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When I wrote that original blog, I had no idea how touchy a subject I was broaching. The amount of discussion the recent reprinting of the "Case Against Writers in the Games Industry" blog has generated has itself, been insightful. Clearly, "Story" is something near and dear to the hearts of gamers and developers, alike. I have to sheepishly confess, it's near and dear to my heart, as well.
I have to admit I wrote the original blog in that way specifically to be somewhat provocative. But, to be clear - I never once said I thought writers weren't useful or that games shouldn't have stories. I did say that games don't need stories in order to be games, but that's not the same thing....
In truth, those that know me know that I am a strong advocate for narrative in games. I have passionately defended the need for and impact of deep characters, intricate plots and thought provoking stories, but in the last 14 years of working in this industry I've been grossly disappointed, despite this. Writing in games isn't where it needs to be, a fact made incredibly obvious by many of the replies to my original article. Where I seem to differ from the community at large, however, is why I think that is.
I blame linear narrative. If you prefer I return to being provocative – I blame conventional writers and their influence on our chosen medium of expression. Where games can excel, and rarely do, as a form of narrative is in collaborating with the player to create the narrative of the game. Many respondents mentioned Portal, a game I seriously loved, as a paragon of writing in games. While I'm not entirely certain I agree, I agree it was incredibly well written… but perhaps it's more accurate and more important to point out that the story was incredibly well implemented. The way the story is delivered to players of Portal is half, maybe even more than half, of its brilliance.
Portal is, exactly as pointed out, a fantastic example of collaboration between specialist writers and specialist designers, but it's also a standout example; an exception. The truth is there are more writers working in this industry than it seems people realize – and many of them are responsible for the games many pointed to as reasons the industry really ought to hire writers. So, at least in my experience, having a writer isn't a silver bullet. In fact, the two best hits I saw developed – Warcraft II and Diablo when I was QA at Blizzard – weren't written by a "writer," at all. They were written by an artist, who it turned out could also write. A person who is just the type of multi-talented individual I advocated in my first blog. That person was Chris Metzen, who is still at Blizzard today. You might even have heard of him.
What made Metzen's work so great, in my mind, was how easily he understood the limitations and strengths of the games he was working on and how he used that knowledge to fashion a story that was part of the game. He didn't just write a story and try to impose it on the game; he wrote a story that supported the game – a story that depended on the game. I am sure there are specialist writers out there who can do this, but I also know there are plenty of people working in the industry already who can do it – these people tend to be designers, engineers, scripters, or artists… They are people who understand what games are and how you can use them to collaborate with the player to elicit narrative not from some artificial story channel, but through the act of play itself. Because writing and design cross over so much, I focus on the designer who can write – it's the most common occurrence, though also the one most often overlooked or discounted as matter of course.
In a lot of ways, what I'm advocating is the generalist over the specialist, but that's at the most simple level. What I'm really trying to do is challenge the validity of linear narrative as a whole. It's a broad sweeping statement, and one I admit I have done little to explain or support, but I think there is more potential in our games as an art form or narrative medium through collaboration with the player, and imposing a linear plot inherently prevents that collaboration.
Pass/Fail (advance or retry) progression through a story is no collaboration at all, and I know of no linear games which work in any other way. Even the branching games, like Mass Effect or KOTOR are ultimately gated by pass/fail. You have more than one way to pass – but these aren't true collaborations with the player – they're "pick your version of the pass ending" affairs that ultimately only offer one choice to the player at all – "how does it end?" Sadly, this is true of most sandbox games, as well. How do you "win" a GTA game? You finish the linear story.
I think we can do more than this and I think the potential to do so is unique to games. Not to nerd out too much, but what made games like Dungeons & Dragons great was the DM's ability to adjust the story based on the player's action. The type of collaboration I'm talking about isn't unique to video games, but it is unique to gaming. Players should be able to influence the outcome of games and most importantly, players should never look at the actions of their character and think, "That's not how I would have done it." That's a travesty right there – because ultimately, games are about choices. Yes, we have to limit choices players can make for many reasons (including to make games more fun), but we should never take away from players the choices that influence their role in the narrative, because those are the choices that players use to identify with, or invest in, their characters.
The "Golf club" scene in Bioshock is emblematic of the problem. I won't spoil the game by going into details, but there comes a moment when the dialog, the cinematic, and the fact that I can make no choice, all come together to create a complete divestment between me and my character – from that point on what had been a completely immersive experience became a standard FPS shooter because I could no longer identify with my character and thus had no investment in the story, at all. Despite this, Bioshock had the best and most impactful writing of any game to ship last year, but that's sort of the problem, isn't it?
How many games were released last year?
How many of them even had memorable writing, at all?
How many of them were written by non-designer writers?
More than you think, if your comments across the web have been any indication. The writers of the world need to make a paradigm break if they want to play truly vital roles in games, and until a critical mass of them do, my money is still on the designer-who-can-write over the specialist writer. None the less, once that critical mass does occur, you can bet I'll be right there trumpeting the next wave of the revolution.
- Snipehunter
I really need to leave this topic be, but the discussion this has generated has been so interesting and so thought provoking for myself and others that I admit it's really hard to do. Still, it's time for me to move on to other insights and other thoughts, so I'll leave this final thought. This one is in reference to the recent rebuttal the IDGA's Game Writer's SIG has posted on Gamasutra:
There's a lot of merit in what they say, but I guess I'm still waiting for the game that proves out any writer's ability to deal with non-linear narrative. Every game that I know of with any form of narrative in it is deterministic - at best you get a few choices for how it ends, but your choices along the way actually mean very little to the game itself other than to influence the end result. I suppose the Bioware team has come closest with moment to moment decisions that at least affect how characters react to you, but honestly - even they boil down to a "pick your ending" paradigm that, while varied, is /still/ linear.
I mentioned D&D as an example of the type of non-linear storytelling I'm talking about - I find the Game Writer's SIG's response mentioning the same thing both telling and interesting - because, while I think we all agree that's a great example, I have yet to see its ilk realized in a video game, and I wonder why the folks from the writer's sig seem to think it has been.
In a D&D game, the entire course of the game and the shape of the narrative can change instantly and permanently, but that /can't/ happen in the games with narrative written and implemented as it is, to date. Admittedly, the major reasons for that are production costs and workload, but there are ways to deal with this that don't involve writers at all.
Have you heard of Dwarf Fortress? No game in recent memory has generated as many interesting and emotional stories for me as Dwarf Fortress - a game that has no inherent narrative. The stories arise out of the interaction between the game's systems and the player. There is no preplanned or prewritten plot at all. Ironically, the developer that creates this game determines what systems he is going to put into the game by writing stories and then analyzing them for the types of interactions his game will need to be able to create such scenarios - so I'll state again, writing is useful no matter what. None the less, why is it that the totally unprofessional bedroom coder who is not a professional writer gets that this is a better and more interesting way to use our medium, while the professionals do not?
Is Choose your own adventure really the best that writers can bring us?
Is Choose your own adventure really all that we want from our games?
I think our games can do a lot more - and I don't think we have a right to call what we're doing new, innovative, or "art," until they do. It's time for a revolution in game story telling and honestly, I think we all know it. Writers can fear this change and get left behind, or they can embrace it and join the charge - but either way they need to understand that in our medium, it's games first and writing second.
- Snipehunter


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Where has she gone since Yesterday,
And left us lonely here?
Tonight she seems so far away
Who yester-eve was near;
No map of ours on sea or land
That journeying may trace,
We only know she's may be Home,
And seen the Father's face.
And, oh, she knows since Yesterday,
And she'll be learning fast;
The mists of Earth are cleared away,
The mysteries are past;
The sun of truth in radiance glows
All shadowless and bright,
Undimmed by any cloud on Earth,
Undarkened by its night.
Where has she gone since Yesterday
And where's she going still?
The bonds of Time and Sense and Space
That irked the eager will
Were dropped like shackles from the soul
In that first upward flight,
The weary body frets no more
The spirit, freed and light.
O dear, familiar Yesterday!
O sad and strange Today!
Yet who could call the glad soul back
To rouse the resting clay?
Or who could wish that she might share
Our morrow's toil and strife,
Who, loosed from Death and all its pains,
Has entered into Life?
~Annie Johnson Flint
from Streams In The Desert Vol. 5
but I just couldn't, Mimi. I really tried hard to fit in but it was a struggle every day after being on my own for so long. I know your heart was weighed down by the regret of moving me away from my familiar surroundings. I know you didn't know
much about feral cats and why sometimes it's just best to not interfere. Since then you've learned so much about ferals from your group and you can teach this to others.
Because of my status in life I love you all the more because you cared and you were willing to try and give me everything you thought I needed. Little Candy and Peachy were so sweet to me, but I could never quite get comfortable with Sonny always growling at me....and then Zorro! My sweet Mimi, I would have never had the courage to leave if it hadn't been for Zorro. Please try not to blame him so much.
I know you've searched for me for almost 18 months and if you could just know in your heart that saying Good-Bye is not giving up hope. Know that I am well and I am safe and glad am I today....the fear that I had borne so long has now been put away. I look forward to the day when you come to reclaim me and then all will be right for us to be together. Mimi our hearts will always be one and....
I Will Always Remember You,
~Your Little Gypsy~
P.S. It's time to give little Zorro his page on Catster.
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subset: commoncrawl


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Barcelona ! Known for its unique cultural heritage and amazing gastronomy, this city is without a doubt the ideal place for any student who wants to further their education and deepen their knowledge in a new culture. Set in the El Guinardó neighbourhood, this well-located apartment near La Sagrada Família - among other educational sites - will be the ideal starting point. Besides the optimal location, the flat itself will grant you with snugs rooms and a pleasant atmosphere that will make you feel rested and recharged so you can enjoy the next day to the fullest. Plus, you'll be close to Escola Universitària d'Infermeria UAB!
The flat features two bedrooms, a living room, a kitchen and a bathroom. In short, a cool place set within reach of everything you might need for this awesome adventure. So why wait? You just found the right student accommodation in Barcelona!
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Getting Around
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At Uniplaces we make the process of booking an apartment as easy as possible for both tenant and landlord.
That's why we have our own team of professional photographers that verify our properties and pick our landlords carefully in order to save time on viewings: we think it's old-fashioned and time-consuming.
You can look at forty different apartments on our platform in the same amount of time that it takes to see a room.
The pictures you see here haven't been photoshopped, so they'll be really accurate.
If you've still got any doubts, we'll keep the money that you transfer us until 24h after your move-in date.
If something's not exactly what you saw online, we'll help you move somewhere else and return your money.
We can only give you the contact details of your landlord after your booking is accepted. But we can guarantee that Uniplaces chooses the landlords it works with very carefully.
Besides, we've had students whose favourite part was living with a local!
Landlords and host families can be great city guides, help you out with translations and even become your friends.
As soon as your booking is accepted, you're given the landlord's contact details. Then, you can discuss all details directly with them, such as when you'll be moving-in.
Students move in and out at different times, so your flatmates might change during your stay.
It's a great opportunity to make new friends!
We personally speak to students who we place in Uniplaces apartments and are sure we will find the right place for you as well!
At the bottom of the property page, you have a calendar where you can see the availability of that room/apartment, according to the landlord.
But if you're still unsure about that we're happy to help.
Tell us your move-in and move-out dates and we will double-check if the place is available for you!
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By clicking on "Deposit" at the bottom of the offer page you will get more information about each type of deposit.
In general, the deposit is paid to cover for any potential damages that may occur during your period of stay or will be used as rent compensation in case you leave earlier than originally planned.
If no damages occur and you leave on the agreed move-out date, your deposit should be refunded by the landlord in a way you both agree on.


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Jean Eljay, MS, PhD, CNLP, CH, AdvHC
Certified Advanced Hypnotist and NeuraLinguistic Programmer
800 West Main Street, Suite #105, Freehold, New Jersey 07728
Eating disorders are a broad spectrum of "too much" behaviors. They can stem from always seeing that image of that potato chip and not being able to say "no". Or they may be much more serious. Indeed in my 20 year experience, eating problems are not usually related to food, but are related to unresolved or suppressed emotions. Using advanced techniques, we aim for a personal and confidential release of those emotional weights, freeing you to make healthier and ultimately beneficial choices.


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|Patriots Look Poised For Another Super Bowl Run
|Bruins Trade For Drew Stafford
|Black and Gold Bruins Turn Yellow On Parade Day
|Inconsistency Will Continue For Bruins Unless A Change Is Made
On October 15, 2010, New England Sports Ventures, the investment company chaired by John Henry (and now called the Fenway Sports Group), completed its purchase of Liverpool FC from George N. Gillett, Jr. and Tom Hicks. Henry's purchase of the club, which was concluded despite the protests of Hicks and Gillett (who believed that the club was worth far more than the £300 million Henry paid), brought a close to one of the most controversial periods in the history of Liverpool FC, both on and off the field. In 2005, two years before Hicks and Gillett bought the club for £218.9 million, Liverpool had been crowned European champions, having defeated AC Milan on penalty kicks in a thrilling final. Only a few months after they bought the club in February 2007, Liverpool once again appeared in the final of the Champions League, this time losing to AC Milan. However, by the end of Hicks's and Gillett's tenure as owners, Liverpool had receded to the depths of the English Premier League, residing in 18th place (out of 20 teams) when John Henry completed the purchase of the Merseyside club.
How had Liverpool, one of England's most storied franchises and winner of eighteen English top-flight championships (second all-time to Manchester United), fallen into such disarray? The answer is certainly complicated, but a large share of the blame lies in the ownership of Hicks (and to a lesser extent, Gillett), as well as how the two men came to purchase the club to begin with. In order to complete their acquisition of the club in February 2007, Hicks and Gillett promised to invest an additional £200 million in the future of the club, including the building of a new stadium at Anfield, a promise which has gone unfulfilled. In order to complete the purchase, the duo borrowed £185 million from the Royal Bank of Scotland. This initial debt had to be refinanced multiple times and, in April 2010, it was revealed that the club was saddled with £2.5 million in weekly penalties from the RBS, with an additional £60 million penalty if the club was not sold by October 6th. If this had occurred and the club had gone into administration (the UK equivalent to bankruptcy), the team would have been docked nine points in the standings (comparable to changing three wins to losses). Hicks and Gillett put the club up for sale, and they spent the summer looking for investments to buy out their RBS debt, hoping to extend their control of the club. They were unsuccessful in their attempts, and the club's creditors took Hicks and Gillett to court in order to force a sale of the club. The courts ruled in favor of the creditors, which led to the Liverpool board voting 3-2 on October 6, 2010 in favor of accepting John Henry's bid to purchase the club, leaving Hicks and Gillett on the hook for more than £144 million in debt. The team was still without a new stadium.
While these movements were happening behind the scenes, Liverpool's play on the pitch was surprisingly successful in the first two seasons under the ownership of Hicks and Gillett. The team finished fourth in the 2007-2008 Premier League (the first full season under Hicks's and Gillett's ownership) and second the following season, ending the year with 86 points, their most points ever earned in the Premier League era. During the 2009-2010 season, however, the train came off the tracks, as the club finished seventh in the Premier League and was bounced from the Champions League in the group stage. Liverpool also failed to advance past the fourth round of either domestic cup (the Carling Cup and the FA Cup). Hicks argued with manager Rafael Benitez over transfer policy, inciting turmoil and unrest in the squad. Xabi Alonso, arguably the team's best player, asked for and was granted a transfer to Real Madrid the summer before the season, and his absence played a large role in the season's disappointment.
The 2010-2011 season started off poorly before a single game was played, as Javier Mascherano was transferred to Barcelona, Rafael Benitez left the team and Roy Hodgson took over as manager. Hodgson was an unpopular choice among the fans, and a slow start to the season left Hodgson without much support. The team was in a battle to avoid relegation to the second tier of English soccer (the Football League Championship), and the lack of wins pressed John Henry to change the leadership when he took control of the team in October of that year.
In the 10 months since John Henry has become owner of the club, Liverpool has undergone a massive overhaul of talent, both in terms of the club's coaching staff and its players. Henry's first move was to replace manager Roy Hodgson with Kenny Dalglish on January 8, 2011, only a week into the winter transfer window. The club had resided in the lower half of the table for most of the season, and Henry thought it time to make a change, saying "We are grateful for Roy's efforts over the past six months, but both parties thought it in the best interests of the club that he stand down from his position as team manager."
Dalglish, one of the most successful managers in Liverpool's history, was called upon to right the ship, although his tenure began inauspiciously as Fernando Torres, the team's leading goal scorer and, when in form, one of the top strikers in the Premier League, handed in a transfer request. He had been unhappy at Liverpool for some time, and, despite a change in ownership and coaching, the sides were unable to reconcile their differences. Torres was eventually sold to Chelsea for £50 million. This money was immediately reinvested in the team, as Luis Suarez (£22.8m) and Andy Carroll (£35m) were bought for a combined £57.8 million. While the two strikers only scored six goals for Liverpool following their transfers, they are both young (Suarez is 24, Carroll 22) and appear to be the club's strikers of the future. Dalglish took his new signees, as well as the many holdovers, and led the club to a 6th place finish in the Premier League, removing the threat of relegation and nearly securing a spot in the Europa League. He earned a contract extension in the process, signing on for three more years on May 12,2011.
This summer, the second potential transfer period under Henry's ownership, saw another influx of talent. Midfielders Charlie Adam (£7.5m), Jordan Henderson (£20m), and Stewart Downing (£20m) were signed, along with defender Jose Enrique (£6m) and backup goalkeeper Doni (free). The transfer market doesn't close until August 31st, so the team still has time to make moves, with a particular need for defenders and (possibly) a goalkeeper to challenge the ever-shaky Pepe Reina. If the club can sell midfielder Alberto Aquilani, who is rumored to be on top of Milan's wish list after a loan spell in Italy last season, they will have more money to fill out the rest of the roster.
All the recent additions have contributed to Liverpool's successful start this season, as the club has a win and a draw in two games so far this year, tying Sunderland 1-1 and beating Arsenal 2-0. Adam, Downing, Henderson, Carroll and Jose Enrique have all started both games. Suarez has one start, although he is being given more rest after having played in the Copa America this summer, leading Uruguay to the championship and scoring four goals in the process. He has the only two goals for Liverpool so far this season (the third goal was an own goal by Arsenal), and while he missed a penalty kick against Sunderland, he is on pace to be this season's breakout performer in the EPL. Suarez is a constant nuisance for the opposition, forcing teams to adapt to his relentless pressure and tireless effort. He looks to be a future star.
Charlie Adam, Stewart Downing and Jose Enrique have all meshed themselves nicely into Liverpool's starting eleven. Adam and Downing have played well in the midfield, with Adam distributing the ball well and tracking ball ferociously on defense and Downing penetrating opposing backlines with piercing crosses and strong runs. Jose Enrique has played solidly at left back, both with and without the ball. Carroll and Henderson (the two youngest of the signings at 22 and 21, respectively) are still learning, and while it is apparent neither is ready for a starring role, they are bursting with potential. Carroll netted eleven goals for Newcastle in nineteen games before his midseason transfer last year, and Henderson was named Sunderland's Young Player of the Year two consecutive seasons before his arrival at Liverpool this summer.
The moves Liverpool has made in the last ten months following the arrival of John Henry have reshaped the team. The vast majority of the key contributors are 28 or younger (only Gerrard and center back Jamie Carragher are older), and there has been a large influx of talent without a large outflow in the past two transfer periods. The starting eleven have the potential to be formidable when everyone returns healthy. Pepe Reina is a good, albeit inconsistent, goalkeeper, and the top four defenders (Glen Johnson, Daniel Agger, Jamie Carragher and Jose Enrique) will form an adequate backline when healthy. Dalglish has an abundance of talent in the midfield, where Gerrard, Adam, Downing, Henderson, Raul Meireles, Lucas, Dirk Kuyt and Maxi Rodriguez can all make an impact. Suarez is developing into one of the best strikers in the EPL, and with Carroll and David N'gog in support, the attack corps looks to be strong as well. If the defense can remain healthy and limit opposing teams,Liverpool will be able to challenge for the Champions League, which John Henry has said is the main goal for the season.
Henry has given the go ahead to build the team and make it more competitive, and he has spent money to do just that. He has said that he wants the team to get even younger (stating that he doesn't want to sign players of a certain, unnamed, age), and after this initial influx of talent, he is hoping to follow the Arsenal model of selling players high and buying them low, as well as developing the team from within. His ownership has been successful thus far, and, by not saddling the team with debt the way his predecessors had, he has been popular with the fans.
The ownerships of the Hicks/Gillett partnership and that of John Henry could not be more different for Liverpool. Hicks and Gillett placed a large debt burden on the team. This in turn prevented them from purchasing world-class players, which the team desperately needed to stay competitive. As the club began to drop in the standings, the best players on the team saw the writing on the wall, leaving before the team hit rock bottom. Under John Henry, the team has limited its debt obligations, which allowed the ownership to green light the recent spending spree. As a result, the team is younger than it has been in years, and well poised to compete now and in the near future. Henry has also stated he wants the team to develop from within, and he will be patient in the development of some of the club's young acquisitions (Henderson and Carroll in particular). Henry's stewardship of the team has been quite successful thus far, and he has set the team up nicely for future success.
Tom Hicks and John Henry could not be more different as owners, both of Liverpool FC and their respective baseball teams. Hicks, who owned the Texas Rangers from 1998 until 2010, has not had success, financially or competitively, with any of the teams he has owned. The Rangers filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy in 2009, with Hicks owing several lenders a total of $500 million. This mismanagement spilled out onto the field, where the Rangers only made the playoffs twice under Hicks's ownership. Conversely, John Henry and the Fenway Sports Group have had continual success, both on and off the field, with the Boston Red Sox. The Red Sox have won two World Series and have never finished with a losing record under Henry. Additionally, the team has been a successful investment, as revenues are large ($266 million in 2009) and Forbes places the team as the second most valuable in baseball. Based on their track records, it is no wonder that Hicks failed in his ownership of Liverpool FC, while John Henry looks set to succeed. The future is bright for Liverpool, as stable ownership and impressive talent have both arrived at Anfield in the last ten months. Merseyside fans hope both are here to stay.
Tags: English Premier League, John Henry, Liverpool FC


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Susan Maroto, L.C.S.W.
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
517 south Orange Street, media, Pennsylvania 19063
Psychotherapy should ideally be a fun and interesting process of self-exploration. It is often helpful to have a neutral (but supportive) person with whom to discuss your concerns. You should be able to take away something helpful, whether an idea, concept, or a new way of looking at an issue or pattern in your life. It doesn't have to take forever - you should feel within the first session that the therapist generally "got it" and was able to say something helpful to you.


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General News - Strategies for Game Balancing
Magic the Gathering creator Richard Garfield discusses balancing in games at Gamasutra and how it is an art and not a science.
He views two types of balance: Holistic and componential. When a game has separate components that need to be balanced, it's componential -- in Magic, should a lightning bolt cost just one red mana? In Diablo, should a piece of equipment give you 152 intelligence? Holistic balance issues concern the game as a whole -- in Magic should you start with 20 life or seven cards? In Diablo, should you be able to sell equipment for real money?
Sometimes the distinction is muddy, he notes, but it's still useful in talking about balance to differentiate.
"Often designers will design the game to be balanced for the expert," Garfield says. "This is certainly the way we thought about it in the early days of Magic, and it took me a while to outgrow this mode of thought."
A game balanced to favor experts risks other types of gamers having an unbalanced experience -- and the game may lose most of its players before they ever develop the skill level to attain the well-balanced experience. Meanwhile the experts run out of people to play with.
Also, balancing for experts often fails to consider that there might be levels of proficiency even above what the game is desgned to contain. Designers aren't necessarily the best players -- most of the time, they're not, actually.
All kinds of games are patched with rules to accommodate players that outgrow their bounds. Balancing is helped by the fact that most of the time skill goes up logarithmically, and the benefit for performance tapers.
The important thing is to provide options so that every type of player has a good choice, versus grouping players into correct and incorrect ways to use skills or classes. This lets players compete even if they're not mechanically-focused -- like roleplayers or fans of storytelling.
Some of these players will choose gear for their character based on appearance or narrative suitability, and feel forced out of their play style by the fact that other players are more successful. That unbalances their experience.
Information aboutGeneral News
SP/MP: Unknown
Setting: Unknown
Genre: RPG
Platform: Unknown
Release: In development


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Q&A: Should I Use All My Savings Account Money to Buy a House?
Q: I'm feeling antsy about buying a house since mortgage rates and home prices are beginning to go up again. I have just barely enough for a down payment, but I'd use up all of my emergency savings if I were to go ahead and buy. Should I do it?
A: I can understand you're desire to hurry up and buy a house, but the short answer to your question is no!
Think about it: Having an emergency savings account allows you to be prepared for an unexpected expense — you have some cash available in case of a medical emergency, job loss, or other big bill, so you don't have to go deep into debt to cover it. On the other hand, if all your money is tied up in a house, you certainly can't use it for a financial emergency. What happens then? The very house you used your savings to buy could be in jeopardy if you can't afford the mortgage loan payments.


text: Myprotein Knee Wraps are high quality wraps designed to offer enhanced comfort and support to the knees, and to prevent damage and injury during intense lifting exercises, such as squats or dead lifts. Made from durable cotton these elasticated wraps are fully adjustable and fasten with a sturdy Velcro grip. Sold in pairs, our knee wraps are 1.9meters long and 8cm wide stretching to approximately 3meters in length.Check stock and price


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SophieLens Pro has been updated and re-released as SophieLens HD. The Windows Phone 8 photography app updates it's user interface to a more sleek design, adds high resolution support and more. SophieLens HD
The update takes the app to version 184.108.40.2067 and refines the user interface with control icons in the four corners of the screen that give you access to flash controls, filter effects, camera toggle (front/rear cameras) and app settings.


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Pace of M-commerce Marches Ahead
December 3, 2010,
However, a recent survey by Lightspeed Research found mobile phones impact shopping behavior in ways beyond buying. Some 80% of survey respondents have used their phone to locate their closest store, 70% have compared prices using their phone, and 65% have read product reviews on their mobile device.
They survey - conducted Aug. 26-30 2010 and based on 3,905 respondents - found that while mobile shopping was most popular with 18-34 year olds, more than one third of those aged 55+ have also made a purchase via mobile.
The reason most given for not making more product purchases by phone: consumers in every age group said they prefer to shop on a traditional PC. But when they do engage in m-commerce, 54% said they like to shop at a company's website through mobile Internet and 41% said they would rather shop through an app. Five percent just want to shop through SMS or texting a code.
Just over one third do their mobile shopping via iPhone, 25% use an Android-based phone, and 19% use a Blackberry.
"With the advent of location- based services and coupon apps such as Groupon, Yowza and Coupon Sherpa, retailers could truly be attracting shoppers 'off the streets' with enticing and relevant offers served inthe- moment," said Chris Urinyi, Lightspeed Research ceo, The Americas.
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WOD: Complete as many rounds as possible in 8 mins of:
10 Push Jerks (135,95)
10 Pull-Ups
Rest 1 min:
Complete as many rounds as possible in 8 mins of:
10 Sumo Deadlift High-Pulls (95,65)
10 Toe to Bar
Score is combination of both 8 min rounds.
ACCESSORY: 3×15 Hip Extensions
We have new rowers!
Proper Care & Maintenance:
When you are finished rowing, please do not insert the oar into the handle holder located in front of the seat. Instead, the proper place to store the handle is at the the front of the rower; at the flywheel. This leaves the internal bungee cords under less tension and prolongs their usefulness. And above all else, DO NOT under any circumstances let go of the oar handle during or immediately after a rowing workout. Allowing the oar to in effect slam into the flywheel is extremely destructive to the inner working of the rower.


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I was curious as to what people thought in regards to the best BCAAs out there for their buck? What is it and how to you use it?
I was curious as to what people thought in regards to the best BCAAs out there for their buck? What is it and how to you use it?
The M+M store sells bulk BCAAs. Most things (BCAAs are no exception), are cheaper per unit in bulk. Look at the MuscleFeast products for good products and value. Otherwise, AMS' Body Mortar CF is good stuff, too.
BCAAs are branched-chain amino acids-called such because of their shape, and consist of 3 amino acids (normally in a 4:1:1 ratio): leucine, isoleucine and valine.
Here's more scientific info:
I use BCAAs for pre-workout supplementation, as well as during fasts (for IF diets and whatnot).
Thanks for the feedback. I'm using Scivation Xtend right now, but it is quite pricey.
Also-I replied to the other threat you commented on regarding the low t...if you get a chance, please check it out.
Xtend is awesome stuff, but pricey for sure. If you can find the old Xtend formula, it can be really affordable. I hoarded a bunch fo the stuff when I saw it on sale for less than $10 per container.
Can't beat the price of bulk BCAAs. I use some of the walmart brand crystal lite to flavor.
Mind and Muscle Rep
Here in Germany you can buy ultra micronized BCAA's from a producer called ESN. They taste great for an BCAA product (rasberry- and lemon ice tea flavour) & it dissolves perfectly. Best flavoured BCAA's I'ver ever had by now. Not very cheap as bulk but those who have ;0)
I like powerchews BCAA they taste like candy and you can take them any were U go. you can pick these up at NTMB check them out
2:1:1 ratio, you can always buy leucine or other stuff at a similar price too and still have a good deal.
1000g for 43$
Last edited by nostawjk; March 1st, 2012 at 04:51 PM. Reason: added link now that I have 10 posts
I guess as someone who always complains that people don't give adequate / no reviews at all, I should contribute here
*VPX BCAA + EAA Nitrates - Taste average, can give you low blood pressure
* ALRI Chaine'd out - Taste good, additional adaptogens (in undisclosed probably underdosed amounts), since ~2months in a bigger tube for the same price
* OLIMP EAA - Taste acceptable, good profile, pretty cheap
* Xtend - Taste average, damn expensive
* AXCell - taste good, solves like crap, expensive (got one tub for 50% back in the day would not have bought it otherwise)
* Bulk BCAA - does not solve (unless you buy ajinomoto, but then you can better get something with flavor in it) and tastes awful
I guess, I have had others, as well, but those are the ones that I can come up out of my hand without extensive amounts of other ingredients... maybe that helps
visit my nutrition & exercise science blog!
SuppVersity @ SuppVersity.blogspot.com
As ProfDrAndro, I am also one of the heads behind
BodyRX Radio @ www.bodyRXRadio.com
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holy crap: http://www.nutraplanet.com/product/u....html?sel=4297
Nevermind, not that good a deal really. I would like 10 pounds of 8.1.1 BCAA, instantized to make mixing easy. I use truenutrition but it is 2.1.1 so I add leucine. The BCAA itself is instantized but the Leucine isn't so it floats on the top.
I prefer to do my own flavoring with different koolaids, either sugar free or with sugar depending on what else I've been taking.
override your genetic programming.
Fat Loss Science: The Art Behind Creating a Lean Muscular Physique
looks like a good deal to me.
24$ for a kilo.
I'm confused on the ratio though. It says 8:1:1 but lists four things. Leucine, isoleucine, valine, and alanyl-glutamine
You're right, that price is good. I was looking at other store options and forgot the regular size is 15 ounces. So this isn't bad at all.
The alanyl glutamine is a fancy glutamine, which isn't a branch chain amino acid. It's just glutamine, which is supposed to be good but all I ever notice is ridiculously bad gas.
override your genetic programming.
Fat Loss Science: The Art Behind Creating a Lean Muscular Physique
I think I may buy some. I'm somewhat concerned about how the glutamine throws off the ratio, since they don't say but still looks like a good deal as long as it's not loaded with it.
I'm not too concerned about flavor or mixability. I usually have some powder that tastes horrid and doesnt mix anyway and have accepted that my pre and post exercise mixes are going to taste like a mix of feces and urine.
modern bcaa mixes really well and tastes pretty good. I usually add my own flavoring on top of it though just because I like it to be super sweet. I usually combine one serving of BCAA with one serving of Pepto Pro and one serving of gatorade powder and then some sugar free koolaid mix to make it taste super ridiculous.
override your genetic programming.
Fat Loss Science: The Art Behind Creating a Lean Muscular Physique
I bought (2) 1 kilo of BCAA from Smart Powders for around $20 last year.
One scoop of Body Mortar CF, 1 scoop of bulk BCAA, or 2 scoop of bulk and some random water-flavorers and it's fine. Drink it over the course of an hour or more, and it begins to do a good job dissolving.
I just picked up two tubs of the Vpx nitrate stuff yesterday on a daily deal. I'll just mix those with my Body Mortar.
I always liked LGs BC+EAA. 8:1:1 ratio i believe. Kiwi watermelon, Blue Rasberry. between meals, intra workout, before bed.
Xtend being overpriced lol. It's the lowest margin thing I sell.
Many of the altered makes no sense ratio bcaa products are now underdosed. I've tested most bcaa's out there at this point. Since most companies, especially smaller ones, simply ask a manufacture to make them something, they get screwed over. The biggest variance I've seen so far is 30% off. Leucine is the most expensive amino of the 3 now. It used to be the cheapest. That's why these altered forms were made, because it was cheaper. There is no science to support a 4-8-12:1 ratio. Many times in this industry you will get what you pay for, sometimes less! Just be wary of where you buy. Sometimes if a deal is too good to be true, it is.
CEO: Scivation and Primaforce
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I asked Baca about the transition from Rick Neuheisel to Jim Mora, and how Mora and Offensive Line Coach Adrian Klemm really helped prepare him for this stage.
"Neuheisel was a great coach," he said, but he noted how much he liked the increased intensity and passion Mora instilled.
"Just brought the passion out of the guys that was necessary to win football games," he said.
"A genius" and "Offensive line guru" is what he called Klemm, his one-year coach.
Baca effused: "The way he was able to get three freshmen to play with a senior and a guy coming off a mission and play the way we did was phenomenal."
When asked about what NFL players he admired, Baca said growing up he was a big fan of Jeff Saturday, the former Indianpolis Colt All-Pro.
|Jeff Baca.
"When I started to play football, he was the best of the best right at that time," Baca said. "I just tried to model my game after him. I was looking for a guy that was in the NFL that maybe was playing my position that I was potentially going to play. I loved him, the way he played the game. He's just a great guy off the field, too."
The biggest impact on Baca and his playing career was his father dying of a stroke when he was 13 years old. His father was a UCLA fan, which made going to the school "a no-brainer" when they offered a scholarship.
"I committed on the phone right there on the spot," Baca said. "It meant a lot to me and my family. I think about him every day."
While the immediate grieving process was extremely difficult, and lasted quite a few years, for Baca, he was able to convert it into a positive, and mature and learn through it.
"I think it really started paying off with how mature I was for my age. I think that helped me learn the game of football faster because I used it as an escape, from what was going on at home and in my life, and I could step out on the field and not be thinking about all the other stuff."
Video Interview Coming Soon...


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Big Sur Residents Prep For Mudslides & Erosion
Part of Highway 1 closed Wednesday night because of heavy rain
BIG SUR, Calif. - The California Highway Patrol has closed Highway 1 south of Big Sur in both directions on Wednesday night. CHP is dealing with a rock slide near Coast Gallery and crews can't get to it until the morning. Plus on Sycamore Canyon Road, only those people living there are allowed to pass. The US Forestry Service isn't taking any chances with more mudslides, following the big wildfire two months ago.
"It's kinda scary right now, there's a couple washouts here and there. Kinda worried I'm not gonna be able to make it home one of these nights," said Big Sur resident Heidi Vrable.
Vrable lives on Sycamore Canyon Road and said she's seen her share of damage done in Big Sur. She didn't lose her house during the Pfeiffer Fire in December. But it was gut-wrenching to see 34 homes destroyed and over 900 acres burned.
"This is the second fire I've been through in Big Sur and mudslides. So yeah, it's been an interesting year," Vrable said.
Caution signs are already out along Highway 1, letting drivers know where crews think the road could be very dangerous. At this point spirits seem to be up, despite erosion along roads and the warning of mudslides as drivers enter the coastline.
"I think most of them are just happy to have some water, so that when summer comes around they can actually rebuild and things are actually going to grow back," said Lucia resident Bree Harlan.
But residents like Vrable are worried about losing access to their homes, causing another headache all too soon. She hasn't heard of any additional safety warnings but she's glad crews are taking caution with the road leading to her house.
"At this point it's still passable. But who knows. if it keeps coming down like this, it could become impassable at any time," Vrable said.
Crews are also checking out Highway 9 near Boulder Creek to see if it needs to be closed for the night because of a mudslide.


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This diaper bag is a must for parents of future pro players. Also great for Dads who want a diaper bag that doesn't look so much like, well, a diaper bag. This is a truly sport alternative.
I'm crazy for the Bruxe line of backpacks and bags. Brand new and from Montreal, Bruxe has five styles of black laser punched patent leather bags and this rolling duffel is my personal fave.Tags: fashion, accessories, travel, bags, design, mens accessories, mens, bruxe, rolling duffelAdded 7 Years Ago from Robustflavor
I really really love those bags. They are so stylish ! Scott Campbell collaborated for Louis Vuitton by tattooing the male models on the runway and created 3 bags.Tags: fashion, style, leather, mens, bags, Louis Vuitton, tattoos, scott campbellAdded 7 Years Ago from Cultureshoq
Amazing garment bag. Big enough to fit in all your hangups on those trips we always say were gonna take.
Texture, material, color, leather, all fitting into one amazing duffel bag.
Such amazingly craftsmen ship go into these super stylish bags. I wish I needed more bags so I could buy every one they put out
really awesome canvas weekender. tan and brown leather can never fade
Solid wax canvas duffle. This style never grows old.
Try to name one piece of billykirk you havent liked? Exactly, you cant cause its all awesome.
This weekend is so awesome. Full grain leather, great styling, and smaller, for a weekend getaway.
Sweet, simple and affordable. This polyester bag has to be perfect for carting a laptop to and from work.Tags: fashion, accessories, travel, style, laptops, bags, organization, mens, girlAdded 8 Years Ago from Moxsie
LN 953. Design Lexon Studio. |48 Hour suitcase with PC compartment. Document carrier suitcase with compartment for PC and travel bag. Aluminium handles. Colours: Blue Storm, Black, Grey, Taupe
The Berlin is finally out. Sturdy and capable.Tags: fashion, accessories, travel, style, bags, messenger bags, canvas, sturdy, mensAdded 8 Years Ago from Chromebagsstore
Handmade goodness. Classy and stylish. Plus wood grain goes with everything.Tags: fashion, style, bags, wood, waterproof, mens, messengers, hipster, wood grainAdded 8 Years Ago from Reloadbags
Handmade wallets made from old cassette tapes. Awesome. It doesn't get much cooler than that.Added 9 Years Ago from Designboom
Lightweight, waterproof, reusable, affordable. We adore this assortment of 5 environmentally friendly (and totally groovy) Envirosax bags - rolled up in a carrying pouch small enough to stow into a glove box or a handbag. With rei... Lightweight, waterproof, reusable, affordable. We adore this assortment of 5 environmentally friendly (and totally groovy) Envirosax bags - rolled up in a carrying pouch small enough to stow into a glove box or a handbag. With reinforced seams, each surprisingly large bag holds the equivalent weight of 2 supermarket plastic bags. And…they're really, really cute!!Tags: home, fashion, gifts, shopping, outdoor, kitchen, baby, environment, natural foodsAdded 9 Years Ago from Delight.com
theres no other way to put it but to say that traveling is a pain. However this bag just made it pleasant (or at least cool). This durable and waterproof canvas bag is trimmed with leather and sturdy enough to take anywhere. It'd ... theres no other way to put it but to say that traveling is a pain. However this bag just made it pleasant (or at least cool). This durable and waterproof canvas bag is trimmed with leather and sturdy enough to take anywhere. It'd work perfect as a carry on, but also seems completely suitable as a weekender.
Fantastic Man Bag!
Excellent quality hats at a good price
I love this man bag tote! Practical and no frills. It's serious function and style. Class act.Added 9 Years Ago from Alexandermcqueen
This bag is amde from genuine Tuscan leather. The telescoping handle and and wheels makes for easy transport and the removable should strap only makes it more practical.
This is probably the most practical type of of weekend bag. It has wheele\s and a telescoping handle for easy transport. It also has a detachable shoulder strap and a very clean design
This certainly isn't the biggest bag you could carry on. However, it's look of aged leather is impeccable.
This red suede weekender is made from the highest quality material and it's design is classic. Truly, it's the type of thing that I could use my entire life, pass it on to my kid and it'd still be in style.
I guess if you're going to roll in style, this is the way to do it. Or at least it's the way to blatantly boast.
It's a very classy weekender that is refined and usable. It's constructed out of canvas and sure to be sturdy.
Just plain awesome.Added 9 Years Ago from Revolve Clothing
On the path to success you are going to have lots of files and documents to keep track of, you are a professional after all. This is a stylish way to keep yourself looking put together even if your papers are all a mess inside.Tags: fashion, accessories, style, leather, mens, bags, messenger bags, laptop bags, J CrewAdded 9 Years Ago from J.Crew
Great gift for a lady who does a fairly good amount of over night traveling! Always have a bag packed with the essentials for a new day! Tons of room and great quality workmanship!Tags: fashion, womens clothing, handbags, bags, canvas, womens wear, women, mens, utilityAdded 9 Years Ago from Utilitycanvas
here is a great summer day project ... create a bag (s) you love to go to the store with.... so do something good for the environment at the same time... love these bags... go see Martha , she has the "recipe" for these!


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Lincoln's Inn provides a Marshalling scheme for its BPTC students. To apply for the scheme you must have completed at least three months of your BPTC. Part-time students should have completed the first year of their BPTC.
Please do not apply until you are eligible for marshalling. Early applications will not be accepted and multiple entries will be ignored. Please note that the Marshalling Scheme does not guarantee a placement, you will be emailed if we find a suitable match, following submission of the application form below.
Marshalling involves the student accompanying a judge at a particular court over a one to three day period. It provides an invaluable opportunity for the student to gain a real insight into the daily workings of the court, and how judges consider and manage cases. It also deepens the student's understanding of law. The judges participating in the scheme do so on a voluntary basis and warmly receive marshals who then have the chance to see court proceedings from a whole new perspective. You will be able to discuss the case with the judge, give your opinions and, most importantly, learn from the judge and other judges that you will meet over your time at the court.
Feedback from students who have taken part in marshalling is very positive and as a result there is always a large number of students who wish to do so. As a result we restrict access to the scheme to those that have not marshalled with a judge in any capacity previously. This also allows us, as far as possible, to match students with judges who do the kind of work they are most interested in. Equally, we try to arrange placements at Court centres in the areas requested by the student. Sometimes it is not possible to make these as close as the student might wish but in such cases the students should be flexible, so that they can benefit from the scheme. That is particularly so for placements which might be sought in Central London but which are only available for the dates requested a little further out but still easily accessible on a daily basis.
In keeping with the closure of the courts in the summer, the scheme operates a rolling rota system. Students are able to marshal with a Judge from October to June. The scheme is closed for the summer vacation, i.e. for July, August and September.
If you have completed three months or more of your BPTC and are interested in applying for the scheme, please complete this application form. A member of the Education team will be in touch should an appropriate placement be found. Please note that placements are not guaranteed, but we will do our best to accommodate as many students as possible.
Please note, marshalling can sometimes be arranged also for Called members of the Inn but they should be aware that priority is given to those still on the BPTC. Priority will also always be given to those who have not had any marshalling experience before.


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The Randomizer may sound like a lame sci-fi movie title but it could help create bias-free lines at airport security and possibly thwart would-be bad guys.
7 weirdest things found by security
TSA Seeks Info on Line Funneler
According to Government Security News, the TSA is looking into electronic devices that would randomly sort passengers – or funnel them – into various queues, which may lead to fewer instances real or perceived bias and could possibly thwart those who seek to game security measures by trying to select certain lines or conveyor belts to put belongings on.
In its request to vendors for ideas and information about such hardware, the security agency wants something small, portable and visible that would simply direct passengers (via arrows, perhaps) in a random yet methodical way using "defined percentage ratios."
Also found at security – elephant meat, dead primate
Latest Catches: 30 Loaded Guns
In the meantime, using its current un-random system, the TSA is making its share of catches: last week alone, security officers confiscated 13 stun guns, several knives including one hidden in a pillow and another in a shoe, plus 38 guns – 30 of which were loaded.


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Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Designer: Hoss Intropia
Beautiful Spring and Summery styles from Hoss Intropia, showcased in an array of lovely colors—some so warm, and some so refreshing. I long for those strappy, buttery leather sandals with coral details, a long, sweeping dress (or two), and that vibrant, beaded necklace. And you?
Continue reading and viewing…
Images: Hoss Intropia
5 comments:
Sweet summer to come...I love the sofness, feminity of this collection.ReplyDelete
wow. I love everything!! that pleated pastel dress towards the bottom is AMAZING.ReplyDelete
Beautiful...simply stunning...Spring is on the way ;-)ReplyDelete
In love with that pretty bohemian dress in the first photo and further down, the one with the pleats, also amazing.ReplyDelete
Blacksburg, VA Photographer, Holly Cromer
Madeline & HollyCromerPhoto: one of my favorites as well! xReplyDelete
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Do What You Are has already helped more than 750,000 people find truly satisfying work. The book leads you step-by-step through the process of determining and verifying your Personality Type. Then it provides real-life case studies of people who share your Type and introduces you to the key ingredients your work must have for it to be genuinely fulfilling. Using workbook exercises and explaining specific job search strategies, Do What You Are identifies occupations… (more)
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company (May 15, 2001)
Format: EPUB
File size: 1.2 MB
Protection: DRM
Language: English


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Sardinia is a great spot to travel to in the summer. Its sun-baked beaches and warm culture are truly inviting for luxury travelers who want to explore one of Italy's most interesting islands.
With more than 300 sunny days a year, Sardinia is one of the best places to visit if you want to soak up some sunshine and relax on the beach. Known for its upscale resorts catering to luxury travelers, a trip to Italy's second largest island should definitely be on your hit list this summer.
There are three Sardinia hotels in the Kiwi Collection, all located in the Costa Smeralda (Emerald Coast) that will be opening back up in May for the summer. The Costa Smeralda features beautiful white sandy beaches, a golf club, private jet access and helicopter services for the world's top movers and shakers.
Hotel Cala di Volpe
At this stunning Costa Smeralda hotel, you'll get a fabulous view of Sardinia's coastline, mountains and the sea. You're sure to enjoy the traditional architecture and tiles, typical of the area, giving you a very authentic Sardinian experience. Since Hotel Cala di Volpe is located within a charming fishing village and adjacent to the pevero Golf Club, there are plenty of ways to enjoy the outdoors: take a walk along the turquoise coastline, relax in the saltwater swimming pool, enjoy a round of golf at the Pevero Golf club or go to water-skiing school.
Hotel Romazzino
Another Sardinian gem is Hotel Romazzino. This hotel has a tranquil, traditional Mediterranean feel. The whitewashed buildings at the hotel are splashed with color through the gardens on property's grounds. With restored interiors, each of this boutique hotel's 94 guest rooms truly reflect the colors of the Costa Smeralda. You will definitely want to take in at least one great meal at Romazzino Restaurant that has a nice terrace overlooking the water.
Hotel Pitrizza
A perfect getaway for a romantic holiday or Honeymoon, Hotel Pitrizza is right on the Costa Smeralda's rouged coastline. With only 55 rooms, this hotel is the smallest of the three, giving it a very intimate, boutique atmosphere. Have a cocktail and lunch at Ristorante Pitrizza with your sweetheart and enjoy the sunset. During the day, enjoy the sea-water swimming pool, Cervo Tennis club and windsurfing! You can also rent motor boasts here if you want to take advantage of the hotel's close proximity to the water.


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This is part two. This is a tactical process guide. See part 1 for the Strategic Overview.
Now that we've outlined the strategy for WHERE we are going to get mass market attention, let's drop down 50,000 feet and deal with the tactical process of WHAT we're going to do to win over the market.
There are two ways to get permission to contact anyone. The first way is directly. You can guess the second.
In part one, we established that the only way to get a sale is to first create desire and comfort. The same applies for getting permission to contact a member of your market. We have to create desire and comfort in order to get permission to contact the individual members of our market.
The indirect method of creating that desire and comfort is what major corporations have been doing all along. From billboards to print to tv and even online PR or online advertising, all the messaging is indirect. The messaging is impersonal.
Our supermodel looks great wearing this so you will too. Our sports star is amazing and he eats this so you should too. Over time and with enough exposure, a company can win over some amount of trust. Getting a subscription, follow, like, email address, or other relationship building contact linkage is an even bigger challenge.
So how do you use the indirect method otherwise known as mass marketing or mass communication to build individual relationships?
We do it by listening.
Every chef knows that the more palates he tries to please, the fewer the number of raving fans. While one nationwide taco shop chain added hamburgers to their menu, McDonalds invested in Chipotle.
Listen (something you couldn't do during the days of one-way media) to what the market is passionate about. Listen to what the market wants. You'll hear 60% say one thing. You'll hear 20% say another. You'll hear yet another 10% saying something totally different. And the last 10% will be marching to the tune of any number of different drummers.
Soccer fans don't all like Real Madrid. Fans that like Real Madrid don't all like Falcao. Prada lovers don't all like Prada purses. Those who do, don't all like their clutches.
We do that by creating big data databases on Apache Hadoop environments. What that means in non Programmese is that we build filters designed to capture data from all major public social network sites. These filters capture data around keywords related to your products and those of your competitors. Then we track back up to the author of the data and collect more data relating to shopping habits, personal preferences, opinions, tendencies, etc.
When all this data is sorted and weighed, clear patterns develop. For example, vegans like Coke but dislike sports drinks. People who wear Nike tend to prefer HTC products over the iPhone.
When you listen to all the data spewing out of each individual and you listen to the meta data, clear segments start forming. We don't even have to try to segment the market — their digital footprints do it for us.
Based on the segmentation patterns that emerge, clear cross-marketing, strategic alliance, partner marketing, and other business opportunities become obvious. But more exciting is that we can start building precision tuned mini and micro marketing campaigns. We can find mini celebrities (that don't cost nearly as much as their major counterparts) and create grass roots campaigns. These grass roots campaigns immediately tell your market that you are one of them.
Female triathletes look up to different celebrity athletes than their male counterparts do. Young female triathletes look up to yet other role models.
You can see how precisely we can tune a message. Your business unit might be tasked to drive the sales of just one model of running shoe. We can take that same shoe and listen to your market for clues about how to sell it. With enough big data listening, we might develop a campaign that presents your shoe to 30's women as the choice for Paula Newby-Fraser because it's so light. Then, we might present the same model shoe as the choice for Gwen Jorgensen because it's so fashionable to 20's women.
Not only can we precisely tune the message per segment, we can accurate deliver it to the same individuals from whom we derived the big data in the first place. At the risk of opening up an even higher resolution can-of-worms, we can even launch micro test campaigns using Facebook's dark pages or Pinterest's experimental advertising options.
The world where Target knows that your daughter is pregnant before you do is so yesterday.
If you're like us, you wished the New York Times let you display your full page Volkswagen ads to subscribers where were 30 and under while letting you display your Porsche ads to subscribers over 30.
Now you can. We can.
We've barely outlined what can be done with indirect marketing. In many ways, direct marketing tactics are even more effective and exciting as they produce instant results and real one-to-one relationships with your market.
Let's deal with that in the next section (for subscribers only). For the next section, subscribe to our private presentations.
To talk to us about driving you life time customers and building your social media market share, contact us here.


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I had a TT one year ago and just had a vertical scar revision as well as a belly button revision. (I'm sorry I dont have before pictures.) I know its still early but I am feeling very disappointed and depressed. My PS just keeps telling me to look at the pictures before I had a TT and see the difference. Can my belly button be revised again to look more normal or am I stuck looking like this? Should I see another surgeon? Thank you for your time.
Belly Button Revison Possible After 1 year? (photo)
Doctor Answers 1
Belly Button Revison Possible After 1 year?
Sure you can revise an umbilicus after a year post operative. Seek your chosen surgeon to be seen in person
These answers are for educational purposes and should not be relied upon as a substitute for medical advice you may receive from your physician. If you have a medical emergency, please call 911. These answers do not constitute or initiate a patient/doctor relationship.


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Iraq struggles to sweep Saddam's landmine legacy
By Aseel Kami
HALABJA, Iraq (Reuters) - Inside an Iraqi clinic close to where Saddam Hussein's henchmen killed thousands of Kurds with poison gas, Azima Qadar waits for a check up of her artificial limb.
Her right leg was blown off by a land mine as she went to tend her family's walnut farm in rural northern Iraq, near the Iranian border, in 1993.
"When it happened, I thought: I'm not going to live long, I'll die soon," said the thin, frail Azima. "Instead, I'm trapped in continuous suffering."
Iraq is littered with an estimated 25 million landmines, the Environment Ministry says. Many lie in areas bordering Iran, a legacy of the 1980-88 Iran-Iraq war that killed a million people.
Mines claimed 14,000 victims in Iraq between 1991 and 2007, the United Nations Development Programme says. More than half died from their wounds. For survivors, life is a daily struggle.
Aged 39, illiterate and unmarried in a culture in which women wed in their early 20s, Azima has few real hopes.
Her father was killed along with thousands of other Kurds during Saddam's 1987-1988 "Anfal" or "Spoils of War" campaign, when soldiers razed villages and forced thousands into camps.
Azima used to make traditional Kurdish shoes and sell them, but deteriorating eyesight forced her to stop. She wonders how she will support her mother, who also lost a leg to a land mine. Continued...


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17th Annual achilles st.patrick's day 5k run/walk
Visit the Achilles St. Patrick's Day 5K Run/Walk website.
Registration is Open!
The 17th Achilles St. Patrick's Day 5K Run/Walk will take place on Sunday, March 13, 2016.
Registration for the 2016 event is open. For all details and information on how to register, sponsor or volunteer, visit the Achilles St. Patrick's Day 5K Run/Walk website.
Online registration closes Monday, March 7, 2016 at 11:59 p.m.
Visit the Events Online website to register.
Registration Fees
$40 before January 15th
$45 from January 16th through February 29th
$50 from March 1st to 17th
Race Day opens at 8:30 am, ONLY IF SPACE AVAILABLE.
Register On-Line at the Events Online website.
A Team is made up of 10 or more runners/walkers that individually participate in the 5K event. For charitable organizations this is an opportunity to raise pledges for your own organization.
Charitable Teams
Demonstrate your organization's support by entering a team. Families and friends may enter as a team. Challenge your organization to collect pledges. 100% of all pledge money goes back to your organization. Ten participants per team ($450).
Corporate Teams
Demonstrate your corporate support by entering a team. Challenge your co-workers to support Achilles Canada. Ten participants per team ($450).
Volunteer Opportunities
For Volunteer Opportunites please contact: 416-485-6451 or email: firstname.lastname@example.com


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Commemorative pins for the 50th anniversary of the Paducah Dogwood Trail officially go on sale today, but the maker of the hand-painted dogwood blossoms said supplies are already limited.
Paducah Civic Beautification Board member Carol Vanderboegh completed the batch of 400 pins Friday and cautioned that 170 or so of the pins were already sold.
"I was really surprised," Vanderboegh said. "I mean, we sold 170 ... and we haven't even tried to sell them."
Vanderboegh designed the blossoms herself and hand painted each over the course of about two months. She estimated that each pin took about two hours to complete, including drying time.
Half of the pins were painted pink and the other half white, and each pin is signed and numbered. Vanderboegh said she embellished about 25 of the pins with rhinestones in the center of the blossoms. She attached each flower to a brooch pin using a glue specifically made for metal.
Vanderboegh is a Paducah resident, and she said every step of creating the pins was locally done. The blossoms were laser cut by Triangle Enterprises, Inc., and the commemorative cards included with each pin were printed by Minuteman Press.
The idea to make the pins came from a different set of about 100 promotional pins Vanderboegh made for the Charity League about 25 years ago. She said at roughly an inch in size, those pins were more like buttons, but at about two and a half inches, the 50th anniversary pins are about the size of actual dogwood flowers.
"We wanted them to be large enough to make a statement," Vanderboegh said, and suggested that the pins could be worn on hats, lapels, scarves or as necklace medallions.
All profits from the pins are to be used to plant dogwood trees in the Children's Memorial Garden in Noble Park. Vanderboegh said she donated paint costs and her design time, so the only cost to produce the pins was purchasing the metal.
The pins are officially on sale today from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Fletcher Hall at Grace Episcopal Church at 820 Broadway St., Paducah. The unembellished pins are $10 each, and the embellished pins are $15 each.
Vanderboegh said because so many of the pins have already sold, she may make an additional 50 or so, but those won't be signed or numbered.
Contact Leanne Fuller, a Sun staff writer, at 270-575-8653.
RJ posted on: Saturday, March 15, 2014 2:04 PM
Title: Dogwood Pins
Are all the pins gone? If not, where might I secure them now. They are beautiful!
Check out these recently discussed stories and voice your opinion...


text: Clergy Called On To Help With Healing In Newtown News & Features Tovia Smith · NPR · Dec 18, 2012 Listen Story audio 4min 11sec Copyright 2017 NPR. Stay Informed The news on your schedule from MPR News Update Email Address* Zip Code MPR News Update AM Edition MPR News Update PM Edition See our Privacy Policy. Must be age 13.


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Florida Baseball Locks up Outright SEC Title
Published May 16th, 2014
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KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Florida secured the outright SEC Championship and clinched its weekend series with a 4-2 win over Tennessee on Friday night at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.
Holding a 2-1 lead in the eighth inning, the No. 13 Gators (37-18/21-8 SEC) received a two-run, pinch-hit single by junior Josh Tobias with the bases loaded and two down for some breathing room. Although the Vols (30-22/11-18) trimmed the deficit to 4-2 in the home part of the frame, freshman Kirby Snead (2.1 IP, 3 H, 1 R) pitched a scoreless ninth for his second save in as many nights.
Freshman A.J. Puk (5-2) pitched five innings of one-run ball to earn his fourth win in SEC play, while junior Taylor Gushue was 3-for-4 with two doubles. The Gators have captured their last six series against Tennessee and extended their road winning streak to eight games, second-longest in school history (record of nine set in 1922).
Gushue plated junior Casey Turgeon with a two-out double in the first inning to open the scoring against senior Nick Williams (5-5). Turgeon had opened the game with a double down the left-field line and was sacrificed over by sophomore Richie Martin before Gushue's team-leading 14th two-bagger and 43rd RBI.
Senior Taylor Smart (2-for-4) tied the game for the Vols with a leadoff homer in the second that hit the foul pole overlooking left field. It was his second of the series and fourth round-tripper of the year.
The Gators seized a 2-1 advantage in the sixth on an RBI grounder by junior Zack Powers. Sophomore Harrison Bader walked and Gushue singled and each advanced into scoring position on a bunt by junior Braden Mattson. Powers' ground ball to second base brought Bader home.
Tennessee threatened by putting two runners aboard in the seventh but was foiled by an inning-ending strikeout by Snead. Junior Justin Shafer (1.2 IP) registered the first two outs of the stanza before yielding an infield single to sophomore Derek Lance. After Snead entered and issued a walk to Maddox, the lefty caught sophomore Christin Stewart looking on a full count to complete the frame.
Tobias delivered a pinch-hit, two-run single with the bases full in the eighth to give the Gators a 4-1 edge. Gushue led off with a double and was sacrificed to third by freshman pinch hitter Ryan Larson. An error on the play enabled UF to have two runners aboard. A fielder's choice by Powers erased Larson, freshman Peter Alonso walked and Powers was called for interference on a fielder's choice by freshman Buddy Reed for two down. Tobias stepped to the plate and sliced a base-hit through the left side that scored Gushue and Alonso.
Sophomore A.J. Simcox brought the Vols within 4-2 in the home part of the inning with a two-out single that plated sophomore Vincent Jackson.
Related Stories
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- Florida Baseball Clinches Share of SEC Title in 11 Innings
- Florida Baseball Beats Kentucky, Takes Control of SEC Title Race
- Florida Baseball Clinches Share of SEC Regular Season Title with Win Over Kentucky
- Gator Baseball Takes SEC Opening Series Over Tennessee
- Florida & Tennessee Coaches Preview SEC Matchup
- Gators Blank Commodores, Win SEC Tourney Title, Earn No. 2 Overall Seed In NCAA Baseball Tournament
- Florida Baseball Breaks No-No in 9th, Falls to Tennessee 6-3
- Florida Baseball Drops Series to Tennessee, Lose by 1 Run in Games 1 & 2


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September 04, 2013 17:09Officer Paul Meyer, a 20-year-veteran of the Portland Police Bureau, was welcomed back to work on Tuesday by Chief Mike Reese. A surprise lunch followed with many members of the Bureau attending to welcome Paul back to work.
Media Relations:
Sgt. Pete Simpson
Desk: 503-823-0830
Pager: 503-790-1779
Portland Police Bureau
1111 SW 2nd Ave, Suite 1526
Portland, Oregon 97204


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Audit Reveals Error in Sacramento Fire Department's Morphine Tracking
A report by the Sacramento City Auditor's Office is showing the Sacramento City Fire Department failed to appropriately track their morphine supply.
The report shows 100 vials of morphine were not appropriately tracked, and now Sacramento's city auditor wants random drug tests to be implemented for all fire department employees.
"We recognize that there is a potential risk out there for the misuse of narcotics," Auditor Jorge Oseguera told News10.
"We did not, and let me be clear, we did not find that the fire department had abused the narcotics or any evidence that there may have been abuse of the narcotics," he said.
It was eventually discovered the vials of missing morphine were in fact not missing, but appeared to be missing because of a clerical error.
The Sacramento City Fire Department says it already drug tests employees when they feel they need to.
However, the department will consider the recommendation for random drug tests and will have talks with the labor union.
City Auditor Audit Fire Department Inventory System Narcotics


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Member Since: July 21, 2008
Country: United States
Looks awesome, I've always wanted to play around with conductive paint!
An unrelated request - would you pass on to your web guys that they should include author information in the RSS feed? I was thinking to myself "This sounds like a Dia-type project, but it wasn't until I came to the website to read the comments that I realized it was actually you.
For anyone who is curious, this charger takes a center-positive 5.5x2.1 mm connector, which is a size "M" barrel connector at RadioShack (I bought one of those interchangeable tip wall warts)
No public wish lists :(


text: So, I have been trying for months now to figure out what I am missing, as far as a belt tensioner goes on my XS-500 Coolcharger supercharger. I have to have the supercharger rebuilt, so I am removing the entire thing, and installing a spectra intake system in the meantime. I need to find someone else with this system who may have a bad blower, and wants to get it out of there. I really want to get this thing back to its true potential. My supercharger is useless without a belt.


text: CAPE CANAVERAL AIR FORCE STATION, Fla., March 19, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. Air Force's second Space Based Infrared System ( SBIRS) Geosynchronous Earth Orbit (GEO-2) spacecraft, built by Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT), was successfully launched today at 5:21 p.m. EDT from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket. The SBIRS program delivers timely, reliable and accurate missile warning and infrared surveillance information to the President of the United States, the Secretary of Defense, combatant commanders, the intelligence community and other key decision makers. The system enhances global missile launch detection capability, supports the nation's ballistic missile defense system, expands the country's technical intelligence gathering capacity and bolsters situational awareness for warfighters on the battlefield. "We are proud to partner with the U.S. Air Force on the SBIRS program to deliver highly reliable infrared surveillance capabilities for strategic and tactical users across the defense and intelligence community," said Jeff Smith, Lockheed Martin's vice president of Lockheed Martin's Overhead Persistent Infrared (OPIR) mission area. "Thanks to the unmatched expertise of the entire government and industry SBIRS team, we are confident this satellite will meet or exceed expectations and play a pivotal role in our national security for years to come." The SBIRS architecture includes a resilient mix of satellites in geosynchronous orbit, hosted payloads in highly elliptical earth (HEO) orbit, and ground hardware and software. The first two GEO satellites and HEO payloads have now launched. SBIRS GEO-2 includes highly sophisticated scanning and staring sensors that will deliver improved infrared sensitivity and a reduction in area revisit times over the current constellation. The scanning sensor will provide a wide area surveillance of missile launches and natural phenomena across the earth, while the staring sensor will be used to observe smaller areas of interest with superior sensitivity.


text:
- Bacterial Infections 101 Pictures Slideshow
- Take the Tummy Trouble Quiz
- Hepatitis C Slideshow Pictures
- Patient Comments: Typhoid Fever - Describe Your Experience
- Patient Comments: Typhoid Fever - Symptoms and Signs
- Typhoid fever facts
- What is typhoid fever? What is the history of typhoid fever?
- How do patients get typhoid fever?
- How do the bacteria cause disease, and how is it diagnosed?
- What are the symptoms of typhoid fever?
- What is the treatment for typhoid fever, and what is the prognosis?
- Can typhoid fever be prevented?
Typhoid fever facts
- Typhoid fever usually is caused by Salmonellae typhi bacteria.
- Typhoid fever is contracted by the ingestion of contaminated food or water.
- Diagnosis of typhoid fever is made when the Salmonella bacteria is detected with a stool culture.
- Typhoid fever is treated with antibiotics.
- Typhoid fever symptoms are poor appetite, headaches, generalized aches and pains, fever, and lethargy.
- Approximately 3%-5% of patients become carriers of the bacteria after the acute illness.
What is typhoid fever? What is the history of typhoid fever?
Typhoid fever is an acute illness associated with fever that is most often caused by the Salmonella typhi bacteria. It can also be caused by Salmonella paratyphi, a related bacterium that usually leads to a less severe illness. The bacteria are deposited through fecal contamination in water or food by a human carrier and are then spread to other people in the area. Typhoid fever is rare in industrial countries but continues to be a significant public-health issue in developing countries.
The incidence of typhoid fever in the United States has decreased since the early 1900s. Today, approximately 5,700 cases are reported annually in the United States, mostly in people who recently have traveled to endemic areas. This is in comparison to the 1920s, when over 35,000 cases were reported in the U.S. This improvement is the result of improved environmental sanitation. Mexico and South America are the most common areas for U.S. citizens to contract typhoid fever. India, Pakistan, and Egypt are also known high-risk areas for developing this disease. Worldwide, typhoid fever affects more than 21 million people annually, with over 200,000 patients dying of the disease.
If traveling to endemic areas, you should consult with your health-care professional and discuss if you should receive vaccination for typhoid fever.


text:
Rowkin Bit Review: Are the cheapest wireless earbuds worth it?
Posted By leonhitchens on Mobile
http://digitalbounds.com - Wireless earbuds are the talk of the century after Apple's announcement of their AirPods. The market is growing as more Kickstarters popup with the goal of developing the greatest wireless earbuds. Apple's AirPods are priced at $159, which is competitively priced when compared to Bragi Headphones or Here One. However, the $159 price is still relatively expensive for headphones. At least, more than most folks are used to paying. There is a cheaper option; the Rowkin Bit earbuds are some of the smallest ones and priced at a moderate $109 they undercut Apple's option by $50.


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Winners Could Emerge from Subprime Woe
Liquidity issues for subprime lenders may result in a further industry shakeout. Concerned about New Century's (NEW) ability to remain solvent, creditors recently forced the company to stop making loans. Subprime lenders such as New Century are largely dependent on outside creditors to finance new loans. Given the large number of loans that have recently been put back to subprime lenders due to high default rates, subprime lenders' liquidity, and ability to remain solvent, have become even more precarious of late.
The immediate aftermath of a shortage of funding for subprime lenders will likely put additional pressure on the housing market, particularly on the low-priced end of the market. We note that subprime originations comprised roughly 20% of total mortgage origination in 2006. That said, we believe that sometime toward the latter half of 2007, when the subprime shakeout nears an end, the players that do remain in the subprime business may post better results, due to a potentially less competitive business environment.
Some of the companies with subprime exposure that we cover include Wells Fargo (WFC; ranked 3 STARS, hold), Countrywide Financial (CFC; ranked 2 STARS, sell), and Washington Mutual (WM; ranked 3 STARS, hold). Investment banks like Morgan Stanley (MS; ranked 3 STARS, hold) and Merrill Lynch (MER; ranked 3 STARS, hold) have recently entered the subprime business as well. We caution, though, that over the next few months some of these players may suffer further setbacks with their subprime business, as default rates will likely continue to rise.
Over the long term, we believe the rise in bankruptcies of smaller subprime lenders will benefit the larger players. We think industry players with deep pockets and extensive experience in the subprime market will gain significant market share after the subprime fallout runs its course.
Benefits of Consolidation
Wells Fargo, the largest subprime originator in the U.S., as ranked by National Mortgage News, stands to benefit from less competition in the mortgage arena. However, in the near term, Wells Fargo is still exposed to further deterioration in the subprime market. Wells Fargo, where about 20% of mortgage originations are in the subprime area, does not offer option adjustable-rate mortgages, negative amortizing, interest-only, or low documentation mortgage products—another longer-term benefit for the company.
Citigroup (C; ranked 5 STARS, strong buy), another large player in the subprime market, although primarily through fixed-rate products, could also stand to benefit from consolidation.
However, one short-term negative for large players like Wells Fargo and Citigroup could be their equity stakes in smaller companies, especially if these smaller companies enter bankruptcy (see BusinessWeek.com, 3/7/07, "The Mortgage Mess Spreads"). Citigroup, through ClearBridge Asset Management, held a 3.5% stake in New Century, as of Dec. 31. Wells Fargo, through Wells Capital Management, owned a 3.8% stake in Fremont General (FMT), another troubled subprime lender, as of Dec. 31.


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Rarely available unit at popular Emerson House on the Park, 2301 N St NW in the West End. One Bed plus den, corner unit with two large balconies. One garage space and storage unit included. Steps to Dupont, Rock Creek Park, Trader Joe's and Georgetown.
Compared to other major East Coast metropolises in the United States where skyscrapers and monoliths dwarf pedestrian life, Washington D.C. feels like a city built on a human scale. An ordinance first passed in 1899 capped the maximum height of new residential and commercial buildings, which today stands at roughly 12 stories.En savoir plus sur les propriétés de luxe à Washington


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Tuesday, July 19, 2011
POTS Syndrome and Faith, Part I
In September of 2009 I got really sick. It started out with a virus that never got better. My doctor put me on antibiotics. And then more antibiotics. And more, different antibiotics. This same doctor didn't order correct tests for me and failed to look at my medical history, and was later investigated for negligence. But that's a different story. So on one of these antibiotic trips, I decided I'd get a flu shot too. That night, I had a bad reaction. Fever, chills and arm pain. I knew that people got reactions to the flu vaccine, so I went to work the next day. While I was at work, I knew that I was really sick and dehydrated. I called into my doctor's office and they immediately set me up with an IV to get some fluids in. My husband was called to come get me. I felt a bit better, but the next day I ended up in the hospital to get more IV fluids. This would become routine for me. I'd had to get IV fluids during college a few times, but had always attributed it to partying, stressing out and not taking care of myself.
My health started to decline more. I was tired all the time, my heart was racing and I'd be on the verge of blacking out. I couldn't stand without being extremely out of breath. I'd overheat while doing something easy like talking on the phone, and I'd go through bottles and bottles of Pedialyte and Gatorade a day. I couldn't keep any fluids in.
I went to a number of doctors who couldn't figure it out. I was tested for hyperthyroidism, diabetes, and all sorts of other things. I knew that something was wrong with my heart, but I'd had EKGs and they weren't able to find anything except a rapid heart rate.
I went through life half alive. I couldn't make through a whole day of work, I was too tired to read or watch TV, and was gasping walking up the flight of stairs to my apartment. I'd been to about 5 doctors at that point, and no one had a clue, except that I was getting worse.
My husband, who was in law school at the time, was taking a class with a girl he knew had a disability. He didn't know what was wrong with her, but he noticed that we had a similar body shape and that she walked like I did, kind of unsteadily and off-balanced. One day he decided to go up to her and ask what her illness was, all on the chance that it might help me. While he was talking to her, he found out that she had the same symptoms that I did. She wrote down all of her symptoms for him, questions to take to my doctor, things that made her feel better, and the name of an amazing cardiologist. She had been diagnosed a year prior with Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS Syndrome). Mr. Bee immediately texted me and let me know about his friend. I didn't want to get my hopes up, but she sounded exactly like me. The symptoms all fit to a tee.
I had another doctor's appointment the next day with a specialist. I'd asked him about POTS Syndrome, but he had never heard of it. He listened to my heart and did another EKG, but didn't find anything conclusive. He was pretty sure I had an issue, but wanted me to go to a cardiologist.
That night, I switched my primary care doctor (I had an HMO) so I'd be able to see the cardiologist Mr. Bee's friend had recommended. I was able to get in with the primary doctor a few days later, and he gave me the recommendation to see the cardiologist.
Continued later...
6 comments:
Oh wow. I imagine that was a very frightening time! I'm glad your hubby had the idea to talk to his friend!ReplyDelete
- AnonymousJuly 19, 2011 at 11:59 AM
Hi Katie (this is Michelle) I can only comment as Anonymous, but I want to tell you how very scary that all sounds, and I'm sorry you had to go through this. Part of this struck a nerve with me though. I've had some health issues and have a very rapid heart rate with no known causes. I was hospitalized for 10 days for a virus but they were worried because my heart rate was so rapid the entire time. I never did further testing and I still don't know what causes my heart to do this. I don't think I have this syndrome, but this reminded that I need to get checked out. Thanks for sharing!!ReplyDelete
It sounds like the Mr is one amazing and supportive man!ReplyDelete
how awesome of your hubs for watching out for you! and i'd NEVER sit these out, i always like learning new things, especially if it's about awesome peeps =)ReplyDelete
Your husband sounds very supportive and wonderful! I also know how one day your life can change. Thanks for sharing your story!ReplyDelete
Thank you so much for sharing! I'm so glad you took charge of your healthcare and got the help you needed.ReplyDelete


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#1: Help With Clumping
So I have newly started CG, but my hair will not clump. I co-wash, then condition the length of my hair. After this I rinse out a tiny bit, and apply KCKT. After this I have been experimenting with a mixture of products. Generally, I apply DevaCurl Frizz-Free Volumizing Foam, then L.A. Looks Sport Gel or DevaCurl Spray Gel. Recently, I have been adding KCCC after KCNT for a looser look. However, I cannot get my hair to clump. I think I may need to moisturize my hair more, but I really have no idea what to do to get my hair to clump. I would appreciate any help. Thank You.


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Real-money stock picks from some of The Motley Fool's most popular analysts.
View Motley Portfolio Holdings Calendar
Jason has decided to discontinue his portfolio. Thank you for your interest. You might consider following another one of our other Real-Money Stock Picks analysts.
Jason's interest in investing started when he was just a child, thanks to his father. This passion led him to study economics in college. After seven years as a PGA club professional, he traveled the world with his wife and daughters before finding his way to Fool HQ as an analyst for Stock Advisor. One part Graham and one part Lynch just about sums up Jason's investing style. Never one to shy away from a compelling story, he also wants to make sure he is paying a fair price and believes that many of the best investments are the ones right before our very eyes.


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Compare the calls: Yunel Escobar starts an amazing double play
by Steve Carney, 620 WDAE
Last night in Boston, Rays fans saw one of the most amazing plays of the year, as Yunel Escobar began a double play by Dustin Pedroia by glove-flipping the baseball behind his back to a barehanded Ben Zobrist.
Check out both the television call from both Dewayne Staats and Brian Anderson on Sun Sports, and then the radio call from Dave Wills here on 620 WDAE!
Click here and tell us on our Facebook page which one you like better!


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Long-distance routes and tour tips
The palaces and residences along this route through the Märkisch Oderland region take you back to the time of Prussian pomp and splendour.
This long-distance cycle route, awarded four stars for quality, traces a figure of eight through the Märkisch Oderland countryside as it links a series of palatial buildings, many of which are nestled in beautiful parks. Of particular note are Neuhardenberg Palace, Schloss Gusow and Beeskow moated castle. In between, you ride along the roads as the lords and ladies once did in their carriages, enjoying the scenery offered by the Oderbruch marshland and the many lakes. So plenty of attractions along the way before your thoughts return to the present day.
Terrain: flat to hilly, but no rough terrain; With the exception of some unsurfaced sections, the paths are mainly on asphalt. Not always traffic-free.
Scenery: rural regions with fields and woodland, sometimes beside water, with tree-lined avenues; palaces and stately residences.
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Brian Williams can't escape the NBC military analyst controversy on his blog
Blog ››› ››› ERIC BOEHLERT
Media Matters' David Brock isn't the only one urging NBC execs to come clean regarding their role in the pressing Pentagon Pundit scandal.
As Jim Romenesko noted, Williams' critics are using his blog to press him on why NBC is boycotting a story in which they are the central player.
From Dayton Ohio:
Hi Brian - I like you (really) and watch your show most evenings. But your failure, last night, to even acknowledge the prominent NYT article about NBC's relationship with Barry McCaffrey was cowardly and calls your credibility into serious question.
From Los Angeles:
I hope that this time you will address the serious, undisclosed conflicts of interest, as detailed on the New York Times front page about your military analyst Barry McCaffrey and his Defense Solutions. You are seriously harming your credibility by avoiding addressing this, and that of NBC News.
And from Naples, Florida:
Brian -after reading all of these comments, don't you feel any obligation or duty to speak of the General McCaffrey affair? Integrity is earned over a long period of time by being honest in actions and motives. If that ethical integrity is in any way compromised, it is difficult to repair the damage.
Will Williams ever acknowledge his readers concerns? Or is his blog just a p.r. vehicle to drum up viewers?
Instructions for signing up and claiming your comment history are located here.
Updated rules for commenting are here.


text:
They fought above the clouds with Hooker at Lookout Mountain.
She has gone to Chattanooga with them, and they are up on Lookout Mountain.
About six o'clock that evening it went into quarters at the foot of Lookout Mountain.
It was at the battle of Lookout Mountain on November 24, 1863.
The scenery in and around Chattanooga and Lookout Mountain is grand, far beyond pen picturing.
The summit of the Lookout Mountain overlooks the whole country.
Lookout Mountain commanded this; and not to hold Lookout was practically to announce a purpose to retreat into middle Tennessee.
And none of your men got up on Lookout Mountain any quicker'n we did.
I reached there just in time to see the famous moonlight battle on Lookout Mountain.
It lost 186 men at Chancellorsville, and at Lookout Mountain lost 74 and captured five flags.