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Chapter 3 - Transportation System Condition and Extent
Chapter 3 - Transportation System Condition and Extent
The U.S. transportation system makes possible a high level of personal mobility and freight activity for the nation's 284 million residents and nearly 7 million business establishments. In 2000, over 230 million motor vehicles, transit vehicles, railroad cars, and boats were available for use on the over 4 million miles of highways, railroads, and waterways that connect all parts of the United States, the fourth largest country in the world in land area. The transportation system also includes about 228,000 aircraft and over 19,000 public and private airports (an average of about 6 per county), and 440,000 miles of oil and gas transmission lines. This extensive transportation network supported an estimated 4.8 trillion passenger-miles of travel in 2000 and 3.8 trillion ton-miles of commercial freight shipments in 1999.
In general, the nation's transportation infrastructure has changed very little in recent years, while the number of vehicles has grown, in some cases dramatically. Road lane-miles, for instance, have grown by just 4 percent between 1980 and 2000, while cars and light trucks have increased by 40 percent. In air transportation, the number of aircraft operated by air carriers has increased by more than 35 percent since 1990, while the number of certificated airports (those serving scheduled air carrier operations with aircraft seating more than 30 passengers) has shrunk. The heavy use of the nation's infrastructure raises the specter of deterioration. Data show, however, the nation's roads, bridges, and airport runways, in general, improved in the 1990s.
As the level of traffic continues to climb and the amount of infrastructure remains the same, improved management of the system is one method being used to keep traffic flowing. The increasing use of information technology is important not only in commercial aviation, railroading, and waterborne commerce, but also in highway transportation, transit, general aviation, and boating. Information technology enhances the capability to monitor, analyze, and control infrastructure and vehicles and offers real-time information to system users. These technologies have a great deal of potential to help people and businesses use the transportation system more efficiently.
Transportation System Extent
The widespread availability of a large variety of transportation options brings a high level of mobility to most of the nation's residents and businesses. Table 1, table 2, table 3, table 4, table 5 and table 6 provide a snapshot of the key elements of the U.S. transportation system.
To put the system into perspective, the system's 4 million miles of roads would circle the globe more than 157 times, its rail lines 7 times, and its oil and gas pipelines 56 times. The average distance traveled by a car or light truck annually (about 12,000 miles) equals a journey nearly halfway around the world, or added together, about one-tenth the distance to the nearest star outside our solar system.
The capacity of the air and transit systems in the United States is also phenomenal. There are more than enough seats on airplanes operated by U.S. air carriers to seat the entire population of Delaware (784,000 people). And the number of cars in the New York City subway system alone is more than large enough for the entire population of Baton Rouge, Louisiana (228,000 people), to have a seat at the same time.
Information Technology Use
From the telegraph used by railroads in the 19th century to radio and radar used in ships and planes at the beginning of the 20th century, information technology (IT) has enhanced the capabilities of our transportation systems. In recent years, these technologies have been integrated into all modes of transportation. Highway and transit applications of IT now are joining the other modes as new technology allows drivers to "navigate" roads.
Intelligent transportation systems (ITS) comprise a broad range of technologies, including those in the IT category, and help improve the efficiency, effectiveness, and safety of transportation. Travelers can obtain information and guidance from electronic surveillance, communications channels, and traffic analysis. ITS also boosts the capability to monitor, route, control, and manage information to facilitate travel.
The variety of technologies and approaches across the ITS spectrum, however, complicates assessments of the extent of their use. The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), Federal Highway Administration's ITS Joint Program Office conducts periodic surveys to gauge urban implementation in 75 metropolitan areas1 in the United States [2]. The surveys collect data on deployment for nine ITS infrastructure components for highways, transit, and highway-rail grade crossings within the boundaries of metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs).
A single ITS component may use several technologies or approaches. For instance, electronic toll collection (ETC) technologies automatically collect payments through the application of in-vehicle, roadside, and communications technologies. About 73 percent of the metropolitan areas surveyed had toll collection lanes with ETC capacity in fiscal year (FY) 2000, up from 36 percent in FY 1997 [2].
Multiple ETC technology deployment highlights the growing importance of integrating ITS. Beyond measuring fixed ITS assets like vehicles, the ITS Joint Program Office also studies the integration among agencies operating the infrastructure. Federal officials define ITS integration as the transfer of information between three types of organizations: state departments of transportation, local governments, and transit agencies.
Traffic signal control and electronic toll collection are two of the top three highway ITS technologies currently being deployed (figure 1). These technologies directly benefit travelers by smoothing out trips on toll roads and signaled arterial roads. Highway-rail grade crossings have one of the lowest rates of deployment, but a major federal initiative is providing funds to address this area.
The Global Positioning System (GPS) is being used in all transportation modes (even walking), although to what overall extent is uncertain. Thirty-one percent of the metropolitan areas surveyed in 2000 showed some deployment of automatic vehicle location devices in fixed-route transit vehicles [2]. GPS is not only used for commercial aviation, but also for general aviation. About 70 percent of corporate and over half of business-use aircraft have GPS devices, compared with about 40 percent of personal-use aircraft [1].
In 1996, the U.S. Coast Guard brought its Maritime Differential GPS (DGPS) online. Reference stations located every 200 miles along the coast and major rivers allow ships with the proper GPS receiving equipment to identify their positions within 5 to 10 meters, compared with 100 meters for other positioning systems. This is an important navigational aid, as some channels are less than 100 meters wide. The DOT is now implementing Nationwide DGPS to bring the same positioning accuracy to all parts of the continental United States and Alaska.
Railroads are developing positive train control (PTC) systems that will use nationwide DGPS to provide precise positioning information. PTC can prevent overspeed accidents and collisions between trains and between trains and maintenance-of-way crews. PTC can also improve the efficiency of railroad operations by reducing train over-the-road delays and increasing running time reliability, track capacity, and asset utilization. [3].
1. U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration, General Aviation and Air Taxi Survey, 1996, available at http://api.hq.faa.gov/ga96/gatoc.htm, as of Dec. 5, 2000, table 7.2.
2. U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, ITS Joint Program Office, ITS Deployment Tracking: 2000 Survey Results, available at http://www.itsdeployment2.ed.ornl/its2000, as of Oct. 31, 2002.
3. U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Railroad Administration, "What Is Positive Train Control?" available at http://frarnd.volpe.dot.gov, as of Dec. 4, 2000.
Road building and widening continue to slowly increase the extent of the public road system and the length of lane-miles open to the public. Since 1980, miles of public road increased only about 2 percent, although, as a result of road widening, lane-miles increased nearly twice as much (3.8 percent). This small change in overall lane-miles masks growth in the higher elements of the roadway system. Between 1980 and 2000, Interstate lane-miles increased by 16 percent and principal arterials increased by 29 percent (figure 1; also see box on the Highway Functional Classification System) [1].
1. U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, Highway Statistics (Washington, DC: Annual editions).
U.S. Vehicle Fleet
Between 1990 and 2000, the most noteworthy development in the U.S. highway vehicle fleet was the rapid growth in the number of registered light-duty trucks, including minivans, pickups, and sport utility vehicles (figure 1). During this period, the number of these vehicles grew from nearly 48 million to over 79 million, an increase of about 64 percent. This category now accounts for 35 percent of the total U.S. fleet, up from 25 percent in 1990. Fueled by the rapid increase in the number of light-duty trucks, the total U.S. fleet grew to nearly 226 million vehicles in 2000, a 17 percent increase over the 193 million vehicles registered in 1990 [1].
In contrast to the rapid and continual growth of light-duty trucks, the total number of cars and motorcycles in the fleet declined during the 1990s but by 2000 had regained their 1990 levels. Over the same period, the number of large trucks and buses increased at roughly the same rate as the total U.S. highway fleet, rising to just over 8 million large trucks and 746,000 buses by 2000. The 134 million cars in 2000 represent 59 percent of the total fleet, down from a 69 percent share in 1990 [1].
1. U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, Highway Statistics 2000 (Washington, DC: 2001).
Magnetic Levitation High-Speed Rail
As a result of work underway, the travel time of high-speed intercity rail service may be reduced in half in the future using magnetic levitation (maglev) technology. A maglev system employs magnetic forces to lift, propel, and guide a vehicle over a guideway using state-of-the-art electric power and control systems.
Under the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century, the U.S. Congress created a national Magnetic Levitation Transportation Technology Deployment Program in the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). In May 1999, DOT's Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) gave planning funds to seven state maglev projects. These funds enabled the seven projects to compete for the second phase of deployment [1].
Of the seven projects, DOT selected two in January 2001 as the best positioned for early demonstration of the technology. One project would connect Baltimore, Maryland, and Washington, DC, along 40 miles of the Eastern Seaboard. The other project, the 54-mile Pennsylvania High-Speed Maglev Corridor, would link Pittsburgh International Airport to Pittsburgh and its eastern suburbs [2]. Once this feasibility phase is completed, one of the projects will be eligible for $950 million for construction if Congress appropriates the funds.
Overall, FRA has provided $50.8 million through fiscal year 2002 for preconstruction planning for all seven projects (table 1). Just over half of these funds are supporting the two selected projects.
1. U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Railroad Administration, "The Maglev Deployment Program," available at http://www.fra.dot.gov/o/hsgt/maglev.htm, as of Sept. 10, 2001.
2. _____. "U.S. Secretary of Transportation Slater Selects Two High Speed Maglev Projects," press release, Jan. 18, 2001, available at http://www.fra.dot.gov/o/hsgt/hot.htm, as of Sept. 17, 2001.
Urban Transit
Urban transit is a complex mix of heavy, light, and commuter rail; buses and demand responsive vehicles; ferries; and other less prevalent types such as inclined planes, trolley buses, and automated guideways. This mode, measured by revenue vehicle-miles of service provided, grew by nearly 30 percent between 1991 and 2000 to over 3 billion miles. The U.S. population grew by 12 percent over this same period. The largest transit modes, bus and heavy rail, showed the slowest growth during this period (about 14 percent), while demand responsive transit grew the fastest (143 percent) (figure 1). Among rail modes, both light rail and commuter rail have seen substantial increases in service provided over this period, 90 percent and 25 percent, respectively [1].
Transit agencies in urbanized areas receive formula funding from the Federal Transit Administration for the purchase of vehicles. In fiscal year 2000, 152 agencies purchased 6,619 vehicles with formula funds. Most of the vehicles purchased (73 percent) were buses. Large urbanized area agencies purchased 69 percent of the buses (table 1) [2].
See box for Rural Transit.
1. U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Transit Administration, National Transit Database, Annual years.
2. U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Transit Administration, 2000 Statistical Summaries: FTA Grant Assistance Programs, "Table 91: Obligation of Flex Funds/FHWA Transfers, by Area/State (Fiscal Years 1992-2000)," available at http://www.fta.dot.gov/library/reference/statsum01/table19.html, as of Oct. 5, 2001.
U.S.-Flag Vessels
The U.S.-flag oceangoing merchant fleet consisted of 421 operating vessels in 2002 (table 1). The total U.S.-flag commercial fleet operating in both foreign and domestic trades, however, consisted of 29,263 vessels. This does not include more than 5,000 tugs/towboats 1,500, other types of workboats (e.g., crewboats, supply boats, and utility vessels), or over 1,200 passenger vessels (table 2).
Over 98 percent of the total U.S.-flag commercial fleet operated in U.S. Domestic trade during 2000 (table 1). There are three major sectors of U.S. domestic trade: the inland waterways, Great Lakes, and domestic deep sea or coastwise trades. Barges operate primarily on the U.S. inland waterways and carry more than 90 percent of that tonnage [1]. The Great Lakes fleet consists of self-propelled vessels and integrated tug/barge units. Most of these "Lakers" only carry cargo between the Great Lakes ports. Containerships and tankers operate in the U.S. domestic deep sea trade.
The Jones Act (Section 27 of the Merchant Marine Act of 1920) requires that maritime cargoes and passengers moving between U.S. ports be transported in vessels built and maintained in the United States, owned by American citizens, and crewed by U.S. mariners [2]. As of April 2001, 157 privately owned, self-propelled vessels (of 1,000 gross tons and over) had unrestricted domestic trading privileges under the Jones Act (table 3).
1. U.S. Department of Transportation, Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Maritime Administration, and U.S. Coast Guard, Maritime Trade and Transportation 99, BTS99-02 (Washington, DC: 1999).
2. U.S. Department of Transportation, Maritime Administration, MARAD '99 (Washington, DC: May 2000).
Ports and Cargo-Handling Services
U.S. ports that engage in foreign trade are facing key challenges such as waterfront congestion, port terminal productivity, and security needs. Nevertheless, U.S. foreign waterborne trade reached 1.2 billion metric tons in 2000, an increase of 2.4 percent over 1999 [4].
Landside access to water ports comprises a system of intermodal rail and truck services [5]. Landside congestion, caused by inadequate control of truck traffic into and out of port terminals combined with the lack of adequate on-dock or near-dock rail access, affects the productivity of U.S. ports and the flow of U.S. international trade. Generally, productivity is difficult to measure. Cargo throughput can be used as a measure; however, it does not take into account the more efficient use of resources gained from capital investment [2].
The U.S. port industry has invested approximately $22 billion since 1946 on improvements in its facilities and infrastructure-about one-third of that total (approximately $6.4 billion) was invested between 1996 and 2000 (table 1). Investments include new construction and modernization/rehabilitation. In 2000, new construction accounted for two-thirds of total expenditures. After trailing in investments in the previous years, Atlantic ports accounted for 22 percent of total expenditures in 2000 [5]. The Maritime Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation, expects that U.S. public ports will invest $9.4 billion between 2001 and 2005 [5].
Changes in vessel design impact access to both landside and waterside services. For example, container vessels have increased in size and capacity, which, in turn, drives a need for adequate transshipment hub and feeder ports.
The top ports in U.S. foreign trade are deep draft (with drafts of at least 40 feet) [3]. Twenty-five U.S. ports received 73 percent of total vessel calls (table 2). Of vessels over 1,000 gross tons, tankers and containerships called at U.S. ports more often in 2000 than did other types of vessels.
The 2000/2001 U.S. economic slowdown detrimentally affected U.S. ports, particularly those on the West Coast. U.S imports declined from a 15 percent annual growth rate in early to mid-2000 to an estimated 6 percent drop during the first two quarters of 2001 [1].
1. DRI-WEFA, The U.S. Forecast Summary (Eddystone, PA: August 2001).
2. Robinson, Dolly, "Measures of Port Productivity and Container Terminal Design," Cargo Systems, April 1999.
3. U.S. Department of Transportation, The Maritime Transportation System: A Report to Congress (Washington, DC: 1999).
4. U.S. Department of Transportation, Maritime Administration, U.S. Foreign Waterborne Transportation Statistics 1999 & 2000, available at http://www.marad.dot.gov, as of Oct. 17, 2001.
5. _____. U.S. Port Development Expenditure Report (Washington, DC: December 2001).
Airport Runways
In general, U.S. airport runway pavement is in good condition. When it is deteriorated, runway pavement can cause damage to aircraft turbines, propellers, and landing gear, and may result in runway closure. To prevent major problems, runway pavement requires regular maintenance to seal cracks and repair damage as well as a major overhaul every 15 to 20 years [1]. The U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), inspects runways at public-use airports and classifies runway condition as good, fair, or poor (see table for definitions).
Airport runway quality improved from 1986 to 2000 (table 1). At the over 3,000 airports listed in the FAA's National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems (NPIAS), runways in fair or poor condition dropped from 39 percent in 1986 to 27 percent in 2000. Those in good condition rose from 61 percent to 73 percent. At commercial service airports, a subset of the NPIAS, only 2 percent of runways were in poor condition in 2000. Overall, commercial airport runways remain in better condition than other NPIAS airports.
As with highway systems, increasing runway extent and capacity can take many years. In 2001, expansion projects were in various stages of completion at 13 commercial service airports (table 2).
1. U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration, National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems (1998-2002) (Washington, DC: 2000).
Highway Conditions
Overall, 40 percent of the nation's urban and rural roads were in good or very good condition in 2000, while 19 percent were mediocre or poor. The rest are in fair condition (table 1). The generally poorer condition of urban roads, as compared with rural roads, can be attributed to the higher levels of traffic they carry. Urban roads handled about 60 percent of all traffic in 2000 with far fewer miles of road. Indeed, on average in 2000, each lane-mile of urban road carried nearly 870,000 vehicles compared with about 170,000 vehicles by each lane-mile of rural road.
The condition of rural roads has generally improved since 1993, as have the higher level urban systems (figure 1). Miles of rural Interstates in poor or mediocre condition have declined from 35 percent to 14 percent, and miles of urban Interstates in poor or mediocre condition have declined from 42 percent to 30 percent. Rural and urban Interstates accounted for nearly one-quarter of all vehicle-miles traveled (vmt) in 2000. Miles of other freeways and expressways in urban areas (accounting for another 6 percent of all vmt) in poor or mediocre condition declined from 13 percent in 1993 to 11 percent in 2000.
Of concern in rural areas is the condition of major collectors, roads carrying about 8 percent of all vmt in 2000. The proportion of miles of these types of facilities in poor or mediocre condition increased from 19 percent to 22 percent between 1993 and 2000. In urban areas, the major concerns are other principal arterials that carried about 15 percent of total vmt in 2000 and minor arterials that carried another 12 percent. Over the same period, the proportion of other principal arterials in poor or mediocre condition increased from 23 percent to 30 percent while the proportion of minor arterials in that condition increased from 22 to 26 percent. The condition of urban collectors1 also deteriorated over this period, but these facilities carry much less traffic- about 5 percent of vmt in 2000.
See box for Highway Classification
1In both 1998 and 1999, the condition of about half the miles of urban minor arterials and about 40 percent of urban collectors were not reported.
Bridge Conditions
The condition of bridges nationwide has improved markedly since 1990. Of the nearly 600,000 roadway bridges in 2000, 28 percent were found to be structurally deficient or functionally obsolete, an improvement of 31 percent since 1990. About 14 percent of all bridges were either structurally deficient or functionally obsolete in 2000 [1]. Structurally deficient bridges are those that are restricted to light vehicles, require immediate rehabilitation to remain open, or are closed. Functionally obsolete bridges are those with deck geometry (e.g., lane width), load carrying capacity, clearance, or approach roadway alignment that no longer meet the criteria for the system of which the bridge is a part.1 In the 1990s, while the number of structurally deficient bridges steadily declined, the number of functionally obsolete bridges remained fairly constant (figure 1).
Overall, bridges in rural areas suffer more from structural deficiencies than functional obsolescence, whereas the reverse is true in urban areas (table 1). Nearly 22 percent of the bridges in rural areas that support local roads were structurally deficient and one-fifth of urban Interstate bridges were functionally obsolete in 2000. Nevertheless, a large number of both structurally deficient and functionally obsolete bridges support local roads in rural areas [1]. Although the number of deficient bridges has declined nationwide, the experience of individual states varies widely. Between 1995 and 2000, the number of deficient and obsolete bridges increased in 13 states and the District of Columbia (see map).
1Structurally deficient bridges are counted separately from functionally obsolete bridges even though most structurally deficient bridges are, in fact, functionally obsolete.
1. U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, Office of Engineering, Bridge Division, National Bridge Inventory database, available at http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/bridge/britab.htm, as of Sept. 27, 2001.


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I have a small dorsal hump that I want removed. Is an ENT doctor qualified to do this surgery?
Is an ENT Doctor Qualified to Remove a Dorsal Hump?
Doctor Answers 10
Find an ENT surgeon who is board-certified in facial plastic cosmetic surgery
Some ENT doctors are qualified to perform this surgery and some are not. It all depends on the surgeon's expertise and training. Look for an ENT surgeon who is board-certified in facial plastic and reconstructive surgery who has performed thousands of cosmetic nasal surgeries. Remember, removing a dorsal hump will probably require osteotomies of the nasal bones to prevent an open roof deformity.
Learn more: http://www.seattlefacial.com
Rhinoplasty: Choosing the Best Surgeon
Because rhinoplasty is considered the most difficult procedure in cosmetic surgery, any patient - regardless of their nasal problem or nasal characteristics - should seek the advice of a surgeon who specializes in rhinoplasty. Most people are suprised to learn that most plastic surgeons and most ENT / facial plastic surgeons do not routinely perform rhinoplasty in their practice. It is important to find one that does to help ensure that you attain the best possible result.
Things to consider and questions to ask when looking for a Rhinoplasty Specialist.
Are You Board Certified?
- Find a qualified surgeon who is Board Certified in either Otolaryngology (ENT) or Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery. Not all "cosmetic surgeons" have undergone the rigorous training in accredited residency programs that allow them to become Board Certified in either of these two specialties.
What Percentage of Your Practice is Devoted to Rhinoplasty?
- Choose an surgeon who specializes in nasal surgery. Not all ENTs or Plastic Surgeons routinely perform rhinoplasty. It is important to find one who does. Rhinoplasty takes considerable experience to get predictable results.
Ask to See Examples of the Surgeon's Work.
- It is important to view the surgeon's rhinoplasty before and after photos to see the types of results they get. You can tell alot about the type of result you potentially will get by looking at other patients with a similar shaped nose.
What Kind of Result Can I Expect?
- Ask to see simulated results using your photographs. Many rhinoplasty specialists will use either computer morphing software or tracing paper to demonstrate the proposed changes to your nose.
Ask Yourself How You Feel About Your Surgeon.
- Trust your instincts. It is of the utmost importance that you feel comfortable with your surgeon. Your surgeon should understand your goals and desired outcome. Listen to what your gut tells you.
Learn more: http://www.rhinoplasty-usa.com/html/meet-dr-cochran.html
The "N" in ENT does stand for "Nose."
While both Plastic Surgeons and Facial Plastic Surgeons are usually properly qualified to perform rhinoplasty, so are many ENT surgeons. After all, the "N" in "ENT" stands for Nose...and this ENT training includes the entire nose: structure, function, and appearance.
But just as with anything in medicine, each doctor usually has areas of strength and areas of weakness in his/her training and experience. Check out the surgeon's credentials and review the surgeon's before and after photos. (If they don't have any, you may want to look elsewhere first).
All the best,
You might also like...
Experienceis what counts!!
I was the first surgeon in the United States to become board certified in Plastic surgery, ENT, and Cosmetic Surgery and have personal knowledge of both areas of training.
Rhinoplasty surgery is part of the basic training in both ENT and Plastic Surgery. Look for a surgeon who is experienced and has a special interest in Rhinoplasty surgery,
Some ENT surgeons do general ENT and others may specialize in Facial Plastic Surgery or ear surgery. In the same way, Cosmetic Surgery is only one of seven areas of Plastic Surgery. Some Plastic surgeons do hand, reconstructive or burn surgery.
Look for a well trained experienced surgeon who has a passion for excellence in Rhinoplasty; you won't go wrong with either back round.
Rhinoplasty surgeon
Choosing an ENT or plastic surgeon is perfectly fine just as long as they are experienced doing rhinoplasty. Check their credentials and their experience. Good luck.
Yes he can.
Many ENT surgeons are more than qualified to do this. Make sure he is experienced in cosmetic rhinoplasty as well. Look at his work and make sure his aesthetics agree with yours!
Rhinoplasty, Are ENT physicians qualified?
Most Ear, Nose, and Throat physicians are qualified to perform rhinoplasty and remove the dorsal hump from a nose. Some ENT physicians practice general ENT and do not perform cosmetic procedures. Make sure that your ENT performs many rhinoplasty surgeries, and that you like the appearance of his post-op patients.
Good luck and be well.
Dr. P
Rhinoplasty is part of ENT training, but find an experienced doctor
ENT doctors, or otolaryngologists usually are trained in nasal surgery, including cosmetic nasal surgery. The degree of training and experience will vary by the doctor. Some of them will specialize further and will train further in facial plastic surgery. Make sure the doctor does many rhinoplasties, as you certainly don't want to be one of the first. Computer imaging helps the doctor and the patient to establish and manage their pre-operative expectations, to plan the procedure and decide whether hump removal will be sufficient to address your aesthetic goals.
Could be
I trained in both plastic surgery and Ent = thus I do a lot of noses - but in general what counts is the ability of the surgeon. Both plastic surgeons and ents can do good noses.
Be sure to find a rhinoplasty specialist even for a small hump
ENT doctors, officially Otolaryngologists are trained in rhinoplasty, or removing nasal humps. So are Facial Plastic Surgeons, who mostly have backgrounds in ENT and Plastic Surgeons. What is important is your surgeon's experience and expertise in rhinoplasty. How many do they perform a year? Is it something they specialize in? Often patients need more than "just a hump" removed to maintain a natural, harmonius nose. The tip of your nose might be a little large, but currently is balanced by the hump, once removed the tip would look out out of proportion. I use computer imaging to demonstrate if a hump removal will work alone or would alter other nasal relationships.
These answers are for educational purposes and should not be relied upon as a substitute for medical advice you may receive from your physician. If you have a medical emergency, please call 911. These answers do not constitute or initiate a patient/doctor relationship.

subset: commoncrawl


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The Big Data Group Releases 2013 Edition of The Big Data Landscape
The Big Data Group, LLC today announced the January 2013 Edition of The Big Data Landscape. The Big Data Group produces The Big Data Landscape, Big Data Trends, and Big Data TV.
"Given the incredible amount of interest and investment in the Big Data space, we decided to publish this updated, comprehensive version of The Big Data Landscape," said David Feinleib, Managing Partner of The Big Data Group.
Big Data is a major technology trend. It involves the rapid growth of machine data and user-generated content. Strategic use of Big Data enables companies to gain competitive advantage.
When the landscape was first created in June of 2012, it included just over 30 companies. Since then, the landscape has expanded to include more than 100. The Big Data Landscape has become an industry reference for Big Data vendors of all sizes, public and private market investors, and technology buyers.
The Big Data Landscape - January 2013 Edition is available immediately in embeddable form at http://www.slideshare.net/bigdatalandscape/the-big-data-landscape.
An interactive version of the landscape is available at BigDataLandscape.com. Visitors to the site can click on any company to get a detailed company description. They can also submit new entries to the landscape.
The Big Data Landscape categorizes Big Data companies into infrastructure and applications. It then further groups companies into specific sub-categories, making it easy to understand the Big Data ecosystem quickly and easily.


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- Sold for: Start Free Trial or Sign In to see what it's worth.
- Item Category: Textiles, Clothing & Accessories
- Source: eBay
- Sold Date: Feb 13, 2008
- Channel: Auction House
This is a spectacular antique Victorian needlepoint with beadwork portrait. This is of a young man playing the violin. Incredibly done and framed in walnut. Museum quality. In frame this measures 23" by 24". The needlepoint measures 17" by 18 1/4". Every part of this has beads except for the boy's face, hands, a few sections of the belt and the hair. In fantastic condition - every bead is intact which is amazing. This is a genuine antique of the 19th Century and not new. In the original frame which was done in the 1940's. The frame has some chips and wear on the edge. Displays beautifully. Perfect for the collector. Check out our other auctions for more great items. This item is fresh from an early Columbia County home w it has descended through the family.
We accept Checks and Money Orders. We ship USPS priority and UPS depending on weight and value. All brand new boxes, peanuts, and bubblewrap is used. Insurance will be calculated at end of auction. If you have any questions we may be reached at David Davis Antiques, . Bid with confidence. All our items are high quality.
We combine shipping to reduce the cost if you are bidding on multiple lots.
New York Residents must pay sales tax unless an exempt number is supplied. We now ship both UPS and United States Post Office Priority. Whatever is more convenient... read more


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Dog Point Vineyard Pinot Noir 2009
Pinot Noir from New Zealand
Winemaker's Notes
Dog Point Pinot Noir is mouth-filling and elegant, with aromas of bright red fruits complemented by floral notes and a subtle, underlying varietal earthy character. Lifted rich fruit and well integrated spicy oak flavors show excellent balance with sweet tannins and a lingering soft finish.
Critical Acclaim
The Wine Advocate - "Matured for 17 months in French oak, 50% new, the 2009 Pinot Noir displays a pale to medium ruby-purple color, giving aromas of ripe cherries and raspberries over hints of dried mint, lavender and cassia. Medium-full bodied with a good amount of vibrant berry and spice flavors, it is well structured with crisp acid, a medium level of fine-grained tannins and a long finish."
Dog Point Vineyard Winery
The name Dog Point dates from the earliest European settlement of Marlborough and the introduction of sheep to the district. "These were days of few fences, of boundary riders and boundary keeping dogs".
Shepherds' dogs sometimes became lost or wandered off and eventually bred into a marauding pack which attacked local flocks.
Their home was a tussock and scrub covered hill, overlooking the Wairau Plains, designated by the early settlers as Dog Point.
Marlborough's Wairau Valley is the major grape growing region of New Zealand, a confined geographical area at the northern tip of the South Island. Abundant sunshine, low rainfall and cool autumn nights characterise our long growing season, enabling the slow evolution of a rich array of vibrant fruit flavors.
Fruit for our wines is sourced from selected vineyard plantings dating back to the late 1970's. These older well-established vines situated on free draining silty clay loams are supplemented with fruit from closely planted hillside vines with a clay loam influence. View all Dog Point Vineyard Wines
About Other New ZealandView a map of Other New Zealand wineries
A few other New Zealand areas include the region of Auckland, high up on the North Island, Nelson, sitting to the west of Marlborough, and Canterbury, just under Waipara on the South Island. Most wines in New Zealand will come from a designated area and say so on the label.
Notable FactsAuckland was one of the first wine growing regions of the country, but now produces very little of New Zealand's wine. It's pretty wet up there so vineyards are planted in the driest spots possible – reds are most popular here. Nelson is the only region along the west coast of the country, producing Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Canterbury's chilly climate is best suited for Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.
About New ZealandThe country of New Zealand is about 1000 miles from the coast of Australia. It consists of two long islands, end to end, that are approximately the same length as California. Most of the country's climate is maritime due to the abundant coastline. The northern island is warmer and wetter, while the southern island is cooler and dryer. The most popular grapes of New Zealand are Sauvignon Blanc (made most famous by the bright, crisp wines coming out of Marlborough), Chardonnay and the ever-growing Pinot Noir.
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The fossils of the approximately 9-ft. long creature, which are, described in two Nature articles released today, were dug out of rock formations on Ellesmere Island, in the Canadian Arctic, by paleontologists from the University of Chicago and several other institutions. Its nickame, for reasons that will become clear, is "fishapod"; it's more formally called Tiktaalik ("large fish in stream," in the local Inuit language). Fishapod dates from about 383 million years ago. It had the scales, teeth and gills of a fish, but also a big, curved rib cage that suggests the creature had lungs as well. The ribs interlock, moreover, unlike a fish's, implying they were able to bear fishapod's weight—an unnecessary trait in a fish. It had a neck—most unfishlike. And, most surprising of all, its pectoral fins included bones that look like nothing less than a primitive wrist and fingers.Link to TIME coverage, Link to Nature's coverage (there's a podcast, too), here's something in the Guardian, and here's a NYT article. Update: The BBC opened their TV news last night with a a great segment that's now available on their site. Link, Click on "See the fossilized fish - Video" in upper right hand corner. (Thanks, John Brockman, John Parres, Jake, and everyone else!) Image: Kalliopi Monoyios / University of Chicago.
Reader comment: Michael Reeve says,
The podcast in Nature's coverage, would that be a tetrapodcast? I'm sorry.
Reader comment: Eli Laztanguren says,
Xeni wrote "(Tiktaalik roseae) was highly trained in martial arts and once vanquished ten Intelligent Design proponents with a single wu-shu thwack from his mighty tail!" The fact is that nobody knows about Tiktaalik roseae having a tail or not. They just found the front part of the fossil. They might need now another six years in the artic ice to recover, if lucky, some rear part of it. Anyway, it actually vanquished ten Intelligent Design proponents with a single wu-shu thwack from his mighty... JAW.


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- Cloak of the Unseen Path
- Item Level 67
- Binds when picked up
- Back
- 59 Armor
- +12 Agility
+13 Stamina
- Classes: Hunter
- Requires level 60
- Equip: Increases your hit rating by 10.
Equip: Increases attack power by 22.
- Trappings of the Unseen Path (3 pieces)
- [Cloak of the Unseen Path]
[Scythe of the Unseen Path]
[Signet of the Unseen Path]
- (3) Set: Increases your pet's damage by 3%.
The Cloak of the Unseen Path is a part of the hunter item set Trappings of the Unseen Path.
Source Edit
This item is a quest reward from [60R] Cloak of the Unseen Path.
You must also be Revered with the Cenarion Circle.


text:
Recently we have seen several high profile accounts compromised on Twitter, for example Fox News, a verified Twitter account tweeted that president Obama was dead on American independence day. People had no reason to believe this was a fake tweet and there was no sign of the account being hacked. The account was 'verified' meaning Twitter had ensured the account was real, something which is key to Twitter users.
People should be able to look at the verified sign on a Twitter account and be able to trust the source. This is the entire point of the verified logo, the instant people start to lose trust in this logo is when Twitter could start getting into trouble.
So does Twitter need extra security? In a word yes.
Twitter while large still needs to ensure that its users can safety use the service of risk losing them. Its not just fake tweets which are a problem, not long ago Simon Pegg's official account was compromised and someone tweeted a link to a Paul screensaver. This actually turned out to be a virus and within a few minutes achieved a couple of thousand downloads. If this happens again people could start to lose trust in the service resulting in Twitters possible downfall.
We all know this isn't an impossible event look st how big MySpace was just a few short years ago. Now the company is a constant joke amoung the whole community. Now what Twitter does I don't know. Maybe add a passcode which is required to log in at a new location, or for corporate accounts to be updated from behind their corporate firewall only? Yes, I know these ideas are hard to implement and maybe there are better solutions out there and its still going to happen but it can at least be made more difficult.
I don't dislike Twitter and this post isn't to attack them, I'm actually a very avid Tweeter but I don't want to start seeing the company losing its progress because of a few hackers and fake tweets.
Give us your opinion on the matter and how you think Twitter could improve its security.


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Soundcheck: Bouncing Around the Room, The Dogs, Pigtail, Unknown song (Trey vocals), Waking Up Dead, Things People Do, Shade, Yarmouth Road, Heavy Things (partial), Halfway To The Moon, Yarmouth Road Jam
SET 1: Pigtail, Wolfman's Brother, Daniel Saw the Stone, The Dogs, Undermind, Dear Prudence, Stash, Round Room > Horn, Uncle Pen, Halfway to the Moon, Walls of the Cave
SET 2: Mike's Song > I Am Hydrogen > Weekapaug Groove, Bouncing Around the Room, Ghost > The Line, Simple -> I Found a Reason, No Men In No Man's Land, Billy Breathes, Bathtub Gin
ENCORE: Water in the Sky > Character Zero
Photo by Rene Huemer via Phish From the Road © Phish
Add a Review
July 23, 2017
7 hours ago
Madison Square Garden
Set 1: Sunday Morning[1], Axilla, Your Pet Cat, Back on the Train, How Many People Are You, Glide, Theme From the Bottom > It's Ice > More
Set 2: AC/DC Bag > Wolfman's Brother[2] > Twist > Waves > Miss You, Boogie On Reggae Woman, Wading in the Velvet Sea
Encore: Sweet Jane
[1] Phish debut. Trey on drums.
[2] Unfinished.
Phish.net is a non-commercial project run by Phish fans and for Phish fans under the auspices of the all-volunteer, non-profit Mockingbird Foundation.
This project serves to compile, preserve, and protect encyclopedic information about Phish and their music.
Credits | Terms Of Use | Legal
The Mockingbird Foundation is a non-profit organization founded by Phish fans in 1996 to generate charitable proceeds from the Phish community.
And since we're entirely volunteer – with no office, salaries, or paid staff – administrative costs are less than 2% of revenues! So far, we've distributed over $1,000,000 to support music education for children – hundreds of grants in all 50 states, with more on the way.


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Francisco Rodriguez was supposed to chat with reporters at 3:30 this afternoon but the call was canceled. It has yet to be rescheduled.
A Mets official said K-Rod was scheduled to fly home to Venezuela from New York today but his flight was delayed substantially and fouled up the timing.


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Information received from a cousin:
"Grandmother said that Carter Tadlock was injured badly during the Civil
War. He fought with the First Texas Regiment. He fought in the East
and was captured and wounded during the war. Grandmother said he was
hit in the head with a saber. She said he had terrible headaches for
the rest of his life, and she was convinced that he eventually died of
the wound he had suffered in the war. "


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The Really Great AbbyShot Blog!
Customer E-mails: October 2010 Edition
Over the past little while we've been receiving some great photos from customers who have put their region on the map! Quite literally in fact
We're talking about none other than our Map Your 'Shot Page, and these two intrepid customers were the first in their respective regions to post a photo to our AbbyShot world map!
We'd like to showcase our first mapped photo from Australia (honestly, any Australians reading need to rectify this!). It's a young Max Rockatansky who is styling in his Max Jacket, looking exactly like the pose on the classic "Road Warrior" poster. It's conveniently in the background of the photo to prove it, take a look!
Next, we have a stylish Squall Leonhart who mapped the first photo from the province of Quebec in our native Canada. He's wearing the Squall Jacket of course, but, well… we'll let him tell it!
(irrelevant I know, but way cool )"
Way cool indeed!
Finally, we'd like to share a wonderful email from a customer who will hopefully be sending us some photos of his Stampede Duster in action soon!
Hello AbbyShot!
So I've owned the Stampede Duster for quite some time now, and I really love it! I'd say it's the most versatile coat I've ever owned. Basically, one could wear it opened or closed, depending on one's preferences.
The material of the coat is fantastic! It's really smooth that you'd just want to stroke it, even the lining feels nice on the skin =)
I'll have to wait for winter to set in before I can say much about how warm it is. But so far, it's amazing!!!
Thanks for the wonderful work! I'll be getting pictures in when the winter weather sets in, it'll be glorious!
Have a great day!
- Soturj, USA
Thanks for all the photos and the emails! Keep sending them in, either through our Map Your 'Shot page or by email with photo attachments to "info[at]abbyshot.com". We're especially looking forward to seeing your Halloween photos; don't forget to grab your digital camera before you start your Halloween adventures in AbbyShot Gear! And of course, most of all: Have fun!
The post Customer E-mails: October 2010 Edition appeared first on .


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Bombs, bullets, ballots (WASHINGTON TIMES COMMENTARY) By Oliver North 01/30/05)
Source: http://www.washingtontimes.com/commentary/20050129-095133-9374r.htm
WASHINGTON TIMES Articles-Index-Top
By Tuesday, it will have happened twice in less than four months, though rarer than a solar eclipse, a shooting star or a volcano eruption. It should be celebrated as a magnificent, historic event, but no: Today´s Iraqi election, like the October election in Afghanistan signifying the birth of a new democracy and the first vote of a long-oppressed people is presented by the media as a danger to be avoided at all costs.
For months, the so-called mainstream media have struggled to depict the Iraqi elections as a fools´ errand foisted on the Iraqis by George Bush. When I was in London earlier this week, the BBC and many European newspapers predicted an "invalid outcome" because "the Sunni population is boycotting the vote." On Tuesday, Senate opponents of the president´s Iraq policy lined up behind former Ku Klux Klansman Robert Byrd and Teddy "the swimmer" Kennedy to pillory Condoleezza Rice and declare Iraq to be "a quagmire ... a total failure."
But despite a pre-election poll of 33,000 Iraqis by the Arabic paper Asharq Al-Awsat, in which 72.4 percent said they intend to vote including 33 percent in the heavily Sunni central provinces the U.S. media continue denigrating the process.
"Is a 50 or 60 percent turnout enough?" reporters have skeptically asked the White House, State Department and every U.S. and Iraqi official they can find in Baghdad. But when 50 percent of American voters went to the polls in November, it was considered a "historic" turnout.
All this misses the point. Though the final tally won´t be known for days, today´s election is already a success a "grand moment in Iraqi history," as the president predicted in his Wednesday news conference.
It is a remarkable accomplishment because:
(1) The terrorists tried so hard to stop it and failed.
(2) More than 17,000 candidates were willing to put their lives on the line, vying for 270 seats in the first freely elected National Assembly in the long history of Mesopotamia.
(3) Finally so many Iraqi women braved bombs, bullets, threats and intimidation to go to the polls.
Last October, whole Afghan families walked miles, skirting minefields and defying threats from Taliban thugs, just to vote. Little noted by my "media colleagues" with cameras at the ready to capture the carnage was the amazing moment when Moqadasa Sidiqi, a 19-year-old woman, cast the first ballot in Afghanistan´s history. A woman cast the first ballot.
And though you wouldn´t know it from the media criticism and commentary, the feminine factor in the Iraqi elections is far more important than whether the voter is a Sunni or a Shi´ite.
By law, one-third of the new National Assembly members must be women. Women are about to transform Iraq, just as they are transforming Afghanistan.
Last summer, when I interviewed the elected governor of Iraq´s largest province, Al Anbar, in the heart of the Sunni triangle, he told me, "Women voting will change everything. No woman who carries a child for 9 months wants that child to grow up to be a suicide terrorist. They want the politicians to give their children something to live for, not die for and we will have to do it."
That judgment is echoed by most secular and religious leaders in Iraq. The National Assembly elected today will not only name a president, two deputy presidents, a prime minister and a Cabinet, it must also start drafting a new constitution due by Aug. 15. That constitution will then be submitted to a popular referendum a second free election by mid-October.
This new Iraqi constitution will become the law of the land if affirmed by a majority of the voters nationwide. Approval of the constitution will yield yet a third free election on Dec. 15, 2005, to elect a new government.
All this seems to have escaped the attention of the president´s critics in our media; as have the television ads produced by pro- democracy organizations to encourage Iraqi voting.
In one ad, an elderly man is confronted on the street by a group of masked, armed thugs. The man is soon joined by a handful of his neighbors, then more, until the mass of people greatly outnumber the terrorists, who set off running from the crowd of ordinary, unarmed but courageous Iraqis. The voice-over says, "On Jan. 30, we meet our destiny and our duty. We are not alone, and we are not afraid. Our strength is in our unity; together we will work and together prevail." No ad like this could possibly run under Saddam´s rule.
Terrorist-in-chief in Iraq, Abu Musab Zarqawi, in a statement showing just how desperate the insurgents are to prevent democracy from taking root, condemned these elections: "We have declared a fierce war on this evil principle of democracy and those who follow this wrong ideology." He went on to brand anyone who took part as an "infidel."
President Bush, in his Inaugural address, said, "By our efforts, we have lit a fire as well a fire in the minds of men. It warms those who feel its power, it burns those who fight its progress, and one day this untamed fire of freedom will reach the darkest corners of our world."
That fire is blazing in Iraq. And it may soon spread to some of those other dark corners of the Middle East.
Oliver North is a nationally syndicated columnist and founder and honorary chairman of Freedom Alliance. (Copyright 2005 News World Communications, Inc. 01/30/05)
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|Our Mysterious Benefactor
As investigations continue, the colonists gather outside for the evening meal, and Sister Mara leads them in a simple prayer for the safety and success of their venture. You note that some of the veggies in the stew seem to be the same ones left at the gate that morning...
|Lena Relani
Another word for disease or plague.
Lena stood staring at Songan as he explained what had occurred between himself and the badgers. That was how mother went she thought now its got me. The plague which had ravaged the slums of Absalom all those years ago took everything Lena had at the time. However, it had also given her the opportunity to find Abadar. She wouldn't let some invisible infection take her new life from her as it had done before.
"Gathering funds eh Krupt? I can see to that"
Lena will make some inquiries around the colony to see if anybody is likely to have money to spare or even better ingredients to supply which could be used to craft antidotes. Keeping the news of the plague secret is of paramount importance and Lena will err on the side of caution when asking questions and try not to give anything away.
Diplomacy: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14
Diplomacy: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14
I can roll twice using 'follow up' and use both results
|Our Mysterious Benefactor
There is, however, some squirreled away ingredients which could be used for potion making. In addition you manage to meet a very lovely young woman who makes barrels and wood-craft that seems to be an accomplished herbalist as well. Her name is Tiana and she's willing to help by gathering herbs, if someone will guard her. Of course, she thinks you're just replenishing the herbal supplies that were lost in the ship explosion, right?
|Our Mysterious Benefactor
Sister Mara pales a bit when you tell her of what you learned. Then she sets her shoulders and reckons that you ought to go ahead with this Agreement you spoke of, since it might safeguard the current colonists. Then she suggests that the colony should be secured, then a search for the Mayor and colonists can be undertaken.
"If he was taken alive, then they must want him that way. Let us pray that they keep that way as well."
|Gellius Krupt
"I have no problem helping you Krupt. But I will not be subjected to any test, samples, or observations. If we find a cure then I will take with everyone else, if not then it is of no issue."
Krupt's pacing and fiddling with equipment comes to an abrupt halt. He turns and regards Leralt, arching one eyebrow.
"Well, well, well...that was a vehement refusal. I'd not be surprised if our little detective was set to salivating over such a mystery. What secret is our esteemed arcanist determined to protect that he balks when asked to help prevent a plague? The possibilities boggle the mind. Well, every mind but mine, as I don't give an imp's bottom what it is. Very well, if you won't help that way, you can assist me in the lab. I'll want to consult you on matters arcane and extraplanar."
Without another word on the matter, he gathers his gear and heads to the building where his equipment is set up, not bothering to look back and see if Leralt is following.
Later, after time spent in research:
Dr. Krupt has tested each member of the party (excluding Leralt) and taken blood and tissue samples for analysis, along with some colonists under the guise of a routine physical examination. He takes copious notes, but when asked of the results he simply replies "Inconclusive at this time. I'll do another round in a week, unless obvious symptoms become apparent in the population."
Lena: I suppose "funds" wouldn't be the proper term, as we've nowhere to buy supplies. We'd be raiding the colony stores for any necessary ingredients.
|Leralt Littlehorn
Leralt does not follow. The chelaxian needed to learn his place, entitlement would not be allowed, at least not by him. He goes back to the tomes in the library he had claimed. He needed to get familiar with daemon's and magical plagues. Necromancy was a school of magic that made use of disease.
"If anyone needs me I will be in what passes for a library."
Songan nods to Sister Mara's directive regarding the agreement. "I have the same thoughts. Please remember to spread the word among the colonists' that they are to avoid taking any local game besides swine and birds. Even a single violation of this accord is likely to remove any hope we have of peaceful coexistence with the People."he answers.
He begrudgingly submits to Dr. Krupt's collection of a blood sample, remarking dryly that it seemed he had gotten his Catfolk blood sample in the end despite his initial trepidation.
At the evening meal, Songan seems reluctant to eat the stew initially, first consulting with Sister Mara to see if they had first been tested for disease or poison. He had neglected to ask Tarquin if he knew from where the bounty had come. He also agrees to go with Catila to the strange circle the next day and also inquires of her, and everyone else, to see if any besides himself speak Sylvan. Regardless of the answer, he suggests that he and any others who are fluent in the Fae tongue begin teaching it to the others in case they should meet one of the People without those fluent being present.
|Dr. Catila Eyesquint
Catila does indeed turn a now familiar to all expression of curiosity on Leralt when he refuses to give a blood sample so conclusively. However she doesn't say anything, for now allowing the mage to keep his secrets. The colony had far more urgent matters to deal with. She was unlikely to forget about it though.
The Detective submits to giving a blood sample easily, watching the whole process with great interest and asking many questions about blood, how it's tested and so forth until asked to stop.
She thanks Songan for agreeing to come with her and praises him on his idea to teach everyone Sylvan adding "Yes, I actually speak more than one dialect of Sylvan. Have you ever heard the Aklo tongue? But yes, from your experience it seems that Sylvan should suffice for our communication needs with the People. I will be happy to help teach it to all who wish to learn."
OMB, how have the recovery efforts gone to retrieve things from the sunken ship?
|Our Mysterious Benefactor
The recovery efforts have yielded a couple of sea chests, a crate of iron ore, a large wardrobe meant for the Mayor's home and half of a ballista. The rest can be fabricated easily, given time. The rest of the lost supplies are either too deep to easily dredge or were destroyed beyond repair by the explosion.
Is there anything anyone would like to do over night? Or shall we skip ahead to morning?
|Leralt Littlehorn
|Orin Oakhammer
|Our Mysterious Benefactor
The night passes quietly, with the guards noting no activity, save a strange snuffling in the woods nearby that soon was revealed by moonlight to be a pack of pigs, apparently formerly domesticated and now gone feral. Perhaps this is why the pigs were excluded from the People?
The morning dawns bright and cool, with a misting of dew across the ground. No bounties await you at the gates, but there is an odd subdued feeling to the colony, as if the calm before the storm.
What are your plans for the day?
|Lena Relani
After the usual morning ritual, Lena meets up with the others to discuss plans and puts her ideas forward.
"Seeing as we have an accord of sorts with The People, maybe we should try and learn more about the bleachlings and this daemon? Perhaps we should all go to the strange circle that was found or scout further afield?"
|Gellius Krupt
"A sound plan. I've learned all I can about the infected for now. More information about the progenitors of this disease would be the next logical step." The doctor sounds chipper despite the impending death and eventual undeath of the entire colony looming in the future.
Dr. Krupt will have the dart he envenomed with blue whinnis at hand and will apply poison to a second before the group departs.
|Dr. Catila Eyesquint
During the Night
When word reaches her of some of the previous Mayor's effects being found, Catila decides to look through them. She considers asking permission from the current mayor, but quickly dismisses the idea, falling back on the old axiom 'better to ask for forgiveness than permission'.
She'll be taking 20 on her perception check to search through the wardrobe and all the rest of the mayor's effects
"That's an excellent idea Lena. Since it seems the colony is in no immediate danger, I believe the colony can spare all of us who wish to go exploring. We can investigate further the and the 'moving rocks', which is where I suspect my Bleachling cousins may hail from."
|Leralt Littlehorn
"I heard that there were some pigs moving about last night. I suggest we go after them if time permits or send a hunting party, not only will they add to our food but it may show our neighbors that we our respectful, as well as keepers of our word."
Hopefully some of the group knew the value of manners and proper etiquette.
I guess Leralt wasted his time.
|Our Mysterious Benefactor
Inside the scroll case, which is thankfully waterproof, is a letter from the original discoverer of the island detailing an encounter he had with a small pale man. The account is disjointed and seems to be colored by fever. He speaks of a warning that this island was a sacred trust, not to be defiled by heretics. He mentions something about ancient battles, imprisoned evil and a legacy of blood. The letter is stained and torn, and seems to have gone through some trauma. An attached note states, in firm and legible handwriting, that this letter was found amongst the belongings of the late Uriah Parker, the discoverer of the island, who committed suicide shortly after returning to civilization. The letter continues: "We believe that Parker might have had contact with some sort of native disease or poisonous berries. No further exploration of the island revealed any native humanoids, only an abundance of wildlife. However, given the nature of the disappearance, we thought it prudent to inform you of this information." It is signed by the Archcanon.
|Dr. Catila Eyesquint
Catila nods I'm agreement to Leralt's suggestion, her mercurial Gnomish moods suddenly turning more serious, she pulls out a scroll and says "Before we leave, there is another matter. I took the liberty of investigating the mayors belongings last night and I found this." and she unravels the scroll and begins to read.
Read the spoiler. She does Not however tell anyone about the ladies panties she found. OMB, did the panties have any identifying markings on them? And did they seem sized for a lady, or were they more, ah, the first Mayor's size?
Once finished, expression still grim she says "It looks like there's more going on here they we've been led to believe and I for one am not at all happy to learn that such information was known to the Archcannon but kept from us. Although, I don't suppose there's too much we can do about it now. I do agree that this information must be kept from the colonists though, as for them to learn now that our mission may have been doomed from the start might shatter the little confidence they've built up so far."
|Our Mysterious Benefactor
|Gellius Krupt
|Leralt Littlehorn
He listened and read the notes.
"Is it really so surprising that those with greed would overlook caution as a result."
He holds up a hand before any of the faithful could speak.
"I mean no offense, it is a observation of the failings of men nothing more. Yet this does not mean that colonist are heretics simply by being here. It sounded more like he was giving notice, heretic is a subjective term. We simply have to find what makes us heretics, I doubt it is something such as our gods. Not all of us worship the same god or even any god at that yet we are targeted without exception. Maybe the key to our heretic status may be a lack of agreement with the People. In which case gaining one may solve our problem or at least some of it. This is all theory, more information is needed I think. Still it is something to build on."
Before addressing the letter's contents, Songan first expresses his own view of what to do about the wandering swine: "Feral pigs are not going to be as meaty or as easy to capture as their domestic counterparts. I may also suggest trying to corral some members of the herd...a single male that looks to be in good health and a number of females, then begin trying to re-domesticate them. If it can be done, it would be possible to raise a substantial drove from those numbers. In a year or two ten sows can birth over a hundred piglets; it wouldn't take long for those to grow to decent size if fed well. I'm not opposed to taking a few pigs now for some bacon or ham or what-have-you, but trying to re-domesticate some members of the population would also be wise when looking to the future."
"With regard to the letter that you found, Catila...it is unfortunate that such information was hidden from us, regardless of the Archcanon's reasons for that. As you say, though, there is little to be done about it now save to discover what secrets this island yet contains. For now I think our next step should be to go out to the circle you found yesterday to try and recover the remaining bits of tablet you spoke of to me. However, we should leave some people behind, at least one who can speak Sylvan, so that should the People attempt to communicate with us again here we will not be caught off-guard. I do not know when their Council is going to get back in touch with us, but it could be any moment."
|Gellius Krupt
Krupt couldn't help but let a smirk cross his face. Leave it to the Abadarians to inform the local politico but not the ones charged with the defense of the place. Typicial, he thought. The good doctor shrugged his pack into a more comfortable positon, adjusting the straps.
"I'll go. I've no way to communicate with them, and furthering my investigations requires more information. Being called a heretic isn't so bad. I get that from nearly all clergymen eventually, once they get to know me. That's why I was so eager to leave Cheliax in the first place."
|Lena Relani
|Mevakh Ahrask
Mevakh raises a brow at the mention of heretics. "The entire purpose of this expedition is to spread the tenets of Abadar through proper civilization. However, the Master recognizes that each settlement has its own needs. We would be well within Abadar's laws to make an agreement with the People, so long as we make the agreement in good faith and follow it faithfully. This is no heresy. The author of the letter likely meant something different, or did not understand Abadar's laws."
|Leralt Littlehorn
Leralt shakes his head at Mevakh, he did not like having to repeat himself.
"Heretic is a subjective term. Chelaxian's for example consider anyone who does not worship Asmodeus to be a heretic. Abadarian priest may consider Gozreh worshipers as heretics if they support nature over civilization. It is the view point of the speaker that matters when placing such a word, for a heretic is opposed or in direct conflict to the faith of the one using that word. This says something about the speaker. Anyways the author was repeating what he encountered, it is not his opinion rather more of a statement of what he witnessed. It was etheir the bleachling we met or one of his group that gave that warning. The problem is finding out the details of why we are considered heretics to them. Otherwise we will end up like the other colonist, I am sure none of them thought of themselves as heretics but that did little good."
|Orin Oakhammer
Orin decides not to get involved in the brewing debate.
"I feel that the colonists themselves should be more than capable of performing a boar hunt, if they so choose.
@Catila: "I'm itching to go investigate those stones we saw yesterday. I'm almost positive that I saw one of them move and my curiosity demands satisfaction."
|Our Mysterious Benefactor
Once again a band of adventurers are chosen and head out into the jungles. Today the air is thick with heat and humidity, even before you reach the jungles and flying insect swarm the air, biting and stinging. For every one you kill seven take its place and soon you're itching madly as you tromp along, soaked with sweat.
You reach the treeline where you saw the stones at just before midday and begin to head into the jungle. Soon enough the jungle is so thick that you must break out swords to hack through the thick vines to clear a path, all save Orin, who seems unperturbed by the vines and indeed, leaves no trail behind him to follow.
However, for all its difficulty, the jungle is beautiful. It's full of bright flowers and multi-colored vines that hang and twist in the few patches of sunlight.
Perception checks, please!
Who has stayed behind?
|Gellius Krupt
Perception check: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25
As he trails along behind the group, allowing those with big blades to hack a trail, Dr. Krupt examines the flora as he goes, occasionally pausing to cut a flower or leaf to take as a sample. Sometimes scratching a quick note before pressing it between the pages of his journal.
|Orin Oakhammer
|Mevakh Ahrask
As is his nature, Mevakh stays behind to protect the colonists from danger. The jungle, for all his orcish blood and its feral wildness, is not a place he naturally longs to go. Mevakh was raised in a city and, despite the dark memories of Cheliax, finds wooden buildings and stone streets to be much of a comfort. He wanders about the city, decked in his armor and shield in order to better protect its inhabitants, and speaks to any citizen who will talk to the towering, bestial figure.
|Dr. Catila Eyesquint
Knowing herself to one of if not the only other to speak Sylvan, the dimunitive detective has no intention of remaining behind and says so, adding "Surely they'll be alright for a few hours. And, not knowing what we face out there, I think we should present our full strength."
She too stays out ofthe debate and is happy when they all leave. Leading the others first to the circle and watches impatiently as Songan retrives the other fragments. Giving them only a cursory look to see if they are in a language she knows and scanning them for magic before she stuffs the stone pieces into her bag.
As they make their way through the jungle Catila, having situated herself in the middle of the group, hums a jaunty tune, causing everyone to feel more alert and aware
+1 to...ah, u know the drill
Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (12) + 10 = 22
This time Songan follows Catila and the others out into the wilds, wanting to help with the recovery of the bits of tablet that were mentioned to be inside the daemon circle.
Before they go, though, he checks to make sure that at least one person who can speak Sylvan will be staying behind at the fort; so far as he can tell, the only person besides he and the gnome who can speak the Fae tongue is Leralt, so he specifically requests that he stay behind in the fort today, both because it would allow him to continue his research and because it would leave someone capable of communicating with the People there.
Songan, using his Mage Hand spell, retrieves as many of the tablet fragments from within the circle as he can, before following the rest of the group, trusting they were heading out to where they thought stones were seen to be moving, keeping a keen eye out for anything out of the ordinary.
Perception: 1d20 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 8 + 1 = 10
Or not....
|Leralt Littlehorn
Leralt would have rather not stayed, being the only mage he knew what to look for.
"Just remember to take notes and bring back anything you dont know of. Oh and I will say I told you so if you should meet a member of those People."
With that he heads back to the library, these People would not send anyone into town or such. More likely they would catch the group out in the wild with in their domain if they choose to answer today. Most fey and nature worshipers avoided settlements of any kind.
|Lena Relani
Very well, we have a town guardian and a translator staying behind, so Lena will suit up and accompany the others out into the jungles. She stays at the fore, using her heavy falcata to clear a path when necessary. When the trail is clear, she will carry her crossbow loaded and be wary of danger.
Perception 1d20 + 9 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 9 + 1 = 14
apparently with her eyes closed..
|Our Mysterious Benefactor
Leralt is welcome to join the wilds team if he wishes.
Pausing at the dead circle, Songan is able to retrieve several pieces of the clay thing, which Catila gathers and begins to attempt to piece back together. It shortly becomes apparent that this was not a tablet, but rather a statue, depicting some sort of humanoid holding a scroll. Upon the scroll words are carved, but it will take some time to piece the statue together well enough to read them...
As the band of explorers hacks through the forest, Dr. Krupt drops behind to collect samples of flowers and plants as he goes. His patience is rewarded, as he finds several distinct specimen that he believes may prove useful to his research. However, his attention is elsewhere as something long and serpentine drops on him from above!
Attack: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (15) + 8 = 23
Damage: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7
The creature bites into Krupt with a beaked maw, tearing a chunk from his shoulder and leaving a slimy trail as it falls to the jungle floor. Similar thumps from behind him tell that three more of the creatures have dropped down from the jungle vines to attack. The creature looks snake-like, but thicker, all ropy-muscle and slimy green skin made to blend expertly into the jungle foliage. It's the head that distinguishes it: four clawed tentacles surround a wicked beak, which is stained red with Krupt's blood.
Creature: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11
Krupt: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 2 = 16
Lena: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 2 = 19
Songan: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (13) + 3 = 16
Catila: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 2 = 11
Orin: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13
Lena 19
Songan 16
Krupt 16
Orin 13
Creatures 11
Catila 11
Actions for Round 1, please. No need to post in order, I will sort it out.
|Orin Oakhammer
Round 1, Init 13
Orin and Grimfang Focus on an enemy, setting up flanking positions. Orin draws his sword as he moves into position and attacks with Grimfang darting to slash with his teeth.
Attack: Bite +4 (1d6+2 plus Trip)
AC 18, touch 13, flat-footed 15
hp 30
Fort +5, Ref +3, Will +2
Orin Attack:1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 5 + 2 = 26
Crit Confirm:1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 5 + 2 = 16
Damage:1d6 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7
Damage(if crit):2d6 + 6 ⇒ (5, 5) + 6 = 16
Grimgfang Attack:1d20 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 4 + 2 = 25
Damage:1d6 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7
Trip(if possible):1d20 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 7 + 2 = 20
|Gellius Krupt
Round 1, Initiative 16, 16/23hp
Dr. Krupt gives a high, shrill shriek of fear and pain, leaving only the deaf unaware of his danger. His journal and inkpen fall forgotten to the forest floor as he scrambles for a vial at his belt, popping it open and gulping it down.
Question, as this is the first alchemist I've played: Extracts are treated like spells, does this mean an alchemist can use them defensively in the same way that a spellcaster can cast defensively, to avoid attacks of opportunity? If so, that's what Krupt does.
Defensive extract drinking: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23. Krupt downs an extract of shield, raising his AC to 15.
|Dr. Catila Eyesquint
"Orin! Songan! What are these things??" Catila yells, despite the threat her agile mind still, as always, questing for answers. Thinking the small snake-like creatures might be hard to hit with a sling she instead moves into range and whistles in a high pitch and points her finger, sending a ray of ultrasonic sound slamming into the thing
Ranged touch: 1d20 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 4 + 1 = 23
Sonic Damage: 1d3 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4
Her Careful Teamwork song also gives +1 to Initiative for everyone
At Dr. Krupt's shriek, Songan jumps immediately away, spinning on his heels and quickly raising his bow and bringing it to bear. He pauses before firing at Catila's yell, taking a brief moment to try and identify the creatures that have attacked them. He adjusts his aim swiftly to avoid shooting into the melee that Orin and Grimfang have waded themselves into, not wanting to risk shooting either of them in the rigamarole.
Knowledge (Nature): 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (13) + 3 = 16
Attack (w/ PB Shot): 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 6 + 1 = 18
Damage (if hit): 1d6 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 2 + 1 = 6
|Orin Oakhammer
|Gellius Krupt
|Lena Relani
Actually my initiative is +5 with Cunning Initiative, not that it matters as I go first
Round 1 initiative 19
Hearing Krupt's scream, Lena spins around. She will move to engage one of the creatures, hopefully either flanking with one of her allies or moving so that one of them may flank next turn.
Falcata 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (12) + 3 = 15
Damage 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3
Sneak attack (if possible) 1d6 ⇒ 2
If there's also time she will try to search her mind for information on the strange creatures:
Knowledge (arcana) 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (18) + 9 = 27
Knowledge (dungeoneering)1d20 + 9 ⇒ (16) + 9 = 25
|Our Mysterious Benefactor
Everyone, If you do not already have your initiative clearly marked on your character sheet, I need it there now. Thank you.
|Our Mysterious Benefactor
Lena 25
Songan 17
Krupt 17
Orin 14
Catila 12
Creatures 11
Though Lena's attack is skilled, the writhing serpentine thing is quicker, moving to dodge her attack. She wracks her brain and realizes she has heard of things like these: gricks. Though usually found underground, these seem to be a jungle adapted species. She recalls their skin is especially tough and that the creatures are at least semi-sentient.
Songan's arrow skips off the creature's beak, nearly causing a wound. He ponders his knowledge of fauna, but the only thing he can see is that this is clearly a jungle-adapted species.
Dr Krupt darts defensively as he prepares an extract before downing it in one gulp. A hazy aura surrounds him, toughening the air around his body.
Orin and Grimfang both land blows on the creatures, but its hard skin seems to resist both tooth and sword. Grimfang's efforts to trip the thing meet with no success, as it is as slippery as a snake: twisting it over doesn't seem to phase it.
Catila's sonic blast is the most effective by far, as the blast of solid sound hits the creature and shakes it, leaving a large bruised spot on its side. It hisses in pain and turns toward Catila!
Grick #1 continues to attack Dr Krupt, lashing at him with beak and tentacles!
Attack (beak): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23
Attack (tentacle): 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4
Attack (tentacle): 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5
Attack (tentacle): 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2
Attack (tentacle): 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 1 = 17
The beak and one tentacle land, scoring more flesh from the good Doctor!
Damage: 1d4 + 3 + 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 3 + (4) + 1 = 9
Grick #2 charges at Catila, its beak open for a bite of tender gnome flesh!
Attack (beak, charge, -2 AC): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9
Fortunately for the gnome, its charge is interrupted by a downed branch and its attack snaps well short of the gnome's flesh!
Grick #3 snaps and reaches for its tentacles at Orin!
Attack (beak): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24
Attack (tentacle): 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 1 = 12
Attack (tentacle): 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9
Attack (tentacle): 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5
Attack (tentacle): 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5
Only the creature's beak is able to snap hold of the elusive druid, doing 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7 damage!
Grick #4, eager for a meal of its own, snaps at Lena as its tentacles lash!
Attack (beak): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 6 = 16
Attack (tentacle): 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 1 = 14
Attack (tentacle): 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5
Attack (tentacle): 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 1 = 16
Attack (tentacle): 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 1 = 11
Lena's luck and skill combine to keep the beast at bay, although it is close in several moments!
Round 2:
Actions, please!
|Gellius Krupt
Round 2: Init 17, AC 17, hp 7/23
Krupt cries out in pain as the creature tears into him despite his increased defenses. Discretion being the better part of valor, he retreats from his opponent.
Withdraw action, 30 ft. move, whatever direction that will allow him to avoid any AoO from the other three.
|Lena Relani
"GAH! Gricks!"
Lena takes a 5 ft. step back away from Grik #4 and brandishes her holy symbol of Abadar
"Back to your holes beasts!" She proclaims as she casts bane on the 4 monsters[/b]
(-1 to all attacks and saves vs. fear for the Grikcs)
|Orin Oakhammer
Songan raises his bow into the air, shouting encouragement to his companions in the form of the ancient tale of the hero Geoff, who single handedly defended the small town of Beaver Hollow from a group of invading worm-like creatures that burrowed 'neath the ground.
Initiate Bardic Performance (Inspire Courage): Round 1
|Dr. Catila Eyesquint
Catila's attack was a ranged touch, so she should have been around 30' away. Did anyone get a AoO on the thing that attacked her?
And OMB, I think there may have been some misunderstanding, for you didn't mean to indicate Orin and Grimfang'a 7hp damage attacks did nothing to the Gricks at all, did you?? Also, you do recall we're just wee 3rd levelers, right? Just sayin ; )
K dungeoneering: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8
Still having no idea what the things are or what to do about them despite Lena yelling their name, Catila neatly skips back away from the creature, back-pedalling quickly while firing another sonic blast at the plant like snakey thing.
Acrobatics to avoid AoO: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (17) + 7 = 24
Move strategically 20' away from the thing but hopefully near an ally.
Ranged Touch: 1d20 + 4 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 4 + 1 + 1 = 17
Damage: 1d3 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 + 1 = 5
Seeing the untested-as-yet-in-battle-together party scatter she yells out "We must concentrate our might on these creatures and take one out together before focusing on the next! If we try to fight them one on one we're finished!"
Seems like this will be a tough fight boss, if possible a map might really help us out
Round 2 Init 12
Buffs: Careful Teamwork, Inspire Courage
Special: +3 vs fear/despair, +4 vs illusions


text:
Summary of Season 1 (1993) - 2 discs
Harry Wyckoff (James Belushi) is a television exec whose new 3-D project is expected to change the world. Soon, he's a rising star at his company. But when he determines that the cutting-edge technology is dangerous, there's trouble ahead. Turns out, it's all a menacing thought-control experiment, and Wyckoff winds up embroiled in a murderous conspiracy. Dana Delany plays his wife, Grace, in this television miniseries.
Show Details
- This show is
- Ominous


text:
One of the main factors resulting in India's continuing economic downfall is our uncontrolled fuel usage. Each one of us could help save our economy by limiting the consumption of fuel that we use for vehicles. If we could reduce the number of vehicles in the road, not only that would reduce traffic jams and pollution, we are also saving our economy from its present crisis.
There are many solo travelling two-wheelers in our city. Though many of these motorists are willing to offer a lift to those who need it, most of us wouldn't dare ask for a lift as that could possibly end up as an embarrassment, i.e. if the motorist doesn't stop by.
The idea being proposed here is that if the solo travelling motorist who is willing to offer a lift could paste the above logo titled "Lift Offered" on their vehicle or helmet, those people in need of a lift could ask for it without hesitation.
If Unions, Organisations and Netizens would take the initiative to propagate this message and make it a reality, this would contribute to lift our economy from its present crisis and would also improve fraternity.


text:
SAN MATEO, Calif. This place can't be the nexus of a global entertainment experiment. Can't be home to the entity that unleashed a couple of paradigm-bending phenomena, namely Bus Uncle and The Evolution of Dance.
For crying out loud, it's an unmarked glass door between Ni-Mo Japanese Cuisine and Amici's cafe.
But, yep, this is YouTube. And there's co-founder Steve Chen, sitting on a ledge outside with a large coffee and his cellphone — looking, with his always-spiky hair, like a wayward clerk from a skateboard shop.
COMMENT: Talk about this story and more tech news on Kevin Maney's blog
Go inside and up the stairs and the place feels like a cross between a fraternity and your great aunt's living room. Red floor-to-ceiling curtains from Ikea act as room dividers. The break area is an exposed sink next to shelves stocked with chips and Doritos. The 30 employees work at desks scattered around an open floor, with toys and musical instruments propped in between.
These are confusing times in the media, and YouTube is making it more so. In a charming but frustrating way, the company doesn't even pretend to know how it's going to change the concept of media in coming years.
There is a sense that YouTube accidentally built a rocket and is willing to hang on to see where it goes. Co-founders Chen and Chad Hurley can be like the main characters in Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure, who go for joy rides in a time-traveling phone booth and marvel at where they land with a "Whoa, duuuude!"
"There are so many things we can do," says Chen. "We'll wait and see what happens in the market."
"We're in a position where, if we think about something (for the site), we can just do it," says Hurley.
In the meantime, as 35,000 videos are uploaded to YouTube each day, the site has become the primordial ooze out of which rise new forms of video entertainment. Case in point: Bus Uncle.
Back in May, YouTube turned on technology that makes it easier to send video from cellphones directly to the site. "It will be interesting to see what content will be like when everyone who has a cellphone with them can take video of anything," Chen said then.
About the same time, YouTube enabled something it calls "spinoff and response video." It's a way to alter or respond to video on the site, posting it like comments in a blog, so there's a threaded series of videos.
All of that came together when, on a public bus one night in Hong Kong, passenger Elvis Ho tapped the shoulder of the man sitting in front of him, Roger Chan. Ho asked Chan to talk more quietly on his cellphone.
Chan snapped, turned around and berated Ho for six minutes with raunchy language and a line that's becoming a catchphrase: "I've got pressure!" Across the aisle, Jon Fong quietly captured the harangue on video using his cellphone and posted the clip on YouTube.
It turned into a sensation — first in Hong Kong, then around the world. People quickly added subtitles, set the video to music and shot spoof versions. The different versions of Bus Uncle— so named because Ho began by addressing Chan as "uncle," which is polite in China — have been viewed at least 3 million times.
The Evolution of Dance is simpler but bigger. It is a six-minute routine by comedian Judson Laipply — just him doing different dances of the past 50 years. Posted a couple of weeks ago, it's been viewed more than 23 million times.
These videos follow in the grand tradition of other Internet phenomena such as the dancing baby, or JibJab's This Land is Your Land. YouTube, though, takes what had been random and gives it order — some semblance of a system. And because of that, Web-based video is flourishing. As Hurley says, "We've built a short-form entertainment experience."
In his essay Farewell Information, It's a Media Age, futurist Paul Saffo called this the beginning of the age of personal media. Instead of monolithic media entities firing news and entertainment one way, personal media means that it flows in lots of directions. Consumers can make and post videos that get seen by millions. This rise of the creator-consumer is the same trend that fueled blogs and amateur music sites such as GarageBand.com.
And, Saffo adds, "The shift from mass to personal inevitably translates into big changes in market structures."
Advertisers want in
Again, that's only beginning. On YouTube, the average user watches 30 minutes of videos a day, though the average length of each video viewed is about 2 minutes. The site just began accepting limited advertising, validating its concept with money.
When I ask Hurley if advertisers are seeking out YouTube, he replies, "More than we can deal with. Potential partners — that's another wave of e-mails. We're having discussions with all the major studios, (record) labels and networks."
The owners of mass media content want to seed YouTube with movie clips, promos and music videos — which are, in a Twilight Zone-ish twist, designed to pull consumers back into mass media from the personal media that's about to eat into the mass media's audience and income.
Then again, YouTube brings up the question of what constitutes mass media. If 23 million people around the world see The Evolution of Dance— that's pretty mass. Yet it's still niche and personal and user-created. It's all those things, which is what makes this moment so confounding, and so ripe with possibilities.
What does all this mean to the media business? There isn't a soul who really knows — except to know it means that a tiny company above a Japanese restaurant can alter the balance of the entire industry.
E-mail email@example.com


text:
Mets Drop Game Two to Johnson City
June 21, 2013 7:46 PM ET
Mets Drop Game Two to Johnson City
A rough night for the Kingsport Mets ended two outs early, thanks to Mother Nature. The Johnson City Cardinals hung the first shutout of the season on the K-Mets, tallying a 5-0 victory Friday in a game that was called with one out in the bottom of the ninth when a thunderstorm hit Hunter Wright Stadium and rendered the field unplayable for the remainder.
Stranded baserunners have told the tale for Kingsport en route to an 0-2 start in the Appalachian League. The K-Mets abandoned nine runners Friday, and hit 1-for-7 with men in scoring position. Kingsport is a combined 4-for-21 with runners in scoring position through two games.
In another developing common trend, the top of the second proved costly for the K-Mets. After plating five runs in that frame last night in a 9-3 victory, Johnson City pushed across four runs in the top of the second on Friday-all unearned. A two-out fielding error by Kingsport's third baseman Pedro Perez loaded the bases. And Vaughn Bryan made the K-Mets pay, lining a triple into right field.
Bryan proved pivotal all night, tallying three hits, three RBIs, two stolen bases and a run scored while finishing a home run shy of the cycle.
Highly-touted teenage prospect Amed Rosario paced Kingsport offensively, with singles in his final two at-bats after going 0-for-5 in the season opener. All five of the K-Mets' base hits were singles, while four of Johnson City's eight knocks went for extra bases.
Kingsport will try to prevent the three-game sweep on Saturday, as it hosts Johnson City in the conclusion of this season-opening series. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m., and there will be a fireworks show after the game.
NOTES: K-Mets second baseman Jeff McNeil was robbed in the first inning by a fine defensive play. The Kingsport leadoff hitter slapped a line drive into left field, but Devante Lacy made a spectacular diving, rolling grab. … This marked the professional debut for Kingsport's Zach Mathieu, a 16th-round pick in the draft earlier this month. Mathieu went 0-for-3 with a walk. Catcher Adrian Abreu made his debut in the American minor leagues, and went 0-for-3 as well. … K-Met Robert Whalen was the tough-luck loser, allowing the four unearned runs on four hits and a walk while striking out six over 5 1-3 innings.
This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.View More


text:
(covers information from several alternate timelines)
- You may also be looking for the Vega Nine probe.
Vega IX was the ninth planet of the Vega system. This planet was located less than 90 light years from Earth.
In the mirror universe, Vega IX was the location of a Terran colony, where Terran Empire captain James T. Kirk executed 5,000 colonists in his second action as commanding officer of the ISS Enterprise. (TOS: "Mirror, Mirror")
Appendices Edit
Background information Edit
In "Two Days and Two Nights", the NX-class Enterprise, set a milestone twenty-five years after Travis Mayweather was born on his father's ship while it was on the Vega-Draylax cargo run, by becoming the first Earth ship to travel 90 light years away from the Sol system. This would be consistent with the location of the real star Vega, which is approximately 25 light years from the Sol system.
According to the Star Trek: Star Charts (pp. 36, 44, "United Federation of Planets I"), Vega IX (or Vega Colony) was, in the mid-22nd century, an important trading world on the Earth trade routes. Vega colony traded with Draylax and Earth in the mid-22nd century. In 2378, Vega IX was located in Federation space. The planet was a destination on the major space lanes. It was a Federation member.
See also Edit
External link Edit
- Vega IX at Memory Beta, the wiki for licensed Star Trek works


text:
This totally cool custom bookcase was designed for a condo in DC's DuPont Circle area by dbd studio. They designed the whole thing digitally then cut it from sheets of birch plywood using a CNC machine. The result is both a storage area and an art object itself.
The bookcase had to avoid interfering with various impediments that were already in the space such as the recessed lights, sprinkler heads, air vents and fire alarms along the hallway ceiling.
Found originally at +mood.


text:
IRS refund slog may bog down economy
It's happening again.
More than $40 billion in federal income tax refunds won't go to taxpayers in January because the IRS says it needs an extra 10 days to get ready to process the usual avalanche of returns. It blamed a 16-day government shutdown in October.
Like last year, when the IRS delayed early refunds, experts say this delay will affect consumers, retailers and the economy in general, even if only for a couple of weeks.
These experts consider the delay to be a symptom of larger problems, saying that the IRS doesn't have resources to perform all the tasks Congress has assigned it and that lawmakers are reluctant to give it more money.
In December, Acting IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel said the agency would start accepting and processing 2013 tax returns on Jan. 31, not Jan. 21.
"The late January opening gives us enough time to get things right with our programming, testing and systems validation. It's a complex process," Werfel said. "The October closure came during the peak period for preparing IRS systems.
"More than 50 IRS systems handle 150 million tax returns. Updating these core systems is a complex, year-round process, with the majority of the work beginning in the fall of each year."
An IRS spokesman did not respond to questions seeking details about why it couldn't catch up in the months since the shutdown.
Dan Pilla, a critic of the IRS and executive director of Tax Freedom Institute in Minneapolis, said the delay isn't surprising.
"They've got a lot of programming to do," he said. "But I do know that in 2013, there was significantly less impact on IRS than in 2012, when it took Congress until Jan. 1, 2013, to pass the American Taxpayers Relief Act, and that delayed the filing season. It took the IRS a long time to get caught up from that. ... They didn't have that kind of programming changes this time around."
Congress adopted the American Taxpayers Relief Act of 2012 after long debate about expiring tax and spending cuts.
The IRS workload has ballooned, experts say, including a significant role in enforcing and administering the Affordable Care Act.
"That involves a massive expansion of the power and reach of the IRS," Pilla said in a report. "One of the key reasons the IRS has grown so large and powerful over the past several decades is that Congress continues to hand the IRS the duties of administering social programs."
The IRS estimated it would spend nearly $1 billion in 2013 on information technology costs alone, Pilla said. Estimates are that it will take a minimum of 5,000 and perhaps as many as 16,000 new employees to carry out mandates under President Obama's signature health care law.
"I am concerned about the IRS' capacity to manage this massive legislation," Pilla said.
Pete Sepp, executive vice president of the National Taxpayers Union in Alexandria, Va., said the agency is retooling to accommodate many Obamacare responsibilities. "The key question is this: Was the IRS a little behind on some of those processes before the shutdown?" he said.
Since 2010, the agency's budget has decreased by 8 percent as its workload grew, said Nina E. Olson, the National Taxpayer Advocate in a report last week. That "predictably impaired the IRS' performance," she said, noting that last year the IRS answered only 61 percent of customer service calls and most of those people waited on hold nearly 18 minutes.
The agency lost big in the 2014 budget deal that House and Senate negotiators agreed to last week. The IRS will get $11.3 billion, or $526 million below its 2013 budget and lower than agency spending in 2009, according to the House Appropriations Committee.
With its staffing problems, "The timeliness of performance suffers," said Robert Strauss, professor of economics and public policy at Carnegie Mellon University. He has advised the IRS and worked as a deputy Treasury secretary and on the Joint Committee on Taxation in the 1980s.
"Outsourcing may not be the answer, as we are seeing with Obamacare," Strauss said. But he noted that Congress is reluctant to give the agency all that it asks for, "because if you give the IRS all the money it wants, it will be putting more pressure on people to pay taxes."
The extent of the impact on the economy is unclear, because IRS delays are recent phenomena, experts say.
"In 2012, $40 billion in refunds were paid out in January, and in 2013, zero refunds were paid in January," said John Hewitt, CEO of Liberty Tax Service, which has 4,100 locations nationwide and 19 in the Pittsburgh area. "Many corporations depend on consumers spending their refunds in the first quarter of the year. A delay is bound to hurt the economy."
Many taxpayers file early to get quick refunds, said Tish Heiss, owner of the Liberty Tax franchise in Lawrenceville. "They are stressed, looking for money to pay Christmas and other bills." Some families that get refunds based on earned income tax credits and child tax credits expect $1,000 to $6,000, she said.
John D. Oravecz is a Trib Total Media staff writer. Reach him at 412-320-7882 or firstname.lastname@example.com.