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Tue 22nd Oct 2013 | News
E-on software, the leader in 3D Immersive Nature technologies, today announced the immediate availability of LumenRT 4.3. Available as a free upgrade for all LumenRT 4 users, this update includes a new content library containing 80 new, real-time optimized plants.
Built using e-on's groundbreaking Plant Factory technology, these plants offer exceptional real-time performance allowing large populations of thousands of instances to be created. Included in the library are a variety of new Hardwood, Evergreen and Broadleaf trees along with an extended set of bushes, shrubs and flowers.


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OverviewRoute Development Plans serve as a tool for discussion, utilized to facilitate integration of the needs of the Department of Transportation with the needs of cities, counties, traveling public, and other stakeholders in the development of transportation solutions. The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) develoed this Route Development Plan (RDP) for SR 291 from Francis/Freya (MP B-2.48) to the Scotts Valley Road intersection (MP 22.31).
Partnerships & Cooperation
At WSDOT we seek to address the concerns of the tribal nations using the process outlined in Section 106 of The National Historic Preservation Act and the WSDOT Tribal Consultation Policy adopted in 2003 by the Transportation Commission as part of the WSDOT Centennial Accord Plan.The Spokane Tribe has been consulted in this process and has been invited as a member of the Advisory Group.
This planning effort is being paid for by general WSDOT Planning funds. Funding for future improvements identified through this process will be sought at that time from the most appropriate sources.
Contact Us
David Dean, RDP Engineer 2714 N. MayfairSpokane, WA 99207(509) 324-6000
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subset: commoncrawl


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Styles of Hearing Aids
You can wear hearing aids behind the ear, in the outer ear, or in the ear canal. Most newer models fit in the ear or ear canal.
- Behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aid: Most parts of the BTE hearing aid are in a case that fits behind the ear. The case is connected to a plastic ear mold by a clear tube that wraps around the top of your ear. BTE hearing aids are used for all degrees of hearing loss, especially very severe hearing loss. BTE hearing aids can be made with special features, such as a telecoil that helps with hearing during phone calls and a directional microphone system that can help you hear voices in a noisy room. They may be better for children because of safety and growth reasons.
- "Mini" BTE (or on-the-ear) hearing aid: The mini BTE is a smaller version of the BTE hearing aid. The parts are in a case behind the ear, but the case is smaller. And the tube that connects the case to the earpiece is almost invisible. Some mini BTE aids have a very small earpiece that doesn't completely fill the ear canal. These are called "open fit" ear pieces. These types of ear pieces are less visible than the ear molds used with BTE hearing aids. They also reduce the feeling of fullness in the ear and can be more comfortable to wear.
- In-the-ear (ITE) hearing aid: The parts of the ITE hearing aid are in a case that fits in the outer part of the ear. It can be used by people who have mild to severe hearing loss. ITE hearing aids can be made with special features, such as a telecoil that improves hearing during phone calls and a directional microphone system that can help you hear voices in a noisy room. ITE hearing aids can be easier to handle than the smaller ITC and CIC hearing aids. Children do not usually use them because the case must be replaced as the child grows.
- In-the-canal (ITC) and completely-in-the-canal (CIC) hearing aids: The parts of the ITC and CIC hearing aids are in a case that fits partly or completely into the ear canal. ITC and CIC hearing aids are used by people who have mild to moderate hearing loss. They are made to fit the shape and the size of the ear canal. ITC hearing aids can be made with special features such as a directional microphone system that can help you hear voices in a noisy room. Both ITC and CIC hearing aids can be damaged by earwax and fluid draining from the ear. And their small size may be difficult for some people to handle. They are not recommended for children.
Current as of: July 29, 2016
Author: Healthwise Staff
Medical Review: William H. Blahd, Jr., MD, FACEP - Emergency Medicine & Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine & Charles M. Myer, III, MD - Otolaryngology
This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated, disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. Learn how we develop our content.
To learn more about Healthwise, visit Healthwise.org.
© 1995-2017 Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated.


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Fox Anchor Promotes Bogus Theory That Holiday Season Hiring Explains Jobs Numbers
Blog ››› ››› ZACHARY PLEAT
Fox anchor Jenna Lee ignored the facts to suggest that holiday season hiring may explain why the unemployment rate dropped to 7.8 percent. In fact, the government agency responsible for the jobs report takes into account seasonal factors such as holiday hiring when it releases unemployment figures.
On Fox News' Happening Now, Lee said to former Republican governor John Engler: "Some of our viewers have asked questions about whether or not we're seeing seasonal hiring as we get closer to the holidays. So how much of a factor do you think that really is, governor?" Engler responded: "Well, Halloween's the second-largest retail holiday that we have, so it's a factor. I'm not going to say that that's the whole story, it isn't."
But the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which releases the jobs report, says that it adjusts jobs numbers for seasonal fluctuations such as "the hiring (and layoff) patterns that accompany regular events such as the winter holiday season."
Without the seasonal adjustment, the unemployment rate would be even lower at 7.6 percent.
From the BLS website:
How are seasonal fluctuations taken into account?
Total employment and unemployment are higher in some parts of the year than in others. For example, unemployment is higher in January and February, when it is cold in many parts of the country and work in agriculture, construction, and other seasonal industries is curtailed. Also, both employment and unemployment rise every June, when students enter the labor force in search of summer jobs.
The seasonal fluctuations in the number of employed and unemployed persons reflect not only the normal seasonal weather patterns that tend to be repeated year after year, but also the hiring (and layoff) patterns that accompany regular events such as the winter holiday season and the summer vacation season. These variations make it difficult to tell whether month-to-month changes in employment and unemployment are due to normal seasonal patterns or to changing economic conditions. To deal with such problems, a statistical technique called seasonal adjustment is used. This technique uses the past history of the series to identify the seasonal movements and to calculate the size and direction of these movements. A seasonal adjustment factor is then developed and applied to the estimates to eliminate the effects of regular seasonal fluctuations on the data. When a statistical series has been seasonally adjusted, the normal seasonal fluctuations are smoothed out and data for any month can be more meaningfully compared with data from any other month or with an annual average. Many time series that are based on monthly data are seasonally adjusted.
Since the BLS released its latest jobs report, the conservative media has been waging a campaign to discredit the BLS and its data.
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Barnes and Noble: Baseball America 2009 Prospect Handbook
Last night's defeat of the Philadelphia Phillies by the Atlanta Braves is proof positive that a new baseball season has begun . . . with new players, new contenders and a fresh batch of rising stars. Catch them while you can ! This handy dandy guide will give you some clues as to where to look, but all new faces on the field represent new possibilities for making and breaking records, hearts and careers.


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Talent Development
We manage the development of our talent in a differentiated and targeted manner aligned with our business strategy and this ensures we are able to attract and retain the right talent to meet business needs. We challenge every colleague to discover new ways to learn, perform and grow, and to create his or her own unique experience along our shared Path Forward.
The Pfizer Senior Leader Excellence Profile, or PSLEP, is a Pfizer-specific definition of leadership that aligns with our business strategies and imperatives. Through PSLEP, we are reinforcing and developing a "general manager" mind-set among our leaders, moving far beyond functional, silo-driven experience, views and approaches. To ensure the spirit of this framework is embodied in the behaviors of our leaders, PSLEP is threaded through a comprehensive strategy for building senior leader capability that includes assessment and development solutions designed to help our senior leaders lead our organization and industry.
In 2010 all of the Executive Leadership Team and most of the Senior Leader Committee have attended Pfizer Senior Leader Experience (PSLE). PSLE is an intensive, three-day leader experience that provides participants an opportunity to explore shifts of paradigm facing Pfizer and our industry, as well as heighten their awareness of their leadership style and impact. A core segment of this program focuses participants on the complex challenges of simultaneously maximizing efficiency in the company's existing, defined organizational units; managing businesses and functions in transition due to changes in distribution, technology, globalization, deregulation or other factors; and creating entirely new business opportunities.
The Path Forward Executive Business Challenge, a three-day, computer-based business simulation, gives Pfizer's senior leaders and emerging senior leaders hands-on experience in heading and operating a pharmaceutical business. During this dynamic, team-based, competitive program, participants build financial and business acumen by analyzing vast amounts of data, clarifying key issues in complex situations and making the critical decisions required to successfully run a virtual pharmaceutical company.
PSLE and the Path Forward Executive Business Challenge are integral elements of our Senior Leader strategy, and are a foundation on which we can continue to expand and enhance the capability of our senior leaders through new experiences, programs and resources that reflect changing market and industry dynamics.


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What's a wheat berry, exactly? Before turning them into a salad, you should know what they are…
Wheat berries are whole wheat kernels — a true whole grain. They can be used to make wheat sprouts, can be ground into a flour for baking, and used to grow wheatgrass. Wheat berries can also be cooked like rice or quinoa as a side dish, made into a breakfast porridge or tossed into a salad — either mixed into a green salad or used on their own as a pasta-alternative. You can find them in health food stores and in the grain or healthy section of most grocery stores. Purchase them in packages, like these from Bob's Red Mill, or from the bulk bins.
Since they're not processed at all, none of the grain's nutrients get stripped away. Wheat berries are high in fiber, protein and iron. When cooked, the kernels have a firm, chewy texture and they taste slightly nutty. Since they are in their natural form, plan for about an hour of cook time. To reduce that by half, you can soak the kernels overnight. There's no special method to cooking them — just boil in salted water, covering the grains by at least two inches. Add more water if it gets low.
Ellie Krieger's Wheat Berry Salad is a great introduction to this healthful whole grain; the simple ingredients (dried fruit, nuts and a lemony dressing) allow the nutty flavor of the grains to shine, plus it's really easy to make. When I make this salad, I make a big batch and portion it out in containers to take to lunch during the week. I add the nuts on top before I eat it so they stay crunchy, but you can add the nuts at the same time as the other ingredients if you like.
Wheat Berry Salad
Recipe courtesy of Ellie Krieger
Yield: 6 3/4 cup servings
1 1/2 cups hard wheat berries
3/4 cup chopped walnuts
2 stalks celery, finely chopped
1/2 cup tart dried cherries, chopped
1 scallion, white and green parts, chopped
1/2 cup finely chopped parsley leaves
3 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons lemon juice
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
In a large pot combine the wheat berries and enough water to come 2 inches over the wheat berries. Bring to a boil and cook uncovered for 1 hour, or until tender. Drain and let cool. Toast the walnuts in a medium dry skillet over medium-high heat until fragrant, 2 to 3 minutes.In a large bowl, combine the wheat berries, walnuts, celery, dried cherries, scallions, parsley, olive oil and lemon juice. Season, to taste, with salt and pepper.
Wheat berries are quite filling so this salad is adequate for a main dish for lunch or dinner, but is a good side dish to add to your repertoire, too. It can be served cold or at room temperature.
More Meatless Monday Recipes:
- Veggie Burgers That Aren't from a Box
- Grilled Squash Quesadillas
- Kelsey's Ratatouille Tart
- Zucchini-Pear Soup
- Tomato-Bread Salad (aka Panzanella)
- Rigatoni With Creamy Eggplant and Mozzarella
- Cauliflower Mac and Cheese
- Green Beans With Paneer in Tomato Sauce
- Black Bean Chili
We're not the only ones going meatless on Mondays; it's a worldwide event. Numerous studies have shown that reducing meat consumption, even by a small amount, has a great impact on personal health and that of the environment. By giving up meat just once per week, you can make a big difference. Here's someone else who agrees, Meatless Monday Mover and Shaker (and newlywed), Sir Paul McCartney.
Paul an his daughters Stella and Mary launched Meat Free Monday in the UK, wanting to share their belief that cutting meat on Monday is something easy we can all do after a weekend of indulgence. Their site offers recipes, news, Meat Free Monday merchandise and a list of celebrity supporters, which is always fun to gawk at.


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Worldwide Sites
You have been detected as being from . Where applicable, you can see country-specific product information, offers, and pricing.
Available in English
Free Autodesk software licenses and/or cloud-based services are subject to acceptance of and compliance with the terms and conditions of the license agreement or terms of service, as applicable, that accompany such software or cloud-based services.


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Easy to reach and even easier to explore, Ayrshire & Arran sits on the west coast of Scotland with its wonders of island life, countryside towns and sandy shores.
Just a short ferry ride across the Firth of Clyde and you can explore either Arran or Cumbrae, or even both! Experience perfect island life, which is full of tasty food and drink, exciting outdoor activities and beautiful views.
This is the region that gave us our National Bard, Robert Burns. Explore the great Burns attractions, take a wander around an ancient castle, or learn about the Vikings who once set foot on these very shores.
Food and drink
Both Ayrshire and Arran produce a range of tasty treats that you won't want to miss. Try the fresh seafood, caught daily off the shore, sit down to a main course of local lamb, beef or pork combined with Ayrshire 'tatties' or indulge your sweet tooth with ice cream, chocolate and more.
With three Open Championship venues, five of the UK's top 100 golf courses and golf passes, it's easy to see why this is one of Scotland's top regions for golf. Choose from close to 50 golf courses in Ayrshire & Arran offering classic links and majestic inland layouts, or take a tour with a golf partner.


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SAN DIEGO – The circus has already begun to leave town, even though the Tiger hasn't.
There is hardly anything more desolate than a Monday finish to a PGA Tour event. On TV you only see pastoral fairways and greens. Here, at Torrey Pines, you saw the detritus of a massive commercial operation, and on Sunday night it begins to uproot.
Portable potties. Tents. FEMA-style modular offices. Booths. All those miles of rope. Electronic scoreboards and other signage. A Sierra Nevada of garbage. Enough trucks and golf carts to take Eisenhower through North Africa.
All of it has been encased in the mud that is the official substance of the California swing.
Fog wiped out Saturday's third round at the Farmers Insurance Open and forced Sunday's nonstop golf.
The field began the third round at 7 a.m., used both tees and tried to bite off as much golf as it could. Nobody got in more than 15 holes of the fourth round, and Tiger Woods has a six-stroke lead with 11 to play today.
Many of the volunteers who handle the marshaling, the transportation and other essential jobs will have to return to work. Whenever they're done, the golfers will scatter everywhere.
Several were shooting for a Monday qualifier to get into the Phoenix event – a long shot, to be sure, with only three making it out of 151.
One was Brad Fritsch, a 35-year-old PGA Tour rookie from Edmonton via Campbell University in Buies Creek, N.C. He won't make it, but he gets in anyway if he finishes in the top 10 here, and he is fourth with 11 holes left.
"It would be a really interesting tournament if Tiger weren't here, in terms of the scoring," Fritsch joked.
This is where the true Tiger Effect comes in.
Ordinarily a Monday finish would happen as early as possible to let everyone else get on with life.
Or, everyone could have played a normal third round, with an additional 54-hole cut, and played a normal fourth round today.
But CBS is intrigued with showing Tiger's 75th PGA Tour victory, so the field starts at 11:10 a.m. here, and Woods will finish at about 5:30 p.m. EST.
Credit the PGA Tour for refusing to deny the obvious.
"CBS is our broadcast partner," said tour official Mark Russell. "If this is what they want us to do, this is what we're going to do."
Brandt Snedeker and Nick Watney, both former winners here, are at 11 under.
"Starting at 11 is a little strange," Watney said. "When we finish, it's not even going to be prime time on the East Coast."
Snedeker was beginning to address a birdie putt on the 14th hole when the horn went off, and he shook his head.
"That was a little weird," he said. "I wish I'd had a little heads-up, wish there had been some tour officials around. There's no way I would have even attempted to come close to hitting that putt if I'd known that was going to happen.
"But then I thought we'd get a couple more holes in. At the beginning I thought we'd get done (with both rounds). Maybe if we'd just kept playing … it was weird to have an hour break in between, for no apparent reason."
Both knew there is no way to play defense today.
"There's no way Tiger is coming back to us," Snedeker said. "We're going to have to go make some birdies. The greens were really tough today, but at least tomorrow I start off with a birdie putt on a nice, fresh green."
Tiger starts off on a nice fresh year.
This should be his seventh victory in this event (his previous six came by a combined margin of 19 shots), and of course he won the 2008 U.S. Open here, also on a Monday. That was Woods' last victory in California, post-hydrant.
Last year he won three times, and Woods is No. 2 in the world behind Rory McIlroy, who is going through the dreaded Equipment Change and won't play for three more weeks.
This might be Tiger's most comprehensive performance since he lost the No. 1 spot. He is flexing different muscles, going 12-under on the par 5s, needing only 45 putts on Thursday and Friday, stabbing his irons within birdie range and, most critically, driving the ball in fair territory and making it almost safe to stick a microphone near him.
"He's probably the best front-runner in the history of golf," Watney said, shrugging. "Maybe we can get within three of him or so and see what happens."
The circus rolls on. Different residue, same ringleader.
Contact the writer: firstname.lastname@example.com


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For a neighborhood so seemingly devoted to the concept of nightlife (and everything that it aspires to be), the Meatpacking District is surprisingly bereft of the kinds of cheap, junky midnight snacks that party animals know and love. Not to worry—after a night out at one of the area's boisterous bacchanalia, you'll surely welcome the opportunity to rest those dancing shoes while supping on everything from classic French pastries to a simple grilled cheese served in an out-of-place, bona fide greasy spoon. As an added bonus, compared to the area's infamously unforgiving door policies, getting into these spots is a cinch, and won't cost you half your paycheck. Check them all out in the slideshow, or head to an individual bite below.
- Burger at Bill's Bar and Burger
- Adana Kebab Sandwich at Istanbul Grill
- Grilled Cheese at Hector's Cafe
- Sausages at The Standard Biergarten
- Pizza at Rocky's 1
- Sicilian Slice at Valducci's
- Goat Cheese Gnocchi at Fig & Olive
- Smoked Chicken Sandwich at Cafe Gitane
- Ovaltine Kulfi at Spice Market
- Parisian Apple Tart at Bakehouse
About the author: Zachary Feldman is a former debutante and current freelance writer. He makes hand-crafted, small batch bitters under the moniker Bitters, Old Men.


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Board index » Shipping Questions
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seanp wrote:I hear what you're saying but the $8.95 postage from the US to me did include a tracking number and was only four days slower than the premium CKTG shipping. The shipper used First Class Package International service. I think this would be a very viable cheaper option.Mark is mostly cheaper than my local stores, but is often more expensive than other online sources once shipping is factored in. I try to shop at CKTG because I do appreciate the value he adds, but it's not always possible to pay that premium and I do think the CKTG is losing orders.
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Citadel All Bouldering21 routes in cliff
This cliff is unlocated
If you know where this cliff is the please take a minute to locate it for the climbing community. contact us if you have any issues.
Stats and downloads
We don't know where this cliff is located. Do you?
Please login (or sign up) to locate cliff.
As for 'Between the Sheeps', but instead of branching left off the main track, continue along the main path as for Stapylton summit. Prior to the track ascending the gully (and opposite a vertical wall adjacent to the path) - take a right turn through the dense bush (track) to emerge at the 'Citadel'.© (boardlord)
Access issues inherited from North Grampians
This area is now reopening after the fires in early 2014
Here's an update from Parks Victoria (18 September 2015):
People – it has been a long time coming, and the recovering areas thank you for your patience. As of the 18th September, most of the climbing areas in the North Grampians still closed, will once again open. These areas though, are still fragile and deserve to have a little extra thought given, if and when you decide to head there. The Mt Difficult Range is still in a very fragile state and because of this, some of the closures here will remain in place, except for those cliffs listed. Check out the list below and please continue to read the care info following it. Thank you all in the climbing and bouldering community who have been understanding of the closures and have been actively promoting it to others. Lots of other areas have seen renewed interest. Whilst Nature will continue to throw these events at us, it is obvious that there are always enough cliffs and boulders to go around.
To aid the long term recovery of the Northern Grampians there is a general closure in place for rock climbing throughout the Mt Difficult Range, except for the main climbing areas stated below. Please support the long term recovery of fire affected areas by remaining out of any closed sites. See closure map for further detail. While Parks Victoria regrets the need to enforce closures, substantial fines will be imposed on those found in any closed, fire affected areas. Open and accessible rock climbing and bouldering areas in the Northern Grampians Hollow Mountain Area Barc Cliff , Gunn Buttress , Battlescarred Blocks / The Ammo Shop, Amnesty Wall Area , Andersens , Clicke Area (incl. Kindergarten routes) The Kindergarten (bouldering) Expedition Crag, Turtle Rocks, Sandinista Cliffs, Pensioners Wall Area, Red Wall Area incl Echoes Block, Loopeys , Hollow Mountain Cave, Legoland, Cut Lunch Walls , Koalasquatsy Wall Tribute Wall , The Dungeon, Bad Moon Rising Wall Van Dieman's Land, Rambla Wall, A-Frame Boulder
Summerday Valley Flying Blind. Wall of Fools, Back Wall Bowler Boulder
*Note closures are in place to Main wall, Left wall, Bird wall and Calcutti crag and others east of Summerday Valley due to threatened plant species regeneration, cultural heritage protection and trail degradation.Mt Stapylton Amphitheatre Northern Wall, Central Buttress, Sabre Gully, Grey and Green Walls, Taipan Wall Spurt Wall, Bouldering Buttress, Lower Taipan, Afterglow Wall, Afterglow Boulders ,The Plaza Strip, The Snake Pit , Trackside Boulders. Citadel . Ground Control Caves, Cave Club, Between the Sheeps, Spurt Wall (Bouldering), The Titanic (Bouldering) Flat Rock Area West Flank / Wall of Fuels, Bellepheron Wall ,Epsilon Wall ,Bouldering Cloud Cuckoo Land , Note: new access track between flat rock, the kindergarten and Andersons via Bellepheron wall. Mt Zero Area Pangaea Walls, Toolondo Waters, 4 Cornered Crag, Mt Zero Summit Cliff, Mount Zero West Walls
Iskra Crag Flower Power Block, Shadow Buttress, Emu Crag , Sunstroke Area , Pigs in Space Buttress, Main West Face, Dolgoruki Wall First Tier, Second Tier, Third Tier , North Western Outcrop, Eastern Walls 36 Chambers , Dolgoruki Wall and Three Tiers
Asses Ears Area Sunset Crags, The Secret Crags , Cherub Wall , Maul Wall, Wallaby Rocks, Conifer Wall , Geranium (Brim) Springs, Porcelain Wall ,Wallaby Rocks ,Joey Blocks
Pohlner track and Smith Road Area The Rust Bucket, Martini Rock, Worship Wall, Point 447 ,Bordel Buttress, Mt Emu The Crows Nest, The Eyrie , The Unnamed Cliff, An Unnamed Cliff, Olive Grove, Cave Of Ghosts Cliffs, Ghost Block, The Olive Cave, The Ravine
Eastern Mt Difficult Range No Mans Land, Heatherlie Heights, Cape Canavera,l Woomera The Promised Land / The Pine Plantation, Cliff Lebanon, The Heavens, Lower Heavens, Lunar Walls, The Tim Tams
North West Mt Difficult Range Sickle Wall , Mawson Slab, Mt Difficult Cliff, Epaminondas Buttress, Troopers Creek Cliff, Mt Difficult Summit ,Mt Bloody Impossible Mt Stapylton Campground Cave , Sentinel Wall , The Guardhouse, Warden Wall , Campground Boulders, Titanic Boulder, Doddery Rock, Mt Pleasant ,The Rockwall Area ,Briggs Bluff Area
NE Mt Zero Range Golton Rocks - Cave Cliff , Wave Wall (aka The Sundeck) / The Sun Deck The Sun Gate, Golton Wall, Gog-Magog Crag, G-Land, Watchmen Wall, Coppermine Track Cliff
Some content has been provided under license from: © Australian Climbing Association Queensland (Creative Commons, Attribution, Share-Alike 2.5 AU)
Check out what is happening in Citadel.


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You won't be able to dismiss this by usual means (escape or click button), but you can close it programatically based on user choices or actions.
"I ordered these for my sister's bachelorette and I absolutely love them! Great design and quality! This is the second time I've used wedding paper divas and once again have had a very good experience and received a great product."
"This was a perfect bachelorette invitation. Great quality, classy, cute. I got lots of compliments from the party guests. Very impressed :)"
"I ordered these for my sisters bachelorette weekend and we loved them! So many compliments, they were a really good quality invitation."
"These cards are amazing! They came out beautifully! I ordered them in purple and I just can't express how beautiful they were! Very impressed with quality, color, design the works. They were a huge hit."
"The paper quality is great and the design is perfect. You can fit a lot of information on the card, if necessary. Customer service was very easy to work with."


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Rising sports stars in Wiltshire have just over a week left to apply for funding from a special scheme designed to help them on their journey to success.
This is the fourth year Wiltshire Council has organised the Funding Future Olympians and Paralym-pians grant which provides financial help to local elite athletes.
Since it began in September 2010, 13 local athletes have received funding to help them reach the highest levels in their sport, including Olympic gymnast Francesca Fox and Paralympic silver medallist Aaron Moores.
People of any age who are competing at a national level, or above, in any Olympic or Paralympic sport or a sport recognised by Sport England are invited to apply. The deadline for applications is 5pm on January 20.
For more information, the criteria and the application form, visit www.wiltshire.gov.uk/fundingfutureolympiansgrant


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Happy Birthday
Today is my younger brothers birthday, his name is Anthony Oden. He plays football for The University of Arkansas. His number is 78 and he plays on the offensive line, he turned 20 today. Ive seen a couple of his games on tv and i also went to the Arkansas vs Georgia game which was a high scoring game. I just wanted to drop a line for my little brother who is not the little he is 6'7 330 lbs, so just if anyone ask yes i use to win when we fought, but now i wont fight him to save my life. Also happy belated to my good friend Michael Conley Jr whos birthday was yesterday.


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The days of signing your name to verify your identity when shopping with a credit card could be numbered, with credit giant Visa deciding to phase out pens in favour of PINs.
From April 1, 2013, all Visa card transactions will be approved by customers using personal identification numbers instead of signatures.
The move is expected to reduce signature-based credit card fraud which has been on the rise over the last two years - from 38 out of 100,000 transactions in 2010 to 52 out of 100,000 transactions in 2011.
Visa spokeswoman Judy Shaw said the change was part of a comprehensive security plan to phase out the use of signatures in favour of PIN and card chips, which are already widely used by customers in stores and ATMs.
"At the moment we're working with financial institutions and other card schemes to discuss a uniform approach to chip and PIN use across the industry," she said.
"It will include a communication program so that cardholders are aware of their PINs and know how to use them," she said.
But rival American Express will still allow customers to confirm purchases with signatures although cards are issued with chips.
''We're giving our members both options as we understand that every person has their own preferred way of using their credit card at the point of purchase," said a spokeswoman for the company. The spokeswoman noted that American Express has one of the lowest instances of fraud in the industry.
MasterCard has been contacted for comment.
The change by Visa will also affect 14,000 cafes and restaurants, where customers will no longer be able to sign their bills at the table.
"Right now you're used to putting your credit card into the black folder and then expecting the waiter to take it and process it," said Garry Duursma, vice president at eftpos services company Tyro.
"By the time this mandate comes in, you're going to have to get up and go to the cashier and make the payment or the cashier armed with a payment terminal has to come to you."
Australia's banking and payments industry is expanding the choice in payments methods, as customers embrace more digital banking options. At the same time, banks are racing to upgrade their processing abilities, while working to ensure the overall security of the system. Australian Payments Clearing Association showed that fraud losses reached a record $278 million in 2011.
Mr Duursma said abandoning signatures will reduce the incidence of card-based fraud, although it could potentially open a new risk if the restaurant's eftpos system isn't properly integrated with the restaurant's bank account system.


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Product part number: T21-3133
Product reference: 38625
Protect your Galaxy S4 from bumps and drops with this highly protective flip case with impactology technology. The case comes in a stylish black color to compliment your phone.
"tech21 hit with impact case for S4"
"Nice Case"
"Solid but light case"
Designed for the Samsung Galaxy S4
This slimline Tech21 case has been designed specifically for the Samsung Galaxy S4, ensuring a perfect fit for your device. It also does not block the usability of your phone with cutouts for all the important features.
Despite the superior protection offered by the d3o technology, the Tech21 Impact Snap case is remarkably thin. This ensures your Samsung Galaxy S4 remains pocketable and protected at all times.
d3o will protect your phone from drops
The d3o technology will protect your phone from drops with ease. d3o is an innovative substance which hardens on impact, providing excellent protection for your device. Used by extreme sports brands and professional athletes, d3o offers unique impact protection for your Samsung Galaxy S4.
Easily clips onto the back of your Samsung Galaxy S4 to provide comprehensive protection to your device
With its minimalistic, yet revolutionary, hard shell polycarbonate casing, the Impact Snap with Cover simply clips on to the back of your device to provide high-impact protection. It also features cut outs to allow easy access to all of the buttons and features of your device, including the volume controls, lock switch and camera lens.
The most protective case for your device yet
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source GAIA package: Sx_DefenseNews_M5201410302240029_5675.zip Origin key: Sx_DefenseNews_M5201410302240029 imported at Fri Jan 8 18:18:00 2016
When it comes to the US Army and Marine Corps, there were no real surprises in Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel's peek today of the 2015 defense budget.
The Marines only merited one line, when Hagel confirmed that the Corps would lose 8,000 grunts in coming years as it drops to 182,000 personnel, and if sequestration returns in 2016, would shrink further to 175,000.
The Army, on the other hand, actually leaped ahead of the secretary in recent months, laying out time and again everything that would happen to the force in coming budgets.
In summing up his budget, Hagel nodded to the obvious reason for the pain that the services have been enduring, acknowledging that "as we end our combat mission in Afghanistan, this will be the first budget to fully reflect the transition DoD is making after 13 years of war — the longest conflict in our nation's history."
His comments reflected those made by Lt. Gen Keith Walker, director of the Army Capabilities Integration Center, who bluntly stated on the opening day of the Association of the United States Army's symposium on Feb 19: "We have transitioned from an Army at war to an Army preparing for war."
But Hagel went further, explaining that analysis done by the Pentagon showed that even if the United States is called on to undertake "extended or simultaneous ground operations," a smaller ground force would still be able to successfully meet a kind of one-and-a-half threshold by "decisively defeating aggression in one major combat theater — as it must be — while also defending the homeland and supporting air and naval forces engaged in another theater against an adversary."
The ground force that would do this will comprise about 450,000 soldiers in a best-case scenario, but fall to 420,000 if sequestration remains in place in 2016.
The Army National Guard will also lose about 20,000 soldiers to fall to 335,000, while the Reserves will lose about 10,000 soldiers to hit 195,000 by 2017. If sequestration returns in 2016, the Army Guard would continue drawing down further, to 315,000, and the Army Reserves would shrink to 185,000.
On the equipment side, Hagel also said that he accepted the Army's recommendation to scuttle the Ground Combat Vehicle and "redirect the funds toward developing a next-generation platform." He also tasked both the Army and Marines with delivering to him "realistic visions for a vehicle modernization by the end of this fiscal year."
The big one, of course, is the ongoing fight between the active duty Army and the National Guard over their helicopter fleets.
In early December, Defense News reported that the Army was discussing a plan to get rid of its fleet of Kiowa Warrior scout helicopters and replace them by taking the Guard's Apache attack helicopters, and giving them Black Hawks in return.
Hagel is going along with the plan — much to the chagrin of the Guard and many governors and members of Congress — telling the press this morning that the change is part of a "broader realignment of Army aviation designed to modernize its fleet and make it highly capable and more affordable."
Overall, the active Army's rotary wing fleet is slated to decrease by about 25 percent, "but it would be significantly modernized under the president's budget plan," Hagel said. ■


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The Supermodels of the 1960's
At Marie Claire, we believe in the philosophy SHOES FIRST. Shoe choice can dictate a lot about your day and your wardrobe. A sky-high pump for bossing the board room to a bad-ass moto boot for exuding coolness after hours—What is your power shoe?
Definitely the black pointy pump—what I love about this shoe is that it can elevate a very basic outfit—such as skinny jeans and a button down in seconds with very little effort involved.
What is a "normal" day at the office like for you?
There really isn't a "normal" day but every day is definitely fast and busy. You look up at the clock and it's 6pm! I guess my most normal day is a Monday – it begins with our fashion dept meeting – discussing the weeks shoots, concepts for styling and any ideas we have brewing. Then I'm with the buying dept. in and out of market appts. around NYC. The day ends with a big 'site content' meeting where we look at the week ahead.
Vika Gazinskaya Top & Skirt; Whiting & Davis Clutch Ca & Lou Ear Cuff; Jacquie Aiche Bracelet; Sergio Rossi Lady Jane Pumps, $620 shopbop.com
Is there a particular pair of shoes that you find yourself reaching for over and over again when the weekend rolls around?
My black converse. I'm a mum so there's no room for heels on a weekend.
One of my first accessory memories is of slap bracelets in the early nineties. Do you have a particular accessory trend that stands out in your mind from your childhood?
Oh gosh—for me it was my slouchy leather ankle booties in purple – no idea where my mum found those beauties. Gotta love the '80s!
What was your most recent shoe splurge?
Alexander Wang kitten heels – never thought I'd do a kitten heel again (especially being 5'1" I need all the help I can get, but I'm obsessed.
Tibi Skirt; Edmundo Castillo Shoes, $995; shopbop.com; 3.1 Phillip Lim Bag; $1,295, shopbop.com; Cynthia Rowley Short Sleeve Crop Top, $250; shopbop.com
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Would you like to save as your currency permanently or for this visit only?
Le Bistro is located in the center of the tourist area of the town. Offerings include free internet and free breakfast.
The hotel is perfectly placed in the town centre The staff were not very helpful, the heating went off every day and we had to complain every day to have it put back on, the cleaning of the rooms was not very good
We liked the very central location. The heating was continually turned off during our stay and we had to complain to staff almost every day to turn it back on, one day the room had not been cleaned or beds made, the staff did not speak very good English which was unusual for the area
Heat did not work in room,
The location was good - right on the main thoroughfare They did not have any record of our booking.com reservation. The room we were given was not particularly clean and had no towels. Breakfast was miserable. The barman/receptionist tried his best to sell me a parking ticket which he new was not good value for us. The place smelt of mold and mildew and needs a good renovation. There wsa no internet as advertised on Booking.com. For 60 Euro for a double it was overpriced but then again the whole town of Valkenburg is overpriced - but very nice for an eveming's wining and dining.
It was more than OK for the price. I didn't have high expectations, but it was better than I thought it would be. Breakfast was simple, but more than OK. When you walk out of the hotel you're in the most crowded street right away, that's both pleasant and noisy, but we didn't mind the noise at night! Warm water at the sink and the heater both didn't work in our room didn't work, but the warm water knob of the sink was damaged. Although the heater didn't work, it was warm enough in the room (sunny days too). Sometimes it smelled a little bit bad in the room.
It is quite OK (especially when you count it is maybe one of the cheapest in this town - at least we couldn't find cheaper one in all booking sistems). The room is confortable. The breakfast was also good. There is smell of mold on the stairs but we found it quite charming, like beeing in an old house. It is on the main street, just in the center of the town. The bathroom smelled a bit.


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You exercise your body to stay physically in shape, so why shouldn't you exercise your brain to stay mentally fit? With these daily exercises you will learn how to flex your mind, improve your creativity and boost your memory. As with any exercise, repetition is necessary for you to see improvement, so pick your favorite exercises from our daily suggestions and repeat them as desired. Try to do some mentalrobics every single day!
Although nobody knows for certain, it is thought that in human evolution, an upright posture came before a developed brain. This upright posture freed up our ape-ancestors hands to use primitive tools such as rocks and sticks. It also allowed raised their eye level which helped them better see prey and predator. This started happening about 15 million years ago. For over 10 million more years, the brain stayed pretty much the same size. Beginning with Homo erectus, the brain size of our ancestors started growing dramatically. Almost all of this growth was in the expansion of the cerebral cortex which is what gives humans the ability to have language, abstract thoughts and consciousness. In only 3 million years brain sizes had quadrupled, giving humans the largest brain per body size ratio of any species on earth. It is still unknown why or how the brain could grow so much in such a short period of evolutionary time.
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You won't be able to dismiss this by usual means (escape or click button), but you can close it programatically based on user choices or actions.
"Loved the ability to custom design this one. The designer made room to accommodate our 'stations of food' for the menu printing. Fonts were great. Colors were stunning. Delivery and processing and proofing were done nicely. Good money spent."
"These menu cards were the perfect compliment to our table setting. We had only 12 guests at dinner for our beach wedding and the guests loved seeing the menu on their setting! The guests commented on how cute they were and how they matched our invites!"


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GOLDEN, Colo. (AP) -- The 486-mile Colorado Trail between Denver and Durango is adding 80 miles of trail through the Collegiate Peaks, which is home to a dozen mountains topping 14,000 feet.
The Colorado Trail Foundation says the Collegiate West route offers Colorado Trail users a western alternative to an existing 80-mile stretch of trail on the eastern side of the Collegiate Peaks south of Leadville.
The new section also is part of the 3,000-mile Continental Divide National Scenic Trail that runs from Canada to Mexico.


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Please post in the correct section the how to section is not for your questions or problems.
Hello everybody,
I tried this Great script (well explained in this tutorial in the old Forum)HTML Code:http://forums.remote-exploit.org/wireless/27676-how-e-z-setup-multi-mode-wlan-based-fake-ap.html
I tried it on BT4 Final release , both on a VM and a PC machine
I was able ot connect on it with my Iphone but the connection has failed with Windows 7 and snow Leopard
a self assigned IP 169.x.x.x were obtained with the two OS mentionned earlier
Any idea please ?
Please post in the correct section the how to section is not for your questions or problems.
Did you step through the debugging steps that Nick details in the various posts he made in the thread?
What debugging have you actually tried? What error logs did you create or check? What output was thrown from the script?
Still not underestimating the power...
There is no such thing as bad information - There is truth in the data, so you sift it all, even the crap stuff.


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Tag Archives: AAP Section on Breastfeeding
July 4th: Baseball, Barbecue, Breastfeeding?
Breastfeeding should be as American as apple pie, but it's not . . . yet. There's been great progress over the last few years, but it's not enough. While the issue of nursing in public dominates media coverage, too many … Continue reading
Posted in Booby Traps, Main Content Tagged AAP Section on Breastfeeding, academy of breastfeeding medicine, ACOG, affordable care act, Baby-Friendly, best for babes, breastfeeding, Donate, donor milk, Infant Risk Center, MomsRising, nip hotline, nursing in public, teen barista, Thomas Hale, United States Breastfeeding Committee Leave a comment
Last revised on 07/04/2014
Last revised on 07/04/2014


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Jacksonville (Suns) is Dodgers AA franchise. They extended their affiliation for 2 years (the minimum) on the 6th, 5 days before the deadline.
The Suns owner came on the radio the next day to talk about it. He says he expected an announcement within the next 6-9 months that the Dodgers are leaving Vero Beach for Spring Training in Arizona.
He said the reason it took so long to get a deal done this time was that LA was exploring a Texas League affiliation this time. And that LA will move all it's east coast teams out west. (they have GCL, Florida State and Southern League in Florida and a South Atlantic team in Georgia)
Now the ripple effect....
MLB requires 2 teams to move to Arizona at once, and Cleveland is still negotiating with Florida and Arizona. Assuming the Reds consumate the deal with Sarasota, it seems logical that Cleveland must be going to Arizona.
So Dodgers will pull out of Jacksonville, and the Cubs AA affiliate has been sold to owners from Orlando. Everyone knows the franchise will move to Orlando. The Cubs Florida State League team is in Daytona Beach.
Jacksonville is considered a crown jewel, so the Cubs could choose either to go to Jacksonville or Orlando depending on which deal they consider better.
And I consider the Reds to be possible contenders for Orlando/Jacksonville also. It took a personal visit from Castellini to convince Chattanooga to sign thru 2008. Now, we don't know what the Lookouts concerns were. They were pretty bad last year, and pretty good this year. That, and Castellini's love of tradition could keep the Reds in Chattanooga. The Reds will have been with Chattanooga for 20 years at the end of 2008.
Factors which could see the AA Reds in Florida: The Reds have an Cincinnati hub of operations. Both Dayton and Louisville are less than 2 hours driving time away. But Chattanooga is 5 hrs and 48 minutes away.
And they have a Sarasota hub, with Spring Training, GCL and Florida State League (as well as extended Spring Training, and Fall Instructional League). The Orlando and Jacksonville locations would be 2 hours and 4 hours away from Sarasota.


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The decision to leave Daniel Murphy at second base, after years of delay, to find out at last if he can play the position, died Thursday after little more than a week of raising my hopes.
Terry Collins said that if Ike Davis is forced to miss more than a couple of weeks, Murphy would be moved to first base. It was said in the context of refusing to move Lucas Duda under any circumstances from right field. Here's Collins' quote, courtesy of Adam Rubin:
"When we were concerned about the infection earlier in camp, immediately we started saying, 'Hey, what are we going to do here if it's a month?' And, 'What are we going to do if it's two months?'" Collins said. "The thought was, 'Hey, let's leave Duda in right field. Let's just leave him out there. We can put Murph over there because we've got middle infielders that we can play.'"
Sorry, I don't follow.
Lucas Duda in right field, that I get. I am dubious that he can handle the position defensively, but if he's going to, I understand. You leave him out there, rather than use him to fill a short-term problem at first base.
Which is, of course, exactly the reason to keep Daniel Murphy at second base.
Add in the reality that Duda's bat probably will play at first base as well as right field, while Murphy's only real chance to be a regular is at either second base or third base, and the thought process becomes entirely perplexing. I feel like the LEAVE BRITNEY SPEAKRS ALONE lady.
The Mets have Daniel Murphy at second base. Their manager has identified precisely the reason a young player learning a new position ought to stay at that position. This really shouldn't be so difficult, people. LEAVE DANIEL MURPHY ALONE!


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Black Friday may not be for the faint of heart. The crowds can be outrageous and the lines can be long. However, for the courageous shopper, the day after Thanksgiving can net some fantastic deals. Here is our guide to some of the easiest and cheapest ways to fill your kitchen with gadgets this Friday.
Bed, Bath and Beyond – Kitchen stuff may fit squarely in the "beyond" category, but that doesn't mean the store doesn't stock a ton of it. Get there early and you can get twenty percent off of everything in the store (Except Dyson vacuum cleaners, for some reason.)
Walmart – Inexplicably, Black Friday starts on Thursday at 8 PM at Walmart. Perfect timing as this is right when politics usually enters family conversation. Avoid the yelling and snag a hand-mixer, a crock pot or a food chopper for just under four bucks.
Kolh's – Head here for a Black and Decker electric can opener, a Bella deep fryer and an Orville Redenbacher popcorn maker for just $13 each! Also, the retailer will also be giving you $15 store credit for every $50 spent. Who needs one popcorn maker when you can have five?
Sears – Everyone's favorite mall department store from childhood is making a big splash this Black Friday, offering up Kenmore refrigerators for up to $1,000 off their usual price. They also have great deals on toasters, coffee makers and other odds-and-ends.
Ace Hardware – Ace is the place … to get away from family for a few hours on Friday. They have a few ridiculous deals, like $3 for a Kitchen Selectives slow cooker and $10 for a Rubbermaid 24-piece container set. Oh yeah, they also have lots of hardware if you are into that sort of thing.
Target – You like soda? Oh you'll have some soda. Grab a Sodastream Genesis soda maker for $100 and the store will give you a $20 gift card gratis. A Kitchenaid 12-piece cutlery set can also be yours for just $25.
Bergner's – The holiday season demands coffee, and lots of it. How else are you supposed to survive? Head on over to Bergner's where they are slashing their entire stock of coffee makers and related accessories by a whopping 45 percent. Sweet, sweet caffeine.


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The New School has a rich history and reputation as a higher education institution committed to supporting the engagement of students and scholars in thinking about and enacting positive social change. Throughout its history, The New School has offered students, faculty,
our external partners, and the public opportunities to question society's systems and institutions and devise innovative solutions to the world's most pressing social and environmental problems. Social innovation is one aspect of the university's commitment to embracing new
forms of interaction, organizations, policies, technologies, and systems to improve lives and address pressing needs of the 21st century.


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Lowell Rondell Reynolds Memorandum Book details
1945 — Pacific Ocean
This is word for word (with spelling corrections) what Lowell wrote about in his Memoranda book that we acquired after cleaning out Melba's shed.L. R. Reynolds Cox. U.S.N.U.S.S. L.S.T. #835Boarded ship Feb. 9, 1945. Place: Pearl Harbor, Oahu, Hawaiian Islands. Sailed from Oahu, Feb. 23, 1945, destination Eniwetok Atoll, Marshall Islands. Arrived, March 7, 1945. One year after I made the invasion. Left there, March 13,1945. Arrived at Guam March 18, 1945. Left Guam, March 30,1945. Arrived at Iwo Jima, April 9, 1945. Departed, April 12, 1945, With L. C. T. in tow.Arrived at Saipan, April 16, 1945. Departed same day. Arrived at Guam, April 17, 1945. Loaded with 14 hundred tons of high explosives we left Guam, April 23, 1945. April 25 (or 29), we were attacked by enemy aircraft, no damage done. Arrived at Okinawa, May 1, 1945. Launched L. C. T. from main deck, May, 10, 1945. We had constant air attacks for several days and nights. Jap suicide constantly on the run. The Cruiser U.S.S. Birmingham hit by suicidal plane. New Mexico Battleship hit by two.May 18, 1945, left Okinawa for Ie Shima (Okinawa), arrived same day. Saw Ernie Pyle's grave. U.S.S. L.S.T. #808 sink just off our fantail, May 18, 1945, night. Departed 19th May, arrived at Okinawa same night, left Okinawa 20th May, 1945. Arrived at Saipan, May 26, 1945, left Saipan, June 4, 1945. Arrived at Leyte, San Pedro Bay, Philippine Is. June 10, 1945. Departed from Leyte, June 12, 1945, arrived at Palawan, Puerto Princesa, June 14, 1945. Departed June 18, 1945. Arrived at Leyte June 21, 1945, left the same day. Headed for Okinawa June 26, 1945. Departed from Okinawa June 29, 1945, headed for Cebu, Philippines. Stopped at Leyte to pick up supplies, July 5, 1945.Departed for Cebu July 8th. Arrived at Cebu July 10, 1945. Departed July 11, 1945, arrived at Suki Bay, Philippines July 13, 1945. Slipped ashore and drank seven pints of the famous Kickapoo juice, the Philippines special whiskey. Departed July 20, 1945. Arrived at Okinawa July 24, 1945. We had the 345th Bombardment outfit. Tokyo Rose made the statement that the outfit we had would never reach Okinawa. But they did.Departed from Okinawa July 25, 1945. Arrived at Ie Shima, same day. Departed July 26, 1945 bound for Okinawa. We were due to leave Okinawa 30th May, but was delayed by a typhoon. All ships pulled out of Naha harbor in the middle of a typhoon August 1, 1945. Arrived at Leyte August 7, 1945, departed August 9, 1945. Arrived at Mindaco, Philippines.The Japs asked for peace August12 (10 is xx out), 1945.Arrived at Zamboanga August 13, 1945. The war ended August 14, 1945. The night of the good news, we broke out all the ships whiskey, about 120 quarts of Old Grand dad, and had about 80 quarts of Kickapoo juice, what a night. There was only one man aboard ship who was not drunk, and that was the Chaplain. There was lots of pam-pom for everybody, I had my share.Lt (Jg?) J. C. Manning turned passionate, for men, attacked sixteen men while sleeping. Departed August 21, 1945, arrived at Leyte, August 22, 1945. Departed August 28, 1945, arrived at Manila, August 31, 1945. Found out why the Nazis are overseas. Public whores.Picked up an Army outfit and General Robinson. If the Army left Manila headed for Nagasaki, Kyushu, Japan September 15-16th. We rode the middle of the worst typhoon in the Yellow Sea in 35 years. Much worse than the one the Pittsburg Cruiser broke her bow in.I would have sold my life for a plug nickel. It almost finished the old 835. Arrived at Nagasaki, Japan, September 19, 1945. Took a trip to see what damage the atomic bomb did. It cannot be believed by anyone who did not see it. We drove for miles and didn't see a single thing standing, not even a steel frame.Departed September 20, 1945, arrived at Sasebo for occupation. We were the first three ships to enter the harbor at Sasebo (Lt. Comm. W.H. McHenry) Comm. U.S.S. LST #835 received the surrendering Succored from Jap. Fleet Com. General Robinson received the Jap. Army surrendering succored.On September 22, 1945 we saw the Fifth amphibious Marines come in and make another one of their famous invasions. We had already been there for days. Departed September 24, 1945, arrived at Wakajoma Kenshu. Got liberty September 29th. Departed October 15, 1945 destination Lingayen Gulf. Arrived at Philippine Islands Oct 23, 1945. Departed for Japan Oct 26, 1945. Arrived at Nagoya, Japan Nov 3, 1945.Lost our old skipper at Nagoya, picked up Lt (J?) Carter, new skipper. Arrived at Saipan Nov 14 (13 is xx), 1945. Due to leave for the States in notice?Crew of 835 screened lost 59 very good men. Departed from Saipan via Pearl Harbor, Dec 8, 1945.---------


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Imagine a game that tells a story about a power hungry American corporation sending assassins into a formerly unstable African nation to murder its inspirational new president, because the new era of peace he had ushered in is economic poison to those who profit from war.
Now imagine that the same corporation makes these profits by manufacturing cybernetics and robotics for private military forces, and they have decided that a cost-effective way to do this would be to abduct poor street children from developing nations, surgically remove their brains, then train them to be killers in virtual battlefields before installing these newly-trained brains into the bodies of robotic soldiers.
Sounds pretty grim, doesn't it?
Okay, now toss in a few more elements: a robot dog that likes the chat about ethics and philosophy, a wise-cracking street kid who sounds like he was voiced by a Jamaican Yardie, a hero with a high tech sword that can cut almost anything, including his enemies, into dozens of little pieces, and a big bad guy who tries to assassinate the US president with a giant robotic spider.
Are you confused yet? Well, enjoy it, because that is the mental state Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance will prompt in you when you play it.
MGR was created by a Japanese gaming dream team, with the action game maestros at Platinum Games (Bayonetta, Vanquish) making a swordplay-filled spin-off from the usually stealth-based Metal Gear Solid franchise, under the supervision of MGS boss Hideo Kojima.
They seem a strange pairing, with Platinum being best known for non-stop action brawlers and Kojima being famous for his slowly-paced stealth gameplay, driven by deep, complex storytelling. The end product of this blessed union is a game that is both fun and challenging, and equal parts disturbing and ridiculous.
Take the sequence when the player-controlled character Raiden infiltrates a secret underground research laboratory and discovers that they have been abducting children and removing their brains. In one scene, Raiden walks into the storage room, where rows and rows of brains with eyeballs attached are stacked in transparent jars.
As Raiden realises what he is looking at, all of the eyes suddenly swivel to look at him. It was one of the most disturbing things I have ever seen in a game.
In another sequence, one of the game's many villains decides to show Raiden what a hypocrite he is for murdering hundreds of guards. As all of the guards are cybernetically enhanced, their brains are networked, so Raiden is allowed to hear exactly what they're thinking.
In the next fight, it is hard to concentrate on what you are doing, because it is impossible to ignore pathetic pleas like "He's killed all my friends. I don't want to die, but I need this job!" and "The war took my wife and kids. I've got nothing left to live for now." It's seriously unnerving stuff.
This pushes up uncomfortably against the game's over-the-top hyper-violent action. Raiden wields a futuristic sword that can cut through nearly anything, and he uses it to lop off his enemies' limbs, slash them in half to get at the cybernetic modules inside their bodies, or to just go crazy and julienne their bodies into dozens of tiny slivers.
In other bombastic action sequences, Raiden runs down the side of a clock tower while dodging debris thrown at him by a four-storey-tall giant robot, chops the leg off another giant robot and uses it as a massive club to crush its body, and uses the stream of rockets being fired from an attack helicopter as stepping stones, running through the air and slicing the chopper in two with his sword.
I don't know how they managed it, but the action stays over-the-top and fun, while the disturbing aspects of the story never lose their chilling aspect. The two elements should completely cancel each other out, but somehow the whole package works, as silly as it is.
True to form, Platinum has created a challenging game for lovers of difficult but rewarding gameplay. After an unsuccessful start on normal, I went back and played most of the game on easy, but veteran Platinum fans are going to love the crushing difficulty of the higher levels.
The key to doing well is learning how to parry. There is no straight-out block in MGR, but instead an active parry system that requires you to anticipate your enemies' attacks and swing your sword in the opposite direction. If you time it well, your opponent will be thrown off-balance and will be open to attack.
Between missions there is an enjoyably thorough upgrades system that lets you select from a small number of optional weapons and tweaks your gear and skills to suit your playing style. After a full play-through I only unlocked around 75% of the options, so there is plenty of room for mixing and matching.
The game also looks amazing. Raiden himself is a heavily-armoured cyborg, and the intricate detail on his armour and weapons is a joy to behold. Enemy designs are wonderfully imaginative, with several of the bosses being particularly memorable.
If you're a fan of the MGS series, there is plenty to love here, despite the shift in playing style. Many characters from previous MGS games make cameo appearances, and there are several cute inside jokes about hiding in cardboard boxes and distracting guards with girly magazines. While truncated slightly, Kojima's love of near-future technology and geopolitics is also here in abundance.
That said, you don't need to have played any of the adventures of Solid Snake and friends to enjoy this new chapter. As a stand-alone game it is easy to follow and enjoy.
If you just want to have a load of fun with an over-the-top action title, switch Metal Gear Rising to easy mode and just have a good time. Those looking for something more challenging can try out the higher difficulty levels, but be warned, they are seriously unforgiving.
- James "DexX" Dominguez
DexX is on Twitter: @jamesjdominguez


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Cook pasta as package directs, drain and set aside. Heat oil in a large skillet, sauté garlic for 1 minute. Add broccoli, cauliflower, zucchini , carrot, artichokes and sea salt. Sauté for 2 to 3 minutes. Add water, cover and steam 2 minutes. Turn off flame, add pepper, pasta and basil. Toss thoroughly and serve.
Per serving - 294 calories, 8 gram fat (25% calories from fat), 10 gram protein, 48 gram carbohydrate, 8 gram fiber, 0 milligram cholesterol, 168 milligram sodium