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Topic: Chemotherapy and Itching
I have only written once in the past, but some things have changed with my mother's treatment and I wanted to ask about additional chemotherapies. My mother was diagnosed with CC in August and she started receiving gemzar and cisplatin. After 2 rounds, the scan showed she had two small spots on her liver that were growing so they put her on Zeloda. She completed 2 rounds of the Zeloda, but began to have trouble with swelling and sores during her off week after the second round. She has been off of the Zeloda for three weeks now due to continued swelling and we will go to MDA next week for a scan/ checkup with her doctor. I guess I got the impression those were the two most widely used chemotherapies with CC, so I am wondering what they might try next. Any ideas? I'm just trying to prepare myself mentally for the visit.
My other question regards itching. I have read about itching as a symptom of CC in many places, but my mother just stated today (for the first time) that she has begun to itch. I don't think I have seen anything that explained why CC patients itch. Can anyone explain this to me and I'll let her know. She has intrahepatic CC and I thought maybe it was more common with extrahepatic. She has also never appeared jaundiced. Thank you for any explanation you might offer.


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New Acquisitions
The Running Fence (1972-1976) by Christo and Jeanne-Claude
In 2008, the Smithsonian American Art Museum announced it was acquiring Running Fence, Sonoma and Marin Counties, California, 1972-76, A Documentation Exhibition, the definitive record of the major early work by world-renowned artists Christo and Jeanne-Claude.
The most lyrical and spectacular of Christo and Jeanne-Claude's epic projects was the installation of the Running Fence, a white-fabric and steel-pole fence, 24 1/2 miles long and 18 feet high, across the properties of rural landowners in Sonoma and Marin counties north of San Francisco. The Running Fence existed for only two weeks; it survives today as a memory and through the artworks and documentation by the artists.
The collective archive of artworks and research material acquired by the Smithsonian American Art Museum includes more than 350 individual items. With this acquisition, the museum has obtained nearly 50 original preparatory works by Christo, including 11 masterful large-scale drawings - each eight feet wide - and 35 additional drawings and collages he made in preparation for the final installation. The archive also includes a 58-foot-long scale model; more than 240 documentary photographs by Wolfgang Volz, Gianfranco Gorgoni, and Harry Shunk in color and black-and-white; a film by the critically acclaimed filmmakers David Maysles, Charlotte Zwerin, and Albert Maysles; documents; 324 color slides; original components, including one of the 2,050 nylon fabric panels; a 21-foot steel pole, 3 1/2 inches in diameter, with steel cables and guy wires; one of the 13,000 specially designed anchors; and a few of the 350,000 hanging hooks.
Running Fence, Sonoma and Marin Counties, California, 1972-76, A Documentation Exhibition is the first major Christo and Jeanne-Claude complete project archive to be acquired by a museum.
The Running Fence is considered one of the most important early public art projects, and when it was installed in 1976, it was the most ambitious work undertaken by Christo and Jeanne-Claude since their 1964 arrival in the United States. When it was unveiled during America's bicentennial, it captured the public's imagination. The sheer beauty of the light and weather playing across the fabric of the fence stood in sharp contrast to the underlying issue of division and limitations that fences generally convey. For Christo and Jeanne-Claude, the fence embodied larger issues of human freedom and constraint. The planning, design, installation, and critical response to the Running Fence set the tone for each of their subsequent major public projects. None would have been imaginable without it.
From 1972 when the Running Fence was first conceived until 1976 when it was completed, Christo and Jeanne-Claude faced seemingly insurmountable challenges. In addition to negotiating land rights with 59 ranchers, Christo and Jeanne-Claude grappled with bureaucratic hurdles at a time when the artists had no fame to pave the way. Christo and Jeanne-Claude convinced ordinary Americans of the transformative power of art.
This acquisition was featured in the museum's 2010 exhibition and book Christo and Jeanne-Claude: Remembering the Running Fence.

subset: commoncrawl


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Mariners fall in 14 after Felix starts impressive duel
Ace misses bid at 100th win on night of 40 combined strikeouts
SEATTLE -- Felix Hernandez has had the Tigers' number in recent years, but even that history didn't help the Mariners ace reach an elusive 100th career victory on Wednesday.
Hernandez dueled Detroit's Max Scherzer to a draw for eight innings on a chilly night at Safeco Field before the Tigers finally pulled out a 2-1 win in the 14th with a bases-loaded groundout pushing home the go-ahead run.
The Mariners nearly tied the game in the bottom of the 14th, but Justin Smoak was thrown out at the plate trying to score from first on a double by Dustin Ackley for the final out as catcher Brayan Pena held onto the ball after a big collision with Smoak.
"I knew off the bat I was trying to score," Smoak said. "They had to make a perfect relay throw to get me. He was up the line there and I really had nowhere to go. I had to do what I had to do. I just lowered my shoulder and hoped for the best. I hope he's all right, but it's part of the game."
Manager Eric Wedge had no problem with third-base coach Jeff Datz's decision to send Smoak in an attempt to win a game where the two teams combined for 40 strikeouts and just 18 hits.
"We're working all night to try to score a run and you've got a chance to potentially do it, you've got to send him right there," said Wedge. "Either it's a bad relay and you're in there, or it's that type of play where you've got to bang at home plate and maybe he drops the ball. The catcher did a good job of hanging on."
Pena said he was dizzy for a few moments after the collision, but immediately held up the ball for the umpire to see after taking Prince Fielder's relay throw from right fielder Torii Hunter.
"My main goal in that situation was to hold onto the baseball and absorb the hit," Pena said. "It was one of those plays that was do or die. I knew he was coming after me, and credit Prince Fielder. He made a good throw and Torii made sure he got the baseball as fast as possible."
Hernandez has dominated Detroit over the years, going 9-0 with a 2.55 ERA now his last 11 starts dating back to 2007, but he wound up a with a tough no-decision in the four-hour, 27-minute marathon.
Relievers Tom Wilhelmsen, Carter Capps, Oliver Perez and Charlie Furbush shut out the Tigers from the ninth through the 13th innings before Detroit cracked the code. The Tigers' first two batters reached base against Furbush in the 14th and newly converted reliever Blake Beavan came on and couldn't quite stem the tide.
Jhonny Peralta laid down a sacrifice bunt, but catcher Jesus Montero threw late to third to load the bases. Pena then pushed across the go-ahead run with a hard grounder that shortstop Robert Andino stopped with a dive to his left, but only had time to get the out at first while pinch-runner Don Kelly scored.
The six Mariners pitchers combined for club-record-tying 21 strikeouts and just four walks, with Detroit hitters tying their own franchise record for most strikeouts in a game.
The Mariners struck out 19 times themselves and had four walks on a night they outhit the Tigers 11-7.
"Great starting pitching tonight," Wedge said. "Felix was outstanding. It was a great effort and tight ballgame throughout, obviously. Both teams were fighting offensively, but it went all the way to the end there on the last play. We had multiple opportunities with one hit to win the ballgame, just nobody really stepped up for us."
The win was the fourth straight for Detroit (9-5), while the Mariners fell to 6-10.
The Tigers only tally off Hernandez was an unearned run in the fifth and he allowed just four hits with no walks and 12 strikeouts.
It was the third straight time Hernandez came up shy of his milestone victory since kicking off the season with his 99th win on Opening Day in Oakland. He remains 1-2 on the season while lowering his ERA to 2.20.
After giving up 16 hits in back-to-back 4-3 losses to the White Sox and Rangers, Hernandez was razor sharp in front of 14,981 fans and a boisterous King's Court rooting section.
But Scherzer was every bit his match, allowing just a lone run in the seventh while holding Seattle to six hits with one walk and 12 strikeouts in his eight matching innings.
"That was a great game for both sides," Hernandez said. "Scherzer was pretty good, too. He was changing speeds, throwing good breaking balls. I was trying to match it up and do my job. With that kind of lineup, you've got to be aggressive and be in attack mode. And that's what I did today."
It was just the sixth game in Mariners history where both starters reached double-digit strikeouts and the first ever at Safeco Field. The last time two starting pitchers allowed one or fewer earned runs with 12-plus strikeouts was Randy Johnson and Mark Langston in 1992.
The Tigers got their unearned run in the fifth after Victor Martinez led off with a hard-hit one hopper that deflected off Brendan Ryan for a rare error on the shortstop. Andy Dirks then doubled to right-center to put runners on second and third with no outs.
Hernandez got Peralta on a grounder to short and Ryan looked home and appeared to have a shot at Martinez, but instead opted to go to first for the sure out as the run scored. Hernandez shut the door there with two quick outs and the Mariners held the hard-hitting Tigers scoreless for the next nine innings.
The Mariners' only run came in the seventh when Michael Morse doubled and scored on a single by Raul Ibanez.
It wasn't a new story for Hernandez. The 27-year-old is 92-24 with a 2.95 ERA in 153 career starts when the Mariners have given him two or more runs of support, but he's received one run or less of support in 89 of his 242 starts.
Greg Johns is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @GregJohnsMLB as well as his Mariners Musings blog. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


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Contemporary Designer Chrome Splash Bowl Sculpture
I have just ordered two of these bowls online and can't wait for them to arrive! The intention was to have them on my bedside tables, but I am not sure if I will keep them for the dining table. I think they would make a real statement when filled with fruit or to serve up bread rolls to dinner guests :)


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A RAILWAY signalman responsible for monitoring 16 unmanned level crossings was engaged on another call seconds before a tragic collision, an inquest heard today.
Derek Emmerson, a signaller for 18 years, was manning the box at Malton when pensioner Eric Ireland was preparing to cross the tracks in his car.
At the time, Mr Emmerson was half way through a 30 second call from a pick-up truck driver at another crossing, who also wanted to cross.
The signal man warned that two trains were coming and the pick up driver should call back later to ensure it was safe to proceed.
During the course, of the call he saw a flashing light and heard a beep on his display board showing another crossing request was coming in from the crossing at Ivy Lea Farm, Rillington.
Mr Emmerson said he dealt with the first call in ten to 15 seconds. But when he picked up the second call there was nobody there.
The hearing was told Mr Ireland may not have used the phone and it may have been knocked off by the collision.
"It was just as though it was swinging in the wind," the signalman told the inquest at Scarborough Town Hall.
He then put the phone down and pressed a button to ring the crossing back. "There was still no answer," he continued.
The phone was not ringing and he was about to report it as a fault because "someone was clearly trying to use the crossing," he added.
But then a call came in from another signal box to say the Scarborough to Liverpool train had hit something - followed by a call from Ivy Lea to inform him of the accident.
When he spoke to the train driver involved, he realised the phone was off the hook, the hearing was told.
The inquest heard he monitored 16 local crossings. When someone wanted to use one, they picked up the phone by the gate and the line rang directly in the signal box.
Each crossing was labelled on his board and when a call came in there would be a flashing light and a high beep.
He would ask the caller if they were driving a car, tractor, or fork lift and how long it would take them to get across.
The signalman would then consult a panel showing train movements to see if it was safe to cross, or whether the caller should wait and call back.
He said the frequency of the calls varied according to the time of year and he was instructed to answer them as they came in.
"Sometimes, you get a lot of calls - especially at harvest time. At other times - not very many," he said.
The hearing was told Mr Ireland, 77, of Moorsholme, Scampston, near Rillington, had been using the crossing regularly for more than 50 years.
He had worked at Ivy Lea Farm for many years and even though he had retired he often popped by to help out.
On the morning of the tragedy on May 7, he had offered to help look after the pigs while the owners were away on holiday.
He was edging onto the tracks in his Suzuki at 6mph when the train struck him at 70mph.
The car rolled into a field. Mr Ireland was hurled from the vehicle and died from multiple injuries. He was not wearing a seatbelt - but it would not have saved him due to the damage to the car, police accident investigators said.
First Transpennine Express driver John Buckle saw something blue in the distance but thought it was some farming equipment in a field.
It was only when he was "on top of it" that he realised what he had seen was a car edging onto the tracks.
He slammed on the brakes and sounded the horn.
He continued: "I heard a bang. I was pretty much in shock at the time."
Realising another train was coming the other way, he waved and flashed his lights until it stopped, Mr Buckle said.
The inquest heard the phone box stand was damaged in the accident. But the phone was checked before it was re installed and was working properly.
Concluding the death was an accident, Coroner Michael Oakley said: "I'm satisfied on the balance or probabilities no call was made to the signal man - that the telephone that seemingly rang in his box was in fact the receiver being knocked off its rest when the post was damaged in the impact."


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Document Actions
How to Contact the AASP
As of June 2011, the AASP has moved! We are now located in two offices on the 13th floor of HUNTER WEST: rooms 1336 and 1338 (in a small hallway near Romance Languages).
Note: We are no longer located in 1716 HW OR 1037 HE!
Mailing Address:
Asian American Studies Program
Hunter College, The City University of New York
695 Park Avenue, 1338 Hunter West
New York, NY 10065
Phone: (212) 772-5660
Director of the AASP: Jennifer Hayashida
Ms. Lisa Steadwell, the AASP Administrative Assistant, is located in 1717 HUNTER WEST (also the offices of the Women and Gender Studies Program).
To reach Ms. Steadwell, please email her or call (212) 772-5680.


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Three Oaks Farm Equestrian Services
Jekyll Island, GA 31527
Three Oaks Farm offers many services, including horseback riding on the beach, narrated tours of the historic district on Jekyll Island in a horse-drawn carriage, a full-service petting zoo, a wonderful spring break camp, winter camp, summer camp, group horsemanship classes, wedding carriage rentals, feild trips, romantic carriage rides, afterschool programs, a portable petting zoo, pony rides, birthday parties, wedding venues and history tours. Please allow us to help you enrich your life with our love of horses and history.
Info & Amenities
Hours of Operation
Sunday: 1:00PM
Tuesday: 8:30AM
Wednesday: 8:30AM
Thursday: 8:00AM
Friday: 8:30AM
Saturday: 8:30AM
Admission & Fees
1.5-hour horseback beach ride $68 per person
1.5-hour private horseback beach ride $125 per person
3-hour horseback beach ride $165 per person
Children's horse camp at the petting zoo $175 for the week, or $75 for a day, siblings half off
Daytime narrated carriage tour $15 adults, $7 children, under three: free
Group reservations including classes, trail rides, heading zoo Call for pricing
Horse-drawn carriages for your wedding Prices start at $275
One hour horseback beach ride $58 per person
One-hour private horseback beach ride $100 per person
Petting zoo $5 child, $6 adult
Pony rides $10 for a 10 minute pony ride
Private evening narrated tour or romantic ride $40: first two people, $15: each additional adult, $7: each additional child, under three years old: free
Private horseback beach ride at sunset $135 per person
Sunset horseback beach ride $78 per person
Nature Trails
Group Discount, Military Discount
Facility Amenities
Bus / Motorcoach Parking on Site, Equipment Rentals Available, Free Parking, Guided Tours / Guide Available, Meeting Facilities, Meeting Space Available, Parking on Site, Party Facilities, Picnic Area, Public Restrooms, Rentals Available
General Information
Family-friendly, Handicapped Accessible (Limited) , Open Year 'Round, Pet-friendly
Group Amenities
Group Rates Available, Group-friendly, Motorcoach-friendly
Near Interstate Highway
Payment Options
Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Horse, Kids Equipment
Special Tags
Suitable for Ages
All Ages


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Services & warranty
Services for home and home office
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Get the best service for your new Lenovo IdeaPad notebook, IdeaCentre desktop and Lenovo 3000 PCs.
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Please register your product for maximum warranty and support benefits like warranty validation, product update information and safety and legal updates.
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The Crap We Missed – Monday 10.24.11
"Shucks! Ain't no one said I look as purty as Jessicker Simpson before."
Welcome to Monday's The Crap We Missed featuring Ben Affleck just selling the shit out of being a parent – I've already stopped wearing condoms – Kim Kardashian patiently waiting for a black microphone and George Clooney realizing it's been two weeks, 14 hours and 37 minutes since he's had sex with a new vagina, so if you could just drop him off at the curb…
You swore to secrecy, Lithgow!
- The Superficial
Click Here To Start The Gallery
Photo: Bauer-Griffin, Fame, Flynet, INFdaily, Pacific Coast News, Splash News, WENN


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Former 'Daily News' editor Kevin Convey goes back to school
On a Monday morning last August, a dozen or so students gathered for their first class as master's-degree candidates in the City University of New York's graduate journalism program.
The course was media law and ethics, one of the core requirements of the journalism school's 18-month curriculum. The instructor, Eric Robinson, a journalist and First Amendment attorney, got the ball rolling by having each of his pupils say a little bit about his or her background.
Story Continued Below
The majority of them were young and green. For the most part, the few who did already have journalism jobs on their resumes had worked at lesser-known newspapers or websites.
There was one notable exception: a fair-skinned 57-year-old whose wide, angular grin might not have rung a bell for his fellow classmates, but would no doubt be recognizable to Manhattan media insiders.
"My name is Kevin Convey," he recalls saying, "and I'm changing careers after 35 years working in print, most recently as editor-in-chief of the New York Daily News."
Convey, who is studying in CUNY's entrepreneurial journalism concentration, says he's learning new things about the business-side and technological aspects of media—what it takes to run a startup; how data visualization works; editing video with Final Cut Pro. He was, however, exempted from the fundamental writing and reporting courses, which isn't to say his schooling lacks a certain journeyman element; in a features-writing class this semester, he's been brushing up on his Lillian Ross and Gay Talese as well as workshopping a profile of Daily News columnist Denis Hamill.
"The coursework is grueling," he said.
These days, instead of running editorial meetings and poring over display copy, Convey's daily routine looks something like this: Wake up around 4:30. Make coffee and breakfast. Check email, Twitter and media-news sites. Do homework for an hour or two. Hit the gym for 30 minutes to jog or lift weights. Shower and get dressed. Pack notebooks and a 15-inch MacBook Pro into a North Face shoulder bag. Five-minute walk to CUNY's journalism building on 40th between 7th and 8th. Class from 9:15 to 5. Back home. Evening news. Nightcap (Manhattans or Martinis, this time of year). Bed.
Convey, a New England transplant whose brief tenure at Mort Zuckerman's Daily News was preceded by an editorship at the Boston Herald and positions at various other estimable publications, has an end game in mind.
"In order to be taken seriously at the university level, you really need a master's degree," he told Capital, speaking by phone last Friday from his home in Brockton, Mass., where his wife, Kathy, a kindergarten teacher, resides full-time. (During the school-week, Convey lives in a studio apartment in Midtown.)
"The idea of teaching journalism was always in the mix," he said. "When I left the News, it was a chance to sort of think about what I wanted the next phase of my career to be and it seemed like a natural time to shift into teaching."
The year and a half Convey spent on top of the News' masthead was marked by a rocky digital integration in the newsroom and an ill-fated emphasis on covering the outer boroughs, a strategy that didn't jibe with Zuckerman's vision for the paper as a lightning rod with the same type of lurid appeal that makes its arch-nemesis, the New York Post, a guilty pleasure among Manhattan power brokers.
After Convey was fired last January and replaced by Colin Myler, an alumnus of the Post and News of the World, he reached out to the deans of the graduate journalism programs at CUNY, Columbia and N.Y.U.
CUNY's journalism school, now in its seventh year, was a natural fit. Convey was eager to get started as soon as possible, and the school was willing to let him apply for the class that began last summer. (Never mind that CUNY is by far the least expensive of the three: yearly in-state tuition is just under $10,000, compared to upwards of $50,000 at Columbia and N.Y.U., which are private institutions.) Plus Convey already had a relationship with the school, having served on its advisory board.
Journalism schools pride themselves on attracting baby boomers in addition to recent college grads and burgeoning reporters and editors. (The median student age at CUNY j-school is 27.) But the older students are usually full-blown career-changers—the attorney turned legal reporter; the ex-cop who wants to put his beat skills to work on a metro desk—not people who've already achieved the highest ranks of the profession. Seasoned, mid-career journalists have definitely cycled through the more august journalism programs at Columbia and N.Y.U., but representatives for both journalism schools could not name anyone who'd applied with credentials as senior as Convey's.
"He's by far the most experienced student we've had," said Stephen Shepard, the outgoing dean of CUNY's Graduate School of Journalism, who couldn't recall whether Convey's application was considered with the same rigor as those of the other hundred students, give or take, who were admitted last year. "You obviously give him a lot of points for his experience."
Decades ago, Convey had considered going to journalism school upon graduating from Colby College in 1977 with a degree in classics and English. He decided to go straight to work instead, first as a general assignment reporter at The Times-Record of Brunswick, Me. and The Standard Times of New Bedford, Mass. His meteoric rise at the Boston Herald began in 1981 when he was hired to cover business. By 1994, following a three-year detour as an editor at Boston Magazine, he'd worked his way up to managing editor. In 2007, after another three-year deviation, this time running a chain of community newspapers in Eastern Massachusetts, he was named editor-in-chief of the Herald, which he remained until the famously mercurial Zuckerman poached him to edit the News in summer 2010.
"I was given a great opportunity and it didn't work out," said Convey, addressing his News departure publicly for the first time. "Mort's the owner and he should have the kind of paper that he wants. I can't complain about it. He always treated me fairly."
Convey's decision to enroll at CUNY has raised eyebrows among former colleagues.
"I thought it was a bold move," said Scott Cohen, who was the News' digital editor under Convey and now works for a startup called Vocativ. "How many former editors-in-chief would have the confidence to go and do that?"
Cohen described his former boss as an "extremely patient and extremely nurturing guy" whose penchant for mentoring young reporters would make him a good teacher.
Convey's already gotten his feet wet by teaching an introductory "innovation" seminar last fall for the Studio 20 concentration, which focuses on adapting journalism to the web, at N.Y.U.'s Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute.
"At the Daily News, he had just been through a crash course in digital disruption as the leader of that newsroom," said Jay Rosen, Studio 20's director, via email. "He knows in detail, and from rocky experience, why innovation is necessary to the survival of the newsroom tradition he came up in."
Convey is an asset on the other side of the lectern as well, said Jeff Jarvis, director of CUNY's entrepreneurial journalism program and one of Convey's instructors.
"He makes his knowledge available whenever you want it, and that's a very delicate thing to do," said Jarvis. "One might have feared he'd come in and be the grizzled veteran, but he's never, never, never like that. At the same time, when I want an example from the real world, I can turn to him."
After his current classes come to an end this spring, Convey will have to complete a summer internship (probably something that will involve "teaching citizen journalists," he said) and one more semester of coursework.
And then?
"I want a full-time teaching position at a college or university somewhere in the northeast," he said.
As for what Convey will miss most about being an editor once he's settled into his second act as a journalism academic: "Putting page one together," he said. "That's the most fun you could have with your clothes on."


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Barely a week goes by it seems without hearing about a move by Amazon that stings vendors and retailers.
The latest: Some Amazon marketplace merchants are grumbling over handling fee hikes to cover distribution cost increases.
Meanwhile, some Amazon vendors are frustrated by recently imposed "frustration free" packaging mandates and shipping prep chargebacks.
Mounting Dominance
Add these to the list of Amazon-directed laments by the trade: MAP pricing indifference, sales tax exemptions and myriad other factors presumably abetting a mounting advantage by the biggest online retailer against brick-and-mortar and online competitors alike.
Make no mistake, however. While some Amazon tactics might be unpopular and seem unfair, the company rightfully has earned every morsel of its online retail dominance. To suggest otherwise is to suggest its vendors and merchant partners have been unwitting or unwilling participants in Amazon's escalation. That's nonsense.
Here's the catch. As willing as suppliers and merchants hungry for a stake in Amazon's surging share have been to comply with the e-tailer, Amazon can't take such leverage for granted, especially as competitive options emerge.
Some Amazon merchants displeased with the increasing fees are considering jumping ship to fast-developing online marketplaces from the likes of Google and Walmart. And some suppliers reportedly are cutting off Amazon while others are digging in on efforts to make only select segments of their offerings directly available to Amazon.
Pioneering Vision
Target's agreement to buy Cooking.com and Chefs Catalog is yet another example of a veteran retail anchor counterpunching Amazon, hoping to loosen Amazon's grip on a major portion of the e-tail consumer goods market.
Amazon's pioneering vision and innovative effort to achieve its preeminent e-commerce status— while shepherding the validation of an entire channel— have benefitted consumer product industries in need of reliable new portals to sales growth. Amazon is a class-leading merchant worthy of a reasonably extra effort by its suppliers and merchant partners.
Agile Foundation
With such status comes leverage, to be sure. It also comes with a responsibility to sustain a cooperative, agile business foundation that can't be undermined by the power such leverage wields.
It can be a difficult balance to enact stiffer operational rules necessitated by the scope of a fast-expanding business while staying sensitive and nimbly responsive to trade partners.
The challenges of dealing with Amazon in essence are no different than how this industry has had to adapt for Walmart, Bed Bath & Beyond and other retail market leaders with the scale required to enforce strict demands.
Building a dominant position in business has its privileges. Mandating more from resources is among them.
Take nothing for granted, though.
Even Walmart, the biggest, most efficient retailer in the universe, has wobbled from misguidance when only a few years ago that seemed unfathomable.
Amazon has earned every bit of its powerful success, to the great benefit of the housewares industry. But leverage, by itself, is not always an impenetrable shield in business.
If it gets to the point where more than a few are willing to stand up and oppose such leverage, it might sting.


text: Welcome to the official web site of The Musicians of the Columbus Symphony. At this site you will find information about us and what we do, along with other items of interest. Our mission is to inspire and to enrich the lives of the citizens of Central Ohio with live symphonic music. We belong to the community, and our connection with audiences of all ages and walks of life is of paramount importance to us. This site is continually being updated, so visit often!


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December marks the conclusion of the 2012 Artist Series. This Friday, December 14, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Artistas Unidos hosts a free celebration with all 11 artists it featured throughout the year. Enjoy complimentary cocktails and bites, courtesy of Intercontinental Hotel.
Intercontinental Hotel at Doral, 2505 NW 87th Avenue, Doral, 33172


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Reviewed by 2 customers
Comments about PBS FRONTLINE: Climate of Doubt DVD:
This program is invaluable for any American who wishes to be informed on issues related to climate change. There is no spin, they give equal -- if not more -- time to climate deniers than to scientists and policymakers who are trying to do the right thing against deep pockets and long odds. Every elected official should be required to watch this.
Comments about PBS FRONTLINE: Climate of Doubt DVD:
Clearly and methodically discredits those leading the charge to convince America that global warming is a hoax. This film exposes their total lack of scientific expertise. It explains who is leading the campaign if disinformation and who funds their efforts. A must have for those who want the truth. I plan to use it in my college science classes.


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Regions Sponsored by
Mintel Beauty Innovation has defined what it believes will be the key trend to shape the beauty industry in 2011: "Down to Earth."
Emerging from innovation over 2010 and closely linked with sustainability, the Down to Earth trend addresses the practicalities of making and marketing green beauty. Factors include managing price pressure due to varying supply and demand of natural and organic raw materials and learning to master the challenges of green chemistry—such as the use of sustainable surfactants, "green" solvents and alternatives to parabens. Free-from formulas—a key trend in 2010—continue to evolve in an effort to avoid petrochemically derived ingredients.
In 2010, 13% of new skin care, hair care and cosmetics made the paraben-free claim (up 5% from 2008). Also in 2010, almost 9% of new skin care, hair care and cosmetics made the organic claim (twice as many as in 2007); the all-natural claim was found in fewer than 3% of launches in 2010.
"Paraben-free claims actually outpaced organic and all-natural claims in new skin care, hair care and cosmetics launches in 2010,* backing up Mintel's Nu Natural trend that predicted that brands would emphasize results and free-from claims over certification," said Nica Lewis, head consultant, Mintel Beauty Innovation. "In 2011, we'll see beauty companies placing increased importance on the environment, focusing on sustainable sourcing with attention to maintaining biodiversity. A renewed emphasis on repackaging to minimize waste will also be a factor."
While skin care launches* dipped slightly in Europe and the U.S. in 2010, China saw dynamic growth with a 40% jump in new skin care products.


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Thread: WFRP The Enemy Within
Aye well if I can't convince my pals to play RP, I might go ahead and set up an RPS-centric campaign instead. :)
New pricing guide is in the drop box, we'll use that from now on and it should be more accurate
The Incredibly Heroic Adventures of Ludo and also some other guys
I'm having a party
Hey, you wanna sleep over?
We're gonna eat candy and get headaches in the basement
I'm having a party
Hey, you wanna sleep over?
We're gonna play spin the bottle till it's time to go to bed
Shadows over Bogenhafen continued - the Schaffenfest!
in which our hero loses an archery competition, but manages to make the winner storm off in high dudgeon. Hooray!
In high spirits because their semi-accidental killing of the bounty hunter is likely to massively decrease the number of incoming crossbow bolts they have to deal with on a day to day basis, slightly better armed due to grabbing all his weapons, and ever so slightly richer due to the contents of his pockets, the party proceed through the riverlands to Bogenhafen. Gottfried von Harlander's hand is still purple for some reason, but since it doesn't seem to be getting any worse and no doctor can work out why the general consensus, even from Harlander, is "meh, purple hand. What's for dins? When do we get to Bogenhafen?"
Bogenhafen! Semi-precious jewel of the, err, immediate area around Bogenhafen!
Bogenhafen! Fairly prosperous but unexceptional trading town!
Bogenhafen! The scene of the famous Schaffenfest!
Reaching Bogenhafen, Harlander quickly heads to the local temple of Vorena (goddess of knowledge and keeping accurate records) to investigate the family whose inheritance he's hoping to fraudulently claim. They don't exist.
Since they don't exist, neither does the inheritance - a fairly substantial flaw in the party's otherwise quite well-constucted plan (which had advanced to the point of faking up some badges and livery and posing as Harlander's mildly disreputable retainers). Ah well, easy come easy go. Evidence points to the whole thing having being a cunning plan of that bounty hunter guy's to lure Kastor out of hiding, but since the party already killed him there's very little they can do about it at this point (other than retroactively assigning the death to some kind of "yeah! That's for faking an inheritance, you bum face!" column - it's not very satisfying).
The plan's a bust, might as well go to... The Schaffenfest!
The Shaffenfest is a sheep festival, country show, fair, and market. It's actually quite fun, in a rural kind of a way, and since none of our party would really qualify as sophisticates they have a pretty good time. (Even Harlander, who as country nobility probably thinks this whole scene is a tad beneath him, lets his hair down and has a good time wandering around and pretending to be interested in prizewinning turnips and particularly sheepy examples of sheep.)
Highlights of the afternoon include Christof Gorm giving a good account of himself at the fairground wrestling booth, only to be hurled from the ring at the last minute (making some money for a couple of party members who had wisely bet against him) and Ludo (who has ambitions to leverage his fairly ridiculous skill with ranged weapons into a career as a professional targeteer) taking part in an archery competition.
He easily outshoots a couple of castle guards in the qualifiers, but comes up against the local baron's chief of archers in the final and narrowly loses out to him. The local pro then proceeds to be mildly snooty to Ludo about his lack of shooting skills, prompting Ludo to give him a hard look, turn to the target, split his winning arrow with a carefully aimed shot, and turn back with a sarcastic expression. The chief archer stomps off in a huff (and with the prize winnings, but without his dignity).
In their aimless wanderings around the fair the party encounter a dwarf being held in some stocks. He's a fairly pitiful creature - indeed, he turns out to be that most cursed of all beings, a dwarf who cannot handle his drink. He's in the stocks for getting pissed and exposing himself to some ladies. Egg's heart swells at meeting one of his fellow dwarfs, so far from home and in such terrible cirumstances, reduced to penury and without even the fine to get himself free. He pays the dwarf's fine, (a whole gold piece! A week's wage for an unskilled labourer) gives him a sympathetic yet character-building speech, gives him his second-best pick to set him up and let him earn money and get back on his feet, and sends him on his way to a new life.
The party continue their aimless wandering (Ludo is attempting to eat every variety of "meat on a stick" on offer at the fair, and occasionally offering some to the party) and some time later encounter - a strangely familiar dwarf, in the stocks!
The fair marshals glower disapprovingly at the dwarf as they tell the party that the dwarf immediately ran off to sell the pick some samaritan had given him, spent all the money on booze, got spectacularly drunk, and exposed himself to some ladies.
Ludo thinks this is the funniest thing he has ever heard. In the gaps between his bouts of uncontrollable laughter, he manages to persuade the marshals that yes, he is serious, and yes he would like to pay a gold piece to set the dwarf free. Ludo then gives the dwarf a few silver pieces and tells him to run along and have some fun.
The rest of the party are looking at Ludo as though he may, perhaps, have some issues. Five minutes later he's still occasionally snorting with laughter and muttering things like "best day ever" and "I love that little guy", and "best gold I ever spent".
A fun evening out in the sewers
In which pretty much everyone falls into the sewer at some point
The party come upon a travelling freakshow in the act of setting up and are unimpressed - their "vicious round scaly creature" is roundish and scaly, but appears far from vicious; their "hairy child" is just a child who is surprisingly hairy; and their prized exhibit, a 'four-armed goblin' is quite obviously a two-armed goblin who has had a couple of extra arms crudely attached with stitching and wires.
There is some brief excitement as the goblin makes a break for it, but the party herd him back towards his handlers, and are offered free tickets for the evening's performance, although the Egg rather spoils the mood by pointing out the fakeness of the goblin's extra limbs. The crowd ignore the heavily accented grumblings of the non-human, however.
By the time the evening's performance rolls around the proprietor has conveniently forgotten his offer of free tickets; this makes Ludo determined to see the show for free (he's like that) and he sneaks under the tent wall when nobody's looking. Gorm just bluffs his way in the entrance and the other two go get drunk (Farnoth the elf is still laid up, recovering from a bad case of nearly killed).
During the performance, the goblin (who if you remember has form for this sort of thing) makes a break for freedom, fleeing into an old rusty pipe that's too narrow to follow him down.
The party, being seasoned adventurers (or at least, representing themselves as such) accept a commission from the town council to hunt the goblin through the sewers (and a promise of double the money from the freakshow owner if they can capture his star attraction alive).
To the sewers!
Wait - Ludo wangles a free pie from the innkeeper, to fortify himself. That's better.
To the sewers!
Wait - Ludo wanders past the stocks, in case he can let the dwarf out for a third time and cap off an excellent day. Sadly the dwarf is nowhere to be seen.
Seriously now: to the sewers! They're paying us good money!
Stashing their belongings and better clothing in an inn (paid for by the town council, very nice of them) the party grab some lanterns and a map of the sewers, planning to head to where the goblin's pipe joins the main tunnels and pick up his trail (Ludo and Gorm both have some tracking experience).
Ludo heads down the ladder first, making use of his greater agility to unfold the ladder for the other members of the - oh. He fell in.
The rest of the party head gingerly down the now unfolded ladder, trying to breath shallowly through their mouths.
Ludo and his chums pick up the trail of the goblin, but following it they find - wait, this smell reminds the Egg of something - doesn't the Egg remember something about tunnels, and gases, and lanterns? These aren't safety lanterns, and there's a reason they should be...
The exploding pocket of firedamp throws most of the rest of the party into the sewer channel, but only seriously hurts their pride. Ludo manages to use his superior agility to dodge the worst effects of the blast (because that's apparently easier than coping with ladders).
Anyway, after they pick themselves up and try to brush the worst of the filth off and/or put out their smouldering clothing, the party pick up the trail of the goblin again and find - the mutilated body of Gorri the dunken dwarf! Oh no!
This makes Ludo genuinely sad.
They also find the torn off arms of the goblin - all four of them. And a trail of blood. And a hidden room. And a handkerchief and a goat skull (which they grab, because evidence), and a magic circle and a cloud of smoke and oh holy fuck is that a demon?
It giggles at them, and shrugs off Ludo's extremely well-aimed crossbow bolt like it didn't even feel it, and is still giggling inside their heads when they stop running several tunnels later.
Nobody believes any of this when they resurface, as the captain of the watch apparently reported killing the goblin on the other side of town. Mysterious.
Also annoying, as the party don't get their pay - and downright irksome, as the innkeeper in the fancy inn is now saying the party need to pay for their stay and the town council won't be covering it, and - what's that? You're heavily armed and really not in the mood? And I should take it up with the town council? No sirs, you need to pay this - there's no need to point that crossbow at me, and take off the safety latch, and ease the tension on the trigger, and maybe I should take this up with the town council...
Denied their rightful goblin-hunting bounty, grumpy at being dunked in the sewers for no good result, sad at the death of the amusingly drunk dwarf, and really quite disturbed at encountering an freaking unkillable demon who was giggling inside their heads, our intrepid adventurers decide that something is decidedly amiss in Bogenhafen.
Someone is messing with demons, which can surely only end badly for the Empire.
Also, someone appears to be messing with Ludo and his friends, and that is surely going to end badly for them. Oh yes indeed.
This must be investigated, and put a stop to, for the safety of the Empire.
Also, whoever is behind this must be discovered and then killed, for the satisfaction of Ludo.
Also it would definitely be preferable if we could leverage this situation to increase the amount of money possessed by the party, as money can be exchanged for goods and services.
Last edited by President Weasel; 19-11-2012 at 10:40 PM.
19-11-2012, 09:50 PM #604Unacosamedarisa: Egg, kiss me, you're beautiful.
I have added another wee teaser item to the drop box folder, this is home made so be kind!
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Is it a Carival of Chaos?
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Oh God even worse, Bretonains.
The incredibly heroic adventures of Ludo the Weasel and some guys who hang around with him
Pathological monsters! cried the terrified mathematician
Every one of them a splinter in my eye
I hate the Peano Space and the Koch Curve
I fear the Cantor Ternary Set
The Sierpinski Gasket makes me wanna cry
And a million miles away a butterfly flapped its wings
On a cold November day a man named Benoit Mandelbrot was born
His disdain for pure mathematics and his unique geometrical insights
Left him well equipped to face those demons down
He saw that infinite complexity could be described by simple rules
Used his giant brain and he turned the game around
And he looked below the storm
Saw a vision in his head
A bulbous pointy form
Picked his pencil up and he wrote his secret down
Shadows over Bogenhafen continued (continued)
In which the party do some investigatin'
So... there's a secret room under the sewers and there was a demon in it, but nobody believes us because apparently the captain of the guard is lying about killing the goblin somewhere else for some reason.
The party proceeds to wander about town "investigating", which mostly consists of asking people questions, being confused by the replies, and giving them a hard stare. It achieves little.
They do meet the head of the local chapter of the, ahem, Entirely Legitimate Businessmen's Association, whose local haunt happens to have a secret entrance leading off the sewer near where our adventurers found the room with the skull and the hanky and the demon.
The insignia on the skull is that of a local "charitable society" which the party immediately thinks is a front for 'consorting with demons and similar no-good shenanigans' - they'll need investigating. The skull, being tainted with the foul taint of demons (one of the worst taints a thing can be tainted with), is given to the local priests for safe disposal. While there, Ludo also pays good money to have his crossbow bolts blessed by the local high priest of Sigmar (n.b. in the entire adventuring career of Ludo the Weasel, enthusiastic shooter of crossbows at enemies of all shapes and sizes, both real, perceived, and potential, this expensive blessing goes on to achieve exactly sod all. Bloody priests. I've half a mind to take a trip back to Bogenhafen and burn down the temple).
The hanky has the initials of a local merchant, Franz Steinhager, whose offices are directly above that hidden room and who is a member of the charitable society. Oh ho! Right, let's go kill him. Oh, apparently strangers representing themselves as "adventurers" cannot simply wander into town and shoot fine upstanding members of the community several times; it's "illegal", or something. We're going to need proof, you say?
There's a meeting of the society soon, you say? That's convenient (although I suppose it would make sense if they were summoning the demon in preparation for it). Let's infiltrate!
In the meantime we check on the magistrate, the only man apart from the head of the local organised crime syndicate who vaguely sort of believes us. He's not at all well, and his doctor (the best in town) has apparently said he is stumped and there is nothing he can do. The magistrate mentions that the guard captain has been behaving oddly, for instance smiling (he legendarily never smiled, until very recently)
The magistrate introduces the party to a friend of his, one of the town's more successful merchants. He seems very nice, and genuinely worried about his friend's failing health.
A member of the party (I can't remember who it was but it was a damn good idea) brings in the healy priests for a second opinion - they recognise the symptoms as being from poisoning and are puzzled as to why the doctor did nothing. A member of the party suggests confronting the doctor and demanding to know why he isn't un-poisoning his patient - to which the doctor indignantly replies that he hasn't seen the magistrate in weeks!
A doppelganger! Clearly there has been some doppelganging going on, with one or more someones posing as the doctor and the guard captain. Bloody doppelgangers.
The (probably real, this time) doctor rushes off to try to save the magistrate.
The party head off to try to inflitrate the charitable society. Harlander, being a minor noble, easily gets in to the party but is rebuffed when he tries to enter the inner sanctum where the small and private meeting of the society's movers and shakers is being held; he is politely ushered from the premises.
Meanwhile Ludo, being small and sneaky, has infiltrated the meeting room and found a great place to hide, where he can look down on the meeting and will never be spotted.
Shit - he's been spotted. He had enough time to hear them talking of one last ritual to "something something move the trade routes something?" and to spot that one member of this council seemed particularly ill at ease - his build and the way he held himself looked familiar, but Ludo's attempt to see under his hood has drawn the attention of an alert attendee - and now he's running for his life, and oh shit those are dogs he can hear!
Waiting outside the walls near the spot where Ludo went in, the rest of the party can hear a commotion, and it doesn't take a rocket surgeon to figure out Ludo's been spotted. They can also hear the barking of several large-sounding dogs, which doesn't bode well for Ludo.
The dogs are faster than our intrepid halfling, and are clearly going to reach him before he can make it to his escape rope, when suddenly
the dogs' sensitive hearing is assaulted by an incredibly loud noise from somewhere close above, stunning and disorienting them enough for the shaky halfling to complete his escape.
Farnoth's magic, which Ludo has constantly complained about due to his allergy to lynch mobs, has saved Ludo's life.
So the charitable society are Up To Something Bad involving rituals and demons. And one of them doesn't seem too happy about this, but we don't know who it can be - although they seemed familiar, and how many of the great and the good of Bogenhafen has Ludo actually met? Harlander was mingling at the pre-meeting soiree - who do we know who was there?
The magistrate's friend, you say? Well he'd have reason to be a bit unhappy about the direction things are going - let's confront him.
And so Ludo and his associates confront the merchant, pretending to already know all the answers and further refining their by now polished "bad cop, terrifyingly psychotic cop" routine. He cracks and spills all - they've been doing magic to try to make Bogenhafen more prosperous, and now it's time for "one last big push" - but that's going to involve sacrificing a girl, and he's not happy about this at all, at all.
He asks the party to meet him at his house later where he'll tell them where the ceremony is going to take place, and so the party hurries off in various directions to inform their allies, the local Capo of the "well, it's not a thieves guild per se, but it's not not a thieves guild", and the chief magistrate (who is still alive, and even getting better, huzzah!).
Both of them promise us some reliable men to help foil the ceremony (note: only the thieves guild guy will actually come though, thus proving that good fences make good neighbours. Wahey!) and Ludo arranges for a thieves guild guy to follow them to the meeting at the merchant's house and report back (and also arranges secret recognition codes with the thieves guild guy, because there's a doppelganger about and why not).
The party arrive at the merchant's house and are let in by the maid. Only she's not the maid, because the maid would probably have mentioned the fact that her master was lying upstairs brutally murdered.
Egg lets fly at the doppeldemon with his bolas; the thing sneers at him - if a crossbow cannot hurt it, how can a feeble bolas? Clearly the demon hadn't been reading this thread though, as otherwise it would know that bolas are surprisingly deadly. A look of surprise and perhaps even fear crosses its face - is this the first time it's ever been hurt? But it quickly changes plan from "slaughter party" to "frame party for murder", running downstairs and screaming for the watch.
The party decides to stay and face the music, explaining what happened to the guards and to the magistrate. After all, they know him and they helped save his life, surely he'll be able to help them?
As they're nodding to themselves at how sensible this plan is, they can just about make out a faint cry of "bye, idiots!" as Ludo disappears over the back wall.
As the party languish in their dank (and extremely secure) cell, awaiting execution for murder, they hear a curious scraping sound. Suddenly, a door opens in the wall of the cell and a halfling's head pokes through! Ludo (for it is he) clears his throat:
Anybody order a... heroic rescue?
Ludo is now in an excellent mood because he got to deliver (what he considers) an awesome line. The party is in a pretty decent mood too, what with escaping execution, but there's still a ceremony to put a stop to!
The party are pretty sure it's being held at a warehouse the Steinhager guy owns (the dead merchant had a note in his hadn with W17 scrawled on it, and since the Empire doesn't use postcodes Warehouse 17 is a good bet, especially as it belongs to one of the cultists' companies), so, pausing only to get a handful of sword-n-buckler men from the thieves guild (and a loan of some shields and weapons to replace the party's confiscated ones) our intrepid adventurers head there forthwith, intent on putting a stop to these demon-related magical shenanigans.
On reaching the warehouse the party find a large number of guards outside.
Ludo suggests burning the warehouse down as a distraction (and also as a way to kill everyone inside and thus stop the ritual) but the party demurs:
- That's my lantern, you're going to buy me a new one if you're going to smash it to start fires, right?
Yes. Ludo once again suggests arson, but the party once again demurs:
"It's pretty hard to set stone on fire, do you think we can?"
Sure, we'll stack flammables around here and once we get the beams and joists burning this whole place will go up like a deathtrap. But once again, the party demurs:
"If we burn down the warehouse, we lose the evidence that there really is a demon and these guys really are doing magical rituals - they'll double-hang us, for murder and arson"
True, but if we burn down the building, we stop them doing a big ritual that involves sacrificing a girl - that's bound to have a worse result than us hanging for murder. Besides, we might get away. Let's burn it and take our chances. But once again the party demurs:
"a fire here in this densely packed warehouse area could end up burning the whole town down and killing hundreds of people. Also, can we try just talking to the guards?"
Talking? Pshaw. You talk, I'm getting flammables and making a pile here at this wall.
What's that? The guards were already nervous at the sounds from inside, and would rather run than fight for potential chaos worshippers?
Bugger. No arson for Ludo today then.
The guards leg it, and the party (and their 'associates' from the Legitimate Businessmen's Association) rush into the warehouse to confront the baddies.
It's your standard cultist meeting scene - virgin ready to be sacrificed, hooded cultists, one chanting out of a book, several guards who rush forward and engage the party's handy thieves guild mooks, and - the doppeldemon!
Right then, time to see what these blessed bolts can do!
Ludo ignores the party's shouted suggestion that he shoot the chanting man - this demon's got to die, and the high priest of Sigmar personally blessed the crossbow bolts.
He lets fly, and while his first shot appears to do little, his second inflicts a rather nasty wound - on Harlander, who has engaged the demon in melee and was already losing even before Ludo accidentally backshot him.
Luckily for the continued existence of Bogenhafen, while Ludo is continuing his fruitless attempt to actually hurt the demon, Farnoth successfully uses one of his most destructive spells on the chanting man, with spectacular results. With a giant charred hole where his chest used to be, the cultist finds it extremely difficult to continue chanting.
Another baddie, Johannes Teugen, picks up the book and continues the chant - continues even after Ludo (finally grasping that the demon is nigh immune to damage) hits him with a crossbow bolt that almost tears his leg off. Continues through the blood loss that will inevitably kill him - but not quick enough to stop him opening this portal and letting Something Very Bad through. Continues, in fact, right up to the point where Farnoth disintegrates his head, at which point the chanting stops.
The ritual sputters out, and the demon suddenly looks extremely scared (even more scared than when it encountered the surprising deadliness of the bolas) as the voice of something from the other side of the nascent portal makes it clear that the doppeldemon's failure to ensure the success of the ritual has put it in the bad books of Something Very Bad Indeed. I'm not sure what sort of entity would terrify a demon like that (and I am sure it's heresy even to speculate) but whatever it is snatches the demon out of existence faster than we can follow, and the portal slams shut.
The rest of the cultists are rounded up and/or killed, with enough left alive (and chastened by what they witnessed at the ceremony) that the party's names are cleared entirely, and they are feted as The Heroes Of Bogenhafen (and also rewarded, with rewards).
After picking up their own confiscated equipment our heroes are careful to return the borrowed equipment to the "local businessman" with their sincere thanks (he's not someone you want annoyed at you).
There are only a couple more loose ends - there is strong evidence that one "Etelka Herzen" (who the party immediately start calling Etelka Badlady, as for some reason her surname proves very hard to remember) instigated this whole thing by encouraging Steinhager and providing him with literature and equipment. Probably a good idea to find her and chop her head off so she doesn't do that sort of thing again, although right at this moment we don't have a clue where to start.
Also, someone owes us money - Steinhager's brother, a right nasty piece of work, offered Ludo and the boys 50 gold apiece if his brother should happen to die. Farnoth disintegrated a large chunk of him, so now it's time for his brother to pay up - only he won't.
He threatens to call his guards, until the party remind him they'd just beaten a bunch of better guards and a demon, and his guards wouldn't stand a chance.
He offers the party 20 gold apiece. The party demurs.
He threatens to call the watch, until it's pointed out that the watch aren't in this room right now, the party are all in the room right now and carrying all manner of nasty sharp pointy things, and that he's in the room right now too and about to be introduced to several, and where's our money? And Ludo can always sneak back and kill you any time he feels like it, and oh there's our money, pleasure doing business with you.
We leave our party considerably richer, and Heroes of Bogenhafen into the bargain - and no longer being blackmailed by Tobias Slater, Witch Locator (who turned up to take the party's report, and who was very interested to hear about Etelka Badlady as she's already a person of interest).
A couple of members of the party are looking a little wild-eyed and occasionally muttering about demons and giggling - it seems recent events have had some effect on their mental stability. Not Ludo, however - he's looking satisfied and cheerful.
Although given his stock response to amy given situation appears to be "pick one or more from 'murder', 'threaten murder', and 'arson'" it would be quite hard to tell if he'd become unbalanced, really.
Tune in next time - for Death on The Reik!
(there's a boat in it)
Last edited by President Weasel; 20-11-2012 at 01:31 AM.
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Yay for standardized pricing - a bit steeper in some areas, but that should keep us in the upper lower class where we belong. It's stuff like this that causes my eyes to bleed:
Human female fighter, 5'2" with scant frame, commissions a chain tunic. Her size category is E (it should be F for height, but she is skinny). Her price modifier is x0.85 and weight modifier is x0.65. A standard sized chain tunic weighs 28.5 lb. and costs 860d; hers will weigh 18½ lb. (28.5 x 0.65) and cost 731 d (860 x 0.85).
Oh, and that brochure is ace, Lowkey. It looks way better than the one the shadowrunners will get this week.
Yes we may not use everything in there, also thanks, piece of cake with my trusty friend microsoft paint! Great stuff PW i will be popping those into the first post to marvel and amaze new readers
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I posted something i made for fun in the dropbox, The Altdorf Gazette. Give it a read and tell me what you think.
Great! That Ind Prince sounds interesting...
I enjoyed it, and thought the "hangings" section was a nice touch. Also, 'dry rot' - was that Harlander, or a different smirking noble from Bogenhafen?
I resent being accused of smirking, this is a sneer I'll have you know
And a fine sneer it is too, but reporters are idiots.
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I'm sorry i cant name my sources.
Just to call back to an earlier topic, turns out you do vote for reeves in some places: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reeve_(England)
Oh indeed - but I didn't envisage anything other than one man, one vote for the selection of Reeve of our hypothetical rural paradise; I was going to be the one man with the one vote.
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I wont be around this week. Sorry guys.


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Children's Mysteries
A general list of excellent mysteries for children
|Abrahams, Peter
|Down the rabbit hole: an Echo Falls Mystery
|Allison, Jennifer
|Gilda Joyce: psychic investigator
|Balliett, Blue
|Chasing Vermeer
|Buckey, Sarah Masters
|Enemy in the fort
|Erickson, John R.
|The original adventures of Hank the Cowdog
|Gorman, Carol.
|Chelsey and the green-haired kid
|Hahn, Mary Downing
|The Spanish kidnapping disaster
|Holl, Kristi
|The haunting of cabin 13
|Hoobler, Dorothy and Thomas
|The ghost in the Tokaido Inn
|Howe, Deborah and James
|Bunnicula: a rabbit-tale of mystery
|Ibbotson, Eva
|The star of Kazan
|Keene, Carolyn
|The crooked banister
|Kehret, Peg
|Nightmare mountain
|Konigsburg, E.L.
|From the mixed-up files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler
|Raskin, Ellen
|The Westing game
|Stanley, Diane
|The mysterious matter of I.M. Fine
|Van Draanen, Wendelin
|Sammy Keyes and the search for Snake Eyes
|Warner, Gertrude Chandler
|The mystery of the wild ponies
|Zindel, Paul
|The e-mail murders


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The Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Data Resource Center provides information on how data are collected and used in the United States. Funded by the Bureau of Justice Statistics, this Center seeks to identify the types of information currently being captured by state and local agencies. Summaries of state projects and reports are provided, as well as links to data, relevant reports, and collection forms being used to collect data.
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Pink House Backpackers
If you have a few days off and you\'re looking for sun, beautiful beaches, good food, unforgettable sights ....during the day you want to go for a shopping and at night go crazy in clubs, then Malaga is the place you\'re looking for and the Pink House hostel will make you feel here like at home.
Malaga is one of the largest and most beautiful cities in Andalusia, situated by the Mediterranean Sea in the middle of the Costa del Sol.
Malaga monuments will delight you - you have to see the cathedral, Gibralfaro, Alcazaba, Picasso Museum and many others. You will be impressed by central situated Alameda garden and Muelleuno - promenade with restaurants, bars and shops overlooking the harbor.
Malaga is a modern city where shopping is no shortage of well-known brands - Calle Larios is the best place to indulge in shopping spree, and then get lost in the small streets of the historic center where they are hiding from the sun: restaurants, bars, pubs, the cafe climate - that is where you will meet smiling people, try delicious food and listen to flamenco.
And if you love to have good fun - all day thinking about the night\'s madness, Malaga certainly will not disappoint you. The city center is full of discos open until dawn.
Malaga is a cosmopolitan city where everyone can find a place for himself.
Pink House Backpackers is located by Carretería street - renowned street in the city center, therefore, you will be two steps away from the most important sites and 15 minutes walk from the beach and central train and bus station.
We have private rooms and dormitories.
The Pink House offers a friendly atmosphere, formed by the guests and staff.
Staff are young and crazy people from Argentina, Scotland, Poland, and therefore we speak in Spanish, English or Polish. We are happy to point where to eat, go shopping or dancing!
Malaga for the day you will know by Free Malaga Tour, and the night life with the Pub Crawl.
Our guests are from all over the world they are just beginning the journey or just ending it - the common room is the perfect place to share their experiences, photographs, plans. That is where you can relax, read a book or hide from the scorching sun :)
On the night of sleep will help you air conditioning, which is located in each room.
We have a fully equipped kitchen where you can easily prepare each meal and chill drinks ;) In the morning coffee and tea is waiting for everybody.
A very important issue for us is cleanliness - hostel is cleaned every day!
For free we will provide you:
- bed sheets
- Internet access / WiFi
- Map
- Lockers
- Renting dryer
In addition, we also offer:
- Luggage storage
- Towel rental
- Transport to the airport
- Laundry service
Additional Information:
Check In hours: 15:00 - 01:00
Check out hours: 08:00 - 11:00
We accept card payments.
We do not accept below 18 years old
Free cancellation is possible 48 hours before the arrival date.
Failure to cancel within this time will result in a cancellation charge equal to the first night of your stay.
We have double and shared rooms. Fully equipped kitchen for our guests, lounge area if you just feel like chilling out and sharing experiences with other travellers, computers with free internet access. Free Wi-Fi in the whole hostel Coffee and Tea free all day long.
- Centrally located and good travel connections
- Bed linen included
- Guest kitchen for free use
- Internet terminals
- Free W-LAN in our lobby
- Multilingual staff
Please note the following:
Check out:12:00
Cancellations are only accepted by e-mail at least 48 hours prior to your check in time.
Availability & RatesTo view availability and prices please select dates and click 'Update Dates'
Hostel Facilities & Policies
- 24 Hour Security
- Age Restriction
- Air Conditioning
- Airport Transfers
- Breakfast Not Included
- Café
- Common Room
- Credit Cards Accepted
- Free City Maps
- Free Internet Access
- Free WiFi
- Hair Dryers
- Hair Dryers For Hire
- Hot Showers
- House Keeping
- Internet Access
- Self-Catering Facilities
- Linen Included
- Security Lockers
- Luggage Storage
- No Curfew
- Non Smoking
- Taxes included
- Tea & Coffee Making Facilities
- Tours/Travel Desk
- Towels For Hire
Cancellation PolicyThis property has a 2 day cancellation policy. Failure to cancel within this time will result in a cancellation charge equal to the first night of your stay.
DirectionsShow MapHide Map
How to get here
A) By Train:
- Take the train C1 into the City Center and leave at the station 'Mlaga Centro Alameda' (train-ride about 15 min.).
- Look for the river that you follow on it's right north/up until you reach 'Calle Carretera'.
B) By Bus:
- Take the express-bus 'A' into the city (25 min. ride).
- Leave the bus at the stop 'Alameda Principal'.
- Turn into 'Calle Pastora' (to the left of the bookshop 'Librera' and 'Taco Bell').
- Go straight and turn left into 'Calle Sagasta'.
- At the end of that street you turn right into 'Plaza de Arriola' that turns into 'Pasillo de Sta Isabel'.
- Follow 'Pasillo de Sta Isabel' that turns in 'Calle Carretera'.
C) By Taxi
- Costs about 25-30
FROM THE TRAIN-STATION (Estacin Mara Zambrano) OR BUS-STATION (Estacin de Autobuses):
A) By Bus (around 15 min.):
- Take the bus (e.g. bus 'A') to 'Alameda Principal' (5 minute ride).
- Turn into 'Calle Pastora' (to the left of the bookshop 'Librera' and 'Taco Bell').
- Go straight and turn left into 'Calle Sagasta'.
- At the end of that street you turn right into 'Plaza de Arriola' that turns into 'Pasillo de Sta Isabel'.
- Follow 'Pasillo de Sta Isabel', that turns in 'Calle Carretera
B) By Foot (around 25 min.):
- Head towards street 'Paseo de los Tilos' in front of the bus and train-station.
- Pass 'Plaza de la Solidaridad' into 'Callejones del Perchel'.
- Go straight and turn right into the main street 'Avenida Andaluca'.
- Pass the big shopping house 'El corte ingls' and turn left, heading towards the roundabout where you turn right into 'Calle Hilera'.
- Before the river you turn left into 'Pasillo de Santo Domingo'.
- Go straight and cross the river over the bridge 'Puente de los Alemanes' (right across the church).
- Turn left into 'Pasillo de Sta Isabel', that street turns into 'Calle Carretera'.
Located Near
Train station
Bus station
Port of Málaga
City Centre
Convenience stores and supermarkets
Strett Larios


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Hemophilia B, Christmas disease, factor IX hemophilia, FIX, factor IX deficiency test
The factor IX test is part of a larger screening test to find out which type of bleeding disorder you have. Factor IX is a protein that helps your blood clot. If you are lacking this protein, you may have a bleeding disorder called hemophilia B. Hemophilia B is found mostly in males.
When people with hemophilia gets cut or injured, bleeding is hard to stop because their blood does not have normal clotting substances. This is especially dangerous when someone is severely injured. Hemophilia can also cause pain and bleeding inside muscles or joints.
Women carry the gene that causes this disease, but they may not have bleeding problems, except when they menstruate. A woman has a 50 percent chance of passing on the gene that causes the disorder to her children.
Hemophilia is an inherited disease, and testing is done to confirm that you have it. A healthcare provider may order this test if your family has a history of bleeding problems. If you're pregnant and have a strong family history, it's especially important to be tested before your baby is born.
This test can be done on a newborn and again when the baby is 6 months old. Older children are often tested if they have large numbers of raised or unusual bruises.
If you're an adult with a history of unusual bleeding problems, your healthcare provider may order this test to see if you have hemophilia. People with milder forms of hemophilia may not have problems until they are older.
If you are worried about having hemophilia but do not have bleeding problems, your healthcare provider may order a genetic test. A genetic test can find the gene that causes hemophilia in most people.
Although hemophilia has no cure, it can be treated once a healthcare provider knows which form of the disease is present.
The healthcare provider may also order these other tests to learn more about your bleeding problems:
Activated partial thromboplastin time, or APTT, test. This test identifies clotting problems for factor IX, as well as other clotting substances.
Prothrombin time, or PT, test. This test also identifies clotting problems for factor IX, as well as other clotting substances.
Complete blood count, or CBC. This test measures the number, size, and quality of blood cells.
Fibrinogen test. This test finds out the level of fibrinogen, a protein that helps blood to clot.
Clotting factor tests. These tests find out whether you have a bleeding disorder and how severe it is. A person without a bleeding disorder has healthy clotting in 50% to 100% of his or her blood cells. If you have less than 50%, you may have hemophilia.
Stool test and urinalysis. These tests may be done to look for blood in your feces and urine.
A result for a lab test may be affected by many things, including the method the laboratory uses to do the test. If your test results are different from the normal value, you may not have a problem. To learn what the results mean for you, talk with your healthcare provider.
This test will tell you if you have the rare form of a bleeding disorder known as hemophilia B. Talk with your healthcare provider about whether you should be tested for other kinds of hemophilia.
This test requires a blood sample, which is drawn through a needle from a vein in your arm.
Giving a blood sample carries small risks such as bleeding, infection, bruising, and dizziness. When the needle pricks your arm, you may feel slight pain or stinging. Afterward, the site may be sore.
This screening will be positive only if you have the disorder. Infants may need to be retested when they are older if they do not have enough of the factor IX clotting substance at birth.
You don't need to prepare for this test.


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You are here: Home → Forum Home → Bumblebee forums → Bumblebee discussion → Thread
What a very interesting topic. I particularly note Clive's comment that Oilseed rape will not be in flower for a while yet.
I regret to report that the fields of this yellow peril at the bottom of my garden (south Oxfordshire) are now coming into flower. I feel rather daunted trying to compete with several acres of the stuff by planting my small garden with as many and varied bee friendly plants as possible. Even if I filled my garden with bee friendly plants that flower at the same time as rape I would be loosing the battle.
It makes me feel very sad.
However, it is a different story when I go to the allotment which has several areas of rough ground where comfrey and brambles are allowed to grow unhindered.
Sparrow - Sue
Got our first tenant today, a wee Pratorum queen, seems to like the box and has started nesting straight away
Woo hoo!!!!
Great news Bzzz. Could you post a picture of where you have this box sited or a description please.
Sparrow - Sue
The inhabited box is situated in between an old brick bbq (that we never use) and under a tree backing on to a fence. It is in a nice bit of shade away from direct sun and tucked away out of the wind (it's VERY exposed up here as we are on a hill and by the coast).
We often see Queens looking down here for nesting sites so thought it'd be a good place to try!
She's been in and out today but she spends a lot of time inside, I had a wee look later on tonight about 2030 and she was not happy! "bbzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzbzzzzzzzzzbzzzzzzzz!!!!" and then she shot back under the nesting material… looks like she's protecting something!
Fingers crossed, if I can work out how to reduce the size of my photos below 300kb I'll stick some on!
Well there we go, our first sighting of wee bees from our nest! tiny wee things, didn't want to annoy them too much on their first day but will have another look tomorrow. They've been out and about as has the queen, lovely busy wee things!


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Army veteran Steve Stone has organised a 70-mile motorbike ride to mark 70 years since Operation Market Garden to raise money for a forces charity that helped him through hard times.
Mr Stone, from Bromham, served 13 years in the Army, with several tours of Northern Ireland and a tour of Bosnia with the 22nd Cheshire Regiment.
He left the Army in 1997, but developed post traumatic stress a few years later, which soon led to him becoming homeless.
Wiltshire Council was able to set him up in a hostel and soon a home and he was directed to SSAFA, a charity that provides lifelong support for the forces and their families.
The ride-out on September 14 will tour the Wiltshire Airfields used in 1944, including Lyneham, Wroughton and Keevil, and raise funds for SSAFA.
Mr Stone said: "It is great to support the cause. I got post traumatic stress disorder from Bosnia. SSAFA were there for mental support and also helped me get everything for my flat."
Riders will set off from The Kings Arms pub in Hilperton and go through Bathampton, Box, Corsham, Chippenham, Calne, Royal Wootton Bassett, Swindon and Devizes, before returning to Hilperton.
It is expected that more than 100 riders will take part. Every rider has to pay £10 and will get a SSAFA T-shirt to wear on the day.
Mr Stone is retired and suffers from rheumatoid spondylitis due to injuries from an accident during his time in Bosnia. He rolled a small armoured tank down a cliff that was covered in ice and snow, fracturing his neck and back and sustaining acid burns to the face and neck.
His injuries mean riding a motorbike is too painful so he will be leading the convoy on his trike, which has been custom made to fit a wheelchair on the back for his partner Susan Dunn, who lost the use of her left side when she suffered a stroke during an operation for a brain haemorrhage.
For more details visit http://ssafa-wilts.com/events.html


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Sheriff Scott Israel Swears In Newest Members of BSO
Sheriff Israel Swears-In Twenty-Six
On June 3rd, Sheriff Scott Israel sworn in the newest members of the BSO family at a ceremony held at the Ron Cochran Public Safety Building. Surrounded by friends, family members and colleagues these men and women took an oath to protect and serve the citizens of Broward County. Sheriff Israel and the men and women of BSO are proud to welcome aboard our newest members and look forward to working alongside them.
Posted At: 06/03/2013 12:42 PM
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A gathering of more then 20 normadic jews that have converged on a given area not for the distinct purpose of having a celebration/party, but this is an impromptu celebration/party that arises from the shared love of booze, drugs, and upbeat flamenco music.
We all met at the park to trade wares, most notably rubes, and before you knew it Drew pulled out his guitar and we were all having such a gay time down at the Gypsie Jew Jamboree
by Eric aka shitbrick September 14, 2007
The Urban Dictionary Mug
One side has the word, one side has the definition. Microwave and dishwasher safe. Lotsa space for your liquids.Buy the mug


text: There are several very good places to go in the area within an hours drive but my favorite is about a mile down the street. Called Frank Juniors it's take out only. I don't care for the sides served but the BBQ is fantastic being voted best in Evansville for the past three years. I'll just get meat there and make my own sides.


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SALISBURY, N.C. – The Saint Leo men's soccer team (4-0) overcame a man down disadvantage to turn back the Catawba College Indians, 4-1, Sunday afternoon from Frock Field. In a match that featured 35 fouls and 10 cautions, the Lions competed a man down for the final 62 minutes of the game to earn the hard-fought win. Each of the cautions occurred in the first 45 minutes of the game.
Aaron Gendreau connected on the first two goals of the game, while Edgar Herrera and Joel Purkiss put home a pair of penalty kicks in the second half to solidify the win.
Gendreau opened the scoring when he received a volley in from Herrera on the left edge of the box which he deflected in the upper right to gain the 1-0 lead.
The Lions' sophomore found the net again in the 22nd-minute when he caught an in stride through ball from Herrera. Gendreau turned up field and buried home the team's second goal, the eventual game-winner.
However, Catawba's Domhnall Minogue cut the lead in half, 2-1, with a penalty kick conversion in the 23rd-minute.
Still, amid the cautions and the expulsion of one player, the Lions held to the 2-1 lead moving into the halftime break.
The second half did not feature many whistles, but an aggressive Saint Leo bunch still managed to force the offensive issue, even a man down.
Penalties during the 70th and 86th minute saw Saint Leo put the game out of reach as Purkiss and Herrera used a pair of penalty kick conversions to put the Lions up by the eventual final, 4-1.
In net, McKenzey Scott improved to 4-0 on the season, collecting four saves.
In total, the Lions outshot the Indians, 18-10, but trailed Catawba in the corner kick department, 5-0.
The Lions have scored at least three goals in their first four games of the season.
The Lions now await defending national runner-up and No.2-ranked Rollins College as the team opens Sunshine State Conference action on Friday, September 16. Kickoff for the match is set for 7:00 p.m. For the latest news, information, and updates on the men's soccer team, visit SaintLeoLions.com.