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You can use two transparency modes
You can use two transparency modes
. .
Transparent billboards should be rendered in per vertex light fixed renderstep.
Also note that realtime shadows doesn't respect your alpha chanel, it will cast whole mesh shape. Think about it before designing game.
Transparent billboards should be rendered in per vertex light fixed renderstep.
Also note that realtime shadows doesn't respect your alpha chanel, it will cast whole mesh shape. Think about it before designing game.
| [[Image:blender-tip.png|left|64px]]
| [[Image:blender-tip.png|left|64px]]
| If you rendering billboards with transparency use Scene (F10) -> "Premul" button.
| If you rendering billboards with transparency use Scene (F10) -> "Premul" button.
Revision as of 03:19, 18 March 2007
Best Practices for Artists
Use proper and common scale for every model. Coordinate this with your coder. Usually 1 unit in your 3d program = 1 meter.
Keep center of the object in the middle of the mesh or at bottom, not "somewhere". Remember that rotation and moving of the model is related to this point.
|You can do it automatically by clicking the "Centre" button in Editing (F9) -> Mesh tab.
Moving, rotating and scaling is only for level making. If you are modelling a single object - do not use any transformations. Keep your object in neutral position and rotation. If you did any transformations, then use some option to apply it to the vertices positions.
|Use Transfrom -> Clear/Apply -> Clear Location and Transfrom -> Clear/Apply -> Apply Scale/Rotation.
In the front view you should see the back of your model. (The CEL camera is specific, if you use this, main characters which use the camera should be facing toward you, then).
Do not use random names Object_031, mesh13_, blackblack_23_, 01_-_material_new2. Coordinate naming with your coder.
|When working on multiple map files (between different people) make sure to coordinate names of mesh factories and materials so that you don't get duplicate names. Be careful about the default naming convention that Blender uses for mesh factories. If you don't change those you will have guaranteed conflicts when loading multiple maps at the same time.
Use png, it's compressed, it's lossless, and it has 8bit alpha.
Do not use jpg (except for textures that really don't require a lot of detail, but note that even in this case it is best to keep the source image as png because otherwise you loose quality everytime the texture is edited). Coordinate it with your coder, he will decide which textures should be lossy compressed, and which not.
Keep your textures hi-res until they are actually an issue, or you are going to release the game. In any case keep the hi-res versions somewhere, they are best in a source layered format like xcf or psd.
Also use textures that are a power of 2. For example 256x128 and not 256x130. In the latter case, CS will resize this texture internally, which sometimes can look rather ugly.
At release time, switch to DDS with dxt compression, I can't think of any case in which dxt5 is harmfull, it can handle layers/mipmaps, 8bit transparency, and more importantly, it's the same format as used by the graphics card, meaning textures load faster.
DDS compression types:
DXT1 opaque - compression ratio 8:1 - most popular for standard textures
DXT3 sharp alpha - compression ratio 4:1 - for textures with explicit alpha
DXT5 smooth alpha - compression ratio 4:1 - for textures with interpolated alpha
As of right now (march 2007), there is no graphics chip which can store a texture bigger than 4096x4096 (1024x8192 is not good). But don't worry about too big textures - if they don't fit in the graphics memory then CS will detect it and automatically downscale the texture.
|You can have image.png and image.dds in the same folder, use the png for blender inthe viewport, at export time, b2cs will pick up the dds in order to use it in CS.
|DDS plugin: gimp 1.2 (read only) and better one gimp 2.0.
Every per-pixel lighted material needs a normalmap. If you don't have a baked normalmap for your model, then at least use a fake plain normalmap (just a picture with the color 127, 127, 255).
You can use two transparency modes:
1. Smooth variable alpha.
2. Binary mode full opaque/full transparent.
Binary mode is faster (use <alpha><binary/></alpha>). To tag transparent pixels you can use the transparency support in formats like png or keycolor. For keycolor, people usually use "crazy pink" red=255 green=0 blue=255.
To avoid an ugly outline (halo effect) in transparent textures - use premultiplied alpha. Find this option in your 2d/3d program.
Transparent billboards should be rendered in per vertex light with a fixed renderstep. Also note that realtime shadows doesn't respect your alpha chanel, it will cast the whole mesh shape. Think about it before designing your game.
|If you are rendering billboards with transparency use Scene (F10) -> "Premul" button.
Generally when building larger levels you will want to build atomised objects so that the person compositing the levels can easily fit pieces together in the level editor. This means that each object should piece together nicely (often by being a discrete size) and the object centers should be appropriate too. Textures should also tile appropriately over the object.
To aware holes between objects and terrain. In objects like a tree/house etc. it's good idea to prepare extended bottom about 0.5 m under ground line.
|To make tilable texture use bulit-in "Make seamless" or better Resynthesizer plugin.
10 objects with 10000 polygons for each - are faster than 10000 objects with 10 polygons each. Same thing with materials. For one object use one big texture with many unwrapped faces, it's better than a couple of textures. Ofcourse sometimes it's impossible because you need other shader effect for glass and other for car body for example.
Avoid of overlapped faces. In realtime rendering it makes ugly flickering effect called "z-fighting". Instead of intersections, better add a couple of connecting faces between surfaces.
There is no double-side surfaces. Every polygon has one side pointed by it's normal. Keep your normals in proper direction. If you need double side surface then just double and flip your polygons. In this case don't worry about previous rule Overlapping - polygons are perfectly opposite.
|You can double your faces automatically by setting Render -> Twosided.
Triangle fans
Avoid of triangle fans and thin polygons. It looks ugly in realtime rendering. Perfect shape should be close to grid.
|You can try automatically reorganize your faces to optimal using Edit -> Faces -> Beautify fill (ALT, F).
Sometimes because of optimization reasons obejcts needs to be closed. Some shaders (real time shadows with normal maps and everything) also require closed objects to render properly. Coordinate closing objects with your coder.
Smooth groups
If you need visible seam on your mesh then split polygon's vertices. But if not needed - don't double your vertices.
|To split vertex to two use Edit -> Vertices -> Rip (VKEY). To clean doubled vertices use Edit -> Vertices -> Remove Doubles (W, 5).
Terrain ignores your uv's. They are internally generated by engine. Basemap and Materialmap just fully covers terrain mesh, and for Splats uv's makes regular grid, scale of this grid is set in shader variable.
If you made terrain mesh and generated heightmap then result in the game always will be a little bit different than your orginal mesh, especially at hill-side. Also check bounds of your Heightmap, sometimes it has unneded holes.
Heightmap encoding is: red * 65536 + green * 256 + blue
Use the foliage plugin to make grass, it can use a material map to choose where the grass, tree, rocks will be. Use a material map to chose which texture will be displayed on the ground, at which place, in such case, more than 4-5 textures will probably kill your framerate.
You can easily make your Materialmap by reduce your Basemap's colors to number of Splats.
|b2cs automatically renders heightmap basing on mesh tagged as 'terrain'.
For geometry Crystal Space uses own fileformat and a couple of popular formats: 3ds, cal3d, md2. If you want use 100% of features better use native CS format. Actually best supported is exporting from Blender. If you work in team and members using several 3d programs - exchange models between them in any popular format like Collada or Wavefront Obj.
If often switching apps, .obj may be the best option, it s very simple, supported in most apps, and has Ngone support. Collada is xml based and support a lot of things as a downside it is difficult to write parser for it and as it s quite recent, not yet all apps have support for it, however at a later pointit is supposed to be _the_ interchnage format.
|Collada plugin is built-in.
|Collada plugin: www.feelingsoftware.com.
Darek, Genjix, Jorrit, Orogor


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Colorado's Strange Secession Vote
You can have your Chris Christies and Bill de Blasios and Terry McAuliffes. Oh, those are all interesting races, and they all tell us something or other about the current mood. But Tuesday night, I'm going to be watching Colorado. Individual pols come and go, but what seems to be happening out in the Rocky Mountain West is the start of a new and lamentable trend that I think may be with us for a long time in American politics.
Eleven of Colorado's 64 counties want to secede from the state, and there is a referendum on the ballot to that effect. It will, in all likelihood, pass. Only the voters in those 11 counties are voting on the question. Ten are contiguous, in the northeast corner of the state. In their dream world, they say sayonara to Denver and become "North Colorado." The eleventh county is across the way, in the northwest corner. Since the U.S. Constitution mandates that states be contiguous, Moffat County would just sign up with Wyoming.
These things have popped up before. I covered one 20 years ago, when Staten Islanders voted two-to-one to break off from New York City. The voters always approve these things. Of course, Staten Island is still a borough of New York City, which tells us that although they always pass, they always amount to nothing. This one will amount to nothing too, in the short term. Congress has to approve a new state, and that isn't going to happen.
But it's fascinating that we are witnessing the culture-ization of politics, the trumping of shared culture over shared political traditions and agreements that go back generations. We've seen it around the world. Czeckoslovakia splitting in two. Yugoslavia splitting in five. The movement to split Iraq into three, which didn't take hold but had the backing of some serious people. Back in the day, peoples of different cultures banded together to form states because there was more power in being larger, in the post-Congress of Vienna era of the nation-state. But eventually they circled back to the core unavoidable truth of not being able to stomach one another.
Well, now we're getting to the same point domestically. In the last 20 years, we've herded ourselves into clusters like snarling breeds of dogs. See Bill Bishop's The Big Sort. That book came out in 2004. Its subtitle: Why the Clustering of Like-Minded America is Tearing Us Apart. Pretty prescient, no?
In a place like Colorado, the clustering has been reinforced by the immigration of lots of college-educated hipsters to the state. It has grown from a population around 3 million in 1990 to around 5 million, and the newer arrivals have moved to or near the cities and have plainly made Colorado a more Democratic and liberal state. (Here is everything you'll ever need to know about Colorado demography.) The values of Denver and Boulder and Arapahoe County—a not quite big-L Liberal area but an upscale, arugula-friendly, and certainly not right-wing zone—dominate in the state capital.
There have been huge fracking controversies. Voters legalized marijuana last year (and this year are voting on the imposition of an excise tax on it to fund school construction). There was that combustive row over guns, in which two (and maybe three, pending results) anti-gun legislators were recalled. Culturally, there's little doubt about it. Colorado is two states.Read The Full Article On The Daily Beast
More articles from The Daily Beast:
- Why National Democrats Rolled Over for Chris Christie
- The Virginia Gubernatorial Race Proves the GOP Is Suicidal
- Lebanon's Kidnapped Teen Bride
© 2013 Newsweek/Daily Beast Company LLC

subset: commoncrawl


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Ubuntu Quantal Introduction
General Notes
General Notes
- This is the original Ubuntuguide. You are free to copy this guide but not to sell it or any derivative of it. Copyright of the names Ubuntuguide and Ubuntu Guide reside solely with this site. This Ubuntu help guide is neither sold nor distributed in any other medium. Beware of copies that are for sale or are similarly named; they are neither endorsed nor sanctioned by this guide. Ubuntuguide is not associated with Canonical Ltd. nor with any commercial enterprise.
- Ubuntu allows a user to accomplish tasks from either a menu-driven Graphical User Interface (GUI) or from a text-based command-line interface (CLI). In Ubuntu, the command-line-interface terminal is called Terminal, which is started:
- Menu -> File -> Open Terminal
Text inside the grey dotted box like this should be put into the command-line Terminal.
- Many changes to the operating system can only be done by a User with Administrative privileges. 'sudo' elevates a User's privileges to the Administrator level temporarily (i.e. when installing programs or making changes to the system). Example:
sudo bash
- 'gksudo' can be used instead of 'sudo' when opening a Graphical Application through the "Run Command" dialog box or as a menu item. Example:
gksudo gedit /etc/apt/sources.list
- Many file management tasks can be accomplished with root Administrative privileges by starting the Nautilus file manager in a similar fashion. (Use 'gksudo' if starting Nautilus from a menu item.)
gksudo nautilus
- or
sudo nautilus
- "man" command can be used to find help manual for a command. For example, "man sudo" will display the manual page for the "sudo" command:
man sudo
- While "apt-get" and "aptitude" are fast ways of installing programs/packages, you can also use the Synaptic Package Manager, a GUI method for installing programs/packages. Most (but not all) programs/packages available with apt-get install will also be available from the Synaptic Package Manager. In this guide, when you see
sudo apt-get install package
you can search for package in Synaptic and install it that way.
- Many instructions use the text editor "nano" (which is universally available in Linux). However, it is often easier to use the text editor "gedit" in Ubuntu instead.
- "Menu" refers to the menu bar at the top (or bottom) of the desktop, akin to the Start menu in Microsoft Windows or the Menu bar of the Apple Macintosh.
- If you are using the 64-bit version, replace any "i386" with "amd64"
Older Versions of Ubuntu
- Precise Pangolin (12.04 LTS) (Long Term Support version supported until April 2017)
- Lucid Lynx (10.04 LTS) (Server support (only) until April 2015)
- Oneiric Ocelot (11.10) (no longer supported)
- Natty Narwhal (11.04) (no longer supported)
- Maverick Meerkat (10.10) (no longer supported)
- Karmic Koala (9.10) (no longer supported)
- Jaunty Jackalope (9.04) (no longer supported)
- Hardy Heron (8.04 LTS) (no longer supported)
- Dapper Drake (6.06 LTS) (no longer supported)
- See this complete list of older and newer versions.
Other Resources
- Ubuntu Forums has a large community for online solutions and specific help.
Ubuntu Resources
Unity Desktop
Unity is the default desktop environment used in Ubuntu. It is compatible with the GTK platform used by Gnome. It was designed to be used for netbooks, but is developed by Canonical to be useful on all types of devices.
Gnome Project
Gnome3 is an alternative desktop available for Ubuntu, and a list of Gnome projects is available.
- Installation method 1:
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:gnome3-team/gnome3 sudo apt-get update sudo apt-get dist-upgrade sudo apt-get install gnome-shell
- Installation method 2:
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ubuntugnometeam/gnome3 sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ubuntugnometeam/ppa-gen sudo apt-get update sudo apt-get install ugr-desktop-g3 sudo apt-get dist-upgrade
Ubuntu Screenshots and Screencasts
New Applications Resources
- GetDeb - Features the latest versions of software available from the official repositories as well as software not available in the official repositories. Available in easy-to-install .deb files (see Apt and Package Basics).
- Top 100 Open source Applications
- Linux Alternatives
- LinuxLink provides "best in category" lists for Linux apps
- See our full list of add-on applications.
Other *buntu guides and help manuals
- Kubuntuguide -- Kubuntu uses the popular KDE desktop environment
- Lubuntu -- Lubuntu can run with as little as 256 Mb RAM. It is better for older machines with limited resources.
- Edubuntu -- Edubuntu is a collection of software bundles optimized for use in educational environments. LTSP (thin client terminal server support) and many networking tools are bundled. A version for use with KDE (Kubuntu) is available.
- SkoleLinux / DebianEdu -- a collection of (open-source) educational tools for Debian/Ubuntu Linux
- Ubuntu Doctors Guild -- a collection of tips for using (K)Ubuntu Linux in health care environments
- official Ubuntu Server Guide -- a good starting reference for server packages


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Study: Nobody likes hipsters
How many times a week do you pass a fedora-wearing, American Spirit-smoking, Polaroid-picture taking hipster on the street and think to yourself, "Nobody likes hipsters"?
Well, it turns out that you are right. And now we have the data to prove it.
According to a new poll of 571 voters nationwide by Public Policy Polling, just 16 percent of those polled have a "favorable" view of hipsters. Forty-two percent have an unfavorable opinion of the smelly, insufferable subculture of Brooklynites and San Franciscans.


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Beyonce opens 'Rent The Runway' collection
Listen to Beyonce on iHeartRadio
Do you find youself saying "I wish I was Beyonce" over and over again? Well, now you can dress like her! Fans can now wear an outfit handpicked by the superstar thanks to her new collaboration with fashion rental website, Rent The Runway.
The site, which loans out designer clothes and accessories to users at a fraction of their retail prices, has teamed up with the star for a new section called the "Beyonce Boutique."
According to a press release, the goal was to "offer her fans the ultimate Queen B experience" with selections ranging from daytime rompers, party dresses and statement jewelry.
Beyonce says her partnership with Rent The Runway was "so organic" because she's always been passionate about "making women feel confident and beautiful." She praised the site for giving real women the ability to "look and feel their best."
The collections are available for rent now.
Photo Credit Getty Images


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Michael Bublé's "To Be Loved" scores #1 spot on Billboard 200
Listen to Michael Bubléon iHeartRadio
Michael Bublé is celebrating his fourth consecutive number one album in the U.S. On Wednesday, the Canadian crooner tweeted his one-point-four million followers to thank them for getting his latest, "To Be Loved" up to the top spot.
Thank U for making "To Be Loved" the #1 album in the US, UK, Canada, Australia, Holland, Switzerland, Austria, New Zealand & South Africa!— Michael Bublé (@michaelbuble) May 1, 2013
The album sold 195-thousand copies in its first week, and is also number one in the U.K., Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Holland, Switzerland, Austria and South Africa.
Side Effects of You, the fourth studio album by third season "American Idol" champ Fantasia came in strong this week as well, debuting at number two with 91-thousand copies. Last week's number one, Fall Out Boy's Save Rock and Roll, fell down to number five, while Justin Timberlake's 20/20 Experience held steady at number three for another week. Will.i.am's long-in-the-making solo album #willpower had a disappointing debut week, coming in at number nine, selling only 32-thousand copies.


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From Michelle: Celebrating 5 Years Online!
RE: Working At Home -
Hello, Michelle here. If you're not one of my regular subscribers, let me quickly tell you a little about myself and then I'll show you two sites you can use to start working from home without worry that will actually make you some money.
Ok... I've been working at home and making a living at it since 2011. I've been able to earn a great income while enjoying being in the comfort of my own home. I'm saving money on gas, and I sure don't miss sitting in traffic. Instead of constantly worrying about my job security, I now spend more time than ever with my kids.
Since I began my own home based business all those years ago, I've been through literally every emotion imaginable. Frustration... anger... jubilation; although the 'frustration' only lasted for the first six months while I was desperately trying to discover the inside secrets of working at home. I spent hundreds of dollars on work at home programs that simply did not work.
Eventually, and after a lot of hard work, I did figure out how to earn a living from home by using a variety of programs. Since then, I haven't looked back... and in the next few moments, I will show you two work at home programs that can actually help you make some real money.
Here's The Problem...
Well unfortunately, there are hundreds of websites claiming to help you get started working from home. These sites will send you worthless information, and then you end up with a job that pays almost nothing but requires tremendous amounts of your time. In my opinion these websites come very close to being fraudulent.
Other so called work from home services or programs are actually just designed to obtain your email address and personal information. Then they send you an email or letter saying you are being hired as an accounts receivable representative. Next they tell you to collect wired funds or checks from their customers and then forward them on to the company. I am here to tell you to avoid these like the plague.
Your job description is basically helping to launder money for the people who hired you. You will find yourself being asked to forward the money they have stolen from other people. You also end up being the person the money trail leads back to, so don't be surprised when you hear from the authorities.
What Happened...
I decided to start this site to alert people to the above mentioned hazards and help others find legitimate work at home programs that can actually help you make some real money.
These bogus work at home sites are a black mark on the industry and the reason for educational and watchdog sites like ours. We have researched hundreds of websites, contacted the owners, interviewed their staff, and followed up with customers to provide legitimate work at home programs for our readers. Please be sure to sign up for our newsletter at the bottom of this page. This will help you stay current with the latest news while getting tips for working at home.
I have 2 programs that can really help someone get started working at home. You will work with big name companies and can get paid on a regular basis. How much money you make depends on your time and effort.
Here's an overview of both... and make sure you read my conclusion at the end...
Work at Home EDU - in a nutshell allows you to make real money working at home using only some basic skills. If you can use and send email, then this is without a doubt one of the fastest ways of making money online. Some current members are making over $200-$500 a day.
Work at Home EDU sets up a website (no worries, they do all the work) then you just start doing your part and post the links with large companies like Yahoo, Facebook, and Bing. You get paid directly through direct deposit or check in about a week. If you have tried other work at home systems and failed, you should give this one a try as I believe it will be the end of your search.
I was very impressed with how much money you can make with this system right from the start. I was also blown away at how they have made it completely "Fool-Proof" for anyone. Other systems can be confusing and have too many components so you're never sure if it is working the way it's intended to. They have mastered this and eliminated any frustration. It's very apparent that a lot of time and effort went into the content of this program by some very talented and smart people.
I do have to advise that the spots available can be limited. They focus on current student members to help them make much more money than all the other programs out there today.
With big name companies, a great training system, and consistent earnings, this is a very attractive program and the clear winner. I give them 4.5 Stars. Remember, positions are filling up quickly, so if you would like to see if you qualify in your area, just click the button below.
Paid Surveys & More - was very easy to join. I received access to all of the online membership resources and had my first assignment by the next day. After completing some surveys and evaluations I submitted the results and received my first direct deposit within a couple of days.
I recommend Paid Surveys & More because it offered great support while allowing me to choose from a variety of assignments including paid surveys, evaluations, and focus groups. They give you all the resources you need to get started, from the surveys to the email templates you'll use to complete the work and submit for payment.
This work from home program also has direct one on one support from their extensive staff to make sure you get started making money as fast as possible. This additional help is rare and a valuable resource you can use to map out a plan to make a living from home as soon as possible doing corporate surveys, evaluations and focus groups.
Now, they say you will make $2500+ a month but based on my experience it was more like $1800 a month may be possible for one person working part time from home doing all three programs.
The cost for this program is pretty reasonable. They currently have a 50% off promotion that makes getting started less expensive. The normal cost is $89 but, with this promo code get50off you can cut that down to a one time cost of $44.95 for the lifetime membership.
With a good program, great support and the reduced price, this was an attractive package in our opinion. We gave them 4 Stars. for their program.
What's Right For You?
Well, if you're looking to make a full time income or replace a job
with a complete work at home program that has unlimited income potential,
then you should consider Work at Home EDU as your solution.
Don't get me wrong, if you're looking to just make a few extra bucks on the side, or supplement your current income, then Paid Surveys & More could be a good choice for you.


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From skin changes to weight loss to unusual bleeding, here are 15 cancer warning signs that women tend to ignore.
Here are 15 ways to help prevent lung cancer.
It's more than just the "baby blues." Learn to recognize the signs of postpartum depression – and how to treat it.
Forget the fountain of youth – try flossing instead! Here are 11 surprising ways to live longer.
From STD tests to mammograms, find out which screening tests you need - and when to get them.
Find out if PRP therapy right for you.


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Arcadia, CA, Dec. 28 -- California is known for its movie stars, but on the racetrack, few California-bred horses will ever match the notoriety and stardom the great Lava Man attained.
On Sunday, Dec. 30 at 8 p.m. ET, the next installment of HRTV's award-winning monthly documentary show -- Inside Information: Lava Man -- will chronicle a brilliant career that evolved from very modest, unlikely beginnings.
After starting his racing career on a Northern California Fair track in a maiden claiming event, and several non-descript races thereafter, Lava Man's fortunes turned after being claimed by noted trainer Doug O'Neill, and it kicked off a true rags-to-riches story.
Under O'Neill's tutelage, and mainly between 2005-08, the Slew City Slew gelding became one of the greatest California born Thoroughbreds of all-time. He remains the only horse to capture the California Triple Crown in one season (Santa Anita Handicap, Hollywood Gold Cup and Del Mar Pacific Classic). In 2007, he captured the Hollywood Gold Cup for the third straight year, and shares that distinction with only the great Native Diver. He earned over $5 million during his career.
A legend in California racing lore, Lava Man continues to be a fixture in O'Neill's barn, only a few years removed from his racetrack exploits. After successful stem therapy to repair damaged cartilage in his ankles, Lava Man was converted to a pony and has quickly become a "coach" for Team O'Neill. Most recently, he "ponied" for I'll Have Another's memorable Triple Crown run this season.
Among those interviewed for the documentary are: O'Neill, jockey Corey Nakatani, assistant trainer Leandro Mora, groom Sabas Rivera, equine veterinarian Dr. Herthel, and others.
About HRTV
HRTV, The Network for Horse Sports, is a television-based multimedia network dedicated to equine sports. HRTV's programming features horseracing from top U.S. and international racetracks, as well as a wide range of world-class English and Western horse competitions, news, original programming and award-winning documentaries covering the world of horse sports. The live stream of HRTV is available on a subscription basis to high-speed Internet users worldwide at www.tvg2.com <http://www.tvg2.com/> . In the U.S., the HRTV television network is available via telco, cable and satellite in over 19 million homes.
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text:
Fatal Paul Walker Crash Maybe Due to Fluid Leak
(NEWSER) – There's no official word yet on what caused the horrific crash that killed Paul Walker and Roger Rodas, but sources close to Rodas' auto shop tell TMZ they believe a steering fluid leak is to blame.
Their evidence: There were no skid marks until right before the point of impact, and the skid marks were straight, indicating Rodas lost steering control just before the crash; and the fire spread quickly in the front of the vehicle—indicating a fluid leak, since typically the rear (where the engine is) would burn more quickly.
They also say they saw evidence of a fluid trail leading up to the skid marks.TMZ also reports that the Porsche was acting up and kept stalling as one of Rodas' employees tried to get it back into the shop—and that's why Rodas ended up behind the wheel. Walker jumped in asking for a ride, because he hadn't driven in the car yet.
Read more at Newser
Credit: YouTube


text:
Winter Greetings is a handmade wooden jigsaw puzzle available in many different sizes from the drop down menu above. Peaceful Wooden puzzles makes Victorian style Heirloom quality puzzles by hand, using a highly detailed laser cut with uniquely shaped pieces called whimsies. Whimsies are pieces in the shape of familiar objects like people and animals. Piece counts will vary based on size, starting at about 260 pieces for the smaller puzzles and the largest sizes have up to 850 pieces. For more specific details on piece counts, please contact us.
Rewards: Get 5% Back
|220-255 (10 x 12), 430-465 (13 x 19), 590-620 (16 x 18), 860-890 (16 x 22)
|Peaceful Wooden Puzzles
|Christmas, Snowman
|Puzzle Type
|Wooden Jigsaw Puzzle
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Product Detail
- Fashion and trend will be on the peak of your attractiveness as soon as you dresses this Black & Red Georgette Saree. The ethnic Butta Work & Crystals Stones work at the clothing adds a sign of attractiveness statement with your look.
- Saree Fabric : Georgette,Jacquard,Net
- Saree Color : Red,Black
- Saree Type : Red,Black
- Saree Pattern : Embroidered
- Saree Border : Lace Border
- Saree Pallu Style : Fancy Pallu
- Blouse Fabric : Dupioni Raw Silk
- Blouse Color : Beige
- Blouse Work : Lace
- Blouse Front Neck Style : Sweet Heart Neck
- Blouse Neck Deep : Approx. 1 - 2
- Blouse Length : Approx.16-18
- Blouse Style : Short Blouse
Delivery Time
- Delivery in 5 working days for domestic orders and 10 working days for international orders.
Please Note
- Prices include all type of taxes.
- Colours May Slightly Vary Or May Not, From What You See On Your Monitor With The Actual Piece.
- This May Be Because Of Monitor Resolution Or Picture Tube Variances.
- The Image Shown Is Shot From The Master Piece and We Always Ensure We Send You The Exact Shown Coloured Product With The Same Workmanship And Prints.
- Products With Dyeing Work May Have Slight Colour Variations Because Of Manual Dyeing Process.
- Jewelry & Other Accesories In Picture Is Only For Photoshoot Purpose.
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New scourge of search for missing flight: a cyclone
(NEWSER) – It's another quiet day in the search for the missing Malaysia Airlines flight, beyond the news that as of today the underwater drone on the hunt for its wreckage has now finished two-thirds of its mission without detecting so much as a hint of the jet. NBC News reports that the Bluefin-21 has been tasked with searching a 6-mile radius centered around the location of pings identified on April 8, and set out on its ninth outing in that area today.
Read the full story on Newser.com


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Woman walks 2 miles after surviving bear attack
(NEWSER) – Officials say a soldier's wife is lucky to be alive after being mauled by a brown bear on a sprawling military base in Alaska. The woman was jogging when she startled the bear and her two cubs, and officials at Anchorage's Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson says the bear saw the woman as a threat and attacked her to defend her babies, the AP reports. After the attack, the dazed and bloodied woman, who suffered lacerations to her neck, arms, and legs, walked two miles along a rough, unpaved trail to get help.
Read the full story on Newser.com


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This is the indoor pressure smoker that cooks barbecue brisket in only one hour-five times faster than traditional methods. Combining a pressure cooker and smoker in one appliance, the device increases the internal pressure by 15 psi, cooking food up to 70% faster while causing wood chips to release their fragrant, flavor-enhancing smoke. The internal chamber requires only three to five wood chips (not included) to impart authentic barbecue smoke flavor onto food and all of the hot smoke is contained inside the vessel until the pressure is released. An adjustable four-level rack holds up to 6 lbs. of food-from sausages and ribs to a whole chicken. The pressure smoker also cold smokes cheese or fish, it can sear food prior to pressure smoking, and allows use as a traditional pressure cooker. With a digital timer. Plugs into AC. 6 1/2-qt. Pressure Smoker. Smokes up to 6 lbs. of food at once. 13 1/4" Diam. x 12 1/2" H. (11 3/4 lbs.)
Lifetime Guarantee
The Only 6 1/2-Quart Indoor Pressure Smoker comes with The Hammacher Schlemmer Lifetime Guarantee. If this product ever disappoints you, for any reason, you may return your Hammacher Schlemmer purchase for exchange, credit, or refund.
Should you have any questions, we are available seven days a week (8:00 am – midnight EST). Please call 1-800-321-1484 to speak with a specialist or email us at firstname.lastname@example.com to receive a response within three business hours or less.
Shipping charges noted in parentheses apply in addition to our standard shipping & service.
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GST still applies and will be charged upon processing. For complete shipping & service charges please call Customer Service at 1-800-321-1484.
May we recommend:
(based on 18 reviews)
Ratings Distribution
5 Stars
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of respondents would recommend this to a friend.
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Reviewed by 18 customers
Displaying reviews 1-10
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(7 of 8 customers found this review helpful)
get the big one---seriously
By Craig the Haggis eater
from Michigan
Go ahead and get the larger 7 Qt version of this thing. You'll be happy you spent the extra $$$.This guy is so freaking simple to use, and the ribs that we have been making are actually better than the ones we stood in line for at a local BBQ competition. I'm not kidding. I did however ruin a batch of almonds and a whole block of sharp cheddar cheese attempting to "smoke" them. The smokiness was more akin to leaving them in a small unventilated room with 6 chain smokers puffing away for an evening. Or, perhaps a fire damaged sale. Never the less I am pleased with this device thus far as a meat/vege cooker. With both of us working long hours and a family of 5 its a winner.
Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend
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(6 of 6 customers found this review helpful)
Cold smoker is Cool!
By Jan Co the cook
from Louisville, KY
This item is great for smoking everything I have tried (sea bass, cheese, salmon, ham). Being a pressure cooker, it is fast. BUT.... Less is more on this product: meaning, if the recipe says 10 minutes don't go over or it will be too strong in smokey flavor to eat. Also they should recommend which type of wood flavor is most popular with different meats & cheeses. Fish smokes better if has skin on it.
(5 of 5 customers found this review helpful)
By Johnny
from Edinburgh,IN
This thing work's great. I smoked ribs and chicken breast and everyone loved it. It smokes and steams the food as it is working. The only flaws that I have found is that it does not brown the meat as it cooks and that you have to cut the meat in small pieces.
(4 of 4 customers found this review helpful)
Fantastic, and FAST
By 09Grandma
from San Antonio, TX
We're Texans who are used to the long, slow smoke method, but we're grandparents who are still working. This is fast, produces GREAT smoked meat, fish, poultry, and very importantly, allows us total control of the ingredients in our food. If you buy products already smoked, there are often things in there you're better off without. You will want to experiment with different wood chips on different meats. We're partial to alder wood for salmon, and mesquite for beef, chicken or pork. Bought this for myself, but my husband has become the "expert" which is GREAT for me!
(4 of 5 customers found this review helpful)
Smokes Great
By dave
from Russellville, AR
Smokes food great. Too small however. Longer pork ribs can barely be fit. Short ribs and beef ribs will fit, but not many (about 8). Only cooks for two or three, but does a great job.
Bottom Line No, I would not recommend this to a friend
(3 of 3 customers found this review helpful)
It Lives Up to the Claims
By Big Al
from AZ
Use on cold smoke for 10 min to give flavor to Polish Sausage, fully cooked ham etc, then heat in skillet etc. Don't overdo the wood chips or it becomes too strong flavored (I like strong flavors but...) Potato salad recipe is like making it with baked potatoes - mushy. If you are going to make a second recipe be sure the gasket is re-seated or you get a puddle.
A new appliance for the home.
By Kathy
from Visalia, ca
Easily made a yummy smoked chicken for chicken salad.I do see a possible future problem with the wood chip cup. It was showing the effects of just three uses. A second cup would have given me confidence in a long lived product.I am very satisfied with this product... and I still have other cooking methods to try with it.
(2 of 2 customers found this review helpful)
Great Appliance
By Don
from Ada, OK
See all my reviews
I have smoked jalapeno peppers, potatoes and ribs, ALL were fantastic. Really needs a better cookbook.
Outdoor is Better
By LarryLuke
from Houston, TX
This smoker is just what it says; it is a smoker. Unless you have a super vent system, I recommend using this outdoors. The amount of smoke it emits prior to sealing tends to permeate the entire house. While the food tastes "Smoky" There is no charring on the outside like over a open fire. After I smoke my steak using this unit, I put it under the broiler for a few minutes. If someone made this with a grilling element above and below the meat, I would trade this one for it.
Works well, but there are quality issues
By fuzzcheeks
from Brooklyn, NY
The product does a fine job of smoking meats, fish, and poultry. Cooking time is relatively rapid and clean-up is fairly easy. The only problem is the quality of construction. The grating that is used to hold the food items is flimsy, and there were minor scratches in the cooking pot's teflon coating on arrival (HS sent us a new one for free that was also scratched. We are awaiting a second replacement).
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WATCH: Beyonce HBO documentary DVD trailer previews new song
Listen to Beyonce on iHeartRadio
Beyonce is releasing a DVD of her HBO documentary "Life Is But A Dream." In a new trailer, she previews part of a new song called "God Made You Beautiful."
The "Life Is But A Dream" DVD will go on sale starting November 25th, and buyers will receive a free download of the new track.
"God Made You Beautiful" is the first new music from Beyonce since early this year, when the superstar put out songs like "Grown Woman" and "Standing On The Sun" in advance of her SuperBowl halftime show. The DVD is available for fans to pre-order on Amazon.com.
When "Life Is But A Dream" originally aired in February, it brought in HBO's largest audience for a documentary in almost ten years.
Beyonce is currently on tour in Australia, and will be bringing her "Mrs. Carter Show" back to North America in early December. She continues to stay tight-lipped on her long-in-the-works next studio album.


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Vince Gill & Bill Anderson nominated for Songwriters Hall Of Fame
Listen to Vince Gill on iHeartRadio | Listen to Bill Anderson on iHeartRadio
Vince Gill and Bill Anderson are getting recognition for their songwriting abilities. The country stars are among the nominees for the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
Gill is on the ballot in the Performer category, along with John Mellencamp, Led Zeppelin's Jimmy Page and Robert Plant, Heart's Ann and Nancy Wilson, Madonna, and others.
Anderson is up for the honor in the Non-Performer category along with a few other country songwriters.
Bobby Braddock, whose credits include George Jones' "He Stopped Loving Her Today" and Tracy Lawrence's "Time Marches On," is in the running along with Mark James, who penned Elvis Presley's "Suspicious Minds" and Willie Nelson's chart-topper "Always On My Mind." Don Robertson, who penned Hank Locklin's number one single "Please Help Me I'm Falling" and hits for Elvis, Hank Snow, and others, is on the short list as well.
Voting members of the Hall of Fame committee will turn in their ballots in December. The 2014 Songwriters Hall Of Fame Awards Gala will take place at the New York Marriott Marquis on June 12th.
Photo Credit Getty Images


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About Napa ValleyView a map of Napa Valley wineries
It's hard not to think of Napa Valley when thinking of California wines. The region is, after all, the one that brought world recognition to California wine making. The area was settled by a few choice wine families in the 1960's who bet that the wines of the area would grow and flourish. They were right. The Napa wine industry really took off in the 1980's, when vineyard lands were scooped up and vines were planted throughout the county. A number of wineries emerged, from large conglomerates to small boutiques to cult classics. Cabernet Sauvignon is definitely the grape of choice here, with many winemakers also focusing on Bordeaux Blends. Whites are usually Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc.
Notable FactsWithin the Napa Valley lie smaller sub-AVAs that lend even more character specifics to the wines. Furthest south is Carneros, followed by Yountville, Oakville & Rutherford. Above those two is St.-Helena and finally, just granted an AVA, Calistoga. These areas are situated on the valley floor and are known for creating rich, smooth Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Chardonnay. There are a few mountain regions as well, nestled on the slopes overlooking the valley AVAs. Those include Howell Mountain, Stags Leap and Mount Veeder. Wines from the mountain regions are often more structured and firm, benefiting from more time in the bottle to evolve and soften.
About California
The most famous of the California wine regions is Napa Valley, and these wines are certainly outstanding – but it's not as broad and diverse as its larger neighbor, Sonoma County. Down south, Santa Barbara's Santa Maria Valley is well-known for its Rhône blends, as well as cool-climate varieties like Pinot and Chardonnay. The Central Coast, the largest California AVA, has many different microclimates that lead to a wide range of wines with many sub-AVAs.


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WORLD PREMIERE: Little Big Town 'Day Drinking'
Listen to Little Big Town on iHeartRadio
Little Big Town is kicking off their summer with a little "Day Drinking." The song is the first single off of their upcoming album, and we are thrilled to bring the tune straight to you!
Check out the iHeartRadio World Premiere of "Day Drinking" on demand below!


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WATCH: Shakira plays runaway bride in 'Empire' video
Listen to Shakira on iHeartRadio
Shakira is unveiling a new music video for the single "Empire." The clip debuted early this week, just as her new self-titled album saw its official release.
The video begins with the star dressed in a white wedding gown walking down a church aisle. She stops in her tracks and runs in the opposite direction as the song picks up. Her long veil also catches fire as she poses on the church's steps. Shakira spends the rest of the video in rock 'n roll mode, belting out "Empire" inside a destroyed building. She appears entirely alone in the clip, apparently making good on the promise she said she made to her boyfriend Gerard Pique to not shoot with male models.
Shakira's new album seems to be getting a solid sales start as well. It hit number one on U.S. iTunes charts hours after its release, and took the top spot in 60 other countries as well.
Check out the video for "Empire" below!


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MH370 Captain 'Planned Route' to Remote Island
(NEWSER) – Malaysia's police probe into the downing of flight MH370 has zeroed in on one suspect: the captain, who had plotted a flight path to a remote island on his flight simulator at home, according to a report in the Sunday Times. The investigation doesn't rule out terrorism or mechanical failure in the March 8 disappearance, but investigators haven't been able to build a case against anyone else on the flight. If intentional human action took down the plane, the circumstantial evidence points only to Captain Zaharie Shah, 53, the Times' report suggests. For example:
- On his flight simulator, Shah charted a route that would see a plane land on an unnamed island in the south Indian Ocean, the Telegraph reports. The route was deleted from his simulator but retrieved by computer experts.
- Shah was "unique among those on board the flight" for having no planned commitments, personally or professionally, after MH370 was scheduled to land, theIndependent reports.
Read the full story on Newser.com
PHOTO: Getty Images


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Stoned Ghost Hunters Torch Mansion: Cops
(NEWSER) – The owners of an abandoned Louisiana mansion are facing criticism after the house was burned down last week, allegedly by stoned ghost hunters, theTimes-Picayune reports. "We made our best efforts to secure the land from trespassers," said the owners of the LeBeau Plantation near New Orleans. "But it is doubtful that anything short of 24-hour patrols would have kept out these intruders intent on engaging in illegal activities." According to the sheriff, the suspected arsonists entered easily Thursday night through a gap in the fence often used by trespassers.


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We've already revealed some of the buzzy stars who will be attending this year's People's Choice Awards, now it's time to give you a glimpse at where they're sitting.
"We have a lot of great talent on this year's show," says People's Choice Awards Talent Seating Manager Stephan Lenart. Lenart says it takes him an entire day to figure out where to place each celeb. So do stars ever ask to sit next their bffs? "All the time," says Lenart. "We try to accommodate if we can."
Check out the sneak peek below (hey, Sandy and Melissa!) and see if you can spot the famous faces.
UPDATED 1/6/9 @ 7:30 p.m. PT: Seat cards for Ian Somerhalder, Britney Spears, Lucy Hale and more have been added below!
Which stars would you like to see sitting together?
Read More:
People's Choice Awards 2014: Sandra Bullock, Christina Aguilera and More Attending
OneRepublic Will Perform at 2014 People's Choice Awards
People's Choice Awards 2014: Sara Bareilles Set to Perform — EXCLUSIVE


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What Feud? CBC and Obama Make Up, for Now
The White House and the Congressional Black Caucus circled the wagons Thursday after a series of leaks and public statements exposed a deep divide between several black lawmakers and the Obama administration over the diversity of president's federal judicial nominees.
Although the White House rightly argues that President Obama has put forward more women and as many African-American nominees than any president in history, black lawmakers, including iconic civil-rights leader Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.), have criticized the White House for failing to propose enough minority judges that reflect individual states' black populations, especially in the Deep South.
During a December press conference at Atlanta's historic Ebenezer Baptist Church, Lewis and others singled out two white Obama nominees for Georgia, one of whom once advocated for the state's restrictive voter-ID law and the other who voted to keep the Confederate emblem on the Georgia state flag. For months, other black lawmakers have complained to the White House about federal court vacancies in Florida, Alabama, North Carolina, and Alabama.
Last week, The Daily Beast obtained a letter signed by 41 members of the CBC warning that the administration is overseeing a federal bench in some states with "an inexcusable and unjustifiable lack of racial diversity that must be addressed."
The most recent public rift began Wednesday, when the White House dispatched senior aide Valerie Jarrett and senior members of the White House Counsel's Office to meet privately with top CBC members about nominations and other issues.
During the meeting, lawmakers said they expressed concern not only about the White House's nominees, but also what they have seen as a lack of effort to get around Republican senators, who have held up, and in some cases completely blocked, candidates the CBC said were well qualified black Americans. An arcane Senate tradition known as "blue slipping" allows any individual senator to block a president's judicial picks in their home states. Republican senators have blocked a number of the president's picks since he took office, including minority nominees.
A White House official told The Daily Beast Wednesday's meeting was "very positive," while CBC Chairwoman Marcia Fudge said Jarrett had "assuaged" members' concerns over what they see as a lack of diversity in some states. Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) called it "a candid exchange."
"During the meeting, we reiterated what we have always said—our focus has never been on the administration alone," Holmes Norton said, adding that she is holding Republicans senators "equally responsible if African Americans the administration desires cannot be nominated or are nominated by the administration and are then unfairly held up with use of the blue-slip system."
But some CBC members who attended a later meeting with Jarrett said they remained unsatisfied. "I asked her specifically that they should be [withdrawn]. She just didn't say anything," Georgia Rep. David Scott told The Hill about his conversation with Jarrett. "Do you think George Bush would have been able to do this, or any white president would have been able to do this? No."
Read The Full Article On The Daily Beast
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