text:
Member Since: October 25, 2010
Country: United States
As Dan said, your milage WILL vary, but for anecdotal reference:
I used these in a project transmitting a small data packet twice a second. The basics were:
434 MHz, with 2.4 kbps data rate, GFSK modulation, 45 kHz frequency deviation, +20 dBm output power and these antennae:
With the transmitters sitting on my desk, I got the receiver out the door of the office and about 200 m up the road before the signal dropped out (industrial area). That was more than sufficient for the project so I didn't experiment much further. You'd probably do 50 to 100 % better with a 14 cm piece of wire on both ends for antennae, but my project was space-constrained.
Higher over-the-air data rates will reduce power consumption but would probably reduce the range - by how much I couldn't guess.
SI Labs has an Excel spreadsheet that helps you work out a lot of the register settings. See the EZRadioPro Register Calculator under Design Tools:
The radios I got were revision B1, but I got them direct from Hope RF before SparkFun started carrying them. I'm 90% sure SparkFun has revision B1 units. You can figure it out by reading register 0x01, which will return 0x06 in revision B1 units.
The transceiver chip the unit is based on (the SI4432) will do the full frequency range, but I'm pretty sure the other components on the board (antenna matching components) are tuned for the 433 MHz band.
Given the speed at which these went, maybe there's a market for SparkFun to sell collections of common surface mounts parts. $10 bag of common 0805 resistors, $10 bag of common 0805 capacitors, $30 bag of common surface mount semiconductors etc.
Pretty sure they're V2. Register 0x01 returns 2 on the units I have.
I'd love to know what settings / code you used to get this sort of range. With the SparkFun example code above I get ~30m. I can extend it a little by lowing the data rate right down but it's still nowhere near 800m.
No public wish lists :(


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[Thread Index]
[Author Index]
Hilbert Transform problems
Hi, I'm wondering if someone can help me produce a useful
result on the Hilbert transform of what I call a wideband
wavelet. I got the basic HilbertTransform definition off the
Wolfram site. It seems to me the transform of this wavelet
exists (it becomes a symmetrical wavelet) but I can only get
a very spiky result where the true result can barely be seen
under the noise. The procedure seems to be having all kinds
of problems dealing with singularities. I added the
Method->Oscillatory because without it, the result appears
to be only noise. I've tried all kinds of Methods and other
options but none have helped - most make it worse.
I'd like to say that in the past I have received many very
helpful things here but when I try to repost a reply with
thanks and explanations, I never see it posted. But
sometimes a new posting does make it. Please let me post my
thanks here in advance.
My current best code with all converted to "Input Form" is
below. (Why my notebook does not put my entries in Input
Form -they are in Standard Form --I've never figured out.)
5.1 for Microsoft Windows (January 27, 2005)
HilbertTransform[f_, x_, y_, (assum___)?OptionQ] :=
Integrate[f/(x - y), {x, -Infinity, Infinity}, Method ->
Oscillatory, PrincipalValue -> True, assum]/Pi
w = 5.; a = 1.;
s[t_] := Sin[w*t]*Exp[-(t/a)^2];
Plot[s[t], {t, -10, 10},PlotRange->All]
f[y_] = HilbertTransform[s[t], t, y]
Plot[f[x], {x, -3, 3}]
(for email, remove the IV)

subset: commoncrawl


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U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon and British Foreign Secretary David Miliband declared themselves appalled by the "blood bath" that took place over the weekend in Sri Lanka. An estimated 430 civilians—of whom at least 100 were children—have been killed in fighting between Tamil Tiger rebels and government forces on the country's northeastern coast. The question of whether Sri Lanka should receive a loan from the IMF is now on the table.
BBC News:
[Ban] urged Sri Lanka "to explore all possible options to bring the conflict to an end without further bloodshed" and asked the rebels to agree to a halt in the fighting.
The UK foreign secretary was in New York for a Security Council debate on the Middle East but he and Mr Kouchner also conducted a meeting on Sri Lanka with 10 of the 15 countries on the Security Council and aid workers and advocacy groups.
Russia, China and Vietnam were not there, arguing that say there is no need for the Security Council to take action as what is happening is a civil war, not a threat to international peace and security.
AP photo
Ethnic Tamils wounded in weekend fighting wait for treatment outside a makeshift hospital in a "safe zone" in Mullivaaykaal, Sri Lanka, on Sunday.


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Australia: Chinese President Addresses Parliament
Gutted Church Building Leaves Egyptian Copts with Debt
The following article reports on the latest news of persecution in Egypt.
Christians Hail Dissolution of Egyptian Parliament
The following article reports on the political crisis in Egypt and Christian hopes for better days ahead.
The articles linked to above are by Compass Direct News and relate to persecution of Christians around the world. Please keep in mind that the definition of 'Christian' used by Compass Direct News is inclusive of some that would not be included in a definition of Christian that I would use or would be used by other Reformed Christians. The articles do however present an indication of persecution being faced by Christians around the world.
The Taliban have moved onto the offensive in Afghanistan with a massive co-ordinated attack. Embassies in Kabul have been targeted, including the British, German, Russian and US embassies, as well as the Afghan Parliament and the NATO headquarters. There are also attacks on other sites in the city. The attacks have been going on now for at least two hours and are continuing.
It is not just Kabul that is under attack, there are attacks also in the cities of Jalalabad, Pul-e-Alam and Gardez.
For more, visit:
– http://www.newsday.com/news/nation/taliban-attack-afghan-capital-3-other-cities-1.3661714
– http://www.euronews.com/newswires/1483048-multiple-attacks-on-kabul-taliban-claims-spring-offensive/
Hindu group declares country a Hindu state; upper castes seek halt to conversions.
KATHMANDU, Nepal, April 19 (CDN) — With the government refusing to listen to their three-year plea for an official cemetery and ignoring a protracted hunger strike, Nepal's Christians are now seeking redress from the Supreme Court.
"Every day there are two to three deaths in the community, and with each death we face a hard time with the burial," said Chari Bahadur Gahatraj, a pastor who filed a petition in the high court on March 13 asking it to intervene as authorities of Nepal's oldest Hindu temple had begun demolishing the graves of Christians there.
Gahatraj and Man Bahadur Khatri are both members of the newly formed Christian Burial Ground Prayer and National Struggle Committee that since last month began leading a relay hunger strike in a public area of the capital, asking for a graveyard. They said they were forced to go to court after the Pashupati Area Development Trust (PADT), which runs Nepal's oldest Hindu shrine, the Pashupatinath temple, said it would no longer allow non-Hindus to use the temple's forested land.
"We don't want to hurt the sentiments of any community," Gahatraj told Compass. "Nor are we trying to grab the land owned by a temple. We are ready to accept any plot given to us. All we are asking for is that the burials be allowed till we get an alternate site."
Judge Awadhesh Kumar Yadav has since ordered the government and PADT not to prevent Christians from using the forest for burials until the dispute is resolved. The legal battle, however, now involves a counter-suit. Hindu activist Bharat Jangam filed a second writ on March 20, saying that since the forest was the property of a Hindu temple, non-Hindus should not be allowed to bury their dead there just as churches do not allow Hindu burials.
Subsequently, the court decided to hear the two petitions together, and yesterday (April 18), the hearings began. While two lawyers argued on behalf of Gahatraj and Khatri, a cohort of 15 lawyers spoke against their petition. The next hearing is scheduled for May 3.
Along with the legal battle, Christians have kept up their relay hunger strike. To step up pressure on the government, the protestors also announced they would lead a funeral march to the offices of the prime minister and the culture minister and hand over coffins to them as a symbolic protest. If that too failed, they warned they would have no option but to go on hunger strike in front of the prime minister's office and parliament, this time carrying dead bodies with them.
Alarmed at the rate the issue was snowballing, the government finally responded. Yesterday Culture Minister Gangalal Tuladhar opened talks with the protestors, agreeing to continue the negotiations after three days. The government also formed a four-member committee to look into the demand. Currently, Christians are asking for cemetery land in all 75 districts of Nepal.
Protestors were wary of the government's intent in the overture.
"This could be a ploy to buy time and bury the issue," said a member of the Christian committee formed to advise parliament on drafting the new constitution, who requested anonymity.
Though the committee formed to look into the Christians' demand for burial land has been asked to present a report within two weeks, Christians suspect the panel is dragging its feet.
"The new constitution has to be promulgated by May 28, but it does not seem likely that the main political parties will be able to accomplish the task," the Christian committee member said. "And if the constitution doesn't materialize in time, there will be a crisis and our problem will be shelved."
Hindu Nation
Adding to their unease, Christians are now facing a redoubled campaign by Hindu groups for the restoration of Hinduism as the state religion, five years after parliament declared Nepal, the world's only Hindu kingdom, secular.
If the new constitution had been promulgated last year, it would have consolidated secularism in Nepal. But with the country missing the deadline due to protracted power-sharing rows among the major political parties, Christians still feel under threat.
On Thursday (April 14), when the country celebrated the start of the indigenous new year 2068 with a public holiday, the Rastriya Prajatantra Party-Nepal, which seeks the reinstatement of Hinduism as the state religion, kicked off a campaign at the Bhadrakali temple in Kathmandu. As curious onlookers and soldiers patrolling the nearby army headquarters looked on, party members fervently blew into conch shells and rang bells to draw people's attention to their demand.
The party, which is also seeking the restoration of monarchy, took some oblique shots at the Christian community as well.
"There is a deliberate and systematic attempt by organizations to convert Hindus," said Kamal Thapa, party chief and a former minister. "These organizations are guided by foreign powers and foreign funds. If the widespread conversion of Hindus is not stopped immediately, we will have to take stern measures."
Three days later, an umbrella of Hindu groups – the Rastriya Dharma Jagaran Mahasabha (the National Religion Resurrection Conference) held a massive gathering in the capital, declaring Nepal a "Hindu state" and meeting with no official objection. The proclamation came as the climax to a three-day public program calling for the restoration of "the traditional Hindu state." Several Hindu preachers and scholars from neighboring India attended the program, held on the grounds of the Pashupatinath temple, which is also a UNESCO-declared World Heritage Site.
The "Hindu state" proclamation was the brainchild of Shankar Prasad Pandey, a former member of parliament from Nepali Congress, the second largest party in Nepal, now in opposition. Though Pandey was a sitting Member of Parliament in 2006, when the body unanimously declared Nepal secular, he began opposing the move soon afterwards, leading four campaigns against it nationwide.
"I consider the nation and the Hindu religion to be more important than the party," said Pandey, known as the MP who began to go barefoot 32 years ago to show solidarity with Nepalese, who are among the poorest in the world. "Over 90 percent of the Nepalese want Nepal to be a Hindu state. However, the government is led by people whose only concern is power and money."
Pandey's campaign is supported by Hindu groups from India and the West: Narendranath Saraswati, who is the Shankaracharya or religious head of a prominent Hindu shrine in India's Varanasi city; Dr. Tilak Chaitanya, chief of a group in the United Kingdom that propagates the Gita, the holy book of the Hindus; and Tahal Kishore, head of a Hindu organization, Radha Krishna Sevashram, in the United States.
Two weeks before the May 28 deadline for the new constitution, Pandey and his followers plan to step up the campaign for a "Hindu state" in the capital. Though Pandey denies it could stir up animosity between the majority-Hindus and Christians – whose minority population is said to have crossed 2 million but is actually only 850,801, according to Operation World – there are fears of religious tension if not outright violence.
The Hindu rallies continue to grow as a pressure tactic. Yesterday (April 18), members of Nepal Brahman Samaj, an organization of "upper castes" from whose echelons temple priests are appointed, fought with security forces in front of parliament house, demanding their rights be respected and an end to conversions.
More Hindutva (Hindu nationalist) campaigning is scheduled on April 29, when the Rastriya Prajatantra Party-Nepal's Thapa has called for a mass gathering in the capital.
Report from Compass Direct News
Right to share faith could harm Nepal's Hindu identity, lawmakers believe.
KATHMANDU, Nepal, March 29 (CDN) — A new constitution that Nepal's parliament is scheduled to put into effect before May 28 may not include the right to propagate one's faith.
The draft constitution, aimed at completing the country's transition from a Hindu monarchy to a secular democracy, contains provisions in its "religious freedom" section that prohibit anyone from converting others from one religion to another.
Most political leaders in the Himalayan country seemed unaware of how this prohibition would curb religious freedom.
"Nepal will be a secular state – there is no other way," said Sushil Koirala, president of the Nepali Congress, Nepal's "Grand Old Party," but he added that he was not aware of the proposal to restrict the right to evangelism.
"Forcible conversions cannot be allowed, but the members of the Constituent Assembly [acting parliament] should be made aware of [the evangelism ban's] implications," Koirala, a veteran and one of the most influential politicians of the country, told Compass.
Gagan Thapa, another leader of the Nepali Congress, admitted that banning all evangelistic activities could lead to undue restrictions.
"Perhaps, the words, 'force, inducement and coercion' should be inserted to prevent only unlawful conversions," he told Compass.
Man Bahadur Bishwakarma, also from the Nepali Congress, said that of all the faith communities in Nepal, Christians were most active in converting others, sometimes unethically.
"There are problems in Hinduism, such as the caste hierarchy, but that doesn't mean you should convert out of it," he said. "I believe in reforming one's religion."
Asked if the restriction on converting others violated the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), Akal Bahadur of the Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) said, "It may, but there was a general consensus on it [the prohibition]. Besides, it is still a draft, not the final constitution."
Nepal signed the ICCPR on May 14, 1991. Article 18 of the ICCPR includes the right to manifest one's religion, which U.N. officials have interpreted as the right to evangelistic and missionary activities.
Akal Bahadur and Thapa are members of the Committee on Fundamental Rights and Directive Principles, which was tasked to propose the scope of religious freedom and other rights in the draft constitution. This committee, one of 11 thematic panels, last year submitted a preliminary draft to the Assembly suggesting that a person should be allowed to decide whether to convert from one religion to another, but that no one should convert anyone else.
Binda Pandey, chairperson of the fundamental rights committee and member of the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist Leninist), told Compass that it was now up to the Assembly to decide whether this provision violates religious freedom.
The Constitution Committee is condensing the preliminary drafts by all the committees as one draft constitution. At least 288 contentious issues arose out of the 11 committees, and the Constitution Committee has resolved 175 of them, Raju Shakya of the Kathmandu-based Centre for Constitutional Dialogue (CCD) told Compass.
The "religious freedom" provision with its ban on evangelism did not raise an eyebrow, however, as it is among the issues listed under the "Area of Agreement" on the CCD Web site.
Once compiled, the draft constitution will be subject to a public consultation, after which another draft will be prepared for discussion of clauses in the Constitutional Assembly; provisions will be implemented on a two-thirds majority, Shakya said.
Hindu Identity
Thapa of the fundamental rights committee indicated that religious conversion could become a contentious issue if the proposed restriction is removed. Even the notion of a secular state is not wholly accepted in the country.
"If you hold a referendum on whether Nepal should become a secular state, the majority will vote against it," Thapa said.
Most Hindus see their religion as an essential part of the country's identity that they want to preserve, he added.
Dr. K.B. Rokaya, the only Christian member of Nepal's National Commission for Human Rights, said Nepal's former kings created and imposed a Hindu identity for around 240 years because it suited them; under the Hindu ethos, a king should be revered as a god. Most of the numerous Hindu temples of Nepal were built under the patronage of the kings.
Rokaya added that Christians needed to be more politically active. The Assembly does not have even one Christian member.
According to the 2001 census, over 80 percent of Nepal's 30 million people are Hindu. Christians are officially .5 percent, but their actual number is believed to be much higher.
Nepal was the world's only Hindu kingdom until 2006, when a people's movement led by former Maoist guerrillas and supported by political parties, including the Nepali Congress and the Unified Marxist Leninist, ousted King Gyanendra.
An interim constitution was enacted in 2007, and the Constituent Assembly was elected through Nepal's first fully democratic election a year later. The Assembly was supposed to promulgate a new constitution by May 28, 2010, but its term was extended by one year.
It is still uncertain, however, whether the approaching deadline will be met due to persistent disagreements among parties. The Maoist party has 220 members, the Nepali Congress 110, and the Unified Marxist Leninist 103 in the 575-member Assembly.
Rokaya, a member of the newly formed United Christians Alliance of Nepal, comprising a majority of Christian denominations, said Christians would continue to ask for full religious freedom. The use of inducement or force for conversions is deplorable, but the right to preach the tenets of one's religion is a fundamental freedom, he added.
Report from Compass Direct News
Second suspect accused of 'blasphemy' is government informant, accused says.
ISTANBUL, December 9 (CDN) — A Christian in Afghanistan facing "apostasy" charges punishable by death is still without legal representation after authorities blocked a foreign lawyer's attempt to visit him in prison, sources said.
A Christian lawyer from the region who requested anonymity travelled to Kabul on behalf of Christian legal rights organization Advocates International two weeks ago to represent 45-year-old Said Musa (alternatively spelled Sayed Mossa). Authorities denied him access to Musa and to his indictment file.
"If a man is not entitled to define his own beliefs, and to change those ideas, under the existing constitutional order of Afghanistan, then how is this government more moral than the Taliban's?" the lawyer said in an e-mail to Compass.
After several court hearing postponements, Musa appeared before a judge on Nov. 27 without prior notice. Rejecting the case file as deficient, the judge sent it to the attorney general's office for corrections, according to the lawyer. The lawyer said he has deduced that the file was missing a formal indictment and other "incriminating" evidence.
The legal expert said that according to Afghan law, Musa is entitled to see a copy of the indictment and review the evidence against him, but authorities have denied him both rights. If the prosecutor does not present the court with an indictment within 15 days of arrest, the attorney said, an accused person has the right to be released. Musa has been in jail since May 31.
Suspicious Second Suspect
The prosecutor in charge of western Kabul, Din Mohammad Quraishi, said two men, Musa and Ahmad Shah, were accused of conversion to another religion, according to Agence France-Presse. But Musa's letters from prison and other sources indicate that Shah is a government informant posing as a Christian.
Musa and Shah appeared before the judge on Nov. 27 "shackled and chained" to each other, according to a source who was present. Though Shah, who was also arrested six months ago, has denied he is a Christian, the prosecutor said there was "proof" against him.
Musa and the other sources claim that Shah is an informant posing as a Christian in order to damage him and other Afghan Christians. They claim that Shah allegedly sent images of Christians worshiping to the country's most popular broadcaster, Noorin TV, which aired them in May.
The broadcast appeared on an Afghan TV show called "Sarzanin-e-man," or "My Homeland," hosted by Nasto Nadiri, 27, an outspoken opponent of the government and a parliamentary hopeful. Noorin TV station is opposed to the government and does what it can to "embarrass" it, a source said.
The broadcast put in motion the events that got Musa arrested, sources said. The hour-long TV show sparked protests throughout the country against Christians and a heated debate in parliament. In early June, the deputy secretary of the Afghan Parliament, Abdul Sattar Khawasi, called for the execution of converts from Islam.
Many converts to Christianity left the country, according to sources, and many were arrested, though the exact number is unknown.
Musa was concerned about the public outcry against Christians and went to his employer, the International Committee of the Red Cross/Red Crescent (ICRC), to request personal leave the morning of May 31. Authorities arrested him after he left the building, and his family could not locate him for nearly two months.
The Christian suffered sexual abuse, beatings, mockery and sleep deprivation because of his faith in Jesus in the first months of his detention. Last month, after quiet diplomatic efforts, authorities transferred him to the Kabul Detention Center in the Governor's Compound. There have been no reports of mistreatment since he was transferred.
The lawyer who tried to visit him said that all Afghans in the country are assumed to be Muslims, and this assumption is deeply ingrained in the culture. The result is lack of justice for the "deviants," he said.
"It is the greatest shame on a family, clan and the nation, that someone would consider to leave Islam," the lawyer told Compass. "I [saw] the face of the attorney general literally darken in distaste when he realized we came to assist this man who committed such a shameful offense. Therefore there are no 'rights' Christians can claim."
The lawyer said that from the perspective of the court, if Musa continues to stand for his faith in Jesus, he will certainly be found guilty of "apostasy," or leaving Islam.
Though no one knows when a court hearing will take place, monitors expect it could be any day and, as before, could come without warning. Musa is still looking for an Afghan lawyer that will agree to defend him in court.
In his latest letters from prison, Musa asked Christians to continue to pray for him and Afghanistan and "not give up."
An amputee with a prosthetic leg, Musa worked for the ICRC for 15 years, fitting patients for prosthetic limbs. He stepped on a landmine when serving in the Afghan Army, and his injury required the amputation of his right leg below the knee, according to World Magazine.
Married and the father of six young children, Musa has been a Christian for eight years.
Another Christian in Prison
Another Afghan Christian is in prison for his faith, sources said. Shoib Assadullah, 25, was arrested on Oct. 21 for giving a New Testament to a man who reportedly turned him in to authorities.
Assadullah is in a holding jail in a district of Mazar-e-Sharif, in northern Afghanistan. Sources said his family has been unsuccessful at procuring his release despite paying bribes to officials. As in Musa's case, because of the sensitivity of the charges, no lawyer has agreed to defend him. Assadullah has not reported any mistreatment while in prison.
He has stood before a judge at least once since his arrest. The judge asked him what faith he followed, and Assadullah told him he was a Christian, said a source who requested anonymity.
Although Assadullah's family has tolerated his new faith, they are not pleased with it, the source said, and a few days ago his father disowned him. Assadullah became a Christian about five years ago.
"He wants others to know that he is not frightened, and that his faith is strong," the source told Compass. "He is desperately missing having a Bible."
Assadullah asked that people pray that Afghan believers would stay strong in their faith, the source said.
Musa and Assadullah are the only known Christian converts from Islam in prison in Afghanistan, and both face probable apostasy charges punishable by death under sharia (Islamic law), which is still applied in the country.
Last month, in its 2010 International Religious Freedom Report, the U.S. State Department reported that respect for religious freedom in Afghanistan diminished in the last year, "particularly for Christian groups and individuals."
The constitution states that Islam is the "religion of the state" and that "no law can be contrary to the beliefs and provisions of the sacred religion of Islam." The report stated that conversion from Islam is understood by Islamic clergy, as well as many citizens, to contravene the tenets of Islam.
Nevertheless, the country has signed the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights stipulating religious freedom, including the freedom to change one's faith. The nation's constitution also provides a measure of religious liberties under Article 2, but Article 3 limits the application of all laws if they are contrary to the "beliefs and provisions of the sacred religion of Islam."
Another source who requested anonymity said the proceedings against Musa and Assadullah typify the intolerance and abhorrence inherent in Islam toward open-mindedness and progress. He said that the only sentence possible would be death, and that if Musa were freed his only recourse would be to leave the country or be killed.
The source voiced exasperation toward the international community and defenders of human rights for not speaking up for the Christians in prison.
"We try as much as we can to push things in order to reveal this unfair situation, knowing that Afghanistan is a signatory of the Human Rights Convention," he said. "But this serious failure of human rights is more or less accepted as a case 'so sensitive' that nobody wants to really fight against."
According to the state department report, estimates of the size of the Christian community in Afghanistan range from 500 to 8,000.
Report from Compass Direct News
Government punishes pastor for refusing to wear campaign T-shirt, amid other election abuses.
DUBLIN, November 18 (CDN) — Officials in Mergui Region, Burma, ordered a Baptist church to cease holding worship services after the pastor refused to wear an election campaign T-shirt supporting the military government's Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP).
The election commission summoned 47-year-old Pastor Mang Tling of Dawdin village, Gangaw township, Mergui Region on Nov. 9, two days after the election and ordered him to stop holding services and discontinue the church nursery program, the Chin Human Rights Organization (CHRO) reported yesterday.
The CHRO works against human rights abuses, including religious discrimination, for the Chin people, a minority group in Burma's northwest estimated to be 90 percent Christian.
Village headman U Than Chaung had given the pastor a campaign T-shirt to wear in support of the USDP, and when he refused to wear it, the headman filed a report with local authorities accusing him of persuading Christian voters to vote in favor of an opposing party.
Under Burmese law, religious leaders can be penalized for "engaging in politics," giving the pastor a solid legal reason to decline the T-shirt. The law also bans leaders of religious groups from voting in national elections, according to the CHRO, although lay members of those groups are able to vote.
"The election law is quite vague," a CHRO spokesman told Compass today. "One of the things we were watching out for during the election was to see if church elders or council members might be excluded from voting. But these people were able to vote. The law seems to apply only to pastors, monks and imams."
Officials interrogated Mang Tling in Gangaw until Sunday (Nov. 14), when he was allowed to return home.
Meantime, the USDP won the election amid widespread evidence of "advance" voting and other forms of voter manipulation throughout Burma.
Previously known as the Union Solidarity and Development Association, and before that the State Peace and Development Council, the USDP was formed by a ruling junta composed largely of army generals. The junta has ruled Burma without a constitution or parliament since 1998, although in 2008 they pushed through support for a new constitution that will take effect following this month's elections, according to the 2010 International Religious Freedom report released yesterday by the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor.
The new constitution forbids "abuse of religion for political purposes," the report stated. Election laws published in March also banned members of religious orders from voting for or joining political parties and reserved 25 percent of seats in the new parliament for members of the military.
The 2008 constitution "technically guarantees a degree of religious freedom. But then, it's Burma," a CHRO spokesman told Compass.
Voter Intimidation
The Chin National Party defeated the USDP in three electorates in Chin state despite reports of widespread voting anomalies, some of which were outlined in a CHRO press release on Nov. 7.
In Tedim township northern Chin state, for example, USDP agent Go Lun Mang went to the home of a local resident at 5 p.m. the day before the election and told the family that he had already voted on their behalf in favor of the USDP. He added that soldiers in a nearby camp were ready to arrest them if they complained.
On Nov. 5, the local government had already ordered village officials to instruct residents to vote for the USDP. On Nov. 7, the day of the election, USDP agents in campaign uniforms stood at the gate of the polling station in Tedim and asked voters if they intended to vote for the USDP. Those who said yes were allowed into the station, while those who said no were refused entrance.
USDP agents also warned Chin voters in Thantlang town that they should vote for the USDP "while the door was open" or they would regret it, Burma News International reported on Nov. 5.
David Mathieson, a senior researcher for Human Rights Watch (HRW), said the intimidation indicated that the junta and the USDP knew how unpopular they were.
Reports by the CHRO show a long history of discrimination against the majority Christian Chin, including the destruction of crosses and other Christian monuments, state-sponsored efforts to expand Buddhism, forced contributions of finance and labor to Buddhist construction projects, arrest and detention, torture and particularly harsh treatment of pastors. In addition, officials have refused construction for all new church building projects since 2003.
A report issued by HRW in January confirmed serious and ongoing abuses against Chin Christians.
One Chin pastor interviewed by HRW described how soldiers held him at gunpoint, forced him to pray in a Buddhist pagoda and told him that Burma was a Buddhist country where Christianity should not be practiced. (See "Report Documents Abuse of Chin Christians," Feb. 20.)
Suu Kyi's Release Stirs Guarded Hope among Burma's Christians
NEW DELHI, November 18 (Compass Direct News) – The release of democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi from house arrest in Burma on Saturday (Nov. 13) has sparked cautious optimism about human rights among Christians and the country's ethnic minorities even as the junta does battle with armed resistance groups.
Freeing her six days after elections, the military regime of Burma (also known as Myanmar) kept 1991 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Suu Kyi from running in the country's first election in 20 years, but ethnic minorities are still "very happy" and "enthused with hope and anticipation," said Plato Van Rung Mang, who heads the India chapter of Chin Human Rights Organization.
Suu Kyi is the only leader from the majority Burmese community – predominantly Buddhist – who is trusted by the ethnic minorities, said Mang, an India-based Christian originally from Burma's Chin state, which borders India.
"We have faith in Suu Kyi's honesty and leadership, and she has been our hope," he added.
The ethnic Chin, Kachin, Karen and Karenni people – many of whom are Christian – as well as mostly Buddhist ethnic Shan, Mon and Arakanese (some of them Muslim) people have been fighting for self-determination in their respective states and opposing the military junta's policy of centralized control and Burmese dominion.
"We trust that Suu Kyi can fulfill her father's ideal and political principles which have been subverted by the Burmese military junta's Burmanization policy," said Mang. Suu Kyi's father, Aung San, was the nation's leader at the time of independence and favored autonomy for ethnic minorities.
"Just as her father was trusted and held in high esteem by the ethnic people, Aung San Suu Kyi also has the ability to work together with the minorities to build a better, peaceful Burma where the human rights of all citizens are respected and protected," said Garrett Kostin, a U.S. citizen who runs the Best Friend Library, built by a Buddhist monk in support of Suu Kyi, in Chiang Mai in northern Thailand.
While sections of the ethnic communities have been involved in armed resistance against the junta's rule, many local residents in the region remain unarmed but are also at risk of being killed in the post-election conflict.
In the wake of the Nov. 7 election, as expected (See "Burma's Ethnic Christians Fear Bleak Future after Election, Oct. 22), clashes between armed ethnic groups and the Burmese army erupted in three of the seven ethnic states – Karen, Shan and Mon – mainly along Thailand and China border, reported Thailand-based Burma News International. The violence has resulted in an influx of over 20,000 people into Thailand – the largest flow in the last five years.
According to US-based Refugees International, the Thai government forced many of the asylum seekers back.
There are also tensions in Kachin and Karenni states, which could erupt at any time, between the Burmese army and the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army, the Karen National Union, the Kachin Independence Army, the Shan State Army-North, and the Karenni National Progressive Party.
Rights advocates, however, were still heartened by Suu Kyi's release.
It's "a wonderful opportunity for the ethnic minorities of Burma to unify in support of each other's rights and desires," said Kostin.
In September 2007, many Buddhist monks joined democracy activists in street protests against the military regime's decision to cut fuel subsidies, leading to a sharp rise in gas and diesel prices. Known as the Saffron Revolution, the protests resulted in hundreds of deaths as government security personnel resisted it militarily.
In numerous clashes between the repressive military regime and political opponents and ethnic minorities, over 3.5 million Burmese have been displaced and thousands killed over the years.
Suu Kyi will continue to enjoy the trust of ethnic minorities because "she has been working so hard since the beginning [of her political career] to speak out about the plight of ethnic people with an honest and sincere commitment," said Bangkok-based Soe Aung, deputy secretary for Foreign Affairs of the Forum for Democracy in Burma.
Chiang Mai-based Christian relief group Free Burma Rangers (FBR) recalled that Suu Kyi, the general secretary of the National League for Democracy, along with allies won more than 80 percent of the seats in parliament "in Burma's only truly democratic election" in 1990. "The military regime, however, did not recognize the results and continued to hold power," it said in a statement.
Last week's election was "neither free nor fair," FBR said, adding that "thousands of political prisoners [estimated at 2,200] are still in jail, ethnic minorities are attacked [on a regular basis], and the people of Burma remain under oppression.
"Still, we are grateful for the release of Aung San Suu Kyi as she is a leader who gives real hope to the people of Burma."
An FBR team leader who spoke on condition of anonymity recalled Suu Kyi requesting his prayers when he met with her during a brief period when she was not under house arrest in 1996.
"The Global Day of Prayer for Burma and the ethnic unity efforts we are involved in are a direct result of that meeting," the leader said. "As she told me then, one of her favorite quotes is, 'You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.'"
Some Christians, however, remained cautious.
"Although San Suu Kyi wants Burma to be a true federal country, there is no certainty in the hearts of the Karen people because they have suffered for very long, and the so-called Burmese have turned their backs on them several times," said a Karen Christian from Chiang Mai who identified himself only as Pastor Joseph.
La Rip, a Burmese activist in China, also said that while Suu Kyi deserved to enjoy freedom, she and her party "do not seem to have a clear idea on how to solve the long-standing issues" related to ethnic minorities.
For her part, Suu Kyi spelled out a plan to hold a nationwide, multi-ethnic conference soon after she was freed. Her father held a similar meeting, known as the Panglong Conference, in 1947. Aung San, then representing the Burmese government, reached an agreement with leaders from the Shan, Kachin and Chin states to accept full autonomy in internal administration for the ethnic controlled frontier areas after independence from Britain.
Suu Kyi's planned conference is seen as the second Panglong Conference, but it remains uncertain if the new Burmese regime, which is likely to be as opposed to ethnic minorities as the junta, will allow her plan to succeed.
In the awaited election results, the junta's proxy party, the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), is likely to have majority in parliament to form the next government. Suu Kyi's party had been disbanded by the military regime, and only a small splinter group ran in the election.
It is also feared that Suu Kyi, who was under house arrest for nearly 15 years since 1990 until her release last weekend, could face assassination attempts or fresh charges followed by another term under arrest.
Burma has a population of around 50 million, out of which around 2.1 million are estimated to be Christian.
Report from Compass Direct News


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Retail Zone Manager Salaries
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How much does a Retail Zone Manager make? The median annual Retail Zone Manager salary is $167,039, as of May 30, 2017, with a range usually between $138,383-$211,395, however this can vary widely depending on a variety of factors. Our team of Certified Compensation Professionals has analyzed survey data collected from thousands of HR departments at companies of all sizes and industries to present this range of annual salaries for people with the job title Retail Zone Manager in the United States.
This chart describes the expected percentage of people who perform the job of Retail Zone Manager in the United States that make less than that annual salary. For example the median expected annual pay for a typical Retail Zone Manager in the United States is $167,039, so 50% of the people who perform the job of Retail Zone Manager in the United States are expected to make less than $167,039.
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Manages multiple regional managers within a geographic region. Adjusts sales goals and procedures as appropriate for each manager and store based on goals set for the whole zone. Designs and recommends regional sales and marketing promotions and sets short- and long-term retail sales strategies for the zone. Requires a bachelor's degree with at least 15 years of experience in the field. Familiar with a variety of the field's concepts, practices, and procedures. Relies on extensive experience and judgment to plan and accomplish goals. Performs a variety of tasks. Leads and directs the work of others. A wide degree of creativity and latitude is expected. Typically reports to top management. View full job description
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Indybay FeatureRelated Categories: East Bay | Education & Student Activism
40+ I-880 arrestees released in Oakland; those in Santa Rita trickling out
I believe all 40+ of us who were being held at Glenn Dyer in Oakland got released this morning and are safe (though exhausted, and some injured by cops).
The rest of the arrestees are just now being released from Santa Rita. We all got charged with unlawful assembly and obstruction of a public place (both misdemeanors).... Lots of us (myself included) have a court date of 4/5, 9AM at Wiley Manuel Courthouse in Oakland.
several people (at least 2 at oakland and 1 at santa rita) are being held on bail, charges of resisting arrest and or assault. so not everyone is out from north county.
At least some of the Oakland people have 4/2 dates, not 4/5. Could someone post information about supporting the folks who are not released, and who is coordinating legal support for them?
Comments (Hide Comments)
Friday Mar 5th, 2010 9:17 PM
Came through big time at Santa Rita today. You should have filled out the outtake form and they will be in touch. They also met with individuals being held over the wknd. Please followup with the NLG if you did not do outtake at 415-285-1011.
Friday Mar 5th, 2010 11:36 PM
who knew while we were holding it down in SF that our oakland brothers and sisters really were 'shutting it down'! you guys are brave as hell and I respect and send my best wishes for your courage yesterday. I'm gonna do what I can to come to the court hearings and support you. if there are carpools from the city, plz post info here so we dont have to support the BART to support you!
~in solidarity!
Friday Mar 5th, 2010 11:39 PM
one person from downtown oakland received a resisting arrest charge. another person is most likely receiving another charge that is not confirmed. they were transfered to santa rita. most likely the people who are going to see a judge will be givin a court date that can be posted, and people could go to that to support them. that would be really great. that will be posted when it becomes available.
Saturday Mar 6th, 2010 11:11 PM
I can confirm that another arrestee, Tim Simons, is still being held in Santa Rita after being charged with resisting arrest. He needs our support so he can get out of that shithole as fast as possible!
Monday Mar 8th, 2010 4:04 PM
as far as i know he has only misdemenor charges and he called and said his arraignment was this morning at 9 and he thought he would be released. I haven't heard from him or found anything in the news about those still being held in santa rita, so let me know if anyone knows whats going on with it!!!


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Sunday Citar | NestingPin It
To succeed, jump as quickly at opportunities as you do at conclusions!
Check out more Sunday Citar posts over at FRESH MOMMY! Add your quotes there!
Posted by Amy Renea at 7:19 AM said...
Labels: Photography
Great quote and pic!
Have a blessed Sunday!
Such a great picture. And a great post. Wishing you all the best in this new year : )
Truly an inspiring quote to live by.
Hopefully vast opportunities come to you and you will be jumping continually.
Have a Great Sunday, Amy
i love everything about this. beautiful.
Wow what a great quote... I will use that in my oppurtunities... Blessings
great inspiration!
A lovely reminder. :)
This is how THE BOOK began. ...and when I turned in my first draft, it looked more like this: ...and this is just one wall -- ...


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Teflon tape or teflon pipe joint compound?
I am installing the faucets in my bathroom and was using this Teflon pipe joint compound. It seems to work pretty good, I can always remember not knowing if I had enough teflon tape on the threads, or sometimes I had too much and it wouldnt tighten enough, etc. This paste kinda takes the guess work out of it. Any reason why I shouldnt be using it on all these connections?
Age-old question, tape or compound?
Use the one that you like best that works for you...6 of one, half dozen of another, IMHO.
I use both (but usually tape). If you use tape, just make sure that you wrap it clockwise only as the threaded end faces you so that screwing on the fitting won't undo the tape.
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Music currently played affects children's behaviour
Dear Editor,
There are a lot of questions and comments about the way our young people are behaving in society today and lots of people are blaming parents, but because of the situation in Guyana, people are scared to scold their children, and because they cannot do that some of the children have become uncontrollable which has resulted in many of them being involved in violent fights, drugs and crime. People are always asking how our society is turning that way, and there are lots of answers but no one seems to be interested in helping, especially for free.
If one were to keep track of music, for example, one would notice that it has changed tremendously, and if you force yourself to listen to some of it you will get an idea of the rapid change in children's behaviour. There is music where the artiste/singer is saying what should be done about gays/lesbians, how to abuse women physically, how an individual should treat someone who is not a friend ("dissing" them), what to do sexually, etc. Lately the expletives in some of these songs are overbearing, but they could be heard blaring in taxis and minibuses, especially in the hotplate ('shine'/popular) buses. Only last year a minister could have gone into a studio and stopped the playing of a song that was saying things about him and his government, but to date none of the songs that are more dangerous could be stopped.
What is even sadder is that the sound sets could be heard playing these songs as well and the DJs would add their bit and even advise some of the revellers, especially the women, to do obscene things to entertain the crowd. Many of these sets have cds that they burn to promote their sound system, and these could be heard playing all over. At the Leonora turn a billboard has been placed by one of the local phone companies supporting the people of a sound system, and these people are some of those guilty of these actions. Why a company would support people like these is a question they should answer, because there is no way anyone could accept them as role models after listening to them play.
Editor, lots of parents provide cell phones, ipods, mp3 players, etc, and they would assume they know the purpose for which one of these is being used. If they forced a youngster to hand it over and listen to the music they have on it, they might be surprised at the contents. How we could stop it is another question.
Yours faithfully,
Sahadeo Bates
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|Half Baths
|3,100 sq. ft.
|Property type
|Minimum Stay
|7 nights
If you enjoy beautiful views of the beach and living in the dunes then this is a great house for you. The crystal clear water and fine sand beach has made St George one of the top picks by 'Dr Beach'.
Sports Illustrated shot their 2012 Swimsuit Model cover at Apalachicola & St George Island.
State Park on island is consistently voted best in America.
This is a modern 2 story, 5 bedroom, 4.5 bath house built in 2003 with all the amenities including elevator. There are 2 master bedrooms with King size beds, one Queen size bed and 2 kids room both with bunk beds. We sleep a total of 14 (12 in beds and one new pull out couch). There is an Elevator (Deposit required for use)
Enjoy the kayak that comes with the rental and paddle with the dolphins or kick back and enjoy reading a book on the peaceful beach.
If you want to watch some TV, each bedroom and the two living rooms have TV's. The kids love to play Ping Pong on the porch!
Keywords: Estate, Villa, Cottage, beach, Island, private
We are a Norwegian family that moved to Texas in 2001. We love the beach and St George allows us to have some fun family time together. We hope you enjoy our house as much as we do and come back in the future.
Sissel Thorsen purchased this house in 2010
You will enjoy a one acre property with a private walk way to the beach. We really enjoy the relaxed atmosphere and the ease of walking back and forth to the beach. We always leave a base camp on the beach during the day. Since taking over in 2011 we continue to upgrade the house. We added all new steel appliances, built walkway to beach, installed louvres on the side of the garage, landscaped the property, built new stone patio with fire pit, some new artwork and furniture. Just remodeled kitchen cabinets in 2017!!! We will continue to do so as we see it as our home and are happy that others may enjoy it as well.
Waking up to the beautiful sounds on St George and drinking a hot cup of Java while watching the dolphin swim by gives us a joy we can't find many places.
My husband and I recently stayed at Pelican Watch with my Elderly parents, brother, sister n law and 2 small fur babies. I can't say enough about the house. We had plenty of room to allow for our privacy. We loved meeting up in the mornings on the top porch for coffee. There was so much to do. The beach was the best. You have a beautiful home and we so much appreciate you sharing it with us.
We are a family of 8 adults and one dog that had a fantastic time! A very beautiful home that has plenty of room and privacy with 5 bedrooms and 4 & 1/2 baths. We are from Tampa and drove over 5 hours (passing lots of beaches) to get here and so glad we did! Very peaceful, private, rustic beach (no speed boats, jet skis, no planes flying over with ad banners, no condos or high rise hotels). The home was beautifully decorated and provided everything we needed other than food. We prepared every meal for 5 days and had plenty of dishes, pots & pans. Ping pong was fun in the evenings. The young adults loved the kayak and even took a bike ride to the light house & museum one afternoon; and We took a short walk to the state park along the beach another afternoon. We all agreed that what we will miss most is having every meal together (breakfast, lunch & dinner) on the porch listening to the waves, the gentle breeze and the wonderful view. Lots to do, but everything felt relaxed and slow...the perfect vacation. Also, you can view the sunrise & sunset from the upper porch!
Sissel, the owner was excellent to work with and provided quick responses to each of my questions/emails.
FYI: bring groceries with you, as the only local market on the island is very expensive with limited choices!
AWESOME house and location. Short walk to the beach. Our dogs loved it as much as we did. Great time watching Dolphins swimming along the coast in the mornings, watching the shrimping boats at night. Very nice house and accommodations. We will be going back.
We've been coming to St George for over 20 years and this may be my favorite house that we have rented. Nice big lot and great beachfront view. Tons of space - we fit 12 easily. Plenty of nice additional amenities like bikes, kayak, beach chairs, ping pong. Brand new boardwalk - no splinters! Easy beach walk to the state park, or just a few minutes on bicycle. Decor is attractive. Elevator came in handy with groceries and luggage.
Our large family of 9 (seven kids from college to 2nd grade) made the long trek from Texas to Pelican Watch. Oh, was it ever worth it! Whatever you want to do you can do it here and do it with style. We swam, body surfed, collected seashells, watched dolphins while drinking coffee from the screened 2nd deck porch, napped, kayaked, caught sharks-stinkgray-redfish-speckled trout-pompano-and some other yellow striped fish that was pretty but we don't know what it was. The kayak was awesome to have!! The very first day my wife and I had a dolphin swim directly under it. What an incredible treat that was. It may seem like a small thing but the outside shower is very, very nice and convenient. This whole place is just perfect. I could go on and on but you need to stop reading reviews and reserve this place today. I guarantee you will be glad you did.
We had one of our very best weeks ever at St. George Island this past week and Pelican Watch was one of the reasons. Very well appointed and plenty of room for a large family. The kitchen was great and included all of the items we needed to make family dinners amazing! The appliances are all updated, the furnishings were very nice and the beds slept great (at least mine did!). This house truly has it all except for a pool but it's priced correctly for that. For some families, there may be more bunks than necessary and we could have used a regular bedroom instead of one of the bunk rooms but that's not a complaint really. We would love to stay here again and again and again. And I imagine we will! Thanks so much for allowing us to stay in your amazing home! Some great lifelong family memories were made here. I would recommend any large group considering this home for your vacation. There is no other home directly in front of this one but there is an empty lot there. The house is much closer to the beach than the photos appear. Everyone from our party was pleasantly surprised and happy with a much shorter walk to the beach than the photos would make you think. Thanks so much!!!
Pelican Watch is a first tier home with a private walkway to the beach. You can roll your kayak, cooler, or beach caddy all the way to the beach.
Just enjoy the beach scene or you can jet ski, paddle board, kite surf, swim, fish, kayak, and sail. Several rental spots on the island for a variety of water sports, the house comes with a tandem sit on top kayak. And when you head back we have and outdoor shower, sink and a great grill area to grill the catch of the day!.
A short 5 minute drive to boat launch or fishing pier in the Apalachicola Bay for bay fishing, shelling or boating.
The whole area is like a nature park, dolphins are spotted on a regular basis swimming by, turtles lay eggs on the beach and Bald Eagles nest in the area.
The area is famous for its oysters but plenty of others fresh seafood coming right out of the gulf and on to your plate! For the best food, I recommend Harry A's, and Up the Creek in Apalachicola they make some fantastic dishes. For a sunset drink, hit the Blue Parrot on the beach and enjoy live music. If you want to get out of the sun and enjoy a great atmosphere also with live music or watch live sports, go to Paddy's!
If you like to play Golf there is an excellent Golf Course about about 20 minutes drive away.
There is a private landing strip on the island which is open to the public but no refueling available. Apalachicola municipal airport is about a 10 minutes drive and refueling and rental car is offered there .
|Rate Period
|Weekend Night
|Monthly *
Summer 2017
May 14 2017 - Aug 11 2017
7 night minimum stay
Late Summer
Aug 12 2017 - Sep 10 2017
7 night minimum stay
Sep 11 2017 - Nov 17 2017
7 night minimum stay
Nov 18 2017 - Nov 26 2017
7 night minimum stay
Nov 27 2017 - Mar 2 2018
7 night minimum stay
|Tax Rate
* Approximate monthly rate. Actual rate will depend on the days of the month you stay.


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Revisiting the Gold Box games
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Revisiting the Gold Box games
November 14th, 2012, 18:58
(Well, despite my best efforts this became a semi-rant, I guess, so I'm giving you fair warning: Old geezer semi-rant follows.)
I got a crazy idea a couple of days back to go revisit the Gold Box games after long last. The idea is to go through them all, although I'm quite sure I will run out of steam well before I make it through all of them, but at least so far, after three evenings of playing, I'm really enjoying myself and going onwards with vigour.
I know I should have started with Pools of Radiance, I know, but I thought I'd perhaps last longer if I started with one of the later games with their refinements to the engine (albeit small, but hey, every little bit counts). I also wanted to try a game I had not played before, so POR was out because of that too. So, with these requirements, I chose to go with the Dragonlance Trilogy (I never had any of the games in the trilogy back in the day), starting with Champions of Krynn.
After the expected steep learning curve (it's been ages since I last touched any of the Gold Box games, so I'm practically starting anew) and the stiff early game experience with the clucky interface and all, plus the technical hurdles (took me some head-scratching to get saves working, for example), I've really surprised myself how much I'm liking the game. Granted, one must approach these games with patience and a willingness to do handwritten notes and mapping, and be ready for a lot of page-flipping through the journal and/or manual, which all require a whole different attitude than modern games, but regardless I'm really, truly and honestly, having a lot of fun. In order to not just chalk it down to old grognard's nostalgia for the yesterdays, I wrote down some observations of the game so far.
It is interesting how much the game conveys with so little narrative text (due to memory constraints back then). I'm convinced that this is partly because the terse text is in fact a spark for your imagination and you (sort of) fill in the rest. Had there been more text in larger chunks, it would have felt more of a literary thing than it is now and I would have expected more from it, writing-wise etc. Now, they act like small spoonfulls of the story that give you enough to envision what the whole soup is like. Now, if that's not a limping parable, I don't know what is. Heh. Anyway, it's a good reminder, that CRPGs don't have to be PST-like digital books to get their point across and story told.
Turn- and party-based combat goodness! Oh, how I've missed true turn-based combat with a large party (6 members) against a large amount of enemies (10+) in RPGs. This is bliss! I'd have thought I'd get bored by the quite limited range of enemies (and gear) or become frustrated by the, erm,
AD&D 1st (2nd?) edition rules, but no. Despite these limitations and the quite primitive interface and graphics, I'm having a blast. It just goes to show, IMO, that with all their modern bells and whistles, most CRPGs nowdays are quite hollow and soulless. They've been streamlined to offer little to no challenge and to practically play themselves with the player just watching the pretty show, that their essence, the very core of their being, has been lost. That's how I see it, anyways. I can't otherwise explain how a c. 20 years old game which requires a lot of effort to play is so much more fun for me, than any multimillion dollar AAA title of the last 5 years or so. (OK, I might exaggerate a bit here )
Also I find it sooo great, that this game has no influence of MMOs in it (e.g. there's no mention of DPS with weapons, there's a god-honest dice roll instead). I find it so refreshing that this game doesn't feel like it was designed by a committee, that it wasn't designed to have RPG
, that it wasn't designed to have cool achievements and whatnot to collect, that it wasn't designed to be played by exactly everyone (even those who don't actually like rpgs), and that it's not holding your hand every step of the way (your character can actually die in this game, you know).
Oh well, despite my rant, it still is quite a lot of effort these games require to play them. I hope I last long enough to at least finish one Gold Box game before running out of steam.
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Experience a wedding in a tropical island, only in Coco Beach.
For the Wedding Day:
Rate is per couple.
Inclusive of government tax and service charge.
For more information on our Wedding Package Computation.
For more information on our Honeymoon Package Computation.
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About a month ago, I took the day off and head over to Annie's Annual. The sun was just coming up, and the plants were looking striking such as this Gazania krebsiana . South African native…I read that this low growing ground cover is a source of food for some tortoises.
There's always a great collection of eclectic objects in their garden.
We have the silver version of this guy, Primula polyantha. I know ours has been loaded with flowers ever since planting it in our garden. Looks like the gold is just as floriferous.
Morning sun was spilling over the fence on this patch of Cotyledon orbiculata var. orbiculata. When planting succulents with glaucous leafs, I try to be delicate as the waxy surface rubs off easily.
I had a rare opportunity to check out some of their growing areas not open to the public. Here's one of their many propagation greenhouses. Lots O Little babies.
Hum…still on the fence with Violas, but they're growing on me and Viola 'Etain' is helping make the switch.
Another little plant with big bang for the small foot print, Heliophila longifolia should find its way into one of our containers soon. We can always use a little more color in our garden.
Morning sun lighting up the tips of this Echeveria subrigida. I ran around like a mad man burning off film before the sun rose too high in the sky. I always feel like early morning and late evenings are the best photo ops for plants…with bright over cast days coming in third.
It was challenging to select only a couple pics and there are a bunch more on our Flickr.
I know Kale is edible, but can't say I have ever prepared it. Are these specialty Kales okay to eat?
Great vine this Kennedia nigricans. Gotta love a plant that has black flowers…sorta gardening gone Goth. Makes me want to build some sort of over head arbor to host our own plant party.
– Far Out Flora
Categories: Nurseries & Garden Centers | Tags: Annie's Annuals, black coral pea, cotyledon orbiculata, echeveria subrigida, gazania krebsiana, heliophila longifolia, kale crane red, kennedia nigricans, primula polyantha, viola Etain | Permalink


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Four Adventure Playgrounds on Ghost Mountain, Austria
Awaken the speaking gate and let Ghosty and Spuki accompany you to the exciting worlds of
- Earth Spirits
- Fire spirits
- Water spirits
- Air spirits
If you are a little sprite, come to Ghome Alley and discover ghosts and goblins of all shapes and sizes. "Imps" are a little older and can look forward to:
- Slides and swings
- bird nests
- a climbing dragon
- Ghost Tower
- water games
- Ghost Lake
- pine-cone shooting stand
- and much more!
You won't need to worry about Mom and Dad; they can cool off in Water World or relax in the sun on Fairy Square.


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Calling all curlies in super humid locations...lets share high dew tips!
I live in Florida and the dews will be in the high 60's, low 70's this week. Since starting CG, we've had fairly mild dews and all products have worked. But, over the weekend I had more frizz than usual since the humidity is creeping up now.
How do you adjust your routine/ products for summer humidity?
Do you cut glycerin? If so, what products work for you?
I still use glycerin, I have incorporated a gel and conditioner that have water soluble silicones.
Mop Top Anti Frizz Soft Hold gel (they have a medium hold too)
Paul Mitchell The Conditioner
Very very stupid question but: what are dewpoints? And how do I know if I'm having high dewpoints or not?
Does this mean it rains a lot? (probably not? because here in Belgium it's quite rainy)
@ Neleke
Dew points indicate the amount moisture in the air. The higher the dew points, the higher the moisture content of the air at a given temperature. Dew point temperature is defined as the temperature to which the air would have to cool (at constant pressure and constant water vapor content) in order to reach saturation. A state of saturation exists when the air is holding the maximum amount of water vapor possible at the existing temperature and pressure.
When the dew point temperature and air temperature are equal, the air is said to be saturated. Dew point temperature is NEVER GREATER than the air temperature. Therefore, if the air cools, moisture must be removed from the air and this is accomplished through condensation. This process results in the formation of tiny water droplets that can lead to the development of fog, frost, clouds, or even precipitation.
Relative Humidity can be inferred from dew point values. When air temperature and dew point temperatures are very close, the air has a high relative humidity. The opposite is true when there is a large difference between air and dew point temperatures, which indicates air with lower relaitve humidity. Locations with high relative humidities indicate that the air is nearly saturated with moisture; clouds and precipitation are therefore quite possible. Weather conditions at locations with high dew point temperatures (65 or greater) are likely to be uncomfortably humid.
So far my hair seems to respond to lots of protein and lighter conditioning. I have been low-pooing more often and adding weekly PT treatments. I also added a non CG condish a few weeks ago. I use very little as a leave-in. This week I tried some glycerin in my routine and love the definition but the frizz was massive. I'm going to try experimenting with a protein heavy FSG because the consistency seems similar to lube and maybe I can get the definition I want without the frizz. Finally, everything gets topped off with a hard hold gel. I'm using LALPS which is cheap and easily available. I go through gobs of it, probably 5-6 tablespoons of it but then I have long hair. I'm always back on the boards during summer looking for a miracle lol.
I'm in FL so I feel your pain :) I avoid glycerin in any products I leave in. I use CJ Argan & Olive Daily Conditioner as a leave in, it does have panthenol but no glycerin. I use Super Wet Look gel, it has some hold minus the crunch and no protein, my hair is super thick so I don't need protein.
Here's a rather extensive thread on the subject http://www.naturallycurly.com/curlta...rt-thread.html
Glycerin is a definite no-no. Panthenol doesn't seem to give me problems. That's all I've figured out so far. It seems so many products have glycerin in them though! :(
Thank you for the information about dews!
I checked out the frizz forecast for the first time yesterday (I thought it would only work for US but I was very very surprised to see that it also works for my home location in Belgium) and found out that my dews are in the low 40s now, but with 80% humidity (it's still rather cold here, but we're probably going to have a really warm summer), does this mean I will probably have high dew points/high humidity when summer arrives?
And that I therefore "need to" stock up on other products to keep the frizz out? (I always had to battle with frizz... and for some odd reason my hair is always acting less frizzy when I'm not in on a holiday somewhere else... not sure if it has anything to do with humidity though, or if it's just coincidence)
I think this is what I'll eventually be switching to...a protein heavy stylists and treatment..and light conditioners....i have not used gel in several months...but may need to for the horrible FL weather...ugh...going to try to add extra agave nectar to okra gel...but this may make hair sticky in high seas...worth a try
I used products today without glycerine, and I still had frizz....I think it's par for the curly course I guess.
PROTEIN: I think I will also try upping the protein (ordered Joiko K-pak and JoiGel today). Will do another AIGirl PT this weekend. I avoided it for a long time when I first started and got OC'd. When I did my first PT, it was an aha moment for me.
SEALING: I'm such a PJ, I haven't been as consistent with sealing as before- so many products to use and experiment with, I was giving myself a "two product limit" per day, and the sealer got dumped in favor of more exciting things. In looking at the thread kathymack supplied, it appears sealing is crucial in high dews.
I'm in Virginia, where summer humidity is pretty icky, and I have had great luck with a bit of a rich leave in (something CJ, usually CJAO) and a cocktail of SS CEJ and SS FHG. I mix the two in my palm - they have to be mixed first, I can't get good results if I layer for some whackadoodle reason - rake and then scrunch in, and top with a teeny weeny bit of BRHG. I always have great hair when I use this combo in summer, YMMV.
I've had the SS stuff in my cart at curl mart all week but got annoyed that I couldn't combine discounts. I'm so used to free shipping and no sales tax from amazon, I have a hard time ordering elsewhere!
So, the SS combo is that good? I notice we have similar hair props. I also have some CJ stuff in my cart but am so overwhelmed by all the choices. None of her gels sound that great, but i do have CIAB (thanks ShellyRN!) but I'd like to try a nice RO condish, and/or treatments.
In high dews the ONLY thing that has really, consistently helped me is sealing with mineral oil.
I'm thinking about this okra gel...could you share the thread with me? I did do FSG with protein over leave-in, then gel yesterday. It held up remarkably well through the humidity and even my martial arts class (outside, in a park, near the ocean). Still though, I am getting the fuzzies today and I was hoping for at least 4 day hair. I know, I know... it is a lot to ask for but I am too lazy for daily styling and I was getting several days when I added a 'cone to my routine.
I miss those days!!!! In the meantime this vid is useful for an elegant alternative to daily washing because it works just fine on messy curls
Easy curly updo hairstyle for medium long hair Wedding prom hair tutorial - YouTube
And I'll be stocking up on scrunchies, pins and hair ties lol.
If you read the thread favorite gel for fine wavy hair...wonderful kathymack provides a link to an older thread on making okra gel....and if you read thread marshmallow root...kathymack gives her recipe...which is awesome of her;)...its pretty basic...slice fresh okra (horizontal if you want more volume) boil for appx 20mins..then strain...that's pretty much it...I'm starting off with just plain gel...then will add in other ingredients based on what my hair needs...I'm actually thinking of mixing okra and flax 2gether...going to ask kathymack this..she knows all!!!;)
Sent from my SCH-I535 using CurlTalk App
I love, love LOVE CJ condishes, but I have yet to find a CJ styler that works for me. I've tried Aloe Fix, Aloe Fix Lite, and Pattern Pusha - no dice. I got a sample of Curl Queen from Marsha once and it made my hair so stringy and strawlike that it took 3 days and several washes to get it back to normal. CCCC gave me massive frizz. CIAB worked well way back in the day when I mixed it with EcoStyler, but then I had less luck with it. Maybe I'll revisit that one again and do some experimenting. I liked CCCCL when I tried it once, but I liked it more as a leave in than a styler. I've been super frustrated that I haven't been able to make the CJ stylers work, because I know they're quality products, but there you go.
Rustina- what are your fave CJ condishes? I was looking at the beauticurls RO, Curl Fix, and Smoothing RO. My hair isn't really picky about ingredients.
Okay, so this morning b4 getting in the shower, i did an inventory of my products to decide what to use today. I pulled out AG:Recoil and noticed it said something like "resists humidity". I hadn't been overly impressed with it in the winter, so haven't used it much.
I co-washed, sealed with Jojoba, put Recoil in soaking wet, brushed with Denman, scrunched in HETT mousse, airdried for 10 mins, then diffused. SOT-minimal-Crunch with JCS N&S as usual. Holy awesome hair day so far! No frizz!
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Hello SA members!
SARDAA would appreciate your help in completing a national survey of SA members. Some of you may remember the 2000 survey designed by Michigan State University. Our goal is to replicate that survey and compare the results from 2000 and 2013. We had extremely strong participation (approximately 60% response rate!) in 2000 and would appreciate your participation this time around.
Students from Lone Star College in Houston, TX are helping with the survey. They are contacting all of the group leaders to ask how many copies of the survey your group needs. Please let them know how many copies you want, and we will mail them to you along with a pre-paid envelope for you to mail the completed surveys back to SARDAA. This broad survey of members will help SA and SARDAA see how the groups have evolved, specifically regarding issues such as group and member demographics as well as outcomes and/or benefits experienced by SA members.
Thank you for your help! If you have questions, please contact SARDAA volunteer Amy Larsen at 318-773-5404 or SARDAA's toll free number 866-800-5199.


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Our Mission:
To nourish Scottish identity through service, fellowship and celebration of Scottish culture.
Our Core Values:
EQUALITY: Inspired by Robert Burns' work "A Man's A Man", the Society believes in the equality of every individual and every opportunity and in freedom of every kind. This belief is the cornerstone of both Scottish and American identity.
EDUCATION: Inspired by Scottish enlightenment, the Society believes in the importance of education, learning and critical thinking.
ENTERPRISE: Inspired by Scotland's accomplished history of invention and innovation, the Society believes in honesty in every sphere of life, hard work, self-reliance and entrepreneurialism.
Established in 1845 as the Illinois Saint Andrew Society of the City of Chicago, our Scottish organization is the oldest 501(c)3 charity in Illinois. Today, as the CHICAGO SCOTS, we have grown into the largest Scottish cultural organization in North America.
The Society's principal charity is the Scottish Home which now includes the Caledonian House. The Scottish Home is a beautiful nursing home that the CHICAGO SCOTS built in 1910. The Scottish Home offers a wide range of outstanding assisted living and nursing services. For 100 years, the Scottish Home has provided each resident with loving, person-centered care and true friendship. The Caledonian House which will be opening Summer 2016 will focus on raising the quality of memory care for those affected with Alzheimer's disease.
The CHICAGO SCOTS also reach out to the next generation of lives in the Scottish American community by providing scholarships to help bright, talented students pursue academic excellence at universities in Scotland and the United States.
The CHICAGO SCOTS organize and host a wide variety of events including the Scottish Festival and Highland Games, to educate, entertain, preserve Scottish customs and promote both traditional and contemporary Scottish culture.
The CHICAGO SCOTS organize cultural initiatives like the Scottish History and Genealogy Clubs and the world's only Scottish American Museum and Scottish American Hall of Fame to tell the stories of Scottish journeys and contributions to; and experiences and accomplishments in North America.
The CHICAGO SCOTS also develop and enhance trans-Atlantic friendship and exchange by organizing conferences and initiatives to engage the private, public, academic, cultural and not-for-profits sectors in Scotland and North America.
The CHICAGO SCOTS welcome everyone who is Scottish by birth, by heritage or simply by inclination.


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Snow bunnies- Windham easter egg hunts draws hundreds of area children
By April Guilmet
Union Leader Correspondent | March 24. 2013 12:35PM
Siblings Katelin Ryan, 6, and Matthew Ryan, 8, showed off the fruits of their labor at Saturday's easter egg hunt in Windham. (APRIL GUILMET)
Sporting some stylish dinosaur face paint, Joseph Shumbert, 7, peaked inside one of his eggs, checking for treats. (APRIL GUILMET)
Despite a bit of snow on the ground and the need for warm winter coats, hats and boots, this year's Easter Egg Hunt, which was hosted by the Windham Recreation Department, was a smashing success.
Recreation Director Cheryl Haas said the event typically brings up to 500 children to the town center, and this year's egg hunt was no exception. Local scouting groups assisted in the filling and hiding of 4,400 plastic eggs, which were scattered in the yard surrounding the town's municipal complex to await their lucky recipients.
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Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has made clear to UK Conservatives American dismay that Tories are joining with right right wing groups in order to from a new alliance in the European Union. The US is uneasy that David Cameron's Europscepticism would weaken the ability of a British government to be a positive force in the EU and would signal to the world its willingness to ally with neo-Nazi groups. Cameron apparently sees no problem forming an alliance with Latvian anti-Semites who honor the work of Latvians who fought alongside the Nazi Waffen SS in World War II. For some reason, David Cameron has ordered his party to quit the mainstream European People's party which includes leaders like Sarkozy of France or Merkel of Germany and switch to an alliance with Poland's Law and Justice party and the For Fatherland and Freedom Latvian party.
Hillary Clinton fears Cameron's Conservative party would assume leadership of right wing European groups that seek to destroy the European Union and he apparently sees no problem being in the company of anti-Semites and those who support Nazi Germany.
We certainly have come a long way from the Conservative party of Winston Churchill.


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Peter Rothberg, the Nation's Associate Publisher, has been writing a blog covering the world of activism since 2003. His previous positions with The Nation include editor of TheNation.com, publicity director, special projects director and intern. Rothberg is a former speech-writer for civil rights leader Julian Bond and the editor of Lived History: Lives We've Lost, 2012-13. A charter member of both the Brooklyn Literary Council and the Oakland Literary Council, a board member of Living Liberally, and a contributing editor of the Brooklyn Quarterly, Rothberg lives in Brooklyn, New York, where he was born and raised. Follow him on Twitter @peterrothberg.
Sarah Silverman breaks down the absurdity of the new wave of voter ID laws, makes clear their true intent and suggests resources to counter this blatant Republican effort to disenfranchise millions of Americans.
Before Davis was killed at age 42, he told his sister Kimberly and other family members "that he wanted us to continue the fight to clear his name and end the death penalty."
This Sunday's Brooklyn Book Festival is one of the country's most celebrated celebrations of books, reading and independent publishing.
The condition of being dead broke is a perennially popular theme in music, so, regardless of your taste in genre, there's a song for you.
Anti-GMO activists will stage a week of protests in St. Louis, home of the Monsanto Corporation, starting on the anniversary of OWS, September 17, 2012.
Consider this a playlist for the DNC as the Democratic Party convenes in Charlotte, NC, this week to nominate President Obama for a second term.
The competition is tough, as the London Olympics, the Aurora shootings and the tragic Kristen Stewart/Robert Pattinson break-up have sucked up most of the media oxygen in recent months. But these five issues demand far more attention than they've received this summer.
On September 15, the movement will re-assemble where it was born for three days of education, celebration and renewed resistance to economic injustice with permitted convergences and assemblies, concerts, and civil disobedience.
Toni Childs wrote 'Because You're Beautiful' after Eve Ensler asked her to create a song that could inspire people to end violence against women and girls for all time.
By the end of this year, the US Supreme Court is expected to decide whether or not colleges and universities can prioritize diversity through their admissions policy guidelines.


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Terry Pratchett in UK Alzheimer's plea
LONDON (Reuters) - Top-selling author Terry Pratchett will deliver a petition to British Prime Minister Gordon Brown on Wednesday calling for an urgent increase in funding for dementia research.
Pratchett, 60, creator of the "Discworld" series, revealed last December he had been diagnosed with a rare form of early-onset Alzheimer's disease.
"I am appalled that research into Alzheimer's and related diseases, which affect 700,000 people in the UK, currently receives just 3 percent of government medical research funding," he said in the petition.
"I strongly urge the government to increase funding for dementia research as a matter of urgency."
Around 20,000 people have signed the petition which has the backing of over 100 leading scientists, the Alzheimer's Research Trust said.
Pratchett, who is Patron of the trust, said the world faced a "tsunami" of Alzheimer's and other dementia diseases.
"I intend to scream and harangue while there is time," he said.
"The strain on carers and their support is bad enough now -- before very long the effects on the health service and society itself, will be unbearable."
The trust said dementia costs the British economy 17 billion pounds ($26.03 billion) a year. Continued...


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A teachable moment, courtesy of Katy Perry.
Is Alene heading down the aisle again?
Cancel your plans, it's time to pick something new to binge-watch.
We've got you sorted.
It's time to crown a winner.
Not everyone can say they've done that!
Oh, to have been a fly on that alcohol-soaked wall.
After months of near-inseparable togetherness with Blac Chyna, Rob Kardashian has pulled a 180, deleting all evidence of his girlfriend from Instagram.
The dawning of another year is the perfect time to start working on a new you. Need some inspiration? Just look to these badass celebs who have changed their life through health and fitness.
Uh oh. Looks like Diane Kruger might need the 101 on the subtleties of infidelity.
The season-six frontrunner was almost too ill to sing.
Drama | Japan
No upcoming show times.
Season 1, The Mysterious Masked Blader!
Season 4, Repo 911
Season 2, Brother's Keeper
Season 1, Episode 11


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- Stylist:
- Carmen
Oct 30, 2008 - Its been such a long time since I had someone cut my hair that knew how to cut curly hair. Carmen cut my super long 3a curls so that they form perfect ringlets. She did a great job thinning out some of the kinkier sections of my hair so it isn't as thick and tangly. Also, I'm always apprehensive about having my very long hair layered, but she did such a good job layering it I think I will definitely keep this cut. I love my hair! Thank you Carmen!


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Category: Feminism, WMC in the News
Gloria Steinem Speaks at Columbia College
| February 8, 2012
CBS covered a recent meeting between WMC Co-Founder Gloria Steinem and Columbia College in NYC.
"The feminist icon became the outspoken leader of the women's liberation movement in the late 1960s and the 1970s."
Check out the story and video here.


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Almost a century ago, a father and son duo founded the company now known as Elkay with a plan to make the best sinks in the market and deliver excellent service to each and every one of their customers. Fast forward to the present time and that same spirit of commitment to quality and customer satisfaction is still very alive and well. While staying true to their mission, Elkay has grown and gained significant market share in the bathroom and kitchen market to the point where they re one of the best respected names in the business. Firmly believing that sinks are no longer required to have a traditional square or oval shape has freed Elkay to make waves in sink design today. More a work of art than a plain old sink, Elkay has proven that the art factor is indeed in high demand these days. Whether it is a kitchen sink , bar sink , or bathroom sink , Elkay products are beautiful creations that can transform an otherwise plain home into something sensational to behold. Consider Elkay as your trusted provider of quality kitchen and bathroom component Available at AppliancesConnection
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- Number of Basins:3
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- Thickness:14 Gauge
- Lenghts:79-1/2"


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Moderator: Referees
BigTuna wrote:Newsflash kiddies, the Leafs aren't even old. Their average age is 27.25. This isn't 2003 anymore. And that "Geriatric" Sundin looked as good as any forward in hockey after the Olympic break.
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The BRC said prices last month were up 1.07% on the year, the largest annual increase on record. Prices rose 0.45% on the preceding month, due to higher food prices. Tobacco prices also rose after duty hikes in the Budget.
BRC director general Bill Moyes said: 'Even with the rise in the index, the figures show that strong sales growth is not creating worrying inflationary spikes in the RPI-X. Consumers can still buy more for their money than they could in 1997.
'The current level of consumer confidence should not give the Bank of England cause for concern as competition and efficiency in the retail sector continue to keep High Street inflation way below any rises consumers are experiencing elsewhere.'
- More about:
- Bank Of England
- Consumer Issues
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Orthopedic Surgery Interest Group
The Orthopaedic Surgery Interest Group serves to provide Stanford Medical Students with opportunities to learn about Orthopaedic Surgery. Every year, we coordinate several activities that allow students to interact with Residents and Faculty in Orthopaedic Surgery. We also facilitate peer mentoring by having events with upperclass students who plan to match (or have matched) in Orthopaedic Surgery. This year, we hope to increase opportunities for hands on learning by coordinating several operative anatomy and musculoskeletal exam workshops. If you have any interest in exploring or pursuing a career in Orthopaedic Surgery, we hope you will participate in this group.
This Year's Events: or check out this group's Group Events Feed
Sorry, no recent events are recorded for this group!
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact SMSA through our website (http://smsa.stanford.edu).


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Thom Browne Gets Major Buzz After Michelle Obama's Inaugural Day Outfit (PHOTOS)
First lady Michelle Obama has done it again. She has put yet another small designer on the map. Back in 2009, Mrs. Obama introduced the world to little-known designer Jason Wu; the young designer's career has catapulted tremendously since then. Four years later and Thom Browne is the new man of the hour. Though we fashion folks are very familiar with this influential designer, the press refers to him as "relatively unknown." Nevertheless, whether you are privy to the fashion world or just a living breathing being, Thom Browne is definitely a name you know now.
FLOTUS chose the designer as her first outfit choice for the big day. On Monday morning (Jan. 21) Mrs. Obama arrived at St. John's Episcopal Church before the ceremonial swearing-in at noon wearing a custom navy blue jacquard coat and dress by Thom Browne.
"It's one of those moments when I just can't believe that happened," Browne told the New York Times' Eric Wilson. The designer also shared that the "coat and dress for Michelle Obama are both made of silk jacquard based on a necktie fabric, custom made for the First Lady."
For those of you who are unfamiliar with the 47-year-old designer. Check out some quick facts below:
- Thom Browne is a New York City based designer who specializes in menswear.
- His work has influenced men's fashion of tighter fits and cropped trousers.
- Browne was named the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) Menswear Designer of the Year in 2006 and named the GQ Designer of the Year in 2008.
First lady Obama has worn Thom Browne before, however it's newsworthy given the monumental circumstances. Obama switched up her Thom Browne look twice. First, she wore the coat with bare legs and J. Crew pumps. Later, she wore custom knee-length Reed Krakoff boots and added a jeweled J. Crew belt and pink gloves. As much as FLOTUS loves to repeat her outfits, don't expect to see her in this number again. According to the White House, the outfit and accessories will go to the National Archives after the Inauguration.
Jan 21, 2013 08:38 PM EST


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