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By: Roger Riedinger, No Nonsense Magazine12 #1
We met with our pre contest workshop crew on January 27, exactly eight weeks out from the Northern Kentucky contest. Here is the workshop agenda for that session:
That's a pretty ambitious workshop session to be covered in just 75 minutes.
To get each athlete thinking along the right lines we always include a pre test for them to complete as we perform body composition metrics individually.
At eight weeks out the pre test questions included:
Answering these questions help you analyze your situation rationally, and formulate a positive action plan to reach your goals.
We start the session emphasizing the need to get the contest details taken care of early. Get your NPC (or other organization) registration card. Complete your entry form neatly and legibly. Include all your contact details. Make it easy for the promoter to contact you if he needs to inform you of anything as the contest approaches.
Another topic we include is the weigh-in. Our advice is to plan on attending the early weigh-in. Get it out of the way so you don't have to mess with it the day of the show. We also touch on courtesy at the weigh-in. If you are to weigh in your posing suit, don't wait until you are at the scale to start removing your clothing. This holds up the line for others behind you who are in just as much hurry as you. At the Northern Kentucky this year there were 250 competitors. I kept reminding them that if each competitor took just one extra minute it would set the show back more than four hours. Be considerate. For an excellent competition primer visit http://www.lindsayproductions.com/ and click on competition guidelines.
At eight weeks out you should have lost half the fat you needed to lose when you started at 16 weeks out. Remember from last issue that your sum of six skin folds needs to be 30 or less by the contest. Our average starting sum of six from the workshop participants was 64 mm. That means the average client needed to lose 34 mm by the show date. At eight weeks out he should have lost at least half of that or 17 mm. If he's lost 20 mm or more he's ahead of schedule and does not need to increase cardio. He may even get by without a diet change for a couple of more weeks.
If he's lost 15-20 mm, he's on schedule but can't relax. He needs to go to the next cardio level and start a Phase 2 diet and supplement program. A total loss to this point of less than half the amount needed will necessitate some major diet cuts and cardio increases. The numbers used in this example are for illustrative purposes, but regardless of where you started, that sum of six skin folds needs to be 30 or less by the show date (about 40 mm for women) to come in the show in peak condition.
As you can see from the illustration above, your cardio program is directly related to your progress. If you fall behind, you must up cardio. If you're behind in your fat loss, jump up two weeks on the schedule that was included in last issue's article. Another technique you should already be using is to increase your intensity (and calories burned). Make sure some of your cardio sessions are HIIT.
Your cardio program is also related to your supplement program. When you increase cardio, you must do something to preserve muscle and mobilize fat. Workshop attendees suggested Glutamine Select, Muscle Mass and Energy Reserve as must have items to preserve muscle while increasing cardio.
The athlete's diet and supplement program is determined by his progress over the previous three weeks. If he averaged a one-pound loss of fat per week he'd be right on schedule. We'd probably have him stay on the same nutritional program but go up a level on his cardio to keep the losses coming. If, on the other hand, his bodyfat losses have slowed down or stalled, it's time to go to the next diet/supplement level. (That is if he has truly been following the diet with no cheating. This is where it gets sticky for the athlete. We have to recommend a lower calorie level program to get them back on track, but they've been cheating on their current less stringent plan.)
In phase two we incorporate the Beverly Carb-Up meals on Monday and Thursday while reducing the complex carbs on the other days. As the nutrition plan becomes more strict, supplements that are designed to hold muscle and mobilize stored fat for energy become critical to your success.
Plan 2-A is the best Phase 2 diet plan for the greatest number of male competitors at eight to ten weeks out. This is the logical successor to Plan A from the Phase 1 diets. As a guide, you'll need to be in the 7-10% bodyfat range and weigh at least 175 lbs to use this diet plan. This program is pretty multi functional and heavier athletes (up to 225) can benefit.
Breakfast: 1 - Super Pak with breakfast. 3 EFA Gold with breakfast and dinner.
Each meal: 4-6 Ultra 40; 3 Mass Aminos; 3 Muscularity; and 2 Lean Out.
Training: 2-4 scoops Glutamine Select plus BCAAs and 10-20 Muscle Mass (5 Muscle Mass per scoop of Glutamine Select).
Optional for muscle acquisition: Muscle Synergy and Creatine Select plus Phosphates
Plan 2-G is for the female that needs to accelerate her fat loss at the 8-10 week out point. This is a pretty strict program and there is only one more diet cut that we could recommend. So only start this plan if you're really running behind schedule.
Meal 1: three ounces chicken breast or turkey breast; three egg whites; one-half grapefruit.
Meal 2: Option (A) Protein Drink with one or two scoops Ultimate Muscle Protein or Ultra Size, one teaspoon healthy fat source (olive oil, flax oil, almond butter).
Option (B): Three ounces chicken breast or tuna; three egg whites, one tomato.
Meal 3 (A): Five ounces chicken breast (weighed prior to cooking); two cups salad (lettuce, tomato, carrot, cucumber, green peppers, etc.) or two cups low carb vegetables; one tablespoon Newman's Own dressing ( or make your own with one tablespoon cider vinegar and one tablespoon olive oil).
Meal 4: same options as meal two (above) but no added fat to your shake. If this is the meal preceding or just after training, Muscle Provider is the optimal protein at this time.
Meal 5: five ounces chicken breast, turkey breast or 96% lean beef; two cups low carb vegetables or salad.
Meal #6 (A): four egg whites; one cup omelet vegetables (onions, celery, broccoli, peppers).
Option (B): Protein pudding mix one scoop Ultimate Muscle Protein in a bowl with just enough water to make a pudding texture. Add one teaspoon almond butter.
Carb Load Meal: On Monday and Thursday evening you will have a carb load meal as your last meal of the day. You can eat this meal right before you go to bed if you like (it'll help you sleep along with all the other benefits listed earlier). You will have this meal in place of your regularly scheduled sixth meal.
Here's what you'll eat at this meal: One cup oatmeal (measure your oatmeal before you cook it once you cook it, it'll be nearly two cups), or you can substitute one cup cooked brown rice; with your oatmeal or rice you'll also eat a five-ounce sweet potato, a small banana, and one-half cup of low carb vegetables. You'll add one teaspoon of olive oil, flax oil, almond butter, or regular butter to prolong the positive effects of the carb up meal and stabilize your blood sugar through the night.
At this point your supplement program becomes more and more important. It should be designed to burn off every possible ounce of stored fat as you maximize lean muscle retention.
Breakfast: 1 - Super Pak. Breakfast and dinner: 3 EFA Gold.
Each meal: 3 Ultra 40; 3 Muscularity; 2 Lean Out; and 1 Energy Reserve.
Training: 2 scoops Glutamine Select plus BCAAs and 10 Muscle Mass (5 Muscle Mass per scoop of Glutamine Select).
Optional: Upon arising and before retiring: take six GH Factor capsules immediately upon arising and six more before bed (or if you eat right before bed, take six GH Factor thirty minutes prior to your last meal.
At eight weeks out we recommend a training program designed to enhance fat loss while improving muscle density that includes a number of supersets. We recommend the same training program for both male and female bodybuilders. Supersets allow you to get more work done in less time. Remember, less rest between sets is one of the parameters of progress.
After you complete each superset rest 60-90 seconds and then start your next set.
Three on one off:
Day 1: Chest and Back
Day 2: Legs
Day 3: Shoulders and Arms
Day 4: Off; Repeat
Day #1 Chest, Back, Abs
Superset #1:
A. Bench Press 4-5 sets of 5-9 reps or DB Bench Press 4-5 sets of 7-10 reps
B. Chin-Ups 4-5 sets max reps per set or Lat Pulldowns 4-5 sets of 8-10 reps
Superset # 2:
A. Incline Press (BB or DB) 3-4 sets of 8-10 reps
B. Bent Over Rows (BB) 3-4 sets of 6-10 reps
Superset #3:
A. DB Flyes 3-4 sets of 10-12 reps
B. T-Bar or Cable Rows 3-4 sets of 8-12 reps
Superset #4 (Optional)
A. Cable Crossover or Pec Deck 2-3 sets of 10-15 reps
B. Close Grip Pulldown 2-3 sets of 7-10 reps
Finishing Exercise: DB Pullovers 3-4 sets of 10-15 reps
Lower Back: Hyperextensions 3 sets of 15- 20 reps.
Abs: Three or four exercises, 3-4 sets each for 15-25 reps per exercise.
You should count total reps for abs per workout with a goal of 250-350 reps total.
Day #2 Legs, Calves
Superset #1:
A. Leg Extensions 3 sets of 8-10 reps
B. Leg Press 3 sets of 8-12 reps
Superset #2:
A. Squat or Hack Squat 4 sets of 6-12 reps
B. Straight Leg Deadlift 4 sets of 10 reps
Superset #3:
A. Lunge 3 sets of 10-15 reps
B. Leg Curl 3 sets of 6-10 reps
Standing Calf Raise 4 sets of 15-20 reps
Seated Calf Raise 3 sets of 10-15 reps
Donkey Calf or Calf Press 3 sets of 20-25 reps
Day #3 Shoulders, Arms, Abs
Straight sets for shoulders:
1. Shoulder Press (machine, dumbbell, military your choice) 4 sets of 6-10 reps
2. Side Lateral Raise 3 sets of 8-10 reps
3. Rear Laterals (DB, Cable, or Machine) 3 sets of 10-12 reps
4. Side Cable Raise 3 sets of 8-12 reps
Superset #1:
A. Concentration Curl 3 sets of 6-10 reps (squeeze)
B. Triceps Pushdown 3 sets of 10-12 reps
Superset #2
A. DB Curl 3 sets of 6-10 reps
B. Lying Tricep Extension 3 sets of 8-10 reps
Superset #3
A. Barbell or Preacher Curl 3 sets of 6-8 reps
B. Close Grip Bench Press of Dips 3 sets of 10-12 reps
Triset #1
A. Reverse Curl 3 sets of 8-12 reps
B. Wrist Curl 3 sets of 12-20 reps
C. Overhead Pulley Tricep Extension (or Triceps Machine) 3 sets of 8-15 reps
Abs: Same as Day 1 (250-350 total reps)
A. Eight weeks posing practice schedule: Start at 2 sets of each pose for 10 - 15 seconds. For the next four weeks hold each pose for an additional 5 seconds each week.
Remember to start each pose from the feet up - make sure to keep flex your legs flexed, suck in your gut, lift your chest, and relax your facial muscles.
Front stance
Quarter turn to the right
Quarter turn to the rear
Quarter turn to the right
The Seven Compulsory Poses
Front Double Biceps, Front Lat Spread
Side Chest
Back Double Biceps
Back Lat Spread
Side Tricep
Abdominal pose
B. Spend most of your time practicing on your front facing pose. This is where the judging starts and first impressions are very important.
C. The Individual Routine: Six weeks out (or sooner) start working on your individual routines. Don't do any poses that do not enhance your physique just because you think they look cool. Show the judges only what you want them to see.
You can develop your routine by starting with the mandatory poses, then add a few flattering optional poses. For ideas stand front of a mirror and go through a magazine. Mimic each pose you see and determine which ones feel comfortable and flatter your strong points.
Your routine should be based solely on your strongest poses.
Select your music well in advance and make a professional quality cassette or CD. Record only the 60-90 seconds of music on which you will base your routine. Don't record the entire song. Make a posing practice cassette with your posing music recorded over and over with a 30 second delay between cuts. You can practice your routine over and over without rewinding the cassette.
D. Posing Drills
Begin with 4 15 minute early morning posing sessions per week, holding each mandatory pose for 10 seconds. Work your way around in a circle hitting every pose. After you complete all the mandatory poses, that's one set, do 2 total sets.
Each week, add 5 seconds on each pose. Six weeks out, add an evening session. You're now doing 2 sessions per day - one in the morning and another in the evening at least 4 days per week.
At 4 weeks out you'll be holding each pose for 30 seconds. The entire session may last up to 25 minutes. At your evening session start with 2 sets of 30-second holds followed by a "10-minute prejudging drill.
10-minute prejudging drill: Make a 10-minute tape where you call out quarter turns and poses just like the head judge at prejudging. This drill is tremendous for practicing quarter turns. No rest between poses; stay tight the entire drill. For variation use an actual prejudging tape from a previous show. Put it in the DVD, press play, and go through it just like you're on stage.
At six weeks out add your 60 or 90-second (according to the contest rules) posing routine to music 3 times back to back to end your evening session.
Do 2 posing sessions Monday through Friday, Saturday one long session, and Sundays off.
E. Points to remember
You will often be asked to hold the front facing pose on stage much longer than the others. You should continue to hold this stance anytime you are on stage throughout the show when you are not being directly judged or as others are "called out". Never completely relax and always keep your legs tensed.
Practice hitting the poses with your eyes closed and then opening them to see if you are hitting each pose correctly. Remember, on stage you have no mirror.
It is not necessary to complete all of your posing "sets" at one session, but be sure to complete all scheduled "sets" of each posing round - facings, mandatories, prejudging individual routine, and evening presentation with music - by the end of each day.
Posing sessions are one of the key factors in developing hardness and muscle separation - you can't pose too much!
We usually have two more sessions, one at six weeks and another at four weeks out. The emphasis during Phase 3 is perfecting your tan and stage presence. If an athlete has followed the Phase 1 and Phase 2 nutrition, training, and posing programs with precision and self discipline, he rarely needs to make big changes during Phase 3.
We have constructed an 80-page Beverly Pre Contest Workshop Manual and Study Guide. This workbook contains all the info we share with workshop attendees during the sixteen weeks leading up to their contest. There's more than a dozen diet plans, four workout plans, cardio schedules, presentation tips, final week peaking plans, and everything else you need to know to get ready for a contest (even how to enter a contest and pack your bag for it).
|Here are a few of the Beverly Bodybuilding Workshop participants as they competed at the 2007 Northern Kentucky.
© Beverly InternationalBack to top


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Despite long-term debt of $350 million, the Archdiocese of Philadelphia has no plans to seek bankruptcy protection, its chief financial officer said.
The church is committed instead to bringing its annual operating expenses into balance within a few years, CFO Tim O'Shaughnessy said in an interview, and will sell off real estate to bring down its long-term debt.
Earlier this month Archbishop Charles J. Chaput pulled aside the curtain that his predecessors had kept around church finances for decades. The archdiocese incurred a $39 million deficit for fiscal 2012, he revealed, and was carrying hundreds of millions of dollars in long-term debt.

subset: commoncrawl


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Edward Christopher Sukol, 14, was on the verge of suicide when he turned his gun on his abusive stepfather and killed him on Aug. 30, 1989, Sukol's defense attorney said yesterday.
In a motion filed in Montgomery County Court, attorney Thomas Johnson said his client was relentlessly abused, physically and psychologically, with punishments ranging from beatings - sometimes five a week - to belittling him in front of teachers and friends.
The boy, who lived with his stepfather in Massachusetts, was terrified to tell anyone for fear he would be killed - or, to him even worse, put in a mental hospital, according to two psychiatrists' reports attached to the motion.


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The Presidents of The University of Texas-Pan American and The University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College have made a friendly wager on the outcome of the historic volleyball match between the two schools at 7 p.m. Thursday, November 1, at the UTPA Fieldhouse.
It's the first recorded athletic competition in season between the Valley's two universities since 1950.
"UTPA is looking forward to this renewed friendly rivalry that we hope will become a tradition for years to come between the two South Texas campuses," UTPA President Dr. Blandina Cárdenas said. "I think the Rio Grande Valley is ready for another match-up between these two spirited teams."
"I have very much enjoyed working closely with UTPA and with President Cárdenas on many different issues," UTB/TSC President Dr. Juliet V. Garcia said. "But I also enjoy a bit of friendly competition on the field. So, I'm very excited about the renewal of the rivalry in athletics between UTB/TSC and UTPA."
To celebrate the historic match, Cárdenas and Garcia decided to make a friendly wager on the outcome of the match -- the loser will wear the collegiate apparel of the other university during a workday.
"Dr. Garcia and I have decided to have a little fun with it and make this friendly wager between ourselves," Cárdenas said. "UTPA is definitely up for the challenge and may the best team win. Of course, we know that our UTPA Lady Broncs will come out on top."
Garcia's response: "I wish our Scorpions the best of luck and suggest that they play hard and 'Sting' em hard,' " a phrase used at UTB/TSC.
UTPA is a member of the NCAA Division I, and has played athletics as a four-year institution since 1952. The Broncs have won 10 matches and lost 16 so far this year.
UTB/TSC is in its second year as a member of the NAIA, after more than 70 years competing as a junior college. So far this year, the Scorpions have won 27 matches and lost six, and are ranked No. 20 in nation by the NAIA.
"Should the Scorpions win, I am prepared to honor our friendly wager and wear UTB/TSC's blue and orange attire with pride," Cárdenas said. "No matter the outcome, UTPA and UTB/TSC have and will always remain each other's best allies in higher education."
When asked how she would feel wearing UTPA's green and orange, Garcia replied, "Let me put it this way, I've been told I look much better in blue and orange."


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Charity shops are feeling the pinch
Educational charity Ort has closed its only fundraising store as reduced donations, high rents and cash-strapped customers have taken their toll on Jewish charity shops.
Ort's Finchley shop was shut down because of rising rent. "It was never really making that much money," explained British Ort chairman Simon Alberga.
"We had a disagreement with the landlord over what the rent should be and have been planning the closure since then. In the current environment, it's not the best time to relocate."
Other charity retailers are also feeling the pinch. At the Jewish Association for the Mentally Ill's store in Golders Green, assistant manager Max Minkoff reported "very difficult" trading conditions. "We get less donations. If people have something worthwhile, they will sell it on eBay rather than take it into a charity shop.
"This shop is essential. It can't close down because it not only raises money but provides work for some of the sufferers we care for. They come in regularly to help out."
Welfare charity the Manchester Jewish Federation runs two shops and fundraising manager Rochelle Broman said they were struggling to compete with sales and discounts being promoted elsewhere.
"Other shops have sales the whole time now and shoppers are also holding on to their clothes longer so it's affecting donations too."
Beth Dove, an assistant at the Golders Green branch of All Aboard, which distributes proceeds to other Jewish charities, also reported a dramatic fall in donated goods.
"People go to Primark now and have stopped buying expensive items and so the quality of items we are donated is just not good.
"We've had to lower the cost of our items to compete. We're making less money — it's fallen by about 10 per cent."
Browsing the shelves at the Norwood shop in Golders Green — which receives regular donations from leading high street retailers — Maryanne Sebag said she looked in at least once a week. "I buy a lot of things to give as presents like ornaments and antiques. They've always got unusual and innovative items.
"But recently they haven't had enough donations and it's getting harder to find good things. The shop used to have tremendous choice."
On a positive note, All Aboard retail management executive Jack Cohen pointed out: "We've even opened some new shops in the past two years. We've found the community have been extremely supportive.
"Now more than ever, it's important to support Jewish charities who are struggling."


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U-Pick at Steve Frank Farms, Inc.
The brilliant flavor of our fruit is something that can only be achieved by ripening on the vine. The nutritional value of the fruit is increased substantially if it is allowed to ripen on the vine naturally. This is something that you just cant buy in a store.
Strawberry Strawberry season usually starts the first week of June and lasts about 3 weeks. We feature the very popular and sweet tasting Jewel Strawberries. This berry is great for freezing or eating fresh with ice cream or shortcake. Its fabulous color, shape and taste will make you want to pick more and more..
Cherry The tart cherry U-Pick is located on Deans Hill Rd. in Berrien Center, MI. Cherry season begins the first of July and normally lasts for 10 to 14 days. We have a cherry pitter where you can have your cherries pitted for free. Bring the entire family for a day of fun out in the country.
Pumpkins Our Pumpkin U-Pick begins at the start of October and lasts until the 31st. This fall, start a family tradition that you and your kids will always remember-celebrate the season with a family outing to the Steve Frank Farms Pumpkin Patch!
Our U-Pick is located at 8249 Deans Hill Rd. in Berrien Center, MI 49102. Our hours of operation are 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Daily from mid May thru Mid November. See the Maps Page for directions. You can always check out the "What's Picking Now" page for what is currently available or call 269-461-3455 for more information about the U-pick.
Sign-up for Email notification when crops are ready to pick
Quick Pick List
Average picking times:
Asparagus Mid May
Black & Red Raspberries
Late June-July
First of July
End of July to First of September
End of September
Mid June - Oct
[ Home Page | Whats Picking Now | Chicago Farmers Markets | Store | Cherry Juice | Purple Asparagus | Frozen Black Raspberries | Frozen Cherries | Frozen Blueberries | Frozen Peaches | Frozen Red Raspberries | Frozen Rhubarb | Frozen Strawberries | UPick | Health Links | Road Maps | Festivals | Wines and Jams ]
8249 Deans Hill Road, Berrien Center, MI 49102


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It's a vanishing art that some Manchester students are rediscovering as they learn about the sacrifices of American soldiers.
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It's that time again – Friday's Hunt! The fun weekly photohunt hosted by Teresa at Eden Hills. Each week she provides three prompts and those participating can post photos for 1, 2 or all three. You can join in at any time. This week's prompts are:
- Starts with I
- Week's Favorite
- Pink
Starts with I
Thelma is inside the fence looking at the other goats who are not inside the fence. They were very inventive about working their way out through some unattached fencing.
I told them not to go out through the hold in the fence but they ignored me. As you can see. Louise has instigated a full goat break out 'cause I am sure the grass is greener on the other side
What say you Thelma?
The sky was amazing the other night. The sunset left streaks of pink under the clouds. But the bigger show was in the northeast.
The afterset was a pink a palooza. Watching it in real time was like watching a light show. It was glorious.
Week's Favorite
I can't go without at least one cat photo. And it could almost fulfill the pink prompt since Harry's little pink tongue is present. I took this while Harry was in a complete state of bliss while being pet. He was purring so loudly I think they could hear him in the next town over. He was one happy cat.
I hope you enjoyed this week's photos. Be sure to head over to Eden Hills to check out all of the other photos for Friday's Hunt.


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Sunriver Brewing Company
Just about any place you find on TravelOregon.com can be added to your own Oregon Roadtrippers Account. Find out how.
Get on the road with Roadtrippers
We've partnered with Roadtrippers to provide a great way to plan a trip around Oregon. So start planning your next road trip to here, there or pretty much anywhere in Oregon.
Delicious locally-brewed beers, food and children's play area. Open 11am – 11pm Fri & Sat and
11am – 10pm Sun -Thurs.
- Family Friendly
What's around here? Location & Nearby Things to See & Do
These maps and directions are for planning purposes only. You may find that construction projects, traffic, or other events may cause road conditions to differ from the map results. For travel options, weather and road conditions, visit tripcheck.com, call 511 (in Oregon only), 800.977.6368 or 503.588.2941.
Is any of the information on this page incorrect?
A related Trip Idea
Summer Ale Trail
Sunshine, trail time, lazy rivers and late night campfires: That's what an Oregon summer looks like. Now find out what it tastes like. Oregon craft brewers have bottled up your daydreams to celebrate the season. Here are some summer ales pouring…


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Here we describe a comprehensive assay that enables researchers to identify SNP, INDEL, CNV, and LOH using SureSelect target enrichment. This design can be employed as a standalone entity or in concert with other bait designs for SNP and INDEL detection. We also describe methods for data analysis and visualization.
We investigated the specific targeting of endoplasmic reticulum and trans-Golgi network in Chinese hamster ovarian cells using functionalised nanotags. The targeting was examined using the combined 3D SERS and Raman imaging method.
Power Decoder (written in R and Python) simulates shRNA pooled screening experiments in silico to allow for the estimation of a screen's statistical power. Populations of shRNAs were engineered in such a way that the magnitude of depletion and enrichment was known, then using the negative binomial distribution, an in silico model was developed to successfully resemble data from an actual laboratory experiment.
RNAi global collaboration study using Lincode siRNA in a primary screen of tumor and nontumor breast cell lines. Hundreds of lncRNAs are found to affect viability and cell morphology of breast cancer. Presented at Keystone Symposia on Long Noncoding RNAs: From Evolution to Function, Mar 15 - Mar 20, 2015.
From this study, the pain killers sampled were found to have large error bars suggesting that there exist counterfeit drugs in the market. The brands mostly affected for analysis of acetaminophen were panadol, action, P500, P5500, elymol and neladol. The error bars for caffeine analysis were quite low indicating that all tablets either counterfeit or original maintained the same amount of this active ingredient.
Generally, honey samples recorded very low concentrations of As compared to the other heavy metals determined in this study. The highest concentration of As was recorded in honey sample from Nairobi with a value of 0.03±0.01 ppm. All the values recorded were within the KEBS permitted value of 0.5 ppm in food according to Kenya Bureaue of Standards, 1996.
This study demonstrated elevated levels of the two metals (that is iron and titanium) in termitaria soil compared to the surrounding soils. Termitaria are very important bioturbators and can therefore be used as preliminary step in mineral prospecting since they provide an indication of the potential of the positive anomaly, and enables a judgment on the scale of the metal accumulation
We describe an optimized small RNA NGS library prep workflow using chemically modified adapters which suppresses adapter dimers, allows for RNA inputs down to 1 ng and eliminates the need for a gel purification step, thus allowing full automation not previously possible.
This poster shows how Rheometry and GPC can be complementary tools for characterising the behaviour of polysaccharides in solution
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'Black Swan" is at once gorgeous and gloriously nutso, a trippy, twisted fantasy that delights and disturbs in equal measure.
Darren Aronofsky takes the same stripped-down fascination with, and appreciation for, the minutiae of preparation that he brought to his Oscar-nominated "The Wrestler" - the best film of 2008, according to yours truly - and applies it to the pursuit of a different kind of artistry: ballet. All the intimate, behind-the-scenes moments are there, the matter-of-fact glimpses of the tricks that go into the performance as well as the toll this demanding activity takes on the body.
But then the director mixes in a wildly hallucinatory flair as "Black Swan" enters darker psychological territory. Working with his frequent cinematographer, Matthew Libatique, and incorporating some dazzling visual effects, Aronofsky spins a nightmare scenario within a seemingly gentle, pristine world. The camera swoops and swoons, making us feel as off-kilter as the film's tormented heroine. The visions and dreams soar seriously over-the-top at times, but always knowingly so, and with great style; "Black Swan" wallows in its grandiosity, and if you're willing to go along with it, you'll find yourself wowed by one of the best films of the year.
Article Photos
Natalie Portman earned a Golden Globe nomination for her portrayal of a troubled ballerina in this behind-the-scenes and into-the-psyche look at the world of ballet.
Fox SearchLight photo via AP
Natalie Portman gives it her all, physically and mentally, in a brave and demanding performance as Nina, a driven New York City ballerina who has zero life outside of dance. Portman had studied ballet growing up, but "Black Swan" required a grueling regimen of training five hours a day, everyday, for 10 months before production even began.
Innocently enduring a sheltered existence with her smothering mother, Erica (a deeply creepy Barbara Hershey), a former ballet dancer herself now living vicariously through her daughter, Nina is stuck in a state of arrested development. She's immensely talented and dedicated but still a child inside, as evidenced by the fluffy stuffed bunnies that populate her girly-pink bedroom, and the way her mommy still tucks her in at night.
When it comes time to stage a bold, new production of "Swan Lake," the company's artistic director (a skeevy and manipulative Vincent Cassel) thinks Nina is perfect to play the White Swan. But he needs a dancer who also can portray the fierce sexuality of the Black Swan. Enter Lily (Mila Kunis), a savvy and confident newcomer who represents Nina's biggest threat to getting the lead role. So yes, the script from Mark Heyman and Andres Heinz and John McLaughlin does have its obvious influences -"The Red Shoes," ''The Turning Point" and "All About Eve" among them - and yet "Black Swan" emerges as a fascinating entity all its own.
Fact Box
"Black Swan" stars Natalie Portman, Mila Kunis, Barbara Hershey and Vincent Cassel. Darren Aronoksky directs. Nominated for Golden Globes including best drama, best director and Best Actress, it is rated R for strong sexual content, disturbing violent images, language and some drug use. Its running time is 1:50. It screens at 8 p.m. Sunday in Castle Theater at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center as part of the Maui Film Festival's FirstLight series.
Nina snags the part, with Lily as her understudy. The two women don't exactly become friends but achieve a sort of competitive symbiosis; the deeper Nina gets into rehearsals, the more she sees Lily in her mind, both as a frightening force and as the kind of woman she'd like to be. The fact that Portman and Kunis resemble each other in features and stature greatly enhances this effect - and yes, the hotly anticipated love scene between the two is indeed hot.
But Nina also sees her body transforming, morphing grotesquely as she finds both the white and black swans within herself, with the romantic but rough ballet costumes from the fashion designers known as Rodarte almost becoming an extension of her body. Or does she? By blending realism with fantastical elements, Aronofsky continuously keeps us guessing as to what's actually happening and what's a figment of Nina's imagination.
One thing's for certain, though: "Black Swan" will leave you feeling stunned as you leave the theater. And humming Tchaikovsky.


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Online weekly certification is available - even if the initial application was done via paper. It is convenient, and participating employees will receive benefits faster by avoiding paper mail delays. Please note that if you certify online, plan participants must also certify online.
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Interview: Robert Yang on Translating the Gay Experience Into Games
Cover Story: The philosophy behind some of gaming's most subversive FPS mods.
or many, Half-Life 2 represents the pinnacle of the first-person shooter experience. It had everything: An immersive environment, a compelling story, amazing visuals and most of importantly of all, the ability to players feel as though they truly mattered. Yet, in spite of its overwhelming popularity, only a small percentage of its fans know about the collection of experimental art-house mods that eventually followed.
Robert Yang's "Radiator" series is a part of this cadre. Set within the modern world, his slice-of-life vignettes are absent the usual outsized ant lions and parasitic crustaceans. Instead, they deal with things closer to home: Awkward dates, the constellations, troubled marriages, reconciliation, and how people are seldom dissimilar from one another.
"In a way, [Handle With Care] isn't about gay rights at all -- but that's also perhaps why it's almost entirely about gay rights," Robert Yang wrote in an article that The Escapist published in 2009. "It's about how a gay person's life has all the humor, pain, happiness and anxiety of a straight person's life, how the two are otherwise indistinguishable -- and yet gay marriage is still recognized as mere 'partnership,' a transaction devoid of emotion."
Yang feels it essential to make "games with gay people in them" despite the fact that straight people usually identify best with video games about straight people. "If I can't escape from reality through video games, you shouldn't either. Because games about gay people are unpopular and unprofitable, and thus no one else will make them. Because before we decorate your house, you need to understand where we're coming from."
Yet, when asked about his opinion on how mainstream video game industry handles the concept of non-heterosexuality, Yang was almost surprisingly kind.
"Generally, I cut the mainstream industry some slack -- the climate is so risk-averse that it's a miracle when they get to make something compelling, much less invest heavily in writing and narrative design. I talk to so many industry people who have much more radical design opinions than their stakeholders and customers will allow them to express in their work. (However, there are just as many who are totally oblivious.) I suppose BioWare is leading the charge in this arena, and I think they do really well given the constraints they have."
Nonetheless, Yang still betrays a hint of cynicism. Though he acknowledges the fact that the sector has grown far braver in its willingness to address gay themes, he also stated that it "makes sense for their corporate image.
"The gay brand is really profitable," he notes. "EA, pushing out its anti-homophobia message, was a really effective marketing/PR tactic. Homophobia is getting to be so unprofitable and damaging these days, and anyway, money is the only way to talk to an industry. I guess the real question is whether bravery, motivated by a marketing strategy, is still bravery. I'm more tempted to say yes."
Despite his approval of BioWare's attempts to address the diverse spectrum of sexualities in the world, he noted that their games handle sex itself somewhat strangely.
"In Bioware games, sex is the result of talking to an NPC, saying pleasant things to them, then watching some barely PG-13 dry humping. I doubt that's how most people think of sex: Meaningless fun, a source of anxiety, a vector for infection, a trophy, a sacred link, a transaction, a service. Sex is one of the most compelling interactions in the realm of human experience, and the best we can do is a cut scene that you get by (easily) manipulating others?"
Conversely, Yang feels that many of the renowned indie developers who engage such issues are, in general, more interested in gender. Both the gaming world and our society still have a lot of trouble dealing with issues of misogyny, women and transgender people. "In comparison, me and all my gay male problems are boring and last season." Yang quips. "Yes, homophobia is still pervasive and exists everywhere, but I automatically enjoy privilege from people assuming I'm straight and male."
Has any game ever succeeded in portraying non-heterosexual figures accurately? Yang thinks it's still difficult to say; the industry is still learning to tell stories with interaction. "Most game characters are still refrigerators with guns," he laments.
Yang questions if games were truly a good way to educate people about sexuality of any nature. "It's like saying pornography teaches you how to be a great lover -- it doesn't. It's fake. What looks good rarely feels as good, so if you interact with this totally mechanical depiction of relationships, no matter how intricate the system, you have to treat it as fantasy. You can never translate any of this 'emotional insight' to outside the game system because Mass Effect [or Dragon Age], like pornography, must be easily comprehensible."
At the same time, however, he sees potential for games to illustrate identity and experience if the rhetoric is framed correctly. "Instead of saying 'this is how relationships are,' instead say 'this is how a transgender person dealt with body image at this particular time and place,' or, 'this is how you feel when you get manipulated, even though you thought you were in a position of power.' I think a good game about relationships / sexuality will actually question how it goes about abstracting it."
Unlike some figures within the industry, Yang does not see effeminate-acting gay men as an anathema. "The swishy-hair, wrist-flapping, more effeminate dude often gets dismissed as a stereotype that's supposed to be erased, but many forget that they're not stereotypes, they're also our friends and family."
"It takes some real balls to be foppish in public, even today, and I admire men who can do that. I don't think the flamboyant need to be 'assimilated.' Effeminate representations of men are not the problem; people who are intolerant of others are the problem. It's like trying to fix a leaky faucet by totally changing your way of life and how you carry yourself in public... instead of fixing that leaky faucet."
Yang's current project is a first-person sex education game entitled CondomCorps. "The main mechanic involves staring at men's bulges and shooting a correctly-sized condom to them, which is kind of a voyeuristic/sex positive/homo-erotic thing... but it's also disarmingly silly and camp."
Comments (54)
As a white, straight, male...Posted: Jun 25, 2012 12:00AM PST by Urethra_Alfredo
...I think I've been catered to quite enough by, oh, I don't know, every fucking form of media ever?
There are plenty of females...and homosexuals...and blacks, asians, hispanics...who have to sit there and play as a cockswinging white guy in the majority of the games they play.
And yet no one wants to make a game or two to cater to the countless other demographics that play games? Even more, no one wants to concede that maybe, in a medium that's all about "becoming the protagonist," these demographics even deserve to be catered to?
Is this...is this a joke? Are you all joking?
I'm not gay and am really, painfully white, but I'm a big boy. I don't mind having a good game feature a gay or non-Caucasian character, because:
1) All demographics deserve to have protagonists that represent them, and
2) I'm getting sick and fucking tired of playing a straight, white guy. I've been doing that shit since the Sega fucking Genesis. You don't have to be gay to want to experience games from other people's perspectives.
***And if your primary complaint with this issue is that "a magical man in the sky told a guy to a write a book this one time, so ergo, ALL GAYS ARE SUPER-DUPER-EVIL, then you simply cannot be reasoned with. There is no logic that will sway you from your ridiculously righteous, hateful zealotry. Please don't even respond to this.
IMHOPosted: Jun 25, 2012 12:00AM PST by echosauce
the way to rectify this is to go the way games have been ala Mass Effect, Skyrim, etc.
Give the player choice to design their character as they see fit and give them the choice to make decisions in the same way. Programming this may be more difficult, but next gen should mean something right?
Well SaidPosted: Jul 08, 2012 12:00AM PST by Darkstrider311
Couldn't agree more, I honestly welcome more diversity to play as other characters that aren't caucasian and straight.
bravo 1upPosted: Jun 25, 2012 12:00AM PST by soulsaver
Great to see an article tackling this topic, especially with Pride season all around. Never thought I'd see a headline with "Gay" in it. I like what Yang is saying, he's showing how gay people, while for the most part on the defensive, don't need to lash out to fight for their rights or individual self-expression. I feel like what Mass Effect did, that is, letting you define your character's sexuality, is a great step in the right direction.
Also check out this great video on why sexual diversity is important in video games and storytelling:
Title of commentPosted: Jun 25, 2012 12:00AM PST by LordSephiran
Honestly, I don't care if they put the option to be gay in games. However, I would prefer to not have it waved in my face. In other words, if they want to give you an option of so many people to pursue, and say 2 or 3 of them are gay options, fine! However if the main character was gay and there was nothing you could do about it? Eh, that would be kind of awkward. I'm fine with givin the gays havin more choices in games, just.. keep em to yourself as much as possible, please. :P
responsePosted: Jun 25, 2012 12:00AM PST by soulsaver
wow, so you just wouldn't play such a game if that was the character? that's close to saying: I'm not gonna play GTA San Andreas cause the main character is black. It's not quite the same, I admit, and I'm definitely not implying that you're racist, but my point is, if that's the kind of character the creators made for the narrative, it's going to be vital to the experience.
haha, wowPosted: Jun 25, 2012 12:00AM PST by SoliceKirsk
Now i'm not the most PC person in the world but you basically just said its fine to be gay if they stay in the closet and out of your way. Do you also think they should have their own drinking fountains and schools? I'm just gonna ssume this was a joke...
Something worth notingPosted: Jun 25, 2012 12:00AM PST by SuperVF1S
"If I can't escape from reality through video games, you shouldn't either. Because games about gay people are unpopular and unprofitable, and thus no one else will make them. Because before we decorate your house, you need to understand where we're coming from."
Overall I thought the article was a good way to present a different way of thinking. It might be beneficial and ground breaking to present gay characters...but this comment screams attention seeking 10 year old in Walmart.
So if you can't have something, no one can? That's literally a comment that a child would say so that they wouldn't have to share a toy or something... Surely the interviewee can come up with a better arguement than something a boy would say to not share with his sister...
commentPosted: Jun 25, 2012 12:00AM PST by SoliceKirsk
Also using the stereotype that all homosexuals are interior designers as well. I think it was intended to be a little more tongue in cheek than it came out though.
A message for everyonePosted: Jun 25, 2012 12:00AM PST by SuperVF1S
I want to applaude those commenting on this article. With the topic of gay/straight issues, especially on the internet, I rarely see civility within the conversations. I know my comment is random, I just felt that for the most part everyone has shown respect to each other in a topic that, at least I see, as does not respect for each other as much as they should.
Cause if your not with em your against em right?Posted: Jun 24, 2012 12:00AM PST by hamforgrass
Its as though the gay communighty dosen't want to be equals they want to flaunt they're sexualightly in every single medium or else they feel slighted by said medium.It's like oh has doom guys choice of a partner come up yet? NO , that must mean the game is against the gay communighty. Gaming is fairly progressive and liberal and thats a good thing, but why the fuck do we really need to worry about wether someones lifestyle is catered to?Why do games need to be a gay expirence now? Look I feel as though this is the sort of thing that really alienates people towards the gay communighty as a whole, I feel like you should be equals not force everyone to think about your sex life constantly.But hey mabey i'm weird I don't think gays and straight people are all that diffrent or that its even diffrent enough to be worth worrying about or noting.
harnforgrassPosted: Jun 24, 2012 12:00AM PST by BrokenH
Well, why should games cater to horny heterosexuals? Why should there be so many babes to sleep with in The Witcher? Damn straight bros....ALWAYS trying to push their agendas man! Why do all games need a straight experience?!
Joking aside, I get your point. Not all games should be made to cater to every lifestyle. (That's impossible to do anyway) But it wouldn't hurt if a few more titles "included" more diverse points of view.
CryPosted: Jun 24, 2012 12:00AM PST by NippleHair
Cry about it, bitch.
soulsaverPosted: Jun 25, 2012 12:00AM PST by BrokenH
Apologies if the "catering word" was misunderstood. What I meant to say is it will be good to have more games with gay reprsentation but at the same time it shouldn't be expected for every game to. I say this simply because every writer and every story board artist has different insights. Not everyone knows what it is like to be gay and not everyone has gay friends. (Though it'll be great if empathy and acceptance towards homosexuality spreads even further)
The last paragraph really blows it for mePosted: Jun 24, 2012 12:00AM PST by JOYFUL_NOISE
I really don't see what the game hopes to accomplish. I wouldn't respect it if I was shooting condoms into a vagina either. I really liked the article but that just left a "bad after tast in my mouth".
Also this word "camp". I honestly have never seen it used untill all these cover stories popped up. I get the gist of what it means but it's main use seems to excuse things for being lewd.
Camp just means cheesey.Posted: Jun 24, 2012 12:00AM PST by AttemptsAtObjectivity
I guess you must be pretty young not to be familiar with that word.
IDK isPosted: Jun 24, 2012 12:00AM PST by JOYFUL_NOISE
23 young to you?
Drawing blanksPosted: Jun 23, 2012 12:00AM PST by octoberfleshed
on what characters are overtly straight in video games. I mean, Duke Nukem and Marcus Fenix are, but I can't think of anyone else that is...weird.
Well...Posted: Jun 23, 2012 12:00AM PST by NoIdea
There is a certain societal standard of heterosexuality being the norm and so if a character is not explicitely shown as deviating from that norm they are assumed to be straight.
Though if you think a bit about it you'll come up with more, just think of any game that has a husband/wife or boyfriend/girlfriend storyline.
A damn near majority of NES era games had a guy rescuing a significant other. Hell, Bimmy and Jimmy from Double Dragon were so straight they double-teamed up to rescue their girlfriend.
@NoldeaPosted: Jun 23, 2012 12:00AM PST by octoberfleshed
True enough, but I think that's more or less because a majority of the audience is straight. Either way, I'm just saying I don't think that many people put too much thought into whether their on screen avatar is straight or gay. I could be wrong, especially considering I've got no data on the matter.
id rather leave sexual preference outPosted: Jun 22, 2012 12:00AM PST by Iamsmartyouarenot
"Yang feels it essential to make "games with gay people in them" despite the fact that straight people usually identify best with video games about straight people. If I can't escape from reality through video games, you shouldn't either. "
I'd rather just leave sexual preference out of games altogether. I dont need to relate to my characters sexual preference to enjoy a game. Thats just stupid. People try to make everything about sex/sexuality. And frankly, i dont give a damn.
Hey guys, do you think donkey kong likes to screw other male monkeys or does he like to stick it to lady monkeys? i need to know, my enjoyment of the game depends on it...
Couldn't agree morePosted: Jun 23, 2012 12:00AM PST by JOYFUL_NOISE
"I'd rather just leave sexual preference out of games altogether. I dont need to relate to my characters sexual preference to enjoy a game. Thats just stupid. People try to make everything about sex/sexuality. And frankly, i dont give a damn."
Can't Disagree MorePosted: Jun 23, 2012 12:00AM PST by amightysquall958
I find that attitudes such as these are simply not productive. It's like the balcklash to narrative heavy games--"Why should I care about game narratives? Tetris is awesome, and there's no story! Therefore story is unnecessary." Such arguments, while they may have SOME point (e.g. you don't need a narrative to make a great game, but this does not mean we should never have narratives in games) have an undertone of disdain against those who seek out different gaming experiences. It's dismissive.
But back to the subject matter: issues sex/sexuality/gender don't have to and shouldn't be shoehorned in to every game--I also don't care where Donkey Kong likes to stick his banana--but that doesn't mean that we should avoid it for games like Fallout or Mass Effect where doing so would be to the detriment of the believability and immersiveness of the game world.
You can have your sexless/genderless/whathaveyou games--you're welcome to them! I like some of them too--but don't poo-poo (or bar me from playing) games of my preference.
@amightPosted: Jun 23, 2012 12:00AM PST by Iamsmartyouarenot
fair enough
@IamsmartyouarenotPosted: Jun 23, 2012 12:00AM PST by amightysquall958
Thanks for appreciating my opinion.
Now let's just pray the internet doesn't implode from the presence of ACTUAL CIVILITY.
This is one of the worst things I've seen on 1up.Posted: Jun 22, 2012 12:00AM PST by ghost_of_gamemaster4747
Apparently avoiding Skyrim isn't enough. It is on this gaming site as well. Go ahead and hate on me if you want. It is my belief that gay is wrong. God's word doesn't change with the times. I don't hate people with gay feelings, I just hate what they do when engaging in unnatural sex. I have withheld my comments on gay matters in the stories, but this one directly relates. This "story" should not exist.
Oh yeah, if you hate me for being anti-homosexual, you are being a hypocrite when saying not to hate. I have a right to my beliefs.
Please.Posted: Jun 22, 2012 12:00AM PST by Keefman -X-
Just go away forever.
you doPosted: Jun 22, 2012 12:00AM PST by Glassjaw_Matt
you have the right to your own beliefs and you are welcome to express your opinion. You're not the only one in the world who doesn't believe in Gay relationships and that's fine. While I do not share the same opinion as you, you should realize that this article is exploring how gay relationships are depicted in video games. Just like Straight relationships, Gay characters and relationships in video games are exagerrated, and this article is interviewing someone who both thinks the depiction should be more authentic, but who also enjoys the "silly and camp" nature of it.
Everyone is free to have their own beliefs, but you have to be willing to open your mind to other peoples beliefs as well. It's not to change yours, but to get a better perspective : )
...Posted: Jun 22, 2012 12:00AM PST by Ryumanjisen
Go ahead and hate on me if you want. It is my belief that being anti-gay is wrong. I don't hate people with anti-gay feelings, I just hate what they do when talk such nosense.
Oh yeah, if you hate me for being anti-anti-gay, you are being a hypocrite when saying not to hate. I have a right to my beliefs
My motherPosted: Jun 23, 2012 12:00AM PST by kingsharkboi
grew up in a school in vietnam that didn't accept students writing with their left hand. They forced her to write with her right hand. My mom is a lefty. She was born that way. It may not be even close to the majority of what humans are born with, and will never be anytime soon. Is being lefty "wrong", even if the actions they perform (such as writing with their left hand) are completely harmless to you?
Because right now you're kinda being just as unaccepting as my mother's school.
Uh OhPosted: Jun 23, 2012 12:00AM PST by Danimosity
If you avoided Skyrim because it gives you the option of having a same sex partner, then I have some bad news for you. In real life you have that same option. Looks like suicide is the only way.
I'm glad you posted this responsePosted: Jun 23, 2012 12:00AM PST by cfoote87
Firstly, I don't think homosexuality is wrong. I do applaud you for your comment though. Yang talks about a market of homosexual males; conversely, you represent another market of gamers who thinks that homosexuality is wrong. Fine.
The necessary compromise to me seems simple: allow homosexuality as an option within the game. You do not need choose homosexuality as your sexuality.
Sexuality need not be intrusive - whether straight or gay - in a game.
If a gamer believes homosexuality is a sin, then do not make your character gay. You're still adhering to your religious beliefs, whilst allowing others to create an experience that is more relavent to their reality.
did you knowPosted: Jun 25, 2012 12:00AM PST by soulsaver
that NOT ALL beliefs are protected by our Constitution? Sure, you have the right to believe whatever you want, AS LONG as it isn't directly harmful or pejorative to anyone else's life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness. Which is what your anti-gay beliefs are. You want to deny millions of people partnership and love. Until more people and the government officially recognizes this, we have to fight people like you. So no, we are not hypocrites for hating on your hate.
A Story of Being WrongPosted: Jun 25, 2012 12:00AM PST by Chuck_the_Plant
When I was growing up, I agreed with the author of this post. I thought that as a Christian I should love all people but hate sin. And I regarded homosexuality as sin, because that's what I'd been taught and what passages in the Bible said. I said terrible things about homosexuality, things I thought were well intentioned and kind, but were in fact hurtful and ignorant, things that hurt gay people I said them to. And I walked around with a smile and a light heart believing that I was doing good.
Over the years, my beliefs changed. My roommate in college was gay, and became my best friend. He was also a believer, and watching him struggle with his own sexual inclinations in the context of his faith, working through his pain with him, seeing the witness of his personal goodness, these things helped open my eyes to the fact that my assumptions and previous beliefs about homosexuality were in error.
I reexamined why I believed what I did. I went back to scripture and source texts, reviewed commentary, even did some original language work (I read Greek pretty well). I talked with and listened to people I trusted. I looked at the evidence in front of my own eyes. And I prayed.
In the end, I repented, and moved beyond my childish belief about homosexuality. To think that an agent of love like Jesus could be so petty as to despise a person on the grounds of which physical features he or she prefers...it's ludicrous, and it's hard for me to think that I believed it for so long. Gay people aren't evil, and being attracted to and physically intimate with members of the same sex isn't sin.
A nice thing about Christianity is that it is about new beginnings, which means I had a chance to change my behavior after being so wrong. I've spent the last decade or so trying to help other Christians understand that being gay isn't a matter of sin. Sometimes I ever succeed a little.
Sorry for the sermon. It's just nice to know that people can change.
ThoughtsPosted: Jun 22, 2012 12:00AM PST by BrokenH
I always got the feeling Bioware would be more risque if the studio was allowed to be. Yang proves gaming still has a lot of growing up to do better than most other people shouting the same thing at the top of their lungs.
I also like how he's "gentle" when addressing the mainstream. Aka, his conversation didn't derail itself with the usual "victims being oppressed/noone understands us/heterosexuals are narrowminded bigots" rhetoric.
Yang also has a healthy stance on effeminate gays. Aka, they're not just a steroetype. They're actual people.
I never knew of Robert before but he's made a wonderful first impression!
And on the other hand.Posted: Jun 22, 2012 12:00AM PST by NoIdea
Not only is there the awkward gay-bashing that occurs when a man is overtly effeminate there is the other side that I have seen as well. That is there is an expectation for a gay man to have many overtly effeminate qualities and there is a weird mistrust of homosexual men who don't come across as fitting the expected stereotype.
And that is just as offensive. At least to me.
That's a very interesting point...Posted: Jun 22, 2012 12:00AM PST by GenesisDoes
To add more to what you were saying, a coworker of mine who's gay get's really upset and embarassed when he notices so called "overly stereotypical" gay individuals or couples. His exact words:
"That behavior is just totally unesscessary. There the one's who make the community a joke to everyone else and make it hard for us to be taken seriously."
I should note, that these particular individuals at that time were standing in front of us at the register in line wearing what he calls "pay attention to me wear" and making constant innuendo filled remarks about menu items like "Sausage" and "Footlong".
I don't know if it's just him, but he said his friends and boyfriend also feel the same way. Is that a common view among certain members of the gay community?
This wasn't meant as a commentary on effeminate gays.Posted: Jun 23, 2012 12:00AM PST by NoIdea
It was a comment about stereotyping all together and that they can swing both ways, to the point where you will have people offended at people fitting their concept of the stereotype, but also people not fitting the stereotype.
That was all and I don't want my point to be misconstrued.
@Noldea: Your point wasn't misconstrued...Posted: Jun 23, 2012 12:00AM PST by GenesisDoes
I just happen to segway the conversation into something else is all.


text:
Barry Gill, senior product marketing manager at Mimecast, which provides cloud e-mail services, spoke to Margaret Harris
What is an "inbox worker"?
Inbox workers are people whose work style revolves almost exclusively around e-mail. They use their e-mail inbox to file information, manage tasks, control workflows and handle their primary communications.
Mimecast's Shape of Email report shows that 86% of e-mail users surveyed rely on e-mail as a search tool to find documents or information and 76% say that the introduction of social media has not reduced their need for e-mail when communicating.
How would I know if I was an inbox worker?
Inbox workers rely on e-mail for much of their working day, but their dependence can give rise to bad corporate behaviour.
According to the report, 39% regularly send and receive workplace e-mail outside of working hours and 25% admit that they have sent e-mails late in the evening purely to "show commitment".
A distinct trait of an inbox worker is to use their e-mail account as their default way of storing, filing and searching for documents or information. They also like to be copied on e-mails, even regarding non-essential messages.
In short, if you are checking your e-mails while you are visiting the loo, you are an inbox worker.
Now that e-mail has become the default corporate communications tool, are we more or less productive?
E-mail has been the default corporate communications tool for many years. As its use has proliferated, so have the workflows that rely on it or incorporate it as a relevant element. E-mail has kept our productivity high relevant to the workflows at hand.
E-mail is evolving. Now there are new ways - such as Mimecast's File Archiving - in which we can incorporate e-mail into our workflows, allowing greater opportunity to enhance productivity levels.
How has the way in which we use e-mail changed since it first made its appearance?
The Shape of Email research shows that the way the average employee uses e-mail at work has changed. For many people, e-mail is no longer just a messaging system. It has become the primary tool for storing, sharing and searching for information.
This is why we are seeing information workers increasingly becoming inbox workers - they rely on e-mail for all aspects of their job and spend, on average, 50% of their working day using e-mail.
Despite the huge number of specialist collaboration and social tools that have come to market in recent years, e-mail remains the first choice for most business users.
E-mail is not perfect, but it seems that information workers are reluctant to adopt other social tools if it means they have to leave their inbox behind.
Therefore, rather than trying to entice users away from e-mail and on to other platforms, IT teams should look for ways to make their e-mail more efficient by introducing new, inbox-friendly collaboration tools and making the data stored within the archive more accessible.
*This article was first published in Sunday Times: Money & Careers


text:
A Prairie Home Companion with Garrison Keillor
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Host Garrison Keillor answers your questions about life, love, writing, authors, and of course, A Prairie Home Companion.
Sounds Good to Me
May 12, 2008 | 1 Comment
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I am a college student and I write a lot because my mind stores up things. So I write about everything. But I still don't know if I like how I write. I have no real critiques except from the dog, but he never goes into details. How do you know if something is good or not?
Nathaniel C.
Carrollton, TX
You don't know, Nathaniel, but you can guess and one good way to measure your work is to read it aloud. Read it to yourself. You'll be able to hear the awkward or pretentious parts and detect gaps in the narrative and problems of logic. And then, after you rewrite it, try reading it to somebody else. Somebody other than the dog. They probably won't even have to say a word—you can hear what's wrong yourself. The basis of writing is one person telling another person a story, and it's always good to go back to basics.
1 Comment
Good advice.
But, remember even if it's a good
story or research paper or other
kinds of writing, there are some
people who are so contrary they will
never like it.
That's their problem...
San Clemente
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West York police said an attempted burglary suspect is in custody.
Elijah Moon Shue, 18, broke into a home in the 1100 block of West King Street while the homeowner was out celebrating the new year.
Shue entered the basement of the home thinking no one was there, police said.
A man who was house sitting heard noises and confronted Shue, who ran off, police said.


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Plan Toys not only uses eco-friendly manufacturing practices, but its aesthetic is clean and classic enough to appeal to style-conscious parents. In 1981, this Thai company began crafting educational toys from a sustainable compound called rubber wood. Ever since, Plan Toys has been expanding into global markets and promoting the use of non-toxic materials like formaldehyde-free glue and soy ink. Offerings include colorful dollhouses, block sets, walkers, and rockers, plus large-scale activity stations for infants on up to preschoolers.
Preservative-free picks for eco-friendly fun
The playtime finds we love most: mini kitchens, table hockey, and more
Classic train sets, bright stacking rings, and other playroom favorites from Sweden
Up their playroom game with these colorful, one-of-a-kind finds


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Baby Blanket Blues
5 (1) write a review
|Pattern Number:
|Designed By:
|Katherine Eng
|Project Type:
pattern details
Crochet a blanket that is as special as that new little one. We show it here in shades of blue, but it would be just as nice in a rainbow of colors or shades of pink.
- RED HEART® Super Saver®: 1 skein each of 885 Delft Blue A, 505 Aruba Sea B, 347 Light Periwinkle C, 512 Turqua D, 579 Pale Plum E, 995 Ocean F
- Crochet Hook: 6mm [US J-10]
- Yarn needle
- stitch marker.
|GAUGE: 1 square measures 2¼ x 2¼". CHECK YOUR GAUGE. Use any size hook to obtain the gauge.
Step 1.
Choose your size
Throw measures 30½" wide and 36" long


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or are there DBZ look alikes in real life? List a few that could pass for DBZ characters either in looks or voice. For example I think Hulk Hogan sounds like Hercule and Arnold Schwarzenegger could pass for Recoome
what about goldberg for nappa... i could see it. or my aunt for king piccallo,jk but seriously.Is life reality or is it a mirror image of what you want it to be?


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Get an inside view from the life of Joe Maddalena, owner of Profiles in History and the world's largest auctioneer of original movie, television and pop culture relics. Hollywood Treasure follows Joe as he navigates his way through the intricate world of collecting showbiz and pop culture memorabilia, from the Wicked Witch of the West hat and the vintage Chitty Chitty Bang Bang car to Mary Poppins' carpet bag and other unforgettable props and costumes.
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>THE SPANISH PRISONER Absolutely worth catching, and still slowly making its way across the country, is writer-director David Mamet's clever thriller about a naive fellow (Campbell Scott) who's duped in an elaborate con scheme. (PG)
EVER AFTER This revisionist reworking of Cinderella was summer's little romantic comedy that could. If you haven't yet, now is the time to see if the slipper fits. Drew Barrymore positively glows, and Anjelica Huston glowers as her stepmom. (PG-13)
Yes sir, director Steven Spielberg's harrowing World War II drama has parked itself in a permanent spot here in Critic's choice. But that's because it knocks you for an even bigger loop the second time you see it—or the third. With Tom Hanks. (R)
Picks and Pans Review: Critic's Choice
updated 09/28/1998 AT 01:00 AM EDT
•originally published 09/28/1998 AT 01:00 AM EDT
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quote: So is solar better used on a house instead of a power plant
quote: For home applications, the ~20 year payback time is really crippling since most people only stay in a home for about 7-10 years.
quote: that's for the tax break goodness
quote: there is a need in peak power plants during the day. And solar will provide that nicely.
quote: 28.8 times as much power, but also cost 18 times
quote: Further more some of the very first solar cells manufactured (of a much inferior design) are still running at 95% efficiency with no problems after 21 years (source below)!
quote: waste management costs.
quote: plus massive operating, security
quote: All this thing does is sit there and a tech comes by if a motor gets jammed.
quote: Just make sure the truck is properly shielded.
quote: Now if we DID reprocess that fuel it would have to be transported, probably in a truck driven right down your street, to a specialized facility
quote: At least blame the real cause of our refusal to reprocess spent fuel.
quote: Now if we DID reprocess that fuel it would have to be transported, probably in a truck driven right down your street, to a specialized facility.
quote: save $36.5 billion over 10 years
quote: What you and others probably don't realize is you have been paying TRILLIONS for coal, oil, and gas subsidies for 80 years, so why in the hell wouldn't you want to pay for solar subsidies instead?
quote: at least a solar farm is a move, albeit small, in the right direction.


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You are here: Sailing. Sailing yachts & equipment. New Sailing Yachts from Previous Years. New Sailing Yachts 2013.
Italia 13.98 - a new level of luxury yachts - German debut at boot 2013</12.12>
New Sailing Yachts 2013
Italia 13.98 - a new level of luxury yachts - German debut at boot 2013
The second model of the Italia boatyard, the cruiser racer IT 13.98, is celebrating its German premiere. In his many years as a successful dealer for an exclusive Danish brand, regatta sailor Franco Corazza has listened well to his customers, monitored developments on the market and identified a niche for high-grade, high-speed sailing yachts.
Comfort, easy handling & elegance
Under sail, the IT 13.98 fulfils the yearnings of the most discerning yacht owners: comfort, easy handling, clear lines and elegance. The GRP sandwich design with an expanded PVC core and e-glass bonded with vinyl ester resins makes the hull light and rigid. Flush hatches, a traveller sunken into the deck and sheets largely guided below deck keep the deck free of obstacles. The interior comprising a saloon and two spacious cabins sports teak trim, and all exposed edges have been rounded to prevent injury. The sail area in the wind is 124 m², and 55 and 75 hp saildrive engines are available to power the vessel.
Technical features
- Hull length: 13.98 m
- Beam: 4.30 m
- Draft: 2.50 m
- Displacement: 9.2 t
- Water tank: 2 x 240 l
- Fuel tank: 240 l
- Engine: Diesel Yanmar 55 Hp
Blue Yachting at boot 2013: Hall 16 / Stand D 19
Homepage: italiayachts.it
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Quality Logo Products, Inc. is your number one source for stress balls and promotional items.
Copyright 2003 - 2016 Quality Logo Products, Inc., Registration No. TX7-524-201. All Rights Reserved.


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on January 14, 2013 - 1:00 AM
Anyone who pokes up his or her head in civil discussion about guns – be it a social network blogger, U.S. senator or journalist – is going to feel it from messages from some identified or anonymous source calculated to make your flesh crawl.
A recent column posted in this space about the National Rifle Association's agenda was greeted by charges that I am a communist.
A signed email from a self-proclaimed law enforcement official said that when the government "comes for my guns, I will not greet them as a friend."
Another writer ridiculed "Sandy Hook hysteria," referring to the elementary school where 20 small children and six adults were riddled with bullets from an assault weapon.
A weapons control activist from Buffalo shared an anonymous one that said, "The time is near; we, the militia, will rise up against you." Another: "If it'll keep me a free man, I'll kill 30,000 myself!"
Another long Internet post to "liberal utopians" warned that if the government insists on weapons registration, "people will die. Right now."
Ever since gun control efforts began in the 1960s after the murders of President John F. Kennedy, his brother Robert F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr., many measured efforts to limit weapons traffic were greeted not only by empty arguments that stretch the Second Amendment but also with labeling, hard glares and the implied threat of harm.
While the amendment guarantees the right to "keep and bear arms," there is no constitutional right to have an unregistered long gun or to carry a loaded pistol, much less an assault weapon.
But the zealots have been so successful with their rants and intimidation over the last half century, there is no longer any school, theater, restaurant, office or military base in the country where anyone – even a little child – can feel safe from sudden death.
To repeat, there are 270 million firearms now in private hands – nearly 90 times more than held by our police and armed forces combined. The NRA wants broader gun "rights" for convicted felons and those on the U.S. terrorist watch list, and freedom to own .50-caliber weapons and ammo. It has quashed federal research into the causes of gun violence. In its wake, the NRA has smothered a greater civil right: To feel secure in one's own person.
After a half century of political cowardice, it seems there is one president and vice president ready to stand up to the menace and the phony arguments of the NRA and its violent allies. Some attitudes are changing. Rep. Brian Higgins, D-Buffalo, who did not sign on to a 2012 bill limiting the size of ammunition clips, says he will support one now.
Sen. Kirsten E. Gillibrand, allied with Sen. Charles E. Schumer, has sent a detailed, multiphased recommendation to limit trafficking to Vice President Biden's task force, which reports to the nation Tuesday. It spells out most of New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg's agenda to end gun violence. Thanks for your courage!
One can only wonder what lies in the hearts of some gun extremists. There is a hint in the film "Goodfellas," when mobster Henry Hill places a gun in the hands of his middle-class girlfriend, Karen. She reflected: "I know there are women, like my best friends, who would have gotten out of there the minute their boyfriend gave them a gun to hide. But I didn't. I got to admit the truth. It turned me on."
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|Jewelry Type:
|Metal Color :
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Add all the perfect, finalizing touches to your special day with teardrop chandelier bridal earrings like these. Measuring 1 1/2 inches long, these earrings have rhinestone pendant posts with dangling rhinestone teardrops. Accessory has a silver tone.
Complete your dream come true wedding just as you have always imagined it with unique wedding jewelry you love, like these earrings. Order yours with us today!


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Copper Mountain — Other activities
Other activities
Other activities in and around the area include ice skating, tubing, sleigh rides, snowmobiling, dogsled rides and hot air balloon floats.
Copper Mountain Athletic Club (968-2882, Ext. 83025) has a lap pool, sauna, steam room, hot tubs, cardiovascular equipment and racquetball courts. When looking for the spa, don't be put off by the club's workout feel. Past the weight room and locker rooms, the spa entrance is at the end of the hall. Once inside, you'll find the atmosphere warm and soothing.The treatments, though limited to massage and facials, are excellent. It also sells beauty products and clothing.
Make the rounds of the many shops at Copper Station, West Lake and The Village at Copper. Upper-end souvenirs, logo clothing and sports gear fill most of them. All American Goods sells USA- and Colorado-made products; 9600′ specializes in outdoor clothing; and Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory makes you-know-what. Also browse through the boutique shops on West Lake and Copper One Lodge.
For health issues, visit St. Anthony's Copper Mountain Clinic (968-2330) in the Bridge End Building in The Village at Copper. They're open seven days a week, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
For more activities see Summit County or Vail. Copper is about 20 miles from Vail and about 10 miles from the tri-town area of Dillon, Frisco and Silverthorne.


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We welcome proposals for individual papers, and for panels, workshops, and roundtables, focusing on all aspects of U.S. ethnic literatures.
Especially welcome are proposals that address the conference theme, "Cultural Geographies of Ethnic American Literature." (See the conference website.)
Deadline for proposals and abstracts (250 words in Microsoft Word): Nov. 1, 2013.
Please email conference abstracts and proposals to firstname.lastname@example.com. To be considered for the graduate student travel award, please c.c. email@example.com. All presenters, chairs, and moderators must be members of MELUS. Membership information can be found on the MELUS website at www.melus.org.
MELUS 2014 / Ralph Ellison Centennial Symposium Conference Site: The Historic Skirvin Hotel, 1 Park Avenue, Oklahoma City, OK 73102, Tel: 405-272-3040, http://www.skirvinhilton.com/
$149/night [discount rate]
deadline for conference rate rooms: February 3, 2014


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Spike Lee Auctions Access to Jordan
In one of the more imaginative -- not to mention magnanimous -- gestures to raise money for the widows and children of the New York firemen killed on Sept. 11, director Spike Lee is auctioning off one of his courtside season tickets to the New York Knicks for the night of Oct. 30, when Michael Jordan makes his much-anticipated return to Madison Square Garden. "This is really my wife's seat," said Lee. "I want to state that right away. She was kind enough to give it up. The ticket is worth $1600 alone, but I think we are going to get substantially more. You will get to sit with me courtside for Michael's return. Also the winner will get to go in the Knicks and Wizards locker rooms after the game and meet Michael. This is historic. Monumental." Was he planning to trash talk from the sidelines? "Can't do that with Michael. I may be stupid, but I'm not ignorant. No, no, no. You don't say a word to him. Nothing." Was there a bigger Knicks fan than Spike Lee? "Maybe Woody Allen. I am just fortunate that I have the seats that I have. That night will be a great night at the Garden."


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Police: Man struck by train
Man was running across crossing
Published 8:15 AM EDT Mar 16, 2013
A man is dead after being hit by a train in Lebanon County.
Police say 23-year-old Brett Potteiger was walking on Main Street in Richland borough when he tried to beat a train by running across the crossing just after midnight.
State police are investigating.
Copyright 2013 by WGAL All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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New Kickstarter!
check out my kickstarter when you have a chance! https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1011146139/kollectas
7 days only one week!
Only one week left to take part in issue #2! Only 27% left to go! https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1011146139/the-kings-of-the-wastelands-issue-2
if you missed it. I did a interview at the Memphis comic expo: https://youtu.be/o9rmQn0Vpwc
New Kickstarter!
Hi my loyal supporters! I'm happy to share my new kickstarter for issue #2 of The Kings of the Wastelands!
Second shipment going out today!
So excited to finish this kickstarter! The rewards are all done! The second shipment has been sent! Thank you for your support!
First shipment is out!
Finally the first shipment is out the door. You should receive your rewards within the week for US pledges and after a week for international pledges! Thank you again! Be... Read more
The Books are here!!!!
Here is the youtube video of me opening the box for the first time! This never gets old lol!
Thank you so much for your support! I will post... Read more
Update! Proofs!
The proofs are in and I'm so excited to show you here!
Please don't forget to follow me on all social media to keep up with all the happenings... Read more
Great Surprise!
What a great way to wake up! 96% funded! Thank you to everyone that gave so far! Let's keep sharing and retweeting! I know we can make our goal.
Half way point!
It's Official! We are right at the halfway point! Thank you to all my backers! All of you are amazing for tweeting and sharing my kickstarter. I did an interview... Read more
More Stuff!
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All Screen savers!
187 Volume one PDF link:


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Southernness: The Oxford American versus Garden & Gun–PLUS A GIVEAWAY!
Dear Kay, Thanks for all the questions about the Garden & Gun magazine now currently residing in a busted window of the kitchen. You all got me thinking about that magazine, which got me to thinking about Southernness, and why it is that I feel the need to revisit the never-ending conundrum of how I can stand living in a region that so often drives me wild with frustration and irritation. I love the South! I despise it! A recent magazine...Read More


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Buying Treasury bonds in 1982 turned out to be a historic investment that produced huge gains during the next 30 years. And right now, history is repeating itself.
Back in 1982, the United States was struggling under the weight of high interest rates after years of slow growth and high inflation. But during the next 30 years, as the country shifted into a secular growth trend, interest rates steadily fell, pushing bond prices higher and producing huge gains for anyone buying ahead of the big turn in the market.
Treasury bonds monthly chart (1978-present)
If you missed that historic move, then there's no need to worry, because that same cycle is about to repeat itself in another part of the world.
Emerging-market bonds remind me of Treasuries back in 1982. Just like the United States three decades ago, these smaller, less developed economies are on the front end of a long-term growth trajectory that will strengthen their financial profiles and push interest rates lower.
Take Brazil, for example. After many years of higher growth rates than developed economies, rating agency Fitch just affirmed the country's "BBB" credit score, citing "strong external balance sheet metrics, a diversified and high value-added economic base, a well-capitalized banking system and consensus on the main thrust of economic policies," as driving factors. Looking forward, Fitch said it expects Brazil's fundamentals to remain strong in spite of ongoing global economic volatility, and raised its 2013 growth projection to 4.5% from 2.5%.
That story is largely the same across a number of countries and regions, including Vietnam, South Korea and the Philippines, all of which are enjoying outsized economic gains that move their bond ratings closer to investment grade.
But there is also the risk, and even investment restrictions, that come with investing in the bonds of an individual emerging market like Brazil or China. Limiting exposure to any individual emerging-market growth story is a great way to diversify and reduce risk.
That's why my favorite way to invest in emerging-market bonds is with the PowerShares Emerging Markets Sovereign Debt (NYSE: PCY) exchange-traded fund (ETF). This fund is designed to correspond to the price and yield of the DB Emerging Market USD Liquid Balanced Index, an index of emerging-market bonds with 65 holdings. The regions represented in this index span emerging markets across the globe, including Latin America, Eastern Europe and Asia Pacific. Individual countries include Vietnam, Columbia, Peru and Lithuania.
This is a fairly well-known fund in the emerging-market bond space, with assets valued at more than $1 billion. This has lifted average daily volume to 688,000 shares, providing plenty of liquidity for individual and institutional investors. It has also helped produce a tight bid-ask spread that will help investors get strong price execution and avoid slippage.
In terms of fees, this fund is cheaper than its nearest competitor and in line with its category average of 0.5%. Index funds usually have lower expense ratios than actively-managed funds, because of less turnover and lower execution fees and administration costs.
Risks to Consider: Emerging markets are more volatile than developed economies and are more vulnerable to general economic conditions. During times of economic stress, investors flock to more conservative segments of the market like Treasuries and large-cap dividend stocks. Although this isn't happening yet, further economic volatility and weakness in Europe could push investors out of emerging-market assets.
Action to Take --> Emerging markets will be more volatile than developed economies like Japan and the United States. But longer term, just like small-cap stocks, these markets are poised for outsized growth. This could reduce the group's cost of borrowing, sending bond prices skyrocketing and enabling current investors to lock in a sold 5% yield in a low-yield environment. This is why PCY is a great buy.


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You'd think all the lousy double-entendres would comprise most of "Sex and the City 2's" obscenity, but no. Writer/director Michael Patrick King drenches the production in vile opulence, from the absurdly lush, exotic locations to the kajillion costume changes -- the fashionista franchise's signature -- to Liza Minnelli's ironic cameo, during which she sings Beyonce's "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)." Too. Much.
Is there a plot beyond the frocks? Sort of. The first third of the movie finds Carrie (Sarah Jessica Parker) resisting settling into a rut with Mr. Big (a charisma-free Chris Noth) on the eve of their second wedding anniversary. Charlotte (Kristin Davis) is exasperated with raising her two daughters and fretting if her braless nanny Erin (Alice Eve) might tempt hubby Harry (Evan Handler). Stressed-out lawyer Miranda (Cynthia Nixon) impulsively quits her job. And Samantha (Kim Cattrall) is invited to stay in a luxurious Abu Dhabi hotel, which may employ her public-relations firm.
'Sex and the City 2'
Rated: R for some strong sexual content, language
There are, of course, complications: The confiscation of Samantha's vitamins and supplements, which stave off her menopausal hot flashes. Charlotte falls off her camel. And Carrie bumps into her former beau Aidan (John Corbett) in the Abu Dhabi street market. Uh huh.
The narrative takes a vacation from the New York City plots, which are mostly dropped as the women wallow in the hotel's swank indulgences, including their own cars and personal butlers. But what happens when these fashionably urbane, liberated Manhattanites encounter a sexually conservative culture? This is where King's laziness as a writer is prevalent; he eschews the opportunity for social commentary for the kind of silly culture-clash hijinks more appropriate for "National Lampoon's Middle Eastern Vacation."
Two moments stand out: When Charlotte and Miranda bond over their frustrations with motherhood, and when Carrie struggles to comprehend how her butler Guarau (Raza Jaffrey) can only see his wife every three months. But sincere moments are rare. Characters once sympathetic are now rendered annoying and unlikeable, and the screenplay strains too hard to be clever.
King intends to create a feather-light tone, but sucks the fun out the movie by making it a big, mastodonic trudge laden with lame turns-of-phrase, superficial triteness and gobs of visual vulgarity. Like the old box of Wheat Thins in the back of your pantry, "Sex and the City" was once light, crispy and toothsome, but is now old, stale and nearly indigestible.
|This week's movies in 3 minutes: 'Sex and the City 2,' 'Prince of Persia,' 'Vincere'
E-mail John Serba: firstname.lastname@example.com and follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/johnserba


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Heroes of Ruin for 3DSOn: 3DS
Four unlikely heroes are brought together to form a fearsome alliance.
Heads-up: New games out this week (June 15)
A look ahead to this week's new releases, which include Gravity Rush on PS Vita and Lollipop Chainsaw on PS3 and Xbox 360.
Heroes of Ruin comes to Europe on June 15
Nintendo 3DS action adventure game Heroes of Ruin from Square Enix will be released across Europe on June 15, with Nintendo handling distribution.
Heroes of Ruin gameplay walkthrough now available in 3D for your 3DS
It's difficult for 3DS games to sell their 3D element to gamers, but Square Enix is hoping to do just that with the release of a 3D Heroes of Ruin walkthrough available to download from the 3DS eShop from today.
Heroes of Ruin Preview
Will Heroes of Ruin excite the 3DS' audience? We go hands-on with Square Enix's co-op action RPG.
View AllScreenshots
Launch Trailer
Launch Trailer
Multiplayer Trailer
Multiplayer Trailer
Gunslinger & Multiplayer Walkthrough
Gunslinger & Multiplayer Walkthrough
Alchitect Walkthrough
Alchitect Walkthrough
Customisation and Personalisation...
Customisation and Personalisation Trailer
Trailer 3
Trailer 3
Trailer 2
Trailer 2