getting several shots over the course of four weeks. To prevent unnecessary treatment catch the bat, and then contact your health department to find out how to have it tested for rabies. That way you know what you're facing.
For more information go to www.mmdhd.org.