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The 10 Most Insulting Things Video Games Charged Money For
#10. Horse Armor (Oblivion)
In 2006, Bethesda Game Studios used their popular open world game The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion to test the waters of DLC, and decided to go about it like they were trying to capture drunk fish with wallets. The first DLC they rolled out invited players to "Protect your horse from danger with this beautiful handcrafted armor." Unfortunately, it turned out that the armor didn't serve much of a function within the game, so they were asking you to spend $2.50 on pretty virtual horse-clothes. While this was an enticing offer to anyone who had accidentally installed Oblivion instead of My Little Pony, none of those people were clever enough to steal their mom's credit card.
Even the horse looks surprised you fell for this.
The Internet exploded with rage, and Bethesda seemed to realize that DLC wasn't actually free money after it was pointed out to them that evern prison showers have seen subtler attempts to screw their users. Later Oblivion DLC included entire extra quests loaded with characters and items for the same price. Players congratulated themselves on the victory, and swore no one would ever be so stupid again.
#9. Weapon Skins (Gears of War 3)
Many more people were so stupid. Again. Five years after Oblivion's failure, Gears of War 3 launched with more ridiculous frills than a ballerina's wardrobe. Except ballerinas are good at something real and are meant to look like that. Gears of War players were asked to buy dozens of "weapon skins," which would be awesome if the weapon in question was a Terminator, and the wrapping was human flesh in the shape of Arnold Schwarzenegger. Instead, players who purchased the DLC got a paint job for their gun. The complete set is offered at a bargain 3600 points. That's only $45!
Or three-quarters of the cost of the game.
This went beyond being just useless, since you were paying money to paint your weapon a bright color in an environment where anything that isn't "dirt brown" gets seen and shot immediately.
That dead guy on the right? Tiny bit of blue visible.
To confirm that they hated the people who they were scamming, many of the skins are "cute flowers" and "animated rainbows," though makers Epic Games managed to hold themselves back from releasing "our sweaty balls" drawn on the side of the Lancer. We have to assume they got the idea after observing all the homoerotic trash talk on Xbox chat, and deciding to create an ill-advised feature for the many gay men who play their game.
#8. Paying for Power-ups (Dead Space)
The "Speed Kills" add-on sells you slightly faster versions of half the guns you already have in the main game for $2.25. Every cent of which goes toward replacing the silk underwear EA ruined with excitement when they realized they could charge for power-ups.
Press B to enter your credit card information, then fire.
Increasing weapon speed is just changing a variable. That's not even a single line of code and they're charging over two dollars. By this math the whole game should cost Saudi Arabia. Even Microsoft knows this is a sucker deal as the only description text is "Includes faster-firing Force Gun, Line Gun, and Plasma Cutter. There are no refunds for this item." Half its own sales pitch is "Haha, you'll never get that cash back, sucker."
I felt bad about ripping people off, until I realized they were dumb enough to fall for it!
It's not even faster weapons -- it's some faster weapons. To get the others accelerated you need the Scorpion Weapon Pack, another $2.25, and for your mother to have belly-flopped her way through her third trimester. If you buy both, EA just starts charging your account at random because you clearly don't even understand money.
#7. Warden's Keep (Dragon Age: Origins)Dragon Age: Origins has an incredibly immersive story, which the DLC shatters like a sledgehammer. Several hours into the game you make camp and go around talking to every single character. If you aren't familiar with this stage, you probably think an RPG is a rocket-powered grenade launcher.
Though this is also meaningful character interaction.
As you chat everyone up, you meet a man who tells you of the forsaken "Warden's Keep" and you think "Woohoo! Sidequest!" He promises adventure, items and even a glimpse into the involved history of the game world. Anyone who makes it through the several pages of conversation has likely been moved by his impassioned pleas, and is ready to say, "Yes, desperate stranger, I will aid you in this valiant quest!" To which he replies "[THAT WILL BE SEVEN REAL HUMAN DOLLARS.]" Machines haven't ruined a narrative so badly since the Matrix sequels.
"Your life is the sum of a remainder of an unbalanced bunch of bullshit which isn't kickass action sequences."
They only tell you it's DLC after you've already decided to play. It's not in a shop, or a marketplace menu, it's embedded in the game world. You're left hating the developers more than the in-game enemies. After all, the Darkspawn might be an eldritch force of horror bent on destroying the world but at least the bastards turn up to kill you when you've already spent $60. Worse, this was launch-day content, meaning it was finished before the game was sold. Instead of trying to make the best possible game, companies are now precisely aiming for "good enough" to get you to pay more money for the best possible version of the game.
#6. Rezurrection (Call of Duty: Black Ops)Call of Duty is such a great game they've released it eight times. The franchise has shot so many people in so many sequels, Rambo and John McClane are thinking about staging an intervention. To avoid making the games too repetitive, they're adding new modes to keep people interested, but their imaginations are so atrophied the most original thing they can think of is "Zombies!" And even that wasn't original because they'd done it before. CoD: World at War featured a fun extra zombie mode for free. CoD: Black Ops released the same mode two years later as a $15 add-on. It's either a blatant mockery of customers or truly meta-attempt at representing zombification -- re-animating something that died a while ago and making it much worse the second time round.
I really hate pop culture for making zombie nazis in space boring.
This isn't extra content -- they amputated part of the previous game so they could sell it for extra money. Of course they did do some extra work to create a new map, and that's "a" as in only one, because four of the five maps are from the original zombie mode. You know, the free one you already had if you are devoted enough to consider paying for this version. It doesn't help that both were made by Treyarch, official silver-medal winners in the two-contestant "Making Good Call of Duty games" event.


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MARTINSBURG - A 43-year-old Inwood man accused of setting up a hidden camera within a local high school's dressing room to secretly videotape a girl changing clothes was arraigned Tuesday on one felony count of attempting to produce obscene matter.
Brent Andrew Grubb, of Grubb Landing, was later released after posting $5,000 bail.
According to court records, Grubb also allegedly secretly videotaped the victim and her friends while they were sunbathing outside his home.
The investigation began June 22, 2011, when West Virginia State Police Sgt. D.E. Boober was contacted regarding a report of a man who was alleged to have secretly videotaped a girl changing clothes during a dance performance in the summer of 2011 at a local high school. The high school is not identified in police reports.
Boober learned that the accused, later identified as Grubb, had access to the changing area for the production and also had knowledge of when and where the victim would be changing outfits during the performance.
Boober also obtained three separate media devices that were reported to have been discovered within Grubb's personal effects. Two of the devices contained footage of the victim and her friends being secretly taped while they were sunbathing and swimming outside Grubb's home. Grubb allegedly is observed intentionally focusing in on the girls, who were dressed only in bikinis, records show.
Boober reviewed the footage and determined that on June 22, 2011, Grubb installed a hidden camera in the school's dressing room to capture footage of the victim as she was changing clothes.
"The undersigned officer additionally believes that this act was sexually motivated based upon a review of the other captured videos previously described in this complaint," a copy of the warrant for Grubb's arrest states.
Grubb can be seen setting up the hidden video camera in the dressing room and looking into the camera to make sure that it is pointed to a specific area of the changing room, records show.
The footage showed the side of the victim as she changed outfits.
"Based upon factors related to the other aforementioned secret recordings and the clear deviant interest of the accused, it is the undersigned officer's belief that the accused's intent was to capture video of what contemporary society would consider obscene matter and that appeals to the purient interest," the warrant for Grubb's arrest states.
If convicted, Grubb faces one to three years in prison.
- Staff writer Edward Marshall can be reached at 304-263-8931, ext. 182, or email@example.com.

subset: commoncrawl


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Links for summer research opportunities, scholarships, grants, and contests
On the links on the left you'll find online sources of many undergraduate research opportunities around the nation. Read the eligibility requirements carefully. In addition to connecting students to opportunities, the Office of Fellowship Advising and Undergraduate Research can provide assistance in finding and applying for programs, writing personal statements and proposals, and tips on the interview process. Please make an appointment by contacting Scott Gust at firstname.lastname@example.com, 832-2449.


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I think the only certain thing is that Evgeni's self-belief is unshakeable. He is not affected by anything. Mind-games don't work on him, pressure doesn't get to him, mistakes don't ruffle him. Whereas this new breed of men, the guys like Takahashi and Chan and so on, seem to be rattled very easily. One mistake turns into two. Or three. Or four. And suddenly, meltdown.
One of my favourite performances of Evgeni's is actually his Salt Lake City SP. Because ka-blam, he took a huge fall on the quad...and KILLED the rest of the program. Absolutely went all out and rocked the house. I just don't see too many skaters capable of that nowadays. Chan is like watching dominoes.
At any rate, we don't even know if Evgeni will be the one in Sochi. If he is fit, if his body survives, I'm sure it'll be him. But likewise, even the most ardent fans of his have to accept that it is just as much a possibility that this time might be one quad too far. That maybe this time, there won't be a glorious comeback, and it'll be someone else fighting for pride and glory in Sochi.


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Herbs are very easy to grow and are essential ingredients for all types of cooking, as well as injecting life into a salad. Grow them on your windowsill or create a herb garden just outside your kitchen door, so that you can easily pick a few leaves to add to your meals.
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Cymbopogon citratusA real delicacy, Lemon Grass is essential in Thai and Vietnamese dishes and an excellent addition to soups, curries, sauces and fish dishes. The woody stems of this refreshing herb are also delicious for making an invigorating tea. Height: 150cm (59"). Spread: 90cm (35").
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AJAX Enabling ASP.NET 2.0 Web Parts with "Atlas"
- Posted: May 30, 2006 at 3:58AM
- 19 comments
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davior wrote:Hi All,
I have created a workaround for those people that require this functionality to operate as specified in this demo (i.e. the drag and drop inside of an UpdatePanel.)
Because I'm in a sharing mood I am releasing it - Simply download the project from here https://www.ahsa.com.au/documentation/AJAX.Compatible.WebPartManager.zip, and follow the instructions on how to make the WebPartManager work with AJAX 1.0
(basically just compile, add a ref to your web project and add a TagMapping to the web config)
isPostBack is true which contradicts the sample. Please reply ASAP
Thanks for the video. I have been waiting for VS2008 and 3.5 Framework to enable this functionality in a project I am working on.
I have spent a few days playing with this and just thought I would post a couple of things I have found out here on the off chance it helps someone else out.
First with 3.5 you dont need to add the tag mappings as shown in the video to your web.config.
Second, I originally had a WebPartManager control in a masterpage and wrapped a ProxyWebPartManager control in an Update Panel within a User Control. I found that this lost drag \ drop functionality of controls between WebPartZones. To fix this I deleted the ProxyWebPartManager control and moved the WebPartManager control from my masterpage directly to my User control and wrapped this within an update panel. Drag \ drop functionality now works ok in IE7. This does not seem to support FireFox or Safari yet but its a good start. I plan to use a LayoutEditorPart to enable these users to move controls between zones and hopefully future .net framework versions will have cross browser support for drag \ drop.
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hai what is this i can not understand this please send the material in detail manner so please come with good material
@praveeen: adi ante praveen we can not do any thing
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Wednesday, December 25, 2013
I walked the Old Bridge recently, bundled up against the cold, dodging intermittent showers, watching the east wind carry a pewter-walled squall line across the marsh and over the harbor. It was a true Lowcountry winters day a proverbial good day for ducks and enjoying the sodden chill with full enthusiasm were seven bufflehead ducks who were frolicking and feeding in the marshland sea created by the unusually high tides.
I love buffleheads. These compact, black-and-white divers are relatively people-friendly and you can almost always see a group around the rocks at the lower end of Sullivans Island in front of Fort Moultrie. Usually in groups of five or seven, they are easily recognized by the large, white circle on each side of the drakes head.
It was the early 18th century explorer and naturalist, Mark Catesby, who gave them their name, calling them the Buffels Head Duck, buffle being an archaic word for buffalo. Catesby described them aptly: The whole head is adorned with long loose feathers elegantly blended with blue, green and purple [and] the length and looseness of these feathers make the head appear bigger than it is.
Like other migrating waterfowl, buffleheads begin making their appearance along our shores in late October and November. Some ducks simply pass us by and keep flying south, but buffleheads apparently find our climate and food just to their liking and spend their winters here.
As I watched these little ducks against the backdrop of ocher-tinted marsh and the gray fortress walls of Fort Sumter in the harbor, I thought, what constancy.
More than likely, these ducks are the same group that arrived last year and the year before that. Because of that elusively understood element called genetic memory the instinctive homing device which brings migratory birds back to the same locale season after season I realized it might even be possible that the ancestors of these ducks may have wintered in this very same spot centuries ago. Those ancestor ducks might have been seen by General William Moultrie on his way to Fort Sullivan in December of 1776. Or by a Civil War soldier rowing out to Fort Sumter in December 1861.
I can hear some of you now. Really, Suzannah! Arent you carrying the Charleston ancestor-worship thing I bit too far? I mean, equating Buffleheads to history? Isnt that stretching it a bit?
First of all, we still have a natural history. We still have productive wetlands, even close to a major city, where flocks of buffleheads from the Canadian Maritimes continue to winter generation after generation. We still have habitats that are fertile enough to provide buffleheads and a host of other ducks with regular wintertime meals.
Walking the Old Bridge, I thought of all the Christmases that have gone before and some of the historic figures who might have watched a flock of buffleheads as they carried out the orders of their day. I thought of the English explorer, John Lawson. On Christmas Day in 1699, Lawson set out from Charleston to explore the wild interiors of this new land called Carolina. In a long canoe with two Sewee Indian guides, as he began to make his way north he passed the same marshland vista that we still see from the Old Bridge. The Intracoastal Waterway wasnt there, of course. He was taking the old Inland Passage, an interlacing network of tidal creeks that meander behind the barrier islands all the way to Bulls Bay.
The marshlands through which Lawson passed are still there. The creeks he traversed are still healthy and teem with life. From the Isle of Palms northward to Georgetown, our coast is fringed by thousands of acres of pristine wetlands which remain alive and productive, three centuries later.
Whats more, we as people maintain our own sense of history. Like the buffleheads returning year after year, we have a unique historic genetic memory that gives us a deep-rooted sense of constancy and security about this place we call home.
Others have laughed at us Charleston folks for dwelling too much on the events of the past. They say we are excessive when it comes to revering our history. It is not that we dont forget. We simply continue to remember.
Christmas is a time of reflection, especially for remembering our friends. As an historian, I have jokingly written that some of my best friends have been dead 350 years. Now it is our turn. We, the people of this day and age, must fight to be remembered as those who not only preserved the historic past but were equally intent on preserving our lands and waters. These are treasures we often take for granted.
My Christmas wish is that three centuries from now, our own descendants will be able to take a walk in a cold December rain and gaze out upon a pristine marsh at a flock of buffleheads frolicking in the tide. That they will appreciate what is there and the efforts of those who went before that allowed such a vista to endure.
Merry Christmas, everyone. And to you, my bufflehead friends, may you enjoy a fine Christmas repast of marsh plants, crustaceans and whatever else it is you find so tasty in our Lowcountry marshes. Most of all, may we see you next year.
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One focus area for NISAC is the importance of local and regional infrastructures—understanding their interactions and importance to our overall national economic health.
In 2004 and 2005, NISAC evaluated the western Gulf Coast region. NISAC
- developed a National Petroleum System Simulator to evaluate the potential short-term effects of disruptions in the western Gulf Coast petroleum infrastructure operations on the rest of the country,
- developed a data model of the petrochemical industry in the region to evaluate the potential impacts of disruptions within the chemical region in that region, and
- adapted the NISAC Port Operations Simulator to the Houston container port to for simulating the potential effects of security measures and infrastructure disruptions on container operations.
These modeling tools allow us to simulate and evaluate potential problems in water transport, petroleum and petrochemical-related national security events, and policies before they occur or are implemented. The models also allow us to evaluate the potential impacts in the event of a loss of specific port, petroleum, or petrochemical facilities or operations due to terrorism or natural disaster events. The national petroleum and chemical industry models were used in the analysis of potential impacts of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
Regional Collaboration
The NISAC simulation and analysis team worked with U.S. Coast Guard staff; private-sector partners representing the petroleum, water transportation, and chemical industries; and regional manufacturing associations throughout the project development, model development, and analysis phases. NISAC held outreach workshops with representatives from each of the collaboration groups to review key regional issues and concerns. Participants, including security and operations experts, also reviewed and validated the simulation and analysis results, and identified areas for further collaboration.
Workshops are also an important part of the NISAC development and testing process. They demonstrate the capabilities and utility of NISAC's tools and analyses, elicit feedback from participants, and expand NISAC collaborations. They also allow participants to gain a systems perspective on how infrastructures and their interdependencies influence the impact of disruptive events and how those impacts may change under different environmental, regulatory, and policy conditions. NISAC, in turn, benefits from the knowledge and experience of experts working in maritime-related government and industry. The NISAC models are continually refined based on workshop results.
The Barbours Cut port operations model provides users with the added ability to run five predefined disruption scenarios
- loss of electric power,
- breakdown in telecommunications,
- port security threat/shutdown,
- labor disruption, and a
- maritime security level III (MARSEC 3) alert
to evaluate port response to the disruption under user-selected conditions. As the predefined disruption model runs, users can manipulate various controls to determine how best to respond and recover from the disruption (or combination of disruptions).
The NISAC simulators can be modified to apply to other ports.


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Dave Macleod is Back After Accident
Dave Macleod has bounced back from a recent accident that required foot surgery, to redpoint Malsonando (5.14b) in Spain. Macleod's recovery is impressive, considering his surgery was a little over two months ago.
"I was able to climb Malsonando in pretty bad conditions which I was very happy with." writes Macleod on his blog. "My endurance is still barely off the baseline level and I got quite pumped well before the crux, but it's definitely a good place to be 2.5 months after the surgeon was drilling into my Talus."
Macleod's accident occurred on September 28, and was a result of being lowered off the end of a borrowed rope that was shorter than he thought. Macleod fell approximately eight feet above a small ledge, which he clipped with his foot during his fall.
"For a minute or two I thought I might have gotten away with it, but very quickly my right foot started to get bigger and severely objected to being weighted," wrote Macleod.
For the full Accident Analysis and Report, see Rock and Ice issue 207.
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Growing up, we spent every Christmas Eve at my grandparents' house in Ohio. We'd have dinner, my grandpa would make a Midwestern spiked eggnog drink called a Tom and Jerry (read all about it here), the adults in my large extended family would plow through it in about 20 minutes, and then the magic happened.
My Uncle John would start bellowing about a red nose visible in the apple orchard, and we'd hear sleigh bells coming up the front porch.
I have a million cousins (OK, there are 16 of us, but you get the idea). Most of us were not afraid of Santa, and the scene was similar to the one from the movie "Elf" when Buddy finds out Santa is coming to the mall. It was awfully exciting.
Santa would come in with a giant bag of presents (there were 16 of us, after all), sit down in a chair, and the adults would put on a big show about how tired he must be and how far he had to go. Santa, jolly and clearly enjoying the attention, would ask for cookies and beer, which he drank through a straw so as not to "stink up the beard."
Then, one by one, we'd all sit on his lap to get a present, except for my cousin Jackie, who was born terrified of Santa and remains so to this day.
Your childhood fake Santa didn't drink beer through a straw?
And you didn't come to find out later that he was really your parents' friend Rip and you were NOT to tell the little ones that he was fake? Not even to reassure poor screaming Jackie?
No? Really?
I would love to hear your fake Santa stories. I think they're great, as a rule.
About five years ago, we managed to get our own kids back to Grandma Hug's for Christmas Eve, and my cousin Martin dressed up in Rip's old suit and demanded beer and cookies and tried to get my kids, the only little ones there, to sit on his lap and get their presents.
My girl, 5 at the time, found the entire thing very magical. She was actually the one to carry the beer, and the straw, to Santa himself. My cousin Jackie found a kindred spirit in my boy, age 2, who had just that year developed his paralyzing fear of fake Santas and refused to go anywhere near him. And I, being an adult this time, got to drink a Tom and Jerry. It remains one of my favorite Christmases.
My kids have pretty much outgrown fake Santa. They know that what is important to believe in is the spirit of love and generosity that Santa represents. But I'm glad I had a chance to share the family version of fake Santa with them, if only that one time.
Merry Christmas, Greeley! I hope fake Santa brings you all the beer (and straws) your hearts desire!
Santa, jolly and clearly enjoying the attention, would ask for cookies and beer, which he drank through a straw so as not to \'stink up the beard.\'


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The San Juan Basin Health Department will no longer provide skilled-nurse home calls as of Oct. 30.
Eleven employees � seven nurses, three certified nurse assistants and an administrator � will be affected by the change.
�We greatly appreciate the committed work and deep care our home health staff members and nurses have for their clients,� health department director Joe Theine said in a statement.
The department is one of the last public-health agencies in the state to offer skilled nursing care in the home, agency spokeswoman Jane Looney said.
The in-home service started in 1964, Looney said.
�There are four agencies in the community to provide skilled home health services,� Looney said. �There are three private agencies and Mercy Home Health (Centura Health Systems).�
Other in-home services will continue, Looney said. The health department�s Home and Community Based Services will help clients with options for long-term nursing care at home.
Discontinuance of skilled in-home nursing is one of several measures the health department has taken in light of a tight economy.
Prenatal services also were discontinued.
The health department�s operating budget this year is about 22 percent less than last year. In proposing his budget last year, Theine said it reflects conservative and realistic estimates of revenue and expenditures.


text: A very emotional song built on two parallel storylines. One line is the memories of childhood,is a flashback to childhood. But since it is a parallel flashback happy line present in the composition sad lyrical line that carries the atmosphere of sadness. Very complex, beautiful and nontrivial texture song draws to us from two different mosaic mural sounds that immerse us in two interlocking atmosphere. First texture is the sounds of pigeons taking off, bicycle bell, lapping water, children's voices and everything that represents childhood, joy and lightheartedness. All these provisions at a very light, easy melody. The second texture in which there is the sound of breathing apparatus, the sounds of surgical scissors and the sound as if reflecting the pulse of the ECG in the wardroom. This carries a mood of sadness and inevitability.


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Inspired by the glory and power of Tang dynasty China, Guy Gavriel Kay has created a masterpiece.
It begins simply. Shen Tai, son of an illustrious general serving the Emperor of Kitai, has spent two years honoring the memory of his late father by burying the bones of the dead from both armies at the site of one of his father's last great battles. In recognition of his labors and his filial piety, an unlikely source has sent him a dangerous gift: 250 Sardian horses.
You give a man one of the famed Sardian horses to reward him greatly. You give him four or five to exalt him above his fellows, propel him towards rank, and earn him jealousy, possibly mortal jealousy. Two hundred and fifty is an unthinkable gift, a gift to overwhelm an emperor.
Wisely, the gift comes with the stipulation that Tai must claim the horses in person. Otherwise he would probably be dead already…
-Nancy Pearl, Book Commentator NPR "Morning Edition"
"A magnificent epic, flawlessly crafted, that draws the reader in like a whirlwind and doesn't let go."
-The Huffington Post
"Guy Gavriel Kay's fictional rendition of the Tang dynasty of ancient China in Under Heaven reads almost as a historical document. For anyone who enjoys a smart political thriller, a historical recreation or a good ghost story, this novel offers all three in an immensely readable union."
"Guy Gavriel Kay, hunting in the twilight zone between fact and dream, has written a shimmering novel, a fantasia on T'ang China, the epitome of Chinese civilization, as beautiful and as alien as the rings of Saturn… a beautiful, compulsive read…"
"Under Heaven is virtually everything a reader could want in a book: a thrilling adventure, a love story, a coming-of-age tale, a military chronicle, a court-intrigue drama, a tragedy and on and on. It is a sumptuous feast of storytelling, a beautifully written tale with a beating, breaking heart at its core that will have readers in tears by its final pages."
-Globe and Mail (Canada)
It actually feels strange to do the math, but I've been living with Under Heaven for over seven years now. Makes it harder, and more complex, to have it finally being published, no longer just 'mine' but out there in the world.
In 2003, around when I was finishing my tour for Last Light of the Sun, I started doing some reading about the Silk Road. I thought there might be a book for me in this, I saw it as a way of sneaking up on China, so to speak. I could use outsider characters to enter an eastern setting, to serve as 'windows' for the reader.
So I made the decision to explore this for my next book, and then my wife and I made another decision: we decided that it was a good year for us to live abroad again, with our sons, back in the south of France where we'd been before on writing trips, but not for a decade.
We sorted out (not always easily) the arrangements, and flew overseas. I took a suitcase of books (excess luggage, big time) about the Silk Road and about the countries along the way—in various periods. I didn't know just what I was going to do, but it would focus on this.
Or so I thought. When we arrived back in Aix en Provence in the late summer of 2004 I was, almost immediately, overwhelmed by the sensory richness of the place, the history, even the changes in ten years. I was hijacked, kidnapped, abducted. The intensity of my response to where we were immediately started taking shape as a novel. I fought it for awhile. But if I've learned anything over the years, it is that you can't fight a book that wants to be written. Or at least—I can't. What emerged from that year abroad was Ysabel, generously rewarded with a World Fantasy Award.
What followed, as I began preparing myself in 2007 for what to do next, was a return to the 'eastern book'. But something had changed. After those intervening years I somehow found myself more urgently moving towards China itself—treated with my own 'quarter turn' towards the fantastic, as one reviewer has described what I do.
The novel which became Under Heaven, was no longer a Silk Road book. Now, as I read and made notes and corresponded with scholars around the world, the new book was going to be inspired by and anchored in the glittering, glorious, sophisticated, violently dangerous Tang Dynasty of the 8th century. One of the absolute high points of civilization—anywhere.
Theirs was a world where the capital city, Changan, held two million people at a time when London and Paris were market towns of fifteen to twenty thousand. The imperial court received pearls and aromatic woods from the south, amber from the farthest north, music (and musicians) from the west beyond the deserts, and they believed the islands of the eastern coast were home to immortals and that fox-women could steal men's souls at night. They feared tigers, with cause. Courtiers and courtesans mixed with soldiers and poets, astrologers and holy men, all circling the emperor, the 'Son of Heaven'.
As always, I use the fantastic as a way of being up-front about the idea that there is a space between the novel I write (the novel you read) and the real people and time and place. There are gifted writers who try (often brilliantly) to erase this space. I celebrate it, I value it, I find it artistically and ethically empowering. And then, as the book appears, my hope—always—is that readers find both power and pleasure, and perhaps something as seductive as music heard late at night, in the experience of Under Heaven.


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1816: A crucial year for future W.Va. formation
January 29, 2013
In the statehood struggle for western Virginia, the year 1816 was a critical one....
The gentleman to whom Jefferson wrote was Samuel Kercheval (not Samuel Kercheval Monticello). Kercheval was born in Middletown, VA, a lawyer and perhaps best known as the author of The History of the Valley of Virginia.
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Maybe we should revert back to the old ways. If you want to vote then you need to be a productive citizen who owns their property and pays taxes. Not a taker depending on the welfare system, getting their freebies and living in section 8 government housing. It sure would make a difference in how the elections would be decided.
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Looks like them ancestors of ours had it right. I agree, because you would been denied the right to vote due to your sub par education. Hey you know who else thinks only the elite should have a say in government? Commies.
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Majoritarian You know something you little pissswad. You just ****** me off. My grandparents don't pay taxes. You going to deny them a say? I will end you.
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Showing 4 of 4 comments


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Top Up
Inspiration, advice and insight to help engage with the 'top up' shopper, as typically seen in convenience stores or mini supermarkets.
On the Go
Support and ideas to help businesses where customers are on the move and 'grab and go'. They typically purchase in leisure facilities, kiosks or convenience stores.
Eat Out
Expert insight and advice to help maximise breakfast and snacking opportunities for customers of foodservice businesses, such as workplace catering, hotels, cafes, pubs and restaurants.
Great brands, great products
UK News
New Pringles Tortilla set to thrill shoppers and customers alike with four incredible launch flavours
Pringles Tortilla, the most exciting snack innovation of 2015, has arrived to bring all the fun of t…Discover more
Boost your sales and customer morale in the New Year.
The promotion is simple; customers buy three packs of their favorite Kellogg's cereal and receive a …Discover more
Kellogg's launches new single price point on its price-marked cereals
Kellogg's is set to get convenience tills ringing early in 2015 as it introduces a new single price …Discover more
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Kellogg's lifts the lid on new on-the go- growth opportunity
According to Kellogg's, this latest venture will help fuel further category growth for the channel a…Discover more
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Special K launches new granola for slimmers
It is also fortified with 6 B vitamins and iron and will be available in two varieties: Raisins &…Discover more
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Top Definition
The feeling you get when you see an ex with someone else. You really don't want them back but they are like a fire hydrant and you are seeing someone else piss on your fire hydrant. Which enrages you and makes you want to piss on that fire hydrant again.
I found Jake kissing Amanda. Damn Fire Hydrant Syndrome!
от Gothzilla 12 ноември 2010
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Can you define these popular missing words?


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Ultimate Spider-Man Forum PC Xbox PS2 GC DS GBA
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quote MasterDragon352Yes,yes he was.Are you saying me child hood was compremised?
quote MasterDragon352Are you a boy or girl,cause I am seriously confused.quote CURTCONNORSOk, *drools* now that sounds good.quote MasterDragon352Oh I don't know, sandwiched between a couple of loaves of bread, with a little ketchup...Venom would not like me.
quote Shadow RueThis is why Spidey always has to beat Venom's ass,although Venom somehow escapes from him before Spidey can take him to jail.... Pete was creeped out by Venom??
Venom could stalk him for days on end, and NEVER trigger the Spidey sense.
In his first appearance, he scared MJ SHITLESS. She was so afraid, she couldn't even stay in her own house with Pete.
He's broken out of prison by the sneakiest, most underhanded methods. He's even tricked out Spidey and has made him fall into more or less every trap he's ever set.
And then there's also how Venom keeps talking about how he'd like to eat Spidey's bodily organs... Squish his brain into crimson grease... that's one of my favorite lines of his.
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MVC Volleyball Tournament
Semi-final winners face off for the MVC automatic berth into the NCAA volleyball championship
Semi-final winners face off for the MVC automatic berth into the NCAA volleyball championship
UNI vs. Wichita State or Indiana State
Illinois State vs. Missouri State or Southern Illinois
Wichita St. vs. Indiana State
Missouri State vs. Southern Illinois
The Panthers take on the Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks in round 1 of the Division 1 FCS playoffs.
McLeod Madness is a fun event to showcase the UNI women's and men's basketball teams.
The night's festivities will include a dunk contest, 3-point shootout, skills competition, men's basketball scrimmage and student contests.
The highlight of the night will feature 10 students participating in a half-court shot for one semester of in-state tuition. The grand prize will be limited to one individual and will be awarded to the first eligible student to make a shot from half-court in accordance with contest rules and regulations.
Doors open at 6 p.m.; there will be food available and free t-shirts for students.
The Panthers take on Evansville.
The Panthers take on Bradley.
The Panthers take on Illinois State.


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WATCH: The Brady Sallee Show
Get a behind the scenes taste of Cardinals women's basketball with the Brady Sallee Show. Join host Joel Godett and women's basketball coach Brady Sallee to discuss the games of the week past and preview the games that sit ahead. Cjeck out game highlites and breakdowns along with soundbytes from Cardinals players. Feel free to send questions of your own to the show on twitter @JoelGodett.
Episode 1: 2-0 Start to MAC Play
Episode 2: 5-1 MAC Start


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A new design for thin-film solar cells that requires significantly less silicon and may boost the efficiency is the result of an industry/academia collaboration between Oerli
June 2011: Green Building Special Report
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| June 2011
Spring roared in like an angry lion, crashing through many states, including North Carolina. The state experienced its worst tornadoes in more than 20 years.
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Always a trailblazer, California has taken the bold step of increasing its renewable portfolio standard, which has helped inspire other states but is still comparatively high
| June 2011
Despite recent reports of coal-fired power plants shutting down and states moving away from coal as a generation source, it seems the nation's dominant source of fuel for gen
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As the weather warms up, workers face many potential hazards, not all of which are directly work/task-related.


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From The Show - Combination Cooking
These are wonderful when done on a grill. First mark each side with the grill bars, then finish on indirect heat with the cover closed 2-3 minutes.
Combination cooking!
A perfect steak is the highest quality of meat as you can afford. Prime beef is the highest quality, then comes Choice then Select.
Take your steaks out of refrigeration 30 minutes before you cook them.
Combination cooking!


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I know it sounds crazy, but one of my most favorite parts about Hanukkah is the way my hair smells after.
Latkes, or potato pancakes, are a traditional Hanukkah favorite. Whether you're making them or simply eating them, your clothes and hair are guaranteed to smell like them for days. Maybe it's the oil they are fried in. Who knows? For me, it isn't Hanukkah without that little detail.
Hanukkah, which began Friday, is an eight-day Jewish holiday. Also called the Festival of Lights, Hanukkah commemorates the victory of the Maccabees, a Jewish rebel army, and the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem.
Article Photos
Marjorie Stromberg
Hanukkah is celebrated by lighting the menorah, a nine-branched candelabra. One candle is lit each night to observe the eight nights olive oil fueled the eternal flame in the Temple of Jerusalem. There was supposed to be only enough oil to fuel the flame for one day, but it lasted eight, thus marking the holiday. The ninth branch on the menorah is where the shamash sits, a candle that is used to light the others.
Hanukkah is celebrated differently by everyone. Common activities include exchanging gifts, eating latkes and chocolate Hanukkah gelt, playing dreidel, and engaging in song, dance and family gatherings.
When I think of my personal Hanukkah experiences, I think of the famous aforementioned latkes, either slathered in sour cream, or, when on a diet, applesauce. I also think of family, candles lit on the menorah and Hanukkah gelt.
Hanukkah is one of my favorite holidays because of the presents, naturally, and because it's a time I get to spend with my family. It reminds me of delicious food, snow falling and the cozy feeling winter brings.
I like to think of myself as a Hanukkah baby, because I was born on Hanukkah. the holiday comes at a different time every year so I consider myself lucky to have been born on such a joyous day. My brother also was born on Hanukkah, a day after me, three years later. My mom always tells me the same story of the night I was born. The doctor had asked her what she had to eat that night, and she remembers listing off an assortment of Hanukkah food: latkes, meat loaf, and other favorites, as the doctors gave her a puzzled look.
One of my family's traditions is the annual family Hanukkah party. Started by my grandma many years ago, the family gets together on one of the first nights of Hanukkah and celebrates.
It started off as a small gathering at my grandma's apartment, but since has grown into a celebration of around 50 people. For my grandma, referred to by my mom's boyfriend as the "Empress of Hanukkah," planning the annual party is an innate talent of hers. She begins planning a year in advance, only to make the event the most joyous of the year.
Part of the planning includes buying gifts for the gift game. Commonly referred to as the White Elephant game, each participant chooses a number out of a hat. When their number is called they pick a gift from the pile. They open the gift and can either choose to keep it or trade it. The higher the number, the better the chance you have of picking a gift you like from one of the other participants. Yes, that means you can take someone's gift right out of their hands and give them the one you don't want. The only rule is no crying. This rule has to be enforced again and again.
Previous popular gifts from the gift game have been a singing fish that hangs on the wall, and anything containing chocolate. Over the years some of my favorite gifts I have walked away with are picture frames, numerous pairs of Hanukkah socks (they never get old!) and kitchen ware.
It's always exciting to see what the gift everyone wants will be. There's always one or two gifts that always seem to get "stolen" over and over again. And leave it to my grandma, the Empress, to pick the hottest and most popular gifts on the market!
I'm sure during Hanukkah some people think about the real meaning behind the holiday. Do I ever think about the Temple of Jerusalem? Not really. Or the Maccabees? Nope. Then what do I think about during Hanukkah? I think about how lucky and blessed I am to have such wonderful family and friends to share the experience with. I think about how much it means to me when my friends that celebrate Christmas go out of their way to say, "Happy Hanukkah!" I think of all of the Jewish people around the world, lighting the menorah together and saying blessings. I think about how important it is to feel full in life. By that I don't just mean full by latkes, I mean full by family, friends and love. So much love you could burst at the seams. (And so many latkes, you literally are bursting at the seams!)
Whether you're lighting a menorah this year or putting lights on a Christmas tree, I want to extend my holiday greetings to you. May you be full of food, friends, family and love this season.


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Elks Senior Golf League hosts banquet
September 12, 2013
The Elks Senior Golf League ended its season with a banquet recently at the Elks Country Club. First place for the season went to the team of Wib Smith, Ed Remo, Sid Smith and Leonard Phillips....
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(based on 14 reviews)
Ratings Distribution
5 Stars
4 Stars
3 Stars
2 Stars
1 Stars
of respondents would recommend this to a friend.
Most Liked Positive Review
Chesterton Fountain Pen w/ Fine nib
I was hesitant to but this pen based on the reviews that discussed the pen skipping and drying out. The complaints all seemed to have one thing in common though, the ink. I...Read complete review
I was hesitant to but this pen based on the reviews that discussed the pen skipping and drying out. The complaints all seemed to have one thing in common though, the ink. I rarely if ever use the ink cartridges that come with my pens so after dropping the Chesterton in my shopping bag and then abandoning it about 5 or 6 times i finally pulled the trigger.The pen looks great, the resin has an opalescent quality and the penn shimmers when the light hits it from different angles. The gold details are nice; I had concerns that the ferrule would be too much by it actually highlights the bi-color nib nicely. The cap screws on smoothly and the pen can be used comfortably with the cap posted or off. The cap is a little weighty and when posted the pen feels slightly top heavy but i actually like that so it's not a problem.When I received the pen I used the convertor and inked it up with Pilot's Iroshizuku Yama-Budo. I chose the Iroshizuku ink because it tends to flow a little more freely than some other inks and based on the reviews I thought it would be a good choice for the pen's trial run. I've been using the pen for a couple of weeks and found it to be a very solid performer. The fine nib lays down a nice solid line that's about 0.5mm wide with no skipping or hesitation. On Levenger Circa paper the pen writes very smoothly with only the slightest sensation of drag, and on good quality bond paper the pen performed just as well without any significant drag or hesitation. Overall the pen writes very well and I'm extremely satisfied with it and glad that I purchased it.
Most Liked Negative Review
Fundamental design flaw
I had the same problem that other reported regarding the drying in the nib over a short period of time. I believe the problem is the air-gap where the clip enters the cap....Read complete review
I had the same problem that other reported regarding the drying in the nib over a short period of time. I believe the problem is the air-gap where the clip enters the cap. Basically, when capped the air entering around the clip/cap dries out the ink in the nib. As an experiment I tried capping the pen with a small plastic pill bag and rubber band--it worked perfectly the following day.Using the cap, as designed is basically leaving the pen uncapped.Hope that Levenger offers a replacement (working) cap soon. I truly love the color and design of the pen.
Reviewed by 14 customers
Displaying reviews 1-10
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By SteveFromPhonex
from Phoenix, AZ
Comments about Levenger Chesterton Espresso Fountain Pen (F,M):
Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend
Was this review helpful? Yes / No
- You may also flag this review
By DustyJoe
from Schaumburg, IL
I am completely satisfied with this pen. I have 8 fountain pens and this is now my favorite. The fine tip nib writes clear and smooth. If I do not use it for a couple of days the tip does not dry out like some of my other fountain pens, some I have to run the tip under water for a few seconds to start the flow of ink. I actually write more now because I look forward to using this pen.
(1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)
Nice writer, but...
By MrsMutton
from New Hampshire
I don't know what it is about Levenger pens lately, that they all seem to have issues with them. This pen...I really want it to be an exception. I love the look of it, I love the feel of it, I LOVE the way it writes - I haven't had any of the skipping issues that others have reported, and I haven't noticed the ink drying out, even though I had it filled for two days before I used it.What it does do, is leak. Just like all the other fountain pens I've ordered lately. Who used to manufacture your TrueWriter pens about fifteen years ago? I have two pens from that era, and both have always performed outstandingly. Indeed, the only reason I've ordered pens lately is that I wanted to be able to switch pens, and inks, in between cleanings - I like to use purple ink with my purple pen, and green ink with my green pen (and with the Chesterton). But doggone it, the pen has to *retain* the ink in order for it to write, and when I took the cap off, I could see right away that I'd have inky fingers in my near future. And I did, despite using a tissue to wipe the nib down - ink in the cap, ink in the barrel, and yes, ink on my fingers.Anyway, whoever was making pens for you fifteen years ago - you need to get that manufacturer back on board, 'cause that's the only one who knew how to seal a gasket.
By InkMaestro
from Sacramento CA
Bottom Line No, I would not recommend this to a friend
Images shared by InkMaestro
Air gap allows nib to dry out
Skipping nib
By WMK48
from Undisclosed
Ever since owning my replace Chesterton FP there have been issues with skipping. On almost every initial downstroke of a letter (W, L, P, T, N, etc) I get no ink. I have to go back and repeat that downstroke to get ink to flow. Then I can write the rest of the word with full ink flow. But then the first downstroke of the next word the same thing happens. Based on my writing style -- sort of a hybrid between printing and cursive -- I write lots of letters with initial downstrokes, so have LOTS of skips. This basically has made the pen unusable. I am only adding this review to see if any other users, or someone at Levenger, has a though on what might be done to remedy this. I used to use the pump to hold ink but it ran out of ink so quickly that I switched to Waterman long cartridges. I use the same cartridges in another fountain pen that NEVER skips, so I don't think the ink is the problem. I think it's the medium nib. Would appreciate any advice on how to make this pen usable.
Merchant response: Customers like you are the foundation of our success, and we want you to know how much we appreciate your review. Your issues concerning the pen skipping have been escalated to our product development team. Providing our customers with the best possible service is very important to us, and we offer a 100% guarantee. During our conversation today, I was pleased that we could agree on a resolution. You will receive a personal email shortly to discuss the details of that resolution. In the future, if you have any additional concerns, please contact our customer service center at 1-800-545-0242.
They got it right!
By Doctheo
from Seminole ok
Fantastic FP in size, weight, color, & most important nib feedback. I already hand this pen in fill able rollerball. Loved it so much decided to give the FP a try. Choose fine nib.
What a difference 6 years make
By QuartzQuill
I now have two Levenger True Writer fountain pens. My first, from 2008, is a sapphire Metalist.APPEARANCE: When I received the Chesterton I was pretty pleased with the looks of the pen overall. I had expected more depth in the colors of the barrel, but I did find them reminiscent of coffee. The nib is especially beautiful.PERFORMANCE: Though writing quite smoothly at first, it was long before I saw it drying up, even after less than a day's hiatus (I leave my fountain pens well capped, nib pointing up.) Indeed, both with Levenger ink cartridges and with the ink converter, the pen continued to have problems with flow. At first I thought it might be the Fine nib. But after returning the pen in for an exchange*, the second Chesterton had the same flow problems. (Nothing drives me more crazy than having to go back over my writing because no ink came out, or worse, because random dots and dashes now litter my page.) But when it isn't behaving badly, it writes quite pleasantly.* Even after cleaning the nib, the original pen just worsened. Levenger's staff was very pleasant and helpful to work with through the exchange.FEEL: I am not fond of the resin barrels. The Metalist feels (and looks, and writes) so much better. This is a matter of taste, no doubt. I find resin barels too light, and not particularly balanced. Its not bad, but it doesn't have any personality. I wish Levenger would get some weighty metal back in their lineup.This baby is a looker, that's for sure. It would be wonderful if it would live up to its promise.Hope this helps!
Merchant response: Levenger is grateful for your feedback on our Chesterton Espresso Fountain Pen. We were happy to hear that there were some aspects of the pen that you've enjoyed. However, we apologize that it was not exactly what you were expecting. Your comments relating to the ink flow problem are being researched by our product development team. Customer satisfaction is very important to us, and we offer a 100% guarantee. You will receive a personal email shortly to discuss a resolution. Please contact our customer service center at 1-800-667-8034 if you have any additional concerns.
Very Frustrated
By Reiny
Bought the pen without checking the reviews. Not a good idea as it turned out. The first pen had a faulty nib. I returned it and got a second one. Fabulous looking, however, I had the same writing issues that other reviewers noted. I thought perhaps it needed a new cartridge so I unscrewed the nib and the cartridge got stuck in the barrel. I tried to pry the cartridge out to no avail. As a result, I have ink all over my hands and on the mouse pad with the photo of my husband and I on a Rhine River cruise. Very upsetting. So number two is being replaced. Hopefully number 3 will be okay. And I'm taking the advise of the reviewer who bought cartridges elsewhere!
Merchant response: Thank you for taking the time to review of our Chesterton Espresso Fountain Pen. We apologize that it was not what you expected. Customer satisfaction is our number one priority, and we offer a 100% guarantee. Unfortunately, it sounds like we may be experiencing some issues with our latest stock of those pens. This information has been forwarded to our product and development team for review. Please contact our customer service center at 1-800-667-8034 to discuss a resolution.
Never judge a book (or fountain pen) by its cover
By TomG
from Indianapolis
Fantastic beauty and it's fabulous with the perfect weight. The only issue is when you put pen to paper. The nib is something that dries out not over ours but over seconds. It has a very difficult feeling upon writing. There's no flow to the words. You consistently have to hold it down for more than just a moment to get the ink to start the flow. Although beautiful I would pass, then again it might be the Levenger cartridge as I noticed it has been a more pronounced issue since I replaced the ink. I want to love this pen, but again it is the beauty and not function.
Favorite Pen - Needs better ink
By DRKCPA
from Hartford, CT
I received this pen as an exchange for the convertible roller ball, which was a nightmare. I was having the same issues that some of the other reviewers were having. Every time I put the pen down the ink would clump up and the pen would be useless, looked nice on my desk, but that was about it.On a whim, I went to a local store that stocks much more expensive pens, and bought some new ink. Since then this pen has not quit. To test it out, I left it capped on my desk for a week. When I went back to it, it worked perfectly from the first stroke. A much better writer than my $220 Aurora Ipsilon.
© Copyright Levenger Company
2016. All Rights Reserved.


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Last night at the Adventures By Disney press event in Chicago- Amy & I show our signature pose.
The shiny purple hemp silk ring sling was a gift made for me by someone who wishes to remain anonymous. Email me privately and I might just whisper it if you must know!
Join the Babywearing Bloggers blogroll and check out all the other awesome babywearing bloggers out there.
Subscribe to my blog here- I'll be posting more pics and chatting about babywearing all this week!
Twitter me- I'm babysteph
Photo by the one & only Dad on the Walt Disney World Moms Panel, Bret Caldwell.


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You never want something until you can't have it. So, each week in The Sell-Out, we're getting the scoop from your favorite retailers on what's selling like crazy. Watch this space to find out what everyone's buying, sign up for wait lists, and keep tabs on restocks. When most people are running late, they reach for jeans ...
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Nice guys finish ... as Chloë Grace Moretz's boyfriend?
Brooklyn Beckham, 15, is "totally smitten" by the If I Stay actress, 17, a source tells PEOPLE. The teens have been seen skateboarding and enjoying friendly competitions at Soul Cycle in Brentwood, California.
"Brooklyn is very sweet and shy, a really nice boy," says the source. "Chloë is more sophisticated." So his parents, David and Victoria Beckham, have been "naturally protective" of Brooklyn, but met Moretz at their spinning classes and allow the teens to enjoy their time together.
Moretz opened up about hanging out with Brooklyn in Company magazine's September issue.
"Who's better? I don't know! I mean, he had a pretty small skateboard, and I had more of a long board," Moretz said. "I think he's a risk taker, like a typical guy, weaving in and out of people. I'm a 'safety boarder.' I don't want to break any bones!"
Brooklyn Beckham 'Smitten' by Chloë Grace Moretz, Source Says
David M. Benett/Getty; Ari Perilstein/Getty


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on February 6, 2013 - 1:00 AM
, updated February 6, 2013 at 6:18 AM
Whether it's referred to as its official name, the Affordable Care Act, or the more commonly voiced and a tad unflattering Obamacare, the complicated legislation is changing the landscape of health care in America.
Part of that involves a welcome change in the approach to hospital readmissions.
As Henry L. Davis reported in The News, institutions that fail to adjust to the changing landscape are being penalized. Twelve facilities in Western New York were at the end of this punitive stick.
In October, Medicare began fining facilities for having too many patients returning to the hospital within 30 days of discharge because of complications.
Medicare also began rewarding or penalizing hospitals based on their performance on basic quality measures and surveys of patient satisfaction.
Hospitals, health insurance companies and Buffalo-area community organizations had already taken action to reduce readmissions, although, as Davis reported, with varying degrees of success.
But the current move at the federal level away from paying per procedure toward paying for the quality of outcomes is refreshing, and necessary.
The pressure in recent years to cut costs wherever possible gave hospitals an incentive to discharge patients quickly, sometimes too quickly. If a patient released too early developed complications and had to be readmitted, the hospital was not only not penalized, it was rewarded with a new round of reimbursements for the new procedures.
About 20 percent of hospitalized Medicare patients – 2.3 million people – were readmitted to a hospital within 30 days of discharge, according to the New England Journal of Medicine. About 90 percent of the readmissions were unplanned and cost the government $17.4 billion in 2004 alone, the study found.
Medicare now provides an incentive for hospitals to get patient care right the first time.
Bruce Boissonnault, co-chairman of the National Quality Forum Steering Committee that looked at the best way to measure readmissions, makes a good point that the penalty is an effort to encourage hospitals to coordinate care with doctors in the community.
Boissonnault is president of the Niagara Health Quality Coalition, which four years ago began an annual report card on the rate of potentially preventable readmissions for every hospital in the state.
The Affordable Care Act is not the cure-all some have touted it to be. However, in this case it manages to both improve patient care and save money.
This part of health care reform provides a clearly visible sign that the system is putting the focus where it belongs – on patients rather than cash flow. That focus is concerned with delivering care seamlessly, whether from physicians, hospitals or followup home care.
Reducing hospital readmissions is important not just for the patients, but also for taxpayers and the hospitals themselves.


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The process of buying a new Scion car or truck can seem overwhelming if you don't know where to begin. Edmunds.com can get you started on the right track with a convenient directory of Scion car dealerships in and around Eastlake, Ohio. Compare online price quotes on the new or used car, truck, SUV, minivan, or wagon of your choice to locate the best deals. Edmunds.com makes it easy to find trusted Scion car dealers in Eastlake, saving car buyers time and money on what will be an important purchase.
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Mallory Burdette has crossed paths with the great Serena Williams. She's said hi.
Complete FCC coverage
To read more coverage of the Family Circle Cup, go to postandcourier.com/familycirclecup.
"But I've never had a conversation with her," Burdette said.
As the latest young American to pull a Family Circle Cup upset, the 22-year-old former Stanford All-American gets a dream-come-true shot at the world's top-ranked player today.
Burdette took a deep breath Wednesday after a 3-6, 7-6, 7-5 victory over No. 15 seed Sabine Lisicki. She pumped her left fist a few times and took a sweet walk across green clay on the Althea Gibson Court for a handshake from the former Family Circle Cup champion.
Burdette upset then-No. 27 Tamira Paszek at Indian Wells last month, but this was just as special, probably more. Lisicki, famed for her power serve, is currently No. 41 but has been ranked as high as No. 12.
Burdette is from Jackson, Ga., approximately 50 miles southeast of Atlanta. Her mother, the former Judy Bernat, grew up in Charleston.
"We've had a lot of fun going out to dinner," Burdette said. "I just feel very relaxed and comfortable here. That's the same way I was feeling out on the court, and I think it definitely helped me pull through that match. I'm really looking forward to my next round. It will be a great experience to play Serena and see how my game matches up against the best."
Opportunities like this are exactly why Burdette decided last summer to skip her senior year at Stanford. Yes, she is delaying entry to medical school and a career as a psychiatrist.
But win or lose against Serena, Burdette will shoot up the WTA rankings from No. 99.
Quality qualifiers
It was the third high-quality win for a Family Circle Cup qualifier in 24 hours. Jessica Pegula, a 19-year-old American who lived in Hilton Head and is the daughter of billionaire Buffalo Sabres owner Terry Pegula, upset No. 10 Mona Barthel on Tuesday. Canadian Eugenie Bouchard, 19, eliminated No. 16 Laura Robson on Wednesday.
Burdette, Pegula and Madison Keys (also a winner Wednesday), are part of a second wave of young American star prospects behind a better known group that includes Family Circle Cup participants Sloane Stephens, Christina McHale, Jamie Hampton and Melanie Oudin.
But Burdette isn't new to high pressure. As a freshman at Stanford, she delivered the game-winning stroke in the 2010 NCAA championship victory over Florida.
The Lisicki match was every bit the test Burdette expected. Burdette had a 40-0 lead at 5-4 in the third set but required a sixth match point to close.
All-American family
"I knew that she wasn't going to give it to me," Burdette said. "That's why I definitely had to work for it there at the end. I just had to pick a target on each one of my shots and stay aggressive."
Her father, Dr. Alan Burdette, was on hand. Judy Burdette had to return home, but hoped to come back to Daniel Island today.
Though Alan and Judy are University of Georgia graduates and all the Burdettes are Georgia Bulldogs fans, Mallory was the third Burdette sister to play tennis at Stanford. Erin was first, helping the Cardinal win national titles in 2002, '04 and '05. Lindsay, a four-time All-American, played two years ahead of Mallory at Stanford. Older brother Andy played tennis at Army.
Little sister credits her mother for turning the family on to tennis and her siblings for motivation.
Yeah, this WTA Tour thing is working out. The decision to turn pro came after Burdette advanced to the third round of the 2012 U.S. Open before losing to Maria Sharapova.
She won twice in the Indian Wells main draw last month.
Someone asked Burdette if Wednesday's win made her feel more like she belongs.
"A little bit," she said. "I don't know."
A lot. Here comes a third-round match against Serena in mom's hometown, and maybe that first substantive conversation.
Follow Gene Sapakoff on Twitter @sapakoff.


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on March 25, 2013 - 1:00 AM
A zealous liberal star raised in Amherst, who worked his way through Canisius High School, Brown University and Harvard, Perez symbolizes every reason the GOP lost the election rolled into one man.
Obama's wedge campaign themes, like the Republicans' alleged war on women and purported attempts to discourage blacks and Hispanics from voting, found echoes in the vigorous prosecutions brought by Perez, as assistant attorney general for civil rights.
So far, the only obstacle the GOP minority has put in Perez's path has been the "hold" placed against his Senate confirmation by Sen. David Vitter, R-La., who turned up six years ago as a john in a prostitution scandal involving the "D.C. Madam." While the Senate has received Perez's nomination, a date for his confirmation hearing is pending.
Republicans from safe states will ask Perez about an act that signaled the Obama administration's attitude toward black political activism – the suppression of a federal case against the New Black Panthers. Career Justice Department lawyers charged the Panthers, considered by some to be a hate group, with intimidating Philadelphia voters in the 2008 campaign. Under Obama's new attorney general, Eric Holder, and Perez, the case was summarily dropped.
Conservatives have charged that Perez prevaricated in testimony in a U.S. Civil Rights Commission probe of the episode. But a White House official told this column, "Perez's statement to the commission was accurate…and Perez had not intentionally misled [the investigators]." A Justice Department Inspector General's report did cite "a troubling history of polarization in the Voting Rights" section, which Perez supervised.
A semaphore was sent to Hispanic voters in 2010 when Perez opposed Arizona's tough law permitting police to question people randomly about their immigration status. Arizona passed the law because Republicans believed Obama told federal officers to relax sanctions against illegals, who were almost all Hispanics.
Perez said, "You can't have 50 states making immigration law and have a coherent system." Obama last July followed that up by suspending the deportation of thousands of immigration law violators. Obama won 71 percent of the Latino vote four months later.
The White House did not respond to questions about Perez and the Mary Susan Pine case. Justice charged Pine, a Florida pro-life activist, with violating the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances. FACE is designed to prevent militants from blocking the entrances to abortion clinics. Perez bragged his section opened 20 civil probes and filed eight complaints under the FACE Act compared to just one over the previous eight years.
Justice charged Pine stepped in front of a car and passed a pro-life pamphlet through an open window. The federal judge in West Palm Beach last year threw out the case, wondered aloud why the government prosecuted her and ordered her paid $120,000 for her defense costs. The judge questioned whether the prosecution "was the product of a concerted effort between the government and the [abortion provider] which began well before the incident at issue, to quell Ms. Pine's activities."
The Congressional Hispanic Caucus, the labor movement, and La Raza, the nation's leading Latino advocacy group, have enthusiastically backed Perez's confirmation. With Republicans squirming to win back some of the Hispanic vote, look for the GOP to mount a structured, even muted opposition.
The Perez choice will help with conservative fund-raising and offer themes for talk radio. Would that the country had such an enthusiast probing investment houses and the oil companies.
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We took my two (and a half) year old and 8 month old to a halloween parade last night. My daughter (2 year old) recieved almost half a bucket (of those small plastic pumpkin buckets you see everywhere) of candy. We usually don't give her sweets often, but I think halloween is a good exception. Plus I can't withhold the entire bucket lol, her face was priceless. She sat through the entire thing and kept saying "trick or treat", "please", and "thank you!" to the people passing out candy. So, how much do you usually give your kids to keep?
Oh and I had to share- while we were at the parade last night my 8 month old son loved all the lights, he was wide eyed and giggling the whole time. Little kids in the parade kept coming up to him and asking if he was allowed to have candy. I thought it was so cute that the little kids were trying to include him with his sister (even though he can't have candy yet lol).


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Happy Thanksgiving from Ball State Football
Ball State's football team is hard at work getting ready for Miami University, but the Cardinals took time to discuss their favorite parts of Thanksgiving.
The team had its own Thanksgiving dinner together Wednesday night. Ball State travels to Miami University for its regular season finale Friday at 1 p.m..
Radio coverage on 104.1 FM WLBC and online at BallStateSports.com begins at noon.


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Waverly House Opera"The Paper Bag Bandit Rides Again" or "Behind the Cheap Mask," the annual Waverly Opera House production benefiting the youth camp scholarship fund. For information, 412 242-0643, or www.waverlychurch.org05/03/2013 - 05/04/2013Time: 8pmLocation: Waverly Presbyterian Church, 590 S. Braddock Ave., Pittsburgh 15221
From the Permanent Collection: The Wolf Family DonationsHighlights from the Permanent Collection: Celebration of the Wolf Family Donations features works by Will Barnet, Thomas Hart Benton, Alexander Calder, Mary Cassatt, Rockwell Kent, Reginald Marsh, Thomas Moran, Norman Rockwell, Andy Warhol, and Grant Wood, among others.05/03/2013 - 08/04/2013One Boucher Lane and Route 711 South Ligonier, PAwebsite | map
Crista Miller, organOrganist and Music Director at Houston's Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, Eastman graduate Dr. Crista Miller will play St. Paul's Beckerath organ. Free admission. Free-will offerings suggested.05/03/2013Time: 8:00 pmSt. Paul Cathedral, 108 N. Dithridge St., Pittsburgh, PAwebsite | map
Made in AmericaA salute to America and American composers, including a newly-commissioned work, "The Voices," by Dale Warland. The concert also includes favorites including Shenandoah, Take Me Out to the Ballgame, Over the Rainbow, and more. Saturday, 8pm, Fox Chapel; Sunday, 4pm, Ingomar.05/04/2013 - 05/05/2013Location: Ingomar United Methodist Church & Fox Chapel Presbyterian Churchwebsite
Grand FinaleMaestro Istvan Jaray closes the season with the JSO Chorus, soloists including WQEJ's Anna Singer, church and school choirs in Vaughan Williams' Serenade to Music, Santos' From the Minds of Desire, and Beethoven's Symphony #9 "Choral" with its closing Ode to Joy.05/04/2013Time: 7:30 pmPasquerilla Performing Arts Center, 450 Schoolhouse Rd., Johnstown, PAwebsite | map
Abigail/1702By Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, writer for Glee. Whatever happened to Abigail Williams? It's 1702, a decade after The Crucible's infamous seductress danced with the devil in Salem. Now, the devil returns for a visit, the blood on the gallows is dry, and Abigail hides behind a changed name in a new town. Imagining the destiny of the immortal stage villain who cried "Witch!," this suspenseful drama reveals the accuser's unforeseen fate.05/04/2013 - 05/26/20131300 Bingham Street Pittsburgh, PAwebsite | map
Mark Morris Dance Group Endlessly inventive and masterful, Mark Morris ranks among the world's greatest choreographers. Described as "undeviating in his devotion to music," Mark Morris has made live musical accompaniment the gold standard in modern dance. For more than three decades, the Mark Morris Dance Group has been wowing the world over with outstanding works that dutifully exude Mark Morris' prolificacy, passion and artistic conviction.05/04/2013Time: 8:00 pmByham Theater, 101 6th St., Pittsburgh, PAwebsite | map
25th Anniversary Season FinaleThis concert and gala features the Festive Overture by Shostakovich, Grieg's Piano Concerto with Music Director Walter Morales as soloist, a world premiere by Pittsburgh composer Robert Schultz, and Tchaikovsky's Symphony #4.05/05/2013Time: 3:00 pmLocation: Carnegie Music Hall, 4400 Forbes Ave., Pittsburgh, PAwebsite
East End Choral FestivalThe festival features the choirs of East Liberty Presbyterian, Shadyside Presbyterian, Calvary Episcopal, and St. Andrew's Episcopal churches. The guest conductor will be David Hill, conductor of the BBC Singers and Bach Choir of London. Combined choirs will sing works of Gerald Finzi, Benjamin Britten, and Randall Thompson.05/05/2013Time: 4:00 pmEast Liberty Presbyterian Church, 116 S. Highland Ave., Pittsburgh, PAwebsite | map
Benedetti & TchaikovskyConductor Kazem Abdullah begins his PSO concert debut with Brahms' furiously brooding Tragic Overture. Hindemith's Mathis der Maler is arguably the German composer's most famous orchestral work and is based on music from his opera of the same name. Young Scottish violinist Nicola Benedetti performs the Tchaikovsky concerto, featured on her recent highly-praised recording.05/10/2013 - 05/12/201305/10 - 8:00 pm05/12 - 2:30 pmHeinz Hall, 600 Penn Ave., Pittsburgh, PAwebsite | map
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National Alliance on Mental Illness
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Why Are You Thankful?
November 21, 2006
NAMI has partnered with Hotsoup.com, as part of an on-line experiment to promote broad, constructive national dialogue.
During the Thanksgiving holiday, NAMI joins in posing the question: "What are you thankful for?" (Free sign-in required). Says "1 Average Joe
Some answers to the question may be posted on MSNBC.com, which recently ran a story about NAMI and the Hotsoup.com community. Visit NAMI's loop on Hotsoup.com or read NAMI's news release to learn more about the partnership.
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As Immunotherapy Revolutionizes the Cancer Treatment...
Wall Street Decline Takes Its Toll...
NSCLC is "Major Battlefield" as Merck,...
LC-MS Gains Favor Due To the...
German firms MorphoSys and Proteros Biostructures received an approximately €850,000 (about $1.2 million) grant from the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) to develop a technology platform for the structural characterization of antibody-antigen complexes. The funded research aims to combine the strengths of combinatorial biology and rational structure-based approaches to enable the efficient analysis of antibody-antigen interaction at atomic resolution. MorphoSys will provide antigen and antibody molecules, and Proteros will provide its x-ray technologies and computational expertise.
The firms claim the ability to generate high-resolution antibody-antigen complex structures will help speed the engineering of therapeutic antibodies. "Within the research program we'll bring together MorphoSys' antibody expertise and Proteros' structure solution know-how to tackle challenges in crystallizing whole IgG molecules," explains Marlies Sproll, Ph.D., MorphoSys CSO.
The program is part of Munich's biotechnology initiative, m4 – Personalized Medicine and Targeted Therapies – A New Dimension in Drug Development in the Munich Region. The companies' first project will analyze the binding of MorphoSys' clinical-stage anti-inflammatory antibody MOR103 to its target GM-CSF antigen.
Proteros specializes in offering x-ray protein structure analysis services to the life science sector. The firm is exploiting its expertise and platform technologies through research services, product sales, and licensing. Products include what Proteros claims is the largest collection of Gallery Structures, developed as a catalog of ready-to-use drug targets for immediate analysis of three-dimensional complex structures with clients' drug development compounds. The firm also offers customized gene-to-structure services, primary and secondary protein screening, and biochemical assay development services. Specialist products include its Picodropper™ technology for the optimization of protein crystals, Free Mounting System™ for optimizing crystallographic data, and the Proteros Reporter Displacement Assay.
During August Proteros announced the establishment of a wholly owned U.S. subsidiary, and expanded business development efforts for Europe and Japan. It says revenues were up 30% in 2009.
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Your Houston Texans are ready to storm the field and fight for victory. Make sure you root them on by showing your support with this Nike tee. With "Fear the Bull" printed on the front, this tee is sure to indimidate the competition.
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HOME NHL Buffalo Sabres Gear Buffalo Sabres Mens Buffalo Sabres Mens Sweatshirts & Fleece (27 items) Product ID: 1331711
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Turn over a new leaf in your Buffalo Sabres devotion by sporting this Crossover sweatshirt! This super comfy sweatshirt has everything you need to show off your #1 Buffalo fan status, including a distressed logo and "Sabres Hockey" lettering. While Buffalo is taking care of business on the ice, be sure to don this awesome sweatshirt!
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Major Requirements
Overall: Thirty-six (36) semester hours in History: twenty (20) hours in 100 and 200 level courses that MUST include HIST202 and HIST203; twelve (12) hours at the 300 level; and HIST411 (4 hours). Also required is a Foreign Language cognate consisting of four (4) semester hours beyond the general education competency level. The Foreign Language cognate should not be taken pass/fail.
* Degree also requires attendance to 5 (five) History Department Colloquia
Lower level courses
___ One 100- or 200-level survey
___ One 100- or 200-level survey
___ One 100- or 200-level survey
___ 202: Writing and Interpreting History
___ 203: Craft of the Historian
Upper Level Courses
___411: Senior Seminar
___ Foreign Languages (one intermediate course beyond 112)


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Fifty-eight schools from across West Virginia, including elementary schools, middle schools, high schools, and career technical centers and programs, were honored Thursday for achieving Exemplary Accreditation status. Three others also were recognized for being among 269 schools nationwide named 2012 National Blue Ribbon Schools.
"We have high expectations for all schools in West Virginia and these schools have achieved the state board's highest level of recognition," said West Virginia Board of Education President Wade Linger. "This accomplishment speaks highly of the quality of education throughout West Virginia, with schools from every area of our state identified as exemplary."
Exemplary distinction is the gold standard of educational achievement, said Gus Penix, director of the Office of Education Performance Audits. Schools must meet a set of rigorous standards to achieve such status:
1. All schools will be ranked by the percent proficient in each subject, including reading/language arts, math, science, social studies as well as the Writing Assessment. Schools earning the top combined ranking will be eligible for the next step of ranking on a student achievement index. All students in each school will be ranked by a student achievement index in each subject on the WESTEST2 and Writing Assessment with progressive weighting for scores at each performance level (.25 for Below Mastery, .5 for Mastery, .75 for Above Mastery, and 1.0 for Distinguished) and aggregated for a total ranking. The top 10 percent weighted ranking for elementary, middle and high schools will be designated as Exemplary if other criteria are met.
2. The student attendance rate is at or above 94 percent in the most recent year for which data are available.
3. The percentage of students who successfully complete Advanced Placement, dual credit and honors classes as defined in Policy 2510 is at or above five percent in high schools.
Career technical centers also have strenuous criteria to meet. Such schools must meet a minimum of 95 percent of school performance standards across all concentrations; have a 97 percent job placement or continuing education rate; and a 75 percent in-field job placement and continuing education rate, among other requirements.
Among schools that earned 2012-2013 Exemplary Accreditation status are:
Fork Elementary School in Pendleton County and Pickens Elementary/High School in Randolph; and
Randolph Technical Center in Randolph County.
For more information, call the OEPA at 304-558-3788 or the Office of Communication at 304-558-2699.


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MOSCOW—A flaming meteorite plunged to earth in Russia's Ural Mountains Friday, smashing windows and injuring around 500 people.Amateur videos broadcast on state television showed an object streaking across the sky around 9:20 a.m. local time before bursting into a fireball. Residents in the city of Chelyabinsk, the largest in the affected region, described a shock wave from the meteorite that blew in doors and smashed glass.
More videos here. Watch the first "Cell phone" video, and listen with speakers/headphones.
In unrelated news, I'm flying to Russia to try and lift Mjolnir. Wish me luck!


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4 Great Lead Singers With Inexplicably Terrible Solo Careers
#2. Scott Weiland
Mike Lawrie/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images
I'll excuse everyone who needs to head to the comments section to leave a joke about Scott Weiland being on a list of "great" musicians at this time.
Make all the jokes you want, but goddammit, I like Stone Temple Pilots. Compared to a lot of the other bands who got rich during the orange-distortion-pedal rush of the early '90s, they actually had some musical chops, and they were at least moderately less depressing than the Alice in Chainses of the world. I like Nirvana more, and I think Scott Weiland probably did, too, but still, shut up, they were a good band. Here, have a listen to "Big Bang Baby" while you agree with me:
Unfortunately, because heroin is also a hell of a drug, STP was rarely able to keep itself on the road or even together as a band for more than a few years at a time. During his many stints as an ex-member of Stone Temple Pilots, Scott Weiland recorded a few solo albums and ... one of them isn't bad! It's called 12 Bar Blues, and it proves the old adage that even a blind squirrel finds a nut sometimes. There's a song on that album called "Lady, Your Roof Brings Me Down" that makes me particularly happy:
Fun fact: Sheryl Crow plays accordion on that song. That's also the only Scott Weiland solo song I can name off the top of my head. And I'm not a casual Stone Temple Pilots fan. I mean, everyone is technically a casual Stone Temple Pilots fan. There aren't any other kind. It isn't a band that breeds rabid fans. But I am a fan. I give Scott Weiland a fighting chance any time he makes an album with someone other than Stone Temple Pilots, and I'm never anything short of disappointed.
That's what's special about the Scott Weiland case. It's not just that he shouldn't go solo; he also shouldn't be allowed to join any other bands. For the remainder of his days, Scott Weiland should be forced to travel with two things: a sobriety coach who carries a gun and the DeLeo brothers.
Charley Gallay/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images
"Is that heroin up there?"
I see a lot of confused faces in the crowd, but believe you me, I'm killing it with STP fans after that combo of references. Especially the ones who hated Velvet Revolver, a band some of you might recognize as the most confounding failure in rock supergroup history since Chris Cornell turned Rage Against the Machine into a funk band or whatever went wrong there.
Velvet Revolver looked like a champion on paper. "Guns 'N Roses - Axl Rose + Someone I Like Significantly More" should have all added up to something pretty wonderful. But it didn't. It's not that they were terrible. They were just unremarkable, mostly because they seemed to have all the chemistry of opposing sides of a Middle East peace negotiation. That might be putting it too mildly. It honestly seemed like they just plain hated each other, and I will admit that I liked that, because I hated them, too. And everyone who works with Scott Weiland seems to hate him. Only one band has ever been able to balance hating him with still making good music, though.
#1. Paul McCartney
Michael Loccisano/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty
I'm not going to tell you you're wrong to feel angry that Paul McCartney is on this list. I will tell you that if you enjoy the solo work of Paul McCartney that much, I suspect you're too much of a pussy to do anything about it, though.
Just joking, kind of, but I stand by my assertion that Paul McCartney is an awful solo artist. If you've already started typing up your angry comment to the tune of "Live and Let Die," I'd ask you to keep your calm for one second and think about this: "Paul McCartney solo" covers a lot fewer years than you probably think, and they're mostly the really terrible years when he was pulling horrific stunts like this "Temporary Secretary" fiasco from McCartney II, his first solo album after ending Wings:
While his first two post-Beatles efforts count as "solo" work, they're also most likely the result of years of songs that were written with the Beatles in mind but never made it onto any albums. It's the same reason George Harrison's first solo album was three discs and was overflowing with songs that would eventually become classics. He only got to release two songs per Beatles album, he was sitting on a lot of stuff from those years.
So was Paul McCartney, at first. After those initial albums, though, he didn't keep at it alone. He formed Wings in 1971, and for the remainder of that decade and into the early part of the '80s, Paul McCartney was still in a band and still making relatively great music, even if it wasn't Beatles great.
Then, as so many "creative geniuses" do, Paul McCartney decided he had done all he could with the band he was a member of and opted to go solo. Guess what his first solo single was after disbanding Wings?
Right, "Ebony and Ivory" was the world's reintroduction to Paul McCartney, solo artist. Sure, it's a duet, but make no mistake, it's a Paul McCartney song. And since we're having so much fun with race relations and terrible music, who wants to guess what McCartney's last U.S. Billboard No. 1 hit was?
If you correctly guessed that it was "Say Say Say," it's because you either have terrible taste in music or have lost all faith in the public's ability to make sound buying decisions. You're probably right on all counts, but definitely on the "Say Say Say" part. That was indeed Paul McCartney's last No. 1 hit, most sales undoubtedly coming on the strength of some of the most unrelentingly manly cover art of all time.
That absurd image actually does a fairly decent job of explaining what is, at least in my opinion, Paul McCartney's failing as a solo artist. To put it bluntly, Paul McCartney is corny as fuck. When there's no one else around to tame it, Paul McCartney's tendency to embrace the sappiest things in life often makes his music impossible to stomach. Great example: Try to make it all the way through "Freedom," the cringe-worthy song he released to benefit victims of 9/11:
Easy to appreciate the sentiment there, but damn if that performance doesn't feel a lot like watching your dad try to dance at a wedding. And that, unfortunately, is a pretty accurate description of Paul McCartney's solo career in general.
Adam hosts a podcast called Unpopular Opinion that you should check out right here. You should also be his friend on Twitter, Facebook and Tumblr.


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John and Frances Angelos Law Center Classroom Training
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OTS is holding training that is intended for faculty and staff which will be interfacing witht the new technology in the John and Frances Angelos Law Center clasrooms. Stop by to learn the technology within the room such as the video projector, document camera, lecture capture and more. Please RSVP to attend this session.
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Notable Features
- 450-hp V-12
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- Extensive use of aluminum
- Built at a new British factory
- Available Engines:
- 450-hp, 6.0-liter V-12 (premium)
- Transmissions:
- 6-speed manual w/OD
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Expert Snapshot
What We Like
- Exuberant performance
- Superlative handling
- Automatic-transmission operation
- Pedigree
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What We Don't Like
- Minimal backseat space
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- Forward visibility
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Standard Engine
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12 cyl.
450-hp, 6.0-liter V-12 (premium)
450-hp, 6.0-liter V-12 (premium)
Destination charge: $1,350
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* MPG may vary based on maintenance.
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