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Inlet manifold removal and clean
G'day all
I'm hunting for a little advice regarding the best way to get the inlet manifold off for a clean. I had the intercooler and rocker cover off yesterday in order to replace a leaky rocker cover gasket, and in the process was able to get a look in to the top of the inlet manifold. One side was fairly clean, the other side was full of rubbish and restricted in the neck at the top (could feel with finger, lots of crap was able to be pulled out).
Looking at taking the inlet manifold off however, there seems to be a lot that needs undoing in order to get it off. Looks to be some hard (oil?) pipes that run from inside the rocker cover out and over the bolts holding the inlet manifold in place.
Alternatively, do any of you own a workshop manual that details the process? Virtually all manuals I've seen come wrapped in plastic, so I've not bothered buying one yet since I'm not sure what it covers.
Any specifics are always appreciated!
2000 GU II, 3.0L DI Diesel, 2" Lift, Safari Snorkel, D-Tronic, Rack, Provent 200, NADS, CMGS Trying to avoid the bang
inlet cleaning
Hi anakaine.... you may wish to have a look at this thread..
Take lots of photo's as you launch into this task... not hard just takes time.
Gaskets I scourced from SMS Diesel... genuine articles at about 1/4 the cost.
Petrol does a great job of removing this gunge... I used a stiff bristled baby bottle brush..
Best of luck .... just take it easy.
My 2 bobs worth
Thanks q8160
I guess I was hoping for a little advice on how to actually get the thing off Got a to a point yesterday where the way forward was just not obvious.
What pieces have got to come off before the inlet manifold?
Butteryfly valve
Intercooler wiring harness bracket
Disconnect egr inlet pipe
2000 GU II, 3.0L DI Diesel, 2" Lift, Safari Snorkel, D-Tronic, Rack, Provent 200, NADS, CMGS Trying to avoid the bang
Last edited by anakaine; 08-09-2013 at 10:07 AM. Reason: Horrible spelling.
Just work from the top..... think it out as you go... take photos to follow on reassembly. And as you remove bolts and bits, use clip lock bags, write on where they came from. Even tab then back to the photo on your camera.
The back most manifold stud... be careful ( can't remember if it is a stud and nut or a bolt).... this one can cause a bit of pain.... if it is a stud then replace it with a bolt to make it easier for manifold refit.. Handbrake is away in Patrol, sorry I can't lift the bonnet and have a look... when you see it you will know what I mean.
If I remember the job took me about 6-8 hours, even squeesing in a couple of drinkies.....
Last edited by q8160; 08-09-2013 at 10:04 AM. Reason: add
You will be in the world of pain I can tell you that. I'm a pro and I'm telling you I will not be doing to do that job again. There are so many pitfalls not to mention the possibilities for stuffing something up that for inexperienced person I advise against. The whole set up is like a mechanical jigsaw puzzle.
If you are going to do it than be prepared/allow for plenty of time and a possibility that the time you have allocated is not enough. Attention to details and documenting every step (take photo of the assembly before going next)
Probably the worst part is the actual cleaning of the manifold its a horribly messy job I recommend access to pressure/steam cleaner.
Also be advised than removing injection pipes will result in having to need a good battery s because you'll be cranking the engine for a while the pipes and injectors can get self purge of air before it fires up. They're also fun to remove and reinstall. Having set of stubby spanners is beneficial.
Yo don't need to drain coolant just rotate/move the EGR valve with hoses still connected (they're flexible enough) so it is out of the way.
If you are not mechanically minded, have no garage/shed and right equipment I recommend not to tackle the job.
Oh and that bastard of a fastener at the back of the manifold is a stud and rather too long! It is also used to locate the manifold when refitting so replacing it with bolt opens up a new possibilities.
rumcajs - probably the honesty that I needed - thanks.
q8160 - Thanks for the advice, by the sounds of it I will probably be calling in the pros for this one.
Now that I know how much gunk is in it, it's that burden of knowledge knowing that the pin has possibly been pulled on the grenade.
2000 GU II, 3.0L DI Diesel, 2" Lift, Safari Snorkel, D-Tronic, Rack, Provent 200, NADS, CMGS Trying to avoid the bang
Im looking at doing this job soon as well.
q8160 - which gaskets are needed? is it just the inlet manifold and the throttle body gaskets or are there others im forgetting?
If you take your time, blank all open lines and fittings with proper blanks, take photos, and approach the job like a jigsaw, meaning, there is always a sequence for disassembly, same as there is for reassembly.
Check Ebay for a electronic manual, like $10, There is also freebie downloads, however I don't have the link, sorry
As already said, if you have any doubt about your ability then spending the dollars for someone else to do the job while you stay calm/cool and collected while enjoying a beer could be the way to go.
You will find some very tight nuts/bolts..... Snap-On tools have always been my tool of choice, six and twelve point sockets etc means good quality and easier on the hands.....if you are using SNAP-OFF tools (el-cheapies), then you may run into a bit of grief..
It's not a hard job ---- just tedious.......and petrol dissolves this gunge with ease.
Be warned though ....... this is a messy horrible black cr@p everywhere job, so don't antagonise the Director of Finance and use the laundry office as a workshop/cleaning bay.
Good Luck
I have had no mechanical use on any diesel engine before, not even lawn mowers. Took me 2x days but that was probably only 5-6 hrs each day.
Only gaskets that needed to be replaced was the rocker cover gasket, the inlet manifold and throttle body are both metal and clean up well as ling as you dont damage them when taking them off. I also replaced the injector seals while the injector lines are out.
Trickiest part was the injector lines trying to get them all lined up and tighten one at a time was a pain. I used a karcher pressure cleaner which got further in then the bottle brush and cleaned it up like new.
Use a old plastic tackle box to hold each sections bolts etc as there are a few and deff x100 on taking pics on each step. Saved me tonnes.
2003 Nissan Patrol GU zd30 auto wagon. sent using tapatalk on me samsung galaxy s4
Thanks for the replies nicabocca, q8160.
I might save this job for when I have a spare week. I've got all the gaskets and bits - now it's just about confidence.
Did you need to get inside the crank case at all?
Looks like there's some fixed pipes in there that run out through/past the inlet manifold that will get in the way.
2000 GU II, 3.0L DI Diesel, 2" Lift, Safari Snorkel, D-Tronic, Rack, Provent 200, NADS, CMGS Trying to avoid the bang
No. Intercooler, throttle body, vacum hoses and earth cables, injector lines before the egr unit, egr unit, then you should be able to get to the manifold bolts quite easy. Obviously there is some other pipes etc you may need to just move out od the road, but leave the rocker cover on till you have the manifold back on, saves dropping stuff by accident. Only reason beside cleaning the manifold to have it off is to replace the injector seals. I can go into a bit more detail if needed. Otherwise search up one.of my of my other posts where I went through what I did. Remember it was my 1st time aswell.
2003 Nissan Patrol GU zd30 auto wagon. sent using tapatalk on me samsung galaxy s4
If the OP is just looking to gain experience and tackle a challenge then go for it and as RumCajs says, be methodical and document every move, we all think we have great memories but that is not always the case when the crunch comes, might I suggest small containers with name tags for small bits if you do go ahead.
A Mighty (and Unique) Bronze Manual 2000 ZD30DI
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Domestic Violence Has No Excuse, Rugby League Players Are Not Above The Law.
Well, ain't that the truth.
When I was replacing the glow plugs I had a closer look and thought maybe it is time to do something about that inlet manifold gasket I've had sitting on the shelf in the shed for 18 months.
So got a little carried away and after couple of hours manifold was nearly off, indeed it just sat there loose on the front and rear studs and there I was facing the biggest challenge of the whole job. How to get the manifold past the EGR pipe( from exhaust manifold to EGR valve) bracket The Nissan instruction says to take it (pipe) off but that would add another hour to the job including the removal of the dreaded heat shield. It was the sinking feeling coming so close.
So removed the stud with great difficulties thought the manifold would be out.
Not quite the bracket was still in the way. So finally decided to do what any professional does when gentle art of "mind over matter" is called for and bent the fcuking bracket out of the way while skinning off my knuckles on every object in the vicinity. Ouch! The manifold is out .
Several hours of cleaning the bastard while cursing everything Japanese, overcome by petrol fumes and covered with black tar like goo all over I was ready for assembly which was relatively easy just repeat the previous steps.
Thinking about pre priming fuel lines (cause I know how hard it is to get VP44 fuelled truck engines to start after injection lines are dismantled/removed and refitted, I decided to "wing" it and hoped I wouldn't have the difficulties later. Big mistake!
When engine finally fired back to life after 40 minutes of cranking and priming the fuel primer it only did it just. Both the primary and secondary battery had enough and were for all the purpose completely flat.
Job done! Wiser and another experience I'd rather forget.
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Describe the factors to consider when promoting effective communication?
There are a number of factors to consider when promoting effective communication these vary for different age groups, genders, cultures, etc. It is important to communicate effectively to help avoid confusion and misunderstanding. It is easy for young people to be upset or feel lost after conversations with adults due to the use of different or complicated vocabulary. It is important to recognise and prevent poor communication as a care worker. It is also important to acknowledge young people's rights, such as the right to be respected, to be treated equally and to not be discriminated. This can be difficult at times as young people often cross these boundaries but as a professional it is vital to be non-judgemental and controlled at all times.
A factor to consider is the setting. These vary within our care home and at times we may be talking to young people as a group such as a house meeting where we may be covering issues between the members or passing information that may affect their home or friendships. It is important in this setting to ensure the group understands and are acknowledging comments that are made. To do this it may be necessary to have somebody lead the conversation acknowledging each participant with regular eye contact or maybe by asking questions prompting responses. The 'lead' could also control the conversation taking place making sure that the subject being discussed is being stuck too whilst also ensuring members are being respected. At times we have informal conversations with house members during their average day. These conversations are generally quite relaxed and casual allowing the young people to express themselves naturally and comfortably in their home. There may also be formal conversations these are usually more serious and official. These can be as a group or one-to-one. When speaking one-to-one it is important to consider if the conversation is...
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I browse some network places and prepare list of articles with best iTunes plugins, add-ons and all that stuff to make your iTunes music player even better.
ITUNES TOOLBOX: 30+ Tools For iTunes
Apple launched iTunes widgets last week, allowing you to post your iTunes info to blogs and social networks. We thought it would be a good opportunity to round up all the services that let you extend and customize iTunes, as well as sharing your music with your friends.
13 Addons iTunes Users should Know About
iTunes is not the best or even one of the faster music players out there but it is definitely one of the most popular ones. If you're using iTunes as your primary music player then here are some addons to improve your iTunes experience.
10 iTunes Add-ons Worth Checking Out
With it being my most used app, I've taken quite a bit of time trying out different add-ons to make the most of iTunes. Below is a listing of 10 apps that I've used and feel comfortable saying they're worth the price you pay for them.
If you have your favorites iTunes Addons let me know 🙂


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Item: SN353
1 mg 200 Tabs
Serving Size 1 Tablet
|Amount Per Serving
|% Daily Value
|1 mg
†Daily Value not established.
Other ingredients: Sorbitol, mannitol, natural orange flavor, stearic acid and magnesium stearate.
Contains soy.
Suggested Use: 1 to 3 tablets at bedtime. Do not take more than 5 tablets daily. Place tablet under the tongue and allow to dissolve slowly, altering the position of the tablet to avoid prolonged contact with the same area.
WARNING: USE ONLY AT BEDTIME. For adult use only. Not for use by children, teenagers, or women who are pregnant, may become pregnant, or breastfeeding. If you are under medical supervision, or have an autoimmune disease, diabetes, a depressive disorder, a thyroid disorder, or are taking MAO inhibitor drugs or corticosteroids such as hydrocortisone or prednisone, consult your physician before taking this product. Keep out of the reach of children.
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articles on
Melting Offf Unmasked
We have posted many articles about typography but there are a number of projects in particular that really catch our eye. Whether it's the striking visual outcome or the technique behind it, we're blown away by the amazing talent that surrounds us. That's the case of the Melting Offf Unmasked project by Noelia Lozano for the Offf conference. It's awesome to see the video that Noelia shares showcasing a behind the scenes peek into the intricacy and craftsmanship involved throughout the process. Contribution to the OFFF UNMASKED art book celebrating the 15th edition of Barcelona's OFFF festival. Featuring contributions from renowned illustrators and graphic designers around the world, presenting OFFF as a polytheistic cult,a secret religion with it´s own sacred rituals, places and prophets. The book was designed by Barcelona design studio VASAVA in collaboration with the OFFF team. Video Behind the scenes My contribution to the OFFF brief plays with the idea of unmasking to expose your real self. You need to melt through the layers, in order to show the internal struggle; the real form which is initially invisible to the observer. Stills
The Craftsman - Book Suggestion
The book suggestion of this week is about craftsmanship, we are talking about The Craftsman by Richard Sennett. The book engages the many dimensions of skill—from the technical demands to the obsessive energy required to do good work. Craftsmanship leads Sennett across time and space, from ancient Roman brickmakers to Renaissance goldsmiths to the printing presses of Enlightenment Paris and the factories of industrial London. Amazon Book description Defining craftsmanship far more broadly than "skilled manual labor," Richard Sennett maintains that the computer programmer, the doctor, the artist, and even the parent and citizen engage in a craftsman's work. Craftsmanship names the basic human impulse to do a job well for its own sake, says the author, and good craftsmanship involves developing skills and focusing on the work rather than ourselves. In this thought-provoking book, one of our most distinguished public intellectuals explores the work of craftsmen past and present, identifies deep connections between material consciousness and ethical values, and challenges received ideas about what constitutes good work in today's world. Sennett considers an array of artisans across different periods, from ancient Chinese chefs to contemporary mobile-phone designers, in this powerful meditation on the "skill of making things well." The template of craftsmanship, he finds, combines a "material consciousness" with a willingness to put in years of practice (a common estimate of the time required to master a craft is ten thousand hours) and a strategic acceptance of ambiguity, rather than an obsessive perfectionism. Sennett's aim is to make us rethink the notion that society benefits most from a workforce trained to respond to the metamorphoses of a global economy. Ultimately, he writes, the difficulties and possibilities of craft can teach "techniques of experience" that help us relate to others, and lead to an "ethically satisfying" pride in one's work. New Yorker- Copyright © 2008 Buy The Craftsman Now


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Broccoli-Spinach Soup with Avocado Toasts
Serving Size: 4
No cream required: Tahini gives this soup its buttery flavor and silky texture -- and makes a serving of dark leafy greens unusually enticing. Sliced avocado dressed with lemon and sprouts jazzes up ordinary crusty bread and rounds out this balanced meal.
- Heat oil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add leek and cook until tender, about 4 minutes. Add stock; bring to a boil. Add broccoli and cook, covered, until bright green and tender, about 2 minutes.
- Remove from heat. Stir in spinach, Parmesan, and tahini. Let cool slightly. Season with salt and pepper.
- Working in batches, puree soup in a blender until smooth.
- Top bread with avocado and radish sprouts. Season with salt and pepper, squeeze with lemon, and drizzle with oil.
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MMA Forum - UFC Forums - UFC Results - MMA Videos (http://www.mmaforum.com/forumindex.php)
- Training & Nutrition (http://www.mmaforum.com/training-nutrition/)
- - Running - why? (http://www.mmaforum.com/training-nutrition/82479-running-why.html)
Running - why?
Hello everyone.
I want to know what are the benefits from running, if there are any. I mean, the benefits for a MMA fighter. I want to do MMA - currently I know just some karate, but when I have the time and money, I'll get more into MMA. Right now I'm doing mostly the physical part of the training.
Also, at what distance should I run? One source said that I should be running at shorter distances - like 1-3 kilometers, in order to be trained explosively. Another source, however, said that I should be running at longer distances - like 10-12 kilometers, because running is for endurance.
I run 4 kilometers for 17:17 (13.9 km/h), and 12 kilometers for about 58 minutes (12.4 km/h). The speed for 4 km is from a few months ago. Is that "good"?
Running increases you vo2 max and gives you a good "base" for your cardio. But, for real cardio conditioning you have to train more sport specific.
I learned this the hard way. I ran my ass off for months before I stepped into a gym to train. Felt like a waste of time, I gassed so fast it was funny (to everyone else).
In my opinion swimming helps more than running.
Yeah, I have this problem - I get gassed really fast. How can I improve this? Currently, I can't afford to go to gym, so I can't use any equipment. I have a really crappy boxing bag at home, but it's better than nothing. So I guess that shadow fighting and using the boxing bag are going to help with this problem, right?
I also suspect that it could be because I'm not relaxed enough while hitting.
Right and right. The best way to train for standup is to punch and kick. The best way to train for grappling is to roll. And they don't really translate to each other very well. I mean, you can be in great shape for one and suck at the other.
wind sprints and hill/stair climbing will help more than paced running. Also circuit training where you go from squats to pushups to pullups with no rest in between can help.
anything that get's your body used to dealing with large buildup of lactic acid helps.
Swimming underwater holding my breath helped me a lot but, there really is no substitute for sparring and rolling.
i just spar like crazy personally but thats because i despise running and have no intention of becoming a professional fighter.
Spar, spar, spar some more and your fighting cardio goes way up. Esp if you spar with some fresh guys when u get tired.
Running is def good, too bad im flat footed and hate it with a passion.
on the flipside, i know guys that could outrun me all day and not last 3 min rolling with me, its just a diff kind of cardio.
after my first class I was totally demoralized and explained to my coach how hard I had been running to get ready for this.
He laughed at me and said " so now you know, running gets you in shape for running. Look on the bright side, these guys that have been throwing you around, in a real life situation, they probably couldn't catch you".
yea its the same thing for running speed. ppl think if a guy runs fast, he must have fast lateral speed and handspeed.
but that isnt always the case either. Lateral speed is more important than straight line speeed in combat sports, if i were gonna spend alot of time running, i would def make lateral movement sprints and workouts a big part of it.
Running keeps your core working though IMO. It's still good to get a good run in here and there. 2 miles is usually the farthest I run.
A good running program that helps build speed and explosiveness is 60-120's. Sprint for 60 seconds, then walk for 120. Repeat until you die. It's good stuff.
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But the best thing you can do is 5x5's which is 5 rounds, 5 mins a round and you push your self to exhaustion every round.
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Dhairya Dand and Rob Hemsley have developed an interactive display which, when paired with depth cameras, can interpret inputs along a third axis of motion, pushing and pulling on the display. The result is a well deserved, "Wow!"
Called "Obake," which loosely means "shape shifter" from Japanese, but more accurately means "ghost," the display accepts additional inputs through pinching and pulling, as well as pressing deep into the interface. The depth cameras can sense varying degrees of input. On top of that, mixed –multi-input will work as well, pinch-pull and press, and combinations between.
The display retains inputs by using linear actuators which keep the screen "pinched" if you pulled out a mountain in the landscape for example. Dand points out that this approach redefines the nature of input away from other methods which rely on illusions of 3D, and GUI inputs that are rooted in two-dimensional thinking.
Dand and Hemsley envision this technology finding its way to smarphones. With this kind of elasticity, you can kiss cracked displays good-bye.
source: ExtremeTech


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By Solange Reyner
Bruno Levy and Blake Shaw are putting on a multimedia performance – and you're invited. It all starts at 8 p.m. and goes through 10 on 900 Biscayne Boulevard on Wednesday, November 18th. OK, so you're not sure what a multimedia performance is. Well, think art, music, and technology all rolled into one.
Here's the official word from Levy, who lives and works out of New York:
- What's the scope of Sweatshoppe?
We are a new media, multimedia group which means we are designing custom software to enable us to create interactive environments. We make music and we make video and we try to use interactive modules to perform them live.
- Who is Sweatshoppe?
I used to do live video and design work. But my background is in photography – so I started traveling and left the other stuff behind. I met my partner, Blake, in Nepal – he's 20 years old and he's this incredible programmer. We started Sweatshoppe six months ago. He goes to school in Vermont, and drives every weekend to New York so we can come together to move forward on different ideas.
- What's the goal of these shows?
We kind of are just trying to create these immersive events, or these new ways to present media. We just brainstormed and figured out ways to showcase these technologies. One of us programs everything and the other creates the visual components.
The artist collaboration is unveiling a custom hour-long VJ/DJ set of their films using innovative software technologies, including a drum machine that redefines images in 3D space and real time stop motion cameras hidden inside face masks to create an interactive show that integrates the audience and exterior surfaces of the new residential tower. SWEATSHOPPE works at the intersection of art, music and technology and is a forecast of SCOPE, the longest running and largest fair outside of Art Basel.


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With it being October and all, I was in the mood for a decent horror video game that fulfills my basic requirements for a game — that it be old enough so everyone else has lost interest in it, thus driving the price down to an affordable ten bucks or so. Of the many recommendations I got, I decided to go with F.E.A.R.: First Encounter Assault Recon, because I thought the blend of supernatural horror with a SWAT type first person shooter would be interesting. Plus, I'd been told the game was genuinely scary in many places. Seemed like the perfect late-night indulgence. And for portions of the game, it was. It's a fast paced shooter that does indeed boast some incredibly effective spooky material. But it's also too repetitive, and the horror often gets forgotten in favor of room after room of shooting it out with basically identical opponents gussied up in the same sort of assault team gear your own character is wearing.
Your character is the newest member (isn't that always the case) of an elite fighting unit that specializes in combating particularly bizarre situations — and I do mean combating, complete with Blackhawks, body armor, and assault weapons, sort of like if Ghost Hunters traded in their night vision cameras and pointless blinking doodads for rocket launchers. As the game opens, you're being choppered in to investigate what sounds like a decidedly non-supernatural conflict: an army of cloned super soldiers have seized an office building, and it's your job to take them out. Simple enough. Once you are on the ground, however, things don't go as planned. For starters, as is always the case, your teammates are beyond useless, and those that don't get killed or injured outright are the standard "we'll secure this random room while you scout ahead" types. Fine with me. I hate having to care for dumb AI-controlled team-mates in video games, whose sole purpose seems to be to randomly run across my line of fire during the middle of a battle, then complain that I just shot them.
But as you lead the one-man assault from some loading docks and eventually into the office building itself, you are afflicted with bizarre hallucinations full of fire, corpses, and ghosts. There are also creepy shadows, momentary glimpses of skulking things, and the apparition of a little girl that keeps popping up to startle the bejeezus out of you. In these moments, F.E.A.R. is at its horror game best and is more genuinely scary than most modern horror films. The designers make superb use of your peripheral vision and limited sight distance to pop these "ghosts" up in ways that provide both a cheap but fun jolt and a more lingering sense of horror. Before too long, I was dreading climbing up a ladder or stepping into a dark corridor, because who knew when I'd catch a flickering glimpse of that little girl or strange smoky phantom?
I was delighted with how effective this element of the game was, and that they found ways to employ it that didn't seem like the same thing over and over. Unfortunately, the moments of the game that aren't infused with creepy spectres are pretty rote. Gun battles with the clone soldiers and assorted chump security guards are fun for a while, but around the halfway point of the game, they started getting increasingly dull. It was the same thing over and over, killing the same guys, with the horror elements dropped in favor or pretty standard first person shooter combat. Some bits are fun, of course. For instance, the fact that you frequently have to face off with a large number of enemies from a position that allows them to flank you and sneak up from behind or pop through another corridor or door means you have to do more than just squat down behind a desk and pick guys off. The computer opponents are also smart enough so that you can't do the otherwise tried and true move where you dash in and out of a room then pick off the idiots as they file one by one through the door. These opponents are smart enough to just yell, "There he is," then take up strategic defensive positions that force you to be the sucker who steps through the door if you want the game to progress.
But you can only clear so many rooms of these guys before it starts to wear on you. Bogged down in a firefight, I frequently found myself impatient to just be done with these generic SWAT guy clones so I could apprehensively drop down into another murky hallway or sewer where I might stumble upon a horribly twisted and mangled corpse, be startled by something flickering in and out of existence in the corner of my eye , stuff like that. The combat is OK, but the horror in this game is done so well that I wanted more of it — either a better balance with the straight-forward combat or, perhaps, even more horror than action. Something that better blended the two aspects of the game.
Game play was perfectly acceptable. Weapon and movement controls were intuitive and mostly easy to use, though I did tend to press the "throw a grenade" button when I meant to switch grenade types or re-equip my gun, but hey — you can't blame the game for my spastic playing style. The art design is the recognizable dark corridors and gloomy alleys in which most action video games (and most scifi movies, for that matter) take place, though with a few twists. It was nice playing through levels set in a perfectly modern office tower, and there's a sequence inside a ruined building that manages to be creepy even though it's an almost entirely action-oriented level with minimal spooky character appearances. So nothing groundbreaking, but it's "the predictable" well-executed, and I can live with that. In addition, the dialogue is limited but what is there is, for the most part, delivered well, with only a few bits and pieces where the delivery of the voice actors is as stilted and awkward as we've come to expect from video games.
The writing is convoluted, and even bythe end of the game I never had a clear idea of what was going on. Pieces of the story are doled out to you in a variety of fashions, but primarily through abandoned laptops and unchecked phone messages. The problem is that a lot of these are boring filler. You have to stand around listening to messages about canceled meetings and dinner plans in hopes of getting some meager morsel of actual information. In the end, even someone like me who values the story and writing in games can find oneself impatient and prone to just not caring anymore. The action in the game doesn't depend enough on the plot. You can blast your way through the whole thing without any idea why, and it wouldn't effect the ultimate outcome. I'm much happier when a game has a good story and forces you to pay attention to that story by making certain aspects of the game dependant upon your comprehension of what's happening around you.
Much of what i know about the story I actually read is summaries rather than gleaning from gameplay. The gist of things revolve around the usual secret experiments to create some sort of psychic super soldiers, or something. Maybe? Anyway, said nefarious research involved pretty nasty experiments on a woman named Alma, resulting in the increasingly bizarre paranormal activity into which you stumble from time to time. Not surprisingly, your character ends up having a "mysterious past" that ties you intimately to the strange and terrifying events. I don't mind having to piece together disjointed fragments of information into a more complete picture as I play — it makes sense to do it that way, after all — but the collection of these pieces in F.E.A.R. is tedious more than revelatory, and the final picture doesn't live up to the amount of effort you have to put into assembling it. I mean, you spend a large portion of the game chasing some dude who seems to have almost no bearing on what ultimately happens, as well as encountering several side characters who occupy a lot of screen time without contributing much of anything other than behaving like idiots then dying while you stand around outside the room in which they are being slaughtered.
And don't even get me started on the flashlight. OK, I guess now I'm started on the flashlight. You have a flashlight, and you need it to see around. It also helps create the creepy mood, because it so limits what you can see clearly. But the thing only lasts for a minute, then you have to turn it off and wait for it to recharge. Seriously? All this high tech military hardware, and you give me a flashlight that only lasts a minute? We've have flashlights that last for hours on end for decades now. You can buy them pretty much anywhere. I know, given that this is a game where you are fighting spooky little girl ghosts and clone soldiers, complaining about the unrealistic nature of your shitty flashlight seems petty, but that just proves the old adage that you can ask the audience to believe the impossible, but not the improbable.
The finale sees you running a gauntlet of Alma-summoned revenants as a space age research facility explodes around you — another interesting blend of genres — with the ghost of Alma herself appearing from time to time, but no longer always as the creepy little girl in the corner of your eye. Now, she's a full on ghoulish force to be reckoned with, culminating in a fiery finale that is visually impressive but not altogether satisfying. Still, I was so thankful not to have to shoot my way through another room full of clone soldiers that I let the mildly disappointing climax slide. For the most part, the end was a pretty exhilarating blend of action and horror — the sort of white-knuckled fun I wanted from the rest of the game.
F.E.A.R. ended up being enough fun to keep me moderately entertained for one play-through, but it's not a game I would revisit. I recommend it — especially for the price you can get it these days — because it's fun to play for a while, and because the horror, when it makes itself known, proved to be every bit as scary as I was told it would be. I know that, even in 2005 when this game came out, the "little girl with long hair" ghost image was played out, but I'll be damned if it doesn't still prove effective. Unfortunately, the impact of that horror was watered down by room after room of just fighting anonymous Call of Duty guys. This means that F.E.A.R. is remarkable mostly for what it could have been if only the makers had dared play outside the norms of the first person shooter more often.
Like many video games, F.E.A.R. hovers just on the cusp of doing something really excited and delivering a game that is different and fun — but then it pulls back at the last second and contents itself with grinding out more of the same old, same old. Somehow, that makes the sting hurt worse, because when it takes chances and leans on the horror, it's just so damn good. The idea of a more or less military first person shooter stumbling into the world of horror still has potential. F.E.A.R. almost gets it right — right enough to be playable and worth it for the scares, but also right enough that it's frustrating that it isn't more right. It was good enough that I'd give the sequel a go, even though I suspect that it will be a case of more of the same. Maybe they'll at least give me a working flashlight.


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The Waikato Rugby Union was buying shares in a Hamilton bar while it was defaulting on rent payments for use of the Waikato Stadium.
The cash-strapped rugby union bought a 15 per cent share in the House on Hood bar in April 2010 for $208,000.
Months later, its bill for overdue rent to the Hamilton City Council had reached $500,000, the union's annual report for last year shows.
But Waikato Rugby Union chief executive Graham Bowen yesterday defended the bar investment as a way of obtaining extra income as the union faced financial hardship. The annual report said the bar was purchased to be the "home of rugby".
"I guess we were starting to feel things were pretty tight, trying to get more investment," he said. "I guess it had some revenue potential which was quite important at the time."
He said the union started missing rent payments a few months after the deal went through. But the Hamilton City Council says the union owed it $500,000 in mid-2010 and this was a significant part of a year's rental.
Hamilton deputy mayor Gordon Chesterman said the bar purchase was disturbing and reflected "poor decision making" by the union, which saw the council as a "soft touch".
"They have a clear obligation to pay rent for their primary business which was rugby instead of siphoning off money for a commercial investment in a bar."
City council finance and monitoring chairman Dave Macpherson said the union "clearly had its priorities wrong".
"You can read into it that they thought city ratepayers should be the last cab off the rank and risky investments were better than paying off debts to the ratepayer."
The cost of the union's 15 per cent stake puts the total value of House on Hood at about $1.38 million and makes it one of the most expensive bars in Hamilton.
In 2008, when the union also missed rent payments on the Waikato Stadium, it paid $240,000 for a stake in Kelly Sports, a business providing after school and holiday sports programmes to children.
Last year the union had to borrow $1.51 million to keep afloat. The city council moved the overdue rent into a $500,000 three-year bank loan with 7 per cent interest, the NZ Rugby Union loaned it $454,000 and Gallagher Finance and Management's $500,000 loan was reduced to $250,000 after the Gallagher Group took a sponsorship package.
Mr Bowen said he was confident the union would be able to pay off its debts within the next four years, largely because it had reduced its operational costs.
He said House on Hood returned a dividend of about $35,000 a year.
* $208,000 investment on House on Hood in 2010.
* $240,000 stake in Kelly Sports in 2008.
* $1.51m in loans from Hamilton City Council, Gallaghers and the NZRU.
* $28,150 surplus in 2011.
* $195,765 current debts exceeding assets.


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Brussels chuckles as Howard blinks
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In the end, George Bush held his ground, and John Howard blinked. And so we have a free trade agreement in which the most extreme barriers to free trade between Australia and the US remain intact.
Yesterday, Mr Howard was at his most persuasive in arguing why he had no choice but to swallow his pride and accept a deal that his deputy John Anderson characterised only two weeks ago as "un-Australian".
The US was offering Australia benefits it had been seeking for years.
A host of small barriers to our exports, and a few big ones, would be swept away or phased out. They include tariff-free entry by 2015 for all manufacturing and mineral exports, access to US Government procurement, and removal of restrictions on Australian service providers.
But while the US was ready to give way on small things, it clung desperately to the big ones. So, we have a free trade agreement in which the US will keep its ban on Australian exports of fast ferries, retain tariffs of almost 200 per cent on our sugar exports, limit Australian dairy exports to a fraction of what we sell to Japan, and maintain tariffs or quotas on fully a quarter of our agricultural exports - at the same time as Australia completely opens its markets to US agricultural exports.
Why did John Howard accept such a lopsided deal? Ultimately, because realpolitik dictated it.
The US economy is 18 times our size. The US did not want a trade deal with us; we wanted one with them. Australia is an open market, while in the US some farm industries enjoy massive protection, and buy political support to ensure they keep it.
It says much for the Government's political skills that most farm leaders yesterday came out endorsing a deal that delivers far less than they had hoped for. Howard and Trade Minister Mark Vaile persuaded them that nothing would be gained and a good deal lost if the Government stood on principle and walked away because of the US opposition to free trade in agriculture.
And they were right. But the world ahead will be scary for some industries vulnerable to US competition. Only time will tell whether the balance of gains outweighs the losses.
For there will be losses the Government did not mention yesterday.
Some Australians firms will fold, and others will be forced to retrench as US rivals take their markets.
The Government has dumped the future use of local preference schemes to help new industries grow, while back-of-the-envelope sums suggest tariff-free entry for US imports will cost it $1 billion a year in revenue, forcing it to raise other taxes or cut services.
And on the world stage, the two chief advocates of free trade in agriculture have now done a free trade deal that leaves out agriculture. They will be chuckling in Brussels.


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This Week: The Ferris State University football team returns home to host the Hillsdale Chargers Saturday (Sept. 22) evening in a 7 p.m. (EDT) Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) tilt at FSU's Top Taggart Field in Big Rapids, Mich. The game will serve as FSU's "Community Health Night" with various health-related activities and promotions planned in conjunction with the contest. Tickets for all home games are available at the gate or may be purchased in advance by contacting the FSU Athletics Ticket Office at (231) 591-2888. In addition, tickets can be bought online at www.starticketsplus.com.
Media Coverage: Saturday's game will be carried live locally by WYBR (102.3 FM) with Jason DaDay handling the play-by-play duties. A live video and audio webcast will be available through B2 Networks for a charge of $6 on FSU's Athletics Website at www.ferris.edu/sports (Click on B2 Networks icon). Live internet statistics via "GameTracker" will also be available during the game via FSU's athletics website.
Last Week: The Bulldogs dropped their first road game of the 2007 campaign at Saginaw Valley State this past Saturday (Sept. 15) by a 24-13 count. FSU held a 13-7 advantage after three quarters of the league contest, but the Cardinals rallied to score 17 points in the final period to earn the victory before 4,192 fans at Wickes Memorial Stadium.
Century Mark: FSU senior quarterback C.J. Van Wieren (Holland/West Ottawa) surpassed the 1,000-yard career rushing mark in Saturday's game at SVSU. The 6-4 Van Wieren presently has tallied 1,007 career rushing yards on 227 attempts while scoring 15 touchdowns. He's also completed 116-of-218 career passing attempts for 1,576 yards, which ranks 13th to date on the school's career passing chart. His 2,583 yards of total offense represents FSU's 15th-highest career performance.
Preseason Recognition: The Bulldogs earned preseason recognition this summer as the nation's 18th-ranked squad in the 2007 Lindy's College Football Preview Division II Preseason Top 25 Poll. Ferris was 8-3-0 overall in 2006, which represented the program's most single-season victories since 1996. The Bulldogs also finished the year ranked 17th in Don Hansen's Football Gazette's final Division II Top 40 poll and 22nd nationally in D2Football.com's final Top 25 poll.
First Catch: Redshirt freshman offensive lineman Matt Wellman (Portland), who's the Bulldogs' starting left tackle, made his first career reception at SVSU. Wellman caught the ball off a deflected pass in the opening stanza of the contest for a five-yard gain.
The Records: Ferris State, presently 1-2-0 overall this year, registered a 8-3-0 overall record and placed third in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) with a 7-3-0 mark in 2006. The Bulldogs were 3-2 at home and 5-1 on the road a season ago. Hillsdale currently leads the league standings with both a 3-0 overall and conference mark this year. HC posted a 49-28 home win over Ashland last Saturday (Sept. 15) at Hillsdale, Mich. The Chargers topped Gannon at home 59-3 in week one (Sept. 1) and recorded a thrilling 42-41 triumph at Northern Michigan in the second week (Sept. 8) of the year. Last season, the Chargers compiled a 5-6 overall record and placed eighth with a 5-5 GLIAC record. HC was 1-4 in road outings last season.
The Coaches: Ferris State – Jeff Pierce (Ferris State, 1979), 13th season, 78-57-0 (.578) – (8-4-0 vs. HC). Pierce has compiled a 40-25-0 (.615) coaching mark in home contests and is 30-22-0 (.577) in September contests to date. Pierce, who played at Ferris (defensive back) from 1974-77, is the 12th head coach in Ferris State's history.
Hillsdale – Keith Otterbein (Hillsdale, 1979), 6th season, 25-33-0 (.431); Career: 15th season, 85-72-3 (.541) – (2-3-0 vs. Ferris State). Otterbein served as head coach at Ferris State for nine seasons (1986-94) and then spent seven years (1995-01) as the recruiting coordinator and running backs coach at NCAA Division I Ball State.
Key Game Facts: Saturday's game against Hillsdale will mark the first time the Chargers have visited Big Rapids since the 2004 campaign. Ferris played on the road at Hillsdale each of the last two seasons. The Chargers have claimed victory only once in their last six visits to Top Taggart Field, but own a 10-9 all-time record in Big Rapids.
Welcome Back: Hillsdale head coach Keith Otterbein previously served as FSU's head coach from 1986-94. He led the Bulldogs to a 60-39-3 (.603) ledger in his nine years at the Bulldog helm. FSU made trips to the NCAA-II playoffs in each of his final three seasons.
Preseason Honors: FSU senior guard Bill Bourdlais (Newberry) and junior defensive tackle Jake Visser (Coopersville) were both named to the 2007 Don Hansen's Football Gazette NCAA-II Preseason All-America Team. A total of 153 players representing four geographic regions were named to the annual preseason listing.
Preseason All-Americans: Senior defensive tackle Kurt Hout (Arvada, Colo./West) and Jake Visser were chosen as 2007 preseason All-Americans by D2football.com. Hout was recognized as one of 12 first-team defensive selections while Visser earned second-team preseason laurels. Visser earlier this summer was tabbed as both a 2007 Street & Smith's Division II Preseason All-America First Team selection along with being named to the 2007 Lindy's College Football Preview All-Division II Preseason All-America Second Team.
Solid Performance: Senior slot receiver Robert Miller (Carson, Calif.) compiled 214 all-purpose yards versus Saginaw Valley State. He had a game-high 100 yards rushing on eight carries (12.5 avg.) and added six catches for 35 yards, which led all Bulldog receivers. Miller also returned three kicks for 74 yards (28 avg.) and had a single punt return for five yards in the contest.
Top Scorer: Junior kicker-punter Jim Yates (Goshen, Ind.) accounted for seven of FSU's 13 points versus Saginaw Valley State. Yates converted his only PAT attempt of the day and added field goals of 40 and 34 yards. His 40-yard made field goal with 3:14 left in the second frame gave FSU a 10-7 halftime advantage and matched his career-long field goal.
SVSU Game Notebook: The contest at SVSU represented the Bulldogs' initial road outing of the year .... Redshirt freshman wide receiver Ron Hardy (Grand Rapids/Ottawa Hills) grabbed a career-high three receptions for 41 total yards in the game ......... Freshman slot receiver Tim Hogue (Dearborn/Inkster) made his Bulldog debut in the contest. He lost four yards on his lone rushing attempt of the day, but returned one kickoff for 15 yards.
Current NCAA Stats: FSU's Jim Yates is currently listed fourth (1.7 pg.) nationally in made field goals per game, according to the latest (Sept. 17) NCAA-II National Statistics. Ferris' C.J. Van Wieren is presently ranked 17th nationally of 500 players listed in total offense (291.0 ypg.). Robert Miller is 19th overall in all-purpose yards (177.3 ypg.). Defensive tackle Jake Visser presently is found 21st nationally in solo tackles per game (6.0 pg.) while junior defensive back Terrell Heggins (Lansing/Everett) currently ranks 22nd in interceptions (0.7 pg).
At Top Taggart Field: Ferris State is 81-58-2 (.582) at Top Taggart Field since 1980 and sports a 67-47-2 (.586) conference home ledger during that span. The Bulldogs are 60-31-2 (.656) overall since 1990, which includes a 53-28-2 (.651) league record at home.
Time Difference: Ferris has averaged only 25:45 in offensive time of possession through three games, compared to the opponents' 34:11 figure for a difference of eight minutes and 26 seconds with the ball.
Historic Milestone: Jeff Pierce became Ferris State' s all-time winningest coach in the 2004 season (9/4) as a result of the Bulldogs' 23-17 overtime conference win at Ashland. Pierce surpassed current Hillsdale head coach Keith Otterbein (1986-94; 60-39-3) for the program's top honor.
Brewster Signed By San Diego: The National Football League's (NFL) San Diego Chargers signed former Ferris receiver Carlton Brewster to its practice squad last week. The 5-11 Brewster, who was released by the Green Bay Packers in August, made one reception for 10 yards and returned three kickoffs for 23 yards in three preseason outings with the Packers. Brewster, who has been assigned jersey #11 with San Diego, is the only non-rookie on the Chargers' current eight-player practice squad. A 2005 American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) All-America Team member and an Associated Press (AP) Little All-America Second-Team selection, Brewster concluded his four-year Bulldog career in 2005, ranking second among Ferris' all-time receiving leaders with 3,184 career receiving yards and 25 TD's on 234 receptions in 43 outings.
In The Red Zone: The Bulldogs' offense is operating at 92% efficiency in the red zone by converting 11 of 12 times inside the opposition's 20-yard line this year. FSU has scored seven touchdowns and made four field goals in its 12 trips to the red zone. Conversely, the Bulldog defense has limited the opposition to 11 red zone scores in 16 tries (69%).
Ferris Sports Update: Ferris head coach Jeff Pierce will make appearances throughout the season on Ferris Sports Update, a weekly half-hour TV show promoting Bulldog Athletics. The show airs each Thursday at 6:30 p.m. (EDT) and can be found live on Charter Cable Channel 22 in the Big Rapids area along over 1.6 million households via the Comcast Local Network in Michigan, parts of Ohio and Indiana.
Vote For Pierce: Bulldog fans once again have an opportunity for vote for FSU head coach Jeff Pierce as part of the 2007 Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year Award process. The award honors the college football coach who best exemplifies responsibility and excellence on and off the field. Pierce was among the top Division II vote-getters a year ago. Go to www.coachoftheyear.com to cast your ballot.
Pro Hopefuls: Defensive tackle Kurt Hout was regarded as one of the top 15 NCAA Division II players being considered by National Football League scouts, according to the 2007 D2football.com Pro Hopefuls List. The Pro Hopefuls List, which was put together by D2football.com Pro Prospects correspondent Josh Buchanan, listed the top 15 prospects overall. In addition, 35 other players were ranked behind them with offensive guard Bill Bourdlais found as the 35th-best D2 prospect coming out this year. Buchanan also posted a 53-man team roster of Division II prospective players and the list included Hout, Bourdlais and Bulldog senior safety Patrick Wells (Miamisburg, Ohio).
Game Day Promotions: Ferris will have a special game day promotion for each of its final four home contests at Top Taggart Field. FSU's game against Hillsdale (Sept. 22) will represent Community Health Night while the Northern Michigan (Sept. 29) matchup will mark the school's eighth-annual Hall of Fame Day contest. Homecoming is set for Oct. 20 when the Bulldogs host Ashland with the Senior Day activities taking place Nov. 3 during FSU's regular-season home finale against Northwood.
Preseason Rankings: Ferris was listed 28th in the 2007 College Sports Report Division II preseason rankings (www.collegesportsreport.com). Ferris placed fourth among the GLIAC schools featured in the College Sports Report rankings ....... D2football.com columnist Tony Nicolette, who is covering the GLIAC for the online service this fall, had the Bulldogs picked second in his preseason league listing this year behind Grand Valley State ........ FSU was not ranked, but was listed among other schools receiving votes in the 2007 American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Division II poll.
National Player Of The Week: FSU's C.J. Van Wieren was named the D2Football.com Co-National Offensive Player of the Week in addition to being the GLIAC Offensive Player of the Week after helping account for five of the Bulldogs' six touchdowns in a 42-19 season-opening home win over Kentucky State (Sept. 1). Van Wieren completed seven-of-eight passes for a personal career-high 294 yards and two touchdowns. He also added a team-best 118 rushing yards on 17 carries along with three TD's running the ball. He ran for two scores and threw for two more as the Bulldogs scored four consecutive touchdowns in the second and third quarters.
Big Award Winner: Former Ferris linebacker Mike Klobucher, who concluded his eligibility last season, has been selected as the 2006-07 Great Lakes Region Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year by the NCAA Division II Conference Commissioners Association (CCA). Klobucher was among 16 regional winners with eight men and eight women to receive the award co-sponsored by the CCA and Disney Sports Attractions. A male and female Division II Scholar-Athlete of the Year will be chosen from the 16 regional award recipients. Klobucher wrapped up his four-year (2003-06) football-playing career as one of the most decorated players in Ferris State's history. The three-year starter at middle linebacker not only was the 2006 recipient of the Jack H. McAvoy Award for outstanding character and leadership on the field, but also received ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America Football First-Team accolades as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) and was tabbed a 2006 American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Division II Coaches All-America Team honoree.
Up Next: Ferris continues its homestand by taking on the Northern Michigan Wildcats Saturday, Sept. 29, in a 2 p.m. (EDT) league outing at Top Taggart Field. It will be FSU's eighth-annual Hall of Fame Game as this year's inductees will be honored at halftime. Former Bulldog football standout Mike Brooks (1992-95) is among eight individuals slated to be inducted this fall. Brooks ranks as the program's all-time leading tackler with 667 career stops (351 solo).
Bulldog Gameday: Complete information on every Bulldog home and road contest this year can be found by visiting the Bulldog Gameday page on the FSU Athletics Website at www.ferris.edu/sports (click on football and then Bulldog Gameday). The Gameday information, which will be updated several days prior to each game, includes links to all pertinent notes and statistics for both teams as well as links for the respective broadcast and internet media coverage available for the contest.
Yearbook Available Online: The 2007 Ferris State University Football Yearbook is available to view online in a PDF format. The 68-page publication contains information for all Bulldog football fans. The publication features such information as 2007 player rosters, season outlook, player biographies, coaching staff information, 2006 season statistics, career and season statistical records, series records, game records, etc. Visit the FSU athletics website at www.ferris.edu/sports to find the publication online.
Follow The Bulldogs: Bulldog fans now have the ability to catch Ferris State in action even when they can't be at the stadium. A live video and audio webcast is slated to be offered for all 2007 Bulldog home football games via an agreement with B2 Networks. In addition, selected road games at B2 partner schools will also be available. For more information, visit the FSU Athletics Website (www.ferris.edu/sports) and click on the B2 broadcast icon.


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Published: January 14, 2014 - 7:58AM
THEY are the two funniest women on the planet, arguably. The only argument might come from those who think Kristen Wiig is the funniest woman on the planet. So lets play its safe and say Tina Fey and Amy Poehler are two of the three funniest women on the planet.
Their advantage over Wiig is that in addition to being able to write social satire and play endearing characters, Fey and Poehler are personalities with spontaneous wit – which makes them perfect hosts for award shows.
That's why the Hollywood Foreign Press Association was willing to pay each of them $US4 million to host The Golden Globes awards ceremony for a second time. If you don't subscribe to Foxtel, you'll be able to find the best of the Globes ceremony on Youtube. And you should.
As recognitions of talent, the Golden Globes have nowhere near the significance of the Oscars or the Emmies. The winners are chosen by 90 journalists working for mostly obscure publications in Europe and Asia. But everyone agrees the Globes presentation is the least pompous and most entertaining of all the ceremonies that cram TV schedules at this time of the year.
As Fey says: "The Golden Globes are a kind of sloppy, loud party … where the beautiful people of film rub shoulders with the horrible, disgusting people of television". .
Fey and Poehler first met in the mid 90s when they were perfecting their comedy skills with the Second City improvisational troupe in Chicago. Both went on to write and perform with the New York satirical series Saturday Night Live. Fey created and starred in the sitcom 30 Rock (which Channel Seven scheduled for the insomniac demographic at 11.30pm) and Poehler starred in and co-wrote Parks and Recreation (which appears erratically on Seven, SBS and Foxtel). The US network NBC has commissioned Tina Fey to write a new sitcom about a woman who escapes a doomsday cult.
In Australia they're probably best known for the movie Baby Mama and for parodying Sarah Palin and Hillary Clinton during the 2008 US election campaign. You can use Youtube to catch up with their Golden Globes performance last year, when they enraged Taylor Swift and insulted James Cameron.
Media tend to obsess about the cinema section of the Golden Globes, as clues to the Oscars, but for Australians the Globes are more useful as pointers to the best of American television, which we may be missing.
These series will be getting the treatment from Fey and Poehler on Monday …
The latest series of The Good Wife (nominated for best drama; best actress Julianna Margulies; and best supporting actor Josh Charles) should have been shown on Ten in October, but got delayed to this year, so if it wins, we won't know why.
The final series of Breaking Bad (nominated for best series, best actor Bryan Cranston, best supporting actor Aaron Paul) is now out on DVD and download and will eventually make its way to SBS or ABC.
Downton Abbey (nominated for best drama) resumes on Seven in February.
House of Cards (nominated for best drama, best actor Kevin Spacey, best actress Robin Wright, and best supporting actor Corey Stoll) is out on DVD and download.
Masters of Sex (nominated for best drama and best actor Michael Sheen) plays here on SBS.
Dancing on the Edge (nominated for best mini-series, best actor Chiwetel Ejiofor and best supporting actress Jacqueline Bisset) was shown on ABC and is out on DVD.
Ray Donovan (nominated for best actor Leiv Schreiber and best supporting actor Jon Voight) plays here on Foxtel and is out on DVD and download.
American Horror Story (nominated for best mini-series and best actress Jessica Lange) a cult success for Ten, and is out on DVD and download.
The Big Bang Theory (nominated for best comedy and best actor Jim Parsons) is a huge hit for Nine, which shows new episodes within hours of their US broadcast.
Brooklyn Nine-Nine (nominated for best comedy and best actor Andy Samberg) has not yet been claimed publicly by any Australian network.
Girls (nominated for best comedy and best actress Lena Dunham) plays on Foxtel and is out on DVD and download.
Modern Family (nominated for best comedy and best actress Sofia Vergara) is a declining success for Ten.
Parks and Recreation (nominated for best comedy and best actress Amy Poehler) is out on DVD.
The Blacklist (nominated for best actor James Spader) is a huge hit for Seven.
Luther (nominated for best actor Idris Elba) shows here on ABC and is out on DVD.
New Girl (nominated for best actress Zooey Deschanel) is shown on Ten, but audiences are declining.
Veep (nominated for best actress Julia Louis-Dreyfus) shows on Foxtel and is out on DVD and download.
The Michael J. Fox Show (nominated for best actor Michael J. Fox) will start on Foxtel's Universal channel later this month.
Arrested Development (nominated for best actor Jason Bateman) plays on Foxtel.
Scandal (nominated for best actress Kerry Washington) is a cult hit for Seven
Orphan Black (nominated for best actress Tatiana Maslany) starts on SBS2 on January 14 – and is previewed here: Canadian clones save SBS.
And the final season of Tina Fey's 30 Rock (not nominated this year but multiple winner in previous years) is out on DVD and download.
This story was found at: http://www.theage.com.au/entertainment/blogs/the-tribal-mind/the-sloppy-loud-party-that-tells-australians-what-were-missing-20131231-303is.html


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Demographics for Veterans
Detailed demographic analyses may be used in program planning and improvement efforts by local workforce boards, state agencies, community and technical colleges, policy analysts, and other workforce system stakeholders. The map below is supported by a Council research study that focuses on the veteran population. This report was updated in 2016. Entitled Veterans in Texas: A Demographic Study, this report provides information about veterans in Texas—from World War II to Gulf War II.
To access detailed data, click here to launch an interactive graphic. Then select a local workforce area to launch a downloadable Excel spreadsheet that contains general demographics for the area, data specific to the population noted, and county-level data.


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text:
Packer might sell, if price is right
Christian Catalano
Page Tools
The Price Is Right has fallen victim to the purge by Sam
Chisholm for his boss, Kerry Packer.
Photo: Supplied
More sackings and axings at Channel Nine yesterday suggest that Kerry Packer could be looking for another sale of the century - like the one he had to Alan Bond in the 1990s.
Certainly the reanointed Nine boss Sam Chisholm is doing his best to prepare a fertile ground for any sale of the network, chopping more staff yesterday in a binge that began on Tuesday in Melbourne.
Nine announced late yesterday that the game show The Price Is Right had been axed, and that news and currents affairs head Max Uechtritz had tendered his resignation in the face of losing the news ratings war with Seven. Jobs also went in Brisbane, including its state head of publicity.
Uechtritz, who quit as the head of the ABC's news and current affairs to join Nine in April last year, was widely rumoured to be next on a mounting hit-list that is believed to have cost 50 or 60 staff across the network their jobs.
A Current Affair has improved its ratings, so executive producer David Hurley is expected to stay. However, another producer who survived the purge said: "I've been around this game long enough to know that you never say never."
Though Nine has clawed back to the top of the ratings pile on the back of Backyard Blitz, Getaway and its CSI crime franchise, it continues to suffer heavy defeats in its 6pm weeknight news timeslot and the half-hour lead-in beforehand.
Nine's news has lost eight of the past 12 ratings weeks nationwide, while in Sydney Seven news has been number one for 22 weeks in a row.
Part of the problem was that Seven's Deal or No Deal has been walloping Nine's The Price Is Right at 5.30pm, by 150,000 and more viewers. The Price Is Right will finish on air next month. Nine is looking for another spot for host Larry Emdur, and another show to replace Price.
Uechtritz, reportedly on $600,000 a year, said in a statement that it had been "an extraordinary 12 months of major events" referring to major news events such as the Boxing Day tsunami and the Schapelle Corby trial. Insiders may have thought it was a double reference to Nine's internal workings - the sudden departure in May of chief executive David Gyngell, the return of Mr Chisholm, at Packer's request, and the current purge.
These changes have triggered stockmarket speculation that Mr Chisholm is pruning costs to get Nine ready for sale.
While cutting, Nine was also spending yesterday. It and Fox Sports have agreed to pay $40 million a year from 2008 for broadcast rights to the National Rugby League.
Nine's news head Max Uechtritz, top, has been axed.
Photo:Robert Pearce
Changes to media ownership laws - which could determine the number of likely buyers - may take effect later in the year now that the Senate is under Government control.
Altogether eight senior managers have been marched out the door of Nine's Willoughby offices in Sydney by Mr Chisholm. They include daytime television director Steve Wood, variety program head Glenn Pallister, lifestyle and reality director Stuart Clark, marketing director Jodie Leonard and graphics head John Reszka.
This week Mr Chisholm eschewed the traditional trip to London to watch Wimbledon in order to tell 14 other Sydney managers on Wednesday and four Melbourne managers the day before that they were no longer on the program.
The effect is that the executive producers now report directly to Mr Chisholm, which is what most at the station call him. Few dare call him "Sam".
Mr Chisholm has moved into the enormous office of departed chief executive David Gyngell, which boasts a gigantic plasma screen - tuned around the clock to, of course, Nine. Rival networks are aired only on small sets alongside.
John Fairfax Holdings, which owns The Age, has said publicly it could be interested in buying a TV network. Chief executive Fred Hilmer said in April that a Fairfax merged with a network "would be in a better position to consider expanding publishing operations" in Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth.
Some media analysts are convinced the cuts are Mr Chisholm getting the books looking good for a sale. Mr Packer has sold Nine before, to Alan Bond, for $1 billion - and bought it back at half the price.
Another analyst, who did not wish to be named, said that "it's possible that that they are prettying it up for sale".
The truth is that Mr Packer's company, Publishing and Broadcasting Ltd, has earned far more from its gambling operations than television for at least four years. Last financial year PBL's casinos generated $1.2 billion in revenue, representing 43 per cent of the company's total, compared with Nine's contribution of $875 million (31 per cent).
- With Annie Lawson, Kate Askew, Michael Idato
Get The Age home delivered for as little as $2.70 a week*


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This debut album by Avory captures a variety of soundscapes. The songwriters Kylon and Lachelle Gienger bring different colors to the album with their unique writing styles. With the help of a phenomenal team, and the inspiration of U2, Hillsong United, Paramore, Gungor, and others, the music has taken shape. It is a creative blend of style and is sure to catch you smiling, crying, or bouncing at some point during your journey through the album.
Avory recently had the opportunity to open for Big Daddy Weave, they are part of the worship team at their church, Changing Pointe in Yakima, and they regularly lead at their Youth Church. They also helped start a school of music, where they teach beginning lessons, coach intermediate students, and raise up advanced players. They facilitate regular jam sessions wherein the participants can display their newly learned skills. The team also creates opportunities for the students to go into the community and share their budding talents and heart for God. Avory's purpose in all of this is to raise up generations of worship leaders and God honoring artists. They take every opportunity to share the talents and message God has given them, leading worship in other churches and for various youth events around the country. They are currently preparing for a three-week mission trip to India and Sri Lanka this fall.
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text:
Town Square
Foothills Park - things to do
Original post made by NewToTheCity, South of Midtown, on Aug 9, 2007
We drove there once - its magnificent ! We spent time driving around (kind of getting lost) - enjoying the views in the process.
We have my 82 yr old Dad visiting us - he loves nature and I am sure he will enjoy this place. Any suggestions for short trails / where to BBQ / other things to do ? ( My daughter mentioned a canoe?)
Dad is in a pretty good shape, does not require a wheel chair.
Thanks in advance ...
Comments (2)
a resident of Meadow Park
on Aug 9, 2007 at 9:49 am
You will enjoy it! If you go around the lake and down the hill there are bbqs and tables in a grove by a big lawn area. Down the road there is the nature interpretive center, and you acn do a nice hike by going back up the hill, around the lake and back down. They do rent canoes but I think only on weekends (not sure -- worth a call), or you can just walk around the lake. Be prepared for many yellow jackets, and for poison oak if you stray from the path (and sometimes even on the path). If you go at twilight the deer will start to come out on the lawn. At the end of your visit, drive up to the lookout/scenic place at the top of the hill and look over Silicon Valley.
a resident of Duveneck/St. Francis
on Aug 9, 2007 at 10:42 am
The beauty of Foothill "Nature Preserve" (which is its official title) is that you don't have to 'do' anything, just BE. Take a picnic. There are many tables especially in Orchard Glen - so named for the many apple trees which once graced the place. Some still there. There is a nice easy walk around the lake, and yes, you can rent canoes. Call to see the days. See the Interpretive Center. Take a book - listen to the birds - inhale the silence and the clean air.
You can hike back to the Towle Campground (no autos) through the gate at Orchard Glen.
You will probably see deer and maybe the wild turkeys. Occasionally there is a coyote. And yes, there can be mountain lions in there. But I haven't seen one in three years, and that was iin the winter time. Enjoy.
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Al-Azizi , Osama Muhmmmad Abdul Fattah (2001) (Arabic) Qawaid Al Amalata Fi Lughtul Arbiata Wa Elaqata Bil Amalata Fi Quranul Karim. PhD thesis, Islamia University, Bahawalpur.
Full text not available from this repository.
|Item Type:
|Thesis (PhD)
|Arts & Humanities (b) > Languages and Literature (b5)
|ID Code:
|Deposited By:
|Mr. Javed Memon
|Deposited On:
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The Department has offered online filing and payment services for a variety of tax types for many years. We recently added a new online file and pay service, the e-Business Center, in response to numerous taxpayer requests for additional features to make online filing and/or paying more convenient.
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text:
Hospital cafeteria food is disgusting. Also? It's ridiculously expensive. For these reasons, I bring my lunch nearly every day. Unless it is potato soup day. You can't go wrong with a bowl of potato soup for a buck fifty, that's what I always like to say. Really, I like to say that. People pass me on the street and offer a friendly "hello." In return, I share my potato soup wisdom, they nod, and it's as though a deep understanding has passed between us.
But aside from the cheap soup (which I eat on occasion while pretending I don't know that it came from a huge vat of processed goop that has most likely been sitting in a warehouse for six months) the food prices here are outrageous. Scarlette's had cranial ultrasounds that cost less than a lunch plate. I know this because of that time the hospital accidentally sent me a bill for every. single. day. in. February.
So in order to try to save money and be healthy, I've been using Southern Savers. This is hard for me to learn because I can barely add. I did, however, manage to snag a few free pints of blueberry Greek yogurt. I was excited about this because A) yummy snack B) free and C) I've been reading about all of the natural benefits of Greek yogurt.
My thoughts related to Greek Yogurt are as follows:
1) It is disgusting. Seriously, that tastes like I put a spoonful of blueberry flavored paste in my mouth. And not like Elmer's glue. More like rubber cement.
2) The words LIVE AND ACTIVE CULTURES splashed across the packaging disturb me. I keep eyeing this pint of yogurt, waiting for it to move across the table on it's own. My mind is unable to look at it without imagining tons of tiny, squirmy little micro-organisms. I love micro-things. My own daughter is a micro-preemie. However, her being live and active is cute and sweet and darling. My yogurt being live and active is squicky and makes me gag. This imagery problem is also what prevents me from eating such foods as ratatouille or munchkins .
3) Posts like this are why no one asks me to write paid product reviews. Stupid yogurt.
The following picture has nothing to do with Greek yogurt, I just like seeing my sweet girl all snuggly.


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text:
"The Democrats are back," exulted Nancy Pelosi, who went on to make history yesterday afternoon when she was sworn in as the first woman to become speaker of the House of Representatives.
"This is an historic moment - for the Congress, and for the women of this country. It is a moment for which we have waited more than 200 years," Ms Pelosi, 66, told Congress. "Today we have broken the marble ceiling."
In another first Keith Ellison of Minnesota became the first Muslim to serve in Congress, taking his office on a Qur'an that once belonged to Thomas Jefferson.
Amid the celebratory mood among Democrats yesterday, the official message from Ms Pelosi as well as the new Democratic Senate majority leader, Harry Reid, was about cooperation with their Republican opponents. But the limits of bipartisanship were made starkly apparent when Ms Pelosi signalled that George Bush, who had a Republican House and Senate in his first six years in the White House, would face new and energised opposition.
"Nowhere were the American people more clear about the need for a new direction than in Iraq. The American people rejected an open-ended obligation to a war without end," Ms Pelosi said.
She put Mr Bush on notice that he could expect fierce opposition to his new strategy for Iraq. He is expected to announce next week his decision to increase America's military commitment there with the deployment of thousands more troops.
"It is the responsibility of the president to articulate a new plan for Iraq that makes it clear to the Iraqis that they must defend their own streets and their own security, a plan that promotes stability in the region and that allows us to responsibly redeploy American forces," Ms Pelosi said.
Pentagon officials said yesterday there could be an increase of between 20,000 and 40,000 forces, achieved mainly by extending the stay of soldiers currently serving in Iraq while moving forward the deployment of Marine units.
The Democrats will get another chance to question Mr Bush's judgment on the war in confirmation hearings for John Negroponte, the new deputy secretary of state. Mr Negroponte, who was made national intelligence director less than two years ago, is expected to be replaced by retired vice-admiral Mike McConnell.
Mr Bush faces trials on the domestic front too as Ms Pelosi plans to exercise the Democrats' new majority with an ambitious legislative agenda, beginning almost immediately after the swearing-in with measures to untangle the murky relationships between lobbyists and politicians. The move, banning such inducements as free seats at basketball games and trips on private jets, was the first step in a Democratic plan to shepherd six new pieces of legislation through the House before Mr Bush makes his State of the Union address on January 23.
In the Senate, where the Democratic majority is wafer thin, Mr Reid said yesterday that the focus would remain on Iraq. Mr Reid has not ruled out support for a troop surge, but other senators have said they intend to use their new powers to increase scrutiny of the administration, with hearings scheduled in at least two committees on the progress of the war.
In addition to ethics reform, the Democrats have pledged to raise the federal minimum wage for the first time in a decade, as well as make federal funds available for stem cell research. But the limit of their new power was underscored on Wednesday when the White House announced that Mr Bush, who vetoed a similar bill last summer, remains opposed to stem cell research. Mr Bush went on to warn of further confrontations. "If the Congress chooses to pass bills that are simply political statements they will have chosen stalemate," he wrote in the Wall Street Journal this week.
Mr Bush saw the further dwindling of his band of Texas loyalists yesterday with the resignation of the White House counsel, Harriet Miers. Ms Miers' departure had been expected ever since her nomination to the supreme court in 2005, which was withdrawn amid an uproar over her apparently shaky grasp of constitutional law.