text: [[quoteright:350:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/endtown.jpg]]It's the End of Civilization as we know it. A mutagenic plague followed by a global war fought with disintegration weaponry has left much of the Earth a desert of fine powder and what remains of humanity fragmented into humans, animal-like mutants, and bloodthirsty monstrosities with [[MoreTeethThanTheOsmondFamily lots of teeth]]. The surface, still teeming with the mutagenic virus, has become the domain of the dreaded Topsiders -- well-organized, technologically advanced, and heavily armed un-mutated humans sworn to exterminate mutations of any kind in order to clear the way for the eventual resurgence of a new, genetically clean humanity. Faced with annihilation, mutants and "impure" humans have retreated into the depths of the planet to [[UndergroundCity form communities]] and hope to win, or at least survive, what may prove to be mankind's final war. Endtown is the continuing story of one of those communities. (Author's description of Endtown, found on the [=GoComics=] site.)In short, Endtown is an apocalyptic {{Webcomic}} by Aaron Neathery that enjoys contrasting its {{Funny Animal}}s and many silly jokes with the fact that it's TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt. [[MoodWhiplash Alternates]] between being a funny comic, a serious comic, and a really friggin' scary comic.The strip was originally hosted on '''[[http://www.moderntales.com/comics/endtown.php Modern Tales]]'''. When it moved to its new home at '''[[http://www.gocomics.com/endtown GoComics]]''', Neathery pretty much wrapped up the then-current arc and switched the focus of the action to a new set of characters; this was not a ReBoot, and most of the original characters have gradually reappeared. The old Modern Tales strips have recently been added to the [=GoComics=] archives.---- !!Tropes Featured:* AGodAmI: [[spoiler: Jim declares himself God after suffering Schism Syndrome.]] Complete with demands to pray to him.* AlliterativeName: Albert Anderson, Gustine Greene, Wally Wallechinsky, Allie Alvarez, Holly Hollister, Jacob J. Jackrabbit, Mike Mole, Louie Lynx...* AlasPoorVillain: [[spoiler: Sam Sanders, Flask, Octavius Allgood, Jim.]]** Most of the Arc villains it turns out, but not all of them.* AlmightyJanitor: Aaron Marx. He's working towards some overall mission to protect the multiverse and beyond from an OutsideContextProblem, and as such sticks to the sidelines in Endtown despite having a post-singularity reality-warping computer in his pocket watch.* AndNowForSomeoneCompletelyDifferent: Once Al and Gustine complete their quest and are officially cleared by security, the comic's focus shifts to Holly and Wally.* ApocalypseHow: Probably class 2, depending on where you look.* ArcVillain: Sam Sanders. Due to the change in perspective after the arc was over, he has been rarely mentioned. * BadDreams: Wally is shown to regularly have them. Usually related to [[spoiler:his past as an engineer for a militarized equivalent of the CDC that started killing anyone suspected of being a mutant before World War 3 happened.]]* BarefootCartoonAnimal: Gustine and Wally in the main cast.* BatmanGambit: [[spoiler: Jacob Jackrabbit's plan in the Milk and Eggs plot. He took Octavius Allgood, a MoralGuardian KnightTemplar with goals opposite his, an overzealous security force recently bereft of its leader, and a High Council that has (supposedly) random selection and a short window of authority in exchange for functionally limitless power, and manipulated them all, knowing it would be a recipe for disaster. And they did not disappoint; Allgood had a pair of well-liked citizens and a recent transplant arrested on a charge that is widely considered 'icky' but not actual considered a crime. The arrest was performed by a squad of security rats who went in guns blazing, ransacking the locations they went to. Allgood then went forward with a sham showtrial expecting that the cronies he had seeded on the council would find them guilty no matter what and then issue an admonishment, when the council was under no obligation to do so and had explicitly left execution on the table as a punishment from the start. Jacob's outspoken position that mutants should accept proudly and loudly their animal aspects caused people to demand that he step forward to represent for the defense, which allowed him to loudly play up the ridiculousness of the trial to a raptly listening populace. The perceived over-reaction by Allgood and the High Council led to increased tensions in the town which turned into a riot when the trigger-happy rats were cornered by protesters. By the end, Allgood's position had been so thoroughly reviled by the public that Jacob was considered a hero and in an excellent position to take more power for himself.]]** And apparently, [[spoiler:putting the bunny on the tyrant's throne will eventually do a ''lot of good'', says Aaron Marx]].* BerserkButton: Apparently Wally cannot stand child abusers. When he sees that someone had beaten a child's face black and blue, without hesitation he went and beat the guy until others pulled him off.** Taunting [[spoiler:Holly about her baby. When an insane Jim did so, she used her apron to attempt to strangle him, tearing his mouth apart in the process and then bit off all his fingers.]]* BlueAndOrangeMorality: Linda sees the mutants' taboo against using mutant eggs and milk as food products as this, since it would alleviate, if not solve, Endtown's food shortage. But it's not much different than the RealLife taboo against the general consumption of human breast milk.* BiggerBad: [[spoiler: Jacob Jackrabbit]]* BitterSweetEnding: Most of the story arcs, but the Eggs and Milk Trial arc had a particularly bitter ending. [[spoiler: Holly, Linda, and Maude are released but Jacob got exactly what he wanted, Octavious was set up as a fall guy and killed by a lynch mob, Maude learns Linda used to be a Topsider and breaks off their friendship, many people including Allie were killed in a riot, Endtown descends into political madness and Holly is so traumatized that she attempts suicide. She and Wally are so disillusioned with Endtown that they decide to leave and find a new place to live]]* BodyHorror: What happens to people who get hit with the virus and can't resist it; the "''lucky''" ones turn into bipedal animals.* CatsAreMean: Flask's character design probably had this in mind. There's also the lynx catnip addict who kicked Holly, the two thieves at the hotel... seems the only feline who outright averts this is Wally.* ColorMeBlack: [[spoiler:Linda]] is transformed into one of the mutants she hates, [[spoiler:although Flask had intended to turn her into a slightly different variety.]]* ComicBookTime: Lampshaded by Holly, who says that it felt like they were in there for months.* ContrivedClumsiness: Two waitresses have various "accidents" for their new co-worker, [[spoiler:Linda]], until she goes berserk.* ContrivedCoincidence: It so happens that [[spoiler: The transporter that became known as Petey so ''happened'' to be Flask's lover.]] * DarkAndTroubledPast: Flask, even before her mutation.** Seems all the main characters have at least something troubling in their past. Wally still has nightmares from his job before WW3 and something happened to Holly about 2 years before the events of the story that threw her into a deep depression that seems to involve a baby.* DespairEventHorizon: Flask feels she has nothing to lose once [[spoiler:everyone rejects her command]].** Sam Sanders had [[spoiler: hit this in the past.]]** Holly hits this after her trial is over, culminating in [[spoiler:[[DrivenToSuicide a suicide attempt]].]]** Jim is pushed into this after catching [[spoiler: Sarah cheating on him with one of the lizard colonists]]. * DeusExMachina: , an almost literal ''deus''.* DisintegratorRay: The primary form of weaponry.* TheDitz: Kirbee is a textbook example. Naive, silly (bordering on {{Cloudcuckoolander}} tendencies at times) and also one of the most genuinely kind-hearted and innocent characters in the entire story, she maintained her nature in the rather grimdark world of the Unity colony simply by remaining completely unaware of the bad things going on.* DoesNotLikeGuns: Wally.* DrJerk: In a place like Endtown, can you really blame Dr. Chase?* DrivenToSuicide: When Maude shows Linda around her new apartment in Endtown, she mentions that the previous owner committed suicide a month after her husband had passed away. It's implied that this was Leo's old home, and his wife committed suicide not long after being informed by Allie.** [[spoiler:After the Eggs and Milk Trial, Holly is left so traumatized that she attempts suicide. She is saved in the nick of time by Wally and Angus.]]* DrowningMySorrows: A common practice. Perhaps most notable with Allie.* DrugsAreBad: Arguably takes the form of a SpaceWhaleAesop. Those who mutate in a badly drugged state rather than fully conscious or unconscious become peculiar hybrids with no obvious classification, which makes them an easy target for FantasticRacism even within Endtown. Of course, it's still better than mutating while fully awake.* EatTheBomb: Technically, [[spoiler:Aaron Marx eats the explosion itself, or at least inhales it]].* EarlyInstallmentWeirdness: While Al and Gustine were the main characters, the story was more of a dark comedy rather than the drama with comedic moments it is now. There were also aspects such as the Topsiders' guns being sentient like their vehicles, yet in phase 2 characters don't treat the guns like they are alive like they do the vehicles. Also we learn at the end of the first arc that Mallard had come up with a solution to hunger ages ago, yet food still remains scarce even in phase 2. It hasn't been mentioned since.* EmotionEater: The Dittos are revealed to be this. * EmpathyDollShot: Interesting variation. Holly finds an old teddy bear in the wastes and decides to bring it back to Endtown for one of the kids there. [[spoiler:When a monster mutant suddenly attacks, she realizes the monster was a little girl and that that bear is still very much in use]].* EvilAllAlong: Strictly speaking, [[spoiler:Jacob Jackrabbit]] never struck us as much of a hero, but he turned out worse than we thought.* EvilIsPetty: The Topsiders are constantly on on the prowl for mutants to use as {{Wetware CPU}}s - and they have a nasty habit of telling such unfortunates of their fate beforehand.* EvilVsEvil: Jacob Jackrabbit versus Octavius Allgood. You might call it GrayAndGreyMorality, but it's hard to tolerate either's full position.* ExtraEyes: Mutating while conscious almost invariably results in these.* EyesAlwaysShut: Dr. Chase.* FaceDeathWithDignity: [[spoiler: Octavius Allgood]] * FantasticRacism: Apart from Topsiders' treatment of mutants, there's a growing movement in Endtown for the mutants to fully embrace their animal natures, complete with {{meaningful rename}}s to a SpeciesSurname. Immune humans or mutants who don't conform to any particular species have no real place in their version of society. Mutants who want to keep their old name? Uncle Toms.** There's a parallel movement for mutants to preserve their humanity as much as possible, such as keeping human names and legally outlawing things like the consumption of mutant-produced eggs or milk.** Later we meet a colony of supremacist lizard mutants, who rely on piracy and selective breeding[[note]]All eggs laid by female lizards are screened to see if they contain lizards, rather than other mutates. Those eggs that fail are used as food[[/note]] to sustain themselves.* FlorenceNightingaleEffect: Holly to Wally.* FragileSpeedster: Holly relies almost exclusively on her swift feet to save her. [[http://www.gocomics.com/endtown/2012/12/05 And can be amazing at it.]]* FullyDressedCartoonAnimal: Several incidental characters, plus Captain Blackie Flask and Holly Hollister.* FunnyAnimal: Being exposed to the mutagenic virus mutates you into either this or [[BodyHorror something much worse]].* GRatedDrug: Catnip. Not that we never see anyone drunk on alcohol.* GasMaskMooks: All the Topsiders are this. [[JustifiedTrope Justified]] in comic with the virus.* GeneralRipper: Flask.* GlasgowGrin: [[spoiler:Jim]] while suffering from Schism Syndrome. Best seen in [[http://www.gocomics.com/endtown/2014/12/03 THIS strip]]* GoMadFromTheRevelation: "Schism Syndrome" - when a mutant who hasn't fully adjusted to his new situation is hit with a mental or emotional shock, there is a good chance the shock will push them into insanity. [[AxCrazy Homicidal insanity, apparently.]]** Though it is possible that what happened to [[spoiler:Jim]] is more supernatural. For starters, but Wally and Justine suffered from Schism Syndrome for extended periods of time in the past, but they mostly just unable to cope with their new body and its new instincts. However [[spoiler:Jim]] has gone completely insane but also somehow knows rather personal bits of information about others like [[spoiler:how Wally killed a teacher while working with Atlas and how something happened involve Holly and a baby.]] And in the span of about 5 minutes to boot.* HalfDressedCartoonAnimal: Professor Mallard in the main cast.* HeelFaceTurn: [[spoiler:Linda, apparently]].* HereThereBeDragons: Endtown's [[http://www.gocomics.com/endtown/2009/04/23 maps]] of the surface. "Well, at least they know about the dragons."* ImAHumanitarian: It's implied that Topsiders often will eat dead mutants if their form resembles human food animals.* TheImmune: The few humans left in Endtown. The Topsiders have a particular hatred for them as they carry the virus but don't look obviously nonhuman.* InterruptedSuicide: [[spoiler:Flask was stopped by Allie and Leo]].** [[spoiler:Holly was stopped by Wally]].* InterspeciesRomance: Not uncommon in Endtown. Of course, "species" doesn't have the same meaning for mutated humans.* IronicName: That survivor colony that went through a violent racist purge and got "rebuilt" to enshrine reptiles as the master race? It was called ''Unity''.* IWantMyBelovedToBeHappy: When Aaron Marx [[spoiler:grants Flask her second chance, he also loses her forever -- [[{{Irony}} ironically]] to another reality's Aaron Marx, who loves her equally. When the Oracle asks if he is envious, he says yes, but that not everyone is granted a HappyEnding.]]* KangarooCourt: Set up for Al and Gustine. The trial is kept secret so as not to panic Endtown with accusations of treason.** Another for Holly, Linda, and "Maw" Maude for the purpose of making the use of mutant byproducts explicitly illegal rather than just taboo.* LaserGuidedAmnesia: Part of the Topsider process for making brain-controlled machinery.* LaserGuidedKarma: Literally. [[spoiler:After cheating on Jim, causing him to succumb to Schism Syndrome and being completely uncaring about using poison gas to kill him, Sarah rallies the surviving lizard people after their city burns down and turns them against the gang. When a large group of Topsider sky droids arrives to investigate, she and the other lizard people are promptly desintegrated.]]* LoveMakesYouCrazy: Flask, once she realizes [[spoiler:who Petey used to be]].* MeaningfulEcho: Wally's at first weirded out by Oscar the Crab mutant and is relieved when the offer to shake hands is a joke. After Oscar ends up saving his life (and he's come to grips with some things), Wally asks to shake hands for real.* MeaningfulName: In Endtown, by ContrivedCoincidence, even the names that don't [[AlliterativeName roll easily off the tongue]] often indicate what animal the character's mutation resembles: Allie Alvarez the alligator, P. Foxworthy the fox, and [[spoiler:Linda Kowalski the koala]].** There's also a practice among the Endtown mutants (such as Jacob J. Jackrabbit) of changing one's surname to [[SpeciesSurname the name of one's new animal form]].* MegaCorp: Apex Industries. They were big enough to turn entire megacities into CompanyTown weapons factories, but they were also stupid / ruthless enough to advance death ray research and then lose / give away their FantasticNuke to every other country, triggering the apocalypse.* MercyKilling: [[spoiler:Flask shoots a child-turned-monster for this reason]]. Also, some Topsiders seem to see their massacre of mutants this way.* MoodWhiplash: The entire comic is this, because it balances funny animals with how humans would actually react.* MoreTeethThanTheOsmondFamily: Another typical result of mutating while conscious.* ANaziByAnyOtherName: The Topsiders employ GasMaskMooks to eradicate and/or enslave (via AndIMustScream technology) all "impure" lifeforms, and their insignia do evoke the classic look. There is also the reptile-only colony of Unity which is founded on a belief in racial purity, the superiority of reptiles over all other mutants...and a violent purge of all non-reptiles in the colony.* OddCouple: Even putting aside the InterspeciesRomance, [[spoiler:Aaron Marx and Flask]].* OmnidisciplinaryScientist: Doctor Mallard.* PerpetualFrowner: Dr. Chase.* PetTheDog: Considering her usual attitude about killing people in cold blood, [[spoiler:putting the little girl EldritchAbomination out of its misery]] is possibly one of the kindest and most reasonable things Captain Flask has done in the story. Yet it's regarded by many as ShootTheDog, if not KickTheDog.* ProudMerchantRace: The Lucranians, apparently. According to Aaron Marx, there are only three things you need to know about them: "greedy beyond comprehension, cheat as readily as they breathe, and absolutely love bargains."* PunctuatedPounding: [[http://www.gocomics.com/endtown/2012/06/18 "Weak! Useless! Coward!"]]* PuppyDogEyes: Care of Holly, a mouse.* ReptilesAreAbhorrent: The reptile-only mutant colony Wally and Holly wander into is quickly revealed to be a ''far'' darker place than the already morally ambiguous Endtown. There are some exceptions to the rule, but most of the reptilians turn out to be at least serious [[JerkAss jerkasses]], if not outright villains, and the entire single-species colony is revealed to have been the product of a violent civil war and the subsequent ethnic cleansing campaign.* RuleOfScary: Why else would those monsters -- and the Dittos -- look like they do?* SelfDisposingVillain: ** Sort of. [[spoiler:When Flask was made captain of a self piloting ship, she planned to ram it into a Topsider base that had many noncombatants and children. The others were horrified and Wally tried to take over as captain of the ship. However the ship refused to acknowledge anyone else as captain as long as Flask was alive even though Wally had knocked her out. Wally, who didn't want to kill her, decided he had to if he was to save everyone else. But before he could, Flask drew an old gun on him that she had found earlier. But then it exploded in her hand due to age and disrepair, apparently killing her instantly and flinging her body out the window of the ship.]]** [[spoiler: Jim]] dumps a flask of lamp oil over himself perched on a lighting rig over a boxing match almost all of Unity Colony was attending so that he could set the crowd on fire.* SchizoTech: Justified, as Endtown has to make do with whatever works. Candlestick phones make sense in a land of many species; there's no telling how far apart their mouths and ears will be.* ScrewThisImOuttaHere: After being locked up for over a month over eating cheese made from mutant cow milk and seeing Endtown descend into rioting over it, she has decided she wants nothing more to do with the place. She and Wally leave to find somewhere else to live.* SelflessWish: The first big "Quest" in the series is Gustine attempting to turn human. [[spoiler: Gustine eventually finds it, but uses the berry to bring her boyfriend back to life.]] * SeanConneryIsAboutToShootYou: [[http://www.gocomics.com/endtown/2012/07/02 Flask is.]]* TheSociopath: [[spoiler:Sarah Battle]] ends up seeming like one. [[spoiler: After being mutated into a lizard person, and coming across an almost-entirely lizard settlement, she reveals her uncaring nature by showing disinterest in the mistreatment of the group she arrived with, and cheating on Jim, leading to him being overcome with Schism Syndrome, and this is after Jim had given up his humanity in order to save Sarah from dying of cancer. Sarah doesn't seem concerned by the havoc Jim reeks in his madness, or when he seemingly is killed. Even when he reappears and kills hundreds of other lizards along with himself, Sarah still isn't bothered, and takes it as an opportunity to seize control of the remaining lizard population, turning on her former allies]].* SomethingOnlyTheyWouldSay: [[spoiler:Flask identifies Petey when he calls her "Blackie."]]* SpeciesSurname: Adopted by some of the residents of Endtown after their mutation.* TapOnTheHead: Averted. [[spoiler:One swipe didn't just knock Wally out; he was still on death's doorstep in the hospital.]]** Played straighter later on when he again gets whacked on the back of the head. Enough to knock him out for a while, but he seems fine when he wakes up.* ThereAreNoTherapists: Justified since this is AfterTheEnd. ** The main psychological threat in the comic so far has been "Schism Syndrome", which is when a person suffers a mental break due to [[BodyHorror not being able to come to grips with their new form]], causing them to usually go berserk. Unity's plan for it is the only one we see, and that seems to be "Separate if possible, put down if not". ** Wally saw some crap in the days before the war and in the time since, he mostly has his stuff together, but he does have some ghosts still pursuing him. ** Holly's been showing signs of PTSD since [[spoiler:The Milk Trial]]. Wally's been trying to help as much as possible [[spoiler: and was able to keep her from killing herself]], but it just might be coming to a head.** It has been suggested that alcoholism is pretty rampant in Endtown as a coping mechanism.* TheUnreveal: Though there wasn't too much build up to it, near the end of his first arc, we learn that Wally doesn't feel natural in his new body. He still considers his pre-mutation body to be his real one. He takes out a picture of himself that he apparently looks at regularly to show Holly. However we do not see his human face, and she turns it into a paper boat and drops it in the river while trying to help him accept his current life. Even in a later flashback from when he was still human, we still do not see his face.* TruthSerums: Albert and Gustine are injected with them during their interrogation. They give the exact same story as before, and Flask ''still'' doesn't believe them.* UndergroundCity: The titular Endtown.* WetwareCPU: Topsider computers, made from those mutants whom they capture instead of disintegrate. Such as "Petey."* WhamLine: September 19th's comic, in the midst of an InfoDump, gives this:--> [[spoiler: "What, really? You mean you guys STILL haven't realised? There ''is'' no mutagenic virus"]]* WoobieDestroyerOfWorlds: [[spoiler: Flask]].* XanatosGambit: Jackrabbit and the Milk Trials. ItMakesSenseInContext. * YouMonster: What Holly calls Flask after [[spoiler: she gives a child-turned-vine-creature a MercyKilling]]. Could also qualify as WhatTheHellHero Interestingly, Flask turns it right back on her, thanks to ValuesDissonance.* YourPrincessIsInAnotherCastle: Wally and Petey manage to foil Flask's plan to [[spoiler:explode the rocket they thought they were just sabotaging, killing an entire Topsider city]], only to find out that [[spoiler: not only was the rocket they were after a decoy; it was specifically set up as a trap for Flask]].----


text:
gOS: A wake up call for Freedomware marketing
,----[ Quote ]
| Think gOS. It might not be such a bad advice after all. It's been hyped up,
| but it sold out. And there may be lessons in its deployment and success for
| all of us Free Software and GNU/Linux advocates!
gOS 2.0 "Rocket" To Blast Off Next Week
,----[ Quote ]
| We've just been notified that gOS 2.0 will be released next week at the 2008
| Consumer Electronic Show. This Linux distribution started making news two
| months ago as the conceptual Google Operating System and shipping on a
| sub-$200 (USD) Everex PC. This distribution is very easy to use and features
| integration with popular Web 2.0 services such as YouTube, Google Calendar,
| and Google Maps. This next gOS release, codenamed "Rocket", adds a few
| features and more Google love. Accompanying this release will also be a gOS
| Software Developer Kit. Â* Â* Â*
Rocket gOS 2.0, the latest Ubuntu-Google marriage, days away
There's No System Like Linux for the Holidays
,----[ Quote ]
| Holiday shopping season is about to hit full swing, and personal computers
| already rank high on many people's wish lists. If you're going to give the
| gift of a new PC, should you consider giving one with Linux? If the receiver
| is a tech-savvy individual, it may be the perfect gift, and the growing
| availability of preloaded machines means setup headaches are easily avoided. Â* Â*
Wal-Mart's $199 Linux PC Back In Stock
,----[ Quote ]
| The gPC is one of the first Linux-based desktop machines to be offered for
| sale by a major retailer. Â*
gPC - $199 C7 powered PC at Wal-Mart running gOS
,----[ Quote ]
| Now gOS the OS powering the gPC is a unique OS. While I said it is a
| customized version of Ubuntu, the word 'customized' is an understatement. gOS
| highlights and encourages users to use web applications instead of the
| traditional software for their day to day computing tasks. Â*
gOS Unboxed: Should Microsoft Worry? Â*
,----[ Quote ]
| Microsoft's rivalry with Google heated up considerably this past year when
| rumors surfaced that Google might release its own operating system to compete
| with Windows. Has Google finally jumped into the fray with its own OS? Â*
A short look at gOS
,----[ Quote ]
| So after downloading the gOS Live ISO onto my Debian Etch system I started
| Innotekâs VirtualBox, bound the freshly downloaded ISO as a CD-ROM, made a
| 4GB virtual hard disk image for installing it, gave that virtual computer
| 256MB of RAM, and started... Â*
Gosh, gOS is good
,----[ Quote ]
| I really liked gOS. It's a cute little system with lots of functionality and
| great looks. It works well and is fast and stable on my laptop. It should
| work on any computer that any other Linux supports. Enlightenment is an
| impressive desktop environment, and the iBar is a low-overhead way to blend
| cool effects with needed functionality. I think users will like it. Â* Â*
ReviewLinux.Com: gOS is worth looking into....
,----[ Quote ]
| Everybody is going Green. I take a quick look at the new kid on the block.
| gOS 1.0.1 was released earlier this month and I take a short screenshot tour
| of this "Green" Linux OS. Check out the short flash video too. Â* Â*
gOS-live 1.0 386
,----[ Quote ]
| Based on Ubuntu 7.10 Linux system with an Enlightenment E17 interface, the
| PC's productivity will be almost solely derived from Google applications
| accessed through Firefox: Mail, Calendar, News, Maps and Documents &
| Spreadsheets. It also comes with OpenOffice.org 2.2 and some other freeware
| Linux favorates. Â* Â*

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Good weekend. Thank you for your support of Daily Thunder. No more 8:30 games, please.
Riveting video here, you guys. Some guy actually made a video "unboxing" KD's movie. I love YouTube. But hey, a reminder that "Thunderstruck" is out on Blu Ray and DVD, so if you're looking for a Christmas gift, there you go. And you know what, it's not terrible.


text:
Greg Jack, the associate head track and field coach, is in his 15th season at Virginia Tech, and has guided the Hokies into becoming one of the nation's premier throwing programs producing 12 NCAA Champions, 61 All-Americans, 83 NCAA Championship qualifiers and 47 conference champions.
"I consider Greg Jack to be one of the top throws coaches in the nation," said Virginia Tech Director of Track & Field and Cross Country Dave Cianelli. "He consistently develops and prepares his athletes as well as any coach I have seen during my 30 years in the business."
Irena Sediva paved the way for Jack and his throwers in 2014-15. Sediva earned the individual NCAA championship javelin title in addition to the ACC title. Tomas Kruzliak garnered the ACC champion title in the hammer throw event. In addition to Kruzliak and Sediva, Sabine Kopplin earned All-America honors. Sediva was also named the ACC Outdoor Performer of the Year with her several record-breaking throws to cap off the 2014-15 competition.
The 2013-14 season was a more than successful one for the VT throwers. Tomas Kruzliak was named an All-American after a fifth place finish in the hammer throw at the NCAA Outdoor Championships while Sabine Kopplin and Eva Vivod also earned All-America honors after posting seventh and 11th place finishes, respectively, at the NCAA Outdoor Championships. In addition to the national recognition, Tomas Kruzliak claimed the ACC Championship in the hammer throw, while Kopplin, Vivod and Annjulie Vester earned All-ACC honors. Kruzliak was also named the ACC Outdoor Performer of the Year after his more than impressive 2013-14 campaign.
The 2012-13 season saw much success for Jack and his throwers. Both Alexander Ziegler and Tomas Kruzliak earned individual national championships under Jack's instruction as well as were named the USTFCCCA Southeast Region Men's Field Athletes of the Year, Ziegler for indoor and Kruzliak for outdoor. Ziegler ended his Tech career as a three-time national champion winning twice in the hammer throw and once in the weight throw. During the indoor season, both Ziegler and Kruzliak earned All-America honors and during the outdoor season, Matthias Treff and Annjulie Vester joined Kruzliak in being named Outdoor All-Americans. For the third year in a row, Jack had a trio of throwers finish 1-2-3 in the weight throw at the ACC Indoor Championships and earned two more ACC championships during the outdoor season in the weight throw and the Javelin throw.
In the 2011-12 season, Jack's throwers continued to add to the success of the Tech throwing program as Marcel Lomnicky and Alexander Ziegler each earned the program another individual national championship with Lomnicky ending his Hokie career as a two-time national champion, this time by winning the weight throw, while Alexander Ziegler won the hammer throw title for the second-consecutive year, becoming only the second Hokie thrower to earn back-to-back national championships. Ziegler also had a third-place finish at nationals in the weight throw, while Matthias Treff had one of his own in the javelin. For the second year in a row at the ACC Indoor Championships, Jack had a trio finish 1-2-3 in the weight throw. Subsequently, Jack was named the USTFCCCA Men's Southeast Region Indoor Assistant Coach of the Year. In all, Jack led his group to four ACC individual championships, nine All-ACC honors and five All-American selections in 2012. During the summer, three athletes who were mentored by Jack competed in the 2012 Olympics. Cleopatra Borel (Trinidad & Tobago) and Allison Randal (Jamaica) have been volunteer assistants for the Tech program while Marcel Lomnicky (Slovakia) finished up his eligibility at Tech after the indoor season.
In 2011, Jack's throwers ascended to new standards of excellence as he was honored as the USTFCCCA Men's Southeast Region Outdoor Assistant Coach of the Year. Dorotea Habazin and Alexander Ziegler won NCAA Outdoor National Championships in the hammer throw, while Marcel Lomnicky (hammer) and Matthias Treff (javelin) earned national runner-up finishes. Ziegler also finished second nationally in the indoor weight throw. In all, six Hokie throwers earned nine All-America honors. Four individuals won a total of six ACC championships and three: Lomnicky, Habazin and Treff set school and ACC all-time records. In fact, the Hokie men swept the podium at the ACC Championships in both the indoor weight throw and outdoor hammer. Freshman Samira Burkhardt was named the ACC Women's Freshman of the Year for Indoor and Outdoor Track & Field while Lomnicky was the Men's Outdoor Regional Field Athlete of the Year and Habazin was the ACC's Women's Outdoor Field Performer of the Year.
In 2010, Jack was named the 2010 Men's Southeast Region Assistant Indoor and Outdoor Coach of the Year. Three individuals won ACC titles and three earned four All-America awards. During the indoor season, Alexander Ziegler earned an ACC title in the weight throw and capped his season with a third-place finish at the NCAA Championships. The Hokies added two more ACC gold medals during the outdoor season, with Igor Misljenovic and Marcel Lomnicky earning titles in the discus and hammer throw, respectively. In postseason action, Dorotea Habazin continued her success with a second consecutive All-America honor with a runner-up performance in the hammer throw. Alexander Ziegler and Marcel Lomnicky received All-America accolades with 2nd and 3rd place showings in the men's hammer throw.
In 2009, Jack mentored Marcel Lomnicky, who won the hammer throw at the national meet with a toss of 235'6". The title marked Jack's fifth national championship as a throws coach at Tech. Jack also guided Lomnicky to NCAA East Regional and ACC crowns in the hammer throw, as well as an All-America honor and an ACC championship in the weight throw. On the women's side, Hokie throwers amassed two All-America accolades and three ACC titles of their own. Dorotea Habazin, who earned USTFCCCA Women's Southeast Region Field Athlete of the Year, captured All-America recognition in the hammer throw and won the weight and hammer throw at the ACC indoor and outdoor meets, respectively, while Brittany Pryor won her sixth All-America honor in the hammer throw and her fifth ACC title with a victory in the discus at the conference outdoor meet, to cap her illustrious career.
In 2008, Jack guided his veteran-laden unit to a strong campaign, with five ACC Championships and six throwers earning All-American status. Under Jack's tutelage, Pryor won four ACC titles and three All-America honors, along with earning the indoor USTFCCCA Southeast Region Women's Field Athlete of the Year, while Kristen Callan, Justin Clickett and Matej Muza all achieved All-America accolades.
The 2007 season was another successful one for the Tech throwers, with 12 All-ACC selections, four All-America honors and concluding with Jack being named the USTFCCCA's National Throws Coach of the Year after all three of his hammer throw athletes earned All-America honors, including the national champion.
In 2006, three throwers earned All-America honors during the indoor season and four in the outdoor season. During the indoor season, weight thrower Spyridon Jullien won his second straight NCAA weight throw title. During the outdoor campaign, Jullien won the NCAA hammer throw title to conclude his Virginia Tech career with four national championships.
Jack and his throwers had a school-record-setting 2005 season. At the 2005 NCAA Indoor Championships, Jullien became the school's first NCAA champion by winning the men's 35-pound weight throw. Jullien then captured the hammer national title at the NCAA Outdoor Championships in June, 2005 and Jack coached four others who earned All-America honors.
In 2004, Jack had several athletes place in the top-five at the NCAA East Regional Championships. Jullien's second-place performance in the hammer throw was 231'11" (70.70m) at the NCAA outdoor championships and earned him his third All-America honor. Jullien took fourth place at the NCAA indoor championships in the 35-lb. weight throw. Jack's Hokie thrower squad claimed four BIG EAST Conference Championships – two indoor and two outdoor.
In 2003, two of Jack's throwers represented Tech at the NCAA Championships. Jullien took sixth place in the hammer throw at the championships while reaching All-American status for the first time. Three athletes were BIG EAST Champions, while three more were runners-up. They broke five school records and one BIG EAST Championship record in the men's weight throw.
Jack's first year coaching at Virginia Tech in 2002 saw Dee O'Connell win the BIG EAST javelin throw, earn All-America honors and record a fifth-place finish at the U.S Championships. O'Connell took fifth place at the 2002 U.S Championships and posted third-place finishes at the 2003 U.S. Championships and the 2004 U.S. Olympic Trials.
In international action, Callan won the hammer throw at the 2004 U.S. Junior Championships and set a meet record with a throw of 193'11" (59.11m). She represented the United States at the World Junior Championships that were held in Grosetto, Italy. Jack served as a national coach for the country of Trinidad and Tobago. As the national coach, he helped Cleopatra Borel capture her country's national championship with a new record, finish 10th in the shot put finals at the Olympics in Athens and earn a top-eight world ranking by the IAAF.
At Tech, Jack has coached a total of 61 All-Americans, 83 NCAA qualifiers, 47 conference champions, 10 conference record holders, and all school throws records are held by Jack coached athletes.
Jack is married to the former Jacquie Keats, a doctor of chiropractics, and they currently reside in Blacksburg. Twin daughters MacKenzie and Morgan were born on Oct. 25, 2007.
The Ottawa, Canada native graduated from Florida State with a Bachelor of Science in physical education.


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Cyndy Parr commented on "Epischura baikalensis":
@Cyndy Parr: Subsequent research by Janet Scott (IUCN) indicates that the original reference Sars 1900 uses the spelling with a "k" so it appears that no further correction is necessary.
Cyndy Parr commented on "Epischura baikalensis":
As reported by Lev Yampolsky, Associate Professor, East Tennessee State University: "I believe I have discovered a typo in the epithet of a species listed by IUCN and EOL: http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/7897/0 and http://eol.org/pages/3008209/overview, respectively. I am positive that the spelling should be Epischura baicalensis, not Epischura baikalensis. Trustworthy sources list this species as Epischura baicalensis Sars 1900. There are 0 occurrences of "Epischura baikalensis" in WoS or Zoological record. I do not have enough nomenclature experience to determine if we are dealing with just a typo or with a misnomer/ synonym situation and whether ICZN should be involved (but copying this to email@example.com just in case). There is a Wikipedia article on "Epischura baikalensis", which I am working with Wikipedia to replace by the one with correct spelling (it is not possible to edit article titles). I suspect that this might have been the source of the typo propagated to a number of reputable resources including IUCN and EOL."
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PortaWhiz Info Manager is a Personal Information Manager, or PIM in short, which enables you to organize and securely store your important, personal, and sensitive information in a strongly encrypted (Rijndael) database file. This information will be accessible from your Pocket PC, and your personal computer. With PortaWhiz Info Manager you can create different database files for different kinds of information that you want to store. For example, you can create one database file to keep your passwords, one for storing your ideas and thoughts, one for your reminders and one for your diary. PortaWhiz Info Manager has two versions; one for your Pocket PC and one for your personal computer. The same PortaWhiz Info Manager database file can be used on your personal computer, and on your Pocket PC. You can use your personal computer to quickly enter or edit your notes when you are at home, and your mobile Pocket PC for viewing and editing notes when you are at work or on a trip. By purchasing PortaWhiz Info Manager for your Pocket PC, you will get the desktop version for FREE.
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According to St. Francis Athletic Director, Bob Krimmel, the old DeGol field scoreboard had been held together by a thread and prayer. Now, if you go to the St. Francis football game this weekend, you'll be looking at a brand new scoreboard, just one of the major projects made possible by an innovative and elite fundraising arm of the Stokes Club called Red Flash Futures.
"We needed a bold strategy for fundraising," said Krimmel, "we needed to change, and target what we do in order to provide the best possible opportunities for our student-athletes."
The Red Flash Futures program was created to generate revenue through various membership levels (beginning at $1,000) specifically for capital and staffing improvements. In just over a year, the RFF has raised about $300,000, with additional monies promised by alumni and corporate donors.
The first goal met by the program, as outlined in the Athletic Strategic Plan, was to hire strength and conditioning coach, Jesse Weber, who helped design and plan the new weight room and training program. The men's basketball locker room has been renovated, and designs have been completed for improvements to the women's basketball locker room, Stokes Center weight room and offices, softball and soccer fields. Even more plans are in the works.
Krimmel has been moved by the collaborative effort between the Athletic Department administration, the Stokes Club and University President, Father Gabriel Zeis.
"It's exciting, and we're humbled by the support we've received financially and spiritually; those who say we're with you; we're a school based on faith and that carries us every day as we go forward with this journey."
The Red Flash Futures is appropriately named, as the program is catapulting St. Francis sports to the next level, and making the Flash one of the premier programs in the Northeast Conference. It's hard to put a price tag on what the staffing and facilities improvements will mean for recruitment and retention of student-athletes.
Even more intangible may be the impact on the athletes' personal journeys on-campus and in the community.
"Long-term, our hope is that our student-athletes who come here will have the best opportunities to have a successful athletic experience," said Krimmel. "And that experience will go hand-in-hand with their academic and spiritual experiences at St. Francis."
There are many options for student-athletes today, within the Northeast Conference and the Mid-Atlantic States; it's important for the university in Loretto to remain competitive.
Krimmel compares the strategic process of creating and prioritizing athletic projects to developing a family budget. It's a tough job, but one that's necessary for athletes today and in the future.
"We're pleased," he said, "but we're constantly looking down the road at things we have to do and where we need to go. The process has been met with great hope and great excitement with Father Gabe's vision. It's so exciting to be part of the Red Flash Family."
Kellie Goodman Shaffer can be reached at email@example.com. Her column appears on Tuesdays.


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2006 Biology Abstracts
2006 Research Fair Archive - Biology Abstracts
Adherence of Trypsonized Enterococcus faecalis
Enterococcus faecalis is a common nosocomial pathogen whose virulence is tied to its ability to adhere to human cells, especially in the urinary tract and lining of the heart. This study examined adherence by known clinical strains to a human cell line, HTB-5. The human cells were grown in DMEM with 10% FBS in an incubator at 37°C and 10% carbon dioxide until confluent. The cells were then plated in chamber slides overnight. The known clinical strains of bacteria were then added to the cell cultures and adherence was tested using a known ¬in vitro method. Adherences of trypsonized and non-trypsonized bacterial cells were compared for any changes in adherent properties. Results from the application of this developed assay will be presented.
Identifying Halophage Hosts from Isolates
Halophage are salt tolerant viruses that infect bacteria in hypersaline waters. They have not been extensively studied. With the discovery of halopahge in Great Salt Lake, questions were raised about what halophiles they attack. In the course of this project, we took different isolates of halophiles and plated them in the presence of halophage pools, isolated by cesium chloride centrifugation. Results will be presented from these assays. Our data will help identify which halophage attacks which halophile.
Thioredoxin Reductase in Artemia franciscana and Its Role
The interaction between selenium and the life in the Great Salt Lake is of great current interest due to the potential ecological impacts of increased selenium levels in the Great Salt Lake. Selenium has long been associated with cytotoxicity in organisms exposed to high selenite concentrations. The multifaceted thioredoxin reductase enzyme family has been implicated in the detoxification of selenium in a wide variety of organisms. While there is some data on the Selenium levels in the lake water, sediments, birds, and brine shrimp (Artemia), little is known about the effect of selenium on the brine shrimp themselves. Our goal is to identify and characterize the Artemia thioredoxin reductase gene and study its regulation in the attempt to provide insights into the reaction of brine shrimp to selenium in their environment. To identify TrxR in Artemia, we have employed Reverse Transcriptase PCR with degenerate primers targeted to conserved. PCR results have demonstrated a potential TrxR fragment and currently the sequence of this band is being investigated via bacterial cloning.
Photoprotection in Halophilic Archaea: Correlation of Carotenoids
Halophilic Archaea are much more resistant to ultraviolet (UV) light damage than Escherichia coli and other species of Bacteria. These extreme halophilic organisms use light-driven ion pumps to maintain an acceptable internal environment despite living in water that has salt concentrations up to 30%. This need for light requires that the organisms experience more UV exposure than most other known microorganisms. For this reason, they have developed survival mechanisms, including efficient DNA repair processes. We propose that halophilic Archaea also employ photoprotective mechanisms such as low adenine-thymine ratios to avoid thymine dimers and pigmentation to protect from UV damage. Methods of analysis included thymine dimer detection as well as isolation and identification of carotenoid compounds using HPLC.
Microbial Diversity of Great Salt Lake
Great Salt Lake (GSL) is a dichotomous ecosystem with a causeway splitting the lake into a hypersaline (30%) North Arm and a less saline (15%) South Arm. This project is a survey of the community of microorganisms dwelling in the North Arm of GSL, using microbial and molecular techniques. To date, no study like this has ever been attempted on this important extreme ecosystem. Microorganisms (Archaea) were isolated and characterized through cultivation, microscopy, biochemistry and 16S rDNA gene sequencing. Through electron microscopy, a number of halo-phage species were discovered, and these were fractionated with a centrifugation gradient. Results from phage characterization will also be discussed. Our studies show that GSL is much more diverse than previously thought. This research will result in a deeper understanding of the ecology of a unique ecosystem in North America.
Searching for an Alternative Energy Source
As fossil fuels are becoming depleted, alternative energy sources must be sought. Past research has shown that green algae naturally produce limited amounts of hydrogen as a byproduct of photosynthesis. However, green algae species inhabiting hypersaline, anerobic environments, are suspected of producing greater amounts of hydrogen. Through DNA analysis, we have been searching for the hydrogenase gene in four species of green algae living in the Great Salt Lake (GSL). PCR primers were designed based on the hydrogenase gene sequence discovered by Dr. Posewitz at the National Renewable Energy Lab. Initial DNA extractions and PCR experiments of GSL samples have not shown a hydrogenase gene thus far. Therefore, our current research has focused on testing the primers against controlled algae samples that are known to possess the gene. If the primers work, we will continue searching for the hydrogenase gene in the GSL samples. If not, primers may need resequencing.
Thymine Dimer Formation in Halophilic DNA
Ultraviolet damage in DNA is responsible for thymine dimer formation within the DNA. Repair mechanisms in halophilic DNA is unique in that, unlike prokaryotes and eukaryotes, they do not show a nucleotide excision repair (NER) system. Rather, it is postulated that halophiles use carotenoids to aid in the photoprotection of cellular DNA. Using halophile DNA, we first subjected it to UV radiation to trigger thymine dimer formation, then extracted and isolated the DNA. Finally, color development was accomplished and the DNA damage was compared to unprotected control DNA. The damage in halophilic DNA was found to be significantly less than the unprotected control, indicating that carotenoids likely aid the halophilic DNA in photoprotection of the cell.
Brine Shrimp Nutritional Requirements
Artemia are commonly used to feed economically valuable fish due to their small size, easy transferability, and long shelf life. As a result, there is interest in viable, nutrient dense brine shrimp. It has been noted by local researchers that brine shrimp are unable to reach adulthood in media other than Great Salt Lake water. The logical explanation for this is that there is a nutrient in the Great Salt Lake water that Artemia needs to survive and grow into adulthood. This experiment is designed to isolate the food source that brine shrimp require to grow into full adulthood. The first set of experiments test the shrimp under five nutritional conditions: 1. no algae 2. Dianaliella virdis 3. Carteris 4. Pennate diatoms 5. Coccochloris sp. So far, only the cysts in the Coccochloris have hatched. Experiments are ongoing to verify these preliminary data.
Halite Crystal Dissolution:
Halophilic Archaea have been revived from ancient salt deposits and have been shown to survive for millions of years in halite crystals. These salt crystals are formed around fluid inclusions, which may provide refuge to microorganisms as their environment becomes desiccated. To test the dormancy potential of Great Salt Lake (GSL) halophiles, recently formed hopper-shaped halite crystals from the hypersaline North Arm of GSL were examined. Methods of crystal selection, sterilization, and dissolution were established. Eighty-eight percent of the crystals dissolved contained viable halophiles. Each of these cultures contained all cellular morphotypes present in GSL brine. Archaeal strains were isolated from these crystal cultures. These halite crystals have been shown to be an excellent source of novel strains of GSL microorganisms. Isolated species were characterized using 16S rDNA gene sequencing. Implications of this study included the potential use of this method in isolating novel microorganisms from other hypersaline ecosystems.
Avian DNA Phylogenetic Tree
The classification system of bird species is commonly done by morphology traits such as body size, shape, and color. This type of classification is helpful for grouping but carries two major flaws; cryptic species and convergent evolution. DNA from birds can help clarify misleading classification. We used liver tissue samples from various birds extracts, amplified through PCR procedures, and purified the 16S sequence of avian DNA. Following DNA extraction, samples will be analyzed by DNA sequencing and BLAST searching to align the sequences with database date. In this way the species of the bird is determined. The result for each bird is a more accurate avian phylogenetic tree.
Phylogenic Similarities Based on Avian and Reptilian DNA
Previous phylogenic placements of ratites and reptiles have been based on physical attributes of each family. However, comparisons of 12S ribosomal DNA and 16S ribosomal DNA may show a conserved link between ostrich and alligator. Our primary objective is to determine the phylogenic origin of avian lineages and to help explain the many uncertainties of avian evolution.Through muscle tissue obtained by a meat packaging company, mitochondrial DNA was extracted using the Qiagen DNeasy tissue kit. DNA was then amplified using PCR techniques. Results of these amplifications will be presented.
Thioredoxin Reductase in Artemia and Selenium Cytotoxicity
Great Salt Lake is becoming polluted with selenium. To show how the brine shrimp, Artemia, are surviving in the presence of high selenium, gene expression of this organism was investigated. We are looking closely at levels of gene products in pathways involving selenium. RNA was isolated and some made into CDNA to perform PCR. The primers that were used are sequences within the thioredoxin reductase gene, which is known to be involved in selenium resistance. The rest of the RNA will be tested by PCR using primers from flies whose genes upregulate in response to an increase in selenium. In addition, selenium toxicity exponents will be discussed.
The Genetic Structure
Very little is known about the genetic structure of the brine shrimp (Artemia franciscana) population in Great Salt Lake (GSL). Initially we set out to investigate the polymorphism rate in the Artemia population in general. However, the GSL presents a particularly interesting environment since the salinity of the lake varies depending on the season and location. This is especially true when comparing the north and south arms of the lake that are separated by a railroad causeway. Our next set of experiments will be to examine polymorphisms in different regions of the lake that have different salinity levels. We hope that our data will help us understand the biogeography of the Artemia in GSL and whether the environment of GSL has an effects polymorphism levels.
Examining the Role of External Application of Glutamate to C. elegans
Glutamate has long been thought to play a role in the underline biological mechanisms of learning and memory, specifically long-term potentiation. Researchers have turned to a number of model organisms to explain, the underline mechanisms of learning and memory, one is C. elegans. C. elegans have a number of learning and mutants present to help researchers identify. Using the mechanosensory paradigm and the mutants avr-15, nmr-1, glr-1, eat-4, and the wild-type n2, the focus of this research is to influence the rates at which these worms learn.
Halophites in Salt Crystals
Salt Crystals from the North Arm of Great Salt Lake are rich in dormant life. Microorganisms known as halophiles ("salt loving") were isolated from salt crystals by dissolving these crystals in media, then grown on agar plates. DNA was extracted from these isolated colonies. The 16S rDNA gene was amplified by PCR using primers for halophic archaea. PCR products will be sequenced and compared to a database to reveal the species identity of our isolates. If the species is novel the will be named and classified in their taxonomic genera.


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Whether it be threading one from the corner, ringing one from the slot, or picking the five hole from the blue line - Snipers know how to find the mesh. Teammates love them, goalies fear them, and score keepers make a living because of them.
- Ridiculously soft dual-blend: 60% cotton / 40% polyester
- Black t-shirt
- Eco-friendly waterbased inks that blend into the shirt fibers after one wash
- Hem tag sewn in the bottom of the shirt
- Screen printed itch free neck tag


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I've been a caregiver for my husband since about 2001 when he began having angina. My caregiving responsibilities have progressively increased and his health has progressively declined since he had triple heart bypass surgery in 2003. After the surgery, he had atrial fibrillation, which stayed.
生命尽头的决策:喂食管与呼吸机 (End-of-Life Choices: Feeding Tubes and Ventilators)
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生命尽头的决策:喂食管与呼吸机 Download here (239k) Simplified
生命盡頭的決策:喂食管與呼吸器 Download here (230k) Traditional


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The following video is from Thursday's MarketFoolery podcast, in which host Chris Hill, as well as analysts Bryan Hinmon and Matt Argersinger, discuss the top business and investing stories of the day.
Shares of Oracle (NYSE: ORCL ) slipped today after the software giant reported weaker-than-expected earnings. Oracle's President and CFO said the company's overall business remains healthy. What's behind Oracle's disappointing quarter? How does Oracle compare to rivals like IBM (NYSE: IBM ) , Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT ) , SalesForce (NYSE: CRM ) , and SAP (NYSE: SAP ) . In this installment of MarketFoolery, our analysts discusss Oracle's future.
It's been a frustrating path for Microsoft investors, who've watched the company fail to capitalize on the incredible growth in mobile over the past decade. However, with the release of its own tablet, along with the widely anticipated Windows 8 operating system, the company is looking to make a splash in this booming market. In this brand-new premium report on Microsoft, our analyst explains that, while the opportunity is huge, the challenges are many. He's also providing regular updates as key events occur, so make sure to claim a copy of this report now by clicking here.
The relevant video segment can be found between 8:58 and 12:11.
For the full video of today's MarketFoolery, click here.


text: VBS.TV recently launched a new series titled League of Two. The show's theme was to highlight the relationships between close friends who incidentally work together through the realm of architecture, fashion, music, food and film. The attention turns to Partners and Spade who encompasses a brand, store and an agency.


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— Larry
A. For you, the hit should be minor and temporary. Still, there are considerations to make before you cancel.
Ask yourself if you'll be applying for any major loans, such as a mortgage or car loan, in the near future.
"You might want to keep the card until that credit is obtained to get the best possible rate of interest on the loan," said Jody D'Agostini, a certified financial planner with AXA Advisors/RICH Planning Group in Morristown.
Take out any loans first because canceling your oldest card will have an effect on your length of credit history, which makes up about 15 percent of your credit score. Keeping the oldest card is good for that part of your score, but given the rest of your credit history, it sounds like you'd make up any decline rather quickly.
"The nick on your credit should be minimal, and as long as you continue to pay your bills in a timely fashion, then you should have little cause for concern," she said.
If there was no annual fee, D'Agostini said she'd recommend sticking the card in a drawer and not using it, though sometimes inactivity will cause the lender to close the line of credit.
Although you'd be closing your oldest card, you still have the Hilton card, which goes back to 1988 — not bad and certainly proof of a long credit history.
Something else to consider before closing the card is your credit utilization ratio, which compares how much credit you have available and how much you're actually using, said Michael Gibney, a certified financial planner with Highland Financial Advisors in Riverdale.
Gibney said closing the card will lower your available credit, and together with your outstanding auto and home improvement loans, your credit utilization will move higher — and higher in general is bad for your credit score.
This again, given your overall solid credit history, will be a temporary hit.
"I agree with canceling the gold card because of the annual fee," Gibney said. "I find it hard to justify an annual fee on a credit card because there are many offerings available with no annual fee."
E-mail your questions to email@example.com.


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The Tubman Seminar Series invites interested students and scholars to attend a
seminar by Dr. Joel Quirk of the Wilberforce Institude of the University of
Hull on the subject of modern slavery and why and how it is perpetuated. Dr.
Quirk is the deputy director of the Wilberforce Institute for the study of
Slavery and Emancipation and has published numerous pieces concerning modern
slavery and the abolition of slavery.
Dr. Quirk will be speaking on Tuesday October 19th from 12:00 noon to 1:30pm at
280N York Lanes. We welcome participants to come and learn more about how
modern day human trafficking endures and has been shaped by the effort to
abolish the slave trade. Everyone is encouraged to come.
To read Dr. Quirk's paper, check the Tubman website at www.yorku.ca/tubman


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Coroner: Woman struck by car dies
Victim struck along Old Philadelphia Pike
Published 10:38 AM EST Dec 28, 2012
The Lancaster County coroner said a woman hit by a car earlier this month has died. Jacqueline Wertz, 41, died Monday.
She was hit Dec. 16 along Old Philadelphia Pike, police said.
Police said their investigation continues and no charges have been filed.
Copyright 2012 by WGAL All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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Come one, come all and join us in this first ever Easter Egg Hunt against domestic violence, bullying and gun violence.
This will be an event full of laughter, fun and joy for the whole family. Find the magic egg that holds the fortune of $50 among others with $20, $10, $5, and $1. Enjoy free raffles for children and adults. Enjoy light refreshments and donuts donated by local vendors.
Rivera & Rivera Act Against Foreclosure Inc. invites the community to join us in this fundraiser taking place at Marshall Roy Park located at 162 El Paso St. in Springfield. The event will be held March 30 starting at 10 a.m. A registration fee of $5 to participate is required.
All proceeds from the event will benefit the 2nd Annual Anti-Bullying Day event being held Oct. 19 from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. at Blunt Park, 2460 Roosevelt Ave.
For more information or to support the event through a donation please contact Keith Peters, project coordinator at (413) 732-1325 or Marisol R. Feliciano, founder at (413) 732-1088. Checks should be made out to Rivera & Rivera Act Against Foreclosure Inc., 44 Duryea St., Springfield, MA. 01104.


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Wheat futures hit their highest level for nearly two years in Chicago after Russia announced a temporary ban on exports of the grain.
The world's third-largest wheat exporter will halt shipments on August 15 after crops across an area the size of Portugal were destroyed by drought and fires.
Contracts for September delivery of a bushel of wheat increased 60 cents, the biggest daily rise allowed by the Chicago Board of Trade, to $7.8575. This is the highest price that the contract has reached and a 23-month high for all front-month contracts.
Some traders feared a repeat of the wheat