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Here are some examples of Executive Orders issued by President Obama that have received New York Times or Associated Press coverage:
- NYT, October 29 -- "Obama Order Strengthens Spy Oversight" (the browser window title is "Obama Moves to Roll Back Bush Changes to Intelligence Oversight Board").
- NYT, October 2 -- "Obama Prohibits Federal Employees From Texting While Driving for Work."
- NYT, March 10 -- "Obama Lifts Bush's Strict Limits on Stem Cell Research."
- AP, October 5 -- "Obama Puts Gov't on Greenhouse Gas Diet."
- AP, November 10 -- "US starts effort to boost hiring of veterans" (the window title at the Boston Globe is "Obama encourages federal hiring of veterans").
Here is an Executive Order (Number 13524) issued last week that, based on searches at the Times (on "Interpol" and "executive order" in quotes) and the AP ("interpol"; "executive order" in quotes), respectively, has not been covered:
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including section 1 of the International Organizations Immunities Act (22 U.S.C. 288), and in order to extend the appropriate privileges, exemptions, and immunities to the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL), it is hereby ordered that Executive Order 12425 of June 16, 1983, as amended, is further amended by deleting from the first sentence the words "except those provided by Section 2(c), Section 3, Section 4, Section 5, and Section 6 of that Act" and the semicolon that immediately precedes them.
Uh, this seems a little more significant than a ban on texting.
Given the obsession news organizations and Congress had with certain provisions of the Patriot Act and supposed invasions of privacy during Bush 43's presidency, it's more than a bit outrageous that an Executive Order such as this would go unaddressed by both groups, especially when you see exactly what it does to Ronald Reagan's original EO 12425 of 1983 as it has stood since it was amended in 1995 (the italicized text represents what Obama's EO removes):
International Criminal Police Organizations
By virtue of the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and statutes of the United States, including Section 1 of the International Organizations Immunities Act (59 Stat. 669, 22 U.S.C. 288), it is hereby ordered that the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL), in which the United States participates pursuant to 22 U.S.C. 263a, is hereby designated as a public international organization entitled to enjoy the privileges, exemptions and immunities conferred by the International Organizations Immunities Act; except those provided by Section 2(c), Section 4, Section 5, and Section 6 of that Act. This designation is not intended to abridge in any respect the privileges, exemptions or immunities which such organization may have acquired or may acquire by international agreement or by Congressional action.
President Clinton's EO 12971 in 1995 had already removed the following bracketed text from Reagan's original -- ["the portions of Section 2(d) and Section 3 relating to customs duties and federal internal-revenue importation taxes,"].
The point of this post is that if the establishment media were interested in performing their public watchdog function, someone in the press somewhere would have reported on the issuance of this EO. Instead, it was first noted by blogs and real watchdog groups. Andy McCarthy's cite at the Corner is how I learned of it.
I'll leave discussing the possible merits, demerits, and implications of the EO to commenters.
Cross-posted at BizzyBlog.com.


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Shanghai Stir-Fried Pork and Napa Cabbage
This easy recipe is a typical Shanghai-style meal. Dried shiitake mushrooms impart deep, umami-rich flavor.
This easy recipe is a typical Shanghai-style meal. Dried shiitake mushrooms impart deep, umami-rich flavor.
Colcannon is a traditional Irish dish made from mashed potatoes and kale or cabbage, with a million different variations. This take on it calls for Savoy cabbage, garlic, and leeks.
Kulfi is a type of Indian ice cream. This is packed with mangoes, and doesn't require an ice cream machine. Try the recipe as written, or fold in some chopped pistachios before it goes in the freezer.
A couple of tips: full-fat coconut milk is a must here, and to keep the coconut cream bright white, use regular white sugar.
With creamy avocado, juicy mango, lime, and cilantro, this version of tuna tartare is unmistakably tropical.
With its tangy sauce and meaty texture, barbecue jackfruit makes a great taco filling. These tacos are Asian inspired, with a soy and sesame-dressed slaw.
Grilling on a hickory plank gives beef a pronounced smokey flavor, and gives you perfectly tender results every time.
The method of cooking salmon on a cedar plank over an open flame goes way back. Soaking the plank first helps to ensure that the fish remains moist and tender, and it steams slowly, absorbing subtle smokiness from the wood itself, as well as any herbs or spices you use. This recipe is quite simple, calling for just some salt and pepper and optional dill and lemon.
With a pronounced berry finish balanced by a bitter undercurrent, blood oranges are a wonderful ingredient in baked goods. This easy pound cake is topped with a pink-flecked glaze that helps to keep it moist.
This chicken is cooked at 500℉ for about an hour, and is packed with flavorful garlic and citrus. Potatoes and carrots are roasted in the same pan as the chicken, so if you throw together a simple green salad while it's in the oven, you have a filling, mostly hands-off meal.
This salad goes so nicely with so many meals, you might find yourself eating it every couple of days when blood oranges are in season. The bright pink color of the dressing is a welcome sight in the middle of winter, and the combination of crunchy, slightly bitter romaine with crisp hearts of palm and juicy blood oranges is one you won't forget.
These fast and filling tacos are made with easy, pan-fried, cubed sirloin. The salsa features sparkling blood orange and creamy avocado.
This quick curry is perfect for a weeknight. Serve with warm flatbread.
With their rich, buttery flavor, Yukon Gold potatoes hold their own in this simple, unadorned gratin.
With pancetta, tomatoes, and plenty of fresh oregano, this roast chicken dish has lots of Mediterranean flavor.
Congee, or Asian-style rice porridge, has many variations. This version uses brown rice instead of the typical white, and contains lots of fresh shiitake mushrooms, warm garlic and ginger, and greens. Serve with optional toppings (see the note at the bottom for some ideas) at the table, and you'll have a comforting meal that will please everyone.
Eggplant and shiitake mushrooms are cooked in a simple but super flavorful sauce loaded with garlic, ginger, and sesame.
Marinating overnight results in remarkably tender pork shoulder.
This simple, fresh salsa is ready in about 10 minutes. Perfect accompaniment to tortilla chips, but also anything grilled.
A lemony vinaigrette gives roasted parsnips, onions, and sweet potatoes a welcome brightness and freshness.
Cottage pie is a traditional Irish dish made with lamb and potatoes, much like shepherd's pie. This vegetarian version is made with plenty of vegetables and lentils, simmered with fresh rosemary. It's such a perfect dinner for a cold winter's evening, don't wait until St. Patrick's Day to enjoy it.
Classic appetizer, minus all the oil. These are great to have in the freezer - you can just bake them from frozen for a quick, cheesy treat.
Marinating in olive oil, lots of garlic, rosemary, and lemon zest makes these pork chops tender and flavorful.
Fresher and brighter than collards that are simmered for hours, this is a pesto that you'll want to put on everything. Try on pasta, of course, but also stirred into minestrone, spread on toast, or as a topping for burgers.
You'll have a delicious dinner on the table in less than 30 minutes with this simple, fresh recipe.
For a decadent dessert that everyone will enjoy, try these chocolate peanut butter bars.
Here's a recipe for traditional, no-frills potato salad.
Fresh rosemary is an unexpected ingredient in desserts, and it adds a warm, complex note in this simple and straightforward grapefruit cake. Use the nicest olive oil you can.
Enjoy the classic combination of citrus and seafood in these fast, easy tacos. Be sure to start cooking the scallops quickly after tossing with grapefruit, as the citrus juice will turn them mushy if they sit for a while.
For good luck all year long, here's what to eat on New Year's Day. With bay leaf and dill, and no ham hock, this vegetarian version is Greek-inspired, not Southern.

subset: commoncrawl


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|This article, Sangheili Republic, was written by Ajax 013. Please do not edit this fiction without the writer's permission.
The Sangheili Republic, better known as just The Republic is the Unified government of the Sangheili, encompassing the bureaucratic, governmental, colonial and other branches of the Sangheili people. Governing Sanghelios, and all her colonies, the Republic strives to reverse mistakes of the past, and drive the Covenant into extinction.
The Republic's early history can be tied directly back to the Schism. When the Prophets betrayed their Sangheili protectors, and the Sangheili fought back in a violent campaign. In the years after the end of the war, the Sangheili continued to fight, amongst one another, and with the Covenant Remnants. What is now known as the Republic formed from the Swords of Sanghelios. A coalition of Sangheili forces, dedicated to defeating the Remnants of the Covenant, they were lead by the Arbiter, Thel 'Vadam. While he had near-unconditional command over the total force of the Swords, he extolled the concept of returning to a Sangheili High Council, like the old days, where the Sangheili's leaders would convene to lead their people.
The Republic remained a pipe dream as long as the war on Sanghelios continued, but following the Swords' victory over their enemies, the First Council was established, with the former Arbiter now positioning himself as the leader of the military. This first council, made up of Kaidons from across Sanghelios, and her nearest colonies, established the Republic, a unifying political and military organisation dedicated to the protection of the Sangheili, protection of their worlds, and the revival of their culture. What started as a return to their old ways became a renaissance, as the Sangheili took their first tentative steps into rediscovering themselves.
The Sangheili established a government that extends from regional to encompassing the entire Republic.
State Government
At the State level, the ruler is the Kaidon of that state. The Kaidon and his elders rule undisputed, their word is law within their State, though ultimately they answer to the Council, and the High Council. Each has a very high level of autonomy, and enough power to make their own laws. They govern the day to day operations of the State, and usually delegate through vassal Keeps. If a Kaidon proves weak, or incompetent, he's disposed of soon enough, and the Elders of the state select a new Kaidon.
Any given planet forms a Council, with Kaidons of that world coming in person, or sending a representative, usually a Clan elder. Sending anybody but the most well suited is seen as insulting, and has been used before as a method of protest against a Council. Here councillors decide on planetary issues, and guide the future of their world. Only Sanghelios itself does not have a Council. It's Councillors are instead part of the High Council.
High Council
The High Council is the supreme government of the Republic, with decisions made inside the court affecting the whole of the Republic. Ultimately, it is a a democracy, and any motions put forward by a High Councillor or any other member of the High Council, must be passed by a majority vote. Each planetary council is expected to send five Kaidons, who represent their world, and its interests. Kaidons are expected to levy their people's needs first, above personal gain. He's also expected to be honest and just in his actions, or face the scrutiny of the Crusaders, some of whom stalk the halls of the Council. The Council must also establish a majority vote to decide upon the Supreme Councillor, leader of their government.
Supreme Councillor
The Councillors vote amongst themselves to elevate one of their number to the lofty rank of Supreme Councillor. The Supreme Councillor is the undisputed leader of the Republic, given executive powers over the High Council and Military in order to take immediate action, or veto. It is the Supreme Councillor who swears in the the positions of Council Oracle, and Council Merchant. The Supreme Councillor is elected for terms of six years, before he requires re-election. After, the decision is unanimous, or near unanimous, as the High Councillors decide on the best amongst them, usually through debate.
The Justiciars are the intelligence agency of the Republic, dedicated to gather intelligence, and conducting counter-intelligence. They enjoy a strong level of autonomy from both the High Council and the Swords of Sanghelios, due to their establishment during the civil war as their own independent faction. The Justiciars were founded by oracle masters and former Ossoonas, dedicated to gather intelligence in the post war era. Now they are a firmly established and well funded agency, who conduct a shadowy war to ensure the security of the Republic. They have access to stealth vessels and elite strike teams, as well as ample intelligence gathering technology. The Justiciars have a certain forcefulness to their methods, but their successes have entrenched them in the Republic. The Justiciars are usually given free access to the Republic's forces, often choosing to utilises units from the Special Warfare Group, Zealots and Assassins.
The Inquisition is a newly established group, replacing previous militia groups used by the state. The Inquisition functions as a law enforcement group, enforcing the law across the entire Republic, establishing small constabularies in accordance with local Kaidons. The Inquisition is a proactive force, prosecuting dangerous elements, and conducting pre-emptive operations against dissidents and terrorist organisations. Somewhat begrudgingly, they also enforce military law, punishing any who deviate from the strict code of honour used by the military. In later years, they began forming their own military forces, called the Inquisitorial Guard, who attempted to rival the Swords.
Merchants Guilds
A conglomeration of the various armouries and merchant organisations that support the Republic, the groups have a strong presence, especially in the political theatre. These groups produce the entirety of the Republic's weapons and war machines, and the armouries themselves are state-owned. The Merchant guilds however, exist as independent, and in some cases, sovereign groups, such as the the Merchants of Qikost.
Military Orders
Sangheili have long had a history of Military Orders, fraternity of warriors dedicated to a single purpose. Some have risen and fallen, while others remain strong. The Republic maintains good relations with most Orders, and some have been partially or fully integrated into their military.
The Ascetics are a order of Warrior-Scholars, dedicated to the preservation of Sangheili culture. Strong proponents of the Republic, they support it through action, ensuring the purity of their culture. Each is a brilliant warrior, and a great scholar, specialising in history, poetry, story telling, writing and interpretation. They send envoys to the military to act as cultural advisor to officers, and to keep troop morale high. They also provide combat units, in the form of the Ascetic Guard, fighting alongside the Swords, and conduct archaeological missions to secure their lost past.
The Crusaders
An order of wandering knights, the Crusaders rout out injustice, corruption and crime, purifying it. Expert investigators, they travel the length and breadth of Sangheili space. Rightly feared by criminals and the corrupt, the Crusaders attack organized crime with an resolve stronger than most.
Light of Helios
An elite sect, the Light of Helios train the finest honour guard in the Republic. The Light of Helios offer to train body-guards for the most important figures, such as the Imperator, and the High Council. Renowned for their skill at arms, rigid discipline and self-sacrifice, the Light of Helios are highly sought after.
Guardians of Faith
A religious order, the Guardians of Faith have a number of sects devoted to different religious denominations. They establish guards for religious sites, shrines, pilgrimages, and priests, training fervent warriors willing to protect their religious freedoms. They also stamp out cultism and religious extremism.
Honour Guard
One of the most ancient orders, they have trained elite honour guard warriors for years. They train hundreds for service in ceremonial guard units, protecting Councillors, Kaidons and Officers. Honour Guard are known to be dutiful, even in the face of insurmountable odds.
Envoys of Fortitude
Explorers and frontiersmen, the Envoys explore, chart and colonise new worlds, taming them so they're ready for the arrival of colonists. While most are rough around the edges, the Envoys are brave and intrepid. The Republic pays them a fee for finding and charting new worlds, and turns to them to tame dangerous ones.
Void Lords
Freelance captains, the Void Lords maintain a peaceful vigil over Sanghelios, maintaining its security with a vigilance uncommon to most naval forces. Experts in defence, they have been funded by the Republic to establish chapters on other core Sangheili worlds, in hopes of creating a strong defensive network.
Reliquary Sentinels
A secretive group of knights, they are experts in Forerunner technology. These mysterious warriors prefer to contain the technology, excavating, buying, or otherwise stealing it, and locking it in a vault. The Sentinels choose to share some of their findings with the Republic, for a price, but keep the most dangerous technology locked away.
Hospitaller Saints
Both a philanthropic aid group, and trained battlefield medics, Hospitaller Saints are calm under fire, and precise when treating injuries. While they have a certain stigma about them, they've become more accepted amongst the Sword, treating their frontline casualties, allowing them to return to the fight, or return home alive.
Onyx Knights
An order of mercenaries, they take Writs of execution issued by Kaidons, the Inquisition, or the Council. This writs call for the death or capture of dangerous criminals, brigands, and so on. The Onyx Knights hunt them down, with a steely reserve and fierce determination. Once their target is in their sights, they don't relent, hunting them across worlds, and across warzones.
Zealot Chapters
Not a single Military Order, but a collection of many, the Zealots are unique warrior-brotherhoods, devoted to singular causes. With unique equipment, training, and tactics, the Zealots perform missions at the behest of the Swords of Sanghelios, gather intelligence, striking at the enemy, and recovering artefacts.
Swords of Sanghelios
The Republic's military, the Swords of Sanghelios, differs from the UNSC, in that rather than having several branches to denote special purposes, the Republic only has one single military force. This singular focus gives the Republic Military a clear chain of command, and a stronger cohesiveness in the field. The Swords are highly independent, being free from much of the High Council's control.
The Sword focuses on large scale military action, rather than focusing on small squad based tactics, like the UNSC. When both on the offence and defence, the Republic relies on a large amount of tough, reliable and head strong soldiers. In recent years more and more emphasis has been placed on chain of command, small unit tactics, survival over honour and mixed/joint forces co-operating in unison. In recent years, improved technology has opened the path for new tactics, and new methods.
The Sword forces has grown, and now draw a tithe of warriors from every world in the Republic, with each State expected to provide able-bodied warriors for the Republic. Trained and equipped, they then become part of the glorious Sword, an honour for any warrior. Despite the breaking of the Union, the Sangheili still draw on allies in the form of their protectorates. Some allied Kig-Yar clans still sign contracts with the Sangheili for work, and Lekgolo still provide their gestalt hives for combat purposes. There are also forces drawn from Jiralhanae and Human allies.
In any engagement, the Naval commander is the leader of any operation. Fleets are often ad-hoc constructions, less rigidly structured that UNSC fleets. Fleets can vary from a handful of ships, to hundreds. Regardless of the ship, or the size of the fleet, the commander of a starship is always called 'Ship Master' while the commander of the fleet is called 'Fleet Master'. Most often, they are Generals, and any variance in posting is due to individual talent or experience. The Fleet Master is responsible for both promotion and procurement within his fleet, organising new ships, and officers to command them. For operations, all warships and starcraft are considered under the Fleet Master's command, unless needs are dictated by a Field Master.
Their warships has seen numerous changes, especially with them now upgrading all their ships to sport torpedo defences and to improve ship-to-ship weaponry. They have also invested heavily in electronic-countermeasures, and Associated Intelligences, making each ship much more lethal.
Many starships used by the Sword are ships taken from the former Covenant, and rejuvenated through heavy augmentation, such as the Templar-class Corvette, Avenger-class Heavy Destroyer, Retribution-class Battlecruiser, and the Venerator-class Assault Carrier. However, they have also reintroduced pre-Covenant vessels, recovered from graveyards and long abandoned fleet posts, and then refitted to modern standards, such as the Judgement-class Man O' War, Prosecutor-class Blockade Runner, and Crusader-class Brigantine. They've also introduced new designs, such as the Penance-class Cruiser, Sanctifier-class Support Cruiser, and Adjudicator-class Combat Supply Ship. The highlight of the Sword naval forces is the Sanghelios-class Dreadnaught. Built on pre-Covenant designs, the Sanghelios-class is a massive warship and a monstrous star-behemoth, and strikes fear into the Covenant. Republic ships are superior to older Covenant vessels, by virtue of continuous upgrades, and superior maintenance protocols, ensuring each ship is well maintained. They have begun to experiment with more radical technology for starships, featuring limpet ships and drone vessels.
- Vigilant-class Stealth Corvette: The Sword's main intelligence gathering ship, the Vigilant-class is small, fast, and invisible to sensor, allowing it to silently observe far reaching foes.
- Messenger-class Light Corvette: Primarily a courier vessel, the Messenger-class also provides short-range planetary defence and performs anti-criminal missions.
- Judgement-class Man O' War: Built on forbidden technologies, and forgotten for centuries, the Judgement-class has finally been brought back to war, Fast, and extremely powerful, it serves as a hunter-killer.
- Endeavour-class Escort: An older Covenant vessel, the Endeavour class is an escort vessel, designed to protect larger vessels, civilian vessels, and guard planets against invaders.
- Templar-class Corvette: The mainstay of the Covenant fleet, the Templar mixes ample firepower with a powerful complement, and is at home engaging in fleet battles or supporting planetary invasions.
- Guardian-class Destroyer: A heavily armoured, and heavily armed escort vessel, the Guardian is often seen guarding carriers and protecting the Sword's heavy ships.
- Avenger-class Heavy Destroyer: A fast and heavily armed assault vessel, the Avenger-class is the smallest class to pack a energy projector, and is designed to break through planetary defences and mount invasions.
- Vengeance-class Heavy Destroyer: A modification of the Avenger-class, the Vengeance-class features two limpet ships that are piloted by their own AI, and conduct electronic interference against the enemy.
- Hunter-class Light Cruiser: A lightweight, and mobile cruiser, it guards the flanks of the Sword fleets, and acts as their vanguard.
- Penance-class Cruiser: An armoured assault shit, the Penance-class rushes forward, forward guns pounding the enemy.
- Sanctifier-class Support Cruiser: A unique vessel, it provides electronic coverage to the fleet, and also uses a beam weapon that reinforces and restores starship shielding.
- Retribution-class Battlecruiser: The building blocks of the Sword fleet, the Retribution-class is a perfect all-rounder that conducts a variety of operations against the enemies of the Republic. At home during fleet actions, planetary invasions, or ground assaults, the Retribution is a go-anywhere, do-anything ship.
- Prosecutor-class Blockade Runner: A large and fast vessel that is older than the Covenant itself, the Prosecutor races ahead, hitting the enemy on their flank and rear.
- Reverence-class Grand Cruiser: A large cruiser, its a deadly warship, and a sophisticated command vessel. Such ships lead small fleets into action.
- Tenet-class Grand Cruiser: A modification of the Reverence-class, the Tenet carries a parasite ship beneath it, a heavily modified Templar-class Heavy Crovette, which it uses for close support, as a scout, or to ferry messages.
- Relentless-class Heavy Cruiser: A high-tonnage ship, it is not intended for direct combat, but rather long range support, using it's energy projectors to snipe at other vessels.
- Storm-class Light Carrier: The lightest carrier in the Republic arsenal, the Storm-class is used as a scout, or for rapid-reaction, and brings reinforcements to where the enemy least expects it.
- Dominator-class Carrier: The main carrier of the Republic, the Dominator is well rounded and deadly for a variety of uses. Mainly a fleet carrier, it supports operations with swarms of fighters.
- Venerator-class Assault Carrier: A fearsome symbol of Sword power, the Venerator-class is a heavy warship that has enoguh armour and firepower to devastate enemy fleets, then enough troops, fighters, and vehicles to invade a planet, almost single-handedly.
- Inheritor-class Assault Carrier: The Inheritor is a modified Venator, that sports 4 parasite Monitors, that while slow moving, pack massive amounts of fire power. These ships fire down onto the planet below, softening it up for the ground invasion.
- Crusader-class Brigantine: A pre-Covenant ship, the Crusader-class is a heavy fleet carrier, carrying massives of fighter support, and heavy armour, but is not ideal for planetary invasions on it's own.
- Aggressor-class Battleship: A roiling mass of energy projectors, the Aggressor-class sits far beyond the enemy's range and brings down the heaviest warships.
- Sanghelios-class Dreadnaught: The flagship of the Swords of Sanghelios, and an ancient threat made real, the Sanghelios-class is a fleet unto itself, and leads the Republic forward.
- Devotion-class Transport: A standardised transport, the Devotion-class ferries materiel, soldiers, and anything else the Republic might need.
- Adjudicator-class Combat Supply Ship: Designed to support the Republic fleets as they move, the Adjudicator is armed like a warship, and equipped with bountiful storage bays, ferrying supplies for warships.
- Absolution-class Carrack: Once a ship solely used by Merchants for long-distance journeys, the Absolution has become important as a troop transport, ferrying soldiers and their war fighting materiel into warzones. Tough and resilient, it can stand up to attack.
- Foundry-class Repair Ship: A mobile repair vessel, the Foundry-class can repair and rearm a fleet for combat duties.
- Bountiful-class Support Ship: Successor to older vessels, the Bountiful-class supports the Sword fleets far from home by growing it's own food and supplies.
Ground Forces
While secondary to the Naval Command, the ground forces are considered equally important to the Navy in operations. Like the naval forces, they are lead by a General with the title of 'Field Master' who delegates command to other Generals, titled 'Field Commander'. Forces can vary, with Legions, which are equal in size to UNSC divisions, or smaller Field Groups. All warriors, armoured vehicles, and atmospheric craft are considered to be under the command of the Field Master. Often a number of ships, and star fighters, are placed in his command to support operations. His officers are hand picked for the role, and expected to give their best.
Infantry wise, little has changed from the Covenant War, with rank structure and support remaining the same, though the method of ranking and the nature of honour has been changed. The frequency of medics and scouts have increased. Despite this 'modernization' melee weapons are still common, and strict codes of conduct and honour are still considered of highest importance. With their armour, a much more thought out approach has been taken. Many vehicles that were previously hindered by numerous problems have since been rectified and new vehicles fill many gaps where the Covenant armour was weak. Their air power has also become significantly stronger.
The old marking schemes of the Covenant have since been discarded, replaced by soldiers with only singular markings, the crimson of the Swords of Sanghelios. This exists only with special exceptions for commanders and officers.
Special Operations Group
All of the Republic's special forces fall under the broad umbrella of the Special Forces Group, which is lead by the clumsily translated Special Operations Master, who delegates to Special Operations Commanders. The nature of the role, and the SWG itself, is highly malleable, with a wide variety of forces under their command. Most often, a small detachment of the SWG is placed under the command of a Field or Fleet Master, but in rare instances, an SO Commander has lead a task force of his brothers into the fight.
Fleet Security
A broad category, this group falls directly under the purview of fleet commanders. Fleet Security is primarily concerned with the protection of the fleet, in both a combat and intelligence manner. The bulk of Fleet Security are well trained, disciplined warriors, trained to guard their vessels as if it was their own Keep, protecting it against infiltration, and against boarding action. They also guard fleet installations, such as defence platforms and shipyards. They also specialise in counter-terrorism, stopping terrorist attacks against the fleet. As such, they closely guard many facilities and ships with a vigilance not seen in many Sangheili. Trained for zero-G combat and close quarters fighting, they have a variety of tactics and equipment at their disposal. They also include Mgelekgolo as protection. Fleet Security also contains two important sub-divisions.
Experts in zero-G and urban combat, Rangers utilise anti-gravity packs to allow them limited periods of flight. Rangers were originally conceived for deep-space operations, such as boarding operations, or infiltrating space stations. However, their equipment and training made them a fearsome force in urban combat, where they could leap from building to building, finding high perches from which to snipe from.
Stealth Operations
Special warriors, selected for their patience and reserve, they are equipped with stealth gear allowing them to infiltrate positions unseen. They are distributed through normal ground formations, with the goals of gathering intelligence, collecting information and reporting back. They also enact countermeasures against threats to the fleet itself, such as air defence batteries and weapons of mass destruction. They report directly back to high ranking fleet officers, rather than their immediate superior, or field commander.
Special Operations
A simple name for an extraordinary force, the Special Operations unit is the home of the Republic's best. Taking the most experienced troops, they are given the best training and equipment, and sent on missions that ensure the protection of the Republic itself. Armed to the teeth, and equipped with stealth technology, they infiltrate enemy positions and quickly and quietly complete their objectives. Warriors without compare, they are patient hunters, quietly making it to the enemy position then tearing them apart in a tornado of violence. Special Operations also engage in counter-terrorism operations, taking down domestic threats, as well as terminating emerging threats such as pirates and warlords. Special Operations usually move ahead of the main force, to capture strategic objectives, or sabotage the enemy. However, their roles are numerous.
Modelled on ancient Sangheili forces, Commandos are expert shock troopers. Equipped with specialist armour, they are a high-speed, low drag force, with good gear. Taken from some of the most industrious and brave warriors the Republic has to offer, the Commandos are known for being resourceful and flexible. The Commandos specialise as shock troopers, launching sledgehammer blows against enemy positions, as infiltrators, infiltrating enemy lines and sowing discord and chaos, and as quick reaction troopers, responding to new threats. Commandos maintain a high level of readiness at all times, meaning that they can quickly be redeployed to face growing threats before a larger force is ready to be deployed.
A relatively new branch, they are the product of the Swords of Sanghelios' paradigm shift in air assaults. Hand-picked from the best pilots, they are expert pilots, cross-trained with a variety of craft. These experts aren't just good pilots though, they specialise in setting down their charges as stealthily as possible. They use a variety of ships, including the standard Phantom, stealth-modified True Phantoms, Phantom Gunships, Black Phantom electronic warfare ships, the smaller Spook, and even the Lich. Avengers are brave, to the point of fearlessness, and can land even under heavy fire. They're also skilled combatants themselves, for surviving the loss of their ship.
Another new formation, Invaders are 'first contact' forces for use during planetary invasions. Equipped with heavy armour, and close quarters weapons, they are the first wave of soldiers, going down in drop pods. Preferring to land in the midst of the enemy's position, they storm them at short range, taking enemy positions through sheer tenacity and violence of action. Once the position is secured, they hold it until reinforcements arrive. Invaders tend to be stubborn and resilient, but also foolhardy.
An executive branch of the Sword, the Assassins are the cold vengeance of the Republic. Instead of brash, noble warriors, Assassins are cold, calculating killers, peerless in the art of executing their enemies. Assassins are called upon to silence the Republic's enemies, terminating domestic threats such as rebel organizers, and killing enemy leaders, such as Covenant officers. Experts in their craft, they are living shadows, melting into corners, vanishing from sight, and infiltrating the highest security facilities without rousing the alarm. When it comes to ending their target, they use any method needed, from a hidden blade, to a sword in the back, a long distance sniper shot, explosives, poison, or even making it appear as an accident. Only at the disposal of the Swords's high command, they are strictly to be used against targets of strategic military significance. However, that has not always been the case.
The Republic represents the Sangheili people, and as such, its culture represents them. Theirs is a society where honour, fealty, and achievement are held above all other things. Each Sangheili is instilled from birth with the understanding that their honour is tantamount to success in life, and the only thing that should ever trump that is fealty to kin, clan, and Kaidon. Each Sangheili strives for glory, usually through some form of military service.
With the Covenant, the Sangheili's culture was twisted into an instrument to keep them controlled. Their honour was paramount, even to the point of death. The intellectual pursuits were discouraged and abandoned, with the Sangheili losing sight of their history, their arts, even the sciences that once broguht them to the stars. Since the schism, the Sangheili have been left to recover this lost knowledge.
Liberated from the yoke of the Prophet's Will, the Sangheili have learned now how to stand upon their own feet. They've undergone a renaissance, taking back lost knowledge, and growing as a people. Honour is still paramount, but this has been teamed with a wave of pragmatism, necessary for their continued survival.
Sangheili culture differs vastly, from state to state, to planet to planet. For instance, in the State of Vadam, on Sanghelios, all children of the keep are raised together, by 'uncles', in absence of a father. This is to give them all equal footing amongst one another. On the colony of Rahnelo, in the State of Juran, there was a line of succession held between father and sons. Traditional, and orthodox views are still prevalent, but are steadily softening, and giving way to more progressive views. These changes have allowed females to to serve was warriors in the Sword, and for changes on religious, political, and sociological rules to come forward.
What is universal to the Republic, is the burning hatred for all who follow the Covenant. Many have turned back to the old ways, their religion before the Covenant, or abandon religious trappings entirely. Temples have been scrubbed of Covenant sigils, and icons of the old gods have been raised up.
The Unggoy, and their worlds of Balaho, H'ck and others, are under constant guard from a Sangheilian fleet, in exchange for the cheap manual labour they provide. This is also a sort of denial of resources, denying them from both Kig-Yar pirates and Remnant forces.
The Unggoy, due to their simplicity as well as being a protectorate of the USR, have little in the way of a government. Unggoy Overseers ensure peace on their various planets, as well as recording any problems, such as the few cases of Sangheili mistreating Unggoy. These Overseers also receive reports from the many, many Unggoy Task Masters, the foremen in charge of the large, employed labor groups that the Sangheili hire out. Every year, the Unggoy Minister will make a formal status report to the Sangheili High Council; when necessary, the Minister will take a major problem to the High Council, and their put it forward for the Councilors to deal with. On record, such an event has occurred a total of four times.
The Unggoy have little in the way of unique culture. Their mythology was lost long ago, save one legend, and their religion is the same as the Sangheili's – an altered view of the former Covenant religion, where righteous and holy deeds lead to divine ascension, simply omitting the part of the original prophecies that stated that the ascension, the Great Journey, would be started by the lighting of the Holy Rings.
In exchange for a handful of soldiers and reduced tariffs on trades of raw materials, the USR defend Lekgolo ships and mining expeditions, along with providing some of the Lekgolo mining companies with vessels.
The Lekgolo share one mind; while not a true hive-mind, like the Yanme'e, where all are for the most part controlled by one entity, the Lekgolo are all individuals within a single consciousness – one Sangheili philosopher described them as "individual water droplets within an ocean of consciousness". Because of this unique mindset, the Lekgolo do not truly have a governing entity, as all share each other's knowledge. However, to serve as a form of spokes-being to the USR, as well as other factions, the Lekgolo created the entity known as Lojinar, or the "One for Others".
The Lekgolo are mostly isolated from other species, instead keeping within their "universal mind" community. They tell little to others, as they never need to tell one another things; also because of this, they have but one myth, the creation myth, where the One created the universe and placed the River of Life within. Other than this, there are no myths, as history is always remembered, forever.
However, there are some exceptions to the stereotypical Lekgolo, some Lekgolo that have become individuals; for the most part, these Lekgolo are those that have lost their bond brothers in one way or another. These individuals, having lost what was a major part of their very beings and in deep sorrow, become solitary, and during this solitude develop personalities that are entirely unique. Many of these become philosophers, poets, authors, inventors and the like.
It is interesting to note that the Lekgolo worms are hermaphrodites, being both male and female simultaneously, yet still requiring a mate to reproduce; however, all Lekgolo are referred to as males.
Lekgolo provide their soldiers to the Republic, in exchange for protection, and rights to explore and mine. Most commonly, they provide Mgelekgolo, also known as Hunters, large, heavily armoured weapons platforms. These also come in a number of unique modifications, such as the highly agile and predatory Serpent Hunters, closely bonded Duellist Hunters, and highly experienced Hunter Elders. There also others, such as Devastator Hunters, possessing an innate lust for destruction, and Swarmlords, highly experienced, and ancient Hunters, who are considered commanders. They also provide Lekgolo to form colonies for the Scarab, and its variants.
Lekgolo Forms
- MgeLekgolo
- Hunter Aggravator
- Serpent Hunter: agile and predatory
- Duellist Hunter: Closely bonded
- Ironclad Hunter: heavily armoured siege
- Hunter Devastator: innate lust for destruction
- Hunter Elder: expereinced
- Swarmlord: commanders
- Hunter
After the end of the Human-Covenant War, a large amount of the surviving San'Shyuum fled with the Prophet of Deliverance to the outer regions, outside AUR space. However, some surrendered and some were captured; these later served as overseers within the AUR, but always under careful watch. Due to their low number, the San'Shyuum are considered an endangered species.
Also of note are the Huragok, which serve throughout the AUR and, primarily, USR. Taking posts as engineers and technical designers, the Huragok were invaluable in the USR's rearmament program.
Both the San'Shyuum and the Huragok consider Sanghelios their "home world", but neither truly have any official planet or government state.
Home Systems
- Urs System
- Urs
- Sangheilios: The homeworld of the Sangheili, Sangheilios is the capital of the USR
- Qikost
- Suban
- Tre
- Pqor
- Mol
- Joori & Fied
- Hwa'kwi
- Nal
- Septe
- Sala Asteroid Field
- Tohruh: Dwarf planet
- K'ran: Large asteroid
- Tala System
- Tala
- Balaho: Homeworld of the Grunts, Balaho is the fifth planet orbiting Tala, but it is also one of only two that supported any form of life. A combination of polar caps, fresh water oceans and massive swamps of brackish tidal flats with naturally occurring pillars of fire, making the lives of the Unggoy rather difficult on their homeworld: most of the Unggoy cities are floating structures built in the shallower ocean waters, anchored down and traversed by boats.
- Buwan
- Padpad
- Svir System
- Svir
- Te: Officially known as the homeworld of the Lekgolo, the Lekgolo's homeworld was destroyed long ago in a cataclysmic stellar event, leaving 25 moons orbiting within a debris field. How the Lekgolo managed to survive or evolve in such condition is subject to question, but in the end they did
- Rantu
- Uhtua
- 23 Unnamed Moons
- Y'Deio System
- Khaz'K: Controlled by the (KYU), Khaz'K is the only planet in the system capable of supporting life, and it holds a large amount of exotic wildlife on it, with hunting grounds abounding.
- Gruk: Controlled by the (KYU), Gruk makes much of its' livelihood from the nurseries and hospitals on the planet, due to the large amount of females that come to lay their eggs on the planet
- Kurg: Controlled by the (KYU), Kurg is an asteroid that was long ago caught in Khaz'K's gravitational field: hollowed out by the Kig-yar, it has since become a major military outpost
- Chu'ot
- Eayn: Controlled by the Kig-yar and the capital of the Kig-Yar Union
- Asteroid Belt
- Napret System
- Palamok
- Naxook
- Ka'amoti
- Oquiu
- Kami
- Zerav III: One of three gas giants in the system, Zerav III is notable only in that it has two inhabited moons orbiting it
- Ua'me
- Huepla
- Major System
- H'ck: A cold world covered in ice and snow, the planet has been colonized by the Unggoy, who have turned it into a metropolis much like Balaho
- G'ch
- Major: The homeworld of the Majorans, the system is in USR space and is protected by the Sangheili's armed forces
- M'llp
- Taygeta System
- Tayg-Kappa
- Tayg-Rho
- Caladros
- Haven V System
- Verinae: A frozen world of ice
- Elenor: A cold desert world
- Mona'ar
- Ara System
- Vespera: One of the USR's many agricultural worlds, Vespera's vast farmlands and ranches feed much of the Sangheili's republic
- Hartis
- Dark Tidings System
- Adamant Valor System
- Susano
- Tau Ceti System
- Thundera
- Dara System
- Dara α
- Dara β
- Fell Justice: While under the jurisdiction of the USR, Fell Justice has become a highly multi-cultural world, mixing the best, and worst, of all the Alliance races
- Nephthys System
- Osiris III
- Alagaesia
- Navis System
- Courageous Bastion
|Factions in the Revenant Era
| Alliance of United Races
United Earth Government/UNSC | Sangheili Republic/Swords of Sanghelios | The Freeholds | The Warbound | The Veiled Dominion | Frontier League | Independent Yonhet States
| Covenant Successors
Storm Covenant | Covenant Remnant | Servants of Abiding Truth
| Confederacy of Former Covenant States
The Demiurge | Jiralhanae Kingdoms | Kig-Yar Union | The Hegemony | Covenant of Blood | Tzxyzyl Hives | Empire of Koroku | Thuria Ascendancy
| Unaffiliated
Yanme'e Hives | The Syndicate | New Colonial Alliance | The Banished | Apostles of Might
| Ancient
Forerunner Empire | The Flood


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/// BlackBerry Shares Sink on Lazaridis Letdown
December 26, 2013 | All Things Digital
Evidently some folks really did believe BlackBerry co-founder Mike Lazaridis was going to swoop in like a deus ex machina and return the dilapidated smartphone pioneer to its former glory. Shares in the sadly diminished company closed down nearly nine percent at $7.05 on the revelation that Lazaridis has abandoned his, let's face it, largely fantastical bid for the company , and reduced his combined stake with co-founder Doug Fregin to below five percent from eight percent.
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BlackBerry Shares Sink on Lazaridis Letdown
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Our up-to-date list of cash back offers makes it easy to find a card that will maximize your savings. And bonuses of $100-$150 for new accounts can add up quickly. Review this list of offers from our partners to find the card that rewards the categories you use most. Or find a one that offers a high rebate on all purchases.
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Updated: June 1, 2017
|Welcome Bonus
|Bonus Requirement
|Rewards Rate
|Capital One® Quicksilver® Cash Rewards Credit Card
|$100 Cash Bonus
|Spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening
|Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day
|Discover it® Cashback Match™
|Automatically match all the cash back you earn at the end of your first year (new cardmembers only)
| Earn 5% cash back in rotating categories each quarter like gas stations, restaurants, Amazon.com, wholesale clubs and more, up to the quarterly maximum each time you activate
Unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases
|BankAmericard Cash Rewards™ Credit Card
|$150 Online Cash Rewards Bonus
|Spend at least $500 on purchases in the first 90 days of account opening
|Earn 1% cash back on every purchase, 2% at grocery stores and now at wholesale clubs, and 3% on gas up to the first $2,500 in combined grocery/wholesale club/gas purchases each quarter
|Wells Fargo Cash Wise Visa® Card
|$200 Cash Rewards Bonus
|Spend $1,000 in the first 3 months
|Earn unlimited 1.5% cash rewards on virtually every purchase
|MLB™ BankAmericard Cash Rewards™ MasterCard®
|$150 Cash Rewards Bonus
|Spend at least $500 on purchases in the first 90 days of account opening
|Earn 1% cash back on every purchase, 2% at grocery stores and now at wholesale clubs, and 3% on gas up to the first $2,500 in combined grocery/wholesale club/gas purchases each quarter
|Chase Freedom UnlimitedSM
|$150 Bonus
|Spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening
|Unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase
|Susan G. Komen® Credit Card
|$150 Online Cash Rewards Bonus
|Spend at least $500 on purchases in the first 90 days of account opening
|1% cash back on every purchase, 2% at grocery stores and wholesale clubs, and 3% on gas up to the first $2,500 in combined grocery/wholesale
|Citi® Double Cash Card
|Earn cash back twice on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases
|Barclaycard CashForward™ World MasterCard®
|$200 Cash Rewards Bonus
|Spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 90 days after account opening
|Unlimited 1.5% cash rewards on every purchase
There are few credit cards as versatile as the cashback card.
No matter your purchase habits, there's likely a cashback card for you. You can earn cash without having to think about it. You can max out rewards by pairing this kind of card with a travel rewards card. You can even build your credit when it's not at its best while earning cash back.
Many have no annual fee. There is also the option of rotating categories or flat cashback percentages. We'll explain all that in easy-to-understand language. Here's what you need to know:
Cashback credit cards work in a variety of ways, usually offering a percentage back for your purchases.
Say you have a Wells Fargo Cash Wise card, which gives 1.5% back on everything. That means if you spend $1,000 a month on groceries, gas and other expenses, at year end, you'll earn $180 back. And because many cashback cards don't have annual fees, you're not having to clear that "fee hurdle."
Some cashback cards are a little more complicated. They might pay for quarterly categories, for example, such as the Discover it Cashback Match. Categories can have reward limits -- for example, the Cashback Match gives you 5% back for up to $1,500 a quarter. Categories can include wholesale clubs, restaurants, gas and more. The advantage with a card that has quarterly categories is that you get a higher reward. However, there are usually signups, limits and you have to keep track of which categories qualify.
Depending on the card, cash back can be in the form of credit statements, bank deposit, checks, even merchandise through shopping portals. For example, Discover Deals allows you to get cashback bonuses or money off your purchases. Through these shopping portals, you can shop for clothing, gifts, health and beauty aids, travel and more. Some cards, such as the Wells Fargo Propel, allow you to redeem for gift cards.
Some cashback cards offer a signup bonus in exchange for a certain spend in a certain amount of time. For example, the Chase Freedom Unlimited offers $150 after a $500 spend within your first 3 months of card membership.
On the surface, it doesn't make sense why creditors or credit card issuers offer cashback credit cards. Used correctly, you can get hundreds of dollars back each year. But it makes sense, once you understand the issuer business model. Here's how it works:
With all these fees floating around, what do you do? First off, pay in full and on time each month. That will keep you from paying late fees and interest fees. Also, keep an emergency fund so you won't be tempted to take out a cash advance. Finally, ask the merchant if you are being charged a checkout fee for using your Visa or MasterCard. If so and it's a big purchase, you may want to think about shopping elsewhere.
There is no typical cashback rate. Cards can pay out a flat 1.5% or 2% or they can give a higher rate for specific types of purchases. For example, the Blue Cash Everyday offers 3% back on purchases made at U.S. supermarkets for up to $6,000 a year. (It's 1% after that.) That comes to $180 back. Terms apply.
Some cards, such as the Chase Freedom, pay out for categories that you sign up for each quarter. The Freedom, for example, offers 5% back on quarterly categories for up to $1,500 spend, or $75 back each quarter.
Here's how to compare cashback credit cards:
Track your spending for 2 months. You'll want to see how much you spend on items such as groceries and gas. Also look at how much you spend at specific stores, such as Sam's Club or Amazon.com.
Study a mix of cashback cards, including Discover it Cashback Match, Blue Cash Preferred and Chase Freedom Unlimited. Each has a specific type of model: The Cashback Match offers quarterly categories (as does the Chase Freedom); Blue Cash Preferred offers yearlong rewards for specific categories; and the Chase Freedom Unlimited (as well as the Wells Fargo Cash Wise) offers a percentage for all purchases.
If Amazon is a go-to for you, the Cashback Match may be a good choice for you. If you have a family and spend a lot on groceries, the Blue Cash Preferred can be a good option. And if you don't want to be pinned down by what you use your card for, the Cash Wise might be the one for you.
There's no guarantee, and categories change from year to year, but here are common cashback categories:
The Cashback Match is generous with this category, as is the Chase Freedom. This is a good category for the millennial to target if your evenings center around trying out new restaurants or during the workweek checking out the latest lunch spot.
Do a lot of shopping online? The Cashback Match has featured this category, giving you 5% back on Amazon shopping for up to $1,500 in the selected quarter, up to $75 back -- $150 back at the end of your first year.
This is an increasingly popular category for cashback cards, sometimes as a quarterly category and sometimes in a limited time offer.
Groceries are a favorite category for cashback cards. In addition, during the quarter when grocery stores were featured, Chase Freedom included drugstores. If you shop for a family, this can be a good category — with the Discover it Cashback Match, for example, you can spend $500 a month on groceries and max out the spend, giving you back $75 for that quarter. And don't forget the additional $75 back at the end of your first year.
Some cards give a higher percent for gas, such as the Blue Cash Preferred. Others, such as the Chase Freedom, also give 5% back during specific quarters on parking, tolls and Amtrak purchases. This category is a good choice for the daily commuter or if you do a whole lot of shuttling the kids and the soccer team.
Cards with rotating categories usually give you a higher percentage back than other cards, but only for a quarter. Categories can be restaurants, groceries, gas and more. In the last year, Amazon.com and warehouse clubs have increased in popularity.
You usually have to sign up each quarter, but if you don't mind tracking which categories you'll use each month, you can get as much as 10% back at the end of your first year. One thing, there is usually a limit to how much you can spend toward the quarter, typically $1,500 a quarter. After that it's 1%.
An alternative is the flat rate, which gives you the same amount back regardless of the purchase. The amount is usually 1.5%-2% back. So, if you get 2% back on everything, it doesn't matter what you are using your card for — groceries, clothes shopping, whatever. If you spend $1,000 a month with your card, you get $240 back at the end of your year. And there is no maximum spend.
From incurring additional debt to impacted credit, there can be disadvantages to cashback credit cards.
On the plus side, you can earn cash back for using your cashback card. On the downside, you can end up owing more than you can pay off or even harming your credit. Here are possible disadvantages to cashback cards and what you can do about them:
You can redeem cash rewards a number of ways, depending on the card. In most cases, you get a statement credit, but some issuers allow you to spend your cash back on shopping or gift cards. In some cases, you can deposit the cash back in a bank account or get a check cut. Issuers might give a better deal for the statement credit, though.
Most cashback credit cards give you your cash in what's called a statement credit. That means that on your monthly statement, you'll see a positive balance that you can use toward your monthly bill. Some issuers also allow you to deposit your cash back into a bank account or even get a check cut, however, there can be financial incentives to opt for a statement credit.
You may be wondering why you should use a cashback credit card. If you can pay your balance in full and on time each month, you can earn cash back in the hundreds each year. Say you have a card that pays 2% back on everything, and there is no annual fee. If you spend $1,000 a month for a year, you will get $240 back at the end of that year.
Also, by paying in full and on time each month, you will improve your credit, because FICO, the dominant scoring model, loves it when you don't carry a balance on your credit cards, and it really loves when you pay on time.
There can be limitations on where you can spend your cashback rewards, because issuers have different rules for how you can get your cash back. You usually get your cash through statement credits, but some issuers offer you the option to park your cash in a savings or checking account (you can get a 10% bonus when you do this with your BankAmericard Cash Rewards, provided it's a Bank of America account), while other issuers allow you to redeem with gift cards, such as the Barclaycard CashForward.
Some issuers, such as Discover, also have portals where you can shop with your cash back while getting discounts on goods and gift cards.
Cashback rewards are usually not taxable as income; they are typically considered a discount by the IRS. The same is true of rewards points and miles.
"However, there may be times when you need to reduce the amount of a deduction to reflect the discount that a cash back reward provides you with," says TurboTax.
TurboTax gives the example of when you are self-employed and you purchase a cellphone that you only use for business. Although your phone is deductible on your taxes, TurboTax points out that you can only deduct your actual cost. So, if you get a $150 rebate for your $200 phone, you really only paid $50 for the phone, and that's how much you can deduct.
There are a number of ways you can maximize your cashback rewards. It starts with choosing your card.
Our cash back credit card reviews can help you make your final decision once you narrow it down to a few contenders. The details in these reviews can better inform you about which cards best fits your needs.
We encourage an active and insightful conversation among our users. Please help us keep our community civil and respectful. For your safety, we ask that you do not disclose confidential or personal information such as your bank account number, phone number, or email address. Keep in mind that anything you post may be disclosed, published, transmitted or reused.
The comments posted below are not provided, reviewed or approved by the card issuers or advertisers. Additionally, the card issuer or advertiser does not assume responsibility to ensure that all posts and/or questions are answered.


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Boom Said Thunder Returns To AS220 — Just Go
(6.13) You can thank me later. This is a special post for a special band. If you missed the Boom Said Thunder show last month at AS220 you are to be pitied. This fuzz rock trio out of Boston filled the room with waves of sound and energy that had the crowd going more than a little bit nuts. Songs start slow and build to a staggering crescendo with drummer Will Thomas providing the percussive jet fuel. His pummeling does occasionally launch him right out of his seat. (Those poor drums.)
We know a little about DnB here in Providence but John Magnifico's bass creates fully fleshed-out melodies while still making your chest rattle. Nothing feels missing — these are songs. And somehow singer Abby Bickel makes herself heard over the joyous din without ever going screechy. The gal has an amazing voice — bold and lush — as well as a captivating stage presence with a sinuous, gamine charm. Music like this does not always come across in a recording but their debut album "Exist" does not disappoint. (Check out Gold Rush and The Friend.)
Magnifico and Thomas have answered a few questions for The Dose via email (after the jump).
9pm to 1am, Thursday, June 13, AS220, 115 Empire Street, BST with Ex Reverie and Pointe Blank
PDD: Where did you all meet and how did the band come together?
JM: We all started working at the same [Boston area] design studio at different intervals between 2008 — 2010. Will and I just started randomly jamming with another guy on guitar in the basement after work. That probably started sometime in late 2010. Then in the spring of 2011, Abby overheard us talking about "our band" and she asked if she could be in it. I had no idea that she could actually sing, and female-fronted bands are pretty much my favorite thing ever, so I got pretty excited once I realized she knew what she was doing.
Actually, we're pretty focused on design. We love it the same way we love music, but we all went to design school to be creative and make a career from doing what we love. Making music can compliment being a visual artist/designer, but none of us believe that music would pay the bills or anything like that.
PDD: Who did you listen to growing up?
WT: The most inspiring to me back then were bands I would see at VFW Hall shows in my hometown. Small touring bands would come through and blow our minds: The Planet The, The Forms, 31Knots, Riddle of Steel, The Building Press. Seeing those bands and many others was a huge impact on me, and my tastes really haven't changed much since.
JM: Smashing Pumpkins, like every day. Pretty much obsessed and still am. Also The Breeders, Superdrag, and an awesome, female-lead, post-doom-goth metal band from the Netherlands called The Gathering. This was all Pre-Yes and Rush and the like.
More of the interview including rig rundown after the jump. Photo by Derek Kouyoumijan.
PDD: What is your songwriting process?
JM: We just start jamming on 1 or 2 riffs until they turn into something. Abby will kind of "sketch" with a vocal melody until she finalizes words on paper. Usually right before we record the song or play it live. But even then, sometimes we play a song live that isn't completely finished, just because we feel like it.
PDD: Will, could you describe the elements of your drum kit? It appeared to be somewhat spare and low to the ground? How did you arrive at that configuration?
WT: I play a mis-matched kit of vintage Ludwig Vistalites. I'm not a gear guy at all. If something breaks, I'll replace it but, other than that I'm not out scouting new gear or anything.
I like the Vistalites cause they have a surprisingly big sound and they are light. I don't use any rack toms, just the floor. Keeping things minimal is a conscious decision on my part. I like trying to do a lot with very little. That is actually part of the ethos of the whole band. By having less, we are forced to think differently about writing rock music.
PDD: John, musicians might find a rig rundown interesting (because I have NO idea how you make so much happen with that bass, just no clue). Amps? Pedals?
JM: My rig rundown is actually pretty simple. My amp is actually on perpetual loan from my Uncle, Phil. Its just an Ampeg cabinet (not sure exactly what's inside) and a GK head. For the fuzz, I use the "Swollen Pickle" pedal by Way Huge. It has a good range of tones to it, but I pretty much have one setting that I use exclusively that gives an impression of a treble-y, growly lead without cutting out the low end.
PDD: Who came up with the name Boom Said Thunder? What is it from?
JM: We were throwing around some pretty stupid band names to start, so the name was destined to be, well, pretty stupid. I guess I came up with it but it wasn't meant as a band name. I wrote it in a handmade sketchbook I keep around for lyric ideas. It was part of a full phrase that was something like, "Boom", said Thunder! And the hills roared for miles and miles. Meanwhile, I slept soundly. — it definitely has a weird children's story book vibe going on.


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Did you get it done? (accountability thread)
Thought it might be fun for people to state what their short term project/home improvement goals are in one thread. Post your goal/target, say when you'd like to get the task done, and check back and let us know whether you accomplished what you set out to do. An easy way for people to see what others are up to.
So for me today, I need to
-get the rest of my kitchen cut out (painting)
-cut and install interior molding, at least getting the front section done (porch proj)
How about you?:thumbsup:
Pour a couple of sections of side walk.
Threatening rain/T-storms.
We'll see! :)
Short Term: Finish up removing the door to the shack we removed and replace/fix the siding on the rear of the house. Finish painting dining room.
Short Term: Get Jomama to come down; I'm brainstorming bribes.
I'd like the siding to be done and painted by the end of next weekend, drywall/etc on the inside is not included in that goal.
I'd like to get Jomama down here by the end of the month; but the sooner the better :-).
The drywall and painting that and the dining room should be done by the end of the month.
Started a Kitchen remodel, but had to stop this Spring, due to back problems. Should be able to git 'er done this Winter between the Bears games.
Started short term project July 4th weekend. New bath vanity and paint. Painted the hallway and installed new thermostat. Painted the kitchen along with new light fixture.
Painted 3 walls in the living room. Considered finishing the last walls sometime shortly. A lot more furniture and tarping to do on those walls.
Help joetab get his porch done :thumbup:
"Help joetab get his porch done "
i know, i know.
i did get all of the interior molding done on the inside.
I've now got all of the exterior finished, minus caulk and paint.
I wish I were quicker, and I think "next project" (currently not allowed to say those two words in front of my wife) I will be.
Thanks for all of your help!
who lately has been getting ribbed pretty good:eek::eek:
What's on tap for tomorrow?
Did some painting today. I didn't paint as much as I would have liked. I will do that tomorrow morning.
3 Attachment(s)
This weekend strip paint off two doors and sand. Well on my way - having to stop for the day to go visit pal in the hospital.
I'm really hoping one afternoon or early evening this week, really............
Hpoe to get it stripped, primed and painted before it gets too cold.
Might happen:whistling2:
2 Attachment(s)
Here are a couple pics
You have a lot of work ahead of you chrisn. What colors are you going to paint the main body & trim? Also, are you doing the fence color a different color, and same with changing the landscaping? Your house would actually fit in around my wife's old neighborhood, or our Washington Park area here in Springfield, Il.
I am wanting to get rid of the old Aluminum siding on our Bungalow and bring it back to the original style from 1937, but keeping it painted is a lot of work.
I <3 my IR paint striper. My husband made me one out of a restaurant grade heating element - I'll pester him for the details. Works really well and minimizes the lead paint concerns.
So to ventilate my soffits, I'm using 16"x3" vents and putting them in 24" on center spacing along the length. 12 vents per side. I've completed one side and the other side is completed up to the fence, first 5 vents are in. I need to finish the last 7. That should be doable in one evening.
Then I need to open up the wall sheathing between the soffit and the knee wall attic to complete the circuit. I did 3 holes with a cheap holesaw which burned up from the hardwood. If a bi-metal holesaw is adequate, I should also be able to do this this week.
As part of the project, I need to remove the staircase and slide from my daughter's castle bed. They don't use them, and it blocks easy access to the side attic on one side of the house.
I'll be doing well to get this done this by the end of the week but I'd say that is my goal.
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text:
Casual Male Goes XLBy
It's not too often that I can say that something I said to a CEO seems to have led to an actual change in brand strategy. And I don't think Casual Male CEO David Levin was blowing smoke when he said a comment I made to him in 2004 spurred a decision he was on the fence about: changing the name of the stores.
The chain, which sells "casual" and "business casual" clothing for big and tall men is changing its name from Casual Male Big and Tall to Casual Male XL.
My comment to Levin back then was how men I knew who shopped Casual Male, as well as his Rochester Big and Tall stores, didn't appreciate the "Big and Tall" brand on the bags. That sentiment was echoed by salespeople at the Rochester stores. So, big and tall came off the bags, though the words are still on store signage.
Changing to XL may not sound like much, but Levin says in the six-city test where stores were rebranded that the new signage is bringing in new faces, especially men who wear sizes 42 and 44 pants. Because there was a visual emphasis on BIG AND TALL on existing store signs, men in those smaller big sizes didn't think the store catered to them at all. That was frustrating. According to NPD Group, there are twice as many men sized 42-44 as there are men who wear sizes 46-60. That's (excuse me) a big market to ignore. Those 42-44 men are what we call in retail "the end of the rack" guys. Companies like Lands End, LL Beane and even Brooks Brothers have increased their offerings in those bigger sizes. But most stores simply don't offer much in 42-44.
Casual Male and Rochester Clothing usually have more selection in the 42-44 range and spec out better fitting cloths than the other guys. But if you think guys wearing sizes North of 44 don't like shopping at a store called "Big and Tall," try asking a guy who is within a size or two of taking full advantage of the selections at any regular men's store in America. Now way he's shopping at a big and tall shop.
About 500 Casual male stores are undergoing the change, which includes a color shift from black and yellow to a logo that is blue and burnt orange. These changes come after the chain has added several attractive brands to the mix: Reebok, Ecko Unlimited, Nautica, and Rocawear. And George Foreman's clothing line has become the chain's private label.
I'm glad my observation about the bags had some effect on Levin. The only thing is…I'm not too keen on the change. I don't like Casual Male XL all that much better than Casual Male Big and Tall. Levin confessed to me back in 2004 that he certainly wouldn't call the chain Casual Male at all if he was starting with a clean sheet of paper. But the company is loathe to ditch the familiar name.
Anyway, as sales have been up in markets where he's been testing the XL stores, all I can say is…what the heck do I know?


text: Richard Armitage Richard Armitage cast in Hannibal News post details 6:26 AM, 14 January 2015 The Hobbit actor will appear alongside Mads Mikkelsen's Dr Lecter as a fellow serial killer Watch The Hobbit: the Desolation of Smaug...recut by Honest Trailers News post details 1:49 PM, 17 December 2014 Refresh your memory of the flaws of the second Hobbit movie before you see the finale Into the Storm: 11 extreme weather pictures News post details 4:00 PM, 16 December 2014 To celebrate the release of this year's harrowing weather flick on DVD, we've tracked down some incredible images that capture Mother Nature at her most perilous The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies "Brings a much-needed shot of adrenaline – and relief" News post details 10:58 AM, 11 December 2014 Peter Jackson's interpretation of Tolkein is muddied at times but this final instalment in the trilogy presents an "awe-inspiring, wide-angle view of Armageddon," says Stella Papamichael The Hobbit producer: film rights to remaining Tolkien tales are "not available" News post details 10:57 AM, 02 December 2014 "I don't believe necessarily this is the end of the journey," says Hobbit star Ian McKellen - but the movie's producer is not so sure Watch all the action as the cast of The Hobbit walk the red carpet at the world premiere News post details 4:10 PM, 01 December 2014 Martin Freeman, Benedict Cumberbatch, Orlando Bloom, Ian McKellen, Stephen Fry, Richard Armitage and more are stepping out in support of the third and final film New Hobbit: Battle of the Five Armies trailer teases massive, massive fight News post details 6:25 PM, 06 November 2014 Martin Freeman and Richard Armitage are ready for the end of the trilogy Middle Earth prepares for battle in the first trailer for The Hobbit: The Battle of Five Armies News post details 10:58 AM, 29 July 2014 Martin Freeman, Benedict Cumberbatch, Richard Armitage and Orlando Bloom star in the new footage for the final movie in Peter Jackson's trilogy Caption competition! What's going on in the first image from The Hobbit: The Battle of Five Armies? News post details 4:09 PM, 22 July 2014 Ian McKellen and Luke Evans appear in the new glimpse of The Hobbit's grand finale - but what are they staring at...? Richard Armitage on "kung fu ninja" Martin Freeman and "extraordinary" Benedict Cumberbatch News post details 11:00 AM, 03 April 2014 The Hobbit's Thorin Oakenshield spills the beans on scary stunts, on-set hijinks and saying goodbye to Middle Earth on the big screen


text:
Your Account
Apply Windows PowerShell effectively at all levels
If you seek robust, scalable scripting, you need Windows PowerShell. And if you want to apply Windows PowerShell automation to today's hottest technology areas, such as virtualized environments and cloud administration, this authoritative reference is exactly what you need. Four seasoned engineers who are well-known in the PowerShell community show you how to use Windows PowerShell 2.0 and apply the power of automation to desktops, servers, server apps, and the cloud.
Get up to speed on Windows PowerShell basics and what's new in Version 2.0
Learn how to automate tasks at the desktop, server, server app, and cloud levels
Tap Windows PowerShell for Microsoft Office 2010, Windows Server 2008 R2, and Microsoft Exchange Server tasks
Make use of cmdlets for Active Directory, Group Directory, SCOM, SharePoint administration, SQL Server, and more
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Helpful code listings, so you can follow along
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Discover all that WindowsPowerShell 2.0 can do
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Explore modules, snap-ins,and third-party cmdlets
Thomas Lee is chief technologist at the United Kingdom IT training and consulting company QA; he is also the Windows Editor for ESM magazine. He has a BS in Computer Problem Solving, is a Fellow of the British Computer Society as well as a MCSE, MCT, and MVP.
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text:
A tentative contract agreement was announced Friday between Utah Symphony & Opera and its musicians union. But before harmony is restored at US&O, the contract must be ratified by both sides.
The tentative agreement will be presented to the US&O board next Thursday.
If it is ratified by the board, musicians will receive the contract on Friday. Final ratification could come any time after that.
The musicians have been performing under a "talk and play" agreement since August, when musicians' concerns over financial and management problems at US&O prompted a study by consultant Thomas W. Morris, former executive director of the Boston Symphony Orchestra and Cleveland Orchestra.
Exact details of the tentative contract were not released. But Joe Hatch, attorney for the musicians' union, American Federation of Musicians Local 104, said the agreement includes a three-year contract that specifies working conditions and benefits, and a two-year contract covering wages, with an option for a third year. Hatch said the contract is "consistent with the Morris report," which based its figures on a two-year freeze of musicians' wages.
The $57,000 base wage of Utah Symphony musicians is the lowest among 52-week orchestras in the United States. Salt Lake City's metropolitan area is "among the smallest, if not the smallest" population supporting a full-time orchestra, according to Jack McAuliffe, vice president of the American Symphony Orchestra League.
The problems that prompted Morris' hiring by US&O musicians and management arose after a controversial 2002 merger between Utah Symphony and Utah Opera.
Though proponents said consolidating the two groups would grow the audience and create budget surpluses, the merger was followed by a sharp decline in ticket revenues and annual donations, and operating deficits of $1.8 million and $1.6 million, respectively, during the merger's first two years.
The deficits were offset by a cash reserve created from an anonymous bequest, according to US&O's CEO Anne Ewers, who is also general director of Utah Opera and executive director of the Deer Valley Music Festival, which had its inaugural season last summer.
In his report, Morris recommended a three-year financial recovery plan and creation of a task force to propose institutional changes based on his findings. Morris called for a greater focus on fund raising and audience development on the Wasatch Front, an approved business plan for US&O's new Deer Valley Music Festival, improvement of board function and restructuring Ewers' duties.
On Feb. 24, US&O's board adopted a financial recovery plan based on Morris' report and created a task force to review and make recommendations on his suggestions for management changes.
Speaking for the musicians, Utah Symphony associate concertmaster Gerald Elias said musicians on the negotiating committee were "optimistic" after hearing a report from the task force during a US&O executive board meeting Thursday.
"All of Morris' recommendations were thoroughly considered, and most recommended," Elias said. "The task force deserves a lot of credit for the work they put in over the last two or three weeks."
US&O marketing director Sean Toomey said the US&O board's human resources committee reviewed Ewers' duties with her input and recommended changes during Thursday's executive board meeting.
Task force chairwoman Patricia Richards will announce details of the administrative restructuring along with the task force's recommendations to the US&O board in a public meeting next Thursday, Toomey said.
A written statement from Richards characterized the tentative agreement as "the most positive and constructive step in a broader plan to bring stability and success to this organization."
Ewers said in a written statement that "the efforts on both sides of the table are commendable and illustrate how committed the board and musicians are to moving forward and providing the highest degree of artistry to this community."


text:
Seeing as preferences regarding wingED trunks vs. wingLESS trunks are quite varied......I thought I would start a thread strictly for those looking to swap one way or the other.
Goes like this:
1)Color/year of WRX
3)SWAPPING: {What you are swapping}
4)WANTING: {What you are wanting for your swap}
This might help those out *cough*myself *cough* who are wanting a different look than what the factory gave ya.
I'll start....
1. Silver '04 WRX
2. Florida (central)
3. SWAPPING: Stock spoiler trunk lid
4. WANTING: Spoilerless silver trunk lid
Happy posting/swapping


text:
Includes: "A Scandal in Bohemia", "The Red-Headed League", "A Case of Identity", "The Boscombe Valley Mystery".
©1991 BBC Audiobooks Ltd; (P)2004 BBC Audiobooks Ltd
"Bert Coules strikes again"
This set is enough to get newbies interested. my girlfriend is hooked now. actually, I'm hooked again after a long absence. I've been listening to the audiobooks on YouTube, but these are rare gems here.
Up to 5star quality. Could just imagine all the scenes in my head.
None so far.
Dramatic pause.
"Conan Doyle at his best."
Detective stories don't get much better than these.. Stories to keep coming back to. again and again. Sherlock Holmes still stands tall in this genre.
"It's obvious once he's explained it!"
The genius mind of sherlock Holmes works overtime in this fantastic collection. Performed masterfully by Merrison, I love Sherlock Holmes! These dramatisations are my favourite, so much fun to be had from 1 audible credit...
"Fantastic - Another Great Sherlock Holmes"
The Great Clive & Michael team up yet again for another fantastic performance with great sound effects & story. A brilliant production & one of my faves. Love it & proud to add this to my Sherlock full cast audible collection. These are becoming like old friends, always there when you need a good play to listen to. Enjoy!
"A classic that I return to time and time again."
This is a dramatised version of the classic work, I first heard this adaptation in the 90's on audio cassette and listened to it over and over again. The cast are excellent and the source material is respected. The production balances the dark side of the stories with the inherent humour to be found in many of the characters. The background sounds really create a 19th century London feel.
I like the character of Dr Watson he balances the cold analytical nature of Holmes with his compassion. Also the Doctor's loyalty is unswerving he is always ready to assist Holmes in his adventures.
I have listened to all of the Sherlock Holmes stories with Clive Merrison and he always offers an good performance. He is an excellent character actor.
I have always enjoyed the first time we meet Sherlock's brother Mycroft. I enjoy the parts of the adventures that provide backstory for the main characters.
As I said I have returned to these time and time again. And with the demise of audiocassette as a popular format I was happy to have the chance to rebuild my collection digitally.
"The best...."
What more can you want, Conan Doyle, Merrison and Williams caressing your ears with amazing stories and beautiful interaction of the characters... Perfect.
Report Inappropriate Content
If you find this review inappropriate and think it should be removed from our site, let us know. This report will be reviewed by Audible and we will take appropriate action.


text:
Boy George sentenced to 15 months in jail
By Mike Collett-White
LONDON (Reuters) - Former Culture Club frontman Boy George was sentenced on Friday to 15 months in jail after being found guilty last month of falsely imprisoning Norwegian male escort Audun Carlsen.
Tried under his real name George O'Dowd, the 47-year-old Briton denied the charge of false imprisonment at his London flat in April, 2007. After his conviction on December 5, judge David Radford had warned him that he faced a prison term.
But the length of the sentence was a surprise to lawyers who had expected a term of around three months, or even a suspended sentence.
Shocked family members and friends in a packed courtroom at Snaresbrook Crown Court in east London gasped and broke down in tears after the sentence was read. O'Dowd, his head shaved and wearing a black coat and sweater, stared ahead impassively.
"This offence is so serious that only an immediate sentence of imprisonment can be justified for it," Radford said.
He said Carlsen was "shocked, degraded and traumatized" at being detained and attacked by O'Dowd and an unnamed companion, and said a guilty plea "would have been true evidence of remorse and saved your victim from ... cross-examination."
The singer had told police he invited Carlsen back to his home after a cocaine-fueled pornographic photo shoot in January, 2007, because he suspected the Norwegian of stealing pictures from his computer.
"KIND AND GENEROUS" Continued...


text:
The Simply Bridal Dress Giveaway
Official Rules
No purchase required to enter or win. A purchase will not increase your chances of winning.
The "Simply Bridal Dress Giveaway" (the "Sweepstakes") is sponsored by Simply Bridal, Inc., 633 W. 5th Street 2800, Los Angeles, CA 90071 ("Sponsor") and administered by WeddingWire, Inc., 7101 Wisconsin Ave., Suite 1100, Bethesda, MD 20814 ("Administrator").
ELIGIBILITY: Open to legal residents of the United States (including the District of Columbia) and Canada (excluding Quebec), who are 18 years of age or older as of the Entry Period and who are registered and confirmed WeddingWire, Inc. account holders (each, a "Participant"). Potential winners from Canada may be required to correctly answer a mathematical skills-testing question without any assistance in order to be eligible to receive a prize. Employees of Sponsor, Administrator, or each of their affiliates, subsidiaries, advertising and promotion agencies, and their immediate family members and/or those living in the same household of each are not eligible. Void where prohibited or restricted by law. All federal, state, and local laws and regulations apply.
AGREEMENT TO OFFICIAL RULES: Participation in the Sweepstakes constitutes Participant's full and unconditional agreement to and acceptance of these Official Rules and the decisions of the Sponsor and Administrator, which are final and binding. Winning a prize is contingent upon fulfilling all requirements set forth herein.
ENTRY TIMING: The "Simply Bridal Dress Giveaway" begin at 9:00am EST on May 29, 2012 and ends at 11:59pm EST on June 5, 2012 (the "Entry Period"). Entries that are submitted before or after the Entry Period will be disqualified. Administrator's computer will be the official timekeeping device for this Sweepstakes.
Sponsor is not responsible for lost, late, incomplete, invalid, illegible or misdirected Entries, which will be disqualified, or for any error, whether human, technical or otherwise. Sponsor reserves the right in its sole discretion to disqualify any Participant it finds to be tampering with the operation of the Sweepstakes or to be acting in violation of these Official Rules. In the event of a dispute as to the identity of a Participant, the authorized account holder of the e-mail address used to submit the Entry will be deemed to be the Participant. The "authorized account holder" is the natural person who is assigned to an e-mail address by an Internet access provider, online service provider, or other organization responsible for assigning e-mail addresses for the domain associated with the submitted e-mail address.
ENTERING: Navigate to http://www.weddingwire.com/blog/index.php/weddings/simply-bridal-dress-giveaway/
and complete all required fields within the on-screen entry form, and submit (an "Entry").
JUDGING: On or about June 6, 2012, three (3) winning Entries will be chosen at random by Administrator from all eligible Entries received during the Entry Period. Odds of winning will be determined by the number of eligible Entries received during the Entry Period.
CONSENT AGREEMENT: By entering in the Sweepstakes, Participant agrees that Sponsors and Administrator may send Participant information, promotions, or special offers that Sponsor or Administrator determines may be of interest to Participant.
PRIZE EXPLANATION: One (1) wedding dress from the in-stock selections on www.simplybridal.com. Shipping fees will be paid by SimplyBridal. Approximate retail value of each prize: $1,000. Total approximate value of prize pool: $3,000.
PRIZE FULFILLMENT: The potential winners will be notified by email after the date of selection at the email address provided on the Entry. Prize will be shipped to winners at the address provided by each winner within thirty (30) days of Administrator's receipt of a signed affidavit of eligibility and a liability/publicity release (except where prohibited). If a potential winner fails to sign and return the required document within a reasonable amount of time or is otherwise ineligible to receive the prize, an alternate Participant may be selected in his/her place by random drawing from all remaining eligible Entries. No cash or other substitution is allowed except by the Sponsor who may substitute a prize with another prize of equal or greater value, as determined by the Sponsor in its sole discretion. The prize is not transferable or refundable and must be accepted as awarded. Winners will be responsible for payment and reporting of all applicable taxes associated with the receipt and usage of the prize. Sponsor may report the receipt of any prize to the appropriate federal, state, or local taxing agency(ies).
INDEMNIFICATION: By entering, Participants agree to defend, indemnify and otherwise hold Sponsor, Administrator, their respective parent and subsidiary companies, and the agents, officers, directors, and employees of each (collectively the "Released Parties") harmless from and against any and all liability of any nature whatsoever arising out of or relating to (a) any technical errors that may prevent Participants from participating in any way; (b) unauthorized human intervention in the Sweepstakes; (c) errors in the administration of the Sweepstakes; and (d) injury, death, or damage to persons or property which may be caused, directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, from Participant's participation in the Sweepstakes or receipt or use of any prize, including any such claim by the Released Parties' employees or any third parties. Participant further agrees that in any cause of action, the Released Parties' liability will be limited to the cost of entering and participating in the Sweepstakes, and in no event shall the Released Parties be liable for attorney's fees. Participant waives the right to claim any damages whatsoever, including, but not limited to, punitive, consequential, direct, or indirect damages.
DISPUTES: Except where prohibited, all Participants agree that any and all disputes, claims and causes of action arising out of, or connected with, the Sweepstakes or any prize awarded shall be resolved individually, without resort to any form of class action, and exclusively by the appropriate court located in the State of Maryland. All issues and questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and enforceability of these Official Rules, Participant's rights and obligations, or the rights and obligations of the Sponsors in connection with the Sweepstakes, shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of Maryland without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law rules (whether of Maryland or any other jurisdiction), which would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than Maryland.
GENERAL CONDITIONS: In the event that the operation, security, or administration of the Sweepstakes is impaired in any way for any reason, including, but not limited to fraud, virus, or other technical problem, the Sponsor may, in its sole discretion, either (a) suspend the Sweepstakes to address the impairment and then resume the Sweepstakes in a manner that best conforms to the spirit of these Official Rules or (b) award the prize from among the eligible Entries received up to the time of the impairment. Any attempt by any person to undermine the legitimate operation of the Sweepstakes may be a violation of criminal and civil law, and, should such an attempt be made, the Sponsor reserves the right to seek damages from any such person to the fullest extent permitted by law. Failure by the Sponsor to enforce any provision of these Official Rules shall not constitute a waiver of that provision. Questions or comments regarding the Sweepstakes or requests for name of winner (available after June 6, 2012) or a copy of these Official Rules, can be submitted by email to firstname.lastname@example.com.


text:
It only takes a minute to get started. Fill out our uncomplicated sign up form and login to the site.
This step is noncompulsory but will dramatically enhance your chances of having members look at your profile. Write a little something about yourself, your interests and upload your best photograph.
Use our website's advanced search to uncover members who suit your criteria. Or just leaf through listings and uncover people that arouse your interest.
Found someone who tickles your fancy? Send a note to them or just a wink and let it develop from there. With a little luck you'll be on your way to uncover your soulmate.
It's quick and easy


text:
Hi there,
I m doing a research regarding Wifi Location Based security system (LBS). may i know is there any applications in backtrack or any Linux-based that i can use for my research ? I have 3-4 APs in my room for this research but for now i m still in search for a open sourse application that can help me.
1. To locate APs or Laptops locations
2. Jamming the APs if possible
Sorry for my english
Objective #1 is my main priority
Basically what i m going to do is that set-up 3-4 APs to pin-point the location of APs and Laptops using a linux-based application. I have no $$ to buy any commercial software to use. Is there anyone can provide me any applications that can be use for my research. I have google everywhere but can't find any suitable application for it.. i just stumbled in backtrack 3 "wicrawl" would it sufficient to use that app?
(Post Erased: I mis-read your post and ended up posting something irrelevant)
Ask questions on the open forums, that way everybody benefits from the solution, and everybody can be corrected when they make mistakes. Don't send me private messages asking questions that should be asked on the open forums, I won't respond. I decline all "Friend Requests".
i just wondering to make/modify an application like ipod touch using skyhook wireless implementation where it can actually tells you the location from point A to B
I just want to make the application to detect the distance between APs and Laptops
WifiDeviceName MAC/ADDR DISTANCE Source AP
Lappy A 00:02:52:C1:00:20 1.2m LivingRoomAP
Sorry if i make you guys confused ~~
If you want location accuracy +/- 1m, save your pennies for a GPSr with WAAS.
Stop the TSA now! Boycott the airlines.
Hey guys i think my question is not answered in some ways, i just wanna what software can i use to detect the location?
In backtrack is there an application that suits my needs [if not, i m thinking creating a simple script to implement] is it possible? please answer me guys
thanks in advance.
I'm sure if you search the net for triangulation you'll find the algorithm.
First thing you'd need to do is calibrate your three receivers. For instance, let's say you have three Alfa's. What you wanna do is pick a spot to put them which is a certain distance from an AP (a reliable AP which tends to always transmit at the same power), and measure the power from the AP. Get readings for all three Alfa's separately in the same spot. Make sure you have line of sight to the AP, and also that they're at the same elevation (they don't need to be at the same elevation but it will help with calculations).
Because no three Alfa's are identical, you're gonna get readings that differ slightly. For each Alfa, find out the factor that the signal needs to be multiplied by. Start with 1 for the first Alfa, and list the other two relative to the first one:
Alfa 1: 100%
Alfa 2: 99.245 %
Alfa 3: 101.772 %
Next you'll wanna measure the precise distance from the AP to the spot where you had the Alfa's.
That's the calibrating done.
Next you have to take the triangulation algorithm and turn it into source code.
When you actually wanna try figure out the location of an access point, you have to surround it with the three Alfa's and record the power. Tweak the figures according to the calibration you did, and then run the triangulation algorithm to get a location.
I don't think this will work very well though, because it's rare that all three Alfa's would have line of sight to the AP; they might be receiving waves then went through glass or which bounced of walls, so the waves will be less powerful and will screw up the triangulation calculation.
Actually I think I'll go read about triangulation over on Wikipedia, I'd like to know more about it.
Ask questions on the open forums, that way everybody benefits from the solution, and everybody can be corrected when they make mistakes. Don't send me private messages asking questions that should be asked on the open forums, I won't respond. I decline all "Friend Requests".
Of course, if you really wanted to have some fun, go to Wal-Mart late at night and ask the greeter if they could help you find trashbags, roll of carpet, rope, quicklime, clorox and a shovel. See if they give you any strange looks. --Streaker69