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SEVERAL Easter events are planned for East Lancashire this bank holiday weekend.
The sun is expected to shine for most of the weekend as families visit attractions and events to take advantage of the four-day break.
Funfair rides, candy floss and games stalls have taken over Witton Park in Blackburn, where a funfair is being held until Monday.
The fair is the largest in Lancashire, with more than 50 rides and attractions.
Nicholas Hill of fairground organiser The Showmen's Guild said he had been working closely with the council to host the fair, as building work has been ongoing at the park's new athletics arena.
He said: "Local families can enjoy all the fun of the fair again this Easter."
Dowsons Farm at Clayton-le-Dale is hosting numerous activities from tomorrow until Monday, including egg and spoon races, best decorated egg and colouring competitions, and an Easter egg hunt.
Co-owner Amanda Dowson said: "We will be carrying on with our very successful 'lambing live' programme and our petting centre will be open throughout."
The Britannia Coco-Nut Dancers will perform annual Easter Saturday procession through Bacup and Stacksteads, and an Easter Vigil will be held from 11am at the Place de Creil in Nelson.
The Wellbeing Farm, in Plantation Road, Edgworth, is hosting an afternoon of fun, with visitors making their own Easter treats and joining an egg hunt, from 1pm to 3pm tomorrow.
Queen Street Mill, in Harle Syke, Burnley, is offering tours of its working steam engine and looms from noon to 4pm tomorrow, and a free Easter trail from noon to 5pm from tomorrow until Monday.
In Clitheroe, an Easter service will be held from 10am tomorrow at St Paul's Church, followed by a procession to the castle gates.
Libraries in Darwen, Livesey, and Mill Hill are all planning events throughout the day tomorrow, while HAPPA, in Black House Lane, Briercliffe is hosting a fun day from 1pm to 3pm.
Oswaldtwistle Mills is holding an Easter egg hunt from 10am to noon and from 1pm to 3pm tomorrow and Monday.
Tomorrow and Saturday are likely to remain dry with good amounts of sunshine, the Met Office said. However, Sunday will be cloudier with a possibility of rain


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By Matthew Kiernan
Croydon Harriers' youngsters got their Downs League campaign underway at Epsom Downs racecourse in the wind and rain.
Isaac Flanagan impressed on his debut in the U11s' race over 1.5 miles, finishing fourth in 11 minutes, 35 seconds. Caitlin Dixon was 25th in the girl's category and Brendon Duo was 19th on his club debut.
The trio ensured the club finished eighth out of 14 clubs in the team race.
In the U13s', Angus Harrington notched a podium finish over the two-mile course, finishing in 12:51 in third.
Abbie Burrett and Ellie McCormack were seventh and ninth respectively in the girl's race, with the trio finishing sixth of the 10 competing teams.
Rob Spalding led the squad in the U15s' race finishing runner-up in 11:25. He led the defending team champions to runners-up spot in the team race with Omar Harhara (sixth, 12:15), Jordan Walters (12th, 13:08) and fifth placed girl Emily Howe (13:49) completing the scoring quartet.
Josie Kavanagh (sixth, 14:26), Naomi Carty (ninth, 14:39) and Cora Sexton (10th, 15:33) completed the B team, with the trio finishing seventh of the 10 teams in action.
Elsewhere, the Harriers took on some of the best endurance athletes in Kent and Surrey at the Priory Park cross-country relays.
The Harriers fielded two teams in the 4x2.5mile event, finishing 12th and 35th respectively in the 44-team field.
Peter Chambers kicked off the A team's efforts completing his leg in the 11th fastest time in the field of 179 athletes, in 14:12.
He handed to Andy Del Nevo (74th, 16:39) in fifth, before Neil Aikman (82nd, 16:58) took over on third leg.
With the team in 13th at the third changeover, Ben Savill (36th, 15:29) lifted Croydon into 12th and in the process bettered the team's 2011 efforts by three places.
The B team of Mohsin Harhara (152nd, 19:21), Robert Rye (157th, 19:38) and Colin Oxlade (126th, 18:08) completed the B team.

subset: commoncrawl


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Evolution Hoax
A9 TV, 4 March 2012
It is very important when preaching Islam or doing something auspicious in the name of Islam and the name of Allah to use one's time very well, to start with the most important subject and to attach most importance to the essentials. It is a mistake to distract people. In order to make good use of one's time one must strive to obtain the best results in the shortest possible time.
(In response to a viewer who asks, "Why do you invite Jews onto your program?")
They are servants of Allah and descended from prophets. Allah speaks of the People of the Book in the Qur'an, saying you can marry their women and eat their food.
Surah Isra' 73,
"They were very near to enticing you away from some of what We have revealed to you, hoping that you would invent something against Us." They wanted stories from the Prophet (saas). Allah says that in the verse. But that is not enough, they say. What do they want? They say; "Make something additional up. Are you not the Prophet of Allah?" And that is what the bigots want, as well. They attach no importance to revelation. "Then they would have taken you as their intimate." Then the bigots would have helped you.
Surah Isra' 74,
"If We had not made you firm, you would have leaned towards them a little."
They almost convinced you. Of what the bigots wanted.
Surah Isra', 75
"Then We would have let you taste a double punishment in life and a double punishment in death." What happens when you have something that is not revelation? Troubles comes, disasters come. You can see the state of the Islamic world. "You would not have found any helper against Us."
Can the Islamic world find one? No. Because they do not regard the Qur'an as sufficient, a great many of them.
Surah Isra', 76
"They were very near to scaring you from the land with the object of expelling you from it." They constantly spread pejorative reports. They constantly spread corruption, strife and gossip. "But had they done so they would only have remained there a short time after you."
It is they who will be scattered, Allah says.
Surah Isra', 77
"That was the pattern with those We sent before you as Our Messengers. You will not find any changing of Our pattern."
In other words, nothing happens to mahdis when mahdis are attacked. Dajjals and fanatics assault them, but they are wasting their time. Mahdis cannot be defeated. Dajjals are defeated.
Surah Isra', 78
"Establish prayer from the time the sun declines until the darkening of the night, and also the recitation at dawn. The dawn recitation is certainly witnessed."
Verse 78 is evidence for our brothers who ask about the timings of the prayers.
Surah Isra', 79
"And stay awake for prayer during part of the night as a supererogatory action for yourself. It may well be that your Lord will raise you to a Praiseworthy Station."
This is a religious observance specific to our Prophet (pbuh). A praiseworthy station, insha'Allah.
Surah Isra', 80
"Say: 'My Lord, make my entry sincere and make my leaving sincere and grant me supporting authority direct from Your Presence'."
Who guides the Prophet (pbuh)? Jibrail. Our Prophet (pbuh) becomes light, and then comes revelation. He ceases to be a physical body. He enters that world as light. Then he reassumes physical form.
Surah Isra', 81
"Say: 'Truth has come and falsehood has vanished. Falsehood is always bound to vanish'."
Verse 81 refers to the year of the coming of the Mahdi. 1981. Allah says the way of the dajjal will be destroyed.
Surah Isra', 82
"We send down in the Qur'an that which is a healing and a mercy to the believers," a spiritual healing when one abides by the Qur'an. Spiritual healing leads to material healing. "but it only increases the wrongdoers in loss."
The more they read the Qur'an, the more the oppressors lose faith. They totally abandon the faith.
Allah ceaselessly strikes the bigots in verses.
Surat al-An'am, 93
"Who could do greater wrong than someone who invents lies against Allah or denies His signs?" Who dies that? The bigots. That is their main sphere of activity. To make up lies against Allah and defame Him. They constantly tell lies against women and animals, saying that Allah says this or that. "or who says, 'It has been revealed to me,' when nothing has been revealed to him," look, they close their eyes. They imagine they have received revelation from Allah. They say they have asked Allah and have received an answer. "or someone who says, 'I will send down the same as Allah has sent down'? If you could only see the wrongdoers in the throes of death when the angels are stretching out their hands, saying, 'Disgorge your own selves! Today you will be repaid with the punishment of humiliation for saying something other than the truth about Allah, and being arrogant about His Signs'."
Then the angels extend their hands. "Disgorge your own selves!" They speak like that to bring about terror and pain. "Today you will be repaid with the punishment of humiliation for saying something other than the truth about Allah, and being arrogant about His Signs'."
Surat al-An'am, 94
"You have come to Us all alone just as We created you at first," everyone is brought up one by one, with nobody alongside them. None of the friends they so trusted on Facebook, no mother or father, nothing. They are brought up one by one. "leaving behind you everything We bestowed on you." You have left behind your cars and houses, the nightclubs and places of entertainment you used to go to, He says. "We do not see your intercessors accompanying you, those you claimed were your partners with Allah." Where are those people you clung to and imagined they could save you? Allah demands that they show this person who will supposedly save them. Because they did not trust the Qur'an or Allah, they trusted an individual. "The link between you is cut." Allah says He has severed the link between them. The link they imagined they had forged with some saintly figure. The one they imagined would save them and prevent them going to hell. "Those you made such claims for have forsaken you." Allah says they have departed.
Surat al-An'am, 95
"Allah is He Who splits the seed and kernel." When the seed is planted in the soil, as you know, it splits in two. It looks very lovely. The apricot, for example, opens up in lovely form from that hard seed. The walnut opens up in a lovely way. Its shell is really hard. Acorns are very hard, but they melt away almost like butter in the soil. "Allah is He Who splits the seed and kernel." I split it, He says. "Allah He brings forth the living from the dead," the soil is dead. But Allah produces life from that dead soil. We all came from the soil, we have no other raw material. We speak and move around. "and produces the dead out of the living." When something living dies, it turns into a new life form. We describe it as dead, but it is a new life form. It is dead, but Allah says, "I produce it out of the living." "That is Allah, so how are you perverted?"
Why are they perverted? Because of weakness of faith. So what action is required? To tell people of the signs leading to faith. Look, the Qur'an is full of signs leading to faith, not religious jurisprudence. Because people know the rules, but are distracted. Allah is not saying there is a lack of legal knowledge here, but of faith. Why does Allah talk about seeds? He describes a sign leading to faith so people can grow in faith and love and be devoted to Allah and fear Him properly. Allah could have talked about religious jurisprudence had He so wished, but He does not. He speaks of signs leading to faith. So what is the solution to weakness of faith? Signs leading to faith. What do I do? I concentrate on signs leading to faith.
Surat al-An'am, 96
"It is He Who splits the sky at dawn, and appoints the night as a time of stillness and the sun and moon as a means of reckoning. That is what the Almighty, the All-Knowing has ordained."
Allah refers to astronomy. "and appoints the night as a time of stillness," everywhere is darkened at night, by Allah. "and the sun and moon as a means of reckoning." The distance of the Sun and Moon and the angle of inclination of the Earth are built on a calculation. The slightest change in a calculation and the Earth would burn up or freeze. The speed at which it revolves needs to be just as it is now. The angle has to be just right. The Sun needs to be just at the right distance. They all need to be right down to the nearest millimeter. When we see these things, we see signs leading to faith. We see how perfectly Allah has created the universe. That leads to a strong faith. Why does Allah describe it? He wants our faith to be strengthened. What does the Qur'an concentrate on? The signs leading to faith. What is sickness? Weakness of faith. What do I talk about? The signs leading to faith. I strive against weakness of faith.
Surat al-An'am, 97
"It is He Who has appointed the stars for you so you might be guided by them in the darkness of the land and sea." Allah is referring to astronomy. Take an interest in astronomy, look at the stars, make a telescope, study them. "We have made the Signs clear for people who have knowledge."
For a community of scholars, of researchers, that concentrates on science. Study things, Allah tells us.
Surat al-An'am, 98
"It is He Who first produced you from a single self," You were created from Adam and Eve, as you know. From a single self, insha'Allah. "then from a resting-place and a repository. We have made the Signs clear for people who understand."
What is a community that can understand? A society that investigates and researches, that knows the signs leading to faith. What have we here? Almighty Allah speaks of gynecology and birth. Study this. We look at the birth process and we lose the power of speech. Allah tells us to study this. But bigots, idiots, ignorant people of no education do not know it. Allah always speaks of researchers, scholars and people who can understand.
Surat al-An'am, 99
"It is He Who sends down water from the sky." So this is also a branch of science. Allah tells us to study this. "from which We bring forth growth of every kind," He tells us to study all plants, not just one or two. "and from that We bring forth the green shoots" We only learned what photosynthesis is in the last century. "and from them We bring forth close-packed seeds," we open up a bean and all the seeds are strung out like little children being incubated. And their beds or cots are very pretty, too. Their mothers feed them with milk. They are all alive. "and from the spathes of the date palm date clusters hanging down," Allah tells us to reflect on this, too. They are so lovely. You see bunches of dates weighing 50 or 60 kilos, sweet as honey. "-and gardens of grapes and olives and pomegranates, both similar and dissimilar." Allah tells us to reflect on all these beauties in fruit, and their scents and colors. "Look at their fruits as they bear fruit and ripen." How do you do that? With science. "Look at their fruits as they bear fruit and ripen." Look at every stage. "There are Signs in that for people who believe." You can attain this with deep faith, He says. Allah tells us to examine His artistry. Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh) also stresses the signs leading to faith. Why? Because that is what the Qur'an commands. Bediüzzaman also stressed the signs leading to faith. Why? Because the Qur'an so commands. And who do I concentrate on them? Because that is what the Qur'an commands. We are the followers of Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh).
Surat al-An'am, 100
"Yet they make the jinn co-partners with Allah when He created them!" Some people regard the jinn as autonomous entities. They are terrified. Yet Allah says; "when He created them." They are also servants of Allah. "And they atttribute sons and daughters to Him without any knowledge." They know nothing from revelation. Nothing at all. They talk of Allah having sons and daughters. "Glory be to Him! He is far above what they describe!"
Almighty Allah has no son or daughter. Allah is one alone.
Surat al-An'am, 101
"He is the Originator of the heavens and the earth." In other words, Allah says He created without using any blueprint or model. In a perfect manner. So we must study the earth and sky. "How could He have a son when He has no wife?" Allah has no wife. "He created all things and He has knowledge of all things." Believe in the One Allah, He says. Look, talking about the signs leading to faith is always described as the solution to weakness of faith.
Some ignorant types, bigots or people who think very little, emphasize religious law. My brother, you talk about religious law to someone who does not believe in Allah. Faith first. See how the Qur'an concentrates on faith. Faith is easy. The rest will follow.
Surat al-Ma'ida, 41
"O Messenger! do not be grieved by those who rush headlong into unbelief among those who say 'We believe' with their tongues when their hearts contain no belief." Hypocrites say they are Muslims, but they do not believe in their hearts. "And among the Jews are those who listen to lies," He does not speak of all Jews, only those who listen to lies. The hypocrites. And those Jews who listen to lies. "Do not be grieved." That is unlawful. A prophet cannot grieve. "listening to other people who have not come to you," a characteristic of the bigots. Hypocrites who carry tales to you. "distorting words from their proper meanings," you know how the bigots alter the Qur'an. They make us stories, they invent rules in the name of Allah. Indeed, this nonsense all stems from the fabrications of the fanatics. "saying, 'If you are given this, then take it. If you are not given it, then beware'!" If it is a rule, then accept it. If it is nonsense. Then avoid it. "If Allah desires misguidance for someone, you cannot help him against Allah in any way." They fall into corruption, and there is nothing you can do about it. "Those are the people whose hearts Allah does not want to purify. They will have disgrace in this world and in the hereafter they will have a terrible punishment."
Allah humiliates them in this world. You see how the bigots are totally disgraced. But they will also suffer a great punishment in the hereafter, Allah says.
Surat al-Ma'ida, 42
"They are people who listen to lies" They always spout nonsense. "and consume ill-gotten gains." They collect money and hoods from Muslims and use it for themselves. "If they come to you, you can either judge between them or turn away from them." Do not talk to or take them seriously. "If you turn away from them, they cannot harm you in any way." Almighty Allah says the bigots cannot hurt you. "But if you do judge, judge between them justly." Do not go to extremes. "Allah loves the just."2012-04-17 14:57:16


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For ten years, The Ellen Show has been home to some of the craziest, funniest and most memorable moments in television. Today, Ellen looks back on one of her all-time favorite moments. It's Ellen's "10 Seasons, 10 Moments"! These are the very best of the best of Ellen's never-revealed favorites from a decade of laughs. Don't miss what she picked for today!
Then, it's one of Ellen's favorite people! HARRY CONNICK JR. is here! This handsome crooner and our host share a hometown, an incredible sense of humor and a passion for ribbing each other. Their chemistry is so fabulous, he's one of the few people who have ever co-hosted the show! They're reuniting today, and it's gonna be a reunion to remember.
Plus, it's the return of Kai! KAI LANGER is the adorable 4-year-old singer who brought the house down with his sensational rendition of Bruno Mars' "Grenade," and today he's back! You won't want to miss the cuteness overload when he catches up with Ellen on meeting Bruno, and belts out another classic Bruno hit!
It's all happening this Wednesday!


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Wrapping up the details for your impending winter wedding? There's still plenty of time to find last-minute stationery essentials for your special event—including programs, menus and place cards. Because so many of our exclusive wedding invitations come with matching items, it's easier than ever to take care of these small but very important details! And, you can do so stress-free, because our stationery specialists and etiquette experts will work tirelessly to ensure that your order is absolutely flawless.
Here are a few of our favorite winter ceremony and reception essentials… what do you think?


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Florida soccer tied for first in SEC
Published: Sunday, October 27, 2013 at 11:39 p.m.
Last Modified: Monday, October 28, 2013 at 12:28 a.m.
She did it again.
Up next
Thursday, 6:30 p.m. at Georgia
Freshman forward Savannah Jordan scored a pair of second-half goals and the Florida defense did the rest as the No. 7 Gators extended their season-high winning streak to six straight games – all by shutout – with a 2-0 win Sunday over league-leading Texas A&M in a showdown of the SEC's top two teams.
A Pressly Stadium crowd of 1,441 turned out on a picture-perfect day and joined a national television (ESPNU) audience in watching UF (14-3-1, 8-2) move into a first-place tie with the Aggies (13-4-1, 8-2) while ending A&M's season-high, eight-game winning streak.
"We knew this was a big game, and I think we got up for it," said Jordan, who now has an SEC-leading 18 goals on the season – the No. 3 all-time single-season mark for a UF freshman, just one behind Abby Wambach's 19 (1998) and five short of Andi Sellers' school-record mark of 23 (1997).
"I think we defended really well in the first half and held them off even though they had a lot of good chances. We talked about the changes we needed to make at halftime and came out really strong. I'm proud of the way we played."
After the teams battled through a scoreless first half, Jordan put UF up with a goal in the 51st minute following an interception near midfield by freshman Meggie Dougherty Howard, who slid a perfect pass Jordan's way after making a nice run.
A&M goalkeeper Jordan Day was able to make a diving save of Jordan's initial left-footed attempt, but Jordan was able to win the race to the rebound and chipped the ball into the right corner of the net with her right foot from eight yards out.
Jordan made it 2-0 in the 62nd minute when she took a pass from sophomore defender Christen Westphal and connected from 14 yards out for her sixth multi-goal game of the season.
Westphal and fellow defender Tessa Andujar started the play with a double-team of an A&M attacker deep in UF territory. Westphal gained possession and started an immediate counter-attack, making a long run down the left side before feeding the pass to Jordan and recording her second career assist.
"It was an awesome double with me and Tessa," Westphal said. "We happened to get the ball, and I just saw a bunch of free space and just went for it. It was really tiring, but it was awesome."
The Aggies, who finished the game with a 15-12 edge in shots, had several chances to get on the board, but either misfired wide or saw the ball wind up in the hands of UF junior goalie Taylor Burke, who made five saves and recorded the 22nd shutout of her career to move into the No. 2 all-time UF spot behind Katie Fraine (27, 2006-10).
"Obviously I have to give credit to my defense; I couldn't do that without them," Burke said. "They played really great today, and in the second half we were able to gain a little bit of rhythm and score two goals."
The Aggies and Gators each have 24 points heading into their final regular-season games Thursday, with UF traveling to face Georgia while A&M hosts LSU.
No. 13 South Carolina (14-2-2, 7-2-1, 22 points) and No. 25 Kentucky (13-4-1, 7-3, 21 points) also are still mathematically alive, but with a win over the Bulldogs (12-5-1, 5-4-1), UF is assured of no worse than a tie for its league-leading 13th SEC title and the No. 1 seed for the SEC Tournament.
"We've got one game – we've got to do this," coach Becky Burleigh said. "We've got one more step to take, and that's going to be Thursday night against a very good Georgia team."
Reader comments posted to this article may be published in our print edition. All rights reserved. This copyrighted material may not be re-published without permission. Links are encouraged.


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Results 13,561 to 13,580 of 39905
- Join Date
- Sep 2012
- Posts
- 1,983
Right. Playing as a science-geek early on in NV, not a good idea. I'm back to playing as a tank again and honestly, it's much more fun, especially when I got a Power Fist. I still don't get why killing a few Bighorners would up the karma rating. I mean, I'm not trying to play as a good guy here. Not now.
OTOH, I'm gonna start playing XCOM again after a long hiatus tomorrow. I think I'm gonna ditch the Ghost-Archangel combo. Not working well aside from the annoying bomb disposals, which worked pretty well. Last time I played it, I'm in a middle of kicking their ass after they landed somewhere. Abductor-class UFO and expecting a couple of Sectopods. Not too rough since the Colonel gets two rockets that deals twelve damage a pop vs. robots. Here we goArt blog here.
Doodles poodles sheboodles
Watch me fail as Nobunaga
Finished Mark of the ninja yesterday. It was by no means a bad game, I always welcome any sneaking around or puzzle-solving game, but I found this one to be quite bland and uninspired, and the lack of any meaningful challenge didn't help either.
Last edited by SirDavies; 19-03-2013 at 04:52 PM.
I think The Witcher 2 works on account of that sort of thing being dialled back and just getting a million very ambitious basis things right instead. The ambition is in the professionalism and polish of the scale attempted rather than the massiveness of the ideas, which is very much the first game's raison d'etre.
Last edited by sonson; 19-03-2013 at 05:28 PM.
Yeah, one problem was that most people approaching The Witcher 1 (myself included) had no real background on the books, so we didn't understand the magic system and what is "normal".
By The Witcher 2, it was a lot easier to follow as we had all been given "Geralt 101" as it were.Steam: Gundato
PSN: Gundato
If you want me on either service, I suggest PMing me here first to let me know who you are.
I'm starting to think FTL should be renamed to FML.
- Join Date
- May 2012
- Location
- Texas
- Posts
- 180
I'm behind on posting here, so it's going to look like I've been super-efficient with game completions, but... no, not so much.
Mark of the Ninja - I blazed through this game in only two sittings. Not that it's a particularly long game anyway, but it grabbed me and held on quick. Amazingly well-done stealth mechanics, and I can't wait to dive into the just-announced DLC.
The Path - Uhh, okay. Not my style of game, but I can understand how someone would like it. Someone who hates fun, that is.
DmC Devil May Cry - I have to admit I hated the new style for Dante when this game was originally announced, but I was never up-in-arms about it. First of all, the presentation, story, and characterizations were unexpectedly polished. It was really interesting to see where Dante and Vergil so drastically diverged and why. Ninja Theory also impressed me with the fighting mechanics here. They really GET this series, and I'm eager to jump back into the Vergil DLC and some higher difficulty playthroughs as soon as I can.
In Progress:
Sleeping Dogs - It's always been MY FAULT when I quit GTA-like open-world games, because I get focused on a clearing all of a single type of mission on the map, but then burn out on it, take a break, and never return to the game. It's happened on more than one occasion, so I am trying hard to force myself to mix up the mission selections more. The gameplay itself is fantastic though. I may actually like the combat more than Rocksteady's Batman series, but I'm not deeply enough into the combat upgrades to know for sure.
Also getting caught up on PS3 titles I've never played since I just bought that console, but I won't bore RPS-goers with non-master race entries :)
I have managed to finally finish Dark Souls and feel such a sense of accomplishment from getting to the end of such a hard game and killing all the bosses solo!
It has given me a taste for hard games where the odds are stacked against me so I thought I would give XCOM another shot on Classic Ironman. I got quite far into Classic before but didn't realise Ironman was an option I had to enable so found myself savescumming against my better judgement. Ironman makes things a lot more tense and fun but I find it hard to concentrate after a long day at work and it's annoying to have to restart the whole thing if I have a string of bad luck.
I'm finding the second wave options make the game a lot more interesting, I'm playing with "Not Everyone is Born Equal" option and the one that levels up soldiers with random stats make the game far more interesting. Hiring new squad members is a lot better and more tempting when there's a chance I get some good starting stats. I've also played a disable the bomb mode that wasn't in there when I played before, was pretty fun and I liked how it encouraged you to push forward quickly rather than sit about in overwatch.
Playing Super Hexagon on the commute to work on my Android has also inspired me to pick up VVVVVV once again. I didn't get that far into it before as I found Super Meat Boy, which was released close to it, had far better precision in its platforming. However, I have reached "The End" in SMB and know I can't make any more progress so VVVVVV is a good substitute. I especially like the hub overworld and the games soundtrack is certainly one of the better ones I have heard.
Last edited by Skull; 19-03-2013 at 10:29 PM.
Freakin' New Vegas annoys me so much it deserves a second rant! There isn't even the most basic motivation supplied upfront to do the majority of quests, being unable to ask what the exact payment for a job is or even ask for a payment at all. Sometimes after clearing a nest of nasty beasties my employer just shrugs and says "that's great kid, now get outta here, ya bother me." FUCK YOU, PAY ME!
So few people would actually pay me for the tasks they asked me to do that I eventually got browned off with it again. "Oh thanks for going to the other side of the fucking map, to some arsehole ruins filled with murderous bandits to recover my grans necklace that I gambled away and probably will again." Rewards? No? FUCK YOU I'LL TAKE MY OWN!"Halo is designed to make the player think "I look like that, I am macho sitting in my undies with my xbox""
Steam ID
- Join Date
- Mar 2013
- Posts
- 4
Hi There...
I wanted to make some advertisement for another really cool and motivated Turn-based Strategy-Game on Kickstarter.com
called "Battle Worlds Kronos"... it`s an inofficial sequel to the famous Battle Isle and History Line Series with modern grafics and AI...
So plz try out the kickstarter-Page, and if you like it, plz back it and tell all your friends about... THX !
- Join Date
- Nov 2011
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- 4,890
Looks good men. Will spread the love around.
- Join Date
- Mar 2013
- Posts
- 4
www.rockpapershotgun.com? Getting detailed material from KingArts wouldnt be a problem, and their kickstarter-page is quite good, also their facebook-page could be interesting...
just tell me how to get a review here ;-) Or tell KingArts on their page... ;-)
Thx and kind regards!
Last edited by BlueEyeDoc; 19-03-2013 at 11:45 PM. Reason: another picture
But you guys are right! Now that I've finished my 12th playthrough (this evening) I'm going to move on to something else. I don't know what yet but I'd like it to be something meaty, maybe I'll start Mass Effect again, again... Or maybe a Star Wars game?:emofdr:
I finally made it through Might & Magic 8. The entire last part was incredibly boring and tedious. I had to force myself over the last couple of days and even doing the dishes was a more exciting alternative at times. There wasn't even a boss fight at the end or something. That's typical for M&M games but here it just felt incredibly anticlimatic.
Lady Anthile also spent most of her time being insane. That sounds worse than it is because it boosts your physical stats and lowers the mental ones. Just like in real life.
In the end...
Immersive Sims on Steam WIP
Thrust Issues: A Marvelous Guide to Fencing in Dark Souls 2
Your name is burning in the language of Xanadu.
On one or two occasions I have gone back a few saves when something has revealed itself as being different to what was advertised. I started the Honest Hearts campaign after just getting into the main post-Benny plotline in the hope that it would flesh out some more Legion stuff, which would have worked in regards to where my character was at that point, but after an hour or so it just felt irrelevant so I loaded back a save. It took me another hour or so to find my bearings as it where and get back into what was going on, but in regards to my own personal experience it would have ruined my immersion and the pacing of my own narrative if I had spent 40 days in Utah for no reason.
For the most part I disagree that there is no motive though. NV is really two games, a classic, choice filled progressive campaign, and a sort of action survival simulator, you just have to choose which one you want to prioritise. There is more than enough on offer for each respective path, but the two occasionally butt up against each other and you go from heavy dialogue and character to common courier tasks.
Sidequests are for building XP or for exploring/bounty hunting/dicking around, and will largely be fairly orientated towards facilitating that rather than broader RPG mechanics. They will probably ask you to go somewhere far away and only make sense in a vacuum. There is no real purpose to you killing stuff other than giving you that purpose. For that reason I would only really invest in them if I was roleplaying as a survivalist mercenary type who is more bothered about pay and working for a living than he is the fate of the world.
It's really annoying for example that if you want Cass in a main quest playthrough you have to travel either through Deathclaws, or backwards, to get her. If time is of the essence in resolving the politcal situation going back to the Mojave outpost to do a drinking contest really ruins the pacing. Likewise going to Black Mountain is entirley pointless. But if you're all about the jounrey rather than the destination they're great fun. And that freedom of being able to go anywhere feels more freeing after the dramatic constraints of the plot too. So I think both work, but it's hard to meld them.
I think from the sounds of it it's only The Witcher 3 which is even trying to offer a third way of making both plot and sand-boxing actual viably integral to each other.
- Join Date
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I gave The Witcher 2 a shot, but became about as bored with it as the first game. That's probably some sort of cardinal sin around here, so forgive my poor taste.
Just beginning my first ever pure mage playthrough (!) in Skyrim, so I can give Dragonborn a whirl with a fresh character. I'm RP'ing my way around a lot of the base content, since I've played much of that to death, just doing the bare essentials in Winterhold and some useful loot quests.
And I snapped up Amazon's deal on XCom, which I'll have a poke around shortly. Decided to skip Steam's preorder deal on Bioshock: Infinite and see how the reviews go. Will probably pick it up discounted some time later in the year. Seems prices get slashed aggressively in the games industry nowadays, so I'm saving a tidy sum playing games ~6 months behind.
Really tired at the moment. have trouble finding the energy to play even if I want too.
Playing Persona 4 for on the run. Amazing game.
Continued my playtrough of Dishonored, still disapointed by the game. Just got back to the tower.
Playing a bit of GW2, now and then, with my new guardian mostly. But I am rapidly bored.
Started a bit of Far cry 3. Killing animals for pouches and wallets makes me feel like a jerk. I hate that part, it's silly.
Still haven't bought a game in a while, which is good, except for some kickstarters and Persona 4.


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the downside of dave brandon creating the future
Hokepoints Reviews Fourth and Long
Previously in this space: The excerpt. Bacon Q&A with Brian and readers.
So there was a new Bacon book this year. We need to review this book. I'm going to do this with the expectation that you have either read it already or are going to. You should. It is a Bacon book. You are reading MGoBlog; either you are a person who appreciates Bacon or else a visiting Sparty looking for more trolling fodder, in which case help yourself to the board where I promise you there's plenty. Or better yet, read some Bacon—you're in the Big Ten; this concerns you too. And he says the Red Cedar is nice.
This is not a negative review, even though I have a tendency to focus on the "needs work" aspects—I'm the guy who walked out of The Return of the King after five years of unmitigated Peter Jackson man-crushing and complained that there were too many endings. So apologies to John U., who's higher in my esteem than Mr. Jackson and just about everyone whose quotes aren't emblazoned on a wall somewhere, for the plurality of minuses below.
The book is available wherever they sell books these days. Amazon links: Kindle, Hardcover. I bought it on Kindle.
More Bacon. Ever since Bo's Lasting Lessons, the chance to devour a new Bacon book has been somewhat of an event around these parts. As a Michigan fan it would be tough to follow the unparalleled access and insight into the Rich Rod program accomplished with Three and Out, specifically because that unvarnished snapshot was so starkly antithetical to Dave Brandon's meticulous staging of his Michigan show: You knew at the time that no true journalist would be allowed to see behind the bunting again, so it should only come as a mild disappointment that there is little about the Michigan program in this book that you didn't already know.
Fourth and Long: the Fight for the Soul of College Football is four unequal looks at four 2012 Big Ten programs, or four and a half if you count a mini-treatment that Michigan State and Mark Hollis receive as host of an Ohio State road game. In order of detail:
- Penn State from the point of view of its players, former players, coaches, and equipment managers as they find themselves taking the brunt of the Penn State Awful Thing, and the NCAA's and PSU brass's callow responses to it.
- Michigan from Bacon's own point of view of its fans, as those fans interact with Brandon's corporate-itude.
- Ohio State from the P.O.V. of Urban Meyer as he goes from win to win trying to get Zach Boren to like him, and
- Northwestern as the paragon of virtue.
Bacon set out, as is evident from the title and made clear throughout the book, to examine these four schools from different points of view (players, AD, head coach, and president, respectively), and use the findings to determine if any of the Big Ten's current models for college football are sustainable for college football in general. In it he consistently finds players and fans who "get it" while the people in control seek new and better ways to milk it.
But he could only use what he got from each school. With Ohio State the access was mostly restricted to Urban on game days. He brushes against tatgate but doesn't get into the cars or any other "everybody knows, nobody can prove" things—you have to appreciate that Bacon will never accuse somebody without proof (especially considering he's an avowed Michigan fan talking about Ohio State) but it's really hard to talk about college sports and the competitive problems therein without admitting there are relative bad guys. The Gee quote—"I hope he doesn't fire me!"—is in there in reference to the bloated role of college football head coach in America. The closest he comes to pointing out OSU's exceptionalism in this regard is when addressing the carrying off of Tressel after last year's Game:
"The Buckeyes do not run a renegade program, but they once again demonstrated they don't seem to care if their actions make others think they do."
This isn't a complaint; Bacon handled a sticky situation about as well as he could. With Northwestern he got some key interviews, particularly with Pat Fitzgerald, but no warts (this could be because they don't have any).
With Michigan Bacon was outside looking in, so he used some of the Bacon-usual suspects—Carty, the dueling barbershops, the public comments of James Duderstadt and Don Canham, Brian Cook of MGoBlog, etc. There's also an inside look at the Mud Bowl, and most interestingly, a candid interview with Michigan's band director about Send-the-Band-to-Dallas-gate. I was more intrigued by the comments made by Bill Martin on the corporatization of NCAA football, which I'll come back to. The whole Notre Dame saga is covered. Except for the band's comments most of this is old news to you.
The result is a book that's 52% about Penn State trying to survive 2012, with a bunch of stuff thrown in about some other schools and corporations to underscore a point made clear without leaving Happy Valley.
[After the jump: it's just, like, my opinion man.]
Unverified Voracity Braces for Rawk
They are coming. Hide the mascara. I'm still waiting for the last few survey responses to roll in but, man, people hate In The Big House. This may be an effect of this blog's readership but with the vast bulk of the responses coming from the 22-34 range I'm guessing the results would not be good amongst the much older general population.
So, like, what to do about this?
That is a show at the Blind Pig the day before the Nebraska game in November. If this is a prelude to these guys showing up inside Michigan Stadium I think my head might explode. The only consolation would the groomers getting an Ashlee Simpson reception.
HIRE THESE PEOPLE NOW. So. We have the dog groomers above inflicting their terrible garbage on Michigan Stadium, and then there's Minnesota. Land of misery and no money and people who know what they're doing when it comes to internet videos that transcend irony. Go ahead, watch this with your jaundiced eye. You'll give up your cynicism about 30 seconds in when Goldy Gopher spins his head 360 degrees:
So… I'm just saying… we should fire the entire marketing department and replace them with whoever did that. This is in no way a joke.
GODDAMMIT AGE OF IRONY. I can't even say "this is in no way a joke" without it seeming like an ironic joke. It is not.
Good times. News that the God Hates Figs lunatics will be picketing Ohio State brings back nostalgia for that one time when I was an undergraduate and they hit up Michigan for some fake outrage or another. Tactical error: holding up "M = figs" signs while wearing Kansas City Chiefs jackets. At the time, KC's quarterback was Elvis Grbac and #1 WR Derrick Alexander. A fig to fig connection, as it were, which we loudly let them know about.
Unfortunately for OSU fans, the only Buckeye on the Chiefs' roster is backup DB Donald Washington, so they'll have to come up with something else. Just pretend they're Michigan fans and you'll do fine.
Speaking of. This popped up on the tubes recently. It is an anti-anti-gay PSA that you, the wine-and-cheese-consuming Michigan fan, will be hectored with at some point in the near future:
So that's settled then. No one is ever going to say something inappropriate again. This is all your fault, double-bird guy.
Hey, good point. Taylor Lewan hasn't had a false start/holding meltdown yet, so that's cool:
This year, that has been a point of emphasis. The result?
Zero penalties through four games.
"I'm due, aren't I?" Lewan said, laughing. "I've definitely noticed that. I've been very cautious about penalties. I'm not ever going to let up, just got to be smart. Got to be a smarter player."
What's more, Lewan hasn't even been close to a holding penalty that I've seen. He's been a dominant run blocker and hasn't picked up a pass minus. He's a third of the way to All Big Ten.
You have a Nard dog? Wait, what?
That's our Nard Dog. Thomas Nardo, Iowa's newfound starter at defensive tackle and owner of the porn-iest name in the starting lineup with Shane DiBona on the sidelines, was named the Big Ten's Defensive Player of the Week for his efforts against Louisiana-Monroe on Saturday. Nardo had himself a pretty monster day for a defensive tackle: 12 tackles, 2.0 TFL, and 0.5 sacks. He doesn't do much to help our problems keeping contain on the outside, but he's exactly the sort of plugger we need to keep from getting gashed up the middle.
This aggression will not stand, Iowa. There can only be one Nard Dog. Shotguns at noon on November fifth to settle it.
More relevantly: this Nardo kid is a fifth-year senior walk-on (sounds familiar) who "won't make anyone forget" a half-dozen Iowa DTs of the recent past but is offering "solidity to an Iowa defensive line that was looking woefully porous earlier in the year." Which… whoah. Iowa suddenly has Michigan's defensive personnel?
Apparently they also have a bomber already on par with Stanzi, so don't chalk that win up just yet. Not that any Michigan fan is chalking up a win against a Big Ten team not named Minnesota.
Stick, baby. Fresh hockey commitment Jacob Trouba is a big deal, like top-half-of-the-first round big deal, and unfortunately these days that means his commitment will be questioned until he shows up on campus. He's even been drafted by one of the more convincing OHL programs, and by "more convincing" I mean "freer with under the table payments."
Anyway. Through no fault of his own, Trouba has the profile of a flight risk. Therefore he gets to answer questions about it whenever he's interviewed. An example:
I asked if Michigan fans have a reason to feel confident that they would see him wearing Maize and Blue next year.
"Yeah they do, I'm a Michigan Wolverine," he stated, "That's why I wanted to wait this long; just so I knew, I didn't want my mind to change over a year and I really wanted to know what I wanted to do next year. I wanted to wait because I didn't want to back out on any decisions, I wanted to stick with my word. I waited until I was sure with what I wanted to do."
Prominent CHL defections usually occur because the player in question is tired of cooling his heels in a lesser league, especially Canadian Junior B. (FWIW, AHL equivalencies imply the USHL is not much worse than the CHL, if it is at all anymore.) Once a kid is locked into his final year before he'd be in college he's usually set. John Gibson is a prominent exception to that, but he was staring down a platoon (at best) with Tiny Jesus. Trouba has no such concerns since he'll probably slot right into the top pairing a la Merrill, and he's got no reason to make a college commitment after he's already been drafted by one of the league's Lane Kiffins.
So… I don't think he'll bolt. If he sticks he makes Michigan's 2012 class pretty impressive. F Boo Nieves is frequently projected as a late first-rounder. D Michael Downing was the third pick of the USHL Futures Draft and was the captain of the U17 5 Nations team. D Connor Carrick is on the NTDP and Michigan took him pretty early. Still need a goalie. Who wants to play behind Trouba? Bueller?
BONUS: While w'ere talking hockey, Michigan Hockey Net and local MGoUser Yesman221 have season previews. (Yesman is a a bit conservative with freshman deployment, FWIW.) There won't be one forthcoming from me due to football season, but Ace might have an official one.
Full cost, sort of. It sounds like the NCAA will bump scholarship awards:
A committee weighing a number of potential changes is expected to recommend that the value of individual scholarships be raised by as much as $2,000 in the top-tier Division I, moving them closer to covering the athletes' full cost of attending school. Full grants currently cover only room, board, books and tuition.
The proposal covers the gap between "full cost of attendance" and the current scholarships as long as that is less than 2k. A step in the right direction. There's also a push to allow multi-year scholarship awards, except it's apparently a push to better market the current system:
Multi-year scholarships also are seen as an athlete-welfare issue, and Swarbrick said his committee favors that proposal even though it might not bring athletes the security many expect.
"The process for nonrenewal of an annual grant probably would look just like the process for terminating a four-year grant," he told ADs. "… But we did think the statement that would be made about our commitment to student-athletes was worth doing and made this a change worth pursuing."
So… he'd like to make a statement about committing to student athletes without actually committing to student athletes. The NCAA has always been at war with the English language.
Etc.: Why Wisconsin is a parasite. Via EDSBS, Les Miles's head on wrestler's bodies. The Octonion dissolves. Hipsters and Denard Robinson.
Cease Specific Uniform Panic, Revert To Vague Unease
kitten does not like
David Brandon was on WTKA discussing the new(!) varsity lacrosse programs, which you know all about, when he was asked about your favorite newspaper's purported stripey Michigan night game uniform thing:
Michigan athletic director Dave Brandon was asked during an interview on WTKA-AM (1050) this morning if that was an accurate representation of U-M's uniform.
"No," Brandon said.
Brandon said Michigan's uniform would combine "elements of a couple different eras," but emphasized that the final product has not been revealed.
Before you point and laugh at the Free Press, a good source indicates the mockups everyone's gnashing their teeth about are "one of many possibilities," one that ended up "in the top two or three." The final result is not going to be like the "1960s look" Brian Kelly said Michigan was going to bust out in his press conference. That was never on the table because, as mentioned, the uniforms of the 1960s are hardly different than today's. The end result is going to be spiritually similar to the above: a throwback that attempts to go way, way back—source says "foot-ball yore"—and in doing so discards any pretense of historical accuracy.
This or something like it got so far down the pipe that the biggest holdup is the lack of a number on the front. Brian Kelly hates that because it makes it harder to track the opposition's substitutions. (As the kind of person who obsessively tracks his own team's substitutions and gets irritated at teams who don't put names on their jerseys*, I get that.) Michigan is hoping they can get away with a small number like a C or A on a hockey jersey above the block M or that numbers on the helmets will suffice.
So while it's possible the giant raspberry emitted by the public sees Michigan change direction on this specific design, the end result here is going to be an ungainly Frankenstein that no Michigan player has ever worn before. As Eleven Warriors' Ramzy said: "here, have some of our Pro Combat nightmare juice." The only thing that can rescue it is if all the players have Fielding Yost-level lip brooms by kickoff.
But… hey, new scoreboards, right?
*[Penn State excepted for reasons of tradition.]


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When you get dressed, do you look in the mirror and think there's something missing?
Do you…
Want to step it up?
Need some much needed color in your life?
Want to take a risk?
Need a daring and fun outfit in your life?
If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, then you need to
Ask Ivory!
Ivory from Ivory Jinelle is a style maven. She fears no fashion and is definitely not cookie cutter. She love wearing bold colors, big jewelry, and amazing shoes!
And she's here to give you advice.
Just email her at askivory (AT) gmail (DOT) com with all of your styling questions!
*By submitting your question, you're allowing us to publish it here on CurvesandChaos.com. You will be contacted when your question is answered.


text:
OSTI's current services accelerate science through what is largely a kind of card file. We point people to particular pieces of literature or data that meet certain search criteria. From there, people can build on what those pieces of information tell them and achieve new discoveries and inventions.
The success of Google has been so profound that the word "Google" is now considered a verb. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_(verb) "To Google" has come to mean to search the web via the free search engine provided by Google, Inc.
The notion that science progresses only if knowledge is shared is the reason that OSTI wascreated in 1947. Documents sent to and from President Franklin Roosevelt near the end of World War II included this rationale for sharing knowledge, and the concept was incorporated into the Atomic Energy Act of 1946 which led to the creation of OSTI.
We have integrated about ten OSTI products dealing with technical reports, e-prints, patents, conference proceedings, project summaries, etc., so that they are all searchable via s single query. The integrated product allows users to search without first having to decide which OSTI product is likely to have the content he/she seeks. This product is ScienceAccelerator.gov.
The recent launch of a new multilingual search capability for international science- multilingual WorldWideScience.org (see www.science.doe.gov ) represents a significant step


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The Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN) recently announced its program priorities for 2013-14. The Center, which is within the Food and Drug Administration, works to ensure foods and cosmetics are safe and properly labeled. Priorities for the coming program year include details on specific objections to achieve six key program goals. They include:
- Reduce foodborne illness rates and cosmetic injury rates each year.
- Establish regulations, policies, guidances, and inspection and compliance strategies based on best science, prevention, and public health risk.
- Increase compliance with newly created preventive control standards across the farm-to-table continuum.
- Improve public health indicators through better nutrition and dietary choices.
- Develop and swiftly deploy the fastest most effective methods for identifying, containing, and eliminating food and cosmetic hazards.
- Achieve optimal use of staff and resources.
A large proportion of CFSAN's work is devoted to addressing new and challenging issues related to globalization of the food supply chain, changing industry processes and consumer preferences for fresh and minimally processed foods.


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A woman from Kings Langley is overwhelmed after a music video she created about Hollywood A-Lister, Tom Cruise's visit to an Indian restaurant has been shortlisted in a film competition.
Daria Kulesh, who lives in Harthall Lane, came up with what she describes as a crazy and over the top idea after Cruise dined at St Albans Indian Restaurant, Veer Dhara in August last year.
What she thought was just a bit of fun, featuring the story of a love struck fan chasing the Hollywood actor, has now been shortlisted for the Best Music Video award in the St Albans film festival.
The 30-year-old said: "It has been completely overwhelming and I am so surprised at all the attention it has received.
"I decided to make the video after everyone was raving about Tom Cruise's visit to the restaurant. The video is crazy, over the top and silly and me and my friends had such a ball filming it.
"The video is unprofessional and we filmed it with a standard camera and I brought the Cruise masks on Ebay. It was just a bit of fun."
Tom Tom was filmed in 90 minutes at the Veer Dhara and features a group clad in Tom Cruise masks.
Mrs Kulesh stars as a crazy fan, who is on a mission to pursue Tom Cruise at the Indian restaurant and instead declares her undying love to another diner, who isn't in fact Cruise.
She is also featured singing and dancing, while playing the guitar.
She said: "The fan is absolutely demented and just hopes to kick off a beautiful romance with Tom, after hearing of his visit.
"She even camps out in the restaurant."
Mrs Kulesh, who is a Russian interpreter, said her friend suggested submitting the video into the St Albans festival and to her surprise it was then shortlisted.
She said: "I couldn't quite believe it. I am really excited for the showcase and would definitely love to win.
"However I am up against other brilliant videos, which may be a bit more professional than mine.
"I would just like to thank all my friends for agreeing to take part in all the silliness. They seem as overwhelmed as I am.
"I just hope the video has made people laugh."
Mrs Kulesh, who is a folk singer and song writer in her spare time, also thanked her friend Dan Richards for filming the video and her father, Viacheslav Kulesh for editing Tom Tom.
Tom Tom will be showcased at the St Albans film festival on March 9, where Mrs Kulesh is hoping it will be named best music video.


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Rising Tide Theatre, Trinity Bay10 Jan 2011
Dark humour is the silver lining of Newfoundland and Labrador's colonial history. Those early European settlers were the original survivors. Pirates, unpredictable weather, buccaneers disguised as governors, hard labour, wars, privation - all easy targets for the wits and wags who laughed and struggled onward through the fog of mercantile exploitation and inept colonial administration. Laughing in the face of danger may seem unseemly, but when the alternative is tears, you might as well laugh. And that's been our motto ever since.
That tradition lives on in the narrow lanes of Trinity, Trinity Bay, where each summer actors with Rising Tide Theatre take history to the people with the New Founde Lande Trinity Pageant, the anchor event of the Seasons in the Bight Festival.
The Root Cellar Capital of the World10 Jan 2011
With over 130 root cellars – small storage spaces skillfully built into the hillsides – Elliston has an unusual heritage. Important to many in rural Newfoundland, the root cellars kept vegetables cool, yet frost- free and edible during the long winter months.
It's late October, 1887. The few meagre crops eked out during the short summer months are in and the frost is quickly coming. God help the family that doesn't have a proper root cellar!
- Anonymous Bird Island Cove Resident (now Elliston).
As remote as Newfoundland and Labrador probably seemed to some back in the 1800s, invention and know-how were definitely up to snuff!
Birding Along the New Trans-Labrador Highway10 Jan 2011
Be there a birder in temperate North America that has not dreamed of a visit to Labrador much like J.J. Audubon did. Well dream no more! You may not be able to follow in the footsteps of J.J., but you can now drive into and across the Labrador Peninsula.
In 1987, Route 389 from Baie-Comeau, PQ, was opened, allowing one to drive the 375 miles northward through Quebec and into western Labrador. In 1991, Highway 500 was pushed through 300 miles of wilderness to Goose Bay in central Labrador. Finally, at the end of 2009, the Trans-Labrador Highway made the 230-mile connection to Cartwright on coastal Labrador then onward 200 miles to the lower north shore of Quebec.
Canada's Longest Snowmobile Endurance Race10 Jan 2011
Cain's Quest Snowmobile Endurance Race is the main annual winter event in Labrador and is said to be the ultimate in extreme racing. On March 12, 2011, racers will gather in Labrador City and roar off on a 2,500-km journey through the Labrador wild, hitting 18 remote checkpoints and a further nine community checkpoints. Racers will have to bring their "A game" in this true test of endurance. And indeed they should. Racers compete for a shot at a $65,000 prize purse.
In March 2011, Cain's Quest will be hosting its first ever "Ladies Edition". At 650 km, in a race to Churchill Falls and back, ladies will compete for a $20,000 prize purse.d
Beach Camping in Subarctic Labrador, Canada10 Jan 2011
Camping at 40 years old brings back the same summer rush I had for adventure in my earlier days exploring Gros Morne National Park. Last July's excursion to a 90-km stretch of beach in Labrador called the Wonderstrands proved I was still able to hike 100 km of wilderness and camp for seven days – and call it vacation! It was so much fun.
The Wonderstrands is located in what is now the Mealy Mountain National Park Reserve. At 11,000 square km, it's the largest protected area in eastern Canada. Best of all, it's just a day's ride from other fantastic adventures in the Labrador Straits region, including Gros Morne, Iceberg Alley and Battle Harbour National Historic Site. For my wife Rufina and I, it was only a kayak trip from Cartwright.
History Along the Coast10 Jan 2011
Rugged, wild and beautiful, the coastal communities of Brigus and Cupids will take you back in time. Rich in culture and history, the two towns are just a stone's throw from one another, and both are located just an hour outside of St. John's. Let the townspeople take you in as you explore heritage that has been preserved for hundreds of years. And see for yourself what we've been celebrating.
Of all the mariners who set to sea in Newfoundland and Labrador over the centuries, none is more justly famous than Captain Bob Bartlett of Brigus. A noted explorer in his own right, and perhaps the greatest ice pilot who ever lived, Bartlett guided American Commodore Robert Peary to within 150 miles of the North Pole in 1909, at which point Peary set out with one servant to finish the job on foot. Bartlett won numerous awards and spent many summers exploring the Arctic, and had a gift for self-promotion that in the first half of the 20th century made him one of the most famous men alive.
Labrador park is Canada's 'exquisite jewel'10 Jan 2011
Newfoundland and Labrador isn't your typical run-of-the-mill tourism destination. It's complex, ancient and multi-faceted. Nowhere is this fact more apparent than within Canada's 'exquisite jewel,' Torngat Mountains National Park. Read about one Toronto Sun reporter's unique experience. There's video too...
The most easterly point of land in North America10 Jan 2011
Located at the most easterly point of land in North America, Cape Spear is where you can see nature at its most beautiful and wild; tranquil and ferocious; it all depends on the day you visit. The site is surrounded by spectacular scenery and wildlife such as whales, seabirds and icebergs in season.
In 1834, construction began on the first lighthouse, with a foghorn added in 1878. The light was first lit by oil, with acetylene adopted in 1916, and electricity in 1930. In 1955, the dipodic system was moved to a new light tower, not far from the original lighthouse. The original lighthouse is the oldest surviving lighthouse in Newfoundland with the original building and the lightkeeper's residence restored to the period of 1939, and shows how a lightkeeper and his family might have lived there during that time.
St. John's Time10 Jan 2011
St. John's Time is an 11-day festival taking in the Royal St. John's Regatta, the George Street Festival, the St. John's Downtown Buskers Festival and the Newfoundland and Labrador Folk Festival. The festival starts in late July and goes until early August.
Thousands descend on George Street every year to take in the annual George Street Festival - one of the biggest and friendliest patio parties in the world. This event always precedes the Royal St. John's Regatta. The Royal St. John's Regatta is a 1-day event and is the oldest, longest running sporting event in North America! This 1-day festival draws in the vicinity of 60,000 people to Quidi Vidi Lake in the heart of St. John's to watch the races and to try their luck on various ticket spins, or just sit back and relax and take in the sights. This event is always the first Wednesday in August.
Great Finds on the Avalon10 Jan 2011
Newfoundlanders and Labradorians are known worldwide for their hospitality. Making your own way to (and through) Newfoundland and Labrador is sometimes exactly what's called for, but if you're interested in travelling here without having to worry about the details, there are many package tour operators that take care of arrangements for you.
CapeRace Cultural Adventures and Ocean Quest Adventures are just two of many tour operators that let you truly experience and explore the majestic beauty of our province, our rich culture and heritage and, maybe even, our ocean floors.
Ocean Quest Adventure Resort offers a 7-night multi-adventure vacation package on Newfoundland and Labrador's Avalon Peninsula. CapeRace Cultural Adventures is a self-guided eco-cultural tour that features exclusive-use, serve-yourself accommodations at heritage houses in St. John's, Heart's Delight and Bonavista
Trekking Twillingate's Trails6 Jan 2011
We've travelled to the Twillingate area on several occasions to see icebergs, go whale watching and explore with our sea kayaks.
But recently we got a phone call from Fred Bridger, who has been helping to develop hiking trails in the Twillingate area for the past few years.
"If you like coastal hiking you can't do much better than these trails," he said over the phone.
"The trails pass by sea stacks, sea cliffs and we even have some osprey and eagles that nest in the area. At this time of year you won't see any icebergs but you can nibble on blueberries if you like, since the trails go through some fine berry patches."
This was all we needed, and Fred offered to act as our guide for a couple of days.
The Charm of McCallum6 Jan 2011
It was really just another business day – a Tuesday – and I had the usual workplan. Go to a location, shoot videos, take photos and return home. Okay, maybe not as usual as I am letting on. I was about to travel abroad...to McCallum, a unique little isolated community on the south coast of Newfoundland that's only accessible by ferry. What makes this community so unique? Other than the ferry being your only means of getting to the town, travel within the community is essentially by foot on a series of boardwalks!
It was 11:30 a.m. when my friend and I caught the small passenger ferry from Hermitage bound for a place neither of us had ever been, but had always hoped to someday visit. After filling two seats with luggage and getting settled away in the lounge, the ferry began to move away from the dock. I was out on deck with my camera faster than you can say "Adventure Central Newfoundland"! After taking numerous pictures and videos of the passing scenery and the billowing waves crashing against the side of the vessel, I put away the camera, leaned against the side railings and peacefully watched the water for the rest of the trip.
One Million Tiny Moments6 Jan 2011
There's a vacation and then there's an experience; and the differences in the two couldn't be more important. You can book a plane ticket to a famous destination and wait in line for your token photo of the same crowded attraction, or you can have an experience. Central Newfoundland provides the latter. Real adventurers seek out places long past the beaten path, and slip into the experience like a warm bath. They linger, soak up the destination, and immerse themselves in people, place, culture and nature. This is no cookie-cutter destination. This is Central Newfoundland - real, raw, rugged and wholly authentic. It calls to the adventurer because he knows that the greatest rewards are at the end of the longest path.
An experience is not the "wow" of a well-treaded tourist trap. It is the sum of sights, sounds, smells, adventures and interactions; a million tiny moments melded into something that leaves an indelible mark on your spirit and memory.
And what are these moments? Let us begin…
"Five days of hiking the East Coast Trail transformed us into proselytizing zealots. Now we're the ones eagerly asking, 'Have you hiked the East Coast Trail?' hoping for an opportunity to tell all about it." Forget the West Coast Trail, travel writers Craig and Kathy Copeland discover that when it comes to big Canadian hiking adventures, Newfoundland's east coast is the place to go.
Mistaken mystique21 Nov 2010
Mistaken Point is a remarkable place. A beautiful, rocky headland at the tip of the Avalon Peninsula bearing the fossilized remnants of ancient creatures more than half a billion years old. Etched onto two shelves of stone, these cryptic messages from the distant past were once primitive animals living at the bottom of the ocean. The volcanic ash that killed them, also preserved them
This Vancouver Sun article talks about a recently discovered cemetery in Cupids, NL, which is thought to be the oldest English burial ground in Canada. We also happen to have the oldest burial site in all of North America, located at L'Anse Amour, Labrador. It dates back 7,500 years — 3,000 years before the pyramids of Egypt.
On the hunt for pirate treasure11 Nov 2010
Is the greatest pirate of all time from NL? Newfoundland and Labrador's infamous pirate, Peter Easton, who plundered foreign ships sailing the Atlantic Ocean in the early 17th century, may well be the most notorious pirate of all time. CTV's W5 went diving for evidence off the coast of Conception Bay, NL.
The November issue of National Geographic Traveler Magazine rated the Avalon Peninsula of Newfoundland and Labrador at the very top of 99 coastal tourism destinations in the world, beating out popular seaside travel spots in Wales, New Zealand, Hawaii, Italy, Australia and other provinces within Canada.
The magazine said that Newfoundland and Labrador has struck the right balance in developing its tourism industry without destroying what makes it unique, and noted it has welcomed the economic benefits of a strong offshore oil and natural gas industry while maintaining its "stunning natural and cultural integrity". The article also noted the unspoiled scenery, revitalization of waterfronts, rural communities, coastal hiking trails, colourful birdlife and seafaring heritage as among the components which make the Avalon Peninsula "one of the best-kept tourism secrets."
Just back from: Newfoundland21 Oct 2010
CNN's travel reporter has been charmed by our "Viking history, stunning rocky landscapes and warm, welcoming locals." Read all about her experience exploring remote, wild and beautiful, Newfoundland and Labrador.
"It was the gun that helped England secure its first foothold in the future Canada four centuries ago…" A 400-year-old archeological find in North America's oldest colony, Cupids, NL, has got historians excited. Check out this Vancouver Sun article about discovering the 17th-century remains of the actual cannon site that helped England secure its first claim within what would become Canada.


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Top: Blouse in Cherry Combo Print by Calvin Klein
Sofia on Young & Hungry and Zoey on Black-ish wearing the same sweater!
'Cecilee' Sweater by Rag & Bone at Saks Off 5th, $117.99 (was $295)
Sofia's blue top with tassels on Young and Hungry:
Stitched Top by Sea at The Outnet, $132.75 (was $295)
Sophia's lace top on Young and Hungry:
'Clayton' Top by Tularosa at Nordstrom Rack, $78.97 (was $158)
Gabi on Young and Hungry, Paige on Famous in Love and Angela on Bones wearing the same top!
'Mari' Top by A.L.C. at Neiman Marcus, $146 (was $325)
Gabi's studded leather backpack on Young and Hungry:


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"Harley was super happy staying with Bridie :) "
"Ariel is great with Riot! Her and her sister's look after Riot so well. Ariel sends amazing quality ..."
"Great service, Terezia was great to deal with and Pauric was well looked after, would highly..."
"From the beginning l felt comfortable with Helen and watching her interaction with my 10 mth old..."
"My pets were happy. House was tidy. Felt a sense of relief. Reliable and caring:)"
"Thanks, Priya, for looking after Lucy. She was very relaxed when we picked her up, so we are sure..."
"Liam did a fantastic job of looking after our dog Koby! He took a lot of care with him, exercised..."
"Amazing yet again!"
"Steph was incredible, Dakota was in love from first meeting. When ever we go away we will..."
"Really friendly, reliable and great with my dog. Thanks Hannah!"
"selena was so great with sunny and gave us lots of updates while we were away. "
"Theo's second stay with Jade went as perfect as the first. It's amazing how settled he is while..."
"Thank you so much Chafia & Adam! We received lovely photos of Teddy relaxed and happy... We highly..."
"Scott is a great sitter! It was so helpful to be able to have the option to have Kimba and Vivian..."
"Although we were overseas we were kept up to date with our little fur family! Very appreciative"
"Sarah was great looking after Huggie. Easy drop off and pick up and very easy to communicate with..."
"Rebecca took great care of our beloved dog "Bella" and left our house clean and tidy. Would highly ..."
"Awesome. Simon, Uriel and Suzie looked after my Lab/Retriever Stevie Ray whilst I attended a..."
"Myeong is a fantastic pet sitter! He sent us several photos and videos throughout the day :) Xavier ..."


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Forums: Index > Watercooler > Forums
Edit conflicts are a serious concern when a forum topic becomes popular, as no doubt some conversations will. To preempt this, might it be better to link to some free forum rather than have forums be Wiki-based? Just a suggestion, I realize that forum preference is pretty low on the "To do list". --D3koy 20:05, 30 August 2009 (UTC)
- It will perhaps get annoying, but I don't foresee much use of this feature to be honest. Surgo 23:17, 30 August 2009 (UTC)


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Dave Hobbs Cup Quarter Final
Tiger Old Boys 9, New Foresters 0
TIGER Old Boys cruised into the semifinals of the Dave Hobbs Cup with a 9-0 thrashing of ten-man New Foresters on Sunday morning.
Rob White scored four times for Tiger and Carl Jones netted a brace as the Division One high flyers won in comfortable fashion – Gary Head, Kyle Winter and George Wilkinson completed the scoring.
Let down by four no-shows by regular players, Foresters were forced to take on high-flying Tiger a man down – and Tiger's power was there for all to see as they made light work of their depleted opponents.
Tiger Old Boys' captain Carl Jones was pleased with his side's strong performance.
He said: "Overall all it was a solid performance from the lads today, who are looking forward to the next game.
"We took our goals well and created a lot of chances."
New Foresters' player Richie Meek said: "We played them earlier in the season with a full strength side out and drew 3-3 but we were really up against it with only ten men.
"We had seven players not available and four of them just didn't turn up, having said they would be playing. It's disappointing really but we worked hard with what we had – they're a really good side though."
The game started as it meant to go on, with Tiger dominating possession and territory.
White fired his side into an early lead and Jones followed suit shortly after.
From there the goals just kept coming and Jones completed his hat-trick in quick fire fashion.
Jones added his second with another measured finish, before Head, Winter and Wilkinson got in on the act to fire Tiger comfortably into the semi-finals.


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Topic: Glutathione IV
Hello Everyone,
My father has been diagnosed with Type IV Hilar Cholangiocarcinoma and he is on chemo. I have read in a lot cases that Glutathione IV helps to regain immunity and strength since it is so rich in nutrients. But several oncologists have discouraged us from taking Glutathione. Anyone has explored this option? Would love to have your views on this!
Amrita Jain


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Feel the Love in Christina Haag's Must-Read Memoir, 'Come to the Edge'
'Come to the Edge,' Christina Haag's memoir about her love affair with JFK Jr., is a must-read—and it's now available in paperback!
-Harvey Helms
Happy New Year, ladies! I know it's been a few weeks, but I've been busy looking at all the forthcoming spring yumminess in beauty, fashion, and a new subject I'll be sharing with you this year: Interiors! Every home needs a makeover every once in a while, so why not let me help? More to come!
In other news, I spent my holidays shopping and attending incredible events to spread merriment and holiday joy. It's my favorite time of the year! And while I was at it, I also spent every night in bed reading one of the most reflective, beautiful love stories I've ever come across—one that gives me hope for love for all of us in 2012. I'm talking, of course, about Christina Haag's memoir Come to the Edge. If you haven't read it, you must get it today! The paperback version launched last week, and it chronicles her love affair with JFK Jr. That's right: The gorgeous son of the late President and the always fabulous Jackie O! Remember that incredible moment at JFK's funeral when "Little John John" saluted his father on that tragic day? We all must admit that we secretly had crushes on him, so it was amazing to read this incredible recounting by someone he actually loved.
After reading the Los Angeles Times review, I knew I had to pick it up immediately. According to the L.A. Times, "The reader is swept into a rarefied realm where an intensely private Jackie Kennedy — whose quietly regal life is ordered around comfort and personal space — is called Mrs. Onassis…. Come to the Edge is about the endless burning passion of young love — the kind that strips you bare and leaves you for dead when it's over." It's deep, and a page turner to boot!
Read 5 Must-Haves to Create a Fab Holiday Face!
Christina, who penned this New York Times Best Seller, was born in Manhattan, and in addition to being a wonderful writer, she's also an incredible actress. I know you've seen her beautiful face in leading and guest starring roles on ER, Providence, Family Law, Heroes, Boston Public and Law and Order. Here's an interview from The Today Show with Christina about Come to the Edge:
Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
When I spoke with Christina, she was beyond delightful: She was smart and witty, and it was like we'd been best girlfriends for years (I love that!). We spoke about many things, but I don't want to give too much away. You've simply got to experience the book for the first time the same way I did! I will tell you, however, about how she recalled JFK Jr.: "I knew John when he was just one of the guys," she said. John used to call her "the girl next door." So sweet! There's so much more, but I'll let you discover their journey for yourself.
Christina with JFK Jr.
As you start the New Year by reading this book, my hope is that it renews your spirit and faith in love and conjures your own personal memories of the boys that warmed your hearts and changed your lives. You can follow Christina on Facebook, Twitter, and her official website, and be sure to head on over to Amazon to order your copy today!
Here's to love!
Harvey Helms is a beauty culturist and writer, drawing on 30 years of experience in cosmetics,fashion and design. Harvey has held positions ranging from Global Director of Beauty for Revlon Cosmetics to Executive Director of Special Events for Donna Karan Beauty. Harvey currently lives and works in Silicon Valley, where he just finished writing his first book in a trilogy of three: an engaging tell-all on the fashion industry. Follow Harvey on Twitter.com/HarveyHelms.


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Quote:I understand the points in the article, that is his inference based on a quote that might have been translated for him. I haven't seen the actual quote in it's original Japanese, so I'm not willing to split hairs....use common sense: (keep in mind we are in 2005, not 1905)Q: "What style of karate do you study?"A: "Naihanchi"doesn't really answer the question does it? I could be wrong. Maybe we should all start listing our katas instead of our ryuha.
Quote:Sanchin, when I was young I was taught about 20-30 basics, I have yet to see ANY karate kata that has anything more advanced than these basics I learned when I was 6. You presume a lot. I can show you techniques from each kata in Goju-ryu that you have not learned as a basic except from sanchin - gekisai serie and maybe tensho.About your tiger thing, I have heard one regarding Higashiaonna after observing or either participating in a fight to the death : When 2 tigers fight one will die and the other will be severely injured.You state that you train somewhat like the old ways, learning kata from different masters. You have read the Motobu book very well, he uses the same analogy (talking about styles of karate referring to kata). Do you, like Motobu, also focus on partner drills ? Have you experienced knowledge in ti techniques ?Beginners kata. They introduce you into karate in a logical way. In Goju they are the gekisai series and were designed to introduce youngsters into Goju before sanchin practise. Sanchin was considered not appropriate training for youngsters although Miyagi must have been introduced to it at age 14. Because it is beginner does not mean it is easy it just means it is a good way to begin.
Quote: Sanchin, Regardless of what you think about styles when you tell someone you do the style Sanchin you will really confuse someone with basic knowledge of martial arts and you will repeatedly have to explain yourself to other martial artist who will think you're crazy. Katas aren't considered styles anymore by anyone I've ever met,well,besides you. This has no bearing on what you know or it's effectiveness.
Quote:ask yourself HOW THE HELL IS THIS A COMPELTE STYLE?!? ... Now just figure it out... the human beings of karate past did it, no reason you cant.
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Do Guys Prefer Women with Big Booties?
What's the deal with men and women's butts? Real guys do their best to explain.
-Justin DeMarco
"There is no better sight than a shapely butt that looks like an apple you want to take a bite out of tucked underneath a tight skirt or being hugged by a pair of jeans," Bruce, a 36-year-old Massachusetts sports writer, says. "A little wiggle or shake turns my head every time."
To answer the question: yes. Yes. YES! Men love big butts and cannot lie. The way other brothers can't deny, that when a girl walks in with an itty, bitty waist and a round thing in their face, they get sprung. Fine, I just intentionally plagiarized a rapper named Sir Mix-A-Lot, but no one has ever said it better. (Bruce, don't worry, you're a close second.)
Big butts are where it's at. Sure, men love boobs, but booties are the only body part we can feel free to glance at any time, any place, and not have to face the consequences of being looked at as a creep by the woman we're sneaking a peek at.
Read Do Guys Prefer Women With Big Boobs?
"If butt guys were easy to spot, women would have eyes in the back of their heads," says Mike, a 27-year-old New York City Police Officer. "That's the only way they'd know. A boob guy, on the other hand, is usually front and center and is easy to spot."
Glancing guilt-free is only the start when it comes to the perks of the good ol' fashioned behind.
"The bigger, the better," Ahmad, a 25-year-old co-manager of a Brooklyn supermarket, says. "My big hands need a big butt to grab on. Little butts are a turn-off. It's like grabbing a tennis ball."
Ross, a 24-year-old law student from Maine, doesn't like to compare a woman's anatomy to a sporting object. Rather, he uses Charles Darwin's theory of 'Survival of the Fittest' when it comes to butts. "Women with smaller butts seem too weak or fragile," he says. We know what happens to the weak and fragile in Darwin's world, but in ours, they just won't be approached by Ross at a bar.
So what do guys consider to be the perfect butt size?
"38-48 inches," Malik, a 39-year-old Brooklyn salesman, says. "Big booties are the best. I love the weight."
Chad, a 26-year-old New Yorker, must not have had his tape measure handy, but he knows his butt shape A, B, C's, and his favorite are the "D's." "The key to a perfect ass is all about the profile," the accountant/writer says. "You want the tush to come out from the seat, not the waist – almost like a lower case 'd', but not as ridiculous."


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Activity note: Hotel check-in available from 3:00 p.m.
Afternoon: Program Registration 4:30-5:15 p.m. After you have your room assignment, come to the Road Scholar table in the Betty Boop Room to register with the program staff and get your welcome packet containing your name-tag, up-to-date schedule that reflects any last-minute changes, other important information, and to confirm when and where the Orientation session will take place. If you arrive late, please ask for your packet when you check in.
Dinner: At the hotel restaurant approximately 1 mile from the rooms, which we will reach via program vans, we'll enjoy a buffet dinner featuring a full salad bar and home-cooked entrees, which will appeal to both young and old. Soft drinks, iced-tea, coffee, water included; other beverages available for purchase.
Evening: Orientation. The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. All transportation during the program will be provided by 10-passenger vans unless otherwise noted. The majority of activities are shared by all participants. This is a Road Scholar intergenerational program. Grandparents are responsible for their grandchildren. If/when separate age group activities are conducted concurrently, program staff will supervise. Children are never to be left unsupervised. Periods in the daily schedule designated as "Free time" and "At leisure" offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding. Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night's rest for the full day ahead.
Activity note: Walking about 2 miles throughout the day; uneven and sometimes rocky ground; paved and sloped surfaces with stairs in Grand Canyon Caverns. Participants may choose to walk to/from the restaurant 1 mile from the motel; transportation always provided. We recommend bringing a water bottle, good walking shoes, sun protection, long sleeves, and perhaps a walking stick.
Breakfast: At the restaurant on-site, the breakfast buffet features a wide assortment of hot and cold choices including granola, yogurt, fresh fruit, eggs, breakfast meats and breads, plus juice, coffee, tea, milk, water.
Morning: Beginning at the restaurant on the Caverns property (740 acres; mixed grassland and pinon juniper woodland, unique desert plants, animals and geology), we'll set out on a nature walk with our naturalist Group Leaders. Along our walk, we'll learn about some of the common plants of this high desert area, how they have adapted to limited rainfall, and how the prehistoric peoples of the region utilized them in their daily lives. We may also venture off trail at times to explore further and we may also sit on the ground for short periods.
Lunch: At the restaurant on the Caverns grounds, the buffet lunch features selections that will appeal to both young and old. Selections may include cold cuts, hot dogs, make your own tacos and always a salad bar. Beverages include water, iced-tea, soft drinks or coffee; other beverages available for purchase.
Afternoon: We'll then set out on a walk through the Grand Canyon Caverns (210 feet underground with elevator access), a famous Route 66 landmark, with a Grand Canyon Caverns expert staff member who will share the Cavern's geology and its lore. Especially for kids: Following the Caverns exploration, we'll gather on the patio for our tie-dye shirt project. Our intergenerational groups have been making these colorful shirts together for over 20 years! Take a quick dip in the pool, if time allows, after dying your shirt.
Dinner: Restaurant buffet.
Evening: In the Caverns meeting room we will focus on the wildlife of northern Arizona as presented by wildlife biologists from the Arizona Game and Fish Department, depending on their availability. Focal points may include the black-footed ferret reintroduction efforts in the Aubrey Valley (close to the GC Caverns property) and their interaction with their primary prey – the prairie dog – or on other key species in the region like coyotes and the unique ways regional animals have adapted to this very hot and dry climate.
Activity note: Driving about 20 miles on an unpaved and rough road to reach the bottom of the Canyon. Short walks from van to scenic viewpoints; some sandy terrain and possible hot temperatures. Walking about 2 miles for the day; additional elective walk of 1 mile along road and in creek down to the Colorado River; some slippery rocks.
Breakfast: Restaurant buffet.
Morning: We'll then board our vans for a field trip down Peach Springs Canyon on the Diamond Creek Road to the bottom of the Grand Canyon and the Colorado River. Our Group Leaders will make stops along the way to describe the wonders of the Canyon and provide commentary in the vans. Stops will be made along the way at various points of interest. This is a true "journey to the center of the Earth" as the walls of the Grand Canyon rise higher and higher as we drive towards the Colorado River past hundreds of millions of years of geologic history, all of which culminates in the arrival at the 1.8 billion year old rock of the Granite Gorge. If you wish, you may choose to go on a 1 mile walk along Diamond Creek to the river.
Lunch: At the Colorado River in the bottom of Grand Canyon, we'll have sack lunches.
Afternoon: Our field trip will continue at the bottom of the Grand Canyon. As we view Diamond Creek Rapids, look for desert bighorn sheep, wild burros, hawks and lizards. At the river, look for river runners rafting the Colorado River. We'll have time to play safely on the beach and in the Colorado River during the hottest part of the day. Interesting human history, facts and management issues regarding the Colorado River will be shared with the group on the beach. Especially for kids: Upon our return to the Grand Canyon Caverns, we'll finish the tie-dye project by rinsing the dye from our shirts and displaying them on the clothes line.
Dinner: Restaurant buffet.
Evening: Our expert naturalists will then lead an evening program that may include stories, Grand Canyon geology, Arizona geography, natural history, Native American culture, or a star watching/astronomy activity. Evening presentations on Day 2 and Day 3 may be reversed, based on availability of Game and Fish Department staff.
Activity note: Short periods of standing, sometimes in full sun, during the morning session. We will have a campfire as long as Coconino County is not under fire restrictions due to drought conditions.
Breakfast: Restaurant buffet.
Morning: Especially for kids: We'll spend this morning learning about ranching, horses and the importance of cattle in the history of the west with a real cowboy who has cowboy-ed in northern Arizona for over 40 years. Believe it or not, cattle have many uses today, besides just steak and hamburger! Kids will learn about a horse's tack, how to properly saddle a horse and how to rope. All kids will have an opportunity to ride a horse at the corral. Adults will too!
Lunch: Restaurant buffet.
Afternoon: Especially for kids: We'll gather for a secret "Kids Only" activity led by our Group Leaders! Shhhhh! While the kids are engaged, the adults may wish to take a breather, a dip in the pool or engage in purely adult conversation for a short time. Following this activity, we'll assemble in the motel's meeting room to tell you everything you need to know for the river trip and helicopter flight coming up the next day with an in-depth orientation to the day's activities. We'll go over how to dress for the river, how to pack your daypack, and what to take so you'll be well-prepared for a Colorado River raft trip – and helicopter flight – to remember!
Dinner: On the screened-in porch of the restaurant, we'll enjoy a delicious bar-b-que meal for our dinner, plus iced-tea, soft drinks, coffee, water; other beverages available for purchase.
Evening: Adjacent to the restaurant weather permitting, we'll have a campfire complete with marshmallow roasting under the stars and some group activities like river or ghost stories, joke-telling, skits, and shared fun. Look up from the smoke of the fire to star-studded western skies and see the Milky Way as we spend this evening with new friends, both young and young at heart, from across the country.
Activity note: Driving about 20 miles to the bottom of the Canyon on an unpaved, rough road. Rafting for approx. 37 miles; field trip 5-6 hours total. Climbing in/out of rafts, assistance provided as needed. River temperature about 50 degrees F – air can be 100+ degrees F. Hiking about 1/2 mile total for the day; some slippery rocks, sand. Choice to climb using ropes and ladders to hidden waterfall. Getting in/out of helicopter; flight is about 6 minutes. Afternoon drive is approx. 100 miles; about 2.5 hours.
Breakfast: Restaurant buffet.
Morning: Boarding our vans, we'll transfer to a lodge in Peach Springs (12 miles) to meet our connecting transportation to our drop in point on the Colorado River. Upon arrival at our destination, we will go through a safety orientation with our river leaders and get fitted with life jackets before embarking on our river rafting trip. We will divide up into multiple groups to fit on 8-passenger motorized pontoon rafts (approximately 25 feet long), each with a certified rafting experts. The Diamond Creek trip down the Colorado River is about 37 miles in length. During the first 16 miles we will encounter about 10 whitewater rapids, some rather large (5, 6 and 7's on a 1 to 10 scale), so we will get wet. The air temperature in summer at the bottom of the canyon will likely be around 100 degrees so the splashing is a welcome relief and will keep us cool. We'll pull the rafts over at a couple of attractions including the beautiful Travertine Falls and a lunch spot. While stopped, our rafting experts will lead some short walks to stretch our legs and explore the area. After 16 miles the rapids flatten out, but the scenery remains "grand" in all regards. Hualapai tribal members will operate rafts and, along with our staff, provide information about the canyon along the way.
Lunch: Along the river, we'll have sack lunches provided by the river company including a sandwich, chips, and cookie, plus a soft drink, juice or water.
Afternoon: Especially for kids: Continuing downriver, we'll reach Quartermaster Landing where we will get off our rafts and climb up to the landing pad in order to board the helicopter that will fly us out of the canyon on a quick but spectacular ride. Have your cameras ready! The helicopter will drop us off at Quartermaster Point where we will board our transportation and transfer back to the lodge in Peach Springs. On our way we'll travel through a landscape of Joshua Trees and creosote bush as we cross the beautiful basin and range landscape of the Mohave Desert. Note: Helicopters cannot fly in excessively hot and/or windy conditions for safety reasons. Although this happens very infrequently, it remains a possibility. In that event, the raft trip will be extended to a location where ground transportation can reach the group.
Dinner: In the dining room at the lodge in Peach Springs, we'll enjoy a hearty buffet farewell dinner with tea, coffee, water; other beverages available for purchase. Alcoholic beverages on the reservation are prohibited by law.
Evening: We'll then return to the inn via a short van ride. The remainder of the evening will be at leisure.
Activity note: Hotel check out is 11:00 a.m.
Breakfast: Restaurant buffet.
Morning: We'll gather for a program wrap-up to share some of our favorite memories from our week together before saying farewell. This concludes our program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Please join our Facebook page and share photos of your program. Visit us at www.facebook.com/rsadventures. Best wishes for all your journeys!


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Anyway, here is what I got it for. Yay for my Mini Thor the Destroyer! Now, to level it to see if it's any good as a pet...
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
The Crazy pet Obsession continues - Mini Thor
Anyway, here is what I got it for. Yay for my Mini Thor the Destroyer! Now, to level it to see if it's any good as a pet...
21 comments:
You are almost as bad as Arv with all your special pets. Grats Navi :)ReplyDeleteReplies
It's his fault for corrupting me! And thx :)Delete
I'm glad the collecting part is still fun! I have to admit I've slowed down on the battling part but I was so thrilled the other day when I finally found my rare Prairie Mouse who had been eluding me!ReplyDeleteReplies
Yay! I still haven't got a frog rare yet... or a feverbite hatchling.... oh there are heaps I still need!Delete
- AnonymousFebruary 19, 2013 at 8:47 AM
Gratz Navi :) thats a cool looking pet :)ReplyDelete
Grats on your new pet Navi! He looks adorable and quite deadly all at the same time! :DReplyDeleteReplies
Ty! I think the same thing :)Delete
Congrats on your latest addition!ReplyDelete
- VeluxiaFebruary 19, 2013 at 1:20 PM
Gratz! It is very cute!ReplyDeleteReplies
Ty veluxia :) he isn't very cuddly though lolDelete
You crack me up, Navi. You just do.ReplyDeleteReplies
That's awesome :) I secretly really want to buy the Pandaria Collectors Edition, because it's one of the few that I don't have.ReplyDelete
That's a great pet you got, though! I love the animation when he shoots his guns and flies up into the air. So cool!Replies
That's a great addition to anyone's collection, gratz! I've been thinking about getting some of the collectors editions I don't have on my account bc, sc2, d3, then again there's a new sc2 in a few weeks with the baneling pet in it, hmm maybe. I'm happy for you, gratz again!!ReplyDelete