text:
Scott's innovative tube-free roll—designed to eliminate cardboard waste—was one of
several that were hard to tear.
Another test, designed to determine how well a toilet paper breaks down, because
nobody wants toilet paper clogging the plumbing. The best toilet paper disintegrated
in seconds. But Charmin's Ultra Strong took the longest, more than a minute to break
And who wants a scratchy toilet paper? In a temperature-and-humidity-controlled room,
Consumer Reports sensory panelists size up the softness.
White Cloud 3-ply Ultra from Walmart topped the charts. It scored excellent for softness.
It's strong, and it breaks down quickly.
Not a Walmart shopper? Quilted Northern Ultra Plush came in second in Consumer
Reports' tests. It proved easy to tear and was very soft.
As for the eco-friendly toilet papers, none was great. But if living green is a priority,
Consumer Reports says try Seventh Generation toilet paper. While it's not super-strong,
it rated very good for softness and excellent for disintegration.
Complete Ratings and recommendations on all kinds of products, including appliances,
cars & trucks, and electronic gear, are available on Consumer Reports' website.
Subscribe to ConsumerReports.org.


text:
Please Note: By clicking a link to any resource listed on this page, you will be leaving this site.
Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Alliancehttp://www.give.orgThis site offers information on more than 300 charities and whether they meet the Better Business Bureau's standards.
TOYSAFETY.nethttp://www.toysafety.netThis site, which is a project of the National Association of State Public Interest Research Groups (PIRGs) provides toy safety information for consumers.
UNICEFhttp://www.unicef.orgUNICEF is a leading advocate for children's rights.
SERVEnethttp://servenet.orgThis site contains information on volunteering and community service opportunities.
Ronald McDonald House Charitieshttp://www.rmhc.comRonald McDonald House Charities provides comfort and care to families with children in the hospital.
Center for a New American Dreamhttp://www.newdream.orgThis site has a section with ideas on simplifying the holidays and countering the commercialization of our culture.
Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice, diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor.
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subset: commoncrawl


text: Hello all I am new and happy to have found this forum! I need advice on when I should start my baby girl on rice cereal followed by first stage fruits and veggies. She made five months 4/6/08. Thanks for any and all advice! I am happy completely breastfeeding I am just feeling pressured to start, for she seems really interested! Oh and what about water to drink in addition to breast milk on hot days..we are outdoors a lot & live in New Orleans Jazz Fest is almost here, ya know!


text:
Students wishing to receive an associate degree or certificate must complete the Associate Degree Application or Certificate Application in order for the Evaluations Office to perform an official final evaluation of the student's record for completion of requirements. Students must be within two terms of completing requirements before the application will be accepted, and should consult with a counselor for verification.
Diplomas and transcripts will be withheld if the student has a financial obligation or hold with Cuesta College. See policy.
Catalog Rights
A student who satisfies the following definition of attendance will follow the Cuesta College curriculum for degrees and certificates in effect:
• at the time the student began attendance at a California Community College, California State University, University of California, or other regionally accredited college or university; or
• as outlined in a subsequent Cuesta College Catalog.
"Attendance" means attendance in at least one semester or two quarters each academic year. A student who misses two consecutive semesters, or three quarters in an academic year, excluding summer school, will lose catalog rights. In that case, the student must follow (1) the Cuesta College Catalog that coincides with the student's date of re-enrollment in a regionally accredited college or university or (2) subsequent Cuesta College Catalog. A total withdrawal in a semester does not constitute a one-semester break in enrollment when "W" symbols are posted on the student record. Campus authorities may authorize or require substitutions for discontinued courses in certificate or degree programs.
Note: Catalog rights do not apply to the ADT degrees (Associate Degrees for Transfer) or General Education Certifications.
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Residency credit for the graduation requirements is defined as credits earned in residence at the college granting the degree, certificate, general education (GE) certification, or application of alternative education credit.
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Residency requirements to be completed at Cuesta College:
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(at least 3 semester credits)
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Cuesta College affirms that there is merit in awarding college credit for other than the traditional classroom experiences when those experiences represent learning that may be validated. Therefore, Cuesta College awards credit according to the policies stated below.
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• Heath Education (except ADT- see requirements below);
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ADT (A.A. for Transfer and A.S. for Transfer) California Community Colleges offer the Associate Degrees for Transfer to the CSU. This includes Associate in Arts (AA-T) and Associate in Science (AS-T) degrees. These degrees are designed to provide a clear pathway to a CSU major and baccalaureate degree. California Community College students who are awarded an AA-T or AS-T degree are guaranteed admission with junior standing in the CSU system and given priority admission consideration to their local CSU campus or to a program that is deemed similar to their community college major. This priority does not guarantee admission to specific majors or campuses. Consult with the Cuesta College Transfer Center for mandatory application, evaluation and notification deadlines.
Students who have been awarded an AA-T or AS-T are able to complete their remaining requirements for the 120-credits baccalaureate degree within 60 semester or 90
quarter credits.
ADT Requirements: Students pursuing the Associate Degree for Transfer are also required to complete a minimum of 12.0 credits in residence at Cuesta College.
(1) Completion of 60 semester credits or 90 quarter credits that are eligible for transfer to the California State University, including both of the following:
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(2) A minimum overall grade point average of 2.0.
(3) A "C" or better grade in all courses required for the major or area of emphasis; a "P" (Pass) grade is not an acceptable grade for courses in the major. External exams such as Advanced Placement, etc. are not subject to this grade restriction.
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Quick Tools:
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CaliforniaColleges.edu: official source for college and career planning in California
CSU Mentor: how to plan for and apply to the California State University
UC Pathways: find everything you need to prepare to apply to the University of California
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text:
Editor's picks: 21 things to do this Labor Day Weekend
Posted by Justin McIntosh
Including FMMF, Femmefest, OSU football and Bike the Cbus, among others
Including FMMF, Femmefest, OSU football and Bike the Cbus, among others
Wherein our narrator debates the best pizza in Columbus
"Influx" opens at south side DIY artist space, MINT
Show's over, folks. It doesn't get better than this. Right down to who he challenges.
Featuring Funny Bone, Zauber, Urban Arts Space, Urban Scrawl and more
Wherein our supervillian turns superhero?
Zauber Brewing Co. releases 4 new beers.
Wherein our supervillian prepares to meet Mayor Coleman
Independents' Day announces 2014 music performers
Tonight the Wexner Center closes the Wex Drive-In season with Tim Burton's cult classic.


text:
Shouting Louder
An old-time trial lawyer once said, "When your case is weak, shout louder!"
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton shouted louder when asked about the Obama administration's story last fall that the September 11th attack on the U.S. ambassador's quarters in Benghazi was due to an anti-Islamic video that someone in the United States had put on the Internet, and thereby provoked a protest that escalated into violence.
She shouted: "We had four dead Americans. Was it because of a protest or was it because of guys out for a walk one night who decided they'd go kill some Americans? What difference, at this point, does it make?"
Students of propaganda may admire the skill with which she misdirected people's attention. But those of us who are still old-fashioned enough to think that the truth matters cannot applaud her success.
Let's go back to square one.
After the attack on the American ambassador's quarters in Benghazi that killed Ambassador Christopher Stevens and three other Americans, the Obama administration immediately blamed it on the anti-Islamic video.
Moreover, this version of what happened was not just a passing remark. It was a story that the administration kept repeating insistently. U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice repeated that story on five different television talk shows on the same Sunday. President Obama himself repeated the same story at the United Nations. The man who put the anti-Islamic video on the Internet was arrested for a parole violation, creating more media coverage to keep attention on this theme.
"What difference, at this point, does it make?" Secretary Clinton now asks. What difference did it make at the time?
Obviously the Obama administration thought it made a difference, with an election coming up. Prior to the attack, the administration's political theme was that Barack Obama had killed Osama bin Laden (with an assist from the Navy SEALs), vanquished Al Qaeda and was now in the process of putting the terrorist threat behind us.
To have the attack in Benghazi be seen as a terrorist attack — and a devastating one — would have ruined this picture, with an election coming up.
The key question that remains unanswered to this day is: What speck of evidence is there that the attack in Benghazi was due to the much-discussed video or that there was ever any protest demonstration outside the ambassador's quarters?
If there is no evidence whatever, then the whole attempt to say that a protest over a video escalated into an attack was a deliberate hoax by people who knew better.
There is no point in the administration saying that they did not have all the facts about the attack immediately. All the facts may never be known. But the real question is: Did you have even a single fact that would substantiate your repeated claims that some video led to a protest in Benghazi that got out of hand and led to the attack?
Interestingly, Hillary Clinton herself was not featured in this campaign, even though as Secretary of State she was a key figure. Hillary was not about to create video footage that could come back to haunt her if she runs for President of the United States in 2016.
In a larger context, the Benghazi attack showed that you cannot unilaterally end the "war on terror" or the terrorists' war on us, by declaring victory.
For years, the Bush administration's phrase "war on terror" was avoided like the plague by the Obama administration, even if that required the Fort Hood massacre to be classified as "workplace violence." But, no matter how clever the rhetoric, reality nevertheless rears its ugly head.
Once the September 11th attack in Benghazi is seen for what it was — a highly coordinated and highly successful operation by terrorists who were said to have been vanquished — that calls into question the Obama administration's Middle East foreign policy.
That is why it still matters.
Thomas Sowell is a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305. His website is: www.tsowell.com.
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Even though my father, brother, uncles and grandfather were in the military, I seldom handled guns growing up. That's because unlike many of the other people in my family, I've...Read More
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text: Below, Lady Jamie Bar, the 3-year-old sorrel mare above, took home a blanket from Skidmore Downs after stretching across the finish line in 12.4 seconds to win the 220-yard Champion of Champions Race. The mare is made quite a reputation for herself locally, according to owner Daniel Naranjo from Skidmore (pictured at left). Of the 13 starts in the horse's career, she is listed with nine wins, one place, two shows and one fourth place finish. "Not bad for a $1,000 investment, huh?' says the owner, who, along with trainer Bobby Ortiz of the 5-0 Downs, has worked with the mare for the past few months. Naranjo's son, Balde, is pictured at right.


text:
Best Trimmers 8/12/11
Love the look of a well-manicured lawn? Consumer Reports tested more than 40 string trimmers and found 13 that make the cut … and a few that don't.
"Propane-powered trimmers aren't the best choice. You pay more for the convenience of not having to deal with gasoline, and they tend to be heavier," says Peter Sawchuk of Consumer Reports.
Gasoline is still the way to go for maximum power. Brands like Echo and Stihl were tops in the tests for fast, neat trimming and edging. Plus they have the muscle to slice through heavier growth. The Stihl FS 45 is the top-rated trimmer. It did an excellent job edging, trimming, and cutting through tall grass, and the curved shaft makes this 160-dollar trimmer easy to use. If you want to skip the fumes and pull-starting, your choices have gotten better.
"There are powerful plug-in trimmers out there. They start with the push of a button, run as long as you need them, but you are limited to the length of the cord," says Sawchuk.
But battery-powered trimmers can give you push-button starts and cordless freedom. The Black and Decker NST-1024 cut cleanly with one pass and performed adequately in taller growth. It's a Consumer Reports Best Buy at 140 dollars. The catch - the battery gives you only 15 minutes or so of cutting time -- and takes about 10 hours to recharge. So maybe gas isn't such a hassle after all.
(Copyright 2011 by WKBT News8000.com)


text:
I will soon be playing in a very small Pathfinder group consisting only of the DM, one other player and myself. The other player leans towards playing either a Barbarian or a Bard, and I am inclined to play a pure caster, Sorceror or Wizard. The starting level will likely be between 8 and 10, and I'd be surprised if the campaign ever went beyond level 12.
Under these ramifications I am a bit unsure how to build my character. I have read Treatmonks guide to GOD wizards, but it seems to me that Buffing and Debuffing is much stronger in larger groups, while with only two players I also need to be able to actually take out opponents for good rather than just hindering them for a bit. Maybe even build towards the much maligned Blaster type?
Any suggestion therefore would be very welcome.
This should probably be in the Advice forum.
Anyway, I would play two very different Wizards, I think, based on whether my friend were playing a Barbarian or a Bard. Either way, summoning spells could be useful just to have more meat on the board. There js a Wizard prestige class in Inner Sea Magic that lets your Wizard pick up a few druid spells for some healing.
Oh and I guess maybe if he goea Bard, you cab go Wiz, but he he goes Barbarian, you might want to be a Sorcerer and fill in as the party talker, plus you can take UMDevice skill and hope for wands of Cure Light Wounds.
Woe on me, of course it should be in the Advice forum. How could I miss that one?
Can some Admin move the thread?
Check out summoner.
If not that, choose a conjuration specialist - you are going to need more bodies between you and BEBG.


text:
Home List of Titles Implant infection (antifouling and antimicrobial surface coatings through poly(2-methyl-2-oxazoline),)
Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://hdl.handle.net/1959.3/230955
|Download PDF (Published version) (Adobe Acrobat PDF, 25 KB)
- Title
- Implant infection (antifouling and antimicrobial surface coatings through poly(2-methyl-2-oxazoline),)
- Author(s)
- Acikgoz, C.; Lind, J. U.; Nowakowska, J.; Charnley, M.; Khanna, N.; Landmann, R.; Textor, M.
- Abstract
- Bacterial infection of implanted materials and devices is a major health care problem causing an adverse impact on the quality of life of patients and high costs. Numerous studies have been conducted to generate thin coatings that reduce bacterial adhesion on solid substrates. Particularly, coatings based on polymers play a significant role in the design and creation of antifouling and antimicrobial surfaces. Some coatings attempt to overcome the issue of biofouling by incorporating the active moiety into a biopassive background, providing the surface with both biopassive and bioactive activities. Herein we report the design of dual functional surfaces by combining nonadhesive properties of poly(2-methyl-2-oxazoline) (PMOXA) with an antibiotic moiety to kill bacteria adhering onto the surface. The nonadhesive properties of PMOXA modified surfaces have been investigated and shown to be as efficient as poly(ethylene glycol) based surfaces in suppressing the adhesion of proteins and bacteria.
- Publication type
- Journal article
- Source
- European Cells and Materials: incorporating abstracts from 'Implant infection', the 12th eCM International Forum, Davos, Switzerland, 22-24 June 2011, Vol. 21, supplement 2 (2011), p. 39
- Publication year
- 2011
- FOR Code(s)
- 0601 Biochemistry and Cell Biology; 0903 Biomedical Engineering
- Keyword(s)
- Alkynylation; Antibody labelling; Bacterium adherence; Biofouling; Click chemistry; Contact angle; Covalent bond; Cycloaddition; Ellipsometry; Ethyl piperidine 4 carboxylate; Hydrolysis; Macrogol; Material coating; Piperidine derivative; Poly(2 methyl 2 oxazoline); Polymer; Prosthesis infection; Ring opening; Silane; Silicon; Sodium hydroxide; Staphylococcus epidermidis; Surface property; Vancomycin; X ray photoelectron spectroscopy
- Publisher
- Swiss Society for Biomaterials
- 1473-2262
- Publisher URL
- Copyright
- Copyright © 2011 The authors.
- Additional information
- Supported by CCMX MatLife, BASF and RMS Foundation.
- Full text


text:
So I just had to share my funny experience last week while pumping... I work full time and when I'm in the office I am able to go in to a private office three times a day to pump and have had no problems with corwokres or anything else. Last week I was out of the office at a conference for two days, so I had to bring my pump with me and go in to the bathroom of the hotel where the conference was to pump. The first day I was in there and all was quiet for the first several minutes. Then a group of ladies came in to the bathroom and started a conversation like so...
- Do you hear that noise?
-- Yeah, what is it? It sounds weird.
- I don't know. It does sound weird.
-- You know, it sounds like something spraying... like maybe one of those automatic air freshners or something.
- You're right... it does. But it must be broken because it just keeps spraying and spraying.
-- Yeah, that's it... because it does smell really strong in here.
- It sure does. That's got to be what it is. It smells so strong in here!
-- They really need to fix that. The smell is strong!
So my breastpump had convinced these ladies that there was a broken automatic air freshner in the bathroom and they even began to smell the air freshner! I wonder if it smelled like breast milk!
And even funnier, the second day of the conference I was in the bathroom pumping again and I overheard a similar conversation!!
So I told a few of the girls I work with and now whenever we're in the office and they know I've just finished pumping, they'll tell me the air freshner in my office smells very strong!


text:
Buy for$17.50(3 items)
Written by InnerSelf on 21.02.2012 at 18:23
I'm on my first listen (finally) and I almost got an orgasm, I'm really happy that I still have the 2nd part of the trilogy to enjoy
Written by !J.O.O.E.! on 21.02.2012 at 18:30
You should make sure you listen to the Kenose EP (released between part one and part two). It's easily the best DsO release to date ;]
Written by Guest on 08.02.2012 at 22:21"Odium Nostrum" and especially "Malign Paradigm", which sounds out of place (maybe because it's "rawer"
Written by Mr. Doctor on 21.02.2012 at 22:53
SMR,Q is indeed a beautiful piece of art. My favorite song is probably Carnal Malefactor. There's a certain sense of nostalgia and I love how it builds up to a beautiful and chaotic crescendo before the chants appear. Powerful stuff and beautiful poetry as well!
Say, what does a maternal heart feel when merely
Vinegar stills your child's thirst?
You'd implore to harbour his torment in your chest...
To make this burden yours, but... Sacrilege!
Written by !J.O.O.E.! on 23.04.2012 at 22:30Can't wait for whatever the band give us next now their trilogy is complete.
Written by mz on 26.01.2013 at 11:06
My first DsO album and one of my first black metal albums. Good album and no problem with album length.


text:
|1 person marked this as a favorite.
Dear Adventurer,
My Patron has instructed me to find the most capable men and women in Absalom for a very important, very lucrative and, most importantly, very secret job. While I cannot tell you the details this missive, I can invite you to my Lord's manor in The Coins. Directions are enclosed.
Please arrive at 10 am sharp, and present the enclosed invitation at the door. There you will be taken to your interview and your...shall we say, test.
Very Truly Yours,
Hello all
I wanted to gauge interest in adding 3 or 4 players to an ongoing campaign. It originally started as a "Mini" Campaign between a gaming buddy and myself after we had to halt our homegame. We have been playing for while in order to get the hang of the online, play by post, and get used to the lack of a map etc.
Well the long and the short of it is that we have gotten the hang of it and are ready to open it up. This is my first time as a PbP GM, though I am involved in playing a Shattered Star.
I will be looking for players that can tell a story, and play a role. I am not looking for meta-gamers. I love to see creative solutions, as much as I enjoy a good combat. Currently we are wrapping coming up on Level 5, at which point the group will be assembled.
I will leave recruitment open for as long as necessary to get some interesting posts, though I will give a 24 hour notice of the closing of recruitment.
A Little Bit About the World
1. Absalom, and the sewers beneath it is where the gaming is taking place.
2. The current player will continue, he is a Spellslinger, with a single pistol.
3. Players will begin as employees of a minor, but very wealthy noble named Halwer.
4. The PC's will be recruited by him for a particular job. After that, the sky is the limit.
5. The first job, will involve traveling underground.
Character Details
1. Any Neutral or Good.
2. Level 5. Two Traits, 10,500 gp. 25 pt buy
3. Two Traits, all paizo allowed. However keep in mind that if you are selecting a monstrous Race, you will need to be ready to deal with living in the city. Not forbidden, just something to note.
4. Please include a Backstory of why your character has become an adventurer, the way you envision them fitting into an adventuring party, and their appearance/personality.
5. Looking for people who can post at least 1 time per day. Though more is also just fine.
Hi there!
Would you be willing to take on a player who is new to the pbp thing? I feel like it would be a great opportunity to learn as you have mentioned this is a new endeavor.
Also, some questions regarding the setting. What kind of personality and mind set would best suit these adventurers? If they are simply being hired on to accomplish a task, would it make more sense to be somewhat hard bitten and less idealistic?
I ask this because I created a character for another game that never came to fruition. At its base, the character would be a dervish bard which requires the player to be a follower of Sarenrae, a neutral good sun god. Would this function in the above scenario? I was thinking about turning him into a clever duelist eventually, but that would be a ways off.
I am not opposed to a new PbP player at all, I would suggest checking out this link
There is room for all personalities, they just have to be able to function in a group. So a completely self involved character, with not a care for anyone else, would probably not function well. That being said, I think there is plenty of room for both idealistic and "hard bitten" it can make to a lot of good RP
Go ahead and work up your Dervish Bard and see what you come up with.
|Calendir Eltoreth
Hello, I am very interested in your idea.
I would like to submit Calendir Eltoreth - I have created this ranger some time ago and took a liking to him after writing down his background. Recently I had been equating a slightly higher level campaign to give him a test drive mid levels, so this seems the perfect fit for what I was looking for.
He needs some easy adaptations to fit the 25 pt buy, and on the traits, but I believe what I like the most (the background andf personality I have envisioned for him) can remain pretty much as they are.
Do let me know, and I'll proceed with the modifications (well.. I guess I am going to modify his level anyway since I was already thinking about it :D )
I'd like to join as well, though I'm also new to the whole pbp experience. I'll probably have some days where my posting will be a bit spotty (especially weekends), but weekdays I should be around, provided my class workload doesn't pick up drastically.
I'll probably be bringing in a sneaky goblin gunslinger of some kind.
May I offer this character.
Meera's family are all 'connected' with shady dealings. Meera herself being a 'Tavern Bouncer' by trade.
Since I put the character together there have been some more books added to the Paizo stable. As such I may adjust her traits and which 'School' of Monk she is.
Much cheers to all.
Also, how would hit points be done? Rolled, or max first level, average for all levels after?
Alrighty, So I'm looking at an Oread Ki Mystic Monk of the Sacred Mountain. I'll have to work out the back story and crunch, but I think I'll be looking at making him an initiate into the Brotherhood of the Seal or having just left it (its a monk specific prestige class I'm looking at taking later). I'll work it all out in the back story and such. Figure LN or LG.
|Grand Moff Vixen
Hey perspective players, I have been asked about some potential 3rd party materials.
I will consider them, though it is against what I had said in the original post. For me to do so it has to be a very good story, and I will have to look at the material closely.
If it seems overpowered, but the story is intrigueing enough I would have the character start at level 4 not 5.
Just don't count on them being accepted carte blanche :)
Great submissions so far.
Hello I would be very interested in playing. I was thinking of playing an elven mage. A very quick backstory is that he spent his early life as a celibate protector of a temple of Yuelral in an attempt to be taught the secrets of magic. Once he was initiated into the service of Yuelral and took his first steps unto the path of the magi he got himself chosen to travel the world seeking lost lore. In reality the only thing he was interested in seeking was women a goal hampered by his complete lack of social skills. I will pm you a full character with complete backstory.
Some quick ideas for background:
Meera's family is a 'fixture' in the underside of the city. Normally only concerning themselves with the 'lighter' parts of the trade, namely as Bouncers, Body Guards, Couriers and the like. What is not known outside of the family is that they are a 'displaced' family originally hailing from Minkai who fell afoul of the politics there. After running to pretty much the far side of the world the relocated Clan went about integrating themselves with the new locals, finding that their previous life style blended in almost seamlessly.
Meera has grown up well protected by the family and trained as per is family custom. Working as a tavern Bouncer she is in a position to both make money and 'Keep her ears open' as she works amongst the bar patrons. Anything of interest she relates back to her 'Elders' within the family so that they can 'Keep abreast' of any developments.
As she's matured, gained skills and worked her way up within the Families hierarchy, she is slowly learning the more secretive background of her past.
Meera is not ashamed, nor worried about her families mixed heritage, nor about any 'looks' she might attract. She keeps her hair contained and protected by a scarf. Her hands and arms covered by 'Wraps' (Or 'cestus') a light shirt, leather vest above leather trousers over which solid boots are buckled up to her mid thighs.
Her position as a 'Bouncer' has won her both many friends as well as many a hot headed patron who would be more than happy to even a 'score' after Meera having removed them after they thought they could cause trouble in what ever establishment she's been hired to look after.
Am going to change one Trait to 'Adopted' which will let me then take the trait 'Enlightened Warrior' from the "Agathion-Blooded" Aasimar listed in "Blood of Angels" (PG 21)
Enlightened Warrior: You have always found it easy to maintain inner peace and enlightenment that translate well to the battle field. You may take levels in Monk while maintaining a Neutral or Neutral Good alignment."
I am going to change from "Martial Artist" to a different type so that I can increase the character's Ki pool. (^_^)
]Will also edit the equipment list, since originally the gear was all bought as a 'disguise'. Trade all that disguise stuff in for more useful things. (^_~)
|Grand Moff Vixen
I have a concept coming together for a half-elf detective bard who grew up in Puddles, but has worked his way up to The Coins. It's going to be a bit of an odd build in that he is going to dip a level of haunted ancestors oracle. He doesn't know anything about his parentage, but is continually visited by all manner of more ancient ancestors some of whom are helpful and other that are a pain in the you know where. He's known in the city to be very professional, but to have some rather unorthodox methods that leave him a bit on the outs with traditional law enforcement. It is also not unusual for his patrons to make some special requests such as working directly with them or as part of a group. As long as it is an interesting job and pays well, he's open to nearly anything.
What are your thoughts on the Scarred Witch Doctor archetype found in the Advanced Race Guide (and linked here)? Would you allow that to apply to a half-orc character? If not, could an orc walk around Absalom freely?
I'll update the background a bit if you would be willing to consider the character.
I also have Calvin the Surgeon that would love to be resurrected for a game, if the scarred witch doctor is a no-go.
|Digger Chandler
I have made up my sneaky goblin. One eared Fik. He challenged leadership and had his ears bitten off, then found a gun and got revenge. He wears the ear of his former big chief as a trophy (hence the name), and moved to Absalom and found work doing odd jobs in the sewers. Also he dreams of being tall. Stealth, disable device, disguise, knowledge(local) and other general roguishness.
This is what I have do far, with some basic feedback of what is missing. Almost no one has completed their characters yet. Keep em coming.
Calendir-needs to be updated to level 5 with crunch completed
Meera-would like a personality summary, how does she interact with others. Awaiting edits
Grand Moff-Awaiting Build and Crunch. Idea approved
EntropyRules-awaiting details
heart035-need to see build and details. only given basics idea so far
Michaelane-only concept given so far.
Digger-needs backstory and personality as well as being updated.
Nathaniel-need to know how he fits into a party still, and am not clear on what the exact build will be for this particular campaign
Conchubhur-needs Crunch and build
Hereldon-awaiting build concepts
Vigal-Calvin needs to be updated, or the witch doctor created-note how will an orc function in the city? not impossible but something to think about
Interest only
|Digger Chandler
Here's the write-up I did for Digger for his first stalled campaign.
On the road, there was always someone who'd love to tell a great story to a young boy. Tock's favorite stories were all about Cayden Cailean. He marveled over how the human-cum-god went through life with nothing more than a sense of adventure and a chaotic tendency towards luck. As time went on he became a devout worshipper, though without a real cleric around, his theology isn't exactly orthodox. He loves nothing more than chaos and luck. He spreads it wherever he goes, constantly spinning tales about himself and the world around him.
Tock loves nothing more than telling a story. Whether it's meant to be fictional or a lie, he is in his element. He befuddled his parents as a child, getting away with more and more as time went on and they tired of trying to figure out "the truth." One day at the market, his convoluted reasonings on why he should be allowed to drink as much ale as he wants became so intense that there was no way to refute them.
Also at this market was Scarnetti, who was impressed with the youth's force of personality. He later dug up some information on the child and periodically kept tabs on the boy's development. When he reached 16, already tall and handsome as most any man, Tock was hired to work as a bartender at a tavern Scarnetti had influence upon.
His oft-stated goal is "to live the greatest story of all time." He generally believes in the greater good of life, for what is more chaotic than sapient life? However, he is a near-compulsive liar and cheat and hedonist. His ethics and moral code are flexible to say the least. His deepest dream, which he would never reveal, is actually to garner enough power to conquer the Starstone and join his hero in godhood.
Digger is tall, in great shape, and very handsome. He is frustratingly aware of these facts. His story-spinning is aided all the more with that charming smile. He has the medium-brown hair of his father, and the small but expressive eyes of his mother. He dresses stylishly, bordering on foppishly. He always makes eye contact and remembers people's names. He loves a good joke, and has almost perfected the art of friendly teasing.
However, he is conceited and sometimes downright spiteful. He feels a life of adventure is basically owed to him, and prefers the story of the Drunken God to the slow deterioration and death of his parents. He will not go out quietly, but he can hold a quiet grudge for years before acting upon it.
He enjoys creating other identities and disguises, filling each in with elaborate personalities and backstories. He seeks adventuring with characters fit for the greatest story of all time. His friendship is unswervingly loyal (unless it would make a REALLY good story).
Despite his demons and flaws, he does hate actual, true evil. His definition of it might just be a bit more specific than others'.
Digger's a good bowman and a great bluff charisma rogue. His goal is to become the greatest lia--storyteller of all time.
I'll roll up the Oracle when I get home from teaching. I'd be happy to play either. I'm thinking either flame or bone ...drug addled Dr. Gonzo type. Digger's a pet creation but I know he lacks trap skills. If I end up being considered I'd be fine with either one.
|Calvin The Surgeon
I went ahead and updated Calvin's character sheet. The spells are mostly placeholder and I have some more gear to acquire. I think Calvin is fun, and the scarred witch doctor, while flavorful and awesome, may not lend itself well to the streets of Absalom. You can see his...well...quirky... behavior on display in his posts.
Let me know if you have any other questions!
|Digger Chandler
|Boneyard Pyke
There are still a number of things to tweak here, but here is the start of Boneyard Pyke, michaelane's submission.
Remaining to-dos:
I'm still deciding dual-cursed or just haunted, but I like the idea of him being sickened if he fails to live up to the obligations of a job he accepts. It also opens up Misfortune as a revelation if I take extra revelations or swap any out.
If you are uncomfortable with Voice of the Grave (speak with dead), I have a few other revelations that I think would be interesting and in character. It pretty limited since he can only use it one round a day so it really probably gives you a decent plot device and if you really don't want to give something away, it is pretty easy to work around with that restriction - probably only one question unless you're extremely generous. Also should probably get your feelings around augury since that too is potentially available.
I have not completed spell selection. I'll probably settle on that soon. He's going to be going for things that have a fair degree of flexibility and then will use scrolls for things that are more one time use (will probably add a few more of those).
Still has one trait to select.
|Digger Chandler
|Calendir Eltoreth
Grand Moff-Fighter
Boneyard Pike-Bard/Oracle
Digger-Rogue (Charlatan)
Interest only, have not confirmed exactly what they want to build
|Digger Chandler
|Digger Chandler


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Any suggestions will earn you a spot in a drawing. One lucky winner will receive a dinner for two at Alt N' Bach's Town Tap, a West Side eatery and bar where in previous generations Republicans and Democrats sat shoulder to shoulder sharing burgers and beers in what we used to proudly call clean, friendly and progressive (with a small p) Wisconsin Politics.
Let's connect. Let's bring back some trust. Social media may not generate as much of the trust molecule as face-to-face meetings, but let's give it a try.


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BSC R&D Corporation Receives Minority Serving Institutions Initiative Grant
CreatedFriday, July 22 2011
Created byJim Nelson/Media Relations - (304) 327-4103 email@example.com
(Bluefield)—The Bluefield State College Research and Development Corporation has received an $85,000 Minority Serving Institutions Initiative from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. The grant will provide training and stipends for five BSC students who will collaborate with Dr. Anthony Woart, who wrote the grant, to develop and implement a sustainable peer-led support network for a high-risk drinking and HIV/AIDS prevention, awareness, and training program.
Dr. Woart, the project director and principal investigator, and Dr. Tamara Ferguson, project liaison, and two of the participating students will attend a two-day training session in Washington, DC in September. Dr. Cravor Jones will also assist with training student leaders and educators.
Ferguson and Woart expressed appreciation for the work of Dr. Sarita Rhonemus (Interim Director of Scholarly Research and Sponsored Programs at BSC) and Dr. Tracey Anderson (BSC's Director of Institutional Research and Effectiveness) for their assistance in grant submission and implementation. They also noted that Ray Guy, CPA and Fiscal Manager/Treasurer, Bluefield State College Research and Development Corporation, has provided professional accounting and bookkeeping services for the grant.


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Cosmos in the Classroom 2007: A Hands-on Symposium on Teaching Introductory Astronomy took place from August 2 - 5, 2007. Over 200 instructors of introductory astronomy met at Pomona College in Southern California, to discuss techniques, materials, and new approaches for teaching non-science majors about the universe. The meeting program overview is still available for your review.
Sponsored by the ASP (together with the American Astronomical Society), the meeting featured 56 hands-on small-group workshops to help instructors practice what they preach.
Cosmos in the Classroom 2007: Papers and Handouts from a Hands-on Symposium on Teaching Introductory Astronomy
Order online today at the ASP's AstroShop.
Edited by Andrew Fraknoi
This 265-page, loose-leaf format volume includes 73 contributions by over a hundred experienced instructors, divided into the following categories:
Astronomy Education Research
2. Teaching Techniques
3. Laboratory Exercises, Demonstrations, and Observing Activities
4. On-line Teaching and Telescopes
5. Interdisciplinary Approaches
6. Debunking Pseudo-science
7. Resources for Teaching and Learning
8. Other Educational Topics.
Designed for university, college, and high-school faculty who teach a first astronomy course, the volume is full of practical advice, reviews of instructional tools, curriculum guides, and class activities you can put to direct use. Both instructors just starting out in their teaching and veteran instructors seeking to update or revitalize their course will find things of interest in among the many different papers and guides to additional resources in this handy notebook.
A special feature is the inclusion of meeting discussion summaries on such topics as:
Should you have a separate lab course
What do we need from textbooks
What topics to drop from a one-semester course
Special challenges of being a part-time instructor
Running an on-campus planetarium
View the full Table of Contents (pdf)
Order online today at the ASP's AstroShop.


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There's just over a week to go before the Bryan/College Station Arthritis Walk and Dog Walk. The Brazos Valley Kennel Club is sponsoring a water stop, which is also the "Dog Zone," a special table for registering Walk participants who have dogs with them. There will be at least one kiddie pool for dogs to drink out of or walk through to cool off, and there will be other containers for more "discriminating" water drinkers. BVKC is welcome to put out Club related literature, AKC brochures, etc.
Since my "Old Guy" is the "Dog Walk Hero," I've set up a team called "Chief's Doggone Walkers." Kind of lame, I know, but obviously dog-related. This shortened link will take you to the team page if you want to join the team. http://tinyurl.com/yaqnxqu
There are several ways to participate. You can join the team and make a donation on line. You can join the team and not put an amount in the donation box, and bring a check made out to the Arthritis Foundation (or cash) to the walk. You can join the team and mail a check to the Arthritis Foundation. You can start your own team. Or you can make a general donation to the walk from the Walk home page. This is the link to the home page. http://tinyurl.com/yc48vo4
If you want to join the team but can't come to the walk, and you want to mail a donation, there is a form you can print out from the team page to send along with your check so that Chief's team will get the "credit." If you want to join Chief's team, there is a link on his page to "Join our team," which will take you through the steps to register, and you will have your own "member" page. On that page there should be a "My to do List" menu where you can load and print the off line donation form to mail with your check.
And since someone already asked, donations made to Chief's team go to fund research on arthritis in general, which includes dogs — not just dogs.


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Geronimo Stilton Fan Convention
Summer Event Series at Stedman Community Bookstore
Jul 6/13
Date: Jul 6/13
Time: 11:00 - 12:00
Location: Stedman Community Bookstore - Brantford Campus
Cost: Event is free
Meet your favourite mouse detective. Do you have a nose for news? Reporting tips and Q&A with Nathanael Lewis, News Editor, The Sputnik Newspaper
Page Link: http://www.wlubookstore.com/c-129-stedman-bookstore.aspx
Contact: Denoja Kankesan
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Phone: 2971
View all WLU events


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Leahy's high marksApril 20,2013
Vermont's venerable Patrick Leahy, who has toiled in the U.S. Senate for 38 years and recently was appointed to the largely ceremonial post of president pro tempore — that puts him third in line for the presidency — has seldom sought the national spotlight that will surely be trained on him now as the Senate begins its highly charged debate over immigration reform.
In fact, the spotlight is already trained on Leahy. In a front page article in Friday's New York Times, the senator's profile was examined in detail.
"Over nearly four decades, Mr. Leahy has compiled an extensive résumé of workmanlike accomplishments, lauded but little known beyond the immediate beneficiaries: the Patrick Leahy War Victims Fund, the Leahy Law that controls American military assistance to governments with questionable human rights records, patent law, privacy protections, organic food labeling and agricultural conservation programs," the article noted.
Leahy concedes these achievements may be important, but he told the Times reporter they're "not the sort carved into marble in the Capitol."
But this year Leahy, as chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, had the responsibility of guiding the first major gun control legislation since 1994. That, of course, turned out badly for those senators who favored stricter rules on gun ownership, even though it appears the proposed reforms are favored by a large majority of Americans.
Next he must manage the most comprehensive rewriting of American immigration law since the days of Ronald Reagan. And that's a task he obviously coveted, because to keep it he had to turn down the more prestigious chairmanship of the Senate Appropriations Committee. That's a move that astonished many of his Senate colleagues.
Leahy told the Times he met President Obama in the Oval Office on Feb. 4 and listed the tasks that he saw facing him, and the nation, in the early stages of the president's second term: the Violence Against Women Act, gun safety legislation, immigration and a possible Supreme Court confirmation fight.
"Anything else you want to throw my way?" Leahy said he asked Obama. "He said: 'I know you get bored. I don't want you to get bored.'"
The Times portrayed Leahy as "prickly and quick-tempered" and said that while he has jealously guarded the jurisdiction of his committee, he also has permitted lengthy bipartisan negotiations to take place.
"That tolerance, however, has come with a warning: 'A day will come when we will vote on it in the Judiciary Committee, we will vote up or down and I will not have something come out of there that I will not vote for," the article continued. "I will have the final say."
The Times quoted John D. Podesta, a former senior aide to Leahy who later became Presaident Bill Clinton's chief of staff, as saying Leahy does not fit neatly in with "epic Democratic figures like Edward M. Kennedy and Robert Byrd, who saw their lengthy tenures in the Senate as opportunities to shape society through 'massive social legislation' and permanent stamps on the institution itself."
The article describes Leahy as "the small-state product of immigrant grandparents and the son of a printer" who has been more skeptical of governmental power while focusing his energies on privacy protections and criminal justice.
Leahy has his own ideas about the personal gratification he gets from his Washington job.
"I'm excited each time I walk into the Judiciary Committee," he told the Times. "I want to be excited about going to work. I know that might sound silly."
It surely doesn't sound silly to Vermont's voters.MORE IN EditorialsProtesters converged on a bank in Montpelier early this week to show their solidarity with the... Full StoryPhil Scott will take office next month after winning with a margin of 51.11 percent to 43. Full StoryIdeologues and partisans work from the outcome backward. Full Story
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World of Wonder
A Tapestry of Faith Program for Children Kindergarten-1st Grade
© 2013
This program delves deep into our Unitarian Universalist seventh Principle. It instills respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part, and appreciation of its beauty, excitement, and mystery. It is founded on the premise that direct experience in nature is essential to children's physical, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual development. Time spent experiencing and exploring nature during the kindergarten and first grade years can set a pattern for the rest of children's lives, bringing lasting openness to the wonder nature can spark.


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How can he say anything as he missed the entire season last year...
I am writing this in herre coz Knicks didnt win @ UC and are 2-8 in last 10 games vs Bulls
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
anyway for me this is totaly disrespectfull Pacers put to the limits heat and i think this year Pacers can really be better
even when Tyler Hansbrough and DJ A gone to Pacers means more time for others.
there is also new rivaly Heat vs BKN
and he forget Spurs i know its west but i wana watch Spurs @ Bulls
btw Heat vs Spurs tonight.
How can he say anything as he missed the entire season last year...
Will we ever win a championship again? Id like to think so!
Im guessing he's saying that because Mia are back to back champs but if that isnt why he's saying it then its foolish. Indy has clearly gotten better the last 2 seasons. In fact they're a bigger threat to miami simply bc of the Hibbert and West combo down low.
Yeah, i think Indy is a better team then Chicago, so he's an idiot saying that, unless its just a respect thing for DA Heat
no he is tellin that due last time there were almost sweepd and he tooks whole responsibility to himself
no Bellineli in da Bulls this time for me Bulls are poorer team since last year
Heat D for sure will put their forced to stop D-Rose as they dont have any other power without Rose
Pacers n BKN r alot stronger
i wana see 1st game @ UC with MWP TH JR Bargniani [maybe Powell]
Derrik Rose made that statement before the Bulls 2nd preseason win over the Pacers.
In both games D.Rose went at Hibbert as if Hibbert was a 6.5 player.
The preseason games showed D.Rose has not lost a step from his MVP season.
The Nets Deron Williams has never been a athletic or high IQ threat to D.Rose, plus after D.Rose watch Nate & Hindrich demolish D.Williams in the first round last season, he dont see much of a rivalry everytime HC Thib's give him the nod to run-run an uptempo offense on the Kidd/KG/Pierce/Terry Brooklyn Nets.
The only vision in D.Rose mind n eye-set are on the 2010 Chicago Bulls getting knocked-out of the ECF with a SWEEP by the Miami Heats in his MVP season...
I'm surprised that someone born and raised in Chi-town would say something like that. Bulls have rivals alright but it ain't Miami Heat. Detroit Pistons, Indiana Pacers and The New York Knicks are your rivals you little prick. D-Rose
yes but Knicks beat Bulls with Rose twice once X mas then famous 100-99 both MSG all others games are lost
so i hope for change and i am w8ing and w8ing for finally victory @ UC .
The Pacers would beat the Bulls in a 7 game series
Maybe, lastseason Pacers having assistant coach Brian Shaw couldve had a chance of beating the Bulls, maybe.
Dont forget it was the Bulls who stopped Miami Heats long (20 sumthin game) winning streak.
I am not sleeping on the Bulls this upcoming season in a 7 game series, HC Thibs bigmen fronline of Noah/Booz/D/and Gibs are going into their 4th season together. The Bulls 2011 draft pick 6.7 SG-Butler is a combo-thief on defense, and 6.9 SG-Dunleavy cant be trusted on offense. When u add a 6.4 Combo-guard Hinrich plus a 6.3 MVP D.Rose to the rotation the Chicago Bulls only weakness is INJURIES.
No EC team in its right mind want to bump into a healthy Bulls team in the 1st or 2nd round of the postseason games.
What HC Thibs did to the Bulls .. happen to be the samething HC Pat Riley did to the Knicks then passed his gellin 6th man starters on to HC JVG. From HC JVG to HC Woodson there has not been any creative-imagination in our coaching system.


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Top Plays of 2008
It was a long, hard season. There were some high moments, some low, some funny, and some just plain depressing. Here's my assesment.
TURNING POINT: 22 inning game against Colorado. After that, we were never the same. The pitching suffered, and the morale did, too. Not even Jeff the Ram's Head could help us after that.
BEST SERIES: Home opener vs. Houston. In the first game, Jake threw a marvelous game and also got a few RBIs. We won the second game on a Scott Hairston homer. We should have won the third game, but Trevor blew it. But on Thursday he bounced back and saved the win. That was an amazing series.
WORST SERIES: April 15-17 at home vs. Colorado. This was the series that ended with the 22 inning game.
FUNNIEST GAME: I couldn't pick. It was either one of the 15-8 or 16-7 thumpings of Colorado. They were laughers.
WORST GAME: Again, the 22 inning game. I believe that it really killed our season.
BEST GAME: Scott Hairston's or Jody Gerut's walkoff. Or Maddux's 350th victory after all those failed starts.
WEIRDEST GAME: Paul McAnulty's walk-off hit by pitch. Hey, it got the game won.
FUNNIEST PLAY: Chris Young's homer. Watching that big guy run around the bases was hysterical.
WORST PLAYS: Kouz grounding into a triple play and a double play on the same night. It was sad.
BEST PLAY: Kouz's diving catch it Milwaukee on September 5th. His defense improved drastically this year.
WEIRDEST PLAY: McAnuty's game ending diving catch over the wall in foul territory. Also, Kouz diving over the railing. These could be classified as funny plays, as well.
In more recent Padres news, Bud Black, Darren Balsey, Glenn Hoffman, Darrel Akerfelds, and Rick Renteria are coming back next year. Bench coach Craig Colbert is not. GO PADRES!!
4 Comments
Triple play AND double play on the same night? Wow that is bad. But wouldn't that be the worts plays?
Triple play AND double play on the same night? Wow that is bad. But wouldn't that be the worts plays?
http://metsmainman.mlblogs.com This is my blog
http://freewebs.com/advertisemlblogs Advertise your MLBlog there
Keep up the good work I hope to see you on the Latest Leaders
Yeah, thanks!
I'm up in Santa Barbara and am looking forward to driving down to Petco next season. Everybody I've talked to says it's a great ballpark. I wonder if the Yankees play the Padres in interleague in '09. Will have to check.


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Arroyo is the director of Innovative Water Technologies with the Texas Water Development Board.
The native of Costa Rica said he has been working in the area of desalination for the past decade and he outlined the benefits of using a reverse osmosis system to remove the chlorides and suspended solids from ground and surface water.
Technological advancements in reserve osmosis equipment have made it more reliable and the cost of operating it cheaper, Arroyo said.
Today, the technology is widespread throughout Texas with 45 systems in operation treating 120 million gallons of water a day.
El Paso has the largest desalination system in the state, Arroyo said, and that city pumps its concentrated salt water from the plant into an injection well.
Some industrial operations that use reverse osmosis to remove the salt from water do not even have a disposal problem. Often the operations are able to recycle the water back into their systems.
Arroyo said oil and gas businesses have found uses for the heavier brine left over from a reverse osmosis plant.
The engineer said about 400,000 acre-feet of desalinated water are expected to be added to Texas water systems in the coming years.
That increase will be important, Arroyo said. Over the next 50 years, existing water supplies in Texas are expected to decline by 10 percent.
Arroyo pointed out 10 reasons for increased desalination in Texas.
1. There are 3.7 million acre-feet of brackish water in Texas. "That's a lot of water," Arroyo said.
2. Desalination creates a new source of water where existing supplies are already claimed.
3. Brackish water is available throughout most of Texas.
4. Brackish water offers communities and industry a chance to diversify its water sources.
5. Desalination is fairly easy to implement.
6. Desalination is a robust technology.
7. Scalability, meaning it is easy to expand desalination systems when needed.
8. Desalination can be accomplished on a local or regional level.
9. Reuse multiplier, meaning that even treated wastewater can be filtered to a "very high standard."
10. Challenges to opportunities, which mean many communities are looking at using desalination in future water plans.
One resident at the meeting asked why the city was proposing the construction of a 3 mgd reverse osmosis system instead of a 1 mgd plant.
Engineer Bill Norris of NorrisLeal Engineering Water in Austin had already answered that question.
Norris said at the beginning of the meeting that cost-of-scale makes it cheaper to treat 2-3 mgd of water than to treat 1 mgd.
Arroyo then explained that there are a number of ways for a city to obtain assistance in funding deslination projects.
He said his agency, the TWCB, could provide some funds and the federal government also assists in funding water projects.
Judy Adams, operator of the Southmost Texas Regional Water Project in Brownsville, explained that about 26 percent of the water that city uses comes from brackish groundwater supplies and the rest comes from surface water sources.
Until 2000, that city used primarily water taken from the Rio Grande.
Today, Brownsville runs a 7.5 mgd plant 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Kevin Spencer of R.W. Harden & Associates in Austin described the water in the Jasper aquifer, where plans call for Beeville to get water for the reverse osmosis plant, as "slightly brackish."
That aquifer was the primary source of Beeville's water until the current surface water system was built by the Beeville Water Supply District.
Today, Spencer said, there is no competition for water from that aquifer. Most of the smaller wells in Bee County take water from the Evangeline (Goliad) aquifer. Spencer described the Goliad as the "local aquifer."
Although the Bee Groundwater Conservation District has control of that aquifer outside of the city, it would not have control of the use of that water from a well drilled on city property.
Spencer said the choice of the Jasper aquifer for the city's project would be good "because the city would have complete control of it."
Gary Kent is a reporter at the Bee-Picayune and can be reached at 358-2550, ext. 120, or at email@example.com.


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A Buddhist community in Honolulu is in shock and disbelief.
Members say a man walked into their temple in broad daylight and stole $50,000.
It was caught on tape, but they need you help finding the suspect.
A man with a dark red shirt and jeans offered Buddhists at the Hsu Yun Temple on Kawananakoa Place in Nuuanu to move chairs after a prayer session.
"A stranger came in and offered to help move some chairs. The chairs were kind of heavy," said Jeannie Lum, President of the Chinese Buddhists Association of Hawaii.
But shortly after 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, the man entered the temple again.
It's during that short window, the Chinese Buddhists association of Hawaii believes this man stole $50,000.
"We were panicking," said Lum.
Thirteen Buddhists visiting from China had saved their money for a special trip to celebrate the 60th anniversary of this sacred temple.
Now, they can only pray someone saw something or knows the man in the surveillance video.
"If we're feeling this bad, I just hope this doesn't happened to someone who really needs that money for food or rent. That's why we want this man caught," said Lum.
Honolulu Police are investigating this burglary.
Lum says the man looked like he was about 5-feet-8-inches-tall to 6-feet-tall and weighed about 180 pounds with short dark hair.


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Former Vermont fire chief faces embezzlement chargeThe Associated Press | February 26,2013BENNINGTON — A former Vermont fire chief has been accused of fraud and embezzlement stemming from a department-sponsored raffle.
Bennington Police Chief Paul Doucette says people who won prizes in the raffle never received them. They also say money paid for raffle tickets was never turned over to the department.
Joseph Hayes was Bennington Rural Fire Department chief. He lost his bid to be re-elected as chief last month.
The Bennington Banner reports (http://bit.ly/XDg3A5) Hayes was cited for false pretenses and embezzlement. His wife, Angela, was cited as being an accessory to the false pretenses charge.
Hayes is on probation after pleading guilty last month to a disorderly conduct charge. That stemmed from an incident at an emergency scene last June where Hayes threw a flashlight at a vehicle.MORE IN This Just InMONTPELIER A new report from a commission that studied the cost, availability and quality of... Full StoryVermont fish hatchery changes focus, looks inland
BETHEL, Vt. Full StoryHONOLULU (AP) A group of Hawaii musicians and a Hawaiian Airlines flight attendant provided... Full Story
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August 12, 2004: In this unusual image, NASAs Hubble Space Telescope captures a rare view of the celestial equivalent of a geode -- a gas cavity carved by the stellar wind and intense ultraviolet radiation from a hot young star. Real geodes are baseball-sized, hollow rocks that start out as bubbles in volcanic or sedimentary rock. Only when these inconspicuous round rocks are split in half by a geologist, do we get a chance to appreciate the inside of the rock cavity that is lined with crystals. In the case of Hubble's 35 light-year diameter "celestial geode" the transparency of its bubble-like cavity of interstellar gas and dust reveals the treasures of its interior.
The Large Magellanic Cloud's N44F, is being inflated by a torrent of fast-moving particles (called a "stellar wind") from an exceptionally hot star that was once buried inside a cold dense cloud. The central star in N44F is ejecting more than a 100 million times more mass per second than our Sun. The hurricane of particles moves at about 4 million miles per hour (7 million kilometers per hour). The stellar wind from this star is colliding with an envelope of gas that surrounds the star, pushing the gas out and forming a bubble.
The nebula N44F is one of a handful of known interstellar bubbles. Bubbles like these have been seen around evolved massive stars (Wolf-Rayet stars), and also around clusters of stars (where they are called "super-bubbles"). But they have rarely been viewed around isolated stars, as is the case here.
The interior wall of its gaseous cavity is lined with several four to eight light-year-high finger-like columns of cool dust and gas. The fingers are created by a blistering ultraviolet radiation from the central star. Like windsocks caught in a gale, they point in the direction of the energy flow.
N44F is located about 160,000 light-years in our neighboring dwarf galaxy the Large Magellanic Cloud, in the direction of the southern constellation Dorado. N44F is part of the larger N44 complex, which is a large super-bubble, blown out by the combined action of stellar winds and multiple supernova explosions. N44 itself is roughly 1,000 light-years across. Several compact star-forming regions, including N44F, are found along the rim of the central super-bubble.


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Spring Job Fair Serves Record Number of Participants
A record 55 recruiters and 335 students took part in the ninth annual Spring Job Fair at Bluefield State College. The fair is a collaborative project involving BSC, Concord, Bluefield College, Southwest Virginia Community College, and Wytheville Community College.
"This event brings employment opportunities for students approaching graduation, along with recent graduates," noted BSC Director of Placement Tom Harrison. "It also provides a laboratory-type learning experience for freshmen, sophomores, and juniors who get meet and talk to prospective employers."
Next year's Spring Job Fair has been tentatively scheduled for March 31, 1998 and April 1, 1998 at Bluefield State College. Businesses and organizations wishing to participate may contact Harrison at (304) 327-4011.


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We'll respond shortly.
I'm pleased to announce the 0.6.0 version of RR. The changes include:
In previous versions of RR, you always needed to pass in the subject of the double. For example:
subject = Object.new
mock(subject).does_something {:and_returns_me}
subject.does_something # :and_returns_me
Now you can have RR automatically create the subject object for you by using the ! method:
subject = mock!.does_something {:and_returns_me}.subject
subject.does_something # :and_returns_me
Now the bang methods by themselves don't really add a whole lot, but when used in the context of Double chaining, they become a powerful addition.
Nick Kallen presented the use case for Double chaining and contributed a patch for the 0.5.0 release of RR. It has proved useful and is now more fully incorporated into RR. Now you can pass in your subject or use the subject provided by RR by using the ! method. Here are some examples of Double Chaining:
mock(subject).first(1) {mock(Object.new).second(2) {mock(Object.new).third(3) {4}}}
subject.first(1).second(2).third(3) # 4
mock(subject).first(1) {mock!.second(2) {mock!.third(3) {4}}}
subject.first(1).second(2).third(3) # 4
mock(subject).first(1).mock!.second(2).mock!.third(3) {4}
subject.first(1).second(2).third(3) # 4
Of course you have access to the proxy facilities:
User.find('1').children.find_all_by_group_id(10) # Makes verifications pass and returns the actual children
You can also do branched Double chaining:
mock(subject).first do
mock! do |expect|
expect.branch1.mock!.branch11 {11} # or expect.branch1 {mock!.branch11 {11}}
expect.branch2.mock!.branch22 {22} # or expect.branch2 {mock!.branch22 {22}}
o = subject.first
o.branch1.branch11 # 11
o.branch2.branch22 # 22
Matthew O'Conner submitted a patch that added the satisfy matcher. This adds the ability to add arbitrary argument expectation matchers.
mock(object).foobar(satisfy {|arg| arg.length == 2})
Matthew O'Conner also submitted a patch that added the hash_including matcher. This adds a convenient way to assert that the passed-in hash includes certain key/value pairs.
mock(object).foobar(hash_including(:red => "#FF0000", :blue => "#0000FF"))
object.foobar({:red => "#FF0000", :blue => "#0000FF", :green => "#00FF00"})
RR has a mailing lists at:
Also, RR's rubyforge page is at http://rubyforge.org/projects/double-ruby and of course the github page is at http://github.com/btakita/rr.
There are many interesting ideas floating around. Joseph Wilk has been playing around with adding Spies into RR. I'm also thinking about adding Double validation scoping into RR. Also, I'm impressed by Mocha's warning of unused stubs. Josh Susser also proposed having a mode where a warning would occur if a mocked method is not implemented on the subject being mocked.
If you have any feature requests, please send an email to the mailing list or add it to the rubyforge tracker.
While it is easy to include plugins in your Rails projects, it isn't easy to extend and customize the plugin for your own application. Desert solves that limitation/complication by making it just as easy to extend or modify a plugin class as it would be with any other class. In this post we will go over how Desert provides an easy way to manage and extend your plugins.
At Pivotal, we offer an integrated platform of Rails plugins named Socialitis.
Socialitis is an internal project that grew out of the observation that many of our start-up clients needed to build the same non-differentiating features; user management, friends/contacts, activity feeds, on-site messaging, etc.
The Socialitis platform is broken up into number of plugins that extend the Rails app in specific ways. These plugins may have dependencies on other plugins.
One of the major design goals of Socialitis is easy, drop-in, integration into existing Rails apps. This means using convention over configuration and removing as much integration responsibility from the user of the plugin as possible.
Another design goal was to provide sensible defaults and make each plugin easy to customize for your app.
We used Desert to achieve these goals, and so can you for your own platform.
The major features that Desert provides are:
Desert provides a similar feature set to the Radient plugin system and the now defunct Appable Plugins framework.
For a simple example, lets say you have two plugins, name User and Messaging. The User plugin provides basic authentication and login features, and the Messaging plugin allows Users to send Messages to each other. The Message plugin depends on the User plugin.
The directory structure of the full Rails app looks like:
|-- app | |-- controllers | | |-- application.rb | | `-- blogs_controller.rb | |-- helpers | | |-- application_helper.rb | | `-- blogs_helper.rb | |-- models | | `-- user.rb | `-- views | |-- blogs | |-- layouts | | `-- users.html.erb | `-- users | |-- index.html.erb | `-- show.html.erb |-- db | `-- migrate | `-- 001_migrate_users_to_001.rb |-- lib | `-- current_user.rb |-- spec | |-- controllers | | `-- blogs_controller_spec.rb | |-- fixtures | |-- models | |-- spec_helper.rb | `-- views | `-- blogs `-- vendor `-- plugins `-- user |-- app | |-- controllers | | |-- logins_controller.rb | | `-- users_controller.rb | |-- helpers | | |-- logins_helper.rb | | `-- users_helper.rb | |-- models | | |-- login.rb | | `-- user.rb | `-- views | |-- logins | | |-- edit.html.erb | | |-- index.html.erb | | |-- new.html.erb | | `-- show.html.erb | `-- users | |-- edit.html.erb | |-- index.html.erb | |-- new.html.erb | `-- show.html.erb |-- config | `-- routes.rb |-- db | `-- migrate | `-- 001_create_users.rb |-- init.rb |-- lib | `-- current_user.rb |-- spec | |-- controllers | | `-- user_controller_spec.rb | |-- fixtures | | `-- users.yml | |-- models | | `-- user.rb | |-- spec_helper.rb | `-- views | `-- users `-- tasks `-- message |-- app | |-- controllers | | `-- message_controller.rb | |-- helpers | | |-- message_helper.rb | | `-- user_helper.rb | |-- models | | |-- message.rb | | `-- user.rb | `-- views | `-- messages | |-- edit.html.erb | |-- index.html.erb | |-- new.html.erb | `-- show.html.erb |-- config | `-- routes.rb |-- db | `-- migrate | `-- 001_create_messages.rb |-- init.rb |-- spec | |-- controllers | | |-- message_controller_spec.rb | | `-- user_controller_spec.rb | |-- fixtures | | |-- messages.yml | | `-- users.yml | |-- models | | |-- message_spec.rb | | `-- user_spec.rb | |-- spec_helper.rb | `-- views | `-- messages `-- tasks
The User plugin introduces the various User and Login Rails objects. The Message plugin introduces its respective Message objects. Notice that the Message plugin also reopens some of the User objects to insert functionality.
For example, vendor/plugins/users/app/models/user.rb looks something like:
class User < ActiveRecord::Base
has_many :logins
The Message plugin would then reopen User in vendor/plugins/message/app/models/user.rb:
class User < ActiveRecord::Base
has_many :messages_received
has_many :messages_sent
Meanwhile, the main application can also reopen User in app/models/user.rb
class User < ActiveRecord::Base
def custom_app_method
# custom app logic #
Desert allows you to utilize Ruby's ability to repoen classes to layer on functionality in your plugins and application. At Pivotal, we have had success in sharing code across multiple client applications using this technique.
Another thing to note is normally the Message plugin would be loaded before the User plugin. Desert allows you to create plugin dependencies. So in vendor/plugins/message/init.rb:
require_plugin 'user'
require_plugin 'will_paginate'
This means you no longer need to define plugin load order inside of environment.rb. Your plugins can take care of that. Desert works with practically all plugins. That means you can have a plugin dependency on any existing Rails plugin.
To see more examples & documentation, take a look at the Desert project at http://github.com/pivotal/desert.
I'm pleased to introduce a new Test Double (or mock) framework named RR, which is short for Double Ruby.
A mock is a type of test double. Since RR supports mocks, stubs, and proxies, it makes sense to refer to RR as a double framework. The proxy is a new usage pattern that I will introduce later in this article, and in more detail in future articles.
Unfortunately, the terminology over doubles has been contradictory depending on the framework. RR's terminology tries to be as faithful as possible to Gerald Meszaros' definition of test doubles. You can read more about test doubles in XUnit Test Patterns and Martin Fowler's article, Mocks aren't Stubs. Regretfully, this does mean that RR will have slightly different terminology than other double frameworks.
Most double frameworks focus mainly on mocks (hence the categorization "mock framework"). RR's focus is on enabling more double test patterns in a terse and readable syntax.
RR also does not have dedicated mock objects. It primarily uses the technique called 'double injection'. Names that other frameworks use are 'stub injection', 'mock object injection', 'partial mocking', or 'stubbing'. The term I'll use for this is a double injection, since one or many doubles are being injected into an object's method.
I'll use trivial Rails examples to highlight the syntactical differences between RR, Mocha, Rspec's mocks, and Flexmock. They may or may not be appropriate situations for mocks. The right situations for mocks is an entirely different discussion.
If there is better way to do any of the examples, please post a comment and I will gladly replace it.
Here are the ways to mock the User.find method. The expectation is the User class object will receive a call to #find with the argument '99' once and will return the object represented by the variable user.
mock(User).find('99') { user }
Here are the ways to stub the User.find method. When the User class object receives a call to find with the argument '99' it will return user1. When User receives find with any other arg, it returns user2.
stub(User).find('99') { user1 }
stub(User).find { user2 }
users = {
'99' => user1,
'default' => user2
User.stub!(:find).and_return do |id|
users[id] || users['default']
users = {
'99' => user1,
'default' => user2
flexstub(User).should_receive(:find).and_return do |id|
users[id] || users['default']
A proxy used with a mock or stub causes the real method to be called. Expectations can be placed on the invocation and the return value can be intercepted. The main rationales are test clarity and you can ensure that the methods are being called correctly, even after you refactor your code. I will delve more into proxies and their usage patterns in my next article.
The following examples set an expectation that User.find('99') will be called once. The actual user is returned.
You cannot implement this in Mocha. You can do an approximation in this situation however. This technique is not always the solution you need, though.
user = User.find('99')
find_method = User.method(:find)
find_method = User.method(:find)
The following examples intercept the return value of User.find('99') and stub out valid? to return false.
stub.proxy(User).find('99') do |user|
stub(user).valid? {false}
Again, this is an approximation, since you cannot use proxies in Mocha.
user = User.find('99')
find_method = User.method(:find)
User.stub!(:find).with('99').and_return do |id|
user = find_method.call(id)
find_method = User.method(:find)
flexstub(User).should_receive(:find).with('99').and_return do |id|
user = find_method.call(id)
instance_of is method sugar than allows you to mock or stub instances of a particular class. The following examples mock instances of User to expect valid? with no arguments to be called once and return false.
mock.instance_of(User).valid? {false}
new_method = User.method(:new)
User.stub!(:new).and_return do |*args|
user = new_method.call(*args)
new_method = User.method(:new)
flexstub(User).should_receive(:new).and_return do |*args|
user = new_method.call(*args)
This concludes the introduction to RR. RR enables some techniques, like proxying, that will make your tests clearer and less brittle. In the next article I will describe into patterns and techniques that will make mocks a more feasible tool for more situations.
I just released Cacheable Flash 0.1.4. This version includes test helpers so you can easily test your cache messages. It works by allowing you to make assertions on the flash cookie.
Here is a test/unit example:
require "cacheable_flash/test_helpers" class TestController < ActionController::Base def index flash["notice"] = "In index" end end class ControllerTest < Test::Unit::TestCase include CacheableFlash::TestHelpers def setup @controller = TestController.new @request = ActionController::TestRequest.new @response = ActionController::TestResponse.new end def test_cacheable_flash_action get :index asset_equal "In index", flash_cookie["notice"] end end
Here is a rspec example:
require "cacheable_flash/test_helpers" class TestController < ActionController::Base def index flash["notice"] = "In index" end end describe TestController, "#index" do include CacheableFlash::TestHelpers it "writes to the flash cookie" do get :index flash_cookie["notice"].should == "In index" end end
You can install Cacheable Flash by running:
ruby script/plugin install svn://rubyforge.org/var/svn/pivotalrb/cacheable_flash/trunk
See the Cacheable Flash blog post, Show Flash Messages on Cached Pages, and the README for more information.
Page caching is an easy way to get massive performance and scalability increases with little up front effort. Of course, when page caching, a number of design changes are necessary. For example, server side session data cannot be used to render data on cached pages.
Rails provides the flash hash to easily render alert messages and errors. In the controller you can write to the flash hash:
flash[:error] = "You cannot go there"
# or
flash[:notice] = "Welcome to eternity"
and render the flash hash in the view. Typically the rendering happens on a layout:

<%= flash[:error] %>

<%= flash[:notice] %>

There are some strange quirks with using flash such as needing to use FlashHash#now when rendering the response without redirecting.
Everything works great until you need to page cache the landing page.
For example, lets say you page cache your home page. After logging in, you are redirected to the home page with the flash notice "Logged in successfully". When page caching, this solution does not work because the request is responded to by the Web Server (i.e. Apache) and does not reach the Rails App server (i.e. Mongrel).
This means the view does not get a chance to render the flash error and notice.
There are a couple of solutions to this problem.
Introducing Cacheable Flash
To solve the problem using cookies on Peer to Patent, we wrote the Cacheable Flash plugin. The plugin allows you to set the flash hash as normal on the controller. It handles converting the flash hash into cookies. All you need to do is include the CacheableFlash module into your controller.
class ApplicationController < ActionController::Base
include CacheableFlash
# ...
On the view side, you will need to add some javascript.


text:
Clorox has a really fun contest going right now called the "How I Fought And Beat a Monster of a Stain Contest" which ends April 20. We've all had at least one stain in our lives that gets under our skin, so to speak- my biggest stain issue was early last summer- I'd gotten these adorable rainbow striped dresses for my girls to wear, and a shirt for my son that was the same green as some of the stripes, to have the kids' pictures taken together. It was all planned out…until I went to get the outfits together a week before the photo shoot. To my horror, my older daughter's dress must have had a damp something spilled onto it, and I'd not noticed- so it sat a few days and had moldy spots on it. I was crushed. I googled, I tried home remedies, store bought rememdies- nothing worked. Facebook friends came to the rescue- a soak with some stain remover paired with another product over night, a wash cycle and an hour in the sun got the stain OUT. I was relieved, to say the least. Had I not been so stubborn about that darn stain, I wouldn't have this photo to enjoy:
What are YOUR worst stain memories? I have found the worst stains I fight are usually from the best memories!!
What exactly IS the "How I fought and Beat a Monster of a Stain Contest"?
Tell us your worst stain story from the best time ever for a chance to win. Three lucky
winners will receive $2,000 worth of backyard play equipment, plus coupons equaling
a year supply of Clorox 2® stain-fighting products so you can continue to fight the good
fight against those monstrous stains. Also, the Clorox Company will donate $2,000
worth of athletic equipment for each winner's child's school.
To enter the contest, participants submit a true story describing the worst stain they've encountered from the best time they've ever had. What are you waiting for? The winners win, and the winners' local schools win!! Let me know when you enter and GOOD LUCK!


text:
Top Asian hotels in Singapore and Malaysia
Mandarin Orchard SingaporeVisit Website
333 Orchard Road
Singapore 238867
Tel: (65) 6737 4411
Fax (65) 6732 2361
Reservations: firstname.lastname@example.com
General enquiries: firstname.lastname@example.com
Key Features
- Located in the heart of Orchard Road
- Free WiFi access
- Award winning restaurants
- Walking distance from Somerset and Orchard MRT stations
- Next to major shopping malls ION, Takashimaya, Paragon, 313@Somerset, Wisma
- Walking distance from Paragon Medical Center and Mount Elizabeth Hospital
- Panoramic View of city's skyline from upper floors
Standing tall at the heart of the vibrant Orchard Road shopping belt, award-winning Mandarin Orchard Singapore is Meritus Hotels & Resorts' flagship hotel and Singapore's icon of Asian hospitality. The hotel is of close walking proximity to Paragon Medical and Mount Elizabeth Hospital and a mere five minutes from both the Orchard and Somerset train stations.
Marina Mandarin SingaporeVisit Website
6 Raffles Boulevard
Marina Square, Singapore 039594
Tel: (65) 6845 1000
Fax: (65) 6845 1001
Reservations: email@example.com
General Enquiries: firstname.lastname@example.com
Key Features
- Located in the heart of Marina Bay
- Free WiFi access
- Award winning restaurants
- Halal certified kitchen
- Covered Walkway to City Hall and Esplanade MRT Stations
- Outdoor Mineral Water Pool
- Grand Prix Track side Hotel
- Great views of Marina Bay / City
Featuring breathtaking views of the bay, the hotel also offers convenient access to the Marina Square Shopping Mall, and is a stone's throw from the Suntec Singapore International Convention & Exhibition Centre, and The Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay, Singapore's Performing Arts Centre. Considered as one of the best Asian hotels in Singapore, it is the preferred hotel for avid Formula One fans as it is ideally situated right on the trackside of the annual Singapore Grand Prix Formula One race.


text:
Whether you're using your Energizer cordless phone in your house or at work, Batteries Plus Bulbs is the source for powerful batteries to keep you connected. We offer fresh batteries for your Energizer ER-P730 phone, they are never used or refurbished. Bring your Energizer phone into a store and let us help install the new battery to guarantee proper fit.
We are an industry leader for spent battery recycling. Each of our store locations is a drop-off point for battery recycling. Learn more about our recycling programs for consumers and businesses.
Have more questions? Contact us or visit your nearest store.


text:
U.S. ONLY, EXCLUDING AK/HI. Store pickup is always free.
shipping info
details & upgrade options.
Returns are easy at any zumiez store:
find a Zumiez store |
returns and exchanges
Beats by dre headphones were first produced in 2006, when Dr. Dre decided that the era of only state-of-the-art recording studios having access to crystal clear sound should come to an end. Dre set out to produce headphones for all of us to hear music the way he hears it in the studio.
The result was amazing, with Dr. Dre teaming up with the world-renowned electronics and sound engineering team at Monster Cable. With Dr. Dre's input and Monster's output, Beats headphones hit the market, offering a consumer-priced collection of fresh and smooth styled headphones with studio-quality sound.
Zumiez is the place to shop Beats headphones, carrying a selection of colors in standard and Limited Edition styles of Beats Studio Headphones, Beats Solo Headphones, and more.
There are no products matching the selection.


text:
Reports: At least 3 shot in Ariz. office building
Police surround house 7 miles from shooting, AP reports
At least three people were shot Wednesday at an office building in Phoenix, according to multiple news reports.
One of the people shot is in extremely critical condition; the injuries of two others are less severe, The Associated Press reported.
The Arizona Republic reported three others were taken to local hospitals but details were not immediately available about the nature of their injuries.
The newspaper, citing police, said officers believe one person is responsible for the shooting and that he is still on the loose.
Phoenix police said the shooting was not random, the AP reported.
According to KSAZ, the man entered one of the businesses at about 10:30 a.m. looking for people, had some sort of fight and opened fire.
Officers were searching multiple locations and interviewing witnesses, CNN reported.
CNN said police were looking for a white male in his 60s in connection with the incident.
Police had surrounded a house seven miles from the shooting scene that was reportedly connected to the shooting, the AP reported. Officers there were talking to someone who was not the suspect, Sgt. Steve Martos told the AP.


text:
Passion Is Passion
We interrupt this Angels blog to discuss…football? Well, it was Super Bowl Sunday after all. I am not a big football fan. I have nothing against it at all. I understand the rules. I appreciate the strategies, it just doesn't hold my attention for more than a game or two a year. I don't even have a specific team I root for casually. And yet, every year, I enjoy the Super Bowl, especially if Seth and I are invited to a Super Bowl party. I'd say this is strange but, judging from the hype and the overflowing parking lot at our local Costco, a lot of folks who don't normally follow football climb on board the band wagon for the big game.
This year my boss threw a Super Bowl party and invited the whole department along with our spouses and significant others. Pretty cool boss, yes? Anyway, I wound up rooting for the Packers because it's more fun if you actually root for someone, the majority of party goers were Packers Fans, I do not like Ben Roethlisberger and it's been longer since the Packers won – the usual kind of silly reasons a non-fan uses in such situations to avoid actually saying eni meni mini mo.
Here's the thing though, and it happens every year, even when the game just isn't all that fantastic – neither team is my team and the game isn't even my sport, but I still get swept up in the passion and the cheering. It's an any port in a storm response really. It's February. I haven't cheered for a baseball game in three months and now I find myself in a room full of passionate sports fans. I know it's only a temporary substitute but it's impossible not to get caught up in the joy of a shared fan experience even though, for me, it's only a borrowed fan experience. Passion is passion after all and, while I do not share a passion for football, I think all sports fans can appreciate one another's passion.
Thinking about this for the blog also made me realize both how much I enjoy the shared fan experience and how little I get of it, even during a typical baseball season. Seth and I usually watch Angels games at home, which is a lot of fun but certainly lacks a big cheering crowd. Going to 16 games in 2010 was unusual and something we may or may not be able to repeat in 2011 – I got some ticket steals last year and friends with season seats handed us the tickets a fair bit. Apparently, I need to find a good Angels bar to watch a couple of games at this year.
10 Comments
Watching sporting events with friends and family is always great! During the playoffs in 2003, before the Cubs lost out to the Marlins, I had a house full of friends. Most of them were Cardinal fans, but they were rooting for the Cubs believe it or not. We had a blast. That's when my wife, a Yankees fan, started liking the Cubs. Anyway, I liked your post and agree that watching sports can be more fun when you share it with others.
I agree about how nice it is to root for something when there's no baseball. Soon, though. And yes, you need to find a bar that shows Angels games!
I felt this last night too, Kristen. My silly reason for rooting for the Packers was that I wanted them to prove to Brett Favre they could win without him😉 Well, they won, so I was happy. But not as happy as I will be on Opening Day…
Gotto admit, over the last 10 years the NFL has slowly crept out of my viewing habits until this season, I only watched last night;s contest.
Still wish there was a wardrobe malfunction with Christina and Fergie so I can take the nail file back out of my poor ears.
Got to admit if we botch up another half time show the whole sha-bang should be outsourced to Bollywood or China formass appeal.
But there were a few great defensive plays, a key pop in the elbow that produced a epic fumble-roski….and in the end a 350 pound man was seen crying his eyes out.
There is always next year……in Indianapolis….Maybe the Harlem Globetrotters will perform…..Indiana is B-ball Country.
Rays Renegade
Ron – I believe them rooting for the Cubs. Once your team is out of it, it's easy to start rooting for a really deserving team, rivalries be damned. Heck, I was even rooting for the Red Sox in '04, but only once the World Series started of course.
Jane – Very soon, yay! And yeah, it's harder than you'd think living in L.A. Lots of Dodgers bars, not very many Angels bars and the Lakers trump all of it during basketball season.
Catherine – That's a good reason too. Yeah, opening day can't come soon enough!
Rays Renegade – LOL, well, many of us ladies wouldn't have exactly minded a will.i.am wardrobe malfunction, so I supposed fair's fair. There were definitely some good plays – the first touchdown was really cool and I appreciate the good defensive plays, but the 2nd quarter was too one-sided for my taste. I liked the end of the 3rd quarter and the 4th when the Steelers were catching up much better.
I don't think I watched an NFL game all season long, just some college games. I lot of Packers fans in my area. When you get more west in the U.P., most are Packer-Backers. Every day is closer to baseball, though…
'Minoring In Baseball'
I live by the MLB.tv package. I also live a couple blocks from Sox Park, so I get over there to see quite a few. You can get in from the scalpers SUPER CHEAP if you wait til the game starts. Be careful of watching baseball games in bars… if you're like me you might be blitzed by the third inning😉
Mike – Yes, closer and closer every day. Spring Training is one giant Valentine to all of us from MLB!
Jeff – Fortunately, when I'm not gallivanting about in Paso Robles, Fox Sports West and KCOP have us covered for all but about one game a month. It's finding some place to watch with other Angels fans that's tricky – though you're right about the pleasures…er…dangers of watching games in bars.
Football is overrated, the Super Bowl is overrated, but there's still nothing better than cheering a team on with friends! The best part is knowing that baseball is just around the corner.🙂
Westcoastgirl – Yeah, it is overrated. And I have tried and tried to like it too. Yay for Spring Training starting next week!


text:
VA nominee finds support in Senate
Senate leaders from both parties signaled support for Robert McDonald, President Barack Obamas nominee for secretary of the Veterans Affairs Department, at his confirmation hearing on Tuesday, though political consensus has not emerged on how best to bolster the troubled department.
The seriousness of this moment demands action, and if confirmed, I pledge to the committee, and to our nations veterans, to take a series of immediate actions over the first 90 days to deliver the needed reforms our veterans deserve, McDonald said in the hearing. I will put the veteran at the center of everything we do.
While Democratic and Republican senators called for an expeditious confirmation process for McDonald, the monthlong conference negotiations about comprehensive VA reform have seen partisan divisions.
The most controversial aspect of the VA legislation is a funding provision of a Senate bill authored by Sen. Bernard Sanders, I-Vt., that would hire additional doctors and provide money for 26 additional medical facilities.
The House and Senate VA legislation allows veterans to seek care in the private sector, another expensive proposition. The Congressional Budget Office has estimated the cost of these reforms at around $30 billion.
A number of Republicans have said additional money would not fix cultural deficiencies at the VA, and believe the department can work more efficiently without further resources.
As we have seen, the VA has failed our veterans even with the increases in funding, said Sen. Mike Johanns, R-Neb, referring to past VA budget increases.
On Monday, Sanders, the chairman of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, agreed to offset some of his funding provisions, but gave no specific details.
These are very tough negotiations but I still hope and believe that we can come to an agreement, Sanders said in a statement late Monday.
Since late May, a number of damning reports have documented systemic problems at the VA, including inadequate care, long wait times for patients, and retaliation against whistleblowers.
The scathing allegations, which documented scheduling problems nationwide, led VA secretary Eric Shinseki to resign May 30. Obama nominated McDonald in late June, calling him an expert at making organizations better.
McDonald, a graduate of the West Point Military Academy, served as an Army Ranger in the 82nd Airborne Division. McDonald comes from a military family; among his veteran relatives are his father, who fought in World War II.
After serving, McDonald joined Procter & Gamble, a multinational consumer goods corporation, where he worked for 33 years. As CEO of P&G, McDonald had major economic success and oversaw more than 120,000 employees.
McDonald spoke about the important VA care his family has received and pledged to bring some of his successful tactics from the private sector to the VA.
He promised to recruit doctors aggressively, champion transparency and ensure efficiency through technological updates.
(Technology) would allow us to release some people and some resources and flow them to the mission, which is to care for veterans, McDonald said.
Sanders said it was likely McDonalds nomination would pass out of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee sometime Tuesday, and a full Senate vote would happen before the August recess.
Sanders also reiterated his hope that House and Senate leaders would agree to a set of VA reforms before the monthlong break.
I hope well be able to provide you with the emergency help that you need to deal with the immediate crisis of waiting periods for veterans, Sanders said to McDonald at the end of the hearing. And I hope also that we are going to give you the resources you need to get the doctors and nurses and other personnel that you need.
Jasper Craven is affiliated with the Boston University Journalism Program.MORE IN Vermont NewsMONTPELIER Rep. Peter Welch, D-Vt. Full StoryVermont Attorney General Bill Sorrell plans to join the U.S. Full StoryAs Rutland prepares to welcome Syrian refugees to its community, some are continuing to voice... Full Story
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